V-RAG MAGAZINE
Display until April 1, 2012
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Out with the old and in with the new! You may notice some changes at V-Rag this month, hopefully for the better. While we may have a new look to the magazine, it's the same quality content that you've come to expect from us. March marks our political edition, and we have celebrity columnist Dan Savage chatting about the American political climate this month! Also this month, MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert gets personal, we profile some of our favourite local drinking holes, and RuPaul's Drag Race contestant Sharon Needles reveals some secrets from this season of the hit TV show. Hope everyone's post-WinterPRIDE hangover is treating them well, enjoy!. V Editor & Art Director
Cole Johnston • cole@v-rag.com Editorial staff
Printed by
Derek Bedry John Britton Charlie David Tommy Dolanjski Rob Farrow Jason Goodwin Jen Hill Cole Johnston Pop Trash Addict Mike Symone Says Mumbles Matt Roy Michael Venus
East Van Graphics Publisher
Cole Johnston Design Art & Photography
Mathu Andersen David Ellingsen Nicholas Jang Robert John Kate McLaren MTV Canada Christopher Staton Cover Photo by
Christopher Staton
Copy deadline for the April issue is March 23. Ad space is available until March 26 and can be booked by calling 604831-8179 or emailing ads@v-rag.com. Our rates are available upon request. V-Rag welcomes submissions but accepts no responsibility for the return of unsolicited materials. V-Rag Magazine 1535 West Broadway, PO Box 29141 Vancouver B.C. V6J 1W6 V-Rag is printed monthly by Cole Johnston Design. No part of this may be reproduced in any form by any means without prior written consent from the publisher. All content Š 2012 Cole Johnston Design.
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www.v-rag.com
V-RAG MAGAZINE
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spencer c. herbert
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DAN SAVAGE
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drink up vancouver
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v-map
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sharon needles
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health & wellness
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1girl 5gays
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symone says
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wayoutwest
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film & music notes
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rupaul's round up
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calendar of events
Our West End MLA chats candidly about his city and his family. The columnist who came up with the "other" meaning of Santorum... We profile some of our favourite spots to make poor judgements! Don't get lost! Find everything you need to know here. Everyday is Halloween for this Queen, a Drag Race favourite! I Love You, Now Sign This. Because only fools rush in... Meet MTV star Jake Mossop, as we grill him on the new season. Symone's Springtime political rundown... Who's hot and who's not? Download MobileTag and get started watching this month's videos! Reviews of The Woman in Black, Paris Hilton, Burial and more... What did the first month of RuPaul's Drag Race have in store? The city's most comprehensive calendar in a new format!
features
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photo courtesy of spencer chandra herbert
"Maybe it's because we all live in little shoeboxes stacked on top of each other, but we end up looking out for each other."
v-rag magazine #32
S
pend a few minutes with Vancouver West-End MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert and you will want to be a better person… and a much better citizen. His enthusiasm for our city is infectious. Stanley Park, local arts and culture, safe affordable housing for everyone, advocating for the GLBTA community, safe schools, preserving St. Paul’s Hospital… at the ripe old age of 30, Chandra Herbert has proven that age is irrelevant when passion is at play. V-Rag was very happy to have an opportunity to speak with Mr. Chandra Herbert about his brief but dynamic career so far. What is your favourite aspect to living in the West End… other than the wicked coffee at Delaney’s? In the West End there’s a wonderful sense of community – maybe it’s because we all live in little shoeboxes stacked on top of each other but we end up looking out for each other, and putting that extra bit of care into our neighbourhood. How does constantly being challenged on your ideas and your desire for equality affect you? It must be like banging your head against a brick wall sometimes! What do you do to keep positive? When I bang up against the brick wall (that is too often our Liberal government) when fighting for justice and equality for our GLBT community, I think of pioneers in our community who’ve gone before in even harder circumstances, and I think of those in our community who are facing discrimination and tough times right now. They inspire me to speak up with more courage and with more spirit. If no one speaks up, nothing changes. You have been a strong advocate for equality and anti-bullying. What messaging within the government would you like to see? For the last 11 years the Liberal government has promised action on homophobic bullying in our schools but then taken no action. We need a government that will act now to
march 2012
by jen hill
stop the incredible rates of homophobia, and transphobia in our schools. All schools that receive public money must enact policy that ensures LGBT youth are protected, and that students are taught about the rich diversity of people we have in BC, whether they be gay, trans, bi, lesbian or from different cultural backgrounds. We’re stronger when we embrace and celebrate our diversity. On a more personal level, I hear you and your husband were recently approved to be adoptive parents! Congratulations! How has that process been and what steps are left before you're ready to adopt? On Valentines Day my husband Romi and I learned we have now been approved to adopt. We are overjoyed. It can take months or years before we are selected to become new parents by a new or expectant mom so we’re not quite there yet, but getting closer! We can’t wait to raise a child together. What's next on the Spencer Chandra Herbert agenda, both political and personal? I’m working to establish Vancouver’s first Rent Bank, a homelessness prevention tool in collaboration with the city, non-profit groups, foundations, and business organizations. I’m tired of seeing low income constituents being forced out of the West End, and on to the street when a crisis beyond their control means they can’t make their rent at the end of the month. This costs the system huge dollars, and could be remedied in some cases through a short-term loan program with rules to prevent abuse. Seeing low income seniors thrown out of their homes through no fault of their own because a cheque was late, or they fell ill is hard to take. We can fix this through working together. Personally – I want to try to get away from the desk, the computer, and sometimes endless policy documents and get out to dance, and take in our city’s night life more often. V Read the full interview on www.v-rag.com. www.spencerchandraherbert.ca
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"I don't know if the Harper government intentionally kicked the hornet's nest, but they kicked it, and they had no idea how many hornets were inside."
photos by christopher staton
features
v-rag magazine #32 march 2012
by derek bedry referendum overturning that decision?
