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D u t c h

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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 The

summer

2010

About: has

European

lesBian

entertainment

gayest

and political news, while Natazzz

summer of my entire life. All credit

looks at redundant LGBT research

for this goes to the Gay Games

in Studying LesBians. Anna thinks

Cologne. What a wonderful week that

about the possible consequences

was! The atmosphere, the people,

of being registered as a lesbian in

the love, the Pride, the sports, the

LesBian Life and Maxime questions

spirit – I’m so glad that I and some

a recent decision made by the gay

of the eurOut team were a part of it

German minister of Foreign Affairs.

undisputedly

been

the

all. My heart is filled with wonderful memories and for all of you that

After the Gay Games I had the

came by at the WomenPlace: it was

privilege to exclusively interview two

lovely to meet you!

young, ambitious Dutch filmmakers

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.

Alieke and Sia. They will, if all goes In this edition of the magazine you’ll

according

find some of the articles we published

groundbreaking

plan,

create

during our time at the Gay Games. It

form of Hot Grass: a youth series

certainly doesn’t cover all that we’ve

with a lesbian main character. I’m

seen and done in Cologne, but it’s a

used to complain a lot about lesBian

good start to show you the diversity

representation

of the Gay Games experience. And if

media, so I’m very, very excited

you’re hungry for more Gay Games

about Alieke and Sia’s project. I

material, you can just go to our

hope you will be too after reading

website.

our interview.

television

some in

the

mainstream

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.

Warm regards,

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

The Lesbian News Stack give you an

Saskia Joreen

www.eurout.org.

overview

Chief Editor

As usual we also have our regular columns lined up for you in this issue. Let We Are Everywhere and of

all

recent

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Saskia Joreen (editor@eurout.org) PR-OFFICER AND LAYOUT: Anna McFaith (faith@eurout.org) EDITOR OF ENTERTAINMENT: Natazzz (entertainment@eurout.org) EDITOR OF POLITICS: Maxime (politics@eurout.org) ART DIRECTION: Embla (embla.eurout@gmail.com) CONTRIBUTORS IN THIS ISSUE: Joan (Joan@eurout.org) Ley (ley@eurout.org) Amanda (smallvilleaddict@gmail.com) Special inspirational thanks go out to Sandra Showtime, founder of eurOut.org.

In This Issue

Kicking off the Gay Games

Interview: The Women of Croatian Choir Le Zbor

Portrait: Dutch Track Athlete Martje Hoekmeijer

Portrait: German DJanes Kitty Atomic & Miss Stereo

Smells Like Team Spirit

Interview: The Ladies behind ‘Bei Sport Mord’

LesBian News Stack

Gay German Minister Leaves Partner at Home

LesBian Life: Being Registering as Gay

We Are Everywhere

Studying LesBians:

Research That Wastes Time and Money

Book Preview: Emma Donoghue’s ‘Inseparable’

Interview: The Ladies behind Dutch Series ‘Hot Grass’

Where Are We on Television?

List of LGBT organizations

Kicking off the Gay Games The people that were able to be in Germany for the Gay Games will agree on one thing: the Gay Games were wild! With gay events taking place all over Cologne between July 31st and August 7th, it was sometimes tricky to find out which events and sports to attend. Anna tells you about eurOut’s first days in Germany’s gay capital. By: Anna McFaith Images: Maaike Kramer COLOGNE IS BEAUTIFUL. It’s large

The

opened

singer Agnes and Taylor Dayne topped

but manageable due to the slightly

by Dr. Guido Westerwelle, who we

event

off the evening as fireworks lit up not

confusing but very complete public

wrote about in the May issue of

only the RheinEnergie stadium, but

transport system. Old buildings like

this magazine. There were a lot of

also the night’s sky.

the Dom cathedral and many restored

people that questioned Westerwelle’s

churches are strewn around the city,

involvement,

was

Also presented was a taped interview

connected to each other by busy

moving and heartfelt. Some highlights

with Gay Games founder Tom Waddell,

shopping streets and the old town

of his speech were:

who passed away of AIDS in 1987.

was

officially

but

his

speech

squares.

In it he described his desire to create “It is a great privilege for all of us and

something

In the first few days of the Gay Games

especially for me and my partner that

boundaries of age, religion, sexuality

that

would

cross

the

more and more (LGBT) people arrived

we can meet tonight in the open and

and nationality.

and were easy to identify by the red

without fear. (…) Our thoughts are

or yellow strapped ID cards around

with all gays and lesbians, bisexual

Fitting attention was given by the

their necks. Every volunteer, athlete

and transgender people in the world

speakers to the victims of the Love

and press member wore one, because

who are still treated like criminals. (…)

Parade. Not one, but two moments of

it offered free public transport and

No religion can ever justify murder[.]

silence were held. The moments were

admission to Gay Games events. It

(…) We want no privileges, we want

very touching and Dr. Westerwelle

also told everyone else you were ‘Part

respect.”

seemed especially emotional during it.

of it!’--this year’s Gay Games motto. Unfortunately, he had to move through

At the end of the night, not a single

On Saturday, the 31st of July, the

a wall of ‘boo’ calls to get to the stage.

person walked away untouched by

Gay Games were officially opened in

Whatever Westerwelle may or may

the ceremony. There was a sense of

a long, but intricate and entertaining

not do to further LGBT rights and

belonging and pride to be at the Gay

ceremony. Representatives from every

awareness; he was at the Gay Games

Games. It’s okay to be gay, and that

major group involved with the Gay

to speak. That is enough for me.

week, we were going to show it!

all new. all european. all lesbian.

Games held speeches and there were shows by singers and cheerleaders

Also speaking

from all around the world.

the Federation of Gay Games, the Gay

Games

were

Cologne

members

organization,

the mayor of Cologne, athlete Brent

introduced to the large majority of

Nicholson Earle and Sarah Waddell

athletes competing in the Gay Games,

Lewinstein (who both received the

as well as every country present. It was

Tom Waddell Legacy Award for their

wonderful to notice that the applause

efforts in furthering visibility of the gay

swelled for not only the host city, but

athlete) and athletes Simone Assböck

also for every country in which being

and Matthew Mitcham (who took the

gay is considered a crime or can get

athlete and organizer oaths of fair and

you killed. Maybe even more touching;

impartial play and judging).

while there might have been only one person competing for those countries,

Of course, we were also treated to song

they were there and they were visible

and dance: DJs, choir performances

for the whole world.

and special appearances by Swedish

Federation of Gay Games: gaygames.com Dr. Westerwelle’s full speech: bit.ly/gaymeswesterwellespeech

Further Reading

Perhaps most importantly, we were

Gay Games Cologne: gaygamescologne. com

Saskia in front of the Dom Chatedral, with her press chain and

Speeches by members of the Gay Games Federation

eurOut.org shirt

Cheer SF does their cheerleading routine at the opening

Athletes walking in as projected on the big screen

ceremony

Hoisting of the Gay Games flag

Taylor Dayne performing the official Gay Games Cologne song

Lighting of the Gay Games fire

Dayne tears up after her performance

Interview: The Women of Croatian Choir Le Zbor One of the best parts of the Gay Games formula is that you get to meet people from all ethnicities, age groups, sexual orientations, religions and walks of life. It’s because of this that we got a chance to hear and meet the Croatian choir Le Zbor as they performed at the WomenPlace. After their rallying performance, Anna got the chance to catch up with them and listen to the tales of their five-year journey. By: Anna McFaith Images: Maaike Kramer IT’S NOT SOMETHING you see every

