About our Contributors...
The Betty Pages - May 2016 Betty’s Corner
By Betty Desire, The Betty Pages
In The Mix
By Bridget Adams
Save Our City And now this
By Sandy Soderberg
But
By Kevin Walder
1 1
3 5 6
Miss Betty Desire has been entertaining anyone who would listen in Bellingham for over 20 years, and is proprietor of The Betty Pages, the monthly publication that you are reading at this very moment. It is her hope that your perusal of the Betty Pages will enrich your life one chuckle at a time. Writer Bridget Adams currently resides in Washington State but that is always subject to change. Lucky enough to be a full-time, if poor, writer, she is most likely somewhere in front of her computer with a cup of coffee. Lots and lots of coffee.
Baking With Betty
6
A Bibliography of Gay Film
11
Queer Film Historian Lyle Pearson has published in FILM QUARTERLY, SIGHT AND SOUND, INTERNATIONAL FILM GUIDE, FILMFARE, YOUTH TIMES, MANSHOTS, THE BETTY PAGES and ASIAN CINEMA. With a BA from Pacific Lutheran College (1959) and a MA from San Francisco State College (1968), he has taught at Western Washington University in Bellingham WA. His main interest is Indian cinema.
The Comics!
13
Staff Photographer John Phillip after 40+ years of television
Event Links
13
By Lyle Pearson
production engineering work John has settled down in Bellingham to semi retirement and is now revised his love of photography. His education touched on Theology, pre-med, law enforcement, fire protection engineering and film production. John likes to keep broad horizons. “Don’t Dream It, Be It” Naomi graduated Whatcom Community College with an Associates in Visual Communications - Graphic Design but prefers more hands on tinkering & random projects (of which she always has many still to finish).
Hot Meals Served Daily - Food Resources
15
GLBT Organizations (Whatcom & Skagit)
17
Stephanie Kountouros is a poly-queer femme who has been a Bellingham LGBTQ activist since 1996. She currently serves as LGBTQ liaison with the Community Advisory Board for the Bellingham Police Department, and on the Planning Committee for Bellingham Community Radio. She lives with her partner and her wife. É.F.K. O’Conghaile is a transgender organizer with particular focus on youth empowerment, transgender spaces, and homelessness issues. They are the Director of the Whatcom Queer Teen Shelter, and Facilitator for the Washington Gender Alliance support group in Bellingham
SparX helps Betty with - Baking with Betty
Sandy Soderberg A steward for the honor of cannabis. From activism in legislature and Farm Bureau to education in schools and public forum, Sandy speaks of common sense for the common good of the people and the plant.
Betty’s Corner
ings fasting sugar number was 93. My weight has dropped to 305 from 328 and other than little to no energy, and the soreness of my sternum healing I feel great. My daughter Pixie is religiously watching my diet to make sure it is heart healthy (which is no small task). Brandon is helping with errands and the running around I cannot do at this time and many friends have come to the aid of Miss Betty. Thank You to all of you for your love and understanding I am a blessed person to have all of you in my life. And thank you President Obama for the affordable care act without which I would have had to choose the less expensive treatment with medications that would have fixed nothing and severely limited my quality of life. On to Rehab! Don’t forget about Ski to Sea this month, I plan to walk in the parade again this year! And join me for Save our City VI Zombies vs. Survivors!
Betty Desire
In The Mix Bridget Adams
There’s a sense growing in the United States that scares me, Poppets. There’s a sense that Ted Cruz is a viable, saner, more palatable alternative to Donald Trump. Oh, Poppets, this is a road we must not go down. Now, I realize that I am probably not talking to that many Republican voters right now. That most of you are staunchly entrenched in the Hillary or Bernie camps. What scares me, though, are those of you who might be so firmly entrenched in their respective candidate’s camp that you’re also in the PUMA (Party Unity My Ass) camp. Don’t get me wrong – I understand it. We have had candidates shoved down our throats. We have voted for the lesser of two evils. We have been stuck with nominees who considered us afterthoughts, at best, and second-class citizens, at worst (and that’s within the Democratic party!). If your candidate doesn’t become the nominee, I really do understand how easy it would be to not vote for the other in November. Or to vote for a third, independent candidate. But here’s the truth – that is voting for the Republican candidate. Silence, in whatever form it takes, always empowers the oppressor. You can argue all you want, but the fact remains that not voting, or throwing away your vote simply to be able to stand there and say “oh, but I did vote!” is voting for the other side. Which brings me back to the opening paragraph – people are starting to see Ted Cruz as a viable, saner alternative to Donald Trump. And it’s making people believe that, so long as Donald Trump isn’t nominated in November, it’s okay to
be in the PUMA party. It’s okay to not vote for Hillary or Bernie, because hey, Ted Cruz may win, but it’s not Trump, so it’s okay! No. No, it’s not. Do not fall into this trap, Poppets. Cruz is calmer. He is more likeable. He’s friendlier – but do not mistake that for being nicer. Or kinder. Or saner. He wants to patrol Muslim neighborhoods. (http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/22/ politics/ted-cruz-muslim-neighborhoods/) He wants to keep Christianity and the 10 Commandments in the “public sphere”, completely disregarding the separation of church and state and the, you know, millions of nonChristians who live here. (http://www.ontheissues.org/Ted_Cruz.htm) He wants to outlaw a woman’s right to choose what she can do with her own body. (http://www.ontheissues.org/Ted_Cruz.htm) And he considers our very existence a “moral decay” and a “crisis.” (http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2016/01/27/3743336/cruz-gay-marriage-iowa/) Go ahead. Disagree with Hillary or Bernie. Argue, debate, fight, protest, volunteer. For God’s sake VOTE. But come November, put it aside. Even if your candidate didn’t win the nomination. Because Ted Cruz is not a saner alternative to Donald Trump. Just a quieter one. Until next month, Poppets, take care of you – and each other.
