OutWords // Letter to the Editor
queer views, news, issues
GLBTQ* WOMEN CLAIM THEIR PLACE IN A HETERONORMATIVE WORLD
WOMEN IN
COMEDY WOMEN IN
FASHION
WOMEN IN
ENTERTAINMENT OutWords | April 2014 | Issue 209 | Serving the GLBTQ* Community Since 1994 July / August 2013
// www.outwords.ca // 1
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OutWords // Index
4
EXPLORING GIRL POWER
5
FACEBOOK BECOMES GENDERINCLUSIVE WHILE ECUADOR GETS SUED, IRAN POP STAR SHOWS SUPPORT WHILE NFL PLAYER GETS SOME
EDITORIAL
INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS
6 8
FLYING THE FLAG, GAY HIGH SCHOOL AND ANTI-GAY LAW SCHOOL, MR. GAY CANADA 2014 NATIONAL BRIEFS PINK MONEY: GLBTQ* POWER IN ADVERTISING
11
MTS IS A GLBTQ* ALLY
12
SPRING INTO LEATHER
16
FUNNY WOMEN TAKE OVER FAME
FASHION
17
WINNIPEG COMEDY FESTIVAL GOES QUEER
18
CHANTEL MAROSTICA BRINGS US GLBTQ* COMEDY
19
SUICIDE GIRLS BRING SEXY, BUT FUNNY, SHOW TO WINNIPEG
20
BRAVE NEW GIRLS: A SHOW REVIEW
22
INVESTMENTS FOR THE AGES
23
COCKTAILS UNDER THE STARS RETURNS FOR ANOTHER YEAR
24
STRAIGHT ALLIES IN THE RAINBOW HARMONY PROJECT
27
CONFESSIONS FROM TORONTO MUSICIAN CLARA ENGEL
28
CONFERENCE EXPLORES WORK BY TRANSGENDER WRITERS
30
MEN GET RAPED TOO: AN AUTHOR'S REVEALING BOOK AND Q&A April 2014 // www.outwords.ca // 3
OutWords // Editorial
PUBLISHED BY THE OUTWORDS VOLUNTEER STAFF: EDITOR : Ksenia Prints SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR : Miles McEnery NEWS AND BOOKS & MOVIES: Meg Crane ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR: Graeme Coleman MUSIC EDITOR: Danelle Cloutier FASHION AND BEAUTY EDITOR: Jefre Nicholls FOOD AND LIFESTYLE EDITOR: Shayna Wiwierski ART DIRECTOR & LAYOUT: Dylan Bekkering
GIRL POWER
ASSISTANT LAYOUT: Michele Buchanan DESIGN INTERN: Christel Nadeau BOOK KEEPER: Christy Elias DISTRIBUTION: Meryl Kaye De Leon & Terry Wiebe
EDITORIAL KSENIA PRINTS
WEB MANAGER: Vic Hooper SALES MANAGER: Phillip Olcen COVER ART: Jefre Nicholls Kathleen Osland, Danielle Da Silva, Kenton Smith, Zanna Joyce, Rachel Morgan, Armande Martine, Larkin Schmiedl. BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Debbie Scarborough, Kevin Hills, Darron Field, Liz Millward, Armando Perla, Darrel Nadeau, Rachel Wood, Rachel Morgan. OutWords 201-63 Albert St. Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 1G4 Phone: (204) 942-4599 For office hours, please call. General Inquiries: info@outwords.ca Editor: editor@outwords.ca Creative: creative@outwords.ca Advertising: sales@outwords.ca Distribution: distribution@outwords.ca Accounts: billing@outwords.ca Event Submissions: calendar@outwords.ca Letters Submissions: letters@outwords.ca Website: www.outwords.ca OutWords provides news, analysis and entertainment for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, two-spirit and queer community and its allies.GST 89671 7618RT, ISSN 17155606 (print) ISSN 1715-5614 (online) Canada Post Publication Licence 416 99032, Contents copyright © 2013 OutWords Alll rights reserved. OutWords is a member of the Manitoba Magazine Publishers’ Association. Articles are not necessarily the views of the staff, management, or board. We accept no liability for our advertisers’ claims.
April 2014 // www.outwords.ca // 4
L
How GLBTQ* women are reclaiming a heteronormative world
ong after James Brown finished crooning that “It's a Man's Man's Man's World” in 1966, there are still semblances of male favouritism all around us. Men still earn more cents to the dollar than women, occupy more highranking chief executive positions, and have an easier time finding clothes that fit (the last one is not backed by statistics, but probably should be). But with the stereotype of the shrinking violet no longer being a female role model, women nowadays are doing all they can to reclaim their place in the world, and they’re making great strides while they’re at it. But what about GLBTQ* women? The theme for this issue came about accidentally. At first, the OutWords editorial team wanted to examine the topic of pink money, and the power of the GLBTQ* dollar. We commissioned several pieces and set to work finding stories. But the more we looked, the more we found women were often rising to the top. From talented singers to glass-ceiling-shattering comedians, strong, beautiful GLBTQ* women were everywhere we looked. And though they weren’t high-ranking chief executive officers (yet?), their strength in the creative arena couldn’t be denied. But that’s not to say that gay women are accepted everywhere. Far from it. A few issues ago, our music editor Danelle
Cloutier shared her personal encounter with homophobia, judgment and misunderstanding. And unfortunately, she is far from being the only one. While gay men provoke the ire and violence of homophobes, gay women are still often seen as an anomaly, a curiosity that some assume would be easily corrected with the introduction of a strong man (and, coincidentally, a big penis). Many discount women who have sex with women as simply an experimental stage. In fact, even gay men are often dismissive of lesbians (I bet some of our male readers skipped this issue as soon as they saw a woman on the cover). All of this makes GLBTQ* women’s struggle to establish their identity and carve their own place in the world all the more difficult. It also makes our mission at OutWords to discuss their place in a heteronormative world all the more pressing. If you’re a GLBTQ*-identifying woman, write to us with your experience in a heteronormative world. Has it been all sunshine and daisies for you? Or have you had to claw your way to the top? And if you’re a GLBTQ*-identifying man, what do you think of our attempt to look at the world through pink-coloured glasses? Email, Facebook or tweet us @OutWords to start up a discussion.
November 2013 // www.outwords.ca // 4
OutWords // International News Briefs // Compiled by Meg Crane
Facebook now offers about 50 new gender options.
Diane Rodriguez is fighting for the rights of all transgender people in Ecuador. Photo courtesy of Pink News
Facebook rejects gender binary
Fighting to change gender
MENLO PARK, Calif. - On Feb. 13 Facebook stopped reinforcing the gender binary, going from offering two gender options to about 50. Anyone using U.S. English on Facebook can choose to identify as “female”, “male”, or click on “custom” to choose something else. Facebook won’t actually show the complete list, but start typing and they’ll suggest many options including MTF, gender-fluid, cis-male, androgyne and gender-questioning. Multiple choices can be selected. Users can also choose who they let see what gender(s) they identify as. The list of options was created by Facebook’s Network of Support, a group they say is comprised of leading GLBTQ* advocacy organizations. Pronoun options now include female, male and gender-neutral.
