IN Magazine: September/October 2019

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2019

JUSTIN UTLEY TALKS CONVERSION THERAPY ARE THROUPLES THE NEW COUPLES?

THE BOOK OF ZEKE THOMAS 1

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SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2019

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䈀䔀匀倀伀䬀䔀䴀䄀吀䌀䠀䴀䄀䬀䤀一䜀⸀䌀伀䴀 2

IN MAGAZINE

Keep moving your way From coast to coast, we encourage diversity—it’s part of what makes each of us unique and proud to be Canadian.

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inmagazine.ca PUBLISHER Patricia Salib GUEST EDITOR Christopher Turner ART DIRECTOR Prairie Koo COPY EDITOR Ruth Hanley SENIOR WRITER Paul Gallant CONTRIBUTORS Fraser Abe, Jonathan Bertucchi, Bobby Box, Loren Christie, Al Donato, Ryan Emberley, Adriana Ermter, Brandon M. Garr, Sarah Ghali, Hector Gonzalez Jr., Bianca Guzzo, Courtney Hardwick, David Hawe, Yoni Ish-Hurwitz, Nathan J, Smita Jacob, EJ Jamele, Karen Kwan, Paul Langill, John McCullagh, Larry Olsen, Ivan Otis, Michael Pihach, George Pimentel, Mitchel Raphael, Connor Remus, Jumol Royes, Adam Segal, Fredsonn Silva Aguda, Kahmeelia Smith, Doug Wallace, Casey Williams DIRECTORS OF MARKETING AND SPONSORSHIPS Bradley Blaylock Reggie Lanuza CONTROLLER Jackie Zhao

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2019

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Zeke Thomas: Shot exclusively for IN Magazine Executive Production: EJ Jamele at crowdMGMT Photographer: Hector Gonzalez Jr. Styling/Art Direction: Brandon M. Garr at crowdMGMT Hair & Makeup: Nathan J at crowdMGMT using Living Proof

IN MAGAZINE

On the cover Zeke is wearing: JACKET: 3.1 Phillip Lim SHIRT: Loris Diran PANTS: Triple RRR

CONTENTS

90 Issue 90

Victoria’s Secret has tapped Valentina Sampaio for a campaign for the company’s PINK line.

The news makes the Brazilian model the first openly transgender model in history to pose for the lingerie brand.

September / October 2019 INFRONT

06 | BLEMISH BREAKOUT With adult acne on the rise, we take a look at why your pimples are back and so out of proportion with your age 08 | THROUPLE TROUBLE Many assume a three-way relationship is twice the arguments and twice the jealousy, but advocates disagree

09 | CAN ANXIETY DESTROY RELATIONSHIPS? Anxiety can work in curious ways, and it will impact different relationships differently 10 | ARE YOU SEXUAL-HEALTH SAVVY? Quiz time!

11 | FLU SEASON IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER Protect yourself and your loved ones by getting the flu shot 12 | THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY NEEDS TO DO MORE FOR THE LGBTI COMMUNITY The executive director of the Human Rights Likeminded Office tells IN about advancing community rights 13 | UNDETECTABLE EQUALS UNTRANSMITTABLE Science versus stigma: new science has changed the reality of living with HIV

14 | 5 SEXY RIDES YOU’LL WANT TO DRIVE THIS FALL Get ready to be surprised 15 | ON THE TOWN Scenes from the party circuit FEATURES 16 | BOTTOMS UP: A PREPARATION GUIDE FOR ANAL SEX Play safe, guys 18 | YOU NEED TO CALM DOWN Why do we allow celebrities to hop on the Pride bandwagon and profit off of queer culture, and get away with it?

19 | HOW EDMONTON PROVED YOU CAN’T CANCEL PRIDE Even without a parade, there’s still plenty of reason to celebrate 20 | WHEN DID YOU DECIDE TO SWITCH TEAMS? Why microaggressions can be so crazy-making – and what to do about them 22 | JUSTIN UTLEY’S ANTHEM FOR “SURVIVORS” LIKE HIM The singer talks about his traumatic experience with conversion therapy 24 | THE BOOK OF ZEKE DJ and sexual assault awareness advocate Zeke Thomas is transforming his story into a survival guide

29 | JESSIE GOYETTE’S TEAM EFFORTS MAKE HAMILTON SAFER FOR QUEERS The Indigenous schoolteacher works in overdose prevention 30 | SKIN Montreal-based photographer Jonathan Bertucchi takes a good close look at our self-image 44 | DRAG IN THE VINEYARD....IT’S ALL IN THE FAMILY One queen officially brings drag to Niagara 46 | SHUFFLE OFF TO BUFFALO A road trip to a revitalized Queen City yields warm hospitality, rich heritage, vibrant art and landmark architecture 50 | FLASHBACK: SEPTEMBER 26, 1975 IN LGBTQ HISTORY The Rocky Horror Picture Show premieres in North America 51 | MUST-TRY SIPS FROM NICKEL 9 DISTILLERY’S SIGNATURE QUEEN COCKTAIL SERIES Inspired by beloved Toronto queens Priyanka and Miss Moço, Michael Pez has created two fierce cocktails FASHION 34 | STEEL AND GLASS Sartorial styles for FALL/WINTER 2019 take over the streets of downtown Toronto

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LOOKING GOOD

BLEMISH BREAKOUT With adult acne on the rise, we take a look at why your pimples are back and so out of proportion with your age

By Adriana Ermter

Did you see the teaser video from Kendall Jenner on the momager’s Instagram earlier this year? You probably did: the message – “I can help you, and it’s okay, and I experience it. I’m very normal and like, I understand you. Like, I can connect with you” – went viral. Whether you participated in the hype or the shade that followed, there’s one thing we can all agree on. The top model’s imagination-spinning statement and later reveal (at the Golden Globe Awards, no less) about her new advertising campaign with Proactive put adult acne back in the spotlight. No pun intended.

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2019

Granted, at 22 years, Jenner is barely beyond the teen zone, when pimples and their bearers’ traumatic declarations about never being able to leave the house again are considered a rite of passage. Who didn’t reach for the zit cream and generously swab it onto unwanted spots the night before a high school dance? A whopping 85 per cent of Gen Z and Y’ers ages 12 to 25 years are still following this practice, but adults? Not so much…well, that is until now.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, acne is quickly becoming the number one skincare conundrum for adults, impacting 22 per cent of women ages 26 to 44 years and about a third of that number for men. “Adult acne is on the rise due to a combination of stress, dietary factors and changing hormones,” explains Dr. Paul Cohen, the founding dermatologist at Rosedale Dermatology in Toronto. “Stress is more prevalent than ever and it can increase certain hormones, such as cortisol. This can lead to more inflammation, which can trigger and worsen adult acne.”

While the age range has expanded, the initial causes of adult acne are pretty much the same as they were when you were a teenager.

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IN MAGAZINE

First, there are your family genes and your body’s natural agespecific hormones to factor into the equation, and second, your skin’s sebum production – the natural oil your skin makes daily to keep it from drying out. So when your dead skin cells (which range from approximately 30,000 to 40,000 each day) plug up said sebum-filled pores, and bacteria from the environment, plus dirt and grime, get stuck and are added into the sebum mix, pimples pop up. Adding a “rich cream or lotion that is too heavy for your skin type never helps,” adds Dr. Cohen, “and can create more oily and acne-prone skin.”

Unlike your spotted past, however, when acne shows up in adulthood, it tends to appear mostly on your lower face, along the jawline and neck in the form of big angry bumps. Thanks to menstruation, childbirth, perimenopause and menopause, women are the predominant recipients, swapping places with men, who in their teens endured pimples, blackheads and cystic acne twice as much and as frequently as women.

Regardless of gender, seeing spots can make every day feel like #TBT, complete with the unwanted teenage emotions. “Our self-esteem can be impacted by acne,” affirms Lauren Akbar, a community mentor for youth and children in Toronto. “Acne is influenced by societal constructs or misconceptions that it’s not beautiful or handsome and that we should hide our acne and even our acne scars.”

Because you are no longer 13, wriggling under the covers is no longer a solution. Still, who wants to go to work and feel self-conscious about the way they look?

The answer is: no one, particularly in our current Instagram perfection- have taken the formerly teen-owned category and mix-mastered obsessed society. “We live in a world that continues to value its way into product formulations suitable for adult skin. men, specifically white men, over women and other marginalized people, who are then placed on a lesser scale,” says Akbar, who “As we age, our skin thins out and becomes more sensitive to products,” believes this can cause women and gay men and women deeper explains Dr. Cohen, who says our favoured options from the past anxiety about their aesthetic appearance. “Ingrained beliefs that are no longer appropriate for our grown-up skin. “Adults with acne they are not smart enough, good-looking enough and more, can have skin that is often dry and sensitive and unable to tolerate the cause these groups of people to work harder to see their value and same treatments or the same levels of ingredients as teenage oily build confidence in themselves.” skin, which is more resilient.”

Create a new vision of beauty Fortunately, fashion and skincare companies are recognizing some of the aesthetic issues said groups are dealing with, and are stepping up to acknowledge them and create new beauty ideals. Diesel’s “Go With the Flaw” ad campaign demonstrates how to embrace your flaws and insecurities by featuring people with everything from unibrows to braces, while Dove’s #MyBeautyMyWay encourages women to stand up for what they believe is beautiful by showcasing real-life female boxers, plus-sized fashion bloggers and androgynous pronoun-free humans. Rihanna’s makeup line Fenty Beauty has also taken a stand by recently launching 40 different shades of foundation, supported by an ad campaign showing a unique and diverse palette of faces.

Water-, gel- and foaming-based cleansers, toners and lotions are best for the 26-plus set, as they protect sensitive skin. Dr. Cohen also advises consulting product labels to ensure the product contains a maximum of 3% benzoyl peroxide and 0.5% salicylic acid, so as to eliminate bumps and lumps without irritating your skin. “Salicylic acid exfoliates and unclogs pores, while benzoyl peroxide’s antibacterial properties will help eradicate inflammation,” says Dr. Cohen. To speed up the healing process, apply light lotions or serums containing soothing ingredients like lavender and rose essential oils at night before bed; this can help reduce redness and irritation while calming and hydrating your face.

But arguably the best and healthiest solution is adapting your own what-is-beautiful/handsome perceptions. Sure, having pimples as Non-gender-specific, adult anti-acne lines through bigwig name an adult can make you feel like you’re reliving your youth – and brands are also sprouting up. Neutrogena’s Ultra Gentle and Oil-Free, not in a good way. But with wisdom and maturity on your side, Beautycounter.com’s Countercontrol, Dermalogica’s Clear + Brighten, you can tackle it from a whole new, and more positive, direction.

Olay’s ProX Microdermabrasion Plus Advanced Cleansing System “Own your skin and be kind to yourself,” advises Akbar. “After all, and Proactiv’s Solutions (a.k.a. the Kendall Jenner product line) your self-esteem is fluid, just as is your acne.”

ADRIANA ERMTER is a Toronto-based, lifestyle-magazine pro who has travelled the globe writing about must-spritz fragrances, child poverty, beauty and grooming.

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RELATIONSHIPS

THROUPLE TROUBLE Many assume a three-way relationship is twice the arguments and twice the jealousy, but advocates disagree

By Fraser Abe

Alvin, Simon and Theodore; the Beastie Boys; Destiny’s Child; the Powerpuff Girls – all famous trios (though we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention our favourite triple threat: Annie, Brenda and Elise from The First Wives Club). But there’s another kind of trio that’s become popular (or at least more popularly well-known) these days: the throuple. As in a romantic couple, but with three members.

And while the Beastie Boys dubbed themselves Triple Trouble (in a music video filmed in Toronto, no less), a troika shouldn’t be scary, it should be fun and rewarding, say throuple members.

Firstly, a throuple is not the same as a threesome. Whereas a threesome is a one-time-only (or possibly even a continued “friends with benefits”) scenario, a throuple is a committed (though not necessarily monogamous, er, trigamous?), continued relationship among three people. They generally start with a couple that is looking to add a third to their relationship, even if they’re not sure of that fact yet – many throuple stories begin with a threesome or friendship that evolved into something more over time.

Why bother? Many assume a throuple is twice the arguments and twice the jealousy, but advocates disagree. One of the biggest benefits they espouse is healthy communication and having another person to disarm tense conversations. One member of a gay triad told Metro UK, “If either of us argues with each other, there’s always another person to go to and ask for help, or just a person to mediate and calm a situation – which works perfectly.” Another trio told Time Out: “I feel like I won the lottery. It’s double the amount of love.” Many throuples add that no one person can be everything to another, so having two other humans to live, learn, laugh and love with actually brings more balance to the relationship.

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2019

There’s one point, though, on which all triads staunchly agree: it’s important not to rush into such a relationship half-cocked. Keeping the lines of communication open – and realizing that things might change – is critical to a successful throuple. Questions like “Are we in an open or closed triad relationship?”, “What does sex look like for the three of us?”and “How should we tell our friends and family?” are all questions that should be discussed before leaping into a Three’s Company.

