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Description
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ToC On the Cover: Sheryl Swoopes Exclusive by Malinda Lo (p40); Kristin Chenoweth Sings by Laurie K. Schenden (p44); Roller Girls Unite by Jocelyn Voo (p46); Million-Dollar Babies by Andy Wright (p50); Dyke to Watch Out For by Rachel Pepper (p52); Killing Us Softly by John Esther (p53); Travel Issue - Girls Gone Wild: Backpacking Through Europe by Gabriana Marks (p24); Houseboating 101 by Jen Giloman (p26); Antartic Ice by Lucy Jane Bledsoe (p27); Flying, the Gay-Friendly Way by Malinda Lo (p28); Bring Your Book to Tahoe by Catherine Plato (p29); Baja Beauty by Elizabeh Stark (p30); Misbehavin' in Michigan by Wendy Colsen (p32); Charleston's Charm by Amanda Hollinger (p34); Dyke City by Karen Schechner and Janet M. Lynch (p36); Taos' Crafty Arts by Carole Terwilliger Meyers (p38); London Calling by Elizabeth Stark and Malinda Lo (p39): Cover photo by Lorenzo Pesce Contrasto/Redux
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Travel Issue
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issue
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8
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Date Issued
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October 2006
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Format
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PDF/A
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Publisher
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Frances Stevens
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Identifier
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Curve_Vol16_No8_October-2006_OCR_PDFa.pdf
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extracted text
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SPECIAL TRAVEL REPORT
Girls
Gone
Wild
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THE BEST-SELLING LESBIAN MAGAZINE
Score One for Sports
VOLUME 16 NUMBER 8
1550 Bryant Street, Suite 510
San Francisco, California 94103
Phone 415-863-6538 Facsimile 415-863-1609
Advertising Sales 415-863-6538 or 212-446-6700
Subscription Inquiries 818-760-8983
Advertising E-mail advertising@curvemag.com
Editorial E-mail editor@curvemag.com
Letters to the Editor E-mail letters@curvemag.com
Women's boxing has come a
Publisher/Editor in Chief
Executive Editor
Associate Editor
Book Review Editor
Music Review Editor
Contributing Editors
long way since I first donned
a pair of gloves. But it's still an
uphill battle for women in and
Copy Chief
Proofreaders
out of the ring, especially
Editorial Assistants
for lesbians.
Frances Stevens Publisher/Editor
W
in Chief
hat do Sheryl Swoopes, houseboating and roller derby have in common? More than you
might think. You might think that focusing this issue on both sports and travel is, well, a bit
incongruous. But we like to keep you guessing what we'll do next, and what's unique about
Art Director
Photography Editor
Production Manager
Web Producer
Catalog Manager
Ad Sales & Marketing
CURVE
is how we approach covering these topics the same: by looking at the obscure and the mainstream.
Marketing & PR Manager
Marketing Coordinator
Marketing Assistants
Among the plethora of things to do and see in our travel extravaganza, we will introduce you to destinations like Albuquerque and its International Balloon Fiesta, as well as tips on surviving lesbian London
and how to organize a houseboating excursion for 16 gal pals.
Both sports fans and those of you who would rather get your nails done than rally around your favorite
team will find the athletes in our pages compelling. First, we delve into a couple of hard-hitting sports
one doesn't usually hear much about: women's boxing and roller derby. Women's boxing has come a long
way since the day I first donned a pair of gloves. Despite the fact that women can now compete in the
Golden Gloves, it's still an uphill battle for women in the ring. Our feature exposes some of the hurdles
women boxers encounter that their male counterparts don't, and on a more personal note, we speak
with two pioneers in the sport who also happen to be partners outside the ring. And speaking of tough
knocks, our feature on America's favorite contact sport, roller derby, will leave you looking for your skates
and the ibuprofen.
From there, we go to a sport that we hear lots about, and to a player at the forefront. Sheryl Swoopes is
our sweetheart of the WNBA and the highest-profile active team player yet to come out. Hearing this
incredibly accomplished athlete speak at the National Center for Lesbian Rights dinner in San Francisco
in April made us realize that her coming-out just might be her most important personal accomplishment. Besides being a milestone for all athletes, her moving story left us thinking about all the athletes
we have written about for this issue and why they still face the challenges of coming out, risking their
careers and their endorsements when they do. We hope Swoopes' bold moves off the court will inspire
other women to do the same.
Enjoy!
Contributing Writers Elizabeth A Allen, Kathy Beige,
Lena Bengtsson, Lucy Jane Bledsoe, Wendy
Colsen, Ariane Conrad, Jennifer Corday, Gina
Daggett, John Esther, Michele Fisher, Ross Forman,
Michelle Gallagher, Jen Gilomen, Amanda Hollinger,
Sheryl Kay, Sheela Lambert, Charlene Lichtenstein,
Karlyn Lotney, Janel M. Lynch, Gabriana Marks,
Mary McGrath, Carole Terwilliger Meyers, Aefa
Mulholland, Mary O'Neal, Catherine Plato, Karen
Schechner, Laurie K. Schenden, Elizabeth Stark,
Renee Westbrook, Tracy Whitelaw, Andy Wright
Contributing Illustrator Katherine Streeter
Contributing Photographers Rebekah Browning, Christine
Butler, Jessie Carbonaro, Joyce George, David Gilder,
Roy Gumpel, lzabela Habur, Juliana Halverson,
Gabriela Hashun, Aaron Kohr, Greg Martin, Brian
Morrison, S. Greg Panosian, Brandon Parry, Lorenzo
Pesce, Paul Piebinga, Oleg Prikhodko, Shae Rocco,
Lisa Ross, Bisa Shea,Andrew Southam, Victoria Wren
Volume 16 Issue 8 Curve (ISSN 1087-867)() Is published monthly (except for
January and July) by Outspoken Ente,-prises,Inc., 1550 Bryant St., Ste. 510,
San Francisco, CA 94103. Subscription price: $31.60/year, $43.60 Canadian
(U.S. funds only) and $44 international(U.S. funds only). Returned checks will
be assessed a $25 surcharge. Periodicals postage paid at San Francisco, CA
94114 and at additional mailing offices (USPS 0010-355). Contents of Curve
Magazine may not be reproduced in any manner, either whole or in part, wtthout
written permission from the publisher. Publication of the name or photograph
of any persons or orgaraations appearing, advertising or listing in Curve may
not be taken as an indication of the sexual orientation of that individual or
group unless specifically stated. Curve welcomes letters, queries, unsolicited
manuscripts and artvvork.
Include SASE for response. Lack of any representation
only signifies insufficient materials. Submissions cannot be returned unless a
self-addressed stamped envelope is included. No responsibilityis assumed for
loss or damages. The contents do not necessarily represent the opinions of
the edrtor, unless specifically
stated. All magazines sent discreetly. Subscription
Inquiries: Please write to Curve, 1550 Bryant Street, Suite 510, San Francisco,
CA 94103, e-mail shop@curvemag.com, or call 818-760-8983. Canadian
Agreement Number: 40793029. Newsstand Circulation: Indy Press Newsstand
Services, 415-643-0161 or maire@indypress.org. Postmaster:Send C8nacfian
address clmges to shop@curvemag.com,
CuNe, PO Box 122, Niagara Falls, ON
l2E 6S8. Send U.S.address clmges to shop@curvemag.com,
Cutve,
PO Box 17138,
N. ~.
CA91615-7138.Printedin the U.S.
A
~
21curve
Frances Stevens
Diane Anderson-Minshall
Malinda Lo
Rachel Pepper
Margaret Coble
Julia Bloch, Victoria A.
Brownworth, Gretchen Lee,
Sarah Warn
Laura K. Cucullu
Jaclyn Barcewski, Emmie Q.
Lam, Laurie Werbner,
Jocelyn Voo
Kathryn Papanek,
Amanda Poulsen
Kas Neteler
Nathalie Peterson
Ondine Kilker
Nikki Woelk
Holly DeMaagd
Danie Belfield
Sara Jane Keskula
Rivendell Media
Bambi Weavil
Amanda Campa
Monica Arana, Karyn Grigsby,
Tiffany Luciotti, Catrina
McQuerry, Kirsten Ott
.
Keyword: Curvemag Web site: curvemag.com
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Features October 2006
"AsI've
startedto
talk about
the book
publicly,
it'sbeen
tempting
to take a
Brokeback
Mountain
approach
to it, to say
that it'snot
reallya gay
storybut
a human
story."
40 Sheryl Swoopes Exclusive Just a year after
Volume16#8
27 Antarctic Ice Naked skiing and crashed airplanes
her famous coming-out, the baskeball legend talks
make this adventurer think. By Lucy Jane Bledsoe
openly about life, love and her pursuit of sheer
happiness. By Malinda Lo
28
Flying, the Gay-Friendly Way Which carriers rate
highest? We tell you who and why. By Malinda Lo
44
Kristin Chenoweth Sings The holy rollers are on
high alert now that this songbird is playing queer in
s:co
a:
w
29
Running With Scissors. By Laurie K. Schenden
Bring Your Boo to Tahoe Haunted Women's
Week makes us shiver. By Catherine Plato
e.
0
0
0
0
a:
w
Alison Bechdel,
<(
46
page 52
Roller Girls Unite They're sexy, they're tough,
30
and sometimes, in the rink, they're mean as hell.
Baja Beauty Two girls, crimson sunsets and some
I
fish tacos. Is there anything better? By Elizabeth Stark
f
ti:i
3:
The ladies of roller derby. By Jocelyn Voo
0
z
Misbehavin' in Michigan The lesbians of
w
Million-Dollar Babies For these lesbian boxers,
Saugutuck are quick to assure this ain't your
~
life isn't quite a blockbuster movie. By Andy Wright
mama's weekend playground. By Wendy Co/sen
<(
32
50
(/)
I
~
I
I:J
0
(/)
52
Dyke to Watch Out For Cartoon legend Alison
34
Charleston's Charm Southern belles, mint
Bechdel turns tragedy into comedy in her new
juleps and old-world charm make Charleston a
graphic novel. By Rachel Pepper
vacation must. By Amanda Hollinger
~
a:
a
z
<(
uf
w
a..
53
Christine Vachon tells all about lesbian movies,
Dyke City Chile peppers and dykes galore make
Albuquerque, N.M., a whole helping of fun. By
Hollywood and her new book. By John Esther
Karen Schechner and Janel M. Lynch
Killing Us Softly Killer Films' uberproducer
36
0
0
3:
~
X
:J
aw
a:
Cover photo by
LorenzoPesce
Contrasto/Redux
Travel Issue: Girls Gone Wild
24
38 -Taos' Crafty Arts A day trip to New Mexico's
Backpacking Through Europe Take these 14 tips
chi-chi Taos makes for a groovy art lesson. By
for a safe and thrilling solo trip. By Gabriana Marks
Carole Terwilliger Meyers
0
I(/)
~
I-
z
0
~
0
(/)
26
41
curve
Houseboating 101 Finally, a vacation that your
39
London Calling Forget San Francisco. When it
girlfriend and each of your last five exes can all do
comes to babelicious fun, London's lesbians have
together. Drama included. By Jen Gilomen
got it going on. By Elizabeth Stark and Malinda Lo
w
a..
0
N
z
w
a:
0
..J
Departments
October 2006
"I told her not
to worryas we
alreadyknew
we were gay;
the experiment
was to findout
if we were
'cruisepeople'
or not."
page 62
2
Frankly Speaking Publisher Frances
Stevens tells it like it is.
18 Scene Fun parties, sexy girls and a few
8
Contributors Read all about 'em here.
20 Ask Fairy Butch She solves the mys-
9
Letters Questionable advice, photo
contest feedback and pitches,
pitches, pitches.
of our favorite friends.
58 Music Watch Margaret Coble's take
on India.Arie, Kinnie Starr and Nelly
Furtado. Plus, Yungchen Lhamo, Andy
Moore and Jackie Strano.
teries of strap-on sex.
60 Tech Girl Games and game systems
21 Lipstick & Dipstick The duo tells you
for us geeky girls.
what to do when you can't get enough.
61 Politics Victoria A. Brownworth
11 Out in Front Get to know teen activist
Charlene Hammersen, thespian Karen
LaShelle and radio journalist
Catalina Puente.
12 Curvatures Lesbian pinups ... Hot tees
... Climb Against the Odds ... Soulforce
Equality Ride ... Anne Heche in the
closet, again.
14 Open Studio Daniela Sea lets us peer
through her eyes.
6
I curve
23 Astro Grrl Astrologer Charlene
Lichtenstein hands out some star advice.
54 Sapphic Screen Sheela Lambert
brings the best of the fests. Plus,
Christa McAuliffe's documentarians,
Ellen and She-Ra .
56 In the Stacks Rachel Pepper reveals
The Most Beautiful Girl in the World and
dishes on BITCHfest. Plus, Alison Dubois
and Playing the Quantum Field.
raises the alert level on the war
against women.
62 Dyke Drama Michele Fisher on lesbian,
and not-so-lesbian, cruises.
72 Top Ten Reasons We Love Actor
and filmmaker Lori Petty reminds us
why we crush on her.
IT'S LIKE YOUR WORLD JUST GOT 10X BIGGER. The new 10x zoom Kodak EasyShare V610 dual
lens digital camera. Thanks to Kodak Retina dual lens technology, it's the world's smallest 10x optical
zoom. With enough room for a 2.8" LCD, image-stabilized TV-quality video and II',
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k
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Always choose Kodak memory cards.
Contributors
Three Cheers for.
Fairy Butch
Longtime
CURVE
advicecolumnist
KarlynLatney,
akaFairyButch,
faceda challenge
noonehad
givenheranyadviceforthis
pastsummer,
whenshewas
diagnosed
withbreastcancer.
InJulyshesuccessfully
hada
doublemastectomy
combined
withchest-reconstruction
surgeryandlaterbegana series
of chemotherapy
treatments
to
bestensureshewouldbeatthe
cancer.
Although
doctorshadto
remove
hernipplesbecause
the
cancerhadspreadto theducts,
Latneysaysthatsheis looking
forwardto gettingnippletattoos,
wearingbutton-down
shirtsand
enjoying
hernewmanlychest.
Besureto sendheryourgetwellwishesbyvisiting
fairybutch.com.
Mistresses
of the Web
If youhaven'tvisited
curvemag.com
lately,whynot?
Oncethereyou'llfindnotonlya
slewof storiesyoucan'treadin
themagazine,
butalsoa lively
community
forumwheredykes
fromallovertheworldchat
aboutlesbianlife.WebForum
Administrator
JulieHoughton,
a moderator
since2001who
hailsfromLondon,
reports
that"members
tendto be
genuinely
interested
anddon't
likecreatinga totaldramarama."
Houghton
headsupa teamof nine
additional
moderators:
Wendy
Armitage,
LizClarke,Autumn
Congrove,
AnnieDaniels,
SusanHinson,
Kariltamoto,
KarenMiller,PamMorrisand
ElizaRhee,whocomefromall
overtheworldto contribute
to
CURVE'S
community.
Morris,who
hasbeena partof thecommunityforfiveyears,saysthatshe
cameto curvemag.com
because
"I waslivingin a smalltown
withnogaycommunity.
It was
a placefor meto discusstopics
of interestto mewithsomevery
smartlesbians
andbisexual
women."
What'stheweirdest
thingthatsomemoderators
havehadto do?Clarke,
whois
fromToronto,
answers,
"Remove
adsforViagra.Ew."Joinin
onthedialogue
byvisiting
curvemag.com
andclicking
on"Community."
s Icurve
"I always knew Charleston had a queer underbelly, but until I wrote this article I had no idea
how secretly gay this city has always been -
since the days of pirates in butch drag!" says
AmandaHollinger
of her article on Charleston, S.C. (see page 34). In this issue, Hollinger
captures intriguing contradictions of this historic Southern city and encourages anyone with
a red,state inhibition to give Charleston a try. In addition to freelance writing and sporadic
day jobs, Hollinger is at work on her first book, a memoir about recreating the road trip that
her grandmother and four other women took in 1935. Hollinger also stars on the big screen
- or at least the big board - as part of a billboard campaign sponsored by AFFA,
Charleston's LGBT equality organization, to defeat a proposed anti,gay marriage constitu,
tional amendment.
Contributor Gabriana
Marksreports that her friends were shocked when she told them she
was going backpacking across Europe alone, an experience she writes about in this issue (see
page 24). 'Tm still not sure if it was the traveling alone or the idea of me fitting my stuff in a
backpack that got to them;' she says. Marks grew up in the Bay area and has a journalism
degree from the University of Southern California. She also spent a year in Israel and
worked for CBS Radio in Los Angeles for three years. Besides writing and traveling, she
designs the Pink Collection ofbustiers for her mom's business, SparklePlentyCreations.com.
She's currently the campaign administrative coordinator at the San Francisco Jewish
Community Federation and hopes to do a lot more traveling and writing in the future.
Writer KarenSchechner,
who has moved between New Mexico and New York twice, wrote
about Albuquerque (see page 36) for this issue."Recendy, I went back to New Mexico, but
this time just to visit my ex,girlfriend/best friend and her boyfriend, and meet her new
girlfriend who's now the new ex;' she says."That seems to be a fairly typical Albuquerque
GLBT social Venn diagram:' Schechner currently works as the staff writer for the American
Booksellers Association, the national trade organization of independent bookstores, and
freelances for Bookslut.Also a member in good standing of the New York Mycological Society,
she lives in Yonkers, N.Y., with her girlfriend and their two, perfectly reasonable dogs.
"People kept floating out of these incredible Baja skies, parachutes catching the wind above
them, and the wide ocean everywhere around, wanting to nab them;' Elizabeth
Starksays
about looking for adventure in Mexico (see page 30). "I wanted to do something different,
but I couldn't quite picture myself stepping out at 12,000 feet ... onto nothing:' Luckily,
adventures of another kind awaited Stark, who grappled with perplexing insects and elusive
fish, and discovered a hidden lesbian paradise where you'd least expect it. Stark is the
author of the novel Shy Girl and a filmmaker whose latest film, FtF: Femaleto Femme,
premiered at the San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival last June. Visit her online
at elizabethstark.com.
Letters
"If you went that extra mile to help me find a back issue,
then I can't begin to imagine what you have done for
your magazine. I would like to thank you not only for your
help, but for being such a positive role model for the
lesbian community."
Bad Advice?
I love, love, love CURVE magazine. I also love the advice column of
Lipstick & Dipstick. Normally, their advice is right on the money.
However, I cringed at the advice to Torn Teen in June (Vol. 16#5).
The girl writing is 14. She should not run naked with anyone. Yes, I
am a lesbian and a mother of two girls, ages 15 and 14.
Fourteen is too early to experiment with sex. I am not natve. I do
not believe in waiting until marriage or civil union, but kids should
be older when engaging in sex. I have told my own daughters that I
would prefer that they did not wait until marriage, but if they could
wait till after high school, that would be great. There are just too many
things involved in sex that a 14-year-old cannot handle.
- TraceyM. Hasser,Fenton, Mo.
Lipstick: First, thank you for writing in. It's so very important for
parents to be concerned and involved in their children's lives. Second,
I apologize for the offense. That is never our intention - what we
intend to do is offer solid advice drawing from our own lives from
two very different, ironic perspectives.
Apologies and kudos aside, please take off your all-I-can-be-isserious shades and reread the column. I didn't advise the Torn Teen
to run after anyone naked. I simply told an anecdote from my own
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I9
Letters
tormented childhood, one that, like so many other teens (gay or
straight), is littered with strange, blurry, sexually confusing rites of
passage. My advice to the Torn Teen was to let this girl know she's gay
so there's an even playing field. Sure I said that bi-girl might have an
ulterior motive (and she probably did!), one that involves some harmless exploration (not full-blown sex) in the stables, but that was just
playful rhetoric. To all the parents out there who may've taken offense,
I'd advise you to not put so much pressure on your kids about what
they can or cannot do surrounding their budding sexuality.Maybe it's
not a good idea to dabble in the drawers when you're that young, but
if teens have been raised well - with strong values in a loving space
- they'll figure this out on their own.
Dipstick: Mom, sorry you took my joking about Lipstick's racy past
to mean that we encourage other 14-year-olds to go out and do what
she did. As a former youth counselor, I would never seriously advise
a young woman to chase naked after her friend. It was meant to be
funny. Torn Teen, please put your pants back on. It was a joke!
Pride Encounter
This past Sunday at the Capital Pride Festival in Washington, D.C.,
I decided to stop at the CURVEbooth. While I was looking through
the many back issues, this wonderful lady stopped what she was
doing and came to my rescue. She knew the exact article I was looking for, but wasn't quite sure which issue it was in. That is when
the voice of my ... 15-year-old daughter turned me about a dozen
shades of red when she stated, like only a teenager could, "She only
wants that issue because she thinks Alexandra Hedison is hot:'
While I tried to compose myself, this wonderful lady came to
my rescue once again. She joked with my daughter and told her that
nothing was wrong with that and that Alexandra Hedison was hot.
My daughter and I ... walked away from the booth quite impressed.
We could not believe how kind and helpful that lady had been. We
had not gone very far when a couple of young lesbians came up to
me and asked what it had been like talking to her. I had to ask "To
whomt That is when I got my lesson on Frances Stevens [cuRvE's
publisher]. If you went that extra mile to help me find a back issue,
then I can't begin to imagine what you ha~e done for your magazine.
I would like to thank you not only for your help, but for being such
a positive role model for the lesbian community.
- Ruth Nashan, Baltimore, Md.
Can you please, please, please, do another interview with Karina
Lombard? She's returning to The L Word after not being on the
show for two seasons. It is such a huge excitement, and we'd love to
get the inside scoop on how it all came about.
- Andrea Sanchez, via e-mail
Love From the Ladies
Thank you so much for your article on Marsha Stevens-Pino (Vol.
16, #6) and BALM/upBEAT! I am one of the upBEAT! artists
who went through the first training class. I love this ministry, who
Marsha is and what she has done. Our community needs this, and
your magazine sharing the information is really terrific. Again,
thanks, and keep your eyes on us ... we aren't done!
- Natalie Phillips, via e-mail
I'm glad that singer Melissa Ferrick teamed up with PETA to speak
out against fur, even though she's not "all the way there" on other
animal issues ("Melissa Misdemeanor;' Vol. 16, #6). Animals killed
for fur are skinned alive, clubbed to death, crushed in steel-jaw traps
and genitally electrocuted, sometimes just for a little piece of fluff on
a coat collar. You don't need to be a vegan to know that's not right.
- Maura McClure, Virginia Beach, Va.
That's Not What My Life Looks Like
I am a subscriber, supporter, fan, enthusiastic (yet quiet) joiner-in-er.
I must let you know that I was so disappointed in the results of the
photo contest! Not to say that the photographs weren't worthy, but
of all the published selections there were only two or three that were
not sr;iged, artistic photos. I thought the subject was "lesbian life;'
not lesbian models or lesbian art. I didn't see but one or two that look
like something I might see in any of the lesbian lives I know.
- T. Cody, Tally, Fla.
Wrapping It Up
Would you be able to mail your magazine in anything besides a
black plastic wrap? Everyone assumes I'm getting porn! I don't want
my kids thinking a lesbian magazine is equal to porn or anything to
be embarrassed or ashamed about.
-
Melissa, Bloomington,
TI!.
Editor's note: We have to ship it discretelyfor those readersfor whom it
is a big deal to get a lesbian magazine -
Send Us Your Pitches
I would appreciate it if you would consider an article about Lucy
Lawless and Renee O'Connor. Although the series Xena is long
gone, it still creates a lot of interest, and Lawless is now on Battlestar
Galactica. They both are very community minded, and we would
love to read an update on them.
-
Leigh, Australia
I am wondering if you do articles for us older lesbians. I am over
55 and find your magazine is geared to the young and single. Party,
party seems to be the theme. Can you direct me to Web sites or past
articles in your magazine that would be more geared to the "older
lesbians"~
- Sharon, via e-mail
101curve
because they're in the military
or live with their parents or just can't be out to their neighbors. It's too
expenisvive to send some in wrappers and some without, so we all have
to help those lesbians who aren't in circumstances that allow them to get
a lesbian magazine without a discrete wrapper.
Got Something on Your Mind?
E-mail letters@curvemag.com;write to CURVE
Letters, 1550 Bryant St.,
Ste. 510, San Francisco,CA 94103; fax to 415-863-1609. Please include
your name, city and state. Letters may be edited for clarity and length.
Corrections
The cover photo of Joan Jett (Vol. 16, #6) was incorrectly credited;
Michael Rubenstein was the photographer. CuRvE sincerely regrets
the error. ■
Outed and Proud
Thespian Activism
Award-Winning Obsession
Since she came out just three years ago,
Last fall, when thousands of Hurricane
Imagine writing a radio piece about your obses,
Charlene
Hammersen
has been called, "dirty
fucking dyke;' had a cement brick thrown at
Katrina evacuees headed to Austin, Texas, for
shelter from the storm, KarenLaShelle
had one
sion with a female classmate,capturing the
moment you came out to your father as bisexual
her, and recently came back to her car to find
simple thought: What will the children do?
its windshield smashed to bits.
That's a lot for an 18,year,old to take on.
Only days after the Austin Convention
Center filled up with thousands of New
Orleans' refugees, LaShelle, the 30,year,old
on tape andwinningjournalism's prestigious
Peabody Award. Now imagine doing all this be,
But Hammersen, who just began her
executive and artistic director for the Austin,
based Theatre Action Project, assembled a
the Radio Rookies, WNYC's youth journalism
being outed by a friend who found a love note
diverse group of creative talent to answer that
to her penned by another girl at the school,
Hammersen has endured innumerable inci,
very question.
The team spent hours every week at the
program dedicated to providing opportunities
to teens in underserved areas of New York.The
dents of gay bashing, both verbal and physical.
"I guess you could say he really broke the
convention center volunteering their time,
telling stories, singing songs and playing the,
stories have the reputation of being brave,
ice for me;' she says.
The most outrageous confrontations
ater games with the children housed there.
"Theater, and the kinds of activities we do,
began after Hammersen and several friends
successfully started Peers Rising in Diverse
Education, aka P.R.I.D.E., at the school early
last year.Two months after their first meet,
brought these kids joy and a release;' LaShelle
says. "It took their minds off what was going
on every day and gave them time for imagi,
provocative and real. Puentes is all three as she
chronicles, through a combination of narration
and conversation with her sister and father, the
- but did not force the dance club or the gun
shooting club to disband.
Hammersen was undeterred. She and two
other students, Lindsay Pacer and Kimberlee
Gould, with the assitance of the ACLU, sued
_ White County High School last March. On
July 17, the judge ruled in Hammersen's favor,
stating that she and her peers should be allowed
to use the school for their club'smeetings.
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Puente,
now 16, did just last year.
She wrote Obsession
in 2005 as a member of
senior year at White County High School in
Cleveland, Ga., has built a tough hide. Since
ing, school administrators decided to ban all
noncurricular clubs and shut down the club
w
z
fore you are even old enough to drive a car.That's
Hammersen acknowledges it might have
been easier on her had she not been so "out"
about being out, but she said she couldn't have
done it any other way.
"Yeah, a lot of harassment comes with it;'
she says, "but in the end, people have to see
that young people care, too. Just because we're
young doesn't mean we're stupid or that we
don't care:' -
Sheryl Kay
program provides a voice for worlds rarely repre,
sented authentically in the media, and Rookies'
joys and frustrations accompanying her infatua,
tion with a classmate,"K,licious:' Praised for its
nary play:'
Theatre Action Project is a nonprofit
courage, Obsessionwas honored with a 2005
group that brings interactive theater to public
schools all over the Austin area. Programs are
aired nationally on This AmericanLife.
It was difficult, Puente says,to tell her father
about her feelingsfor K,licious. "I thought he
designed to draw young people into a creative
and safe place where they can express them,
selves, particularly about difficult social issues
such as bullying, conflict resolution, abusive
relationships and stereotyping.
"They learn how to be activists, and how
to be allies;' LaShelle explains. She estimates
that between the daytime and after,school
programs, Theatre Action reached about
Peabody Award for journalism excellence and
was going to see me differently and I don't like
things to change. What if we're not as close as we
used to be? But ... it was the complete opposite.
He was like'OK, all right, I still love you."'
Puente performs in local poetry and spoken
word events and, aside from plans to continue
writing, aspires to be an actor, clothing designer,
11,000 students in the past year. Plus, all
model and club owner. At first shy about public
performance, she says,"Sometimes you just
programs are fully subsidized by donations.
"I see myself as someone who has a vision
have to take risks because that's what helps you
find out more about yourself" She's motivated
as an activist through the arts;' LaShelle says.
"My real goal is to bring more and more peo,
to continue performing because of "the way the
audience responded to my work. They loved it a
ple together in the community to ultimately
fight racism, homophobia, poverty, abuse; and
to do that through theater:' - Sheryl Kay
lot, and I just loved that feeling:'
Listen to Obsession
at wnyc.org/ radiorookies.
- Janel M. Lynch
October 2006
I 11
Curvatures
Make Boobies Your Priority
Critically acclaimed French Canadian
musician Lucy Blue Tremblay (right)
has taken on a lifelong crusade that will
potentially help save millions of lives,
using her talents as an artist and activ~
LESBIAN
DREAM
Lastspringweoffered1O
readers
a signedposterfrom
themovieTheNotorious
BettiePagein exchange
for
theirvotesonwhowould
maketheperfectlesbian
pinup.Well,don'tthinkthe
votesweren'tentertaining.
Everygirlunderthesun
wasnominated,
fromPink
(anadorable
sailorsuitand
herbackside
werenoted)to
activistandformerNGLTF
directorUrvashi
Vaid.(Kate
Clinton,
didyouvote?)The
faves?BettiePage(whom
onedykeadmittedhadbeen
a favoriteof hergrandfather
andfatheraswell- aw,a
familytradition),
Katherine
Moennig
(onereadercalled
her"theultimatebalance
of
masculine
andfeminine")
and,of course,
Angelina
Jolie.ComicLisaMyers,of
bitchcomic.com,
summed
up
Jolie'sappeal:
"Everysingle
womanI knoweitherwants
her,wantsto beheror both.
Sheembodies
whatmany...
consider
perfection,
andthe
factthatshe'ssoopenabout
hersexuality
andthatshe
findsbothgenders
sexually
attractive
makesher,I think,
thatmuchmoreattractive."
Whowoulddisagree?
ist to found the Breast Exam Project,
a multifaceted organization designed
to help women and men detect and
prevent breast cancer. "Most of the
women in my family had breast cancer
on my mother's side;' she explains, "so I
thought maybe I should check out my
breasts more often. When my sister was
diagnosed with a stage four lung cancer,
I cancelled my life and became her ad~
vocate. I would go with her and see all
these brave souls sitting there doing their chemo, and I realized
how lucky I was. I thought to mysel.£'There's got to be a way to
make a difference with my music. And now is the time to start:"
In order to put a positive focus on early detection, Tremblay
decided to record a music video that would demonstrate how
to administer a breast self~exam. The video will show real
breasts and feature original music, penned by Tremblay, that
Tremblay gathered from women across the nation, will also be
answered by a health care professional.
Tremblay hopes to include footage from celebrities, such
as Melissa Etheridge, willing to speak on camera about their
experiences with breast cancer in order to empower others.
Finally, the DVD will close with powerful stories about breast
cancer survivors. "We are videotaping women who are thriving
after breast cancer;' she says. "There are women into rowing,
explains how to do the exam. Tremblay will sing directions in
English, French, Spanish and Italian; other languages will be
women who ride motorcycles, and even women who climb
subtitled and instructions will also be shown in sign language.
A series of common questions about breast cancer, which
mountains. It's empowering to see that after chemo, anything
is still possible:• - Jennifer Corday
Taking on the Mountain
Ask any woman who has done it and they'll
tell you that joining Climb Against the Odds
is about much more than climbing 3,550~foot
Mount Shasta. This climb gives breast cancer
survivors and their supporters a way to honor
their struggles and draw attention to breast can~
cer awareness. This spring, 18~year~old lesbian
Kate Cooper became the youngest woman to
climb with the Breast Cancer Fund. Her aunt,
the similarly impressive 50~year~old Pali Cooper,
also a lesbian, joined her.
"I really,really, really want to climb this sacred
mountain called Mount Shasta;' Cooper told
Gay.com, saying that she felt "an urgent need to
help and honor the millions of women and men
who have been touched by this terrible disease:•
For these out lesbians, Climb Against the Odds was much
more than the six months of rigorous physical training it took
to prepare; it was, they say, a spiritual journey. The Coopers
and 26 other men and women reached the summit in July.
Don't think these two are the first lesbians on a Climb
12 I curve
Against the Odds. Several others have preceded them. In 2004,
Pamela Low made the climb, saying her struggle with cancer
was a blessing that made her "see the beauty in life:' The climb
also inspired her to later start a support group for Asian lesbi~
ans in the San Francisco Bay area. For more information, visit
breastcancerfund.org. -
Amanda Poulsen
Connect in Ontario, Canada.
It's hard to imagine a more gay and lesbian-friendly place than Ontario, Canada. Home to the third largest gay
and lesbian population in the world, Toronto is a mature, laid-back big city of flair and sophistication, generosity and
warmth. Film. Theater. Art. Music. Food. Wine. We've got them all here. And more. Plus a fabulous gay village, alive
with bars and discos, cafes and clubs.
Just over an hour away is the Niagara Region, the location of Niagara Falls and center of
one of the world's most exciting emerging wine regions. Drive the Wine Route,
lunch in a vineyard, then head back to Toronto for an evening of theater, a late
supper in a downtown bistro and a nightcap in a friendly, cosmopolitan bar.
For more information, visit www.ontariotravel.net/GLBT
or call 1-800-ONTARIO.
Daniela Sea
IARTIST, ACTOR, MUSICIAN I
When MIX NYC, an alternative gay and lesbian film festival in New York City (mixnyc.org), wanted
to raise some funds, they started off by handing out disposable cameras to 150 various artists and
celebrities, then auctioned off the used cameras to be developed by the winners. Bidders in the Naked
Eye Celebrity Camera Benefit didn't know what images were taken, only the photographer who took
them. Fortunately for us and for you, dear readers, CURVE art director Kas Neteler bid the highest
amount to win the camera shot by The L Word's Daniela Sea (self-portrait at left). Not your standard
snapshots, Sea's images are as queer as the lens she shoots through, and reveal her artistic appreciation for the everyday mundane. - Laura K. Cucullu
14
I curve
Curvatures
Putting on the Cotton
It's back-to-school season, and you know you'll be up all
hours discussing Joan Nestle and Judith Buder, only to
roll out of bed late and run to some physics class you never
meant to take. What better way to plan for those all-nighters than to have a handy arsenal of tees ready to roll as soon
as you are. Many of the hottest shirts this fall make a statement (and come from LGBT-owned or -friendly companies); here are some of CURVE s favorites:
Youprobably
recognize
the
whimsical
workof artist
SudieRakusin
fromher
prolificillustrations
for magazines,calendars,
notecards
andbooks.
A self-proclaimed
"eco-feminist,"
Rakusin
featuresanimalsprominently
in
herwork,asin herchildren's
booksabouta GreatDane
namedSavannah
Blue,or in
thenewsletters
of Feminists
forAnimalRights,
a group
thatspotlights
connections
between
theobjectification
andexploitation
of women
andanimals,
andseeksto
endabusesagainstboth.
Butforthoseof uslongingto
indulgeourinnerchild,she
hascreatedtwomust-have
coloringbooks.TheColoring
BookforBigGirlsandThe
SecondColQring
BookforBig
Girls:SpiritsandGoddesses
(bothfromWinged
Willow
Press)offerupdreamy
drawings,
fullof familiars
anddeities,thatinvitemany
hoursof introspection
and
fun.(sudierakusin.com)
-Ariane Conrad
1
Bitch Mode, She-Haul and Got
Batteries from bitchmodeproductions.com; Kinsey from
whodoyoudo.com; Dip Me and
Nobody Knows from bewild.
com; Bring Dana Back from
idgogayyfor.com; No One
Cares and Lesbian Pride from
onehorseshy.com; Lesbo from
psychotherapyclothing.com
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Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Orgasm
Irritated that the biggest catchphrase among
her male colleagues was Larry the Cable Guy's
"git-r-done," comedian Cathy Carlson decided it
was time for a smutty, chauvinistic catchphrase
of our own. In early 2006, she launched You
includes the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office,
who refused to grant Carlson a trademark due
to the phrase's sexual nature. Their refusal letter
stated, "The 'cum' portion of the proposed mark
if they were denying everything that had a sexual
content to it, but they are not;' Carlson says.
refers to semen, and is thus scandalous because
adult film business ... But saying that having an
orgasm like a girl is scandalous and vulgar was
just offensive enough for me to fight it:' As the
Cum Like a Girl, a line of clothing and accessories all bearing the same slogan of girl-centric
the mark implies that the consumers of the
goods are those who orgasm like a girl:'
w
sexual liberation.
Despite a warm reception in the lesbian community, not everyone agrees with Carlson's vision
I
of erotic empowerment.
Carlson is quick to point out that her items
are far from the first to sport the scandalous Cword, but merely the first to use it in the context of female sexuality. "I would understand it
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"They have approved many trademarks with
phrases that are degrading to women, like in the
battle rages on, show your support for Carlson
(and orgasming women everywhere) by buying
a shirt on her Web site, youcumlikeagirl.com.
- Catherine Plato
October 2006
I 15
Curvatures
Lesbofile
Hair Today, Dyke Tomorrow
Nothing says lesbian like a bad haircut. Or Paris Hilton.
This month, we've got closet action, celebrity
crushes and a whole lotta tongue wagging.
A Hairy Issue
RosieO'Donnell
now rests comfortably as the new
personality on ABC's morning coffee klatch The
View, sitting in Meredith Vieira's old chair (and
Star Jones' TV wake) beside mother-hen Barbara
Walters, Joy Behar and Elisabeth Hasselbeck.
Though many thought that nuclear meltdown had
been narrowly averted when notoriously feuding
O'Donnell and Jones never crossed paths, ABC
threw in their own gimmick to keep things oh-sodicey: As stipulated in O'Donnell's contract, the
former daytime talk show host cannot cut her hair.
Your guess is as good as mine as to why ABC is
so ?-ghast at the thought of O'Donnell sporting a
short 'do while they tolerated watchingJones' melting face day after day.
I ByJocelyn Yoo
"Rememberthat videowhereshe comesout with a
trenchcoat on and she opensup the trenchcoat and
she'swearinga bikiniand then she'srockingout with
a guitar?"Carmensighs."She'shot."
~
::}
~
We'll Always Have Paris
ParisHiltonand NicoleRichie- a duo better
known for dancing on tabletops and XXX home
videos - may be actually doing something honorable with their celebrity for once. The pair stars
in El Network's The SimpleLife: 'Til Death Do Us
Part as urban socialites floundering in reality by
joining an existing family as surrogate mothers.
Generally this results in botched school projects
and scandalized husbands, but when Hilton and
Richie learned that the Bowden family - a lesbian couple raising two teenage daughters - never
had a wedding, their new mission was to put on
the most lavish ceremony possible. Toy dogs and
night-vision goggles optional.
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Million-Dollar Kiss
Many celebrities donate clothes, memorabilia or
personal downtime to raise money for charity.
KateMossdonates the thing she seems to be doing
best (or at least second best) these days - sharing
big wet ones with other allegedly straight women.
Business tycoon Phillip Green paid $108,000 to
win a minute-long kiss with the cocaine queen in
a charity auction for the Hoping Foundation for
Palestinian Refugee Children. Why Green paid so
much became a mystery, though, when he declined
to actually kiss Moss in front of his wife, Tina.
Instead, he passed the prize on to HughGrant's
girlfriend, British socialite JemimaKhan.
16
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Do You Wanna Touch Me?
According to Britain's The Sun, Pussycat Dolls
dancer and AerobicStripteaseentrepreneur Carmen
Electrajust can't get enough of rock stars. The
soon-to-be ex-wife of perpetually eyelinered and
impeccably coiffed Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave
Navarro plays JoanJett'slover in Jett's new video
for 'AC.D.C.;' fulfilling Electra's lifelong crush.
"Remember that video where she comes out with
a trench coat on and she opens up the trench coat
and she's wearing a bikini and then she's rocking
out with a guitar?" Carmen sighs. "She's hot:'
When Star Exes Collide
After five years of no contact, EllenDeGeneres
and current girlfriend Portiade Rossiran into
DeGeneres' ex Anne Hecheand her husband,
Coley Laffoon, at the GQ Celebrity Poker for
Peace Games in Los Angeles, Us Weekly reports.
When the Emmy award-winning talk show host
came face-to-face with Heche, "Ellen's face was
bright red;' a witness says. According to another
source, Heche initially tried to avoid the showdown by hiding in the Calvin Klein gift room.
Tsk, tsk, Anne, but we're not really surprised. You
always did seem more comfortable in the closet. ■
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Soulforce Equality Ride
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Last spring, 35 young adults traveled across the country with a
much loftier purpose in mind than
the partying that usually characterizes college road trips. For the first
Soulforce Equality Ride, these activists went on a 51-day-long bus
tour to visit 19 religious colleges
and military academies that forbid
enrollment ofLGBT students. The
tour aimed to "challenge the schools
to learn from history, to take ownership of the damage caused by
their policies and to stop religionbased discrimination;' according to Jacob Reitan, founder and
co-director of the ride.
Inspired by the freedom rides of the 1950s and '60s, the 35
student activists (and one interspecies hamster activist named
Ryder) held class discussions, community forums and reached
out to LGBT communities at each stop.
Although reactions to the ride varied, ranging from student
arrests at six different institutions to the creation of new gaystraight alliances at four other schools, most schools received
ON-SCREEN
DYKE ALERT
the Soulforce riders with enthusiasm - a positive and hopeful
surprise to co-director Haven Herrin, who is already planning
and recruiting new participants for a larger and more exten sive tour in the spring of 2007. Herrin says that this year's ride
gave herself and many other activists, "a newfound respect for
Christianity" that proved to her that "reconciliation is truly
achievable:'
For more information on the ride, visit equalityride.com.
-
What'sthemosteagerlyawaitedlesbian
filmthisfall?
Running
WithScissors,
the
quirkyfilmbasedontheoutlandishandirreverent
novel
fromgayauthorAugusten
Burroughs,
in whichAnnette
Benning's
unstable
character
hasmorethanonelesbian
relationship,
Above,
she's
withonelover,playedby
Gabrielle
Unionof Bringit
Onfame,
Kathryn Papanek
October 2006
I 17
1 Contestants at the premiere of Bravo's ProjectRunway 2 Lovely lasses from Girls in
Wonderland pool party in Florida 3 Former CURVE editorial assistant Lauren Marie
Fleming and CURVE s handy office manager, Meriah Miracle, ham it up at the Long Beach
Pride CURVE booth, June 2006 4 Kevin Cathcart and Billie Jean King at Lambda Legal
5 Hard,working volunteers Desiree Figueroa (left) and partner Deborah Alcantara at
Atlanta Pride, June 2006 6 Patrice Walls, a twirler for ROTC, Righteously Outrageous
Twirling Corps, at St. Petersburg Pride in Florida, June 2006 7 Filmmaker Cherien Dabis
(Little BlackBoot) and filmmaker Trish Doolan (April'sShower)at the April's Showerrelease
party in Los Angeles, May 2006
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1sjcurve
Curvatures
Hell- Raisin' Sisters of Sacratnento
In 1979, Dayna Davidson, aka"Grumbles;'
and her partner "Gramps;' formed Leather
and Lace, a motorcycle club exclusively for
women in California's Sacramento county.
-Now, 20 years later, Leather and Lace is
a nonprofit renamed the Sisters of Scota
Women's Motorcycle Club. This chicks'
club of hellraisers and hotshots later sought
advice from established bike clubs such as the
Hell's Angels and the Valley Knights, a men's
motorcycle club in Sacramento, and worked
vigorously to prove themselves with philanthropic efforts
benefiting the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation,
the Pony Express Ride and Cross~Country Event, and the
Sacramento Rainbow Festival.
They also provide muscle, working as motorcycle safety
officers at Pride events in bigger cities including San Francisco
and Sanjose. And in 2005, road captain Marilee Witt (whose
road name is Krazy Horse) was asked to provide motorcycle
safety for an HIV/ AIDS cycling event, the NorCal Aids
Challenge. The Sisters of Scota stepped up to the plate - er,
road - and will do it again in 2007.
When Sacramento's on~again, off~againLGBT Pride
returned last June, folks lined
up to see the Sisters of Scota
barreling down the parade
route. While hundreds of
Sacramentans cheered for
parade participants and helped
defuse the handful of anti~gay
protesters on hand, the Sisters
of Scota, then celebrating their
25th anniversary, drew much of
the attention.
Krazy Horse says that her Scota sisters are ready to
save the day for anyone on the road or in their community.
The Sisters of Scota Women's Motorcycle Club has gone
national, with chapters in Florida, Texas and Washington, but
California remains home to the mother chapter and holds the
largest membership. A black leather jacket decorated with a
family patch in vibrant colors of fuchsia and white, a promi~
nent pair of white angel wings branded on the back, is the
official uniform of every sister. Dedicated to their community,
they wear their colors with pride and still manage to rule the
road like a freight train of halos. For more information, visit
soswmc.org. - Mary O'Neal
A LESBIAN
MOVIE EXTRA
I wasthrilledto beinvitedas
anextrainthenewlesbian
movie,Changing
Spots,
whichstarslesbian
actress
Danielle
Egnew
andher
partnerJennySherwin.
My
partner,
Jamie,andI found
theHollywood
barwhere
shooting
wasscheduled
to
takeplaceintheweehours
ofthemorn.Inside,
it wasa
wholenewworldforme:As
lights,cameras
andactors
sprungintoactionto shoot
oneofthefinalscenes,
the
on-setenergy
wasaliveand
pumping.
Toreadmoreof
JenniferCorday's
diaryplus
interviews
withthestarsand
directors
ofChanging
Spots
go to Curvemag.com.
Peak Adventure
Travelto new heights
Nativeculture,wilderness,wildlife, mountains,trails, glaciers,fishing,and events.
Anchorage:one destination,endlessadventure.
October 2006
I
19
Advice
HOW TO HAVE
A HOMO
HALLOWEEN
Ah,Halloween.
Seemslikeit
wasjustyesterday
whenyou
coulddressupasa cowgirlor
a harlot.(Ifyou'reMadonna,
it
wasjustyesterday.)
Youcan
putthe"boo"in beautiful
this
Halloween
asyouexpress
yourself
andimpress
your
friendswithoneofthese
incognito
possibilities.
Bend some gender.
Dressastheopposite
sex.
Express
yourbluejeans-andflannelside(asif youdon'tdo
thateveryday)- foroneday
oftheyear,facialhairwillbe
a bonus.Or,shocktheworld
andputona dressandheels.
Noonewillrecognize
you.
Be your ultimate fantasy. Besomething
far-out,
wackyandunrealistic,
like
Michael
Jackson,
AnneHeche
ora Republican
lesbian.
Indulge
ina worldthatdoesn't
existasyouandyourpartner
weara wedding
dressand
tuxedo,
clutching
yourlegally
recognized
marriage
license.
Dress as a dynamic
duo. OK,couples:
Dressup
asthefatStarJonesandthe
skinnyStarJones.
Thenwatch
thefurflywhenyouruninto
thecoupledressed
upasthe
fatandskinnyOprah.
Or,the
twoof youcandressupasa
classiclesbian
duolikeLucy
andEthel,
WilmaandBetty,
or NancyDrewandhergood
friend,George.
(Come
on,who
weretheykidding?)
Go practical. A togais
a convenient
costume.
No
zippers.
Noclasps.Noapparel
obstacle
courseat theend
oftheevening.
Orgoasa
pirate.
Thatpeglegwillcome
in handylater,andif thebeer
goggles
don'twork,theeye
patchmayhelp.
Scare yourself - and
everyone else. If your
goalis to makechildrenrun
screaming
in theotherdirection,well,I referyou,again,
to thefollowing
costumes:
George
W.,StarJones,
Michael
Jackson
orAnne
Heche.
Cometo thinkof it,
adultswillrunoffscreaming,
too.- KateLacey
20
Icurve
Ask Fairy Butch
It's a Mystery to Me
Dear Fairy Butch: My lover's vagina is a mystery to
me. I have no idea how to work the angles to make
strap-on sex enjoyable for her. Can you give me the
lowdown? - Geometrically Challenged in Georgia
Dear Challenged: I would be delighted, cherub! Let's get
to work. The vagina averages about 4 inches in length, from
the vaginal opening at its entrance to the fornix at its end. The
fornix is up next to the cervix, or the entrance to the uterus.
Vaginal tissue is composed of moist mucous membranes, which
are smooth in some places and roughly textured like a sponge
in others. In its unstimulated state, the walls of the vagina collapse on itsel£ leaving just enough space for menstrual blood
and other fluids to escape. The angle of the vagina is particular
to each woman, and learning how your partner's vagina is contoured, and how that contour changes as she becomes aroused
and when she changes positions, are the most important things
you need to know to have great strap-on sex. Again, you must
explore your partner's vagina by hand prior to penetration, particularly if either your partner or strap-on sex is new to you.
The deepest two-thirds of the vagina are sleek in texture;
they feel much like the surface of your mouth inside your
cheek. This part of the vagina is more sensitive to fullness
and pressure than to sensation on its surface. This means it's
the time of her menstrual cycle, her age, diet, level of arousal,
the amount of which has been used in recent sexual activities,
and her own subjective patterns. To ensure that an otherwise
likely that you won't be able to tell when your cervix or the
tissue deep inside your vagina has been scratched. Therefore,
pleasurable enterprise isn't threatened by a lack of precipitation,
make certain that a good water-based lubricant is available at all
it is especially important to file your fingernails carefully prior
times. Be sure to find out more in my book, The Ultimate Guide
to inserting them into your partner's vagina, or to try sexpert
Carol Queen's trick of stuffing cotton balls into the end of a
to Strap-On Sex: A CompleteGuidefor Women and Men.
latex glove to dull the sharp edges of long fingernails inside.
This is also a good reason to. avoid overindulgence in alcohol
Dear Fairy Butch: My lover and I have a decent sex
life, but I'm wondering if there is anything we could
do to jazz it up outside the bedroom. Any ideas?
Wondering in Wichita
or other recreational drugs while engaging in penetration of
any kind, because it is likely that you won't have the presence of
mind to avoid possible injury to the inner vagina.
The outer third of the vagina, closest to its opening, is more
textured, with various ridges, folds, and nerve endings lining
Dear Wondering: Well, sugar, actually, I have a few, but
don't tell your local legal enforcement bureau you got them
its surface. This part of the vulva can be very sensitive to touch,
whether from fingers, vibrator or penetration by a strap-on. A
from me. The movies are an excellent place to get your groove
on if you can find a private enough row. Imagine what you
could do with the bottom removed from a popcorn container
woman must be sufficiently aroused prior to vaginal penetration, as the cervix moves back into the vagina with stimulation,
and penetration becomes easier and more pleasurable. Because
the cervix, like the walls leading toward it, is more sensitive to
pressure than to touch, be certain to use only dildos that are
well-designed for the purpose of penetration - those that are
made of a pliable material, free of sharp edges or coarse surfaces.
Again, it's quite possible that a woman may remain unaware
that a roughly surfaced object has injured her during the throes
of intercourse until after the deed is done.
held in your partner's lap after you've eaten the popcorn, for
example. Packing a dildo is always a great standby for on-thefly, out-of-the-bedroom sex, whether the sex actually comes
to fruition outside your home or finds its way back between
the sheets after the heat has risen. Finally, you don't need to
live inMotor City to enjoy the libidinous value to be found in
a car. Sometime when you're feeling amorous, just pull over.