QUITO, Ecuador - The first transgender woman to legally change her name in Ecuador is now suing the government, reported Pink News. Diane Rodriguez wants to change her gender on legal documents, but the government will only do this for people who have undergone a full surgical transition. Founder of the GLBTQ* rights group X Silhouette Association, Rodriguez has been trying to get the government to acknowledge she identifies as female for about five years. She has now taken the case to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Rodriguez hopes their ruling gives all pre-operative transgender people in Ecuador the right to legally change their gender.
Gay NFL player supported by university students. Photo by @HighFiveFarkas Popular Iranian singer Googoosh supports marriage equality while living in exile. Photo courtesy of Daily Xtra
On the outside supporting in TEHRAN, Iran – Iranian pop singer Googoosh released a music video that is becoming popular in her home country despite the singer living in exile, according to Daily Xtra. Faegheh Atashin, known as Googoosh, is a widely admired Iranian pop icon, actress and singer who has remained popular even after female singers were banned in Iran following the 1979 revolution. She is rumoured to reside in the United States. The video for her latest song “Behesht” (Heaven) follows a woman whose partner is present but off-screen. The partner is attacked by strangers and rejected by who is presumably the woman’s father. There are also scenes that show their happiness together. At the end of the video, it’s revealed her partner is a woman and the words “Freedom to love for All” appear on screen. Being gay is illegal in Iran, yet sources report that Googoosh’s video is getting positive feedback within the country.
Wall of Love supports football player COLUMBIA, Missouri - The Westboro Baptist Church tried to bring their “God Hates Fags” campaign to the University of Missouri. But as Pink News reported, they were blocked by a “Wall of Love”. The church was looking to protest against Michael Sam, the football player who recently came out. Sam attended the University of Missouri, where he played for the Missouri Tigers football team. Yet when the church arrived at the university, 2,000 people formed a wall blocking the church members’ access. Sam later tweeted his gratitude for the blockade, saying, “Thank you for all of my Missou family for your support. Divided we are weak, Together we are Strong.” Westboro Baptist Church members believe that bad events, such as mass murder and natural disasters, are punishment from God for the gay population in the United States.
April 2014 // www.outwords.ca // 5
OutWords // National News Briefs // Compiled by Meg Crane
A student proposed that a school for GLBTQ* teens open in Toronto. Photo courtesy CBC
Toronto student proposes gay segregation TORONTO - University of Toronto student Fan Wu thinks there should be GLBTQ*-centric high schools, CBC News reported. Wu said the current situation doesn’t give members of the community classrooms that make them want to learn and let them “blossom”. The Toronto School Board isn’t giving an opinion, but community members are. Some think it’s difficult for students to learn when they don’t feel safe and can’t be themselves. Others say there are already resources for GLBTQ* students and they don’t need to be segregated. Dan Savage told CBC that a GLBTQ*-centric high school does exist in New York for students from the community who didn’t feel safe at their school.
(left to right) Lawyers Amy Sakalauskas, Ronald MacDonald and Elaine Craig give their thoughts on accepting degrees from TWU. Photo courtesy of The Province.
Anti-gay law school questioned HALIFAX - The Province reported that the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society is questioning whether degrees from a law school set to open in 2016 should be recognized. The Society is questioning the school due to its anti-gay stance. Trinity Western University in British Columbia has all students sign a covenant that says sexual intimacy is for a married man and woman and that they will respect this. The punishment is possible expulsion. A panel in Halifax listened to the opinions of many from the law community. Some said the school is discriminatory towards the GLBTQ* community, and that if their target was a racial or ethnic minority, it would not be allowed. Others said they have to respect religious beliefs. Similar discussions are planned to take place across Canada.
Openly-gay soccer player Robbie Rogers speaks on camera about his experiences of homophobia in sports. Christepher Wee led WinterPRIDE as Mr. Gay Canada. Photo from The Georgia Straight
Mr. Gay Diversity WHISTLER - Christepher Wee was flooded with Facebook messages after he was chosen as Mr. Gay Canada 2014. Wee said he didn’t think he was applying for the competition as an Asian man, but many of the messages read, “You represent us Asians.” But it isn’t his status as a GLBTQ* member or a Chinese man that has him fighting for rights. He said he helps because he’s a human being and that’s what he should be doing. One of his major plans for the next year is to help programs like Out in Schools and Pride Education Network get more involved with the school system. He wants students to learn about diversity and celebrate differences.
April 2014 // www.outwords.ca // 6
Remembering Sochi’s problems TORONTO - From Feb. 17 until the end of the Olympic Games in Sochi, the Ontario legislature flew a rainbow flag, reported the The Canadian Press. The Government of Manitoba also flew the flag. Montreal, Ottawa and Edmonton were among the other cities that raised the colourful flag at city hall and other government buildings, to show their disapproval of Russia’s anti-gay laws. In contrast, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford said he doesn’t think the Games should be about people’s sexuality. Winnipeg and Calgary also didn’t not raise the Pride flag. Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson not only put up the flag, he also sent a gay councillor to Sochi to lobby to make Pride Houses mandatory at all Games.
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OutWords // News
$
$
Including same-sex couples in ads can pay off The traditional family unit has slowly dwindled over the years. The stereotypical ’50s advertisement featuring the picture perfect family eating dinner at 5 p.m. with mom, dad and two children is no longer the norm. This begs the question, what does the normal family unit look like in today’s media? But more importantly, what does “normal” really mean? 8 // April 2014 // www.outwords.ca
A
lthough advertisers have realized that the conventional family structure has changed, there is still a lack of proper representation of GLBTQ* families in the media. Companies have yet to fully embrace the new forms of different family structures. Television shows like Modern Family fully accept how society has changed. The show offers an eclectic variety of different family structures, including the gay couple with the adopted child and the divorcee who remarries with stepchildren. The family structures of the 21st century have endless possibilities, yet very few advertisers have begun to create marketing campaigns directed at GLBTQ* families. However, even those few representations of gay couples in the media are commonly those of gay men, and not women. Adding to this neglect, advertisers commonly try and duplicate the nuclear family of mom, dad and their 2 children by placing one man as the breadwinner and the other man as the more feminine partner, promoting a close representation of what is erroneously considered the "normal" family structure.