Frankie Grande – who, incidentally, also got made over on an episode of Drag Race (if it continues at this pace, one day it will be ex-presidents and military generals getting the drag makeover!)

– was infamously in a short-lived throuple with married couple Daniel Sinasohn and Mike Pophis, and he says it’s not all roses.

He later told Us Weekly, “You have double the highs, double the excitement, but also double the lows, double the drama.”

One of the hardest aspects of being in a throuple is “coming out” to your friends and family a second time, say trios, but it’s not all bad. Barry told Pride.com: “If there’s some family that doesn’t accept it, then I’m not interested in their negative energy and judgment. I’ve had enough of that for being gay. I’m only looking for unconditional love from my family members.”

Another of the triad from Time Out said: “When you own your reality and you have no shame, people kind of take your lead.

When we meet people, I just say, ‘These are my partners.’ And I’m sure we walk away and they say, ‘Huh, what do you think of that?’ But because we have no discomfort, we invite people to be comfortable.” The fact is, people who find themselves in these kinds of relationships don’t want to keep them hidden away, so friends and family are likely to find out eventually anyhow – you might as well own it.

As for that question we’ve all been dying to ask: do you all sleep in the same bed? Barry says yes: “We upgraded from a Queen to a King-size bed not too long after we started seeing Mack.” But be sure to exercise caution when asking the question of a friend, one member of the Time Out trio warns: “The first question out of everyone’s mouth is, ‘Do you sleep in the same bed?’ We do. But like in any other relationship, that is something personal and private between us. It’s not the defining characteristic of this relationship.”

Only you (and your partner) can answer if a throuple is right for you, but if you feel like you have the communication skills, an open heart and – maybe most importantly – a California King, maybe give it a try.

Derrick Barry of RuPaul’s Drag Race fame is in one of the more famous examples of a throuple. One part of his triumvirate, Mackenzie Claude, actually appeared on Drag Race three seasons before Barry got his chance in Season 8, getting made over by Alaska to become Nebraska Thunderfuck. The other member of their throuple, Nick San Pedro, is an artist who styles Barry for their many photo sessions. Barry told Pride.com, “Believe in the natural progression of the relationship. This should feel organic with nothing forced. I’m not sure that looking for a third is even possible. Unless the stars align and you find someone that happens to be looking to be the third.”

FRASER ABE is a Toronto-based writer. His work has been published in Toronto Life, The Globe and Mail, Sharp Magazine, NOW Magazine and more. When he’s not busy writing, he’s shrieking Gia Gunn quotes at his boyfriend, Colin.

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IN MAGAZINE

Anxiety can work in curious ways, and it will impact different relationships differently

By Adam Segal

Dear Adam, I really don’t want to lose this relationship that means so much to me. We’ve been together about five years and I really feel like I’ve met the love of my life. Two years into our relationship, I found out he’d had a one-nighter with a guy while away on business. I was so crushed at first, but I do have to say that he took full responsibility and reassured me that this was a mistake and that our relationship is the most important thing to him. We had several conversations about it at the time, and I gradually found myself forgiving him. At this point, I don’t feel scared that he doesn’t love me, but I realize how much that whole experience affected my self-esteem. I can’t shake the feeling that this wouldn’t have happened if I were more attractive. I’m checked out when we have sex and push away his compliments when he offers them. Before, I was so afraid that the betrayal would ruin our relationship, and now I’m afraid that my own anxiety will. I can’t seem to relax no matter how much I try to let go – how do I move on? —Flynn Dear Flynn, When something really painful happens, it’s tempting for us to obsessively try to figure it out and come up with a clear reason for it. Searching for a concrete cause offers us an illusion of control – which is really attractive after getting painfully blindsided.

We think that if we could just pinpoint exactly what went wrong, then we could convince ourselves that by being hyper-vigilant, we could pre-empt anything crappy from happening to us again. The only problem is that this doesn’t work (you aren’t psychic) and supports an unhealthy notion that we can’t handle painful things when they do come up.

Your anxiety is clearly exhausting you and infiltrating your connection with your guy – which is the last thing you want. It would be easy to fight your anxiety or try to arm-wrestle it into submission. But not only does that not seem to be working, it might be adding to

your frustration. Instead, what if you could see your anxiety as a benevolent force that is trying to protect you from any further pain or feelings of inadequacy? Sure, this force isn’t actually serving you so well, but if you could see it as having good intentions but poor execution, you might just feel less controlled by it.

The insecurities and body-image woes that have been stirred up are perfectly normal in this situation. However, the notion that being better-looking would somehow vaccinate you against betrayal is all part of the same scheme to gain control over what is essentially the messiness of human life. Rather than focusing endlessly on how more hurt could be on the horizon, see if you can fully acknowledge the ways you have been able to get through this and other anguished life moments. Doing this will remind you that bracing for imagined future hurts is pointless because you already have the skills to cope when tough things actually happen.

ADAM SEGAL, writer and therapist, works in private practice in downtown Toronto. Ask him your relationship or mental-health questions at @relationship@inmagazine.

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RELATIONSHIP ADVICE

CAN ANXIETY DESTROY RELATIONSHIPS?

HEALTH & WELLNESS

ARE YOU SEXUAL-HEALTH SAVVY? Quiz time!

By Karen Kwan

When it comes to sexual health, how well are you taking care of yourself? To help suss out how savvy you are, take this little quiz on some key factors that impact overall health, which will give you a little refresher on how you can be better taking care of yourself.

How often should gay and bisexual men, and men who have sex with men, get tested for HIV? (a) Twice a year (b) At least once a year (c) Only if your doctor recommends it (d) Once a month Answer: (b) At least once a year. When was your last test?

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2019

Lesbians have a higher body mass than heterosexual women. (a) False (b) True Answer: (b) True. Many studies have found this. Calculate your body mass index by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in metres squared (or just search Google for an easy online calculator). Having a BMI of 25.0 or more is considered overweight, while the healthy range is 18.5 to 24.9. This calculation is not applicable to certain groups, including muscle builders, long-distance athletes, children and the elderly.

Gay or bisexual men, or men who have sex with men, have higher rates of drug and tobacco use compared to other men. (a) True (b) False Answer: (a) True. This rate is also higher among lesbian women.

Which of the following factors – which are high among lesbians – raise a woman’s risk of heart disease? (a) Obesity (b) Stress (c) Smoking (d) All of the above Answer: (d) All of the above. Heart disease is the number one killer of all women, and these risk factors are ones that you can take steps to reduce your risk.

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Storing more fat around the abdomen and having a greater waist circumference (which studies have suggested is more common for lesbian women than other women): (a) puts them in a higher risk category for heart disease and premature death (b) doesn’t impact their health any more than if they carried weight in other areas of the body Answer: (a). Visceral fat (found in your belly area and around vital organs, including the liver, stomach and intestines) differs from body fat and influences how hormones function in the body.

You can transmit STDs by sharing sex toys. (a) True (b) False Answer: (a) True. Reduce the chance of transmitting an STD by not sharing, and by proper cleansing and storage of sex toys.

Canada’s Food Guide was recently updated and recommends eating more of a plant-based diet. Who is less likely to eat fruits and vegetables every day? (a) Bisexual women (b) Lesbian women (c) Heterosexual women (d) Both (a) and (b) Answer: (d) Both (a) and (b). Canada’s Food Guide recommends seven to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables a day.

Hepatitis C, which can lead to liver failure, liver cancer and death, is: (a) easily preventable by making sure you get a vaccine to protect you against it (b) not prevented by any vaccine Answer: (b) There is no vaccine for hepatitis C, which is a liver infection that affects one in every 100 Canadians. It can be spread by sharing drug needles and syringes, and, less commonly, through sexual intercourse.

KAREN KWAN is a freelance health, travel and lifestyle writer based in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter at @healthswellness and on Instagram at @healthandswellness.

IN MAGAZINE

HEALTH

FLU SEASON IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER Protect yourself and your loved ones by getting the flu shot

The last thing you want to get is the flu – really. You can protect yourself and your loved ones by getting a quick, easy and convenient flu shot at any Rexall Pharmacy location. Sign up for Rexall’s Flu Shot Alert email to be the first to know when it will be available in your area.

What is the flu?

Influenza – commonly known as “the flu” – is an infection in the airways caused by the influenza virus. The flu is easily caught and easily spread. Although some symptoms may be cold-like, they are far more serious, and full recovery may take up to six weeks.

Immunization is the best prevention against the flu and the illness it can cause.

Some people are at greater risk of flu complications.

While a balanced diet, good hygiene and exercise all contribute positively to your general health, they may not be enough to protect you from the influenza virus, especially if you already have a pre-existing medical condition such as diabetes. The flu shot is recommended by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization for anyone who wants protection from influenza. Some people, for certain medical reasons, should not get a flu shot (get more information below) – otherwise, anyone over the age of six months can be immunized.

For the following people, it is especially important to get a flu shot, because they are at greater risk of complications: • Anyone with chronic heart or lung disease • Anyone with diabetes or other metabolic disease, cancer, kidney disease, a blood disorder or a weakened immune system • Anyone from six months to 18 years of age on long-term treatment using acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, such as Aspirin) • Seniors and anyone who lives, works or volunteers in a nursing home, chronic care facility, retirement home or other healthcare setting • Emergency service workers, including fire, police and ambulance staff • Anyone travelling to places where the flu virus is likely to be present • Anyone (including children) who lives in the same household or is in contact with people at risk of serious complications such as those mentioned above Some children and youth are also at risk of serious complications from influenza. Children who are at risk include: • Those with chronic heart or lung disease such as asthma or cystic fibrosis • Those taking acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, such as Aspirin) daily • Those with certain other serious medical conditions New flu strains mean a new vaccine each year.

Each year the World Health Organization identifies the particular strains of the flu that are starting to show up. A new vaccine is then produced to be most effective against those strains. These flu strains change each year, which is why you need to receive a new vaccine every year to be effectively protected against influenza.

The flu season in Australia can be a moderate predictor of the flu season in the Northern Hemisphere.1 With a high number of flu cases reported before the typical beginning of the flu season, the early start to the Australian flu season suggests we can expect a highly active flu season this year in Canada. You can protect yourself and stay healthy this flu season by getting your flu shot.

You should get immunized as soon as flu season starts.

October to April is flu season. Get immunized early, as it takes two weeks for immunity to develop. Remember, your last year’s flu vaccination won’t protect you this year.

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding can get the flu shot.

The influenza vaccine is considered safe and in fact may be beneficial for pregnant women at all stages of pregnancy and for breastfeeding mothers. Speak with your Rexall Pharmacist for more information.

Some people should NOT get a flu shot.

Influenza vaccine should not be given to people who have had an anaphylactic (allergic) reaction to a previous dose or who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome within six weeks of a previous influenza vaccination. Children who are under six months of age should not be given the vaccine because it does not work well in this age group. If you have a serious acute illness, you should postpone your shot until you are well. Certain people should not receive influenza vaccination in nasal spray form. If you are considering this option, please speak with your healthcare provider to find out if it is right for you.

Reduce the risk…for everyone!

The flu shot is the most effective and longest-lasting protection against the spread of the influenza virus. As more people are vaccinated, the influenza virus has less chance to multiply and spread in the community.

Together we can reduce the risk of flu. Your Rexall Pharmacist can provide advice and flu vaccinations to keep you, your loved ones and your community healthy. Be the first to know when the flu shot is available in your area; sign up for the Rexall Flu Shot Alert Email today at rexall.ca/flushotemail.

Speak with your Rexall Pharmacist to see if the flu shot is right for you. By provincial legislation, pharmacists cannot administer a flu shot to children under a certain age. Ask your Rexall Pharmacist for age restrictions.

Brought to you by

© 2019 Rexall Pharmacy Group Ltd. All rights reserved.

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1. https://globalnews.ca/news/5435232/australia-flu-season-canada/

OPINION

THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY NEEDS TO DO MORE FOR THE LGBTI COMMUNITY

The executive director of the Human Rights Likeminded Office tells IN about advancing community rights

By Yoni Ish-Hurwitz

Victory at last! At the conclusion of its most recent session, the human rights obligations when advocating for changes in Human Rights Council of the United Nations decided that LGBTI government policy and legislation. The report will cite independent people deserve continued protection. Oddly enough, however, human rights experts, senior UN officials and UN resolutions. But governments around the world were divided on whether to renew out of a hundred human rights resolutions adopted by the United the mandate of the only United Nations expert dedicated to Nations every year, only three mention LGBTI people explicitly. protecting the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender That means there are 97 more opportunities to do more. The report people and intersex people. Only the independent expert, Victor will advise on how to do just that.