w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m
w w w. i s s u u . c o m / t h e b e t t y p a g e s
This has been an interesting two months for Miss Betty. Last month I let you all know about the “man on a bike” and shortly after I finished delivering the April Betty Pages on April 2, I went to the emergency room at St. Joesph Hospital in Bellingham. I thought I had walking Pneumonia. I figured they would prescribe some antibiotics and send me home with a slap on the wrist. I was wrong. They did an x ray of my chest and found out my lungs were clear, so they did and E.K.G. and a blood test and found out that I had experienced a heart attack. Who knew? They sent a small(and I do mean small) camera up an artery in my right wrist and into my heart to take a look at things, and found an artery that was 95% blocked. I was giver 3 options. 1) They could treat me with medications, this would relegate me to just puttering around the house, and wouldn’t “fix” anything. 2) they could try to put in a stint to open up the artery for better blood flow, but because of the position of the blockage it would have to be a perfect shot. Or 3) they could do open heart surgery and with a single bypass fix the blood flow to that area of my heart. I chose the bypass route. I should be good for another 15-20 years! Surgery was the 7th of April and I am now in the process of recovering which could take 12 weeks or so. The heart is fine but it takes awhile for your sternum that they cut through to get to the heart to heal. I have to say I am very impressed with the Cardiac unit at St. Joe’s. The Doctors and nurses are attentive and kind and my surgeon was very understanding of the freaked out 60 year old Drag Queen trying to wrap her brain around having open heart surgery instead of antibiotics. So with your consent dear reader I will bring you along with me as I venture into uncharted waters for me. Cardiac Rehab. I will say that my health has never been better. My blood sugar numbers are stable and lower than they have been in 20 years. This morn-
Betty Desire, The Betty Pages
1
your name and logo on the event poster. Response and logo needed before 5/1and a shout out if possible on all interviews and press releases done after we receive your response. SURVIVOR LEVEL:For a $75 sponsorship you will get all of the above plus the opportunity for your business to be”destination”during the game itself. This means we will have volunteers posted outside your business to direct traffic and provide the item each team needs to complete their objective. This has the added bonus of putting participants directly at your physical location. This level includes your logo on our event t shirt and on our Facebook and Event pages logo linked from the front page of our website (must respond by 5-1) an additional bonus your business will get a complimentary t shirt. APOCALYPSE LEVEL:For this $150 sponsorship you get the above as well as free shirts for your staff (limit 10) and a chance to be listed “presented by”next to the Black Drop and Bellingham Parks and Recreation on all event materials. You will also have a chance to display your banner at the event and table space for product or information about your business and the opportunity to help announce prizes on the day of the event (response and logo needed before 5-1) Contact us at blackdropcoffeehouse@gmail.com
The folks at The Black Drop Coffee Shop started “Save Our City Zombies vs Survivors” in 2010 and the event has grown larger every passing year. The idea was that a huge downtown-wide game of water balloon tag for all ages would be fun. They realized tag with a purpose, with people dressed up as zombies would be even more fun, so armed with the help of the employees, a few friends, and in kind donations from local shops like ModSock and Film is Truth - Save Our City was birthed. This year there will be t-shirts for sale and donations taken at the event and the profits from the t-shirt sales will be donated to Domestic Violence and Sexual assault Services of Whatcom County. The Black Drop will match the first 300 dollars in donations. One of the highlights of this event is being able to award prizes to the participants. The event is free and they wish to keep it that way so they are asking for help with prizes, gift bags, gift certificates and more. In return your business will get a huge shout out at the event itself as well as continued visibility through social media before and after the event as well as visual representation along with a prize level donation. Even just getting coupons for your business in the grab bags guarantees at least 300 people will have a reason to come visit your shop.
htt ov ps:/ h.g /www t l a e h .mental
Here are a few different levels of sponsorship available: VIRUS LEVEL:For a $25 sponsorship or a donation of coupons or merchandise for participant prizes, you will get a mention on the event page as a sponsor, and a shout out at the event itself,and a chance to include coupons or inserts in the participants grab bags.
“The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.” A.Einstein
ZOMBIE LEVEL:For a $50 sponsorship you will receive all of the above plus
w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m
w w w. i s s u u . c o m / t h e b e t t y p a g e s
Save Our City VII Seeking Sponsors
3
Get it where you want it! The Betty Pages is available on-line at www.issuu.com/thebettypages and in print at these fine local establishments. *Indicates our advertisers!
