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Description
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ToC Happy Campers by Beren deMotier (p38); Hotlanta by Lisa Allender and Kory Tran (p40); Cover: Top Chefs Jen and Zoe by Colleen M. Lee (p 42); Four Small-Town Hotspots by Keli Dunham (p48); Creating Space by Stephanie Schroeder and Laurie K. Schendon (p52); Six Black Prides by Jenna V. Loceff (p54); The Gayest Job Ever by Allison Peters (p56); Girl-on-Girl Action by Laurie K. Schendon (p58); Row Your Boat by Hilary Kyle (p60); Aiming for the Turkey by Kristin A. Smith (p61); Tough Beauties by Katie Peoples (p62); Out Down Under by Jade Gulivar (p64); Lesbian Dodgeball by Allison Steinberg (p65); A Million-Dollar Perspective by Hilary Kyle (p66); Cover photo by Chuck Hodes/Bravo.
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Pride Issue
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issue
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5
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Date Issued
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June 2008
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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_Vol18_No5_June-2008_OCR_PDFa.pdf
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extracted text
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Iron Chef
Bonus
Pride
Issue
The Lowdown On:
> 15 Dyke Marches
> 6 Black Prides
> 4 Small- own
Ho pots
PROPERTY
OF:
Our ON THE
SHELF
WWW.OUTONTHESHELF.CA
Meet e ·!Y
TV's Hotte
Lesbian
Couple
o
74470
80539
7
FranklySpeaking
curve
THE BEST-SELLING
VOLJME
Someone's in the Kitchen
Frances Stevens Publisher/Editor
8 '\IUIVBER 5
1550 Bryant Street, Suite 510
San Francisco, California 94103
Phone 415-863-6538 Facsimile 415-863-1609
Advertising Sales 415-863-6538 ext. 10 or 212-446-6700
Subscription Inquiries 818-286-3102
Advertising Email advertising@curvemag.com
Editorial Email editor@curvemag.com
Letters to the Editor Email letters@curvemag.com
Publisher/Editor in Chief
Executive Editor
Associate Publisher
Senior Editor
Assistant Editor
Book Review Editor
Music Review Editor
Contributing Editors
WithJen and Zoi
breakingnew ground
as the firstlesbian
coupleon TopChef.
we'rereadyfor women
to take a new rolein
the kitchen.
LESBIAN MAGAZINE
Proofreaders
Art Director
Photo Editor
Production Manager
Production Artist
Web Producer
Operations Director
Sales Department
Advertising Sales
Editorial Assistants
in Chief
I'm a huge fan of Top Chef-in fact, I love most cooking shows. I got that from my father, who used to prePhoto Assistants
tend to be Julia Child, complete with the accent and the high-waisted apron. My dad's kitchen philosophy
Frances Stevens
Diane Anderson-Minshall
Sara Jane Keskula
Colleen M. Lee
Katie Peoples
Rachel Pepper
Margaret Coble
Julia Bloch, Victoria A.
Brownworth, Gina Daggett,
Sheryl Kay, Gretchen Lee
Theresa Johnson, Rachel
Leach, Remy Ramirez,
Katherine Wright
Stefanie Liang
Nicole Teichman
Ondine Kilker
Kelly Nuti
Nikki Woelk
Flo Enriquez
Holly DeMaagd
Diana L Berry, Rivendell Media
Aislinn Clevenger,Teresa
Coates, Kate Goldsworthy,
Emily Howard, Katie Kaapcke,
Kamala Puligandla, Kelly
Rulon, Kory Tran
Sara Chestnutt-Fry, Catherine
Seriosa
was that if one cup of sugar is good, two cups are better.
Thankfully, I got my dad's love of the kitchen, but my mom's actual skill with food. With Jen and Zoi
breaking new ground as the first lesbian couple on Top Chef, we're ready for women to take a new role in
the kitchen. And, we're glad
to
see their accomplishments in this male-dominated industry highlighted
like never before. For our cover story, "Girl Chefs on Top" (see page 42), Senior Editor Colleen M. Lee
gets a chance to bounce questions off both Jen and Zoi. Sadly we didn't get our first lesbian top chef, but
we don't think this is the last we'll hear of the culinary couple.
Contributing Writers Kathy Beige, Mea Chavez, Jennifer
Corday, Beren deMotier, Michele Fisher, Jodi Helmer,
Kathi lsserman, Gillian Kendall, Kate Lacey, Charlene
Lichenstein, Jenna V. Loceff, Karen Loftus, Karlyn
Lotney, Colleen Mccaffrey, Candace Moore, Aefa
Mulholland, Catherine Plato, Laurie K. Schenden,
Stephanie Schroeder, Jenny Sherwin, Kristin A. Smith,
Jocelyn Voo, Melany Walters-Beck
Illustrators Phil Cho, Katherine Streeter
This issue is jam-packed with Pride. Our special section (page 48) goes inside small-town Prides, which
are growing in size and number. Our down-home look proves that bigger isn't necessarily better. We
also highlight Black Prides across the country, as well as who's keeping track of our history in "Lesbian
Contributing PhotographersMichelle Bart, Sophia Hantzes,
Gabriela Hashun, Cheryl Mazak, Connie L. Merchant, Mia
Nakano, Maggie Parker, Elisa Shebaro, Jeff Singer, Paul
Thomas, Kina Williams
Libraries:' My favorite part just might be "Where the Girls Are;' a summary of how the Dyke March
started and where women are going with it today.
This year, we at
Atlanta-and
CURVE
have expanded our involvement with two Pride communities-San
Francisco and
we're pumping it up a notch, not only with great parties, but also with official women's host
hotels. In San Francisco, we're taking over the stylish Hotel Kabuki and kicking off Pride with a welcome
cocktail party on Friday,June 27. Across the country, the Atlanta Hilton will be CURVE
1
S
home base. Even
though we don't have the whole hotel in Atlanta, Curvettes get a special rate and the Peach Pride parties
will be off the hook.
Whether you go every year, haven't been for a while, or are just now planning to attend your first Pride
festival, it's time to use this issue to prepare, then grab your
guarantee it'll be an experience you won't ever forget.
CURVE
T-shirt and make it
to
a festival now. I
Volume 18 Issue 5 Curve (ISSN 1087-867)() is published monthly (except for
bimonthly January/February and July/August) by Outspoken Enterprises, Inc.,
1550 Bryant St., Ste. 510, San Francisco, CA 94103. Subscnption price: $49.95/
year, $62.95 Canadian (U.S. funds only) and $71.95 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 0010355). Contents of Curve Magazine may not be reproduced in any manner, either
whole or 1n part, without wntten permission from the publisher. Publication of
the name or photograph of any persons or organizations appeanng, advertising
or listing in Curve may not be taken as an 1ndicalton of the sexual orientation
of that individual or group unless specifically stated. Curve welcomes letters,
quenes, unsolicrted manuseripts and artwork. Include SASE for response. Lack
of any representation only signifies insuffioent materials. Submissions cannot be
returned unless a self-addressed stamped envelope is included. No responsibilrty
is assumed for loss or damages. The contents do not necessarily represent the
opinions of the edrtor, unless specifically stated. All magazines sent discreetly.
Subscnption Inquiries: Please write to Curve, 1550 Bryant Street, Suite 510,
San Francisco, CA 94103, e-mail shop@curvemag.com, or call 818-286-3102.
Canadian Agreement Number: 40793029. Postmaster: Send Canadian address
changes to shop@curvemag.com,Curve, PO Box 122, Niagara Falls, ON L2E
6S8. SendU.S. addresschanges to shop@curvemag.com,
Curve, PO Box 17138, N.
Hollywood,CA 91615-7138.Pnntedin the U.S.
A.
~
21curve
Keyword: Curvemag Website: curvemag.com
Features June 2008
"I thinkpretty
quicklythey
got it that
we're cool
girlsas individuals,and
we're cool
girlsas a
couple.And
we weren't
there to stir
up a bunch
of lesbian
drama. We
were there
to win."
Zo
page 42
38
Happy Campers How shopping for the perfect
trailer sparks fantasies of marital bliss for this dyke.
By Beren deMotier
40
Hotlanta We highlight the lesbian hotspots in this
peachy town. By Lisa Allender and Kory Tran
42
COVER: Top Chefs Jen and Zoi took the culinary
world by storm on Bravo's Top Chef. Now they spill
the beans on their relationship. Plus, our gay Iron
Chef Cat Cora gets personal. By Colleen M. Lee
Sr
4
5
Cover photo by
Cruck Hodes/Bravo
41
curve
Four Small-Town Hotspots Want to avoid the
big crowds this year? We've got the skinny on the
best small-town Prides. By Kelli Dunham
Creating Space From East to West Coast we
cover the archives preserving our herstory. By
Stephanie Schroeder and Laurie K. Schenden
Volume 18#5
5
The Gayest Job Ever Kendall Clawson has big
dreams for Portland, Oregon's Q Center. By Alison
Peters
5
Girl-on-Girl Action The women's tackle football
league proves chicks can do it better. By Laurie K.
Schenden
6
Row Your Boat Two lesbians coach women on
rowing and life. By Hilary Kyle
6
Aiming for the Turkey Pro bowler Tish Johnson
shares her secrets to success. By Kristin A. Smith
6
Tough Beauties Three lesbian athletes show their
sexy side to the camera. By Katie Peoples
6
Out Down Under The Asia Pacific Outgames
finds a home in Australia. By Jade Gui/Ivar
"
5
Fifteen Dyke Marches It's time for dykes to take
to the streets. Find out which march you can take
part in. By Kristin A. Smith
6
Lesbian Dodgeball This New York City LGBT
league proves dodgeball isn't just for kids anymore.
By Allison Steinberg
5
Six Black Prides LGBT African Americans celebrate
Pride in their own way. By Jenna V Loceff
6
A Million-Dollar Perspective Personal trainer
Shawnee Harkins' brush with paralysis changed her
outlook on life. By Hilary Kyle
Departments
June 2008
"Likeany good
queen, I discovered
the gym to be my
templeof physical
redemption.The
ciggiesand booze
were beginningto
take theirtoll. I had
to do something
fast-risk havingto
date lessattractive
women or giveup
one of my vices."
page 34
2
Frankly Speaking A note from the
woman who started it all.
22
Scene See all the hotties, from lesbian
book festivals to Turkish oil wrestling.
8
Letters CURVE
readers can't get enough
of Dani and Tila.
24
Lipstick & Dipstick What to do when
that soccer babe dumps you.
12
Contributors Meet the people who
make it happen.
25
Ask Fairy Butch Is my live-in girlfriend
straight after all?
14 Out in Front A filmmaker fights abuse, a
former stripper studies sexual expression
and a marketing expert gets out the gay
vote.
26
Relationships The top five reasons why
you gotta love Pride.
28
Health Everything you need to know
about finding a gynecologist. Plus, a common health crisis flies under the radar.
15 Curvatures Deaf lesbians have their
own fest, we shout out to the mags we
love and you find out where to see cuRvE 30
this Pride season.
32
18 Open Studio Dancer and choreographer
Sarah Bush is game for any challenge.
34
20 Lesbofile Is another Ellen coming out?
6
Icurve
Astro Grrl Summer flings are in the air.
Politics Pride is a time to remember the
fight's not over yet.
Dyke Drama When it comes to sports,
pick me, but not last.
68
Sapphic Screen Candace Moore covers deadly dramas and hysterical Web
shows. Plus, Ky Dickens documents God
and gays.
71
In the Stacks Rachel Pepper takes a
look at something new in literature. And
Georgia Beers wins the Lammy.
73
Music Watch Margaret Coble has the
best beats to shake your booty to. Sabina
Sciubba dishes on the Brazilian Girls.
76 Tech Girl Cut the cord! These innovations help make your life more mobile.
77 I Tried It How Jen Berkowitz gave it up
to the mother for her 30th birthday.
80
Top Ten Reasons We Love Kim
Baldwin The globe-trotting author knows
how to write steamy lesbian fiction.
ouremployees.
ourcustomers.
ourfamily.
youareour pride+ joy
the magic of
:J
0
0
<t:
(/)
LU
~
LL
*
*macys
macys.com
Letters
" I wouldneverhaveknownaboutCURVE
magazineif it weren'tfor ourfavoritehot
lesbianfutch,DaniCampbell,and her
MySpacepage.When I saw she was
featuredon the cover,I went out as soon
as I couldto buy it. I readthe magazine
coverto cover,and I stillenjoyreadingit.
I haveneverbeen so excited..."
IS IT EVER
OK TO OUT
SO EONE?*
72%
community. It allows me to see all of the cool and hip happenings
No,it's neverOK As a bi woman, a white ally to people of color and CURVEreader,
around the country for lesbians. It opens my eyes to more lesbian
I was disappointed by the question on your April 2008 (Vol. 18
artists and it gives me hope when I read about someone dealing
#3] cover: "Who needs Tila Tequila?" The answer is simple: We
with coming out or their less-than-accepting family. I guess you
Yes,if it's a politician all do! She's an out bi woman of color, and she has her own TV
whovotesagainstus show. That's never happened before! I think, instead of asking
could say that it's the "handbook" I've been waiting for. Thanks,
19%
6%
and keep up the good work!
- Lauri, Bloomington,Ill.
who needs her, CURVEshould be celebrating her. I would like to
see Tila on the cover, and I would like to read an interview with
Yes,if it's a celebrity
her. I want to hear about what it was like for her to come out to
who is homophobic
her friends, her family and the whole world. She can be a role
Thank you for the article "Out with my Son" by Beren deMotier
model for young bi women, women of color and anyone strug-
(Vol. 18 #4]. It beautifully depicted the challenges parents face
Yes,it's alwaysOK gling to come out of the closet. CuRVE should applaud that, not
dismiss it! Let's see Tila on the cover.
when raising a child with autism. We all know what it feels like
*According
to a
curvemag.
compoll
being who we are. It is my hope that the gay and lesbian com-
3%
- Kim W., Bi Visibility Project,Davis, Calif.
to be ostracized, isolated, stared at and treated unjustly just for
munity will embrace those in the disability community as we all
Editor's Note: Our interviewfocused on Dani, thegirl Tila dumped.
fight together to live the lives that we deserve-free
We love Tila, too-watch for an interview in an upcomingissue.
and fear.
of oppression
- Teri S. Arnold, director of Public Relations, Chesapeake
ServiceSystems, Chesapeake,Va.
So this was the first issue of CURVEI have ever bought. I would
never have known about CURVEmagazine if it weren't for our fa-
8
vorite hot lesbian hitch, Dani Campbell, and her MySpace page.
I'm a black lesbian erotica writer and I love that you (and your
When I saw she was featured on the cover (Vol. 18 #3], I went
entire magazine) are so out and proud. I read CURVEevery month
out as soon as I could to buy it. I read the magazine cover to
and I love it. I love other women that are not afraid to be exactly
cover, and I still enjoy reading it. I have never been so excited and
who they are. Women like you make it easier to be out. Keep up
overwhelmed by a magazine with so much information, news,
the great work.
features and other goodies. In other words, I am now a huge fan
- Nikii, via email
of your wonderful magazine. This bisexual honey will definitely
buy future issues. Thanks from the bottom of my heart and soul
for such a rocking magazine!
- Shelly C., Tucson, Ariz.
I've noted your "Funniest Lesbian in America" poll. It's turning into an exercise in ballot-box stuffing as people exhort their
MySpace friends to vote for them. It's going to be really embarrassing if a self-promoting hack who doesn't have any material
I wanted to drop you a quick note to tell you how much I love
your magazine! I'm kind of a newbie ... after being married for 15
ends up on top. Why give credibility to that?
- Larry-bob, via email
years, to a man, I'm now engaged to an amazing woman. My girl
and I have been to Fantasy Fest and the Pride parade in Chicago,
but we pretty much live in the middle of a cornfield. Our community is pretty conservative, so your magazine gives me a sense of
s Icurve
Editor's Note: Oh, Larry-bob, have morefaith in the lesbiansisterhood. We doubt anyone on our list is a self-promoting,material-less
hack, but we'rewatchingthe votesto make sure the contestisfair.
Letters
It's good to
exercise your
muscles.
Start with
your heart.
al
-
a c! 'e
Kudos to
CURVE
g't:
T'"ls.e Be~
r
for reviewing two amazing
Or
l"'r .a
s·s e
I enjoyed the "Top Ten Reasons We Love Kelly
in the
books, Anis Raw Food Kitchen and Veganomicon. McAlister"
March issue [Vol. 18
Packed with scrumptious recipes, gorgeous photos and inspirational info to rock your world
#2]. I am however bi-
(and change the world). Yes, ladies, it's true-veg-
ased because Kelly is
etarians do taste better! Many thanks, also, for
my sister. She is such
your article entitled, '.'Lesbians Gather in North
a caring, outgoing and
Carolina" [Vol. 18 #3]. We would love to have you
down-to-earth person.
here ...the more the merrier!
-Michelle, Asheville,N.C.
Thank you for shar-
-------
ing with everyone just
!"'.:!.."~"':":.::~= :: ,_..~~ ..i:: ~~-•-""4-
how amazing she is.
-fst C'e.a.s
- So
:..i:.-:.::.
~:";.::!
- Molly Gapol,
Seattle
Just want to say thanks for including me in
o\6ll~--
:=-..--
:=-:::.:.:.-=,::.:-:
..:.-w..~'-:t':..'=!'a::
~:;~~ §:=~~1~~=~:-t~ I
March's issue [Open Studio, Vol. 18 #2]. The
The makers of
article directly affected my sales and visibility...
C
<;~ e h' g
c
V')ur
Mind?
and I wanted to make sure you know that your
Email letters@curvemag.com;
TYLENOL®PM are proud to
magazine is effectively giving people like me a
Letters, 1550 Bryant St., Ste. 510, San Francisco,
be the presenting sponsor
boost. Thank you! It was a great article-please
CA 94103; fax to 415-863-1609. Please include
tell [CURVE contributing writer] Jenna Loceff I
your name, city and state. Letters may be edited
said thank you so much!
for clarity and length.
of Braking the Cycle.
This 3-day, 275-mile bike
ride from Gettysburg, PA
to New York City raises
awareness and benefits
the HIV/AIDS services of
the New York Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual & Transgender
Community Center. Join us
write to
CURVE
- TeresaBrazen
Correc-t·onc:-
-s iz
r
Atr
I really liked the article on Detroit ["Hitting
Cruise Control;' Vol. 18 #3]. I'm from Detroit
and am tired of my town always getting a bad
rap. It was nice to see someone pointing out that
it can be cool and gay-friendly. And, thanks for
mentioning one of my favorite things about the
Detroit Metro area, the new LGBT Center.
- Heather,Detroit
.i:
An
advertisement
for the
2006
Michigan
Womyn's Music Festival inadvertently appeared
in our May issue [Vol. 18 #4]. We meant to print
an advertisement for the 2008 festival. We deeply
regret this error and apologize to the 2006 and
2008 performers, organizers, producers, festival lovers and attendees. The correct dates of
the festival are Aug. 5-10. For complete festival
details, go to michfest.com. ■
and the hundreds of other
riders, volunteers, and crew
from September 26-28th.
To become involved and
to learn about other
TYLENOL~ PM sponsored
GLBT events, visit
www.tylenol.com/glbt.
Feel better,
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PM
,~McNEIL-PPC, Inc. 2008
10
Icurve
We Have a Winner
Congratulations to Abby Lorenz, the
Grand Prize Winner of the 2008 Lesbian
Community Care Project Click Photo
Contest.
Lorenz studied at the New England
School of Photography and her prizewinning photo, Untitled Nude, is part of
a larger body of work entitled Drink Me.
In her work, she often explores issues
such as body image and sexuality, which
are common to young women.
Along with other selections, her photo was displayed at Click, the LCCP's
annual ball, on March 8. Lorenz won two
tickets to Click for her entry.
Sponsored by the Howard Brown
Health Center in Chicago, the contest
asked LGBT members to share their
stories and the power of lesbians.
Judging was based on style,
content, composition and originality,
as well as the ability to forward the
mission of the LCCP.
The more trouble you have going to sleep, the more you depend
on things like your favorite pillow, a cup of hot tea, a warm bath.
But if your nightly routine occasionally includes sleep medicine,
you may worry about depending on it too much. When used as
directed, TYLENOL~PM Rapid Release Gels help you fall asleep in
a way that's non-habit forming. They work with your body to relieve
the nighttime aches and pains that keep you from getting the sleep
you need. So you can stop worrying. Start relaxing. And sleep tight.
Feel better,
TYLENOL.
PM
Use only as directed. Do not take TYLENOL•)with other products containing acetaminophen. tylenol.com/glbt
Contributors
"When I told everyone I was interning at
CURVE,
so many people were
surprised, because I'm a guy;' says editorial assistant KoryTran.Just because CURVE is a lesbian magazine doesn't mean that its articles aren't
essentially universal. Tran is a student at San Francisco State University
and is going back and forth between his two loves: journalism and fiction.
"Writing for
Editor's Note
It's completely ironic that I would
be writing my first editor's note
after having spent the last week in
bed with pneumonia. I was quarantined from the office-apparently
even butches are afraid of getting
sick-which meant I was shuddering
under blankets as staffers dropped
by to stuff galleys under my door
for approval.
I needn't have worried, though,
as I put our resident sports
nut-Colleen M. Lee-in charge of
this month's special Sports section. I had just one (slightly cliched)
mandate: Think outside the box.
She did just that.
And everyone in the office fell
in love with Jen and Zoi from Top
Chef. Getting to know them more
intimately made an impact on the
team, who began to use the terms
"endearing" and "charming" way
too often.
By the time you read this, I'll
hopefully be out of my sickbed,
into one of our new cuRvEtees
(designed by Rigged Outfitter's
Parisa!) and parading through the
streets with all of you.
~
Diane Anderson-Minshall
P.S. Don't feel too sorry for me.
Before I got sick, I spent a week
in the Caribbean with 2,000 other
lesbians on Olivia's Cruise for a
Cause. But that's a whole other
story- look for it in October.
12
I curve
CURVE
and interacting with all these amazing people in the
lesbian community has really opened my eyes;' he says.
Photo assistant SaraChestnutt-Fry
is currently a student at the Academy of
Art University in San Francisco, studying fine art photography. Following
in the footsteps of the great photographers of the past, she based her current body of work, titled Americana, on an intimate look at rural towns
across the country, not through the traditional human portrait, but through
the dwellings in which rural people live. Chestnutt-Fry participated in her
first group show this summer at NewEndArts in Ashland, Ore.
"I can make something out of nothing;' says photo assistant Catherine
Seriosa.
"I can make a simple pencil catch your eye in a quick second, and
hopefully get you to giggle at it too:' Seriosa has been studying photography since high school. She is currently attending the Academy of Art
University in San Francisco, studying advertising photography. Her body
of work is full of surprising photos that are colorful, playful and unique.
Currently, Seriosa is working on a series of still-life images of miniature toys.
"I demoed video games-for
work. Clearly my job rocks;' says editorial
assistant KatieKaapcke.
"My other favorite
CURVE
memory was helping to
bodyguard Dani Campbell at the April issue release parry:' Kaapcke's life
revolves around reading, writing, art, music, comics, sci-fi and video games.
"Basically,I am a big dork;' she says. You can usually find her at a local rock
show in a state of blissful admiration. She is a freelance writer and graphic
designer who writes local music reviews for wiretapmusic.com.
"My T-shirt drawer is bursting;' says editorial assistant EmilyHoward."I
love to support art and activist projects, especially when it contributes to
my fashion sense-so
I was happy to write about Artichoke Apparel (page
61), the woman-friendly business that also promotes healthy eating and
green living:' Howard earned a master's in media studies and brings a critical perspective and investigative twist to the way she works. Howard also
works as a radio journalist on Flashpoints Radio.
KathrynJankowskiis an illustrator, painter and sculptor currently living
in Toronto. She studied visual arts at York University and advanced illustration at Sheridan College. She works with the Canadian Broadcasting
Company, and Exclaim and The Walrus magazines. Jankowski says of her
life now, "I came from the hamlets of rural southwestern Ontario to endure and enjoy the challenges of the city, but I am finally renting a house
with a backyard and it makes me feel more at home:'
Someday
Pride will be
celebrated
everyday.
TODAY,celebratewith WellsFargo.
Wells Fargo fosters a culture in which all people and their individual differences are not only accepted,
but celebrated! Our business atmosphere promotes inclusive community values, presents career
opportunities to a diverse work force, as well as provides support to the LGBTcommunities we serve.
© 2008
Wells
Fargo
Bank,
N.A.
Allrights
reserved.
Member
FDIC.
www.wellsfargo.com/lgbt
Filmmaker Addresses Rape
From Stripping to Doctorate
Getting Politically Savvy
Crisscrossing the globe, 39-year-old filmmaker
When she began her master's program in wom-
Take a nice Jewish girl from Long Island, N.Y.,
AishahShahidahSimmonshas presented her
work at numerous programs investigating and
en's and gender studies at Roosevelt University,
MichelleCarnesremembered the dread she felt
her teachers' picket lines, send her off to anti-
raise her in a liberal home, forbid her to cross
exposing sexual violence in oppressed and mar-
about telling people that she had supported herself
Vietnam War marches and it's no wonder what
ginalized communities.
More than a decade ago, she directed and
as an undergrad by working as a stripper.
you get: LibbyPost,political activist.
"Coming out as a former sex worker was hard-
"The work I've done has always been about
produced In My Father's House, an autobio-
er than coming out as bi, especially being in a femi-
working to make people's lives better and the
graphical documentary short about an African
nist program;' says Carnes. "I thought that I would
world a more loving and kind place;' Post says.
American feminist lesbian's exploration of her
be discredited, the stripper part of my life would
be too much and I'd be thrown our:'
State Pride Agenda, an organization that pro-
Turns out her professors listened, valued her
vides a statewide LGBT political voice for all
coming-out process. One year later, Simmons
undertook what was to become her life's work
for the next 11 years: writing, directing and pro-
experiences and propelled her to do more work.
Based in Albany, Post founded the Empire
New Yorkers, enabling them to come out, stand
ducing the award-winning, feature-length film
Carnes is currently finishing her doctorate
NO! The Rape Documentary.
"Foremost, the audience learns that a woman
at American University, where she has written a
seminal thesis examining black lesbians' strip par-
She also served as president of the Capital
shouldn't ever lose the right to say no, regardless
ties in D.C., a local phenomenon for the past 15
District Gay and Lesbian Community Council,
of the time, regardless of the victim-survivor's
years. The women have found a safe, comfortable
working with the board to raise money, hire
relationship to the perpetrator, regardless of if
and accepting atmosphere, and they are revered
staff and strengthen the organization.
the victim-survivor participated in some form
and valued as African American same-sex-identi-
Now Post runs a marketing and communica-
of sexual activity before she said no to another
fied women.
"Women's erotic spaces deserve as much protec-
tions firm that specializes in libraries, healthcare,
form of sexual activity;' Simmons says.
up for themselves and create political power in
their communities.
advocacy and not-for-profits, while also writing
tion and affection as the Washington Monument;'
nationally syndicated columns on LGBT issues.
African American women, it is a documentary
says Carnes. ''.And not just the polite 'Oops, I un-
The upcoming presidential election, she says,
that all women, regardless of race, national-
buttoned my corset' stuff-all
is critical, and must be approached by the gay
ity or sexual orientation, can relate to, observes
pole-straddling glory:'
While NO! focuses on the experiences of
of us in our raunchy,
community with long-range vision.
Simmons, because one in three women in the
Carnes is also a public health analyst and proj-
Post wants same-sex marriage as much
world will experience some form of sexual
ect officer for the Substance Abuse and Mental
as the next lesbian, but says the LGBT
Health Services Administration, where she focuses
community needs to recognize that there are
violence.
on women's and minority populations' needs. She's
other important issues, such as reproductive
audiences while educating them and encourag-
also now helping to coordinate a Point Foundation
freedom, access to healthcare, stopping the
"My goal with my work is to visually engage
ing them to work toward eradicating racism,
alumni group that will assist former scholars with
war, protecting the environment and educat-
sexism and homophobia, in all of their violent
career, financial and family planning, in addition to
ing children. By electing a Democrat and in-
manifestations;• says Simmons.
helping them maintain their commitment to com-
creasing Democratic majorities in the House
munity service and social justice issues.
"I think we can be-and should be-really
and Senate, Post says the national nondis-
impressed by how things have changed, but I also
signed into law, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" will be
know that this is no time to start congratulating
ourselves and taking a break;' says Carnes. "We've
overturned and more liberal Supreme Court
justices will be appointed.
got to keep it up."
,4lcurve
crimination bill and the hate crimes bill will be
"We need to be politically savvy;' she says.
Curvatures
Sign Language Rules
The 5th Biennial Deaf Lesbian Festival, June 25-29
Francisco, will once again bring together
in San
women from all
arot.nd the world to enjoy an event where they can network, exchange ideas, empower each ocher and make an impact on the
future.
For five days, deaf lesbians can convene in one of the few
places created just for chem. "Many of the people who attend are
often the only ones in their community who are deaf lesbians;'
co-chair Chriz Dally explains. "There is no ocher world for us,
which makes the festival such a sacred place:' And because of
the uniqueness of chis gathering, the organizers have restricted
attendance to deaf lesbians only.
The theme of chis year's festival, "You've Come a Long Way,
Baby;' reflects the strides deaf lesbians have made over the years.
"There are a lot of parallels, going back to women's liberation
in the '60s and '70s;' co-chair Ann "JAC" Cook says. "We live a
better life today because of the people who fought for our rights
back then:' With this in mind, the
San Francisco event will focus on
honoring women who have been active in chis unique community.
The DLF also hopes to create a
stronger deaf lesbian community.
"With this festival we hope to add
more focus on community development and organizations. We're also
going to have a survey, to get a better idea of future goals;' Dally says.
Cook adds, "The survey will be an
important tool because with that information we can start to
develop a formal group and earn grant support:'
To help raise money, a deaf spin-off of The L Word, called
The A Word, was released in March. "That movie really connected with our culture;' Dally explains. "It was in our language.
The L Word still disconnects us, but with that film there was 100
percent connection:'
For this year's fest, committee members are working on a
comedy film that will use footage from the festival. Jade Bryan, a
deaf lesbian filmmaker from Jamaica, will also share her techniques
in film production. Other events include social gatherings starting
with the opening ceremony, a taco bar and drinks, a dinner banquet
and, to wrap up the festivities with a bang, the first Dyke Ball for
deaf lesbians, featuring a deaf female DJ from New York.
Workshops will also be held throughout the week, including
a self-advocacy class taught by Susan Gonzalez, a deaf Latina
pansexual attorney. Women will be informed of current issues
affecting the deaf community and will
also be given tips on how to articulate
their positions in practical areas, such
as the law, education, healthcare, estate
planning, employment and parenting.
There will also be a panel of deaf lesbians spanning five generations who will
discuss the topic of coming out to family and friends.
Another DLF is already in the
works for the summer of 2010 m
New York City. - SW
HOT: Lesbians and Pandas Love Bamboo
To-GoWare:Thiscompany
is dedicated
to providing
solutionsfor the "to-go"
culturewe livein. Its heatresistantbambooutensilset
is a lightweightalternativeto plasticutensilsand
includesa knife,fork,spoon
andchopsticks,
all wrappedin a decorative
cloth.(to-goware.com)
EcoDeslgnz:
EcoDesignz
producesstylishandmodern
furnituremadefrombamboo,
whileEcoThreadz
boastsa
plethoraof bambooclothing
andevenbambooyarn.Both
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companies
manufacture
for otherlabelscan
beviewedandpurchased
at SpunBamboo.
(ecodesignz.com,
spunbamboo.com)
Bambu:
Thiscreativecompanyprovides
sustainable
solutions
for the kitchen.Cutting
boards,mixingbowls,nestingbasketsand
utensilsaremadefrombambooandhavea contemporarylook.Their"lacquerware,"
popularfor
its boldcolors,is a favorite.(bambuhome.com)
SllkroadFlooring:
Thewarmcolorandsleek
lookof bambooflooringaddto the ambience
of
yourhomewhilelessening
yourimpacton
the environment.
Silkroadusesbamboo
almostexclusively
in its production
process.(silkroadflooring.com)
- JVL
SAPPHIC COMICS
It's a taleof survivaland
fate,wherethe heroine
just happens
to bea
lesbian.Fullof action,
engagingdialogue,
intriguingcharacter
development
anda little
racycontent,this story
is onenotto bemissed.
Houseof theMuses:The
LatterDaysof Sapphoof
Lesbos,by PamHarrison,
is a six-partgraphicnovel
basedon a mysterious
poemfoundamong
Sappho'sEnnead.
It tells
thestoryof Mnasidika
(akaDika)andhowthe
Spartannoblewoman
cameto Lesbos.It follows
herthroughherlife as a
slaveandrecountsher
laterescape,aswellas
the manylovetriangles
shefindsherselfin.This
retellingis renderedin
beautiful3-Dcomputer
illustrations
that givelife
to the storymorethanany
drawingcould.Celebrate
ancientlesbianhistory
withthissexy,adventurousretellingof a classic.
(houseofthemuses.
com)
-KP
CURVATURES
WRITTEN
BY
MeaChavez,Jenna
V.Loceff,Katie
Peoples,
KamalaK.
Puligandla,
Kelly
Rulon,SaraWhitford
June 2008
I 15
Curvatures
Regional Mags We Love
Echu:.For 19 years, insightful
ings, style and the local scene-which
political and social commentary
means lots of semi-naked boys and
has made Echo a provocative
girls, an LGBT TV guide and the
read. This no-frills magazine
hottest music reviews. Even after 30
years, this mag is still hip.
RIE LOVE has its own special twist on the
LGBT lifestyle. Echoalso covers
OurAussiecounterparts venues and dining in Arizona,
havea publication
of particularly Phoenix. A play-
She:This Floridian magazine got
us with its clean graphics and edgy
theirownto celebrate
covers, featuring the likes of Jackie
ful interview with Amy Sedaris
their"not-so-straight
Warner, the Go-Go's and Ellen
caught our attention.
girls." Cherriedebuted
DeGeneres. A free publication, She
in 2007andit has
serves
up the local women of the
alreadyfeaturedopenly Lavender.Everyone in che
LGBT
community in noted hotgayAustralia'sNext office looks forward co
spots like Fort Lauderdale and Key
TopModelcontestant Lavender's arrival in che
West. Living outside the Sunshine Stater
JaneWilliamson
and mail. Out since 1995,
musicianMissyHiggins chis Minneapolis-based
Not to worry.This mag can be picked up as
as covergirls.Just LGBT magazine keeps
far north as New York City and all the way
behindthosecoversis a the Midwest updated
out to West Hollywood.
beautifulblendof pho- on the latest news and a
tos,adviceandarticles
Push:Seattle-based queer publicavariety of political views.
rangingfromwherethe
tion Push is written by a volunteer
With coverage of local
hottestqueerparties
group of feminists who jump right
areto the strugglesof events and opinions scattered
into
such issues as sex and genthroughout
the
magazine,
Australia'squeerindigder
politics.
It has featured articles
Lavender
definitely
has
enouswomen.Whythe
by
writers
from
the Bent Writing
community
in
mind.
term"not-so-straight
Institute,
the
only
nonprofit
queer writgirls?"Executive
editor
KatrinaFox(a cuRvE QVegas:It's all about Vegas,
ing institute in the nation dedicated to
contributor)
says,"Many baby. QVegashas what you'd expect
nurturing and encouraging the written
, [women]prefertheterm from any self-respecting gay magazine m and spoken word in LGBTIQ communities.
'queer,'someuse'bi' Las Vegas: drag show and queer festival list- -MC and KR
or 'bisexual'andsome
prefernotto labeltheir
sexuality,sowe decided
the magazine's
moniker
shouldbefor 'not-soCuRvE
will beall overthecountrythissummerstraightgirls'to beas
stopbyandsayhelloto us in thefollowingcities:
inclusiveas possible."
!
Checkit outat
cherrie.e-p.net.au.
-KR
Limited Edition 2008 CURVE T-shirts
on sale at our Pride booth
16lcurve
NEWS NOTES
TheBritishnewspaper
the
Observer
namedAfterEllenone
of theworld's50 mostpowerful
biogsin March.Thepaperchose
AfterEllen
for its "irreverentlook
at howthe lesbiancommunity
is represented
in the media."
Congrats,
ladies!
LesbianauthorCharlotte
Mendelson
wasplacedonthe
shortlistfor the prestigious
OrangeBroadband
Prizefor
Fictionfor hernovelWhenWe
WereBad.
HBOpulledthe plugon Lily
Tomlin's
comedyseries12Miles
afterorderingsix episodes.
It's
currentlylookingfor a newhome
at othernetworks.Speaking
of
HBO,longtimepresidentCarolyn
Strauss,
anoutlesbian,recently
steppeddown,reportedly
dueto
concernsoverHBO'srecentdip in
performance.
TheGeorgia
Courtof Appeals
hasoverturned
a lower-court
rulingthatfoundlesbianmother
Elizabeth
Hadwayin contempt
of courtfor refusingto turnover
a 7-year-oldgirl in hercustody
aftera judgedeniedherpetition
for adoptionbecauseshewas
a lesbian.
Thebiologicalmother
placedthegirl in Hadway's
custodyin 2006.
A lesbiancouplein California
wentfromonekidto fivewhen
theyhadquadruplets
in early
March.CristineGaienne
and
PatsyLovellhadnotplanned
June14-15 SanJose(sanjosepride.com)
June2~21 Billings,Mont.(prideinbillings.org) onsucha largefamilybutsaid
theycouldn'tterminateanyof
MeetDianeAnderson-Minshall,
cuRvE's
executive
thefetusesafterseeingthemon
editorandgrandmarshalof MontanaPride.
ultrasound.
June28-29 SanFrancisco(sfpride.org)
Stayat the HotelKabuki,theofficialwomen'shotelof
Kenneth
Colegivesa nodto
SanFrancisco
Pride-call 800-533-4567
andrequest
lesbianmomseverywhere
in his
the "cuRvE
magazine
rate."Includesa cocktailrecepnewad campaign.
Thecampaign
tion,freesubscriptions
andmuchmore!
is in supportof the company's
July4-6 AUanta(atlantapride.org)
charitable
causeAWEARNESS
and
featurespeoplefromall walks
ForthethirdyearcuRvE
will hostPeachPride,the
of life,includingFloridacouple
hottestwomen'spartyin theSouth.We'retaking
Nicoletta,
Joannaandtheir2overtheAtlantaHiltonthisyear-stay tunedto
year-olddaughter,
Ruthie.- KP
curvemag.com
for moreinfo.
July19-20
SanDiego(sandiegopride.org)
She Said
Wanda Sykes
"I would like for [Rep. Sally Kern]
to move up in government.
'Cause if she thinks that
homosexuality is a bigger
threat than terrorism, maybe
she'll get our troops out of
Iraq, and they'll go invade
West Hollywood. Anything
to get our troops home!"
_,n,c:,,c,
on
e fen
DeGeneres Show
"I'll give Betty credit. I don't know if
you ever met her. Bombastic,
rude, self-centered. Brilliant.
And you know what? Fundamentally a moral person,
and about 20 years later she
apologized to me in public."
>>
I
a
e rown o ,m
on g ttmg kicked out of the
a 1onal Orgarnzat1on for
o en by Be y F
I
dan
June 2008
I 17
Sarah Bush
''I've been a choreographer and dancer basically my whole life. I started dancing at 3. It's all I've ever known and done;' says Sarah Bush, the
founder and choreographer of the Sarah Bush Dance Project, based in San Francisco. Bush initially trained in modern dance but found herself
fascinated with popular forms-especially
hip-hop-when
she moved from Salt Lake City to the Bay Area in the 1990s.
Founding her own company, which she began in San Francisco in the late '90s, was a way
for her to realize her unique vision. "I always want to satisfy both parts of me. That modern
dance sort of academic, intellectual, structured self, and chis pop, commercial-energy, sexuality
side of me too:' She sees her company as the fusion of two dance worlds and says it's a challenge
to find dancers who work well in both modern and popular forms. So Bush frequently trains
troupe members herself until they can move fluidly between the different modes she uses in her
choreography.
Bush is always looking for new challenges: Her upcoming projects include working with a
San Francisco opera company and choreographing a music video for transgender R&B artist
and boyfriend Joshua Klipp. This is her second video with Klipp directed by Margaret Cho,
who Bush says is "wonderful to work with:' Their first music video collaboration saw heavy rotation on Logo and frequently landed on its Click List-Top 10 Videos.
Bush, whose mother was a liberal religious leader in Salt Lake City, sees her life's work as
having an activist impulse, and would like to reach as many different audiences as she canhence her work for MTV and her appearance in late 2007 on The TyraBanks Show with Klipp,
who recently transitioned from female to male. She especially likes to challenge traditional gender
roles in dance: "My work all along has been queer in one way or another;' Bush says. She laments
the traditional-and
weak-roles
chat women are asked to play in classical forms like baller,
and in response opens up a place for "women who dance powerfully on stage:' ■
18 I curve
Curvatures
Lesbofile
Is She or Isn't She:
I
Is another Ellen coming out?
y Jo el n ~ o
This month, it's all about moving on up and moving on out.
Even rockers can't keep their wives satisfied. Valerie
Bertinelli,One Day at a Time actor and ex-wife of
Eddie Van Halen, revealed on Larry King Live that
she'd cheated on her husband several times during
their 26 years of marriage, and that at least one of
those times was with a woman. "I was 21, and she
was a great kisser-I don't know what else to say;'
Bertinelli told King, laughing.
''And that was a good reason?" King asked.
Though she expressed great remorse over
cheating on her husband, Bertinelli could only
enthusiastically say without missing a beat, "Yeah!"
'Nuff said.
Set your TiVos, ladies: The daytime TV smackdown between two super-personalities has begun.
After spending the last five years in the bottom five
of the top 10, EllenDeGeneres
jumped to claim
the No. 1 spot as the favorite television star in The
Harris Poll. OprahWinfreyslipped from the top
spot to No. 2, with Jay Leno, Hugh Laurie and Jon
Stewart rounding out the top five.
If ever there was a time for DeGeneres to do a
little dance, now would be it.
?
The Oscars lent a boon to Michael Musto, famed
sounding "as if her cat had just gotten stuck in a
her book Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and the
drainpipe or something," according to Musto.
Rise of Raunch Culture. Feel free to enjoy her ar-
party boy and columnist for The VillageVoice,who
The two of them verbally jousted over Musto
pounced on the EllenPagecontroversy: Is she or
calling Page an "Oscar loser" and potential lesbian,
isn't she? After Page's Oscar-nominated
but came to a tentative resolution ( um, with Musto
perfor-
mance in Juno, she showed up at the awards gala
ticles in your second-favorite magazine-CURVE
being No. 1, of course.
hanging up on Bush).
with an older woman by her side. Since filming
'Tm still livid that a publicist who would never
Juno, Page has been slated to play a lesbian werewolf (seriously) in the movie Jack and Diane and
most recently made an appearance on Saturday
Night Live as an "is-she-or-isn't-she" roommate
normally call me for anything is so quick on the
tant David Hernandez worked as a gay stripper,
horn to do spin control whenever the L-word
comes up;' he wrote on his blog. "And now, we're
potential scandal surfaced for former contender
back to square zero anyway: Is she?"
ed photos from Malubay's Facebook profile. The
who gushes about a Melissa Etheridge concert.
tomboys?" Musto wrote.
"Did she bring her mother [to the Oscars)?"
Soon after the copy ran, Musto got a phone call
from an unlisted number. It was KellyBush,Page's
power-publicist and manager (and, incidentally,
a lesbian herself), and she was reportedly pissed,
20 I curve
RamieleMalubaywhen a flood of websites postshots, in which Malubay was comically grabbing
"Is Ellen Page a lesbian or just one of them
there man-distrusting
A day after news broke that American Idol contes-
another girl's chest and vice versa, were supposed
After 12 years at New York magazine, journalist
ArielLevyleaves to join The New Yorker as a staff
writer-and
the only out lesbian at the respected
publication. She's written about gender roles, lesbian culture and modern-day feminism in such publications as Vogueand the WashingtonPost, and in
"proof" that she was a bona fide lesbian. Several
Facebook "fan clubs" have even been created just
to laud her "racy pies:' But seriously, what teen girl
(straight or otherwise) hasn't grabbed another girl's
boobs before? It's practically a rite of passage, right
alongside getting a dog and taking an RV trip. ■
BRID6ESTORE
For drivers who want to get the most out of their cars,
IT'SBRIDGESTONE
ORNOTHING.
bridgestonetire.com
1-800-807-9555
ti resafety.com
PASSION
for EXCELLENCE
1 (From left) Diane Anderson-Minshall,
CURVE'sexecutive editor, joins fellow authors and
fans Cheryl Craig, Lisa Girolami, Xenia Alexiou and Kim Baldwin at the Lesbian Book Festival
in Palm Springs, Cali£ 2 Jackie Warner (left) and Briana Stockton at the premiere of Shelter
3 Crazy Cajun runs out of steam while Aura makes her move on the mat at the OurChart
Turkish Oil Wrestling event at Dragonfly in West Hollywood, Calif. 4 (From left) comics
Karen Williams, Vickie Shaw and Dana Goldberg at the 2nd Annual Southwest FunnyFest
in Albuquerque, N.M., to benefit New Mexico AIDS Services 5 Thea Gill of Dante's Cove and
Dirty Sexy Money's Candis Cayne at the 20th anniversary celebration of Mark's restaurant in
Los Angeles 6 Diana Berry (right), CURvE'sadvertising executive, at a fundraiser for openly
gay California Assemblyman Mark Leno (left) and host Carol Maniscalco 7 L Word creator
Ilene Chaiken (left) and L Word star Elizabeth Keener take a minute out at the OurChart
Turkish Oil Wrestling event
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Onestepw(vetrAkcn
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Advice
Lipstick & Dipstick
My Soccer Babe Dumped Me
Dear Lipstick & Dipstick: I play soccer for my
high school. My girlfriend Trish, who is also a
player, recently went away on vacation, but
when she came back she dumped me and
now she likes another girl. I feel so betrayed
by her and I just don't want to think of her at
all. Do you have any suggestions to help an
ailing heart heal faster? - 16 and Sulking
16. Like squeezing a whitehead on your nose, being mean to her may seem like a good idea at the
time, but only makes what was a tiny blemish into
a big, red, throbbing monstrosity.
Lipstick:Gross, Dip. She doesn't have an acne
problem, just a broken heart.
Dipstick:I was getting there. Although there is
Lipstick:I'll tell you what, people: Lezzies are lezzies, whether they're 16 or 60. Same bullshit, different dyke. Sulker, Lipstick thinks you should go
score another goal(ie): Distracting yourself with
another crush is the surest way to get over your
current heartbreak. And just watch what happens
when she sees you kicking the ball with someone
else. She and her cleats won't be able to tear through
the grass fast enough. But, guess what? It'll be too
late and you can throw her out of the game.
Dipstick:Sorry, Lipstick's wrong. There is no quick
cure for a broken heart. Although it's trite, it's also
true that time will heal your wounded heart. But I
can tell you one thing that will hinder the healing:
hanging on to the past. Don't hold a grudge, Sweet
no rushing the healing process, a rebound affair
is sure to take your mind off your wound. Soccer
players don't know much about rebounds, so head
over to basketball practice and cruise those sidelines for your new girl. Pretty soon you'll be saying, "Trish who?"
Dear Lipstick &
Dipstick: I was
married for 12
years and had
three
beautiful
daughters.
I fell in love with a
woman and left my husband
for her. We have been partners for 10 years.
My children grew up with her and love and respect her as a mom. Lately, I have this craving
for more sex and being desired by other women. My partner does not give me that "I want
sex with you" treatment. I'm the one looking for it most of the time. I'm thinking about
Distracting yourself with another crush is the surest way
to get over your current heartbreak. And just watch
what happens when she sees you kicking the ball with
someone else. She and her cleats won't be able to
tear through the grass fast enough.
asking her if we could have a more
open relationship. Am I acting selfish?
Am I running out of love for her? Our
relationship is steady and I know she
loves me. Do you think asking her for
an open relationship would be a mistake? - Lusting in Lowellville
Dipstick:I see a pattern here, Luster. Every
10 to 12 years you start a new craving. A
little something to spice up your life and
make you feel sexy and desirable again. I've
got news for you, sister. It's time for you
to make a choice. Either continue changing partners every decade, or get to the
root of what's going on with you and your
relationships.
Can polyamory work? Su~e, but after 10
years of monogamy? rm gonna guess not.
Instead of trolling the Casual Encounters
section on Craigslist, I suggest you get yourself a good therapist. Like most things in life,
a satisfying sex life takes work. I've got 100
ideas in my back pocket of how you two can
spice it up-in ways that don't involve your
C
:I
c;
i
a.
c
c
:I
Q;
a:
u.
~
a:
fo
u:I
au
0:::!
4I
;:iO..
Ask Fairy Butch
Advice
Where's the Love:
neighbor's wife. Pretend you're strangers and hook
up at an anonymous bar. Buy a fun new sex toy.
Act out that scene between Bette and Tina. How
about you and your partner put your tits together
and come up with some sexy solutions of your own
before you make a move you'll regret.
Lipstick:
While Lipstick believes life is short and
must be lived to the fullest, I advise that you be
careful here, Lusting Lolita. Why the hell aren't
you girls talking about the white elephant in the
room:>A breakdown in communications + a lustful libido = trouble. Before you put your picture
on the Polyamory Pussy bulletin board, talk to
your girlfriend about how you're feeling. If things
don't change, get your ass into therapy. If things
still don't change, then you must decide if she
and her tepid libido are going to be enough for
you-for
the rest of your life. You've got needs
and there is nothing wrong with wanting to be
fully satisfied. Open your mouth before opening
your relationship.
Dear Dipstick: How do you get such a
great hairstyle? I love the spiky way you
wear it. Details, please. - Love Your
Locks in Lubbock
Dear Fairy Butch: My girlfriend and I have
been together for about three years and
for the last year or so we have been having
problems. First of all, she was a straight girl
who never had feelings for another woman
until she met me. The worst of our problems
is that we don't have sex at all. This has been
going on for about a year. She says she's
uncomfortable with her body (we both have
put on weight), but that doesn't make sense
to me. For a while we at least had passionate kisses, but it seems passionate anything
is gone for good. Every time I make any kind
of advance, I'm rebuffed. Lately, when I hold
back-whether in my emotions or even in a
hug or what she calls a kiss-she thinks I
am going to break up with her. I feel like I
am living with a needy roommate, not a girlfriend. I think I might be scared to leave her.
I keep hoping she will go back to the way
she used to be. I think I'm at the end of my
rope. - Coping in Canada
DearCoping:
Have you ever watched KissingJessica
Stein, tulip:>I believe one of the facets of your problem may be that you have a Jessica Stein situation
on your hands. For those who haven't seen the flick,
Stein is a straight girl, who, after a multitude of bad
C
I
(.)
i
a.
§
l
f!
a:
u;
;:iCl..
tive and bring her
flowers or make arrangements for a romantic B&B in your neck of the woods.
