Xtra, Toronto's Gay and Lesbian news by Pink Triangle Press

BACK TO SCHOOL Calls to diversify sex education › 7

A SYNONYM FOR LOVE Hotel opera’s queer take on Handel › 13

TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

COCK AND ASS Art magazine’s risky business › 17 #726 AUG 23, 2012

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A RESURGENCE OF VIOLENCE HITS DOWNTOWN ›10

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COMMENT 4 XCETERA 5 NEWS 7 OUT IN THE CITY 13 XPOSED 18

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XTRA! AUG 23, 2012

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XTRA! AUG 23, 2012 TORONTO’S GAY& LESBIAN NEWS

Roundup AUG 23, 2012

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Following Headmaster The fourth edition of Headmaster hits stands this September. Xtra speaks to the co-editors of the biannual art-sex magazine about the state of today’s publishing industry and their magazine’s sexy imagery. ›17 NEWS

OUT IN THE CITY

REGULARS

Farewell to The Barn

Gay busker

Comment › 4 Xcetera ›5 Xposed ›18 Index ›20 Classiﬁeds ›20

The iconic Toronto gay bar has closed its doors for good. Xtra speaks with its general manager about what the future holds for the historic Church St building. ›7

Gay man to lead United Church Openly gay Reverend Gary Paterson was elected moderator of the United Church of Canada at the 41st General Council, held recently in Ottawa. ›8

COVER STORY

Crime on the rise? Police have arrested 11 people linked to a gang stealing cellphones in Toronto’s downtown. Xtra speaks with one victim who says the attack was hate motivated. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the neighbourhood business association thinks crime may be increasing in Toronto’s gaybourhood. ›10

The annual Toronto BuskerFest is on in the St Lawrence Market neighbourhood. Xtra chats with tall and handsome stilt-walker Kyle Sipkens about how he fell in love with busking. ›13

VIDEO

David Testo Montreal Pride recently honoured soccer player David Testo, who served as the event’s English-language human rights spokesperson and the parade grand marshal. Last year Xtra spoke to Testo about what it’s like to come out in the world of professional sport. ›xtra.ca

ONLINE

Ottawa Pride The rising cost of policing and road closures means this year’s Capital Pride parade will once again not pass in front of the Parliament buildings. Some community members say this is a missed opportunity to pack a political punch by demonstrating in front of Centre Block. ›xtra.ca

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Editorial Natasha Barsotti ›4

Toronto at Night Ryan G Hinds ›15 Porndoggy Jeremy Feist ›22 LISTINGS

Art & photography › 14, 15, 16 Film & video › 16 Health & issues › 16 Leisure & pleasure › 16, 17 Music › 17 Stage › 17

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Toronto’s gay & lesbian news

XTRA! AUG 23, 2012

editorial › feedback › debate

Comment Social justice’s shades of grey Naked Eye Natasha Barsotti

I M E MAG A Z I N E E DI TOR Richard Stengel once asked Nelson Mandela whether he embraced armed struggle because he thought non-violence would never defeat apartheid or because it was the only way to prevent the African National Congress (ANC) from disintegrating. “Why not both?” Mandela asked. Social justice strategies are rarely either/or propositions. They are often “and.” Case in point: Martin Luther King’s call for non-violent demonstrations pushed the conservative buttons of eight white Alabama clergymen. “We . . . point out that such actions as incite to hatred and violence, however technically peaceful those actions may be, have not contributed to the solution of our local problems,” they wrote. A jailed King replied, “Your statement, I am sorry to say, fails to express a similar concern for the conditions that brought about the demonstrations . . . There have been more unsolved bombings of Negro homes and churches in Birmingham than in any other city in the nation . . . The purpose of our direct action program is to create a situation so crisis packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation.” And yet, others — like the pugnacious Malcolm X — felt King’s embrace of a non-violent approach to black liberation was too tepid. But while King’s non-violent strategy is more historically palatable to the mainstream, his and X’s perspectives informed the narrative and evolution of black civil rights in the US. Both. More recently, the members of punk collective Pussy Riot were found guilty of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred and sentenced to two years in jail after their performance of an anti-Putin song in a Russian Orthodox cathedral. For their supporters, theirs is a freedom-of-expression ﬁght with a state-religious orthodoxy that wields disproportionate power. For their detractors, their actions are sacrilegious. “We dared . . . to unite the visual imagery of Orthodox culture and that of protest culture, thus suggesting to smart people that Orthodox culture belongs not only to the Russian Orthodox Church, the Patriarch and Putin, that it could also ally itself with civic rebellion and the spirit of protest in Russia,” one Pussy Rioter said in her closing statement at trial.

Both. In Uganda, gay activists and their allies did what many probably thought was unthinkable: they staged their first Pride parade. The police raided the festivities, detaining and roughing up participants, who continued their celebrations after they were released. For Uganda observers, the news of this “first” is a sign of unexpectedly quick progress. An acceptable radical act. Enter hacktivist group Anonymous, which recently conducted a virtual ambush of the Ugandan prime minister’s office website. “Your violations of the rights of LGBT people have disgusted us,” their message reads. “ALL people have the right to live in dignity free from the repression of someone else’s political and religious beliefs. You should be proud of your LGBT citizens, because they clearly have more balls than you will ever have.” It’s a message that chagrined those who applauded the first Pride but found Anonymous’s tactics ham-fisted. It will provoke a reactionary response, they warn. As opposed to previous state actions? To recap: authorities raided Uganda’s first Pride, invaded various queer conferences, and called activist David Kato’s murder-by-bludgeoning the consequence of a demand for sex turned deadly. And let’s not forget that on-again, off-again “kill the gays” bill waiting to be resurrected — again. Whether it’s a Pride march, a hacking job or appropriating sacred space, there is no monolithic approach to activism. And sometimes doing the unacceptable is the daunting, scary, but legitimate — if not necessarily legal — course to take. Black-and-white approaches ignore the shades of grey that are part of the long, fluid unfolding of social justice fights. These struggles are arcs, where many ideas and actions — both aggressively brash or painfully slow-to-work — are tested or discarded as past their due date. After years of refusing to negotiate with the apartheid government, Mandela decided to renounce that approach — also seen as a radical move. He was deemed a sellout, a traitor who had sold out the movement. But the move eventually led to South Africa’s first democratic election. Radical is in the eye of the beholder. And, sometimes, the only strategy left when all other means are cul-de-sacs to nowhere. Natasha Barsotti is Xtra’s Vancouver staff reporter.

“The outcome that we seek is this — gay and lesbian people daring together to set love free.” Xtra is published by Pink Triangle Press, at 2 Carlton St, Ste 1600, Toronto M5B 1J3.

GAY MARRIAGE DOESN’T EXACTLY PROMOTE TOLERANCE TOWARDS LGBTQ PEOPLE AND THEREFORE DOESN’T SAVE LIVES.

INBOX The Barn THE LATE JANKO NAGLIC started The Barn as Jo-Jo’s in 1975 with a restaurant/bar called Les Cavaliers downstairs. It was renamed The Barn and Stables in the late ’70s, more than 30 years ago [“The Barn Closes for Good,” xtra.ca, Aug 11]. No matter who buys the building, the outside of the building has to be preserved as it has a historical designation because of its unique late-19th-century architecture. So if a new owner does not reopen it as a bar, it cannot be torn down to make way for a condo without incorporating the original structure. I think Palloo did much to revive it five years ago after Naglic’s estate sold the building and the business to three investors. He kept it going as a gay bar. For that, Palloo should be applauded. It was very much a ’70s, ’80s and ’90s dance bar, and its reinvention by its post–Janko Naglic owners and Palloo to a 21st-century bar was a valiant effort to keep a legendary gay institution going. But nothing lasts forever, and The Barn has had a very good run of more than 30 years. RIP, Janko and the old Barn — you shall always be remembered. James Dubro Toronto, ON AT THIS RATE, THERE WON’T be anything left of the gay village for WorldPride 2014. Chances are good some corporation offered big money for the site, because back when I used to be there on Saturday nights the whole place was packed. Christopher King Toronto, ON THE BARN WAS THE FIRST gay bar I ever stepped foot in and the first I ever picked up in. That was 12 years ago. After they reopened following Janko’s death, the new owners forced people into long lineups every time they wanted to move from floor to floor. Nobody in his or her right mind would put up with that, and ultimately, I think that’s what killed the space for many of the former clientele. Still, it’s a shame to see it go. Hopefully, the loss is temporary and the new owners don’t screw it up. Let’s hope they keep the backroom, too. Paul Toronto, ON

National Post ad THESE ADS ARE INCREDIBLY hurtful to me, personally [“National Post Donates Money from Transphobic Ad,” xtra.ca, Aug 13]. I was male-assigned at birth. Growing up, every book, teacher, lesson, TV program and even sex education at my school was insisting I would grow up to be a man and take romantic and sexual interest exclusively in women. For me, that experience was not only “confusing,” it was heart shattering. On so many occasions I have wished I had someone in a position of trust, or media I could have accessed, that

Send your correspondence by mail to 2 Carlton St, Ste 1600, Toronto, M5B 1J3, email comment@xtra.ca, or log in to xtra.ca and comment directly. We may edit letters.

could have demonstrated for me at an earlier age there were ways of living that fit so much better how I was feeling inside. Instead, I grew up completely alone, and yes, very confused. Charles McVety is an ignorant monster. Christin Milloy Mississauga, ON

Xtra Newspaper Boxes,” xtra.ca, Aug 1]. It’s a shame that in the US, millions are being spent on it instead of directing the money to helping homeless and at-risk youth who get thrown out of home and can’t ﬁnd good employment because of their gender identity. Dimitri Ottawa, ON

Wood statue

THIS EPISODE REMINDS me of how queer leftists used a stencil to spray paint “Stop Corporate Pride” on the plastic box window of numerous Toronto Sun boxes a few years ago. The police never prosecuted those queer vandals. Kevin Toronto, ON

DEL NEWBIGGING, ALONG with those who envisioned and made the statue a reality, are owed a big thanks from all of us [“True to Form,” Xtra #725, Aug 9]. Too often we look southward for gay history, ignoring the wonderfully rich (and ﬁerce) history in Toronto and across Canada. This statue is a wonderful tribute to Mr Wood (Aug 25 marks the 200th anniversary of his return to Toronto after his “exile”). We need more positive stories about great artists such as Del and those who help shape our community. Get out to the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives in Toronto; they have a priceless collection of items from our past. Ian Macdonald Toronto, ON

comment I love the Alexander Wood statue [“True to Form,” Xtra #725, Aug 9]. It is a unique piece of sculpture in the Village. I want it to stay where it is, and I will fight any idiot who wants to remove it. I did not know the history of who built it. Now I want to thank Del Newbigging for creating it and I thank the BIA for putting it right where it is: the original home of Alexander Wood. Alexander St and Wood St were named after him. The statue was worth every penny that it cost for the attraction it has with people who love looking at it. Through this statue we are connected to a piece of gay Toronto history. That’s worth a lot more than the price of the statue. —Joe Toronto, ON To comment, go to xtra.ca.

