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Description
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ToC Cover: Uh Huh Her [Leisha Hailey and Camila Grey]; Career Issue; Brushing Up with Laurel Holloman by Jillian Eugenios (p30): Talking Dirty with Uh Huh Her by Melany Joy Beck & Janelle Sorenson (p32); Mrs. & Mrs. Latin America by Andrea Guzman (p38); The United States of Addiction by Edie Stull (p40); Inspiring India by Kelsy Chauvin (p62); Trapped in the Corporate Closet by Tina Vasquez (p42); Workplace Etiquette (p45); Brilliant Careers (p46); Riding Tough by Georgia Krokus (p60); Green Machines by Serena Freewomyn (p54); From Road Wimp to Warrior by Heather Robinson (p56). Cover Photo by Eve Dulac-Ackley.
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issue
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4
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Date Issued
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May 2011
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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_Vol21_No4_May-2011_0CR_PDFa.pdf
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extracted text
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Laurel Holloman
Bridget McManus
101
LESBIAN
SEX
POSITIONS
FAKE
( FUR!
Emma Donoghue
SFPRIDE.ORG
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PRIDE
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CELEBRATION AND PARADE
JUNE 25TH-26TH
Saturday, June 25
Celebration in Civic Center
S V H RETH IRLS E!
RESR
H lEL ca
Sunday, June 26
Parade along Market Street
Celebration in Civic Center
WITHBEING
FEDON!
POOCH
PROTEST
.COM•::•
EBK9advantlx®II
@
K9ADVANTIX
II 1sFOR
USE
ONDOGS
ONLY.
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Bayer HealthCare
Animal Health
©2011 Bayer HealthCare LLC,Animal Health Division, Shawnee Mission, KS 66201. Bayer, the Bayer Cross and
K9 Advantix are registered trademarks of Bayer. Frontline is a registered trademark of Merial.
Kl 1422
Features MAY2011
30
Brushing Up With Laurel Holloman
The L Word's Laurel Holloman is passionate
about painting, and her days on the hit 1V
show. By Jillian Eugenios
32
Talking Dirty With Uh Huh Her
Take our backstage pass to Leisha Hailey
and Camila Grey's life on the road.
By Melany Joy Beck & Janelle Sorenson
38
Mrs. & Mrs. Latin America
Meet the first lesbains to get married in
Argentina, at age 68. By Andrea Guzman
40
The United States of Addiction
Who's getting rich from your addictions?
Jane Velez-Mitchell asks the tough questions
about consumerism. By Edie Stull
62
Inspiring India
Experience one lesbian's challenging and
transformative journey. By Kelsy Chauvin
GetYourCareerin FullGear
From jobs to modes of transportation:
we offer you the best advice this issue.
42
Trapped in the Corporate Closet
You've made it to the top, so why are you
still in the closet? By Tina Vasquez
45
Workplace Etiquette Try these seven
tips on how to find a gay-friendly job.
46
Brilliant Careers
Stephanie Rosol, Tina Mabry and Kathy
LeMay pioneer the way for lesbians.
50
Riding Tough
Out lesbian Susan Parker has risked her life
to make it in A1V racing. By Georgia Krokus
54
~ure\Hol\oman
page30
Green Machines
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Commit to a cleaner, greener drive with our
eco-car rundown. By Serena Freewomyn
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From Road Wimp to Warrior
Channel your inner cyclist and get
fit and green in the process.
By Heather Robinson
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Departments MAY2011
IN EVERY ISSUE
6
8
9
10
17
20
21
22
80
12
18
24
Editor's Letter
Health: Meet our inhouse fitness expert,
the lovely and taut Jill Sloane Goldstein.
But where was she hiding those abs in
The Real L Word? Learn how to get some.
Letters
Contributors
26
Out in Front
Stars
Scene
Politics
Women in the workforce are disadvantaged
still and something needs to be done
about it.
This Is What a Lesbian Looks Like
28
Laugh Track
Bridget McManus shares her bumpy career
path to becoming a comic.
Lipstick & Dipstick
Top Ten Reasons We Love ...
-
.
.
.
70
Music: Rain Phoenix's new album proves
she isn't afraid of a little experimentation.
Curvatures
72
Film: Meet Being Human's crushworthy
Heat up the bedroom with our sneak
peek at Jude Schell's 101 sizzling
lesbian sex positions.
74
Books: Meet the brilliant author of Room,
Celebrity Gossip
Ladies, behave! Well, it wouldn't be
Lesbofile without a few hot messes.
lezzie little sister, Alison Louder.
Emma Donoghue.
76
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Food: Get tipsy with Hollis Bulleit, out lesbian
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bourbon amassador for Bulleit Bourbon.
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Tech: Seven gadgets to glam up and trick
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TRACYCHAPMAN/ KIRSTENVANGSNESS / SANDRABERNHARD/
JODIE FOSTER/ ANI DIFRANCO/ MELISSAETHERIDGE/TAMMYLYNN
MICHAELS/ ALEXANDRAHEDISON/ LILYTOMLIN/ KELLYMCGILLIS/
SARAHGILBERT/ JENNY SHIMIZU/ MARTINANAVRATILOVA/KATE
CLINTON/ MICHELLEWOLFF/ CLEA DUVALL/ TEGAN & SARA/ JANE
LYNCH/ K,O, LANG/ JACKIEWARNER/ ANNE HECHE/ MEREDITH
BAXTER/ JANIS IAN/ WE GOT THEM COVERED/ ANGELINAJOLIE/
KRISTANNALOKEN/ JOEY LAURENADAMS / TALLULAHBANKHEAD
LAURELHOLLOMAN/ DREW BARRYMORE/ AMANDA BEARSE/
CRYSTALBERNARD/ BILLYJEAN KING/ CHAZ BONO / AMBER HEARD
/ OREADE MATTEO/ CRIS WILLIAMSON/ FERRON/ ALIXDOBKIN
/ JOAN JETT/ SUBSCRIBE+ SEE/ CATHYDEBUONO/ MARLENE
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BARBARASTANVVYCK
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PORTIADEGENERES/ SAFFRONBURROWS/ FIONASHAW/ SARAH
PAULSON/ CHERRYJONES / LEISHAHAILEY/ HEATHERMATARAZZO
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FORD/ ROSIE0 DONNELL/ JILLIANMICHAELS/ BRANDICARLILE/
DEL MARTIN/ WANDA SYKES/ COURTENAYSEMEL/ BETH DITTO/
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MAURESMO/ ROBYN/ BITCH/ AUDRE LORD / DORIAROBERTS/
SARAHSHAHI/ SHERYLSWOOPES/ CATIECURTIS/ CHRISTINA
AGUILERA/ LADY GAGA/ OPRAH/ HILLARYCLINTON/ JANE VELEZMITCHELL/ KRISTENSTEWART/ ILENECHAIKEN/ MARGARETHE
CAMMERMEYER/ SAM RONSON/ LINDSAYLOHAN
1
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EDITOR'S
NOTE
A
t the inaugural dot429 "Straight Talk'' conference on
March 3 in New York City, I was lucky enough to hear some
of the brightest minds in our community come together to
discuss the idea of authenticity and transparency as it applies
to LGBT rights.
If it sounds a tad academic, it wasn't.
dot429 is a national network for the
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
community, and its allies. It brings
business~minded LGBT professionals
together at vibey events and online.
Brunches, forums and parties-which,
by the way, have nothing to do with
cruising-place you at the very edge
of what's next for our community.
At the "Straight Talk" conference,
Washington, D.C., journalist Kerry
Eleveld and political activist Dan
Choi agreed that a paradigm shift has
occurred when it comes to situating
gay and lesbian rights. It is no longer
necessary to defend the morality of
being gay or lesbian-instead it is now
immoral to discriminate against gays and lesbians; and almost
everyone under 30 considers it immoral to not come out.
It's disappointing that the political pitfalls of coming out
in the workplace still persist, but they do-especially during
this recession. Even those at the very top can be fearful.
During the conference, Logo's executive vice president and
general manager, Lisa Sherman, admitted that throughout
her career, before working at a lesbian and gay network, she
"was really afraid it would be career suicide" to come out. She's
the picture of relaxed confidence now, but, understandably,
many are not. Not all of us can work in the gay ghetto (I
again count myselflucky).
Jane Velez~Mitchell, brave even in the mainstream, told
the story of coming out on public radio while reporting on
the Larry Craig sex scandal. She felt that it would be hypo~
critical to comment on the actions of an allegedly closeted
gay man while remaining in the closet hersel£ To come
out publicly was a big but necessary step, "and nothing bad
happened:' According to Velez~Mitchell, coming out is essential,
if for no other reason than to kill the myth of"separate but
equal:' But most of all, coming out is a huge relic£ "Being in
the closet at work is like walking underwater in slow motion;'
she said. I hope our Careers issue gives you the inspiration to
be your best wherever you work and whatever you do.
We Mean
Business
~~
Merryn Jo s
Editor-inief
merryn@curvemag.com
6
I curve
curve
THE BEST-SELLING
MAY 2011
I
LESBIAN
MAGAZINE
VOLUME 21 NUMBER 4
Publisher Silke Bader
Founding Publisher Frances Stevens
EDITORIAL
Editor in Chief Merryn Johns
Managing Editor Rachel Shatto
Associate Editor Jillian Eugenios
Book Review Editor Rachel Pepper
Contributing Editors Diane Anderson-Minshall, Victoria A.
Brownworth, Gina Daggett, Sheryl Kay, Stephanie Schroeder
Copy Editor Katherine Wright
EditorialAssistants Liska Koenig
PUBLISHING
Director of Operations Laura McConnell
Senior Advertising Executive Diana L. Berry
Advertising Sales Rivendell Media
ART/PRODUCTION
Art Director Stefanie Liang
Production Artist Kelly Nuti
CONTRIBUTING
WRITERS
Jamie Anderson, Kathy Beige, Stacy Bias, Kelsy Chauvin, Bree
Clarke, Lyndsey D'Arcangelo, Beren deMotier, Lauren Marie
Fleming, Lisa Gunther, Tania Hammidi, Kathi lsserman, Melany
Joy-Beck, Gillian Kendall, Georgia Krokus, Kate Lacey, Charlene
Lichtenstein, Karen Loftus, Sassafras Lowrey, Ariel MessmanRucker, Alison Peters, Heather Robinson, Laurie K. Schenden, Lori
Selke, Janelle Sorenson, Dave Steinfeld, Edie Stull, Yana TallonHicks, Jocelyn Voo
CONTRIBUTING
ILLUSTRATORS
& PHOTOGRAPHERS
Erica Beckman, Brie Childers, Meagan Cignoli, Cheryl Craig,
JD Disalvatore, Tony Donaldson, Sophia Hantzes, Cheryl Mazak,
Maggie Parker, Constance Parten, Elisa Shebaro, Leslie Van
Stelten, Katherine Streeter, Kina Williams, Misty Winter
PO Box 467
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Advertising Email advertising@curvemag.com
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Letters to the Editor Email letters@curvemag.com
Volume 21 Issue 4 Curve (ISSN 1087-867X) is published monthly (except for bimonthly
January/February and July/August) by Avalon Media, LLC, PO Box 467, New York NY
10034. Subscription price: $$59.90/year, $$59.90 Canadian (U.S. funds only) and $89.95
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, unsolicited 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
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Canadian Agreement Number: 40793029. Postmaster: Send Canadian address changes to
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changes to admin@avalonmedia.com.au,
Curve, PO Box 17138, N. Hollywood, CA 91615-7138.
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curvemag.com
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1sm session
at curvemag.com
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Curve Contest: Win a Natalia Zukerman CD
Folk singer and (lezzie heartthrob) Natalia Zukerman is back
for her fifth album, Gas Station Roses. Read our review of this
bluesy winner on page 78 and then head to curvemag.com to
find out how to win a copy of your own.
~
Get Schooled in Studology 101
Curve has partnered with the ladies of Studology 101 , Pookz
and DZ, who created their hit web series to inform the world
about the LGBT community through interviews, interactive
Q&As and commentary from their unique perspective. Go to
curvemag.com for your first lesson in Studology.
~
§'
§
§
~
!
More with Alison Louder
Are you crushing on Being Human's lesbian little sister Alison
Louder? We sure are. Which is why we are thrilled to share an
extended interview with the rising star as she shares what life
is like on the On The Road set, her thoughts on gender and
her passion for activism. Read more on curvemag.com
a:
CD
~~
A Tailored Life
Shaz Riley is the lesbian behind the butchtastic bespoke suitmaker, The Butch Clothing Company. Riley shares her own
shopping horror stories, how she started BCC and offers six
tips and tricks to tailoring your wardrobe.
This butch
knows suits
May 2011 17
LETTERS
Sarah Shahi
I Jodi
Picoult
I
Derby Girls
r Sick
of Sarah
TM
AMAZING
TAILS!
Reallife
animal'
rescue
stories
I like your magazine pretty well, but I feel like
families are completely left out on a monthly
basis. As a wife and mother of two, I need to
see more articles or question and answer
type articles in order to love it.
-Noelle Lee, Great Falls,MT
Writing about gay families in Denmark/
Scandinavia soon? You know that Denmark
was the first place in the world where you
could get a registered partnership. Plus, the
whole baby boom-because
we now can get
legal and free insemination in public hospitals
and so on!
-Eva Svendsen, Copenhagen, Sweden
Mad About Meat
Family Circle
My wife and I have been together nine years.
Back in 2007 we decided to finally look into
foster care, with the hopes of someday being
able to adopt. There are so many children of
all ages and backgrounds who so desperately
need to be loved and to feel safe. If you are
considering having children in your life, I do
strongly suggest foster care. At least for us it
worked out perfectly.
-Lori, Upstate N.Y.
I was looking forward to reading"Prime Cuts"
[Vol. 21#3] and especially the butcher shop
owners' response to lesbian vegetarians
because of the prevalence of moralistic "meatis-murder" vegetarianism and veganism among
lesbians in the U.S. I dislike moralistic
judging of what people choose to eat as much
as these butcher shop owners do. However, I
hate ignorance about the history of vegetarianism and low-or-no-red-meat
eating in
Third World and people-of-color cultures
even more.
-Stephani M. Booker, Minneapolis, Minn.
Shallow S.F.
Poll
How satisfied are
you in your workplace?
Reasonably
satisfied,more
33% good
daysthanbad
the bills,
30% Itbutpays
that'sjust aboutit
Miserable,
get me
23% out
of here!
Fullysatisfied,I have
14% the
dreamjob
According
to a curvemag.com
poll
Georgia Krokus'"Golden & Gay" [Vol. 21#2]
focused on where to shop, but I would wager
that lesbians coming to San Francisco need
to know a bit more about where to hang out!
Head to the ever-hip Mission neighborhood
for The Lexington, a cozy and sexy lesbian
bar. Then go a bit further south to the
lesbian-saturated neighborhood of Bernal
Hill to find Wild Side West, a lesbianowned bar since 1962 with a backyard to
cruise in. Georgia, call me next time you' re in
the city-I'll show you a great time.
-Judy Jarvis, San Francisco,Calif.
From Curve's
Facebook Wall
"Lovethis mag!"-Simone Lee
"Shoutoutto curve from Iraq"
-Iman PapiMalone
"I wasthrilledto seethe Q&Awith
MarleeWalchukandTullyCallenderof
Sugarbeach
in the March2011issue.
Thanks,teamcurve! "
-C MistHarman
"Just pickedupthe latestcopyof
curve at the localbookstore.
Totally
mademyday.:)" -LeAnn S.Lim
"I enjoyyourmagazineandhavesince
it hadthat "other"name.I am really
enjoyingthe changessincethe change
in ownership.I feelthat it is more
inclusiveof othercultures,andfar
moreinternational."
-Melodie Ricks
"Justwantedto saythat I readcurve
religiouslyandamveryhappyto see
the changewithincurve's ownership.
Thismonth'sissuewasveryexciting
for mygirlfriendandI. Wereally
enjoyedthe "Tantalizing
Taboosto
Tip HerOverthe Edge."[Vol.21#1]
Pleasekeepthe greatissuescoming."
-Dawn SmithGalvin
"Heycurve! I thinkyourpublication
is amazing.You'restrongandpowerful
womenandI thinkyouall should
standout!Youall makea difference!"
-Kelly Dochney
"I thinkthe magazineis amazingand
hashelpedme in morewaysthan
one."-Vikki Freeman
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CONTRIBUTORS
"Whenever I don't want to exercise I play a little mind
'TU think,
game with myself;' says Jill SloaneGoldstein.
'In one hour, I can still be sitting here or be done with a
workout and feeling so much better: Knowing that the
time is going to pass either way, nine times out of 10 I get
moving:' It's this kind of self~motivation that keeps her fit.
When the full~time freelance writer is not chained to her
laptop (as seen on Showtime's The Real L Word season
one), Goldstein can be found running the streets of L.A.,
working out at the gym or doing bicep curls with grocery
bags. For the first time, Goldstein has combined both her
strengths-writing
and fitness-into
her new curve
column (pg. 24).
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"Research can be very sexy, especially when you're using it
"Working
to promote social justice;' says KylaBender-Baird.
On Our Own Terms" (pg. 27) is based on research from her
forthcoming book, Transgender Employment Experiences:
GenderedPerceptionsand the Law. Driven to research trans~
gender identities out of curiosity, Bender~ Baird returns to
this subject out of a commitment to justice and a desire
to promote change through education. When not delving
into the complexities of gender, Bender~ Baird works for
the National Council for Research on Women, compares
the coffee shops of Brooklyn, N.Y. with those of Portland,
Ore. and contemplates whether she should go by Professor
Bender~ Baird or Dr. Kyla once she earns her Ph.D.
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''I've always thought it's really hard to be a girl. It's frustrating
how women are so deeply underestimated and constantly
ignored by society, even in the 21st century ( and when
a young
they're kissing each other);' says AndreaGuzman,
Chilean reporter who started publishing about civil rights
at age 14. She followed the progress of marriage equality in
Argentina and started looking for lesbian couples to inter~
view when she noticed that the media was focused on gay
male couples. "I never thought I would discover a story as
strong and inspiring as Norma and Ramona's" (pg. 38).
Guzman lives in Argentina where she writes for Chilean
newspapers El Mercurio and La Nacion and the magazines
Paula and The Clinic.
DeaidreNewbyalways has a pen nearby, ready to compose
poetic rhythms, vent about social injustice or depict an
inspiring scene that enters her mind. She has written two
songs, "Love Conspiracy" and "Every Time I Weep;' both
of which have been picked up by professional recording
artists. When she is not writing music, Newby is network~
ing and strategizing for Avalon Media as their business
development manager, promoting clients for Kamby
Management Group, or working towards her lifetime goal
to visit all 50 U.S. states. Read her interview with film~
maker Tina Mabry on pg. 47). (dedenewby.weebly.com)
"Going to India for the first time totally solo is the boldest
adventure I've ever taken. And starting the trip in Kolkata
has been something even Indian people are wowed by;'
In this issue, Chauvin's article"Inspiring
says KelsyChauvin.
India" (pg. 62) she shares excerpts from her India travel
journal that span the initial culture shock, the enchant~
ment of holy Buddhist sites, and her desperation to blend
in-in a place where a Westerner doesn't have a chance of
such a thing. Chauvin is a writer, photographer and film~
maker based in New York. (kelsychauvin.com)■
May 2011
I9
Put a Ring On It
If you're looking to pop the question to your
sweetie, but are seeking non~traditional bling, then
Bilingual unisex rings may be just the artily subversive
jewelry you're searching for. All Bilingual jewelry
is designed and created by Marta Niegowska who,
after spending more than a decade as an interior
designer, was irresistibly drawn to jewelry~making
and creating things with her hands. "My passion
was only enhanced by the fact that I believe there
are so many shapes and forms still to explore, espe~
cially with rings;' says Niegowska.
Designed with an architectural and minimalist
aesthetic and forged in recycled silver, each piece
is the essence of simple elegance. "[Every ring] has
its own unique story and is designed with every
detail considered. The shapes have a meaning, they
are not created just to pretty things up;' explains
Niegowska.
It's this simplicity that Niegowska credits for
the popularity of her line with her gay and lesbian
clients. "The pieces offer our customers a miniature
sculpture that they can wear which is both under~
stated yet elegant. In particular, our pieces appeal
to same sex~couples seeking commitment ringsbecause we can offer matching rings that are gender
neutral, contemporary yet classic:'
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Bilingual
is their commitment to the environment. In addi~
tion to utilizing recycled materials, sustainability is
key to Niegowska. "One of our core philosophies is
to design for longevity. We do not produce throw~
away fashion-instead
our pieces are considered
and designed to feel comfortable, last a lifetime and
offer a timeless and classic aesthetic:'
Sounds like the perfect way to celebrate a love
that's meant to last a lifetime. (bilingual.com.au)
[RachelShatto]
Unisex Sling: (clockwise)
B ring, Destiny M, Ecstasy
neckpiece and Salvation A
May 2011
I 11
CURVATURES
Jude Schell's Sexy New Book
The lesbian sexpert is back with 101 more ways to drive her wild.
Are there any among us who haven't taken at least a peek at
Jude Schell's bestselling 2008 labor of love, Lesbian Sex: 101
Lovemaking Positions? The author of this lesbian kama sutra is
back with another little book of big ideas, Her Sweet Spot: 101
Sexy Ways to Find and Please it. The book advertises itself as "a
promise of sensorial pleasure" and it doesn't disappoint. With
a full~page photo to go with all 101 sexy ways, think of this
handbook as an illustrated map with a side of erotica.
Made up of a mixture
of favorites and new car~
nal creativity, the 101
ways include everything
from spicy stand~bys such
as submission (No. 67)
and spanking (No. 9) to
more curious and sensual
entries like "Her Dogs are
Barking" (No. 71), which
refers to a sexy foot mas~
sage and "Where the Bee
Kissesfulfillanarrayof intentions.
Lipspress
againstanotherasa greetingor farewell,
to seala pact,for goodluck,andto express
respect,
fondness,
attraction,
passion,
andlove.
Kissingis a vitalelementinthechemistryof
love.A woman's
decision
totakeanother
woman
as herloverreliesgreatlyonthesensations
sheexperiences
whentheirlipsfirst meet.
You'vebothbeenimagining
thefirst electric
instantwhenyourracingmindsandlust-filled
bodiesfluentlymerge,mingle,andmeld.Relax,
andletthisirreversible,
sink-or-swoon
moment
unfoldnaturally.
What'snaturalis nearly
alwayswhat'smostextraordinary
...
121curve
Sucks, There Suck I" (No. 41),
which suggests having a three~
way-with Mother Nature.
The erogenous scope is epic: If
whispering "love" at the sky with
the object of your affection might not be your thing, there's
always "status orgasmus;' the twenty~second orgasm of the
Ripple Effect, or food play, which is described in delicious
detail as Lucky No. 49.
Her Sweet Spot depicts women diverse in their body types,
ethnicities, expressions of femininity and even tattoos. But
butch girls are disappointingly absent. There is an abundance
of sizzling femme~on~femme action, but you'll need to go else~
where if you've got a sweet spot for butches and bois.
(indiebound.org) [JillianEugenios]
Reprinted with permission from Her Sweet Spot: 101 Sexy
Ways to Find and Please It by Jude Schell, © 2010. Published
by Celestial Arts, a division of Random House. Photos: Janette
Valentine © 2010
Willsherunwiththe bigdogsor stayontheporchwiththepups?
Lifeisn'tmeantto beobserved;
it's meantto belived.Embrace
a
joiedevivrefor being.
Shelongsto besweptaway.Beheradventurous
lover.Pullher
offthe porchandshatterherroutine.Fulfillherdreamto exploreand
experience
newworlds.
Heroptionsfor adventure
arelimitless.Immerse
yourselves
in
eachother'sdestination
paradise.
Stepintoliquidandsurffor thefirsttime.Divea shipwreck.
Sail
the rivermild.Thewhooshandflutterof a hotair balloonflightis
sureto lightenhermind,body,andspirit.Gatherwithbirdnerds
in picturesque
settingsto seeaneleganteaglesoaror a nuthatch
scamperupa Londonplanetree.
Fulfillingherdreamadventure,
howeverbigor small,givesherthe
confidence
to pursueadditional
curiosities
andpassions.
It'll alsofuel
herdesireto continueto explorehereverypassion
withyou...
Instantgratification
is largelyundervalued.
It'sthesavvylovers-those
familiarwithhowpleasurably
immediate
rewardscanlinger-who seize
everyopportunity
to performa quickieoncue.
Inthelast-minute
preparations
beforea dinnerparty,momentsbefore
yourguestsarrive,boostyourstunningco-hostess
ontothe perfectlyset,
crystal-laden
table,hikeupherdress,andgetit on.
Unexpectedly
lockyourofficedoorandravageheronyourdesk.Inform
theinquisitive
salesperson
'I'mjust lookingfor myfriend'
asyouslipintoherdressingroomandslideyourhanddownherpants.
Loverspulsatewithan incredible
senseof urgency.
Struggle
to keep
quietasyouvirtuallytearoff eachother'sclothesin thethroesof passion,
sonearlyexposed.
Asin a spiritedgameof hide-and-seek,
thethrillis in
the possibility
of discovery
...
CURVATURES
the rundown
Holla Back Girls
Five years ago, Hollaback!, an online movement to use mobile technology
to report street harassment, gave us a way to respond to one of the most
pervasive forms of gender~based violence. And now with the recent
release of its iPhone app, Hollaback! provides a tool to track incidents
of harassment in real time.
Street harassment doesn't have to be a daily
reality. Hollaback! founder Emily May started
the project to raise awareness around the power
structure and dynamics on the street that lead
to harassment of women and LGBT folk. For
May, including the LGBT community in the
project was a "no brainer" because street harass~
ment, at its root, is about gender~based violence.
"Street harassment is taking away someone's
agency;' said May. "It's being told who you are
rather than defining that for yourself:'
Everyone has the right to self~expression and free movement in pub~
lie, to wear what you want and have it be for the ']oy of inhabiting your
body, not the titillation of others;' says May. "The new generation of
feminists are fighting for self~actualization, for the right to be ourselves
everywhere:' And now we have the power to transform our world, one
[KylaBender-Baird]
digital hollaback at a time. ( ihollahack.org)
NeilAbercrombie,
the Governor of Hawaii,has signed
legislation that will legalize civil unions in the state.
"Civil unions respect our diversity, protect people's
privacy, and reinforce our core values of equality and
aloha;' said Abercrombie in a statement issued about
the passage of the law... 700 gay and lesbian couples
were married in MexicoCityin the
first year since same~sex unions were
legalized there, and of that 700,333
of the couples who tied the knot
were women. Marriage equality has
since been challenged by the Mexican
federal government, however the Mexican Supreme
Court has ruled that the law is constitutional and that
all Mexican states must recognize the gay marriages of
Mexico City ... Despite a sometimes~confusing
position on gay marriage, the Obamaadministration
of Justicewill
has announced that the Department
no longer be defending the Defense of Marriage Act
AttorneyGeneralEricHolderissued a
known as DOMA.
statement saying that classifications based on sexual
orientation warrant heightened scrutiny and that
Section 3 of DOMA is unconstitutional... Mary
Morgan,the first openly lesbian judge in the United
States, has announced her plans to retire from the San
Francisco
SuperiorCourts.Morgan was appointed in
1981, and in her time on the bench
has played an instrumental role in
how the court system treats and
assesses mentally ill defendants.
The court in her district now has
10 openly gay or lesbian judges ...
KarenTaita lesbian, and Captain
in the BritishArmy,was sent home from a tour in
Afghanistan after she was accused of having an inap~
propriate relationship with a fellow soldier. Captain
Tait admits that she and SergeantCarolineGraham
were involved in a sexual relationship since 2009,
but argues things were "on the back burner" when
both were assigned to the same region. Commanding
officers argue that they shared a tent, and that she
changed leave rotation so they could be together ... A
new study from the Atlanta
Centerfor DiseaseControl
andPrevention
shows that
American youth are on
the whole having less sex,
but that there was a slight
increase in the rates of
lesbian intercourse amongst teens-12% in 2002 and
13% in 2006-2008. During that same period, 29%
of women aged 15-24 reported that they did not
have sexual intercourse compared with 22% in 2002.
[Sassafras
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HONORARY
LIFETIME
LESBIAN
MEMBERSHIP
OUTINFRONT
Activist Achievers
From D.C. to Nigeria, the struggle for equal rights continues.
By Sheryl Kay
ClearSailing
Although she'sjust 32 years old, KelseyPhipps
was privileged to work for Sen. Edward
Kennedy for four years, in his Washington,
D.C., office, before he died in 2009. His influence on her was profound and dramatic; he
played many roles in her life.
"The senator was my boss, my mentor, my
friend, my political hero;' says Phipps. "He
was like a grandfather to me:'
Phipps was special assistant and assistant
to the chief of staff in the senator's personal
office just before his passing. She spent two
years as a policy advisor on disability and was
the first female co-chair of the Senate's LGBT
staff caucus. Kennedy, she says, was acutely
aware that equality for gay America is no
different from any other civil rights issue.
"He not only was the chief sponsor of
every LGBT civil rights bill in Congress,
but he also followed every issue, pulling
clippings on LGBT news from the papers
himself;' she recalls.
Today, Phipps is putting the legendary
Kennedy tenacity to good use, now that
she's a member of the provisional board of
GetEQUAL, a direct-action group that works
to achieve full legal and social equality for the
gay community. Members of Congress, she
says, need to hear LGBT voices loud and clear.
Those voices provide the impetus necessary to
make legislative changes.
When she's not stating her case on Capitol
Hill, Phipps can be found hitting the books as
a Public Interest Law Scholar at Georgetown
University. She'll receive her Doctorate of
Jurisprudence this month. She has already
signed on as a law clerk with Superior Court
Judge Marisa Demeo, a Latina lesbian recently
appointed by President Obama.
"The Republican takeover is going to make
progress toward equality a lot more difficult,
but we'll keep fighting," says Phipps.
Phipps said she deals with LGBT civil
rights issues using the tenacious spirit-and
the sailing terminology-she
learned from
Sen. Kennedy.
" 'It's not that hard; he used to say. "You
just put the sail into the wind and go:"
QueerRightsin Nigeria
Yemisillesanmicomes from a country where
homosexuality is seen-quite literally-as a
demonic act, where homosexuals are considered to be "possessed" and are often tortured.
In fact, in the 12 northern states of Nigeria,
where Islamic Sharia law prevails, adults who
are found to have engaged in homosexual
intercourse can be stoned to death.
"Many lesbians, bisexuals and gays often
marry the opposite sex just to keep their
family members happy and take away suspicion from the ever-vigilant community;' says,
Ilesanmi a 36-year-old bisexual labor union
activist and attorney. "However, they often
carry out same-sex relationships under the
disguise of friendship. It is like an unwritten
survival code within the LGBT community
in Nigeria:'
Ilesanmi has been fighting for civil rights
since 1998, when she was arrested during
a peaceful student political protest at the
African University Games in Lagos. She was
brutalized by the police.
"Even though there is a civiliangovernment in
"I have lostfriends
and comradesdue to
the overzealousness
of trigger-happy
policemen,but-as
we say-the struggle
continues."
power now, Nigeria is still a growing democracy
and still learning to tolerate oppositions;' says
Ilesanmi. "I have lost friends and comrades due
to the overzealousness of trigger-happy policemen, but-as we say-the struggle continues:'
Currently enrolled in the Master of Laws
(LLM) program in Gender, Sexuality and
Human Rights at Keele University, in the
U.K., Ilesanmi speaks at conferences to
stimulate interest in LGBT issues in Africa,
noting that the same international solidarity
shared by trade unions across the globe
should also include solidarity for LGBT
workers, regardless of their race, gender or
geographical location.
She understands the difficulties associated
with coming out in a country where homosexuality is a criminal offence and can lead to
social and political exclusion and even death.
''As a single mother, an atheist, a bisexual
black woman, I am used to being discriminated against, but I do not have to tolerate
it or accept it as normal. It is important that
we stand up for ourselves and also for others
whose voices are silenced:' ■
May 2011
I 17
LESBOFILE
Stirring it Up
One celesbian couple splits, another reunites, faux-mos
have us rolling our eyes and an A-lister peeks out of the closet. By Jocelyn Voo
Splitsville
Ladies, RosieO'Donnell
is back on the market.
The comic and TracyKachtick-Anders,
her
girlfriend of over a year, have called it off.
Reports say that while the split was amicable,
they're still sorting things out because their
kids (Kach tick- Anders' six, and O'Donnell's
four with ex-wife Kelli Carpenter) are close.
Looks like it's the end of the Gay-dy Bunch.
More LiRoLovin'
In the world of on-again, off again romances,
LindsayLohanand SamanthaRonsonmight
be competing for the heavyweight title. After
an impossibly tabloid-friendly relationship
that subsequently ended in an even more
tabloid-friendly train wreck ( that included a
restraining order being filed against Lohan),
it looks like LiRo is back on again. Last we
heard, Lohan moved in next door to Ronson
without notice. Then Ronson took to Twitter
to announce their latest status: "watching
greys anatomy-my fav show-@lindsaylohan sleeping next 2 me- should
i wake her up to let her know her
mom is going on GMAt
All it takes is 140 characters to
smooth over a restraining order,
we guess.
WelcomeWagon
Welcome, DaisyLowe-actor, daughter of
rocker Gavin Rossdale and Miles Kane music
video muse-to
the Fake Lesbian Club.
Membership mandates the following things:
Must have a real boyfriend.Check: Lowe is
dating Doctor Who star Matt Smith.
Must moon after other hot celebritychickspublicly. Check: In an interview with GQ;
Lowe declared affinity for Kelly Brook"Such a hottie:'
18
I curve
Must claim lesbianism. Sort of. Check: "I
am, pretty much, a mild lesbian;' she says.
(Which we guess is similar to being "sort of
pregnantt)
We blame the likes of Aubrey O'Day,
Katy Perry and those girls from t.A.T.u. for
paving the way.
15 Minutes
Fame hungry, much:' Jon Gosselin's ex, Hailey
has decided if she can't get the spotGlassman,
light by dating a straight man with
eight kids, perhaps the road
to success is ... starring in a
horror film that includes a
potential lesbian scene with
a porn star! Glassman has
signed on, and SashaGrey
is mulling over the script.
Honestly, we don't know if s:this, or Glassman's relationship \2,
~
with Gosselin, is more appalling. Although, ~
on second thought, Grey is pretty foxy.
~
~
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HelloAnna!
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Everyone's a little gay, according to AnnaFaris, ~
u
telling Vanity Fair that "we all may be a bit rt
uj
bisexual:' Having played gay in two films ~
(May and The Hot Chick), it sounds like g
maybe there's a little "Method" to her mad- 2
~
ness, if you know what we mean. ■
c:i
She Said
In a sea of snarky soundbites, sometimes we forget the
best of what's been said. Women Know Everything: 3,241
Quips, Quotes & Brilliant Remarks by Karen Weekes
serves up some memorable moments.
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May 2011
I 19
STARS
Mischief and May-hem Energetic May is feeling feisty. It would
be a shame to rein her in, so go for the gusto. By Charlene Lichtenstein
Taurus(April21-May 21)
Call it intuition or call it providence but there is something buzzing in your head that seems to guide you
in the best direction. Then, once you have routed the
spirits and created your great gay karma, get involved
in a charitable effort that improves our community.
Gemini(May22-June 21)
Mischief and mayhem ensues all May and Twins can
enjoy every "wilde" crazy moment. So why aren't you
instigating some of this feisty action? Don't leave it to
others to provide the buzz. That is your forte, especially since you have so many buzzy play toys. Ahem.
Taurus(April21-May 21)
Bullsare the earthiestof
the earth signsand can be
temptedto mudwrestlefor
their meal.Theyalso quite
enjoywatchingother scantily
clad babestake their turns
in the mud pit. Theywill
gladlyhelp scrub-a-dubthe
winner-or eventhe loser.
It's amazingwheremudcan
hide!After the party is over,
she can plop in front of the
boobtube with the best of
them.Withoutstimulation,
she can fall into a pattern
of familiar malaise.Blowin
her ear and she'll follow you
anywhere.Leaveher to her
own devicesandshe'll plow
througha six-pack,a pizza
and a tub of popcorn.The
wise loverwill givethis gal
lots of love,affectionand
attention.Shemaynot be the
mostexperimentalloverbut
she has luxuriousstamina
and a romanticstreak.Who
elsewouldtry to fill up your
bathtubwith champagne
andfresh cherriesas an
anniversarysurprise?
20
I curve
Cancer(June22-July 23)
There is no stopping you on your professional path
this May. But you seem to be carefully guarding the
secret of your success. Are you vaulting ahead through
sheer talent or sheer schmooze? I say,whatever works!
As long as you're spreading your personal oil, allow
yourself glide into the corner office.
Leo(July24-Aug.23)
Adventure and travel await you, especially if you are
open to exploring and conquering new territories. But
there is something equally wonderful about looking
inward and expanding your sense of sel£ Of course,
it is nicer to do that when you're relaxing on a sultry
beach sipping a certain sultry you-know-who.
Virgo(Aug.24-Sept.23)
Not only are you extraordinarily passionate, you
are also giving off sexy vibes for whoever may stray
in your path. Lucky lady, make your way through
the sexual tasting menu for the entire month. But
remember, all play and no work can lead you totally
and naughtily astray.
Libra(Sept.24-0ct. 23)
There will be added focus to relationships, particularly as they apply to your domestic harmony. Well,
maybe total harmony is not in the cards, but you can
still salvage a compromise between those who want
more bon vivant in life and those who love to cocoon
in front of the tube.
Scorpio(Oct.24-Nov.22)
Focus on impactful exercise and a revamp of your diet.
Any amount of effort could have dramatic impact and
benefit. Not only will you be able to improve on perfection but you will also be in fabulous shape to wow
them all through swimsuit season. And who knows?
Maybe you won't even want to wear a swimsuit at alL
Sagittarius(Nov.23-Dec.22)
You're an innovator and a creator of wondrous things.
OK so maybe that's an exaggeration. But what is clear
is that you have a remarkable opportunity to do something wonderfully creative and fun. It not time to lie
around and feel sorry for yoursel£ It's time to get up
and out and make your artistic scrawl on the walL
Capricorn(Dec.23-Jan. 20)
If household issues weigh you down, don't let them.
Concentrating on domestic projects could be fun.
Especially when you can create an event like a moving
party. Of course a "repairing the roof" or "cleaning out
the garage" party will not have the same oomph so
you'll have to figure that out.
Aquarius(Jan.21-Feb.19)
Tell it like it is. Call it as you see it. But be sure that
you have all the facts before you let loose. Aqueerians
can be bold and opinionated and that's not a bad thing.
But know from where you speak so that your words
have the gravity and power that will change minds and
move the movement forward.
Pisces(Feb.20-March20)
There is money to be made and you might as well
be the one to make it. But Guppies often invest with
their hearts and not with their heads. Change your
fiscal dynamic by asking the right advice and taking
calculated risks. Before you know it you could be
flush and fancy-free.
Aries(March21-April 20)
Set yourself on the road to riches this May and launch
a few pet projects that have been gathering dust on
your to-do list. One of them may just catch the wind
and fly high. Glad hand and make your best first
impression. Of course, you could just use those
wandering hands to make other types of impressions. ■
Charlene
Lichtenstein
is theauthorofHerscopes:
A Guideto Astrologyfor Lesbians(Simon&
Schuster)(tinyurl.com/HerScopes).
Now availableasanebook.
SCENE
Change You Can Believe In From the Greenpeace vessel
Arctic Sunrise to the top of a New York penthouse, lesbians look to the future.
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The cream of business-minded lesbians gathered in the
stunning penthouse of the boutique Lower East side
Hotel on Rivington in N.Y.C. for the inaugural cocktails
and conversation dot429Women'sParty(2, 3, 6). Hosts
included Ali ya Hallim- Byne, SabrinaHaley(3), Sabrina
Riddle, Meredith Schlosser and Lisa Sherman. Guest
speaker was the actor HeatherMatarazzo(1). Proceeds
from the event went to support NCLR. (dot429.com)
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CreatingChangeConference
The 23rd National Conference on LGBT Equality:
Creating Change took place in Minneapolis, Minn.,
Feb. 2-6. More than 2,500 people from allover the country
attend the five-day program that featured over 250
workshops and training sessions, four plenary sessions
and networking opportunities. Attendees included,
God-des
andShewith KateClinton
(7),Vera Martin Founders
of Old Lesbians Organizing for Change and Kylar W.