Tell her that you think she's sexy and perhaps pack
something fun in your trousers or try something
else to shake things up. If that doesn't work, perhaps it's time to invest in a worthy therapist who
works with lesbian couples. If that doesn't help
you mend the relationship you're in, perhaps it
will make the dissolution a little less painful and
preserve a friendship between you and Miss Jess.
Good luck, my dear!
Dear Fairy Butch: I am a 36-year-old selfidentified lesbian who has not had sex with
a woman yet. I have been thinking about
the kinds of things I would like to try and
dildo sex figures prominently. Is dildo sex
as physically pleasurable for the woman
on top, and do double-headed dildos really
work? - Curious in Carolina
dates with men, decides to jump the fence for a cute
DearCurious:There are a number of things that
makeup or fancy shoes, and our clothes are usu-
progresses and they eventually move in with one
the woman sporting the strap-on can do to feel
ally the standard T-shirt and jeans. So, we spend
another. When Jessica continually abstains from
stimulation during the act. She can get a cuff for
our time and money on our hair. It can be hard,
sex with Helen, while clinging to her in other ways,
her strap and then use a dildo inside herself for
though, to find someone qualified to cut butch
Helen becomes frustrated and moves on to gayer
vaginal stimulation, or use a leather butterfly to
hair. The gay hairdressers want to make you too
pastures. The initial sexual surge carried the other-
hold a vibrator to her clit whilst thrusting. These
femme-y and your dad's barber leaves you look-
wise straight girl into a relationship with a lesbian,
are just two of
ing like Drew Carey. Once you find someone to
but didn't equip her for the long haul.
more. It's got everything you need to know about
whom you can say,"I want to look dyke-y, but not
Perhaps this is what's happened with your
be called sir;' and she not only understands what
gal too. Or part of it may in fact be what she told
you mean but can execute it, keep her! Beyond
you-that
that, I won't give away any secrets.
her ability to be with anyone sexually, male or fe-
the changes in her body have hampered
~y ideas; check out my book for
dildos and then some.
As for a double-headed dildo, it's like the benwa balls of the lesbian sex world: People expect
male. Negative body image can really wreak havoc
to open the package and then just wait for some
miracle to overcome them. It's not like that; it takes
Lipstick:If you could see how long it takes
on one's ability to be intimate with another per-
some work. One person can hold the toy once it's
Dipstick to do her hair, you'd be happy with
son, even someone to whom she's very attracted.
inserted into both partners and move it back and
your crew cut. If Dip won't tell you, I'll give you a
Another possibility is that it's just garden variety
forth. It works in the sense that it brings stimu-
hint: Lucky Tiger Cm-Butch Control Wax. ■
lesbian bed death; sometimes things go sour for us
lation to both partners, but it's not some sort of
dykes at a certain point in the relationship.
wonder device. ■
&
<(J:
from this perspec-
art gallery worker named Helen. The relationship
fo
u.I
(l::::!
See what you
can do to step back
does a butch have but her hair:>"We don't wear
Lipstick & Dipstick are the authors of Lipstick
ao
one who doesn't.
Dipstick:For years I had a saying: "What else
'i.
a:
roles: the one who
wants it and the
Dipstick's
Relationships.
dipstick.com
Essential
Guide
to
Lesbian
Ask them anything at lipstick-
At any rate, there are several things you can
do, one of which is to focus on bringing some of
Fairy Butch is the author of The Ultimate Guide to
the romance back into the relationship. When two
Strap-On Sex: A Complete Resource for Women
people don't have sex for a while, it's easy to fall into
and Men. Email questionstoJb@fairybutch.com.
June 2008
I 25
Advice
Relationships
Five Reasons to Love Pride
Yes, tacky rainbow accessories make the list. I By Kate Lacey
Here's a formula for you: Gather a bunch of gay men in tandem with
a healthy number of lesbians. Add in creative freedom and a "get 'er
done" attitude. Mix with hormones, loud music, costumes and a liberal amount of alcohol. Tell them to be proud. Give them blockedoff streets and a license to let it all hang out, and, my friends, you got
yourself one heck of a party.
1 . The Parade
First of all, who doesn't love a parade-aside
from people trying
to get to work, city planners, traffic cops and tourists navigating a
maze of detours? Gaze in awe at the supersized, flamboyantly colored floating mammoth of latex inspired by the Macy's paradeand that's just the drag queen selected to be the grand marshal. Out
there before you are: dykes on bikes, queers on roller skates, fags on
scooters, hags on horses, tops on bottoms, queens on stilts, militants
on the march and lesbos on each other-and
that's just the crowd
waiting for the parade to begin.
The parade is an exercise in the manifest destiny that made our
country great. You stake your claim at the curb no less than four
hours before the first convertible appears, carting some unknown
politician (Commander Fritz of the Gay, Lesbian, Trans gendered, Trans sexual,
Pre-Trans, Partly-Trans, Ambi-Sexual, Bisexual, Try-Any-Sexual Army, or
GLTTPPABTA, for short). Just as you no longer have any feeling in your
tush and realize you cannot go to the bathroom or get food for fear of losing
your spot, your friends pat you on your now-sunburned shoulder, congratulating you on your tenacity and excellent planning skills. No amount of jostling,
elbowing, inching, edging or outright trying to usurp your claim will make
a difference. You will not be moved. This sort of stubborn commitment to
combat-in
an otherwise meaningless and largely symbolic battle-makes
the parade a testament to the American spirit, especially during a Republican
administration.
2. Rainbow Brite's Coat of Many Colors
There was a dark time in gay history when we were given no place to wear our
giant rainbow cowboy hats. Yes, it was a very sad time. But now we've opened
up those closets and can proudly sashay out in our Roy G. Biv Sunday best
and our gleaming prismatic g-strings! Nothing says Pride like garish colors
dyed into your poodle's coat. Wrap yourself head-to-toe in the colors of the
rainbow because we are such a diverse culture that we cannot decide on a
side by side, lining the sidewalks, bursting with the 'Tm queer and I'm here"
pride that only a multigendered, out-of-tune marching band can instill.
4. The Girlfriend Drama
How do you snag a girlfriend at the Pride event? Just show up. You can have
a girlfriend in a hot Pride-parade minute just by blowing your rainbow kazoo
in someone's general direction. And she might even be gay! This, of course,
can be a problem if you already have a girlfriend, and she is with you. If so,
do not look at anyone around you. Look at your shoes. Avoid the conflict. It
wouldn't matter if you were looking at the naked swashbuckler, clad only in
his tighty whities and a saber. "You think he's hot, don't your" Never mind that
you like girls and he is a very gay man-you're going to be accused of being
the stray dog. Your shoes are safe. Just look at your rainbow sneakers and all
will be well.
Another common drama at the Pride parade is the fact that everyone in
the gay community will be there, including all your ex-girlfriends and all your
current girlfriend's ex-girlfriends. This is the moment when you learn that
your ex is also her ex. Best thing you can do is keep your memory short and
your mouth shut.
single color to symbolically represent our interests. With so many rainbows
at the Pride parade, you'd be hard-pressed not to find a pot of gold-at
least
5. The People Watching
until you sober up and take off the multicolored beer goggles.
Taking it all in is the older "been there, done that" crew, each one sitting in
3. The Cease Fire
Can't we all just get along? During Pride week, you betcha! Queens forgive
dykes for their inability to properly dance or apply makeup; lesbians forgive
their queer brethren for their inability to camp or use power tools. We overlook the existence of J. Alexander on the other sashaying team, and our flaming pals pardon us for Rosie O'Donnell. There we are, queens and lesbos alike,
posturing, the Pride dancing or the in-your-face, something-to-prove-to-thecity-about-gayness kiddies. Can you blame 'em?
her camp chair with an adult beverage, smiling serenely at the drama, the
26
I
curve
Regardless of why you go, what you wear or which team you play for, like
every Who in Whoville, you will raise your candy-colored voice to say,"We are
here! We are here!" And shout it in one voice, so that it echoes not just during
Pride week, but all year long. Cheers! ■
p,
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Advice
Health
HOW TO PICK A GYNO
23%
of lesbian
couples are
concordant
for bacterial
vaginosis.
Which means
if your girlfriend has it,
chancesare
you do too.
2s1curve
Unless you're an exhibitionist, the
thought of getting naked in front
of a complete stranger can be
terrifying. But we've all got to do
it sometime with a gynecologist.
However, finding a good one that
you are comfortable with can be
as hard as finding butch maternity
clothes.
A FEW TIPS TO GET STARTED
1. Ask your close friends. Not only
can they recommend a good gynecologist, they can also warn you
about a few you'll want to avoid.
2. Search the Internet. Sites like
gayhealth.com and glma.org have
lists of gay-friendly doctors organized by location and specialty.
3. Contact your local LGBT
community center and ask for
a recommendation.
Gay-friendly
doctors often advertise in gay
newspapers or community center
newsletters.
Once you choose a gyno,
request an interview before
you disrobe. This is the time to
disclose your orientation, medical history and sexual concerns.
Follow your gut instinct, and
remember: You can always
walk out. Confidentiality
is a right, even if you are
underage. If you have any
questions about confidentiality policies, ask them
up front. Although some
doctors don't allow family
members in the exam room,
it's always OK to request
that a nurse be present
" during the exam. The key to
a successful gynecological
visit is communication. The
more honest you are with
your gynecologist, the
better your healthcare will
be. - Kathryn Board
Common Disease
Under the Radar
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a littleknown yet very common disease. It
is an infection in the vagina caused
by an abnormal growth of bacteria.
It is more common than a yeast infection and can threaten a woman's
reproductive health. If untreated, BV
can spread into the uterus and cause
damage to the Fallopian tubes. According to the Centers for Disease
Control (CDC), BV can increase a
woman's chance of contracting HIV
if she is exposed to the virus, and
it can increase the risk that an HIVpositive woman will pass the virus
on to her partner. In addition to the
increased risk of getting HIV, BV is
associated with an increase in pelvic
inflammatory disease after invasive
procedures including hysterectomy
and abortion.
Unfortunately, BV is not widely discussed, and even though
being tested for it is a significant reason for getting a Pap smear,
many women do not even know it exists.
One of the main symptoms of BV is a vaginal discharge that is
white or gray and has a "strong fishy odor," according to the CDC.
Dr. Patricia A. Robertson, the founding co-director of the Lesbian Health and Research Center at the University of California at
San Francisco, suggests one of the reasons for women's lack of
knowledge on the subject is, "Women are [not] that comfortable
discoursing about their vaginal discharge."
Robertson says that 23 percent of lesbian couples are concordant
for BV: If your girlfriend is diagnosed with it, there is a 23 percent
chance you have it, and vice versa.
"My own approach has been that if a lesbian is treated for BV
and it recurs, [it's] time for her partner to come in for an evaluation,"
says Robertson.
In addition to the increased risk of contracting HIV, other complications associated with having BV can be startling. If a woman is
pregnant and has BV,there is a significant increase in the likelihood
that she will have a premature birth and that the child will have low
birth weight.
Treating BV is easy- provided it is detected early. It is treatable
with antibiotics, either metronidazole or clindamycin.
Though there is no specific cause of BV, several things can
increase the risk. A new partner or douching can upset the balance
of bacteria in the vaginal area.
What are other things that women need to know about BV?
Robertson says, "That [a] persistent vaginal discharge needs to be
evaluated. And that all lesbians need yearly Pap smears from the
age of 21 until the age of 30." If Pap screenings have been normal
three times in a row by the time a woman turns 30, she can get them
every two years. Contact your gyno for more information, or visit the
CDC's website, cdc.gov/std/bv. - Jenna \I. Loceff
-
14iti§100;h•1i33■3=i@IM§i
JULY
JULY4-6, 2008
4 5 6 2008
ATLANTA CIVIC CENTER
WWW.ATLANTAPRIDE
.ORG
CIVIC CENTER
indoor and outdoor market, pride parade, dyke march, commitment ceremony, youth prom and more
•
I,
.6. D E LT A (;.l!nt.e.
david_...4
Astra Grrl
Advice
Summer Lovin'
Talkis Gemini (May 22-June 21)
Sex:Look for a well-endowed lady to grease your wheels now. Not
cheap, only can you bask in the lap ofluxury, you can do a few laps yourself
Ahem. Career:
Say what you mean and mean what you say, careerTaurus,but wise. Unless, of course, the bosses are listening-then lie, lie, lie.
you'llget Cancer (June 22-July 23)
morefrom Sex:You are especially attractive to the ladies. Will you use this
extraordinary time to make hay while the sun shines, or just grow
a romantic a few weeds2 Career:You are in it for the money. Find ways of getting more of it through your work, or seek more lucrative outlets.
affairwith Anyone we know?
a few well- Leo (July 24-Aug. 23)
chosen Sex:Not only do you know who lusts for you, you know how it
will all turn out. Yet sometimes it's nice to take a leap of faith and
gems. Do enjoy a few surprises. Career:You are a corporate star. Make your
best moves and scurry up the ladder. Before you know it, you'll bemore with come just another overpaid hack. It's about time!
yourtongue Virgo (Aug. 24-Sept. 23)
than lap Sex:Expect a gal pal to become a lovergrrl. But will you spoil a beau- echelons of corporate power, if they play their cards right. Will it be
tifulfriendship on a lark? I suppose there are worse reasons. Career: go fish or war?
the air. Your communications on the job can be misinterpreted. Maybe it is
better to take a long vacation. Any excuse.
Libra (Sept. 24-0ct. 23)
Sex:You'll catch the eye of an executive on the job. Will she give
you a raise or vice versa?Just as long as there is more vice than versa.
Aquarius(Jan.21-Feb.19)
Sex:You'll boil the water cooler with your romantic antics this June.
Is this built to last? No, but it certainly heats your coffee. Career:
Lovergrrls give you good career advice, if you listen to them. Of
course, you have all the answers already-or so you think.
Career:
Listen to the advice of girlfriends before you make a bigjob
move. There may be pitfalls that you do not see. When in doubt,
Pisces (Feb. 20-March 20)
call in sick.
Sex:June is all fun and games, Guppy. Find the right party and party
down. Be wise, be smart but don't behave. Career:
You have the extra
Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)
oomph to do a great job. Tackle every task and clear off your desk
Sex:An exotic stranger catches your eye and sweeps you off to parts
early this month. That leaves you plenty of time to goof off.
unknown. Will she love you in the morning? Ask for cab fare, just
in case. Career:
You are full of energy and courage and impress the
powerbrokers with your snazzy stuff. How long can you keep them
fooled?
Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 22)
Aries (March 21-April 20)
Sex:Your home is a center oflove activity this June. Find the perfect
spot to show your stuff and discover hers. Fall head over heels. Yours
or hers? Career:
Career options can change dramatically. Are you
keeping your eyes on the prizer Either that or be in for a reprise.
Sex:What makes you so extremely sexy now? Whatever it is, try to
bottle it and save it for the other 11 months of dry season. Career: Taurus (April 21-May 21)
Not only are you itching to talk, you find that you broadcast your
Sex:Talk is cheap, Sapphic Bull, but you'll get more from a romanacid commentary into the global arena. Start thinking happier
tic affair with a few well-chosen gems. Do more with your tongue
thoughts.
than lap the air. Career:
Although you prefer to relax, stay focused
Capricorn (Dec. 23-Jan. 20)
Sex:June brings you a match made in heaven. Will you appreciate
her for everything she is and everything she brings to your Let's see.
Career:
Caps have a wandering eye that can land them in the upper
Then watch where you put those hands. ■
on the job and see if you can choose a winning professional hand.
I
30
I curve
Charlene Lichtenstein is the author of Herscopes: A Guide to
Astrology for Lesbians. Formoreadvice,visit thestarryeye.com.
REALITY
Politics
I
VictoriaA. Brownworth
Matters of Pride
The 38th anniversary of the venerable event brings up the past.
I remember my first Pride march the way some people remember their first
being a full-time activist for a movement far bigger than anything imaginable
kiss. There was that same sense of sharing something unique and magical, a
newfound intimacy, except instead of sharing that with just one person, it ~as
at the first Pride march.
In many ways, being an activist is like having a faux job. It's a lot of work
with thousands.
for little reward except a great deal of righteous outrage. It does not pay the
I came out when I was a young teenager, the year after Stonewall. A
high school student, I had grown up in a political household and was already
bills and it gets you into trouble. There's a lot of civil disobedience involved in
involved in the antiwar movement. Back then, the movement was called gay
being an activist full-time.
Thinking about Pride-it
liberation, but it soon affected more than just gays.
does Pride mean now, 38 years into the movement? What does it mean for
My first march was on a hot Sunday in New York City in June 1970. I
will be 39 next June-is
always intense. What
people who have come of age along with LGBT politics? Queers my age have
marched with members of a group called Radicalesbians, after joining it at
never known a time before Stonewall. But kids today who are the same age as I
the group's first meeting, in a big room above an adult bookstore in the seedy
was when I came out have only known assimilation. Do they understand that
part of downtown Philadelphia. The other members were a little afraid of my
the fight is not over just because we're on Top Chef and Big Brother?
I'm not a fan of assimilation. I like diversity and difference. Some might
~
visible for the first time.
say I'm too defined by identity politics, and they might be right. But identity
~
The march-scary
politics will always have a place in the world as long as there is inequality. And
youth, but at the march we were all one big group of queers, making ourselves
and strange and exciting all at once. That march helped
form the person I am today: a queer civil rights activist.
despite this being the 39th anniversary of Stonewall, we still do not have equality.
~
g
:n
~
~
Queer politics and I grew up together. I marched, went to meetings and
Queer Iraq veterans come home either wounded or discharged for being
developed theories and political platforms. I worked on the front lines and the
gay while serving their country. Yet, despite this patriotism and devotion to
~
sidelines. Decades before the alphabet soup of LGBTIQ politics, I worked
our country, most of us still can't marry in our own cities. We've been talking
~
to get the word "lesbian" added to the name of the Gay Activist Alliance in
about queers in the military and queers marrying for almost 20 years. Why
my city, and finally succeeded. It was my first personal success in promoting
5:::,
are we still waiting? How many lunch counters do we have to sit at before
'n
lesbian visibility.
we get served?
5
Activism has become my way of life and I am privileged to be part of a
I remember when we "invented" outing. I remember when we first started
movement that has changed the world in my lifetime. I tried to follow in the
chanting "We're here, we're queer, get used to it" and felt the power and rage
footsteps of women like Barbara Grier, who edited The Ladder in the days
that went with those in-your-face words and actions.
before Stonewall, to bring lesbian voices into the light, to make our lives
visible. What is most important to me as an activist is to show straight people
that our queer lives have just as much value as theirs.
Learning to take the idea of Pride and apply it meant going from being
the kid at the grown-ups' meeting that cold winter's night at Radicalesbians to
~
,.::
:,
I)
I remember when Roy Cohn was dying of AIDS and was still a homophobic demon. I remember the one-breasted Audre Lorde dying of cancer.
Every year I revisit that magical feeling and sense of empowerment I got at
~
:u
~
H
:)
my first Pride march. I feel immense pride in being queer.
r::
:(
When I think about Pride, I think about decades of feeling outrage and
~
5
would ever change and fearing they wouldn't. I think about that first
5
march-how
S.
incredible it was that we were out in the bright light of
day, instead of hiding in dark bars after midnight.
I think about the thousands of women and men who have spoken
on so many different LGBT topics over the years and about how their
stories were unique and powerful and were being told for the first time.
I think about the women that night at Radicalesbians preparing for
the first march.
I think about all the lives saved by the movement and all the lives
lost, despite everything we did.
I think about what it means to be queer and our devotion to making the world a better place for us, a place where we can be out and
proud and love each other without fearing the bright light of day.
It's been 38 years since my first Pride march, the march that
redefined my life. It was a march into a new world of proud lesbians
and gay men. But for the movement, it was about more-it
was the
beginning of our collective march toward pride, toward equality and,
one day, toward freedom. ■
Icurve
_J
:)
yelling in the streets and getting arrested and wondering if things
32
3
IN THE NEWS
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r
FamilyGroups
AttackGayLiterature
Conservative
familygroupsareattackingschools
again,thistime in Chicago.
NorthShoreStudentAdvocacy
andConcerned
Womenfor Americaaredemanding
thatSchool
District113,hometo DeerfieldHighSchool,force
the resignation
(ortermination)
of Superintendent
GeorgeFornero,
PrincipalSueHobson
andanyteachersinvolvedin allowingstudentsto readAngels
in America:A Gay
Fantasiaon National
ThemesbyTony
Kushner.
According
to
the WindyCityTimes,
the bookis an option
for the highschool's
Advanced
Placement
Englishclass.The
play,whichdiscussesLGBTissuesandHIV/AIDS,
containsgraphiclanguage,
butis approvedbythe
Advanced
Placement
CollegeBoard.
Theantigaygroupsclaimthe bookis pornographicandviolatesIllinois'obscenitylaws.
Antigay
BillDropped
inTennessee
A bill thatwouldhavebannedteachingabouthomosexualityin publicschoolsin Nashville,
Tenn.,failed
to passthe HouseEducation
K-12 Subcommittee
becauseit wasdeemed
unnecessary,
accordingto
the GayPeople'sChronicle.
Thebill,sponsored
by
Rep.StaceyCampfield
(R),wouldhaveprohibited
schoolsfromteaching
aboutanysexualityother
thanheterosexuality
and
wasproposed
asa response
to complaints
from
parents.However,
accordingto BruceOpie,the
legislativeliaisonof theTennessee
Department
of Education,
thereisn't anystatecurriculumthat
involvesteachingabouthomosexuality.
Thesubcommitteepassedthe bill onto the stateBoardof
Education,
essentially
killingit.
Lesbian
WantsAnnulment,
NotDivoce
A lesbianwomanhasfiledfor an annulmentin Missouri,claimingthatshe
doesnotrecognize
hermarriage,
which
wasperformedin Massachusetts
three
yearsago.According
to TheAssociated
Press,Charisse
Y.SparksandJanetY.
Peters-Mauceri-Sparks
werelegallymarriedin Massachusetts
beforemovingto
Missouri.Sparks'attorney
claimsthatsinceMissouri
doesnotrecognize
samesexmarriages,
a divorceis
notnecessary;
the invalid
statusof theirunionmerely
necessitates
annulment.
Peters-Mauceri-Sparks'
attorney,however,
arguesthat Missourilaw must
recognize
all legallyperformedmarriages.
Thecase,
whichwasheardonApril2, couldhavefutureramificationsfor same-sexmarriagesin Missouri.
SallyKemYettoApologize
Oklahoma
StateRepresentative
SallyKernhasyet
to retracthernow-infamous
homophobic
statements.Kern,whodid notknowthatshewasbeing
recorded,
showedeveryone
whatshereallythought
of gaysin the UnitedStateswhensheunleashed
a
spewof antigayremarksat a gatheringof about50
people.Duringhertirade,shesaidthat homosexualsareinfiltratingschoolsandcity councils,and
comparedhomosexuality
to cancerandterrorism.
Sheaddedthat homosexuality
is the "biggest
threatto America."Theaudiofromherspeechwas
releasedbytheVictoryFundonYouTubeandhas
garneredovera millionhits.Everyone-fromthe
HRCto theVictoryFundto Kern'sconstituents-is
askingfor a retraction,but Kernrefuses,sayingit is
protectedfreespeech,nothatespeech.
Cuba'sFirstDaughter
Pu hes orLGBT
Rights
Thedaughterof President
RaulCastro,Mariela
Castro,is pushingthe CubanNationalAssembly
to
approvea lawthat recognizes
same-sexunions,
givesqueersinheritance
rights,providesfree
sex-change
operations
andallowstransgender
individuals
to changethe genderontheirIDcards,
accordingto the BBC.
Castrohaslongbeena supporterof LGBTrights,
runningCuba'sCenterfor SexEducation,
which
holdsweeklysupportgroupmeetingsfor transgenderpeople.Thebill wouldlet transindividuals
changethe genderontheirIDcardswhetheror not
theyhavehadsurgery.Inthe 1950s,homosexuals
wereoftenforcedto attendre-education
campsin
an attemptto reversetheirsexuality.
Today,there
is moretolerance,
butqueersarestillcompelled
to be
discreet.
Castrosaysher
fatherusedto be
homophobic
when
shewasyounger,but
has"changedover
the years"andis now
supportiveof herviews.
- KatiePeoplesand
KoryTran
June 2008
I 33
Dyke Drama
Michele Fisher
Pick Me ... But Not Last
Going from an unathletic tyke to an unathletic but well~adjusted dyke.
No sad story ever features a protagonist who is always picked second to last
Brown was teasing another large-framed female until he got the tears he
for athletic teams. At least the other kids thought I was funny. It kept me fro~
needed to claim victory. I marched over to him and called him a bad name,
being picked dead last in high school sports. That dishonor was usually saved
and then he called me a bad name, and then we called each other lots of bad
for someone even fatter and less amusing.
names, and then I told him to shut up or I would shut him up. He laughed
I didn't always suck at physical activity. I was a little monkey as a kid. OK,
at me. I saw red. The next thing I knew, my ample 10-year-old frame was
so I was visually impaired and a little big for my age, so perhaps I was a half-
straddling his scrawny corduroy-clad carcass, my right fist was positioned
blind chunky monkey, but nonetheless, I climbed trees and jumped over trash
about eight inches from his nose and he was crying. Ha, I knew I had him. I
cans with my bike. (I could throw a snowball half a block down the street and
expected to hear the roar of the crowd, cheering me on as I taught this bully
hit the kid who'd called me fatty and then run ... but not far enough.) I was the
a lesson he would never forget, but I heard nothing. I knew there were kids
stereotypical tomboy lezzy-to-be, even if I looked like I was going to grow up
standing all around us; there are always other kids around you when you
to be a nerd.
have a fight. Even if you have a fight on the moon at 3-in-the-morning,
other
Maybe I wasn't the best at organized sports, but I was good at fighting.
kids will jump into their spaceships and show up to get a firsthand account
Obviously, I had to be. I got plenty of practice until fourth grade, when peer
of the action. I knew it was dramatic, but I wanted the crowd behind me as I
pressure forced me to hang up the proverbial gloves. It was recess and Danny
delivered the final blow.
However, the crowd wasn't behind me. What was
wrong? Was the teacher coming? Didn't these kids know
what a jerk Danny was being? I studied the faces of the
boys and girls standing around us. They looked kind of
freaked out and disappointed. I couldn't figure out what
was going on, so I just stood up and walked back into the
school, though recess wasn't even over.
It took me a few days to understand why the other kids
were avoiding my gaze: Beating up a guy, even a jerky guy,
wasn't cool in the eighth month of fourth grade. If it had
been October, I would have been the local hero, but it was
April and fifth grade was only a summer away. The time for
girl-versus-boy fights was over, even if the girl won. Sure,
girl-on-girl fights were still allowed, but I lost my stomach
for fighting after Danny.
In eighth grade, some butch girl I hardly knew had one
of her friends tell one of my friends that she wanted to
fight me, but since she didn't even know me, it seemed a little odd. I avoided her for a few days but was finally forced
into a meeting during lunch-one
of my friends was tired
of being the go-between. I told Butchy that I had no reason
to fight her. She asked me if I was scared. I told her that I
was not, which wasn't entirely true because I thought that
any girl who wanted to kick my ass without knowing me
was a little scary. She chuckled and proclaimed my statement "cool:' After that, we had nothing further to say to
each other, so I left and she and her groupies continued
smoking behind the bleachers.
Looking back, I suppose there was some kind of homoerotic thing going on there, but it was a one-way street,
sister, because you would have needed a four-wheel drive to
navigate her blackhead-infested face.
In my freshman year of high school, I tried out for the
basketball team and found out that I sucked. I remembered
shooting hoops with the neighborhood kids at my uncle's
34
Icurve
house a few years prior and doing pretty well, but fast-forward to the ninth
it did not lead to a lifelong habit. Like any good queen, I eventually discovered
grade and I was stinking up the court. What had puberty wrought upon me:'
the gym to be my temple of physical redemption. The ciggies and booze were
The coach let me on the team, but I pretty much kept the bench from sliding
beginning to take their toll, as were the alphabet drugs and 2-in-the-morning
around. I practiced but never seemed to get any better. Come spring, I was all
barbecued pork omelettes. I had to do something fast-risk
about track and field. Surely there were one or two events I could excel in. You
less attractive women or give up one of my vices. Neither of these options ap-
woulc! think, wouldn't you? I ran, but not fast enough or far enough. I could
pealed to me. Thus, I did develop a lifetime habit of fitness. I had finally found
jump, but not over hurdles. At least I could throw the discus and put the shot.
I felt pretty good about my strength and athletic abilities until my first track
something I could do: lift weights.
It did not, however, turn me into a better softball player. Whenever I would
i
meet, when the steroid test-dummies from the opposing team were able to flick
start a new job or find a new social circle, the softball team recruiter ( there is
1
the zits off their backs farther than I could throw an eight-pound ball of iron.
always one) would offer me a spot on the team without a tryout. Luckily for
But at least I made the crowd laugh, with my wholehearted, face-contorting but
them, I never took them up on it. I would politely decline and assure them
impotent efforts.
that I only looked athletic, and thereby save the coach the trouble of picking
That summer I tried tennis, and, surprise, I couldn't master that either. I
having to date
even sucked at bowling, which seemed a lot easier than it turned out to be ...
me second to last down the road.
And what is the point of all of this? Gay Pride is here again. It's the time of
once I got stoned.
year when I worry about how I look and wonder if all those years at the gym
This whole lack of athletic ability hit me hard because one, I had once been
are still paying of£ For one week, every June, I'm a sophomore once more and
good at physical activities, and two, some part of me knew that I was gay and
cannot get that stupid ball in that goal or basket to save my life. Even though I
therefore I would always be expected to be athletically inclined.
look like I'm having fun and I couldn't care less, I just want that stinkin' ball to
I panicked for a while and then found other things to amuse my teenage
self: namely, drugs, sex and Debbie Harry. I traded in my dreams of being a
jock for being the class clown. Like I said, at least I didn't get picked last, and
hit the mark one gall-darned time!
But this year, I'll try to remember that I've already made the team and that
Gay Pride is an event, not a competition.
And finally a word to you single gals who doubt your ability to score at this
nobody said anything to me for fear of getting publicly insulted.
During my senior year, a friend suggested that running might improve my
figure in time for the prom. She was right, it did, and I'm happy to report that
year's Gay Pride festivities: Get out there and play, because getting picked last
still beats the heck out of going home alone. ■
e
JULY19 & 20
For a List of Events log on to
San DiegoPride.org
JULY19&20,2008
-
SAN DIEGO
L
G
B
T
PRIDE
e
LIVE.LOVE.BE
0
<r-
a
cl
n
e
0
d
t,
Parade
Human Rights
Festival
Community
0
e
d
's
u
uniuersal
~
.. you fffln' It?
~
----
LIGHT
June 2008
I35
Camping out ain't what it used to be. By Beren deMotier
T WAS L.L. BEAN that had them: bay-mare brown moccasins, time-
don't remember what their political affiliation was (I had political blinders
less and fashion-free. Still in my cyber cart as I vacillate between the
on-against
classic plaid flannel lining and an upgrade to fleece, they're my symbolic
loving, stable couple I'd ever met.
embrace of the camping lifestyle, comfy, warm, slip-ons without sex ap-
everything but the ERA**), but I did see that they were the most
Which is why, perhaps, my wife was able to talk me into tent camping a
that we are tent trailer-
decade ago, though my initial inclination was to avoid having cold feet and
hauling lesbians-that we are becoming Martha and Kathleen.
I met them in the summer of 1971, when Martha and Kathleen set up
leave the resort behind, and I became enamored of cars with heat, homes with
camp in our run-down Vancouver Island, British Columbia, beach resort,
carpets that stayed on the floor, instead of rising with the wind, and skies that
backing their Airstream Bambi into a space using hand gestures and experi-
didn't pour 330 days a year, though Seattle isn't considered sunny by most.
peal or urban edge, and I am beginning to think-now
sleeping on hard surfaces. I'd re-entered the United States in 1978 ready to
ence, guiding it in like pros. I thought nothing more about them than that they
Maybe it was Martha and Kathleen's influence, unconsciously burned into
had cute dogs, two terrier mixes in gray tones to match their mistresses, and
my brain, that changed my mind: I recalled Kathleen fretting by the shore
that they seemed benign compared to some of our tenants.
with binoculars when Martha was late returning from fishing, tender con-
In those days, the campground was full of fishermen visiting the salmon
cern flitting across her features, and I remembered the sense of adventure they
capital of the world, rich Californians and everyday Canadians eager for the
shared as they made their annual trek along the Alaska Highway, stopping
shimmering salmon that were abundant, even to those who used only a sinker,
along the way to tell stories of their encounters with moose, mad Canadian
drivers and the fish that got away.
a flasher and a Lucky Louie.
These days, the campground is sparsely populated with year-rounders on
When we jumped onto the camping bandwagon, joining our lesbian mom
the Canadian dole and the occasional optimistic fisherman who is inevitably
friends and then dragging our children into the wilderness on a regular basis,
defeated by the one-two punch of depleted salmon populations and resource-
my wife took care of getting the gear (her motto being "the right tool for the
ful sea lions, to whom the zip of a cast line is a dinner bell.
right job"). There is nothing she likes better than purchasing gadgets at R.E.I.
I didn't see Martha and Kathleen as stunning stereotypes of lesbians;
But camping with kids and a dog who defies the size limits for his breed is
short, wide-hipped, with close-cropped hair, they were "old maid" educators
nothing if not a monumental effort to set in motion. The food alone is mind-
who lived together, wore plaid lumberjack flannel shirts, baggy jeans and
boggling. My wife typically works until the moment of departure, making
the aforementioned moccasins (when the weather didn't call for army sur-
preparations my department, and it was this that eventually robbed camping
of any magic it might have held for me.
plus galoshes), and drove an International Scout for hauling that sleek silver
Airstream. As roommates* since serving in the military during WW II, they
So last summer my wife dragged me to an RV dealer and bought a tent
weren't espousing either "sisterhood is powerful" or "sticking it to the man:' I
trailer. She'd had one of her periodic "life is short" moments, when she be-
38 I curve
comes painfully aware that our time with the kids is fleeting (we had one in
hand signals: left, right, running lights, brakes; but all that nonsense with pilot
high school, one in the seventh grade and one in preschool). It dawned on her
lights, propane and leveling out still leaves me confused. I may have to create
how much effort it would take to gather the troops, and she decided that life
a checklist, so we're not left guessing if weve filled the tank or charged the
would be easier if we had a tent trailer, making me literally a happy camper.
battery when we're already on the road and have enough to think about just
a
It was while the various pros and cons of rival models were being extolled
i
that I started thinking warmly of Martha and Kathleen. Were we becoming
like them-an
t
older couple in comfortable clothes, following the highways and
keeping the kids electronically attached and fed.
Camping in a tent trailer turns out to be nothing like tent camping. It's
complicated but comfortable, especially after my wife's almost scary Internet
byways with our oversized pooch? Would there be mornings spent pottering
buying spree: having dual portable DVD players means that Scooby Doo
about making coffee outside while the nutria waddled homeward, evenings
doesn't have to be interrupted by Smallville.
out spotting ungulates and fishing expeditions while I fretted on the shore?
I came back from fantasy land long enough to state my preference for the
Our three initial camping trips late last summer, and the one for spring
break (involving rain, hail, sun breaks and snow flurries), convinced us not
model in which the beds were accessible without collapsing the table or crawl-
only that the weather in this region is bizarre, but that our hotel on wheels is
ing over kids, then fell back into visions of scouring the country for leftover
the only way to go. No one was wet, shivering and sandy except the dog after
y
patches of unspoiled wilderness and visiting our grown children without
a romp on the beach, and camping no longer meant nights spent snatching
g
sleeping inside and causing extra scuffles with their spouses, who will doubt-
sleep between bouts of reinflating the air mattresses. We returned home filthy
tl
less take time to adapt to our eccentricities. I was seeing a terrier mix in
but rested.
tl
my future.
What I didn't see coming was the learning curve. I'm a slow-to-adapt in-
showers we use are inevitably populated by gloriously healthy camping dykes
e
There are still challenging moments. The campground restrooms and
the face of anything
shaking out their wet curls in front of the mirror, incapacitating my ability to
e
new, so learning the set-up and take-down procedures was a painful two-
"put on my face" with such natural beauty-potential judgment nearby (note to
[.
hour affair laced with humor as the old codger showing us the ropes realized
self: Put wife on to acquiring an unbreakable mirror bigger than the two-by-
first that it was "our" tent trailer, then that while I was befuddled about fuel
three-inch one I currently squint into to apply mascara).
dividual and freeze-Bambi-in-the-headlights
g
g
lt
style-in
lines, I wasn't afraid to lie on an oily floor to find the water tank and, finally,
that if he treated my wife like the husband and me like the wife, we'd all get
along fine.
My prior campground experience (as well as my wife's willingness to do
And, as Martha and Kathleen knew well, whenever it is time to pack up
camp, it will pour.
■
all the driving) helped make hitching 'er up fairly easy. And I get an insane
*Romanticpartnersor bestbuddies?As teachersin the '70s, they weren'tlikelyto tell. Whatever the details,
their relationshipwas real and inspired this lesbian,so their names have been changedto protect their
posthumousprivacy.
amount of pleasure going through the motions of checking the lights using
**The Equal Rights Amendment, first proposedin 1923, has yet to be ratifiednationally.
June 2008
I 39
Eight reasons to go to Hotlanta Pride. By Lisa Allender and Kory Tran
TLANTA'S
reputation as the premier queer hotspot in the South was cemented long ago, but this year's Pride celebration, over the Fourth of July
weekend, promises to bring more lesbian tourists to the city than ever. Now, with four days to enjoy the festivities and a whole new location at the Civic
Center offering more outdoor and indoor space, this summer's Pride is going to rock. When you get there, here's what you've got to see:
................
•,
.............................................
.
1. MagazineMavens:Make sure you hit cuRvE's
4. Booths
withBonuses:
Jessica Hand says the Spin
bookstore in the South. Charis features tons of
own celebration
including
the Wheel game at AmeriPrice's exhibit is a must-
lesbo fiction and events for LG BT performers.
Dani Campbell, and
see. She won lunch for herself and 15 friends at
Outwrite Bookstore & Coffeehouse, only a few
wrapping up with the famous Peach Party on
Athens Pizza, and her wife,Jeana Melilli, won din-
blocks from the festival, is a premier LGBT land-
Saturday, with the hottest girl DJs and entertainers. CuRVE will also be involved with the women's
ner for four at Maggiano's. "The prizes are just in-
mark, where big literary figures drop by on a regu-
credible. I wouldn't miss that exhibit!" Hand says.
lar basis.
starting
events hosted by MTV's
Thursday,
host hotel at the Atlanta Hilton. Visit curvemag.
5. GoodSouthern
Cooking:
It isn't always what you
7. It's NeverTooHotfor Coffee:No fear, Seattlites,
think. Some of Atlanta's hottest spots go beyond
Javamonkey, located in downtown Decatur, is a
2. BackTalk:One of the few annual Pride events,
grits and greens. No Mas! Cantina offers not only
coffeehouse that offers organic coffee and wine,
Cliterati is an all-inclusive open mic with an em-
delicious authentic Mexican food, but also a great
and showcases Atlanta's wealth of talent. Fridays
phasis on queer women. Theresa Davis co-hosts,
atmosphere, with two floors of architecture and
and Saturdays feature traveling musical acts, while
along with founder Karen G. (the Dykenamic
decor crafted by Mexican artisans. Cowtippers
on Sunday evenings there's an open mic for "open-
Duo). "The thing I enjoy most is that they invite
Steaks & Spirits offers the biggest burgers in town
minded folks:' In the historic Oakhurst district of
me to perform, and to me it's just an honor to be
and 25 different margaritas, while the lesbo-friend-
Decatur, Kavarna coffeehouse offers bands, artists
recognized as a queer poet in Atlanta and be a part
ly sports bar Cheyenne Grille boasts 50 screens
and a Saturday Atlanta Songwriters' Series.
of something that is so important;' Davis says.
and 100 beers, including 24 on tap. For those who
com for more information.
do come to Atlanta for the grits and greens, The
8. Atlanta'sNextTopIdol:The timing may not be
3. BabyMamasMarching:Local girls love a pa-
Flying Biscuit Cafe offers those favorites, along
perfect to hit a pageant, but you'll want to pop into
rade, says bi girl Sheri Mann Stewart. "I did the
with an all-day breakfast menu.
My Sister's Room at its new location in the East
Dyke March [when] I was pregnant and I wrote
Atlanta Village. The bar is renowned for events like
'Pregnant with Pride' across my tummy. It was
6. Bookworms
Welcome:
No trip
to Atlanta would
the Miss Gay US of A Benefit Show and Atlanta's
great:' Mann Stewart now has two boys, and each
be complete without a visit to Charis Books (cha-
year she pushes a stroller in the parade.
ris.booksense.com), the oldest feminist women's
Next Top Idol (featuring all queer contestants). It
also hosts L Word Tuesdays. ■
40
I curve
on top
/
/
/
V
witli
the influx of competition-based ceality shows-some
good, some bad, some ceally bad-
we've had bisexuals, gay men and lesbian contestants, but until this season weve never been graced
with a lesbian culinary couple. The wildly popular Bravo show Top Chef not only tests upand-coming culinary stars in quick-fire challenges and impossible cooking situations, but
it has introduced us to Zoi and Jen-America's
dish-licious dyke duo. The twosome
(self-taught Zoi, 31, and Jen, 36, trained in French cuisine) has been dating and
heating up the kitchen for four years. To us, they spill details about TopChef and
admit to crushing on the gorgeous but inaccessible judge, Padma -and
Zoi defends her mushrooms with rosemary, the dish that led to
her untimely elimination.
You are both successful chefs. What prompted you
both to try out for Top Chen
Zoi:We both watched the show. It's kind of one of those things
where you have a "pie in the sky" idea like, "Oh wouldn't that be
great, if we could get on the show?" and it just kind of happened. We
were really honored that we were chosen.
Jen:I kind of fell for the show on a trip to New York. [I watched] a marathon
of the show. A couple of months later, they had an open casting call. I think that I
secretly really wanted to be on the show, but I was playing it off like, "Whatever,
who cares?" I got called back for an on-camera interview, but that was it. And
then the next casting call they actually called Zoi. They saw her picture or an
article about her in a food magazine. They called her in for an interview and during the interview process they figured out that I was her girlfriend. Basically, they
were interested in both of us coming onto the show.
What was the initial reaction when you heard that you made the show?
That you both made the show?
Zoi:I was called at work and I actually remember specifically that when I got the
call, and a woman said, "You've been chosen to be on the show;' I said nothing. I
was dumbfounded. So shocked. You know, even ...through the whole process ...
you're kind of getting closer and closer, [but] in the back of your mind you're
still like, "No way:'
Jen:I was elated. I was totally excited! I was jumping up and down.
Did you guys have a strategy going into the Top Chef competition?
Jen:We talked a lot about it and we just decided we needed to compete separately. Especially since there [was] going to be a large group of people, so we didn't
Zoi is fearless
in the kitchen,
she even takes
on sausages
want anyone to [think] that we were tag-teaming people. So we just decided to take it
on individually.
A lesbian culinary couple on a reality show has never been done. Did you
feel any pressure to represent?
7
I
I
/
Move over,IronChefs-the charismaticcuties
of cuisineare in town. By ColleenM. Lee
Zoi:I mean, the thing is, we're everywhere. Gay people are everywhere. I certainly don't feel like in this day and
age it should be all that surprising. Bravo is such a gay-friendly network and so there wasn't a lot of anxiety
in terms of that. The anxiety was more "Oh, my God, our personal life is going to be up for discussion, up
on display:' Were essentially running two races. We had the race of trying to compete in this competition,
and we also had a whole different kind of challenge, which was that were there as a couple. Not only am I
getting looked at, scrutinized, blogged about, what have you, as is Jen, but our relationship is being blogged.
ed
There's an additional dynamic that we had to wrestle and deal with. They could've picked a straight couple,
p-
they could've picked a gay male couple, but for whatever reason, Jen and I, the dynamic was such that they
ut
ne
1d
1d
1d
to
felt like they wanted us to do the show together.
Jen:I think we really underestimated how it was going to affect the community. I've been [getting] extremely
positive reactions. I went out Friday night and it was just crazy. I had at least 20 gay guys come
up to me [and say], "Girl, I love you!" It's very supportive and positive.
Any negatives to having your lover on the show?
Zoi:We didn't know how people were going to react behind the camera, when we weren't
there, but overall people were definitely surprised. I mean, the rest of the contestants, the crew were all like,"Oh, my God, really?" But I think pretty quickly they
got it that were cool girls as individuals, and we're cool girls as a couple. And
we weren't there to stir up a bunch of lesbian drama. We were there ~o win.
gs
be
Ve
We tried not to rub it in just because we did have an advantage emotionally,
in that way. At the same time, it's a disadvantage because it's distracting.
[You're in] the middle of the challenge, and then all of a sudden you look
over and there's your girlfriend. It's a little bit like, "Whoa, wait, what's
)n
going onr"
tI
er,
Jen:Well, I have, yeah. All the guys did. She would just shoo me
an
Zoi:Ah, well, not outright. [Laughs.]I mean, Padrna is Padma. Get
Did you flirt with Padma?
away like a fly.
out of here. She's hot. I mean, it was kind of a running joke.
ey
Every morning we were like, "Ah, what's Padma going to be
wearing today?" And Jen and I being lesbians, you know, there's
Lisa too. We were all kind of like one of the dudes. Like, "Oooh,
let's go look at Padma today:' It was definitely lighthearted. Padma's
ne
.I
hard to flirt with. She doesn't make it easy, that's for sure. Shes not
're
know, [through] eye contact. She wasn't doing a whole lot of eye
letting on. She's certainly not acknowledging any type of eye contact
or anything like that. For me at least, that's how lesbians let lesbians
contact. Maybe she's a lesbian, I don't know.
How does a girl from Seattle meet a girl from Brooklyn?
Jen:We ended up working in the same kitchen and just liked each
,a-
n't
it
other right away.
Zoi:I remember to this day walking into the kitchen and seeing Jen. She and I both kind of looked at each other and
there was this instantaneous friendship. We both just
liked each other right away. Part of it was that were
both strong female chefs. We became friends over the
When Jen hits the
stove, the Aries in her
takes over and the fire
really heats up
course of four years. We were both in relationships and eventually we were
both not in relationships and our relationship changed.
Jen:And we both are alpha Aries. We're both supediery, so working together
was always really fun! In the beginning, I was a sous chef and she got hired
into the restaurant I was working at. We always looked forward to working
together side-by-side 'cause we'djust kick ass. Just the same work ethic and
[the) same mentality and it was a really good combination.
What are your comfort foods?
Zoi:Roasted chicken. I love roasted chicken. Lots of lemon, rosemary, garlic. I
could literally just eat roasted chicken and salad and be happy. There's a dish
that I ate growing up that's a Greek dish called giouvetsi. I really like pho.
If I'm hung over or not feeling great, pho is kind of medicinal. Like, after I
eat it, I almost feel high.
Jen:Anything that's braised: a short rib or oxtails, roasted chicken and Zoi
to find the other aspects in the culinary fields, the other jobs that don't pay
makes really good Greek salad meatballs called keftedes. I have a thing for
as well [and) aren't as stressful. I hate to say it, it might be a lot like the
Salisbury steak from my childhood. Mashed potatoes and Salisbury steak
corporate world, but [women) will try to not find the job that's gonna take
up your entire life and stress you out.
smothered in mushrooms and onions.
Jen, your cooking has hints of French, Italian and Spanish. And you
I have to ask-Zoi,
have been mentored by many exceptional women chefs. Tell me a bit
Zoi:I can make a delicious pasta salad. I just didn't that day, for many, many
why couldn't you make a simple pasta salad?
reasons. The error was more in the fact that I decided to serve it [at all],
more about your culinary path.
Jen:I came to San Francisco after working in some great Manhattan restau-
instead of sticking to my guns and saying, "No, I am not going to make
rants. I came here definitely for the food. Traci Des Jardins was the up-and-
pasta salad on TopChef,'and,"This isn't what I want it to be so I won't serve
coming female chef. I met her in New York and I had worked for a female
it:' Lesson learned.
chef in New York, but Traci
What's your take on Cat Cora?
had this sort of amazing presence-kind of a fierce presence.
Zoi:Well, I have to say I don't know her, obviously. When I first heard of Cat
She connected me with Loretta
here. Totally stealing my thunder:'You know, a little jealous. I'm like,"That's
Cora, I'm like, "Wait a minute, a half-Greek lesbian:>"I was like, "Get out of
Keller, who was my mentor,
my angle!" But no, honestly, I'm not that competitive of a person that I'm
who I worked with for a couple
going to talk shit about somebody because they're doing well. Her style is
of years. And later on I ended
definitely a little different than my style, but I'd love to meet her on a per-
up working with Traci again.
sonal level and see what her style is really like. But all we see is what's on TV,
I'd have to say that the female
which we all know is not real life. So yeah, she seems like a cool lady.
chefs that I worked with, the
Why were you cut over rosemary mushrooms, Zoi?
women from River Cafe, Rose
Zoi:I do not think I was cut over rosemary mushrooms. I realize that our dish
and Ruthie, Loretta Keller and
may have not been considered a favorite among the guests, but I will con-
Traci, they all tend to have this
tinue to argue and defend the fact that we made a good dish with heart and
more mentor-y, more nurturing quality about them. Whereas the male
integrity. Carpaccio of beef is about beef. We chose a good-quality product
chefs, you're more afraid of them, so you're acting out of fear. Female chefs
and felt good about the end result. I wouldn't want a highly acidic com-
I wanted to impress and take on their qualities.
ponent paired with it, otherwise the delicate flavor of the beef would be
How is it being lesbian in a male-dominated field?
overpowered. And as far as mushrooms and rosemary ...give me a break.
Jen:Well, I tend to be like one of the boys. When I worked in New Orleans
They pair well together and with bee£ I stand by that. I deserved to stay,
but alas ...not my decision.
and was 19 years old, I was surprised that there was so much sexism and
racism in the kitchen. But that was in the South. That was intimidating,
Are you both partnering up professionally after Top Chen
working in a place where all the chefs were male and all the line cooks were
Zoi: I personally am trying to get to a place where I can have my own
male and the women were only working salad stations. It had that hierar-
restaurant.
feel to it. But it's never really posed a
Jen:It's hard to say at this point. It's so busy right now, it's kind of hard to think
major challenge to me, and I think that's mostly because I'm a competitive
about. I think we play around with the idea of opening up a place, but I
person. I've always been taught, and felt, that if you can prove yourself, you
think we're going to wait a couple of months to make a final decision about
that. We'll have to see what happens.
chy and that male-dominated-kitchen
will be accepted. In the kitchen, it's much like a sport. If you're not going to
win the race, if you're not going to be the best producer, then no, you aren't
One last important question. Who does the cooking in your house?
going to be accepted.
Zoi:It's probably whoever didn't work that night.
Jen:We don't cook that much. Just on the weekends, and I think she probably
So "t's more about personality?