Madrigal-Borloz, is mandated by the international community to investigate and report on violence and discrimination against people Let us celebrate this victory with pride, but commit to do more. based on sexual orientation and gender identity We must not rest on our laurels, as the challenges to the mandate will persist and LGBTI people remain in peril. In a recent article The anticipation for the vote was great. No less than 1,312 in The Guardian, Prof. Yuval Noah Harari (historian and author organizations from 174 countries delivered a collective plea to of the best-seller Sapiens) warned that with rising homophobia the Human Rights Council, while LGBTI people face alarming and rapid developments in surveillance, a new era of persecution attacks around the world. Intolerance rooted in conservative is all too possible. Let us heed his call: it is time to unite and act. values is giving way to boundless hate and persecution, motivated by populism. The illegal detention camps in Chechnya and the legislation in Brunei mandating death by stoning for gays can no longer be explained as mere “backlash” against progress. It is a part of broader processes affecting all regions. Fifty years after a demand for equality erupted at Stonewall in New York, equality is still far out of reach and fundamental rights are being stripped away. Given all this, the renewal of the mandate of the independent expert is a crucial reaffirmation of the commitment to LGBTI rights.

However, the UN can and must do so much more.

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2019

We, individual citizens and our governments, should use every opportunity to advance LGBTI rights. Activists in every country know best how to choose their battles. But the United Nations should demand the protection of all human rights everywhere. All human rights are universal. There is no place for complacency at condemning atrocities but neglecting so-called first-world problems, such as marriage equality. The premise is the same: a demand for equality. We should use every platform to call for an end to atrocities against LGBTI people, and at the same time, we should call for the inclusion of LGBTI people in every society as equal members.

While gays are rounded up and killed in Chechnya, in other countries gays are dying in great numbers through suicide at home. Trans people are at a far greater risk. The risks for LGBTI people are higher where homosexuality is criminalized – as it is in 68 countries and territories. Their well-being is better where same-sex marriage is permitted, but those countries number only 30.

This is why the Human Rights Likeminded Office, a non-governmental organization, is publishing a groundbreaking report on LGBTI rights at the United Nations this fall. The report will identify areas where the United Nations can do more to protect LGBTI people.

It will also provide the tools for activists to point out international

Yoni Ish-Hurwitz

YONI ISH-HURWITZ is executive director of the Human Rights Likeminded Office, based in New York City. He formerly served at the Israeli Mission to the United Nations and at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

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IN MAGAZINE

HEALTH

UNDETECTABLE EQUALS UNTRANSMITTABLE: NEW POSSIBILITIES FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV Science versus stigma: new science has changed the reality of living with HIV

By John McCullagh

The scientific consensus is in. People living with HIV who are on effective treatment can’t pass it on. There have been a number of studies, including the most recent PARTNER study with gay men, that looked for evidence of HIV being transmitted sexually when someone is on effective treatment. None of them found a single case where transmission has occurred.

How does this work? Well, when HIV medications are taken as prescribed, they can reduce the amount of the virus in the body to levels so low that it can’t be detected in standard blood tests. This is called an undetectable viral load. Healthcare professionals have long known that achieving and maintaining an undetectable viral load can give HIV-positive people long and healthy lives, with life expectancies approaching their HIV-negative peers. But we now know that an undetectable viral load also means you can’t pass the virus on to your sexual partners.

This is powerful knowledge. It means that, if you’re a person living with HIV, you can be sure that being on effective, ongoing treatment and having an undetectable viral load means that there’s zero risk you will pass on HIV to people you have sex with. And if you’re HIV-negative, you can abandon any fears you may have had of people with HIV as sexual partners. This simple fact is often referred to as “Undetectable equals Untransmittable,” or U=U. This good news has fundamentally changed what it means to live with HIV. It has opened up social, sexual and reproductive choices we would never have thought possible. It helps raise awareness of the reality of HIV today, and works to dispel the negative, stigmatizing judgments about people with HIV, promoting acceptance and inclusivity.

It also encourages people to get tested and, if they test positive, to start and stay on treatment to keep both them and their sexual

partners healthy. Fear of a positive result is one of the reasons people don’t get tested. But if they learn that HIV treatment – particularly if it’s started as soon as possible after diagnosis – can allow them to live a long, healthy and productive life, the fear of getting tested should disappear. These are reasons why it’s important that anyone who is sexually active is tested regularly and, if the test comes back positive, gets care and treatment right away.

Unfortunately, however, the benefits of U=U are not reaching everyone. Some people with HIV don’t know they have it because they’ve never been tested, or haven’t tested recently. And there are others who know they have HIV but are not on effective treatment. Although our country has a strong public healthcare system, there are still many barriers to people getting tested, and then (if needed) starting and staying on treatment. These barriers can come in the form of deductibles for treatment coverage, inaccessible health services, and the bottlenecks and service gaps that lose people diagnosed with HIV before they can get access to treatment and care. Other barriers can arise from inadequate access to culturally safe services, or because of stigma and discrimination. These challenges are compounded when a person is hungry, needs shelter, or is coping with addictions or mental health issues, and is more concerned about their immediate needs than they are with HIV. If we address those barriers, and support all people with HIV as they work to gain control over their health, new HIV infections would be rare.

Modern science has changed what it means to live with HIV. But we need to make sure our perceptions catch up to that reality.

That’s why it’s important that we spread the hopeful message that Undetectable really does equal Untransmittable, and continue to support each other, whatever our HIV status. If we can do that, we’ll achieve astonishing results and will be closer to ending the HIV epidemic once and for all.

JOHN MCCULLAGH, a gay man living with HIV, is chair of the board of CATIE (Canada’s source for HIV and hepatitis C information) and co-chair of the Ontario AIDS Network.

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WHEELS

5 SEXY RIDES YOU’LL WANT TO DRIVE THIS FALL Get ready to be surprised

By Casey Williams

It’s that exciting season when automakers roll out their latest wares. From the sexy new Corvette to sleek crossovers and surprising hybrids, these are some of the cars that will be making headlines as summer turns to fall and drives become ever more enjoyable.

2020 C8 Corvette Stingray No car will garner more attention this year than the eighth-generation Corvette, with its mid-mounted 6.2-litre V8 that delivers 495 horsepower and 0-100 km runs in three seconds. It’s super sexy with flared front fenders, angry eyes, accentuated side vents and quad tail lights. Owners can customize interiors with contrasting stitching, two-tone seats, head-up display and twin information screens. Ample space is retained for passengers and luggage, allowing you to store golf clubs or the removable top in the rear trunk. Fulfill your dreams in this American exotic!

Base price: $70,000 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid Corollas are about as exciting as your grandmother’s stockings, but this one is special.

Beneath its understated, yet handsome, attire is a 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine and battery pack to enable 121 horsepower and fuel economy ratings of 4.4/4.5 L/100 km city/highway. Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, Siri Eyes Free and Wi-Fi add tech. Safety is enhanced by standard pre-collision warning with auto brake, radar cruise, lane keep assist and lane tracking assist with auto centring. It’s a Corolla packed with style and technology like never before.

Base Price: $25,000 2020 Ford Escape Lower and sleeker, the redesigned Escape features Euro styling and a Mustang-inspired grille. Passengers will enjoy a more posh cabin with available head-up display, 575 watt B&O audio, 4G Wi-Fi and Amazon Alexa compatibility. Base models go with a 180 horsepower turbo-four, but a 250 horsepower turbo-four, 198 horsepower hybrid, or plug-in hybrid with 30 miles (48 kilometres) all-electric range are available. Safety is enhanced by adaptive cruise, lane centring, auto parallel/perpendicular parking and evasive steering assist. It’s a technical and stylistic tour de force.

Base price: $25,000

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2019

2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE All suited up in buff new skin, this mid-size Mercedes crossover is equally cultured for trail or theatre. Interiors feature twin-screen infotainment like the big S-Class sedans, accompanied by four-zone climate control, wireless charging and available third-row seat. Choose from a 255 horsepower turbo-four or 362 horsepower electrically assisted turbocharged inline-six. E-Active body control uses road scans to independently adjust damping at each wheel for smooth driving always. Employ active stop-and-go to automatically creep through traffic. Stunning.

Base price: $65,000 2020 Kia Telluride The largest Kia rolling packs a styling punch with bold headlights, wide grille and L-shaped tail lights. Inside, passengers can revel in quilted Nappa leather, simulated brushed metal and wood finishes, wireless charging, Harman/Kardon audio and heated/ ventilated seats. Under the hood is a 3.8-litre V6 delivering 291 horsepower and enhanced by adjustable drive modes and all-wheel-drive. A head-up display, lane following assist, adaptive cruise and rear passenger alert enhance safety. Take whomever you call family on a very comfortable drive.

Base price: $45,000 14

CASEY WILLIAMS is a contributing writer for Gaywheels.com. He contributes to the New York-based LGBT magazine Metrosource and the

IN Chicago MAGAZINE Tribune. He and his husband live in Indianapolis, where Williams contributes videos and reviews to wfyi.org, the area’s PBS/NPR station.

ON THE TOWN

SCENES FROM THE PARTY CIRCUIT

By Michael Pihach

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After Werk at ROUND Venue (last Saturday of every month) – Photos by Mitchel Raphael 1: Adam Ly, Gareth Charles, 2: DJ Sofia Fly, 3: Reece Rowat, Cameron Francis, Travis Aten, 4: Ravio Black, Milo Chiong.

MAD HOT BALLET – Desert Dream at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts – Photos by George Pimentel Photography and Smita Jacob 5: Jen Kirsch, 6: Ross Petty, Karen Kain, 7: Shinan Govani. 8: Rex Harrington, Bob Hope, 9: Chelsy Meiss, Giorgio Galli.

Operanation Tall Tales at Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts – Photos by Ryan Emberley 10: Justin Biggar, Monty Tayara, Joey Viola, 11: Norm Drouin, Brett Mills, 12: Baby Bel Bel, Juice Boxx.

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SEX

BOTTOMS UP: A PREPARATION GUIDE FOR ANAL SEX Play safe, guys

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2019

By Bobby Box

Top privilege is real, and while most of these inherent advantages and bleeding, and can elevate risk in STD and HIV rates. Not tend to be lighthearted and social – for instance, tops can eat to mention,excessive douching or over-douching can lengthen whatever the hell they want and show up for a righteous fucking your colon and can cause constipation later in life. Rectal – some matters are more serious. For example, the risk of contracting biopsies have also shown that individuals who have excessively HIV and other STIs is 13 times greater for bottoms than tops, performed enemas show deterioration in their intestinal lining according to the US Centers for Disease Control. It can also be and have an increased risk of anal dysplasia. easier for tops to identify symptoms of certain STIs, resulting in more effective and immediate treatment.

“Eighty-eight per cent of men who practise receptive anal intercourse douche before sex through unsubstantiated methods, which can Another pain in the ass is douching. It’s messy and tedious and can lead to a whole host of health issues including douche dependency take way too long. But is it even necessary? Dr. Evan Goldstein and irritation of the region,” Goldstein tells IN. “Aside from the of Bespoke Surgical in New York, and countless other experts, health risks, over-douching [with too much volume or too much attest that anal douching is not required prior to anal sex. In fact, force] can loosen stools that are higher up in the rectum, which the most common douching methods (commercially prepared wouldn’t normally come into contact [during] anal sex, making it enemas like Fleet) are not good for the body as they cause mucus even messier than if you hadn’t douched at all.” and dryness in the area, which can cause cell damage, cracking

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Online testimony maintains that, unless your top is sporting a third leg, there should be zero stool in this area. But, shit does indeed happen, and sometimes assurance isn’t enough. So, given that many men will continue to douche, despite the warnings…let’s talk about how to do it responsibly.

What and when to eat What you eat can have a profound impact on how messy an anal experience can be. IN spoke with nutritional therapist Lark Malakai Grey, of Transformative Wellness in Portland, Oregon, to find out which foods a hungry bottom should nosh on prior to intercourse.

How to douche the proper way The anal canal is about four to six inches deep and the tip of a douche is about half of that, so squeeze the bulb gently. You only need enough water to clean a few inches deep, not your entire gut. For added ease and a greasy glide, lube the tip of your douche before insertion. If douching in the shower, opt for silicone-based lube as it won’t wash away as quickly with water. Ensure there are no soap suds in the water, as this can cause further irritation.

“Eat foods that you know make your body feel good and don’t cause any gas, bloating or other digestive upsets,” he advises. “If your gut is healthy and tolerates fibre, getting some good insoluble fibre [like popcorn, whole grains, berries, okra and raw nuts] the day before can be helpful. Don’t choose insoluble fibre in the form of beans or other legumes, as these cause gas in even the healthiest of guts.”

Recognizing the issues associated with common douching practices, Goldstein has recently released Future Method, which he says is the first-ever anal douche and formula crafted by medical professionals. “[Bespoke Surgical has] always kept a close eye on the market, and up until now, could never recommend products for douching due to the fact that all the solutions were causing the aforementioned negative ramifications,” he says.

