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Description
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ToC: Cover: We Love Wanda [Wanda Sykes] by Diane Anderson-Minshall (p44); Gift Guide 2010 (p26); Lesbian Thespians by Theresa Diamond and Lisa Haas (p36); Gay and Gray by Sharon R. Cole and Erin Siegel (p58); Lez Guide to Buenos Aires by Catherine Plato (p40); A Musical Trip with Margaret Cho by Rachel Shatto (p48); Reality Star Rachel Robinson by Rachel Shatto (p50); Lesbian Soccer Flick Scores by Lyndsey D'Arcangelo (p52); Faux Real! by Jenna Loceff (p54); Cirque due So Gay by Kristin A. Smith and Nicole Vermeer (p55); Power Partners (p57); Cover Photo by Roger Erickson.
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Holiday Gift Guide
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issue
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9
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Date Issued
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Nov-Dec 2010
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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_Vol20_No9_November-December-2010_0CR_POFa.pdf
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extracted text
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Why
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PROGREff/VE" PROMOTION
PROGRESSIVE IS
PUTTING A FACE ON
PROGRESS - YOURS.
A tolerant world is a work in progress. That's why
Progressive Insurance created the Works in Progress
initiative. Through active participation at events and
online, Progressivegiveseveryone the opportunity to get
involved. Readon to see where they've been, where
they're going, and how you can join in on the fun.
'
YOU IN PROGRESS. This year Progressive traveled to
pride festivals and LGBT events around the country, giving
everyone a chance to get involved. People stopped by
the booth to get their pictures snapped by a professional
photographer, which they could instantly post to their wall
and the Facesof Pride Facebook page.
.
WORKS OF ART. Progressive'sawareness campaign
celebrates LGBT progress by featuring works of fine art .
........................................................................
........................
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......
...
•
FOR THOSE
WHO
CAN7 MAKE IT TO AN
•
EVENT,PROGRESSIVE
CREATED A FACEBOOK PAGE
FOR PEOPLETO PUT THBR rACE
ON PROGRESS.BECOME A FAN
AND UPLOAD A PICTURE AT
FACEBOOK.COM/FACESOFPRIDE.
ART IMITATES LIFE. Event-goers
can tum their photos into one-ofa-kind masterpiecesusingthe Art
Generator.Imagesbecome part of
thousandsoffacesinour gallery,and
their support hasgrown the Faces
of Pride Facebookcommunity to
over 18,000fans.
Impressionism is the second most influential movement this paintin9 was part of
A TOLERANT WORLD IS A WORK IN PROGRESS. But we're getting there. At Progressive,we/
believe in respecting all people and finding beauty in their differences. It's just one way we live
up to our name. To learn more about our Works in Progressinitiative, visit progressive.com/lgbt.
Progressive Casualty Ins. Co. and its affiliates, Mayfield Village, OH. 10D00056 (06/10)
PROGR£JJ/V£•
2010
Features NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
44
26
36
58
40
48
We Love Wanda
Why her coming-out has changed everything
for lesbians and made 1V even better, too.
By Diane Anderson-Minshall
Gift Guide 2010
We went shopping with our fave celesbians in
mind. Check out our pop culture-inspired gifts
for the sporty, brainy or geeky dyke on your list.
Lesbian Thespians
In our 20th anniversary year, we look back at
the history of lesbian theater, as well as what's
happening on the stage today. By Theresa
Diamond and Lisa Haas
Gay and Gray
An investigation into what it means to be an
older lesbian-from the struggles we face to
the orgs lending a hand. Plus, staying sexy as
a senior. Sharon R. Cole and Erin Siegel
Lez Guide to Buenos Aires
We travel to the Paris of South America to
bring you the sexiest, queerest adventures in
this capital city. By Catherine Plato
Entertainment
A Musical Trip
With Margaret Cho
We get face time with the sexy
comic turned actor - turned
songstress. By Rachel Shatto
50
52
54
55
57
21
curve
Reality Star Rachel Robinson
Why the Road Rules/Real World star and
fitness maven makes our hearts race.
By Rachel Shatto
Lesbian Soccer Flick Scores
Queens of the World may just be the
sports movie we've been waiting for.
By Lyndsey D'Arcangelo .
Faux Real!
Girls who dress as boys who dress as girlsa look at the female drag queen movement.
• By Jenna Loceff
Cirque du So Gay
The leading lesbians of Cirque du Soleil's
Ovo. By Kristin A. Smith and Nicole Vermeer
Power Partners
DJ Sheena Metal and musician Danielle
Egnew give us an intimate look into their lives.
therud
Lword
season one
FRANKLY
SPEAKING
curve
THE BEST-SELLING
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
LESBIAN MAGAZINE
2010
I
VOLUME 20 NUMBER 9
Publisher and Founder Frances Stevens
EDITORIAL
Editor in Chief Diane Anderson-Minshall
Managing Editor KristinA. Smith
Associate Editor Rachel Shatto
Book Review Editor Rachel Pepper
Music Review Editor Margaret Coble
Contributing Editors Rachel Beebe, Julia Bloch, Victoria A.
Brownworth,Sheryl Kay, Gretchen Lee, Stephanie Schroeder
Copy Editor KatherineWright
EditorialAssistants LisaGunther,LiskaKoenig,Anna Belle Peterson,
EleniStephanides,NicoleVenneer
PUBLISHING
My Last Goodbye
This is the last issue of our 20th anniversary year, so it's fitting that it's our
biggest issue of the year. Along with more pages, this special double issue is
filled with big changes. After 20 years of nurturing this baby, I'm beginning a
new chapter in my life. I'll be passing the publishing baton over to the maga~
zine's new owner-Avalon Media-and Silke Bader, a woman who has earned
my respect and gratitude for her amazing work in lesbian publishing for the
last decade.
Not only is Bader a powerhouse in lesbian publishing-being at the helm of
both Lesbianson the Looseand BOUND magazines-but she's also a leading
spokeswoman in the fight for gay adoption in Australia which, with her help,
recently passed into law in September (see page 12). She has the experience,
drive and resources to take curve to the next level. And if the economic
analysts are right, this might be just the right time to do that.
So, what's next for me? I will continue running CurvePersonals.com, the
lesbian dating site you have trusted for over a decade. I celebrate every time
that I hear success stories from women who have found love through the site.
I hope to see you on Curve Personals, where you too can find the love of your
life... if you haven't already found her.
I also want to spend more time with my wife and our two young boys (before
they're all grown up). When I told my children thatl was retiring, they asked
me not to. Knowing they were worried for the.longevity of this very important
lesbian magazine was one of my proudest moments-both as a publisher and
a parent. But another reason I'm retiring is my health. Many of you know that I
have not been well for some time and I really want to concentrate on healing.
What will I miss most? You, of course! Thank you for 20 amazing years of
growth, learning, exploration, fighting for our rights and making a difference
in the lives of lesbians across the globe. My hat goes off to you and to all the
women over the years who have shared the work, the dream and the dedication
to make curve a reality. I'm so glad that curve will continue, even without
me. I know that with Avalon Media, it is in good and caring hands.
So, it's not goodbye from me, it's so long.
Director of Operations Flo Enriquez
Senior Advertising Executive DianaL Berry
Advertising Sales RivendellMedia
Marketing Assistant XaniaGiolli
ART/PRODUCTION
Art Director Stefanie Liang
Photo Editor Hayley McMillen
Production Manager Ondine Kilker
Production Artist Kelly Nuti
Web Producer Nikki Woelk
Photo Assistant Cathryn Lovecraft, Shidume Lozada
CONTRIBUTING
WRITERS
Jamie Anderson,Jacob Anderson-Minshall,Melany Joy Beck,
Kathy Beige, Stacy Bias, KelsyChauvin,Gina Daggett, Lyndsey
D'Arcangelo,BerendeMotier, Egbert Edamame, Michele Fisher,
LaurenMarie Fleming,KatrinaFox, Serena Freewomyn,Ash
Goddard,Tania Hammidi,Kathi lssennan,GillianKendall,Kate
Lacey,CharleneLichtenstein,Karen Loftus,SassafrasLowrey,
Ariel Messman-Rucker,Candace Moore, Alison Peters, Catherine
Plato, Aimsel L. Ponti, Heather Robinson,Laurie K. Schenden,
Lori Selke, Dave Steinfeld,Edie Stull, Robin Miner-Swartz,
Yana Tallon-Hicks,KyraThomson,Jocelyn Voo, Jamie Wetherbe
CONTRIBUTING
ILLUSTRATORS
& PHOTOGRAPHERS
Paul Michael Aguilar, Erica Beckman, Brie Childers, Meagan
Cignoli,JD Disalvatore,Tony Donaldson,Sophia Hantzes, Cheryl
Mazak, Randy Nelson, Maggie Parker,Elisa Shebaro, LeslieVan
Stelten, KatherineStreeter,Kina Williams, Misty Winter
1550 Bryant Street, Suite 510
San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone (415) 863-6538 Fax (415) 863-1609
Advertising Sales (415) 863-6538 ext. 15
Subscription Inquiries (800) 705-0070 International (818) 286-3102
Advertising Email advertising@curvemag.com
Editorial Email editor@curvemag.com
Letters to the Editor Email letters@curvemag.com
Volume 20 Issue 9 Curve (ISSN 1087-867X) is published monthly (except for bimonthly
January/February, July/August and November/December) by Outspoken Enterprises, Inc.,
1550 Bryant St., Ste. 510, San Francisco, CA 94.103. Subscription 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 0010-355). Contents of Curve Magazine may
not be reproduced in any manner, either whole or in part, without written permission from the
publisher. Publication of the name or photograph of any persons or organizations appearing,
advertising or listing in Curve may not be taken as an indication of the sexual orientation
of that individual or group unless specifically stated. Curve welcomes letters, queries,
unsolicrted manuscripts and artwork. Include SASE for response. Lack of any representation
only signifies insufficient materials. Submissions cannot be returned unless a self-addressed
stamped envelope is included. No responsibility is assumed for loss or damages. The
contents do not necessarily represent the opinions of the edrtor,unless specifically stated. All
magazines sent discreetly. Subscription Inquiries: Please write to Curve, 1550 Bryant Street,
Surte 510, San Francisco, CA 94103, email shop@curvemag.com. Canadian Agreement
Number: 40793029. Postmaster:SendCanadianaddresschangesto crvcs@magsw.com,Curve,
PO Box 122, Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6$8. SendU.S. addresschangesto crvcs@magserv.com,
Curve,PO Box 17138,N. Hollywood,CA 91615-7138.Printedin the U.S.
curvemag.com
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Letters
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This Is What a Lesbian Looks Like
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Lipstick & Dipstick
AstroGrrl
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Top Ten Reasons We Love ...
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Curvatures
Same-sex parenting Down Under,
living with fibromyalgia and why
we love Original Plumbing. And
who killed L.A. lesbian Mitrice
Richardson?
Celebrity Gossip
Gaga in drag-and sexier than ever.
Jennifer Aniston goes gay, more
drama from Lilo and the Queen.
Plus, Cybill's other gay daughter?
Dyke Drama
Falling for a married woman-what to do
when you're taken with the taken.
Politics
The end of the decade-looking
and moving forward.
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Relationships: Dyke dating guide to
acronyms. Plus, feminist cards to send
your sweetie.
64
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back
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Music: Songs to heal your ennui by
the Indigo Girls, the Drums and the ladies
of Michfest. Why we love the Splinters.
Plus, a one-on-one with Brandi Carlile.
Books: Haunting stories by Sarah Waters
and Lisa Shannon. Chatting up Mac
McClelland and Susana Chavez-Silverman's
new book.
Film: Movies to rekindle your pride, why
we're crazy for The Girl wi~h the Dragon
Tattoo and a Q&A with Charlene Strong.
Plus, 10 things you won't want to miss.
Tech: Geek games to shed the poundsa look at Wii, PlayStation and Xbox's
new fitness games.
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I5
Sapphic Theater Beyond the Coast.
Lesbian theater doesn't just happen below 14th
Street in New York City. Dyke-centric performances
and troupes are popping up all over North
America. Discover a few of the best lesbian
troupes, including Leaping Thesbians, Venus
Theatre, Vox Feminista and more.
We're Gay for Poker
Champ Vanessa Selbst
Vanessa Selbst caught the attention of the poker
world in 2008, when she won a World Series of Poker
tournament in Omaha, Neb. She caught our attention
when friends and fans showed up at the. PokerStars
North American Poker Tour Mohegan Sun event
waving signs that read "I'm Gay for Vanessa."
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Ariane Conrad helped Christabel Zamor put together
the book Hooping, A Revolutionary Fitness Program,
which takes the reader through 50 original moves
with a hoop for fitness. Conrad tells us why hooping
is addictive and euphoric.
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cover this issue. Which one do you like best? Email your vote
to letters@curvemag.com and be entered to win a prize.
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VisitLasVegas.com/gaytravel
LmERS
Intergenerational Dialogue
In reference to your curvemag.com article,
"Lesbian Identity and Intergenerational
Understanding," it's awesome to hear that our
queer youth are feeling so comfortable with
being out and proud. This isjust ~hat all of u~
~older"lesbians hoped for as we came out under
far less acceptable circumstances. We worked
hard to demand acceptance in our daily lives
and to find one another. Many women suffered
greatly for coming out. To them we should all
give thanks for such courage. Younger lesbians,
get involved! Vote! Continue our progress;
there's plenty of work left to be done.
-Posted by Barb on curvemag.com
I thought I was the only one to hear about
young lesbian womyn being disrespectful
toward the older LGBTQ generation. I call
them the dumb,down generation, who love
their spoiled American lives.Sometimes I want
to break my foot off in their asses for being SC?
arrogant and down,right disrespectful. This is
coming from an offspring of a baby,boomer.
-Posted by Lunakiss on curvemag.com
I finally came out in November of last year. I
appreciate the older lesbians and am still
learning. I'm thankful for the women who
created an easy path for us younger lesbians to
come out with less stress on us. Much respect
given to you wonderful women.
- Postedby Bahachicklon curvemag.com
Where's Teen Curve?
I am 17 years old, and I love curve and
everything in it. While I am sure you cater
s Icurve
to young lesbians, I still
feel like it is for people in
their 20s to 40s, but there
are tons of teen lesbians
out there who would
love an even younger, hip
magazine! Perhaps you can
come up with a magazine
devoted to the young
lesbian
community.
And for even more
opportunities
for the
teen lesbian community to
get involved, you can have
teen writers. They may
have more ideas that you
didn't think 0£ I'm sure it
would sell, and I know I
would buy it!
What's the
best place to
meet women?
62%
Anywhere!
It's notthe
place,butthetiming
29%
Throughmutual
friends.Thatwayyou
havesomecommon
ground
5%
At theclub.Cocktails
equala stress-free
environment
ever meet-they felt like old
friends, making us feel so
comfortable. I mis·s them
already! The good things they
do for the community and the
world are amazing. Happy
20th anniversary to curve
and thank you, Franco and
Jen, for helping us celebrate
our own 20th anniversary!
-Michele Webster,
Edwardsville,fll.
Sorry We Missed You
You forgot about
two
localLGBTcenter.
lesbian,owned
adventure
4% AThe
ladywho'soutand
tour companies in "Lez,
proudis hot
Friendly Tours:' [Vol. 20#7)
According
to a curvemag.com
poll
WomanTours (womantours.
-Laura Cossu,Suffolk,Va.
com) is alesbian,owned bicycle
touring company for women only. Marian
It's the Same Up There
Marbury, a lesbian, runs Adventures in Good
In response to Jamie Anderson's "Love Company (adventuresingoodcompany.com),
Across the Border" article [20#7)-Hot
for women interested in hiking, kayaking and
Canadians? Oh, yeah! A president with an dogsledding. I hope you include us next time!
IQ higher than a carrot? I must have missed
-Jackie Marchand,Rochester,NY
that memo. Tubers are tubers.
-Terry Ryer,Bethel,Maine
Corrections:
In "The All American Lesbian
Vacay" [20#7) we referred to queer writer
Publisher Praise
Lauren Marie Fleming's sister as also
I had the privilege of meeting your publisher,
queer. Though supportive, she is straight
Franco, and her beautiful wife, Jen. They
and happily married to a man. Sorry,
are two of the most sincere people you could wishful thinking!
Sendletters
to:Letters
atcurve Magazine
1550Bryant
St.,Ste.51o,SanFrancisco,
CA94103
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Services
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at
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wlce:
EMAIL:
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Melissa Etheridge Ticket Contest
Weaskedreaders
totelluswhytheyshould
winticketstooneof.Melissa
Etheridge's
concerts.
Wewereflooded
withheartfelt
andmoving
lettersabouthowMelissa's
music
helped
change
theirlives.Onewoman
wrote,"I willhave15yearsinrecovery,
amnewly
divorced,
metthemostamazing
women
intheworld.AndMelissa,
without
evenknowing
me,walkedmethrough
a lotwithjusthermusic."
Manywomen
wroteabouthowMelissa
helped
themcomeout.One62-year-old
spent35yearsinthecloset;
a 40-yearoldhadjustlefta 20-yearmarriage
tocomeout.Anda PTA
mom/Christian
ministry
secretary
realized
shewasgay15yearsago
at a Melissa
concert.
Butthereweresadnotestoo:a beloved
sister
dyingofcancer,
a friendalready
losttothedisease
anda 10-year
lesbian
marriage
inshambles.
Every
storywasmoremoving
thenthe
last,andallthesewomen
wereaffected
byMelissa's
words.
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CONTRIBUTORS
Brooklyn-based comedy writer LisaHaaseagerly dove into ackground research for her theater articles, "A Brief History of Lesbian
Theater" (page 36). Haas found old flyers, postcards, photos and
other materials from productions and theater companies at the
Lesbian Herstory Archives, as well as records of curve's theater
coverage throughout the past two decades. Haas is a playwright
hersel£ whose plays, sketch comedies and solo pieces have been
seen in New York City, regionally and internationally. Haas says
she "interviewed dozens of lesbian playwrights and performative art-makers to flesh out the
gaps-which are many-in the record of lesbian theater. I really wish I could have included
everyone, because they are all doing irtteresting and invaluable work:'
_./
From the Editor
A few months back when a
JetBlue flight attendant got fed up
with a passenger,
spouted a few
choice profanities,
grabbed a beer
and jumped off
the plane, there
Hailing from the Midwest, curve photo assistant CathrynLovecraft
moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to further pursue her passion
for photography. With a strong background in portraiture, she draws
much of her inspiration from the beauty of simplicity and visual
narration. She appreciates the value of hard work, and looks forward
to the metamorphosis of her life in California. Lovecraft's extracurricular interests include watching film noir, listening to public radio's
This American Life and baking cupcakes.
was a resounding
chorus of approval
online. In these
tough times
where everyone is forced to do
more with less in the workplace,
I know some women are dying
to say, "Take this job and shove
With an interest in psychology and an ideal meal that would fuse Bulgogi,
spicy California rolls and Chicken Tikka Masala, curve editorial assistant
EleniStephanides
enjoys all things Northern California, including redwood
forest hikes and Berkeley cafes. She cites her voluptuous tabby cat, Waldo,
and the smell of tacos wafting through the office windows at midday as two
inspirations for the writing she does at curve, including this issue's Intern
Pick book review OQ. page 64. Stephanides says that her loud Greek heritage helped prepare
her for much of the chaos that is production week.
Editorial assistant AnnaBellePeterson
enjoyed her lovely summer internship at curve, engaging in what she hope~ will be her full-time job one
day. Her favorite assignment was interviewing the incredible women of
Wolfe Video for the October 20th Anniversary issue. This issue, her interview with actor Deborah Stewart can be seen 9n page 50. Peterson plans
to stay way past her allotted three-month internship, and the rest of the
curve staff couldn't be happier.
it." But that's not me, so I have
hesitated on writing this letter. I
started writing for my hometown,
Payette, Idaho, newspaper when I
was 13, and have spent nearly 30
years as a writer and editor (the;
last 20 solely in LGBT publishing).
Now, I'm taking a well-earned
sabbatical: A year of napping and
dreaming, traveling the U.S. and
finishing my fifth novel (assuming
I get enough napping first). I've
had an incredible team working
with me for the last seven years.
As curve moves into 2011 in their
capable hands, I expect they'll
outshine everything I've done so
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,
so when we saw the new Voli Vodka ad
{on the back of Go magazine), we did a
happy double take. Voli offers the first lowcal fruit and fusion flavored vodkas. And
apparently they like the same sort of lesbian
kisses we do. Their new campaign features
an image from the Jan/Feb 2003 "Sex" issue
of curve. Kiss, kiss, Voli!
far. Meanwhile, I'll be on the road
or snoozing, possibly both, in a
town near you.
Diane Anderson-Minshall
Editor in Chief
November/December 2010
I9
Undercover Brothers
I'm pretty sure we weren't the only
women who were thrilled to discover the
newish, completely irreverent quarterly,
m'l)
I never fully felt comfortable in my
skin as a woman, there was something
really cool about being included
in a class of strong, independent
women. It felt righteous. My past has
definitely informed my present, so I
feel more well,rounded, emotionally
and spiritually, than I
think I would if I was a
cisgendered man:'
Kayiatos got involved in
the magazine when Mac
asked to take his picture for a
new zine (Kayiatos appeared
in issue No. 1). They soon
realized that they shared a
common aesthetic, as well as
a common goal: "We feel that
there is no single way to sum up what it means to be
a trans man, because we each have different beliefs,
life experiences and relationships to our own bodies;'
Kayiatos explains.
The magazine has only been in print for a year,
but the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
With its intimate portraits, essays, personal narra,
tives and interviews, Original Plumbing makes for
interesting and informative reading-no matter how
you identify. (originalplumbing.com)
[LisaGunther]
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__ _.
Original Plumbing. The fun, quirky and
informative San Francisco,based magazine
was founded by photographer Amos Mac
and musician and producer Rocco Kayiatos
(aka Katastrophe), both of whom have
made it their mission to promote accurate
and thought,provoking representations of
transgender mer:i,But is the magazine relevant
for lesbians?
"I think OP is relevant to anyone who is interested
in transmale culture;' Kayiatos explains. "Many lesbi,
ans are allies to trans men, and a number of trans guys
spent time in the lesbian community at some point in
their lives. Ideally,this magazine will speak to anyone
who lives outside the mainstream:'
In the magazine, Kayiatos tells queer, transgender
filmmaker Chris Vargas, that he "identifies as
straight but questioning, culturally queer and
emotionally and spiritually lesbian:'
He expounds: "I am a man that dates women,
which makes me straight by default, [but J I have
had a queer path and history, for sure. I said that I
identify spiritually and emotionally as a lesbian in
jest, but I actually really relate to feeling connected to
my experience of being a dyke at one point. Although
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Richardson-ayounglesbian
from
misdemeanor
charges:
defrauding driver'slicense.
LosAngeles
whowasreleased
from aninnkeeper
andpossession
Richardson,
a formerbeauty
ofless
theMalibu,Calif.sheriff'sstationin
thananounceof marijuana.
queenwhoworkedasanexecutive
themiddleofthenight-was finally
According
toAutoStraddle.com, assistant
fora freightcompany,
startingto beanswered.
Richardson's
alsodancedpart-time
motherhadcalled
at a queer
Herskeletalremainswerefound thenightbeforeaboutpickingher
club,a factthattheblogosphere
justeightmilesfromthepolicesta- up,knowingherdaughter
latchedonto.Policesearching
hadno
for
tion,butfalsesightings
hadplaced wallet,caror phone.
herspeculated
shewasbi-polar
Shetoldthe
PUTTING
THEKITSCH
IN KITCHEN
Retro-styled
andsexy
as hell,BigChill's
stoves,refrigerators
and
dishwashers
comein a
varietyof vintage-friendly
hues,likeBeachBlue,Pink
Lemonade,
Buttercup
Yellow
andCherryRed.Mixinga
'50saestheticwith modern
amenitieshasmadethem
a favoriteof chiclezzies
andcelebs(likeScarlett
Johansson)
alike.Theyare
the perfectmarriageof form
andfunctionfor fashionforwardnestingdykes.Who
saidappliances
can1t be
dreamy?[SarahC.Jimenez]
anddefended
thedepartment,
whilethequeer,
feministandAfrican
American
communities
allshared
herfather'sviewpoint:
"It wasa
wrongfulrelease
basedonher
mentalstate,"hetoldthe Times.
Thecaseraisedtheissueof how
diligentlypoliceinvestigate,
andthe
mediareportonthedisappearances
ofAfricanAmericans.
WhenRichardson's
remains
werediscovered
byparkrangers
on
patrol,it wasa blowto searchers
whohadcombedhundreds
of miles
of canyonlookingforanysignof
her.Thecoronercouldn'tdetermine
if herdeathwasaccidental
or homicide,leavingeveryone
to question
whoor whatkilledMitrice?
[DianeAnderson-Minshalij
November/December
2010
I 11
_______
tberundown~~
Are lesbians more aware of sexism than
straight women? A new poll from Harris
Interactive
shows that seven out of 10
LGBT Americans say that the U. S. is
far from achieving gender quality. Among
lesbians surveyed, 95 percent reported
that the United States has a long way
to go toward righting gender inequalities, compared with just 74 percent of
heterosexual women ... EdytheEyde,who
under the pseudonym LisaBen,was editor
of the first lesbian publication, ViceVersa,
has been inducted into the LGBT
Journalists
Hallof Fame.ViceVersawas based out
of Los Angeles and distributed copies
from June 1947 to February 1948. Eyde
typed each issue on her typewriter using
carbon paper ... The new film Piranha3D
includes a sex scene between KellyBrook
and co-star RileySteele.Brook
told Playboythat she did the
lesbian scene because of filmmaker Alexandre
Aja'sFrench
accent ... How connected
are you? Recent studies have
shown that LGBT people
are more connected than straight folks.
Based on survey this summer, 73 percent
of lesbian and gay respondents said they
had a Facebookprofile, compared with 65
percent of straight folks,22 percent of lesbians and gays were on Unkedlncompared
with 16 percent of heterosexuals and 29
percent of lesbians and gays
were on Twttler,
versus 15 percent of straight respondents ...
RachelMaddow
will be receiving
the 2010 Walter
Cronkite
Faith
andFraedom
Award.
The award recognizes
individuals who promote democratic
values, defend religious freedom and
reinvigorate informed civic participation ...
Katherine
MIiier,
a Cadet at WestPoint,
submitted a letter of resignation to her
superiors, revealing that she is a lesbian
and will be resigning because of Doo'tAsk,
Doo'tTell.Miller stated, "In short, I have
lied to my classmates and compromised
my integrity and my identity by adhering
to existing military policy:' Miller is the
ninth-ranked cadet in her class of over a
thousand and scored 367 on the military's
fitness test that has a theoretical maximum
score of 300 points.~
Lowrey]
121curve
Australia Passes Gay Adoption
Australia continues to lead the way in same-sex parenting rights. After the Australian Capital Territory and
Western Australia, New South Wales has now bec.ome
the third Australian state to legalize same-sex adoption.
The bill that finally made it possible for queer couples to
share the same rights as heterosexual adoptive parents,
was passed by the NSW parliament with a narrow majority j
in September.
This victory, however, has been years in the making and
is not without its compromises-Sydney MP and Lord
J:
0
Mayor of the city, Clover Moore, who first introduced the bill to the house in 2000,
u:f
had to include two major changes to the new law.
8
Now, church adoption agencies may refuse adoption services to same-sex
gE;.
couples without breaking any Australian anti-discrimination laws.
5
The second amendment that helped the bill to pass, states that couples who are
giving up children for adoption, will have more say in stating their preferences for
a:
prospective parents.
Until the passing of the Same Sex Couples Bill, a child could be adopted by a per- tr
son's heterosexual partner, but not by a same-sex partner. In a press release, Moore,
who is Sydney's first female mayor, emphasized the welfare of children and all loving
families as her motivation to support the bill.
Children who have been staying with queer foster parents will also benefit from
this change in Australian law because it gives them the added stability of a firm
family bond.
Let's hope Australia's five remaining territories and states will follow suit and pass ;
a similar bill in the near future. [LiskaKoenig]
a
!
The Gaydar
Here's a taste of lesbians in pop culture this month.
Who missed the mark and who was right on target?
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TeaPartyOusts
Homophobe
Montana
TeaPartygroupprezwas )
oustedbythe BigSkyTea
PartyAssociationafter gay
lynchingcomments
i
0
a PartychairmanJim Walkersays,"Wecontinuallymakeit knownthat wewillnot
oleratebigoteddialogue,behavioror messages
at ourfunctions,ourmeetingsor within
ourranks. If a persondemonstrates
bigotry...theyarenotwelcomein ourorganization.
TheTeaPartymovementis aboutstandingupfor Individualfreedomfor everyone.•
::E
I=
T p
OUTI
i!OIO
Living With Fibromyalgia
The day I got diagnosed with fibromyalgia,
my doctor said, "Please don't go look this
up on the Internet until we're really sure
that's what it is:' I understood why, two
weeks later, when I finally did. It's a terrifying, and misinformation is widespread.
Fibromyalgia produces widespread pain,
disturbed sleep, and exhaustion, according
to the Fibromyalgia Network (fmnetnews.
com), including diffuse body-wide symptoms greatly magnified by malfunctions in
the way the nervous system processes pain.
I was now one of over 5.8 million people
(nearly 90 percent are women) who had
it and soon I would experience everything
from brain fog, and myofascial knots to
irritable bladder, sleep apnea and irregular heartbeat-but
mostly lots and lots of
soul-crushing pain. Filmmakers Daneen
Akers and Stephen Eyer know it well;
; Akers' mother was diagnosed with fibromy,
algia several years ago. After watching their
family search for answers, they decided to
Q.
make a film about their own journey for
<i:
understanding and hope. They interviewed
doctors, experts and fibro patients from
ffi diverse backgrounds, letting them share
their own stories· of learning to survive and
C)
ffi even thrive with this illness for their film,
a:
x: Living With Fibromyalgia.Now on DVD,
""' t he fiIm is the perfect gift for anyone seeking
i
real answers about what fibromyalgia is,
how it's treated and what hope there is for
sufferers. It's a must-have for family members
who often find themselves alone, searching for
answers on the web, while their wife or daughter writhes in pain in bed. (livingwithfm.com)
[DianeAnderson-Minshal~
Affordabllity
and Intimacy
819twopel1(a
that Stephanie
Berman.. Total
Conception
pregnancykit promises. Total
Cenceptloncaters to leeblan
couples, providingthe 88l811tial
gat-pragnantequlptment in thraemonth suppllea. The ktt, which
Bermanbegan putting out last
year, has already had bamendoue
successamong couples-many
whom, on the path to pregnancy,
have tried rnoeteverything short of
calHngIn the baabystork. We talked
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hercnation, the goodiesIn the bag
and customer 8UCC8S8stories.
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A Homolicious Holiday
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire? Or my girlfriend's
nipples pinched between my toes?. By Lipstick and Dipstick
Dear Lipstick and Dipstick: I've decided the holidayssuck. My girlfriend,
Shirley,and I have been together for about a year. Recently,Shirley'sparents decided that she's not allowed to bring me home for Christmas,even
though.inthe past she was able to bring her former partner.Her dad called
a "familymeeting"to announceit. Now, with the holidays,she is torn.·I say
she shouldgo and spend time with her family,and Shirleysays it's the principle of the matter.I say it's a few days out of our livesand she'sluckyto still
have parentswho love her, even if they don't accept she's gay. She says it
shouldn'tmatter.What do you think? - Ticked Off in Tinsel
Dipstick:
Screw the uptight family and take her
to Aspen for a ski trip during the holidays.
And by the way, she's not torn, you are. She's_
sticking to her principles, and until her
parents accept her 'whole homo sel£ she's
not going to spend the holidays with them.
Why can't you be supportive and validate
her decision? Is there .an inheritance you're
hoping to get your hands on? Let her deal
with her family, and in the meantime start
making some new traditions of your own.
Dipstick:Baby butch, never change who you
are in order to attract a lady-unless that
change involves a shower and crisp new shirt.
They may be harder to come by, but in some
cities there lots of other butches who, like
you, enjoy a gal with a crew cut and sports~
bra~smashed boobs. To land one, you can't
play coy. If there's a stud you can't keep
your eyes off 0£ be explicit-let her know
you' re asking about her tongue piercing
not because you want one of your own, but
because you want to know what it feels like
on your nipple.
lipstick: I once stumbled across a photo of
Dipstick from her high school prom that
was classic. This is how it penciled out: lacy
gown=$75, feathered haircut=$25, carnation
boutonniere=$12, squirt of Mom's Jean Nate
perfume=$7, the awkward look on Dipstick's
face=priceless.
Dipstick:It was Jovan White Musk. I wish
someone had told me when I was 17 I didn't
have to wear that stupid dress and go with
some loser dude to the prom. Good for you
for knowing what you want.
Lipstick:There's only one rule when it comes
to being a lesbian, young butch, and that is be
yourself-don't try and slide into the skin of
someone you're not. Oh, and keep the bushes
trimmed. Anything less is a total turnoff.
lipstick:Chestnuts roasting on an open fire?
Or my girlfriend's nipples pinched between
my toes? The choice seems easy to me. Shirley
has a right to be pissed, ~ot only about the
lame retraction, but also because her folks
are idiots. Quit pushing her to go home:
By putting her reindeer hoof down, she is
making some very important points, which
her parents will hear loud and clear. They
are: (1) It's my life and you can't control me
anymore. (2) I believe in who I am, no matter
what you think. (3) Merry Christmas, but I
choose cunnilinguistics over caroling. P.S. I
vote for Whistler!
DearUpstickandDipstick:I've gota question
that's bee~ botheringme. I'm 18, just came
out and find myselfreallyattractedto butch
women.Theproblemis I'm quitebutchmyself.
ShouldI becomemorefeminineto appealmore
to butchwomen?-Diggin'theDipsticks
14
Icurve
a:
w
a:
cf
w
a
a:
UJ
:.::
a:
a
UJ
curvepersonals.com
ADVICELipstick & Dipstick
There'sonlyone rule
when it comesto being
a youngbutch... be
yourself-don't try and
slideintothe skinof
someoneyou'renot.
DearLipstickand Dipstick:I metthis hotgirl
and shewantsto datecasually,whileseeing
otherpeople.We'vehadsomegreatdatesand
butshewantsto waitto
madeoutexcessively,
havesex,whichiscoolwithme.I thinkshemay
bethenext"one."HowlongdoyouthinkI need '
to waitto tellherhowI feel?-Waitingto Wait
Lipstick:The "next one;' huh? Wouldn't that
just make her number two or number three?
Be cool and keep your feelings to yourself for
now or you'll scare her away. If she wants to
casually date-and said that specificallythat means she is not ready for those words
or a commitment with you. Chillax.
DearLipstickand Dipstick:All lesbiansmust
I disagree, Lipstick. Waiting should
givetheirlifes[sic]to JesusChristfor he will Dipstick:
lifes speak up. I remember back ·when I was
perverted
deliverthemfromtheirdemonic
dating a few girls at once, one kept telling
[sic].-ZealousHeteroGuy
me she was fine with the situation. I had no
Wait, what? I thought that's what my idea she wasn't. Sure, I should have seen the
Lipstick:
signs. The homemade brownies and flowers
acupuncture was for. To let out allthose slutty,
pussy,galore devils one poke at a time. Or was left on my doorstep, the daily postcards from
her trip to Paris, the sexy photos of herself
that for my back pain?
slipped under my pillow. Little did I know,
she was biding her time, waiting for me to
Dipstick:Both, actually.
ditch the others. Every time I dated another
Anyway,I'll worry about my exorcism girl, her heart broke a little more. I felt like a
Lipstick:
strategies later. Regarding this submission: schmuck when I finally figured out she was
first of all,Mr. Self, Righteous Man, you need in love with me. Ifl'd known, I wouldn't have
a lesson in grammar. Second, how in the world let it go on as long as it did. Tell her now, and
did you end up on Lipstick and Dipstick's then you can both decide if continuing to see
website? In your tiny,mi~ded world, Jesus each other is the right thing.
might have a beef with that, too.
Dipstick:Personally, I love being perverted.
Small penises are God's punishment for
prejudice.
Tune in to curvemag.com/lipstickand,
dipstickto watchtheTheLipstick
& DipstickShow.Or,writeto tv@
lipstickdipstick.com.
A Necessary Read
By Any Greens Necessary isn'tjust anothervegan
cookbookwith blandtofu and brownrice recipes.
Instead,authorand nutritionistTracyeLynnMcQuirter,
MPH, has createdthe first vegan guidefor African
Americanwomen, who, as a demographic,have some
of the highestrates of heart diseaseand diabetesin
the nation.Part memoir,part politicalhistoryand part
cookbook(AuntSally'sgravy,chocolatemoussetart
and walnutpate), McQuirteroffersup an easy to
followguidefor better,healthierliving.
[Kristin A. Smith]
Join the am
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ADVICERelationships
Easy As ABC
By Kate Lacey
A gay girl's guide to dating acronyms.
The Internet has ushered in an era of
using acronyms (or "initialisms" to the
persnickety among us) as an efficient means
of communicating in our fast-paced times.
In the dating world, some abbreviations
have their place, such as MILF, WSW,
BDSM and BBW. Even so, I think we can
do better. Let's borrow an e-page from the
Internet and create more useful acronyms
to describe our potential suitors. Below I
have reinvented and decoded some of them
so that they are more useful and truthful,
saving us time, heartache and a potential
drowning in the dating pool.
MOM:Motherof Monsters.
You will immediately be third or fourth priority-under the
kidlets, the soccer team and sleepovers. Expect
and embrace throw-up and throw downs with
little make-ups and go downs.
RX: Returnto Ex-Girlfriend
Not
. only has
this woman had a contentious ex-relationship
and recently broken up with her ex-girlfriend
for the tenth time this month, but she's still
possessed by her anger toward her sparring
ex-partner. It's just a matter of time before
these two ballistic missiles crash into one
another, again. They deserve one other, and
who are you to interceder
CUL:CouplesUsingLesbians.Notice the
seemingly straight couple scoping out the gay
club as they slowly sip their drinks. They are
sizing up the talent in the room, as if you are
baby heifers at a county fair. Sooner or later,
they will ensnare a very drunk lesbian and pull
her into a misguided hetero fantasy. Even if
you are into it, this is a not a future dating
situation, as the hets rarely keep the same
lesbo around for more than a day or two.
IOU/ATM.
These two acronyms are the same
as traditionally used and need no additional
decoding. A woman who lists these letters in
her dating profile will use you like an ATM
and give you many IOUs that will never be
paid. At first, you may not notice, because you
will call it'clating" or"helping" or"taking care of
someone;' but in the end, when your debt rises
and your credit score drops, she will drop you.
LELE:Love'em and Leave'em. Picked up,
flirted with and swept off your feet one
18
I curve
minute, then suddenly all alone with your
memories of a fantastic one-night stand. Yep,
we took this page from the straight guy
counterpart's playbook. The Leave 'em part
may take 24 hours or 24 months, but it will
happen eventually.
COD:Closetedon Demand.This woman
is gay but thinks no one knows it. You
must not touch in public, must not act
affectionately around others and must
pei:petually be described as "my friend:'
There are actually times when you must act
like you don't know each other, because you
are so clearly gay it might blow open her
closet door.
MIA: MissingIn Action.For some reason,
she seems to disappear at night or when you
go to dance clubs. She may be right in the
next room, checking her Match.com account,
fighting zombies on PS3 or working at home
on her laptop. Either way, she is not present
and attending to your needs.
PTL:PartTimeLesbian.Anne Heche. Tila
Tequila. Your roommate in college. Straight
wom~n who are temporarily without a man.
Need I say more?
SRO:Straight,Really,Oops.See part-time
lesbian. Quacks like a duck, walks like a duck
but mates like a chicken.
HOMO HALLMARK
Lady-Lovin'
Is in Bloom
Fin~ing
a greetingcardthatsaysjusttheright
thingis toughenough-locatingonewithout
a cookie-cutter
heterocoupleonthefrontis
evenharder.Bloomin'Chloe,a lesbiancard
linecreatedbytwotenacious
women,is out
to changeallthat.Frustrated
bythelackof
gaygreetingcards,bestfriendsLisaByfield
andLauraShanksetoutto produce
cardsthat
represent
"beautifulwomenwholovebeautiful
women."Theduohopesto capturethebroad
spectrum
of "woman-nessthrough
"
themes
of love,loss,aging,birthanddeath.Created,
designed
andproduced
byShankandByfield,
thecardsarea greatwayto senda message
to thelesbianin yourlife.(bloomingchloe.com)
[RachelCullen]
GirtPowerGreetingCanis
Feminist
cardmakerGaliaGoodman
is a strong
believerin a "personal
is political"philosophy.
Shevaluesherpartner,
dogandsynagogue,
andit's thesebeliefsandpasssions
thatare
reflectedin manyof Goodman's
cards,which
containfeministquotesandscenesfrom
Jerusalem.
Greathistorical
womensuchas
EmilyDickinson,
HelenKellerandEleanor
Roosevelt
areall quotedontheseartistic,
funnyandmotivational
cards,makingthem
perfectfor thelesbianfeministin yourlife.
(galiagoodman.com)
[EleniStephanides]
Crossing the Finish Line You are voted "most likely to"
this November. Enjoy your easy victory. By Charlene Lichtenstein
andshakersasyouplanyourcorporate
Areyouinterestedin infiltratingor
takeover.
Whynothavea PlanB?
instigating?
(Oct24-Nov.22)
Scorpio
Wholovesyoufromafar?Bediscreet
Love:
asyoufind outthetruth.Afteryouknow
who,youmaypreferto keepit a secret.
Youseemto knowexactlywhatto
Career:
sayto the seniorstaff-stroke theiregos
butavoidstrokinganythingelse.
(Nov.23-Dec.22)
Sagittarius
Willa certainplatonicpalevolveinto
Love:
a girlfriend?Takea chanceandseewhere
a little extraflirtation(andanexpense
Getinvitedto
account)canlead.Career:
at work.
the importantmeet-and-greets
therecangiveyoua legupthe
Someone
corporateladder.Butwatchherhands!
(April21-May21)
Taurus
Love:Flirtatiouslustonthejob creates
that maketheworkdaymuch
diversions
Ofcourse,youwill still
moreinteresting.
haveto handleall that boringwork.Career:
Findwaysof gettingthejob donequickly,so
you'll havemoretime to cruisethe Internet
on thejob. Hmmm.Is that whatthey're
callingit thesedays?
Gemini(May22-June21)
Love:Dosomesocialoutreach.Pouron
yourpersonalcharmandseewhoslipsby.
Youmaygetto showeroff togetherlater.
countthis November.
Relationships
Career:
It's notwhatyouknowbutwhoyouknow,
especiallyaroundthe office.Oh,nowyou're
in trouble!
Cancer(June22-July23)
Love:Don'tignorepressingissuesat home.
Reducestressandmakeyourhomemore
Youmaybespendingmore
comfortable.
time therethanyouthinkwith you-knowYouare muchmoreproductive
who.Career:
at work.Orat leastyouseemthat wayas
youdelegateandgraball the credit.
(Dec.23-Jan.20)
Capricorn
hashereyeonyouat work.
Love:Someone
Try
Let'shopeit's notrapideyemovement.
Yourguardianangelis
to dazzleher.Career:
workingfor yourbenefit.Showyour Leo(July24-Aug.23)
feverishly
and
Love:Youcanbealluring,charismatic
bybeingdevilishlyexcellent.
appreciation
verysexyif youtry.Youknowwhatto sayto
getyourway.Nowlet'sseehowwayward
(Jan.21-Feb.19)
Aquarius
All eyesareupon
Love:Traveloffersyoua rangeof stimulating youcanreallybe.Career:
takegreat
youat workasthehigher-ups
adventures-alongwith a choicearrayof
Getintomischief. interestin yourcomingsthangoings.Willyou
stimulatingadventuresses.
impressor just press?Hey,whateverworks.
Takea riskat work.Youcouldsnag
Career:
thecorneroffice.If youdon't,just hideunder
Virgo(Aug.24-Sept.23)
yourdeskuntilthefalloutpasses.
Love:Lovehasa higherpricetagthiswinter.
whenyouwoo
Maybethatis whathappens
Pisces(Feb.20-March20)
baths.Tryit withjust
herwith champagne
Love:Youfind waysto useotherpeople's
Familyissues
moneyto lubricateyourlovelife,butareyou thebubblesinstead.Career:
mayrequiremoreattentionandresultin
Youhave
just anothergolddigger?Career:
morestress.A stronghandnowsavesyouan
a monthto impresstheseniorstaffbefore
later.
armanda legof aggravation
bonusseason.Willyoutakethe initiative
yourvalue?
anddemonstrate
Libra(Sept24-0ct.23)
Love:Youappearto betoo goodto betrue
Aries(March21-April20)
Butthat mightturnoutto be
this November.
Love:Nitpickyissuesreartheiruglyheads
too boring.It is betterto betoo badto resist.
andrainonyourprideparade.Waituntil
Askandyoushallreceiveat work.
Career:
mid-monthbeforeyoudecideona new
Butaskingfor it everyfive minuteswill not
direction.Whoknowswhereit couldlead?
Career:Moveandshakeamongthe movers getyouexactlywhatyouwant.
LESBOFILE
Steppin' Out
By Jocelyn Voo
Alter egos, lesbian romance and breakups come to light.
Jenkins' hand on the Queen's rear end. Only a week after the photos were published, others surfaced of Latifah arm-in-arm with another woman. Ahoy, rocky seas ahead?
LadyGagaGoesBothWays
Shock-pop singer LadyGagais •pretty hard
to miss (think cigarette sunglasses, a dress
made of Hello Kitty stuffed animals, no
pants). But now Gaga has gone incognito. In
the October issue of Vogue Hommes Japan,
the platinum blond singer looked every bit
the boy with short dark hair and a white
T-shirt with rolled up sleeves in her new
male persona, Jo Calderone-a
Sicilian
mechanic. when asked about his relationship
to Lady Gaga, Calderone replied, "I met her
at a shoot ... She's fuckin' beautiful, and funny
and interesting. I was a little nervous .... She
said, 'Don't be, baby, you were born this way:
I took her out after. The rest is private.
Someone's
Gota Crush
We weren't the only ones moved by Kristen
Stewart in The Runaways. "Truth is, she just
has an enormous gay vibe, her eyes, mannerisms, voice and the fact she looks far more
comfortable in The Runaways as a lesbian
than she ever did kissing Mr. Pattinson;' lesbian model Ruby Rose told AfterEllen.com
"Whatever her sexuality, that's her busi~ess,
but let's just hope for our sake she's a lesbian
because she would make a great one:' Word.
CoolestMomEver
Little more than a year after her sister,
Clementine Ford, 31, publicly announced
that she was gay, Cybill Shepherd's youngest
20
Icurve
daughter, ArielShepherd-Oppenheim,
22, came
out this summer, hand-in-hand with her girlfriend, at GLAAD's Media Awards. Fittingly,
Ford and Shepherd-Oppenheim were there
to present their mother with the Golden Gate
Award, given to media professionals who've
increased the visibility and understanding of
the LGBT community.
VisitingHours
Considering their tumultuous, drink-throwing
past, one might be surprised that Samantha
Ronson would even give the time of day to
her troubled ex, LindsayLohan.However,
after only serving a fraction of her jail and
rehab sentence, Lohan was paid a visit by
Ronson, who seems to be supportive of the
actor's recovery (Ronson had also visited her
at the Lynwood Correctional Facility, where
she was held). Looks like everyone gets a second (and third, fourth, fifth) chance.
Backonthe Market
Celeb hookups are all the rage (how else
can you explain Danielle Staub and Lori
Michaels?) but one celesbian marriage is
apparently on the rocks. Comic Suzanne
Westenhoefer
told audiences at the recent
Sweet resort vacation in sunny Cozumel,
TheLoveBoat
Mexico that her wife left her for "that proPeople have wondered about QueenLatifah's fessional volleyball player-the one without
sexuality, and the actress has always heartily kids:' Hmm, curious minds want to know.
denied speculation. Now new photos of her Any guesses?
and fitness trainer Jeanette Jenkins adding
fuel to the fire. While yachting off the coast SixSweetLittleWords
of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat in France, the two- .Jennifer
Aniston.
Full frontal. Lesbian three- w
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g
some was snapped in an embrace-with
some. In her next movie, Wanderlust.
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en
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OUTINFRONT
Speaking
Up and Out
These women give a voice to
the voiceless. By Sheryl Kay
someone when to come out, Fremaine says
she has, "been frightened many times, but
eventually you realize that fear itself is nothing
to be afraid of-let it come, but don't let it
dominate you, or limit your actions or deter,
mination. Most things are not nearly as scary as
you think they are, once you actually do them:'
Out
Speaking
Say the words"LGBT media wiz;' and its likely
name will be mentioned.
that CathyRenna's
It might be because of her 14 years at
the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against
Defamation (GLAAD), where she served in
numerous capacities, including the group's
first national news media director.
Others know Renna's more recent
work heading up her own PR firm, Renna
Communications, with wife Leah McElrath
Renna, where, in addition to representing
numerous progressive organizations and
foundations, Renna has worked with some
of the LGBT community's most critical orga~
EasternUnblocked
Five years ago, she found herself trapped in a
hotel in downtown Riga, Latvia, with an angry
homophobic mob pounding·at the doors and
a less than helpful police force on duty.
born in Sweden to
LindaAnnaFremaine,
Latvian nationals, was there as the organizer
of the Pride~themed Riga Friendship Days.
And what started out to be a day of educa,
tion and inclusivity turned out to be one of
the most frightening experiences of her life.
But it motivated her as well.
"It made me extremely angry and deter,
mined to continue this battle;' she says. 'The
Pride events are important because they place
the issue of LG BT rights on the political agenda
in all our countries. Nobody can say any longer
that there are no LGBT people here:'
Today, Fremaine is the project director and
chair of t4e board of the NGO Mozaika, a
group formed to promote the legal rights and
social integration of lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender people in Latvia.
"The sad fact is that most LGBT people·in
Latvia do not have a gay life;' she says. "Many
people of my generation and older are mar,
5
ried to someone of the opposite sex and have
...J
either suppressed their sexual identity all
w
their lives, or are leading double lives, hiding
(.)
:E
it from their partners:'
...J
:::)
Although she would never presume to tell
nizations, helping to secure much,needed
media coverage.
"The rewards and blessings of doing this
work are daily;' says Renna. "For me, it is
all about helping a 75,year~old woman tell
her story of coming out as transgender and
transitioning so late in life, a couple fighting
for marriage equality, young people thrown
out of their homes after coming out yet still
having hope for a good life, or getting good
science and real data to combat the anti,gay
organizations that continue to lie (about] and
marginalize our communities:'
Renna also says she firmly believesthat only
when the issues of sexism, classism and racism
within the LGBT community are addressed
will there be a road to finding true equality.
'J\11of us need to look long and hard in
the mirror and ask ourselves: What can I do
to advance better understanding of LGBT
people today and every dayt Renna says.
OntheDefense
If you think being a single mom with five
children is enough, take a look at LisaKove's
resume, and take a deep breath.
For the past 27 years, she's had a success~
ful career with the Department of Defense as
a special projects officer. Kove also served for
four years with the United States Navy, at one
point participating in the backstage support
effort of the Iranian hostage rescue mission.