Jen:I do believe that if I went up for a job with someone [male) with the same
tends to cook more than me. What usually happens is that someone has the
caliber as me for an executive chef position, I guarantee that he would get
concept, and then basically if I say,"I want to make this;' then she'll end up
10 percent more money than I would. I think that still exists. I think it's
being the assistant. I think she tends to cook more than me. I'm kind oflazy
like that. I make reservations. ■
personality. I also think that a lot of times in this industry women will try
44
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Meet the reservedlesbianIronChef.
By Co11een
M. Lee
a huge part of my upbringing;' she says. She developed a love for cooking and
had ambitions at an early age, "My godfather owned many restaurants, which
helped develop my love for them. I always knew I wanted to have a restaurant
one day. At 15, I made a business plan and presented it to him. I met Julia Child
when I was in my early 20s, and she gave me advice on where to go to culinary
school and what it takes to become a chef;' she adds.
Cora is passionate about her career and being a trailblazer for women culinary wannabes. "I think chat becoming the first female Iron Chef has been
great for women and young girls because it has helped to break down barriers.
The fact that I am open about my spouse and kids hopefully inspires others to
have a wonderfully open life as well;' she says.
Cora is intense (and not to mention sexy, even in her chef's jacket), but can
also play it cool when things get heated. One photo shoot in particular put her
in hot water with feminists. Last year, Cora agreed to pose in a short skirt, heels
and a low-cut top for FHM. Many screamed that her decision contributed to
the objectification of women. She shrugs it off saying, "I made a decision
to
do
one shoot for FHM, which other celebrity chefs have done as well. I felt it was
done in a very professional and fun way. I have turned down other offers, if it
was a medium that I was not comfortable with. I did the shoot for myself and
when I am 80 and saggy, I can look back at it and smile:'
And Cora is getting noticed for more than her killer cooking and short
-~n camera, Cat Cora is a Tasmanian devil, dicing and slicing while directing a cabal of sous chefs on Iron Chef America. The ouzo-slamming Greek
skirts. She was recently awarded the Hero Visibility Award from the Human
Rights Campaign (HRC) for her work with Chefs for Humanity, about which
girl from Mississippi is the founder of Chefs for Humanity (an organization
that provides nutrition education and emergency and humanitarian aid to
reduce hunger in the world), and the author of two cookbooks-Cookingfrom
the Hip and Cat Cora'.sKitchen-but
her foremost claim to fame is becoming
the first and only female Iron Chef. Late last year, just as this Food Network
darling was turning up the heat in cable television's kitchen, and garnering fans
from around the globe, she took steps to come out. Lesbians around the country applauded, but Cora herself seems nonplussed by this kind of attention.
"My fan base grows as my career grows. I have a great straight and gay fan
"I thinkthat becomingthe firstfemale
IronChef has been greatfor women
and younggirlsbecauseit has helped
to breakdown barriers."
base, both of whom have always been super supportive;' Cora says. Already
media savvy, Cora chooses her words carefully and reminds us chat cooking
she is truly humble. "The work chat the Human Rights Campaign does on
and motherhood are her top priorities. So how does she navigate being a
behalf of families like yours and mine is crucial and necessary. I truly appreci-
celebrity chef and a mom? Cora says, "Being a mom means everything to me.
ate their efforts. My organization, Chefs for Humanity, much like the HRC,
Motherhood is what I am most proud of. At this point, our sons are too young
was founded with the sincere belief that we can make the world a better place.
to really grasp the concept of celebrity."
Being honored by a like-minded organization, such as HRC, is a tremendous
honor to me:'
It's clear Cora prefers to keep the focus on food and away from her personal life. She's mum about how her professional relationship with Elizabeth
And what does someone who cooks for so many eat herself? "My favor-
Falkner, the famous and publicly out pastry chef and restaurateur (and one of
ite meal would include having my friends and family present. I would start
with cheese, crackers and antipasti, [then serve] lamb shanks, fava beans and a
Cora's sous chefs on Iron Chef America) evolved. She simply states chat they
"have been colleagues for years:' I was hoping chat she would say they double
Greek salad. A great red wine such as Sangiovese or Malbec would of course be
dated with their life partners.
included, as well as something light for dessert, like chocolate-dipped baklava:'
Cora comes from a family of great cooks and admits that she learned a lot
of her technique as she was growing up. "Both Greek and Southern foods were
46 I curve
For some unique reason, only Cat Cora would consider a piece of chocolatedipped baklava a light dessert. ■
SanFrancisco
International
LGBT
FilmFestivalJune19-29,2008www.frameline.org
Ditch your big-city attitude and see
what's out there. By Kelli Dunham
Rainbow flags, ho hum. Oh gee, another pink triangle butt plug? What a sur-
cial occasions. Just because Pride is being held in Billings, doesn't mean that
prise. More drag queens? Yawn.
If that's how you reacted to your most recent Pride outing, it might be time
event happen:'
[people in] Helena or Missoula don't participate in making the wonderful
to leave your cynicism at home and make a Pride pilgrimage. You'll be much
Considering that Montana is more than 600 miles long and 250 miles
less likely to run into your ex (ick) or your therapist (double ick) and some cit-
wide, the fact that the entire state cooperates to make the event happen seems
ies that are not typical Pride destinations can nevertheless put on quite a party.
just a tad shy of a happy rainbow miracle.
Here's a few worth traveling to:
If you head to Montana Pride (which this year will be held in Billings; the
location changes every two years),June 20-22, come prepared for a full party.
Big-CityEvent,Down-Home
Feel:Ferndale,
Mich.(motorcitypride.com)
Motor City Pride can't logically be considered a small Pride. With more
than 35,000 LGBTQ and allied people heading to downtown Ferndale each
June to make merry, it's the biggest event of its kind in Michigan. But while
"Detroit" and "Pride destination" are not thought of as synonymous, perhaps
they should be.
When asked to describe the activities that take place in the Detroit Metro
area over Pride weekend (May 31-June 1), Chene Koppitz, the Triangle
Foundation's director of community events, responded at length. Not only is
there a commitment ceremony and a pre-Pride film event, there is also a family picnic, a golf outing and women's events organized by Where the Girls Are.
On the day of the festival, things are rounded out with tons of entertainment,
a doggie drag show, a car show, a beer garden and designated family and youth
areas, with special activities for both groups. Koppitz explains, "Everyone, no
matter who they are or what they want or need from our event ...can find what
they're looking for at Motor City Pride:'
If you're visiting downtown Ferndale in the days before Pride weekend,
keep a close eye on area businesses; a Pride-themed window display contest
helps local stores conjure up the festival mood.
ComeOne,ComeAll:Billings,Mont.(prideinbillings.org)
Montana folks are wonderfully understated. When asked what's special about
their Pride celebration, board member Traci Briske explains, "Montana is a
big state and sometimes we don't get to see friends, with the exception of spe-
48 I curve
You'll find vendors where you can get tattooed or pierced (or maybe both),
a political rally, a breakfast gathering on Saturday and a nondenominational
worship service on Sunday morning. But don't let all this homo-happiness
distract you from the Montana Pride parade, which is led by gay veterans.
Allied community groups, including local churches and, yes, the Shriners, participate too. (And, Diane Anderson-Minshall,
be the grand marshal this year.)
CURVE
1
s executive editor, will
Not that everything has always been smooth for the Pride wranglers in
this Western state. Before the last parade Briske says, "We did have quite the
[antigay] blog going in the Billings Gazette. But those people who sat behind
their computers didn't show up at the parade:' Robin McClure, co-chair of the
Pride committee, says, "We did have one lone protester, and it was really rather
sad because the kid couldn't even spell his derogatory words properly:'
It's morethanOKin OKC:Oklahoma
City(okcpride.org)
I have a bit of a personal history with Oklahoma City Pride. More than a
decade ago, I sat in a coffee shop two blocks away from where the parade
passed and nearly pulled a muscle in my neck trying to see all the action. I
was a sophomore at a local Bible college that routinely kicked people out for
"particular friendships," and I didn't want to risk my scholarship for a closer
look at what was happening with my people.
Cathy Charish, co-chair of the festival, says of those early days of the parade, 'J\t the first OKC Pride parade ... the city's KKK leaders decided they
would protest and run off the 'fags; but when they saw the large numbers of
LGBT participants, they got in their vehicles and left in a hurry:'
Twenty-one years later, the parade has grown into a three-day event
that attracts LGBT folks from as far away as Kansas and Texas, as well as
supportive allies from the community. This year, OKC Pride starts with an
evening parade beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 20, followed by a two-day
festival at nearby Memorial Park.
s
The very energetic Pride association also sponsors other activities throughout the weekend including a drag bingo night, a formal "gayla'' event and a
e
volunteer appreciation dinner. Herland Sister Resources, the local women's
organization, traditionally schedules a picnic on Saturday afternoon.
Oklahoma City is known for its friendliness (I was once in a 12-car pileup
there during an ice storm; everyone went for a congenial coffee afterward) and
s
the Pride festivities are no exception. Organizers have built a "double back"
into the parade route, so that folks who are part of the parade can get to see
the other participants strut their stuff. Yup, right friendly.
wildflowers. While Eugene's is the second largest Pride celebration in Oregon
Hippies,
Hipsters
andLesbians:
Eugene,
Ore.(eugenepride.org}
(only Portland's is bigger), it still retains a distinct coziness.
This year, Eugene's Pride festivities take place on Saturday, Aug. 9. There is
Eugene has the reputation of being a hotbed of hippie culture; it is also completely surrounded by breathtaking Pacific Northwest beauty. If the town
no parade, but you can soak up some local cu.
had a signature fragrance, it would definitely contain both patchouli and
ing the downtown Eugene Saturday Market. At the outdoor market, which
,, before the festival by explor-
has been around since 1970, you can find all things tie-dyed, eat groovy food,
e
buy original crafts and sign petitions for a few dozen progressive causes. The
Pride festival starts at noon at Alton Baker Park, a large open area. You will
a
e
y
f
Makesureto bring:
Donotbring:
Camera,
cashandsunblock:
Thesearethe essentials.
A reasonably
sizedpurseor
totebag:Bigenoughto holdPride
souvenirs,
but notblockthe views
of otherfestival-goers.
Extracamerabatteriesand
memory
card:Sinceyou'llneed
at least100 picturesof that certain
hottieyouspotted.
Highheels:You'llbebreakingoff
the heelsyourselfafterstandingin
themfor hours.
Toomuchalcohol:
Boozeis fun
upto a point,buttoo muchand
you'rethe crazycrierwhoeveryone
remembers.
Yourex-girlfriend:
Prideis a time
to moveon andpossiblyhookup,
nothangoutwithyourex.
never have to fight your fellow queer for a parking spot here.
Eugene doesn't have a designated gay bar, but when you've had enough of
the festival you can make your way to nearby Skinner Butte Park. The park
(no, it was not named by Bart Simpson, and locals are very much over that
joke) is the perfect place to watch the sunset. Want
to
make it a weekend~
You can spend Sunday exploring Eugene's many bike trails or go to one of the
Pacific beaches, which are less than 45 minutes away. "Because summers in
the Eugene area tend to be mild;' explains Jer Megowan, festival coordinator,
"people here actually enjoy the outdoors:• ■
))
For moreSmall-TownPrides,visit curvemag.com.
June 2008
I49
Pride is a time to remember our history, from the tragedies to the triumphs. It's
1970-2006. I remember being a baby dyke in Chicago in 1985 and reading
a time when lesbians of all ages should look back and reflect on how far we have
about Kowalski's case-how
come as a movement, and how far we have to go in the goal to achieve equality.
Karen Thompson fought to gain custody of her now-brain-damaged partner
However, since the mere thought of addressing queer history in schools
sends conservatives into a panic-induced seizure, it's up to us to preserve our
she got hit by a drunk driver and how her lover
from Kowalski's homophobic parents.
I was also awestruck by the original mimeographed
copy of the
Radicalesbians' manifesto, Woman-IdentifiedWoman, something I had previ-
past for future generations.
ously only read in anthologies. It had always been like an urban legend to me;
TheLesbianHerstory
Archives
{LHA),Brooklyn,
N.Y.
now here in front of me was this original document in which I read, "What
Inside 484 14th St., an unassuming brownstone on a residential block in Park
is a lesbian? A lesbian is the rage of all women condensed to the point of
explosion:'
Slope, Brooklyn, is the largest collection of lesbian-specific materials anywhere
in the world. Memorabilia ranges from a box donated by an average lesbian
The building in Park Slope is owned free and clear-it
was paid for in 1997,
and containing her life story, to the infamous Lavender Menace T-shirt said
only four years after it was purchased with money donated from lesbians all
to be worn by Rita Mae Brown at NOW's Second Congress to Unite Women
over the world, along with a small loan. The grassroots organization is staffed
in 1970.
The contents of lesbian history has been preserved by a legion of volun-
entirely by volunteers, some as fresh as Devin, a young woman who has been
teers who began the archive way back in 1974 in the pantry of Joan Nestle and
volunteering for only a year, and some like Maxine Wolfe, a long-term member
of the LHA collective.
Deborah Edel's Upper West Side apartment.
You can find out more about "the collection;' as the LHA'.s massive inven-
it special is so many other people would have written off lesbian-feminism as
tory is referred to, in the LHA'.s handout A Brief History of the LesbianHerstory
idealistic, something unattainable, but the LHA proves it exits:' And, Wolfe
Archives,which you can pick up in the LHA entryway or on the organization's
stresses, the main principle of the LHA is open access. "No one is ever turned
website, lesbianherstoryarchives.org.
away from an event or refused the newsletter for lack of funds, nor are their
reasons for visiting or researching questioned:' - SS
Nestle says, "The building itsel£ the cooperative way of the collective and
Wolfe says, "One of the most important things about the LHA that make
collection are as much a historical artifact as the documents in the LHA'.s collections ...a delta of cultural consciousness formed by old queer femme-butch
TheJuneL.MazerArchives,
WestHollywood,
Calif.
knowledges, gay liberation and early feminism overlay a layer of socialism, mo-
When Bay Area lesbians put their priceless collection of artifacts and memora-
ments of decolonization thinking and a willingness to change categories, some-
bilia in the hands of Los Angeles lesbian allies for safekeeping,June Mazer took
times called post-modernism:'
Nestle wrote an essay on the history of the archives and how volunteers
lesbian history, suspecting that the experiences she and her lesbian sisters were
spread the word, "The Will to Remember;' in A FragileUnion. I recommend
living in the 1970s and '80s would likely hold significance for the future.
reading it as a primer about both the archive movement in general and the LHA
They were fearless young activists, who marched, protested and put their
careers on the line for the right to choose whom to love.
specifically, since it sometimes seems that our younger generations of lesbians
have already forgotten-or
perhaps never learned-dyke
history.
I was hit in the gut when I walked into the main room and saw an exhibit
about Sharon Kowalski, part of a larger exhibit, Snatches of Lesbian Activism
so Icurve
the responsibility to heart. She, as much as anyone, saw the need to preserve
That's why, says Jeanne Cordova, a baby dyke when she joined the closely
knit community in the 1970s, they decided to name the collection for Mazer
when she died unexpectedly of cancer in 1987.
Now, 20 years after it opened in West Hollywood, the June L. Mazer
Lesbian Archives is fulfilling the promise that Mazer prophetically saw. A recent
was a lot of sleeping around;' she says unapologetically.
"It's less political now;' Cordova believes. "The younger generation has
renovation and a renewed passion for the collection are bringing the archives to
a whole new generation.
somehow accepted the notion that their job and the amount of money they
Some volatile and dynamic years are depicted in photographs, periodicals,
their sisters or brothers. It's a change in priority. Back then, we thought it was
and personal letters and manuscripts, housed in the upstairs facility just down
make are more important than the political consciousness or camaraderie with
the most important thing we could be doing:'
The June L. Mazer Archives contains more than 2,300 fiction and nonfic-
the 1:treet from the West Hollywood bar scene.
There are beautiful images of the determined,
radical and rebellious,
tion tides, including a complete set of Vice Versa, the earliest known lesbian
including the young Cordova, who was on hand to speak at the recent Mazer
periodical (1947-48), and most of The Ladder from the 1950s and '60s. The
Archives open house. While she studied to be a social worker, Cordova's activ-
collection holds personal letters, scrapbooks, artwork, audio and videotapes,
ism drastically altered that plan.
radio recordings, newspapers, magazines and eye-catching artifacts such as
"There was a lot of anger in those days because we were much more op-
baseball uniforms from the 1940s.
pressed;' Cordova recalls. "I walked out of UCLA with a master's degree and
Among her favorite pieces, says board president Ann Giagni, are the per-
into a job as a social worker. I had already been out so I said, 'Fuck it, I'm not
sonal letters, diaries and photographs, "particularly the old photographs from
going back in the closet just because I got a professional job: At lunchtime I
the 1930s:'
talked about my girlfriend and two days later I got fired:'
Unfair treatment fueled a growing resentment and inspired the gay community to model its fight after the Civil Rights movement.
"We had the example from the blacks marching in the South and on the
"It's pretty special to see a woman sort of grow and mature;' says Giagni.
"We have one-of-a-kind items, handwritten letters that are very intimate and
personal accounts ... it's like a footprint that you find:'
For that reason, the Mazer Archives is eager to receive mementos from ev-
East Coast;' says Cordova. "We saw Martin Luther King speaking and people
eryday people that could one day tell what went on during this time period.
were listening:'
Politics was an integral part of peoples' lives then. On the West Coast wom-
"Were grassroots; we want a place that in the future, individuals or historians or
g
er
en in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Sacramento communicated
scholars can come in to see what life was like for ordinary lesbians:' - LKS ■
er
those decades as a time of great passion-both
"We figure the larger institutions will go after the celebrities;' says Giagni.
through many queer newspapers and other publications. Cordova remembers
political and physical. "There
) For more on Lesbianlibraries, visit curvemag.com.
e
e;
at
of
7,
d
n
er
ed
ir
a-
k
e
re
ir
ly
er
June 2008
I51
For one day, the streets are lined with women. By Kristin A. Smith
ticipating in the SLC Dyke March is very much a political act. Balken says that
the Church of Latter Day Saints is "not outwardly hostile" toward the LGBT
community, but that it generally tries to pretend the community doesn't exist.
Turning a blind eye is hard when the march goes down the busiest street in the
state and right past Salt Lake Temple. Yes, the temple. Organizers are expecting
around 1,000 women to march chis year.
PORTLAND,
ORE.:Friday,June20,Monument
Square,dykemarchportland.com
Portland seems to be the new mecca for hipster lesbians-they
are flocking
there in droves, adorned in worn-out Diesel jeans and tight T-shirts. Even the
rainy winter isn't slowing chem down. With the greatest influx coming from the
San Francisco Bay Area, you can be sure some of the SF Dyke March rowdiness has made its way north. The Dykes on Bikes (often bicycles, chat is) are
bound to be in abundance, and you can guarantee there will be some hot D IY
costumes ... here's hoping for tutus and titties all around. And if that isn't enticing enough, there is also a trans march chat takes place at the same time.
SANFRANCISCO:
Saturday,
June28,Dolores
Park,thedykemarch.org
We can all agree chat San Francisco is the gayest place in the country. Sure,
there's Fire Island and Provincetown, but in terms of densely populated gayness,
San Francisco is king, or often queen, of the world. While you may not be able
to buy women's clothes in the Castro, you can sure as hell take over the city from
there, at least for one day. The Dyke March didn't start in San Francisco, but it
The Dyke March is a powerful event. So powerful, in fact, that it makes women
definitely could have. This year will be its sweet 16, so prepare to be kissed, or
want to spell "woman" with a "y;' add a drum to the circle and embrace our
more-there
will be 50,000 hotties to choose from.
collective herstory. It's a once-a-year reminder that despite our differences, we
really are one.
The Dyke March history is as rich and varied as the women who march in
NEWYORKCITY:Saturday,
June28,BryantPark,nycdykemarch.org
it. In 1993, 20,000 lesbians converged on the streets of Washington, D.C., to
not shut down the city, the way Puerto Rican Heritage Day does, but it's sure
form the first Dyke March. Organized by the Lesbian Avengers, a queer activist
to make a serious splash-15,000
group, the march was a political event aimed at raising visibility and awareness
raised New Yorker, says, "NYC dykers are damn spirited, damn hot and damn
festive:' Of course they are.
about lesbian issues. And that's how it has remained.
Come on, it's New York, how could you go wrong? The Dyke March might
dykes marched last year. Dina, a born and
Unlike the larger Pride festivities that have fallen victim to corporate takeover, the Dyke Marches have stayed true to their grassroots. Many marches
OAKLAND,
CALIF.:
Saturday,
Aug.23,LakeMerritt,sistahssteppin.org
continue to be run without permits or corporate sponsorship.
Here's a list of some of the Dyke Marches around the country. As with
The Oakland Dyke March is beautifully East Bay. Titled "Sistahs Steppin' in
anything, it's best to shop locally, so check with your local organizers to see if
bisexual community of women to reclaim their lives from fear and create their
there's a march happening in your city.
spirituality:' Don't worry if you don't think of yourself as a siscah, this march is
Pride;' chis march was created to "empower the diverse East Bay lesbian and
for anyone who believes in the need for a siscah-hood of women. ■
WESTHOLLYWOOD
AND LOSANGELES,
CALIF.:WeHo,June 6, San Vicente,
myspace.com/wehodykemarch;
L.A.,June7, SunsetBoulevard,
dykemarchla.com
It's ironic that there are two dyke marches in a city where everyone drives. But hey,
give it up for Los Angeles and its representation of lesbians beyond The L Word.
SALTLAKECITY:Saturday,
June7, myspace.com/swerveutah
Studies have shown that the more children you have, the more likely you are
to
have a gay child. In Utah, where the size of the average family far exceeds
the national average, you can be sure chat there are a lot of homos. Brandie
Balken, organizer for the Salt Lake City Dyke March, says that SLC's queer
community is "a vibrant, strong culture that is still a little bit underground:' In
a state where sexual orientation is still grounds for being fired from a job, par-
s2
I curve
Boston-June13,bostondykemarch.com
Seattle-June28,seattledykemarch.com
Toronto,
Canada-June28,pridetoronto.com/dyke
Atlanta-July5, atlantapride.org
Washington
D.C.-TBA,myspace.com/dcdykemarch
Chicago-TBA,myspace.com/dykemarchchicago
Minneapolis-TBA,
geocities.com/tcavengers
Philadelphia-TBA,
myspace.com/philadelphiadykemarch
Black Prides remind us of our community's diversity.
By Jenna V. Loceff
festivals cer-
Next year will be the 10th official year. However, Chicago Pride is not just
tainly set out to embrace all aspects
a weekend; it is an ongoing organization whose mission is to constantly sup-
of LGBT life. But while all of us,
port the community. (windycitychicagoblackpride.org)
Mainstream
Pride
can stand up and march against
homophobia, parts of our own community are being forgotten.
"Some
of
the
mainstream
issues that need to be addressed are
not the same issues in the African
American
gay community;'
says
Kimberly Jones, vice president of
the Black Pride Society in Detroit.
Hence
the formation
International
of the
Federation of Black
Prides, Inc. (IFBP).
CHARLOTTE
BLACK
GAYPRIDE(Charlotte,
N.C.) • JULY17-20
2008 marks the fourth celebration of Charlotte Black Gay Pride. Lynkoya
Handy, one of its founders, says that the first Pride weekend was planned
because "our orientation as well as our heritage left us out of both the gay and
the African American communities. We set out to build a bridge spanning
both communities:' And the organizers were shocked when, in the first year,
over 7,000 people attended.
Charlotte Pride is always the third weekend in July, from Thursday to
Sunday. The focal point of the weekend is the expo on Saturday. It's an all-day
event for people of all ages and it includes entertainment (spoken word, poetry
and theater), vendors and workshops. (charlotteblackgaypride.com)
"For African Americans who live
within their own community, who don't go to the, say, gay districts, it is impor-
LITTLEROCKBLACK
PRIDE(LittleRock,Ark.) • JULY18-20
tant to have support;' says Charles Nelson, president of Chicago Windy City
After visiting Houston Splash in 2005, Stanley Rogers knew he had to do
Black LGBT-SGL Pride. Films and literary events are big parts of the IFBP
something. "I was amazed at how many could get together and have so much
festivals, as well as workshops and discussions about religion.
fun in one weekend. I wanted to have the same thing in Arkansas:•
While Baltimore and Atlanta host the biggest Black Prides, we
decided to take a look at some of the best-kept secrets in the African
American gay community.
NEWARK-ESSEX
PRIDE{Newark,N.J.) • JUNE9-15
After moving to Newark, June Dowell-Burton, 38, founder of Pride
week and president of the Newark-Essex Pride Coalition, helped put
on a gay prom.
"Newark Pride Alliance held the gay prom to commemorate Sakia
Gunn (who was slain in a hate crime in 2003). All of our events have
some sort of educational and political component;' Dowell-Burton
says. Events addressing civil unions and legal matters for the LGBT
community top the list.
The Newark-Essex Pride Coalition is in its fourth year and tries to
create activities that have social value.
Though most of the 5,000 participants last year were people of
color, "we don't necessarily categorize [the event) as Black Pride, because we have such a diverse community here;' says Dowell-Burton.
(newarkessexpride.org)
CHICAGO
WINDYCITYBLACK
LGBT-SGL
PRIDE{Chicago)• JULY3-7
Charles Nelson, 53, president of Chicago Windy City Black LGBTSGL Pride, feels strongly about the need for an African American
Pride weekend. "The importance is because of the difference in culture. The African American society is not as visible. We have venues
that everyone will feel comfortable [at J;'he says.
"It seems that at a Pride festival people come out and then they
think that's that. [In the African American community] we don't have
the same autonomy that [our] heterosexual counterparts have:•
54
Icurve
I'll admitthereis something
compellingaboutbeingsurrounded
bya sea
of otherblackfolks,especially
other
queers,celebrating
Pridein a few
waysthatfeel bothgayandauthenticallyAfricanAmerican.
Ourpartiesare
boisterous,
filledwith singing,dancing,
laughterand,yes,realsoulfood.Earl
Fowlkes,presidentandCEOof the IFBP,
knowsthis well."In the UnitedStates,
blackfolksgettheirinformation
from
the mainstream
media,andthatalone
presentsthe struggleof havingto live
a duallife,"hesays."Theyfeelforced
to makea choicebetweenbeingblack
andbeinggay,andthat'sa choiceno
oneshouldhaveto make."
"Peopleshouldbeallowedto
bethemselves
all of thetime,"says
Fowlkes,
andthefestivalshelpto create
a safeatmosphere.
Hesayscultural
differenceis the mostnotablethingthat
setsthemapartfromotherPrides,as
thereareworkshops
anddiscussions
that
pertainonlyto blacklife andissues.
WhenWelmoreCook,Theodore
KirklandandErnestHopkinsorganized
thefirst blackgayPridemarchin
Washington,
D.C.,on May25, 1991,
Fowlkeswasamazedthat 800 people
showedup in thefreezingrainto show
theirsupport.
"Notonlydidtheyshowup in bonechillingweather,theyareblackand
theyshowedup,"he laughs.By1995,
underFowlkes'leadership,
the D.C.
BlackPrideeventhadalmost3,000
attendees.
Today,about350,000peopleattend
BlackPrideacrossthe countryeach
year.Newark,N.J.,wasthe newestadditionto the lineup,andD.C.boastsan
almost40 percentfemaleattendance.
That'san importantpointfor
Fowlkes,
whousedto shuttlehis
lesbiansisterto all the events.AnAIDS
activistfromthe earlyyearswhosees
the BlackPriderootsin that movement,
Fowlkessayslesbiansarecriticalto
Pride."Wehaveforgottenthatwhen
the epidemicwasat its height,it was
lesbianswholookedafterthe sickand
infected,andoftentimeshelpedto
nursethembackto health."-Althea
Cunningham
festival and witnessing the crowds and the camaraderie on display.
"I didn't know there was a Pride in Detroit;' Jones says. "I immediately assisted in any way I could. I volunteered for a year and have been
on the board for a very long time now:'
Involved with the Black Pride Society since 1999, she says that one
of the things she has noticed is that boards of Black Pride have gone
from being predominantely male to being predominantly female. Once
more women got involved, more all-inclusive events sprang up.
This year's theme is "Embracing Our Past, Celebrating Our
Future:' Started in Detroit in 1996, it is now in its 13th year. Though
many things have changed, like the inclusion of more women, it has
kept some traditional events. At Palmer Park, where the first founders
planted a tree, there is a candlelight vigil and prayer. Thursday boasts
a film festival highlighting the African American online TV show The
So in June of 2005, founder Rogers and about 400 other people gathered for
the first Little Rock Black Pride. The event rents out a local park and features
dance battles and live DJs.
Lovers & Friends Show.
"We try to keep the crowd entertained and give people time to explore,
have fun and educate themselves;' Jones says. (hotterthanjuly.com)
"It is all about bridging the gap;' says Rogers. The plan for the future is not
just to celebrate for one weekend but to have an open place where people can
INDIANA
BLACK
GAYPRIDE(Indianapolis)• AUGUST
8-10
hold more events throughout the year. He adds that the "mainstream" crowd
Tiffany Dow, the 30-year-old president of Indiana Black Pride, has been in-
also has a parade, but it doesn't conflict with Black Pride. "(The] main focus is
volved since its inception in 2005. A native oflndiana, she feels strongly about
that we all support them regardless of the color of the skin. We are all in the
having an organization for the black gay community. "We are in a unique posi-
same boar;' says Rogers. (littlerockblackpride.com)
tion of dealing with both the racism and the heterosexism;' she says about the
community she describes as invisible. Along with the vendors and performers
DETROIT'S
HOTTER
THANJULY(Detroit)• JULY21-29
Kimberly Jones is vice president of the Black Pride Society in Detroit. Jones
got involved in the "Hotter Than July" weekend after visiting Atlanta's Pride
that you might find at a mainstream Pride festival, there is a gospel service held
on Sunday every year. And the festival encourages African American LGBT
folks to be themselves. (indianablackpride.com)
■
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June 2008
I 55
How Kendall Clawson found her bliss at
the gayest job ever. By Alison Peters
Imagine a world where your top workday priority is finding a replacement drag
ties-like
queen to call bingo numbers, Where the mayor of your city, with an out daugh-
year later, something she deems "allPortland-it's
ter of his own, pledges support to your fledgling community center. This is not a
everyone. Portland is a great place to be able to take a little upshoot like the Q
dream: The location is Portland, Ore., the building is the Q Center, and Kendall
Center and grow it into something amazing:'
Clawson is its first executive director, an unabashedly straight-shooter just settling in for the long haul.
"My first day of work was during Pride;' Clawson remembers. "It was awesome, like this big party to welcome me:' Her infectiously blissful attitude was
key to uniting Clawson and the Q Center in the first place. A year ago, Clawson
reached a point in her life where she needed something different. After 20 years
of working in the corporate world, Clawson wanted a position she could grow
and build. She and her partner Michelle, who were married in Massachusetts in
2006, talked about relocating.
The couple had visited Portland several times and loved it. Shortly before
one of their visits, Clawson happened across an ad for the center's executive
director position and thought,"! could do that!" A few inquiries later she scheduled a last-minute interview. During her follow-up interview she told the board:
"Look, this is my job. I'll go through the paces, but tell me what I need to do to
nail this thing down:' While Clawson was up-front with the board about the
challenges the Q Center would face in hiring an African American woman, she
was calmly optimistic, imagining the center as though she was "looking at delicious pie, thinking-where
do I start?"
A month later she and Michelle packed up the house and their two dogs for
the drive from West Springfield, Mass., to Portland. That everything went so
smoothly was proof to Clawson that she'd made the right decision. 'Tm already
lucky.Just out the gate, I walked into a situation that was healthy, where ... people worked well and respected each other's ideas. I have a terrific board who support me like crazy, and they're conscious of their role as board members and as
people supporting an African American in leadership:' Portland's unique quali-
56
Icurve
its LGBTQ designation-are
something Clawson still appreciates a
thinking about and including
In 2003, metro Portland surveyed its denizens on whether a queer center
the overwhelming answer was "Yes:' Now the
mission is co create a space "co increase the visibility of and foster connection
within the LGBTQ community:' The work on the center happened with the
advice, direction and hands of the people it was built for. Portland lacks a
centralized, distinctly queer community like Greenwich Village or the Castro,
so it was important to find a space chat was centrally located and easily accessible
by foot and public transportation.
Clawson arrived just as Oregon was gearing up for the fight for domestic
partnership. The Q Center, which itself stays neutral, hosted candlelight vigils
supporting the community through the law's extended passage: In May 2007,
state legislators voted to allow same-sex couples basic rights like visiting a partner
in the hospital, inheriting a deceased partner's estate and coverage on a partner's
insurance plan. This domestic partnership was challenged and its implementation delayed until Feb. 4, 2008. During the vigils, the Q Center's Achilles heel
was exposed: It needed more space.''.A.cchat point we had a place for the community to come home, a club house where they could celebrate, mourn and marry.
There were so many people that we knew we had co find a new space:'
Clawson envisions that the Q Center will become the absolute center of a
complex of queer organizations: cabaret next to realcors, massage therapists and
tax people-all sorts of resources in one building. The idea is to find yourself
connected to a community and to leave no one isolated. Clawson hopes for the
Q Center to provide that support for the community. "For the rest of their lives,
people might not get the struggle, but I can open che door and allow someone to
be just who they are-that's what we're about:' ■
was something necessary-and
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CALL 404.659.2000 • GROUPCODE:PRIDE
WOMENTACKLEFOOTBALL
YTHIN B Y C N D , THEYC N DDBE T R. BY LAURIEK. CHENDEN
"Feel that burn, baby! It's the end of the third quarter. Come on,
Michigan State Police, grew up playing softball and believes foot-
ladies:' Did she say "ladies"? On an unseasonably warm February
ball is "physically more demanding than any other sport:'
day, even for southern California, the California Quake women's
Even triathletes are shocked when they discover they're not
tackle football team sweats through practice drills on a high
in shape for football, says Jody Taylor of the So Cal Scorpions
school football field.
"Run hard, run hard, push, push;' comes the order, egging
in San Diego. "Not to mention the contact factor;' says Taylor.
on the team to run through the finish line, or do just five more
step-ups or three more bench presses. No slacking off, not even at
As the Long Beach-based Quake trudges through drills on
practice. Especially not at practice.
Blown-out knees, torn calves, ruptured Achilles tendons,
patches of dirt and grass that just a few months ago were a well-
neck injuries and every kind of strain and pain imaginable have
27-year-old player-owner, almost spontaneously combusts as she
afflicted women who play professional tackle football.
spouts out motivation. "Two-minute warning. Yeah baby, yeah.
Yes, that's tackle football. And you'd better
manicured 50-yard line, cornerback Catherine "Cat" Vivo, the
Feel it, baby, push, push, push:'
be in the best shape of your life, baby. They call
Vivo, a graphic designer by day, likes to
it professional, but the NFL this isn't. Taking
conjure images of brutal game-day moments
part usually costsmoney. While most teams sup-
when their energy is sapped, time is running
ply game uniforms, a player could easily spend
out and the other team is bearing down on
$250 for a helmet, pads and cleats.
their goal line. She and several other players
No one plays for the money. But the
have "1440" tattooed on their ankles, signify-
rewards are immeasurable. "Women juggle ca-
ing how many minutes a day they think about
reers, families and time in order to train, practice
football (all of them).
and prepare for each season and game;' says
"Yeah, baby!" You can't just dust off your
Jan Johnson, star quarterback for the West
cleats and play this sport on weekends. The
Michigan Mayhem in Kalamazoo.
preparation is grueling and the time com-
Johnson, a detective sergeant with the
58 I curve
"This sport is not for everyone. There has to be a certain level of
fearlessness, heart and drive:'
mitment is almost unreasonable for working
adults. But the chance to play a sport that most women were
the field have to do their job:'
told growing up they would never play is an opportunity many
can't miss.
you'll ever hear women saying that they are heavier than they
On the East Coast, they still have 20-degree days in late
really are. Michelle Friesen, a 27-year-old defensive back for the
February, so the Connecticut Crush won't practice outside until
Size does matter. The football field may be the only place
Quake, says she's 5-foot-6 and 125 pounds.
the snow melts and the field dries out. They practice at an indoor
"In high school, I wanted to play but I was too small;' she says
arena when they can get it, which is usually from 9 p.m. until
between squats, where she presses 135 pounds. "It's so worth it
midnight on weekdays. Some players admit that the fulkontact
aspect is a powerful draw.
when you get to put pads on and hit people:'
"It's a surprise the first time you feel what it's like to get hit;'
Woodard, who joined the Crush at 400 pounds last season, is
100 pounds lighter this year.
says Kelly "Turtle" Woodard, a 30-year-old offensive lineman
"I couldn't complete a single jog up one side of the football
who loves the rush of "legally beating the crap out of people,"
field when I started;' she says. Encouragement from other play-
calling it "channeled aggression" because it stays on the field.
ers kept her going. "I came on feeling like an outsider my first
"Before you get into pads, there's a lot of running and pushing.
year. The first practice, I was slower than anybody, winded and
But running is one thing, running with a helmet on is another. You
don't realize how much the pads weigh:'
thought I was going to die. People were coming up and saying, great job; and 'you're doing awesome: They were calling me
Lisa Mitchell, a 4 7-year-old defensive tackle for the California
'rookie' even before I made the team.
Quake, remembers the first time she came helmet-to-helmet with
It changed my life:'
"For most women, it's their first
the opposing line.
"I got kind of concerned;' she understates. But her strength
time playing football;' says Vivo. "The
and speed even out the playing field. "They look at me [5-foot- 7,
biggest thing is to teach technique,
182 pounds] and think they'll be able to toss me around. I sur-
because we want chem to be safe:•
prise them:'
Losing players to season-ending
There are three women's leagues and nearly 100 women's professional tackle football teams across the country. About half
injuries is the worst part of the game,
the teams, including the New York Sharks and the California
many players agree.
The So Cal Scorpions
Quake, belong to the Independent Women's Football League
devastated when Desiree Weimann
(IWFL). The Crush and West Michigan Mayhem belong to
fractured her neck in a game in 2004.
the National Women's Football Association (NWFA) and the
Her
So Cal Scorpions are affiliated with the Women's Professional
an inspiration.
were
comeback, says Taylor, was
"Her healing, getting cleared to come back, and then chis season
Football League (WPFL).
The rules are the same as for the NFL, except the play clock
rushing for more yards than [NFL San Diego Chargers' run-
is 25 seconds versus 45, the ball is smaller and they kick off
ning back] LaDainian Tomlinson and getting the league MVP
farther up the field. The rest is the same: full contact, full field
was magical:' ■
and full game time.
One misconception about women's football is that everyone
is a lesbian. That hasn't deterred Nancy Macleod, a straight
woman and middle linebacker in her third year with the Quake.
A lifelong fan, she too grew up hearing she couldn't play football.
The regularfootball season runs from about mid-April throughJune,
when playoffs begin. To seegame schedulesor tojoin a team, see league
websites:iwflsports.com,womenifootballcentral.comand womensprofootball.com.
Now that she does, her teammates are like family.
Taylor, who's also a spokesperson for the WPFL, says that
players want to be treated as professionals, "so they act like it:'
"You are never going to come to practice and see two players
acting like they are at a nightclub;' she says. "Secondly, when you
are lining up against a woman who is 300 pounds, you are not
chinking,'Is she gay?'Jusc'Is she gonna kick my ass?'"
Jennie McNulty is a defensive end for the Quake and a professional lesbian standup comic. She originally approached the sport
with a blase attitude.
"I thought it would be fun to go down on a Saturday, throw
the football around and get some [comedy] material;' she says.
Despite the three-nights-a-week,
six-hour Saturday practices,
she's been hooked for six years.
"I have found more camaraderie with football, more of a family kind of a feel with this sport, partially because it is so grueling
and you really go through a lot together;' she says.
"The game can't be played by individuals;' adds the Mayhem's
Johnson."Ic can't be won on the back of a single person. All 11 on
June 2008
I59
UNITEAND CONQUER
HOWROWINGI CHANGING
WOME
LIVES. BY HIL RY YLE
athletics, "the level of getting to know yourself'
With a distant sound to her voice, Holly Metcalf, a former
world-class rower and a 1984 Olympic gold medalist, recalls the
After leaving competitive athletics in 1994, Metcalf started
countless times as a child she was cold what a wonderful athlete
the Row As One organization, fulfilling a lifelong dream of work-
she was, and what a shame it was that she was a girl. Her sense
ing with at-risk populations in the nonprofit sector. The organi-
of alienation increased through adolescence as she p,ondered her
zation offers coaching to masters women, breast cancer survivors
increasing attraction co women, which at the time felt like an-
and inner-city teens. Metcalf feels that many of these individuals
other example of something chat was wrong with her. She spent
are those that"very few coaches take seriously:' She marvels at the
the greater part of her college years denying these perceived dif-
transformations they go through as a result of the training: "Seeing
ferences. "I did not want to be gay;' she says. "I fought it tooth and
people trust their bodies and begin co see chat mind and body
nail:' Even as a member of the national team in the '80s, where,
don't have to be dichotomized, there's a constant synergy, there's a
according to former team member and current University oflowa
need for the body to be challenged and there's a direct connection
rowing coach Mandi Kowal, "it was very easy to be out;' Metcalf
from that physical challenge to your emotional well-being:'
kept silent about her sexuality. She laughs now at Kowal's open
assessment of the times. "I knew she was going to say that ... !
remember Mandi, she was awesome, I wanted co be Mandi;' she
••THERE'S
A NEEDFORTHE
BODYTOBECHALLENGED
AND
THERE'SA DIRECTCONNECTION
FROMTHATPHYSICALCHALLENGETOYOUREMOTIONAL
WELL-BEING."
says with envy, wishing she had had Kowal's courage co be frank
about her sexuality during their national team days.
As divergent as their expressions of sexuality were, their
love of rowing and the sense of accomplishment it brought to
their lives was extraordinarily similar. Kowal describes fondly
the first time she and the team ran eight miles in the
frigid Northeast weather, and the elation she felt sitting
with her teammates, exhausted, cheeks tingling, and
marveling at their ability co endure. Ir's with pride and
honor that both women look back on their careers as
Metcalf recently began coaching at the competitive level
athletes. And not surprisingly, both have chosen to con-
again, at M.I.T., which she admits is "the perfect situation for
tinue on in the world of rowing as coaches and mentors,
me:' Because of the school's extraordinary academic standards,
to share what Metcalf describes as the ultimate gift of
she is there not necessarily co win, but to teach and "to build
confidence:' She admits that it is sometimes challenging to get
M.I.Ts overachieving team co work well together as a whole,
and adds that "the message on the M.I.T. campus truly is, you
cannot fail. My mission with my athletes is, you can stand to
fail. There's no way to excel without failing. You cannot be
afraid of failing. If I teach chem nothing else, that's what I
want them to know. I hope they can bring that to their scho-
z0
lastic life, and their lives in general:' Only a woman who has
achieved so much success can speak so casually about failure,
an assuredness she wanes to share with all of us. Maximize
your individual ability, work well within a unit and bring those
skills out into che world at large, she says.
That's what these two athletes recall so lovingly about
rowing-the
camaraderie, the ability to overcome, the testing
of their own capabilities and the sheer joy that comes from
it. Kowal describes "the allegiance of people" in the rowing
community and the strength they draw from expanding the
boundaries of their potential. She loves the opportunity that
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WEAR YOUR FOOD
BOWLINGFDRLIFE
TISH JOHNSON STAYS OUT OF THE GUTTER.
BY KRISTIN A. SMITH
Tish Johnson was born to bowl. As a toddler, she
is your personal life;' she says. "People can assume
knew the lanes the way most of us knew the play-
all they want, but unless I tell them, they don't
know for sure:'
pen. At 15, she bowled her first 300. At 18, she was
voted most promising newcomer to the sport. And
today, at 45, Johnson is one of its oldest and most
What we do know is that Johnson is one of the
most decorated and successful female bowlers in
successful women.
history. In addition to her titles, she is one of only
"I am still showing I can compete against these
three female bowlers to surpass the $1 million ca-
young girls;' says the left-handed bowler from
reer earnings mark. But she says that when you
Colorado. Johnson's dedication and tenacity have
take away all the expenses, that number gets much
earned her the title "Iron Woman" of the lanes. "I
smaller. With the cost of flights, hotels, rental cars
only missed one tournament in the last 25 years;'
she says, "and I'll keep bowling as long as I can:'
and tournament fees, Johnson often lost money
competing. "Sometimes I would come in second at a
Her dedication has paid off. Johnson
tournament and not even cover expenses;' she says.
has
25 professional titles to her name and was twice
named
the
Professional
Women's
Bowling
Johnson wasn't the only one fighting the finances of the sport. The league itself was strug-
Association (PWBA) Player of the Year. Bowling gling. Like so many other women's professional
magazine named her Bowler of the Decade for the
1990s and Johnson recently made Team USA for
that its male counterpart was given. In the fall of
the upcoming year. Even though bowling is not yet
2003, at the height of Johnson's career, the PWBA
an Olympic sport, Johnson says, "When you can
ceased operations in the middle of the season. It
z0 represent your country, it's a major honor:'
Johnson says her proudest moment was win-
'J\fter the tour folded, I didn't pick up a bowl-
I
0
ning the U.S. Open when her mother, who had
ing ball for two years;' she says.Johnson went into a
0
breast cancer, was released from the hospital just
depression during which she says she "basically sat
in time to see her daughter roll in the finals. "It's
co
~w really amazing when you have
z your whole family there to sup-
on the couch for months:' Because she didn't get to
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lanes is well-known, she keeps
retire on her own terms, Johnson decided to start bowling again until she
felt like her career was finished.
She says a lot has changed in the
sport in the last 10 years, and she's
working hard to learn all the new
formations
that have been created
while she was mourning the loss of
the league. Still, she says, "I don't step
I
0
her life outside of the sport pri-
on the lanes unless I have a chance to
~
vate. "I think your personal life
win:• And she always does. ■
I-
Socially savvy and health-conscious
women have a new way of expressing
their lifestyle. The new line of artichoke
logo shirts from Artichoke Apparel makes
wearing your food fun and trendy.
With a variety of shirt styles (printed
on U.S.-made, sweatshop-free American
Apparel shirts), Artichoke Apparel's line
of sportswear is growing in popularity,
especially among women. The pro-vegetable, independent company is run out of
the small beach community of Encinitas,
Calif., and gives the state's artichoke
capital, Castroville, a run for its money.
There are tank, tee and long-sleeve
styles and they are available m 100 percent cotton and cotton blends. They even
have a 100 percent
organic cotton style
available. And the
eye-catching color
options cross the
food spectrum with
raspberry and chocolate in addition to
olive and neutral.
Go from the gym
to the grocery store
and look great. Best
yet, anyone can wear
these clothes-your
flag football team can
kick some major butt
on the field or your
office darling can
don your artichoke at
yoga class.
And Artichoke
Apparel repr
nts
the gamut of
ts
enthusiasts I re
cently signed worldclass kayaker and
2008 Olympic hopeful Susannah Stucchio
as a model for the company, saying it felt
her athleticism and natural beauty were a
perfect fit for a company aiming to attract
women who love the outdoors.
"I love the comfort and simplicity of the
clothes," says Stucch10. "I train in them,
I wear them out on the town and lounge
around in them at the Olympic Trammg
Center dorms."
Who knows, maybe the next pickup
line you'll hear at the gym is, "Hey, nice
artichoke!" - Emily Howard
June 2008
I 61
TOUGHBEAUTY
THESELE BIA ATHL TE SHOW BOTHSIDESOF THEIR
PERSO ALITIE . BY K~ IE PEOPL
Spurred by his love of photography, former San Franciscan Jeffrey Horvitz has made his home in the cozy, lesbian-centric city of
Portland, Ore., where he embarked on a project that would show the diversity of the local LGBT community and began photographing
athletes. The subjects of his photos range from a 66-year-old gay physique artist (formally known as a body builder) to a 22-year-old
lesbian soccer player. "I wanted to show ... that the gay and lesbian community has so many different faces;' Horvitz says. "Not all women are butch and not all guys are femme:'To show this diversity, he captured the athletes on the field, in the pool and on the court before
glamming them up 1940s-style in the studio. "It's easy to shoot a beautiful body or a beautiful face;' he says. "I thought this would have
an edge to it, a beautiful edge to it:' What came out was a gorgeous calendar and a photo exhibit displayed at the Q Center in Portland
that demonstrates the spectrum of the LGBT community. Below, he comments on the shots of three of the ladies in his exhibit. ■
ASHLEY RAXTER, SOCCER
Raxter went
cer player
me fatale
ay amazingly
s a pretty
as Just Ike
probably
DOLL CRAIN, BOXING
CINDY BENTON, BASKETBALL
Doll Cram s environmental portrait shows
her tough s1d and It s ows the contrast between her shot m th nng and her portrait m
the studio She photographed really beautifully ... she 4 feet 9 inches and she literally
gets m the r ng and tarts smacking people
S e wanted to how the beauty of tonality.
Cindy Benton m the environmental
portra t was great but there was
something special about the prettier
side of things m the studio. 'She
was this totally blond chick and we
took her m the studio and put this
black kind of wig on and turned her
mto a 1940s kind of look. Very fun."
Makeup: Robert Norred
62
I curve
Wardrobe: Peach of Peachykeen Productions
llcket/ on /ale to member.r.June 9th
llcket/ on /ale to GeneralPubUc:June 16th
PRESENTEDBY
H•
outfeft.org
213.480.7065
* Heineken ABSOWT_
- -
GRANDSPONSORS
AUSSIE DUTGAMES
ER.
CIFICATHLETEHE D DD NU
U LIVA
Outgames in 2006, Australia had the largest contingent of com-
Sydney and competes independently. 'Tm not actually a swimmer;' she said. "I danced in New York in '94, played table tennis
petitors outside of Canada. For this reason, it was no surprise
in Amsterdam in '98 and Sydney in 2002. In Chicago, there was
It's often joked that Australia's religion is sports. At the Montreal
that Melbourne was the home of the inaugural 2008,Asia Pacific
no table tennis, so I took up darts. I did table tennis in Montreal.
Outgames.
And here there's no darts and no table tennis, so I decided to
"GUSA
[the Gay and Lesbian International
Sporting
She added, ''I've never swum without a snorkel before, so this
were to encourage the hosting of regional Outgames;' Asia Pacific
was quite difficult. You may have noticed it took me twice as long
Outgames Co-President Lorraine Little said. "It was a chance to
as everyone else to get through the race. I just love it, it's fun just
compete in their own community:'
to be part of it. It's very affirming:'
Held over five days, the first Asia Pacific
Sitting on the yellowing grass outside MSAC, I talked to
Outgames included field hockey, swimming,
Lorraine Little. She was combining her co-president duties with
water polo, squash, lawn bowls, rowing, vol-
competing for the Melbourne Spikers, which she helped to found.
leyball, running, badminton, tennis, dancesport
She'd just finished "a half-decent game of volleyball:'
and 10-pin bowling. The Melbourne Sports
"I competed in Sydney and in Montreal. It's the most affirm-
and Aquatic Centre (MSAC) was the hub
ing and exciting experience you can have; once you do one, you're
addicted:'
for the event, hosting five sports. Outside, the
Pride flag flew just as high and as proudly as
the Australian flag.