Make sure you engage the parking brake and do what comes
naturally. ■
Vaginas are endowed with natural lubrication that increases
upon arousal. Though the organic slippery stuff can go a long
way in facilitating comfortable penetration, the amount of natural lubrication present in a woman's vagina varies in response to
Gentle Readers:To submit your queriesregardingthefiner points
of lesbianlife, sexuality, romanceand other matters of the heart,
send a note toJb@fairybutch.com.
~
I
(/)
~
:J
UJ
Lipstick & Dipstick Advice
Just Can't Get Enough
Dear Lipstick and Dipstick: I'm 31 years old
and have been out for about a year. I just
landed my first girlfriend and am madly in
love. She's eight years older than me, and
while we're great together, we do have one
teeny conflict. I can't get enough sex from
her. We do it twice a week, but it's just not
enough. I need it all seven days. I've talked
to her about it, and she says that she just
can't handle more, that she thinks she's
holding her own. I've tried masturbating but
that doesn't work, and I definitely don't want
to have an open relationship. What should I
do? - Energizer Bunny
Dipstick:Jesus, Bunny. Do you have a job or do
you just lay around in wait for your lady so you can
pounce? Sounds like you need a new hobby, something to keep your mind off that pussy you just can't
get enough 0£ I'll say your lady is holding her own
at twice a week and whereas we all prefer the real
thing to masturbation, making out with your rabbit
habit should do for those times when you're in the
mood but your gal isn't. Lipstick, what do you say?
Lipstick:I say Hallelujah! You don't need a new
fif
..J
a:
~
hobby,Jezebel,just some new sex toys. There's nothing wrong with being a nympho as long as you're
not hurting anyone (your girlfriend's pulled hamstring doesn't count). And shame on you, Dipstick.
Dipstick knows better than anybody that we get
countless e-mails from women who have lost their
libido. I think your raging river is thirst-quenching.
Ahhh. You remind me of me when I first came out;
I was a sex maniac, too. Ask Grace, my sorority sister, and she'll tell you. After we first knocked boots
(actually, I think they were Nine West mules) we
had serious beaver fever. In college,we'd hole up in
the bathroom stall for a quickie while our meathead
boyfriends pounded shots at the bar. And on the way
to the football tailgaters, we'd pull the car over and be
the first ones to score that weekend. Touchdown!
Aside from celebrating your aptitude, I should
tell you that time does take its toll on the old body.
Like my taste for red wine over the years, my sexual
palate has changed. Now, it's not about quantity so
much as quality. Goodbye two-buck Chuck, hello
high-end syrah. Don't get me wrong, Energizer
Bunny, I still like to tie one on every now and then,
just not four times a day. I agree with Dipstick that
you should stop obsessing about poontang and
get busy with other things, but don't let the butch
make you think your appetite is a bad thing. She's
dead wrong; it's a very good thing. Stay hungry.
Dear Lipstick and Dipstick: I respect the
lesbian woman and lifestyle but find it disingenuous when women suddenly find themselves to be lesbian. The whole idea doesn't
wash with me. So, as I turn to myself, I find
that I want to be bisexual mainly because
my relationships with men never amount to
anything and I appreciate the female form. In
light of all this, I'm just not sure how to find
another woman to flirt with or date. I am used
to men, but I'm scared of women. If I did
meet someone, should I be honest with her
that I'm bisexual? Wouldn't that be a turnoff?
- Scaredy Pants
Lipstick:Well I'm turned off but it has nothing to
do with your bisexuality. You're a huge closet case,
Scaredy Pants. So large in fact, I'm not even sure
where to start. First, you've got some major shit to
work on. Second, everybody is straight until they're
gay; it's our culturally imposed, default orientation.
Every lesbian has that moment when she realizes
- usually after everyone else already knows - she's
a big dyke. If you're like me, you look back and realize your truth was buried under stacks of Charlie's
Angels posters, Anne Murray cassettes and Lifetime
movies starring Nancy McKeon. To say it's disingenuous to suddenly find yourself to be gay is not
only shallow,but ultimately, as a grown woman, surprisingly infantile. Think about it. How would you
like some dyke to say bisexuality is a cc:ip-outrDon't
be foolish and small-minded. We must all accept
each other. So, next time you wanna bitch-slap any
babe who just realized she's gay, remember this old
lesbian proverb: Be careful of whose toes you step on
today (especially if she'sjust had a pedi); they might
be attached to the ass you wanna kiss tomorrow.
Dipstick: Lipstick, maybe you were straight until
you were gay, but this butch was never any other
way. However, I do realize that many, if not most,
women go through the tortuous experience of dating men before they come upon Sapphic satisfaction. What I'm more concerned about is Ms. Pants'
assertion that she wants to be bisexual mainly
because her relationships with men never amount
to anything. And then she refers to lesbianism as a
"lifestyle:' Lady Loo, what makes you think you've
got what it takes to make it work with women?
You can't just decide to be gay. Hell, if you could,
we'd have a lot more girls on our team. You sound
like a piece of work and I'd advise anyone reading
not to date you! ■
<{
C!J
z
iii
UJ
a:
..J
Ask us anything about sex, love or lesbians at
lipstick.dipstick.com.
::J
~
October 2006
I21
Call today for
RESERVATIONS
This is a NONPROFIT EVENT
for Holly's Tahoe Helping Hands.
Proceeds will help provide handicap
facilities for people with disabilities.
B00-745-7041
~ the EVENTS page on our web site
for pricing infonnationand details!
curve
THE 81!8T-8ELLINQ LESBIAN MAGAZINE
www.hollysplace.com
JAnE!JAnE.
Advice
Astro Grrl
All Eyes on You
Libra (Sept. 24-Oct. 23)
Sex: Everything seems to cost more now - love,
fun, projects, travel, personal dreams. However,
- talk is cheap. Career: Unexpected changes and
various kabooms on the job can make you nervous, but don't get rattled. Get even.
Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)
Sex: You ache for love and attention throughout the
month. All eyes are upon you. Er, is your fly open?
Career: Expect adventure on the job this October;
women to see, women to meet, women to avoid.
Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 22)
Sex: You are mysterious, deeply interesting,
psychic, intuitive and absolutely fantastic. Who
are you and what have you done with my Sag?
Career: Plan your career as you would a grand
tour of some exotic place. Even better, go on a
grand tour of some exotic place.
Capricorn (Dec. 23-Jan. 20)
Sex: Will a friend become a girlfriend? Find love
among your usual basket of ripe tomatoes. Don't forget to squeeze before you buy. Career: Your mind
is less on the job and more on going out and having
fun. You've been working so hard, I wonder if you
remember how to really have fun. Prove me wrong.
Aquarius (Jan. 21-Feb. 19)
Sex: You had all September to travel and sample
international selections of love. Now you can
feast on your memories. Career: Work, work,
work all through October, Aqueerius. What a
change of pace!
Pisces (Feb. 20-March 20)
Sex: Get off your easy chair, get out there and
look for love. Maybe she's waiting for you in some
faraway place. Maybe she's waiting for you in
the living room. Either way, don't keep her waiting. Career: Guppies have an itch to scratch all
through the month. Will you claw your way to the
top of the heap or be content just to watch the
action? Typical.
a:
:J
CXl
<(
I
:5
UJ
CXl
§
Aries (March 21-April 20)
Sex: You are one hot honey this October! Explore
some sizzling new scenery and see whom you can
meet and greet. Remember to smile and say cheese
... cake!Career:Lambda rams are looking for excitement and opportunity and will find them where they
least expect. Keep looking. Are you hot or cold?
Taurus (April 21-May 21)
Sex: Spirit your special lady to new vistas and
gain a new perspective yourself Stag? Hoof it to
the nearest resort and cool your heels. Career:
Daydreaming? Can't keep your mind on the job?
Don't worry Sapphic bull - they won't miss your
mind there anyway.
Gemini (May 22-June 21)
Sex: Break out of your moldy routine and be daring. You'll have them all fooled, so be sure to take
advantage! Career: Treat yourself to a few side
trips and get away from the dreary routine of your
job - or find ways to liven up your workplace on
the cheap.
Needto get away?
We havethe perfectplace.
Actually;
we have9,000.
Cancer (June 22-July 23)
Sex: You have a hunger that needs to be sated.
Romance is in the air! Career: Be more creative
on the job this October. In fact, you can be especially creative in London, Barcelona or even Paris
(whomever she is).
Ourguidesare packedwith
LGBTaccommodations,
bars,
bookstores,
cafes& more,
acrossthe US,Canada,
Europe& beyond.
Leo (July 24-Aug. 23)
Sex: Give a good roar and let your lovers know how
you feel. And don't just be all talk, lioness. Career:
Not much career action to speak of this month.
Good. Find any excuse to goof off and explore.
Virgo (Aug. 24-Sept. 23)
Sex: Yak, yak, yak. Queer Virgins don't know
when to shut up. Put your mouth to better use than
flapping the air. Career: This is a good month to
research your winter vacation plans. I suggest you
try to do so during working hours, since you're not
concentrating on the job, anyway. ■
For more advicefrom the stars, visit our astrologer,
CharleneLichtenstein,online at thestarryeye.com.
WW
•
October 2006
I 23
It's All About the Journey
Fourteen
tipstogetthemostofyourEuropean
backpacking
trip.ByGabriana
Marks
I'd wanted to backpack across Europe ever since my childhood, when
my mom told me stories about her amazing hitchhiking adventures
across the continent. (Of course, hitchhiking was much safer then.)
After years of imagining what my own trip might look like, I finally
decided to go. I had just finished college and had no job, no significant
other and no real ties to keep me home - the perfect combination
for the vacation of a lifetime. I'm happy to report that the journey was
everything I'd dreamed of, plus a few unexpected surprises along the
way. I learned that backpacking solo is a wonderful experience, but keep
a few things in mind before setting off to conquer the world (or just
Europe) alone.
1. Planahead.This is especially important when traveling with frequent flyer miles. Because I didn't make the decision to take off until
early summer, I was very limited in available flights and ended up booking a flight to Frankfurt one month in advance.
2. ake reservations
for yourfirstnight I purchased the requisite
tour books, but decided to be adventurous and not make any reservations for accommodations. In retrospect, reservations for at least the
night of my arrival in Europe would have been a good idea. After an
all-nighter of packing and an uncomfortable 10-hour plane ride, I was
exhausted, and the German customs officer seemed quite concerned
that I still had nowhere to sleep that night. I began to worry if I would
even be admitted to the country, and wondered if poor forethought
was grounds for putting me on the next plane home. But then the man
smiled an "oh, you stupid American'' smile and stamped my passport.
3. Alwayschangesomemoneyat homebeforeleavingon a trip.
After making it through customs, I somehow ended up in a deserted
entrance to the train station. It looked like it might be under construction, and the only sign of life was an erotica shop that was closed. No
ATM, no food and nothing in English to help me find my way. I'd
intended to find a place to change money in the airport, but that didn't
quite mesh with the whole getting lost bit. At this point my confidence
was starting to fade when by chance I met a young American on his
way home from service in Iraq. Not only did he steer me onto the right
train, he bought my ticket and gave me some local currency. I couldn't
believe my luck.
4. everarrivein a European
countryon a Sundayandexpectto
findmuchopen.I have a very good sense of direction, so I wasn't worried that I wouldn't be able to find the local hostel where I planned to
stay. But because nothing was open - not even drug stores where I
could ask for directions - I wandered around the streets for a couple
of hours carrying my increasingly heavy backpack before I finally found
Hostelling International hostel. I was pleasantly surprised, though, to
find it only cost 16 euros and included breakfast.
5. Packlightly.Here's a good rule for how much to bring: Once
you're done packing, take at least half out and leave it at home. You don't
really need everything you think you do and toting a heavy backpack
around gets old real fast. When I got into my room, I crashed. I awoke
from my nap and found I had three roommates - none of whom spoke
English (which was, of course,just part of the fun). I quickly decided to
explore whatever areas of the city were open on a Sunday.
6. Trynewfoods,butaskfor suggestions.
I went to a cute, applewine tavern with outdoor seating and decided to be brave and try allnew foods. I ordered sweet apple wine (delicious) and Handki.isemit
24
I curve
Musik (literally hand-cheese with music). It's round cheese soaked in
oil and vinegar and topped with onions. Sounds good, right? Wrong!
It was a very bad choice - possibly even worse than landing in a new
country without reservations. It tasted like I imagine horse hooves
would taste (but not in the gelatin kind of way). I tried to hide my
dislike of it for fear of being rude, but unbeknownst to me the waitress
had been staring at me quite intently. She laughed and explained she
didn't like it either. I was so relieved that I asked her to just bring me
her favorite dish, which turned out to be a tasty combination of beef
sausage, fried potatoes and fresh, herbed cucumbers in yogurt sauce.
This turned out to be the best idea I'd had so far, and I repeated the
request to servers across Europe.
7. Networkandbe outgoing.
When I returned to my hostel, I followed the sounds of English and stumbled upon some solo travelers
like myself. Once they found out I'd just arrived, they were eager to
share travel tips and even invited me to stay in their homes. This sort
of networking was key to a good trip where I could really experience
local cultures. Plus, it provided a group of friends to go out with that
night, and I landed a free place to stay later on in Madrid. I also quickly
got over my discomfort with eating alone. I found that as long as I was
friendly and willing to talk to strangers, I rarely got lonely. In fact, I met
some very interesting people. On a bus in Nice, I met an Australian girl
who'd just come from Paris where she'd had a brief love affair with a
horseback policeman. In Spain I met a Canadian-American couple on a
pre-wedding honeymoon. We shared cold medicine and funny stories,
and later I ran into them on the train from France to Italy and then
again in Florence.
8. Beprepared.
Before I left for my trip, I got a small but very loud
whistle and mini flashlight on a keychain that I kept with me at all
times. I had a money belt for my wallet and locks for my camelback
daypack and my large backpack. I even had pepper spray to protect myself (which I luckily remembered to pack in my checked luggage). As I
was preparing everything, my mom warned me against using my iPod
to fall asleep to as I do at home because she thought it would likely get
stolen. This piece of advice came back to me as I returned to my hostel
well after midnight that first night - to find all three of my roommates
each hooked up to her own iPod. So much for Mom's advice.
9. Hoteldeskattendants
canbe veryhelpful.As my summer-long
adventure continued, the logistics became easier. I soon learned to go to
the nearest hotel as soon as I got off the train in each city. At a hotel, I
could surely find an English-speaking clerk with a free map and, hopefully, the kindness to point me in my desired direction. This worked just
about every time.
10. Finda hostelcloseto foodand attractions.
After Germany, I
headed up to Copenhagen, Denmark. My waterfront hostel was great
for meeting people, but far away from the center of town and any attractions or stores. After that experience, I always made sure to secure central accommodations right after getting off the train.
11. A womantravelingalonecan attractunwantedattention,so
learnhowto avoidit I learned how to say "Go away; leave me alone"
in several l;nguages, but when the direct approach fails, don't be afraid
to flee. Once, curiosity drove me to explore Amsterdam's Red Light
District, and a strange man decided to accompany me around the area.
He seemed nice at first, but then he wouldn't leave me alone. He kept
I ordered sweet apple wine (delicious) and Handkase
mit Musik (literally hand-cheese with music). It's round
cheese soaked in oil and vinegar and topped with onions.
Sounds good, right? Wrong!
offering me illegal drugs and alcohol, then followed me all the way back
to my hostel, where I enlisted the desk clerk's help in getting rid of him.
When the man went to use the bathroom, the clerk helped me slip up to
my room. This trick worked many times in many countries. But while
traveling on trains, it is harder to escape from unwanted attention. A
very persistent and forceful man on the train from Rome to Naples
wanted me to come home with him. He simply wouldn't take no for an
answer. There was no help in sight, so I said I had to go the bathroom
and ran off with my luggage. The moment the train came to a halt, I
jumped off, ran outside and threw myself into the first cab I could find.
The added expense was worth getting rid of the unwanted man.
12.Sitwithfamiliesorelderlycouples
ontrains.They' re usually very
friendly and can help protect you against those with dishonorable inten,
tions. They'll also watch your luggage for you while you go to the bath,
0
ls:::
a
room. This lesson made long train rides much easier. Another trick is
0
:r
::c to sit near the bathroom and lock your luggage to your train seat using
a:
a.
a cable lock. They' re not very expensive and will discourage someone
(!)
UJ
...J
0
13. Treatyourselfto the occasional
hotelstay.It's worth it. There
are some downsides to hostels. You have to share a room and bathroom
with strangers. The rooms aren't always clean, and the food often stinks.
Some of the hostels lock you out during the day. But worst of all was my
hostel in Paris, where I was eaten up by bugs during an afternoon nap.
After that, I decided to treat myself to a couple nights in hotels, and
I've never been so grateful for a comfortable bed, toilet and shelves. The
other plus was having a phone in my room so my family could call me,
although now most cell phones can be set up with international calling
options (handy for emergencies).
14.Keepa journal.I filled the front of a lovely sketchbook with my
favorite quotes and pictures from home, and brought with me a small
watercolor and drawing set, a pen and glue. I used my journal as a scrap,
book and pasted in train tickets, receipts, postcards and other bits I
picked up along my trip. I also painted, sketched, and journaled about
the places I visited and the people I met. The journal turned out to be
the best possible souvenir from my trip. ■
from walking off with your bag.
October 2006
I25
Get Thyself
a Craft, Matey
Several
Websitesofferuphouseboatrentalinformation:
houseboatmagazine.com
Theirrentallistingsallowyouto
browsebystate.
houseboats.com
Houseboat
rentalsin California,
including
Mt.Shastaandthe
Sierras(andourbeloved
Ironstone
in California's
GoldCountry).
gordonsguide.com
Goodoverview
listings,searchable
bybodyof water.
Girls Gone Mild
■
Houseboating
offerstheperfect
tripfora dozenofyourfavorite
friends.
ByJenGilomen
F
It only takes one gal with a little chutzpah and a credit card
to initiate a houseboat vacation for 16 of her closest friends.
For the second year in a row, I was the beneficiary of such
a notion and cruised with a large group of ladies over clear,
shining lake water for a relaxing, communal and slightly
wacky weekend vacation. After the initial concept was
embraced and recruiting commenced, it took a mere 200
e-mails with "Homoboat" or 'J\hoy" in the subject line to get
a total of 16 boaters and their accoutrements aboard the S.S.
Homo 2005.
As we rolled like a golf ball on par into the Glory Hole
Recreation Area in California's Gold Country, we drooled
over the welcoming blue blast of New Melones Lake and
sized up assorted houseboats in the marina, each with its
own affectionately bestowed moniker like the saccharine
"Polly" or more menacing "Gangway;' and variously bedecked
with slides, multiple floors, hot tubs and canopies. Finally,
we saw her glimmer: the classic "Ironstone:• She was ours
for three days of swimming, splashing, booty-shaking, water
sliding and cruising mayhem.
After several last minute, slightly panicked purchases of
absolute necessities like Snickers and an $8.95 captain's hat,
we set sail in the knick of time, crushing out rumors that
our final carload of boaters might arrive after dusk when it's
unsafe to navigate 50-foot boats and we'd be marooned at the
dock with private houseboat neighbors, who are surely of a
different ilk (and bedtime).
I can't remember if the dance party began before the citronella candle-lit photo shoot, the drag show or the pirate
joke fest. (What's a pirate wear on his feet? Arrrrgyles, of
course!) But what I do know is that the next three days were
full of more antics, swimming, gourmet cooking, lounging,
hot tubbing and entertainment than I thought could be
crammed onto a boat whose name isn't Olivia.
While the constant presence of people in cleverlyportioned
space reminded me of why I live in a flat instead of a commune,
A
cc
it
lo
lu
I
n
b
p
ir
sharing tasks,costs and meals becomes one of the most reward-
Sl
ing aspects of houseboating with a large group - and what
makes the experience cost as astonishingly low as it does. On
t:
this four-day, three-night vacation, the rental was $175 per person, and the total for all supplies, food, beverages, gas (for the
n
boat and cars) and insurance was only $68.50 per person (with
a 25-cubic-foot double-fridge ofleftovers to boot).
b
Although it took some organization and planning, the
26
I curve
a
n
V
best matzo meal pancakes, risotto, grilled kabobs, sweet
potato salad and daiquiris.
ti
We ate well, drank heavily,played games, watched embar-
i:
rassing childhood videos, dodged water skiers, skinny dipped
in private coves and watched shooting stars whiz overhead, all
before settling in for our last night on our own duo of islands
that we nicknamed "Booty Island" and "Little Booty Island;' respectively.There, we mourned our last night afloat and dreaded
the inevitable return to landlocked jobs.
Next year, who knows? The location barely matters; it's
the shipmates who make a houseboating plan hold water. ■
Before
YouSetSail
Split into meal teams beforehand;each
team plans, shops for, prepares and
cleans up after their meals.
• Find out what supplies and appliances the
boat is stocked with, and create a sign-up
list for everything else the group will need.
• Save all receipts to divvy up costs for food,
gas and group expenses at the end of the
trip. Have everyone bring their checkbooks
so no one has to shell out more than a
pirate's fair share.
• Call ahead to find out if your marina will
t;
houseboat vacation bought us more than just the basics. Our
vessel's cooking teams delighted each other with the galley's
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
•
Ii'
B
drive the boat in and out of the dock
for you; navigatingthe tight turns of the
marina is especiallytricky.
• When you're recruiting boaters, bring at
least one cutie who knows the ropes of
houseboating, and two who are butch
enough to drive large iron stakes into the
ground with a sledgehammer.(This is how
you simultaneouslytie down the boat and
impress the ladies.)
• Bring severalfloaties with drink holders
and an air pump. There's nothing like
lounging in the water itself, especiallywhile
tied to 10 of your closest friends.
• Besides the typical hangover and sunburn,
there are a surprising number of ways
to injure yourself or damage the boat,
all pleasantly enumerated in the boat's
manual. Have several people attend the
boat orientation that kicks off your trip to
ask questions and take notes, and make
sure you've cruised through the manual
before cruising the lake.
C
g
l:
)
The Ice Cave
FromtheMojave
Desert
toAntarctica,
lesbian
adventurer
LucyJaneBledsoe
hasseenit alland
livedtotell.Hermostfascinating
entry?
Antarctica.
Here'sjustthetipoftheiceberg.
ByLucyJaneBledsoe
Airplanes do occasionally crash in Antarctica. A
couple of days after my adventures in the interior, I
ski with some friends out to see one such plane that
had crashed in 1970. The wreck still lies out on the
permanent ice field.
The day is glorious and at 36 degrees above zero
it's downright hot for Antarctica. Mount Erebus
looms above us as we ski, a plume of smoke curling
luxuriously from its hot caldera. My companions and
I decide that the weather presents a photo opportunity too great to pass up: We strip down to nothing
but boots, skis, and poles, and then take turns snapping pictures, front and rear views, of ourselves skiing naked in Antarctica. I am not thinking about
survival.
Until we reach the downed plane. Only a wing, its
tail, and the long spine remain above the ice, glistening
metallic against the hard cold snow. I climb up on the
tail and walk along the top of the plane, exhilarated at
being alive, at skiing - even naked a couple of hours
ago - in Antarctica. The crashed plane is like a grace
note in this landscape, a ring of clarity about just how
vulnerable we are in such aching beauty.
On the return ski, I see my first set of penguin
tracks, a waddling pair of webbed feet with a trailing tail mark in the
center. Since we are miles from the sea, I wonder what this one lone bird
is doing so far from its colony. After following the set of tracks for quite
some time, I come to an intersection of tracks, where another lone penguin has crossed paths with the first. The tracks cross at right angles and
both sets continue on miles in straight lines. It's extraordinary, this great
X in the snow, like some kind of message. I see no birds, no other tracks at
all, only this intersection of two lone penguins traveling far from home.
I've grown quite tired by the time we are offered a ride. A big orange
Delta, a truck with giant tires (three feet wide and a five foot radius)
made for the snow and ice roads of polar regions, has come to see if we
are OK. Joe, the driver, is a fireman in New York City most months of
the year. He is also a fireman here in Antarctica.
We are in fine spirits and climb high up on top of the Delta's cab
rather than into the back of the vehicle. We sing and tell jokes as Joe
drives us back towards Williams Airfield. The truck lurches. The top
of the cab tilts and I feel myself sliding towards the edge, a good 15
feet above the snow-packed road. I brace my rubber boots on the cab
roo£ The Delta comes to a stop and luckily so do I.Joe jumps out of the
driver's seat and explains that he has accidentally slipped off the road
into deeper snow. It's no problem, he says, but maybe we had better
would call for help are his coworkers at the firehouse. They would never
let him hear the end of having driven off the road. So we give Joe ~ little
more time, watching him spin the tires of the Delta, digging a deeper
and deeper hole in the side of the road. We take turns shoveling out
the stuck tire, hoping to make a passage for it to move forward. When
we aren't digging, we wait. And grow cold, in spite of the warm-forAntarctica weather. It is getting late. I'm tired and hungry. I change into
my spare socks to warm my feet and walk away from the Delta and then
back, m ny times, trying to warm up. But I grow colder. And colder and
colder. I look out across the vast field of ice and think of survival.
I do know how to build a snow cave. My pack is stuffed with survival
gear, including extra clothing and food. But I would much rather sleep
in the bed assigned to me in McMurdo Station. The rest of my skiing
friends agree, so we take matters into our own hands and call the fire station. Minutes later, a fire truck races out the snow road. Joe's colleagues
are hanging out the windows of the fire truck, laughing, snapping pictures of his misfortune, and shouting jokes that he will hear the entire
season, and probably next season, too. Even the ambulance roars out the
road to deliver covered plates of dinner for us stranded skiers who will
miss galley hours in McMurdo.
The Delta is towed out of the ditch it made, and we are transported
back to town. As I bounce along in the Delta, this time inside the vehicle,
I savor the idea of a warm bed rather than an ice shelf in a snow cave. ■
jump off.
We do. Joe works on getting the Delta out of the snow bank, but the
more he guns the engine, the deeper the big fat tire spins into the snow.
Excerpted with permission from The Ice Cave: A Womans Adventures
We have radios and several of us confer, deciding we should call
for help. Joe, however, is insistent that he can get the Delta out of the from the Mojave to the Antarctic by Lucy Jane Bledsoe, ©2006 Terrace
ditch. I slowly come to understand that he is mortified: The people we Books, University of Wisconsin Press.
October 2006
I 27
The Gay-Friendly Skies
Howtheairlines
measure
upwhenit comes
toLGBT
travelers.
ByMalinda
Lo
Now chat buying an airline ticket is as simple
news back in 2003 when it spun off indepen-
as pointing and clicking your mouse at the best
deal, LGBT travelers have more choices than
dent low-cost airline Song. But despite Song's
ever. But how do you know if your hard-earned
Kate Spade-designed uniforms, it never fully
took off and last year was folded back into
dollars are going coward an LGBT-friendly
company? CuRvE is here to help with our
Song's amenities, including its 24 channels of
handy guide co flying the gay-friendly skies.
television and on-demand video. Currently in
Cream
oftheCrop
the midst of bankruptcy, Delta nonetheless
has continued to support a variety of queer or-
American
Airlines:
Hands down, no ocher airline
ganizations, including Youth Pride in Atlanta,
has been as gay-friendly as American Airlines.
In face, lase fall American launched a Web site
and has sponsored floats at Pride events in
Atlanta, Boston, New York and San Francisco.
(aavacacions.com/rainbow) with vacation pack-
Plus, Delea promises that it will keep its new
that they "probably will do more' outreach to
ages designed specificallyfor queer travelers. In
addition to being the official airline for numer-
uniforms designed by Richard Tyler, who has
the gay community in the future. In addition,
dressed the likes of Julia Roberts and Heather
Locklear. If that's not appealing to gay travelers, I don't know what is.
Southwest is one of the few U.S. airlines to
ous LGBT groups, including HRC, GLAAD
and NCLR, American is the only airline to
have scored a perfect 100 on HRC's Corporate
Equality Index four years in a row. That means
chat American provides full benefits for its em-
US Airways:Only the second airline to
remain profitable in a time of general industry
malaise, something that goes a long way toward
putting its flight attendants in a good mood.
receive a 100 score on HRC's Corporate
NotThereYet
Equality Index, US Airways is now the nation's sixth largest airline after merging with
Continental:
Though Continental scored 86 on
America West in 2005. Though America
West has done some limited marketing to-
the HRC's Corporate Equality Index, it did
not extend travel benefits to retirees' same-sex
to add gender identity to its nondiscrimination
ward LGBT travelers in the past (it even
statement. Considering chat American is the
largest airline in the world, were pretty lucky co
once offered a Web site, now largely defunct,
for LGBT travelers), all specialty marketing
domestic partners until 2005, something that
American and United did several years ear-
have chis company on our side. Hey, chisis one
case in which the word ''American" can be an
is currently on hold due to the merger. US
lier. The Houston-based carrier (yes, its hub
is the George Bush Intercontinental Airport)
Airways provides full benefits to same-sex do-
occasionally
undeniable source of pride.
community, but after CEO Gordon Bethune
referred to competitor United in 2003 as meta-
A Close
Second
mestic partners and includes gender identity
in its diversity statement.
United Airlines:Back in 1997, United
JetBlue:In the battle for your airline dollars,
Airlines became the first American airline
JetBlue cook the fight to the next level when
it launched in 2000, offering a trendy look,
quirky commercials that poke fun at other air-
to market to LGBT travelers, and in 1999 it
became the first to offer same-sex domestic
most politically correct airline.
partner benefits to its employees. In the past,
United has sponsored a number of LGBTrelated causes, including the Millennium
AndDon'tForget
March on Washington and several AIDS/
corners of the Arctic? Not true. It flies everywhere from Nome, Alaska, to New York and
is ranked No. 5 on Travel & Leisure's list of
ployees' same-sex domestic partners, has consistently provided diversity training for employees
about sexual orientation, and was the first airline
lines, an unparalleled in-flight entertainment
package and fantastically low prices. Five years
later, JetBlue has expanded to serve 33 cities
and has spawned competitors in the form of
Song (recently folded into Delta). But JetBlue
is more than just a fun airline in which you can
access 36 channels of free DirecTV programming in your posh leather seat. Employees
of JetBlue all undergo diversity training that
includes gender identity in addition to sexual
orientation. In 2005, it sponsored several gay
and lesbian film festivals, including Miami,
Oucfest and San Francisco's Frameline, and is
now the official airline sponsor for the National
Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association.
TheRunners-up
Delta:Based in Atlanta, Delea Airlines made
28
Delea, which promises to retain many of
I curve
HIV nonprofit organizations. Though the
airline has its own LGBT employee group,
United with Pride, it seems that the company
has backtracked a bit from its earlier years of
engagement with the gay community.
SouthwestAirlines:Though this lowcost favorite - known for its staff's tendency to crack jokes while explaining how
to buckle your seatbelt - scored only 64 on
HRC's Corporate Equality Index, a company
spokesperson assured us that Southwest was
a friendly and welcoming environment for
LGBT travelers. Southwest offers benefits to
same-sex domestic partners, has been a sponsor of GLAAD and the WNBA, and told us
markets
toward
the
LGBT
phorically "HIV positive;' it seems clear that
Continental isn't fighting for the position of
AlaskaAirlines:Think that Alaska's a tiny
little airline that only makes runs to remote
Top 10 Domestic Airlines in 2005. The airline has offered travel benefits for same-sex
domestic partners since 2000 and health benefits since 2001, and in 2004 sponsored the
Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival.
Northwest:Scoring an 86 on HRC's
Corporate Equality Index, Northwest was the
first major U.S. airline to join the International
Gay and Lesbian Travel Association.
FrontierAirlines:This Denver-based carrier serves national destinations, sponsors
Denver-area LGBT events and provides benefits for same-sex domestic partners. ■
a:
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Bring Your Boo to Tahoe
Holly's
Haunted
Women's
Weekmakesusshiver
withHalloween
glee.ByCatherine
Plato
Summer's over, but the party's just heating up in Lake Tahoe, Cali£
With ski season just around the corner, dyke,friendly destination
Holly's Place is kicking things off with their first ever Haunted
Women's Week, taking place Oct. 20-27. Don't miss it - an entire
week of live music, outdoor adventuring, and Halloween,themed fun
on the beautiful shores of Lake Tahoe.
Holly's Place is a lesbian,owned, all woman,staffed sanctuary lo,
cated just west of the Nevada border and just minutes from the lake.
Founder Holly Eimer is the sort of woman you can't help falling in love
with: If you're anything like me, a few minutes of casual chatting will
have you begging to take her home as your adoptive grandmother. She
opened her retreat in 1989, originally as a women,only vacation spot.
"I didn't know what to call it until my first ad that I put out in a
book called Places of Interest for Women;' she remembers. "I thought
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and sniff the yummy forest smells. Haunted Women's Week will even
include a Doggy Costume Contest with special prizes.
With Lake Tahoe within walking distance, all guests will have the
chance to enjoy the area's natural beauty and outdoor sports. Guests
can easily access the area's golf courses and hiking and biking trails. If
you're more of indoors kind of girl, Holly's still got your back: All of
the cabins feature stereos, TVs and VCRs, and all guests can use the
onsite library that lends books and films, many with an LGBT,focus.
Holly's cabins are named after prominent female entertainers,
authors and athletes, and each sports decor and memorabilia honor,
ing its namesake. For example, the walls of the Kate Hepburn are
I'd just give it a try to see what would happen, and wow, women start,
ed coming!" Holly later decided to welcome men as well, in favor of a
adorned with photos of the celebrated thespian, while guests in the
Alice Walker can find a copy of The Color Purple on their nightstand.
more diverse environment. But those early days of all,women camp,
All cabins include fully equipped kitchens, down comforters, wireless
Internet, and many have wood,burning fireplaces. Sometimes even
ing still linger in her heart, inspiring this year's celebration.
So far, plans include a costume and drag party, casino night, mov,
lJ.J
as always, doggies are invited, too. From the day she opened, some of
Holly's most enthusiastic fans have been of the four,legged variety.
Her three acres of enclosed land means there's lots of space to run
ies, dinners, barbecues and dance parties, as well as the multitude of
activities that are available all year. (Curve and Jane and Jane, the new
Sacramento,based lesbian home and family magazine, will take part
in the festivities as a sponsor.) Though a lot of couples are expected to
attend, an event especially for single ladies is in the works as well. And
"roughing it" demands a morning au lair, so I was psyched to find
every kitchen was outfitted with a coffee maker, gourmet coffee and
muffins waiting for me.
Don't miss chis great week of parties, prizes and lots of lovely
women. Holly will be updating her Web site as the event approaches,
so be sure to check it out at hollysplace.com. ■
October 2006
I29
Bright, Blooming Baja
Lifeslowsdownfortwolesbians
inMexico.
ByElizabeth
Stark
Baja California. We veer off the highway and down to the desert floor,
driving straight toward the Sea of Cortez and parking on the sand. My
girlfriend, Angie, and her father run barefoot to the edge of the water to
cast fishing lines out into the ocean, then reel in. They come back and
sit with the rest of us on a ledge of sand.
Carla's brought beer and chips. Carla Lucero is the daughter of
Angie's parents' neighbors here in Mexico. She's also the composer
behind Wuornos: Opera by a Woman Composer About a Lesbian Serial
Killer, about the lesbian prostitute who killed a string of johns. Carla's
now working on another opera about Sor Juana Inez de la Cruz, the
17th-century, woman-loving nun. "Serial killers and nuns - they have
a lot in common;' Carla says, laughing.
Night falls quickly, and the stars are so dense and varied it feels as
through I'm in a planetarium. Something tugs on the line. Angie reels
fast, furiously. Finally the end of the line appears, empty. Lucky night
for the fish. I feel like I've arrived in a world where every family has at
least one remarkably talented lesbian daughter - and the nights are
warm enough to fish in shorts.
Angie and I stay in the small guesthouse, which we love. One night, I
notice a dying thing in our bathroom. On its back, its six legs flail above
the tile floor. Should I"put it out of its misery"? I've seen enough suffering lately. My father died last year. But I can't, somehow, imagine what
the last wishes of this beetle would be. I'm squeamish about killing it,
though. I leave it alone.
Early the next morning, it's there on its back, unmoving. Again I
think of the people I've seen stilled, and though I plan to bring a broom
down after breakfast, I pause for a moment of solemnity on my porcelain seat.
But after breakfast, the thing is gone.
We drive to Todos Santos, an old farming town on the Pacific side of
the peninsula. Todos Santos feels more real than our Caho San Lucas.
Caho is a mall, a disco, a wharf built for tourists and priced for tourists
(in American dollars). In Todos Santos, we buy burritos for eight pesos
(about 70 cents) from a roadside stand that offers stools at its counter
and free guacamole and salsas.
It is illegal to restrict beach access in Mexico, but in order to get
to the Pacific, Angie and I hike through a construction site that will
shortly be the locked drive of a wealthy gringo. In a few years - or
possibly sooner - only the pelicans will have unimpeded access to the
rocky path we find that leads down to the sprawling shore.
On the way home, we stop at another beach and discover a complete
little world. Tents, RVs and palapas shelter the beach dwellers. Openair shops sell food and rent boards. We meet Patty, an athletic, whitehaired, barefoot American who's lived on this beach for 10 years. She
runs an all-women's surf camp. Now, in winter, the waves are not the
fierce giants they will become in hurricane season. "Perfect for learning," Patty says.
Back home, the bug is flailing on its back again, clearly about to die.
I feel like the sister in Kafka's Metamorphosis. But in the morning, it's
resurrected itself.
Angie and I set goals for this trip: Eat well, exercise, and write. But
we have one shared goal that tops both our lists: take a break. Weve
been running around without stopping for months. Weve put off coffee breaks and weekends to get through endless, difficult lists of urgent
tasks. Now, finally, we've escaped.
We' re on the hotel-spotted tourist corridor between two capes:
San Jose and San Lucas. But we like to think we're different. We have
a house, for one thing. Well, Angie's parents do. That makes us locals
(though not natives). We carry the plastic rings from six-packs off the
beach when we see them. Like the people around us, we speak English
in restaurants and stores, but we say,"Gracias:'Were aware of the power
imbalances, the contradictions, the - let's just say it -economic colonialism of our presence here. But it's free for us to stay. We get e-mail
reports of the cold and the storms back home. Sometimes Angie's father
watches the weather channel and chortles out to us, "It's 38 degrees in
San Francisco:•
We're the kids in the candy store or the bulls in the china shop
- but mostly I think we're that beetle, who's there on the third night,
flipped on its back, gesturing with all six legs as sincerely as a sign language interpreter at a Holly Near concert. Maybe when I run around
30
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Two fierce worlds kiss here: the desert and the salt
sea. Neither will brook nonsense from the likes of us.
accomplishing things as if my life depended on it, I'm as stranded and
ineffectual as that poor bug. At some point, I flip over and say, "Well,
good. I've gotten something done:' Soon enough, though, I feel the need
The next morning, I take a postcard and a pamphlet and urge the
to flail some more.
That's how it looks from here, anyway,with the sea always stretched be,
beetle onto one with the other. It's partly eager and partly confused.
It keeps dropping off. Finally I get it outside and under a mango tree,
where magenta petals and green leaves gather at the roots, blown from
fore us. Carla sits outside with us, and we allwrite and drink limonata. The
sun rises up from the water and blooms over the desert. Slowly,steadily, it
crosses the long, wide and easy day. Then it drops into the Pacific, splash,
ing up orange and green as it goes. Two fierce worlds kiss here: the desert
and the salt sea. Neither will brook nonsense from the likes of us.
Angie gets me to snorkel for the first time. She shows me how to
suction my mask to my face and breathe with a piece of plastic choking
my mouth. I dip my face down and learn that the length of my vulner,
able human body has been surrounded by colorful, hand,sized fish. I
fl:
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of peace and calm. Not the feeling of open time. Not the warmth. Only
what I ar ived with in the first place.
kick out farther and the sandy bottom slopes down fast. Who knew?
I wish I could have a si~ilar mask that would show me what I miss
when we hike above the arroyo or drive into the bright lights of town,
or even for when we eventually get back home and I open my suitcase
to find I've brought nothing back with me that I planned. Not the sense
the impostor bougainvillea shrub that Angie's mother planted.
I see that the bug is covered in dust, a sheath that begins to come off
as it makes its way under a lea£ Maybe that's why it's been rubbing its
back! The dust trails after it for a while, disconnecting slowly so that I
can trace its movements as its crawls away. Then the dust stops, but the
bug keeps going.
That night we watch the Academy Awards at Carla's. The local
channel hosts speak sonorous Spanish over everyone: Jon Stewart,
Reese Witherspoon, George Clooney, Ang Lee. It's hard to follow, but
we make bets and eat quesadillas and laugh a lot. If we're giving out
awards for dazzling, well,edited worlds, this warm desert beach of les,
bian artists and their indulgent parents everyone - gets my vote. ■
plus enough guacamole for
October 2006
I31
Michigan Mischief
Thewomen
ofSaugatuck,
Mich.,willturnyourfrownupside
down.ByWendy
Colsen
Mt. Baldhead Challenge:
September 5K/1 OK run
mtbaldhead .com
Mason Street
Warehouse: Summer
seasonal performances
269-857 -4898
Running Rivers Kayak
Rentals & River Trips:
269-673-3698, runningrivers.com
Waterfront Film Festival:
June film screenings and
seminars, waterfrontfilm.org
Womyn's Music Festival:
Annually in August
michfest.com
Handy Web addresses
for more info
saugatuck.com
saugatuckdouglas.com
gaysaugatuckdouglas.com
32
Icurve
When my longtime friend Mindy called me up, crying that
the love of her life had just left her for another woman, I did
what any good friend would do: I told her to come play for a
long weekend in Saugatuck, Mich.
"Michigan:"' she replied rather snottily. "What fun could
we possibly have in Michigan:"'
I know - thoughts of the Midwest generally conjure
up images of cows and cornfields, but I told her a trip to
Saugatuck would change her convoluted city thinking and
have her forgetting her broken heart in no time. (Or at least
I'd have her humming a few bars from the theme song to
Green Acres before she left.) Besides, I loved having the
chance to play tourist and see my little town through the eyes
of a new visitor, even if they were the bloodshot, teary eyes of
my dejected best friend.
A week later, Mindy arrived at our quaint, gay,friendly
resort. As we cruised around giving her the quick five,cent
tour, she poured out the whole heart,wrenching story. My
mission was clear: Take her mind off the ex. With so much to
do in Saugatuck, that would be easy. Or so I thought ...
The first order of business was to keep her very busy to pre,
vent any thoughts of her shattered love life seeping in and spoil,
ing the day. Thankfully she's a sports enthusiast, so we started
with a hike at the Saugatuck Dunes State Park. Unfortunately
all trails lead to the awe,inspiring shores of Lake Michigan and
when we arrived, she lamented that it would be the perfect spot
to have a romantic picnic with a girlfriend.
My first attempt having failed, I thought maybe a more
physical challenge would get the endorphins flowing, thus
triggering happy thoughts. Ahhh, the 282,step climb to the
top of Mt. Baldhead sand dune would do the trick.
After we huffed and puffed our way up, we took in the
breathtaking (need I remind you, 282 steps) views of the city.
We then hiked to a hidden bluff which offered a wonderful
sandy blowout where you can take in some spectacular sunsets.
While fondly recalling a few romantic interludes I
had experienced there, I was torn away from my pleasant
thoughts by Mindy's forlorn voice. "What a beautiful spot;'
she said wistfully. "I bet it'd be great to sit and cuddle with
someone while sipping some wine and watching the sunset:'
She wiped a small tear from her eye. Foiled again.
It happened to be Women's Weekend at the Dunes
Resort, so we headed off to the pool. She seemed to cheer
up a bit at the prospect of sitting back and enjoying a bevy of
bikini,clad babes as we sipped mai tais by the poolside. Now
I was getting somewhere.
We met up with a few friends of mine who invited us
to go kayaking the following day. What better way to forget
your woes than to paddle your way down the Kalamazoo
River enjoying the beauty of nature? I admit I was hoping for
strong winds, so that Mindy's exhaustion from battling the
current would keep her preoccupied.
The next day was gorgeous - a mild 80 degrees and not
a cloud in the sky, or even a gentle breeze for that matter. It
was clear that I would have to use my quick wit rather than
the wind to stun her thoughts into submission.
We headed over the bridge to Saugatuck's sister city,
Douglas, where we first grabbed some grinders and wraps
at my favorite woman,owned pizza place, Back Alley Pizza
Joint. We packed our coolers and headed to the river to rent
some kayaks.
After half an hour on the water, I noticed Mindy had
managed to keep a smile on the whole time, and it wasn't
even due to my stunning charm. She had a newfound love
interest in one of my friends.
We paddled farther down the river to the cove, parked our kayaks
and ate our lunch on the sandy beach. Mindy laughed and never men~
tioned the ex once. My mission was starting to reap success.
Hopping back in the kayaks, we found our way to Red Dock where
we docked the boats and climbed up the ladder to the riverside Jamaican
experience. All was running smoothly until Mindy had one too many
Red Stripes, and the tears started to flow. I was pretty sure they weren't
tears of joy. My mission was starting to unravel before my very eyes.
After what seemed to be an eternity, it was decided to end the kay~
aking trip and head to Oval Beach to hopefully bake the alcohol out
of her body. We packed a cooler full of hot dogs and the makings for
s'mores, and headed to the gay and lesbian section to avoid the throngs
of children who have a penchant for kicking sand on bathing beauties
such as ourselves.
The night ended with a spectacular sunset, partially burnt hotdogs,
and Mindy licking the sticky roasted marshmallows off her new love
interest's fingers. Ahhh, success!
She ended up having an amazing time, but it goes to show you can
take the girl away from the heartache, but you can't take the heartache
away from the girl. Though I did find that you can numb it for a while
on a spectacular vacation to Saugatuck. Mission accomplished. ■
IfYouGo
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Places to Stay
All Gay Stay
The Dunes Resort: gay-friendly,
269-857 -1401 , dunesresort.com
Campit: gay-friendly, 269-5434335, campitresort.com
B&Bs
Kirby House B&B: gay-friendly,
269-857-2904, kirbyhouse.com
Newnham SunCatcher Inn:
lesbian-friendly, 800-587-4249,
suncatcherinn.com
Hotels and Motels
Americlnn Lodge & Suites:
269-857-8581, saugatuckdoug
laslodging.com
Best Western Plaza Hotel:
800-528-1234, 269-857- 7178,
hotels-michigan.com
The Pines Motor Lodge: gayfriendly, 269-857-5211, thepines
motorlodge.com
Gay-Friendly Places to Eat
Back Alley Pizza Joint:
great pizza, subs, and wraps,
269-857- 7277
Everyday People Cafe: fine
dining, 269-857-4240
Monroe's: open seasonally for
breakfast, lunch and dinner,
269-857-1242
Phil's Bar and Grille: casual
dining, 269-857-1555
Uncommon Grounds Coffee
House: light fare, 269-857-3333
October 2006
I33
Southern Decadence
Pirates,
history
andgreatSouthern
foodgiveCharleston,
S.C.,plenty
ofcharm.
ByAmanda
Hollinger
IfYouGo
•••••••••••••••••
Cooper River Bridge
cooperriverbridge. org
Jim 'N' Nick's Bar-B-Q
288 King St., Charleston
843-577 -0406
jimnnicks.com
High Cotton
199 E. Bay St., Charleston
843-724-3815
mavericksouthernkitchens.
com/highcotton
Historic Charleston Bed
and Breakfast
800- 743-3583
historiccharlestonbedand
breakfast. com
Spoleto Festival USA
May 25-June 10, 2007
spoletousa.org
Torch
545 King St., Charleston
843- 723-9333 .
Wentworth Mansion
149 Wentworth St.,
Charleston
888-466-1886
wentworthmansion.com
34
Icurve
In the early 1700s when pirates roamed the seas, two women
pirates achieved notoriety: Mary Read and Anne Bonny.
Both women dressed as men and fenced, shot, and commandeered their way through life on the high seas. They also
shared in common their chosen home port of Charleston,
South Carolina.
Today, Charleston conjures up images of languid charm
and Southern gentility. But under the surface, it remains a
place of intriguing ironies where history and modernity,
beauty and hedonism, tradition and diversity play side by
side. Charleston in the 1700s was the place to go for shopping, eating, drinking and entertaining; it was an old-world
experience where brothels met high culture. And Charleston
thrived because of one profound concept: tolerance for
religious diversity. By 1740, religious dissenters (those not
faithful to the Anglican Church of England) comprised
half of Charleston's population. Presbyterians, Quakers,
Congregationalists, French Huguenots, Lutherans, Jews and
Baptists built some of our nation's oldest churches and synagogues on the Charleston peninsula.
Remnants of that history are not only evident in the
city's church spire-dotted skyline, but in the modern cultural
expressions that flourish within Charleston's stucco-onbrick walls. Charleston is going through another renaissance
- not a Chamber of Commerce-type revitalization, but a
cultural rebirth based on its rich history. Everyone still likes
to play well, eat well and shop well, but substance exists
behind the hedonism. The Charleston area alone has more
than eight LGBT organizations. And while South Carolina's
capital might have flown the confederate flag, it was a band
of Charlestonians who marched more than 100 miles to
Columbia to demand that it be moved.
And best of all for travelers, a Charleston experience
reveals the pleasures of urban life on a human scale that is
relaxing and walkable. Start your trip - as.corny as it might
sound - with a horse-drawn carriage ride around downtown to better appreciate the city's striking architecture .
Afterward, explore King Street's funky shopping district.
There are familiar stores like Saks Fifth Avenue, Urban
Outfitters and Steve Madden, and plenty of locally owned
shops like Nula, which specializes in urban wear, or Magar
Hatworks, which offers handmade and one-of-a-kind hats
worn by the likes of Christina Aguilera and Sandra Bullock.
For lunch on King Street, grab a bite of Southern barbecue at Jim 'N' Nick's. A $10 plate offers a giant portion
of barbecue - your choice of pulled pork, brisket, ribs or
chicken - and Southern sides like braised collards. After
lunch you'll want a nap, and Charleston offers a range of
lodging. A moderately priced option central to downtown is
the Holiday Inn on Calhoun Street; also, the Renaissance
on Wentworth Street often has Internet specials. If you
want a romantic (albeit pricier) alternative, try Wentworth
Mansion, an ornate, formerly private residence built in
1885. For smaller places, visit Historic Charleston Bed and
Breakfast, which arranges accommodations from private
homes to carriage houses.
To warm up for the evening, stop by the High Cotton
during happy hour. This fine-dining establishment, with its
wood-paneled library feel and top drawer service, includes a
busy bar scene. It's a decidedly random crowd where lesbians hang out alongside Charleston's college frat boys and the
tourists on vacation. If you're on a budget, order the happy
hour special: a gourmet 10-ounce ground tenderloin burger
with caramelized onions, bleu cheese and handcut fries. It's
more than you can finish, and you'll only be out a measly
five bucks.
Charleston is famous for its low-country cuisine, which
refers to the melting pot of culture and geography that spans
Sephardic Jews to Afro-Caribbeans, marshlands to sea water. Typical dishes include red rice, shrimp and grits, okra,
she,crab soup, fried green tomatoes and Frogmore stew (does
not include frogs). Two popular and creative low,country
restaurants are Hominy Grill on the more casual end and
S.N.O.B. (Slightly North of Broad) on the fancier side. But
Charleston is a food lover's town and you'll find plenty of
other options. Close the evening with a nightcap at Torch,
a narrow, velvety bar with intimate sofas, low lighting and a
hip but off,beat mix of people that typifies Charleston.