He also recommends that, before bottoming, you avoid foods that have historically made your gut reactive or that bring on urgent bowel movements (so no Mandarin or Taco Bell – sorry, fellas) and advises that you steer clear of dairy, given that 75 per cent of the global population is at least somewhat lactose intolerant.

You should also avoid meat and junk food, and drink at least three litres of water to help things flow.

For added assistance, ingest a spoonful of psyllium every morning with a little water and your stool will be better moulded and regular. Grey recommends probiotics and digestive enzymes and, if you have a less predictable gut, an enteric-coated peppermint oil, which calms the intestines and can help reduce gas, bloating and diarrhea for several hours.

Goldstein says the most common mistake regular douchers commit is using tap water; instead, he says, one should use an isotonic solution (which, in medical speak, is when two solutions, separated by a semipermeable membrane, have equal concentrations of solutes and water), as it is gentler on this sensitive area. “Tap water Too many bottoms starve themselves silly in anticipation for can affect the anal microbiome, ultimately altering and removing intercourse, assuming they shouldn’t eat for six to eight hours one’s necessary bacteria,” Goldstein says. Of course, tap water is prior to anal sex since that’s how long it takes an adult male to most readily available when sex is spontaneous (which it often is), digest food. But such self-denial is unnecessary. “It’s important so if you insist on douching with regular water, keep the solution to note that feces aren’t stored in the anal canal,” Goldstein says. warm but not too hot. Many have burnt their rectums, and that “Poop lives in the upper bowels and cannot be reached or released looks about as cute as it feels. through penetration, unless someone is engaging in fisting or utilizes larger volumes or excessive amounts of water or enemas.”

“If someone isn’t interested in douching, that’s perfectly normal,” Goldstein assures. “The best way to ensure cleanliness down there Bottom line: As long as you’re having regular and routine bowel is to eat a healthy, high-fibre diet to keep things moving, followed movements, you should be more than in the clear, experts by a quick ‘rinse’ of the rectum and anal canal.” say. Abiding by healthy eating habits and supplementing with naturally occurring fibres will allow for regular, bulky stools to After sex, hop in the shower and clean the outside of your anus with occur. This is the natural way of keeping the anal canal clean for play. a gentle soap. Do not use wet wipes, as many contain perfumes and preservatives that can irritate the area, and the friction from But if you do want to douche, be careful, don’t clean too deep, excessive wiping can cause abrasions. and hit me up on Grindr. (Kidding!) Play safe, guys.

BOBBY BOX is a prolific freelance journalist in Hamilton, Ont. He currently works as contributing editor at Playboy.com and has had the privilege of speaking with the world’s most recognized drag queens, including Trixie Mattel and Alaska Thunderfuck. While proud of his work, Bobby is not above begging. He asks that you follow him on Twitter at @bobbyboxington

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CELEBRITY

YOU NEED TO CALM DOWN

Why do we allow celebrities to hop on the Pride bandwagon and profit off of queer culture, and get away with it?

By Bianca Guzzo

This past Pride month was a colourful one. We saw more and more people coming out to support the cause. And while the support, and the exposure for the LGBTQ+ community, is great, some of the support seems to have an expiration date. Why do we let celebrities get away with insincere support during Pride month, when it feels like the support is only there to sell their product in the first place?

Not only are there other artists who have openly supported the LGBTQ+ community year-round, but these part-time supporters also overshadow fierce activists in the community.

When pop star Taylor Swift began dropping new music this past spring, fans were shocked at the colourful statements she was making with both her visuals and her lyrics, as it was a big departure from the dark and vampy aesthetic from her previous album. Her first single “Me” heavily mentioned rainbows through lyrics and music videos that led some fans to believe that she might have been using her upcoming album Lover as an opportunity to step out as a queer ally.

Those theories were reinforced when teasers started dropping online for her second single, “You Need to Calm Down.” The music video featured the world’s brightest and biggest stars in the LGBTQ+ community, including Billy Porter, Laverne Cox, the cast of Queer Eye, Hayley Kiyoko, Ellen, Adam Lambert and, of course, a handful of Drag Race queens. Taylor used the music video to make a statement to show her support for the LGBTQ+ community, which on one hand is great, but the timing was kind of suspicious. The music video dropped in the middle of Pride month, and also coincided with a “surprise performance” of some of her music at the iconic Stonewall Inn in New York City.

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Although she’s a global superstar, Swift rarely speaks openly about political issues. With the convenient timing of her new music dropping during Pride season, it felt like she was trying her hand at catering to her fans in the queer community, but something about it didn’t feel right.

Non-queer allies of the LGBTQ+ community have a responsibility to not only support those who identify within the community, but also to recognize that their privilege comes with a unique platform.

When that platform is used for personal gain, their role as an ally feels more like a salesperson who is using queer culture to sell their product to an untapped market. When public figures start to support the queer movement and queer rights during Pride month, the timing of their support feels insincere, and it totally loses momentum when the public figure suddenly goes silent after Pride celebrations end.

It’s the equivalent of a multi-million-dollar corporation changing their icon on social media to a rainbow version of their logo for the month of June, and changing it back on the first day of July.

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Unfortunately, Taylor Swift’s support of the LGBTQ+ community felt like it expired at midnight on June 30. She’s been pretty silent on social media except for when she’s promoting her music. As with most things in pop-cultures, this new rainbow-filled Taylor era was met with split criticism. Some people felt they saw right through it, while others absolutely loved it. But I think we can all agree that if you’re looking for a pop star to spearhead the queer movement in the year 2019, Taylor Swift isn’t it.

For all the “support” that starts to feel disingenuous during Pride month, there are just as many public figures who speak out all year, who continue to speak up, and who show up, long after Pride celebrations end. For example, Miley Cyrus came out as pansexual, and continues to celebrate diversity and queer experiences in her work. Lady Gaga has always been outspoken about her sexual relationships with both men and women. Both Miley and Gaga have foundations that support LGBTQ+ youth. Ariana Grande publicly denounced her Catholic religion when she felt her brother (who identifies as gay) wasn’t being accepted into the church. British girl group Little Mix have been loud and proud supporters of the LGBTQ+ community for as long as they’ve been in the public eye, despite all four of the girls identifying as straight. They are constantly speaking out about women’s rights, and have included members of the LGBTQ+ community in a number of their music videos. Yet they didn’t get nearly the same amount of recognition that we’re giving to people who are doing the bare minimum by simply showing up during Pride season.

It’s up to us to call out people who are using our community for their own personal gain, whether it’s to sell music or other goods, or to promote their politics. Being a good ally doesn’t mean speaking up during Pride season, but showing support all year long. When it comes to speaking out about issues, if you don’t have a relevant and constructive narrative to contribute as an ally to a community, sometimes lending a platform so somebody else can have their voice heard is a simple gesture that goes a long way. When these so-called allies make their noise only at convenient times, they are profiting off of a marginalized community in order to further their own reach and career.

The more strides the queer movement makes, the more others will try to capitalize off of its many attributes. Though more visibility is always welcomed, it’s important to know when intentions are good, and when a marginalized community is being used to sell a product. Even if the support is genuine, we must remember those who deserve the real praise for their outspokenness and activism, and pay credit where credit is due.

BIANCA GUZZO is a writer based out of the GTA. She spends her free time watching Trixie Mattel makeup tutorials, though she has yet to nail the look.

IN MAGAZINE

PRIDE

HOW EDMONTON PROVED YOU CAN’T CANCEL PRIDE Even without a parade, there’s still plenty of reason to celebrate By: Courtney Hardwick

Earlier this year, Edmonton was gearing up for their annual Pride Festival, scheduled for June 7 to 17, when the Edmonton Pride Festival Society announced that due to the “political and social environment” in the city, the festival was being cancelled.

That included the parade and a number of events organized to celebrate the city’s vibrant LGBTQ+ community.

Luckily, the Edmonton LGBTQ+ community is made up of much more than a single non-profit. In the wake of the cancellation, a number of organizations stepped up to make sure that, although there would be no official festival, there would still be plenty of ways to recognize and celebrate Pride.

At the heart of the revived festival was Evolution Wonderlounge, Edmonton’s only year-round queer venue. The club was open for all 10 days of the festival, hosting guest DJs and celebrity drag entertainers every night. They even held an all-ages drag event to give queer parents the chance to bring their kids to the show and queer kids the chance to celebrate who they are and be part of the festivities.

Rob Browatzke, part of the owner-management team at Evolution Wonderlounge, also helped organize a street festival and beer garden outside the club. The event included an all-ages family area and helped raise $12,000 in a single afternoon for participating non-profits.

Local non-profits – including the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose, Fellowship of Alberta Bears and Edmonton Men’s Health Collective – were key in both promoting events and organizing their own. Edmonton may only have one year-round queer venue, but there are many more venues that are home to drag events and pop-up queer events. Despite the festival’s “cancellation,” more

than 70 events happened in the span of 10 days, from a seniors tea to youth-focused drag events to a Pride run and many more.

If you ask Browatzke, Edmonton Pride 2019 was still a massive success – maybe not in the same way as previous years, but in the ways that matter. “All through was the reminder that Pride is in fact a protest, that there are many members of our community who still face significant barriers, that conversations still absolutely need to happen in how we relate to each other across racial or generational lines,” he says. “Perhaps the success of the year isn’t in the number of people out for events, or even in the number of events, but in the number of people now having dialogue on how to make Pride more inclusive.”

In the announcement of the festival’s cancellation, the Edmonton Pride Festival Society said hosting a safe event is a top priority and they didn’t feel that would be possible given current events, but did not elaborate. Obviously issues surrounding the Edmonton police force were part of the overall concern and that’s an issue other cities such as Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto are dealing with as well.

Edmontonians’ ability to overcome the cancellation of the festival and come together to create something even more special for their LGBTQ+ community is a testament to how important Pride really is to people. It will continue to evolve and be a reason to celebrate, no matter what tries to stand in the way—and that’s because of the people who are willing to fight for it.

“There’s a lot of hurt and anger right now, here and all over the world, and we can just hope that leads to healing and closure,” says Browatzke. “And in the meantime, we will be here to entertain and let people dance.”

COURTNEY HARDWICK is a Toronto-based freelance writer. Her work has appeared online at AmongMen, Complex Canada, Elle Canada and TheBolde.

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INSIGHT

WHEN DID YOU DECIDE TO SWITCH TEAMS? Why microaggressions can be so crazy-making – and what to do about them

By Paul Gallant

At a ceremony in New York in the spring of 2005, in front of about 125 guests, Kevin Nadal married himself. At the time a 27-yearold performance artist, comedian and PhD student in counselling psychology, he declared, “I, Kevin Nadal, take me, Kevin Nadal, to have and hold, in sickness and health.” His playful commentary on how single people are discriminated against in our society made international headlines, and to this day still turns up in Internet listicles.

marginalized people, microaggressions might include pointed questions that put a person in their place (“No, where are you really from?”), assuming that someone is a service worker because of their ethnicity, police targeting people of colour just because they look “out of place,” backhanded compliments rooted in negative assumptions (“You’re surprisingly articulate!”), deadnaming or misgendering a transsexual person, or using expressions that cast a group in a negative light (“That’s so gay!” as an insult).

A great stunt. But almost 15 years later, self-marriage is no longer Nadal’s claim to fame. This year’s winner of the Richard Tewksbury Award for his contribution to the intersection of sexuality, crime and justice, Nadal is an instructor in psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City and at the CUNY Graduate Center, and is the first openly gay man to serve as president of the Asian American Psychological Association.

Most people can agree that a statement like “Get out of my home, you dirty [insert insult here]!” is hurtful, and that someone who heard stuff like that all the time might feel bad about themselves and their prospects in life. That’s pure aggression. Microaggressions are more controversial because it matters less whether they’re intentional or not. Maybe I don’t sit next to the flamboyantly dressed guy on the bus because I purposely want to make a public statement that he’s a gross degenerate, or maybe I don’t even notice what I’m doing, how it looks to others or how it feels to the person in question. Either way, it’s still a microaggression.

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As for cultural impact, Nadal has been one of the academics most influential around the idea of “microaggressions” towards LGBTQ people. It’s an idea that can be seen as a tool to create a more empathetic society – or, for those on the right, a symbol of political correctness and paranoia run amok.

The term was first coined in the 1970s by Chester Pierce, an African-American professor at Harvard University, who applied it to racism. It took off more broadly after a 2007 academic paper authored by Columbia University psychology professor Derald Wing Sue. Wing Sue went on to write the 2010 book Microaggressions in Everyday Life, and Nadal, who worked as a grad student on the 2007 paper, started applying the theory to interactions with LGBTQ people.