At the pool, I met Melbourne Glamourheads
Little was visibly excited by her role in bringing the games to
Melbourne. She talked about the challenges she faced in trying to
attract teams from the region.
Vice President Kay Gravell. She had already
"We knew early on that we weren't going to get huge numbers
won three golds, a silver and a bronze, and
from the Asia Pacific countries, but we wanted to begin that con-
seemed well on her way to matching her 12-
nection:' Pointing to MSAC, she said, "In there, virtually every
medal tally in Montreal.
country is represented:'
"I used to live in the country in rural
As the games came to an end, Little reflected on what were
Victoria. I was married with kids;' she said.
the highlights for her."The governor of Victoria opened the event
"Then I came out as a lesbian. I moved to
and it was a great honor to have that validity;' she said, recalling
Melbourne and I didn't know anyone. I found
that all her hard work had come to fruition. "Coming into the
the Glamourheads and it changed my life:'
Suddenly, cheers erupted as a lone swimmer finished a race.
64 I curve
swim:'
Association] formed a charter and a big part of their priorities
balcony at the Melbourne Town Hall [during the opening celebration] my heart was pumping and I was thinking, 'Oh please,
All the other swimmers were out of the pool. The swimmer
please, please, have lots of people in there: And when we walked
waved up to the crowd, appreciative of the support.
in the doors and it was packed I went, 'Oh, thank God: That was
Later on, I spotted that swimmer drip-drying in the stands.
the highlight, because it was just such a relief to see that once
Her name was GJ Lee, or Lee to her friends. Lee, 58, is from
again, yes, the community was right behind this event:' ■
BAD TD THE BONE
THIS DDDGEBALLLEAGUELET'S OUT THE AGGRESSION.
BY ALLISONSTEINBERG
On a cool Monday evening, the gym on the second
BAD website. The league is structured so that each
floor of the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center in
team plays two matches per night, and three five-
the West Village in New York City was steaming
minute games make up each match. Six players from
hot as over 100 people crowded into the space to
each team rotate in on the court. Six balls are placed
participate in the opening night of the first-ever gay
in the middle of the gym between the two teams.
dodgeball season.
When the referee (albeit sporting booty shorts)
Registered players were handed T-shirts that
blows the whistle, three players from each side must
read 'Tm BAD" above the league name, "Big Apple
run to the middle to grab the balls and toss them
Dodgeball:' One team even color-coordinated its
back to the other three players waiting on the back
outfits with matching short-shorts and checkered
line; then it's a free-for-all to peg as many people as
knee-high socks. The eight teams all separated to
possible. After the five-minute game is up, the team
meet in their own corners and prep for the open-
with the most players left on the court wins.
ing matches. There was little free space in the gym.
It's clear that certain players either took the
When the games started, nowhere was safe. Balls
playground by storm children or had had an espe-
were flying everywhere.
BAD is "New York City's nonprofit, communi-
cially stressful time at work that day. Poley, a no-
ty-minded co-ed Dodgeball league for gay, lesbian,
thought [dodgeball] would be fun, a chance to meet
bisexual, transgender
and GLBT-friendly New
new people and a way to get out some of my aggres-
Yorkers who want to play the competitive sport of
sion:' A public school teacher, Poley channels her
dodgeball in an athletic environment free of harass-
aggression on the court with her approach, harness-
ment, discrimination and drama;' according to its
ing and launching two balls at once.
nonsense gal from Brooklyn, is one such player. "I
mission statement. BAD was formed as an arm
The season had just begun, but the players
of the BASL, the Big Apple Softball League, now
already seemed to be getting into the game and de-
celebrating its 30th year as an LGBT athletic orga-
veloping strategies. One coach shouted as his team
nization. Every bit as exciting as expected, the gay
prepared to throw balls, "Remember what I told
dodgeball league promises to be the best outlet for
you, all at once!" and all six players then launched
relieving the stresses of New Yorkers.
In its inaugural year, the league received more
their balls at the very same player on the opposing
team. I guess no one ever said dodgeball was fair.
responses than there were spots to fill.The league
The league requires that at least two of the 13
plans on doubling in size for next season to allow
players on a team need to be female and at least two
more people to play. Unlike the harsh pick-and-
women must be on the court at the start of each
choose environment of the playground, participants
game. Poley was a little worried about all the guys,
were chosen on a first-come basis. They were asked
but enjoyed her first round. "It went by so quick, I
to drop off their checks at the Big Booty Bread Co. in
wanted to keep playing. I expected to get my butt
Chelsea and were directed to the list of rules on the
kicked and be hurting when I left-I
wasn't:' ■
June 2008
I 65
NEAR DEATH, NEW LIFE
SHAW EEHAR I
BY HILARY YLE
' MILLION-DOLL
PER PECTIVE.
Shawnee Harkins is just 26 years
But her life didn't end. 'Tm still part of UCLA miracle stud-
old but already her life seems to
ies;' she says, as if searching for an explanation. "Every once in a
be moving at an enchantingly
beautiful pace. She hobnobs with
while I'll still get a call from them:' Stripped of all capability, she
lesbian A-listers at Hollywood
parties, runs her own business,
emotional ups and highs and lows. And being an athlete, being
Toned Fitness, in Long Beach,
and make a start for herself in California, and now getting into
Cali£, and will soon appear on
this accident ... " Faced with paralysis and uncertainties, she drew
Showtime's
new entrepreneur-
ial challenge reality show, Hydra
Executives (debuting this fall).
The youngest and only gay person cast on the show, Harkins is
far from intimidated. ''I've always
been open and quite fine with my
sexuality, [and] pretty comfortable in my own skin;' she says,
displaying the confidence that
has allowed for so much success
so quickly.
When Harkins talks, her infectious enthusiasm seems Hollywood
charming. But Harkins' life has
was forced to begin anew. "I went through so many, of course,
someone very physical, being someone who wanted to come out
on her inner strength and will to rehabilitate and take back the
life she always hoped for.
Before the accident, Harkins had dreamed of one day being
a firefighter. As she struggled to put the pieces of her shattered
life back together, it was that hope that propelled her to push the
boundaries and limitations of her wounded body. Her recovery
is a testament to her perseverance. "I had to learn how to talk
again, how to eat, how to make decisions ... " The process was
slow; she says it took six months to regain her strength and a
year before she felt like herself again. She says it was the small
victories along the way that kept her going. She remembers the
first time she was able to do a push-up, four months after the accident. "I cried. I thought, nothing is going to get in my way now.
I can do a push-up and I'm not even supposed to be alive:'
As Harkins continued to mend, friends looked out for her,
been anything but charmed. As
helping out with rent and running errands, but she recalls the
she peels back the layers of her
lonely times and the very personal journey of recovery. She
story, it is clear she is not simply
trying to ingratiate hersel£ She is
a woman who has been through
hard times, spent months methodically willing herself back
to life, and without a moment to
spare, she is making the best of it.
Hers is a tale of a smalltown Texas girl who moved to
California on her own at 17 only
to be struck and nearly killed by
a motorist months later. The accident left her physically devastated and temporarily paralyzed,
HARKINS'IRREPRESSIBLE
SPIRITAND TONEDPHYSIQUE
HAVEOPENEDUP SOMEUNUSUALOPPORTUNITIES.
SHE
'WASRECRUITED
BY PLAYBOY
TOPOTENTIALLY
BEONE
OFTHEFIRSTOUTLESBIAN
PLAYMATES.
and forced her to relearn everything she had ever known.
Rollerblading under the beautiful blue southern California sky,
I curve
tightened her circle of friends, cut out any drama and put in the
work to try to make her dreams a reality. She held two jobs so
18-year-old Harkins was hit by a Chevy Suburban. She flat-lined
she could hire a personal trainer to help her get into shape to
several times as she was rushed to the UCLA Medical Center,
pass the firefighter's exam. And by the age of 21 she fulfilled her
dream of becoming a firefighter.
where she remained in a coma, paralyzed from the neck down.
66
credits the accident with helping to put her life in focus. She
"My family was called by the doctors, 'Come prepared to pick up
But it was her time working with a personal trainer that
your daughter. If she even lives, she's going to be a vegetable for
opened her eyes to a whole new world of helping people. She had
the rest of her life;" Harkins says. "In my life, in my world, my
seen firsthand the emotional impact oflosing one's physical abili-
life was over:'
ties. The difficulties she faced with her weight and mental health
as she worked to regain her body's abilities left a lasting impression. Shortly after becoming a firefighter she began training other women to help them pass the firefighter's exam and quickly
realized she loved training. "I decided I really wanted to pursue
a business in personal training in a studio full-time;' she says. "I
left firefighting, which I loved, but I felt more in my element and
more satisfied away from being in crisis situations and helping
people in a different way with their health and confidence:'
Harkins gained experience as a trainer at Gold's Gym in
Long Beach before renting a space with other independent trainers. She prides herself on working hard to provide the optimum
opportunity for her clients to succeed. She says the two biggest
obstacles for people in maintaining their health are time and
Does the sport match the personality? What does it mean about you if
you are a die-hard bowler? Or delight in the pleasures of equestrianism?
And what does it mean about that new love interest if she fences? Plays
water polo? What we choose to do with our spare time says a lot about
who we are. To assist in explaining away strange behavior on and off
the court, here are some glimpses into the minds and hearts of female
athletes. -Jenna V. Loceff
money. She's implemented an electronic funds transfer to help
with the money aspect, eliminating the large upfront payment
typical of most gyms. She's also designed an online training program available on demand to help keep her busy clients on task.
Helping people feel better through fitness is something
Harkins takes very seriously, she says. "I was there, I can relate,
I'm going to show you how to change your life, and understand
I know where you're coming from. This tragic accident actually
made me who I am today, because I can sit down in that chair
with my client who walks in the door and understand where they
are coming from and where they've been. And I can show them
where they're going to go, because I too have been able to go there:'
Harkins' irrepressible spirit and toned physique have opened
up some unusual opportunities. She was recruited by Playboyto
potentially be one of the first out lesbian playmates. She did an
EQUESTRIAN: When she was a girl, her bedroom walls were papered
with cutouts of stallions leaping fences, and her favorite movie was
National Velvet. An equestrian knows that a great deal of her time is
spent alone with her horse and her imagination. Horse girls tend to
be more lipstick than butch, but it takes a pretty tough woman to get
tossed off only to hop back on. Equestrians are
strong, caring, like to be on their own and are good
in the saddle.
BOWLING: It takes a gal with intense concentration,
good hand-eye coordination, a knowledge of physics and a flair for some winning post-bowl poses to
take this sport on. Plus she probably enjoys pitchers of beer. Bowlerettes are social, goofy, good with
their fingers and know to aim at the center.
interview before deciding being a playmate wasn't right for her.
She explains, 'Tm in the art of health and fitness, sculpting bodies, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and if you see me unclothed,
you can see that I walk my talk. I thought from a business standpoint that would be great. But then on an intimate level between
my partner and I, I decided that I didn't want to do that:' Playboy
posted her interview online and that's where Showtime spotted her. Showtime called, "out of the blue;' Harkins explains,
B0CCE BALL: In France it is called Petanque,
and it is a bit like bowling for self-proclaimed
sophisticates. Bocce ball is for the ladies
who love attending lawn parties, sipping cool
summer drinks in expensive hats and wearing sexy (but comfortable) shoes. If she's into
bocce ball, she's probably a gossip gal who is
an aristocrat at heart and in the bedroom.
and hand-selected her for the cast. She jumped at the opportunity. "My dream is to open up my own studio, so through Hydra
Executives that can definitely happen:'
The show pits 20 potential entrepreneurs against one another
to evaluate who has the best plan and the skills to run a successful
business. The winner is awarded $1 million to begin a business.
'Tm nervous, I'm excited, I'm all of it;' Harkins says."It just seems
like if any reality show was going to come knocking on my door,
this would be the perfect one ... Chance of a lifetime, really:' A life
she almost lost, and she is thrilled to see where this next adventure will take her. In the face of almost certain death Harkins has
proven anything is possible, and as good fortune comes her way,
she says simply, 'Tm a really lucky girl:' But for some reason, I
don't think luck has anything to do with it. ■
WATER POLO: Even if she loves the water and competition, treading
water for an hour or two is extremely difficult even without the intense
ball-throwing upper body workout she gets. So if water polo is her
sport, she is determined, steadfast, tough and can hold her breath for
long periods of time.
FENCING: With the discipline of a dancer, the
foresight of a chess player and the intensity
of a martial artist, the fencer plots her every
move. Poise, grace and strength are the
underlying characteristics of a fencer. She is
light on her feet and quick to twist and turn.
This girl is crafty and sly, and if you don't
watch out, she will strike before you know it.
June 2008
I 67
Reviews Sapphic Screen
Murder and Mayhem
Queer films offer reckless abandon on a platter. I By Candace Moore
Love leads to murder in two dark gothic films about lady ex-
media premiering on the Web. However 3Way was miraculously
pants in a good way.
hatched, it's right to call itself "the hottest lesbian comedy not on
EDITOR'S PICK
TV." A playful Arrested Development for dykes, starring Maeve
Salome (CreateSpace): Alexia Anastasio stars as Salome
One-on-One
Training
withJackie(Lion's in this silent short film based on Oscar Wilde's 1896 tragedy
Gate):In season of unrequited love. With an all-girl cast, this version plays like
threeof WorkOut,we a mistress-maid romance gone awry (as they too often do). The
continueto getour blue backlighting, minimal set and intertitles frame Anastasio's
doseof dramafrom most subtle and severe movements as she falls at Iokanaan's
exercisedivaJackie feet, worshipfully kissing up
Warnerandherfitness- the curve of her legs, only to
trainerunderlings,
and be shoved away. Timing and
yet anotherromance movement are everything in
betweenJackieand
this ballet of domination, suba fit youngwoman.If
mission and revenge. Butch
seeingWarneroncea
warriors,
belly dancers disrobweekis notenough,she
ing
for
Queen
Herod and bachasofferedup another
option:a workoutDVD. chanalian celebrations of wine
It wasjusta matterof and revelry grace this naughty
time,folks.In this train- yet classic rendering of a molike-a-celebrity
video, rality tale that would drive
Warneris at the center even Oscar wild. Heads will,
of threehalf-naked and do, roll. Anastasio and
girlswith six packs Kevin Sean Michaels' remake skillfully drives home the notion
(Rebecca,
Agnostina
that necrophilia can't buy you love, and you should always pamandRenessa)
andone
per and heed the queen. (alexiaanastasio.com)
boywhois coveredup
andwearinga baseball
cap(Jesse).
Weget Under the Raven's Wing (Blue Eyed Productions,
upperbody,lowerbody Inc.): Smartly, this low-budget horror flick (from writer-direcandcore/absworkouts, tor Susan Adriensen) incorporates amateurish camera work into
with generouscamera its plot, ala The Blair Witch Project. We are positioned behind an
zoom-insof Warnerand aspiring documentary filmmaker's lens as he captures the conthe girls' tight bods. fessions of a murderous and sensuous coven, and comments lasAndbestyet,we don't civiously. Over the course of the film, flirty Angel, shy Jessie and
haveto spend$400an the goth ringleader, Raven, slowly reveal why they killed a man
hourto exercisewith
(the group thinks murder is a gift that allows souls to "transcend"
Jackie.(lionsgate.com)
to better dimensions), and explore the queer dynamics among
- ColleenM. Lee
the three of them. Adriensen's strength lies in delving into the
psychology of cult making-Raven
acts simultaneously as sister,
mother, lover, disciplinarian, healer and guru, helping her charges process past traumas as she pets them and plays with their
hair. Group sex is also a coven staple, and when the cameraman
leaves his post to join in, he becomes more involved than he'd
anticipated. Never scary, this character-driven film is certainly
dark. (undertheravenswing.com)
3Way(Producers Nancylee Myatt and Maeve Quinlin):
Perhaps this show comes to us courtesy of the Hollywood writers'
68 I curve
strike. Or maybe it's just a delightful example of better-quality
ecutioners, while a new Web-based TV show makes us pee our
Quinlin, Jill Bennett, Cathy Shim and Maile Flanagan, this sitcom features superb comic timing, offbeat dialogue and witty cutting, and its poppy Desperate Housewives-reminiscent soundtrack
only punctuates the sarcasm. 3Way spoofs pop culture and queer
culture alike, as Bennett (the star of Dante's Cove) wears "Dante's
Cove'' written across the butt of her underwear, the webisodes'
"Next Time'' and "Previously on 3Way" segments are wildly unrelated to any continuing serialization, and the site hosting the
show, offers a bevy of tongue-in-cheek features in a tip of the hat
to OurChart, including confessionals and behind-the-scenes extras. Flanagan, as the ex, Geri, who crashes in on the group
to
sug-
gest "titty shots;' is hilarious, especially when she's stirring drinks
with her own severed finger. All four actors work well off one
another, effortlessly spinning dry and absurd jokes, or, better yet,
making fun of their own comedic efforts. For those who like their
ladies smart, funny and self-deprecating (as well as sexy), this is
the show to watch on the Internet. (3waytv.tv) ■
The Web's
hottest lesbian
comedy, 3Way
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is hilariously,
well,enchanting,
subversively
queerandamazingly
post-feminist.
A must-seefor girlsof all ages.
(disneydvd.com)-DAM
June 2008
I69
Q+A
Ky Dickens
As a Michael Moore-style documentary crusader, Ky Dickens is taking religious
leaders to task in her new film, Fish Out of Water. Bolstered by Bible-belt
interviews and fun animated sequences, Dickens seeks to expose the perception that gays and religion should not mix. - Melany Walters-Beck
How did you get interested in filmmaking?
I got a camera for my 12th birthday. It was a pink disc camera. They only had
15 shots per roll and I'd go through those so quickly that my parents gave
me a video camera. It kept me entertained for hours. Then a close friend
of mine died in high school, and all this footage of him became invaluable. It taught me how powerful film can be in preserving human beings
in matters of time.
Your newest project, Fish Out
of Water, deals with the relationship between homosexuality and religion. What led you
to examine this controversial
topic?
After the moral values debate in
2004 that determined
the presi-
dential election, I became very interested in "the others;' the boogeymen from the red states that are
portrayed in the media as basing
their views solely on religion. That
bothered me as much as someone
assuming [that] just because you're
gay you're going to be one way or
the other. Having the gay community as the group that galvanizes
people around certain causes I
think makes us a part of something
bigger than ourselves. For the film,
we went to Texas, Chicago, New
York, Florida, Iowa and many other places to talk about what they thought
the Bible said about sexuality. Talking to people, [I found that] our experiences with religion are very individual, but as a community our experience
surrounding religion is unified.
Have you met with much resistance?
When I started the film, I really thought it would be gays versus the church,
but what ended up happening is that there are ministers and preachers
and rabbis in every part of the country that are just as devastated and
enraged about how their faith has been used to validate discrimination
as we are. The Bible has been used as a weapon, and religious leaders feel
that they have to be silent or they could lose their congregations.
When will theatergoers get a chance to see the film?
We want small-town folk who wouldn't normally see the film to watch it, so
we plan on touring in a pink van, hoisting up screens and stirring things
up next summer. We'll also do a special director's cut [in] Chicago, then
the festival circuit this fall and next spring. ■
70 I curve
A Rare Kind of Festival
From the lovelorn innocence of a little girl finding her sexuality to the woman trying to discover what she wants in life after
a string of breakups, these films paint a picture that audiences
rarely get to see.
The Queer Women of Color Media Art Project presents
the fourth annual Queer Women of Color Film Festival in San
Francisco from June 13 to 15. Festival manager Kebo Drew says
such festivals are necessary because they are ways for queers
of color to express themselves.
The festival is a place for such artistic expression to flourish.
What initially began as a celebration of queer African American
women has grown to include all queer women of color.
"When we did the Queer Women of Color Film Festival, because it was focused on queer black women, queer women
of African descent, you would not believe the response," says
Drew. "It was just like, people were so, so hungry. So hungry for
the images because they're not like the ones that are out there."
Back then, she says, people were "still watching Set It Off with
Latifah and taking anything we could take."
Drew says the event today attracts diverse crowds. "At our
film festival, all these different groups of people end up mixing.
It's an amazing feeling."
This year's festival features four categories with eight films
each and covers the spectrum of queer life: spiritualism, family, sex, sexuality and culture. There is even an entire category
devoted to the lives and loves of queer Asian Pacific Islander
women.
Drew says that film festivals are a great place to celebrate
queer women of color and their lives. Queers of color often find
themselves categorized by either their sexuality or their race,
but almost never by both.
"There's a tendency to think that people lead single-issue
or single-identity lives and we don't. Especially for queer folks
of color, it's like we're not just concerned about sexuality, our
sexual orientation and gender identity," says Drew. "We're also
concerned about class issues, [and how] the rest of our community is doing."
The film screenings (clocking in at 60 to 77 minutes) are
free; however, tickets for the 90-minute panel and retrospective screening by featured directors (including Nina's Heavenly
Delights' Pratibha Parmar) range from $10 to $20. - Kory Tran
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the Stacks
Reviews
Old Friends in New Places
A couple of groundbreaking takes are worthy of your attention.
IBy Rachel Pepper
One of these books is the first mystery with
the field of somatics (healing the
a transgender lead character. The other is the
body, often through movement,
first book published on sexual healing for
"re-educating the muscular sys-
childhood survivors of sexual abuse. One is
tem;• or even what Haines calls
contemporary fiction from a pioneering au-
the "thawing" of the body). She
thor. The other is the updated edition of a
founded an organization
called
contemporary classic. Both books are ground-
Generation Five, which seeks to
breaking and destined for a wide audience of
end the sexual abuse of children
appreciative readers.
in five generations. This book,
which was first published in 1999
Scott Free, Marijane Meaker (Carroll
and Graf): Ir's impossible to review this
as The Survivor'sGuide to Sex, has
helped thousands of women (and
book without dwelling on two important
some men) reclaim their sexual-
facts: first, that Scott Freeis possibly the first
ity after a traumatic past of child-
full-length crime novel with a transgender de-
hood abuse.
tective as the lead character, and second, that
Why a second edition of the
this is a much-awaited new book by Marijane
book? As Haines says, "There
Meaker (right), who is a pioneer in young
has been a profound growth in
the field of trauma in the last 15
adult fiction (writing as M.E. Kerr) and les-
years, along with a near revolution in
bian pulp and fiction (writing as Vin Packer and Ann Aldrich).
A New Yorker for many years, Meaker decided
to
our understanding
start writing
of the connection
for young adults at the urging of her friend Louise Fitzhugh,
between psychobiology and trauma and
author of Harriet the Spy, and she hasn't stopped since. Meaker
healing:' Some of these changes have
has penned many books and received numerous awards in her
been incorporated into this new edition.
lifetime, from organizations that include the American Library
Additionally, as with any health book
Association and Booklist. She's also garnered her fair share
nearly a decade old, other theories and
of controversy, given the subject matter of many of her tides,
language needed updating.
loca-
The new edition, renamed Healing
Sex: A Mind-Body Approach to Healing Sexual Trauma, explores
she
specific issues for survivors, including working through (and even
which are listed in full on her official website.
Currently, Meaker lives in East Hampton, N.Y.-a
tion playfully mentioned in her new novel, Scott Free-and
teaches writing at the Ashawagh Hall Writers' Workshop. All
embracing) triggers, consent and boundaries, intimacy and self-
of this is to say that respect must be paid where due. So, how
forgiveness, and dissociation. There are also more general chap-
does the new book fare? The East Hampton setting, the well-
ters on sexual basics such as masturbation and oral sex, as well
developed minor characters, the tensions between Scott-now
as a chapter for those partnered with abuse survivors, an
1dy
the in-
exercises at the end of each chap-
ner life of a major transgender character are captivating.
ter. Each chapter includes quotes
Scotti-and
her ex-wife and young child-and
The plot of the actual mystery-involving
ea rg
the kidnapped
young daughter of wealthy East Hampton residents-is
enjoyable, but not as gratifying as watching Scotti unfold
-•-boold
1:vory........,...-1Nt
from real women about the topics
under discussion, including dealing with body memories, specific
encangng. downlo B1h
triggers, sexual likes and dislikes,
~
-;f
before us.
Hopefully, Meaker will develop this into a series, and
6
we will have a chance to get to know Scotti, her cantan-
If you are a survivor of child-
kerous but lovable elderly mother Myrna and her ex-wife
hood sexual abuse who has not
UJ
~
:5' Jessica even better
_J
next go-round. (mekerr.com)
~
Healing Sex, Staci Haines (Cleis Press)· Staci
tu
a: Haines' classic book on sexuality for survivors of sexual
~a:
~
hlly--.~plOUure.'-ElonBat.
A Mind-Body
and shame and guilt.
yet found anything in print that
specifically advocates for your
~
z
glic»--«ldlheJovol
right to enjoy a healthy adult
sex life, this is a book you will
assault deserves kudos for its classy,newly updated second
likely
edition. Haines is best known as a teacher and lecturer in
(cleispress.com)
■
find
incredibly
helpful.
EDITOR'S PICK
Twoneweditionsof
booksthat areat least
20 yearsold provethat
whenit comesto pivotal
lesbianworks,the more
thingschange,the more
theystaythe same.
The20thanniversary
editionof Borderlands/
LaFrontera
(auntlute.com)-Gloria
Anzaldua'scollection of essaysand
poemsthattacklethe
newMestiza-is as
profoundandchallenging in its dissectionof
dividedterrainas it ever
was.Newto this edition
arecommentaries
from
teachers,writersand
otheractivistsaffected
byAnzaldua(above)
includingSandra
CisnerosandJulia
Alvarez.Meanwhile,
it's
beenalmosta quarter
of a centurysince
AudreLorde'sessays
andspeechesin Sister
Outsider
(tenspeed.
com)madean indelible
markon 20th-century
literature.Butthe words
of the blacklesbian
feministpoetseemas
lyricalandunforgettable,and,sadly,as
relevanttodayas when
shefirst tackledeverythingfrom racismand
homophobia
to ageism
andclassdichotomies.
Botharemust-have
booksthat everylesbian
shouldread.- Diane
Anderson-Minshall
June 2008
I 71
PAGE TURNERS
Q+A
Georgia Beers
When Georgia Beers heard her name called as the winner of the Lambda
Literary Award for her novel Fresh Tracks, she was stunned. "My hands
began trembling, my knees started to bounce. I remember my partner,
Bonnie, screaming, 'Oh, my God!' " she says. After winning a Lambda
and a Goldie in 2007, Beers should be accustomed to praise. Next on her
plate? A new novel, Mine, is already garnering accolades. -
Cheryl Craig
Tell us about winning the Lambda Award last year.
Wow, that was something I won't forget anytime soon. I was up against
some incredible writers and I was honestly just happy to be nominated.
When Christopher Rice called FreshTracks,every muscle in my body
started to shake. My publisher was sitting on my right. I gave her a kiss
on the cheek. Then I had to focus on my feet and get across the stage in
heels. I don't remember much about what I said as a speech, but people
tell me I did OK. It was an amazing night.
What was your inspiration for writing Mine?
A dear friend, Erin, lost her husband of 14 years to cancer. Watching her
struggle was difficult yet inspirational. During her process of trying to
date, I began Mine. Erin was an amazing resource. I hope I did her
justice with my portrayal of a spouse left behind.
What's your next book proJect?
The next novel is called FindingHome. I'm so in love with my dogs. I know
a lot of lesbians who feel the same way, so I wanted to show that in a
romance ... how much our dogs mean to us and how large a part they
play in our lives.
What has been your personal transformation this year?
The major things were my Lammy win-having
was a dream come true-and
Fresh Tracks do so well
the fact that I moved far away from my
hometown and family. Those two events gave me such a mix of joy and
stress; 2007 has been a whirlwind. As far as a personal transformation
coming from all of it, I think I managed to finally learn what seems
like it should be a pretty basic and simple lesson: Trust your instincts.
Seems like a pretty easy thing to grasp, but it's taken me 39 years. ■
Feminismandexecutive editorof feministing.com,examinesthis
and49 otherdouble
standardssocietyhas
placedon the doubleX
chromosome.
Usinga
snarkysenseof humor
to pointouttoday's
genderatrocities,
Valentidescribeseach
doublestandardand
Mistresss
of the
offerstips on howto
Runes,
Andrewsand
Austin(BoldStrokes combateveryoneof
them.AlthoughValenti
Books}:
Onthe surface,this novelis about sometimesrunsthe
findingone'swayback risk of confusing
doublestandardswith
from repeatedfailed
outrightdiscrimination,
romances,
but Brice
suchaswhenshe
Chandler's
struggles
saysthat womenget
encompass
so much
rippedoff by mechanmore.Sheis notonly
afraidto try loveagain, ics andautoinsurance
providersmoreoften
despiteherattraction
thanmen,hersarcastic
to TVanchorwoman
Liz
pointof viewwill keep
Chase,shecan'teven
youbitterbut laughing.
bondwith hernewly
(sea/press.
com)- Kory
acquiredhorse,Rune.
Tran
Thecorrelations
betweenthe two relationshipsareinsightfuland
clever,andthe path
eachtakesmirrorsthe
other.As Runewarms
to hermistress,Brice
beginsto trust Liz.This
sometimesserious,
sometimesfunny
andalwaystouching storycanteach
us all a lessonabout
livingourdreamsand
followingfate,whether laura's War,Ursula
Steck(Bella}:Thebest
we believein it or not.
(boldstrokesbooks.
com) mysteriesarethe ones
that keepthe reader
- Kathilsserman
hangingonto every
word
untilthe last
He'sa Stud,She's
page.In Laura'sWar,
a Slutand49 Other
the twistsandturns
DoubleStandards
EveryWoman
Should areso well-pacedand
that you
Know,JessicaValenti unexpected
will findthe bookreally
(SealPress}:Why
hardto put down.The
aregaymenjust
maincharacter,
Anna
considered
gaywhile
Spring,first appeared
lesbiansareviewedas
sexualfantasiesmade in the chillingthriller
TheNextWorld.In
for straightmento get
off on?JessicaValenti, Laura'sWar,the private
investigator
is hiredby
authorof FullFrontal
the victim'sestranged
motherto find the
deceased'smissing
possessions.
Fromthe
verystartAnnasuspectsthat everything
isn't as it appears.The
crimeis too neatand
tidy-Laura's lover
evenconfesses.
And
whenAnnadigsdeeper
everyoneshecontacts
windsup dead.The
readerwill find the
conclusionshocking
andunsettling.This
grippingnovelis well
worthyourtime,if you
don't mindreadingit
onthe edgeof your
seat.(bellabooks.com)
-Kl
Cinescopes,
Risa
WilliamsandEzra
Werb(QuirkBooks}:
Areyoua dedicated
idealist?A chosen
adventurer?
Combining
horoscopes
with
cinema,Cinescopes
will helpyourealize
yourdestinywhenit
comesto film genres
whilerevealingmore
aboutyourpersonality
andyourmost(or least)
compatiblefellowcinescopes.Findoutwhat
yourmust-seemovies
andquintessential
behaviorsare;just
keepyourmindopento
the possibilityof being
a youthfulsagewith
a touchof passionate
maverick.(quirkbooks.
com)- Teresa
Coates
Music Watch Reviews
Get Your Dance On
The bands that are sure to get you moving. I By Margaret Coble
EDITOR'S PICK
It's Pride month, so how about a little summertime dance party:'
"I Hate Your Ex Girlfriend" are just hilarious fun. The whimsi-
Recent albums by God-des & She, Scream Club, Heloise & the
cal "Ja Da" seems almost out of place-with
Savoir Faire, and the Gossip should be essentials on your party
nonsensical refrain, it's instantly infectious. Frankly, I can't find
playlist, and will definitely get bodies moving with a mixture of
a cut on this disc that I'm not crazy about, and almost every one
rap, electro and dance punk.
of them would work well in a parry-shuffle on your iPod or on
its heavily sampled
your next mix tape. (god-des.com)
Stand Up, God-des & She (Self-released): Fans of the
that this sophomore full-length album has actually been avail-
Life of a Heartbreaker, Scream Club (Cru
"lot
Dead): Moving the party in more of an electro-hop direction,
able directly from the group or at their concerts since last fall,
the Olympia, Wash., queer white-girl-rapper/DIY-punk
but just last month it got an official "release" and national distri-
Cindy Wonderful and Sarah Adorable also has a sophomore al-
bution. Tue 14-track disc is a tight production, beautifully show-
bum that's been out for a while, but is getting renewed attention
Madison, Wis.-bred, now Brooklyn-based, hip-hop duo know
duo of
casing the interplay between God-des' gritty, complex rhymes
now. This 12-song follow-up to their impressive debut, Don't
and She's gorgeously melodic and soulful R&B-flavored voice.
Bite Your Sister, includes guest appearances and remixes from
Songs like the playfully dirry"Lick It" and sing-along"Love You
a host of underground rap and electro stars, and ranges from
Better" will likely already be familiar to many (the former largely
high-energy sound clashes ('Tm Going Crazy") to more mellow,
due to a performance on the 2007 season finale of The L Word),
laid-back, hip-hop grooves ("Intoxicating Protege"). The ghetto-
but there are many more cuts worth discovering. God-des is at
electro Joey Casio remix of "Fine as Fuck" (featuring Peaches)
her finest when offering her truth on songs like "A Little Too
and tongue-in-cheek, Euro-synth "International" (complete with
Different;'"Give Them What They Want" and "This Is the Life;'
ironic accents) are the standout dance cuts, with the synth-pop
which touch on the realities of being queer in the music business
and in real life. "Stand Up" is a call to make the personal politi-
tide track (featuring Electrosexual) and Nicky Click collaboration "Protege' close behind. Cuts like "You Make Me Smile"
cal by standing up for one's beliefs. Cuts like "Hollywood" and
prove the duo's love for sugar-sweet love-inspired pop, while
Funplex,The8-52s
(Astralwerks):
The
B-52sdon't messwith
a goodthingon their
latestalbum,Funplex.
Thequartetbrings
out the partymusic
with upbeatguitars,
synthenticsoundsand
their signaturesinging
style.Thesingle"Pump"
is club-readywith an
adrenaline-fueled,
poundingbeatthat
will get youmoving.
Theslightlyslower
"Funplex"hasthat good
ol' new-wavesound
that so manynew
bandstry to emulate
but can't quiteget right.
Thebandimagines
an ageof "robots,
booty-bots,eroti-bots"
in theirfuturistictune
"Lovein theYear3000"
andtakesa slightly
softer,slowerpacewith
"Julietof the Spirits,"
while"Ultraviolet"is
the "LoveShack"of the
newmillennium,with
lyricslike "tell yourskirt
to takea hike." Fullof
fun, sexymusicwith a
summertimebeat,this
albumalsofeatures
two live recordingsof
the classicB-52ssongs
"PrivateIdaho"and
"PlanetClaire."(astralwerks.com)- Katie
Peoples
June 2008
I 73
Q+A
Sabina Sciubba
Beautiful, talented and known
to
get
more than a little flirty with her female
fans, Sabina Sciubba, the lead singer of
the Brooklyn-based band Brazilian Girls,
is much more than ju~t a pretty face. She's
got one of pop music's sultriest voices
and sings its sassiest lyrics-you
may
have heard her crooning in the Brazilian
Girls' most popular song, "Pussy;' a slow,
"Spit and Glitter" uncovers a darker side. Lots of
good party jams here, and a quality production
from start to finish. (screamclub.com)
dreamlike tune that's equal parts poetry
intrigue you, the Rome-born, Munich-
Trash, Rats & Microphones, Heloise &
the Savoir Faire (Simian/Yep Roe): Their
raised Sciubba is a classically trained
video for the very Goldfrapp-sounding "Odyle'' on
pianist, an outspoken
their MySpace page couldn't get more gay, with its
and depravity. If that's not enough to
political junkie,
and sings and writes in five different languages. -
Catherine Plato
retro-'80s new-wave synch-pop fabulousness and
leg-warmer-dad backup dancers. Led by the onetime Peaches bodyguard-driver Heloise Williams,
You've lived in a few different countries.Which one do you most feel like you're fromwhere is your hometown?
band in addition to the dancers-offers
I have to say, there 1s none. I think if I knew I would probably live there. If I am in New York, that's
glitter disco-synch and pop-leaning dance punk
the NYC-based
group-which
includes a full
a mix of
probably beLause I don't feel like there's another hometown. I love Rome because I was born there,
on this debut album on actor Elijah Wood's fledg-
but nghc now I don't really want to live there.
ling Simian imprint. The retro '80s irony is thick
Let's talk a little bit about your costumes.You have some great ones. How do you come
up with your ideas?
"Members Only" and via the appearance of new-
It depends. Recently, I've been starting to collaborate with a woman called Gemma Kahn. She's a
wave icon Debbie Harry on two cuts, the '70s
throughout the album, particularly on the cheeky
really great Korean designer. I basically make a drawing, then I send it to her and she makes a
disco-flavored "Canadian Changes" and sinewy no-
realisci assessment of what's possible, and then we sort of make the outfit together. The last
wave "Downtown:"'Datsun
couple of outfits I had, we did together. Before that, a bunch of outfits I just did myself, some-
rock out a bit more, but still are very danceable. (he-
times with the help of a friend here and there, but usually I just put them together according
loisemusic.com)
to
280Z" and"On Fuego"
how 1 feel.
Are you interested in fashion when you're not performing?
I'm definitely more interested in fashion when I'm on stage, but I love fashion when it's good. I guess
I sec it as an arr form. I think that if it's well-done, it's art. I have a lot of clothes-I
it-but
won't deny
everything in moderation. I do not buy Gucci sunglasses.
Live in Liverpool, The Gossip (Music
with a Twist/Columbia): The Gossip is one
of my all-time favorite bands. I've seen them live
many, many times since their inception in 2000,
Are you very interested in politics?
Ye~.Hot1l ~cl;,In mg 111 New York in this era, I don't chink you really have much choice.
Having lived in a few differentcountries,do you feel like your values are more in line with
how people live in Europe or in the U.S.?
and there's just nothing that compares to out-dyke
Social structure, politically speaking, is clearly better in Europe: health insurance, social support for
even a concert video. The dance punk band's elec-
lead singer Beth Ditto's energy and belting voice on
stage. That being said, I think it's near impossible
to really capture that via a live audio recording or
poor families, etc., because there's less fear of the Socialist approach, you know? People are not so
tricity is tangible in person, in the air and through
paranoid of che idea of communism, which is something that always freaks Americans out. Bue
your body, and as fun as it is to watch this DVD,
unfortunately, I chink Europe is trying
imitate or emulate the American [system], which I hope
recorded live in concert in July 2007, and listen
is not going co happen. The politicians that are now coming to power in Europe in the biggest
to its accompanying CD, it rings a little hollower
to
countries, like Germany and France, are clearly people whose priorities are of an economic nature.
than the real thing. However, they are both worth
For example, in France, with Sarkozy in power now, he has already changed a couple of things, and
picking up if for no other reason than the inclusion
he's really trying to make France a more capitalistically efficient place.
of covers of Aaliyah's 'Are You That Somebody?"
So who would you most like to vote for in the next election?
and Wham!'s "Careless Whisper;• and to hear/ see
I think Hillary maybe is the best. Actually, Barack Obama is definitely the person who I feel ideologi-
Ditto introduce the cunnilingus anthem "Swing
Lall)
cht: do:,t·st
bu,
't
111
74 I curve
.a
to,
but I don't know how realistic it is that he wins. So I think Hillary is the next
Low;' screaming, "This is for the dykes!" (myspace.
com/gossipband)■
-~
OTHER LICKS
•
TheRise& FallofRuby
Woo,ThePuppiniSisters
(Verve):Morecampyfun
andmesmerizing
harmonies
fromthe U.K.-based,
1940sidolizingjazzvocaltrio,with
tongue-in-cheek,
creatively
arrangedcoversof the Bangles'
"WalkLikean Egyptian"and
Beyonce's
"Crazyin Love"interspersedwith cleveroriginals
like "I Can'tBelieveI'm Nota
Millionaire"and"SohoNights."
(thepupplnisisters.
com)
CallIt Love,PatsyGrind
(HappyDagger):Power,passion,poetryandpopcollide
beautifullyonthis impressive
newdiscby LongBeach,Calif.,
dykerockersPatsyGrind,who
haveoneof the bestband
namesever.(patsygrind.com)
EP1,VioletVector& the
LovelyLovelies(Holidays
for
Quince):If youranthe sweet,
classic'60s soulof Duffy
througha psychedelic
indietrademarkpoliticallydrenched,
rockblender,youmightendup
artfulsoul-hopvignettes,like
with something
that soundslike "Soldier,"whichjust givesme
this debutsamplerfromthe or- goosebumps.
(erykahbadu.com)
gan-centricquintetfromChapel
Hill,N.C.(holidaysforquince.com)
DoubleStandards,
Patti
Rothberg
(DoubleOnTundra):
Rockterry,
Duffy(Mercury):
A rockerwith the songwriting
LoveAmyWinehouse?
How
chopsof a folk singer,Rothberg
aboutDustySpringfield?
returnsaftera six-yearstudio
Somewhere
in betweenthose
absencewith this near-perfect
two powerhouse
Britishsoul
collectionof 16 sharp,melodic
singerssitsthis soon-to-beelectricandacousticindie-pop
a-household-name
chanteuse rocksongs,anchoredbythe
fromNorthWales,thanksto her fist-pumpingtitle trackand
phenomenal
Memphis-meets- a greatcoverof the Pixies'
Northern-soul-styled
debut.The "Gigantic."(pattirothberg.com)
moddancepartycut "Mercy"
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I 75
Reviews Tech Girl
Life in the Mobile Lane
Three innovations that cut you loose.
I By Katie
Peoples
I love my laptop as much as the next gal, but sometimes it's nice to cut the cord. That's why this month's selections
feature the best ways to mobilize yourself, with everything from card-reading printers to Bluetooth technology. Go
on, make your life just that much easier.
Photos in a Dash
Any photo expert will tell you a photo album is an important way to keep
your memories pristine, or at least reduce their aging. Luckily, we have
modern technology to help us out. The Epson PictureMate Dash is a
printer that creates beautiful, high-quality prints in seconds-and
you
don't even need a computer. The sharp, vibrant prints can last up to 96
years in a glass frame, 200 years in an album. And forget about red-eye
and other slight problems with photos. The Dash has red-eye reducer
and auto correction built in, and it has a 3.6-inch LCD screen that pops
up on top to show you what your photo will look like in greater detail, so
you can edit a bit before you print. It also comes with 18 layout options,
and a built-in CD drive lets you burn images to a CD for archiving. We
especially love its light weight and carrying handle. ($100, mypicturemate.com)
Mouse to Go
The MoGo Mouse BT may be the perfect solution for the on-the-go
laptop user who hates the tracking pad. The tiny mouse is the size of
a business card and is rechargeable and storable through your PC card
slot, as opposed to bulkier portable mice that use the USB port. Go
completely wireless with its Bluetooth-enabled capabilities, which will let
you use it like a tiny remote for your laptop. Good news for Mac users: The
MoGo is compatible with Mac OS. The two-button mouse even comes
with a handy pop-out stand, so your hand rests at a comfortable angle.
($58, newtonperipherals.com)
Big Is the New Small
Who doesn't miss the days when the farthest you could get with a phone
was the distance that the cord would stretch? If you ( or your Luddite
colleague) are feeling a little nostalgic for those clunky, plastic handsets,
Think Geek has got you covered with the Bluetooth Retro Handset.
This hunk of plastic is cord-free, with a 30-foot range, and works with
Bluetooth Versions 1.0-1.2. A replica of the classic Western 500-series,
the handset has a slight modification, the addition of an answer/hang up
button, and has a blue LED light that lets you know when it's working. It
has plenty of heft, so it's not likely to be dropped or slip off a shoulder, and it's rechargeable via a USB adapter. A great item for
making people do a double-take or if you're just tired of
those teeny-tiny phones. ($30, thinkgeek.com) ■
From top: The PictureMate Dash prints
your photos in a jiffy; go wireless with the
MoGo Mouse BT; look like a hipster with
the Think Geek Bluetooth Retro Handset
76
I curve
FROM MYSPACE
TO WEB SHOW
Thesedays,morecoloris
hittingthe Webscreenand
the mostwonderfulthing
is that lesbiansarefeeling
it. Casein point:the next
big webisodeseries,The
Lovers&FriendsShow,
which beganas an experimenton MySpaceto see
howwell peoplewould
reactto an all-African
Americancast.This lesbiandramawith an urban
twistfromwriterdirectorCharmaine
Johnsoncapturesthe
varietyof identitiesin
the AfricanAmericanand
Latinacommunities,and
dealswith issueslike
masculinity,genderroles,
STDs,adoptionandrelationships.Whilethe main
charactersare six sexy
ladiesliving in Florida,the
showpromisesto include
a diversegroupof charactersof all sexualities,
shapesandsizes.Wecan't
wait for the nextwebisode.
(Joversnfriendsshow.
com)
- LibertyVelez
(
I Tried It Reviews
Word to the Mother
How I gave it up on my 30th birthday. I By Jen Berkowitz
most sexual experiences I've ever had. When
it was consciously contained, I could feel the
shape of my sexual energy-like,
all the time.
In theory, abstaining from orgasms is a gesture of willingness to give yourself over to
"the mother Ayahuasca:' Is "the mother" the
universe? Is it the spirit of the vine that the
Ayahuasca comes from? I don't know, but after
10 days I was ready to give it up to her.
When the ceremony started, I was sitting
on the floor in an empty living room with 10
strangers. The shaman sat alone, surrounded
by drums, crystals, rattles and bells. What
called everything into question, however,
Club Papi Returns to
San Jose Pride
was the shirtless man doing preceremonial
groin stretches.
The first night was hell. I threw up, writhed
in anguish and wept inconsolably. I thought it
would never end. I wondered what I'd gotten
myself into.
On the second night, I sank into another
very real world and the first thing I saw was
a fire in front of me. My grandmothers were
giving me gifts; this is a familial rite-of-passage
"Dude, I died like, 10 times:' This is what I heard a
ceremony. Everything was deeply subtle. Thinking
friend say to my roommate, apparently recounting
and judging were irrelevant, and it was a relief to
an experience he had just had. I perked up-dying
just know things without my brain interfering.
without really dying sounded good to me.
I had been producing "reality" television on
that I was exploring my body with my mind, as if
planet Hollywood and frankly, the truth of my own
I was in a video game. I found a dark mass inside
life had gotten confusing. I was about to turn 30 and
my stomach and held it in my hand-it
it felt like I was in an existential quandary. I knew I
and alive. It was a contained thought pattern, in-
had to confront my Saturn Return-Jedi style.
I listened as our friend told us about an
formation that was stored in my body and no dif-
Ayahuasca ceremony he had recently participated
sensed something in my cheek and my hand made a
Gradually, the fire became distant and I found
was gloppy
ferent from a rotting piece of fruit. I threw up. I
in. Ayahuasca, which means "vine of the soul;' is
motion in front of my face, extracting an energy that
used for healing and is ingested as a liquid that has
had real dimension and mass. I threw up again. This
been distilled from Amazonian plants. The ceremo-
process continued for hours.
ny is conducted by a shaman and each participant
It's hard to explain the realization that I was lit-
embarks on a solo meditative journey. Visions are
erally throwing up disease. Whatever came out of
common, as is throwing up, which is referred to
me was dark and oily, and my synapses recognized
as "purging:' I told our friend about my birthday
that it smelled the same as my father's breath when
ambition. He smiled and told me he was hosting a
he was ill with cancer.
two-day Ayahuasca ceremony that happened to fall
When the ceremony was over, I was awakened
right on my birthday weekend.
For 10 days before the ceremony, I was
from my shamanic dream state by the sound of
voices singing "Happy Birthday" to me and, yes, it
instructed to abstain from various things: coffee,
was brilliant. For whatever it's worth, I drank the
wheat, bananas and, oh yeah, orgasms.
Orgasms. Abstaining from them was one of the
vine of the soul and did something I needed to do
but couldn't articulate-I
reclaimed my life. ■
June 2008
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cabin. She based the character and the setting on
herself in many ways, according to Baldwin, but
she never expected a tornado to touch down on her
own property. One did six weeks before the book
was published, uprooting more than 200 trees.
Luckily, her own house was spared.
7. She'smulti-talented.
As a teenager she toured
Europe with the Suitcase Theatre for five weeks.
Performing in mostly small villages, she sang,
danced and played alto sax and guitar.
8. She'sa jet-setter.Even before Baldwin was partnered with Alexiou, who is Greek, she was trekking
across continents. She has been dog sledding above
the Arctic Circle and has ridden a camel at the
Great Pyramids of Giza. Her travels are reflected in
jumped at the opportunity.
plished what many dykes dream of doing. At 40
written for publication, but Baldwin was not con-
years old, she gave up her 60-hour work week
cerned, because "Xenia has bulletproof plots and a
and semi-retired to pursue writing lesbian fiction.
clear vision of the characters:' As Baldwin notes,
rounded by furry creatures. While her cats and
Since then, she has published five novels with Bold
"Since Xenia has been doing a great deal of the
rabbits are protected from the elements, they are
Strokes Books. In 2008, she was awarded the Alice
actual writing as well, these books have been much
surrounded by wild bears, coyotes, bobcats and
B. Reader's Appreciation Award for her entire
easier and more fun for me than working alone:'
hawks.
Kathi Isserman
The result of this venture is the three-book Elite
body of work. -
Alexiou had never
her novels, which often have an international flavor.
Kim Baldwin, a best-selling author, has accom-
Operatives series they are currently writing.
1.She'sfocused
onlesbians.
Baldwin enjoys writing
4. She lovesher readers.Whether meeting fans
loves of lesbians today:' Her former career at a major
at the many book signings she attends or receiving
television network gave her juicy material for her
their email messages, Baldwin appreciates the
novels. While her books are romances at their core,
time and effort readers take to let her know what
she mixes it up with intrigue and adventure, too.
they think about her books. Baldwin, who lives in
the Midwest, has traveled all the way to York,
England, just to meet her readers.
lating" sex scenes are what Baldwin strives for in
every book. Each of her new releases gets bolder
5. Shewriteson two differentcontinents.
Baldwin
and more graphic. On the side, she has some
joined Alexiou at her home in Europe, and then
"Shehas been dog sleddingabovethe ArcticCircle
and has riddena camelat the GreatPyramidsof Giza.
Her travelsare reflectedin her novels..."
short erotica stories published in various antholo-
they teamed up in Palm Springs, Calif., to put
gies. Focus of Desire, her latest book, has the most
the final touches on their first book, the romantic
steamy sex scenes to date.
intrigue Lethal Affairs, out in July. At other times,
they communicate via webcam.
3. She welcomeschange.When Baldwin was
approached
by Xenia Alexiou, her longtime
beta reader, to co-write a romantic intrigue, she
so I curve
10. She'sversatile.Baldwin can tie a knot in a
cherry stem with her tongue in less than 30 seconds.