300 W. CHAMPION STREET, DOWNTOWN BELLINGHAM
A large selection of micro brews & hard alcohol Delicious lunch & dinner Menu Happy Hour 4pm - 6pm daily Sundays$3 Wells 5pm- Close Mondays3 Tacos for $3.50 $5 PBR Industry Night Tuesdays9-Midnight $3 Tuesdays! PBR Pitchers, Micro Pints, Wells & Fry Baskets only $3 each Wednesdays6pm - 10pm Burger, Fries, and a Pint of PBR only $6 Thursdays 9pm - until the keg blows $3 Rolling Rock Pitchers
Bellingham Allied Arts Arlysis Avalon Music The Bagelry Bayou on the Bay Bellewood Acres Bellingham Bar & Grill Bellingham Public Library Bellingham Public Market Bellingham Tech. College *The Black Drop Boomers Boundary Bay Brandywine Kitchen BSPC Cabin Tavern Cap Hansen’s *Casa Que Pasa Chameleon Ink Tattoo Chuckanut Bay Brewery The Copper Hog Daisy Café Diegos Mexican Grill El Agave. EvrgrnWellnssFoundation Everyday Music Fairhaven Lndry & Clners Fairhaven Mt Bakery Fiama Burger *Film is Truth The Gathering Glow Gluten Free Angels *Grand Ave Ale House *Great Northern Books *Green Leaf Homeskillet *Horseshoe Café Hot Topic *The Joint Leaf and Ladle
Lettered Sts Coffeehouse The Local Joint Lover’s Makeshift Mallard Ice Cream Master of Vapours *McKays Tap House *Mod Sock Mt Baker Theater Mt. Bakery Natural Grains Nelson’s Market *Old World Deli Pel’Meni The Pickford Pita Pit Rock And Rye Rocket Donuts The Royal Rudy’s Pizza *Rumor’s Cabaret Sean Humphery House The Shakedown *The Slo Pitch Spts Grill *The Stone Moon Studio Galactica The Temple Bar The Teriyaki Bar Tony’s Coffee House The Top Shelf The Union Trove Up’n’Up Village Books Waterfront Tavern Whatcom CoOp Dwntwn Whatcom Com. College Wild Buffalo WWU Viking Union Bldg
Burlington The Top Shelf Everett AFK Tavern Ferndale Dickeys Mail Stop Main St Bar Glacier Chair 9 Wake and Bakery Kirckland AFK Tavern Maple Falls Crave ‘N Burgers *Green Stop Mt. Vernon Draft Picks Lincoln Theatre Resroti Skagit Co-Op Skagit Com. College Tattered Page Bookstore Tri Dee Nugents Corner Extreme Bean WCW Seattle C.C. Attle’s Van Zant Everybody’s Store
And now this... By Sandy Soderberg
research program supervised by the department. Processing any part of industrial hemp, except seed, as food, extract, oil, cake, concentrate, resin, or other preparation for topical use, oral consumption, or inhalation by 20 humans is prohibited.” According the Washington State Department of Ag, the reason is pesticides…which I find ironic, considering one of the touted benefits of hemp is that it doesn’t require pesticides, fertilizers or herbicides. In my opinion, this inclusion is solely to benefit the recreation pot farmers and the state who wants to collect 37% tax from the production, and they wouldn’t be able to do that if CBD doesn’t get regulated through the LCB. Another prime example of how our state is more concerned with money than the will of its citizens. Another aspect that is quite disheartening about this bill, is that farmers who have had any criminal convictions, including misdemeanors, will not be authorized to grow hemp in this state… SB6341, sponsored by Senator Ann Rivers which is AN ACT Relating to the provision of personal services and promotional items by cannabis producers and processors; and adding a new section to chapter 69.50 RCW. A bill that doesn’t really mean much to the general public, but it is good news for producers, processors and retailers. Producers and processors may now provide promo swag to the retailers for their staff. There is a monetary limit on the value of items used for this purpose. All in all, there isn’t too much to report with these changes, but it does have future implications for the industry. I look forward to seeing what the LSDFA and the LCB will deem appropriate for the marijuana research license. I also look forward to seeing what the legislators do to the hemp bill that they promised to fix…I won’t hold my breath that any of this will take place in a timely fashion. As for the festivities that happened locally for the industry holiday “420”, many of the cannabis retailers hosted events. The Top Shelf sponsored a concert with Snoop Dogg. Rumors from those in attendance that it was disappointing. Snoop taunted the audience with his partaking of blunts while he was on stage, while those in the audience were left with threats of arrest if they lit up. There was also the aspect that folks paid $80+ for tickets to see Snoop perform, and his participation was limited…except for the smoking of herb, or course. One of the newest recreation stores, C&C hosted a full day FREE event at their location across from Hardware Sales on James. Live, local entertainment was enjoyed by the public, along with free lunch. A couple members from Reanu Keeves started out the day with some acoustic jams, JP Falcon Grady stopped in for a couple hours and blessed everyone with his amazing talent and the night ended with pulling Betty Desire out of the proverbial closet and performing a few songs in drag. The old guys on the block, 2020 Solutions brought in a DJ and had a no-host taco truck providing food. Music could be heard coming from Herbal Legends, a former medical dispensary that has joined the regulated market. Not much was noted for The Joint, with the exception of some sales. While there are many other cannabis retailers in Bellingham and Whatcom County, these stores seem to be creating the “GREEN LIGHT DISTRICT” for Bellingham and will most certainly live up that name. I can’t wait to see what 420 brings in 2017. We’ll be talking the ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM next month. Stay Tuned. SS