D
an Savage hitched his fate to Rick Santorum’s wagon when he instigated the now-infamous Googlebased redefining of the then-Republican senator’s last name in 2003. Against all logic, Santorum has surged ahead as one of two frontrunners in the 2012 race to select Barack Obama’s opponent for the next term of United States presidency – and Savage is riding the frothy wave. The two are as radically opposite as Batman and the Joker, and as inextricably entangled. And like his conservative foil Santorum, the controversial sex columnist can be as sure of taking a glitterbomb at each speaking engagement as he can of packing the house. Savage and his husband Terry Miller live in Seattle, where Savage works as Editorial Director for alternative newspaper The Stranger. Savage founded the It Gets Better Project, a series of anti-bullying YouTube videos to help combat LGBTQ youth suicides. He also publishes his syndicated weekly column Savage Love in several dozen alternative papers including Vancouver’s Georgia Straight. The unapologetic pundit has become a kind of iconoclastic celebrity, a household name, his acerbic commentary sought across popular media on all manner of civil rights issues, especially what he calls the eternal battle of same-sex social equality. That’s why when Santorum finally trickles out, Savage will be as relevant as ever. You recently made the arduous trek from Seattle up to Vancouver. Did you notice anything glaringly different about a postriot, post-Occupy Vancouver? Nope. Things seemed to have returned to normal—Granville is still Granville. My mom had a framed "God Bless This Mess" needlepoint hanging on the wall in her (neat-as-apin) kitchen. I always think of that needlepoint when I'm walking down Granville. So, Washington State! How does that feel? What do you think is the likelihood of a
Marriage equality comes to Washington State! It doesn't feel like anything yet, actually, because we haven't actually achieved it. We knew from the start that it would go to the ballot — the bigots assured us, all along, that they would file a referendum and attempt to repeal the law. And, while it's exciting, we still won't be equal under the law. DOMA remains on the books, at the federal level, and that blocks most of the rights and protections of marriage — and some of the most important. I can't, for example, marry a cute Canadian snowboarder and get him citizenship, so long as DOMA's on the books (don't know why a Canadian snowboarder would want to marry me, or if Terry would approve, but there it is). I'd put the chances of a successful repeal at 50/50. But even when we lose, we win. Every time we have the debate – and it's going to be a huge debate – we win more support. Let's hope we win majority support before November. But if we don't win this November, we'll win in a future November. Marriage equality was repealed at the ballot box in Maine last year. (MIght have been two years ago – I'll double check.) And it's back on the ballot this November. The fight for marriage equality isn't over until we say it's over and it' s not over until we win. Remember the day everybody thought gay marriages performed in Canada were dissolved? You told CBC that despite the government's insistence they weren't reopening the issue, it had been reopened. LAMBDA released a clarification saying why they weren't worried about it and news sources later caught up. The whole thing blew over. But do you still believe Prime Minister Harper wants to put holes in the validity of Canadian same-sex marriages? Anyone who doesn't think the outcry was responsible for the quick reversal – the lightening quick reversal – is fatally naive. I don't know if the Harper government intentionally kicked the hornet's nest, but they kicked it, and they had no idea how many hornets
Because it's all they've got. The economy is improving, which erases Romney's reason for being/running, and they've reverted to form: attacking people for the crime of having recreational sex. Their opposition to abortion, contraception, and gay rights — it all comes down to an obsession with recreational sex and a desire to punish people who have sex for the "wrong" reasons. It's pathological. I like to say, "Canada got the French, Australia got the convicts, America got the Puritans." It's why these issues, down here, will never, ever be resolved. Do you think it's easier for teens today to be gay than when you were a teen? It depends. If a kid lives in a relatively tolerant place, goes to a school with a GSA and anti-bullying policies that are actually enforced, and has the love and support of his family, there's never been a better time to be a gay kid than right now. Really. But if a kid lives in some backwards shithole, goes to a school without a GSA or antibullying policies (or, God forbid, a private Christian school), and he has homophobic parents who are bullying him—there's never been a worse time to be a gay kid. were inside. I think Harper wants to stay away from this issue. It might interfere with his plot to pollute the world with dirty, sandy oil.
Well, I just spent a week in Canada, visiting some of my favorite places (The Summit Hut at Panorama, the fire place in the hotel at Sunshine Village). And it seems fine, very normal, still Canada. I hope that one day Canada's long national nightmare ends and Harper is shown the exit, along with his conservative cronies. In the meantime, everyone in Canada should react to any attempt by the Harper government to roll back civil rights or reproductive freedoms the same way folks reacted to the sudden invalidation of same-sex marriages performed in Canada for foreigners: like a bunch of angry, motherfucking hornets.