Broadus Awardee Sue Hyde. (creatingchange.org)
WonderWomenLaunch
Dedicated to the empowerment of women globally,
WonderWomen(4, 5) is the vision of AliyaHallim-Byne
(4, at right).The dynamic group of women poised to
break the glass ceiling and challenge inequities was
fittingly launched aboard historic Greenpeace vessel,
Arctic Sunrise, docked at Pier 59 in Chelsea, N.Y.C.
The temperatures were indeed arctic on Feb. 8 but
Wonder Women warmly welcomed everyone aboardfemale, male, gay, straight-to
envisage a future where
women, and the world itself, could advance, free from
oppression. ( wonder-women.org)
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May 2011
I 21
What Should Dipsticks Wear to Work?
Lipstick: No pleats,
no white socks and no cinched-up belts. By Lipstick and Dipstick
Dear Lipstick and Dipstick: I just landed a new job and the dress code
is "business casual." I'm unsure what to wear. I'm a butch and before
this the only jobs I've ever had were at places where there's a specific
uniform. I can, of course, just Google fashion advice for women and for
men, but there's nothing for women who dress like men. Help!
- Disoriented Dipstick
Lipstick:Dip, this is all yours. But, I will add
three rules: (1) no pleats, (2) no white socks
and (3) no belts cinched too tight.
emphasize the "business" side of "business
casual" for the first few days, until you get a
sense of the fashion culture.
Dipstick:Great question. I used to work in a
place with a similar dress code. I agree with
Lipstick-pleated
pants and women just
don't mix. And definitely stay away from cargo pants. Start with some flat-front khakis,
a button-up shirt and a blazer. You can
soften the look with a scarf or some other
feminine touch, but only if that feels comfortable to you. Add to your style with a nice
watch and a belt. Ties are optional. Shop
in the men's department. I like Nordstrom
Rack, where you can find stylish,
high-quality shirts and slacks for
reasonable prices. If clothes don't
fit off the rack, get them tailored.
There is nothing worse than a
dyke trying to look dapper in
ill-fitting clothes. Also, there are
a few lesbian-owned companies
that sell custom-made suits and
business clothes for those of us
with women's bodies who prefer
a male aesthetic. I know some
butch dykes who claim to do OK
in the women's department, especially with classic man-tailored
suits, but psychologically, I can't
go there. If you can, knock yourself out. Lastly, pick up a pair of
comfortable dress shoes. If your
feet are big enough, you can get
shoes in the men's department,
too. Since you're new at this job,
DearLipstickand Dipstick:I've beenwith my
girlfriend,Simone,for eightmonthsandwe've
onlyhadsexfourtimes.At firstI thoughtit was
me,butafterspeakingwith herex,who,oddly,
I am goodfriendswith, I foundout they had
the sameproblem,whichis oneof the reasons
theybrokeup.I wasveryintimatewiththe last
girl I datedbeforeSimone.Thelackof sexisn't
workingforme.I loveherbutfindit veryhardto
be in a sexlessrelationship.
Thoughts?
-Me andMyMagicWand
22
I curve
Lipstick:Not sure what Simone's problem is,
but some women just don't like sex. It could
be a hormonal imbalance, past trauma, an
obsession with knitting-the
reasons run
the gamut. What I'd suggest is to dump
this lump of charcoal and find someone else
whose tinder is ignited by your flint.
Dipstick:What steps have you taken to deal
with this issue with Simone? (Other than
talking about your private life with her ex,
a questionable move.) Has Simone actually
said that she just doesn't like the horizontal
hip-hop? Bouncing the bedsprings just four
times in the stretch of a year just doesn't
seem right. You should be at the stage in
your relationship where you're boppin' booties four times a day. I can't even fathom what
the two of you have been doing for the last
eight months. Watching Flying Nun reruns
and reading Nancy Reagan's biography? Lay
this baby out on the table and talk it out. You
never know-this
may be all it takes to get
her up on that table, spread-eagled.
ex:
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Lipstick & Dipstick ADVICE
Dear Lipstickand Dipstick:I've beentalking
to this girl I work with throughtext. We went
out of town on businessand there was seriousflirting.Therealwaysis. We talk through
text all day,everyday.We'veshareda lotwith
each other,but we don't fit into the friend
zone. There's a differentvibe, and it really
seemslike something'sgoingon. I just need
to know if she feels it too, and it's not just
wishfulthinking.How can I crack this open
andfind out if I'm takingthis for morethan it
is?-Crushed OutCo-Worker
Lipstick:Are you outr Do you know if she
likes womenr I have a sneaking suspicion
that's a double negative and this is all happening behind the veil. She's probably stuck
in the same conundrum as you. I dare you to
text her this: TMT (twist my ti tty) or GIMP
(get in my pants). Not into itr Then I tripledog dare you to be gutsy and out yoursel£ Do
There is nothing
worse than a dyke
tryingto lookdapper
in ill-fittingclothes.
it casually-like, mention an ex-girlfriend,
or how you never really understood what a
hummer was because you're a gold star. If it
scares her off, so be it. Someone needs to up
the ante.
Dipstick:
I love technology. Flirting is so much
easier through text messages. I remember the
old days when you used to have to call a girl
up on her home phone or leave a message on
her answering machine. There was always the
possibility that her roommate-or
worse,
her mother-would
listen to it. Talk about
pressure! The two of you have mastered the
art of text-flirting, but what happens when
you're face-to-facer This is a typical dyke
problem. Flirt, flirt, flirt, but neither one of
you is prepared to make the first move. The
next time you're with this gal-outside
of
work, of course-walk
right up to her, cool
and confident. And with a twinkle in your
eye, say: "I had a dream about you last night.
Would you like to make it a realityt
Lipstick:And then watch her burn in the
other direction, taking out the poor old lady
in Starbucks who's simply trying to get a cup
of coffee. Your M.O. has been texting. Why
change the flow at this crucial pointr Unlock
her chastity belt with your smartphone.■
Tune in to curvemag.com/lipstickanddipstick@
to watchthe The Lipstick& DipstickShow. ~
Or, write to tv@lipstickdipstick.com.
\ii)-.'.
May 2011
I 23
ADVICE Health
Get Moving, Without the U-Haul.
Five ways to kick-start the exercise habit.
By Jill Sloane Goldstein
According to Sir Isaac Newton, bodies at
rest stay at rest, while bodies in motion stay
in motion. While this academic principle is
the foundation of classical mechanics, it's also
pretty on the mark when it comes to the more
mundane. Like our everyday exercise habits.
Think about it-you begrudgingly motivate
to the gym on a Friday afternoon after a long
week. It's a struggle to get yourself there but
a pre~packed gym bag and the nudging inter~
nal voice of promised New Year's resolutions
lead you to the door. You push through 20
minutes of cardio and attempt a set of those
reverse crunches you saw demonstrated on
your local morning news show. While it may
24
I curve
"Proper exercise yields results. And
chances are, you're going to like them."
not be your peak performance, you've man~
aged to raise your heart~rate, expel a few
beads of sweat and use your membership.
Now at least the only card in your wallet col~
lecting dust is from the local library.
Then comes the night out on the town
with your girls. As the evening unfolds,
your mood peaks-no
doubt the result of
newly released endorphins to your system
and the belief that those jeans slid on just a
pinch more seamlessly tonight because you
exercised. You feel good, you look good and,
drinks or no drinks at the bar, you plan to be
back at the gym tomorrow.
It's all about momentum. Getting our minds
and bodies to the starting gates and taking
that very first step toward our goal. That's
the most arduous part of the process. It's
one that requires a great amount of mental and
physical energy and one we deftly avoid with
myriad excuses: We're too tired, too busy
with work or simply too intimidated. The
good news is that none of these excuses is
insurmountable; there are many exercise
solutions available to accommodate our
range of needs. The better news is that
momentum is on our side. So much so, that
in the absence of an external force to stop
you (and no, ongoing romps in the bed~
room with your new lover do not count),
you can't stop. And you won't. Because
unlike other challenging behaviors, proper
exercise yields results. And chances are
you're going to like the results.
So get to the gym or step outside and
put the theory to the test. This doesn't
necessarily mean following a strict, time~
consuming exercise regimen straight off
the bat or ditching all of your push~up bras
for sports bras. It simply requires that you
commit to one activity to kick~start the
process. Go for a walk, hit the treadmill,
pick up a tennis racket. Find something you
enjoy, carve out a half hour and just do it. If
finding time is really an obstacle, there are
plenty of ways to incorporate exercise into
your busy day. Start by taking the stairs
instead of the elevator or hit the pavement
and forego the bus. Or, when you're finally
taking a free moment to sit down and TiVo
through your favorite show, stand back up.
Now squeeze those gluts. Voila! You've just
done a pulsing squat.
The opportunities are there, you just
need to begin seizing them. Knock out
that very first workout. When it comes
time to do it again, you'll be amazed at
how less daunting a task it seems. You
may even enjoy it. One way or another,
it'll be a moving experience. ■
Tips to Get Movin'
Startlowandgoslow.There is no need to fly aggressively out of the gates only to find
yourself sore, injured or completely turned off after your first workout. Just 10~15
minutes of cardio may suffice in the beginning, especially if you've been sedentary
for some time. The idea is to slowly build your stamina, strength and affinity (or at
minimum, your tolerance) toward the experience.
Set achievablegoals.By outlining both your expectations and commitment~level,
you'll have an easier time incorporating exercise into your life. If breaking a sweat
twice a week is doable for you, then set those intentions. You'll be more likely to
continue with the routine if you find yourself completing it.
Makeplans.If you commit to an activity in advance, it's easier to follow through.
Set a time to meet a friend, coworker, boss-a first date! Broaden the responsibility
beyond yourself and chances are, you'll show up.
Changeit up.The most effective way to stay motivated is to stay interested. Stave off
exercise boredom by incorporating different types of activities into your workouts.
Consider adding intervals to your routines through either intensity (incline) or pace
(speed). This will also yield more effective results. Remember, our bodies are smart.
They become very efficient at utilizing the least amount of energy possible to per~
form the same movement. So change it up and keep your muscles on attention and
your motivation on high.
Lookaheadan hour.(My personal favorite!) If the notion of moving off the couch
seems overly daunting, envision how you'll feel in an hour from now if you exercise.
The time is going to pass either way, so you might as well feel physically and mentally
better once it does. 0illsloanegoldstein.com)
GET AGRIP
ON A CLEANER
WORKOUT
A lesbian has invented the
perfect gym accessory.
Ifyouwanttoworkout,butworryabout
thegermsthatcirculate
ina placeas
publicasthegym,thenPhitGrips
are
whatyou'vebeenwaitingfor.Theycreate
a barrierbetween
youandthemillions
of germsfoundongymsurfaces
and
workout
equipment.
Invented
andfounded
byoutDallaslesbian
DawnMeifert
(whoalsoidentifies
asa germophope),
PhitGrips
arepalm-sized,
antimicrobial
cushioned
gripsthatfit snuggly
around
dumbbell
barsandhandrails.
Atestby
GoodMorning
America's
microbiologist
Dr.Philip
Tiernofoundgermsongym
equipment
including
staphaureus,
klebsiella,
enterobacter
andE.coli."Most
infectious
diseases
aretransmitted
by
contact,"
saysMeifert,theformerCEOof
a Dallasadagency
whoholdspositions
inseveralDallas-Fort
WorthorganizationssuchasGLAAD,
BestFriends
Animal
Sanctuary
andHumanRights
Campaign.
PhitGrips
makegermtransfer
a non-issue
andprovide
a moresecuregripthan
gloves
orstraps,
allowing
youtofocuson
yourworkout.
Currently
availableonlineand
soonin gyms
andfitness
centers
throughouttheU.S.
(phitgrip.com)
[Georgia
Krokus]
May 2011
I 25
POLITICS
Not Quite Making It
After decades of affirmative action, women are stillworking for less. By Victoria A. Brownworth
On March 1, timed to coincide with the
beginning of Women's History Month, the
Obama administration released Women in
declare that women have fared better than
highest risk for low pay and underemploymen in the recession, it's a finding based
ment. Women married to men are doing the
solely on lost manufacturing jobs, not on best among the worst, and white and Asian
America: Indicators of Social and Economic actual earnings. It is true that men have lost women are marginally better off than Latino
Well-Being, the first comprehensive study more jobs overall, but it is equally true that and African American women.
of the status of women since 1963. For women have been downsized more often
The recession has only compounded the
most American women, the report's main
and that women in low-payingjobs have lost problem of women's wage inequality. Why is
revelations were no surprise. Despite 36 years any opportunity for advancement due to the there still so much inequity in the workplace,
of affirmative action, and the fact that more
recession. Plus, according to the Wall Street so many years after the second wave of femwomen than men now graduate from college Journal and other business news media,
inism brought women Title IX and Title X,
employers are refusing to consider unemwhich should also have brought them equity
(by 2019 women are projected to account
for 60 percent of all college graduates), a ployed workers to fill positions because they
in pay and job access?
significant pay gap still exists-women
are consider those workers to have lost their
The Equal Pay Act was signed by President
making only 75 percent of what men make. edge. The majority of those unemployed for John E Kennedy in June 1963, but nine presiAnd depending on whether a woman is a more than 18 months are women over 40, dents later there's still no such thing. The
white-, pink- or blue-collar worker, she can and African American and Latino women
Equal Pay Act was signed into law specifically
have suffered the highest rates of unemploybe making even less than that. Age ( too young
because, as the law states, a wage disparity for
or too old), race and sexual orientation are ment throughout the recession.
women "depresses wages and living standards
The numbers indicate the greatest eco- for employees necessary for their health and
also factors that marginalize female workers
nomic hardship for single women-which
and limit their earning potential.
efficiency; prevents the maximum utilization
The report did not address the impact of is where lesbians fall on the statistical grid. of the available labor resources; tends to cause
In addition, women of color and women
the recession, but it has hurt women in the
labor disputes, thereby burdening, affecting
who are either under 25 or over 45 are at the
workplace dramatically. While media reports
and obstructing commerce; burdens commerce
26
I curve
WORKING ON
OUR OWN TERMS
and the free flow of goods in commerce; and constitutes an
unfair method of competition:'
In other words, cheating women by paying them less is
actually bad for business.
If there is a law to make women equal, why are women still
struggling so much? One answer is the jobs women actually
hold versus the ones they are told they can aspire to. More
than half of all women workers make only a little over, or
just under, minimum wage. But even if a woman is holding
a white~collar job of comparable value to a man, she is still
making at best $75,000 to his $100,000. And while the
disparity might not seem as dramatic at that income level,
imagine the difference between $15,000 and $20,000. Or
$7,500 and $10,000.
Single women are far less likely to own their own homes
than women married to men. Only 30 percent of single
women own a home, compared with 85 percent of married
women. Single females are among the poorest because they
are the lowest wage~earners. According to the most recent
U.S. Census data, only 2.5 percent of single females overall
are in the top 5 percent of wage earners, and more than 30
percent of single females are in the bottom 20 percent of the
earnings scale.
The disparities are even greater for African American
and Latino women, who constitute the majority of the
domestic workforce, along with immigrant women of all
races. These women are the most likely to be earning below
the minimum wage.
But it's not all rosy for women at the top, either. According
to the Census figures, "the average income for [those with] an
advanced degree was $72,824 with men averaging $90,761
and women averaging $50,756 annually:'
So much for the fact that women now get the majority of
doctoral degrees. That difference isn't 25 percent-it's
over
40 percent.
Trade schools have traditionally focused on recruiting
men and training them for high~paying union jobs like
electrician, plumber, construction worker, engineer-trades
with very few women.
But jobs held primarily by women, like the majority of
low~level health care and clerical positions, are both low
paying and have almost no room for advancement.
While the Obama administration's report is welcome, it
contains no suggestions about how we should get to the next
rung of the economic ladder. Where does that leave lesbians,
particularly those over 40, and African American and Latina?
With such a dramatic gap continuing to exist for so many
years between what men and women make for comparable
work, action needs to be taken. Women's rights groups,
the federal government, schools-they
all have to engage
in helping women achieve full equity as wage earners. A good
start would be implementing the Equal Pay Act-48 years after
it was signed into law. Until that is made a priority, women will
continue to be stuck on the wrong side of the wealth divide. ■
Transgender identities in the workplace.
By Kyla Bender-Baird
Accordingto the NationalGayand
LesbianTaskForce(NGLTF),
61
percentof the U.S.populationis
vulnerableto workplacediscriminationbasedon genderidentityor
expression,
compounded
by a lack
of anyclearvehicleof recourse.
In a recentnationalstudyof
transgenderdiscriminationbythe
NationalCenterfor Transgender
EqualityandNGLTF,
26 percent
of respondents
reportedlosing
theirjob becausetheyweretrans
or gendernon-conforming.
An
earlierNGLTF
studyfoundthat 58
percentof cisgenderLGBwomen
respondents
experienced
discriminationbasedon their gender
expression.
Myownresearch
uncovereda similarpattern.Of
the 20 self-identifiedtransgender
peopleI spokewith, 20 percent
reportedbeingaskedto leave
theirjob aftertheir genderidentity
wasrevealedto their employer.
Formany,their dedicationandjob
skillsjust didn't matter.
Oneof the transgender
womenI spokewith, Kaye,spent
25 yearsof her life expandinga
shoestringstreetrescuemission
into a fully-staffedhomelessness
outreachorganization.Butwhen
her ex-wifeoutedher to the
organization'sboardof directors,
Kayewasforcedinto retirement.
Theorganizationwas affiliated
with a fundamentalistbranch
of the BaptistChurch,of which
Kayeis an ordainedminister.
Withina matterof minutes,Kaye
lost practicallyeverything-her
job, her spiritualcommunity,
evenher family.
Unfortunately,
Kaye'sstory
is not uncommon.
Studyafter
study,suchasthosesitedby
Transgender
LawCenter'sGood
JobsNow!andthe D.C.Needs
Assessments
Report,have
disclosedrampantdiscrimination
againsttransgender
employees,
includingjob loss,denied
promotions,
lackof appropriate
bathroomaccess,restrictivedress
codes,purposefullyusingthe
wrongnameor genderpronoun
andharassment.
Thegoodnewsis that
sincethe legallandscape
for transgenderemployment
protectionsis still beingmapped,
we havethe opportunityto shape
policyto addressdiscrimination
as experienced
by transand
gender-nonconforming
people.
Workplaces
havethe opportunity
to
implementtrans-inclusive
policies
thatwill attracttoptalentandfocus
on productivity,not employees'
genderidentities.In additionto
an anti-discrimination
policythat
includessexualorientation
and
genderidentity,workplaces
must
providediversitytrainingeducating
employees
on lesbian,gay,
bisexualandtransgender
people.
Weall shouldbe ableto bring
ourwholeselvesto work,wearing
clothingthat expressesour
gender,accessingbathrooms
accordingto our genderpresentation,not havingto hidewhowe
arefor fear of retaliation.Noone
shouldhaveto fear losingtheir
job dueto their sexualorientation
or genderidentity.
KylaBender-Baird
is theResearch
andProgramsManagerfor the
NationalCouncilfor Research
on Women.Herupcoming
book,Transgender
Employment
Experiences:
Gendered
Perceptions
andthe Lawis due
out this fall.
May 2011
I 27
LAUGH
TRACK
Queer Careers
One of our favorite funny ladies reveals how she became a comic. By Bridget McManus
As a child I lived next door to five pretty girls
who all wanted to grow up to be singers,
actresses and ballerinas.
I didn't want to be a ballerina-I
wanted
to be the ringleader at a circus. The ringleader position has always been reserved for
lanky old men, not for chubby little girls.
But my mother was very supportive of my
dreams and made me a top hat out of paper
and assisted me as I wrangled my cats to be a
part of the backyard circus.
The businesswoman in me charged admission to the show and my patient family
members sat on stones in the grass as I stood
atop my backyard play set and bellowed for
their attention.
Today, I am a stand-up comic, so obviously
not a lot has changed over the years. But I
did have some pit stops along the way.
At my first college (I attended three universities), I studied kinesiology (translation:
gym teacher). As an overweight child who
eventually shed the excess weight, I wanted
to help other kids fight their battle against
food. Fitness is about self-power and I believe many lesbians flock to this profession
because they're physically powerful women
who don't need or want to be taken care of.
Not that many years ago, the majority of
women in the United States stayed home
with their children while their husbands
were the sole financial providers for their
families. Thankfully, that's changed, but
because men still statistically
earn more money than women
do at the same professions, which
is why I think some lesbians (if
they realize it or not) are drawn
to jobs that make them feel
empowered. I know a handful of
lesbian cops who love the respect
they receive because they are
uniformed law enforcement. The
loaded gun also helps.
I never wanted to be a cop,
and it turned out that being a
gym teacher wasn't my passion
either. After a full year of doing
squats and getting my aerobics instructing
certification, I realized I was just trying
to prove something to myself. My passion
was really for performing. At my second
university, I became a drama major. What
were my parents thinking?
My parents have three children ( two are
queer) that have all studied and currently
work in the arts. Our parents never pressured
us to get "normal" jobs and have watched us
struggle over the years as we all pursued our
dreams. They never told us what we should
do or said certain jobs were for boys and certain
jobs for girls. They just don't want us to be
I
Idrug addicts.
~
Don't worry, Mom and Dad-we're artists so ~
=>
we can't afford drugs! (bridgetmcmanus.com)■ ~
EVE DULAC-ACKLEY
•
J)
~ µ~.~-~
µµ~
(D
~ µ
~
Leisha Hailey and Camila Grey dish on the new tour,
the album and the dirty little secrets of life on the road.
M"~p;-"
~~
~
CJQ
By Melany Joy Beck & Janelle Sorenson
t a West Hollywood eatery, Leisha
Hailey and Camila Grey are loading up on
healthy greens to prepare for their first tour
together since 2009. "We haven't played
since then because I've been all over
the world with the man in my life," Grey
laughs, referring to her keyboard duties on
American Idol star Adam Lambert's Glam
Nation tour. This time the duo are heading
out in support of their sophomore album,
Nocturnes, due out late this summer as
well as a six song EP, Black and Blue,
available now, which is somewhat of a
teaser for what Nocturnes has in store.
Uh Huh Her burst onto the scene in
2007 with their breakthrough EP and single
"I See Red." While Hailey split time between
touring and filming Showtime series, The
L Word, Grey was making music with Dr.
Dre, Kelly Osbourne and her former band,
Mellowdrone, among others. The initial
success of Uh Huh Her took them both
by surprise with a whirlwind of interviews,
photo shoots and television appearances,
as the pair struggled to balance time on
the road with other projects.
34
I curve
z
0
(f)
zw
a:
0
(f)
j
w
z
::i;
like touring," says Hailey. "I feel like every night
you get a new chance to improve what you did the night
before, instead of this rut of playing one-offs:'
Grey nods, taking a sip of her hastily ordered Arnold
Palmer-a
concoction of iced tea and lemonade named
after the pro golfer. She taps out a rhythm on the side of
the glass with her fingertips. "We're looking forward to
that consistency again;' she admits.
Consistency on tour usually means late nights, smoky
clubs and a steady diet of deep fried goodies purchased
from drive-thru windows and convenience stores. When
asked about their secrets to staying healthy, Grey is quick
to admit that it isn't easy. "I mean, look at me;' she says
mockingly, gesturing toward her oversized Pink Floyd
T-shirt and skin-tight black jeans "You accept the grunge;'
Hailey offers. "You accept the dirt:'
Grey agrees that it's the dirt, sometimes, that makes a
great tour. "It's a van tour, not a bus tour;' she says, relishing
the idea of spending months away from home, occasionally
without proper facilities. "It's not fancy. It's real. Let's get
gritty;' she says. "Let's get dirty:'
Rebuilding Uh Huh Her from the ground up has
May 2011
I 35
essentially been the name of the game this time around.
Being in charge of their own business, from financing
merch, to crew salaries, tour coordination and the minute
details of everyday tour life, the girls are revamping what
it means to tour with Uh Huh Her.
"We're having people double as tour managers and
merch people. Our sound person doubles as set-up.
Everybody is doing different jobs;' Grey says. "I've done
all sorts of tours and this is fun:' Stepping out of the
shadows of Hailey's L Word fame, Uh Huh Her has
blossomed into a leaner, more focused collaboration of
two highly creative artists. And while the tour for their
first full-length record, Common Reaction, included a bus
and relentless rounds of press, both Grey and Hailey
look forward to the intimacy of a smaller outing. Even if
it means taking a turn behind the wheel.
''
'11drive in the morning after three cups of coffee;'
Hailey says.
"There's something cathartic about driving and zoning
out and watching the lines, seeing the landscape pass by;'
agrees Grey. "When you leave the city you live in, and
pay attention to the cities you pass through, it's magic.
You find the coolest stuff;' she says. "I call them twilight
zone towns:'
Hailey and Grey hail from Nebraska and Texas, respectively, so they know something about those small towns.
"We're kind of country bumpkins;' laughs Grey. "But I've
lived in L.A. longer than I've lived anywhere else, so I call
this home:'
Venturing far from home means long hours in close
quarters, which can lead to quarrels for some bands and
years of therapy for others. When asked about the inevitable disagreements and how they handle the non-stop
fishbowl of the average rock tour, Hailey smiles. "We're
going to try to not annoy each other:'
"That's an interesting question;' interrupts Grey. "I
think we should answer it:'
The two conspire in glances and smirks before Hailey
finally breaks the silence. "Really? OK, if she's in a bad
mood [we talk about it] to bring that to light. [And I
try not] to take Cam's mood personally;' Hailey admits,
watching her band mate for any sign of hesitation.
Grey nods in agreement.
"Then eventually you get mad at her for being mad and
it's a big hypocrisy;' Grey says, pushing a rogue piece of
36
I curve
steak to the corner of her plate. "How could I annoy you?"
she asks, answering her own question. ''I'd be in a bad
mood all the time:'
Hailey looks somber. "Then I would just feel lonely:'
"But I'm always in a good mood;' blurts Grey, with a
grin. "I think lately it's just been so crazy with the amount
of stress. It's kind of beyond normal at the moment:'
For the women of Uh Huh Her, things might not get
normal for a while, but the new tour brings something
that fans have been anticipating for years-new
music.
"The [album] is really synthy;' says Grey. ''A little heavier:'
Hailey and Grey describe Uh Huh Her's latest album
as "more rock'' than their previous efforts. A fact due in
no small part to Grey's new toy, a microKorg synthesizer
which plays a starring role. "I literally used it on every
song;' she says.
The band debuted a couple of the tracks from the album
Nocturnes for a one-off festival crowd in late 2010, and
the release of Black and Blue is enough to demonstrate
the change in sound. With beefed up guitar hooks and
melodic keyboard riffs, the new Uh Huh Her sound is
louder and more energetic, which is sure to please concertgoers who want to rock out. "New music, new merch, new
everything;' says Hailey. "That's what we're doing:'
'Tm so excited to just focus on this, and tour together
again;' Grey adds, looking thrilled to get out there with
her partner in crime. (uhhuhher.com)■
"When you
leave the
~ity you live
1n, and pay
attention to the
cities you pass
through, it's
magic ...l call
them twilight
zone towns."
_J
_J
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:::J
0
L1i
_J
u
37
@n
~k
2~ 20/~
Argentina became the first country in Latin
and fled. At the railway station
she said goodbye to Teresa,
Amer~
~~Jsame-sex marriage legal, and Norma Castillo and Ramona Arevalo,
her dearest friend. Teresa had
both 68 and together for 31 years, were the first lesbians to make their relationship
a catchphrase she liked to tease
official. Their neighbors in Parque Chas, a barrio in Buenos Aires, threw a huge party
Castillo with: "Sometimes, if
you scratch a little, the truth
to celebrate. (But Arevalo and Castillo's house is always a hub of neighborhood
is-you can escape:' Castillo
activity-everyone around them, it seems, is drawn to these fearless and outspoken
wondered more than ever
activists). It was a moment of joy for all, especially the couple themselves, who had
what her friend's joke meant.
already witnessed many changes, good and bad, in their country.
Raised in a family of strict
Catholics (who were also left~
wing activists at the University
"I didn't think we were going to live to see this change;'
of La Plata), she soon realized what Teresa was hinting
at. As they hugged, Teresa said, "The one you love is me:'
says Arevalo.
For Castillo, the truth hurt. "I was completely frozen, not
"Straight is made, not born;' asserts Castillo, who has
knowing what to do;' she recalls. To be gay was to be a de~
been challenging religious and societal beliefs since the
generate. And to prove that she was not, she took another
turbulent 1970s. 'J\dam and Eve didn't exist. We do exist:'
male partner. But she could not escape her friend's words.
Back in 1977, Castillo was already boarding a train to
"I was attracted to women;' admits Castillo.
Colombia-and
exile. During the regime of Argentinean
Across the Rio de la Plata, a river on the border between
dictator Jorge Videla, she was marked as a political subversive.
Argentina and Uruguay, Arevalo, too, felt suffocated
So, at 35, with a job and a boyfriend, and just about to
by her life. Born in Uruguay, she lived with her mother
earn her college degree, Castillo grabbed a few possessions
38
I curve
and grandmother-conservative
and fearful women
who wouldn't allow her to have a normal social life. She
couldn't even go outside by hersel£ As a child, Arevalo
heard stories about Colombia from a family friend, and
took heart in his assurances that she would one day find
her way there. Longing to live on the coast of Uruguay,
Arevalo eventually did free herself from the confinement
of her family. She got a job, settled in the city of Pivijay
and for a brief period was married to a man, with whom
she had a son, Mario.
It was in Colombia, after escaping their respective repressions, that Castillo and Arevalo met. They became friends
in a group of exiles who had fled the totalitarian governments of Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. Quietly,
each fearing rejection from the other, they fell in love.
Arevalo had never thought of herself as a lesbian.
"Nevertheless, I was in love with Norma;• she says. The
same determination that pushed her to leave home led her
to confront the situation. At sunrise, after their first night
together, Arevalo called Castillo. "I asked if she would do
the same thing again. She said yes:•
They would be exiles twice over, but necessarily so. "You
want the approval of others, and you follow the obligation
to be heterosexual;' says Castillo. "I realized that society
or religion demands one thing and real life another:'
So, that night, encouraged by the Colombian rum they
shared, Castillo went to Arevalo, and with a passionate
bite on her partner-in-exile's ear, started the rest of their
lives-together.
t:;=
and Castillo can look back on a relationship of 31 years-almost
three decades living as a couple
and now several months as spouses. But the route to
wedded bliss was challenging. In the late 1990s, they left
Colombia and moved to the Argentinean countryside to
care for Castillo's dying mother. During the economic crisis
of 2001, they relocated to Buenos Aires, where they began
a housing cooperative large enough to shelter 31 families.
They faced, and eventually overcame, intense opposition
to their relationship from Arevalo's mother and together
they raised Arevalo's son, Mario, who, when he decided
to marry, asked Castillo to be a maid of honor-and
he
made them both grandmothers of a girl and a boy.
~~GJP~
Today, great contentment attends the couple in their
rambling Parque Chas house. Arevalo, patient and
meticulous, likes sewing. Castillo, always the iconoclast,
finds a creative outlet in painting. One of her paintings
depicts a mask, with eyes peering out. It is titled "Natura
Vence" -nature
wins. "We had to hide for a long time,
afraid of rejection and our own self-censorship. But the
truth is that if you realize you're gay, you can't make it
disappear. Your true nature causes you to reveal who you
are behind your mask;' Castillo explains."To pretend that
there are no homosexuals in the world is impossible. It
would be like fighting against biology:'
In Buenos Aires, they committed themselves to living
openly. They were embraced by the local LGBT collective,
which was already campaigning for gay marriage, and
through the collective they founded Puerta Abierta (Open
Door), which is now managed by Castillo, and is the first
center for retired gays and lesbians in Latin America.
"Discrimination is not just reserved for those who are
gay-it affects those who are old, too. Sexuality is denied
to old people;' says Castillo. "Even when you are old, the
desire is there;' she adds.
9:~~eed
Cold, windy nights in mid-July are common in Buenos
Aires, but Arevalo and Castillo were sufficiently excited
to stay up into the early hours of the morning of July 15,
when the bill to legalize same-sex marriage would come
before the Senate for approval. Then, with activist friends
at a local bar, they watched history unfold on TV: At dawn,
the Senate announced its decision to approve the bill.
Arevalo and Castillo hugged each other and celebrated the
long-awaited news. Some may argue that marriage is only
a piece of paper-but
not this couple. "We are free people.
We have a document that states that;' says Castillo
Those who have become complacent about LGBT
rights should take heed of these older women, still fighting
for equality everywhere. "It is not fair that we have had to
live as deviant beings;• says Castillo. If it is never too late
to change, it is never too late to create change. "You've got
to push it forward;' says Castillo.
Wedded bliss has not slowed Castillo down. She is
busy organizing the members of the housing cooperative
she created, which will soon house 31 families; and
she has the support to be nominated as a member of
Congress, representing Carlos Heller's Solidarity Party.
Her passionate activism at the University of La Plata has
not diminished; she recalls a more recent demonstration,
during which a policeman manhandled her-and
she
gave him a swift kick in the crotch. She also remembers
the decisive gesture oflove she made years ago. It changed
the course of two women's lives, and perhaps the course
of a nation.
"Injustice incites me;' she says. Surely, those are words
to live by-and she's done just that. ■
May 2011
I 39
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WHEN JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL
talks about
addiction, it's not as an outside observer. The award winning
journalist, New York Times best-selling author and host of
the Issues TV show on HLN has first-hand experience. "I
am a recovering alcoholic;' she says candidly, adding that
she has been sober for 16 years.
''After I had a few years of sobriety under my belt, I
started looking around and seeing all these people who
are 'normies; as they say in 12-step, who are not alcoholics
necessarily or illegal drug addicts [but] they are behaving
addictively: Shopping too much, eating too much, staying
on prescription meds way too long:'
Velez-Mitchell's new book, Addict Nation: An
Intervention for America, written with Sandra Mohr, examines consumer behaviors that are considered normal,
but which to her signal addiction.
"I started noticing a very clear addictive pattern in all
of these shared uncontrollable cravings; bingeing, remorse
and then withdrawal-and
then the cravings start anew.
It's a very clear pattern and it is always progressive because
an addict needs more of the substance of choice or the
behavior of choice to get the same hit and the same rush:'
Born in Manhattan to an advertising executive and a
vaudeville performer, Velez-Mitchell discovered at an early
age that she wanted to be a writer and then found her way
into broadcast journalism. She earned a degree from New
York University and got her first job as a reporter and
anchor in Ft. Myers, Fla.
Since then she has reported for Celebrity Justice and has
been a guest host for Nancy Grace. She provided commentary for CNN, MSNBC and Fox News for several
high profile cases, including the Michael Jackson molestation trial. In addition to Addict Nation she has written
two other books-Secrets Can be Murder: What America's
Most Sensational Crimes Tell Us About Ourselves and her
memoir, iWant: My Journey from Addiction and Over
Consumption to a Simpler Life.
Velez-Mitchell's clear-eyed view of the world took a
while to develop. "I would say there are three miracles in
my life: One was getting sober, one was coming out as gay
and one was going vegan;' she explains.
She admits that being a closeted lesbian may have added
to her alcohol problem. "They were definitely intertwined.
I didn't come out or even admit to myself really that I was
gay until I got sober. The whole thing with alcoholism
or any kind of mood-altering self-medication is that you
don't have to deal with life on life's terms:'
Supporting animal rights and being a vegan are core values
for Velez-Mitchell. "I decided philosophically and ethically
that I believe animals are not here for us to exploit ... so I
went vegan, which says 'We don't use animals. We don't
wear them. We don't eat them. We don't use products that
are tested on them: I think that it has made me healthier
and a lot happier and it's better for the planet:'
Velez-Mitchell believes that the addiction problem is
more widespread than many people think. "I would say
that almost everybody in American is behaving addictively. That's why I called it Addict Nation: An Intervention
for America because we live in an 'addict-o-genic' society
where we encourage people to have an addictive mentality
where more is always better:'
She doesn't believe that moderation is the answer. ''An
addict, by definition, is someone who cannot practice
moderation. We cannot successfully use our substance of
choice; we cannot negotiate with it successfully.With alcohol,
you can give up the substance entirely. With other addictions, they are more complex because sometimes you do
have to deal with them every day, for example food:' She
adds that eliminating fast food is a good way to narrow
the playing field, however.
If readers take one message from the book she wants it
to be "that you have a lot of power as somebody that has
been labeled a consumer. You have the power to say 'No,
I will not buy it: Every single choice we make throughout the course of the day is not just a personal lifestyle
choice-it's a political choice, it's an environmental choice,
it's an economic choice and most of all, it is a moral choice.
A lot of the things we are engaging in that are bad for us
are also bad for the planet:'
Velez-Mitchell sees Addict Nation as "a blueprint for
liberating yourself from unnecessary consumption and
self-destructive consumption. You can literally read this
book and change your life immediately:' (addictnation.org) ■
May 2011
I 41
Inside
the
Corporate
Closet
f you want a successful career to come to a painful,
Gina*, a 37 -year-old executive in the finance industry, was
embarrassing and abrupt end-come out at work.
a late bloomer. Growing up in a wealthy, conservative family,
It's the kiss of death because the good ol' boys will
she was not ashamed of her sexuality, but confused by it.
succeed in circulating the details. They don't
After dating several men in her teens and 20s, she had her
appreciate a woman rising through the ranks and
first experience with a woman at 26 and everything clicked
breaking the glass ceiling. They're intimidated by
into place. She came out to her parents three years after that,
intelligent women, and if you come out they will
but now, almost 10 years later, they still don't accept her sexual
use it against you, deride you and try to make it seem like
orientation and don't offer her much support.
you have no morals:' This is the opinion of a female execuGina considers her workplace diverse, from a "racial and
tive from Chicago who is in the closet at work. And she is ethnic perspective;' but as far as she is aware, her company
not alone; there are many, many more who share her point
doesn't have a single out gay employee. Shortly after overhearing
of view.
a workplace conversation that included the
Trying to find women who will discuss
words "fag" and "dyke;' she decided not to
come out to her co-workers.
coming out of the corporate closet is difficult.
Despitethe
Even if she could imagine being out at
Many don't want their names, their personal
work,
Gina is certain she would never join an
information or any whiff of who they are
increasein
LGBT affinity group. "It wouldn't empower
revealed in a story like this. Even in seemingly
LGBT-friendly
me at all;' she says. "It would put me on the
progressive cities like Los Angeles, New York
front lines. I haven't come out because I no
and Chicago, many lesbians were willing to
corporations,
longer feel the need to-and I'm afraid to. I
offer choice tidbits, but nothing more. As I
manyhighheard many times, the "good ol' boys" who
don't want to be judged by the Old Boys. A
still run many corporations in this country
rankinglesbian lot of Baby Boomers are staying in the workplace longer because of the recession. They
are the closeted career woman's oppressors.
executives
are churchgoing, right-wing men who almost
But are they really so powerful, and so
arestillin the
jumped out of the window when Obama was
villainous, that educated, often middle-aged,
elected. I know I could fight back and stand
lesbians should spend their working lives in
closetat work.
my ground if someone found out, but I'm not
fear of them:'
Dotheyneedto
The key that locks these women in the
going to set myself up to catch shit for coming
out to them:'
corporate closet has just one word inscribed
change-or do
Gina has dated several women who also
on it: fear-fear of what people would think,
thecorporations?have high-ranking positions and are closhow bosses would react; fear of being jobless,
eted at work. One, a Republican lobbyist,
or being passed up for promotion; fear of being
warned Gina that coming out would cause
seen as the poster child for gay rights, the token
her to lose any sense of"normalcy" she had
gay executive. The list of negative consequences
in her life. What Gina was more afraid of
is endless. But when fear plagues your career,
was losing any sense of authority at workwhen the closet becomes toxic and increasingly
shameful, you've got to ask yoursel£ what is the
ByTinaVasquez *Namehasbeenchangedbyrequest
real cost of staying in there:'
May 2011
I 43
becoming the token gay executive, someone with
little actual power.
Selisse Berry is the founding executive director of
Out & Equal, a national nonprofit based in San
Francisco and dedicated to achieving full workplace equality for those of all sexual orientations
and gender identities. Berry was out when she
attempted to become ordained as a Presbyterian
minister, but was turned away because of her sexual orientation. She realized that people all over
the country were not getting what they needed
from their workplace, so she set out to create
a space that brought together the hopes of all
LGBT professionals.
Berry believes that executives like Gina could
benefit from the programs offered by Out &
Equal, including their Executive Forum, which
enables out executive leaders to come together
and discuss challenges, barriers and ideas for
the future. Out & Equal's annual Workplace
Summit provides more than 2,300 attendees
from 25 different countries with the information
and resources they need to create out and equal
work environments.