w w w. i s s u u . c o m / t h e b e t t y p a g e s
So, as I mentioned last month, the only thing constant is change…and so of course, I will let you know of some of the changes we have seen in Washington State this last month. Governor Jay Inslee vetoed more than 2 dozen bills, 27 to be exact, at the end of regular session. In response to the legislators not ending session on time with a budget, the governor vetoed the bills and sent them back to the House and Senate. So, in their extended session, the Senate and the House spent their time (and our money) overturning the vetoed bills. Of those, three relating to cannabis have been passed and will be law this year. Senate Bills (SB) 6177; SB6206; and SB6341. (SB)6177, sponsored by Senator Ann Rivers: Puts the State Liquor and Cannabis Board in charge of approving marijuana research projects. A nine-page bill that was originally granted to the Life Sciences Discovery Fund Authority. LSDFA will still have some responsibility to the marijuana research license… public moneys in the LSDFA will be leveraged with other public and private money sources in accordance with contribution agreements, to promote life sciences research. In May 2005, Governor Gregoire signed Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5581 establishing the Fund with a directive to "promote life sciences research to foster a preventative and predictive vision of the next generation of health-related innovations, to enhance the competitive position of Washington state in this vital sector of the economy, and to improve the quality and delivery of health care for the people of Washington." I’m glad to see that cannabis qualifies for this in the eyes of the State. However, the original bill was amended and this new bill has replaced many aspects of the LSDfA’s role and given it to the LCB “designated scientific reviewer”. I sure hope they hire someone with credentials to do this, rather than someone who has spent their life with the mindset that there is no value, but criminal activity only when it comes to cannabis. There are still many hypocritical attitudes in the state when it comes to “legalization” and, I am concerned about the state being in charge of how all things will be managed in this regard, right down to the finances for those who hold these licenses. The idea behind it is good, accountability, but government doesn’t have the best track record for that. When it comes to fairness in this environment of taking something that has been and is still being heavily pursued by law enforcement as criminal in many instances, even with legalization, to the government now overseeing the research seems a bit contradictory. The fact that Enforcement Officers are armed and feel it is their job to “enforce” rules and regulations so militant like is about as comfortable as it sounds. While I agree that we need oversight when it comes to pursuing serious research into medical cannabis, especially when it comes to testing, I do not agree that the self-appointing government should take away opportunities for the people of the state. SB6206, sponsored by Senator Bob Hasegawa: Authorizing the Growing of Industrial Hemp. Now, this title is quite misleading. This bill is not authorizing the growth of hemp in this state. While it would be presumed that since Washington has legal marijuana, one might be able to grow hemp without question. Unfortunately, that is not the case. While it is legal for one to grow psychoactive cannabis, the non-psychoactive variety must be “studied” as a pilot program. This bill also limits the farmer’s ability to profit from the crops full potential by not allowing the harvest of flowers for CBD. As quoted from the bill, “Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, industrial hemp is an agricultural product that may be grown, produced, possessed, processed, and exchanged in the state solely and exclusively as part of an industrial hemp
w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m
5
But
Baking With Betty I am very excited to be able to share this new column with you! Together we are going to venture into the world of “adult' baking. Many folk like myself enjoy the euphoria of Weed but don't really want to smoke it. All of the recipes listed here can be made with ingredients readily available at your local recreational weed store. Please keep in mind when using any edible the effect of the high tends to take a good 20 minutes or more. Consume accordingly, always err on the side of caution.
This recipe has been passed down from my grandma to my mom to me, and now to you! It’s easy to make, and perfect for breakfast with your coffee, sitting outside and watching the beautiful Pacific Northwest sunrise enjoying the singing birds. Or railroad tracks, depending where you live. Hope you guys enjoy!
Check out the C&C ad on page 9!