Vandalized boxes THIS DEMONSTRATES ONCE again that gay marriage doesn’t exactly promote tolerance towards LGBTQ people and therefore doesn’t save lives [“Vandals Target

M O U N TA I N , M O L E H I L L . Sorry — can’t get excited about this. Now boxes get vandalized as well, like the Sun and even Canada Post. Religious tracts in a couple of locations and missing display copies are thin gruel for a “story.” Anyway, we should be moving to paperless publication. Start phasing out the boxes. I can download a PDF and haven’t picked up the tree-ware in years. Think of the distribution costs you’ll save — and the forests. Alejandro Toronto, ON

The Public Studio VELASQUEZ SAYS, “I CARRY 500 years of colonialism in my face, my hands, my body, every day. That . . . really defines the work that I want to do,” [“Going Public,” Xtra #725, Aug 9]. Okay, but you’re alive and well and living in a first-world country. Many of the aboriginals of South America didn’t fare so well. Stop your whining. My people suffered hundreds of years of oppression and have borne it with dignity and a stiff upper lip while working to better themselves. We don’t try and cram it down your throats trying to score cheap political points or drive in sympathy business. Appalling. Alma Eiredh Fort Frances, ON IT DOES GET TIRING. Colonialism, imperialism, warfare and human sacrifice were endemic to the Americas, like the rest of the fucking world wherever humans happen to be. It’s time to give up the idea that this stuff started 500 years ago when it has existed throughout history and across geography. PreColumbian history in the Americas was violent and repressive, just like in the rest of the world. Yes, there are problems remaining from European conquest of the Americas, but this was only the latest. The Moche and the Aztecs murdered millions. The Mayans caused environmental collapse. It wasn’t exactly all eco-friendly lesbian-positive pacifism before Columbus showed up with his plagues and bullets. Nadine Oberman Toronto, ON

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XTRA! AUG 23, 2012

noteworthy › updates › ephemera

Xcetera SISTER ACT

GOLDEN GAYS TIKI-TOKI.COM

BUZZ

Compiled by Jeremy Feist

TOP 5

24th

stories on xtra.ca in July

1 2

Put your best blowjob forward Xtra staﬀ Ontario’s new position on HIV prosecutions a ‘betrayal’: activists

Now that the Olympics are over and we don’t have to pretend that we care about them for another four years, The Examiner has tallied the score for Team Gay, the ﬁctional group made up of the Games’ openly queer competitors. Out of the 23 out athletes who competed, 10 received medals, placing them ahead of such countries as Mexico, Ireland and the Czech Republic. Suck it, countries that actually exist.

Marcus McCann

3 4 5

The risks of being bisexual Bradley Turcotte Remembering Kyle Scanlon Christin Scarlett Milloy

Xtra to livestream Toronto Pride parade Xtra staﬀ

BAD MEDICINE

Doctors fail to inform trans man he has breast cancer The practices of a New York City hospital are being called into question after doctors neglected to inform a transgender man of his breast cancer. Doctors ordered the mammogram but never bothered to tell the man a lump in his breast was cancerous. Granted, this may just be the opinion of someone with no medical training, but you should probably tell your patients when they have cancer.

Team Gay ﬁnishes

SAN FRAN CHURCH SAYS ‘NO DRAG QUEENS ALLOWED!’ Drag queens are big philanthropists in the gay community and have spearheaded many a fundraiser, yet San Francisco’s Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church has banned them from its premises. The ban comes despite the fact that numerous drag-queen-hosted beneﬁts have been held in the church to raise money for recovery groups in the area. Strange, considering Catholics worship a guy known for wearing long, ﬂowing robes.

POLL RIDING

Bareback porn = unprotected sex? 96%

have watched bareback porn

30%

do not enjoy watching bareback porn

Opponents of bareback porn claim that it inﬂuences people to have unprotected sex. But does it really? Very rarely. In a poll of 1,000 gay men, FS magazine found that only seven percent claimed that watching bareback porn led to their going raw.

69%

enjoy watching bareback porn

have never watched bareback porn

of people who have watched bareback porn say it encouraged them to have unprotected sex

USA 104 medals

CANADA 18 medals

TEAM GAY 10 medals

TEAM GAY’S MEDAL BREAKDOWN Seimone Augustus Gold, American women’s basketball team Megan Rapinoe Gold, American women’s soccer team Carl Hester Gold, British equestrian team Marilyn Agliotti Gold, Dutch women’s field hockey team Carlien Dirkse van den Heuvel Gold, Dutch women’s field hockey team Maartje Paumen Gold, Dutch women’s field hockey team Kim Lammers Gold, Dutch women’s field hockey team Judith Arndt Silver, German cycling team Edward Gal Bronze, Dutch equestrian team Lisa Raymond Bronze, American tennis team *The numbers are fudged slightly, as four winners are from one field hockey team.

ON OUR GAYDAR

WHICH CATWOMAN IS THE BEST LESBIAN?

Recently, The Village Voice’s Michael Musto wondered whether Anne Hathaway’s Catwoman (from The Dark Knight Rises) is a lesbian. Personally, our vote is a resounding yes, but the real question is, out of all the Catwomen ever portrayed onscreen, is she the best lesbian? We did a comparison to see how she stacks up.

HALLE BERRY Catwoman (2004): Let’s all just pretend this movie never existed, m’kay?

LEE MERIWETHER Batman (1966): Pretty good, but severely out-gayed by everything else in the movie.

JULIE NEWMAR Batman TV series (1966-1967): She was in the original Batman TV series, which gave us the Batdance, so clearly she’s got a little bit of gayness in her.

EARTHA KITT Batman TV series (1967–1968): She sat on a throne of pussy (cats). How wide does she need to kick the closet door open?

MICHELLE PFEIFFER Batman Returns (1992): Strong, sexy and probably the sharpest dressed of them all, but she’s just edged out of the top spot.

ANNE HATHAWAY The Dark Knight Rises (2012): Purrr-fection! Congrats on your Sapphic victory!

BREAKING NEWS › THIS JAMAICAN IS NOT CELEBRATING › GAY UNITED CHURCH MODERATOR SPEAKS › I WANT YOUR LOVE BOASTS LOTS OF GAY SEX › NATIONAL POST DONATES MONEY FROM TRANSPHOBIC AD › GAY BC JUDGE WINS HERO AWARD › BLISS INTERRUPTED MORE AT XTRA.CA

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XTRA! AUG 23, 2012

dispatches › issues › opinion

Upfront COMMUNITY NEWS

I HAVE SUCH A PASSION FOR THE UNITED CHURCH AND I KNOW WE ARE FACING SUCH CHALLENGING TIMES.

Newly elected United Church moderator Gary Paterson › 8

EDUCATION NEWS

The Barn door closes Andrea Houston AFTER MORE THAN 20 YEARS IN BUSINESS, Toronto gay club The Barn/Stables has cleared its dancefloor one last time. General manager Russell Palloo, who has worked at the bar for five years, says it’s time for The Barn to take a bow. The bar hosted a farewell party on Aug 8. “The Barn is closed for good,” he says. “It has come to a point where it has had its run. Unfortunately, it’s not something we can actually market anymore. The places where people go out have changed, their desires have changed, and unfortunately, The Barn is not something that can keep up with those desires anymore.” Toronto has many choices for gay folks looking for a night out, and Palloo says The Barn had a difficult time competing for partiers. College Night on Wednesdays has always been a moneymaker, but the weekends just were not profitable, he says. “This is not the environment people want to go out in . . . It would need significant, significant, renovation in order to keep up.” He would not say what the cost would be to update and renovate The Barn. Although the bar is closed, the property has not yet been sold, he says, noting a local person is currently negotiating a deal to take over the business. The prospective buyer is interested in reopening the space as a nightclub. Palloo, who has been at the reins since The Barn reopened in 2007 under its current owners, expects the deal to be finalized in the fall. He hopes to stay on and manage the business when it opens under new ownership.

Anna Penner and David Udayasekaran are developing a sex-ed resource for queer youth. ELAH FEDER

Bolstering sex ed Planned Parenthood says provincial materials lack crucial queer content Elah Feder

The Barn hosted its final event on Aug 8. ANDREA HOUSTON

“I was a patron of The Barn for years,” he says. “I am sad to see it come to an end because it is a landmark in our community, but at the same time, as a business person and a patron, I’m happy to see it go out with dignity.” He says he is heartened knowing a future hotspot will replace The Barn. The new club will not bear the same name. “There’s been strong reaction already from the community,” he says. “People are sad to see it go, but it’s not the end for the actual space. People are happy to hear there will be something in its place.” The Barn first opened in the 1980s, Palloo says. The nightclub then closed in 2004 after its original owner, Janko Naglic, was found dead in his Davisville-area home on Oct 27, 2004. The death led to a homicide investigation and, eventually, a murder trial. The Barn reopened on Halloween in 2007. Inside The Barn, staff added a moving tribute to Naglic; his black-and-white portrait now graces the mantel of the first-floor fireplace. In 2008, after a month-long trial, a jury acquitted Ivan Mendez-Romero, Naglic’s long-time lover.

WHETHER IT’S THE GAY TEEN ASSURED that condoms are the best way to prevent pregnancy or the trans girl who isn’t given the tools to cope with puberty, many queer and transgender youth ﬁnd sexual health education to be an exercise in frustration, the place in the school curriculum where their experiences are perhaps most blatantly excluded. Over the coming school year, however, Anna Penner and David Udayasekaran, of Planned Parenthood Toronto, will work to make sex ed just a little bit queerer, by developing a resource with and for queer youth. “What we hope to achieve is a resource that queer and trans youth can look at and think, ‘This is relevant to me,’” Penner explains. It could be a zine, a video, a poster — they’re leaving that up to the youth who get involved. “This project, at least for me, is quite personal,” says Penner, who recalls being told in sex-ed lessons, “You will go through puberty. You are going to start being attracted to boys.” She was then taught how to use a condom. When events didn’t unfold as promised, Penner found she had no resources on which to fall back. As she and Udayasekaran gear up for the project launch, they’re asking others to share their bad sex-ed stories. They’re interested not only in the classroom, but also in youths’ experiences with medical health providers and other adults who interact with and educate youth, and the stories have started to come in. One student reported being asked on a quiz whether he or she would be attracted to a) men or b) women upon reaching adulthood (and yes, there was a right answer). They’ve also heard from several young

women who were advised by doctors that they didn’t need Pap tests unless they had sex with men (Planned Parenthood Toronto, in fact, is involved in a campaign encouraging queer women to get the tests). Most complaints, however, don’t seem to be about bad information, but an absence of information. The two say there are, of course, serious consequences to the systemic exclusion of queer youth, and these extend beyond the oft-discussed issues of depression and teen suicide. In their Toronto Teen Survey,

WHAT WE HOPE TO ACHIEVE IS A RESOURCE THAT QUEER AND TRANS YOUTH CAN LOOK AT AND THINK, ‘THIS IS RELEVANT TO ME.’ — Anna Penner, Planned Parenthood Toronto Planned Parenthood found that pregnancy rates are higher among queer youth than their peers, consistent with other research. According to their report, youth cited denial (eg attempts to prove that they are straight) and pressure to be straight among the causes. Michael Erickson, a teacher with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), believes the board has one of the strongest equity policies in the world, but at the same time, he agrees there are major gaps in current sex education. “It is not uncommon for a student to go through 12 years of school and not have

gay and lesbian sex properly explained or have the risks or beneﬁts taught,” Erickson says. In some cases, it may not even be mentioned. Ontario might have been in a very different place had the provincial government stood by a revised curriculum it released in early 2010. “The new curriculum we almost got was really amazing,” says j wallace, former GSA equity facilitator at the Halton District School Board. The revised curriculum included relatively detailed discussion of gender and sexual diversity. “It’s not perfect, but it was a huge leap from what was written under Harris in 1998,” wallace says. Following backlash from some religious groups, however, the government backed away from the revisions, and the interim edition now posted on the Ministry of Education website is a thoroughly gutted version of the original 2010 document. Gender identity and sexual orientation remain only as passing mentions, embedded in longer lists of the types of diversity that must be respected. Even all references to genital anatomy have been removed. Despite this, Erickson knows of teachers doing very cutting-edge work, though he thinks they’re the minority. “Teachers, at the end of the day, do care about their students,” he says, “but we don’t always have the tools we need to do our job with excellence.” Erickson was one of the lead authors on the TDSB’s homophobia and heterosexism resource guide released last year. Still, he thinks most teachers would welcome additional resources, both to educate themselves and to pass along to their students. Penner and Udayasekaran are excited about getting started. “We’ve already had people emailing us saying they want to be part of our Youth Advisory Committee . . . and offering to help out if they can’t be part of the Youth Advisory Committee,” Penner says. They’ll hold their ﬁrst meeting in September. In the meantime, they’ll be accepting your sex-ed stories at the Queering Sex Ed Facebook page and through #badsexed on Twitter.