"Our being gay was an 'open' secret;' says
Kove. "On occasion there would be witch
hunts and we and our male friends would
make believe we were together until the witch
hunts, would end:'
Today, Kove also serves as the executive
director of DOD Fed Globe, a grassroots
educational non,profit that advocates for
LGBT military employees. She's worked
on coordinating the first,ever vigil for a
murdered LGBT •service member, and
participated in debates, protests, speaking
engagements, training sessions, rallies and
videos regarding the repeal of Don't Ask,
Don't Tell.
'J\ctivism is for anybody who wants to
improve the world by working with others;'
observes Kove."The DOD is really the most
hostile federal work environment for LGBTs
in the entire government. A typical LGBT
employee at the DOD is afraid to lose a
good job, end up injured or worse-dead. I
could not sit back and so I am doing what
needs to be done:' This story is based on the
life and opinion of Ms. Kove, as the executive
directorof DOD FED GLOBE and it is not
intended to reflectthe opinion of her employer,
the Department of Defense."
November/December 2010
I21
DYKE
DRAMA
I Taken With the Taken
I
The woes of bedding the wedded. By Michele Fisher
She ain't leaving her husband for you. I
know it's mean, but it's true.
Is there any chance at all? Well, if she
has just discovered or acknowledged her
homosexuality and you are the very first
female lover she has ever had, then yes,
there is a chance. But if she has always
known who she is and you are the second
or hundredth extracurricular girlfriend,
then you will just be one of the many girls
who fade in and then fade out of her (and
her husband's) life.
221
curve
But she told you that you were special.
And you are, kitten~ really you are, but
not special enough to change her entire
existence.
f have limited experience with women
who are married to men. At least I think
I do. As far as the gals I picked up for a
quickie and never saw again, I was all Don't
Ask, Don't Tell, so I really have no idea how
many of them called a man a mate. _
My one encounter was when I was 18
and I was crushed out on a 30~something~
year~old hottie in my freshman Spanish
class. She owned a ranch, wore real cowboy
boots and seemed mighty curious about
how the other 10 percent lived. Sh~ talked
about her kids, who were almost as old as
I was, but when the subject of her husband
came up, she was dismissive and indicated
that he was never around.
She was forever inviting me to the ranch
to "study:' We never got much studying
done. We always got into deep conversations
about life and there would always be a
lot of incidental physical contact, which
eventually evolved into her telling me she
always wanted to be a massage therapist
and rubbing my back while we chatted.
I was young, but I wasn't stupid when
it came to figuring out how straight girls
worked themselves up to making the first
move, so I let it happen. Eventually, she
asked me to come over and not study.
It was the night I had been dreaming
about for months. "It" was finally going to
happen. This time, instead of her dropping
me off at the bus station to catch the 10
p.m. back home, I would be staying at the
ranch and we would drive in to school in
the morning together in her pick up, just
like Bobby and Pam Ewing on Dallas!
We were in her bed and she was giving
me the speech. You know, the speech that
straight girls always give you about not
knowing what they are doing sexually and
not wanting to disappoint you, blah blah.
That speech is usually the straight woman's
last~ditch effort to get you to make the first
move, so she can fall back on her reluctance
if things go bad. But I was no amateur- I
wasn't about to let her off the hook after all
the months of waiting and wanting.
When it was obvious I wasn't going for
it, she sighed and rolled over to turn out a:
the light. Then she rolled toward me and
w
sat bolt upright up in bed. I heard it too,
the sound of somet_hing big rolling up her
gravel driveway. Perhaps some farmhand
was returning a tractor, but the way she was :.:::
t
jumping around yelling the F-word and
throwing my clothes at me gave me reason
to believe something more significant was
occurring.
Turns out, her husband was a drummer
in a country-western band and the band
was stopping at the ranch for a few stolen
days of R&R during a long road trip. That
crunching in the driveway was his tour bus
full of hick musicians who were eager to
sleep i~ a house for a change.
I was unceremoniously shuttled to her
daughter's room to sleep in a Mickey
Mouse sleeping bag on the floor. I was
lucky enough to have a heating grate near
my head, so I had a front row seat to ·the
welcome home sex show between her and
her husband in the bedroom below mine. I
got even less sleep than they did.
I dropped the Spanish class the next day.
Que lastima.
Many have told me that I got off lucky.
If you are with a woman who is with a
man, there are only so many ways for it to
end: poorly, crappy and shitty. And please
spare me the letters proclaiming a lifetime
of bliss w_ith a formerly married woman.
Like I said before, if you are the first
and/ or your girl is just figuring out that
she is gay, then you and she may go on to
live happily ever after. (Although she is
still likely to find another girl she likes to
sleep with even more than you. But that is
another column.)
I am talking about the kind of woman
who has been married to the same man
for years and intends to stay that way. She
takes women lovers to satisfy her need for
female sex and energy, but ultimately girls
are just a side dish to her heterosexual
entree. She may tell you that she loves
you. She may even insist that you tell her
that you love her. But loving you does not
translate to building a life with you.
Hey, being a girl-toy is not such a bad
thing. Personally, I think it's nice work if
you can get it. Just don't mistake her taking
you to Palm Springs for her being in love
with you.
And the oft-ignored little angel on my
left shoulder would also like to remind
you that taken is taken. Yeah, me and the
little angel are willing to look the other
way if the object of your affection is in
a place where being a dyke could get her
killed, or her husband is going to take
the kids and run, or some other Lifetime
TV situation, but let's face it, things are
rarely that serious. Cheating is usually just
cheating. You can tell yourself that you are
helping her be true to herself while she is
living a lie, but doesn't that just make you
another lie?
And don't give me any of that bisexual
doublespeak. The bi community doesn't
want to be associated with your emotional
treachery either. "I like both" doesn't mean
both at the same time.
Of course the little person with a
pitchfork on my right shoulder would like
you to know that "evil" spelled backward
is "live:' As in, you must live a little before
you die. So, maybe it's okay to meet her for
bring a sleeping
a little study session-but
bag in case her hubby comes home.
November/December
2010
I 23
POLITICS
I
I
End of a Decade
Yes, 2010 is finally over. Now it's time for change.
By Victoria A. Brownworth
I haven't been aware of decades changing
As 2011 looms on the horizon, I don't want
much in my life; one year has basically slid to look back over the past decade, so much as
into the next with little fanfare, save for those I want to look forward to the next. I want to
annual holiday celebrations. The last onereflect, naturally, but only in as much as it
the millennium change-was, of course, a leads somewhere.
huge event, a shift I couldn't help but pay
For the holidays, I usually write about spirit
attention to. With Y2K fears spreading
-uality, giving and the promise wrought each
globally, I stocked my basement with water, year to be our most thoughtful and generfood (for us and the cats) and other necessities ous and selfless selves. The holiday seasonin the weeks preceding the big New Year's •Thanksgiving through the New Year-has to
event. I also had all my computer files backed be about more than conspicuous consumpup. I wasn't one of the Y2K crazies, but I was, tion and the buying of more stuff. It has to be
admittedly, somewhat nervous.
about reflection and what we can and will do
Nothing happened, of course, except for to make the rest of the year as fullof generosity
worldwide fireworks and myriad televised of spirit as the holiday season is.
celebrations. Then we were officially in 2000
The end of a decade plus the start of the
and the years began again to slide into one holiday season should invite reflection, both
another. This decade ushered in so much personal and global. It isn't only at the holiterribleness: the Bush-Gore presidential fiasco, days that people are in need and lonely and
9 Ill, two wars for the U.S. and many others devastated. It isn't only at the change of a
worldwide, a global recession, earthquakes,
decade that people need to reflect. It isn't only
floods, fires, famine in over 20 nations, an at the end of a year that we need to count both
uptick in female infanticide, trafficking of our losses and our blessings and envision what
women and girls and women being stoned to we can do to give more, take less, be more, lose
death. Now that this decade is done, I know less for the coming year.
I'm not alone in stating that I won't miss it.
This past year has been rough for me, yet
24
Icurve
the challenges were buffered by many positive
moments, and it is those I want to build upon.
I was seriously ill for much of2010 and nearly
died in March and again in early September.
But as frightening as those experiences were,
and as difficult as the road back from the
brink was, I faced all that with the help of my
partner _andmy good close friends. And so in
the end I feel gratitude-for surviving and for
the love that surrounded me as I recovered.
Throughout the past decade, I have found
that work is to be one of the most sustaining
things we can do-work for ourselves and
work for others. So, in addition to my lover
and my friends, my work saw me through the
difficult times and kept me whole.
I founded a small independent publishing
house in 2010. Tiny Satchel Press publishes
young adult books because I wanted to reach
out to some groups of kids I felt were being
ignored by the still mostly white, mostly
male, mostly upper-middle-class, mostly
straight books available for kids who are
tweens and teens.
I also continued to run the cat rescue
organization my partner and I maintain with
the help of two close friends, despite serious
financial setbacks, largely because people are
abandoning their animals more than ever
due to the recession and these animals need
our help to survive. And as a survivor mysel£
I wanted to do that outreach, especially to
vulnerable animals.
I spent a lot of time doing _politicalwork,
. both locally and nationally, because I feel
the two main political parties have utterly
failed all but the wealthiest Americans. The
Republicans have never had anything to offer
me-a queer and working-class womanbut the unfulfilled promises of the Democrats
have left me feeling even more bereft than I
felt in the last decade of Republican-run government. The lies of the Bush/ Cheney years
were egregious, which made the hopefulness
. some of us pinned on the Democrats probably
unattainable. The false promise of the Obama
presidency, in which women and queers were
shafted repeatedly and told to put our civil
rights on hold until a more convenient time
arises, has been frustrating. The continued
use of war and torture as foreign policy strat- :1,
w
egies, the failure to ~lose Guantanamo, the
escalating unemployment and underemployment, particularly among the poor, has been u..
5
FROM STUDIOTO
CAMPAIGNTRAIL
devastating. We need better politicians
than we have. So that's a fight I continue to
engage in-to get more women and queers
into politics and to make the politicians we
have more accountable. •
.Feminism might be "post" for some, but
as long as women and girls are secondclass around the world, including in
our own country, feminism is the most
essential and dynamic political force 'in
the world today-the only true answer to
the destructive forces of gender violence,
homophobia and racism, which remain
pervasive here and abroad. So feminist
work has been a major focus of both the
last year and last decade for me. I find
that younger women especially believe
feminism is over. I want to convince them
it is not.
I've spent the last decade dedicated
specifically to working against the trafficking of women and girls. The selling of
women's bodies-girls as young as 5 are
sold into sex slavery in India, Pakistan,
The end of a decade
plusthe startof the
holidayseasonshould
invitereflection,both
personaland global.
Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam,
China, all of the Eastern Bloc, throughout
Latin America and in all the island nations
of the Western Hemisphere-is
one of
the most destructive weapons being used
against females worldwide, which is why I
have been engaged in this battle for more
than a decade.
And so the decade is nearly at an end.
Before a line is drawn through the last day,
however, we will have the holidays laid
out.before us in all their glittery, sparkling
splendor. It's all as enticing as it is every
year. The opportunities to give of ourselves
are immense. It would be a shame not to
take advantage of them.
One friend of mine is spending her
holidays visiting older women in her community. Women are three times as likely
as men to be single after 65. My friend
believes that building community among
these older single women is an essential
element of her personal lesbian feminism.
She's holding a solstice dinner for 30 single
older women in her neighborhood.
Another friend of mine in a different
city is hosting a holiday party for lesbian
couples and their children, while another is
getting her lesbian friends to each "adopt" a
woman in prison and promise to write to
her once a week throughout the year.
As for me, I'm looking forward to this
year's holidays with excitement. One of
the things I had planned for this holiday season was book-giving. I live in a
poor neighborhood. The schools near
my house are wretched and none has a
library. Most of the kids who live near me
are without books.
Books sustained me as a child, just as
writing sustains me as an adult. I cannot
imagine surviving my childhood without
books, and the worlds they let me escape
into. So I am organizing a book drive for
the three elementary schools in my neighborhood, in hope that every child in every
grade is given a new book for the holidays.
Their own book-not
used, not worn.
New ~nd just for them.
And so as the year-and the decadedraws to a close and the holidays draw
near, join me as I pause and reflect-on
the year (and decade) passing and on the
one about to unfold. We always have
opportunities to give, but the holidays are
a perfect excuse. Women and girls worldwide-in our own communities and in
our global community-need
our help.
Queers oppressed and repressed in the
majority of non-Western nations of the
world need our help. Our own queer communities need our help. So much giving
needs to be done and there are not enough
of us to do it.
So with ~hat in mind, embrace the
season as a huge gift. Get your friends
together and choose a holiday "project"
that celebrates your lesbianism, your
feminism, your belief that the world can
be a better place if we all make an effort.
The end of a decade is approaching, but
so is the beginning of a new one. Start with
Thanksgiving-give thanks for all that you
have. And then start ... giving.
WhenartistDebraWalkermoved
toSanFrancisco
in1981,she
foundanaffordable
spaceat
Developing
Environments,
a
36-studio
live/work
artistco-op
andSanFrancisco's
firstlegal
artistresidence.
Andshe'sbeen
thereeversince,
surrounded
onallsidesby
painters,
sound
artistsandcircus
artists.
Walker's
live/work
spacehasallowed
hertosurvive
asanartistinoneofthemost
expensive
citiesinthecountry.
Herapartment
is
partitioned
intostudio
andlivingquarters,
which
allowsheraccess
toherworkaround
theclock.
"Every
timeI havelikea sparehourI gointhere
andpaintbecause
it'sthere,it'sopen,it'sleft
out.Space,
forvisualartists,
isreallyimportant."
Walker's
appreciation
forherunique
work
spacehasledherintoactivism.
Asa member
of
theCoalition
forJobs,ArtsandHousing,
Walker
aimstosecuremoreaffordable
spaces
for
artists.
"There's
twominds,"
shesays."Some
artists
feel_like
theyneedtoremain
outside
of
society.
Andthenthere'sothers
whoaremore
likecommunity
artists."
Walker
isa community
artistwhose
activism
hasledherdeepintothepolitics
oflanduse
andurbanplanning.
Sheisa member
oftheSan
Francisco
Democratic
County
Central
Committee
anda CityofSanFrancisco
Building
Inspection
Commissioner.
Thisyearshekicked
offa
campaign
torunfordistrict
supervisor.
"IthinkI
mightwinthisraceforsupervisor,"
shesays."So
I'mgoing
tohavetofigureouthowtokeepan
activeartproject
goinginmyofficeatCityHall."
Herpolitics
aredrivenbyherexperience
notonlyasanartist,butalsoasa lesbian.
She
isoneofonlysixwomento everbeelected
president
ofthepowerful
Harvey
MilkLGBT
Democratic
Clubandsitsonadvisory
boards
fortheQueer
ArtsFestival
andtheQueer
Cultural
Center.
Lastyear,afterCalifornia's
Prop.8 ruling,
Walker
joinedinprotest
with
activist
KipWilliams
andwasarrested
for
disobeying
a peaceofficerandjaywalking.
(Charges
werelaterdismissed.)
"Thecoming
together
ofqueeryouth,queer
supporters,
thefaithcommunity
anddiverse
communities
wastrulyinspiring
to usall,"
shesays."I believethatartistsplaya keyrole
in howoursocietymovesforwardfromthis
collapse."
[NinaLary]
November/December
2010
I 25
GIFT
I
THIS YEAR, WE WENT
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environment.
actslike
casefor the iPod/iPhone
butis madeof recycled
neoprene,
Workoff yourcarbon
materials.
footprintalongwiththoseextra
pounds.($35,marware.com)
15.Prana'sE.C.0.Matis toxicfree,just likeyou'llbeaftera two
hourBikramclass.Greatcushion,
plentylongfor thoseDownward
to befully
Dogsanddesigned
($44,prana.com)
biodegradable.
Shetv.ood,
Lau,Virginia
David
Nelson,
Randy
McMillan,
byHayley
Photos
Asnn
HolzandEmmelle
George
Kallman,
Naomi
SonjaFlemming,
Barbe,
Ondrea
26lcurve
andLisaDahlstrom
Gronlng
Ulrica
Sparks,
byBrianne
HairandMakeup
November/December
2010
I27
I
I
•
19.Slllbaam
TablllDp
Fapcanl
Makar
turnsanyroomIntoa theater.
Perfect
for
watching11le
1111111
L Md SeaunOne
withyourfriends.(Popcorn
maker:$100,
sunbeam.com
L Kt>nt:
;
$37,sho.com)
20.Beingorganized
is sexyWltt1
KangaRaam'1
Media
Waly,whichusesanywall
orover-1he-door
spaceto organizeall the
accessortes
thatcomewithelectronic
devices,tllnlng blankwallsIntogadget
holdalls.
Their11111181m
K8aper
organizes
everything
else.($30andup,
kangaroomstorage.com)
21.Forthetequilaconnoisseur,
DasLimas
Tequilafillsthebill.It'shandcrafted
fromthe
finestblueagaveandis chemical-and
pesticidefree($40andup,doslunas.com)
22.Beingstylishandgloballyconscious
cango
hand-in-hand
thanksto companies
likeMata
'lnlders.
Alltheirfair-trade
jewelryis handmade
bywomen's
collectives
in IndiaGiveyourladya
giftthatsupports
others.($14andup,
matatraders.com)
23.You'lllooklikea dykeactionheroin Apap,,
ma Clgllal'sMadMaxmeetsIndiana
Jones
boots.Theycomewiththeirowncarryingcase,
butsinceyou'Hnevertake'emoff,youwon't
needIt ($283,zappos.com)
24.WalCandy
Arla'PaelandSlickFrnleIClt
comeswiththreeframes,
fauxtacksandtape
foreffect.Useanapplikeromp.com
to getthat
Poloraid
feel.($18,wallcandyarts.com)
25.Design-lovers
likeMikeylookto costume
designer
Edllh
Headfor inspiration.
lhls tome
documents
her50-yearcareer,
including
her
workonRearWU1dow,
SunsetBoulevarr/
andAll
AboutEWJ.
($75,perseusbooks.com)
28.lesbian-owned
LuckyDag...._ offers
upa modem
version
oftheclassicdykebeltLet
yourinnerstudshow.($68,luckydogleather.com)
'ZI.JanineBasil'sFascillllors
areall
aboutretroglamour
witha modem
twist Simplydivine.($24andup,
etsy.com/shop/janinebasiO
28.ISldn's
AmiTolawith11sadorable
graphicdesignis theperfectbagfor
thegirtonthego-end herlaptop.
($99, iskin.com)
29.We'renutsabouttheW8lwaPludall
Amazonian
UpBalm.Allnaturalandpackagedin a hand-carved
Amazon
nogalnut,
it's madein smallquantities
bylocalwomen
in need.($16,minimus.biz)
30.Dellcate
anddramatic,
theClalsonn6
Kai
Pond
Nacldace
boastsa fullyarticulating
fantail.($32,shopolivine.com)
31.Dallface
Glamcu..... Gois a great
giftfortheJet-setter.
Con1aining
afull
skincareregimen
InFAA-friendly
sizes.
Plus,theattractive
retrocarryingcasecan
bereused.
($50,shopolivine.com)
32.Eyelash
conditioner.
It maysoundsilly
untilyouseeNaulash's
results,longer.
fuller
healthier
lashes.
Makesa greatluxurygift
forsomeone
special.
($85,neulash.com)
33.A pairof quirky,sexySWlllyBiniHeals
fromPoeticLicence
will bea high-femme
holidayhit ($140,poeticllcence.us)
34.Za2aZing!DS.,._, SWlnMlldCr,slll
HeloIOllylPhone
caseis allthesparkly
goodness oneiPhone
cantake!Theyhave
dozens
of otherbejeweled
optionsto choose
from.($220,dsstyles.com)
35.Accessorize
yourpet'sbootywith
RearGear'sadorablebumcovers.
Ourfavorites:
thecupcake and
discoball.($5,reargear.com)
.. Visually
sllJ1ning
andunbelievably
ctami1g,
KlrbJ'•EpicYamis a guaranteed funtimefor
anyvideogamefan.($50,gamestop.com)
:n.100ClaallcBoobforthe NintendoOS
turnsthehandheld
deviceintoa portable
library.Lltll8Women?
Yep,It'sonthere,with
99 more.($20,gamestop.com)
38.1.miefaveTildaSwinton
blewusaway
withI AIRLalla,a tragic lovestorysetIna
lushMilansetting.($25,amazon.com)
39.Gi1ygamerswillkMtthenewpink
,.., ..... 3 DualSbackCGnlralar.
($55,gameamp.com)
Lesboslovebeautyproductsaimedat dudes.Here
area fewwe dig:RealShaving's
DailyFaceScrub,
NickelBodyCooler,
DHCforMenFaceCreamandA
WildSoap's
wildMAN
Shaving
Kit(withhandmade
sassafras
shavingsoapandmatchingboarbristle
brush).(Real:$6,RealShavingShop.com;
Nickel:$35,
nickelskincareformen.com;
DHC:$15,dhccare.com;
$28,awildsoapbar.com)
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••·······························•
November/December
2010
I29
GIF
57.TheseDomopartylightsfromDark
Horsearesostrange,yetsocute.($15,
darkhorse.com)
40.If a remotecanbesexyit'sthe
OneAdvanced
Hannony
Logitec
backlittouch
Beautiful
Remote.
Universal
Withthe
design.
screenandit' ergonomic
45.SaraGilbertas hilariousphysicist
it's
3 adapter,
PlayStation
Harmony
LeslieWinkleplusnerdhumorgalore
($250,logitech.corn) is whyyoushouldgeteveryone
compatible.
Bluetooth
a
The
copyof TheBigBangTheory:
41. Satisfyyourinneractionfigure
DVD.($35,
ThirdSeason
Complete
fully
collectorwiththesegeektastic,
wbshop.corn)
StarWarsUSBdrives.($30
sculptured
andup,tyrnernachines.corn)
MitchellandMorena
46.Elizabeth
Signus
Baccarinin highdefinition?
for gadgetgirls:the
42.Aneco-solution
FirstSeason
upfor TheComplete
Compatible
solarcharger.
KIWIChoice
($40,wbshop.corn)
DVD/Blu-ray.
iPadsandmore.
cameras,
with phones,
($60,kiwichoice.corn)
chic
superheroine
47.Handmade
byJanineBasil
headbands
graphic
charged
USB
retro
43.Thisadorably
will thrill yourfavoritecomiclover.
keepsyour
Cooler
Beverage
desktop
($125,etsy.corn/shop/janinebasil)
RedBullicy-cold.($20,thinkgeek.corn)
48. ForJedisandgeekydykes,Think
'80s
44.GreatScott!Thecheese-tastic
Bagis
Geek'sTaunTaunSleeping
trilogyis finallyon
BacktotheFuture
the perfectwayto cozyup.($100,
Shue-in.($60,
Blu-ray.AnElizabeth
thinkgeek.corn)
nbcuniversalstore.corn)
fangirls
49.First-person-shooter
virtualequality.TheOber
celebrate
popularseriesfinallyincludesa
playablefemalecharacterin Halo:
Reach.($60,garnestop.corn)
50.FableIll maybethegayestgame
to hitTVscreenssince,well,Fable
marriageand
romance,
II.Sarne-sex
familiesin a darkfairytaleepic.($60,
garnestop.corn)
51. Sexyfemalespacebounty-hunter
Other
Aranis backin Metroid:
Sarnus
M.Getyourgamingfeministdanderup
withthe newfantasticWiiadventure.
($50,garnestop)
52.BuckRogers'spaceheroineWilma
Deeringputsoutthe call"SpaceGirls
Unite"onthis riotgrrrlretroremixbelt
bucklefromDarkHorse.Don'tknow
Lookherup,now!
WilmaDeering?
($22,darkhorse.corn)
58. Glarn-uphermobilewithliterally
of funky,sexyandadorable
hundreds
fromDSStyles.($20and
phonecases
up,dsstyles.corn)
53.Notpictured:Feistyplantsbattlethe
addictivePlants
undeadin the diabolically
ForPC,Mac,Xboxand
vs.Zombies.
iPhone.($15andup,popcap.corn)
DSseries
Nintendo
54.Theenchanting
andthe
Layton
with Professor
continues
I dareyounotto get
Future.
Unwound
hookedonthisdelightfulbrainteaser.Not
($35,garnestop.com)
Pictured.
SG-U:Stargate
55.Syfy'slesbotastic
FirstSeason
TheComplete
Universe:
in HD.
Blu-raysetis spaceadventure
($42,foxconnect.com)
56.Buffyloversunite:TheBuffyThe
Slayermugis geekycoffeeVampire
for a kick-asscuppa.
loversmust-have
or summonthesexywiththisWillow
laptopcover.($13and up,
GelaSklns
darkhorse.corn)
..., ............................... .
30
Icurve
59.It doesn'tget muchbetterthan
Company's
Scooter
California
fibersexybikes.TheBabydoll
($5,000,
modelhasusswooning.
californiascooterco.corn)
60.Sanrio'sHellokittysequinbaghas
just enoughroomfor a wallet,phone,
cashandID.Comfyandclear,it doesn't
getcuterthantheseHelloKittyheadbyAerial7. (Bag:$55,sanrio.
phones
$80,aerial7.corn)
com;Headphones:
needthe
bombshells
61. Burlesque
minitophatfromJanine
handmade
Basil.Maybeshe'llevendoa little
dancefor you!($155,etsy.corn/shop/
janinebasil)
66. Bethwouldbe captivatedby this
comfortable
gorgeousandsurprisingly
Silk
SteelBoned
plus-sizeBaronessa
...............................
whichwhittlesyourwaistupto 4
Corset,
inches.Pairit withthis romanticParisian
SteelBoned
Skirtor try theirValentina
($60andup,hipsandcurves.corn)
Underbust.
arefunkystretch
67.UrbanglamCellies
thatlet youwearyourcell
_ cuff bracelets
phoneinsteadof carryingit. ($35,mycelies.corn)·
is the
Necklace
68.TooFast'sCupcake
perfectgiftfor yourlittlecupcake.($20,
toofastonline.corn)
dockis perfect
iCrystal
62.Speakal's
for bumpingyouriPodDittomix(put
"Standingin theWayof Control"on
repeat).($80,speakal.corn)
jewelry
69.WickedMinky'shand-painted
is funky,
liliesnecklace)
(likethestargazer
($26,etsy.corn/
andaffordable.
irreverent
shop/wickedminky)
a bit of mystery
63.Giveyourcorkboard
($1O,
withtheseNinjastarpushpins.
•
thinkgeek.corn)
CoverGirlsjournalis
70.TheTerada
a sexy,queerstockingstufferfor your
prolificgirlfriend.($10,darkhorse.corn)
withtheTooFast
64.Gethardcore
handbagorthe Brass
BrassKnuckles
MugfromThinkGeek.(Bag:
Knuckle
Mug:$16,
$40,toofastonline.corn;
thinkgeek.corn)
BookofShadows
65.UrbanDecay's
shades,
Vol.Ill,with16eyeshadow
isthemustprimerandtwoeyepencils,
set.($54,urbandecay.corn)
havemakeup
·•••••··
pistolsand
71. Petticoats,
lesbiansaboundin HBO's
TheComplete
Deadwood:
Series.RobinWeigert'sfoulmouthedCalamityJaneis more
thanworththe priceof the Bluray.($210,store.hbo.com)
72.TooFast'sWhitneyLenox
is cirque
pullover
Two-faced
canget
couturefashonistas
behind.($66,toofastonline.corn)
I
I
!o~~
BISEXUAL DO-GOODER
your
73.Position
phoneinany
withthe
direction
PadcoCellPod.
Perfectforairlinetray
tables,desks,treebranches.
($25,pedcopods.com)
74.1haSolarSpartOnn usespostrecycledplasticbotues,
consumer
to concentrate
andInsulation
aluminum
funto
the sun'sheatto cook.Eco-friendly,
($199,
orbackyard.
useinthebackwoods
realgoods.com)
homeswiththeEco
80.Green
Kit,whichhelpsyou
S1artar
Hatchery
emissions,
easilyreducecarbondioxide
waterandlowerutilitybills.
conserve
($98,ecohatchery.com)
waterBugsaretherare
81.Moszkito's
withbuiltinarch
sandals
waterproof
support.($40,moszkito.com)
Labs'Yadoti) 3rdGen
75.Creative
isafun,small
C8mcarder
Video
Pock8t
thatoffers
4GBvideocamera
awesome
Tube,
withYou
simplevideosharing
($150,myvado.com)
andmore.
Facebook
thattheGrab-It
82.It'snowonder
Pack-tJllimatlGadgetHolslar-iS
gadget
by~.
beloved
thana
andcarpenters.Sexier
lovers
fannypack,betterthana purse,a must.
($25,grabitpack.com)
Knifel)'JToolLogic
18.Sl3 Fallllng
opensandcloseswithonehand,hasa
blade,spearpoint,emergency
razor-sharp
andfirestarterthatworkseven
whistJe
whenwet ($35,rel.com)
Faodle
83.ThehandyMoblle
SmvlvalKit,stockedwithorganic
kicks
spices andextraslikewasabi,
upa notch.($35,
cooking
campfire
uncommongoods.com)
77.Stayintoochwithfriendsbackhome
Mashaand
colorful
withtheadorably
($13,
NesllngDoiNalacards.
Frtands
chroniclebooks.com)
Hanclllld
84.WithChal'nVegglchop
VagalableChoppseco-gourmands
from
likeSeacanchopeverything
no
to nuts,withnobatteries,
veggies
plugin.($30,williamsonoma.com)
DigitalAudioEcoExlrame
78.TheGrace
caseis
Speaker
AllTerrain
Rugged
and
waterproof,workswithMp3players
to clip
Witha carabiner
cells,andcomes
1entorRVdoor.($50,
onto yourbackpack,
gracedigitalaudlo.com)
battery
Star-Certified
Energy
79.Duracell's
gals.The
aregreatforon-the-go
chargers
inanhourand.includes
6olllblll charges
wallcord,caradapterandpre-charged
GoEayis sosmallitfitsIna
batteries.
($13andup,amazon.com)
pocket.
32
MICHAELA
ASANGELAONBONES
I curve
wiflloveSimpleShoes'
86.Eco-girls
boots.
Taestsweaterknitsneaker
cotton,eco-certified
Comfyorganic
made
andbottoms
suedeandleather
fromrecycledcartires.($75andup,
simpleshoes.com)
Spark is
88.LightMyFire'sBPA-free
super
Teflon-friendly,
a heat-resislant,
($3
fork,knifecombo.
spoon,
durable
andup,rei.com)
andless
87.Formoremeaning
to Doctors
try a donation
consumerism,
can
A$1Odonation
Borders.
Without
againstmeningitis
1Opeople
vaccinate
underthe
and$50cantreat100children
($1and
frommalaria.
ageof 5 suffering
)
up,doctorswithoutborders.org/donate
program
Adopta Creature
88.Oceana*
andSavethe GuffT-shirtletsyouhelp
geta personalized
theGulf.Giftrecipients
andkit.($35andup,
certificate
adoption
oceana.org/adopt)
Tea
Green
Pomegranate
89.Pomega5's
bodytreat.
SkinDetoxKitis a healthy
($20,pomega5.com)
Geta Xoopiibag,
90.Makea difference.
YorkiiorJusticeHelpers
likethisSmooch
bagsmadefromused
bag;reusable
REPT
byurbanartists.
designed
plasticbottles,
($15andup,xoopii.com)
withthis
91.Helpbuildurbangardens
lightweight
collapsible,
easy,portable,
($65,
WheelEasyWheelbarrow.
uncommongoods.com)
92.A WildSoapbaris likesoapart.Try
or Horsemint
SagewithRosemary
Desert
vegan,
Clay.Biodegradable,
withGreen
carbonoffsetandprofitsgo
cruelty-free,
to charity!($5 andup,awildsoapbar.com)
leopardprintJungleBug
93.Moszkito's
sandalofferstonsof archsupportin a sexy
dayto nightslipon.($65,moszkito.com)
of everyonlinepurchase
94.A percentage
Target
youmakefromstoreslikeAmazon,
if
or Macy'sgoesto yourfavoritenonprofit
(Free,
NotPictured.
youuseGoodShop.com.
goodshop.com)
weget
to Peopleis a philosophy
95.BeGood
Geta tee,onesieortote.($8andup,
behind.
begoocltopeople.com)
CONLIN
withTheMeat
100.Gohealthyandgourmet
by Washington
Cookbook
Meatless
Lovers
Table,
or FromTerra's
PostscribeKimO'Donnel
localvore
veteran
fromSanDiego's
withrecipes
California
andinfoonSouthern
restaurant
foodsystems
sustainable
gardens,
community
$19,powells.com;
(Meat:
andfarmersmarkets.
$33,chefspress.com)
Terra:
activistswouldlovea queer
101.Reading
zineor graphicnovel(likeTheFlow
($3andup,
fromMicrocosm.
Chronicle~
microcosmpublishing.com)
jcunal(help
"Bou"
canopy
96.GetanEcojot
theworld'sforests)ora JaneGoodall
protect
journal(andtheysendonefreeto a kidin
bygasfrom
Theirpapermillis powered
need).
site!($15,paperposey.com)
a garbage
ever:Vs.Mitlens
ff1.Thebestanimalmittens
Hoopla.
craftycompany
V'lfromgay-owned
of predatorand prey
mittens
Thesehandmade
andsodamncuteyou'll
aresweatshop-free
wantall6 sets.($38,hoorayhoopla.com)
Muholi's
98.AnyartistwoulddigZanele
black-and-white
FacesandPhases,
powerful
inSouthAfricaand
of blacklesbians
portraits
($26,amazon.com)
beyond.
99.Wantto getlei'd?GiveherOlisofAloha's
madefrom
KukuiOilandLotion,
Organic
($20,
NotPictured.
kukuiseedoil in Hawaii.
target.com)
102.JtlllperRidgeis greatforearthgirls:
biodegradable,
based,
is vegetable
packaging
and10%of proceeds
recyclable
compostable,
Thesmudge
wilderness!
goto defendwestern
andsoaparegreat,butyour
sticks,sachets
hitsof
Gift,a greatest
bestbetisthecascadia
($8andup,juniperridge.com)
products.
.November/December
2010
I33
GE
GUID
20 0
I
I
with
OVen
DigitalCountertop
114.Oster's
to
is cuteandcompactbutbigenough
convection
cookdinnernightly(trustus),hasspeedyconvection
andis easyto clean.($80,walmart.com)
112.DaleandThomasGourmet
hasa 6-bagsamplerwith
Popcorn
savoryandsweet(likechocolate
($30andup,
chunkcaramel).
Pairit
daleandthomaspopcorn.com)
withoneof thesegreatnewDVDs
and
($10andup,wolfevideo.com
amazon.com):
thingssleekat homeis
103.Keeping
a modern
Vynebar,
Astrid'sstyle.Enter,
systemthatturnswineinto
storage
a workof art.18colors.($40andup,
vynebar.com)
Sayit proudwith
104.GotBeaverFever?
a limitededitionposterfromthebutch
Buy
Fever.
powerpopbandBeaver
$30,etsy.com
theirCD,too.(Poster:
CD:$15,
/shop/strangechildink;
beaverfeverssantacruz.com)
scented11YouSay
105.Thetomato-basil
I SayFuckYou"airfreshener
Tomato,
retrolook,modernsemantics,
combines
blackTenninato
whiletheawesome,
Soapsmellsjustlikea vine-ripened
Soap:
tomatoplant.(Car:$3,blueq.com;
$6,etsy.com/shop/Soaperhero)
106.FewUSBflashdrivesareascuteas
limitededitionHelloKitty,
MIM0BOT's
andsupergayFairybit2.
Badtz-Maru
($35,mimoco.com)
I'
TVTuner
Hybrid
EyeTV
107.Elgato's
turnsyourMacor PCintoa TVand
Stickall-in-one
Witha Macyoucanevenshare
digitalrecorder.
withyouriPodor iPador recordBlu-raydiscswith
thepressof a button.($150,elgato.com)
the
108.Hardworkersneedto letoffsteam:hence,
Wii
newSuperMarioGalaxy2 fortheNintendo
of
lesbian
(whichlet'syouplaycooperatively-very
for
from505Games
TheGame
you)andGrease:
theOne
Wiior DS.Sing16movietracks(like"You're
oruploadyour
learnchoreography
ThatI Want"),
($30and
(hello,Rizzo!).
faceto yourfavecharacter
up,gamefly.com)
camera
109.There'ssimplynomoregorgeous
Mr.Pink.
Edition
thantheDianaF+ Special
Datingbackto theearly1960s,theall-plastic
Dianacamerais a cultlegendfamousfor its
Thisfaithful
radiantlo-fiimages.
dreamy,
with
isa lovinghomage
reproduction
A toppick!($105,
greatnewfeatures.
usa.shop.lomography.com)
0
Active
110.Audlo-Technica
Headphones
NoiseCancelling
noiseby90%,
reduceenvironmental
perfectfor longflightsto mysterious
($80andup,amazon.com)
destinations.
111.Astridwouldlove
Prime
theaward-winning
TheComplets
Suspect:
themost
Collection,
femalecopshow
superlative
9-discset.
ever,in a wonderful
($125,acornonline.com)
34
I curve
The13thSeason
TheSlmpsons:
TheKidsAreAllRight
Liar(alesborom-com)
Four-Faced
of
FamilyGuy:PartialTenns
Endeannent
Rrst
WhiteCollar:TheComplete
(a lesbianFed!),Bonekickers
Season
Brits)
(chick-centric
(rockon!)
TheRunaways
Mysteries
Strachy
TheDonald
4-pack(gaymysteries)
snag
113.Orif you'renaughty,
Films'retroraunchfest,
Girlfriends
the
Pin-UpGirls,orF,eldofSchemes,
firstlesbiansoftballteamadultfilmever.
($23,girlfriendsfilms.com)
Trythetinyretro"I'm
littlehelper?
115.Mommy's
tinbankor
Savin'upforSomeMoreValium"
EraseYourPastTea.($8andup,blueq.com)
CrockPotCook&Carry
121.Thefantastic
is hipperthanyourmom's
SlowCooker
Slow
versionandcomeswithCrock-Pot
a freeappfor iPhone,
Finder,
Recipe
Cooker
iPadandiPod.($40,crock-pot.com)
Elbowkitschy
116.Fiddler's
towelswithquoteslike"Aclean
houseis a signof a wastedlife"
for more
or "Youmeanshopping
crapisn'tthemeaning
useless
of life?"makedishesfun.($8,
waltersgeneralstore.com)
122.MakehersmilewithFusionBrands
kitchenwonders:
siliconBPA-free
modern
lceOrb(theworld'sfirstverticalicecube
(whichlet's
Foodpod
tray),thealien-looking
steamanddrainin one
youboil,blanch,
(poaching
andthePoachpod
easyvessel)
cupsthatlooklikelilypadsin a pond).($1O
andup,fusionbrands.com)
117.Busymomsmeanneglected
dogs,sogetpoochyEcoHound's
Houndstooth
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•
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November/December
...
'
2010
I35
Women of the stage: From
1970s lesbian-feminists to
modern-day playwrights.
By Lisa Haas
I
I
IN 1934
Lesbian thespians: Blue Fish Cove (left) and playwright Kim Yaged
The Children'sHour
ran on Broadway. The drama centers around
two women who run a boarding school, one
of whom comes to believe she has sexual feel,
ings for the other. By the end of the play, out
of guilt, the 'good" woman who suspects her
own homosexuality does what anyone in such
a position would do-hangs hersel£ dead.
In 2006, Lisa Kron's play Well ran on
Broadway. This comedy about illness was
performed by a cast of actors, including Kron,
who played her lesbian sel£ (She is known as a
solo artist, tapping her own life experience for
material, as well as performing as a member
of The Five Lesbian Brothers.) At the end of
Well,she does not kill hersel£
The history of lesbian theater is probably
centuries old, but unlike hetero or male,dom,
inated art, its origins and development are
largely undocumented. In North America, it
wasn't until Second Wave feminism-when
there was a burst of feminist theater, but still
only a smattering of lesbian and lesbian,femi,
nist cheater companies-that a body of work
about lesbian theater started to emerge.
In the 1970s, a modicum of news articles,
journal reports and academic writings
recorded its existence. A few of the early
groups that we know about include: The
Lavender Cellar in Minneapolis, Minn.
(1973), Red Dyke Theatre in Atlanta, Ga.
(1974), Lesbian,Feminist Theatre Collective
of Pittsburgh, Pa. (1977), Siren Theatre
36 I curve
Company in the United Kingdom (1978),
and Lesbian Community Theater of East
Lansing, Mich. (1979).
The Foremothersof LesbianTheater
Women had come together to practice collec,
tive feminism, to claim a space and a voice for
themselves. Consequently, it's not surprising
that the traditional process of producing plays
through a patriarchal hierarchy fell by the way,
side. A large body of lesbian work was collec,
tively and collaboratively developed by groups
of three and often many more women. And, it
was not uncommon for a single show to mix
different performance styles to tell a story
(such as vaudeville presentation, drag, singing,
dancing, lip,syncing and poetry). But most sig,
nificantly, the fourth wall was often gone and
perform~rs addressed the audience directly.
"The [traditional) theater isn't for you-it's
presented to you, but it's not directed in many
cases to you;• says Keltie Creed, who in 1978
founded Atthis Theatre in Toronto. "I think
that in many cases women tended to want to
connect directly with women and not to [sit
in the dark and) watch the connection:•
The lesbian feminist theater company Split
Britches, founded in 1980 by Peggy Shaw,
Lois Weaver and non,lesbian, but feminist,
Deb Margolin, pioneered an eclectic story,
telling style which included direct audience
address and butch/ femme presentation aiicl
is still creating work today. Shaw and Weaver
also founded the WOW Cafe Theatre in New York City's
East Village. Initially a women's international theater festival,
WOW transitioned to a permanent theater collective and is
still in existence.
In the early'80s it was not uncommon at WOW to find the
'good" homosexuals gone "bad:' Characters in plays no longer
killed themselves, but rather openly and lustfully claimed their
raging sexual desire for other women. (Holly Hughes, a well,
known lesbian,feminist solo performer and playwright, had
several of her breakthrough pieces produced at WOW in the
1980s. The Wellof Horniness,DressSuits to Hire and The Lady
Dick are now considered part of the canon oflesbian theater.)
And in 1989, a group oflesbians who were WOW members
formed the Five Lesbian Brothers, writing and performing
collectively. Their numerous unique plays, complete with
campy and satirical feminist social commentary, have been
produced off Broadway and nationwide.
In commenting on the Brothers' comic sensibility, actor,
writer and Brother member Moe Angelos says, "It was a very
direct response to the late '70s, early '80s feminism we inher,
ited from our foremothers. There was a sad, anti,sex, pornog,
raphy,wars sens~bility.We were running right up against that,
History of Lesbian Theater continued on page 69
BURLESQUEBADA BING!
As if the everyday seductions of hot femmes isn't enough, burlesque
had to go and have a revival. Chicago-based performer Kitty Victorian
is one of the leaders in the neo burlesque movement. With her organizing efforts for the D.C. Gurly Show and her current performances in
Chicago, Kitty Victorian has made a name for herself by raising the bar
(and a boa constrictor at times) on the re-emerging art form.
How long have you been performing burlesque?
I have been performing since 2004. I was at the first Gurlesque
Burlesque Shows produced by the Sissy Butch Brothers, where I got
my first introduction to burlesque, witnessing the fabulousness of Dirty
Martini. I've always been a very sexual and sensual woman, but the
social ideals of a woman's beauty have also been pounded into my
head. So, upon seeing Miss Dirty Martini in her sexy, jaw-dropping
glory, I knew that it was what I wanted to do.
Why do you consider burlesque such a provocative art form?
Burlesque is a very powerful form of gender performance, dripping with
something we all love-sex and sensuality. Especially in the LGBTQ
community, performers combine sex, wit and politics to take their
performances a step above, not only entertaining but also getting a
message across. Burlesque is the art of the tease, which speaks to all
audiences. In today's "now" society, everyone expects everything at
the snap of a finger. Everything is fast: fast food, instant messaging,
music, video and information at the touch of a button. So burlesque is
drowning in a more powerful emotion: desire. And it's that anticipation
that keeps audiences clinging on to every last beat of burlesque.
Burlesque has its roots in the 1800s. Is this current revival a return to
an older form of femininity?
I don't think it's the returning to an older form of femininity,
necessarily, but it's the revival of burlesque that allows women to
embrace their sensuality and the power in their sensuality again. I
also believe that modern stripping can have the same effect. It is a
bit more challenging for the everyday lady to find modern stripping
empowering because of the way society has tainted the profession.
It's easier to find burlesque more empowering, because it holds a
sense of mystique, class and glamour.
What do you hope audiences and performers get from your shows?
It's my goal for everyone to recognize their sensuality and realize
their inner and outer beauty. It's when one acknowledges this beauty
that one can truly attract beautiful things in life. Beauty attracts
beauty. No matter what gender, or not, you choose to identify with.
Do you have a favorite number or costume?
One of my favorite numbers is the "Peacock's Lament," which I
perform to Shirley Bassey's "Where Do I Begin?" The idea was
in my mind for years and actually creating the costume, seeing it
come to life has been a real joy for me. The costume is covered in
peacock feathers and has a huge full-circle skirt, which is then
used for a skirt dance full of color and flair.
You started a burlesque university-how
fascinating!
Thank you. Burlesque University opened its proverbial
doors in the fall of 2006. There are two levels of
classes: drop-in classes such as the recent "How to
Strip for Your Lover," and enrollment courses. One
enrollment course [Burlesque 101] takes a newly
discovered neophyte from bland babe to burlesque
starlet, ending the six weeks with a performance.
We also offer private instructions for
individuals as well as bachelorette
parties. [TaniaHammidi]
"TWO
women kissing on stage is
an important political and
social act:' Lesbian theater has changed
considerably since 2000, when Judith Shray,
the author of the ll~episode Sapphic soap
opera Lesbian Affairs, uttered this single~
sentence artistic manifesto.
The desire for more representation and
visibility inspired lesbian theater artists
throughout the '90s and well into the 21st
century. But for most queer artists today, the
prize they have their eye on is mainstream
success. What has changed, why has it
changed, and how is success ( mainstream or
otherwise) defined for lesbian playwrights~
In the theater industry, plays written
by men are more likely to get produced
than those by women. A 2009 Princeton
study surveyed artistic directors of the
country's leading theaters using a gender~
blind submissions process. Plays with male
named authors were preferred over plays
with female names-for the identical play.
The results created a furor and led to the
founding of the Female Playwrights Group
and the launch of the campaign 20 in 20.
As one playwright observed, as dismal
38
Icurve
as this situation is, at least there is hard
evidence now.
Lisa Kron believes that even as recently
as five years ago, the idea of a lesbian play~
wright getting a play produced on Broadway
was a long shot. But Kron did, in 2006.
Her play Well, an unconventional mother~
daughter dram~, enjoyed a short but critically
acclaimed run on Broadway. "Look, there is
no gender parity in theater;' says Kron.
Not since Paula Vogel's How I Learned to
Drive has an avowed lesbian's work been pro~
duced regionally at the same venues where
David Mamet's or Donald Margulies' work
appears. But Kron thinks there has been a
sea change in the mainstream, marking the
BROADWAYBUTCH
turning point in 1994 when the Five Lesbian
Brothers' The Secretaries opened the season
of the New York Theater Workshop.
"In the theater world, mainstream accep~
tance would mean a Broadway run of a
show that starred a lesbian character dealing
with a conflict based on her sexuality;' says
O'Harra.
"I would be totally thrilled to be picked
up by HBO or something, but only if they
totally understood why it is that we are so
successful. Brooke O'Harra, co~founder of
the Dyke Division of Theater of a Two~
Headed Calf, is directing Room for Cream
(RFC),the dyke soap opera and runaway hit
of New York City's downtown queer stages.
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•
Susana Cook, a veteran of those downtown queer stages,
rejects mainstream theater as a worthwhile target. "I don't
care about the mainstream. Look who goes to see those
shows?" RFC's O'Harra agrees. "Mainstream theater is conservative i~ ways that always shock and stun me. The last few
dyke plays I saw, about dykes written by dykes, had straight
women playing the lesbian roles-it was so not sexy... such a
disappointing way to be represented:'
For those aspiring ro engage Broadway audiences, how
do you neutralize gender bias and lesbophobia? Lisa Kron's
solution is similar to the one Lisa Cholodenko deploys in
her monster hit The Kids Are All Right."We're still living in
a world where placing a man somwhere in your story gets
people to pay attention so that your female characters can
speak independently. Once a man is somewhere in the picture, the women are free to not talk about men," says Kron.
Kron's play In the Wake premiered in Los Angeles in April
to a rave review from the L.A. Times and went up at the
Public Theater in November.
Sarah Schulman, playwright and novelist, consistently
beats the drum for lesbian playwrights' access to production opportunities. But O'Harra sees it as a blind alley for
queer women, saying, "The only way to make work that
is mainstream and still dyke/ trans-centered is to make
the work that we are making and to not cons_ider the
mainstream:'
O'Harra, Kate Moira Ryan and Fernanda Coppel are of a
new generation of lesbian theater artists, like Lucy Thurber,
Madeleine George and Sylvan Oswald, who write plays with
lesbian characters. Cappel, a Juilliard grad student in playwrighting says, "I write plays for queer Latinas. My acceptance on Broadway will be much harder to come by, since
Latina work is already a minority in the theater world, including Broadway stages, as is lesbian
theater:' But Cook, a butch Latina
playwright, says, "I preach to the
converted, to lesbians and queer
people who need cultural expressions that represent them:'
The good news is that there
is a wealth of great theater these
days by lesbian playwrights.
Those striving to get produced
in institutional theater will slant
their work to more conventional
audiences. On the ocher hand,
there ·are lesbian artists using the unique qualities of queerness to model new forms for the stage, to tell the story of
queer lives.
O'Harra believes the Dyke Division is a distinctly queer
form of theater. "It will take a long time if gender parity happens anywhere. Men are power hungry and they seem to be
terrified of women. Queer people inhabit such beautifully
complicated gender spaces-in a perfect sci-fi-like world all
people's genders would be more fluid and
SWIMMINGWITH JULIANASNAPPER
Opera singer, vocal coach and sound designer Juliana Snapper debuted
an underwater opera, You Who Will Emerge From the Flood, at the Victoria
Baths in Manchester, U.K. in 2009. In this unique work, Snapper, who
looks and moves exquisitely in the water, is outfitted with a breathing device and microphone. Snapper's history of performances runs the
gamut from formal concerts, collaborations with Ron Athey, to feminist
collective pieces such as at WACK! Art and the Feminist Revolution in 2008.
Why an underwater opera?
We can think of the operatic voice as a natural substance ... that's engineered and refined to be more potent, like a drug or even a dildo, to enter
another's body and change its state of being. Induce ecstasy, quiet pain.
Taking my voice underwater was one way of pushing the instrument to
become even stronger, to discover a whole new palette of sounds and
engage audiences in a fresh way.
•
Is You Who Emerge From the Flooda tragic tale?
Yes,in the sense that there is longing and death in the mix. But environ-
mental ruin has already happened when this story begins, so the stakes
are a little different. Instead of life or death, it's more about false security
versus intimacy.
How is it possible to look so :fabulousunderwater?
Designer Susan Matheson ingeniously created the costumes. It was
important for me to wear something sculptural that would also tell a story.
