-
Description
-
ToC Cover: Va-va-vroom Vangsness [Kirsten Vangness] by Rachel Shatto (p42); Food & Wine Issue; She's on Our Team by Kathy Belge (p32); Dapper Duds by Laniaya Alesia Hooffatt (p34); What Catie Curtis Did by Dave Steinfeld (p47); Dinner at Tiffani's by Constane Parten (p50); 25 Chefbians You Need to Sample (p53); Just Desserts by Rachel Shatto (p54); Good to the Last Drop by Merryn Johns (p56); Queer Urban Farmer by Natalie Boustead (p61); Cover Photo: Keven Sharp for kSharp Photography; Grooming by James Freitas.
See all items with this value
-
issue
-
9
-
Date Issued
-
November 2011
-
Format
-
PDF/A
-
Publisher
-
Frances Stevens
-
Identifier
-
Curve_Vol21_No9_November-2011_0CR_PDFa.pdf
-
extracted text
-
Butch Fashion Special
Lesbian Vampires
Catie Curtis
PRIMETIME'
ODESS
AN
A TOLERANT WORLD IS A WORK IN PROGRESS. But we're getting there. At Progressive, we believe
in respecting all people and finding beauty in their differences. Because it's one thing to call yourself
Progressive, and another to live up to that name. To learn more about how we're making progress,
visit progressive.com/lgbt.
progressive.com/lgbt
PROGREIIIVE®
Progressive Casualty Ins. Co. and its affiliates, Mayfield Village, OH. 09P00116.C (05/11)
Features
42
NOVEMBER
2011
Va-va-voom Vangsness
Primetime 1V's blond bombshell talks
sexuality, style and why she is a role model
to geek girls everywhere. By Rachel Shatto
32
She's On Our Team
Sherri Murrell, the only out basketball
coach in the NCAA, invites others
to join her. By Kathy Beige
34
Dapper Duds
The latest tailored looks in butch fashion.
By Laniaya Alesia Hooffatt
47
What Catie Curtis Did
The lesbian musician and marriage
celebrant has released her latest
studio album, with a little help from
fans and friends. By Dave Steinfeld
Food& Wine
This month we indulge our senses and
celebrate chefs, cooks and winemakers
across the country.
50
Dinner at Tiffani's
Top Chef veteran Tiffani Faison has
worked for famous chefs and Hollywood
A-listers, but now she has her own
project: Boston restaurant, Sweet
Cheeks. By Constance Parten
53
25 Chefbians
You Need to Sample
Check out these restaurants and
the lesbian chefs heating up the
kitchen with delectable dishes.
54
~
0
Just Desserts
Pastry chef Lina Biancamano
shares some sweet surprises.
By Rachel Shatto
~
.
cial
Butch Fashion spe
I
ip~~::~~
page47
Lesbianvampires
L
~
a:
CD
uj
w
1-
z
:;;;
a:
page34
w
u
w
z
w
56
a:
Good to the Last Drop
,::-
One of Sonoma's legendary
wine-makers is a lesbian.
By Merryn Johns
a:
::!,
w
~
<!
CD
>z
0
61
Queer Urban Farmer
Lesbians love the acceptance
of the city but don't want to
leave the land behind. Enter
the urban farm movement.
By Natalie Boustead
page42
I
1-
z
<!
~
f2,
w
0
~
X
w
CD
"'
::!,
0..
a:
<!
I
(/)
COVER
PHOTO:
KevinSharpfor kSharpPhotography;
Groomingby JamesFreitas
z
~
~
2
I curve
Stockholm Gay&Lesbian Network
Since May 2009 Sweden has said YESto same-sex marriages -Why don't you and your loved one
choose one of the 175churches Stockholm has to offer for your own "I DOs"?
Uncover great deals to Wedding bells and Honeymoon getaways - Book now:
-------www.flysas.com/us
V.ISi·t ••
-•
Sweden
Stockholm
The Capitalof Scandinavia
Intemationa1 Gay & Lesbian Travel Association
Scandinavian
Airlines
Departments
NOVEMBER
2011
[
a:
w
a:
w
Cl
(ll
<(
z
IN EVERY ISSUE
6
8
Editor's Letter
9
Contributors
26
This Is What a Lesbian Looks Like
11
Curvatures
Out in Front
Scene
Lesbofile
Fitness Advice
Bust through your plateau by learning to love
the burn. Plus, how to enhance your workouts
with intervals. By Jill Sloane Goldstein
Letters
10
17
20
22
24
80
"'
t::,
z
<(
:'2
~
~
_J
w
<(
28
Laugh Track
Hot butch comic Julie Goldman gets political.
30
Lipstick & Dipstick
I
0
~
ii-
8
0
::J
Politics
0
What you eat is connected to global poverty.
By Victoria A. Brownworth
_J
a:
w
<(
I
0
~
Stars
Tantalizing tipple accessories,
fun fish finery and beauty products
that are good enough to eat.
18
~
72
Music: Smooth grooves from jazz singer
Karin Carson.
74
Film: Michelle Tea's cult novel Valencia
is adapted for the big screen.
76
Our monthly profile of lesbian couples
who live, love and work together.
Tech: Handy gadgets to make you a
whiz in the kitchen.
The Two of Us
78
Books: Lesbian vampires are back,
and sexier than ever!
z
w
ti:
if:
w
0
z
~
(fJ
z
0
0
41
curve
I Tried It: Molecular
Gastronomy
w
_J
()
a:
0
~
(/)
~
w
:,,:'.
z
<(
I
(/)
a:
:,,:'.
en
(/)
w
~
N
w
z
:5
z
~
w
Want to make a splash at your next
lesbian pot luck? Blow the organic,
locally-grown, all-vegan competition
away with a secret weapon: Science.
Read one Curvette's (mis)adventures
in molecular gastronomy courtesy of
the Molecular Cuisine Kit (page 77).
Plus, check out our recipes for lezziefriendly amuse-bouches that are as tasty
as they are beautiful, at curvemag.com
Color Me Queer:
The L Word Inspired
Paintings
Out French artist Juliette GeorgesCoppens brings The L Word back to
life with her visually stunning portraits
of some of our favorite Sapphic stars.
Learn more about her muse and
check out a gallery of her artwork at
curvemag.com
New Social
Network Celebrates
Lesbians of Color
Allison Weiss
_}
Talks Sex(uality)
Looking for love, a new friend or just
someone to swap parenting advice
with? Nicole Breedlove takes
us on a tour of Our Sista
Circle, a new social networking site made for
and by lesbians of
color, at curvemag.com
Singer-songwriter Allison Weiss
tells curve about her upcoming album,
I Was An Island, and shares her
coming out story, her two cents
on gender identity and her first
Pride. Get into the head of
this androgynous cutie at
curvemag.com
I
(/)
November 2011
I5
EDITOR'S
NOTE
curve
THE BEST-SELLING
NOVEMBER
2011
LESBIAN
I
MAGAZINE
VOLUME 21 NUMBER 9
MONTH,
I FEEL
A BITLIKE
JUDY
CHICAGO
when she
TIS
was selecting the 39 historic and mythic women for her art
installation The Dinner Party. That subversive and controver~
sial 1970s work depicted a triangular dinner table, beautifully
crafted place settings for feminist icons such as Sappho and
Virginia Woolf and inscribed floor tiles bearing 999 more
names, including lesbians Christina of Sweden, Gertrude
Stein and Radclyffe Hall.
I think of Chicago's inspired work
whenever I think of the kind of list~
making it takes to demonstrate that
there is a lesbian history. The image
of the dinner table and the whole
issue of women's work seem especially
apt this month, considering how many
lesbian and bisexual women are part of
the contemporary culinary movement.
The commercial kitchen has histor~
ically been male~dominated, but this
is changing, especially through the
efforts of such high~profile chefs as
Cat Cora. While Cora used to be the
exception, now there's a huge roster
Room at
the Table
of lesbian chefs on our radar. Bravo's
Top Chefis a welcome laboratory of
lesbian talent, and food reality shows
are all the more satisfying for portray~
ing their subjects actually at work:
We see them lifting heavy pots, slaving over heat, racing the
dock-which
is perhaps why dykes shine as contestants.
November is Thanksgiving, so it also seems fitting that
this issue highlight food and wine. And in giving thanks at
this time of the year, I would like to raise my glass not only to
those famous female chefs who have burst through the glass
ceiling but to all the others whose achievements are as yet
unsung. Thanks for having us at your table.
41/4.
Merry~
Edito:-~/~:
merryn@curvemag.com
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 Victoria A. Brownworth, Gina Daggett,
Sheryl Kay, Stephanie Schroeder
Copy Editor Katherine Wright
Editorial Assistants Rashida Harmon, Emelino Minero,
Rosanna Rios Spicer
OPERATIONS
Director of Operations Laura McConnell
ADVERTISING
National Sales
Rivendell Media (908) 232-2021, info@rivendellmedia.com
East Coast Sales
Kristin R. Thomas (704) 837-9171, kristin@curvemag.com
Janet Weyers (201) 535-3264, janet@curvemag.com
Robin Perron (910) 795-0907, robin@curvemag.com
Midwest & West Coast Sales
Deidre Saddoris (303) 242-5479, deidre@curvemag.com
Business Development
Sallyanne Monti (510) 545-4986, sallyanne@curvemag.com
ART/PRODUCTION
Art Director Stefanie Liang
Production Artist Kelly Nuti
CONTRIBUTING
WRITERS
Kathy Beige, Stacy Bias, Kelsy Chauvin, Lyndsey D'Arcangelo,
Lauren Marie Fleming, Lisa Gunther, Melany Joy Beck, Gillian
Kendall, Charlene Lichtenstein, Karen Loftus, Sassafras Lowrey,
Ariel Messman-Rucker, Constance Parten, Laurie K. Schenden,
Stephanie Schroeder, Lori Selke, Janelle Sorenson, Dave Steinfeld,
Edie Stull, Yana Tallon-Hicks, Jocelyn Voo
CONTRIBUTING
ILLUSTRATORS
& PHOTOGRAPHERS
Erica Beckman, Meagan Cignoli, JD Disalvatore, Sophia Hantzes,
Syd London, Cheryl Mazak, Maggie Parker, Constance Parten,
Leslie Van Stelten, Katherine Streeter, Kina Williams
PO Box 467
New York, NY 10034
Phone (415) 871-0569 Fax (510) 380-7487
Advertising Sales (415) 692-5420
Subscription Inquiries (800) 705-0070 (toll-free in us only)
(818) 286-31 02 (outside US)
Digital Edition Subscriptions zinio.com/digital.curvemag
Advertising Email advertising@curvemag.com
Editorial Email editor@curvemag.com
Letters to the Editor Email letters@curvemag.com
Volume 21 Issue 9 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
for loss or damages. The contents do not necessaraly represent the opinions of the editor,
unless specifically stated. All magazines sent discreetly. Subscription Inquiries: Please write
to Curve, Avalon Media LLC., PO Box 467 New Yori<NY 10034, email crvcs@magserv.com.
Canadian Agreement Number: 40793029. Postmaster:Send Canadianaddresschangesto crvcs@
magserv.com,Curve, PO Box 122, Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6S8. Send U.S. address changesto
crvcs@magserv.com,
Curve, PO Box 17138, N. Hollywood,CA 91615-7138. Printedin the U.S.
curvemag.com
6
I curve
z
w
tr:
cf:
w
u
z
~
(/)
z
0
u
When an unexpected friendship
woman blossoms into love, music therap
Zoe Baxter makes plans to create a family.
But to her shock and rage, some peopleeven those she loves and trusts mostdon't want that to happen.
"Sing You Home deftly personalizes the
political, delivering a larger message
of tolerance."
-Entertainment
Weekly
"Picoult cleverly examines ... what,
exactly, being a family means."
-People
Available now in trade paper and
eBook editions.
Visit www.simonandschuster.com
to order your copy today!
BESTLER
BOOKS
WASHINGTON
SQUAREPRESS
THE#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
JODI
PICOULT
SINGYOU HOME
A NOVEL
"Picoultwriteswith
unassumingbrilliance."
-Stephen King
LETTERS
world these days for lesbians.
-Liz Blakemore, Wellington, N.Z.
TrippingOut
Kia ora, curve! I was so excited by your
travel issue [Vol 21#7]. I am a mature-aged
Kiwi and have been traveling on and off since
the age of 19 and doing it mysel£ more or less,
and hardly ever with lesbian groups or lesbian/
women-only travel outfits. I mostly fly solo or
with a girlfriend so I was impressed by your
travel survey and commitment to wanting to
know more about the future of lesbian travel.
I was also impressed by the breadth of editorial in this issue. Not only was it a great read,
for armchair and hardcore travelers alike, but
it was wonderful to meet lesbians from all
around the world who actually make travel
their business. It's such a different (and better)
Poll
What's the best
first-date venue?
30%
25%
A quietcoffeeshop
23%
22%
A fun,loudbar
I would like to see an article on lesbian motor
home traveling. I have never seen any info on
RVing for lesbian woman. I would love to see
you research parks that are gay friendly or
exclusively gay and lesbian. -Jo Anywaush
Editor's
note:We'll get an article in the works
HowhotisTracyYoung?
I'dsay"VERY
-Shelly Peters
HOT!"
Curve Magazine
helpedmethrough
myteenageyears& growing
upas
a lesbian
& nothavingmanylesbian
& I amso
friends.
Sucha greatmagazine
thankful
thatthismagazine
wascreated.
Everylesbian
should
pickupa copy.
-Angela D Bean
HeGotGame(KyeAllums)
articlewas
deep!Lovedit. -Jessica Griggs
Wooooo
Tabatha
Coffey!
She'shot!
-Laura Ligress
Richardson
I'mquitelesbian,
soI shouldprobably
try& getthismagazine
someday.
-StephanieLorraine
Seymour-Shove
I havebeena curve readerand
You
supporter
sinceit wasDeneuve.
should
absolutely
treatyourself
to a
subscription.
:)-C MistHarman
for you!
I picked up a copy of your magazine for the
first time in years recently, to entertain mysel~
on a long plane ride. I was delighted to see that
you had a small feature about The Flying Biscuit
Cafe in your article "The Savory South;' [Vol.
21#5] which was my favorite restaurant during
the years I lived in Atlanta. But my delight
turned to dismay when I saw that you were
recommending that readers go to the Midtown
location so that they could then visit Outwrite
bookstore. I have nothing against Outwrite,
but I was really disappointed that you didn't
direct readers to the Candler Park location of
the Flying Biscuit instead, so they could then
visit the lesbian-owned and operated Charis
Books & More, just a mile away.
- Kathy Liddle, Toronto, Ontario
Yes,youshould.
It helpedmeoutwhen
I finallycameoutto myFamilyandthe
U.S.Armymanymoons
ago.It'sa great
readStefanie
., -Iman Malone
I'dliketo seesomefeaturesandarticles
gearedtowards
the40+ aboutdealing
withhighschool
andcollegeagedkids;
melding
familiesofschool
agedkids;
wheredoolddykesgoafterdementia?
Hell,wheredoolddykesgoto socialize?
Moreaboutmanaging
relationships.
Getting
dumped
at 40 andstarting
over?
thedeathofa partnerafter20+ years;
healthissuesandjustplainpositive
stuff
aboutus.-Terri Curd
Editor's
Note:Keep
reading
toseethese.
~ Like
Outin nature,like
a parkorthe beach
Somewhere
unexpected,
likehotair balloon
According
to a curvemag.com
poll
s I curve
I had high hopes for the article "Travel is a
Feminist Issue" [Vol. 21#7]. As a 20-something traveler mysel£ I was looking forward
to reading about the issues pertinent to
lesbians who trek the globe. However, I was
dismayed by the gross generalizations and
lack of feminist inquiry. For example, to make
a blanket statement such as "women are not
highly regarded in Mexico;' enforces stereotypes and negates the thousands of Mexican
women who are respected, revered and loved.
Although the violence against women that
Brownworth described is a serious issue, the
article could have been written with more
depth and voiced the actual experiences of
LGBT travelers.
- Lora Liegel, Arcata, Calif.
From Curve's
Facebook Wall
SEND LETTERS TO:
WRITE
TOCURVE!
curve magazine,
POBox467, NewYork,NY10034
EMAIL:letters@curvemag.com
FAX:510.380.7487
GOTO:curvemag.com/letters
• subscribe
• renew
• payyourbill
• get missingissues
• changeaddress
• givea gift
CONTRIBUTORS
Jax Hubbardis a freelance food writer, registered dietitian
and student at The French Culinary Institute. She
comp-leted her undergraduate studies at New York
University, earning a bachelor's degree in nutrition, food
studies and public health. Hubbard attended a dietetic
internship at SUNY at Stony Brook and has been
practicing as a clinical dietitian since 2008. She has been
blogging about food since 2008 and is the founder of
eatinginyourunderwear.com, a resource for food that will
make you feel comfortable enough that you'll eat it in your
underwear, or at least contemplate it. Read her interview
with gourmand Dannie Szabo on page 10.
NatalieBoustead
is a 27 -year-old graduate from the Faculty
of Education at York University. For the past four years
she has been engaged in the urban farming, social justice
and queer community in Toronto. She is co-founder of
The About Face Collective, which is currently working
on a rooftop garden project on the newly acquired Centre
for Social Innovation building at 720 Bathurst. She runs
music and performance events our of her community
home and in various locations throughout the city. Natalie
share's her journey on page 61.
It's difficult to keep freelance writer, blogger and curve
editorial assistant, RosannaRios Spicer,in one place.
Though loyal in spirit to her true home in Fresno, Calif.,
her wanderlust keeps her moving to new cities in search
of vibrant culture, inspiring food and unconventional
experiences. "Variety is the constant" is both her approach
to life and what inspired her to write about the diversity
and fresh taste of raw foods with advice from raw chef
Briana Stockton in this month's Lez Get Raw (page 60).
She is also intensely devoted to confronting the violence
of kyriarchy, digging at her Chicana roots and connecting
with her family. At home she spends her time with her
girlfriend, planning their next move.
JillJaraczis a freelance writer who specializes in exposing the
"fun" in "fun facts:' After a decade as a consumer products
researcher at The Boston Consulting Group, Jill decided
to follow her passion and become a freelance writer. She's
written about everything from diaper rash to Scrabble
for HowStuff\Vorks.com; explored her old home city of
Chicago for Not For Tourists; and has contributed to
McSweeney's Internet Tendency, among other credits.
Originally from Chicago, Jill moved to Boston a little
over a year ago. Read her profile of gourmet marshmallow
makers Alexa Lemley and Samantha Aulick on page 18.
When not writing, she is a non-skating official with the
Boston Derby Dames roller derby league.
KristinSmithis a San Francisco-based writer and editor.
Since her stint as curve's managing editor, Kristin has
been busy writing for various publications, working on
a book about outdoor adventure and traveling the globe.
When she's not playing with words, fixing bikes or
traveling, she's actively pursuing SF's queer arts scene,
like she did for the issue's piece on Michelle Tea (page 74).
(kristinaurorasmith.com)■
November 2011
I9
t) ONCULINARY
APHRODISIACS:
Sometimes food is just as good as sex-sometimes
even better. Any food can turn me on. Something as simple as feeding me is sexy.
Personally, food and sex do the same for my pleasure receptors. The way to my heart
is definitely through my stomach.
t) ONKITCHEN
GENDER
ROLES:
Men have the habit of thinking they're better than us at
0
almost everything except childbirth. They think women should be in the kitchen at
home, not in a professional setting. That's slowly beginning to change, but who knows
how long that will take. I think it's harder for a woman to take control over a kitchen
line; a lead woman in the kitchen needs a little more attitude and strength to get
things done.
t) ONHERFIRSTFOODMEMORY:
I guess it goes back as far as my vacations in Cape Cod,
where my family and I went every summer. My first food "critique" was being able to
identify a good clam chowder. My parents would say that if you can stick a spoon in
and it stays straight up, you know you've got good chowder. That was my test, and to
this day it sticks. The best, by the way, was at Baxter's Boathouse in Hyannis.
t) ONTHEULTIMATE
DINNERPARTY-THEGUESTS
ANDMENU:My parents, since it isn't a party
unless they're there. Anthony Bourdain, my hero. Bob Marley, if I could pick someone
dead. [My] boyfriend/girlfriend-got
to feed the lover. A couple of friends, Bono, then
everyone would get a date. I would keep it simple as far as food goes: Start with an
hors d'oeuvre and cocktail hour, because what's a dinner party without cocktails?
Surf and turf with potatoes and some cool veggie-maybe baby bok choy, I love the
stuff. [Jax Hubbard]
Good Enough to Eat
Sweet, sexy and powerful beauty essentials for luscious lesbians.
FreshFaced
Lush's Dark Angels, Herbalism, Angels on Bare Skin and
Aqua Marina look like tasty little treats-and
they are,
but for your skin. These soothing, all~natural and vegan
facial cleaners will have you bidding your old face wash
adieu. Dark Angels (this editor's personal favorite) is an
exfoliating black sugar scrub that leaves your face feeling
fresh and moisturized. And for those struggling with
problem skin, you can't do better than Herbalism. Infused
with chamomile, it soothes while rosemary, rice vinegar,
nettle and almond combat acne and gently exfoliate. The
result: clear smooth skin. For normal~skin~blessed beauties
just looking to improve their skin's texture, Angels on Bare
Skin features soothing rose, lavender and kaolin, which
leaves the skin bright and smooth. Safe for all types
of complexions, the sushi~reminiscent Aqua Marina
harnesses the calming power of calamine and aloe vera,
making it very sensitive~skin~friendly, while the kaolin
cleanses deeply and even tightens the skin. Try them all
and discover four more reasons to love this openly gay~
friendly brand. ($11 and up, lush.com) [RachelShatto]
»~~?f;.~~.-
colors to match your mood. Radiate that goddess glow
or moonlit nymph sheen with honey, marshmallow or
cocoa flavored dust that will be sure to make her lick her
lips-and
maybe a little more. ($29, urbandecay.com)
[Rosanna
RiosSpicer]
KissableConfection
LickableandLuminous
Next time you want to capture that effervescent glow
of new love or lust, dust on Urban Decay's Sparkling
Lickable body powder. This sparkling powder is more like
a fine shimmer than the clumpy glitter you used in high
school and comes in alluring animal prints and seductive
Coco~Zen is setting a new standard for smooches that
are as edible as they are enviable with their real, organic
and Fair Trade Chocolate Lip Balm made with organic
ingredients like chocolate, coconut creme and olive oil.
Woman owned, Coco~ Zen is a company that special~
izes in chocolate truffles and chocolate body and skin
products. All the chocolates made at Coco~ Zen adhere
to the principle that "all living things are connected;' so
everything from the chocolate in the lip balm to the little
recyclable tin it comes in is produced with peace in mind.
($5, coco~zen.com) [Rosanna
RiosSpicer]
Radiate that goddess glow
with honey, marshmallow or
cocoa flavored dust that will
be sure to make her lick her
lips-and maybe a little more.
November 2011
I 11
Bottoms Up
Three nifty creations for wine lovers.
0
PowerTool
Your Thanksgivingguests' beveragesare
disappearingfaster than happy hour at
your local lesbian bar and you can't refill
glasses fast enough because you're up
to your elbows in turkey and you keep
losing your corkscrew in the kitchen
mess. Now that bottle of champagne
has gone warm and someone wants
a martini, extra dirty. Help! The new
all-in-one gadget, Bartule will have you
shaking cocktails and uncorking wine
like a pro. Bartule is six tools in oneice bucket, bottle opener, corkscrew,
jigger, citrus juicer and ice bucket lid that
doubles as a salt rimmer or champagne
coaster. Bartule,availablein a rainbow of
colors, locks together to become one
dishwasher-safe cocktail kit. So get this
party started, whether your guests like it
@
Pristine Pucker
There'snothingworsethanwooinga specialsomeone
overa few glasses
of superbredwine,onlyto discover,
laterin the ladiesroom,the reason
theycan'ttaketheireyesoff yourmouthis because
yourdazzlingsmile
andkissablelipsarecoatedin unsightlypurplestains.Butdon'tdespair,
Cabernet-loving
Casanovas,
thereis helpat hand:WineWipesandPearly
Wipesarepowerfulpocket-or purse-sized
compactscontaining
20 stainremoving
wipes(anda littlemirror).Madefroma blendof bakingsoda,salt,
hydrogen
peroxide,
calcium,glycerinandorangeblossom,
thesetanninremoving
wetwipespackanacidicaftertaste,
butareaneffectivealternative
to walkingaroundwitha plum-colored
pucker.Bestof all,WineWipesare
nottestedonanimals.Sokeeplookingkissable,evenaftera few glassesof
yourfavoritered.(winewipes.com)
@) Chalk
It Up
Winecharmsarea niceidea-that is,if youcanactuallyremember
thecolor
or shapeof yourindividualbaubleafteryourhostesswiththe mostess
refillsyourglasscountless
timeswhileyou'redeepin conversation
withthe
cutieacrossthetable.Butnomatterhowtipsyyouare,it's unlikelyyou'll
forgetyourownname.Withthe ChalkTalkGlass,writeyournameonyour
glasswithchalk.At the endof the partyyourhostesssimplywipesoff the
chalkboard
andwashesthe glasses.Plus,withthe addedbonusof the glass
actingasa nametag,you'llneednoreminding
aboutwhothathottieacross
[Constance
Parten]
thetableis! (chalkta!kg/ass.com)
shaken, stirred or straight up. (bat1ule.com)
November 2011
I 13
CURVATURES
the rundown
DeniseSteele,a lesbian in Virginia,
has been removed from her position
as a Boy Scout leader for her son's troop after she was outed. Steele
had served as a troop leader for six years during which time the troop
earned several scouting awards. In June, Steele's partner picked her
up from an event. Another parent felt uncomfortable, began bullying
Steele and took the issue directly to the BoyScoutsofAmericawho
demanded Steele step down ... JamesKraigKahlerof Missouri
has been
convicted on one count of capital murder and four individual counts of
first~degree murder for shooting his wife KarenKahler,
her grandmother
and the couple's two teenage daughters. Karen had been having an affair
with another woman and had told James that she wanted a divorce.
Court testimony showed that he was angry at his daughters for siding
with their mother, and at the grandmother who he believed had a duty
to convince his wife to end her lesbian affair and stay in the marriage.
Kahler now faces the death penalty ... NewJerseybridal salon, Here
a lesbian who
Comes
theBride,refused to sell a dress to AlexGenter,
crossed out the word "groom" and replaced it with "partner" on the
purchase paperwork. Genter said that the store manager lectured her
about how "I came from a nice Jewish family, and it was a shame I was
gay:' Since the incident the store has received hundreds of negative
reviews on Yelpand a Facebook
boycott page has been created ... Lady
Gagahas confirmed that she will be appearing in a new episode of The
Simpsons. The plot involves Gaga coming to Springfield to improve the
town's self esteem, including taking Lisa under her wing. Gaga says
that within the episode her character kisses MargeSimpson
... In Aceh,
a province of Indonesia,
a lesbian couple has been forced to annul their
marriage and sign a separation agreement. The couple were legally married
by an Islamic cleric several months ago-with
one of them posing as a
man. Police launched an investigation into the couple after neighbors
reported suspecting they were both women. They are now under
surveillance and living with parents. The local police chief was quoted
as saying that Islamic law, which the province is permitted to enforce,
calls for them to be "beheaded and burned:' [Sassafras
Lowrey]
Are you ready for some fierce competition? Submit a photo of your
ultimate Las Vegas experience to be entered for a chance to win a
Vegas vacation and more. Read more about the contest, then go to
VisitLasVegas.com/fierce for rules and regulations.
NO PURCHASE OR RESERVATIONS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR RECEIVE A PRIZE. Contest ends 5/1/12. Open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the
District of Columbia who are 21 years of age or older. Void where prohibited. See Official Rules at www.VisitLasVegas.com/fierce .
OUTINFRONT
Raising
Awareness
Two lesbians increase LGBT
visibility from the Deep South to
the streets of San Francisco.
By Sheryl Kay
Country Strong
In two short years, TiffaniBishophas become
involved in more causes than most of us join
in a lifetime.
The 30-year-old Texas native and U.S.
Navy veteran has volunteered with Out
Youth, Habitat for Humanity and the
Trans gender Education Network ofTexasall while pursuing a degree in international
relations (with a minor in Spanish) at Texas
State University-San Marcos.
Life changed for Bishop, she says, in 2009
at the National Equality March in Washington
D.C."Standing among 250,000 LGBT people
and allies at our nation's capitol, for the first
time in my life I felt hope, and a flame was lit
inside of me that I still haven't been able to
snuff out;' she says.
Currently, Bishop is the lead coordinator for
GetEQUAL, a national organization that
works to empower LGBT people and their
allies to take bold action and demand legal
and social equality. Her short-term goals
include working to help rural communities
become more visible, to overturn DOMA
and Texas Proposition 2, and to pass marriage equality legislation at the state and
federal levels.
"The work that we do is important because
street-level activism shines a spotlight on
oppression and, in turn, increases awareness
and influences public opinion;' says Bishop.
But in those hidden rural areas she hopes to
make more visible, promoting change often
starts with simple day-to-day interactions.
On one road trip, in a bus plastered with
signs that read "LGBT Civil Rights Now;'
a GetEQUAL group found itself at a gas
station in rural Tennessee. Within minutes
of their arrival, a woman came running up
to the bus and excitedly informed Bishop
that she, too, was a lesbian.
"We exchanged information, and immediately after we left she sent us a picture of her
daughter and told us that she was a victim
of corrective rape;' recalls Bishop. "We are
probably the only LGBT people she has ever
seen in that town:'
Community organizing is more than just
overcoming societal and legal oppression,
says Bishop. It is also about overcoming
internalized oppression and feelings of shame.
"You have a voice;' she says. "Use it:'
Spreading the Word
Whether as a law professor, a published
writer or a public relations strategist, Akilah
Bolden-Monifa
has always served as a voice
for social justice.
Bolden-Monifa began her professional
career by practicing and teaching law.
'J\lthough I loathed law school, as a law
professor at a public interest law school, I
taught and motivated prospective lawyers
to go out and represent underrepresented
communities;' she says.
Bolden-Monifa then took her talents to the
Spin Project, an organization that provides
accessible strategic communications consulting
and training for social justice organizations.
"My greatest contribution was teaching countless nonprofit organizations, and community
activists within those organizations, to stop
preaching to the choir and get their messages
out to the public via mainstream media;'
she says.
A firm believer in being the change you
want to see in the world, Bolden-Monifa
is now the director of communications for
several West Coast TV stations owned and
operated by CBS, where she develops media
strategies, advises and coaches station personnel on media interactions, and oversees
internship programs.
While her career may have made the leap
into the mainstream, Bolden-Monifa is determined to remain unchanged."! am still mewith dreadlocks and a nose ring. And out:'
In one area of her life, Bolden-Monifa
is unequivocally traditional: Her wife and
partner of 16 years, Ruthie Bolden-Monifa,
is a stay-at-home mom who maintains
the daily routines of their two children,
Isabella and Benjamin. "But;' she says, "I try
to take them to school most mornings and
be home to put them to bed and sometimes
do homework:'
Still, there are ways, even in hip San
Francisco, in which Bolden-Monifa stands
out in a crowd. As a lesbian of color, she
faces some unique challenges, she says, noting
that even within the LGBT community
there are some issues of internalized homophobia and racism.
"I am proud to be an out lesbian of African
descent;' she states.'J\lthough the two identities are inextricably intertwined, I have been
mistaken for straight, but never white:•
Homophobia is rampant, she believes,
but issues surrounding racism and classism
have had an even more negative impact on
people's daily lives, in the LGBT community
and beyond, and these need to be addressed
as part as the overall struggle that faces the
marginalized here in America. ■
November 2011
I 17
THETWOOFUS
Alexa & Samantha
Catering queens and the mavens of 240 Sweet artisan marshmallows,
Alexa Lemley and Samantha Aulick share their sweet story. By Jill Jaracz
How they met
Alexa:We met at my family's catering business when I was in eighth
grade. She was a summer worker. When I first met Samantha I
thought she was really cool. She was older. We both loved Ayn
Rand and found Gary Coleman fascinating.
Samantha:
I was 17 and she was 14. On my second day of work [at
Lemley's Catering in Columbus, Ind.], I was told that my main job
duty was to keep Alexa out of trouble. She was quite the handful
for everyone at work-she knew her parents owned the business.
However, she would behave as long as I was with her- I was such
a goody two~shoes back then. Her parents hoped I would rub off
on her. Actually, I credit her with corrupting me and making me
more fun.
"You have to really love each other
to live and work together. There's no
one to come home to and complain
about your other business partner."
-Samantha Aulick
She's the one
Alexa:About six years ago or so I got a hold of Samantha when I
heard she had moved back to Indiana and somehow I conned her
into working with me. Due to my magnetic personality she was
drawn to me like a moth to a flame.
Samantha:During the time that I was away from Columbus,
Alexa and I kept in contact. While she knew we were supposed
to be together, I refused. When I moved home to Indiana from
Maryland, she decided that she had had enough of my crap. She
pretty much told me that I had no choice in the matter- I was her
soul mate and needed to get over it. Turns out, she was right. We
just celebrated our sixth anniversary. I don't know why I resisted.
Advice on working and living together
Alexa:We do tend to bicker a wee bit so it's hard to keep it focused
and constructive but we do our best to not take it personal. We try
to take time for ourselves-although
it's not very often. We also
try to keep working together fun. We laugh a lot and listen. We
don't have a ton of time for hobbies, but we both love roller coasters,
interesting grocery stores, food adventures, wacky roadside attrac~
tions and outsider art.
18
I curve
Samantha:
You have to really love each other to live and work together.
There's no one to come home to and complain about your other
business partner. And you have to trust the other's gut reaction.
Alexa found a recipe for marshmallows online and proclaimed
that we were going to start making them. I thought it was weird
but said OK. About a year later, I had a dream that we were trading
people bags of candy for bags of money. Alexa thought it was a little
strange but said OK. We started selling the marshmallows that
afternoon. Everyone we knew thought both ideas were horrible.
Who wanted flavored marshmallows? Who was going to buy them?
But we knew we had something. (240sweet.com) ■
:·t
'rt
•
•
,
•
'
.' ·naughtynice ••,
L
SCENE
In Vino Veritas Barefoot Wine is an important ally, proudly popping
queer corks from San Francisco to Montreal. By Georgia Krokus
Back in the AIDS crisis-affiicted 1980s, Barefoot Wine
filled the cup for America's LGBT community, making
their first donation to an LGBT charity in 1988 and
shelling out big bucks and support for the next 23
years. During that time, Barefoot has contributed
to more than 200 LGBT non-profits, including the
Matthew Shepard Foundation, Anti-Violence Project,
GLAAD, Golden Gate Business Association, Out on
Film, Gay Days Orlando, PFLAG, Toronto PRIDE
Festival, Inter-PRIDE Associations, the Rainbow
World Fund and many more. The wine company,
based in San Francisco, also donated $500 to every
LGBT community center in California to support
their ongoing efforts to repeal Prop. 8, and celebrated
marriage equality with a larger-than-life inflatable
wedding cake (complete with slide!) located outside
San Francisco's City Hall during 2008 Pride. There
was fun, too, on the East Coast in New York City,
where Barefoot launched its Foot Fetish Lounge to
support the community with events this Pride.
Employing openly gay personnel since 1990, the
latest is energetic "Barefooter" Jerime Black, LGBT
Marketing and Sales Manager. One of his first initiatives was to invite all of California's LGBT Community
Centers to toast the Supreme Court's June 2008 decision to legalize gay marriage. It's that spirit that makes
this fun, affordable wine brand worth raising your glass
to. (gay.barefootwine.com) ■
5='
z
z
:::J
[lJ
>0
:i
<J)
a:
LlJ
('.)
0
0
a:
z
0
~
ct
0
0
<{
z
0
uu::
~
z
<{
~
<{
u
Ji
s
g
20
I curve
LESBOFILE
Budding Romance and Broken Hearts Laurel and Sara are back
on the market, Cher goes mama bear and Chely gets married. By Jocelyn Voo
All the SingleLadies
Ladies, another one joins the free market,
LaurelHolloman,who played bisexual Tina
Kennard
on The L Word, has filed for divorce
from her real,life husband of nine years,
seeking joint,custody of their two children.
Holloman, who's openly bisexual, cites"irrecon,
cilable differences" after a year of separation. A
girl can only hope what that means ...
There must be something in the water in
Tinseltown, because another Hollywood lezzie
long,term relationship is no more: The Talk
host Sara Gilbertand TV producer Allison
Adler have decided to part ways after 10
years. The former couple still share custody of
their two kids, 6,year,old Levi and 4,year,old
Sawyer. The split is reportedly amicable. We
wish them all the best.
MamaKnowsBest
Chaz Bono'sparticipation on
Dancing With the Stars has
caused an online storm, with
many voicing negativity and
protest, including the Media
Research Center, which "seeks to
bring balance to the news media and
prevent liberal bias from undermin,
ing traditional American values:'
Yet in spite of the haters, mama
Cherhas made it quite clear
that if anyone messes with
22
I curve
Chaz, they're messing with her. "Mothers
don't stop Getting angry with stupid bigots
who fk [sic] with their children!" she wrote
on a DWTS message board. And if there
was any question, the Burlesque star sums
it up succinctly with a later tweet: "I think
we can agree that Chaz has the biggest balls of
anyone on DWTS:'
Congratulations-and
brides!
mazel tov-to
the
RealityRomance?
Reality TV star TaylorArmstrongrecently
became the most talked,about Beverly Hills
housewife when her husband committed
suicide mere weeks after she filed for divorce.
However, now The National Enquirer is
WeddingBells
reporting that right after Armstrong submitted
While Kim Kardashian was indulging in an her paperwork, she allegedly indulged in a
oveHhe,top multi,million dollar wedding months,in,the,making flirtation with Orange
slash tabloid media storm, there was a slightly County housewife (and super,hot lesbian)
Rocha.
more down,to,earth pair also tying the knot. Fernanda
who
The flirtation began back in June, when
Country singer ChelyWright,
came out just last year, and the two met at a charity event and reportedly
Lauren
Blitzer,
an LG BT activist, began making eyes at each other. "They were
exchanged vows in front of physically attracted to each other, but Taylor
200 guests at Blitzer aunt's was still working on saving her marriage
estate in Connecticut, where to Russell at the time;' an insider told the
same,sex weddings are legal. Enquirer. ''And Fernanda didn't want any part
In true lesbian fashion, there in breaking up their marriage:' Armstrong
were non,traditional elements went on to file for divorce in mid,July, and a
mixed in with the norm: The mere month later she and Rocha were spotted
brides both donned white making out passionately at another event,
and a rabbi and minister joint,
just a few days before Armstrong's husband
officiated the ceremony, to cater to passed away.
both their religious beliefs. However,
Yes, drama of unparalleled proportions
once a girly,girl, always a girly,girl: (table,flipping, anyone:') on The Real House,
Wright told Peoplethe two decided wives is to be expected. But it looks like the
against wearing veils, lest they drama happening off,camera between cast
mess up their hair.
mates may be even juicier. ■
f
~
~
~
i
:!;:
~
~
B
z
~
ti
~
5
I
~
~
~
(/)
0
>
j
w
CD
~
2
g
<(
6
~
~
~
0
I
~
o
~
2
0
0
She Said
Get In Where You Fit In To make the most of Lady Lovin' 101,
you'll need to choose wisely. By Lipstick and Dipstick
Dear Lipstick and Dipstick: I am a 17-year-old student living in an extremely
conservative town. I'm a junior in high school now and about to embark on
the infamous college search. I need help making sure I find a place that will fit
me. All the obvious factors that kids use to make their choices are online and
in books-like the "academic rigor" of this college or the "extracurriculars"
at that one. What is most important to me is how LGBT-safe certain colleges
are. I want to make sure I'm at a school where I can come out, be out and be
among people like me. I've looked at some all-girls schools. They look awesome, but the first time I mentioned one to my parents (whom I have not come
out to yet), my mom started hammering me with questions about my sexuality.
I've looked at a lot of California schools because I know that people are a lot
more accepting out there. Plus I love the San Francisco and L.A. vibe. But I
know there are other states and cities that are equally LGBT-friendly. I just
don't know how to find them! How can I make sure I'm going to a college that
will be accepting of me?-Baby Dyke in Hiding
Dipstick:Baby Cupcake, we're so glad you're
looking ahead to a time when things will get
better. As long as you don't choose a small,
conservative, religious college, you'll probably be fine. First and foremost, you should
choose a college that offers an academic
program you want to study. I know, I
know-right now all you're thinking about
is Lady Lovin' 101. And that is important.
Going to college is about so much more
than academics. It is about spreading
your legs, I mean wings, and learning
who you really are. Although California
sounds awesome, Massachusetts may be
just your ticket to a top-queer education.
Each year, Princeton Review ranks the top
LGBT-friendly colleges and universities,
and this year eight of the top 20 colleges
are in Massachusetts. The list includes
Emerson College, Wellesley College, the
all-female Smith College and Boston
University. Campus Pride (campus pride.
org) also rates something like 300 schools
for their queer-friendliness.
Lipstick:Beyond Dip's advice, I'd suggest
focusing on coastal schools with Greek
Queer Resource Center
•
ex:
w
:,,:'.
ex:
ct
w
ci
CJ
<(
~
24
I curve
Lipstick & Dipstick ADVICE
systems. The oceans seem to attract
those who are in touch with their sexuality and their brains ( there's often a
connection). Rush a sorority, because
they are always a goldmine of girls.
Some houses, like Kappa Alpha Lambda
and Omicron Epsilon Pi, are actively
recruiting the labia lovers. And that
doesn't mean we're not hiding behind
plenty of other gingham Greek letters. My
first girlfriend was a one of my sorority sisters, and we certainly gave new
meaning to the ritual "secret handshake"
in our house. (Fellow queer Kappa
Kappa Gammas: If you are reading this,
get in touch with me!) While a mainstream sorority might not be quite right
for you-I got lucky with my hookup
despite the fact that the rest of my
sisters were after their MRS degreethe sorority system is a life-changing
experience that will hand you endless
memories and rich, lasting friendships.
Not to mention, it's a hell of a lot of fun.
Whether you go the Greek route or not,
watch out for the LUGs (lesbians until
graduation) around campus. They come
out late at night, wear cheap perfume
and can often be found hammered at
the bar. Another sign: They want to kiss
you in front of frat boys. Beware, LU Gs
will break your heart!
girlswhoonlydabbledin it, as a phase.It's
hasbians.