"positive and satisfying" stories about the "lives and
2. She'sa cunninglinguist."Realistic and scintil-
9. Shelovesanimals.Her Michigan home is sur-
6. Shecan predictthe future.In her novel Forceof
Nature, the author writes about a tornado hitting a
Now that's talent. ■
See all items with this value
-
Iron Chef
Bonus
Pride
Issue
The Lowdown On:
> 15 Dyke Marches
> 6 Black Prides
> 4 Small- own
Ho pots
PROPERTY
OF:
Our ON THE
SHELF
WWW.OUTONTHESHELF.CA
Meet e ·!Y
TV's Hotte
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FranklySpeaking
curve
THE BEST-SELLING
VOLJME
Someone's in the Kitchen
Frances Stevens Publisher/Editor
8 '\IUIVBER 5
1550 Bryant Street, Suite 510
San Francisco, California 94103
Phone 415-863-6538 Facsimile 415-863-1609
Advertising Sales 415-863-6538 ext. 10 or 212-446-6700
Subscription Inquiries 818-286-3102
Advertising Email advertising@curvemag.com
Editorial Email editor@curvemag.com
Letters to the Editor Email letters@curvemag.com
Publisher/Editor in Chief
Executive Editor
Associate Publisher
Senior Editor
Assistant Editor
Book Review Editor
Music Review Editor
Contributing Editors
WithJen and Zoi
breakingnew ground
as the firstlesbian
coupleon TopChef.
we'rereadyfor women
to take a new rolein
the kitchen.
LESBIAN MAGAZINE
Proofreaders
Art Director
Photo Editor
Production Manager
Production Artist
Web Producer
Operations Director
Sales Department
Advertising Sales
Editorial Assistants
in Chief
I'm a huge fan of Top Chef-in fact, I love most cooking shows. I got that from my father, who used to prePhoto Assistants
tend to be Julia Child, complete with the accent and the high-waisted apron. My dad's kitchen philosophy
Frances Stevens
Diane Anderson-Minshall
Sara Jane Keskula
Colleen M. Lee
Katie Peoples
Rachel Pepper
Margaret Coble
Julia Bloch, Victoria A.
Brownworth, Gina Daggett,
Sheryl Kay, Gretchen Lee
Theresa Johnson, Rachel
Leach, Remy Ramirez,
Katherine Wright
Stefanie Liang
Nicole Teichman
Ondine Kilker
Kelly Nuti
Nikki Woelk
Flo Enriquez
Holly DeMaagd
Diana L Berry, Rivendell Media
Aislinn Clevenger,Teresa
Coates, Kate Goldsworthy,
Emily Howard, Katie Kaapcke,
Kamala Puligandla, Kelly
Rulon, Kory Tran
Sara Chestnutt-Fry, Catherine
Seriosa
was that if one cup of sugar is good, two cups are better.
Thankfully, I got my dad's love of the kitchen, but my mom's actual skill with food. With Jen and Zoi
breaking new ground as the first lesbian couple on Top Chef, we're ready for women to take a new role in
the kitchen. And, we're glad
to
see their accomplishments in this male-dominated industry highlighted
like never before. For our cover story, "Girl Chefs on Top" (see page 42), Senior Editor Colleen M. Lee
gets a chance to bounce questions off both Jen and Zoi. Sadly we didn't get our first lesbian top chef, but
we don't think this is the last we'll hear of the culinary couple.
Contributing Writers Kathy Beige, Mea Chavez, Jennifer
Corday, Beren deMotier, Michele Fisher, Jodi Helmer,
Kathi lsserman, Gillian Kendall, Kate Lacey, Charlene
Lichenstein, Jenna V. Loceff, Karen Loftus, Karlyn
Lotney, Colleen Mccaffrey, Candace Moore, Aefa
Mulholland, Catherine Plato, Laurie K. Schenden,
Stephanie Schroeder, Jenny Sherwin, Kristin A. Smith,
Jocelyn Voo, Melany Walters-Beck
Illustrators Phil Cho, Katherine Streeter
This issue is jam-packed with Pride. Our special section (page 48) goes inside small-town Prides, which
are growing in size and number. Our down-home look proves that bigger isn't necessarily better. We
also highlight Black Prides across the country, as well as who's keeping track of our history in "Lesbian
Contributing PhotographersMichelle Bart, Sophia Hantzes,
Gabriela Hashun, Cheryl Mazak, Connie L. Merchant, Mia
Nakano, Maggie Parker, Elisa Shebaro, Jeff Singer, Paul
Thomas, Kina Williams
Libraries:' My favorite part just might be "Where the Girls Are;' a summary of how the Dyke March
started and where women are going with it today.
This year, we at
Atlanta-and
CURVE
have expanded our involvement with two Pride communities-San
Francisco and
we're pumping it up a notch, not only with great parties, but also with official women's host
hotels. In San Francisco, we're taking over the stylish Hotel Kabuki and kicking off Pride with a welcome
cocktail party on Friday,June 27. Across the country, the Atlanta Hilton will be CURVE
1
S
home base. Even
though we don't have the whole hotel in Atlanta, Curvettes get a special rate and the Peach Pride parties
will be off the hook.
Whether you go every year, haven't been for a while, or are just now planning to attend your first Pride
festival, it's time to use this issue to prepare, then grab your
guarantee it'll be an experience you won't ever forget.
CURVE
T-shirt and make it
to
a festival now. I
Volume 18 Issue 5 Curve (ISSN 1087-867)() is published monthly (except for
bimonthly January/February and July/August) by Outspoken Enterprises, Inc.,
1550 Bryant St., Ste. 510, San Francisco, CA 94103. Subscnption price: $49.95/
year, $62.95 Canadian (U.S. funds only) and $71.95 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 0010355). Contents of Curve Magazine may not be reproduced in any manner, either
whole or 1n part, without wntten permission from the publisher. Publication of
the name or photograph of any persons or organizations appeanng, advertising
or listing in Curve may not be taken as an 1ndicalton of the sexual orientation
of that individual or group unless specifically stated. Curve welcomes letters,
quenes, unsolicrted manuseripts and artwork. Include SASE for response. Lack
of any representation only signifies insuffioent materials. Submissions cannot be
returned unless a self-addressed stamped envelope is included. No responsibilrty
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Subscnption Inquiries: Please write to Curve, 1550 Bryant Street, Suite 510,
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21curve
Keyword: Curvemag Website: curvemag.com
Features June 2008
"I thinkpretty
quicklythey
got it that
we're cool
girlsas individuals,and
we're cool
girlsas a
couple.And
we weren't
there to stir
up a bunch
of lesbian
drama. We
were there
to win."
Zo
page 42
38
Happy Campers How shopping for the perfect
trailer sparks fantasies of marital bliss for this dyke.
By Beren deMotier
40
Hotlanta We highlight the lesbian hotspots in this
peachy town. By Lisa Allender and Kory Tran
42
COVER: Top Chefs Jen and Zoi took the culinary
world by storm on Bravo's Top Chef. Now they spill
the beans on their relationship. Plus, our gay Iron
Chef Cat Cora gets personal. By Colleen M. Lee
Sr
4
5
Cover photo by
Cruck Hodes/Bravo
41
curve
Four Small-Town Hotspots Want to avoid the
big crowds this year? We've got the skinny on the
best small-town Prides. By Kelli Dunham
Creating Space From East to West Coast we
cover the archives preserving our herstory. By
Stephanie Schroeder and Laurie K. Schenden
Volume 18#5
5
The Gayest Job Ever Kendall Clawson has big
dreams for Portland, Oregon's Q Center. By Alison
Peters
5
Girl-on-Girl Action The women's tackle football
league proves chicks can do it better. By Laurie K.
Schenden
6
Row Your Boat Two lesbians coach women on
rowing and life. By Hilary Kyle
6
Aiming for the Turkey Pro bowler Tish Johnson
shares her secrets to success. By Kristin A. Smith
6
Tough Beauties Three lesbian athletes show their
sexy side to the camera. By Katie Peoples
6
Out Down Under The Asia Pacific Outgames
finds a home in Australia. By Jade Gui/Ivar
"
5
Fifteen Dyke Marches It's time for dykes to take
to the streets. Find out which march you can take
part in. By Kristin A. Smith
6
Lesbian Dodgeball This New York City LGBT
league proves dodgeball isn't just for kids anymore.
By Allison Steinberg
5
Six Black Prides LGBT African Americans celebrate
Pride in their own way. By Jenna V Loceff
6
A Million-Dollar Perspective Personal trainer
Shawnee Harkins' brush with paralysis changed her
outlook on life. By Hilary Kyle
Departments
June 2008
"Likeany good
queen, I discovered
the gym to be my
templeof physical
redemption.The
ciggiesand booze
were beginningto
take theirtoll. I had
to do something
fast-risk havingto
date lessattractive
women or giveup
one of my vices."
page 34
2
Frankly Speaking A note from the
woman who started it all.
22
Scene See all the hotties, from lesbian
book festivals to Turkish oil wrestling.
8
Letters CURVE
readers can't get enough
of Dani and Tila.
24
Lipstick & Dipstick What to do when
that soccer babe dumps you.
12
Contributors Meet the people who
make it happen.
25
Ask Fairy Butch Is my live-in girlfriend
straight after all?
14 Out in Front A filmmaker fights abuse, a
former stripper studies sexual expression
and a marketing expert gets out the gay
vote.
26
Relationships The top five reasons why
you gotta love Pride.
28
Health Everything you need to know
about finding a gynecologist. Plus, a common health crisis flies under the radar.
15 Curvatures Deaf lesbians have their
own fest, we shout out to the mags we
love and you find out where to see cuRvE 30
this Pride season.
32
18 Open Studio Dancer and choreographer
Sarah Bush is game for any challenge.
34
20 Lesbofile Is another Ellen coming out?
6
Icurve
Astro Grrl Summer flings are in the air.
Politics Pride is a time to remember the
fight's not over yet.
Dyke Drama When it comes to sports,
pick me, but not last.
68
Sapphic Screen Candace Moore covers deadly dramas and hysterical Web
shows. Plus, Ky Dickens documents God
and gays.
71
In the Stacks Rachel Pepper takes a
look at something new in literature. And
Georgia Beers wins the Lammy.
73
Music Watch Margaret Coble has the
best beats to shake your booty to. Sabina
Sciubba dishes on the Brazilian Girls.
76 Tech Girl Cut the cord! These innovations help make your life more mobile.
77 I Tried It How Jen Berkowitz gave it up
to the mother for her 30th birthday.
80
Top Ten Reasons We Love Kim
Baldwin The globe-trotting author knows
how to write steamy lesbian fiction.
ouremployees.
ourcustomers.
ourfamily.
youareour pride+ joy
the magic of
:J
0
0
<t:
(/)
LU
~
LL
*
*macys
macys.com
Letters
" I wouldneverhaveknownaboutCURVE
magazineif it weren'tfor ourfavoritehot
lesbianfutch,DaniCampbell,and her
MySpacepage.When I saw she was
featuredon the cover,I went out as soon
as I couldto buy it. I readthe magazine
coverto cover,and I stillenjoyreadingit.
I haveneverbeen so excited..."
IS IT EVER
OK TO OUT
SO EONE?*
72%
community. It allows me to see all of the cool and hip happenings
No,it's neverOK As a bi woman, a white ally to people of color and CURVEreader,
around the country for lesbians. It opens my eyes to more lesbian
I was disappointed by the question on your April 2008 (Vol. 18
artists and it gives me hope when I read about someone dealing
#3] cover: "Who needs Tila Tequila?" The answer is simple: We
with coming out or their less-than-accepting family. I guess you
Yes,if it's a politician all do! She's an out bi woman of color, and she has her own TV
whovotesagainstus show. That's never happened before! I think, instead of asking
could say that it's the "handbook" I've been waiting for. Thanks,
19%
6%
and keep up the good work!
- Lauri, Bloomington,Ill.
who needs her, CURVEshould be celebrating her. I would like to
see Tila on the cover, and I would like to read an interview with
Yes,if it's a celebrity
her. I want to hear about what it was like for her to come out to
who is homophobic
her friends, her family and the whole world. She can be a role
Thank you for the article "Out with my Son" by Beren deMotier
model for young bi women, women of color and anyone strug-
(Vol. 18 #4]. It beautifully depicted the challenges parents face
Yes,it's alwaysOK gling to come out of the closet. CuRVE should applaud that, not
dismiss it! Let's see Tila on the cover.
when raising a child with autism. We all know what it feels like
*According
to a
curvemag.
compoll
being who we are. It is my hope that the gay and lesbian com-
3%
- Kim W., Bi Visibility Project,Davis, Calif.
to be ostracized, isolated, stared at and treated unjustly just for
munity will embrace those in the disability community as we all
Editor's Note: Our interviewfocused on Dani, thegirl Tila dumped.
fight together to live the lives that we deserve-free
We love Tila, too-watch for an interview in an upcomingissue.
and fear.
of oppression
- Teri S. Arnold, director of Public Relations, Chesapeake
ServiceSystems, Chesapeake,Va.
So this was the first issue of CURVEI have ever bought. I would
never have known about CURVEmagazine if it weren't for our fa-
8
vorite hot lesbian hitch, Dani Campbell, and her MySpace page.
I'm a black lesbian erotica writer and I love that you (and your
When I saw she was featured on the cover (Vol. 18 #3], I went
entire magazine) are so out and proud. I read CURVEevery month
out as soon as I could to buy it. I read the magazine cover to
and I love it. I love other women that are not afraid to be exactly
cover, and I still enjoy reading it. I have never been so excited and
who they are. Women like you make it easier to be out. Keep up
overwhelmed by a magazine with so much information, news,
the great work.
features and other goodies. In other words, I am now a huge fan
- Nikii, via email
of your wonderful magazine. This bisexual honey will definitely
buy future issues. Thanks from the bottom of my heart and soul
for such a rocking magazine!
- Shelly C., Tucson, Ariz.
I've noted your "Funniest Lesbian in America" poll. It's turning into an exercise in ballot-box stuffing as people exhort their
MySpace friends to vote for them. It's going to be really embarrassing if a self-promoting hack who doesn't have any material
I wanted to drop you a quick note to tell you how much I love
your magazine! I'm kind of a newbie ... after being married for 15
ends up on top. Why give credibility to that?
- Larry-bob, via email
years, to a man, I'm now engaged to an amazing woman. My girl
and I have been to Fantasy Fest and the Pride parade in Chicago,
but we pretty much live in the middle of a cornfield. Our community is pretty conservative, so your magazine gives me a sense of
s Icurve
Editor's Note: Oh, Larry-bob, have morefaith in the lesbiansisterhood. We doubt anyone on our list is a self-promoting,material-less
hack, but we'rewatchingthe votesto make sure the contestisfair.
Letters
It's good to
exercise your
muscles.
Start with
your heart.
al
-
a c! 'e
Kudos to
CURVE
g't:
T'"ls.e Be~
r
for reviewing two amazing
Or
l"'r .a
s·s e
I enjoyed the "Top Ten Reasons We Love Kelly
in the
books, Anis Raw Food Kitchen and Veganomicon. McAlister"
March issue [Vol. 18
Packed with scrumptious recipes, gorgeous photos and inspirational info to rock your world
#2]. I am however bi-
(and change the world). Yes, ladies, it's true-veg-
ased because Kelly is
etarians do taste better! Many thanks, also, for
my sister. She is such
your article entitled, '.'Lesbians Gather in North
a caring, outgoing and
Carolina" [Vol. 18 #3]. We would love to have you
down-to-earth person.
here ...the more the merrier!
-Michelle, Asheville,N.C.
Thank you for shar-
-------
ing with everyone just
!"'.:!.."~"':":.::~= :: ,_..~~ ..i:: ~~-•-""4-
how amazing she is.
-fst C'e.a.s
- So
:..i:.-:.::.
~:";.::!
- Molly Gapol,
Seattle
Just want to say thanks for including me in
o\6ll~--
:=-..--
:=-:::.:.:.-=,::.:-:
..:.-w..~'-:t':..'=!'a::
~:;~~ §:=~~1~~=~:-t~ I
March's issue [Open Studio, Vol. 18 #2]. The
The makers of
article directly affected my sales and visibility...
C
<;~ e h' g
c
V')ur
Mind?
and I wanted to make sure you know that your
Email letters@curvemag.com;
TYLENOL®PM are proud to
magazine is effectively giving people like me a
Letters, 1550 Bryant St., Ste. 510, San Francisco,
be the presenting sponsor
boost. Thank you! It was a great article-please
CA 94103; fax to 415-863-1609. Please include
tell [CURVE contributing writer] Jenna Loceff I
your name, city and state. Letters may be edited
said thank you so much!
for clarity and length.
of Braking the Cycle.
This 3-day, 275-mile bike
ride from Gettysburg, PA
to New York City raises
awareness and benefits
the HIV/AIDS services of
the New York Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual & Transgender
Community Center. Join us
write to
CURVE
- TeresaBrazen
Correc-t·onc:-
-s iz
r
Atr
I really liked the article on Detroit ["Hitting
Cruise Control;' Vol. 18 #3]. I'm from Detroit
and am tired of my town always getting a bad
rap. It was nice to see someone pointing out that
it can be cool and gay-friendly. And, thanks for
mentioning one of my favorite things about the
Detroit Metro area, the new LGBT Center.
- Heather,Detroit
.i:
An
advertisement
for the
2006
Michigan
Womyn's Music Festival inadvertently appeared
in our May issue [Vol. 18 #4]. We meant to print
an advertisement for the 2008 festival. We deeply
regret this error and apologize to the 2006 and
2008 performers, organizers, producers, festival lovers and attendees. The correct dates of
the festival are Aug. 5-10. For complete festival
details, go to michfest.com. ■
and the hundreds of other
riders, volunteers, and crew
from September 26-28th.
To become involved and
to learn about other
TYLENOL~ PM sponsored
GLBT events, visit
www.tylenol.com/glbt.
Feel better,
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10
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We Have a Winner
Congratulations to Abby Lorenz, the
Grand Prize Winner of the 2008 Lesbian
Community Care Project Click Photo
Contest.
Lorenz studied at the New England
School of Photography and her prizewinning photo, Untitled Nude, is part of
a larger body of work entitled Drink Me.
In her work, she often explores issues
such as body image and sexuality, which
are common to young women.
Along with other selections, her photo was displayed at Click, the LCCP's
annual ball, on March 8. Lorenz won two
tickets to Click for her entry.
Sponsored by the Howard Brown
Health Center in Chicago, the contest
asked LGBT members to share their
stories and the power of lesbians.
Judging was based on style,
content, composition and originality,
as well as the ability to forward the
mission of the LCCP.
The more trouble you have going to sleep, the more you depend
on things like your favorite pillow, a cup of hot tea, a warm bath.
But if your nightly routine occasionally includes sleep medicine,
you may worry about depending on it too much. When used as
directed, TYLENOL~PM Rapid Release Gels help you fall asleep in
a way that's non-habit forming. They work with your body to relieve
the nighttime aches and pains that keep you from getting the sleep
you need. So you can stop worrying. Start relaxing. And sleep tight.
Feel better,
TYLENOL.
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Use only as directed. Do not take TYLENOL•)with other products containing acetaminophen. tylenol.com/glbt
Contributors
"When I told everyone I was interning at
CURVE,
so many people were
surprised, because I'm a guy;' says editorial assistant KoryTran.Just because CURVE is a lesbian magazine doesn't mean that its articles aren't
essentially universal. Tran is a student at San Francisco State University
and is going back and forth between his two loves: journalism and fiction.
"Writing for
Editor's Note
It's completely ironic that I would
be writing my first editor's note
after having spent the last week in
bed with pneumonia. I was quarantined from the office-apparently
even butches are afraid of getting
sick-which meant I was shuddering
under blankets as staffers dropped
by to stuff galleys under my door
for approval.
I needn't have worried, though,
as I put our resident sports
nut-Colleen M. Lee-in charge of
this month's special Sports section. I had just one (slightly cliched)
mandate: Think outside the box.
She did just that.
And everyone in the office fell
in love with Jen and Zoi from Top
Chef. Getting to know them more
intimately made an impact on the
team, who began to use the terms
"endearing" and "charming" way
too often.
By the time you read this, I'll
hopefully be out of my sickbed,
into one of our new cuRvEtees
(designed by Rigged Outfitter's
Parisa!) and parading through the
streets with all of you.
~
Diane Anderson-Minshall
P.S. Don't feel too sorry for me.
Before I got sick, I spent a week
in the Caribbean with 2,000 other
lesbians on Olivia's Cruise for a
Cause. But that's a whole other
story- look for it in October.
12
I curve
CURVE
and interacting with all these amazing people in the
lesbian community has really opened my eyes;' he says.
Photo assistant SaraChestnutt-Fry
is currently a student at the Academy of
Art University in San Francisco, studying fine art photography. Following
in the footsteps of the great photographers of the past, she based her current body of work, titled Americana, on an intimate look at rural towns
across the country, not through the traditional human portrait, but through
the dwellings in which rural people live. Chestnutt-Fry participated in her
first group show this summer at NewEndArts in Ashland, Ore.
"I can make something out of nothing;' says photo assistant Catherine
Seriosa.
"I can make a simple pencil catch your eye in a quick second, and
hopefully get you to giggle at it too:' Seriosa has been studying photography since high school. She is currently attending the Academy of Art
University in San Francisco, studying advertising photography. Her body
of work is full of surprising photos that are colorful, playful and unique.
Currently, Seriosa is working on a series of still-life images of miniature toys.
"I demoed video games-for
work. Clearly my job rocks;' says editorial
assistant KatieKaapcke.
"My other favorite
CURVE
memory was helping to
bodyguard Dani Campbell at the April issue release parry:' Kaapcke's life
revolves around reading, writing, art, music, comics, sci-fi and video games.
"Basically,I am a big dork;' she says. You can usually find her at a local rock
show in a state of blissful admiration. She is a freelance writer and graphic
designer who writes local music reviews for wiretapmusic.com.
"My T-shirt drawer is bursting;' says editorial assistant EmilyHoward."I
love to support art and activist projects, especially when it contributes to
my fashion sense-so
I was happy to write about Artichoke Apparel (page
61), the woman-friendly business that also promotes healthy eating and
green living:' Howard earned a master's in media studies and brings a critical perspective and investigative twist to the way she works. Howard also
works as a radio journalist on Flashpoints Radio.
KathrynJankowskiis an illustrator, painter and sculptor currently living
in Toronto. She studied visual arts at York University and advanced illustration at Sheridan College. She works with the Canadian Broadcasting
Company, and Exclaim and The Walrus magazines. Jankowski says of her
life now, "I came from the hamlets of rural southwestern Ontario to endure and enjoy the challenges of the city, but I am finally renting a house
with a backyard and it makes me feel more at home:'
Someday
Pride will be
celebrated
everyday.
TODAY,celebratewith WellsFargo.
Wells Fargo fosters a culture in which all people and their individual differences are not only accepted,
but celebrated! Our business atmosphere promotes inclusive community values, presents career
opportunities to a diverse work force, as well as provides support to the LGBTcommunities we serve.
© 2008
Wells
Fargo
Bank,
N.A.
Allrights
reserved.
Member
FDIC.
www.wellsfargo.com/lgbt
Filmmaker Addresses Rape
From Stripping to Doctorate
Getting Politically Savvy
Crisscrossing the globe, 39-year-old filmmaker
When she began her master's program in wom-
Take a nice Jewish girl from Long Island, N.Y.,
AishahShahidahSimmonshas presented her
work at numerous programs investigating and
en's and gender studies at Roosevelt University,
MichelleCarnesremembered the dread she felt
her teachers' picket lines, send her off to anti-
raise her in a liberal home, forbid her to cross
exposing sexual violence in oppressed and mar-
about telling people that she had supported herself
Vietnam War marches and it's no wonder what
ginalized communities.
More than a decade ago, she directed and
as an undergrad by working as a stripper.
you get: LibbyPost,political activist.
"Coming out as a former sex worker was hard-
"The work I've done has always been about
produced In My Father's House, an autobio-
er than coming out as bi, especially being in a femi-
working to make people's lives better and the
graphical documentary short about an African
nist program;' says Carnes. "I thought that I would
world a more loving and kind place;' Post says.
American feminist lesbian's exploration of her
be discredited, the stripper part of my life would
be too much and I'd be thrown our:'
State Pride Agenda, an organization that pro-
Turns out her professors listened, valued her
vides a statewide LGBT political voice for all
coming-out process. One year later, Simmons
undertook what was to become her life's work
for the next 11 years: writing, directing and pro-
experiences and propelled her to do more work.
Based in Albany, Post founded the Empire
New Yorkers, enabling them to come out, stand
ducing the award-winning, feature-length film
Carnes is currently finishing her doctorate
NO! The Rape Documentary.
"Foremost, the audience learns that a woman
at American University, where she has written a
seminal thesis examining black lesbians' strip par-
She also served as president of the Capital
shouldn't ever lose the right to say no, regardless
ties in D.C., a local phenomenon for the past 15
District Gay and Lesbian Community Council,
of the time, regardless of the victim-survivor's
years. The women have found a safe, comfortable
working with the board to raise money, hire
relationship to the perpetrator, regardless of if
and accepting atmosphere, and they are revered
staff and strengthen the organization.
the victim-survivor participated in some form
and valued as African American same-sex-identi-
Now Post runs a marketing and communica-
of sexual activity before she said no to another
fied women.
"Women's erotic spaces deserve as much protec-
tions firm that specializes in libraries, healthcare,
form of sexual activity;' Simmons says.
up for themselves and create political power in
their communities.
advocacy and not-for-profits, while also writing
tion and affection as the Washington Monument;'
nationally syndicated columns on LGBT issues.
African American women, it is a documentary
says Carnes. ''.And not just the polite 'Oops, I un-
The upcoming presidential election, she says,
that all women, regardless of race, national-
buttoned my corset' stuff-all
is critical, and must be approached by the gay
ity or sexual orientation, can relate to, observes
pole-straddling glory:'
While NO! focuses on the experiences of
of us in our raunchy,
community with long-range vision.
Simmons, because one in three women in the
Carnes is also a public health analyst and proj-
Post wants same-sex marriage as much
world will experience some form of sexual
ect officer for the Substance Abuse and Mental
as the next lesbian, but says the LGBT
Health Services Administration, where she focuses
community needs to recognize that there are
violence.
on women's and minority populations' needs. She's
other important issues, such as reproductive
audiences while educating them and encourag-
also now helping to coordinate a Point Foundation
freedom, access to healthcare, stopping the
"My goal with my work is to visually engage
ing them to work toward eradicating racism,
alumni group that will assist former scholars with
war, protecting the environment and educat-
sexism and homophobia, in all of their violent
career, financial and family planning, in addition to
ing children. By electing a Democrat and in-
manifestations;• says Simmons.
helping them maintain their commitment to com-
creasing Democratic majorities in the House
munity service and social justice issues.
"I think we can be-and should be-really
and Senate, Post says the national nondis-
impressed by how things have changed, but I also
signed into law, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" will be
know that this is no time to start congratulating
ourselves and taking a break;' says Carnes. "We've
overturned and more liberal Supreme Court
justices will be appointed.
got to keep it up."
,4lcurve
crimination bill and the hate crimes bill will be
"We need to be politically savvy;' she says.
Curvatures
Sign Language Rules
The 5th Biennial Deaf Lesbian Festival, June 25-29
Francisco, will once again bring together
in San
women from all
arot.nd the world to enjoy an event where they can network, exchange ideas, empower each ocher and make an impact on the
future.
For five days, deaf lesbians can convene in one of the few
places created just for chem. "Many of the people who attend are
often the only ones in their community who are deaf lesbians;'
co-chair Chriz Dally explains. "There is no ocher world for us,
which makes the festival such a sacred place:' And because of
the uniqueness of chis gathering, the organizers have restricted
attendance to deaf lesbians only.
The theme of chis year's festival, "You've Come a Long Way,
Baby;' reflects the strides deaf lesbians have made over the years.
"There are a lot of parallels, going back to women's liberation
in the '60s and '70s;' co-chair Ann "JAC" Cook says. "We live a
better life today because of the people who fought for our rights
back then:' With this in mind, the
San Francisco event will focus on
honoring women who have been active in chis unique community.
The DLF also hopes to create a
stronger deaf lesbian community.
"With this festival we hope to add
more focus on community development and organizations. We're also
going to have a survey, to get a better idea of future goals;' Dally says.
Cook adds, "The survey will be an
important tool because with that information we can start to
develop a formal group and earn grant support:'
To help raise money, a deaf spin-off of The L Word, called
The A Word, was released in March. "That movie really connected with our culture;' Dally explains. "It was in our language.
The L Word still disconnects us, but with that film there was 100
percent connection:'
For this year's fest, committee members are working on a
comedy film that will use footage from the festival. Jade Bryan, a
deaf lesbian filmmaker from Jamaica, will also share her techniques
in film production. Other events include social gatherings starting
with the opening ceremony, a taco bar and drinks, a dinner banquet
and, to wrap up the festivities with a bang, the first Dyke Ball for
deaf lesbians, featuring a deaf female DJ from New York.
Workshops will also be held throughout the week, including
a self-advocacy class taught by Susan Gonzalez, a deaf Latina
pansexual attorney. Women will be informed of current issues
affecting the deaf community and will
also be given tips on how to articulate
their positions in practical areas, such
as the law, education, healthcare, estate
planning, employment and parenting.
There will also be a panel of deaf lesbians spanning five generations who will
discuss the topic of coming out to family and friends.
Another DLF is already in the
works for the summer of 2010 m
New York City. - SW
HOT: Lesbians and Pandas Love Bamboo
To-GoWare:Thiscompany
is dedicated
to providing
solutionsfor the "to-go"
culturewe livein. Its heatresistantbambooutensilset
is a lightweightalternativeto plasticutensilsand
includesa knife,fork,spoon
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all wrappedin a decorative
cloth.(to-goware.com)
EcoDeslgnz:
EcoDesignz
producesstylishandmodern
furnituremadefrombamboo,
whileEcoThreadz
boastsa
plethoraof bambooclothing
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for otherlabelscan
beviewedandpurchased
at SpunBamboo.
(ecodesignz.com,
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Bambu:
Thiscreativecompanyprovides
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solutions
for the kitchen.Cutting
boards,mixingbowls,nestingbasketsand
utensilsaremadefrombambooandhavea contemporarylook.Their"lacquerware,"
popularfor
its boldcolors,is a favorite.(bambuhome.com)
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process.(silkroadflooring.com)
- JVL
SAPPHIC COMICS
It's a taleof survivaland
fate,wherethe heroine
just happens
to bea
lesbian.Fullof action,
engagingdialogue,
intriguingcharacter
development
anda little
racycontent,this story
is onenotto bemissed.
Houseof theMuses:The
LatterDaysof Sapphoof
Lesbos,by PamHarrison,
is a six-partgraphicnovel
basedon a mysterious
poemfoundamong
Sappho'sEnnead.
It tells
thestoryof Mnasidika
(akaDika)andhowthe
Spartannoblewoman
cameto Lesbos.It follows
herthroughherlife as a
slaveandrecountsher
laterescape,aswellas
the manylovetriangles
shefindsherselfin.This
retellingis renderedin
beautiful3-Dcomputer
illustrations
that givelife
to the storymorethanany
drawingcould.Celebrate
ancientlesbianhistory
withthissexy,adventurousretellingof a classic.
(houseofthemuses.
com)
-KP
CURVATURES
WRITTEN
BY
MeaChavez,Jenna
V.Loceff,Katie
Peoples,
KamalaK.
Puligandla,
Kelly
Rulon,SaraWhitford
June 2008
I 15
Curvatures
Regional Mags We Love
Echu:.For 19 years, insightful
ings, style and the local scene-which
political and social commentary
means lots of semi-naked boys and
has made Echo a provocative
girls, an LGBT TV guide and the
read. This no-frills magazine
hottest music reviews. Even after 30
years, this mag is still hip.
RIE LOVE has its own special twist on the
LGBT lifestyle. Echoalso covers
OurAussiecounterparts venues and dining in Arizona,
havea publication
of particularly Phoenix. A play-
She:This Floridian magazine got
us with its clean graphics and edgy
theirownto celebrate
covers, featuring the likes of Jackie
ful interview with Amy Sedaris
their"not-so-straight
Warner, the Go-Go's and Ellen
caught our attention.
girls." Cherriedebuted
DeGeneres. A free publication, She
in 2007andit has
serves
up the local women of the
alreadyfeaturedopenly Lavender.Everyone in che
LGBT
community in noted hotgayAustralia'sNext office looks forward co
spots like Fort Lauderdale and Key
TopModelcontestant Lavender's arrival in che
West. Living outside the Sunshine Stater
JaneWilliamson
and mail. Out since 1995,
musicianMissyHiggins chis Minneapolis-based
Not to worry.This mag can be picked up as
as covergirls.Just LGBT magazine keeps
far north as New York City and all the way
behindthosecoversis a the Midwest updated
out to West Hollywood.
beautifulblendof pho- on the latest news and a
tos,adviceandarticles
Push:Seattle-based queer publicavariety of political views.
rangingfromwherethe
tion Push is written by a volunteer
With coverage of local
hottestqueerparties
group of feminists who jump right
areto the strugglesof events and opinions scattered
into
such issues as sex and genthroughout
the
magazine,
Australia'squeerindigder
politics.
It has featured articles
Lavender
definitely
has
enouswomen.Whythe
by
writers
from
the Bent Writing
community
in
mind.
term"not-so-straight
Institute,
the
only
nonprofit
queer writgirls?"Executive
editor
KatrinaFox(a cuRvE QVegas:It's all about Vegas,
ing institute in the nation dedicated to
contributor)
says,"Many baby. QVegashas what you'd expect
nurturing and encouraging the written
, [women]prefertheterm from any self-respecting gay magazine m and spoken word in LGBTIQ communities.
'queer,'someuse'bi' Las Vegas: drag show and queer festival list- -MC and KR
or 'bisexual'andsome
prefernotto labeltheir
sexuality,sowe decided
the magazine's
moniker
shouldbefor 'not-soCuRvE
will beall overthecountrythissummerstraightgirls'to beas
stopbyandsayhelloto us in thefollowingcities:
inclusiveas possible."
!
Checkit outat
cherrie.e-p.net.au.
-KR
Limited Edition 2008 CURVE T-shirts
on sale at our Pride booth
16lcurve
NEWS NOTES
TheBritishnewspaper
the
Observer
namedAfterEllenone
of theworld's50 mostpowerful
biogsin March.Thepaperchose
AfterEllen
for its "irreverentlook
at howthe lesbiancommunity
is represented
in the media."
Congrats,
ladies!
LesbianauthorCharlotte
Mendelson
wasplacedonthe
shortlistfor the prestigious
OrangeBroadband
Prizefor
Fictionfor hernovelWhenWe
WereBad.
HBOpulledthe plugon Lily
Tomlin's
comedyseries12Miles
afterorderingsix episodes.
It's
currentlylookingfor a newhome
at othernetworks.Speaking
of
HBO,longtimepresidentCarolyn
Strauss,
anoutlesbian,recently
steppeddown,reportedly
dueto
concernsoverHBO'srecentdip in
performance.
TheGeorgia
Courtof Appeals
hasoverturned
a lower-court
rulingthatfoundlesbianmother
Elizabeth
Hadwayin contempt
of courtfor refusingto turnover
a 7-year-oldgirl in hercustody
aftera judgedeniedherpetition
for adoptionbecauseshewas
a lesbian.
Thebiologicalmother
placedthegirl in Hadway's
custodyin 2006.
A lesbiancouplein California
wentfromonekidto fivewhen
theyhadquadruplets
in early
March.CristineGaienne
and
PatsyLovellhadnotplanned
June14-15 SanJose(sanjosepride.com)
June2~21 Billings,Mont.(prideinbillings.org) onsucha largefamilybutsaid
theycouldn'tterminateanyof
MeetDianeAnderson-Minshall,
cuRvE's
executive
thefetusesafterseeingthemon
editorandgrandmarshalof MontanaPride.
ultrasound.
June28-29 SanFrancisco(sfpride.org)
Stayat the HotelKabuki,theofficialwomen'shotelof
Kenneth
Colegivesa nodto
SanFrancisco
Pride-call 800-533-4567
andrequest
lesbianmomseverywhere
in his
the "cuRvE
magazine
rate."Includesa cocktailrecepnewad campaign.
Thecampaign
tion,freesubscriptions
andmuchmore!
is in supportof the company's
July4-6 AUanta(atlantapride.org)
charitable
causeAWEARNESS
and
featurespeoplefromall walks
ForthethirdyearcuRvE
will hostPeachPride,the
of life,includingFloridacouple
hottestwomen'spartyin theSouth.We'retaking
Nicoletta,
Joannaandtheir2overtheAtlantaHiltonthisyear-stay tunedto
year-olddaughter,
Ruthie.- KP
curvemag.com
for moreinfo.
July19-20
SanDiego(sandiegopride.org)
She Said
Wanda Sykes
"I would like for [Rep. Sally Kern]
to move up in government.
'Cause if she thinks that
homosexuality is a bigger
threat than terrorism, maybe
she'll get our troops out of
Iraq, and they'll go invade
West Hollywood. Anything
to get our troops home!"
_,n,c:,,c,
on
e fen
DeGeneres Show
"I'll give Betty credit. I don't know if
you ever met her. Bombastic,
rude, self-centered. Brilliant.
And you know what? Fundamentally a moral person,
and about 20 years later she
apologized to me in public."
>>
I
a
e rown o ,m
on g ttmg kicked out of the
a 1onal Orgarnzat1on for
o en by Be y F
I
dan
June 2008
I 17
Sarah Bush
''I've been a choreographer and dancer basically my whole life. I started dancing at 3. It's all I've ever known and done;' says Sarah Bush, the
founder and choreographer of the Sarah Bush Dance Project, based in San Francisco. Bush initially trained in modern dance but found herself
fascinated with popular forms-especially
hip-hop-when
she moved from Salt Lake City to the Bay Area in the 1990s.
Founding her own company, which she began in San Francisco in the late '90s, was a way
for her to realize her unique vision. "I always want to satisfy both parts of me. That modern
dance sort of academic, intellectual, structured self, and chis pop, commercial-energy, sexuality
side of me too:' She sees her company as the fusion of two dance worlds and says it's a challenge
to find dancers who work well in both modern and popular forms. So Bush frequently trains
troupe members herself until they can move fluidly between the different modes she uses in her
choreography.
Bush is always looking for new challenges: Her upcoming projects include working with a
San Francisco opera company and choreographing a music video for transgender R&B artist
and boyfriend Joshua Klipp. This is her second video with Klipp directed by Margaret Cho,
who Bush says is "wonderful to work with:' Their first music video collaboration saw heavy rotation on Logo and frequently landed on its Click List-Top 10 Videos.
Bush, whose mother was a liberal religious leader in Salt Lake City, sees her life's work as
having an activist impulse, and would like to reach as many different audiences as she canhence her work for MTV and her appearance in late 2007 on The TyraBanks Show with Klipp,
who recently transitioned from female to male. She especially likes to challenge traditional gender
roles in dance: "My work all along has been queer in one way or another;' Bush says. She laments
the traditional-and
weak-roles
chat women are asked to play in classical forms like baller,
and in response opens up a place for "women who dance powerfully on stage:' ■
18 I curve
Curvatures
Lesbofile
Is She or Isn't She:
I
Is another Ellen coming out?
y Jo el n ~ o
This month, it's all about moving on up and moving on out.
Even rockers can't keep their wives satisfied. Valerie
Bertinelli,One Day at a Time actor and ex-wife of
Eddie Van Halen, revealed on Larry King Live that
she'd cheated on her husband several times during
their 26 years of marriage, and that at least one of
those times was with a woman. "I was 21, and she
was a great kisser-I don't know what else to say;'
Bertinelli told King, laughing.
''And that was a good reason?" King asked.
Though she expressed great remorse over
cheating on her husband, Bertinelli could only
enthusiastically say without missing a beat, "Yeah!"
'Nuff said.
Set your TiVos, ladies: The daytime TV smackdown between two super-personalities has begun.
After spending the last five years in the bottom five
of the top 10, EllenDeGeneres
jumped to claim
the No. 1 spot as the favorite television star in The
Harris Poll. OprahWinfreyslipped from the top
spot to No. 2, with Jay Leno, Hugh Laurie and Jon
Stewart rounding out the top five.
If ever there was a time for DeGeneres to do a
little dance, now would be it.
?
The Oscars lent a boon to Michael Musto, famed
sounding "as if her cat had just gotten stuck in a
her book Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and the
drainpipe or something," according to Musto.
Rise of Raunch Culture. Feel free to enjoy her ar-
party boy and columnist for The VillageVoice,who
The two of them verbally jousted over Musto
pounced on the EllenPagecontroversy: Is she or
calling Page an "Oscar loser" and potential lesbian,
isn't she? After Page's Oscar-nominated
but came to a tentative resolution ( um, with Musto
perfor-
mance in Juno, she showed up at the awards gala
ticles in your second-favorite magazine-CURVE
being No. 1, of course.
hanging up on Bush).
with an older woman by her side. Since filming
'Tm still livid that a publicist who would never
Juno, Page has been slated to play a lesbian werewolf (seriously) in the movie Jack and Diane and
most recently made an appearance on Saturday
Night Live as an "is-she-or-isn't-she" roommate
normally call me for anything is so quick on the
tant David Hernandez worked as a gay stripper,
horn to do spin control whenever the L-word
comes up;' he wrote on his blog. "And now, we're
potential scandal surfaced for former contender
back to square zero anyway: Is she?"
ed photos from Malubay's Facebook profile. The
who gushes about a Melissa Etheridge concert.
tomboys?" Musto wrote.
"Did she bring her mother [to the Oscars)?"
Soon after the copy ran, Musto got a phone call
from an unlisted number. It was KellyBush,Page's
power-publicist and manager (and, incidentally,
a lesbian herself), and she was reportedly pissed,
20 I curve
RamieleMalubaywhen a flood of websites postshots, in which Malubay was comically grabbing
"Is Ellen Page a lesbian or just one of them
there man-distrusting
A day after news broke that American Idol contes-
another girl's chest and vice versa, were supposed
After 12 years at New York magazine, journalist
ArielLevyleaves to join The New Yorker as a staff
writer-and
the only out lesbian at the respected
publication. She's written about gender roles, lesbian culture and modern-day feminism in such publications as Vogueand the WashingtonPost, and in
"proof" that she was a bona fide lesbian. Several
Facebook "fan clubs" have even been created just
to laud her "racy pies:' But seriously, what teen girl
(straight or otherwise) hasn't grabbed another girl's
boobs before? It's practically a rite of passage, right
alongside getting a dog and taking an RV trip. ■
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PASSION
for EXCELLENCE
1 (From left) Diane Anderson-Minshall,
CURVE'sexecutive editor, joins fellow authors and
fans Cheryl Craig, Lisa Girolami, Xenia Alexiou and Kim Baldwin at the Lesbian Book Festival
in Palm Springs, Cali£ 2 Jackie Warner (left) and Briana Stockton at the premiere of Shelter
3 Crazy Cajun runs out of steam while Aura makes her move on the mat at the OurChart
Turkish Oil Wrestling event at Dragonfly in West Hollywood, Calif. 4 (From left) comics
Karen Williams, Vickie Shaw and Dana Goldberg at the 2nd Annual Southwest FunnyFest
in Albuquerque, N.M., to benefit New Mexico AIDS Services 5 Thea Gill of Dante's Cove and
Dirty Sexy Money's Candis Cayne at the 20th anniversary celebration of Mark's restaurant in
Los Angeles 6 Diana Berry (right), CURvE'sadvertising executive, at a fundraiser for openly
gay California Assemblyman Mark Leno (left) and host Carol Maniscalco 7 L Word creator
Ilene Chaiken (left) and L Word star Elizabeth Keener take a minute out at the OurChart
Turkish Oil Wrestling event
Abeffer1A1orld
for eve~o~e.
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is committed
to mrAking
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Advice
Lipstick & Dipstick
My Soccer Babe Dumped Me
Dear Lipstick & Dipstick: I play soccer for my
high school. My girlfriend Trish, who is also a
player, recently went away on vacation, but
when she came back she dumped me and
now she likes another girl. I feel so betrayed
by her and I just don't want to think of her at
all. Do you have any suggestions to help an
ailing heart heal faster? - 16 and Sulking
16. Like squeezing a whitehead on your nose, being mean to her may seem like a good idea at the
time, but only makes what was a tiny blemish into
a big, red, throbbing monstrosity.
Lipstick:Gross, Dip. She doesn't have an acne
problem, just a broken heart.
Dipstick:I was getting there. Although there is
Lipstick:I'll tell you what, people: Lezzies are lezzies, whether they're 16 or 60. Same bullshit, different dyke. Sulker, Lipstick thinks you should go
score another goal(ie): Distracting yourself with
another crush is the surest way to get over your
current heartbreak. And just watch what happens
when she sees you kicking the ball with someone
else. She and her cleats won't be able to tear through
the grass fast enough. But, guess what? It'll be too
late and you can throw her out of the game.
Dipstick:Sorry, Lipstick's wrong. There is no quick
cure for a broken heart. Although it's trite, it's also
true that time will heal your wounded heart. But I
can tell you one thing that will hinder the healing:
hanging on to the past. Don't hold a grudge, Sweet
no rushing the healing process, a rebound affair
is sure to take your mind off your wound. Soccer
players don't know much about rebounds, so head
over to basketball practice and cruise those sidelines for your new girl. Pretty soon you'll be saying, "Trish who?"
Dear Lipstick &
Dipstick: I was
married for 12
years and had
three
beautiful
daughters.
I fell in love with a
woman and left my husband
for her. We have been partners for 10 years.
My children grew up with her and love and respect her as a mom. Lately, I have this craving
for more sex and being desired by other women. My partner does not give me that "I want
sex with you" treatment. I'm the one looking for it most of the time. I'm thinking about
Distracting yourself with another crush is the surest way
to get over your current heartbreak. And just watch
what happens when she sees you kicking the ball with
someone else. She and her cleats won't be able to
tear through the grass fast enough.
asking her if we could have a more
open relationship. Am I acting selfish?
Am I running out of love for her? Our
relationship is steady and I know she
loves me. Do you think asking her for
an open relationship would be a mistake? - Lusting in Lowellville
Dipstick:I see a pattern here, Luster. Every
10 to 12 years you start a new craving. A
little something to spice up your life and
make you feel sexy and desirable again. I've
got news for you, sister. It's time for you
to make a choice. Either continue changing partners every decade, or get to the
root of what's going on with you and your
relationships.
Can polyamory work? Su~e, but after 10
years of monogamy? rm gonna guess not.
Instead of trolling the Casual Encounters
section on Craigslist, I suggest you get yourself a good therapist. Like most things in life,
a satisfying sex life takes work. I've got 100
ideas in my back pocket of how you two can
spice it up-in ways that don't involve your
C
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Ask Fairy Butch
Advice
Where's the Love:
neighbor's wife. Pretend you're strangers and hook
up at an anonymous bar. Buy a fun new sex toy.
Act out that scene between Bette and Tina. How
about you and your partner put your tits together
and come up with some sexy solutions of your own
before you make a move you'll regret.
Lipstick:
While Lipstick believes life is short and
must be lived to the fullest, I advise that you be
careful here, Lusting Lolita. Why the hell aren't
you girls talking about the white elephant in the
room:>A breakdown in communications + a lustful libido = trouble. Before you put your picture
on the Polyamory Pussy bulletin board, talk to
your girlfriend about how you're feeling. If things
don't change, get your ass into therapy. If things
still don't change, then you must decide if she
and her tepid libido are going to be enough for
you-for
the rest of your life. You've got needs
and there is nothing wrong with wanting to be
fully satisfied. Open your mouth before opening
your relationship.
Dear Dipstick: How do you get such a
great hairstyle? I love the spiky way you
wear it. Details, please. - Love Your
Locks in Lubbock
Dear Fairy Butch: My girlfriend and I have
been together for about three years and
for the last year or so we have been having
problems. First of all, she was a straight girl
who never had feelings for another woman
until she met me. The worst of our problems
is that we don't have sex at all. This has been
going on for about a year. She says she's
uncomfortable with her body (we both have
put on weight), but that doesn't make sense
to me. For a while we at least had passionate kisses, but it seems passionate anything
is gone for good. Every time I make any kind
of advance, I'm rebuffed. Lately, when I hold
back-whether in my emotions or even in a
hug or what she calls a kiss-she thinks I
am going to break up with her. I feel like I
am living with a needy roommate, not a girlfriend. I think I might be scared to leave her.
I keep hoping she will go back to the way
she used to be. I think I'm at the end of my
rope. - Coping in Canada
DearCoping:
Have you ever watched KissingJessica
Stein, tulip:>I believe one of the facets of your problem may be that you have a Jessica Stein situation
on your hands. For those who haven't seen the flick,
Stein is a straight girl, who, after a multitude of bad
C
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tive and bring her
flowers or make arrangements for a romantic B&B in your neck of the woods.
Tell her that you think she's sexy and perhaps pack
something fun in your trousers or try something
else to shake things up. If that doesn't work, perhaps it's time to invest in a worthy therapist who
works with lesbian couples. If that doesn't help
you mend the relationship you're in, perhaps it
will make the dissolution a little less painful and
preserve a friendship between you and Miss Jess.
Good luck, my dear!
Dear Fairy Butch: I am a 36-year-old selfidentified lesbian who has not had sex with
a woman yet. I have been thinking about
the kinds of things I would like to try and
dildo sex figures prominently. Is dildo sex
as physically pleasurable for the woman
on top, and do double-headed dildos really
work? - Curious in Carolina
dates with men, decides to jump the fence for a cute
DearCurious:There are a number of things that
makeup or fancy shoes, and our clothes are usu-
progresses and they eventually move in with one
the woman sporting the strap-on can do to feel
ally the standard T-shirt and jeans. So, we spend
another. When Jessica continually abstains from
stimulation during the act. She can get a cuff for
our time and money on our hair. It can be hard,
sex with Helen, while clinging to her in other ways,
her strap and then use a dildo inside herself for
though, to find someone qualified to cut butch
Helen becomes frustrated and moves on to gayer
vaginal stimulation, or use a leather butterfly to
hair. The gay hairdressers want to make you too
pastures. The initial sexual surge carried the other-
hold a vibrator to her clit whilst thrusting. These
femme-y and your dad's barber leaves you look-
wise straight girl into a relationship with a lesbian,
are just two of
ing like Drew Carey. Once you find someone to
but didn't equip her for the long haul.
more. It's got everything you need to know about
whom you can say,"I want to look dyke-y, but not
Perhaps this is what's happened with your
be called sir;' and she not only understands what
gal too. Or part of it may in fact be what she told
you mean but can execute it, keep her! Beyond
you-that
that, I won't give away any secrets.
her ability to be with anyone sexually, male or fe-
the changes in her body have hampered
~y ideas; check out my book for
dildos and then some.