But it is also a femme thing. Andrew [lnfanti, the composer] and I joke that
a singer's voice can only ~ver be as good as her decolletage.
Where do you find your inspiration?
It's thrilling to me when I hear untrained singers take risks and use their
voices. It feels like magic. It's sexy to see people all turned out and is always
surprising to me. I say down with the musically ignorant and shame-fertilizing sludge of American Idol and Rock Band! Mobilize pleasure and sing.
Make up new queer folk songs and anthems. Sing with other people.
What are your plans for the future?
I continue to tour the water project and I'm currently editing a DVD version
as well. In the fall I will premiere a new intermedia monodrama that's in
development now. [TaniaHammidij
November/December
2010
I 39
•
Ill
the Paris.pf
South
America
Three days of debauchery in Buenos Aires. By Catherine· Plato
TWAS A QUINTESSENTIAL
Buenos Aires
morning. The sun was rising, clearing out the fog,
and the city was awakening amid the faint ocean
smell of the Rio de la Plata. It was 5 a.m., and I was
stumbling out of a hole-in-the-wall lesbian bar, one
hand carrying a half-empty 40, the other carrying a
torn notebook page bearing the scrawled digits of a barely legal
Argentinean girl I had met on the dance floor. Inside, the party
was still raging, but when Augustina (whose name I couldn't
understand until it was written) finally admitted to me that"I
do not really has 28 years, I has 18 years;' I knew it was time
to leave. The bar, which I had found completely by accident
with a fellow drunk American at 3 a.m., was aptly named Cero
Consecuencia (zero consequence).
I had heard Buenos Aires described as the "Paris of South
America;' but I found it dirtier, sexier, drunker, gayer and
way more fun than any city I've visited in Europe. Offering
40
I
curve
a restaurant scene on par with what you'd find in the best
American cities, queer nightlife as good as New York's, great
shopping and enough historical sites and cultural activities to
fill your days completely, BA is an underrated vacation spot
that can also be relatively inexpensive-or
exorbitantly
pricey-depending
on your tastes. Three days and three
fantastically sordid nights were just en~ugh to scratch the
surface of what might become my new favorite city.
Suffering a bit of jet lag, my fellow gringo tourists and I
decided to skip the party scene our first night, and opted to
relax and soak in some South American culture. The superposh Faena Hotel and Universe (faenahotelanduniverse.com)
offers at least one live entertainment option each night, so
we went to its highly acclaimed Rojo Tango performance.
Beginning with dinner, Rojo Tango is an ~vent lasting several hours, s~wing off exquisite costumes, live vocalists and
highly sensual (albeit iiber-hetero) choreography. If you know
6
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rfi
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tf
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gti;
z
t?,
0
a.
u
as little about tango as the average American
and want to learn about the Argentinean cultural tour de force, this is a great place to start.
The hotel itself is worth seeing-as the crash
pad of choice for: celebrities when they visit
town, it's among the hippest, most elegant in
the city.
The morning was cool and sunny, perfect
for exploring the city by foot. The month of
May is fall in Argentina, and the weather
reminded me of New York in mellow
September. I met up early with Pablo De
Luca and Gustavo Noguera, two superfriendly local guys who founded GMAPS
(gmaps360.com), an LGBT guide to Buenos
Aires and Fabian Fuentes (misterpapi.com),
an independent tour guide who specializes
in welcoming LGBT travelers. In no time,
we were wandering through
some of the highlights of the
city's postcolonial architecture, including Casa Rosada,
where Argentina's famed
first lady Eva Peron (Evita,
to Madonna fans) famously
addressed the crowds of
working-class Argentineans
in the wake of her husband,
Juan Peron's arrest.
Any trip to BA should
include a walk through
the Recoleta Cemetery,
a maze of monuments
similar to the Parisian
CimetiereduPere-Lachaise.
In a~dition to Peron, other
inhabitants include famous
Argentinean poets, politicians and my favorite: Rufina Cambaceres,
whose family buried her in the cemetery
in 1902. As the story goes, a few days later
workers reported hearing screams from her
coffin-she had only been in a coma and
woke up to find herself buried alive. When
they opened the coffin, the lid was covered in
scratches from a desperate Rufina, who was
never able to escape; The cemetery is full of
similar, delightfully morbid stories, and having
a guide who knows them is well worth it.
A day of shopping is another Buenos Aires
essential. One of the best shopping districts
is the upscale and fashionable Palermo Soho,
reportedly named after the New York City
neighborhood. Boutiques and cafes sprawl
around the Plaza Serrano, a touristy little
rotunda where local artists and vendors
sell clothing, artwork and jewelry. Even
I had
the fanciest places in Palermo seem to be
reasonable by American standards. Among
my favorites was Rapsodia (rapsodia.com.ar),
a hip, femmey boutique selling dresses, scarves
and jewelry that you wouldn't find at home.
If you're looking for cool and not-tookitschy souvenirs, don't miss the Feria de San
Telmo, an antique fair that takes place on the
weekends in one of BA's most beautiful and
historic neighborhoods. I bought a few framed
tango pictures, a yerba mate cup carved from
a gourd and a handmade Styrofoam chicken
that squawks when you pull a string. The
neighborhood is scattered with great cafes,
beautiful colonial-era architecture and some
of the city's best people-watching spots.
As fun as the daytime is, nights in
Buenos Aires are the real reason to visit.
When I asked a cute
girl at my hotel what
time the bars stopped
serving, she looked at me
in confusion and said,"We
don't do that:' It's true.
Argentinians begin their
nights with dinner around
10 p.m., just like the
Spaniards who colonized
them. One of my most
memorable meals was at
Milion (milionargentina.
com.ar), a restored early
20th-century
mansion
with an outdoor garden
that has since been
converted into a hip
restaurant, bar and art
gallery. It doesn't open
for dinner until 8 p.m. and gets more lively
around 11 p.m.
A close second (only because I don't eat
meat) was a long, leisurely lunch at Cabana
Las Lilas, one of the most famous steakhouses
in BA, and one that draws locals and tourists
alike (though probably more tourists-this
place isn't cheap). The sight of gigantic slabs
of animal on my fellow travelers' plates was
mitigated by a beautiful waterfront view and
enough vegetarian sides to have me leave
feeling overstuffed.
When your final sip of Malbec is gone,
along with your inhibitions, Buenos Aires
offers plenty of choices for a good time. To
start things off relatively tamely, there's a
fantastic, extremely professional drag show
at Chueca Downtown featuring drag versions
of Tina Turner and Lucille Ball who are as
heard
Buenos Aires
described as
the "Paris of
South America,"
but I found it
dirtier, sexier,
drunker, gayer
and way more
funthan any city
rve visited in
Europe.
The Best of Buenos
Aires on a Budget
entertammg as the originals. If you want
more lesbian-centric entertainment, head
to GLAM (glambsas.com.ar) as your first
stop, a lesbian bar arid dance club catering
to a fashionable younger crowd. It was here
that I heard my all-time favorite pick-up
line-''Are
you a cheerleader? Were you
ever a cheerleader?"-by a cute Argentinean
coed. The bar was packed wall-to-wall with
hotties, and girls seemed friendly and eager
to talk to new people.
If you're looking for an even crazier scene,
check out Amerika (ameri-k.com.ar), which
is now tied with Montreal Sky Bar as my very
favorite gay hotspot in the world. Amerika is
more enormous than any club I've been to
in the U.S. and literally has something for
everyone: done-up drag queens, sex-workers
of every orientation, denim-clad dykes and
lecherous swinging couples d_esperately
seeking a third wheel. The music is also
great and you're sure to come home with an
interesting story ... or person.
From there, my final American compatriot,
the only other person who just wouldn't tap
out 'til the end, and I stumbled over to Cero
Consecuencia, a perfect finale to a few sinful
days in the ultimate party town. With loud
techno, cheap drinks and a decidedly less
glamorous ( and younger) crowd than we
had seen all night, this was the perfect place
to finally let the party die. We boarded the
flight home the next morning feeling sexy,
dirty, hung over and slightly wrong-or
maybe that was just me.
42
I
curve
The first thing I learned in Buenos
Aires is that the word torta means both
dyke and cake. Equally fond of both,
I knew I'd love Argentina. Said to be
the gay Latin American destination,
BA is a place where we lesbians can
have our cake and eat it, too. The city
is welcoming to LGBT travelers, warm
during our winters and, better yet,
cheap during our recession. However, it's harder to find /as
tortas in this city than its reputation suggests, especially
if you're on a time-crunch or a peso-based budget.
Like most things touted as "gay," the typical travel
guide's recommendations were boy-centric. It's hard
enough being a tourist, let alone a queer woman, so
why blow your precious pesos on overpriced boy bars?
Lucky for you, the legwork is done. On just $15 a day,
we found BA's best ...
DYKEBAR
We heard rumors that BA's
lesbian bars are hidden down
the streets less traveled, and
Bach Bar proves this true. The
address-less gate (on Cabrera
4390) is sketchy, but this
casual dive is a welcome break
from the city's glitzy clubs,
plus their cheap $5 cover buys
your first liter of local brew.
Bach is the most laid-back
lesbian nightspot we found,
and a good place to try your
broken Spanish pick-up lines
on a beautiful woman.
(bach-bar.com.ar)
PLACETO MEETWOMEN
Tango Queer's welcoming
dance class is equally
comprised (and divided into
instructional groups) of people
who can at least tango their
way through a song, and those
who tripped up the stairs on
their way to the door. Never
mind that your instruction
will be mostly in Spanish, the
crushable instructors will have
you focused on body language
instead ...ole! Stay after class
for the casual milonga (dance
similar to the tango.) If the
cheaply priced bar doesn't
grease your wheels for a spin
on the dance floor, do like most
people and mingle with the
LGBT locals and expats who
are watching other dancers go
by. (571 Peru, class 8-9:30 p.m.,
milonga 9:30pm-2 a.m., $5 for
both, tangoqueer.com)
DANCE CLUB
BA's young, restless and queer
line up around the block to
Fiesta Plop! And why wouldn't
they? Three stories, two
dance floors, four bars, $1
beers and an attractive crowd
make Plop! the only place to
be on Friday night. True to
BA's nightlife, things are only
getting started around 3 a.m.,
when dancers hit the stage
in campy costumes matching
the night's theme, which could
be anything from superheroes
to Smurfs. But leave the blue
face-paint at home-only the
performers dress up. (Teatro
Colegiales, 3455 Av. Federico
Lacroze, Fridays, $4-$6 cover,
elteatroonline.com.ar)
LADIES' NIGHT:
High ceilings, crumbling brick,
and a room full of disco balls
give Unna Fiesta at Glam Disco
the urban-posh feel to justify its
name. The only party we found
exclusively for queer women,
Unna brings BA's local lesbians
out of the woodwork and packs
them into the small dance-floor,
where techno keeps them partying
'til sunup. Get on the email list for
free entrance before 2 a.m. and,
believe it or not, the $3 beers are
steep. (glambsas.com.ar, every
other Friday)
ENTERTAINMENT
Riding the thin line between
erotic and bizarre, Niceto Club's
Club 69 has a two-story dance
club that transforms into what
can only be described as a
Tim Burton-esque acid trip for
Thursday's Club 69. Depending
on the theme, dancers undulate
through the crowd, flirt with you
from the stage and twirl around
poles in costumes ranging from
rainbow wigs and sparkling
jumpsuits, to turbans and
G-strings, and, in some cases,
mascot heads? Free before 1
a.m. with your name on its list,
Club 69 is packed by 2 a.m. for
the big choreographed number,
providing even further proof
that you can alter your reality
substance-free. (Niceto Vega
5510, nicetoclub.com)
PLACES TO STAY
You won't find a gayborhood like
San Francisco's Castro or NYC's
Brooklyn, but BA's Palermo and
San Telmo come close. Though
Palermo houses most of the city's
queer nightlife, San Telmo will
be friendlier to your pesos, and
both will increase your chances of
seeing same-sex PDA outside of
a club. Peso-pinchers staying for
over a week should look into shortterm apartment rentals, which are
cheaper than booking a hostel
nightly. While gay-specific lodging
exists here, it's often exclusively
for men, and expensive. We
found the best deals with
StaylnBuenosAires.com, who
provide budget rentals and didn't
bat an eyelash at us sharing a bed.
RESOURCES
LGBT mega-resource GMAP
packs its 88 pages with queer and
queer-friendly business listings
and a pocket-size gay fold out
map. Though the lesbian section
is incomplete, it's still BA's most
up-to-date resource. Free at
queer establishments or on the
web, and check out their gay
discount card for extra bonuses.
(gmaps360.com, gcard360.com)
PLACE TO EAT
Pride Cafe is the most out and
proud eatery in the city, complete
with BA's cheapest cup of coffee,
hard-to-find sandwiches and the
even harder to find vegetarian
menu. The food's affordable, not
spectacular, but a spot at one
of its sunny patio tables during
San Telmo's Sunday antiques fair
is the best queer seat in town.
(Balcarce 869, about $6 for coffee
and a sandwich)
TIME TOGO
November's balmy temperatures
and lack of summer's highseason prices makes this the
perfect time for the Sapphic
saver, especially because Buenos
Aires' annual Marcha del Orgullo
takes place the first Saturday
of the month. Like any good
Pride, BA's features towering
drag queens, leather chaps,
booths selling rainbow schwag
and hot queers. However, like
all things porteno (of Buenos
Aires), you'll want to arrive
fashionably late. Trucks pulling
people and performers make
up the march's unimpressive
{though entertaining) floats,
but the crowd's energy keeps
this fest fun. Head to Niceto
Club around 1 a.m. for Brandon
Gay Day's popular after-party.
(marchadelorgullo.org.ar)
[YanaTallon-Hicks]
Call 800.524.201.8Today!
SandCastleontheBeach.com
I
s
sobummed
to hearthat TheNewAdventures
of OldChristine
got challenging thing, as far as acting and everything else. But it's
cancelled.
Wewerebigfanshereat curve.
also the most rewarding for me, too.
Yeah. We were fans, too. [Laughs]
Because
it'sso immediate
withtheaudience?
Inthelastcoupleofseasons,
same-sex
marriage
andimmigration Yeah, yeah. You get that response immediately, and there's no
cameup.Wasthatinfluenced
byyou?
editor, there's no network note or anything [Laughs]. It's just
No, no, not at all. That was the creator, Kari Lizer.
total freedom. And it's so unpredictable, you know? One night
That'sgreat.Itwashilarious
butpoignant,
especially
whenBarb it's [great] and the next night it could bomb.
andChristinelosetheirgymfranchiseoverbeinggay.Doyou Yeah,it soundsterrifyingto me.You'veriffedoneverything
from
hearfromgayviewerswhoreallyresponded
tothosestorylines? politicsandracialprofilingto the perksof gettingolder.What's
When I'm out in public and people catch me on the street or onyouragendathesedays?
whatever, they will say thank-you and they appreciate it.
Well, now that the kids are getting older, and now that they're
Nowyou'reontheroadagain,performing
at comedyclubs.
moving around, it's just a game changer. I mean, my life is just
Yes, I am. I have a few dates booked for the rest of the year. totallydifferent now. It's funny, I used to be so on top of everyAnd then I want to see how it's going and how I feel about it, thing that was going on in the world- I could tell you the top
and then I'll probably expand it and do a bigger tour-probably
stories and everything. And now, I spend most of my time just
at the beginning of next year.
trolling around the backyard looking for dog poop. Gotta get
Is it a littleharderbeingontheroad,nowthatyouhavekids?
the dog poop before the kids find it. [Laughs]
Oh no, I just leave and then I get to sleep while I'm on the It soundsveryHollywood
glamour.
road. It's great. [Laughs] Why do you think I want to expand Yeah, you know? I mean if the kids ever picked up some dog
the tour?
poop, it would be a while before I could touch them again.
Nowyourwifeis probably
wishingshecouldtour.
Yourwifeis French.
Arethebabiesbilingual?
Yeah, right. Well, luckily she gets to travel for her job, too.
Well, yeah, she only speaks French to the babies, and our
DoyoumissTV?Orarethecomedyclubsa welcomechange? nanny is from Argentina, so she speaks Spanish, and you
It's a welcome change. Actually it is very challenging, you know, I speak a little English every now and then.
know? Stand-up is just me. It's just me out there, no script. I Sothey'regoingto betrilingualfromthestart?
write my own material. It's how I started. I started as a stand- Right. But it's weird, because they seem to understand all of
up, and will always be. So it's nice to get back. It's the most us. If I tell them to do something they ignore me, and if Alex
tells them to do something in French they ignore her. And
they ignore the nanny, too.
It'sa universal
ignoring.
Doyoufeellikeyouhaveto protectyour
wifeandkidsfromHollywood
sotheyhaveordinarylives?
In a sense, yes. And also, right now my wife doesn't have any
interest in Hollywood, but I know from comments on some of
the Emmy pictures that I've got to keep an eye on her.
That'stheproblem
withgorgeous
wives.
But we really do just want to give the kids a normal life, and
just try to stay as grounded as possible.
You'vebeennamedoneof the 25 funniestpeoplein America.
Doesyourwife thinkyou'refunny,or do youget a lot of eyerollingat home?
She thinks I'm funny, but she thinks she's reallyfunny. And
it's a lot of French humor, which really isn't funny. But she just
finds it hysterical, and will say,"Oh, you just don't get it because
it's French:' It's like, OK, it's just not funny. But it cracks her
up. [Laughs]
I lovewhat yousaidat the TrevorProject,the CrackedXmas
a:
fundraiser,
whenpeoplewereclappingandyousaid,"Oh,come
on,it ain'tlikeyou'veneverseena blacklesbianbefore."
Oh, right. [Laughs]
Cl)
Sykes with her
hottie wife, Alex,
on the red carpet
46
I curve
Inspiredby her
newsong"My
Puss"we asked
MargaretChoto
playan improv
gamewherewe
suggesta noun
andsheteUs
us her puss
equivalent...
andluckyfor us,
shewas game.
If yourpuss wasfurniture,what
a very
wouldit be?Probably
couch.
comfortable
If yourpusswasa politician,
M'r6""""'it be?NancyPelosi.
If yourpuss wasa musical
instrument,whichwouldit be?
A tuba.
And whatif yourpusswasa sitcom?
Umm,I don'tknow,butIt could
takeTwoanda HalfMen.
probably
hat can't Margaret Cho do? The answer, seemingly, is nothing. Known around the globe as an
award-winning, paradigm-shifting comic, the tattooed bombshell has also made a name for herself
as an actor (both in film and on her current hit television series, Drop Dead Diva) and an outspoken
queer political activist. But who knew-the girl can sing, too! While her subversive and intimate
comedy has always been music to our ears, she's teamed with lesbian faves like Tegan and Sara, Ani
Difranco and Fiona Apple to make sweet, sweet music on her debut album, Cho Dependent. Boasting a
sultry voice, Cho belts out ditties light in mood and tempo but heavy on the intimacy, rawness and raunchiness
s have come to love. Exploring themes of domestic abuse, addiction and even the search for suitable seed,
nages to blow us away and endear herself to us even more through her music. From the swan song for her
pooch, "Hey Big Dog," to the shocking murder/suicide that inspired her to write "I'm Sorry," Cho uses her gift
ing personal triumph and tragedy into comedic (and musical) genius. As she wraps up her four-month, nation,wiM•C:::hoDependent tour and prepares to compete on Dancing With the Stars, Cho shares the inspiration behind the
~.
,0
plus talks animal love, body diversity on TV, dildo shopping and the Tea Partiers.
youto makea musicalbum?
Whatinspired
I had wanted to do something like this for a long time. I play
guitar and piano and I also play banjo and dulcimer, which
is an odd thing to play. But I do know people, though, who
are very good at what they do in composing. What I am is a
pretty decent lyricist, so I wanted to write an album of songs
that was a comedy but at the same time had a lot of musical
merit, that had musicianship and ... lavish production.
onthealbum.Howdid
Youhavesomeamazingcollaborations
thosecomeabout?
I convinced all of my very amazing musician friends, people
who I absolutely adore, to write the songs with me. Some
people, we just sent Mp3s back and forth, and some people,
I actually sat in their studios. The album was recorded in
all these different places that I went to, like Vancouver with
Tegan and Sara, Austin with Patty [Griffin], New Orleans
with Ani [DiFranco ]. I got to kind of get in their home lives
and work with them in their environment, which was really
amazing for a fan. I always felt like I'd won some kind of weird
contest, because everybody was forced to spend the day with
me, and also forced to teach me how to play something.
Yourduet"HeyBigDog"with FionaAppleis reallybeautiful.
Whatinspiredit?
Thank you. I wrote that with Patty Griffin, who is my favor,
ite singer/ songwriter. My dog was dying-he was really old.
He was totally, like, my soulmate. This song was a tribute
to relationships with animals-[relationships] that I think
people don't really celebrate. They're such intense love affairs
that people have with their animals. People don't talk about
it as much-they're not as lyrically inclined to talk about it.
It was great connecting with them about it.
I would get him this very big dog bed and play the song
to him, and he would let out these big great dog,sighs, along
with a real stinky dog fart that would make the whole room
feel like a hot spring. It was really funny. He really liked
the vibration of the guitar. I think it really helped his joints
so it was a great thing to do for him, like, as a therapeutic
thing. It was very sweet to be that close to him in his last few
moments. So I love that song.
meaning?
Whichothersongshavepersonal
There's one that's called "Give Me Your Seed:' It's such a
great queer song. It's really just about getting sperm, trying
to get your girlfriend pregnant. You don't want to deal with
the guy-just go to the sperm bank and make a deposit. To
me that is a very personal journey and also very practical and
something that a lot oflesbians have to deal with. You know,
it's like, We want t have a family, but we don't need you, but
we do.So I do love that song.
Another personal song that is very important to me is
'Tm Sorry;' which is based on a orrible, horrible true
story, inspired by somebody I was really in love with who
killed someone-who killed his wife. He murdered her and
stuffed her in the attic and left her there for a month, until
the body had partially mummified. And this is someone I
was really.in love with for 17 years, and I had no idea that
that had happened. That song was really about me trying
to maybe find some way of getting over it. Even though it
didn't happen to be me, it could've happened to me. So this
song is about the selfishness of domestic violence and how
sinister it is, but, you know, told from the perspective of this
murderer who is so selfish. So there are serious elements to
it, but to me, sometimes the only way I can relate to tragedy
is through comedy and through jokes, because it's how I can
cope with things.
There's a lot of different elements throughout the album
that to me are personal and serious. I've had my own issues
with addiction-drug addiction, addiction to food, addiction
to exercise, anorexia-and so in the song"lntervention': .. my
worst nightmare is for my friends and family to have to come
in and make me stop, make me consider what I'm doing to
mysel£ So, that was a wonderful thing to be able to write
with Tegan and Sara, who are so amazing.
Thereis alsoa lotof humor,likeonthesong"YourDick."How
manyexeshavecomeoutof the woodworkhopingtheyare
theinspiration?
Oh, a lot of people-women too. Because there's nothing
better than going with your girlfriend to Good Vibrations and
picking out a new dick. That, to me, is the best thing about
being in a new relationship is going to get your new dick.
Oro Dead Diva continued on page 70
esbian reality star turned online fitness maven Rachel
Robinson walked away with the $100,000 prize
in season 17 of MTV's hit Real World/Road
RulesChallengefranchise, The Duel II.
The Miami fitness trainer first caught our eye on RoadRules:
Campus Crawl in 2002, when the then-closeted Robinson's
"best friend" visit turned into a coming-out for the couple.
Robinson has since become a regular on MTV, competing
in six seasons of RW/RR challenges (winning two) and
managing to seduce •a few ladies along the way, including
Aneesa Ferreira, Veronica Portillo and, finally,Jenn Grijalva.
The strikingly statuesque iiber-athlete put her impressive
physique to the test in a series 6f physical and mental challenges,
ending with a more than five hour, astonishingly grueling final
challenge that had its contestants crossing ice-cold rushing
rivers, climbing impossibly sleep hills, solving puzzles and
battling it out head-to-head in a race to the finish line.
Perhaps most impressive, however, is that Robinson has
managed to avoid the pitfalls of queer gal representation on
reality TV (see: Tila Tequila, Danielle Staub or the entire cast
of the Bad GirlsClub),offering an alternate to the fame-hungry fauxmosexual or downright badly behaved queer women
that litter the reality TV horizon.
Robinson is· now focused o_n _her new website,
RachelRobinsonFitness.com,
·where she offers fitness
tips as well as a place for like-minded people to virtually
congregate. She talks about expanding her online fitness
business and looks back at her big win, reality romances
and being out on TV.
Tellusmoreaboutyournewwebsite.
It's a social networking site for fitness-it's interactive, kind
of like MySpace, but for fitness people, or just for people who
want to get in shape and need motivation. You set up your
own profile, people can talk to each other, you can comment
on each other's walls, you can set up workout buddies. I'm really trying to build a whole fitness thing online.
Arepeopleableto interactwithyou?
I put up tips a few times a week. A lot of the girls who go to it
are obviously girls that identify with me, want to just tone up,
want to just get into better shape. They want to know how
to eat, they ~ant to know how I eat. Now I tell them to go to
RachelRobinsoriFitness.com and you get all of my updates.
Now every time people are like, what do you eat, what do
you do to stay in shape ... and you get all of my updates. So it
works out perfectly.
When I moved back (to Miami], I was going through a.
lot of changes. I had just gotten out of a relationship. I was
really into, like, Let me focus on myself and what I want to do.
And I'd always wanted to do something in the fitness world,
so I started training really hard and I got myself a personal
trainer. He took me under his wing and he transformed me. I
felt my body conditioning transform. Then I started personal
training. So by the time they called me up for the duel ... I had
just been training my body for over a year. I was pretty strong,
going into that challenge.
Lookingback,I'm still struckby how incrediblydifficultthat
finalchallengelooked.
Duel Identity continued on page 71
ian
Reality
and fitness guru
Rachel Robinson
makes us sweat.
By Rachel Shatto
Photograph By Jorge Suarez • Makeup By Aileen Quintana
Nicole Pacent
(top), Nikki Caster
omen's softball was celebrated in A League of
Their Own, the WNBA got a plug with Love &
Basketball and women's boxing received a decent
amount of attention in Million Dollar Baby. But a
women's soccer movie of the same caliber has yet to appear.
Queens of the World, which is slated to come out this
spring, just might be that movie. Produced by Tomboy
Productions, QOTW is the story of Maggie Connor, an
overzealous high school girl who eats, sleeps and breathes
soccer. Maggie's unbridled passion for the sport is comparable
to the protagonist's in Rudy, and she is just as determined to
let nothing stand in her way of achieving her ultimate goal:
playing professional women's soccer.
But her everyday world of practice, drills and games is turned upside
down when she meets Niko Taylor,
a wildflower who comes from an
unhappy home and uses soccer as an
escape. Through soccer, the two girls
develop a deep mutual respect and
friendship, despite their contradictory personalities-and
then they fall
in love.
"Very simply, (Maggie and Niko]
understand the need in the other to figure out how to love
themselves;' explains writer and director Mel Robertson.
"That's what's underlying. They bring out each other's
humanity, the need to be understood and the common goal
of true happiness-on
and off the field:'
QOTW stars newcomers Nicole Pacent (Anyone but
Me) as Maggie Connor and Nikki Caster ( Cherry Bomb)
as Niko Taylor. Rounding out the cast are veteran actors
Elizabeth Keener (The L Word), Michelle Clunie (Queer as
Folk) and Tanya Roberts (That '70s Show).
Jumping from an online show to the big screen is something that Pacent is ready for. ''.At this point, I feel like it's
the next step;' she says. ''.AsI read the script, I could immediately picture the kind of person [Maggie] was. I understood the way she threw herself into her sport and avoided
things in her personal life:'
Pacent isn't intimidated by the aggressive nature of her
character or worried about honing her soccer skills. ''I've
been a major athlete my whole life-from soccer to swimming to gymnastics. I don't expect to become Mia Hamm,
but we are going through pretty intense training to make
sure we are going to be in shape:'
As for the role of Niko, Caster confesses that it hits close
to home. "I come from a rough upbringing, and chose to
ffi
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a:
look up and know that there is always light
at the end of the tunnel. That's how Niko is.
She knows what's happening at home isn't
normal. Soccer is her happy place:'
One of the most intriguing aspects of
QOTW is how the love story is undeniably
accepted and intricately woven into the plot,
regardless of the fact that it involves two
women. "I know how it feels to be attracted
to someone when you are both training so
hard for the same sport;' says Caster. "I love
the love story and how two people come
together because of the same passion:'
"[It] might be my favorite thing about
the film;' adds Pacent. "It's not a coming-out
story, there is no need for it. The fact that
Maggie can just go through this comingof-age process without a huge magnifying
glass on, it is fantastic. This story could have
easily been about a guy and a girl, too. It's
treated with such normalcy:'
That aspect of "normalcy" is also. what
attracted Clunie to the role of Maggie's
mom, Vicky. "I thought of it as a film about
girls who want to play soccer, a mom who
loves her daughter and a love story;' she says.
"It's so nice to see a mother portrayed in film
or television where she finds out that her
son or daughter is gay and that it's not such
a big deal. That was the moment that made
me want to do the film, and that's what I love
about this film. It can be mainstream:'
While QOTW has everything a classic mainstream sports movie should have
(a love story, drama, the overcoming of
obstacles, an underdog), some might still
consider this a "lesbian film:'
Robertson says they'd be mistaken. 'Tm
very adamant that this is not a lesbian film ...
this is a sports drama. It is very important,
in my opinion, that we stop singling out
films as gay or lesbian, because this creates
the stereotype that gay people are still different than the rest of society. I am making a
film about women's soccer and one woman's
journey. Along the way, this woman falls in
love. It shouldn't really matter that she falls
in love with another woman:'
Robertson also hopes that QOTW will
transcend both sexual and gender boundaries,
and brings some much-needed attention to
women's soccer, which recently relaunched
its professional league.
'There are 30 million women who play soccer
in the world;' says Robertson. "It's time that a
story truly represents all that we go through to
make it to the professional
ueens
Girlsjust want to be girls.By Jenna Lo~eff
aux queens, bi?-queens, female drag queens.
Whatever you call them, this new group of
performers are taking over stages across the
country, and reinventing what it means to be in
drag. Faux queens are queer meta-girls who dress like
boys who dress like girls.
"I guess I am a female impersonator impersonator;' says·
Maryam Rostami, who goes by the stage name Mona G. Hawd,
and regularly performs at the Stud, a San Francisco gay bar.
Rostami has always loved playing dress up. Even when
she began DJing years ago, she would rock wild clothes and
makeup, embracing a colorful persona that she didn't have in
her everyday life. She is finding that again in drag.
But how do the classic queens respond to these newcomers?
Rostami says great: "Everyone is really welcoming. I can perform next to a drag queen and it is about the performance,
not the gender:'
Much of this happy coexisting is due to one of the bioqueen originators, Fauxnique, who has been shaking her
money-makers with the queens for years. Fauxnique made
history when she won San Francisco's Trannyshack Pageant
in 2003. She was the first biologically female performer ever
to win and made an even bigger name for herself than she
already had.
Tonight, the Stud is packed with queens-both
faux and
traditional. Though new to the scene, Rostami is one of the
featured performers. She enters the stage with her body
stretched out, suspended like Jesus on the cross and held up
by two cherubic boys wearing gold lame loincloths. As she
begins her performance, the gender lines melted away, and her
inner drag queen comes out in force.
With her drawn on eyebrows and fake lashes, Rostami
looks the part_.One audience memb_er asks a friend, "Is that
girl a girl?" and another yells, "Wow, look at him!" Rostami,
like her fellow performers, is blurring gender and gleefully
confusing crowds-and even drag queens. "When a queen
comes up to me and asks me if I am a man or a woman, I feel
like I won;' says Rostami.
San Francisco isn't the only city in love with this form of
gender play. Berlin, often hailed as the gay Mecca of Europe,
has a raging scene of its own. Celine Robinet is a bio-queen
performer. "I do not assume that there should only be two
genders;' says Robinet, "not just two sexual orientations.
There are more than that:'
It was in Berlin, four years ago, after seeing singer and fauxqueen Debra Kate, that Robinet was introduced to the scene.
Two years after seeing Kate perform, Robinet wrote a spoken
word text about femmes who, she felt, were really underrepresented in the Berlin scene. "It was an homage, and I felt like I
wanted to dress up very feminine to perform that text:' Now
that she has established herself as a performer, she likes to mix
genders on stage when reading poetry. "Sometimes they are
one after the other, sometimes I am them all at the same time:'
When off stage, Robinet looks boyish, but says that in
high heels or boots, a hairnet and miniskirt, makeup and
false lashes, "I have the feeling that the stage belongs to me:'
But faux queens aren't a new idea. It was in 1933 that the
original Viktor und Viktoria came out in Germany, the film
that was the impetus for the 1982 Julie Andrews musical
Victor Victoria, where Andrews plays a girl on stage but is
pretending she is a man.
Though the art form is not entirely modern, it is not tired
either. Performers such as Rostami, Fauxnique and Robinet
continue to take gender-bending to a whole new level. "I feel
like it is an honor, and it is true to me and who I am;' says
Rostami. "It is not a policial thing-it is just a lot of
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CirqueduSoleilhasthe powerto bringyou
closeto sensoryoverload- surrounded
byexplosions
of colorandmusic,with
acrobatsflyingthroughtheair,balancing
ononeanotherontightropes,seemingly
onnothingat all. It's enoughto makeyou
feel likeyou'rein a differentworld.And
Cirque'smagical,otherworldly
quality
givesperformersthefreedomto respondto
whatevertheartisticdirectorenvisions
for
them-whether theyaregay,straightor...
playinga ladybug.
Thisis whatMichelleMatlockhasfound,
playingtheflightlessladybuglookingfor
lovein Ovo,a circus-inspired
insectworld.
Forthefirst time,a Cirquedu Soleilshowis
beingrun,at leastin part,by lesbians,with
Matlockin the leadingroleandMarjonvan
Grunsven
astheartisticdirector.
Matlockmaybebestknownfor heronewomanshown,e MammyProjec~a series
of monologues
thatshehasperformed
acrossthecountry.Butherresumeis
muchmoreextensive-Matlockalsohas
a longhistoryas a clown,workingfor the
BigAppleCircusandCircusAmok,a queer
socialjusticegroup.
Shestartedhercareerbywinning
a placeat the NationalShakespeare
Conservatory,
butwasactuallydiscovered
bya scoutfor RoyalCaribbean
Cruise
Lineswhileshewasjugglingin NewYork's
Washington
SquarePark.Matlockended
upworkingasa clownoncruiseships
duringthenextfiveyears,andit was
this experience
thatgavehertheskillsto
scorethe romanticleadin Ovo.Matlock
hadpreviously
auditioned
for Cirquedu
Soleilandwastoldthat "therewasno
place"for her.However,
theladybuglead
in Ovoseemsperfectlysuitedfor the large,
bubbly,charismaticMatlock.
"[Theroleis right]for mebecauseI'm
playingit," saysMatlock.AsanAfrican
Americanlesbianwith a largebodytype,
Matlockis awareof the limitationsplaced
onactorswhodonotnecessarily
conform
to thestatusquo."Mywholepurposein
this businessis for someone
to havevision
for someone
likeme.Soit's really,really
nicefor someone
to havethatvision-that
youcanplaysomething
that's'other.'"
Notlettinganyonethingdefineherhas
allowedMatlocka freedomwiththeroles
sheplays.Whenaskedhowherpositionas
anoutlesbianaffectsher,Matlockinsists
that it hashadlittle impacton hercareer.
"I feeltheeffectsmoreof beingAfrican
Americanandbeinga largewoman,more
thanmysexuality."
UnlikeMatlock,whoenjoysworkingin
multipleformsof theater,OVdsartistic
director,MarjonvanGrunsven,
hasalways
hadhersightssetonthebigtop.
"BeingthecuriousrebelthatI have
alwaysbeen,I sneakedoutfromthe
speechof myteacher,as I wassodrawn
to thestage.I laiddownon mybackand
lookedupto seea worldof trusses,lights,
ropes.I knewthatonedayI wouldcomeup
withthosebeautifulperformances
which
wouldtouchtheheartsof thousands,"
says
theNetherlands-based
choreographer.
WhenaskedwhatIt's liketo bea lesbian
headingtheartisticdirectionat Cirquedu
Soleil,vanGnmsven
$81$,
"Ofcourse
I am
proudto seethatwefflM a~
role
in this particularShOw,
l>Utltreallywould
havebeentheseme
.hidt lMerl
straight•
ButvanGrunawm
doe&tonc8dethatthe
circuscreatesa genderandidentityfluidity.
"Maybe
I feelatbomeIn118cin:us,Inthe
theater,
·because.ff
is a'-•world-I canbe
aboyandat thesame
timeI canbea girl.
Wecanbeourselves.There.
is nojudgment.
Welive,wewort.
to makeourselves
and,
withthat,[make)theaudieRc8shappy,
touched,.
in8pi,:ed.
thankful."
Despitetheirarduoustouringschedule,
thetwo women
stilt appearto be enjoying
theirstintwith .Ova
AsMatlock
put
it, "It's reallynicebecausethere'sso
manydevastating
thingsgoingonin the
world-it's niceto getaway.Youknow,
nothingreallymatters.We'rejust all a
bunchofbugs1rylijgto"'4ke
It.".(tlleole
Vermeer
andKrt8tlrt·
A.Slalli)
lt Ta~es
Sheena ry1etal
and DanielleEgnew make for a fascinatingpower couple.
espite the hoopla about Hollywood celesbians,
real lesbian power couples like Danielle
Egnew and Sheena Metal are hard to find.
Metal (nee Jenny Sherwin), who hosts the
unscripted, uncensored The Sheena Metal
Experience every weekday on L.A. Talk Radio,
has anchored numerous successful radio sho~s in
L.A.; hosts Music Highway, an internationally syndicated
music/ talk hybrid heard by nearly 130 million listeners; runs
Music Highway Entertainment, a development/ production
company; and emcees everywhere from The Laugh Factory
to gay Pride. Egnew is a musician, an actor and a clairvoyant.
With six albums under her belt, including the award-winning
Red Lodge, Egnew fronts and produces several projects,
including the legendary girl band Pope Jane and her road-rock
project The Whiskey Roadshow Band. She also performs in
an acoustic duo with Kristen Coyner called The Dashboard
Mary's. Egnew's pop and orchestral compositions appear
on TV and film. Her film credits include the paranormal
doc Montgomery House and The Perfect Haunting, which
she directed, produced and starred in. For her clairvoyant
56
Icurve
abilities, she's been called in to advise law enforcement on
cases.The duo has worked togeth~r since their relationship
began (in 2008, in the L.A. celebrity version of The Vagina
Monologues with Jennifer Beals and Alexa~dra Hedison). We
asked the power couple to sit down together for an intimate
interview, sans reporter. In this format, ·we,the reader, get to
see into Metal and Egnew's world.
<
Metal:Beforewemet,youwerein Montana.
Whydidyoudecide
tomovetoL.A.andhaslivinghereleftyoudisillusioned
aboutthe
wholeHollywood
experience?
Egnew:
I came to L.A. for work and for love. I had heard about
how terrible L.A. was, but I...had a lot of fantastic opportunities open up right away, and they just kept coming, so I
stayed. And of course, having you living here was a pretty big
inspiration to move!
Egnew:Would
youeverleaveentertainment?
Metal:I've wanted to work in entertainment my whole life,
and I don't think I'd ever do anything else.
Metal: You'rereallyintopolitics-whendid you first become
involved
inpoliticsanddoesbeinggayheighten
thatinterest?
Egnew:I was 21 when I first started working on local campaigns. I didn't actually get
involved with LGBT politics until later on. I'm
now involved with the marriage rights movement on state levels all across the country.
youmost?
Metal:Whohasinfluenced
Egnew:Definitely my close friends and family.
I have a very musical family, and we'd all sing
tunes to
around the piano and guitar-show
Italian arias to Cat Stevens. My grandparents were all salt of
the earth hard workers. They liked the Hollywood golden era
films and '50s Broadway cast recordings on vinyl.
yourgreatestaccomplishment?
Egnew:Whatdoyouconsider
Metal:I'm 42 years old and I'm still alive! (Laughs] Seriously,
I would have to say my latest radio venture, The SheenaMetal
Experience,is my greatest accomplishment to date. I've always
wanted to do something that combined creativity, humanity,
education and utter irreverence. The last year of my life has
been an utter joy, and I haven't done a show yet that I didn't
leave feeling not only elated, but that I am completely in the
r,ight place in my life and doing the right thing.
manyradiotalkshowsin L.A.overthe
anchored
Egnew:You've
What'sthemostbizarrelistenercallyou'vereceived?
decades.
Metal:When I was on the then-Howard Stern station here in
L.A., I had a guy who kept calling up insisting that he had sex
with a goat who claimed to be Satan, while listening to Ronnie
James Dio.
artistall thatyouhopedit wouldbe?
Metal:Is beinga successful
Egnew:Yes and no. Yes, because it is so mind-boggling and
humbling when you find out that you've touched so many
people's lives with your music or film. No, because the more
successful you are, the more responsibility comes with
managing your projects. You sacrifice personal flexibility for
artistic outreach.
Metal:Yes, if I had to give advice to someone getting into the
entertainment business, I'd say,"Know that it will always be
hard w~rk, long hours and emotionally all-encompassing:' If
you're expecting to sit poolside with a pifia colada and eat
bon bons, you need to quit the business and marry someone
rich. You've got to really love it, or you'll learn to hate it fast.
freak.
history
Mostpeopledon'tknowyou'reanenonnous
Egnew:
Metal:Since I was very young I have loved Victorian England
and collected things associated with that time. I am a Charles
Dickens nut, a Jack The Ripper freak and a Sherlock Holmes
fan. I even have a strange fascination with the life o_fThe
Elephant Man, although I have no urge to buy his bones.
Egnew:Whatdon'tpeopleknowaboutme?
Metal:You're a gay man in a woman's body.
Metal:Hasthathelpedorhurtyouin thelesbiancommunity?
Egnew:[Laughs] Well, it has been a bit of a drawback in the
lesbian community. I'm definitely a queer girl, but I don't play
softball, yet I can tell you what roles Patti LuPone sang on
Broadway. I've got more product in my hair than 10 baby
dykes with faux hawks, my shoes cost as much as Superbowl
tickets and I'll pass on an entire pitcher of Bud Lite for one
Cosmo. I have a lot of love for my fellow gay girls, though
most of them don't know exactly what to do with me if I'm
not in thdr iPod singing to them.
Egnew:Youworkin so manydifferentart forms.Do
youeverwishthatyoucoulddojustonething?
Metal:I love the diversity. It keeps my brain busy so
I don't get into trouble. If I wanted to do just one
thing, I'd become a tax attorney and
make the really big bucks.
Metal:Whataboutyou?Howdo you
balanceit all?
Egnew:Very carefully, so as to keep
romantic dinner dates with my
lovely other half! Speaking of which,
you told me I'm the first woman
you've ever been in a relationship
with. Was it all you ever hoped for?
Metal:Yes, my love-and much, much more. Well, except for
one disappointing thing: You can eat and eat and
•
never get fat. I love you incrediblv, but I still think
God should strike you dead for that. [Laughs]
Metal:So,whenyoufirstmetme, whatwasyourfirst
impression?
I thought you were incredibly dynamic, intelEgnew:
ligent and I loved the timbre of your voice.
eightyearslater?
Metal:Didyouthinkwe'dbetogether
If I banked on how long our relationship would
Egnew:
last-eight people years is like 25 gay years, or like 60
movie star years-so, coupled with as headstrong as
we both are, that must mean we love one another!
that we do togetheras a
Egnew:Tellme something
couplethatyoulovethemost.
Metal:I love everything we do together. Oddly, for as
busy as we are, we're together almost all of the time.
We both work at home and we're very deeply rooted in
each other's businesses. When we're not working, we're
out somewhere together having a candlelit dinner at
the ocean, seeing a show, watching a scary movie or
,,
"E1q'1t
pec,ple
1.4earsis
li~e 25
qa1.41.4ears,
c,r li~e 60
rr1c,viestar
1.4ears-sc,,
cc,upled
wit'1 as
'1eadstrc,nq
as we bc,t'1
are, t'1at
rrtustrrtean
we lc,ve c,ne
taking a fun road trip somewhere. You are an amazingly intelligent, creative, fun and funny person, and I
just love being in your presence, no matter where we
are or what we're doing.
Metal:What'stheonethingpeoplemaynotknowaboutyouand
anc,t'1er!"
aboutus?
I can be very introverted. There are times when I just
Egnew:
want to hole up and create stuff. About us, I think people
imagine Hollywood Lesbian Power Couple" as portrayed on
The L Word, but I don't think people realize how truly geeky
you and I are. We picnic on the bed and watch cheesy movies
on SyFy all night and eat Greek take-out in our pajamas. You
and I are about as unconventionally old-fashioned as it gets!
Metal:Yeah, we are both stubborn, intelligent, creative, careerdriven women used to getting our own way. Yet, all it took
was one email conversation and we were bonded through the
commonality of our spirituality, our humanity and our mutual
love and respect for each other's existence on this earth. Now,
eight years later, I can honestly say I've never spent so much
time with one person, I've never had so much fun, I've never
laughed so much and I've never been more in
November/December 2010
I57
1
BACKIN THE
I DON'TTHINKSO!
Older lesbiansfight to be seen and
heard, especiallyas they enter
their twilightyears.
BY SHARONR. COLE
I
T'S A SUBVERSIVE IDEA that's been ruminating
change for a lesbian coming across a Radclyffe book! She'd feel
in Laurie Young's mind for quite some time now: so embraced;' says Young.
ducking into a bunch of mainstream nursing homes
A Radclyffe romance seems like such a simple gesture, but
around- the country with a sackful of lesbian romance having it readily available at a nursing home is symbolic of
novels and strategically depositing them in their something greater-a more accepting society. Alas, we are not
libraries and community rooms.
there yet. Older lesbians who've struggled for many decades
The 60-year-old Young, an aging-policy analyst for the just to break out of the closet now find themselves in fear of
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Washington D.C.,. being forced back in.
loves to think about what it would mean if she could pull
Why? According to Young, coexistence with unfriendly
this off. "Just imagine how the whole experience of being in a staff and residents at nursing homes, worries over nonexistent
predominantly heterosexual senior living community would partner benefits and endless medical and governmental forms
on which they cannot be properly identified are just a fewof the
issues that burden older lesbians. What's more, lesbians over 60
often feel alienated within the gay community, primarily due to
ageism and the fact that younger lesbians are experiencing a
different environment than in pre-Stonewall times.
"But we are a group of thriving, sexual, intelligent human
beings who should not be dismissed;' says Young."It is my own
personal goal to make sure the elder years for LGBT people
are infused with respect, dignity and grace:'
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Young is well aware that lesbians survived decades of being
deemed mentally ill up until 1973, when the American
Psychiatric Society finally declassified homosexuality as a
mental disorder.
58 I curve
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"People were fired for being gay and feared
arrest, institutionalization and harmful treatments;' says Young. "We must remember that
through these life circumstances there was
pain, oppression and discrimination. Weve
been tough and resilient, but it doesn't mean
we weren't damaged:'
Margaret Cruikshank, 70, women's studies professor at the University of Maine and
author of Fiercewith Reality:An Anthologyof
Literature on Aging, agrees that many older
lesbians are in bad shape, emotionally and
physically, because of the severely anti-gay
years they've endured-an oppressive experience that would've been intensified tenfold if
they were raised without access to resources,
in the absence of education, or within a
family system that ostracized homosexuals.
"However, I also believe that lesbians who
found a way to more fully express their true
selves figured out how to live distantly from
male approval or values. Weve been able to
function outside heterosexual norms and,
therefore, think unconventionally. Whether or
not we developed certain coping skills to overcome the oppression, I don't know. But I think
we are freer in our thoughts, and that's made
us really strong women;' says Cruikshank.
Sandi Armstrong, 60, chair of Gay and
Gray in the West, in Denver, believes older
lesbians are extremely creative people who
have developed extraordinary coping skills.
"Because it isn't just males that discriminate
against lesbians;' she says. "It's an entirely
heterosexist society. Some older lesbians
believed it was necessary to be in the closet
it. Gray, who is currently part of a program
that trains nursing home staffs, makes it very
clear that there is no room for prejudice.
"There will be no closet for senior lesbians to hide in. We will not be treated like
·second-class citizens. We will not tolerate
rudeness;' she says when describing how she
would address a group going through LGBT
sensitivity training.
A powerhouse who has been a catalyst of
change for the oppressed since the '60s, Gray
has a plan similar to Young's Radclyffe idea.
It is her goal to see Pride flags raised on the
poles of every nursing home in the nation. ''As
we age, we ultimately become more vulnerable, and this is not a time when lesbians, gays,
bisexuals or transpeople should
have to feel less than anyone else;'
says Gray. "We already came out of
the closet and were not going back
in. Ge·t those flags up!"
PUSHING
PARTNERS
VISIBILITY
Partners Carmah Lawler, 81, and
Kathy Glass, 78, political activists
in Colorado, are a perfect example of vibrant
older lesbians who refuse to go back into the
closet. It took them until they retired to fully
come out. In fact, 25 years ago they would've
never imagined that by 2007 they'd be entertaining a Lakewood, Colo., mayoral candidate in their home, with the political agenda
of pushing for gay rights and partnership
benefits. But that's just what they did.
"That's been part of our push toward
BELIEVED
"SOMEOLDERLESBIANS
TOBEINTHE
ITWASNECESSARY
THEMSELVES.
TOSUPPORT
CLOSET
TACTIC."
ITWASA SURVIVAL
to support themselves. It was a survival
tactic. And anytime you can't be fully who
you are, it takes a roll:'
At this stage of the game, however, all
agree that no lesbian should have to develop
new coping skills in order to live a normal life
in our society. In fact, Vernita Gray, a longtime activist who serves on the National Gay
w and Lesbian Task Force, working for equal
~
(/)
treatment of the elderly, is adamant about
visibility. We were just saying to our
candidate that we need to know you and
you need to know us;' says Glass. "He came
because we told him he could put through
something like partner benefits for his own
staff without it being a big kerfuffie:'
Lawler and Glass both had careers working with families and children. They would
have been handed a pink slip had they come
out during their careers. "We're doing all that
OLDER
GETTING
In an unstable world, one thing
is certain-we're all getting older.
Thankfully, we're not alone. Services
and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian,
Bisexual & Transgender Elders (SAGE)
and Old Lesbians Organizing for
Change (OLOC) are two fantastic
organizations working to improve the
lives of aging lesbians.
SAGE, a nonprofit agency dedicated
to serving the needs of elderly LGBT
people, has led the way in the advancement of services
and research into
what it means to
be aging in the
LGBTcommunity. Karen Taylor,
the director
of Community
Advocacy and
Capacity Building,
cites Outing Age
2010, compiled
by SAGE and the National Gay and
Lesbian Task Force to explore the
disadvantages that aging lesbians
face: "Lifelong experiences of social
and economic marginalization place
lesbian elders at higher risk for isolation, poverty and homelessness than
their heterosexual peers. A recent study
from the Williams Institute found that
lesbian same-sex couples over the age
of 65 live in poverty at more than twice
the rate of heterosexual couples of the
same age."