-Dipping Intothe Dictionary
These are great questions, young
Dipstick:
scholar. I bet they've engendered hours
of debate in your GSA circle. Sex for
queer people isn't as easily defined as it
is for hets. But, personally, I think that's
the beauty of being a lesbian. No one
gets to define you. No one gets to define
"lesbian sex" for you. When she put that
clothespin on your nipple last night, did
that feel like sex? Or when she lay on
top of you in just her bra and panties
and squirmed around for two hoursdoes that count? You decide. And as for
the straight-girl question, that we simply
call dipping into the Rainbow River for
asw1m.
Lipstick:This must be college weeklike on Wheel of Fortune. Dipstick, your
answer is way too safe. I say let's stop
this debate and go ahead and define it.
Lesbian sex: anything kinky that involves
the vajayjay when there is a hot woman
up against to you.
Dipstick:What about nipple tweaking?
Lipstick:Foreplay.
Dipstick:
Toe sucking?
Dipstick:You're right, Lip. I hear that
lesbian sororities are all the rage these
days. In addition to looking for Greek
lesbians, look for schools that have a
strong queer studies (or women's studies)
program, an LGBT resource center, a
Gay-Straight Alliance, and a top-ranked
women's basketball team.
Lipstick:Digit play. As for your other
question, Logophile, you're right-a
hasbian is a former lesbian who has gone
back to the one-eyed willy. But currently,
there is no term for popping your lesbian cherry. Maybe you should come up
with one. To me, losing your virginity is
losing your virginity. You get two shots at
Dear Lipstickand Dipstick:Somefriends it-one with a man, one with a woman.
from my GSAhavebeenwonderingabout Make it count! You don't want to end up
a coupleof thingsfor a while.Thefirst of regretful and alone on Christmas Eve,
whichis, how do you definelesbiansex? holding an empty "Santa's Coming"
I've alwayssaidthat is up to eachperson, condom wrapper. ■
and whateverturnsthem on is what they
consider
sexto be.Thesecondofwhichis,if Tune in to curvemag.com/lipstickanddipstick
a straightgirllosesher"lesbianvirginity"is towatchtheTheLipstick& DipstickShow.
therea namefor it?I knowthere'snamefor Or write to tv@lipstickdipstick.com.
•·
¥J
j
S!GO
C,C)
;!
,..m
m
ADVICE Fitness
Hurts So Good
Learning to love the road to reward.
By Jill Sloane Goldstein
Indulgence is part of life. It's what makes the
dessert menus fun, open bars worthwhile
and the price of dining out, well, simply
digestible. Unfortunately, we also know it
can make our waistlines expandable. But
as long as we have exercise in our lives, we
should have no trouble sustaining or achieving
the figure we want despite the occasional
treat, right? Not necessarily.
Time and time again I see people at the
gym coasting through their routines. They're
on their phones texting, tweeting or perusing
the pages of the latest rag mag while their
bodies move on autopilot. I see nothing wrong
with such distractions; in fact, I occasionally
employ them myself to help pass the time.
What I do advise against, however, is working
out on total cruise control. Exercise that
lacks progression also lacks the maximum
26
I curve
effectiveness in staving off unwanted pounds.
And it certainly doesn't promote significant
change in your body. If you really want to get
the most out of your fitness routine you're
going to have to switch gears, starting with
the way you think about it.
Let's start by recognizing that the act of
exercise alone will not increase your fitness
long~term. The body is an incredible survival
machine, and as such, can adapt to any
stresses placed on it very quickly. It learns
to accommodate the work you're asking it to
do and plateaus, bringing desired reshaping
to a halt. In order for our bodies to really
change we must challenge them. That means
pushing them outside of their comfort zones
to a temporary state of discomfort-where
our heart rates rise and our muscles start to
fatigue. You'll know when you've hit the high
"Ifyou reallywant to
get the most out of
your fitnessroutine
you're goingto have
to switchgears,
startingwith the way
you thinkabout it."
intensity zone when you can no longer carry
on that conversation with your gym buddy.
This kind of interval training is invaluable,
as it is during these arduous moments that
FIT TIPS
More interval routines: Begin
runningat a comfortablepace
(around6 mph).Then every
30 seconds,increaseyour
speed by .5 mph for up to four
minutes.Then decrease your
speed by the same amount
every 30 seconds untilyou are
back at your originalspeed,
and recover.You can amend
the speeds as needed but
do challengeyourselfwhen
buildingto the sprint.You are
probablycapable of more than
you think.
Time flies when you're
having... an interval run:
Breaking your treadmill routine
into brief (five to eight minute)
intervals will make the time
pass very quickly. Your goals
are broken down into short
periods so after completing a
handful of high and low intensity
segments, you'll have busted
through your entire workout.
the body responds and actually transforms.
Another plus: with interval training, the
changes in your body happen faster.
For instance, if you typically run on a
treadmill at 6 mph for 30 minutes, raise the
speed to 8 mph for 30-60 seconds every few
minutes. Then cool down in a recovery period
before repeating the cycle. You can also
remain at 6 mph and raise your incline for
that brief period of time before lowering it
again to recovery. If you're using an elliptical
trainer, vary your resistance significantly
throughout. There are plenty of ways to incor~
porate intervals into your routines. The key
is to remember that performing X over and
over won't continuously garner results as it
may have when you first started working out.
You now must do X, X + 1, X + 2, etc., to keep
the up transformations.
Understanding this principal of change
can be extremely beneficial when we're engaged
in the act of exercise. I'm certain that no
one wants their legs to really burn or their
breathing to get labored. It's tiring, it's uncom~
fortable and quite frankly, it's just plain
difficult. But here's the thing: It's actually
during these taxing moments that the magic
happens! So knowing that your muscles are
transforming and your caloric burn rate is
increasing throughout the high intensity
intervals can really help give you the discipline
to push through.
Remember, quitting is easy. Anyone can
give themselves permission to do it when
things get challenging. But not everyone can
motivate themselves to work through the
struggle. That requires us to train a much
stronger area of the body-the brain. ■
Laying the groundwork:
When running on a treadmill,
try to always set the incline to
a setting of one or two in order
to simulate road. When we run
outside, the ground is never
perfectly flat and try as we
may, we can never change it to
become easier and flatter. So
don't cheat your body out of an
authentic workout when you're
in the gym.
Mind over matter: I can't
stress enough how important
your frame of mind is during
challenging, high intensity
intervals. Give yourself positive
affirmations when it starts to
burn, hurt or tire. Envision the
payoff. You'll be amazed at how
the body cooperates when your
head is in the right space.
November 2011
I 27
LAUGH
TRACK
The Goldman Touch
Fabulous funny lady Julie Goldman gets serious. By Merryn Johns.
Sexy butch comic Julie Goldman of
BigGaySketchShowfame may be single,
but hold your hormones: she isn't
looking. But that doesn't mean you
can't enjoy her in her many hilarious
( and subversive) incarnations. The
Boston-born performer has relocated
to Hollywood where she is making
inroads into the straight, sexist movie
industry and trying to put lesbians on
the non- Real L Word chart. Catch her
live in your neck of the woods, on an
Olivia cruise, in her own web series or
look out for her at your local multiplex (fingers crossed).
Ona lesbiancruisedoyougosingle,solo
orslutty?
I don't have a partner so I'll be going
single. I don't go anywhere slutty. I'm
weird. I'm like Fort Knox.
Sowhatdowe haveto doto breakin?
You have to not talk to me and then
maybe I'll come around.
Sowe won'tseeyouat a speeddating
night?
No, I don't do that but I love watching it. I
like to be on the sidelines and then, you know,
put my toe in the water, see what's going on,
slowly, like a ... what kind of animal?
A sloth?
Yeah. I'm like a sloth. A real handsome sloth.
Just waiting. Especially on those trips I don't
like to mix. The truth is I like to keep a little
professional boundary.
Soyouhavea captive
audience
of1,300seasickor lovesick-lesbians.
Whatareyougoingto do
forthem?
I'm going to put on a great show and hopefully just get those lesbians into a frenzy. I like
to get people worked up in any direction.
Howdoyouplanonworkingthemup?
I don't believe in political correctness. When
lesbians are all together we can be very serious
and righteous and we kind of want to strip
that away a little bit. Were on a cruise, let's
have some fun, we're drinking, just let loose.
2s
I curve
lesbian comedies, where it's just a
sweet romantic, funny, mainstream
lesbian storyline I'm working on a
project and theres no sex in it, and
with things like The Real L Word,
producers feel like the reason people
go see lesbian-oriented stuff is for
the sex. What we're trying to do is
encourage the community to say,
Sex is great, obviously, but we're
more than that.
Nowe'renot!
[Laughs] No we're not.
Kidding!Do we needa lesbianJudd
Apatow?
That's what this is.
It hasdrinking,if notsex?
We have the movie. But I can't tell
you how many times people have
said, "Wheres the sext So now weve
written a gay zombie movie with full
frontal nudity. The fact of the matter
is, we're still under-represented in
the media. My next year is shaping
up to be this idea that with our movies
and with my standup and my whole
ButI readyourWikipediaentryand it's pretty being in Hollywood and auditioning and trying
serious.It says:JulieGoldmanis Jewishand to get into things, that I want more and difan openlesbian.
ferent and varied stories for us. I'm tired of
That is true.
the same old thing all the time.
Howis beinga lesbianandJewishfunny?
TheRealL Word.Loveit orhateit?
The best comedians come from a place of I hate it. I don't begrudge anyone for trying
oppression. So being a woman, Jewish, lesbian, to make a living and I hope all those girls
of course I'm going to be hilarious.Jews have parlay that show into making money and
a great sense of humor. I got a lot of my careers and do something.
I'veneverseensomuchprimetime
scissoring.
humor from my Jewish mother who's loud
[Laughs] That show to me is a slap in the
and annoying and irritated. Jews in general
face. But for whatever reason, the power
are irritated, everything's questioned. That's
brokers can only see us in that light. And I'm
the foundation of Jewish religion, and that's
disappointed. Thanks Ilene. Thanks for that.
the foundation of comedy.
Youhavea few newprojects.
Whatarethey?
Soif youareblacklisted
bytheHollywood
power
I have this web series called In Your Box brokers,
whatwill youdo?
Office.It's a movie review show and then we I will continue doing standup, doing my
re-enact the movie ourselves. We're hoping
movies, trying to change the landscape.
to bring attention to ourselves and the whole That's my goal. I don't want to kick anyone
idea that there needs to be more cinema
out from the dinner table. I just want to add
■
and gay storylines. There are no really good
more seats. (julie-goldman.com)
POLITICS
Women and Hunger
How food can be fatal for females. By Victoria A. Brownworth
We talk about women and food a lot in
America. That discourse is almost wholly
about weight, however, because according
to the American Medical Association and
the National Institutes of Health, two,thirds
of American women are overweight (with
a body mass index above 25) and nearly
one,third of those women are obese (with
a body mass index above 30).
Obesity is also a problem for girls and
teens. According to the American Academy
for Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, as many
as one in 10 American girls suffers from an
eating disorder-bulimia
or anorexia-in
an effort to control her relationship with
food. The American Psychiatric Association
states that eating disorders kill more people
than any other mental illness.
But as perilous as eating disorders are,
the impact of obesity on girls and women
is even greater. Type 2 diabetes, which is
caused for the most part by being over,
weight, has become so common that the
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) asserts
as many as one in four American women
will have the disease by 2020. According to
the American Diabetes Association (ADA),
11 percent of American women over 20 are
now being treated for type 2 diabetes, but
both the ADA and the CDC state that
many more women have the disease-they
are just undiagnosed.
For African American and Latino women,
the risk of developing type 2 diabetes is
even greater; one in four African American
women over 50 currently suffers from the
disease. Obesity also puts women at risk
for a host of other illnesses, including heart
disease-which
kills three times as many
women as any other disease-as
well as
stroke and cancer. Women who are over,
weight are at a much higher risk for heart
attack, and women are more likely to die
from a first heart attack than men. In addi,
tion, they are more likely to have fibroids,
and their mammograms can be more difficult
to read.
30
I curve
As disturbing as these facts are about
women and girls in America, an even more
tragic story involves women and girls world,
wide. The United Nations and UNICEF
cite food insecurity-which includes hunger,
malnutrition and starvation-as
the single
most dangerous issue for women and girls.
Even though women represent more than
50 percent of the global population, they
are 70 percent more likely to suffer from
food insecurity, particularly in Asia, Central
and South America and India.
Because women and girls are second,dass
citizens in the developing world, they are
more likely to be deprived of food when it is
scarce. During the current drought,induced
famines in Somalia and Kenya, for example,
women and girls are dying at a higher rate
than men and boys, according to the United
Nations and Doctors Without Borders.
The United Nations also asserts that
natural disasters impact women and girls
more than men and boys, because when
food is scarce, it is restricted from females
first. And hunger breeds other problems:
UNICEF
reports that malnourished
mothers give birth to underweight babies,
who are 20 percent more likely to die before
the age of 5. Up to 17 million children are
born underweight every year.
The systematic starvation of women
and girls has a long cultural history. In
China and India, the world's two most
populous nations, the practice has become
so extreme over the past decade that many
consider it genocide.
As a result, China and India now have the
most skewed ratios of men to women on
the planet.
The most recent census data in India,
for example, released in April 2011, shows
that for every 1,000 boys under 6, there
are only 914 girls. The Associated Press
reported these census numbers in May,
noting that a decade ago "alarms had
sounded when the ratio was 927 to l,000:'
The AP also noted that in some districts
in India, such as in rural Morena, the
discrepancy is even more harrowing: 825
girls for every 1,000 boys.
After the April 2011 census report,
50 Million Missing, a campaign to stop
genocide against women and girls in India
(50millionmissing.wordpress.com),
began
a petition to stop female starvation. They
described their concerns succinctly, saying
that the census numbers indicate "We
detest daughters! We hate them so much
that we kill them:'
In China, it is even worse: According
to the China Ministry of Civil Affairs, in
2009, the birth ratio due to sex-selection
abortion was 120 boys to 100 girls. A
decade ago, the ratio was 102 boys to 100
girls. Both in China and in India (where
sex-selection abortions are not reported),
more girls die before the age of 6 than almost
anywhere else in the world.
In 1995 and 2001, Human Rights
Watch investigated "dying rooms" in
Chinese orphanages-rooms
where girls
were sequestered to starve to death. The
BBC documentaries The Dying Rooms and
Return to the Dying Rooms detailed these
findings and showed secretly taped scenes
from Chinese orphanages. The documentaries won Peabody and Emmy awards.
But the starvation of girls doesn't have
to be systematized, as it is in India and
China. Throughout the developing world,
hunger isn't covert-it's just a fact.
It's also the case in the developed world.
In America, for example, 36.5 percent
of households headed by single females,
whether these homes have children or not,
are food insecure.
education and income, and participate less
in decision-making, they also have unequal
access to food.
According to Sheeran, however, women
are not merely the victims of hunger. They
are also the most effective solution to combating and preventing hunger, because they
constitute the majority of agricultural
workers and are the foundation of their
countries' food production systems. UNWFP also contends that women are most
likely to guarantee food security for their
households.
Lesbians can help women worldwide
Eventhoughwomen representmore than
50 percentof the globalpopulation,they
are 70 percentmore likelyto sufferfrom
food insecurity,particularlyin Asia,
Centraland South Americaand India.
According to OxfamAmerica, women
produce 70 percent of the food in developing countries, but own just 2 percent of
the land. The UN World Food Program
asserts that in Africa women work 50
percent more hours than men, yet are also
more likely to have their food restricted.
UN-WFP also notes that education for
girls is restricted in the developing world.
Because most school programs provide at
least one meal per day, girls are less likely
to be fed than boys.
Worldwide, for every 100 boys who are
out of school there are 122 girls. In some
countries, the gender gap is larger. For
every 100 boys who are out of school in
Yemen, there are 270 girls; in Iraq, 316
girls; and in India, 426 girls.
That's a lot of girls without education and
without food. But the way to end hunger for
women and girls worldwide may actually be
in the hands of women themselves.
Josette Sheeran, the executive director
of UN-WFP, notes that because women
often have unequal access to resources,
deal with this appalling range of food crises
by combating obesity and eating disorders
in the U.S. and combating hunger in the
developing world.
The UN's Women4Women program, as
well as Freedom from Hunger, UNICEF,
CARE, OxfamAmerica, Feeding America
and Global Giving, all have programs
that address the issue of women and hunger. You can contribute to any of these
programs-or
you can just redirect your
caffe latte and muffin money to your local
food bank.
With Thanksgiving just a few weeks
away, we will all be eating far more than
we need to. Perhaps this year we could
serve our guests the kind of meal most
women and girls get each day-a bowl of
rice or a bowl of corn meal-and contribute
the money we'll save on wine, appetizers,
turkey and dessert to an organization
dedicated to saving the lives of women
and girls.
That would definitely be something to
give thanks for. ■
November 2011
I 31
T
Sherri Murrell calls foul on
homophobia in women's
basketball. By Kathy Beige
IN 2009, when Sherri Murrell, the women's basketball
coach at Portland State, decided to list her partner, Rena
Shuman, in the team's media guide, she knew that she
would be coming out to the world. She was about to be the
first NCAA Division I coach to go public, and it was a big
deal. But she didn't think that three years later, at the start
of the 2011~12 season, she would still be the only one who
had done so.
Surprisingly, despite being the only out lesbian in her
field, Murrell says she has "not had any negative responses"
to her coming out. She likes to tell the story of what
happened recently when a recruit and her mom came to
visit. After they took a campus tour that included a visit
to Murrell's office, where she has photos of her twins on
display, the mom asked Murrell what her husband did for
a living. "I have a partner and she stays home with the
kids;' Murrell responded. "That's great;' was the morn's
reaction.
"It's Portland;' Murrell explains. "Lesbian moms are
about as common as food carts:' But as she well knows, not
every place is as accepting. She gets calls from other coaches
about two or three times a month, asking for advice on how
to handle homophobic situations. Most of these calls come
from the South.
This is hardly shocking when you consider that in women's
basketball negative recruiting still occurs. For those not
familiar with this deeply homophobic tactic, negative
recruiting is a practice in which coaches attempt to scare
potential players away from another school's program by
claiming that the coaches or a significant number of the
players are lesbian. At the highest levels of the game, miss~
ing out on just one talented recruit can have a huge impact
on a team. Even at schools with nondiscrimination policies,
32
I curve
the fear is that if the coach is out, it could affect the team's
ability to win games. And as women's college basketball
becomes more popular with audiences ( today, it gener~
ates more revenue than any other female sport), that fear is
keeping lesbian coaches trapped in the closet.
"Negative recruiting is still rampant in Division I
basketball;' says Pat Griffin, an LGBT sports blogger and
the director of Changing the Game, a sports project of the
Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network."The good news
is that times are slowly changing. There are more and more
parents and athletes who are turned off when a coach tries
to do that:'
Recent PSU graduate Kelli Valentine agrees. Learning
that her coach was a lesbian was a nonissue for her and her
teammates. "I didn't think anything of it;' she says. "We talk
about how Murrell is the only out basketball coach and
how that's so crazy to us. I do have friends on a lot of differ~
ent teams and their coaches are gay and we know they are,
but they won't talk about it;' says Valentine. "They think
Murrell is really cool for actually being open ... and we can
actually talk to her about it:'
People often assume that men's sports are bastions of
homophobia and women's programs are more accepting of
lesbians and bisexual women. But that's not always the case,
says Pat Griffin. "The intensity of homophobia in women's
sports is really strong;' she says, adding, "Women's basket~
ball has been so closeted for so long that I think it's really
hard to break out of that culture. That's another reason
why what Sherri is doing is important:'
But if things are really going to change, more people will
need to overcome their fear of the consequences and just
step out of the closet. And, of course, high~profile collegiate
programs should offer more support at the policy level.
"Our profession needs to wake up. We need to do some
things that penalize negative recruiting," Murrell says. "We
need to make it a nonissue:'
Murrell admits she doesn't want to be known as the
gay coach-she wants to be known as a successful coach.
And for the most part, she is. Under her leadership, PSU
won the Big Sky Championship in 2010 and played in the
NCAA tournament for the first time in school history.
(Murrell herself earned co~Big Sky Coach of the Year
honors in 2011.) Despite her winning record, Murrell says
she's sure there have been attempts at negative recruiting
against her. ''At the same time, you don't want to coach that
kid anyway;' she says. "If they're going to reject me, they're
going to reject someone on the team who's different. I'm
recruiting kids who work together:'
Murrell wishes other lesbian coaches would take heart
from her success. "Those of us who are gay need to come
out;' she says. "We need to show that we're normal. The
more that coaches like me show that we can be successful,
a:
LJ.J
z
zLJ.J
a:
[lJ
zLJ.J
>
LJ.J
to
that you can function and not get fired, that you can run a
program and be good at what you do, the more it's going
to get better:'
Griffin agrees, but also says that sport organizations like
the Women's Basketball Coaches Association should start
sanctioning teams that engage in negative recruiting. "I also
want to hold the feet of straight coaches to the fire on this;'
she says. "I am getting increasingly impatient with straight
coaches who won't speak up on this:' She adds, "It benefits
all of women's basketball to stop being afraid of the stereo~
type of lesbian women in basketball:'
She points out that straight high~profile male players
Steve Nash and Grant Hill have spoken out against
homophobia."You would be hard~pressed to find prominent
women athletes or coaches speaking out in the same way
about LGBT issues;' she says. In the meantime, Murrellwho knows better than anyone that victory is a team
effort-is
standing alone waiting for another coach to
come out and join her team. ■
he nexl evoluHon of bulch slyle. Ry Lan:taya Alesia lloo{aH
34
I
curve
Classic White Shirt and Cowboi
Beau Tie (clockwise from left);
Fly Bai Bomber and Classic
Check Shirt; T.M. in a blue
and white bowtie and Kate
Ross wearing a piece from her
personal collection.
Japper
u s
f
:ic
a:
(.)
0
w
I
~
::::J
(!}
z
i=
Cl)
g_
Cl)
~
[lJ
...J
...J
w
z<(
I
Cl)
6'
I
(.)
<(
~
a:
<(
6
w
0
~
GS
[lJ
November 2011
I 35
preppy attire-making
it well~suited
for fashionable butches.
She'll be lhe one .l.na RoJlJlYpageboy hat overs.l.zed round glasses and
Founded three years ago, the concept
for Distinguished Cravat continues to
br.l.ghdy colored bowHe (her signalure slyle) lak.ing in lhe scenery and lurning
evolve. Every piece is handmade-often
H inlo lhe inspiraHon for D:l.slinguished Cravat a hne of debonair neck. aH:l.re
with rare vintage fabrics, so each piece
dedicaled lo sk.ew:l.nglhe hnes belween queer and slraighl f ashlon.
is unique. Once a secret of the queer
community in Brooklyn, the label has
now crossed over into mainstream fashion. Ross has been
Attempting to label Ross is no easy feat; most might see
her as a soft stud or aggressive femme. This is because she
fielding orders from all over the world and expansion
has a gift for blurring the lines of masculinity by bending the
seems inevitable. "Distinguished Cravat is the future of
traditional ideal of what someone would consider butch.
classic neck attire. We are poised to usher in a new era of
Her personal style is refined, crafted from stylish pieces
fashionable neck apparel and accessories, with the sincere
found in the men's section of vintage clothing stores. And
focus of reshaping people's expectation of quality and
it's this distinct and brazen aesthetic that allows Ross to
service;' says Ross.
skillfully integrate an urban edge into what is customarily
Ross is not a lone LGBT couturier in Brooklyn. On the
ou can oflen ~nd Kale Ross sHHng on a bench .l.na New York. (Hy park..
36
I curve
~
CD
_J
_J
w
z<(
I
(/)
T.M. Robinson wearing
a blue and white bowtie
from the fall collection
(from left); Cravat's
founder Kate Ross;
T.M. Robinson sporting
the Cravat's Caramel Blue;
The Engine Driver Beau
Tie, Classic White Shirt
and Brooklyn Vest bowtie;
Ross and Robinson in
the fall collection ties
f
:ic
a:
(.)
0
w
I
~
::::J
(!}
z
i=
Cl)
g_
Cl)
~
[lJ
...J
...J
w
z<(
I
Cl)
6'
I
(.)
<(
~
a:
<(
6
w
0
~
GS
[lJ
other side of the borough you can find the headquarters
of a new queer clothing line called Marimacho. The
fashion~forward minds behind this brand are Crystal
Gonzalez and Ivette Ale. Just a year out of the gate and
already Marimacho is making waves in the queer fashion
community.
"The definition of Marimacho is a Spanish word that
denotes 'tomboy' but connotes 'dyke: It's a pejorative, and
we find pejoratives to be very powerful words when they
are reclaimed;' explains Ale. "Marimacho not only describes
the type of person we are trying to dress, but also allows
us to unapologetically reclaim a word that has been used
against our community:'
The concept behind Marimacho was developed by
Gonzalez-now
managing director of Marimachostemming from the difficultly she had in finding masculine
clothes that fit her body. "I would wear little boy shirts but
the sleeves would be too short, and even the smallest men's
shirt would be too large;' says Gonzalez.
As a result, the cut of their clothing is a combination
of menswear lines and female proportions, created by taking
classic menswear patterns and reshaping them with narrower
armholes and necklines, shorter sleeve lengths, more bust
room and more hip room. The result: masculine lines and
shapes on bodies that are not proportionally masculine,
which is in keeping with the Marimacho philosophy that
November 2011
I 37
Fly Boi Bomber and Classic
Check Shirt (from left);
The Dandy Beau Tie and
Classic Check Shirt
the cut of the clothing is just as important as the style.
In terms of aesthetic, Marimacho designs are inspired
by early classic to mid~century menswear.
"I think the best way to describe the clothes is dapper;'
says Ale. From the fly boi bomber and Brooklyn blazer, to
the classic button~up shirts and "beau ties;' the entire line
was made specifically for women and transmen. Each gar~
ment or accessory accentuates and shapes the body of the
wearer, giving them a butch edge without being ill~fitting
or disproportional.
Plus, the classic lines and inspiration means that unlike
trendy fad items, each Marimacho article will be with you
for a long time. "We create clothing that you will have in
your closet for years to come and will never go out of fashion;'
says Gonzalez.
38
I curve
The Marimacho brand continues to grow and has now
even branched out to include butch~friendly swimwear.
"Our bathing suits are inspired by 1920s men's beach~
wear-think
Coney Island circa 1929. We also have a
made~to~measure service in the works so keep an eye out
for that;' says Gonzalez.
Both available for purchase online, Distinguished
Cravat and Marimacho are just two fashion~forward
style houses working to promote what weve known all
along: that lesbians do care about fashion. And by cater~
ing to the all~to~frequently overlooked masculine~of~center
women these labels enable butch women to wear clothing
that accentuates their curves without losing the natural
raw edge they already possess. (distinguishedcravat.com,
marimachobk.com)■
w
0
~
><
w
co
November2011139
Ashli Mizell has
a Rairfor haule decor.
Ry Merryn}ohns
o pervasive is the Queer Eye stereotype that
superior tastemakers are called Thom or Carson or Jai
that Philadelphia~based designer Ashli Mizell has often
been accused of being a gay man in a lesbian's body. But
Mizell has a rare talent that defies stereotyping. She's a
dyke with a pragmatic approach to residential design and
an academic background in the glories of art history. She
became an aesthete at the tender age of 6. When the rest of
us were either dressing up our pets or playing doctor with
the cute girl next door, Mizell was "endlessly rearranging
the furniture in my parents' home, editing my closet and
desperately wanting to accessorize everything I could get
my hands on:'
Now, she caters to a wide range of clients-indi~
viduals, couples and families-who
hire her to deliver
their dreams.
In a mass~produced world-and in an economy that has
most of us buying our home furnishings from places like
IKEA- Mizell is a bastion of good taste and originality,
and one of the services she offers is helping you locate your
own sense of taste, so that your own sweet home reflects
your best qualities. "Good taste is the ability to incorporate,
seemingly effortlessly, the elements and items that make us
individuals;' she explains. "Taste is about fearlessly being
yourself and being comfortable in your own skin:' She
believes that it's not about elitism; rather, it's "almost always
a reflection of one's life experiences:'
What's that I hear you say? Your La~Z~ Boy Recliner is
a reflection of your life experiences? Have no fear: Mizell
works hard to include your cherished pieces. "I try to be
40
I
curve
very thorough and ask a lot of questions before any design
is presented, to ensure that there are no surprises or
conflicts about choices in the end ... I enjoy designing
spaces that do not take themselves too seriously and allow
for a little playfulness. My mantra is, it only looks as good
as it feels:'
Judging by the images, you'd think a Mizell makeover
would cost a fortune, right? Not necessarily. But Mizell
does equate quality with value, and uses the best materials
that her clients' budget and lifestyle will allow. "I try to be
generous with a few luxurious materials, and not overrun a
space with stuff. If this comes off looking expensive, I take
that as a compliment. Most people who hire me are pre~
pared to invest in making their homes more comfortable,
or luxurious in some way. But, regardless of their budget
or expectations, in the end my clients understand the value
that comes with quality materials:'
And why should lesbians invest in an interior designer,
rather than trying potluck at Home Depot? "I don't think
lesbians are any different from anyone else in this depart~
ment. Big~boxstores are great resources for building materials
and paint, but unless you want your home to look like
everyone else's, you either need to possess the confidence to
incorporate your own individual style and panache, or hire
a professional. Put it this way: I am capable of driving my
car, but when it needs work, I take it to a good mechanic:'
Considering how much lesbians love to nest, the invest~
ment is well worth it, according to Mizell. "Everyone
deserves to live well and feel inspired by their environment.
I love being part of that process:' (ashlimizell.com) ■
>I
Cl.
<(
a:
CJ
5
I
Cl.
~
z
a:
~
z
0
(/)
~
Jesign
T
IVil
Sexy lesbian
Criminal Minds
star Kirsten
Vangsness
confesses.
By Rachel
Shatto
According to Vangsness, she set out on the road to fabulosity
as a girl so shy and socially awkward that she had given up
on speaking, entirely."I was a very odd-looking kid ... and I
was weird;' jokes Vangsness. "We moved from this small
town to Orange County, and I'd just sort of given up on
interacting with people. Because I was getting beat up, a lot.
So I just stopped talking, and my mom said, 'You can take
shop or you can take acting: I did not want to take shop
class. And I think it was perfect timing. Our first couple of
assignments didn't require speaking, which really worked in
my favor. And I got As. And I had never gotten an A:'
In drama, Vangsness finally found a place where she fit
in. "Theater traditionally is the house of the freaks. And so
I felt that all of a sudden I had a home ... and I realized, like,
Oh! I want to do this and I really don't care ifl ever get paid
for it. So I think that's probably why I didn't get paid for
such a long time. Because I really was just, like, 'Oh I don't
care, I'm just going to live on cat food!'" laughs Vangsness.
While her passion for acting has helped her slowly
come out of her shell, even today the outwardly vivacious
30-something woman struggles with her inner shy girL'Tm
actually naturally shy-which no one believes unless you
know me really well;' she says."I sometimes will have a hard
time ordering, like, food. Or I'll be in a store and I won't get
the thing I want to get because I'm too shy to ask a question. If I have to call a place to ask a question on the phone,
I have to write it down and practice it before I call, because
I would get so horrified:'
However, her time in the limelight has helped Vangsness
shelve her natural tendencies. "It's something about this
job ... It's like people sort of universally celebrate you. You're
like a friend, at home in the world. Wherever you go, people
are always, like, 'It's Garcia!'" she says.
44
I curve
Though finding her calling may have been easy, coming
to the realization that she is gay was trickier. Growing up,
Vangsness felt drawn to women but didn't understand what
those feelings meant. "There were girls in high school that I
could not stop staring at. And I thought I stared at them a
lot because they were just really beautiful or whatever. [And]
I would get jealous. I would go out to a concert or I would
go somewhere and I'd see two girls together- I would get
crazy jealous. I would get mad. It was like some sort of club
that I'm not allowed to be in. I'm not cool enough. I'm not
something. I don't belong there:' She says it wasn't until she
was seated across from television editor Melanie Goldstein
(now her fiancee) at a Hollywood function that it finally
clicked. "I remember when I met her I had a boyfriend.
And I was there at this party. And I'd heard about Melanie
from a friend, who kept saying, 'Oh, you've got to meet
Melanie: And then we shook hands from across the table.
And it wasn't like an J\ha!' moment-it
was more like an
'Oh, shit' moment. That's what went through my head. 'Oh
no. What's going on? Wait a minute:"
While the attraction was mutual and immediate, it
wasn't exactly smooth sailing for the couple. Vangsness first
had to come to terms with these new and powerful feelings.
"It did make me take great pause and look at things. And
I remember I had this day where it was like, OK, let's say
you're allowed to look at anybody you want, all day. You can
sexually objectify anyone in your mind, like how we all do,
just watch who you look at. So, the whole day, I sort of kept
score. And it was like 80 percent girls. And it was surprising.
Every once in a while I'd be, like, I enjoy his forearms. But
it was a different kind of energy than the 'Hello Nurse'
alarm that was going off in my head. It was a different kind
of thing:'
The two dated briefly but, as with so many first romances,
the relationship quickly became embroiled in baby dyke
drama."When you come out, you act like a 12-year-old, you
know? And you don't know you're acting like a 12-year-old.
So everythingjust got crazy for a while;' explains Vangsness.
"It sort of blew up in our faces. I was going out with a guy
and, you can imagine, there's lots of people who have these
stories, of, like, drama on the high seas. It was crazy-big
stuff. So we ended up not getting together:'
Later, however, in an effort to find some closure,
Vangsness sent Goldstein a letter apologizing for all the
madness that had ensued. Ironically, her efforts to say
goodbye rekindled the relationship. "We got engaged right
before Prop. 8 happened ... so we [gave ourselves] a deadline of 2013, whether it's legal or not. I think our families
would be delighted for us to get married, whether it's a legal
piece of paper or not. They'll enjoy the whole pomp and
circumstance of it all:'
While her wedding plans may be spectacular, Vangsness
preferred to take a more low -key approach to
actually coming out. "I didn't know how to tell
anybody-and I never wanted it to be a 'thing:
At work, if someone would ask, or if it got
brought up, [then] I would say something:'
But once things started getting serious with
Goldstein, Vangsness knew it was time to be
unequivocally out of the closet. She had yet to
go public, but she wanted to be sure it wouldn't
trigger a media frenzy. "I purposefully wanted
to come out in a very off-the-cuff way;' she says.
With that in mind, Vangsness and Goldstein
chose the Outfest film festival as their personal
coming-out event. "We're like, 'OK, this is
where we're going to do it. This is perfect.
Because it's Outfest!' We were on the red carpet,
holding hands, the whole thing. Not a single
picture showed up anywhere. Nothing happened.
Nothing. So then I just offhandedly wrote about
it one day [in my blog] and it was like, Oh, she
came out! But I was, like, I've been out!"
Nevertheless, for an actor on a hit series,
coming out was a bold step to take. Originally,
Vangsness had just a small part in the pilot episode of Criminal Minds-a show about a team
of FBI profilers who are called in to deal with the
most violent crimes-but her role quickly grew,
thanks to her on-screen chemistry with co-star
Shemar Moore and the sunny, sassy disposition
that made her character a fan favorite. By season
two, she was a full-time cast member and even
starred simultaneously in the series' short-lived
spin-off, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior. "It's
crazy because I was just a two-line co-star in the
first episode. I got the part in the pilot because
the show was too guy heavy, and it was just
supposed to be this one day of work, that I was
so grateful for. I didn't even know if it was going to air on
television, and now it's on its seventh season, and when I
walk by the shelves at Target, my face is on a box, and that's
crazy;' says Vangsness.
While she may not have been part of the original plan
for the series, she has since become integral to its success.
Vangsness plays Penelope Garcia, the Behavioral Anaylsis
Unit's spunky audiovisual technician. Along with offering
technical support, the bespectacled and brightly accessorized
Garcia is also, in many ways, the voice of the audience. In
a group of highly analytical people, she maintains a level
of empathy and emotion that helps offset the rest of the
colder and more calculating cast.
This time last year, however, things were much darker
for the woman behind Garcia's neon frames and carefully
quaffed hairdo. After fivesuccessful seasons, the powers that
be decided to sever ties with two of the main cast members,
Paget Brewster (Emily Prentiss) and AJ Cook (Jennifer"JJ"
Jareau). No one was more vocally critical about the decision
than Vangsness, who told Screen Rant that it was like "living
in someone's rental and they get to decide who stays and
who goes-and it blows!" However, in a surprising turn
of events, season seven sees the original group get back
together again. Both Brewster and Cook reprise their
roles, and Vangsness couldn't be happier. "This time last
year I was so sad. And I was so, like, profoundly struck
by the cold hard fact that, like, Oh, this is just a job. I
thought that it was something special, but it's just a job.
They'll fire anybody. But now it's all back, like it's the
family. It's so much fun to work like that. We genuinely
all love each other:'
In addition to being the heart of the series, Vangsness'
character is a hero to geeky dykes everywhere. A tech whiz,
Garcia is very fluent in geek culture, dropping references
to everything from online gaming to Battlestar Galacticaand making it look cool and sexy. Vangsness agrees with
November 2011
I 45
Just for Fun
What'syourguiltiest
pleasure?
Nonviolentsci-fi andfantasy... and stickers.But right
now my mostrecentguilty
pleasureis fort building.I
am literallytalking to you
from underneatha blanket
fort that I havemade,and
there's something-I don't
know-it's delightful,it's
romantic.I highlyrecommendit.
Whowouldplayyouin a
film aboutyourlife?
Sir Ian McKellen!
Whatwas yourcraziest
interactionwith a fan?
Wewere in Texas... in this
Mexicanrestaurantin the
middleof nowhere.The
peoplein this restaurant
look like they could be
out of a Steinbecknovel.
Everyone'sall dustyand
like they'veall workedall
day.Weare sitting at this
table andthere was this
family acrossthe way and
there was this girl and
she was about12.And
46
I curve
the showwas on [in the
restaurant]and I'm on the
television.She'slooking
at the TV,she's lookingat
me.Andyou see her face,
like,"Oh my,that's you."
And it's not, like, excited,
it's like she caughtme.
Thenher motherseesher
lookingat me and is, like,
"Knockit off, don't be so
rudeto that girl you're
staringat." Thegirl tells
her mom,"That'sthe girl
on the television,"andthe
momwill not believeher
becauseeverytime she
points,I'm no longeron the
screen.I wantedto be like,
"No, it's me!" But I didn't.
Yourfirst kiss,was it
memorableor a mess?
My first kiss with a girl
was a mess,becauseit
was a straight girl. And
straight girls... just let
you do all the work. I was
really upsetwith it. I was,
like, "This is the worst."
Andthen when I kisseda
girl who liked kissinggirls,
that was somethingelse.
the premise. 'Tm a big fan of this whole movement of, like,
the smart girls with glasses who happen to love science and
math and computers and all of that are OK. You can be
smart and you can still have sexuality. Sexuality does not
mean that you've unplugged your brain from your vagina.
She is so comfortable with herself, and you know she's
totally crazy-smart:'
Of course, it never hurts to have a fearless wardrobe. While
the rest of the cast is suited up in conservative, work-appropriate attire, Garcia is bold. Sporting bright colors, patterns,
crazy up-dos and daring accessories, and showing a whole
lot of cleavage, Garcia is as eye-catching as she is saucy-a
characteristic she shares with Vangsness. "Garcia's a fashion
risk-taker-she's more fearless than I am. And I think people
think that I'm super-duper fearless, that I just don't even
care, that I just get up and I just want to be crazy. Sometimes,
when I walk out of the door I'm a little nervous about [my
outfit], but I do it anyway because it's my way. You want to
dress like me, you get a pair of scissors, you get a T-shirt, you
cut the neck off, you find a ribbon on the ground, you tie one
side of it to your shirt-like, that's how I dress. You find shit
and you put it on your body. You're a little nervous for about
15 minutes and then someone sees you and they say,'That's
cute: And then you're fine;' laughs Vangsness.
This quirky approach to style started early. "I had a big
fur coat with a pimp daddy collar, in the first grade, and I
would wear it every day, and I thought it made me brave;' says
Vangsness. "I sort of had a tumultuous childhood back then,
so I kept it on a hanger out in the chicken coops. And I would
get ready for school and I would put my magic coat on and
venture out into the world. Not knowing that when you wear
a coat that's been sitting in the chicken coop all night, you
will get beat up because a) you wear your coat in the middle
of July, b) it's a giant fur coat, and c) it smells like a chicken
coop;' laughs Vangsness. "It builds character:'
The girl who went from chicken coop-fouled finery to television stardom isn't finished spreading her creative wings yet.
In addition to CriminalMinds, she is a member of Theatre of
Note, a small ensemble group based in L.A. Most excitingly,
she has been in production on a new film. "My creative baby
that I'm doing right now is called Kill Me, Deadly.. .it's kind of
like a film noir spoof;' says Vangsness. "We are doing it completely with the aesthetics we have at the theater, which is ... a
very DIY aesthetic. It's more like, 'We're doing this and you
can't stop us and we are making it all ourselves: So I've been
executive producing it and we are on the hunt for investors.
It takes place in 1947 and I play the lead, the noir character. I
think it's going to be the next YoungFrankenstein:'
To go from being a girl too shy to speak, to the star of
a hit TV show, Vangsness has had to overcome obstacles
and survive personal struggles-and
has found success by
embracing herself, living her truth and daring to follow
her passion. In doing so, she has become an inspiration to
dykes, weirdos and aspiring actors everywhere-and
did we
mention she's hot? ■
The beloved lesbian musician
is back, with a little help
from fans and friends.
co ·e
s by Joseph Anthony Baker
atie Curtis is one of those people who
manages to inhabit two worlds that seem to be mutually
exclusive. Not only is she an Ivy League New Englander
whose songs have been featured on such mainstream TV
shows as Greys Anatomy and Dawsons Creek; who has
performed at the White House; and who is married with
two kids-but, she is also an out lesbian and a political
activist; her spouse happens to be a woman; and her two
daughters, Lucy and Celia, are Asian adoptees. Admirably,
Curtis has never chosen one world over another. If any~
thing, she's got one foot planted in each-yet, somehow,
both feet get great traction.
When Curtis last released new material-2008's Sweet
Life-George W. Bush was still in office. We were heading
into a recession, and gay marriage was still illegal in New
York state. At the time, Curtis said that the worse things
got in the world, the happier her music was going to be;
indeed, one of the best songs on SweetLife is called"Happy:'
So, how does she feel now that Bush is gone?"To be invited
to the White House [as] an out lesbian-that
speaks
really highly of the Obama administration;' she says."! feel
48
I curve
like we're in a different place than we were when Sweet Life
came out. [With my new] record, I didn't feel a need to lift
up everybody's spirits. As difficult as things are, they're not
quite as bad now:'
That new record, which was released at the end of
August, is called Stretch Limousine on Fire. Despite the
rock 'n' roll~sounding title, this is singer~songwriter fare:
mellow, personal and universal. It's also concise; the 10
songs run just over half an hour.