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XTRA! AUG 23, 2012

FINAL BALLOT

Gay minister is new United Church moderator Gary Paterson emerges victorious after five rounds of voting Bradley Turcotte REVEREND GARY PATERSON OF ST Andrewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s-Wesley United Church in downtown Vancouver was elected moderator of the United Church of Canada at the 41st gathering of the General Council, held at Carleton University Aug 16.Â Paterson was one of three openly gay candidates among 15 hopefuls vying for the position of moderator, along with Reverend Arlen John Bonnar, nominated by Montreal Presbytery, and Reverend Sally Boyle, nominated by Edmonton Presbytery and the Alberta and Northwest Conference. The United Churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s General Council meets every three years, at which time a new moderator is elected. The moderator presides over the councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s meetings and acts as the churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spokesperson. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am so humbled by the trust and the responsibility that you have placed in my hands, and yet I also know that I am simply one person and therefore the trust is in our hands,â&#x20AC;? Paterson said in his acceptance speech. The newly minted Right Reverend Paterson then

invited his partner of 30 years, Tim Stevenson, to join him onstage. Stevenson became the ďŹ rst openly gay minister ordained by the United Church of Canada in 1992 and currently serves as a Vancouver city councillor. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have such a passion for the United Church, and I know that we are facing such challenging times,â&#x20AC;? Paterson continued. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always been struck by the fact that when the risen Christ appeared, even the ones who knew him really well didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t recognize him at first, which says that we may not recognize what a resurrected church may look like.â&#x20AC;? The eight-day event was led by outgoing moderator Very Reverend Mardi Tindal. In addition to the election, votes were taken on several motions, including the decision to uphold a boycott of products produced in Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and a vote that would see the inclusion of aboriginal elements in the churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s official crest. Nominees were given ďŹ ve minutes each to address the 350 voting members of council Aug 13.Â Bonnar stressed the

Gary Paterson was one of three openly gay ministers contending for the position of moderator of the United Church. He emerged victorious after five rounds of voting. COURTESY OF GARY PATERSON

need for togetherness and fairness, saying that each member of the congregation should be allowed to speak, but they should also take the time to listen. Boyle recounted the story of a woman in 1950s Saskatchewan who was forced to uproot her shack and 12 children to be closer to the newly implemented electrical grid. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Revolution means to change, to hope, peace and celebration. That, my friends, is what I believe is the job of all of us. To transform our communities wherever we are. It is our job to look outside our doors and to see that which needs desperately to be changed. I am prepared to begin a revolution,â&#x20AC;? Boyle said.Â The 41st General Council saw a record number of ministers contesting the top position in Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest Protestant denomination; the previous record was nine in 2000.Â To be elected moderator, a candidate must receive 50 percent of the vote plus one. If a majority vote is not cast, a process of elimination is implemented. The candidate who received the least number of votes is excluded from the subsequent ballot and the process is repeated until a majority is achieved.Â Boyle did not move past the first round of voting. On the second, Bonnar was eliminated. Paterson defeated Reverend John Young on the ďŹ nal ballot.Â Paterson began his new role Aug 18, stepping into a three-year, full-time job that garners a yearly salary estimated to be between $119,000 and $135,000.Â A voracious reader, Paterson worked an ee cummings composition into his acceptance speech, saying, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We thank you, God, for most this amazing day.â&#x20AC;? For Xtraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interview with Gary Paterson, go to xtra.ca.

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HIV/AIDS

Ontario attorney general snubs HIV group A LETTER FROM A TOP GOVERNment official conﬁrms that Ontario has halted discussions with a coalition fighting to reduce the use of criminal law in HIV-nondisclosure cases. The letter, from Mark Leach, acting deputy attorney general, to the Ontario Working Group on Criminal Law and HIV Exposure (CLHE), says that the province will wait until the Supreme Court of Canada releases its decision in R vs Mabior before resuming work with the group. The Mabior case was argued before the Supreme Court in February. The decision is likely to be released later this year. But the case has been in front of the Supreme Court since at least December 2010 — well before the province began working with HIV activists on this ﬁle. At the centre of Mabior — and of the work of the CLHE — is the legal obligation of HIV-positive people to disclose their HIV status before having sex. The Supreme Court is considering the impact of condom use and low viral loads, which greatly decrease the risk of transmission, on criminal prosecutions. This is the latest in a string of erratic moves from the ministry. In 2011, the Province of Ontario won the right to intervene in Mabior before the Supreme Court, only to withdraw from the case before it was heard. — Marcus McCann

Government ideology affects AIDS funding AFTER SIX YEARS OF CONSERVative rule, it’s no secret that the grant regime that funds many Canadian non-governmental organizations is becoming stricter. The most recent target, it seems, is the Canadian HIV/ AIDS Legal Network (CHLN). The government has made no secret of its agenda. When asked about cuts to environmental groups, Prime Minister Stephen Harper replied, “If it’s the case that we’re spending on organizations that are doing things contrary to government policy, I think that is an inappropriate use of taxpayers’ money, and we’ll look to eliminate it.” The CHLN recently sent a funding proposal for 20 projects to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), totalling about $700,000 worth of funding — as it has done for the past six years. Its proposals received strong reviews from PHAC bureaucrats, CHLN executive director Richard Elliott says, but he started to get worried when the health minister asked to look at the group’s application. Even so, Elliott didn’t see any reason the CHLN’s funding would be withheld. He was wrong. Only a third of the CHLN’s funding was approved, and 16 of its 20 proposed activities were axed. The reason? “It was unclear from the details provided in the proposal whether the resource would be used for advocacy purposes, which is ineligible for funding,” reads PHAC’s response, which was provided to Xtra. — Justin Ling For more on these stories, visit xtra.ca.

XTRA! AUG 23, 2012

JOB OPPORTUNITY Daily Xtra Editor-in-Chief Dailyxtra.com, a new website to be launched this year by Pink Triangle Press to replace xtra.ca, needs an editor-inchief who will develop and lead a team of reporters, editors and video producers located in multiple cities. Possessing exceptional people-management skills and strong editorial judgment, you have a proven track record in recruiting, managing and motivating a successful team of journalists and content producers. Guided by our mission, you will grow our online audience of 1.5 million with an engaging mix of information, analysis and entertainment that will turn casual browsers into daily visitors. You will expand international content and create engagement opportunities for an international audience. You have an exceptional understanding of social media and will harness their power to create and promote content. Experienced in digital platforms, you can produce engaging and entertaining multimedia journalism that includes written, video and audio stories, podcasts, slide-shows and interactive graphics. You will train and lead Daily Xtra journalists to use these and other resources to engage visitors and readers with varied forms of storytelling. To read the full description of this position and details on how to apply, visit the Jobs section of xtra.ca.

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COVER STORY

Why it’s hard to know whether crime is rising in Toronto Andrea Houston

t was over in a matter of seconds. As he crossed the Glen Rd footbridge near Sherbourne St on the evening of July 26, Blake Michael Ellis heard footsteps behind him and then two men attacked. He felt a grip on his throat and his attackers shouted “fag” and “queer.” “Frantically, I started emptying my pockets, giving them whatever I had,” Ellis says. “One took it all and the other got me on the ground and started punching and kicked me in the head. The attack was over pretty quick. I blacked out for a little while.” Ellis was taken to St Michael’s Hospital, where he called police. He later provided a statement, describing the fear and humiliation he felt in that moment. He is still shaken by the attack. Toronto doesn’t feel as safe as it once did, he says, and he now thinks twice about walking home alone at night. He is not alone. In less than a month, Toronto’s gaybourhood and its surrounding areas have become ground zero for such attacks. Some stories have surfaced on social media; others have emerged through the gossip grapevine. Two other men who were recently attacked within days of each other near Church and Wellesley streets have declined to speak to Xtra. One was allegedly hospitalized. It is not known whether either went to police. The stories are all remarkably similar: a group swarms unsuspecting people, using physical violence and anti-gay slurs before stealing phones and other valuables. David Wootton, manager of the Church Wellesley Village Business Improvement Area (BIA), says he has heard the stories of increased crime in the neighbourhood and worries residents

no longer feel safe. A video sent to Wootton in August — which has since been removed from YouTube — showed a woman being attacked and robbed by a group at Church and Alexander streets. Toronto Police Detective Sergeant Kevin Guest says police recently made 11 arrests following a rash of attacks and robberies in the area. “Their modus operandi is all pretty much the same,” Guest says. “A group swarms people leaving nightclubs, people who are texting and using their smartphones. One person distracts the person, maybe throws a punch, while someone else picks up the dropped phone.” Guest says police have increased ofﬁcer patrols in the area, and none of the arrests are being investigated as hate crimes. “[They’re] looking for people using their phones. None have been marked as hate crimes. They seem to be targeting both men and women.” This contradicts those who have come forward to Xtra, including another incident on July 25 around 10pm near Church and Yonge streets. Zach says he believes he was targeted because he is gay. He and a friend had just left the 519 Church St Community Centre when they were swarmed by a group of three or four youths. Zach, who did not report the incident to police and requested that his last name not be used, says his attackers yelled “faggot” as they swarmed him. The two had bought frozen yogurt and were sitting on a bench on Wellesley St. “The next thing we know, really out of nowhere, we were swarmed. Just surrounded, one after another after another. So we were trapped on this bench. I started yelling, ‘Get out of my face! Go away!’ They just became tighter and more aggressive.”