Five women united in Zagreb, the

able to come with nine women”, Lea

day in a buzzing city like Cologne:

capital of Croatia, to sing and stand

explains.

nine women in traditional clothing who

up for what they believed in: human

sing a cappella in their native Croatian

rights, LGBT rights and environmental

Le Zbor have sung a lot during the Gay

tongue to a group of lesBian women in

awareness. The partly Christian, partly

Games. On Sunday they performed at

a big tent. They were introduced in an

Arabic city - which is rather low on

the Comedy Theatre and on Tuesday

interlude of a DJ set and for a moment

LGBT rights - was an intimidating place

they sang throughout the city. The

I was worried they would not be able

for most of the women to stand up

group will continue to perform, as they

to hold their own against the backdrop

in. Lea explains that in the beginning

realize their efforts are having the

of garage punk. I was so very, very

none of the women wanted to get their

desired effect. “Gay rights are getting

wrong.

picture taken or have reporters come

better and there is now a gay men’s

in. Sometimes they were even afraid

choir in Serbia trying to get proper

As the first words came out of the

to perform in public. It was through

funding!”, Lea announces happily.

mouths of the varied and energetic

singing

women, the audience was sold. They

reaction of the audience that they lost

When asked if Lea has anything to

sang pure, powerful and enchanting,

their fear.

say to our readers, she thinks for a

and

seeing

the

positive

all new. all european. all lesbian.

and even the people who had not

second, and then says that the most all new. all european. all lesbian.

come to the WomenPlace to see them

The group now has fifteen to eighteen

important thing anyone can do is to

were swept up into the joy of watching

members and they try to perform

stand up for your rights. I, as a hard-

people do what they love most.

as often as possible. “We practice

core feminist, very much agree.

two times a week, but if we have a After their set, the women met their

performance we practice much more.

admiring listeners and I caught up with

We have done around eighty concerts

Lea, who runs the choir. She shared

in five years and we have been to a

her and the choir’s story with me and

lot of places. Because of money and

took me back five years, to a time

time, some of the women could not

when a group of talented women came

make it, but the Gay Games sponsored

together to sing for human rights.

us as much as they could and we were

Further Reading: Official website: lezbor.com/eng.html

Portrait: Dutch Track Athlete Martje Hoekmeijer It’s one of the few categories a lot of women compete in: track and field. It is comprised of sports like javelin throwing, the high jump and—what we went to see on the fourth day of the Gay Games: track. Our favorite of that day? Martje Hoekmeijer. She was born in the Netherlands and ran track professionally until four years ago. When she ran one of the finals at the Games, Anna By: Anna McFaith Images: Maaike Kramer caught up with her. organized”, she says. “In Chicago, the track field was out of the way and was hard to get to. Here in Cologne, the tracks are in the same sports park as most of the other sports events, and everyone who has a spare moment drops by to watch and applaud. The mood is really good.” When asked

about

her

favourite

sports to watch, she only has to think one second: “I loved watching swimming IT’S MID-DAY ON the fourth day of the

companionship between the runners.

Gay Games. It’s hot and sunny and the

It’s about having a good time, about

track where Martje will compete in, the

demanding the best of yourself and

women’s 30-34 track final, is too hot to

about celebrating the sport you love.

stand on on bare feet. It’s nearly time

Winning is only a small part of the

to start and Martje looks focused, but

competition and it shows in the way

relaxed.

the runners interact.

She has ran national and international

It’s time for the match and Martje

races

Games

heads to her lane. A female voice

and while she has stopped running

booms over the field and the runners

professionally, she definitely hasn’t

take

forgotten how to prepare. Calmly she

Martje takes the lead after only a few

arranges her bags and practices her

seconds. She bolts over the finish line

starting pose a couple of times.

with a large margin between her and

outside

the

Gay

off.

It’s

volleyball,

either

triathlon. What those people do is so hard and you need to be so fit for it. Watching them is great.” Martje

started

running

track

eight years old and it’s still one of her passions, but she is also active

short

sprint

and

the other runners. She has won and Today she’s competing against four

the gold medal for the 100 metre

other women and they laugh as the

sprint is hers!

in raising money for breast cancer research. She is the co-founder of foundation A Sister’s Hope and is still active with the cause. In fact, Martje got honored by Pink Ribbon for her work in 2009. For the remainder of the Gay Games, Martje

going

simply

enjoy

the change of scene(ry): “I live in Amsterdam and I used to be active in

time to start draws nearer. The women

all new. all european. all lesbian.

from all age categories mingle and wish

Afterwards, when she has regained

each other luck. They’re competing

her breath, we catch up with her to

against each other on the field, but in

ask her a couple of questions. It’s her

the spirit of the Gay Games their true

second time at the Gay Games. She

competition are their own bodies.

also competed in Chicago, and much prefers Cologne.

It’s a point Martje will bring up in our interview a little later: there is true

and

regular or beach volleyball, and the

“The

events

are

simply

better

the scene. After a while I realized I was over that and it’s good to meet new gay and lesbian people. It’s a welcome change.”

More: A Sister’s Hope: bit.ly/a-sisters-hope

Portrait: German DJanes Kitty Atomic & Miss Stereo There was definitely more to the Gay Games than sports. Just take a look at German DJanes Kitty Atomic and Miss Stereo to prove that statement. They rocked the WomenPlace and were kind enough to grant us a few minutes of their time to answer some questions about being a female DJ, playing for the gays and living your life the way you want to. By: Anna McFaith Images: Maaike Kramer I KNOW THE universe is an unfair place

As they come up on stage, they

Bowie fan, Miss Stereo loves the

and with this article I can offer you

unpack their records, set up their

Beatles and the Smiths and the worst

nothing different; both Kitty Atomic

workspace and alternate the headset,

experience with the LGBT community

and Miss Stereo are straight. I’m sorry

which has a cute red piece of fabric

was at Kingdom of Cologne, where Miss

my lovely ladies, there is nothing I can

attached. They’re wondrously out of

Stereo ran into trouble after dancing

do about it. I can promise you they

place and grab the attention of the

too intensely with her boyfriend.

are very open-minded and love the

audience right away. The best crowd to play for, according

gays. In honor of the Gay Games, the dynamic duo played a good couple of

The first notes of feminist garage punk

to the DJanes, is a smallish one with as

hours to an ecstatic WomenPlace and

intermixed with an unrecognizable 70s

much difference as possible. All ages,

brought us the best of the 60s, the 70s

song hit the air and the atmosphere

sexualities, dress styles and musical

and the alternative (feminist) music

in the tent changes. Were the women

tastes.

scene.

first engaged in sports and literature,

musical styles and general oddness

the

comes out best.

mood

now

shifts

carefree

Why?

Because

then

their

The women arrive an hour before

enjoyment and celebration of life.

their set and sit down on a bench

While not everyone rocks out to Le

“We love to mix everything together.

between

lesbians

Tigre and April March like I do, the

We don’t care much about musical

in sportswear. They are wearing cute

crowd reacts easily to the upbeat indie

integrity. If it sounds good and the

dresses, pumps, their hair is perfectly

pop and punk beats, and before long

people enjoy it, it’s good enough for

styled and unlike many of the women

the WomenPlace is ablaze.

us”, Kitty says.

included, they wear make-up. Even if

They get to play for an hour before

I ask them what they would mix the

you are unaware of who they are, it’s

their set is interrupted by the planned

fabulous Le Zbor choir with. “Maybe

clear they are not here for one of the

performance of Croatian choir Le Zbor.

some children singing or something.

lesBian author readings.