The album's origins, according to Curtis, are very L.A.: "I
was driving to a gig in Los Angeles;' she explains. "Picture
me sitting in traffic and not really looking forward to doing
the schmooze thing, and, literally, I see a stretch limousine
that's on fire on the side of the highway! I thought, Wow.
Everybody has bad days! As soon as I saw [the burning
limousine], I started singing it:'
Stretch Limousine leads off with the beautiful "Let It
Last;' on which Curtis is joined by her good friend Mary
Chapin Carpenter. "Let It Last" finds Curtis meditating on
life's simple pleasures-drinking
lemonade on a sunny day,
visiting her parents. She sings, "They still have boxes of my
stuff:/ When I go there, I say I'm going home:'"It's about
a:
w
~
-0::
CD
>z
0
I
1-
z
-0::
I
0..
w
(/)
Q
how fast life goes by;' she explains. "It's sort oflike a prayer,
or a pleading, to just enjoy the preciousness of life a little
bit more:'
Another song on the album is titled simply "I Do" and
is followed by "Wedding Band:' It's no coincidence that
the two are placed one after the other. "One of my biggest
priorities, as an artist and as a public person, is to talk
about gay marriage;' says Curtis. "I put those songs backto-back because one song is about the importance of taking
that leap, emotionally and legally. And then the next song,
'Wedding Band; is a little more of a humorous look at the
day-to-day stuff that makes your marriage a struggle. I
think those things are very much related. As soon as we
talk about gay marriage, inevitably there's talk about gay
divorce. We're human:'
Curtis isn't kidding about gay marriage being a priority
to her. She and her partner were married in Massachusetts,
where she's been based for years. But that's only part of the
equation. Last year, Curtis became an ordained minister in
the Unitarian Universalist Church-and
since that time,
she's been officiating at same-sex marriages hersel£ "I feel
like [my song] 'Magnolia Street' has been used in half of
the lesbian weddings I've heard of;' she says with a laugh.
'Tm often asked to sing at them. So at one particular wedding
I was singing at, I saw the officiant stumbling through and
I thought, I can do a better job than that! So it's been a really
cool, sort of natural extension of what I've done over the
years as a musician, to actually stand up with women and
help them make that commitment to each other. I feel like
I get to be part of people's life stories in a really special way.
It's kind oflike this long-term relationship that I have with
the LGBT community:'
She recently officiated at a wedding where she really
was part of the couple's life story. "Back in 1999, I played
a benefit concert. They got this radio host from the major
pop station in Portland, Maine, to host the concert. Her
name's Lori Voornas. She had a ticket winner who didn't
show up, who was supposed to meet me. So she randomly
went out in the crowd and found this very outgoing fan
and said, 'You have to pretend you're the ticket winner, and
you have to come meet Catie Curtis: Well, she and that
woman really connected that night. Eleven years later, they
both worked a benefit concert I was doing again in Maine
[and met for] the second time. And two weeks ago, I
married them!"
Whether it's through her marriages or her music, Curtis
has been there for her fans. Now they are there for her.
"There's [only] so much a record company can do these
days;' she acknowledges. "There's a small group [of fans]
who have become part of my inner circle and helped to
make this new CD possible. One of them is a Harvard
Business School professor. One does media relations for
a Fortune 100 company. One of them owns a really wellknown graphic arts company. These women have come
into my professional life and have joined forces to help me
forge ahead in the music business:'
"I didn't go to business school or anything;' adds Curtis
(who did attend Brown University). And she was not too
proud to accept help when it came to producing her eagerly
awaited 11th studio album. "So it's been really important
to have folks who are very protective and supportive of me
lending their assistance to keep my business vital. I feel like
this is a really special group. There's something about it
that feels like something lesbians would do for each other.
And as a recipient of this, it's been really cool. It's really
different from an old boys' network because it's people
offering to help:'
That a select and dedicated group of fans-successful
businesswomen who have fallen in love with her lyrics and
emotionally charged music-guided
Curtis in rebranding
and repositioning herself with her next album and then
secured the funding to make that album a reality is a true
lesbian sucess story. And it seems only fitting that after
devoting 25 years to her career in music, and after standing up for her fans by officiating at lesbian weddings and
commitment ceremonies, Curtis now finds that her fans
are standing up for her. (catiecurtis.com)■
November 2011
I 49
dinner at
tiffani's
0
~
a:
Ill
in
w
1-
z
~
a:
w
()
w
z
w
a:
TIFFANIFAISON
IS BESTKNOWN
as a first-season cast member on Bravo's
The former Top Chef contestant
Top Chef,where, although she was runner-up, her talent was abundantly
is about to take on her biggest
clear, making her an obvious choice to compete in Bravo's Top Chef
challenge yet-her own
All-Stars, where the ginger-haired chefbian charmed us all over again
restaurant. BYCONSTANCE
PARTEN
with her genuine, down-to-earth attitude. But even before she experienced her 15 minutes of TV fame, Faison had already caught the eye
of super-chefs Todd English and Daniel Boulud, working for each of
them in separate ventures, as well as in restaurants from Nantucket to
New Orleans. She'd even enjoyed a stint as personal chef to Hollywood
A-listers Will and Jada Smith. But now the gorgeous out lesbian is taking Youhavemorepatiencewith peoplenow?
It's not like I've gone from being really tough
her talent and putting it into her own venture: a Texas-style barbecue
restaurant in Boston called Sweet Cheeks, which will feature responsibly and defensive to being Buddha. That's not
sourced meats and locally grown produce for those sweet Southern
the case. [Laughs] If you choose to be lazy or
ignore what I've told you-that's
when the
sides like collard greens and black-eyed peas. We caught up with Faison
patience ends.
as she was busy working 16-hour days to launch the restaurant-and
Yougrew up in a militaryhousehold.
Didthat
making plans to marry her girlfriend, fellow foodie Kelly Walsh.
helpyouin the kitchen?
It mustbetoughworkinglonghourswhenyou'rein a relationship.
Howdo To be honest, my family was not the typical
youdo it?
sort who translated that at home into a rigid
I happen to be engaged to the most amazing person on Earth, who is structure. It wasn't like,"You need hotel corners
also professionally trained-she went to culinary school, so she completely on your bed and everybody needs to be done
gets it. She's more on the business-finance side of things now.
with chores by 8:30 on Saturday morning:'
Is shehelpingoutwithSweetCheeks?
If anything, I tend to butt heads with strucShe helps out with keeping my head straight. She's the best taste tester
ture. But how it has helped me is the ability
ever, she has an incredible palate. But in order to keep our lives healthy
to adapt-by constantly moving, from being
and functional, at this point we separate what we do.
in the South to living in Oklahoma, walking
Howdidyoumeet?
into different rooms with different mores
We actually met at a food and wine benefit in 2007. I was living in New
and cultural ideas, and every time being able
Orleans and she was living here [in Boston]. I come back for this event to sum it up, understand it quickly, command
every year ... it's a great way to catch up with friends as well. And she was whatever adaptation skills you have and move
forward. That's the best gift it has given me.
with a group of friends, hanging out at an after party.
Loveat firstsight?
It seemslikeyou'vemovedaroundquitea bit in
It was for me. I had to chase her a little bit. She had to settle in to the yourcareeras well.
[Laughs] I'm done.
idea of just me.
Youhadto proveyouwereworthy.
You'rereadyto settle,getmarried?
Something like that. I had to knock her upside the head with a frying Yes! It all came in one big heap-trying
to
open a restaurant, get married, stay here. And
pan. [Laughs]
Youhavea reputation
for beingtoughanda lotof chefsthinkit's important that became a conscious choice. I had to do a
to betoughin the kitchen.Why?
lot of work to be able to do that. When you
I think toughness is a relative term, and it's evolved for me over the span grow up and there's something in the back of
of my career and my life. It meant something early on, when I felt like I your head that says,"In three years you're going
had to protect and hold my ground at every turn, and I've gone through
to be gone:' When it came time to really settle
that and proven myself in a lot of ways. It's certainly not over-in terms
down, it was, and continues to be, something
of proving myself, I think I have to do it every day. But I've learned that's
that I have to check every so often. It got to a
point in my career where I was wondering if I
not what toughness really is for, in terms of the longevity and maturity
was making the choice to leave so I could learn
of my career. Toughness means setting exacting standards and making
sure people understand what they are, and teaching and mentoring to something in a different area-or just leaving
to leave. It comes down to getting a little bit
those standards and always maintaining them. It doesn't mean a constant
rabid defense of everything. And a lot of it is just growing up and seeing older and wanting to put down roots and build
what can come when you're more of a teacher and a mentor and less of something, but it's taken a lot to keep me rooted
and understand what that means.
a sword wielder.
November 2011
I 51
Youwereat thefrontof the realityTVculinaryphenomenon.
Whatdoyou
StuffingCroquettes
seeastheimpactof TVfameontheindustry
today?
A
playfulspinon traditional
I definitely see [that] coming out of culinary school. .. no one wants to
turkey
stuffing,
do the work. There's definitely a generation who think that if they're
not head chef or owner very early on, they don't see the benefit of
Ingredients
climbing the ladder and really doing the work to understand what this
8 cups(1 loaf)1-inchbreadcubes,
is. Certainly we're not brain surgeons, but this is an industry that has
white or sourdough
a lot of technical aspects to it. You learn so much by being in it day
4 tbsp (1/2 stick) butter,unsalted
in, day out. And the repetition of doing the same thing over and over
1 cup medium-dicedyellowonion
is as important as just learning the skill itsel£ To me, it's the same as
1 cup medium-dicedcelery(2 stalks)
someone coming out of med school and wanting their own practice.
2 tbsp freshlychoppedparsley
1 tbsp freshlychoppedsage
Why wouldn't you want to spend the time doing this procedure over
1 tbsp koshersalt
and over, till you know it like it's in your bones? That understanding
1 tsp freshlygroundblackpepper
of what it means to be a good cook is in danger of being lost, largely
1/2 lb spicyItaliansausage,crumbled
because of this proliferation of TV shows.
1/4 cup chickenstock
It's fameoverfood.
2
eggsplus4 eggs
Yeah. It's a bubble and, as with any bubble, at some point they're going
1/2 cupflour
to have to reconcile that.
1/2 cup seasonedbreadcrumbs
Let'smoveonto therealityof thekitchen.What'syourworstinjury?
4 tbsp blendoil
I was opening a restaurant in Florida for Todd English and someone
had filled an entire frying pan with oil. I asked him to move it away,
Directions
because I could see that the pan
In a largesautepan,meltthe butter
was smoking, and he was so ner~
andaddthe onions,celery,apples,
vous that he bumped into me and
parsley,salt andpepper.Sauteover
mediumheatfor 1Ominutes,until the
the entire pan of grease went over
vegetablesaresoftened.Addto the
my hand and melted my fingers
breadcubes.
together on my left hand. I kept
my hand in ice to get through the
Cookthe sausageovermediumheat
rest of the night, had six tequila
for about1Ominutes,until cooked
shots too many, then ended up in
through,makingsurethe sausage
the hospital at four o'clock in the
is crumbled.Addto the breadcubes
morning. But I can run and jump
andvegetables.
Addchickenstock
and do cartwheels like all the other
andeggsandmix until completely
kids now.
combined.Refrigeratemix until
What'sthe worstthingyou'veever
completelycooled.
beencalledin thekitchen?
Oncecooledform smallballsof
Slow. [Laughs]
stuffingandflattenslightly.Onceall
The worstthingyou'veever called
stuffingis formedinto balls,dust in
anyone?
flour,
coatwith eggwashandfinish
I don't go at people personally. I go
coating
with breadcrumbs.
at what they're doing. There's times when I've said, "This is the worst
fucking piece of shit bass I've ever seen in my life:' But I don't call them
In a largesautepan,overmedium
a piece of shit. But I've gone at the thing pretty hard.
heat,heatoil until it just startsto
If youcould,wouldyouundoanythingin yourcareer?
simmer.Placecroquettesinto oil and
I wouldn't. I think everything has really led me to here. Even the biggest
fry until goldenbrown,turningto cook
mistakes I've made have taught me incredible lessons that would've
thoroughly.
taken me a long time to learn in other ways.
WhatareyoumakingforThanksgiving?
Removeandseasonwith salt and
It's probably going to be, whatever we're serving at Sweet Cheeks we'll
pepper.(sweetcheeksq.com)
take home, make a sandwich out of
and watch football.
For Tiffani Faison's holiday recipes "Mom's Broccoli
Crackopena beer,putyourfeetup?
Cheese" and "01' Brussel Salad" visit curvemag.com
Exactly. ■
52
I curve
chefbians you
need to sample
We asked you on Facebook to tell us who your all-time-favorite lesbian chefs
are-not just the ones on TV but those whdve made you food for real. Here
they are, in alphabetical order, and the restaurants where you'll find them.
zw
a:
::J
~
0
~
a:
Cl)
u5
w
I-
z
~
a:
Zoi Antonitsas
Lynn Crawford
Christine Keff
Deborah Scott
Madison Park
Conservatory
(Seattle)
Ruby Eats
(Toronto)
Flying Fish
(Seattle)
Indigo Grill
(SanDiego)
Traci Desjardins
Jamie Lauren
Lisa Smith
Lina Biancamano
Jardiniere
(SanFrancisco)
Absinthe Bar
& Brasserie
(SanFrancisco)
Big Fatty's
(Knoxville,
Tenn.)
w
()
w
z
w
a:
z<i:
~
i:i:
a:
formerly of Stephan
Pyles Restaurant
(Dallas)
w
Elizabeth Falkner
z
Jennifer Biesty
Orson, Citizen Cake
(SanFrancisco)
I
Scala's Bistro
(SanFrancisco)
Tiffani Faison
Debra Desaulniers
Sweet Cheeks
(Boston)
6
(f)
w
0..
w
I-
(f)
z
i=
(f)
~
ft
w
z
~
_J
The View at CK's
(Tampa,Fla.)
~
>z
w
~
z
<i:
8:
w
Donnell Collins
Leunig's
(Burlington,
Vt)
52
z
<i:
a:
Cat Cora
i5
d,
Kouzzina
(Disney'sBoardwalk,
Fla.);
CCQ
(SouthCoastPlazaMacy's,
CostaMesa,Calif.)
Cora's Kitchen
(SanFrancisco)
LL
0
0
g
Cl)
w
::J
a:
I-
w
~
~
Ann Leon
Leon Bistro
(Chico,Calif.)
Josie SmithMalave
formerly of
Norwood
(NewYork)
Anita Lo
Annissa
(NewYork)
Susan Feniger
Border Grill,
(SantaMonica,Calif.,and
LasVegas)
Christine Manfield
Jennifer James
Ashley Merriman
JJ01
(Albuquerque,
N.M.)
Butter
(NewYork)
Gabrielle Hamilton
Tamara Murphy
Prune
(NewYork)
Brasa
(Seattle)
Universal
(Sydney)
RitaSodi
I Sodi
(NewYork)
Marcie Turney
Barbuzzo,
Bindi, Lolita
(Philadelphia)
justdesserts
Pastrychef LinaBiancamano
flips a tuile to showus her
SHATTO
sweet side.BYRACHEL
SEASON
TWOOF BRAVO'S
hit cooking com~
petition Top Chef: Just Desserts introduced
audiences to its newest-and
possibly
sweetest-chefbian,
Lina Biancamano. An
Arizonan who studied at Le Cordon Bleu
in Scottsdale, chef Biancamano has a talent
for creating cakes and speaking her mind.
Despite being asked to "pack her tools and
go" far too soon, we know we haven't seen the
last of this saucy pastry provocateur.
Whatledyouto auditionfor TopChef:JustDesserts?
I'm very competitive. I also like the whole allure of TV and cooking
combined, and ... I said if they ever come up with a dessert show, I'm
going to go for it.
Whichof yourculinaryskillsdoyouwishwe'dseenmoreof ontheshow?
I definitely wanted to show more of my plated desserts. I'm also very, very
fluent in cake creating and have a lot of original ideas that I don't think a
lot of people have seen before.
Canyoutell usabouthowyoubecamea pastrychef?
I've always loved cooking since I was a little girl, probably as long as I
could step on a step stool and stand at the counter with my mom. My
parents were both immigrants from Italy, so cooking has always been an
integral part of my growing up.
I've worked in the restaurant business now for about 21 years, and I
was actually working front of the house as a server and realized that I
loved the industry ... so I went to culinary school and really was interested
more in pastry, just because it is a lot more artistic.
Doyouhavea signature
dish?
I do. I love fennel. I love it raw in salads and I also really love it cooked.
When you cook it, the anise flavor is a lot milder and very sweet. And so
I thought about it and I knew dark chocolate went really well and so did
orange. So my favorite dessert-which
is one that I created-is a dark
chocolate flourless torte, and I do a roasted fennel ice cream, and then a
tuile on top of that with toasted fennel and then candied kumquats and
basil syrup. It's a really lovely dessert, very colorful and delicious.
Doyouhavea foodphilosophy?
Yes. People love dessert. It makes them happy and they want to eat a
dessert that brings them back to their childhood, or makes them nostalgic.
So I, personally, like to take dessert or dessert flavors-different flavors
that we remember-and
make them as delicious as they can be, with a
modern twist.
Haveyoueverhadanydifficulties
beingoutin theculinaryindustry?
I haven't, and I feel blessed for that too. I know that there are a lot of
industries where it's not comfortable being who you are, or being out. I
definitely feel blessed that I have never had to hide mysel£ or be someone
that I'm not.
Ona date,wouldyourathercook,orgetoutofthekitchen
andgoouttodinner?
On my first date, I cook. (Laughs] Then the person I'm dating can take
me out to dinner.
If theydon'tlikeyourfoodisthata dealbreaker?
That's never happened. (Laughs]
I hearyoudreamof havingyourowncookingshow.
That's always something that I've wanted to do. I think there are a lot
of fun and good TV shows on, but ... I think a lot of people really want
to learn technique.They want to learn the basics and I'm a very good
teacher.
DoyouhaveanyspecialThanksgiving
traditions?
Oh yes, I always cook a huge feast on Thanksgiving. On the table, there's
barely room for anybody's plates. [Laughs] I try to always make a nice
soup, like an autumn~y kind of squash~type soup, and then of course just
the traditional trimmings.
I go kind of crazy with pies, of course. I make all my own fillings and
crusts, but I always have to make at least three pies, and I always make at
least something fun that if people don't like pie they like to eat. Last year, I
made chocolate eclairs, which was a big hit. Everybody was fighting-we
had to put a count on how many people got. [Laughs]
Whatisyourfavoritecomfortfood?
It's a little something my mother used to make me when I was a little
child. It's called pastina, and it's basicallyjust extremely teeny little noodles
that look like couscous.
She used to cook it in a little bit of chicken stock with a little bit of olive
oil and a little pat of butter. Then right at the end, when it was almost
finished, she would just scramble two eggs and then put them in and then
stir them around, so it was almost like an egg drop soup. So if I'm ever
feeling under the weather, or if it's raining outside and it's cold, it's an
inexpensive, quick, easy thing to make.
Then of course you cannot go wrong with a good chocolate cookie. I've
actually timed myself and I can make a batch from scratch in eight minutes.
Of course I was, like, running around,
but I wanted to see how fast I could
do it. I'm a total dork. [Laughs]
What'snextforyou?
Well, I took a little hiatus, just
for a couple of weeks. Like
I said, I would love to
one day have my own
cooking show. That's
my ultimate dream, but
in the meantime it wouldn't
be a bad idea for me to try to
get back into school and go
back for maybe a bachelor's
degree.
I'm ready to go on any gay
cruises, too! I had someone
tell me, "I hope you're ready
to get asked on all these gay
cruises:' [Laughs] ■
SweetPotatoCoke RollwithMoscorpone Cream Cheese Filling
Thisis a rich,moistanddeliciouscakethat is perfectfor the holidayseason-and it's easyto make
Measureout 1 cup.Setaside.Preheat
ovento 375degrees.Linea greased
10x5" bakingpan(cookiesheet)with
parchmentpaper.Greaseparchment
paper,set aside.In a bowl,sift together
flour,spicesandsalt andset aside.
In the bowl of a mixerfitted with the
whisk attachment,beateggsandyolk
on highspeedfor three minutes.Lower
speedto mediumandslowlyaddsugar.
Mixfor 30 seconds,turn mixeroff and
adddry ingredients.Continuemixing
on mediumlow speedbeinguntiljust
Fillingingredients
5 oz.creamcheese,roomtemperature barelycombined.Pullthe bowloff the
5 1/2 oz.mascarpone
cheese
mixerandwith a rubberspatula,fold
in the pureedsweetpotatoesuntil
4 1/2 tbsp.unsaltedbutter,room
combined.Workquicklybut gently.
temperature
Spreadthe batteras evenlyas possible
11/4 cupsconfectioners
sugar,sifted
intothe preparedcookiesheetpan.
1 1/2 tsp.vanillaextract
Sprinklepecansevenlyoverbatter.
1/8 tsp. seasalt
Placein ovenandbakefor approximately10 minutesor until whenlightly
Directionsfor the cake
touchedin center,the cakesprings
Peelthe sweetpotatoes,dicethem
into 1" cubesandplacein a saucepan. back.Allowto coolfor five minutes.
Sift 1/3 cup confectionerssugaron top
Coverwith coldwaterandboil until
a fork insertedin oneof the cubes
of cakeandplacea cleantea towel on
goesin andout easily.Straininto a
top. Placeanotherbakingsheeton top
colanderandpureein a foodprocessor of tea towel andflip pansover.Remove
or food mill until completelypureed.
panfrom cakeandcarefullypeeloff
Cakeingredients
4 largeeggsplus1 yolk
1 1/2 cupsgranulatedsugar
1 extralargesweetpotatoor two small
11/4 cupsself-risingflour
11/2 tsp. groundcinnamon
1 tsp. groundgingerpowder
1/2tsp.freshlygroundnutmeg
1/2 tsp. seasalt
1 cupchoppedpecans
2/3 cupconfectioners
sugar
parchmentpaper.Sift remaining1/3
confectionerssugaroverthis sideof
cakeandroll cakewith towel into a log
lengthwise,so that you havea longroll.
Let cakecoolon a wire rack.
Directionsfor the filling
In a mixerfitted with the paddle
attachment,mixthe creamcheeseand
mascarpone
on mediumlow speed
untilthoroughlycombined.Scrapebowl
with rubberspatulaif needed.Donot
overmix,or mascarpone
couldcurdle.
Addbutterandmix untiljust combined.
Addsiftedconfectioners
sugarandmix
beingsureto scrapehalfwaythrough
beforeit's completelycombined.Add
the vanillaandsalt.
Assemblethe cake
Whencakeis completelycool,carefully
unrolllog andspreadthe filling evenly
overthe cake.Rerollcakein the same
directionyouunrolledit, withoutthe
towel,astightlyas youcan.Placethe
cakeon a platter,seamsidedownand
refrigeratefor at leasttwo hoursbefore
slicing.Toserve,dustwith powdered
sugarandtoastedchoppedpecans.
November 2011
I 55
good to the lastdrop
For over 30 years Margaret
Davenport has been making
memorable wines.
BYMERRYN
JOHNS
AT64 YEARS
OFAGE,Margaret Davenport is a
success story for several reasons: She shines
in an industry that is still male-dominated,
she is out and proud and, as the long-term
winemaker at Clos du Bois Winery, she
helped to put Sonoma County on every wine
connoisseur's map. She officially retired from
Clos du Bois at age 55-but then launched
what is basically a second illustrious career.
Now, the master winemaker consults for
Passalacqua Winery and oversees wine-making
operations at Davenport and Company,
her own label, and very much a family
affair-where she produces Pinot Noir and
Zinfandel with her partner, Kristen Johnson
and their daughter.
56
I curve
Whendidyourwinecareerbegin?
I've been making wine since 1980, when I applied for and got a harvest
job at Simi Winery in Healdsburg. The winemaker was evaluating a new
press for white wines and needed a technician to work with the press
operator at night. Juice samples were taken during the press cycle and
analyzed for total phenolic content-mainly color, bitterness and astringency-as the press goes gradually from low to higher pressures. Having
a degree in biochemistry [magna cum laude] and research experience in
my background (UCSF Medical Center], I was hired. After two weeks,
the night shift ended, thankfully, and I helped out in the lab, doing routine
analyses and record keeping for the winemakers and the chief enologist.
Whatattractedyouto winemakingas a profession?
Although I'd lived in Sonoma County for two years, I'd avoided winery
work because I knew I would be destined to spend my time in a lab. Lab
classes were great fun in college, but the routine of full-time lab work
simply did not interest me. I'd always liked wine and enjoyed it with my
family while I was growing up. I wanted to be creative in my life's work,
and I loved everything about the wine industry at that time: The people
who did the work, from the lab tech and the winemaker to the cellar
workers; the equipment, all of which was undergoing radical modernization; research about grapes and wine; the collegial relations between
winemakers; the use of oak in wine making. The entire experience was
new and exciting, and it has been a perfect fit for me. That initial experience
at Simi sent me off to UC Davis a year later to enter the graduate
program in food science, specializing in enology. I finished my course
work in 1983, got my first job making sparkling wine and was granted an
MS degree in food science in 1985.
Whatdoyouloveaboutthearea?
My partner Kristen Johnson [who is a phy-
Whattrainingorexperience
didyouacquireto reachyourlevelofexpertise? sician] and I designed and built a house on
Academic training for wine making is a good first step-and
a degree
from UC Davis conferred membership to the"fraternity"-it
certainly
helped at a time when there were very few women winemakers. But
one does not learn wine making at school but by wine making with an
experienced winemaker. We get one chance per year to do this-two
chances if you can travel to the Southern Hemisphere-so
it does take
time. Every harvest season, every grape-growing season, therefore, is
unique. This is the challenge for each winemaker. I could write a book
about this.
the property first for our little family. Our
daughter, Sofie, was 3 when the house was
finished and we left our little bungalow in
Healdsburg for the wilds of Rockpile. We're
only 30 minutes from town, but sometimes
it feels like Wild Kingdom out in the rolling
hills and the mixed oak and madrone forest.
We regularly see deer, fox, raccoon, wild
turkeys and eagles-and occasionally rattleYouconsult
asa winemaker
forPassalacqua
Winery.
Whatvarietals
haveyou snakes, porcupine, black bear and mountain
developed
forthem?
lions! Our 92-acre ranch is at 1,200 feet
Most of my consulting involves Bordeaux varietals like Cabernet
elevation and has a view of Lake Sonoma.
Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. For the Passalacqua
We love the beauty and the isolation, and
Winery, Dry Creek Cabernet is a focus. I also make Dry Creek barrellong to work less in town and spend more
fermented Chardonnay and several different single-vineyard Zinfandels
time at the ranch when Sofie goes off to
and a Primitivo.
university in a few years.
Whatadvicewouldyougivelesbians
considering
For Davenport Wines, I began in 2003 making Russian River Pinot
a careerchange
towinemaking?
Noir and planted Zinfandel and Syrah on my Rockpile property. DavenFor career changers I have one basic sugport Wines, in addition to Pinot, now also has Zin from Rockpile-first
vintage, 2009. I also make a bit of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc in gestion: Try it first. This applies to just
about everything in life, come to think of it!
some vintages.
Youowna vineyard
inthemountains
oftheRockpile
AVA,inSonoma
County. (davenportwines.com)■
One does notlearn
winemakingat school
but by winemaking
withan experienced
winemaker.
We get
one chanceper year
to do this...so it does
take time.Everyharvest
season,every grapegrowingseason,
therefore,isunique.
Emailinfo@davenportwines.com
to arrangepurchaseandshipping,and
to receiveinformation
aboutwine-tastingtoursin the DryCreekValleyand
MargaretDavenport's
ownrecommendations
for restaurantsin the area.
WinemakerNicoleAbiouness
sharesher intoxicatinglove
JOHNS
story. BYMERRYN
SPOILER
ALERT:Nicole Abiouness is not a
lesbian but she is Lebanese-and a feminist in
what is still a sexist field, which makes her a role
model for female winemakers everywhere.
The winemaker and yogini ( she dove into
yoga as a balance for the intense work of
winemaking) originally moved from Virginia
to California to pursue her passion for food
and wine. While in culinary school she took
wine courses and while on a visit to a winery
she decided to take the experience offered
to her, "scrubbing tanks and shoveling stems
and being outside sampling in the morning
and drinking the wine at night:' When she
traveled to Australia and France she learned
even more, "in the cellar, mucking around,
which isn't so glamorous, but then you have
that finished product at night you can enjoy,
which is just so wonderful:'
Abiouness always saw through the romantic
ss I curve
•
romancing
the grape
veneer of wine to the hard work beneath but while her love for the
process and the industry endured, she still didn't know if she wanted
to make her own. "I just knew I liked being in the cellar, the physical
work, and the transformation from the grapes to the bottle of wine:'
When she returned from France, she decided to buy her own fruit and
make her own batch. "I was making other people's batches, why not
make my own?"
Even though winemaking is now very much a business for Abiouness,
she has not forgotten the romance she felt as a culinary student; the
magical pull toward the wonderful world of wine. Her own label, which
bears her name also bears a lotus flower as its logo, as if to signify the
balance between the muck that begins the process and the purity that
finishes it.
As a woman Abiouness has had to find her own balance; she's tough
enough to weather the hard knocks, which she has experienced in
California (one guy just didn't feel it was a woman's place to be in the
tank, shoveling. "Why, I'm not strong enough?" she muses). In France
she encountered even more primitive forms of sexism driven by super~
stitions about women being in the tank "at that time of month:' But in
spite of these cultural obstacles (as if nature and climate change weren't
enough to contend with) she believes some
amazing women have triumphed as wine~
makers-"it's
just taken us a while to be
recognized:'
So onto wine in everyday life. What would
she serve with Thanksgiving dinner:' "I say
Pinot Noir, because that's what I make but
it's also just perfect with all the fall flavors,
especially turkey. A Cabernet or big wines
overpower the delicate meat:'
And if she could take one bottle of wine
to a desert island:' "That's a hard question!
On a desert island I imagine I'd be really hot
so I'd pick a white, like a Gruner Veltliner or
a Torrontes-some
fun white varietal:'
But her enduring love is "probably a Burg~
undy, which I just love:' But if she had to
pick one wine to name as the best she has
ever put to her lips, it's like asking a mom to
choose her favorite child. "Oh my goodness,
that's a hard one. I don't think I can answer.
It's all about who you're having it with,
what you're having. It's about the moment:'
(abiounesswines.com) ■
motor
city
breadwinner
•
IN 1997 ANNPERRAULT
and her then,partner Jackie Victor opened an
organic bakery in the economically stricken Cass Corridor district of
Detroit, Mich. Fourteen years later, Avalon International Breads-and
the neighborhood it calls home-are thriving.
When first bought an unfinished Detroit storefront in 1997 with
the intention of opening up a bakery, the property was, to say the least,
quite a fixer upper. The future site of Avalon International Breads lacked
lighting and working plumbing-not
to mention the fact that its location
in Cass Corridor, a blighted neighborhood in the city's Midtown area,
might have deterred less optimistic business owners.
But with a lot of hard work-and
a lot of organic flour-Perrault
and Victor have managed to turn Avalon into a veritable Midtown
institution. The bakery currently sees more than 1,000 customers each
day, with people braving long lines just to buy Avalon's signature loaves,
like their Pontchartrain Pumpernickel, Motown Multigrain and even
their healthy version of Wonder bread.
The philosophy that fuels the company is just as wholesome as the
food it sells. Perrault and Victor opened Avalon using the Buddhist
"right livelihood" business model,
which emphasizes supporting com,
munity, earth,friendly practices and a
fierce dedication to employees.
From the get go, Perrault and Victor
have offered fair wages, benefits and
health insurance to Avalon employees.
Many of these employees are Cass
Corridor residents, which reflects the
pair's efforts to integrate Avalon into a
struggling neighborhood without alien,
ating or excluding any of the locals.
Thanks in part to Avalon's presence,
Cass Corridor has begun to flourish
in the last 14 years. Streets once lined
Lesbian-ownedbakery AvalonBreads
usesbaked goods and Buddhist
teachingsto help revive a struggling
Detroit community.BY RASHIDA
HARMON
with abandoned buildings are now home to
independent bookstores, boutiques and salons.
With public and private enterprises working
together to make the Midtown area more
livable-and profitable-it
seems thanks to
Perrault's efforts Cass Corridor is one area
on the brink of a much,needed develop,
mental renaissance.
Since 1997, Avalon has undergone some
changes of its own: in 2008 the bakery relo,
cated to a spacious new site around the corner,
and expanded their menu to include pastries
(many of which are vegan), artisanal coffee
and seasonal dishes-all made using organic,
local and sustainable ingredients whenever
possible. Though the couple has parted ways,
Avalon International Breads continues to pros,
per as the only bakery in Southeast Michigan
to use 100 percent organic flour.
Plus, with many of their products now
available at grocery stores and restaurants
throughout Michigan, ladies across the Great
Lakes State can savor the sweet taste of the
bakery's success. (avalonbreads.net)■
November 2011
I 59
farm
fatales
lez get raw
Chef and fitnesstrainer,Briana
Stockton,talks raw foods.
BYROSANNA
RIOSSPICER
Healthino Bite
Kale& LemonSandwiches
ByAnnEsselstynin the documentary
Planeat
For eight
simple ways
to eat your
way to health
and help the
planet visit
curvemag.com
60
I curve
RAWFOOD
ANDRAINBOWS
have a lot more in common
than you think. Ever considered going raw but feared
the diet would be too daunting or dull? According to
Briana Stockton, lesbian raw food chef and personal
fitness trainer, eating vegetables and fruits that reflect
all the colors of the rainbow is the key to keeping your
raw diet enticing, fresh and full of flavor.
Aside from adding more color and flavor to your
meal, a raw diet is shown to have possible health
benefits for you. While there are some conflicting
studies, most nutrition experts agree that cooking food kills nutrients
and enzymes that are good for your body. For super fit personal
trainer Stockton, going raw is all about "how our bodies are designed
to digest that food, use it for fuel and get rid of rather than store for
fat. It's good for the skin, the body and the soul:'
In a society where fast and fried triumph over fresh nearly every
time we stroll down a city street, a girl might wonder, what does a
raw foodist eat? The answer is pretty simple and doesn't have to be
boring. When it comes to raw food you don't have to rely only on the
bland crunch of celery sticks or a handful of tasteless trail mix. How
about red cabbage "chips" with a cashew "cheese" sauce blended with
fresh herbs and spices to stand in for the healthiest and possibly tastiest
nachos you've ever had? That's just one of the raw food dishes that
Stockton likes to snack on. Variety is the constant in a raw diet'you've
got to experiment. Get a vegetable or fruit that's different and try to
eat something that's different every daY:'
You don't have to be a chef to prepare scrumptious raw cuisine.
"It's all about getting knowledge and then practicing. After that, it's so
simple;' says Stockton. An essential tool for the raw kitchen is a good
blender because "it's a raw foodist's stove:'
Don't be discouraged if you feel it's too late to start a raw diet with
the holidays just a few cold fronts away. Holidays can prove to be a
difficult occasion to stick to any healthy eating regimen. Be part of
the solution and bring a raw dish to introduce at the next holiday
office party or family gathering. Stockton suggests raw mashed potatoes,
a simple mixed green salad or even marinated mushrooms for an
earthier flavor.
Too busy to cook for yourself? Keep your eye out for Stockton's
next project: A raw vegan bar and lounge in San Francisco. Where
she will be serving up some ravenous raw concoctions. ■
Ingredients
4 sliceswholegrainbread
1 bunchof kale,choppedin bitesizedpieces
(removethick stem)or 4 cupsSwisschard
hummus(with lemonandgarlicthenadding
to tastecumin,vinegar,red pepper,parsleyor
cilantroin placeof the tahini)
greenonions,chopped
1/2 bunchcilantroor parsley,chopped
1/2 to onelemon,very,verythinlysliced
andthe endssqueezedandzested
1 largetomato,slicedin 4 thick slices
(optional)
1.Toastbreadwell untilalmostcracker-like.
2. Putkalein a potwith 3-4 inchesof water
in the bottom.Bringto boil,coverandcook
untiltender,3-5 minutes.Checkfrequently.
Kaleis goodwhencookedspinach-like.
3. Spreadtoastthicklywith hummus,sprinkle
greenonionson hummus,pilecilantroontop
of the greenonionsthenplacea few thinly
slicedlemonspiecesonthe cilantro.
4. Whenkaleis tender,drainwell. Shakethe
strainerso all wateris gone,sprinklekalein
the strainerwith lemonzestandremaining
lemonjuice.Lotsof lemonmakesthis good!
5. Puta big handfulof lemon-filledkaleon
top of eachpieceof bread.Optional:
Topwith
a tomatoslice.
farm
fatales
the
ueer
u ban
farmer
I ASKMYSELF
WHY-despite the fact that I live in a country that supports
homosexuality-"queers"
are still not recognized as sometimes being
different from the characters you see on The L Word and Will and Grace:
obsessed with their posh careers, their fancy houses, their stylish clothes
and their freer-than-thou sexual encounters. Why is it that in popular
culture queers are so consistently portrayed as urbanites?
In North America, queers have found their place in cities more than
anywhere else because cities fostered the first queer-friendly communities.
In times when it wasn't OK to be gay anywhere else, the city provided
a safe haven where queers began to build their place in the world. Just
as other immigrants did, queers flocked to the places where there were
other people like them; they came from small towns and suburbs to be
in a community where they were accepted and understood. The city also
offered anonymity. You could thankfully be swallowed up in the hustle
and bustle, unnoticed or noticed as you chose.
A history of expulsion from small towns, from rural life, from places
of intolerance and isolation, has led queers to be part of a thriving urban
culture that shines in all its diverse glory. But what about queers like me?
I want a big open field, a plot of land to put my hands in, a horizon, a
steady pace, a place where everybody knows my name. But I also want
to be supported by a thriving queer community. I want to be proud and
accepted in my identity. I want to dance on a Friday night surrounded by
good-looking women (who could be into me)! Can I have my queer cake
and eat it too?
Well, for now, this queer has found a happy medium by being part of
the urban farming movement. I currently work as a community garden
coordinator for an organization called PACT, in its Grow to Learn
program. In three years, PACT has managed to create six substantial
community gardens on high school properties, mostly in "at-risk" neighborhoods on the outskirts of downtown Toronto, making PACT one
of the largest urban agriculture organizations in the city. After
spending the day working with my teenage urban farmers and delivering
Theslow,queer journey back
to nature. BYNATALIE
BOUSTEAD
our produce to the Daily Bread Food Bank,
I get to shed my dirty overalls for some highwaisted jean shorts and dance the night away
at The Henhouse or Holy Oak. For me, this
perfectly balances my desire for community,
arts and culture with my desire to live off the
land, be self-sufficient and stay in contact
with nature.
The urban farming movement is a very
important stepping-stone, not just for society
in general, but for people like me, who wish to
live a nonurban lifestyle but feel drawn to the
city to find the love and support that might
not otherwise be abundantly available.
As queer-friendly attitudes continue to
emerge, it is my hope that people like me will
no longer have to leave small towns and farms
and suburbs to find acceptance and community.
Although so many of us certainly feel "free" in
the city,until that freedom fully extends beyond
the borders of the city center, there is still much
work to be done. Until then, you can catch me
turning heads in my farm gear, content that,
queer or not, being an "urbanite" these days can
mean being a farmer like me. (pactprogram.ca/
pact/PACTGrow2Learn.html)■
November 2011
I 61
Canadian lesbians show their
Pride (clockwise from bottom
left), a view of the city at night
and Clafouti's sweet treats
62
I curve
EXPLORE
LOVELY,
LESBIAN-CENTRIC
TORONTO.
CANADA!
Ranked No. 4 this year in the Economist's
survey of the most livable cities in the world,
Toronto, the provincial capital of Ontario and
the largest city in Canada, offers globe-trotting
lesbians a whole lot to love.
The city's inhabitants are laid-back- not
uncaring or uninterested, just extremely mellow. They never appear to be in a hurry, and
drivers even have the patience to stop for
scofflaw pedestrians who cross the streets
willy-nilly.
Our first night there, my girlfriend and I went
with some friends to the opening of a new
performance piece at Buddies in Bad Times,
world's oldest and largest queer theater
(buddiesinbadtimes.com). Then we sauntered
over to Church Street to see the action.
WHERE THE GIRLS ARE
The lesbian scene in Toronto is more elusive than the
gay male scene, with producers throwing lesbian parties
at straight clubs and dykes organizing large community
events such as the Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film and
Video Festival (insideout.ca). Some younger dykes were
on staff at the Canadian Lesbian & Gay Archives, and
gave us a tour that made for an enlightening glimpse into
the queer history of our neighbor to the north (clga.ca).
The 519, Toronto's queer community center, is a home
away from home for locals and visitors alike, with two
comfortable lounges on the first floor. The space includes
a restaurant, too ( the519.org).
Just across Church Street from The 519 is Slacks, the
only lesbian bar and restaurant in town. Owner Karen
Halliday runs the place full~time with her partner, Michele
Hammerton. For us, Slacks had absolutely no competition
as far as watering holes were concerned, although queer
women also like to hang out at the Beaver (beavertoronto.ca)
and the Hen House (henhousetoronto.com).
But to Halliday, the issue of competition arises only
when she raises the subject of lesbians spending their
money outside the community. She'd like to see more of
their support. "If we closed our doors tomorrow there
would be a huge outcry, and from women who have never
been here, or haven't been for years;' she says. FYI: Slacks
is not a grungy establishment. It's an attractive, upscale
space for women and their friends to have a drink, eat
good food and enjoy great music from local faves such as
Melissa Ferrick and Hunter Valentine (slacks.ca).
WHERE TO STAY
After a burger stuffed with brie and olives at Slacks, my
gal and I headed back to our own home away from home
for the long weekend-a comfy corner room with a lively
painted ceiling at the Gladstone Hotel. Owner~developer
Christina Zeidler calls the Gladstone, with its 37 artist~
designed rooms, a unique, rather than boutique, hotel.
Zeidler, a lesbian, is an international film
BY STEPHANIE SCHROEDER
and video artist whose interest and invest~
ment in art even extends to finding work
for artists and paying them a living wage. When the hotel
was restored and renovated in 2004, she employed local
architects, artists and artisans. Now, she recruits local
residents, including artists, to staff the joint, and hosts
an array of art, music and political events. Rooms start at
$195 (gladstonehotel.com).