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After all the eating and shopping - no one claims
Charleston to be anything less than decadent - it'll be time
to move. There are several beaches, so if the weather is warm,
throw some towels and sunscreen in the car; Folly Beach
and Sullivan's Island are faves. Quieter than Folly, Sullivan's
Island has quaint bungalow houses, easy parking alongside
residential streets and a wide sandy beach.
Another outdoor option is to bike the Arthur Ravenel,
Jr., Bridge, aka the Cooper River Bridge, Charleston's newest
icon. The stunningly designed bridge opened in July 2005
to citywide parties and events. Constructed in four years,
the bridge cost $632 million and appears to touch the sky
with towers reaching 575 feet. Forward,thinking planners,
coupled with neighborhood pressure, resulted in the creation
of a 12,foot,wide bicycle and pedestrian lane. The scenic ride
travels along the outer edge of the bridge's tower piers and
offers observation sites.
If you happen to travel during
late May or early June, don't miss
Charleston's biggest event of the sea,
son, Spoleto Festival USA. Spoleto
Festival is one of the premier arts
festivals in the world, and it fills
Charleston's historic theaters for 17
days and nights with opera, theatre,
dance and music. Famous for pro,
ducing its own operas, Spoleto also
provides younger performers with the
opportunity to perform before they hit
the big,time (think Renee Fleming and
Yo,Yo Ma). The streets of Charleston
pulse during Spoleto as artists from all
over the world mingle alongside festi,
val visitors.
For the past decade, Charleston,
S.C., has made Conde Nast Traveler'sTop 10 List, rank,
ing third in their 2005 Reader's Choice Awards. It's a town
steeped in history, surrounded by water and full of charm.
Even if you just have a weekend, that will be plenty of time
to let Charleston work its swashbuckling magic. ■
Keep Exploring
Inside New Mexico's Dyke City
Howto gethotinthechilepepper
capitalofAlbuquerque.
ByKarenSchechner
As soon as I arrived in Albuquerque, my former happy home, I needed
an immediate and cheap fix. Thank God for the Frontier Restaurant.
No matter what time you roll into town, it's always open to hook you up
with some high-grade New Mexican green chile. With a bowl of green
chile stew in front of me, even the dozens of John Wayne portraits (one
rendered in nails) look good. This is the Duke City after all, though
originally named for the Duke of Alburquerque (yes, it's spelled differently than the city). But you won't have to stare at that old hombre for
long because, luckily, Albuquerque has 67 percent more lesbians than
the national average (according to epodunk.com), so for all intents and
purposes it's the Dyke City to us.
Here are a few good things to know before you go. New Mexico
is the chile capital of the United States. When you're at a restaurant
and the servers ask, "Red or green?" they're talking about chile. (Order
both and decide for yourself.) The city is one mile above sea level, and
though temperatures vary considerably, it's flooded in desert sun 172
days of the year on average so bring your sombrero. The queer club
scene here definitely exists, but many of the sapphists are off frolicking
in the mountains with their dogs, so it doesn't exactly rival that of Los
Angeles or San Francisco. Live music venues, however, are thriving, and
the SOL House Concert Series, which takes place at the homes of some
DIY, music-lovin' lesbians, is especially fun.
Don'tMissTheseEvents
Albuquerque is home to a handful of must-see annual happenings. Try
any one of these and you won't be disappointed. At the Albuquerque
International Balloon Fiesta that happens every year in October, about
700 giant, multi-colored balloons dangle more than 1,400 brave souls
in little wicker baskets over power lines and highways against a backdrop of the big, cloudless New Mexican sky. Where else can you see
more rainbows flying than you do at a pride parade?
There are over a dozen Native American pueblos in the Albuquerque/
Santa Fe/Taos region and throughout the year all hold Feast Days, a
tradition that includes ceremonial costumed dancing with drums and
rattles. Read Leslie Marmon Silko's Ceremony to have an understanding of the nearby Laguna Pueblo culture and visit the Indian Pueblo
Cultural Center for more information on surrounding pueblos.
And from Sept. 29-Oct. 5, the Dyke City will team up with Santa Fe
for the annual Southwest Gay and Lesbian Film Festival,a week-long, allday, every day feast of LGBT shorts, documentaries and feature films, including an opening night party, a queer brunch and must-attend parties.
Adventures
Around
Town
Old Town, founded in 1706, is a small, shady plaza of Pueblo-Spanish
adobe buildings, hidden patios and quaint boutiques that'll meet any
Southwestern tchotchke needs you might have. On the south side of
the plaza is the American International Rattlesnake Museum, which
hosts the largest collection of different species of live rattlesnakes in the
world, while the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History is adjacent
to the plaza. Both are worth the pop in.
In Nob Hill, on one short stretch of Central Avenue (aka Route 66),
you can browse through new and used music at Natural Sound (505255-8295); get a vintage faux-fur stole at Buffalo Exchange; shop for
used books at the Book Stop (505-268-8898); or get pierced at Sachs
36 I curve
(505-266-1661). You can also get your hair cut, drink a cappuccino
and eat some fried plantains - all within one wonderful gay-owned
and -operated shop - called Laru Ni Hati/ Cafe Cubano. For the sake
of full disclosure, I should confess that the latter locale is family in all
meanings of the word - my gay brother and his partner own it.
New Mexico is the land of gorgeous, not-too-crowded hiking. For
an easy walk, visit the Rio Grande Nature Center and walk the flat,
shady trails in the Bosque along the river. More adventurous? Head east
to the Sandia Mountains and hike the roundtrip 14- to 16-mile La Luz
trail past rock formations and scrub oaks up to the Ponderosa pines; or
take the tram and get the benefits of La Luz without the sweat. Either
way, it's beautiful at the crest, and you can get a spectacular view of the
city. Don't forget to get Forest Service maps from the Sandia Ranger
District or local hike shops prior to hiking.
If you've hiked La Luz, you deserve a soak in one of the outdoor tubs
at woman-owned Betty's Bath and Day Spa. The East Tub, in a lovely
garden setting, is for women only, and bathing suits are always optional.
LovetheNightlife
Martini Grille, with its brothel-like leopard print curtains, is a great
place to start the night. Like magic, their Chocolatini tastes like liquid
Fudgesicle. Want it dirty? Don't worry, Martini Grille's got over 25 martinis to choose from; and the grungy, industrial-looking queer dance
club Pulse, is just a block away.
The spacious women's bar Exhale packs in the ladies on Saturday
nights, with a mixed bag of Latin, disco, hip-hop and Top 40 music. Exhale
hosts a variety show on the third Friday of each month, with proceeds
benefiting different nonprofit organizations, while Pulse hosts a drag king
show on Fridays. Pick up Alibi,the local alt weekly,for more information.
Not to be missed is the roving, once-a-month Fire Dance Party. While
there is no actual fire per se, these honeys are H-O-T hot. Go for the belly
dancing, fetish parties and more, but stay for your own sweet satisfaction.
GrubandGirls
For breakfast, there's the aforementioned Frontier for good and greasy
dining on the cheap, or one of the Flying Stars for a wide range of
options, jitter-inducing coffee and cafe-cruising queers. El Patio, with
its painted flowers covering the walls, reigns as a university-area lunch
and dinner favorite. (Try my fave, vegetarian enchiladas.)
Dinner options just keep getting better in 'Burque. A couple of
relative newcomers - and standouts - are Graze and Zinc. Lesbianowned Graze boasts open space with walls of windows. Chef and coowner Jennifer James creates imaginative and inspired things with local
organic produce. The phenomenal cold Thai beef salad and the sunfish
with spicy peanut-lime sauce are both deliciously light and piquant.
For serious wooing, the upscale Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro's high ceilings, handsome dark wood and zinc-topped bar pretty much guarantee
romance. You can watch co-owner and award-winning chef Christopher
Pope in action as he grills to perfection lamb T-bone chops, cobia and
many other creatures of land and sea. Afterward, you can drink and
listen to live music (Thursday and Saturday nights) in the boho cellar.
When it's time to hit the sack, turn to the gay-friendly,affordable Silver
Moon Lodge or the wonderfully plush, gay-owned Mauger Estate B&B
Inn; you'll soon be ready for another day (or night) of spicy hot fun. ■
IfYouGo
•••••••••••••••••
Our directory of
Albuquerque's draws.
What to Do
Albuquerque lnt'I
Balloon Fiesta
Oct. 6-15, 2006
aibf.org
Albuquerque Museum
of Art and History
505-243- 7255
albuquerquemuseum.com
Betty's Bath and
Day Spa
505-341-3456
bettysbath. com
Indian Pueblo Cultural
Center
505-843- 7270
indianpueblo.org
Rio Grande Nature
Center State Park
505-344- 7240
nmparks.com
Southwest Gay and
Lesbian Film Festival
Sept. 29-0ct. 5, 2006
closetcinema.org
Where to Eat
El Patio
505-268-4245
Frontier
505-266-0550
frontierrestaurant. com
Graze
505-268-GRAZE
grazejj.com
Martini Grille
505-255-4111
Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro
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Where the Gays Are
Exhale
505-342-0049
exhaleabq .com
Fire Dance Party
firewomyn.com
Pulse
505-255-3334
pulsenightclub.com
Nob Hill, New Mexico
Offering fashion inspired by the creativity and individuality of San Francisco in the relaxed atmosphere of the
Southwest, Aqui is a unique clothing store for men, women and children located in the Nob Hill neighborhood
of Albuquerque, N.M. A family business created by a mother and daughter team who dreamed of selling "fun
wearables" and providing customers with a shopping experience at once "aesthetically pleasing, relaxed and
friendly," Aqui sells fashion and accessories from around the world; some items are designed especially for the
store. Amanda, the daughter in the team, says, "Growing up in San Francisco, I was immersed in a community of diverse cultures, backgrounds and styles. I hope to continue this appreciation of creativity and individual
expression at Aqui Nob Hill by filling the store with a fantastic mix of clothing and accessories which will allow
our customers to express themselves through the fashion they choose." At Aqui, you will find items ranging from
Sid Vicious T-shirts for boys, to pigeon pillows, to designer women's jeans. Amanda says, "I hope our customers
will appreciate both the products and the people behind the goods. I know I am enjoying getting to know the
designers and the stories behind the products." For a unique and personal shopping experience, stop by Aqui's
or visit them online at aqui-nobhill.com. -Janel
M. Lynch
October 2006
I37
Getting Artsy in Taos
A quicktripwillimmerse
youinNewMexico's
artsscene.
ByCarole
Terwilliger
Meyers
It's all about the art in Taos. Populated with more artists and galleries
per capita than Paris, the town overflows with beautiful and creative
artworks. Female artists are drawn by the light, which is sometimes
warm and golden and other times bold enough to turn the surround,
ing mountains blood,red - a fact that prompted the Spanish conquis,
tadors to dub them the Sangre de Cristo Mountains for their resem,
blance to the "blood of Christ:' Rainbow halos are said to hang over the
mountains in summer.
"Taos is a gay,friendly town and a wonderful place for any artist;'
says former long,term resident Marcelina Martin, author,photogra,
pher of Lesbian SacredSexuality and director of Wild Hearts Ranch, a
female artist online gallery which, in the past, has offered a lesbian art,
ists retreat. "The spirit of the West permeates every aspect of life here,
and a feeling of adventure and that anything is possible is in the air:•
More than 80 galleries are scattered around town. Of special inter,
est among those lining the perimeter of historic Taos Plaza are the La
Fonda Hotel, where for a small fee you can see a permanent exhibit of
erotic paintings by D.H. Lawrence, and the old town courthouse, where
murals by a protege of Diego Rivera are displayed in an upstairs gal,
lery. Nearby, pedestrians,only Bent Street has additional galleries, bou,
tiques and cafes. As might be expected in such an artist,heavy venue,
the town's array of museums is noteworthy, too. Just a block from the
plaza, the Blumenschein Home and Museum is maintained much as it
was when the original tenant artist lived here in the early 20th century.
Art hangs on mud plaster walls beautifully restored to their original
colors, and rooms are decorated true to the times. Taos,blue door and
thy of note. The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is the second,highest suspension
window trims reflect that the Spanish who settled in the area believed
this color kept evil out of a house and so always painted entrances blue.
bridge in the United States; it spans the length of four football fields and
towers 650 feet over a scenic gorge cutting down to the namesake river.
(One warning: while lost in the dreamy fantasy of another era, it can be
a rude realization to discover you're allergic to adobe interiors.)
Highway 150 hugs a rushing river as it winds through aspen, and
evergreen,covered mountains in the Carson National Forest north of
On the same street is the Harwood Museum of Art, New Mexico's
second oldest museum. Collection highlights include a collection of 18th,
town, eventually leading to the reputedly gay,friendly Taos Ski Valley.
Known for its steep slopes, it can be visited, though not skied, year,round.
Horseback,riding is a fair,weather option. Along the 22,mile route,
and 19th,century ornamental tin work and religious retablos and santos.
About four blocks north of the plaza, the Taos Art Museum dis,
plays historic and contemporary art by more than 50 local artists;
and on the outskirts of town, set amid new adobe homes, the strik,
Arroyo Seco is a colorful bend in the road with unique shops and cafes.
After even just a brief immersion in this art,rich community, most
visitors agree with D. H. Lawrence's observation: "You cannot come to
ing Millicent Rogers Museum celebrates the memory of a glamorous,
forceful woman who collected local art and jewelry and was reputedly a
Taos without feeling that here is one of the chosen spots on earth:'
pioneer of Southwest chic. A serpentine path leads through 15 intimate
galleries designed so that viewers can get up close to exhibits that in,
Taking
inTaos
elude Rogers' stellar personal collections of Native American silver and
turquoise jewelry and of Hispanic devotional art from the 1800s on.
A living museum of sorts, Taos Pueblo is home to the Taos Pueblo
her.com) and Wild Hearts Ranch (wildheartsranch.com).
For lodging, two gay,friendly spots are tops. Casa Benavides Bed
& Breakfast Inn ( taos,casabenavides.com) is a well,located adobe
Indians and is one of the oldest continually inhabited communities in the
United States. Today the pueblo looks much as it did when the conquis,
enclave. Breakfast and afternoon tea include a selection of delicious pas,
tries served in an atmospheric dining room. Located on the town's main
tadors first saw it in 1540 and still has no indoor plumbing. Guided tours
are scheduled throughout the day.
The newer adobe San Francisco de Asis Church dates to around
drag, the frenetic lobby at the popular Historic Taos Inn ( taosinn.com)
is a gathering spot for evening entertainment and feels safe, by design,
even for solo women. And when it comes to food you can't go wrong
with Doc Martin's, the restaurant in the Historic Taos Inn. Try their chile
1710. Interior features include retablos, a rare painting of a pregnant
Mary and a high, hand,carved ceiling.
A two,mile drive through peaceful farm land west of town brings
you to the fortress,like La Hacienda de los Martinez. One of the few
remaining late Spanish Colonial "Great Houses;• it survived many an
Apache and Comanche raid. Rooms off two inside courtyards feature
38
exhibits of family life in a hacienda.
If you can get out of the galleriesfor a few hours, two side trips are wor,
I curve
For more information try the Taos Chamber of Commerce ( taoscham
relleno with its incredible corn,chip crust. And at Antonio's (antoniosof
taos.com), contemporary and traditional cuisine from Old Mexico is
served in vintage adobe decorated with Mexican folkloric murals. Beware
of the diced chipotles served with some items; should you start hiccup,
ping, squeeze some lime juice into your mouth for instant relie£ ■
The Jet Set
ThedramaofEngland
- dykeandotherwise.
ByElizabeth
Stark
My grandmother and I are lost in the National
Theatre in London. The building is thrillingly
monolithic: a cement multiplex for stage instead
of screen. We're in an elevator in the wrong tower.
We've gotten separated from my cousins, my uncle
and my girlfriend.
When we finally make our way to the correct
balcony, the lights sink immediately and reveal a
large scrim across a vast set that includes a backyard, the double wall of a house stretching up
for two stories, at least, and the interior of that
house's living room. The play is Brian Friel's The
Aristocrats, an emotionally complex, molassestempoed meditation on the Irish Catholic aristocracy in Northern Ireland.
During the intermission, my cousins complain
that the oversized terrain of the stage, with imaginary games of croquet, offstage piano practice and
sideline drunks passed out in the grass, distracts
from Friel's subtle dialogue and the quiet emotions of the characters.
This complaint - too much going on in too
many different places - is the traveler's ultimate
woe.
My girlfriend, Angie, and I have tromped all
over Europe - beginning and ending in London
- and have landed without a strong sense of the
theme or plot of our trip. Later, when I ask Angie
what she remembers about the play, she says, "The
wall of the house moved:'
Travel is all about sets, about the setting. That's
what you're changing when you hurtle in a winged
bullet over oceans and slide headlong down tracks
in an assembly-line shoe box and careen along
roads in a tin can. Don't get me wrong: The set
matters. That's why they give Oscars to designers.
But when I climb out of the plane or the train or
the car, arriving in a foreign place, I notice who
I am, how I change - or don't - and what my
home looks like from afar.
Candy
Girls
Wandering one night from Covent Garden, where
Angie and I are staying, we let ourselves get a little
bit lost. The streets are often cobblestone, and it
doesn't seem as if cars should be allowed to drive
on them. But oversized black taxis and other cars
blaze down them as fast as they would go along
any road.
The streets are full of people. It is unseasonably warm even for mid-August in England, and
crowds gather outside pubs with quirky names.
The Nelly Dean of Soho is our favorite, and lets
us know that we have stumbled upon London's
gay neighborhood. Men in intimate pairs saunter down the sidewalk or lounge close together
on steps. At an outdoor cafe, one man perches on
another's lap. Boys handing out flyers deliberately
don't offer us any, and I smile. It's like being at
home in San Francisco's Castro district.
The address for the Candy Bar given in a recent
Rough Guideis wrong, but a grey-suited doorman
standing at the incorrect address knows exactly
what I'm looking for. "Second left, third right;' he
tells me, and we trace our way back through the
boys and up to a little alley where we find, at last,
the girls.
Clumps of them are on the sidewalk, sporting sprays of partially died hair, metal belts, pants
hung below the elastic waistband of boxer briefs. I
see one girl's hand circle another girl's calf; I watch
as they light their cigarettes - indoors. "Like the
old days in San Francisco;' I respond when Angie
notes that the place is full of smoke.
But of all the differences between London
and San Francisco, the dyke bar has the fewest.
London's antique buildings, Renaissance art and
ancient traditions that can make a Californian feel
culturally nai:ve do not impact this 30-something
in a bar: Here, I still feel old.
But the girls don't seem to think so. They
gather around us at the top of the stairs. There's
a line descending down to a pole-dancing cabaret,
and for a half-hour, while we wait, the nearlystraight girl (even here!) finds her way to my girlfriend while her friend quizzes me about the sexy
ladies of San Francisco.
The Jet Set continued on page 64
London's vast metropolis is home to a thriving lesbian community, but what's cool one minute may be so over the next, so don't be shy when you spot
a dyke: Ask her what's in right now. If you want an overview of the scene, pick up a free copy of G3, the monthly lesbian magazine (g3mag.co.uk), at
the Silver Moon, the largest women's bookstore in Europe, located within the massive Foyles bookstore on Charing Cross Road (foyles.co.uk).
You can also get insider tips on where to go by checking out gingerbeer.co.uk, a Web site that provides detailed reviews of many venues
written by women who have, well, been there. You'll find that a few places float to the surface, including Candy Bar, which Gingerbeer calls "the
bar we all love to hate," which should tell you a bit about the place. The huge London club GAY. also has a lesbian bar located downstairs in the
basement (aptly nicknamed Girls Go Down), but watch out: The doorperson tried to convince me GAY. was a "members-only" club, until I told
her I was going down to where the girls are (www.g-a-y.co.uk).
Londoner Jody Harris, managing director of gaygirlsworld.com, advised me that the current scene is all abuzz around the monthly girls' night
Lounge, which takes place at the swank Teatro (www.lounge.uk.net), a Soho bar with a drinks menu bigger than any I've ever seen. Sink down
into the plush banquettes, sample some sexy cocktails, and check out the girls in style. -Malinda
Lo
October 2006
I39
By Malinda Lo I Photography by Lorenzo Pesce
I
One year after coming out,
Three-time Olympic gold medalist. Three-time
WNBA Most Valuable Player. First woman to have
a Nike shoe named after her, the Air Swoopes. Last
fall, basketball great Sheryl Swoopes added one more
achievement to her name: first African-American
female professional athlete to come out as a lesbian.
Since she came out a year ago, Swoopes has continued to rack up basketball achievements - she was one
year ago;' she told CURVE before the event. "It's made a
big'difference in my life:'
of the first eight women selected for the 2006 USA
women's basketball team that competed at the FIBA
World Championship in Sao Paulo, Brazil - but
her side, accompanied by cheers from thousands of
women in the audience clinking silverware against
glass to demand that the two women kiss. The mood,
more like that of a wedding reception than that of an
awards banquet, was perfectly fitting in a way; it was
the first time Swoopes and Scott appeared as a couple
it's been her courage to come out that has made the
biggest splash both in the lesbian community and, it
seems, for Swoopes herself.
Recipient of the Spirit Award at the National
Center for Lesbian Rights' annual gala last spring,
Swoopes was as giddy as a newlywed on the arm of
her partner of eight years, Alisa "Scotty" Scott.
"Not having to hide - to be able to come to an
event like this, be able to hold hands [with Scott} and
be proud - that's not something I could have done a
40
Icurve
When Swoopes, sleekly elegant in a black satin
gown and a pair of killer heels, walked onstage to accept her award, she described Scott as "the best, most
wonderful person, friend, lover, anything you could
possibly imagine:'
Moments later, Scott came onstage to stand by
at a public event.
Since coming out, Swoopes says that she has thankfully not encountered much of a negative backlash, and
her family and friends have been largely supportive.
'Tve probably been surprised at how positive things
have been as opposed to how negative;'she says,"because
I went into it prepar~d to deal with all the negative stuff
that was gonna happen, and . . . so far everything
has gone a lot better than I thought it would:'
Olivia, a company best known for its lesbian
cruises, took its sponsorship of Swoopes - who
signed an endorsement deal with them last fall
- to a new level after the basketball star came
out. During the 2006 WNBA season, Olivia dis~
tributed red buttons emblazoned with Swoopes'
number and signature to fans before Houston
Comets games, so that they could show their sup~
port for her coming out.
"Initially, I thought it was just going to be
in Houston;' Swoopes says of the See Red but~
ton campaign. "And the button has not only been
popular in Houston, but in other WNBA cities
as well. I'm glad that the fans wear the buttons that they want to wear the buttons, just to show
their support. That really makes me feel good:'
Throughout the season, the color red has dot~
ted basketball stands at games around the country
as fans cheered Swoopes to another milestone; she
became only the third WNBA player to score a
career total of 4,000 points.
Swoopes admits, though, that coming out
wasn't easy for her.
"It's tough;' she says of her experience."It's tough,
period, but especially in the African~American
long-time partner,
Alisa "Scotty"Scott
community because it's not really accepted, and ...
I feel like I'm gonna take a lot more Rak from the
African,American community than [from] any,
body else:•
J\nd though she says she has run into some peo,
ple .who didn't quite know how to treat her ("I don't
think a lot of people know what to say;' she theo,
rizes), overall the experience has been wonderful.
"To this day I have not had one single regret;'
she says. ''I've been more than happy since I've
done it, just being able to live my life:'
Swoopes' coming,out in the fall of 2005 was a
highly calculated event, involving an exclusiveinter,
view with ESPN magazine just as her endorse,
ment deal with Olivia was announced, followed by
the cover of The Advocate.But the historic nature
of her coming,out - being the first active WNBA
athlete and the first African,American female ath,
lete to do so - seemed at times to be ignored as
news outlets quickly focused on why male athletes
rarely come out. This reflects both a long,standing
stereotype that female athletes are likely to be gay,
thus it's not a newsworthy story, and sexism in the
sports world in general, which often minimizes
women's achievements.
But when it comes down to the stats, Swoopes
is a real pioneer: You can count the number of out
my teammates knew, the organization knew, and
it was honestly just never something we talked
about;' she says. 'J\.nd I know that they knew,
because we traveled and we were on the road, and
I'd go to her room and I don't think it was a secret,
but it wasn't something we wanted to go and say,
'Oh, look at what we're doing:"
Now that she no longer has to hide her rela,
tionship, Swoopes looks forward to being more
involved with the gay community as well as to pri,
oritizing her family. And will she continue to play
professionally next season? She answers, "I think
I'm at a point right now where I'm just ... taking it
one year at a time:•
In June, Swoopes was named to the WNBA
All,Decade Team after being forced to sit out
several games early in the season due to back and
ankle injuries. "If . .. I get through this season
healthy, and I feel good enough and think I can do
it another year, then I'll do it. If not, there are so
many other things that I want to do, so many other
things that I want to work on:' She laughs and
adds, "Basketball's not everything to me anymore:•
So, what is everything to her? "My family, first
of all;' says Swoopes, who is mother to 9,year,old
son, Jordan. "My son, her [gesturing to Scott],
that's like the most important thing in my life.
To this day I have not had one single
regret.
just being able to
live my life.
African,American women professional athletes on,
well, one finger. And Swoopes is aware of how rare
she is: "I think ... in a way that's why I take a lot of
pride in who I am, in what I've done;' she says.
After Swoopes came out, many people won,
dered whether her example would encourage other
lesbian athletes to come out of the closet, but so far,
none have done so. Swoopes is still only the second
openly gay player in the WNBA, despite the wide,
spread stereotype that the association is full of les,
bians. When asked if she feels that the WNBA puts
pressure on its players to remain closeted, Swoopes
replies, "I don't know if I'd say it puts pressure on
them, but I think as players, as athletes, we feel like
it's not something they want us to do:•
Before she came out, Swoopes says she and
Scott tried to keep their relationship quiet.
"I think in the beginning we tried to be as
discreet as possible, but it got to the point where
Making sure that she's happy, my son's happy, the
family's happy:•
Swoopes glances flirtatiously at Scott as she says,
"I know I am [happy], and I definitely know my son
is, and I think I know that she is:' Her love for Scott is
obvious, and their joy at being able to be open about
their relationship with each other is infectious.
"I think there are a lot of people out there
who ... are going through the same thing I went
through;' she says. "They're miserable on a daily
basis, as I was, because you're living your life for
everybody else except yoursel£ and ... you're put,
ting everybody else's happiness before yours:'
Swoopes continues, "That's not what I want to
do. I want to live my life and be happy:' It seems clear
that a year later, that's exactly what she's doing. ■
Additional reportingforthispiecewas contributedby
Ross Forman.
October 2006
I43
Runs
With
I
CISSOr
Christian actor Kristin
Chenoweth kisses
Annette Bening in
Running With Scissors
and lives to brag about
it. Next up, she's playing
queer as Dusty Springfield
in a flick helmed by her
lesbian manager.
Talk about gay.
By Laurie K. c enden
ancient times peoplegot t
to the lions just for being Christian. What a chilling prospect
that Kristin Chenoweth,th
ted, vivacious and adorable singer~actor (who happens to
be a devout Christian),couldhave been a big cat's breakfast had she lived a few centuries
ago. Instead, the Broadway
show~stopper~turned~Hollywood actor spent the better part of
last year deflecting criticism furbeingoutspoken about gay rights as well as for playing a lesbian in
the new film Running With Scissors.
To complete her trifecta of gay~friendly sins, she'll portray Dusty
Springfield, the late legendary songstress who happened to be WielNal,in a movie set to begin filming in
late spring. Ironically, it's die
are baring their teeth now.
"There's a lot of flack about what my decisions have been but I'm very nonjudgmental and I don't
believe we should live our lives like that;' Chenoweth said, when we met last year at the POWER UP
gala (an event that honors lesbians in entertainment) in Beverly Hills.
"A lot of Christian organizations took offense to the fact that in an interview I said, 'Hey, I don't see
what the big deal is if [gay] people want to get married; if people want to have the same problems as us
heteros do, go for it!"' she said with a laugh. "I don't think it's our decision:'
In the same vein, Chenoweth, who was adopted, is upset "that it's hard for
people of the same sex to adopt. I think if two people are together in a union
and they love each other, they're going to be great parents:'
Looking about as angelic as one can get in a stylish gray suit that revealed
a tasteful amount of cleavage and midriff, Chenoweth obviously isn't one
to shy away from controversy. In fact, she talked excitedly talked about her
upcoming film. "I can't wait to see Running With Scissors.I think some people
are going to be shocked but it's called acting, it's playing a part:'
She described her character as "a former Breck girl who's married to a minister who has four kids, and now at age 30 [she falls] in love with a woman:'
With long blond hair, sparkling blue eyes and 100-watt smile, it's easy to see
why Chenoweth was once first runner-up in the Miss Oklahoma pageant.
"When I'm sitting down, people will say, 'You look like Cameron Diaz:
But when I'm standing up, I'm like the third Olsen (as in Mary Kate and
Ashley J;'joked Chenoweth, who stands 4-foot-11 and easily erupts in a
charming, high-pitched laugh.
Raised in Broken Arrow, Okla., the actor says she grew up learning basic
Christian principles identifying all people as God's children - including gays
and lesbians. When she voiced that opinion to a reporter after the release of
her album of spiritual songs, As I Am, in 2005, she was chastised and shoved
out of the Women of Faith singing group.
The terse reaction hurt but hasn't changed her convictions. In fact, in the
midst of all the hoopla, she eagerly accepted an invitation by Stacy Codikow,
founder of POWER UP, to present a 10 Amazing Gay Women in Showbiz
award to her manager, Dannielle Thomas, who was among the 2005 honorees.
Chenoweth's participation "was all a complete surprise;' said the flattered
Thomas, but typical of her loyalty. "Kristin is so welcoming and so giving and
accepting of all people it makes me feel comfortable to be who I am around
her. It was very easy to come out of the closet to her:'
As for Chenoweth's predicament from a business standpoint, Thomas has
Running With Scissorsand the upcoming Dusty Springfield project.
It's her onscreen lip-locks with Annette Bening, however, that rattled
church pews.
"She's really a good kisser;' Chenoweth said delightedly of Bening, without
even being asked. The Broadway star said she was drawn to the role because she
wanted to work with Bening and because of the complexity of her character,
who happens to fall in love with another woman. "To me, she fell in love with
the person and I don't see what could be bad about that;' Chenoweth said.
From an early age she showed compassion for others, including a close
friend with whom she used to walk to school.
"Now I know she was gay;' Chenoweth said. "But she was one of my best
friends and everyone made fun of her, called her gay.... I don't know why
it didn't affect me that way. I was like, 'Who cares?' I mean that's what I'm
thinking. I'm sure now looking back there were tons of people who were gay
- nobody would come out, though, in Oklahoma in the 1980s:'
Once this singing phenomenon reached the New York melting pot, her
Christian beliefs were truly put to the test. But she simply relied on what she
felt in her heart. "My world opened up to different relationships, different religions and races;' she said. It was Thomas, her manager, who approached her
to play the part of Dusty Springfield in the film that Thomas is producing.
"I loved her music," said Thomas, who was watching a documentary on
Springfield over two years ago when she decided to do a feature film. She
immediately thought of Chenoweth for the lead.
'Tm sitting there going'My gosh, she looks so much like Kristin;" Thomas
recalled of the talented but tragic Springfield. ''There's so much to the story that
no one seems to have told ... and not like some strange story of sex, drugs and
rock 'n' roll - that's not the story of Dusty Springfield. She's historicallyremarkable in what she did for introducing different types of music to the British scene
and educating people about all sorts of political (issues].... She did it because of
her own personal beliefs. And she was obviously very tortured in her own right
but she was musically what I would (call] a remarkable genius:'
"Now I know she was gay. I'm sure now lookingback
thereweretonsof peoplewho were gay - nobodywould
come out, though,in Oklahomain the 1980s."
nothing but admiration for her client.
"It was a remarkable move what she did this summer, and never once a
moment's hesitation where Kristin felt 'Oh my gosh I can't do this for my career:
She's alwaysmade reallygreat decisions since I've known her, both as a person and
a professional, and she was not about to backtrack on any of her beliefs:'
Thomas added that Chenoweth, who has a master's degree in opera perfor. mance, is 'crazily intelligent ... she reads music, she'sgot a photographic memory;
you can giveher something and she'll be done and ready to go with it the next day:'
Chenoweth mesmerized the POWER UP crowd when she introduced
Thomas and serenaded her with a heartfelt a cappella version of"You'll Never
Know:' Surely there must be some kind of heavenly power at work on those
vocal cords (go to kristin-chenoweth.com to hear selections from her latest
CD). It was her earlier success in musicals - which included Tony-nominated
roles in hit Broadway shows Wicked and You'rea Good Man, CharlieBrown
(the latter of which earned her a best actress Tony award) - that led to her
role as Nicole Kidman's neighbor in Bewitched,after Kidman saw her onstage.
This year alone, Chenoweth showed up in two blockbusters, RV and The
Pink Panther,and in a sweet role as White House media consultant on The
West Wing. Her current concert tour sold out shows at Carnegie Hall and
the Los Angeles Music Center, and now she's creating all kinds of buzz in
Thomas and Chenoweth contacted LegallyBlonde producer Marc Platt
and ultimately got Universal Pictures behind the film. Jessica Sharzer, who
made a short film with a POWER UP grant, was hired to write the script.
Though both Thomas and Sharzer are lesbians, Springfield's sexuality won't
be the focus of the film, Thomas insists. "I don't think (Springfield] was driven by her sexuality. I think it was part of who she was, there's no question. It's
definitely addressed but it's not Dusty Springfield:The LesbianStory:'
From Chenoweth's perspective, "She's a very petite blond woman with the
voice of soul. Nobody knows much about her life and her struggles, being
bisexual, having abusive parents and being the first lady of soul in the body of
a white woman:' To prepare for the role, Chenoweth joked that she may have
to "take up smoking; she has a very deep voice:•
No matter what, Chenoweth refuses to say an unkind word about the detractors who attempted to censor her - which is, of course,the Christian thing to do.
"I don't blame them at all;' Chenoweth said. "Women of Faith thought it
would be better if I wasn't involved singing with them anymore [and] I totally
understood. Maybe they'll change their minds!"
Hmm. Does she actually believe that she can change the way people thin]<?
"I believe that might be my purpose in life;' she said, without a hint of
sarcasm. Well, they say the Lord works in mysterious ways. ■
October 2006
I45
Roller derby
buy y
but make no mistake - the
on the track. The tJehind-the-sce
the greatest
·nk at th
take yo
s politic
he world of boxing is usually associated with men. The sport
conjures up images of dark rooms filled with sweaty men
packed in, shoulder to shoulder, puffing on cigars that fill the
air with thick clouds of smoke. But like most conceptions
about male-dominated arenas, this is a false one.
The long, rich history of women's boxing dates back to the
1720s, when the first women's fights were staged in London. Since that time,
women have been slugging it out both in the ring and in the courts to earn
their sport the respect and funding it deserves. USA Boxing, the national
governing body for amateur Olympic-style boxing, didn't even recognize
women's boxing as a sport until 1993, and currently, boxing is the only sport
in the Summer Olympics that does not allow women competitors.
Despite the obstacles these women face, they continue to pursue excellence in the field of boxing, and the sport has recently gained popular recognition in films such as Girl.fight(2000) and Million Dollar Baby (2004).
Ann Marie Saccurato and Angel Bovee are two women boxers - and
lovers - whose story could be fodder for yet another film.
Bovee and Saccurato first met in Midland, Texas, at the 2000 USA
Boxing Everlast Nationals, where they competed in the same weight class,
yet were never paired in a fight. The two met again when Bovee quit her job
as a producer and director in Albany, moved to New York and became a fulltime boxer. Bovee and Saccurato have been together for three years now.
"We met in the sport;' Bovee says, "fell in love with boxing and each
...J
UJ
0..
::i:
::>
c.,
>-
0
C:
number one in the world:' Bovee is a three-time U.S. national champion
amateur boxer who earned the singular distinction of being chosen for the
first ever Women's World Championship held for Olympic-style women
boxers. She was the 2005 National Golden Glove champion for her weight
division, light welterweight, and was a semi-finalist in 2006.
Bovee and Saccurato have managed to accomplish these feats and
maintain a committed long-distance relationship, all while holding down
demanding full-time jobs. Their situation changed drastically this year
when Bovee moved out of their tiny, one-bedroom New York apartment to
Nashville, Tenn., where she is helping to open a nonprofit athletic facility,
the Boxing Resource Center. Saccurato remains in New York, where she
works as a personal trainer.
"Women professional boxers can make as little as $50 a round and do
hie the ceiling pretty quickly;' Bovee says. "There are only a few women who
can make a living as a boxer.... Most women boxers have full-time jobs in
addition to training full time. It is a difficult life:'
"The top four ranked men in each weight class in the U.S. receive
a stipend to help them in training from USOC [United States Olympic
Committee]. Women currently receive no financial help from the USOC,
because we are not recognized as an Olympic spore;' explains Bovee. "We
will not be able to receive any type of funding until this occurs. We have
fulfilled all the requirements to be an Olympic spore and now are just keeping our fingers crossed:'
other, and continue to be each other's best support in and out of the ring.
We always have each other's back and are always in each other's corners.
Being females and out lesbians in the sport of boxing is a challenging, often
very frustrating, road to travel, but we know we are kicking down doors for
other young girls who will [later] be able to put on the gloves:'
Besides boxing, Saccurato had her share of uphill battles. On the way
home from a volleyball competition at the 1995 Empire State Games, she
was a passenger in a car crash that killed the driver and left her doctors
hoping that she would simply survive through the night. She suffered from
a punctured lung, broken pelvis and hip, two broken legs, a crushed arm,
broken ribs and severe nerve damage. If she survived, they doubted that she
would ever walk again. Despite her doctors' skepticism, chis tenacious athlete not only went on to walk again, she was also playing both volleyball and
Although a lot more than crossed fingers went into the campaign to
allow women's boxing at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, the committee decided against including the sport.
"They based their decision on the corruption that has existed in boxing at the international level. ... The IOC said they will not add any new
athletes, men or women, until the corruption is cleaned up;' Bovee reports.
"Once again, serious women athletes are suffering and losing [out] on opportunities that the men currently have:'
Bovee and Saccurato are not ready to give up the fight.
"Ann-Marie and I, as well as many other women, are trying to be pioneers in the sport and bring it into the mainstream as a sport of athleticism,
grace and strategy;' Bovee says. ■
basketball for Seton Hall University with a year.
Both women have gone on to win widespread recognition in cheir field.
Saccurato is a former National Golden Gloves champion and an undefeated
world-ranked professional boxer with three knock-outs. Her goal is "to be
To learn more about Bovee and Saccurato,visit their Web site at boxing
angel.com.For informationon womens boxing,visit the Women BoxingArchive.
Network at wban.com.
October 2006
I 51
s the creator of the perpetually popular series Dykes to
Watch out For,Alison Bechdel has long set a high standard
for queer cartoonists. Breaking out from the gay com~
munity, Bechdel has recently released an autobiograph~
ical graphic work, Fun Home, which deals with her own childhood.
Growing up with an actor mother, a closeted gay father, two brothers,
a family funeral home business and one very large gothic house (as
well as coping with her own budding lesbianism), Bechdel had great
material to draw upon for Fun Home. Quirky, moving and extremely
well~drawn, Fun Home is a great read. Rachel Pepper recently caught
up with Bechdel from her home in Vermont.
How did Fun Home come about?
I've been wanting to tell the story since I was 20, a year after my father
died. But I didn't have any of the skills at that point - emotional,
creative or technical. Also, I couldn't imagine revealing the big
family secret that my dad was gay. Aging 20 years - plus putting
in nearly that many in therapy - gave me some emotional ·per~
spective, and the changing cultural climate made it seem possible,
if not necessary, to reveal the secret.
It was a very long process, seven years from start to finish. Having to draw
myself and my parents and brothers at various ages in Fun Home was
probably the most difficult drawing challenge I've ever had.
Whom do you foresee as the audience for Fun Home?
As I've started talking about the book publicly, it's been tempting to
take a sort of BrokebackMountain approach to it, to say that it's
not really a gay story but a human story. But I quickly realized that
was just bullshit. My book is a completely, utterly queer story, and
it's a human story. I have great hopes that Fun Home will reach a
wider audience than I've managed so far with my comic strip.
How did the relationship you had with your father shape you
as a person and an artist?
was actually relieved- at last I was free from this oppressive force.But over the years, I
realized that I wasn't free at all. He was still there in my head, watching and judging and
telling me what to do. When I finally decided to write this book, it became clear that
it was something much more serious than my comic strip - that it was necessarily a
literary undertaking. It took a long time to ... develop confidence in my writing. It was
a very fraught process, because I had to dismantle my father's critical presence in order
to tell the story, but it was only by telling the story that I could do the dismantling.
Your family ran a funeral home. Do you get asked a lot about Six Feet Under?
Yeah, the Six Feet Under thing is unavoidable. I was in the very early stages of this book
when the show first appeared. I remember seeing a commercial for it, and being
completely horror~struck. This was my story! How could someone else be telling
it? On HBO! I have a brother who drives an old hearse! The worst thing of all,
though, was that it was so good. I still haven't been able to get beyond the second
episode. Maybe one day I'll settle down enough to enjoy it.
My dad bought that whole myth of the artist as some kind of superior Future plans?
being who lives outside the rules of society. But for various, compli~ I think cranking out my comic strip and writing another graphic memoir are going to
cated reasons, he didn't make that his life's work. He very much
take up most of my bandwidth for the foreseeable future. I can't imagine my life
wanted me to do the things he hadn't done, and tried to a certain
without the soothing yet stressful structure of my regular Dykes to Watch out For
extent to live vicariouslythrough me. It wasn't encouragement; it was
comic strip deadline. The strip is also a necessary catharsis for me under the Bush
browbeating. I resisted him as much as I could, and when he died I
regime. I'd implode if I didn't have this outlet. ■
52
Icurve
Kill
ou may not know her name but
Christine Vachon is one of the most
important producers in independent film history. Starting with Todd
Haynes' Poison, Vachon has produced or coproduced dozens of films including Swoon,Go Fish,
PostcardsFromHeaven,I Shot Andy Warhol,Office
Killer,Happiness,VelvetGoldmine,BoysDon't Cry,
Hedwigand theAngry Inchand PartyMonster.A cofounder of Killer Films since the vastly underrated
VelvetGoldmine,this year alone Vachon produced
Mary Harron's The NotoriousBettie Pageand the
upcoming film about Truman Capote, Infamous
(due out in November). While not all her films have
lesbian themes, Vachon has been out for years, and
the New Yorker and her partner, Marlene McCarty,
have a daughter, Guthrie McCarty-Vachon.
Also out now is Vachon's second book, A Killer
Life: How an IndependentFilm ProducerSurvives
Deals and Disasters in Hollywood and Beyond.
Written with Austin Bunn, A KillerLife follows up Vachon's 1998 Shootingto
Kill. As with her previous book, Vachon describes the trials, tribulations and
travesties of making good films in a profit-driven marketplace. From Cannes,
Sundance, New York, Hollywood and beyond, Vachon gives us significantly
more access - because she is a bigger success than she was in the 1990s
- into the inner wheeling and dealing of independent filmmaking finance,
commerce and art. In our exclusive interview, we caught up with Vachon in
Florida to get her thoughts on her book, lesbians, the MPAA and cinema.
@
0
w
0
>0
--,
No. I think that it's very easy to point to either of
those and say why such and such film didn't get
made ... but, honestly, I really don't think that's
the case. Ultimately when people have said they
felt they haven't got as far as they should have
because of their sexuality or because of their
gender, I've often found that actually - once
I've read their scrip_ts- that's not really the case.
The script didn't get made because it wasn't good.
That's not to say that it's easy to be female in the
very male-dominated business. It is very maledominated. But, like anything, you constantly
have to figure out your way.
Is there such a thing as a gay aesthetic in film?
There might be, but I don't know what it is.
Many Killer films were highlighted in This
Film Is Not Yet Rated. Do you think the MPAA
- the secret, political organization that rates films G, PG, PG-13, R or
NC17 - is unfair toward films with gay themes in sex?
I think there is something intrinsically unfair in the system. I don't think A
Dirty Shame was rated NC-17 because of gay themes necessarily. The
movies I have trouble with the MPAA [about] haven't all been gay films,
like Todd Solondz's Happiness.
How do you feel about films that are labeled "gay"?
there films you will not do, based on their ideology?
You addressed some concerns about your upcoming film, Infamous,
There's a million scripts I won't take on because I don't think they're good
enough, but it doesn't have anything to do with the ideology they're peddling or not peddling. I don't really think about that.
Have those changed since you wrote the book?
You talk about how the filmmaking world thrives on exclusion. Do
You recently produced Bettie Page. Why do you think she is such an
in the wake of the success of last year's Oscar-winning Capote.
I'm not going to have any different sentiments until it actually comes out.
you think that's a microcosm of the American body politic at large?
icon with the lesbian community? Is she?
I have no idea [laughs].
I'm just a producer. I'm just trying to make good movies.
You probably should ask someone in the lesbian community who sees her as
an icon ... Look, I made the movie. Obviously, I found her story fascinating, but I don't see her as an icon one way or another.
How do you feel when people raise the issue of your sexual orientation?
LJ.J
a lesbian?
You said in the book that you do not have an ideology to peddle. Are
Because of all that happened, because I had a lot to say.
a:
I'm trying to get these movies done.
Are you at a disadvantage being a woman or
It depends on the film. It's all about the marketplace. If a film is being specifically marketed to a gay audience, then of course it's very helpful to have it
labeled a 'gay" film. If it's not or it feels like it's isolating its audience, I don't
know. Most filmmakers like to have their films seen by everybody. I'm not
really sure what makes a film 'gay" or "not gay" anyway.
Why write a second book about independent filmmaking?
0
H
If it's relevant to the discussion at hand, then it's fine. I understand that it's reasonably inspirational for some people to see that you can make it this far. If
you can make it this far as a woman, first and foremost, then as a lesbian ...
I really don't like to be identified by my sexuality. I think it's reductive. But
clearly I'm out and that's pretty much part of the personality I convey when
Are you happy with the box office results of the film?
I wish it had done a little better .... A black and white film has limited [appeal
in] the marketplace. It's going to have a very nice HBO premiere, and I
think at the end of the day a lot of people will see it. ■
October 2006
I53
Reviews Sapphic Screen
The Cream of the Crop
Three faves from this year's LG BT film festivals.
I By Sheela Lambert
EDITOR'S
PICK
TheEllenShow:The
Complete
Series(Sony):
Thissitcomwaspoorly
received
morebecause
of
the backlash
fromEllen
DeGeneres
declaring"Yep,
I'm gay,"thanbecause
of a
lackof laughs.In fact,after
viewingonit DVD,TheEllen
Show- whichfollowsan
openlygaySiliconValley
technocrat
whocomes
hometo middleAmerica
afterherdot-comgoesdot
bust- is smart,funnyand
full of sidekicks
whocould
bemainplayers(Populars
DianeDelanoasa gaygym
teacher),
andfamilymem- This year's crop of feature films at LGBT festivals was outbers(NewAdventures
of Old
standing- could this be a new renaissance for queer film? This
Christine's
EmilyRutherford
as hersisterandMalcolm month we highlight three of the best movies about women that
in theMiddle'sCloris premiered at festivals across the country, and if you didn't catch
Leachman
as hermom)who
them in the theater, keep an eye out for them on DVD.
aregoodenoughto still be
onTVtoday.A mustfor any
The Gymnast (FearlessAngel Productions)
Ellenlover.
In
The Gymnast, we meet Jane (Dreya Weber), a champion
(sony.
com/dvdcentralj
- DianeAnderson-Minshall gymnast injured at the peak of her career who is now in her 40s,
unhappily married and living an anonymous life in the suburbs.
who have earned their beautifully athletic figures the hard way.
The stunning aerial sequences and final performance (choreographed by Weber), along with an amazing dance performance
from Youngmee, form the centerpiece of the film. It is, indeed, a
beautiful story of unexpected love. (thegymnast_film.com)
Gypo (MEDB Films)
The U.K. film Gypo is a multilayered, Rashomon-style drama
One day a gymnastics coach recognizes her and recruits her for
an aerialist team that's forming with Vegas ambitions in mind.
that peels away like layers of an onion. The film shows the same
events from the perspective of three different characters, add-
Jane soon finds herself drawn to fellow team member Serena
ing new bits of information with each layer that both fills in the
blanks and has the potential to confuse the audience with an
alternative set of "facts:'
(Addie Youngmee), a hip, young Korean dancer. Although they
try to resist their dawning attraction, eventually they give into
temptation, although a marriage reconciliation and ambition
threaten to pull them apart.
Weber and Youngmee have good on-screen chemistry, and
their characters are well drawn. Although David De Simone
delivers a solid performance as Jane's husband, the film leaves
us wondering what exactly went wrong with their marriage;
during the majority of the film the two simply don't speak to
each other. And although there are several beautifully sensual
scenes of the lovely leading ladies kissing during practice or
embracing in a pool, the film lacks the satisfying consummation of a love scene.
54 j curve
LGBT Film Festival, is a certified visual treat. The two gorgeous
leading ladies are real-life professional dancers and aerialists
Working-class couple Helen (Pauline McLynn) and Paul's
(Paul McGann) marriage has soured; to make matters worse,
their daughter Kelly (Tamzin Dunstone), a college student and
single mother who lives at home, keeps ditching her maternal
responsibilities. When Kelly brings her schoolmate Tasha
(Chloe Sirene), a Romany Czech refugee, home after class,
her mother and father have different reactions. Kelly's mother
and Tasha form an immediate bond, but her father calls Tasha
"Gypo" and accuses her - and her people - of stealing jobs
But overall, The Gymnast, which took home the award for
Best U.S. Narrative Feature at Newfest as well as the Audience
from local citizens.
Kelly's mother and Tasha start spending time together and
are eventually, irresistibly, drawn to each other. But their new
romantic bond is threatened when their husbands track them
Award for Best Feature Film at the San Francisco International
Cream of the rop continued on page 63
DVD PICKS
in whichthefamilymantriesto sethis
sonstraight.(foxtvondvd.com)-DAM
She-Ra:Princess
ofPower(BCI):
Forthoseof youwhosharemyfond
memories
of theblondedo-gooder
She-Ra
(He-Man's
twinsister),here's
somegoodnews:All93 episodes
of the'8Os-era
cartoonarebeing
released
thistallonDVD.
Thetwo-disc
"BestOf"Collector's
Editionincludes
fivetan-favorite
episodes
andthe
full-length
animated
movie,TheSecret
of theSword,
thatintroduced
She-Ra
to viewers.
Theseriesis clearlygeared
towardkids,butwhodoesn'tlove
a beautiful,
powerful
womanwho
savesthedaywhilewearinggold
go-goboots?(inkandpaintdvd.
com)
-Malinda Lo
Restorative
Yoga
(TikkunYoga
Center):Thinkyogais bestsavedtor
thosehard-bodied
sortssearching
tor innerpeace?
Thinkagain.Evelyn
Neaman,
directorof Vancouver's
Tikkun
YogaCenter,
ottersupa healinghatha
yogafull of gentlepostures
thatare
practiced
whilelyingdown- perfecttor anyone
whothoughtyoga
wasn'ttor her.There'sa queerperk,
too:Neaman's
a gayactivistwhose
stepdaughter's
lesbianmother,
Aviva
Lazar,
is herwebmaster
andvicepresidentof PrideVancouver.
(tikkunyoga.
com)-DAM
Solitude
(lndican):
A tentative
lesbian
coupleisontheroadto Flagstaff
when
anoldcarandsomefamily-induced
mindgames
derailtheirtrip.Engaging
andsometimes
excruciating
anda
memorable
portrait
of dysfunction.