In the time available they allow me the

There is a lot you can do with this

chance to get to know two of Cologne’s

unconventional music”, Miss Stereo

hottest female DJanes.

volunteers.

the

backpack-carrying

WomenPlace

today,

myself

Kitty

Miss

If you want to meet the women or are

Stereo and her have been working

Atomic

simply in Cologne and want to have a

together for almost ten years, and

good time with even better music, Miss

they were invited to the Gay Games

Stereo runs a little club called Tsunami.

by a promoter who saw them play at

I can tell you from the experience at

a Brot & Spiele party in Cologne. As

the WomenPlace, you will not regret

they often play for gay and lesbian

your visit!

tells

that

all new. all european. all lesbian.

audiences, and they take any chance they get for a new experience, they said ‘yes’ right away. In response to a few quick fire questions, the women reveal the best set they ever played was at Dame 4 Love, Kitty Atomic is a huge David

More: Club Tsunami: tsunami-club.de

Smells Like Team Spirit Guest writer Amanda joined the eurOut team in Cologne and tells you about one of the highlights of her very gay week: By: Amanda Images: Maaike Kramer cheerleading. WHEN SOMEBODY MENTIONS exercise

team spirit. I remember all through my

And it can’t be forgotten either that

to me or starts talking about sporting

youth, and even now, I’d have given

Cheer LA, Cheer New York and (my

activities, I’m not the kind of person to

anything to be in one of those dinky

favourites... sssssh!) Cheer SF weren’t

listen attentively. You’ll probably find

little uniforms cheering at an already

just part of the Gay Games for their

me sitting in some corner, breaking out

cheering crowd, doing the exaggerated

own personal interest. They were there

in a cold sweat, dreading that I might

cheerleader wink and filling a space

for the benefit of others. They spent

be asked to play.

with positivity, a giant smile, team

the entire week of the Gay Games

spirit and well... cheer.

entertaining people at various events

So when I was asked to go to the Gay

whilst collecting money for Kölner

Games in Cologne this year, it took

So to get to see the cheerleading, live,

Aidshilfe, a charity which supports and

a little bit of time to think it through

right in front of my eyes was almost

helps people suffering with AIDS and

and I was still undecided. Undecided

like one of my secret little dreams come

HIV. That in itself is reason enough to

that is, until somebody mentioned one

true. Cheerleaders from San Francisco,

join in the cheering.

little word which I can honestly say

New York and Los Angeles all gathered

has always been like warm summer

sunshine on my ears: cheerleading.

Gay Games. However, this year was

pom

different for them because this time

teams,

Ever since I was a wee one, I’ve

they actually had a tournament too,

questionable) also got a look in. They

loved it. The skirts, the big block

but not before giving an unforgettable

were there representing Germany and

letters embroidered on the sweaters,

show the day before.

they were well-received by everyone.

the

Neumarkt

for

yet

another

the hair ribbon matching the team

The Berliner Jungs, an all male pomsquad the

(alongside term

the

other

‘cheerleading’

To be fair, they put on a thoroughly

colours, the whole idea of ‘Go Team!’

It was quite spectacular! The display

entertaining show, even if it was

That’s what it’s about after all, isn’t it?

of athletics and sportsmanship was

slightly less athletic.

Team spirit... and uniforms, but mostly

very much a part of this and it was every bit as exciting as I imagined

So my first cheerleading experience

it would be. When I try to pinpoint

has only left me wanting more. Now

what I liked best about it, I decided

please. I don’t think I can hold out

it was the way the spectators were

until the Gay Games in Cleveland in

completely drawn in. At one point I

2014, so until then I’ll have Bring It On

looked around me and they too were

playing on a loop.

all new. all european. all lesbian.

chanting and cheering and clapping their hands like they were every bit a part of the display, just as much as the gymnasts themselves. The energy from the squad rippled through the crowds and people were just drawn to the stage from all around. So much so that I made a mental note to arrive earlier the next day for good viewing opportunities. It’s a good thing I did, because it seemed as if word had spread about how electric they had been and the audience had more than doubled. Not even the near monsoon sent people away and they just stood and cheered and got soaked right until the results came through.

Further Reading: The American participating squads: cheerla.org cheerny.org cheersf.com A clip of the Berliner Jungs: bit.ly/gaymesberliner-jungs

Interview: The Ladies behind ‘Bei Sport Mord’ As part of the Gay Games, eurOut presented various readings by wonderful German lesBian authors throughout the week. The week both kickstarted and ended with Diana Knezevic and Marion Scholz. We talked to them about the book that they created especially for the Gay Games Cologne, Bei Sport Mord. By: Ley Images: Maaike Kramer July 30th, after which we came to the Games. How did you research for it? Diana: I had [the book’s co-creator] Melanie Müller do a lot of research for me in Cologne while I was in Portugal. I had her find out what would happen at the Opening Ceremony, as that’s a Marion Scholz (l) and Diana Knezevic (r) eurOut: Can you tell us a little

side-by-side as friends, to then become

about yourselves?

competitors… It was really good to be

Diana: I’m a writer, and I’ve just

friends first and just enjoy the night.

finished writing Bei Sport Mord (With

The opening speech was good, it was a

Sport Comes Death, The ‘Wurst’ Case).

good start to the event with everything

It’s a satirical murder investigation set

it spoke of. I’m so proud that Cologne

through the Gay Games Cologne. It’s

hosted it!

about the lesbian mafia trying to keep and take power during the Gay Games

Your book is set during the Gay

through beer and sausage, because

Games: how did you come up with

it’s

that idea?

Germany!

The

lead

character, to

Marion: I go to many gay and lesbian

solve the murder of a tourist, then

sports events and I see the way it’s

finds herself sleeping with a suspect.

all about power, and I thought that

When she finds out from her boss that

writing about that with Cologne would

there are sex videos with her in them,

be great, but I’m an entertainer and

she tries to delete them before they

singer, I don’t write.

appear online, but gets kidnapped by

Diana: So she asked if I would and

the lesbian mafia and held alongside

then I realized what I actually had to

a sausage seller. They try to escape

do. I started writing straight away in

many times, but keep failing, until

February. I moved to Portugal to write

Cora finds out the Mayor wants to

in exile, away from distractions. I’d

cancel the Gay Games because of the

write from 7 until 3 in the morning

murders, and Cora has to save them.

every day, but would constantly get

private

investigator

Cora,

tries

calls and e-mails from Marion with What has your experience been of

notes and ideas for the story like,

the Gay Games?

“Let’s kill this person”, and, “Don’t you

Marion: It was great! I was at the

think they should die too?” I finished

Opening Ceremony, because I took

writing on July 2nd and the book was

part,

atmosphere was

going into print July 3rd. I finished

amazing! All those people walking

just in time! They got delivered on

and

the

big part of how the book finishes. What have you got in store for us for the remainder of the summer? Diana: We got contacted by [German lesBian entertainer] Hella Von Sinnen, saying that she read the book and loved it and that she’d really like to do the recording of it. So that would be really great to have her reading for the audio book! We’re looking at getting the book translated into English and all new. all european. all lesbian.

all new. all european. all lesbian.

possibly Spanish as well. There will be lots of readings across Europe: Austria, Switzerland and in gay book stores across Germany.

Further Reading: Find out more about the book and order it at: regenbogenkrimi.de Read more author interviews and the rest of our coverage of the Gay Games at bit.ly/euroutgaymes-cologne

The Lesbian News Stack

By: Maxime

Our regular column â&#x20AC;&#x153;The LesBian News Stackâ&#x20AC;? gives you an overview of recent political news of interest for European LGBTs.