OLOC, a national network of lesbians
over 60, is a tireless educator against
ageism. "Our work includes lots of
consciousness-raising on ageism,"
explains Jan Griesinger, co-director of
OLOC. The group publishes a quarterly
newsletter, sponsors both regional
meetings and a national conference,
and provides cultural competency
training for aging, LGBT, and women's
direct service organizations. The goal
of these training sessions is explained
by Griesinger as a way to address what
the group refers to as the "systematic
denigration" of older people in the
LGBT community. The group also
operates the Old Lesbian Oral Herstory
Project, which collects oral "herstories"
from women over the age of 70. OLOC's
national conference took place in July
in Cleveland, Ohio. The year's theme,
"Old Lesbian Pride: Sharpening the
Lowrey]
Radical Edge." [Sassafras
OLOC girls (from
left): Saundra
Tignor, Mina
Meyer, Sunne
Mahood and
Mickey Clifton
we can for gay rights now without worrying about repercussions;' says Glass. "We're human beings, we have no fear now
and our mayor needed to hear us out:'
Just for the record, the mayoral candidate was elected and
quickly instituted partnership benefits for his staff.
As of late, Lawler and Glass are involved in making sure a
movie on nursing home acceptance gets around to as many
facilities as possible. Entitled ProjectVisibility,the film provokes dialogue regarding LGBT sensitivity.
"What do you do when Kathy Glass walks in to your office
and says, 'I need to be in your facility. Oh, and by the way, this
is my partner, Carmah?'" asks Glass. 'i\t the point when you
have to make the decision to move into a home is not a time
when you want a lot of flack from the staff. You want to have
someone who can greet you and say, 'Sure, come on in. We
can help you with whatever you need:"
Sadly, experiencing warmth upon entering a nursing home
is the exception, not the norm. Gray reports a recent incident: ''A friend of mine who passed recently was sent to a
residence from a hospital after falling ill. She was admitted
to the home at 1:00 p.m. and by 1:30 p.m. she had a roommate saying, 'i don't want a lesbo in here with me: I couldn't
believe it. The last thing my friend needed to worry about
was a bigoted roommate:'
Young adds that older lesbians-whether
they're fully out
or not-are relying on staff caregivers who may not be so
enlightened. "We also know that people who work in institutions more often are women who are underpaid and usually receiving no benefits or pensions. So, lesbians coming in
the front door are being taken care of by oppressed women.
Those women will eventually leave for a better-payingjob, so
the cycle of training is a never-ending process:'
•
Young also reports that LGBT people are twice as likely to
age alone and four times less likely to have children."Children
often serve as their parents' advocates and gatekeepers at
nursing homes, but many LGBT people don't have that kind
of support;' she says.
WANTINGWHATTHEYDESERVE
Adding to frustrations for older lesbians is the fact that they
still are not officially being counted and represented on most
SENIORS
STILLSIZZLE
INTHESACK
What? Old lesbians have sex? Yep.
When it comes to talking about sex
among anyone over 40, folks have a tendency to stick their fingers in their ears
and commence with the old, "La, la, la,
la, la. I can't hear you." But older women
crave and desire closeness with lovers
and partners, just like everyone else. So,
why all the sex phobia?
"Nobobdy believes older people are
sexual," says Laurie Young. "And then there is the ick
factor in the straight world about LGBT people being
active. Even within our own community there is an
ageist element. I mean, at eome point a lesbian stops
bleeping on younger women's radar screens." Young
concedes that there was a certain point in time when
she realized her sexuality had become totally invisible.
Youngalso believesthat sex Is moreof a hiddensecret
in the lesbiancommunitybecausein a lot of wayswe might
think, historically,that lesbianscameout throughthe feministmovement"Andso we lookedat the whole notionof
womenas being powerful,and not as beingsexualobjects."
But elder lesbians are getting it
on. And for this population, a deeper
level of intimacy and connection
might exist, says Ellen Ensig-Brodsky,
who appeared In the documentary
Still Doing It: The Intimate Lives of
Women Over 65, and currently serves
as an advocate for the Services and
Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual &
Transgender Elders (SAGE).
"For men, sex is all about the orgasm, and that's
it," says Ensig-Brodsky. "For older women there is an
intimacy, totality and physicality that may or may not
always result In orgasm."
Ensig-Brodsky admits she had an animalistic sex
drive when she first came out In her 40s. "I was driven
by a need to have sex," she says... I was restrained and
hidden all my life, and there was no end to my escapades at first." Her hormones, however, have changed
over time. But, she says, "the force of closenessand
the lovemaking in all of its senses is as strong as ever."
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governmental, health care and insurance forms and
surveys. "Every time a lesbian goes to fill out a form and
has to check off boxes that don't quite match up with
her identity, she's going to feel discounted;' says Young.
She adds that even though Census 2010 pushed for
the LGBT community to complete the census form,
there was no real count ofLGBT people."There is still
no sexual orientation or gender identification box to
check. We can check off 'unmarried partners' but a
heterosexual couple can do that, too;' she says.
Outing Age 2010, an extensive report published
by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy
Institute, reports that only a handful of state and fed,
eral demographic and health surveys collect data spe,
:i:
@
cifically on LGBT elders.
"One thing is abundantly clear from the limited
data at hand: LGBT elders remain an underserved
and highly vulnerable population;' it reads. "Much of
what we currently know about LGBT elders in the
United States comes from the pioneering social sci,
ence research conducted by a handful of scholars since
the mid, 1970s. Most of these studies rely on cohorts
of white gay men; a smaller number focus on lesbi,
ans. Very few include transgender or bisexual elders
or examine the findings to discern issues of particu,
lar concern to these elders. And most of the studies
involve small sample sizes that do not reflect the racial
and economic diversity of the LGBT community:'
If a precise count were done, much more money
could be funneled to LGBT needs, not to mention
that we all would have a better idea of just how many
LG BT people exist.
Gray reels over the fact that she's worked since
she was 17 years old and has been paying into Social
Security all this time. 'J\nd, hey, I didn't get a gay tax
break, but I do know that some woman in Utah will
be benefiting from my money, while my partner won't,
if I go first;' she says. "Believe me, the government is
depending on gay and lesbian dollars. They've got it
all calculated and there's a lot of money there that we'll
never see:•
The best solution Cruikshank has come up with in
the meantime is to suggest that we all add our own
box to identify ourselves on every form we fill out. "It's
a small thing, but if 100,000 people did that, some,
thing's got to change:'
Because of the lack of statistics, Young can only
"guestimate" how many LGBT elders exist, let alone
'lesbian elders. "We think that 1 to 3 million people
over 65 are LGBT. By 2030, our population should
grow to about 6 million. We need to be counted;' she
says. "What the future holds for us is dependent on it.
And what the future holds for younger lesbians, who
aren't even thinking about the decisions they'll have
to make when they're older, is dependent on it. It is
about all of us, our welfare and our rights as human
ANDOPENMINDS
OPENHOUSE
thatSanFrancisco's
a surveyshowing
conducted
In 1998,Dr.MarcyAdelman
andlesslikelyto havechildren
over55 aremoreisolated
individuals
25,000LGBT
surveyshowedovertwocaringforthem.Threeyearslater,a follow-up
orrelatives
theydon't
fortheelderlyreported
centers
neighborhood
thirdsofSanFrancisco's
a nonprofit
openhouse,
founded
Dr.Adelman
In response,
people.
serveanyLGBT
groupthatactsas a voicefor LGBTelders.Elevenyearslater,she
advocacy
winninga $50,000
rights,recently
ofthefightforLGBT
on
remains theforefront
PrizefromCivicVentures.
Purpose
elders?
WhatarethestatsonLBGT
is estimated
Sincethe LGBTpopulation
to bebetween5 to 10 percentof the
we canestimatethat
generalpopulation,
todaythereare1.4to 3.8millionLGBT
In 2030,therewill be3.6to
Americans.
folksovertheageof 65.
7.2millionLGBT
between
Whataresomedifferences
elders?
andLGBT
straight
LGBTolderadultsandeldersfacesimilar
peersas
issuesastheirheterosexual
theyage,suchashealthandfinancial
andmobility
concerns,independence
issuesandthe lossof lovedones.But
LGBTseniorsalsohaveliveda lifetime
andmardiscrimination
experiencing
LGBTseniorswhoare75
ginalization.
yearsof ageor oldergrewup in a preliberationerawhendisclosureinvariably
meantrejectionandloss.It's notsurprisingthatLGBTseniorsarereluctantto
accesslong-termcareservicesfor fear
of discrimination.
Whataresomeoftheirconcerns?
abouttheirsafetyif
They'reconcerned
theyinviteserviceprovidersintotheir
about
homes,andthey'reconcerned
the hostilitytheymayencounterif they
seniorfacilities.
moveto mainstream
Theseniorcareprovidersthatthey
interfacewith areoftenunawareof and
folksfeel
untrainedin howto makeLGBT
welcomedandsafe.Asa consequence,
LGBTseniorsoftengobackintothe
closetto accessservicesor,at great
riskto theirhealthandwell-being,don't
accessservicesat all.
differforthe
systems
Howdosupport
elderly?
LGBT
surveyshavefoundthat LGBT
Numerous
seniorsin largeurbanareasaremore
peersto be
likelythantheir-heterosexual
childless,singleandlivealone,without
familysupport.Thesefactorshave
for thecareand
importantimplications
supportof LGBTseniors,sincehaving
a spouseandchildrenreducesthe
likelihoodof povertyandisolationand
accessto servicesandcare
increases
duringoldage.
Same-sexpartnerscan't receive
SocialSecuritysurvivorbenefits.
Hospitalvisitationrights are denied
to same-sexpartners.Taxlaws discriminateagainstsame-sexpartners.
Medicaidregulationsprotectthe assets
and homesof marriedspouseswhen
their partnersentera nursinghome
or long-termcarefacility,while no
suchprotectionis offeredto same-sex
partners.
Whoarealliesinthefightforequal
population?
rightsfortheagingLGBT
TheLGBTagingnetworkhasforged
with
manysignificantrelationships
mainstreamagingorganizationssuchasAARP
nationalorganizations
andtheAmericanSocietyonAgingandwith stateandcommunity-based
seniorserviceorganizations.
whatotherissuesneed
forward,
Moving
to beaddressed?
on sexualorientationand
Questions
genderidentityshouldbe includedin all
federalandstateresearchsurveys.This
wouldallowus to knowso muchmore
thanwe do todayaboutthe specific
needsof LGBTpeopleas we age,and
to betteraddressthoseneedsthrough
existingprogramsandservices.Senior
health-careprovidersmustcontinue
to betrainedin culturalcompetency
for workingwith LGBTpeople.The
definitionof "family"mustbe expanded
to recognizesame-sexcouplesand
extendto LGBTfamiliesin regardsto
socialsecurity,medicaidandveterans'
benefits.[ErinSiegal]
November/December
2010
I61
REVIEWSMusic Watch
Beatin the Blues
Old and new songs to lift your spirits. By Margaret Coble
Kick,TheSplinters(Double
NegativeRecords):
The
Splintersarethe latestband
to emergefromtheseemingly
endlessgaragerockrevival.
Thisall-girlquartet,madeup
of Caroline
Partamian,
Lauren
Stern,AshleyThomasand
Courtney
Gray,hailsfrom
Oakland,
Calif.,andformed
just a fewyearsbackwhile
all fourwerein college.
Theirfull-lengthdebut,Kick,
cameoutearlierthisyearon
DoubleNegative
Records
and
containsa dozenblastsof
conciseandcatchygarageinflectedpop.Songslike
"Splintered
Bridges"and
theopening"Mysterious"
barelycrackthetwo-minute Everybody gets the blues sometimes. As I see it, you
can do one of three things when you're down: You
mark.TheSplinterscite'60s
girl-grouptheShangri-Las can wallow in it, you can distract yourself from it or
asan influenceaswellas
you can try to pick yourself up and kick it. So here
post-punkbandslikeSonic are three discs that
I've been using to get through my
Youthandthe Raincoats,
and
recent funk, from the Drums, the Indigo Girls and
youcanhearall theseinfluthe Amazon Wimmin of the Michigan Womyn's
encesat workon Kick.Thisis
definitelynotSundaymorning Music Festival.
music-more analbumfor
thoseendlesssummer The Drums,The Drums(Downtown):
Hailing from
daysor restlessnights. New York City, this all-boy indie-pop band instantly
(myspace.
comlthesplintersband)
brought to mind some of my '80s gay faves-the
[DaveSteinfeld]
Smiths, the Cure and Joy Division, with their emo
lyrics and mood, jangly guitars and minimal but entirely
danceable beats. Brooding cuts like "It Will All End in
Tears" and "I Need Some Fun in My Life" are pretty
good for wallowing, as are many of the band's largely
relationship-gone-awry songs, but then there's "Let's
Go Surfing," which opens with some peppy whistling
and sports a much less somber tone. Overall, it's not
as dour as much of the music I listened to as an angstridden youth, but it certainly fits the bill when you're
dwelling 1.nyour depression. ( thedrums.com)
Overall,it's not as dour as much
of the music I listenedto as
an angst-riddenyouth, but it
-certainlyfits the bill when you're
dwelling in your depression.
things better than belting out a song at the top of
your lungs, right? I can always count on the Indigo
Girls for a good sing-along, and with this new live
double-disc set they do not disappoint. Thirty-one
songs span these two discs, recorded from 2006 to
2009-some acoustic, some with full band backingand range from classic older cuts like "Kid Fears"
(an amazing rendition featuring Trina Meade of the
Atlanta band Three5Human) and, yes, even "Closer
to Fine;' to newer material, like "Love of Our Lives"
and "Sugar Tongue:' From their most recent studio
album, Poseidonand the Bitter Bug. The second disc
closes with my favorite of the handful of covers
offered, the Rolling Stones'"Wild Horses;' featuring
longtime IG friend and collaborator Michelle
Staring Down the Brilliant Dream, Indigo Girls Malone. Pop these discs in and you can forget about
(Vanguard):Nothing helps you take your mind off your cares. (indigogirls.com)
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Amazon
If you've ever attended the Michigan Womyn's
Music Festival, then you're familiar with the
song 'i\mazon:' Outside the context of the
fest's elaborate, emotional opening ceremonies, for which it is the theme song, it might
sound like just an old-school women's folk
song-which it is, actually. Maxine Feldman
penned the track in 1976, the same year the
festival began, but in the past few decades,
festival artists like Judith Casselberry, who
produced this CD, have updated it into a
goosebump-inducing reggae anthem that
annually rouses the lesbian crowd to belt out
the lyrics and dance. The disc contains not
only the midtempo reggae version of the original, but also Casselberry's dancehall addition,
"Rise Again;' Staceyann Chin's 'i\mazon Like
Rocle" spoken word piece, Mayra Casales'
'i\mazonas de la Tierra;' Cocomama's salsa
z
version, Feldman's original, Holly Near's
acoustic and an instrumental ·version. With
proceeds being split between the Lesbian
Herstory Archives• and Michfest, this is
essential self-care for any Amazon woman.
(goldenrod.com)
Q+A
Brandi Carlile
With her sinewy sense of style,
honest lyrics and a voice that
drips with desire, Brandi Carlile
has become an icon for young lesbians.
Growing up on a diet of Tammy Wynette
and Patsy Cline, with the Indigo Girls
and Elton John as her queer role models,
Carlile dropped out of tenth grade to
form her first band. Though young, Carlile
has amassed a huge indie following,and
has had mainstream successes. Her songs
have been played on Greys Anatomy
and her hit "The Story" was covered on
American Idol. She added Lilith Fair festival dates to her nonstop tour schedule
this summer. Last Fall, Carlile came out
as a lesbian in an interview with the Los
Angeles Times.
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needto
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blues
folk,alt-country,
knowabout.Dylan
RoseMathis andindierock/pop.
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point,butall 12cuts
andqueeraesthetic
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vocals,
tive,languorous
EP."BootyPolice"is a
poeticlyricsandgritty
Peaches-meets-JJ-Fad
hybridAmericana
tonguetwister,while
cutslike"SexMirage" sound.Fansof Iris
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takemebackto the
moodyNewWaveof my Williamsshould
youth.(myspace.coml checkherout.
com)
(pietabrown.
skatenightnola)
the audience. I never really felt
like I was "coming out" in the
L.A. Times. I always just thought
we were having a discussion
about something that adds to the
depth and complexity of my story. If living
honestly draws a stigma, then bring it on.
will know
whohasseenyouperform
Anyone
Is i~tiring
thatyoualwaysgive200percent.
withsuchintensity?
performing
Well, the intensity is involuntary. I often have
a hard time watching myself sing because
I'm always surprised at how affected I was
at the time of the performance. I think it is
exhausting, but in the way that you know is
making you stronger.
namedyouthebestvoicein
Pastemagazine
list?
indierock.Whowouldtopyourpersonal
Sometimes I wonder what indie rock really
means. I think Amy Ray is the best. She is
the epitome of indie. She's the toughest and
the sexiest indie rocker I know.
YoucomefromSeattle,sohowmuchofaninflusceneonyou?
encewasthe"grunge"
Sadly, I missed out on the grunge scene
while it was happening. It's so sad to think
that some of the little clubs we cut our teeth
in housed a twenty-something Chris Cornell,
Kurt Cobain and Eddie Vedder, and we were
45 minutes away. Sure, we weren't old enough
to get in, but nobody could hold a fake ID
against you for that, not even the cops.
thatyoukepta tape
I readin an interview
andlabeledit
episode
out
coming
of Ellen's
didyouhaveto
Why
Game."
"David'sBaseball
hideit?
The obvious reason was that I didn't want
my parents to notice that I had taken an
interest in such things because I didn't
for sure know it was OK to be gay. Also, I
thought it looked obsessive to have VHS
tapes of Ellen DeGeneres lying around the
house. Plus, it was David's baseball gamebefore I taped over it .
Howdidyoufeelwhenyougotthecallfrom
SarahMclachlanto performat LilithFair?
I was completely touched-Lilith Fair has
sculpted the kind of artist I am. When I was
15 or 16, I remember playing the local stage
of Lilith Fair. Back then I played piano and I
saw the Indigo Girls and was so flipped out by
Emily's guitar playing that I had to get a guitar.
[AlisonStokes]
November/December
I
201 O 63
REVIEWSIn The Stacks
Hauntin Tales
This month's books shine a light in dark places. By-Rachel Pepper
from la cuenca de
los angeles
J otJ'()snatural disasters
Scenes
fromLaCuenca
de
LosAngeles
y OtrosNatural
Disasters,
SusanaChavezSilverman(TheUniversity
of Wisconsin
Press):
Toldin theformof diary
entries,lettersto loversand
notesto friends,thisbook
chronicles
theauthor'slife
from1982to 2009.Thepoetic
forceandflowof herwords
bringto lifea spectrumof
emotions,
fromcertaintyand
clarityto devastation.
Various
backdrops,
includingSan
Francisco
andSouthAfrica,
providegeographic
contexts
thatvivifytheauthor'sinner
qualms,whileillustrating
thedifferentfacetsthat
traveladdsto heridentity.
Theuseof Spanishphrases
onlybolstertheauthor's
beautifulmetaphors,
oneof
whichcompares
herheart
to a fragilepincushion.
In its
entirety,thestoryreadslike
a digression,
a tripthattakes
thewindingroadto getto its
destination.
Theoutpouring
of
sucha "five-trackmind"as
Chavez-Silverman
describes
it, resultsin anartformthat
combines
two languages
to
painta portraitof a woman
moreproneto circuitousness
thanneatandtidyclassification.(uwpress.
wisc.edLi}
[EleniStephanides]
64
Icurve
A real-life tale of activism in the
heart of darkness, and a beloved
lesbian author, Sarah Waters,
offers up a Victorian ghost story to
tingle your spine.
A Thousand
Sisters,LisaShannon
(Seal Press):With A Thousand
Sisters, Lisa Shannon has written
an incredibly inspiring story
about her call to activism. That
this activism involves helping
the women of the Democratic
Republic of Congo, a country
many would consider a lost
cause, is even more stirring. Torn
apart by ethnic rivalries and war,
terrorized by military groups.
such as lnterahamwe, Congo is a poor African
country that barely gets a mention in the U.S. news.
Yet, atrocities such as child malnutrition and the
torture, gang rape and dismemberment of women
are common there. It is often referred to as the
worst place on earth to be a woman. As such, the
women of Congo live in poverty, fear and despair.
Despite this, A Thousand Sisters is not a book
steeped in gloom. On the contrary, it is filled with
hope, even despite the sadness of so many of the lives
that fill it. This hope is grounded in the belief that
despite huge odds, one person can make a significant
and lasting difference in the lives of countless others.
A Thousand Sisters follows Shannon's journey
from her comfortable life as a successful, engaged,
Portland-ba~ed stock photographer to a foundation
creator and an international activist. One day in 2005,
she watched an episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show
about the country of Congo. This motivated Shannon
to run 30-miles solo to
sponsor women there who
participate in a program
called Women for Women
International. This program
helps women learn new
skills and trades to better
their families' otherwise
bleak existence. Shannon's
own organization, Run for
Congo Women, currently
holds fundraising
runs m
four countries and 10 states,
continuing to raise money and
awareness. They have already
sponsored 1,000 women in
Congo-women who are raising
5,000 children among them.
Shannon has visited Congo
several times and personally met
with many of the women her
organization sponsors. These
visits form the core of the book,
and the life stories of these
women are harrowing. These
"sisters" are interesting characters
who make the best of their lot,
always pushing Shannon for
more assistance-for
housing,
for medical care, for sugar. Always aware of her
privileged status, yet understanding her limited role
as an outsider, Shannon nevertheless continues to
bring attention to this neglected corner of the world.
(sealpress.com)
SarahWaters,TheLittleStranger(Riverhead
Books):
Sarah Waters has been featured previously in
curve, and for good reason. A writer of exceptional
talent and literary prose, Waters continues to
produce first-rate fiction on a regular basis. Her past
novels, including Tipping the Velvet and Fingersmith,
have been primarily lesbian-themed, but with
Ihe Little Stranger, Waters takes a different turn,
using a straight man as the narrator and featuring
a heterosexual relationship, albeit an unusual one.
Lesbian fans need not worry, however. This is still
classic Waters. Ihe Little Strangeris a moody thriller
with well-developed characters-that
takes its
time building to its inevitably spooky conclusion.
Dr. Faraday is a physician practicing in the English
countryside in the 1940s. One night, he receives a call
to come to Hundreds Hall, a once grand estate that
he remembers visiting as a boy. There, he becomes
reacquainted with the Ayreses, a fading gentry
family which includes eccentric siblings Roddie
and Caroline, their elderly mother, several servants
and the unspoken other-Susan,
the eldest sibling,
who died in childhood. Over the course of the next m
z
few months, as Dr Faraday's affections for Caroline
Mac McClelland
Mac McClelland, reporter and editor for
Mother Jones, never expected she'd end
up teaching English in a Burmese refugee
camp in Thailand in 2006. Through her
experiences, which form the basis for her
new book, For Us Surrender is Out of the
Question, she discovered a "secret genocide''
that Westerners know very little about. The
United States even classifies these refugees as
terrorist-based and consorting with them is
illegal-a fact that McClelland only learned
upon returning home.
Explainwhatyourbooktitle means.
It's the first tenet of the insurgent group, the
Karen. And it really does encompass their
total refusal to stop waging an unwinnable
war against the violence and oppression of
grow, so too do the odd incidents that
occur in the house. There are strange burn
marks on the ceilings, tappings in the
woodwork, unusual wall scribblings and,
eventually, mental illness and death. Is it
Susan who has come back to haunt her
family, or are there other dark emotional
or paranormal forces at work? This is
a mostly perfect novel, which perhaps
could have benefitted from some editing
in its center section. At 473 pages, it
runs a wee bit long. However, for a book
that you can curl up with on a blustery
day, The Little Stranger is a perfect pick.
(riverheadbooks.com)
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the Burmese regime and their
total lack of options for existing
peacefully in a country that's
trying to exterminate them.
so
don'tlivewithrefugees,
Mostvolunteers
whydidyou?
I didn't understand until I'd already been
living there for weeks ... that all the past
volunteers got hotels or apartments.
Apparently the Westerners who roll through
there don't consider that crappy house,
packed to the gills with refugees, suitable
living conditions. And, as I talk about in the
book, I almost started crying my first day,
but you kind of have to lose your self-pity for
tough living and bathing conditions when
you're with a bunch of genocide survivors.
Of course we became extremely close friends,
so I was soon very happy to be living there.
Whileyouwerethere,youcameoutasqueer.
Howwasit received?
BestLesbian
2010
Romance
ed.Radclyffe
(CleisPress)
to
Thecontributors
thisannualvolume
the
havecaptured
art of theshortstory.
Someindividual
include
stand-outs
ComingOutPartyby
which
AnnaMeadows,
theuncerportrays
and
tainty,sweetness
angstof a first loveand
Edge,by
TheOutside
abouta
SacchiGreen,
competiprovocative
tiveiceskater.Greenis
a welcomeadditionto
asshe
anyanthology
is anadeptstoryteller
who
andwordsmith
hercraft.
hasperfected
com)
(cleispresss.
ofSilence
Command
PauletteCallen
Ink)
(Spinsters
I was a novelty; they claimed that
they'd heard of homosexuality before,
but only recently... I recount in the
book a couple of fights we got in
about gay rights, where they were saying that
gays didn't deserve rights and I was hollering
at them that they were hypocrites since they
claim to be defenders of democracy and
equality. Most of them came around, actually.
But among some others, one in particular, I
remained an object of great disdain.
Youspendseveralpagesin yourbookon
kissing,Whyfocusonthat?
Why not? I mean, these people are people,
and we so often miss these very human
elements in portrayals of"victims:' I think it'd
have been a great disservice to leave out what
I learned about their sexuality. It's certainly
not the least interesting thing about the
Karen culture that they never, ever French.
[Kathilsserman]
TheScorpion
GerriHill
(BellaBooks)
DetectiveKristen
Shiloh,a privateeye
personality Bailey,anoutsider
withmultiple
onthe policeforce,is
hasmade
disorder,
stridestowardmental assignedto babysit
a
MartyEdwards,
healthwiththehelpof
herlesbianpsychiatrist. reporterinvestigating
Allof whicharetested a coldcase.Together
theydig intothe case,
whensheis hiredbya
goingdeepunderpriestto helpfindtwo
cover,andbecoming
missingchildrenfrom
the hunted.A seathesamehousehold
sanedromanceauthor,
a
whowerekidnapped
this is a different
dayapart.Morethana
simplecrimemystery, kindof bookfor Hill.
is a studyof Thestoryis edgyand
Command
dramatic,easinginto
themaincharacter's
manifesta- the romancelate.The
personality
tions.Thereaderhears plotat timesseems
all ofthedistinctvoices farfetchedandunrealistic,but it makes
ofthealtersasthey
for fantasticfiction.
helpandhinderthe
com)
(bellabooks.
case.(spinstersink.corrf)
of
TheMeaning
MySon's
Matthew:
and
MurderinLaramie,
a WorldTransfonned
JudyShepard
StreetPress)
(Hudson
does
JudyShepard
her
notsugarcoat
son'slifeinthisstarkly
The
honestmemoir.
bookfocusesonthe
of hisdeath,
aftermath
heranger,
including
andsurprise
sadness
aboutthenational
interestoverherson's
death.Thereaderalso
learnsmuchabout
imperfect
Matthew's
lifeasa son,brother
andyoungmanwhose
brutaldeathledto
ofThe
theenactment
Act.
MatthewShepard
com)
(penguin.
November/December
2010
I65
REVIEWSSapphic Screen
Makin It Colorful
Two films celebrate everyday pride. By Candace Moore
TheGirlwiththeDragon
Tattoo(MusicBoxFilms):
Everysooftenyoucome
acrossa film thatis so
grippingandthoughtprovoking
youcan'thelpbut
shareit witheveryone
you
know.TheGirlwiththeDragon
Tattoo
is oneof thosemovies.
Dark,gritty,violentandoften
shocking,
it's basedonthe
first bookin thebest-selling
Millennium
trilogyby late
Swedish
authorStiegLarsson.
Thefilm hasbeena massive
hit globally,
andthereis little
Two new film releases bring us the stuff of rainbow
shines as one of the more polished pieces, as does Nicole
doubtwhy.Itslead,Lisbeth, flags-pride in heaps, doled out through queer aniBrending's Operatedby InvisibleHands, which sees the
playedbythestrikingNoomi
mation, and the true tale of one Volkswagen Beetle's simple pleasure in making dolls 'clo it:' As Frameline
Rapace- is a queergoth
road trip to battle homophobia.
warns: These are "not your average Saturday morning
computer
hackerwhois
cartoons:' (frameline.org)
drawnintothesearchfor a
{Frameline):
Frameline's latest animawomanwhohasbeenmissing AniGAYmated!
40years.Girlis a satisfying tion collection gathers the funniest, most yarn-filled, Fagbug
{Garden
Thieves
Pictures):
When Albany, N.Y.,
thrillerpackedwithplottwists rainbow-strewn, polka-dot-bikinied, snarky, savvy, resident Erin Davies walked out to see the words
andshockingly
malicious moody and cute short films it could find. A mix of "U R GAY" and "FAG" spray-painted on her VW
villains.However,
Lisbeth
stop-motion and line animation brings us the kissing Beede, her reaction was anything but expected.
herselfprovesto bethefilm's
mostcompelling
mystery. and sex play of various zany oojects and queer charac- Realizing that those graffiti-happy jerks had targeted
Emotionally
scarred,brilliant ters: orgiast~chot dogs, dyke-dramatic numerals, Petra her because of her rainbow flag sticker, she decides to
andcapableof greatviolence von Kantian lesbian dolls, porn-minded unicorns and turn the tables on the haters and drive cross-country
whenprovoked,
sheis both the leather daddies that love them and more.
with the word "fagbug'' proudly emblazoned in red
theheartandtheviciousarm
Francoise Doherty's The Girl Bunnies stars ador- for all to see. She uses her road trip to call attention
of justiceof thefilm.Despite able lesbian bunnies that play ice hockey, type on to hate crimes, while documenting car trouble, people
its 152-minute
running
time,I
vintage Smith Coronas and adopt chicken eggs that
who try to scrape the letters off her window and
wasleftwantingmore.Luckily,
become babies to the tune of emo, electronica and LGBT events. Directed by Davies, this video diary
withits sequelsTheGirlWho
PlayedwithFireouton DVD their own little voices. Paula Durette queers rela- captures a passion project and a personal adventure.
tionships between numbers as their polyamorous
While Davies is traveling, her girlfriend in Albany
andTheGirlWhoKickedthe
soap
operas
accumulate,
explaining
the
numerology
dumps her, yet she finds love and support from
Hornets'Nestcoming
soon,
therearemoreopportunities
to
behind the phrase "big ol' dyke:' The compilation
strangers along the· way. Various folks contribute to
immerse
yourselfin Lisbeth's also features trans and genderqueer toons who recall the cost of her trip and weigh in on the courage and
world.(musicboxfilms.com) childhood games of doctor, dance in their bikinis and gumption behind the little Fagbugthat could. You'll
[Rachel
Shatto]
sing opera, while Genet- and Tom of Finland-inspired
find it inspiring to see how Davies transforms a hurtful
fantasies play out around them. Maria Trenor's atmo- event into a positive, life-changing experience and an
spheric, literary and dirty With What ShallI Wash It? opportunity for activism. (gardenthieves.com)
66
Icurve
Q+A
Charlene Strong
In 2006, Charlene Strong's partner,
Kate Fleming, drowned in her basement during a flash flood in Seattle. Despite
•the fact that they had been together for 10
years, Strong was not permitted to act as
her partner's next of kin during her final
moments. Rather than internalize her
anguish and anger, Strong turned to political
change, becoming an advocate for marriage
equality and the rights of same-sex partners,
rights that would have allowed her to be at
Fleming's side in the hospital. She spoke
before the Washington State Legislature in
support of the landmark domestic partnership legislation that ultimately passed in
2009. Filmmakers approached Strong about
turning her story into a film. ForMy Wife,
the tale of Strong's journey from heartache to
activism, was released on August 30.
Tellusaboutthefilm.
ForMy Wife is a love story, first and foremost. Beyond that, it's a story about my
journey toward becoming an activist. At the
hospital, when I tried to see Kate, a nurse
J
stopped me and said, "You
are not legally next of kin:•
It was like she was speaking
a foreign language to me. I
said, 'Tm it! I'm her. Weve
been together for 10 years:• It never occurred
to me that I would hear the next words: "We
need to get someone on the phone to give
you permission to see her:' I finally did get
to see her, but not before jumping through
many hoops. Kate died that night. About
a month later, my friend Joe McDermott, a
state senator, mentioned a bill under consideration by the state legislature concerning
end-of-life decision-making rights and
hospitalization rights. So I testified in favor
of the bill. The governor signed it into law in
April 2007. It launched me as an activist
for marriage equality.
involved?
youto become
Whatmotivated
After Kate died, I was so angry about the
way we had been treated. I had to testify.
Continuing to fight for marriage equality
seems like a wonderful way to honor Kate.
asgoodasmarriage?
partnership
Is domestic
When I first started out, marriage was the
only thing that mattered to me. But we need
rights immediately. Referendum 4 71 put over
400 rights in place to protect people living
in committed relationships in Washington
state. So of course that is a victory. But is it
marriage? No. Marriage to me is 1,138 rights.
Once I leave Washington, there is no guarantee that if I were in a crisis situation, anyone
would honor the rights that Washington
state has bestowed on me. Domestic partnership is not enough. Marriage in select states
is not enough. But while we're working
toward that goal of 1,138 rights, well take
the 400 for now and give real protection to
families that need it.
What'snextforyou?
I am not content to play armchair quarterback. I was appointed to the Washington
State Human Rights Commission, so I'm
protecting gay people in Washington from
discrimination. I do hope that by the end of
my life we'll see full equality for everyone.
And I'm going to keep asking what I can do
and what my community can do. We should
keep fighting. We say in the film, "Every story
has a beginning, a middle and an end. This
story has yet to be finished. It ends with
Oberman-Breinde~
equality:' [Hannah
THINGS WE SHOULDN'T HAVE MISSED IN 2010
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Tech and home fitness have always gone together
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cash, but they rarely do anything to improve your
waistline. However, with the growing popularity of
fitness gaming, this is changing.
Complete with virtual personal trainers, weight
tracking, customized goals and a nearly endless variety of plateau-busting workout combinations, this
geek-approved workout regimen is finally the interactive home fitness experience that other products have
always claimed to be. Which means good-bye stinky
gym and hello excuse to pick up that gaming console
you've been eyeing, you know, for your health.
Nintendo blazed the fitness gaming trail with its
Wii Fit Balance Board. Using sensors in the board,
Wii Fit Plus tracks where you are placing your
weight, and that information is used to dete·rmine
your posture. Working in conjunction with Wii's
motion controller, it becomes a full body-tracker.
Balance games, yoga, strength training and jogging
are just some of the ways in which the Wii puts
your booty to work.
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Not to be left in Nintendo's dust, Sony's PlayStation
Move and Microsoft's XBox 360 Kinect have each
introduced innovative forms of motion tracking that
lend themselves to fitness gaming. The PlayStation
Move utilizes its hand held controller's built-in motion
sensors and a camera that tracks a bright sphere located
on the controller to follow your movements in 30
space. Workouts focus on interacting with objects and
offers sports like tennis and baseball, as well as rowing
and even a gladiator match.
But it's the Kinect that has made the greatest tech
strides by ditching handheld controllers altogether.
Using multiple cameras, including infrared, the Kinect
literally tracks your skeleton. Plus, its face-recognition
software means your game console can identify you on
sight. All interaction is done by motioning with your
hands or through voice control. Talk about your brave
new workout world! With Kinect, everything is about
getting you moving-even navigating the menus.
Nearly all the games require you to use your entire
body. There are specialized fitness games, but even the
standard action games will make you feel like you' re
really getting a work out.
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It canaccurately
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Vibrationfeedbackin
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Thereis no handheld
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KINECT
Xbox360
History of Lesbian Theater continued from page 37
combined with the idea of an inherited sensibility about dykes being perverts ... nasty
perverts. So we're like, 'Yeah-we're nasty
perverts ... that is what we actually are; but to
have that also with an ironic wink:'
Alongside lesbians who were collectively
developing work, other lesbians working as
solo playwrights were generating traditional
(Aristotelian ~influenced, structured, fourth~
wall) plays. When one such playwright, Jane
Chambers, was enrolled in college in 1956.
She told The New York Times, "Women were
not allowed in the playwriting or directing
courses unless there were seats left over after
the men signed up:' Twenty-plus years later,
Chambers had two of her plays produced
off-Broadway (A Late Snow in 1974 and Last
Summer at Bluefish Cove in 1980).
Breakingthe Mold
Thanks to the tenacity and dedication of
playwrights like Chambers and other makers
of theater, lesbian theater has become much
more visible and the work has evolved beyond
the realm of the 'coming~out" story and the
suicide ending.
Other things have changed, too.
Claudia Allen, a resident playwright at
Victory Gardens Theatre in Chicago, has had
her work produced in 15 U.S. cities. Allen
notes that during the '70s, "there were actors
who were very afraid to play gay partsI could get somebody to play Eva Braun
[Hitler's wife] easier than I could get some~
body to play a lesbian in love with another
lesbian:' Recently, Allen's play Hannah Free
was made into a feature-length film. Oh what
a difference a few decades makes.
Performance artist Susana Cook, who has
been touring her solo shows for 20 years in
North and South America, says, ''As for my
Cu
..J
LL
a:
z
0
Q
z
J:
(/)
J:
(/)
own work, lesbianism is at the foundation of
it. During the Bush years, I incorporated other
political issues in my work. The Idiot King is
about how the sanctity of marriage was used
as a political tool to distract people from the
carnage of war and the economic crisis:'
Kimberlea Kressal, director, playwright
and lyricist, says, ''As lesbian visibility [has]
become a greater part of mainstream culture,
we gained more agency as artists. I think there
is a lightness and real sense of play to much
of the lesbian work [especially] in New York
now, and while it is created by lesbians for les~
bians, it seems to appeal to a wider audience:'
Gender Bias on the Stage
But the one thing that has yet to change,
whether a theater artist is a lesbian or not, is
gender discrimination. It is still in force, most
notably on Broadway, off Broadway and in
professional regional theater.
Playwright Kim Yaged nails it at the most
basic level, saying, "I have a lot of friends in
L.A. who are comedians and when a lineup for
comedy is created and you have more than one
woman, then it's all of a sudden perceived as a
'women's night: And if there is an event going
on and someone drops out, and a woman is
suggested as a replacement, the response is,
'We already have a woman in the lineup: They
don't say that about men-'We already have
three men. We can't add a fourth:"
And perhaps an even more critical
reminder about gender discrimination comes
from the queer community. Barbara Kahn,
the 2011 recipient of the Robert Chesley
Gay & Lesbian Playwriting Award, says, "In
gay and lesbian theater if you separate it out
by gender ... we just don't get the same media
coverage. And I'm talking about the gay and
lesbian media:'
"I
convinc
She's a Brick House continued from page 47
know, I was waiting for the babies to be born.
(Laughs] I couldn't really leave town or go off
to the clubs like I would normally do. I was
just waiting for her to give birth, so I definitely
wanted to be there. Once I was able to go to
the clubs everything just sort of worked. out
for me. I was really happy about it. I wish I
had taken more pictures with the president
because ... all my friends and family,they've got
these great shots, and I was just so focused on
the job that I didn't really absorb the moment,
or, you know, get my face tin:,e,as I should say.
[Laughs]So doesthat meanyoudidn'tget to
touchMichelleObama's
biceps?
I did not.And you know what? I so wanted to
do that. It was so funny, because I was at the
table and she leaned over to say something to
me, and I was going through my notes, and
I kind of gave her a look like, Hey! I'm busy,
woman! (Laughs] Can't you see, I'm working
on this?
Ohno,youshushed
the FirstLady!
I kind of blew her off,because I was so focused.
So looking back, it's like, Oh, man-there
were definitely a couple of missed opportunities there. But it was great. (Laughs]
Youhavea degreein marketingandworkedat
the NationalSecurityAgency.Is that a career
trajectory
you'drecommend
fora·comic?
(Laughs.] No, no. College, yes. You always
need something to fall back on. And also, your
experience in college just gives you material.
And it's also just a growing up period and you
see that you can accomplish something-like,
you set a goal and you finish it. Work at the
NSA? No, I wouldn't advise that. (Laughs]
They will suck the funny out of you.
I guesswe'regladyousurvived
it then.Youalso
spentfiveyearson TheChrisRockShow.How
didthatinformyourworktoday?
Oh man, I can't even put a value on what I
learned from that show, and working with
Chris. He has a work ethic like no other
performer that I know. He has such a high
standard, that it made me a better writer
and a better performer. I thank him all the
time. I don't send him any money, but I just
thank him. I'm very grateful.
OnemorefortheCurvettes.
You'vedonea number of films-Over theHedgeto My SuperExGirlfriend
andMonster-in-Law.
Wouldyouever
doa lesbianrole?
Yeah, of course! I'm sure my wife will want
to see the script first. All we have to do is get
Angelina Jolie on board and hey, I'm there.
I'm
70
-
----------
Icurve
-
-
-
ed
_D_ro--=p'-D_ea_d_D_i_va_c_o_n_tin_u_
__________________
e_d_fr_o_m--=p'-a=g
___e_4_9
There's always these situations with lesbians-your eyes are bigger than your vagina.
You get that giant thing that's never going
to fit but it's so romantic to talk about how
you're going to get ... the maverick-but it's
just so huge.
We are hugefansof DropDeadDivaand the
bodydiversityit represents
onTV.
I reallylove it. I wish more shows were like
that. As a survivor of eating disorders, for
me positivity in terms of body image and
the presentation of new beauty ideals is so
important. I think it really saves lives, and I
don't think it can be taken any other way. It
should have the same seriousness as any disease. Eating disorders are just as destructive
as any other disease. It's so insidio~s because
the way that people catch (get a] disordered
body image is because of the lack of representation, so it's harder to define where it
starts. When you don't see people that look
like you, you start to feel like there's something wrong with you. I think it's important
(that everyone sees] people who look like
them and people whose physical ideals are
attainable. So I love the show Drop Dead
Diva. I think it does great work in a very
silent way.
Hasyourvisibilityimpactedthe way that the
publicseesAsianAmerican
women?
I think that people have different images of
what Asian American·women can do or what
women of color can do. I think a lot of Asian
American people feel restricted by their
all of
mL4verL4
amazinq
musician
friends,
people w'10
l absolutell4
adore, to
write tile
sonqs
wit'1 l"te..."
_
culture. Like they feel like, Oh, I can't come
out of the closet, because of parents who can't
deal with that. Or, I can't deviate from this
career path, because my parents have worked
so hard as immigrants to make sure I could
do this career. There are so many limitations
that Asian Americans and immigrant families
put on their kids. It's a definite handicap when
coming out in the world. It's OK to be queer.
It's OK to be an artist. It's OK to be myself
So hopefully, I have contributed to people's
feeling like they have permission to do something, w4ich I think is really lacking a lot-in
many Asian American cultures.
Priorto the elections,
youwrotea Huffington
Postarticleaboutthe hopeObamarepresented.
Doyoufeellikehe'sfulfilledyourexpectations?
I think so. For me, it's about inclusion, and it's
about this idea that a multiracial candidate
can actually win, that we can have someone in
office who's not white, who can be commander
in chie£ It's a huge amazing accomplishment.
Because of that, Obama transcends politics
and becomes a very important cultural icon,
and in a sense, a kind of walking miracle, that
we can open the door to so much.
I think there areproblems with the administration. I have a big problem with the way he g
is handling marriage equality, that he can still
reject this idea of marriage equality while still 5
0
being such a great president in many other lE
ways. But at the same time, I'm still filled with z
that hope and filled with a lot of encouragement about the administration.
§
Duel Identity continued from page 50
And, you know, they made it look easy.When
I saw the episode, to be honest with you, I
cannot believe that they made it look so easy.
It was so much harder than it looked. My
start-to-finish time was somewhere around
five hours and 45 minutes.
You'rea seasonedveteranof the series.Any
advicefornewcomers?
Keep your mouth fucking shut. If there's
drama going on, don't get involved. If you
think that you're the best competitor there,
don't say it out loud, because people want to
target you. Everybody on this challenge, we're
all constantly looking for a scapegoat. The
way to become that person is by opening up
your mouth too much and sometimes even
by winning too much. Nobody wants to see
anybody win every time.
Therewerea tonof queerwomenonthe cast.
Wereyouhappywiththecast?
I was happy to have Aneesa there. I hadn't
spent any time with her in a long time. We
were, at one point, close friends, so I was
happy to have her in my corner. I was happy
Jenn was going to be there.
Lotsof lesbiansmeantdykedrama,including
someex-related.I didn'trealizethat youand
Aneesadated.
It was very brie£ It wasn't on Battle of the Sexes.
It was when we got home-I was living in New
York at the time and we kind of dated for, like,
two months, and then it didn't work out, and
obnoxious.
groupgainingvisibilityandacceptance we stopped talking and then it was done.
Another
onthat?
Thoughts
aretransindividuals.
I think it's really great. I think the trans community is really coming into their own. I think
the way that things have changed, there's a lot
more visibility and a lot more permission for
people to transition, and I feel like that is a
good thing they can be themselves. I look on
that very positively, and an important thing,
because I think in the LGBT community, the
trans, the "T;' gets lost in that greater community. So I'm really proud that the trans
community has come forward, gotten larger
and gotten more visible.
What'snextforyou?
I want to do another album. Maybe I will
come back to some of the people I collaborated with on the last one. I'd just like to
'get better as a musician too. That's always
something I'm working on. I just want to
be a better comic. I want to do more. And
I look forward to more seasons of Drop
Dead Diva. It's really successful, so that's
a great thing.
I think, in a sense, it's an administration that
I can work with. I feel like I can definitely get
behind where the country has gone because
of Obama. There's a lot more awareness, a lot
of racial consciousness, and I think that the
queer community will get marriage equality,
•that we'll be able to accomplish that.
Thecountryisstillverydivided,andwiththings
crisisandthe oilspillsin the
liketheeconomic
Howdo youresist
Gulf,it feelsoverwhelming.
theurgeto buryyourheadin thesand?
Well, I think it's important to talk about it,
and stand-up comedy is a good format. For
me, it's interesting because I've been living in
Atlanta, where we film Drop Dead Diva, and
I'm surrounded by that Tea Party mentality.
What's important to understand is the Tea
Partier, that whole conservative area of thinking, has peaked because these people are really
terrified of disappearing. Their vehemence is
really evidence that their kind of ways of life
and their ways of thinking and voting are disappearing. In a sense, their appearance on the
horizon is a good thing. Because then you kind
of think, Oh, they really are kind of crazy, and
that it is very much a minor movement, compared to how conservative the country was
right after 9/11. There's a great big change in
the way that people are thinking, politically.
So, the Tea Party is less of a threat, because
they're in the minority-that's why they're so
But it seemedthat livingtogetherrekindled
somefeelingsfor her.
The thing is, with Aneesa, she holds herself responsible for why we stopped dating.
I think that when you do that, and you
feel like maybe you should have done differently, it's one of those things where it's
harder for you to get over it. But I think
that the duel was such a therapeutic thing
for us to go through, because we just got
all our shit out. Now we're closer than ever.
We've never been better friends.
Doyoufindit difficultto besooutonTV?
It's just a part of who I am. It's, like, as easy
as it is for someone to say, yeah, I like menit's as easy for me to say, yeah, I like women.
People are always, like, how did you do it, how
did you become comfortable with it? You just
do. The biggest thing I tell people is, nobody
can take away your comfort with it. Not your
parents, not your best friend- just because
they don't like gay people-no one. So when
you're comfortable with something, I think
people pick up on that energy and they don't
question it in you. And with me I think it's very
clear that I don't have an uncomfortable bone
in my body when it comes to being labeled a
lesbian. That is something I am proud 0£
Howarethingsforyounow?
I'm so happy to be in Miami. I'm actually
dating someone now. I'm really, really happy.
I'm just enjoying being home and getting
back to normal life again.
November/December
2010
I 71
TOPTENREASONS
WELOVE
...
Deepa
Soul
Recording artist Deepa Soul has more than a great voice and
a sexy look. As an activist and LGBT community leader, she's
making a name for herself on the national political stage. Soul
was the headliner for the Young Democrats for Change, a concert
fundraiser for Barack Obama when he was on the campaign trail,
On music, politics and family. • and she is now the executive director of OUTMusic: The Alliance of
By Stephanie Schroeder LGBT Recording Artists and Performers.
1. She'sconfident.
'Tm constantly inspired
by Nikki Giovanni, who wrote the poem
"Ego Tripping:' Basically, when you step out
into this world, you're gonna have to ego
trip sometimes. The LGBT community and
LGBT individuals can do the unthinkable,
the unbelievable, as long as we allow ourselves to have vision:'
2. She'scommittedto change.Soul created
the first advocacy campaign for openly
LGBT recording artists, in conjunction with
fashion photographer James Meade. She
says she wants openly queer performers a:nd
the community to "put their money where
their mouth is" and support themselves and
one another. 'Tm here to empower independent artists, but at the end of the day...
individual artists must answer not only to
ourselves, but also to our community:'
3. She'sinternational.
Soul made it big on
dance floors around the world with her 2005
Billboardchart-topping single "As I Am;'
produced by Junior Vasquez. (See No. 8.)
4. She usesher wordsfor good.Her song
and music video "911 I Can't Breathe" was
dedicated to support 9/11 first responders.
5. She'sfamily.Soul says she's happy to
"I'm hereto empower finally see same-gender loving experience
being played out in various LG BT
independentartists, performers' music videos. ''As we create
our own equal presence, we have a better
but at the end of the opportunity to be recognized and advocate
day... individual
artists for inclusion;' says the musician.
6. She'sgrassroots.
She started the initiamustanswernot only tive
Solution Evolution to raise awareness
to ourselves,but alsoto and bring compassion, justice and happiness
to the lives of families who were povertyour community."stricken as a result of catastrophic disasters.
72
I curve
7. Shedoesit all. For her music video "Stand
Together;' which features a cast of independent recording artists, Soul co-wrote, coproduced, recorded and co-directed the
project. Oh, and sang on it, too.
8. She'sdanceable.Soul appeared at the
top of the BillboardDance Chart when she
was discovered by Superstar Producer/DJ
Junior Vasquez and had her songs remixed
by Quentin Harris and Mike Cruz. Her
single appeared on many CD compilations
of David Knapp, Jackie Christie, DJ Jason
Ojeda and more. She's had multiple remixes
of her singles, as well as a deluxe limited
edition EP.
9. She's multidimentional.Putting
her
own career on hold to concentrate on
refounding OUTMusic,
she is finally
ready to release her trilogy debut album,
Ego Trippin: and has positioned herself to
become a success in every arena. "I can't be
confined to one genre of music. Growing up
in New Orleans, I studied and was exposed
to many genres of music. I recorded the
album with a 14-piece band:' It's a disc
of funk, rock, soul and dance music. She
says she is proud and grateful for both
the opportunity and the support she's
received from so many other musicians and
producers.
1 O. She's grateful."A - higher power is
shining light on me;' she says. Soul was
diagnosed with a spinal disease and
underwent a risky surgery that entailed
moving her vocal chords and caused temporary vocal paralysis and could have
resulted in permanant paralysis or death.