For a brief moment, the attackers were distracted. “We took that opportunity to get away. We just ran. We jumped down a wall. We ran down Wellesley. They started running after us.” Zach says he tried to stop a police cruiser. “They wouldn’t stop. They wouldn’t do anything . . . [The officer] just smirked and kept on driving.” After police drove away, he saw the group again across the street. “They were at the crosswalk yelling, ‘Faggot! Faggot! Faggot!’ I have been around forever and I have never experienced anything like that ever. That was hate.” While he isn’t interested in going to police, Zach says, he wanted to go public to let queer people know that recent attacks in the area may be hate-motivated.

tories of violent crime have dominated Toronto headlines this summer. An early-morning attack on June 28 on Dundas St left 22-year-old Daniel MacLeod in a coma. Meanwhile, bullets tore through the Eaton Centre food court on June 2 in broad daylight; one man was killed and another later died of his injuries after the gang-related shooting. On June 18, a man was killed in an execution-style shooting on the patio of an ice-cream parlour in Little Italy. On July 16, shots rang out at a Scarborough block party, leaving two people dead and another 22 injured. But is violence really increasing? While Toronto has one of the lowest murder rates in North America, statistics do show a rise in gun violence. This year alone, the number of shootings in the city is up 34 percent from 2011. However, according to Statistics Canada, hate crimes have been decreasing.

Of the 1,401 hate crimes committed in 2010, 707 were motivated by race or ethnicity, while police reported 218 hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation, of which two-thirds were violent. In Canada, Ontario has, by far, the highest number of reported hate crimes. Almost three years after the murder of Christopher Skinner, police have yet to ﬁnd his killers, keeping the case on a growing list of cold cases connected to Toronto’s queer community. Skinner was beaten, then run over by an SUV on the way home from his sister’s birthday party on Oct 18, 2009. James Dubro, a local crime writer and contributor to Xtra, covered the Skinner murder and says police are still actively investigating, “painstakingly,” with few results. Dubro has been documenting crime against Toronto’s gay community for about 40 years. He says that for 12 years the Village had a dedicated police foot patrol of more than 16 officers from 51 Division working around the clock, but that ended in 2001 because of budget cutbacks. Toronto’s Anti-Violence Intervention Strategy (TAVIS), launched in 2005 in the wake of the city’s so-called “Summer of the Gun” and the Boxing Day shooting of 15-year-old Jane Creba, has led to 72 officers being deployed to the city’s crime hotspots. Dubro says TAVIS has tied up resources and pushed much-needed officers out of Church and Wellesley and into other areas, such as Regent Park and Jane and Finch. “When we had the foot patrol there were less problems. Less visibility means more robberies, more attacks.” Overall, Dubro says, the city is generally safer for gay and lesbian people. However, he says, many clearly remem-

ber the 1981 bathhouse raids and still have a deep fear and mistrust of police. “There’s still a lot of shame in this community. If gay people are beaten up, especially if they’re beaten up by police, it’s very unusual for those people to press charges.” Ward 27 Councillor Kristyn WongTam says she is surprised and very concerned about the recent reports of gang attacks and thefts in the neighbourhood. “We were not made aware of this escalation of violence,” she says, noting that the latest swarming incidents could be seasonal. Wootton says some Church St businesses are also reporting incidents, and

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XTRA! AUG 23, 2012

That’s what people are talking about to me, that there are a lot of people not reporting in that area. That’s a real problem.” She also notes that if an assault happens, police don’t record the incident as a hate crime; it is recorded as an assault, and through the investigation, [hate motivation] will be added to the report. “If someone says the assault included hate-crime related comments, it will continue as an assault investigation,” she says. “The hate crime element relates to sentencing if it should get that far. So I have no numbers on which occurrences were hate crimes because most are entered as assaults.” Bottineau cautions, “Just because something happens in the gay village doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a hate crime. People are assaulted for their sexual orientation or their skin colour in every neighbourhood. Yes, it still happens, but I personally don’t think hate crimes are on the rise.”

I the description of the suspects is similar to the phone robberies. For the past couple months, the Wine Rack store at Church and Wellesley has been dealing with organized shoplifters. “Aggressive people enter the store, one distracts the staff, the other steals stuff. The Wine Rack has been doing a good job recording everything, but it’s been tough on them.” Wootton says the BIA works closely with police to identify problem areas in the Village, such as dark alleyways, parking lots behind buildings and unlit spots in Cawthra Park. “There’s been problems with drugs. We ask businesses to keep a record if they see anything.

Write it down, or else [police] won’t move on these issues.” Some strategies for tackling the problem were proposed at an Aug 14 meeting at Toronto police headquarters focused on issues affecting the queer community. New police LGBT liaison officer Danielle Bottineau, who recently took on the role after Tom Decker vacated the position almost a year ago, suggested holding a town hall to get feedback from community members. “Overall in 51 Division the calls for service are generally down this year between July 1 [and Aug 17],” Bottineau says. “That could be attributed to the fact people are not reporting crimes.

n Canada, four specific offences are recognized in the Criminal Code as hate crimes: advocating genocide, public incitement of hatred, willful promotion of hatred, and mischief in relation to religious property. Other offences, such as assault, mischief and theft, may be classified as hate crimes if the incident is motivated by hatred toward a particular group based on race, sex, sexual orientation or any other similar factor. For these types of offences, sentencing provisions allow for increased penalties beyond the usual range. A key part of all this, Bottineau says, is addressing the question of why people don’t report hate crimes or other crimes. Recent victims who spoke with Xtra said they did not report the crimes to police. Zach says he does not want to be identified mainly because he does not trust Toronto police. Another victim who suffered a similar attack in the Village told Xtra he “wants to put it all behind him” — the prospect of reliving the experience for officers, media, then later in court, was too horrifying. Bottineau says there are many reasons members of queer communities may be less likely to report crime, homophobic or otherwise. “There are still many people who are not out, and they fear that if they report the crime they will be outed by police. It may come out that they were even hanging out in the Church and Wellesley Village, which could out them. And there’s the fear that there may be some form of retaliation from the suspect.” Matthew Kofsky, public affairs coordinator for the Toronto Board of Trade, was one of the organizers of a vigil for Christopher Skinner in Cawthra Park.

He says he was gaybashed a couple years ago and like many others, did not report the crime to police. “I was just walking down the street, and this guy, who was walking with friends, just turned around and punched me in the face. It escalated to slurs and other [homophobic] remarks. I think it’s happened to everyone in the community at least once, maybe a few times, to varying degrees of severity.” Looking back, Kofsky says, he can’t remember why he didn’t report the attack to police. “I think if I was mugged I probably would have. That night I was out with friends, and I guess I just thought, ‘What’s the point?’ I didn’t want to go to a police station at 3am after having a few drinks. I just wanted to go home, so I blew it off. I didn’t think it warranted going to police.” He regrets not speaking up at the time. “I’m not in the closet. I came out about 12 years ago. Everyone at work knows that I’m gay. Everyone in my personal life knows that I’m gay. I’m educated, and I understand the importance of speaking up. I’m not a person of colour. I’m not trans. I’m not in poverty. I don’t have the same barriers as others. “I would hope that police treat everyone the same — gay, straight, women, trans, people of colour. I would hope that they do.” Andre Goh, diversity and inclusion manager at Toronto Police Service (TPS), says police are making an effort to reach out, be sensitive and make it easier for people to report hate crimes. Police know queer people are least likely to report, he says. In recent years Toronto police have been working to overhaul the way hate crimes are investigated, with an emphasis on reporting and reaching out to black youth in particular. “Getting the public to come forward has been our challenge. We know hate crimes are still happening to LGBT people in our city. Then someone says, ‘Show me the numbers.’” What’s holding people back? “Community, embarrassment, humiliation. For some gay men, if they are targeted, they feel they are not butch enough,” Goh says.

etween 2009 to 2011, the Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention (Black CAP) worked with Toronto police to develop ways to better understand hates crimes and strategies to increase reporting, says executive director Shannon Ryan. “People from the LGBT community, members of racialized communities, HIV-positive people, all experience stigma,” he says. “Often that stigma comes from police. Historically, these people have not had the most positive

relationship with police. So sometimes it’s a leap for people to go to that system. It’s hard to rebuild that trust with systems that have not historically protected us, and that’s being generous.” Ryan says hate crime statistics do not give an accurate picture. “The majority of hate crimes go unreported.” More police on patrol isn’t necessarily the answer, either, he says. Police and the City of Toronto should be focusing on public education and targeted outreach to communities that are disproportionately affected, he says. “It’s quite a demanding thing to ask people to report hate crime. It’s traumatizing in itself. You have to relive it, explain your story, often multiple times to multiple people. A lot of people just want to get past it, so they let it go. I wish more people understood the depth of this issue and how common hate crimes are. “In these days of criminalization of HIV and a criminal justice system that is gleefully pursuing charges against people living with HIV, why should they trust that system?” he asks. Toronto’s new LGBT liaison officer, who has been with TPS for 13 years, says she understands this. She says police are building back trust, being visible and forging relationships in the community. “That’s my priority.” Bottineau says police acknowledge that officers have not always been sensitive when dealing with members of the queer community. “I believe that is in the past and bridges have been made . . . All we can do is take it one day at a time. There has been lots of progress made between our police service and the LGBT community.” If people are more comfortable reporting crime to a queer officer, they can call her directly, she says. Since being elected, Wong-Tam has conducted two safety walks in the Church-Wellesley Village to identify unsafe areas. Representatives from TPS, Toronto Hydro, the city, the BIA, shelter support workers, local citizens and journalists have joined her on the walks. “I’m a ﬁrm believer in the Jane Jacobs theory,” Wong-Tam says. “If there’s broken windows and graffiti in neighbourhoods, it gives the perception that the neighbourhood is uncared for and neglected. That will attract criminal activity and poor social behaviour. When a neighbourhood is well kept, and there is pride in place, there are very clear civic-improvement strategies. People are more likely to use their neighbourhood. They become more protective of their area to ensure it stays beautiful, safe and clean.” Danielle Bottineau, Toronto Police Service’s LGBT liaison, can be reached at 416-808-7268 or danielle.bottineau@ torontopolice.on.ca.