UK:

Belgium:

France:

WEST YORKSHIRE Police has started

COPS AND queers: do they exclude

LE MONDE, a French daily paper, got

a campaign to raise awareness about

each other, or is it possible for a

hold of a confidential report ordered

domestic abuse in LGBT homes,

gay man to survive and thrive in

by the Minister of Education, who

working together with associations

the

working

made the fight against discrimination

like Stonewall and Broken Rainbow

environment

police

his top priority. Overall, the report

UK.

officer? The Belgian police wants

says that all forms of discrimination

to know more about this and has

at school that were looked into are

started an investigation into these

being banalized. This applies to

Portsmouth shows that according to

questions

disability, sexism, sexual orientation

the ~100 respondents hate crime

diversity.

LGBT

survey

conducted

testosterone

laden being

order

promote

and origin.

was on the rise compared to the

Around the Corner: Mexico:

results from 2004. THE

FIRST

police

authority

Wales to receive the Rainbow Mark awarded by the LGBT Excellence Centre is the one in South Wales.

THE MEXICAN Supreme Court ruled that gay marriages are constitutional nationwide, though leaving it to the states to adopt the gay marriage law from Mexico City. The same court also ruled that adoptions by gay couples would be compliant with the Mexican constitution.

The Lesbian News Stack The Netherlands:

Europe: FROM THE European Parliament’s

the same benefits as heterosexual

Intergroup on LGBT Rights:

couples,

applicable

across

all

member states of the European “On the 1st September, Marije

Union. This is a request made

Cornelissen MEP, together with

other MEPs from the Women’s

General with the European Court

Rights and Gender Equality

of Justice. It follows the complaint

Committee and the Intergroup

of a gay man from Hamburg, who

Niilo

Jääskinen,

Advocate

on LGBT Rights will organise a

currently receives a lower pension

conference on transgender rights.

than his heterosexual colleagues.

The conference will explore how

According to Niilo Jääskinen this is

transgender people’s rights fit

in breach with the European anti-

within wider EU gender equality legislation.”

discrimination

directive

and

is even convinced that it doesn’t matter if the member country has

IT LOOKS as if there was a high

existing legislation for same-sex

possibility that lesbian and gay

unions or not. This almost sounds

couples could soon have access to

too good to be true.

ONCE

AGAIN

the

Dutch

are

among the first to help cover yet

another

issues,

aspect

this

time

of in

LGBT raising

awareness in their youngest with a new directive to add samesex

couples

textbooks

primary and secondary schools. And the mayor of Amsterdam, Eberhard van der Laan, wants education about sexuality and homosexuality to start before high school. THE

FIRST

figures

from

the

national ‘How straight are you?’ test have been published, e.g. four out of ten feel offended when seeing two men kissing

Germany: BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG

on the street, whereas only one

Italy: STILL

ARCIGAY,

out of ten is offended when they

Italian

LGBT

holds the red lantern when it

organization, is worried about

comes to LGBT rights. It is the

the

last remaining state which denies

aggressions and wrote an open

same-sex couples to register their

letter addressed at the internet

partnership at a civil office and

community,

where same sex-ceremonies cost

institutions.

increase

the

homophobic

media

and

THE

SUPREME

(Bundesgerichtshof)

Court kept

busy

despite or perhaps because of the political summer break. First they confirmed a ruling by the Federal

Constitutional

(Bundesverfassungsgericht)

STUDY

majority

about

them,

54%,

are in favor of gender neutral marriage.

servants have the same rights as those who are married, i.e. in these specific rulings allocation of widower’s pension and funeral allowance.

www.eurout.org

THE march

SECOND, for

institution

form

for

accepted a

human

national rights,

which will give the country the

new LGBT organisations will be available for students, U.H.S.V. Anteros in Utrecht and A.S.V. Gay in Amsterdam. With the already

existing

organisations

there is now a total of four LGBT

Ireland:

the surviving partners of civil

GOVERNMENT

draft

in Maastricht and Groningen,

Court that

STARTING IN September two

interviewing

1.000 persons found out that the

THE

human rights.

Finland:

the city the couple lives in.

each other.

highest status in the domain of

up to seven times the amount of a straight marriage, depending on

see a woman and a man kissing

student organisations.

now

annual,

marriage

equality

Spain:

took place last month in Dublin. According to the Irish Times over

THE FIRST retirement home for

2.000 people took part and the

gays and lesbians is set to open

team of website Gaelick, who

in Spain in 2011. This project

were there too, even estimated

will be realized in Torremolinos

that 3.000 to 4.000 people took

(province

part.

Andalusia.

Malaga)

Gay German Minister Leaves Partner at Home Guido Westerwelle, patron of the 2010 Gay Games Cologne, recently announced that he won’t be taking his partner on travels to countries where homosexuality is still considered an offence. Maxime dissects this decision with you. By: Maxime LET’S BACKTRACE ON our steps to

Federal Ministers are selected by the

pros and cons of a possible future gay

put this into the proper context and

parties forming the new government,

Minister of Foreign Affairs, wondering

explain why we are not really surprised

all of them will be appointed by the

specifically how he’d be welcomed in

at this announcement, yet still think

Bundespräsident (President). What I’m

those countries where homosexuality

it’s the wrong decision.

getting at is that Westerwelle was not

is considered a sin and where it is

elected as Minister of Foreign Affairs

banned.

Guido Westerwelle was appointed

and nobody forced him to accept this

as Minister of Foreign Affairs after the

position. In fact, everybody expected

This might be the time to admit

German Federal Elections in September

he would choose to become Minister

that I never was a fan of him. It’s not

2009, which were won by CDU (and

of Economic Affairs or something close

even about politics, I simply don’t

their Bavarian sister party CSU) and

to that.

like the guy himself and the type of

FDP, to which Westerwelle belongs.

politician he presents, always looking

While it has been an unwritten law that

It is also important to know that

for arguments and being way too loud.

the Prime Minister will be the person

the position of Vice-Chancellor does

And I’m by far not the only one to be

who was the leading face of the bigger

not exist as a position. The Vice-

not thinking of him as Germany’s gay

party (most often the Chairperson),

Chancellor

the

‘model’ politician. He hid and denied

positions of the other coalition partners

Chancellor and steps in when the

his sexuality for way too long to be

are not that clearly defined. This was

Chancellor is not available. In the

accepted as an out and proud gay man

proven after the elections of 2005, that

case that the Chancellor should step

or politician. And even now, when he

started the so-called era of the ‘grand’

down, a new one has to be elected

has been out for roughly five years, he

coalition between CDU and SPD, when

by the Bundestag, meaning that the

never supported any LGBT campaigns.

SDP´s front guy rejected the post of

Vice-Chancellor won’t be appointed

Yet still, I gave him the benefit of the

Minister of Foreign Affairs to take on

automatically.

doubt, because the list of persons

nominated

the post as Minister of Labour and Social Affairs.

who grew in their positions is endless. During the campaign leading up to

Though it appears as if he’ll never

the election and until all Ministers were

make it onto my list.