A funky hotspot, the Gladstone has public spaces on
November 2011
I63
every floor and the walls are lined with modern art. The
hotel boasts a cafe, the small art bar and the main bar,
where karaoke is a hit on weekends. There is also a ballroom, where a wedding took place during our stay. It's
legal for lesbians to marry in Canada. The guidelines
only require that you apply for a marriage license and
proffer an officiant and two witnesses. There are no
residency or citizenship requirements. There is, however,
a residency requirement if you want to get a divorce.
OUT AND ABOUT
HOWTOGETTHERE
PorterAirlinesgetsyouto
Toronto
in aboutan hourand
a halffromNewarkandalso
fliesfromBoston
andChicago
MidwayAirport.Porterlands
on"theisland,"
Toronto
Island
Airport,
officially
knownas
BillyBishop
Toronto
CityAirport.
You'llneedto taketheferry
acrossthe400-footwestern
channel,
or hopa shuttlebusto
downtown
thentakea taxito
yourdestination.
Porteroften
hasdiscounts
ranging
from
30 to 60 percent,
soplanahead.
(flyporter.com)
64
I curve
On Queen Street West, a line of lovely storefronts
house vintage and designer boutiques, contemporary
and antique furniture shops, cafes, restaurants and art
galleries. A friendly local tour guide, Betty Ann Jordan,
provides insight into Toronto's Art and Design District.
If you go, be sure to take
Jordan's free first-Saturday
ON QUEENSTREETWEST,A
walking tour of the area
LINEOF LOVELYSTOREFRONTS
(artinsite.com).
HOUSEVINTAGEAND DESIGNER
The Katharine Mulherin
BOUTIQUESI CONTEMPORARY
Gallery ( she also has a galAND ANTIQUEFURNITURE
lery, Mulherin Pollard, in
SHOPS,CAFES, RESTAURANTS
New York City) was a fantasAND ART GALLERIES.
tic contemporary art space
showing the best local,
national and international modern artists (katharinemulherin.com). One clothier caught my eye-Magpie
Designs. The storefront is filled with Mad Max-meetsPhantom of the Opera stylings-very dramatic. The
two designer-owners, Cathy McDayter and Angela
Mann, have their atelier in the back.
Caju, a Brazilian restaurant with a casual upscale
atmosphere, serves excellent fare at reasonable prices
(caju.ca). Clafouti, a petite patisserie, serves French
treats that are perfect for brunch or a picnic. To describe
the heavenly clafouti itself as egg custard with seasoned
fruit is akin to describing a Bugatti Royale as a chassis
HOWTOGETAROUND
with four wheels.
Justabouteverywhere
wewanted
King Street West is trendier than bohemian Queen
togowasinwalking-ortrolley
Street.
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)
car-distancefromtheGladstone.
has grown from a 10-day event to a year-round operaCheckwiththeToronto
Transit
tion. In addition to showing Inside Out, TIFF screens
Commission
aboutpublic
transit,
new and classic films, hosts a children's film festival
byfarthebestwayto getaround.
Thetrolleys,
busesandsubway
and maintains a reference library. You can find its new
areveryuser-friendly.
(ttc.ca)
home, the TIFF Bell Lightbox, at the corner of King
andJohn (tiff.net).
WHENTOGO
I got an unexpected panorama of Toronto from
Before
yougo,checkwithTourism
Broadview Avenue while perched on a bench in front
Toronto
tofindoutaboutseasonal
of the Rooster Coffee House (roostercoffeehouse.com),
happenings-events,
festivals,
across from Riverdale Park. With the breathtaking sight
sports,
theatre-andtogetthe
of lush greenery all around me, I sipped an espresso
bestpackage
dealsandspecial
alongside my companion, Carlos Rios from All About
offers.(seetorontonow.com)
Toronto Tours (allabouttoronto.com).
He was our
guide to this magical spot in a most livable city. ■
TuneintoTaiwan's
queersceneat
fridae.asia
andutopia-asia.com.
Bothsitespostinfoaboutqueer
Asia(thelattersiteevenhasa
programmed
Google
mapshowing
allthepoints
ofinterest).
or a small country, Taiwan
has a lot going on. The mountainous oval
island sits 100 miles southeast of mainland
China, and measures just 250 by 90 miles.
But from its capital city of Taipei, home to
the world's second-tallest skyscraper, Taipei
101, it's easy to see how this diminutive island
holds a prime spot in the global economy.
Here, high fashion and high finance blend
with a rich aboriginal culture whose traditions are very much alive and still inform this
dynamic world travel destination.
Culture shock can surprise a first~time visitor to Taiwan.
Day one may have you gasping over how commonplace it
is to see people wearing medical face masks here, as you
dash across an intersection before 100 motor scooters run
you down on your way to a packed noodle shop for some
beef~tendon soup-they
say eating collagen is amazing
for the skin. (Be sure to hit up Lao~Zhang Beef Noodle
Shop for the absolute best in town.)
66
I curve
The culinary heritage of Taiwan relies on stronger
flavors and more exotic fish and meat dishes than you're
used to in the West. But don't let that discourage you from
stepping out of your comfort zone, because, as cliched as it
sounds, many of those exotic dishes taste way better than
they look.
Such a different culture can be overwhelming, but
within a day or two what at first feels daunting will soon
become familiar, as if the country's energy has seeped into
you like a strong cup of Assam tea.
Taipei City stands at the northern end of this lush
green island. Home to 2.6 million people, the capital city
feels exceptionally organized. If you happen to be visiting
from New York, there is one thing that will really rock
your world: immaculate, air~conditioned subway stations.
Yes, it makes sense to keep the subways cool, especially in
such a humid climate, where summer temperatures regu~
larly exceed 100 degrees. Yet, if you're used to a dingy,
hot American subway system, Taipei's metro, or MRT,
feels more like an engineering miracle, enhanced by
being affordable, spatially logical, wired with cellular and
Internet access and, amazingly, accessorized with potted
plants that go unsullied by the masses.
In other words, parts of Taipei can feel like you've DJs. Karaoke is a staple of the gay nightlife scene in Taipei
walked into the City of the Future. Or at least the movie
and beyond, but ask around for where the best spots are.
set for it.
There are sure to be lots of them.
For the lesbian traveler, Taipei gets spicier with the
No trip to Taipei would be complete without dumpabundance of highly visible "tomboys" and their girllings, and there's only one place that will make you forget
friends. Not only do they seem to be everywhere-they
about every other dumpling you've ever had in your whole
are the city's eye candy. But locals will admit that lesbians
life: Din Tai Fung (dintaifung.com.tw). These incredibly
and gays still haven't achieved full acceptance, just as you
light, succulent steamed dumplings, soup-filled or stuffed
might expect in a place where traditional family life is the
with crab, mushrooms or truffies and pork, have made
most important ingredient in the culture-and
personal
Din Tai Fung restaurants a growing international chain.
But it's at the original restaurant (on Xinyi Road) that
privacy is greatly respected and encouraged.
However, the tides of tolerance are turning for Taiwanese
you'll get to peer into the kitchen at the madness of two
queers. In August, Chen Pin-ying, editor of the Chinesedozen white-dad workers hand-making dumplings by
the gross-one of the most frenetic and efficient culinary
language Lez's Meeting magazine (lezsmeeting.com),
organized "Barbie and Barbie's Wedding" -essentially a sights you'll ever see.
Once dinner's done, you're ready
mass lesbian wedding and kiss-in
that drew thousands of supporters
for an amazing treat that will top off
to downtown Taipei.
any visit to tantalizing Taipei. Head
WHATAT FIRSTFEELS
"I feel very hopeful that Taiwan will
to Yong Kang 15 (also the address)
DAUNTINGWILL SOON
legalize same-sex marriage soon;'
for
a taste of "mango shaved ice" and
BECOMEFAMILIAR,AS IF
said one of the brides, 32-year-old
you'll
know why the place is packed
THE COUNTRY'SENERGY
stylist Celine Chen. She may not
day
and
night, though this ice cream
HAS SEEPEDINTOYOU
have to wait much longer, considerand
fresh
fruit dessert is worth tryLIKEA STRONGCUP
ing that the Taiwanese government
ing
all
over
town, including at the
OF ASSAM TEA.
is already toying with the idea of
bustling night markets and simple
introducing marriage-equality legisstreet vendors. If fruity isn't your
lation. The fact that a remarkable 30,000 people flocked
thing, try the artistic "toasts" drizzled with honey, saucto Taipei's Gay Pride Festival in 2010 doesn't hurt the
es and chocolate fondue at one of two Dazzling Cafes
cause either.
(cafe.dazzlingdazzling.com).
But for specific Taipei deets, start with Les Love Boat
If you're considering your first visit to Asia, Taipei City
and GinGin Books, which are just a stone's throw from
may not seem as alluring or exotic as Bangkok, Hong
each other, near National Taiwan University. Les Love
Kong or Tokyo. But the beauty of this world-class city
Boat (lesloveboat.com) is an LGBT catchall shop where
is precisely that it doesn't need to hype itsel£ because its
you'll find the utterly handsome store manager, Olivia
busy streets are so chock-full of amazing, authentic restauWu, ready to style you in locally designed clothes and tank
rants, night markets, temples and nightlife. It's up to the
top-style binders that will bring out the tomboy in every
rest of the world to come seek it out. ■
gal. Along with providing a great inventory of media, toys
and admittedly cute pet wear, the shop also hosts one-onone fortune-telling and offers massage-both
regular and
"knife massage;' which uses dull-edged cleavers to karatechop your tension away.
WhileTaipeiCityisthepounding oroneoftheotherbeautiful
Similarly, GinGin (ginginbooks.com) sells LGBT
heartoftheisland,
thereis much "bathing
beaches"
thatdotthe
books and other goods, not to mention serving as a safe
more
to
see
and
do
outside
of
subtropical
island.
Head
inland
and welcoming gathering place for the local queer comthecapital.TainanCityand
to witnessthebreathtaking
munity since 1999. Proudly proclaiming"We fly our own
Taichung-whose
namesshare
verdantbeautyof NantouCounty,
way!" GinGin also hosts lectures and other public events.
thesameetymology
asoneofthe wherethegentletidesof Sun
The lively, hip enclave called the Red House (redhouse.
island's
14 aboriginal
tribesMoonLakewilleaseyouintoa
org.tw) is the place where queers grab cocktails and kick
bothstandasthriving
metropostorybook
breakfromreality.On
back on the giant open patio. The area, right off the Ximen
lisesonopposite
sidesofthe
oneofthe lake'snorth-end
high
MRT stop, is home to the recently renovated Red House
Tropic
ofCancer,
eachwiththeir
roads,Fleurde ChineHotelhas
Theatre, a 1908 red-brick octagonal performance hall
ownhistories,
hugepopulations, balconies
foreveryroom-and
that's helped turn the surrounding area, formerly a public
bustling
cultures
andvibrant
magically,
mineralwaterfrom
market, into a mini West Village.
nightlife
scenes.Fora slower
the localhotspringspipedinto
pace,headto FulongBeach
eachpanoramic
bathtub.
If you're ready to dance, hop over to Luxy (luxy-taipei.com)
for Wednesday ladies' night with hot local and international
EXPLORINGABOVEANO BELOW
THE TROPICOF CANCER
November 2011
I 67
HONG KONG
NIGHTLIFE
SPARKLES
A QUICKTRIPTHROUGH
SKYSCRAPERCITY'S
QUEERSCENE.
In a city of7.1 million people, Hong Kong's queer nightlife
may seem a difficult to uncover. Maybe it's the narrow roads
and winding sky bridges, or because really fun places
don't need advertising, or because gays are everywhere
here already. It's undeniable-Hong
Kong is one of the
world's most effervescent cities. You'll see all the top
fashions before the rest of the planet, and you'll go on to
spotting fine gay women and men dressed to
kill at lounges like Psychic Jack, neighborhood
BY KELSY CHAUVIN
hangouts Deja Vu or Zoo, and late~night clubs
like Propaganda. But for the mainly~girl scene, plan your
trip to coincide with a Les Peches party. Run by delightful
couple Abby Lee and Betty Grisoni-both
long~term Hong
Kong transplants-Les
Peches (find them on Facebook)
consists of "The Lounge" (first Tuesdays of the month)
and "The Club" (third Saturdays), both at the seductive
Central club Lakage. Several times a year Les Peches
bends toward the intellectual with "The Salon;' introducing
women to workshops and lectures on everything from
feminism today to creative cocktails. Getting to Hong
Kong and its surrounding area is fairly simple: the city has
a great airport that's just a quick train ride away from both
Kowloon and Hong Kong main stations, and a virtually
endless number of hotels-from
harbor views at the
opulent Shangri~ La to the more modest Ice House. But
whether you're into haute couture or crazy cheap markets,
add "The Pearl of the Orient" to your Asia travel itinerary
next time you're in the neighborhood. ■
with Sweet
NCL's Norwegian
Shy
SHIRT
&SWEET
BAH!.t■AS CRUiSE
februar:·~ 17-:lO, 2012
/
*****
NCL "~Norwegian
Pearl
ALISO
CIUISE
may 18=-20, .2012' - .
* * * * *
NCL'.'s1Vorwegia-,, Epic
SWEET
IIEDITEIIANEA
CRUISE.
july 1-8, ,2012
* *' * * *
. NCL's Norwegian
•
};pie
SWEET
EASTERN
CARIBBEAN
CRUISE
•
november
E:N"LJ:ST
CALL
87'7
8-10, 2012
-
1'1"0-.V!
793
3830
1scovrn
swf
H.COM
CST#
2091755-40
PROVINCETOWN,LESBIANMECCA
OF THE NORTHEAST,IS THE
PLACEFOR DYKES-SINGLES,
COUPLES,THE MELLOWANO
THE ADVENTUROUSALIKE.
f Provincetown were a politician, it
would be a great galvanizing figure-the
one that eludes us in politics. As a yearround destination, it's a town that unites
all lesbians and gays- no matter what
their color, creed, age or marital status.
Perhaps it's the history of the place and
its generations of passionate inhabitants:
the Pilgrims, the Portuguese, numerous
playwrights, painters and performersall share a love of the landscape that's
as deep as the whale-rich ocean around it
and as indefinable as a certain quality of light
that magically bathes the tip of Cape Cod.
What makes P,town so queer? Its famous gay writers,
in,residence run the gamut from Tennessee Williams to
Michael Cunningham, and include feminist playwright
Susan Glaspell and lesbian comic Kate Clinton-but
a
genuine atmosphere of artistic expression and tolerance
inhabits the place as well. Gay,owned and ,operated quality
establishments, from galleries to guest houses, contribute to
the sense of queer culture. Take, for example, the Atlantic
House, widely considered to be the oldest gay bar in the
country, as well as all the gay, and lesbian,owned B&B's
that act as home away from
home for seasonal folk. And
then there's a bounty of
lesbian events, such as Single Women's Weekend and Girl
Splash, organized by local luminary Lynette Molnar, a San
Francisco transplant who energetically and warmly show,
cases the town and makes lesbian visitors feel welcome.
Possibly, it's the balance of nature and culture that
makes P,town special: Where else in the world can you
spend all day whale watching or sunning yourself at the
70
I curve
w
>0
L1J
E
w
z
g
;:S
z
<(
~
u
::J
I
u
zw
~
0
~
w
_J
Q
u
iI
beach (Herring Cove, nude and gay), then peruse lesbian
art, dine at a lesbian-owned restaurant, watch lesbian
comics perform and stumble home merrily to your lesbian
guesthouse-in-between
strolling the charmingly narrow
New England streets with your lover, no eyebrows raised.
When it comes to total immersion in your own kind,
Provincetown is a little piece of lesbian perfection.
P-TOWNCALENDARFOR LESBIANS
MAY:SingleWomen's
Weekend
(singlewomensweekend.com)
JUNE:National
Women
of ColorandFriends
Weekend
(womenofcolorweekend.com)
JULY:GirlSplash(girl-splash.com)
AUGUST:
FamilyPrideWeek(familyequality.org)
BEDDING DOWN
There are a few lesbian-owned inns and guesthouses in
Provincetown. Recently, we stayed at the Fairbanks Inn,
an authentic Colonial mansion that dates back to the
1770s. Centrally located on Bradford Street, the inn has
a variety of well-appointed private rooms and charming
common spaces where you can socialize with other guests.
Hosts Kathleen Fitzgerald and Alicia Mickenberg are
exceptionally friendly and go out of their way to offer
their recommendations about what to do in the area.
Breakfast on the sun porch or the garden patio is a great
way to relax, chat and plan the day's adventures.
NORTHEASTERN NOSH
The most prominent lesbian restaurant m town is
Lorraine's, serving Mexican cuisine with a contemporary twist and a light, Northeastern approach to spice.
Established by Lorraine Najar in 1978, the warmly decorated and charming Commercial Street fixture in the mellow
West End serves up authentic fresh-lime margaritas from
a selection of 130 tequilas, and secret family recipes such
as slow-cooked pork tenderloin carnitas and big portions
of locally sourced seafood-the
blackened tuna tacos are
hearty. For waterfront dining all year round, you can't beat
the atmosphere and service at The Mews Restaurant &
Cafe. For a merry meal right in the heart of all the P-town
hedonism, the Central House at the Crown & Anchor is
your best bet and excellent for people watching. Chase
away your hangover the next day with brunch at Bayside
Betsy's, owned and operated by long-term resident and
local icon Betsy Melamed.
OCTOBER:
Women's
Week(womeninnkeepers.com)
Womencrafts-and
pick up a copy of curve there! For
entertainment, Provincetown's vibrant live performance
scene boasts singers such as Lori Michaels and lesbian
comics aplenty-pretty
much every lesbian standup, from
Sandra Bernhard to Sandra Valls, has performed there.
If your visit coincides with one of Ms. Molnar's varied
events from May to October, you'll have plenty of mixing
and mingling with women over dinners, dance parties and
bayside brunches. To get around, just walk everywhere or
rent bikes from P-town Bikes.
MAKE THE PILGRIMAGE
You can fly into Boston and drive or, for a more leisurely
and traffic-free arrival, take the Bay State Cruise Company
Fast Ferry from Boston to Provincetown. ■
P-TOWN PICKS
zw
~
if
w
()
z
~
(/)
z
0
()
For a place that's only three miles long and three blocks
wide, P-town offers plenty to do over the course of a long
weekend. The quintessential P-town experience is whale
watching. Catch a Dolphin Fleet cruise on MacMillan Pier
and summon the maritime spirit of Herman Melville as
you float on the high seas, scanning the horizon for these
majestic sea mammals. If you're not lucky that day, you'll
receive a free ticket for your next visit. For more outdoor
adventure, explore the historic sand dunes on a tour of the
Cape Cod National Seashore; take a group tour during
Women's Week to cuddle up at sunset with a new friend.
In town, drop in to the galleries on the East End for wine,
cheese and a chat with artists every Friday night or shop
for women-made jewelry and trinkets at lesbian-centric
November 2011
I 71
REVIEWSMusic Watch
KarinCarson:Her Time is Now
The jazz chanteuse on love and making music. By Mary McGrath
It was a balmy summer night. My partner
and I were headed to a fundraiser in the
Hollywood Hills for the LGBT community.
That's when I spotted her: Karin Carson,
the jazz chanteuse-who
just so happens
to be very easy on the eyes-crooning
the
standards with her jazz trio, tripping the
light fantastic.
Carson grew up in San Diego, surrounded
by a family of musicians, so it's little surprise
that Carson began showing an affinity for
music early on-Carson
began singing at 2
and declared music her destiny at 3.
Over the years since her preadolescent
declaration Carson has studied many other
forms of music but it's jazz that truly won
her heart. It was this passion that inspired
Carson to fight back against the budget
721
curve
cuts facing her alma mater Grossmont
College in 2004, organizing fundraisers
and successfully securing grants to keep
the program a float.
Carrying on her jazz advocacy, Carson
formed The San Diego Jazz Musicians
Guild in her home city in 2009. And now
the bisexual songstress is channeling that
ardor into her debut album, The Time Is
Now, a swanky nine~track love letter to
classical jazz.
Tellmea bitaboutyournewalbum.
I started putting my ideas together for my
first project in 2005. The CD includes two
originals and one song that I wrote lyrics to
for this project. The first song I wrote on
guitar was "Racing With The Wind" for
my significant other at the time. Later that
same year I wrote "The Time Is Now" for
my friend Kristie. The lyrics to "Beatrice"
came from a suggestion from Joshua White,
who plays piano on the album. But my
favorite tune on the album would have to
be Billy Strayhorn's "Lush Life:' My dear
friend, bassist Christian McBride, sat down
to the piano for this one, which makes this
even more priceless.
If youcouldworkwithanyjazzmusician,
whowouldit be?
Herbie Hancock was one of my first musical
influences in the jazz realm. He is not only
an amazing piano player, but has a beautiful
way of putting music together. Being next
to a legend like Herbie would be a dream
come true.
z
<(
~
:s
~
...J
w
<(
I
u
~
Whatdoyoudowhenyouaren'tworkingon
yourmusic?
Although my work and projects keep me
pretty busy, I love to travel, see new places
and meet new people. One of my favorite
things is dancing. I started in ballet and
jazz years ago and have my toe shoes hanging
on the wall.
Withso muchgoingon,doyouhavetimefor
romance?
I love falling in love but, with my schedule,
I find it hard to meet someone trustworthy
outside of my circle, so I have been roaming
solo the last few years. I do have my eye
fJi
0
~
:!,
0
_J
_J
w
~
w
0
er:
0
I-
u
>
cJ
<{
[2_
z
~
(/)
:::J
I
I
(/)
Q
rfi
(/)
w
~
N
w
z
~
z
>
er:
w
I
(/)
z0
(/)
er:
<{
Q
z
<{
~
5
~
_J
w
<{
I
u
~
out for the right partner, so I hope I am
prepared when they come along. They say,
"Do what you love, the rest comes;' so I try
and stay focused and keep smiling.
Tell me aboutyour performance
schedule.
What'sit likefora touringmusician?
As a musician, it seems like no matter how
much you make, it goes right back into
the music. I will be embarking on my first
tour soon. I have done some small shows
up and down the West Coast, but look
forward to the day when the tour bus gets
loaded up and off we go. It is a lot of work,
unexpected delays, promotion, negotia~
tions, rigorous agendas, little sleep and, in
the end, amazing moments that you will
remember forever. (karincarson.com)
AllisonWeiss
WasRightAllAlong
{self-released)
AnaEgge
BadBlood
{AmmalRecords)
Girlin a Coma
Exits& All theRest
{Blackheart
Records)
ToriAmos
Nightof Hunters
{Deutsche
Grammophon)
Lesbiansinger-songwriter
AllisonWeisshastheyouthful
voiceof yourkidsisterandthe
oldsoulof a poet.Likejunkfood
secretlyloadedwithvitamins,
Weiss'upbeatandeccentric
dittiesheavewithsurprising
andsatisfying
substance.
While
originallyreleased
in 2009,
Weiss'crowdsourcedalbumis
nowbeingre-released
onvinyl
by DIVlabelEither/Or,
whichis
a boonfor anyonewhomissed
this refreshingly
nuancedpop
albumthefirsttimearound.
Andwithall thetracksclocking
in at aroundthreeminutes,it's
a perfectlybite-sizedmusical
treat."FingersCrossed"
is
sweetandedgylikerazorblade
flavoredbubblegumandthe
rawcordchanges
andennuiladenlyricsof "WhyBother"
will feelfamiliarto anyone
who'sgonethrougha lingering
breakup.Self-deprecating
and
endearingly
quirky,Weisshasa
giftfor makingromanticstrife
fun again.
IfAnaEgge'slatestalbum
BadBloodfeelsa bit dark,it's
withgoodreason.Eggewrote
thesongsthatmakeupthis
12-trackrecordin aneffortto
conveysomething
thatalltoo
oftengetssweptunderthe
rug:mentalillnessin a loved
one."Dealingwiththiscanfeel
so isolatingbecause
noone
wantsto talkaboutit.These
songscameoutof the need
to communicate.
I droveit into
mywriting,"shesays.Eclectic
andmelodic,"Evil"will draw
comparisons
to SherylCrow,
andthefirmlycountry"There
Won'tBeAnymore"
would
makePatsyClineproud.Taken
asa whole,BadBloodis an
intimate,emotionally
rawand
lyricallyfearlessfolk rockset
sureto pleasenewcomers
and
longtimeEggeenthusiasts
alike.Whichis greatnewsfor
fanswhohelpedcrowdfund
thealbum-a perfectsolution
for a do-it-herself-er
likeEgge,
whoevenmadeherownguitar.
Returning
for theirfourth
album,Girlin a Comacontinues
to dazzlewiththeirgiftfor
innovation.
Thetrio effortlessly
blendsinfluences
asdisparate
astejano,rockabilly,
newwave
andpunkto createa soundthat
is unique,freshanddisarminglypleasing.
Alternately
raw
anddreamy,Exits&All the
RestpairssingerNinaDiaz's
sweeping
vocalsto swinging
Latinrockinfusedinstrumentationby bassistanddrummer
(andoutlesbians)
JenniferAlva
andPhanie
Diaz.Thealbum
crackles
withenergyanda
sensescarcely
restrained
fury.
Standout
tracksinclude"Smart,"
a poppygemthatsmacksof
TheSmithsmeetsTheSundays,
whilethealternately
languid
andconfrontational
"Adjust"
issinister,
seductive
audible
intoxication.
Though
their
previous
albumswereinstantly
ear-catching,
thetruemastery
of Exitsis onlyrevealed
through
subsequent
listens.
Wonderfully
strangeand
conceptual,
Nightof Hunters
is a
departure
fromToriAmos'previouseffortsin bothitschoice
of instruments-exclusively
acoustic-anditsuseof narrative.Weaving
mythology
with
newagethemes,Nighttellsthe
metaphysical
taleof a woman
whoat theendof a relationship
goes-overthecourseof one
night-throughritesof passage
thatultimatelyleadherfull
circle,allowingherto make
peacewiththetransitorynature
of relationships.
Everpresent
isAmos'seemingly
endlessly
malleable
voice,whichis
perfectlysuitedto thetheatrics
andwhimsyof thescore.With,
thisalbumyoucanwitness
an iconicartistspreading
her
creativewingsandexploring
andtestingthe boundaries
of
hertalent.Unlikemostmodern
musicengineered
to produce
singles,Nightdefiessuperficial
engagement,
demanding
you
connectwith it asa whole.
November 2011
I 73
REVIEWSSapphic Screen
ValenciaReimagined
Michelle Tea's beloved dyke novel becomes a film. By Kristin Smith
For many dykes coming of age in the 1990s,
Michelle Tea's Valencia was the defining
book of their generation, a sort of Catcher in
the Rye for Gen X queers. With its rambling
prose, unabashed queer sex scenes and personal, often painful narration, Tea's memoir
echoed the story of so many young lesbians
in search of identity, community and love.
And now Tea's story is making the jump
from the page to the screen, with the film
adaptation currently underway.
Valencia won a Lambda Literary award
for its groundbreaking prose, but it was the
impact it had on readers that left the biggest,
most lasting impression. In Valencia, dykes
already immersed in San Francisco's queer
punk culture saw themselves represented
in mainstream print for the first time. For
dykes outside of the notorious gay mecca,
Valencia painted a picture of lesbian life
74
I curve
not shown in the mainstream-or
even
through the words of fellow lesbian authors
like Dorothy Allison, who Tea considers
her greatest influence.
At the time, Tea didn't know she was
writing a book; she was simply writing a series
of vignettes to be read at Sister Spit, the
queer performance group she started with
fellow dyke writer, Sini Anderson. But she
did know that the story needed to be told. "I
just knew it was an incredibly special time,
and I'm so glad I had the wherewithal to
write it as it was happening," says Tea.
Even with the national success of Sister
Spit, it's Valencia that has cemented Tea's
status as a queer icon and leader of the
lesbian lit world. In its second printing,
Valencia-along with books like Chelsea
Girls and Tipping the Velvet-has proven to
be a mainstay of the lesbian library.
From Book to Film
Like all popular novels, there was an early
push to turn Valencia into a movie. Friends
and readers suggested the idea from the getgo, but Tea shrugged it off. "Of course every
writer wants her novel to be turned into a
movie ... but waiting for a director to come
up and propose the film seemed absurd;'
says Tea, who sits in a San Francisco cafe
sipping her fourth coffee of the morning.
"It's also so much pressure to adapt a book
in one single way:'
So she decided to adapt it in 21 ways.
Each of the 21 chapters of Valencia will
be turned into short films, produced by
21 different directors and almost as many
genres. Some directors are producing shorts
that mirror the book, but others are going
more avant-garde, playing with genre and
gender. The film will have everything from
stop-action animation to a French chapter
played by an all-French cast. The plan is
epic, but in keeping with Tea's commitment
to produce cutting-edge, indie art.
"When I look back on it, I realize I had
this idea for a long time, but I thought it
was crazy to ask 21 filmmakers to do this
film and I had a bit of fear about it being
arrogant, like, 'Make a film about my life
why don't you:""
Tea says enough time has passed now
that it doesn't really seem like a story of her
life. "I feel an oddly detached affection for
that book;' says Tea. "It's like I'm a different
person and it's far enough away. I feel like
I had the ability when writing it to detach
myself from the story. I have to detach
myself in a different way for the film:'
Part of that detachment may be that,
in many of the shorts, the Michelle character bares little resemblance to the one
in the book. "I am allowing the directors
to do what they want. I have no set idea
about what it will look like;' says the author
turned producer.
But in the cases when the character does
resemble her 20-year-old sel£ Tea says the
reality of a movie about her life has come
crashing down on her. "I wasn't expecting
to feel so weird and vulnerable;' says Tea of
seeing herself in one of the shorts. "I expect
that it will just get weirder and weirder as
it's finished:'
u
<(
~
Cl)
0
~
<(
In Good Hands
Like all of Tea's projects, the movie is as
much about creating art as it is fostering
community. Just as she does with Sister
Spit and Radar Productions, the non-profit
literary organization she runs, Valencia the
movie is community-centric, a project that
pulls together both big name and budding
queer directors from across the country.
Tea's selection of directors reads like
a who's who of the indie queer arts world.
Among the list of auteurs are legendary dyke director Cheryl Dunye (The
Watermelon Woman), queer porn icon
Courtney Trouble, trans artist Amos Mac
( Original Plumbing magazine) and documentarian Hilary Goldberg, who directed
Ani DiFranco's feature documentary, Render.
Goldberg is directing Chapter 5, the
"buffalo hallucination scene;' where Michelle
is mourning her breakup with Iris, while
watching the buffaloes in Golden Gate
Park. Goldberg is shooting the hallucination scene in stop-action animation, a new
medium for her. ''.Approaching stop-action
animation for the first time has been
dreamy;' says the San Francisco documentarian. More than the creative freedom,
Goldberg says she's excited about the
collaboration. "I love that this is a collaborative feature film project where queer
indie filmmakers join their visions to form
a whole:'
Trouble is taking more of a narrative
approach to her film. She is directing
Chapter 1, the first five minutes of the film,
which spans five weeks-and includes one
epic fisting scene."I am excited about offering
up a prolonged second of real, actual queer
sex happening in a film ... an explicit image
that's outside of the worlds of pornography
and cinema. Just one second of real life;' says
the porn director.
The only non-queer director is Jill
Soloway who Tea describes as "culturally
queer:' Soloway brings a bit of Hollywood
to the otherwise indie production-she
was a producer of Six Feet Under and the
voice of Claire, the series' main female character. She will also take on the daunting roll
of the final chapter. "Jill is going to do a great
job with that vignette;' says Tea. "She has a
romantic sensibility, as does my last chapter.
I think she's going to do a great job of
capturing that:'
Tea says that in the beginning, trying
to organize a team of 21 directors was "a
bit like herding cats;' but all of the pieces
have fallen into place now. The filming
was completed in August and they are
currently in post-production. Tea hopes
to get it into the film festivals in 2012, but
right now she's focused on her tried and
true method of distribution-on
the stage
of Sister Spit.
Tea Today
Eleven years after Valencia was first published Tea is more focused on community
organizing and art than crazy dyke adventures. Even with her wild, curly hair and
tattooed arms, Tea, now 40, is a much
tamer version of her Valencia protagonist.
She has moved from the Mission District,
the setting of Valencia, but still lives in San
Francisco, a city she describes herself as
"being happily trapped" in.
Seventeen years after it began, Tea is
still at the helm of Sister Spit, which
now welcomes all writers, not just queer.
This year, Chronicle Books gave Sister Spit
its own imprint label, a major victory for
LGBT publishing. She is also the Executive
Director of Radar Productions, her nonprofit that helps writers in all stages of
their writing-from
idea genesis through
performing.
In the last decade, Tea has published five
books, including a graphic novel, and the
soon-to-be published biography of Beth
Ditto, Coal to Diamonds. In addition to
Valenciathe movie, Tea is currently working
on two new books-a young adult fantasy
novel and a 400-page novel that is half
memoir and half science fiction. Even with
all the other books and projects, Valenciastill
holds a special place in Tea's heart, just as it
does for her readers. "I feel such an affection
for that book;' says Tea. "It is my story:' ■
November 2011
I 75
REVIEWSTech Girl
TastyTech
Enhance the cooking experience with tantalizing tools. By Rachel Shatto
Do lesbians love to cookr If you've ever been to a lesbian potluck or watched a single episode of Top Chef, then you know that
lady lovin' ladies know their way around the kitchen. And what dyke worth her Cat Cora fan club card doesn't love a kitchen
gadgetr So, here are 10 food~friendly devices and accessories to help bring out the fabulous foodie in you.
76
I curve
1/ Shelf Life Insurance
3/ Souper Hero
Ever wondered how long it's been since
you opened that bottle of ketchupr
Thrown out some hummus that may
or may not have been around for a few
daysr Stop wasting money by tossing
ambiguously aged food out with the
DaysAgo Refrigerator Timer. These
suction cup backed gadgets take the
guesswork out of dating your leftovers.
($8, thinkgeek)
What's better than a cup of hot
homemade soupr One that took little
to no work to create. Like a Crockpot,
the Personal Soup Chef requires you
to add the ingredients and set it to
cook, but unlike a Crockpot the food
processing blades in the chamber auto~
matically chop vegetables so there are
no dirty knives or pots to worry about.
($200, hammacher.com)
2/ Chop of the Line
4/ A Steel Solution
The perfect solution for cooking novices
or intensely detailed lezzie cooks, the
OCD Chef Cuttingboard promises
precision chopping every time by
providing exact measurements and
precise angles. Etched into the surface
are lines and explanations to guarantee
you won't end up with allumette
when the recipe specifically called for
brunoise! ($25, uncommongoods.com)
Garlic and onions smell great in the
pan, but not on your hands, and anyone
who's tried to wash a pesto masterpiece
off their paws knows soap and water is
just an exercise in oil factory futility.
Here's a pro~tip: Rub your hands
on Uncommon Goods' soap~shaped
stainless steel bar to avoid sending your
dinner dates running from your touch.
($14, uncommongoods.com)
10/ Precision
Machine
In the future, all our
5/ Set It and Forget It
Love to grill but hate feeling shackled
to the BBQ? Set yourself free with
Brookstone's Grill Alert Talking Meat
Thermometer. This wireless belt dip
monitor keeps track of your cooking
temperature and alerts you when
your entree has reached the optimal
heat, so you're free to schmooze with
guests-especially the hot ones.
($70, brookstone.com)
7I Espresso Yourself
Espresso for one has never been easier,
more portable or more hands on than
with the Handspresso, which uses
technology and little elbow grease
to create an ideally portioned and
delicious cup of espresso for one. Just
pump it up, add hot water and enjoy.
($135, handpresso.com)
6/ Handle It
Ever cut your finger digging around in
that plastic and metal mire you call a
utensil drawer? Consider that problem
solved with Think Geek's Click 'n Cook.
This 5-in- 1 kitchen utensil features
a handy storage block, an ergonomic
handle and five interchangeable spatula
heads including: classic flat spatula,
long and flexible slotted spatula, extrawide slotted spatula, flexible mixer and
a slotted spoon. Click and get cookin'.
($35, thinkgeek.com)
0
8/ The Scientific Method
Do the words spherification, gelification and emulsification set your queer
little foodie heart a-flutter? Good
news: The Molecular Cuisine Starter
Kit comes complete with perfectly
proportioned chemicals, a set of
tools and a DVD featuring 50 recipe
demonstrations to help get you started
making dynamic delicacies like arugula
spaghetti, beet foam and self contained
mojito shots. Mmm-the
future tastes
amazing. ($80, thinkgeek.com)
9/ Kitchen Counterpart
Like and iPod for your recipes, Dem
is the world's first kitchen-safe digita
recipe reader and will allow you to
consolidate all your favorite recipes
and learn hundreds more all on one
sleek, splash-resistant device.
($200, mydemy.com)
meals will be cooked
by efficient-if socially
awkward-robots
(think
Rosie or C-3PO). But for
now we'll have to be satisfied
by letting one very special
robo-friend lend a helping
hand, head, foot and torso.
The Robocup is a quirky
solution for all your measuring
needs. Stacked together it's an
adorable robot; taken apart it
becomes measuring cups.
($8, thinkgeek.com)
REVIEWSIn The Stacks
WalksOn the Wild Side
Two books with bite. By Rachel Pepper
From the twilight world of lesbian vampires to the travels of
a transgender author; two solid
reads to sink your fangs into.
Girls Who Bite: lesbian Vampire
Erotica, Edited by Delilah Devlin
(Cleis Press): Vampires continue
to be a hot topic in the collective
lesbian imagination. Mainstream
TV shows like True Blood, with their
oft-glamorous portrayal of dyke san,roti"
\esbia11 om~1re
guinarians, certainly have heightened
their appeal even more. Girls Who Bite
is not the first bloody lesbian erotica
collection to ever be published; Cleis
Press alone has put out several previously,
notably Daughters of Darkness: Lesbian
Vampire Tales.Yet, like a vampire hunting
for their next long drink, our community
has a thirst for more. Thus, readers who
appreciate the combination of blood lust evenings, consider these stories which celand dyke erotica will be excited by Girls ebrate the creatures that prowl the nightWho Bite, whose editor writes, "Blood is life. and the recesses of our deepest, darkest,
most primordial fantasies.
And for a vampire, a blood host is more than
food; the relationship is one to be nurtured,
NinaHereNor There,ByNickKrieger(Beacon
and who better to understand that than
Press):For anyone who wonders what a
women:>" Indeed, this offering of stories
features vampires who know how to make journey of gender discovery might look like
from the inside out, Nina Here Nor There,
other women hot, deservedly earning their
reputation 0£ as the back cover states, being by San Francisco travel writer and yogi
"the ultimate lesbian bad girl:' Included in Nick Krieger, will, fits the bill. Although
this collection are ''Al Dente;' about two promoted as a 'Journey beyond gender;'
this is really more accurately a "transgender
vampires enjoying the delights a Roman
coming of age tale" -and a beautifully writevening has to offer, a vampire protectress
known
in "Dark Angel;' and a wax figure comes to ten one at that. When Nina-now
landed in San Francisco,
life in the editor's own piece, "Night at the as Nick-Krieger
Wax Museum:' Here, a lesbian security
he began a journey of self-discovery into an
unexpected land of gender non-conformity.
guard is seduced by a vampire, the seduction
Krieger originally hung with a crowd of
reported-and
repeated. This anthology
''A-gay" lesbians, part of the newly emergent
has many delights, one of which is not
'gaystream"-lesbians who were "older, estataking itself too seriously, enjoying both
the timelessness and current popularity of blished, coupled-off, home-buying capital
its subject. What it does take seriously is its L-Lesbian'' and backyard parties with lots of
responsibility to heat up the reader's libido, beer and lewd chatter. Although fairly comwhich it does successfully, over and over, like fortable as a lesbian, Krieger still felt like an
a vampire's need to feed. So if you're looking outsider within the women's community.
Thus, he quickly became captivated-and
for some red hot erotica to heat up your
g l r\ s .
78
I curve
NiNA HERE
My Jo~~F!
THERE
eyond Gender
repelled-by the gender queer activists with
whom he kept company, including those
he lived with. Thus, Krieger's curiosity was
piqued, and his own gender journey was
launched. Many milestones are exquisitely
documented in the book, such as: his first
invitation to a "Ta-Ta Tatas" benefit party
for a transitioning friend's chest surgery;
compiling his own "Classics ofTransgender
History" reading list; watching a friend's
first testosterone shot; trying out a binder;
changing his pronoun; and exploring a
loving relationship with a female partner
while fighting discomfort in a body his lover
still saw as female. Through all this, Krieger
begins to slowly question his own assumptions about gender and search for a new
place to feel at home on the gender spectrum. Anyone who has ever explored their
own gender will appreciate Krieger's honesty
in tracking the places he has journeyed,
both to find himsel£ and in his colorful
descriptions of the city he now claims as
home. Accessible and full of humor, there's
no question that in the growing canon of
first person transgender narratives, this is
already a classic. ■
cucxe
marketolace
-
come'lifflilif
_ L1m1n.[ li'-mm]
L
-verb
._
Caribbean translation relaxing
-
-
-
J
.
Need an AustralianVisa
for Work, ~lay or Love?
MlOzis the appointed
Migration Consultant
for AvalonMedia.We
provideadviceon all
Australiantemporary &
permanentvisa categories.
Specialisingin de facto &
Employerwork visas, we will
provideyou, your Australian
partner,or your employer
with a confidential complete
migration service:
• Initial eligibility advice
• How to achieve the partner
residency criteria
• Work visa rights
• Employer Sponsorship requirement
• Letter to the Department addressin
the visa criteria specific to your
circumstances
Appointments in Australia at:
Port Macquarie 621Brisbane
OR by telephone and email.
www.pearlskeywest.com
S2SUnited
Street
• KeyWest,FL33040
1.800.749.6696
• Member
IGLTA
Sydney
Out!
Women's res
ookstores &
Legal arriage,
Honeymoons
and Romantic Getaways
S,Canada,E
or visit us on line
RAINBOW WAREHOUSE
Get Gurl Scout
by Damron
on your iPhone!
• PETS
•WEDDING
• MAGAZINES
• GIFTS
• FAMILY
• JEWELRY
Enter code: Curve 2011
www.highlandsinn-nh.com
1-877-LES-B-INN
November 2011
I 79
STARS
Naughty November
Enjoy this month with all the trimmings and lots of sauce.
By Charlene Lichtenstein
Scorpio(Oct.24-Nov.22)
Youcan recognizea typical
Scorpiosister by her
intensenatureand serious
appearance.