The 30-year anti-gay hate campaign that has been waged down here by the religious right. They have injected poison into our culture, and kids are paying the price. Adults who fall for the hatred and lies — gay marriage is an attack on your family, gay people want to destroy the family, being gay is sick and sinful and will lead to the downfall of our civilization — can only attack gay people with their checkbooks and their votes. But their children — children who are exposed to the same hatred and lies — go to school on Monday morning and there's the gay kid. They've listened to their pastor rant and rave about how God hates fags soooooooo much, and they've been told that gay people, by simply existing, represent an existential threat to their families. Mom and dad attack gay people at the ballot box. Their straight kids attack gay kids they encounter in the hallways, bathrooms, locker rooms, and lunchrooms. V
Why is U.S. political discourse shrinking back into such obsessive sexual conservatism?
Read the full interview on www.v-rag.com. www.thestranger.com
Justin Trudeau recently said "if at a certain point I believe that Canada was really the Canada of Stephen Harper – maybe I would think about making Quebec a country". What is your view on the current climate of Stephen Harper's Canada?
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What specific factors in the current cultural discourse are impacting that?
1238 Davie Street_ 604.669.1753
www.littlesisters.ca
all underwear 25% off for the month of march
features
There has been some grumbling about the yesteryear of Vancouver's bar and club scene, that the Odyssey has left a gap where once there was culture. While several great (and not-so-great) venues have come and gone over the years, 2012 is an amazing year to be in Vancouver. The nightlife is growing stronger and more diverse than ever before. Clubs like The Cobalt, The Waldorf, Fortune Sound Club, Ginger62 and Club 23 West bring a revitalized energy to our GLBT community. Legendary Vancouver hot spots like Oasis,
oasis
1240 Thurlow Street 604.685.1724 www.oasisondavie.com
With the future of certain mega-clubs on shaky ground, the GLBT community has embraced more intimate venues recently. Oasis could be called the megaclub of these smaller haunts. Manager Yannick Desautels has turned the oncestuffy piano bar into the hottest gay club in Vancouver, with weekly parties surpassing those of three-story giants. Some of the hottest male strippers in the city turn Thursday's Junk into a Montreal-style meat show, Gay'er Fridays has line-ups around the block just to get in, and Peaches on Saturday proves that the lesbians of Vancouver have a voice in club culture. The Dirty Oasis
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2 oz Cuervo Tequila 1.5 oz Grapefruit Juice 0.5 oz Lime Cordial Bitters Shake on ice and serve
Celebrities, 1181, Junction, PumpJack and The Narrow are stronger than ever. They demonstrate that the club scene in Vancouver is even more exciting now. Let's be honest, we often grace their doors to have a drink or six. So these establishments have all graciously given us recipes for their signature drinks. The secrets are out, so I hope your liquor cabinets are well stocked. Definitely try these at home folks, then check out the talented staff that came up with these cocktails. Drink up, Vancouver!
v-rag magazine #32
celebrities
1022 Davie Street 604.681.6180 www.celebritiesnightclub.com Back in the mid-90s, Celebrities ruled the scene. It was the kind of club that you would spend hours getting ready for, and even more time recovering from. Well, Davie Street is a much different place 15 years on, but Celebrities is still the king of nightclub culture in Vancouver. Stereotype Saturdays have brought some of the biggest names to our city, from Diplo, Chris Lake, Steve Aoki and MSTRKRFT, just to name a few. All this and Celebrities remains true to its gay roots, hosting weekly Drag Bingo, male strippers and most recently, Vancouver's Next Drag Superstar competition. Here's to another 15 years in the Village. celebrities wet dream 0.5 oz Coconut Rum 0.25 oz Peach Schnapps 0.25 oz Melon Liquor Fill with Lime Juice and Soda
features
1181
1181 Davie Street 604.787.7130 www.1181.ca Still the best place to start your night, 1181 has been stepping up to bring international talent! Jack's Back 1.5 oz Jack Daniels 0.5 oz Chambord 4-5 Fresh Muddled Raspberries Top with Cranberry Juice Garnish with Fresh Berry
the pumpjack pub 1167 Davie Street 604.685.3417 www.pumpjackpub.com
Without question, The PumpJack Pub is every bear's, cub's, otter's (is penguin a thing yet?) favourite watering hole. Sunday Keggers still create lines down the street, and the old school pub feel has kept it one of the most popular bars on Davie. The pumpjack A frosty mug of Angry Scotch Lager
junction
1138 Davie Street 604.669.2013 www.junctionpub.com Junction has quickly taken the Odyssey's place as the nightclub to be until the wee hours. spicy pear 1 oz Pear Vodka Half 7-Up Half Soda 2 Shakes of Tabasco Garnish with Lime
the narrow
1898 Main Street 778.737.5206 www.narrowlounge.com Head down every Thursday to see Michael Venus spinning all night. Great food too! burt reynolds cocktail
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1.5 oz Sailor Jerry Rum 0.5 oz Butter Ripple Schnapps 2 oz Pineapple Juice Shake with Splash of Egg White and Ice Top with Ginger Beer, Garnish with Lime
v-rag magazine #32 march 2012
1167 Davie street Vancouver
www.pumpjackpub.com
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features
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photos by mathu andersen
"I'd rather look like a horse in a dress and be able to talk myself out of anything than be a pretty drag queen that has nothing to offer."