"I willed myself to walk, talk and sing
again," says the musician. "And I wrote fil
songs to get through
::!j
join Sweet in
COZUMEL
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at the
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Join us for a week of decadence,
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PROGREff/VE" PROMOTION
PROGRESSIVE IS
PUTTING A FACE ON
PROGRESS - YOURS.
A tolerant world is a work in progress. That's why
Progressive Insurance created the Works in Progress
initiative. Through active participation at events and
online, Progressivegiveseveryone the opportunity to get
involved. Readon to see where they've been, where
they're going, and how you can join in on the fun.
'
YOU IN PROGRESS. This year Progressive traveled to
pride festivals and LGBT events around the country, giving
everyone a chance to get involved. People stopped by
the booth to get their pictures snapped by a professional
photographer, which they could instantly post to their wall
and the Facesof Pride Facebook page.
.
WORKS OF ART. Progressive'sawareness campaign
celebrates LGBT progress by featuring works of fine art .
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ON PROGRESS.BECOME A FAN
AND UPLOAD A PICTURE AT
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ART IMITATES LIFE. Event-goers
can tum their photos into one-ofa-kind masterpiecesusingthe Art
Generator.Imagesbecome part of
thousandsoffacesinour gallery,and
their support hasgrown the Faces
of Pride Facebookcommunity to
over 18,000fans.
Impressionism is the second most influential movement this paintin9 was part of
A TOLERANT WORLD IS A WORK IN PROGRESS. But we're getting there. At Progressive,we/
believe in respecting all people and finding beauty in their differences. It's just one way we live
up to our name. To learn more about our Works in Progressinitiative, visit progressive.com/lgbt.
Progressive Casualty Ins. Co. and its affiliates, Mayfield Village, OH. 10D00056 (06/10)
PROGR£JJ/V£•
2010
Features NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
44
26
36
58
40
48
We Love Wanda
Why her coming-out has changed everything
for lesbians and made 1V even better, too.
By Diane Anderson-Minshall
Gift Guide 2010
We went shopping with our fave celesbians in
mind. Check out our pop culture-inspired gifts
for the sporty, brainy or geeky dyke on your list.
Lesbian Thespians
In our 20th anniversary year, we look back at
the history of lesbian theater, as well as what's
happening on the stage today. By Theresa
Diamond and Lisa Haas
Gay and Gray
An investigation into what it means to be an
older lesbian-from the struggles we face to
the orgs lending a hand. Plus, staying sexy as
a senior. Sharon R. Cole and Erin Siegel
Lez Guide to Buenos Aires
We travel to the Paris of South America to
bring you the sexiest, queerest adventures in
this capital city. By Catherine Plato
Entertainment
A Musical Trip
With Margaret Cho
We get face time with the sexy
comic turned actor - turned
songstress. By Rachel Shatto
50
52
54
55
57
21
curve
Reality Star Rachel Robinson
Why the Road Rules/Real World star and
fitness maven makes our hearts race.
By Rachel Shatto
Lesbian Soccer Flick Scores
Queens of the World may just be the
sports movie we've been waiting for.
By Lyndsey D'Arcangelo .
Faux Real!
Girls who dress as boys who dress as girlsa look at the female drag queen movement.
• By Jenna Loceff
Cirque du So Gay
The leading lesbians of Cirque du Soleil's
Ovo. By Kristin A. Smith and Nicole Vermeer
Power Partners
DJ Sheena Metal and musician Danielle
Egnew give us an intimate look into their lives.
therud
Lword
season one
FRANKLY
SPEAKING
curve
THE BEST-SELLING
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
LESBIAN MAGAZINE
2010
I
VOLUME 20 NUMBER 9
Publisher and Founder Frances Stevens
EDITORIAL
Editor in Chief Diane Anderson-Minshall
Managing Editor KristinA. Smith
Associate Editor Rachel Shatto
Book Review Editor Rachel Pepper
Music Review Editor Margaret Coble
Contributing Editors Rachel Beebe, Julia Bloch, Victoria A.
Brownworth,Sheryl Kay, Gretchen Lee, Stephanie Schroeder
Copy Editor KatherineWright
EditorialAssistants LisaGunther,LiskaKoenig,Anna Belle Peterson,
EleniStephanides,NicoleVenneer
PUBLISHING
My Last Goodbye
This is the last issue of our 20th anniversary year, so it's fitting that it's our
biggest issue of the year. Along with more pages, this special double issue is
filled with big changes. After 20 years of nurturing this baby, I'm beginning a
new chapter in my life. I'll be passing the publishing baton over to the maga~
zine's new owner-Avalon Media-and Silke Bader, a woman who has earned
my respect and gratitude for her amazing work in lesbian publishing for the
last decade.
Not only is Bader a powerhouse in lesbian publishing-being at the helm of
both Lesbianson the Looseand BOUND magazines-but she's also a leading
spokeswoman in the fight for gay adoption in Australia which, with her help,
recently passed into law in September (see page 12). She has the experience,
drive and resources to take curve to the next level. And if the economic
analysts are right, this might be just the right time to do that.
So, what's next for me? I will continue running CurvePersonals.com, the
lesbian dating site you have trusted for over a decade. I celebrate every time
that I hear success stories from women who have found love through the site.
I hope to see you on Curve Personals, where you too can find the love of your
life... if you haven't already found her.
I also want to spend more time with my wife and our two young boys (before
they're all grown up). When I told my children thatl was retiring, they asked
me not to. Knowing they were worried for the.longevity of this very important
lesbian magazine was one of my proudest moments-both as a publisher and
a parent. But another reason I'm retiring is my health. Many of you know that I
have not been well for some time and I really want to concentrate on healing.
What will I miss most? You, of course! Thank you for 20 amazing years of
growth, learning, exploration, fighting for our rights and making a difference
in the lives of lesbians across the globe. My hat goes off to you and to all the
women over the years who have shared the work, the dream and the dedication
to make curve a reality. I'm so glad that curve will continue, even without
me. I know that with Avalon Media, it is in good and caring hands.
So, it's not goodbye from me, it's so long.
Director of Operations Flo Enriquez
Senior Advertising Executive DianaL Berry
Advertising Sales RivendellMedia
Marketing Assistant XaniaGiolli
ART/PRODUCTION
Art Director Stefanie Liang
Photo Editor Hayley McMillen
Production Manager Ondine Kilker
Production Artist Kelly Nuti
Web Producer Nikki Woelk
Photo Assistant Cathryn Lovecraft, Shidume Lozada
CONTRIBUTING
WRITERS
Jamie Anderson,Jacob Anderson-Minshall,Melany Joy Beck,
Kathy Beige, Stacy Bias, KelsyChauvin,Gina Daggett, Lyndsey
D'Arcangelo,BerendeMotier, Egbert Edamame, Michele Fisher,
LaurenMarie Fleming,KatrinaFox, Serena Freewomyn,Ash
Goddard,Tania Hammidi,Kathi lssennan,GillianKendall,Kate
Lacey,CharleneLichtenstein,Karen Loftus,SassafrasLowrey,
Ariel Messman-Rucker,Candace Moore, Alison Peters, Catherine
Plato, Aimsel L. Ponti, Heather Robinson,Laurie K. Schenden,
Lori Selke, Dave Steinfeld,Edie Stull, Robin Miner-Swartz,
Yana Tallon-Hicks,KyraThomson,Jocelyn Voo, Jamie Wetherbe
CONTRIBUTING
ILLUSTRATORS
& PHOTOGRAPHERS
Paul Michael Aguilar, Erica Beckman, Brie Childers, Meagan
Cignoli,JD Disalvatore,Tony Donaldson,Sophia Hantzes, Cheryl
Mazak, Randy Nelson, Maggie Parker,Elisa Shebaro, LeslieVan
Stelten, KatherineStreeter,Kina Williams, Misty Winter
1550 Bryant Street, Suite 510
San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone (415) 863-6538 Fax (415) 863-1609
Advertising Sales (415) 863-6538 ext. 15
Subscription Inquiries (800) 705-0070 International (818) 286-3102
Advertising Email advertising@curvemag.com
Editorial Email editor@curvemag.com
Letters to the Editor Email letters@curvemag.com
Volume 20 Issue 9 Curve (ISSN 1087-867X) is published monthly (except for bimonthly
January/February, July/August and November/December) by Outspoken Enterprises, Inc.,
1550 Bryant St., Ste. 510, San Francisco, CA 94.103. Subscription 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 0010-355). Contents of Curve Magazine may
not be reproduced in any manner, either whole or in part, without written permission from the
publisher. Publication of the name or photograph of any persons or organizations appearing,
advertising or listing in Curve may not be taken as an indication of the sexual orientation
of that individual or group unless specifically stated. Curve welcomes letters, queries,
unsolicrted manuscripts and artwork. Include SASE for response. Lack of any representation
only signifies insufficient materials. Submissions cannot be returned unless a self-addressed
stamped envelope is included. No responsibility is assumed for loss or damages. The
contents do not necessarily represent the opinions of the edrtor,unless specifically stated. All
magazines sent discreetly. Subscription Inquiries: Please write to Curve, 1550 Bryant Street,
Surte 510, San Francisco, CA 94103, email shop@curvemag.com. Canadian Agreement
Number: 40793029. Postmaster:SendCanadianaddresschangesto crvcs@magsw.com,Curve,
PO Box 122, Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6$8. SendU.S. addresschangesto crvcs@magserv.com,
Curve,PO Box 17138,N. Hollywood,CA 91615-7138.Printedin the U.S.
curvemag.com
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Frankly Speaking
Letters
Contributors
This Is What a Lesbian Looks Like
18
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Lipstick & Dipstick
AstroGrrl
Out in Front
Top Ten Reasons We Love ...
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Curvatures
Same-sex parenting Down Under,
living with fibromyalgia and why
we love Original Plumbing. And
who killed L.A. lesbian Mitrice
Richardson?
Celebrity Gossip
Gaga in drag-and sexier than ever.
Jennifer Aniston goes gay, more
drama from Lilo and the Queen.
Plus, Cybill's other gay daughter?
Dyke Drama
Falling for a married woman-what to do
when you're taken with the taken.
Politics
The end of the decade-looking
and moving forward.
-
t::..
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Relationships: Dyke dating guide to
acronyms. Plus, feminist cards to send
your sweetie.
64
66
68
-
-
back
.
Music: Songs to heal your ennui by
the Indigo Girls, the Drums and the ladies
of Michfest. Why we love the Splinters.
Plus, a one-on-one with Brandi Carlile.
Books: Haunting stories by Sarah Waters
and Lisa Shannon. Chatting up Mac
McClelland and Susana Chavez-Silverman's
new book.
Film: Movies to rekindle your pride, why
we're crazy for The Girl wi~h the Dragon
Tattoo and a Q&A with Charlene Strong.
Plus, 10 things you won't want to miss.
Tech: Geek games to shed the poundsa look at Wii, PlayStation and Xbox's
new fitness games.
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November/December 2010
I5
Sapphic Theater Beyond the Coast.
Lesbian theater doesn't just happen below 14th
Street in New York City. Dyke-centric performances
and troupes are popping up all over North
America. Discover a few of the best lesbian
troupes, including Leaping Thesbians, Venus
Theatre, Vox Feminista and more.
We're Gay for Poker
Champ Vanessa Selbst
Vanessa Selbst caught the attention of the poker
world in 2008, when she won a World Series of Poker
tournament in Omaha, Neb. She caught our attention
when friends and fans showed up at the. PokerStars
North American Poker Tour Mohegan Sun event
waving signs that read "I'm Gay for Vanessa."
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inside with the latest women's health treatment.
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This G-Spot Massage
Will Change Your Life
Ariane Conrad helped Christabel Zamor put together
the book Hooping, A Revolutionary Fitness Program,
which takes the reader through 50 original moves
with a hoop for fitness. Conrad tells us why hooping
is addictive and euphoric.
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We had a hard time deciding which comic diva to put on the
cover this issue. Which one do you like best? Email your vote
to letters@curvemag.com and be entered to win a prize.
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goes.
VisitLasVegas.com/gaytravel
LmERS
Intergenerational Dialogue
In reference to your curvemag.com article,
"Lesbian Identity and Intergenerational
Understanding," it's awesome to hear that our
queer youth are feeling so comfortable with
being out and proud. This isjust ~hat all of u~
~older"lesbians hoped for as we came out under
far less acceptable circumstances. We worked
hard to demand acceptance in our daily lives
and to find one another. Many women suffered
greatly for coming out. To them we should all
give thanks for such courage. Younger lesbians,
get involved! Vote! Continue our progress;
there's plenty of work left to be done.
-Posted by Barb on curvemag.com
I thought I was the only one to hear about
young lesbian womyn being disrespectful
toward the older LGBTQ generation. I call
them the dumb,down generation, who love
their spoiled American lives.Sometimes I want
to break my foot off in their asses for being SC?
arrogant and down,right disrespectful. This is
coming from an offspring of a baby,boomer.
-Posted by Lunakiss on curvemag.com
I finally came out in November of last year. I
appreciate the older lesbians and am still
learning. I'm thankful for the women who
created an easy path for us younger lesbians to
come out with less stress on us. Much respect
given to you wonderful women.
- Postedby Bahachicklon curvemag.com
Where's Teen Curve?
I am 17 years old, and I love curve and
everything in it. While I am sure you cater
s Icurve
to young lesbians, I still
feel like it is for people in
their 20s to 40s, but there
are tons of teen lesbians
out there who would
love an even younger, hip
magazine! Perhaps you can
come up with a magazine
devoted to the young
lesbian
community.
And for even more
opportunities
for the
teen lesbian community to
get involved, you can have
teen writers. They may
have more ideas that you
didn't think 0£ I'm sure it
would sell, and I know I
would buy it!
What's the
best place to
meet women?
62%
Anywhere!
It's notthe
place,butthetiming
29%
Throughmutual
friends.Thatwayyou
havesomecommon
ground
5%
At theclub.Cocktails
equala stress-free
environment
ever meet-they felt like old
friends, making us feel so
comfortable. I mis·s them
already! The good things they
do for the community and the
world are amazing. Happy
20th anniversary to curve
and thank you, Franco and
Jen, for helping us celebrate
our own 20th anniversary!
-Michele Webster,
Edwardsville,fll.
Sorry We Missed You
You forgot about
two
localLGBTcenter.
lesbian,owned
adventure
4% AThe
ladywho'soutand
tour companies in "Lez,
proudis hot
Friendly Tours:' [Vol. 20#7)
According
to a curvemag.com
poll
WomanTours (womantours.
-Laura Cossu,Suffolk,Va.
com) is alesbian,owned bicycle
touring company for women only. Marian
It's the Same Up There
Marbury, a lesbian, runs Adventures in Good
In response to Jamie Anderson's "Love Company (adventuresingoodcompany.com),
Across the Border" article [20#7)-Hot
for women interested in hiking, kayaking and
Canadians? Oh, yeah! A president with an dogsledding. I hope you include us next time!
IQ higher than a carrot? I must have missed
-Jackie Marchand,Rochester,NY
that memo. Tubers are tubers.
-Terry Ryer,Bethel,Maine
Corrections:
In "The All American Lesbian
Vacay" [20#7) we referred to queer writer
Publisher Praise
Lauren Marie Fleming's sister as also
I had the privilege of meeting your publisher,
queer. Though supportive, she is straight
Franco, and her beautiful wife, Jen. They
and happily married to a man. Sorry,
are two of the most sincere people you could wishful thinking!
Sendletters
to:Letters
atcurve Magazine
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Melissa Etheridge Ticket Contest
Weaskedreaders
totelluswhytheyshould
winticketstooneof.Melissa
Etheridge's
concerts.
Wewereflooded
withheartfelt
andmoving
lettersabouthowMelissa's
music
helped
change
theirlives.Onewoman
wrote,"I willhave15yearsinrecovery,
amnewly
divorced,
metthemostamazing
women
intheworld.AndMelissa,
without
evenknowing
me,walkedmethrough
a lotwithjusthermusic."
Manywomen
wroteabouthowMelissa
helped
themcomeout.One62-year-old
spent35yearsinthecloset;
a 40-yearoldhadjustlefta 20-yearmarriage
tocomeout.Anda PTA
mom/Christian
ministry
secretary
realized
shewasgay15yearsago
at a Melissa
concert.
Butthereweresadnotestoo:a beloved
sister
dyingofcancer,
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anda 10-year
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inshambles.
Every
storywasmoremoving
thenthe
last,andallthesewomen
wereaffected
byMelissa's
words.
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CONTRIBUTORS
Brooklyn-based comedy writer LisaHaaseagerly dove into ackground research for her theater articles, "A Brief History of Lesbian
Theater" (page 36). Haas found old flyers, postcards, photos and
other materials from productions and theater companies at the
Lesbian Herstory Archives, as well as records of curve's theater
coverage throughout the past two decades. Haas is a playwright
hersel£ whose plays, sketch comedies and solo pieces have been
seen in New York City, regionally and internationally. Haas says
she "interviewed dozens of lesbian playwrights and performative art-makers to flesh out the
gaps-which are many-in the record of lesbian theater. I really wish I could have included
everyone, because they are all doing irtteresting and invaluable work:'
_./
From the Editor
A few months back when a
JetBlue flight attendant got fed up
with a passenger,
spouted a few
choice profanities,
grabbed a beer
and jumped off
the plane, there
Hailing from the Midwest, curve photo assistant CathrynLovecraft
moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to further pursue her passion
for photography. With a strong background in portraiture, she draws
much of her inspiration from the beauty of simplicity and visual
narration. She appreciates the value of hard work, and looks forward
to the metamorphosis of her life in California. Lovecraft's extracurricular interests include watching film noir, listening to public radio's
This American Life and baking cupcakes.
was a resounding
chorus of approval
online. In these
tough times
where everyone is forced to do
more with less in the workplace,
I know some women are dying
to say, "Take this job and shove
With an interest in psychology and an ideal meal that would fuse Bulgogi,
spicy California rolls and Chicken Tikka Masala, curve editorial assistant
EleniStephanides
enjoys all things Northern California, including redwood
forest hikes and Berkeley cafes. She cites her voluptuous tabby cat, Waldo,
and the smell of tacos wafting through the office windows at midday as two
inspirations for the writing she does at curve, including this issue's Intern
Pick book review OQ. page 64. Stephanides says that her loud Greek heritage helped prepare
her for much of the chaos that is production week.
Editorial assistant AnnaBellePeterson
enjoyed her lovely summer internship at curve, engaging in what she hope~ will be her full-time job one
day. Her favorite assignment was interviewing the incredible women of
Wolfe Video for the October 20th Anniversary issue. This issue, her interview with actor Deborah Stewart can be seen 9n page 50. Peterson plans
to stay way past her allotted three-month internship, and the rest of the
curve staff couldn't be happier.
it." But that's not me, so I have
hesitated on writing this letter. I
started writing for my hometown,
Payette, Idaho, newspaper when I
was 13, and have spent nearly 30
years as a writer and editor (the;
last 20 solely in LGBT publishing).
Now, I'm taking a well-earned
sabbatical: A year of napping and
dreaming, traveling the U.S. and
finishing my fifth novel (assuming
I get enough napping first). I've
had an incredible team working
with me for the last seven years.
As curve moves into 2011 in their
capable hands, I expect they'll
outshine everything I've done so
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,
so when we saw the new Voli Vodka ad
{on the back of Go magazine), we did a
happy double take. Voli offers the first lowcal fruit and fusion flavored vodkas. And
apparently they like the same sort of lesbian
kisses we do. Their new campaign features
an image from the Jan/Feb 2003 "Sex" issue
of curve. Kiss, kiss, Voli!
far. Meanwhile, I'll be on the road
or snoozing, possibly both, in a
town near you.
Diane Anderson-Minshall
Editor in Chief
November/December 2010
I9
Undercover Brothers
I'm pretty sure we weren't the only
women who were thrilled to discover the
newish, completely irreverent quarterly,
m'l)
I never fully felt comfortable in my
skin as a woman, there was something
really cool about being included
in a class of strong, independent
women. It felt righteous. My past has
definitely informed my present, so I
feel more well,rounded, emotionally
and spiritually, than I
think I would if I was a
cisgendered man:'
Kayiatos got involved in
the magazine when Mac
asked to take his picture for a
new zine (Kayiatos appeared
in issue No. 1). They soon
realized that they shared a
common aesthetic, as well as
a common goal: "We feel that
there is no single way to sum up what it means to be
a trans man, because we each have different beliefs,
life experiences and relationships to our own bodies;'
Kayiatos explains.
The magazine has only been in print for a year,
but the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
With its intimate portraits, essays, personal narra,
tives and interviews, Original Plumbing makes for
interesting and informative reading-no matter how
you identify. (originalplumbing.com)
[LisaGunther]
\!JI ,;;:
__ _.
Original Plumbing. The fun, quirky and
informative San Francisco,based magazine
was founded by photographer Amos Mac
and musician and producer Rocco Kayiatos
(aka Katastrophe), both of whom have
made it their mission to promote accurate
and thought,provoking representations of
transgender mer:i,But is the magazine relevant
for lesbians?
"I think OP is relevant to anyone who is interested
in transmale culture;' Kayiatos explains. "Many lesbi,
ans are allies to trans men, and a number of trans guys
spent time in the lesbian community at some point in
their lives. Ideally,this magazine will speak to anyone
who lives outside the mainstream:'
In the magazine, Kayiatos tells queer, transgender
filmmaker Chris Vargas, that he "identifies as
straight but questioning, culturally queer and
emotionally and spiritually lesbian:'
He expounds: "I am a man that dates women,
which makes me straight by default, [but J I have
had a queer path and history, for sure. I said that I
identify spiritually and emotionally as a lesbian in
jest, but I actually really relate to feeling connected to
my experience of being a dyke at one point. Although
hereverywhere
fromTheAbby,
policeshefelt,"safewithherbeing
WeHo's
famousqueerbar,to a
in custody-it'sbeingreleased
that
Motel6 in LasVegas.
Wenowknow I'mworriedabout."Theofficertold
thatthesheriff'sdecision
to release herthatshedidnothaveto worry
hershortlyaftermidnight-without aboutRichardson's
safety.
a car,withouta purseor cellphone,
Suttonfoundoutthenextmornnextto a steepcanyon-expedited ingthatshortlyaftermidnight
jailers
herdeath.
toldRichardson
shewasfree,but
It beganwhenRichardson
suggested
sheeitherstaythenight
was
actingerratically
in a cellor inthestationlobby.
andunable
to pay
InAugust,
after11months,
themys- herbillata localrestaurant.
Richardson
leftwithonlyhershirt,
Police
teryof whathappened
to Mitrice
arrested
herandbooked
jeans,hat,belt,twokeysandher
herontwo
Richardson-ayounglesbian
from
misdemeanor
charges:
defrauding driver'slicense.
LosAngeles
whowasreleased
from aninnkeeper
andpossession
Richardson,
a formerbeauty
ofless
theMalibu,Calif.sheriff'sstationin
thananounceof marijuana.
queenwhoworkedasanexecutive
themiddleofthenight-was finally
According
toAutoStraddle.com, assistant
fora freightcompany,
startingto beanswered.
Richardson's
alsodancedpart-time
motherhadcalled
at a queer
Herskeletalremainswerefound thenightbeforeaboutpickingher
club,a factthattheblogosphere
justeightmilesfromthepolicesta- up,knowingherdaughter
latchedonto.Policesearching
hadno
for
tion,butfalsesightings
hadplaced wallet,caror phone.
herspeculated
shewasbi-polar
Shetoldthe
PUTTING
THEKITSCH
IN KITCHEN
Retro-styled
andsexy
as hell,BigChill's
stoves,refrigerators
and
dishwashers
comein a
varietyof vintage-friendly
hues,likeBeachBlue,Pink
Lemonade,
Buttercup
Yellow
andCherryRed.Mixinga
'50saestheticwith modern
amenitieshasmadethem
a favoriteof chiclezzies
andcelebs(likeScarlett
Johansson)
alike.Theyare
the perfectmarriageof form
andfunctionfor fashionforwardnestingdykes.Who
saidappliances
can1t be
dreamy?[SarahC.Jimenez]
anddefended
thedepartment,
whilethequeer,
feministandAfrican
American
communities
allshared
herfather'sviewpoint:
"It wasa
wrongfulrelease
basedonher
mentalstate,"hetoldthe Times.
Thecaseraisedtheissueof how
diligentlypoliceinvestigate,
andthe
mediareportonthedisappearances
ofAfricanAmericans.
WhenRichardson's
remains
werediscovered
byparkrangers
on
patrol,it wasa blowto searchers
whohadcombedhundreds
of miles
of canyonlookingforanysignof
her.Thecoronercouldn'tdetermine
if herdeathwasaccidental
or homicide,leavingeveryone
to question
whoor whatkilledMitrice?
[DianeAnderson-Minshalij
November/December
2010
I 11
_______
tberundown~~
Are lesbians more aware of sexism than
straight women? A new poll from Harris
Interactive
shows that seven out of 10
LGBT Americans say that the U. S. is
far from achieving gender quality. Among
lesbians surveyed, 95 percent reported
that the United States has a long way
to go toward righting gender inequalities, compared with just 74 percent of
heterosexual women ... EdytheEyde,who
under the pseudonym LisaBen,was editor
of the first lesbian publication, ViceVersa,
has been inducted into the LGBT
Journalists
Hallof Fame.ViceVersawas based out
of Los Angeles and distributed copies
from June 1947 to February 1948. Eyde
typed each issue on her typewriter using
carbon paper ... The new film Piranha3D
includes a sex scene between KellyBrook
and co-star RileySteele.Brook
told Playboythat she did the
lesbian scene because of filmmaker Alexandre
Aja'sFrench
accent ... How connected
are you? Recent studies have
shown that LGBT people
are more connected than straight folks.
Based on survey this summer, 73 percent
of lesbian and gay respondents said they
had a Facebookprofile, compared with 65
percent of straight folks,22 percent of lesbians and gays were on Unkedlncompared
with 16 percent of heterosexuals and 29
percent of lesbians and gays
were on Twttler,
versus 15 percent of straight respondents ...
RachelMaddow
will be receiving
the 2010 Walter
Cronkite
Faith
andFraedom
Award.
The award recognizes
individuals who promote democratic
values, defend religious freedom and
reinvigorate informed civic participation ...
Katherine
MIiier,
a Cadet at WestPoint,
submitted a letter of resignation to her
superiors, revealing that she is a lesbian
and will be resigning because of Doo'tAsk,
Doo'tTell.Miller stated, "In short, I have
lied to my classmates and compromised
my integrity and my identity by adhering
to existing military policy:' Miller is the
ninth-ranked cadet in her class of over a
thousand and scored 367 on the military's
fitness test that has a theoretical maximum
score of 300 points.~
Lowrey]
121curve
Australia Passes Gay Adoption
Australia continues to lead the way in same-sex parenting rights. After the Australian Capital Territory and
Western Australia, New South Wales has now bec.ome
the third Australian state to legalize same-sex adoption.
The bill that finally made it possible for queer couples to
share the same rights as heterosexual adoptive parents,
was passed by the NSW parliament with a narrow majority j
in September.
This victory, however, has been years in the making and
is not without its compromises-Sydney MP and Lord
J:
0
Mayor of the city, Clover Moore, who first introduced the bill to the house in 2000,
u:f
had to include two major changes to the new law.
8
Now, church adoption agencies may refuse adoption services to same-sex
gE;.
couples without breaking any Australian anti-discrimination laws.
5
The second amendment that helped the bill to pass, states that couples who are
giving up children for adoption, will have more say in stating their preferences for
a:
prospective parents.
Until the passing of the Same Sex Couples Bill, a child could be adopted by a per- tr
son's heterosexual partner, but not by a same-sex partner. In a press release, Moore,
who is Sydney's first female mayor, emphasized the welfare of children and all loving
families as her motivation to support the bill.
Children who have been staying with queer foster parents will also benefit from
this change in Australian law because it gives them the added stability of a firm
family bond.
Let's hope Australia's five remaining territories and states will follow suit and pass ;
a similar bill in the near future. [LiskaKoenig]
a
!
The Gaydar
Here's a taste of lesbians in pop culture this month.
Who missed the mark and who was right on target?
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TeaPartyOusts
Homophobe
Montana
TeaPartygroupprezwas )
oustedbythe BigSkyTea
PartyAssociationafter gay
lynchingcomments
i
0
a PartychairmanJim Walkersays,"Wecontinuallymakeit knownthat wewillnot
oleratebigoteddialogue,behavioror messages
at ourfunctions,ourmeetingsor within
ourranks. If a persondemonstrates
bigotry...theyarenotwelcomein ourorganization.
TheTeaPartymovementis aboutstandingupfor Individualfreedomfor everyone.•
::E
I=
T p
OUTI
i!OIO
Living With Fibromyalgia
The day I got diagnosed with fibromyalgia,
my doctor said, "Please don't go look this
up on the Internet until we're really sure
that's what it is:' I understood why, two
weeks later, when I finally did. It's a terrifying, and misinformation is widespread.
Fibromyalgia produces widespread pain,
disturbed sleep, and exhaustion, according
to the Fibromyalgia Network (fmnetnews.
com), including diffuse body-wide symptoms greatly magnified by malfunctions in
the way the nervous system processes pain.
I was now one of over 5.8 million people
(nearly 90 percent are women) who had
it and soon I would experience everything
from brain fog, and myofascial knots to
irritable bladder, sleep apnea and irregular heartbeat-but
mostly lots and lots of
soul-crushing pain. Filmmakers Daneen
Akers and Stephen Eyer know it well;
; Akers' mother was diagnosed with fibromy,
algia several years ago. After watching their
family search for answers, they decided to
Q.
make a film about their own journey for
<i:
understanding and hope. They interviewed
doctors, experts and fibro patients from
ffi diverse backgrounds, letting them share
their own stories· of learning to survive and
C)
ffi even thrive with this illness for their film,
a:
x: Living With Fibromyalgia.Now on DVD,
""' t he fiIm is the perfect gift for anyone seeking
i
real answers about what fibromyalgia is,
how it's treated and what hope there is for
sufferers. It's a must-have for family members
who often find themselves alone, searching for
answers on the web, while their wife or daughter writhes in pain in bed. (livingwithfm.com)
[DianeAnderson-Minshal~
Affordabllity
and Intimacy
819twopel1(a
that Stephanie
Berman.. Total
Conception
pregnancykit promises. Total
Cenceptloncaters to leeblan
couples, providingthe 88l811tial
gat-pragnantequlptment in thraemonth suppllea. The ktt, which
Bermanbegan putting out last
year, has already had bamendoue
successamong couples-many
whom, on the path to pregnancy,
have tried rnoeteverything short of
calHngIn the baabystork. We talked
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hercnation, the goodiesIn the bag
and customer 8UCC8S8stories.
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A Homolicious Holiday
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire? Or my girlfriend's
nipples pinched between my toes?. By Lipstick and Dipstick
Dear Lipstick and Dipstick: I've decided the holidayssuck. My girlfriend,
Shirley,and I have been together for about a year. Recently,Shirley'sparents decided that she's not allowed to bring me home for Christmas,even
though.inthe past she was able to bring her former partner.Her dad called
a "familymeeting"to announceit. Now, with the holidays,she is torn.·I say
she shouldgo and spend time with her family,and Shirleysays it's the principle of the matter.I say it's a few days out of our livesand she'sluckyto still
have parentswho love her, even if they don't accept she's gay. She says it
shouldn'tmatter.What do you think? - Ticked Off in Tinsel
Dipstick:
Screw the uptight family and take her
to Aspen for a ski trip during the holidays.
And by the way, she's not torn, you are. She's_
sticking to her principles, and until her
parents accept her 'whole homo sel£ she's
not going to spend the holidays with them.
Why can't you be supportive and validate
her decision? Is there .an inheritance you're
hoping to get your hands on? Let her deal
with her family, and in the meantime start
making some new traditions of your own.
Dipstick:Baby butch, never change who you
are in order to attract a lady-unless that
change involves a shower and crisp new shirt.
They may be harder to come by, but in some
cities there lots of other butches who, like
you, enjoy a gal with a crew cut and sports~
bra~smashed boobs. To land one, you can't
play coy. If there's a stud you can't keep
your eyes off 0£ be explicit-let her know
you' re asking about her tongue piercing
not because you want one of your own, but
because you want to know what it feels like
on your nipple.
lipstick: I once stumbled across a photo of
Dipstick from her high school prom that
was classic. This is how it penciled out: lacy
gown=$75, feathered haircut=$25, carnation
boutonniere=$12, squirt of Mom's Jean Nate
perfume=$7, the awkward look on Dipstick's
face=priceless.
Dipstick:It was Jovan White Musk. I wish
someone had told me when I was 17 I didn't
have to wear that stupid dress and go with
some loser dude to the prom. Good for you
for knowing what you want.
Lipstick:There's only one rule when it comes
to being a lesbian, young butch, and that is be
yourself-don't try and slide into the skin of
someone you're not. Oh, and keep the bushes
trimmed. Anything less is a total turnoff.
lipstick:Chestnuts roasting on an open fire?
Or my girlfriend's nipples pinched between
my toes? The choice seems easy to me. Shirley
has a right to be pissed, ~ot only about the
lame retraction, but also because her folks
are idiots. Quit pushing her to go home:
By putting her reindeer hoof down, she is
making some very important points, which
her parents will hear loud and clear. They
are: (1) It's my life and you can't control me
anymore. (2) I believe in who I am, no matter
what you think. (3) Merry Christmas, but I
choose cunnilinguistics over caroling. P.S. I
vote for Whistler!
DearUpstickandDipstick:I've gota question
that's bee~ botheringme. I'm 18, just came
out and find myselfreallyattractedto butch
women.Theproblemis I'm quitebutchmyself.
ShouldI becomemorefeminineto appealmore
to butchwomen?-Diggin'theDipsticks
14
Icurve
a:
w
a:
cf
w
a
a:
UJ
:.::
a:
a
UJ
curvepersonals.com
ADVICELipstick & Dipstick
There'sonlyone rule
when it comesto being
a youngbutch... be
yourself-don't try and
slideintothe skinof
someoneyou'renot.
DearLipstickand Dipstick:I metthis hotgirl
and shewantsto datecasually,whileseeing
otherpeople.We'vehadsomegreatdatesand
butshewantsto waitto
madeoutexcessively,
havesex,whichiscoolwithme.I thinkshemay
bethenext"one."HowlongdoyouthinkI need '
to waitto tellherhowI feel?-Waitingto Wait
Lipstick:The "next one;' huh? Wouldn't that
just make her number two or number three?
Be cool and keep your feelings to yourself for
now or you'll scare her away. If she wants to
casually date-and said that specificallythat means she is not ready for those words
or a commitment with you. Chillax.
DearLipstickand Dipstick:All lesbiansmust
I disagree, Lipstick. Waiting should
givetheirlifes[sic]to JesusChristfor he will Dipstick:
lifes speak up. I remember back ·when I was
perverted
deliverthemfromtheirdemonic
dating a few girls at once, one kept telling
[sic].-ZealousHeteroGuy
me she was fine with the situation. I had no
Wait, what? I thought that's what my idea she wasn't. Sure, I should have seen the
Lipstick:
signs. The homemade brownies and flowers
acupuncture was for. To let out allthose slutty,
pussy,galore devils one poke at a time. Or was left on my doorstep, the daily postcards from
her trip to Paris, the sexy photos of herself
that for my back pain?
slipped under my pillow. Little did I know,
she was biding her time, waiting for me to
Dipstick:Both, actually.
ditch the others. Every time I dated another
Anyway,I'll worry about my exorcism girl, her heart broke a little more. I felt like a
Lipstick:
strategies later. Regarding this submission: schmuck when I finally figured out she was
first of all,Mr. Self, Righteous Man, you need in love with me. Ifl'd known, I wouldn't have
a lesson in grammar. Second, how in the world let it go on as long as it did. Tell her now, and
did you end up on Lipstick and Dipstick's then you can both decide if continuing to see
website? In your tiny,mi~ded world, Jesus each other is the right thing.
might have a beef with that, too.
Dipstick:Personally, I love being perverted.
Small penises are God's punishment for
prejudice.
Tune in to curvemag.com/lipstickand,
dipstickto watchtheTheLipstick
& DipstickShow.Or,writeto tv@
lipstickdipstick.com.
A Necessary Read
By Any Greens Necessary isn'tjust anothervegan
cookbookwith blandtofu and brownrice recipes.
Instead,authorand nutritionistTracyeLynnMcQuirter,
MPH, has createdthe first vegan guidefor African
Americanwomen, who, as a demographic,have some
of the highestrates of heart diseaseand diabetesin
the nation.Part memoir,part politicalhistoryand part
cookbook(AuntSally'sgravy,chocolatemoussetart
and walnutpate), McQuirteroffersup an easy to
followguidefor better,healthierliving.
[Kristin A. Smith]
Join the am
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Hop on board our all-lesbian cruis o the
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ADVICERelationships
Easy As ABC
By Kate Lacey
A gay girl's guide to dating acronyms.
The Internet has ushered in an era of
using acronyms (or "initialisms" to the
persnickety among us) as an efficient means
of communicating in our fast-paced times.
In the dating world, some abbreviations
have their place, such as MILF, WSW,
BDSM and BBW. Even so, I think we can
do better. Let's borrow an e-page from the
Internet and create more useful acronyms
to describe our potential suitors. Below I
have reinvented and decoded some of them
so that they are more useful and truthful,
saving us time, heartache and a potential
drowning in the dating pool.
MOM:Motherof Monsters.
You will immediately be third or fourth priority-under the
kidlets, the soccer team and sleepovers. Expect
and embrace throw-up and throw downs with
little make-ups and go downs.
RX: Returnto Ex-Girlfriend
Not
. only has
this woman had a contentious ex-relationship
and recently broken up with her ex-girlfriend
for the tenth time this month, but she's still
possessed by her anger toward her sparring
ex-partner. It's just a matter of time before
these two ballistic missiles crash into one
another, again. They deserve one other, and
who are you to interceder
CUL:CouplesUsingLesbians.Notice the
seemingly straight couple scoping out the gay
club as they slowly sip their drinks. They are
sizing up the talent in the room, as if you are
baby heifers at a county fair. Sooner or later,
they will ensnare a very drunk lesbian and pull
her into a misguided hetero fantasy. Even if
you are into it, this is a not a future dating
situation, as the hets rarely keep the same
lesbo around for more than a day or two.
IOU/ATM.
These two acronyms are the same
as traditionally used and need no additional
decoding. A woman who lists these letters in
her dating profile will use you like an ATM
and give you many IOUs that will never be
paid. At first, you may not notice, because you
will call it'clating" or"helping" or"taking care of
someone;' but in the end, when your debt rises
and your credit score drops, she will drop you.
LELE:Love'em and Leave'em. Picked up,
flirted with and swept off your feet one
18
I curve
minute, then suddenly all alone with your
memories of a fantastic one-night stand. Yep,
we took this page from the straight guy
counterpart's playbook. The Leave 'em part
may take 24 hours or 24 months, but it will
happen eventually.
COD:Closetedon Demand.This woman
is gay but thinks no one knows it. You
must not touch in public, must not act
affectionately around others and must
pei:petually be described as "my friend:'
There are actually times when you must act
like you don't know each other, because you
are so clearly gay it might blow open her
closet door.
MIA: MissingIn Action.For some reason,
she seems to disappear at night or when you
go to dance clubs. She may be right in the
next room, checking her Match.com account,
fighting zombies on PS3 or working at home
on her laptop. Either way, she is not present
and attending to your needs.
PTL:PartTimeLesbian.Anne Heche. Tila
Tequila. Your roommate in college. Straight
wom~n who are temporarily without a man.
Need I say more?
SRO:Straight,Really,Oops.See part-time
lesbian. Quacks like a duck, walks like a duck
but mates like a chicken.
HOMO HALLMARK
Lady-Lovin'
Is in Bloom
Fin~ing
a greetingcardthatsaysjusttheright
thingis toughenough-locatingonewithout
a cookie-cutter
heterocoupleonthefrontis
evenharder.Bloomin'Chloe,a lesbiancard
linecreatedbytwotenacious
women,is out
to changeallthat.Frustrated
bythelackof
gaygreetingcards,bestfriendsLisaByfield
andLauraShanksetoutto produce
cardsthat
represent
"beautifulwomenwholovebeautiful
women."Theduohopesto capturethebroad
spectrum
of "woman-nessthrough
"
themes
of love,loss,aging,birthanddeath.Created,
designed
andproduced
byShankandByfield,
thecardsarea greatwayto senda message
to thelesbianin yourlife.(bloomingchloe.com)
[RachelCullen]
GirtPowerGreetingCanis
Feminist
cardmakerGaliaGoodman
is a strong
believerin a "personal
is political"philosophy.
Shevaluesherpartner,
dogandsynagogue,
andit's thesebeliefsandpasssions
thatare
reflectedin manyof Goodman's
cards,which
containfeministquotesandscenesfrom
Jerusalem.
Greathistorical
womensuchas
EmilyDickinson,
HelenKellerandEleanor
Roosevelt
areall quotedontheseartistic,
funnyandmotivational
cards,makingthem
perfectfor thelesbianfeministin yourlife.
(galiagoodman.com)
[EleniStephanides]
Crossing the Finish Line You are voted "most likely to"
this November. Enjoy your easy victory. By Charlene Lichtenstein
andshakersasyouplanyourcorporate
Areyouinterestedin infiltratingor
takeover.
Whynothavea PlanB?
instigating?
(Oct24-Nov.22)
Scorpio
Wholovesyoufromafar?Bediscreet
Love:
asyoufind outthetruth.Afteryouknow
who,youmaypreferto keepit a secret.
Youseemto knowexactlywhatto
Career:
sayto the seniorstaff-stroke theiregos
butavoidstrokinganythingelse.
(Nov.23-Dec.22)
Sagittarius
Willa certainplatonicpalevolveinto
Love:
a girlfriend?Takea chanceandseewhere
a little extraflirtation(andanexpense
Getinvitedto
account)canlead.Career:
at work.
the importantmeet-and-greets
therecangiveyoua legupthe
Someone
corporateladder.Butwatchherhands!
(April21-May21)
Taurus
Love:Flirtatiouslustonthejob creates
that maketheworkdaymuch
diversions
Ofcourse,youwill still
moreinteresting.
haveto handleall that boringwork.Career:
Findwaysof gettingthejob donequickly,so
you'll havemoretime to cruisethe Internet
on thejob. Hmmm.Is that whatthey're
callingit thesedays?
Gemini(May22-June21)
Love:Dosomesocialoutreach.Pouron
yourpersonalcharmandseewhoslipsby.
Youmaygetto showeroff togetherlater.
countthis November.
Relationships
Career:
It's notwhatyouknowbutwhoyouknow,
especiallyaroundthe office.Oh,nowyou're
in trouble!
Cancer(June22-July23)
Love:Don'tignorepressingissuesat home.
Reducestressandmakeyourhomemore
Youmaybespendingmore
comfortable.
time therethanyouthinkwith you-knowYouare muchmoreproductive
who.Career:
at work.Orat leastyouseemthat wayas
youdelegateandgraball the credit.
(Dec.23-Jan.20)
Capricorn
hashereyeonyouat work.
Love:Someone
Try
Let'shopeit's notrapideyemovement.
Yourguardianangelis
to dazzleher.Career:
workingfor yourbenefit.Showyour Leo(July24-Aug.23)
feverishly
and
Love:Youcanbealluring,charismatic
bybeingdevilishlyexcellent.
appreciation
verysexyif youtry.Youknowwhatto sayto
getyourway.Nowlet'sseehowwayward
(Jan.21-Feb.19)
Aquarius
All eyesareupon
Love:Traveloffersyoua rangeof stimulating youcanreallybe.Career:
takegreat
youat workasthehigher-ups
adventures-alongwith a choicearrayof
Getintomischief. interestin yourcomingsthangoings.Willyou
stimulatingadventuresses.
impressor just press?Hey,whateverworks.
Takea riskat work.Youcouldsnag
Career:
thecorneroffice.If youdon't,just hideunder
Virgo(Aug.24-Sept.23)
yourdeskuntilthefalloutpasses.
Love:Lovehasa higherpricetagthiswinter.
whenyouwoo
Maybethatis whathappens
Pisces(Feb.20-March20)
baths.Tryit withjust
herwith champagne
Love:Youfind waysto useotherpeople's
Familyissues
moneyto lubricateyourlovelife,butareyou thebubblesinstead.Career:
mayrequiremoreattentionandresultin
Youhave
just anothergolddigger?Career:
morestress.A stronghandnowsavesyouan
a monthto impresstheseniorstaffbefore
later.
armanda legof aggravation
bonusseason.Willyoutakethe initiative
yourvalue?
anddemonstrate
Libra(Sept24-0ct.23)
Love:Youappearto betoo goodto betrue
Aries(March21-April20)
Butthat mightturnoutto be
this November.
Love:Nitpickyissuesreartheiruglyheads
too boring.It is betterto betoo badto resist.
andrainonyourprideparade.Waituntil
Askandyoushallreceiveat work.
Career:
mid-monthbeforeyoudecideona new
Butaskingfor it everyfive minuteswill not
direction.Whoknowswhereit couldlead?
Career:Moveandshakeamongthe movers getyouexactlywhatyouwant.
LESBOFILE
Steppin' Out
By Jocelyn Voo
Alter egos, lesbian romance and breakups come to light.
Jenkins' hand on the Queen's rear end. Only a week after the photos were published, others surfaced of Latifah arm-in-arm with another woman. Ahoy, rocky seas ahead?
LadyGagaGoesBothWays
Shock-pop singer LadyGagais •pretty hard
to miss (think cigarette sunglasses, a dress
made of Hello Kitty stuffed animals, no
pants). But now Gaga has gone incognito. In
the October issue of Vogue Hommes Japan,
the platinum blond singer looked every bit
the boy with short dark hair and a white
T-shirt with rolled up sleeves in her new
male persona, Jo Calderone-a
Sicilian
mechanic. when asked about his relationship
to Lady Gaga, Calderone replied, "I met her
at a shoot ... She's fuckin' beautiful, and funny
and interesting. I was a little nervous .... She
said, 'Don't be, baby, you were born this way:
I took her out after. The rest is private.
Someone's
Gota Crush
We weren't the only ones moved by Kristen
Stewart in The Runaways. "Truth is, she just
has an enormous gay vibe, her eyes, mannerisms, voice and the fact she looks far more
comfortable in The Runaways as a lesbian
than she ever did kissing Mr. Pattinson;' lesbian model Ruby Rose told AfterEllen.com
"Whatever her sexuality, that's her busi~ess,
but let's just hope for our sake she's a lesbian
because she would make a great one:' Word.
CoolestMomEver
Little more than a year after her sister,
Clementine Ford, 31, publicly announced
that she was gay, Cybill Shepherd's youngest
20
Icurve
daughter, ArielShepherd-Oppenheim,
22, came
out this summer, hand-in-hand with her girlfriend, at GLAAD's Media Awards. Fittingly,
Ford and Shepherd-Oppenheim were there
to present their mother with the Golden Gate
Award, given to media professionals who've
increased the visibility and understanding of
the LGBT community.
VisitingHours
Considering their tumultuous, drink-throwing
past, one might be surprised that Samantha
Ronson would even give the time of day to
her troubled ex, LindsayLohan.However,
after only serving a fraction of her jail and
rehab sentence, Lohan was paid a visit by
Ronson, who seems to be supportive of the
actor's recovery (Ronson had also visited her
at the Lynwood Correctional Facility, where
she was held). Looks like everyone gets a second (and third, fourth, fifth) chance.
Backonthe Market
Celeb hookups are all the rage (how else
can you explain Danielle Staub and Lori
Michaels?) but one celesbian marriage is
apparently on the rocks. Comic Suzanne
Westenhoefer
told audiences at the recent
Sweet resort vacation in sunny Cozumel,
TheLoveBoat
Mexico that her wife left her for "that proPeople have wondered about QueenLatifah's fessional volleyball player-the one without
sexuality, and the actress has always heartily kids:' Hmm, curious minds want to know.
denied speculation. Now new photos of her Any guesses?
and fitness trainer Jeanette Jenkins adding
fuel to the fire. While yachting off the coast SixSweetLittleWords
of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat in France, the two- .Jennifer
Aniston.
Full frontal. Lesbian three- w
()
g
some was snapped in an embrace-with
some. In her next movie, Wanderlust.
a:
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en
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uf
en
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OUTINFRONT
Speaking
Up and Out
These women give a voice to
the voiceless. By Sheryl Kay
someone when to come out, Fremaine says
she has, "been frightened many times, but
eventually you realize that fear itself is nothing
to be afraid of-let it come, but don't let it
dominate you, or limit your actions or deter,
mination. Most things are not nearly as scary as
you think they are, once you actually do them:'
Out
Speaking
Say the words"LGBT media wiz;' and its likely
name will be mentioned.
that CathyRenna's
It might be because of her 14 years at
the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against
Defamation (GLAAD), where she served in
numerous capacities, including the group's
first national news media director.
Others know Renna's more recent
work heading up her own PR firm, Renna
Communications, with wife Leah McElrath
Renna, where, in addition to representing
numerous progressive organizations and
foundations, Renna has worked with some
of the LGBT community's most critical orga~
EasternUnblocked
Five years ago, she found herself trapped in a
hotel in downtown Riga, Latvia, with an angry
homophobic mob pounding·at the doors and
a less than helpful police force on duty.
born in Sweden to
LindaAnnaFremaine,
Latvian nationals, was there as the organizer
of the Pride~themed Riga Friendship Days.
And what started out to be a day of educa,
tion and inclusivity turned out to be one of
the most frightening experiences of her life.
But it motivated her as well.
"It made me extremely angry and deter,
mined to continue this battle;' she says. 'The
Pride events are important because they place
the issue of LG BT rights on the political agenda
in all our countries. Nobody can say any longer
that there are no LGBT people here:'
Today, Fremaine is the project director and
chair of t4e board of the NGO Mozaika, a
group formed to promote the legal rights and
social integration of lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender people in Latvia.
"The sad fact is that most LGBT people·in
Latvia do not have a gay life;' she says. "Many
people of my generation and older are mar,
5
ried to someone of the opposite sex and have
...J
either suppressed their sexual identity all
w
their lives, or are leading double lives, hiding
(.)
:E
it from their partners:'
...J
:::)
Although she would never presume to tell
nizations, helping to secure much,needed
media coverage.
"The rewards and blessings of doing this
work are daily;' says Renna. "For me, it is
all about helping a 75,year~old woman tell
her story of coming out as transgender and
transitioning so late in life, a couple fighting
for marriage equality, young people thrown
out of their homes after coming out yet still
having hope for a good life, or getting good
science and real data to combat the anti,gay
organizations that continue to lie (about] and
marginalize our communities:'
Renna also says she firmly believesthat only
when the issues of sexism, classism and racism
within the LGBT community are addressed
will there be a road to finding true equality.
'J\11of us need to look long and hard in
the mirror and ask ourselves: What can I do
to advance better understanding of LGBT
people today and every dayt Renna says.
OntheDefense
If you think being a single mom with five
children is enough, take a look at LisaKove's
resume, and take a deep breath.
For the past 27 years, she's had a success~
ful career with the Department of Defense as
a special projects officer. Kove also served for
four years with the United States Navy, at one
point participating in the backstage support
effort of the Iranian hostage rescue mission.