"There's always the poster child possibility;' says
Berry, "but you can also spin it and turn it into
something incredibly positive. Senior executives I
know use their sexual orientation to their advantage. During a conference, a senior woman at IBM
told me that being able to climb up the corporate
ladder is dependent on being able to differentiate yourself from
others, and being out and proud at work does that. It shows that
you're a diverse candidate who's overcome hardships:'
Berry contends that many workplaces have made huge strides,
with many corporations offering domestic partner benefits and
some being mindful of those transitioning on the job. But corporate
America is "not quite there" when it comes to the basic respect and
acceptance of LGBT members in the workplace.
"Getting companies to understand the importance of respect is
paramount;' Berry says. "You can have sexual orientation policies
and domestic partner benefits, you can check all of these boxes and
say you're LGBT-friendly, but if no employees are out, or feel
comfortable coming out, there is a problem. Policies are huge, but
there needs to be a shift in the culture of the company. It's our job
to change policies within a company, because there are no federal
laws saying companies have to provide certain rights to LGBT
employees. After that, it's about changing the hearts and minds of
those in the workplace:'
Currently, 12 states have policies that protect against both sexual
orientation and gender identity discrimination in employment for
the public and private sector. An additional nine states have laws
that protect against discrimination based only on sexual orientation.
The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a proposed
bill that would prohibit discrimination against employees on the
44
I curve
basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, has
been introduced in nearly every Congress since
1994. Originally, the bill featured transgender
inclusion, which was dropped in 2006 when
sponsors believed that even with a Democratic
majority it would not have enough votes to
pass the House. The bill passed, but died in the
Senate. In 2009, a transgender-inclusive ENDA
was introduced by openly gay Rep. Barney Frank
and was supported by President Barack Obama,
but again the bill failed to take off.
Of the major corporations that are going the
extra mile to create respectful, inclusive workplaces
for their LGBT employees, NBC Universal is
at the top of the list. NBC has one of corporate
America's oldest LGBT employee groups. Started
in 1986, ANGLE (the Association of NBC Gay
and Lesbian Employees) was designed to help
educate the company on how to create a more
LGBT-inclusive environment. Over the years,
the group has grown to become OUT@NBCU,
operating in eight regional hubs and with over
1,400 voluntary members, 470 of which are based
in Southern California. The Southern California
branch is led by Valerie Madden, creative director of off-air advertising for NBC Entertainment,
and Eric Carr, vice president of exhibitor marketing at Focus Features. Last year, the pair produced
35 events for OUT@NBCU and created a print
and digital campaign celebrating LGBT Pride. As
a result, the Southern California chapter of OUT@NBCU has
grown by 63 percent.
NBC Universal offers LGBT-inclusive employee benefits with
same-gender spouse enrollment options, survivor benefits and
spousal insurance, coverage for HIV/ AIDS pharmaceuticals and
transgender-inclusive policy language. According to Madden, the
key to creating an inclusive workplace is getting support at the top
levels of the company. Today, LGBT members are well-represented
in NBC's top tiers, but even when they weren't, the company
provided the means and support necessary to affect change.
"Change starts at the top and trickles down;' Madden says.
"With the support of those on top, you can make a difference at
every level. Of course, it's my hope that one day we won't need
diversity initiatives, because companies will all be diversified, but
until then the ultimate goal is for everyone to realize that it's not
just about being LG BT-it's about being who you are all day, every
day. It's about bringing your full self to the workplace. It's about
having the freedom to share with your co-workers what you did
over the weekend or on your vacation-without
using genderneutral pronouns:'
Madden is familiar with the corporate closet. When starting out
at NBC eight years ago, she didn't hide that she was in a committed
relationship with a woman-but
she also wasn't comfortable or
confident in knowing she'd be fully accepted, so she didn't talk
(J)
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about her relationship in the workplace. One year after joining
NBC, Madden celebrated her lO~year anniversary with her partner
with a lavish recommitment ceremony-and she didn't tell a single
person in her office about this personal milestone.
''At the time, I was fearful that being an in~your~face lesbian
would shade my talent, and I thought it was better to establish
myself in my position and responsibilities before sharing how I
lived my personal life;' Madden says.
Soon after her recommitment ceremony, Madden decided
to join OUT@NBCU
and her perspective began to shift.
Connecting with other LGBT and straight~ally colleagues built
up her confidence and transformed her skill set and management
style. Speaking openly about her life to her straight counterparts
also opened doors, made connections and created opportunities
to make a difference.
"The biggest challenge for LGBT people in the workplace is to
be confident and secure in who they are;' Madden says. "Until we
get over the victim mentality and stop living in fear, we'll never
know what's really out there for us. Things are so much happier
on the other side:•
And yet it's been difficult for Madden, who is in her early 40s, to
encourage older women to join OUT@NBCU. Some claim that
they are too busy to join, while others argue that women already
have to work twice as hard to earn half the recognition, so why put
another target on their backsr Even as more millennial women
enter the workforce and bring with them a generational acceptance
of various lifestyles, it seems that more Baby Boomers choose to
remain closeted. And the higher up the ladder older women go,
the more closeted they remain.
It doesn't make for a productive workplace. "Living in fear
is so oppressive;' says Madden. "Diversity increases productivity,
ingenuity, awareness and happiness. For those of us in progressive
areas, working for companies that support the LGBT community,
it's our responsibility to be out and open and help pave the
way for those who are not yet able to experience the freedom
of being out:' ■
May 2011
I 45
Whatqualitiesmakeyoutheidealcandidate
forthisposition?
Professionally, I brought a combination of education and work
experience, but personally I think the most useful qualities for me
are the ability to listen, stay present and flow with change.
AtWynn,
youdealwith12,000employees
whointurndealwithhundreds
ofthousands
ofguestsperyear.Isthiseverdaunting
orexhausting?
It is daunting especially when I forget that I don't [and] can't
do this alone. The only way you take care of 12,000 employees
is by taking care of and connecting to a smaller team of people
who share that promise and work together to provide for the
larger group. For that reason, my philosophy is transparency and
connection to my team, requiring that they do the same for theirs,
so that employees and managers are clear on their roles in taking
care of their guests.
Youworkin a glamorous
setting;anyhiddenchallenges?
Human nature is always the element that surprises, terrifies and
enlightens. People do amazing things here every day and they do
crazy things here every day... employees and guests! With 12,000
people working in one place and many more passing through, it is
a city, in all of its variations of beauty.
WhatmakesWynna goodworkplaceforlesbians?
Wynn has always been an employer of choice for the gay community
in Las Vegas. We were the first in our industry to offer benefits for
same~sex domestic partners and able to earn a 100 percent on HRC's
Corporate Equality Index in our first rating cycle. The best part of
working here is that I felt supported to be open about who I am.
Whatonequalityis mandatory
to workthere?
Care. That gets translated into anticipating guests' needs or taking
the extra steps to serve someone and that is what luxury is all about.
Whatquestions
shoulda lesbianaska prospective
employer?
s vice president of human resources for Wynn Las
While there are key benefits you want to research before
Vegas and Encore, Stephanie Rosol, an out lesbian,
applying-i.e. does this company offer domestic partner benefits
serves 12,000 employees, making sure their contribu~
or is this a company who has a CEI rating-you are looking for
tions are recognized and their dedication is rewarded.
how a company fits with your passions and your values. Will they
provide you with the autonomy or direction you are looking for
Equal opportunity is prioritized, she's guided transgen~
in an employer? What and how do they celebrate? Is this a place
der staff as they transitioned, steered the company to a perfect
you can grow, not just in title, but in contribution? What kind of
score on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index
team would you be working with? What kind of boss would you be
in 2010 and 2011 and finds the time to serve as board president of
working for? There might not be a one~size~fits~allset of questions,
the Southern Nevada Gay and Lesbian Center. A master's degree
but it's also an opportunity for you to interview them as well.
in executive leadership, a bachelor's in human development and
In thecurrenteconomy
whatadvicewouldyougivejobseekers?
family studies plus certification in coaching and leadership make
Figure out what you care most about and start
Rosol a perfect leader.
moving in that direction. You might start by
Outlesbian
Describe
thepathyoutookto arrivewhereyouare.
volunteering, or taking an entry~level opening,
After working in multiple service industry positions in
Stephanie
Rosol but if it is what you care about, it will grow.
Whatareyouupto whenyou'renotworking?
retail and hospitality, I moved into human resources
makeshuman
I study with a community of executive coach~
in 1996. I worked in every type of HR function until
I found my passion in training and development with
es, I practice yoga, walk my dog, spend time
resources
Harrah's Entertainment, now Caesars Entertainment. I
with my girlfriend and totally love going to the
morehuman.
movies.
came to Wynn Las Vegas as the director of training
Yournextvocation
afterthis?
and development in 2007 and expanded into the vice
A combination of coaching, teaching yoga and
president role in 2008, just in time to prepare for the
ByMerrynJohns
opening of Encore.
going to massage school. (wynnlasvegas.com)■
WynnWin
46
I curve
I
MakingHer Mark
hen moviegoers visit a theater, they
Mabry co~wrote her third film, Itty Bitty
Mississippi
Titty Committee,which premiered at the Berlin
are seeking one thing in particu~
Damnedfilmmaker International Film Festival in 2007. In that same
lar-to
be entertained. But Tina
Mabry's feature film, Mississippi
year, the film was awarded the Best Feature Film
TinaMabrysets
by Southwest Film & Music Festival.
Damned-a loosely autobiograph
outto makea
Between 2005 and 2010, Mabry received a
ical drama that focuses on three African American
siblings trapped in a cycle of poverty, addiction and
difference
infilm. number of awards and recognition for her film
productions. But of all of the success she and
abuse-provides
much more than entertainment.
her production team have gained for their work,
The film is an emotional journey of sadness,
the one closest to Mabry's heart is Mississippi
anger, despair and ultimately hope, and garnered the
first~time feature filmmaker 10 different awards,
Damned.
"For me, it's a film that is deeply per~
ByDeaidreNewby
including Best Feature Film and Best Screenplay at
sonal;' says Mabry. "Knowing that it is based on
the Chicago International Film Festival.
a truth ... takes the connection to a completely
different level:' It was her production team's goal to make sure the
Since entering the University of Southern California film school
Peterson family members, featured in the film, were not judged
in 2002, Mabry has produced, written and directed four films. She
only on their plight; rather, audiences would "understand this
produced her first short, The Slowdown, about a young hip~hop
family's lack of choices and dysfunctional mindset:'
artist's heartbreak in 2004, but it was her second production in
Mabry's production company, Morgan's Mark, has made it a
2005, Brooklyn'sBridge to Jordan (available on the compilation
She Likes Girls 2), that placed Mabry on the moviemaking map. mission to produce stories that 'give the disenfranchised a much
Brooklyn'sBridgetoJordan aired on Showtime and BET J and was needed voice by exposing their struggles, highlighting their cultures
voted the No. 1 film on Logo TV's The Click List 2: Best in Short and showcasing their triumphs;' says Mabry. And judging by audi~
ences' reactions, and her numerous awards, she has certainly fol~
Film.It has been screened at more than 50 film festivals internation~
filled her mission. ( morgansmark.com)■
ally and was awarded Best Director and Jury and Audience awards.
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May 2011
I 47
TheProfessional
Philanthropist
ust be nice being a philanthropist. Like philosophy, myself: What was I going to do about it?"
philanthropy has always seemed to be the perfect
After meeting people who were volunteering in the Balkans,
lofty profession for the bored, the wealthy and
LeMay was determined to go, too. She got a second job to
the entitled. You'd think a regular person could
scrape up the airfare, and even when at the last minute all the
never actually be a professional philanthropist.
other women who'd planned to go with her dropped out of
That is, until you meet Kathy LeMay.
the project, she still went-alone. "I can recall as though it
I first met LeMay at Eclipse, a restaurant in were minutes ago boarding Air Croatia with six Serbian busi~
Northampton, Mass., where I work. She had rented our small, nessmen. There I was, my little backpack filled with infant
independently owned, newly opened eatery for her birthday
formula, wondering if this little sardine can would hold
party, which, naturally, she had also turned into a fundraiser
together," she laughs.
(for sustainable food) and an art show for her ex~wife.Between
Now, 18 years later, LeMay's decision to change the world
one person at a time has taken her to a leadership position
the countless speeches I heard that night raving about LeMay's
in two powerful companies. LeMay is the founder, president
work, and the personal, caring relationship she's built with our
restaurant since then, I can vouch for the fact that LeMay is and CEO of Raising Change, LLC (raisingchange.com),
which she started with the goal of helping progressive non~
good at her job. She's an expert weaver of webs-connecting
profits raise the funds they need to "advance a social~change
people, knitting together previously disparate projects and
agenda worldwide"; today, Raising Change secures financial
places, making our world smaller, and making us that much
stability for organizations from New York to Mexico City.
more accountable to one another. Funny, genuine and gorgeous
LeMay is also the chair of the board of directors of World
to boot, LeMay makes being a "professional philanthropist"
Pulse. Working from a sustainable, ground~level perspective,
real indeed.
World Pulse (worldpulse.com) has built an interactive media
However, LeMay didn't have the lofty title of philanthropist
network devoted to bringing women a global voice. World
in mind when, at age 24, she was walking past a Seattle
Pulse partners with 40 top international organizations to
newsstand and saw an array of cover stories featuring the
reach over 100,000 individuals worldwide. Training an online
screaming faces of Bosnian Muslim women. "The stories
network of citizen journalists and entrepreneurs, and pub~
inside were about the rape~genocide camps that had been
lishing World Pulsemagazine, it fosters a powerful, collective
built by the Serbian military;' she recalls. "Their purpose
[was] ethnic cleansing. [But] they did not kill Bosnian
voice m women.
Muslim women. They raped them for months on end, in
In addition to fighting for women's empowerment, LeMay
front of the women's children, then released them. Their
wants to send the world another message: Anyone can do this.
goal was to demoralize the souls of people, to rid the world
Her book, TheGenerosityPlan(which landed her an appearance
of purely Bosnian Muslim people. I couldn't breathe. I felt I
on The Oprah Winfrey Show),urges us to see"philanthropist"
had been punched in the gut. I didn't know what to do about
as a title available to all, regardless of our budget, personality
or background. "When I was feeling overwhelmed about
what was happening:' Like most people, LeMay struggled to
understand these horrendous events that were happening
what to do about the genocide in Bosnia;' she says, "I read a
thousands of miles away."I couldn't reconcile the two worlds.
quote by Teddy Roosevelt: 'Do what you can, with what you
have, where you are: I grew up working~poor, worked for a
In one, I'm working for a nonprofit, getting vegan pizza with
nonprofit, and didn't know anyone who was
my then girlfriend and going to matinees, if
in politics, ran gigantic companies, or had the
we could gather up enough change. At that
KathyLeMay
exact moment in another world, women were
connections I thought could change the world.
I decided to stop whining about what I didn't
being dragged out of their homes as part of a
changes
the
strategic war plan, and being raped:'
have and do what I could with what I had. In
world,one
When she talked about her feelings to
Bosnia, as small as it sounds, I showed up. I
others, they told her what many of us have
didn't
have answers or solutions. I couldn't fix
womanat a time.
heard before-there's
nothing you can do
it. I also didn't ignore it or hide from it:' Her
advice to the budding lesbian philanthropist?
about it and you should try to put it out of
your mind. But LeMay just couldn't. "I had
"Step into the thing that gives you grie£ and
always asked of past atrocities, 'Why didn't
when you're in there you'll find what you can
ByYanaTallon-Hicks do to change it:' ■
anyone do anythingr' Now it was time to ask
May 2011
I 49
aTV~ace~
susan Pa~Ke~
IS ~IDlnG HIGH 1n
a HIGH-~ISK SPO~T.
usan P~e~
~
He~ Fl~T auao a1Ke
at age 5 and was smitten. The Christmas present from her
father was "the real deal;' says Parker, "a Yamaha MotoA
80cc. I loved it from that moment and literally drove it
every day from that day on:' Parker's mom thought the
novelty would wear off and had no idea where her daughter
was headed-the
rough and tumble road of professional
quad racing. Today she's Parker's biggest supporter.
Parker started competing against men at age 15. "I just
decided that the men's B class was the best starting point to
get into racing. It's always more of a challenge. Racing with
the men has made me so much faster:' And how did the men
take it? "No matter what happened or what was said to me,
I always kept doing what I was supposed to be doing. When
you're a woman in a man's world, you are always going to have
incidents, no matter what. How you handle them depends
on your personality:'
That personality was strong enough to see Parker through to
the expert level at age 17, competing in both women's and men's
national events. The racing circuit turned out to be fun and
competitive. Parker was well received and respected on a national
level, and became focused on building a reputation for hersel£
She was young and riding a wave to the top of the industry "I
was hoping to use the name that I created someday. I wanted
to turn it into something. I traveled, did a lot of self~promoting
and put a lot of time and money into racing. I never wanted to
jeopardize that. So, I was afraid to come out:'
so I curve
''
I DID eVSYTI-llnG
eecaJSeCF
me,nDT
eecaJSe
CF a man."
Her fear was compounded by the fact that Parker was
a woman in a male~dominated sport-the
other women
racers had pro~racer husbands or boyfriends. "I did every~
thing because of me, not because of a man:'
But Parker decided to come out while dating another
female racer. "She was totally hot and feminine and I just
didn't care anymore. I used to have her hold my tools and
umbrella at the starting line for my races. We caused a lot
of attention everywhere we were. I just decided to let peo~
ple think or say what they wanted. There have been people
who questioned whether or not it was a publicity stunt
but most people loved the fact of what we were:'
To date, Parker hasn't received negative feedback on
Facebook. Who can argue with her recordr "There are
only four women to this day in the whole world that can
compete at the men's level as I do:'
Having faced the emotional risks of being out, Parker
now focuses on avoiding physical injury. Her friend, fea~
tured in last year's ATVs Most Wanted calendar, and a
female quad motocross colleague, were killed within
a year. "I have asked myself if this sport is worth it but
for some reason it keeps pulling me back in. If I'm do~
ing what I love then I just let life take its course:' That
sometimes bumpy course has included the theft of
her rig: Truck, trailer, equipment and tools vanished
when she was competing at a pro supercross race in
Montreal. But on the brighter side, the small screen
beckons. Parker is featured in the extreme ATV series
videos Huevos Grandes, PlayStation games, American
Chopper and has launched her own project, ATVs Most
Wanted. "I decided to create ATV's Most Wanted to
promote real life women ATV racers," she says. Last year
Parker created a sexy racing calendar of female ATV rac~
ers from around the US. and she is developing a clothing
and accessories line.
Her next big challenger La T uque, this May. Teams from
all over the world will compete in a 12~hour race. And true
to form, Parker's all~female team will not only compete
against the other women teams but the men's teams as
well. More endurance events will follow, as well as training
women riders so that her expertise-and
her pioneering
spirit-are passed on. (susanparkerracing.com) ■
HOT ~ODS ano HOT BUTCHes
KellyDochney'sflickr.comaccount gained a burst in
exposurewhen her photoof two friendscaught in an
intimate,playfulmomentduringa shootwent viral.The
girlswere datingat the time and ratherthan photograph
them posing,Dochneytook a candid shot.The image was
posted on lesbianbiogsand receivedpraiseand attention.
Dochney,a firm ally of the lesbiancommunity,was thrilled.
"My friendswere just laughingand I took a quickshot. I
lovethem both and fully
supporttheir lifestyle."
Dochneydescribesher
studioas "a one-girlarmy
of self expression."Through
a viewfindershe captures
the unexpectedbeauty she
sees every day, including
the rarely-portrayedbutch
in love.And she had our
motorsrevvingfor her We
Can Do lt!-inspiredportraits.
(kellydochney.com)
May 2011
I 53
G~een macH1nes
THe savvv GaL'S GUIDe TO THe TOP
HYB~ID ano eLecT~1c ca~s on THe ma~KeT.
With gas prices climbing toward $4 per gallon, and last year's BP offshore drilling disaster driving home the
need to dial down our oil dependency, many socially and environmentally savvy lesbians are looking to kick
the petroleum habit. Fortunately, there are more environmentally friendly vehicles available than ever before.
This is due in large part to the many advantages that hybrid and electric cars offer, both for the environment
and our national security. But going green can cost you some green, so you want to be sure that you're
making an informed decision. Here's a comparison of the leading eco-friendly models, based in part on the
April 2011 issue of Consumer Reports, which rates cars on safety, reliability, cost and customer satisfaction;
plus, info on how each manufacturer rates on HRC's Corporate Equality Index.
TOYOTa P~IUS
FO~DFUSIOn
Honea
Hybrid
Hybrid
Hybrid
$23,050-$28,320
$19,720-$28,645
$18,200-$21,490
48-51 MPG
36-41 MPG
38 MPG
5 year/60,000mile powertrain
5 year/100,000mile powertrain
5 year/60,000mile powertrain
80%
80%
54%
100%
100%
N/A
P~OS
Lowdepreciationvalue,GPS,
rearviewcamerasystemand
ninth yearof production
Price,safetyand reliability
Priceand ninth yearof production
cons
Reducedrear visibility
Noisy,only in first year
of production
Smallbackseat,slow acceleration
and noisy
Bestknownof all the hybrids,the
Priusis synonymous
with ecofriendlinessbut loosespointsfor it
unpredictable
reliability-primarily
for the reputationit garneredin 2010
whenstoriesof runawayPriuses
filledthe headlines.However,
this
hasn'tdiminishedPriusowners'love
for theirtrendyhybrids.Thanksto its
nine-yeartrackrecordit's likelyto
remainat thetop of the hybridlist.
TheFordFusionis oneof the
highest-ratedsedansby Consumer
Reports.TheFusionis equipped
with manysafetyfeatures(limited
radiovolume,seat belt alerts, low
fuel warnings)that makethis a
goodoptionfor householdswith
youngor forgetful drivers.
AlthoughHondahasan excellent
track record,the Insighthas low
customersatisfaction,dueto the
sizeandthe handlingof the vehicle.
At 38 MPG,Hondaloverswould be
better off purchasinga non-hybrid
Civic,which hascomparable
gas mileageand price,but ranks
muchhigher(78 percent)on the
ConsumerReportsscale.
TYPE
P~ICE
mlLEaGE
wa~~anTv
C~SCO~E
summa~v
54
I curve
1ns1GHT
BY se~ena F~eewomvn
HYB~IDano eLeCT~ICca~s maY COSTmo~e TO PU~CHase
THan an economY ca~. BUTwHen You ace UP THe sav1nGs
on Gas P~1ces aLone, G~een ca~s WILLsave You moneY
ove~ THe LIFeT1meOF YOU~veHICLe.
CHEVY VOLT
rnssan LEaF
Plug-inHybrid
Electric
$40,280
$32,780-$33,720
40 mileselectric,plus260milesongas
100 mileson a singlebatterycharge
5 year/100,000mile powertrain
5 year/60,000mile powertrain
NA
NA
100%
50%
TheVoltusesbothan electricbattery
andgas,extendingits mobilityPlus,
it hasa longerstandardwarranty
Emissionlessand a $7500
federaltax credit helpsreduce
overallprice
Price;theVoltis still in its infancy,
whichmeansit hasn'tbeenreviewed
for safetyor ownersatisfaction
Firstgeneration,
soit hasn'tbeenreviewed
forsafetyorownersatisfaction
yetand
haslimitedmobilitydueto batterycharge
TheVolt has enjoyedlots of
mediachatter since it was
unveiledin 2007,despitethe
fact that the Volt wasn't available
for purchaseuntil 2010.The
Volt is different from the Prius
becausefuel doesn'tdrive the
engine,it simply extendsthe life
of the battery.The high price point
makesit less attractive than other
models,despiteall the mediahype.
Electricvehiclesare the waveof
the future-increased consumer
demandwill help moremodels
becomeavailable,which will, in
turn, drive downthe price.However,
sincethe Leafis still in the early
stagesof development,it is a risky
investmentat this point-despite
the tax incentivesto buy it.
w~aPUP
The greening of the auto industry
is not a fading trend. There are
over 1.6 million eco-friendly
cars on the road today, and that
number is likely to continue to
grow. Hybrid and electric cars
may cost more to purchase than
many traditional cars, but when
you add up the savings on gas
prices alone, green cars will
save you money over the lifetime
of your vehicle. Not to mention
being a huge step toward oil
independence. Are you ready
to make the switch?
For more detailed reviews,
check out hybridcars.com,
or consumerreports.org.
May 2011
I 55
STIPS
FO~ ~IDlnG OFF
1nToTI-E sunsET
co~ sun~1sE)
D
au,
DalS, author of The Noncyclist's 'I. FILL'eR UP!
Guide to the Century and Other Road "You want to make sure you have plenty of food. Cycling
Races, wants to make cycling fun and
will sneak up on you. Sometimes you don't realize how
accessible to everyone. Whether you're
training for an official ride or just want to
bike around town, Dais offers up some basic tips to get you
started on your new two~wheeled adventures.
I. YCll.R BUTT IS
ncrrne
BOSS CF YOU
Even if you have the right equipment, chances are your first
few rides are going to be unpleasant for your undercarriage.
So while the rest of you might be challenged and exhila~
rated, the parts of you most intimate with the bike saddle
will be doing their best to get you to take up square dancing
instead. Dais urges you to keep in mind that there will be
sunnier days for your moon. "The goal is to minimize pain
so that you actually want to keep doing this sport:' She
recommends getting a professionally fitted bike equipped
with a seat that works with your anatomical set up, and
well~fitting cycling shorts.
2. GeTTlnG ReaJY FOR acTlal
"My advice for people is to go in and get the necessities and
try and fight the urge to buy everything in the store on the
first trip;' says Dais. The necessities include bike, helmet,
lock, cycling shorts, flat tire repair kit and water bottle.
Almost everything else can wait until you have a few rides
under your spandex. Craigslist can also be a good source for
finding slightly used stuff on the cheap. If you already have
a dusty Soloflex or kayak in your garage, Dais recommends
renting a bike for a day, to make sure you enjoy the ride and
not just the thrill of new gear.
.:1.cean-1, Taxes ano FLaT TIReS
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hard you're working until you're really, really hungry and
you're out of energy;' says Dais, who learned this lesson the
hard way after bonking on a few rides. She recommends
bringing munchies and snacking along the way. And of
course hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
~
1nev1TcEL.e
So it's best to be prepared. Dais strongly recommends
taking a basic bike maintenance class, especially if you're
not mechanically inclined. Even if you never get the hang
of changing your own tires it's important to have the right
equipment, especially spare tubes so that a heroine on a
two~wheeled steed can come to your rescue. If you're
really paranoid about flat tires, ask for the extra~sturdy
kind favored by urban bike messengers.
s. ne
rnDRe
ne
nERRleR
And not just because it's easier to wear spandex in groups.
For Dais, one of the best ways to get motivated to ride is to
ride with others. She likes the accountability, camaraderie
and added safety of group riding. "With cycling I found
that I could actually talk and ride at the same time, which I
could not do with running. Plus it's just fun to have some~
body to complain with:'
6. GeTTlnG lnTO Gec:IR
"Gear shifting is a lot of trial and error and getting to know
your gears;' says Dais. The best thing for a newbie to do is
find a nice, traffic~free stretch of flatness and practice. Keep
in mind it's best to be pretty well acquainted with shifting
before you tackle any significant hills. ■
GO DUTCH
Onlinebicyclestore,anddutch,sellsaward winning,high
qualityand stylishbicycles-high-end design,classic-retro,
chainless,urban-city,foldingand cargo-all designedand
assembledin the Netherlands.If you own a businessand
would likea greenertransportmode, considera bespoke
bicyclefleet, designedfor your company.Plus,anddutch
supportsRe-Cycle,a charitythat shipssecondhand
bicyclesto Africa,where they are used
by health/AIDSworkersto reach remote
villages.(anddutch.co.uk)
May 2011
I 57
~
Views from across
the nation: (from top)
the Grand Canyon;
Wolf Creek; Tucson,
Ariz.; Santa Monica
Beach; Duluth, Minn.
and Venice Beach
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M
Y PARTNER AND I have romanticized the great
American road trip as the ultimate rite of passage
since we were just barely old enough to pop a
dutch. Our wanderlust produced images of an unbroken
ribbon of highway from the forests of the upper Midwest,
through the Great Plains, to the rugged peaks of the
Rockies and the living deserts of the Southwest, compelling
us to go west all the way to the California beaches, with
their promise of an endless summer.
In reality, however, everything from road construction to
natural disasters to the usual automotive headaches often
conspire to make such a trip somewhat more complicated.
So it's best to plan way ahead, then enjoy what our coun~
try has to offer in comfort and style.
While billboards (Wall Drug, World's
Largest Ball of Twine) offer out~of~the~
way kitsch, the most impressive tour
stops are those of a more natural variety,
carved by Mother Nature herself as she builds and batters
the land with an artful touch of irony and mythos.
Duluth, Minn., at the tip of Lake Superior, offers icy~
cold winters and temperate summers on arguably the most
picturesque of the Great Lakes. Take a harbor cruise and
stay in comfort at a posh downtown hotel. For a more rustic
experience, choose from one of the many local camp~
grounds, but be sure to abide by the strict firewood rules as
invasive species such as the emerald ash borer have ravaged
the indigenous vegetation.
South through the Twin Cities and west on Interstate 90
is magnificent Mt. Rushmore. Carved by Gutzon Borglum
between 1927 and 1939, Mt. Rushmore is the holy grail
of American graffiti. The winding mountain roads and the
A LEISURELYLEZZIEJOURNEYACROSS
THE HEARTLAND.BY MELANY JOY BECK
May 2011
I 59
5,725-foot elevation can be grueling, so stop often and
watch out for prairie dogs.
The plains area also boasts a plethora of quirky culture.
From the Corn Palace of Mitchell, S.D., to the Badlands,
there are plenty of places to grab a bite and rest your eyes.
However, in lieu of a traditional side dish such as french fries,
weary travelers are often offered hot buttered toast. There is
no rhyme or reason. South Dakota just likes her toast.
After shooting down the edge of Wyoming, a couple of
hours south of Denver you'll encounter the famous Wolf
Creek Pass, a panoramic, seasonally treacherous swath of
highway that provides some of the most amazing views in
the American West. Automobiles would do well to heed
the posted speed limits, because falling rock, sudden blizzards and other hazards can occasionally be problematic.
A stop in Durango, Colo., is recommended to take in
some of the less pricey but still phenomenal skiing and
boarding at nearby Purgatory Resort. It's not Aspen, but
that's actually good.
No westward jaunt through the high desert of New
Mexico and Arizona would be complete without a trip to
the Grand Canyon. North of Flagstaff, Ariz., on famed
Route 66, the Grand Canyon is a favorite of every Thelma
and Louise fan. Just don't drive off the edge in an homage
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hassurvived
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cross-country
journeys
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rain,sleet,
snowanddesertsun.
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to the film's stunning finale. It's better to grab a souvenir in
the gift shop and be on the lookout for your own cougar (of
the nonhuman variety) on the narrow two-lane roads that lead
into the national park. Both donkey and helicopter rides are
available and allow for unique views of this natural wonder.
South of occasionally chilly Flagstaff, the Arizona cities of
Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tucson offer many northern dwellers
a respite from harsh winters, and some architectural marvels.
Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin, still a world-renowned design
hub, melds the aesthetics of
nature and the constructed
world. Many of Wright's
designs can still be seen
tucked in amidst the rocks.
Whether
your journey
winds southwest to San
Diego or a bit north to L.A.,
the last stop is always the
Pacific Ocean. Venice and
Manhattan
beaches offer
bohemian glimpses into the
laid-back SoCal lifestyle. Be sure to check out the shops of
hip Abbot Kinney or do the tourist thing at the Santa Monica
Pier. Either way, the brown sugar sand and crashing waves are
a soothing balm to the tired soul.
The American West remains one of the world's most geographically diverse regions and still holds a storied place in our
hearts. Route 66, though divided by the Interstate system and
littered with Cold War era ghost towns, is still its own history
lesson and an inspiring trek for artists, writers and women
who just want to get their kicks. ■
THE GRAND CANYON IS
A FAVORITEOF EVERY
THELMAANO LOUISEFAN.
GRAB A SOUVENIRIN THE
GIFT SHOP AND LOOK
FOR YOUR OWN COUGAR.
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INSPRNG
ONE LESBIAN'SPILGRIMAGE
TO A BUDDHIST
VILLAGEBECOMESA JOURNEYOF INTERNATIONAL
ENLIGHTENMENTBY KELSY CHAUVIN
India was just what I'd anticipated, because I expected to
be shocked. I thought that was a wise way to approach a
nation imbued with struggle and overripe with population.
It's so different from my hometown of New York City,
where more than 8 million people live, but where you can
still find quiet moments.
In Indian cities there was no quiet-no quiet cafe, no
lawn, no park bench where I could sit alone and contem~
plate. Only a crumbling wall beside a field, where I sat and
let the sweat roll down my back. Then, before
I even finished a sip of water, a dozen pre~
pubescent boys flocked to me, clamoring to
have their pictures taken, until finally I had
to bolt (but not before one of them tried to
make off with my backpack).
I quickly learned that a country of 1.1
billion people leaves no emotion unturned.
It was overwhelming, even haunting. And I
loved my time there.
Traveling through India was a lot like get~
ting a tattoo-painful
in the moment, but as
soon as it was over I was ready to go again.
My trip stemmed from an article I read about the
Buddha, and the fact that in a small town in northeastern
India lives the Bodhi tree, the great~grandchild of the actual
tree Siddhartha meditated under when he reached enlight~
enment in 528 B.C. I decided I had to see that tree.
I devised a plan for my first trip to India with an adven~
turous travel schedule-seven cities in 14 days-and the
intention to not always have a plan. But wow, am I glad
I booked a hotel for that first night, because flying for 14
hours, from New York to Delhi and then to Kolkata, is
no joke.
BEAUTIFUL NOISE
I landed in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) late in the evening.
That first honk or two as I left the airport seemed reason~
able. The next hundred seemed unnecessary. It didn't take
long to realize that India has a rich and varied culture of
traffic racket: Car horns, bike and rickshaw bells, motor~
cycle engines, rattling trucks and bickering drivers create
an acoustic phenomenon.
With 15 million residents, Kolkata was a two~day crash
course in India. I was totally overwhelmed, especially as
a solo traveler. So I was especially happy that my out~of~
the~way hotel, fittingly named Bodhi Tree Guesthouse,
was a rare serene escape from the wildness just outside
its doors. Plus, it forced me to experience the Kolkata
Metro Railway. (In comparison, the New York subway is
luxury incarnate.)
From Kolkata's Howrah Terminal I hopped on my first
Indian train, headed first to Gaya then seven miles south
to Bodh Gaya village, Mecca for Buddhists. I was lucky
that evening. The train was close to punctual, and in my
A/C car I met Yuko. She was also headed to Bodh Gaya,
where she was meeting a friend who is a Buddhist monk,
and staying at the guesthouse in a Japanese monastery. I
joined her.
GOING BUDDHIST
The Bodhi tree lives in the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh
Gaya village, which resonates with serenity and collective
energy.
The plaza-lined with shops, beggars and let's~make~
a~dealers-is easily forgotten by the time you cross the
threshold into the temple. It is a holy transformation from
chaos into calm, heaviness into lightness. I felt euphoric
May 2011
I 63
arriving there, welcomed by its magnificence.
Monks from around the world filled the grounds near
the temple, washing its stupas, spinning its prayer wheels,
performing prostrations for hours at a time. While I was
there, I saw a group of new Sri Lankan monks getting their
hair shaved off. I smiled as other monks chased after the
windblown leaves of the Bodhi tree.
The hum of constant chanting and the smell of shady
fig trees invoked calm from sunrise until well past the time
when mosquitoes took over the evening.
I toured around tiny Bodh Gaya, visited some of the two
OUT AND
ABOUT
IN INDIA
I curve
THEGENDERJUNGLE
Eventually, I headed back to Gaya, where I tried a non~
A/C train on my way to the holy Hindu city of Varanasi.
The train was full of commuters, 99 percent of them men.
I had been constantly stared at the whole trip, but this
Indiahasalwaysbeena placeof contradictionso,despitebeingthe birthplaceof the Kama
Sutra,the oldestbookaboutsexualpleasure,whenit comesto same-sexlovin'the culture
is extremelyprudish.Fortunately,
followingthe decriminalization
of homosexuality
in 2009,
a thrivingnightlifehassprungup,alongwith a nationalgayandlesbianmagazine,
Pink
Here'swhereto havea drinkandmeetthe girls in India.
Pages(pink-pages.co.in).
KOLKATA:
Fortravelerson a
budget,the OlympusBaris
the perfectplaceto pickupa
drinkonthe cheapanddance
Saturdaynightawaywith the
ladies.Forthoselookingto
splurge,Aqua:TheAl Fresco
Barat the ParkHotelhosts
a gayandlesbiannighton
Saturdays,
too.
64
dozen countries' temples there and saw some surrounding
villages, many of them legendary to Buddhism. It was a bit
of a whirlwind, but at its center was the Bodhi tree. I gazed
at it, taking real and mental photographs, meditated and
walked many circles around it.
MUMBAI:
India'soldest
gayspot,theVoodooBaris
traveler-friendly-it'sthe
placeto beon Saturdaynight
andis popularwith local
queers,too.TheL Lounge
(followthemonTwitter@
TheLLounge)
organizes
partiesfor lesbiansevery
month.
NEWDELHI:
Pegs'n' Pintsis
idealfor a midweekboogie.
Thistwo-storybaris a
Tuesdaynighthotspot.And
the super-trendy
bi-monthly
partyKukiis all aboutthe
ambience,
with the bar
deckedout in butterflies
anddiscoballs.
Foradviceonyour
itinerary,visit the
International
Gay
& LesbianTravel
Association(iglta.
org).Forlistingsand
news,readIndia's
PinkPages.
[RachelShatto]
was rough.Imagine being in a 100~degree
train car, surrounded by a dozen men
staring at you unflinchingly, sometimes
with their mouths agape, their eyes
moving up and down.
Of course, as a Western woman
traveling alone, I invited this. But I was
growing outraged by men-gazing at me
intrusively, arguing with me about where
I wanted to go or what I could afford, re~
fusing to accept"no" and chuckling when
I bargained.
Then again, I did meet several very
nice fellows during my trip. Their well~
mannered sexism even brought some
benefits: They helped me navigate an
overrun train platform, and intervened
when I was swarmed by beggars.
I was gradually discovering the ecosys~
tern of the gender jungle. Indian men are
curious and ubiquitous. They are work~
horses, scoundrels, flirts-sometimes
genuine, sometimes genuinely kind.
In a bizarre twist, some of these male
chauvinists-the
same men who would
take grave offense at the mere sugges~
tion of homosexuality-walked
around
holding hands with each other.
Funny- I found myself staring at
them.
ENLIGHTENMENT
The 14~ hour train trip from Varanasi to
Delhi was taxing. I kept trying to ignore
the discomfort and the playful mice at
my feet. I slept, somehow, and when I
woke up, I saw the backsides of a French
couple quickly disembarking. The train
was empty. So I dashed off too.
It took me four more hours to realize
that I'd left my glasses, my journal, a
novel and an unfinished letter to my
girlfriend in the wall pocket next to my
seat. I consulted with local authorities,
who all agreed that those particular
items were, as my mom would say,"gone
pecans:'
I LEARNEDTHAT A
COUNTRY OF 1.1 BILLION
PEOPLELEAVESNO
EMOTION UNTURNED.
Not one to leave real~life symbolism
unexamined, I took the loss of these
personal items as a sign that I was no
longer clinging to the gross pleasures
of material existence. I lived the rest of
the journey-to
the awe~inspiring Taj
Mahal and finally to the wonderful"Pink
City" of Jaipur-more in the moment.
There is no way to capture India. So
I just let it seep in, and I began to see
how the same characters who caused me
dismay early on could be my friends.
I've returned to my daily life as a
fuller person. I don't count my blessings
because they are countless, but I soak
them up as I did with India, whereseeing the sacred Bodhi tree or sharing
a chai-being in the moment is the only
way to live, and survive. ■
GO GAY~TEL AVIV
THIS BEACHCITYAND ECONOMICHUB ON THE ISRAELI
MEDITERRANEAN
COASTLINEHAS BECOMEA HOT LESBIAN
TOURISTDESTINATION.
BY DAHLIA SCHWEITZER
If you've always dreamed of visiting the Middle East, but
assumed that this largely conservative part of the world
would be off-limits to openly queer tourists, you'll be
thrilled to hear that Tel Aviv is ready to embrace you with
open arms.