MONEY MATTERS Mike Trakalo, social media strategist at Cruise Media Group, said that depicting gay people can get a conversation started. It brings people to the brand, but it also attaches the brand to a particular image. On the other hand, using gay depictions in advertising can be used to attract a large market that not a lot of businesses are currently targeting. The point of an ad is ultimately to create sales, but a good ad needs to evoke emotion, said Trakalo. He pointed to the ad for Get Up!, an independent grassroots community advocacy organization. The ad is shot from a first person’s viewpoint. It’s clearly one part of a couple, taking the video of a man in the relationship. At the end of the video the audience finds out the videographer is a man. They’re in a same-sex relationship. Trakalo said there was so much negative reaction to this ad partly because some people felt they were tricked. Meanwhile, social media exploded over the ad, making it go viral almost immediately.
OutWords // News
$ By Meg Crane and Jefre Nicholls
The point of an ad is ultimately to create sales, but a good ad needs to evoke emotion Trakalo also pointed out the importance of targeted advertising. “It’s important to be clear on where you’re marketing, [and] to whom,” said Trakalo. If there are too many ads featuring GLBTQ* people, others might not think the product is meant for them. At the same time, you can’t market a product so that it’s for everyone. “The smaller you can make the target market, the more money you can put into that,” said Trakalo. If you’re targeting everyone, only a small amount of the budget will go towards each group; if you’re targeting a smaller group, then you have more dollars to get their attention. When it comes to the GLBTQ* community, there is potential to invest in targeted advertising, while still offering other ads for different markets.
REALITY FOR BUSINESSES Some companies, like Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), seem to have found a good balance. “Here at RBC, we believe in diversity,” said Robb Ritchie, RBC manager of public affairs and communications. That’s why they’ve been featuring samesex couples in their ads for over a decade. “The decision is very natural for us,” said Ritchie, because RBC wants to reflect their community, which is diverse. They’ve never had a negative reaction to their ads, as far as Ritchie knows. But there has been a lot of positive reactions. And the bank goes beyond featuring members of the community in ads. It also reaches out to help. In Winnipeg, RBC sponsors events such as the Swish Gala and Bison Cup Bonspiel. They send volunteers to all sponsored events, they painted the basement of Rainbow Resource Centre, and have members on the Centre’s board.
WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS The advertising agency Young & Rubicam has had many clients who have been pioneers in same-sex advertising and campaigning. Others have been exploring their options because the GLBTQ* community is a huge market. Fashion and design companies have done a great job of tailoring campaigns to the community, but really any company would benefit from targeting GLBTQ* people. Eventually there will be a better representation of the GLBTQ* community within the advertising world, but nothing will ever be perfect. As awareness grows and new family structures become the norm, advertising will follow. How does the lack of representation of GLBTQ* people in advertising make you feel? Let us know on our Facebook page, email editor@outwords.ca or Tweet us @OutWords. - Meg Crane is the news, books amd movies editor for OutWords magazine, and creator of Cockroach zine. Jefre Nicholls is the fashion editor for OutWords.
April 2014 // www.outwords.ca // 9
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OutWords // News
INCLUSIVE
CULTURE AT
Manitoba company hopes to be a role model for others By Miles McEnery
P
rovincial telecommunications giant MTS recently introduced a series of internal changes with the aim of creating a more GLBTQ*-inclusive workplace. In a memo to all employees, MTS chief corporate and strategy officer and corporate secretary
Paul Beauregard has outlined several steps the company has taken towards this goal. Firstly, MTS joined Pride at Work Canada, a national organization that works towards fostering good relationships between GLBTQ* community members and their respective workplaces. They also trained recruiters to be more sensitive to GLBTQ* issues, added a new diversity category to its existing employee census, and improved the company workplace policy. As the internal memo stated, “We are strengthening our Respectful Workplace Policy to provide a better understanding of what constitutes
harassment, as well as explicitly stating the obvious - that discrimination against our LGBT employees is unacceptable and contrary to our values.” Beauregard was more than happy to be interviewed about his company’s new policy, so I made the arrangements to come by his Main Street office (full disclosure - I’m an MTS employee). When asked about MTS’ overall strategy to approaching GLBTQ* inclusiveness in the workplace, Beauregard said it’s a multistep approach. "I think you have to learn to walk before you run. We were very proud of the steps we took. We’ve joined pride at work, we changed our hiring process. We’re changing how we collect information on representation of the LGBT community within our own company, so that we ourselves can get a barometer of where we’re at and change our workplace,” he said. “In my mind, what this does is open the door for further discussion, it creates an environment where people are happy to be who they are and to come up with more ideas and that’s how you build the culture of inclusiveness.” I then inquired how MTS planned on targeting the community for recruitment. Beauregard said he hopes that word of mouth will help let GLBTQ* members know that MTS is an inclusive workplace. “I think it’s critical that we represent our communities, that we serve. And these first steps that we took, hopefully they’re going to be an example to other companies across Canada and in particular, within Manitoba,” said Beauregard. “We’ve done a lot of training with our recruiters to make them sensitive to the issues. We’ve got their firm commitment that we’re going to be a very respectful workplace.” Before the interview ended, Beauregard was adamant about adding these steps weren’t taken for recognition. “We did this for our employees and for our community. I would hope that others could see what we’re doing, others in the business community, other employers... and take these same kinds of steps because they’re the right steps to be taking. It’s one of those issues where the more people stand up, it creates its own momentum.” As an MTS employee, I may be risking being accused of a conflict of interest in writing this article. But listening to Beauregard’s words, I realize that if this is not worth being accused of a conflict of interest for, I don’t know what is. - Miles McEnery is an employee at MTS Allstream and the social media editor for OutWords.
April 2014 // www.outwords.ca // 11
Black high-waisted leather shorts from Aritzia; blue plaid shirt by Zara; black criss-cross back crop top by MinkPink (available through ASOS); gold choker necklace, available at Aldo; black solid onyx ring by Cynthia Rybakoff; black leather lace-up combat boots & oversized camouflage jacket, vintage; leopard-print baseball cap, available at H&M.
OutWords OutWords ////Features Fashion
Photography: Jefre Nicholls Hair, make-up & styling: Kathleen Osland from Pradagee.com | Model: Kathleen Osland This spring, just as the runways had preached, the most supple leathers in the season’s freshest hues are everywhere. In icy blues and washes of grey, freshen your printemps wardrobe and stay warm while looking fabulous in the transition season. Made into shorts, skirts, tank tops and cropped pants, leather, a material often used during gloomier times of year, has been reinvented and interpreted by many designers and retailers. In our climate, which always seems to be the last to let go of old man winter, this trend couldn’t fit any better. With spring leather integrated into your wardrobe, we here at OutWords agree that fashion and functionality have never looked so good.