Shedressesnot
onlyto impressbut to also
createa persona.If tattoos,
overallsandjackbootsare
de rigueur,she's got to have
them. But if she'sa corporate
animal,expectsomehighpriced,highly-styledimported
suits in her wardrobe.These
womenare complexsouls
caughtin a world that strives
for simpleanswers.Forthis
reasonshe mayexperience
boutsof depressionor
frustration.A wise loveror
gal pal will find creativeways
to take her mindoff such
things.Gee,I wonderwhat
will do the trick?
Scorpio(Oct.24-Nov.22)
Gal pals in need put a crimp in your wallet. Set limits
and see if there is anything you can do to solidify your
own finances through careful research, a good advisor
and your own fiscal acumen. Once you are rolling in
dough you easily become someone's well~endowed
benefactress.
Taurus(April21-May 21)
Is it possible to have too much of a good thing? You
will find out this November. Not only will you have a
choice of all the best parties, each event will bring with
it a new sticky romantic possibility. Ah, but maybe
getting stuck here, there and everywhere is what love
is really all about.
Sagittarius(Nov.23-Dec.22)
Who is this vision of loveliness? Who is this dynamic
personality? You seem to have it all wrapped up nicely
in one package, Sagittarius. Maximize your personal
light. Now is the time to meet and greet and sweep
ladies off their feet. Alas, too soon the demands of
your career will deplete your personal oil and divert
your attention.
Gemini(May22-June 21)
Girlfriends want much more from you and may deliver
you an ultimatum. Are you prepared to make the big
mover If so, there are things that need to be done
around the house that will make it more comfortable
and spacious for the two of you. If not, you might
want to create an escape plan or a diplomatic retreat.
Capricorn(Dec.23-Jan. 20)
There is a lot of intrigue happening behind the scenes
this November. Enjoy all the upheaval and ensuing
excitement. For those Capricorns embroiled in a legal
entanglement, it may be best to handle it immediately
rather than wait weeks. Try to rest your case while the
jury is out.
Cancer(June22-July 23)
You are more talk than action now. Action just seems
to require way too much energy, especially when it has
to do with exercise, diet or a revamp of your current
health regime. But if you can muster the energy to do
something beneficial for your body, you will find other
bodies wanting to get in on your action.
Aquarius(Jan.21-Feb.19)
You are in the social epicenter this November and will
need to find innovative ways to entertain large groups
of interesting and important women. This is not a bad
assignment but it comes with a word of warning: Try
not to mix business with pleasure unless you want
your life severely complicated and messy.
Leo(July24-Aug.23)
Creativity, fun and romance are all highlighted this
November. And so is the opportunity to lavish your
attentions on a bevy of party gals. Lionesses go into
festive overdrive when there seems to be too many
opportunities and not enough quality time. Can you
dance at multiple events with only one tail? Well you
can certainly try!
Pisces(Feb.20-March 20)
The demands of your job may have to take precedence
over relationships this month. Devise ways to make
everyone happy by compromising with partners and
deferring your ambitions. How can you achieve the
ultimate balancer A deft hand is needed. Of course a
deft hand is always needed to keep relationships fresh
and exciting.
Virgo(Aug.24-Sept.23)
As much as you will try to find some down time at
home, there will be a rush of admirers to your front
door. It is your time to meet and greet from the comfort
of your couch. Why fight fate? Plan a few homey get
togethers with bosom buddies. Finish the month off
with a huge T urkeyfest. I wonder who has the best
candied yams r
Aries(March21-April 20)
Lambda Rams have itchy hooves this month, so find
Charlene
Lichtenstein
is
theauthorofHerscopes: any excuse to get out of town and explore delightful
parts unknown with a certain beauty. Or maybe your
A Guideto Astrology
travel companion will be someone from work. Heat is
for Lesbians
(Simon&
generated around the copy machine. You meet some~
Schuster)
(tinyurl.com/HerScopes).
Nowavailableasan ebook.
one who instinctively knows how to load your toner.
Libra(Sept.24-0ct. 23)
Loose lips sink ships. You don't mean to give away
any secrets but you just can't help it. But don't panic,
Libra. There are some secrets that absolutely need to
be tossed out of the closet. By the end of the month
you will find that there was nothing to worry about
and everything to gain from being open. ■
so I curve
TRACY CHAPMAN / KIRSTEN VANGSNESS / SANORA BERNHARD /
JODIE FOSTER / ANI DIFRANCO / MELISSA ETHERIDGE/ TAMMY LYNN
MICHAELS / ALEXANDRA HE0ISON / LILYTOMLIN / KELLY MCGILLIS /
SARA GILBERT/ JENNY SHIMIZU / MARTINA NAVRATILOVA/ MTE
CLINTON / MICHELLE WOLFF/ CLEA DUVALL/ TEGAN & SARA/ JANE
LYNCH/ K,0, LANG/ JACKIE WARNER/ ANNE HECHE / MEREDITH
BAXTER / JANIS IAN / WE GOT THEM COVERED / ANGELINA JOLIE/
KRISTANNA LOKEN / JOEY LAUREN ADAMS / TALLULAH BANKHEAD
LAUREL HOLLOMAN / DREW BARRYMORE / AMANDA BEARSE /
CRYSTAL BERNARD/ BILLYJEAN KING / CHAZ BONO / AMBER HEARD
/ OREA OE MATTEO / CRIS WILLIAMSON / FERRON / ALIX DOBKIN
/ JOAN JETT/ SUBSCRIBE+ SEE/ CATHY 0EBUONO / MARLENE
DIETRICH/ AMANDA DONOHOE / GINA GERSHON / LINDA FIORENTINO
/ JILL BENNETT/ PEGGY SHAW/ GRETA GARBO / ULRIKE FOLKERTS
/ INDIGO GIRLS / ROSIE JONES / LAUREN HAYS / BAI LING / MELISSA
FERRICK/ FRIDA MHLO / REGINA LUND / ROXANNE MICHAELS
/ NICOLE RAYBURN/ TOSHI REAGON/ MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ/
FIONA SHAW/ ALLY SHEEDY/ ALICIA SILVERSTONE/ IONE SKYE/
BARBARA STANWYCK / RACHEL MA00OW / ELLEN 0EGENERES /
PORTIA 0EGENERES / SAFFRON BURROWS / FIONA SHAW/ SARAH
PAULSON / CHERRY JONES / LEISHA HAILEY/ HEATHER MATARAZZO
/ CYNTHIA NIXON / KYLIE MINOGUE / MADONNA / WANDA SYKES /
RUBY ROSE / GUINEVERETURNER / SUZE ORMAN / CLEMENTINE
FORD / ROSIE O 0ONNELL / JILLIAN MICHAELS / BRANDI CARLILE /
DEL MARTIN / WANDA SYKES / COURTENAY SEMEL/ BETH DITTO /
DANIELA SEA / MARGARET CHO / RACHEL ROBINSON / GRETCHEN
PHILLIPS/ SUZANNE WESTENHOEFER / CHELY WRIGHT / PHYLLIS
LYON/ CURVEMAG.COM / MEGAN FOX/ MTE MOENNIG / AMELIE
MAURESMO / ROBYN / BITCH / AUDRE LORD / DORIA ROBERTS /
SARAH SHAHI / SHERYL SWOOPES / CATIE CURTIS / CHRISTINA
AGUILERA/ LADY GAGA/ OPRAH/ HILLARY CLINTON/ JANE VELEZMITCHELL / KRISTEN STEWART/ ILENE CHAIKEN / MARGARETHE
1
CAMMERMEYER / SAM RONSON / LINDSAY LOHAN
curve
ENJOY
.
Q
•
~
Ill
~
~
2:3
0
,..
i~
s to
~~
~~ t•
~
8
~
~
~
Cl
Ill
0
C:
Ill
WITH
ABSOLUT
RESPONSIBILITY~
ABSOLUT®VODKA. PRODUCTOF SWEDEN. 40% ALC./VOL. DISTILLED
FROM GRAIN. ©201 l IMPORTEDBY ABSOLUTSPIRITSco, NEW YORK, NY
See all items with this value
-
Butch Fashion Special
Lesbian Vampires
Catie Curtis
PRIMETIME'
ODESS
AN
A TOLERANT WORLD IS A WORK IN PROGRESS. But we're getting there. At Progressive, we believe
in respecting all people and finding beauty in their differences. Because it's one thing to call yourself
Progressive, and another to live up to that name. To learn more about how we're making progress,
visit progressive.com/lgbt.
progressive.com/lgbt
PROGREIIIVE®
Progressive Casualty Ins. Co. and its affiliates, Mayfield Village, OH. 09P00116.C (05/11)
Features
42
NOVEMBER
2011
Va-va-voom Vangsness
Primetime 1V's blond bombshell talks
sexuality, style and why she is a role model
to geek girls everywhere. By Rachel Shatto
32
She's On Our Team
Sherri Murrell, the only out basketball
coach in the NCAA, invites others
to join her. By Kathy Beige
34
Dapper Duds
The latest tailored looks in butch fashion.
By Laniaya Alesia Hooffatt
47
What Catie Curtis Did
The lesbian musician and marriage
celebrant has released her latest
studio album, with a little help from
fans and friends. By Dave Steinfeld
Food& Wine
This month we indulge our senses and
celebrate chefs, cooks and winemakers
across the country.
50
Dinner at Tiffani's
Top Chef veteran Tiffani Faison has
worked for famous chefs and Hollywood
A-listers, but now she has her own
project: Boston restaurant, Sweet
Cheeks. By Constance Parten
53
25 Chefbians
You Need to Sample
Check out these restaurants and
the lesbian chefs heating up the
kitchen with delectable dishes.
54
~
0
Just Desserts
Pastry chef Lina Biancamano
shares some sweet surprises.
By Rachel Shatto
~
.
cial
Butch Fashion spe
I
ip~~::~~
page47
Lesbianvampires
L
~
a:
CD
uj
w
1-
z
:;;;
a:
page34
w
u
w
z
w
56
a:
Good to the Last Drop
,::-
One of Sonoma's legendary
wine-makers is a lesbian.
By Merryn Johns
a:
::!,
w
~
<!
CD
>z
0
61
Queer Urban Farmer
Lesbians love the acceptance
of the city but don't want to
leave the land behind. Enter
the urban farm movement.
By Natalie Boustead
page42
I
1-
z
<!
~
f2,
w
0
~
X
w
CD
"'
::!,
0..
a:
<!
I
(/)
COVER
PHOTO:
KevinSharpfor kSharpPhotography;
Groomingby JamesFreitas
z
~
~
2
I curve
Stockholm Gay&Lesbian Network
Since May 2009 Sweden has said YESto same-sex marriages -Why don't you and your loved one
choose one of the 175churches Stockholm has to offer for your own "I DOs"?
Uncover great deals to Wedding bells and Honeymoon getaways - Book now:
-------www.flysas.com/us
V.ISi·t ••
-•
Sweden
Stockholm
The Capitalof Scandinavia
Intemationa1 Gay & Lesbian Travel Association
Scandinavian
Airlines
Departments
NOVEMBER
2011
[
a:
w
a:
w
Cl
(ll
<(
z
IN EVERY ISSUE
6
8
Editor's Letter
9
Contributors
26
This Is What a Lesbian Looks Like
11
Curvatures
Out in Front
Scene
Lesbofile
Fitness Advice
Bust through your plateau by learning to love
the burn. Plus, how to enhance your workouts
with intervals. By Jill Sloane Goldstein
Letters
10
17
20
22
24
80
"'
t::,
z
<(
:'2
~
~
_J
w
<(
28
Laugh Track
Hot butch comic Julie Goldman gets political.
30
Lipstick & Dipstick
I
0
~
ii-
8
0
::J
Politics
0
What you eat is connected to global poverty.
By Victoria A. Brownworth
_J
a:
w
<(
I
0
~
Stars
Tantalizing tipple accessories,
fun fish finery and beauty products
that are good enough to eat.
18
~
72
Music: Smooth grooves from jazz singer
Karin Carson.
74
Film: Michelle Tea's cult novel Valencia
is adapted for the big screen.
76
Our monthly profile of lesbian couples
who live, love and work together.
Tech: Handy gadgets to make you a
whiz in the kitchen.
The Two of Us
78
Books: Lesbian vampires are back,
and sexier than ever!
z
w
ti:
if:
w
0
z
~
(fJ
z
0
0
41
curve
I Tried It: Molecular
Gastronomy
w
_J
()
a:
0
~
(/)
~
w
:,,:'.
z
<(
I
(/)
a:
:,,:'.
en
(/)
w
~
N
w
z
:5
z
~
w
Want to make a splash at your next
lesbian pot luck? Blow the organic,
locally-grown, all-vegan competition
away with a secret weapon: Science.
Read one Curvette's (mis)adventures
in molecular gastronomy courtesy of
the Molecular Cuisine Kit (page 77).
Plus, check out our recipes for lezziefriendly amuse-bouches that are as tasty
as they are beautiful, at curvemag.com
Color Me Queer:
The L Word Inspired
Paintings
Out French artist Juliette GeorgesCoppens brings The L Word back to
life with her visually stunning portraits
of some of our favorite Sapphic stars.
Learn more about her muse and
check out a gallery of her artwork at
curvemag.com
New Social
Network Celebrates
Lesbians of Color
Allison Weiss
_}
Talks Sex(uality)
Looking for love, a new friend or just
someone to swap parenting advice
with? Nicole Breedlove takes
us on a tour of Our Sista
Circle, a new social networking site made for
and by lesbians of
color, at curvemag.com
Singer-songwriter Allison Weiss
tells curve about her upcoming album,
I Was An Island, and shares her
coming out story, her two cents
on gender identity and her first
Pride. Get into the head of
this androgynous cutie at
curvemag.com
I
(/)
November 2011
I5
EDITOR'S
NOTE
curve
THE BEST-SELLING
NOVEMBER
2011
LESBIAN
I
MAGAZINE
VOLUME 21 NUMBER 9
MONTH,
I FEEL
A BITLIKE
JUDY
CHICAGO
when she
TIS
was selecting the 39 historic and mythic women for her art
installation The Dinner Party. That subversive and controver~
sial 1970s work depicted a triangular dinner table, beautifully
crafted place settings for feminist icons such as Sappho and
Virginia Woolf and inscribed floor tiles bearing 999 more
names, including lesbians Christina of Sweden, Gertrude
Stein and Radclyffe Hall.
I think of Chicago's inspired work
whenever I think of the kind of list~
making it takes to demonstrate that
there is a lesbian history. The image
of the dinner table and the whole
issue of women's work seem especially
apt this month, considering how many
lesbian and bisexual women are part of
the contemporary culinary movement.
The commercial kitchen has histor~
ically been male~dominated, but this
is changing, especially through the
efforts of such high~profile chefs as
Cat Cora. While Cora used to be the
exception, now there's a huge roster
Room at
the Table
of lesbian chefs on our radar. Bravo's
Top Chefis a welcome laboratory of
lesbian talent, and food reality shows
are all the more satisfying for portray~
ing their subjects actually at work:
We see them lifting heavy pots, slaving over heat, racing the
dock-which
is perhaps why dykes shine as contestants.
November is Thanksgiving, so it also seems fitting that
this issue highlight food and wine. And in giving thanks at
this time of the year, I would like to raise my glass not only to
those famous female chefs who have burst through the glass
ceiling but to all the others whose achievements are as yet
unsung. Thanks for having us at your table.
41/4.
Merry~
Edito:-~/~:
merryn@curvemag.com
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 Victoria A. Brownworth, Gina Daggett,
Sheryl Kay, Stephanie Schroeder
Copy Editor Katherine Wright
Editorial Assistants Rashida Harmon, Emelino Minero,
Rosanna Rios Spicer
OPERATIONS
Director of Operations Laura McConnell
ADVERTISING
National Sales
Rivendell Media (908) 232-2021, info@rivendellmedia.com
East Coast Sales
Kristin R. Thomas (704) 837-9171, kristin@curvemag.com
Janet Weyers (201) 535-3264, janet@curvemag.com
Robin Perron (910) 795-0907, robin@curvemag.com
Midwest & West Coast Sales
Deidre Saddoris (303) 242-5479, deidre@curvemag.com
Business Development
Sallyanne Monti (510) 545-4986, sallyanne@curvemag.com
ART/PRODUCTION
Art Director Stefanie Liang
Production Artist Kelly Nuti
CONTRIBUTING
WRITERS
Kathy Beige, Stacy Bias, Kelsy Chauvin, Lyndsey D'Arcangelo,
Lauren Marie Fleming, Lisa Gunther, Melany Joy Beck, Gillian
Kendall, Charlene Lichtenstein, Karen Loftus, Sassafras Lowrey,
Ariel Messman-Rucker, Constance Parten, Laurie K. Schenden,
Stephanie Schroeder, Lori Selke, Janelle Sorenson, Dave Steinfeld,
Edie Stull, Yana Tallon-Hicks, Jocelyn Voo
CONTRIBUTING
ILLUSTRATORS
& PHOTOGRAPHERS
Erica Beckman, Meagan Cignoli, JD Disalvatore, Sophia Hantzes,
Syd London, Cheryl Mazak, Maggie Parker, Constance Parten,
Leslie Van Stelten, Katherine Streeter, Kina Williams
PO Box 467
New York, NY 10034
Phone (415) 871-0569 Fax (510) 380-7487
Advertising Sales (415) 692-5420
Subscription Inquiries (800) 705-0070 (toll-free in us only)
(818) 286-31 02 (outside US)
Digital Edition Subscriptions zinio.com/digital.curvemag
Advertising Email advertising@curvemag.com
Editorial Email editor@curvemag.com
Letters to the Editor Email letters@curvemag.com
Volume 21 Issue 9 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
for loss or damages. The contents do not necessaraly represent the opinions of the editor,
unless specifically stated. All magazines sent discreetly. Subscription Inquiries: Please write
to Curve, Avalon Media LLC., PO Box 467 New Yori<NY 10034, email crvcs@magserv.com.
Canadian Agreement Number: 40793029. Postmaster:Send Canadianaddresschangesto crvcs@
magserv.com,Curve, PO Box 122, Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6S8. Send U.S. address changesto
crvcs@magserv.com,
Curve, PO Box 17138, N. Hollywood,CA 91615-7138. Printedin the U.S.
curvemag.com
6
I curve
z
w
tr:
cf:
w
u
z
~
(/)
z
0
u
When an unexpected friendship
woman blossoms into love, music therap
Zoe Baxter makes plans to create a family.
But to her shock and rage, some peopleeven those she loves and trusts mostdon't want that to happen.
"Sing You Home deftly personalizes the
political, delivering a larger message
of tolerance."
-Entertainment
Weekly
"Picoult cleverly examines ... what,
exactly, being a family means."
-People
Available now in trade paper and
eBook editions.
Visit www.simonandschuster.com
to order your copy today!
BESTLER
BOOKS
WASHINGTON
SQUAREPRESS
THE#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
JODI
PICOULT
SINGYOU HOME
A NOVEL
"Picoultwriteswith
unassumingbrilliance."
-Stephen King
LETTERS
world these days for lesbians.
-Liz Blakemore, Wellington, N.Z.
TrippingOut
Kia ora, curve! I was so excited by your
travel issue [Vol 21#7]. I am a mature-aged
Kiwi and have been traveling on and off since
the age of 19 and doing it mysel£ more or less,
and hardly ever with lesbian groups or lesbian/
women-only travel outfits. I mostly fly solo or
with a girlfriend so I was impressed by your
travel survey and commitment to wanting to
know more about the future of lesbian travel.
I was also impressed by the breadth of editorial in this issue. Not only was it a great read,
for armchair and hardcore travelers alike, but
it was wonderful to meet lesbians from all
around the world who actually make travel
their business. It's such a different (and better)
Poll
What's the best
first-date venue?
30%
25%
A quietcoffeeshop
23%
22%
A fun,loudbar
I would like to see an article on lesbian motor
home traveling. I have never seen any info on
RVing for lesbian woman. I would love to see
you research parks that are gay friendly or
exclusively gay and lesbian. -Jo Anywaush
Editor's
note:We'll get an article in the works
HowhotisTracyYoung?
I'dsay"VERY
-Shelly Peters
HOT!"
Curve Magazine
helpedmethrough
myteenageyears& growing
upas
a lesbian
& nothavingmanylesbian
& I amso
friends.
Sucha greatmagazine
thankful
thatthismagazine
wascreated.
Everylesbian
should
pickupa copy.
-Angela D Bean
HeGotGame(KyeAllums)
articlewas
deep!Lovedit. -Jessica Griggs
Wooooo
Tabatha
Coffey!
She'shot!
-Laura Ligress
Richardson
I'mquitelesbian,
soI shouldprobably
try& getthismagazine
someday.
-StephanieLorraine
Seymour-Shove
I havebeena curve readerand
You
supporter
sinceit wasDeneuve.
should
absolutely
treatyourself
to a
subscription.
:)-C MistHarman
for you!
I picked up a copy of your magazine for the
first time in years recently, to entertain mysel~
on a long plane ride. I was delighted to see that
you had a small feature about The Flying Biscuit
Cafe in your article "The Savory South;' [Vol.
21#5] which was my favorite restaurant during
the years I lived in Atlanta. But my delight
turned to dismay when I saw that you were
recommending that readers go to the Midtown
location so that they could then visit Outwrite
bookstore. I have nothing against Outwrite,
but I was really disappointed that you didn't
direct readers to the Candler Park location of
the Flying Biscuit instead, so they could then
visit the lesbian-owned and operated Charis
Books & More, just a mile away.
- Kathy Liddle, Toronto, Ontario
Yes,youshould.
It helpedmeoutwhen
I finallycameoutto myFamilyandthe
U.S.Armymanymoons
ago.It'sa great
readStefanie
., -Iman Malone
I'dliketo seesomefeaturesandarticles
gearedtowards
the40+ aboutdealing
withhighschool
andcollegeagedkids;
melding
familiesofschool
agedkids;
wheredoolddykesgoafterdementia?
Hell,wheredoolddykesgoto socialize?
Moreaboutmanaging
relationships.
Getting
dumped
at 40 andstarting
over?
thedeathofa partnerafter20+ years;
healthissuesandjustplainpositive
stuff
aboutus.-Terri Curd
Editor's
Note:Keep
reading
toseethese.
~ Like
Outin nature,like
a parkorthe beach
Somewhere
unexpected,
likehotair balloon
According
to a curvemag.com
poll
s I curve
I had high hopes for the article "Travel is a
Feminist Issue" [Vol. 21#7]. As a 20-something traveler mysel£ I was looking forward
to reading about the issues pertinent to
lesbians who trek the globe. However, I was
dismayed by the gross generalizations and
lack of feminist inquiry. For example, to make
a blanket statement such as "women are not
highly regarded in Mexico;' enforces stereotypes and negates the thousands of Mexican
women who are respected, revered and loved.
Although the violence against women that
Brownworth described is a serious issue, the
article could have been written with more
depth and voiced the actual experiences of
LGBT travelers.
- Lora Liegel, Arcata, Calif.
From Curve's
Facebook Wall
SEND LETTERS TO:
WRITE
TOCURVE!
curve magazine,
POBox467, NewYork,NY10034
EMAIL:letters@curvemag.com
FAX:510.380.7487
GOTO:curvemag.com/letters
• subscribe
• renew
• payyourbill
• get missingissues
• changeaddress
• givea gift
CONTRIBUTORS
Jax Hubbardis a freelance food writer, registered dietitian
and student at The French Culinary Institute. She
comp-leted her undergraduate studies at New York
University, earning a bachelor's degree in nutrition, food
studies and public health. Hubbard attended a dietetic
internship at SUNY at Stony Brook and has been
practicing as a clinical dietitian since 2008. She has been
blogging about food since 2008 and is the founder of
eatinginyourunderwear.com, a resource for food that will
make you feel comfortable enough that you'll eat it in your
underwear, or at least contemplate it. Read her interview
with gourmand Dannie Szabo on page 10.
NatalieBoustead
is a 27 -year-old graduate from the Faculty
of Education at York University. For the past four years
she has been engaged in the urban farming, social justice
and queer community in Toronto. She is co-founder of
The About Face Collective, which is currently working
on a rooftop garden project on the newly acquired Centre
for Social Innovation building at 720 Bathurst. She runs
music and performance events our of her community
home and in various locations throughout the city. Natalie
share's her journey on page 61.
It's difficult to keep freelance writer, blogger and curve
editorial assistant, RosannaRios Spicer,in one place.
Though loyal in spirit to her true home in Fresno, Calif.,
her wanderlust keeps her moving to new cities in search
of vibrant culture, inspiring food and unconventional
experiences. "Variety is the constant" is both her approach
to life and what inspired her to write about the diversity
and fresh taste of raw foods with advice from raw chef
Briana Stockton in this month's Lez Get Raw (page 60).
She is also intensely devoted to confronting the violence
of kyriarchy, digging at her Chicana roots and connecting
with her family. At home she spends her time with her
girlfriend, planning their next move.
JillJaraczis a freelance writer who specializes in exposing the
"fun" in "fun facts:' After a decade as a consumer products
researcher at The Boston Consulting Group, Jill decided
to follow her passion and become a freelance writer. She's
written about everything from diaper rash to Scrabble
for HowStuff\Vorks.com; explored her old home city of
Chicago for Not For Tourists; and has contributed to
McSweeney's Internet Tendency, among other credits.
Originally from Chicago, Jill moved to Boston a little
over a year ago. Read her profile of gourmet marshmallow
makers Alexa Lemley and Samantha Aulick on page 18.
When not writing, she is a non-skating official with the
Boston Derby Dames roller derby league.
KristinSmithis a San Francisco-based writer and editor.
Since her stint as curve's managing editor, Kristin has
been busy writing for various publications, working on
a book about outdoor adventure and traveling the globe.
When she's not playing with words, fixing bikes or
traveling, she's actively pursuing SF's queer arts scene,
like she did for the issue's piece on Michelle Tea (page 74).
(kristinaurorasmith.com)■
November 2011
I9
t) ONCULINARY
APHRODISIACS:
Sometimes food is just as good as sex-sometimes
even better. Any food can turn me on. Something as simple as feeding me is sexy.
Personally, food and sex do the same for my pleasure receptors. The way to my heart
is definitely through my stomach.
t) ONKITCHEN
GENDER
ROLES:
Men have the habit of thinking they're better than us at
0
almost everything except childbirth. They think women should be in the kitchen at
home, not in a professional setting. That's slowly beginning to change, but who knows
how long that will take. I think it's harder for a woman to take control over a kitchen
line; a lead woman in the kitchen needs a little more attitude and strength to get
things done.
t) ONHERFIRSTFOODMEMORY:
I guess it goes back as far as my vacations in Cape Cod,
where my family and I went every summer. My first food "critique" was being able to
identify a good clam chowder. My parents would say that if you can stick a spoon in
and it stays straight up, you know you've got good chowder. That was my test, and to
this day it sticks. The best, by the way, was at Baxter's Boathouse in Hyannis.
t) ONTHEULTIMATE
DINNERPARTY-THEGUESTS
ANDMENU:My parents, since it isn't a party
unless they're there. Anthony Bourdain, my hero. Bob Marley, if I could pick someone
dead. [My] boyfriend/girlfriend-got
to feed the lover. A couple of friends, Bono, then
everyone would get a date. I would keep it simple as far as food goes: Start with an
hors d'oeuvre and cocktail hour, because what's a dinner party without cocktails?
Surf and turf with potatoes and some cool veggie-maybe baby bok choy, I love the
stuff. [Jax Hubbard]
Good Enough to Eat
Sweet, sexy and powerful beauty essentials for luscious lesbians.
FreshFaced
Lush's Dark Angels, Herbalism, Angels on Bare Skin and
Aqua Marina look like tasty little treats-and
they are,
but for your skin. These soothing, all~natural and vegan
facial cleaners will have you bidding your old face wash
adieu. Dark Angels (this editor's personal favorite) is an
exfoliating black sugar scrub that leaves your face feeling
fresh and moisturized. And for those struggling with
problem skin, you can't do better than Herbalism. Infused
with chamomile, it soothes while rosemary, rice vinegar,
nettle and almond combat acne and gently exfoliate. The
result: clear smooth skin. For normal~skin~blessed beauties
just looking to improve their skin's texture, Angels on Bare
Skin features soothing rose, lavender and kaolin, which
leaves the skin bright and smooth. Safe for all types
of complexions, the sushi~reminiscent Aqua Marina
harnesses the calming power of calamine and aloe vera,
making it very sensitive~skin~friendly, while the kaolin
cleanses deeply and even tightens the skin. Try them all
and discover four more reasons to love this openly gay~
friendly brand. ($11 and up, lush.com) [RachelShatto]
»~~?f;.~~.-
colors to match your mood. Radiate that goddess glow
or moonlit nymph sheen with honey, marshmallow or
cocoa flavored dust that will be sure to make her lick her
lips-and
maybe a little more. ($29, urbandecay.com)
[Rosanna
RiosSpicer]
KissableConfection
LickableandLuminous
Next time you want to capture that effervescent glow
of new love or lust, dust on Urban Decay's Sparkling
Lickable body powder. This sparkling powder is more like
a fine shimmer than the clumpy glitter you used in high
school and comes in alluring animal prints and seductive
Coco~Zen is setting a new standard for smooches that
are as edible as they are enviable with their real, organic
and Fair Trade Chocolate Lip Balm made with organic
ingredients like chocolate, coconut creme and olive oil.
Woman owned, Coco~ Zen is a company that special~
izes in chocolate truffles and chocolate body and skin
products. All the chocolates made at Coco~ Zen adhere
to the principle that "all living things are connected;' so
everything from the chocolate in the lip balm to the little
recyclable tin it comes in is produced with peace in mind.
($5, coco~zen.com) [Rosanna
RiosSpicer]
Radiate that goddess glow
with honey, marshmallow or
cocoa flavored dust that will
be sure to make her lick her
lips-and maybe a little more.
November 2011
I 11
Bottoms Up
Three nifty creations for wine lovers.
0
PowerTool
Your Thanksgivingguests' beveragesare
disappearingfaster than happy hour at
your local lesbian bar and you can't refill
glasses fast enough because you're up
to your elbows in turkey and you keep
losing your corkscrew in the kitchen
mess. Now that bottle of champagne
has gone warm and someone wants
a martini, extra dirty. Help! The new
all-in-one gadget, Bartule will have you
shaking cocktails and uncorking wine
like a pro. Bartule is six tools in oneice bucket, bottle opener, corkscrew,
jigger, citrus juicer and ice bucket lid that
doubles as a salt rimmer or champagne
coaster. Bartule,availablein a rainbow of
colors, locks together to become one
dishwasher-safe cocktail kit. So get this
party started, whether your guests like it
@
Pristine Pucker
There'snothingworsethanwooinga specialsomeone
overa few glasses
of superbredwine,onlyto discover,
laterin the ladiesroom,the reason
theycan'ttaketheireyesoff yourmouthis because
yourdazzlingsmile
andkissablelipsarecoatedin unsightlypurplestains.Butdon'tdespair,
Cabernet-loving
Casanovas,
thereis helpat hand:WineWipesandPearly
Wipesarepowerfulpocket-or purse-sized
compactscontaining
20 stainremoving
wipes(anda littlemirror).Madefroma blendof bakingsoda,salt,
hydrogen
peroxide,
calcium,glycerinandorangeblossom,
thesetanninremoving
wetwipespackanacidicaftertaste,
butareaneffectivealternative
to walkingaroundwitha plum-colored
pucker.Bestof all,WineWipesare
nottestedonanimals.Sokeeplookingkissable,evenaftera few glassesof
yourfavoritered.(winewipes.com)
@) Chalk
It Up
Winecharmsarea niceidea-that is,if youcanactuallyremember
thecolor
or shapeof yourindividualbaubleafteryourhostesswiththe mostess
refillsyourglasscountless
timeswhileyou'redeepin conversation
withthe
cutieacrossthetable.Butnomatterhowtipsyyouare,it's unlikelyyou'll
forgetyourownname.Withthe ChalkTalkGlass,writeyournameonyour
glasswithchalk.At the endof the partyyourhostesssimplywipesoff the
chalkboard
andwashesthe glasses.Plus,withthe addedbonusof the glass
actingasa nametag,you'llneednoreminding
aboutwhothathottieacross
[Constance
Parten]
thetableis! (chalkta!kg/ass.com)
shaken, stirred or straight up. (bat1ule.com)
November 2011
I 13
CURVATURES
the rundown
DeniseSteele,a lesbian in Virginia,
has been removed from her position
as a Boy Scout leader for her son's troop after she was outed. Steele
had served as a troop leader for six years during which time the troop
earned several scouting awards. In June, Steele's partner picked her
up from an event. Another parent felt uncomfortable, began bullying
Steele and took the issue directly to the BoyScoutsofAmericawho
demanded Steele step down ... JamesKraigKahlerof Missouri
has been
convicted on one count of capital murder and four individual counts of
first~degree murder for shooting his wife KarenKahler,
her grandmother
and the couple's two teenage daughters. Karen had been having an affair
with another woman and had told James that she wanted a divorce.
Court testimony showed that he was angry at his daughters for siding
with their mother, and at the grandmother who he believed had a duty
to convince his wife to end her lesbian affair and stay in the marriage.
Kahler now faces the death penalty ... NewJerseybridal salon, Here
a lesbian who
Comes
theBride,refused to sell a dress to AlexGenter,
crossed out the word "groom" and replaced it with "partner" on the
purchase paperwork. Genter said that the store manager lectured her
about how "I came from a nice Jewish family, and it was a shame I was
gay:' Since the incident the store has received hundreds of negative
reviews on Yelpand a Facebook
boycott page has been created ... Lady
Gagahas confirmed that she will be appearing in a new episode of The
Simpsons. The plot involves Gaga coming to Springfield to improve the
town's self esteem, including taking Lisa under her wing. Gaga says
that within the episode her character kisses MargeSimpson
... In Aceh,
a province of Indonesia,
a lesbian couple has been forced to annul their
marriage and sign a separation agreement. The couple were legally married
by an Islamic cleric several months ago-with
one of them posing as a
man. Police launched an investigation into the couple after neighbors
reported suspecting they were both women. They are now under
surveillance and living with parents. The local police chief was quoted
as saying that Islamic law, which the province is permitted to enforce,
calls for them to be "beheaded and burned:' [Sassafras
Lowrey]
Are you ready for some fierce competition? Submit a photo of your
ultimate Las Vegas experience to be entered for a chance to win a
Vegas vacation and more. Read more about the contest, then go to
VisitLasVegas.com/fierce for rules and regulations.
NO PURCHASE OR RESERVATIONS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR RECEIVE A PRIZE. Contest ends 5/1/12. Open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the
District of Columbia who are 21 years of age or older. Void where prohibited. See Official Rules at www.VisitLasVegas.com/fierce .
OUTINFRONT
Raising
Awareness
Two lesbians increase LGBT
visibility from the Deep South to
the streets of San Francisco.
By Sheryl Kay
Country Strong
In two short years, TiffaniBishophas become
involved in more causes than most of us join
in a lifetime.
The 30-year-old Texas native and U.S.
Navy veteran has volunteered with Out
Youth, Habitat for Humanity and the
Trans gender Education Network ofTexasall while pursuing a degree in international
relations (with a minor in Spanish) at Texas
State University-San Marcos.
Life changed for Bishop, she says, in 2009
at the National Equality March in Washington
D.C."Standing among 250,000 LGBT people
and allies at our nation's capitol, for the first
time in my life I felt hope, and a flame was lit
inside of me that I still haven't been able to
snuff out;' she says.
Currently, Bishop is the lead coordinator for
GetEQUAL, a national organization that
works to empower LGBT people and their
allies to take bold action and demand legal
and social equality. Her short-term goals
include working to help rural communities
become more visible, to overturn DOMA
and Texas Proposition 2, and to pass marriage equality legislation at the state and
federal levels.
"The work that we do is important because
street-level activism shines a spotlight on
oppression and, in turn, increases awareness
and influences public opinion;' says Bishop.
But in those hidden rural areas she hopes to
make more visible, promoting change often
starts with simple day-to-day interactions.
On one road trip, in a bus plastered with
signs that read "LGBT Civil Rights Now;'
a GetEQUAL group found itself at a gas
station in rural Tennessee. Within minutes
of their arrival, a woman came running up
to the bus and excitedly informed Bishop
that she, too, was a lesbian.
"We exchanged information, and immediately after we left she sent us a picture of her
daughter and told us that she was a victim
of corrective rape;' recalls Bishop. "We are
probably the only LGBT people she has ever
seen in that town:'
Community organizing is more than just
overcoming societal and legal oppression,
says Bishop. It is also about overcoming
internalized oppression and feelings of shame.
"You have a voice;' she says. "Use it:'
Spreading the Word
Whether as a law professor, a published
writer or a public relations strategist, Akilah
Bolden-Monifa
has always served as a voice
for social justice.
Bolden-Monifa began her professional
career by practicing and teaching law.
'J\lthough I loathed law school, as a law
professor at a public interest law school, I
taught and motivated prospective lawyers
to go out and represent underrepresented
communities;' she says.
Bolden-Monifa then took her talents to the
Spin Project, an organization that provides
accessible strategic communications consulting
and training for social justice organizations.
"My greatest contribution was teaching countless nonprofit organizations, and community
activists within those organizations, to stop
preaching to the choir and get their messages
out to the public via mainstream media;'
she says.
A firm believer in being the change you
want to see in the world, Bolden-Monifa
is now the director of communications for
several West Coast TV stations owned and
operated by CBS, where she develops media
strategies, advises and coaches station personnel on media interactions, and oversees
internship programs.
While her career may have made the leap
into the mainstream, Bolden-Monifa is determined to remain unchanged."! am still mewith dreadlocks and a nose ring. And out:'
In one area of her life, Bolden-Monifa
is unequivocally traditional: Her wife and
partner of 16 years, Ruthie Bolden-Monifa,
is a stay-at-home mom who maintains
the daily routines of their two children,
Isabella and Benjamin. "But;' she says, "I try
to take them to school most mornings and
be home to put them to bed and sometimes
do homework:'
Still, there are ways, even in hip San
Francisco, in which Bolden-Monifa stands
out in a crowd. As a lesbian of color, she
faces some unique challenges, she says, noting
that even within the LGBT community
there are some issues of internalized homophobia and racism.
"I am proud to be an out lesbian of African
descent;' she states.'J\lthough the two identities are inextricably intertwined, I have been
mistaken for straight, but never white:•
Homophobia is rampant, she believes,
but issues surrounding racism and classism
have had an even more negative impact on
people's daily lives, in the LGBT community
and beyond, and these need to be addressed
as part as the overall struggle that faces the
marginalized here in America. ■
November 2011
I 17
THETWOOFUS
Alexa & Samantha
Catering queens and the mavens of 240 Sweet artisan marshmallows,
Alexa Lemley and Samantha Aulick share their sweet story. By Jill Jaracz
How they met
Alexa:We met at my family's catering business when I was in eighth
grade. She was a summer worker. When I first met Samantha I
thought she was really cool. She was older. We both loved Ayn
Rand and found Gary Coleman fascinating.
Samantha:
I was 17 and she was 14. On my second day of work [at
Lemley's Catering in Columbus, Ind.], I was told that my main job
duty was to keep Alexa out of trouble. She was quite the handful
for everyone at work-she knew her parents owned the business.
However, she would behave as long as I was with her- I was such
a goody two~shoes back then. Her parents hoped I would rub off
on her. Actually, I credit her with corrupting me and making me
more fun.
"You have to really love each other
to live and work together. There's no
one to come home to and complain
about your other business partner."
-Samantha Aulick
She's the one
Alexa:About six years ago or so I got a hold of Samantha when I
heard she had moved back to Indiana and somehow I conned her
into working with me. Due to my magnetic personality she was
drawn to me like a moth to a flame.
Samantha:During the time that I was away from Columbus,
Alexa and I kept in contact. While she knew we were supposed
to be together, I refused. When I moved home to Indiana from
Maryland, she decided that she had had enough of my crap. She
pretty much told me that I had no choice in the matter- I was her
soul mate and needed to get over it. Turns out, she was right. We
just celebrated our sixth anniversary. I don't know why I resisted.
Advice on working and living together
Alexa:We do tend to bicker a wee bit so it's hard to keep it focused
and constructive but we do our best to not take it personal. We try
to take time for ourselves-although
it's not very often. We also
try to keep working together fun. We laugh a lot and listen. We
don't have a ton of time for hobbies, but we both love roller coasters,
interesting grocery stores, food adventures, wacky roadside attrac~
tions and outsider art.
18
I curve
Samantha:
You have to really love each other to live and work together.
There's no one to come home to and complain about your other
business partner. And you have to trust the other's gut reaction.
Alexa found a recipe for marshmallows online and proclaimed
that we were going to start making them. I thought it was weird
but said OK. About a year later, I had a dream that we were trading
people bags of candy for bags of money. Alexa thought it was a little
strange but said OK. We started selling the marshmallows that
afternoon. Everyone we knew thought both ideas were horrible.
Who wanted flavored marshmallows? Who was going to buy them?
But we knew we had something. (240sweet.com) ■
:·t
'rt
•
•
,
•
'
.' ·naughtynice ••,
L
SCENE
In Vino Veritas Barefoot Wine is an important ally, proudly popping
queer corks from San Francisco to Montreal. By Georgia Krokus
Back in the AIDS crisis-affiicted 1980s, Barefoot Wine
filled the cup for America's LGBT community, making
their first donation to an LGBT charity in 1988 and
shelling out big bucks and support for the next 23
years. During that time, Barefoot has contributed
to more than 200 LGBT non-profits, including the
Matthew Shepard Foundation, Anti-Violence Project,
GLAAD, Golden Gate Business Association, Out on
Film, Gay Days Orlando, PFLAG, Toronto PRIDE
Festival, Inter-PRIDE Associations, the Rainbow
World Fund and many more. The wine company,
based in San Francisco, also donated $500 to every
LGBT community center in California to support
their ongoing efforts to repeal Prop. 8, and celebrated
marriage equality with a larger-than-life inflatable
wedding cake (complete with slide!) located outside
San Francisco's City Hall during 2008 Pride. There
was fun, too, on the East Coast in New York City,
where Barefoot launched its Foot Fetish Lounge to
support the community with events this Pride.
Employing openly gay personnel since 1990, the
latest is energetic "Barefooter" Jerime Black, LGBT
Marketing and Sales Manager. One of his first initiatives was to invite all of California's LGBT Community
Centers to toast the Supreme Court's June 2008 decision to legalize gay marriage. It's that spirit that makes
this fun, affordable wine brand worth raising your glass
to. (gay.barefootwine.com) ■
5='
z
z
:::J
[lJ
>0
:i
<J)
a:
LlJ
('.)