The second-largest city in Israel, Tel Aviv is now a
must-visit destination, thanks to its beautiful beaches,
thriving gay nightlife and liberal attitude toward the
LGBT population. Discrimination on the basis of sexual
orientation has been outlawed since 1992, gay and lesbian
Israelis live openly and, while same-sex marriage is not yet
66
I curve
legal in Israel, marriages
performed elsewhere are
fully recognized. In fact,
61 percent of Israelis support gay marriage, making
Israel one of the most
accepting countries in the world. So it's no wonder that
Tel Aviv is considered the gay capital of the Middle East.
I have gone to Tel Aviv more times than I can countwhen I was growing up, it was our summer destinationso I can say with authority that one of the nicest things
about Tel Aviv is how much it stays the same. However,
one of the most exciting things about Tel Aviv is how
quickly it can change. A visit to this growing Middle
Eastern metropolis-also
known as The City That
Never Sleeps-can be dizzying, so here is what no lesbian
should miss.
Day and night in Tel Aviv: (Clockwise
from left) St. Peter's in Old Jaffa, Jaffa
flea market, Tel Aviv nightlife, cyclist at
the Tel Aviv port and a Tel Aviv beach
SOAK UP THE SUN
Metzitzim, one of my favorite Tel Aviv beaches, is located
just south of the Namal nightlife district. It has a great
restaurant, also called Metzitzim, which has seating that
spills out over the sand. The service here is slow, which
can work to your advantage. I've spent hours enjoying the
beach for the price of a single glass of lemonade. They
also serve great salads (which are massive) and tasty
breakfasts.
Head south of Metzitzim to the Separated Beach. This
beach is intended for orthodox people, so every other day
it's for women only, which means that it can be a wonder~
fol and peaceful place to sunbathe-without
men trying
to pick you up. It's not crowded and you're free to go
topless.
Even farther south is the neighboring Hilton Beach
(named for the adjacent hotel), or Topsy (named for the
cute beachside bar in the middle of it). This beach tends
to attract lots of tourists and can be a party scene on
weekends. There is a definite gay vibe here.
SPENDING YOUR SHEKELS
Designed like the Guggenheim Museum, the Dizengoff
Center is made up of four levels connected by walkways
that spiral up through the mall, so you never have to take
the stairs or an elevator. It was built in the 1970s, and feels
like very little has changed. You can find everything here,
from $5 souvenir T~shirts to the trendiest bikinis. Don't
miss Castro for trendy threads, and be sure to pick up the
world's comfiest sandals at Naot on the ground floor.
Roaming Dizengoff Street is one of my favorite things
to do in Tel Aviv. Every block has character, so you'll never
get bored, and if you do-just cross the street. If you're
feeling peckish, there are tons of restaurants, but you can't
go wrong with any of the falafel and shawarma stands
you'll pass-they're all inexpensive and delicious.
Shenkin Street may remind you of a brighter, younger
version of St. Marks Place in New York's East Village.
The blocks between Allenby and Sderot Rothschild are
jam~packed with trendy boutiques, cafes and music shops.
This is where the hipsters congregate. On Tuesdays and
Fridays, you're just around the corner from Nachalat
Binyamin's outdoor art and jewelry market, which is
touristy and kitschy, but could be a good place to get an
engraved nameplate or a necklace for your mom.
The best place to buy fruit (or anything edible) is Shuk
May 2011
I 67
~
w
_J
Ha'Carmel, otherwise known as the Carmel Market. Just
browsing the booths is an incredible experience, and many
of the vendors will let you sample their wares. However,
you may want to avoid it on Friday afternoons when it's
the most crowded.
Shuk Hapishpeshim, between Jerusalem Boulevard and
Yeffet Street in Jaffa, translates literally to "market of the
fleas:' This is not only a fascinating place to explore, it's
also where you'll find the best deals, maybe the best views
(of the coastline) and possibly the best food. Be prepared
to haggle-it's expected-and you'll usually end up paying
half what the vendor originally quoted.
When all the bargain hunting has made a hole in your
stomach, replenish at Dr. Shakshuka's. Shakshuka, this
unique eatery's specialty, is a tomato and egg mixture
cooked and served in a heavy iron skillet. Scoop it up with
a crusty piece of bread, perhaps supplemented with savory
lamb kabobs. You'll need the protein, because you won't
want to leave Jaffa, possibly the oldest port city in the
world, without exploring all the cobblestone streets and
alleyways that wind their way from the harbor.
If you have the energy, either walk or rent a bike and
make your way from Jaffa to Tel Aviv along the Tayelet.
Recently refurbished, this paved promenade is a gorgeous
HISTORICALDETOURS
WhileTelAvivitself is a relatively
newcity-it wasfoundedin 1909it's surroundedby day-trip-friendly
destinationsrich with antiquityand
guaranteedto thrill anyhistorybuff.
city of Jerichoto the DeadSea.
Landlockedandbelowsealevel,the
watersof the DeadSeaare uniquely
rich in seasaltsand mineralsthat
pamperthe skin.Aftera dayof
relaxation,headbackto TelAviv,
Fora spadayof biblicalproportions, stoppingon the wayto visit Qumran,
try the DeadSeaSpaandWellness
the caveswherethe DeadSea
Tripthat takestouriststhroughthe
Scrollswerediscovered.(viator.com)
JudeanDesert,pastthe Innof the
GoodSamaritanandthe ancient
Notrip to Israelis complete
withouta sidetrip to the capital
city,Jerusalem.Thehalf-day
tour of Jerusalemavailablevia
CityDiscovery
is an excursionthat
takestravelersthroughthe Kidron
Valleyfor a view of the Gardenof
Gethsemane
andthe walls of the
city. Otherhighlightsincludea visit
to the WesternWailingWallSquare,
68
I curve
the Stationsof the Cross,the Church
of the HolySepulchreanda stroll
downa 1,700-year-oldByzantine
mainstreet.Beawarethat there is a
dresscode-shorts andsleeveless
shirts area no-no,andmodestdress
is required.(city-discovery.com)
Forthe moreadventurous,
a twodayjourneyto neighboringJordan
andthe ancientcity of Petrais a
breathtakingexperience.Packages
(whichincludeprivatetours)are
availablethroughTourPlanlsrael
and includea shortflight,
accommodations
andentranceinto
the city of Petra.Notethat visitors'
passportsmustbe validfor at least
six monthsafteryourdateof arrival.
(tourplanisrael.com)
[RachelShatto]
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place to walk or bike during the summer.
While Jaffa is on the southern end of the
Tayelet, the newly spruced up Tel Aviv Port
is on the northern end. Don't let the word
"port" confuse you. Namal Tel Aviv isn't about
ships. It's about eating and shopping. One of
Tel Aviv's most expensive seafood restau~
rants, Mul~Yam, is here, but I'm much more
inclined to have a leisurely seaside breakfast
at Comme il Faut. If you're still here at night,
you'll discover that the port also hosts some
of Tel Aviv's most happening bars and clubs.
HEAT UP THE NIGHT
If you want to show off your sun~kissed skin,
Tel Aviv offers a range of nightspots. Ashmoret,
a popular gay and lesbian club, features dance
parties on both weekdays and weekends, and
everything from hip~hop to electro. Lima Lima
is a great spot for live music and DJs. Currently,
Monday is gay night. Galina and Gossip are
the mainstream hot spots, with lots of drinking
and dancing. They both kick off at 10:00 p.m.
and are full by 11:00 p.m. The Penguin is a
cool underground bar with house music
and dancing. Radio is one of the newest and
hippest places in town also in a basement, but
it's got a cozy vibe. There isn't a strict dress
code, but leave your flip~flops at home as the
dance music is solid. ■
MICHIGAN
womYn's
music
festival
•
au&ust
2-7,
20
I I
CATIECURTIS* MELISSA
FERRICK* JILLSOBULE
VICKIRANDLE* SUZANNE
WESTENHOEFER
ELVIRAKURT* KARMAMAYETJOHNSON
LOVERS* ANDREAGIBSON* C.C.CARTER
HUNTER
VALENTINE* CLIMBING
POETREE
SHELLEY
NICOLE'SBLAKBUSHE
* MEN
KRUDASCUBENSI
* MEGHUTCHINSON
NERVOUSBUTEXCITED
* FERRON
ANDBITCH
GOD-DESANDSHE* ERASEERRATA
INVINCIBLE
* SUSANWERNER
* UBAKAHILL
CHIXLIXSINGSTHEBLUES* KARENWILLIAMS
ALEAHLONG* RUTHBARRETT
* ALIXOLSON
JESSICA
KIRSON* SLANTYEYEDMAMA
VALERIE
JUNE* EMILYWELLS* THAO
ANIMALPRUFROCK
* LAVA
BERNICE
JOHNSONREAGON
SONGBOOKwith ToshiReagon
michfest.com
WWTMC • Box 22 • Walhalla
Michigan• 49458
231 • 757 •4766
REVIEWSMusic Watch
Rain in the Woods
Rain Phoenix's latest endeavor proves she isn't afraid to experiment. By Dave Steinfeld
It's no secret that the Phoenix family is one of
the most talented, unpredictable and creative
clans in show business. In case you're not
familiar with the specifics: John Lee Bottom
and Arlyn Dunetz met in 1968 while hitch~
hiking. They married less than a year later,
joined the religious movement Children of
God and worked as missionaries in South
America (hey, this was the late '60s after all).
John and Arlyn changed their surname to
Phoenix and had five children-two
boys
and three girls-moving
their family from
city to city and encouraging their kids to
embrace their creative passions along the way.
Rain Phoenix (born Rain Joan of Arc
Bottom) was the second oldest of the five
children and the couple's first daughter.
70
I curve
"When I'm writing and singing [with] my own band,
I work from my emotions and whatever comes up
makes its way to the stage and to the record."
Although not as well known as her late,
older brother River or her younger brother
Joaquin, she made waves in her own right.
Rain is perhaps best known as an actress,
appearing in various films and TV shows
throughout the years (including a turn as
Uma Thurman's love interest, lesbian cow~
girl Bonanza Jellybean in Even Cowgirls Get
the Blues). But her first love was actually
music. "My first band was Aleka's Attic with
my brother [River];' she confirms. "I sang
and played in a lot of smaller bands like The
Causey Way, Funkiller and Nux Vomica.
[But] I would say that my first professional
foray was as a backing vocalist for the Red
Hot Chili Peppers. I have been a singer since
I could talk, but touring with them helped
me solidify it as a career. It gave me the
confidence to start my own band:' Indeed,
Phoenix performed with the Chili Peppers
NataliaZukerman
GasStationRoses
(WeaselRecords)
z
~
~
()
&
~
~
~
on their One Hot Minute tour back in the mid'90s. Flea, the band's bassist extraordinaire, has
been a longtime friend and even appears on
Let's Make Babies in the Woods, the latest album
by Phoenix's current project, papercranes.
Let's Make Babies arrived in January and is
billed as "psychedelia-tinged folk:' It's a concise
album to say the least, featuring only nine songs,
none of which breaks the four-minute mark.
According to Phoenix, this was by design. "I
am a fan of shorter songs;' she explains. "When
playing live, I also like shorter sets. Unless the
audience knows your songs and is singing with
you, I personally think it's self-indulgent to play
long sets:'
The material on the new album ranges from
songs like "Headphones;' a catchy Edie Brickellreminiscent cut, to the dosing song, "Grace;'
which is more of a free-form piece and which
finds Phoenix screaming. Apparently, the whole
disc was recorded in as few takes as possible.
Phoenix says, "I usually write and record the
vocals stream-of-consciousness style. For this
record, the whole group decided to do the same.
We recorded most of the record without retakes,
except for some guest overdubs. We wanted this
to be our 'experimental record:"
Unlike some people who act and sing,
Phoenix really isn't known specifically for one
art form as opposed to the other. Asked about
the differences between the two, she replies,
"When I'm writing and singing [with] my own
band, I work from my emotions and whatever
comes up makes its way to the stage and to the
record. I think it's similar to acting in that way.
The difference is that [with acting], you're playing someone else. I enjoy both creative outlets
(but] with music, I am able to do it anytime,
anywhere. That's where I'm currently focusing
my creative energy:'
Though she is in fact straight (and divorced),
Phoenix is decidedly pro-queer-not
surprising considering her open-minded background."
I am for all people being treated with dignity
and respect;' she says. "I am pro gay marriage.
Healthy debate is fine and good but I think there
should be laws to protect people's choices-no
matter [what] their sexual orientation:' ■
An N.Y.C.
nativewhohas
spenthercareerperforming
all acrossAmerica,folk
singerNataliaZukerman
hasinfusedthatjourney
intoherlatestrecord,Gas
Aseclectic
StationRoses.
asthe nationshetours,her
influences
varyfromfolk,
rock,andcountryto blues,
andZukermansucceedsin
creatinga soundthat is pure
Americana.
"Brooklyn"showcasesZukerman's
breathy
vocalsandthe amblingandbluesy"SorrySideof Town"is equalpartsDolly
PartonandKTTunstall.Rounding
outthe albumis "AsYouAre,"the out
songstress'
callto actionfor closetcases-"So comeout/Come
as youare/
Orkeeponwaitingfor yourlifeto start."A decadesinceZukermanreleased
herfirst studioalbumin 2001,this,herfifth album,is the polished,confident,
ambitiousworkof an artistwhohascomeintoherown.(weaselrecords.com)
EmilyAsen
Tothe Marrow
(VioletMaidenRecords)
Folk-popdo-it-herself-er
EmilyAsenreturnsfor her
secondfull-lengthalbum,
the deeplypersonalTothe
Marrow.Thatthe album
incorporates
a numberof
uncommon
instruments,
includingconcertbells,a
mellotronanda glockenspiel
makesit unique-but that
Asenwasthe oneplaying
eachof themmakesthis
albuma fantasticachievement."LongTimeComing"
is an upbeatandcatchytrackandthe albumcloser,an acousticrenditionof
"Evergreen,"
is a strippeddown"girlwitha guitar"versionthat'sperfectly
suited
to Asen'ssweet,highvocals.Butthe highlightof the albumis "UnderMy
Tongue,"
a songthat speaksto Asen'scommitment
to marriageequality"Myfriendsdon'tunderstand
howmuchit hurts/Notto beableto loveher
like I want/Myfeetareonthe ground/ButI'vegot nowayto tie herto me."
(emilyasen.
com)
May 2011
I 71
REVIEWSSapphic Screen
BeingDifferent
Acting and activism with Being Human's Alison Louder. By Rachel Shatto
In 2009 when GLAAD released their annual
Network Responsibility Index they dealt a
failing grade to the Syfy network. Syfy's
response was a promise that future program~
ming would be much more diverse.
Two years and two cancelled series ( Caprica
and Stargate: Universe) later, Alison Louder's
Being Human character is the network's last
lezzie standing. Fortunately, she's one we
can happily get behind.
Based on the British show of the same
name, Being Human follows three roommates
attempting to live a normal life, despite the
fact that they are a vampire, werewolf and
ghost. Louder stars as Emily, the werewolf's
younger, lesbian sister.
Both an actor and activist Louder, is an
outspoken environmental and animal rights
activist as well as a passionate advocate for
721curve
gender equality. She's appeared in small roles
in several films including The Mummy: Tomb
of the Dragon Emperor. Plus, she wrote and
starred in her own one~woman show, which
premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe festival.
Set to star alongside the likes oflesbian fave
Kristen Stewart in this year's film adaptation
of Jack Kerouac's On the Road and the Syfy's
recent decision to renew Being Human for a
second season, Louder is a star on the rise.
Canyoutell mea littlebitaboutEmily?
When you first meet Emily, she hasn't seen
her brother in two years. He's her best friend,
and it's at a time in her life when she's dealing
with a lot of things: Going to school, living on
her own for the first time, coming out of the
closet-these are all big steps for a 19~year~old
and her best friend and brother hasn't been
Whatis yourfavoritecursewordin
English?
Bollocks.
Whataboutin French?
Calissede tabarnak!Literally:
"chalice
of thetabernacle."
It's funny-all of the
Englishcursewordshaveto dowithsex
andphysicalanatomy,
whereasin French
a lotof themhaveto dowithreligion.
Doyouhaveanypets?
I havea cat namedMab.
What'syourguiltiestpleasure?
Watchinglotsof episodes
of StarTrek:
I don'tcarewhat
TheNextGeneration!
anyonesays,I'm goingto becomea
Trekkie!
Doyouhavea femalecelebritycrush?
CateBlanchett.
MichelleWilliams.Oh,I
totallyhavea femalecelebritycrushon
She's
Gabourey
SidibefromPrecious.
socool.
around for the past two years to guide her
through it and be someone to vent to. So
she's.. .learned to fend for herself outside
of family support and yet there's this strong
vulnerability. She's sassy, she's smart and she
doesn't really care what others think of her.
Howmuchofthecharacter
isyou?
I think Emily and I have a lot in common ...
in terms of attitude [and] just her open~
mindedness and her compassion for others,
that's something that I always try to embody
as me. She's just this genuinely open person
who doesn't fully fit in. Neither do I. I'm kind
of weird. Which is OK, and I'm totally
comfortable with that, and so is Emily.
Didyoualwayswantto beanactor?
I wanted to be a fireman, actually, and I remem~
ber distinctly telling someone and they said
you mean firewoman and I said no, fireman.
[Laughs] I've had a lot of dreams. Acting
caught me by accident. I come from a musical
background. My father's an organ builder and
my mother's a music professor and musicology
researcher. I was raised playing piano and
singing in choirs and I'm selrtaught at the
accordion, played bass, I'm learning guitar.
So I kind of always thought I would be a
musician growing up, then the summer I was
16 I got a lead role in a short film and it just
completely changed my perspective.
Dohaveanyhesitation
aboutplayinga lesbian?
I have absolutely no concerns about playing
any sexuality whatsoever. I'll just put it out
there: I'm not gay, but I also think that my
perspective on sexuality and gender has
evolved a lot over the years because I'm friends
with a lot of transgender people who are in the
process of transitioning or have already transi~
tioned. I supported a couple of friends through
that process. I have a lot of queer friends, gay
friends, lesbian friends. So, I don't really look
at sexuality as being something that is where
the genders are implicitly binary.
Some of my greatest role models are trans~
gender. I look up to Kate Bornstein. I think
Kate is a fantastic person and just so strong
because her message isn't just about gender,
her message isn't just about if you're queer it's
cool, it's about everybody has something in
them that's different-some
people are just
more different than others and you have to
learn to love that about yourself, so you can
be the best person you can be in this life on
this planet. I love that.
Howdoesthatinformyouradvocacy
forgender
equality?
In terms of advocating for gender equality ...
I'm just relentless about if I'm challenged
on it or if I encounter someone who seems
to have sexist, stereotypical ideals. It's like, I
ask them, What exactly did you meanr It's a
constant dialog.
Whatothercausesareimportant
to you?
I'm an environmentalist; I'm into animal rights,
also just general social rights. The average
human being faces disrespect on a lot oflevels
everywhere around them at any given time. I
think it's really important to know how you
can make a difference in your town, in your
city, in your country politically, as well.
Bloomington
(WolfeVideo)
What'snextforyou?
I got a small part in On the Road. So, that's
something to look forward to in 201 L It's really
not a big part, but just to work on that project
was amazing.
Canyoutalkaboutyourrole?
My character, Dorie, is kind of a college girl
in the '40s in New York and she's tapped into
this literary scene of poetry and explosive,
awesome, fun parties and she's into it. That's
who she is. She's a person who likes to have
a good time and she gets to know the beats a
little bit. I see her around. [Laughs]
BeingHumanhasbeenrenewed
fora second
season.
Whyshouldlesbians
bewatchingit?
I really want people to keep in mind when
they watch the show that it's something I feel
is for everyone. It could very well have been
called "Being Different:' ■
Hemingway's
Gardenof Eden
(Lionsgate)
WhenformerchildactorJackie(Sarah
Stouffer)
Reminiscent
of HenryandJune,Hemingway's
goesawayto collegeshediscovers
she'sunable
Gardenof Edenis basedononeof thecontroto connectwithherfellowstudents
whogawk
versialauthor'sfinalnovels.
Thiseroticdramais
at thecampus"celeb."Feeling
likeanoutsider,
setin the 1920sandfollowsnewlyweds
David
sheis drawnto Catherine
(Allison
McAtee),
a
andCatherine
Bourne-a writerandhiswealthy,
gorgeous,
sophisticated-and
almostpredatoemotionally
unstable
andsexually
adventurous
rilyaggressive-psychology
professor
witha
wife.Soonaftertyingthe knotCatherine
begins
reputation
for seducing
herfemalestudents.
The
transforming,
cultivatinganappearance
of
chemistry
is instantaneous
andthetwoquicklyfall
androgyny.
Shecutsoff herhairandinitiates
intoa relationship.
ButwhenJackieis offeredan
genderreversalin the bedroom.
Whenthetwo
opportunity
to returnto theHollywood
spotlightit
meetMarita,a beautifulbisexualItalianheiress,
threatens
to breakupthepassionate
buttenuous
Catherine
inviteshertojointhem-at firstto satisfy
romance.
Whilewellacted,particularly
byStouffer, hersexualcuriosityandthenfor herto share
with David.Inevitably
jealousyeruptswithinthe
Bloomington
neverquitereaches
theheightsof
trio andthe relationship
devolves
quickly.While
intensity
of theillicitstudent-teacher
affairinthe
thefilm'ssetting,costumes
and
Noris Catherine, mostlymiddling,
similarlythemedLovingAnnabelle.
AnddespiteactorMena
serialstudentseducer,
everparticularly
empathetic. setdesignarestunning.
Suvarinotquitebeingupto thecomplexrole,
Butwherethefilm doessucceed
is in its realistic
Catherine
is a fascinating
character,
particularly
portrayal
of a briefintersection
of lives-makingit
inthecontextof the 1920s.(lionsgate.com)
wellwortha watch.(wolfevideo.com)
May 2011
I 73
REVIEWSIn The Stacks
LoftyLives
From glam photos to critical theory, we celebrate two landmark lesbian reads. By Rachel Pepper
Thel life: Extraordinary
lesbiansMakinga
Difference,
ErinMcHugh,photosby Jennifer
May (Stewart,Taboriand Chang):Few art
books are devoted to lesbian lives, art
or culture. Traditionally, art and photo
books are expensive to produce, and
thought to have a limited number of
lesbian buyers. Thus, a new photo book
for lesbians is a big deal, and mainstream publisher Stewart, Tabori and
Chang has taken a gamble on The L
Life, a beautiful new book by Erin McHugh,
with photos by Jennifer May.
Through interviews and full color portrait
photography, The L Life focuses mostly on
well-known lesbians who have made a difference in the LGBT community. With actor
Jane Lynch of The L Word and Glee gracing
the cover, this book makes no apologies for
featuring (primarily white) A-List lesbians
from politics, activism and entertainment. We
find many of the usual suspects included in this
project, such as Kate Clinton, Alison Bechdel,
Kate Kendell, Phyllis Lyon, Tammi Baldwin,
Elizabeth Birch and Dr. Susan Love. Women
of color are mostly limited to a few pioneers
including Urvashi Vaid, Linda Villarosa
and Dr. Marjorie Hill. There are few women
under 40, and a scarcity of women under 25.
Knowing the demographic this book seeks to
reach, none of this is a surprise, but it's still
disappointing. I would have preferred a few
variety of topics regarding contemporary
theories of the body, including phenomenology, psychology, feminist, queer
and trans-inclusive theories, and critiques of gender, sexual difference and
social construction. Philosophers and
psychologists, from Lacan to Luce
lrigaray are also put through the
wringer in chapters such as ''An
Ethics of Transsexual Difference:•
more feisty Throughout, Salamon asks her readers to
young radi- consider questions like, "Is it possible to think
cals, and a few less business executives, as of sexual difference as something that need
worthy of the description of "exceptional" not be located at the level of sex at all?"Which
lesbian. Still, The L Life is a lovely book, with
is guaranteed to provoke heated conversation
interesting essays bursting with quotes by at any lesbian potluck. The chapter titled
the featured women. With so few opportuni"Boys of the Lex: Transgender and Social
ties to give a voice to members of the lesbian
Construction;' which opens with photos
community in such a significant format, the from a calendar produced by The Lexington,
book will have lasting import. Add the exquisite San Francisco'smain lesbian bar, and is used to
images by photographer May, and it's more illustrate Salamon's theory that gender is
than a winning package that should be on "always already theorized. When a distinction is made between the theorizing and the
your radar for upcoming gift giving opportunities such as Gay Pride and the holidays. performance of gender expression, we might
(abramsbooks.com/ stc.html)
do well to ask who or what such a distinction serves:• Because Salamon is a theorist,
Assuming
a Body:Transgender
andRhetorics
of Assuming a Body may not be accessible for all
Materiality,
GayleSalamon
(Columbia
University readers. But for those who enjoy a challenge,
Press):While not exactly light reading, the this book rewards with its timely, thoughtfirst book by rising lesbian academic Gayle provoking examination of the body, and the
intersection of transgender psychology and
Salamon-currently
an assistant professor
critical theory. (cup.columbia.edu) ■
at Princeton University-tackles an amazing
BestlesbianErotica2011,KathleenWarnock,LeaDelaria{CleisPress)
LeaDelaria,the woman
behindthe selectionof
storiesin BestLesbian
Erotica2011,seemsto
approachthis collectionwith two thingsin
mind:Don'ttakesextoo
seriouslyandmakesure
everybody's
titilated.
Delariahasbeenrocking
ourworldsfor quitesome
74
I curve
time,mostlyas a stand-up
comicandoccasionally
as
a musicianandactor.(Did
youknowwe haveherto
thankfor the infamous
U-Haullesbianjoke?It's
true.)Delariahastaken
herkeeneyeandturnedit
on ourbedrooms,
selecting
eroticathat is sexy,wellcraftedanddiverse.What
oneexpectsin a "BestOf"
collection,aboveall, is
inclusivity.It is herethat
this collectionsucceeds.
Fromstoriesfeaturing
corporate
lesbians,
strippers,
hippiedykes,friendsturned-lovers
andfemmes
toppingbutches,there's
somethingfor everyone.
Whereelsewouldyou
find an encounterin the
woodswith a bitchwarrior
queen,followedby an
old-schoolhookup in a
1958Mercury?
Thisis
a solidcollectionfrom
oneof ourfavoritequeer
publishinghouses,anda
mustfor youreroticashelf.
(cleispress.
com)
[JillianEugenios]
Q+A
Emma Donoghue
Award-winning Irish novelist Emma
Donoghue's latest book of fiction, Room,
tells the story of Ma and her 5-year-old
son Jack, prisoners of a rapist who has
held Ma captive in an 11-foot-square
room for seven years. It sounds dire, but
because it is told from Jack's point of
view-full of the imagination, energy and
matter-of-factness of a 5-year-old-the
reader can't help but be drawn into this
remarkable story. Donoghue has garnered
rave reviews for Room and the book was
shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize.
While she is a phenomenal storyteller, she
also shines as a literary critic. Her latest
non-fiction offering, Inseparable: Desire
Between Women in Literature, identifies
six lesbian motifs that repeat themselves
in stories from medieval to contemporary
literature and examines works by writers
as varied as Chaucer, Charlotte Bronte
and Henry James.
Howdidyoudrawonyourownexperience
as a motherto writeRoom?
Very directly. Not only did I follow my
5-year-old son around and chart his
grammatical oddities like some kind of
ethnographer, but I poured into Room
every thought I'd ever had in the middle
of the night about how mothers are both
slaves and tyrants, friends and opponents
to their kids.
WhywritethebookfromJack's
perspective?
I wouldn't have dreamed of writing it
from anyone else's. From Ma's, for instance,
it could only have been voyeuristic and
unremittingly sad.
Whatwasthehardestpartof writingfrom
thepointof viewof a 5-year-old?
Actually, the hard parts didn't come from
Jack's age but from his inexperience of the
world; I had to keep reminding myself of
the many things he didn't know. But as
a point of view, a consciousness, I didn't
find anything limiting about his age.
Whatwouldyousayto someonewhodoesn'twantto read
a bookaboutserialrapeand
imprisonment?
That Room really isn't about
those things; they are the
barely and rarely-referred-to
circumstances that have created a world of love between
mother and child.
Howdidyourexperience
as
a storyteller
comeintoplay
whilewritingInseparable?
Not only did it inform my
understanding of how these
many and varied writers
begged, borrowed and
stole each other's lesbian
plotlines, but it helped me
tell the story of this literary
tradition itself-its movement over the centuries, its
twists and turns.
Yousaythatwritersrecycle
oldplotsandthatthisis especiallytrueforlesbianromance.
Whyisthat?
Because it makes writers nervous, so
they grab hold of an established storyline
like a thread to lead them through the
minefield.
Whythesubtitle"DesireBetweenWomen"?
Whynot"Lesbianism"?
Areyoubeating
aroundthebush?
In one sense, yes, the publishers asked me
to change the book's title from Lesbian
Plots. Beating around the bush is one
valid device that publishers use to try to
get past potential buyers' prejudices. But
in another sense, no, because I wanted
the broadest possible terms for my topic.
The kind of utterly respectable platonic
yearning between two women in many
18th-century novels just doesn't sit right
with the word lesbianism.
Youfindstoriesof lesbianromance
asfar
backas medievalliterature.
Weretheolder
examples
hardto find?
No, actually, because when same-sex desire does come up in medieval romances
it's often in a startlingly frank form. It was
harder to plough through the mass of
rather bland 18th-century fiction about
romantic friendship to find the really
interesting relationships.
Mostof thestoriesyoudiscussarewritten
bymen.Whydoyouthinklesbianrelationshipshavebeensocompelling
formale
writers,andheterosexual
readers?
Because they're a test case: They ask, to
quote an old song, What is this thing
called love:' What is this erotic force so
strong-yet nothing to do with making babies-that
it can go against sense,
against family, against tradition and law?
And another puzzle many men found
fascinating: If the earth revolves around
the phallus, what can be going on in a
bedroom without a phallus in it:'
(emmadonoghue.com) [RachelBeebe]
May 2011
I 75
REVIEWSFood
SaQQhicSQeakeasy
Meet Hollis Bulleit, lesbian bourbon ambassador. By JD Disalvatore
While lesbians might not think of bourbon
as their number one libation of choice, Hollis
Bulleit-the out lesbian spokesperson for her
family's label of Kentucky whiskey, Bulleit
Bourbon-is
hoping to change that. Bulleit
Bourbon is one of the fastest-growing small
batch bourbons in America. And this Spring,
the Bulleit line expands its portfolio to include
a 95 percent rye. It has garnered praise for
its complex taste, boasting a rich, oaky aroma
with hints of vanilla, spice and pepper, and a
long, lingering finish (Hollis' personal notes
are Christmas oranges and clove). In 2008,
the Annual International Review of Spirits
labeled Bulleit Bourbon as "Exceptional" and
gave it the Gold Medal.
With such a good product, and a family
legacy, it's little wonder that Hollis Bulleit
takes her job as the company's "bourbon
76
I curve
"I approached the business with the same tomboy
attitude I grew up with- I figured if I rough-housed
with the boys long enough, I might get a little more
elbow room for the ladies."
ambassador" seriously, traveling around the
country for almost half the year to educate
people on this classic beverage. "I am like the
Svedka girl, but I'm real and I'm queer;' she
jokes. When Hollis is home she spends time
working on her art in her live/work studio at
the famed Los Angeles artists' loft community,
the Brewery, where she has combined her
love of bourbon and art by using the family
archives to design and faux-finish parts of
the loft in the fashion of a speakeasy. Always
effervescent, Hollis leads these tastings in
flamboyant costumes, often dressing like a
flapper. "Bar trends are being influenced by
shows like Mad Men and the forgotten times
of your grandparent's cocktail hour;' Bulleit
notes. 'Tm hoping that the general consumer
is up for a more complex and mature experience with the brown spirits:'
Not to mention, connect with a part of
American frontier history. Hollis Bulleit is
a sixth generation family member of Bulleit
Bourbon. The inspiration for the bourbon
was taken from her great great great grand,
father's high rye bourbon recipe from the
1800s. Obviously, the bourbon you can pur,
chase today is not exactly the same bourbon
as Augustus Bulleit once made. Hollis jokes,
"If it was the same bourbon it would have
pieces of char floating in it and it would come
in a barrel-not a bottle:•
While Hollis Bulleit attended Smith and
graduated with a Masters of Fine Art from
New York University, she couldn't resist the
call of the family legacy. "I worked at the
distillery after graduating and I really fell in
love with Kentucky;' she says. But by joining
the family business, she entered a traditionally
male field. "When I first began I was definitely
the only XX presence in the old boys club;'
she says, "but over the years I've paid my dues
and won their respect. I approached the busi,
ness with the same tomboy attitude I grew up
with-I figured if I rough,housed with the
boys long enough, I might get a little more
elbow room for the ladies:• That includes
attending Whiskeyfests and tradeshows
donning fancy hair and period costumes. "I
just love to show up with my homemade drag
queen headdresses and my burlesque inspired
outfits;• she laughs. "Then throw 'em a wicked
curve ball with my sense of humor and bour,
bon knowledge:• She admits this has landed
her more than a few marriage proposals but
adds, "I think this happens less because I'm
cute and more because people assume that I
come with an unlimited trousseau of booze.
~
A New York transplant, Bulleit now calls
~ L.A. home, where she lives with her partner
~ Cher Stanley. She continues to combine her
~ work as an artist with her work as a bourbon
>~ ambassador, and still finds time to stretch
a:
0
out a canvas and work on pieces in between
()
~
traveling. "For me, art is a calling. I didn't
()
~ choose to be an artist, art chose me:•
~
But having a home that functions as both
0
~ studio and speakeasy means that work is
~ never far away. "I owe a lot to my partner
cc
i3 Cher. She's the yin to my yang. Her favorite
~ saying is, 'When bulleits are flying, fly low!'"
~ (hollisbulleit.com)
■
[lJ
Cl)
Still on the fence about bourbon? Try
Hollis Bulleit's favorite, easy cocktail.
• 1 1/3 oz of BulleitBourbon
• Lemonwedgesqueezedin
• IceandTonicto finish
"Evenif you are not a tonic gal you will enjoythis
drink becausethe high rye contentof the bourbon
andthe quininein the tonic are a nice marriage.If
youwant to up the ante,pairthe BLTcocktailwith
a BLTsandwich-bourbon and baconloveeach
other."Andas always,drink responsibly.
BEYOND POT LUCK
The world's first female
Iron Chef, Cat Cora,
has unveiled her line of
versatile cookware: Cat
Cora by Starfrit. The
attractive and durable
collection encompasses
the Cook'n'Serve casseroles, anodized fry
pans, cutlery and acacia
wood utensils that will
assist you in whipping up
everything from a simple
one-pot evening meal
to a large dinner party.
Cora has succeeded
in creating kitchen
essentials that are ecofriendly and traditionaland come with a nod to
the modern family.
If you think you're
busy, spare a thought
for Cora and her partner
of 10 years, Jen, who are
raising four sons while
juggling careers and other
projects. This family
serves nutritious homecooked meals efficiently
and without fuss.
"We created
something unique
that brings a new
function to the
modern mom who is
strapped for time, but
appreciates delicious,
home-cooked meals,"
says Cora.
The stainless steel
Cook'n'Serve casserole
nests in an attractive
bamboo serving bowl
and is the perfect vessel
for making an easy
meal for two. We tested
Cora's hearty Potato
and Mushroom Risotto
with Sage and her
super-healthy, luscious
Minestrone Verdeboth were simple
to make and
delicious. While
the Cook'n'Serve
casserole is perfect for
one-pots, it's also great
for side dishes and makes
the transition from stove
to table to refrigerator
to dishwasher easy.
(catcora.com)
[Constance
Parten]
May 2011
I 77
REVIEWSTech
LuxeLavator
Gadgets to glam your restroom. By Rachel Shatto
So you're a tech-savvy dyke. You've got a top-of-the-line Blu-ray player for
your 72-inch flat screen, you read curve each month on your shiny new
iPad 2 and you even have an army of Room bas to keep things tidy. But we're
willing to bet there's still one room that's getting short shrift in your personal
palace of technological wonders-the
bathroom. With all the groovy gizmos,
toys and advanced appliances out there, there's no reason why your lavatory
shouldn't be a den of pampering, relaxation and eco-friendliness. So, here are
seven gadgets to glam up and trick out your bano-and add some high tech
luxury to your most private sanctuary.
LightShow-er
Everhopin theshoweranddiscover
it's freezingcold-or worse,boiling
hot?Fortunately
the inventionof the
LEDlit showerhead,
whichchanges
coloraccording
to thewatertemperature,hasdoneawaywiththesenasty
mishaps.Batteriesarenotrequired;
the lightsarepoweredbywaterturning
an internalturbine.Prettycool,huh?
Plus,it makesfor saucyillumination
whenshoweringavecdeux.Just
sayin'.($180,shower-led.com)
TreatYourTushy
Wecanhardlytalk aboutbathroomgadgetry
withoutbringingupthepiecederesistance,
the hightechtoiletseat.Thesehygienicseats
arehugelypopularinJapanandarenowgaining
popularityherein thestates-and with good
reason.Therearea varietyof optionsonthe
marketbutthe BrondellSwash
1000with its twin stainlesssteel
nozzles,
a heatedseat,air dryerand
wirelessremoteis the Cadillacof
bidettoiletseats.It's a guaranteed
superiorposteriorexperience.
($600,brondell.com)
•
78
I curve
....• AudioAuNaturale
It doesn'thaveto beall ceramicand
chromein the bathroom.
Whynotmix
it upa bit?Infusea littlenaturewitha
uniquehand-crafted
woodiPoddock.
($80,etsy.com/shop/woolrich1900)
WaterConservation
Rocks
Withall this illuminated
showering
you'llbedoingwithyournewLED
showerhead
you'reat riskof running
upyourwaterbill.Thesolution:The
Waterpebble,
a devicethatsits by
yourdrainandhelpsmonitorand
evenreducethe amountof wateryou
expend.($10,uncommongoods.com)
BubblyBathTime
Bringtherelaxation
of a whirlpoolinto
yourbathwitha Turbo
SpaMassager.
Because
theTurboSpaattaches
to theinsideof thebath
withsuctioncups,it works
withanytub andhastwo
settings:Jet StreamandGentle
Bubbles.
Perfectfor a quickgetawaywithout
leavinghome.(Ourpro-tip:addbubblebathfor a
foam-tastic
dip.)($55,ib3thealth.com)
ToastyTowels
Nothingsayspampering
likea warmtowel.
Plus,warmdrytowelseliminatethe riskof
moldandmildew.Madewith environmentally
friendlyrenewable
stainlesssteel,the Elroy
towelwarmerbyAmbamixesmodernminimalistdesignwithfabulously
cozyfunction.
($960,efaucets.com)
There's no
reason why
.............................................................................
LetThereBeLight
Setthe bathtime moodwith Spa
Lights.Theseadorablebattery
operatedwaterprooflightsmake
bathroomcandlesobsolete.Letthem
floatonthe surfaceof the wateror
attachthemto thetub withtheir
suctioncupsfor underwater
lighting.
Andthe newcolorchanginglights
are-well-brilliant. ($12andup,
firebox.com)
your lavatory
shouldn't
be a den of
pampering,
relaxation
and eco-
.............................................................................
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May 2011
I 79
TOPTENREASONS
WELOVE
...
Osa
Wallander
The out bi actor approaches
her profession with integrity.
By Merryn Johns
The award-winning bisexual Swedish actor is passionate
about her craft, whether she applies it to network TV,
Strindberg classics or independent short films. And her
commitment to social issues and spirituality makes her
as complex as any character she's played.
1 . She'stenacious,
travelingfromSwedento
NewYorkto L.A.to pursueherdream."It's been
an amazing journey, being a Swede from a
small town and going to New York to find
myself and try to create a career and life in a
different country:'
6. She'sdramatic."I love roles I can really
sink my teeth into. I love playing bad char~
acters or troubled characters. It's a challenge.
I love psychology, the human condition. No
one is born a monster: If you can convey that
everyone has a heart, I think you've success~
fully told the story of a human being:'
2. She demystifies
actingfor us non-actors.
"It's really about living the character, and
when an actor does that, they really don't
have to do much else. But that in itself is a
very difficult thing to do:'
3. She'sa dedicatedstudent,andalumnusof
the LeeStrasbergInstitute.'Tve studied the
Method, Meisner, some Stella Adler. Now
I'm using the Chekhov technique and studying
under acting coach Nikolai Guzov:'
7. Shebringsus onedegreecloserto Greta
Garbo.