Black leather overalls, available at TSOQ (www.thestoreonqueen.com); white tailored dress shirt by Uniqlo, available at The Bay; rose gold clutch by Ela Handbags; pink wool baseball cap and black leather bowtie, stylist’s own. April April2014 2014 //// www.outwords.ca www.outwords.ca //// 13 13
Kathleen wears a powder-blue leather pencil skirt and oversized white crop top, available at Zara; lime green leather wedges by SENSO; black-and-white leather clutch from Lauren Merkin; silver chain by Artists & Fleas; black leather gloves, available at Club Monaco; orange toque, stylist’s own.
OutWords // Fashion
White leather platform sneakers, available at Zara; grey leather textured and perforated cuffed pants by Diesel Black Gold, available at The Bay; blush blazer by Nasty Gal; grey checkered hat, vintage; watches and frames, stylist’s own.
High-waisted boyfriend jeans, available at Zara; black solid onyx ring by Cynthia Rybakoff; “I love NY” racerback tank and black leather lace-up combat boots, vintage; black goatskin and mesh jacket, lace bra and hat, stylist’s own.
April 2014 // www.outwords.ca // 15
OutWords // Entertainment
funny & female Cockroach zine hosts a women’s-only comedy show at Fame By Danielle Da Silva
B
etween selling sex toys in Osborne Village and finishing up a theatre degree at the University of Winnipeg, Melanie Dahling is cracking jokes about gender and feminism. But she’s not poking fun at the women’s rights movement; instead, she’s criticizing the way gender influences our behaviour and the double standard men and women are held to. “I was at the mall and I saw a man who was just standing with his child, but a woman walked by and said he was such a great dad just because he was present with a child,” Dahling explained. “We’d never just walk past a woman and say she’s a great mom, unless she was doing all sorts of crazy stuff.” Dahling is one of the two comedians participating in a women’sonly comedy show on Womyn’s Night at Fame Nightclub on April 26. The event is hosted by Cockroach zine, a Winnipeg-based feminist and environmentalist publication. “It’s nice to show that [standup comedy] is a welcoming atmosphere to women, because there is an idea that women aren’t welcome in stand-up,” Dahling said. “But in reality people want to put women on the bill because they don’t want just a bunch of straight guys talking about their dicks. They want something different.”
Melanie Dahling is a theatre student by day, and a no-holds-barred feminist comedian by night.
Heather Witherden brings her own experience as a feminist wife and mother to her comedy repertoire.
“People want to put women on the bill because they don’t want just a bunch of straight guys talking about their dicks. They want something different.” - Melanie Dahling, comedian Both Dahling and fellow comedian Heather Witherden address issues of gender and femininity in their stand-up, but each does so in a different way. Dahling approaches issues of gender through a character named “Home Ec Eric.” In her hypothetical home economics class, Eric is the only male. He performs the tasks of sewing and cooking but is held to a lower standard than his female counterparts simply because of his gender. “Everybody worships him no matter what he does, even though his muffins are garbage,” Dahling said. On the other hand, Witherden, a mother of three, burlesque dancer and receptionist at the Military Family Resource Centre focuses on what she calls “my issues.” These issues include the domestic roles she’s expected to uphold as a wife and mother, and although Witherden’s comedic material is focused on her family life, she flatly rejects the notion she should follow traditional values. “My husband is super tidy and really a type-A personality. While sometimes I feel like I don’t really need to wash this bowl, if I rinse it that will be fine,” Witherden joked. The two comedians will hit the stage with Chantel Marostica at Fame Nightclub, 279 Garry Street at 9 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, and tickets are $10 in advance through cockroachzine@gmail.com. - Danielle Da Silva is a Winnipeg-based freelance writer.
OutWords // Entertainment
COMEDIANS
community from the
This year’s Winnipeg Comedy Festival is full of GLBTQ*
T
LINE-UP Elvira Kurt:
• Wednesday April 9 Angel and Asshole
Chantel Marostica:
By Meg Crane
his year’s Winnipeg Comedy Festival line-up includes five comedians from the GLBTQ* community. Founding artistic director and comedian Al Rae said, “One of the pillars of the comedy festival has always been this idea that you really can bring people to understand people that might be different than themselves through comedy.” But it seems that the stand-up comedy world is largely populated with late to middleaged, straight, white men, who have the easiest time being successful in the field. To find comedians who don’t fit this mold and to create a diverse festival, they’ve had to look outside the mainstream. “We do work hard to at least be mindful of these things, keeping in mind that it is a comedy festival and at the end of the day, it’s about making people laugh. But if you work a little bit harder to try and find people beyond the pale, then it always pays off,” Rae said. And it has. Rae said Elvira Kurt, a lesbian from Toronto, is probably one of the most popular comedians to ever perform at the festival. Kurt said she has come to the festival too many times to count. This year she’s bringing something special. Angel and Asshole is a theatrical piece that is darker, deeper and more personal than what Kurt has done before. “I want to do it in Winnipeg because it’s a risk,” said Kurt, who views Winnipeg as her safe space. She reveals feeling comfortable on stage here. “I feel a special energy in the audience in Winnipeg,” said Kurt. This energy helps her give a better performance on stage. Toronto-based comedian Ted Morris will be making his first ever trip to Winnipeg, and he certainly could use some of that energy. “If you’re not a straight white guy, the audience immediately judges you instead of listening to
GLBTQ*
Elvira Kurt is billed as the highlight of the festival.
• Monday April 7
Kings of King’s Head
• Saturday April 12
Late Gala: Special Delivery
Ted Morris:
your
• Friday April 11 - Friday
comedy,” said Morris. “There’s definitely weird stuff that happens.” Such as the couple in Calgary he overheard saying they didn’t like seeing a gay comedian, and other people walking out on his sets. Morris said generally he doesn’t come out to his audience right away; he warms them up first. “Then once they love me, I come out.” While he’s leaving his day job as a veterinarian behind to entertain Winnipeggers, he promised to bring plenty of veterinary jokes along. The other comedians from the GLBTQ* comedy you can catch at the festival are DeAnne Smith and Chantel Marostica. This is the 13th year of the Gas Station Arts Centre’s festival and it runs from April 7 to 13. Tickets are available through the festival’s website at www. winnipegcomedyfestival.com/tickets. - Meg Crane is the news, books amd movies editor for OutWords magazine, and creator of Cockroach zine.