v-rag magazine #32
W
ith RuPaul's Drag Race Season 4 in full swing, there's already some controversy brewing among the contestants. Whether you're a pageant queen lover or into high fashion, Sharon Needles is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with and a serious threat to anyone vying for the prize. I had the pleasure of chatting with Sharon about her unique style of drag and what inspires this queen of darkness. How did you get your start in this style of drag? I think I do the style of drag that I do because I don't know how to do it any other way. I have an obsession with costumes and creating a character. I always loved fictional women growing up. Peggy Bundy and Elvira were such huge inspirations to me because they were completely fictionalized. So I just had this connection with fake women and I knew when I grew up that this was what I wanted to do. What made you want to audition for this season of Drag Race? I auditioned for Drag Race because it's my favourite television show‌ Ever! I sat in the same chair in the same living room for the last 3 years at 9:00. And I just found it riveting television; it's campy, it's serious, it has a lot of heart and it gives America a backstage pass to a drag queen's dressing room‌ Which is something I don't think anyone outside of the drag world has ever seen. I mean, you see a drag queen on stage and you think of them as this strong example of femininity, and you don't see the vulnerability or the male side and the pain and the hurt and the laughs that go behind drag. And I wanted to be on it because I'm vain and I wanted to see myself on television. It's an American disease, I don't know if you have it in Canada because all you get is Degrassi High. Which I love. Who do you think is your biggest competition this season?
march 2012
by cole johnston
You know, we're all so individually strong in our own ways that we're all each others' biggest competition. Beauty queens have won this show the last three seasons and this season seems to have a desire to see someone's personalty and artistic ability rather than how much of a Barbie Doll they can be‌ From Kenya Michaels' fierce presence on the runway to Chad Michaels' professionalism and 20 years in the business to Phi Phi O'Hara's cut-throat way to take down her challenger to Madame LaQueer's loveable hamminess to Jiggly Caliente's ghetto lovability, they're really all my competition. So far you've won two challenges. Do you think the competition has underestimated you? Most definitely. I think most fishy queens that try to look most realistically like a woman as possible tend to have little to no social life outside of their drag persona. That is why they're trying to create a believable woman, because they need the audience to believe them. I don't need anyone to believe what I'm selling because the product speaks for itself. So for a lot of the beauty queens that think the epitome of drag is to look as fishy as possible, they need to research the history of drag a little more. Some of the most relevant and successful drag artists in history were not fishy drag queens. From Leigh Bowery to Divine to Jane Lane, several personalities were not pretty Barbie Dolls with no personality. I'd rather look like a horse in a dress and be able to talk myself out of anything than be a pretty drag queen that has nothing to offer. If you could pick, would your dream judge be? I had my dream judge. It was Elvira Mistress of the Dark; my character has been completely based around her. There are three things that have to be Sharon Needles; I have to be spooky, I have to be beautiful and I have to be ditzy, but on top of all of it I have to be approachable. And I think I learned that as a child from Elvira. I guess if I could pick another judge, it would be Tammy Faye Baker. But she's
features dead… Or Vincent Price. But he's dead… Or Whitney Houston. But she's dead… What was it like having Elvira call you "her kind of ghoul"? I say this a lot and people think that I'm joking but it's very true… I'm not a spiritual person and I don't believe in the after life, but there were moments when I wondered, did I die in my sleep and I'm in some bizarre purgatory limbo world where my idols who cultivated my character in my childhood are now judging me? I mean, I have RuPaul and Elvira and Michelle Visage… judging me. So it was very surreal and I sometimes questioned my own sanity as I saw them there. For Sharon Needles, it was a shock that they would even let somebody with my name and background be on the show,
and then to have the first episode be about zombies, and have Elvira… It was just very surreal… Like it was almost catered to me. You know, I'm sure a lot of people had that thought too. Did you feel like you had really lucked out when the first episode was so dark and apocalyptic? I did, but it also was a little scary because, since the first one was so catered to me and I had tens across the board, I knew that it was not gonna stay that way. But I also knew that this season was a lot campier and hammier than other seasons. I mean, we've had four episodes and we've already been in the wrestling ring, we've been chased by zombies and we've had to be in infomercials selling RuPaul's record. These are true campy challenges, and I love it because they display the contestant's personality and not how well they can look like Vanessa Williams. What's your favourite horror film? It would have to be Return of the Living Dead. I think it's the best zombie movie of all time. It's scary, it's campy, it's '80s, it's got full-frontal nudity… It had the best one-liners ever. My personal favourite being "What, you think this is a fucking costume? This is a way of life". It's a quote I use a lot. What's your strategy for when a zombie apocalypse strikes? Oh I'd just say "fuck it, turn me into a zombie". And then I'd only eat alcoholics. You sold the song "Cover Girl" in a recent episode of Drag Race. But what song would YOU say best describes Sharon Needles? I would say… "Everyday is Halloween" by Ministry. It's really the anthem for my life. Can you give us any hints or previews on what's to come this season? All I can say is this season has more twists and turns than any season before. And I would definitely say Canada, be prepared to be shocked by what's to come. Thanks so much! Any last-minute advice for up and coming queens? Tell them if they every get booed offstage… It's just applause from ghosts. Hail Satan! V
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RuPaul's Drag Race airs every Monday at 10pm on OutTV in Canada and Logo in the US. www.outtv.com www.sharonneedles.com
Adult Boutique
Where pleasure meets style...