Stereotypes can passively get into our heads. The people around us (usually people who look and act like ourselves) and the media we consume (which we often choose to reflect our pre-existing views) shape our subconscious perceptions and beliefs, and then we find ourselves acting on these beliefs unconsciously. This is called “implicit bias.” You can train yourself to be aware of implicit biases, you can develop cognitive strategies to correct them in yourself, but it doesn’t seem realistic to get rid of them completely. (I once took an implicit bias test to determine if I was biased against gay and lesbian people; the result suggested I was slightly biased against straight people. Is that progress?)

Hunh? What’s a microaggression?

Described as everyday verbal, nonverbal and environmental slights, snubs or insults that communicate negative messages to

How should we deal with it?

For those who see microaggressions as a problem, the preferred response is “calling them out.” Typically, this is pointedly critiquing

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the behaviour. It can be in-person (“When you didn’t invite me for after-work drinks, it made me feel I wasn’t included because I’m bisexual”), but you see flurries of call-outs on social media all the time. This can be crazy-making. Microaggressions are, by definition, subtle. Maybe I chose not to sit next to the flamboyantly dressed guy simply because the spot looked dirty. If I sat over here to make a point, maybe your calling me out will give me the opportunity to make a homophobic rant – and that won’t be fun for you. If my choice to sit over here was purely subconscious, maybe I’ll be defensive and irritated, list a bunch of excuses and treat you like you’re inventing grievances. In the best-case scenario, if I decide to listen to you calling me out, maybe you’ll find yourself investing time and effort trying to explain the microaggression to me – risking the chance that the moment I get off the bus, I’ll forget the whole damn thing. Being hyper-vigilant is exhausting.

When I mention to Nadal the various issues around “calling people out,” he takes a step back from the term. “It doesn’t have to be a call-out. Sometimes a call-out is used because there is an intention of wanting a person to acknowledge their bad behaviour,” he says.

“At the same time, there can be pointing out or acknowledging the behaviour because this is something we want the person to learn from or reflect upon. It doesn’t have to be so defensive or reactionary.” Whether the microaggressor apologizes or learns something

or not, the person who feels mistreated can have the satisfaction of having stood up for themselves, of having taken a step to make the world a better place for the next out-of-the-ordinary person who sits on the bench. They’ve done their duty.

Though critics characterize those who talk about microaggressions as using victimhood as a weapon and as stifling free speech, the idea actually shows a built-in optimism about humanity. Why bother to do it if everybody’s an asshole? The practice of calling out microaggressions assumes that most people, when they know better, will want to be nice. It can be seen as purely helpful.

“I’m not trying to police what people can say or do,” says Nadal, “but I want people to understand that when you do or say certain things, you can make people feel bad about themselves or make people feel unsafe or invalidated. If I could avoid doing something like that, why would I continue to do harm towards someone?”

Nadal is now working on his own book, tentatively titled Queering Law and Order, about LGBTQ people and the US criminal justice system, scheduled for publication in 2020. As well, he’s now legally married to a man…who is not himself. “From time to time people still ask me about marrying myself. But that was a show, a long time ago.”

PAUL GALLANT is a Toronto-based writer and editor who writes about travel, innovation, city building, social issues (particularly LGBT issues) and business for a variety of national and international publications. He’s done time as lead editor at the loop magazine in Vancouver as well as Xtra and fab in Toronto.

lawyers for trade unions and employees

Tel 416.968.3333 Fax 416.968.0325 555 Richmond St. W., Suite 1200, Toronto, ON M5V 3B1 www.upfhlaw.ca 21

INTERVIEW

JUSTIN UTLEY’S ANTHEM FOR “SURVIVORS” LIKE HIM The singer talks about his traumatic experience with conversion therapy

By Larry Olsen

Singer Justin Utley was 24 years old when his church leaders forced him into conversion therapy. They threatened embarrassment for his family and expulsion from the church – essentially social and cultural suicide within the Mormon culture of Utah – if he didn’t comply with their demands.

He was told that being gay wasn’t biological; that his samegender-attraction condition was caused by a number of psychological and environmental variables that could be cured through intense psychotherapy, weekly group meetings and specially prescribed medications.

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2019

In the end, the therapy proved to be more than unsuccessful. The repercussions from having such a large part of his identity vilified, stripped of its integrity, broken down and compartmentalized as a condition has been debilitating for Justin. He sings about the trauma in “Survivors,” the first single from his third album, Scars.

Why did you choose ‘Survivors’ as the first single off Scars?

Scars is one of the most heartfelt, brutally honest, thoughtprovoking and vulnerable collection of songs I’ve ever worked on. ‘Survivors’ is the perfect opening [to the album] because it is about overcoming insurmountable odds and eventually thriving, despite our struggles in the face of adversity. It takes a lot to move forward in life while carrying traumatic experiences with us. This song is my way of honoring that.

Have you left the Mormon faith?

I have, but my sexuality had little to do with my leaving, to be honest. It was a catalyst for me to dig deeper into the Mormon faith’s problematic history that had been purposely hidden from me.

Do you still consider yourself a person of faith?

I am a humanist. I believe that the power of God is in each of us.

We have the power to create, change, build and destroy. It isn’t up to someone in the sky to help people in need – it’s up to us to do it. We have that capability. It’s just a matter of discovering it, 22

IN MAGAZINE

ignoring the noise of people who want to control where our attention and money go, and to start using our lives for something good, instead of standing by, watching in complicity.

How has your family reacted to your decision to come out?

They’ve been behind me in this roller coaster, for better and for worse. They’ve each had their own internal challenges, spiritual or otherwise, but in the end, they didn’t just accept or tolerate me; they have embraced me, my values, and have stood by me.

Your niece is featured in the music video for ‘Survivors.’

She is! When the narrative for the music video was finalized, the director and I looked into casting. I thought of her, and suggested to my brother that she send in an audition video. I didn’t want her to think she could just assume she would get the part. What she sent in was adorable! She didn’t know it would only be the director and me watching. At the end of the tape, she said, ‘I don’t know if you’re aware, but Justin Utley is my uncle, and he’s in the video, too.’ Name-dropping at eight years old. Clever girl!

The orchestra in the video is simply incredible.

Thank you! I have a story to share on that. The time when we were filming the music video was a particularly stressful period of life for me. I had just finished shooting a different video and was in the middle of finishing the album. I was feeling overwhelmed and doubting what I was even trying to accomplish with the project. But

as I stood in the back talking to the lighting and sound techs, the director brought the orchestra on set. Their playing blew me away and it all became so real for me, in that moment, and tears came to my eyes! After all this work, all the technical stuff that robbed me of enjoying the artistic side of the project, my spirit just lifted as I heard the musicians breathe their magic into the song. It still brings me joy when I watch them play in the video.

Moments like that keep us going and believing in what we’re doing and what we have to say.

And it reminded me that even if you can’t see a silver lining, you can make one.

Are all of the songs on Scars about your experience with conversion therapy?

No, I touch on some deep relationship scars that I’ve experienced over the last few years. And there are also songs about loss and even suicide. There’s some pretty heavy stuff on Scars.

You also introduce a new sound in the album.

I’ve been looking for something different, a new sound that is still true to me and my art. Authenticity is something I value a lot.

It’s something I won’t compromise on, and I think it’s something people are finding less and less of. I worked with a new producer and songwriter who pushed me lyrically, vocally and musically, and it’s been exciting to explore this new side I didn’t realize I

had. Even the more sombre songs on Scars are intense and have a quicker tempo. I’ve really focused on keeping this album anthemic and pop-driven. It’s been a refreshing change for me.

Where do you go from here?

I’ll be touring in the fall with the new album, then securing some Pride dates for spring and summer. I’ve got two more projects in the hopper, and some opportunities for musical theatre. I also have a few projects related to conversion therapy that will be finishing soon, including a resource for survivors.

Do you come across a lot of survivors at shows?

With my touring and speaking engagements, I’ve met a lot of other survivors, and while it’s crucial that we stop this horrendous and archaic practice of conversion therapy, it’s just as critical to me that there is support and mental health resources available.

There are a lot of scars that come with going through conversion therapy. Lots of shame, vulnerability and insecurities. I’m building a resource that provides options for healing and direction, towards having a life that consists of healthy, happy, authentic relationships, including the one with yourself.

Justin Utley’s ‘Survivors’ is available on Apple Music, Spotify and all digital platforms. Visit his website at Justinutley.com. Follow him on Instagram (justinutley) and Facebook (justinutleymusic).

LARRY OLSEN is a poet, cartoonist and produced playwright. He is also a stop motion animator and holds a Bachelors in English Literature and a Masters in Communication, and is presently pursuing a PhD in Educational Psychology.

He is an animal advocate and a fledgling toy and game designer.

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COVER

THE BOOK OF ZEKE DJ and sexual assault awareness advocate Zeke Thomas is transforming his story into a survival guide

By Jumol Royes

One day you will tell your story of how you’ve overcome what you’re going through now, and it will become part of someone else’s survival guide. – Author unknown

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People often say that if you really want to get to know someone, you first have to know their story. The thing about stories is they’re ever changing and constantly evolving, just like people. And while it’s true that a person’s story might tell you a whole lot about who they are, where they’ve been and what they’ve been through, people are so much more than just the sum total of their stories.

out, shares his personal story, and encourages survivors to seek support to help them survive and thrive.

Yet he still finds time to pursue his other passions, including celebrating what it means to be part of the LGBTQ community.

When we spoke, he was still riding the wave of having attended WorldPride in NYC marking the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising. Thomas announced floats as one of the commentators during the parade (which ran well past midnight!) and DJed a float himself.

Josh “Zeke” Thomas refuses to let his story define him or keep him “It was a feeling of love and magic that entire week,” he told me. stuck. Zeke is also the nickname for Thomas’ famous father (NBA “What was special about it was getting a chance to see so many of legend and Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas), but its origins can also my friends and people that I have grown up with in the community be traced back to the Hebrew name Ezekiel – an important prophet …just the energy of the city and the way that everybody kind of from the Old Testament – meaning ‘God strengthens’ or ‘may came together, it was very much like nothing can go wrong.”

God strengthen.’ It’s a fitting name for the hardworking DJ, music producer, TV host, sexual assault survivor and awareness advocate. DJing is his first love The truth is, things did take a wrong turn for Thomas for a while, Music has always come first for Thomas, who was born in Detroit, but through absolutely no fault of his own. The trauma of being the birthplace of Motown Records. His debut single, “Regret,” sexually assaulted and the aftermath of that experience meant he was released in 2014, followed up by his club hit “#ByeFelicia” wasn’t able to focus on doing what he loves most: making music. in 2015 and his single “Blackness,” which Paper Magazine called “the civil rights anthem for the EDM generation.” He’s worked at “While I was dealing with my sexual assault, it definitely took me New York’s HOT 97 FM (the second-largest radio station in the away from the recording studio,” he says. “I felt like the studio US), been an official NBA All-Star DJ, and collaborated with got almost taken away from me in a sense just because I had met and performed for stars like Lady Gaga, Jay-Z, Diana Ross, Cher, my rapist at a recording studio and it kind of rang in my ears.”

Snoop Dogg and Michelle Obama.

But you can’t keep a musician away from his music for long, and Thomas premiered his single “Dealin’ With It” on Good Morning Thomas is happy to report that new music is on its way (his most America in April 2017 – and publicly revealed for the first time recent single, “Love Me Sober,” was released in the spring of 2018). that he had been raped, twice. He told ABC News’ Robin Roberts, “Being gay, being African-American, it’s definitely something I “Finally – actually this week – I stepped into the studio, so there never imagined would happen to me.” The interview went viral definitely will be new music on the horizon. I’m very thankful that before anyone was really talking about the #MeToo movement, I’m DJing so much because that’s truly my first love.” and Thomas and Roberts received a nomination at the GLADD Media Awards.

When asked which artist he’d want to collaborate with if given the opportunity, the DJ and music producer’s first choice is Today, Thomas is on a social awareness mission to break stigmas one of Canada’s most famous (or infamous, depending on your surrounding sexual assault trauma. As the first male spokesperson perspective) singer-songwriters. for the US National Sexual Violence Resource Center, he speaks 24

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COVER SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2019

“I’d say Justin Bieber. I still think Justin Bieber is super talented and cool.”

in-your-face aggression that’s up close and personal: Statistics Canada published a report recently that pegs the national average of hate crimes reported to the police at 4.9 per 100,000 people (out of a total of 1,798 police-reported hate crimes in 2018).

A voice for the voiceless According to the 1in6 Project, which helps men who have had unwanted or abusive sexual experiences to live healthier, happier Thomas knows all too well what it’s like to be harassed simply lives, one in six men will experience sexual violence in their lifetime. for being himself.

Since coming out about his personal experience with rape over two “Just a month ago, I was walking into a DJ gig and this guy screams years ago, Thomas has been committed to supporting survivors ‘faggot’ at me down the road,” he recounts. “I gathered myself by being an advocate for increased awareness around male sexual and told the club, because I was actually DJing at the club that assault. His new documentary, Untold Story, shines a light on Black he wanted to go to, and I told security to not let him in. However, men who have been sexually assaulted. the security didn’t get the full message and then I had to explain to security why not to let him in and then they got the message.”