While the Prime Minister (Chancellor)

appointed, many had been speculating

has to be elected by the newly elected

about

Westerwelle

It was quite a coup when he was

Bundestag (Lower House), the other

would finally choose, weighing the

announced as the patron of the Gay

which

position

Games Cologne, but as torn as the gay community is when it comes to Westerwelle as a person, he didn’t deserve to be booed at during his opening speech. Guido Westerwelle announced midAugust that he decided that his lifepartner won’t be accompanying him on travels to countries that condemn and persecute homosexuality. Of course that’s up to him and nobody would have had second thoughts about this decision if it were not for the following points:

Gay German Minister Leaves Partner at Home • One of his arguments for his decision was: “We want to promote tolerance in the world, but we also do not want to achieve the opposite by acting thoughtlessly.” • He and his party (FDP) have played an active part when the request for the inclusion of ‘nobody should be discriminated sexual

identity’

grounds to

the

their

German

constitution was rejected.

Further Reading: eurOut coverage of Westerwelle’s appointment of Gay Games Cologne patron: bit.ly/euroutgaymes-patron

• In winter 2008, Westerwelle (when he still belonged to the opposition) suggested that countries belonging to the European Union that were banning Pride events and marches should have their funding cut. As Minister of Foreign Affairs the first country he visited was Poland. • In winter 2009, Westerwelle and his party belonged to those refusing to adopt the new anti-discrimination directive,

decision

for

which

Germany was reprimanded by several organizations. What weighs in most negatively, at least when asking me, is that you might remember that Westerwelle was criticized earlier this year for having included

his

partner

his

travel

delegation on several trips, e.g. the one to Brazil. He never really answered his critics except for saying

that his

partner had the same right as every other person on this delegation and delegations formed by other Ministers. So why won’t Westerwelle declare his partner’s function as he did on those earlier travels, as a member of the delegation? Just asking. Maybe I’m just expecting too much. Only time can tell what the effects of all new. all european. all lesbian.

all new. all european. all lesbian.

Westerwelle’s decision will be and if he might change his mind about bringing his partner on his upcoming travels to homophobic countries.

LesBian Life: Being Registering as Gay LesBian Life is a monthly column written by Anna, in which she tackles different aspects of living life as a lesbian or bisexual woman. This month’s LesBian Life was inspired by a conversation she had with a Christian lesbian couple who were contemplating marriage, but who were afraid to take that step due to the paper trail. By: Anna McFaith WHEN I WAS a young child, or even

men and, to a lesser extent, lesbians

and I are friends with, I was shocked.

an adolescent, I never thought about

were rounded up and sentenced. If

They told us they were hesitant to get

the Second World War. It was ancient

sent to the camps, there was a 60%

married due to the fact that if they

history to me; as real as the dragons

death rate on homosexuals and yet I

got married, they would be registered

and elves in my books. I had no bond

was never afraid.

as homosexuals. They feared if those

with it, no way to know that it had

coming

into

power

would

target

been real and that so many horrors

I figured that it was over. The scars

homosexuals again, a simple database

had been committed. I had no way

are there and we should remember the

search could potentially sentence them

to know it still lived on in so many. I

horrors, so perhaps they won’t happen

to death.

was silent for a minute every fourth of

again. But in the end: the war is over.

May, when we remember the victims,

Or so I thought. We talk about the war

I was stunned. Even with my updated

but until five years ago it held no real

quite a lot in my girlfriend’s family and

WWII information, I had never really

meaning to me.

when a Dutch law was passed which

considered that fact. In my defence,

said that everyone would be obligated

This changed when I met my current

to carry identification papers at all

to process it too. Not once in our

girlfriend. She’s Jewish and she comes

times, there was an uproar. It came

conversations about getting married

from a family which was nearly wiped

too close to the memories of the war.

had the war come up as a viable

out in the war. She told me stories, I

Of course, the war is over and most

reason to stop us.

met her grandparents and the war

in the family started getting IDs and

started to live for me. Her grandparents

started taking them with them. All this

The Dutch political climate is currently

suffered through so much and they

to say that the Second World War still

not a threat to LGBT people. Although

hold the stories of those sent to the

lives and it’s become a part of my life.

we’re heading to a more right-wing

camps and who never returned to tell

Yet, when I sat down with a lesbian

political environment, we are not the

the tale. Thousands of homosexual

couple

current

that

girlfriend

target

needed

some

propaganda

time

and

slander. Islamic people have to suffer

Further Watching:

through that right now. It still turns my stomach to see someone like Geert Wilders use his talents to motivate,

To discover more about the plight of lesbians during WWII I refer you to ‘November Moon’ and ‘Aimée & Jaguar’ on the next page. ‘November Moon’ focuses on the struggles of lesbians during World War II. Gabriela Osburg plays November, a Jewish lesbian who moves to Paris to flee the Nazis. Her lover Ferial, a young French woman, becomes a Nazi collaborator to save the life of her lover, when the Nazis arrive in France.

inspire and manipulate in such a negative and destructive way. That, however, could fill a whole column on its own and I won’t be writing that one any time soon. The less time spent on Wilders, the better. That having been said, his party came out of the elections as one of the biggest. Food for thought, huh? My girlfriend and I eventually decided that if anything like the Second World War was to happen again, our degree

LesBian Life: Being Registering as Gay of openness about our sexuality would already get us killed. We live together

Further Watching:

and are both out at work, at school and in our families. If anyone should ever place a bounty on the heads of homosexuals again, there are so many people around us who could snitch, it wouldn’t really matter if we were registered or not. The idea is stuck in my head now though and it’s pissing me off. I don’t want to live my life in fear of retribution from others. I don’t want to be ruled by the majority. In a time where gay (marriage) rights are still

‘The movie tells the story of Felice Schragenheim (played by Maria Schrader), a Jewish journalist working for a Nazi newspaper as well as an underground organization using a false name, and Lilly Wust (played by Juliane Köhler), a mother of four and married to a Nazi officer. Even though the two women are very different and live in different worlds, the women fall in love with each other and embark on a passionate love affair. Obviously war time is not the ideal time for a romance, and the couple has to face many obstacles, including Lilly’s husband returning home from the front, and trying not getting killed by the Gestapo. The fact that this movie is based on a real story (it was adapted from the book by Erica Fischer that details the actual lives of Lilly and Felice, including many of the letters the women wrote to each other) makes it even more intriguing and captivating.’ -- From our review of the movie at: http://bit.ly/eurout-aimee-jaguar

so… democratic and the hate against those other than our own is still so great, it’s hard not to be afraid. Or angry. I

will

getting

married

and,

eventually, my friends will too. You can’t live in fear, not if the fears are yet unfounded, as they are for those in the Netherlands. It’s good to be aware though and because I wasn’t, I wanted to share my thoughts with all of you. If all else fails, there are always rainbow

marriages

consider

heroic declarations of love in the face of certain death. I’m merely stating plotlines here; should you feel the need to brush up on your lesBian WWII stories; I have added some boxes with information about some must see movies on this subject. After we published this column on eurOut.org, comments started coming in. Some had been reserved because of the lessons history taught us, others had never considered it. All agreed that you can’t live your life in fear of what may or may not happen. You have to move on: love, live, enjoy the all new. all european. all lesbian.

all new. all european. all lesbian.

time you have. If you are lucky enough to find someone to share your life with, enjoy that life with them, no matter what the future will bring.

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.

Are you a comic writer and

KARIMA

theme? In that case you might

performing

songwriter

the

PRISM

Sad

UK / THE NETHERLANDS

do your comics have an LGBT interested

Sports:

Music:

Comics:

FRANCIS at

will

the

and

singer-

music

REVOLUTION IN B MINOR in

they are giving away. Find out

Rotterdam on October 29.

news

from

Katja

Nyberg,

VIBEKE

SKOFTERUD has now also broken

festival

COMICS QUEER PRESS GRANT

relationship

Norway. After Gro Hammerseng

up with her girlfriend.

more at

Music:

prismcomics.org/grant.php

Dutch singer ELLEN TEN DAMME

Radio:

has won the Gouden Notekraker (Golden Nutcracker), an annual

singer

SARA

award given by fellow actors and

new

radio

singers. Ten Damme received

programme on Radio 2, in which

the nomination for the innovative

she will share Dutch music and

ways in which she contributes to

comical performances.

the live performance of music.