se Vanco uv er's larges t
lect io n of
Lingerie facebook.com/sweetadultboutique 1402 West Broadway
[1 Block East of Granville]
604.734.1402
www.sweetadultbou tique.com
health
by charlie david
Y
22
ou know how the story goes: boy meets boy, they kiss, fireworks light up the sky, and everyone lives happily ever after. Well that’s the way we believe it’s supposed to happen. In reality though, the majority of relationships come to a conclusion because they are explorations of ourselves and what type of man we find compatible. If everything works well, you’re blinded by love in the beginning. The smile is cute, the body sexy, conversation is interesting, and minor flaws of the beloved make him all the more charming and unique. This state, however, does not last forever. Eventually he does not smile that often anymore, he eschews exercise for pizza, is too tired for witty chats after work – and those minor flaws slowly become a vast hotbed for endless bickering. This can signal the end of the romance as disillusionment sets in. So armed with the knowledge that your new Winter romance may not stay sizzling hot through the thaw of Spring here are some friendly pointers to keep things civil if the romance dies. Guys – don’t be lesbians. Don’t move in together after a blissful first week or month. There’s nothing sexy about shared rent with your ex. Shared bank accounts – don’t even think about it. Each king manages his own gold – period. Buying Joint Property – Don’t engage your new beau in one of the most stressful purchases of your life. If you must disregard my advice here – make sure both names are on the title, split expenses 50/50 from dollar one and have a pre-arranged and agreed upon mediator in case things go sour. I Love You, Now Sign This – Zsa Zsa Gabor has had nine husbands and you can too. But don’t lose your shirt dividing the spoils after every war. Statistics don’t lie and an alarming majority of modern marriages end in separation or divorce. So don’t be a shmuck, and get a pre-nup. By the way, Zsa Zsa currently remains happily married to a
Prince… although he is most often spotted strolling the streets of West Hollywood. Slow & Steady – If you find yourself picking out curtains and racing to the altar on the first date, put on the brakes dude. Keep some mystery, endeavor to surprise him with planned spontaneity and keep it fresh and sexy. There’s a lost art with my generation; it’s called dating. It involves going to dinners and events with different guys and giving their personality a test drive. When you see one you find delectable, then proceed to Going Steady. Note: "dating" does not mandate sex. That would be called "sleeping around", which may get you labeled the Village Man Whore and is not recommended. By avoiding the common early pitfalls of shared living, shared property (don’t even think about getting a puppy!) and taking it slow and steady, you can prevent fireworks from exploding inside a courtroom or therapist’s office and keep them in your bedroom – where they belong. V Charlie David is an award-winning author and host of the OutTV travel show Bump! He returns to V-Rag next month with Good Time Charlie. www.charliedavid.com
E R R PIE
WHEN IT COMES TO HIV TESTING, EVERYONE HAS A NUMBER. SOME GUYS SHOULD TEST MORE OFTEN. Guys who are more at risk should test every three months. Guys who are less at risk VKRXOG WHVW HYHU\ WZHOYH PRQWKV <RX FDQ Ã&#x20AC;QG \RXU QXPEHU DQG VLJQ XS IRU WHVWLQJ UHPLQGHUV VHQW WR \RXU SKRQH RU H PDLO DW FKHFNKLPRXW FD WHVWLQJ
ENTERTAINMENT
photo courtesy of mtv.ca
by michael venus
Fave colour (and why)?
Facebook or Twitter?
Blue, because it is the colour of the ocean and I am secretly a mer-man.
Why not both? They serve different purposes for me. But if I want to stay connected to the 'now' of anything: I'd say Twitter. @nurse_jake #wink
Must have item for spring? Sunglasses. They aren't just for the summer. As the sun begins to come out, I invest in a pair of sunglasses that make me feel like a million bucks. I pair them with the basics: favourite tee, jeans and a spring jacket, and that's all I need. Perfect Spring Break getaway? NYC in the spring is unbelievable. It is close to Toronto, not too hot yet, and Central Park is blooming. See you there! Hollywood crush?
24
My crush for Zac Efron has now just started. He is looking smoking hot lately. Move over, Taylor Swift.
RuPaul or Tyra? RuPaul - a man who truly knows how to smize. Who on the show do you most relate too? I most relate to Thomas. We both have gay older brothers and we have similar opinions and views. And when you see him dance, you'd swear he was also half-black. Whitney Houston or Amy Winehouse? Whitney Houston. RIP. V New episodes of 1 girl 5 gays air every Friday at 11pm on MTV Canada. www.mtv.ca www.logotv.com
Mother Nature has finally relinquished her frigid clutch for a smart light weight Pashmina... In other words, Spring is right around the corner. Can I get an Amen? By now you fine readers are aware the rolling theme this month is politics. My grandmother Ruby always said that politics and religion were two topics best left out of conversation. That being said, I am only going to comment on one of them, with as little political correctness as possible. Topic du jour, sexy Canadian politicians dead or alive: Pierre Elliott Trudeau, the trailblazing renegade who not only championed gay rights but made male
patterned baldness sexy! How else was he able to date Ms. Barbara Streisand? Nicholas Dufour, the adorable MP who looks more like a finalist of Canadian Idol than the MP elected at age 21 and the youngest member of the Canadian Parliament. I feel like Chicken tonight…or is that Poutine? No list would be complete without our illustrious mayor Gregor Robertson. Here is a straight GQ guy who doesn't miss a Pride Parade, is not afraid to have a drink at a gay club, and looks great in a suit or lycra. Gregor, I have been trying to get an interview. Have your people call mine, don't make me beg… Hmmmmmmmm... XO! V Use the QR Code to watch the videos on your iPhone. Download the free Mobiletag app. Scan the QR code for the video or type the url address into your browser to watch the videos. Visit www.wayoutwest.tv for more gay videos!