(solitudethemovie.com)
- DAM
PunkyBrewster:
SeasonThree
(ShoutFactory):
Returnto thelate
'8OsbeforeSoleilMoonFryewasa
jadedfeministbutinsteada punky,
spunkypigtailed
kidwhoruledSunday
nightsonNBC.Thisyearshebecomes
a gossipcolumnist,
stealsa pigand
skipsschool.
Wait,I guessshealready
wasa feminist.(shoutfactory.com)
-DAM
BasicInstinct(Sony):OK,sothis
isn'tthesequelwehadallhoped
tor butSharon
Stoneis assleekand
sexyasever,thisDVDis unrated
andthereis a doseof girlpower
behindit (Desperately
Seeking
Susan
screenwriter
LeoraBarishtorone).
Sosuspend
disbelief
andwatchthe
murderous
bisexual
babein action.
(sonypictures.com)
- DAM
ThirdManOut:A Donald
Strachey
Mystery(Here!):
Here!TVis turning
theiroriginalseriesintoDVDswhich
is a greatboonto anyone
whois
outsidehere!'sbroadcast
range.
Hellbent(Here!
Films):Justin time
Thefirstepisode
of ThirdMan,a gay
tor Halloween
comesthefirstgay
detective
series,isthefirstof six
slasherfilm,fromtheco-creator
of
installments
of thepopularnovelsby
horrorclassicslikeHalloween
and
Richard
Stevenson.
Casting
openlygay
Nightmare
onElmStreet.Evenbetter,
actorChadAllen(Dr.QuinnMedicine
it's setduringHalloween
Carnival
Woman)
wasa godsend,
frankly,as
wherea serialkilleris looseamongthe
theyoung,sexybut
flamboyant
costumes,
beautiful
people, Allenembodies
slightlytiredandhard-boiled
kindof
lotsof drugsandgratuitous
sexof gay
welove- thegaypartis
WestHollywood.
(heretv.com)
- DAM detective
justanadditional
bonus.
Addto it a
bevyof ordinary
LGBT
characters
(like
TheSimpsons:
TheComplete
a lesbian
homecontractor),
a brazen
EighthSeason
(Fox):Tworeasons
queertwistandactorSeanYoung,
to gobbleupthenewestseason
of
andthistlick'sa win-win.(heretv.com)
America's
queerest
animated
fam-DAM
ilybeforetheholidayrush:Gillian
Anderson
in a hysterical
X-Fi/es-meetsOntheOuts(FaderFilms):Thisgritty
Springfield
episode
andJohnWatersin
thehilarious
episode
"Homer's
Phobia," DVD Picks continued on page 63
Mary Jo Godges
I
FILMMAKERS
I
On the morning of Jan. 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded just after
takeoff. All seven astronauts onboard died, including the first U.S. civilian astronaut,
teacher Christa McAuliffe. Twenty years later, lesbian filmmakers Renee Sotile and
Mary Jo Godges set out to give McAuliffe her due as an American hero as well as
a gay icon in their first feature~length documentary, Christa McAuliffe: Reachfor the
Stars,which aired on CNN on the 20th anniversary of the disaster and is now avail~
able on DVD. - Laurie K. Schenden
How did Susan Sarandon and Carly Simon get involved?
Sotile:Christa loved Carly Simon's music and she actually carried her tape
onboard the Challenger. We wrote Carly a letter and ... she ended up writing
an original song for the film.
Godges:
We met Susan at the Harlem International Film Festival last year ...
and she graciously volunteered to do the narration. She is the perfect voice for
this film and for Christa's message.
What do people react to most in the film?
Godges:People really get what a loss it was when Christa died in the
Challenger explosion. It was so refreshing to get to know this woman who
spoke her mind. She was really genuine, and she had incredible dedication
to her students and family, a passion for education, and an amazing ability
to communicate and encourage. We hope that through this film we can help
keep her legacy alive.
What's the connection to the gay community?
Sotile:One of her students said how she talked in her classroom about gays
and having gay friends and needing to find a cure for AIDS - all these things
other teachers wouldn't dare mention. Had the space mission been successful
and given her a bigger platform, it's almost certain she would have been one
of our biggest advocates, especially since she has a gay sister.
Godges:
She was already an advocate for gays before it was cool! And she
encouraged her students to be themselves and to actively stand up for what
they believe; that's clear from the footage you see of her in the movie. ■
For more information,visit teacher1986.com.
October 2006
I55
In the Stacks
Reviews
_
..,...
........
.
..- ,.
- ...
,....
_..
~
-· . -
-
. -
...__
~
...
PLAYi G
cQuantum
We Love a Good Bitch
A coming--out story and cultural criticism top our list. I By Rachel Pepper
FIELD
I lo,, < I, 111g1ng \our ( ho"~'
< .111< h.mg<'\our I 1k
EDITOR'S
PICK
Just in time for cool autumn evenings come two books that
are sure to make great armchair entertainment. The Most
Beautiful Girl in the World reminds us of our first girlfriends,
and BITCHfest reminds us that it's still OK to be a feminist.
The Most Beautiful Girl in
the World, Judy Doenges
PlayingtheQuantum (University of Michigan
Field:HowChanging
Your
Press)
Choices
CanChangeYour
Judy Doenges has crafted a first-rate
Life,BrendaAnderson
(NewWorldLibrary):Don't novel with The Most BeautifulGirl in
thinkthisis another"women the World.The story revolves around
whohatewomenwholove Robin Simonsen, a young lesbian
men"typeself-helpbook.
growing up in a Chicago suburb in
Thiscorporate
VPapplies
the '60s and '70s with her junkie
quantum
physics
to women's
malaise,
usinga philosophy father and ex-showgirl grandmothatespouses
business ther. Doenges, winner of a Ferroprinciples
(like"highreturn- Grumley Award for What She Left
on-energy
mode")thatwe
Me, her collection of short stories,
canapplyin ourpersonal
and currently an English professor
livesto overcome
negativity,
fearandvictimization.
It may at Colorado State University, deftly
sounda bit lofty,butwomen combines one girl's growing selfaroundtheglobearealready realization with the political and
swearing
byit. Countmeas
cultural climate of the times.
one.(newworldlibrary.com)
The first part of the novel focuses on Robin's early child- DianeAnderson-Minshall
hood in the '60s and her secretive but passionate explorations
with her best friend, Kitty. As Robin begins to understand what
it means to like girls the way she does, she also learns how to
keep chis desire simmering while still fitting in with her straight
friends. Paralleling Robin's journey is the one taken by her single
father, who starts as a scavengingjunk' man and ends up a junkie
and drug dealer, largely leaving Robin to raise hersel£
Doenges handles the progression of the decades skillfully as
she moves through time, capturing both the subtle and more
calamitous effects that "free love;' abundant drug use, racial integration and post-war stress disorders can have on people in one
small community.
The second section of the book finds Robin in high school,
forging a friendship with a marauding pack of partiers, and also
with Freddie, her school's only African-American boy. Freddie
becomes an especially close ally when he and Robin reveal to
each other that they are both gay."They whispered, heads together, stringing out all they'd saved up, all they couldn't say during
the day ... Robin was stunned by Freddie's blazing desire: he
had no idea how to shape it, direct it, use it, consume it before
it consumed him. For Freddie, there were boys everywhere,
distant and therefore more tempting; for Robin, there was
one girl, the burning core:'This burning core is reflected in the
one object of Robin's desire, her best high school friend, Lynn.
Lynn is straight, pursued by an endless number of boys, but
Robin is eventually rewarded for her patience with on.e night of
56
Icurve
passion at the book's end. This realization of her dreams, far
from being the catalyst for a happy life with the girl of her
dreams, allows Robin the freedom to finally move on. As high
school graduation cakes them to the cusp of the next phase of
their lives, Robin realizes she must forge a new
future. Although readers don't witness this future, we know that Robin will move to Chicago,
and be just fine in a place "filled with people
who lived as she wanted to, a place overflowing
with women to love:'(www.press.umich.edu)
BITCHfest: Ten Years of Cultural
Criticism From the Pages of Bitch
Magazine, Eds. Lisa Jervis and Andi
Zeisler (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
All long-standing magazines deserve an anthology of their collected works, and Bitchgets theirs
on the occasion of their 10th anniversary. Started
as a zine in the mid-'90s, Bitchhas grown into a
full-fl.edged magazine chat still reports - with
an often angry edge - on feminism, popular
culture and the media. Bitch editors Lisa Jervis
and Andi Zeisler have culled some of the finest
pieces published in the
mag, including pieces
on female masculinity,
performance art, "hasbians;' feminist fame,
slash fiction, racism,
reality porn, female
facial hair and the
"paradox of Martha
Stewart:'
A wide variety
of writers, most not
afraid to cell it like it
is - or at least how
they chink it is - are
included, such as
Jennifer Pozner, Karen
Eng, Keely Savoie,
CURVE s own Diane Anderson-Minshall and a host of others,
in essays with tides like "Screen Butch Blues;' "The Princess
and the Prankster" and "Your Stomach's the Size of a Peanut,
So Shut up Already:' The book's foreword, written by performance artist Margaret Cho, sets the tone from the first page
where she writes, "Whenever anyone has called me a bitch, I
have taken it as a compliment ... These days, I strive to be a
bitch, because not being one sucks:' The writers of Bitch magazine, especially those included in chis anthology, would no
doubt agree. (jsgbooks.com)■
1
PAGE TURNERS
Alison
Dubois
A TasteofSin,FionaZedde
(Kensington
Books):
SexyMiami
socialite
DezNicholshasquitea
reputation
for burningthroughwomen I AUTHOR I
andbreaking
hearts- untilshe
realizes
thatherheartburnsfor a
After appearing in several anthologies, including Awakening the
somewhat
off-limitslover.Zedde's
Virgin,EarlyEmbracesIII and Up All Night, Alison Dubois, a Dutchknackfor explicitwritingmightmake
American writer and Pacific Northwest native, turned to creating one
youwantto putthisbookdownfora
personal
timeout,butyou'llcomeright about something we all love: the lesbian liplock. Her debut book, She
backfor more.(kensingtonbooks.com)KissedMe, is a collection of photos, poems and prose about lesbians
- Michelle
Gallagher
kissing that combines well-known contributors (Tee Corinne, Rachel
Kramer Bussel) and a true DIY spirit. -Diane Anderson-Minshall
Hearing
byJae/,JoyceElbrecht
andLydiaFakundiny
(Terrace
Why'd you decide to put together She Kissed Me?
Books):
Theauthors'secondbook,
From an early age on I became fascinated by the intimacy
writtenunderthecollaborative
name
of JaelB.Juba,takesusto Tarragona,
of two women kissing. As I grew to an adult, I realized the
Fla.,whereJael'sfriendandmentor,
void in our culture about expressing exactly what this gesture
Elizabeth
Harding
Dumot,hasrestored
means to lesbians, individually and culturally. And I also felt,
theantebellum
homeof Frances
on a personal level, chat if it appealed to me - seeing two
Boudon
in 1977.Ina secretroomwithwomen
kissing - perhaps it would appeal to other lesbians.
in thehouse,DumotfindsBoudon's
diary,whichshe'dentrusted
Jaelto
What surprised you the most about the project?
returnto itsoriginalrestingplace.As
The way in which women chose to respond, especially with
Jael'sjourneyto Floridaunfolds,
it
the poems .... And on another level, how so many women were
evokesDumot'sownhistory,andthe
very willing to share something so personal and intimate of
darkmysteries
of thediaryopenup.
their lives. Their generosity of spirit has touched me so much.
Hearing
weaves
a lushtapestryof unsettledpasts,war,slavery,
revolutions,
I am very grateful for all who came forward.
murders
andmagic;highlyrecomHow come some couples have many photos and some
mended
forthoseinterested
in poetic
only have one in the book?
writingstyles.(wisc.edu/wisconsin
The book is divided in sections of work I did and photographs
press)- LenaBengtsson
that were submitted to me. The couples at the front of the
·--
"Oneofthemost
romanticlesbian
e
destinations
on
1 blan~ G/nn the planet."
since 1983
-PlanetOut
~
t.
~
A~P
-~
WORLD'SFOREMOST
GAY&IESIIANHOTEIS
POBox118,Bethlehem,
NH03574
877LES-B-INN
(537-2466)
❖ 603869-3978
vacation@hlghlandslnn-nh.com
❖ www.hlghlandstnn-nh.com
book were gracious enough to allow me to capture chem during a shoot or several shoots. The rest of the book's content
reflects the submissions of all chose who chose to participate.
What do you hope for the book?
To get the word out about it, first and foremost, as I feel chis
project reflects the fruition of an important project, specifically
reflectingthe feelingslesbians have about kissing via photographs
and text. As a culture, I feel chis needs to be explored more.
What's next?
Chasing
Montana,
LoriSoderlind
(Terrace
Books):
Soderlind
is chasing
a betterlife,a lifethatwillleadher
outof thedisappointment
of living
Page Turners continued on page 64
The possibility of doing a sequel, digging deeper within the
diversity of our culture, globally expanding on chis theme.
Did the TV show Medium steal your name?
Yes (laughs]. And I want it back! ■
For more information,go to shekissedme.citymaker.com.
October 2006
I 57
Reviews
Music Watch
Great Expectations
India.Arie, Kinnie Starr and Nelly Furtado are back. I By Margaret Coble
EDITOR'S
PICK
AMA,Yungchen
Lhamo
(RealWorld):Withher
floor-length,
jet blackhair
andethereal
whitegarb,
Yungchen
Lhamolooksevery
bit likea womanwhocould
capturethevastspiritual
powerofTibetanBuddhism
in mesmerizing
chantsand
booming
mountain
calls.
Withguestvocalsfrom
BritishsingersAnnieLennox
andJoyAskew,Lhamo's It's hard not to have high expectations for artists you've grown to
calmingdevotionals
areperlove over the years. India.Arie, Kinnie Starr and Nelly Furtado
fectlyblended
withtrumpets,
are all solo artists I've dug since their debuts, for various reasons:
Africankoras,MiddleEastern
Arie's emotive voice and insightful lyrics; Starr's lyrical flow and
percussion
andsteelguitarto
makea wholly21st-century political consciousness; Furtado's international,flavored, dance,
soundthatstillfeelsaltofriendly grooves and melodic vocals. Arie and Furtado have both
getherotherworldly.
Onetake
just released their third albums, and Starr her fourth. So what's
andI swearyou'llneverlisten
the verdict:>Read on.
to BritneySpearsagain.
(narada.com)
- Diane
Anderson-Minshall Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship, India.Arie
(Motown)
After spending the past few weeks with this third effort from the
Adanta,based neosoul goddess, I like it better than her last disc
disc is sure to propel her to new heights, with several cuts sound,
ing like instant radio or soundtrack hits, including the tide track
lead,off single, a rock,based, electronica,flourished ditty with a
hip,hop flavored breakdown that sports Starr doing what she
does best: rhyming and flowing like the gifted emcee that she is.
"La Le La La" (with Tegan and Sara's Tegan Quinn on backing
vocals) is sheer bouncy, peppy, love song sing,a,long silliness, and
"Rock the Boat" is a fun, hip,hop flavored pop tune that sticks
in your brain and is destined for dance floors. Atmospheric trip,
hop cuts like "Blackbrown Eyes" and "Walking Away" keep the
album diverse, and every song showcases Starr's poetic prow,
but not as much as her first. It would' be hard even for Arie to
ess and verbal dexterity. I've loved all her albums, but Anything
match the genius of Acoustic Soul, but Testimony does definitely
serve up classic India.Arie - that phenomenally rich, earthy
voice; her right,on, politically,correct and feminist lyrics (i.e. "I
proves that Starr only gets better with age. (kinniestarr.com)
Am Not My Hair" - who else could turn an analysis of cultural
stigmas about African,American hair into a pop radio hit:>);that
signature soulful, acoustic,based R&B sound. On the whole, it's
When this first,generation Canadian born of Portuguese par,
ents first hit the scene in 2000, her eclectic, multi,culti dance,
a strong set, with trademark, self,affirrning cuts like the positive
body,image ode "Private Parry;' relationship,lesson testimonies
like her gorgeous cover of Don Henley's hit 'The Heart of the
Matter;' and uplifting, radio,friendly tunes like 'There's Hope:'
My faves are the retro,funky "Better People'' and the self,reflec,
rive "I Choose;' two of the more up,tempo numbers. Fans will
probably like this album a lot - just try not to expect it to be
Acoustic Soul redux. (indiaarie.com)
Anything, Kinnie Starr (MapleMusic Recordings)
This openly bisexual Canadian with aboriginal roots hasn't quite
achieved the mainstream U.S. success of Arie or Furtado (though
she was nominated for a Juno Award in Canada), but she's ris,
ing swiftly thanks to her stint singing for Cirque du Soleil's
5Blcurve
Zumanity in Las Vegas and her recent inclusion on the L Word
soundtrack. This fourth, eclectic but decidedly pappier 11,track
Loose, Nelly Furtado (Geffen)
pop grooves caught my ear. Though her follow,up, Folklore,
didn't impress me as much, I guess the third time really is the
charm. Loose is very enjoyable, despite clearly being her most
commercially viable effort to date. I'm a little disappointed
that she felt the need to go the producer,of,the,moment route
(including rap big,names Timbaland and Pharrell Williams,
among others), as I feel that she's lost some of her individuality
in a trade,off for commercial hip,hop and R&B cred. But I can't
deny that I'm bobbing my head and chair,dancing as I write chis
review. Cuts like the first single, "Promiscuous;' and the '80s,
referencing "Maneater" are infectious, but percussion,intensive
tracks like the Spanglish, reggaeton,flavored "No Hay lgual" get
my attention the most. I could wish for more meaningful lyr,
ics and a little less commercial gloss, but Loose will definitely
remain in heavy rotation on my iPod. (nellyfurtado.com) ■
OTHER LICKS
Second
Narrows,
JackieStrano
(self-released):
Bayareadyke
activist,pornmaker,
andformerHail
Marysvocalistoffersupa newsoulful
acoustic
soloset,opening
withthe
poignant
"NOLA
DeliverMe,"dedicated
to thepeopleof flood-ravaged
New
Orleans.
Oackiestrano.com)
Splurge,
PuffyAmlYumi
(Tofu):
Celebrating
10yearstogether,
the
quirkyfemaleJapanese
popduo
withcartoonalteregos(HiHiPutty
AmiYumij
collaborates
withJon
Spencer
andotherindierockiconsfor
aneclectic,16-song,
alt-rockdelight.
(puttyamiyumi.com)
Andy
Moore
I
I
MUSICIAN
If you're unfamiliar with the folk music of Andy Moore, you're in
for a real treat. This singer-songwriter has a voice like warm butterscotch, and coupled with her 6-string guitar, hers is an easy listen
that will certainly tug at your heartstrings as well. Here's more on
SpinThis,KarenBlixt(Hifli):
Andy Moore. - Mary McGrath
Released
onherownHiFliimprint,
co-founded
withClifBarentrepreneur
anddykemillionaire
LisaThomas,
this
Where did you grow up? Were there any musicians in your
albumfromSanFrancisco-based,
family?
outlesbian,
jazzchanteuse
Blixt
I didn't grow up in a terribly musical household back in
impresses
withanimpeccable
debut
Borger, Texas, [which is] a small town just northeast of
thatshowcases
herfluidvocalstylings
Amarillo. That is, my parents were not and still are not musianddaringsongwriting
skills,especially
notable
ontheanti-Bush
titletrack.
cally inclined at all. In fact, my mom and dad both are the
(karenblixt.
com)
can't-carry-a-tune-in-a-bucket sort. While my brother was
involved in choir throughout school, I wouldn't say that he
focused a lot of his time on musical endeavors. He was the
true athlete ... and I was the music dork: band, choir, guitar.
I loved it. Couldn't get my fill.
Can you elaborate on any particular musical influences?
I loved Amy Grant's early Christian rock albums. I was all
about Ms. Grant until I discovered the Indigo Girls back
in 1991. It was love at first listen ... and my very Southern
Baptist parents didn't know what to think. It was quite a
transition for us all.
Poetica,
lio(Made):Fouryearsafter
What
theirworldwide
dancefloorsmash
"Rapture,"
NewYorkCity-based
duo
liofinallyemerges
witha gorgeous,
15-trackalbumthatspotlights
singer
Nadia'scompelling,
exoticvocalsand
DJ-producer
MarkusMoser'slush
electronic
compositions.
Oiomusic.com)
do you do for fun?
Well, I have a stamp collection. Is that dorky:' I love hanging
out with my wife and our two greyhounds, Nickel and Shell.
It's pure bliss to just kick back on our very comfy purple couch
and watch a movie or read a book together. I'm also a huge
Red Sox junkie; I know, I just lost my Yankee fan contingent.
I listen to as many games as possible online and obsess about
their success just as much as the next Boston boy.
L0UR0S(Breaking):
Medusa
Festival
founderandchildviolinprodigyLourds For aspiring musicians, do you have any advice?
Laneassembles
a co-edNewYork
Be true to yourself . . . to your music. It sounds selfish. But
Cityunderground
rockquartetwhose
honestly, in my opinion, listeners don't feel a lot of connection
explosive
outputrangesfrompunkto
to music that the artist simply contrives for popularity's sake.
classicrockto metalandhardcore,
all
One has to make it personal in some way. ■
Other Lick continued on pag 63
October 2006
I 59
Reviews
Tech Girl
Get in the Game
Video gaming is not just for boys anymore.
IBy Tracy Whitelaw
If you're one of those people who think that video gaming is for guys and geeks only, think again. Girl gam,
ers are growing in numbers, and lots of lesbians are joining in the fun. Here's what's big in gaming at the
moment.
Clockwise from top left:
The Nintendo Wii home
console, the Nintendo
OS Lite handheld, Viva
Pifiata, Tony Hawk's
Project 8 and Desperate
Housewives: The Game.
Not Your Daddy's Joystick
Nintendo is at the forefront of the latest
trend in interactive gaming. Their newest
handheld release, the aesthetically beautiful little Nintendo
OSLite,allows you to play on
the move. Featuring a brighter screen than the original DS, a smaller and lighter feel, and a
snappy Mac look, the Nintendo DS Lite is a must,have. Indulge yourself or your girlfriend
by playing games that sharpen your mind, allow you to engage in fantasy and above all,
provide hours of fun. Not content with conquering the handheld market, the home console
Nintendo
Wii- due to be released by the end of this year - retails at a respectable price
yet brings an innovative touch to gaming. You can use the Wii controller as a gun, fishing
rod, tennis racquet and, if rumors hold true, even a lightsaber. This is the home console
weve all been waiting for, and Nintendo promises it'll deliver more fun than ever before.
($129.99 for the DS Lite, nintendo.com)
Move Onto Wisteria Lane
If you dream of being part of the surreal life at Wisteria Lane, get yourself a copy of
Desperate
Housewives:
TheGame.This is your chance to interact with all the characters
from the show in a PC,only, lifestyle simulation from Buena Vista Games. Solve mysteries,
flirt, charm and spy your way to the truth. If you're brave enough to take on Edie Britt, this
is definitely a tide you'll want to check out. ($19.99, buenavistagames.com)
Lady Croft Calling
Theres no doubt that most of us want to be Lara Croft, or perhaps we just want her.
Regardless, fans await every outing of TombRaideron any console with great anticipation.
Even though 2003's Angel of Darkness left us all feeling a little disheartened, the recent
best seller, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend, proved that gamers can't get enough of the
•lovely Lara, and she was finally back where she belonged. Now we can look forward to a
revamp of the original Tomb Raider game, with Crystal Dynamics' plan to release the 10th
Anniversary Edition of Tomb Raider this fall. Play with Lara until your thumbs bleed.
($39.99 and up, tombraider.com)
Skate Girls Unite
Fans of the Tony Hawk's skateboarding tides wept in disbelief when there were no female
characters playable in story mode on the last outing, American Wasteland. Thankfully,
TonyHawk'sProject8 rectifies this and reinstates the game to its former glory. Available on
all formats, this game remembers that girls like to skate as much as guys. Have fun with all,
new game,play features, as you gain respect with the locals by pulling off tricks. This might be
the most unique, realistic skateboarding game yet. Sweet. ($59.99, tonyhawksproject8.com)
Piiiatas Are Not Just for Kids
If you have fond memories of being blindfolded, spun in a circle and given a bat to swat at
a pifiata stuffed with loads of candy (what did you think we were going to say?), you'll love
VivaPiiiata.The holiday release of this fun and quirky game takes the Xbox 360 in a slightly
more diverse direction. This kids' game could be a surprise hit with adults as well. You're
invited to create a world that living pifiatas inhabit, and it's your job to manage over 60
pifiata species and finally figure out what they do on their day off. (vivapinata.com)
60
Icurve
VictoriaA. Brownworth Politics
The War Against Women
Trust me, terrorism isn't really our biggest threat.
T
here's a war on in America right now.
But we would be wrong, because one in
It isn't the so-called war on terror. It's
three women will be a victim of rape in her
lifetime. Some will be raped as girls, as I
the war against women and girls being
waged by the religious right and conservative politicians. These men are determined
to control our bodies if they have to kill
I was. And some will be raped in their 70s,
80s and 90s as the FBI stats indicate a full
us to do so.
12 percent of rape victims are.
Leftist hyperbold Hardly.
As lesbians we don't think much
rights, unless we
and girls. It's disease. Sexually transmitted
women; among the most commonly and
reproductive
diseases, aka STDs, can be passed between
of unwanted pregnancy, so we don't worry
easily transmitted STDs is human papillomavirus, or HPV.
about whether contraception or abortion
are available to us.
Thus we might think we don't have to
ing of STDs: it rarely has any symptoms,
so almost no crne knows they have it. One
be concerned that the religious right, aided and abetted by the Bush administration, is succeeding in restricting women's
access to basic reproductive and gynecological health care in America.
Perhaps we think it will never impact us.
On Sept. 4, 2002, I was beaten, raped and sodomized on a beautiful, sunny afternoon in a neighbor's yard next to my house.
What does my rape have to do with the religious right's war on women?
-Law enforcement officials call rape a crime of opportunity. They say
rape often happens when a woman is in the wrong place at the wrong time.
HPV is the carbon monoxide poison-
in four women and girls has HPV; few
know they have it.
Like carbon monoxide poisoning, however, HPV is far from benign. HPV is the predominant cause of cervical
cancer, which kills thousands of women each year.
Lesbians are less likely to get regular gynecological check-ups and thus
less likely to get the PAP test that screens for early detection of cervical cancer. This puts lesbians at greater risk for advanced cervical cancer.
When I was raped there was no test for HPV. There is now. What's more,
the first vaccine against HPV has been approved by the FDA.
However, more than half of all rapes are committed by men known to the
victim and close to one-third of rapes occur in a woman's home. Protecting
Except the religious right and the President are queasy about the vaccine and don't want it given to the demographic best suited for it, prepu-
oneself from rape isn't as easy as it seems.
What ifI had become pregnant from that rape? I didn't, but approximately
bescent girls.
Just as the right-wing doesn't want Plan B and RU-486 available to
11 percent of women and girls who are sexually assaulted become pregnant.
What if I had contracted an STD - HIV, herpes, gonorrhea, syphilis,
chlamydia, HPV, hepatitis B or O I didn't, but I had to undergo testing every
women because they believe it promotes promiscuous sexuality and abortion,
they don't want the HPV vaccine given to girls because they believe it will
two months for a year and a half, and throughout that time I had to be con-
promote sexual promiscuity in teenagers. The fact that it could save the lives
of thousands of women each year is, apparently, irrelevant.
cerned that I might transmit one of those diseases to my partner.
The religious right - with vociferous approval from President Bush and
his political base - would disallow my using Plan B ( the morning-after pill
which must be taken within 72 hours of the sexual event) or RU-486 (the pill
Twenty years ago I lived with a woman named Louise Kuney. Louise was
an artist and could have been a stand-up comic, she was that funny.
Louise was always the life of the party, but she died three years ago from
metastatic cervical cancer at 46. In the weeks before she died, I promised
that interrupts pregnancy in the first two months).
Not only does the Bush administration, propelled by its fundamentalist
her I would tell her story. I promised her I would try to save some lives in
her name.
base, try to outlaw the use of these drugs to avoid pregnancy in emergency
instances, they even try to keep information about these alternatives from
women and girls. The situation is so egregious that physicians' groups have
suggested that all women and girls get a prescription for Plan B and keep it
on hand 'Just in case:•
Most of you reading this might think, But the likelihood of my being raped
is so small, I don't have to worry.
I would have said the same thing. I would have said on the day of my rape,
~
But I was raped as a teenager and now I am a woman in my 40s. Statistically
f2
that's unlikely and unfair.
ai
But it isn't just rape that puts us at risk
from the religious right's war on women
are trying to get pregnant and can't find
a sperm bank that will to take us. Our
sexual lives don't include the constant fear
about
5
was. Some will be raped in middle age, as
Get the HPV test. If it's negative, get the vaccine for HPV. Make sure
every girl you know gets the vaccine. Get yourself a prescription for Plan B,
even though you may never need it.
Call or e-mail your repreesentatives and senators and tell them hands off
your body and the bodies of other women and girls in America. Tell them a
very creative and funny woman named Louise Kuney died because there was
no test and no vaccine and that now that there is a test and a vaccine, you don't
want another woman's life cut short by cervical cancer like hers was.
There's a war on. There are lives to be saved, and only we can save them. ■
October 2006
I61
Dyke Drama
Michele Fisher
Ginger Loves Mary Ann
Maybe going on a lesbian cruise isn't such a bad idea, after all.
M
y girl and I had been talking about going on a dyke
cruise for years. The idea of frolicking with our own
kind on the high seas seemed like the ultimate vacation
experience. She wanted to book right away, but every time
the opportunity arose, I found an excuse not to do it.
What if we were not "cruise people"? Not everybody
is a "cruise person:•
My grandfather and his third wife are 'cruise people:' In
fact, they taught me the phrase "cruise people:• Every sum,
mer they fillme in on all of their shipboard adventures, and
when they want to convey to me that a person they met
is of a substandard character, they say, "He/ she is not a
'cruise person:" They live in Florida, are very tan, wear lots
of bright colors and love getting dressed up to eat dinner.
Gramps and I both like girls, but our similarities end there.
Now, the lesbian cruise experience is not a cheap one. A
ship, a crew and food for a couple thousand people costs a lot
of money. It's not as if I don't think it's worth it, but before we
reserved, I wanted to get rid of allof my reservations.
When I saw an advertisement for a nongay, four,day
repositioning cruise from our home town of San
Francisco to Vancouver, Canada, I booked immediately.
"Repositioning" means that the ship takes a load of horny
teenagers from Southern California down to Mexico and
back, then heads up to Vancouver to pick up a herd of geri,
atrics to take to Alaska. The ship stops in San Francisco to
resupply and allow the repositioning passengers onboard.
The ship has to make the journey anyway, so why not let a
few thrifty barnacles come along for the ride?
This was our big chance to find out if we were "cruise
people" without making a huge investment of time or
money. Plus, the four days are really only 60 hours,
because you get onboard on Wednesday night and are off
by Saturday morning.
My wife wondered if we would be the only homosexuals on the boat, but I
told her not to worry as we already knew we were gay; the experiment was to
find out if we were "cruise people" or not. She agreed to go, primarily because
she never wanted to hear the phrase "cruise people" ever again.
While we waited for the months to go by, I became a regular on a couple
of cruise Web sites. I knew to lock my passport in the cabin safe and not to
expect the in,suite hairdryer to have much 00mph. I was prepared for the
unpleasantness of a vacuum toilet, and I knew to bring bottled water to avoid
dehydration and bankruptcy, since it costs a bundle to buy any kind of bev,
erage on a ship. I even brushed up on my nautical terms in case the captain
wanted to have a chat.
But I was most interested in how to avoid spending our vacation hanging
over a rail, feeding the fish. My beloved and I are both prone to motion sick,
ness. If a road has more than rwo turns, we do not take it. Nobody knows
what causes motion sickness, but many believe it's a conflict between one's
inner ear and other senses, primarily sight. Our center of balance, in the inner
ear, senses motion, but our eyes may detect it to a lesser degree - or not at
62
Icurve
all. This conflict causes headaches, nausea and irritability. Some even assert
that because our eyes don't see the problem but our ears tell the brain there
is a problem, the brain thinks it's hallucinating from poison and thus com,
mands the victim to throw up to get rid of the poison.
Interesting, but how to prevent it? If we were to believe the experts,
everything from wristbands to lemon juice to staring at the horizon could be
effective. Could the wristbands actually prevent seasickness? I didn't buy it, so
we didn't buy them. My girl and I decided that we could make it on our little
four,day cruise without prophylactic fashion accessories.
Because the bands were out and I hate citrus fruit, I began collecting
happy pills from friends with leftover prescription drugs, until my girl found
out and dumped my stash. We finally agreed on over,the,counter motion
sickness pills and vowed to use them only if necessary.
Finally, it was time to go. Despite all of my preparation, I was caught off
guard by the embarkation process. At airports, the loudspeaker lady warns
you not to let your luggage out of your sight even for a second. At the dock,
some guy grabs your suitcases and makes off with them to goddess,knows,
~here, pausing only long enough for you to thrust a 10,spot at him.
And have you ever seen something so big that it makes you feel ridicu,
lously small? Not just speechless or in awe, but utterly insignificant? An ocean
liner will do that to you. But, after about two hours of standing in the sun
with a couple thousand straight people waiting to show some official your
documents, that wears off, and you just want to get on the damned beast.
The ship was nice. Glass elevators to whoosh passengers up a stained
glass atrium several stories high, thick carpets your whole shoe sinks into, and
smiling young people from all over the world to bring you what you desired,
as well as a casino, a gym, a library, several lounges, clubs and restaurants, and
even a basketball court. But we didn't feel like drinking, exercising, reading or
As we approached the gangway and prepared to take our first step onto
our real holiday, a cruise line employee tried to take our picture. We politely
gambling, so we just kept on walking. Within an hour we had seen it all, and
the ship seemed rather small after all.
but firmly declined. The photographer seemed both perplexed and mortally
wounded by our refusal. My girl and I agreed later that we would have let him
free dinners onboard. We thought we spotted a gay couple over dessert, but they
take our picture if it had been a gay cruise, but we didn't feel like being the
token homos in the gallery.
were just a straight couple who had been married for so long they look alike.
Our second day at sea was a rough one, with swells reaching 18 feet, but we
We made our way to our cabin, and I was grateful that someone else had
spent our time walking on the outside deck and keeping our eyes on the hori,
zon until our motion,sickness tablets made us too sleepy to continue moving.
to carry our luggage. The hallways were narrow, and our suitcases were heavy.
If over,packing is a lifestyle for you, cruising is your salvation. You can put the
whole house in bags and then let somebody else carry it for you. We had an
inside cabin (no window), which was fine since we were probably below sea level
anyway.It was perfectly nice and tidy, and even a bit bigger than expected.
We found a buffet restaurant and had our first of our three perfectly fine,
Thus, we escaped a full,scale battle with the seasickness monster and when we
awoke, we were safely in Victoria, Canada. I am sure I will appreciate Victoria
more in 40 years or so, but as lackluster as it was, we didn't get back on our ship
until we were summoned by the last blast of the ship's horn.
Have you heard about the lifeboat drill? Don't think you can skip it, because
some guy - an all,in,one waiter, aerobics instructor, auctioneer and safety team
By Saturday morning we were ready to get off for good. It wasn't that the
cruise was terrible. Hey, we didn't barf, so we were way ahead of the game.
leader - will scour the ship, while the other 2,000 toe,tapping passengers wait
The passengers were fine. The boat, food and accommodations were all just
on deck in fullsafety gear, until he finds you and drags you front and center.
After the drill, the ship started moving and the other passengers scurried
off to drink, eat and be merry, while we took advantage of the rare bit of soli,
fine. But I couldn't help thinking that a few other gay couples might have
made the cruise a memorable experience rather than just a cheap but really
long, drawn,out way to get to Canada.
rude to bid our city farewell. When we lost sight of the Golden Gate Bridge,
we went inside to have a look around. We would have stayed on deck and held
As we entered the Canadian Customs building in Vancouver, my wife
said, "Well, you've proven that we are not 'heterosexual repositioning cruise
hands, but this wasn't that kind of cruise.
people; so now can we go on a dyke cruiser" ■
Cream of the Crop continued from page 54
down and force them to return home.
Written and directed by Jan Dunn, Gypospot,
lights issues in the United Kingdom of anxiety over
job scarcity and prejudice against refugees and immi,
grants - particularly against the Roma people. The
actors, who deliver consistently good performances,
improvised much of the dialogue and deserve credit
for a naturalistic style enhanced by handheld, docu,
mentary,style footage. All four main characters have
major flaws,but you'll empathize with all of them by
the end of the film. (medbfilms.com)
are the aural equivalent of weak Earl Grey tea.
The second layer follows the poet at age 70
in 1964, as she verbally feints and parries with
a pair of young journalists trying to uncover her
long,held secret - most of her love poems were
to women. The suspense as to whether she will tell
all builds nicely as the interviewers become frus,
trated by her ability to talk circles around them
without revealing what they most want to know.
Writer,director Linda Thornburg's brilliant
screenplay, which was sanctioned by Sarton her,
self, sensitively portrays the poet and her loves,
both male and female, without ever raising an
Mrs. StevensHears the Mermaids
Singing(Mrs. Stevens Productions)
eyebrow, making a judgment or affixing a label.
(mermaidssinging.com) ■
Adapted from the novel by May Sarton, Mrs.
Stevens Hears the Mermaids Singing interweaves
DVD Picks continued from page 55
two stories about a single character, celebrated
poet Hillary Stevens, whose early novel caused a
scandal on two continents. One layer is nuanced
chronicle, told in flashbacks, of her many loves and
their surrounding milieu, from the freedom of the
jazz,age '20s through the McCarthy witch hunts
of the '50s. The flashback scenes have an authen,
tic period look, due in part to the antiques lent
by friends and locals for the shoot, including ev,
erything from teacups to settees to the Victorian
house used for the location. Unfortunately, the
least authentic notes are the English accents, which
Other Licks continued from page 59
basedonLourds'electricviolin,mandolin,
guitarandvocal
contributions.
(lourdsmusic.com)
In Circles,
TaraJaneO'Neil(Ouarterstick):
ThePortlandbased(butbornandbredin Louisville,
Ky.),outdyke,indie
singer-songwriter,
visualartistandmulti-instrumentalist
returnswithherfourthsoloalbum,anotherintrospective
set
of experimental
yetmelodicsoundscapes
whichmirrorher
visionary
punk-folk
artwork.(tarajaneoneil.com)
Lady/and,
SierraSwan(lnterscope):
Themostrecent
protege
of dykesuper-producer
LindaPerry- whomshe
oftensoundslike- SwanalsoworkswithAimeeMannon
this11-trackmasterpiece
of haunting
pop-rock
witha decidedlyCalifornia
feel.(sierraswan.com)
andoh-so-real
portraitof teengirlswhoselivesintersect
in
prisonis reminiscent
of Bellytruit
andFreeway,
butunlikethe
latter,it viewsverymuchlikea documentary
aboutkidswho
liveonthefringesof society.
That'sbecause
likeBel/ytruit
it's
basedonrealstories,fromrealwomen,whogetlostin the
systemandontheouts.
(ontheouts.com)-DAM
KissKissBangBang(WB):Thelingoandplotlinegooff
thewallandoldschoolin thisqueer,witty,irreverent
thriller
withValKilmerasa gaydetective
namedgayPerry,Robert
Downey,
Jr.,ashisprobably-should-be-gay
sidekickand
Michelle
Monaghan
asanactoreveryqueergirlshouldlove.
(kisskiss-bangbang.com)
- DAM
GetUsedtoIt,TheBrandNewHeavies
(Delicious
Vinyl):TheseBritishstarsof thelate1980s,early1990s
acidjazzsceneareback,newlyreunited
withoriginal
vocalistN'DeaDavenport,
delivering
anexcellent
12-track
opusof theirsignature
soulfulfunkanddanceable
livejazz.
(thebrandnewheavies.neO
- MC
October 2006
I63
Page Turners continued from page 57
throughdeadendjobs,the'80sandNewJersey.
Influenced
bypioneering
grandparents,
shequits
herjobandsetsoffwithherfriendMadeline
to
Montana.
Soderlind's
storyis a jauntytaleof
comingout,setona wildfrontierroadtripto
he1·.1ery
ownplacein the21stcentury.(wise.
edu/wisconsinpress)
- Elizabeth
A.Allen
thenwatchthesparksfly.Culpepper
paintsby
The Jet Set continued from page 39
numbers
withoutmuchstylisticflairor originality,
English
but TheClinicis stilldiverting.
(boldstrokesbooks.Shakespeare's
com)-EAA
Another day, another season. Autumn in England. My aunt and
BloodSisters,A Novelof an EpicFriendship,
MaryJacobsen
(Harrington
ParkPress):This
entertaining
andadventurous
taleof twowomen,
Val(gay)andEmily(straight),
takesyouona profoundjourneyof loveandfriendship,
andshows
howthatbondcantranscend
themanytrialsand
tribulations
of life.MaryJacobsen
writesa deeply
fascinating
andmovingread- somuchsothat
youwillimmediately
wantto buya copyfor allof
yourbestfriends.{haworthpress.com)
- MG
ThePassion
of MaryMagdalene,
Elizabeth
Cunningham
(Monkfish
Publishing):
In
thesamerevisionist
spiritthatinspired
Marion
ZimmerBradley's
MistsofAvalon,
Cunningham
givesusa newMaryMagdalene:
Maeve,
a lusty
Druidwitchandscholar.
Herfast-paced
searchfor
herlostlover,Esus(that'sJesus),
takesherfrom
slavery
in Romethroughthestoriesof theGospel StraighttoJesus:SexualandChristian
Conversions
in theEx-GayMovement,
Tanya
andbeyond.
Maeve's
modern,
slangyvoicecan
Erzen(University
of California
Press):From
bejarring,butthedramatic
characterization,
of ex-gayministries
andqueer
cleverreinterpretations
andwryhumormakeThe thebeginnings
andright-wing
theories
onhomosexuality,
to the
Passion
rollicking
andfast-paced,
betterthan
struggles
of ex-gayindividuals,
Tanzen
mostfeministhistorical
fantasy.(monkfishpublish-personal
ing.com)
- EAA
coverstheclashof Christian
conservatism
andgayidentitywithcompassion
andgrace.
Informative,
wellwrittenandaccessible,
this
PunkLikeMe,J.D.Glass(BoldStrokes
bookwillbea compelling
readevenif youhave
Books):
NinaBoydremembers
herjunioryear
noprevious
knowledge
of thesubject.(ucpress.
in highschoolwhen- eventhoughshelived
edu)-LB
in NewYorkwhereshecouldseetheDayglo
Abortions
performat CBGB's,
readthelatest
HeatLightning,
JudithSkillman(Silverfish
LoveandRockets
comichotoffthepresses,
and
Review):
Skillman's
collection
of newand
minglewithpunksandrockers
- growingup
workspansherprevious
seventitles,
wasn'teasy.Herfirstrealromantic
relationship, selected
from1988'sWorship
of theVisible
Spectrum,
withherbestfriendKerry,setoffa chainof
whichopenswiththeshell-shocked
"Writtenon
eventsthatforcedNinato acceptherselfforwho
Learning
ofArrhythmia
intheUnborn
Child,"to
shewas,evenif nooneelsewould.PunkLike
2004'sOpalescence,
withitscarefully
wrought
Meistender,engaging,
heartbreaking,
hopeful
onsolitaryliving.Newpieces
andfilledwithfunearly'80spunkandnew-wave observations
fromits
culturalreferences.
(boldstrokesbooks.com) suggesta poeticvoicethathasemerged
previous
deliberations
abouttheabsurdtrappings
- LenaBengtsson
of dailylifeto embody
anevenmoreuncluttered
lyricimagination.
Skillman's
firm,unsentimental
A Matterof Degrees,
AlexMarcoux
thiscollection
asoneof themost
(HaworthPress):Psychic
writerJessieMercer, linesestablish
penetrating
chronicles
of contemporary
women's
featuredin Marcoux's
previous
booksFacades
life.(silvertishreviewpress.com)-Julia
Bloch
andBackto Salem,
onceagaingetsherselfinto
breakneck,
elaborately
plottedtrouble.
Afterher
brother'smysterious
death,theintrepidJessie
Gay2 Zee:A Dictionary
of Sex,Subtext,
and
theSublime,
DonaldF.Reuter(St.Martin's
cross-dresses,
infiltrates
theMasons,
and
JudyGarland
referdiscovers
a centuries-long,
worldwide
conspiracy. Griffin):Fromthenumerous
encesto theillustrations
of goateed
menin hot
Thebookstartsoffslowly,focusingonJessie's
brother,
butpicksupsteamwhenthefocusshifts pants,thishilarious
glossary
of queercultureis
probably
a bettergiftforyourgayboyfriend
than
to Jessie.Fromthatpointon,Marcoux
weaves
Butdespiteits unabashed
male-centogether
detailsof Jessie'stransgender
disguise, yourself.
I diddiscover
a fewnewadditions
to
secretMasonrituals,ancientEgyptian
mysticism, teredness,
mylesbianlexicon.
Myfavesinclude"lesploitaandevenreincarnation
withthepracticed
easeof
and"dyksicle"
a master.
Fora woman-centered
andmuchbetter tion"(thinkBritneyandMadonna)
writtenalternative
to TheDaVinciCode,
pickup
(ahottiewithanicyedge).(stmartins.com)
Plato
A Matterof Degrees.
(haworthpress.com)
- EAA - Catherine
uncle drive Angie and me through the English countryside toward
Stratford-Upon-Avon, the town where Shakespeare was born and
died, bookending his theatrical success in London. Along the way,
National Trust houses - mansions and castles maintained by the
government and open to the public - nestle in the rolling hills, behind stone walls and brambles. We stop at the nearly 400-year-old
Chastleton House, described as "a rare gem and a real home:' In the
churchyard, among headstones dating to the 18th century, ladies are
- I kid you not - serving tea and pound cake. It's a fundraiser for
the restoration of frescos that were whitewashed to protect the walls
from bugs.
We have a funny evening in Stratford, chasing down signs that
point us in the direction of Shakespeare's birthplace. They seem to
send us in circles, and we conclude at last that perhaps they mean only
to show us the town itsel£ not a particular house. We see, through a
gate, the elementary school where the bard learned his "little Latin and
less Greek;' and the probable former site of his father's business, now
a hotel. But the best sightseeing event of our trip is Anne Hathaway's
cottage. A two-story, thatch-roofed building with a gorgeous garden,
this is the childhood home of the "older woman" Shakespeare impregnated and subsequently married.
The guide shows us the deep bread oven and the tall, narrow brick
chimney. To clean it, the family would tie a rope around the legs of a
live chicken and send the bird down. The flapping wings dislodged
the dust while the bird - unlike a branch - didn't get stuck up there
because it had its own will to escape. The heels of the bread were given
to servants or children. They cut the loaf itself horizontally, saving
the top for the most important member of the household: hence, the
phrase "upper crust:'
Bathing, we learn, happened once or twice a year. A tub would
be brought in and filled with hot water. The head of household went
first, and then the rest of the household bathed in descending order
of age, gender and status, in the same water. The baby, of course, went
last, floating in the dirt-blackened, opaque pool. The danger was real
that someone might not see the child and "throw the baby out with
the bathwater:'
Angie and I geekishly adore this linguistic trivia. Upstairs, we
see the handmade mattresses - so expensive, even in a middle-class
house, that there were not enough for everyone to sleep on at the same
time. They rest not on box springs, but on a grid of rope strung across
the wooden bed frame. Hammock-like, the rope sank when someone
climbed onto the bed, but turning wooden keys tightened the ropes.
Hence the expression (last one, I promise), "Night, night, sleep tight:'
Stowaways
TheClinic:Tristaine
Book1,CateCulpepper
(BoldStrokesBooks):
CateCulpepper
knows
theingredients
of a successful
romance
novel.
First,createtwocomplementary
protagonists:
In
TheClinic,a revised
secondeditionof the2001
novel,thestarsareimprisoned,
butchAmazon
JesstinandmousymedicBrenna,
whois assignedto Jesstin'scase.Next,deviseobstacles
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clinicdirectorCaster
forcesBrenna
to tortureJesstin.Mixthingsup
withthinlyveiledexcuses
for nakedness
(the
medical
exam,thetoplesswarrior'schallenge),
andsomeambivalence
andrepressed
lust,
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(University
of Wisconsin
Press):At times,this
is oneof thoserarememoirs
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Thequeerauthor
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to men
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muchmoreengrossing
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to thecrew'sculinary
delights.
(wisc.edu/wisconsinpress)-Diane
Anderson-Minshall
At the end of a theater run, the crew (and sometimes the cast) strikes
the set, saving what can be used again in another production, discarding everything else. At the end of our trip, strange fragments of places
and people make their way home with us. Anne Hathaway's wattle
and daub walls; the sweet smile of the fauxhawk-sporting girl from
Brighton who gave us her London map when we had to find our way
home at the end of our night on the town; the lady doing a cover of
Fleetwood Mac in the lobby of the National Theatre. They're piled up
somewhere - backstage - waiting to be turned into something else,
made sense 0£ waiting to reverberate again with applause. ■
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BROKEBACK
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Maggie meets the woman
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Love scenes sizzle in front
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Chloe Sevigny, Sharon
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At the altar a bride falls in
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What will she do now?
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First love between teen
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Five very different women
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JOURNEY
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Two women in 1939 end
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A woman enrolls in a
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Utterly romantic and
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Dyke comics Marga
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get their groove on.
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SEASON
-
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Alix Olson, the acclaimed
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THELWORD:
SEASON
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THELWORD:
SEASON
TWO
MAGGIE
& ANNIE
NOVEMBER
MOON
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Here's what started it all!
Set in Los Angeles, this
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Major life changes mean
reat lesbo drama as Jenny
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When married Annie
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Olympia has an openly
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Lou (Ally Sheedy)
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A series of erotic
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An eight-part series about
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includes lesbian Gabbie.
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During the holidays
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A lesbian in Iran assumes
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WATCHING YOU
This exciting collection
of lesbian short films
includes the hilarious
Interviews With My
Next Girlfriend.
DVD 27087 $29.95
October 2006
I67
VOL.16#7
VOL.16#6
VOL. 16#5
VOL.16#4
VOL.16#3
VOL. 16#2
VOL.16#1
VOL.15#8
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I 71
Top Ten ReasonsWe Love Lori Petty
One of the most underrated actors in Hollywood,
Lori Petty has managed to carve her own little
niche in a town where carving is usually left to
plastic surgeons. She's fresh, unpretentious and
just the right amount of quirky, and were still in
love with her. - Renee Westbrook
1. She'san activist.Feeling a need to counteract
the free,flowing anger brought on by 9/11, she
created a peace,conscious clothing line. Lawd
Knows, a collection of long,sleeve crews, tanks,
split,neck jersey tees, yoga pants and hoodies, also
showcases her original artwork.
2. She'san iconin the lesbiancommunity.
Many
Tinseltown actors would shy away from that
moniker, but not Petty. To her, it's a compliment.
Despite the fact that she only dates men, she
doesn't mind being gay,fabulous and insists she
could go to a lesbian club every night of the week
and have a great time.
3. She'softencastasa lesbian.
"I think the reason
that I'm cast as a lesbian is that I'm not a drag queen.
I don't have fake titties and Botox and fake lips ...
they just don't know what to do with me so they
label me as gay,which I don't give a shit [about]:•
4. She sharedseveralintimatemomentswith
Madonna.
During filming of A League of Their Own
she shared a makeup trailer with the material girl.
As impressed as she was with Madame M's intense
work ethic, she was even more impressed with the
vibrator Madonna gave her as a present at the end
of the shoot.