w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m
Bananananana Coffee Bread
6
1/2 cup CannaButter 1 cup sugar 2 eggs 1 1/2 cup mashed banana 1 1/4 cup sifted all-purpose flour 3/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/3 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 tablespoons lemon or orange zest Instructions
1)Preheat the oven to 350 2) Cream the butter and sugar together, add eggs one at a time beating well after each. 3) Stir in the banana WELL. Add vanilla extract and zest of choice. 4) In separate bowl sift the dry ingredients together. 5) Add dry ingredients to banana mixture, mixing well. 6) Pour into a greased pan of your choice (I usually use either a bread pan or make them into muffins) and bake for 30-35 minutes. 7) Enjoy to the fullest extent! I like it best hot and buttered, if you are feeling extra adventurous you can use some spare CannaButter to butter it with! =)
w w w. i s s u u . c o m / t h e b e t t y p a g e s
By Kevin Walder “I agree with you completely, but….” “I’m not homophobic, but….” “I agree with everything he/she stands for, but….” Or my personal favorite; “You seem like a nice person. but….” Sentences and phrases like these appear daily on our Facebook and Twitter feeds. We have become so accustomed to this kind of double speak that we fail to recognize the true power of a tiny three letter word: ‘but’. Look again at the opening lines of this article and notice the role the word ‘but’ plays in each situation. The word ‘but’ serves to divide and separate the first phrase of the sentence from whatever may follow. It also completely negates the opening phrase by interjecting an exception to the original statement. The word ‘but’ allows us to attempt to fool those around us and even ourselves into believing that we are taking the moral high ground while still clinging to systemic bigotry. This little three letter word helps to keep us from having to honestly face those most unpleasant parts of ourselves. By loudly proclaiming our social awareness before listing the exceptions we allow and actually live by we are often saved from having to face the realities of our authentic selves. What if we eliminated the word ‘but’ from our vernacular? What if we could be completely honest about our beliefs and attitudes? What if we were comfortable sharing our true and authentic selves without feeling the need to camouflage them with lots of extra words? If instead of saying something like: ‘I would love to attend, but I have other pressing engagements that evening’; What if we said: ‘I am reluctant to accept your invitation due to a previous commitment that evening’? Imagine how much simpler it will be when you say what you mean without the redundancy of the word ‘but’. It will be much easier to express your authenticity without confusion and those nearest you will know you on a much deeper level. Perhaps most importantly speaking from your own authenticity will alert you to areas which need more attention and self reflection. Eliminating the word ‘but’ may reveal to us aspects of ourselves which we had thought were long gone. So the challenge is to work to eliminate the word ‘but’ from our daily vocabulary. Where necessary it can be replaced with the word ‘and’ or, better yet, just eliminate the superfluous phrases along with the connector. You may be amazed at what is revealed by communicating more honestly and accurately. In The Tarot, the Devil card, number 15 is all about releasing the attitudes and beliefs which limit us. This concept of more concise communication fits perfectly with the energy of The Devil card. Releasing the need to bury our feelings and expressions under superfluous words is a healthier way of expressing ourselves. Those with whom we communicate will appreciate the honesty and directness of our communication once we master the elimination of the word ‘but’ from our vocabulary. Give it a try for a week or a month and see how heart to heart communication is improved and enhanced. Contact Kevin Walder at: wwwkevinwalder.com or email: kevin_walder@ me.com
Mount Baker Theatre
PRESENTS A ROCKIN’ RETRO TRIBUTE
SEASON SPONSOR:
Open: 11 am - 8Pm
Bellingham's Top Shelf Selection of : Dry Meds, Medibles, Topicals, and Concentrates thetopshelfbellingham.com
7 days a week
360.671.0111 2119 Lincoln St. Bellingham, WA
The Bellingham Theatre Guild presents
“[A] willfully silly tale of love, deception and celebrity-chasing on the high seas… a deluxe candy box of songs by Cole Porter.” The New York Times
Directed by
Teri Grimes
June 10–26, 2016 BOOK by
Timothy Crouse & John Weidman Music & Lyrics by
Graphics: Les Campbell/www.design-boy.com
Cole Porter
ANYTHING GOES
Produced by Special Arrangement with Tams-Witmark
Tickets:
733-1811 or www.bellinghamtheatreguild.com
Six Queer Films In Six Indian Languages: A Bibliography of Queer Cinema By Lyle Pearson