As for a double-headed dildo, it's like the benwa balls of the lesbian sex world: People expect
male. Negative body image can really wreak havoc
to open the package and then just wait for some
miracle to overcome them. It's not like that; it takes
Lipstick:If you could see how long it takes
on one's ability to be intimate with another per-
some work. One person can hold the toy once it's
Dipstick to do her hair, you'd be happy with
son, even someone to whom she's very attracted.
inserted into both partners and move it back and
your crew cut. If Dip won't tell you, I'll give you a
Another possibility is that it's just garden variety
forth. It works in the sense that it brings stimu-
hint: Lucky Tiger Cm-Butch Control Wax. ■
lesbian bed death; sometimes things go sour for us
lation to both partners, but it's not some sort of
dykes at a certain point in the relationship.
wonder device. ■
&
<(J:
from this perspec-
art gallery worker named Helen. The relationship
fo
u.I
(l::::!
See what you
can do to step back
does a butch have but her hair:>"We don't wear
Lipstick & Dipstick are the authors of Lipstick
ao
one who doesn't.
Dipstick:For years I had a saying: "What else
'i.
a:
roles: the one who
wants it and the
Dipstick's
Relationships.
dipstick.com
Essential
Guide
to
Lesbian
Ask them anything at lipstick-
At any rate, there are several things you can
do, one of which is to focus on bringing some of
Fairy Butch is the author of The Ultimate Guide to
the romance back into the relationship. When two
Strap-On Sex: A Complete Resource for Women
people don't have sex for a while, it's easy to fall into
and Men. Email questionstoJb@fairybutch.com.
June 2008
I 25
Advice
Relationships
Five Reasons to Love Pride
Yes, tacky rainbow accessories make the list. I By Kate Lacey
Here's a formula for you: Gather a bunch of gay men in tandem with
a healthy number of lesbians. Add in creative freedom and a "get 'er
done" attitude. Mix with hormones, loud music, costumes and a liberal amount of alcohol. Tell them to be proud. Give them blockedoff streets and a license to let it all hang out, and, my friends, you got
yourself one heck of a party.
1 . The Parade
First of all, who doesn't love a parade-aside
from people trying
to get to work, city planners, traffic cops and tourists navigating a
maze of detours? Gaze in awe at the supersized, flamboyantly colored floating mammoth of latex inspired by the Macy's paradeand that's just the drag queen selected to be the grand marshal. Out
there before you are: dykes on bikes, queers on roller skates, fags on
scooters, hags on horses, tops on bottoms, queens on stilts, militants
on the march and lesbos on each other-and
that's just the crowd
waiting for the parade to begin.
The parade is an exercise in the manifest destiny that made our
country great. You stake your claim at the curb no less than four
hours before the first convertible appears, carting some unknown
politician (Commander Fritz of the Gay, Lesbian, Trans gendered, Trans sexual,
Pre-Trans, Partly-Trans, Ambi-Sexual, Bisexual, Try-Any-Sexual Army, or
GLTTPPABTA, for short). Just as you no longer have any feeling in your
tush and realize you cannot go to the bathroom or get food for fear of losing
your spot, your friends pat you on your now-sunburned shoulder, congratulating you on your tenacity and excellent planning skills. No amount of jostling,
elbowing, inching, edging or outright trying to usurp your claim will make
a difference. You will not be moved. This sort of stubborn commitment to
combat-in
an otherwise meaningless and largely symbolic battle-makes
the parade a testament to the American spirit, especially during a Republican
administration.
2. Rainbow Brite's Coat of Many Colors
There was a dark time in gay history when we were given no place to wear our
giant rainbow cowboy hats. Yes, it was a very sad time. But now we've opened
up those closets and can proudly sashay out in our Roy G. Biv Sunday best
and our gleaming prismatic g-strings! Nothing says Pride like garish colors
dyed into your poodle's coat. Wrap yourself head-to-toe in the colors of the
rainbow because we are such a diverse culture that we cannot decide on a
side by side, lining the sidewalks, bursting with the 'Tm queer and I'm here"
pride that only a multigendered, out-of-tune marching band can instill.
4. The Girlfriend Drama
How do you snag a girlfriend at the Pride event? Just show up. You can have
a girlfriend in a hot Pride-parade minute just by blowing your rainbow kazoo
in someone's general direction. And she might even be gay! This, of course,
can be a problem if you already have a girlfriend, and she is with you. If so,
do not look at anyone around you. Look at your shoes. Avoid the conflict. It
wouldn't matter if you were looking at the naked swashbuckler, clad only in
his tighty whities and a saber. "You think he's hot, don't your" Never mind that
you like girls and he is a very gay man-you're going to be accused of being
the stray dog. Your shoes are safe. Just look at your rainbow sneakers and all
will be well.
Another common drama at the Pride parade is the fact that everyone in
the gay community will be there, including all your ex-girlfriends and all your
current girlfriend's ex-girlfriends. This is the moment when you learn that
your ex is also her ex. Best thing you can do is keep your memory short and
your mouth shut.
single color to symbolically represent our interests. With so many rainbows
at the Pride parade, you'd be hard-pressed not to find a pot of gold-at
least
5. The People Watching
until you sober up and take off the multicolored beer goggles.
Taking it all in is the older "been there, done that" crew, each one sitting in
3. The Cease Fire
Can't we all just get along? During Pride week, you betcha! Queens forgive
dykes for their inability to properly dance or apply makeup; lesbians forgive
their queer brethren for their inability to camp or use power tools. We overlook the existence of J. Alexander on the other sashaying team, and our flaming pals pardon us for Rosie O'Donnell. There we are, queens and lesbos alike,
posturing, the Pride dancing or the in-your-face, something-to-prove-to-thecity-about-gayness kiddies. Can you blame 'em?
her camp chair with an adult beverage, smiling serenely at the drama, the
26
I
curve
Regardless of why you go, what you wear or which team you play for, like
every Who in Whoville, you will raise your candy-colored voice to say,"We are
here! We are here!" And shout it in one voice, so that it echoes not just during
Pride week, but all year long. Cheers! ■
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Advice
Health
HOW TO PICK A GYNO
23%
of lesbian
couples are
concordant
for bacterial
vaginosis.
Which means
if your girlfriend has it,
chancesare
you do too.
2s1curve
Unless you're an exhibitionist, the
thought of getting naked in front
of a complete stranger can be
terrifying. But we've all got to do
it sometime with a gynecologist.
However, finding a good one that
you are comfortable with can be
as hard as finding butch maternity
clothes.
A FEW TIPS TO GET STARTED
1. Ask your close friends. Not only
can they recommend a good gynecologist, they can also warn you
about a few you'll want to avoid.
2. Search the Internet. Sites like
gayhealth.com and glma.org have
lists of gay-friendly doctors organized by location and specialty.
3. Contact your local LGBT
community center and ask for
a recommendation.
Gay-friendly
doctors often advertise in gay
newspapers or community center
newsletters.
Once you choose a gyno,
request an interview before
you disrobe. This is the time to
disclose your orientation, medical history and sexual concerns.
Follow your gut instinct, and
remember: You can always
walk out. Confidentiality
is a right, even if you are
underage. If you have any
questions about confidentiality policies, ask them
up front. Although some
doctors don't allow family
members in the exam room,
it's always OK to request
that a nurse be present
" during the exam. The key to
a successful gynecological
visit is communication. The
more honest you are with
your gynecologist, the
better your healthcare will
be. - Kathryn Board
Common Disease
Under the Radar
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a littleknown yet very common disease. It
is an infection in the vagina caused
by an abnormal growth of bacteria.
It is more common than a yeast infection and can threaten a woman's
reproductive health. If untreated, BV
can spread into the uterus and cause
damage to the Fallopian tubes. According to the Centers for Disease
Control (CDC), BV can increase a
woman's chance of contracting HIV
if she is exposed to the virus, and
it can increase the risk that an HIVpositive woman will pass the virus
on to her partner. In addition to the
increased risk of getting HIV, BV is
associated with an increase in pelvic
inflammatory disease after invasive
procedures including hysterectomy
and abortion.
Unfortunately, BV is not widely discussed, and even though
being tested for it is a significant reason for getting a Pap smear,
many women do not even know it exists.
One of the main symptoms of BV is a vaginal discharge that is
white or gray and has a "strong fishy odor," according to the CDC.
Dr. Patricia A. Robertson, the founding co-director of the Lesbian Health and Research Center at the University of California at
San Francisco, suggests one of the reasons for women's lack of
knowledge on the subject is, "Women are [not] that comfortable
discoursing about their vaginal discharge."
Robertson says that 23 percent of lesbian couples are concordant
for BV: If your girlfriend is diagnosed with it, there is a 23 percent
chance you have it, and vice versa.
"My own approach has been that if a lesbian is treated for BV
and it recurs, [it's] time for her partner to come in for an evaluation,"
says Robertson.
In addition to the increased risk of contracting HIV, other complications associated with having BV can be startling. If a woman is
pregnant and has BV,there is a significant increase in the likelihood
that she will have a premature birth and that the child will have low
birth weight.
Treating BV is easy- provided it is detected early. It is treatable
with antibiotics, either metronidazole or clindamycin.
Though there is no specific cause of BV, several things can
increase the risk. A new partner or douching can upset the balance
of bacteria in the vaginal area.
What are other things that women need to know about BV?
Robertson says, "That [a] persistent vaginal discharge needs to be
evaluated. And that all lesbians need yearly Pap smears from the
age of 21 until the age of 30." If Pap screenings have been normal
three times in a row by the time a woman turns 30, she can get them
every two years. Contact your gyno for more information, or visit the
CDC's website, cdc.gov/std/bv. - Jenna \I. Loceff
-
14iti§100;h•1i33■3=i@IM§i
JULY
JULY4-6, 2008
4 5 6 2008
ATLANTA CIVIC CENTER
WWW.ATLANTAPRIDE
.ORG
CIVIC CENTER
indoor and outdoor market, pride parade, dyke march, commitment ceremony, youth prom and more
•
I,
.6. D E LT A (;.l!nt.e.
david_...4
Astra Grrl
Advice
Summer Lovin'
Talkis Gemini (May 22-June 21)
Sex:Look for a well-endowed lady to grease your wheels now. Not
cheap, only can you bask in the lap ofluxury, you can do a few laps yourself
Ahem. Career:
Say what you mean and mean what you say, careerTaurus,but wise. Unless, of course, the bosses are listening-then lie, lie, lie.
you'llget Cancer (June 22-July 23)
morefrom Sex:You are especially attractive to the ladies. Will you use this
extraordinary time to make hay while the sun shines, or just grow
a romantic a few weeds2 Career:You are in it for the money. Find ways of getting more of it through your work, or seek more lucrative outlets.
affairwith Anyone we know?
a few well- Leo (July 24-Aug. 23)
chosen Sex:Not only do you know who lusts for you, you know how it
will all turn out. Yet sometimes it's nice to take a leap of faith and
gems. Do enjoy a few surprises. Career:You are a corporate star. Make your
best moves and scurry up the ladder. Before you know it, you'll bemore with come just another overpaid hack. It's about time!
yourtongue Virgo (Aug. 24-Sept. 23)
than lap Sex:Expect a gal pal to become a lovergrrl. But will you spoil a beau- echelons of corporate power, if they play their cards right. Will it be
tifulfriendship on a lark? I suppose there are worse reasons. Career: go fish or war?
the air. Your communications on the job can be misinterpreted. Maybe it is
better to take a long vacation. Any excuse.
Libra (Sept. 24-0ct. 23)
Sex:You'll catch the eye of an executive on the job. Will she give
you a raise or vice versa?Just as long as there is more vice than versa.
Aquarius(Jan.21-Feb.19)
Sex:You'll boil the water cooler with your romantic antics this June.
Is this built to last? No, but it certainly heats your coffee. Career:
Lovergrrls give you good career advice, if you listen to them. Of
course, you have all the answers already-or so you think.
Career:
Listen to the advice of girlfriends before you make a bigjob
move. There may be pitfalls that you do not see. When in doubt,
Pisces (Feb. 20-March 20)
call in sick.
Sex:June is all fun and games, Guppy. Find the right party and party
down. Be wise, be smart but don't behave. Career:
You have the extra
Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)
oomph to do a great job. Tackle every task and clear off your desk
Sex:An exotic stranger catches your eye and sweeps you off to parts
early this month. That leaves you plenty of time to goof off.
unknown. Will she love you in the morning? Ask for cab fare, just
in case. Career:
You are full of energy and courage and impress the
powerbrokers with your snazzy stuff. How long can you keep them
fooled?
Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 22)
Aries (March 21-April 20)
Sex:Your home is a center oflove activity this June. Find the perfect
spot to show your stuff and discover hers. Fall head over heels. Yours
or hers? Career:
Career options can change dramatically. Are you
keeping your eyes on the prizer Either that or be in for a reprise.
Sex:What makes you so extremely sexy now? Whatever it is, try to
bottle it and save it for the other 11 months of dry season. Career: Taurus (April 21-May 21)
Not only are you itching to talk, you find that you broadcast your
Sex:Talk is cheap, Sapphic Bull, but you'll get more from a romanacid commentary into the global arena. Start thinking happier
tic affair with a few well-chosen gems. Do more with your tongue
thoughts.
than lap the air. Career:
Although you prefer to relax, stay focused
Capricorn (Dec. 23-Jan. 20)
Sex:June brings you a match made in heaven. Will you appreciate
her for everything she is and everything she brings to your Let's see.
Career:
Caps have a wandering eye that can land them in the upper
Then watch where you put those hands. ■
on the job and see if you can choose a winning professional hand.
I
30
I curve
Charlene Lichtenstein is the author of Herscopes: A Guide to
Astrology for Lesbians. Formoreadvice,visit thestarryeye.com.
REALITY
Politics
I
VictoriaA. Brownworth
Matters of Pride
The 38th anniversary of the venerable event brings up the past.
I remember my first Pride march the way some people remember their first
being a full-time activist for a movement far bigger than anything imaginable
kiss. There was that same sense of sharing something unique and magical, a
newfound intimacy, except instead of sharing that with just one person, it ~as
at the first Pride march.
In many ways, being an activist is like having a faux job. It's a lot of work
with thousands.
for little reward except a great deal of righteous outrage. It does not pay the
I came out when I was a young teenager, the year after Stonewall. A
high school student, I had grown up in a political household and was already
bills and it gets you into trouble. There's a lot of civil disobedience involved in
involved in the antiwar movement. Back then, the movement was called gay
being an activist full-time.
Thinking about Pride-it
liberation, but it soon affected more than just gays.
does Pride mean now, 38 years into the movement? What does it mean for
My first march was on a hot Sunday in New York City in June 1970. I
will be 39 next June-is
always intense. What
people who have come of age along with LGBT politics? Queers my age have
marched with members of a group called Radicalesbians, after joining it at
never known a time before Stonewall. But kids today who are the same age as I
the group's first meeting, in a big room above an adult bookstore in the seedy
was when I came out have only known assimilation. Do they understand that
part of downtown Philadelphia. The other members were a little afraid of my
the fight is not over just because we're on Top Chef and Big Brother?
I'm not a fan of assimilation. I like diversity and difference. Some might
~
visible for the first time.
say I'm too defined by identity politics, and they might be right. But identity
~
The march-scary
politics will always have a place in the world as long as there is inequality. And
youth, but at the march we were all one big group of queers, making ourselves
and strange and exciting all at once. That march helped
form the person I am today: a queer civil rights activist.
despite this being the 39th anniversary of Stonewall, we still do not have equality.
~
g
:n
~
~
Queer politics and I grew up together. I marched, went to meetings and
Queer Iraq veterans come home either wounded or discharged for being
developed theories and political platforms. I worked on the front lines and the
gay while serving their country. Yet, despite this patriotism and devotion to
~
sidelines. Decades before the alphabet soup of LGBTIQ politics, I worked
our country, most of us still can't marry in our own cities. We've been talking
~
to get the word "lesbian" added to the name of the Gay Activist Alliance in
about queers in the military and queers marrying for almost 20 years. Why
my city, and finally succeeded. It was my first personal success in promoting
5:::,
are we still waiting? How many lunch counters do we have to sit at before
'n
lesbian visibility.
we get served?
5
Activism has become my way of life and I am privileged to be part of a
I remember when we "invented" outing. I remember when we first started
movement that has changed the world in my lifetime. I tried to follow in the
chanting "We're here, we're queer, get used to it" and felt the power and rage
footsteps of women like Barbara Grier, who edited The Ladder in the days
that went with those in-your-face words and actions.
before Stonewall, to bring lesbian voices into the light, to make our lives
visible. What is most important to me as an activist is to show straight people
that our queer lives have just as much value as theirs.
Learning to take the idea of Pride and apply it meant going from being
the kid at the grown-ups' meeting that cold winter's night at Radicalesbians to
~
,.::
:,
I)
I remember when Roy Cohn was dying of AIDS and was still a homophobic demon. I remember the one-breasted Audre Lorde dying of cancer.
Every year I revisit that magical feeling and sense of empowerment I got at
~
:u
~
H
:)
my first Pride march. I feel immense pride in being queer.
r::
:(
When I think about Pride, I think about decades of feeling outrage and
~
5
would ever change and fearing they wouldn't. I think about that first
5
march-how
S.
incredible it was that we were out in the bright light of
day, instead of hiding in dark bars after midnight.
I think about the thousands of women and men who have spoken
on so many different LGBT topics over the years and about how their
stories were unique and powerful and were being told for the first time.
I think about the women that night at Radicalesbians preparing for
the first march.
I think about all the lives saved by the movement and all the lives
lost, despite everything we did.
I think about what it means to be queer and our devotion to making the world a better place for us, a place where we can be out and
proud and love each other without fearing the bright light of day.
It's been 38 years since my first Pride march, the march that
redefined my life. It was a march into a new world of proud lesbians
and gay men. But for the movement, it was about more-it
was the
beginning of our collective march toward pride, toward equality and,
one day, toward freedom. ■
Icurve
_J
:)
yelling in the streets and getting arrested and wondering if things
32
3
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FamilyGroups
AttackGayLiterature
Conservative
familygroupsareattackingschools
again,thistime in Chicago.
NorthShoreStudentAdvocacy
andConcerned
Womenfor Americaaredemanding
thatSchool
District113,hometo DeerfieldHighSchool,force
the resignation
(ortermination)
of Superintendent
GeorgeFornero,
PrincipalSueHobson
andanyteachersinvolvedin allowingstudentsto readAngels
in America:A Gay
Fantasiaon National
ThemesbyTony
Kushner.
According
to
the WindyCityTimes,
the bookis an option
for the highschool's
Advanced
Placement
Englishclass.The
play,whichdiscussesLGBTissuesandHIV/AIDS,
containsgraphiclanguage,
butis approvedbythe
Advanced
Placement
CollegeBoard.
Theantigaygroupsclaimthe bookis pornographicandviolatesIllinois'obscenitylaws.
Antigay
BillDropped
inTennessee
A bill thatwouldhavebannedteachingabouthomosexualityin publicschoolsin Nashville,
Tenn.,failed
to passthe HouseEducation
K-12 Subcommittee
becauseit wasdeemed
unnecessary,
accordingto
the GayPeople'sChronicle.
Thebill,sponsored
by
Rep.StaceyCampfield
(R),wouldhaveprohibited
schoolsfromteaching
aboutanysexualityother
thanheterosexuality
and
wasproposed
asa response
to complaints
from
parents.However,
accordingto BruceOpie,the
legislativeliaisonof theTennessee
Department
of Education,
thereisn't anystatecurriculumthat
involvesteachingabouthomosexuality.
Thesubcommitteepassedthe bill onto the stateBoardof
Education,
essentially
killingit.
Lesbian
WantsAnnulment,
NotDivoce
A lesbianwomanhasfiledfor an annulmentin Missouri,claimingthatshe
doesnotrecognize
hermarriage,
which
wasperformedin Massachusetts
three
yearsago.According
to TheAssociated
Press,Charisse
Y.SparksandJanetY.
Peters-Mauceri-Sparks
werelegallymarriedin Massachusetts
beforemovingto
Missouri.Sparks'attorney
claimsthatsinceMissouri
doesnotrecognize
samesexmarriages,
a divorceis
notnecessary;
the invalid
statusof theirunionmerely
necessitates
annulment.
Peters-Mauceri-Sparks'
attorney,however,
arguesthat Missourilaw must
recognize
all legallyperformedmarriages.
Thecase,
whichwasheardonApril2, couldhavefutureramificationsfor same-sexmarriagesin Missouri.
SallyKemYettoApologize
Oklahoma
StateRepresentative
SallyKernhasyet
to retracthernow-infamous
homophobic
statements.Kern,whodid notknowthatshewasbeing
recorded,
showedeveryone
whatshereallythought
of gaysin the UnitedStateswhensheunleashed
a
spewof antigayremarksat a gatheringof about50
people.Duringhertirade,shesaidthat homosexualsareinfiltratingschoolsandcity councils,and
comparedhomosexuality
to cancerandterrorism.
Sheaddedthat homosexuality
is the "biggest
threatto America."Theaudiofromherspeechwas
releasedbytheVictoryFundonYouTubeandhas
garneredovera millionhits.Everyone-fromthe
HRCto theVictoryFundto Kern'sconstituents-is
askingfor a retraction,but Kernrefuses,sayingit is
protectedfreespeech,nothatespeech.
Cuba'sFirstDaughter
Pu hes orLGBT
Rights
Thedaughterof President
RaulCastro,Mariela
Castro,is pushingthe CubanNationalAssembly
to
approvea lawthat recognizes
same-sexunions,
givesqueersinheritance
rights,providesfree
sex-change
operations
andallowstransgender
individuals
to changethe genderontheirIDcards,
accordingto the BBC.
Castrohaslongbeena supporterof LGBTrights,
runningCuba'sCenterfor SexEducation,
which
holdsweeklysupportgroupmeetingsfor transgenderpeople.Thebill wouldlet transindividuals
changethe genderontheirIDcardswhetheror not
theyhavehadsurgery.Inthe 1950s,homosexuals
wereoftenforcedto attendre-education
campsin
an attemptto reversetheirsexuality.
Today,there
is moretolerance,
butqueersarestillcompelled
to be
discreet.
Castrosaysher
fatherusedto be
homophobic
when
shewasyounger,but
has"changedover
the years"andis now
supportiveof herviews.
- KatiePeoplesand
KoryTran
June 2008
I 33
Dyke Drama
Michele Fisher
Pick Me ... But Not Last
Going from an unathletic tyke to an unathletic but well~adjusted dyke.
No sad story ever features a protagonist who is always picked second to last
Brown was teasing another large-framed female until he got the tears he
for athletic teams. At least the other kids thought I was funny. It kept me fro~
needed to claim victory. I marched over to him and called him a bad name,
being picked dead last in high school sports. That dishonor was usually saved
and then he called me a bad name, and then we called each other lots of bad
for someone even fatter and less amusing.
names, and then I told him to shut up or I would shut him up. He laughed
I didn't always suck at physical activity. I was a little monkey as a kid. OK,
at me. I saw red. The next thing I knew, my ample 10-year-old frame was
so I was visually impaired and a little big for my age, so perhaps I was a half-
straddling his scrawny corduroy-clad carcass, my right fist was positioned
blind chunky monkey, but nonetheless, I climbed trees and jumped over trash
about eight inches from his nose and he was crying. Ha, I knew I had him. I
cans with my bike. (I could throw a snowball half a block down the street and
expected to hear the roar of the crowd, cheering me on as I taught this bully
hit the kid who'd called me fatty and then run ... but not far enough.) I was the
a lesson he would never forget, but I heard nothing. I knew there were kids
stereotypical tomboy lezzy-to-be, even if I looked like I was going to grow up
standing all around us; there are always other kids around you when you
to be a nerd.
have a fight. Even if you have a fight on the moon at 3-in-the-morning,
other
Maybe I wasn't the best at organized sports, but I was good at fighting.
kids will jump into their spaceships and show up to get a firsthand account
Obviously, I had to be. I got plenty of practice until fourth grade, when peer
of the action. I knew it was dramatic, but I wanted the crowd behind me as I
pressure forced me to hang up the proverbial gloves. It was recess and Danny
delivered the final blow.
However, the crowd wasn't behind me. What was
wrong? Was the teacher coming? Didn't these kids know
what a jerk Danny was being? I studied the faces of the
boys and girls standing around us. They looked kind of
freaked out and disappointed. I couldn't figure out what
was going on, so I just stood up and walked back into the
school, though recess wasn't even over.
It took me a few days to understand why the other kids
were avoiding my gaze: Beating up a guy, even a jerky guy,
wasn't cool in the eighth month of fourth grade. If it had
been October, I would have been the local hero, but it was
April and fifth grade was only a summer away. The time for
girl-versus-boy fights was over, even if the girl won. Sure,
girl-on-girl fights were still allowed, but I lost my stomach
for fighting after Danny.
In eighth grade, some butch girl I hardly knew had one
of her friends tell one of my friends that she wanted to
fight me, but since she didn't even know me, it seemed a little odd. I avoided her for a few days but was finally forced
into a meeting during lunch-one
of my friends was tired
of being the go-between. I told Butchy that I had no reason
to fight her. She asked me if I was scared. I told her that I
was not, which wasn't entirely true because I thought that
any girl who wanted to kick my ass without knowing me
was a little scary. She chuckled and proclaimed my statement "cool:' After that, we had nothing further to say to
each other, so I left and she and her groupies continued
smoking behind the bleachers.
Looking back, I suppose there was some kind of homoerotic thing going on there, but it was a one-way street,
sister, because you would have needed a four-wheel drive to
navigate her blackhead-infested face.
In my freshman year of high school, I tried out for the
basketball team and found out that I sucked. I remembered
shooting hoops with the neighborhood kids at my uncle's
34
Icurve
house a few years prior and doing pretty well, but fast-forward to the ninth
it did not lead to a lifelong habit. Like any good queen, I eventually discovered
grade and I was stinking up the court. What had puberty wrought upon me:'
the gym to be my temple of physical redemption. The ciggies and booze were
The coach let me on the team, but I pretty much kept the bench from sliding
beginning to take their toll, as were the alphabet drugs and 2-in-the-morning
around. I practiced but never seemed to get any better. Come spring, I was all
barbecued pork omelettes. I had to do something fast-risk
about track and field. Surely there were one or two events I could excel in. You
less attractive women or give up one of my vices. Neither of these options ap-
woulc! think, wouldn't you? I ran, but not fast enough or far enough. I could
pealed to me. Thus, I did develop a lifetime habit of fitness. I had finally found
jump, but not over hurdles. At least I could throw the discus and put the shot.
I felt pretty good about my strength and athletic abilities until my first track
something I could do: lift weights.
It did not, however, turn me into a better softball player. Whenever I would
i
meet, when the steroid test-dummies from the opposing team were able to flick
start a new job or find a new social circle, the softball team recruiter ( there is
1
the zits off their backs farther than I could throw an eight-pound ball of iron.
always one) would offer me a spot on the team without a tryout. Luckily for
But at least I made the crowd laugh, with my wholehearted, face-contorting but
them, I never took them up on it. I would politely decline and assure them
impotent efforts.
that I only looked athletic, and thereby save the coach the trouble of picking
That summer I tried tennis, and, surprise, I couldn't master that either. I
having to date
even sucked at bowling, which seemed a lot easier than it turned out to be ...
me second to last down the road.
And what is the point of all of this? Gay Pride is here again. It's the time of
once I got stoned.
year when I worry about how I look and wonder if all those years at the gym
This whole lack of athletic ability hit me hard because one, I had once been
are still paying of£ For one week, every June, I'm a sophomore once more and
good at physical activities, and two, some part of me knew that I was gay and
cannot get that stupid ball in that goal or basket to save my life. Even though I
therefore I would always be expected to be athletically inclined.
look like I'm having fun and I couldn't care less, I just want that stinkin' ball to
I panicked for a while and then found other things to amuse my teenage
self: namely, drugs, sex and Debbie Harry. I traded in my dreams of being a
jock for being the class clown. Like I said, at least I didn't get picked last, and
hit the mark one gall-darned time!
But this year, I'll try to remember that I've already made the team and that
Gay Pride is an event, not a competition.
And finally a word to you single gals who doubt your ability to score at this
nobody said anything to me for fear of getting publicly insulted.
During my senior year, a friend suggested that running might improve my
figure in time for the prom. She was right, it did, and I'm happy to report that
year's Gay Pride festivities: Get out there and play, because getting picked last
still beats the heck out of going home alone. ■
e
JULY19 & 20
For a List of Events log on to
San DiegoPride.org
JULY19&20,2008
-
SAN DIEGO
L
G
B
T
PRIDE
e
LIVE.LOVE.BE
0
<r-
a
cl
n
e
0
d
t,
Parade
Human Rights
Festival
Community
0
e
d
's
u
uniuersal
~
.. you fffln' It?
~
----
LIGHT
June 2008
I35
Camping out ain't what it used to be. By Beren deMotier
T WAS L.L. BEAN that had them: bay-mare brown moccasins, time-
don't remember what their political affiliation was (I had political blinders
less and fashion-free. Still in my cyber cart as I vacillate between the
on-against
classic plaid flannel lining and an upgrade to fleece, they're my symbolic
loving, stable couple I'd ever met.
embrace of the camping lifestyle, comfy, warm, slip-ons without sex ap-
everything but the ERA**), but I did see that they were the most
Which is why, perhaps, my wife was able to talk me into tent camping a
that we are tent trailer-
decade ago, though my initial inclination was to avoid having cold feet and
hauling lesbians-that we are becoming Martha and Kathleen.
I met them in the summer of 1971, when Martha and Kathleen set up
leave the resort behind, and I became enamored of cars with heat, homes with
camp in our run-down Vancouver Island, British Columbia, beach resort,
carpets that stayed on the floor, instead of rising with the wind, and skies that
backing their Airstream Bambi into a space using hand gestures and experi-
didn't pour 330 days a year, though Seattle isn't considered sunny by most.
peal or urban edge, and I am beginning to think-now
sleeping on hard surfaces. I'd re-entered the United States in 1978 ready to
ence, guiding it in like pros. I thought nothing more about them than that they
Maybe it was Martha and Kathleen's influence, unconsciously burned into
had cute dogs, two terrier mixes in gray tones to match their mistresses, and
my brain, that changed my mind: I recalled Kathleen fretting by the shore
that they seemed benign compared to some of our tenants.
with binoculars when Martha was late returning from fishing, tender con-
In those days, the campground was full of fishermen visiting the salmon
cern flitting across her features, and I remembered the sense of adventure they
capital of the world, rich Californians and everyday Canadians eager for the
shared as they made their annual trek along the Alaska Highway, stopping
shimmering salmon that were abundant, even to those who used only a sinker,
along the way to tell stories of their encounters with moose, mad Canadian
drivers and the fish that got away.
a flasher and a Lucky Louie.
These days, the campground is sparsely populated with year-rounders on
When we jumped onto the camping bandwagon, joining our lesbian mom
the Canadian dole and the occasional optimistic fisherman who is inevitably
friends and then dragging our children into the wilderness on a regular basis,
defeated by the one-two punch of depleted salmon populations and resource-
my wife took care of getting the gear (her motto being "the right tool for the
ful sea lions, to whom the zip of a cast line is a dinner bell.
right job"). There is nothing she likes better than purchasing gadgets at R.E.I.
I didn't see Martha and Kathleen as stunning stereotypes of lesbians;
But camping with kids and a dog who defies the size limits for his breed is
short, wide-hipped, with close-cropped hair, they were "old maid" educators
nothing if not a monumental effort to set in motion. The food alone is mind-
who lived together, wore plaid lumberjack flannel shirts, baggy jeans and
boggling. My wife typically works until the moment of departure, making
the aforementioned moccasins (when the weather didn't call for army sur-
preparations my department, and it was this that eventually robbed camping
of any magic it might have held for me.
plus galoshes), and drove an International Scout for hauling that sleek silver
Airstream. As roommates* since serving in the military during WW II, they
So last summer my wife dragged me to an RV dealer and bought a tent
weren't espousing either "sisterhood is powerful" or "sticking it to the man:' I
trailer. She'd had one of her periodic "life is short" moments, when she be-
38 I curve
comes painfully aware that our time with the kids is fleeting (we had one in
hand signals: left, right, running lights, brakes; but all that nonsense with pilot
high school, one in the seventh grade and one in preschool). It dawned on her
lights, propane and leveling out still leaves me confused. I may have to create
how much effort it would take to gather the troops, and she decided that life
a checklist, so we're not left guessing if weve filled the tank or charged the
would be easier if we had a tent trailer, making me literally a happy camper.
battery when we're already on the road and have enough to think about just
a
It was while the various pros and cons of rival models were being extolled
i
that I started thinking warmly of Martha and Kathleen. Were we becoming
like them-an
t
older couple in comfortable clothes, following the highways and
keeping the kids electronically attached and fed.
Camping in a tent trailer turns out to be nothing like tent camping. It's
complicated but comfortable, especially after my wife's almost scary Internet
byways with our oversized pooch? Would there be mornings spent pottering
buying spree: having dual portable DVD players means that Scooby Doo
about making coffee outside while the nutria waddled homeward, evenings
doesn't have to be interrupted by Smallville.
out spotting ungulates and fishing expeditions while I fretted on the shore?
I came back from fantasy land long enough to state my preference for the
Our three initial camping trips late last summer, and the one for spring
break (involving rain, hail, sun breaks and snow flurries), convinced us not
model in which the beds were accessible without collapsing the table or crawl-
only that the weather in this region is bizarre, but that our hotel on wheels is
ing over kids, then fell back into visions of scouring the country for leftover
the only way to go. No one was wet, shivering and sandy except the dog after
y
patches of unspoiled wilderness and visiting our grown children without
a romp on the beach, and camping no longer meant nights spent snatching
g
sleeping inside and causing extra scuffles with their spouses, who will doubt-
sleep between bouts of reinflating the air mattresses. We returned home filthy
tl
less take time to adapt to our eccentricities. I was seeing a terrier mix in
but rested.
tl
my future.
What I didn't see coming was the learning curve. I'm a slow-to-adapt in-
showers we use are inevitably populated by gloriously healthy camping dykes
e
There are still challenging moments. The campground restrooms and
the face of anything
shaking out their wet curls in front of the mirror, incapacitating my ability to
e
new, so learning the set-up and take-down procedures was a painful two-
"put on my face" with such natural beauty-potential judgment nearby (note to
[.
hour affair laced with humor as the old codger showing us the ropes realized
self: Put wife on to acquiring an unbreakable mirror bigger than the two-by-
first that it was "our" tent trailer, then that while I was befuddled about fuel
three-inch one I currently squint into to apply mascara).
dividual and freeze-Bambi-in-the-headlights
g
g
lt
style-in
lines, I wasn't afraid to lie on an oily floor to find the water tank and, finally,
that if he treated my wife like the husband and me like the wife, we'd all get
along fine.
My prior campground experience (as well as my wife's willingness to do
And, as Martha and Kathleen knew well, whenever it is time to pack up
camp, it will pour.
■
all the driving) helped make hitching 'er up fairly easy. And I get an insane
*Romanticpartnersor bestbuddies?As teachersin the '70s, they weren'tlikelyto tell. Whatever the details,
their relationshipwas real and inspired this lesbian,so their names have been changedto protect their
posthumousprivacy.
amount of pleasure going through the motions of checking the lights using
**The Equal Rights Amendment, first proposedin 1923, has yet to be ratifiednationally.
June 2008
I 39
Eight reasons to go to Hotlanta Pride. By Lisa Allender and Kory Tran
TLANTA'S
reputation as the premier queer hotspot in the South was cemented long ago, but this year's Pride celebration, over the Fourth of July
weekend, promises to bring more lesbian tourists to the city than ever. Now, with four days to enjoy the festivities and a whole new location at the Civic
Center offering more outdoor and indoor space, this summer's Pride is going to rock. When you get there, here's what you've got to see:
................
•,
.............................................
.
1. MagazineMavens:Make sure you hit cuRvE's
4. Booths
withBonuses:
Jessica Hand says the Spin
bookstore in the South. Charis features tons of
own celebration
including
the Wheel game at AmeriPrice's exhibit is a must-
lesbo fiction and events for LG BT performers.
Dani Campbell, and
see. She won lunch for herself and 15 friends at
Outwrite Bookstore & Coffeehouse, only a few
wrapping up with the famous Peach Party on
Athens Pizza, and her wife,Jeana Melilli, won din-
blocks from the festival, is a premier LGBT land-
Saturday, with the hottest girl DJs and entertainers. CuRVE will also be involved with the women's
ner for four at Maggiano's. "The prizes are just in-
mark, where big literary figures drop by on a regu-
credible. I wouldn't miss that exhibit!" Hand says.
lar basis.
starting
events hosted by MTV's
Thursday,
host hotel at the Atlanta Hilton. Visit curvemag.
5. GoodSouthern
Cooking:
It isn't always what you
7. It's NeverTooHotfor Coffee:No fear, Seattlites,
think. Some of Atlanta's hottest spots go beyond
Javamonkey, located in downtown Decatur, is a
2. BackTalk:One of the few annual Pride events,
grits and greens. No Mas! Cantina offers not only
coffeehouse that offers organic coffee and wine,
Cliterati is an all-inclusive open mic with an em-
delicious authentic Mexican food, but also a great
and showcases Atlanta's wealth of talent. Fridays
phasis on queer women. Theresa Davis co-hosts,
atmosphere, with two floors of architecture and
and Saturdays feature traveling musical acts, while
along with founder Karen G. (the Dykenamic
decor crafted by Mexican artisans. Cowtippers
on Sunday evenings there's an open mic for "open-
Duo). "The thing I enjoy most is that they invite
Steaks & Spirits offers the biggest burgers in town
minded folks:' In the historic Oakhurst district of
me to perform, and to me it's just an honor to be
and 25 different margaritas, while the lesbo-friend-
Decatur, Kavarna coffeehouse offers bands, artists
recognized as a queer poet in Atlanta and be a part
ly sports bar Cheyenne Grille boasts 50 screens
and a Saturday Atlanta Songwriters' Series.
of something that is so important;' Davis says.
and 100 beers, including 24 on tap. For those who
com for more information.
do come to Atlanta for the grits and greens, The
8. Atlanta'sNextTopIdol:The timing may not be
3. BabyMamasMarching:Local girls love a pa-
Flying Biscuit Cafe offers those favorites, along
perfect to hit a pageant, but you'll want to pop into
rade, says bi girl Sheri Mann Stewart. "I did the
with an all-day breakfast menu.
My Sister's Room at its new location in the East
Dyke March [when] I was pregnant and I wrote
Atlanta Village. The bar is renowned for events like
'Pregnant with Pride' across my tummy. It was
6. Bookworms
Welcome:
No trip
to Atlanta would
the Miss Gay US of A Benefit Show and Atlanta's
great:' Mann Stewart now has two boys, and each
be complete without a visit to Charis Books (cha-
year she pushes a stroller in the parade.
ris.booksense.com), the oldest feminist women's
Next Top Idol (featuring all queer contestants). It
also hosts L Word Tuesdays. ■
40
I curve
on top
/
/
/
V
witli
the influx of competition-based ceality shows-some
good, some bad, some ceally bad-
we've had bisexuals, gay men and lesbian contestants, but until this season weve never been graced
with a lesbian culinary couple. The wildly popular Bravo show Top Chef not only tests upand-coming culinary stars in quick-fire challenges and impossible cooking situations, but
it has introduced us to Zoi and Jen-America's
dish-licious dyke duo. The twosome
(self-taught Zoi, 31, and Jen, 36, trained in French cuisine) has been dating and
heating up the kitchen for four years. To us, they spill details about TopChef and
admit to crushing on the gorgeous but inaccessible judge, Padma -and
Zoi defends her mushrooms with rosemary, the dish that led to
her untimely elimination.
You are both successful chefs. What prompted you
both to try out for Top Chen
Zoi:We both watched the show. It's kind of one of those things
where you have a "pie in the sky" idea like, "Oh wouldn't that be
great, if we could get on the show?" and it just kind of happened. We
were really honored that we were chosen.
Jen:I kind of fell for the show on a trip to New York. [I watched] a marathon
of the show. A couple of months later, they had an open casting call. I think that I
secretly really wanted to be on the show, but I was playing it off like, "Whatever,
who cares?" I got called back for an on-camera interview, but that was it. And
then the next casting call they actually called Zoi. They saw her picture or an
article about her in a food magazine. They called her in for an interview and during the interview process they figured out that I was her girlfriend. Basically, they
were interested in both of us coming onto the show.
What was the initial reaction when you heard that you made the show?
That you both made the show?
Zoi:I was called at work and I actually remember specifically that when I got the
call, and a woman said, "You've been chosen to be on the show;' I said nothing. I
was dumbfounded. So shocked. You know, even ...through the whole process ...
you're kind of getting closer and closer, [but] in the back of your mind you're
still like, "No way:'
Jen:I was elated. I was totally excited! I was jumping up and down.
Did you guys have a strategy going into the Top Chef competition?
Jen:We talked a lot about it and we just decided we needed to compete separately. Especially since there [was] going to be a large group of people, so we didn't
Zoi is fearless
in the kitchen,
she even takes
on sausages
want anyone to [think] that we were tag-teaming people. So we just decided to take it
on individually.
A lesbian culinary couple on a reality show has never been done. Did you
feel any pressure to represent?
7
I
I
/
Move over,IronChefs-the charismaticcuties
of cuisineare in town. By ColleenM. Lee
Zoi:I mean, the thing is, we're everywhere. Gay people are everywhere. I certainly don't feel like in this day and
age it should be all that surprising. Bravo is such a gay-friendly network and so there wasn't a lot of anxiety
in terms of that. The anxiety was more "Oh, my God, our personal life is going to be up for discussion, up
on display:' Were essentially running two races. We had the race of trying to compete in this competition,
and we also had a whole different kind of challenge, which was that were there as a couple. Not only am I
getting looked at, scrutinized, blogged about, what have you, as is Jen, but our relationship is being blogged.
ed
There's an additional dynamic that we had to wrestle and deal with. They could've picked a straight couple,
p-
they could've picked a gay male couple, but for whatever reason, Jen and I, the dynamic was such that they
ut
ne
1d
1d
1d
to
felt like they wanted us to do the show together.
Jen:I think we really underestimated how it was going to affect the community. I've been [getting] extremely
positive reactions. I went out Friday night and it was just crazy. I had at least 20 gay guys come
up to me [and say], "Girl, I love you!" It's very supportive and positive.
Any negatives to having your lover on the show?
Zoi:We didn't know how people were going to react behind the camera, when we weren't
there, but overall people were definitely surprised. I mean, the rest of the contestants, the crew were all like,"Oh, my God, really?" But I think pretty quickly they
got it that were cool girls as individuals, and we're cool girls as a couple. And
we weren't there to stir up a bunch of lesbian drama. We were there ~o win.
gs
be
Ve
We tried not to rub it in just because we did have an advantage emotionally,
in that way. At the same time, it's a disadvantage because it's distracting.
[You're in] the middle of the challenge, and then all of a sudden you look
over and there's your girlfriend. It's a little bit like, "Whoa, wait, what's
)n
going onr"
tI
er,
Jen:Well, I have, yeah. All the guys did. She would just shoo me
an
Zoi:Ah, well, not outright. [Laughs.]I mean, Padrna is Padma. Get
Did you flirt with Padma?
away like a fly.
out of here. She's hot. I mean, it was kind of a running joke.
ey
Every morning we were like, "Ah, what's Padma going to be
wearing today?" And Jen and I being lesbians, you know, there's
Lisa too. We were all kind of like one of the dudes. Like, "Oooh,
let's go look at Padma today:' It was definitely lighthearted. Padma's
ne
.I
hard to flirt with. She doesn't make it easy, that's for sure. Shes not
're
know, [through] eye contact. She wasn't doing a whole lot of eye
letting on. She's certainly not acknowledging any type of eye contact
or anything like that. For me at least, that's how lesbians let lesbians
contact. Maybe she's a lesbian, I don't know.
How does a girl from Seattle meet a girl from Brooklyn?
Jen:We ended up working in the same kitchen and just liked each
,a-
n't
it
other right away.
Zoi:I remember to this day walking into the kitchen and seeing Jen. She and I both kind of looked at each other and
there was this instantaneous friendship. We both just
liked each other right away. Part of it was that were
both strong female chefs. We became friends over the
When Jen hits the
stove, the Aries in her
takes over and the fire
really heats up
course of four years. We were both in relationships and eventually we were
both not in relationships and our relationship changed.
Jen:And we both are alpha Aries. We're both supediery, so working together
was always really fun! In the beginning, I was a sous chef and she got hired
into the restaurant I was working at. We always looked forward to working
together side-by-side 'cause we'djust kick ass. Just the same work ethic and
[the) same mentality and it was a really good combination.
What are your comfort foods?
Zoi:Roasted chicken. I love roasted chicken. Lots of lemon, rosemary, garlic. I
could literally just eat roasted chicken and salad and be happy. There's a dish
that I ate growing up that's a Greek dish called giouvetsi. I really like pho.
If I'm hung over or not feeling great, pho is kind of medicinal. Like, after I
eat it, I almost feel high.
Jen:Anything that's braised: a short rib or oxtails, roasted chicken and Zoi
to find the other aspects in the culinary fields, the other jobs that don't pay
makes really good Greek salad meatballs called keftedes. I have a thing for
as well [and) aren't as stressful. I hate to say it, it might be a lot like the
Salisbury steak from my childhood. Mashed potatoes and Salisbury steak
corporate world, but [women) will try to not find the job that's gonna take
up your entire life and stress you out.
smothered in mushrooms and onions.
Jen, your cooking has hints of French, Italian and Spanish. And you
I have to ask-Zoi,
have been mentored by many exceptional women chefs. Tell me a bit
Zoi:I can make a delicious pasta salad. I just didn't that day, for many, many
why couldn't you make a simple pasta salad?
reasons. The error was more in the fact that I decided to serve it [at all],
more about your culinary path.
Jen:I came to San Francisco after working in some great Manhattan restau-
instead of sticking to my guns and saying, "No, I am not going to make
rants. I came here definitely for the food. Traci Des Jardins was the up-and-
pasta salad on TopChef,'and,"This isn't what I want it to be so I won't serve
coming female chef. I met her in New York and I had worked for a female
it:' Lesson learned.
chef in New York, but Traci
What's your take on Cat Cora?
had this sort of amazing presence-kind of a fierce presence.
Zoi:Well, I have to say I don't know her, obviously. When I first heard of Cat
She connected me with Loretta
here. Totally stealing my thunder:'You know, a little jealous. I'm like,"That's
Cora, I'm like, "Wait a minute, a half-Greek lesbian:>"I was like, "Get out of
Keller, who was my mentor,
my angle!" But no, honestly, I'm not that competitive of a person that I'm
who I worked with for a couple
going to talk shit about somebody because they're doing well. Her style is
of years. And later on I ended
definitely a little different than my style, but I'd love to meet her on a per-
up working with Traci again.
sonal level and see what her style is really like. But all we see is what's on TV,
I'd have to say that the female
which we all know is not real life. So yeah, she seems like a cool lady.
chefs that I worked with, the
Why were you cut over rosemary mushrooms, Zoi?
women from River Cafe, Rose
Zoi:I do not think I was cut over rosemary mushrooms. I realize that our dish
and Ruthie, Loretta Keller and
may have not been considered a favorite among the guests, but I will con-
Traci, they all tend to have this
tinue to argue and defend the fact that we made a good dish with heart and
more mentor-y, more nurturing quality about them. Whereas the male
integrity. Carpaccio of beef is about beef. We chose a good-quality product
chefs, you're more afraid of them, so you're acting out of fear. Female chefs
and felt good about the end result. I wouldn't want a highly acidic com-
I wanted to impress and take on their qualities.
ponent paired with it, otherwise the delicate flavor of the beef would be
How is it being lesbian in a male-dominated field?
overpowered. And as far as mushrooms and rosemary ...give me a break.
Jen:Well, I tend to be like one of the boys. When I worked in New Orleans
They pair well together and with bee£ I stand by that. I deserved to stay,
but alas ...not my decision.
and was 19 years old, I was surprised that there was so much sexism and
racism in the kitchen. But that was in the South. That was intimidating,
Are you both partnering up professionally after Top Chen
working in a place where all the chefs were male and all the line cooks were
Zoi: I personally am trying to get to a place where I can have my own
male and the women were only working salad stations. It had that hierar-
restaurant.
feel to it. But it's never really posed a
Jen:It's hard to say at this point. It's so busy right now, it's kind of hard to think
major challenge to me, and I think that's mostly because I'm a competitive
about. I think we play around with the idea of opening up a place, but I
person. I've always been taught, and felt, that if you can prove yourself, you
think we're going to wait a couple of months to make a final decision about
that. We'll have to see what happens.
chy and that male-dominated-kitchen
will be accepted. In the kitchen, it's much like a sport. If you're not going to
win the race, if you're not going to be the best producer, then no, you aren't
One last important question. Who does the cooking in your house?
going to be accepted.
Zoi:It's probably whoever didn't work that night.
Jen:We don't cook that much. Just on the weekends, and I think she probably
So "t's more about personality?
Jen:I do believe that if I went up for a job with someone [male) with the same
tends to cook more than me. What usually happens is that someone has the
caliber as me for an executive chef position, I guarantee that he would get
concept, and then basically if I say,"I want to make this;' then she'll end up
10 percent more money than I would. I think that still exists. I think it's
being the assistant. I think she tends to cook more than me. I'm kind oflazy
like that. I make reservations. ■
personality. I also think that a lot of times in this industry women will try
44
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Th
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got hertongue
Meet the reservedlesbianIronChef.
By Co11een
M. Lee
a huge part of my upbringing;' she says. She developed a love for cooking and
had ambitions at an early age, "My godfather owned many restaurants, which
helped develop my love for them. I always knew I wanted to have a restaurant
one day. At 15, I made a business plan and presented it to him. I met Julia Child
when I was in my early 20s, and she gave me advice on where to go to culinary
school and what it takes to become a chef;' she adds.
Cora is passionate about her career and being a trailblazer for women culinary wannabes. "I think chat becoming the first female Iron Chef has been
great for women and young girls because it has helped to break down barriers.
The fact that I am open about my spouse and kids hopefully inspires others to
have a wonderfully open life as well;' she says.
Cora is intense (and not to mention sexy, even in her chef's jacket), but can
also play it cool when things get heated. One photo shoot in particular put her
in hot water with feminists. Last year, Cora agreed to pose in a short skirt, heels
and a low-cut top for FHM. Many screamed that her decision contributed to
the objectification of women. She shrugs it off saying, "I made a decision
to
do
one shoot for FHM, which other celebrity chefs have done as well. I felt it was
done in a very professional and fun way. I have turned down other offers, if it
was a medium that I was not comfortable with. I did the shoot for myself and
when I am 80 and saggy, I can look back at it and smile:'
And Cora is getting noticed for more than her killer cooking and short
-~n camera, Cat Cora is a Tasmanian devil, dicing and slicing while directing a cabal of sous chefs on Iron Chef America. The ouzo-slamming Greek
skirts. She was recently awarded the Hero Visibility Award from the Human
Rights Campaign (HRC) for her work with Chefs for Humanity, about which
girl from Mississippi is the founder of Chefs for Humanity (an organization
that provides nutrition education and emergency and humanitarian aid to
reduce hunger in the world), and the author of two cookbooks-Cookingfrom
the Hip and Cat Cora'.sKitchen-but
her foremost claim to fame is becoming
the first and only female Iron Chef. Late last year, just as this Food Network
darling was turning up the heat in cable television's kitchen, and garnering fans
from around the globe, she took steps to come out. Lesbians around the country applauded, but Cora herself seems nonplussed by this kind of attention.