5. Sherocksthe screenin PreyforRockandRoll.
Not only does she rock the air guitar, she deliv,
ers an understated but insightful performance as
Faith. Like Lucy Berliner in High Art, when Faith
meets with her untimely demise it's as if we lost
someone near and dear to us.
6. She'sTankGirl!"Sexuality" was one of the rea,
sons the MPAA gave it an R rating. That made it
impossible to attract the under, 17 female crowd
and boost the box office. Translation: The charac,
ter is strong but seems kind of lesbianish, and we
don't want our daughters to catch it.
7. She's a do-it-all director.Her directorial
debut, Horrible Accident, premiered at San Jose's
Cinequest Film Festival in 2001. Petty wrote,
produced and acted in the film, which chronicles
the journey of a man in the midst of confronting
his childhood.
72
Icurve
"Ithinkthe reasonthat I'm cast as a lesbianisthat I'm
not a dragqueen.I don't havefaketittiesand Botox
and fake lips... theyjustdon't knowwhatto do with
me so theylabelme as gay."
8. Shehasa winningformulafor a healthymind- 9. She'sin a leagueof her own.Whether she's
playing Tank Girl or Faith, she always manages to
bodyconnection.
Hanging ten with surfer dudes
and getting paid to do it in Point Break was one
thing. In real life, surfing as a workout is much too
dangerous. For Petty, an exercise regimen of yoga,
bring an offbeat honesty to roles, enabling her to
deliver first,rate performances.
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curve
THE BEST-SELLING LESBIAN MAGAZINE
Score One for Sports
VOLUME 16 NUMBER 8
1550 Bryant Street, Suite 510
San Francisco, California 94103
Phone 415-863-6538 Facsimile 415-863-1609
Advertising Sales 415-863-6538 or 212-446-6700
Subscription Inquiries 818-760-8983
Advertising E-mail advertising@curvemag.com
Editorial E-mail editor@curvemag.com
Letters to the Editor E-mail letters@curvemag.com
Women's boxing has come a
Publisher/Editor in Chief
Executive Editor
Associate Editor
Book Review Editor
Music Review Editor
Contributing Editors
long way since I first donned
a pair of gloves. But it's still an
uphill battle for women in and
Copy Chief
Proofreaders
out of the ring, especially
Editorial Assistants
for lesbians.
Frances Stevens Publisher/Editor
W
in Chief
hat do Sheryl Swoopes, houseboating and roller derby have in common? More than you
might think. You might think that focusing this issue on both sports and travel is, well, a bit
incongruous. But we like to keep you guessing what we'll do next, and what's unique about
Art Director
Photography Editor
Production Manager
Web Producer
Catalog Manager
Ad Sales & Marketing
CURVE
is how we approach covering these topics the same: by looking at the obscure and the mainstream.
Marketing & PR Manager
Marketing Coordinator
Marketing Assistants
Among the plethora of things to do and see in our travel extravaganza, we will introduce you to destinations like Albuquerque and its International Balloon Fiesta, as well as tips on surviving lesbian London
and how to organize a houseboating excursion for 16 gal pals.
Both sports fans and those of you who would rather get your nails done than rally around your favorite
team will find the athletes in our pages compelling. First, we delve into a couple of hard-hitting sports
one doesn't usually hear much about: women's boxing and roller derby. Women's boxing has come a long
way since the day I first donned a pair of gloves. Despite the fact that women can now compete in the
Golden Gloves, it's still an uphill battle for women in the ring. Our feature exposes some of the hurdles
women boxers encounter that their male counterparts don't, and on a more personal note, we speak
with two pioneers in the sport who also happen to be partners outside the ring. And speaking of tough
knocks, our feature on America's favorite contact sport, roller derby, will leave you looking for your skates
and the ibuprofen.
From there, we go to a sport that we hear lots about, and to a player at the forefront. Sheryl Swoopes is
our sweetheart of the WNBA and the highest-profile active team player yet to come out. Hearing this
incredibly accomplished athlete speak at the National Center for Lesbian Rights dinner in San Francisco
in April made us realize that her coming-out just might be her most important personal accomplishment. Besides being a milestone for all athletes, her moving story left us thinking about all the athletes
we have written about for this issue and why they still face the challenges of coming out, risking their
careers and their endorsements when they do. We hope Swoopes' bold moves off the court will inspire
other women to do the same.
Enjoy!
Contributing Writers Elizabeth A Allen, Kathy Beige,
Lena Bengtsson, Lucy Jane Bledsoe, Wendy
Colsen, Ariane Conrad, Jennifer Corday, Gina
Daggett, John Esther, Michele Fisher, Ross Forman,
Michelle Gallagher, Jen Gilomen, Amanda Hollinger,
Sheryl Kay, Sheela Lambert, Charlene Lichtenstein,
Karlyn Lotney, Janel M. Lynch, Gabriana Marks,
Mary McGrath, Carole Terwilliger Meyers, Aefa
Mulholland, Mary O'Neal, Catherine Plato, Karen
Schechner, Laurie K. Schenden, Elizabeth Stark,
Renee Westbrook, Tracy Whitelaw, Andy Wright
Contributing Illustrator Katherine Streeter
Contributing Photographers Rebekah Browning, Christine
Butler, Jessie Carbonaro, Joyce George, David Gilder,
Roy Gumpel, lzabela Habur, Juliana Halverson,
Gabriela Hashun, Aaron Kohr, Greg Martin, Brian
Morrison, S. Greg Panosian, Brandon Parry, Lorenzo
Pesce, Paul Piebinga, Oleg Prikhodko, Shae Rocco,
Lisa Ross, Bisa Shea,Andrew Southam, Victoria Wren
Volume 16 Issue 8 Curve (ISSN 1087-867)() Is published monthly (except for
January and July) by Outspoken Ente,-prises,Inc., 1550 Bryant St., Ste. 510,
San Francisco, CA 94103. Subscription price: $31.60/year, $43.60 Canadian
(U.S. funds only) and $44 international(U.S. funds only). Returned checks will
be assessed a $25 surcharge. Periodicals postage paid at San Francisco, CA
94114 and at additional mailing offices (USPS 0010-355). Contents of Curve
Magazine may not be reproduced in any manner, either whole or in part, wtthout
written permission from the publisher. Publication of the name or photograph
of any persons or orgaraations appearing, advertising or listing in Curve may
not be taken as an indication of the sexual orientation of that individual or
group unless specifically stated. Curve welcomes letters, queries, unsolicited
manuscripts and artvvork.
Include SASE for response. Lack of any representation
only signifies insufficient materials. Submissions cannot be returned unless a
self-addressed stamped envelope is included. No responsibilityis assumed for
loss or damages. The contents do not necessarily represent the opinions of
the edrtor, unless specifically
stated. All magazines sent discreetly. Subscription
Inquiries: Please write to Curve, 1550 Bryant Street, Suite 510, San Francisco,
CA 94103, e-mail shop@curvemag.com, or call 818-760-8983. Canadian
Agreement Number: 40793029. Newsstand Circulation: Indy Press Newsstand
Services, 415-643-0161 or maire@indypress.org. Postmaster:Send C8nacfian
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21curve
Frances Stevens
Diane Anderson-Minshall
Malinda Lo
Rachel Pepper
Margaret Coble
Julia Bloch, Victoria A.
Brownworth, Gretchen Lee,
Sarah Warn
Laura K. Cucullu
Jaclyn Barcewski, Emmie Q.
Lam, Laurie Werbner,
Jocelyn Voo
Kathryn Papanek,
Amanda Poulsen
Kas Neteler
Nathalie Peterson
Ondine Kilker
Nikki Woelk
Holly DeMaagd
Danie Belfield
Sara Jane Keskula
Rivendell Media
Bambi Weavil
Amanda Campa
Monica Arana, Karyn Grigsby,
Tiffany Luciotti, Catrina
McQuerry, Kirsten Ott
.
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Features October 2006
"AsI've
startedto
talk about
the book
publicly,
it'sbeen
tempting
to take a
Brokeback
Mountain
approach
to it, to say
that it'snot
reallya gay
storybut
a human
story."
40 Sheryl Swoopes Exclusive Just a year after
Volume16#8
27 Antarctic Ice Naked skiing and crashed airplanes
her famous coming-out, the baskeball legend talks
make this adventurer think. By Lucy Jane Bledsoe
openly about life, love and her pursuit of sheer
happiness. By Malinda Lo
28
Flying, the Gay-Friendly Way Which carriers rate
highest? We tell you who and why. By Malinda Lo
44
Kristin Chenoweth Sings The holy rollers are on
high alert now that this songbird is playing queer in
s:co
a:
w
29
Running With Scissors. By Laurie K. Schenden
Bring Your Boo to Tahoe Haunted Women's
Week makes us shiver. By Catherine Plato
e.
0
0
0
0
a:
w
Alison Bechdel,
<(
46
page 52
Roller Girls Unite They're sexy, they're tough,
30
and sometimes, in the rink, they're mean as hell.
Baja Beauty Two girls, crimson sunsets and some
I
fish tacos. Is there anything better? By Elizabeth Stark
f
ti:i
3:
The ladies of roller derby. By Jocelyn Voo
0
z
Misbehavin' in Michigan The lesbians of
w
Million-Dollar Babies For these lesbian boxers,
Saugutuck are quick to assure this ain't your
~
life isn't quite a blockbuster movie. By Andy Wright
mama's weekend playground. By Wendy Co/sen
<(
32
50
(/)
I
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I
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0
(/)
52
Dyke to Watch Out For Cartoon legend Alison
34
Charleston's Charm Southern belles, mint
Bechdel turns tragedy into comedy in her new
juleps and old-world charm make Charleston a
graphic novel. By Rachel Pepper
vacation must. By Amanda Hollinger
~
a:
a
z
<(
uf
w
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53
Christine Vachon tells all about lesbian movies,
Dyke City Chile peppers and dykes galore make
Albuquerque, N.M., a whole helping of fun. By
Hollywood and her new book. By John Esther
Karen Schechner and Janel M. Lynch
Killing Us Softly Killer Films' uberproducer
36
0
0
3:
~
X
:J
aw
a:
Cover photo by
LorenzoPesce
Contrasto/Redux
Travel Issue: Girls Gone Wild
24
38 -Taos' Crafty Arts A day trip to New Mexico's
Backpacking Through Europe Take these 14 tips
chi-chi Taos makes for a groovy art lesson. By
for a safe and thrilling solo trip. By Gabriana Marks
Carole Terwilliger Meyers
0
I(/)
~
I-
z
0
~
0
(/)
26
41
curve
Houseboating 101 Finally, a vacation that your
39
London Calling Forget San Francisco. When it
girlfriend and each of your last five exes can all do
comes to babelicious fun, London's lesbians have
together. Drama included. By Jen Gilomen
got it going on. By Elizabeth Stark and Malinda Lo
w
a..
0
N
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w
a:
0
..J
Departments
October 2006
"I told her not
to worryas we
alreadyknew
we were gay;
the experiment
was to findout
if we were
'cruisepeople'
or not."
page 62
2
Frankly Speaking Publisher Frances
Stevens tells it like it is.
18 Scene Fun parties, sexy girls and a few
8
Contributors Read all about 'em here.
20 Ask Fairy Butch She solves the mys-
9
Letters Questionable advice, photo
contest feedback and pitches,
pitches, pitches.
of our favorite friends.
58 Music Watch Margaret Coble's take
on India.Arie, Kinnie Starr and Nelly
Furtado. Plus, Yungchen Lhamo, Andy
Moore and Jackie Strano.
teries of strap-on sex.
60 Tech Girl Games and game systems
21 Lipstick & Dipstick The duo tells you
for us geeky girls.
what to do when you can't get enough.
61 Politics Victoria A. Brownworth
11 Out in Front Get to know teen activist
Charlene Hammersen, thespian Karen
LaShelle and radio journalist
Catalina Puente.
12 Curvatures Lesbian pinups ... Hot tees
... Climb Against the Odds ... Soulforce
Equality Ride ... Anne Heche in the
closet, again.
14 Open Studio Daniela Sea lets us peer
through her eyes.
6
I curve
23 Astro Grrl Astrologer Charlene
Lichtenstein hands out some star advice.
54 Sapphic Screen Sheela Lambert
brings the best of the fests. Plus,
Christa McAuliffe's documentarians,
Ellen and She-Ra .
56 In the Stacks Rachel Pepper reveals
The Most Beautiful Girl in the World and
dishes on BITCHfest. Plus, Alison Dubois
and Playing the Quantum Field.
raises the alert level on the war
against women.
62 Dyke Drama Michele Fisher on lesbian,
and not-so-lesbian, cruises.
72 Top Ten Reasons We Love Actor
and filmmaker Lori Petty reminds us
why we crush on her.
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Contributors
Three Cheers for.
Fairy Butch
Longtime
CURVE
advicecolumnist
KarlynLatney,
akaFairyButch,
faceda challenge
noonehad
givenheranyadviceforthis
pastsummer,
whenshewas
diagnosed
withbreastcancer.
InJulyshesuccessfully
hada
doublemastectomy
combined
withchest-reconstruction
surgeryandlaterbegana series
of chemotherapy
treatments
to
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cancer.
Although
doctorshadto
remove
hernipplesbecause
the
cancerhadspreadto theducts,
Latneysaysthatsheis looking
forwardto gettingnippletattoos,
wearingbutton-down
shirtsand
enjoying
hernewmanlychest.
Besureto sendheryourgetwellwishesbyvisiting
fairybutch.com.
Mistresses
of the Web
If youhaven'tvisited
curvemag.com
lately,whynot?
Oncethereyou'llfindnotonlya
slewof storiesyoucan'treadin
themagazine,
butalsoa lively
community
forumwheredykes
fromallovertheworldchat
aboutlesbianlife.WebForum
Administrator
JulieHoughton,
a moderator
since2001who
hailsfromLondon,
reports
that"members
tendto be
genuinely
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anddon't
likecreatinga totaldramarama."
Houghton
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cameto curvemag.com
because
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withnogaycommunity.
It was
a placefor meto discusstopics
of interestto mewithsomevery
smartlesbians
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What'stheweirdest
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havehadto do?Clarke,
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s Icurve
"I always knew Charleston had a queer underbelly, but until I wrote this article I had no idea
how secretly gay this city has always been -
since the days of pirates in butch drag!" says
AmandaHollinger
of her article on Charleston, S.C. (see page 34). In this issue, Hollinger
captures intriguing contradictions of this historic Southern city and encourages anyone with
a red,state inhibition to give Charleston a try. In addition to freelance writing and sporadic
day jobs, Hollinger is at work on her first book, a memoir about recreating the road trip that
her grandmother and four other women took in 1935. Hollinger also stars on the big screen
- or at least the big board - as part of a billboard campaign sponsored by AFFA,
Charleston's LGBT equality organization, to defeat a proposed anti,gay marriage constitu,
tional amendment.
Contributor Gabriana
Marksreports that her friends were shocked when she told them she
was going backpacking across Europe alone, an experience she writes about in this issue (see
page 24). 'Tm still not sure if it was the traveling alone or the idea of me fitting my stuff in a
backpack that got to them;' she says. Marks grew up in the Bay area and has a journalism
degree from the University of Southern California. She also spent a year in Israel and
worked for CBS Radio in Los Angeles for three years. Besides writing and traveling, she
designs the Pink Collection ofbustiers for her mom's business, SparklePlentyCreations.com.
She's currently the campaign administrative coordinator at the San Francisco Jewish
Community Federation and hopes to do a lot more traveling and writing in the future.
Writer KarenSchechner,
who has moved between New Mexico and New York twice, wrote
about Albuquerque (see page 36) for this issue."Recendy, I went back to New Mexico, but
this time just to visit my ex,girlfriend/best friend and her boyfriend, and meet her new
girlfriend who's now the new ex;' she says."That seems to be a fairly typical Albuquerque
GLBT social Venn diagram:' Schechner currently works as the staff writer for the American
Booksellers Association, the national trade organization of independent bookstores, and
freelances for Bookslut.Also a member in good standing of the New York Mycological Society,
she lives in Yonkers, N.Y., with her girlfriend and their two, perfectly reasonable dogs.
"People kept floating out of these incredible Baja skies, parachutes catching the wind above
them, and the wide ocean everywhere around, wanting to nab them;' Elizabeth
Starksays
about looking for adventure in Mexico (see page 30). "I wanted to do something different,
but I couldn't quite picture myself stepping out at 12,000 feet ... onto nothing:' Luckily,
adventures of another kind awaited Stark, who grappled with perplexing insects and elusive
fish, and discovered a hidden lesbian paradise where you'd least expect it. Stark is the
author of the novel Shy Girl and a filmmaker whose latest film, FtF: Femaleto Femme,
premiered at the San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival last June. Visit her online
at elizabethstark.com.
Letters
"If you went that extra mile to help me find a back issue,
then I can't begin to imagine what you have done for
your magazine. I would like to thank you not only for your
help, but for being such a positive role model for the
lesbian community."
Bad Advice?
I love, love, love CURVE magazine. I also love the advice column of
Lipstick & Dipstick. Normally, their advice is right on the money.
However, I cringed at the advice to Torn Teen in June (Vol. 16#5).
The girl writing is 14. She should not run naked with anyone. Yes, I
am a lesbian and a mother of two girls, ages 15 and 14.
Fourteen is too early to experiment with sex. I am not natve. I do
not believe in waiting until marriage or civil union, but kids should
be older when engaging in sex. I have told my own daughters that I
would prefer that they did not wait until marriage, but if they could
wait till after high school, that would be great. There are just too many
things involved in sex that a 14-year-old cannot handle.
- TraceyM. Hasser,Fenton, Mo.
Lipstick: First, thank you for writing in. It's so very important for
parents to be concerned and involved in their children's lives. Second,
I apologize for the offense. That is never our intention - what we
intend to do is offer solid advice drawing from our own lives from
two very different, ironic perspectives.
Apologies and kudos aside, please take off your all-I-can-be-isserious shades and reread the column. I didn't advise the Torn Teen
to run after anyone naked. I simply told an anecdote from my own
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I9
Letters
tormented childhood, one that, like so many other teens (gay or
straight), is littered with strange, blurry, sexually confusing rites of
passage. My advice to the Torn Teen was to let this girl know she's gay
so there's an even playing field. Sure I said that bi-girl might have an
ulterior motive (and she probably did!), one that involves some harmless exploration (not full-blown sex) in the stables, but that was just
playful rhetoric. To all the parents out there who may've taken offense,
I'd advise you to not put so much pressure on your kids about what
they can or cannot do surrounding their budding sexuality.Maybe it's
not a good idea to dabble in the drawers when you're that young, but
if teens have been raised well - with strong values in a loving space
- they'll figure this out on their own.
Dipstick: Mom, sorry you took my joking about Lipstick's racy past
to mean that we encourage other 14-year-olds to go out and do what
she did. As a former youth counselor, I would never seriously advise
a young woman to chase naked after her friend. It was meant to be
funny. Torn Teen, please put your pants back on. It was a joke!
Pride Encounter
This past Sunday at the Capital Pride Festival in Washington, D.C.,
I decided to stop at the CURVEbooth. While I was looking through
the many back issues, this wonderful lady stopped what she was
doing and came to my rescue. She knew the exact article I was looking for, but wasn't quite sure which issue it was in. That is when
the voice of my ... 15-year-old daughter turned me about a dozen
shades of red when she stated, like only a teenager could, "She only
wants that issue because she thinks Alexandra Hedison is hot:'
While I tried to compose myself, this wonderful lady came to
my rescue once again. She joked with my daughter and told her that
nothing was wrong with that and that Alexandra Hedison was hot.
My daughter and I ... walked away from the booth quite impressed.
We could not believe how kind and helpful that lady had been. We
had not gone very far when a couple of young lesbians came up to
me and asked what it had been like talking to her. I had to ask "To
whomt That is when I got my lesson on Frances Stevens [cuRvE's
publisher]. If you went that extra mile to help me find a back issue,
then I can't begin to imagine what you ha~e done for your magazine.
I would like to thank you not only for your help, but for being such
a positive role model for the lesbian community.
- Ruth Nashan, Baltimore, Md.
Can you please, please, please, do another interview with Karina
Lombard? She's returning to The L Word after not being on the
show for two seasons. It is such a huge excitement, and we'd love to
get the inside scoop on how it all came about.
- Andrea Sanchez, via e-mail
Love From the Ladies
Thank you so much for your article on Marsha Stevens-Pino (Vol.
16, #6) and BALM/upBEAT! I am one of the upBEAT! artists
who went through the first training class. I love this ministry, who
Marsha is and what she has done. Our community needs this, and
your magazine sharing the information is really terrific. Again,
thanks, and keep your eyes on us ... we aren't done!
- Natalie Phillips, via e-mail
I'm glad that singer Melissa Ferrick teamed up with PETA to speak
out against fur, even though she's not "all the way there" on other
animal issues ("Melissa Misdemeanor;' Vol. 16, #6). Animals killed
for fur are skinned alive, clubbed to death, crushed in steel-jaw traps
and genitally electrocuted, sometimes just for a little piece of fluff on
a coat collar. You don't need to be a vegan to know that's not right.
- Maura McClure, Virginia Beach, Va.
That's Not What My Life Looks Like
I am a subscriber, supporter, fan, enthusiastic (yet quiet) joiner-in-er.
I must let you know that I was so disappointed in the results of the
photo contest! Not to say that the photographs weren't worthy, but
of all the published selections there were only two or three that were
not sr;iged, artistic photos. I thought the subject was "lesbian life;'
not lesbian models or lesbian art. I didn't see but one or two that look
like something I might see in any of the lesbian lives I know.
- T. Cody, Tally, Fla.
Wrapping It Up
Would you be able to mail your magazine in anything besides a
black plastic wrap? Everyone assumes I'm getting porn! I don't want
my kids thinking a lesbian magazine is equal to porn or anything to
be embarrassed or ashamed about.
-
Melissa, Bloomington,
TI!.
Editor's note: We have to ship it discretelyfor those readersfor whom it
is a big deal to get a lesbian magazine -
Send Us Your Pitches
I would appreciate it if you would consider an article about Lucy
Lawless and Renee O'Connor. Although the series Xena is long
gone, it still creates a lot of interest, and Lawless is now on Battlestar
Galactica. They both are very community minded, and we would
love to read an update on them.
-
Leigh, Australia
I am wondering if you do articles for us older lesbians. I am over
55 and find your magazine is geared to the young and single. Party,
party seems to be the theme. Can you direct me to Web sites or past
articles in your magazine that would be more geared to the "older
lesbians"~
- Sharon, via e-mail
101curve
because they're in the military
or live with their parents or just can't be out to their neighbors. It's too
expenisvive to send some in wrappers and some without, so we all have
to help those lesbians who aren't in circumstances that allow them to get
a lesbian magazine without a discrete wrapper.
Got Something on Your Mind?
E-mail letters@curvemag.com;write to CURVE
Letters, 1550 Bryant St.,
Ste. 510, San Francisco,CA 94103; fax to 415-863-1609. Please include
your name, city and state. Letters may be edited for clarity and length.
Corrections
The cover photo of Joan Jett (Vol. 16, #6) was incorrectly credited;
Michael Rubenstein was the photographer. CuRvE sincerely regrets
the error. ■
Outed and Proud
Thespian Activism
Award-Winning Obsession
Since she came out just three years ago,
Last fall, when thousands of Hurricane
Imagine writing a radio piece about your obses,
Charlene
Hammersen
has been called, "dirty
fucking dyke;' had a cement brick thrown at
Katrina evacuees headed to Austin, Texas, for
shelter from the storm, KarenLaShelle
had one
sion with a female classmate,capturing the
moment you came out to your father as bisexual
her, and recently came back to her car to find
simple thought: What will the children do?
its windshield smashed to bits.
That's a lot for an 18,year,old to take on.
Only days after the Austin Convention
Center filled up with thousands of New
Orleans' refugees, LaShelle, the 30,year,old
on tape andwinningjournalism's prestigious
Peabody Award. Now imagine doing all this be,
But Hammersen, who just began her
executive and artistic director for the Austin,
based Theatre Action Project, assembled a
the Radio Rookies, WNYC's youth journalism
being outed by a friend who found a love note
diverse group of creative talent to answer that
to her penned by another girl at the school,
Hammersen has endured innumerable inci,
very question.
The team spent hours every week at the
program dedicated to providing opportunities
to teens in underserved areas of New York.The
dents of gay bashing, both verbal and physical.
"I guess you could say he really broke the
convention center volunteering their time,
telling stories, singing songs and playing the,
stories have the reputation of being brave,
ice for me;' she says.
The most outrageous confrontations
ater games with the children housed there.
"Theater, and the kinds of activities we do,
began after Hammersen and several friends
successfully started Peers Rising in Diverse
Education, aka P.R.I.D.E., at the school early
last year.Two months after their first meet,
brought these kids joy and a release;' LaShelle
says. "It took their minds off what was going
on every day and gave them time for imagi,
provocative and real. Puentes is all three as she
chronicles, through a combination of narration
and conversation with her sister and father, the
- but did not force the dance club or the gun
shooting club to disband.
Hammersen was undeterred. She and two
other students, Lindsay Pacer and Kimberlee
Gould, with the assitance of the ACLU, sued
_ White County High School last March. On
July 17, the judge ruled in Hammersen's favor,
stating that she and her peers should be allowed
to use the school for their club'smeetings.
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what Catalina
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now 16, did just last year.
She wrote Obsession
in 2005 as a member of
senior year at White County High School in
Cleveland, Ga., has built a tough hide. Since
ing, school administrators decided to ban all
noncurricular clubs and shut down the club
w
z
fore you are even old enough to drive a car.That's
Hammersen acknowledges it might have
been easier on her had she not been so "out"
about being out, but she said she couldn't have
done it any other way.
"Yeah, a lot of harassment comes with it;'
she says, "but in the end, people have to see
that young people care, too. Just because we're
young doesn't mean we're stupid or that we
don't care:' -
Sheryl Kay
program provides a voice for worlds rarely repre,
sented authentically in the media, and Rookies'
joys and frustrations accompanying her infatua,
tion with a classmate,"K,licious:' Praised for its
nary play:'
Theatre Action Project is a nonprofit
courage, Obsessionwas honored with a 2005
group that brings interactive theater to public
schools all over the Austin area. Programs are
aired nationally on This AmericanLife.
It was difficult, Puente says,to tell her father
about her feelingsfor K,licious. "I thought he
designed to draw young people into a creative
and safe place where they can express them,
selves, particularly about difficult social issues
such as bullying, conflict resolution, abusive
relationships and stereotyping.
"They learn how to be activists, and how
to be allies;' LaShelle explains. She estimates
that between the daytime and after,school
programs, Theatre Action reached about
Peabody Award for journalism excellence and
was going to see me differently and I don't like
things to change. What if we're not as close as we
used to be? But ... it was the complete opposite.
He was like'OK, all right, I still love you."'
Puente performs in local poetry and spoken
word events and, aside from plans to continue
writing, aspires to be an actor, clothing designer,
11,000 students in the past year. Plus, all
model and club owner. At first shy about public
performance, she says,"Sometimes you just
programs are fully subsidized by donations.
"I see myself as someone who has a vision
have to take risks because that's what helps you
find out more about yourself" She's motivated
as an activist through the arts;' LaShelle says.
"My real goal is to bring more and more peo,
to continue performing because of "the way the
audience responded to my work. They loved it a
ple together in the community to ultimately
fight racism, homophobia, poverty, abuse; and
to do that through theater:' - Sheryl Kay
lot, and I just loved that feeling:'
Listen to Obsession
at wnyc.org/ radiorookies.
- Janel M. Lynch
October 2006
I 11
Curvatures
Make Boobies Your Priority
Critically acclaimed French Canadian
musician Lucy Blue Tremblay (right)
has taken on a lifelong crusade that will
potentially help save millions of lives,
using her talents as an artist and activ~
LESBIAN
DREAM
Lastspringweoffered1O
readers
a signedposterfrom
themovieTheNotorious
BettiePagein exchange
for
theirvotesonwhowould
maketheperfectlesbian
pinup.Well,don'tthinkthe
votesweren'tentertaining.
Everygirlunderthesun
wasnominated,
fromPink
(anadorable
sailorsuitand
herbackside
werenoted)to
activistandformerNGLTF
directorUrvashi
Vaid.(Kate
Clinton,
didyouvote?)The
faves?BettiePage(whom
onedykeadmittedhadbeen
a favoriteof hergrandfather
andfatheraswell- aw,a
familytradition),
Katherine
Moennig
(onereadercalled
her"theultimatebalance
of
masculine
andfeminine")
and,of course,
Angelina
Jolie.ComicLisaMyers,of
bitchcomic.com,
summed
up
Jolie'sappeal:
"Everysingle
womanI knoweitherwants
her,wantsto beheror both.
Sheembodies
whatmany...
consider
perfection,
andthe
factthatshe'ssoopenabout
hersexuality
andthatshe
findsbothgenders
sexually
attractive
makesher,I think,
thatmuchmoreattractive."
Whowoulddisagree?
ist to found the Breast Exam Project,
a multifaceted organization designed
to help women and men detect and
prevent breast cancer. "Most of the
women in my family had breast cancer
on my mother's side;' she explains, "so I
thought maybe I should check out my
breasts more often. When my sister was
diagnosed with a stage four lung cancer,
I cancelled my life and became her ad~
vocate. I would go with her and see all
these brave souls sitting there doing their chemo, and I realized
how lucky I was. I thought to mysel.£'There's got to be a way to
make a difference with my music. And now is the time to start:"
In order to put a positive focus on early detection, Tremblay
decided to record a music video that would demonstrate how
to administer a breast self~exam. The video will show real
breasts and feature original music, penned by Tremblay, that
Tremblay gathered from women across the nation, will also be
answered by a health care professional.
Tremblay hopes to include footage from celebrities, such
as Melissa Etheridge, willing to speak on camera about their
experiences with breast cancer in order to empower others.
Finally, the DVD will close with powerful stories about breast
cancer survivors. "We are videotaping women who are thriving
after breast cancer;' she says. "There are women into rowing,
explains how to do the exam. Tremblay will sing directions in
English, French, Spanish and Italian; other languages will be
women who ride motorcycles, and even women who climb
subtitled and instructions will also be shown in sign language.
A series of common questions about breast cancer, which
mountains. It's empowering to see that after chemo, anything
is still possible:• - Jennifer Corday
Taking on the Mountain
Ask any woman who has done it and they'll
tell you that joining Climb Against the Odds
is about much more than climbing 3,550~foot
Mount Shasta. This climb gives breast cancer
survivors and their supporters a way to honor
their struggles and draw attention to breast can~
cer awareness. This spring, 18~year~old lesbian
Kate Cooper became the youngest woman to
climb with the Breast Cancer Fund. Her aunt,
the similarly impressive 50~year~old Pali Cooper,
also a lesbian, joined her.
"I really,really, really want to climb this sacred
mountain called Mount Shasta;' Cooper told
Gay.com, saying that she felt "an urgent need to
help and honor the millions of women and men
who have been touched by this terrible disease:•
For these out lesbians, Climb Against the Odds was much
more than the six months of rigorous physical training it took
to prepare; it was, they say, a spiritual journey. The Coopers
and 26 other men and women reached the summit in July.
Don't think these two are the first lesbians on a Climb
12 I curve
Against the Odds. Several others have preceded them. In 2004,
Pamela Low made the climb, saying her struggle with cancer
was a blessing that made her "see the beauty in life:' The climb
also inspired her to later start a support group for Asian lesbi~
ans in the San Francisco Bay area. For more information, visit
breastcancerfund.org. -
Amanda Poulsen
Connect in Ontario, Canada.
It's hard to imagine a more gay and lesbian-friendly place than Ontario, Canada. Home to the third largest gay
and lesbian population in the world, Toronto is a mature, laid-back big city of flair and sophistication, generosity and
warmth. Film. Theater. Art. Music. Food. Wine. We've got them all here. And more. Plus a fabulous gay village, alive
with bars and discos, cafes and clubs.
Just over an hour away is the Niagara Region, the location of Niagara Falls and center of
one of the world's most exciting emerging wine regions. Drive the Wine Route,
lunch in a vineyard, then head back to Toronto for an evening of theater, a late
supper in a downtown bistro and a nightcap in a friendly, cosmopolitan bar.
For more information, visit www.ontariotravel.net/GLBT
or call 1-800-ONTARIO.
Daniela Sea
IARTIST, ACTOR, MUSICIAN I
When MIX NYC, an alternative gay and lesbian film festival in New York City (mixnyc.org), wanted
to raise some funds, they started off by handing out disposable cameras to 150 various artists and
celebrities, then auctioned off the used cameras to be developed by the winners. Bidders in the Naked
Eye Celebrity Camera Benefit didn't know what images were taken, only the photographer who took
them. Fortunately for us and for you, dear readers, CURVE art director Kas Neteler bid the highest
amount to win the camera shot by The L Word's Daniela Sea (self-portrait at left). Not your standard
snapshots, Sea's images are as queer as the lens she shoots through, and reveal her artistic appreciation for the everyday mundane. - Laura K. Cucullu
14
I curve
Curvatures
Putting on the Cotton
It's back-to-school season, and you know you'll be up all
hours discussing Joan Nestle and Judith Buder, only to
roll out of bed late and run to some physics class you never
meant to take. What better way to plan for those all-nighters than to have a handy arsenal of tees ready to roll as soon
as you are. Many of the hottest shirts this fall make a statement (and come from LGBT-owned or -friendly companies); here are some of CURVE s favorites:
Youprobably
recognize
the
whimsical
workof artist
SudieRakusin
fromher
prolificillustrations
for magazines,calendars,
notecards
andbooks.
A self-proclaimed
"eco-feminist,"
Rakusin
featuresanimalsprominently
in
herwork,asin herchildren's
booksabouta GreatDane
namedSavannah
Blue,or in
thenewsletters
of Feminists
forAnimalRights,
a group
thatspotlights
connections
between
theobjectification
andexploitation
of women
andanimals,
andseeksto
endabusesagainstboth.
Butforthoseof uslongingto
indulgeourinnerchild,she
hascreatedtwomust-have
coloringbooks.TheColoring
BookforBigGirlsandThe
SecondColQring
BookforBig
Girls:SpiritsandGoddesses
(bothfromWinged
Willow
Press)offerupdreamy
drawings,
fullof familiars
anddeities,thatinvitemany
hoursof introspection
and
fun.(sudierakusin.com)
-Ariane Conrad
1
Bitch Mode, She-Haul and Got
Batteries from bitchmodeproductions.com; Kinsey from
whodoyoudo.com; Dip Me and
Nobody Knows from bewild.
com; Bring Dana Back from
idgogayyfor.com; No One
Cares and Lesbian Pride from
onehorseshy.com; Lesbo from
psychotherapyclothing.com
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Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Orgasm
Irritated that the biggest catchphrase among
her male colleagues was Larry the Cable Guy's
"git-r-done," comedian Cathy Carlson decided it
was time for a smutty, chauvinistic catchphrase
of our own. In early 2006, she launched You
includes the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office,
who refused to grant Carlson a trademark due
to the phrase's sexual nature. Their refusal letter
stated, "The 'cum' portion of the proposed mark
if they were denying everything that had a sexual
content to it, but they are not;' Carlson says.
refers to semen, and is thus scandalous because
adult film business ... But saying that having an
orgasm like a girl is scandalous and vulgar was
just offensive enough for me to fight it:' As the
Cum Like a Girl, a line of clothing and accessories all bearing the same slogan of girl-centric
the mark implies that the consumers of the
goods are those who orgasm like a girl:'
w
sexual liberation.
Despite a warm reception in the lesbian community, not everyone agrees with Carlson's vision
I
of erotic empowerment.
Carlson is quick to point out that her items
are far from the first to sport the scandalous Cword, but merely the first to use it in the context of female sexuality. "I would understand it
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"They have approved many trademarks with
phrases that are degrading to women, like in the
battle rages on, show your support for Carlson
(and orgasming women everywhere) by buying
a shirt on her Web site, youcumlikeagirl.com.
- Catherine Plato
October 2006
I 15
Curvatures
Lesbofile
Hair Today, Dyke Tomorrow
Nothing says lesbian like a bad haircut. Or Paris Hilton.
This month, we've got closet action, celebrity
crushes and a whole lotta tongue wagging.
A Hairy Issue
RosieO'Donnell
now rests comfortably as the new
personality on ABC's morning coffee klatch The
View, sitting in Meredith Vieira's old chair (and
Star Jones' TV wake) beside mother-hen Barbara
Walters, Joy Behar and Elisabeth Hasselbeck.
Though many thought that nuclear meltdown had
been narrowly averted when notoriously feuding
O'Donnell and Jones never crossed paths, ABC
threw in their own gimmick to keep things oh-sodicey: As stipulated in O'Donnell's contract, the
former daytime talk show host cannot cut her hair.
Your guess is as good as mine as to why ABC is
so ?-ghast at the thought of O'Donnell sporting a
short 'do while they tolerated watchingJones' melting face day after day.
I ByJocelyn Yoo
"Rememberthat videowhereshe comesout with a
trenchcoat on and she opensup the trenchcoat and
she'swearinga bikiniand then she'srockingout with
a guitar?"Carmensighs."She'shot."
~
::}
~
We'll Always Have Paris
ParisHiltonand NicoleRichie- a duo better
known for dancing on tabletops and XXX home
videos - may be actually doing something honorable with their celebrity for once. The pair stars
in El Network's The SimpleLife: 'Til Death Do Us
Part as urban socialites floundering in reality by
joining an existing family as surrogate mothers.
Generally this results in botched school projects
and scandalized husbands, but when Hilton and
Richie learned that the Bowden family - a lesbian couple raising two teenage daughters - never
had a wedding, their new mission was to put on
the most lavish ceremony possible. Toy dogs and
night-vision goggles optional.
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Million-Dollar Kiss
Many celebrities donate clothes, memorabilia or
personal downtime to raise money for charity.
KateMossdonates the thing she seems to be doing
best (or at least second best) these days - sharing
big wet ones with other allegedly straight women.
Business tycoon Phillip Green paid $108,000 to
win a minute-long kiss with the cocaine queen in
a charity auction for the Hoping Foundation for
Palestinian Refugee Children. Why Green paid so
much became a mystery, though, when he declined
to actually kiss Moss in front of his wife, Tina.
Instead, he passed the prize on to HughGrant's
girlfriend, British socialite JemimaKhan.
16
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Do You Wanna Touch Me?
According to Britain's The Sun, Pussycat Dolls
dancer and AerobicStripteaseentrepreneur Carmen
Electrajust can't get enough of rock stars. The
soon-to-be ex-wife of perpetually eyelinered and
impeccably coiffed Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave
Navarro plays JoanJett'slover in Jett's new video
for 'AC.D.C.;' fulfilling Electra's lifelong crush.
"Remember that video where she comes out with
a trench coat on and she opens up the trench coat
and she's wearing a bikini and then she's rocking
out with a guitar?" Carmen sighs. "She's hot:'
When Star Exes Collide
After five years of no contact, EllenDeGeneres
and current girlfriend Portiade Rossiran into
DeGeneres' ex Anne Hecheand her husband,
Coley Laffoon, at the GQ Celebrity Poker for
Peace Games in Los Angeles, Us Weekly reports.
When the Emmy award-winning talk show host
came face-to-face with Heche, "Ellen's face was
bright red;' a witness says. According to another
source, Heche initially tried to avoid the showdown by hiding in the Calvin Klein gift room.
Tsk, tsk, Anne, but we're not really surprised. You
always did seem more comfortable in the closet. ■
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Soulforce Equality Ride
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Last spring, 35 young adults traveled across the country with a
much loftier purpose in mind than
the partying that usually characterizes college road trips. For the first
Soulforce Equality Ride, these activists went on a 51-day-long bus
tour to visit 19 religious colleges
and military academies that forbid
enrollment ofLGBT students. The
tour aimed to "challenge the schools
to learn from history, to take ownership of the damage caused by
their policies and to stop religionbased discrimination;' according to Jacob Reitan, founder and
co-director of the ride.
Inspired by the freedom rides of the 1950s and '60s, the 35
student activists (and one interspecies hamster activist named
Ryder) held class discussions, community forums and reached
out to LGBT communities at each stop.
Although reactions to the ride varied, ranging from student
arrests at six different institutions to the creation of new gaystraight alliances at four other schools, most schools received
ON-SCREEN
DYKE ALERT
the Soulforce riders with enthusiasm - a positive and hopeful
surprise to co-director Haven Herrin, who is already planning
and recruiting new participants for a larger and more exten sive tour in the spring of 2007. Herrin says that this year's ride
gave herself and many other activists, "a newfound respect for
Christianity" that proved to her that "reconciliation is truly
achievable:'
For more information on the ride, visit equalityride.com.
-
What'sthemosteagerlyawaitedlesbian
filmthisfall?
Running
WithScissors,
the
quirkyfilmbasedontheoutlandishandirreverent
novel
fromgayauthorAugusten
Burroughs,
in whichAnnette
Benning's
unstable
character
hasmorethanonelesbian
relationship,
Above,
she's
withonelover,playedby
Gabrielle
Unionof Bringit
Onfame,
Kathryn Papanek
October 2006
I 17
1 Contestants at the premiere of Bravo's ProjectRunway 2 Lovely lasses from Girls in
Wonderland pool party in Florida 3 Former CURVE editorial assistant Lauren Marie
Fleming and CURVE s handy office manager, Meriah Miracle, ham it up at the Long Beach
Pride CURVE booth, June 2006 4 Kevin Cathcart and Billie Jean King at Lambda Legal
5 Hard,working volunteers Desiree Figueroa (left) and partner Deborah Alcantara at
Atlanta Pride, June 2006 6 Patrice Walls, a twirler for ROTC, Righteously Outrageous
Twirling Corps, at St. Petersburg Pride in Florida, June 2006 7 Filmmaker Cherien Dabis
(Little BlackBoot) and filmmaker Trish Doolan (April'sShower)at the April's Showerrelease
party in Los Angeles, May 2006
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1sjcurve
Curvatures
Hell- Raisin' Sisters of Sacratnento
In 1979, Dayna Davidson, aka"Grumbles;'
and her partner "Gramps;' formed Leather
and Lace, a motorcycle club exclusively for
women in California's Sacramento county.
-Now, 20 years later, Leather and Lace is
a nonprofit renamed the Sisters of Scota
Women's Motorcycle Club. This chicks'
club of hellraisers and hotshots later sought
advice from established bike clubs such as the
Hell's Angels and the Valley Knights, a men's
motorcycle club in Sacramento, and worked
vigorously to prove themselves with philanthropic efforts
benefiting the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation,
the Pony Express Ride and Cross~Country Event, and the
Sacramento Rainbow Festival.
They also provide muscle, working as motorcycle safety
officers at Pride events in bigger cities including San Francisco
and Sanjose. And in 2005, road captain Marilee Witt (whose
road name is Krazy Horse) was asked to provide motorcycle
safety for an HIV/ AIDS cycling event, the NorCal Aids
Challenge. The Sisters of Scota stepped up to the plate - er,
road - and will do it again in 2007.
When Sacramento's on~again, off~againLGBT Pride
returned last June, folks lined
up to see the Sisters of Scota
barreling down the parade
route. While hundreds of
Sacramentans cheered for
parade participants and helped
defuse the handful of anti~gay
protesters on hand, the Sisters
of Scota, then celebrating their
25th anniversary, drew much of
the attention.
Krazy Horse says that her Scota sisters are ready to
save the day for anyone on the road or in their community.
The Sisters of Scota Women's Motorcycle Club has gone
national, with chapters in Florida, Texas and Washington, but
California remains home to the mother chapter and holds the
largest membership. A black leather jacket decorated with a
family patch in vibrant colors of fuchsia and white, a promi~
nent pair of white angel wings branded on the back, is the
official uniform of every sister. Dedicated to their community,
they wear their colors with pride and still manage to rule the
road like a freight train of halos. For more information, visit
soswmc.org. - Mary O'Neal
A LESBIAN
MOVIE EXTRA
I wasthrilledto beinvitedas
anextrainthenewlesbian
movie,Changing
Spots,
whichstarslesbian
actress
Danielle
Egnew
andher
partnerJennySherwin.
My
partner,
Jamie,andI found
theHollywood
barwhere
shooting
wasscheduled
to
takeplaceintheweehours
ofthemorn.Inside,
it wasa
wholenewworldforme:As
lights,cameras
andactors
sprungintoactionto shoot
oneofthefinalscenes,
the
on-setenergy
wasaliveand
pumping.
Toreadmoreof
JenniferCorday's
diaryplus
interviews
withthestarsand
directors
ofChanging
Spots
go to Curvemag.com.
Peak Adventure
Travelto new heights
Nativeculture,wilderness,wildlife, mountains,trails, glaciers,fishing,and events.
Anchorage:one destination,endlessadventure.
October 2006
I
19
Advice
HOW TO HAVE
A HOMO
HALLOWEEN
Ah,Halloween.
Seemslikeit
wasjustyesterday
whenyou
coulddressupasa cowgirlor
a harlot.(Ifyou'reMadonna,
it
wasjustyesterday.)
Youcan
putthe"boo"in beautiful
this
Halloween
asyouexpress
yourself
andimpress
your
friendswithoneofthese
incognito
possibilities.
Bend some gender.
Dressastheopposite
sex.
Express
yourbluejeans-andflannelside(asif youdon'tdo
thateveryday)- foroneday
oftheyear,facialhairwillbe
a bonus.Or,shocktheworld
andputona dressandheels.
Noonewillrecognize
you.
Be your ultimate fantasy. Besomething
far-out,
wackyandunrealistic,
like
Michael
Jackson,
AnneHeche
ora Republican
lesbian.
Indulge
ina worldthatdoesn't
existasyouandyourpartner
weara wedding
dressand
tuxedo,
clutching
yourlegally
recognized
marriage
license.
Dress as a dynamic
duo. OK,couples:
Dressup
asthefatStarJonesandthe
skinnyStarJones.
Thenwatch
thefurflywhenyouruninto
thecoupledressed
upasthe
fatandskinnyOprah.
Or,the
twoof youcandressupasa
classiclesbian
duolikeLucy
andEthel,
WilmaandBetty,
or NancyDrewandhergood
friend,George.
(Come
on,who
weretheykidding?)
Go practical. A togais
a convenient
costume.
No
zippers.
Noclasps.Noapparel
obstacle
courseat theend
oftheevening.
Orgoasa
pirate.
Thatpeglegwillcome
in handylater,andif thebeer
goggles
don'twork,theeye
patchmayhelp.
Scare yourself - and
everyone else. If your
goalis to makechildrenrun
screaming
in theotherdirection,well,I referyou,again,
to thefollowing
costumes:
George
W.,StarJones,
Michael
Jackson
orAnne
Heche.
Cometo thinkof it,
adultswillrunoffscreaming,
too.- KateLacey
20
Icurve
Ask Fairy Butch
It's a Mystery to Me
Dear Fairy Butch: My lover's vagina is a mystery to
me. I have no idea how to work the angles to make
strap-on sex enjoyable for her. Can you give me the
lowdown? - Geometrically Challenged in Georgia
Dear Challenged: I would be delighted, cherub! Let's get
to work. The vagina averages about 4 inches in length, from
the vaginal opening at its entrance to the fornix at its end. The
fornix is up next to the cervix, or the entrance to the uterus.
Vaginal tissue is composed of moist mucous membranes, which
are smooth in some places and roughly textured like a sponge
in others. In its unstimulated state, the walls of the vagina collapse on itsel£ leaving just enough space for menstrual blood
and other fluids to escape. The angle of the vagina is particular
to each woman, and learning how your partner's vagina is contoured, and how that contour changes as she becomes aroused
and when she changes positions, are the most important things
you need to know to have great strap-on sex. Again, you must
explore your partner's vagina by hand prior to penetration, particularly if either your partner or strap-on sex is new to you.
The deepest two-thirds of the vagina are sleek in texture;
they feel much like the surface of your mouth inside your
cheek. This part of the vagina is more sensitive to fullness
and pressure than to sensation on its surface. This means it's
the time of her menstrual cycle, her age, diet, level of arousal,
the amount of which has been used in recent sexual activities,
and her own subjective patterns. To ensure that an otherwise
likely that you won't be able to tell when your cervix or the
tissue deep inside your vagina has been scratched. Therefore,
pleasurable enterprise isn't threatened by a lack of precipitation,
make certain that a good water-based lubricant is available at all
it is especially important to file your fingernails carefully prior
times. Be sure to find out more in my book, The Ultimate Guide
to inserting them into your partner's vagina, or to try sexpert
Carol Queen's trick of stuffing cotton balls into the end of a
to Strap-On Sex: A CompleteGuidefor Women and Men.
latex glove to dull the sharp edges of long fingernails inside.
This is also a good reason to. avoid overindulgence in alcohol
Dear Fairy Butch: My lover and I have a decent sex
life, but I'm wondering if there is anything we could
do to jazz it up outside the bedroom. Any ideas?
Wondering in Wichita
or other recreational drugs while engaging in penetration of
any kind, because it is likely that you won't have the presence of
mind to avoid possible injury to the inner vagina.
The outer third of the vagina, closest to its opening, is more
textured, with various ridges, folds, and nerve endings lining
Dear Wondering: Well, sugar, actually, I have a few, but
don't tell your local legal enforcement bureau you got them
its surface. This part of the vulva can be very sensitive to touch,
whether from fingers, vibrator or penetration by a strap-on. A
from me. The movies are an excellent place to get your groove
on if you can find a private enough row. Imagine what you
could do with the bottom removed from a popcorn container
woman must be sufficiently aroused prior to vaginal penetration, as the cervix moves back into the vagina with stimulation,
and penetration becomes easier and more pleasurable. Because
the cervix, like the walls leading toward it, is more sensitive to
pressure than to touch, be certain to use only dildos that are
well-designed for the purpose of penetration - those that are
made of a pliable material, free of sharp edges or coarse surfaces.
Again, it's quite possible that a woman may remain unaware
that a roughly surfaced object has injured her during the throes
of intercourse until after the deed is done.
held in your partner's lap after you've eaten the popcorn, for
example. Packing a dildo is always a great standby for on-thefly, out-of-the-bedroom sex, whether the sex actually comes
to fruition outside your home or finds its way back between
the sheets after the heat has risen. Finally, you don't need to
live inMotor City to enjoy the libidinous value to be found in
a car. Sometime when you're feeling amorous, just pull over.
Make sure you engage the parking brake and do what comes
naturally. ■
Vaginas are endowed with natural lubrication that increases
upon arousal. Though the organic slippery stuff can go a long
way in facilitating comfortable penetration, the amount of natural lubrication present in a woman's vagina varies in response to
Gentle Readers:To submit your queriesregardingthefiner points
of lesbianlife, sexuality, romanceand other matters of the heart,
send a note toJb@fairybutch.com.
~
I
(/)
~
:J
UJ
Lipstick & Dipstick Advice
Just Can't Get Enough
Dear Lipstick and Dipstick: I'm 31 years old
and have been out for about a year. I just
landed my first girlfriend and am madly in
love. She's eight years older than me, and
while we're great together, we do have one
teeny conflict. I can't get enough sex from
her. We do it twice a week, but it's just not
enough. I need it all seven days. I've talked
to her about it, and she says that she just
can't handle more, that she thinks she's
holding her own. I've tried masturbating but
that doesn't work, and I definitely don't want
to have an open relationship. What should I
do? - Energizer Bunny
Dipstick:Jesus, Bunny. Do you have a job or do
you just lay around in wait for your lady so you can
pounce? Sounds like you need a new hobby, something to keep your mind off that pussy you just can't
get enough 0£ I'll say your lady is holding her own
at twice a week and whereas we all prefer the real
thing to masturbation, making out with your rabbit
habit should do for those times when you're in the
mood but your gal isn't. Lipstick, what do you say?