“What I want people to see is that, number one: sexual assault happens to men, too, and it happens to men not just from men, but It’s an unfortunate experience that no one should have to go through, also from women,” says Thomas, the executive producer behind but one many of us can still relate to in 2019. For everyone out the documentary. “It happens at all ages; to straight men and gay there who thinks we’re living in a post-racial, LGBTQ-friendly era, men and all men.” the reality is that racism and homophobia are very much alive and well. Thomas reveals how the incident affected him.

“The second takeaway would be that young, Black gay men are vulnerable.”

“It’s moments like that when you really want somebody to just have your back and not have to explain why,” says Thomas. “Those For Thomas, this issue is much more than a passion; it’s deeply things are still very triggering, still very real. Especially in your personal. He recognizes that he has to balance being a voice for workspaces and in your safe spaces, you don’t want that kind of the voiceless and helping other people heal, with walking his own energy in your space. Dealing with homophobia or dealing with path towards healing. racism, it’s something that you have to deal with, but it’s not something that you have to accept.”

“When I put myself first is when I started to heal. As I continue to put myself first, I continue to get stronger,” Thomas says.

Most little Black boys didn’t grow up with gay Black male role models they could look up to, but Thomas has been a big fan of Though he has struggled with deep depression and attempted suicide Billy Porter for as long as he can remember. He’s thrilled to see in the past, Thomas has learned to accept his activism and that he the Pose star, who’s spent much of his 30-year career blazing a has to help himself before he can help anyone else. trail for LGBTQ people everywhere, finally getting the recognition he so rightly deserves (Porter is the first openly gay Black man “I’m in a very healthy place and I don’t want to do anything to to receive an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a jeopardize that. It’s a place of just pure happiness. So I want to do Drama Series). the work to stay well,” he says.

“I have been a fan of Billy Porter since his song [‘Love Is on the “In doing that, I hope that I’m able to continue to talk to other people Way’] was featured in The First Wives Club,” Thomas says. and just tell them what I’m doing. I don’t have all the answers… but I know what works for me. And I know what has worked for “I’ve never really gotten to tell him what he really means; not only other people. If we could all put these ideas together, maybe one to me, but to queer Black culture period. This man, he’s literally of them will work for you.” knocked down walls…and then for him to not give up and to keep going…and for him to be the first openly gay Black man nominated While it’s clear Thomas believes his story can serve as a survival for an Emmy…it’s truly huge and it couldn’t have happened to a guide for people (especially men) who are dealing with the trauma better guy. He’s our flag bearer, hands down.” of sexual assault and struggling to find their way through it, he believes having a strong support system is equally important.

The next chapter Thomas made his own mark on television recently when he co-hosted “I feel like once you build a strong friend group and a strong family MTV’s hit show Catfish. If he has his way, we’ll be seeing much group, you can all lift each other up,” he says. “We’re all going more of him on TV in the not-so-distant future. through things – big things, little things – and it’s nice to have a valid support group and then also be able to reach out to other people.” “Television hosting, I absolutely love it. I have always loved being on screen, on camera and getting the chance to just be myself and You really want somebody to just have your back not even really play a role,” he says. “There are a few shows that Even with the backing of supportive family and friends, walking I’m optioned for…and hopefully Catfish is going to have me back through the world as a Black gay man means you’re going to be for another co-hosting gig.” confronted by microaggressions (subtle and indirect discrimination based on things like your race or sexual orientation) and sometimes When I ask how he feels about the Raptors winning their first NBA

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JACKET AND PANTS: Prabal Gurung SHIRT: Patrick Church

Shot exclusively for IN Magazine Executive Production: EJ Jamele at crowdMGMT Photographer: Hector Gonzalez Jr. Styling/Art Direction: Brandon M. Garr at crowdMGMT Hair & Makeup: Nathan J at crowdMGMT using Living Proof

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HOODIE AND PANTS: Patrick Church JACKET: Calvin Klein GLASSES: Gucci

championship, Thomas – who has Canadian connections from the time he spent in Toronto as a kid when his dad was the team’s part owner and first general manager – says he couldn’t be prouder.

“It was very a special moment not only for my dad, but also for my mom and definitely for me and my sister. I just think about [how] my dad had just retired and was like, ‘we’re going to take basketball into Canada.’ It had never been done before.

“To have that high of a mountain to climb and then to finally reach a championship, and bring a championship not just to the city of Toronto but to the country of Canada, and now I believe Canada is

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turning out basketball players left and right. It’s definitely becoming a basketball country; I mean I don’t know if it’ll ever overtake hockey – and I love hockey, I grew up a Red Wings fan so don’t hate me [laughs] – but it’s definitely cool.”

When the Raptors first started out, a lot of people found it hard to believe they might one day rise to the top of the heap and become NBA champions.

It’s just further evidence that everyone has a story. We also have the power to write our own endings.

JUMOL ROYES is a Toronto-based communications strategist and content writer with a keen interest in personal development and transformation. Follow him on Twitter at @Jumol.

IN MAGAZINE

By Al Donato

Jessie Goyette has come a long way since her first foray into activism.

As a child who was horrified about animal cruelty, she took it upon herself to be a lone protester on the streets of Hamilton, Ont. She fondly recalls wearing a Smurf mask (a fashion choice requested by her dad, to protect her identity) while talking to passersby about animal rights outside a KFC restaurant.

Now, the 23-year-old Métis and Algonquin community development worker no longer works solo. Goyette calls herself a bridge, a word that aptly captures how she engages with marginalized communities in her city: mindful of those around her, connecting collective power to those in need of safe passage past obstacles.

Take, for instance, how Goyette spent her summer. Just days before our conversation, her overdose and sexual assault prevention initiative Safer Gigs collaborated with other groups to throw a benefit concert in solidarity of “Pride Defenders.” The term references queer activists who were imprisoned or face charges after defending themselves against far-right groups during the city’s Pride celebrations in June. The event successfully brought LGBTQ2S+ community and allies together in raising $2,700 to assist the defenders’ legal fees.

“Existing as a person who is Indigenous, fat and queer informed my understanding of collaboration. Community and mutual care are important,” she tells IN. “Nothing I’ve ever done has been about me as an individual taking on a project.”

Co-founded with musician Vince Soliveri in 2017, Safer Gigs has been welcomed with open arms to the city’s music scene. Seeing their booth at a festival or a show – packed with naloxone kits, pamphlets about consent, and tips for reacting to a crisis – is a visible sign to attendees that the space prioritizes their right to a safe, fun night out.

The impact Safer Gigs has is compounded by the locals it teams up with. Its harm reduction supplies are sourced from the Hamilton AIDS Network. Other collaborators include The Tower (an anarchist space), the Feminist Zine Fair (a sex work action project) and SACHA (a centre for sexual assault survivors).

When she’s not spending her days in the classroom as a Grade 1 teacher or her nights tabling for Safer Gigs, Goyette keeps herself plenty busy with photography, stand-up comedy and embroidery.

She also runs the Plus Size Flea Market, the first event of its kind for the city. With not much spare time left over, Goyette names her naked sphinx cat, Jonathan, as a source of joy who is “chaotic, ridiculous, and has so much love to give.”

Family bonding is also important, but even that time is spent as advocacy; she remembers bringing her father, who felt disconnected from his Indigenous identity because of intergenerational trauma, to a demonstration against pipelines for the first time. “I was reflecting on how scared my dad was when I was little and wanting to do these demonstrations. And then here he is, exploring his own identity with me out there doing that,” she says, happy that a part of her life is now also a part of his.

Another bonus? No Smurf mask this time.

“When people in our community tell our booths about the terrible When asked what she hopes for her city’s future, Goyette emphasizes things that happen to them at events, I’ll say, ‘Oh, go check out the need for Hamilton’s police officers and city council to be held SACHA, they have really awesome support,’” she says, as an accountable by its queer and trans residents. example of how these reciprocal relationships work. This approach recognizes that LGBTQ2S+ lives don’t exist in silos and, therefore, “I want everyone in this city to feel supported, safe, and like they service providers shouldn’t either. can exist,” she says.

AL DONATO is a queer non-binary journalist. Born and raised in Toronto, they’re currently an associate editor at HuffPost Canada. They adore bubble tea, anti-oppression, their nanay’s cooking and queer dance nights.

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PROFILE

HOW JESSIE GOYETTE’S TEAM EFFORTS MAKE HAMILTON SAFER FOR QUEERS The Indigenous schoolteacher works in overdose prevention

PHOTO ESSAY

SKIN Montreal-based photographer Jonathan Bertucchi takes a good close look at our self-image

By Jonathan Bertucchi

“No fat, no skinny,” “Looking for younger, muscled or twinks,” “No bears,” “You need to be defined or athletic,” “Slim and fit guys only”, “No Blacks, no Asians.” With messages like that, it’s clear that Grindr and gay apps can be savage places for your self-esteem and body image.

has led to a trend of valuing whiteness and white features. The Western stereotypes of masculinity is strongly engrained in the gay community. Ethnic-based stereotypes and exoticism subject boys from non-white backgrounds to discrimination in the community and subsequently even more body pressures.

Public discussion about body image and pressure tend to focus on the female body, but men also come into their fair share of pressure, given how Hollywood, Instagram, magazines and porn vigorously promote a ‘perfect’ male body. The gay community is particularly affected so when it comes to appearance, gay men hold themselves to high standards.

Sinakhone Keodara, a Grindr user in LA., threatened the dating app with a class-action lawsuit in 2018 after coming across a user profile that contained the short descriptor: “Not interested in Asians.” Keodara told NBC News that the social media app, which boasts more than three million daily users, “allows blatant sexual racism by not monitoring or censoring anti-Asian and anti-Black profiles.”

Body image and the pressure to have that ‘perfect’ body affects a lot of gay men in very different and personal ways. One’s relationship to one’s own body can be greatly defined and influenced by society, and lead to insecurity.

Toxic masculinity, heteronormativity, internalized homophobia or blatant racism are among the many different aspects interconnected to body image and pressure in the gay community.

In a recent survey by the magazine Attitude, a gay lifestyle magazine, 84 per cent of respondents said they felt they were under intense pressure to have a good body. Only one per cent considered themselves “very happy” with their appearance. According to Matt Cain, the magazine’s editor-in-chief, “There is an epidemic of gay men taking shirtless selfies in the gym, desperate for affirmation.”

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2019

Body dysmorphic disorder (obsessively thinking about perceived defects or flaws in one’s appearance and body image, leading to anxiety or shame and behaviours such as repeatedly checking the mirror or seeking reassurance) seems to be spreading.

Matthew Todd, in his book Straight Jacket: How to be Gay and Happy, argues that “homosexuality is often accompanied by feelings of shame stemming from a lack of acceptance in society. Those feelings can lead to a lack of acceptance for ourselves, which leads to an unhealthy fixation with our appearance.”

Therapist Asher Pandjiris says high rates of disordered eating in the LGBTQ community are often reactions to the homophobia internalized in youth. “Queer people often try and prove heteronormativity by having a muscled or thin body,” she says.

“But it’s almost more insidious that the queer community polices or generates these unattainable standards.”

Racism can also be blatantly displayed on gay platforms and deeply affect people. The international spread of Western culture

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The younger generations of gays have largely developed their sexualities and relationships through social media and dating applications. Those applications bring about a high level of body pressure, since showing off your body is more and more encouraged.

Instagram’s exploding popularity has accentuated the issue. A sea of gay “influencers” boasting tens and tens of thousands of followers show off their ripped bodies and daily gym sessions. An NBC News article from February titled “Are sexy gay Instagram accounts fueling disordered eating?” explores this phenomenon.

The article reported that “though they are thought to make up only five per cent of the national [US] male population, gay men account for 42 per cent of men who report having an eating disorder.”

Some people, the article continued, might have seen some post on social media “that makes them feel like they have to look a certain way in gay spaces, that they need to work out obsessively and starve themselves before a trip to Fire Island [a popular gay destination near NYC].”

Body image affects all kinds of guys for all kinds of reasons in the gay community, and it is a hard, vicious cycle to break. Ironically, many of those who are among the most affected by body pressure become the ones who perpetuate the issue. Many guys who hit the gym daily and look for validation with shirtless pictures on social media are often the ones who began working out because they felt uncomfortable or ashamed in their own bodies. The community’s body expectations pushed them to want to change their own bodies and they are now the ones dictating the body’s archetypes.

Body image is a very pervasive and personal issue that can lead to concrete psychological or physical issues. Nonetheless, there is hope that a shift is occurring as the issue becomes more and more voiced and discussed. Movements pushing back against those unattainable body goals are rising, and offer new platforms and spaces for body positivity.