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Acco mm od Resources ations Acco untants Banking Ba Apartments Ar t Ga Ad ult Adve rtising Busin ess &nkruptcy Bars & Clubslleries Ar t Supplies Agencies AIDS/HIV Butchers Ca Professio na l Orga Bicycles Bookkeep Ar tis ts Ar ts & Craft Co mm un ity rpet Cleaning Cater niz ati ons Busin ess ing Books & Magaziness Contrac tin Grou ps & Se rvi ceing Chat Lines Chee Su pp lies & Se rvi ce Crises Servig & Renovations Co s Co mp ute r Co ns se Shops Chocolatierss Dermatologces & Shelters Cross-okwa re Cosmetic ultan ts Co ns tru cti on Gardening y Drag Enter tainm Dressing Dating Se Services Counsellin Graphic De rvi g ent Events & Barbers He sig Framing &ces Dental Services alth & Person Services Grocery Gy Posters Fu Home Impro nal Care ms Hair rnitur Inv nves tmen vements & Repairs HoHealth Food & Nutrit Removal Hair Stylist e s ion Home Fu tels Illustrato rv ces Jew Leather Lift Servi rnishing ellerry elle rs Insura y Certified/R e Legal Services Lim& Jewellers rs Juice Ba nce Interior Designs Kitch chens Lawy & Storage egistered Massage ousine Services Lo rs Kit wye ers rs Personal TraMusic Optical ServiMeats & Delicatesse cksmiths Massage ns ces Optom iners Pet ind exdirec Ph ho Care tory.ca etrists OrgaMortgages Moving oto tog grrap Pet Sit ap h ers rss P ting & Board nic Plu lum um Publication he mb bin biing ng g Po liti ing Pet Sto Food Painting s Real Es tat ticcia c ian nss Pssy res & Supp R Re eccre ycch e Real Es tat rea h ho ati olo tio log lies on gi n ist sts Re s fl f fle P sy e Ag ex xo ycch olo c ho ge Cafes Sexu log en ents gy oth y Re no the ts Real Es Ps e rap apy tate Inv Ta x Se rv iceal Counselling Spa va tio ns & R Re ssto torrat ati on s Re staes tments Tree Servicess Te lec om mu nic Services Ta ke Ou t ion ati on s Tra & Delivery ura nts & Trophies Up Yoga ns Ta g Accomm po tto ho rta oin lst tio ery Web Sit g mmo od da at ati tion tio on HIV ns Accoun es Wedding n Trave l Agen cie s VR Re esso ou ur urces A unta tan s Women’s ntttss Adult Ap paart rtm Banking Ba ces ult Adve me en Services nts ts Arrtt Galler ert rtiisin rtis iing leries g Agen es A enccie Art Busin ess &nkruptcy Bars & ClubsG iess AIDS/ lie Artis S/ Bicycles Bo Supplies Professio na t sts ts Ar Butchers Ca rts ts okkeep & Crafts l Orga ts Co mm un ity rpet Cleaning Cater niz ati ons Busin ess ing Books & Magazines u ps ps & Se rvi ing Chat Lines Chee Su pp lies & Se rvi Contrac tin y Grou ce ce s Co p Ren no ov ute r Co ns se Shops Chocolatie s Crises Servig & Re va ati tio on nss Cookwamp rs ult ces an & ts Shelters Cro re Co ns tru Derm r ato ttr uccti atollog eticc Se tio ss-DressingCosmeti on og D ag S n ag En E te ttaiinm Gardening y Dr Dating Serviervices Coun u nsse elli nment Even llllin ing ng Graphic De ter g ts Fra & Barbers He sig F ming &ces Dental Services alth & Person Services Grocery Gy Po P st ste ters rs Ho om Fu me na ms e Im rni l mp i Ca Ha t tur ure pro rov ve em me en ntss & Repa re Health Food & Nu ir Removal Hair Sty e Inv ve esstm tm me irs irs Hotels Illu list en erv trition Home rv rviice c s ewelle ce ustr stra Leather Lift Se Furnishingss ato torss Ins tor el ry & Jew In I su ura e Legal Se Jew ran nce e Int elle Inter lerrs Certifi eriior rs Jui rvi io rtifie or De D sign ed d/ /R Re eg gis isttered Me ces Limousine Servi ce Barss K Ki Kitchen e s Law Music Op ats & Delica ces Locksmtch wy ye pti ers ticcal rs tessse tes ith en s Pet Care Peal Services Optometr ns n Massage rtga et ists Orga s Mortg ag ge es Movin es vi ving nic Fo d Pa Plu mb ing t Sit ting & Boarding g & Storag P inting rage Po Poliliti e Pet Stores od g ers ticcia ian rso nss Ps yc ho on Estat nal Trainers na TOeRO & SuppliesPe ReNT all Es log O’S ist t tat ate s GA e Ag Photograph Psyc ho AYge Reno en &nts BUva h oth LE ts Re SIN the SBal era tioES IAEs rrap ers ap ns S&DIR py Ntat y Pu t te P ub Resto e Inv ECrat Inve blilica ccaati TOion esstm Servi tio tmen RYs Resta on n ns s nt ts Re FALces Tak Tak Re a al L 201 l cre e urants & Ca Outt & Delive atio Refle Transporta1 Ou livery xolog fes Sexual on ry Tat T ooing Tax gy y Counsellingolo Tax Sites Wedd tion Travel Agencieatttoo ces Teleco Spa s Tree Servi Services ings Wome om mm mun mu n’s Services ces Trophieslec nic ica ati t ons Yoga Upholstery ion Web

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arts › entertainment › leisure

Out City IN THE

OUTDOOR EVENT

WE DIDN’T WANT TO CREATE A QUICK WAY TO GET OFF. WE WANTED TO MAKE AN ART MAGAZINE WITH A QUEER BENT. Jason Tranchida ›17

ON STAGE

Standing tall Stilt-walker brings his street art to BuskerFest Chris Dupuis

background noise or even the crowd,” Sipkens says. “I had a drunk woman KYLE SIPKENS ALWAYS HAS TO decide to wrap herself around my come out twice. Though new acquain- legs once, and there’s the occasional tances rarely bat an eye when they heckler. Mark’s been knocked over, find out he’s gay, revealing he’s a pro- but I’ve managed to survive without fessional stilt-walker typically elicits any serious accidents.” something between a slight guffaw and It was, however, an accident that jaw-dropping disbelief. Sipkens become a street performer “The most common reaction is ‘No, at all. Raised on a chicken farm in what do you really do?’” the Toronto Wyoming, Ontario, he was focused on artist laughs. “There’s a career in classical thea stigma attached to atre when he entered street performers that the University of Windwe’re homeless and dosor’s acting program. ing it out of desperaA movement teacher tion. But a lot of really was restaging a dance skilled artists choose to film she’d made as live ply their trade in pubperformance, and when lic spaces, because they Sipkens inquired about believe in art being aca role, she promptly cessible to the people.” informed him he’d be Sipkens (who cowalking on stilts. helms Stilt Guys with “It set the tone for Mark Lefebvre) will the rest of my career, Kyle Sipkens first tried bring his towering presbecause my first restilts when he was a ence to BuskerFest (he sponse was, ‘No, what student at the University stands six-foot-two in am I really doing?’” he of Windsor. MAX WEDGE bare feet). Now in its laughs. “But it turned 12th year, the event gathers talent out to be a really useful skill to learn. from around the globe for four days Nine years later it’s how I make my of unpredictable entertainment. Sip- living.” kens and Lefebvre’s act includes a Sipkens’ other period of underpair of nine-foot Mounties, a double graduate self-discovery didn’t go as Elvis and an oxymoronic duo of giant smoothly. Raised in a highly conserleprechauns. vative Christian family, he struggled “Working outdoors means re- with his sexuality until finally coming linquishing any control of lighting, out his first year away from home. “I knew who I was from a very young age, but I’d convinced myself it would pass,” he says. “In a world where the idea of being gay isn’t even a possibility, you’ll do anything to try to make yourself feel normal. I had to leave home to realize I was already normal and it was my thinking that was off.” He found a supportive peer group, but his family was considerably less understanding. When a cousin attending the same university outed him, the whole gang trucked down to Windsor to stage an intervention. “Having the family you grew up with yelling and crying and doing anything they can to turn you into something you’re not is definitely hard,” Sipkens says. “But it helped me to find the strength within myself to not need their approval. I hope they’ll come around at some point, but I’ve realized the onus is on them to change their thinking, not on me to change who I am.”

the deets Kyle Sipkens as Tiny (right) and Mark Lefebvre as Shorty. RAY AKEY/AKEYPHOTO.COM

SCOTIABANK BUSKERFEST Thurs, Aug 23–Sun, Aug 26 St Lawrence Market neighbourhood torontobuskerfest.com stiltguys.com

Emily Atkinson sings firebrand lesbian Tirsi/Theresa. JOHN LAUENER

A QUEER OPERATIC

triangle

A Synonym for Love highlights the timeless mystery of romance Lydia Perović

N HANDEL’S YOUTHFUL COMIC cantata Clori, Tirsi e Fileno, two castratos jostle over a ﬁckle soprano. Contemporary takes on the piece — and there are several recordings available, though the work is rarely performed this side of the Atlantic — are inevitably a very queer affair. Clori, the soprano, remains a woman, but her suitors, Tirsi and Fileno, must be sung by either two women (a soprano and an alto) or a soprano and a counter-tenor, the queerest of male operatic voices. In the Volcano Theatre/Classical Music Consort production that opened Aug 20 at the Gladstone Hotel, musical director Ashiq Aziz and stage director Ross Manson, together with the librettist Deborah Pearson, opted for the latter ménage, added the entirely new and contemporary libretto in English, and kept all the glorious Handel music. A Synonym for Love is about lesbian Theresa (sung by Emily Atkinson), straight yet very femininely voiced Phil (Scott Belluz) and bisexual Clori (Tracy Smith Bessette), who can’t decide between the two. “I am amazed at the opera voice and what it does to an audience,” Manson says during a break in rehearsals. “But sometimes I see traditional operatic

productions and get bored. Maybe it’s the récits in foreign language, which you have to read closely to follow the plot. Sometimes it’s the staging.” The most attractive productions, in his view, combine the music of opera with experimental staging and innovation in text — just the kind of work that the Underground/Opera series programmed by Aziz presents. “I was astonished by the ambition and spirit of Orlando Lunaire. When Ashiq asked me to consider working with the CMC on a ‘very obscure Handel cantanta,’ I was immediately interested.” For Aziz and the CMC, Handel is an old love. This new site-speciﬁc production comes with a set of unique challenges: as the singers move from room to room in the course of the drama, so do the instrumentalists. “For accompaniment it’s essential to have a keyboard, a plucked string instrument and a bowed string instrument. Our four harpsichords, of course, will stay put, but several other instruments move around,” Aziz says. Although the score occasionally mirrors the rustic nature of the original libretto, with woodwinds delivering brooks, birds and rustling foliage, Aziz will show how Handel’s music acquires a whole different life in an urban and present-day setting. “Deborah’s libretto is fully independent from the

Clori, Tirsi e Fileno text. And today’s audience won’t automatically think of a bird when they hear a recorder — those associations have not survived.” Some of the almost onomatopoeic sections, like the early nightingale aria, remain the same musically, but “will mean in this context something very different.” The program notes describe Tirsi/ Theresa, the lesbian lover, as a ﬁrebrand, a sure sign that Tirsi’s original mad, passionate arias will remain equally madly passionate. In many ways Pearson’s libretto is very much the Toronto of today, not the least thanks to the pansexual love intrigue with a same-sex couple at its centre. “For me there’s something delightfully politically subversive about making that change but not commenting on it,” Manson says. Though the sexes in the story may change, some things clearly don’t. “By the end they all sing that love is impossible. The 18th century, the 21st century . . . love is still as much of a puzzle now as it was then.”

the deets A SYNONYM FOR LOVE Runs till Fri, Aug 31, 7pm Gladstone Hotel 1214 Queen St W volcano.ca

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XTRA! AUG 23, 2012

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listings › ART & PHOTOGRAPHY The Transﬁguration of Our Disordered Passions Gifted artist Chris Fung unveils a brand-new collection of paintings. Runs till Sun, Aug 26. Ben Navaee Gallery, 1107 Queen St E. Free. chrisfungartshop.wix.com/ chrisfungartshop

Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris Seize the opportunity to see works from the legendary multidisciplinary artist up close and personal. Runs till Sun, Aug 26. AGO, 317 Dundas St W. $12.50–62.50. ago.net

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Fado Performance Art Centre and RDP present Tristan R Whiston and Moynan King’s multiplatform art project that utilizes sound recordings, video installation and live performance to map out Whiston’s own transition from female to male. Fri, Aug 24–Sun, Aug 26. Artscape Wychwood Barns, 601 Christie St. Free. performanceart.ca › continued on page 15