here, our door is always open.” The father has second thoughts, but when back home some relatives arrive for a blessing for their baby from the ‘special’ child, he throws the relatives off his property. In the end, the younger son disappears and the elder, thinking he may have drowned himself, chases after him, only to find the metal box in which the younger kept his makeup and saris open by the side of a road. As the camera rises from the elder son’s perspective we are made to wonder what has, or will become of the younger son. Will he become part of the previously seen hijra family? Will he eventually go to Pune (in the same state as this film) to undergo ‘nirvana?’ We don’t know, as that is the end of the film. Like KICKASS KING DANCING QUEEN, KOTI is full of humor, and charming, until the Interval, and then becomes progressively darker. Where it ends NOT HE … BUT SHE almost begins. After three festivals, KOTI has not yet had a commercial release. Finally, from northwest by north, in Urdu/Marathi/English, is Hansel Mehta’s ALIGARH. The director of the true story of a Muslim lawyer, SHAHID (MARTYR, 2012), takes on the true case of a Brahman Marathi professor, Dr. S.R. Siras (Manoj Bajpayee), suspended from Aligarh University for being caught in a sting, by a TV channel, having sex with a Muslim rickshaw driver. The incident took place during the time that the Delhi High Court temporarily had legalized same-sex relations, so the case became primarily a civil, not a legal one, for Siras to get his job back. A fictitious journalist (Rajkumar Rao), unsure in the beginning of his own sexuality, befriends Siras, but in spite of the symbolism of a cow and a calf, and a romantic boatride on which the journo takes a rather anachronistic selfie of the pair, we are reassured that the journo is hetero shortly after the Interval -- like Al Pacino in William Friedkin’s CRUISING (1980) playing a cop undercover in a gay leather milieu, who goes home to sleep with his wife. While Friedkin suggests that Pacino may be intrigued by the milieu, or actually be the killer that he’s looking for, Mehta poses no such ambiguity. The journo goes on to another story, of communal clash and does not return to Aligarh until the discovery of the mysterious death of Siras, almost on the same day Siras is reinstated by the university. Made more than two years after the re-criminalization of homosexual acts, the film, in its end titles, makes a case for re-legalizing them. The Film Certification Board (FBC) in New Delhi demanded at least two fairly obvious cuts in ALIGARH, one in a conversation between Siras and the journo and the second just before the abrupt Interval, apparently eliminating a conversation between Siras and his defense lawyer. The FBC also classified the film “A” (Adult), along with its trailer, meaning that the trailer could be shown only on late-night TV and, in theaters, only with other ‘A’-rated films. With more feature articles in newspapers than expensive publicity, ALIGARH released in February to fair business. ALIGARH is made in the nation’s most spoken language (Urdu is similar to Hindi in grammar, with much Persian and Arabic), with some Marathi and English quite realistically added. There are only two songs, far less than in Hindi film tradition and they are not new -- both are classic film recordings that Siras listens to while, in disrepute, drunk. The first is “Pyaar kya toh darna kya,” from Kamal Asif ’s 1960 magnum Muslim love tragedy MUGHAL-E-AZAM (THE GREAT MUGHAL), its lyrics from an Uttar Pradesh folksong in a ghazal (rhymed couplets of love and separation, also deriving from Arabic, in a rising and falling pentameter) adapted by Shakeel Badayani. There is need to note that pronouns and possessive adjectives in Hindi, Urdu, Persian and Arabic agree in gender with their objects, not with their subjects. The singer and the beloved in the original legend of The Great Moghul royal love story could be male and/or female: In this world/ a person loves Lives with this love/ dies with this love When there is love/ why be afraid? When there is love/ nothing is stolen Why hide/ and sigh? I will tell the story/ of my love Even if the world/ kills me Death is what/ the world sees Why suffocate/ alone? Desire for him-her/ will stay in my heart Our flame/ will continue to burn I’ll live in love/ die in love
w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m
w w w. i s s u u . c o m / t h e b e t t y p a g e s
Continued from April Betty Pages... Further southwest and almost in the center of South India, B.S. Lingadevaru’s NANU AVANALLA … AVALU (NOT HE … BUT SHE), in Kannada, tells the true story of a cross-dressing young man, Madesha, who becomes a real transwoman, Living Smile Vidya (qv). As an effeminate young man, Madesha (Sancheri Vijay) embarrasses his family, even after receiving a diploma. Leaving his small town for Bangalore, he discovers a group who transvest in song and dance for fun. Still not satisfied and still discriminated against, Madesha joins a ‘family’ of hijras, later deciding to undergo ‘nirvana’ (see above) to become Vidya (‘Knowledge). To do so, Madesha must travel to Pune for his operation. No fiction, nor any film that I have seen, is so graphic about the ‘nirvana’ process. Conditions are not hygienic: there are bandages on the stairs and blood on the walls. Candidates are given a blood test for AIDS -– if positive, they are not rejected, but the price, from their begging, is doubled. They are sedated and tied to a bed. As a hijra, Vidya (formerly Madesha) is instructed by her ‘maa’ (the, head, or ‘madam’ of the hijra household), to beg on a particular street. Vidya also begs on a train and meets homophobic violence for doing so. In end of the narrative, refusing to prostitute herself, educated Vidya rejects her second family and, still rejected by her first, seeks office employment, Thrice rejected, Vidya makes an impassioned speech on transgender tolerance. The film’s end titles feature still photos of the real Vidya and her successful theater troupe. The troupe is so successful that the Bangalore Queer Festival, while showing the film, could not afford to bring the troupe back to Bangalore. NOT HE … BUT SHE has been shown in several festivals, as have several of these films. I have seen it twice, as well as two others, first at the 46th International Film Festival of India, in Goa and again in Bangalore. In Goa I found Sanchari’s performance as Madesha very mincing, almost to the point of unintentional comedy, if more convincing in the second half. I didn’t know if I