Keegan, 28: “The issue of body image has been a complex and pervasive issue for me since I was young and is something that I still grapple with on the daily. My identity and self-worth is often too disproportionately connected with how I feel about how my body looks and how others perceive it. I believe this rings true for a lot of gays where we encounter and internalize strong pressures to have and maintain strict body archetypes.”

Félix, 21: “I think applications such as Grindr can be both good and bad for body image because even if you’re not 100% what society norms would want you to be, you can find someone for you. The apps make it easier for everyone to meet people, especially those who would struggle more in real life. However, social networks such as Instagram impose negative body norms [on] the community by having gay influencers excessively displaying body.”

Chris, 26: “ I feel like everyone in the world feels pressure for body image, but in our community, which is already segregated, we shouldn’t be making each other feel even worse. In terms of body image, I lost 150 pounds and I’m at a good place in my life. If you like yourself, that’s all that matters, At the end of the day, whoever is coming into your life is supposed to like you for you.”

Khaled Antably, 24: “I don’t feel too affected by the gay community’s standards because I’m not 100% out and not so integrated to the community. But I work in fashion and models do influence me a lot. It gives me pressure to have a toned body and not be skinny or chubby. Within the gay community, my body image is not a priority because I’ve never had issues meeting boys so I’ve never felt like I needed to change anything.”

Laurence, 33: “The stereotype of Western masculinity is toxic and widespread in the gay community. Being Asian, I am smaller, I have more delicate features and a hairless body and it does not fit the standard. For a long time, I’ve tried to hide my feminine side, but now I’ve decided to embrace it. Growing my hair and owning it feels empowering.”

Félix, 25:“I feel extremely affected by body standards. I’ve been ashamed of my body for a long time. I’m a Bear and I’ve never been attracted by Bears. To me, my body was not beautiful and I’ve never been told otherwise. Meeting my actual boyfriend changed everything because I realized that some people love it and now I feel good and proud of my body.”

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PHOTO ESSAY SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2019

Mena, 28: “It’s particularly tough because you come to a point where you are yearning for some sort of representation similar to yourself and it can be hard to feel like you fit in the mainstream gay model. It is difficult for gay guys because we already deal with that echo chamber of internalized homophobia until we’re comfortable enough coming out, and I think that there is a parallel chamber with regard to our own bodies.”

Marlond, 30: “We already have so much pressure from society when it comes to body image and on top of that, the gay community adds an extra layer of pressure to look a certain way. So, it does really affect us in the worst possible way because it forces us to be more judgmental, less open and less welcoming.”

Martin, 30: “Since I had cancer, it changed me and I now accept that I’ll never be the beauty standard that they show on TV. I’ve learned to love myself and respect my features. For instance, the colour of my skin or my hair is sacred and I’m tired of that form of colonization that white beauty standards impose on other cultures.

Racism is real in the community and I mostly attract boys who are more open to other cultures or have travelled.”

Carl, 22: “The culture of youth affects me and it freaks me out to see my body aging through the pictures of myself I’ve taken over the years. Being Asian also affects me because a lot of boys either come to me or avoid me based on how they feel about the stereotype of a submissive and feminine Asian boy, while I am not like that at all.”

Derrick, 35: “I used to be a fat kid and get shamed a lot. I couldn’t take it anymore and started working out when I was 18.

From that moment on, everything changed, I became confident, it helped me come out and feel good in my own body.”

Paolo, 23: “What created an unhealthy relationship to my body is that my sexuality developed around how I looked. Since I had to use apps, I had to sell my image and to look good enough in hopes of meeting anyone. You want to be as attractive as you can be to appeal to as many boys as possible, but we have the body that we have and it’s impossible to satisfy everybody. I lost myself because by focusing only on looking attractive, I forgot to take into consideration what made me happy.”

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Michael, 25: “I definitely think there are some pressures, to look and act a certain way, that have contributed to [a] negative body image for myself and a lot of other guys in [the] community. I’ve grown to not care as much about it anymore but I still compare myself to other guys all the time. I know I fit a certain ‘look’ for the time being but I often worry about how I’ll look and feel about myself as I get older.”

Nicolas, 26: “There is always a feeling of incompleteness, like there is always something better to reach for your body and conform to the expectations of the gay community. There is a narcissist kind of relationship to desire. You aspire to look like what you desire in others. You always see the image of the goal to reach, it’s omnipresent, like why does TD Bank only hire muscular dudes dressed as angels to give out pamphlets at Pride?”

Thomas, 22: “I grew up in Paris and it has a very specific gay aesthetic that you need to match. Everybody needs to conform and look super skinny and young, but I was too hairy. I eventually moved to San Francisco and there, there were different ways of being gay and that was not an issue at all anymore and it’s the same in Montreal. Beauty standards in the gay community change according to the city.”

Jonathan, 29: “I undertook this project because body image is a widespread issue in the gay community that affected me since I was a teenager and I wanted to explore how it personally affects other guys. Having to sell your body on the apps and constantly comparing bodies with your dates or partner can easily make you self-conscious or insecure. It is an insidious kind of pressure as it is completely related to others’ perception of my body and I hate that the self-appreciation of my body comes from others’ validation. It’s important to realize that and deconstruct it, and this project is a part of the process.”

Antoine, 24: “Instagram really helped me gain confidence and self-esteem when I realized that my body could be an object of desire. I now see the more harmful side of it because I need that validation from others and it can hurt me when I don’t get it.”

JONATHAN BERTUCCHI is a photographer and documentarian based in Montreal. His photography aims to explore his interest in cultural, political and social issues at home and abroad, and he works on projects promoting social change and justice, tolerance and minorities’ rights.

To learn more, visit www.jonathanbertucchi.com.

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(from left to right) SUIT: Top Man SHIRT: Shelli Oh TIE AND POCKET SCARF: Top Man SUIT AND POCKET SCARF: Simon’s SHIRT: Austen Dor TIE: Christian Dior 34

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Steel & Glass Sartorial styles for Fall/Winter 2019 take over the streets of downtown Toronto PHOTOGRAPHER: Ivan Otis FASHION DIRECTION: Paul Langill WARDROBE STYLING: Fredsoon Silva Aguda and Kahmeelia Smith WARDROBE ASSIST: Sarah Ghali GROOMING: Paul Langill MODELS: Issac Henry (Elmer Olsen Models) Jack Tuchner (Elmer Olsen Models)

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OVERCOAT: Ermenegildo Zegna SWEATER: Christopher Bates HAT: Jaycow Millinery

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FASHION

OVERCOAT AND SUIT: Christopher Bates SHIRT: Simon’s TIE: Christian Dior SHOES: Kenneth Cole

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FASHION SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2019

SUIT: Christopher Bates SHIRT: Simon’s TIE: Christian Dior WATCH: Emporio Armani

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FASHION

SUIT: Simon’s SHIRT: Shelli Oh TIE: Christian Dior SHOULDER BAG: Paul Smith SHOES: Florsheim Shoes

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SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2019 OVERCOAT AND SWEATER: Mayer Man 40 IN MAGAZINE

FASHION

OVERCOAT: Xian SWEATER: Christopher Bates PANTS: Primark SHOES: Kenneth Cole HAT: Jaycow Millinery

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FASHION SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2019

OVERCOAT: Ermenegildo Zegna SWEATER: Christopher Bates PANTS: Mayer Man BELT: Gucci WATCH: Michael Kors HAT: Jaycow Millinery 42

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TRAVEL

OVERCOAT: Shelli Oh SUIT, SHIRT AND TIE: Simon’s

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DRAG

DRAG IN THE VINEYARD....

IT’S ALL IN THE FAMILY One queen officially brings drag to Niagara

By Loren Christie

Family is important. So when I heard that Josh, my cousin’s partner, was the opening act for the first-ever drag show in Niagara, there was no question we would attend and support him. It was also going to be a big night for Josh personally: a newcomer to the drag scene, it was his first paid gig.

I met Josh five years ago when he was studying to become a sommelier, which at the time of achieving the designation earned him the distinction of being one of the youngest sommeliers in Canada. He was a high-achieving, mild-mannered guy who was becoming a fixture in our extended family. Shortly after that, he moved to the Niagara region and enrolled in the wine-making program at Niagara College. The program included a work co-op placement at Stratus winery and eventually provided Josh with a full-time job at the Creekside Estate Winery in Jordan.

It was during that time that he got hooked on the popular TV show RuPaul’s Drag Race. What started as a TV obsession became an all-out fascination with drag culture. After a year as part of the Creekside team (affectionately referred to as the “Creekside Cru”), a new job lured him back to Toronto, where he took the opportunity to immerse himself in the local drag scene.

“When you get to meet and talk to the local drag queens, they are all super lovely and accepting. I slowly started getting involved in the community,” Josh explains. “Then I met my drag mom, Penelope Strange. We connected on Instagram, then met at a few events. She was the first one who convinced me to do drag.”

And so Nala Strange was born. Proud drag mother Penelope describes Nala as a Pop Princess, vibrant and colourful. Quite different from the low-key Josh that I know.

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“Drag is an extension of self,” says Penelope. “I think Josh needs Nala. She’s created an artistic outlet and a new way of expressing his emotions. It’s freeing.”

Carlisle. It was a popular date in Niagara; wineries across the region were toasting the deliciously dreamt-up holiday, Rosé Day, and well-known performers like the Jim Cuddy Band and the Sam Roberts Band were performing at the Tawse and Jackson-Triggs wineries respectively. Yet tickets to Creekside Estate Winery’s Drag in The Vineyard were in high demand.

Britnie Bazylewski, marketing and special events manager for Creekside, was not surprised. “There is nothing like this in the industry. You might think the area is conservative and narrow-minded, but we sold out tickets in less than a week.”

Wine bloggers and part-time Niagara-On-The-Lake residents the Sparkling Winos (also known as Jeff Graham and Mike Matyjewicz) were not surprised either. “People here are quite open and welcoming.

We are so close to Toronto, a city with a huge gay population.

Creekside is doing something unique and fun…bringing a different type of experience with an LGBTQ focus. It’s really cool what they did.”

Getting the full experience The original idea of bringing a drag show to Niagara was the brainchild of Niagara-on-the-Lake bed & breakfast owners Brendan Bakaluk and Rob Pividor. They have seen a new generation of wine makers take over the family-run wineries around them: a generation that is more open and eager to new experiences. So when their friends, Katinka and Carlotta, offered to come perform drag in the region, they approached Creekside about a partnership to make it happen.

Britnie was enthusiastic about the idea immediately. However, when she learned that former “Creekside Cru” event manager and assistant wine maker Josh was now doing drag as Nala Strange, it could not have been a more perfect scenario for her. Josh would always be part of the Creekside family, making Nala the perfect opening act for these two headliners.

Queer culture in general tends to be close-knit, but I learned that a “This is the best thing that happened to Creekside since Syrah,” drag family is on a whole other level. In drag culture, all queens try Britnie enthused to the crowd as she introduced the show that night. to support each other, and if you are part of a drag family you get “Nala Strange was a 2016 recruit on the Creekside Cru and to have the added benefit of having a house mother: a matriarchal figure her come back and have her coming-out party at Creekside…we who shares her experience and knowledge. couldn’t be more ecstatic.”

“Penelope knows how to glue a wig to your head so that when you are hair flipping it won’t fly across the stage,” says Nala. “She knows how to pad. She is the dictionary of the family. I instinctively took Strange as Nala’s last name. When your drag mother has a name…you adopt it.”

When we arrived at Creekside, we hadn’t seen Josh all day. He had been busy transforming himself into Nala, which can take him up to five hours. He acknowledges that his process is lengthier than most queens. “Makeup, wig, clothes…my look is still evolving. I do now have a signature lip that I do.”

Nala’s winery debut was this past June 8, as the opening act for renowned Toronto-based queens Katinka Kature and Carlotta

For Nala, no drinking is ever involved – even on this night, performing at a winery. A recent fall in six-inch heels that resulted in

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a sprained ankle and two days off work led to the creation of her “no drinks before a performance” rule. Some lessons your drag mother can’t teach you; you just learn on your own.

wine maker at Creekside, was egged on enthusiastically by his girlfriend to go for a tip-to-lip-to-lip exchange with Carlotta. And he did.

Sitting to the right of the stage, Shelley Newman was frequently A night to remember in the line of fire for the queens’ comedy, with Katinka threatening As the oenophiles and drag neophytes arrived, you could feel the to FaceTime her husband, who was at home watching TV. anticipation in the air. It was a perfect evening, warm and sunny. Shelly didn’t mind.

The outside patio had been set up with a stage for the performers and the entire area was festooned with pink balloons, streamers “I had no idea it would be funny. It was hilarious and they are so and boas. I have been to many drag shows, but to be sipping rosé beautiful. I can’t believe how beautiful they are!” overlooking the greenery of the vineyard was lovely.