0
0
a:
z
0
~
ct
0
0
<{
z
0
uu::
~
z
<{
~
<{
u
Ji
s
g
20
I curve
LESBOFILE
Budding Romance and Broken Hearts Laurel and Sara are back
on the market, Cher goes mama bear and Chely gets married. By Jocelyn Voo
All the SingleLadies
Ladies, another one joins the free market,
LaurelHolloman,who played bisexual Tina
Kennard
on The L Word, has filed for divorce
from her real,life husband of nine years,
seeking joint,custody of their two children.
Holloman, who's openly bisexual, cites"irrecon,
cilable differences" after a year of separation. A
girl can only hope what that means ...
There must be something in the water in
Tinseltown, because another Hollywood lezzie
long,term relationship is no more: The Talk
host Sara Gilbertand TV producer Allison
Adler have decided to part ways after 10
years. The former couple still share custody of
their two kids, 6,year,old Levi and 4,year,old
Sawyer. The split is reportedly amicable. We
wish them all the best.
MamaKnowsBest
Chaz Bono'sparticipation on
Dancing With the Stars has
caused an online storm, with
many voicing negativity and
protest, including the Media
Research Center, which "seeks to
bring balance to the news media and
prevent liberal bias from undermin,
ing traditional American values:'
Yet in spite of the haters, mama
Cherhas made it quite clear
that if anyone messes with
22
I curve
Chaz, they're messing with her. "Mothers
don't stop Getting angry with stupid bigots
who fk [sic] with their children!" she wrote
on a DWTS message board. And if there
was any question, the Burlesque star sums
it up succinctly with a later tweet: "I think
we can agree that Chaz has the biggest balls of
anyone on DWTS:'
Congratulations-and
brides!
mazel tov-to
the
RealityRomance?
Reality TV star TaylorArmstrongrecently
became the most talked,about Beverly Hills
housewife when her husband committed
suicide mere weeks after she filed for divorce.
However, now The National Enquirer is
WeddingBells
reporting that right after Armstrong submitted
While Kim Kardashian was indulging in an her paperwork, she allegedly indulged in a
oveHhe,top multi,million dollar wedding months,in,the,making flirtation with Orange
slash tabloid media storm, there was a slightly County housewife (and super,hot lesbian)
Rocha.
more down,to,earth pair also tying the knot. Fernanda
who
The flirtation began back in June, when
Country singer ChelyWright,
came out just last year, and the two met at a charity event and reportedly
Lauren
Blitzer,
an LG BT activist, began making eyes at each other. "They were
exchanged vows in front of physically attracted to each other, but Taylor
200 guests at Blitzer aunt's was still working on saving her marriage
estate in Connecticut, where to Russell at the time;' an insider told the
same,sex weddings are legal. Enquirer. ''And Fernanda didn't want any part
In true lesbian fashion, there in breaking up their marriage:' Armstrong
were non,traditional elements went on to file for divorce in mid,July, and a
mixed in with the norm: The mere month later she and Rocha were spotted
brides both donned white making out passionately at another event,
and a rabbi and minister joint,
just a few days before Armstrong's husband
officiated the ceremony, to cater to passed away.
both their religious beliefs. However,
Yes, drama of unparalleled proportions
once a girly,girl, always a girly,girl: (table,flipping, anyone:') on The Real House,
Wright told Peoplethe two decided wives is to be expected. But it looks like the
against wearing veils, lest they drama happening off,camera between cast
mess up their hair.
mates may be even juicier. ■
f
~
~
~
i
:!;:
~
~
B
z
~
ti
~
5
I
~
~
~
(/)
0
>
j
w
CD
~
2
g
<(
6
~
~
~
0
I
~
o
~
2
0
0
She Said
Get In Where You Fit In To make the most of Lady Lovin' 101,
you'll need to choose wisely. By Lipstick and Dipstick
Dear Lipstick and Dipstick: I am a 17-year-old student living in an extremely
conservative town. I'm a junior in high school now and about to embark on
the infamous college search. I need help making sure I find a place that will fit
me. All the obvious factors that kids use to make their choices are online and
in books-like the "academic rigor" of this college or the "extracurriculars"
at that one. What is most important to me is how LGBT-safe certain colleges
are. I want to make sure I'm at a school where I can come out, be out and be
among people like me. I've looked at some all-girls schools. They look awesome, but the first time I mentioned one to my parents (whom I have not come
out to yet), my mom started hammering me with questions about my sexuality.
I've looked at a lot of California schools because I know that people are a lot
more accepting out there. Plus I love the San Francisco and L.A. vibe. But I
know there are other states and cities that are equally LGBT-friendly. I just
don't know how to find them! How can I make sure I'm going to a college that
will be accepting of me?-Baby Dyke in Hiding
Dipstick:Baby Cupcake, we're so glad you're
looking ahead to a time when things will get
better. As long as you don't choose a small,
conservative, religious college, you'll probably be fine. First and foremost, you should
choose a college that offers an academic
program you want to study. I know, I
know-right now all you're thinking about
is Lady Lovin' 101. And that is important.
Going to college is about so much more
than academics. It is about spreading
your legs, I mean wings, and learning
who you really are. Although California
sounds awesome, Massachusetts may be
just your ticket to a top-queer education.
Each year, Princeton Review ranks the top
LGBT-friendly colleges and universities,
and this year eight of the top 20 colleges
are in Massachusetts. The list includes
Emerson College, Wellesley College, the
all-female Smith College and Boston
University. Campus Pride (campus pride.
org) also rates something like 300 schools
for their queer-friendliness.
Lipstick:Beyond Dip's advice, I'd suggest
focusing on coastal schools with Greek
Queer Resource Center
•
ex:
w
:,,:'.
ex:
ct
w
ci
CJ
<(
~
24
I curve
Lipstick & Dipstick ADVICE
systems. The oceans seem to attract
those who are in touch with their sexuality and their brains ( there's often a
connection). Rush a sorority, because
they are always a goldmine of girls.
Some houses, like Kappa Alpha Lambda
and Omicron Epsilon Pi, are actively
recruiting the labia lovers. And that
doesn't mean we're not hiding behind
plenty of other gingham Greek letters. My
first girlfriend was a one of my sorority sisters, and we certainly gave new
meaning to the ritual "secret handshake"
in our house. (Fellow queer Kappa
Kappa Gammas: If you are reading this,
get in touch with me!) While a mainstream sorority might not be quite right
for you-I got lucky with my hookup
despite the fact that the rest of my
sisters were after their MRS degreethe sorority system is a life-changing
experience that will hand you endless
memories and rich, lasting friendships.
Not to mention, it's a hell of a lot of fun.
Whether you go the Greek route or not,
watch out for the LUGs (lesbians until
graduation) around campus. They come
out late at night, wear cheap perfume
and can often be found hammered at
the bar. Another sign: They want to kiss
you in front of frat boys. Beware, LU Gs
will break your heart!
girlswhoonlydabbledin it, as a phase.It's
hasbians.
-Dipping Intothe Dictionary
These are great questions, young
Dipstick:
scholar. I bet they've engendered hours
of debate in your GSA circle. Sex for
queer people isn't as easily defined as it
is for hets. But, personally, I think that's
the beauty of being a lesbian. No one
gets to define you. No one gets to define
"lesbian sex" for you. When she put that
clothespin on your nipple last night, did
that feel like sex? Or when she lay on
top of you in just her bra and panties
and squirmed around for two hoursdoes that count? You decide. And as for
the straight-girl question, that we simply
call dipping into the Rainbow River for
asw1m.
Lipstick:This must be college weeklike on Wheel of Fortune. Dipstick, your
answer is way too safe. I say let's stop
this debate and go ahead and define it.
Lesbian sex: anything kinky that involves
the vajayjay when there is a hot woman
up against to you.
Dipstick:What about nipple tweaking?
Lipstick:Foreplay.
Dipstick:
Toe sucking?
Dipstick:You're right, Lip. I hear that
lesbian sororities are all the rage these
days. In addition to looking for Greek
lesbians, look for schools that have a
strong queer studies (or women's studies)
program, an LGBT resource center, a
Gay-Straight Alliance, and a top-ranked
women's basketball team.
Lipstick:Digit play. As for your other
question, Logophile, you're right-a
hasbian is a former lesbian who has gone
back to the one-eyed willy. But currently,
there is no term for popping your lesbian cherry. Maybe you should come up
with one. To me, losing your virginity is
losing your virginity. You get two shots at
Dear Lipstickand Dipstick:Somefriends it-one with a man, one with a woman.
from my GSAhavebeenwonderingabout Make it count! You don't want to end up
a coupleof thingsfor a while.Thefirst of regretful and alone on Christmas Eve,
whichis, how do you definelesbiansex? holding an empty "Santa's Coming"
I've alwayssaidthat is up to eachperson, condom wrapper. ■
and whateverturnsthem on is what they
consider
sexto be.Thesecondofwhichis,if Tune in to curvemag.com/lipstickanddipstick
a straightgirllosesher"lesbianvirginity"is towatchtheTheLipstick& DipstickShow.
therea namefor it?I knowthere'snamefor Or write to tv@lipstickdipstick.com.
•·
¥J
j
S!GO
C,C)
;!
,..m
m
ADVICE Fitness
Hurts So Good
Learning to love the road to reward.
By Jill Sloane Goldstein
Indulgence is part of life. It's what makes the
dessert menus fun, open bars worthwhile
and the price of dining out, well, simply
digestible. Unfortunately, we also know it
can make our waistlines expandable. But
as long as we have exercise in our lives, we
should have no trouble sustaining or achieving
the figure we want despite the occasional
treat, right? Not necessarily.
Time and time again I see people at the
gym coasting through their routines. They're
on their phones texting, tweeting or perusing
the pages of the latest rag mag while their
bodies move on autopilot. I see nothing wrong
with such distractions; in fact, I occasionally
employ them myself to help pass the time.
What I do advise against, however, is working
out on total cruise control. Exercise that
lacks progression also lacks the maximum
26
I curve
effectiveness in staving off unwanted pounds.
And it certainly doesn't promote significant
change in your body. If you really want to get
the most out of your fitness routine you're
going to have to switch gears, starting with
the way you think about it.
Let's start by recognizing that the act of
exercise alone will not increase your fitness
long~term. The body is an incredible survival
machine, and as such, can adapt to any
stresses placed on it very quickly. It learns
to accommodate the work you're asking it to
do and plateaus, bringing desired reshaping
to a halt. In order for our bodies to really
change we must challenge them. That means
pushing them outside of their comfort zones
to a temporary state of discomfort-where
our heart rates rise and our muscles start to
fatigue. You'll know when you've hit the high
"Ifyou reallywant to
get the most out of
your fitnessroutine
you're goingto have
to switchgears,
startingwith the way
you thinkabout it."
intensity zone when you can no longer carry
on that conversation with your gym buddy.
This kind of interval training is invaluable,
as it is during these arduous moments that
FIT TIPS
More interval routines: Begin
runningat a comfortablepace
(around6 mph).Then every
30 seconds,increaseyour
speed by .5 mph for up to four
minutes.Then decrease your
speed by the same amount
every 30 seconds untilyou are
back at your originalspeed,
and recover.You can amend
the speeds as needed but
do challengeyourselfwhen
buildingto the sprint.You are
probablycapable of more than
you think.
Time flies when you're
having... an interval run:
Breaking your treadmill routine
into brief (five to eight minute)
intervals will make the time
pass very quickly. Your goals
are broken down into short
periods so after completing a
handful of high and low intensity
segments, you'll have busted
through your entire workout.
the body responds and actually transforms.
Another plus: with interval training, the
changes in your body happen faster.
For instance, if you typically run on a
treadmill at 6 mph for 30 minutes, raise the
speed to 8 mph for 30-60 seconds every few
minutes. Then cool down in a recovery period
before repeating the cycle. You can also
remain at 6 mph and raise your incline for
that brief period of time before lowering it
again to recovery. If you're using an elliptical
trainer, vary your resistance significantly
throughout. There are plenty of ways to incor~
porate intervals into your routines. The key
is to remember that performing X over and
over won't continuously garner results as it
may have when you first started working out.
You now must do X, X + 1, X + 2, etc., to keep
the up transformations.
Understanding this principal of change
can be extremely beneficial when we're engaged
in the act of exercise. I'm certain that no
one wants their legs to really burn or their
breathing to get labored. It's tiring, it's uncom~
fortable and quite frankly, it's just plain
difficult. But here's the thing: It's actually
during these taxing moments that the magic
happens! So knowing that your muscles are
transforming and your caloric burn rate is
increasing throughout the high intensity
intervals can really help give you the discipline
to push through.
Remember, quitting is easy. Anyone can
give themselves permission to do it when
things get challenging. But not everyone can
motivate themselves to work through the
struggle. That requires us to train a much
stronger area of the body-the brain. ■
Laying the groundwork:
When running on a treadmill,
try to always set the incline to
a setting of one or two in order
to simulate road. When we run
outside, the ground is never
perfectly flat and try as we
may, we can never change it to
become easier and flatter. So
don't cheat your body out of an
authentic workout when you're
in the gym.
Mind over matter: I can't
stress enough how important
your frame of mind is during
challenging, high intensity
intervals. Give yourself positive
affirmations when it starts to
burn, hurt or tire. Envision the
payoff. You'll be amazed at how
the body cooperates when your
head is in the right space.
November 2011
I 27
LAUGH
TRACK
The Goldman Touch
Fabulous funny lady Julie Goldman gets serious. By Merryn Johns.
Sexy butch comic Julie Goldman of
BigGaySketchShowfame may be single,
but hold your hormones: she isn't
looking. But that doesn't mean you
can't enjoy her in her many hilarious
( and subversive) incarnations. The
Boston-born performer has relocated
to Hollywood where she is making
inroads into the straight, sexist movie
industry and trying to put lesbians on
the non- Real L Word chart. Catch her
live in your neck of the woods, on an
Olivia cruise, in her own web series or
look out for her at your local multiplex (fingers crossed).
Ona lesbiancruisedoyougosingle,solo
orslutty?
I don't have a partner so I'll be going
single. I don't go anywhere slutty. I'm
weird. I'm like Fort Knox.
Sowhatdowe haveto doto breakin?
You have to not talk to me and then
maybe I'll come around.
Sowe won'tseeyouat a speeddating
night?
No, I don't do that but I love watching it. I
like to be on the sidelines and then, you know,
put my toe in the water, see what's going on,
slowly, like a ... what kind of animal?
A sloth?
Yeah. I'm like a sloth. A real handsome sloth.
Just waiting. Especially on those trips I don't
like to mix. The truth is I like to keep a little
professional boundary.
Soyouhavea captive
audience
of1,300seasickor lovesick-lesbians.
Whatareyougoingto do
forthem?
I'm going to put on a great show and hopefully just get those lesbians into a frenzy. I like
to get people worked up in any direction.
Howdoyouplanonworkingthemup?
I don't believe in political correctness. When
lesbians are all together we can be very serious
and righteous and we kind of want to strip
that away a little bit. Were on a cruise, let's
have some fun, we're drinking, just let loose.
2s
I curve
lesbian comedies, where it's just a
sweet romantic, funny, mainstream
lesbian storyline I'm working on a
project and theres no sex in it, and
with things like The Real L Word,
producers feel like the reason people
go see lesbian-oriented stuff is for
the sex. What we're trying to do is
encourage the community to say,
Sex is great, obviously, but we're
more than that.
Nowe'renot!
[Laughs] No we're not.
Kidding!Do we needa lesbianJudd
Apatow?
That's what this is.
It hasdrinking,if notsex?
We have the movie. But I can't tell
you how many times people have
said, "Wheres the sext So now weve
written a gay zombie movie with full
frontal nudity. The fact of the matter
is, we're still under-represented in
the media. My next year is shaping
up to be this idea that with our movies
and with my standup and my whole
ButI readyourWikipediaentryand it's pretty being in Hollywood and auditioning and trying
serious.It says:JulieGoldmanis Jewishand to get into things, that I want more and difan openlesbian.
ferent and varied stories for us. I'm tired of
That is true.
the same old thing all the time.
Howis beinga lesbianandJewishfunny?
TheRealL Word.Loveit orhateit?
The best comedians come from a place of I hate it. I don't begrudge anyone for trying
oppression. So being a woman, Jewish, lesbian, to make a living and I hope all those girls
of course I'm going to be hilarious.Jews have parlay that show into making money and
a great sense of humor. I got a lot of my careers and do something.
I'veneverseensomuchprimetime
scissoring.
humor from my Jewish mother who's loud
[Laughs] That show to me is a slap in the
and annoying and irritated. Jews in general
face. But for whatever reason, the power
are irritated, everything's questioned. That's
brokers can only see us in that light. And I'm
the foundation of Jewish religion, and that's
disappointed. Thanks Ilene. Thanks for that.
the foundation of comedy.
Youhavea few newprojects.
Whatarethey?
Soif youareblacklisted
bytheHollywood
power
I have this web series called In Your Box brokers,
whatwill youdo?
Office.It's a movie review show and then we I will continue doing standup, doing my
re-enact the movie ourselves. We're hoping
movies, trying to change the landscape.
to bring attention to ourselves and the whole That's my goal. I don't want to kick anyone
idea that there needs to be more cinema
out from the dinner table. I just want to add
■
and gay storylines. There are no really good
more seats. (julie-goldman.com)
POLITICS
Women and Hunger
How food can be fatal for females. By Victoria A. Brownworth
We talk about women and food a lot in
America. That discourse is almost wholly
about weight, however, because according
to the American Medical Association and
the National Institutes of Health, two,thirds
of American women are overweight (with
a body mass index above 25) and nearly
one,third of those women are obese (with
a body mass index above 30).
Obesity is also a problem for girls and
teens. According to the American Academy
for Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, as many
as one in 10 American girls suffers from an
eating disorder-bulimia
or anorexia-in
an effort to control her relationship with
food. The American Psychiatric Association
states that eating disorders kill more people
than any other mental illness.
But as perilous as eating disorders are,
the impact of obesity on girls and women
is even greater. Type 2 diabetes, which is
caused for the most part by being over,
weight, has become so common that the
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) asserts
as many as one in four American women
will have the disease by 2020. According to
the American Diabetes Association (ADA),
11 percent of American women over 20 are
now being treated for type 2 diabetes, but
both the ADA and the CDC state that
many more women have the disease-they
are just undiagnosed.
For African American and Latino women,
the risk of developing type 2 diabetes is
even greater; one in four African American
women over 50 currently suffers from the
disease. Obesity also puts women at risk
for a host of other illnesses, including heart
disease-which
kills three times as many
women as any other disease-as
well as
stroke and cancer. Women who are over,
weight are at a much higher risk for heart
attack, and women are more likely to die
from a first heart attack than men. In addi,
tion, they are more likely to have fibroids,
and their mammograms can be more difficult
to read.
30
I curve
As disturbing as these facts are about
women and girls in America, an even more
tragic story involves women and girls world,
wide. The United Nations and UNICEF
cite food insecurity-which includes hunger,
malnutrition and starvation-as
the single
most dangerous issue for women and girls.
Even though women represent more than
50 percent of the global population, they
are 70 percent more likely to suffer from
food insecurity, particularly in Asia, Central
and South America and India.
Because women and girls are second,dass
citizens in the developing world, they are
more likely to be deprived of food when it is
scarce. During the current drought,induced
famines in Somalia and Kenya, for example,
women and girls are dying at a higher rate
than men and boys, according to the United
Nations and Doctors Without Borders.
The United Nations also asserts that
natural disasters impact women and girls
more than men and boys, because when
food is scarce, it is restricted from females
first. And hunger breeds other problems:
UNICEF
reports that malnourished
mothers give birth to underweight babies,
who are 20 percent more likely to die before
the age of 5. Up to 17 million children are
born underweight every year.
The systematic starvation of women
and girls has a long cultural history. In
China and India, the world's two most
populous nations, the practice has become
so extreme over the past decade that many
consider it genocide.
As a result, China and India now have the
most skewed ratios of men to women on
the planet.
The most recent census data in India,
for example, released in April 2011, shows
that for every 1,000 boys under 6, there
are only 914 girls. The Associated Press
reported these census numbers in May,
noting that a decade ago "alarms had
sounded when the ratio was 927 to l,000:'
The AP also noted that in some districts
in India, such as in rural Morena, the
discrepancy is even more harrowing: 825
girls for every 1,000 boys.
After the April 2011 census report,
50 Million Missing, a campaign to stop
genocide against women and girls in India
(50millionmissing.wordpress.com),
began
a petition to stop female starvation. They
described their concerns succinctly, saying
that the census numbers indicate "We
detest daughters! We hate them so much
that we kill them:'
In China, it is even worse: According
to the China Ministry of Civil Affairs, in
2009, the birth ratio due to sex-selection
abortion was 120 boys to 100 girls. A
decade ago, the ratio was 102 boys to 100
girls. Both in China and in India (where
sex-selection abortions are not reported),
more girls die before the age of 6 than almost
anywhere else in the world.
In 1995 and 2001, Human Rights
Watch investigated "dying rooms" in
Chinese orphanages-rooms
where girls
were sequestered to starve to death. The
BBC documentaries The Dying Rooms and
Return to the Dying Rooms detailed these
findings and showed secretly taped scenes
from Chinese orphanages. The documentaries won Peabody and Emmy awards.
But the starvation of girls doesn't have
to be systematized, as it is in India and
China. Throughout the developing world,
hunger isn't covert-it's just a fact.
It's also the case in the developed world.
In America, for example, 36.5 percent
of households headed by single females,
whether these homes have children or not,
are food insecure.
education and income, and participate less
in decision-making, they also have unequal
access to food.
According to Sheeran, however, women
are not merely the victims of hunger. They
are also the most effective solution to combating and preventing hunger, because they
constitute the majority of agricultural
workers and are the foundation of their
countries' food production systems. UNWFP also contends that women are most
likely to guarantee food security for their
households.
Lesbians can help women worldwide
Eventhoughwomen representmore than
50 percentof the globalpopulation,they
are 70 percentmore likelyto sufferfrom
food insecurity,particularlyin Asia,
Centraland South Americaand India.
According to OxfamAmerica, women
produce 70 percent of the food in developing countries, but own just 2 percent of
the land. The UN World Food Program
asserts that in Africa women work 50
percent more hours than men, yet are also
more likely to have their food restricted.
UN-WFP also notes that education for
girls is restricted in the developing world.
Because most school programs provide at
least one meal per day, girls are less likely
to be fed than boys.
Worldwide, for every 100 boys who are
out of school there are 122 girls. In some
countries, the gender gap is larger. For
every 100 boys who are out of school in
Yemen, there are 270 girls; in Iraq, 316
girls; and in India, 426 girls.
That's a lot of girls without education and
without food. But the way to end hunger for
women and girls worldwide may actually be
in the hands of women themselves.
Josette Sheeran, the executive director
of UN-WFP, notes that because women
often have unequal access to resources,
deal with this appalling range of food crises
by combating obesity and eating disorders
in the U.S. and combating hunger in the
developing world.
The UN's Women4Women program, as
well as Freedom from Hunger, UNICEF,
CARE, OxfamAmerica, Feeding America
and Global Giving, all have programs
that address the issue of women and hunger. You can contribute to any of these
programs-or
you can just redirect your
caffe latte and muffin money to your local
food bank.
With Thanksgiving just a few weeks
away, we will all be eating far more than
we need to. Perhaps this year we could
serve our guests the kind of meal most
women and girls get each day-a bowl of
rice or a bowl of corn meal-and contribute
the money we'll save on wine, appetizers,
turkey and dessert to an organization
dedicated to saving the lives of women
and girls.
That would definitely be something to
give thanks for. ■
November 2011
I 31
T
Sherri Murrell calls foul on
homophobia in women's
basketball. By Kathy Beige
IN 2009, when Sherri Murrell, the women's basketball
coach at Portland State, decided to list her partner, Rena
Shuman, in the team's media guide, she knew that she
would be coming out to the world. She was about to be the
first NCAA Division I coach to go public, and it was a big
deal. But she didn't think that three years later, at the start
of the 2011~12 season, she would still be the only one who
had done so.
Surprisingly, despite being the only out lesbian in her
field, Murrell says she has "not had any negative responses"
to her coming out. She likes to tell the story of what
happened recently when a recruit and her mom came to
visit. After they took a campus tour that included a visit
to Murrell's office, where she has photos of her twins on
display, the mom asked Murrell what her husband did for
a living. "I have a partner and she stays home with the
kids;' Murrell responded. "That's great;' was the morn's
reaction.
"It's Portland;' Murrell explains. "Lesbian moms are
about as common as food carts:' But as she well knows, not
every place is as accepting. She gets calls from other coaches
about two or three times a month, asking for advice on how
to handle homophobic situations. Most of these calls come
from the South.
This is hardly shocking when you consider that in women's
basketball negative recruiting still occurs. For those not
familiar with this deeply homophobic tactic, negative
recruiting is a practice in which coaches attempt to scare
potential players away from another school's program by
claiming that the coaches or a significant number of the
players are lesbian. At the highest levels of the game, miss~
ing out on just one talented recruit can have a huge impact
on a team. Even at schools with nondiscrimination policies,
32
I curve
the fear is that if the coach is out, it could affect the team's
ability to win games. And as women's college basketball
becomes more popular with audiences ( today, it gener~
ates more revenue than any other female sport), that fear is
keeping lesbian coaches trapped in the closet.
"Negative recruiting is still rampant in Division I
basketball;' says Pat Griffin, an LGBT sports blogger and
the director of Changing the Game, a sports project of the
Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network."The good news
is that times are slowly changing. There are more and more
parents and athletes who are turned off when a coach tries
to do that:'
Recent PSU graduate Kelli Valentine agrees. Learning
that her coach was a lesbian was a nonissue for her and her
teammates. "I didn't think anything of it;' she says. "We talk
about how Murrell is the only out basketball coach and
how that's so crazy to us. I do have friends on a lot of differ~
ent teams and their coaches are gay and we know they are,
but they won't talk about it;' says Valentine. "They think
Murrell is really cool for actually being open ... and we can
actually talk to her about it:'
People often assume that men's sports are bastions of
homophobia and women's programs are more accepting of
lesbians and bisexual women. But that's not always the case,
says Pat Griffin. "The intensity of homophobia in women's
sports is really strong;' she says, adding, "Women's basket~
ball has been so closeted for so long that I think it's really
hard to break out of that culture. That's another reason
why what Sherri is doing is important:'
But if things are really going to change, more people will
need to overcome their fear of the consequences and just
step out of the closet. And, of course, high~profile collegiate
programs should offer more support at the policy level.
"Our profession needs to wake up. We need to do some
things that penalize negative recruiting," Murrell says. "We
need to make it a nonissue:'
Murrell admits she doesn't want to be known as the
gay coach-she wants to be known as a successful coach.
And for the most part, she is. Under her leadership, PSU
won the Big Sky Championship in 2010 and played in the
NCAA tournament for the first time in school history.
(Murrell herself earned co~Big Sky Coach of the Year
honors in 2011.) Despite her winning record, Murrell says
she's sure there have been attempts at negative recruiting
against her. ''At the same time, you don't want to coach that
kid anyway;' she says. "If they're going to reject me, they're
going to reject someone on the team who's different. I'm
recruiting kids who work together:'
Murrell wishes other lesbian coaches would take heart
from her success. "Those of us who are gay need to come
out;' she says. "We need to show that we're normal. The
more that coaches like me show that we can be successful,
a:
LJ.J
z
zLJ.J
a:
[lJ
zLJ.J
>
LJ.J
to
that you can function and not get fired, that you can run a
program and be good at what you do, the more it's going
to get better:'
Griffin agrees, but also says that sport organizations like
the Women's Basketball Coaches Association should start
sanctioning teams that engage in negative recruiting. "I also
want to hold the feet of straight coaches to the fire on this;'
she says. "I am getting increasingly impatient with straight
coaches who won't speak up on this:' She adds, "It benefits
all of women's basketball to stop being afraid of the stereo~
type of lesbian women in basketball:'
She points out that straight high~profile male players
Steve Nash and Grant Hill have spoken out against
homophobia."You would be hard~pressed to find prominent
women athletes or coaches speaking out in the same way
about LGBT issues;' she says. In the meantime, Murrellwho knows better than anyone that victory is a team
effort-is
standing alone waiting for another coach to
come out and join her team. ■
he nexl evoluHon of bulch slyle. Ry Lan:taya Alesia lloo{aH
34
I
curve
Classic White Shirt and Cowboi
Beau Tie (clockwise from left);
Fly Bai Bomber and Classic
Check Shirt; T.M. in a blue
and white bowtie and Kate
Ross wearing a piece from her
personal collection.
Japper
u s
f
:ic
a:
(.)
0
w
I
~
::::J
(!}
z
i=
Cl)
g_
Cl)
~
[lJ
...J
...J
w
z<(
I
Cl)
6'
I
(.)
<(
~
a:
<(
6
w
0
~
GS
[lJ
November 2011
I 35
preppy attire-making
it well~suited
for fashionable butches.
She'll be lhe one .l.na RoJlJlYpageboy hat overs.l.zed round glasses and
Founded three years ago, the concept
for Distinguished Cravat continues to
br.l.ghdy colored bowHe (her signalure slyle) lak.ing in lhe scenery and lurning
evolve. Every piece is handmade-often
H inlo lhe inspiraHon for D:l.slinguished Cravat a hne of debonair neck. aH:l.re
with rare vintage fabrics, so each piece
dedicaled lo sk.ew:l.nglhe hnes belween queer and slraighl f ashlon.
is unique. Once a secret of the queer
community in Brooklyn, the label has
now crossed over into mainstream fashion. Ross has been
Attempting to label Ross is no easy feat; most might see
her as a soft stud or aggressive femme. This is because she
fielding orders from all over the world and expansion
has a gift for blurring the lines of masculinity by bending the
seems inevitable. "Distinguished Cravat is the future of
traditional ideal of what someone would consider butch.
classic neck attire. We are poised to usher in a new era of
Her personal style is refined, crafted from stylish pieces
fashionable neck apparel and accessories, with the sincere
found in the men's section of vintage clothing stores. And
focus of reshaping people's expectation of quality and
it's this distinct and brazen aesthetic that allows Ross to
service;' says Ross.
skillfully integrate an urban edge into what is customarily
Ross is not a lone LGBT couturier in Brooklyn. On the
ou can oflen ~nd Kale Ross sHHng on a bench .l.na New York. (Hy park..
36
I curve
~
CD
_J
_J
w
z<(
I
(/)
T.M. Robinson wearing
a blue and white bowtie
from the fall collection
(from left); Cravat's
founder Kate Ross;
T.M. Robinson sporting
the Cravat's Caramel Blue;
The Engine Driver Beau
Tie, Classic White Shirt
and Brooklyn Vest bowtie;
Ross and Robinson in
the fall collection ties
f
:ic
a:
(.)
0
w
I
~
::::J
(!}
z
i=
Cl)
g_
Cl)
~
[lJ
...J
...J
w
z<(
I
Cl)
6'
I
(.)
<(
~
a:
<(
6
w
0
~
GS
[lJ
other side of the borough you can find the headquarters
of a new queer clothing line called Marimacho. The
fashion~forward minds behind this brand are Crystal
Gonzalez and Ivette Ale. Just a year out of the gate and
already Marimacho is making waves in the queer fashion
community.
"The definition of Marimacho is a Spanish word that
denotes 'tomboy' but connotes 'dyke: It's a pejorative, and
we find pejoratives to be very powerful words when they
are reclaimed;' explains Ale. "Marimacho not only describes
the type of person we are trying to dress, but also allows
us to unapologetically reclaim a word that has been used
against our community:'
The concept behind Marimacho was developed by
Gonzalez-now
managing director of Marimachostemming from the difficultly she had in finding masculine
clothes that fit her body. "I would wear little boy shirts but
the sleeves would be too short, and even the smallest men's
shirt would be too large;' says Gonzalez.
As a result, the cut of their clothing is a combination
of menswear lines and female proportions, created by taking
classic menswear patterns and reshaping them with narrower
armholes and necklines, shorter sleeve lengths, more bust
room and more hip room. The result: masculine lines and
shapes on bodies that are not proportionally masculine,
which is in keeping with the Marimacho philosophy that
November 2011
I 37
Fly Boi Bomber and Classic
Check Shirt (from left);
The Dandy Beau Tie and
Classic Check Shirt
the cut of the clothing is just as important as the style.
In terms of aesthetic, Marimacho designs are inspired
by early classic to mid~century menswear.
"I think the best way to describe the clothes is dapper;'
says Ale. From the fly boi bomber and Brooklyn blazer, to
the classic button~up shirts and "beau ties;' the entire line
was made specifically for women and transmen. Each gar~
ment or accessory accentuates and shapes the body of the
wearer, giving them a butch edge without being ill~fitting
or disproportional.
Plus, the classic lines and inspiration means that unlike
trendy fad items, each Marimacho article will be with you
for a long time. "We create clothing that you will have in
your closet for years to come and will never go out of fashion;'
says Gonzalez.
38
I curve
The Marimacho brand continues to grow and has now
even branched out to include butch~friendly swimwear.
"Our bathing suits are inspired by 1920s men's beach~
wear-think
Coney Island circa 1929. We also have a
made~to~measure service in the works so keep an eye out
for that;' says Gonzalez.
Both available for purchase online, Distinguished
Cravat and Marimacho are just two fashion~forward
style houses working to promote what weve known all
along: that lesbians do care about fashion. And by cater~
ing to the all~to~frequently overlooked masculine~of~center
women these labels enable butch women to wear clothing
that accentuates their curves without losing the natural
raw edge they already possess. (distinguishedcravat.com,
marimachobk.com)■
w
0
~
><
w
co
November2011139
Ashli Mizell has
a Rairfor haule decor.
Ry Merryn}ohns
o pervasive is the Queer Eye stereotype that
superior tastemakers are called Thom or Carson or Jai
that Philadelphia~based designer Ashli Mizell has often
been accused of being a gay man in a lesbian's body. But
Mizell has a rare talent that defies stereotyping. She's a
dyke with a pragmatic approach to residential design and
an academic background in the glories of art history. She
became an aesthete at the tender age of 6. When the rest of
us were either dressing up our pets or playing doctor with
the cute girl next door, Mizell was "endlessly rearranging
the furniture in my parents' home, editing my closet and
desperately wanting to accessorize everything I could get
my hands on:'
Now, she caters to a wide range of clients-indi~
viduals, couples and families-who
hire her to deliver
their dreams.
In a mass~produced world-and in an economy that has
most of us buying our home furnishings from places like
IKEA- Mizell is a bastion of good taste and originality,
and one of the services she offers is helping you locate your
own sense of taste, so that your own sweet home reflects
your best qualities. "Good taste is the ability to incorporate,
seemingly effortlessly, the elements and items that make us
individuals;' she explains. "Taste is about fearlessly being
yourself and being comfortable in your own skin:' She
believes that it's not about elitism; rather, it's "almost always
a reflection of one's life experiences:'
What's that I hear you say? Your La~Z~ Boy Recliner is
a reflection of your life experiences? Have no fear: Mizell
works hard to include your cherished pieces. "I try to be
40
I
curve
very thorough and ask a lot of questions before any design
is presented, to ensure that there are no surprises or
conflicts about choices in the end ... I enjoy designing
spaces that do not take themselves too seriously and allow
for a little playfulness. My mantra is, it only looks as good
as it feels:'
Judging by the images, you'd think a Mizell makeover
would cost a fortune, right? Not necessarily. But Mizell
does equate quality with value, and uses the best materials
that her clients' budget and lifestyle will allow. "I try to be
generous with a few luxurious materials, and not overrun a
space with stuff. If this comes off looking expensive, I take
that as a compliment. Most people who hire me are pre~
pared to invest in making their homes more comfortable,
or luxurious in some way. But, regardless of their budget
or expectations, in the end my clients understand the value
that comes with quality materials:'
And why should lesbians invest in an interior designer,
rather than trying potluck at Home Depot? "I don't think
lesbians are any different from anyone else in this depart~
ment. Big~boxstores are great resources for building materials
and paint, but unless you want your home to look like
everyone else's, you either need to possess the confidence to
incorporate your own individual style and panache, or hire
a professional. Put it this way: I am capable of driving my
car, but when it needs work, I take it to a good mechanic:'
Considering how much lesbians love to nest, the invest~
ment is well worth it, according to Mizell. "Everyone
deserves to live well and feel inspired by their environment.
I love being part of that process:' (ashlimizell.com) ■
>I
Cl.
<(
a:
CJ
5
I
Cl.
~
z
a:
~
z
0
(/)
~
Jesign
T
IVil
Sexy lesbian
Criminal Minds
star Kirsten
Vangsness
confesses.
By Rachel
Shatto
According to Vangsness, she set out on the road to fabulosity
as a girl so shy and socially awkward that she had given up
on speaking, entirely."I was a very odd-looking kid ... and I
was weird;' jokes Vangsness. "We moved from this small
town to Orange County, and I'd just sort of given up on
interacting with people. Because I was getting beat up, a lot.
So I just stopped talking, and my mom said, 'You can take
shop or you can take acting: I did not want to take shop
class. And I think it was perfect timing. Our first couple of
assignments didn't require speaking, which really worked in
my favor. And I got As. And I had never gotten an A:'
In drama, Vangsness finally found a place where she fit
in. "Theater traditionally is the house of the freaks. And so
I felt that all of a sudden I had a home ... and I realized, like,
Oh! I want to do this and I really don't care ifl ever get paid
for it. So I think that's probably why I didn't get paid for
such a long time. Because I really was just, like, 'Oh I don't
care, I'm just going to live on cat food!'" laughs Vangsness.
While her passion for acting has helped her slowly
come out of her shell, even today the outwardly vivacious
30-something woman struggles with her inner shy girL'Tm
actually naturally shy-which no one believes unless you
know me really well;' she says."I sometimes will have a hard
time ordering, like, food. Or I'll be in a store and I won't get
the thing I want to get because I'm too shy to ask a question. If I have to call a place to ask a question on the phone,
I have to write it down and practice it before I call, because
I would get so horrified:'
However, her time in the limelight has helped Vangsness
shelve her natural tendencies. "It's something about this
job ... It's like people sort of universally celebrate you. You're
like a friend, at home in the world. Wherever you go, people
are always, like, 'It's Garcia!'" she says.
44
I curve
Though finding her calling may have been easy, coming
to the realization that she is gay was trickier. Growing up,
Vangsness felt drawn to women but didn't understand what
those feelings meant. "There were girls in high school that I
could not stop staring at. And I thought I stared at them a
lot because they were just really beautiful or whatever. [And]
I would get jealous. I would go out to a concert or I would
go somewhere and I'd see two girls together- I would get
crazy jealous. I would get mad. It was like some sort of club
that I'm not allowed to be in. I'm not cool enough. I'm not
something. I don't belong there:' She says it wasn't until she
was seated across from television editor Melanie Goldstein
(now her fiancee) at a Hollywood function that it finally
clicked. "I remember when I met her I had a boyfriend.
And I was there at this party. And I'd heard about Melanie
from a friend, who kept saying, 'Oh, you've got to meet
Melanie: And then we shook hands from across the table.
And it wasn't like an J\ha!' moment-it
was more like an
'Oh, shit' moment. That's what went through my head. 'Oh
no. What's going on? Wait a minute:"
While the attraction was mutual and immediate, it
wasn't exactly smooth sailing for the couple. Vangsness first
had to come to terms with these new and powerful feelings.
"It did make me take great pause and look at things. And
I remember I had this day where it was like, OK, let's say
you're allowed to look at anybody you want, all day. You can
sexually objectify anyone in your mind, like how we all do,
just watch who you look at. So, the whole day, I sort of kept
score. And it was like 80 percent girls. And it was surprising.
Every once in a while I'd be, like, I enjoy his forearms. But
it was a different kind of energy than the 'Hello Nurse'
alarm that was going off in my head. It was a different kind
of thing:'
The two dated briefly but, as with so many first romances,
the relationship quickly became embroiled in baby dyke
drama."When you come out, you act like a 12-year-old, you
know? And you don't know you're acting like a 12-year-old.
So everythingjust got crazy for a while;' explains Vangsness.
"It sort of blew up in our faces. I was going out with a guy
and, you can imagine, there's lots of people who have these
stories, of, like, drama on the high seas. It was crazy-big
stuff. So we ended up not getting together:'
Later, however, in an effort to find some closure,
Vangsness sent Goldstein a letter apologizing for all the
madness that had ensued. Ironically, her efforts to say
goodbye rekindled the relationship. "We got engaged right
before Prop. 8 happened ... so we [gave ourselves] a deadline of 2013, whether it's legal or not. I think our families
would be delighted for us to get married, whether it's a legal
piece of paper or not. They'll enjoy the whole pomp and
circumstance of it all:'
While her wedding plans may be spectacular, Vangsness
preferred to take a more low -key approach to
actually coming out. "I didn't know how to tell
anybody-and I never wanted it to be a 'thing:
At work, if someone would ask, or if it got
brought up, [then] I would say something:'
But once things started getting serious with
Goldstein, Vangsness knew it was time to be
unequivocally out of the closet. She had yet to
go public, but she wanted to be sure it wouldn't
trigger a media frenzy. "I purposefully wanted
to come out in a very off-the-cuff way;' she says.
With that in mind, Vangsness and Goldstein
chose the Outfest film festival as their personal
coming-out event. "We're like, 'OK, this is
where we're going to do it. This is perfect.
Because it's Outfest!' We were on the red carpet,
holding hands, the whole thing. Not a single
picture showed up anywhere. Nothing happened.
Nothing. So then I just offhandedly wrote about
it one day [in my blog] and it was like, Oh, she
came out! But I was, like, I've been out!"
Nevertheless, for an actor on a hit series,
coming out was a bold step to take. Originally,
Vangsness had just a small part in the pilot episode of Criminal Minds-a show about a team
of FBI profilers who are called in to deal with the
most violent crimes-but her role quickly grew,
thanks to her on-screen chemistry with co-star
Shemar Moore and the sunny, sassy disposition
that made her character a fan favorite. By season
two, she was a full-time cast member and even
starred simultaneously in the series' short-lived
spin-off, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior. "It's
crazy because I was just a two-line co-star in the
first episode. I got the part in the pilot because
the show was too guy heavy, and it was just
supposed to be this one day of work, that I was
so grateful for. I didn't even know if it was going to air on
television, and now it's on its seventh season, and when I
walk by the shelves at Target, my face is on a box, and that's
crazy;' says Vangsness.
While she may not have been part of the original plan
for the series, she has since become integral to its success.