Early Gala: First World Problems
Al Rae:
• Saturday April 12
The Dark and Stormy Show
• Sunday April 13
Just Kidding? The Limits of Free Speech
DeAnne Smith: • Saturday April 12 The No Bro Show
• Saturday April 12
Late Gala: Special Delivery
• Sunday April 13
Just Kidding? The Limits of Free Speech
Find the full schedule at www.winnipegcomedyfestival.com/schedule. April 2014 // www.outwords.ca // 17
OutWords // Entertainment
LOCAL LESBIAN
MAKING uS
laugh
Chantel Marostica is about to flood Winnipeg’s comedy scene By Kenton Smith
C
hantel Marostica, a headliner in our growing local comedy scene, discovered that being gay is the “most hilarious part” of her. The Winnipeg comic, who’s “very evidently a lesbian,” has made her identity front-and-centre in her act, but is sure to make one thing clear. “Being gay is the joke, not the punchline,” said Marostica. Her material is about the humour presented by her experiences of living queer, which sometimes involves a lot of the same touchstones familiar to all audience members. According to Marostica, making jokes about parents is “always a gold mine.” And “shitty day jobs” or the “shitty city you live in” jokes tend to travel well in any room, in any town. But Marostica said it’s much harder to perform her bold “gay” bits at some
places on the road. Even in Winnipeg, gay comics remain a harder sell. The seasoned comedian had to learn how to make the opening subject matter “easier to digest” for some audiences before she gets into more challenging material. “I’ve found how to get laughs all over by this point in time.” Yet it’s being a woman that’s proven an even more difficult cross to bear. “I’m so glad you don’t do jokes about being a woman,” is a common expression of thanks Marostica receives from male colleagues without a hint of self-awareness, apparently. And being a woman requires one to be “even funnier.” Comedy remains a male-dominated industry. Fortunately that didn’t stop Marostica from making it all the way to the Mecca of comedy: the Just for Laughs comedy festival
JEWISH GLBT GROUP PRESENTS A
Celebrate Passover with family and
friends
Seder will be held in the private home of an Anakhnu member
Winnipeg comedy-darling Chantel Marostica reports people expect her to be funny all the time, but she still feels like she has to break a few ceilings. Photo supplied
Passover Pride
- Kenton Smith is a Winnipeg-based freelance writer.
Delicious Passover Meal *Vegetarian option
Seder Tuesday, April
in Montreal, in 2006. Nor has it stopped her from staying busy with multiple shows at the Park Theatre since January, including the Winnipeg Comedy Showcase. And that’s on top of her regular hosting gig at Rumor’s Comedy Club. Marostica’s future plans include a move to Toronto, but she’s not finished here just yet. She will be performing for the fifth time at the annual Winnipeg Comedy Festival April 7-13, and again Fame Nightclub’s women’s-only comedy show on April 26. So maybe people can’t be blamed for thinking she’s funny all the time – much to Marostica’s chagrin. “People fold their arms, lean back and wait for me. Maybe I should have a spinning bowtie on all the time.”
available upon request
15, 2014
7:00 p.m.
EVERYONE WELCOME TO ATTEND Presented by Anakhnu-Jewish Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Group
PROGRAM COST:
something $20 plus for the dinner table Please reserve in advance by credit card.
TAMAR BARR 204-477-7537 tbarr@radyjcc.com
PAULA PARKS 204-488-3473 parksp@mymts.net
GETTING SEXY
OutWords // Entertainment
SILLY
IN WINNIPEG
Suicide Girls come to
Canada on a burlesque tour By Meg Crane
I
nternational burlesque sensation Suicide Girls is going on a crossCanada tour, and viewers are in for a funny and sexy treat. Suicide Girls co-founder Missy Suicide said they have many great photographers in Canada and hope to expand the community here. Sending the Blackheart Burlesque show across the country might help them do that. Last year the soft-core porn site sent models on a signing tour after releasing a coffee table book. “Five hundred to 750 people showed up at shops to get books signed,” said Suicide. That’s when they realized it might be time to send women out to do something more. “We know people want a new show.” In the early 2000s the Suicide Girls burlesque tour traveled the world. “We took a break because it was quite labour-intensive,” said Suicide, and the show was pushed aside for other projects. Suicide promised the upcoming Blackheart Burlesque to be a show full of pop culture references and humour. “One of my favourites is Planet of the Apes,” said Suicide. “It’s sexy Planet of the Apes.” They’ve announced that The Big Lebowski, Kill Bill and Dr. Who will be referenced in the show, but are keeping some parts a surprise. It wasn’t decided until last minute which dancers would join the Canada tour, but even before then Suicide said it is likely at least some of the women performing in Winnipeg will be GLBTQ*. “A good portion of the dancers are a part of the community.” Suicide promises “a sexy, fun, silly, amazing show.” She thinks couples, single people and even grandmothers will enjoy what they’re bringing to stage at The Park Theatre on April 7. Tickets are available for $25-$75 through http://blackheartburlesque.com.
- Meg Crane is the news, books amd movies editor for OutWords magazine, and creator of Cockroach zine.
Missy Suicide is sending a troop of sexy dancers to Canada. April 2014 // www.outwords.ca // 19
OutWords // Entertainment
REALITY TV SHOW APTLY NAMED By Meg Crane
Brave New Girls brings trans issues to the mainstream
A
s with most reality TV shows, the first questions about Brave New Girls are about realism. In episode five, when the show’s star Jenna Talackova loses her baggage, her publicist doesn’t seem to care about how upset Talackova is. Although this changes when she finds out Talackova’s estrogen is in the missing bags. In episode six, when Talackova confronts her cousin who referred to her as a “tranny” to a guy at the bar, the conversation feels forced and the anger fake. But the issues she’s dealing quickly overshadow the artificial conversations. Talackova is a transgender woman. She was kicked out of the Miss Universe Canada pageant in 2012 when organizers found out about her change. But Talackova didn’t back down. She took legal action against the Donald Trump-owned competition. Before the case even reached court, pageant officials overturned their previous decision due to public outrage. Even though Talackova now has her own show, she still has to face rejection because of her past. As she’s getting ready for a fashion show, Talackova gets the news from her publicist that she has been pulled because they don’t want a transgender model. There’s no doubt Talackova’s disappointment is real. And so is her response. “It just confirms to me what I have to do: be an activist, a role model for transgender women.”
It’s moments like these, when Talackova’s strength and personality shine through, that make up for any falseness. And more would be great. The show is only half an hour long, with a few commercial breaks. After the break, the same footage from before is shown. It feels like the audience is being cheated out of more Talackova-time. It’s also not very accessible. It is only available on E!, the Canadian entertainment channel, and no episodes are up online, so those without cable are out of luck. - Meg Crane is the news, books amd movies editor for OutWords magazine, and creator of Cockroach zine.
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HERE COME LIFE! By Zanna Joyce
The different ways to save your money
Are you an industrious saver? Or do you feel the future will take care of itself? Either way, how do you know whether you’re on the right track?
O
utWords caught up with Evelyn Jacks, the nationally-known, Winnipeg-based writer and commentator on tax planning. Jacks founded The Knowledge Bureau, a financial education institute focusing on long-term, comprehensive and systems-oriented financial management. She calls this model “Real Wealth Management”. “Tax planning begins with the first dollar you earn.