"Our being gay was an 'open' secret;' says
Kove. "On occasion there would be witch
hunts and we and our male friends would
make believe we were together until the witch
hunts, would end:'
Today, Kove also serves as the executive
director of DOD Fed Globe, a grassroots
educational non,profit that advocates for
LGBT military employees. She's worked
on coordinating the first,ever vigil for a
murdered LGBT •service member, and
participated in debates, protests, speaking
engagements, training sessions, rallies and
videos regarding the repeal of Don't Ask,
Don't Tell.
'J\ctivism is for anybody who wants to
improve the world by working with others;'
observes Kove."The DOD is really the most
hostile federal work environment for LGBTs
in the entire government. A typical LGBT
employee at the DOD is afraid to lose a
good job, end up injured or worse-dead. I
could not sit back and so I am doing what
needs to be done:' This story is based on the
life and opinion of Ms. Kove, as the executive
directorof DOD FED GLOBE and it is not
intended to reflectthe opinion of her employer,
the Department of Defense."
November/December 2010
I21
DYKE
DRAMA
I Taken With the Taken
I
The woes of bedding the wedded. By Michele Fisher
She ain't leaving her husband for you. I
know it's mean, but it's true.
Is there any chance at all? Well, if she
has just discovered or acknowledged her
homosexuality and you are the very first
female lover she has ever had, then yes,
there is a chance. But if she has always
known who she is and you are the second
or hundredth extracurricular girlfriend,
then you will just be one of the many girls
who fade in and then fade out of her (and
her husband's) life.
221
curve
But she told you that you were special.
And you are, kitten~ really you are, but
not special enough to change her entire
existence.
f have limited experience with women
who are married to men. At least I think
I do. As far as the gals I picked up for a
quickie and never saw again, I was all Don't
Ask, Don't Tell, so I really have no idea how
many of them called a man a mate. _
My one encounter was when I was 18
and I was crushed out on a 30~something~
year~old hottie in my freshman Spanish
class. She owned a ranch, wore real cowboy
boots and seemed mighty curious about
how the other 10 percent lived. Sh~ talked
about her kids, who were almost as old as
I was, but when the subject of her husband
came up, she was dismissive and indicated
that he was never around.
She was forever inviting me to the ranch
to "study:' We never got much studying
done. We always got into deep conversations
about life and there would always be a
lot of incidental physical contact, which
eventually evolved into her telling me she
always wanted to be a massage therapist
and rubbing my back while we chatted.
I was young, but I wasn't stupid when
it came to figuring out how straight girls
worked themselves up to making the first
move, so I let it happen. Eventually, she
asked me to come over and not study.
It was the night I had been dreaming
about for months. "It" was finally going to
happen. This time, instead of her dropping
me off at the bus station to catch the 10
p.m. back home, I would be staying at the
ranch and we would drive in to school in
the morning together in her pick up, just
like Bobby and Pam Ewing on Dallas!
We were in her bed and she was giving
me the speech. You know, the speech that
straight girls always give you about not
knowing what they are doing sexually and
not wanting to disappoint you, blah blah.
That speech is usually the straight woman's
last~ditch effort to get you to make the first
move, so she can fall back on her reluctance
if things go bad. But I was no amateur- I
wasn't about to let her off the hook after all
the months of waiting and wanting.
When it was obvious I wasn't going for
it, she sighed and rolled over to turn out a:
the light. Then she rolled toward me and
w
sat bolt upright up in bed. I heard it too,
the sound of somet_hing big rolling up her
gravel driveway. Perhaps some farmhand
was returning a tractor, but the way she was :.:::
t
jumping around yelling the F-word and
throwing my clothes at me gave me reason
to believe something more significant was
occurring.
Turns out, her husband was a drummer
in a country-western band and the band
was stopping at the ranch for a few stolen
days of R&R during a long road trip. That
crunching in the driveway was his tour bus
full of hick musicians who were eager to
sleep i~ a house for a change.
I was unceremoniously shuttled to her
daughter's room to sleep in a Mickey
Mouse sleeping bag on the floor. I was
lucky enough to have a heating grate near
my head, so I had a front row seat to ·the
welcome home sex show between her and
her husband in the bedroom below mine. I
got even less sleep than they did.
I dropped the Spanish class the next day.
Que lastima.
Many have told me that I got off lucky.
If you are with a woman who is with a
man, there are only so many ways for it to
end: poorly, crappy and shitty. And please
spare me the letters proclaiming a lifetime
of bliss w_ith a formerly married woman.
Like I said before, if you are the first
and/ or your girl is just figuring out that
she is gay, then you and she may go on to
live happily ever after. (Although she is
still likely to find another girl she likes to
sleep with even more than you. But that is
another column.)
I am talking about the kind of woman
who has been married to the same man
for years and intends to stay that way. She
takes women lovers to satisfy her need for
female sex and energy, but ultimately girls
are just a side dish to her heterosexual
entree. She may tell you that she loves
you. She may even insist that you tell her
that you love her. But loving you does not
translate to building a life with you.
Hey, being a girl-toy is not such a bad
thing. Personally, I think it's nice work if
you can get it. Just don't mistake her taking
you to Palm Springs for her being in love
with you.
And the oft-ignored little angel on my
left shoulder would also like to remind
you that taken is taken. Yeah, me and the
little angel are willing to look the other
way if the object of your affection is in
a place where being a dyke could get her
killed, or her husband is going to take
the kids and run, or some other Lifetime
TV situation, but let's face it, things are
rarely that serious. Cheating is usually just
cheating. You can tell yourself that you are
helping her be true to herself while she is
living a lie, but doesn't that just make you
another lie?
And don't give me any of that bisexual
doublespeak. The bi community doesn't
want to be associated with your emotional
treachery either. "I like both" doesn't mean
both at the same time.
Of course the little person with a
pitchfork on my right shoulder would like
you to know that "evil" spelled backward
is "live:' As in, you must live a little before
you die. So, maybe it's okay to meet her for
bring a sleeping
a little study session-but
bag in case her hubby comes home.
November/December
2010
I 23
POLITICS
I
I
End of a Decade
Yes, 2010 is finally over. Now it's time for change.
By Victoria A. Brownworth
I haven't been aware of decades changing
As 2011 looms on the horizon, I don't want
much in my life; one year has basically slid to look back over the past decade, so much as
into the next with little fanfare, save for those I want to look forward to the next. I want to
annual holiday celebrations. The last onereflect, naturally, but only in as much as it
the millennium change-was, of course, a leads somewhere.
huge event, a shift I couldn't help but pay
For the holidays, I usually write about spirit
attention to. With Y2K fears spreading
-uality, giving and the promise wrought each
globally, I stocked my basement with water, year to be our most thoughtful and generfood (for us and the cats) and other necessities ous and selfless selves. The holiday seasonin the weeks preceding the big New Year's •Thanksgiving through the New Year-has to
event. I also had all my computer files backed be about more than conspicuous consumpup. I wasn't one of the Y2K crazies, but I was, tion and the buying of more stuff. It has to be
admittedly, somewhat nervous.
about reflection and what we can and will do
Nothing happened, of course, except for to make the rest of the year as fullof generosity
worldwide fireworks and myriad televised of spirit as the holiday season is.
celebrations. Then we were officially in 2000
The end of a decade plus the start of the
and the years began again to slide into one holiday season should invite reflection, both
another. This decade ushered in so much personal and global. It isn't only at the holiterribleness: the Bush-Gore presidential fiasco, days that people are in need and lonely and
9 Ill, two wars for the U.S. and many others devastated. It isn't only at the change of a
worldwide, a global recession, earthquakes,
decade that people need to reflect. It isn't only
floods, fires, famine in over 20 nations, an at the end of a year that we need to count both
uptick in female infanticide, trafficking of our losses and our blessings and envision what
women and girls and women being stoned to we can do to give more, take less, be more, lose
death. Now that this decade is done, I know less for the coming year.
I'm not alone in stating that I won't miss it.
This past year has been rough for me, yet
24
Icurve
the challenges were buffered by many positive
moments, and it is those I want to build upon.
I was seriously ill for much of2010 and nearly
died in March and again in early September.
But as frightening as those experiences were,
and as difficult as the road back from the
brink was, I faced all that with the help of my
partner _andmy good close friends. And so in
the end I feel gratitude-for surviving and for
the love that surrounded me as I recovered.
Throughout the past decade, I have found
that work is to be one of the most sustaining
things we can do-work for ourselves and
work for others. So, in addition to my lover
and my friends, my work saw me through the
difficult times and kept me whole.
I founded a small independent publishing
house in 2010. Tiny Satchel Press publishes
young adult books because I wanted to reach
out to some groups of kids I felt were being
ignored by the still mostly white, mostly
male, mostly upper-middle-class, mostly
straight books available for kids who are
tweens and teens.
I also continued to run the cat rescue
organization my partner and I maintain with
the help of two close friends, despite serious
financial setbacks, largely because people are
abandoning their animals more than ever
due to the recession and these animals need
our help to survive. And as a survivor mysel£
I wanted to do that outreach, especially to
vulnerable animals.
I spent a lot of time doing _politicalwork,
. both locally and nationally, because I feel
the two main political parties have utterly
failed all but the wealthiest Americans. The
Republicans have never had anything to offer
me-a queer and working-class womanbut the unfulfilled promises of the Democrats
have left me feeling even more bereft than I
felt in the last decade of Republican-run government. The lies of the Bush/ Cheney years
were egregious, which made the hopefulness
. some of us pinned on the Democrats probably
unattainable. The false promise of the Obama
presidency, in which women and queers were
shafted repeatedly and told to put our civil
rights on hold until a more convenient time
arises, has been frustrating. The continued
use of war and torture as foreign policy strat- :1,
w
egies, the failure to ~lose Guantanamo, the
escalating unemployment and underemployment, particularly among the poor, has been u..
5
FROM STUDIOTO
CAMPAIGNTRAIL
devastating. We need better politicians
than we have. So that's a fight I continue to
engage in-to get more women and queers
into politics and to make the politicians we
have more accountable. •
.Feminism might be "post" for some, but
as long as women and girls are secondclass around the world, including in
our own country, feminism is the most
essential and dynamic political force 'in
the world today-the only true answer to
the destructive forces of gender violence,
homophobia and racism, which remain
pervasive here and abroad. So feminist
work has been a major focus of both the
last year and last decade for me. I find
that younger women especially believe
feminism is over. I want to convince them
it is not.
I've spent the last decade dedicated
specifically to working against the trafficking of women and girls. The selling of
women's bodies-girls as young as 5 are
sold into sex slavery in India, Pakistan,
The end of a decade
plusthe startof the
holidayseasonshould
invitereflection,both
personaland global.
Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam,
China, all of the Eastern Bloc, throughout
Latin America and in all the island nations
of the Western Hemisphere-is
one of
the most destructive weapons being used
against females worldwide, which is why I
have been engaged in this battle for more
than a decade.
And so the decade is nearly at an end.
Before a line is drawn through the last day,
however, we will have the holidays laid
out.before us in all their glittery, sparkling
splendor. It's all as enticing as it is every
year. The opportunities to give of ourselves
are immense. It would be a shame not to
take advantage of them.
One friend of mine is spending her
holidays visiting older women in her community. Women are three times as likely
as men to be single after 65. My friend
believes that building community among
these older single women is an essential
element of her personal lesbian feminism.
She's holding a solstice dinner for 30 single
older women in her neighborhood.
Another friend of mine in a different
city is hosting a holiday party for lesbian
couples and their children, while another is
getting her lesbian friends to each "adopt" a
woman in prison and promise to write to
her once a week throughout the year.
As for me, I'm looking forward to this
year's holidays with excitement. One of
the things I had planned for this holiday season was book-giving. I live in a
poor neighborhood. The schools near
my house are wretched and none has a
library. Most of the kids who live near me
are without books.
Books sustained me as a child, just as
writing sustains me as an adult. I cannot
imagine surviving my childhood without
books, and the worlds they let me escape
into. So I am organizing a book drive for
the three elementary schools in my neighborhood, in hope that every child in every
grade is given a new book for the holidays.
Their own book-not
used, not worn.
New ~nd just for them.
And so as the year-and the decadedraws to a close and the holidays draw
near, join me as I pause and reflect-on
the year (and decade) passing and on the
one about to unfold. We always have
opportunities to give, but the holidays are
a perfect excuse. Women and girls worldwide-in our own communities and in
our global community-need
our help.
Queers oppressed and repressed in the
majority of non-Western nations of the
world need our help. Our own queer communities need our help. So much giving
needs to be done and there are not enough
of us to do it.
So with ~hat in mind, embrace the
season as a huge gift. Get your friends
together and choose a holiday "project"
that celebrates your lesbianism, your
feminism, your belief that the world can
be a better place if we all make an effort.
The end of a decade is approaching, but
so is the beginning of a new one. Start with
Thanksgiving-give thanks for all that you
have. And then start ... giving.
WhenartistDebraWalkermoved
toSanFrancisco
in1981,she
foundanaffordable
spaceat
Developing
Environments,
a
36-studio
live/work
artistco-op
andSanFrancisco's
firstlegal
artistresidence.
Andshe'sbeen
thereeversince,
surrounded
onallsidesby
painters,
sound
artistsandcircus
artists.
Walker's
live/work
spacehasallowed
hertosurvive
asanartistinoneofthemost
expensive
citiesinthecountry.
Herapartment
is
partitioned
intostudio
andlivingquarters,
which
allowsheraccess
toherworkaround
theclock.
"Every
timeI havelikea sparehourI gointhere
andpaintbecause
it'sthere,it'sopen,it'sleft
out.Space,
forvisualartists,
isreallyimportant."
Walker's
appreciation
forherunique
work
spacehasledherintoactivism.
Asa member
of
theCoalition
forJobs,ArtsandHousing,
Walker
aimstosecuremoreaffordable
spaces
for
artists.
"There's
twominds,"
shesays."Some
artists
feel_like
theyneedtoremain
outside
of
society.
Andthenthere'sothers
whoaremore
likecommunity
artists."
Walker
isa community
artistwhose
activism
hasledherdeepintothepolitics
oflanduse
andurbanplanning.
Sheisa member
oftheSan
Francisco
Democratic
County
Central
Committee
anda CityofSanFrancisco
Building
Inspection
Commissioner.
Thisyearshekicked
offa
campaign
torunfordistrict
supervisor.
"IthinkI
mightwinthisraceforsupervisor,"
shesays."So
I'mgoing
tohavetofigureouthowtokeepan
activeartproject
goinginmyofficeatCityHall."
Herpolitics
aredrivenbyherexperience
notonlyasanartist,butalsoasa lesbian.
She
isoneofonlysixwomento everbeelected
president
ofthepowerful
Harvey
MilkLGBT
Democratic
Clubandsitsonadvisory
boards
fortheQueer
ArtsFestival
andtheQueer
Cultural
Center.
Lastyear,afterCalifornia's
Prop.8 ruling,
Walker
joinedinprotest
with
activist
KipWilliams
andwasarrested
for
disobeying
a peaceofficerandjaywalking.
(Charges
werelaterdismissed.)
"Thecoming
together
ofqueeryouth,queer
supporters,
thefaithcommunity
anddiverse
communities
wastrulyinspiring
to usall,"
shesays."I believethatartistsplaya keyrole
in howoursocietymovesforwardfromthis
collapse."
[NinaLary]
November/December
2010
I 25
GIFT
I
THIS YEAR, WE WENT
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4. Maddowdoesn'towna TV,but
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Thefirst seasonof Fox'sGleeand
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Howaboutwith[wo]man's
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scoresomesexypointswiththeirRock
Outpant.Shemightnotnoticethecolorful
untilyougethome.Ooh!($98,
wasteband
lululemon.com)
Saddleis the
17. Terry'sFU<Women's
perfectgift for a sportydyke.Lightweight
rails,flexiblebutsturdyanda
manganese
sexydesignsetthissaddleapartfromthe
rest.Best,thecomfycutawaykeepsyour
ladypartshappy.($110,
terrybicycles.com)
~o>vtlu,
SPORTY DYKE
JILLIAN
MICHAELS
ON THE JILL/AN MICHAELS SHOW
UquidImageExplorer
18.Theamazing
5.0is theworld'sonlyswimmask
waterproof
thathasanintegrated
digitalvideocameraplusphotothe need
graphsat 5MP.Eliminates
camera
an underwater
to hand-carry
or swimmingwith
whensnorkeling
friends.($100,target.com)
is a greatsporty
14.Neoprene
fabric,but it's brutalonthe
ThisEcoRunner
environment.
actslike
casefor the iPod/iPhone
butis madeof recycled
neoprene,
Workoff yourcarbon
materials.
footprintalongwiththoseextra
pounds.($35,marware.com)
15.Prana'sE.C.0.Matis toxicfree,just likeyou'llbeaftera two
hourBikramclass.Greatcushion,
plentylongfor thoseDownward
to befully
Dogsanddesigned
($44,prana.com)
biodegradable.
Shetv.ood,
Lau,Virginia
David
Nelson,
Randy
McMillan,
byHayley
Photos
Asnn
HolzandEmmelle
George
Kallman,
Naomi
SonjaFlemming,
Barbe,
Ondrea
26lcurve
andLisaDahlstrom
Gronlng
Ulrica
Sparks,
byBrianne
HairandMakeup
November/December
2010
I27
I
I
•
19.Slllbaam
TablllDp
Fapcanl
Makar
turnsanyroomIntoa theater.
Perfect
for
watching11le
1111111
L Md SeaunOne
withyourfriends.(Popcorn
maker:$100,
sunbeam.com
L Kt>nt:
;
$37,sho.com)
20.Beingorganized
is sexyWltt1
KangaRaam'1
Media
Waly,whichusesanywall
orover-1he-door
spaceto organizeall the
accessortes
thatcomewithelectronic
devices,tllnlng blankwallsIntogadget
holdalls.
Their11111181m
K8aper
organizes
everything
else.($30andup,
kangaroomstorage.com)
21.Forthetequilaconnoisseur,
DasLimas
Tequilafillsthebill.It'shandcrafted
fromthe
finestblueagaveandis chemical-and
pesticidefree($40andup,doslunas.com)
22.Beingstylishandgloballyconscious
cango
hand-in-hand
thanksto companies
likeMata
'lnlders.
Alltheirfair-trade
jewelryis handmade
bywomen's
collectives
in IndiaGiveyourladya
giftthatsupports
others.($14andup,
matatraders.com)
23.You'lllooklikea dykeactionheroin Apap,,
ma Clgllal'sMadMaxmeetsIndiana
Jones
boots.Theycomewiththeirowncarryingcase,
butsinceyou'Hnevertake'emoff,youwon't
needIt ($283,zappos.com)
24.WalCandy
Arla'PaelandSlickFrnleIClt
comeswiththreeframes,
fauxtacksandtape
foreffect.Useanapplikeromp.com
to getthat
Poloraid
feel.($18,wallcandyarts.com)
25.Design-lovers
likeMikeylookto costume
designer
Edllh
Headfor inspiration.
lhls tome
documents
her50-yearcareer,
including
her
workonRearWU1dow,
SunsetBoulevarr/
andAll
AboutEWJ.
($75,perseusbooks.com)
28.lesbian-owned
LuckyDag...._ offers
upa modem
version
oftheclassicdykebeltLet
yourinnerstudshow.($68,luckydogleather.com)
'ZI.JanineBasil'sFascillllors
areall
aboutretroglamour
witha modem
twist Simplydivine.($24andup,
etsy.com/shop/janinebasiO
28.ISldn's
AmiTolawith11sadorable
graphicdesignis theperfectbagfor
thegirtonthego-end herlaptop.
($99, iskin.com)
29.We'renutsabouttheW8lwaPludall
Amazonian
UpBalm.Allnaturalandpackagedin a hand-carved
Amazon
nogalnut,
it's madein smallquantities
bylocalwomen
in need.($16,minimus.biz)
30.Dellcate
anddramatic,
theClalsonn6
Kai
Pond
Nacldace
boastsa fullyarticulating
fantail.($32,shopolivine.com)
31.Dallface
Glamcu..... Gois a great
giftfortheJet-setter.
Con1aining
afull
skincareregimen
InFAA-friendly
sizes.
Plus,theattractive
retrocarryingcasecan
bereused.
($50,shopolivine.com)
32.Eyelash
conditioner.
It maysoundsilly
untilyouseeNaulash's
results,longer.
fuller
healthier
lashes.
Makesa greatluxurygift
forsomeone
special.
($85,neulash.com)
33.A pairof quirky,sexySWlllyBiniHeals
fromPoeticLicence
will bea high-femme
holidayhit ($140,poeticllcence.us)
34.Za2aZing!DS.,._, SWlnMlldCr,slll
HeloIOllylPhone
caseis allthesparkly
goodness oneiPhone
cantake!Theyhave
dozens
of otherbejeweled
optionsto choose
from.($220,dsstyles.com)
35.Accessorize
yourpet'sbootywith
RearGear'sadorablebumcovers.
Ourfavorites:
thecupcake and
discoball.($5,reargear.com)
.. Visually
sllJ1ning
andunbelievably
ctami1g,
KlrbJ'•EpicYamis a guaranteed funtimefor
anyvideogamefan.($50,gamestop.com)
:n.100ClaallcBoobforthe NintendoOS
turnsthehandheld
deviceintoa portable
library.Lltll8Women?
Yep,It'sonthere,with
99 more.($20,gamestop.com)
38.1.miefaveTildaSwinton
blewusaway
withI AIRLalla,a tragic lovestorysetIna
lushMilansetting.($25,amazon.com)
39.Gi1ygamerswillkMtthenewpink
,.., ..... 3 DualSbackCGnlralar.
($55,gameamp.com)
Lesboslovebeautyproductsaimedat dudes.Here
area fewwe dig:RealShaving's
DailyFaceScrub,
NickelBodyCooler,
DHCforMenFaceCreamandA
WildSoap's
wildMAN
Shaving
Kit(withhandmade
sassafras
shavingsoapandmatchingboarbristle
brush).(Real:$6,RealShavingShop.com;
Nickel:$35,
nickelskincareformen.com;
DHC:$15,dhccare.com;
$28,awildsoapbar.com)
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••·······························•
November/December
2010
I29
GIF
57.TheseDomopartylightsfromDark
Horsearesostrange,yetsocute.($15,
darkhorse.com)
40.If a remotecanbesexyit'sthe
OneAdvanced
Hannony
Logitec
backlittouch
Beautiful
Remote.
Universal
Withthe
design.
screenandit' ergonomic
45.SaraGilbertas hilariousphysicist
it's
3 adapter,
PlayStation
Harmony
LeslieWinkleplusnerdhumorgalore
($250,logitech.corn) is whyyoushouldgeteveryone
compatible.
Bluetooth
a
The
copyof TheBigBangTheory:
41. Satisfyyourinneractionfigure
DVD.($35,
ThirdSeason
Complete
fully
collectorwiththesegeektastic,
wbshop.corn)
StarWarsUSBdrives.($30
sculptured
andup,tyrnernachines.corn)
MitchellandMorena
46.Elizabeth
Signus
Baccarinin highdefinition?
for gadgetgirls:the
42.Aneco-solution
FirstSeason
upfor TheComplete
Compatible
solarcharger.
KIWIChoice
($40,wbshop.corn)
DVD/Blu-ray.
iPadsandmore.
cameras,
with phones,
($60,kiwichoice.corn)
chic
superheroine
47.Handmade
byJanineBasil
headbands
graphic
charged
USB
retro
43.Thisadorably
will thrill yourfavoritecomiclover.
keepsyour
Cooler
Beverage
desktop
($125,etsy.corn/shop/janinebasil)
RedBullicy-cold.($20,thinkgeek.corn)
48. ForJedisandgeekydykes,Think
'80s
44.GreatScott!Thecheese-tastic
Bagis
Geek'sTaunTaunSleeping
trilogyis finallyon
BacktotheFuture
the perfectwayto cozyup.($100,
Shue-in.($60,
Blu-ray.AnElizabeth
thinkgeek.corn)
nbcuniversalstore.corn)
fangirls
49.First-person-shooter
virtualequality.TheOber
celebrate
popularseriesfinallyincludesa
playablefemalecharacterin Halo:
Reach.($60,garnestop.corn)
50.FableIll maybethegayestgame
to hitTVscreenssince,well,Fable
marriageand
romance,
II.Sarne-sex
familiesin a darkfairytaleepic.($60,
garnestop.corn)
51. Sexyfemalespacebounty-hunter
Other
Aranis backin Metroid:
Sarnus
M.Getyourgamingfeministdanderup
withthe newfantasticWiiadventure.
($50,garnestop)
52.BuckRogers'spaceheroineWilma
Deeringputsoutthe call"SpaceGirls
Unite"onthis riotgrrrlretroremixbelt
bucklefromDarkHorse.Don'tknow
Lookherup,now!
WilmaDeering?
($22,darkhorse.corn)
58. Glarn-uphermobilewithliterally
of funky,sexyandadorable
hundreds
fromDSStyles.($20and
phonecases
up,dsstyles.corn)
53.Notpictured:Feistyplantsbattlethe
addictivePlants
undeadin the diabolically
ForPC,Mac,Xboxand
vs.Zombies.
iPhone.($15andup,popcap.corn)
DSseries
Nintendo
54.Theenchanting
andthe
Layton
with Professor
continues
I dareyounotto get
Future.
Unwound
hookedonthisdelightfulbrainteaser.Not
($35,garnestop.com)
Pictured.
SG-U:Stargate
55.Syfy'slesbotastic
FirstSeason
TheComplete
Universe:
in HD.
Blu-raysetis spaceadventure
($42,foxconnect.com)
56.Buffyloversunite:TheBuffyThe
Slayermugis geekycoffeeVampire
for a kick-asscuppa.
loversmust-have
or summonthesexywiththisWillow
laptopcover.($13and up,
GelaSklns
darkhorse.corn)
..., ............................... .
30
Icurve
59.It doesn'tget muchbetterthan
Company's
Scooter
California
fibersexybikes.TheBabydoll
($5,000,
modelhasusswooning.
californiascooterco.corn)
60.Sanrio'sHellokittysequinbaghas
just enoughroomfor a wallet,phone,
cashandID.Comfyandclear,it doesn't
getcuterthantheseHelloKittyheadbyAerial7. (Bag:$55,sanrio.
phones
$80,aerial7.corn)
com;Headphones:
needthe
bombshells
61. Burlesque
minitophatfromJanine
handmade
Basil.Maybeshe'llevendoa little
dancefor you!($155,etsy.corn/shop/
janinebasil)
66. Bethwouldbe captivatedby this
comfortable
gorgeousandsurprisingly
Silk
SteelBoned
plus-sizeBaronessa
...............................
whichwhittlesyourwaistupto 4
Corset,
inches.Pairit withthis romanticParisian
SteelBoned
Skirtor try theirValentina
($60andup,hipsandcurves.corn)
Underbust.
arefunkystretch
67.UrbanglamCellies
thatlet youwearyourcell
_ cuff bracelets
phoneinsteadof carryingit. ($35,mycelies.corn)·
is the
Necklace
68.TooFast'sCupcake
perfectgiftfor yourlittlecupcake.($20,
toofastonline.corn)
dockis perfect
iCrystal
62.Speakal's
for bumpingyouriPodDittomix(put
"Standingin theWayof Control"on
repeat).($80,speakal.corn)
jewelry
69.WickedMinky'shand-painted
is funky,
liliesnecklace)
(likethestargazer
($26,etsy.corn/
andaffordable.
irreverent
shop/wickedminky)
a bit of mystery
63.Giveyourcorkboard
($1O,
withtheseNinjastarpushpins.
•
thinkgeek.corn)
CoverGirlsjournalis
70.TheTerada
a sexy,queerstockingstufferfor your
prolificgirlfriend.($10,darkhorse.corn)
withtheTooFast
64.Gethardcore
handbagorthe Brass
BrassKnuckles
MugfromThinkGeek.(Bag:
Knuckle
Mug:$16,
$40,toofastonline.corn;
thinkgeek.corn)
BookofShadows
65.UrbanDecay's
shades,
Vol.Ill,with16eyeshadow
isthemustprimerandtwoeyepencils,
set.($54,urbandecay.corn)
havemakeup
·•••••··
pistolsand
71. Petticoats,
lesbiansaboundin HBO's
TheComplete
Deadwood:
Series.RobinWeigert'sfoulmouthedCalamityJaneis more
thanworththe priceof the Bluray.($210,store.hbo.com)
72.TooFast'sWhitneyLenox
is cirque
pullover
Two-faced
canget
couturefashonistas
behind.($66,toofastonline.corn)
I
I
!o~~
BISEXUAL DO-GOODER
your
73.Position
phoneinany
withthe
direction
PadcoCellPod.
Perfectforairlinetray
tables,desks,treebranches.
($25,pedcopods.com)
74.1haSolarSpartOnn usespostrecycledplasticbotues,
consumer
to concentrate
andInsulation
aluminum
funto
the sun'sheatto cook.Eco-friendly,
($199,
orbackyard.
useinthebackwoods
realgoods.com)
homeswiththeEco
80.Green
Kit,whichhelpsyou
S1artar
Hatchery
emissions,
easilyreducecarbondioxide
waterandlowerutilitybills.
conserve
($98,ecohatchery.com)
waterBugsaretherare
81.Moszkito's
withbuiltinarch
sandals
waterproof
support.($40,moszkito.com)
Labs'Yadoti) 3rdGen
75.Creative
isafun,small
C8mcarder
Video
Pock8t
thatoffers
4GBvideocamera
awesome
Tube,
withYou
simplevideosharing
($150,myvado.com)
andmore.
Facebook
thattheGrab-It
82.It'snowonder
Pack-tJllimatlGadgetHolslar-iS
gadget
by~.
beloved
thana
andcarpenters.Sexier
lovers
fannypack,betterthana purse,a must.
($25,grabitpack.com)
Knifel)'JToolLogic
18.Sl3 Fallllng
opensandcloseswithonehand,hasa
blade,spearpoint,emergency
razor-sharp
andfirestarterthatworkseven
whistJe
whenwet ($35,rel.com)
Faodle
83.ThehandyMoblle
SmvlvalKit,stockedwithorganic
kicks
spices andextraslikewasabi,
upa notch.($35,
cooking
campfire
uncommongoods.com)
77.Stayintoochwithfriendsbackhome
Mashaand
colorful
withtheadorably
($13,
NesllngDoiNalacards.
Frtands
chroniclebooks.com)
Hanclllld
84.WithChal'nVegglchop
VagalableChoppseco-gourmands
from
likeSeacanchopeverything
no
to nuts,withnobatteries,
veggies
plugin.($30,williamsonoma.com)
DigitalAudioEcoExlrame
78.TheGrace
caseis
Speaker
AllTerrain
Rugged
and
waterproof,workswithMp3players
to clip
Witha carabiner
cells,andcomes
1entorRVdoor.($50,
onto yourbackpack,
gracedigitalaudlo.com)
battery
Star-Certified
Energy
79.Duracell's
gals.The
aregreatforon-the-go
chargers
inanhourand.includes
6olllblll charges
wallcord,caradapterandpre-charged
GoEayis sosmallitfitsIna
batteries.
($13andup,amazon.com)
pocket.
32
MICHAELA
ASANGELAONBONES
I curve
wiflloveSimpleShoes'
86.Eco-girls
boots.
Taestsweaterknitsneaker
cotton,eco-certified
Comfyorganic
made
andbottoms
suedeandleather
fromrecycledcartires.($75andup,
simpleshoes.com)
Spark is
88.LightMyFire'sBPA-free
super
Teflon-friendly,
a heat-resislant,
($3
fork,knifecombo.
spoon,
durable
andup,rei.com)
andless
87.Formoremeaning
to Doctors
try a donation
consumerism,
can
A$1Odonation
Borders.
Without
againstmeningitis
1Opeople
vaccinate
underthe
and$50cantreat100children
($1and
frommalaria.
ageof 5 suffering
)
up,doctorswithoutborders.org/donate
program
Adopta Creature
88.Oceana*
andSavethe GuffT-shirtletsyouhelp
geta personalized
theGulf.Giftrecipients
andkit.($35andup,
certificate
adoption
oceana.org/adopt)
Tea
Green
Pomegranate
89.Pomega5's
bodytreat.
SkinDetoxKitis a healthy
($20,pomega5.com)
Geta Xoopiibag,
90.Makea difference.
YorkiiorJusticeHelpers
likethisSmooch
bagsmadefromused
bag;reusable
REPT
byurbanartists.
designed
plasticbottles,
($15andup,xoopii.com)
withthis
91.Helpbuildurbangardens
lightweight
collapsible,
easy,portable,
($65,
WheelEasyWheelbarrow.
uncommongoods.com)
92.A WildSoapbaris likesoapart.Try
or Horsemint
SagewithRosemary
Desert
vegan,
Clay.Biodegradable,
withGreen
carbonoffsetandprofitsgo
cruelty-free,
to charity!($5 andup,awildsoapbar.com)
leopardprintJungleBug
93.Moszkito's
sandalofferstonsof archsupportin a sexy
dayto nightslipon.($65,moszkito.com)
of everyonlinepurchase
94.A percentage
Target
youmakefromstoreslikeAmazon,
if
or Macy'sgoesto yourfavoritenonprofit
(Free,
NotPictured.
youuseGoodShop.com.
goodshop.com)
weget
to Peopleis a philosophy
95.BeGood
Geta tee,onesieortote.($8andup,
behind.
begoocltopeople.com)
CONLIN
withTheMeat
100.Gohealthyandgourmet
by Washington
Cookbook
Meatless
Lovers
Table,
or FromTerra's
PostscribeKimO'Donnel
localvore
veteran
fromSanDiego's
withrecipes
California
andinfoonSouthern
restaurant
foodsystems
sustainable
gardens,
community
$19,powells.com;
(Meat:
andfarmersmarkets.
$33,chefspress.com)
Terra:
activistswouldlovea queer
101.Reading
zineor graphicnovel(likeTheFlow
($3andup,
fromMicrocosm.
Chronicle~
microcosmpublishing.com)
jcunal(help
"Bou"
canopy
96.GetanEcojot
theworld'sforests)ora JaneGoodall
protect
journal(andtheysendonefreeto a kidin
bygasfrom
Theirpapermillis powered
need).
site!($15,paperposey.com)
a garbage
ever:Vs.Mitlens
ff1.Thebestanimalmittens
Hoopla.
craftycompany
V'lfromgay-owned
of predatorand prey
mittens
Thesehandmade
andsodamncuteyou'll
aresweatshop-free
wantall6 sets.($38,hoorayhoopla.com)
Muholi's
98.AnyartistwoulddigZanele
black-and-white
FacesandPhases,
powerful
inSouthAfricaand
of blacklesbians
portraits
($26,amazon.com)
beyond.
99.Wantto getlei'd?GiveherOlisofAloha's
madefrom
KukuiOilandLotion,
Organic
($20,
NotPictured.
kukuiseedoil in Hawaii.
target.com)
102.JtlllperRidgeis greatforearthgirls:
biodegradable,
based,
is vegetable
packaging
and10%of proceeds
recyclable
compostable,
Thesmudge
wilderness!
goto defendwestern
andsoaparegreat,butyour
sticks,sachets
hitsof
Gift,a greatest
bestbetisthecascadia
($8andup,juniperridge.com)
products.
.November/December
2010
I33
GE
GUID
20 0
I
I
with
OVen
DigitalCountertop
114.Oster's
to
is cuteandcompactbutbigenough
convection
cookdinnernightly(trustus),hasspeedyconvection
andis easyto clean.($80,walmart.com)
112.DaleandThomasGourmet
hasa 6-bagsamplerwith
Popcorn
savoryandsweet(likechocolate
($30andup,
chunkcaramel).
Pairit
daleandthomaspopcorn.com)
withoneof thesegreatnewDVDs
and
($10andup,wolfevideo.com
amazon.com):
thingssleekat homeis
103.Keeping
a modern
Vynebar,
Astrid'sstyle.Enter,
systemthatturnswineinto
storage
a workof art.18colors.($40andup,
vynebar.com)
Sayit proudwith
104.GotBeaverFever?
a limitededitionposterfromthebutch
Buy
Fever.
powerpopbandBeaver
$30,etsy.com
theirCD,too.(Poster:
CD:$15,
/shop/strangechildink;
beaverfeverssantacruz.com)
scented11YouSay
105.Thetomato-basil
I SayFuckYou"airfreshener
Tomato,
retrolook,modernsemantics,
combines
blackTenninato
whiletheawesome,
Soapsmellsjustlikea vine-ripened
Soap:
tomatoplant.(Car:$3,blueq.com;
$6,etsy.com/shop/Soaperhero)
106.FewUSBflashdrivesareascuteas
limitededitionHelloKitty,
MIM0BOT's
andsupergayFairybit2.
Badtz-Maru
($35,mimoco.com)
I'
TVTuner
Hybrid
EyeTV
107.Elgato's
turnsyourMacor PCintoa TVand
Stickall-in-one
Witha Macyoucanevenshare
digitalrecorder.
withyouriPodor iPador recordBlu-raydiscswith
thepressof a button.($150,elgato.com)
the
108.Hardworkersneedto letoffsteam:hence,
Wii
newSuperMarioGalaxy2 fortheNintendo
of
lesbian
(whichlet'syouplaycooperatively-very
for
from505Games
TheGame
you)andGrease:
theOne
Wiior DS.Sing16movietracks(like"You're
oruploadyour
learnchoreography
ThatI Want"),
($30and
(hello,Rizzo!).
faceto yourfavecharacter
up,gamefly.com)
camera
109.There'ssimplynomoregorgeous
Mr.Pink.
Edition
thantheDianaF+ Special
Datingbackto theearly1960s,theall-plastic
Dianacamerais a cultlegendfamousfor its
Thisfaithful
radiantlo-fiimages.
dreamy,
with
isa lovinghomage
reproduction
A toppick!($105,
greatnewfeatures.
usa.shop.lomography.com)
0
Active
110.Audlo-Technica
Headphones
NoiseCancelling
noiseby90%,
reduceenvironmental
perfectfor longflightsto mysterious
($80andup,amazon.com)
destinations.
111.Astridwouldlove
Prime
theaward-winning
TheComplets
Suspect:
themost
Collection,
femalecopshow
superlative
9-discset.
ever,in a wonderful
($125,acornonline.com)
34
I curve
The13thSeason
TheSlmpsons:
TheKidsAreAllRight
Liar(alesborom-com)
Four-Faced
of
FamilyGuy:PartialTenns
Endeannent
Rrst
WhiteCollar:TheComplete
(a lesbianFed!),Bonekickers
Season
Brits)
(chick-centric
(rockon!)
TheRunaways
Mysteries
Strachy
TheDonald
4-pack(gaymysteries)
snag
113.Orif you'renaughty,
Films'retroraunchfest,
Girlfriends
the
Pin-UpGirls,orF,eldofSchemes,
firstlesbiansoftballteamadultfilmever.
($23,girlfriendsfilms.com)
Trythetinyretro"I'm
littlehelper?
115.Mommy's
tinbankor
Savin'upforSomeMoreValium"
EraseYourPastTea.($8andup,blueq.com)
CrockPotCook&Carry
121.Thefantastic
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November/December
...
'
2010
I35
Women of the stage: From
1970s lesbian-feminists to
modern-day playwrights.
By Lisa Haas
I
I
IN 1934
Lesbian thespians: Blue Fish Cove (left) and playwright Kim Yaged
The Children'sHour
ran on Broadway. The drama centers around
two women who run a boarding school, one
of whom comes to believe she has sexual feel,
ings for the other. By the end of the play, out
of guilt, the 'good" woman who suspects her
own homosexuality does what anyone in such
a position would do-hangs hersel£ dead.
In 2006, Lisa Kron's play Well ran on
Broadway. This comedy about illness was
performed by a cast of actors, including Kron,
who played her lesbian sel£ (She is known as a
solo artist, tapping her own life experience for
material, as well as performing as a member
of The Five Lesbian Brothers.) At the end of
Well,she does not kill hersel£
The history of lesbian theater is probably
centuries old, but unlike hetero or male,dom,
inated art, its origins and development are
largely undocumented. In North America, it
wasn't until Second Wave feminism-when
there was a burst of feminist theater, but still
only a smattering of lesbian and lesbian,femi,
nist cheater companies-that a body of work
about lesbian theater started to emerge.
In the 1970s, a modicum of news articles,
journal reports and academic writings
recorded its existence. A few of the early
groups that we know about include: The
Lavender Cellar in Minneapolis, Minn.
(1973), Red Dyke Theatre in Atlanta, Ga.
(1974), Lesbian,Feminist Theatre Collective
of Pittsburgh, Pa. (1977), Siren Theatre
36 I curve
Company in the United Kingdom (1978),
and Lesbian Community Theater of East
Lansing, Mich. (1979).
The Foremothersof LesbianTheater
Women had come together to practice collec,
tive feminism, to claim a space and a voice for
themselves. Consequently, it's not surprising
that the traditional process of producing plays
through a patriarchal hierarchy fell by the way,
side. A large body of lesbian work was collec,
tively and collaboratively developed by groups
of three and often many more women. And, it
was not uncommon for a single show to mix
different performance styles to tell a story
(such as vaudeville presentation, drag, singing,
dancing, lip,syncing and poetry). But most sig,
nificantly, the fourth wall was often gone and
perform~rs addressed the audience directly.
"The [traditional) theater isn't for you-it's
presented to you, but it's not directed in many
cases to you;• says Keltie Creed, who in 1978
founded Atthis Theatre in Toronto. "I think
that in many cases women tended to want to
connect directly with women and not to [sit
in the dark and) watch the connection:•
The lesbian feminist theater company Split
Britches, founded in 1980 by Peggy Shaw,
Lois Weaver and non,lesbian, but feminist,
Deb Margolin, pioneered an eclectic story,
telling style which included direct audience
address and butch/ femme presentation aiicl
is still creating work today. Shaw and Weaver
also founded the WOW Cafe Theatre in New York City's
East Village. Initially a women's international theater festival,
WOW transitioned to a permanent theater collective and is
still in existence.
In the early'80s it was not uncommon at WOW to find the
'good" homosexuals gone "bad:' Characters in plays no longer
killed themselves, but rather openly and lustfully claimed their
raging sexual desire for other women. (Holly Hughes, a well,
known lesbian,feminist solo performer and playwright, had
several of her breakthrough pieces produced at WOW in the
1980s. The Wellof Horniness,DressSuits to Hire and The Lady
Dick are now considered part of the canon oflesbian theater.)
And in 1989, a group oflesbians who were WOW members
formed the Five Lesbian Brothers, writing and performing
collectively. Their numerous unique plays, complete with
campy and satirical feminist social commentary, have been
produced off Broadway and nationwide.
In commenting on the Brothers' comic sensibility, actor,
writer and Brother member Moe Angelos says, "It was a very
direct response to the late '70s, early '80s feminism we inher,
ited from our foremothers. There was a sad, anti,sex, pornog,
raphy,wars sens~bility.We were running right up against that,
History of Lesbian Theater continued on page 69
BURLESQUEBADA BING!
As if the everyday seductions of hot femmes isn't enough, burlesque
had to go and have a revival. Chicago-based performer Kitty Victorian
is one of the leaders in the neo burlesque movement. With her organizing efforts for the D.C. Gurly Show and her current performances in
Chicago, Kitty Victorian has made a name for herself by raising the bar
(and a boa constrictor at times) on the re-emerging art form.
How long have you been performing burlesque?
I have been performing since 2004. I was at the first Gurlesque
Burlesque Shows produced by the Sissy Butch Brothers, where I got
my first introduction to burlesque, witnessing the fabulousness of Dirty
Martini. I've always been a very sexual and sensual woman, but the
social ideals of a woman's beauty have also been pounded into my
head. So, upon seeing Miss Dirty Martini in her sexy, jaw-dropping
glory, I knew that it was what I wanted to do.
Why do you consider burlesque such a provocative art form?
Burlesque is a very powerful form of gender performance, dripping with
something we all love-sex and sensuality. Especially in the LGBTQ
community, performers combine sex, wit and politics to take their
performances a step above, not only entertaining but also getting a
message across. Burlesque is the art of the tease, which speaks to all
audiences. In today's "now" society, everyone expects everything at
the snap of a finger. Everything is fast: fast food, instant messaging,
music, video and information at the touch of a button. So burlesque is
drowning in a more powerful emotion: desire. And it's that anticipation
that keeps audiences clinging on to every last beat of burlesque.
Burlesque has its roots in the 1800s. Is this current revival a return to
an older form of femininity?
I don't think it's the returning to an older form of femininity,
necessarily, but it's the revival of burlesque that allows women to
embrace their sensuality and the power in their sensuality again. I
also believe that modern stripping can have the same effect. It is a
bit more challenging for the everyday lady to find modern stripping
empowering because of the way society has tainted the profession.
It's easier to find burlesque more empowering, because it holds a
sense of mystique, class and glamour.
What do you hope audiences and performers get from your shows?
It's my goal for everyone to recognize their sensuality and realize
their inner and outer beauty. It's when one acknowledges this beauty
that one can truly attract beautiful things in life. Beauty attracts
beauty. No matter what gender, or not, you choose to identify with.
Do you have a favorite number or costume?
One of my favorite numbers is the "Peacock's Lament," which I
perform to Shirley Bassey's "Where Do I Begin?" The idea was
in my mind for years and actually creating the costume, seeing it
come to life has been a real joy for me. The costume is covered in
peacock feathers and has a huge full-circle skirt, which is then
used for a skirt dance full of color and flair.
You started a burlesque university-how
fascinating!
Thank you. Burlesque University opened its proverbial
doors in the fall of 2006. There are two levels of
classes: drop-in classes such as the recent "How to
Strip for Your Lover," and enrollment courses. One
enrollment course [Burlesque 101] takes a newly
discovered neophyte from bland babe to burlesque
starlet, ending the six weeks with a performance.
We also offer private instructions for
individuals as well as bachelorette
parties. [TaniaHammidi]
"TWO
women kissing on stage is
an important political and
social act:' Lesbian theater has changed
considerably since 2000, when Judith Shray,
the author of the ll~episode Sapphic soap
opera Lesbian Affairs, uttered this single~
sentence artistic manifesto.
The desire for more representation and
visibility inspired lesbian theater artists
throughout the '90s and well into the 21st
century. But for most queer artists today, the
prize they have their eye on is mainstream
success. What has changed, why has it
changed, and how is success ( mainstream or
otherwise) defined for lesbian playwrights~
In the theater industry, plays written
by men are more likely to get produced
than those by women. A 2009 Princeton
study surveyed artistic directors of the
country's leading theaters using a gender~
blind submissions process. Plays with male
named authors were preferred over plays
with female names-for the identical play.
The results created a furor and led to the
founding of the Female Playwrights Group
and the launch of the campaign 20 in 20.
As one playwright observed, as dismal
38
Icurve
as this situation is, at least there is hard
evidence now.
Lisa Kron believes that even as recently
as five years ago, the idea of a lesbian play~
wright getting a play produced on Broadway
was a long shot. But Kron did, in 2006.
Her play Well, an unconventional mother~
daughter dram~, enjoyed a short but critically
acclaimed run on Broadway. "Look, there is
no gender parity in theater;' says Kron.
Not since Paula Vogel's How I Learned to
Drive has an avowed lesbian's work been pro~
duced regionally at the same venues where
David Mamet's or Donald Margulies' work
appears. But Kron thinks there has been a
sea change in the mainstream, marking the
BROADWAYBUTCH
turning point in 1994 when the Five Lesbian
Brothers' The Secretaries opened the season
of the New York Theater Workshop.
"In the theater world, mainstream accep~
tance would mean a Broadway run of a
show that starred a lesbian character dealing
with a conflict based on her sexuality;' says
O'Harra.
"I would be totally thrilled to be picked
up by HBO or something, but only if they
totally understood why it is that we are so
successful. Brooke O'Harra, co~founder of
the Dyke Division of Theater of a Two~
Headed Calf, is directing Room for Cream
(RFC),the dyke soap opera and runaway hit
of New York City's downtown queer stages.
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•
Susana Cook, a veteran of those downtown queer stages,
rejects mainstream theater as a worthwhile target. "I don't
care about the mainstream. Look who goes to see those
shows?" RFC's O'Harra agrees. "Mainstream theater is conservative i~ ways that always shock and stun me. The last few
dyke plays I saw, about dykes written by dykes, had straight
women playing the lesbian roles-it was so not sexy... such a
disappointing way to be represented:'
For those aspiring ro engage Broadway audiences, how
do you neutralize gender bias and lesbophobia? Lisa Kron's
solution is similar to the one Lisa Cholodenko deploys in
her monster hit The Kids Are All Right."We're still living in
a world where placing a man somwhere in your story gets
people to pay attention so that your female characters can
speak independently. Once a man is somewhere in the picture, the women are free to not talk about men," says Kron.
Kron's play In the Wake premiered in Los Angeles in April
to a rave review from the L.A. Times and went up at the
Public Theater in November.
Sarah Schulman, playwright and novelist, consistently
beats the drum for lesbian playwrights' access to production opportunities. But O'Harra sees it as a blind alley for
queer women, saying, "The only way to make work that
is mainstream and still dyke/ trans-centered is to make
the work that we are making and to not cons_ider the
mainstream:'
O'Harra, Kate Moira Ryan and Fernanda Coppel are of a
new generation of lesbian theater artists, like Lucy Thurber,
Madeleine George and Sylvan Oswald, who write plays with
lesbian characters. Cappel, a Juilliard grad student in playwrighting says, "I write plays for queer Latinas. My acceptance on Broadway will be much harder to come by, since
Latina work is already a minority in the theater world, including Broadway stages, as is lesbian
theater:' But Cook, a butch Latina
playwright, says, "I preach to the
converted, to lesbians and queer
people who need cultural expressions that represent them:'
The good news is that there
is a wealth of great theater these
days by lesbian playwrights.
Those striving to get produced
in institutional theater will slant
their work to more conventional
audiences. On the ocher hand,
there ·are lesbian artists using the unique qualities of queerness to model new forms for the stage, to tell the story of
queer lives.
O'Harra believes the Dyke Division is a distinctly queer
form of theater. "It will take a long time if gender parity happens anywhere. Men are power hungry and they seem to be
terrified of women. Queer people inhabit such beautifully
complicated gender spaces-in a perfect sci-fi-like world all
people's genders would be more fluid and
SWIMMINGWITH JULIANASNAPPER
Opera singer, vocal coach and sound designer Juliana Snapper debuted
an underwater opera, You Who Will Emerge From the Flood, at the Victoria
Baths in Manchester, U.K. in 2009. In this unique work, Snapper, who
looks and moves exquisitely in the water, is outfitted with a breathing device and microphone. Snapper's history of performances runs the
gamut from formal concerts, collaborations with Ron Athey, to feminist
collective pieces such as at WACK! Art and the Feminist Revolution in 2008.
Why an underwater opera?
We can think of the operatic voice as a natural substance ... that's engineered and refined to be more potent, like a drug or even a dildo, to enter
another's body and change its state of being. Induce ecstasy, quiet pain.
Taking my voice underwater was one way of pushing the instrument to
become even stronger, to discover a whole new palette of sounds and
engage audiences in a fresh way.
•
Is You Who Emerge From the Flooda tragic tale?
Yes,in the sense that there is longing and death in the mix. But environ-
mental ruin has already happened when this story begins, so the stakes
are a little different. Instead of life or death, it's more about false security
versus intimacy.