Comedian KROOS

and has

In other, related, news; Kroos

Movies:

announced last month that she’s getting married to her girlfriend, who she met only recently. But, according to Kroos, she just knew right away. Apparently, if we see her girlfriend we will understand. eurOut congratulates the happy couple!

Singer/songwriter KATIE MARIE is

currently

busy

with

There’s a new Swedish movie

her

coming up entitled KYSS MIG

European tour. She will perform

(Kiss

all over the UK between August and October. Check out her tour dates

Me),

which

has

its

plotline a girl falling in love with her stepsister-to-be. Who comes

funkeegirl.de/datese.

up with these storylines?

html

TV-land: GERMANY

UK TV

BALDING

The successful MILLENNIUM movies

character. On a previous episode

made an official complaint this week

are being made into a TV series

of TV series MORD MIT AUSSICHT

for being called ‘that dyke on a bike’

that will start airing in Sweden in

(Murder with a View), the young

by a journalist. I was wondering if

October

police woman Bärbel fell in love with

this really was such a big deal, but

Mathilde and she is now wondering

seeing as it got extensive coverage

are

whether or not she might be a

in the gay media, I guess it is.

lesbian.

presenter

CLAIRE

SWEDEN

German TV has itself a new lesBian

(and

Scandinavia also

probably as

rumours

that

most There

actress

NOOMI RAPACE, who plays Lisbeth Salander, might be nominated for an Oscar for her role.

well).

We Are Everywhere Events:

month of November. Go to homotopia.net to find out more.

GERMANY

STONEWALL is hosting a WOMEN’S GOLF CHALLENGE on

Do you enjoy ballroom dancing and would you like

September 29 at Foxhills. Joining the challenge will be

to compete dancing with another woman? Now you

Clare Balding and Alice Arnold. Go to Stonewall’s website

can as they are having an INTERNATIONAL QUEER

to find out more at stonewall.org.uk

TANGO ARGENTINO FESTIVAL in Hamburg from the 24th until the 26th of September. Find out more at

How long has it been since THE L WORD aired? Years, right?

queer-tango.de

Well, apparently some people can still not get enough of the L Word ladies, as another L Word convention, L8, will be held in March of next year. Check out starfury.co.uk/L8 for more details.

Same-sex ballroom dancing is looking to be a hit across Europe, with LEIPZIG also joining in by organising a Women’s Ball on October 2. For more information: leipzigerfrauenball.de The INTERCULTURAL WOMEN’S MUSIC FESTIVAL in SOHRSCHIED won’t take place until next year, but the exact dates have already been announced.

Music:

Make sure to keep the final weekend of July

German singer/songwriter KATHARINA FRANCK has

2011 free in your diaries and find out more at

collaborated with Reinhardt Repkes’s club of dead poets

frauenmusikfestival.de

to compose a musical rendition of poems by Rainer Maria Rilke. The CD entitled EINES WUNDERS MELODIE

THE NETHERLANDS

is scheduled to be released in October. Go to club-der-

It was announced recently that HAARLEM will be

toten-dichter.de for more information.

the Pink City of 2012, which means, among other things, that they will be hosting the annual PINK SATURDAY. Next year it’s Groningen’s turn and I am hoping to see many of you there. During

the

South-African

cultural

festival

AFROVIBES, taking place in EINDHOVEN from September 23rd until October 2nd, PAM NGWABENI will perform her one woman show Kiss the Women, in which she shows what it’s like to be a black lesbian in Africa. Check out afrovibes.nl for more details. UK Homotopia,

LIVERPOOL’s

annual

celebration

queer culture, is taking place during the entire

Music: Norwegian singer/songwriter NINA RAMSBY is currently performing all over Stockholm in Sweden and you can catch her live until October. For the exact dates and venues, go to her MySpace page at myspace.com/ ninaramsby

More entertainment news at:

eurOut.org

Studying LesBians Research That Wastes Time and Money In this issue of Studying LesBians , Natazzz discusses obvious By: Natazzz research being done and getting media attention.

LAST MONTH, SEVERAL LGBT-related

‘Same-sex

improve

the entire research report, but from

studies were reported in the media

self-esteem and lower internalized

relationships

what I gathered they did do a fairly

which had such obvious results that

homophobia in gay and lesbian teens.’

extensive long term study into the

you have to wonder why people

link between romantic relationships

think this is newsworthy and why

British

website

the research was funded to look into

several

other

Pink

and

and the well-being of straight and gay

media

teens. Still, the results they come out

these things in the first place. Before

outlets reported about this new study

with which are used as headlines in

I get into describing the studies in

that showed that teens who are in a

LGBT media are so obvious it makes

question, I want to stress I welcome

homosexual relationship feel better

me wonder who actually thinks this is

any person or institution spending

about themselves and about being

news.

time and money researching things

gay than those that are single. In

to do with the LGBT community. But

other words, if you are in high school

At least this is a topic worthy of

just as with any type of research, an

and you discover you are into girls,

mentioning. Unfortunately, the same

awful lot of time and money seems to

you feel a lot better when you have a

can’t be said for the next headline:

be wasted on showing the obvious.

cute girlfriend than when you are all

Let me illustrate this with three LGBT

alone. Can I get a collective ‘Duh’?

online

News LGBT

related studies that made headlines the last few weeks:

‘Gay

men

heterosexuals, Now I haven’t had the chance to read

are

thinner

but heavier.’

lesbians

than are

Studying LesBians Research That Wastes Time and Money There

have

been

many

studies

in the last few years looking into determinants of lifestyle and health behaviours. The results of one of those studies was published a few weeks ago. Although the study had some interesting findings about some health-related behaviours like smoking and drinking, all the media seemed to focus on was weight. The study showed that, on average, gay

men

were

less

likely

overweight than straight men and lesbians

were

overweight

than

likely

straight

women.

Can I get another ‘Duh’? Everyone knows that (I am totally generalising here) straight women and gay men are much more obsessed with their appearance (and their weight) than the rest of us and thus are less likely to be overweight. ‘Gay adults are more likely to spend a lot of time online than heterosexuals.’ I have seen this headline a few times now and it continues to amaze me that people find this newsworthy. Yes, as a ‘minority group’ we spend more time online because it’s one of the best ways to get in touch with our community either indirectly by reading about news and events or directly

‘New’ lesBian stereotypes?

MORE: Articles about the mentioned studies:

by meeting people. Still, yet another research group thought it was worth examining.

bit.ly/pinknews-selfesteem

Take a moment to think about what you think of the research examples I just shared with you. Do you also think this kind of research is a waste of time and money or do you think it’s important to look into these issues? I all new. all european. all lesbian.

all new. all european. all lesbian.

think there are a lot more meaningful topics to cover but if it takes these kinds of studies to get there, then so be it.

bit.ly/samesamelesbians-heavier bit.ly/gaynz-gaysonline

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. 21

Book Preview: Emma Donoghue’s ‘Inseparable’ Emma Donoghue tackles the topic of desire between women in literature in her new book Inseparable: Desire Between Women in Literature. Joan gives you a preview. By: Joan EMMA DONOGHUE GREW up in Dublin

A lot of people would say: ‘What

it appears to be well researched and

and was fortunate enough to get a two-

tradition of lesbian literature? I don’t

indeed well written. The NY Times

novel contract at the tender age of 23.

see it.’ But there’s such a continuity

calls it “necessary for scholars and

She’s earned her living as a writer ever

in the actual storylines, I think it’s

enlightening and often amusing for

since. She holds a BA in English and

perfectly justifiable to call it a tradition.

anyone else”. Xtra! praises that it

French and wrote her PhD thesis about

It’s just a bit of a buried one.