"I think Swedes have an understanding
of suffering. We're a very fortunate country,
but we deal with depression, suicide and
alcohol abuse. A lot of Swedes have these
problems, and the psychology is fascinating.
The mentality, for good or bad, is: If you are
going to do something, you have to go all the
way:'
8. Spirituality
is important:
Buddhism
sustains
4. She isn't a fame monster."What really
attracted me to acting was telling a story. It
can't be an ego trip. You're being rejected and
tested over and over again. If it's not a labor
of love, you should take an aspirin and get a
day job:'
5. She'sgutsy-even her mothercan't talk
9. She's passionateabout social issues.
herintoa fallbackcareer."She tried but she
didn't succeed. I'm sure she would love me
to have something on the backburner but
finally she's very supportive of what I've
done, which is fortunate:'
"Pollution, the short film I wrote and starred
in, is based on a true story. My aunt was a
severe alcoholic and my cousin ended up
committing
suicide. Domestic violence,
breast cancer, and any kind of sexual or
physical abuse are causes I am continuing
to write about or get involved in through
organizations:'
If you put yourself in rhythm with
the universe you can bring out
your highest potential. It's given me
the courage to believe in myself in
difficult moments.
so I curve
herin a toughindustry.
"I believe in the law of
the universe, the law of cause and effect. If
you put yourself in rhythm with the universe
you can bring out your highest potential. It's
given me the courage to believe in myself in
difficult moments:'
10. She'sout-but thecraftiswhatweshould
focuson,notherprivatelife."I really believe it
shouldn't matter who you are and who you
love. I think it's very honorable that people
come out. But if you're a fabulous actor and ~
::J
don't want to share your private life, I think ~
w
that's honorable as well. It's really the work ::::;
~z
that should matter:' ( osawallander.com) ■
BRI06ESTORE
Sure, it's just
a tire.
Like the Golden Gate is just a bridge.
For drivers who want to get the mostout of their cars,
IT'SBRIDGESTONE
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See all items with this value
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101
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Kl 1422
Features MAY2011
30
Brushing Up With Laurel Holloman
The L Word's Laurel Holloman is passionate
about painting, and her days on the hit 1V
show. By Jillian Eugenios
32
Talking Dirty With Uh Huh Her
Take our backstage pass to Leisha Hailey
and Camila Grey's life on the road.
By Melany Joy Beck & Janelle Sorenson
38
Mrs. & Mrs. Latin America
Meet the first lesbains to get married in
Argentina, at age 68. By Andrea Guzman
40
The United States of Addiction
Who's getting rich from your addictions?
Jane Velez-Mitchell asks the tough questions
about consumerism. By Edie Stull
62
Inspiring India
Experience one lesbian's challenging and
transformative journey. By Kelsy Chauvin
GetYourCareerin FullGear
From jobs to modes of transportation:
we offer you the best advice this issue.
42
Trapped in the Corporate Closet
You've made it to the top, so why are you
still in the closet? By Tina Vasquez
45
Workplace Etiquette Try these seven
tips on how to find a gay-friendly job.
46
Brilliant Careers
Stephanie Rosol, Tina Mabry and Kathy
LeMay pioneer the way for lesbians.
50
Riding Tough
Out lesbian Susan Parker has risked her life
to make it in A1V racing. By Georgia Krokus
54
~ure\Hol\oman
page30
Green Machines
c
Commit to a cleaner, greener drive with our
eco-car rundown. By Serena Freewomyn
0
~
I
56
u
From Road Wimp to Warrior
Channel your inner cyclist and get
fit and green in the process.
By Heather Robinson
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Departments MAY2011
IN EVERY ISSUE
6
8
9
10
17
20
21
22
80
12
18
24
Editor's Letter
Health: Meet our inhouse fitness expert,
the lovely and taut Jill Sloane Goldstein.
But where was she hiding those abs in
The Real L Word? Learn how to get some.
Letters
Contributors
26
Out in Front
Stars
Scene
Politics
Women in the workforce are disadvantaged
still and something needs to be done
about it.
This Is What a Lesbian Looks Like
28
Laugh Track
Bridget McManus shares her bumpy career
path to becoming a comic.
Lipstick & Dipstick
Top Ten Reasons We Love ...
-
.
.
.
70
Music: Rain Phoenix's new album proves
she isn't afraid of a little experimentation.
Curvatures
72
Film: Meet Being Human's crushworthy
Heat up the bedroom with our sneak
peek at Jude Schell's 101 sizzling
lesbian sex positions.
74
Books: Meet the brilliant author of Room,
Celebrity Gossip
Ladies, behave! Well, it wouldn't be
Lesbofile without a few hot messes.
lezzie little sister, Alison Louder.
Emma Donoghue.
76
78
0
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0
(/)
Food: Get tipsy with Hollis Bulleit, out lesbian
<{
~
bourbon amassador for Bulleit Bourbon.
--;
Tech: Seven gadgets to glam up and trick
0
out the most overlooked room in the housethe bathroom.
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41
curve
TRACYCHAPMAN/ KIRSTENVANGSNESS / SANDRABERNHARD/
JODIE FOSTER/ ANI DIFRANCO/ MELISSAETHERIDGE/TAMMYLYNN
MICHAELS/ ALEXANDRAHEDISON/ LILYTOMLIN/ KELLYMCGILLIS/
SARAHGILBERT/ JENNY SHIMIZU/ MARTINANAVRATILOVA/KATE
CLINTON/ MICHELLEWOLFF/ CLEA DUVALL/ TEGAN & SARA/ JANE
LYNCH/ K,O, LANG/ JACKIEWARNER/ ANNE HECHE/ MEREDITH
BAXTER/ JANIS IAN/ WE GOT THEM COVERED/ ANGELINAJOLIE/
KRISTANNALOKEN/ JOEY LAURENADAMS / TALLULAHBANKHEAD
LAURELHOLLOMAN/ DREW BARRYMORE/ AMANDA BEARSE/
CRYSTALBERNARD/ BILLYJEAN KING/ CHAZ BONO / AMBER HEARD
/ OREADE MATTEO/ CRIS WILLIAMSON/ FERRON/ ALIXDOBKIN
/ JOAN JETT/ SUBSCRIBE+ SEE/ CATHYDEBUONO/ MARLENE
DIETRICH/ AMANDA DONOHOE / GINA GERSHON/ LINDAFIORENTINO
/ JILL BENNETT/ PEGGYSHAW/ GRETAGARBO / ULRIKEFOLKERTS
/ INDIGOGIRLS/ ROSIEJONES / LAURENHAYS/ BAI LING/ MELISSA
FERRICK/ FRIDAKAHLO / REGINALUND / ROXANNEMICHAELS
/ NICOLERAYBURN/ TOSHI REAGON/ MICHELLERODRIGUEZ/
FIONASHAW/ ALLYSHEEDY/ ALICIASILVERSTONE/IONESKYE/
BARBARASTANVVYCK
/ RACHELMADDOW/ ELLENDEGENERES/
PORTIADEGENERES/ SAFFRONBURROWS/ FIONASHAW/ SARAH
PAULSON/ CHERRYJONES / LEISHAHAILEY/ HEATHERMATARAZZO
/ CYNTHIANIXON/ KYLIEMINOGUE/ MADONNA/ WANDA SYKES/
RUBY ROSE/ GUINEVERETURNER/ SUZE ORMAN / CLEMENTINE
FORD/ ROSIE0 DONNELL/ JILLIANMICHAELS/ BRANDICARLILE/
DEL MARTIN/ WANDA SYKES/ COURTENAYSEMEL/ BETH DITTO/
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PHILLIPS/ SUZANNEWESTENHOEFER
/ CHELYWRIGHT/ PHYLLIS
LYON/ CURVEMAG.COM / MEGAN FOX/ KATEMOENNIG/ AMELIE
MAURESMO/ ROBYN/ BITCH/ AUDRE LORD / DORIAROBERTS/
SARAHSHAHI/ SHERYLSWOOPES/ CATIECURTIS/ CHRISTINA
AGUILERA/ LADY GAGA/ OPRAH/ HILLARYCLINTON/ JANE VELEZMITCHELL/ KRISTENSTEWART/ ILENECHAIKEN/ MARGARETHE
CAMMERMEYER/ SAM RONSON/ LINDSAYLOHAN
1
curve
EDITOR'S
NOTE
A
t the inaugural dot429 "Straight Talk'' conference on
March 3 in New York City, I was lucky enough to hear some
of the brightest minds in our community come together to
discuss the idea of authenticity and transparency as it applies
to LGBT rights.
If it sounds a tad academic, it wasn't.
dot429 is a national network for the
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
community, and its allies. It brings
business~minded LGBT professionals
together at vibey events and online.
Brunches, forums and parties-which,
by the way, have nothing to do with
cruising-place you at the very edge
of what's next for our community.
At the "Straight Talk" conference,
Washington, D.C., journalist Kerry
Eleveld and political activist Dan
Choi agreed that a paradigm shift has
occurred when it comes to situating
gay and lesbian rights. It is no longer
necessary to defend the morality of
being gay or lesbian-instead it is now
immoral to discriminate against gays and lesbians; and almost
everyone under 30 considers it immoral to not come out.
It's disappointing that the political pitfalls of coming out
in the workplace still persist, but they do-especially during
this recession. Even those at the very top can be fearful.
During the conference, Logo's executive vice president and
general manager, Lisa Sherman, admitted that throughout
her career, before working at a lesbian and gay network, she
"was really afraid it would be career suicide" to come out. She's
the picture of relaxed confidence now, but, understandably,
many are not. Not all of us can work in the gay ghetto (I
again count myselflucky).
Jane Velez~Mitchell, brave even in the mainstream, told
the story of coming out on public radio while reporting on
the Larry Craig sex scandal. She felt that it would be hypo~
critical to comment on the actions of an allegedly closeted
gay man while remaining in the closet hersel£ To come
out publicly was a big but necessary step, "and nothing bad
happened:' According to Velez~Mitchell, coming out is essential,
if for no other reason than to kill the myth of"separate but
equal:' But most of all, coming out is a huge relic£ "Being in
the closet at work is like walking underwater in slow motion;'
she said. I hope our Careers issue gives you the inspiration to
be your best wherever you work and whatever you do.
We Mean
Business
~~
Merryn Jo s
Editor-inief
merryn@curvemag.com
6
I curve
curve
THE BEST-SELLING
MAY 2011
I
LESBIAN
MAGAZINE
VOLUME 21 NUMBER 4
Publisher Silke Bader
Founding Publisher Frances Stevens
EDITORIAL
Editor in Chief Merryn Johns
Managing Editor Rachel Shatto
Associate Editor Jillian Eugenios
Book Review Editor Rachel Pepper
Contributing Editors Diane Anderson-Minshall, Victoria A.
Brownworth, Gina Daggett, Sheryl Kay, Stephanie Schroeder
Copy Editor Katherine Wright
EditorialAssistants Liska Koenig
PUBLISHING
Director of Operations Laura McConnell
Senior Advertising Executive Diana L. Berry
Advertising Sales Rivendell Media
ART/PRODUCTION
Art Director Stefanie Liang
Production Artist Kelly Nuti
CONTRIBUTING
WRITERS
Jamie Anderson, Kathy Beige, Stacy Bias, Kelsy Chauvin, Bree
Clarke, Lyndsey D'Arcangelo, Beren deMotier, Lauren Marie
Fleming, Lisa Gunther, Tania Hammidi, Kathi lsserman, Melany
Joy-Beck, Gillian Kendall, Georgia Krokus, Kate Lacey, Charlene
Lichtenstein, Karen Loftus, Sassafras Lowrey, Ariel MessmanRucker, Alison Peters, Heather Robinson, Laurie K. Schenden, Lori
Selke, Janelle Sorenson, Dave Steinfeld, Edie Stull, Yana TallonHicks, Jocelyn Voo
CONTRIBUTING
ILLUSTRATORS
& PHOTOGRAPHERS
Erica Beckman, Brie Childers, Meagan Cignoli, Cheryl Craig,
JD Disalvatore, Tony Donaldson, Sophia Hantzes, Cheryl Mazak,
Maggie Parker, Constance Parten, Elisa Shebaro, Leslie Van
Stelten, Katherine Streeter, Kina Williams, Misty Winter
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Volume 21 Issue 4 Curve (ISSN 1087-867X) is published monthly (except for bimonthly
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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
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Curve Contest: Win a Natalia Zukerman CD
Folk singer and (lezzie heartthrob) Natalia Zukerman is back
for her fifth album, Gas Station Roses. Read our review of this
bluesy winner on page 78 and then head to curvemag.com to
find out how to win a copy of your own.
~
Get Schooled in Studology 101
Curve has partnered with the ladies of Studology 101 , Pookz
and DZ, who created their hit web series to inform the world
about the LGBT community through interviews, interactive
Q&As and commentary from their unique perspective. Go to
curvemag.com for your first lesson in Studology.
~
§'
§
§
~
!
More with Alison Louder
Are you crushing on Being Human's lesbian little sister Alison
Louder? We sure are. Which is why we are thrilled to share an
extended interview with the rising star as she shares what life
is like on the On The Road set, her thoughts on gender and
her passion for activism. Read more on curvemag.com
a:
CD
~~
A Tailored Life
Shaz Riley is the lesbian behind the butchtastic bespoke suitmaker, The Butch Clothing Company. Riley shares her own
shopping horror stories, how she started BCC and offers six
tips and tricks to tailoring your wardrobe.
This butch
knows suits
May 2011 17
LETTERS
Sarah Shahi
I Jodi
Picoult
I
Derby Girls
r Sick
of Sarah
TM
AMAZING
TAILS!
Reallife
animal'
rescue
stories
I like your magazine pretty well, but I feel like
families are completely left out on a monthly
basis. As a wife and mother of two, I need to
see more articles or question and answer
type articles in order to love it.
-Noelle Lee, Great Falls,MT
Writing about gay families in Denmark/
Scandinavia soon? You know that Denmark
was the first place in the world where you
could get a registered partnership. Plus, the
whole baby boom-because
we now can get
legal and free insemination in public hospitals
and so on!
-Eva Svendsen, Copenhagen, Sweden
Mad About Meat
Family Circle
My wife and I have been together nine years.
Back in 2007 we decided to finally look into
foster care, with the hopes of someday being
able to adopt. There are so many children of
all ages and backgrounds who so desperately
need to be loved and to feel safe. If you are
considering having children in your life, I do
strongly suggest foster care. At least for us it
worked out perfectly.
-Lori, Upstate N.Y.
I was looking forward to reading"Prime Cuts"
[Vol. 21#3] and especially the butcher shop
owners' response to lesbian vegetarians
because of the prevalence of moralistic "meatis-murder" vegetarianism and veganism among
lesbians in the U.S. I dislike moralistic
judging of what people choose to eat as much
as these butcher shop owners do. However, I
hate ignorance about the history of vegetarianism and low-or-no-red-meat
eating in
Third World and people-of-color cultures
even more.
-Stephani M. Booker, Minneapolis, Minn.
Shallow S.F.
Poll
How satisfied are
you in your workplace?
Reasonably
satisfied,more
33% good
daysthanbad
the bills,
30% Itbutpays
that'sjust aboutit
Miserable,
get me
23% out
of here!
Fullysatisfied,I have
14% the
dreamjob
According
to a curvemag.com
poll
Georgia Krokus'"Golden & Gay" [Vol. 21#2]
focused on where to shop, but I would wager
that lesbians coming to San Francisco need
to know a bit more about where to hang out!
Head to the ever-hip Mission neighborhood
for The Lexington, a cozy and sexy lesbian
bar. Then go a bit further south to the
lesbian-saturated neighborhood of Bernal
Hill to find Wild Side West, a lesbianowned bar since 1962 with a backyard to
cruise in. Georgia, call me next time you' re in
the city-I'll show you a great time.
-Judy Jarvis, San Francisco,Calif.
From Curve's
Facebook Wall
"Lovethis mag!"-Simone Lee
"Shoutoutto curve from Iraq"
-Iman PapiMalone
"I wasthrilledto seethe Q&Awith
MarleeWalchukandTullyCallenderof
Sugarbeach
in the March2011issue.
Thanks,teamcurve! "
-C MistHarman
"Just pickedupthe latestcopyof
curve at the localbookstore.
Totally
mademyday.:)" -LeAnn S.Lim
"I enjoyyourmagazineandhavesince
it hadthat "other"name.I am really
enjoyingthe changessincethe change
in ownership.I feelthat it is more
inclusiveof othercultures,andfar
moreinternational."
-Melodie Ricks
"Justwantedto saythat I readcurve
religiouslyandamveryhappyto see
the changewithincurve's ownership.
Thismonth'sissuewasveryexciting
for mygirlfriendandI. Wereally
enjoyedthe "Tantalizing
Taboosto
Tip HerOverthe Edge."[Vol.21#1]
Pleasekeepthe greatissuescoming."
-Dawn SmithGalvin
"Heycurve! I thinkyourpublication
is amazing.You'restrongandpowerful
womenandI thinkyouall should
standout!Youall makea difference!"
-Kelly Dochney
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hashelpedme in morewaysthan
one."-Vikki Freeman
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s I curve
CONTRIBUTORS
"Whenever I don't want to exercise I play a little mind
'TU think,
game with myself;' says Jill SloaneGoldstein.
'In one hour, I can still be sitting here or be done with a
workout and feeling so much better: Knowing that the
time is going to pass either way, nine times out of 10 I get
moving:' It's this kind of self~motivation that keeps her fit.
When the full~time freelance writer is not chained to her
laptop (as seen on Showtime's The Real L Word season
one), Goldstein can be found running the streets of L.A.,
working out at the gym or doing bicep curls with grocery
bags. For the first time, Goldstein has combined both her
strengths-writing
and fitness-into
her new curve
column (pg. 24).
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"Research can be very sexy, especially when you're using it
"Working
to promote social justice;' says KylaBender-Baird.
On Our Own Terms" (pg. 27) is based on research from her
forthcoming book, Transgender Employment Experiences:
GenderedPerceptionsand the Law. Driven to research trans~
gender identities out of curiosity, Bender~ Baird returns to
this subject out of a commitment to justice and a desire
to promote change through education. When not delving
into the complexities of gender, Bender~ Baird works for
the National Council for Research on Women, compares
the coffee shops of Brooklyn, N.Y. with those of Portland,
Ore. and contemplates whether she should go by Professor
Bender~ Baird or Dr. Kyla once she earns her Ph.D.
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''I've always thought it's really hard to be a girl. It's frustrating
how women are so deeply underestimated and constantly
ignored by society, even in the 21st century ( and when
a young
they're kissing each other);' says AndreaGuzman,
Chilean reporter who started publishing about civil rights
at age 14. She followed the progress of marriage equality in
Argentina and started looking for lesbian couples to inter~
view when she noticed that the media was focused on gay
male couples. "I never thought I would discover a story as
strong and inspiring as Norma and Ramona's" (pg. 38).
Guzman lives in Argentina where she writes for Chilean
newspapers El Mercurio and La Nacion and the magazines
Paula and The Clinic.
DeaidreNewbyalways has a pen nearby, ready to compose
poetic rhythms, vent about social injustice or depict an
inspiring scene that enters her mind. She has written two
songs, "Love Conspiracy" and "Every Time I Weep;' both
of which have been picked up by professional recording
artists. When she is not writing music, Newby is network~
ing and strategizing for Avalon Media as their business
development manager, promoting clients for Kamby
Management Group, or working towards her lifetime goal
to visit all 50 U.S. states. Read her interview with film~
maker Tina Mabry on pg. 47). (dedenewby.weebly.com)
"Going to India for the first time totally solo is the boldest
adventure I've ever taken. And starting the trip in Kolkata
has been something even Indian people are wowed by;'
In this issue, Chauvin's article"Inspiring
says KelsyChauvin.
India" (pg. 62) she shares excerpts from her India travel
journal that span the initial culture shock, the enchant~
ment of holy Buddhist sites, and her desperation to blend
in-in a place where a Westerner doesn't have a chance of
such a thing. Chauvin is a writer, photographer and film~
maker based in New York. (kelsychauvin.com)■
May 2011
I9
Put a Ring On It
If you're looking to pop the question to your
sweetie, but are seeking non~traditional bling, then
Bilingual unisex rings may be just the artily subversive
jewelry you're searching for. All Bilingual jewelry
is designed and created by Marta Niegowska who,
after spending more than a decade as an interior
designer, was irresistibly drawn to jewelry~making
and creating things with her hands. "My passion
was only enhanced by the fact that I believe there
are so many shapes and forms still to explore, espe~
cially with rings;' says Niegowska.
Designed with an architectural and minimalist
aesthetic and forged in recycled silver, each piece
is the essence of simple elegance. "[Every ring] has
its own unique story and is designed with every
detail considered. The shapes have a meaning, they
are not created just to pretty things up;' explains
Niegowska.
It's this simplicity that Niegowska credits for
the popularity of her line with her gay and lesbian
clients. "The pieces offer our customers a miniature
sculpture that they can wear which is both under~
stated yet elegant. In particular, our pieces appeal
to same sex~couples seeking commitment ringsbecause we can offer matching rings that are gender
neutral, contemporary yet classic:'
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Bilingual
is their commitment to the environment. In addi~
tion to utilizing recycled materials, sustainability is
key to Niegowska. "One of our core philosophies is
to design for longevity. We do not produce throw~
away fashion-instead
our pieces are considered
and designed to feel comfortable, last a lifetime and
offer a timeless and classic aesthetic:'
Sounds like the perfect way to celebrate a love
that's meant to last a lifetime. (bilingual.com.au)
[RachelShatto]
Unisex Sling: (clockwise)
B ring, Destiny M, Ecstasy
neckpiece and Salvation A
May 2011
I 11
CURVATURES
Jude Schell's Sexy New Book
The lesbian sexpert is back with 101 more ways to drive her wild.
Are there any among us who haven't taken at least a peek at
Jude Schell's bestselling 2008 labor of love, Lesbian Sex: 101
Lovemaking Positions? The author of this lesbian kama sutra is
back with another little book of big ideas, Her Sweet Spot: 101
Sexy Ways to Find and Please it. The book advertises itself as "a
promise of sensorial pleasure" and it doesn't disappoint. With
a full~page photo to go with all 101 sexy ways, think of this
handbook as an illustrated map with a side of erotica.
Made up of a mixture
of favorites and new car~
nal creativity, the 101
ways include everything
from spicy stand~bys such
as submission (No. 67)
and spanking (No. 9) to
more curious and sensual
entries like "Her Dogs are
Barking" (No. 71), which
refers to a sexy foot mas~
sage and "Where the Bee
Kissesfulfillanarrayof intentions.
Lipspress
againstanotherasa greetingor farewell,
to seala pact,for goodluck,andto express
respect,
fondness,
attraction,
passion,
andlove.
Kissingis a vitalelementinthechemistryof
love.A woman's
decision
totakeanother
woman
as herloverreliesgreatlyonthesensations
sheexperiences
whentheirlipsfirst meet.
You'vebothbeenimagining
thefirst electric
instantwhenyourracingmindsandlust-filled
bodiesfluentlymerge,mingle,andmeld.Relax,
andletthisirreversible,
sink-or-swoon
moment
unfoldnaturally.
What'snaturalis nearly
alwayswhat'smostextraordinary
...
121curve
Sucks, There Suck I" (No. 41),
which suggests having a three~
way-with Mother Nature.
The erogenous scope is epic: If
whispering "love" at the sky with
the object of your affection might not be your thing, there's
always "status orgasmus;' the twenty~second orgasm of the
Ripple Effect, or food play, which is described in delicious
detail as Lucky No. 49.
Her Sweet Spot depicts women diverse in their body types,
ethnicities, expressions of femininity and even tattoos. But
butch girls are disappointingly absent. There is an abundance
of sizzling femme~on~femme action, but you'll need to go else~
where if you've got a sweet spot for butches and bois.
(indiebound.org) [JillianEugenios]
Reprinted with permission from Her Sweet Spot: 101 Sexy
Ways to Find and Please It by Jude Schell, © 2010. Published
by Celestial Arts, a division of Random House. Photos: Janette
Valentine © 2010
Willsherunwiththe bigdogsor stayontheporchwiththepups?
Lifeisn'tmeantto beobserved;
it's meantto belived.Embrace
a
joiedevivrefor being.
Shelongsto besweptaway.Beheradventurous
lover.Pullher
offthe porchandshatterherroutine.Fulfillherdreamto exploreand
experience
newworlds.
Heroptionsfor adventure
arelimitless.Immerse
yourselves
in
eachother'sdestination
paradise.
Stepintoliquidandsurffor thefirsttime.Divea shipwreck.
Sail
the rivermild.Thewhooshandflutterof a hotair balloonflightis
sureto lightenhermind,body,andspirit.Gatherwithbirdnerds
in picturesque
settingsto seeaneleganteaglesoaror a nuthatch
scamperupa Londonplanetree.
Fulfillingherdreamadventure,
howeverbigor small,givesherthe
confidence
to pursueadditional
curiosities
andpassions.
It'll alsofuel
herdesireto continueto explorehereverypassion
withyou...
Instantgratification
is largelyundervalued.
It'sthesavvylovers-those
familiarwithhowpleasurably
immediate
rewardscanlinger-who seize
everyopportunity
to performa quickieoncue.
Inthelast-minute
preparations
beforea dinnerparty,momentsbefore
yourguestsarrive,boostyourstunningco-hostess
ontothe perfectlyset,
crystal-laden
table,hikeupherdress,andgetit on.
Unexpectedly
lockyourofficedoorandravageheronyourdesk.Inform
theinquisitive
salesperson
'I'mjust lookingfor myfriend'
asyouslipintoherdressingroomandslideyourhanddownherpants.
Loverspulsatewithan incredible
senseof urgency.
Struggle
to keep
quietasyouvirtuallytearoff eachother'sclothesin thethroesof passion,
sonearlyexposed.
Asin a spiritedgameof hide-and-seek,
thethrillis in
the possibility
of discovery
...
CURVATURES
the rundown
Holla Back Girls
Five years ago, Hollaback!, an online movement to use mobile technology
to report street harassment, gave us a way to respond to one of the most
pervasive forms of gender~based violence. And now with the recent
release of its iPhone app, Hollaback! provides a tool to track incidents
of harassment in real time.
Street harassment doesn't have to be a daily
reality. Hollaback! founder Emily May started
the project to raise awareness around the power
structure and dynamics on the street that lead
to harassment of women and LGBT folk. For
May, including the LGBT community in the
project was a "no brainer" because street harass~
ment, at its root, is about gender~based violence.
"Street harassment is taking away someone's
agency;' said May. "It's being told who you are
rather than defining that for yourself:'
Everyone has the right to self~expression and free movement in pub~
lie, to wear what you want and have it be for the ']oy of inhabiting your
body, not the titillation of others;' says May. "The new generation of
feminists are fighting for self~actualization, for the right to be ourselves
everywhere:' And now we have the power to transform our world, one
[KylaBender-Baird]
digital hollaback at a time. ( ihollahack.org)
NeilAbercrombie,
the Governor of Hawaii,has signed
legislation that will legalize civil unions in the state.
"Civil unions respect our diversity, protect people's
privacy, and reinforce our core values of equality and
aloha;' said Abercrombie in a statement issued about
the passage of the law... 700 gay and lesbian couples
were married in MexicoCityin the
first year since same~sex unions were
legalized there, and of that 700,333
of the couples who tied the knot
were women. Marriage equality has
since been challenged by the Mexican
federal government, however the Mexican Supreme
Court has ruled that the law is constitutional and that
all Mexican states must recognize the gay marriages of
Mexico City ... Despite a sometimes~confusing
position on gay marriage, the Obamaadministration
of Justicewill
has announced that the Department
no longer be defending the Defense of Marriage Act
AttorneyGeneralEricHolderissued a
known as DOMA.
statement saying that classifications based on sexual
orientation warrant heightened scrutiny and that
Section 3 of DOMA is unconstitutional... Mary
Morgan,the first openly lesbian judge in the United
States, has announced her plans to retire from the San
Francisco
SuperiorCourts.Morgan was appointed in
1981, and in her time on the bench
has played an instrumental role in
how the court system treats and
assesses mentally ill defendants.
The court in her district now has
10 openly gay or lesbian judges ...
KarenTaita lesbian, and Captain
in the BritishArmy,was sent home from a tour in
Afghanistan after she was accused of having an inap~
propriate relationship with a fellow soldier. Captain
Tait admits that she and SergeantCarolineGraham
were involved in a sexual relationship since 2009,
but argues things were "on the back burner" when
both were assigned to the same region. Commanding
officers argue that they shared a tent, and that she
changed leave rotation so they could be together ... A
new study from the Atlanta
Centerfor DiseaseControl
andPrevention
shows that
American youth are on
the whole having less sex,
but that there was a slight
increase in the rates of
lesbian intercourse amongst teens-12% in 2002 and
13% in 2006-2008. During that same period, 29%
of women aged 15-24 reported that they did not
have sexual intercourse compared with 22% in 2002.
[Sassafras
Lowrey]
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HONORARY
LIFETIME
LESBIAN
MEMBERSHIP
OUTINFRONT
Activist Achievers
From D.C. to Nigeria, the struggle for equal rights continues.
By Sheryl Kay
ClearSailing
Although she'sjust 32 years old, KelseyPhipps
was privileged to work for Sen. Edward
Kennedy for four years, in his Washington,
D.C., office, before he died in 2009. His influence on her was profound and dramatic; he
played many roles in her life.
"The senator was my boss, my mentor, my
friend, my political hero;' says Phipps. "He
was like a grandfather to me:'
Phipps was special assistant and assistant
to the chief of staff in the senator's personal
office just before his passing. She spent two
years as a policy advisor on disability and was
the first female co-chair of the Senate's LGBT
staff caucus. Kennedy, she says, was acutely
aware that equality for gay America is no
different from any other civil rights issue.
"He not only was the chief sponsor of
every LGBT civil rights bill in Congress,
but he also followed every issue, pulling
clippings on LGBT news from the papers
himself;' she recalls.
Today, Phipps is putting the legendary
Kennedy tenacity to good use, now that
she's a member of the provisional board of
GetEQUAL, a direct-action group that works
to achieve full legal and social equality for the
gay community. Members of Congress, she
says, need to hear LGBT voices loud and clear.
Those voices provide the impetus necessary to
make legislative changes.
When she's not stating her case on Capitol
Hill, Phipps can be found hitting the books as
a Public Interest Law Scholar at Georgetown
University. She'll receive her Doctorate of
Jurisprudence this month. She has already
signed on as a law clerk with Superior Court
Judge Marisa Demeo, a Latina lesbian recently
appointed by President Obama.
"The Republican takeover is going to make
progress toward equality a lot more difficult,
but we'll keep fighting," says Phipps.
Phipps said she deals with LGBT civil
rights issues using the tenacious spirit-and
the sailing terminology-she
learned from
Sen. Kennedy.
" 'It's not that hard; he used to say. "You
just put the sail into the wind and go:"
QueerRightsin Nigeria
Yemisillesanmicomes from a country where
homosexuality is seen-quite literally-as a
demonic act, where homosexuals are considered to be "possessed" and are often tortured.
In fact, in the 12 northern states of Nigeria,
where Islamic Sharia law prevails, adults who
are found to have engaged in homosexual
intercourse can be stoned to death.
"Many lesbians, bisexuals and gays often
marry the opposite sex just to keep their
family members happy and take away suspicion from the ever-vigilant community;' says,
Ilesanmi a 36-year-old bisexual labor union
activist and attorney. "However, they often
carry out same-sex relationships under the
disguise of friendship. It is like an unwritten
survival code within the LGBT community
in Nigeria:'
Ilesanmi has been fighting for civil rights
since 1998, when she was arrested during
a peaceful student political protest at the
African University Games in Lagos. She was
brutalized by the police.
"Even though there is a civiliangovernment in
"I have lostfriends
and comradesdue to
the overzealousness
of trigger-happy
policemen,but-as
we say-the struggle
continues."
power now, Nigeria is still a growing democracy
and still learning to tolerate oppositions;' says
Ilesanmi. "I have lost friends and comrades due
to the overzealousness of trigger-happy policemen, but-as we say-the struggle continues:'
Currently enrolled in the Master of Laws
(LLM) program in Gender, Sexuality and
Human Rights at Keele University, in the
U.K., Ilesanmi speaks at conferences to
stimulate interest in LGBT issues in Africa,
noting that the same international solidarity
shared by trade unions across the globe
should also include solidarity for LGBT
workers, regardless of their race, gender or
geographical location.
She understands the difficulties associated
with coming out in a country where homosexuality is a criminal offence and can lead to
social and political exclusion and even death.
''As a single mother, an atheist, a bisexual
black woman, I am used to being discriminated against, but I do not have to tolerate
it or accept it as normal. It is important that
we stand up for ourselves and also for others
whose voices are silenced:' ■
May 2011
I 17
LESBOFILE
Stirring it Up
One celesbian couple splits, another reunites, faux-mos
have us rolling our eyes and an A-lister peeks out of the closet. By Jocelyn Voo
Splitsville
Ladies, RosieO'Donnell
is back on the market.
The comic and TracyKachtick-Anders,
her
girlfriend of over a year, have called it off.
Reports say that while the split was amicable,
they're still sorting things out because their
kids (Kach tick- Anders' six, and O'Donnell's
four with ex-wife Kelli Carpenter) are close.
Looks like it's the end of the Gay-dy Bunch.
More LiRoLovin'
In the world of on-again, off again romances,
LindsayLohanand SamanthaRonsonmight
be competing for the heavyweight title. After
an impossibly tabloid-friendly relationship
that subsequently ended in an even more
tabloid-friendly train wreck ( that included a
restraining order being filed against Lohan),
it looks like LiRo is back on again. Last we
heard, Lohan moved in next door to Ronson
without notice. Then Ronson took to Twitter
to announce their latest status: "watching
greys anatomy-my fav show-@lindsaylohan sleeping next 2 me- should
i wake her up to let her know her
mom is going on GMAt
All it takes is 140 characters to
smooth over a restraining order,
we guess.
WelcomeWagon
Welcome, DaisyLowe-actor, daughter of
rocker Gavin Rossdale and Miles Kane music
video muse-to
the Fake Lesbian Club.
Membership mandates the following things:
Must have a real boyfriend.Check: Lowe is
dating Doctor Who star Matt Smith.
Must moon after other hot celebritychickspublicly. Check: In an interview with GQ;
Lowe declared affinity for Kelly Brook"Such a hottie:'
18
I curve
Must claim lesbianism. Sort of. Check: "I
am, pretty much, a mild lesbian;' she says.
(Which we guess is similar to being "sort of
pregnantt)
We blame the likes of Aubrey O'Day,
Katy Perry and those girls from t.A.T.u. for
paving the way.
15 Minutes
Fame hungry, much:' Jon Gosselin's ex, Hailey
has decided if she can't get the spotGlassman,
light by dating a straight man with
eight kids, perhaps the road
to success is ... starring in a
horror film that includes a
potential lesbian scene with
a porn star! Glassman has
signed on, and SashaGrey
is mulling over the script.
Honestly, we don't know if s:this, or Glassman's relationship \2,
~
with Gosselin, is more appalling. Although, ~
on second thought, Grey is pretty foxy.
~
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u
telling Vanity Fair that "we all may be a bit rt
uj
bisexual:' Having played gay in two films ~
(May and The Hot Chick), it sounds like g
maybe there's a little "Method" to her mad- 2
~
ness, if you know what we mean. ■
c:i
She Said
In a sea of snarky soundbites, sometimes we forget the
best of what's been said. Women Know Everything: 3,241
Quips, Quotes & Brilliant Remarks by Karen Weekes
serves up some memorable moments.
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May 2011
I 19
STARS
Mischief and May-hem Energetic May is feeling feisty. It would
be a shame to rein her in, so go for the gusto. By Charlene Lichtenstein
Taurus(April21-May 21)
Call it intuition or call it providence but there is something buzzing in your head that seems to guide you
in the best direction. Then, once you have routed the
spirits and created your great gay karma, get involved
in a charitable effort that improves our community.
Gemini(May22-June 21)
Mischief and mayhem ensues all May and Twins can
enjoy every "wilde" crazy moment. So why aren't you
instigating some of this feisty action? Don't leave it to
others to provide the buzz. That is your forte, especially since you have so many buzzy play toys. Ahem.
Taurus(April21-May 21)
Bullsare the earthiestof
the earth signsand can be
temptedto mudwrestlefor
their meal.Theyalso quite
enjoywatchingother scantily
clad babestake their turns
in the mud pit. Theywill
gladlyhelp scrub-a-dubthe
winner-or eventhe loser.
It's amazingwheremudcan
hide!After the party is over,
she can plop in front of the
boobtube with the best of
them.Withoutstimulation,
she can fall into a pattern
of familiar malaise.Blowin
her ear and she'll follow you
anywhere.Leaveher to her
own devicesandshe'll plow
througha six-pack,a pizza
and a tub of popcorn.The
wise loverwill givethis gal
lots of love,affectionand
attention.Shemaynot be the
mostexperimentalloverbut
she has luxuriousstamina
and a romanticstreak.Who
elsewouldtry to fill up your
bathtubwith champagne
andfresh cherriesas an
anniversarysurprise?
20
I curve
Cancer(June22-July 23)
There is no stopping you on your professional path
this May. But you seem to be carefully guarding the
secret of your success. Are you vaulting ahead through
sheer talent or sheer schmooze? I say,whatever works!
As long as you're spreading your personal oil, allow
yourself glide into the corner office.
Leo(July24-Aug.23)
Adventure and travel await you, especially if you are
open to exploring and conquering new territories. But
there is something equally wonderful about looking
inward and expanding your sense of sel£ Of course,
it is nicer to do that when you're relaxing on a sultry
beach sipping a certain sultry you-know-who.
Virgo(Aug.24-Sept.23)
Not only are you extraordinarily passionate, you
are also giving off sexy vibes for whoever may stray
in your path. Lucky lady, make your way through
the sexual tasting menu for the entire month. But
remember, all play and no work can lead you totally
and naughtily astray.
Libra(Sept.24-0ct. 23)
There will be added focus to relationships, particularly as they apply to your domestic harmony. Well,
maybe total harmony is not in the cards, but you can
still salvage a compromise between those who want
more bon vivant in life and those who love to cocoon
in front of the tube.
Scorpio(Oct.24-Nov.22)
Focus on impactful exercise and a revamp of your diet.
Any amount of effort could have dramatic impact and
benefit. Not only will you be able to improve on perfection but you will also be in fabulous shape to wow
them all through swimsuit season. And who knows?
Maybe you won't even want to wear a swimsuit at alL
Sagittarius(Nov.23-Dec.22)
You're an innovator and a creator of wondrous things.
OK so maybe that's an exaggeration. But what is clear
is that you have a remarkable opportunity to do something wonderfully creative and fun. It not time to lie
around and feel sorry for yoursel£ It's time to get up
and out and make your artistic scrawl on the walL
Capricorn(Dec.23-Jan. 20)
If household issues weigh you down, don't let them.
Concentrating on domestic projects could be fun.
Especially when you can create an event like a moving
party. Of course a "repairing the roof" or "cleaning out
the garage" party will not have the same oomph so
you'll have to figure that out.
Aquarius(Jan.21-Feb.19)
Tell it like it is. Call it as you see it. But be sure that
you have all the facts before you let loose. Aqueerians
can be bold and opinionated and that's not a bad thing.
But know from where you speak so that your words
have the gravity and power that will change minds and
move the movement forward.
Pisces(Feb.20-March20)
There is money to be made and you might as well
be the one to make it. But Guppies often invest with
their hearts and not with their heads. Change your
fiscal dynamic by asking the right advice and taking
calculated risks. Before you know it you could be
flush and fancy-free.
Aries(March21-April 20)
Set yourself on the road to riches this May and launch
a few pet projects that have been gathering dust on
your to-do list. One of them may just catch the wind
and fly high. Glad hand and make your best first
impression. Of course, you could just use those
wandering hands to make other types of impressions. ■
Charlene
Lichtenstein
is theauthorofHerscopes:
A Guideto Astrologyfor Lesbians(Simon&
Schuster)(tinyurl.com/HerScopes).
Now availableasanebook.
SCENE
Change You Can Believe In From the Greenpeace vessel
Arctic Sunrise to the top of a New York penthouse, lesbians look to the future.