Vangsness plays Penelope Garcia, the Behavioral Anaylsis
Unit's spunky audiovisual technician. Along with offering
technical support, the bespectacled and brightly accessorized
Garcia is also, in many ways, the voice of the audience. In
a group of highly analytical people, she maintains a level
of empathy and emotion that helps offset the rest of the
colder and more calculating cast.
This time last year, however, things were much darker
for the woman behind Garcia's neon frames and carefully
quaffed hairdo. After fivesuccessful seasons, the powers that
be decided to sever ties with two of the main cast members,
Paget Brewster (Emily Prentiss) and AJ Cook (Jennifer"JJ"
Jareau). No one was more vocally critical about the decision
than Vangsness, who told Screen Rant that it was like "living
in someone's rental and they get to decide who stays and
who goes-and it blows!" However, in a surprising turn
of events, season seven sees the original group get back
together again. Both Brewster and Cook reprise their
roles, and Vangsness couldn't be happier. "This time last
year I was so sad. And I was so, like, profoundly struck
by the cold hard fact that, like, Oh, this is just a job. I
thought that it was something special, but it's just a job.
They'll fire anybody. But now it's all back, like it's the
family. It's so much fun to work like that. We genuinely
all love each other:'
In addition to being the heart of the series, Vangsness'
character is a hero to geeky dykes everywhere. A tech whiz,
Garcia is very fluent in geek culture, dropping references
to everything from online gaming to Battlestar Galacticaand making it look cool and sexy. Vangsness agrees with
November 2011
I 45
Just for Fun
What'syourguiltiest
pleasure?
Nonviolentsci-fi andfantasy... and stickers.But right
now my mostrecentguilty
pleasureis fort building.I
am literallytalking to you
from underneatha blanket
fort that I havemade,and
there's something-I don't
know-it's delightful,it's
romantic.I highlyrecommendit.
Whowouldplayyouin a
film aboutyourlife?
Sir Ian McKellen!
Whatwas yourcraziest
interactionwith a fan?
Wewere in Texas... in this
Mexicanrestaurantin the
middleof nowhere.The
peoplein this restaurant
look like they could be
out of a Steinbecknovel.
Everyone'sall dustyand
like they'veall workedall
day.Weare sitting at this
table andthere was this
family acrossthe way and
there was this girl and
she was about12.And
46
I curve
the showwas on [in the
restaurant]and I'm on the
television.She'slooking
at the TV,she's lookingat
me.Andyou see her face,
like,"Oh my,that's you."
And it's not, like, excited,
it's like she caughtme.
Thenher motherseesher
lookingat me and is, like,
"Knockit off, don't be so
rudeto that girl you're
staringat." Thegirl tells
her mom,"That'sthe girl
on the television,"andthe
momwill not believeher
becauseeverytime she
points,I'm no longeron the
screen.I wantedto be like,
"No, it's me!" But I didn't.
Yourfirst kiss,was it
memorableor a mess?
My first kiss with a girl
was a mess,becauseit
was a straight girl. And
straight girls... just let
you do all the work. I was
really upsetwith it. I was,
like, "This is the worst."
Andthen when I kisseda
girl who liked kissinggirls,
that was somethingelse.
the premise. 'Tm a big fan of this whole movement of, like,
the smart girls with glasses who happen to love science and
math and computers and all of that are OK. You can be
smart and you can still have sexuality. Sexuality does not
mean that you've unplugged your brain from your vagina.
She is so comfortable with herself, and you know she's
totally crazy-smart:'
Of course, it never hurts to have a fearless wardrobe. While
the rest of the cast is suited up in conservative, work-appropriate attire, Garcia is bold. Sporting bright colors, patterns,
crazy up-dos and daring accessories, and showing a whole
lot of cleavage, Garcia is as eye-catching as she is saucy-a
characteristic she shares with Vangsness. "Garcia's a fashion
risk-taker-she's more fearless than I am. And I think people
think that I'm super-duper fearless, that I just don't even
care, that I just get up and I just want to be crazy. Sometimes,
when I walk out of the door I'm a little nervous about [my
outfit], but I do it anyway because it's my way. You want to
dress like me, you get a pair of scissors, you get a T-shirt, you
cut the neck off, you find a ribbon on the ground, you tie one
side of it to your shirt-like, that's how I dress. You find shit
and you put it on your body. You're a little nervous for about
15 minutes and then someone sees you and they say,'That's
cute: And then you're fine;' laughs Vangsness.
This quirky approach to style started early. "I had a big
fur coat with a pimp daddy collar, in the first grade, and I
would wear it every day, and I thought it made me brave;' says
Vangsness. "I sort of had a tumultuous childhood back then,
so I kept it on a hanger out in the chicken coops. And I would
get ready for school and I would put my magic coat on and
venture out into the world. Not knowing that when you wear
a coat that's been sitting in the chicken coop all night, you
will get beat up because a) you wear your coat in the middle
of July, b) it's a giant fur coat, and c) it smells like a chicken
coop;' laughs Vangsness. "It builds character:'
The girl who went from chicken coop-fouled finery to television stardom isn't finished spreading her creative wings yet.
In addition to CriminalMinds, she is a member of Theatre of
Note, a small ensemble group based in L.A. Most excitingly,
she has been in production on a new film. "My creative baby
that I'm doing right now is called Kill Me, Deadly.. .it's kind of
like a film noir spoof;' says Vangsness. "We are doing it completely with the aesthetics we have at the theater, which is ... a
very DIY aesthetic. It's more like, 'We're doing this and you
can't stop us and we are making it all ourselves: So I've been
executive producing it and we are on the hunt for investors.
It takes place in 1947 and I play the lead, the noir character. I
think it's going to be the next YoungFrankenstein:'
To go from being a girl too shy to speak, to the star of
a hit TV show, Vangsness has had to overcome obstacles
and survive personal struggles-and
has found success by
embracing herself, living her truth and daring to follow
her passion. In doing so, she has become an inspiration to
dykes, weirdos and aspiring actors everywhere-and
did we
mention she's hot? ■
The beloved lesbian musician
is back, with a little help
from fans and friends.
co ·e
s by Joseph Anthony Baker
atie Curtis is one of those people who
manages to inhabit two worlds that seem to be mutually
exclusive. Not only is she an Ivy League New Englander
whose songs have been featured on such mainstream TV
shows as Greys Anatomy and Dawsons Creek; who has
performed at the White House; and who is married with
two kids-but, she is also an out lesbian and a political
activist; her spouse happens to be a woman; and her two
daughters, Lucy and Celia, are Asian adoptees. Admirably,
Curtis has never chosen one world over another. If any~
thing, she's got one foot planted in each-yet, somehow,
both feet get great traction.
When Curtis last released new material-2008's Sweet
Life-George W. Bush was still in office. We were heading
into a recession, and gay marriage was still illegal in New
York state. At the time, Curtis said that the worse things
got in the world, the happier her music was going to be;
indeed, one of the best songs on SweetLife is called"Happy:'
So, how does she feel now that Bush is gone?"To be invited
to the White House [as] an out lesbian-that
speaks
really highly of the Obama administration;' she says."! feel
48
I curve
like we're in a different place than we were when Sweet Life
came out. [With my new] record, I didn't feel a need to lift
up everybody's spirits. As difficult as things are, they're not
quite as bad now:'
That new record, which was released at the end of
August, is called Stretch Limousine on Fire. Despite the
rock 'n' roll~sounding title, this is singer~songwriter fare:
mellow, personal and universal. It's also concise; the 10
songs run just over half an hour.
The album's origins, according to Curtis, are very L.A.: "I
was driving to a gig in Los Angeles;' she explains. "Picture
me sitting in traffic and not really looking forward to doing
the schmooze thing, and, literally, I see a stretch limousine
that's on fire on the side of the highway! I thought, Wow.
Everybody has bad days! As soon as I saw [the burning
limousine], I started singing it:'
Stretch Limousine leads off with the beautiful "Let It
Last;' on which Curtis is joined by her good friend Mary
Chapin Carpenter. "Let It Last" finds Curtis meditating on
life's simple pleasures-drinking
lemonade on a sunny day,
visiting her parents. She sings, "They still have boxes of my
stuff:/ When I go there, I say I'm going home:'"It's about
a:
w
~
-0::
CD
>z
0
I
1-
z
-0::
I
0..
w
(/)
Q
how fast life goes by;' she explains. "It's sort oflike a prayer,
or a pleading, to just enjoy the preciousness of life a little
bit more:'
Another song on the album is titled simply "I Do" and
is followed by "Wedding Band:' It's no coincidence that
the two are placed one after the other. "One of my biggest
priorities, as an artist and as a public person, is to talk
about gay marriage;' says Curtis. "I put those songs backto-back because one song is about the importance of taking
that leap, emotionally and legally. And then the next song,
'Wedding Band; is a little more of a humorous look at the
day-to-day stuff that makes your marriage a struggle. I
think those things are very much related. As soon as we
talk about gay marriage, inevitably there's talk about gay
divorce. We're human:'
Curtis isn't kidding about gay marriage being a priority
to her. She and her partner were married in Massachusetts,
where she's been based for years. But that's only part of the
equation. Last year, Curtis became an ordained minister in
the Unitarian Universalist Church-and
since that time,
she's been officiating at same-sex marriages hersel£ "I feel
like [my song] 'Magnolia Street' has been used in half of
the lesbian weddings I've heard of;' she says with a laugh.
'Tm often asked to sing at them. So at one particular wedding
I was singing at, I saw the officiant stumbling through and
I thought, I can do a better job than that! So it's been a really
cool, sort of natural extension of what I've done over the
years as a musician, to actually stand up with women and
help them make that commitment to each other. I feel like
I get to be part of people's life stories in a really special way.
It's kind oflike this long-term relationship that I have with
the LGBT community:'
She recently officiated at a wedding where she really
was part of the couple's life story. "Back in 1999, I played
a benefit concert. They got this radio host from the major
pop station in Portland, Maine, to host the concert. Her
name's Lori Voornas. She had a ticket winner who didn't
show up, who was supposed to meet me. So she randomly
went out in the crowd and found this very outgoing fan
and said, 'You have to pretend you're the ticket winner, and
you have to come meet Catie Curtis: Well, she and that
woman really connected that night. Eleven years later, they
both worked a benefit concert I was doing again in Maine
[and met for] the second time. And two weeks ago, I
married them!"
Whether it's through her marriages or her music, Curtis
has been there for her fans. Now they are there for her.
"There's [only] so much a record company can do these
days;' she acknowledges. "There's a small group [of fans]
who have become part of my inner circle and helped to
make this new CD possible. One of them is a Harvard
Business School professor. One does media relations for
a Fortune 100 company. One of them owns a really wellknown graphic arts company. These women have come
into my professional life and have joined forces to help me
forge ahead in the music business:'
"I didn't go to business school or anything;' adds Curtis
(who did attend Brown University). And she was not too
proud to accept help when it came to producing her eagerly
awaited 11th studio album. "So it's been really important
to have folks who are very protective and supportive of me
lending their assistance to keep my business vital. I feel like
this is a really special group. There's something about it
that feels like something lesbians would do for each other.
And as a recipient of this, it's been really cool. It's really
different from an old boys' network because it's people
offering to help:'
That a select and dedicated group of fans-successful
businesswomen who have fallen in love with her lyrics and
emotionally charged music-guided
Curtis in rebranding
and repositioning herself with her next album and then
secured the funding to make that album a reality is a true
lesbian sucess story. And it seems only fitting that after
devoting 25 years to her career in music, and after standing up for her fans by officiating at lesbian weddings and
commitment ceremonies, Curtis now finds that her fans
are standing up for her. (catiecurtis.com)■
November 2011
I 49
dinner at
tiffani's
0
~
a:
Ill
in
w
1-
z
~
a:
w
()
w
z
w
a:
TIFFANIFAISON
IS BESTKNOWN
as a first-season cast member on Bravo's
The former Top Chef contestant
Top Chef,where, although she was runner-up, her talent was abundantly
is about to take on her biggest
clear, making her an obvious choice to compete in Bravo's Top Chef
challenge yet-her own
All-Stars, where the ginger-haired chefbian charmed us all over again
restaurant. BYCONSTANCE
PARTEN
with her genuine, down-to-earth attitude. But even before she experienced her 15 minutes of TV fame, Faison had already caught the eye
of super-chefs Todd English and Daniel Boulud, working for each of
them in separate ventures, as well as in restaurants from Nantucket to
New Orleans. She'd even enjoyed a stint as personal chef to Hollywood
A-listers Will and Jada Smith. But now the gorgeous out lesbian is taking Youhavemorepatiencewith peoplenow?
It's not like I've gone from being really tough
her talent and putting it into her own venture: a Texas-style barbecue
restaurant in Boston called Sweet Cheeks, which will feature responsibly and defensive to being Buddha. That's not
sourced meats and locally grown produce for those sweet Southern
the case. [Laughs] If you choose to be lazy or
ignore what I've told you-that's
when the
sides like collard greens and black-eyed peas. We caught up with Faison
patience ends.
as she was busy working 16-hour days to launch the restaurant-and
Yougrew up in a militaryhousehold.
Didthat
making plans to marry her girlfriend, fellow foodie Kelly Walsh.
helpyouin the kitchen?
It mustbetoughworkinglonghourswhenyou'rein a relationship.
Howdo To be honest, my family was not the typical
youdo it?
sort who translated that at home into a rigid
I happen to be engaged to the most amazing person on Earth, who is structure. It wasn't like,"You need hotel corners
also professionally trained-she went to culinary school, so she completely on your bed and everybody needs to be done
gets it. She's more on the business-finance side of things now.
with chores by 8:30 on Saturday morning:'
Is shehelpingoutwithSweetCheeks?
If anything, I tend to butt heads with strucShe helps out with keeping my head straight. She's the best taste tester
ture. But how it has helped me is the ability
ever, she has an incredible palate. But in order to keep our lives healthy
to adapt-by constantly moving, from being
and functional, at this point we separate what we do.
in the South to living in Oklahoma, walking
Howdidyoumeet?
into different rooms with different mores
We actually met at a food and wine benefit in 2007. I was living in New
and cultural ideas, and every time being able
Orleans and she was living here [in Boston]. I come back for this event to sum it up, understand it quickly, command
every year ... it's a great way to catch up with friends as well. And she was whatever adaptation skills you have and move
forward. That's the best gift it has given me.
with a group of friends, hanging out at an after party.
Loveat firstsight?
It seemslikeyou'vemovedaroundquitea bit in
It was for me. I had to chase her a little bit. She had to settle in to the yourcareeras well.
[Laughs] I'm done.
idea of just me.
Youhadto proveyouwereworthy.
You'rereadyto settle,getmarried?
Something like that. I had to knock her upside the head with a frying Yes! It all came in one big heap-trying
to
open a restaurant, get married, stay here. And
pan. [Laughs]
Youhavea reputation
for beingtoughanda lotof chefsthinkit's important that became a conscious choice. I had to do a
to betoughin the kitchen.Why?
lot of work to be able to do that. When you
I think toughness is a relative term, and it's evolved for me over the span grow up and there's something in the back of
of my career and my life. It meant something early on, when I felt like I your head that says,"In three years you're going
had to protect and hold my ground at every turn, and I've gone through
to be gone:' When it came time to really settle
that and proven myself in a lot of ways. It's certainly not over-in terms
down, it was, and continues to be, something
of proving myself, I think I have to do it every day. But I've learned that's
that I have to check every so often. It got to a
point in my career where I was wondering if I
not what toughness really is for, in terms of the longevity and maturity
was making the choice to leave so I could learn
of my career. Toughness means setting exacting standards and making
sure people understand what they are, and teaching and mentoring to something in a different area-or just leaving
to leave. It comes down to getting a little bit
those standards and always maintaining them. It doesn't mean a constant
rabid defense of everything. And a lot of it is just growing up and seeing older and wanting to put down roots and build
what can come when you're more of a teacher and a mentor and less of something, but it's taken a lot to keep me rooted
and understand what that means.
a sword wielder.
November 2011
I 51
Youwereat thefrontof the realityTVculinaryphenomenon.
Whatdoyou
StuffingCroquettes
seeastheimpactof TVfameontheindustry
today?
A
playfulspinon traditional
I definitely see [that] coming out of culinary school. .. no one wants to
turkey
stuffing,
do the work. There's definitely a generation who think that if they're
not head chef or owner very early on, they don't see the benefit of
Ingredients
climbing the ladder and really doing the work to understand what this
8 cups(1 loaf)1-inchbreadcubes,
is. Certainly we're not brain surgeons, but this is an industry that has
white or sourdough
a lot of technical aspects to it. You learn so much by being in it day
4 tbsp (1/2 stick) butter,unsalted
in, day out. And the repetition of doing the same thing over and over
1 cup medium-dicedyellowonion
is as important as just learning the skill itsel£ To me, it's the same as
1 cup medium-dicedcelery(2 stalks)
someone coming out of med school and wanting their own practice.
2 tbsp freshlychoppedparsley
1 tbsp freshlychoppedsage
Why wouldn't you want to spend the time doing this procedure over
1 tbsp koshersalt
and over, till you know it like it's in your bones? That understanding
1 tsp freshlygroundblackpepper
of what it means to be a good cook is in danger of being lost, largely
1/2 lb spicyItaliansausage,crumbled
because of this proliferation of TV shows.
1/4 cup chickenstock
It's fameoverfood.
2
eggsplus4 eggs
Yeah. It's a bubble and, as with any bubble, at some point they're going
1/2 cupflour
to have to reconcile that.
1/2 cup seasonedbreadcrumbs
Let'smoveonto therealityof thekitchen.What'syourworstinjury?
4 tbsp blendoil
I was opening a restaurant in Florida for Todd English and someone
had filled an entire frying pan with oil. I asked him to move it away,
Directions
because I could see that the pan
In a largesautepan,meltthe butter
was smoking, and he was so ner~
andaddthe onions,celery,apples,
vous that he bumped into me and
parsley,salt andpepper.Sauteover
mediumheatfor 1Ominutes,until the
the entire pan of grease went over
vegetablesaresoftened.Addto the
my hand and melted my fingers
breadcubes.
together on my left hand. I kept
my hand in ice to get through the
Cookthe sausageovermediumheat
rest of the night, had six tequila
for about1Ominutes,until cooked
shots too many, then ended up in
through,makingsurethe sausage
the hospital at four o'clock in the
is crumbled.Addto the breadcubes
morning. But I can run and jump
andvegetables.
Addchickenstock
and do cartwheels like all the other
andeggsandmix until completely
kids now.
combined.Refrigeratemix until
What'sthe worstthingyou'veever
completelycooled.
beencalledin thekitchen?
Oncecooledform smallballsof
Slow. [Laughs]
stuffingandflattenslightly.Onceall
The worstthingyou'veever called
stuffingis formedinto balls,dust in
anyone?
flour,
coatwith eggwashandfinish
I don't go at people personally. I go
coating
with breadcrumbs.
at what they're doing. There's times when I've said, "This is the worst
fucking piece of shit bass I've ever seen in my life:' But I don't call them
In a largesautepan,overmedium
a piece of shit. But I've gone at the thing pretty hard.
heat,heatoil until it just startsto
If youcould,wouldyouundoanythingin yourcareer?
simmer.Placecroquettesinto oil and
I wouldn't. I think everything has really led me to here. Even the biggest
fry until goldenbrown,turningto cook
mistakes I've made have taught me incredible lessons that would've
thoroughly.
taken me a long time to learn in other ways.
WhatareyoumakingforThanksgiving?
Removeandseasonwith salt and
It's probably going to be, whatever we're serving at Sweet Cheeks we'll
pepper.(sweetcheeksq.com)
take home, make a sandwich out of
and watch football.
For Tiffani Faison's holiday recipes "Mom's Broccoli
Crackopena beer,putyourfeetup?
Cheese" and "01' Brussel Salad" visit curvemag.com
Exactly. ■
52
I curve
chefbians you
need to sample
We asked you on Facebook to tell us who your all-time-favorite lesbian chefs
are-not just the ones on TV but those whdve made you food for real. Here
they are, in alphabetical order, and the restaurants where you'll find them.
zw
a:
::J
~
0
~
a:
Cl)
u5
w
I-
z
~
a:
Zoi Antonitsas
Lynn Crawford
Christine Keff
Deborah Scott
Madison Park
Conservatory
(Seattle)
Ruby Eats
(Toronto)
Flying Fish
(Seattle)
Indigo Grill
(SanDiego)
Traci Desjardins
Jamie Lauren
Lisa Smith
Lina Biancamano
Jardiniere
(SanFrancisco)
Absinthe Bar
& Brasserie
(SanFrancisco)
Big Fatty's
(Knoxville,
Tenn.)
w
()
w
z
w
a:
z<i:
~
i:i:
a:
formerly of Stephan
Pyles Restaurant
(Dallas)
w
Elizabeth Falkner
z
Jennifer Biesty
Orson, Citizen Cake
(SanFrancisco)
I
Scala's Bistro
(SanFrancisco)
Tiffani Faison
Debra Desaulniers
Sweet Cheeks
(Boston)
6
(f)
w
0..
w
I-
(f)
z
i=
(f)
~
ft
w
z
~
_J
The View at CK's
(Tampa,Fla.)
~
>z
w
~
z
<i:
8:
w
Donnell Collins
Leunig's
(Burlington,
Vt)
52
z
<i:
a:
Cat Cora
i5
d,
Kouzzina
(Disney'sBoardwalk,
Fla.);
CCQ
(SouthCoastPlazaMacy's,
CostaMesa,Calif.)
Cora's Kitchen
(SanFrancisco)
LL
0
0
g
Cl)
w
::J
a:
I-
w
~
~
Ann Leon
Leon Bistro
(Chico,Calif.)
Josie SmithMalave
formerly of
Norwood
(NewYork)
Anita Lo
Annissa
(NewYork)
Susan Feniger
Border Grill,
(SantaMonica,Calif.,and
LasVegas)
Christine Manfield
Jennifer James
Ashley Merriman
JJ01
(Albuquerque,
N.M.)
Butter
(NewYork)
Gabrielle Hamilton
Tamara Murphy
Prune
(NewYork)
Brasa
(Seattle)
Universal
(Sydney)
RitaSodi
I Sodi
(NewYork)
Marcie Turney
Barbuzzo,
Bindi, Lolita
(Philadelphia)
justdesserts
Pastrychef LinaBiancamano
flips a tuile to showus her
SHATTO
sweet side.BYRACHEL
SEASON
TWOOF BRAVO'S
hit cooking com~
petition Top Chef: Just Desserts introduced
audiences to its newest-and
possibly
sweetest-chefbian,
Lina Biancamano. An
Arizonan who studied at Le Cordon Bleu
in Scottsdale, chef Biancamano has a talent
for creating cakes and speaking her mind.
Despite being asked to "pack her tools and
go" far too soon, we know we haven't seen the
last of this saucy pastry provocateur.
Whatledyouto auditionfor TopChef:JustDesserts?
I'm very competitive. I also like the whole allure of TV and cooking
combined, and ... I said if they ever come up with a dessert show, I'm
going to go for it.
Whichof yourculinaryskillsdoyouwishwe'dseenmoreof ontheshow?
I definitely wanted to show more of my plated desserts. I'm also very, very
fluent in cake creating and have a lot of original ideas that I don't think a
lot of people have seen before.
Canyoutell usabouthowyoubecamea pastrychef?
I've always loved cooking since I was a little girl, probably as long as I
could step on a step stool and stand at the counter with my mom. My
parents were both immigrants from Italy, so cooking has always been an
integral part of my growing up.
I've worked in the restaurant business now for about 21 years, and I
was actually working front of the house as a server and realized that I
loved the industry ... so I went to culinary school and really was interested
more in pastry, just because it is a lot more artistic.
Doyouhavea signature
dish?
I do. I love fennel. I love it raw in salads and I also really love it cooked.
When you cook it, the anise flavor is a lot milder and very sweet. And so
I thought about it and I knew dark chocolate went really well and so did
orange. So my favorite dessert-which
is one that I created-is a dark
chocolate flourless torte, and I do a roasted fennel ice cream, and then a
tuile on top of that with toasted fennel and then candied kumquats and
basil syrup. It's a really lovely dessert, very colorful and delicious.
Doyouhavea foodphilosophy?
Yes. People love dessert. It makes them happy and they want to eat a
dessert that brings them back to their childhood, or makes them nostalgic.
So I, personally, like to take dessert or dessert flavors-different flavors
that we remember-and
make them as delicious as they can be, with a
modern twist.
Haveyoueverhadanydifficulties
beingoutin theculinaryindustry?
I haven't, and I feel blessed for that too. I know that there are a lot of
industries where it's not comfortable being who you are, or being out. I
definitely feel blessed that I have never had to hide mysel£ or be someone
that I'm not.
Ona date,wouldyourathercook,orgetoutofthekitchen
andgoouttodinner?
On my first date, I cook. (Laughs] Then the person I'm dating can take
me out to dinner.
If theydon'tlikeyourfoodisthata dealbreaker?
That's never happened. (Laughs]
I hearyoudreamof havingyourowncookingshow.
That's always something that I've wanted to do. I think there are a lot
of fun and good TV shows on, but ... I think a lot of people really want
to learn technique.They want to learn the basics and I'm a very good
teacher.
DoyouhaveanyspecialThanksgiving
traditions?
Oh yes, I always cook a huge feast on Thanksgiving. On the table, there's
barely room for anybody's plates. [Laughs] I try to always make a nice
soup, like an autumn~y kind of squash~type soup, and then of course just
the traditional trimmings.
I go kind of crazy with pies, of course. I make all my own fillings and
crusts, but I always have to make at least three pies, and I always make at
least something fun that if people don't like pie they like to eat. Last year, I
made chocolate eclairs, which was a big hit. Everybody was fighting-we
had to put a count on how many people got. [Laughs]
Whatisyourfavoritecomfortfood?
It's a little something my mother used to make me when I was a little
child. It's called pastina, and it's basicallyjust extremely teeny little noodles
that look like couscous.
She used to cook it in a little bit of chicken stock with a little bit of olive
oil and a little pat of butter. Then right at the end, when it was almost
finished, she would just scramble two eggs and then put them in and then
stir them around, so it was almost like an egg drop soup. So if I'm ever
feeling under the weather, or if it's raining outside and it's cold, it's an
inexpensive, quick, easy thing to make.
Then of course you cannot go wrong with a good chocolate cookie. I've
actually timed myself and I can make a batch from scratch in eight minutes.
Of course I was, like, running around,
but I wanted to see how fast I could
do it. I'm a total dork. [Laughs]
What'snextforyou?
Well, I took a little hiatus, just
for a couple of weeks. Like
I said, I would love to
one day have my own
cooking show. That's
my ultimate dream, but
in the meantime it wouldn't
be a bad idea for me to try to
get back into school and go
back for maybe a bachelor's
degree.
I'm ready to go on any gay
cruises, too! I had someone
tell me, "I hope you're ready
to get asked on all these gay
cruises:' [Laughs] ■
SweetPotatoCoke RollwithMoscorpone Cream Cheese Filling
Thisis a rich,moistanddeliciouscakethat is perfectfor the holidayseason-and it's easyto make
Measureout 1 cup.Setaside.Preheat
ovento 375degrees.Linea greased
10x5" bakingpan(cookiesheet)with
parchmentpaper.Greaseparchment
paper,set aside.In a bowl,sift together
flour,spicesandsalt andset aside.
In the bowl of a mixerfitted with the
whisk attachment,beateggsandyolk
on highspeedfor three minutes.Lower
speedto mediumandslowlyaddsugar.
Mixfor 30 seconds,turn mixeroff and
adddry ingredients.Continuemixing
on mediumlow speedbeinguntiljust
Fillingingredients
5 oz.creamcheese,roomtemperature barelycombined.Pullthe bowloff the
5 1/2 oz.mascarpone
cheese
mixerandwith a rubberspatula,fold
in the pureedsweetpotatoesuntil
4 1/2 tbsp.unsaltedbutter,room
combined.Workquicklybut gently.
temperature
Spreadthe batteras evenlyas possible
11/4 cupsconfectioners
sugar,sifted
intothe preparedcookiesheetpan.
1 1/2 tsp.vanillaextract
Sprinklepecansevenlyoverbatter.
1/8 tsp. seasalt
Placein ovenandbakefor approximately10 minutesor until whenlightly
Directionsfor the cake
touchedin center,the cakesprings
Peelthe sweetpotatoes,dicethem
into 1" cubesandplacein a saucepan. back.Allowto coolfor five minutes.
Sift 1/3 cup confectionerssugaron top
Coverwith coldwaterandboil until
a fork insertedin oneof the cubes
of cakeandplacea cleantea towel on
goesin andout easily.Straininto a
top. Placeanotherbakingsheeton top
colanderandpureein a foodprocessor of tea towel andflip pansover.Remove
or food mill until completelypureed.
panfrom cakeandcarefullypeeloff
Cakeingredients
4 largeeggsplus1 yolk
1 1/2 cupsgranulatedsugar
1 extralargesweetpotatoor two small
11/4 cupsself-risingflour
11/2 tsp. groundcinnamon
1 tsp. groundgingerpowder
1/2tsp.freshlygroundnutmeg
1/2 tsp. seasalt
1 cupchoppedpecans
2/3 cupconfectioners
sugar
parchmentpaper.Sift remaining1/3
confectionerssugaroverthis sideof
cakeandroll cakewith towel into a log
lengthwise,so that you havea longroll.
Let cakecoolon a wire rack.
Directionsfor the filling
In a mixerfitted with the paddle
attachment,mixthe creamcheeseand
mascarpone
on mediumlow speed
untilthoroughlycombined.Scrapebowl
with rubberspatulaif needed.Donot
overmix,or mascarpone
couldcurdle.
Addbutterandmix untiljust combined.
Addsiftedconfectioners
sugarandmix
beingsureto scrapehalfwaythrough
beforeit's completelycombined.Add
the vanillaandsalt.
Assemblethe cake
Whencakeis completelycool,carefully
unrolllog andspreadthe filling evenly
overthe cake.Rerollcakein the same
directionyouunrolledit, withoutthe
towel,astightlyas youcan.Placethe
cakeon a platter,seamsidedownand
refrigeratefor at leasttwo hoursbefore
slicing.Toserve,dustwith powdered
sugarandtoastedchoppedpecans.
November 2011
I 55
good to the lastdrop
For over 30 years Margaret
Davenport has been making
memorable wines.
BYMERRYN
JOHNS
AT64 YEARS
OFAGE,Margaret Davenport is a
success story for several reasons: She shines
in an industry that is still male-dominated,
she is out and proud and, as the long-term
winemaker at Clos du Bois Winery, she
helped to put Sonoma County on every wine
connoisseur's map. She officially retired from
Clos du Bois at age 55-but then launched
what is basically a second illustrious career.
Now, the master winemaker consults for
Passalacqua Winery and oversees wine-making
operations at Davenport and Company,
her own label, and very much a family
affair-where she produces Pinot Noir and
Zinfandel with her partner, Kristen Johnson
and their daughter.
56
I curve
Whendidyourwinecareerbegin?
I've been making wine since 1980, when I applied for and got a harvest
job at Simi Winery in Healdsburg. The winemaker was evaluating a new
press for white wines and needed a technician to work with the press
operator at night. Juice samples were taken during the press cycle and
analyzed for total phenolic content-mainly color, bitterness and astringency-as the press goes gradually from low to higher pressures. Having
a degree in biochemistry [magna cum laude] and research experience in
my background (UCSF Medical Center], I was hired. After two weeks,
the night shift ended, thankfully, and I helped out in the lab, doing routine
analyses and record keeping for the winemakers and the chief enologist.
Whatattractedyouto winemakingas a profession?
Although I'd lived in Sonoma County for two years, I'd avoided winery
work because I knew I would be destined to spend my time in a lab. Lab
classes were great fun in college, but the routine of full-time lab work
simply did not interest me. I'd always liked wine and enjoyed it with my
family while I was growing up. I wanted to be creative in my life's work,
and I loved everything about the wine industry at that time: The people
who did the work, from the lab tech and the winemaker to the cellar
workers; the equipment, all of which was undergoing radical modernization; research about grapes and wine; the collegial relations between
winemakers; the use of oak in wine making. The entire experience was
new and exciting, and it has been a perfect fit for me. That initial experience
at Simi sent me off to UC Davis a year later to enter the graduate
program in food science, specializing in enology. I finished my course
work in 1983, got my first job making sparkling wine and was granted an
MS degree in food science in 1985.
Whatdoyouloveaboutthearea?
My partner Kristen Johnson [who is a phy-
Whattrainingorexperience
didyouacquireto reachyourlevelofexpertise? sician] and I designed and built a house on
Academic training for wine making is a good first step-and
a degree
from UC Davis conferred membership to the"fraternity"-it
certainly
helped at a time when there were very few women winemakers. But
one does not learn wine making at school but by wine making with an
experienced winemaker. We get one chance per year to do this-two
chances if you can travel to the Southern Hemisphere-so
it does take
time. Every harvest season, every grape-growing season, therefore, is
unique. This is the challenge for each winemaker. I could write a book
about this.
the property first for our little family. Our
daughter, Sofie, was 3 when the house was
finished and we left our little bungalow in
Healdsburg for the wilds of Rockpile. We're
only 30 minutes from town, but sometimes
it feels like Wild Kingdom out in the rolling
hills and the mixed oak and madrone forest.
We regularly see deer, fox, raccoon, wild
turkeys and eagles-and occasionally rattleYouconsult
asa winemaker
forPassalacqua
Winery.
Whatvarietals
haveyou snakes, porcupine, black bear and mountain
developed
forthem?
lions! Our 92-acre ranch is at 1,200 feet
Most of my consulting involves Bordeaux varietals like Cabernet
elevation and has a view of Lake Sonoma.
Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. For the Passalacqua
We love the beauty and the isolation, and
Winery, Dry Creek Cabernet is a focus. I also make Dry Creek barrellong to work less in town and spend more
fermented Chardonnay and several different single-vineyard Zinfandels
time at the ranch when Sofie goes off to
and a Primitivo.
university in a few years.
Whatadvicewouldyougivelesbians
considering
For Davenport Wines, I began in 2003 making Russian River Pinot
a careerchange
towinemaking?
Noir and planted Zinfandel and Syrah on my Rockpile property. DavenFor career changers I have one basic sugport Wines, in addition to Pinot, now also has Zin from Rockpile-first
vintage, 2009. I also make a bit of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc in gestion: Try it first. This applies to just
about everything in life, come to think of it!
some vintages.
Youowna vineyard
inthemountains
oftheRockpile
AVA,inSonoma
County. (davenportwines.com)■
One does notlearn
winemakingat school
but by winemaking
withan experienced
winemaker.
We get
one chanceper year
to do this...so it does
take time.Everyharvest
season,every grapegrowingseason,
therefore,isunique.
Emailinfo@davenportwines.com
to arrangepurchaseandshipping,and
to receiveinformation
aboutwine-tastingtoursin the DryCreekValleyand
MargaretDavenport's
ownrecommendations
for restaurantsin the area.
WinemakerNicoleAbiouness
sharesher intoxicatinglove
JOHNS
story. BYMERRYN
SPOILER
ALERT:Nicole Abiouness is not a
lesbian but she is Lebanese-and a feminist in
what is still a sexist field, which makes her a role
model for female winemakers everywhere.
The winemaker and yogini ( she dove into
yoga as a balance for the intense work of
winemaking) originally moved from Virginia
to California to pursue her passion for food
and wine. While in culinary school she took
wine courses and while on a visit to a winery
she decided to take the experience offered
to her, "scrubbing tanks and shoveling stems
and being outside sampling in the morning
and drinking the wine at night:' When she
traveled to Australia and France she learned
even more, "in the cellar, mucking around,
which isn't so glamorous, but then you have
that finished product at night you can enjoy,
which is just so wonderful:'
Abiouness always saw through the romantic
ss I curve
•
romancing
the grape
veneer of wine to the hard work beneath but while her love for the
process and the industry endured, she still didn't know if she wanted
to make her own. "I just knew I liked being in the cellar, the physical
work, and the transformation from the grapes to the bottle of wine:'
When she returned from France, she decided to buy her own fruit and
make her own batch. "I was making other people's batches, why not
make my own?"
Even though winemaking is now very much a business for Abiouness,
she has not forgotten the romance she felt as a culinary student; the
magical pull toward the wonderful world of wine. Her own label, which
bears her name also bears a lotus flower as its logo, as if to signify the
balance between the muck that begins the process and the purity that
finishes it.
As a woman Abiouness has had to find her own balance; she's tough
enough to weather the hard knocks, which she has experienced in
California (one guy just didn't feel it was a woman's place to be in the
tank, shoveling. "Why, I'm not strong enough?" she muses). In France
she encountered even more primitive forms of sexism driven by super~
stitions about women being in the tank "at that time of month:' But in
spite of these cultural obstacles (as if nature and climate change weren't
enough to contend with) she believes some
amazing women have triumphed as wine~
makers-"it's
just taken us a while to be
recognized:'
So onto wine in everyday life. What would
she serve with Thanksgiving dinner:' "I say
Pinot Noir, because that's what I make but
it's also just perfect with all the fall flavors,
especially turkey. A Cabernet or big wines
overpower the delicate meat:'
And if she could take one bottle of wine
to a desert island:' "That's a hard question!
On a desert island I imagine I'd be really hot
so I'd pick a white, like a Gruner Veltliner or
a Torrontes-some
fun white varietal:'
But her enduring love is "probably a Burg~
undy, which I just love:' But if she had to
pick one wine to name as the best she has
ever put to her lips, it's like asking a mom to
choose her favorite child. "Oh my goodness,
that's a hard one. I don't think I can answer.
It's all about who you're having it with,
what you're having. It's about the moment:'
(abiounesswines.com) ■
motor
city
breadwinner
•
IN 1997 ANNPERRAULT
and her then,partner Jackie Victor opened an
organic bakery in the economically stricken Cass Corridor district of
Detroit, Mich. Fourteen years later, Avalon International Breads-and
the neighborhood it calls home-are thriving.
When first bought an unfinished Detroit storefront in 1997 with
the intention of opening up a bakery, the property was, to say the least,
quite a fixer upper. The future site of Avalon International Breads lacked
lighting and working plumbing-not
to mention the fact that its location
in Cass Corridor, a blighted neighborhood in the city's Midtown area,
might have deterred less optimistic business owners.
But with a lot of hard work-and
a lot of organic flour-Perrault
and Victor have managed to turn Avalon into a veritable Midtown
institution. The bakery currently sees more than 1,000 customers each
day, with people braving long lines just to buy Avalon's signature loaves,
like their Pontchartrain Pumpernickel, Motown Multigrain and even
their healthy version of Wonder bread.
The philosophy that fuels the company is just as wholesome as the
food it sells. Perrault and Victor opened Avalon using the Buddhist
"right livelihood" business model,
which emphasizes supporting com,
munity, earth,friendly practices and a
fierce dedication to employees.
From the get go, Perrault and Victor
have offered fair wages, benefits and
health insurance to Avalon employees.
Many of these employees are Cass
Corridor residents, which reflects the
pair's efforts to integrate Avalon into a
struggling neighborhood without alien,
ating or excluding any of the locals.
Thanks in part to Avalon's presence,
Cass Corridor has begun to flourish
in the last 14 years. Streets once lined
Lesbian-ownedbakery AvalonBreads
usesbaked goods and Buddhist
teachingsto help revive a struggling
Detroit community.BY RASHIDA
HARMON
with abandoned buildings are now home to
independent bookstores, boutiques and salons.
With public and private enterprises working
together to make the Midtown area more
livable-and profitable-it
seems thanks to
Perrault's efforts Cass Corridor is one area
on the brink of a much,needed develop,
mental renaissance.
Since 1997, Avalon has undergone some
changes of its own: in 2008 the bakery relo,
cated to a spacious new site around the corner,
and expanded their menu to include pastries
(many of which are vegan), artisanal coffee
and seasonal dishes-all made using organic,
local and sustainable ingredients whenever
possible. Though the couple has parted ways,
Avalon International Breads continues to pros,
per as the only bakery in Southeast Michigan
to use 100 percent organic flour.
Plus, with many of their products now
available at grocery stores and restaurants
throughout Michigan, ladies across the Great
Lakes State can savor the sweet taste of the
bakery's success. (avalonbreads.net)■
November 2011
I 59
farm
fatales
lez get raw
Chef and fitnesstrainer,Briana
Stockton,talks raw foods.
BYROSANNA
RIOSSPICER
Healthino Bite
Kale& LemonSandwiches
ByAnnEsselstynin the documentary
Planeat
For eight
simple ways
to eat your
way to health
and help the
planet visit
curvemag.com
60
I curve
RAWFOOD
ANDRAINBOWS
have a lot more in common
than you think. Ever considered going raw but feared
the diet would be too daunting or dull? According to
Briana Stockton, lesbian raw food chef and personal
fitness trainer, eating vegetables and fruits that reflect
all the colors of the rainbow is the key to keeping your
raw diet enticing, fresh and full of flavor.
Aside from adding more color and flavor to your
meal, a raw diet is shown to have possible health
benefits for you. While there are some conflicting
studies, most nutrition experts agree that cooking food kills nutrients
and enzymes that are good for your body. For super fit personal
trainer Stockton, going raw is all about "how our bodies are designed
to digest that food, use it for fuel and get rid of rather than store for
fat. It's good for the skin, the body and the soul:'
In a society where fast and fried triumph over fresh nearly every
time we stroll down a city street, a girl might wonder, what does a
raw foodist eat? The answer is pretty simple and doesn't have to be
boring. When it comes to raw food you don't have to rely only on the
bland crunch of celery sticks or a handful of tasteless trail mix. How
about red cabbage "chips" with a cashew "cheese" sauce blended with
fresh herbs and spices to stand in for the healthiest and possibly tastiest
nachos you've ever had? That's just one of the raw food dishes that
Stockton likes to snack on. Variety is the constant in a raw diet'you've
got to experiment. Get a vegetable or fruit that's different and try to
eat something that's different every daY:'
You don't have to be a chef to prepare scrumptious raw cuisine.
"It's all about getting knowledge and then practicing. After that, it's so
simple;' says Stockton. An essential tool for the raw kitchen is a good
blender because "it's a raw foodist's stove:'
Don't be discouraged if you feel it's too late to start a raw diet with
the holidays just a few cold fronts away. Holidays can prove to be a
difficult occasion to stick to any healthy eating regimen. Be part of
the solution and bring a raw dish to introduce at the next holiday
office party or family gathering. Stockton suggests raw mashed potatoes,
a simple mixed green salad or even marinated mushrooms for an
earthier flavor.