“reads like good journalism rather than

the concept of friendship between men and

women

eighteenth-century

academic textbook”.

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

I haven’t read the book myself yet I’ve

already

ordered

it),

Emma

Donoghue’s

English fiction. Currently she lives in

(though

London, Ontario, with her lover and

but judging from the reviews it got

Desire Between Women in Literature is

their two children.

in the New York Times and Xtra! (a

on the bookshelves now.

Canadian gay and lesbian news site), Her novels won four awards for lesBian fiction, but she also writes plays, both for theatre and radio. Inseparable: Desire Between Women in Literature isn’t her first book about lesbian history; her book Passions Between

Women:

British

Lesbian

Culture 1668-1801 was published in 1993. Donoghue explores how attraction between females is represented in texts from medieval to modern times. She defines six main plot motives which have been employed by many different writers. One of these motives she

calls

‘Travesties’

(the

famous

cross-dressing plotlines), another she calls ‘Monsters’ (the well-known ‘evil lesbian destroys innocent girl’ trope).

MORE: Emma Donoghue’s official website: emmadonoghue.com The mentioned reviews: bit.ly/xtrainseparable || nyti.ms/reviewinseparable

Inseparable:

Interview: The Ladies behind Dutch Series ‘Hot Grass’

There are no rules in the game of love. It’s the tagline of new Dutch youth series Hot Grass that’s currently being developed by two very ambitious young ladies: Alieke van Saarloos (27) and Sia Hermanides (23). We met the two students of the Utrecht School of Arts to discuss their final project, which also has the potential of becoming groundbreaking Dutch mainstream television. Why, you wonder? Because the series has a lesbian main character, which would be a first in the history of Dutch television. Yes, we were very excited about that prospect too! By: Saskia Joreen

Interview: The Ladies behind Dutch Series ‘Hot Grass’

eurOut: Hi ladies! Tell us a little

Sia: I’m not gay. But we wanted to

series with a lesbian main character

about yourselves and your project!

turn our final project into something

could really contribute to normalizing

about an important topic. And it’s

homosexuality for everyone.

Alieke: We’re fourth-year students of

so important to have more lesbian

Audiovisual Media at the Utrecht School

visibility in the media. For me it just

Alieke: Exactly. We’ve noticed that

of Arts.It’s a study that prepares you

stems from personal conviction and

media and visibility are so powerful

for a career in the media industry.

idealism. I have a sense of urgency

and important for the acceptance of

Hot Grass (original Dutch title: Heet

about it. This needs to be done, now.

homosexuality. We’ve researched the

Gras) is our final project. It’s about a

topic of lesbian visibility extensively

sixteen-year-old girl named Sam, who

Alieke: I am attracted to women,

before we started the actual creation

has a big passion for soccer. She gets

I’m

worked

of Hot Grass and we found out that

selected to play for the best team of FC

together before on a project during

there has been so little visibility up

Athena, where she falls in love with the

our internship, Raaf Mixer, which was

until now.

team’s striker, Roxy. She turns Sam’s

an interactive series for children. We

world upside down.

liked working together a lot, so we

What else did you discover during

decided to do it again for our final

your research?

bisexual.

Sia

and

Sia: We have pretty much wrapped

project. Like Sia said, we wanted it to

up shooting the pilot and we’re now

be about something important. And it’s

Alieke:

working on the sound design and

very important for lesbian girls to have

underrepresentation of lesbians, we

music of the episode.

something or someone in which they

figured out that lesbian representation

can recognize themselves. That’s not

is very connected to gender and the

out there yet, at least not in Holland.

idea of what exactly is considered

Obviously we’re very excited about the idea of a series with a lesbian

Well,

apart

from

the

‘feminine’. We’ve had some great and

main character. How did you come

Sia: Not to mention that we are

groundbreaking shows out there but

up with this idea? Are you gay?

making this series for a mainstream,

they hardly challenged gender roles.

This and all other ‘Heet Gras’ images are property of the ‘Heet Gras’ crew.

young

Alieke (l) and Sia (r)

audience.

Showing

them

Interview: The Ladies behind Dutch Series ‘Hot Grass’

Can you elaborate on that?

exist about lesbians. Their depiction of

to broadcast Hot Grass on a major

lesbians is so different from the very

mainstream network, we’ll need the

adventure

few lesbians I saw in the media when

help and resources of others.

and action are always connected to

I was growing up and discovering my

Alieke:

For

instance,

boys. There are

Sia: And with

very few media

the

productions

that

focus on a female protagonist does of

all

that kinds

tough

and

adventurous stuff. I think that in

our

sexism

society is

stronger

still than

homophobia. And

“ The problem with showing two girls together is that it can easily be oversexualized.”

of course it’s also sexuality. When I watch something

(Gay

S t ra i g h t Alliances) we want to show the

pilot

schools

all

over

the

Netherlands, to

stimulate

discussion a

connected to each other.

help

GSAs

homosexuality in a light-hearted way.

lesbian now, I get into a sort of rush, Trying to question gender roles

a sense of ‘I want that too!’. It’s so

So let’s assume Hot Grass gets

and

also

great and important to see something

picked up. Do you want to be

contributing to positive lesbian

that you can recognize yourself in in a

involved all the way or are you

visibility is quite an ambitious

positive and affirmative way.

willing to sell the idea if there’s no

expectations

while

challenge!

alternative? Absolutely! Which is why we love

Alieke: It is. Perhaps it’s not even

your efforts to make this series

Sia: That would be a really difficult

possible to put it all into one series.

happen. You’ve only shot the pilot

decision.

Being a filmmaker myself, I know

so far. What’s next?

involved all the way. This is our baby,

that most filmmakers want to make

Ideally

want

we don’t want to let it go. But if we

entertaining fiction, which can be

Sia: We’ll be premiering the pilot in a

have to choose between getting our

pretty hard to balance with giving

movie theatre in Amsterdam later this

message

a certain group proper and realistic

month, but that’s mostly meant for the

further involved and being involved

representation. I mean, the gender

people that worked on it. Just to see

but not getting the message out

aspect aside, The L Word did a pretty

the result of all our hard work and to

there… I don’t know.

great thing for lesbian visibility. It

learn from it. After that, we’ll be taking

showed time and time again that

the pilot to production companies and

Nowadays, creators of series often

lesbians really don’t need men.

broadcasters.

turn to the internet to get their

Sia: The problem with showing two

Alieke: That’s when it becomes really

broadcasting is hard to realize.

girls together, though, is that it can

exciting. We’ll pitch the series to them

Would you consider turning Hot

easily be oversexualized. Glamorizing

and hope that someone will want to

Grass into a web series?

lesbianism like that can have its pros

pick it up for further development and

and cons.

broadcasting. Of course we’d do it all

Alieke: It’s definitely an interesting

ourselves if we could, but we have

possibility.