should laugh or grieve for Madesha. But by the mostly queer audience in Bangalore, the performance was taken seriously, the occasional laughter with Madesha and not at him. Sanchari’s performance won him the National Best Actor Award for last year. Further south, where there is a history of comedies on drunken men sleeping together, (qv), V.J. Varma’s ODUM RAJA AADU RANI (KICKASS KING DANCING QUEEN), in Malayalam, is the funniest of these six films. Every year the Bangalore Queer Festival manages to spring a new, surprising film from Kerala, where Malayalam is spoken, a study of hijras, a police melodrama and now this comedy-melodrama. Venkidi (Tini Tom), a burly, itinerant women’s lingerie-walla must settle down because the cuckolded husbands of his customers are after him. He shares quarters with a meek, effeminate gay Karagattaara (ritual) dancer, Thamburu (Mankattan Pattambi, who also wrote the script): this is THE ODD COUPLE, but the Felix Unger character really is gay. Thamburu tries to get Venkidi to sleep with him and keep him from ogling women, dresses in drag, cleans the house and cooks excellent meals. But after the Interval the exasperated Venkidi hires a woman to straighten Thamburu out, but becomes jealous when their friendship blossoms. Several travails later, Thamburu disappears to join a family of hijras at the annual April/May hijra religious festival in Koovagam, in Tamil Nadu. Venkidi and the woman, realizing they have wronged Thamburu, follow him, but then decide, rather conservatively, that after being ridiculed, that Thamburu may be happier with his own kind. Not only is the film very funny, it includes documentary footage of the Koovagam festival. It is so good that I plan to visit Koovagam this April/May with the film’s director. There is a market for films like this in Kerala, yes. Further northwest, Suhaas Bhonsle’s second feature KOTI (HIJRA) in Marathi, with a recent history of good films about children, is almost as entertaining as KICKASS KING DANCING QUEEN. A younger brother, whose older brother wants a sister, begins to act like one, tying a Raksha Bandhan string on the elder’s right wrist in their own version of the Raksha Bandhan holyday, when brothers pledge to protect their sisters for the next year. Their father, who wants to become the village headman, is embarrassed by their behavior and tells them to stop their antics. However, one night the pair sneaks out to watch a traveling ‘tamasha’ (Marathi song-and-dance) show and soon they arrange their own tamasha, the older selling tickets and the younger dancing in Marathi drag. As their behavior continues, the father visits the extremely virile-looking ‘maa’ of a city hijra family and is informed of the harsh life a hijra must live, “But if you still want to send him
11
McKay's '4* TapHouse /<+ ;9/) <+8? .;89*'?! w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m
5)'2 8:/9:9 '4* +2:/) ;9/)
12
/4* ;9 54:
++89 54 '6... 58+ 53/4- 554! 5<+8 ++89 :5 ).559+ ,853! 5::2+* ++89 '4* #/4+ 5 5
/@@' • ;(9 • #/4-9 • 358+
McKay's TapHouse
'9: '62+ :8++: • +22/4-.'3 • -
w w w. i s s u u . c o m / t h e b e t t y p a g e s
A Bibliography of Queer Cinema continued By Lyle Pearson What else/ to do? My love/cannot hide In all four directions/ it can be seen When there is no curtain/ before God Then why a curtain/ between his believers? But ALIGARH is only the tip of the iceberg in new queer Indian films, as we have seen. A Hindi film (it isn’t quite fair to call this one Bollywood), with a larger budget than any regional cinema can afford and the all-India audience to satisfy, demands more expertise and time to make. ALIGARH is more like last year’s regional queer films than this year’s -- it actually was made before some of the regional ones were finished. It is worthy of several national awards, particularly for Manoj Bajpayee’s affecting performance as the depressed, isolated Siras (he has to move twice, once from the campus and because he is a bachelor from his second quarters). Unlike Alan Turing in Morton Tyldum’s somber THE IMITATION GAME (2014), Siras a least gets to one gay party, where two men dance a sort of minuet. Old and weak, he seldom shaves and falls asleep in his boring trial. But almost purposely, in its earnestness, ALIGARH is less entertaining than several of the queer regional features of 2016. It is the only one of these six films to mention the onerous Section 377 against homosexual acts. Regional films express regional attitudes. ALIGARH, like most Hindi films attempts to appeal to the zeitgeist of the whole country. ALIGARH got all the notice this year, but some of the regional films are more mush more fun.
Need something to do? Check these sites for local events! http://www.bellingham.org/event-calendar/ http://www.whatcomtalk.com/bellingham-events-calendar/ http://bellinghamexplorer.com/search/event/whatcom-county/ http://www.pickfordfilmcenter.org/category/programs/ http://www.theupfront.com/# http://www.mountbakertheatre.com/shows/ http://www.bellinghamtheatreguild.com/playbill/ http://www.idiomtheater.com/ http://whatcommuseum.org/events/month/ http://www.villagebooks.com/event
Support
The Comics! w w w. i s s u u . c o m / t h e b e t t y p a g e s
Education Healing Advocacy counseling Safety planning Legal assistance Support groups Trainings and Workshops 24-hour helpline: 360.715.1563/877.715.1563 Talk to us in-person: 1407 Commercial St. Bellingham, WA
w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m
13
This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgement. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with the consumption of this product. For use only by adults twenty one and older. Keep out of the reach of children.