Financial planning begins with the first dollar you save. And wealth management is about tax efficient growth, preservation and transition of wealth to those life events you want to have peace of mind over: retirement, incapacity, death,” Jacks explained. She suggests that thinking in terms of life categories, and then dividing those into five-year spans will yield firm, yet flexible plans. Where possible, families should undertake financial planning together.
investing
in style
22 // April 2014 // www.outwords.ca
In Jacks’ system, even young adults can get on board. She suggests that, “depending on their income level, making an RRSP contribution can be very important because it creates a deduction that will reduce net income.” This may help generate a larger refund the very same year, which can then be invested in a Tax-Free Savings Account (TSFA) and accrue interest. Double money whammy! Between the ages of 36 to 55 is when most people clue into the fact
that they will have to live with the financial choices they are making. “Manage your non-deductible credit card interest costs; reduce your taxes; and save in taxpreferred vehicles like the TSFA, the RRSP and a tax-exempt principal residence,” advises Jacks. These are, in her view, the three golden rules. There is a trend for people to stay in the workforce longer, and Jacks points out that changes to government programs can
Chanel, Christian Louboutin, Mercedes Benz. All of these brands are synonymous with luxury. Although it can be a shock to your wallet at first, high-end designer items very rarely go down in price. Take for instance every girl’s dream bag, the iconic Chanel 2.55, which cost in the mid$2,000s in 2010 and now retails close to $5,000. Those who were lucky enough to snag it at its 2010 price can easily resell it for just under the current retail price. Why? Because the buyer is still getting a deal and the
seller is making much more than they paid for it. With the rise in popularity of collecting luxury items from purses to shoes to cars, can you consider these to be an investment? Only if you know what you are looking for, say experts. The chance of losing money on an item that has been usurped by the next big thing can be a huge risk. Your decisions must be based on a thorough knowledge of the market, and primarily you should be in it not for the profit, but for the passion.
OutWords // Lifestyle & Food
Celebrate Pride at cocktails
under the stars By Rachel Morgan
OutWords fundraiser returns for its second year
I “Tax planning begins with the first dollar you earn. Financial planning begins with the first dollar you save.” Evelyn Jacks represent opportunities, if you strategize correctly. “The trick is to pay the least amount of taxes on your RRSP by “averaging in the tax” on your taxable withdrawals over that longer period of time. I’m not saying you need to spend the money; rather, pay the tax at the lowest possible tax brackets and rates, and then reinvest the money into tax-preferred savings accounts.” Where in the past, working longer could reduce benefits, now it may be an advantageous option.
In order to build these plans, Jacks advocates the creation of an adviser team, professionals who will help you to clarify your financial goals and to make solid plans. “Your financial decisions can have a huge impact not only on your own financial freedom, but on that of your family and community,” said Jacks. Please note, this article is general information and not financial advice. - Zanna Joyce is a freelance writer in Winnipeg.
all that glitters is not gold Ainsley Cunningham of The Manitoba Securities Commission (MSC) points to their website www.recognizeinvestmentfraud.com, which can help tell if an investment opportunity is legit. It can tell you if your adviser is registered to sell securities in Manitoba, if there has been disciplinary action against an individual or firm. If you are a frequent investor, you can even sign up for investor alerts. “Your best defense against being a victim of fraud is learning to recognize the red flags of fraud, such as offers from people you don’t really know, or pressure to make a fast decision. In this way, you can make informed decisions that will help you keep your money safe,” said Cunningham. The MSC is always available to respond to questions about the legitimacy of investments offered for sale in Manitoba. You can reach them at 204-945-2548.
n the half-dozen years it existed, Cocktails in the Trees became one of the most anticipated events of Pride Week, and for good reason. Staged in a gorgeous home in the heart of Wolesley, the evening of music, scrumptious food and fabulous cocktails never failed to keep guests chatting about the amazing experience for weeks after. Conceived as a humble fundraiser for some of Winnipeg’s GLBTQ* organizations, Cocktails in the Trees had become a must-attend soirée. For a variety of reasons beyond the control of its gracious hosts, the music faded and the lights dimmed on Cocktails in the Trees. But the spirit that fuelled it lives on. This year, in homage to its sorely missed predecessor, OutWords will host its 2nd annual Pride fundraising gala in the annex and the patio of the Paterson GlobalFoods Institute, the majestic 11-storey Union Building built in 1903 near Winnipeg City Hall. The gala will continue the tradition of that Wolseley classic, but there will be some fun differences. Instead of partying among the Wolseley elms, guests will enjoy the romance of the city’s historic Exchange District. Some things will remain the same. Just like that soirée of past years, waiters will circulate throughout the evening, offering trays of unique appetizers and flavourful finger food. They will have been prepared by the skilled students at Red River College’s highly rated culinary school. And, of course, there will be superb music, dancing and fine cocktails as the stars twinkle overhead. It will be an evening to remember – just like its fabulous predecessor. For tickets and more information about the evening, check out the OutWords website, www. outwords.ca, or email us info@outwords.ca.
April 2014 // www.outwords.ca // 23
OutWords // Features
STRENGTH IN
DIVERSITY GLBTQ* members and straight allies stand together in Rainbow Harmony Project By Armande Martine
F
or the past couple of seasons, the Rainbow Harmony Project (RHP) choir has used “Stand Together” as their signature song at concerts. “Side by side we could be, growing hopes and dream. If we could stand together, we will sing forever of the dreams growing in our hearts,” and so the lyrics go. Those aren’t just cheap words for this inclusive choir; both straight and GLBTQ* members do indeed stand together, singing side by side at practices and concerts. And you can see their interaction for yourself at the upcoming RHP Spring Concert in May. Lola Whonnock and Edward Cloud, one of two straight couples in the choir, have been part of the RHP for a year. They moved to Manitoba from B.C. and are working as substitute teachers in and around Winnipeg. As a teacher, Whonnock said she makes music a part of her classroom instruction. When moving here, she was looking into joining community bands and choirs when Cloud met RHP artistic director Johanna Hildebrand while on an apartment search. “Hildebrand was open and welcoming about including new members, regardless of background or orientation. It sounded friendly and fun so we went to check it out,” said Whonnock.