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The cream of business-minded lesbians gathered in the
stunning penthouse of the boutique Lower East side
Hotel on Rivington in N.Y.C. for the inaugural cocktails
and conversation dot429Women'sParty(2, 3, 6). Hosts
included Ali ya Hallim- Byne, SabrinaHaley(3), Sabrina
Riddle, Meredith Schlosser and Lisa Sherman. Guest
speaker was the actor HeatherMatarazzo(1). Proceeds
from the event went to support NCLR. (dot429.com)
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CreatingChangeConference
The 23rd National Conference on LGBT Equality:
Creating Change took place in Minneapolis, Minn.,
Feb. 2-6. More than 2,500 people from allover the country
attend the five-day program that featured over 250
workshops and training sessions, four plenary sessions
and networking opportunities. Attendees included,
God-des
andShewith KateClinton
(7),Vera Martin Founders
of Old Lesbians Organizing for Change and Kylar W.
Broadus Awardee Sue Hyde. (creatingchange.org)
WonderWomenLaunch
Dedicated to the empowerment of women globally,
WonderWomen(4, 5) is the vision of AliyaHallim-Byne
(4, at right).The dynamic group of women poised to
break the glass ceiling and challenge inequities was
fittingly launched aboard historic Greenpeace vessel,
Arctic Sunrise, docked at Pier 59 in Chelsea, N.Y.C.
The temperatures were indeed arctic on Feb. 8 but
Wonder Women warmly welcomed everyone aboardfemale, male, gay, straight-to
envisage a future where
women, and the world itself, could advance, free from
oppression. ( wonder-women.org)
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May 2011
I 21
What Should Dipsticks Wear to Work?
Lipstick: No pleats,
no white socks and no cinched-up belts. By Lipstick and Dipstick
Dear Lipstick and Dipstick: I just landed a new job and the dress code
is "business casual." I'm unsure what to wear. I'm a butch and before
this the only jobs I've ever had were at places where there's a specific
uniform. I can, of course, just Google fashion advice for women and for
men, but there's nothing for women who dress like men. Help!
- Disoriented Dipstick
Lipstick:Dip, this is all yours. But, I will add
three rules: (1) no pleats, (2) no white socks
and (3) no belts cinched too tight.
emphasize the "business" side of "business
casual" for the first few days, until you get a
sense of the fashion culture.
Dipstick:Great question. I used to work in a
place with a similar dress code. I agree with
Lipstick-pleated
pants and women just
don't mix. And definitely stay away from cargo pants. Start with some flat-front khakis,
a button-up shirt and a blazer. You can
soften the look with a scarf or some other
feminine touch, but only if that feels comfortable to you. Add to your style with a nice
watch and a belt. Ties are optional. Shop
in the men's department. I like Nordstrom
Rack, where you can find stylish,
high-quality shirts and slacks for
reasonable prices. If clothes don't
fit off the rack, get them tailored.
There is nothing worse than a
dyke trying to look dapper in
ill-fitting clothes. Also, there are
a few lesbian-owned companies
that sell custom-made suits and
business clothes for those of us
with women's bodies who prefer
a male aesthetic. I know some
butch dykes who claim to do OK
in the women's department, especially with classic man-tailored
suits, but psychologically, I can't
go there. If you can, knock yourself out. Lastly, pick up a pair of
comfortable dress shoes. If your
feet are big enough, you can get
shoes in the men's department,
too. Since you're new at this job,
DearLipstickand Dipstick:I've beenwith my
girlfriend,Simone,for eightmonthsandwe've
onlyhadsexfourtimes.At firstI thoughtit was
me,butafterspeakingwith herex,who,oddly,
I am goodfriendswith, I foundout they had
the sameproblem,whichis oneof the reasons
theybrokeup.I wasveryintimatewiththe last
girl I datedbeforeSimone.Thelackof sexisn't
workingforme.I loveherbutfindit veryhardto
be in a sexlessrelationship.
Thoughts?
-Me andMyMagicWand
22
I curve
Lipstick:Not sure what Simone's problem is,
but some women just don't like sex. It could
be a hormonal imbalance, past trauma, an
obsession with knitting-the
reasons run
the gamut. What I'd suggest is to dump
this lump of charcoal and find someone else
whose tinder is ignited by your flint.
Dipstick:What steps have you taken to deal
with this issue with Simone? (Other than
talking about your private life with her ex,
a questionable move.) Has Simone actually
said that she just doesn't like the horizontal
hip-hop? Bouncing the bedsprings just four
times in the stretch of a year just doesn't
seem right. You should be at the stage in
your relationship where you're boppin' booties four times a day. I can't even fathom what
the two of you have been doing for the last
eight months. Watching Flying Nun reruns
and reading Nancy Reagan's biography? Lay
this baby out on the table and talk it out. You
never know-this
may be all it takes to get
her up on that table, spread-eagled.
ex:
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Lipstick & Dipstick ADVICE
Dear Lipstickand Dipstick:I've beentalking
to this girl I work with throughtext. We went
out of town on businessand there was seriousflirting.Therealwaysis. We talk through
text all day,everyday.We'veshareda lotwith
each other,but we don't fit into the friend
zone. There's a differentvibe, and it really
seemslike something'sgoingon. I just need
to know if she feels it too, and it's not just
wishfulthinking.How can I crack this open
andfind out if I'm takingthis for morethan it
is?-Crushed OutCo-Worker
Lipstick:Are you outr Do you know if she
likes womenr I have a sneaking suspicion
that's a double negative and this is all happening behind the veil. She's probably stuck
in the same conundrum as you. I dare you to
text her this: TMT (twist my ti tty) or GIMP
(get in my pants). Not into itr Then I tripledog dare you to be gutsy and out yoursel£ Do
There is nothing
worse than a dyke
tryingto lookdapper
in ill-fittingclothes.
it casually-like, mention an ex-girlfriend,
or how you never really understood what a
hummer was because you're a gold star. If it
scares her off, so be it. Someone needs to up
the ante.
Dipstick:
I love technology. Flirting is so much
easier through text messages. I remember the
old days when you used to have to call a girl
up on her home phone or leave a message on
her answering machine. There was always the
possibility that her roommate-or
worse,
her mother-would
listen to it. Talk about
pressure! The two of you have mastered the
art of text-flirting, but what happens when
you're face-to-facer This is a typical dyke
problem. Flirt, flirt, flirt, but neither one of
you is prepared to make the first move. The
next time you're with this gal-outside
of
work, of course-walk
right up to her, cool
and confident. And with a twinkle in your
eye, say: "I had a dream about you last night.
Would you like to make it a realityt
Lipstick:And then watch her burn in the
other direction, taking out the poor old lady
in Starbucks who's simply trying to get a cup
of coffee. Your M.O. has been texting. Why
change the flow at this crucial pointr Unlock
her chastity belt with your smartphone.■
Tune in to curvemag.com/lipstickanddipstick@
to watchthe The Lipstick& DipstickShow. ~
Or, write to tv@lipstickdipstick.com.
\ii)-.'.
May 2011
I 23
ADVICE Health
Get Moving, Without the U-Haul.
Five ways to kick-start the exercise habit.
By Jill Sloane Goldstein
According to Sir Isaac Newton, bodies at
rest stay at rest, while bodies in motion stay
in motion. While this academic principle is
the foundation of classical mechanics, it's also
pretty on the mark when it comes to the more
mundane. Like our everyday exercise habits.
Think about it-you begrudgingly motivate
to the gym on a Friday afternoon after a long
week. It's a struggle to get yourself there but
a pre~packed gym bag and the nudging inter~
nal voice of promised New Year's resolutions
lead you to the door. You push through 20
minutes of cardio and attempt a set of those
reverse crunches you saw demonstrated on
your local morning news show. While it may
24
I curve
"Proper exercise yields results. And
chances are, you're going to like them."
not be your peak performance, you've man~
aged to raise your heart~rate, expel a few
beads of sweat and use your membership.
Now at least the only card in your wallet col~
lecting dust is from the local library.
Then comes the night out on the town
with your girls. As the evening unfolds,
your mood peaks-no
doubt the result of
newly released endorphins to your system
and the belief that those jeans slid on just a
pinch more seamlessly tonight because you
exercised. You feel good, you look good and,
drinks or no drinks at the bar, you plan to be
back at the gym tomorrow.
It's all about momentum. Getting our minds
and bodies to the starting gates and taking
that very first step toward our goal. That's
the most arduous part of the process. It's
one that requires a great amount of mental and
physical energy and one we deftly avoid with
myriad excuses: We're too tired, too busy
with work or simply too intimidated. The
good news is that none of these excuses is
insurmountable; there are many exercise
solutions available to accommodate our
range of needs. The better news is that
momentum is on our side. So much so, that
in the absence of an external force to stop
you (and no, ongoing romps in the bed~
room with your new lover do not count),
you can't stop. And you won't. Because
unlike other challenging behaviors, proper
exercise yields results. And chances are
you're going to like the results.
So get to the gym or step outside and
put the theory to the test. This doesn't
necessarily mean following a strict, time~
consuming exercise regimen straight off
the bat or ditching all of your push~up bras
for sports bras. It simply requires that you
commit to one activity to kick~start the
process. Go for a walk, hit the treadmill,
pick up a tennis racket. Find something you
enjoy, carve out a half hour and just do it. If
finding time is really an obstacle, there are
plenty of ways to incorporate exercise into
your busy day. Start by taking the stairs
instead of the elevator or hit the pavement
and forego the bus. Or, when you're finally
taking a free moment to sit down and TiVo
through your favorite show, stand back up.
Now squeeze those gluts. Voila! You've just
done a pulsing squat.
The opportunities are there, you just
need to begin seizing them. Knock out
that very first workout. When it comes
time to do it again, you'll be amazed at
how less daunting a task it seems. You
may even enjoy it. One way or another,
it'll be a moving experience. ■
Tips to Get Movin'
Startlowandgoslow.There is no need to fly aggressively out of the gates only to find
yourself sore, injured or completely turned off after your first workout. Just 10~15
minutes of cardio may suffice in the beginning, especially if you've been sedentary
for some time. The idea is to slowly build your stamina, strength and affinity (or at
minimum, your tolerance) toward the experience.
Set achievablegoals.By outlining both your expectations and commitment~level,
you'll have an easier time incorporating exercise into your life. If breaking a sweat
twice a week is doable for you, then set those intentions. You'll be more likely to
continue with the routine if you find yourself completing it.
Makeplans.If you commit to an activity in advance, it's easier to follow through.
Set a time to meet a friend, coworker, boss-a first date! Broaden the responsibility
beyond yourself and chances are, you'll show up.
Changeit up.The most effective way to stay motivated is to stay interested. Stave off
exercise boredom by incorporating different types of activities into your workouts.
Consider adding intervals to your routines through either intensity (incline) or pace
(speed). This will also yield more effective results. Remember, our bodies are smart.
They become very efficient at utilizing the least amount of energy possible to per~
form the same movement. So change it up and keep your muscles on attention and
your motivation on high.
Lookaheadan hour.(My personal favorite!) If the notion of moving off the couch
seems overly daunting, envision how you'll feel in an hour from now if you exercise.
The time is going to pass either way, so you might as well feel physically and mentally
better once it does. 0illsloanegoldstein.com)
GET AGRIP
ON A CLEANER
WORKOUT
A lesbian has invented the
perfect gym accessory.
Ifyouwanttoworkout,butworryabout
thegermsthatcirculate
ina placeas
publicasthegym,thenPhitGrips
are
whatyou'vebeenwaitingfor.Theycreate
a barrierbetween
youandthemillions
of germsfoundongymsurfaces
and
workout
equipment.
Invented
andfounded
byoutDallaslesbian
DawnMeifert
(whoalsoidentifies
asa germophope),
PhitGrips
arepalm-sized,
antimicrobial
cushioned
gripsthatfit snuggly
around
dumbbell
barsandhandrails.
Atestby
GoodMorning
America's
microbiologist
Dr.Philip
Tiernofoundgermsongym
equipment
including
staphaureus,
klebsiella,
enterobacter
andE.coli."Most
infectious
diseases
aretransmitted
by
contact,"
saysMeifert,theformerCEOof
a Dallasadagency
whoholdspositions
inseveralDallas-Fort
WorthorganizationssuchasGLAAD,
BestFriends
Animal
Sanctuary
andHumanRights
Campaign.
PhitGrips
makegermtransfer
a non-issue
andprovide
a moresecuregripthan
gloves
orstraps,
allowing
youtofocuson
yourworkout.
Currently
availableonlineand
soonin gyms
andfitness
centers
throughouttheU.S.
(phitgrip.com)
[Georgia
Krokus]
May 2011
I 25
POLITICS
Not Quite Making It
After decades of affirmative action, women are stillworking for less. By Victoria A. Brownworth
On March 1, timed to coincide with the
beginning of Women's History Month, the
Obama administration released Women in
declare that women have fared better than
highest risk for low pay and underemploymen in the recession, it's a finding based
ment. Women married to men are doing the
solely on lost manufacturing jobs, not on best among the worst, and white and Asian
America: Indicators of Social and Economic actual earnings. It is true that men have lost women are marginally better off than Latino
Well-Being, the first comprehensive study more jobs overall, but it is equally true that and African American women.
of the status of women since 1963. For women have been downsized more often
The recession has only compounded the
most American women, the report's main
and that women in low-payingjobs have lost problem of women's wage inequality. Why is
revelations were no surprise. Despite 36 years any opportunity for advancement due to the there still so much inequity in the workplace,
of affirmative action, and the fact that more
recession. Plus, according to the Wall Street so many years after the second wave of femwomen than men now graduate from college Journal and other business news media,
inism brought women Title IX and Title X,
employers are refusing to consider unemwhich should also have brought them equity
(by 2019 women are projected to account
for 60 percent of all college graduates), a ployed workers to fill positions because they
in pay and job access?
significant pay gap still exists-women
are consider those workers to have lost their
The Equal Pay Act was signed by President
making only 75 percent of what men make. edge. The majority of those unemployed for John E Kennedy in June 1963, but nine presiAnd depending on whether a woman is a more than 18 months are women over 40, dents later there's still no such thing. The
white-, pink- or blue-collar worker, she can and African American and Latino women
Equal Pay Act was signed into law specifically
have suffered the highest rates of unemploybe making even less than that. Age ( too young
because, as the law states, a wage disparity for
or too old), race and sexual orientation are ment throughout the recession.
women "depresses wages and living standards
The numbers indicate the greatest eco- for employees necessary for their health and
also factors that marginalize female workers
nomic hardship for single women-which
and limit their earning potential.
efficiency; prevents the maximum utilization
The report did not address the impact of is where lesbians fall on the statistical grid. of the available labor resources; tends to cause
In addition, women of color and women
the recession, but it has hurt women in the
labor disputes, thereby burdening, affecting
who are either under 25 or over 45 are at the
workplace dramatically. While media reports
and obstructing commerce; burdens commerce
26
I curve
WORKING ON
OUR OWN TERMS
and the free flow of goods in commerce; and constitutes an
unfair method of competition:'
In other words, cheating women by paying them less is
actually bad for business.
If there is a law to make women equal, why are women still
struggling so much? One answer is the jobs women actually
hold versus the ones they are told they can aspire to. More
than half of all women workers make only a little over, or
just under, minimum wage. But even if a woman is holding
a white~collar job of comparable value to a man, she is still
making at best $75,000 to his $100,000. And while the
disparity might not seem as dramatic at that income level,
imagine the difference between $15,000 and $20,000. Or
$7,500 and $10,000.
Single women are far less likely to own their own homes
than women married to men. Only 30 percent of single
women own a home, compared with 85 percent of married
women. Single females are among the poorest because they
are the lowest wage~earners. According to the most recent
U.S. Census data, only 2.5 percent of single females overall
are in the top 5 percent of wage earners, and more than 30
percent of single females are in the bottom 20 percent of the
earnings scale.
The disparities are even greater for African American
and Latino women, who constitute the majority of the
domestic workforce, along with immigrant women of all
races. These women are the most likely to be earning below
the minimum wage.
But it's not all rosy for women at the top, either. According
to the Census figures, "the average income for [those with] an
advanced degree was $72,824 with men averaging $90,761
and women averaging $50,756 annually:'
So much for the fact that women now get the majority of
doctoral degrees. That difference isn't 25 percent-it's
over
40 percent.
Trade schools have traditionally focused on recruiting
men and training them for high~paying union jobs like
electrician, plumber, construction worker, engineer-trades
with very few women.
But jobs held primarily by women, like the majority of
low~level health care and clerical positions, are both low
paying and have almost no room for advancement.
While the Obama administration's report is welcome, it
contains no suggestions about how we should get to the next
rung of the economic ladder. Where does that leave lesbians,
particularly those over 40, and African American and Latina?
With such a dramatic gap continuing to exist for so many
years between what men and women make for comparable
work, action needs to be taken. Women's rights groups,
the federal government, schools-they
all have to engage
in helping women achieve full equity as wage earners. A good
start would be implementing the Equal Pay Act-48 years after
it was signed into law. Until that is made a priority, women will
continue to be stuck on the wrong side of the wealth divide. ■
Transgender identities in the workplace.
By Kyla Bender-Baird
Accordingto the NationalGayand
LesbianTaskForce(NGLTF),
61
percentof the U.S.populationis
vulnerableto workplacediscriminationbasedon genderidentityor
expression,
compounded
by a lack
of anyclearvehicleof recourse.
In a recentnationalstudyof
transgenderdiscriminationbythe
NationalCenterfor Transgender
EqualityandNGLTF,
26 percent
of respondents
reportedlosing
theirjob becausetheyweretrans
or gendernon-conforming.
An
earlierNGLTF
studyfoundthat 58
percentof cisgenderLGBwomen
respondents
experienced
discriminationbasedon their gender
expression.
Myownresearch
uncovereda similarpattern.Of
the 20 self-identifiedtransgender
peopleI spokewith, 20 percent
reportedbeingaskedto leave
theirjob aftertheir genderidentity
wasrevealedto their employer.
Formany,their dedicationandjob
skillsjust didn't matter.
Oneof the transgender
womenI spokewith, Kaye,spent
25 yearsof her life expandinga
shoestringstreetrescuemission
into a fully-staffedhomelessness
outreachorganization.Butwhen
her ex-wifeoutedher to the
organization'sboardof directors,
Kayewasforcedinto retirement.
Theorganizationwas affiliated
with a fundamentalistbranch
of the BaptistChurch,of which
Kayeis an ordainedminister.
Withina matterof minutes,Kaye
lost practicallyeverything-her
job, her spiritualcommunity,
evenher family.
Unfortunately,
Kaye'sstory
is not uncommon.
Studyafter
study,suchasthosesitedby
Transgender
LawCenter'sGood
JobsNow!andthe D.C.Needs
Assessments
Report,have
disclosedrampantdiscrimination
againsttransgender
employees,
includingjob loss,denied
promotions,
lackof appropriate
bathroomaccess,restrictivedress
codes,purposefullyusingthe
wrongnameor genderpronoun
andharassment.
Thegoodnewsis that
sincethe legallandscape
for transgenderemployment
protectionsis still beingmapped,
we havethe opportunityto shape
policyto addressdiscrimination
as experienced
by transand
gender-nonconforming
people.
Workplaces
havethe opportunity
to
implementtrans-inclusive
policies
thatwill attracttoptalentandfocus
on productivity,not employees'
genderidentities.In additionto
an anti-discrimination
policythat
includessexualorientation
and
genderidentity,workplaces
must
providediversitytrainingeducating
employees
on lesbian,gay,
bisexualandtransgender
people.
Weall shouldbe ableto bring
ourwholeselvesto work,wearing
clothingthat expressesour
gender,accessingbathrooms
accordingto our genderpresentation,not havingto hidewhowe
arefor fear of retaliation.Noone
shouldhaveto fear losingtheir
job dueto their sexualorientation
or genderidentity.
KylaBender-Baird
is theResearch
andProgramsManagerfor the
NationalCouncilfor Research
on Women.Herupcoming
book,Transgender
Employment
Experiences:
Gendered
Perceptions
andthe Lawis due
out this fall.
May 2011
I 27
LAUGH
TRACK
Queer Careers
One of our favorite funny ladies reveals how she became a comic. By Bridget McManus
As a child I lived next door to five pretty girls
who all wanted to grow up to be singers,
actresses and ballerinas.
I didn't want to be a ballerina-I
wanted
to be the ringleader at a circus. The ringleader position has always been reserved for
lanky old men, not for chubby little girls.
But my mother was very supportive of my
dreams and made me a top hat out of paper
and assisted me as I wrangled my cats to be a
part of the backyard circus.
The businesswoman in me charged admission to the show and my patient family
members sat on stones in the grass as I stood
atop my backyard play set and bellowed for
their attention.
Today, I am a stand-up comic, so obviously
not a lot has changed over the years. But I
did have some pit stops along the way.
At my first college (I attended three universities), I studied kinesiology (translation:
gym teacher). As an overweight child who
eventually shed the excess weight, I wanted
to help other kids fight their battle against
food. Fitness is about self-power and I believe many lesbians flock to this profession
because they're physically powerful women
who don't need or want to be taken care of.
Not that many years ago, the majority of
women in the United States stayed home
with their children while their husbands
were the sole financial providers for their
families. Thankfully, that's changed, but
because men still statistically
earn more money than women
do at the same professions, which
is why I think some lesbians (if
they realize it or not) are drawn
to jobs that make them feel
empowered. I know a handful of
lesbian cops who love the respect
they receive because they are
uniformed law enforcement. The
loaded gun also helps.
I never wanted to be a cop,
and it turned out that being a
gym teacher wasn't my passion
either. After a full year of doing
squats and getting my aerobics instructing
certification, I realized I was just trying
to prove something to myself. My passion
was really for performing. At my second
university, I became a drama major. What
were my parents thinking?
My parents have three children ( two are
queer) that have all studied and currently
work in the arts. Our parents never pressured
us to get "normal" jobs and have watched us
struggle over the years as we all pursued our
dreams. They never told us what we should
do or said certain jobs were for boys and certain
jobs for girls. They just don't want us to be
I
Idrug addicts.
~
Don't worry, Mom and Dad-we're artists so ~
=>
we can't afford drugs! (bridgetmcmanus.com)■ ~
EVE DULAC-ACKLEY
•
J)
~ µ~.~-~
µµ~
(D
~ µ
~
Leisha Hailey and Camila Grey dish on the new tour,
the album and the dirty little secrets of life on the road.
M"~p;-"
~~
~
CJQ
By Melany Joy Beck & Janelle Sorenson
t a West Hollywood eatery, Leisha
Hailey and Camila Grey are loading up on
healthy greens to prepare for their first tour
together since 2009. "We haven't played
since then because I've been all over
the world with the man in my life," Grey
laughs, referring to her keyboard duties on
American Idol star Adam Lambert's Glam
Nation tour. This time the duo are heading
out in support of their sophomore album,
Nocturnes, due out late this summer as
well as a six song EP, Black and Blue,
available now, which is somewhat of a
teaser for what Nocturnes has in store.
Uh Huh Her burst onto the scene in
2007 with their breakthrough EP and single
"I See Red." While Hailey split time between
touring and filming Showtime series, The
L Word, Grey was making music with Dr.
Dre, Kelly Osbourne and her former band,
Mellowdrone, among others. The initial
success of Uh Huh Her took them both
by surprise with a whirlwind of interviews,
photo shoots and television appearances,
as the pair struggled to balance time on
the road with other projects.
34
I curve
z
0
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zw
a:
0
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j
w
z
::i;
like touring," says Hailey. "I feel like every night
you get a new chance to improve what you did the night
before, instead of this rut of playing one-offs:'
Grey nods, taking a sip of her hastily ordered Arnold
Palmer-a
concoction of iced tea and lemonade named
after the pro golfer. She taps out a rhythm on the side of
the glass with her fingertips. "We're looking forward to
that consistency again;' she admits.
Consistency on tour usually means late nights, smoky
clubs and a steady diet of deep fried goodies purchased
from drive-thru windows and convenience stores. When
asked about their secrets to staying healthy, Grey is quick
to admit that it isn't easy. "I mean, look at me;' she says
mockingly, gesturing toward her oversized Pink Floyd
T-shirt and skin-tight black jeans "You accept the grunge;'
Hailey offers. "You accept the dirt:'
Grey agrees that it's the dirt, sometimes, that makes a
great tour. "It's a van tour, not a bus tour;' she says, relishing
the idea of spending months away from home, occasionally
without proper facilities. "It's not fancy. It's real. Let's get
gritty;' she says. "Let's get dirty:'
Rebuilding Uh Huh Her from the ground up has
May 2011
I 35
essentially been the name of the game this time around.
Being in charge of their own business, from financing
merch, to crew salaries, tour coordination and the minute
details of everyday tour life, the girls are revamping what
it means to tour with Uh Huh Her.
"We're having people double as tour managers and
merch people. Our sound person doubles as set-up.
Everybody is doing different jobs;' Grey says. "I've done
all sorts of tours and this is fun:' Stepping out of the
shadows of Hailey's L Word fame, Uh Huh Her has
blossomed into a leaner, more focused collaboration of
two highly creative artists. And while the tour for their
first full-length record, Common Reaction, included a bus
and relentless rounds of press, both Grey and Hailey
look forward to the intimacy of a smaller outing. Even if
it means taking a turn behind the wheel.
''
'11drive in the morning after three cups of coffee;'
Hailey says.
"There's something cathartic about driving and zoning
out and watching the lines, seeing the landscape pass by;'
agrees Grey. "When you leave the city you live in, and
pay attention to the cities you pass through, it's magic.
You find the coolest stuff;' she says. "I call them twilight
zone towns:'
Hailey and Grey hail from Nebraska and Texas, respectively, so they know something about those small towns.
"We're kind of country bumpkins;' laughs Grey. "But I've
lived in L.A. longer than I've lived anywhere else, so I call
this home:'
Venturing far from home means long hours in close
quarters, which can lead to quarrels for some bands and
years of therapy for others. When asked about the inevitable disagreements and how they handle the non-stop
fishbowl of the average rock tour, Hailey smiles. "We're
going to try to not annoy each other:'
"That's an interesting question;' interrupts Grey. "I
think we should answer it:'
The two conspire in glances and smirks before Hailey
finally breaks the silence. "Really? OK, if she's in a bad
mood [we talk about it] to bring that to light. [And I
try not] to take Cam's mood personally;' Hailey admits,
watching her band mate for any sign of hesitation.
Grey nods in agreement.
"Then eventually you get mad at her for being mad and
it's a big hypocrisy;' Grey says, pushing a rogue piece of
36
I curve
steak to the corner of her plate. "How could I annoy you?"
she asks, answering her own question. ''I'd be in a bad
mood all the time:'
Hailey looks somber. "Then I would just feel lonely:'
"But I'm always in a good mood;' blurts Grey, with a
grin. "I think lately it's just been so crazy with the amount
of stress. It's kind of beyond normal at the moment:'
For the women of Uh Huh Her, things might not get
normal for a while, but the new tour brings something
that fans have been anticipating for years-new
music.
"The [album] is really synthy;' says Grey. ''A little heavier:'
Hailey and Grey describe Uh Huh Her's latest album
as "more rock'' than their previous efforts. A fact due in
no small part to Grey's new toy, a microKorg synthesizer
which plays a starring role. "I literally used it on every
song;' she says.
The band debuted a couple of the tracks from the album
Nocturnes for a one-off festival crowd in late 2010, and
the release of Black and Blue is enough to demonstrate
the change in sound. With beefed up guitar hooks and
melodic keyboard riffs, the new Uh Huh Her sound is
louder and more energetic, which is sure to please concertgoers who want to rock out. "New music, new merch, new
everything;' says Hailey. "That's what we're doing:'
'Tm so excited to just focus on this, and tour together
again;' Grey adds, looking thrilled to get out there with
her partner in crime. (uhhuhher.com)■
"When you
leave the
~ity you live
1n, and pay
attention to the
cities you pass
through, it's
magic ...l call
them twilight
zone towns."
_J
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0
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u
37
@n
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2~ 20/~
Argentina became the first country in Latin
and fled. At the railway station
she said goodbye to Teresa,
Amer~
~~Jsame-sex marriage legal, and Norma Castillo and Ramona Arevalo,
her dearest friend. Teresa had
both 68 and together for 31 years, were the first lesbians to make their relationship
a catchphrase she liked to tease
official. Their neighbors in Parque Chas, a barrio in Buenos Aires, threw a huge party
Castillo with: "Sometimes, if
you scratch a little, the truth
to celebrate. (But Arevalo and Castillo's house is always a hub of neighborhood
is-you can escape:' Castillo
activity-everyone around them, it seems, is drawn to these fearless and outspoken
wondered more than ever
activists). It was a moment of joy for all, especially the couple themselves, who had
what her friend's joke meant.
already witnessed many changes, good and bad, in their country.
Raised in a family of strict
Catholics (who were also left~
wing activists at the University
"I didn't think we were going to live to see this change;'
of La Plata), she soon realized what Teresa was hinting
at. As they hugged, Teresa said, "The one you love is me:'
says Arevalo.
For Castillo, the truth hurt. "I was completely frozen, not
"Straight is made, not born;' asserts Castillo, who has
knowing what to do;' she recalls. To be gay was to be a de~
been challenging religious and societal beliefs since the
generate. And to prove that she was not, she took another
turbulent 1970s. 'J\dam and Eve didn't exist. We do exist:'
male partner. But she could not escape her friend's words.
Back in 1977, Castillo was already boarding a train to
"I was attracted to women;' admits Castillo.
Colombia-and
exile. During the regime of Argentinean
Across the Rio de la Plata, a river on the border between
dictator Jorge Videla, she was marked as a political subversive.
Argentina and Uruguay, Arevalo, too, felt suffocated
So, at 35, with a job and a boyfriend, and just about to
by her life. Born in Uruguay, she lived with her mother
earn her college degree, Castillo grabbed a few possessions
38
I curve
and grandmother-conservative
and fearful women
who wouldn't allow her to have a normal social life. She
couldn't even go outside by hersel£ As a child, Arevalo
heard stories about Colombia from a family friend, and
took heart in his assurances that she would one day find
her way there. Longing to live on the coast of Uruguay,
Arevalo eventually did free herself from the confinement
of her family. She got a job, settled in the city of Pivijay
and for a brief period was married to a man, with whom
she had a son, Mario.
It was in Colombia, after escaping their respective repressions, that Castillo and Arevalo met. They became friends
in a group of exiles who had fled the totalitarian governments of Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. Quietly,
each fearing rejection from the other, they fell in love.
Arevalo had never thought of herself as a lesbian.
"Nevertheless, I was in love with Norma;• she says. The
same determination that pushed her to leave home led her
to confront the situation. At sunrise, after their first night
together, Arevalo called Castillo. "I asked if she would do
the same thing again. She said yes:•
They would be exiles twice over, but necessarily so. "You
want the approval of others, and you follow the obligation
to be heterosexual;' says Castillo. "I realized that society
or religion demands one thing and real life another:'
So, that night, encouraged by the Colombian rum they
shared, Castillo went to Arevalo, and with a passionate
bite on her partner-in-exile's ear, started the rest of their
lives-together.
t:;=
and Castillo can look back on a relationship of 31 years-almost
three decades living as a couple
and now several months as spouses. But the route to
wedded bliss was challenging. In the late 1990s, they left
Colombia and moved to the Argentinean countryside to
care for Castillo's dying mother. During the economic crisis
of 2001, they relocated to Buenos Aires, where they began
a housing cooperative large enough to shelter 31 families.
They faced, and eventually overcame, intense opposition
to their relationship from Arevalo's mother and together
they raised Arevalo's son, Mario, who, when he decided
to marry, asked Castillo to be a maid of honor-and
he
made them both grandmothers of a girl and a boy.
~~GJP~
Today, great contentment attends the couple in their
rambling Parque Chas house. Arevalo, patient and
meticulous, likes sewing. Castillo, always the iconoclast,
finds a creative outlet in painting. One of her paintings
depicts a mask, with eyes peering out. It is titled "Natura
Vence" -nature
wins. "We had to hide for a long time,
afraid of rejection and our own self-censorship. But the
truth is that if you realize you're gay, you can't make it
disappear. Your true nature causes you to reveal who you
are behind your mask;' Castillo explains."To pretend that
there are no homosexuals in the world is impossible. It
would be like fighting against biology:'
In Buenos Aires, they committed themselves to living
openly. They were embraced by the local LGBT collective,
which was already campaigning for gay marriage, and
through the collective they founded Puerta Abierta (Open
Door), which is now managed by Castillo, and is the first
center for retired gays and lesbians in Latin America.
"Discrimination is not just reserved for those who are
gay-it affects those who are old, too. Sexuality is denied
to old people;' says Castillo. "Even when you are old, the
desire is there;' she adds.
9:~~eed
Cold, windy nights in mid-July are common in Buenos
Aires, but Arevalo and Castillo were sufficiently excited
to stay up into the early hours of the morning of July 15,
when the bill to legalize same-sex marriage would come
before the Senate for approval. Then, with activist friends
at a local bar, they watched history unfold on TV: At dawn,
the Senate announced its decision to approve the bill.
Arevalo and Castillo hugged each other and celebrated the
long-awaited news. Some may argue that marriage is only
a piece of paper-but
not this couple. "We are free people.
We have a document that states that;' says Castillo
Those who have become complacent about LGBT
rights should take heed of these older women, still fighting
for equality everywhere. "It is not fair that we have had to
live as deviant beings;• says Castillo. If it is never too late
to change, it is never too late to create change. "You've got
to push it forward;' says Castillo.
Wedded bliss has not slowed Castillo down. She is
busy organizing the members of the housing cooperative
she created, which will soon house 31 families; and
she has the support to be nominated as a member of
Congress, representing Carlos Heller's Solidarity Party.
Her passionate activism at the University of La Plata has
not diminished; she recalls a more recent demonstration,
during which a policeman manhandled her-and
she
gave him a swift kick in the crotch. She also remembers
the decisive gesture oflove she made years ago. It changed
the course of two women's lives, and perhaps the course
of a nation.
"Injustice incites me;' she says. Surely, those are words
to live by-and she's done just that. ■
May 2011
I 39
(f)
~
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sw
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z<(
WHEN JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL
talks about
addiction, it's not as an outside observer. The award winning
journalist, New York Times best-selling author and host of
the Issues TV show on HLN has first-hand experience. "I
am a recovering alcoholic;' she says candidly, adding that
she has been sober for 16 years.
''After I had a few years of sobriety under my belt, I
started looking around and seeing all these people who
are 'normies; as they say in 12-step, who are not alcoholics
necessarily or illegal drug addicts [but] they are behaving
addictively: Shopping too much, eating too much, staying
on prescription meds way too long:'
Velez-Mitchell's new book, Addict Nation: An
Intervention for America, written with Sandra Mohr, examines consumer behaviors that are considered normal,
but which to her signal addiction.
"I started noticing a very clear addictive pattern in all
of these shared uncontrollable cravings; bingeing, remorse
and then withdrawal-and
then the cravings start anew.
It's a very clear pattern and it is always progressive because
an addict needs more of the substance of choice or the
behavior of choice to get the same hit and the same rush:'
Born in Manhattan to an advertising executive and a
vaudeville performer, Velez-Mitchell discovered at an early
age that she wanted to be a writer and then found her way
into broadcast journalism. She earned a degree from New
York University and got her first job as a reporter and
anchor in Ft. Myers, Fla.
Since then she has reported for Celebrity Justice and has
been a guest host for Nancy Grace. She provided commentary for CNN, MSNBC and Fox News for several
high profile cases, including the Michael Jackson molestation trial. In addition to Addict Nation she has written
two other books-Secrets Can be Murder: What America's
Most Sensational Crimes Tell Us About Ourselves and her
memoir, iWant: My Journey from Addiction and Over
Consumption to a Simpler Life.
Velez-Mitchell's clear-eyed view of the world took a
while to develop. "I would say there are three miracles in
my life: One was getting sober, one was coming out as gay
and one was going vegan;' she explains.
She admits that being a closeted lesbian may have added
to her alcohol problem. "They were definitely intertwined.
I didn't come out or even admit to myself really that I was
gay until I got sober. The whole thing with alcoholism
or any kind of mood-altering self-medication is that you
don't have to deal with life on life's terms:'
Supporting animal rights and being a vegan are core values
for Velez-Mitchell. "I decided philosophically and ethically
that I believe animals are not here for us to exploit ... so I
went vegan, which says 'We don't use animals. We don't
wear them. We don't eat them. We don't use products that
are tested on them: I think that it has made me healthier
and a lot happier and it's better for the planet:'
Velez-Mitchell believes that the addiction problem is
more widespread than many people think. "I would say
that almost everybody in American is behaving addictively. That's why I called it Addict Nation: An Intervention
for America because we live in an 'addict-o-genic' society
where we encourage people to have an addictive mentality
where more is always better:'
She doesn't believe that moderation is the answer. ''An
addict, by definition, is someone who cannot practice
moderation. We cannot successfully use our substance of
choice; we cannot negotiate with it successfully.With alcohol,
you can give up the substance entirely. With other addictions, they are more complex because sometimes you do
have to deal with them every day, for example food:' She
adds that eliminating fast food is a good way to narrow
the playing field, however.
If readers take one message from the book she wants it
to be "that you have a lot of power as somebody that has
been labeled a consumer. You have the power to say 'No,
I will not buy it: Every single choice we make throughout the course of the day is not just a personal lifestyle
choice-it's a political choice, it's an environmental choice,
it's an economic choice and most of all, it is a moral choice.
A lot of the things we are engaging in that are bad for us
are also bad for the planet:'
Velez-Mitchell sees Addict Nation as "a blueprint for
liberating yourself from unnecessary consumption and
self-destructive consumption. You can literally read this
book and change your life immediately:' (addictnation.org) ■
May 2011
I 41
Inside
the
Corporate
Closet
f you want a successful career to come to a painful,
Gina*, a 37 -year-old executive in the finance industry, was
embarrassing and abrupt end-come out at work.
a late bloomer. Growing up in a wealthy, conservative family,
It's the kiss of death because the good ol' boys will
she was not ashamed of her sexuality, but confused by it.
succeed in circulating the details. They don't
After dating several men in her teens and 20s, she had her
appreciate a woman rising through the ranks and
first experience with a woman at 26 and everything clicked
breaking the glass ceiling. They're intimidated by
into place. She came out to her parents three years after that,
intelligent women, and if you come out they will
but now, almost 10 years later, they still don't accept her sexual
use it against you, deride you and try to make it seem like
orientation and don't offer her much support.
you have no morals:' This is the opinion of a female execuGina considers her workplace diverse, from a "racial and
tive from Chicago who is in the closet at work. And she is ethnic perspective;' but as far as she is aware, her company
not alone; there are many, many more who share her point
doesn't have a single out gay employee. Shortly after overhearing
of view.
a workplace conversation that included the
Trying to find women who will discuss
words "fag" and "dyke;' she decided not to
come out to her co-workers.
coming out of the corporate closet is difficult.
Despitethe
Even if she could imagine being out at
Many don't want their names, their personal
work,
Gina is certain she would never join an
information or any whiff of who they are
increasein
LGBT affinity group. "It wouldn't empower
revealed in a story like this. Even in seemingly
LGBT-friendly
me at all;' she says. "It would put me on the
progressive cities like Los Angeles, New York
front lines. I haven't come out because I no
and Chicago, many lesbians were willing to
corporations,
longer feel the need to-and I'm afraid to. I
offer choice tidbits, but nothing more. As I
manyhighheard many times, the "good ol' boys" who
don't want to be judged by the Old Boys. A
still run many corporations in this country
rankinglesbian lot of Baby Boomers are staying in the workplace longer because of the recession. They
are the closeted career woman's oppressors.
executives
are churchgoing, right-wing men who almost
But are they really so powerful, and so
arestillin the
jumped out of the window when Obama was
villainous, that educated, often middle-aged,
elected. I know I could fight back and stand
lesbians should spend their working lives in
closetat work.
my ground if someone found out, but I'm not
fear of them:'
Dotheyneedto
The key that locks these women in the
going to set myself up to catch shit for coming
out to them:'
corporate closet has just one word inscribed
change-or do
Gina has dated several women who also
on it: fear-fear of what people would think,
thecorporations?have high-ranking positions and are closhow bosses would react; fear of being jobless,
eted at work. One, a Republican lobbyist,
or being passed up for promotion; fear of being
warned Gina that coming out would cause
seen as the poster child for gay rights, the token
her to lose any sense of"normalcy" she had
gay executive. The list of negative consequences
in her life. What Gina was more afraid of
is endless. But when fear plagues your career,
was losing any sense of authority at workwhen the closet becomes toxic and increasingly
shameful, you've got to ask yoursel£ what is the
ByTinaVasquez *Namehasbeenchangedbyrequest
real cost of staying in there:'
May 2011
I 43
becoming the token gay executive, someone with
little actual power.