WATCH: Days of Our Lives First Gay Kiss
WATCH: Dumb Blonde by Miss Guy
The US daytime soap airs their first gay kiss and it's not a peck, it's a make out session.
Miss Guy's new music video servers up straight up rock. Feels like it's already a classic.
WATCH: Private Romeo Trailer
WATCH: Struck by Lightning
When 8 cadets are left behind at a military school, the greatest romance ever written seeps out.
Chris Colfer writes and stars in his first feature film, playing a jaded high schooler.
www.tinyurl.com/vrag129
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www.tinyurl.com/vrag130
www.tinyurl.com/vrag132
photo by david ellingsen
v-rag magazine #32
entertainment
Take Shelter
the woman in black
Curtis (Michael Shannon) leads a good, simple life in rural Midwestern Ohio. But when his recurring apocalyptic nightmares start to bleed into his own reality, he obsesses about building an underground shelter in his backyard. Although designed to protect his family from the impending ‘end-of-days’ storm that only he can see, his increasingly drastic actions start tearing their domesticity apart. This is the film M. Night Shyamalan wishes he could make; a terrifying parable with a fantastical slant grounded in gritty, everyday reality. There’s no Hollywood fire and brimstone in these visions; instead, it’s the eerie imagery of hundreds of dead birds falling from the sky or motor oil-like rain drizzling from towering storm clouds. Is Curtis a prophet? Or is the schizophrenia that destroyed his mother starting to eat away at him as well? So skilful is the storytelling, and so immense are the performances, that the final 20 minutes hit with an emotional wallop that few movies can manage. Jessica Chastain (who bafflingly got an Oscar nod for The Help but was overlooked for her work here) is devastating as Curtis’s bewildered wife, but it is Shannon’s portrayal of the fractured every-man that anchors the movie; Curtis’s psyche is the real stormfront, and watching his slow descent into mental turmoil is heartbreaking and frightening. This is truly the performance of the year, and is unforgivably absent from this year’s Best Actor nominees.
I always forget that the cheesy, gory horror films premiere in October, but the truly terrifying thrillers come out in February and March. The Woman in Black is one of the most chilling films I’ve seen in a very long time. I’m still haunted! Here’s the setup: a small English village devastated by the continual tragic deaths of several children in the town; a mysterious house situated at the centre of a vast marsh, where a daily tide floods out the road to it for a brief time; a terrible tragedy from time’s past that leaves the townsfolk in a constant state of fear; and a young lawyer from out of town who is instructed to clean up the estates of the frightening house on the marsh, but who ends up uncovering the awful truth of the place. Daniel Radcliffe is the young lawyer, and I’m glad to see that his Harry Potter days have not destroyed his chances as an adult actor I can take seriously. In a well controlled performance, Radcliffe kept me curled in my chair as he continually ventures into dark rooms and chases after the woman in black, instead of getting the hell out of town. Of course, I don’t want to ruin the story, so all I’ll say is with the excellent performances, the creepy English landscape, and the pristine direction, The Woman in Black is worth seeing. Just don’t go alone like I did.
D: Jeff Nichols by John Britton
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D: James Watkins by Matt Roy
v-rag magazine #32 march 2012
burial
paris hilton
john talabot
The newest offering by young British dubstep artist Burial is released as an EP and clocks in at nearly 30 minutes long. Even at it's least daring, William Bevan's music can be hard to stick a label to as he flirts with an array of styles. Shifting between 2-step garage, dubstep and house, his innovative genre bending has gained him a lot of respect and critical acclaim, particularly for his 2007 album Untrue. This EP aims to take the experiment to another level. Made almost as 'thinking man's ambient music' Bevan now moves away from the traditional 3-4 minute long song to offer 3 tracks which stretch each of his soundscapes to over 10 minutes in length. Each track is sure to saturate every nook and cranny of your room as these shadowy hooks, beats and echoed vocals twist and mutate into one another. As the last track comes to an end, you realize you've been taken on a journey that leaves you feeling mystified yet content.
Say what you like about Paris Hilton, the heiress definitely has a sense of humour. Which is what makes her such an entertaining pop star - she's in on the joke. Take her new single "Drunk Text". The collaboration with dance outfit Manufactured Superstars basically involves her talking about getting drunk and sending explicit messages over bargainbasement beats. Apart from summing up my favourite weekend activity, it's also ten kinds of amazing and positions Paris as the leading poet of her generation. Hearing the underrated diva sing-talk lines like "I went out to the club the other night to, you know, dance with my bitches" and "no one is safe in the Twittersphere anymore" gives me life. You just know Madonna heard "Drunk Text" this afternoon and went into voluntary retirement. The other hoes are now officially obsolete! Can Paris please hurry up and release the follow-up to her genre-defining debut?