Lipstick:I say Hallelujah! You don't need a new
fif
..J
a:
~
hobby,Jezebel,just some new sex toys. There's nothing wrong with being a nympho as long as you're
not hurting anyone (your girlfriend's pulled hamstring doesn't count). And shame on you, Dipstick.
Dipstick knows better than anybody that we get
countless e-mails from women who have lost their
libido. I think your raging river is thirst-quenching.
Ahhh. You remind me of me when I first came out;
I was a sex maniac, too. Ask Grace, my sorority sister, and she'll tell you. After we first knocked boots
(actually, I think they were Nine West mules) we
had serious beaver fever. In college,we'd hole up in
the bathroom stall for a quickie while our meathead
boyfriends pounded shots at the bar. And on the way
to the football tailgaters, we'd pull the car over and be
the first ones to score that weekend. Touchdown!
Aside from celebrating your aptitude, I should
tell you that time does take its toll on the old body.
Like my taste for red wine over the years, my sexual
palate has changed. Now, it's not about quantity so
much as quality. Goodbye two-buck Chuck, hello
high-end syrah. Don't get me wrong, Energizer
Bunny, I still like to tie one on every now and then,
just not four times a day. I agree with Dipstick that
you should stop obsessing about poontang and
get busy with other things, but don't let the butch
make you think your appetite is a bad thing. She's
dead wrong; it's a very good thing. Stay hungry.
Dear Lipstick and Dipstick: I respect the
lesbian woman and lifestyle but find it disingenuous when women suddenly find themselves to be lesbian. The whole idea doesn't
wash with me. So, as I turn to myself, I find
that I want to be bisexual mainly because
my relationships with men never amount to
anything and I appreciate the female form. In
light of all this, I'm just not sure how to find
another woman to flirt with or date. I am used
to men, but I'm scared of women. If I did
meet someone, should I be honest with her
that I'm bisexual? Wouldn't that be a turnoff?
- Scaredy Pants
Lipstick:Well I'm turned off but it has nothing to
do with your bisexuality. You're a huge closet case,
Scaredy Pants. So large in fact, I'm not even sure
where to start. First, you've got some major shit to
work on. Second, everybody is straight until they're
gay; it's our culturally imposed, default orientation.
Every lesbian has that moment when she realizes
- usually after everyone else already knows - she's
a big dyke. If you're like me, you look back and realize your truth was buried under stacks of Charlie's
Angels posters, Anne Murray cassettes and Lifetime
movies starring Nancy McKeon. To say it's disingenuous to suddenly find yourself to be gay is not
only shallow,but ultimately, as a grown woman, surprisingly infantile. Think about it. How would you
like some dyke to say bisexuality is a cc:ip-outrDon't
be foolish and small-minded. We must all accept
each other. So, next time you wanna bitch-slap any
babe who just realized she's gay, remember this old
lesbian proverb: Be careful of whose toes you step on
today (especially if she'sjust had a pedi); they might
be attached to the ass you wanna kiss tomorrow.
Dipstick: Lipstick, maybe you were straight until
you were gay, but this butch was never any other
way. However, I do realize that many, if not most,
women go through the tortuous experience of dating men before they come upon Sapphic satisfaction. What I'm more concerned about is Ms. Pants'
assertion that she wants to be bisexual mainly
because her relationships with men never amount
to anything. And then she refers to lesbianism as a
"lifestyle:' Lady Loo, what makes you think you've
got what it takes to make it work with women?
You can't just decide to be gay. Hell, if you could,
we'd have a lot more girls on our team. You sound
like a piece of work and I'd advise anyone reading
not to date you! ■
<{
C!J
z
iii
UJ
a:
..J
Ask us anything about sex, love or lesbians at
lipstick.dipstick.com.
::J
~
October 2006
I21
Call today for
RESERVATIONS
This is a NONPROFIT EVENT
for Holly's Tahoe Helping Hands.
Proceeds will help provide handicap
facilities for people with disabilities.
B00-745-7041
~ the EVENTS page on our web site
for pricing infonnationand details!
curve
THE 81!8T-8ELLINQ LESBIAN MAGAZINE
www.hollysplace.com
JAnE!JAnE.
Advice
Astro Grrl
All Eyes on You
Libra (Sept. 24-Oct. 23)
Sex: Everything seems to cost more now - love,
fun, projects, travel, personal dreams. However,
- talk is cheap. Career: Unexpected changes and
various kabooms on the job can make you nervous, but don't get rattled. Get even.
Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)
Sex: You ache for love and attention throughout the
month. All eyes are upon you. Er, is your fly open?
Career: Expect adventure on the job this October;
women to see, women to meet, women to avoid.
Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 22)
Sex: You are mysterious, deeply interesting,
psychic, intuitive and absolutely fantastic. Who
are you and what have you done with my Sag?
Career: Plan your career as you would a grand
tour of some exotic place. Even better, go on a
grand tour of some exotic place.
Capricorn (Dec. 23-Jan. 20)
Sex: Will a friend become a girlfriend? Find love
among your usual basket of ripe tomatoes. Don't forget to squeeze before you buy. Career: Your mind
is less on the job and more on going out and having
fun. You've been working so hard, I wonder if you
remember how to really have fun. Prove me wrong.
Aquarius (Jan. 21-Feb. 19)
Sex: You had all September to travel and sample
international selections of love. Now you can
feast on your memories. Career: Work, work,
work all through October, Aqueerius. What a
change of pace!
Pisces (Feb. 20-March 20)
Sex: Get off your easy chair, get out there and
look for love. Maybe she's waiting for you in some
faraway place. Maybe she's waiting for you in
the living room. Either way, don't keep her waiting. Career: Guppies have an itch to scratch all
through the month. Will you claw your way to the
top of the heap or be content just to watch the
action? Typical.
a:
:J
CXl
<(
I
:5
UJ
CXl
§
Aries (March 21-April 20)
Sex: You are one hot honey this October! Explore
some sizzling new scenery and see whom you can
meet and greet. Remember to smile and say cheese
... cake!Career:Lambda rams are looking for excitement and opportunity and will find them where they
least expect. Keep looking. Are you hot or cold?
Taurus (April 21-May 21)
Sex: Spirit your special lady to new vistas and
gain a new perspective yourself Stag? Hoof it to
the nearest resort and cool your heels. Career:
Daydreaming? Can't keep your mind on the job?
Don't worry Sapphic bull - they won't miss your
mind there anyway.
Gemini (May 22-June 21)
Sex: Break out of your moldy routine and be daring. You'll have them all fooled, so be sure to take
advantage! Career: Treat yourself to a few side
trips and get away from the dreary routine of your
job - or find ways to liven up your workplace on
the cheap.
Needto get away?
We havethe perfectplace.
Actually;
we have9,000.
Cancer (June 22-July 23)
Sex: You have a hunger that needs to be sated.
Romance is in the air! Career: Be more creative
on the job this October. In fact, you can be especially creative in London, Barcelona or even Paris
(whomever she is).
Ourguidesare packedwith
LGBTaccommodations,
bars,
bookstores,
cafes& more,
acrossthe US,Canada,
Europe& beyond.
Leo (July 24-Aug. 23)
Sex: Give a good roar and let your lovers know how
you feel. And don't just be all talk, lioness. Career:
Not much career action to speak of this month.
Good. Find any excuse to goof off and explore.
Virgo (Aug. 24-Sept. 23)
Sex: Yak, yak, yak. Queer Virgins don't know
when to shut up. Put your mouth to better use than
flapping the air. Career: This is a good month to
research your winter vacation plans. I suggest you
try to do so during working hours, since you're not
concentrating on the job, anyway. ■
For more advicefrom the stars, visit our astrologer,
CharleneLichtenstein,online at thestarryeye.com.
WW
•
October 2006
I 23
It's All About the Journey
Fourteen
tipstogetthemostofyourEuropean
backpacking
trip.ByGabriana
Marks
I'd wanted to backpack across Europe ever since my childhood, when
my mom told me stories about her amazing hitchhiking adventures
across the continent. (Of course, hitchhiking was much safer then.)
After years of imagining what my own trip might look like, I finally
decided to go. I had just finished college and had no job, no significant
other and no real ties to keep me home - the perfect combination
for the vacation of a lifetime. I'm happy to report that the journey was
everything I'd dreamed of, plus a few unexpected surprises along the
way. I learned that backpacking solo is a wonderful experience, but keep
a few things in mind before setting off to conquer the world (or just
Europe) alone.
1. Planahead.This is especially important when traveling with frequent flyer miles. Because I didn't make the decision to take off until
early summer, I was very limited in available flights and ended up booking a flight to Frankfurt one month in advance.
2. ake reservations
for yourfirstnight I purchased the requisite
tour books, but decided to be adventurous and not make any reservations for accommodations. In retrospect, reservations for at least the
night of my arrival in Europe would have been a good idea. After an
all-nighter of packing and an uncomfortable 10-hour plane ride, I was
exhausted, and the German customs officer seemed quite concerned
that I still had nowhere to sleep that night. I began to worry if I would
even be admitted to the country, and wondered if poor forethought
was grounds for putting me on the next plane home. But then the man
smiled an "oh, you stupid American'' smile and stamped my passport.
3. Alwayschangesomemoneyat homebeforeleavingon a trip.
After making it through customs, I somehow ended up in a deserted
entrance to the train station. It looked like it might be under construction, and the only sign of life was an erotica shop that was closed. No
ATM, no food and nothing in English to help me find my way. I'd
intended to find a place to change money in the airport, but that didn't
quite mesh with the whole getting lost bit. At this point my confidence
was starting to fade when by chance I met a young American on his
way home from service in Iraq. Not only did he steer me onto the right
train, he bought my ticket and gave me some local currency. I couldn't
believe my luck.
4. everarrivein a European
countryon a Sundayandexpectto
findmuchopen.I have a very good sense of direction, so I wasn't worried that I wouldn't be able to find the local hostel where I planned to
stay. But because nothing was open - not even drug stores where I
could ask for directions - I wandered around the streets for a couple
of hours carrying my increasingly heavy backpack before I finally found
Hostelling International hostel. I was pleasantly surprised, though, to
find it only cost 16 euros and included breakfast.
5. Packlightly.Here's a good rule for how much to bring: Once
you're done packing, take at least half out and leave it at home. You don't
really need everything you think you do and toting a heavy backpack
around gets old real fast. When I got into my room, I crashed. I awoke
from my nap and found I had three roommates - none of whom spoke
English (which was, of course,just part of the fun). I quickly decided to
explore whatever areas of the city were open on a Sunday.
6. Trynewfoods,butaskfor suggestions.
I went to a cute, applewine tavern with outdoor seating and decided to be brave and try allnew foods. I ordered sweet apple wine (delicious) and Handki.isemit
24
I curve
Musik (literally hand-cheese with music). It's round cheese soaked in
oil and vinegar and topped with onions. Sounds good, right? Wrong!
It was a very bad choice - possibly even worse than landing in a new
country without reservations. It tasted like I imagine horse hooves
would taste (but not in the gelatin kind of way). I tried to hide my
dislike of it for fear of being rude, but unbeknownst to me the waitress
had been staring at me quite intently. She laughed and explained she
didn't like it either. I was so relieved that I asked her to just bring me
her favorite dish, which turned out to be a tasty combination of beef
sausage, fried potatoes and fresh, herbed cucumbers in yogurt sauce.
This turned out to be the best idea I'd had so far, and I repeated the
request to servers across Europe.
7. Networkandbe outgoing.
When I returned to my hostel, I followed the sounds of English and stumbled upon some solo travelers
like myself. Once they found out I'd just arrived, they were eager to
share travel tips and even invited me to stay in their homes. This sort
of networking was key to a good trip where I could really experience
local cultures. Plus, it provided a group of friends to go out with that
night, and I landed a free place to stay later on in Madrid. I also quickly
got over my discomfort with eating alone. I found that as long as I was
friendly and willing to talk to strangers, I rarely got lonely. In fact, I met
some very interesting people. On a bus in Nice, I met an Australian girl
who'd just come from Paris where she'd had a brief love affair with a
horseback policeman. In Spain I met a Canadian-American couple on a
pre-wedding honeymoon. We shared cold medicine and funny stories,
and later I ran into them on the train from France to Italy and then
again in Florence.
8. Beprepared.
Before I left for my trip, I got a small but very loud
whistle and mini flashlight on a keychain that I kept with me at all
times. I had a money belt for my wallet and locks for my camelback
daypack and my large backpack. I even had pepper spray to protect myself (which I luckily remembered to pack in my checked luggage). As I
was preparing everything, my mom warned me against using my iPod
to fall asleep to as I do at home because she thought it would likely get
stolen. This piece of advice came back to me as I returned to my hostel
well after midnight that first night - to find all three of my roommates
each hooked up to her own iPod. So much for Mom's advice.
9. Hoteldeskattendants
canbe veryhelpful.As my summer-long
adventure continued, the logistics became easier. I soon learned to go to
the nearest hotel as soon as I got off the train in each city. At a hotel, I
could surely find an English-speaking clerk with a free map and, hopefully, the kindness to point me in my desired direction. This worked just
about every time.
10. Finda hostelcloseto foodand attractions.
After Germany, I
headed up to Copenhagen, Denmark. My waterfront hostel was great
for meeting people, but far away from the center of town and any attractions or stores. After that experience, I always made sure to secure central accommodations right after getting off the train.
11. A womantravelingalonecan attractunwantedattention,so
learnhowto avoidit I learned how to say "Go away; leave me alone"
in several l;nguages, but when the direct approach fails, don't be afraid
to flee. Once, curiosity drove me to explore Amsterdam's Red Light
District, and a strange man decided to accompany me around the area.
He seemed nice at first, but then he wouldn't leave me alone. He kept
I ordered sweet apple wine (delicious) and Handkase
mit Musik (literally hand-cheese with music). It's round
cheese soaked in oil and vinegar and topped with onions.
Sounds good, right? Wrong!
offering me illegal drugs and alcohol, then followed me all the way back
to my hostel, where I enlisted the desk clerk's help in getting rid of him.
When the man went to use the bathroom, the clerk helped me slip up to
my room. This trick worked many times in many countries. But while
traveling on trains, it is harder to escape from unwanted attention. A
very persistent and forceful man on the train from Rome to Naples
wanted me to come home with him. He simply wouldn't take no for an
answer. There was no help in sight, so I said I had to go the bathroom
and ran off with my luggage. The moment the train came to a halt, I
jumped off, ran outside and threw myself into the first cab I could find.
The added expense was worth getting rid of the unwanted man.
12.Sitwithfamiliesorelderlycouples
ontrains.They' re usually very
friendly and can help protect you against those with dishonorable inten,
tions. They'll also watch your luggage for you while you go to the bath,
0
ls:::
a
room. This lesson made long train rides much easier. Another trick is
0
:r
::c to sit near the bathroom and lock your luggage to your train seat using
a:
a.
a cable lock. They' re not very expensive and will discourage someone
(!)
UJ
...J
0
13. Treatyourselfto the occasional
hotelstay.It's worth it. There
are some downsides to hostels. You have to share a room and bathroom
with strangers. The rooms aren't always clean, and the food often stinks.
Some of the hostels lock you out during the day. But worst of all was my
hostel in Paris, where I was eaten up by bugs during an afternoon nap.
After that, I decided to treat myself to a couple nights in hotels, and
I've never been so grateful for a comfortable bed, toilet and shelves. The
other plus was having a phone in my room so my family could call me,
although now most cell phones can be set up with international calling
options (handy for emergencies).
14.Keepa journal.I filled the front of a lovely sketchbook with my
favorite quotes and pictures from home, and brought with me a small
watercolor and drawing set, a pen and glue. I used my journal as a scrap,
book and pasted in train tickets, receipts, postcards and other bits I
picked up along my trip. I also painted, sketched, and journaled about
the places I visited and the people I met. The journal turned out to be
the best possible souvenir from my trip. ■
from walking off with your bag.
October 2006
I25
Get Thyself
a Craft, Matey
Several
Websitesofferuphouseboatrentalinformation:
houseboatmagazine.com
Theirrentallistingsallowyouto
browsebystate.
houseboats.com
Houseboat
rentalsin California,
including
Mt.Shastaandthe
Sierras(andourbeloved
Ironstone
in California's
GoldCountry).
gordonsguide.com
Goodoverview
listings,searchable
bybodyof water.
Girls Gone Mild
■
Houseboating
offerstheperfect
tripfora dozenofyourfavorite
friends.
ByJenGilomen
F
It only takes one gal with a little chutzpah and a credit card
to initiate a houseboat vacation for 16 of her closest friends.
For the second year in a row, I was the beneficiary of such
a notion and cruised with a large group of ladies over clear,
shining lake water for a relaxing, communal and slightly
wacky weekend vacation. After the initial concept was
embraced and recruiting commenced, it took a mere 200
e-mails with "Homoboat" or 'J\hoy" in the subject line to get
a total of 16 boaters and their accoutrements aboard the S.S.
Homo 2005.
As we rolled like a golf ball on par into the Glory Hole
Recreation Area in California's Gold Country, we drooled
over the welcoming blue blast of New Melones Lake and
sized up assorted houseboats in the marina, each with its
own affectionately bestowed moniker like the saccharine
"Polly" or more menacing "Gangway;' and variously bedecked
with slides, multiple floors, hot tubs and canopies. Finally,
we saw her glimmer: the classic "Ironstone:• She was ours
for three days of swimming, splashing, booty-shaking, water
sliding and cruising mayhem.
After several last minute, slightly panicked purchases of
absolute necessities like Snickers and an $8.95 captain's hat,
we set sail in the knick of time, crushing out rumors that
our final carload of boaters might arrive after dusk when it's
unsafe to navigate 50-foot boats and we'd be marooned at the
dock with private houseboat neighbors, who are surely of a
different ilk (and bedtime).
I can't remember if the dance party began before the citronella candle-lit photo shoot, the drag show or the pirate
joke fest. (What's a pirate wear on his feet? Arrrrgyles, of
course!) But what I do know is that the next three days were
full of more antics, swimming, gourmet cooking, lounging,
hot tubbing and entertainment than I thought could be
crammed onto a boat whose name isn't Olivia.
While the constant presence of people in cleverlyportioned
space reminded me of why I live in a flat instead of a commune,
A
cc
it
lo
lu
I
n
b
p
ir
sharing tasks,costs and meals becomes one of the most reward-
Sl
ing aspects of houseboating with a large group - and what
makes the experience cost as astonishingly low as it does. On
t:
this four-day, three-night vacation, the rental was $175 per person, and the total for all supplies, food, beverages, gas (for the
n
boat and cars) and insurance was only $68.50 per person (with
a 25-cubic-foot double-fridge ofleftovers to boot).
b
Although it took some organization and planning, the
26
I curve
a
n
V
best matzo meal pancakes, risotto, grilled kabobs, sweet
potato salad and daiquiris.
ti
We ate well, drank heavily,played games, watched embar-
i:
rassing childhood videos, dodged water skiers, skinny dipped
in private coves and watched shooting stars whiz overhead, all
before settling in for our last night on our own duo of islands
that we nicknamed "Booty Island" and "Little Booty Island;' respectively.There, we mourned our last night afloat and dreaded
the inevitable return to landlocked jobs.
Next year, who knows? The location barely matters; it's
the shipmates who make a houseboating plan hold water. ■
Before
YouSetSail
Split into meal teams beforehand;each
team plans, shops for, prepares and
cleans up after their meals.
• Find out what supplies and appliances the
boat is stocked with, and create a sign-up
list for everything else the group will need.
• Save all receipts to divvy up costs for food,
gas and group expenses at the end of the
trip. Have everyone bring their checkbooks
so no one has to shell out more than a
pirate's fair share.
• Call ahead to find out if your marina will
t;
houseboat vacation bought us more than just the basics. Our
vessel's cooking teams delighted each other with the galley's
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
•
Ii'
B
drive the boat in and out of the dock
for you; navigatingthe tight turns of the
marina is especiallytricky.
• When you're recruiting boaters, bring at
least one cutie who knows the ropes of
houseboating, and two who are butch
enough to drive large iron stakes into the
ground with a sledgehammer.(This is how
you simultaneouslytie down the boat and
impress the ladies.)
• Bring severalfloaties with drink holders
and an air pump. There's nothing like
lounging in the water itself, especiallywhile
tied to 10 of your closest friends.
• Besides the typical hangover and sunburn,
there are a surprising number of ways
to injure yourself or damage the boat,
all pleasantly enumerated in the boat's
manual. Have several people attend the
boat orientation that kicks off your trip to
ask questions and take notes, and make
sure you've cruised through the manual
before cruising the lake.
C
g
l:
)
The Ice Cave
FromtheMojave
Desert
toAntarctica,
lesbian
adventurer
LucyJaneBledsoe
hasseenit alland
livedtotell.Hermostfascinating
entry?
Antarctica.
Here'sjustthetipoftheiceberg.
ByLucyJaneBledsoe
Airplanes do occasionally crash in Antarctica. A
couple of days after my adventures in the interior, I
ski with some friends out to see one such plane that
had crashed in 1970. The wreck still lies out on the
permanent ice field.
The day is glorious and at 36 degrees above zero
it's downright hot for Antarctica. Mount Erebus
looms above us as we ski, a plume of smoke curling
luxuriously from its hot caldera. My companions and
I decide that the weather presents a photo opportunity too great to pass up: We strip down to nothing
but boots, skis, and poles, and then take turns snapping pictures, front and rear views, of ourselves skiing naked in Antarctica. I am not thinking about
survival.
Until we reach the downed plane. Only a wing, its
tail, and the long spine remain above the ice, glistening
metallic against the hard cold snow. I climb up on the
tail and walk along the top of the plane, exhilarated at
being alive, at skiing - even naked a couple of hours
ago - in Antarctica. The crashed plane is like a grace
note in this landscape, a ring of clarity about just how
vulnerable we are in such aching beauty.
On the return ski, I see my first set of penguin
tracks, a waddling pair of webbed feet with a trailing tail mark in the
center. Since we are miles from the sea, I wonder what this one lone bird
is doing so far from its colony. After following the set of tracks for quite
some time, I come to an intersection of tracks, where another lone penguin has crossed paths with the first. The tracks cross at right angles and
both sets continue on miles in straight lines. It's extraordinary, this great
X in the snow, like some kind of message. I see no birds, no other tracks at
all, only this intersection of two lone penguins traveling far from home.
I've grown quite tired by the time we are offered a ride. A big orange
Delta, a truck with giant tires (three feet wide and a five foot radius)
made for the snow and ice roads of polar regions, has come to see if we
are OK. Joe, the driver, is a fireman in New York City most months of
the year. He is also a fireman here in Antarctica.
We are in fine spirits and climb high up on top of the Delta's cab
rather than into the back of the vehicle. We sing and tell jokes as Joe
drives us back towards Williams Airfield. The truck lurches. The top
of the cab tilts and I feel myself sliding towards the edge, a good 15
feet above the snow-packed road. I brace my rubber boots on the cab
roo£ The Delta comes to a stop and luckily so do I.Joe jumps out of the
driver's seat and explains that he has accidentally slipped off the road
into deeper snow. It's no problem, he says, but maybe we had better
would call for help are his coworkers at the firehouse. They would never
let him hear the end of having driven off the road. So we give Joe ~ little
more time, watching him spin the tires of the Delta, digging a deeper
and deeper hole in the side of the road. We take turns shoveling out
the stuck tire, hoping to make a passage for it to move forward. When
we aren't digging, we wait. And grow cold, in spite of the warm-forAntarctica weather. It is getting late. I'm tired and hungry. I change into
my spare socks to warm my feet and walk away from the Delta and then
back, m ny times, trying to warm up. But I grow colder. And colder and
colder. I look out across the vast field of ice and think of survival.
I do know how to build a snow cave. My pack is stuffed with survival
gear, including extra clothing and food. But I would much rather sleep
in the bed assigned to me in McMurdo Station. The rest of my skiing
friends agree, so we take matters into our own hands and call the fire station. Minutes later, a fire truck races out the snow road. Joe's colleagues
are hanging out the windows of the fire truck, laughing, snapping pictures of his misfortune, and shouting jokes that he will hear the entire
season, and probably next season, too. Even the ambulance roars out the
road to deliver covered plates of dinner for us stranded skiers who will
miss galley hours in McMurdo.
The Delta is towed out of the ditch it made, and we are transported
back to town. As I bounce along in the Delta, this time inside the vehicle,
I savor the idea of a warm bed rather than an ice shelf in a snow cave. ■
jump off.
We do. Joe works on getting the Delta out of the snow bank, but the
more he guns the engine, the deeper the big fat tire spins into the snow.
Excerpted with permission from The Ice Cave: A Womans Adventures
We have radios and several of us confer, deciding we should call
for help. Joe, however, is insistent that he can get the Delta out of the from the Mojave to the Antarctic by Lucy Jane Bledsoe, ©2006 Terrace
ditch. I slowly come to understand that he is mortified: The people we Books, University of Wisconsin Press.
October 2006
I 27
The Gay-Friendly Skies
Howtheairlines
measure
upwhenit comes
toLGBT
travelers.
ByMalinda
Lo
Now chat buying an airline ticket is as simple
news back in 2003 when it spun off indepen-
as pointing and clicking your mouse at the best
deal, LGBT travelers have more choices than
dent low-cost airline Song. But despite Song's
ever. But how do you know if your hard-earned
Kate Spade-designed uniforms, it never fully
took off and last year was folded back into
dollars are going coward an LGBT-friendly
company? CuRvE is here to help with our
Song's amenities, including its 24 channels of
handy guide co flying the gay-friendly skies.
television and on-demand video. Currently in
Cream
oftheCrop
the midst of bankruptcy, Delta nonetheless
has continued to support a variety of queer or-
American
Airlines:
Hands down, no ocher airline
ganizations, including Youth Pride in Atlanta,
has been as gay-friendly as American Airlines.
In face, lase fall American launched a Web site
and has sponsored floats at Pride events in
Atlanta, Boston, New York and San Francisco.
(aavacacions.com/rainbow) with vacation pack-
Plus, Delea promises that it will keep its new
that they "probably will do more' outreach to
ages designed specificallyfor queer travelers. In
addition to being the official airline for numer-
uniforms designed by Richard Tyler, who has
the gay community in the future. In addition,
dressed the likes of Julia Roberts and Heather
Locklear. If that's not appealing to gay travelers, I don't know what is.
Southwest is one of the few U.S. airlines to
ous LGBT groups, including HRC, GLAAD
and NCLR, American is the only airline to
have scored a perfect 100 on HRC's Corporate
Equality Index four years in a row. That means
chat American provides full benefits for its em-
US Airways:Only the second airline to
remain profitable in a time of general industry
malaise, something that goes a long way toward
putting its flight attendants in a good mood.
receive a 100 score on HRC's Corporate
NotThereYet
Equality Index, US Airways is now the nation's sixth largest airline after merging with
Continental:
Though Continental scored 86 on
America West in 2005. Though America
West has done some limited marketing to-
the HRC's Corporate Equality Index, it did
not extend travel benefits to retirees' same-sex
to add gender identity to its nondiscrimination
ward LGBT travelers in the past (it even
statement. Considering chat American is the
largest airline in the world, were pretty lucky co
once offered a Web site, now largely defunct,
for LGBT travelers), all specialty marketing
domestic partners until 2005, something that
American and United did several years ear-
have chis company on our side. Hey, chisis one
case in which the word ''American" can be an
is currently on hold due to the merger. US
lier. The Houston-based carrier (yes, its hub
is the George Bush Intercontinental Airport)
Airways provides full benefits to same-sex do-
occasionally
undeniable source of pride.
community, but after CEO Gordon Bethune
referred to competitor United in 2003 as meta-
A Close
Second
mestic partners and includes gender identity
in its diversity statement.
United Airlines:Back in 1997, United
JetBlue:In the battle for your airline dollars,
Airlines became the first American airline
JetBlue cook the fight to the next level when
it launched in 2000, offering a trendy look,
quirky commercials that poke fun at other air-
to market to LGBT travelers, and in 1999 it
became the first to offer same-sex domestic
most politically correct airline.
partner benefits to its employees. In the past,
United has sponsored a number of LGBTrelated causes, including the Millennium
AndDon'tForget
March on Washington and several AIDS/
corners of the Arctic? Not true. It flies everywhere from Nome, Alaska, to New York and
is ranked No. 5 on Travel & Leisure's list of
ployees' same-sex domestic partners, has consistently provided diversity training for employees
about sexual orientation, and was the first airline
lines, an unparalleled in-flight entertainment
package and fantastically low prices. Five years
later, JetBlue has expanded to serve 33 cities
and has spawned competitors in the form of
Song (recently folded into Delta). But JetBlue
is more than just a fun airline in which you can
access 36 channels of free DirecTV programming in your posh leather seat. Employees
of JetBlue all undergo diversity training that
includes gender identity in addition to sexual
orientation. In 2005, it sponsored several gay
and lesbian film festivals, including Miami,
Oucfest and San Francisco's Frameline, and is
now the official airline sponsor for the National
Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association.
TheRunners-up
Delta:Based in Atlanta, Delea Airlines made
28
Delea, which promises to retain many of
I curve
HIV nonprofit organizations. Though the
airline has its own LGBT employee group,
United with Pride, it seems that the company
has backtracked a bit from its earlier years of
engagement with the gay community.
SouthwestAirlines:Though this lowcost favorite - known for its staff's tendency to crack jokes while explaining how
to buckle your seatbelt - scored only 64 on
HRC's Corporate Equality Index, a company
spokesperson assured us that Southwest was
a friendly and welcoming environment for
LGBT travelers. Southwest offers benefits to
same-sex domestic partners, has been a sponsor of GLAAD and the WNBA, and told us
markets
toward
the
LGBT
phorically "HIV positive;' it seems clear that
Continental isn't fighting for the position of
AlaskaAirlines:Think that Alaska's a tiny
little airline that only makes runs to remote
Top 10 Domestic Airlines in 2005. The airline has offered travel benefits for same-sex
domestic partners since 2000 and health benefits since 2001, and in 2004 sponsored the
Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival.
Northwest:Scoring an 86 on HRC's
Corporate Equality Index, Northwest was the
first major U.S. airline to join the International
Gay and Lesbian Travel Association.
FrontierAirlines:This Denver-based carrier serves national destinations, sponsors
Denver-area LGBT events and provides benefits for same-sex domestic partners. ■
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Bring Your Boo to Tahoe
Holly's
Haunted
Women's
Weekmakesusshiver
withHalloween
glee.ByCatherine
Plato
Summer's over, but the party's just heating up in Lake Tahoe, Cali£
With ski season just around the corner, dyke,friendly destination
Holly's Place is kicking things off with their first ever Haunted
Women's Week, taking place Oct. 20-27. Don't miss it - an entire
week of live music, outdoor adventuring, and Halloween,themed fun
on the beautiful shores of Lake Tahoe.
Holly's Place is a lesbian,owned, all woman,staffed sanctuary lo,
cated just west of the Nevada border and just minutes from the lake.
Founder Holly Eimer is the sort of woman you can't help falling in love
with: If you're anything like me, a few minutes of casual chatting will
have you begging to take her home as your adoptive grandmother. She
opened her retreat in 1989, originally as a women,only vacation spot.
"I didn't know what to call it until my first ad that I put out in a
book called Places of Interest for Women;' she remembers. "I thought
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and sniff the yummy forest smells. Haunted Women's Week will even
include a Doggy Costume Contest with special prizes.
With Lake Tahoe within walking distance, all guests will have the
chance to enjoy the area's natural beauty and outdoor sports. Guests
can easily access the area's golf courses and hiking and biking trails. If
you're more of indoors kind of girl, Holly's still got your back: All of
the cabins feature stereos, TVs and VCRs, and all guests can use the
onsite library that lends books and films, many with an LGBT,focus.
Holly's cabins are named after prominent female entertainers,
authors and athletes, and each sports decor and memorabilia honor,
ing its namesake. For example, the walls of the Kate Hepburn are
I'd just give it a try to see what would happen, and wow, women start,
ed coming!" Holly later decided to welcome men as well, in favor of a
adorned with photos of the celebrated thespian, while guests in the
Alice Walker can find a copy of The Color Purple on their nightstand.
more diverse environment. But those early days of all,women camp,
All cabins include fully equipped kitchens, down comforters, wireless
Internet, and many have wood,burning fireplaces. Sometimes even
ing still linger in her heart, inspiring this year's celebration.
So far, plans include a costume and drag party, casino night, mov,
lJ.J
as always, doggies are invited, too. From the day she opened, some of
Holly's most enthusiastic fans have been of the four,legged variety.
Her three acres of enclosed land means there's lots of space to run
ies, dinners, barbecues and dance parties, as well as the multitude of
activities that are available all year. (Curve and Jane and Jane, the new
Sacramento,based lesbian home and family magazine, will take part
in the festivities as a sponsor.) Though a lot of couples are expected to
attend, an event especially for single ladies is in the works as well. And
"roughing it" demands a morning au lair, so I was psyched to find
every kitchen was outfitted with a coffee maker, gourmet coffee and
muffins waiting for me.
Don't miss chis great week of parties, prizes and lots of lovely
women. Holly will be updating her Web site as the event approaches,
so be sure to check it out at hollysplace.com. ■
October 2006
I29
Bright, Blooming Baja
Lifeslowsdownfortwolesbians
inMexico.
ByElizabeth
Stark
Baja California. We veer off the highway and down to the desert floor,
driving straight toward the Sea of Cortez and parking on the sand. My
girlfriend, Angie, and her father run barefoot to the edge of the water to
cast fishing lines out into the ocean, then reel in. They come back and
sit with the rest of us on a ledge of sand.
Carla's brought beer and chips. Carla Lucero is the daughter of
Angie's parents' neighbors here in Mexico. She's also the composer
behind Wuornos: Opera by a Woman Composer About a Lesbian Serial
Killer, about the lesbian prostitute who killed a string of johns. Carla's
now working on another opera about Sor Juana Inez de la Cruz, the
17th-century, woman-loving nun. "Serial killers and nuns - they have
a lot in common;' Carla says, laughing.
Night falls quickly, and the stars are so dense and varied it feels as
through I'm in a planetarium. Something tugs on the line. Angie reels
fast, furiously. Finally the end of the line appears, empty. Lucky night
for the fish. I feel like I've arrived in a world where every family has at
least one remarkably talented lesbian daughter - and the nights are
warm enough to fish in shorts.
Angie and I stay in the small guesthouse, which we love. One night, I
notice a dying thing in our bathroom. On its back, its six legs flail above
the tile floor. Should I"put it out of its misery"? I've seen enough suffering lately. My father died last year. But I can't, somehow, imagine what
the last wishes of this beetle would be. I'm squeamish about killing it,
though. I leave it alone.
Early the next morning, it's there on its back, unmoving. Again I
think of the people I've seen stilled, and though I plan to bring a broom
down after breakfast, I pause for a moment of solemnity on my porcelain seat.
But after breakfast, the thing is gone.
We drive to Todos Santos, an old farming town on the Pacific side of
the peninsula. Todos Santos feels more real than our Caho San Lucas.
Caho is a mall, a disco, a wharf built for tourists and priced for tourists
(in American dollars). In Todos Santos, we buy burritos for eight pesos
(about 70 cents) from a roadside stand that offers stools at its counter
and free guacamole and salsas.
It is illegal to restrict beach access in Mexico, but in order to get
to the Pacific, Angie and I hike through a construction site that will
shortly be the locked drive of a wealthy gringo. In a few years - or
possibly sooner - only the pelicans will have unimpeded access to the
rocky path we find that leads down to the sprawling shore.
On the way home, we stop at another beach and discover a complete
little world. Tents, RVs and palapas shelter the beach dwellers. Openair shops sell food and rent boards. We meet Patty, an athletic, whitehaired, barefoot American who's lived on this beach for 10 years. She
runs an all-women's surf camp. Now, in winter, the waves are not the
fierce giants they will become in hurricane season. "Perfect for learning," Patty says.
Back home, the bug is flailing on its back again, clearly about to die.
I feel like the sister in Kafka's Metamorphosis. But in the morning, it's
resurrected itself.
Angie and I set goals for this trip: Eat well, exercise, and write. But
we have one shared goal that tops both our lists: take a break. Weve
been running around without stopping for months. Weve put off coffee breaks and weekends to get through endless, difficult lists of urgent
tasks. Now, finally, we've escaped.
We' re on the hotel-spotted tourist corridor between two capes:
San Jose and San Lucas. But we like to think we're different. We have
a house, for one thing. Well, Angie's parents do. That makes us locals
(though not natives). We carry the plastic rings from six-packs off the
beach when we see them. Like the people around us, we speak English
in restaurants and stores, but we say,"Gracias:'Were aware of the power
imbalances, the contradictions, the - let's just say it -economic colonialism of our presence here. But it's free for us to stay. We get e-mail
reports of the cold and the storms back home. Sometimes Angie's father
watches the weather channel and chortles out to us, "It's 38 degrees in
San Francisco:•
We're the kids in the candy store or the bulls in the china shop
- but mostly I think we're that beetle, who's there on the third night,
flipped on its back, gesturing with all six legs as sincerely as a sign language interpreter at a Holly Near concert. Maybe when I run around
30
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Two fierce worlds kiss here: the desert and the salt
sea. Neither will brook nonsense from the likes of us.
accomplishing things as if my life depended on it, I'm as stranded and
ineffectual as that poor bug. At some point, I flip over and say, "Well,
good. I've gotten something done:' Soon enough, though, I feel the need
The next morning, I take a postcard and a pamphlet and urge the
to flail some more.
That's how it looks from here, anyway,with the sea always stretched be,
beetle onto one with the other. It's partly eager and partly confused.
It keeps dropping off. Finally I get it outside and under a mango tree,
where magenta petals and green leaves gather at the roots, blown from
fore us. Carla sits outside with us, and we allwrite and drink limonata. The
sun rises up from the water and blooms over the desert. Slowly,steadily, it
crosses the long, wide and easy day. Then it drops into the Pacific, splash,
ing up orange and green as it goes. Two fierce worlds kiss here: the desert
and the salt sea. Neither will brook nonsense from the likes of us.
Angie gets me to snorkel for the first time. She shows me how to
suction my mask to my face and breathe with a piece of plastic choking
my mouth. I dip my face down and learn that the length of my vulner,
able human body has been surrounded by colorful, hand,sized fish. I
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of peace and calm. Not the feeling of open time. Not the warmth. Only
what I ar ived with in the first place.
kick out farther and the sandy bottom slopes down fast. Who knew?
I wish I could have a si~ilar mask that would show me what I miss
when we hike above the arroyo or drive into the bright lights of town,
or even for when we eventually get back home and I open my suitcase
to find I've brought nothing back with me that I planned. Not the sense
the impostor bougainvillea shrub that Angie's mother planted.
I see that the bug is covered in dust, a sheath that begins to come off
as it makes its way under a lea£ Maybe that's why it's been rubbing its
back! The dust trails after it for a while, disconnecting slowly so that I
can trace its movements as its crawls away. Then the dust stops, but the
bug keeps going.
That night we watch the Academy Awards at Carla's. The local
channel hosts speak sonorous Spanish over everyone: Jon Stewart,
Reese Witherspoon, George Clooney, Ang Lee. It's hard to follow, but
we make bets and eat quesadillas and laugh a lot. If we're giving out
awards for dazzling, well,edited worlds, this warm desert beach of les,
bian artists and their indulgent parents everyone - gets my vote. ■
plus enough guacamole for
October 2006
I31
Michigan Mischief
Thewomen
ofSaugatuck,
Mich.,willturnyourfrownupside
down.ByWendy
Colsen
Mt. Baldhead Challenge:
September 5K/1 OK run
mtbaldhead .com
Mason Street
Warehouse: Summer
seasonal performances
269-857 -4898
Running Rivers Kayak
Rentals & River Trips:
269-673-3698, runningrivers.com
Waterfront Film Festival:
June film screenings and
seminars, waterfrontfilm.org
Womyn's Music Festival:
Annually in August
michfest.com
Handy Web addresses
for more info
saugatuck.com
saugatuckdouglas.com
gaysaugatuckdouglas.com
32
Icurve
When my longtime friend Mindy called me up, crying that
the love of her life had just left her for another woman, I did
what any good friend would do: I told her to come play for a
long weekend in Saugatuck, Mich.
"Michigan:"' she replied rather snottily. "What fun could
we possibly have in Michigan:"'
I know - thoughts of the Midwest generally conjure
up images of cows and cornfields, but I told her a trip to
Saugatuck would change her convoluted city thinking and
have her forgetting her broken heart in no time. (Or at least
I'd have her humming a few bars from the theme song to
Green Acres before she left.) Besides, I loved having the
chance to play tourist and see my little town through the eyes
of a new visitor, even if they were the bloodshot, teary eyes of
my dejected best friend.
A week later, Mindy arrived at our quaint, gay,friendly
resort. As we cruised around giving her the quick five,cent
tour, she poured out the whole heart,wrenching story. My
mission was clear: Take her mind off the ex. With so much to
do in Saugatuck, that would be easy. Or so I thought ...
The first order of business was to keep her very busy to pre,
vent any thoughts of her shattered love life seeping in and spoil,
ing the day. Thankfully she's a sports enthusiast, so we started
with a hike at the Saugatuck Dunes State Park. Unfortunately
all trails lead to the awe,inspiring shores of Lake Michigan and
when we arrived, she lamented that it would be the perfect spot
to have a romantic picnic with a girlfriend.
My first attempt having failed, I thought maybe a more
physical challenge would get the endorphins flowing, thus
triggering happy thoughts. Ahhh, the 282,step climb to the
top of Mt. Baldhead sand dune would do the trick.
After we huffed and puffed our way up, we took in the
breathtaking (need I remind you, 282 steps) views of the city.
We then hiked to a hidden bluff which offered a wonderful
sandy blowout where you can take in some spectacular sunsets.
While fondly recalling a few romantic interludes I
had experienced there, I was torn away from my pleasant
thoughts by Mindy's forlorn voice. "What a beautiful spot;'
she said wistfully. "I bet it'd be great to sit and cuddle with
someone while sipping some wine and watching the sunset:'
She wiped a small tear from her eye. Foiled again.
It happened to be Women's Weekend at the Dunes
Resort, so we headed off to the pool. She seemed to cheer
up a bit at the prospect of sitting back and enjoying a bevy of
bikini,clad babes as we sipped mai tais by the poolside. Now
I was getting somewhere.
We met up with a few friends of mine who invited us
to go kayaking the following day. What better way to forget
your woes than to paddle your way down the Kalamazoo
River enjoying the beauty of nature? I admit I was hoping for
strong winds, so that Mindy's exhaustion from battling the
current would keep her preoccupied.
The next day was gorgeous - a mild 80 degrees and not
a cloud in the sky, or even a gentle breeze for that matter. It
was clear that I would have to use my quick wit rather than
the wind to stun her thoughts into submission.
We headed over the bridge to Saugatuck's sister city,
Douglas, where we first grabbed some grinders and wraps
at my favorite woman,owned pizza place, Back Alley Pizza
Joint. We packed our coolers and headed to the river to rent
some kayaks.
After half an hour on the water, I noticed Mindy had
managed to keep a smile on the whole time, and it wasn't
even due to my stunning charm. She had a newfound love
interest in one of my friends.
We paddled farther down the river to the cove, parked our kayaks
and ate our lunch on the sandy beach. Mindy laughed and never men~
tioned the ex once. My mission was starting to reap success.
Hopping back in the kayaks, we found our way to Red Dock where
we docked the boats and climbed up the ladder to the riverside Jamaican
experience. All was running smoothly until Mindy had one too many
Red Stripes, and the tears started to flow. I was pretty sure they weren't
tears of joy. My mission was starting to unravel before my very eyes.
After what seemed to be an eternity, it was decided to end the kay~
aking trip and head to Oval Beach to hopefully bake the alcohol out
of her body. We packed a cooler full of hot dogs and the makings for
s'mores, and headed to the gay and lesbian section to avoid the throngs
of children who have a penchant for kicking sand on bathing beauties
such as ourselves.
The night ended with a spectacular sunset, partially burnt hotdogs,
and Mindy licking the sticky roasted marshmallows off her new love
interest's fingers. Ahhh, success!
She ended up having an amazing time, but it goes to show you can
take the girl away from the heartache, but you can't take the heartache
away from the girl. Though I did find that you can numb it for a while
on a spectacular vacation to Saugatuck. Mission accomplished. ■
IfYouGo
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Places to Stay
All Gay Stay
The Dunes Resort: gay-friendly,
269-857 -1401 , dunesresort.com
Campit: gay-friendly, 269-5434335, campitresort.com
B&Bs
Kirby House B&B: gay-friendly,
269-857-2904, kirbyhouse.com
Newnham SunCatcher Inn:
lesbian-friendly, 800-587-4249,
suncatcherinn.com
Hotels and Motels
Americlnn Lodge & Suites:
269-857-8581, saugatuckdoug
laslodging.com
Best Western Plaza Hotel:
800-528-1234, 269-857- 7178,
hotels-michigan.com
The Pines Motor Lodge: gayfriendly, 269-857-5211, thepines
motorlodge.com
Gay-Friendly Places to Eat
Back Alley Pizza Joint:
great pizza, subs, and wraps,
269-857- 7277
Everyday People Cafe: fine
dining, 269-857-4240
Monroe's: open seasonally for
breakfast, lunch and dinner,
269-857-1242
Phil's Bar and Grille: casual
dining, 269-857-1555
Uncommon Grounds Coffee
House: light fare, 269-857-3333
October 2006
I33
Southern Decadence
Pirates,
history
andgreatSouthern
foodgiveCharleston,
S.C.,plenty
ofcharm.
ByAmanda
Hollinger
IfYouGo
•••••••••••••••••
Cooper River Bridge
cooperriverbridge. org
Jim 'N' Nick's Bar-B-Q
288 King St., Charleston
843-577 -0406
jimnnicks.com
High Cotton
199 E. Bay St., Charleston
843-724-3815
mavericksouthernkitchens.
com/highcotton
Historic Charleston Bed
and Breakfast
800- 743-3583
historiccharlestonbedand
breakfast. com
Spoleto Festival USA
May 25-June 10, 2007
spoletousa.org
Torch
545 King St., Charleston
843- 723-9333 .
Wentworth Mansion
149 Wentworth St.,
Charleston
888-466-1886
wentworthmansion.com
34
Icurve
In the early 1700s when pirates roamed the seas, two women
pirates achieved notoriety: Mary Read and Anne Bonny.
Both women dressed as men and fenced, shot, and commandeered their way through life on the high seas. They also
shared in common their chosen home port of Charleston,
South Carolina.
Today, Charleston conjures up images of languid charm
and Southern gentility. But under the surface, it remains a
place of intriguing ironies where history and modernity,
beauty and hedonism, tradition and diversity play side by
side. Charleston in the 1700s was the place to go for shopping, eating, drinking and entertaining; it was an old-world
experience where brothels met high culture. And Charleston
thrived because of one profound concept: tolerance for
religious diversity. By 1740, religious dissenters (those not
faithful to the Anglican Church of England) comprised
half of Charleston's population. Presbyterians, Quakers,
Congregationalists, French Huguenots, Lutherans, Jews and
Baptists built some of our nation's oldest churches and synagogues on the Charleston peninsula.
Remnants of that history are not only evident in the
city's church spire-dotted skyline, but in the modern cultural
expressions that flourish within Charleston's stucco-onbrick walls. Charleston is going through another renaissance
- not a Chamber of Commerce-type revitalization, but a
cultural rebirth based on its rich history. Everyone still likes
to play well, eat well and shop well, but substance exists
behind the hedonism. The Charleston area alone has more
than eight LGBT organizations. And while South Carolina's
capital might have flown the confederate flag, it was a band
of Charlestonians who marched more than 100 miles to
Columbia to demand that it be moved.
And best of all for travelers, a Charleston experience
reveals the pleasures of urban life on a human scale that is
relaxing and walkable. Start your trip - as.corny as it might
sound - with a horse-drawn carriage ride around downtown to better appreciate the city's striking architecture .
Afterward, explore King Street's funky shopping district.
There are familiar stores like Saks Fifth Avenue, Urban
Outfitters and Steve Madden, and plenty of locally owned
shops like Nula, which specializes in urban wear, or Magar
Hatworks, which offers handmade and one-of-a-kind hats
worn by the likes of Christina Aguilera and Sandra Bullock.
For lunch on King Street, grab a bite of Southern barbecue at Jim 'N' Nick's. A $10 plate offers a giant portion
of barbecue - your choice of pulled pork, brisket, ribs or
chicken - and Southern sides like braised collards. After
lunch you'll want a nap, and Charleston offers a range of
lodging. A moderately priced option central to downtown is
the Holiday Inn on Calhoun Street; also, the Renaissance
on Wentworth Street often has Internet specials. If you
want a romantic (albeit pricier) alternative, try Wentworth
Mansion, an ornate, formerly private residence built in
1885. For smaller places, visit Historic Charleston Bed and
Breakfast, which arranges accommodations from private
homes to carriage houses.
To warm up for the evening, stop by the High Cotton
during happy hour. This fine-dining establishment, with its
wood-paneled library feel and top drawer service, includes a
busy bar scene. It's a decidedly random crowd where lesbians hang out alongside Charleston's college frat boys and the
tourists on vacation. If you're on a budget, order the happy
hour special: a gourmet 10-ounce ground tenderloin burger
with caramelized onions, bleu cheese and handcut fries. It's
more than you can finish, and you'll only be out a measly
five bucks.
Charleston is famous for its low-country cuisine, which
refers to the melting pot of culture and geography that spans
Sephardic Jews to Afro-Caribbeans, marshlands to sea water. Typical dishes include red rice, shrimp and grits, okra,
she,crab soup, fried green tomatoes and Frogmore stew (does
not include frogs). Two popular and creative low,country
restaurants are Hominy Grill on the more casual end and
S.N.O.B. (Slightly North of Broad) on the fancier side. But
Charleston is a food lover's town and you'll find plenty of
other options. Close the evening with a nightcap at Torch,
a narrow, velvety bar with intimate sofas, low lighting and a
hip but off,beat mix of people that typifies Charleston.
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After all the eating and shopping - no one claims
Charleston to be anything less than decadent - it'll be time
to move. There are several beaches, so if the weather is warm,
throw some towels and sunscreen in the car; Folly Beach
and Sullivan's Island are faves. Quieter than Folly, Sullivan's
Island has quaint bungalow houses, easy parking alongside
residential streets and a wide sandy beach.
Another outdoor option is to bike the Arthur Ravenel,
Jr., Bridge, aka the Cooper River Bridge, Charleston's newest
icon. The stunningly designed bridge opened in July 2005
to citywide parties and events. Constructed in four years,
the bridge cost $632 million and appears to touch the sky
with towers reaching 575 feet. Forward,thinking planners,
coupled with neighborhood pressure, resulted in the creation
of a 12,foot,wide bicycle and pedestrian lane. The scenic ride
travels along the outer edge of the bridge's tower piers and
offers observation sites.
If you happen to travel during
late May or early June, don't miss
Charleston's biggest event of the sea,
son, Spoleto Festival USA. Spoleto
Festival is one of the premier arts
festivals in the world, and it fills
Charleston's historic theaters for 17
days and nights with opera, theatre,
dance and music. Famous for pro,
ducing its own operas, Spoleto also
provides younger performers with the
opportunity to perform before they hit
the big,time (think Renee Fleming and
Yo,Yo Ma). The streets of Charleston
pulse during Spoleto as artists from all
over the world mingle alongside festi,
val visitors.
For the past decade, Charleston,
S.C., has made Conde Nast Traveler'sTop 10 List, rank,
ing third in their 2005 Reader's Choice Awards. It's a town
steeped in history, surrounded by water and full of charm.