"My fan base grows as my career grows. I have a great straight and gay fan
"I thinkthat becomingthe firstfemale
IronChef has been greatfor women
and younggirlsbecauseit has helped
to breakdown barriers."
base, both of whom have always been super supportive;' Cora says. Already
media savvy, Cora chooses her words carefully and reminds us chat cooking
she is truly humble. "The work chat the Human Rights Campaign does on
and motherhood are her top priorities. So how does she navigate being a
behalf of families like yours and mine is crucial and necessary. I truly appreci-
celebrity chef and a mom? Cora says, "Being a mom means everything to me.
ate their efforts. My organization, Chefs for Humanity, much like the HRC,
Motherhood is what I am most proud of. At this point, our sons are too young
was founded with the sincere belief that we can make the world a better place.
to really grasp the concept of celebrity."
Being honored by a like-minded organization, such as HRC, is a tremendous
honor to me:'
It's clear Cora prefers to keep the focus on food and away from her personal life. She's mum about how her professional relationship with Elizabeth
And what does someone who cooks for so many eat herself? "My favor-
Falkner, the famous and publicly out pastry chef and restaurateur (and one of
ite meal would include having my friends and family present. I would start
with cheese, crackers and antipasti, [then serve] lamb shanks, fava beans and a
Cora's sous chefs on Iron Chef America) evolved. She simply states chat they
"have been colleagues for years:' I was hoping chat she would say they double
Greek salad. A great red wine such as Sangiovese or Malbec would of course be
dated with their life partners.
included, as well as something light for dessert, like chocolate-dipped baklava:'
Cora comes from a family of great cooks and admits that she learned a lot
of her technique as she was growing up. "Both Greek and Southern foods were
46 I curve
For some unique reason, only Cat Cora would consider a piece of chocolatedipped baklava a light dessert. ■
SanFrancisco
International
LGBT
FilmFestivalJune19-29,2008www.frameline.org
Ditch your big-city attitude and see
what's out there. By Kelli Dunham
Rainbow flags, ho hum. Oh gee, another pink triangle butt plug? What a sur-
cial occasions. Just because Pride is being held in Billings, doesn't mean that
prise. More drag queens? Yawn.
If that's how you reacted to your most recent Pride outing, it might be time
event happen:'
[people in] Helena or Missoula don't participate in making the wonderful
to leave your cynicism at home and make a Pride pilgrimage. You'll be much
Considering that Montana is more than 600 miles long and 250 miles
less likely to run into your ex (ick) or your therapist (double ick) and some cit-
wide, the fact that the entire state cooperates to make the event happen seems
ies that are not typical Pride destinations can nevertheless put on quite a party.
just a tad shy of a happy rainbow miracle.
Here's a few worth traveling to:
If you head to Montana Pride (which this year will be held in Billings; the
location changes every two years),June 20-22, come prepared for a full party.
Big-CityEvent,Down-Home
Feel:Ferndale,
Mich.(motorcitypride.com)
Motor City Pride can't logically be considered a small Pride. With more
than 35,000 LGBTQ and allied people heading to downtown Ferndale each
June to make merry, it's the biggest event of its kind in Michigan. But while
"Detroit" and "Pride destination" are not thought of as synonymous, perhaps
they should be.
When asked to describe the activities that take place in the Detroit Metro
area over Pride weekend (May 31-June 1), Chene Koppitz, the Triangle
Foundation's director of community events, responded at length. Not only is
there a commitment ceremony and a pre-Pride film event, there is also a family picnic, a golf outing and women's events organized by Where the Girls Are.
On the day of the festival, things are rounded out with tons of entertainment,
a doggie drag show, a car show, a beer garden and designated family and youth
areas, with special activities for both groups. Koppitz explains, "Everyone, no
matter who they are or what they want or need from our event ...can find what
they're looking for at Motor City Pride:'
If you're visiting downtown Ferndale in the days before Pride weekend,
keep a close eye on area businesses; a Pride-themed window display contest
helps local stores conjure up the festival mood.
ComeOne,ComeAll:Billings,Mont.(prideinbillings.org)
Montana folks are wonderfully understated. When asked what's special about
their Pride celebration, board member Traci Briske explains, "Montana is a
big state and sometimes we don't get to see friends, with the exception of spe-
48 I curve
You'll find vendors where you can get tattooed or pierced (or maybe both),
a political rally, a breakfast gathering on Saturday and a nondenominational
worship service on Sunday morning. But don't let all this homo-happiness
distract you from the Montana Pride parade, which is led by gay veterans.
Allied community groups, including local churches and, yes, the Shriners, participate too. (And, Diane Anderson-Minshall,
be the grand marshal this year.)
CURVE
1
s executive editor, will
Not that everything has always been smooth for the Pride wranglers in
this Western state. Before the last parade Briske says, "We did have quite the
[antigay] blog going in the Billings Gazette. But those people who sat behind
their computers didn't show up at the parade:' Robin McClure, co-chair of the
Pride committee, says, "We did have one lone protester, and it was really rather
sad because the kid couldn't even spell his derogatory words properly:'
It's morethanOKin OKC:Oklahoma
City(okcpride.org)
I have a bit of a personal history with Oklahoma City Pride. More than a
decade ago, I sat in a coffee shop two blocks away from where the parade
passed and nearly pulled a muscle in my neck trying to see all the action. I
was a sophomore at a local Bible college that routinely kicked people out for
"particular friendships," and I didn't want to risk my scholarship for a closer
look at what was happening with my people.
Cathy Charish, co-chair of the festival, says of those early days of the parade, 'J\t the first OKC Pride parade ... the city's KKK leaders decided they
would protest and run off the 'fags; but when they saw the large numbers of
LGBT participants, they got in their vehicles and left in a hurry:'
Twenty-one years later, the parade has grown into a three-day event
that attracts LGBT folks from as far away as Kansas and Texas, as well as
supportive allies from the community. This year, OKC Pride starts with an
evening parade beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 20, followed by a two-day
festival at nearby Memorial Park.
s
The very energetic Pride association also sponsors other activities throughout the weekend including a drag bingo night, a formal "gayla'' event and a
e
volunteer appreciation dinner. Herland Sister Resources, the local women's
organization, traditionally schedules a picnic on Saturday afternoon.
Oklahoma City is known for its friendliness (I was once in a 12-car pileup
there during an ice storm; everyone went for a congenial coffee afterward) and
s
the Pride festivities are no exception. Organizers have built a "double back"
into the parade route, so that folks who are part of the parade can get to see
the other participants strut their stuff. Yup, right friendly.
wildflowers. While Eugene's is the second largest Pride celebration in Oregon
Hippies,
Hipsters
andLesbians:
Eugene,
Ore.(eugenepride.org}
(only Portland's is bigger), it still retains a distinct coziness.
This year, Eugene's Pride festivities take place on Saturday, Aug. 9. There is
Eugene has the reputation of being a hotbed of hippie culture; it is also completely surrounded by breathtaking Pacific Northwest beauty. If the town
no parade, but you can soak up some local cu.
had a signature fragrance, it would definitely contain both patchouli and
ing the downtown Eugene Saturday Market. At the outdoor market, which
,, before the festival by explor-
has been around since 1970, you can find all things tie-dyed, eat groovy food,
e
buy original crafts and sign petitions for a few dozen progressive causes. The
Pride festival starts at noon at Alton Baker Park, a large open area. You will
a
e
y
f
Makesureto bring:
Donotbring:
Camera,
cashandsunblock:
Thesearethe essentials.
A reasonably
sizedpurseor
totebag:Bigenoughto holdPride
souvenirs,
but notblockthe views
of otherfestival-goers.
Extracamerabatteriesand
memory
card:Sinceyou'llneed
at least100 picturesof that certain
hottieyouspotted.
Highheels:You'llbebreakingoff
the heelsyourselfafterstandingin
themfor hours.
Toomuchalcohol:
Boozeis fun
upto a point,buttoo muchand
you'rethe crazycrierwhoeveryone
remembers.
Yourex-girlfriend:
Prideis a time
to moveon andpossiblyhookup,
nothangoutwithyourex.
never have to fight your fellow queer for a parking spot here.
Eugene doesn't have a designated gay bar, but when you've had enough of
the festival you can make your way to nearby Skinner Butte Park. The park
(no, it was not named by Bart Simpson, and locals are very much over that
joke) is the perfect place to watch the sunset. Want
to
make it a weekend~
You can spend Sunday exploring Eugene's many bike trails or go to one of the
Pacific beaches, which are less than 45 minutes away. "Because summers in
the Eugene area tend to be mild;' explains Jer Megowan, festival coordinator,
"people here actually enjoy the outdoors:• ■
))
For moreSmall-TownPrides,visit curvemag.com.
June 2008
I49
Pride is a time to remember our history, from the tragedies to the triumphs. It's
1970-2006. I remember being a baby dyke in Chicago in 1985 and reading
a time when lesbians of all ages should look back and reflect on how far we have
about Kowalski's case-how
come as a movement, and how far we have to go in the goal to achieve equality.
Karen Thompson fought to gain custody of her now-brain-damaged partner
However, since the mere thought of addressing queer history in schools
sends conservatives into a panic-induced seizure, it's up to us to preserve our
she got hit by a drunk driver and how her lover
from Kowalski's homophobic parents.
I was also awestruck by the original mimeographed
copy of the
Radicalesbians' manifesto, Woman-IdentifiedWoman, something I had previ-
past for future generations.
ously only read in anthologies. It had always been like an urban legend to me;
TheLesbianHerstory
Archives
{LHA),Brooklyn,
N.Y.
now here in front of me was this original document in which I read, "What
Inside 484 14th St., an unassuming brownstone on a residential block in Park
is a lesbian? A lesbian is the rage of all women condensed to the point of
explosion:'
Slope, Brooklyn, is the largest collection of lesbian-specific materials anywhere
in the world. Memorabilia ranges from a box donated by an average lesbian
The building in Park Slope is owned free and clear-it
was paid for in 1997,
and containing her life story, to the infamous Lavender Menace T-shirt said
only four years after it was purchased with money donated from lesbians all
to be worn by Rita Mae Brown at NOW's Second Congress to Unite Women
over the world, along with a small loan. The grassroots organization is staffed
in 1970.
The contents of lesbian history has been preserved by a legion of volun-
entirely by volunteers, some as fresh as Devin, a young woman who has been
teers who began the archive way back in 1974 in the pantry of Joan Nestle and
volunteering for only a year, and some like Maxine Wolfe, a long-term member
of the LHA collective.
Deborah Edel's Upper West Side apartment.
You can find out more about "the collection;' as the LHA'.s massive inven-
it special is so many other people would have written off lesbian-feminism as
tory is referred to, in the LHA'.s handout A Brief History of the LesbianHerstory
idealistic, something unattainable, but the LHA proves it exits:' And, Wolfe
Archives,which you can pick up in the LHA entryway or on the organization's
stresses, the main principle of the LHA is open access. "No one is ever turned
website, lesbianherstoryarchives.org.
away from an event or refused the newsletter for lack of funds, nor are their
reasons for visiting or researching questioned:' - SS
Nestle says, "The building itsel£ the cooperative way of the collective and
Wolfe says, "One of the most important things about the LHA that make
collection are as much a historical artifact as the documents in the LHA'.s collections ...a delta of cultural consciousness formed by old queer femme-butch
TheJuneL.MazerArchives,
WestHollywood,
Calif.
knowledges, gay liberation and early feminism overlay a layer of socialism, mo-
When Bay Area lesbians put their priceless collection of artifacts and memora-
ments of decolonization thinking and a willingness to change categories, some-
bilia in the hands of Los Angeles lesbian allies for safekeeping,June Mazer took
times called post-modernism:'
Nestle wrote an essay on the history of the archives and how volunteers
lesbian history, suspecting that the experiences she and her lesbian sisters were
spread the word, "The Will to Remember;' in A FragileUnion. I recommend
living in the 1970s and '80s would likely hold significance for the future.
reading it as a primer about both the archive movement in general and the LHA
They were fearless young activists, who marched, protested and put their
careers on the line for the right to choose whom to love.
specifically, since it sometimes seems that our younger generations of lesbians
have already forgotten-or
perhaps never learned-dyke
history.
I was hit in the gut when I walked into the main room and saw an exhibit
about Sharon Kowalski, part of a larger exhibit, Snatches of Lesbian Activism
so Icurve
the responsibility to heart. She, as much as anyone, saw the need to preserve
That's why, says Jeanne Cordova, a baby dyke when she joined the closely
knit community in the 1970s, they decided to name the collection for Mazer
when she died unexpectedly of cancer in 1987.
Now, 20 years after it opened in West Hollywood, the June L. Mazer
Lesbian Archives is fulfilling the promise that Mazer prophetically saw. A recent
was a lot of sleeping around;' she says unapologetically.
"It's less political now;' Cordova believes. "The younger generation has
renovation and a renewed passion for the collection are bringing the archives to
a whole new generation.
somehow accepted the notion that their job and the amount of money they
Some volatile and dynamic years are depicted in photographs, periodicals,
their sisters or brothers. It's a change in priority. Back then, we thought it was
and personal letters and manuscripts, housed in the upstairs facility just down
make are more important than the political consciousness or camaraderie with
the most important thing we could be doing:'
The June L. Mazer Archives contains more than 2,300 fiction and nonfic-
the 1:treet from the West Hollywood bar scene.
There are beautiful images of the determined,
radical and rebellious,
tion tides, including a complete set of Vice Versa, the earliest known lesbian
including the young Cordova, who was on hand to speak at the recent Mazer
periodical (1947-48), and most of The Ladder from the 1950s and '60s. The
Archives open house. While she studied to be a social worker, Cordova's activ-
collection holds personal letters, scrapbooks, artwork, audio and videotapes,
ism drastically altered that plan.
radio recordings, newspapers, magazines and eye-catching artifacts such as
"There was a lot of anger in those days because we were much more op-
baseball uniforms from the 1940s.
pressed;' Cordova recalls. "I walked out of UCLA with a master's degree and
Among her favorite pieces, says board president Ann Giagni, are the per-
into a job as a social worker. I had already been out so I said, 'Fuck it, I'm not
sonal letters, diaries and photographs, "particularly the old photographs from
going back in the closet just because I got a professional job: At lunchtime I
the 1930s:'
talked about my girlfriend and two days later I got fired:'
Unfair treatment fueled a growing resentment and inspired the gay community to model its fight after the Civil Rights movement.
"We had the example from the blacks marching in the South and on the
"It's pretty special to see a woman sort of grow and mature;' says Giagni.
"We have one-of-a-kind items, handwritten letters that are very intimate and
personal accounts ... it's like a footprint that you find:'
For that reason, the Mazer Archives is eager to receive mementos from ev-
East Coast;' says Cordova. "We saw Martin Luther King speaking and people
eryday people that could one day tell what went on during this time period.
were listening:'
Politics was an integral part of peoples' lives then. On the West Coast wom-
"Were grassroots; we want a place that in the future, individuals or historians or
g
er
en in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Sacramento communicated
scholars can come in to see what life was like for ordinary lesbians:' - LKS ■
er
those decades as a time of great passion-both
"We figure the larger institutions will go after the celebrities;' says Giagni.
through many queer newspapers and other publications. Cordova remembers
political and physical. "There
) For more on Lesbianlibraries, visit curvemag.com.
e
e;
at
of
7,
d
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er
ed
ir
a-
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ir
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June 2008
I51
For one day, the streets are lined with women. By Kristin A. Smith
ticipating in the SLC Dyke March is very much a political act. Balken says that
the Church of Latter Day Saints is "not outwardly hostile" toward the LGBT
community, but that it generally tries to pretend the community doesn't exist.
Turning a blind eye is hard when the march goes down the busiest street in the
state and right past Salt Lake Temple. Yes, the temple. Organizers are expecting
around 1,000 women to march chis year.
PORTLAND,
ORE.:Friday,June20,Monument
Square,dykemarchportland.com
Portland seems to be the new mecca for hipster lesbians-they
are flocking
there in droves, adorned in worn-out Diesel jeans and tight T-shirts. Even the
rainy winter isn't slowing chem down. With the greatest influx coming from the
San Francisco Bay Area, you can be sure some of the SF Dyke March rowdiness has made its way north. The Dykes on Bikes (often bicycles, chat is) are
bound to be in abundance, and you can guarantee there will be some hot D IY
costumes ... here's hoping for tutus and titties all around. And if that isn't enticing enough, there is also a trans march chat takes place at the same time.
SANFRANCISCO:
Saturday,
June28,Dolores
Park,thedykemarch.org
We can all agree chat San Francisco is the gayest place in the country. Sure,
there's Fire Island and Provincetown, but in terms of densely populated gayness,
San Francisco is king, or often queen, of the world. While you may not be able
to buy women's clothes in the Castro, you can sure as hell take over the city from
there, at least for one day. The Dyke March didn't start in San Francisco, but it
The Dyke March is a powerful event. So powerful, in fact, that it makes women
definitely could have. This year will be its sweet 16, so prepare to be kissed, or
want to spell "woman" with a "y;' add a drum to the circle and embrace our
more-there
will be 50,000 hotties to choose from.
collective herstory. It's a once-a-year reminder that despite our differences, we
really are one.
The Dyke March history is as rich and varied as the women who march in
NEWYORKCITY:Saturday,
June28,BryantPark,nycdykemarch.org
it. In 1993, 20,000 lesbians converged on the streets of Washington, D.C., to
not shut down the city, the way Puerto Rican Heritage Day does, but it's sure
form the first Dyke March. Organized by the Lesbian Avengers, a queer activist
to make a serious splash-15,000
group, the march was a political event aimed at raising visibility and awareness
raised New Yorker, says, "NYC dykers are damn spirited, damn hot and damn
festive:' Of course they are.
about lesbian issues. And that's how it has remained.
Come on, it's New York, how could you go wrong? The Dyke March might
dykes marched last year. Dina, a born and
Unlike the larger Pride festivities that have fallen victim to corporate takeover, the Dyke Marches have stayed true to their grassroots. Many marches
OAKLAND,
CALIF.:
Saturday,
Aug.23,LakeMerritt,sistahssteppin.org
continue to be run without permits or corporate sponsorship.
Here's a list of some of the Dyke Marches around the country. As with
The Oakland Dyke March is beautifully East Bay. Titled "Sistahs Steppin' in
anything, it's best to shop locally, so check with your local organizers to see if
bisexual community of women to reclaim their lives from fear and create their
there's a march happening in your city.
spirituality:' Don't worry if you don't think of yourself as a siscah, this march is
Pride;' chis march was created to "empower the diverse East Bay lesbian and
for anyone who believes in the need for a siscah-hood of women. ■
WESTHOLLYWOOD
AND LOSANGELES,
CALIF.:WeHo,June 6, San Vicente,
myspace.com/wehodykemarch;
L.A.,June7, SunsetBoulevard,
dykemarchla.com
It's ironic that there are two dyke marches in a city where everyone drives. But hey,
give it up for Los Angeles and its representation of lesbians beyond The L Word.
SALTLAKECITY:Saturday,
June7, myspace.com/swerveutah
Studies have shown that the more children you have, the more likely you are
to
have a gay child. In Utah, where the size of the average family far exceeds
the national average, you can be sure chat there are a lot of homos. Brandie
Balken, organizer for the Salt Lake City Dyke March, says that SLC's queer
community is "a vibrant, strong culture that is still a little bit underground:' In
a state where sexual orientation is still grounds for being fired from a job, par-
s2
I curve
Boston-June13,bostondykemarch.com
Seattle-June28,seattledykemarch.com
Toronto,
Canada-June28,pridetoronto.com/dyke
Atlanta-July5, atlantapride.org
Washington
D.C.-TBA,myspace.com/dcdykemarch
Chicago-TBA,myspace.com/dykemarchchicago
Minneapolis-TBA,
geocities.com/tcavengers
Philadelphia-TBA,
myspace.com/philadelphiadykemarch
Black Prides remind us of our community's diversity.
By Jenna V. Loceff
festivals cer-
Next year will be the 10th official year. However, Chicago Pride is not just
tainly set out to embrace all aspects
a weekend; it is an ongoing organization whose mission is to constantly sup-
of LGBT life. But while all of us,
port the community. (windycitychicagoblackpride.org)
Mainstream
Pride
can stand up and march against
homophobia, parts of our own community are being forgotten.
"Some
of
the
mainstream
issues that need to be addressed are
not the same issues in the African
American
gay community;'
says
Kimberly Jones, vice president of
the Black Pride Society in Detroit.
Hence
the formation
International
of the
Federation of Black
Prides, Inc. (IFBP).
CHARLOTTE
BLACK
GAYPRIDE(Charlotte,
N.C.) • JULY17-20
2008 marks the fourth celebration of Charlotte Black Gay Pride. Lynkoya
Handy, one of its founders, says that the first Pride weekend was planned
because "our orientation as well as our heritage left us out of both the gay and
the African American communities. We set out to build a bridge spanning
both communities:' And the organizers were shocked when, in the first year,
over 7,000 people attended.
Charlotte Pride is always the third weekend in July, from Thursday to
Sunday. The focal point of the weekend is the expo on Saturday. It's an all-day
event for people of all ages and it includes entertainment (spoken word, poetry
and theater), vendors and workshops. (charlotteblackgaypride.com)
"For African Americans who live
within their own community, who don't go to the, say, gay districts, it is impor-
LITTLEROCKBLACK
PRIDE(LittleRock,Ark.) • JULY18-20
tant to have support;' says Charles Nelson, president of Chicago Windy City
After visiting Houston Splash in 2005, Stanley Rogers knew he had to do
Black LGBT-SGL Pride. Films and literary events are big parts of the IFBP
something. "I was amazed at how many could get together and have so much
festivals, as well as workshops and discussions about religion.
fun in one weekend. I wanted to have the same thing in Arkansas:•
While Baltimore and Atlanta host the biggest Black Prides, we
decided to take a look at some of the best-kept secrets in the African
American gay community.
NEWARK-ESSEX
PRIDE{Newark,N.J.) • JUNE9-15
After moving to Newark, June Dowell-Burton, 38, founder of Pride
week and president of the Newark-Essex Pride Coalition, helped put
on a gay prom.
"Newark Pride Alliance held the gay prom to commemorate Sakia
Gunn (who was slain in a hate crime in 2003). All of our events have
some sort of educational and political component;' Dowell-Burton
says. Events addressing civil unions and legal matters for the LGBT
community top the list.
The Newark-Essex Pride Coalition is in its fourth year and tries to
create activities that have social value.
Though most of the 5,000 participants last year were people of
color, "we don't necessarily categorize [the event) as Black Pride, because we have such a diverse community here;' says Dowell-Burton.
(newarkessexpride.org)
CHICAGO
WINDYCITYBLACK
LGBT-SGL
PRIDE{Chicago)• JULY3-7
Charles Nelson, 53, president of Chicago Windy City Black LGBTSGL Pride, feels strongly about the need for an African American
Pride weekend. "The importance is because of the difference in culture. The African American society is not as visible. We have venues
that everyone will feel comfortable [at J;'he says.
"It seems that at a Pride festival people come out and then they
think that's that. [In the African American community] we don't have
the same autonomy that [our] heterosexual counterparts have:•
54
Icurve
I'll admitthereis something
compellingaboutbeingsurrounded
bya sea
of otherblackfolks,especially
other
queers,celebrating
Pridein a few
waysthatfeel bothgayandauthenticallyAfricanAmerican.
Ourpartiesare
boisterous,
filledwith singing,dancing,
laughterand,yes,realsoulfood.Earl
Fowlkes,presidentandCEOof the IFBP,
knowsthis well."In the UnitedStates,
blackfolksgettheirinformation
from
the mainstream
media,andthatalone
presentsthe struggleof havingto live
a duallife,"hesays."Theyfeelforced
to makea choicebetweenbeingblack
andbeinggay,andthat'sa choiceno
oneshouldhaveto make."
"Peopleshouldbeallowedto
bethemselves
all of thetime,"says
Fowlkes,
andthefestivalshelpto create
a safeatmosphere.
Hesayscultural
differenceis the mostnotablethingthat
setsthemapartfromotherPrides,as
thereareworkshops
anddiscussions
that
pertainonlyto blacklife andissues.
WhenWelmoreCook,Theodore
KirklandandErnestHopkinsorganized
thefirst blackgayPridemarchin
Washington,
D.C.,on May25, 1991,
Fowlkeswasamazedthat 800 people
showedup in thefreezingrainto show
theirsupport.
"Notonlydidtheyshowup in bonechillingweather,theyareblackand
theyshowedup,"he laughs.By1995,
underFowlkes'leadership,
the D.C.
BlackPrideeventhadalmost3,000
attendees.
Today,about350,000peopleattend
BlackPrideacrossthe countryeach
year.Newark,N.J.,wasthe newestadditionto the lineup,andD.C.boastsan
almost40 percentfemaleattendance.
That'san importantpointfor
Fowlkes,
whousedto shuttlehis
lesbiansisterto all the events.AnAIDS
activistfromthe earlyyearswhosees
the BlackPriderootsin that movement,
Fowlkessayslesbiansarecriticalto
Pride."Wehaveforgottenthatwhen
the epidemicwasat its height,it was
lesbianswholookedafterthe sickand
infected,andoftentimeshelpedto
nursethembackto health."-Althea
Cunningham
festival and witnessing the crowds and the camaraderie on display.
"I didn't know there was a Pride in Detroit;' Jones says. "I immediately assisted in any way I could. I volunteered for a year and have been
on the board for a very long time now:'
Involved with the Black Pride Society since 1999, she says that one
of the things she has noticed is that boards of Black Pride have gone
from being predominantely male to being predominantly female. Once
more women got involved, more all-inclusive events sprang up.
This year's theme is "Embracing Our Past, Celebrating Our
Future:' Started in Detroit in 1996, it is now in its 13th year. Though
many things have changed, like the inclusion of more women, it has
kept some traditional events. At Palmer Park, where the first founders
planted a tree, there is a candlelight vigil and prayer. Thursday boasts
a film festival highlighting the African American online TV show The
So in June of 2005, founder Rogers and about 400 other people gathered for
the first Little Rock Black Pride. The event rents out a local park and features
dance battles and live DJs.
Lovers & Friends Show.
"We try to keep the crowd entertained and give people time to explore,
have fun and educate themselves;' Jones says. (hotterthanjuly.com)
"It is all about bridging the gap;' says Rogers. The plan for the future is not
just to celebrate for one weekend but to have an open place where people can
INDIANA
BLACK
GAYPRIDE(Indianapolis)• AUGUST
8-10
hold more events throughout the year. He adds that the "mainstream" crowd
Tiffany Dow, the 30-year-old president of Indiana Black Pride, has been in-
also has a parade, but it doesn't conflict with Black Pride. "(The] main focus is
volved since its inception in 2005. A native oflndiana, she feels strongly about
that we all support them regardless of the color of the skin. We are all in the
having an organization for the black gay community. "We are in a unique posi-
same boar;' says Rogers. (littlerockblackpride.com)
tion of dealing with both the racism and the heterosexism;' she says about the
community she describes as invisible. Along with the vendors and performers
DETROIT'S
HOTTER
THANJULY(Detroit)• JULY21-29
Kimberly Jones is vice president of the Black Pride Society in Detroit. Jones
got involved in the "Hotter Than July" weekend after visiting Atlanta's Pride
that you might find at a mainstream Pride festival, there is a gospel service held
on Sunday every year. And the festival encourages African American LGBT
folks to be themselves. (indianablackpride.com)
■
..J
:::i
~
(/J
5
g
June 2008
I 55
How Kendall Clawson found her bliss at
the gayest job ever. By Alison Peters
Imagine a world where your top workday priority is finding a replacement drag
ties-like
queen to call bingo numbers, Where the mayor of your city, with an out daugh-
year later, something she deems "allPortland-it's
ter of his own, pledges support to your fledgling community center. This is not a
everyone. Portland is a great place to be able to take a little upshoot like the Q
dream: The location is Portland, Ore., the building is the Q Center, and Kendall
Center and grow it into something amazing:'
Clawson is its first executive director, an unabashedly straight-shooter just settling in for the long haul.
"My first day of work was during Pride;' Clawson remembers. "It was awesome, like this big party to welcome me:' Her infectiously blissful attitude was
key to uniting Clawson and the Q Center in the first place. A year ago, Clawson
reached a point in her life where she needed something different. After 20 years
of working in the corporate world, Clawson wanted a position she could grow
and build. She and her partner Michelle, who were married in Massachusetts in
2006, talked about relocating.
The couple had visited Portland several times and loved it. Shortly before
one of their visits, Clawson happened across an ad for the center's executive
director position and thought,"! could do that!" A few inquiries later she scheduled a last-minute interview. During her follow-up interview she told the board:
"Look, this is my job. I'll go through the paces, but tell me what I need to do to
nail this thing down:' While Clawson was up-front with the board about the
challenges the Q Center would face in hiring an African American woman, she
was calmly optimistic, imagining the center as though she was "looking at delicious pie, thinking-where
do I start?"
A month later she and Michelle packed up the house and their two dogs for
the drive from West Springfield, Mass., to Portland. That everything went so
smoothly was proof to Clawson that she'd made the right decision. 'Tm already
lucky.Just out the gate, I walked into a situation that was healthy, where ... people worked well and respected each other's ideas. I have a terrific board who support me like crazy, and they're conscious of their role as board members and as
people supporting an African American in leadership:' Portland's unique quali-
56
Icurve
its LGBTQ designation-are
something Clawson still appreciates a
thinking about and including
In 2003, metro Portland surveyed its denizens on whether a queer center
the overwhelming answer was "Yes:' Now the
mission is co create a space "co increase the visibility of and foster connection
within the LGBTQ community:' The work on the center happened with the
advice, direction and hands of the people it was built for. Portland lacks a
centralized, distinctly queer community like Greenwich Village or the Castro,
so it was important to find a space chat was centrally located and easily accessible
by foot and public transportation.
Clawson arrived just as Oregon was gearing up for the fight for domestic
partnership. The Q Center, which itself stays neutral, hosted candlelight vigils
supporting the community through the law's extended passage: In May 2007,
state legislators voted to allow same-sex couples basic rights like visiting a partner
in the hospital, inheriting a deceased partner's estate and coverage on a partner's
insurance plan. This domestic partnership was challenged and its implementation delayed until Feb. 4, 2008. During the vigils, the Q Center's Achilles heel
was exposed: It needed more space.''.A.cchat point we had a place for the community to come home, a club house where they could celebrate, mourn and marry.
There were so many people that we knew we had co find a new space:'
Clawson envisions that the Q Center will become the absolute center of a
complex of queer organizations: cabaret next to realcors, massage therapists and
tax people-all sorts of resources in one building. The idea is to find yourself
connected to a community and to leave no one isolated. Clawson hopes for the
Q Center to provide that support for the community. "For the rest of their lives,
people might not get the struggle, but I can open che door and allow someone to
be just who they are-that's what we're about:' ■
was something necessary-and
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WOMENTACKLEFOOTBALL
YTHIN B Y C N D , THEYC N DDBE T R. BY LAURIEK. CHENDEN
"Feel that burn, baby! It's the end of the third quarter. Come on,
Michigan State Police, grew up playing softball and believes foot-
ladies:' Did she say "ladies"? On an unseasonably warm February
ball is "physically more demanding than any other sport:'
day, even for southern California, the California Quake women's
Even triathletes are shocked when they discover they're not
tackle football team sweats through practice drills on a high
in shape for football, says Jody Taylor of the So Cal Scorpions
school football field.
"Run hard, run hard, push, push;' comes the order, egging
in San Diego. "Not to mention the contact factor;' says Taylor.
on the team to run through the finish line, or do just five more
step-ups or three more bench presses. No slacking off, not even at
As the Long Beach-based Quake trudges through drills on
practice. Especially not at practice.
Blown-out knees, torn calves, ruptured Achilles tendons,
patches of dirt and grass that just a few months ago were a well-
neck injuries and every kind of strain and pain imaginable have
27-year-old player-owner, almost spontaneously combusts as she
afflicted women who play professional tackle football.
spouts out motivation. "Two-minute warning. Yeah baby, yeah.
Yes, that's tackle football. And you'd better
manicured 50-yard line, cornerback Catherine "Cat" Vivo, the
Feel it, baby, push, push, push:'
be in the best shape of your life, baby. They call
Vivo, a graphic designer by day, likes to
it professional, but the NFL this isn't. Taking
conjure images of brutal game-day moments
part usually costsmoney. While most teams sup-
when their energy is sapped, time is running
ply game uniforms, a player could easily spend
out and the other team is bearing down on
$250 for a helmet, pads and cleats.
their goal line. She and several other players
No one plays for the money. But the
have "1440" tattooed on their ankles, signify-
rewards are immeasurable. "Women juggle ca-
ing how many minutes a day they think about
reers, families and time in order to train, practice
football (all of them).
and prepare for each season and game;' says
"Yeah, baby!" You can't just dust off your
Jan Johnson, star quarterback for the West
cleats and play this sport on weekends. The
Michigan Mayhem in Kalamazoo.
preparation is grueling and the time com-
Johnson, a detective sergeant with the
58 I curve
"This sport is not for everyone. There has to be a certain level of
fearlessness, heart and drive:'
mitment is almost unreasonable for working
adults. But the chance to play a sport that most women were
the field have to do their job:'
told growing up they would never play is an opportunity many
can't miss.
you'll ever hear women saying that they are heavier than they
On the East Coast, they still have 20-degree days in late
really are. Michelle Friesen, a 27-year-old defensive back for the
February, so the Connecticut Crush won't practice outside until
Size does matter. The football field may be the only place
Quake, says she's 5-foot-6 and 125 pounds.
the snow melts and the field dries out. They practice at an indoor
"In high school, I wanted to play but I was too small;' she says
arena when they can get it, which is usually from 9 p.m. until
between squats, where she presses 135 pounds. "It's so worth it
midnight on weekdays. Some players admit that the fulkontact
aspect is a powerful draw.
when you get to put pads on and hit people:'
"It's a surprise the first time you feel what it's like to get hit;'
Woodard, who joined the Crush at 400 pounds last season, is
100 pounds lighter this year.
says Kelly "Turtle" Woodard, a 30-year-old offensive lineman
"I couldn't complete a single jog up one side of the football
who loves the rush of "legally beating the crap out of people,"
field when I started;' she says. Encouragement from other play-
calling it "channeled aggression" because it stays on the field.
ers kept her going. "I came on feeling like an outsider my first
"Before you get into pads, there's a lot of running and pushing.
year. The first practice, I was slower than anybody, winded and
But running is one thing, running with a helmet on is another. You
don't realize how much the pads weigh:'
thought I was going to die. People were coming up and saying, great job; and 'you're doing awesome: They were calling me
Lisa Mitchell, a 4 7-year-old defensive tackle for the California
'rookie' even before I made the team.
Quake, remembers the first time she came helmet-to-helmet with
It changed my life:'
"For most women, it's their first
the opposing line.
"I got kind of concerned;' she understates. But her strength
time playing football;' says Vivo. "The
and speed even out the playing field. "They look at me [5-foot- 7,
biggest thing is to teach technique,
182 pounds] and think they'll be able to toss me around. I sur-
because we want chem to be safe:•
prise them:'
Losing players to season-ending
There are three women's leagues and nearly 100 women's professional tackle football teams across the country. About half
injuries is the worst part of the game,
the teams, including the New York Sharks and the California
many players agree.
The So Cal Scorpions
Quake, belong to the Independent Women's Football League
devastated when Desiree Weimann
(IWFL). The Crush and West Michigan Mayhem belong to
fractured her neck in a game in 2004.
the National Women's Football Association (NWFA) and the
Her
So Cal Scorpions are affiliated with the Women's Professional
an inspiration.
were
comeback, says Taylor, was
"Her healing, getting cleared to come back, and then chis season
Football League (WPFL).
The rules are the same as for the NFL, except the play clock
rushing for more yards than [NFL San Diego Chargers' run-
is 25 seconds versus 45, the ball is smaller and they kick off
ning back] LaDainian Tomlinson and getting the league MVP
farther up the field. The rest is the same: full contact, full field
was magical:' ■
and full game time.
One misconception about women's football is that everyone
is a lesbian. That hasn't deterred Nancy Macleod, a straight
woman and middle linebacker in her third year with the Quake.
A lifelong fan, she too grew up hearing she couldn't play football.
The regularfootball season runs from about mid-April throughJune,
when playoffs begin. To seegame schedulesor tojoin a team, see league
websites:iwflsports.com,womenifootballcentral.comand womensprofootball.com.
Now that she does, her teammates are like family.
Taylor, who's also a spokesperson for the WPFL, says that
players want to be treated as professionals, "so they act like it:'
"You are never going to come to practice and see two players
acting like they are at a nightclub;' she says. "Secondly, when you
are lining up against a woman who is 300 pounds, you are not
chinking,'Is she gay?'Jusc'Is she gonna kick my ass?'"
Jennie McNulty is a defensive end for the Quake and a professional lesbian standup comic. She originally approached the sport
with a blase attitude.
"I thought it would be fun to go down on a Saturday, throw
the football around and get some [comedy] material;' she says.
Despite the three-nights-a-week,
six-hour Saturday practices,
she's been hooked for six years.
"I have found more camaraderie with football, more of a family kind of a feel with this sport, partially because it is so grueling
and you really go through a lot together;' she says.
"The game can't be played by individuals;' adds the Mayhem's
Johnson."Ic can't be won on the back of a single person. All 11 on
June 2008
I59
UNITEAND CONQUER
HOWROWINGI CHANGING
WOME
LIVES. BY HIL RY YLE
athletics, "the level of getting to know yourself'
With a distant sound to her voice, Holly Metcalf, a former
world-class rower and a 1984 Olympic gold medalist, recalls the
After leaving competitive athletics in 1994, Metcalf started
countless times as a child she was cold what a wonderful athlete
the Row As One organization, fulfilling a lifelong dream of work-
she was, and what a shame it was that she was a girl. Her sense
ing with at-risk populations in the nonprofit sector. The organi-
of alienation increased through adolescence as she p,ondered her
zation offers coaching to masters women, breast cancer survivors
increasing attraction co women, which at the time felt like an-
and inner-city teens. Metcalf feels that many of these individuals
other example of something chat was wrong with her. She spent
are those that"very few coaches take seriously:' She marvels at the
the greater part of her college years denying these perceived dif-
transformations they go through as a result of the training: "Seeing
ferences. "I did not want to be gay;' she says. "I fought it tooth and
people trust their bodies and begin co see chat mind and body
nail:' Even as a member of the national team in the '80s, where,
don't have to be dichotomized, there's a constant synergy, there's a
according to former team member and current University oflowa
need for the body to be challenged and there's a direct connection
rowing coach Mandi Kowal, "it was very easy to be out;' Metcalf
from that physical challenge to your emotional well-being:'
kept silent about her sexuality. She laughs now at Kowal's open
assessment of the times. "I knew she was going to say that ... !
remember Mandi, she was awesome, I wanted co be Mandi;' she
••THERE'S
A NEEDFORTHE
BODYTOBECHALLENGED
AND
THERE'SA DIRECTCONNECTION
FROMTHATPHYSICALCHALLENGETOYOUREMOTIONAL
WELL-BEING."
says with envy, wishing she had had Kowal's courage co be frank
about her sexuality during their national team days.
As divergent as their expressions of sexuality were, their
love of rowing and the sense of accomplishment it brought to
their lives was extraordinarily similar. Kowal describes fondly
the first time she and the team ran eight miles in the
frigid Northeast weather, and the elation she felt sitting
with her teammates, exhausted, cheeks tingling, and
marveling at their ability co endure. Ir's with pride and
honor that both women look back on their careers as
Metcalf recently began coaching at the competitive level
athletes. And not surprisingly, both have chosen to con-
again, at M.I.T., which she admits is "the perfect situation for
tinue on in the world of rowing as coaches and mentors,
me:' Because of the school's extraordinary academic standards,
to share what Metcalf describes as the ultimate gift of
she is there not necessarily co win, but to teach and "to build
confidence:' She admits that it is sometimes challenging to get
M.I.Ts overachieving team co work well together as a whole,
and adds that "the message on the M.I.T. campus truly is, you
cannot fail. My mission with my athletes is, you can stand to
fail. There's no way to excel without failing. You cannot be
afraid of failing. If I teach chem nothing else, that's what I
want them to know. I hope they can bring that to their scho-
z0
lastic life, and their lives in general:' Only a woman who has
achieved so much success can speak so casually about failure,
an assuredness she wanes to share with all of us. Maximize
your individual ability, work well within a unit and bring those
skills out into che world at large, she says.
That's what these two athletes recall so lovingly about
rowing-the
camaraderie, the ability to overcome, the testing
of their own capabilities and the sheer joy that comes from
it. Kowal describes "the allegiance of people" in the rowing
community and the strength they draw from expanding the
boundaries of their potential. She loves the opportunity that
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they want to share with as many women as possible. ■
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WEAR YOUR FOOD
BOWLINGFDRLIFE
TISH JOHNSON STAYS OUT OF THE GUTTER.
BY KRISTIN A. SMITH
Tish Johnson was born to bowl. As a toddler, she
is your personal life;' she says. "People can assume
knew the lanes the way most of us knew the play-
all they want, but unless I tell them, they don't
know for sure:'
pen. At 15, she bowled her first 300. At 18, she was
voted most promising newcomer to the sport. And
today, at 45, Johnson is one of its oldest and most
What we do know is that Johnson is one of the
most decorated and successful female bowlers in
successful women.
history. In addition to her titles, she is one of only
"I am still showing I can compete against these
three female bowlers to surpass the $1 million ca-
young girls;' says the left-handed bowler from
reer earnings mark. But she says that when you
Colorado. Johnson's dedication and tenacity have
take away all the expenses, that number gets much
earned her the title "Iron Woman" of the lanes. "I
smaller. With the cost of flights, hotels, rental cars
only missed one tournament in the last 25 years;'
she says, "and I'll keep bowling as long as I can:'
and tournament fees, Johnson often lost money
competing. "Sometimes I would come in second at a
Her dedication has paid off. Johnson
tournament and not even cover expenses;' she says.
has
25 professional titles to her name and was twice
named
the
Professional
Women's
Bowling
Johnson wasn't the only one fighting the finances of the sport. The league itself was strug-
Association (PWBA) Player of the Year. Bowling gling. Like so many other women's professional
magazine named her Bowler of the Decade for the
1990s and Johnson recently made Team USA for
that its male counterpart was given. In the fall of
the upcoming year. Even though bowling is not yet
2003, at the height of Johnson's career, the PWBA
an Olympic sport, Johnson says, "When you can
ceased operations in the middle of the season. It
z0 represent your country, it's a major honor:'
Johnson says her proudest moment was win-
'J\fter the tour folded, I didn't pick up a bowl-
I
0
ning the U.S. Open when her mother, who had
ing ball for two years;' she says.Johnson went into a
0
breast cancer, was released from the hospital just
depression during which she says she "basically sat
in time to see her daughter roll in the finals. "It's
co
~w really amazing when you have
z your whole family there to sup-
on the couch for months:' Because she didn't get to
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When it comes to the sport,
Johnson has lots of support-
'.l<::
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5 (/) make her a favorite among tour
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sports, the PWBA lacked the financial support
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lanes is well-known, she keeps
retire on her own terms, Johnson decided to start bowling again until she
felt like her career was finished.
She says a lot has changed in the
sport in the last 10 years, and she's
working hard to learn all the new
formations
that have been created
while she was mourning the loss of
the league. Still, she says, "I don't step
I
0
her life outside of the sport pri-
on the lanes unless I have a chance to
~
vate. "I think your personal life
win:• And she always does. ■
I-
Socially savvy and health-conscious
women have a new way of expressing
their lifestyle. The new line of artichoke
logo shirts from Artichoke Apparel makes
wearing your food fun and trendy.
With a variety of shirt styles (printed
on U.S.-made, sweatshop-free American
Apparel shirts), Artichoke Apparel's line
of sportswear is growing in popularity,
especially among women. The pro-vegetable, independent company is run out of
the small beach community of Encinitas,
Calif., and gives the state's artichoke
capital, Castroville, a run for its money.
There are tank, tee and long-sleeve
styles and they are available m 100 percent cotton and cotton blends. They even
have a 100 percent
organic cotton style
available. And the
eye-catching color
options cross the
food spectrum with
raspberry and chocolate in addition to
olive and neutral.
Go from the gym
to the grocery store
and look great. Best
yet, anyone can wear
these clothes-your
flag football team can
kick some major butt
on the field or your
office darling can
don your artichoke at
yoga class.
And Artichoke
Apparel repr
nts
the gamut of
ts
enthusiasts I re
cently signed worldclass kayaker and
2008 Olympic hopeful Susannah Stucchio
as a model for the company, saying it felt
her athleticism and natural beauty were a
perfect fit for a company aiming to attract
women who love the outdoors.
"I love the comfort and simplicity of the
clothes," says Stucch10. "I train in them,
I wear them out on the town and lounge
around in them at the Olympic Trammg
Center dorms."
Who knows, maybe the next pickup
line you'll hear at the gym is, "Hey, nice
artichoke!" - Emily Howard
June 2008
I 61
TOUGHBEAUTY
THESELE BIA ATHL TE SHOW BOTHSIDESOF THEIR
PERSO ALITIE . BY K~ IE PEOPL
Spurred by his love of photography, former San Franciscan Jeffrey Horvitz has made his home in the cozy, lesbian-centric city of
Portland, Ore., where he embarked on a project that would show the diversity of the local LGBT community and began photographing
athletes. The subjects of his photos range from a 66-year-old gay physique artist (formally known as a body builder) to a 22-year-old
lesbian soccer player. "I wanted to show ... that the gay and lesbian community has so many different faces;' Horvitz says. "Not all women are butch and not all guys are femme:'To show this diversity, he captured the athletes on the field, in the pool and on the court before
glamming them up 1940s-style in the studio. "It's easy to shoot a beautiful body or a beautiful face;' he says. "I thought this would have
an edge to it, a beautiful edge to it:' What came out was a gorgeous calendar and a photo exhibit displayed at the Q Center in Portland
that demonstrates the spectrum of the LGBT community. Below, he comments on the shots of three of the ladies in his exhibit. ■
ASHLEY RAXTER, SOCCER
Raxter went
cer player
me fatale
ay amazingly
s a pretty
as Just Ike
probably
DOLL CRAIN, BOXING
CINDY BENTON, BASKETBALL
Doll Cram s environmental portrait shows
her tough s1d and It s ows the contrast between her shot m th nng and her portrait m
the studio She photographed really beautifully ... she 4 feet 9 inches and she literally
gets m the r ng and tarts smacking people
S e wanted to how the beauty of tonality.
Cindy Benton m the environmental
portra t was great but there was
something special about the prettier
side of things m the studio. 'She
was this totally blond chick and we
took her m the studio and put this
black kind of wig on and turned her
mto a 1940s kind of look. Very fun."
Makeup: Robert Norred
62
I curve
Wardrobe: Peach of Peachykeen Productions
llcket/ on /ale to member.r.June 9th
llcket/ on /ale to GeneralPubUc:June 16th
PRESENTEDBY
H•
outfeft.org
213.480.7065
* Heineken ABSOWT_
- -
GRANDSPONSORS
AUSSIE DUTGAMES
ER.
CIFICATHLETEHE D DD NU
U LIVA
Outgames in 2006, Australia had the largest contingent of com-
Sydney and competes independently. 'Tm not actually a swimmer;' she said. "I danced in New York in '94, played table tennis
petitors outside of Canada. For this reason, it was no surprise
in Amsterdam in '98 and Sydney in 2002. In Chicago, there was
It's often joked that Australia's religion is sports. At the Montreal
that Melbourne was the home of the inaugural 2008,Asia Pacific
no table tennis, so I took up darts. I did table tennis in Montreal.
Outgames.
And here there's no darts and no table tennis, so I decided to
"GUSA
[the Gay and Lesbian International
Sporting
She added, ''I've never swum without a snorkel before, so this
were to encourage the hosting of regional Outgames;' Asia Pacific
was quite difficult. You may have noticed it took me twice as long
Outgames Co-President Lorraine Little said. "It was a chance to
as everyone else to get through the race. I just love it, it's fun just
compete in their own community:'
to be part of it. It's very affirming:'
Held over five days, the first Asia Pacific
Sitting on the yellowing grass outside MSAC, I talked to
Outgames included field hockey, swimming,
Lorraine Little. She was combining her co-president duties with
water polo, squash, lawn bowls, rowing, vol-
competing for the Melbourne Spikers, which she helped to found.
leyball, running, badminton, tennis, dancesport
She'd just finished "a half-decent game of volleyball:'
and 10-pin bowling. The Melbourne Sports
"I competed in Sydney and in Montreal. It's the most affirm-
and Aquatic Centre (MSAC) was the hub
ing and exciting experience you can have; once you do one, you're
addicted:'
for the event, hosting five sports. Outside, the
Pride flag flew just as high and as proudly as
the Australian flag.
At the pool, I met Melbourne Glamourheads
Little was visibly excited by her role in bringing the games to
Melbourne. She talked about the challenges she faced in trying to
attract teams from the region.
Vice President Kay Gravell. She had already
"We knew early on that we weren't going to get huge numbers
won three golds, a silver and a bronze, and
from the Asia Pacific countries, but we wanted to begin that con-
seemed well on her way to matching her 12-
nection:' Pointing to MSAC, she said, "In there, virtually every
medal tally in Montreal.
country is represented:'
"I used to live in the country in rural
As the games came to an end, Little reflected on what were
Victoria. I was married with kids;' she said.
the highlights for her."The governor of Victoria opened the event
"Then I came out as a lesbian. I moved to
and it was a great honor to have that validity;' she said, recalling
Melbourne and I didn't know anyone. I found
that all her hard work had come to fruition. "Coming into the
the Glamourheads and it changed my life:'
Suddenly, cheers erupted as a lone swimmer finished a race.
64 I curve
swim:'
Association] formed a charter and a big part of their priorities
balcony at the Melbourne Town Hall [during the opening celebration] my heart was pumping and I was thinking, 'Oh please,
All the other swimmers were out of the pool. The swimmer
please, please, have lots of people in there: And when we walked
waved up to the crowd, appreciative of the support.
in the doors and it was packed I went, 'Oh, thank God: That was
Later on, I spotted that swimmer drip-drying in the stands.
the highlight, because it was just such a relief to see that once
Her name was GJ Lee, or Lee to her friends. Lee, 58, is from
again, yes, the community was right behind this event:' ■
BAD TD THE BONE
THIS DDDGEBALLLEAGUELET'S OUT THE AGGRESSION.
BY ALLISONSTEINBERG
On a cool Monday evening, the gym on the second
BAD website. The league is structured so that each
floor of the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center in
team plays two matches per night, and three five-
the West Village in New York City was steaming
minute games make up each match. Six players from
hot as over 100 people crowded into the space to
each team rotate in on the court. Six balls are placed
participate in the opening night of the first-ever gay
in the middle of the gym between the two teams.
dodgeball season.