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XTRA! AUG 23, 2012

FASHION CARES

A legendary night Toronto at Night Ryan G Hinds

THE INSANELY STARRY LINEUP GUARANTEES A NIGHT THAT WILL BE TALKED ABOUT FOR YEARS. with a massively well-rounded event: fashion that encompasses local and international talent, huge production and having Canadian performers come together while ďŹ guring out the coordination with international talent to create the best possible event to raise the most possible funds,â&#x20AC;? Ferraro says. Not an easy task, but then again, ACT is known for digging in both hands. Fashion Cares is possible thanks to a huge and wonderful volunteer team, but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always been impressed with ACTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s outreach the other

listings â&#x20AC;ş

Igby Lizard performs in The Penis Project on Aug 31. â&#x20AC;ş continued from page 14

ART & PHOTOGRAPHY The Penis Project

FTER A LONG, LONG, LONG wait, Fashion Cares is back. The motherlode of Toronto gay events bursts back to life on Sept 9 with more star power than weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen in a long time. It has enough wardrobe to make Jeanne Beker jealous, and moneyed and activist gays alike will be contributing to good causes: the AIDS Committee of Toronto and the Elton John AIDS Foundation. ACTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s theme for the night, Glitter and Light, is one Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m intimately familiar with (and just wait till you see the ensemble Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m putting together), but if you worry that glamorous parties and superďŹ cial glitter overshadow ACTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important work, stop right there. This night is about celebration; as ACTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Adam Ferraro told me, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fashion Cares is about raising money for the work that we do but also celebrating the work that has already been achieved and how far our community has come.â&#x20AC;? The insanely starry lineup guarantees a night that will be talked about for years: yes, we are talking Elton John, Linda Evangelista, Janelle MonĂĄe, Dean and Dan, Scissor Sisters, Jully Black, Anjulie, Greta Constantine, Marty Rotman, Sky Ferreira, Billy Newton-Davis â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just for starters. Frankly, this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lineup obliterates previous yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, where attendees loved Jennifer Holliday or pre-â&#x20AC;&#x153;Teenage Dreamâ&#x20AC;? Katy Perry. Even Miss Shirley Basseyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s two performances of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Diamonds Are Foreverâ&#x20AC;? doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t compare! After three years off, such heavy artillery is not accidental. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We wanted to come back with something bigger and better and reincarnate Fashion Cares as something truly unique. It took some time to ďŹ gure out how we could benefit both ACT and EJAF

The second celebration of the phallus pays homage to and gleefully mocks all things cock. Curated by Michael Mackid and Amy Lou Harris. Dick-loving artists include Donnarama, Yury Ruzhyev, Laurel Morgan, Kelly Perras, Sister Lil Teste, Igby Lizard, Paul Ibey and more. Fri, Aug 31, 10pm. Buddies, 12 Alexander St. $7. buddiesinbadtimes.com

At the Same Time Elton John will headline this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fashion Cares.

364 days of the year. Ferraro reminds me exactly how targeted that outreach is. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s program, our positive-youth outreach programs; we have speciďŹ c outreach programs directed to trans and cisgender men. Our harm reduction focuses on safer ways of partying and trying to help people understand what their goals and needs are. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not only looking to do outreach in the downtown community; we aim across the city with programs geared towards empowering the queer community and ensuring there is adequate sexual health information thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s relevant to everyone.â&#x20AC;? Dealing with HIV/AIDS issues in 2012 is a world away from what it was like 30 years ago when ACT came on the scene, and as HIV rates continue their steady climb itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to remain educated, aware and equipped. ACT uses social media and multimedia technology to great effect, but one of the best things about this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fashion Cares is that ACT and the EJAF are looking to spread the wealth. The last Fashion Cares, in 2008, raised nearly a million dollars and hopes are high to top that this year, but where exactly is the money going? The answer is pleasantly surprising. â&#x20AC;&#x153;ACTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s programs and services need to continue to be up to par, but EJAF partnered with us to create a set of funding grants that can be accessed throughout all of Canada. Purchasing tickets means not only ACT is beneďŹ ting from this event, but AIDS service organizations and not-forproďŹ ts across the country can access funds as well.â&#x20AC;? From the little bubble of Toronto nightlife in which we sometimes get lost, it can be easy to forget that a big wide world exists outside of the 416. Think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not easy being HIV-positive in Toronto? Imagine what itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like in a smaller town or city. As for the night itself? Expect to be dazzled. Art and fashion from Fashion Caresâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 25-year history will be on display. Elton Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s costume archives are also sending over some standout pieces. The setting will be spectacular. Red-carpet entrance. Eeeeeeeveryone will be there. All this before the actual show, and artistic director Philip Ingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s set is already creating buzz. Nights like this become legend.

The Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives presents an international touring exhibition of queer photographers on the subject of coupledom. Featuring Zachary Ayotte, Steven Beckley, Colin Quinn and others. Runs till Sat, Sept 22. Various showtimes. Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives, 34 Isabella St. Free. clga.ca â&#x20AC;ş continued on page 16

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XTRA! AUG 23, 2012

NEIGHBOURHOOD

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A distinct do

â&#x20AC;ş continued from page 15

ART & PHOTOGRAPHY (CONTINUED)

Village salon ticks all the right boxes SeraďŹ n LaRiviere HAI R DR E SSE R . T H E WOR D CAN strike terror into the most valiant of hearts. Who among us has not skipped innocently into a posh-looking salon, placing our manes in the hands of an assumed professional, only to skulk out half an hour later looking like a refugee from the land they call Mullet? Take my current travelling companion (Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m writing this from the road). Last week she entered her local Supercuts possessed of a gleaming ebony do reminiscent of Jacqueline Onassis. Twenty minutes later: Jackie Chan. So when you ďŹ nd someone who respects both you and your hair, you stick with them. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s certainly been the secret of success for Glen Sanderson, owner of Distinct Hair Design. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want every person who walks through our doors to feel a sense of welcome and comfort,â&#x20AC;? Sanderson says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Even before they sit down in the chair, I want them to feel like weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re glad theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve come in.â&#x20AC;? Certainly the salonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dĂŠcor plays a large role in the spaceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sense of relaxed elegance: the walls and work stations are sleek and fuss-free, with a lack of clutter and product posters that is both refreshing and classy. At the back of the room are two sets of French doors, opening up to a secluded courtyard shaded by a beautiful lilac tree. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great place for both us and the clients,â&#x20AC;? Sanderson says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People can

Kirk J. Cooper

sit out there and process their colours instead of just sitting inside. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s peaceful and creates the feeling of a nice connection to nature.â&#x20AC;? It also dovetails nicely with the salonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s emphasis on ecology and natural alternatives. Sanderson is what one might call a practical conservationist, utilizing eco-friendly products wherever possible, while still maintaining a high professional standard. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sacriďŹ ce the quality of whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s walking out the door of this salon,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But there are many eco-friendly products that are every bit as good, or better, than the old standards. Our main colour line here is Schwarzkopfâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ammonia-free line, and we use a wonderful biodegradable shampoo called Sojourn.â&#x20AC;? Sanderson admits that his commitment to lowering both his personal and professional eco-footprint can occasionally mean a more slender proďŹ t margin. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If that costs me a dollar or two more, then so be it. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all citizens of the world, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to take ownership of it or weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to lose it.â&#x20AC;? The ability to make such decisions is deďŹ nitely part of the delight that he takes in owning his own business. A latecomer to hairdressing, he formerly worked as a wig stylist and window designer for The Bay, while moonlighting as co-host for the now-defunct Bar 501â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s infamous window shows and drag bingo in the guise of Mr Bunny LeBlanc. Giving up

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At the Same Time The Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives presents an international touring exhibition of queer photographers on the subject of coupledom. Featuring Zachary Ayotte, Steven Beckley, Colin Quinn and others. Runs till Sat, Sept 22. Various showtimes. Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives, 34 Isabella St. Free. clga.ca

FILM & VIDEO Pride in 3D Miss the parade because of the cottage? Fear not: the entire spectacle was ďŹ lmed in 3D fabulousness for all to enjoy every Tuesday in August. Cineforum, 463 Bathurst St. Free for Pride volunteers or marchers. reghartt.ca

Regretters Glen Sanderson likes it when clients leave happy. ADAM COISH

a regular salary â&#x20AC;&#x201D; with beneďŹ ts â&#x20AC;&#x201D; was a scary prospect, but the lure of entrepreneurial freedom was too strong to ignore. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I went back to school in my mid30s,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t looked back since. My goal was to own my own salon by the age of 45, and, well, mission accomplished!â&#x20AC;? Now just more than a year old, Distinct is doing a bustling business â&#x20AC;&#x201D; enough to keep Sanderson and his team of stylists busy ďŹ ve days a week (theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re closed Sundays and Mondays). They stay on top of trends and techniques with courses and seminars, and, miracle of miracles, seem to genuinely enjoy

working with each other. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a busy life, and Sanderson loves every hectic second of it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I really like the responsibility,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I like that when our clients leave happy, whether I was the stylist or not, I can take pride in that I created this business and created this atmosphere. That makes me very happy.â&#x20AC;? Distinct Hair Design is located at 97 Maitland St. See distincthairdesign.com or phone 416-551-2266 to book an appointment.

The Trans Film Screening Series presents this controversial ďŹ lm that depicts a dialogue between two Swedish trans men in their 60s who have made the decision to transition â&#x20AC;&#x153;backâ&#x20AC;? to women. TTC tokens and vegan and gluten-free food available. Mon, Aug 27, 6pm. William Doo Auditorium, 45 Willcocks St. Free.

HEALTH & ISSUES Bisexual Men of Toronto This peer-support group for bisexual and questioning men provides an opportunity to discuss the unique challenges and stigmas inside and outside the community. Tues, Aug 28, 8â&#x20AC;&#x201C;9:30pm. Sherbourne Health Centre, 333 Sherbourne Ave. Free. bimot.ca

LEISURE & PLEASURE LGBT Bowlerama

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Polish oďŹ&#x20AC; those balls and put on your shoes. An exciting, fun and sexy way to meet new friends. Thurs, Aug 23, 7pm. Thorncliffe Bowlerama, 45 Overlea Blvd. $20. getoutcanada.com

Scotiabank BuskerFest

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The 13th annual St Lawrence Market street festival returns with more than 40 astounding acts. Featuring the award-winning Alakazam, the Human Knot, Pancho Libra, the Lemon Bucket Orkestra and more. Thurs, Aug 23â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Sun, Aug 26. St Lawrence Market. Voluntary donation beneďŹ ts Epilepsy Toronto. torontobuskerfest.com

Fan Expo Canada Billed as one of the top three ComicCons in the world, the 2012 edition showcases an impressive lineup of international ďŹ lm and television stars. Featuring True Bloodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nelsan Ellis and Sam Trammel, The X-Filesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Gillian Anderson, Grindhouseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rose McGowan and many more. Not to mention, Luke Perry and Jason Priestley, who require no introduction. Thurs, Aug 23â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Sun, Aug 26, various times. Metro Toronto Convention Centre, 222 Bremner Blvd. $12.50â&#x20AC;&#x201C;204.99. fanexpocanada.com

Sex in the City

E SI N

R.G. COATES ESTATE LAW P.C. 120 Carlton Street, Suite 307 Toronto, Ontario M5A 4K2 Tel. (416) 925-6490 Fax (416) 925-4492 web: www.rgcoates.com email: robert@rgcoates.com email: valerie@rgcoates.com

1981

Help us ďŹ ght the targeting of our boxes! If you see an emptied window, please replace the missing display paper. To report vandalism or targeting please contact Craig Palmer; craig.palmer@xtra.ca

Got a case of body language? DJ Sumation spins along to a live sex show. Sat, Aug 25, 11pmâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;3am. Flash, 463 Church St. $5. ďŹ&#x201A;ashonchurch.com

Amateur Strip Contest Put your best ass forward for a chance to win a cash prize of $100. Hot and naked beginners litter the ďŹ&#x201A;oor and the stage as DJ Chris Steinbach turns out the raunchy beats. Flash, 463 Church St. ďŹ&#x201A;ashonchurch.com

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XTRA! AUG 23, 2012

IN PRINT For more listings, go to xtra.ca

Kevin Wong performs on Aug 24.