w w w. i s s u u . c o m / t h e b e t t y p a g e s
15 w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m
GLBT Organizations in Whatcom and Skagit Counties -Cascade Rainbow Community Cntr is a community of LBGQT people that enjoy each other’s company. We gather every Friday @ 6:30 PM for community, sharing of food, conversation, ideas, and current events. Each Friday is either game or movie night. The group has a lending library, Pride participation, and educational support. We are located at The Center for Spiritual Living @ 1508 N 18th St., Mount Vernon, WA. For information call (360) 840-8499 and for additional information checkout and subscribe to our Facebook Page. -Evergreen Wellness Advocates Evergreen Wellness Advocates provides support services for people living with HIV and AIDS who reside in Whatcom, Skagit, Island, San Juan and Snohomish counties. Bellingham: 115 Unity St. 360-671-0703, Everett: 2709 Wetmore Ave. 425-740-3000
-Mount Baker Planned Parenthood Mt. Baker Planned Parenthood proudly demonstrates its commitment to the LGBTQ community in all of our educational and service areas, by partnering with LGBTQ service organizations and through sponsorship and participation in Bellingham Pride. Our goal is to ensure that
-PFLAG of Skagit County Support meetings for Parents, Friends and Families of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people and GLBT individuals are held at Central United Methodist Church, 1013 Polte Rd, Sedro-Woolley on the second Monday of every month at 7 PM. For directions and information all 360-856-4676 and for additional information and events check online at www.pflagskagit.org. -PFLAG of Whatcom County Whatcom County Parents Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays meets the 2ND Thursday of each month, 7pm at First Congregational Church, 2401 Cornwall Avenue, Bellingham. For more information and events visit www.whatcompflag.com -Sean Humphrey House A housing unit for people who need assistance living with HIV/AIDS in Bellingham. For more information call 360-733-9357 -Washington Gender Alliance A support and educational organization for anyone dealing with issues of gender identity or expression, and the people in our lives. We have weekly Open Support meetings in
Bellingham and Everett. For more information, please write to us at info@ WashingtonGenderAlliance.com or call 360-445-2411, or visit our web site at www.WashingtonGenderAlliance.com. -WWU LGBTA The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Alliance at Western Washington University is a student organization which supports lesbians, gays, bisexuals, people who identify as transgender, and their allies; in the various stages of their coming out process, in the creation and affirmation of positive self identities, and in the promotion and defense of their human and civil rights. The LGBTA is located on Western’s Campus in Viking Union 515 and is open from the first day of Fall quarter until the last day of Spring quarter. For information call 360-650-6120. -WCC’s Queer Straight Alliance is committed to supporting the GLBT community by promoting awareness of queer issues and entertaining and educating students and staff of WCC. We can be reached at wccqsa@gmail. com. -Whatcom County KINK is a group to help organize events, munches, help if you have items to sell, or just a way for people to get to know each other. Meetings are the 1st Tuesday of the month at Rumor’s Cabaret. Happy Spankings!
-Whatcom Queer Teen Shelter We’re in Whatcom county and currently organizing community support and resource sharing, specifically for LGBT youth and generally with any trans and queer people. We are also fundraising for the future shelter, and invite all trans and queer people to get involved in the direction of our organization. Email us at wqts.general@gmail.com or wqts.youthresources@gmail.com -Gay Bellingham Wednesday Dinner Wednesday dinner gathering. Open to all, but mostly attended by gay men. Tends to be older men. Usually around 10 to 15. New people find it on the web and come meet Bellingham area folks. Rotates to different restaurant locations each week as announced in the Yahoo Group. www.gaybellingham.org/ https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ alternativebellingham/info
Group leaders If we need to update our list because a group is no longer meeting please contact us!
If you are a member of or know of another LGBT group that would like to be listed please send us an email!
The Betty Pages Copyright Notice While The Betty Pages and/or its contributors generally reserve all rights and privileges of copyright, several parts of this publication are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 171 Second Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, California, 94105, USA. For more information and permissions, contact The Betty Pages at thebettypages@gmail. com or send a letter to The Betty Pages, c/o Desire Enterprises, PO Box 2724, Bellingham, Washington, 98227-2724, USA.
w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m
w w w. i s s u u . c o m / t h e b e t t y p a g e s
-ISCEE The Imperial Sovereign Court of the Evergreen Empire is affiliated with the International Court System and has been actively raising money for charity for over 30 years by sponsoring drag shows and pageants. The group is open to all regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation, seeking to provide social activities and community service opportunities for gays, lesbians, and their friends and allies in Whatcom, Skagit and San Juan Counties.
every individual has the information, services, and freedom to make healthy, responsible decisions about sex, sexuality, and parenthood. We offer transgender services, comprehensive reproductive care, affordable STD testing and treatment and annual exams. Sliding scale available. Make an appointment on-line! http://www.mbpp.org Bellingham Clinic: (360)734-9095 Mount Vernon Clinic: (360)848-1744 Transgender Services now available!
17
MONDAY
KARAOKE
9PM-12AM
$2.75 Micros
WITH
ZACH ZINN
$4 Black Velvet
TUESDAY
TREBEL DEEP HOUSE MUSIC
9PM-12AM
$1 WELLS
FREE POOL
$2.25 PBR Pitchers
WEDNESDAY
LEVELED TODAY’S EDM
Rumors Cabaret
9PM-12AM
$3.75 FIREBALL
$1.25 PBR PINTS
HOSTED BY
11PM-12AM
AXIS EVENTS
$2 WELLS
THURSDAY
9PM-11PM THROWBACK $2.25 RANIER JUGS
80’s & 90’s
$1 WELLS 11PM-12AM
DJ ENZ
$2 WELLS
FRIDAY
DANCE PARTY
SATURDAY
9PM-12AM
$3
LONG ISLANDS
SPECIAL EVENTS DJ MIKE TOLLESON
HOUSE/TOP 40/CLUB DANCE
9PM-12AM
SPECIALTY