It’s that time of year when Winter madness really starts setting in. But why am I even talking about the weather? Because I’ve found the perfect album to get me through to Spring. John Talabot’s debut full length release, Fin, is a wonderful escape album. While I’m not a huge electronic connoisseur, I do appreciate the genre when it’s done well. The opening track, "Depak Ine", begins with tropical jungle sounds, followed by a mellow, medium paced beat and a grand medley of pipes, synth, and vox. And voila! — we’re lifted out of this cold soggy climate and transplanted somewhere resembling the warm plains of Spain. The entire album is highly melodic and mesmerizing, it all melds into one warm fuzzy eargasm. As such I can’t really pinpoint any standout tracks, although I do especially love the bloodcurdling screams looped into "Oro y Sangre". Translation: it’s muy bueno!
"Kindred" by Mumbles
"Drunk Text" by Pop Trash Addict Mike
"Fin" by Matt Roy
entertainment
by tommy d
28
Hello racers! RuPaul’s Drag Race is back and going full steam ahead. We’re already four queens down, and the ones that are left are some of the best this show has ever seen. Let’s do a quick recap of the month so far! Make sure you check out www.homorazzi.com for my weekly recaps and elimination interviews. Follow me on Twitter @TommyD and my blog www.notafashiongay.com.
episode 1 RuPocalypse Now
As is customary, we had the famous entrance scene when all the queens walked in and gave each other the up and down. The theme this week was the end of the world, and it was a cute idea. In the mini photoshoot the queens had to stand on a spinning disk while they were shot with toxic goo. Jiggly Caliente was wrongfully declared the winner (It should have been Latrice Royale). The main challenge involved making an outfit from pieces that they stole from drag queen zombies. Sharon Needles stole the show there, she was hysterical and won the challenge (unsurprisingly). Bottom two were Alisa Summers and Jiggly. Alisa had to sashay away with her god awful breastplate outfit bleh!
episode 2 WTF! Wrestling’s Trashiest Fighters
Mini challenge this week was all about padding to the extreme! Whoever had the fiercest ass won! Phi Phi O'Hara, Willam and Chad Michaels took the bottom prize (get it?) and were chosen as team leaders. The main challenge this week was wrestling in the style of the WWE. In my opinion, the best match up was Phi Phi & LaShauwn Beyond vs. Latrice & Kenya Michaels. The winners this week were Madame LaQueer and Chad Michaels, who were alright. Bottom two were The Princess (who you may remember as being one of my snap judgement faves…boy was I wrong!) and LaShauwn, who sealed his fate when he took off his shoes to lip sync for his life. Adios LaShauwn!
episode 3 Glamazons vs. Champions
It’s an infomercial challenge selling Ru’s two albums Glamazon and Champion. Team Phi Phi took on Champion, a bit of a mess, but Phi Phi and Sharon stood out. Team Kenya (with leadership by Milan) took on Glamazon, and they were clearly the weaker group. At judging, Sharon was declared the winner for the second time, and The Princess and Dida Ritz had to lip sync. This LSFYL was absolutely amazing! Dida Ritz turned it out! I never understood how she got on the show, but after that performance she definitely deserved to stay. The Princess was finally booted. I think she was my biggest let down this season. She had so much to offer with her look and she just didn’t take it anywhere.
episode 4 Queens Behind Bars
This is the episode that I definitely figured out who my top queen is. The mini challenge this week was mugshots, and while Ru chose Willam and Madame LaQueer, it was once again Latrice Royale that had the best mugshot. As winner, Madame and Willam were the captains of two teams who were going to perform a sitcom. Right away Willam got excited 'cause she’s been on TV. Did you know that? No? Oh girl, she says it 8 times an episode. The standout, and winner of the main challenge was Latrice. She killed it this week. Bottom two were Madame LaQueer and Milan. Milan really was battling for her life, but she took her wig off so whatever. I hate that. Madame was sent home and Milan got to stay.
v-rag magazine #32
Mr./Miss Cobalt Drag Competition
Think you have what it takes to be crowned the new King or Queen of East Van? Come down to The Cobalt and prove it with Isolde and Friends, 917 Main.
pick one of three provided colours. DJ DubbulDee will spin while Justin Syder bares all. Oasis, 1240 Thurlow.
thursday march 15
saturday march 17 Coronation 41: Trailer Trash
Dog Tag Party
Bring your own dog tags or Sundays
THE COBALT
saturday march 24
Kamelle Toe steps down after a trash-tastic year reign as Empress of Vancouver. If you like drag, charity, sceptres, or any combination of the three, you won't want to miss it. Performance Works, Granville Island, 1218 Cartwright. Mondays
BACKDOOR TEA DANCE LATIN FIESTA NIGHT
CELEBRITIES
This is what the future used to sound like and it's our pick of the month with our pal DJ Taffi Louis. The Den @ The Barclay, 1348 Robson.