Selisse Berry is the founding executive director of
Out & Equal, a national nonprofit based in San
Francisco and dedicated to achieving full workplace equality for those of all sexual orientations
and gender identities. Berry was out when she
attempted to become ordained as a Presbyterian
minister, but was turned away because of her sexual orientation. She realized that people all over
the country were not getting what they needed
from their workplace, so she set out to create
a space that brought together the hopes of all
LGBT professionals.
Berry believes that executives like Gina could
benefit from the programs offered by Out &
Equal, including their Executive Forum, which
enables out executive leaders to come together
and discuss challenges, barriers and ideas for
the future. Out & Equal's annual Workplace
Summit provides more than 2,300 attendees
from 25 different countries with the information
and resources they need to create out and equal
work environments.
"There's always the poster child possibility;' says
Berry, "but you can also spin it and turn it into
something incredibly positive. Senior executives I
know use their sexual orientation to their advantage. During a conference, a senior woman at IBM
told me that being able to climb up the corporate
ladder is dependent on being able to differentiate yourself from
others, and being out and proud at work does that. It shows that
you're a diverse candidate who's overcome hardships:'
Berry contends that many workplaces have made huge strides,
with many corporations offering domestic partner benefits and
some being mindful of those transitioning on the job. But corporate
America is "not quite there" when it comes to the basic respect and
acceptance of LGBT members in the workplace.
"Getting companies to understand the importance of respect is
paramount;' Berry says. "You can have sexual orientation policies
and domestic partner benefits, you can check all of these boxes and
say you're LGBT-friendly, but if no employees are out, or feel
comfortable coming out, there is a problem. Policies are huge, but
there needs to be a shift in the culture of the company. It's our job
to change policies within a company, because there are no federal
laws saying companies have to provide certain rights to LGBT
employees. After that, it's about changing the hearts and minds of
those in the workplace:'
Currently, 12 states have policies that protect against both sexual
orientation and gender identity discrimination in employment for
the public and private sector. An additional nine states have laws
that protect against discrimination based only on sexual orientation.
The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a proposed
bill that would prohibit discrimination against employees on the
44
I curve
basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, has
been introduced in nearly every Congress since
1994. Originally, the bill featured transgender
inclusion, which was dropped in 2006 when
sponsors believed that even with a Democratic
majority it would not have enough votes to
pass the House. The bill passed, but died in the
Senate. In 2009, a transgender-inclusive ENDA
was introduced by openly gay Rep. Barney Frank
and was supported by President Barack Obama,
but again the bill failed to take off.
Of the major corporations that are going the
extra mile to create respectful, inclusive workplaces
for their LGBT employees, NBC Universal is
at the top of the list. NBC has one of corporate
America's oldest LGBT employee groups. Started
in 1986, ANGLE (the Association of NBC Gay
and Lesbian Employees) was designed to help
educate the company on how to create a more
LGBT-inclusive environment. Over the years,
the group has grown to become OUT@NBCU,
operating in eight regional hubs and with over
1,400 voluntary members, 470 of which are based
in Southern California. The Southern California
branch is led by Valerie Madden, creative director of off-air advertising for NBC Entertainment,
and Eric Carr, vice president of exhibitor marketing at Focus Features. Last year, the pair produced
35 events for OUT@NBCU and created a print
and digital campaign celebrating LGBT Pride. As
a result, the Southern California chapter of OUT@NBCU has
grown by 63 percent.
NBC Universal offers LGBT-inclusive employee benefits with
same-gender spouse enrollment options, survivor benefits and
spousal insurance, coverage for HIV/ AIDS pharmaceuticals and
transgender-inclusive policy language. According to Madden, the
key to creating an inclusive workplace is getting support at the top
levels of the company. Today, LGBT members are well-represented
in NBC's top tiers, but even when they weren't, the company
provided the means and support necessary to affect change.
"Change starts at the top and trickles down;' Madden says.
"With the support of those on top, you can make a difference at
every level. Of course, it's my hope that one day we won't need
diversity initiatives, because companies will all be diversified, but
until then the ultimate goal is for everyone to realize that it's not
just about being LG BT-it's about being who you are all day, every
day. It's about bringing your full self to the workplace. It's about
having the freedom to share with your co-workers what you did
over the weekend or on your vacation-without
using genderneutral pronouns:'
Madden is familiar with the corporate closet. When starting out
at NBC eight years ago, she didn't hide that she was in a committed
relationship with a woman-but
she also wasn't comfortable or
confident in knowing she'd be fully accepted, so she didn't talk
(J)
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~
about her relationship in the workplace. One year after joining
NBC, Madden celebrated her lO~year anniversary with her partner
with a lavish recommitment ceremony-and she didn't tell a single
person in her office about this personal milestone.
''At the time, I was fearful that being an in~your~face lesbian
would shade my talent, and I thought it was better to establish
myself in my position and responsibilities before sharing how I
lived my personal life;' Madden says.
Soon after her recommitment ceremony, Madden decided
to join OUT@NBCU
and her perspective began to shift.
Connecting with other LGBT and straight~ally colleagues built
up her confidence and transformed her skill set and management
style. Speaking openly about her life to her straight counterparts
also opened doors, made connections and created opportunities
to make a difference.
"The biggest challenge for LGBT people in the workplace is to
be confident and secure in who they are;' Madden says. "Until we
get over the victim mentality and stop living in fear, we'll never
know what's really out there for us. Things are so much happier
on the other side:•
And yet it's been difficult for Madden, who is in her early 40s, to
encourage older women to join OUT@NBCU. Some claim that
they are too busy to join, while others argue that women already
have to work twice as hard to earn half the recognition, so why put
another target on their backsr Even as more millennial women
enter the workforce and bring with them a generational acceptance
of various lifestyles, it seems that more Baby Boomers choose to
remain closeted. And the higher up the ladder older women go,
the more closeted they remain.
It doesn't make for a productive workplace. "Living in fear
is so oppressive;' says Madden. "Diversity increases productivity,
ingenuity, awareness and happiness. For those of us in progressive
areas, working for companies that support the LGBT community,
it's our responsibility to be out and open and help pave the
way for those who are not yet able to experience the freedom
of being out:' ■
May 2011
I 45
Whatqualitiesmakeyoutheidealcandidate
forthisposition?
Professionally, I brought a combination of education and work
experience, but personally I think the most useful qualities for me
are the ability to listen, stay present and flow with change.
AtWynn,
youdealwith12,000employees
whointurndealwithhundreds
ofthousands
ofguestsperyear.Isthiseverdaunting
orexhausting?
It is daunting especially when I forget that I don't [and] can't
do this alone. The only way you take care of 12,000 employees
is by taking care of and connecting to a smaller team of people
who share that promise and work together to provide for the
larger group. For that reason, my philosophy is transparency and
connection to my team, requiring that they do the same for theirs,
so that employees and managers are clear on their roles in taking
care of their guests.
Youworkin a glamorous
setting;anyhiddenchallenges?
Human nature is always the element that surprises, terrifies and
enlightens. People do amazing things here every day and they do
crazy things here every day... employees and guests! With 12,000
people working in one place and many more passing through, it is
a city, in all of its variations of beauty.
WhatmakesWynna goodworkplaceforlesbians?
Wynn has always been an employer of choice for the gay community
in Las Vegas. We were the first in our industry to offer benefits for
same~sex domestic partners and able to earn a 100 percent on HRC's
Corporate Equality Index in our first rating cycle. The best part of
working here is that I felt supported to be open about who I am.
Whatonequalityis mandatory
to workthere?
Care. That gets translated into anticipating guests' needs or taking
the extra steps to serve someone and that is what luxury is all about.
Whatquestions
shoulda lesbianaska prospective
employer?
s vice president of human resources for Wynn Las
While there are key benefits you want to research before
Vegas and Encore, Stephanie Rosol, an out lesbian,
applying-i.e. does this company offer domestic partner benefits
serves 12,000 employees, making sure their contribu~
or is this a company who has a CEI rating-you are looking for
tions are recognized and their dedication is rewarded.
how a company fits with your passions and your values. Will they
provide you with the autonomy or direction you are looking for
Equal opportunity is prioritized, she's guided transgen~
in an employer? What and how do they celebrate? Is this a place
der staff as they transitioned, steered the company to a perfect
you can grow, not just in title, but in contribution? What kind of
score on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index
team would you be working with? What kind of boss would you be
in 2010 and 2011 and finds the time to serve as board president of
working for? There might not be a one~size~fits~allset of questions,
the Southern Nevada Gay and Lesbian Center. A master's degree
but it's also an opportunity for you to interview them as well.
in executive leadership, a bachelor's in human development and
In thecurrenteconomy
whatadvicewouldyougivejobseekers?
family studies plus certification in coaching and leadership make
Figure out what you care most about and start
Rosol a perfect leader.
moving in that direction. You might start by
Outlesbian
Describe
thepathyoutookto arrivewhereyouare.
volunteering, or taking an entry~level opening,
After working in multiple service industry positions in
Stephanie
Rosol but if it is what you care about, it will grow.
Whatareyouupto whenyou'renotworking?
retail and hospitality, I moved into human resources
makeshuman
I study with a community of executive coach~
in 1996. I worked in every type of HR function until
I found my passion in training and development with
es, I practice yoga, walk my dog, spend time
resources
Harrah's Entertainment, now Caesars Entertainment. I
with my girlfriend and totally love going to the
morehuman.
movies.
came to Wynn Las Vegas as the director of training
Yournextvocation
afterthis?
and development in 2007 and expanded into the vice
A combination of coaching, teaching yoga and
president role in 2008, just in time to prepare for the
ByMerrynJohns
opening of Encore.
going to massage school. (wynnlasvegas.com)■
WynnWin
46
I curve
I
MakingHer Mark
hen moviegoers visit a theater, they
Mabry co~wrote her third film, Itty Bitty
Mississippi
Titty Committee,which premiered at the Berlin
are seeking one thing in particu~
Damnedfilmmaker International Film Festival in 2007. In that same
lar-to
be entertained. But Tina
Mabry's feature film, Mississippi
year, the film was awarded the Best Feature Film
TinaMabrysets
by Southwest Film & Music Festival.
Damned-a loosely autobiograph
outto makea
Between 2005 and 2010, Mabry received a
ical drama that focuses on three African American
siblings trapped in a cycle of poverty, addiction and
difference
infilm. number of awards and recognition for her film
productions. But of all of the success she and
abuse-provides
much more than entertainment.
her production team have gained for their work,
The film is an emotional journey of sadness,
the one closest to Mabry's heart is Mississippi
anger, despair and ultimately hope, and garnered the
first~time feature filmmaker 10 different awards,
Damned.
"For me, it's a film that is deeply per~
ByDeaidreNewby
including Best Feature Film and Best Screenplay at
sonal;' says Mabry. "Knowing that it is based on
the Chicago International Film Festival.
a truth ... takes the connection to a completely
different level:' It was her production team's goal to make sure the
Since entering the University of Southern California film school
Peterson family members, featured in the film, were not judged
in 2002, Mabry has produced, written and directed four films. She
only on their plight; rather, audiences would "understand this
produced her first short, The Slowdown, about a young hip~hop
family's lack of choices and dysfunctional mindset:'
artist's heartbreak in 2004, but it was her second production in
Mabry's production company, Morgan's Mark, has made it a
2005, Brooklyn'sBridge to Jordan (available on the compilation
She Likes Girls 2), that placed Mabry on the moviemaking map. mission to produce stories that 'give the disenfranchised a much
Brooklyn'sBridgetoJordan aired on Showtime and BET J and was needed voice by exposing their struggles, highlighting their cultures
voted the No. 1 film on Logo TV's The Click List 2: Best in Short and showcasing their triumphs;' says Mabry. And judging by audi~
ences' reactions, and her numerous awards, she has certainly fol~
Film.It has been screened at more than 50 film festivals internation~
filled her mission. ( morgansmark.com)■
ally and was awarded Best Director and Jury and Audience awards.
0
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May 2011
I 47
TheProfessional
Philanthropist
ust be nice being a philanthropist. Like philosophy, myself: What was I going to do about it?"
philanthropy has always seemed to be the perfect
After meeting people who were volunteering in the Balkans,
lofty profession for the bored, the wealthy and
LeMay was determined to go, too. She got a second job to
the entitled. You'd think a regular person could
scrape up the airfare, and even when at the last minute all the
never actually be a professional philanthropist.
other women who'd planned to go with her dropped out of
That is, until you meet Kathy LeMay.
the project, she still went-alone. "I can recall as though it
I first met LeMay at Eclipse, a restaurant in were minutes ago boarding Air Croatia with six Serbian busi~
Northampton, Mass., where I work. She had rented our small, nessmen. There I was, my little backpack filled with infant
independently owned, newly opened eatery for her birthday
formula, wondering if this little sardine can would hold
party, which, naturally, she had also turned into a fundraiser
together," she laughs.
(for sustainable food) and an art show for her ex~wife.Between
Now, 18 years later, LeMay's decision to change the world
one person at a time has taken her to a leadership position
the countless speeches I heard that night raving about LeMay's
in two powerful companies. LeMay is the founder, president
work, and the personal, caring relationship she's built with our
restaurant since then, I can vouch for the fact that LeMay is and CEO of Raising Change, LLC (raisingchange.com),
which she started with the goal of helping progressive non~
good at her job. She's an expert weaver of webs-connecting
profits raise the funds they need to "advance a social~change
people, knitting together previously disparate projects and
agenda worldwide"; today, Raising Change secures financial
places, making our world smaller, and making us that much
stability for organizations from New York to Mexico City.
more accountable to one another. Funny, genuine and gorgeous
LeMay is also the chair of the board of directors of World
to boot, LeMay makes being a "professional philanthropist"
Pulse. Working from a sustainable, ground~level perspective,
real indeed.
World Pulse (worldpulse.com) has built an interactive media
However, LeMay didn't have the lofty title of philanthropist
network devoted to bringing women a global voice. World
in mind when, at age 24, she was walking past a Seattle
Pulse partners with 40 top international organizations to
newsstand and saw an array of cover stories featuring the
reach over 100,000 individuals worldwide. Training an online
screaming faces of Bosnian Muslim women. "The stories
network of citizen journalists and entrepreneurs, and pub~
inside were about the rape~genocide camps that had been
lishing World Pulsemagazine, it fosters a powerful, collective
built by the Serbian military;' she recalls. "Their purpose
[was] ethnic cleansing. [But] they did not kill Bosnian
voice m women.
Muslim women. They raped them for months on end, in
In addition to fighting for women's empowerment, LeMay
front of the women's children, then released them. Their
wants to send the world another message: Anyone can do this.
goal was to demoralize the souls of people, to rid the world
Her book, TheGenerosityPlan(which landed her an appearance
of purely Bosnian Muslim people. I couldn't breathe. I felt I
on The Oprah Winfrey Show),urges us to see"philanthropist"
had been punched in the gut. I didn't know what to do about
as a title available to all, regardless of our budget, personality
or background. "When I was feeling overwhelmed about
what was happening:' Like most people, LeMay struggled to
understand these horrendous events that were happening
what to do about the genocide in Bosnia;' she says, "I read a
thousands of miles away."I couldn't reconcile the two worlds.
quote by Teddy Roosevelt: 'Do what you can, with what you
have, where you are: I grew up working~poor, worked for a
In one, I'm working for a nonprofit, getting vegan pizza with
nonprofit, and didn't know anyone who was
my then girlfriend and going to matinees, if
in politics, ran gigantic companies, or had the
we could gather up enough change. At that
KathyLeMay
exact moment in another world, women were
connections I thought could change the world.
I decided to stop whining about what I didn't
being dragged out of their homes as part of a
changes
the
strategic war plan, and being raped:'
have and do what I could with what I had. In
world,one
When she talked about her feelings to
Bosnia, as small as it sounds, I showed up. I
others, they told her what many of us have
didn't
have answers or solutions. I couldn't fix
womanat a time.
heard before-there's
nothing you can do
it. I also didn't ignore it or hide from it:' Her
advice to the budding lesbian philanthropist?
about it and you should try to put it out of
your mind. But LeMay just couldn't. "I had
"Step into the thing that gives you grie£ and
always asked of past atrocities, 'Why didn't
when you're in there you'll find what you can
ByYanaTallon-Hicks do to change it:' ■
anyone do anythingr' Now it was time to ask
May 2011
I 49
aTV~ace~
susan Pa~Ke~
IS ~IDlnG HIGH 1n
a HIGH-~ISK SPO~T.
usan P~e~
~
He~ Fl~T auao a1Ke
at age 5 and was smitten. The Christmas present from her
father was "the real deal;' says Parker, "a Yamaha MotoA
80cc. I loved it from that moment and literally drove it
every day from that day on:' Parker's mom thought the
novelty would wear off and had no idea where her daughter
was headed-the
rough and tumble road of professional
quad racing. Today she's Parker's biggest supporter.
Parker started competing against men at age 15. "I just
decided that the men's B class was the best starting point to
get into racing. It's always more of a challenge. Racing with
the men has made me so much faster:' And how did the men
take it? "No matter what happened or what was said to me,
I always kept doing what I was supposed to be doing. When
you're a woman in a man's world, you are always going to have
incidents, no matter what. How you handle them depends
on your personality:'
That personality was strong enough to see Parker through to
the expert level at age 17, competing in both women's and men's
national events. The racing circuit turned out to be fun and
competitive. Parker was well received and respected on a national
level, and became focused on building a reputation for hersel£
She was young and riding a wave to the top of the industry "I
was hoping to use the name that I created someday. I wanted
to turn it into something. I traveled, did a lot of self~promoting
and put a lot of time and money into racing. I never wanted to
jeopardize that. So, I was afraid to come out:'
so I curve
''
I DID eVSYTI-llnG
eecaJSeCF
me,nDT
eecaJSe
CF a man."
Her fear was compounded by the fact that Parker was
a woman in a male~dominated sport-the
other women
racers had pro~racer husbands or boyfriends. "I did every~
thing because of me, not because of a man:'
But Parker decided to come out while dating another
female racer. "She was totally hot and feminine and I just
didn't care anymore. I used to have her hold my tools and
umbrella at the starting line for my races. We caused a lot
of attention everywhere we were. I just decided to let peo~
ple think or say what they wanted. There have been people
who questioned whether or not it was a publicity stunt
but most people loved the fact of what we were:'
To date, Parker hasn't received negative feedback on
Facebook. Who can argue with her recordr "There are
only four women to this day in the whole world that can
compete at the men's level as I do:'
Having faced the emotional risks of being out, Parker
now focuses on avoiding physical injury. Her friend, fea~
tured in last year's ATVs Most Wanted calendar, and a
female quad motocross colleague, were killed within
a year. "I have asked myself if this sport is worth it but
for some reason it keeps pulling me back in. If I'm do~
ing what I love then I just let life take its course:' That
sometimes bumpy course has included the theft of
her rig: Truck, trailer, equipment and tools vanished
when she was competing at a pro supercross race in
Montreal. But on the brighter side, the small screen
beckons. Parker is featured in the extreme ATV series
videos Huevos Grandes, PlayStation games, American
Chopper and has launched her own project, ATVs Most
Wanted. "I decided to create ATV's Most Wanted to
promote real life women ATV racers," she says. Last year
Parker created a sexy racing calendar of female ATV rac~
ers from around the US. and she is developing a clothing
and accessories line.
Her next big challenger La T uque, this May. Teams from
all over the world will compete in a 12~hour race. And true
to form, Parker's all~female team will not only compete
against the other women teams but the men's teams as
well. More endurance events will follow, as well as training
women riders so that her expertise-and
her pioneering
spirit-are passed on. (susanparkerracing.com) ■
HOT ~ODS ano HOT BUTCHes
KellyDochney'sflickr.comaccount gained a burst in
exposurewhen her photoof two friendscaught in an
intimate,playfulmomentduringa shootwent viral.The
girlswere datingat the time and ratherthan photograph
them posing,Dochneytook a candid shot.The image was
posted on lesbianbiogsand receivedpraiseand attention.
Dochney,a firm ally of the lesbiancommunity,was thrilled.
"My friendswere just laughingand I took a quickshot. I
lovethem both and fully
supporttheir lifestyle."
Dochneydescribesher
studioas "a one-girlarmy
of self expression."Through
a viewfindershe captures
the unexpectedbeauty she
sees every day, including
the rarely-portrayedbutch
in love.And she had our
motorsrevvingfor her We
Can Do lt!-inspiredportraits.
(kellydochney.com)
May 2011
I 53
G~een macH1nes
THe savvv GaL'S GUIDe TO THe TOP
HYB~ID ano eLecT~1c ca~s on THe ma~KeT.
With gas prices climbing toward $4 per gallon, and last year's BP offshore drilling disaster driving home the
need to dial down our oil dependency, many socially and environmentally savvy lesbians are looking to kick
the petroleum habit. Fortunately, there are more environmentally friendly vehicles available than ever before.
This is due in large part to the many advantages that hybrid and electric cars offer, both for the environment
and our national security. But going green can cost you some green, so you want to be sure that you're
making an informed decision. Here's a comparison of the leading eco-friendly models, based in part on the
April 2011 issue of Consumer Reports, which rates cars on safety, reliability, cost and customer satisfaction;
plus, info on how each manufacturer rates on HRC's Corporate Equality Index.
TOYOTa P~IUS
FO~DFUSIOn
Honea
Hybrid
Hybrid
Hybrid
$23,050-$28,320
$19,720-$28,645
$18,200-$21,490
48-51 MPG
36-41 MPG
38 MPG
5 year/60,000mile powertrain
5 year/100,000mile powertrain
5 year/60,000mile powertrain
80%
80%
54%
100%
100%
N/A
P~OS
Lowdepreciationvalue,GPS,
rearviewcamerasystemand
ninth yearof production
Price,safetyand reliability
Priceand ninth yearof production
cons
Reducedrear visibility
Noisy,only in first year
of production
Smallbackseat,slow acceleration
and noisy
Bestknownof all the hybrids,the
Priusis synonymous
with ecofriendlinessbut loosespointsfor it
unpredictable
reliability-primarily
for the reputationit garneredin 2010
whenstoriesof runawayPriuses
filledthe headlines.However,
this
hasn'tdiminishedPriusowners'love
for theirtrendyhybrids.Thanksto its
nine-yeartrackrecordit's likelyto
remainat thetop of the hybridlist.
TheFordFusionis oneof the
highest-ratedsedansby Consumer
Reports.TheFusionis equipped
with manysafetyfeatures(limited
radiovolume,seat belt alerts, low
fuel warnings)that makethis a
goodoptionfor householdswith
youngor forgetful drivers.
AlthoughHondahasan excellent
track record,the Insighthas low
customersatisfaction,dueto the
sizeandthe handlingof the vehicle.
At 38 MPG,Hondaloverswould be
better off purchasinga non-hybrid
Civic,which hascomparable
gas mileageand price,but ranks
muchhigher(78 percent)on the
ConsumerReportsscale.
TYPE
P~ICE
mlLEaGE
wa~~anTv
C~SCO~E
summa~v
54
I curve
1ns1GHT
BY se~ena F~eewomvn
HYB~IDano eLeCT~ICca~s maY COSTmo~e TO PU~CHase
THan an economY ca~. BUTwHen You ace UP THe sav1nGs
on Gas P~1ces aLone, G~een ca~s WILLsave You moneY
ove~ THe LIFeT1meOF YOU~veHICLe.
CHEVY VOLT
rnssan LEaF
Plug-inHybrid
Electric
$40,280
$32,780-$33,720
40 mileselectric,plus260milesongas
100 mileson a singlebatterycharge
5 year/100,000mile powertrain
5 year/60,000mile powertrain
NA
NA
100%
50%
TheVoltusesbothan electricbattery
andgas,extendingits mobilityPlus,
it hasa longerstandardwarranty
Emissionlessand a $7500
federaltax credit helpsreduce
overallprice
Price;theVoltis still in its infancy,
whichmeansit hasn'tbeenreviewed
for safetyor ownersatisfaction
Firstgeneration,
soit hasn'tbeenreviewed
forsafetyorownersatisfaction
yetand
haslimitedmobilitydueto batterycharge
TheVolt has enjoyedlots of
mediachatter since it was
unveiledin 2007,despitethe
fact that the Volt wasn't available
for purchaseuntil 2010.The
Volt is different from the Prius
becausefuel doesn'tdrive the
engine,it simply extendsthe life
of the battery.The high price point
makesit less attractive than other
models,despiteall the mediahype.
Electricvehiclesare the waveof
the future-increased consumer
demandwill help moremodels
becomeavailable,which will, in
turn, drive downthe price.However,
sincethe Leafis still in the early
stagesof development,it is a risky
investmentat this point-despite
the tax incentivesto buy it.
w~aPUP
The greening of the auto industry
is not a fading trend. There are
over 1.6 million eco-friendly
cars on the road today, and that
number is likely to continue to
grow. Hybrid and electric cars
may cost more to purchase than
many traditional cars, but when
you add up the savings on gas
prices alone, green cars will
save you money over the lifetime
of your vehicle. Not to mention
being a huge step toward oil
independence. Are you ready
to make the switch?
For more detailed reviews,
check out hybridcars.com,
or consumerreports.org.
May 2011
I 55
STIPS
FO~ ~IDlnG OFF
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au,
DalS, author of The Noncyclist's 'I. FILL'eR UP!
Guide to the Century and Other Road "You want to make sure you have plenty of food. Cycling
Races, wants to make cycling fun and
will sneak up on you. Sometimes you don't realize how
accessible to everyone. Whether you're
training for an official ride or just want to
bike around town, Dais offers up some basic tips to get you
started on your new two~wheeled adventures.
I. YCll.R BUTT IS
ncrrne
BOSS CF YOU
Even if you have the right equipment, chances are your first
few rides are going to be unpleasant for your undercarriage.
So while the rest of you might be challenged and exhila~
rated, the parts of you most intimate with the bike saddle
will be doing their best to get you to take up square dancing
instead. Dais urges you to keep in mind that there will be
sunnier days for your moon. "The goal is to minimize pain
so that you actually want to keep doing this sport:' She
recommends getting a professionally fitted bike equipped
with a seat that works with your anatomical set up, and
well~fitting cycling shorts.
2. GeTTlnG ReaJY FOR acTlal
"My advice for people is to go in and get the necessities and
try and fight the urge to buy everything in the store on the
first trip;' says Dais. The necessities include bike, helmet,
lock, cycling shorts, flat tire repair kit and water bottle.
Almost everything else can wait until you have a few rides
under your spandex. Craigslist can also be a good source for
finding slightly used stuff on the cheap. If you already have
a dusty Soloflex or kayak in your garage, Dais recommends
renting a bike for a day, to make sure you enjoy the ride and
not just the thrill of new gear.
.:1.cean-1, Taxes ano FLaT TIReS
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hard you're working until you're really, really hungry and
you're out of energy;' says Dais, who learned this lesson the
hard way after bonking on a few rides. She recommends
bringing munchies and snacking along the way. And of
course hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
~
1nev1TcEL.e
So it's best to be prepared. Dais strongly recommends
taking a basic bike maintenance class, especially if you're
not mechanically inclined. Even if you never get the hang
of changing your own tires it's important to have the right
equipment, especially spare tubes so that a heroine on a
two~wheeled steed can come to your rescue. If you're
really paranoid about flat tires, ask for the extra~sturdy
kind favored by urban bike messengers.
s. ne
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nERRleR
And not just because it's easier to wear spandex in groups.
For Dais, one of the best ways to get motivated to ride is to
ride with others. She likes the accountability, camaraderie
and added safety of group riding. "With cycling I found
that I could actually talk and ride at the same time, which I
could not do with running. Plus it's just fun to have some~
body to complain with:'
6. GeTTlnG lnTO Gec:IR
"Gear shifting is a lot of trial and error and getting to know
your gears;' says Dais. The best thing for a newbie to do is
find a nice, traffic~free stretch of flatness and practice. Keep
in mind it's best to be pretty well acquainted with shifting
before you tackle any significant hills. ■
GO DUTCH
Onlinebicyclestore,anddutch,sellsaward winning,high
qualityand stylishbicycles-high-end design,classic-retro,
chainless,urban-city,foldingand cargo-all designedand
assembledin the Netherlands.If you own a businessand
would likea greenertransportmode, considera bespoke
bicyclefleet, designedfor your company.Plus,anddutch
supportsRe-Cycle,a charitythat shipssecondhand
bicyclesto Africa,where they are used
by health/AIDSworkersto reach remote
villages.(anddutch.co.uk)
May 2011
I 57
~
Views from across
the nation: (from top)
the Grand Canyon;
Wolf Creek; Tucson,
Ariz.; Santa Monica
Beach; Duluth, Minn.
and Venice Beach
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M
Y PARTNER AND I have romanticized the great
American road trip as the ultimate rite of passage
since we were just barely old enough to pop a
dutch. Our wanderlust produced images of an unbroken
ribbon of highway from the forests of the upper Midwest,
through the Great Plains, to the rugged peaks of the
Rockies and the living deserts of the Southwest, compelling
us to go west all the way to the California beaches, with
their promise of an endless summer.
In reality, however, everything from road construction to
natural disasters to the usual automotive headaches often
conspire to make such a trip somewhat more complicated.
So it's best to plan way ahead, then enjoy what our coun~
try has to offer in comfort and style.
While billboards (Wall Drug, World's
Largest Ball of Twine) offer out~of~the~
way kitsch, the most impressive tour
stops are those of a more natural variety,
carved by Mother Nature herself as she builds and batters
the land with an artful touch of irony and mythos.
Duluth, Minn., at the tip of Lake Superior, offers icy~
cold winters and temperate summers on arguably the most
picturesque of the Great Lakes. Take a harbor cruise and
stay in comfort at a posh downtown hotel. For a more rustic
experience, choose from one of the many local camp~
grounds, but be sure to abide by the strict firewood rules as
invasive species such as the emerald ash borer have ravaged
the indigenous vegetation.
South through the Twin Cities and west on Interstate 90
is magnificent Mt. Rushmore. Carved by Gutzon Borglum
between 1927 and 1939, Mt. Rushmore is the holy grail
of American graffiti. The winding mountain roads and the
A LEISURELYLEZZIEJOURNEYACROSS
THE HEARTLAND.BY MELANY JOY BECK
May 2011
I 59
5,725-foot elevation can be grueling, so stop often and
watch out for prairie dogs.
The plains area also boasts a plethora of quirky culture.
From the Corn Palace of Mitchell, S.D., to the Badlands,
there are plenty of places to grab a bite and rest your eyes.
However, in lieu of a traditional side dish such as french fries,
weary travelers are often offered hot buttered toast. There is
no rhyme or reason. South Dakota just likes her toast.
After shooting down the edge of Wyoming, a couple of
hours south of Denver you'll encounter the famous Wolf
Creek Pass, a panoramic, seasonally treacherous swath of
highway that provides some of the most amazing views in
the American West. Automobiles would do well to heed
the posted speed limits, because falling rock, sudden blizzards and other hazards can occasionally be problematic.
A stop in Durango, Colo., is recommended to take in
some of the less pricey but still phenomenal skiing and
boarding at nearby Purgatory Resort. It's not Aspen, but
that's actually good.
No westward jaunt through the high desert of New
Mexico and Arizona would be complete without a trip to
the Grand Canyon. North of Flagstaff, Ariz., on famed
Route 66, the Grand Canyon is a favorite of every Thelma
and Louise fan. Just don't drive off the edge in an homage
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to the film's stunning finale. It's better to grab a souvenir in
the gift shop and be on the lookout for your own cougar (of
the nonhuman variety) on the narrow two-lane roads that lead
into the national park. Both donkey and helicopter rides are
available and allow for unique views of this natural wonder.
South of occasionally chilly Flagstaff, the Arizona cities of
Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tucson offer many northern dwellers
a respite from harsh winters, and some architectural marvels.
Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin, still a world-renowned design
hub, melds the aesthetics of
nature and the constructed
world. Many of Wright's
designs can still be seen
tucked in amidst the rocks.
Whether
your journey
winds southwest to San
Diego or a bit north to L.A.,
the last stop is always the
Pacific Ocean. Venice and
Manhattan
beaches offer
bohemian glimpses into the
laid-back SoCal lifestyle. Be sure to check out the shops of
hip Abbot Kinney or do the tourist thing at the Santa Monica
Pier. Either way, the brown sugar sand and crashing waves are
a soothing balm to the tired soul.
The American West remains one of the world's most geographically diverse regions and still holds a storied place in our
hearts. Route 66, though divided by the Interstate system and
littered with Cold War era ghost towns, is still its own history
lesson and an inspiring trek for artists, writers and women
who just want to get their kicks. ■
THE GRAND CANYON IS
A FAVORITEOF EVERY
THELMAANO LOUISEFAN.
GRAB A SOUVENIRIN THE
GIFT SHOP AND LOOK
FOR YOUR OWN COUGAR.
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INSPRNG
ONE LESBIAN'SPILGRIMAGE
TO A BUDDHIST
VILLAGEBECOMESA JOURNEYOF INTERNATIONAL
ENLIGHTENMENTBY KELSY CHAUVIN
India was just what I'd anticipated, because I expected to
be shocked. I thought that was a wise way to approach a
nation imbued with struggle and overripe with population.
It's so different from my hometown of New York City,
where more than 8 million people live, but where you can
still find quiet moments.
In Indian cities there was no quiet-no quiet cafe, no
lawn, no park bench where I could sit alone and contem~
plate. Only a crumbling wall beside a field, where I sat and
let the sweat roll down my back. Then, before
I even finished a sip of water, a dozen pre~
pubescent boys flocked to me, clamoring to
have their pictures taken, until finally I had
to bolt (but not before one of them tried to
make off with my backpack).
I quickly learned that a country of 1.1
billion people leaves no emotion unturned.
It was overwhelming, even haunting. And I
loved my time there.
Traveling through India was a lot like get~
ting a tattoo-painful
in the moment, but as
soon as it was over I was ready to go again.
My trip stemmed from an article I read about the
Buddha, and the fact that in a small town in northeastern
India lives the Bodhi tree, the great~grandchild of the actual
tree Siddhartha meditated under when he reached enlight~
enment in 528 B.C. I decided I had to see that tree.
I devised a plan for my first trip to India with an adven~
turous travel schedule-seven cities in 14 days-and the
intention to not always have a plan. But wow, am I glad
I booked a hotel for that first night, because flying for 14
hours, from New York to Delhi and then to Kolkata, is
no joke.
BEAUTIFUL NOISE
I landed in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) late in the evening.
That first honk or two as I left the airport seemed reason~
able. The next hundred seemed unnecessary. It didn't take
long to realize that India has a rich and varied culture of
traffic racket: Car horns, bike and rickshaw bells, motor~
cycle engines, rattling trucks and bickering drivers create
an acoustic phenomenon.
With 15 million residents, Kolkata was a two~day crash
course in India. I was totally overwhelmed, especially as
a solo traveler. So I was especially happy that my out~of~
the~way hotel, fittingly named Bodhi Tree Guesthouse,
was a rare serene escape from the wildness just outside
its doors. Plus, it forced me to experience the Kolkata
Metro Railway. (In comparison, the New York subway is
luxury incarnate.)
From Kolkata's Howrah Terminal I hopped on my first
Indian train, headed first to Gaya then seven miles south
to Bodh Gaya village, Mecca for Buddhists. I was lucky
that evening. The train was close to punctual, and in my
A/C car I met Yuko. She was also headed to Bodh Gaya,
where she was meeting a friend who is a Buddhist monk,
and staying at the guesthouse in a Japanese monastery. I
joined her.
GOING BUDDHIST
The Bodhi tree lives in the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh
Gaya village, which resonates with serenity and collective
energy.
The plaza-lined with shops, beggars and let's~make~
a~dealers-is easily forgotten by the time you cross the
threshold into the temple. It is a holy transformation from
chaos into calm, heaviness into lightness. I felt euphoric
May 2011
I 63
arriving there, welcomed by its magnificence.
Monks from around the world filled the grounds near
the temple, washing its stupas, spinning its prayer wheels,
performing prostrations for hours at a time. While I was
there, I saw a group of new Sri Lankan monks getting their
hair shaved off. I smiled as other monks chased after the
windblown leaves of the Bodhi tree.
The hum of constant chanting and the smell of shady
fig trees invoked calm from sunrise until well past the time
when mosquitoes took over the evening.
I toured around tiny Bodh Gaya, visited some of the two
OUT AND
ABOUT
IN INDIA
I curve
THEGENDERJUNGLE
Eventually, I headed back to Gaya, where I tried a non~
A/C train on my way to the holy Hindu city of Varanasi.
The train was full of commuters, 99 percent of them men.
I had been constantly stared at the whole trip, but this
Indiahasalwaysbeena placeof contradictionso,despitebeingthe birthplaceof the Kama
Sutra,the oldestbookaboutsexualpleasure,whenit comesto same-sexlovin'the culture
is extremelyprudish.Fortunately,
followingthe decriminalization
of homosexuality
in 2009,
a thrivingnightlifehassprungup,alongwith a nationalgayandlesbianmagazine,
Pink
Here'swhereto havea drinkandmeetthe girls in India.
Pages(pink-pages.co.in).
KOLKATA:
Fortravelerson a
budget,the OlympusBaris
the perfectplaceto pickupa
drinkonthe cheapanddance
Saturdaynightawaywith the
ladies.Forthoselookingto
splurge,Aqua:TheAl Fresco
Barat the ParkHotelhosts
a gayandlesbiannighton
Saturdays,
too.
64
dozen countries' temples there and saw some surrounding
villages, many of them legendary to Buddhism. It was a bit
of a whirlwind, but at its center was the Bodhi tree. I gazed
at it, taking real and mental photographs, meditated and
walked many circles around it.
MUMBAI:
India'soldest
gayspot,theVoodooBaris
traveler-friendly-it'sthe
placeto beon Saturdaynight
andis popularwith local
queers,too.TheL Lounge
(followthemonTwitter@
TheLLounge)
organizes
partiesfor lesbiansevery
month.
NEWDELHI:
Pegs'n' Pintsis
idealfor a midweekboogie.
Thistwo-storybaris a
Tuesdaynighthotspot.And
the super-trendy
bi-monthly
partyKukiis all aboutthe
ambience,
with the bar
deckedout in butterflies
anddiscoballs.
Foradviceonyour
itinerary,visit the
International
Gay
& LesbianTravel
Association(iglta.
org).Forlistingsand
news,readIndia's
PinkPages.
[RachelShatto]
was rough.Imagine being in a 100~degree
train car, surrounded by a dozen men
staring at you unflinchingly, sometimes
with their mouths agape, their eyes
moving up and down.
Of course, as a Western woman
traveling alone, I invited this. But I was
growing outraged by men-gazing at me
intrusively, arguing with me about where
I wanted to go or what I could afford, re~
fusing to accept"no" and chuckling when
I bargained.
Then again, I did meet several very
nice fellows during my trip. Their well~
mannered sexism even brought some
benefits: They helped me navigate an
overrun train platform, and intervened
when I was swarmed by beggars.
I was gradually discovering the ecosys~
tern of the gender jungle. Indian men are
curious and ubiquitous. They are work~
horses, scoundrels, flirts-sometimes
genuine, sometimes genuinely kind.
In a bizarre twist, some of these male
chauvinists-the
same men who would
take grave offense at the mere sugges~
tion of homosexuality-walked
around
holding hands with each other.
Funny- I found myself staring at
them.
ENLIGHTENMENT
The 14~ hour train trip from Varanasi to
Delhi was taxing. I kept trying to ignore
the discomfort and the playful mice at
my feet. I slept, somehow, and when I
woke up, I saw the backsides of a French
couple quickly disembarking. The train
was empty. So I dashed off too.
It took me four more hours to realize
that I'd left my glasses, my journal, a
novel and an unfinished letter to my
girlfriend in the wall pocket next to my
seat. I consulted with local authorities,
who all agreed that those particular
items were, as my mom would say,"gone
pecans:'
I LEARNEDTHAT A
COUNTRY OF 1.1 BILLION
PEOPLELEAVESNO
EMOTION UNTURNED.
Not one to leave real~life symbolism
unexamined, I took the loss of these
personal items as a sign that I was no
longer clinging to the gross pleasures
of material existence. I lived the rest of
the journey-to
the awe~inspiring Taj
Mahal and finally to the wonderful"Pink
City" of Jaipur-more in the moment.
There is no way to capture India. So
I just let it seep in, and I began to see
how the same characters who caused me
dismay early on could be my friends.