Running Group Pump up your kicks and join this weekly team for a 5-kilometre run. Sweat your ass oﬀ, beat the heat and get active. Limited spaces available. Sun, Aug 26, 9am. Church St Public School, 83 Alexander St. Free for Get Out members. getoutcanada.com

Erotic Embodiment: Dancing on the Ecstatic Path Three days exploring the art of Taoist erotic massage, full-body nonejaculatory orgasm, anal touch and more, with Phillip Coupal. Workshops include full nudity. Registration and introductory interview required. Fri, Aug 31–Sept 2. Awaken Studio, 270 Carlaw Ave. $295. phillipcoupal.ca

Intro to Reiki Healing Class Instructor Stephanie Norwich leads an informative class on the healing powers of Reiki, its history and application. Sat, Sept 1, 1–2:30pm. The World’s Biggest Bookstore, 20 Edward St. Free. thehealingteam.org

MUSIC Kevin Wong Live The gay pop artist and pianist celebrates the release of his third album, Songs from the Weekend, which examines the discrepancy between our expectations and the reality of Friday nights. Fri, Aug 24, 8pm. Trane Studio, 964 Bathurst St. $5. kevinwongmusic.com

Mass Appeal is on Aug 29 & 30.

Riddims of Resistance More than 20 queer and alternative artists join forces to beneﬁt the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural Women Against Rape. Featuring MC Jazz, Amai Kuda, Ill Nana, evalyn parry and others. Rock out for an important cause. Sat, Aug 25, 9pm. Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor St W. trccmwar.ca

STAGE Real Life Superhero Minmar Gaslight Productions presents Steven Jackson and Stephen English’s story of a writer wrestling with the concept of “superhero” after investigating the story of a man who, in the spirit of Clark Kent, puts on a costume and ends up murdered in a back alley. Runs till Sun, Aug 26, various showtimes. Winchester St Theatre, 80 Winchester St. $20. minmargaslightproductions.com

Mass Appeal Bill C Davis’s new play tells the humorous and heartfelt story of a bisexual seminarian dismissed from his studies who rescues an older priest who has lost his path. Wed, Aug 29 and Thurs, Aug 30, 8pm. Buddies, 12 Alexander St. 8pm. $20. buddiesinbadtimes.com

Avenue Q The story of Princeton, the naive but wellintended college graduate swallowed by the streets of New York, continues to entertain. Runs till Sun, Oct 7, various showtimes. Lower Ossington Theatre, 100A Ossington Ave. $49–60. lowerossingtontheatre.com

Hard artwork Headmaster magazine penetrates new ground Chris Dupuis THOSE OF US IN THE MAGAZINE industry have an unfortunate truth to face: print media is on the decline. As more people get their content online, circulation rates drop and advertising dollars with them. So naturally, my first question to Jason Tranchida and Matthew Lawrence, co-editors of the biannual art-sex tome Headmaster, is why, exactly, anyone would start a magazine right now. “It might be an exercise in futility since many publications are dying off,” Tranchida says. “But there’s also a section of the industry that’s evolving away from the traditional disposability towards a culture of collectability.” “If you’re putting something in print and expecting people to pay for it, they’ll want to have it around for a while,” Lawrence adds. “That’s why we made a conscious effort from our first issue not to be a current events magazine, but something that people would actually want to have on their bookshelf for years to come. Often when people first discover it, they’ll want to order back issues to have the complete set.” The pair met eight years ago while sharing a DJ gig in Providence, Rhode Island. Both had worked in creative fields (Tranchida in graphics and marketing, Lawrence as an arts writer and curator). Though they’d tossed around ideas for formal collaboration, Headmaster wasn’t conceived until 2010.

Now in its fourth issue, the project’s title begat its working process. Artists and writers are given “homework” assignments (as if from a strict headmaster), each one customized to the individual creator. Ranging from a vague sentence (“Draw six men’s ties”) to a hyper-speciﬁc investigative project (“Document a subculture unique to your hometown”),

Headmaster features both portraitbased art and cock and ass.

the results are then published in a highquality glossy format. “We make a point of doing studio visits with artists and spend a lot of time thinking about what kind of projects we want to assign,” Tranchida says. “Even when we lay out something very precise, we never know exactly what we’re go-

ing to get back. Obviously, we have an agenda. But we’re just as delighted to get something back completely unlike what we expected.” Though not every assignment is sexual in nature (things like “Document your level of security” crop up occasionally), the mag has a steadfast focus on the male body. Cock and ass appear liberally (both photographed and illustrated), intermingled with BDSMthemed stories and touches of softer, portrait-based work. There’s no denying the sexual bent as adult film stars toy with disposable cameras or someone is sent to document a fisting party. But is it porn? “We definitely love porn and work with it as a concept and a reference point,” Lawrence says. “But porn exists solely to get people off, and we’re not approaching things that way. People have mentioned they’ve gotten off to a specific photo series, but percentage-wise, I don’t think that’s the majority.” “If you want dirty pics, there’s plenty of that online,” Tranchida adds. “We wanted to make something that would make people stop and think, rather than just clicking from image to image. Putting it in ink adds a greater level of legitimacy. We didn’t want to create a quick way to get off. We wanted to make an art magazine with a queer bent, exploring issues of masculinity and sexuality we didn’t see getting covered elsewhere.” Available for purchase at headmastermagazine.com.

Toronto’s gay & lesbian news

XTRA! AUG 23, 2012

XPOSED

Anna Pournikova

I’m sure by now you know that hot stuff Bobby Valen has taken over the Henhouse from former owner (also a hottie) Katie Ritchie. The Henhouse hosted the Twatfest afterparty, which included people of all walks enjoying the twattiness of it all.

So I checked out The Flying Beaver Pubaret finally for open-mic night. And I gotta say, the crowd and the wings were both supoib. Also, Melissa and Kasha were so magically delicious I just wanted to Aunt Barb them all night, pinching their cheeks and smothering them in kisses till they cried.

Will and Matt were just two of the hot-mixed-nuts crowd that came out to the Henhouse for the Twatfest afterparty. Full disclosure: they pointed out their “girlfriends” to me before I took their pic. Aw, darlins, didn’t you know we’re not anti-breeder round these parts? “Queer” is for erryone.

Morgan did a lovely performance to Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” at the Twatfest afterparty dressed as a dirty-minded Mary Magdalene, which, let’s be honest, is the only Christian way to digest a biblical character these days.

It’s been ages since I’ve seen Babs Procon and Andrew Awesome, the DJ duo that keeps ticking like a well-oiled Timex. In fact, I saw Babs DJ later at the Queer West Fest and, man, does she have a serious concentration face when she’s deep in the mix. It’s inspiring and terrifying and oh so sexy. These two jerks have a new remix of Graph Gonzales out on iTunes called Awesome vs ProCon that’s worth hitting up, too.

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Natina and Natalissa are sisters. Important fact to mention. They are also babes. And they made me blush (which is hard) with their golden shower of compliments. Apparently, they’ve heard of and read this column. Go ﬁgure. I saw them from a mile away at the Queer West Fest ladies’ party at 1602 on Dundas West, cold maxin’ on the couch like it was their living room. The Queer West Fest has been around for a few years, turning the west end into an art, music and community event for one week each summer. It’s still a toddler of a festival, but it was mad cool to go into 1602 and see ladies DJing dance music and a proper mixed west-end crowd getting down. Also, this is Patricia. I kept calling her Roxanne by accident because she was feeding me drinks till I went blackout (a girl after my heart). Either way, they are both names of strippers made famous in song, so you just know she’s good in bed. And that’s how logic works, folks.

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XTRA! AUG 23, 2012

NIGHTCLUB LISTINGS 996 Queen St E. $5 before 11pm, $10 after. waylabar.com

WED, AUG 22

Amateur Night features up-and-coming comics. 8pm. The Flying Beaver, 488 Parliament St. No cover. pubaret.com Soul Sistas, with Michelle Ross and Jada Hudson, at 9pm; ForePlay, with Farra N Hyte, at 11:30pm; DJ Alex B spins in Tangos at 10pm. Crews & Tangos, 508 Church St. No cover. crewsandtangos.com

THURS, AUG 23 Church on Church opens with a big bash featuring DJ Alessandro and a drag performance by Triple XXX. 10pm. 504 Church St. No cover. Outlet is the new east-side electro night. 10pm. WAYLA, 996 Queen St E. No cover. waylabar.com

Mr Big, with DJs Dwayne Minard and BoyUK spinning house, progressive and techno. Hosted by Charles Pavia. 11pm. Smith, 553 Church St. $5 before midnight, $10 after. 553church.com

SUN, AUG 26 The Toronto Gay Football League’s Woody’s Wildcats host a league social at 3pm; Old School Show, with Georgie Girl and Michelle Ross, at 6pm; DayRama Show, with Donnarama and Daytona Bitch, at 9pm; Georgie Girl and Donnarama welcome Sofonda, Cassandra and D’Amanda Tension at 11pm. Woody’s, 465 Church St. No cover. woodystoronto.com

MON, AUG 27

FRI, AUG 24 Shag Retro Party, with DJ Cory Activate spinning blasts from the past. 10pm. WAYLA, 996 Queen St E. $5. waylabar.com Regiment Night brings out Scotsmen and kilt queens. 10pm. Black Eagle, 457 Church St. No cover. blackeagletoronto.com fly Campus: Back to School Special, with DJ Craig Dominic on decks. 10pm. fly, 8 Gloucester St. No cover before 1am with student ID, $10 after. flynightclub.com

Glitz & Glam!, with Carlotta Carlisle and Katinka Kature, at 9pm; Dirty Mondays, with Devine Darlin and Nikki Chin, at 11:30pm. Crews & Tangos, 508 Church St. No cover. crewsandtangos.com

For complete listings on the go, scan the QR code below or visit xtra.ca.