24 // April 2014 // www.outwords.ca
And check it out they did. “There was a real effort to take a new member of the choir under their wing and make sure that we were all feeling supported. That effort certainly made me feel welcome,” said Whonnock. “The choir feels like an intentional community. I think the members of Rainbow Harmony Project are great role models for LGBTQ youth and singers at large.” The other straight couple, Kendra Gowler and Nicholas Burns, joined the choir five years ago after meeting RHP members in another choir. Burns, a freelance artist, grinned as Gowler recalled the time when her best girlfriend, Bev, and several of her friends who hadn’t yet met Burns attended an RHP concert. Bev asked her friends if they could pick out was the straight guy in the choir. After several unsuccessful guesses, Bev finally pointed out Burns to them. They replied, “Oh, not the one I would have picked.” Burns and Gowler, a teacher who specializes in math, used superlatives to describe their experience with RHP. “Great, people, great fun! Awesome! Some of the most amazing experiences of our lives have been because of singing with RHP…all priceless!” Lori McCarville, a business analyst for an IT consultant firm, plays many roles in the choir, including that of an alto leader. Her skills can be seen at the May 24 RHP Spring Concert, where she will accompany the choir during one song, along with Hildebrand on fiddle and Rob Lindey on piano. McCarville has been singing with the choir for 13 years—almost as long as the choir has been around—and on occasion will sing solo. “After about five or six years, I auditioned for a solo and started singing out a little bit,” she said. As a GLBTQ* member of the choir, McCarville believes the presence of straight members adds to the strength of the choir. Until two years ago, Laura Donatelli, another straight ally
OutWords // Features
with the RHP, had not heard of the choir. She was inspired to join after hearing a straight friend rave about her experience and how much fun it was. Her tone became enthusiastic when asked about her own experience since joining. “I find this group an incredibly warm, welcoming community of friends. This has been a real joy… I just look forward so much to coming here and I leave feeling great, even if I’m having a really tough week,” she said. Donatelli added that at first she wrestled a bit with the fact that she was a straight person joining a GLBTQ* choir and felt like she was “coming here under false colours.” She approached the previous artistic director with her concerns prior to joining, informing him that she was straight but had GLBTQ* family members. Even after being assured that she was welcome, she refrained at first from full participation by not auditioning for solos or volunteering for a position on the board. Donatelli said she doesn’t feel that way anymore. “I just feel that this is a very accepting group of people, in all ways,” she stressed. “No one knows the journeys that the others take in this room and that’s just fine. I feel I’m just another person up there.” Ben Forest, a GLBTQ* choir member, has been singing with RHP for 3 years. He was asked to be on the music team after his first year. “They wanted a perspective from a younger member, someone who could bring some more ideas to the table,” said the 28-year-old. This being his first choir, he said he didn’t feel comfortable with it at first. By the end of the second year, Forest continued. “I was happy to do it. I had gotten to know some of the members by then.” In regards to including straight members in the choir, Forest said, “I think it’s a great opportunity for everyone to mingle. Honestly, I don’t even know who belongs in which category,” he chuckled. “Sometimes it makes for funny bouts of conversation because I’ll assume that someone has a partner of a certain gender and it turns out to be the opposite,” said Forest. “Everyone’s happy so it’s all positive.” As the conclusion to the “Stand Together” signature song suggests, “Hope will find a way...” Come and check out for yourself how well the group works together. The RHP Spring Concert will take place at 8 p.m. on May 24, at Crescent Fort Rouge United Church. Tickets are around $15 and can be purchased from RHP members or by emailing rhp@rainbowharmonyproject.ca. - Armande Martine is a provincial civil servant and an enthusiastic GLBTQ* RHP member.
April 2014 // www.outwords.ca // 25
WE ARE PROUD TO STAND UP FOR ALL MANITOBANS
Greg Selinger
Jennifer Howard
Jim Rondeau
Deanne Crothers
Andrew Swan
Rob Altemeyer
MLA for St. Boniface MLA for Fort Rouge MLA for Assiniboia 204-888-7722 Premier of Manitoba 204-946-0272 204-237-9247 JenniferHoward.ca JimRondeau.mb.ca GregSelinger.ca
Dave Ron Gaudreau Lemieux
MLA for St. Norbert MLA for Dawson Trail 204-261-1794 204-878-4644 DaveGaudreau.ca Ron-Lemieux.ca
MLA for Minto 204-783-9860 AndrewSwan.ca
MLA for St. James 204-415-0883 DeanneCrothers.ca
MLA for Wolseley 204-775-8575 RobAltemeyer.ca
OutWords // Music
HOLY BLUES FROM ANOTHER GALAXY CLARA ENGEL’S MUSICAL MUSINGS OutWords caught up with Toronto musician Clara Engel to talk about her muses and her prolific musical outpourings
By Zanna Joyce
E
ngel describes herself as an artist working in the medium of song. “It's a big question,” she chuckled when I asked her to talk about herself. “I feel that I relate more to the concept of being a poet... than a songwriter,” she said. “I feel there is a false separation. There are numerous artists — like Patti Smith, Leonard Cohen — that probably would have been poets at other times." Engel has eight produced albums but her first recordings happened back when she was just 13. “I have some recordings that I will never show to anyone, but I stand behind them,” she said. Her latest album Ashes and Tangerines has been a multi-year project, with mastering taking an entire year. And now, Engel already has another album ready to go. “I feel that I have been very determined. I've mostly done it independently. I love writing songs and recording and playing with people. I've been doing it for as long as I've been able to afford to go into the studio.” She's a bit conflicted about presenting her new work on tour in New York and venues in Ontario. By the time an album is finished, she's done with it. She just wants to play her new work, “but it’s infuriating to people who listen to me, so I’m figuring out how to mix it so that people recognize at least one or two songs,” she said. Engel’s work has been described as being very personal with a darkness that can be quite stark. OutWords asked her what her 30 second elevator speech would be about her music. “Someone called my music minimalist, holy blues from another galaxy and I kind of like that. If you say it really slowly it's 30 seconds, so...” Engel feels that gender is very fluid and this influences her deeply. She said that it’s important to be oneself rather than be pushed into a role. A product of the generation when some parents were trying to encourage non-conforming interests in their children, Engel feels “like it is almost reactionary — I'd rather be able to take from everything. My mother tried to put me in hockey when I was little... but I had no interest in hockey, but I also didn't have a lot of interest in Nancy Drew.” She cites Patti Smith and Antony Hegarty as musicians who influenced to her to follow her own path. “People who were visibly queer — that was really important for me to see.” Engel currently has no performances scheduled for Winnipeg, but reports always wanting to play in a church. Listen to Engel’s music on claraengel.bandcamp.com.
- Zanna Joyce is a fan of music that doesn't go for pretty and popular.