How is it possible to look so :fabulousunderwater?
Designer Susan Matheson ingeniously created the costumes. It was
important for me to wear something sculptural that would also tell a story.
But it is also a femme thing. Andrew [lnfanti, the composer] and I joke that
a singer's voice can only ~ver be as good as her decolletage.
Where do you find your inspiration?
It's thrilling to me when I hear untrained singers take risks and use their
voices. It feels like magic. It's sexy to see people all turned out and is always
surprising to me. I say down with the musically ignorant and shame-fertilizing sludge of American Idol and Rock Band! Mobilize pleasure and sing.
Make up new queer folk songs and anthems. Sing with other people.
What are your plans for the future?
I continue to tour the water project and I'm currently editing a DVD version
as well. In the fall I will premiere a new intermedia monodrama that's in
development now. [TaniaHammidij
November/December
2010
I 39
•
Ill
the Paris.pf
South
America
Three days of debauchery in Buenos Aires. By Catherine· Plato
TWAS A QUINTESSENTIAL
Buenos Aires
morning. The sun was rising, clearing out the fog,
and the city was awakening amid the faint ocean
smell of the Rio de la Plata. It was 5 a.m., and I was
stumbling out of a hole-in-the-wall lesbian bar, one
hand carrying a half-empty 40, the other carrying a
torn notebook page bearing the scrawled digits of a barely legal
Argentinean girl I had met on the dance floor. Inside, the party
was still raging, but when Augustina (whose name I couldn't
understand until it was written) finally admitted to me that"I
do not really has 28 years, I has 18 years;' I knew it was time
to leave. The bar, which I had found completely by accident
with a fellow drunk American at 3 a.m., was aptly named Cero
Consecuencia (zero consequence).
I had heard Buenos Aires described as the "Paris of South
America;' but I found it dirtier, sexier, drunker, gayer and
way more fun than any city I've visited in Europe. Offering
40
I
curve
a restaurant scene on par with what you'd find in the best
American cities, queer nightlife as good as New York's, great
shopping and enough historical sites and cultural activities to
fill your days completely, BA is an underrated vacation spot
that can also be relatively inexpensive-or
exorbitantly
pricey-depending
on your tastes. Three days and three
fantastically sordid nights were just en~ugh to scratch the
surface of what might become my new favorite city.
Suffering a bit of jet lag, my fellow gringo tourists and I
decided to skip the party scene our first night, and opted to
relax and soak in some South American culture. The superposh Faena Hotel and Universe (faenahotelanduniverse.com)
offers at least one live entertainment option each night, so
we went to its highly acclaimed Rojo Tango performance.
Beginning with dinner, Rojo Tango is an ~vent lasting several hours, s~wing off exquisite costumes, live vocalists and
highly sensual (albeit iiber-hetero) choreography. If you know
6
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tf
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gti;
z
t?,
0
a.
u
as little about tango as the average American
and want to learn about the Argentinean cultural tour de force, this is a great place to start.
The hotel itself is worth seeing-as the crash
pad of choice for: celebrities when they visit
town, it's among the hippest, most elegant in
the city.
The morning was cool and sunny, perfect
for exploring the city by foot. The month of
May is fall in Argentina, and the weather
reminded me of New York in mellow
September. I met up early with Pablo De
Luca and Gustavo Noguera, two superfriendly local guys who founded GMAPS
(gmaps360.com), an LGBT guide to Buenos
Aires and Fabian Fuentes (misterpapi.com),
an independent tour guide who specializes
in welcoming LGBT travelers. In no time,
we were wandering through
some of the highlights of the
city's postcolonial architecture, including Casa Rosada,
where Argentina's famed
first lady Eva Peron (Evita,
to Madonna fans) famously
addressed the crowds of
working-class Argentineans
in the wake of her husband,
Juan Peron's arrest.
Any trip to BA should
include a walk through
the Recoleta Cemetery,
a maze of monuments
similar to the Parisian
CimetiereduPere-Lachaise.
In a~dition to Peron, other
inhabitants include famous
Argentinean poets, politicians and my favorite: Rufina Cambaceres,
whose family buried her in the cemetery
in 1902. As the story goes, a few days later
workers reported hearing screams from her
coffin-she had only been in a coma and
woke up to find herself buried alive. When
they opened the coffin, the lid was covered in
scratches from a desperate Rufina, who was
never able to escape; The cemetery is full of
similar, delightfully morbid stories, and having
a guide who knows them is well worth it.
A day of shopping is another Buenos Aires
essential. One of the best shopping districts
is the upscale and fashionable Palermo Soho,
reportedly named after the New York City
neighborhood. Boutiques and cafes sprawl
around the Plaza Serrano, a touristy little
rotunda where local artists and vendors
sell clothing, artwork and jewelry. Even
I had
the fanciest places in Palermo seem to be
reasonable by American standards. Among
my favorites was Rapsodia (rapsodia.com.ar),
a hip, femmey boutique selling dresses, scarves
and jewelry that you wouldn't find at home.
If you're looking for cool and not-tookitschy souvenirs, don't miss the Feria de San
Telmo, an antique fair that takes place on the
weekends in one of BA's most beautiful and
historic neighborhoods. I bought a few framed
tango pictures, a yerba mate cup carved from
a gourd and a handmade Styrofoam chicken
that squawks when you pull a string. The
neighborhood is scattered with great cafes,
beautiful colonial-era architecture and some
of the city's best people-watching spots.
As fun as the daytime is, nights in
Buenos Aires are the real reason to visit.
When I asked a cute
girl at my hotel what
time the bars stopped
serving, she looked at me
in confusion and said,"We
don't do that:' It's true.
Argentinians begin their
nights with dinner around
10 p.m., just like the
Spaniards who colonized
them. One of my most
memorable meals was at
Milion (milionargentina.
com.ar), a restored early
20th-century
mansion
with an outdoor garden
that has since been
converted into a hip
restaurant, bar and art
gallery. It doesn't open
for dinner until 8 p.m. and gets more lively
around 11 p.m.
A close second (only because I don't eat
meat) was a long, leisurely lunch at Cabana
Las Lilas, one of the most famous steakhouses
in BA, and one that draws locals and tourists
alike (though probably more tourists-this
place isn't cheap). The sight of gigantic slabs
of animal on my fellow travelers' plates was
mitigated by a beautiful waterfront view and
enough vegetarian sides to have me leave
feeling overstuffed.
When your final sip of Malbec is gone,
along with your inhibitions, Buenos Aires
offers plenty of choices for a good time. To
start things off relatively tamely, there's a
fantastic, extremely professional drag show
at Chueca Downtown featuring drag versions
of Tina Turner and Lucille Ball who are as
heard
Buenos Aires
described as
the "Paris of
South America,"
but I found it
dirtier, sexier,
drunker, gayer
and way more
funthan any city
rve visited in
Europe.
The Best of Buenos
Aires on a Budget
entertammg as the originals. If you want
more lesbian-centric entertainment, head
to GLAM (glambsas.com.ar) as your first
stop, a lesbian bar arid dance club catering
to a fashionable younger crowd. It was here
that I heard my all-time favorite pick-up
line-''Are
you a cheerleader? Were you
ever a cheerleader?"-by a cute Argentinean
coed. The bar was packed wall-to-wall with
hotties, and girls seemed friendly and eager
to talk to new people.
If you're looking for an even crazier scene,
check out Amerika (ameri-k.com.ar), which
is now tied with Montreal Sky Bar as my very
favorite gay hotspot in the world. Amerika is
more enormous than any club I've been to
in the U.S. and literally has something for
everyone: done-up drag queens, sex-workers
of every orientation, denim-clad dykes and
lecherous swinging couples d_esperately
seeking a third wheel. The music is also
great and you're sure to come home with an
interesting story ... or person.
From there, my final American compatriot,
the only other person who just wouldn't tap
out 'til the end, and I stumbled over to Cero
Consecuencia, a perfect finale to a few sinful
days in the ultimate party town. With loud
techno, cheap drinks and a decidedly less
glamorous ( and younger) crowd than we
had seen all night, this was the perfect place
to finally let the party die. We boarded the
flight home the next morning feeling sexy,
dirty, hung over and slightly wrong-or
maybe that was just me.
42
I
curve
The first thing I learned in Buenos
Aires is that the word torta means both
dyke and cake. Equally fond of both,
I knew I'd love Argentina. Said to be
the gay Latin American destination,
BA is a place where we lesbians can
have our cake and eat it, too. The city
is welcoming to LGBT travelers, warm
during our winters and, better yet,
cheap during our recession. However, it's harder to find /as
tortas in this city than its reputation suggests, especially
if you're on a time-crunch or a peso-based budget.
Like most things touted as "gay," the typical travel
guide's recommendations were boy-centric. It's hard
enough being a tourist, let alone a queer woman, so
why blow your precious pesos on overpriced boy bars?
Lucky for you, the legwork is done. On just $15 a day,
we found BA's best ...
DYKEBAR
We heard rumors that BA's
lesbian bars are hidden down
the streets less traveled, and
Bach Bar proves this true. The
address-less gate (on Cabrera
4390) is sketchy, but this
casual dive is a welcome break
from the city's glitzy clubs,
plus their cheap $5 cover buys
your first liter of local brew.
Bach is the most laid-back
lesbian nightspot we found,
and a good place to try your
broken Spanish pick-up lines
on a beautiful woman.
(bach-bar.com.ar)
PLACETO MEETWOMEN
Tango Queer's welcoming
dance class is equally
comprised (and divided into
instructional groups) of people
who can at least tango their
way through a song, and those
who tripped up the stairs on
their way to the door. Never
mind that your instruction
will be mostly in Spanish, the
crushable instructors will have
you focused on body language
instead ...ole! Stay after class
for the casual milonga (dance
similar to the tango.) If the
cheaply priced bar doesn't
grease your wheels for a spin
on the dance floor, do like most
people and mingle with the
LGBT locals and expats who
are watching other dancers go
by. (571 Peru, class 8-9:30 p.m.,
milonga 9:30pm-2 a.m., $5 for
both, tangoqueer.com)
DANCE CLUB
BA's young, restless and queer
line up around the block to
Fiesta Plop! And why wouldn't
they? Three stories, two
dance floors, four bars, $1
beers and an attractive crowd
make Plop! the only place to
be on Friday night. True to
BA's nightlife, things are only
getting started around 3 a.m.,
when dancers hit the stage
in campy costumes matching
the night's theme, which could
be anything from superheroes
to Smurfs. But leave the blue
face-paint at home-only the
performers dress up. (Teatro
Colegiales, 3455 Av. Federico
Lacroze, Fridays, $4-$6 cover,
elteatroonline.com.ar)
LADIES' NIGHT:
High ceilings, crumbling brick,
and a room full of disco balls
give Unna Fiesta at Glam Disco
the urban-posh feel to justify its
name. The only party we found
exclusively for queer women,
Unna brings BA's local lesbians
out of the woodwork and packs
them into the small dance-floor,
where techno keeps them partying
'til sunup. Get on the email list for
free entrance before 2 a.m. and,
believe it or not, the $3 beers are
steep. (glambsas.com.ar, every
other Friday)
ENTERTAINMENT
Riding the thin line between
erotic and bizarre, Niceto Club's
Club 69 has a two-story dance
club that transforms into what
can only be described as a
Tim Burton-esque acid trip for
Thursday's Club 69. Depending
on the theme, dancers undulate
through the crowd, flirt with you
from the stage and twirl around
poles in costumes ranging from
rainbow wigs and sparkling
jumpsuits, to turbans and
G-strings, and, in some cases,
mascot heads? Free before 1
a.m. with your name on its list,
Club 69 is packed by 2 a.m. for
the big choreographed number,
providing even further proof
that you can alter your reality
substance-free. (Niceto Vega
5510, nicetoclub.com)
PLACES TO STAY
You won't find a gayborhood like
San Francisco's Castro or NYC's
Brooklyn, but BA's Palermo and
San Telmo come close. Though
Palermo houses most of the city's
queer nightlife, San Telmo will
be friendlier to your pesos, and
both will increase your chances of
seeing same-sex PDA outside of
a club. Peso-pinchers staying for
over a week should look into shortterm apartment rentals, which are
cheaper than booking a hostel
nightly. While gay-specific lodging
exists here, it's often exclusively
for men, and expensive. We
found the best deals with
StaylnBuenosAires.com, who
provide budget rentals and didn't
bat an eyelash at us sharing a bed.
RESOURCES
LGBT mega-resource GMAP
packs its 88 pages with queer and
queer-friendly business listings
and a pocket-size gay fold out
map. Though the lesbian section
is incomplete, it's still BA's most
up-to-date resource. Free at
queer establishments or on the
web, and check out their gay
discount card for extra bonuses.
(gmaps360.com, gcard360.com)
PLACE TO EAT
Pride Cafe is the most out and
proud eatery in the city, complete
with BA's cheapest cup of coffee,
hard-to-find sandwiches and the
even harder to find vegetarian
menu. The food's affordable, not
spectacular, but a spot at one
of its sunny patio tables during
San Telmo's Sunday antiques fair
is the best queer seat in town.
(Balcarce 869, about $6 for coffee
and a sandwich)
TIME TOGO
November's balmy temperatures
and lack of summer's highseason prices makes this the
perfect time for the Sapphic
saver, especially because Buenos
Aires' annual Marcha del Orgullo
takes place the first Saturday
of the month. Like any good
Pride, BA's features towering
drag queens, leather chaps,
booths selling rainbow schwag
and hot queers. However, like
all things porteno (of Buenos
Aires), you'll want to arrive
fashionably late. Trucks pulling
people and performers make
up the march's unimpressive
{though entertaining) floats,
but the crowd's energy keeps
this fest fun. Head to Niceto
Club around 1 a.m. for Brandon
Gay Day's popular after-party.
(marchadelorgullo.org.ar)
[YanaTallon-Hicks]
Call 800.524.201.8Today!
SandCastleontheBeach.com
I
s
sobummed
to hearthat TheNewAdventures
of OldChristine
got challenging thing, as far as acting and everything else. But it's
cancelled.
Wewerebigfanshereat curve.
also the most rewarding for me, too.
Yeah. We were fans, too. [Laughs]
Because
it'sso immediate
withtheaudience?
Inthelastcoupleofseasons,
same-sex
marriage
andimmigration Yeah, yeah. You get that response immediately, and there's no
cameup.Wasthatinfluenced
byyou?
editor, there's no network note or anything [Laughs]. It's just
No, no, not at all. That was the creator, Kari Lizer.
total freedom. And it's so unpredictable, you know? One night
That'sgreat.Itwashilarious
butpoignant,
especially
whenBarb it's [great] and the next night it could bomb.
andChristinelosetheirgymfranchiseoverbeinggay.Doyou Yeah,it soundsterrifyingto me.You'veriffedoneverything
from
hearfromgayviewerswhoreallyresponded
tothosestorylines? politicsandracialprofilingto the perksof gettingolder.What's
When I'm out in public and people catch me on the street or onyouragendathesedays?
whatever, they will say thank-you and they appreciate it.
Well, now that the kids are getting older, and now that they're
Nowyou'reontheroadagain,performing
at comedyclubs.
moving around, it's just a game changer. I mean, my life is just
Yes, I am. I have a few dates booked for the rest of the year. totallydifferent now. It's funny, I used to be so on top of everyAnd then I want to see how it's going and how I feel about it, thing that was going on in the world- I could tell you the top
and then I'll probably expand it and do a bigger tour-probably
stories and everything. And now, I spend most of my time just
at the beginning of next year.
trolling around the backyard looking for dog poop. Gotta get
Is it a littleharderbeingontheroad,nowthatyouhavekids?
the dog poop before the kids find it. [Laughs]
Oh no, I just leave and then I get to sleep while I'm on the It soundsveryHollywood
glamour.
road. It's great. [Laughs] Why do you think I want to expand Yeah, you know? I mean if the kids ever picked up some dog
the tour?
poop, it would be a while before I could touch them again.
Nowyourwifeis probably
wishingshecouldtour.
Yourwifeis French.
Arethebabiesbilingual?
Yeah, right. Well, luckily she gets to travel for her job, too.
Well, yeah, she only speaks French to the babies, and our
DoyoumissTV?Orarethecomedyclubsa welcomechange? nanny is from Argentina, so she speaks Spanish, and you
It's a welcome change. Actually it is very challenging, you know, I speak a little English every now and then.
know? Stand-up is just me. It's just me out there, no script. I Sothey'regoingto betrilingualfromthestart?
write my own material. It's how I started. I started as a stand- Right. But it's weird, because they seem to understand all of
up, and will always be. So it's nice to get back. It's the most us. If I tell them to do something they ignore me, and if Alex
tells them to do something in French they ignore her. And
they ignore the nanny, too.
It'sa universal
ignoring.
Doyoufeellikeyouhaveto protectyour
wifeandkidsfromHollywood
sotheyhaveordinarylives?
In a sense, yes. And also, right now my wife doesn't have any
interest in Hollywood, but I know from comments on some of
the Emmy pictures that I've got to keep an eye on her.
That'stheproblem
withgorgeous
wives.
But we really do just want to give the kids a normal life, and
just try to stay as grounded as possible.
You'vebeennamedoneof the 25 funniestpeoplein America.
Doesyourwife thinkyou'refunny,or do youget a lot of eyerollingat home?
She thinks I'm funny, but she thinks she's reallyfunny. And
it's a lot of French humor, which really isn't funny. But she just
finds it hysterical, and will say,"Oh, you just don't get it because
it's French:' It's like, OK, it's just not funny. But it cracks her
up. [Laughs]
I lovewhat yousaidat the TrevorProject,the CrackedXmas
a:
fundraiser,
whenpeoplewereclappingandyousaid,"Oh,come
on,it ain'tlikeyou'veneverseena blacklesbianbefore."
Oh, right. [Laughs]
Cl)
Sykes with her
hottie wife, Alex,
on the red carpet
46
I curve
Inspiredby her
newsong"My
Puss"we asked
MargaretChoto
playan improv
gamewherewe
suggesta noun
andsheteUs
us her puss
equivalent...
andluckyfor us,
shewas game.
If yourpuss wasfurniture,what
a very
wouldit be?Probably
couch.
comfortable
If yourpusswasa politician,
M'r6""""'it be?NancyPelosi.
If yourpuss wasa musical
instrument,whichwouldit be?
A tuba.
And whatif yourpusswasa sitcom?
Umm,I don'tknow,butIt could
takeTwoanda HalfMen.
probably
hat can't Margaret Cho do? The answer, seemingly, is nothing. Known around the globe as an
award-winning, paradigm-shifting comic, the tattooed bombshell has also made a name for herself
as an actor (both in film and on her current hit television series, Drop Dead Diva) and an outspoken
queer political activist. But who knew-the girl can sing, too! While her subversive and intimate
comedy has always been music to our ears, she's teamed with lesbian faves like Tegan and Sara, Ani
Difranco and Fiona Apple to make sweet, sweet music on her debut album, Cho Dependent. Boasting a
sultry voice, Cho belts out ditties light in mood and tempo but heavy on the intimacy, rawness and raunchiness
s have come to love. Exploring themes of domestic abuse, addiction and even the search for suitable seed,
nages to blow us away and endear herself to us even more through her music. From the swan song for her
pooch, "Hey Big Dog," to the shocking murder/suicide that inspired her to write "I'm Sorry," Cho uses her gift
ing personal triumph and tragedy into comedic (and musical) genius. As she wraps up her four-month, nation,wiM•C:::hoDependent tour and prepares to compete on Dancing With the Stars, Cho shares the inspiration behind the
~.
,0
plus talks animal love, body diversity on TV, dildo shopping and the Tea Partiers.
youto makea musicalbum?
Whatinspired
I had wanted to do something like this for a long time. I play
guitar and piano and I also play banjo and dulcimer, which
is an odd thing to play. But I do know people, though, who
are very good at what they do in composing. What I am is a
pretty decent lyricist, so I wanted to write an album of songs
that was a comedy but at the same time had a lot of musical
merit, that had musicianship and ... lavish production.
onthealbum.Howdid
Youhavesomeamazingcollaborations
thosecomeabout?
I convinced all of my very amazing musician friends, people
who I absolutely adore, to write the songs with me. Some
people, we just sent Mp3s back and forth, and some people,
I actually sat in their studios. The album was recorded in
all these different places that I went to, like Vancouver with
Tegan and Sara, Austin with Patty [Griffin], New Orleans
with Ani [DiFranco ]. I got to kind of get in their home lives
and work with them in their environment, which was really
amazing for a fan. I always felt like I'd won some kind of weird
contest, because everybody was forced to spend the day with
me, and also forced to teach me how to play something.
Yourduet"HeyBigDog"with FionaAppleis reallybeautiful.
Whatinspiredit?
Thank you. I wrote that with Patty Griffin, who is my favor,
ite singer/ songwriter. My dog was dying-he was really old.
He was totally, like, my soulmate. This song was a tribute
to relationships with animals-[relationships] that I think
people don't really celebrate. They're such intense love affairs
that people have with their animals. People don't talk about
it as much-they're not as lyrically inclined to talk about it.
It was great connecting with them about it.
I would get him this very big dog bed and play the song
to him, and he would let out these big great dog,sighs, along
with a real stinky dog fart that would make the whole room
feel like a hot spring. It was really funny. He really liked
the vibration of the guitar. I think it really helped his joints
so it was a great thing to do for him, like, as a therapeutic
thing. It was very sweet to be that close to him in his last few
moments. So I love that song.
meaning?
Whichothersongshavepersonal
There's one that's called "Give Me Your Seed:' It's such a
great queer song. It's really just about getting sperm, trying
to get your girlfriend pregnant. You don't want to deal with
the guy-just go to the sperm bank and make a deposit. To
me that is a very personal journey and also very practical and
something that a lot oflesbians have to deal with. You know,
it's like, We want t have a family, but we don't need you, but
we do.So I do love that song.
Another personal song that is very important to me is
'Tm Sorry;' which is based on a orrible, horrible true
story, inspired by somebody I was really in love with who
killed someone-who killed his wife. He murdered her and
stuffed her in the attic and left her there for a month, until
the body had partially mummified. And this is someone I
was really.in love with for 17 years, and I had no idea that
that had happened. That song was really about me trying
to maybe find some way of getting over it. Even though it
didn't happen to be me, it could've happened to me. So this
song is about the selfishness of domestic violence and how
sinister it is, but, you know, told from the perspective of this
murderer who is so selfish. So there are serious elements to
it, but to me, sometimes the only way I can relate to tragedy
is through comedy and through jokes, because it's how I can
cope with things.
There's a lot of different elements throughout the album
that to me are personal and serious. I've had my own issues
with addiction-drug addiction, addiction to food, addiction
to exercise, anorexia-and so in the song"lntervention': .. my
worst nightmare is for my friends and family to have to come
in and make me stop, make me consider what I'm doing to
mysel£ So, that was a wonderful thing to be able to write
with Tegan and Sara, who are so amazing.
Thereis alsoa lotof humor,likeonthesong"YourDick."How
manyexeshavecomeoutof the woodworkhopingtheyare
theinspiration?
Oh, a lot of people-women too. Because there's nothing
better than going with your girlfriend to Good Vibrations and
picking out a new dick. That, to me, is the best thing about
being in a new relationship is going to get your new dick.
Oro Dead Diva continued on page 70
esbian reality star turned online fitness maven Rachel
Robinson walked away with the $100,000 prize
in season 17 of MTV's hit Real World/Road
RulesChallengefranchise, The Duel II.
The Miami fitness trainer first caught our eye on RoadRules:
Campus Crawl in 2002, when the then-closeted Robinson's
"best friend" visit turned into a coming-out for the couple.
Robinson has since become a regular on MTV, competing
in six seasons of RW/RR challenges (winning two) and
managing to seduce •a few ladies along the way, including
Aneesa Ferreira, Veronica Portillo and, finally,Jenn Grijalva.
The strikingly statuesque iiber-athlete put her impressive
physique to the test in a series 6f physical and mental challenges,
ending with a more than five hour, astonishingly grueling final
challenge that had its contestants crossing ice-cold rushing
rivers, climbing impossibly sleep hills, solving puzzles and
battling it out head-to-head in a race to the finish line.
Perhaps most impressive, however, is that Robinson has
managed to avoid the pitfalls of queer gal representation on
reality TV (see: Tila Tequila, Danielle Staub or the entire cast
of the Bad GirlsClub),offering an alternate to the fame-hungry fauxmosexual or downright badly behaved queer women
that litter the reality TV horizon.
Robinson is· now focused o_n _her new website,
RachelRobinsonFitness.com,
·where she offers fitness
tips as well as a place for like-minded people to virtually
congregate. She talks about expanding her online fitness
business and looks back at her big win, reality romances
and being out on TV.
Tellusmoreaboutyournewwebsite.
It's a social networking site for fitness-it's interactive, kind
of like MySpace, but for fitness people, or just for people who
want to get in shape and need motivation. You set up your
own profile, people can talk to each other, you can comment
on each other's walls, you can set up workout buddies. I'm really trying to build a whole fitness thing online.
Arepeopleableto interactwithyou?
I put up tips a few times a week. A lot of the girls who go to it
are obviously girls that identify with me, want to just tone up,
want to just get into better shape. They want to know how
to eat, they ~ant to know how I eat. Now I tell them to go to
RachelRobinsoriFitness.com and you get all of my updates.
Now every time people are like, what do you eat, what do
you do to stay in shape ... and you get all of my updates. So it
works out perfectly.
When I moved back (to Miami], I was going through a.
lot of changes. I had just gotten out of a relationship. I was
really into, like, Let me focus on myself and what I want to do.
And I'd always wanted to do something in the fitness world,
so I started training really hard and I got myself a personal
trainer. He took me under his wing and he transformed me. I
felt my body conditioning transform. Then I started personal
training. So by the time they called me up for the duel ... I had
just been training my body for over a year. I was pretty strong,
going into that challenge.
Lookingback,I'm still struckby how incrediblydifficultthat
finalchallengelooked.
Duel Identity continued on page 71
ian
Reality
and fitness guru
Rachel Robinson
makes us sweat.
By Rachel Shatto
Photograph By Jorge Suarez • Makeup By Aileen Quintana
Nicole Pacent
(top), Nikki Caster
omen's softball was celebrated in A League of
Their Own, the WNBA got a plug with Love &
Basketball and women's boxing received a decent
amount of attention in Million Dollar Baby. But a
women's soccer movie of the same caliber has yet to appear.
Queens of the World, which is slated to come out this
spring, just might be that movie. Produced by Tomboy
Productions, QOTW is the story of Maggie Connor, an
overzealous high school girl who eats, sleeps and breathes
soccer. Maggie's unbridled passion for the sport is comparable
to the protagonist's in Rudy, and she is just as determined to
let nothing stand in her way of achieving her ultimate goal:
playing professional women's soccer.
But her everyday world of practice, drills and games is turned upside
down when she meets Niko Taylor,
a wildflower who comes from an
unhappy home and uses soccer as an
escape. Through soccer, the two girls
develop a deep mutual respect and
friendship, despite their contradictory personalities-and
then they fall
in love.
"Very simply, (Maggie and Niko]
understand the need in the other to figure out how to love
themselves;' explains writer and director Mel Robertson.
"That's what's underlying. They bring out each other's
humanity, the need to be understood and the common goal
of true happiness-on
and off the field:'
QOTW stars newcomers Nicole Pacent (Anyone but
Me) as Maggie Connor and Nikki Caster ( Cherry Bomb)
as Niko Taylor. Rounding out the cast are veteran actors
Elizabeth Keener (The L Word), Michelle Clunie (Queer as
Folk) and Tanya Roberts (That '70s Show).
Jumping from an online show to the big screen is something that Pacent is ready for. ''.At this point, I feel like it's
the next step;' she says. ''.AsI read the script, I could immediately picture the kind of person [Maggie] was. I understood the way she threw herself into her sport and avoided
things in her personal life:'
Pacent isn't intimidated by the aggressive nature of her
character or worried about honing her soccer skills. ''I've
been a major athlete my whole life-from soccer to swimming to gymnastics. I don't expect to become Mia Hamm,
but we are going through pretty intense training to make
sure we are going to be in shape:'
As for the role of Niko, Caster confesses that it hits close
to home. "I come from a rough upbringing, and chose to
ffi
I
0
CJ
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g
a:
look up and know that there is always light
at the end of the tunnel. That's how Niko is.
She knows what's happening at home isn't
normal. Soccer is her happy place:'
One of the most intriguing aspects of
QOTW is how the love story is undeniably
accepted and intricately woven into the plot,
regardless of the fact that it involves two
women. "I know how it feels to be attracted
to someone when you are both training so
hard for the same sport;' says Caster. "I love
the love story and how two people come
together because of the same passion:'
"[It] might be my favorite thing about
the film;' adds Pacent. "It's not a coming-out
story, there is no need for it. The fact that
Maggie can just go through this comingof-age process without a huge magnifying
glass on, it is fantastic. This story could have
easily been about a guy and a girl, too. It's
treated with such normalcy:'
That aspect of "normalcy" is also. what
attracted Clunie to the role of Maggie's
mom, Vicky. "I thought of it as a film about
girls who want to play soccer, a mom who
loves her daughter and a love story;' she says.
"It's so nice to see a mother portrayed in film
or television where she finds out that her
son or daughter is gay and that it's not such
a big deal. That was the moment that made
me want to do the film, and that's what I love
about this film. It can be mainstream:'
While QOTW has everything a classic mainstream sports movie should have
(a love story, drama, the overcoming of
obstacles, an underdog), some might still
consider this a "lesbian film:'
Robertson says they'd be mistaken. 'Tm
very adamant that this is not a lesbian film ...
this is a sports drama. It is very important,
in my opinion, that we stop singling out
films as gay or lesbian, because this creates
the stereotype that gay people are still different than the rest of society. I am making a
film about women's soccer and one woman's
journey. Along the way, this woman falls in
love. It shouldn't really matter that she falls
in love with another woman:'
Robertson also hopes that QOTW will
transcend both sexual and gender boundaries,
and brings some much-needed attention to
women's soccer, which recently relaunched
its professional league.
'There are 30 million women who play soccer
in the world;' says Robertson. "It's time that a
story truly represents all that we go through to
make it to the professional
ueens
Girlsjust want to be girls.By Jenna Lo~eff
aux queens, bi?-queens, female drag queens.
Whatever you call them, this new group of
performers are taking over stages across the
country, and reinventing what it means to be in
drag. Faux queens are queer meta-girls who dress like
boys who dress like girls.
"I guess I am a female impersonator impersonator;' says·
Maryam Rostami, who goes by the stage name Mona G. Hawd,
and regularly performs at the Stud, a San Francisco gay bar.
Rostami has always loved playing dress up. Even when
she began DJing years ago, she would rock wild clothes and
makeup, embracing a colorful persona that she didn't have in
her everyday life. She is finding that again in drag.
But how do the classic queens respond to these newcomers?
Rostami says great: "Everyone is really welcoming. I can perform next to a drag queen and it is about the performance,
not the gender:'
Much of this happy coexisting is due to one of the bioqueen originators, Fauxnique, who has been shaking her
money-makers with the queens for years. Fauxnique made
history when she won San Francisco's Trannyshack Pageant
in 2003. She was the first biologically female performer ever
to win and made an even bigger name for herself than she
already had.
Tonight, the Stud is packed with queens-both
faux and
traditional. Though new to the scene, Rostami is one of the
featured performers. She enters the stage with her body
stretched out, suspended like Jesus on the cross and held up
by two cherubic boys wearing gold lame loincloths. As she
begins her performance, the gender lines melted away, and her
inner drag queen comes out in force.
With her drawn on eyebrows and fake lashes, Rostami
looks the part_.One audience memb_er asks a friend, "Is that
girl a girl?" and another yells, "Wow, look at him!" Rostami,
like her fellow performers, is blurring gender and gleefully
confusing crowds-and even drag queens. "When a queen
comes up to me and asks me if I am a man or a woman, I feel
like I won;' says Rostami.
San Francisco isn't the only city in love with this form of
gender play. Berlin, often hailed as the gay Mecca of Europe,
has a raging scene of its own. Celine Robinet is a bio-queen
performer. "I do not assume that there should only be two
genders;' says Robinet, "not just two sexual orientations.
There are more than that:'
It was in Berlin, four years ago, after seeing singer and fauxqueen Debra Kate, that Robinet was introduced to the scene.
Two years after seeing Kate perform, Robinet wrote a spoken
word text about femmes who, she felt, were really underrepresented in the Berlin scene. "It was an homage, and I felt like I
wanted to dress up very feminine to perform that text:' Now
that she has established herself as a performer, she likes to mix
genders on stage when reading poetry. "Sometimes they are
one after the other, sometimes I am them all at the same time:'
When off stage, Robinet looks boyish, but says that in
high heels or boots, a hairnet and miniskirt, makeup and
false lashes, "I have the feeling that the stage belongs to me:'
But faux queens aren't a new idea. It was in 1933 that the
original Viktor und Viktoria came out in Germany, the film
that was the impetus for the 1982 Julie Andrews musical
Victor Victoria, where Andrews plays a girl on stage but is
pretending she is a man.
Though the art form is not entirely modern, it is not tired
either. Performers such as Rostami, Fauxnique and Robinet
continue to take gender-bending to a whole new level. "I feel
like it is an honor, and it is true to me and who I am;' says
Rostami. "It is not a policial thing-it is just a lot of
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for
them-whether theyaregay,straightor...
playinga ladybug.
Thisis whatMichelleMatlockhasfound,
playingtheflightlessladybuglookingfor
lovein Ovo,a circus-inspired
insectworld.
Forthefirst time,a Cirquedu Soleilshowis
beingrun,at leastin part,by lesbians,with
Matlockin the leadingroleandMarjonvan
Grunsven
astheartisticdirector.
Matlockmaybebestknownfor heronewomanshown,e MammyProjec~a series
of monologues
thatshehasperformed
acrossthecountry.Butherresumeis
muchmoreextensive-Matlockalsohas
a longhistoryas a clown,workingfor the
BigAppleCircusandCircusAmok,a queer
socialjusticegroup.
Shestartedhercareerbywinning
a placeat the NationalShakespeare
Conservatory,
butwasactuallydiscovered
bya scoutfor RoyalCaribbean
Cruise
Lineswhileshewasjugglingin NewYork's
Washington
SquarePark.Matlockended
upworkingasa clownoncruiseships
duringthenextfiveyears,andit was
this experience
thatgavehertheskillsto
scorethe romanticleadin Ovo.Matlock
hadpreviously
auditioned
for Cirquedu
Soleilandwastoldthat "therewasno
place"for her.However,
theladybuglead
in Ovoseemsperfectlysuitedfor the large,
bubbly,charismaticMatlock.
"[Theroleis right]for mebecauseI'm
playingit," saysMatlock.AsanAfrican
Americanlesbianwith a largebodytype,
Matlockis awareof the limitationsplaced
onactorswhodonotnecessarily
conform
to thestatusquo."Mywholepurposein
this businessis for someone
to havevision
for someone
likeme.Soit's really,really
nicefor someone
to havethatvision-that
youcanplaysomething
that's'other.'"
Notlettinganyonethingdefineherhas
allowedMatlocka freedomwiththeroles
sheplays.Whenaskedhowherpositionas
anoutlesbianaffectsher,Matlockinsists
that it hashadlittle impacton hercareer.
"I feeltheeffectsmoreof beingAfrican
Americanandbeinga largewoman,more
thanmysexuality."
UnlikeMatlock,whoenjoysworkingin
multipleformsof theater,OVdsartistic
director,MarjonvanGrunsven,
hasalways
hadhersightssetonthebigtop.
"BeingthecuriousrebelthatI have
alwaysbeen,I sneakedoutfromthe
speechof myteacher,as I wassodrawn
to thestage.I laiddownon mybackand
lookedupto seea worldof trusses,lights,
ropes.I knewthatonedayI wouldcomeup
withthosebeautifulperformances
which
wouldtouchtheheartsof thousands,"
says
theNetherlands-based
choreographer.
WhenaskedwhatIt's liketo bea lesbian
headingtheartisticdirectionat Cirquedu
Soleil,vanGnmsven
$81$,
"Ofcourse
I am
proudto seethatwefflM a~
role
in this particularShOw,
l>Utltreallywould
havebeentheseme
.hidt lMerl
straight•
ButvanGrunawm
doe&tonc8dethatthe
circuscreatesa genderandidentityfluidity.
"Maybe
I feelatbomeIn118cin:us,Inthe
theater,
·because.ff
is a'-•world-I canbe
aboyandat thesame
timeI canbea girl.
Wecanbeourselves.There.
is nojudgment.
Welive,wewort.
to makeourselves
and,
withthat,[make)theaudieRc8shappy,
touched,.
in8pi,:ed.
thankful."
Despitetheirarduoustouringschedule,
thetwo women
stilt appearto be enjoying
theirstintwith .Ova
AsMatlock
put
it, "It's reallynicebecausethere'sso
manydevastating
thingsgoingonin the
world-it's niceto getaway.Youknow,
nothingreallymatters.We'rejust all a
bunchofbugs1rylijgto"'4ke
It.".(tlleole
Vermeer
andKrt8tlrt·
A.Slalli)
lt Ta~es
Sheena ry1etal
and DanielleEgnew make for a fascinatingpower couple.
espite the hoopla about Hollywood celesbians,
real lesbian power couples like Danielle
Egnew and Sheena Metal are hard to find.
Metal (nee Jenny Sherwin), who hosts the
unscripted, uncensored The Sheena Metal
Experience every weekday on L.A. Talk Radio,
has anchored numerous successful radio sho~s in
L.A.; hosts Music Highway, an internationally syndicated
music/ talk hybrid heard by nearly 130 million listeners; runs
Music Highway Entertainment, a development/ production
company; and emcees everywhere from The Laugh Factory
to gay Pride. Egnew is a musician, an actor and a clairvoyant.
With six albums under her belt, including the award-winning
Red Lodge, Egnew fronts and produces several projects,
including the legendary girl band Pope Jane and her road-rock
project The Whiskey Roadshow Band. She also performs in
an acoustic duo with Kristen Coyner called The Dashboard
Mary's. Egnew's pop and orchestral compositions appear
on TV and film. Her film credits include the paranormal
doc Montgomery House and The Perfect Haunting, which
she directed, produced and starred in. For her clairvoyant
56
Icurve
abilities, she's been called in to advise law enforcement on
cases.The duo has worked togeth~r since their relationship
began (in 2008, in the L.A. celebrity version of The Vagina
Monologues with Jennifer Beals and Alexa~dra Hedison). We
asked the power couple to sit down together for an intimate
interview, sans reporter. In this format, ·we,the reader, get to
see into Metal and Egnew's world.
<
Metal:Beforewemet,youwerein Montana.
Whydidyoudecide
tomovetoL.A.andhaslivinghereleftyoudisillusioned
aboutthe
wholeHollywood
experience?
Egnew:
I came to L.A. for work and for love. I had heard about
how terrible L.A. was, but I...had a lot of fantastic opportunities open up right away, and they just kept coming, so I
stayed. And of course, having you living here was a pretty big
inspiration to move!
Egnew:Would
youeverleaveentertainment?
Metal:I've wanted to work in entertainment my whole life,
and I don't think I'd ever do anything else.
Metal: You'rereallyintopolitics-whendid you first become
involved
inpoliticsanddoesbeinggayheighten
thatinterest?
Egnew:I was 21 when I first started working on local campaigns. I didn't actually get
involved with LGBT politics until later on. I'm
now involved with the marriage rights movement on state levels all across the country.
youmost?
Metal:Whohasinfluenced
Egnew:Definitely my close friends and family.
I have a very musical family, and we'd all sing
tunes to
around the piano and guitar-show
Italian arias to Cat Stevens. My grandparents were all salt of
the earth hard workers. They liked the Hollywood golden era
films and '50s Broadway cast recordings on vinyl.
yourgreatestaccomplishment?
Egnew:Whatdoyouconsider
Metal:I'm 42 years old and I'm still alive! (Laughs] Seriously,
I would have to say my latest radio venture, The SheenaMetal
Experience,is my greatest accomplishment to date. I've always
wanted to do something that combined creativity, humanity,
education and utter irreverence. The last year of my life has
been an utter joy, and I haven't done a show yet that I didn't
leave feeling not only elated, but that I am completely in the
r,ight place in my life and doing the right thing.
manyradiotalkshowsin L.A.overthe
anchored
Egnew:You've
What'sthemostbizarrelistenercallyou'vereceived?
decades.
Metal:When I was on the then-Howard Stern station here in
L.A., I had a guy who kept calling up insisting that he had sex
with a goat who claimed to be Satan, while listening to Ronnie
James Dio.
artistall thatyouhopedit wouldbe?
Metal:Is beinga successful
Egnew:Yes and no. Yes, because it is so mind-boggling and
humbling when you find out that you've touched so many
people's lives with your music or film. No, because the more
successful you are, the more responsibility comes with
managing your projects. You sacrifice personal flexibility for
artistic outreach.
Metal:Yes, if I had to give advice to someone getting into the
entertainment business, I'd say,"Know that it will always be
hard w~rk, long hours and emotionally all-encompassing:' If
you're expecting to sit poolside with a pifia colada and eat
bon bons, you need to quit the business and marry someone
rich. You've got to really love it, or you'll learn to hate it fast.
freak.
history
Mostpeopledon'tknowyou'reanenonnous
Egnew:
Metal:Since I was very young I have loved Victorian England
and collected things associated with that time. I am a Charles
Dickens nut, a Jack The Ripper freak and a Sherlock Holmes
fan. I even have a strange fascination with the life o_fThe
Elephant Man, although I have no urge to buy his bones.
Egnew:Whatdon'tpeopleknowaboutme?
Metal:You're a gay man in a woman's body.
Metal:Hasthathelpedorhurtyouin thelesbiancommunity?
Egnew:[Laughs] Well, it has been a bit of a drawback in the
lesbian community. I'm definitely a queer girl, but I don't play
softball, yet I can tell you what roles Patti LuPone sang on
Broadway. I've got more product in my hair than 10 baby
dykes with faux hawks, my shoes cost as much as Superbowl
tickets and I'll pass on an entire pitcher of Bud Lite for one
Cosmo. I have a lot of love for my fellow gay girls, though
most of them don't know exactly what to do with me if I'm
not in thdr iPod singing to them.
Egnew:Youworkin so manydifferentart forms.Do
youeverwishthatyoucoulddojustonething?
Metal:I love the diversity. It keeps my brain busy so
I don't get into trouble. If I wanted to do just one
thing, I'd become a tax attorney and
make the really big bucks.
Metal:Whataboutyou?Howdo you
balanceit all?
Egnew:Very carefully, so as to keep
romantic dinner dates with my
lovely other half! Speaking of which,
you told me I'm the first woman
you've ever been in a relationship
with. Was it all you ever hoped for?
Metal:Yes, my love-and much, much more. Well, except for
one disappointing thing: You can eat and eat and
•
never get fat. I love you incrediblv, but I still think
God should strike you dead for that. [Laughs]
Metal:So,whenyoufirstmetme, whatwasyourfirst
impression?
I thought you were incredibly dynamic, intelEgnew:
ligent and I loved the timbre of your voice.
eightyearslater?
Metal:Didyouthinkwe'dbetogether
If I banked on how long our relationship would
Egnew:
last-eight people years is like 25 gay years, or like 60
movie star years-so, coupled with as headstrong as
we both are, that must mean we love one another!
that we do togetheras a
Egnew:Tellme something
couplethatyoulovethemost.
Metal:I love everything we do together. Oddly, for as
busy as we are, we're together almost all of the time.
We both work at home and we're very deeply rooted in
each other's businesses. When we're not working, we're
out somewhere together having a candlelit dinner at
the ocean, seeing a show, watching a scary movie or
,,
"E1q'1t
pec,ple
1.4earsis
li~e 25
qa1.41.4ears,
c,r li~e 60
rr1c,viestar
1.4ears-sc,,
cc,upled
wit'1 as
'1eadstrc,nq
as we bc,t'1
are, t'1at
rrtustrrtean
we lc,ve c,ne
taking a fun road trip somewhere. You are an amazingly intelligent, creative, fun and funny person, and I
just love being in your presence, no matter where we
are or what we're doing.
Metal:What'stheonethingpeoplemaynotknowaboutyouand
anc,t'1er!"
aboutus?
I can be very introverted. There are times when I just
Egnew:
want to hole up and create stuff. About us, I think people
imagine Hollywood Lesbian Power Couple" as portrayed on
The L Word, but I don't think people realize how truly geeky
you and I are. We picnic on the bed and watch cheesy movies
on SyFy all night and eat Greek take-out in our pajamas. You
and I are about as unconventionally old-fashioned as it gets!
Metal:Yeah, we are both stubborn, intelligent, creative, careerdriven women used to getting our own way. Yet, all it took
was one email conversation and we were bonded through the
commonality of our spirituality, our humanity and our mutual
love and respect for each other's existence on this earth. Now,
eight years later, I can honestly say I've never spent so much
time with one person, I've never had so much fun, I've never
laughed so much and I've never been more in
November/December 2010
I57
1
BACKIN THE
I DON'TTHINKSO!
Older lesbiansfight to be seen and
heard, especiallyas they enter
their twilightyears.
BY SHARONR. COLE
I
T'S A SUBVERSIVE IDEA that's been ruminating
change for a lesbian coming across a Radclyffe book! She'd feel
in Laurie Young's mind for quite some time now: so embraced;' says Young.
ducking into a bunch of mainstream nursing homes
A Radclyffe romance seems like such a simple gesture, but
around- the country with a sackful of lesbian romance having it readily available at a nursing home is symbolic of
novels and strategically depositing them in their something greater-a more accepting society. Alas, we are not
libraries and community rooms.
there yet. Older lesbians who've struggled for many decades
The 60-year-old Young, an aging-policy analyst for the just to break out of the closet now find themselves in fear of
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Washington D.C.,. being forced back in.
loves to think about what it would mean if she could pull
Why? According to Young, coexistence with unfriendly
this off. "Just imagine how the whole experience of being in a staff and residents at nursing homes, worries over nonexistent
predominantly heterosexual senior living community would partner benefits and endless medical and governmental forms
on which they cannot be properly identified are just a fewof the
issues that burden older lesbians. What's more, lesbians over 60
often feel alienated within the gay community, primarily due to
ageism and the fact that younger lesbians are experiencing a
different environment than in pre-Stonewall times.
"But we are a group of thriving, sexual, intelligent human
beings who should not be dismissed;' says Young."It is my own
personal goal to make sure the elder years for LGBT people
are infused with respect, dignity and grace:'
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Young is well aware that lesbians survived decades of being
deemed mentally ill up until 1973, when the American
Psychiatric Society finally declassified homosexuality as a
mental disorder.
58 I curve
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"People were fired for being gay and feared
arrest, institutionalization and harmful treatments;' says Young. "We must remember that
through these life circumstances there was
pain, oppression and discrimination. Weve
been tough and resilient, but it doesn't mean
we weren't damaged:'
Margaret Cruikshank, 70, women's studies professor at the University of Maine and
author of Fiercewith Reality:An Anthologyof
Literature on Aging, agrees that many older
lesbians are in bad shape, emotionally and
physically, because of the severely anti-gay
years they've endured-an oppressive experience that would've been intensified tenfold if
they were raised without access to resources,
in the absence of education, or within a
family system that ostracized homosexuals.
"However, I also believe that lesbians who
found a way to more fully express their true
selves figured out how to live distantly from
male approval or values. Weve been able to
function outside heterosexual norms and,
therefore, think unconventionally. Whether or
not we developed certain coping skills to overcome the oppression, I don't know. But I think
we are freer in our thoughts, and that's made
us really strong women;' says Cruikshank.
Sandi Armstrong, 60, chair of Gay and
Gray in the West, in Denver, believes older
lesbians are extremely creative people who
have developed extraordinary coping skills.
"Because it isn't just males that discriminate
against lesbians;' she says. "It's an entirely
heterosexist society. Some older lesbians
believed it was necessary to be in the closet
it. Gray, who is currently part of a program
that trains nursing home staffs, makes it very
clear that there is no room for prejudice.
"There will be no closet for senior lesbians to hide in. We will not be treated like
·second-class citizens. We will not tolerate
rudeness;' she says when describing how she
would address a group going through LGBT
sensitivity training.
A powerhouse who has been a catalyst of
change for the oppressed since the '60s, Gray
has a plan similar to Young's Radclyffe idea.
It is her goal to see Pride flags raised on the
poles of every nursing home in the nation. ''As
we age, we ultimately become more vulnerable, and this is not a time when lesbians, gays,
bisexuals or transpeople should
have to feel less than anyone else;'
says Gray. "We already came out of
the closet and were not going back
in. Ge·t those flags up!"
PUSHING
PARTNERS
VISIBILITY
Partners Carmah Lawler, 81, and
Kathy Glass, 78, political activists
in Colorado, are a perfect example of vibrant
older lesbians who refuse to go back into the
closet. It took them until they retired to fully
come out. In fact, 25 years ago they would've
never imagined that by 2007 they'd be entertaining a Lakewood, Colo., mayoral candidate in their home, with the political agenda
of pushing for gay rights and partnership
benefits. But that's just what they did.
"That's been part of our push toward
BELIEVED
"SOMEOLDERLESBIANS
TOBEINTHE
ITWASNECESSARY
THEMSELVES.
TOSUPPORT
CLOSET
TACTIC."
ITWASA SURVIVAL
to support themselves. It was a survival
tactic. And anytime you can't be fully who
you are, it takes a roll:'
At this stage of the game, however, all
agree that no lesbian should have to develop
new coping skills in order to live a normal life
in our society. In fact, Vernita Gray, a longtime activist who serves on the National Gay
w and Lesbian Task Force, working for equal
~
(/)
treatment of the elderly, is adamant about
visibility. We were just saying to our
candidate that we need to know you and
you need to know us;' says Glass. "He came
because we told him he could put through
something like partner benefits for his own
staff without it being a big kerfuffie:'
Lawler and Glass both had careers working with families and children. They would
have been handed a pink slip had they come
out during their careers. "We're doing all that
OLDER
GETTING
In an unstable world, one thing
is certain-we're all getting older.
Thankfully, we're not alone. Services
and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian,
Bisexual & Transgender Elders (SAGE)
and Old Lesbians Organizing for
Change (OLOC) are two fantastic
organizations working to improve the
lives of aging lesbians.
SAGE, a nonprofit agency dedicated
to serving the needs of elderly LGBT
people, has led the way in the advancement of services
and research into
what it means to
be aging in the
LGBTcommunity. Karen Taylor,
the director
of Community
Advocacy and
Capacity Building,
cites Outing Age
2010, compiled
by SAGE and the National Gay and
Lesbian Task Force to explore the
disadvantages that aging lesbians
face: "Lifelong experiences of social
and economic marginalization place
lesbian elders at higher risk for isolation, poverty and homelessness than
their heterosexual peers. A recent study
from the Williams Institute found that
lesbian same-sex couples over the age
of 65 live in poverty at more than twice
the rate of heterosexual couples of the
same age."