Tuesdays
Wednesdays
Katy Perry Tribute: I Wanna See Your Peacock
Let's see if you can find your own teenage dream or if you'll just be going home with an extraterrestrial. Celebrities, 1022 Davie. Thursdays
Fridays
Saturdays
CHILL
gossip COCKY WEDNESDAYS THURSDAYS
TRIGGER FRIDAYS
DELUX SATURDAYS
TUESDAYS AT CELEBRITIES
BINGO FOR LIFE & DOLLICIOUS
HARD CANDY
STEREOTYPE FRIDAYS
RELEASE SATURDAYS
RED TRUCK LAGER & BEEFEATER
GROWERS CIDERS & KEITHS
KOKANEE & POLAR ICE VODKA
GRANVILLE ISLAND & SMIRNOFF ICE
MENERGY THURSDAYS
STUDENT LOCKERS $7 ANYTIME
Rotating dirty & thumper
spin cycle ABSOLUTLY w/ drew & DRAG-U-LOUS robyn graves w/ CARLOTTA
APOCALYPSTICK ELEKTRIC CIRCUS '90S NIGHT
FOUNTAINHEAD
CAESARS & OKANAGAN SPRINGS
HOUSE WINE & RUSSELL & BLUE TWISTED COOLERS
F212
super SUNDAys 12PM-6PM
BLACKOUT MONDAYS
BUDDY TUESDAYS 2 FOR 1
dj drew
industry night
rhinestone stiletto show
KARAOKE & KEGGER NIGHT
4U PERFORMING LIVE
DJ DEL-ICIOUS PITCHER & KARAOKE NIGHT
Social @ 2PM $8 PITCHERS
tops & bottoms
karaoke
cheap date junk wednesdays exotic male dancers
gay'er peaches w/ fridays w/ kasha rotating djs kennedy
SUNDAY KEGGER
FREE POOL
WELL LIQUOR SPECIALS
TOOLBOX ALL BEER, WEDNESDAYS CIDERS & COOLERS
RUSSELL CREAM SPECIALS
Weekend brunch/ Caesars
1/2 price wings $3 PBR
3 appies for the price of 2
Burger & beer $15
JUNCTION NUMBERS OASIS PUMPJACK SCORE ON
DAVIE
STEAMWORKS the waldorf
SUNDAY SPIN CYCLE W/ NICK BERTOSSI ice cream social
audball w/ DJG-LUVE & LISA DELUX
dj dennis
POOL DJ DREW TOURNAMENT
$10 Pizzas Chef's daily $4 Hiballs/$6 creation Dbl Hiballs Jugs 1516
DJ SHELLY
BLACK SATURDAY Weekend brunch PINTS $6
LIGHTS OUT PARTY
SQUIRT EVERY BEARS, BATH 2ND FRIDAY/ & BEYOND NICK BERTOSSI EVERY 4TH
c86
Rock 'n' Roll endless w/ Mandysummer Lyn
Please send event and calendar listings to events@v-rag.com.
1181
Roboteria 2.6
The ultra-glam lesbian night is back, this month at Ginger 62, 1219 Granville.
Hustla
sunday march 11
friday march 23
Lipstick Jungle
saturday march 10 More oh-so-gay hip hop from the creators of Queer Bash and Apocalypstick. Peach Cobblah will help y'all get jiggly at The Cobalt, 917 Main.
march 2012
sunday march 4
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
2
3
Junk
DJ Krames
Andrew W.K.
oasis
the waldorf
5
venue
John Ferrie: Circuit! Spit! Physical Graffiti w2
Man Up
10
main space gallery
4
Saturday
1
6
7
8
inkBoat
Ganglians
Taketeru Kudo Tommy Trash
Hustla
Kokoro Dance Cheap Date Industry Night the roundhouse Wednesdays
From Vegas to Granville
Roboteria 2.5 Hershe Bar
the den @ joe's apartment the barclay
the red room
11
12
13
15
16
17
Palm Springs Challenge
The Pitch
Confessions of the Why Are Other Woman Faggots...
Sunday Kegger Tops & the pumpjack Bottoms Mr/Miss Cobalt Drag the cobalt
1181
oasis
the roundhouse the waldorf
junction
pal theatre
oasis
14
evergreen cntr little sister's
9
the cobalt
the roundhouse CELEBRITIES
Lipstick Jungle Fish & Bird ginger 62
zulu records
the cobalt
Truckerdisco seattle
Drag Queens Dog Tag Party on Trial Feed Me oasis
pal theatre
OUTrageous In-Town Show Rehab Party
the commodore celebrities
junction
Out of Town Show
Coronation 41: Trailer Trash
18
19
performance works performance works
20
21
22
23
24
Victory Brunch Pitbull
Tuesdays at
Camo & Krooked
Drive-By Truckers
Electric Six
Galaxion
Apocalypstick Lady the cobalt Antebellum
Audball
the waldorf
Night at the Indies Jodie Harsh
Roboteria 2.6 Katy Perry the den @ Night the barclay
celebrities
25
27
28
29
30
31
Gossip Wednesdays
Coathangers False-Othe waldorf Ween V
junction
rogers arena
pacific colliseum
26
Craftacular 7 Blackout
CELEBRITIES
venue
the commodore
cafe deux soleils 1181
the beehive
f212
Rhinestone Stiletto Show
Tea Dance
Foreign Beggars
Thumpy w/ The Ting Tings A Simple Man DJ Kenny
1181
venue
junction
1181
the commodore denman cinema junction
venue
five sixty
Mimosa
celebrities
club 23 west
Tim Mason ginger 62
Black Saturday the pumpjack