SAT, AUG 25 Put a Bird on It, with DJ Paul Petro spinning ’70s and ’80s tunes, and Laura Cowell putting birds on things. 10pm. Cold Tea, 60 Kensington Ave. No cover. POP Machine: Season Finale 2.0, with DJs Alessandro and Shane Percy spinning pop faves. 10pm–3am. WAYLA,

TUES, AUG 28

Varsity Tuesday presents So You Think You Can Strip? Hosted by Sofonda Cox. 5pm–2am. Remington’s, 379 Yonge St. $5 after 9pm, no cover with student ID. remingtons.com Mile High Tuesdays, with DJ Turt McGurt spinning top 40 and house. 9pm. Boutique Bar, 506 Church St. No cover. boutiquebar.ca

WED, AUG 29 Black Queer Youth provides a social space for black, multiracial or African/ Caribbean youth. 6:30–8:30pm. Sherbourne Health Centre, 333 Sherbourne St. soytoronto.org

THURS, AUG 30 Babes in Space in 3-DD is a sexy sci-ﬁ spectacular, with international headliners, circus and drag. 8pm. Revival, 783 College St. $20 advance, $25 door. babesinspace3dd.eventbrite.com Sports Gear Night encourages proactive boys to put on singlets, sweat socks, jocks and cruising kits. 10pm. Black Eagle, 457 Church St. No cover. blackeagletoronto.com The Smirnoﬀ Best Chest Contest, hosted by Sofonda Cox, Sasha Montenegro and DJ Mark Falco. Midnight. Woody’s, 465 Church St. No cover. woodystoronto.com

FRI, AUG 31 Dance Camp: Endless Summer, with DJ Mark Falco in the main room and DJ Pleasure in the Lounge. 10pm. ﬂy, 8 Gloucester St. No cover before 11pm, $10 after. ﬂynightclub.com

OCTOBER 18 U SOUND ACADEMY WITH SPECIAL GUEST: YOUNG EMPIRES TICKETWEB.CA, ROTATE THIS, SOUNDSCAPES, ROGERS.COM/WBO OR TEXT ‘TICKETS’ TO 4849. All dates, acts and ticket prices subject to change without notice. Ticket prices subject to applicable fees.

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Trash. A queer dance party with DJs Joe Blow and Sigourney Beaver. 10pm. Henhouse, 1532 Dundas St W. No cover. henhousetoronto.com

Pansexual Sex Party, hosted by Mandy Goodhandy, with DJ Todd Klinck. Strict “no touch unless invited” policy for consensual sex. No cameras allowed. 10pm. Goodhandy’s, 120 Church St. No cover with the phrase “I love Xtra/fab magazine.” goodhandys.com Bearracuda is hard at work for Labour Bear Weekend, with DJ Rob Ladic on decks. 10:30pm. Courthouse, 57 Adelaide St E. $10 advance, $15 door. bearracuda.com

SAT, SEPT 1 Castro Supreme shows off his porn money-maker, with DJs Unruly Twin, JJ Rock and MC Trishy spinning R&B, soca, dancehall, reggae and hip hop. 10pm. Pacha Lounge, 1305 Dundas St W. $20 advance. pachalounge.net Leather & Bear Night gathers fur and hide lovers the first Saturday of each month. Hosted by Steve Buczek. 10pm. Black Eagle, 457 Church St. No cover. blackeagletoronto.com Fruitshake Party, with DJ Quinces in the booth. 10pm. WAYLA, 996 Queen St E. No cover. waylabar.com Pitbull: Bears at Work, with DJs Jonny OC and Mark Falco in the main room and DJs John Caffery and The Robotic Kid in the lounge. Part of the Labour Bear Weekend. 10pm. fly, 8 Gloucester St. $10 advance, $15 door. pitbullevents.ca Homewrecker: The First Date, with DJs Shane Percy and Aural spinning house and electronic. 10pm–3am. The Annex WreckRoom, 794 Bathurst St. $5. theannexwreckroom.com

Castro Supreme performs Sept 1 at Pacha Lounge.

SUN, SEPT 2 Pitbull: Men at Sea rocks the boat party, with DJ Shane Percy steering the tracks. Part of the Labour Bear Weekend. Boarding at noon. 12:30–5pm. 8 Polson Pier (across the parking lot from Sound Academy). $40 advance, $45 ramp. pitbullevents.ca Eden at The Hoxton, with DJ Jeremy Khamkeo opening for DJ Manny Lehman and Nikki Chin performing as Eve. 10pm. The Hoxton, 69 Bathurst St. $20 advance. prismtoronto.com Go Hard presents exotic dancer Redickulous, with DJs Blackcat, Unruly Twin and Pleasure spinning for the Juicy Labour Day Weekend Blowout. Club 120 (formerly Goodhandy’s), 120 Church St. $10 with ﬂyer, $15 all night. goodhandys.com

Toronto’s gay & lesbian news

XTRA! AUG 23, 2012

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And when the reaching wind dances us apart -Dividing our hearts and ﬁngertips -And spills our light to form the twinkling of stars, Earth sighs and we rest; Peaceful, protected and adored. This proud dyke is dearly loved and missed by friends, family, partner Suza and wonder dog Alﬁe.

Please recycle this paper! Spiritual services HEALER. AUTOMATIC SPIRIT rescue medium coach. Age visitation teacher. Providing nurturing from family on the other side for men only.(Dougie May) 416-466-1444. tfrechette@rogers.com. Outcalls only.

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50 Queen St Belleville CHARMING BRICK CENTURY home in historical Old East Hill in Belleville, 2 hours east of Toronto. Built in 1896 and restored with modern amenities. 4,000 sq ft of living space with 11 rooms in total with 4 bedrooms & 3 baths. Parking for 4 vehicles. Would make an excellent B&B or gracious home for entertaining. $499,900 MLS®2123470 Elizabeth Crombie, Royal LePage ProAlliance Realty, Brokerage Sales Rep. 1-877-476-0096 elizabeth.crombie@sympatico.ca www.pictonhomes.com

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Cottages PRIVATE LOT $169,900 1&1/2 HRS FROM TORONTO NEAR ELMVALE/ORR LAKE; BUILT IN 1901;VAULTED CEILINGS;ORIGINAL LIGHTS; WOODSTOVE; NEW PROPANE FURNACE,SEPTIC & DRILLED WELL; 3 BEDROOMS; FULL BASEMENT; COUNTRY CHARM CLOSE TO GOLF, SKI HILLS, & BEACHES;CALL KAREN MATZ, RE/MAX GEORGIAN BAY REALTY LTD. AT 705-543-1387 PHOTOS- REALTOR.CA -MLS 20124142

SCHOOLHOUSE $229,900 1&1/2 HRS FROM TORONTO;4 BEDROOMS; UPDATED OPEN CONCEPT KITCHEN/LIVING ROOM;FLOOR TO CEILING FIREPLACE; NEWER VINYL PLANK FLOORING;HALF ACRE LOT;BACKS ONTO WATERFRONT PARK-5 MIN. WALK TO BEACH;CALL KAREN MATZ, RE/MAX GEORGIAN BAY REALTY LTD. AT 705-543-1387 - MLS 20121730 !

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of Xtra readers are more likely to visit a website as a result of an advertisement they have seen in Xtra than in the past Business space OFFICE FOR LEASE Professional oﬃce space available with kitchenette, 567 s.f., 65 Wellesley Street E. 2nd Floor. $1,750/mth. Call Dane, 905-337-0800

Homes for rent 3 BDRM + DEN Forest Hill STUNNING, FULLY UPDATED Apartment in 4-UNIT Boutique Bldg. 2 Baths. Reno’d Kitchen. Balcony. Parking. Close to Beltline, Shopping & TTC. Call Saul Merrick, Sales Repres., Forest Hill Real Estate,(416) 301-4911.

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COMMUNITY GROUPS & SERVICES Canadian Lesbian & Gay Archives (CLGA) Enterprise Toronto

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CONCRETE - CONTRACTORS G J MacRae Foundation Repair Service

Refugee & Immigration Law

PUERTO VALLARTA MEXICO BOANA-TORRE MALIBU Condo Hotel. Largest pool in gay Vallarta. Located by gay beach. boana@pvnet.com.mx Call 011-52-(322)222-099-9 Direct line Montreal: 514-800-7690 BOANA.NET

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SALES HELP DIET AND LIFESTYLE Center in South Etobicoke needs an enthusiastic person to work with customers in our store and on the phone. Permanent full time. Reply to this ad by email gethealthy@hacres.ca

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A crash course in kink Porndoggy Jeremy Feist

T HEART, ALL KINKSTERS are essentially just colossal nerds. Sexy, dirty, perverted nerds, but nerds nonetheless. To practise kink in your sex life requires a deep understanding of and passion for your type of play, in order to minimize potential risks. Safer sex requires all players involved to be aware of their own needs as well as the needs of their partner(s), so investing a little time in educating yourself, be it through workshops or literature, can save a lot of time and energy down the line. If you’re going to call your book The Ultimate Guide to Kink, you’d better be able to back that up with plenty of in-depth knowledge. The good news is that sex educator Tristan Taormino, Kink’s editor, delivers on the title’s promise, compiling an excellent, thoroughly researched collection of lessons on all things kink, ranging from proper needleplay technique to the psychological mindset behind edge play. Kink focuses a lot of its advice on the concept of safe, sane and consensual, the idea being that no matter what you do, and no matter how extreme, you need to be sure the lines of communication are always clear and present. This seems like a simple

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concept, and one most people should already be aware of, but incorporating this ideology into every aspect of the book ensures that beginner kinksters don’t accidentally drop the balls in the heat of the moment. The book is split in two, with the first half devoted to skills and techniques, while the latter half revolves around fantasies and philosophies. The first section is more accessible, despite being a touch more clinical and precise. Reading about flogging, spanking and proper fisting techniques — both anal and vaginal! — is

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entertaining enough, but the authors’ joy and exuberance makes it even more enjoyable. Furthermore, Katie Diamond’s illustrations are excellent, especially in Midori’s chapter on rope bondage. Granted, the chapter lacks the first-person experience that comes with actually practising this in real life, but it does provide some wonderful groundwork. The second half, focusing on fantasies and philosophies, isn’t quite on par with the first. Since the psychological aspects of kink are not really black-and-white, much of this section relies on the abstract or personal anecdotes, and at times, they’re either too general or too myopic. These chapters are intelligent and well written, but for the most part, they’re more theoretically interesting than they are informative. Oh well, that’s academia for ya. As an intro to BDSM and fetish, The Ultimate Guide to Kink is an excellent resource to have on hand, and hardcore kinksters would probably find it a fascinating read. Just remember: vanilla is nice, but it always tastes better when you whip it around a bit.

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You get the $200 in travel He gets to carry the luggage

Enjoy the freedom of a TD First Class Travel Card No expiry on TD Points.1 No blackouts or seat restrictions.2 Not just for flights. Complete flexibility. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to make the move to the TD First Class Travel Card. Ask us how. Visit a branch, tdcanadatrust.com/travel, or call 1-866-389-5808 to learn more. Apply by September 14th for $200 in travel upon approval.3

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TD Points do not expire as long as you are a Cardholder. 2Subject to carrier/space availability. 3Applies to new TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Accounts (Account) only. You must apply by September 14, 2012. The $200 in travel value will be awarded to the Account as a bonus of 40,000 TD Points (Bonus) upon approval. Limit of one Bonus per Account. Individuals who have an existing TD First Class Travel Account that was opened before July 23, 2012 (Existing Account) and that close the Existing Account on or after July 23, 2012 are not eligible for this Bonus offer. Other conditions apply. Offer may be changed, extended or withdrawn at any time without notice and cannot be combined with any other offer. ÂŽ / The TD logo and other trade-marks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank or a wholly-owned subsidiary, in Canada and/or other countries.