I've returned to my daily life as a
fuller person. I don't count my blessings
because they are countless, but I soak
them up as I did with India, whereseeing the sacred Bodhi tree or sharing
a chai-being in the moment is the only
way to live, and survive. ■
GO GAY~TEL AVIV
THIS BEACHCITYAND ECONOMICHUB ON THE ISRAELI
MEDITERRANEAN
COASTLINEHAS BECOMEA HOT LESBIAN
TOURISTDESTINATION.
BY DAHLIA SCHWEITZER
If you've always dreamed of visiting the Middle East, but
assumed that this largely conservative part of the world
would be off-limits to openly queer tourists, you'll be
thrilled to hear that Tel Aviv is ready to embrace you with
open arms.
The second-largest city in Israel, Tel Aviv is now a
must-visit destination, thanks to its beautiful beaches,
thriving gay nightlife and liberal attitude toward the
LGBT population. Discrimination on the basis of sexual
orientation has been outlawed since 1992, gay and lesbian
Israelis live openly and, while same-sex marriage is not yet
66
I curve
legal in Israel, marriages
performed elsewhere are
fully recognized. In fact,
61 percent of Israelis support gay marriage, making
Israel one of the most
accepting countries in the world. So it's no wonder that
Tel Aviv is considered the gay capital of the Middle East.
I have gone to Tel Aviv more times than I can countwhen I was growing up, it was our summer destinationso I can say with authority that one of the nicest things
about Tel Aviv is how much it stays the same. However,
one of the most exciting things about Tel Aviv is how
quickly it can change. A visit to this growing Middle
Eastern metropolis-also
known as The City That
Never Sleeps-can be dizzying, so here is what no lesbian
should miss.
Day and night in Tel Aviv: (Clockwise
from left) St. Peter's in Old Jaffa, Jaffa
flea market, Tel Aviv nightlife, cyclist at
the Tel Aviv port and a Tel Aviv beach
SOAK UP THE SUN
Metzitzim, one of my favorite Tel Aviv beaches, is located
just south of the Namal nightlife district. It has a great
restaurant, also called Metzitzim, which has seating that
spills out over the sand. The service here is slow, which
can work to your advantage. I've spent hours enjoying the
beach for the price of a single glass of lemonade. They
also serve great salads (which are massive) and tasty
breakfasts.
Head south of Metzitzim to the Separated Beach. This
beach is intended for orthodox people, so every other day
it's for women only, which means that it can be a wonder~
fol and peaceful place to sunbathe-without
men trying
to pick you up. It's not crowded and you're free to go
topless.
Even farther south is the neighboring Hilton Beach
(named for the adjacent hotel), or Topsy (named for the
cute beachside bar in the middle of it). This beach tends
to attract lots of tourists and can be a party scene on
weekends. There is a definite gay vibe here.
SPENDING YOUR SHEKELS
Designed like the Guggenheim Museum, the Dizengoff
Center is made up of four levels connected by walkways
that spiral up through the mall, so you never have to take
the stairs or an elevator. It was built in the 1970s, and feels
like very little has changed. You can find everything here,
from $5 souvenir T~shirts to the trendiest bikinis. Don't
miss Castro for trendy threads, and be sure to pick up the
world's comfiest sandals at Naot on the ground floor.
Roaming Dizengoff Street is one of my favorite things
to do in Tel Aviv. Every block has character, so you'll never
get bored, and if you do-just cross the street. If you're
feeling peckish, there are tons of restaurants, but you can't
go wrong with any of the falafel and shawarma stands
you'll pass-they're all inexpensive and delicious.
Shenkin Street may remind you of a brighter, younger
version of St. Marks Place in New York's East Village.
The blocks between Allenby and Sderot Rothschild are
jam~packed with trendy boutiques, cafes and music shops.
This is where the hipsters congregate. On Tuesdays and
Fridays, you're just around the corner from Nachalat
Binyamin's outdoor art and jewelry market, which is
touristy and kitschy, but could be a good place to get an
engraved nameplate or a necklace for your mom.
The best place to buy fruit (or anything edible) is Shuk
May 2011
I 67
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Ha'Carmel, otherwise known as the Carmel Market. Just
browsing the booths is an incredible experience, and many
of the vendors will let you sample their wares. However,
you may want to avoid it on Friday afternoons when it's
the most crowded.
Shuk Hapishpeshim, between Jerusalem Boulevard and
Yeffet Street in Jaffa, translates literally to "market of the
fleas:' This is not only a fascinating place to explore, it's
also where you'll find the best deals, maybe the best views
(of the coastline) and possibly the best food. Be prepared
to haggle-it's expected-and you'll usually end up paying
half what the vendor originally quoted.
When all the bargain hunting has made a hole in your
stomach, replenish at Dr. Shakshuka's. Shakshuka, this
unique eatery's specialty, is a tomato and egg mixture
cooked and served in a heavy iron skillet. Scoop it up with
a crusty piece of bread, perhaps supplemented with savory
lamb kabobs. You'll need the protein, because you won't
want to leave Jaffa, possibly the oldest port city in the
world, without exploring all the cobblestone streets and
alleyways that wind their way from the harbor.
If you have the energy, either walk or rent a bike and
make your way from Jaffa to Tel Aviv along the Tayelet.
Recently refurbished, this paved promenade is a gorgeous
HISTORICALDETOURS
WhileTelAvivitself is a relatively
newcity-it wasfoundedin 1909it's surroundedby day-trip-friendly
destinationsrich with antiquityand
guaranteedto thrill anyhistorybuff.
city of Jerichoto the DeadSea.
Landlockedandbelowsealevel,the
watersof the DeadSeaare uniquely
rich in seasaltsand mineralsthat
pamperthe skin.Aftera dayof
relaxation,headbackto TelAviv,
Fora spadayof biblicalproportions, stoppingon the wayto visit Qumran,
try the DeadSeaSpaandWellness
the caveswherethe DeadSea
Tripthat takestouriststhroughthe
Scrollswerediscovered.(viator.com)
JudeanDesert,pastthe Innof the
GoodSamaritanandthe ancient
Notrip to Israelis complete
withouta sidetrip to the capital
city,Jerusalem.Thehalf-day
tour of Jerusalemavailablevia
CityDiscovery
is an excursionthat
takestravelersthroughthe Kidron
Valleyfor a view of the Gardenof
Gethsemane
andthe walls of the
city. Otherhighlightsincludea visit
to the WesternWailingWallSquare,
68
I curve
the Stationsof the Cross,the Church
of the HolySepulchreanda stroll
downa 1,700-year-oldByzantine
mainstreet.Beawarethat there is a
dresscode-shorts andsleeveless
shirts area no-no,andmodestdress
is required.(city-discovery.com)
Forthe moreadventurous,
a twodayjourneyto neighboringJordan
andthe ancientcity of Petrais a
breathtakingexperience.Packages
(whichincludeprivatetours)are
availablethroughTourPlanlsrael
and includea shortflight,
accommodations
andentranceinto
the city of Petra.Notethat visitors'
passportsmustbe validfor at least
six monthsafteryourdateof arrival.
(tourplanisrael.com)
[RachelShatto]
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place to walk or bike during the summer.
While Jaffa is on the southern end of the
Tayelet, the newly spruced up Tel Aviv Port
is on the northern end. Don't let the word
"port" confuse you. Namal Tel Aviv isn't about
ships. It's about eating and shopping. One of
Tel Aviv's most expensive seafood restau~
rants, Mul~Yam, is here, but I'm much more
inclined to have a leisurely seaside breakfast
at Comme il Faut. If you're still here at night,
you'll discover that the port also hosts some
of Tel Aviv's most happening bars and clubs.
HEAT UP THE NIGHT
If you want to show off your sun~kissed skin,
Tel Aviv offers a range of nightspots. Ashmoret,
a popular gay and lesbian club, features dance
parties on both weekdays and weekends, and
everything from hip~hop to electro. Lima Lima
is a great spot for live music and DJs. Currently,
Monday is gay night. Galina and Gossip are
the mainstream hot spots, with lots of drinking
and dancing. They both kick off at 10:00 p.m.
and are full by 11:00 p.m. The Penguin is a
cool underground bar with house music
and dancing. Radio is one of the newest and
hippest places in town also in a basement, but
it's got a cozy vibe. There isn't a strict dress
code, but leave your flip~flops at home as the
dance music is solid. ■
MICHIGAN
womYn's
music
festival
•
au&ust
2-7,
20
I I
CATIECURTIS* MELISSA
FERRICK* JILLSOBULE
VICKIRANDLE* SUZANNE
WESTENHOEFER
ELVIRAKURT* KARMAMAYETJOHNSON
LOVERS* ANDREAGIBSON* C.C.CARTER
HUNTER
VALENTINE* CLIMBING
POETREE
SHELLEY
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* MEN
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NERVOUSBUTEXCITED
* FERRON
ANDBITCH
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INVINCIBLE
* SUSANWERNER
* UBAKAHILL
CHIXLIXSINGSTHEBLUES* KARENWILLIAMS
ALEAHLONG* RUTHBARRETT
* ALIXOLSON
JESSICA
KIRSON* SLANTYEYEDMAMA
VALERIE
JUNE* EMILYWELLS* THAO
ANIMALPRUFROCK
* LAVA
BERNICE
JOHNSONREAGON
SONGBOOKwith ToshiReagon
michfest.com
WWTMC • Box 22 • Walhalla
Michigan• 49458
231 • 757 •4766
REVIEWSMusic Watch
Rain in the Woods
Rain Phoenix's latest endeavor proves she isn't afraid to experiment. By Dave Steinfeld
It's no secret that the Phoenix family is one of
the most talented, unpredictable and creative
clans in show business. In case you're not
familiar with the specifics: John Lee Bottom
and Arlyn Dunetz met in 1968 while hitch~
hiking. They married less than a year later,
joined the religious movement Children of
God and worked as missionaries in South
America (hey, this was the late '60s after all).
John and Arlyn changed their surname to
Phoenix and had five children-two
boys
and three girls-moving
their family from
city to city and encouraging their kids to
embrace their creative passions along the way.
Rain Phoenix (born Rain Joan of Arc
Bottom) was the second oldest of the five
children and the couple's first daughter.
70
I curve
"When I'm writing and singing [with] my own band,
I work from my emotions and whatever comes up
makes its way to the stage and to the record."
Although not as well known as her late,
older brother River or her younger brother
Joaquin, she made waves in her own right.
Rain is perhaps best known as an actress,
appearing in various films and TV shows
throughout the years (including a turn as
Uma Thurman's love interest, lesbian cow~
girl Bonanza Jellybean in Even Cowgirls Get
the Blues). But her first love was actually
music. "My first band was Aleka's Attic with
my brother [River];' she confirms. "I sang
and played in a lot of smaller bands like The
Causey Way, Funkiller and Nux Vomica.
[But] I would say that my first professional
foray was as a backing vocalist for the Red
Hot Chili Peppers. I have been a singer since
I could talk, but touring with them helped
me solidify it as a career. It gave me the
confidence to start my own band:' Indeed,
Phoenix performed with the Chili Peppers
NataliaZukerman
GasStationRoses
(WeaselRecords)
z
~
~
()
&
~
~
~
on their One Hot Minute tour back in the mid'90s. Flea, the band's bassist extraordinaire, has
been a longtime friend and even appears on
Let's Make Babies in the Woods, the latest album
by Phoenix's current project, papercranes.
Let's Make Babies arrived in January and is
billed as "psychedelia-tinged folk:' It's a concise
album to say the least, featuring only nine songs,
none of which breaks the four-minute mark.
According to Phoenix, this was by design. "I
am a fan of shorter songs;' she explains. "When
playing live, I also like shorter sets. Unless the
audience knows your songs and is singing with
you, I personally think it's self-indulgent to play
long sets:'
The material on the new album ranges from
songs like "Headphones;' a catchy Edie Brickellreminiscent cut, to the dosing song, "Grace;'
which is more of a free-form piece and which
finds Phoenix screaming. Apparently, the whole
disc was recorded in as few takes as possible.
Phoenix says, "I usually write and record the
vocals stream-of-consciousness style. For this
record, the whole group decided to do the same.
We recorded most of the record without retakes,
except for some guest overdubs. We wanted this
to be our 'experimental record:"
Unlike some people who act and sing,
Phoenix really isn't known specifically for one
art form as opposed to the other. Asked about
the differences between the two, she replies,
"When I'm writing and singing [with] my own
band, I work from my emotions and whatever
comes up makes its way to the stage and to the
record. I think it's similar to acting in that way.
The difference is that [with acting], you're playing someone else. I enjoy both creative outlets
(but] with music, I am able to do it anytime,
anywhere. That's where I'm currently focusing
my creative energy:'
Though she is in fact straight (and divorced),
Phoenix is decidedly pro-queer-not
surprising considering her open-minded background."
I am for all people being treated with dignity
and respect;' she says. "I am pro gay marriage.
Healthy debate is fine and good but I think there
should be laws to protect people's choices-no
matter [what] their sexual orientation:' ■
An N.Y.C.
nativewhohas
spenthercareerperforming
all acrossAmerica,folk
singerNataliaZukerman
hasinfusedthatjourney
intoherlatestrecord,Gas
Aseclectic
StationRoses.
asthe nationshetours,her
influences
varyfromfolk,
rock,andcountryto blues,
andZukermansucceedsin
creatinga soundthat is pure
Americana.
"Brooklyn"showcasesZukerman's
breathy
vocalsandthe amblingandbluesy"SorrySideof Town"is equalpartsDolly
PartonandKTTunstall.Rounding
outthe albumis "AsYouAre,"the out
songstress'
callto actionfor closetcases-"So comeout/Come
as youare/
Orkeeponwaitingfor yourlifeto start."A decadesinceZukermanreleased
herfirst studioalbumin 2001,this,herfifth album,is the polished,confident,
ambitiousworkof an artistwhohascomeintoherown.(weaselrecords.com)
EmilyAsen
Tothe Marrow
(VioletMaidenRecords)
Folk-popdo-it-herself-er
EmilyAsenreturnsfor her
secondfull-lengthalbum,
the deeplypersonalTothe
Marrow.Thatthe album
incorporates
a numberof
uncommon
instruments,
includingconcertbells,a
mellotronanda glockenspiel
makesit unique-but that
Asenwasthe oneplaying
eachof themmakesthis
albuma fantasticachievement."LongTimeComing"
is an upbeatandcatchytrackandthe albumcloser,an acousticrenditionof
"Evergreen,"
is a strippeddown"girlwitha guitar"versionthat'sperfectly
suited
to Asen'ssweet,highvocals.Butthe highlightof the albumis "UnderMy
Tongue,"
a songthat speaksto Asen'scommitment
to marriageequality"Myfriendsdon'tunderstand
howmuchit hurts/Notto beableto loveher
like I want/Myfeetareonthe ground/ButI'vegot nowayto tie herto me."
(emilyasen.
com)
May 2011
I 71
REVIEWSSapphic Screen
BeingDifferent
Acting and activism with Being Human's Alison Louder. By Rachel Shatto
In 2009 when GLAAD released their annual
Network Responsibility Index they dealt a
failing grade to the Syfy network. Syfy's
response was a promise that future program~
ming would be much more diverse.
Two years and two cancelled series ( Caprica
and Stargate: Universe) later, Alison Louder's
Being Human character is the network's last
lezzie standing. Fortunately, she's one we
can happily get behind.
Based on the British show of the same
name, Being Human follows three roommates
attempting to live a normal life, despite the
fact that they are a vampire, werewolf and
ghost. Louder stars as Emily, the werewolf's
younger, lesbian sister.
Both an actor and activist Louder, is an
outspoken environmental and animal rights
activist as well as a passionate advocate for
721curve
gender equality. She's appeared in small roles
in several films including The Mummy: Tomb
of the Dragon Emperor. Plus, she wrote and
starred in her own one~woman show, which
premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe festival.
Set to star alongside the likes oflesbian fave
Kristen Stewart in this year's film adaptation
of Jack Kerouac's On the Road and the Syfy's
recent decision to renew Being Human for a
second season, Louder is a star on the rise.
Canyoutell mea littlebitaboutEmily?
When you first meet Emily, she hasn't seen
her brother in two years. He's her best friend,
and it's at a time in her life when she's dealing
with a lot of things: Going to school, living on
her own for the first time, coming out of the
closet-these are all big steps for a 19~year~old
and her best friend and brother hasn't been
Whatis yourfavoritecursewordin
English?
Bollocks.
Whataboutin French?
Calissede tabarnak!Literally:
"chalice
of thetabernacle."
It's funny-all of the
Englishcursewordshaveto dowithsex
andphysicalanatomy,
whereasin French
a lotof themhaveto dowithreligion.
Doyouhaveanypets?
I havea cat namedMab.
What'syourguiltiestpleasure?
Watchinglotsof episodes
of StarTrek:
I don'tcarewhat
TheNextGeneration!
anyonesays,I'm goingto becomea
Trekkie!
Doyouhavea femalecelebritycrush?
CateBlanchett.
MichelleWilliams.Oh,I
totallyhavea femalecelebritycrushon
She's
Gabourey
SidibefromPrecious.
socool.
around for the past two years to guide her
through it and be someone to vent to. So
she's.. .learned to fend for herself outside
of family support and yet there's this strong
vulnerability. She's sassy, she's smart and she
doesn't really care what others think of her.
Howmuchofthecharacter
isyou?
I think Emily and I have a lot in common ...
in terms of attitude [and] just her open~
mindedness and her compassion for others,
that's something that I always try to embody
as me. She's just this genuinely open person
who doesn't fully fit in. Neither do I. I'm kind
of weird. Which is OK, and I'm totally
comfortable with that, and so is Emily.
Didyoualwayswantto beanactor?
I wanted to be a fireman, actually, and I remem~
ber distinctly telling someone and they said
you mean firewoman and I said no, fireman.
[Laughs] I've had a lot of dreams. Acting
caught me by accident. I come from a musical
background. My father's an organ builder and
my mother's a music professor and musicology
researcher. I was raised playing piano and
singing in choirs and I'm selrtaught at the
accordion, played bass, I'm learning guitar.
So I kind of always thought I would be a
musician growing up, then the summer I was
16 I got a lead role in a short film and it just
completely changed my perspective.
Dohaveanyhesitation
aboutplayinga lesbian?
I have absolutely no concerns about playing
any sexuality whatsoever. I'll just put it out
there: I'm not gay, but I also think that my
perspective on sexuality and gender has
evolved a lot over the years because I'm friends
with a lot of transgender people who are in the
process of transitioning or have already transi~
tioned. I supported a couple of friends through
that process. I have a lot of queer friends, gay
friends, lesbian friends. So, I don't really look
at sexuality as being something that is where
the genders are implicitly binary.
Some of my greatest role models are trans~
gender. I look up to Kate Bornstein. I think
Kate is a fantastic person and just so strong
because her message isn't just about gender,
her message isn't just about if you're queer it's
cool, it's about everybody has something in
them that's different-some
people are just
more different than others and you have to
learn to love that about yourself, so you can
be the best person you can be in this life on
this planet. I love that.
Howdoesthatinformyouradvocacy
forgender
equality?
In terms of advocating for gender equality ...
I'm just relentless about if I'm challenged
on it or if I encounter someone who seems
to have sexist, stereotypical ideals. It's like, I
ask them, What exactly did you meanr It's a
constant dialog.
Whatothercausesareimportant
to you?
I'm an environmentalist; I'm into animal rights,
also just general social rights. The average
human being faces disrespect on a lot oflevels
everywhere around them at any given time. I
think it's really important to know how you
can make a difference in your town, in your
city, in your country politically, as well.
Bloomington
(WolfeVideo)
What'snextforyou?
I got a small part in On the Road. So, that's
something to look forward to in 201 L It's really
not a big part, but just to work on that project
was amazing.
Canyoutalkaboutyourrole?
My character, Dorie, is kind of a college girl
in the '40s in New York and she's tapped into
this literary scene of poetry and explosive,
awesome, fun parties and she's into it. That's
who she is. She's a person who likes to have
a good time and she gets to know the beats a
little bit. I see her around. [Laughs]
BeingHumanhasbeenrenewed
fora second
season.
Whyshouldlesbians
bewatchingit?
I really want people to keep in mind when
they watch the show that it's something I feel
is for everyone. It could very well have been
called "Being Different:' ■
Hemingway's
Gardenof Eden
(Lionsgate)
WhenformerchildactorJackie(Sarah
Stouffer)
Reminiscent
of HenryandJune,Hemingway's
goesawayto collegeshediscovers
she'sunable
Gardenof Edenis basedononeof thecontroto connectwithherfellowstudents
whogawk
versialauthor'sfinalnovels.
Thiseroticdramais
at thecampus"celeb."Feeling
likeanoutsider,
setin the 1920sandfollowsnewlyweds
David
sheis drawnto Catherine
(Allison
McAtee),
a
andCatherine
Bourne-a writerandhiswealthy,
gorgeous,
sophisticated-and
almostpredatoemotionally
unstable
andsexually
adventurous
rilyaggressive-psychology
professor
witha
wife.Soonaftertyingthe knotCatherine
begins
reputation
for seducing
herfemalestudents.
The
transforming,
cultivatinganappearance
of
chemistry
is instantaneous
andthetwoquicklyfall
androgyny.
Shecutsoff herhairandinitiates
intoa relationship.
ButwhenJackieis offeredan
genderreversalin the bedroom.
Whenthetwo
opportunity
to returnto theHollywood
spotlightit
meetMarita,a beautifulbisexualItalianheiress,
threatens
to breakupthepassionate
buttenuous
Catherine
inviteshertojointhem-at firstto satisfy
romance.
Whilewellacted,particularly
byStouffer, hersexualcuriosityandthenfor herto share
with David.Inevitably
jealousyeruptswithinthe
Bloomington
neverquitereaches
theheightsof
trio andthe relationship
devolves
quickly.While
intensity
of theillicitstudent-teacher
affairinthe
thefilm'ssetting,costumes
and
Noris Catherine, mostlymiddling,
similarlythemedLovingAnnabelle.
AnddespiteactorMena
serialstudentseducer,
everparticularly
empathetic. setdesignarestunning.
Suvarinotquitebeingupto thecomplexrole,
Butwherethefilm doessucceed
is in its realistic
Catherine
is a fascinating
character,
particularly
portrayal
of a briefintersection
of lives-makingit
inthecontextof the 1920s.(lionsgate.com)
wellwortha watch.(wolfevideo.com)
May 2011
I 73
REVIEWSIn The Stacks
LoftyLives
From glam photos to critical theory, we celebrate two landmark lesbian reads. By Rachel Pepper
Thel life: Extraordinary
lesbiansMakinga
Difference,
ErinMcHugh,photosby Jennifer
May (Stewart,Taboriand Chang):Few art
books are devoted to lesbian lives, art
or culture. Traditionally, art and photo
books are expensive to produce, and
thought to have a limited number of
lesbian buyers. Thus, a new photo book
for lesbians is a big deal, and mainstream publisher Stewart, Tabori and
Chang has taken a gamble on The L
Life, a beautiful new book by Erin McHugh,
with photos by Jennifer May.
Through interviews and full color portrait
photography, The L Life focuses mostly on
well-known lesbians who have made a difference in the LGBT community. With actor
Jane Lynch of The L Word and Glee gracing
the cover, this book makes no apologies for
featuring (primarily white) A-List lesbians
from politics, activism and entertainment. We
find many of the usual suspects included in this
project, such as Kate Clinton, Alison Bechdel,
Kate Kendell, Phyllis Lyon, Tammi Baldwin,
Elizabeth Birch and Dr. Susan Love. Women
of color are mostly limited to a few pioneers
including Urvashi Vaid, Linda Villarosa
and Dr. Marjorie Hill. There are few women
under 40, and a scarcity of women under 25.
Knowing the demographic this book seeks to
reach, none of this is a surprise, but it's still
disappointing. I would have preferred a few
variety of topics regarding contemporary
theories of the body, including phenomenology, psychology, feminist, queer
and trans-inclusive theories, and critiques of gender, sexual difference and
social construction. Philosophers and
psychologists, from Lacan to Luce
lrigaray are also put through the
wringer in chapters such as ''An
Ethics of Transsexual Difference:•
more feisty Throughout, Salamon asks her readers to
young radi- consider questions like, "Is it possible to think
cals, and a few less business executives, as of sexual difference as something that need
worthy of the description of "exceptional" not be located at the level of sex at all?"Which
lesbian. Still, The L Life is a lovely book, with
is guaranteed to provoke heated conversation
interesting essays bursting with quotes by at any lesbian potluck. The chapter titled
the featured women. With so few opportuni"Boys of the Lex: Transgender and Social
ties to give a voice to members of the lesbian
Construction;' which opens with photos
community in such a significant format, the from a calendar produced by The Lexington,
book will have lasting import. Add the exquisite San Francisco'smain lesbian bar, and is used to
images by photographer May, and it's more illustrate Salamon's theory that gender is
than a winning package that should be on "always already theorized. When a distinction is made between the theorizing and the
your radar for upcoming gift giving opportunities such as Gay Pride and the holidays. performance of gender expression, we might
(abramsbooks.com/ stc.html)
do well to ask who or what such a distinction serves:• Because Salamon is a theorist,
Assuming
a Body:Transgender
andRhetorics
of Assuming a Body may not be accessible for all
Materiality,
GayleSalamon
(Columbia
University readers. But for those who enjoy a challenge,
Press):While not exactly light reading, the this book rewards with its timely, thoughtfirst book by rising lesbian academic Gayle provoking examination of the body, and the
intersection of transgender psychology and
Salamon-currently
an assistant professor
critical theory. (cup.columbia.edu) ■
at Princeton University-tackles an amazing
BestlesbianErotica2011,KathleenWarnock,LeaDelaria{CleisPress)
LeaDelaria,the woman
behindthe selectionof
storiesin BestLesbian
Erotica2011,seemsto
approachthis collectionwith two thingsin
mind:Don'ttakesextoo
seriouslyandmakesure
everybody's
titilated.
Delariahasbeenrocking
ourworldsfor quitesome
74
I curve
time,mostlyas a stand-up
comicandoccasionally
as
a musicianandactor.(Did
youknowwe haveherto
thankfor the infamous
U-Haullesbianjoke?It's
true.)Delariahastaken
herkeeneyeandturnedit
on ourbedrooms,
selecting
eroticathat is sexy,wellcraftedanddiverse.What
oneexpectsin a "BestOf"
collection,aboveall, is
inclusivity.It is herethat
this collectionsucceeds.
Fromstoriesfeaturing
corporate
lesbians,
strippers,
hippiedykes,friendsturned-lovers
andfemmes
toppingbutches,there's
somethingfor everyone.
Whereelsewouldyou
find an encounterin the
woodswith a bitchwarrior
queen,followedby an
old-schoolhookup in a
1958Mercury?
Thisis
a solidcollectionfrom
oneof ourfavoritequeer
publishinghouses,anda
mustfor youreroticashelf.
(cleispress.
com)
[JillianEugenios]
Q+A
Emma Donoghue
Award-winning Irish novelist Emma
Donoghue's latest book of fiction, Room,
tells the story of Ma and her 5-year-old
son Jack, prisoners of a rapist who has
held Ma captive in an 11-foot-square
room for seven years. It sounds dire, but
because it is told from Jack's point of
view-full of the imagination, energy and
matter-of-factness of a 5-year-old-the
reader can't help but be drawn into this
remarkable story. Donoghue has garnered
rave reviews for Room and the book was
shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize.
While she is a phenomenal storyteller, she
also shines as a literary critic. Her latest
non-fiction offering, Inseparable: Desire
Between Women in Literature, identifies
six lesbian motifs that repeat themselves
in stories from medieval to contemporary
literature and examines works by writers
as varied as Chaucer, Charlotte Bronte
and Henry James.
Howdidyoudrawonyourownexperience
as a motherto writeRoom?
Very directly. Not only did I follow my
5-year-old son around and chart his
grammatical oddities like some kind of
ethnographer, but I poured into Room
every thought I'd ever had in the middle
of the night about how mothers are both
slaves and tyrants, friends and opponents
to their kids.
WhywritethebookfromJack's
perspective?
I wouldn't have dreamed of writing it
from anyone else's. From Ma's, for instance,
it could only have been voyeuristic and
unremittingly sad.
Whatwasthehardestpartof writingfrom
thepointof viewof a 5-year-old?
Actually, the hard parts didn't come from
Jack's age but from his inexperience of the
world; I had to keep reminding myself of
the many things he didn't know. But as
a point of view, a consciousness, I didn't
find anything limiting about his age.
Whatwouldyousayto someonewhodoesn'twantto read
a bookaboutserialrapeand
imprisonment?
That Room really isn't about
those things; they are the
barely and rarely-referred-to
circumstances that have created a world of love between
mother and child.
Howdidyourexperience
as
a storyteller
comeintoplay
whilewritingInseparable?
Not only did it inform my
understanding of how these
many and varied writers
begged, borrowed and
stole each other's lesbian
plotlines, but it helped me
tell the story of this literary
tradition itself-its movement over the centuries, its
twists and turns.
Yousaythatwritersrecycle
oldplotsandthatthisis especiallytrueforlesbianromance.
Whyisthat?
Because it makes writers nervous, so
they grab hold of an established storyline
like a thread to lead them through the
minefield.
Whythesubtitle"DesireBetweenWomen"?
Whynot"Lesbianism"?
Areyoubeating
aroundthebush?
In one sense, yes, the publishers asked me
to change the book's title from Lesbian
Plots. Beating around the bush is one
valid device that publishers use to try to
get past potential buyers' prejudices. But
in another sense, no, because I wanted
the broadest possible terms for my topic.
The kind of utterly respectable platonic
yearning between two women in many
18th-century novels just doesn't sit right
with the word lesbianism.
Youfindstoriesof lesbianromance
asfar
backas medievalliterature.
Weretheolder
examples
hardto find?
No, actually, because when same-sex desire does come up in medieval romances
it's often in a startlingly frank form. It was
harder to plough through the mass of
rather bland 18th-century fiction about
romantic friendship to find the really
interesting relationships.
Mostof thestoriesyoudiscussarewritten
bymen.Whydoyouthinklesbianrelationshipshavebeensocompelling
formale
writers,andheterosexual
readers?
Because they're a test case: They ask, to
quote an old song, What is this thing
called love:' What is this erotic force so
strong-yet nothing to do with making babies-that
it can go against sense,
against family, against tradition and law?
And another puzzle many men found
fascinating: If the earth revolves around
the phallus, what can be going on in a
bedroom without a phallus in it:'
(emmadonoghue.com) [RachelBeebe]
May 2011
I 75
REVIEWSFood
SaQQhicSQeakeasy
Meet Hollis Bulleit, lesbian bourbon ambassador. By JD Disalvatore
While lesbians might not think of bourbon
as their number one libation of choice, Hollis
Bulleit-the out lesbian spokesperson for her
family's label of Kentucky whiskey, Bulleit
Bourbon-is
hoping to change that. Bulleit
Bourbon is one of the fastest-growing small
batch bourbons in America. And this Spring,
the Bulleit line expands its portfolio to include
a 95 percent rye. It has garnered praise for
its complex taste, boasting a rich, oaky aroma
with hints of vanilla, spice and pepper, and a
long, lingering finish (Hollis' personal notes
are Christmas oranges and clove). In 2008,
the Annual International Review of Spirits
labeled Bulleit Bourbon as "Exceptional" and
gave it the Gold Medal.
With such a good product, and a family
legacy, it's little wonder that Hollis Bulleit
takes her job as the company's "bourbon
76
I curve
"I approached the business with the same tomboy
attitude I grew up with- I figured if I rough-housed
with the boys long enough, I might get a little more
elbow room for the ladies."
ambassador" seriously, traveling around the
country for almost half the year to educate
people on this classic beverage. "I am like the
Svedka girl, but I'm real and I'm queer;' she
jokes. When Hollis is home she spends time
working on her art in her live/work studio at
the famed Los Angeles artists' loft community,
the Brewery, where she has combined her
love of bourbon and art by using the family
archives to design and faux-finish parts of
the loft in the fashion of a speakeasy. Always
effervescent, Hollis leads these tastings in
flamboyant costumes, often dressing like a
flapper. "Bar trends are being influenced by
shows like Mad Men and the forgotten times
of your grandparent's cocktail hour;' Bulleit
notes. 'Tm hoping that the general consumer
is up for a more complex and mature experience with the brown spirits:'
Not to mention, connect with a part of
American frontier history. Hollis Bulleit is
a sixth generation family member of Bulleit
Bourbon. The inspiration for the bourbon
was taken from her great great great grand,
father's high rye bourbon recipe from the
1800s. Obviously, the bourbon you can pur,
chase today is not exactly the same bourbon
as Augustus Bulleit once made. Hollis jokes,
"If it was the same bourbon it would have
pieces of char floating in it and it would come
in a barrel-not a bottle:•
While Hollis Bulleit attended Smith and
graduated with a Masters of Fine Art from
New York University, she couldn't resist the
call of the family legacy. "I worked at the
distillery after graduating and I really fell in
love with Kentucky;' she says. But by joining
the family business, she entered a traditionally
male field. "When I first began I was definitely
the only XX presence in the old boys club;'
she says, "but over the years I've paid my dues
and won their respect. I approached the busi,
ness with the same tomboy attitude I grew up
with-I figured if I rough,housed with the
boys long enough, I might get a little more
elbow room for the ladies:• That includes
attending Whiskeyfests and tradeshows
donning fancy hair and period costumes. "I
just love to show up with my homemade drag
queen headdresses and my burlesque inspired
outfits;• she laughs. "Then throw 'em a wicked
curve ball with my sense of humor and bour,
bon knowledge:• She admits this has landed
her more than a few marriage proposals but
adds, "I think this happens less because I'm
cute and more because people assume that I
come with an unlimited trousseau of booze.
~
A New York transplant, Bulleit now calls
~ L.A. home, where she lives with her partner
~ Cher Stanley. She continues to combine her
~ work as an artist with her work as a bourbon
>~ ambassador, and still finds time to stretch
a:
0
out a canvas and work on pieces in between
()
~
traveling. "For me, art is a calling. I didn't
()
~ choose to be an artist, art chose me:•
~
But having a home that functions as both
0
~ studio and speakeasy means that work is
~ never far away. "I owe a lot to my partner
cc
i3 Cher. She's the yin to my yang. Her favorite
~ saying is, 'When bulleits are flying, fly low!'"
~ (hollisbulleit.com)
■
[lJ
Cl)
Still on the fence about bourbon? Try
Hollis Bulleit's favorite, easy cocktail.
• 1 1/3 oz of BulleitBourbon
• Lemonwedgesqueezedin
• IceandTonicto finish
"Evenif you are not a tonic gal you will enjoythis
drink becausethe high rye contentof the bourbon
andthe quininein the tonic are a nice marriage.If
youwant to up the ante,pairthe BLTcocktailwith
a BLTsandwich-bourbon and baconloveeach
other."Andas always,drink responsibly.
BEYOND POT LUCK
The world's first female
Iron Chef, Cat Cora,
has unveiled her line of
versatile cookware: Cat
Cora by Starfrit. The
attractive and durable
collection encompasses
the Cook'n'Serve casseroles, anodized fry
pans, cutlery and acacia
wood utensils that will
assist you in whipping up
everything from a simple
one-pot evening meal
to a large dinner party.
Cora has succeeded
in creating kitchen
essentials that are ecofriendly and traditionaland come with a nod to
the modern family.
If you think you're
busy, spare a thought
for Cora and her partner
of 10 years, Jen, who are
raising four sons while
juggling careers and other
projects. This family
serves nutritious homecooked meals efficiently
and without fuss.
"We created
something unique
that brings a new
function to the
modern mom who is
strapped for time, but
appreciates delicious,
home-cooked meals,"
says Cora.
The stainless steel
Cook'n'Serve casserole
nests in an attractive
bamboo serving bowl
and is the perfect vessel
for making an easy
meal for two. We tested
Cora's hearty Potato
and Mushroom Risotto
with Sage and her
super-healthy, luscious
Minestrone Verdeboth were simple
to make and
delicious. While
the Cook'n'Serve
casserole is perfect for
one-pots, it's also great
for side dishes and makes
the transition from stove
to table to refrigerator
to dishwasher easy.
(catcora.com)
[Constance
Parten]
May 2011
I 77
REVIEWSTech
LuxeLavator
Gadgets to glam your restroom. By Rachel Shatto
So you're a tech-savvy dyke. You've got a top-of-the-line Blu-ray player for
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willing to bet there's still one room that's getting short shrift in your personal
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LightShow-er
Everhopin theshoweranddiscover
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the lightsarepoweredbywaterturning
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Plus,it makesfor saucyillumination
whenshoweringavecdeux.Just
sayin'.($180,shower-led.com)
TreatYourTushy
Wecanhardlytalk aboutbathroomgadgetry
withoutbringingupthepiecederesistance,
the hightechtoiletseat.Thesehygienicseats
arehugelypopularinJapanandarenowgaining
popularityherein thestates-and with good
reason.Therearea varietyof optionsonthe
marketbutthe BrondellSwash
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Whynotmix
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Withall this illuminated
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you'llbedoingwithyournewLED
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you'reat riskof running
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a devicethatsits by
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evenreducethe amountof wateryou
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BubblyBathTime
Bringtherelaxation
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Because
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Perfectfor a quickgetawaywithout
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ToastyTowels
Nothingsayspampering
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Plus,warmdrytowelseliminatethe riskof
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Setthe bathtime moodwith Spa
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Andthe newcolorchanginglights
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I 79
TOPTENREASONS
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...
Osa
Wallander
The out bi actor approaches
her profession with integrity.
By Merryn Johns
The award-winning bisexual Swedish actor is passionate
about her craft, whether she applies it to network TV,
Strindberg classics or independent short films. And her
commitment to social issues and spirituality makes her
as complex as any character she's played.
1 . She'stenacious,
travelingfromSwedento
NewYorkto L.A.to pursueherdream."It's been
an amazing journey, being a Swede from a
small town and going to New York to find
myself and try to create a career and life in a
different country:'
6. She'sdramatic."I love roles I can really
sink my teeth into. I love playing bad char~
acters or troubled characters. It's a challenge.
I love psychology, the human condition. No
one is born a monster: If you can convey that
everyone has a heart, I think you've success~
fully told the story of a human being:'
2. She demystifies
actingfor us non-actors.
"It's really about living the character, and
when an actor does that, they really don't
have to do much else. But that in itself is a
very difficult thing to do:'
3. She'sa dedicatedstudent,andalumnusof
the LeeStrasbergInstitute.'Tve studied the
Method, Meisner, some Stella Adler. Now
I'm using the Chekhov technique and studying
under acting coach Nikolai Guzov:'
7. Shebringsus onedegreecloserto Greta
Garbo.
"I think Swedes have an understanding
of suffering. We're a very fortunate country,
but we deal with depression, suicide and
alcohol abuse. A lot of Swedes have these
problems, and the psychology is fascinating.
The mentality, for good or bad, is: If you are
going to do something, you have to go all the
way:'
8. Spirituality
is important:
Buddhism
sustains
4. She isn't a fame monster."What really
attracted me to acting was telling a story. It
can't be an ego trip. You're being rejected and
tested over and over again. If it's not a labor
of love, you should take an aspirin and get a
day job:'
5. She'sgutsy-even her mothercan't talk
9. She's passionateabout social issues.
herintoa fallbackcareer."She tried but she
didn't succeed. I'm sure she would love me
to have something on the backburner but
finally she's very supportive of what I've
done, which is fortunate:'
"Pollution, the short film I wrote and starred
in, is based on a true story. My aunt was a
severe alcoholic and my cousin ended up
committing
suicide. Domestic violence,
breast cancer, and any kind of sexual or
physical abuse are causes I am continuing
to write about or get involved in through
organizations:'
If you put yourself in rhythm with
the universe you can bring out
your highest potential. It's given me
the courage to believe in myself in
difficult moments.
so I curve
herin a toughindustry.
"I believe in the law of
the universe, the law of cause and effect. If
you put yourself in rhythm with the universe
you can bring out your highest potential. It's
given me the courage to believe in myself in
difficult moments:'
10. She'sout-but thecraftiswhatweshould
focuson,notherprivatelife."I really believe it
shouldn't matter who you are and who you
love. I think it's very honorable that people
come out. But if you're a fabulous actor and ~
::J
don't want to share your private life, I think ~
w
that's honorable as well. It's really the work ::::;
~z
that should matter:' ( osawallander.com) ■
BRI06ESTORE
Sure, it's just
a tire.
Like the Golden Gate is just a bridge.
For drivers who want to get the mostout of their cars,
IT'SBRIDGESTONE
ORNOTHING.
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