OLOC, a national network of lesbians
over 60, is a tireless educator against
ageism. "Our work includes lots of
consciousness-raising on ageism,"
explains Jan Griesinger, co-director of
OLOC. The group publishes a quarterly
newsletter, sponsors both regional
meetings and a national conference,
and provides cultural competency
training for aging, LGBT, and women's
direct service organizations. The goal
of these training sessions is explained
by Griesinger as a way to address what
the group refers to as the "systematic
denigration" of older people in the
LGBT community. The group also
operates the Old Lesbian Oral Herstory
Project, which collects oral "herstories"
from women over the age of 70. OLOC's
national conference took place in July
in Cleveland, Ohio. The year's theme,
"Old Lesbian Pride: Sharpening the
Lowrey]
Radical Edge." [Sassafras
OLOC girls (from
left): Saundra
Tignor, Mina
Meyer, Sunne
Mahood and
Mickey Clifton
we can for gay rights now without worrying about repercussions;' says Glass. "We're human beings, we have no fear now
and our mayor needed to hear us out:'
Just for the record, the mayoral candidate was elected and
quickly instituted partnership benefits for his staff.
As of late, Lawler and Glass are involved in making sure a
movie on nursing home acceptance gets around to as many
facilities as possible. Entitled ProjectVisibility,the film provokes dialogue regarding LGBT sensitivity.
"What do you do when Kathy Glass walks in to your office
and says, 'I need to be in your facility. Oh, and by the way, this
is my partner, Carmah?'" asks Glass. 'i\t the point when you
have to make the decision to move into a home is not a time
when you want a lot of flack from the staff. You want to have
someone who can greet you and say, 'Sure, come on in. We
can help you with whatever you need:"
Sadly, experiencing warmth upon entering a nursing home
is the exception, not the norm. Gray reports a recent incident: ''A friend of mine who passed recently was sent to a
residence from a hospital after falling ill. She was admitted
to the home at 1:00 p.m. and by 1:30 p.m. she had a roommate saying, 'i don't want a lesbo in here with me: I couldn't
believe it. The last thing my friend needed to worry about
was a bigoted roommate:'
Young adds that older lesbians-whether
they're fully out
or not-are relying on staff caregivers who may not be so
enlightened. "We also know that people who work in institutions more often are women who are underpaid and usually receiving no benefits or pensions. So, lesbians coming in
the front door are being taken care of by oppressed women.
Those women will eventually leave for a better-payingjob, so
the cycle of training is a never-ending process:'
•
Young also reports that LGBT people are twice as likely to
age alone and four times less likely to have children."Children
often serve as their parents' advocates and gatekeepers at
nursing homes, but many LGBT people don't have that kind
of support;' she says.
WANTINGWHATTHEYDESERVE
Adding to frustrations for older lesbians is the fact that they
still are not officially being counted and represented on most
SENIORS
STILLSIZZLE
INTHESACK
What? Old lesbians have sex? Yep.
When it comes to talking about sex
among anyone over 40, folks have a tendency to stick their fingers in their ears
and commence with the old, "La, la, la,
la, la. I can't hear you." But older women
crave and desire closeness with lovers
and partners, just like everyone else. So,
why all the sex phobia?
"Nobobdy believes older people are
sexual," says Laurie Young. "And then there is the ick
factor in the straight world about LGBT people being
active. Even within our own community there is an
ageist element. I mean, at eome point a lesbian stops
bleeping on younger women's radar screens." Young
concedes that there was a certain point in time when
she realized her sexuality had become totally invisible.
Youngalso believesthat sex Is moreof a hiddensecret
in the lesbiancommunitybecausein a lot of wayswe might
think, historically,that lesbianscameout throughthe feministmovement"Andso we lookedat the whole notionof
womenas being powerful,and not as beingsexualobjects."
But elder lesbians are getting it
on. And for this population, a deeper
level of intimacy and connection
might exist, says Ellen Ensig-Brodsky,
who appeared In the documentary
Still Doing It: The Intimate Lives of
Women Over 65, and currently serves
as an advocate for the Services and
Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual &
Transgender Elders (SAGE).
"For men, sex is all about the orgasm, and that's
it," says Ensig-Brodsky. "For older women there is an
intimacy, totality and physicality that may or may not
always result In orgasm."
Ensig-Brodsky admits she had an animalistic sex
drive when she first came out In her 40s. "I was driven
by a need to have sex," she says... I was restrained and
hidden all my life, and there was no end to my escapades at first." Her hormones, however, have changed
over time. But, she says, "the force of closenessand
the lovemaking in all of its senses is as strong as ever."
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governmental, health care and insurance forms and
surveys. "Every time a lesbian goes to fill out a form and
has to check off boxes that don't quite match up with
her identity, she's going to feel discounted;' says Young.
She adds that even though Census 2010 pushed for
the LGBT community to complete the census form,
there was no real count ofLGBT people."There is still
no sexual orientation or gender identification box to
check. We can check off 'unmarried partners' but a
heterosexual couple can do that, too;' she says.
Outing Age 2010, an extensive report published
by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy
Institute, reports that only a handful of state and fed,
eral demographic and health surveys collect data spe,
:i:
@
cifically on LGBT elders.
"One thing is abundantly clear from the limited
data at hand: LGBT elders remain an underserved
and highly vulnerable population;' it reads. "Much of
what we currently know about LGBT elders in the
United States comes from the pioneering social sci,
ence research conducted by a handful of scholars since
the mid, 1970s. Most of these studies rely on cohorts
of white gay men; a smaller number focus on lesbi,
ans. Very few include transgender or bisexual elders
or examine the findings to discern issues of particu,
lar concern to these elders. And most of the studies
involve small sample sizes that do not reflect the racial
and economic diversity of the LGBT community:'
If a precise count were done, much more money
could be funneled to LGBT needs, not to mention
that we all would have a better idea of just how many
LG BT people exist.
Gray reels over the fact that she's worked since
she was 17 years old and has been paying into Social
Security all this time. 'J\nd, hey, I didn't get a gay tax
break, but I do know that some woman in Utah will
be benefiting from my money, while my partner won't,
if I go first;' she says. "Believe me, the government is
depending on gay and lesbian dollars. They've got it
all calculated and there's a lot of money there that we'll
never see:•
The best solution Cruikshank has come up with in
the meantime is to suggest that we all add our own
box to identify ourselves on every form we fill out. "It's
a small thing, but if 100,000 people did that, some,
thing's got to change:'
Because of the lack of statistics, Young can only
"guestimate" how many LGBT elders exist, let alone
'lesbian elders. "We think that 1 to 3 million people
over 65 are LGBT. By 2030, our population should
grow to about 6 million. We need to be counted;' she
says. "What the future holds for us is dependent on it.
And what the future holds for younger lesbians, who
aren't even thinking about the decisions they'll have
to make when they're older, is dependent on it. It is
about all of us, our welfare and our rights as human
ANDOPENMINDS
OPENHOUSE
thatSanFrancisco's
a surveyshowing
conducted
In 1998,Dr.MarcyAdelman
andlesslikelyto havechildren
over55 aremoreisolated
individuals
25,000LGBT
surveyshowedovertwocaringforthem.Threeyearslater,a follow-up
orrelatives
theydon't
fortheelderlyreported
centers
neighborhood
thirdsofSanFrancisco's
a nonprofit
openhouse,
founded
Dr.Adelman
In response,
people.
serveanyLGBT
groupthatactsas a voicefor LGBTelders.Elevenyearslater,she
advocacy
winninga $50,000
rights,recently
ofthefightforLGBT
on
remains theforefront
PrizefromCivicVentures.
Purpose
elders?
WhatarethestatsonLBGT
is estimated
Sincethe LGBTpopulation
to bebetween5 to 10 percentof the
we canestimatethat
generalpopulation,
todaythereare1.4to 3.8millionLGBT
In 2030,therewill be3.6to
Americans.
folksovertheageof 65.
7.2millionLGBT
between
Whataresomedifferences
elders?
andLGBT
straight
LGBTolderadultsandeldersfacesimilar
peersas
issuesastheirheterosexual
theyage,suchashealthandfinancial
andmobility
concerns,independence
issuesandthe lossof lovedones.But
LGBTseniorsalsohaveliveda lifetime
andmardiscrimination
experiencing
LGBTseniorswhoare75
ginalization.
yearsof ageor oldergrewup in a preliberationerawhendisclosureinvariably
meantrejectionandloss.It's notsurprisingthatLGBTseniorsarereluctantto
accesslong-termcareservicesfor fear
of discrimination.
Whataresomeoftheirconcerns?
abouttheirsafetyif
They'reconcerned
theyinviteserviceprovidersintotheir
about
homes,andthey'reconcerned
the hostilitytheymayencounterif they
seniorfacilities.
moveto mainstream
Theseniorcareprovidersthatthey
interfacewith areoftenunawareof and
folksfeel
untrainedin howto makeLGBT
welcomedandsafe.Asa consequence,
LGBTseniorsoftengobackintothe
closetto accessservicesor,at great
riskto theirhealthandwell-being,don't
accessservicesat all.
differforthe
systems
Howdosupport
elderly?
LGBT
surveyshavefoundthat LGBT
Numerous
seniorsin largeurbanareasaremore
peersto be
likelythantheir-heterosexual
childless,singleandlivealone,without
familysupport.Thesefactorshave
for thecareand
importantimplications
supportof LGBTseniors,sincehaving
a spouseandchildrenreducesthe
likelihoodof povertyandisolationand
accessto servicesandcare
increases
duringoldage.
Same-sexpartnerscan't receive
SocialSecuritysurvivorbenefits.
Hospitalvisitationrights are denied
to same-sexpartners.Taxlaws discriminateagainstsame-sexpartners.
Medicaidregulationsprotectthe assets
and homesof marriedspouseswhen
their partnersentera nursinghome
or long-termcarefacility,while no
suchprotectionis offeredto same-sex
partners.
Whoarealliesinthefightforequal
population?
rightsfortheagingLGBT
TheLGBTagingnetworkhasforged
with
manysignificantrelationships
mainstreamagingorganizationssuchasAARP
nationalorganizations
andtheAmericanSocietyonAgingandwith stateandcommunity-based
seniorserviceorganizations.
whatotherissuesneed
forward,
Moving
to beaddressed?
on sexualorientationand
Questions
genderidentityshouldbe includedin all
federalandstateresearchsurveys.This
wouldallowus to knowso muchmore
thanwe do todayaboutthe specific
needsof LGBTpeopleas we age,and
to betteraddressthoseneedsthrough
existingprogramsandservices.Senior
health-careprovidersmustcontinue
to betrainedin culturalcompetency
for workingwith LGBTpeople.The
definitionof "family"mustbe expanded
to recognizesame-sexcouplesand
extendto LGBTfamiliesin regardsto
socialsecurity,medicaidandveterans'
benefits.[ErinSiegal]
November/December
2010
I61
REVIEWSMusic Watch
Beatin the Blues
Old and new songs to lift your spirits. By Margaret Coble
Kick,TheSplinters(Double
NegativeRecords):
The
Splintersarethe latestband
to emergefromtheseemingly
endlessgaragerockrevival.
Thisall-girlquartet,madeup
of Caroline
Partamian,
Lauren
Stern,AshleyThomasand
Courtney
Gray,hailsfrom
Oakland,
Calif.,andformed
just a fewyearsbackwhile
all fourwerein college.
Theirfull-lengthdebut,Kick,
cameoutearlierthisyearon
DoubleNegative
Records
and
containsa dozenblastsof
conciseandcatchygarageinflectedpop.Songslike
"Splintered
Bridges"and
theopening"Mysterious"
barelycrackthetwo-minute Everybody gets the blues sometimes. As I see it, you
can do one of three things when you're down: You
mark.TheSplinterscite'60s
girl-grouptheShangri-Las can wallow in it, you can distract yourself from it or
asan influenceaswellas
you can try to pick yourself up and kick it. So here
post-punkbandslikeSonic are three discs that
I've been using to get through my
Youthandthe Raincoats,
and
recent funk, from the Drums, the Indigo Girls and
youcanhearall theseinfluthe Amazon Wimmin of the Michigan Womyn's
encesat workon Kick.Thisis
definitelynotSundaymorning Music Festival.
music-more analbumfor
thoseendlesssummer The Drums,The Drums(Downtown):
Hailing from
daysor restlessnights. New York City, this all-boy indie-pop band instantly
(myspace.
comlthesplintersband)
brought to mind some of my '80s gay faves-the
[DaveSteinfeld]
Smiths, the Cure and Joy Division, with their emo
lyrics and mood, jangly guitars and minimal but entirely
danceable beats. Brooding cuts like "It Will All End in
Tears" and "I Need Some Fun in My Life" are pretty
good for wallowing, as are many of the band's largely
relationship-gone-awry songs, but then there's "Let's
Go Surfing," which opens with some peppy whistling
and sports a much less somber tone. Overall, it's not
as dour as much of the music I listened to as an angstridden youth, but it certainly fits the bill when you're
dwelling 1.nyour depression. ( thedrums.com)
Overall,it's not as dour as much
of the music I listenedto as
an angst-riddenyouth, but it
-certainlyfits the bill when you're
dwelling in your depression.
things better than belting out a song at the top of
your lungs, right? I can always count on the Indigo
Girls for a good sing-along, and with this new live
double-disc set they do not disappoint. Thirty-one
songs span these two discs, recorded from 2006 to
2009-some acoustic, some with full band backingand range from classic older cuts like "Kid Fears"
(an amazing rendition featuring Trina Meade of the
Atlanta band Three5Human) and, yes, even "Closer
to Fine;' to newer material, like "Love of Our Lives"
and "Sugar Tongue:' From their most recent studio
album, Poseidonand the Bitter Bug. The second disc
closes with my favorite of the handful of covers
offered, the Rolling Stones'"Wild Horses;' featuring
longtime IG friend and collaborator Michelle
Staring Down the Brilliant Dream, Indigo Girls Malone. Pop these discs in and you can forget about
(Vanguard):Nothing helps you take your mind off your cares. (indigogirls.com)
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Amazon
If you've ever attended the Michigan Womyn's
Music Festival, then you're familiar with the
song 'i\mazon:' Outside the context of the
fest's elaborate, emotional opening ceremonies, for which it is the theme song, it might
sound like just an old-school women's folk
song-which it is, actually. Maxine Feldman
penned the track in 1976, the same year the
festival began, but in the past few decades,
festival artists like Judith Casselberry, who
produced this CD, have updated it into a
goosebump-inducing reggae anthem that
annually rouses the lesbian crowd to belt out
the lyrics and dance. The disc contains not
only the midtempo reggae version of the original, but also Casselberry's dancehall addition,
"Rise Again;' Staceyann Chin's 'i\mazon Like
Rocle" spoken word piece, Mayra Casales'
'i\mazonas de la Tierra;' Cocomama's salsa
z
version, Feldman's original, Holly Near's
acoustic and an instrumental ·version. With
proceeds being split between the Lesbian
Herstory Archives• and Michfest, this is
essential self-care for any Amazon woman.
(goldenrod.com)
Q+A
Brandi Carlile
With her sinewy sense of style,
honest lyrics and a voice that
drips with desire, Brandi Carlile
has become an icon for young lesbians.
Growing up on a diet of Tammy Wynette
and Patsy Cline, with the Indigo Girls
and Elton John as her queer role models,
Carlile dropped out of tenth grade to
form her first band. Though young, Carlile
has amassed a huge indie following,and
has had mainstream successes. Her songs
have been played on Greys Anatomy
and her hit "The Story" was covered on
American Idol. She added Lilith Fair festival dates to her nonstop tour schedule
this summer. Last Fall, Carlile came out
as a lesbian in an interview with the Los
Angeles Times.
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blues
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knowabout.Dylan
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point,butall 12cuts
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poeticlyricsandgritty
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tonguetwister,while
cutslike"SexMirage" sound.Fansof Iris
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(pietabrown.
skatenightnola)
the audience. I never really felt
like I was "coming out" in the
L.A. Times. I always just thought
we were having a discussion
about something that adds to the
depth and complexity of my story. If living
honestly draws a stigma, then bring it on.
will know
whohasseenyouperform
Anyone
Is i~tiring
thatyoualwaysgive200percent.
withsuchintensity?
performing
Well, the intensity is involuntary. I often have
a hard time watching myself sing because
I'm always surprised at how affected I was
at the time of the performance. I think it is
exhausting, but in the way that you know is
making you stronger.
namedyouthebestvoicein
Pastemagazine
list?
indierock.Whowouldtopyourpersonal
Sometimes I wonder what indie rock really
means. I think Amy Ray is the best. She is
the epitome of indie. She's the toughest and
the sexiest indie rocker I know.
YoucomefromSeattle,sohowmuchofaninflusceneonyou?
encewasthe"grunge"
Sadly, I missed out on the grunge scene
while it was happening. It's so sad to think
that some of the little clubs we cut our teeth
in housed a twenty-something Chris Cornell,
Kurt Cobain and Eddie Vedder, and we were
45 minutes away. Sure, we weren't old enough
to get in, but nobody could hold a fake ID
against you for that, not even the cops.
thatyoukepta tape
I readin an interview
andlabeledit
episode
out
coming
of Ellen's
didyouhaveto
Why
Game."
"David'sBaseball
hideit?
The obvious reason was that I didn't want
my parents to notice that I had taken an
interest in such things because I didn't
for sure know it was OK to be gay. Also, I
thought it looked obsessive to have VHS
tapes of Ellen DeGeneres lying around the
house. Plus, it was David's baseball gamebefore I taped over it .
Howdidyoufeelwhenyougotthecallfrom
SarahMclachlanto performat LilithFair?
I was completely touched-Lilith Fair has
sculpted the kind of artist I am. When I was
15 or 16, I remember playing the local stage
of Lilith Fair. Back then I played piano and I
saw the Indigo Girls and was so flipped out by
Emily's guitar playing that I had to get a guitar.
[AlisonStokes]
November/December
I
201 O 63
REVIEWSIn The Stacks
Hauntin Tales
This month's books shine a light in dark places. By-Rachel Pepper
from la cuenca de
los angeles
J otJ'()snatural disasters
Scenes
fromLaCuenca
de
LosAngeles
y OtrosNatural
Disasters,
SusanaChavezSilverman(TheUniversity
of Wisconsin
Press):
Toldin theformof diary
entries,lettersto loversand
notesto friends,thisbook
chronicles
theauthor'slife
from1982to 2009.Thepoetic
forceandflowof herwords
bringto lifea spectrumof
emotions,
fromcertaintyand
clarityto devastation.
Various
backdrops,
includingSan
Francisco
andSouthAfrica,
providegeographic
contexts
thatvivifytheauthor'sinner
qualms,whileillustrating
thedifferentfacetsthat
traveladdsto heridentity.
Theuseof Spanishphrases
onlybolstertheauthor's
beautifulmetaphors,
oneof
whichcompares
herheart
to a fragilepincushion.
In its
entirety,thestoryreadslike
a digression,
a tripthattakes
thewindingroadto getto its
destination.
Theoutpouring
of
sucha "five-trackmind"as
Chavez-Silverman
describes
it, resultsin anartformthat
combines
two languages
to
painta portraitof a woman
moreproneto circuitousness
thanneatandtidyclassification.(uwpress.
wisc.edLi}
[EleniStephanides]
64
Icurve
A real-life tale of activism in the
heart of darkness, and a beloved
lesbian author, Sarah Waters,
offers up a Victorian ghost story to
tingle your spine.
A Thousand
Sisters,LisaShannon
(Seal Press):With A Thousand
Sisters, Lisa Shannon has written
an incredibly inspiring story
about her call to activism. That
this activism involves helping
the women of the Democratic
Republic of Congo, a country
many would consider a lost
cause, is even more stirring. Torn
apart by ethnic rivalries and war,
terrorized by military groups.
such as lnterahamwe, Congo is a poor African
country that barely gets a mention in the U.S. news.
Yet, atrocities such as child malnutrition and the
torture, gang rape and dismemberment of women
are common there. It is often referred to as the
worst place on earth to be a woman. As such, the
women of Congo live in poverty, fear and despair.
Despite this, A Thousand Sisters is not a book
steeped in gloom. On the contrary, it is filled with
hope, even despite the sadness of so many of the lives
that fill it. This hope is grounded in the belief that
despite huge odds, one person can make a significant
and lasting difference in the lives of countless others.
A Thousand Sisters follows Shannon's journey
from her comfortable life as a successful, engaged,
Portland-ba~ed stock photographer to a foundation
creator and an international activist. One day in 2005,
she watched an episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show
about the country of Congo. This motivated Shannon
to run 30-miles solo to
sponsor women there who
participate in a program
called Women for Women
International. This program
helps women learn new
skills and trades to better
their families' otherwise
bleak existence. Shannon's
own organization, Run for
Congo Women, currently
holds fundraising
runs m
four countries and 10 states,
continuing to raise money and
awareness. They have already
sponsored 1,000 women in
Congo-women who are raising
5,000 children among them.
Shannon has visited Congo
several times and personally met
with many of the women her
organization sponsors. These
visits form the core of the book,
and the life stories of these
women are harrowing. These
"sisters" are interesting characters
who make the best of their lot,
always pushing Shannon for
more assistance-for
housing,
for medical care, for sugar. Always aware of her
privileged status, yet understanding her limited role
as an outsider, Shannon nevertheless continues to
bring attention to this neglected corner of the world.
(sealpress.com)
SarahWaters,TheLittleStranger(Riverhead
Books):
Sarah Waters has been featured previously in
curve, and for good reason. A writer of exceptional
talent and literary prose, Waters continues to
produce first-rate fiction on a regular basis. Her past
novels, including Tipping the Velvet and Fingersmith,
have been primarily lesbian-themed, but with
Ihe Little Stranger, Waters takes a different turn,
using a straight man as the narrator and featuring
a heterosexual relationship, albeit an unusual one.
Lesbian fans need not worry, however. This is still
classic Waters. Ihe Little Strangeris a moody thriller
with well-developed characters-that
takes its
time building to its inevitably spooky conclusion.
Dr. Faraday is a physician practicing in the English
countryside in the 1940s. One night, he receives a call
to come to Hundreds Hall, a once grand estate that
he remembers visiting as a boy. There, he becomes
reacquainted with the Ayreses, a fading gentry
family which includes eccentric siblings Roddie
and Caroline, their elderly mother, several servants
and the unspoken other-Susan,
the eldest sibling,
who died in childhood. Over the course of the next m
z
few months, as Dr Faraday's affections for Caroline
Mac McClelland
Mac McClelland, reporter and editor for
Mother Jones, never expected she'd end
up teaching English in a Burmese refugee
camp in Thailand in 2006. Through her
experiences, which form the basis for her
new book, For Us Surrender is Out of the
Question, she discovered a "secret genocide''
that Westerners know very little about. The
United States even classifies these refugees as
terrorist-based and consorting with them is
illegal-a fact that McClelland only learned
upon returning home.
Explainwhatyourbooktitle means.
It's the first tenet of the insurgent group, the
Karen. And it really does encompass their
total refusal to stop waging an unwinnable
war against the violence and oppression of
grow, so too do the odd incidents that
occur in the house. There are strange burn
marks on the ceilings, tappings in the
woodwork, unusual wall scribblings and,
eventually, mental illness and death. Is it
Susan who has come back to haunt her
family, or are there other dark emotional
or paranormal forces at work? This is
a mostly perfect novel, which perhaps
could have benefitted from some editing
in its center section. At 473 pages, it
runs a wee bit long. However, for a book
that you can curl up with on a blustery
day, The Little Stranger is a perfect pick.
(riverheadbooks.com)
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the Burmese regime and their
total lack of options for existing
peacefully in a country that's
trying to exterminate them.
so
don'tlivewithrefugees,
Mostvolunteers
whydidyou?
I didn't understand until I'd already been
living there for weeks ... that all the past
volunteers got hotels or apartments.
Apparently the Westerners who roll through
there don't consider that crappy house,
packed to the gills with refugees, suitable
living conditions. And, as I talk about in the
book, I almost started crying my first day,
but you kind of have to lose your self-pity for
tough living and bathing conditions when
you're with a bunch of genocide survivors.
Of course we became extremely close friends,
so I was soon very happy to be living there.
Whileyouwerethere,youcameoutasqueer.
Howwasit received?
BestLesbian
2010
Romance
ed.Radclyffe
(CleisPress)
to
Thecontributors
thisannualvolume
the
havecaptured
art of theshortstory.
Someindividual
include
stand-outs
ComingOutPartyby
which
AnnaMeadows,
theuncerportrays
and
tainty,sweetness
angstof a first loveand
Edge,by
TheOutside
abouta
SacchiGreen,
competiprovocative
tiveiceskater.Greenis
a welcomeadditionto
asshe
anyanthology
is anadeptstoryteller
who
andwordsmith
hercraft.
hasperfected
com)
(cleispresss.
ofSilence
Command
PauletteCallen
Ink)
(Spinsters
I was a novelty; they claimed that
they'd heard of homosexuality before,
but only recently... I recount in the
book a couple of fights we got in
about gay rights, where they were saying that
gays didn't deserve rights and I was hollering
at them that they were hypocrites since they
claim to be defenders of democracy and
equality. Most of them came around, actually.
But among some others, one in particular, I
remained an object of great disdain.
Youspendseveralpagesin yourbookon
kissing,Whyfocusonthat?
Why not? I mean, these people are people,
and we so often miss these very human
elements in portrayals of"victims:' I think it'd
have been a great disservice to leave out what
I learned about their sexuality. It's certainly
not the least interesting thing about the
Karen culture that they never, ever French.
[Kathilsserman]
TheScorpion
GerriHill
(BellaBooks)
DetectiveKristen
Shiloh,a privateeye
personality Bailey,anoutsider
withmultiple
onthe policeforce,is
hasmade
disorder,
stridestowardmental assignedto babysit
a
MartyEdwards,
healthwiththehelpof
herlesbianpsychiatrist. reporterinvestigating
Allof whicharetested a coldcase.Together
theydig intothe case,
whensheis hiredbya
goingdeepunderpriestto helpfindtwo
cover,andbecoming
missingchildrenfrom
the hunted.A seathesamehousehold
sanedromanceauthor,
a
whowerekidnapped
this is a different
dayapart.Morethana
simplecrimemystery, kindof bookfor Hill.
is a studyof Thestoryis edgyand
Command
dramatic,easinginto
themaincharacter's
manifesta- the romancelate.The
personality
tions.Thereaderhears plotat timesseems
all ofthedistinctvoices farfetchedandunrealistic,but it makes
ofthealtersasthey
for fantasticfiction.
helpandhinderthe
com)
(bellabooks.
case.(spinstersink.corrf)
of
TheMeaning
MySon's
Matthew:
and
MurderinLaramie,
a WorldTransfonned
JudyShepard
StreetPress)
(Hudson
does
JudyShepard
her
notsugarcoat
son'slifeinthisstarkly
The
honestmemoir.
bookfocusesonthe
of hisdeath,
aftermath
heranger,
including
andsurprise
sadness
aboutthenational
interestoverherson's
death.Thereaderalso
learnsmuchabout
imperfect
Matthew's
lifeasa son,brother
andyoungmanwhose
brutaldeathledto
ofThe
theenactment
Act.
MatthewShepard
com)
(penguin.
November/December
2010
I65
REVIEWSSapphic Screen
Makin It Colorful
Two films celebrate everyday pride. By Candace Moore
TheGirlwiththeDragon
Tattoo(MusicBoxFilms):
Everysooftenyoucome
acrossa film thatis so
grippingandthoughtprovoking
youcan'thelpbut
shareit witheveryone
you
know.TheGirlwiththeDragon
Tattoo
is oneof thosemovies.
Dark,gritty,violentandoften
shocking,
it's basedonthe
first bookin thebest-selling
Millennium
trilogyby late
Swedish
authorStiegLarsson.
Thefilm hasbeena massive
hit globally,
andthereis little
Two new film releases bring us the stuff of rainbow
shines as one of the more polished pieces, as does Nicole
doubtwhy.Itslead,Lisbeth, flags-pride in heaps, doled out through queer aniBrending's Operatedby InvisibleHands, which sees the
playedbythestrikingNoomi
mation, and the true tale of one Volkswagen Beetle's simple pleasure in making dolls 'clo it:' As Frameline
Rapace- is a queergoth
road trip to battle homophobia.
warns: These are "not your average Saturday morning
computer
hackerwhois
cartoons:' (frameline.org)
drawnintothesearchfor a
{Frameline):
Frameline's latest animawomanwhohasbeenmissing AniGAYmated!
40years.Girlis a satisfying tion collection gathers the funniest, most yarn-filled, Fagbug
{Garden
Thieves
Pictures):
When Albany, N.Y.,
thrillerpackedwithplottwists rainbow-strewn, polka-dot-bikinied, snarky, savvy, resident Erin Davies walked out to see the words
andshockingly
malicious moody and cute short films it could find. A mix of "U R GAY" and "FAG" spray-painted on her VW
villains.However,
Lisbeth
stop-motion and line animation brings us the kissing Beede, her reaction was anything but expected.
herselfprovesto bethefilm's
mostcompelling
mystery. and sex play of various zany oojects and queer charac- Realizing that those graffiti-happy jerks had targeted
Emotionally
scarred,brilliant ters: orgiast~chot dogs, dyke-dramatic numerals, Petra her because of her rainbow flag sticker, she decides to
andcapableof greatviolence von Kantian lesbian dolls, porn-minded unicorns and turn the tables on the haters and drive cross-country
whenprovoked,
sheis both the leather daddies that love them and more.
with the word "fagbug'' proudly emblazoned in red
theheartandtheviciousarm
Francoise Doherty's The Girl Bunnies stars ador- for all to see. She uses her road trip to call attention
of justiceof thefilm.Despite able lesbian bunnies that play ice hockey, type on to hate crimes, while documenting car trouble, people
its 152-minute
running
time,I
vintage Smith Coronas and adopt chicken eggs that
who try to scrape the letters off her window and
wasleftwantingmore.Luckily,
become babies to the tune of emo, electronica and LGBT events. Directed by Davies, this video diary
withits sequelsTheGirlWho
PlayedwithFireouton DVD their own little voices. Paula Durette queers rela- captures a passion project and a personal adventure.
tionships between numbers as their polyamorous
While Davies is traveling, her girlfriend in Albany
andTheGirlWhoKickedthe
soap
operas
accumulate,
explaining
the
numerology
dumps her, yet she finds love and support from
Hornets'Nestcoming
soon,
therearemoreopportunities
to
behind the phrase "big ol' dyke:' The compilation
strangers along the· way. Various folks contribute to
immerse
yourselfin Lisbeth's also features trans and genderqueer toons who recall the cost of her trip and weigh in on the courage and
world.(musicboxfilms.com) childhood games of doctor, dance in their bikinis and gumption behind the little Fagbugthat could. You'll
[Rachel
Shatto]
sing opera, while Genet- and Tom of Finland-inspired
find it inspiring to see how Davies transforms a hurtful
fantasies play out around them. Maria Trenor's atmo- event into a positive, life-changing experience and an
spheric, literary and dirty With What ShallI Wash It? opportunity for activism. (gardenthieves.com)
66
Icurve
Q+A
Charlene Strong
In 2006, Charlene Strong's partner,
Kate Fleming, drowned in her basement during a flash flood in Seattle. Despite
•the fact that they had been together for 10
years, Strong was not permitted to act as
her partner's next of kin during her final
moments. Rather than internalize her
anguish and anger, Strong turned to political
change, becoming an advocate for marriage
equality and the rights of same-sex partners,
rights that would have allowed her to be at
Fleming's side in the hospital. She spoke
before the Washington State Legislature in
support of the landmark domestic partnership legislation that ultimately passed in
2009. Filmmakers approached Strong about
turning her story into a film. ForMy Wife,
the tale of Strong's journey from heartache to
activism, was released on August 30.
Tellusaboutthefilm.
ForMy Wife is a love story, first and foremost. Beyond that, it's a story about my
journey toward becoming an activist. At the
hospital, when I tried to see Kate, a nurse
J
stopped me and said, "You
are not legally next of kin:•
It was like she was speaking
a foreign language to me. I
said, 'Tm it! I'm her. Weve
been together for 10 years:• It never occurred
to me that I would hear the next words: "We
need to get someone on the phone to give
you permission to see her:' I finally did get
to see her, but not before jumping through
many hoops. Kate died that night. About
a month later, my friend Joe McDermott, a
state senator, mentioned a bill under consideration by the state legislature concerning
end-of-life decision-making rights and
hospitalization rights. So I testified in favor
of the bill. The governor signed it into law in
April 2007. It launched me as an activist
for marriage equality.
involved?
youto become
Whatmotivated
After Kate died, I was so angry about the
way we had been treated. I had to testify.
Continuing to fight for marriage equality
seems like a wonderful way to honor Kate.
asgoodasmarriage?
partnership
Is domestic
When I first started out, marriage was the
only thing that mattered to me. But we need
rights immediately. Referendum 4 71 put over
400 rights in place to protect people living
in committed relationships in Washington
state. So of course that is a victory. But is it
marriage? No. Marriage to me is 1,138 rights.
Once I leave Washington, there is no guarantee that if I were in a crisis situation, anyone
would honor the rights that Washington
state has bestowed on me. Domestic partnership is not enough. Marriage in select states
is not enough. But while we're working
toward that goal of 1,138 rights, well take
the 400 for now and give real protection to
families that need it.
What'snextforyou?
I am not content to play armchair quarterback. I was appointed to the Washington
State Human Rights Commission, so I'm
protecting gay people in Washington from
discrimination. I do hope that by the end of
my life we'll see full equality for everyone.
And I'm going to keep asking what I can do
and what my community can do. We should
keep fighting. We say in the film, "Every story
has a beginning, a middle and an end. This
story has yet to be finished. It ends with
Oberman-Breinde~
equality:' [Hannah
THINGS WE SHOULDN'T HAVE MISSED IN 2010
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Video games that are good for your heart. By .Rachel Shatto
Tech and home fitness have always gone together
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cash, but they rarely do anything to improve your
waistline. However, with the growing popularity of
fitness gaming, this is changing.
Complete with virtual personal trainers, weight
tracking, customized goals and a nearly endless variety of plateau-busting workout combinations, this
geek-approved workout regimen is finally the interactive home fitness experience that other products have
always claimed to be. Which means good-bye stinky
gym and hello excuse to pick up that gaming console
you've been eyeing, you know, for your health.
Nintendo blazed the fitness gaming trail with its
Wii Fit Balance Board. Using sensors in the board,
Wii Fit Plus tracks where you are placing your
weight, and that information is used to dete·rmine
your posture. Working in conjunction with Wii's
motion controller, it becomes a full body-tracker.
Balance games, yoga, strength training and jogging
are just some of the ways in which the Wii puts
your booty to work.
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introduced innovative forms of motion tracking that
lend themselves to fitness gaming. The PlayStation
Move utilizes its hand held controller's built-in motion
sensors and a camera that tracks a bright sphere located
on the controller to follow your movements in 30
space. Workouts focus on interacting with objects and
offers sports like tennis and baseball, as well as rowing
and even a gladiator match.
But it's the Kinect that has made the greatest tech
strides by ditching handheld controllers altogether.
Using multiple cameras, including infrared, the Kinect
literally tracks your skeleton. Plus, its face-recognition
software means your game console can identify you on
sight. All interaction is done by motioning with your
hands or through voice control. Talk about your brave
new workout world! With Kinect, everything is about
getting you moving-even navigating the menus.
Nearly all the games require you to use your entire
body. There are specialized fitness games, but even the
standard action games will make you feel like you' re
really getting a work out.
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Vibrationfeedbackin
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Thereis no handheld
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KINECT
Xbox360
History of Lesbian Theater continued from page 37
combined with the idea of an inherited sensibility about dykes being perverts ... nasty
perverts. So we're like, 'Yeah-we're nasty
perverts ... that is what we actually are; but to
have that also with an ironic wink:'
Alongside lesbians who were collectively
developing work, other lesbians working as
solo playwrights were generating traditional
(Aristotelian ~influenced, structured, fourth~
wall) plays. When one such playwright, Jane
Chambers, was enrolled in college in 1956.
She told The New York Times, "Women were
not allowed in the playwriting or directing
courses unless there were seats left over after
the men signed up:' Twenty-plus years later,
Chambers had two of her plays produced
off-Broadway (A Late Snow in 1974 and Last
Summer at Bluefish Cove in 1980).
Breakingthe Mold
Thanks to the tenacity and dedication of
playwrights like Chambers and other makers
of theater, lesbian theater has become much
more visible and the work has evolved beyond
the realm of the 'coming~out" story and the
suicide ending.
Other things have changed, too.
Claudia Allen, a resident playwright at
Victory Gardens Theatre in Chicago, has had
her work produced in 15 U.S. cities. Allen
notes that during the '70s, "there were actors
who were very afraid to play gay partsI could get somebody to play Eva Braun
[Hitler's wife] easier than I could get some~
body to play a lesbian in love with another
lesbian:' Recently, Allen's play Hannah Free
was made into a feature-length film. Oh what
a difference a few decades makes.
Performance artist Susana Cook, who has
been touring her solo shows for 20 years in
North and South America, says, ''As for my
Cu
..J
LL
a:
z
0
Q
z
J:
(/)
J:
(/)
own work, lesbianism is at the foundation of
it. During the Bush years, I incorporated other
political issues in my work. The Idiot King is
about how the sanctity of marriage was used
as a political tool to distract people from the
carnage of war and the economic crisis:'
Kimberlea Kressal, director, playwright
and lyricist, says, ''As lesbian visibility [has]
become a greater part of mainstream culture,
we gained more agency as artists. I think there
is a lightness and real sense of play to much
of the lesbian work [especially] in New York
now, and while it is created by lesbians for les~
bians, it seems to appeal to a wider audience:'
Gender Bias on the Stage
But the one thing that has yet to change,
whether a theater artist is a lesbian or not, is
gender discrimination. It is still in force, most
notably on Broadway, off Broadway and in
professional regional theater.
Playwright Kim Yaged nails it at the most
basic level, saying, "I have a lot of friends in
L.A. who are comedians and when a lineup for
comedy is created and you have more than one
woman, then it's all of a sudden perceived as a
'women's night: And if there is an event going
on and someone drops out, and a woman is
suggested as a replacement, the response is,
'We already have a woman in the lineup: They
don't say that about men-'We already have
three men. We can't add a fourth:"
And perhaps an even more critical
reminder about gender discrimination comes
from the queer community. Barbara Kahn,
the 2011 recipient of the Robert Chesley
Gay & Lesbian Playwriting Award, says, "In
gay and lesbian theater if you separate it out
by gender ... we just don't get the same media
coverage. And I'm talking about the gay and
lesbian media:'
"I
convinc
She's a Brick House continued from page 47
know, I was waiting for the babies to be born.
(Laughs] I couldn't really leave town or go off
to the clubs like I would normally do. I was
just waiting for her to give birth, so I definitely
wanted to be there. Once I was able to go to
the clubs everything just sort of worked. out
for me. I was really happy about it. I wish I
had taken more pictures with the president
because ... all my friends and family,they've got
these great shots, and I was just so focused on
the job that I didn't really absorb the moment,
or, you know, get my face tin:,e,as I should say.
[Laughs]So doesthat meanyoudidn'tget to
touchMichelleObama's
biceps?
I did not.And you know what? I so wanted to
do that. It was so funny, because I was at the
table and she leaned over to say something to
me, and I was going through my notes, and
I kind of gave her a look like, Hey! I'm busy,
woman! (Laughs] Can't you see, I'm working
on this?
Ohno,youshushed
the FirstLady!
I kind of blew her off,because I was so focused.
So looking back, it's like, Oh, man-there
were definitely a couple of missed opportunities there. But it was great. (Laughs]
Youhavea degreein marketingandworkedat
the NationalSecurityAgency.Is that a career
trajectory
you'drecommend
fora·comic?
(Laughs.] No, no. College, yes. You always
need something to fall back on. And also, your
experience in college just gives you material.
And it's also just a growing up period and you
see that you can accomplish something-like,
you set a goal and you finish it. Work at the
NSA? No, I wouldn't advise that. (Laughs]
They will suck the funny out of you.
I guesswe'regladyousurvived
it then.Youalso
spentfiveyearson TheChrisRockShow.How
didthatinformyourworktoday?
Oh man, I can't even put a value on what I
learned from that show, and working with
Chris. He has a work ethic like no other
performer that I know. He has such a high
standard, that it made me a better writer
and a better performer. I thank him all the
time. I don't send him any money, but I just
thank him. I'm very grateful.
OnemorefortheCurvettes.
You'vedonea number of films-Over theHedgeto My SuperExGirlfriend
andMonster-in-Law.
Wouldyouever
doa lesbianrole?
Yeah, of course! I'm sure my wife will want
to see the script first. All we have to do is get
Angelina Jolie on board and hey, I'm there.
I'm
70
-
----------
Icurve
-
-
-
ed
_D_ro--=p'-D_ea_d_D_i_va_c_o_n_tin_u_
__________________
e_d_fr_o_m--=p'-a=g
___e_4_9
There's always these situations with lesbians-your eyes are bigger than your vagina.
You get that giant thing that's never going
to fit but it's so romantic to talk about how
you're going to get ... the maverick-but it's
just so huge.
We are hugefansof DropDeadDivaand the
bodydiversityit represents
onTV.
I reallylove it. I wish more shows were like
that. As a survivor of eating disorders, for
me positivity in terms of body image and
the presentation of new beauty ideals is so
important. I think it really saves lives, and I
don't think it can be taken any other way. It
should have the same seriousness as any disease. Eating disorders are just as destructive
as any other disease. It's so insidio~s because
the way that people catch (get a] disordered
body image is because of the lack of representation, so it's harder to define where it
starts. When you don't see people that look
like you, you start to feel like there's something wrong with you. I think it's important
(that everyone sees] people who look like
them and people whose physical ideals are
attainable. So I love the show Drop Dead
Diva. I think it does great work in a very
silent way.
Hasyourvisibilityimpactedthe way that the
publicseesAsianAmerican
women?
I think that people have different images of
what Asian American·women can do or what
women of color can do. I think a lot of Asian
American people feel restricted by their
all of
mL4verL4
amazinq
musician
friends,
people w'10
l absolutell4
adore, to
write tile
sonqs
wit'1 l"te..."
_
culture. Like they feel like, Oh, I can't come
out of the closet, because of parents who can't
deal with that. Or, I can't deviate from this
career path, because my parents have worked
so hard as immigrants to make sure I could
do this career. There are so many limitations
that Asian Americans and immigrant families
put on their kids. It's a definite handicap when
coming out in the world. It's OK to be queer.
It's OK to be an artist. It's OK to be myself
So hopefully, I have contributed to people's
feeling like they have permission to do something, w4ich I think is really lacking a lot-in
many Asian American cultures.
Priorto the elections,
youwrotea Huffington
Postarticleaboutthe hopeObamarepresented.
Doyoufeellikehe'sfulfilledyourexpectations?
I think so. For me, it's about inclusion, and it's
about this idea that a multiracial candidate
can actually win, that we can have someone in
office who's not white, who can be commander
in chie£ It's a huge amazing accomplishment.
Because of that, Obama transcends politics
and becomes a very important cultural icon,
and in a sense, a kind of walking miracle, that
we can open the door to so much.
I think there areproblems with the administration. I have a big problem with the way he g
is handling marriage equality, that he can still
reject this idea of marriage equality while still 5
0
being such a great president in many other lE
ways. But at the same time, I'm still filled with z
that hope and filled with a lot of encouragement about the administration.
§
Duel Identity continued from page 50
And, you know, they made it look easy.When
I saw the episode, to be honest with you, I
cannot believe that they made it look so easy.
It was so much harder than it looked. My
start-to-finish time was somewhere around
five hours and 45 minutes.
You'rea seasonedveteranof the series.Any
advicefornewcomers?
Keep your mouth fucking shut. If there's
drama going on, don't get involved. If you
think that you're the best competitor there,
don't say it out loud, because people want to
target you. Everybody on this challenge, we're
all constantly looking for a scapegoat. The
way to become that person is by opening up
your mouth too much and sometimes even
by winning too much. Nobody wants to see
anybody win every time.
Therewerea tonof queerwomenonthe cast.
Wereyouhappywiththecast?
I was happy to have Aneesa there. I hadn't
spent any time with her in a long time. We
were, at one point, close friends, so I was
happy to have her in my corner. I was happy
Jenn was going to be there.
Lotsof lesbiansmeantdykedrama,including
someex-related.I didn'trealizethat youand
Aneesadated.
It was very brie£ It wasn't on Battle of the Sexes.
It was when we got home-I was living in New
York at the time and we kind of dated for, like,
two months, and then it didn't work out, and
obnoxious.
groupgainingvisibilityandacceptance we stopped talking and then it was done.
Another
onthat?
Thoughts
aretransindividuals.
I think it's really great. I think the trans community is really coming into their own. I think
the way that things have changed, there's a lot
more visibility and a lot more permission for
people to transition, and I feel like that is a
good thing they can be themselves. I look on
that very positively, and an important thing,
because I think in the LGBT community, the
trans, the "T;' gets lost in that greater community. So I'm really proud that the trans
community has come forward, gotten larger
and gotten more visible.
What'snextforyou?
I want to do another album. Maybe I will
come back to some of the people I collaborated with on the last one. I'd just like to
'get better as a musician too. That's always
something I'm working on. I just want to
be a better comic. I want to do more. And
I look forward to more seasons of Drop
Dead Diva. It's really successful, so that's
a great thing.
I think, in a sense, it's an administration that
I can work with. I feel like I can definitely get
behind where the country has gone because
of Obama. There's a lot more awareness, a lot
of racial consciousness, and I think that the
queer community will get marriage equality,
•that we'll be able to accomplish that.
Thecountryisstillverydivided,andwiththings
crisisandthe oilspillsin the
liketheeconomic
Howdo youresist
Gulf,it feelsoverwhelming.
theurgeto buryyourheadin thesand?
Well, I think it's important to talk about it,
and stand-up comedy is a good format. For
me, it's interesting because I've been living in
Atlanta, where we film Drop Dead Diva, and
I'm surrounded by that Tea Party mentality.
What's important to understand is the Tea
Partier, that whole conservative area of thinking, has peaked because these people are really
terrified of disappearing. Their vehemence is
really evidence that their kind of ways of life
and their ways of thinking and voting are disappearing. In a sense, their appearance on the
horizon is a good thing. Because then you kind
of think, Oh, they really are kind of crazy, and
that it is very much a minor movement, compared to how conservative the country was
right after 9/11. There's a great big change in
the way that people are thinking, politically.
So, the Tea Party is less of a threat, because
they're in the minority-that's why they're so
But it seemedthat livingtogetherrekindled
somefeelingsfor her.
The thing is, with Aneesa, she holds herself responsible for why we stopped dating.
I think that when you do that, and you
feel like maybe you should have done differently, it's one of those things where it's
harder for you to get over it. But I think
that the duel was such a therapeutic thing
for us to go through, because we just got
all our shit out. Now we're closer than ever.
We've never been better friends.
Doyoufindit difficultto besooutonTV?
It's just a part of who I am. It's, like, as easy
as it is for someone to say, yeah, I like menit's as easy for me to say, yeah, I like women.
People are always, like, how did you do it, how
did you become comfortable with it? You just
do. The biggest thing I tell people is, nobody
can take away your comfort with it. Not your
parents, not your best friend- just because
they don't like gay people-no one. So when
you're comfortable with something, I think
people pick up on that energy and they don't
question it in you. And with me I think it's very
clear that I don't have an uncomfortable bone
in my body when it comes to being labeled a
lesbian. That is something I am proud 0£
Howarethingsforyounow?
I'm so happy to be in Miami. I'm actually
dating someone now. I'm really, really happy.
I'm just enjoying being home and getting
back to normal life again.
November/December
2010
I 71
TOPTENREASONS
WELOVE
...
Deepa
Soul
Recording artist Deepa Soul has more than a great voice and
a sexy look. As an activist and LGBT community leader, she's
making a name for herself on the national political stage. Soul
was the headliner for the Young Democrats for Change, a concert
fundraiser for Barack Obama when he was on the campaign trail,
On music, politics and family. • and she is now the executive director of OUTMusic: The Alliance of
By Stephanie Schroeder LGBT Recording Artists and Performers.
1. She'sconfident.
'Tm constantly inspired
by Nikki Giovanni, who wrote the poem
"Ego Tripping:' Basically, when you step out
into this world, you're gonna have to ego
trip sometimes. The LGBT community and
LGBT individuals can do the unthinkable,
the unbelievable, as long as we allow ourselves to have vision:'
2. She'scommittedto change.Soul created
the first advocacy campaign for openly
LGBT recording artists, in conjunction with
fashion photographer James Meade. She
says she wants openly queer performers a:nd
the community to "put their money where
their mouth is" and support themselves and
one another. 'Tm here to empower independent artists, but at the end of the day...
individual artists must answer not only to
ourselves, but also to our community:'
3. She'sinternational.
Soul made it big on
dance floors around the world with her 2005
Billboardchart-topping single "As I Am;'
produced by Junior Vasquez. (See No. 8.)
4. She usesher wordsfor good.Her song
and music video "911 I Can't Breathe" was
dedicated to support 9/11 first responders.
5. She'sfamily.Soul says she's happy to
"I'm hereto empower finally see same-gender loving experience
being played out in various LG BT
independentartists, performers' music videos. ''As we create
our own equal presence, we have a better
but at the end of the opportunity to be recognized and advocate
day... individual
artists for inclusion;' says the musician.
6. She'sgrassroots.
She started the initiamustanswernot only tive
Solution Evolution to raise awareness
to ourselves,but alsoto and bring compassion, justice and happiness
to the lives of families who were povertyour community."stricken as a result of catastrophic disasters.
72
I curve
7. Shedoesit all. For her music video "Stand
Together;' which features a cast of independent recording artists, Soul co-wrote, coproduced, recorded and co-directed the
project. Oh, and sang on it, too.
8. She'sdanceable.Soul appeared at the
top of the BillboardDance Chart when she
was discovered by Superstar Producer/DJ
Junior Vasquez and had her songs remixed
by Quentin Harris and Mike Cruz. Her
single appeared on many CD compilations
of David Knapp, Jackie Christie, DJ Jason
Ojeda and more. She's had multiple remixes
of her singles, as well as a deluxe limited
edition EP.
9. She's multidimentional.Putting
her
own career on hold to concentrate on
refounding OUTMusic,
she is finally
ready to release her trilogy debut album,
Ego Trippin: and has positioned herself to
become a success in every arena. "I can't be
confined to one genre of music. Growing up
in New Orleans, I studied and was exposed
to many genres of music. I recorded the
album with a 14-piece band:' It's a disc
of funk, rock, soul and dance music. She
says she is proud and grateful for both
the opportunity and the support she's
received from so many other musicians and
producers.
1 O. She's grateful."A - higher power is
shining light on me;' she says. Soul was
diagnosed with a spinal disease and
underwent a risky surgery that entailed
moving her vocal chords and caused temporary vocal paralysis and could have
resulted in permanant paralysis or death.
"I willed myself to walk, talk and sing
again," says the musician. "And I wrote fil
songs to get through
::!j
join Sweet in
COZUMEL
SEPTEMBER
1-8, 2012
at the
Cosumel Palace Resort
Join us for a week of decadence,
dancing and dolphins in
Cozumel, Mexico. At this luxurious all-inclusive resort, you'll enjoy
unlimited food and beverages, 24 hours a day. Kissa dolphin
( or two), explore Mayan ruins, dive or snorkel in the crystal blue·
waters or chill by the pool with your pals.
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