Before her performance, Nala mused that drag is about fun and Collectively, the assembled crowd of more than a hundred people acceptance. Based on that criteria, the night was undoubtedly a seemed mostly just curious. Many did not know what to expect, wild success for Niagara. She also said she wasn’t nervous about having never seen a drag show. Josie Tremonte and her daughter going out on stage because “when you are in a family, the biggest Isabella fell in that category, but appreciated that it was time to thing is supporting each other, and that’s what it boils down to.” bring something new to Niagara, with Isabella commenting that Whether Nala meant that in reference to her drag family, her “it was a step in the right direction.”

Creekside family or us, her extended family, I’m not sure. And it doesn’t matter. We were all there to support her.

Britnie introduced the evening ($5 for every ticket purchased was going to help two amazing causes, the Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation and the Foundation for Prader-Willi Research Canada), and thanked everyone for coming out to spread the love.

Now it was time for Nala.

As the music started, I was deeply touched by how brave I felt she must be, performing in front of a crowd of newbies in seven-inch heels. She even escalated her heel height, despite her earlier fall.

But bravery wasn’t even an issue. Nala thinks of the Creekside Cru and patrons as her extended family, and said, “It is just as comforting to perform at the Creekside Winery as it would be to perform in my living room.”

She flew off the stage to the pumping mix of Demi Lovato and Britney Spears, strutting around the tables, flinging her hair and gyrating to the music in the faces of the gobsmacked guests. There was a small stumble as she got off the stage at one point, but the recovery was seamless. And she had done it. She had officially brought drag to Niagara.

After performing to two songs, Nala introduced the two more experienced queens with the appropriate filial deference. With 11 years of experience, these two quickly picked up on the spark ignited

by Nala’s performance and with some razor-sharp comedy, fabulous outfits and electric music turned the initially reserved crowd into the biggest party Creekside Winery had ever seen.

By the end of the second round of acts from all three queens, the crowd was on their feet dancing. Enthusiastically joining in on the fun were a few rosé-infused patrons who passed $5 tips to the queens with their tongues. Matt Orton, another former assistant Photo: Connor Remus LOREN CHRISTIE is a part-time travel writer and on-air travel contributor for CTV. He lives in Toronto with his husband.

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Shuffle Off To Buffalo A road trip to a revitalized Queen City yields warm hospitality, rich heritage, vibrant art and landmark architecture

By Doug Wallace

My friends all pulled a big face, screwing up their noses as if I smelled. “Why the hell are you going to Buffalo?” Morons. Because it’s right around the corner, I told them. Turns out we were on the Peace Bridge in two hours and nine minutes, and well on our way to an excellent weekend away.

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It didn’t take long to discover the quiet revival taking place in New York’s Queen City: cool neighbourhoods you could picture yourself living in, old buildings and homes getting a new lease on life, once derelict parts of town now the talk of the town. We also locked into the hospitable vibe from all the nodding; people actually acknowledge your presence – in store lineups, on street corners, bellying up to the bar – just like in a small town. Turning off the Toronto anonymity is often a vacation in itself.

Curtiss Hotel is a case in point. Built inside a renovated 1913 office building, it bridges old and new beautifully, exhibiting a few fun quirks. We found the first one immediately: a revolving bar had us slowly circling the bartenders, waiting patiently for our barstools to spin past a group of attractive suits doing after-work bevvies, and on to a bevy of tuxedoed groomsmen throwing back mid-wedding courage. The second twist is the hotel’s little urban hot springs, a heated spa pool we had all to ourselves. Returning later for nightcaps in the all-white rooftop lounge, we made fast friends with the local scenesters and watched the last few wedding guests say their goodbyes.

The Curtiss isn’t the only hotel breathing new life into an old property. We saw this pattern all over the place, particularly at InnBuffalo off Elmwood, a nine-suite spot in Elmwood Village Buffalo used to be big, big stuff, a city of half a million. Situated so that inhabits a former mansion built in 1898. The ultra-charming close to Niagara Falls, it was one of the first US towns at the turn of innkeeper described it as a “preservation in progress,” with most of the century to have extensive electric lighting, luring entrepreneurs its turn-of-the-century finishes still intact. (He even offers it up to and investors, its industries and car factories thriving. After a university students studying heritage restoration at nearby Buffalo period of decline from the 1960s onward – maybe my friends get State, giving them a chance to learn first-hand how to deal with their opinions from their parents – the city is now slowly working disintegrating silk wallpaper or warping woodwork.) We arrived towards a revival, with manufacturing, health care and education on the day of the neighbourhood’s annual Porch Fest to find such leading the field. Happily, we can include hospitality in this list, a block party going on, and had to sneak in the inn’s side door – a too. I mean, boutique hotels are a pleasant surprise if you’re ex- “Mustang Sally” kind of band and a psychedelic performance artist pecting Holiday Inns. having taken over the front porch. Not a bad welcome: hundreds of

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people were wandering the streets, soaking up the vibe and the suds.

We were certainly not the only house with a band on the porch, but we were the only one selling beers and hamburgers in the driveway.

It’s not all chicken wings and Fruity Pebbles I’m not ashamed that palate-pleasing is one-third (if not half) of my travel experience. Dinner reservations are always made weeks in advance of going to the airport, and my whole day of adventure is scheduled around lunch…and my nap. Happily, Buffalo delivers on the food front in spades. Similar to Pittsburgh, Buffalo is a bubbling-under town on the scope of the national food scene, chefs often returning here having made their name elsewhere. We managed to eat our way through a chophouse, a diner, a whisky bar and a Southern restaurant, before our jaws dropped at Las Puertas, the city’s much-lauded Mexican restaurant. This 35-seat gem in the West Side, founded by 2018 James Beard-nominated chef Victor Parra Gonzalez, who hails from Acapulco, is thoroughly and distinctly modern Mexican, yet executed with classic French techniques that elevate it to top-10 status.

Start my dinner with a mezcal cocktail, and I’ll be in your pocket.

We confessed to our dietary restrictions and let Victor just feed us – the best way to benefit from this food experience. From the watermelon and radish soup, through the ribbons of ceviche, all the way to the coconut meringues, dinner was flawless, the

Japanese and Italian influences in terms of both style and presentation making the tastes even more sensational. And what makes a meal here so intensely personal is the fact that Victor is on the floor, talking about the menu and taking orders, this due to a tiny staff; the cooks bring out the plates they themselves have created. On top of being a destination restaurant, Las Puertas is located in an eclectic neighbourhood filled with people who are well into this kind of food journey, much like we are as tourists.

Dinner on a Saturday night in a foreign town generally includes dancing it off. And the gay watering holes in the Allentown neighbourhood are friendly and mostly old-school, like the town itself. We started off dodging drunk pool players at Cathode Ray on Allen Street, then proceeded around the corner to Fugazi, where a slightly younger crowd was throwing back martinis. Gotta love the American free-pour.

Cool art, iconic architecture…and a little side trip When it was time to quiet down a bit, we pegged one whole day just for art, spinning through the Albright Knox Art Gallery in the north end of town to absorb its incredible collection of modern and contemporary art, followed by a visit across the street to The Burchfield Penney Art Center, a museum exhibiting works

by Western New York artists. After a picnic in nearby Delaware Park, we headed to the newly restored Frank Lloyd Wright Darwin

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Martin House and completely nerded out on this 1905 home, one of Wright’s architectural masterpieces. From the open-concept living areas – crazy talk at the time – to the nature-inspired embellishment of more than 400 art glass windows to the pergola through to the conservatory (now full of orchids), the home is a solid marvel.

Wright’s legendary controlling nature is on full display in many rooms, especially those with built-in cabinetry – he didn’t want anybody moving the furniture around.

remaining original buildings on a guided tour that illustrated the history of the group, which was often mistaken for a cult, but was really just a gang of artists with a creative appetite and a focused work ethic. It’s a rare survival of an art colony, the story and art kept alive through several restored workshops and an excellent museum. Various art shows, history courses, lecture series and film-society events keep the campus humming along throughout the year. There’s even an artist-in-residence.

More art and architecture came in the form of a small side trip to the town of East Aurora, a half-hour southeast of Buffalo. We hit the trail to visit Roycroft Campus, a cluster of historic buildings that was once home to a community of Arts & Crafts movement artisans in the early 1900s.

East Aurora is a get-away-from-it-all kind of place – full of heritage houses, big state parks, wildlife sanctuaries and other fresh-air stuff. We made a mental note to consider a return trip to hang at Roycroft Inn, also a national historic landmark, built in 1905, its lobby filled with restored Roycroft murals, and its lounge and suites packed with handsome Arts and Crafts furniture and décor that, as fans, left us salivating.

Known as Roycrofters, the group began as printers and publishers, expanding under founding father Elbert Hubbard to become a self-sufficient guild of furniture makers, metal smiths, leather smiths and bookbinders. We wandered through a few of the nine

When it was time to head back over the Peace Bridge, we prayed for a short lineup while we recapped the weekend’s highlights. Who knew this place was more than just chicken wings and the Sabres?

Not my friends, that’s for sure. But they do now.

DOUG WALLACE is the editor and publisher of travel resource TravelRight.Today.

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FLASHBACK September 26, 1975 In LGBTQ History

The Rocky Horror Picture Show premieres in North America

On September 26, 1975, The Rocky Horror Picture Show had its North American premiere at the UA Westwood in Los Angeles before rolling out across the United States and Canada. The film, with its underlying message to be open-minded and not judge people just because they are different, had originally opened in the United Kingdom a month earlier, at the Rialto Theatre in London on August 14, 1975.

The film was an adaptation of Richard O’Brien’s stage production, which debuted at London’s Royal Court Theatre back in 1973. O’Brien co-wrote the screenplay of the film adaptation and appeared in the film as Riff Raff.

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“I wrote it, first of all, for myself to wile away the long winter nights while I was out of work,” O’Brien once said. “It just all happened, really.”

Filming began in England in Fall 1974. O’Brien recruited Tim Curry (Dr. Frank N. Furter), Patricia Quinn (Magenta) and Nell Campbell (Columbia) from the stage production to reprise their roles for the film. Producers insisted on casting the two characters of Brad and Janet with American actors, Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon.

When the film premiered in L.A., It didn’t cause much of a stir with either critics or moviegoers. But a year later, the film, the songs, the images and the ideals began to catch on as a cult film, eventually leading to the famous audience participation and never-ending midnight screenings that have followed it ever since.

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Inspired by beloved Toronto queens Priyanka and Miss Moço, Michael Pez has created two fierce cocktails Located in Toronto’s trendy Junction neighbourhood, Nickel 9 Distillery was established back in 2017 when founders Harris Hadjicostis and Chris Jacks began experimenting with vodka. Instead of using potato, grain or corn, the pair experimented with apples (yes, 100% Canadian apples!) to give their Northern Temple Vodka a little crisp sweetness and to ensure their vodka was distinct and unique. Soon afterwards, the Toronto craft distillery created another distinct spirit – their Hidden Temple Gin, which is made with Ontario botanicals to deliver a more woodsy and floral flavour.

Today Nickel 9 Distillery make small batch spirits that are available in over 25 LCBO outlets and more than 40 different bars across the country.

Even better, the craft distillery has been actively involved in the LGBTQ community through donations (to ACT, Inside Out Festival, The Toronto Fringe, PWA and Rainbow Railroad) and has been showing support for artists, bars and local events across Toronto. Now they are bursting into the fall season and celebrating their two-year anniversary with their tasty Signature Queen Cocktail Series.

Inspired by beloved Toronto queens Priyanka and Miss Moço, bartender/mixologist extraordinaire Michael Pez has created two fierce cocktails in the extensive series of cocktails using Nickel 9 Distillery’s Northern Temple Vodka and Hidden Temple Gin.

Photo: David Hawe

The Pri-Drink Inspired by Priyanka Ingredients 2 oz. Northern Temple Vodka 1.5 oz. pineapple juice Ginger beer Fresh mint and sliced fruit for garnish

Directions • In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add Northern Temple Vodka and pineapple juice.

• Shake and strain into a chilled rocks glass filled with ice.

• Top with ginger beer.

• Garnish with fresh mint and fruit.

• Enjoy!

The Miss Moco – Chic é Feroz Inspired by Miss Moço

Photo: Connor Remus

Ingredients 2 oz. Hidden Temple Gin 1 oz. orange juice 1 oz. grapefruit juice Soda Fresh mint for garnish Directions • In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add Hidden Temple Gin, orange juice and grapefruit juice.

• Shake and strain into a chilled rocks glass.

• Top with soda.

• Garnish with fresh mint.

• Enjoy!

These two Signature Queen Cocktails can be found at The Drink and Church St. Garage in Toronto. For more information on Nickel 9 Distillery or to check out its upcoming events and products (including a true apple brandy coming this winter), visit www.nickel9distillery.com.

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DRINKS

MUST-TRY SIPS FROM NICKEL 9 DISTILLERY’S SIGNATURE QUEEN COCKTAIL SERIES

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