When the referee (albeit sporting booty shorts)
Registered players were handed T-shirts that
blows the whistle, three players from each side must
read 'Tm BAD" above the league name, "Big Apple
run to the middle to grab the balls and toss them
Dodgeball:' One team even color-coordinated its
back to the other three players waiting on the back
outfits with matching short-shorts and checkered
line; then it's a free-for-all to peg as many people as
knee-high socks. The eight teams all separated to
possible. After the five-minute game is up, the team
meet in their own corners and prep for the open-
with the most players left on the court wins.
ing matches. There was little free space in the gym.
It's clear that certain players either took the
When the games started, nowhere was safe. Balls
playground by storm children or had had an espe-
were flying everywhere.
BAD is "New York City's nonprofit, communi-
cially stressful time at work that day. Poley, a no-
ty-minded co-ed Dodgeball league for gay, lesbian,
thought [dodgeball] would be fun, a chance to meet
bisexual, transgender
and GLBT-friendly New
new people and a way to get out some of my aggres-
Yorkers who want to play the competitive sport of
sion:' A public school teacher, Poley channels her
dodgeball in an athletic environment free of harass-
aggression on the court with her approach, harness-
ment, discrimination and drama;' according to its
ing and launching two balls at once.
nonsense gal from Brooklyn, is one such player. "I
mission statement. BAD was formed as an arm
The season had just begun, but the players
of the BASL, the Big Apple Softball League, now
already seemed to be getting into the game and de-
celebrating its 30th year as an LGBT athletic orga-
veloping strategies. One coach shouted as his team
nization. Every bit as exciting as expected, the gay
prepared to throw balls, "Remember what I told
dodgeball league promises to be the best outlet for
you, all at once!" and all six players then launched
relieving the stresses of New Yorkers.
In its inaugural year, the league received more
their balls at the very same player on the opposing
team. I guess no one ever said dodgeball was fair.
responses than there were spots to fill.The league
The league requires that at least two of the 13
plans on doubling in size for next season to allow
players on a team need to be female and at least two
more people to play. Unlike the harsh pick-and-
women must be on the court at the start of each
choose environment of the playground, participants
game. Poley was a little worried about all the guys,
were chosen on a first-come basis. They were asked
but enjoyed her first round. "It went by so quick, I
to drop off their checks at the Big Booty Bread Co. in
wanted to keep playing. I expected to get my butt
Chelsea and were directed to the list of rules on the
kicked and be hurting when I left-I
wasn't:' ■
June 2008
I 65
NEAR DEATH, NEW LIFE
SHAW EEHAR I
BY HILARY YLE
' MILLION-DOLL
PER PECTIVE.
Shawnee Harkins is just 26 years
But her life didn't end. 'Tm still part of UCLA miracle stud-
old but already her life seems to
ies;' she says, as if searching for an explanation. "Every once in a
be moving at an enchantingly
beautiful pace. She hobnobs with
while I'll still get a call from them:' Stripped of all capability, she
lesbian A-listers at Hollywood
parties, runs her own business,
emotional ups and highs and lows. And being an athlete, being
Toned Fitness, in Long Beach,
and make a start for herself in California, and now getting into
Cali£, and will soon appear on
this accident ... " Faced with paralysis and uncertainties, she drew
Showtime's
new entrepreneur-
ial challenge reality show, Hydra
Executives (debuting this fall).
The youngest and only gay person cast on the show, Harkins is
far from intimidated. ''I've always
been open and quite fine with my
sexuality, [and] pretty comfortable in my own skin;' she says,
displaying the confidence that
has allowed for so much success
so quickly.
When Harkins talks, her infectious enthusiasm seems Hollywood
charming. But Harkins' life has
was forced to begin anew. "I went through so many, of course,
someone very physical, being someone who wanted to come out
on her inner strength and will to rehabilitate and take back the
life she always hoped for.
Before the accident, Harkins had dreamed of one day being
a firefighter. As she struggled to put the pieces of her shattered
life back together, it was that hope that propelled her to push the
boundaries and limitations of her wounded body. Her recovery
is a testament to her perseverance. "I had to learn how to talk
again, how to eat, how to make decisions ... " The process was
slow; she says it took six months to regain her strength and a
year before she felt like herself again. She says it was the small
victories along the way that kept her going. She remembers the
first time she was able to do a push-up, four months after the accident. "I cried. I thought, nothing is going to get in my way now.
I can do a push-up and I'm not even supposed to be alive:'
As Harkins continued to mend, friends looked out for her,
been anything but charmed. As
helping out with rent and running errands, but she recalls the
she peels back the layers of her
lonely times and the very personal journey of recovery. She
story, it is clear she is not simply
trying to ingratiate hersel£ She is
a woman who has been through
hard times, spent months methodically willing herself back
to life, and without a moment to
spare, she is making the best of it.
Hers is a tale of a smalltown Texas girl who moved to
California on her own at 17 only
to be struck and nearly killed by
a motorist months later. The accident left her physically devastated and temporarily paralyzed,
HARKINS'IRREPRESSIBLE
SPIRITAND TONEDPHYSIQUE
HAVEOPENEDUP SOMEUNUSUALOPPORTUNITIES.
SHE
'WASRECRUITED
BY PLAYBOY
TOPOTENTIALLY
BEONE
OFTHEFIRSTOUTLESBIAN
PLAYMATES.
and forced her to relearn everything she had ever known.
Rollerblading under the beautiful blue southern California sky,
I curve
tightened her circle of friends, cut out any drama and put in the
work to try to make her dreams a reality. She held two jobs so
18-year-old Harkins was hit by a Chevy Suburban. She flat-lined
she could hire a personal trainer to help her get into shape to
several times as she was rushed to the UCLA Medical Center,
pass the firefighter's exam. And by the age of 21 she fulfilled her
dream of becoming a firefighter.
where she remained in a coma, paralyzed from the neck down.
66
credits the accident with helping to put her life in focus. She
"My family was called by the doctors, 'Come prepared to pick up
But it was her time working with a personal trainer that
your daughter. If she even lives, she's going to be a vegetable for
opened her eyes to a whole new world of helping people. She had
the rest of her life;" Harkins says. "In my life, in my world, my
seen firsthand the emotional impact oflosing one's physical abili-
life was over:'
ties. The difficulties she faced with her weight and mental health
as she worked to regain her body's abilities left a lasting impression. Shortly after becoming a firefighter she began training other women to help them pass the firefighter's exam and quickly
realized she loved training. "I decided I really wanted to pursue
a business in personal training in a studio full-time;' she says. "I
left firefighting, which I loved, but I felt more in my element and
more satisfied away from being in crisis situations and helping
people in a different way with their health and confidence:'
Harkins gained experience as a trainer at Gold's Gym in
Long Beach before renting a space with other independent trainers. She prides herself on working hard to provide the optimum
opportunity for her clients to succeed. She says the two biggest
obstacles for people in maintaining their health are time and
Does the sport match the personality? What does it mean about you if
you are a die-hard bowler? Or delight in the pleasures of equestrianism?
And what does it mean about that new love interest if she fences? Plays
water polo? What we choose to do with our spare time says a lot about
who we are. To assist in explaining away strange behavior on and off
the court, here are some glimpses into the minds and hearts of female
athletes. -Jenna V. Loceff
money. She's implemented an electronic funds transfer to help
with the money aspect, eliminating the large upfront payment
typical of most gyms. She's also designed an online training program available on demand to help keep her busy clients on task.
Helping people feel better through fitness is something
Harkins takes very seriously, she says. "I was there, I can relate,
I'm going to show you how to change your life, and understand
I know where you're coming from. This tragic accident actually
made me who I am today, because I can sit down in that chair
with my client who walks in the door and understand where they
are coming from and where they've been. And I can show them
where they're going to go, because I too have been able to go there:'
Harkins' irrepressible spirit and toned physique have opened
up some unusual opportunities. She was recruited by Playboyto
potentially be one of the first out lesbian playmates. She did an
EQUESTRIAN: When she was a girl, her bedroom walls were papered
with cutouts of stallions leaping fences, and her favorite movie was
National Velvet. An equestrian knows that a great deal of her time is
spent alone with her horse and her imagination. Horse girls tend to
be more lipstick than butch, but it takes a pretty tough woman to get
tossed off only to hop back on. Equestrians are
strong, caring, like to be on their own and are good
in the saddle.
BOWLING: It takes a gal with intense concentration,
good hand-eye coordination, a knowledge of physics and a flair for some winning post-bowl poses to
take this sport on. Plus she probably enjoys pitchers of beer. Bowlerettes are social, goofy, good with
their fingers and know to aim at the center.
interview before deciding being a playmate wasn't right for her.
She explains, 'Tm in the art of health and fitness, sculpting bodies, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and if you see me unclothed,
you can see that I walk my talk. I thought from a business standpoint that would be great. But then on an intimate level between
my partner and I, I decided that I didn't want to do that:' Playboy
posted her interview online and that's where Showtime spotted her. Showtime called, "out of the blue;' Harkins explains,
B0CCE BALL: In France it is called Petanque,
and it is a bit like bowling for self-proclaimed
sophisticates. Bocce ball is for the ladies
who love attending lawn parties, sipping cool
summer drinks in expensive hats and wearing sexy (but comfortable) shoes. If she's into
bocce ball, she's probably a gossip gal who is
an aristocrat at heart and in the bedroom.
and hand-selected her for the cast. She jumped at the opportunity. "My dream is to open up my own studio, so through Hydra
Executives that can definitely happen:'
The show pits 20 potential entrepreneurs against one another
to evaluate who has the best plan and the skills to run a successful
business. The winner is awarded $1 million to begin a business.
'Tm nervous, I'm excited, I'm all of it;' Harkins says."It just seems
like if any reality show was going to come knocking on my door,
this would be the perfect one ... Chance of a lifetime, really:' A life
she almost lost, and she is thrilled to see where this next adventure will take her. In the face of almost certain death Harkins has
proven anything is possible, and as good fortune comes her way,
she says simply, 'Tm a really lucky girl:' But for some reason, I
don't think luck has anything to do with it. ■
WATER POLO: Even if she loves the water and competition, treading
water for an hour or two is extremely difficult even without the intense
ball-throwing upper body workout she gets. So if water polo is her
sport, she is determined, steadfast, tough and can hold her breath for
long periods of time.
FENCING: With the discipline of a dancer, the
foresight of a chess player and the intensity
of a martial artist, the fencer plots her every
move. Poise, grace and strength are the
underlying characteristics of a fencer. She is
light on her feet and quick to twist and turn.
This girl is crafty and sly, and if you don't
watch out, she will strike before you know it.
June 2008
I 67
Reviews Sapphic Screen
Murder and Mayhem
Queer films offer reckless abandon on a platter. I By Candace Moore
Love leads to murder in two dark gothic films about lady ex-
media premiering on the Web. However 3Way was miraculously
pants in a good way.
hatched, it's right to call itself "the hottest lesbian comedy not on
EDITOR'S PICK
TV." A playful Arrested Development for dykes, starring Maeve
Salome (CreateSpace): Alexia Anastasio stars as Salome
One-on-One
Training
withJackie(Lion's in this silent short film based on Oscar Wilde's 1896 tragedy
Gate):In season of unrequited love. With an all-girl cast, this version plays like
threeof WorkOut,we a mistress-maid romance gone awry (as they too often do). The
continueto getour blue backlighting, minimal set and intertitles frame Anastasio's
doseof dramafrom most subtle and severe movements as she falls at Iokanaan's
exercisedivaJackie feet, worshipfully kissing up
Warnerandherfitness- the curve of her legs, only to
trainerunderlings,
and be shoved away. Timing and
yet anotherromance movement are everything in
betweenJackieand
this ballet of domination, suba fit youngwoman.If
mission and revenge. Butch
seeingWarneroncea
warriors,
belly dancers disrobweekis notenough,she
ing
for
Queen
Herod and bachasofferedup another
option:a workoutDVD. chanalian celebrations of wine
It wasjusta matterof and revelry grace this naughty
time,folks.In this train- yet classic rendering of a molike-a-celebrity
video, rality tale that would drive
Warneris at the center even Oscar wild. Heads will,
of threehalf-naked and do, roll. Anastasio and
girlswith six packs Kevin Sean Michaels' remake skillfully drives home the notion
(Rebecca,
Agnostina
that necrophilia can't buy you love, and you should always pamandRenessa)
andone
per and heed the queen. (alexiaanastasio.com)
boywhois coveredup
andwearinga baseball
cap(Jesse).
Weget Under the Raven's Wing (Blue Eyed Productions,
upperbody,lowerbody Inc.): Smartly, this low-budget horror flick (from writer-direcandcore/absworkouts, tor Susan Adriensen) incorporates amateurish camera work into
with generouscamera its plot, ala The Blair Witch Project. We are positioned behind an
zoom-insof Warnerand aspiring documentary filmmaker's lens as he captures the conthe girls' tight bods. fessions of a murderous and sensuous coven, and comments lasAndbestyet,we don't civiously. Over the course of the film, flirty Angel, shy Jessie and
haveto spend$400an the goth ringleader, Raven, slowly reveal why they killed a man
hourto exercisewith
(the group thinks murder is a gift that allows souls to "transcend"
Jackie.(lionsgate.com)
to better dimensions), and explore the queer dynamics among
- ColleenM. Lee
the three of them. Adriensen's strength lies in delving into the
psychology of cult making-Raven
acts simultaneously as sister,
mother, lover, disciplinarian, healer and guru, helping her charges process past traumas as she pets them and plays with their
hair. Group sex is also a coven staple, and when the cameraman
leaves his post to join in, he becomes more involved than he'd
anticipated. Never scary, this character-driven film is certainly
dark. (undertheravenswing.com)
3Way(Producers Nancylee Myatt and Maeve Quinlin):
Perhaps this show comes to us courtesy of the Hollywood writers'
68 I curve
strike. Or maybe it's just a delightful example of better-quality
ecutioners, while a new Web-based TV show makes us pee our
Quinlin, Jill Bennett, Cathy Shim and Maile Flanagan, this sitcom features superb comic timing, offbeat dialogue and witty cutting, and its poppy Desperate Housewives-reminiscent soundtrack
only punctuates the sarcasm. 3Way spoofs pop culture and queer
culture alike, as Bennett (the star of Dante's Cove) wears "Dante's
Cove'' written across the butt of her underwear, the webisodes'
"Next Time'' and "Previously on 3Way" segments are wildly unrelated to any continuing serialization, and the site hosting the
show, offers a bevy of tongue-in-cheek features in a tip of the hat
to OurChart, including confessionals and behind-the-scenes extras. Flanagan, as the ex, Geri, who crashes in on the group
to
sug-
gest "titty shots;' is hilarious, especially when she's stirring drinks
with her own severed finger. All four actors work well off one
another, effortlessly spinning dry and absurd jokes, or, better yet,
making fun of their own comedic efforts. For those who like their
ladies smart, funny and self-deprecating (as well as sexy), this is
the show to watch on the Internet. (3waytv.tv) ■
The Web's
hottest lesbian
comedy, 3Way
DVD PICKS
Campbell,
as shemakesher
wayto thefinalepisodeasthe
runner-up.
TheDVDfeatures
all 10 episodes,
andplentyof
deletedandextendedscenes
for yourguiltyviewingpleasure.
(mtv.com)- KatiePeoples
Nina'sHeavenly
Delights
(RegentReleasing):
Lesbian
directorPratibhaParmar's
latestfilm on DVDexploresthe
intricaciesof family.Thestory
followsNinaas shereturnsto
GirlsRock!(Shadow
Scotlandfor herfather'sfuneral.
Distribution):
Everysummer,
Shedecidesto saveherfamily's
younggirlsfromacrossthe
Glasgowrestaurant,
avoidsan
TickTockLullaby(Wolfe
countrygatherin Portland,
ore.,
arrangedmarriageandwinsthe
Productions):
London
cartoonist
to attendthe Rock'n' Rollcamp
heartof Lisa,hercuteneighbor.
Sasha(LisaGornick)andher
for Girls.Injust five days,these
Thisromanticcomedyis full of
8- to 18-year-olds
of variedskill aspiringlawyergirlfriendMaya
tastydishes,sensualpleasures
(Racquel
Cassidy)
wantto have
levelslearnto playan instruandplentyof multiculturalism.
a child.Buttheywantto do it
ment,forma band,writesongs
com)
the old-fashioned
way-cruising (ninasheavenlydelights.
andperformfor an audience
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bookstores
andcafesto scope
of over700.GirlsRock!is the
out gaymenas potentialsperm
documentary
by ShaneKing
SpiderLilies(Wolfe):
A webcam
donors.Gornick'slivelycomic
andArneJohnsonthat reveals
girl (playedbyTaiwanese
pop
timingbringsa lighthearted
the storyof this extraordinary
star RainieYang)seeksa tattoo
senseof humorto this movie's
camp.(shadowdistribution.com)
from herchildhoodcrushwho
verypensiveandintensesubject
-Aislinn Clevenger
is now,youguessedit, a tattoo
matter.(wolfe.com)
- KoryTran
artistin this intriguingforbidden
lovestoryfrom lesbiandirector
ZeroChou.(wolfereleasing.com)
- DianeAnderson-Minshall
LookingforCheyenne
(Genius
Products):
Thingsturn more
thana little intellectualin this
Frenchfilm byValerieMinetto.
WhenCheyenne,
an unemployed
A Shotat LovewithTi/a
journalist,leavesthe rat race
Tequila,TheComplete
Unrated
of Parisbehind,hergirlfriend
FirstSeason(MTV):Reliveall
Sonia,a scienceteacher,tries
the magicalmemoriesof the
to forgetherby gettingintobed
first bisexualrealitydatingshow.
with someonenew.Thecritiques
Watchas 16 straightmenand
of capitalistsocietyareapparent
16 lesbianwomenviefor the
andthe abstractness
of thefilm
handof TilaTequila.Seewhere
givesit an art-housefeel.
it all startedfor everyone's
(regentreleasing.com)KP
favoritelesbianfirefighter,Dani
Enchanted
(Disney):1heldout
as longas I couldbutfinally
relentedandsawthis modern
fairytale.Thankgoodness
I did
becauseEnchanted
is hilariously,
well,enchanting,
subversively
queerandamazingly
post-feminist.
A must-seefor girlsof all ages.
(disneydvd.com)-DAM
June 2008
I69
Q+A
Ky Dickens
As a Michael Moore-style documentary crusader, Ky Dickens is taking religious
leaders to task in her new film, Fish Out of Water. Bolstered by Bible-belt
interviews and fun animated sequences, Dickens seeks to expose the perception that gays and religion should not mix. - Melany Walters-Beck
How did you get interested in filmmaking?
I got a camera for my 12th birthday. It was a pink disc camera. They only had
15 shots per roll and I'd go through those so quickly that my parents gave
me a video camera. It kept me entertained for hours. Then a close friend
of mine died in high school, and all this footage of him became invaluable. It taught me how powerful film can be in preserving human beings
in matters of time.
Your newest project, Fish Out
of Water, deals with the relationship between homosexuality and religion. What led you
to examine this controversial
topic?
After the moral values debate in
2004 that determined
the presi-
dential election, I became very interested in "the others;' the boogeymen from the red states that are
portrayed in the media as basing
their views solely on religion. That
bothered me as much as someone
assuming [that] just because you're
gay you're going to be one way or
the other. Having the gay community as the group that galvanizes
people around certain causes I
think makes us a part of something
bigger than ourselves. For the film,
we went to Texas, Chicago, New
York, Florida, Iowa and many other places to talk about what they thought
the Bible said about sexuality. Talking to people, [I found that] our experiences with religion are very individual, but as a community our experience
surrounding religion is unified.
Have you met with much resistance?
When I started the film, I really thought it would be gays versus the church,
but what ended up happening is that there are ministers and preachers
and rabbis in every part of the country that are just as devastated and
enraged about how their faith has been used to validate discrimination
as we are. The Bible has been used as a weapon, and religious leaders feel
that they have to be silent or they could lose their congregations.
When will theatergoers get a chance to see the film?
We want small-town folk who wouldn't normally see the film to watch it, so
we plan on touring in a pink van, hoisting up screens and stirring things
up next summer. We'll also do a special director's cut [in] Chicago, then
the festival circuit this fall and next spring. ■
70 I curve
A Rare Kind of Festival
From the lovelorn innocence of a little girl finding her sexuality to the woman trying to discover what she wants in life after
a string of breakups, these films paint a picture that audiences
rarely get to see.
The Queer Women of Color Media Art Project presents
the fourth annual Queer Women of Color Film Festival in San
Francisco from June 13 to 15. Festival manager Kebo Drew says
such festivals are necessary because they are ways for queers
of color to express themselves.
The festival is a place for such artistic expression to flourish.
What initially began as a celebration of queer African American
women has grown to include all queer women of color.
"When we did the Queer Women of Color Film Festival, because it was focused on queer black women, queer women
of African descent, you would not believe the response," says
Drew. "It was just like, people were so, so hungry. So hungry for
the images because they're not like the ones that are out there."
Back then, she says, people were "still watching Set It Off with
Latifah and taking anything we could take."
Drew says the event today attracts diverse crowds. "At our
film festival, all these different groups of people end up mixing.
It's an amazing feeling."
This year's festival features four categories with eight films
each and covers the spectrum of queer life: spiritualism, family, sex, sexuality and culture. There is even an entire category
devoted to the lives and loves of queer Asian Pacific Islander
women.
Drew says that film festivals are a great place to celebrate
queer women of color and their lives. Queers of color often find
themselves categorized by either their sexuality or their race,
but almost never by both.
"There's a tendency to think that people lead single-issue
or single-identity lives and we don't. Especially for queer folks
of color, it's like we're not just concerned about sexuality, our
sexual orientation and gender identity," says Drew. "We're also
concerned about class issues, [and how] the rest of our community is doing."
The film screenings (clocking in at 60 to 77 minutes) are
free; however, tickets for the 90-minute panel and retrospective screening by featured directors (including Nina's Heavenly
Delights' Pratibha Parmar) range from $10 to $20. - Kory Tran
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the Stacks
Reviews
Old Friends in New Places
A couple of groundbreaking takes are worthy of your attention.
IBy Rachel Pepper
One of these books is the first mystery with
the field of somatics (healing the
a transgender lead character. The other is the
body, often through movement,
first book published on sexual healing for
"re-educating the muscular sys-
childhood survivors of sexual abuse. One is
tem;• or even what Haines calls
contemporary fiction from a pioneering au-
the "thawing" of the body). She
thor. The other is the updated edition of a
founded an organization
called
contemporary classic. Both books are ground-
Generation Five, which seeks to
breaking and destined for a wide audience of
end the sexual abuse of children
appreciative readers.
in five generations. This book,
which was first published in 1999
Scott Free, Marijane Meaker (Carroll
and Graf): Ir's impossible to review this
as The Survivor'sGuide to Sex, has
helped thousands of women (and
book without dwelling on two important
some men) reclaim their sexual-
facts: first, that Scott Freeis possibly the first
ity after a traumatic past of child-
full-length crime novel with a transgender de-
hood abuse.
tective as the lead character, and second, that
Why a second edition of the
this is a much-awaited new book by Marijane
book? As Haines says, "There
Meaker (right), who is a pioneer in young
has been a profound growth in
the field of trauma in the last 15
adult fiction (writing as M.E. Kerr) and les-
years, along with a near revolution in
bian pulp and fiction (writing as Vin Packer and Ann Aldrich).
A New Yorker for many years, Meaker decided
to
our understanding
start writing
of the connection
for young adults at the urging of her friend Louise Fitzhugh,
between psychobiology and trauma and
author of Harriet the Spy, and she hasn't stopped since. Meaker
healing:' Some of these changes have
has penned many books and received numerous awards in her
been incorporated into this new edition.
lifetime, from organizations that include the American Library
Additionally, as with any health book
Association and Booklist. She's also garnered her fair share
nearly a decade old, other theories and
of controversy, given the subject matter of many of her tides,
language needed updating.
loca-
The new edition, renamed Healing
Sex: A Mind-Body Approach to Healing Sexual Trauma, explores
she
specific issues for survivors, including working through (and even
which are listed in full on her official website.
Currently, Meaker lives in East Hampton, N.Y.-a
tion playfully mentioned in her new novel, Scott Free-and
teaches writing at the Ashawagh Hall Writers' Workshop. All
embracing) triggers, consent and boundaries, intimacy and self-
of this is to say that respect must be paid where due. So, how
forgiveness, and dissociation. There are also more general chap-
does the new book fare? The East Hampton setting, the well-
ters on sexual basics such as masturbation and oral sex, as well
developed minor characters, the tensions between Scott-now
as a chapter for those partnered with abuse survivors, an
1dy
the in-
exercises at the end of each chap-
ner life of a major transgender character are captivating.
ter. Each chapter includes quotes
Scotti-and
her ex-wife and young child-and
The plot of the actual mystery-involving
ea rg
the kidnapped
young daughter of wealthy East Hampton residents-is
enjoyable, but not as gratifying as watching Scotti unfold
-•-boold
1:vory........,...-1Nt
from real women about the topics
under discussion, including dealing with body memories, specific
encangng. downlo B1h
triggers, sexual likes and dislikes,
~
-;f
before us.
Hopefully, Meaker will develop this into a series, and
6
we will have a chance to get to know Scotti, her cantan-
If you are a survivor of child-
kerous but lovable elderly mother Myrna and her ex-wife
hood sexual abuse who has not
UJ
~
:5' Jessica even better
_J
next go-round. (mekerr.com)
~
Healing Sex, Staci Haines (Cleis Press)· Staci
tu
a: Haines' classic book on sexuality for survivors of sexual
~a:
~
hlly--.~plOUure.'-ElonBat.
A Mind-Body
and shame and guilt.
yet found anything in print that
specifically advocates for your
~
z
glic»--«ldlheJovol
right to enjoy a healthy adult
sex life, this is a book you will
assault deserves kudos for its classy,newly updated second
likely
edition. Haines is best known as a teacher and lecturer in
(cleispress.com)
■
find
incredibly
helpful.
EDITOR'S PICK
Twoneweditionsof
booksthat areat least
20 yearsold provethat
whenit comesto pivotal
lesbianworks,the more
thingschange,the more
theystaythe same.
The20thanniversary
editionof Borderlands/
LaFrontera
(auntlute.com)-Gloria
Anzaldua'scollection of essaysand
poemsthattacklethe
newMestiza-is as
profoundandchallenging in its dissectionof
dividedterrainas it ever
was.Newto this edition
arecommentaries
from
teachers,writersand
otheractivistsaffected
byAnzaldua(above)
includingSandra
CisnerosandJulia
Alvarez.Meanwhile,
it's
beenalmosta quarter
of a centurysince
AudreLorde'sessays
andspeechesin Sister
Outsider
(tenspeed.
com)madean indelible
markon 20th-century
literature.Butthe words
of the blacklesbian
feministpoetseemas
lyricalandunforgettable,and,sadly,as
relevanttodayas when
shefirst tackledeverythingfrom racismand
homophobia
to ageism
andclassdichotomies.
Botharemust-have
booksthat everylesbian
shouldread.- Diane
Anderson-Minshall
June 2008
I 71
PAGE TURNERS
Q+A
Georgia Beers
When Georgia Beers heard her name called as the winner of the Lambda
Literary Award for her novel Fresh Tracks, she was stunned. "My hands
began trembling, my knees started to bounce. I remember my partner,
Bonnie, screaming, 'Oh, my God!' " she says. After winning a Lambda
and a Goldie in 2007, Beers should be accustomed to praise. Next on her
plate? A new novel, Mine, is already garnering accolades. -
Cheryl Craig
Tell us about winning the Lambda Award last year.
Wow, that was something I won't forget anytime soon. I was up against
some incredible writers and I was honestly just happy to be nominated.
When Christopher Rice called FreshTracks,every muscle in my body
started to shake. My publisher was sitting on my right. I gave her a kiss
on the cheek. Then I had to focus on my feet and get across the stage in
heels. I don't remember much about what I said as a speech, but people
tell me I did OK. It was an amazing night.
What was your inspiration for writing Mine?
A dear friend, Erin, lost her husband of 14 years to cancer. Watching her
struggle was difficult yet inspirational. During her process of trying to
date, I began Mine. Erin was an amazing resource. I hope I did her
justice with my portrayal of a spouse left behind.
What's your next book proJect?
The next novel is called FindingHome. I'm so in love with my dogs. I know
a lot of lesbians who feel the same way, so I wanted to show that in a
romance ... how much our dogs mean to us and how large a part they
play in our lives.
What has been your personal transformation this year?
The major things were my Lammy win-having
was a dream come true-and
Fresh Tracks do so well
the fact that I moved far away from my
hometown and family. Those two events gave me such a mix of joy and
stress; 2007 has been a whirlwind. As far as a personal transformation
coming from all of it, I think I managed to finally learn what seems
like it should be a pretty basic and simple lesson: Trust your instincts.
Seems like a pretty easy thing to grasp, but it's taken me 39 years. ■
Feminismandexecutive editorof feministing.com,examinesthis
and49 otherdouble
standardssocietyhas
placedon the doubleX
chromosome.
Usinga
snarkysenseof humor
to pointouttoday's
genderatrocities,
Valentidescribeseach
doublestandardand
Mistresss
of the
offerstips on howto
Runes,
Andrewsand
Austin(BoldStrokes combateveryoneof
them.AlthoughValenti
Books}:
Onthe surface,this novelis about sometimesrunsthe
findingone'swayback risk of confusing
doublestandardswith
from repeatedfailed
outrightdiscrimination,
romances,
but Brice
suchaswhenshe
Chandler's
struggles
saysthat womenget
encompass
so much
rippedoff by mechanmore.Sheis notonly
afraidto try loveagain, ics andautoinsurance
providersmoreoften
despiteherattraction
thanmen,hersarcastic
to TVanchorwoman
Liz
pointof viewwill keep
Chase,shecan'teven
youbitterbut laughing.
bondwith hernewly
(sea/press.
com)- Kory
acquiredhorse,Rune.
Tran
Thecorrelations
betweenthe two relationshipsareinsightfuland
clever,andthe path
eachtakesmirrorsthe
other.As Runewarms
to hermistress,Brice
beginsto trust Liz.This
sometimesserious,
sometimesfunny
andalwaystouching storycanteach
us all a lessonabout
livingourdreamsand
followingfate,whether laura's War,Ursula
Steck(Bella}:Thebest
we believein it or not.
(boldstrokesbooks.
com) mysteriesarethe ones
that keepthe reader
- Kathilsserman
hangingonto every
word
untilthe last
He'sa Stud,She's
page.In Laura'sWar,
a Slutand49 Other
the twistsandturns
DoubleStandards
EveryWoman
Should areso well-pacedand
that you
Know,JessicaValenti unexpected
will findthe bookreally
(SealPress}:Why
hardto put down.The
aregaymenjust
maincharacter,
Anna
considered
gaywhile
Spring,first appeared
lesbiansareviewedas
sexualfantasiesmade in the chillingthriller
TheNextWorld.In
for straightmento get
off on?JessicaValenti, Laura'sWar,the private
investigator
is hiredby
authorof FullFrontal
the victim'sestranged
motherto find the
deceased'smissing
possessions.
Fromthe
verystartAnnasuspectsthat everything
isn't as it appears.The
crimeis too neatand
tidy-Laura's lover
evenconfesses.
And
whenAnnadigsdeeper
everyoneshecontacts
windsup dead.The
readerwill find the
conclusionshocking
andunsettling.This
grippingnovelis well
worthyourtime,if you
don't mindreadingit
onthe edgeof your
seat.(bellabooks.com)
-Kl
Cinescopes,
Risa
WilliamsandEzra
Werb(QuirkBooks}:
Areyoua dedicated
idealist?A chosen
adventurer?
Combining
horoscopes
with
cinema,Cinescopes
will helpyourealize
yourdestinywhenit
comesto film genres
whilerevealingmore
aboutyourpersonality
andyourmost(or least)
compatiblefellowcinescopes.Findoutwhat
yourmust-seemovies
andquintessential
behaviorsare;just
keepyourmindopento
the possibilityof being
a youthfulsagewith
a touchof passionate
maverick.(quirkbooks.
com)- Teresa
Coates
Music Watch Reviews
Get Your Dance On
The bands that are sure to get you moving. I By Margaret Coble
EDITOR'S PICK
It's Pride month, so how about a little summertime dance party:'
"I Hate Your Ex Girlfriend" are just hilarious fun. The whimsi-
Recent albums by God-des & She, Scream Club, Heloise & the
cal "Ja Da" seems almost out of place-with
Savoir Faire, and the Gossip should be essentials on your party
nonsensical refrain, it's instantly infectious. Frankly, I can't find
playlist, and will definitely get bodies moving with a mixture of
a cut on this disc that I'm not crazy about, and almost every one
rap, electro and dance punk.
of them would work well in a parry-shuffle on your iPod or on
its heavily sampled
your next mix tape. (god-des.com)
Stand Up, God-des & She (Self-released): Fans of the
that this sophomore full-length album has actually been avail-
Life of a Heartbreaker, Scream Club (Cru
"lot
Dead): Moving the party in more of an electro-hop direction,
able directly from the group or at their concerts since last fall,
the Olympia, Wash., queer white-girl-rapper/DIY-punk
but just last month it got an official "release" and national distri-
Cindy Wonderful and Sarah Adorable also has a sophomore al-
bution. Tue 14-track disc is a tight production, beautifully show-
bum that's been out for a while, but is getting renewed attention
Madison, Wis.-bred, now Brooklyn-based, hip-hop duo know
duo of
casing the interplay between God-des' gritty, complex rhymes
now. This 12-song follow-up to their impressive debut, Don't
and She's gorgeously melodic and soulful R&B-flavored voice.
Bite Your Sister, includes guest appearances and remixes from
Songs like the playfully dirry"Lick It" and sing-along"Love You
a host of underground rap and electro stars, and ranges from
Better" will likely already be familiar to many (the former largely
high-energy sound clashes ('Tm Going Crazy") to more mellow,
due to a performance on the 2007 season finale of The L Word),
laid-back, hip-hop grooves ("Intoxicating Protege"). The ghetto-
but there are many more cuts worth discovering. God-des is at
electro Joey Casio remix of "Fine as Fuck" (featuring Peaches)
her finest when offering her truth on songs like "A Little Too
and tongue-in-cheek, Euro-synth "International" (complete with
Different;'"Give Them What They Want" and "This Is the Life;'
ironic accents) are the standout dance cuts, with the synth-pop
which touch on the realities of being queer in the music business
and in real life. "Stand Up" is a call to make the personal politi-
tide track (featuring Electrosexual) and Nicky Click collaboration "Protege' close behind. Cuts like "You Make Me Smile"
cal by standing up for one's beliefs. Cuts like "Hollywood" and
prove the duo's love for sugar-sweet love-inspired pop, while
Funplex,The8-52s
(Astralwerks):
The
B-52sdon't messwith
a goodthingon their
latestalbum,Funplex.
Thequartetbrings
out the partymusic
with upbeatguitars,
synthenticsoundsand
their signaturesinging
style.Thesingle"Pump"
is club-readywith an
adrenaline-fueled,
poundingbeatthat
will get youmoving.
Theslightlyslower
"Funplex"hasthat good
ol' new-wavesound
that so manynew
bandstry to emulate
but can't quiteget right.
Thebandimagines
an ageof "robots,
booty-bots,eroti-bots"
in theirfuturistictune
"Lovein theYear3000"
andtakesa slightly
softer,slowerpacewith
"Julietof the Spirits,"
while"Ultraviolet"is
the "LoveShack"of the
newmillennium,with
lyricslike "tell yourskirt
to takea hike." Fullof
fun, sexymusicwith a
summertimebeat,this
albumalsofeatures
two live recordingsof
the classicB-52ssongs
"PrivateIdaho"and
"PlanetClaire."(astralwerks.com)- Katie
Peoples
June 2008
I 73
Q+A
Sabina Sciubba
Beautiful, talented and known
to
get
more than a little flirty with her female
fans, Sabina Sciubba, the lead singer of
the Brooklyn-based band Brazilian Girls,
is much more than ju~t a pretty face. She's
got one of pop music's sultriest voices
and sings its sassiest lyrics-you
may
have heard her crooning in the Brazilian
Girls' most popular song, "Pussy;' a slow,
"Spit and Glitter" uncovers a darker side. Lots of
good party jams here, and a quality production
from start to finish. (screamclub.com)
dreamlike tune that's equal parts poetry
intrigue you, the Rome-born, Munich-
Trash, Rats & Microphones, Heloise &
the Savoir Faire (Simian/Yep Roe): Their
raised Sciubba is a classically trained
video for the very Goldfrapp-sounding "Odyle'' on
pianist, an outspoken
their MySpace page couldn't get more gay, with its
and depravity. If that's not enough to
political junkie,
and sings and writes in five different languages. -
Catherine Plato
retro-'80s new-wave synch-pop fabulousness and
leg-warmer-dad backup dancers. Led by the onetime Peaches bodyguard-driver Heloise Williams,
You've lived in a few different countries.Which one do you most feel like you're fromwhere is your hometown?
band in addition to the dancers-offers
I have to say, there 1s none. I think if I knew I would probably live there. If I am in New York, that's
glitter disco-synch and pop-leaning dance punk
the NYC-based
group-which
includes a full
a mix of
probably beLause I don't feel like there's another hometown. I love Rome because I was born there,
on this debut album on actor Elijah Wood's fledg-
but nghc now I don't really want to live there.
ling Simian imprint. The retro '80s irony is thick
Let's talk a little bit about your costumes.You have some great ones. How do you come
up with your ideas?
"Members Only" and via the appearance of new-
It depends. Recently, I've been starting to collaborate with a woman called Gemma Kahn. She's a
wave icon Debbie Harry on two cuts, the '70s
throughout the album, particularly on the cheeky
really great Korean designer. I basically make a drawing, then I send it to her and she makes a
disco-flavored "Canadian Changes" and sinewy no-
realisci assessment of what's possible, and then we sort of make the outfit together. The last
wave "Downtown:"'Datsun
couple of outfits I had, we did together. Before that, a bunch of outfits I just did myself, some-
rock out a bit more, but still are very danceable. (he-
times with the help of a friend here and there, but usually I just put them together according
loisemusic.com)
to
280Z" and"On Fuego"
how 1 feel.
Are you interested in fashion when you're not performing?
I'm definitely more interested in fashion when I'm on stage, but I love fashion when it's good. I guess
I sec it as an arr form. I think that if it's well-done, it's art. I have a lot of clothes-I
it-but
won't deny
everything in moderation. I do not buy Gucci sunglasses.
Live in Liverpool, The Gossip (Music
with a Twist/Columbia): The Gossip is one
of my all-time favorite bands. I've seen them live
many, many times since their inception in 2000,
Are you very interested in politics?
Ye~.Hot1l ~cl;,In mg 111 New York in this era, I don't chink you really have much choice.
Having lived in a few differentcountries,do you feel like your values are more in line with
how people live in Europe or in the U.S.?
and there's just nothing that compares to out-dyke
Social structure, politically speaking, is clearly better in Europe: health insurance, social support for
even a concert video. The dance punk band's elec-
lead singer Beth Ditto's energy and belting voice on
stage. That being said, I think it's near impossible
to really capture that via a live audio recording or
poor families, etc., because there's less fear of the Socialist approach, you know? People are not so
tricity is tangible in person, in the air and through
paranoid of che idea of communism, which is something that always freaks Americans out. Bue
your body, and as fun as it is to watch this DVD,
unfortunately, I chink Europe is trying
imitate or emulate the American [system], which I hope
recorded live in concert in July 2007, and listen
is not going co happen. The politicians that are now coming to power in Europe in the biggest
to its accompanying CD, it rings a little hollower
to
countries, like Germany and France, are clearly people whose priorities are of an economic nature.
than the real thing. However, they are both worth
For example, in France, with Sarkozy in power now, he has already changed a couple of things, and
picking up if for no other reason than the inclusion
he's really trying to make France a more capitalistically efficient place.
of covers of Aaliyah's 'Are You That Somebody?"
So who would you most like to vote for in the next election?
and Wham!'s "Careless Whisper;• and to hear/ see
I think Hillary maybe is the best. Actually, Barack Obama is definitely the person who I feel ideologi-
Ditto introduce the cunnilingus anthem "Swing
Lall)
cht: do:,t·st
bu,
't
111
74 I curve
.a
to,
but I don't know how realistic it is that he wins. So I think Hillary is the next
Low;' screaming, "This is for the dykes!" (myspace.
com/gossipband)■
-~
OTHER LICKS
•
TheRise& FallofRuby
Woo,ThePuppiniSisters
(Verve):Morecampyfun
andmesmerizing
harmonies
fromthe U.K.-based,
1940sidolizingjazzvocaltrio,with
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arrangedcoversof the Bangles'
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Beyonce's
"Crazyin Love"interspersedwith cleveroriginals
like "I Can'tBelieveI'm Nota
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(thepupplnisisters.
com)
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beautifullyonthis impressive
newdiscby LongBeach,Calif.,
dykerockersPatsyGrind,who
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gan-centricquintetfromChapel
Hill,N.C.(holidaysforquince.com)
DoubleStandards,
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A rockerwith the songwriting
LoveAmyWinehouse?
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Northern-soul-styled
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moddancepartycut "Mercy"
andsentimental
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EuroGroove
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I 75
Reviews Tech Girl
Life in the Mobile Lane
Three innovations that cut you loose.
I By Katie
Peoples
I love my laptop as much as the next gal, but sometimes it's nice to cut the cord. That's why this month's selections
feature the best ways to mobilize yourself, with everything from card-reading printers to Bluetooth technology. Go
on, make your life just that much easier.
Photos in a Dash
Any photo expert will tell you a photo album is an important way to keep
your memories pristine, or at least reduce their aging. Luckily, we have
modern technology to help us out. The Epson PictureMate Dash is a
printer that creates beautiful, high-quality prints in seconds-and
you
don't even need a computer. The sharp, vibrant prints can last up to 96
years in a glass frame, 200 years in an album. And forget about red-eye
and other slight problems with photos. The Dash has red-eye reducer
and auto correction built in, and it has a 3.6-inch LCD screen that pops
up on top to show you what your photo will look like in greater detail, so
you can edit a bit before you print. It also comes with 18 layout options,
and a built-in CD drive lets you burn images to a CD for archiving. We
especially love its light weight and carrying handle. ($100, mypicturemate.com)
Mouse to Go
The MoGo Mouse BT may be the perfect solution for the on-the-go
laptop user who hates the tracking pad. The tiny mouse is the size of
a business card and is rechargeable and storable through your PC card
slot, as opposed to bulkier portable mice that use the USB port. Go
completely wireless with its Bluetooth-enabled capabilities, which will let
you use it like a tiny remote for your laptop. Good news for Mac users: The
MoGo is compatible with Mac OS. The two-button mouse even comes
with a handy pop-out stand, so your hand rests at a comfortable angle.
($58, newtonperipherals.com)
Big Is the New Small
Who doesn't miss the days when the farthest you could get with a phone
was the distance that the cord would stretch? If you ( or your Luddite
colleague) are feeling a little nostalgic for those clunky, plastic handsets,
Think Geek has got you covered with the Bluetooth Retro Handset.
This hunk of plastic is cord-free, with a 30-foot range, and works with
Bluetooth Versions 1.0-1.2. A replica of the classic Western 500-series,
the handset has a slight modification, the addition of an answer/hang up
button, and has a blue LED light that lets you know when it's working. It
has plenty of heft, so it's not likely to be dropped or slip off a shoulder, and it's rechargeable via a USB adapter. A great item for
making people do a double-take or if you're just tired of
those teeny-tiny phones. ($30, thinkgeek.com) ■
From top: The PictureMate Dash prints
your photos in a jiffy; go wireless with the
MoGo Mouse BT; look like a hipster with
the Think Geek Bluetooth Retro Handset
76
I curve
FROM MYSPACE
TO WEB SHOW
Thesedays,morecoloris
hittingthe Webscreenand
the mostwonderfulthing
is that lesbiansarefeeling
it. Casein point:the next
big webisodeseries,The
Lovers&FriendsShow,
which beganas an experimenton MySpaceto see
howwell peoplewould
reactto an all-African
Americancast.This lesbiandramawith an urban
twistfromwriterdirectorCharmaine
Johnsoncapturesthe
varietyof identitiesin
the AfricanAmericanand
Latinacommunities,and
dealswith issueslike
masculinity,genderroles,
STDs,adoptionandrelationships.Whilethe main
charactersare six sexy
ladiesliving in Florida,the
showpromisesto include
a diversegroupof charactersof all sexualities,
shapesandsizes.Wecan't
wait for the nextwebisode.
(Joversnfriendsshow.
com)
- LibertyVelez
(
I Tried It Reviews
Word to the Mother
How I gave it up on my 30th birthday. I By Jen Berkowitz
most sexual experiences I've ever had. When
it was consciously contained, I could feel the
shape of my sexual energy-like,
all the time.
In theory, abstaining from orgasms is a gesture of willingness to give yourself over to
"the mother Ayahuasca:' Is "the mother" the
universe? Is it the spirit of the vine that the
Ayahuasca comes from? I don't know, but after
10 days I was ready to give it up to her.
When the ceremony started, I was sitting
on the floor in an empty living room with 10
strangers. The shaman sat alone, surrounded
by drums, crystals, rattles and bells. What
called everything into question, however,
Club Papi Returns to
San Jose Pride
was the shirtless man doing preceremonial
groin stretches.
The first night was hell. I threw up, writhed
in anguish and wept inconsolably. I thought it
would never end. I wondered what I'd gotten
myself into.
On the second night, I sank into another
very real world and the first thing I saw was
a fire in front of me. My grandmothers were
giving me gifts; this is a familial rite-of-passage
"Dude, I died like, 10 times:' This is what I heard a
ceremony. Everything was deeply subtle. Thinking
friend say to my roommate, apparently recounting
and judging were irrelevant, and it was a relief to
an experience he had just had. I perked up-dying
just know things without my brain interfering.
without really dying sounded good to me.
I had been producing "reality" television on
that I was exploring my body with my mind, as if
planet Hollywood and frankly, the truth of my own
I was in a video game. I found a dark mass inside
life had gotten confusing. I was about to turn 30 and
my stomach and held it in my hand-it
it felt like I was in an existential quandary. I knew I
and alive. It was a contained thought pattern, in-
had to confront my Saturn Return-Jedi style.
I listened as our friend told us about an
formation that was stored in my body and no dif-
Ayahuasca ceremony he had recently participated
sensed something in my cheek and my hand made a
Gradually, the fire became distant and I found
was gloppy
ferent from a rotting piece of fruit. I threw up. I
in. Ayahuasca, which means "vine of the soul;' is
motion in front of my face, extracting an energy that
used for healing and is ingested as a liquid that has
had real dimension and mass. I threw up again. This
been distilled from Amazonian plants. The ceremo-
process continued for hours.
ny is conducted by a shaman and each participant
It's hard to explain the realization that I was lit-
embarks on a solo meditative journey. Visions are
erally throwing up disease. Whatever came out of
common, as is throwing up, which is referred to
me was dark and oily, and my synapses recognized
as "purging:' I told our friend about my birthday
that it smelled the same as my father's breath when
ambition. He smiled and told me he was hosting a
he was ill with cancer.
two-day Ayahuasca ceremony that happened to fall
When the ceremony was over, I was awakened
right on my birthday weekend.
For 10 days before the ceremony, I was
from my shamanic dream state by the sound of
voices singing "Happy Birthday" to me and, yes, it
instructed to abstain from various things: coffee,
was brilliant. For whatever it's worth, I drank the
wheat, bananas and, oh yeah, orgasms.
Orgasms. Abstaining from them was one of the
vine of the soul and did something I needed to do
but couldn't articulate-I
reclaimed my life. ■
June 2008
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e Love Kim
cabin. She based the character and the setting on
herself in many ways, according to Baldwin, but
she never expected a tornado to touch down on her
own property. One did six weeks before the book
was published, uprooting more than 200 trees.
Luckily, her own house was spared.
7. She'smulti-talented.
As a teenager she toured
Europe with the Suitcase Theatre for five weeks.
Performing in mostly small villages, she sang,
danced and played alto sax and guitar.
8. She'sa jet-setter.Even before Baldwin was partnered with Alexiou, who is Greek, she was trekking
across continents. She has been dog sledding above
the Arctic Circle and has ridden a camel at the
Great Pyramids of Giza. Her travels are reflected in
jumped at the opportunity.
plished what many dykes dream of doing. At 40
written for publication, but Baldwin was not con-
years old, she gave up her 60-hour work week
cerned, because "Xenia has bulletproof plots and a
and semi-retired to pursue writing lesbian fiction.
clear vision of the characters:' As Baldwin notes,
rounded by furry creatures. While her cats and
Since then, she has published five novels with Bold
"Since Xenia has been doing a great deal of the
rabbits are protected from the elements, they are
Strokes Books. In 2008, she was awarded the Alice
actual writing as well, these books have been much
surrounded by wild bears, coyotes, bobcats and
B. Reader's Appreciation Award for her entire
easier and more fun for me than working alone:'
hawks.
Kathi Isserman
The result of this venture is the three-book Elite
body of work. -
Alexiou had never
her novels, which often have an international flavor.
Kim Baldwin, a best-selling author, has accom-
Operatives series they are currently writing.
1.She'sfocused
onlesbians.
Baldwin enjoys writing
4. She lovesher readers.Whether meeting fans
loves of lesbians today:' Her former career at a major
at the many book signings she attends or receiving
television network gave her juicy material for her
their email messages, Baldwin appreciates the
novels. While her books are romances at their core,
time and effort readers take to let her know what
she mixes it up with intrigue and adventure, too.
they think about her books. Baldwin, who lives in
the Midwest, has traveled all the way to York,
England, just to meet her readers.
lating" sex scenes are what Baldwin strives for in
every book. Each of her new releases gets bolder
5. Shewriteson two differentcontinents.
Baldwin
and more graphic. On the side, she has some
joined Alexiou at her home in Europe, and then
"Shehas been dog sleddingabovethe ArcticCircle
and has riddena camelat the GreatPyramidsof Giza.
Her travelsare reflectedin her novels..."
short erotica stories published in various antholo-
they teamed up in Palm Springs, Calif., to put
gies. Focus of Desire, her latest book, has the most
the final touches on their first book, the romantic
steamy sex scenes to date.
intrigue Lethal Affairs, out in July. At other times,
they communicate via webcam.
3. She welcomeschange.When Baldwin was
approached
by Xenia Alexiou, her longtime
beta reader, to co-write a romantic intrigue, she
so I curve
10. She'sversatile.Baldwin can tie a knot in a
cherry stem with her tongue in less than 30 seconds.
"positive and satisfying" stories about the "lives and
2. She'sa cunninglinguist."Realistic and scintil-
9. Shelovesanimals.Her Michigan home is sur-
6. Shecan predictthe future.In her novel Forceof
Nature, the author writes about a tornado hitting a
Now that's talent. ■
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