Even if you just have a weekend, that will be plenty of time
to let Charleston work its swashbuckling magic. ■
Keep Exploring
Inside New Mexico's Dyke City
Howto gethotinthechilepepper
capitalofAlbuquerque.
ByKarenSchechner
As soon as I arrived in Albuquerque, my former happy home, I needed
an immediate and cheap fix. Thank God for the Frontier Restaurant.
No matter what time you roll into town, it's always open to hook you up
with some high-grade New Mexican green chile. With a bowl of green
chile stew in front of me, even the dozens of John Wayne portraits (one
rendered in nails) look good. This is the Duke City after all, though
originally named for the Duke of Alburquerque (yes, it's spelled differently than the city). But you won't have to stare at that old hombre for
long because, luckily, Albuquerque has 67 percent more lesbians than
the national average (according to epodunk.com), so for all intents and
purposes it's the Dyke City to us.
Here are a few good things to know before you go. New Mexico
is the chile capital of the United States. When you're at a restaurant
and the servers ask, "Red or green?" they're talking about chile. (Order
both and decide for yourself.) The city is one mile above sea level, and
though temperatures vary considerably, it's flooded in desert sun 172
days of the year on average so bring your sombrero. The queer club
scene here definitely exists, but many of the sapphists are off frolicking
in the mountains with their dogs, so it doesn't exactly rival that of Los
Angeles or San Francisco. Live music venues, however, are thriving, and
the SOL House Concert Series, which takes place at the homes of some
DIY, music-lovin' lesbians, is especially fun.
Don'tMissTheseEvents
Albuquerque is home to a handful of must-see annual happenings. Try
any one of these and you won't be disappointed. At the Albuquerque
International Balloon Fiesta that happens every year in October, about
700 giant, multi-colored balloons dangle more than 1,400 brave souls
in little wicker baskets over power lines and highways against a backdrop of the big, cloudless New Mexican sky. Where else can you see
more rainbows flying than you do at a pride parade?
There are over a dozen Native American pueblos in the Albuquerque/
Santa Fe/Taos region and throughout the year all hold Feast Days, a
tradition that includes ceremonial costumed dancing with drums and
rattles. Read Leslie Marmon Silko's Ceremony to have an understanding of the nearby Laguna Pueblo culture and visit the Indian Pueblo
Cultural Center for more information on surrounding pueblos.
And from Sept. 29-Oct. 5, the Dyke City will team up with Santa Fe
for the annual Southwest Gay and Lesbian Film Festival,a week-long, allday, every day feast of LGBT shorts, documentaries and feature films, including an opening night party, a queer brunch and must-attend parties.
Adventures
Around
Town
Old Town, founded in 1706, is a small, shady plaza of Pueblo-Spanish
adobe buildings, hidden patios and quaint boutiques that'll meet any
Southwestern tchotchke needs you might have. On the south side of
the plaza is the American International Rattlesnake Museum, which
hosts the largest collection of different species of live rattlesnakes in the
world, while the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History is adjacent
to the plaza. Both are worth the pop in.
In Nob Hill, on one short stretch of Central Avenue (aka Route 66),
you can browse through new and used music at Natural Sound (505255-8295); get a vintage faux-fur stole at Buffalo Exchange; shop for
used books at the Book Stop (505-268-8898); or get pierced at Sachs
36 I curve
(505-266-1661). You can also get your hair cut, drink a cappuccino
and eat some fried plantains - all within one wonderful gay-owned
and -operated shop - called Laru Ni Hati/ Cafe Cubano. For the sake
of full disclosure, I should confess that the latter locale is family in all
meanings of the word - my gay brother and his partner own it.
New Mexico is the land of gorgeous, not-too-crowded hiking. For
an easy walk, visit the Rio Grande Nature Center and walk the flat,
shady trails in the Bosque along the river. More adventurous? Head east
to the Sandia Mountains and hike the roundtrip 14- to 16-mile La Luz
trail past rock formations and scrub oaks up to the Ponderosa pines; or
take the tram and get the benefits of La Luz without the sweat. Either
way, it's beautiful at the crest, and you can get a spectacular view of the
city. Don't forget to get Forest Service maps from the Sandia Ranger
District or local hike shops prior to hiking.
If you've hiked La Luz, you deserve a soak in one of the outdoor tubs
at woman-owned Betty's Bath and Day Spa. The East Tub, in a lovely
garden setting, is for women only, and bathing suits are always optional.
LovetheNightlife
Martini Grille, with its brothel-like leopard print curtains, is a great
place to start the night. Like magic, their Chocolatini tastes like liquid
Fudgesicle. Want it dirty? Don't worry, Martini Grille's got over 25 martinis to choose from; and the grungy, industrial-looking queer dance
club Pulse, is just a block away.
The spacious women's bar Exhale packs in the ladies on Saturday
nights, with a mixed bag of Latin, disco, hip-hop and Top 40 music. Exhale
hosts a variety show on the third Friday of each month, with proceeds
benefiting different nonprofit organizations, while Pulse hosts a drag king
show on Fridays. Pick up Alibi,the local alt weekly,for more information.
Not to be missed is the roving, once-a-month Fire Dance Party. While
there is no actual fire per se, these honeys are H-O-T hot. Go for the belly
dancing, fetish parties and more, but stay for your own sweet satisfaction.
GrubandGirls
For breakfast, there's the aforementioned Frontier for good and greasy
dining on the cheap, or one of the Flying Stars for a wide range of
options, jitter-inducing coffee and cafe-cruising queers. El Patio, with
its painted flowers covering the walls, reigns as a university-area lunch
and dinner favorite. (Try my fave, vegetarian enchiladas.)
Dinner options just keep getting better in 'Burque. A couple of
relative newcomers - and standouts - are Graze and Zinc. Lesbianowned Graze boasts open space with walls of windows. Chef and coowner Jennifer James creates imaginative and inspired things with local
organic produce. The phenomenal cold Thai beef salad and the sunfish
with spicy peanut-lime sauce are both deliciously light and piquant.
For serious wooing, the upscale Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro's high ceilings, handsome dark wood and zinc-topped bar pretty much guarantee
romance. You can watch co-owner and award-winning chef Christopher
Pope in action as he grills to perfection lamb T-bone chops, cobia and
many other creatures of land and sea. Afterward, you can drink and
listen to live music (Thursday and Saturday nights) in the boho cellar.
When it's time to hit the sack, turn to the gay-friendly,affordable Silver
Moon Lodge or the wonderfully plush, gay-owned Mauger Estate B&B
Inn; you'll soon be ready for another day (or night) of spicy hot fun. ■
IfYouGo
•••••••••••••••••
Our directory of
Albuquerque's draws.
What to Do
Albuquerque lnt'I
Balloon Fiesta
Oct. 6-15, 2006
aibf.org
Albuquerque Museum
of Art and History
505-243- 7255
albuquerquemuseum.com
Betty's Bath and
Day Spa
505-341-3456
bettysbath. com
Indian Pueblo Cultural
Center
505-843- 7270
indianpueblo.org
Rio Grande Nature
Center State Park
505-344- 7240
nmparks.com
Southwest Gay and
Lesbian Film Festival
Sept. 29-0ct. 5, 2006
closetcinema.org
Where to Eat
El Patio
505-268-4245
Frontier
505-266-0550
frontierrestaurant. com
Graze
505-268-GRAZE
grazejj.com
Martini Grille
505-255-4111
Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro
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Where the Gays Are
Exhale
505-342-0049
exhaleabq .com
Fire Dance Party
firewomyn.com
Pulse
505-255-3334
pulsenightclub.com
Nob Hill, New Mexico
Offering fashion inspired by the creativity and individuality of San Francisco in the relaxed atmosphere of the
Southwest, Aqui is a unique clothing store for men, women and children located in the Nob Hill neighborhood
of Albuquerque, N.M. A family business created by a mother and daughter team who dreamed of selling "fun
wearables" and providing customers with a shopping experience at once "aesthetically pleasing, relaxed and
friendly," Aqui sells fashion and accessories from around the world; some items are designed especially for the
store. Amanda, the daughter in the team, says, "Growing up in San Francisco, I was immersed in a community of diverse cultures, backgrounds and styles. I hope to continue this appreciation of creativity and individual
expression at Aqui Nob Hill by filling the store with a fantastic mix of clothing and accessories which will allow
our customers to express themselves through the fashion they choose." At Aqui, you will find items ranging from
Sid Vicious T-shirts for boys, to pigeon pillows, to designer women's jeans. Amanda says, "I hope our customers
will appreciate both the products and the people behind the goods. I know I am enjoying getting to know the
designers and the stories behind the products." For a unique and personal shopping experience, stop by Aqui's
or visit them online at aqui-nobhill.com. -Janel
M. Lynch
October 2006
I37
Getting Artsy in Taos
A quicktripwillimmerse
youinNewMexico's
artsscene.
ByCarole
Terwilliger
Meyers
It's all about the art in Taos. Populated with more artists and galleries
per capita than Paris, the town overflows with beautiful and creative
artworks. Female artists are drawn by the light, which is sometimes
warm and golden and other times bold enough to turn the surround,
ing mountains blood,red - a fact that prompted the Spanish conquis,
tadors to dub them the Sangre de Cristo Mountains for their resem,
blance to the "blood of Christ:' Rainbow halos are said to hang over the
mountains in summer.
"Taos is a gay,friendly town and a wonderful place for any artist;'
says former long,term resident Marcelina Martin, author,photogra,
pher of Lesbian SacredSexuality and director of Wild Hearts Ranch, a
female artist online gallery which, in the past, has offered a lesbian art,
ists retreat. "The spirit of the West permeates every aspect of life here,
and a feeling of adventure and that anything is possible is in the air:•
More than 80 galleries are scattered around town. Of special inter,
est among those lining the perimeter of historic Taos Plaza are the La
Fonda Hotel, where for a small fee you can see a permanent exhibit of
erotic paintings by D.H. Lawrence, and the old town courthouse, where
murals by a protege of Diego Rivera are displayed in an upstairs gal,
lery. Nearby, pedestrians,only Bent Street has additional galleries, bou,
tiques and cafes. As might be expected in such an artist,heavy venue,
the town's array of museums is noteworthy, too. Just a block from the
plaza, the Blumenschein Home and Museum is maintained much as it
was when the original tenant artist lived here in the early 20th century.
Art hangs on mud plaster walls beautifully restored to their original
colors, and rooms are decorated true to the times. Taos,blue door and
thy of note. The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is the second,highest suspension
window trims reflect that the Spanish who settled in the area believed
this color kept evil out of a house and so always painted entrances blue.
bridge in the United States; it spans the length of four football fields and
towers 650 feet over a scenic gorge cutting down to the namesake river.
(One warning: while lost in the dreamy fantasy of another era, it can be
a rude realization to discover you're allergic to adobe interiors.)
Highway 150 hugs a rushing river as it winds through aspen, and
evergreen,covered mountains in the Carson National Forest north of
On the same street is the Harwood Museum of Art, New Mexico's
second oldest museum. Collection highlights include a collection of 18th,
town, eventually leading to the reputedly gay,friendly Taos Ski Valley.
Known for its steep slopes, it can be visited, though not skied, year,round.
Horseback,riding is a fair,weather option. Along the 22,mile route,
and 19th,century ornamental tin work and religious retablos and santos.
About four blocks north of the plaza, the Taos Art Museum dis,
plays historic and contemporary art by more than 50 local artists;
and on the outskirts of town, set amid new adobe homes, the strik,
Arroyo Seco is a colorful bend in the road with unique shops and cafes.
After even just a brief immersion in this art,rich community, most
visitors agree with D. H. Lawrence's observation: "You cannot come to
ing Millicent Rogers Museum celebrates the memory of a glamorous,
forceful woman who collected local art and jewelry and was reputedly a
Taos without feeling that here is one of the chosen spots on earth:'
pioneer of Southwest chic. A serpentine path leads through 15 intimate
galleries designed so that viewers can get up close to exhibits that in,
Taking
inTaos
elude Rogers' stellar personal collections of Native American silver and
turquoise jewelry and of Hispanic devotional art from the 1800s on.
A living museum of sorts, Taos Pueblo is home to the Taos Pueblo
her.com) and Wild Hearts Ranch (wildheartsranch.com).
For lodging, two gay,friendly spots are tops. Casa Benavides Bed
& Breakfast Inn ( taos,casabenavides.com) is a well,located adobe
Indians and is one of the oldest continually inhabited communities in the
United States. Today the pueblo looks much as it did when the conquis,
enclave. Breakfast and afternoon tea include a selection of delicious pas,
tries served in an atmospheric dining room. Located on the town's main
tadors first saw it in 1540 and still has no indoor plumbing. Guided tours
are scheduled throughout the day.
The newer adobe San Francisco de Asis Church dates to around
drag, the frenetic lobby at the popular Historic Taos Inn ( taosinn.com)
is a gathering spot for evening entertainment and feels safe, by design,
even for solo women. And when it comes to food you can't go wrong
with Doc Martin's, the restaurant in the Historic Taos Inn. Try their chile
1710. Interior features include retablos, a rare painting of a pregnant
Mary and a high, hand,carved ceiling.
A two,mile drive through peaceful farm land west of town brings
you to the fortress,like La Hacienda de los Martinez. One of the few
remaining late Spanish Colonial "Great Houses;• it survived many an
Apache and Comanche raid. Rooms off two inside courtyards feature
38
exhibits of family life in a hacienda.
If you can get out of the galleriesfor a few hours, two side trips are wor,
I curve
For more information try the Taos Chamber of Commerce ( taoscham
relleno with its incredible corn,chip crust. And at Antonio's (antoniosof
taos.com), contemporary and traditional cuisine from Old Mexico is
served in vintage adobe decorated with Mexican folkloric murals. Beware
of the diced chipotles served with some items; should you start hiccup,
ping, squeeze some lime juice into your mouth for instant relie£ ■
The Jet Set
ThedramaofEngland
- dykeandotherwise.
ByElizabeth
Stark
My grandmother and I are lost in the National
Theatre in London. The building is thrillingly
monolithic: a cement multiplex for stage instead
of screen. We're in an elevator in the wrong tower.
We've gotten separated from my cousins, my uncle
and my girlfriend.
When we finally make our way to the correct
balcony, the lights sink immediately and reveal a
large scrim across a vast set that includes a backyard, the double wall of a house stretching up
for two stories, at least, and the interior of that
house's living room. The play is Brian Friel's The
Aristocrats, an emotionally complex, molassestempoed meditation on the Irish Catholic aristocracy in Northern Ireland.
During the intermission, my cousins complain
that the oversized terrain of the stage, with imaginary games of croquet, offstage piano practice and
sideline drunks passed out in the grass, distracts
from Friel's subtle dialogue and the quiet emotions of the characters.
This complaint - too much going on in too
many different places - is the traveler's ultimate
woe.
My girlfriend, Angie, and I have tromped all
over Europe - beginning and ending in London
- and have landed without a strong sense of the
theme or plot of our trip. Later, when I ask Angie
what she remembers about the play, she says, "The
wall of the house moved:'
Travel is all about sets, about the setting. That's
what you're changing when you hurtle in a winged
bullet over oceans and slide headlong down tracks
in an assembly-line shoe box and careen along
roads in a tin can. Don't get me wrong: The set
matters. That's why they give Oscars to designers.
But when I climb out of the plane or the train or
the car, arriving in a foreign place, I notice who
I am, how I change - or don't - and what my
home looks like from afar.
Candy
Girls
Wandering one night from Covent Garden, where
Angie and I are staying, we let ourselves get a little
bit lost. The streets are often cobblestone, and it
doesn't seem as if cars should be allowed to drive
on them. But oversized black taxis and other cars
blaze down them as fast as they would go along
any road.
The streets are full of people. It is unseasonably warm even for mid-August in England, and
crowds gather outside pubs with quirky names.
The Nelly Dean of Soho is our favorite, and lets
us know that we have stumbled upon London's
gay neighborhood. Men in intimate pairs saunter down the sidewalk or lounge close together
on steps. At an outdoor cafe, one man perches on
another's lap. Boys handing out flyers deliberately
don't offer us any, and I smile. It's like being at
home in San Francisco's Castro district.
The address for the Candy Bar given in a recent
Rough Guideis wrong, but a grey-suited doorman
standing at the incorrect address knows exactly
what I'm looking for. "Second left, third right;' he
tells me, and we trace our way back through the
boys and up to a little alley where we find, at last,
the girls.
Clumps of them are on the sidewalk, sporting sprays of partially died hair, metal belts, pants
hung below the elastic waistband of boxer briefs. I
see one girl's hand circle another girl's calf; I watch
as they light their cigarettes - indoors. "Like the
old days in San Francisco;' I respond when Angie
notes that the place is full of smoke.
But of all the differences between London
and San Francisco, the dyke bar has the fewest.
London's antique buildings, Renaissance art and
ancient traditions that can make a Californian feel
culturally nai:ve do not impact this 30-something
in a bar: Here, I still feel old.
But the girls don't seem to think so. They
gather around us at the top of the stairs. There's
a line descending down to a pole-dancing cabaret,
and for a half-hour, while we wait, the nearlystraight girl (even here!) finds her way to my girlfriend while her friend quizzes me about the sexy
ladies of San Francisco.
The Jet Set continued on page 64
London's vast metropolis is home to a thriving lesbian community, but what's cool one minute may be so over the next, so don't be shy when you spot
a dyke: Ask her what's in right now. If you want an overview of the scene, pick up a free copy of G3, the monthly lesbian magazine (g3mag.co.uk), at
the Silver Moon, the largest women's bookstore in Europe, located within the massive Foyles bookstore on Charing Cross Road (foyles.co.uk).
You can also get insider tips on where to go by checking out gingerbeer.co.uk, a Web site that provides detailed reviews of many venues
written by women who have, well, been there. You'll find that a few places float to the surface, including Candy Bar, which Gingerbeer calls "the
bar we all love to hate," which should tell you a bit about the place. The huge London club GAY. also has a lesbian bar located downstairs in the
basement (aptly nicknamed Girls Go Down), but watch out: The doorperson tried to convince me GAY. was a "members-only" club, until I told
her I was going down to where the girls are (www.g-a-y.co.uk).
Londoner Jody Harris, managing director of gaygirlsworld.com, advised me that the current scene is all abuzz around the monthly girls' night
Lounge, which takes place at the swank Teatro (www.lounge.uk.net), a Soho bar with a drinks menu bigger than any I've ever seen. Sink down
into the plush banquettes, sample some sexy cocktails, and check out the girls in style. -Malinda
Lo
October 2006
I39
By Malinda Lo I Photography by Lorenzo Pesce
I
One year after coming out,
Three-time Olympic gold medalist. Three-time
WNBA Most Valuable Player. First woman to have
a Nike shoe named after her, the Air Swoopes. Last
fall, basketball great Sheryl Swoopes added one more
achievement to her name: first African-American
female professional athlete to come out as a lesbian.
Since she came out a year ago, Swoopes has continued to rack up basketball achievements - she was one
year ago;' she told CURVE before the event. "It's made a
big'difference in my life:'
of the first eight women selected for the 2006 USA
women's basketball team that competed at the FIBA
World Championship in Sao Paulo, Brazil - but
her side, accompanied by cheers from thousands of
women in the audience clinking silverware against
glass to demand that the two women kiss. The mood,
more like that of a wedding reception than that of an
awards banquet, was perfectly fitting in a way; it was
the first time Swoopes and Scott appeared as a couple
it's been her courage to come out that has made the
biggest splash both in the lesbian community and, it
seems, for Swoopes herself.
Recipient of the Spirit Award at the National
Center for Lesbian Rights' annual gala last spring,
Swoopes was as giddy as a newlywed on the arm of
her partner of eight years, Alisa "Scotty" Scott.
"Not having to hide - to be able to come to an
event like this, be able to hold hands [with Scott} and
be proud - that's not something I could have done a
40
Icurve
When Swoopes, sleekly elegant in a black satin
gown and a pair of killer heels, walked onstage to accept her award, she described Scott as "the best, most
wonderful person, friend, lover, anything you could
possibly imagine:'
Moments later, Scott came onstage to stand by
at a public event.
Since coming out, Swoopes says that she has thankfully not encountered much of a negative backlash, and
her family and friends have been largely supportive.
'Tve probably been surprised at how positive things
have been as opposed to how negative;'she says,"because
I went into it prepar~d to deal with all the negative stuff
that was gonna happen, and . . . so far everything
has gone a lot better than I thought it would:'
Olivia, a company best known for its lesbian
cruises, took its sponsorship of Swoopes - who
signed an endorsement deal with them last fall
- to a new level after the basketball star came
out. During the 2006 WNBA season, Olivia dis~
tributed red buttons emblazoned with Swoopes'
number and signature to fans before Houston
Comets games, so that they could show their sup~
port for her coming out.
"Initially, I thought it was just going to be
in Houston;' Swoopes says of the See Red but~
ton campaign. "And the button has not only been
popular in Houston, but in other WNBA cities
as well. I'm glad that the fans wear the buttons that they want to wear the buttons, just to show
their support. That really makes me feel good:'
Throughout the season, the color red has dot~
ted basketball stands at games around the country
as fans cheered Swoopes to another milestone; she
became only the third WNBA player to score a
career total of 4,000 points.
Swoopes admits, though, that coming out
wasn't easy for her.
"It's tough;' she says of her experience."It's tough,
period, but especially in the African~American
long-time partner,
Alisa "Scotty"Scott
community because it's not really accepted, and ...
I feel like I'm gonna take a lot more Rak from the
African,American community than [from] any,
body else:•
J\nd though she says she has run into some peo,
ple .who didn't quite know how to treat her ("I don't
think a lot of people know what to say;' she theo,
rizes), overall the experience has been wonderful.
"To this day I have not had one single regret;'
she says. ''I've been more than happy since I've
done it, just being able to live my life:'
Swoopes' coming,out in the fall of 2005 was a
highly calculated event, involving an exclusiveinter,
view with ESPN magazine just as her endorse,
ment deal with Olivia was announced, followed by
the cover of The Advocate.But the historic nature
of her coming,out - being the first active WNBA
athlete and the first African,American female ath,
lete to do so - seemed at times to be ignored as
news outlets quickly focused on why male athletes
rarely come out. This reflects both a long,standing
stereotype that female athletes are likely to be gay,
thus it's not a newsworthy story, and sexism in the
sports world in general, which often minimizes
women's achievements.
But when it comes down to the stats, Swoopes
is a real pioneer: You can count the number of out
my teammates knew, the organization knew, and
it was honestly just never something we talked
about;' she says. 'J\.nd I know that they knew,
because we traveled and we were on the road, and
I'd go to her room and I don't think it was a secret,
but it wasn't something we wanted to go and say,
'Oh, look at what we're doing:"
Now that she no longer has to hide her rela,
tionship, Swoopes looks forward to being more
involved with the gay community as well as to pri,
oritizing her family. And will she continue to play
professionally next season? She answers, "I think
I'm at a point right now where I'm just ... taking it
one year at a time:•
In June, Swoopes was named to the WNBA
All,Decade Team after being forced to sit out
several games early in the season due to back and
ankle injuries. "If . .. I get through this season
healthy, and I feel good enough and think I can do
it another year, then I'll do it. If not, there are so
many other things that I want to do, so many other
things that I want to work on:' She laughs and
adds, "Basketball's not everything to me anymore:•
So, what is everything to her? "My family, first
of all;' says Swoopes, who is mother to 9,year,old
son, Jordan. "My son, her [gesturing to Scott],
that's like the most important thing in my life.
To this day I have not had one single
regret.
just being able to
live my life.
African,American women professional athletes on,
well, one finger. And Swoopes is aware of how rare
she is: "I think ... in a way that's why I take a lot of
pride in who I am, in what I've done;' she says.
After Swoopes came out, many people won,
dered whether her example would encourage other
lesbian athletes to come out of the closet, but so far,
none have done so. Swoopes is still only the second
openly gay player in the WNBA, despite the wide,
spread stereotype that the association is full of les,
bians. When asked if she feels that the WNBA puts
pressure on its players to remain closeted, Swoopes
replies, "I don't know if I'd say it puts pressure on
them, but I think as players, as athletes, we feel like
it's not something they want us to do:•
Before she came out, Swoopes says she and
Scott tried to keep their relationship quiet.
"I think in the beginning we tried to be as
discreet as possible, but it got to the point where
Making sure that she's happy, my son's happy, the
family's happy:•
Swoopes glances flirtatiously at Scott as she says,
"I know I am [happy], and I definitely know my son
is, and I think I know that she is:' Her love for Scott is
obvious, and their joy at being able to be open about
their relationship with each other is infectious.
"I think there are a lot of people out there
who ... are going through the same thing I went
through;' she says. "They're miserable on a daily
basis, as I was, because you're living your life for
everybody else except yoursel£ and ... you're put,
ting everybody else's happiness before yours:'
Swoopes continues, "That's not what I want to
do. I want to live my life and be happy:' It seems clear
that a year later, that's exactly what she's doing. ■
Additional reportingforthispiecewas contributedby
Ross Forman.
October 2006
I43
Runs
With
I
CISSOr
Christian actor Kristin
Chenoweth kisses
Annette Bening in
Running With Scissors
and lives to brag about
it. Next up, she's playing
queer as Dusty Springfield
in a flick helmed by her
lesbian manager.
Talk about gay.
By Laurie K. c enden
ancient times peoplegot t
to the lions just for being Christian. What a chilling prospect
that Kristin Chenoweth,th
ted, vivacious and adorable singer~actor (who happens to
be a devout Christian),couldhave been a big cat's breakfast had she lived a few centuries
ago. Instead, the Broadway
show~stopper~turned~Hollywood actor spent the better part of
last year deflecting criticism furbeingoutspoken about gay rights as well as for playing a lesbian in
the new film Running With Scissors.
To complete her trifecta of gay~friendly sins, she'll portray Dusty
Springfield, the late legendary songstress who happened to be WielNal,in a movie set to begin filming in
late spring. Ironically, it's die
are baring their teeth now.
"There's a lot of flack about what my decisions have been but I'm very nonjudgmental and I don't
believe we should live our lives like that;' Chenoweth said, when we met last year at the POWER UP
gala (an event that honors lesbians in entertainment) in Beverly Hills.
"A lot of Christian organizations took offense to the fact that in an interview I said, 'Hey, I don't see
what the big deal is if [gay] people want to get married; if people want to have the same problems as us
heteros do, go for it!"' she said with a laugh. "I don't think it's our decision:'
In the same vein, Chenoweth, who was adopted, is upset "that it's hard for
people of the same sex to adopt. I think if two people are together in a union
and they love each other, they're going to be great parents:'
Looking about as angelic as one can get in a stylish gray suit that revealed
a tasteful amount of cleavage and midriff, Chenoweth obviously isn't one
to shy away from controversy. In fact, she talked excitedly talked about her
upcoming film. "I can't wait to see Running With Scissors.I think some people
are going to be shocked but it's called acting, it's playing a part:'
She described her character as "a former Breck girl who's married to a minister who has four kids, and now at age 30 [she falls] in love with a woman:'
With long blond hair, sparkling blue eyes and 100-watt smile, it's easy to see
why Chenoweth was once first runner-up in the Miss Oklahoma pageant.
"When I'm sitting down, people will say, 'You look like Cameron Diaz:
But when I'm standing up, I'm like the third Olsen (as in Mary Kate and
Ashley J;'joked Chenoweth, who stands 4-foot-11 and easily erupts in a
charming, high-pitched laugh.
Raised in Broken Arrow, Okla., the actor says she grew up learning basic
Christian principles identifying all people as God's children - including gays
and lesbians. When she voiced that opinion to a reporter after the release of
her album of spiritual songs, As I Am, in 2005, she was chastised and shoved
out of the Women of Faith singing group.
The terse reaction hurt but hasn't changed her convictions. In fact, in the
midst of all the hoopla, she eagerly accepted an invitation by Stacy Codikow,
founder of POWER UP, to present a 10 Amazing Gay Women in Showbiz
award to her manager, Dannielle Thomas, who was among the 2005 honorees.
Chenoweth's participation "was all a complete surprise;' said the flattered
Thomas, but typical of her loyalty. "Kristin is so welcoming and so giving and
accepting of all people it makes me feel comfortable to be who I am around
her. It was very easy to come out of the closet to her:'
As for Chenoweth's predicament from a business standpoint, Thomas has
Running With Scissorsand the upcoming Dusty Springfield project.
It's her onscreen lip-locks with Annette Bening, however, that rattled
church pews.
"She's really a good kisser;' Chenoweth said delightedly of Bening, without
even being asked. The Broadway star said she was drawn to the role because she
wanted to work with Bening and because of the complexity of her character,
who happens to fall in love with another woman. "To me, she fell in love with
the person and I don't see what could be bad about that;' Chenoweth said.
From an early age she showed compassion for others, including a close
friend with whom she used to walk to school.
"Now I know she was gay;' Chenoweth said. "But she was one of my best
friends and everyone made fun of her, called her gay.... I don't know why
it didn't affect me that way. I was like, 'Who cares?' I mean that's what I'm
thinking. I'm sure now looking back there were tons of people who were gay
- nobody would come out, though, in Oklahoma in the 1980s:'
Once this singing phenomenon reached the New York melting pot, her
Christian beliefs were truly put to the test. But she simply relied on what she
felt in her heart. "My world opened up to different relationships, different religions and races;' she said. It was Thomas, her manager, who approached her
to play the part of Dusty Springfield in the film that Thomas is producing.
"I loved her music," said Thomas, who was watching a documentary on
Springfield over two years ago when she decided to do a feature film. She
immediately thought of Chenoweth for the lead.
'Tm sitting there going'My gosh, she looks so much like Kristin;" Thomas
recalled of the talented but tragic Springfield. ''There's so much to the story that
no one seems to have told ... and not like some strange story of sex, drugs and
rock 'n' roll - that's not the story of Dusty Springfield. She's historicallyremarkable in what she did for introducing different types of music to the British scene
and educating people about all sorts of political (issues].... She did it because of
her own personal beliefs. And she was obviously very tortured in her own right
but she was musically what I would (call] a remarkable genius:'
"Now I know she was gay. I'm sure now lookingback
thereweretonsof peoplewho were gay - nobodywould
come out, though,in Oklahomain the 1980s."
nothing but admiration for her client.
"It was a remarkable move what she did this summer, and never once a
moment's hesitation where Kristin felt 'Oh my gosh I can't do this for my career:
She's alwaysmade reallygreat decisions since I've known her, both as a person and
a professional, and she was not about to backtrack on any of her beliefs:'
Thomas added that Chenoweth, who has a master's degree in opera perfor. mance, is 'crazily intelligent ... she reads music, she'sgot a photographic memory;
you can giveher something and she'll be done and ready to go with it the next day:'
Chenoweth mesmerized the POWER UP crowd when she introduced
Thomas and serenaded her with a heartfelt a cappella version of"You'll Never
Know:' Surely there must be some kind of heavenly power at work on those
vocal cords (go to kristin-chenoweth.com to hear selections from her latest
CD). It was her earlier success in musicals - which included Tony-nominated
roles in hit Broadway shows Wicked and You'rea Good Man, CharlieBrown
(the latter of which earned her a best actress Tony award) - that led to her
role as Nicole Kidman's neighbor in Bewitched,after Kidman saw her onstage.
This year alone, Chenoweth showed up in two blockbusters, RV and The
Pink Panther,and in a sweet role as White House media consultant on The
West Wing. Her current concert tour sold out shows at Carnegie Hall and
the Los Angeles Music Center, and now she's creating all kinds of buzz in
Thomas and Chenoweth contacted LegallyBlonde producer Marc Platt
and ultimately got Universal Pictures behind the film. Jessica Sharzer, who
made a short film with a POWER UP grant, was hired to write the script.
Though both Thomas and Sharzer are lesbians, Springfield's sexuality won't
be the focus of the film, Thomas insists. "I don't think (Springfield] was driven by her sexuality. I think it was part of who she was, there's no question. It's
definitely addressed but it's not Dusty Springfield:The LesbianStory:'
From Chenoweth's perspective, "She's a very petite blond woman with the
voice of soul. Nobody knows much about her life and her struggles, being
bisexual, having abusive parents and being the first lady of soul in the body of
a white woman:' To prepare for the role, Chenoweth joked that she may have
to "take up smoking; she has a very deep voice:•
No matter what, Chenoweth refuses to say an unkind word about the detractors who attempted to censor her - which is, of course,the Christian thing to do.
"I don't blame them at all;' Chenoweth said. "Women of Faith thought it
would be better if I wasn't involved singing with them anymore [and] I totally
understood. Maybe they'll change their minds!"
Hmm. Does she actually believe that she can change the way people thin]<?
"I believe that might be my purpose in life;' she said, without a hint of
sarcasm. Well, they say the Lord works in mysterious ways. ■
October 2006
I45
Roller derby
buy y
but make no mistake - the
on the track. The tJehind-the-sce
the greatest
·nk at th
take yo
s politic
he world of boxing is usually associated with men. The sport
conjures up images of dark rooms filled with sweaty men
packed in, shoulder to shoulder, puffing on cigars that fill the
air with thick clouds of smoke. But like most conceptions
about male-dominated arenas, this is a false one.
The long, rich history of women's boxing dates back to the
1720s, when the first women's fights were staged in London. Since that time,
women have been slugging it out both in the ring and in the courts to earn
their sport the respect and funding it deserves. USA Boxing, the national
governing body for amateur Olympic-style boxing, didn't even recognize
women's boxing as a sport until 1993, and currently, boxing is the only sport
in the Summer Olympics that does not allow women competitors.
Despite the obstacles these women face, they continue to pursue excellence in the field of boxing, and the sport has recently gained popular recognition in films such as Girl.fight(2000) and Million Dollar Baby (2004).
Ann Marie Saccurato and Angel Bovee are two women boxers - and
lovers - whose story could be fodder for yet another film.
Bovee and Saccurato first met in Midland, Texas, at the 2000 USA
Boxing Everlast Nationals, where they competed in the same weight class,
yet were never paired in a fight. The two met again when Bovee quit her job
as a producer and director in Albany, moved to New York and became a fulltime boxer. Bovee and Saccurato have been together for three years now.
"We met in the sport;' Bovee says, "fell in love with boxing and each
...J
UJ
0..
::i:
::>
c.,
>-
0
C:
number one in the world:' Bovee is a three-time U.S. national champion
amateur boxer who earned the singular distinction of being chosen for the
first ever Women's World Championship held for Olympic-style women
boxers. She was the 2005 National Golden Glove champion for her weight
division, light welterweight, and was a semi-finalist in 2006.
Bovee and Saccurato have managed to accomplish these feats and
maintain a committed long-distance relationship, all while holding down
demanding full-time jobs. Their situation changed drastically this year
when Bovee moved out of their tiny, one-bedroom New York apartment to
Nashville, Tenn., where she is helping to open a nonprofit athletic facility,
the Boxing Resource Center. Saccurato remains in New York, where she
works as a personal trainer.
"Women professional boxers can make as little as $50 a round and do
hie the ceiling pretty quickly;' Bovee says. "There are only a few women who
can make a living as a boxer.... Most women boxers have full-time jobs in
addition to training full time. It is a difficult life:'
"The top four ranked men in each weight class in the U.S. receive
a stipend to help them in training from USOC [United States Olympic
Committee]. Women currently receive no financial help from the USOC,
because we are not recognized as an Olympic spore;' explains Bovee. "We
will not be able to receive any type of funding until this occurs. We have
fulfilled all the requirements to be an Olympic spore and now are just keeping our fingers crossed:'
other, and continue to be each other's best support in and out of the ring.
We always have each other's back and are always in each other's corners.
Being females and out lesbians in the sport of boxing is a challenging, often
very frustrating, road to travel, but we know we are kicking down doors for
other young girls who will [later] be able to put on the gloves:'
Besides boxing, Saccurato had her share of uphill battles. On the way
home from a volleyball competition at the 1995 Empire State Games, she
was a passenger in a car crash that killed the driver and left her doctors
hoping that she would simply survive through the night. She suffered from
a punctured lung, broken pelvis and hip, two broken legs, a crushed arm,
broken ribs and severe nerve damage. If she survived, they doubted that she
would ever walk again. Despite her doctors' skepticism, chis tenacious athlete not only went on to walk again, she was also playing both volleyball and
Although a lot more than crossed fingers went into the campaign to
allow women's boxing at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, the committee decided against including the sport.
"They based their decision on the corruption that has existed in boxing at the international level. ... The IOC said they will not add any new
athletes, men or women, until the corruption is cleaned up;' Bovee reports.
"Once again, serious women athletes are suffering and losing [out] on opportunities that the men currently have:'
Bovee and Saccurato are not ready to give up the fight.
"Ann-Marie and I, as well as many other women, are trying to be pioneers in the sport and bring it into the mainstream as a sport of athleticism,
grace and strategy;' Bovee says. ■
basketball for Seton Hall University with a year.
Both women have gone on to win widespread recognition in cheir field.
Saccurato is a former National Golden Gloves champion and an undefeated
world-ranked professional boxer with three knock-outs. Her goal is "to be
To learn more about Bovee and Saccurato,visit their Web site at boxing
angel.com.For informationon womens boxing,visit the Women BoxingArchive.
Network at wban.com.
October 2006
I 51
s the creator of the perpetually popular series Dykes to
Watch out For,Alison Bechdel has long set a high standard
for queer cartoonists. Breaking out from the gay com~
munity, Bechdel has recently released an autobiograph~
ical graphic work, Fun Home, which deals with her own childhood.
Growing up with an actor mother, a closeted gay father, two brothers,
a family funeral home business and one very large gothic house (as
well as coping with her own budding lesbianism), Bechdel had great
material to draw upon for Fun Home. Quirky, moving and extremely
well~drawn, Fun Home is a great read. Rachel Pepper recently caught
up with Bechdel from her home in Vermont.
How did Fun Home come about?
I've been wanting to tell the story since I was 20, a year after my father
died. But I didn't have any of the skills at that point - emotional,
creative or technical. Also, I couldn't imagine revealing the big
family secret that my dad was gay. Aging 20 years - plus putting
in nearly that many in therapy - gave me some emotional ·per~
spective, and the changing cultural climate made it seem possible,
if not necessary, to reveal the secret.
It was a very long process, seven years from start to finish. Having to draw
myself and my parents and brothers at various ages in Fun Home was
probably the most difficult drawing challenge I've ever had.
Whom do you foresee as the audience for Fun Home?
As I've started talking about the book publicly, it's been tempting to
take a sort of BrokebackMountain approach to it, to say that it's
not really a gay story but a human story. But I quickly realized that
was just bullshit. My book is a completely, utterly queer story, and
it's a human story. I have great hopes that Fun Home will reach a
wider audience than I've managed so far with my comic strip.
How did the relationship you had with your father shape you
as a person and an artist?
was actually relieved- at last I was free from this oppressive force.But over the years, I
realized that I wasn't free at all. He was still there in my head, watching and judging and
telling me what to do. When I finally decided to write this book, it became clear that
it was something much more serious than my comic strip - that it was necessarily a
literary undertaking. It took a long time to ... develop confidence in my writing. It was
a very fraught process, because I had to dismantle my father's critical presence in order
to tell the story, but it was only by telling the story that I could do the dismantling.
Your family ran a funeral home. Do you get asked a lot about Six Feet Under?
Yeah, the Six Feet Under thing is unavoidable. I was in the very early stages of this book
when the show first appeared. I remember seeing a commercial for it, and being
completely horror~struck. This was my story! How could someone else be telling
it? On HBO! I have a brother who drives an old hearse! The worst thing of all,
though, was that it was so good. I still haven't been able to get beyond the second
episode. Maybe one day I'll settle down enough to enjoy it.
My dad bought that whole myth of the artist as some kind of superior Future plans?
being who lives outside the rules of society. But for various, compli~ I think cranking out my comic strip and writing another graphic memoir are going to
cated reasons, he didn't make that his life's work. He very much
take up most of my bandwidth for the foreseeable future. I can't imagine my life
wanted me to do the things he hadn't done, and tried to a certain
without the soothing yet stressful structure of my regular Dykes to Watch out For
extent to live vicariouslythrough me. It wasn't encouragement; it was
comic strip deadline. The strip is also a necessary catharsis for me under the Bush
browbeating. I resisted him as much as I could, and when he died I
regime. I'd implode if I didn't have this outlet. ■
52
Icurve
Kill
ou may not know her name but
Christine Vachon is one of the most
important producers in independent film history. Starting with Todd
Haynes' Poison, Vachon has produced or coproduced dozens of films including Swoon,Go Fish,
PostcardsFromHeaven,I Shot Andy Warhol,Office
Killer,Happiness,VelvetGoldmine,BoysDon't Cry,
Hedwigand theAngry Inchand PartyMonster.A cofounder of Killer Films since the vastly underrated
VelvetGoldmine,this year alone Vachon produced
Mary Harron's The NotoriousBettie Pageand the
upcoming film about Truman Capote, Infamous
(due out in November). While not all her films have
lesbian themes, Vachon has been out for years, and
the New Yorker and her partner, Marlene McCarty,
have a daughter, Guthrie McCarty-Vachon.
Also out now is Vachon's second book, A Killer
Life: How an IndependentFilm ProducerSurvives
Deals and Disasters in Hollywood and Beyond.
Written with Austin Bunn, A KillerLife follows up Vachon's 1998 Shootingto
Kill. As with her previous book, Vachon describes the trials, tribulations and
travesties of making good films in a profit-driven marketplace. From Cannes,
Sundance, New York, Hollywood and beyond, Vachon gives us significantly
more access - because she is a bigger success than she was in the 1990s
- into the inner wheeling and dealing of independent filmmaking finance,
commerce and art. In our exclusive interview, we caught up with Vachon in
Florida to get her thoughts on her book, lesbians, the MPAA and cinema.
@
0
w
0
>0
--,
No. I think that it's very easy to point to either of
those and say why such and such film didn't get
made ... but, honestly, I really don't think that's
the case. Ultimately when people have said they
felt they haven't got as far as they should have
because of their sexuality or because of their
gender, I've often found that actually - once
I've read their scrip_ts- that's not really the case.
The script didn't get made because it wasn't good.
That's not to say that it's easy to be female in the
very male-dominated business. It is very maledominated. But, like anything, you constantly
have to figure out your way.
Is there such a thing as a gay aesthetic in film?
There might be, but I don't know what it is.
Many Killer films were highlighted in This
Film Is Not Yet Rated. Do you think the MPAA
- the secret, political organization that rates films G, PG, PG-13, R or
NC17 - is unfair toward films with gay themes in sex?
I think there is something intrinsically unfair in the system. I don't think A
Dirty Shame was rated NC-17 because of gay themes necessarily. The
movies I have trouble with the MPAA [about] haven't all been gay films,
like Todd Solondz's Happiness.
How do you feel about films that are labeled "gay"?
there films you will not do, based on their ideology?
You addressed some concerns about your upcoming film, Infamous,
There's a million scripts I won't take on because I don't think they're good
enough, but it doesn't have anything to do with the ideology they're peddling or not peddling. I don't really think about that.
Have those changed since you wrote the book?
You talk about how the filmmaking world thrives on exclusion. Do
You recently produced Bettie Page. Why do you think she is such an
in the wake of the success of last year's Oscar-winning Capote.
I'm not going to have any different sentiments until it actually comes out.
you think that's a microcosm of the American body politic at large?
icon with the lesbian community? Is she?
I have no idea [laughs].
I'm just a producer. I'm just trying to make good movies.
You probably should ask someone in the lesbian community who sees her as
an icon ... Look, I made the movie. Obviously, I found her story fascinating, but I don't see her as an icon one way or another.
How do you feel when people raise the issue of your sexual orientation?
LJ.J
a lesbian?
You said in the book that you do not have an ideology to peddle. Are
Because of all that happened, because I had a lot to say.
a:
I'm trying to get these movies done.
Are you at a disadvantage being a woman or
It depends on the film. It's all about the marketplace. If a film is being specifically marketed to a gay audience, then of course it's very helpful to have it
labeled a 'gay" film. If it's not or it feels like it's isolating its audience, I don't
know. Most filmmakers like to have their films seen by everybody. I'm not
really sure what makes a film 'gay" or "not gay" anyway.
Why write a second book about independent filmmaking?
0
H
If it's relevant to the discussion at hand, then it's fine. I understand that it's reasonably inspirational for some people to see that you can make it this far. If
you can make it this far as a woman, first and foremost, then as a lesbian ...
I really don't like to be identified by my sexuality. I think it's reductive. But
clearly I'm out and that's pretty much part of the personality I convey when
Are you happy with the box office results of the film?
I wish it had done a little better .... A black and white film has limited [appeal
in] the marketplace. It's going to have a very nice HBO premiere, and I
think at the end of the day a lot of people will see it. ■
October 2006
I53
Reviews Sapphic Screen
The Cream of the Crop
Three faves from this year's LG BT film festivals.
I By Sheela Lambert
EDITOR'S
PICK
TheEllenShow:The
Complete
Series(Sony):
Thissitcomwaspoorly
received
morebecause
of
the backlash
fromEllen
DeGeneres
declaring"Yep,
I'm gay,"thanbecause
of a
lackof laughs.In fact,after
viewingonit DVD,TheEllen
Show- whichfollowsan
openlygaySiliconValley
technocrat
whocomes
hometo middleAmerica
afterherdot-comgoesdot
bust- is smart,funnyand
full of sidekicks
whocould
bemainplayers(Populars
DianeDelanoasa gaygym
teacher),
andfamilymem- This year's crop of feature films at LGBT festivals was outbers(NewAdventures
of Old
standing- could this be a new renaissance for queer film? This
Christine's
EmilyRutherford
as hersisterandMalcolm month we highlight three of the best movies about women that
in theMiddle'sCloris premiered at festivals across the country, and if you didn't catch
Leachman
as hermom)who
them in the theater, keep an eye out for them on DVD.
aregoodenoughto still be
onTVtoday.A mustfor any
The Gymnast (FearlessAngel Productions)
Ellenlover.
In
The Gymnast, we meet Jane (Dreya Weber), a champion
(sony.
com/dvdcentralj
- DianeAnderson-Minshall gymnast injured at the peak of her career who is now in her 40s,
unhappily married and living an anonymous life in the suburbs.
who have earned their beautifully athletic figures the hard way.
The stunning aerial sequences and final performance (choreographed by Weber), along with an amazing dance performance
from Youngmee, form the centerpiece of the film. It is, indeed, a
beautiful story of unexpected love. (thegymnast_film.com)
Gypo (MEDB Films)
The U.K. film Gypo is a multilayered, Rashomon-style drama
One day a gymnastics coach recognizes her and recruits her for
an aerialist team that's forming with Vegas ambitions in mind.
that peels away like layers of an onion. The film shows the same
events from the perspective of three different characters, add-
Jane soon finds herself drawn to fellow team member Serena
ing new bits of information with each layer that both fills in the
blanks and has the potential to confuse the audience with an
alternative set of "facts:'
(Addie Youngmee), a hip, young Korean dancer. Although they
try to resist their dawning attraction, eventually they give into
temptation, although a marriage reconciliation and ambition
threaten to pull them apart.
Weber and Youngmee have good on-screen chemistry, and
their characters are well drawn. Although David De Simone
delivers a solid performance as Jane's husband, the film leaves
us wondering what exactly went wrong with their marriage;
during the majority of the film the two simply don't speak to
each other. And although there are several beautifully sensual
scenes of the lovely leading ladies kissing during practice or
embracing in a pool, the film lacks the satisfying consummation of a love scene.
54 j curve
LGBT Film Festival, is a certified visual treat. The two gorgeous
leading ladies are real-life professional dancers and aerialists
Working-class couple Helen (Pauline McLynn) and Paul's
(Paul McGann) marriage has soured; to make matters worse,
their daughter Kelly (Tamzin Dunstone), a college student and
single mother who lives at home, keeps ditching her maternal
responsibilities. When Kelly brings her schoolmate Tasha
(Chloe Sirene), a Romany Czech refugee, home after class,
her mother and father have different reactions. Kelly's mother
and Tasha form an immediate bond, but her father calls Tasha
"Gypo" and accuses her - and her people - of stealing jobs
But overall, The Gymnast, which took home the award for
Best U.S. Narrative Feature at Newfest as well as the Audience
from local citizens.
Kelly's mother and Tasha start spending time together and
are eventually, irresistibly, drawn to each other. But their new
romantic bond is threatened when their husbands track them
Award for Best Feature Film at the San Francisco International
Cream of the rop continued on page 63
DVD PICKS
in whichthefamilymantriesto sethis
sonstraight.(foxtvondvd.com)-DAM
She-Ra:Princess
ofPower(BCI):
Forthoseof youwhosharemyfond
memories
of theblondedo-gooder
She-Ra
(He-Man's
twinsister),here's
somegoodnews:All93 episodes
of the'8Os-era
cartoonarebeing
released
thistallonDVD.
Thetwo-disc
"BestOf"Collector's
Editionincludes
fivetan-favorite
episodes
andthe
full-length
animated
movie,TheSecret
of theSword,
thatintroduced
She-Ra
to viewers.
Theseriesis clearlygeared
towardkids,butwhodoesn'tlove
a beautiful,
powerful
womanwho
savesthedaywhilewearinggold
go-goboots?(inkandpaintdvd.
com)
-Malinda Lo
Restorative
Yoga
(TikkunYoga
Center):Thinkyogais bestsavedtor
thosehard-bodied
sortssearching
tor innerpeace?
Thinkagain.Evelyn
Neaman,
directorof Vancouver's
Tikkun
YogaCenter,
ottersupa healinghatha
yogafull of gentlepostures
thatare
practiced
whilelyingdown- perfecttor anyone
whothoughtyoga
wasn'ttor her.There'sa queerperk,
too:Neaman's
a gayactivistwhose
stepdaughter's
lesbianmother,
Aviva
Lazar,
is herwebmaster
andvicepresidentof PrideVancouver.
(tikkunyoga.
com)-DAM
Solitude
(lndican):
A tentative
lesbian
coupleisontheroadto Flagstaff
when
anoldcarandsomefamily-induced
mindgames
derailtheirtrip.Engaging
andsometimes
excruciating
anda
memorable
portrait
of dysfunction.
(solitudethemovie.com)
- DAM
PunkyBrewster:
SeasonThree
(ShoutFactory):
Returnto thelate
'8OsbeforeSoleilMoonFryewasa
jadedfeministbutinsteada punky,
spunkypigtailed
kidwhoruledSunday
nightsonNBC.Thisyearshebecomes
a gossipcolumnist,
stealsa pigand
skipsschool.
Wait,I guessshealready
wasa feminist.(shoutfactory.com)
-DAM
BasicInstinct(Sony):OK,sothis
isn'tthesequelwehadallhoped
tor butSharon
Stoneis assleekand
sexyasever,thisDVDis unrated
andthereis a doseof girlpower
behindit (Desperately
Seeking
Susan
screenwriter
LeoraBarishtorone).
Sosuspend
disbelief
andwatchthe
murderous
bisexual
babein action.
(sonypictures.com)
- DAM
ThirdManOut:A Donald
Strachey
Mystery(Here!):
Here!TVis turning
theiroriginalseriesintoDVDswhich
is a greatboonto anyone
whois
outsidehere!'sbroadcast
range.
Hellbent(Here!
Films):Justin time
Thefirstepisode
of ThirdMan,a gay
tor Halloween
comesthefirstgay
detective
series,isthefirstof six
slasherfilm,fromtheco-creator
of
installments
of thepopularnovelsby
horrorclassicslikeHalloween
and
Richard
Stevenson.