Alieke: I think The L Word definitely

to be realistic. Since we’re beginning

have to think about. We’ve already

glamorized lesbianism, which has been

filmmakers it’s just so much harder to

received very enthusiastic responses

good to combat the stereotypes that

get your show out there. If we want

from the international online lesbian

out

there

without

being

content out there when regular

It’s

something

we’d

Interview: The Ladies behind Dutch Series ‘Hot Grass’

community when we put up our teaser

the sole root of her existence.

one of our prime examples during

of the pilot on YouTube, which was

the creation of Hot Grass, but Sugar

really amazing. The internet is a good

Sia: In the love department, there’s

Rush is also very British. The same

medium to cater to very specific, small

also

fancies

goes for South of Nowhere. That’s

audiences, and young people spend

Sam. Not to mention that Roxy has a

so typically American and focused on

so much time online. Our ‘problem’

boyfriend.

the high school experience. We want

Roxy’s

brother

who

with that would be that we want to

to make our series recognizable for

cater to a wider audience. We want to

Alieke: And we have much more.

appeal to everyone between the ages

Obviously

of twelve and eighteen, not just the

important. We know that soccer is

Alieke: Roxy’s parents run a coffee

ones with lesbian feelings. It would be

often associated with lesbians, but

shop, that’s also pretty Dutch!

a challenge to accomplish that with a

that’s not the reason why we came

the

sports

element

Dutch teens.

The

web series. Sia: Although it’s w

certainly o

exploring. W

’

currently

e in

the

process

learning

much

we can about web

series

“ We’re very happy with the girls that play Sam and Roxy now. They were the best at the auditions! ”

teaser the

looks

pilot very

professional. How

did

make

you that

happen? Sia:

Our

main

sponsor is .open up, which focuses on being able to talk about sexual

Internet played a big part in the project

up with it. We needed a setting that

diversity. It’s part of the NJR (Dutch

that we did during our internship, and

had a team, to show the interpersonal

national youth council). But mostly we

that was pretty successful too. Our

dynamics and relationships. And to

were able to make it happen with the

focus right now is to get Hot Grass

show what it’s like to be a lesbian in

help of some very enthusiastic people!

on Dutch television, but we are not

a mainly straight world. We picked

Our

excluding other options, not at all!

soccer because it’s such a popular

people from the film industry...

classmates,

casting

agencies,

sport in general. Alieke: And we will make the pilot

Alieke: A big Dutch casting agency

available online, after the premiere.

Sia: And Sam is originally a ‘hockey

hooked us up with some great adult

Because obviously we want to know

girl’, which is also fun to play around

actors. For the casting of Sam, Roxy

what people think of it!

with. We have so many stereotypes

and the others we used a children’s

in the Netherlands about people that

casting agency. Some girls dropped

Since you want to appeal to a wide

play field hockey. It’s fun to challenge

out during the auditions when it

range of young viewers, Hot Grass

those.

became clear that we expected them

will probably not only focus on Sam’s lesbian feelings? Alieke: That’s correct. This is the great

to kiss. Alieke: (laughs) We could’ve kept the setting in the hockey team, that

Sia: Although we’re not sure that

would’ve been interesting too!

was because of the lesbian factor.

thing about a series; you get to have

Especially at that age I can imagine

several characters, several storylines,

Sia: Overall, Hot Grass is a very Dutch

it to be really scary to kiss anyone

and you’ll be able to explore those

show, because Dutch people are our

on camera. We’re very happy with

over time. Sam discovers things about

primary audience. We love the British

the girls that play Sam and Roxy

her sexuality, but her lesbianism is not

show Sugar Rush and it has been

now. They were the best ones at the

Interview: The Ladies behind Dutch Series ‘Hot Grass’

auditions! Alieke:

Tamara,

who

plays

Sam,

also kind of has an androgynous look going on. She’s not super feminine or masculine to look at. That’s an added bonus! Sia: Both Tamara and Dina [who plays Roxy] are so excited to star in Hot Grass. We’ve been very lucky to be able to work with such a dedicated and enthusiastic team. Can you give us any hints about Sam and Roxy’s future? Do they end up together? Alieke: (laughs) I don’t think we can really say! The pilot has somewhat of an open ending, that will hopefully make

viewers

wonder

what

will

happen next. Sia: Let’s just say that the pilot ends with a problematic situation. We would love to show everyone how everything This and all other ‘Heet Gras’ images are property of the ‘Heet Gras’ crew.

will turn out, but for that we’ll need to get the chance to make more episodes!

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

We’re definitely looking forward to the premiere, ladies, and wish you the best of luck!

More: Official website: heetgras.nl Facebook page: bit.ly/fb-heet-gras Teaser: bit.ly/ youtube-heet-gras

Tamara da Fies as Sam on the left, Dina Abadir as Roxy on the right

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

Norway

Mon-Fri at 20:10 on Eén

Tuesdays at 20:00 on TV2

Mon, Thu & Fri at 19:30/20:30 on ITV.

Start of the 16th season. Season 15

The new season of this drama series

Sophian sneak off to a music festival

ended with Ann winning custody of her

will include an element of lesBian love.

together. Still not knowing about their

Thuis

Hvaler

Coronation Street

adopted daughter, Sandrine.

relationship, Sophie’s parents find out and not only ground her, but forbid

Slovakia

Finland

her to have any contact with Sian.

Panelák

The girls work their way around that

Mon-Fri at 20:15 on TV JOJ

Kotikatu

Entering its 6th season, this sitcom

Thu & Fri at 20:00 on YLE TV1 Continuation of season 5. Laura finds herself alone. Read more about this

features

lesbian

couple

http://bit.ly/panelak.

Salatut Elämät

Spain

Finland’s answer to the Australian soap Neighbours features lesbian couple Heli and Iiris. Read more about the lesBian storyline in this show at http:// bit.ly/salatut.

and

Denisa. Read more about it online at

show at http://bit.ly/kotikatu.

Mon-Fri at 19:30 on MTV3

Lucia

Imogen takes Gaz to an open mic

Mon-Fri ay 16:15 on TVE 1 Héctor discovers Ana and Teresa’s and

furious.

threatens Teresa, who is very afraid

Teresa won’t leave her side to take care of her which ends her marriage with Héctor, leaving him desperate.

Mon-Fri at 20:10 on France3. French

soap

(currently

its

6th

season) with lesbian couple Céline and Virginie.

Germany Lindenstrasse

Sundays at 18:50 on ARD Das Erste. Anna’s daughter Sarah is afraid that Steffi is involved in criminal activities again. She decides to spy on her and asks Tanja about her ex-girlfriend. Sarah backs off when Anna tells her that Steffi saved her life in prison.

Stay up-to-date with the most recent

Mon-Fri at 13:45 on BBC1.

problems and finds out she’s pregnant.

Plus belle la vie

Sophian contemplate to run away.

Doctors

of him. Meanwhile, Ana has health

France

everyone is about to find out the truth,

developments at bit.ly/eurout-corrie.

Amar en tiempos revueltos

relationship

by joining the church choir. When

comedy gig. People of the Valley Mon-Fri at 20:00 on BBC Wales Yvonne has a secret and is reluctant to share it with Gwyneth. She ends up packing all her belongings.

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,

Rechtskomitee Lambda

sexuales

Çavaria www.cavaria.be Wel Jong Niet Hetero

GERMANY

www.weljongniethetero.be

Lesbian and Gay Fede-

Tran-

Bisexuales Española

ration in Germany

NORWAY

SWEDEN

BELARUS

http://typo3.lsvd.

Norwegian National

Swedish Federation for

TEMA information center

de/229.0.html

Association for Lesbian

Lesbian,

and 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

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

eur ut .org european.lesbian.news