April 2014 // www.outwords.ca // 27
OutWords // Books & Movies
By Larkin Schmiedl
B
ecause transgender arts and literature are not often understood on their own terms, and because when trans work is reviewed, it’s often viewed through stereotypical lenses, poet and University of Winnipeg assistant professor Trish Salah decided to organize Writing Trans Genres. Part academic conference and part performance cabaret, the three-day event at the University of Winnipeg will include panels, workshops, keynote speakers and presentations of papers on May 22 to 24. “What I’m interested in doing is creating a space for trans people to talk about how we understand our work,” said Salah, author of two books. “Interest in trans figures frequently translates to an interest in trans figures produced by non-trans people, and those representations – you know, I can think of exceptions that are quite good, but the majority tend to be quite stereotypical and quite either condescending or fetishizing, or just simplistic.” Although the conference is not transexclusive, it centres on trans authors, performers and artists as the people who are the
28 // April 2014 // www.outwords.ca
most knowledgeable about their own work. That sounds straightforward, but self-representation flies in the face of a long history of misrepresentation. “I figured the best way to start that conversation was to get large numbers of trans writers together.” Salah hopes the conference will build an understanding of how to read trans writing in ways that are attentive to the specifics of different people’s experiences. She also hopes some active networks of trans, two-spirit and genderqueer writers and critics will emerge. And non-academics are welcome. The keynotes and daytime readings will be free and open to the public, and parts of the conference will be streamed online and digitally archived for later public use. To attend the entire conference, fees range from $10 for unwaged attendees, to $120 for those employed full-time. Registration is open until April 15. Keynote speaker Rachel Pollack will talk about what it means for trans people to make literature for one another, rather than
to explain the trans experience to non-trans people. Another keynote will address ways of thinking about indigenous approaches to gender and sexuality. “We will be having conversations specifically around intersectionality and the ways in which racialized linguistic and cultural identities interact with sex and gender identities in shaping people’s literary production,” said Salah. And the ways the queer and trans communities relate will also be a topic of conversation. “Certainly there are trans folks and trans artists who participate within queer contexts, but there’s actually a much broader segment of the trans community that probably doesn’t, so that will also be reflected in the kind of art we make, the kind of writing we do,” Salah said. The conference’s call for papers asks, “Are there unknown histories of trans literary production?” and “What genres and figures have been important for two-spirit, genderqueer, trans-identified writers and writers with transsexual histories?”
OutWords // Books & Movies
“It’s often assumed trans literature is just an expression of identity, or a simplistic response to oppression,” said Salah. “And certainly we do respond to oppression and we do talk about our experience and the difference of trans lives from cis lives, but there’s a lot more complexity to what’s being produced than that.” Inspired by trans film and arts festivals in Toronto in the late ‘90s, and by historic conferences like Women and Words, which brought women writers together to debate and define women’s literature, Writing Trans Genres aims to build a public cultural space for trans people. “I’m hoping that we can bring a similar spirit to imagining what trans folks’ literature looks like,” Salah said. Check out the details at www.writingtransgenres.com. - Larkin Schmiedl is a freelance journalist living in Vancouver, B.C. He loves to write about social and environmental justice, especially where it involves other trans folks.
The first Canadian conference of its kind, Writing Trans Genres explores how we think about trans writing and representation. photos clockwise, starting at top left: The work of keynote speaker Aiyyana Maracle, an award-winning multi-disciplinary artist, explores the themes gender, race and the ongoing intersections of the two. Keynote speaker Jay Prosser is the author of Second Skins, in which he explores the powerful drive that leads men and women literally to shed their skins and to cross the boundary of sex. Keynote speaker Nathanaël is the author of numerous French and English books. Keynote speaker Rachel Pollack is an American author of 36 books and one of the world’s foremost authorities on the modern interpretation of Tarot cards.
April 2014 // www.outwords.ca // 29
getty images
OutWords // Books & Movies
Men are raped too One man’s account of how rape affected his life By Meg Crane
J
ohn Lennon was raped. At first he didn’t report it. He reported a theft by the same man to the police. Then he went back to report the rape. Then he wrote a book about it. Lennon (no relation to the musician of the same name), a gay man from Ireland, describes his rape and touches on the court case in My Journey to Justice?. Newspaper articles, letters and photographs supplement his writing. While it would have been interesting to hear about what happened in court, Lennon only mentions it briefly, focusing more on his brother’s imprisonment, his friend getting lost in Spain for days, and another friend’s murder leading to community outrage. It seems odd in a book about his experience about rape for Lennon to stray so far from that particular event, but it becomes clear that every aspect of his life is affected. In order to paint an accurate picture of how rape changed Lennon’s life, he needs to show different aspects of it. At times the book can get confusing. There are many names and because it’s not written completely chronologically, it’s difficult to tell where in time the book is at some points. While frustrating, it doesn’t have a huge impact on the read of the book. Overall My Journey to Justice? shows the impact of rape and the importance of speaking out about rape in order to get the needed support and to hold perpetrators accountable.
Lennon took the time to answer a few questions OutWords had. OW: How long did it take to write the book? JL: I started one year after the rape and took a further two. OW: What was the editing process like? JL: I originally wrote three thousand pages and edited it dramatically to protect identities as I wrote about other rape victims. OW: You didn’t focus much on the court case, but you wrote a lot about things not related to the rape. Why? JL: I only wrote what I thought was relevant about the court case, as most of the three week trial was spent in a witness suite, drinking coffee. The reason I wrote about unrelated topics is because that’s what was going on in my life at the time and I think it is important to relay that I am a person first and foremost and a rape victim, no, a survivor, lastly. OW: What do you hope the book will accomplish? JL: My book has already accomplished what it was originally intended for. It has raised awareness of adult male rape, and at least one court case has been started as a reader reported his monster after reading my book. 30 // April 2014 // www.outwords.ca
OW: Looking back, is there anything you wish you had or had not said in the book? JL: I think I made most of the points I wanted to and am happy with the content. However, life post-rape is a very strange place to be and I wish I could have demonstrated how life develops for a publicly-known rape survivor. OW: Do you plan on writing any more books? JL: Yes, I am currently writing my next book, a continuation of the last, and is called A Letter To My Father? OW: Is there anything else you would like to say? JL: There is life after rape. Any man who has experienced what I have, please, feel no shame or guilt. The notion of shame and guilt is reinforced by the media and the guarantee of anonymity. Remove the shame and guilt, then there will be no need for anonymity as this is not afforded to other victims of crime. To all victims who may be suffering in silence: forget shame, forget guilt, go forth and report. Lennon’s book can be found on Amazon.com. Pick up a copy and let us know what you think @OutWords. - Meg Crane is the news, books amd movies editor for OutWords magazine, and creator of Cockroach zine.
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OutWords // Columns/Opinions
KNOWL
EDGE IS
ENGAG WWW.U
CN.CA
ING
MY KNOWLEDGE will do many things IT MIGHT protect my community OR MAYBE teach a child MY KNOWLEDGE, EARNED AT UCN. At UCN, your success as a student is our top priority. But being a student is about more than lectures and exams, and we have many student services that will help you both succeed and feel a part of our community. Our many student services welcome you into the UCN community. Each campus has a residence, food services, counselors, computer labs, and an Aboriginal centre. For more information, visit www.ucn.ca or call 866.627.8500 (The Pas) and 866.677.6450 (Thompson).
32 // July / August 2013 // www.outwords.ca
OWN YOUR FUTURE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF THE NORTH