Casting
openlygay
Nightmare
onElmStreet.Evenbetter,
actorChadAllen(Dr.QuinnMedicine
it's setduringHalloween
Carnival
Woman)
wasa godsend,
frankly,as
wherea serialkilleris looseamongthe
theyoung,sexybut
flamboyant
costumes,
beautiful
people, Allenembodies
slightlytiredandhard-boiled
kindof
lotsof drugsandgratuitous
sexof gay
welove- thegaypartis
WestHollywood.
(heretv.com)
- DAM detective
justanadditional
bonus.
Addto it a
bevyof ordinary
LGBT
characters
(like
TheSimpsons:
TheComplete
a lesbian
homecontractor),
a brazen
EighthSeason
(Fox):Tworeasons
queertwistandactorSeanYoung,
to gobbleupthenewestseason
of
andthistlick'sa win-win.(heretv.com)
America's
queerest
animated
fam-DAM
ilybeforetheholidayrush:Gillian
Anderson
in a hysterical
X-Fi/es-meetsOntheOuts(FaderFilms):Thisgritty
Springfield
episode
andJohnWatersin
thehilarious
episode
"Homer's
Phobia," DVD Picks continued on page 63
Mary Jo Godges
I
FILMMAKERS
I
On the morning of Jan. 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded just after
takeoff. All seven astronauts onboard died, including the first U.S. civilian astronaut,
teacher Christa McAuliffe. Twenty years later, lesbian filmmakers Renee Sotile and
Mary Jo Godges set out to give McAuliffe her due as an American hero as well as
a gay icon in their first feature~length documentary, Christa McAuliffe: Reachfor the
Stars,which aired on CNN on the 20th anniversary of the disaster and is now avail~
able on DVD. - Laurie K. Schenden
How did Susan Sarandon and Carly Simon get involved?
Sotile:Christa loved Carly Simon's music and she actually carried her tape
onboard the Challenger. We wrote Carly a letter and ... she ended up writing
an original song for the film.
Godges:
We met Susan at the Harlem International Film Festival last year ...
and she graciously volunteered to do the narration. She is the perfect voice for
this film and for Christa's message.
What do people react to most in the film?
Godges:People really get what a loss it was when Christa died in the
Challenger explosion. It was so refreshing to get to know this woman who
spoke her mind. She was really genuine, and she had incredible dedication
to her students and family, a passion for education, and an amazing ability
to communicate and encourage. We hope that through this film we can help
keep her legacy alive.
What's the connection to the gay community?
Sotile:One of her students said how she talked in her classroom about gays
and having gay friends and needing to find a cure for AIDS - all these things
other teachers wouldn't dare mention. Had the space mission been successful
and given her a bigger platform, it's almost certain she would have been one
of our biggest advocates, especially since she has a gay sister.
Godges:
She was already an advocate for gays before it was cool! And she
encouraged her students to be themselves and to actively stand up for what
they believe; that's clear from the footage you see of her in the movie. ■
For more information,visit teacher1986.com.
October 2006
I55
In the Stacks
Reviews
_
..,...
........
.
..- ,.
- ...
,....
_..
~
-· . -
-
. -
...__
~
...
PLAYi G
cQuantum
We Love a Good Bitch
A coming--out story and cultural criticism top our list. I By Rachel Pepper
FIELD
I lo,, < I, 111g1ng \our ( ho"~'
< .111< h.mg<'\our I 1k
EDITOR'S
PICK
Just in time for cool autumn evenings come two books that
are sure to make great armchair entertainment. The Most
Beautiful Girl in the World reminds us of our first girlfriends,
and BITCHfest reminds us that it's still OK to be a feminist.
The Most Beautiful Girl in
the World, Judy Doenges
PlayingtheQuantum (University of Michigan
Field:HowChanging
Your
Press)
Choices
CanChangeYour
Judy Doenges has crafted a first-rate
Life,BrendaAnderson
(NewWorldLibrary):Don't novel with The Most BeautifulGirl in
thinkthisis another"women the World.The story revolves around
whohatewomenwholove Robin Simonsen, a young lesbian
men"typeself-helpbook.
growing up in a Chicago suburb in
Thiscorporate
VPapplies
the '60s and '70s with her junkie
quantum
physics
to women's
malaise,
usinga philosophy father and ex-showgirl grandmothatespouses
business ther. Doenges, winner of a Ferroprinciples
(like"highreturn- Grumley Award for What She Left
on-energy
mode")thatwe
Me, her collection of short stories,
canapplyin ourpersonal
and currently an English professor
livesto overcome
negativity,
fearandvictimization.
It may at Colorado State University, deftly
sounda bit lofty,butwomen combines one girl's growing selfaroundtheglobearealready realization with the political and
swearing
byit. Countmeas
cultural climate of the times.
one.(newworldlibrary.com)
The first part of the novel focuses on Robin's early child- DianeAnderson-Minshall
hood in the '60s and her secretive but passionate explorations
with her best friend, Kitty. As Robin begins to understand what
it means to like girls the way she does, she also learns how to
keep chis desire simmering while still fitting in with her straight
friends. Paralleling Robin's journey is the one taken by her single
father, who starts as a scavengingjunk' man and ends up a junkie
and drug dealer, largely leaving Robin to raise hersel£
Doenges handles the progression of the decades skillfully as
she moves through time, capturing both the subtle and more
calamitous effects that "free love;' abundant drug use, racial integration and post-war stress disorders can have on people in one
small community.
The second section of the book finds Robin in high school,
forging a friendship with a marauding pack of partiers, and also
with Freddie, her school's only African-American boy. Freddie
becomes an especially close ally when he and Robin reveal to
each other that they are both gay."They whispered, heads together, stringing out all they'd saved up, all they couldn't say during
the day ... Robin was stunned by Freddie's blazing desire: he
had no idea how to shape it, direct it, use it, consume it before
it consumed him. For Freddie, there were boys everywhere,
distant and therefore more tempting; for Robin, there was
one girl, the burning core:'This burning core is reflected in the
one object of Robin's desire, her best high school friend, Lynn.
Lynn is straight, pursued by an endless number of boys, but
Robin is eventually rewarded for her patience with on.e night of
56
Icurve
passion at the book's end. This realization of her dreams, far
from being the catalyst for a happy life with the girl of her
dreams, allows Robin the freedom to finally move on. As high
school graduation cakes them to the cusp of the next phase of
their lives, Robin realizes she must forge a new
future. Although readers don't witness this future, we know that Robin will move to Chicago,
and be just fine in a place "filled with people
who lived as she wanted to, a place overflowing
with women to love:'(www.press.umich.edu)
BITCHfest: Ten Years of Cultural
Criticism From the Pages of Bitch
Magazine, Eds. Lisa Jervis and Andi
Zeisler (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
All long-standing magazines deserve an anthology of their collected works, and Bitchgets theirs
on the occasion of their 10th anniversary. Started
as a zine in the mid-'90s, Bitchhas grown into a
full-fl.edged magazine chat still reports - with
an often angry edge - on feminism, popular
culture and the media. Bitch editors Lisa Jervis
and Andi Zeisler have culled some of the finest
pieces published in the
mag, including pieces
on female masculinity,
performance art, "hasbians;' feminist fame,
slash fiction, racism,
reality porn, female
facial hair and the
"paradox of Martha
Stewart:'
A wide variety
of writers, most not
afraid to cell it like it
is - or at least how
they chink it is - are
included, such as
Jennifer Pozner, Karen
Eng, Keely Savoie,
CURVE s own Diane Anderson-Minshall and a host of others,
in essays with tides like "Screen Butch Blues;' "The Princess
and the Prankster" and "Your Stomach's the Size of a Peanut,
So Shut up Already:' The book's foreword, written by performance artist Margaret Cho, sets the tone from the first page
where she writes, "Whenever anyone has called me a bitch, I
have taken it as a compliment ... These days, I strive to be a
bitch, because not being one sucks:' The writers of Bitch magazine, especially those included in chis anthology, would no
doubt agree. (jsgbooks.com)■
1
PAGE TURNERS
Alison
Dubois
A TasteofSin,FionaZedde
(Kensington
Books):
SexyMiami
socialite
DezNicholshasquitea
reputation
for burningthroughwomen I AUTHOR I
andbreaking
hearts- untilshe
realizes
thatherheartburnsfor a
After appearing in several anthologies, including Awakening the
somewhat
off-limitslover.Zedde's
Virgin,EarlyEmbracesIII and Up All Night, Alison Dubois, a Dutchknackfor explicitwritingmightmake
American writer and Pacific Northwest native, turned to creating one
youwantto putthisbookdownfora
personal
timeout,butyou'llcomeright about something we all love: the lesbian liplock. Her debut book, She
backfor more.(kensingtonbooks.com)KissedMe, is a collection of photos, poems and prose about lesbians
- Michelle
Gallagher
kissing that combines well-known contributors (Tee Corinne, Rachel
Kramer Bussel) and a true DIY spirit. -Diane Anderson-Minshall
Hearing
byJae/,JoyceElbrecht
andLydiaFakundiny
(Terrace
Why'd you decide to put together She Kissed Me?
Books):
Theauthors'secondbook,
From an early age on I became fascinated by the intimacy
writtenunderthecollaborative
name
of JaelB.Juba,takesusto Tarragona,
of two women kissing. As I grew to an adult, I realized the
Fla.,whereJael'sfriendandmentor,
void in our culture about expressing exactly what this gesture
Elizabeth
Harding
Dumot,hasrestored
means to lesbians, individually and culturally. And I also felt,
theantebellum
homeof Frances
on a personal level, chat if it appealed to me - seeing two
Boudon
in 1977.Ina secretroomwithwomen
kissing - perhaps it would appeal to other lesbians.
in thehouse,DumotfindsBoudon's
diary,whichshe'dentrusted
Jaelto
What surprised you the most about the project?
returnto itsoriginalrestingplace.As
The way in which women chose to respond, especially with
Jael'sjourneyto Floridaunfolds,
it
the poems .... And on another level, how so many women were
evokesDumot'sownhistory,andthe
very willing to share something so personal and intimate of
darkmysteries
of thediaryopenup.
their lives. Their generosity of spirit has touched me so much.
Hearing
weaves
a lushtapestryof unsettledpasts,war,slavery,
revolutions,
I am very grateful for all who came forward.
murders
andmagic;highlyrecomHow come some couples have many photos and some
mended
forthoseinterested
in poetic
only have one in the book?
writingstyles.(wisc.edu/wisconsin
The book is divided in sections of work I did and photographs
press)- LenaBengtsson
that were submitted to me. The couples at the front of the
·--
"Oneofthemost
romanticlesbian
e
destinations
on
1 blan~ G/nn the planet."
since 1983
-PlanetOut
~
t.
~
A~P
-~
WORLD'SFOREMOST
GAY&IESIIANHOTEIS
POBox118,Bethlehem,
NH03574
877LES-B-INN
(537-2466)
❖ 603869-3978
vacation@hlghlandslnn-nh.com
❖ www.hlghlandstnn-nh.com
book were gracious enough to allow me to capture chem during a shoot or several shoots. The rest of the book's content
reflects the submissions of all chose who chose to participate.
What do you hope for the book?
To get the word out about it, first and foremost, as I feel chis
project reflects the fruition of an important project, specifically
reflectingthe feelingslesbians have about kissing via photographs
and text. As a culture, I feel chis needs to be explored more.
What's next?
Chasing
Montana,
LoriSoderlind
(Terrace
Books):
Soderlind
is chasing
a betterlife,a lifethatwillleadher
outof thedisappointment
of living
Page Turners continued on page 64
The possibility of doing a sequel, digging deeper within the
diversity of our culture, globally expanding on chis theme.
Did the TV show Medium steal your name?
Yes (laughs]. And I want it back! ■
For more information,go to shekissedme.citymaker.com.
October 2006
I 57
Reviews
Music Watch
Great Expectations
India.Arie, Kinnie Starr and Nelly Furtado are back. I By Margaret Coble
EDITOR'S
PICK
AMA,Yungchen
Lhamo
(RealWorld):Withher
floor-length,
jet blackhair
andethereal
whitegarb,
Yungchen
Lhamolooksevery
bit likea womanwhocould
capturethevastspiritual
powerofTibetanBuddhism
in mesmerizing
chantsand
booming
mountain
calls.
Withguestvocalsfrom
BritishsingersAnnieLennox
andJoyAskew,Lhamo's It's hard not to have high expectations for artists you've grown to
calmingdevotionals
areperlove over the years. India.Arie, Kinnie Starr and Nelly Furtado
fectlyblended
withtrumpets,
are all solo artists I've dug since their debuts, for various reasons:
Africankoras,MiddleEastern
Arie's emotive voice and insightful lyrics; Starr's lyrical flow and
percussion
andsteelguitarto
makea wholly21st-century political consciousness; Furtado's international,flavored, dance,
soundthatstillfeelsaltofriendly grooves and melodic vocals. Arie and Furtado have both
getherotherworldly.
Onetake
just released their third albums, and Starr her fourth. So what's
andI swearyou'llneverlisten
the verdict:>Read on.
to BritneySpearsagain.
(narada.com)
- Diane
Anderson-Minshall Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship, India.Arie
(Motown)
After spending the past few weeks with this third effort from the
Adanta,based neosoul goddess, I like it better than her last disc
disc is sure to propel her to new heights, with several cuts sound,
ing like instant radio or soundtrack hits, including the tide track
lead,off single, a rock,based, electronica,flourished ditty with a
hip,hop flavored breakdown that sports Starr doing what she
does best: rhyming and flowing like the gifted emcee that she is.
"La Le La La" (with Tegan and Sara's Tegan Quinn on backing
vocals) is sheer bouncy, peppy, love song sing,a,long silliness, and
"Rock the Boat" is a fun, hip,hop flavored pop tune that sticks
in your brain and is destined for dance floors. Atmospheric trip,
hop cuts like "Blackbrown Eyes" and "Walking Away" keep the
album diverse, and every song showcases Starr's poetic prow,
but not as much as her first. It would' be hard even for Arie to
ess and verbal dexterity. I've loved all her albums, but Anything
match the genius of Acoustic Soul, but Testimony does definitely
serve up classic India.Arie - that phenomenally rich, earthy
voice; her right,on, politically,correct and feminist lyrics (i.e. "I
proves that Starr only gets better with age. (kinniestarr.com)
Am Not My Hair" - who else could turn an analysis of cultural
stigmas about African,American hair into a pop radio hit:>);that
signature soulful, acoustic,based R&B sound. On the whole, it's
When this first,generation Canadian born of Portuguese par,
ents first hit the scene in 2000, her eclectic, multi,culti dance,
a strong set, with trademark, self,affirrning cuts like the positive
body,image ode "Private Parry;' relationship,lesson testimonies
like her gorgeous cover of Don Henley's hit 'The Heart of the
Matter;' and uplifting, radio,friendly tunes like 'There's Hope:'
My faves are the retro,funky "Better People'' and the self,reflec,
rive "I Choose;' two of the more up,tempo numbers. Fans will
probably like this album a lot - just try not to expect it to be
Acoustic Soul redux. (indiaarie.com)
Anything, Kinnie Starr (MapleMusic Recordings)
This openly bisexual Canadian with aboriginal roots hasn't quite
achieved the mainstream U.S. success of Arie or Furtado (though
she was nominated for a Juno Award in Canada), but she's ris,
ing swiftly thanks to her stint singing for Cirque du Soleil's
5Blcurve
Zumanity in Las Vegas and her recent inclusion on the L Word
soundtrack. This fourth, eclectic but decidedly pappier 11,track
Loose, Nelly Furtado (Geffen)
pop grooves caught my ear. Though her follow,up, Folklore,
didn't impress me as much, I guess the third time really is the
charm. Loose is very enjoyable, despite clearly being her most
commercially viable effort to date. I'm a little disappointed
that she felt the need to go the producer,of,the,moment route
(including rap big,names Timbaland and Pharrell Williams,
among others), as I feel that she's lost some of her individuality
in a trade,off for commercial hip,hop and R&B cred. But I can't
deny that I'm bobbing my head and chair,dancing as I write chis
review. Cuts like the first single, "Promiscuous;' and the '80s,
referencing "Maneater" are infectious, but percussion,intensive
tracks like the Spanglish, reggaeton,flavored "No Hay lgual" get
my attention the most. I could wish for more meaningful lyr,
ics and a little less commercial gloss, but Loose will definitely
remain in heavy rotation on my iPod. (nellyfurtado.com) ■
OTHER LICKS
Second
Narrows,
JackieStrano
(self-released):
Bayareadyke
activist,pornmaker,
andformerHail
Marysvocalistoffersupa newsoulful
acoustic
soloset,opening
withthe
poignant
"NOLA
DeliverMe,"dedicated
to thepeopleof flood-ravaged
New
Orleans.
Oackiestrano.com)
Splurge,
PuffyAmlYumi
(Tofu):
Celebrating
10yearstogether,
the
quirkyfemaleJapanese
popduo
withcartoonalteregos(HiHiPutty
AmiYumij
collaborates
withJon
Spencer
andotherindierockiconsfor
aneclectic,16-song,
alt-rockdelight.
(puttyamiyumi.com)
Andy
Moore
I
I
MUSICIAN
If you're unfamiliar with the folk music of Andy Moore, you're in
for a real treat. This singer-songwriter has a voice like warm butterscotch, and coupled with her 6-string guitar, hers is an easy listen
that will certainly tug at your heartstrings as well. Here's more on
SpinThis,KarenBlixt(Hifli):
Andy Moore. - Mary McGrath
Released
onherownHiFliimprint,
co-founded
withClifBarentrepreneur
anddykemillionaire
LisaThomas,
this
Where did you grow up? Were there any musicians in your
albumfromSanFrancisco-based,
family?
outlesbian,
jazzchanteuse
Blixt
I didn't grow up in a terribly musical household back in
impresses
withanimpeccable
debut
Borger, Texas, [which is] a small town just northeast of
thatshowcases
herfluidvocalstylings
Amarillo. That is, my parents were not and still are not musianddaringsongwriting
skills,especially
notable
ontheanti-Bush
titletrack.
cally inclined at all. In fact, my mom and dad both are the
(karenblixt.
com)
can't-carry-a-tune-in-a-bucket sort. While my brother was
involved in choir throughout school, I wouldn't say that he
focused a lot of his time on musical endeavors. He was the
true athlete ... and I was the music dork: band, choir, guitar.
I loved it. Couldn't get my fill.
Can you elaborate on any particular musical influences?
I loved Amy Grant's early Christian rock albums. I was all
about Ms. Grant until I discovered the Indigo Girls back
in 1991. It was love at first listen ... and my very Southern
Baptist parents didn't know what to think. It was quite a
transition for us all.
Poetica,
lio(Made):Fouryearsafter
What
theirworldwide
dancefloorsmash
"Rapture,"
NewYorkCity-based
duo
liofinallyemerges
witha gorgeous,
15-trackalbumthatspotlights
singer
Nadia'scompelling,
exoticvocalsand
DJ-producer
MarkusMoser'slush
electronic
compositions.
Oiomusic.com)
do you do for fun?
Well, I have a stamp collection. Is that dorky:' I love hanging
out with my wife and our two greyhounds, Nickel and Shell.
It's pure bliss to just kick back on our very comfy purple couch
and watch a movie or read a book together. I'm also a huge
Red Sox junkie; I know, I just lost my Yankee fan contingent.
I listen to as many games as possible online and obsess about
their success just as much as the next Boston boy.
L0UR0S(Breaking):
Medusa
Festival
founderandchildviolinprodigyLourds For aspiring musicians, do you have any advice?
Laneassembles
a co-edNewYork
Be true to yourself . . . to your music. It sounds selfish. But
Cityunderground
rockquartetwhose
honestly, in my opinion, listeners don't feel a lot of connection
explosive
outputrangesfrompunkto
to music that the artist simply contrives for popularity's sake.
classicrockto metalandhardcore,
all
One has to make it personal in some way. ■
Other Lick continued on pag 63
October 2006
I 59
Reviews
Tech Girl
Get in the Game
Video gaming is not just for boys anymore.
IBy Tracy Whitelaw
If you're one of those people who think that video gaming is for guys and geeks only, think again. Girl gam,
ers are growing in numbers, and lots of lesbians are joining in the fun. Here's what's big in gaming at the
moment.
Clockwise from top left:
The Nintendo Wii home
console, the Nintendo
OS Lite handheld, Viva
Pifiata, Tony Hawk's
Project 8 and Desperate
Housewives: The Game.
Not Your Daddy's Joystick
Nintendo is at the forefront of the latest
trend in interactive gaming. Their newest
handheld release, the aesthetically beautiful little Nintendo
OSLite,allows you to play on
the move. Featuring a brighter screen than the original DS, a smaller and lighter feel, and a
snappy Mac look, the Nintendo DS Lite is a must,have. Indulge yourself or your girlfriend
by playing games that sharpen your mind, allow you to engage in fantasy and above all,
provide hours of fun. Not content with conquering the handheld market, the home console
Nintendo
Wii- due to be released by the end of this year - retails at a respectable price
yet brings an innovative touch to gaming. You can use the Wii controller as a gun, fishing
rod, tennis racquet and, if rumors hold true, even a lightsaber. This is the home console
weve all been waiting for, and Nintendo promises it'll deliver more fun than ever before.
($129.99 for the DS Lite, nintendo.com)
Move Onto Wisteria Lane
If you dream of being part of the surreal life at Wisteria Lane, get yourself a copy of
Desperate
Housewives:
TheGame.This is your chance to interact with all the characters
from the show in a PC,only, lifestyle simulation from Buena Vista Games. Solve mysteries,
flirt, charm and spy your way to the truth. If you're brave enough to take on Edie Britt, this
is definitely a tide you'll want to check out. ($19.99, buenavistagames.com)
Lady Croft Calling
Theres no doubt that most of us want to be Lara Croft, or perhaps we just want her.
Regardless, fans await every outing of TombRaideron any console with great anticipation.
Even though 2003's Angel of Darkness left us all feeling a little disheartened, the recent
best seller, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend, proved that gamers can't get enough of the
•lovely Lara, and she was finally back where she belonged. Now we can look forward to a
revamp of the original Tomb Raider game, with Crystal Dynamics' plan to release the 10th
Anniversary Edition of Tomb Raider this fall. Play with Lara until your thumbs bleed.
($39.99 and up, tombraider.com)
Skate Girls Unite
Fans of the Tony Hawk's skateboarding tides wept in disbelief when there were no female
characters playable in story mode on the last outing, American Wasteland. Thankfully,
TonyHawk'sProject8 rectifies this and reinstates the game to its former glory. Available on
all formats, this game remembers that girls like to skate as much as guys. Have fun with all,
new game,play features, as you gain respect with the locals by pulling off tricks. This might be
the most unique, realistic skateboarding game yet. Sweet. ($59.99, tonyhawksproject8.com)
Piiiatas Are Not Just for Kids
If you have fond memories of being blindfolded, spun in a circle and given a bat to swat at
a pifiata stuffed with loads of candy (what did you think we were going to say?), you'll love
VivaPiiiata.The holiday release of this fun and quirky game takes the Xbox 360 in a slightly
more diverse direction. This kids' game could be a surprise hit with adults as well. You're
invited to create a world that living pifiatas inhabit, and it's your job to manage over 60
pifiata species and finally figure out what they do on their day off. (vivapinata.com)
60
Icurve
VictoriaA. Brownworth Politics
The War Against Women
Trust me, terrorism isn't really our biggest threat.
T
here's a war on in America right now.
But we would be wrong, because one in
It isn't the so-called war on terror. It's
three women will be a victim of rape in her
lifetime. Some will be raped as girls, as I
the war against women and girls being
waged by the religious right and conservative politicians. These men are determined
to control our bodies if they have to kill
I was. And some will be raped in their 70s,
80s and 90s as the FBI stats indicate a full
us to do so.
12 percent of rape victims are.
Leftist hyperbold Hardly.
As lesbians we don't think much
rights, unless we
and girls. It's disease. Sexually transmitted
women; among the most commonly and
reproductive
diseases, aka STDs, can be passed between
of unwanted pregnancy, so we don't worry
easily transmitted STDs is human papillomavirus, or HPV.
about whether contraception or abortion
are available to us.
Thus we might think we don't have to
ing of STDs: it rarely has any symptoms,
so almost no crne knows they have it. One
be concerned that the religious right, aided and abetted by the Bush administration, is succeeding in restricting women's
access to basic reproductive and gynecological health care in America.
Perhaps we think it will never impact us.
On Sept. 4, 2002, I was beaten, raped and sodomized on a beautiful, sunny afternoon in a neighbor's yard next to my house.
What does my rape have to do with the religious right's war on women?
-Law enforcement officials call rape a crime of opportunity. They say
rape often happens when a woman is in the wrong place at the wrong time.
HPV is the carbon monoxide poison-
in four women and girls has HPV; few
know they have it.
Like carbon monoxide poisoning, however, HPV is far from benign. HPV is the predominant cause of cervical
cancer, which kills thousands of women each year.
Lesbians are less likely to get regular gynecological check-ups and thus
less likely to get the PAP test that screens for early detection of cervical cancer. This puts lesbians at greater risk for advanced cervical cancer.
When I was raped there was no test for HPV. There is now. What's more,
the first vaccine against HPV has been approved by the FDA.
However, more than half of all rapes are committed by men known to the
victim and close to one-third of rapes occur in a woman's home. Protecting
Except the religious right and the President are queasy about the vaccine and don't want it given to the demographic best suited for it, prepu-
oneself from rape isn't as easy as it seems.
What ifI had become pregnant from that rape? I didn't, but approximately
bescent girls.
Just as the right-wing doesn't want Plan B and RU-486 available to
11 percent of women and girls who are sexually assaulted become pregnant.
What if I had contracted an STD - HIV, herpes, gonorrhea, syphilis,
chlamydia, HPV, hepatitis B or O I didn't, but I had to undergo testing every
women because they believe it promotes promiscuous sexuality and abortion,
they don't want the HPV vaccine given to girls because they believe it will
two months for a year and a half, and throughout that time I had to be con-
promote sexual promiscuity in teenagers. The fact that it could save the lives
of thousands of women each year is, apparently, irrelevant.
cerned that I might transmit one of those diseases to my partner.
The religious right - with vociferous approval from President Bush and
his political base - would disallow my using Plan B ( the morning-after pill
which must be taken within 72 hours of the sexual event) or RU-486 (the pill
Twenty years ago I lived with a woman named Louise Kuney. Louise was
an artist and could have been a stand-up comic, she was that funny.
Louise was always the life of the party, but she died three years ago from
metastatic cervical cancer at 46. In the weeks before she died, I promised
that interrupts pregnancy in the first two months).
Not only does the Bush administration, propelled by its fundamentalist
her I would tell her story. I promised her I would try to save some lives in
her name.
base, try to outlaw the use of these drugs to avoid pregnancy in emergency
instances, they even try to keep information about these alternatives from
women and girls. The situation is so egregious that physicians' groups have
suggested that all women and girls get a prescription for Plan B and keep it
on hand 'Just in case:•
Most of you reading this might think, But the likelihood of my being raped
is so small, I don't have to worry.
I would have said the same thing. I would have said on the day of my rape,
~
But I was raped as a teenager and now I am a woman in my 40s. Statistically
f2
that's unlikely and unfair.
ai
But it isn't just rape that puts us at risk
from the religious right's war on women
are trying to get pregnant and can't find
a sperm bank that will to take us. Our
sexual lives don't include the constant fear
about
5
was. Some will be raped in middle age, as
Get the HPV test. If it's negative, get the vaccine for HPV. Make sure
every girl you know gets the vaccine. Get yourself a prescription for Plan B,
even though you may never need it.
Call or e-mail your repreesentatives and senators and tell them hands off
your body and the bodies of other women and girls in America. Tell them a
very creative and funny woman named Louise Kuney died because there was
no test and no vaccine and that now that there is a test and a vaccine, you don't
want another woman's life cut short by cervical cancer like hers was.
There's a war on. There are lives to be saved, and only we can save them. ■
October 2006
I61
Dyke Drama
Michele Fisher
Ginger Loves Mary Ann
Maybe going on a lesbian cruise isn't such a bad idea, after all.
M
y girl and I had been talking about going on a dyke
cruise for years. The idea of frolicking with our own
kind on the high seas seemed like the ultimate vacation
experience. She wanted to book right away, but every time
the opportunity arose, I found an excuse not to do it.
What if we were not "cruise people"? Not everybody
is a "cruise person:•
My grandfather and his third wife are 'cruise people:' In
fact, they taught me the phrase "cruise people:• Every sum,
mer they fillme in on all of their shipboard adventures, and
when they want to convey to me that a person they met
is of a substandard character, they say, "He/ she is not a
'cruise person:" They live in Florida, are very tan, wear lots
of bright colors and love getting dressed up to eat dinner.
Gramps and I both like girls, but our similarities end there.
Now, the lesbian cruise experience is not a cheap one. A
ship, a crew and food for a couple thousand people costs a lot
of money. It's not as if I don't think it's worth it, but before we
reserved, I wanted to get rid of allof my reservations.
When I saw an advertisement for a nongay, four,day
repositioning cruise from our home town of San
Francisco to Vancouver, Canada, I booked immediately.
"Repositioning" means that the ship takes a load of horny
teenagers from Southern California down to Mexico and
back, then heads up to Vancouver to pick up a herd of geri,
atrics to take to Alaska. The ship stops in San Francisco to
resupply and allow the repositioning passengers onboard.
The ship has to make the journey anyway, so why not let a
few thrifty barnacles come along for the ride?
This was our big chance to find out if we were "cruise
people" without making a huge investment of time or
money. Plus, the four days are really only 60 hours,
because you get onboard on Wednesday night and are off
by Saturday morning.
My wife wondered if we would be the only homosexuals on the boat, but I
told her not to worry as we already knew we were gay; the experiment was to
find out if we were "cruise people" or not. She agreed to go, primarily because
she never wanted to hear the phrase "cruise people" ever again.
While we waited for the months to go by, I became a regular on a couple
of cruise Web sites. I knew to lock my passport in the cabin safe and not to
expect the in,suite hairdryer to have much 00mph. I was prepared for the
unpleasantness of a vacuum toilet, and I knew to bring bottled water to avoid
dehydration and bankruptcy, since it costs a bundle to buy any kind of bev,
erage on a ship. I even brushed up on my nautical terms in case the captain
wanted to have a chat.
But I was most interested in how to avoid spending our vacation hanging
over a rail, feeding the fish. My beloved and I are both prone to motion sick,
ness. If a road has more than rwo turns, we do not take it. Nobody knows
what causes motion sickness, but many believe it's a conflict between one's
inner ear and other senses, primarily sight. Our center of balance, in the inner
ear, senses motion, but our eyes may detect it to a lesser degree - or not at
62
Icurve
all. This conflict causes headaches, nausea and irritability. Some even assert
that because our eyes don't see the problem but our ears tell the brain there
is a problem, the brain thinks it's hallucinating from poison and thus com,
mands the victim to throw up to get rid of the poison.
Interesting, but how to prevent it? If we were to believe the experts,
everything from wristbands to lemon juice to staring at the horizon could be
effective. Could the wristbands actually prevent seasickness? I didn't buy it, so
we didn't buy them. My girl and I decided that we could make it on our little
four,day cruise without prophylactic fashion accessories.
Because the bands were out and I hate citrus fruit, I began collecting
happy pills from friends with leftover prescription drugs, until my girl found
out and dumped my stash. We finally agreed on over,the,counter motion
sickness pills and vowed to use them only if necessary.
Finally, it was time to go. Despite all of my preparation, I was caught off
guard by the embarkation process. At airports, the loudspeaker lady warns
you not to let your luggage out of your sight even for a second. At the dock,
some guy grabs your suitcases and makes off with them to goddess,knows,
~here, pausing only long enough for you to thrust a 10,spot at him.
And have you ever seen something so big that it makes you feel ridicu,
lously small? Not just speechless or in awe, but utterly insignificant? An ocean
liner will do that to you. But, after about two hours of standing in the sun
with a couple thousand straight people waiting to show some official your
documents, that wears off, and you just want to get on the damned beast.
The ship was nice. Glass elevators to whoosh passengers up a stained
glass atrium several stories high, thick carpets your whole shoe sinks into, and
smiling young people from all over the world to bring you what you desired,
as well as a casino, a gym, a library, several lounges, clubs and restaurants, and
even a basketball court. But we didn't feel like drinking, exercising, reading or
As we approached the gangway and prepared to take our first step onto
our real holiday, a cruise line employee tried to take our picture. We politely
gambling, so we just kept on walking. Within an hour we had seen it all, and
the ship seemed rather small after all.
but firmly declined. The photographer seemed both perplexed and mortally
wounded by our refusal. My girl and I agreed later that we would have let him
free dinners onboard. We thought we spotted a gay couple over dessert, but they
take our picture if it had been a gay cruise, but we didn't feel like being the
token homos in the gallery.
were just a straight couple who had been married for so long they look alike.
Our second day at sea was a rough one, with swells reaching 18 feet, but we
We made our way to our cabin, and I was grateful that someone else had
spent our time walking on the outside deck and keeping our eyes on the hori,
zon until our motion,sickness tablets made us too sleepy to continue moving.
to carry our luggage. The hallways were narrow, and our suitcases were heavy.
If over,packing is a lifestyle for you, cruising is your salvation. You can put the
whole house in bags and then let somebody else carry it for you. We had an
inside cabin (no window), which was fine since we were probably below sea level
anyway.It was perfectly nice and tidy, and even a bit bigger than expected.
We found a buffet restaurant and had our first of our three perfectly fine,
Thus, we escaped a full,scale battle with the seasickness monster and when we
awoke, we were safely in Victoria, Canada. I am sure I will appreciate Victoria
more in 40 years or so, but as lackluster as it was, we didn't get back on our ship
until we were summoned by the last blast of the ship's horn.
Have you heard about the lifeboat drill? Don't think you can skip it, because
some guy - an all,in,one waiter, aerobics instructor, auctioneer and safety team
By Saturday morning we were ready to get off for good. It wasn't that the
cruise was terrible. Hey, we didn't barf, so we were way ahead of the game.
leader - will scour the ship, while the other 2,000 toe,tapping passengers wait
The passengers were fine. The boat, food and accommodations were all just
on deck in fullsafety gear, until he finds you and drags you front and center.
After the drill, the ship started moving and the other passengers scurried
off to drink, eat and be merry, while we took advantage of the rare bit of soli,
fine. But I couldn't help thinking that a few other gay couples might have
made the cruise a memorable experience rather than just a cheap but really
long, drawn,out way to get to Canada.
rude to bid our city farewell. When we lost sight of the Golden Gate Bridge,
we went inside to have a look around. We would have stayed on deck and held
As we entered the Canadian Customs building in Vancouver, my wife
said, "Well, you've proven that we are not 'heterosexual repositioning cruise
hands, but this wasn't that kind of cruise.
people; so now can we go on a dyke cruiser" ■
Cream of the Crop continued from page 54
down and force them to return home.
Written and directed by Jan Dunn, Gypospot,
lights issues in the United Kingdom of anxiety over
job scarcity and prejudice against refugees and immi,
grants - particularly against the Roma people. The
actors, who deliver consistently good performances,
improvised much of the dialogue and deserve credit
for a naturalistic style enhanced by handheld, docu,
mentary,style footage. All four main characters have
major flaws,but you'll empathize with all of them by
the end of the film. (medbfilms.com)
are the aural equivalent of weak Earl Grey tea.
The second layer follows the poet at age 70
in 1964, as she verbally feints and parries with
a pair of young journalists trying to uncover her
long,held secret - most of her love poems were
to women. The suspense as to whether she will tell
all builds nicely as the interviewers become frus,
trated by her ability to talk circles around them
without revealing what they most want to know.
Writer,director Linda Thornburg's brilliant
screenplay, which was sanctioned by Sarton her,
self, sensitively portrays the poet and her loves,
both male and female, without ever raising an
Mrs. StevensHears the Mermaids
Singing(Mrs. Stevens Productions)
eyebrow, making a judgment or affixing a label.
(mermaidssinging.com) ■
Adapted from the novel by May Sarton, Mrs.
Stevens Hears the Mermaids Singing interweaves
DVD Picks continued from page 55
two stories about a single character, celebrated
poet Hillary Stevens, whose early novel caused a
scandal on two continents. One layer is nuanced
chronicle, told in flashbacks, of her many loves and
their surrounding milieu, from the freedom of the
jazz,age '20s through the McCarthy witch hunts
of the '50s. The flashback scenes have an authen,
tic period look, due in part to the antiques lent
by friends and locals for the shoot, including ev,
erything from teacups to settees to the Victorian
house used for the location. Unfortunately, the
least authentic notes are the English accents, which
Other Licks continued from page 59
basedonLourds'electricviolin,mandolin,
guitarandvocal
contributions.
(lourdsmusic.com)
In Circles,
TaraJaneO'Neil(Ouarterstick):
ThePortlandbased(butbornandbredin Louisville,
Ky.),outdyke,indie
singer-songwriter,
visualartistandmulti-instrumentalist
returnswithherfourthsoloalbum,anotherintrospective
set
of experimental
yetmelodicsoundscapes
whichmirrorher
visionary
punk-folk
artwork.(tarajaneoneil.com)
Lady/and,
SierraSwan(lnterscope):
Themostrecent
protege
of dykesuper-producer
LindaPerry- whomshe
oftensoundslike- SwanalsoworkswithAimeeMannon
this11-trackmasterpiece
of haunting
pop-rock
witha decidedlyCalifornia
feel.(sierraswan.com)
andoh-so-real
portraitof teengirlswhoselivesintersect
in
prisonis reminiscent
of Bellytruit
andFreeway,
butunlikethe
latter,it viewsverymuchlikea documentary
aboutkidswho
liveonthefringesof society.
That'sbecause
likeBel/ytruit
it's
basedonrealstories,fromrealwomen,whogetlostin the
systemandontheouts.
(ontheouts.com)-DAM
KissKissBangBang(WB):Thelingoandplotlinegooff
thewallandoldschoolin thisqueer,witty,irreverent
thriller
withValKilmerasa gaydetective
namedgayPerry,Robert
Downey,
Jr.,ashisprobably-should-be-gay
sidekickand
Michelle
Monaghan
asanactoreveryqueergirlshouldlove.
(kisskiss-bangbang.com)
- DAM
GetUsedtoIt,TheBrandNewHeavies
(Delicious
Vinyl):TheseBritishstarsof thelate1980s,early1990s
acidjazzsceneareback,newlyreunited
withoriginal
vocalistN'DeaDavenport,
delivering
anexcellent
12-track
opusof theirsignature
soulfulfunkanddanceable
livejazz.
(thebrandnewheavies.neO
- MC
October 2006
I63
Page Turners continued from page 57
throughdeadendjobs,the'80sandNewJersey.
Influenced
bypioneering
grandparents,
shequits
herjobandsetsoffwithherfriendMadeline
to
Montana.
Soderlind's
storyis a jauntytaleof
comingout,setona wildfrontierroadtripto
he1·.1ery
ownplacein the21stcentury.(wise.
edu/wisconsinpress)
- Elizabeth
A.Allen
thenwatchthesparksfly.Culpepper
paintsby
The Jet Set continued from page 39
numbers
withoutmuchstylisticflairor originality,
English
but TheClinicis stilldiverting.
(boldstrokesbooks.Shakespeare's
com)-EAA
Another day, another season. Autumn in England. My aunt and
BloodSisters,A Novelof an EpicFriendship,
MaryJacobsen
(Harrington
ParkPress):This
entertaining
andadventurous
taleof twowomen,
Val(gay)andEmily(straight),
takesyouona profoundjourneyof loveandfriendship,
andshows
howthatbondcantranscend
themanytrialsand
tribulations
of life.MaryJacobsen
writesa deeply
fascinating
andmovingread- somuchsothat
youwillimmediately
wantto buya copyfor allof
yourbestfriends.{haworthpress.com)
- MG
ThePassion
of MaryMagdalene,
Elizabeth
Cunningham
(Monkfish
Publishing):
In
thesamerevisionist
spiritthatinspired
Marion
ZimmerBradley's
MistsofAvalon,
Cunningham
givesusa newMaryMagdalene:
Maeve,
a lusty
Druidwitchandscholar.
Herfast-paced
searchfor
herlostlover,Esus(that'sJesus),
takesherfrom
slavery
in Romethroughthestoriesof theGospel StraighttoJesus:SexualandChristian
Conversions
in theEx-GayMovement,
Tanya
andbeyond.
Maeve's
modern,
slangyvoicecan
Erzen(University
of California
Press):From
bejarring,butthedramatic
characterization,
of ex-gayministries
andqueer
cleverreinterpretations
andwryhumormakeThe thebeginnings
andright-wing
theories
onhomosexuality,
to the
Passion
rollicking
andfast-paced,
betterthan
struggles
of ex-gayindividuals,
Tanzen
mostfeministhistorical
fantasy.(monkfishpublish-personal
ing.com)
- EAA
coverstheclashof Christian
conservatism
andgayidentitywithcompassion
andgrace.
Informative,
wellwrittenandaccessible,
this
PunkLikeMe,J.D.Glass(BoldStrokes
bookwillbea compelling
readevenif youhave
Books):
NinaBoydremembers
herjunioryear
noprevious
knowledge
of thesubject.(ucpress.
in highschoolwhen- eventhoughshelived
edu)-LB
in NewYorkwhereshecouldseetheDayglo
Abortions
performat CBGB's,
readthelatest
HeatLightning,
JudithSkillman(Silverfish
LoveandRockets
comichotoffthepresses,
and
Review):
Skillman's
collection
of newand
minglewithpunksandrockers
- growingup
workspansherprevious
seventitles,
wasn'teasy.Herfirstrealromantic
relationship, selected
from1988'sWorship
of theVisible
Spectrum,
withherbestfriendKerry,setoffa chainof
whichopenswiththeshell-shocked
"Writtenon
eventsthatforcedNinato acceptherselfforwho
Learning
ofArrhythmia
intheUnborn
Child,"to
shewas,evenif nooneelsewould.PunkLike
2004'sOpalescence,
withitscarefully
wrought
Meistender,engaging,
heartbreaking,
hopeful
onsolitaryliving.Newpieces
andfilledwithfunearly'80spunkandnew-wave observations
fromits
culturalreferences.
(boldstrokesbooks.com) suggesta poeticvoicethathasemerged
previous
deliberations
abouttheabsurdtrappings
- LenaBengtsson
of dailylifeto embody
anevenmoreuncluttered
lyricimagination.
Skillman's
firm,unsentimental
A Matterof Degrees,
AlexMarcoux
thiscollection
asoneof themost
(HaworthPress):Psychic
writerJessieMercer, linesestablish
penetrating
chronicles
of contemporary
women's
featuredin Marcoux's
previous
booksFacades
life.(silvertishreviewpress.com)-Julia
Bloch
andBackto Salem,
onceagaingetsherselfinto
breakneck,
elaborately
plottedtrouble.
Afterher
brother'smysterious
death,theintrepidJessie
Gay2 Zee:A Dictionary
of Sex,Subtext,
and
theSublime,
DonaldF.Reuter(St.Martin's
cross-dresses,
infiltrates
theMasons,
and
JudyGarland
referdiscovers
a centuries-long,
worldwide
conspiracy. Griffin):Fromthenumerous
encesto theillustrations
of goateed
menin hot
Thebookstartsoffslowly,focusingonJessie's
brother,
butpicksupsteamwhenthefocusshifts pants,thishilarious
glossary
of queercultureis
probably
a bettergiftforyourgayboyfriend
than
to Jessie.Fromthatpointon,Marcoux
weaves
Butdespiteits unabashed
male-centogether
detailsof Jessie'stransgender
disguise, yourself.
I diddiscover
a fewnewadditions
to
secretMasonrituals,ancientEgyptian
mysticism, teredness,
mylesbianlexicon.
Myfavesinclude"lesploitaandevenreincarnation
withthepracticed
easeof
and"dyksicle"
a master.
Fora woman-centered
andmuchbetter tion"(thinkBritneyandMadonna)
writtenalternative
to TheDaVinciCode,
pickup
(ahottiewithanicyedge).(stmartins.com)
Plato
A Matterof Degrees.
(haworthpress.com)
- EAA - Catherine
uncle drive Angie and me through the English countryside toward
Stratford-Upon-Avon, the town where Shakespeare was born and
died, bookending his theatrical success in London. Along the way,
National Trust houses - mansions and castles maintained by the
government and open to the public - nestle in the rolling hills, behind stone walls and brambles. We stop at the nearly 400-year-old
Chastleton House, described as "a rare gem and a real home:' In the
churchyard, among headstones dating to the 18th century, ladies are
- I kid you not - serving tea and pound cake. It's a fundraiser for
the restoration of frescos that were whitewashed to protect the walls
from bugs.
We have a funny evening in Stratford, chasing down signs that
point us in the direction of Shakespeare's birthplace. They seem to
send us in circles, and we conclude at last that perhaps they mean only
to show us the town itsel£ not a particular house. We see, through a
gate, the elementary school where the bard learned his "little Latin and
less Greek;' and the probable former site of his father's business, now
a hotel. But the best sightseeing event of our trip is Anne Hathaway's
cottage. A two-story, thatch-roofed building with a gorgeous garden,
this is the childhood home of the "older woman" Shakespeare impregnated and subsequently married.
The guide shows us the deep bread oven and the tall, narrow brick
chimney. To clean it, the family would tie a rope around the legs of a
live chicken and send the bird down. The flapping wings dislodged
the dust while the bird - unlike a branch - didn't get stuck up there
because it had its own will to escape. The heels of the bread were given
to servants or children. They cut the loaf itself horizontally, saving
the top for the most important member of the household: hence, the
phrase "upper crust:'
Bathing, we learn, happened once or twice a year. A tub would
be brought in and filled with hot water. The head of household went
first, and then the rest of the household bathed in descending order
of age, gender and status, in the same water. The baby, of course, went
last, floating in the dirt-blackened, opaque pool. The danger was real
that someone might not see the child and "throw the baby out with
the bathwater:'
Angie and I geekishly adore this linguistic trivia. Upstairs, we
see the handmade mattresses - so expensive, even in a middle-class
house, that there were not enough for everyone to sleep on at the same
time. They rest not on box springs, but on a grid of rope strung across
the wooden bed frame. Hammock-like, the rope sank when someone
climbed onto the bed, but turning wooden keys tightened the ropes.
Hence the expression (last one, I promise), "Night, night, sleep tight:'
Stowaways
TheClinic:Tristaine
Book1,CateCulpepper
(BoldStrokesBooks):
CateCulpepper
knows
theingredients
of a successful
romance
novel.
First,createtwocomplementary
protagonists:
In
TheClinic,a revised
secondeditionof the2001
novel,thestarsareimprisoned,
butchAmazon
JesstinandmousymedicBrenna,
whois assignedto Jesstin'scase.Next,deviseobstacles
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clinicdirectorCaster
forcesBrenna
to tortureJesstin.Mixthingsup
withthinlyveiledexcuses
for nakedness
(the
medical
exam,thetoplesswarrior'schallenge),
andsomeambivalence
andrepressed
lust,
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(University
of Wisconsin
Press):At times,this
is oneof thoserarememoirs
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Thequeerauthor
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to men
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muchmoreengrossing
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to thecrew'sculinary
delights.
(wisc.edu/wisconsinpress)-Diane
Anderson-Minshall
At the end of a theater run, the crew (and sometimes the cast) strikes
the set, saving what can be used again in another production, discarding everything else. At the end of our trip, strange fragments of places
and people make their way home with us. Anne Hathaway's wattle
and daub walls; the sweet smile of the fauxhawk-sporting girl from
Brighton who gave us her London map when we had to find our way
home at the end of our night on the town; the lady doing a cover of
Fleetwood Mac in the lobby of the National Theatre. They're piled up
somewhere - backstage - waiting to be turned into something else,
made sense 0£ waiting to reverberate again with applause. ■
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BROKEBACK
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Maggie meets the woman
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Love scenes sizzle in front
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Chloe Sevigny, Sharon
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At the altar a bride falls in
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What will she do now?
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First love between teen
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Five very different women
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JOURNEY
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Two women in 1939 end
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A woman enrolls in a
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Utterly romantic and
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Dyke comics Marga
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get their groove on.
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SEASON
-
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Alix Olson, the acclaimed
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THELWORD:
SEASON
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THELWORD:
SEASON
TWO
MAGGIE
& ANNIE
NOVEMBER
MOON
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Here's what started it all!
Set in Los Angeles, this
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Major life changes mean
reat lesbo drama as Jenny
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When married Annie
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Olympia has an openly
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Lou (Ally Sheedy)
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A series of erotic
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An eight-part series about
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includes lesbian Gabbie.
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During the holidays
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A lesbian in Iran assumes
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WATCHING YOU
This exciting collection
of lesbian short films
includes the hilarious
Interviews With My
Next Girlfriend.
DVD 27087 $29.95
October 2006
I67
VOL.16#7
VOL.16#6
VOL. 16#5
VOL.16#4
VOL.16#3
VOL. 16#2
VOL.16#1
VOL.15#8
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I 71
Top Ten ReasonsWe Love Lori Petty
One of the most underrated actors in Hollywood,
Lori Petty has managed to carve her own little
niche in a town where carving is usually left to
plastic surgeons. She's fresh, unpretentious and
just the right amount of quirky, and were still in
love with her. - Renee Westbrook
1. She'san activist.Feeling a need to counteract
the free,flowing anger brought on by 9/11, she
created a peace,conscious clothing line. Lawd
Knows, a collection of long,sleeve crews, tanks,
split,neck jersey tees, yoga pants and hoodies, also
showcases her original artwork.
2. She'san iconin the lesbiancommunity.
Many
Tinseltown actors would shy away from that
moniker, but not Petty. To her, it's a compliment.
Despite the fact that she only dates men, she
doesn't mind being gay,fabulous and insists she
could go to a lesbian club every night of the week
and have a great time.
3. She'softencastasa lesbian.
"I think the reason
that I'm cast as a lesbian is that I'm not a drag queen.
I don't have fake titties and Botox and fake lips ...
they just don't know what to do with me so they
label me as gay,which I don't give a shit [about]:•
4. She sharedseveralintimatemomentswith
Madonna.
During filming of A League of Their Own
she shared a makeup trailer with the material girl.
As impressed as she was with Madame M's intense
work ethic, she was even more impressed with the
vibrator Madonna gave her as a present at the end
of the shoot.
5. Sherocksthe screenin PreyforRockandRoll.
Not only does she rock the air guitar, she deliv,
ers an understated but insightful performance as
Faith. Like Lucy Berliner in High Art, when Faith
meets with her untimely demise it's as if we lost
someone near and dear to us.
6. She'sTankGirl!"Sexuality" was one of the rea,
sons the MPAA gave it an R rating. That made it
impossible to attract the under, 17 female crowd
and boost the box office. Translation: The charac,
ter is strong but seems kind of lesbianish, and we
don't want our daughters to catch it.
7. She's a do-it-all director.Her directorial
debut, Horrible Accident, premiered at San Jose's
Cinequest Film Festival in 2001. Petty wrote,
produced and acted in the film, which chronicles
the journey of a man in the midst of confronting
his childhood.
72
Icurve
"Ithinkthe reasonthat I'm cast as a lesbianisthat I'm
not a dragqueen.I don't havefaketittiesand Botox
and fake lips... theyjustdon't knowwhatto do with
me so theylabelme as gay."
8. Shehasa winningformulafor a healthymind- 9. She'sin a leagueof her own.Whether she's
playing Tank Girl or Faith, she always manages to
bodyconnection.
Hanging ten with surfer dudes
and getting paid to do it in Point Break was one
thing. In real life, surfing as a workout is much too
dangerous. For Petty, an exercise regimen of yoga,
bring an offbeat honesty to roles, enabling her to
deliver first,rate performances.
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