Too busy to cook for yourself? Keep your eye out for Stockton's
next project: A raw vegan bar and lounge in San Francisco. Where
she will be serving up some ravenous raw concoctions. ■
Ingredients
4 sliceswholegrainbread
1 bunchof kale,choppedin bitesizedpieces
(removethick stem)or 4 cupsSwisschard
hummus(with lemonandgarlicthenadding
to tastecumin,vinegar,red pepper,parsleyor
cilantroin placeof the tahini)
greenonions,chopped
1/2 bunchcilantroor parsley,chopped
1/2 to onelemon,very,verythinlysliced
andthe endssqueezedandzested
1 largetomato,slicedin 4 thick slices
(optional)
1.Toastbreadwell untilalmostcracker-like.
2. Putkalein a potwith 3-4 inchesof water
in the bottom.Bringto boil,coverandcook
untiltender,3-5 minutes.Checkfrequently.
Kaleis goodwhencookedspinach-like.
3. Spreadtoastthicklywith hummus,sprinkle
greenonionson hummus,pilecilantroontop
of the greenonionsthenplacea few thinly
slicedlemonspiecesonthe cilantro.
4. Whenkaleis tender,drainwell. Shakethe
strainerso all wateris gone,sprinklekalein
the strainerwith lemonzestandremaining
lemonjuice.Lotsof lemonmakesthis good!
5. Puta big handfulof lemon-filledkaleon
top of eachpieceof bread.Optional:
Topwith
a tomatoslice.
farm
fatales
the
ueer
u ban
farmer
I ASKMYSELF
WHY-despite the fact that I live in a country that supports
homosexuality-"queers"
are still not recognized as sometimes being
different from the characters you see on The L Word and Will and Grace:
obsessed with their posh careers, their fancy houses, their stylish clothes
and their freer-than-thou sexual encounters. Why is it that in popular
culture queers are so consistently portrayed as urbanites?
In North America, queers have found their place in cities more than
anywhere else because cities fostered the first queer-friendly communities.
In times when it wasn't OK to be gay anywhere else, the city provided
a safe haven where queers began to build their place in the world. Just
as other immigrants did, queers flocked to the places where there were
other people like them; they came from small towns and suburbs to be
in a community where they were accepted and understood. The city also
offered anonymity. You could thankfully be swallowed up in the hustle
and bustle, unnoticed or noticed as you chose.
A history of expulsion from small towns, from rural life, from places
of intolerance and isolation, has led queers to be part of a thriving urban
culture that shines in all its diverse glory. But what about queers like me?
I want a big open field, a plot of land to put my hands in, a horizon, a
steady pace, a place where everybody knows my name. But I also want
to be supported by a thriving queer community. I want to be proud and
accepted in my identity. I want to dance on a Friday night surrounded by
good-looking women (who could be into me)! Can I have my queer cake
and eat it too?
Well, for now, this queer has found a happy medium by being part of
the urban farming movement. I currently work as a community garden
coordinator for an organization called PACT, in its Grow to Learn
program. In three years, PACT has managed to create six substantial
community gardens on high school properties, mostly in "at-risk" neighborhoods on the outskirts of downtown Toronto, making PACT one
of the largest urban agriculture organizations in the city. After
spending the day working with my teenage urban farmers and delivering
Theslow,queer journey back
to nature. BYNATALIE
BOUSTEAD
our produce to the Daily Bread Food Bank,
I get to shed my dirty overalls for some highwaisted jean shorts and dance the night away
at The Henhouse or Holy Oak. For me, this
perfectly balances my desire for community,
arts and culture with my desire to live off the
land, be self-sufficient and stay in contact
with nature.
The urban farming movement is a very
important stepping-stone, not just for society
in general, but for people like me, who wish to
live a nonurban lifestyle but feel drawn to the
city to find the love and support that might
not otherwise be abundantly available.
As queer-friendly attitudes continue to
emerge, it is my hope that people like me will
no longer have to leave small towns and farms
and suburbs to find acceptance and community.
Although so many of us certainly feel "free" in
the city,until that freedom fully extends beyond
the borders of the city center, there is still much
work to be done. Until then, you can catch me
turning heads in my farm gear, content that,
queer or not, being an "urbanite" these days can
mean being a farmer like me. (pactprogram.ca/
pact/PACTGrow2Learn.html)■
November 2011
I 61
Canadian lesbians show their
Pride (clockwise from bottom
left), a view of the city at night
and Clafouti's sweet treats
62
I curve
EXPLORE
LOVELY,
LESBIAN-CENTRIC
TORONTO.
CANADA!
Ranked No. 4 this year in the Economist's
survey of the most livable cities in the world,
Toronto, the provincial capital of Ontario and
the largest city in Canada, offers globe-trotting
lesbians a whole lot to love.
The city's inhabitants are laid-back- not
uncaring or uninterested, just extremely mellow. They never appear to be in a hurry, and
drivers even have the patience to stop for
scofflaw pedestrians who cross the streets
willy-nilly.
Our first night there, my girlfriend and I went
with some friends to the opening of a new
performance piece at Buddies in Bad Times,
world's oldest and largest queer theater
(buddiesinbadtimes.com). Then we sauntered
over to Church Street to see the action.
WHERE THE GIRLS ARE
The lesbian scene in Toronto is more elusive than the
gay male scene, with producers throwing lesbian parties
at straight clubs and dykes organizing large community
events such as the Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film and
Video Festival (insideout.ca). Some younger dykes were
on staff at the Canadian Lesbian & Gay Archives, and
gave us a tour that made for an enlightening glimpse into
the queer history of our neighbor to the north (clga.ca).
The 519, Toronto's queer community center, is a home
away from home for locals and visitors alike, with two
comfortable lounges on the first floor. The space includes
a restaurant, too ( the519.org).
Just across Church Street from The 519 is Slacks, the
only lesbian bar and restaurant in town. Owner Karen
Halliday runs the place full~time with her partner, Michele
Hammerton. For us, Slacks had absolutely no competition
as far as watering holes were concerned, although queer
women also like to hang out at the Beaver (beavertoronto.ca)
and the Hen House (henhousetoronto.com).
But to Halliday, the issue of competition arises only
when she raises the subject of lesbians spending their
money outside the community. She'd like to see more of
their support. "If we closed our doors tomorrow there
would be a huge outcry, and from women who have never
been here, or haven't been for years;' she says. FYI: Slacks
is not a grungy establishment. It's an attractive, upscale
space for women and their friends to have a drink, eat
good food and enjoy great music from local faves such as
Melissa Ferrick and Hunter Valentine (slacks.ca).
WHERE TO STAY
After a burger stuffed with brie and olives at Slacks, my
gal and I headed back to our own home away from home
for the long weekend-a comfy corner room with a lively
painted ceiling at the Gladstone Hotel. Owner~developer
Christina Zeidler calls the Gladstone, with its 37 artist~
designed rooms, a unique, rather than boutique, hotel.
Zeidler, a lesbian, is an international film
BY STEPHANIE SCHROEDER
and video artist whose interest and invest~
ment in art even extends to finding work
for artists and paying them a living wage. When the hotel
was restored and renovated in 2004, she employed local
architects, artists and artisans. Now, she recruits local
residents, including artists, to staff the joint, and hosts
an array of art, music and political events. Rooms start at
$195 (gladstonehotel.com).
A funky hotspot, the Gladstone has public spaces on
November 2011
I63
every floor and the walls are lined with modern art. The
hotel boasts a cafe, the small art bar and the main bar,
where karaoke is a hit on weekends. There is also a ballroom, where a wedding took place during our stay. It's
legal for lesbians to marry in Canada. The guidelines
only require that you apply for a marriage license and
proffer an officiant and two witnesses. There are no
residency or citizenship requirements. There is, however,
a residency requirement if you want to get a divorce.
OUT AND ABOUT
HOWTOGETTHERE
PorterAirlinesgetsyouto
Toronto
in aboutan hourand
a halffromNewarkandalso
fliesfromBoston
andChicago
MidwayAirport.Porterlands
on"theisland,"
Toronto
Island
Airport,
officially
knownas
BillyBishop
Toronto
CityAirport.
You'llneedto taketheferry
acrossthe400-footwestern
channel,
or hopa shuttlebusto
downtown
thentakea taxito
yourdestination.
Porteroften
hasdiscounts
ranging
from
30 to 60 percent,
soplanahead.
(flyporter.com)
64
I curve
On Queen Street West, a line of lovely storefronts
house vintage and designer boutiques, contemporary
and antique furniture shops, cafes, restaurants and art
galleries. A friendly local tour guide, Betty Ann Jordan,
provides insight into Toronto's Art and Design District.
If you go, be sure to take
Jordan's free first-Saturday
ON QUEENSTREETWEST,A
walking tour of the area
LINEOF LOVELYSTOREFRONTS
(artinsite.com).
HOUSEVINTAGEAND DESIGNER
The Katharine Mulherin
BOUTIQUESI CONTEMPORARY
Gallery ( she also has a galAND ANTIQUEFURNITURE
lery, Mulherin Pollard, in
SHOPS,CAFES, RESTAURANTS
New York City) was a fantasAND ART GALLERIES.
tic contemporary art space
showing the best local,
national and international modern artists (katharinemulherin.com). One clothier caught my eye-Magpie
Designs. The storefront is filled with Mad Max-meetsPhantom of the Opera stylings-very dramatic. The
two designer-owners, Cathy McDayter and Angela
Mann, have their atelier in the back.
Caju, a Brazilian restaurant with a casual upscale
atmosphere, serves excellent fare at reasonable prices
(caju.ca). Clafouti, a petite patisserie, serves French
treats that are perfect for brunch or a picnic. To describe
the heavenly clafouti itself as egg custard with seasoned
fruit is akin to describing a Bugatti Royale as a chassis
HOWTOGETAROUND
with four wheels.
Justabouteverywhere
wewanted
King Street West is trendier than bohemian Queen
togowasinwalking-ortrolley
Street.
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)
car-distancefromtheGladstone.
has grown from a 10-day event to a year-round operaCheckwiththeToronto
Transit
tion. In addition to showing Inside Out, TIFF screens
Commission
aboutpublic
transit,
new and classic films, hosts a children's film festival
byfarthebestwayto getaround.
Thetrolleys,
busesandsubway
and maintains a reference library. You can find its new
areveryuser-friendly.
(ttc.ca)
home, the TIFF Bell Lightbox, at the corner of King
andJohn (tiff.net).
WHENTOGO
I got an unexpected panorama of Toronto from
Before
yougo,checkwithTourism
Broadview Avenue while perched on a bench in front
Toronto
tofindoutaboutseasonal
of the Rooster Coffee House (roostercoffeehouse.com),
happenings-events,
festivals,
across from Riverdale Park. With the breathtaking sight
sports,
theatre-andtogetthe
of lush greenery all around me, I sipped an espresso
bestpackage
dealsandspecial
alongside my companion, Carlos Rios from All About
offers.(seetorontonow.com)
Toronto Tours (allabouttoronto.com).
He was our
guide to this magical spot in a most livable city. ■
TuneintoTaiwan's
queersceneat
fridae.asia
andutopia-asia.com.
Bothsitespostinfoaboutqueer
Asia(thelattersiteevenhasa
programmed
Google
mapshowing
allthepoints
ofinterest).
or a small country, Taiwan
has a lot going on. The mountainous oval
island sits 100 miles southeast of mainland
China, and measures just 250 by 90 miles.
But from its capital city of Taipei, home to
the world's second-tallest skyscraper, Taipei
101, it's easy to see how this diminutive island
holds a prime spot in the global economy.
Here, high fashion and high finance blend
with a rich aboriginal culture whose traditions are very much alive and still inform this
dynamic world travel destination.
Culture shock can surprise a first~time visitor to Taiwan.
Day one may have you gasping over how commonplace it
is to see people wearing medical face masks here, as you
dash across an intersection before 100 motor scooters run
you down on your way to a packed noodle shop for some
beef~tendon soup-they
say eating collagen is amazing
for the skin. (Be sure to hit up Lao~Zhang Beef Noodle
Shop for the absolute best in town.)
66
I curve
The culinary heritage of Taiwan relies on stronger
flavors and more exotic fish and meat dishes than you're
used to in the West. But don't let that discourage you from
stepping out of your comfort zone, because, as cliched as it
sounds, many of those exotic dishes taste way better than
they look.
Such a different culture can be overwhelming, but
within a day or two what at first feels daunting will soon
become familiar, as if the country's energy has seeped into
you like a strong cup of Assam tea.
Taipei City stands at the northern end of this lush
green island. Home to 2.6 million people, the capital city
feels exceptionally organized. If you happen to be visiting
from New York, there is one thing that will really rock
your world: immaculate, air~conditioned subway stations.
Yes, it makes sense to keep the subways cool, especially in
such a humid climate, where summer temperatures regu~
larly exceed 100 degrees. Yet, if you're used to a dingy,
hot American subway system, Taipei's metro, or MRT,
feels more like an engineering miracle, enhanced by
being affordable, spatially logical, wired with cellular and
Internet access and, amazingly, accessorized with potted
plants that go unsullied by the masses.
In other words, parts of Taipei can feel like you've DJs. Karaoke is a staple of the gay nightlife scene in Taipei
walked into the City of the Future. Or at least the movie
and beyond, but ask around for where the best spots are.
set for it.
There are sure to be lots of them.
For the lesbian traveler, Taipei gets spicier with the
No trip to Taipei would be complete without dumpabundance of highly visible "tomboys" and their girllings, and there's only one place that will make you forget
friends. Not only do they seem to be everywhere-they
about every other dumpling you've ever had in your whole
are the city's eye candy. But locals will admit that lesbians
life: Din Tai Fung (dintaifung.com.tw). These incredibly
and gays still haven't achieved full acceptance, just as you
light, succulent steamed dumplings, soup-filled or stuffed
might expect in a place where traditional family life is the
with crab, mushrooms or truffies and pork, have made
most important ingredient in the culture-and
personal
Din Tai Fung restaurants a growing international chain.
But it's at the original restaurant (on Xinyi Road) that
privacy is greatly respected and encouraged.
However, the tides of tolerance are turning for Taiwanese
you'll get to peer into the kitchen at the madness of two
queers. In August, Chen Pin-ying, editor of the Chinesedozen white-dad workers hand-making dumplings by
the gross-one of the most frenetic and efficient culinary
language Lez's Meeting magazine (lezsmeeting.com),
organized "Barbie and Barbie's Wedding" -essentially a sights you'll ever see.
Once dinner's done, you're ready
mass lesbian wedding and kiss-in
that drew thousands of supporters
for an amazing treat that will top off
to downtown Taipei.
any visit to tantalizing Taipei. Head
WHATAT FIRSTFEELS
"I feel very hopeful that Taiwan will
to Yong Kang 15 (also the address)
DAUNTINGWILL SOON
legalize same-sex marriage soon;'
for
a taste of "mango shaved ice" and
BECOMEFAMILIAR,AS IF
said one of the brides, 32-year-old
you'll
know why the place is packed
THE COUNTRY'SENERGY
stylist Celine Chen. She may not
day
and
night, though this ice cream
HAS SEEPEDINTOYOU
have to wait much longer, considerand
fresh
fruit dessert is worth tryLIKEA STRONGCUP
ing that the Taiwanese government
ing
all
over
town, including at the
OF ASSAM TEA.
is already toying with the idea of
bustling night markets and simple
introducing marriage-equality legisstreet vendors. If fruity isn't your
lation. The fact that a remarkable 30,000 people flocked
thing, try the artistic "toasts" drizzled with honey, saucto Taipei's Gay Pride Festival in 2010 doesn't hurt the
es and chocolate fondue at one of two Dazzling Cafes
cause either.
(cafe.dazzlingdazzling.com).
But for specific Taipei deets, start with Les Love Boat
If you're considering your first visit to Asia, Taipei City
and GinGin Books, which are just a stone's throw from
may not seem as alluring or exotic as Bangkok, Hong
each other, near National Taiwan University. Les Love
Kong or Tokyo. But the beauty of this world-class city
Boat (lesloveboat.com) is an LGBT catchall shop where
is precisely that it doesn't need to hype itsel£ because its
you'll find the utterly handsome store manager, Olivia
busy streets are so chock-full of amazing, authentic restauWu, ready to style you in locally designed clothes and tank
rants, night markets, temples and nightlife. It's up to the
top-style binders that will bring out the tomboy in every
rest of the world to come seek it out. ■
gal. Along with providing a great inventory of media, toys
and admittedly cute pet wear, the shop also hosts one-onone fortune-telling and offers massage-both
regular and
"knife massage;' which uses dull-edged cleavers to karatechop your tension away.
WhileTaipeiCityisthepounding oroneoftheotherbeautiful
Similarly, GinGin (ginginbooks.com) sells LGBT
heartoftheisland,
thereis much "bathing
beaches"
thatdotthe
books and other goods, not to mention serving as a safe
more
to
see
and
do
outside
of
subtropical
island.
Head
inland
and welcoming gathering place for the local queer comthecapital.TainanCityand
to witnessthebreathtaking
munity since 1999. Proudly proclaiming"We fly our own
Taichung-whose
namesshare
verdantbeautyof NantouCounty,
way!" GinGin also hosts lectures and other public events.
thesameetymology
asoneofthe wherethegentletidesof Sun
The lively, hip enclave called the Red House (redhouse.
island's
14 aboriginal
tribesMoonLakewilleaseyouintoa
org.tw) is the place where queers grab cocktails and kick
bothstandasthriving
metropostorybook
breakfromreality.On
back on the giant open patio. The area, right off the Ximen
lisesonopposite
sidesofthe
oneofthe lake'snorth-end
high
MRT stop, is home to the recently renovated Red House
Tropic
ofCancer,
eachwiththeir
roads,Fleurde ChineHotelhas
Theatre, a 1908 red-brick octagonal performance hall
ownhistories,
hugepopulations, balconies
foreveryroom-and
that's helped turn the surrounding area, formerly a public
bustling
cultures
andvibrant
magically,
mineralwaterfrom
market, into a mini West Village.
nightlife
scenes.Fora slower
the localhotspringspipedinto
pace,headto FulongBeach
eachpanoramic
bathtub.
If you're ready to dance, hop over to Luxy (luxy-taipei.com)
for Wednesday ladies' night with hot local and international
EXPLORINGABOVEANO BELOW
THE TROPICOF CANCER
November 2011
I 67
HONG KONG
NIGHTLIFE
SPARKLES
A QUICKTRIPTHROUGH
SKYSCRAPERCITY'S
QUEERSCENE.
In a city of7.1 million people, Hong Kong's queer nightlife
may seem a difficult to uncover. Maybe it's the narrow roads
and winding sky bridges, or because really fun places
don't need advertising, or because gays are everywhere
here already. It's undeniable-Hong
Kong is one of the
world's most effervescent cities. You'll see all the top
fashions before the rest of the planet, and you'll go on to
spotting fine gay women and men dressed to
kill at lounges like Psychic Jack, neighborhood
BY KELSY CHAUVIN
hangouts Deja Vu or Zoo, and late~night clubs
like Propaganda. But for the mainly~girl scene, plan your
trip to coincide with a Les Peches party. Run by delightful
couple Abby Lee and Betty Grisoni-both
long~term Hong
Kong transplants-Les
Peches (find them on Facebook)
consists of "The Lounge" (first Tuesdays of the month)
and "The Club" (third Saturdays), both at the seductive
Central club Lakage. Several times a year Les Peches
bends toward the intellectual with "The Salon;' introducing
women to workshops and lectures on everything from
feminism today to creative cocktails. Getting to Hong
Kong and its surrounding area is fairly simple: the city has
a great airport that's just a quick train ride away from both
Kowloon and Hong Kong main stations, and a virtually
endless number of hotels-from
harbor views at the
opulent Shangri~ La to the more modest Ice House. But
whether you're into haute couture or crazy cheap markets,
add "The Pearl of the Orient" to your Asia travel itinerary
next time you're in the neighborhood. ■
with Sweet
NCL's Norwegian
Shy
SHIRT
&SWEET
BAH!.t■AS CRUiSE
februar:·~ 17-:lO, 2012
/
*****
NCL "~Norwegian
Pearl
ALISO
CIUISE
may 18=-20, .2012' - .
* * * * *
NCL'.'s1Vorwegia-,, Epic
SWEET
IIEDITEIIANEA
CRUISE.
july 1-8, ,2012
* *' * * *
. NCL's Norwegian
•
};pie
SWEET
EASTERN
CARIBBEAN
CRUISE
•
november
E:N"LJ:ST
CALL
87'7
8-10, 2012
-
1'1"0-.V!
793
3830
1scovrn
swf
H.COM
CST#
2091755-40
PROVINCETOWN,LESBIANMECCA
OF THE NORTHEAST,IS THE
PLACEFOR DYKES-SINGLES,
COUPLES,THE MELLOWANO
THE ADVENTUROUSALIKE.
f Provincetown were a politician, it
would be a great galvanizing figure-the
one that eludes us in politics. As a yearround destination, it's a town that unites
all lesbians and gays- no matter what
their color, creed, age or marital status.
Perhaps it's the history of the place and
its generations of passionate inhabitants:
the Pilgrims, the Portuguese, numerous
playwrights, painters and performersall share a love of the landscape that's
as deep as the whale-rich ocean around it
and as indefinable as a certain quality of light
that magically bathes the tip of Cape Cod.
What makes P,town so queer? Its famous gay writers,
in,residence run the gamut from Tennessee Williams to
Michael Cunningham, and include feminist playwright
Susan Glaspell and lesbian comic Kate Clinton-but
a
genuine atmosphere of artistic expression and tolerance
inhabits the place as well. Gay,owned and ,operated quality
establishments, from galleries to guest houses, contribute to
the sense of queer culture. Take, for example, the Atlantic
House, widely considered to be the oldest gay bar in the
country, as well as all the gay, and lesbian,owned B&B's
that act as home away from
home for seasonal folk. And
then there's a bounty of
lesbian events, such as Single Women's Weekend and Girl
Splash, organized by local luminary Lynette Molnar, a San
Francisco transplant who energetically and warmly show,
cases the town and makes lesbian visitors feel welcome.
Possibly, it's the balance of nature and culture that
makes P,town special: Where else in the world can you
spend all day whale watching or sunning yourself at the
70
I curve
w
>0
L1J
E
w
z
g
;:S
z
<(
~
u
::J
I
u
zw
~
0
~
w
_J
Q
u
iI
beach (Herring Cove, nude and gay), then peruse lesbian
art, dine at a lesbian-owned restaurant, watch lesbian
comics perform and stumble home merrily to your lesbian
guesthouse-in-between
strolling the charmingly narrow
New England streets with your lover, no eyebrows raised.
When it comes to total immersion in your own kind,
Provincetown is a little piece of lesbian perfection.
P-TOWNCALENDARFOR LESBIANS
MAY:SingleWomen's
Weekend
(singlewomensweekend.com)
JUNE:National
Women
of ColorandFriends
Weekend
(womenofcolorweekend.com)
JULY:GirlSplash(girl-splash.com)
AUGUST:
FamilyPrideWeek(familyequality.org)
BEDDING DOWN
There are a few lesbian-owned inns and guesthouses in
Provincetown. Recently, we stayed at the Fairbanks Inn,
an authentic Colonial mansion that dates back to the
1770s. Centrally located on Bradford Street, the inn has
a variety of well-appointed private rooms and charming
common spaces where you can socialize with other guests.
Hosts Kathleen Fitzgerald and Alicia Mickenberg are
exceptionally friendly and go out of their way to offer
their recommendations about what to do in the area.
Breakfast on the sun porch or the garden patio is a great
way to relax, chat and plan the day's adventures.
NORTHEASTERN NOSH
The most prominent lesbian restaurant m town is
Lorraine's, serving Mexican cuisine with a contemporary twist and a light, Northeastern approach to spice.
Established by Lorraine Najar in 1978, the warmly decorated and charming Commercial Street fixture in the mellow
West End serves up authentic fresh-lime margaritas from
a selection of 130 tequilas, and secret family recipes such
as slow-cooked pork tenderloin carnitas and big portions
of locally sourced seafood-the
blackened tuna tacos are
hearty. For waterfront dining all year round, you can't beat
the atmosphere and service at The Mews Restaurant &
Cafe. For a merry meal right in the heart of all the P-town
hedonism, the Central House at the Crown & Anchor is
your best bet and excellent for people watching. Chase
away your hangover the next day with brunch at Bayside
Betsy's, owned and operated by long-term resident and
local icon Betsy Melamed.
OCTOBER:
Women's
Week(womeninnkeepers.com)
Womencrafts-and
pick up a copy of curve there! For
entertainment, Provincetown's vibrant live performance
scene boasts singers such as Lori Michaels and lesbian
comics aplenty-pretty
much every lesbian standup, from
Sandra Bernhard to Sandra Valls, has performed there.
If your visit coincides with one of Ms. Molnar's varied
events from May to October, you'll have plenty of mixing
and mingling with women over dinners, dance parties and
bayside brunches. To get around, just walk everywhere or
rent bikes from P-town Bikes.
MAKE THE PILGRIMAGE
You can fly into Boston and drive or, for a more leisurely
and traffic-free arrival, take the Bay State Cruise Company
Fast Ferry from Boston to Provincetown. ■
P-TOWN PICKS
zw
~
if
w
()
z
~
(/)
z
0
()
For a place that's only three miles long and three blocks
wide, P-town offers plenty to do over the course of a long
weekend. The quintessential P-town experience is whale
watching. Catch a Dolphin Fleet cruise on MacMillan Pier
and summon the maritime spirit of Herman Melville as
you float on the high seas, scanning the horizon for these
majestic sea mammals. If you're not lucky that day, you'll
receive a free ticket for your next visit. For more outdoor
adventure, explore the historic sand dunes on a tour of the
Cape Cod National Seashore; take a group tour during
Women's Week to cuddle up at sunset with a new friend.
In town, drop in to the galleries on the East End for wine,
cheese and a chat with artists every Friday night or shop
for women-made jewelry and trinkets at lesbian-centric
November 2011
I 71
REVIEWSMusic Watch
KarinCarson:Her Time is Now
The jazz chanteuse on love and making music. By Mary McGrath
It was a balmy summer night. My partner
and I were headed to a fundraiser in the
Hollywood Hills for the LGBT community.
That's when I spotted her: Karin Carson,
the jazz chanteuse-who
just so happens
to be very easy on the eyes-crooning
the
standards with her jazz trio, tripping the
light fantastic.
Carson grew up in San Diego, surrounded
by a family of musicians, so it's little surprise
that Carson began showing an affinity for
music early on-Carson
began singing at 2
and declared music her destiny at 3.
Over the years since her preadolescent
declaration Carson has studied many other
forms of music but it's jazz that truly won
her heart. It was this passion that inspired
Carson to fight back against the budget
721
curve
cuts facing her alma mater Grossmont
College in 2004, organizing fundraisers
and successfully securing grants to keep
the program a float.
Carrying on her jazz advocacy, Carson
formed The San Diego Jazz Musicians
Guild in her home city in 2009. And now
the bisexual songstress is channeling that
ardor into her debut album, The Time Is
Now, a swanky nine~track love letter to
classical jazz.
Tellmea bitaboutyournewalbum.
I started putting my ideas together for my
first project in 2005. The CD includes two
originals and one song that I wrote lyrics to
for this project. The first song I wrote on
guitar was "Racing With The Wind" for
my significant other at the time. Later that
same year I wrote "The Time Is Now" for
my friend Kristie. The lyrics to "Beatrice"
came from a suggestion from Joshua White,
who plays piano on the album. But my
favorite tune on the album would have to
be Billy Strayhorn's "Lush Life:' My dear
friend, bassist Christian McBride, sat down
to the piano for this one, which makes this
even more priceless.
If youcouldworkwithanyjazzmusician,
whowouldit be?
Herbie Hancock was one of my first musical
influences in the jazz realm. He is not only
an amazing piano player, but has a beautiful
way of putting music together. Being next
to a legend like Herbie would be a dream
come true.
z
<(
~
:s
~
...J
w
<(
I
u
~
Whatdoyoudowhenyouaren'tworkingon
yourmusic?
Although my work and projects keep me
pretty busy, I love to travel, see new places
and meet new people. One of my favorite
things is dancing. I started in ballet and
jazz years ago and have my toe shoes hanging
on the wall.
Withso muchgoingon,doyouhavetimefor
romance?
I love falling in love but, with my schedule,
I find it hard to meet someone trustworthy
outside of my circle, so I have been roaming
solo the last few years. I do have my eye
fJi
0
~
:!,
0
_J
_J
w
~
w
0
er:
0
I-
u
>
cJ
<{
[2_
z
~
(/)
:::J
I
I
(/)
Q
rfi
(/)
w
~
N
w
z
~
z
>
er:
w
I
(/)
z0
(/)
er:
<{
Q
z
<{
~
5
~
_J
w
<{
I
u
~
out for the right partner, so I hope I am
prepared when they come along. They say,
"Do what you love, the rest comes;' so I try
and stay focused and keep smiling.
Tell me aboutyour performance
schedule.
What'sit likefora touringmusician?
As a musician, it seems like no matter how
much you make, it goes right back into
the music. I will be embarking on my first
tour soon. I have done some small shows
up and down the West Coast, but look
forward to the day when the tour bus gets
loaded up and off we go. It is a lot of work,
unexpected delays, promotion, negotia~
tions, rigorous agendas, little sleep and, in
the end, amazing moments that you will
remember forever. (karincarson.com)
AllisonWeiss
WasRightAllAlong
{self-released)
AnaEgge
BadBlood
{AmmalRecords)
Girlin a Coma
Exits& All theRest
{Blackheart
Records)
ToriAmos
Nightof Hunters
{Deutsche
Grammophon)
Lesbiansinger-songwriter
AllisonWeisshastheyouthful
voiceof yourkidsisterandthe
oldsoulof a poet.Likejunkfood
secretlyloadedwithvitamins,
Weiss'upbeatandeccentric
dittiesheavewithsurprising
andsatisfying
substance.
While
originallyreleased
in 2009,
Weiss'crowdsourcedalbumis
nowbeingre-released
onvinyl
by DIVlabelEither/Or,
whichis
a boonfor anyonewhomissed
this refreshingly
nuancedpop
albumthefirsttimearound.
Andwithall thetracksclocking
in at aroundthreeminutes,it's
a perfectlybite-sizedmusical
treat."FingersCrossed"
is
sweetandedgylikerazorblade
flavoredbubblegumandthe
rawcordchanges
andennuiladenlyricsof "WhyBother"
will feelfamiliarto anyone
who'sgonethrougha lingering
breakup.Self-deprecating
and
endearingly
quirky,Weisshasa
giftfor makingromanticstrife
fun again.
IfAnaEgge'slatestalbum
BadBloodfeelsa bit dark,it's
withgoodreason.Eggewrote
thesongsthatmakeupthis
12-trackrecordin aneffortto
conveysomething
thatalltoo
oftengetssweptunderthe
rug:mentalillnessin a loved
one."Dealingwiththiscanfeel
so isolatingbecause
noone
wantsto talkaboutit.These
songscameoutof the need
to communicate.
I droveit into
mywriting,"shesays.Eclectic
andmelodic,"Evil"will draw
comparisons
to SherylCrow,
andthefirmlycountry"There
Won'tBeAnymore"
would
makePatsyClineproud.Taken
asa whole,BadBloodis an
intimate,emotionally
rawand
lyricallyfearlessfolk rockset
sureto pleasenewcomers
and
longtimeEggeenthusiasts
alike.Whichis greatnewsfor
fanswhohelpedcrowdfund
thealbum-a perfectsolution
for a do-it-herself-er
likeEgge,
whoevenmadeherownguitar.
Returning
for theirfourth
album,Girlin a Comacontinues
to dazzlewiththeirgiftfor
innovation.
Thetrio effortlessly
blendsinfluences
asdisparate
astejano,rockabilly,
newwave
andpunkto createa soundthat
is unique,freshanddisarminglypleasing.
Alternately
raw
anddreamy,Exits&All the
RestpairssingerNinaDiaz's
sweeping
vocalsto swinging
Latinrockinfusedinstrumentationby bassistanddrummer
(andoutlesbians)
JenniferAlva
andPhanie
Diaz.Thealbum
crackles
withenergyanda
sensescarcely
restrained
fury.
Standout
tracksinclude"Smart,"
a poppygemthatsmacksof
TheSmithsmeetsTheSundays,
whilethealternately
languid
andconfrontational
"Adjust"
issinister,
seductive
audible
intoxication.
Though
their
previous
albumswereinstantly
ear-catching,
thetruemastery
of Exitsis onlyrevealed
through
subsequent
listens.
Wonderfully
strangeand
conceptual,
Nightof Hunters
is a
departure
fromToriAmos'previouseffortsin bothitschoice
of instruments-exclusively
acoustic-anditsuseof narrative.Weaving
mythology
with
newagethemes,Nighttellsthe
metaphysical
taleof a woman
whoat theendof a relationship
goes-overthecourseof one
night-throughritesof passage
thatultimatelyleadherfull
circle,allowingherto make
peacewiththetransitorynature
of relationships.
Everpresent
isAmos'seemingly
endlessly
malleable
voice,whichis
perfectlysuitedto thetheatrics
andwhimsyof thescore.With,
thisalbumyoucanwitness
an iconicartistspreading
her
creativewingsandexploring
andtestingthe boundaries
of
hertalent.Unlikemostmodern
musicengineered
to produce
singles,Nightdefiessuperficial
engagement,
demanding
you
connectwith it asa whole.
November 2011
I 73
REVIEWSSapphic Screen
ValenciaReimagined
Michelle Tea's beloved dyke novel becomes a film. By Kristin Smith
For many dykes coming of age in the 1990s,
Michelle Tea's Valencia was the defining
book of their generation, a sort of Catcher in
the Rye for Gen X queers. With its rambling
prose, unabashed queer sex scenes and personal, often painful narration, Tea's memoir
echoed the story of so many young lesbians
in search of identity, community and love.
And now Tea's story is making the jump
from the page to the screen, with the film
adaptation currently underway.
Valencia won a Lambda Literary award
for its groundbreaking prose, but it was the
impact it had on readers that left the biggest,
most lasting impression. In Valencia, dykes
already immersed in San Francisco's queer
punk culture saw themselves represented
in mainstream print for the first time. For
dykes outside of the notorious gay mecca,
Valencia painted a picture of lesbian life
74
I curve
not shown in the mainstream-or
even
through the words of fellow lesbian authors
like Dorothy Allison, who Tea considers
her greatest influence.
At the time, Tea didn't know she was
writing a book; she was simply writing a series
of vignettes to be read at Sister Spit, the
queer performance group she started with
fellow dyke writer, Sini Anderson. But she
did know that the story needed to be told. "I
just knew it was an incredibly special time,
and I'm so glad I had the wherewithal to
write it as it was happening," says Tea.
Even with the national success of Sister
Spit, it's Valencia that has cemented Tea's
status as a queer icon and leader of the
lesbian lit world. In its second printing,
Valencia-along with books like Chelsea
Girls and Tipping the Velvet-has proven to
be a mainstay of the lesbian library.
From Book to Film
Like all popular novels, there was an early
push to turn Valencia into a movie. Friends
and readers suggested the idea from the getgo, but Tea shrugged it off. "Of course every
writer wants her novel to be turned into a
movie ... but waiting for a director to come
up and propose the film seemed absurd;'
says Tea, who sits in a San Francisco cafe
sipping her fourth coffee of the morning.
"It's also so much pressure to adapt a book
in one single way:'
So she decided to adapt it in 21 ways.
Each of the 21 chapters of Valencia will
be turned into short films, produced by
21 different directors and almost as many
genres. Some directors are producing shorts
that mirror the book, but others are going
more avant-garde, playing with genre and
gender. The film will have everything from
stop-action animation to a French chapter
played by an all-French cast. The plan is
epic, but in keeping with Tea's commitment
to produce cutting-edge, indie art.
"When I look back on it, I realize I had
this idea for a long time, but I thought it
was crazy to ask 21 filmmakers to do this
film and I had a bit of fear about it being
arrogant, like, 'Make a film about my life
why don't you:""
Tea says enough time has passed now
that it doesn't really seem like a story of her
life. "I feel an oddly detached affection for
that book;' says Tea. "It's like I'm a different
person and it's far enough away. I feel like
I had the ability when writing it to detach
myself from the story. I have to detach
myself in a different way for the film:'
Part of that detachment may be that,
in many of the shorts, the Michelle character bares little resemblance to the one
in the book. "I am allowing the directors
to do what they want. I have no set idea
about what it will look like;' says the author
turned producer.
But in the cases when the character does
resemble her 20-year-old sel£ Tea says the
reality of a movie about her life has come
crashing down on her. "I wasn't expecting
to feel so weird and vulnerable;' says Tea of
seeing herself in one of the shorts. "I expect
that it will just get weirder and weirder as
it's finished:'
u
<(
~
Cl)
0
~
<(
In Good Hands
Like all of Tea's projects, the movie is as
much about creating art as it is fostering
community. Just as she does with Sister
Spit and Radar Productions, the non-profit
literary organization she runs, Valencia the
movie is community-centric, a project that
pulls together both big name and budding
queer directors from across the country.
Tea's selection of directors reads like
a who's who of the indie queer arts world.
Among the list of auteurs are legendary dyke director Cheryl Dunye (The
Watermelon Woman), queer porn icon
Courtney Trouble, trans artist Amos Mac
( Original Plumbing magazine) and documentarian Hilary Goldberg, who directed
Ani DiFranco's feature documentary, Render.
Goldberg is directing Chapter 5, the
"buffalo hallucination scene;' where Michelle
is mourning her breakup with Iris, while
watching the buffaloes in Golden Gate
Park. Goldberg is shooting the hallucination scene in stop-action animation, a new
medium for her. ''.Approaching stop-action
animation for the first time has been
dreamy;' says the San Francisco documentarian. More than the creative freedom,
Goldberg says she's excited about the
collaboration. "I love that this is a collaborative feature film project where queer
indie filmmakers join their visions to form
a whole:'
Trouble is taking more of a narrative
approach to her film. She is directing
Chapter 1, the first five minutes of the film,
which spans five weeks-and includes one
epic fisting scene."I am excited about offering
up a prolonged second of real, actual queer
sex happening in a film ... an explicit image
that's outside of the worlds of pornography
and cinema. Just one second of real life;' says
the porn director.
The only non-queer director is Jill
Soloway who Tea describes as "culturally
queer:' Soloway brings a bit of Hollywood
to the otherwise indie production-she
was a producer of Six Feet Under and the
voice of Claire, the series' main female character. She will also take on the daunting roll
of the final chapter. "Jill is going to do a great
job with that vignette;' says Tea. "She has a
romantic sensibility, as does my last chapter.
I think she's going to do a great job of
capturing that:'
Tea says that in the beginning, trying
to organize a team of 21 directors was "a
bit like herding cats;' but all of the pieces
have fallen into place now. The filming
was completed in August and they are
currently in post-production. Tea hopes
to get it into the film festivals in 2012, but
right now she's focused on her tried and
true method of distribution-on
the stage
of Sister Spit.
Tea Today
Eleven years after Valencia was first published Tea is more focused on community
organizing and art than crazy dyke adventures. Even with her wild, curly hair and
tattooed arms, Tea, now 40, is a much
tamer version of her Valencia protagonist.
She has moved from the Mission District,
the setting of Valencia, but still lives in San
Francisco, a city she describes herself as
"being happily trapped" in.
Seventeen years after it began, Tea is
still at the helm of Sister Spit, which
now welcomes all writers, not just queer.
This year, Chronicle Books gave Sister Spit
its own imprint label, a major victory for
LGBT publishing. She is also the Executive
Director of Radar Productions, her nonprofit that helps writers in all stages of
their writing-from
idea genesis through
performing.
In the last decade, Tea has published five
books, including a graphic novel, and the
soon-to-be published biography of Beth
Ditto, Coal to Diamonds. In addition to
Valenciathe movie, Tea is currently working
on two new books-a young adult fantasy
novel and a 400-page novel that is half
memoir and half science fiction. Even with
all the other books and projects, Valenciastill
holds a special place in Tea's heart, just as it
does for her readers. "I feel such an affection
for that book;' says Tea. "It is my story:' ■
November 2011
I 75
REVIEWSTech Girl
TastyTech
Enhance the cooking experience with tantalizing tools. By Rachel Shatto
Do lesbians love to cookr If you've ever been to a lesbian potluck or watched a single episode of Top Chef, then you know that
lady lovin' ladies know their way around the kitchen. And what dyke worth her Cat Cora fan club card doesn't love a kitchen
gadgetr So, here are 10 food~friendly devices and accessories to help bring out the fabulous foodie in you.
76
I curve
1/ Shelf Life Insurance
3/ Souper Hero
Ever wondered how long it's been since
you opened that bottle of ketchupr
Thrown out some hummus that may
or may not have been around for a few
daysr Stop wasting money by tossing
ambiguously aged food out with the
DaysAgo Refrigerator Timer. These
suction cup backed gadgets take the
guesswork out of dating your leftovers.
($8, thinkgeek)
What's better than a cup of hot
homemade soupr One that took little
to no work to create. Like a Crockpot,
the Personal Soup Chef requires you
to add the ingredients and set it to
cook, but unlike a Crockpot the food
processing blades in the chamber auto~
matically chop vegetables so there are
no dirty knives or pots to worry about.
($200, hammacher.com)
2/ Chop of the Line
4/ A Steel Solution
The perfect solution for cooking novices
or intensely detailed lezzie cooks, the
OCD Chef Cuttingboard promises
precision chopping every time by
providing exact measurements and
precise angles. Etched into the surface
are lines and explanations to guarantee
you won't end up with allumette
when the recipe specifically called for
brunoise! ($25, uncommongoods.com)
Garlic and onions smell great in the
pan, but not on your hands, and anyone
who's tried to wash a pesto masterpiece
off their paws knows soap and water is
just an exercise in oil factory futility.
Here's a pro~tip: Rub your hands
on Uncommon Goods' soap~shaped
stainless steel bar to avoid sending your
dinner dates running from your touch.
($14, uncommongoods.com)
10/ Precision
Machine
In the future, all our
5/ Set It and Forget It
Love to grill but hate feeling shackled
to the BBQ? Set yourself free with
Brookstone's Grill Alert Talking Meat
Thermometer. This wireless belt dip
monitor keeps track of your cooking
temperature and alerts you when
your entree has reached the optimal
heat, so you're free to schmooze with
guests-especially the hot ones.
($70, brookstone.com)
7I Espresso Yourself
Espresso for one has never been easier,
more portable or more hands on than
with the Handspresso, which uses
technology and little elbow grease
to create an ideally portioned and
delicious cup of espresso for one. Just
pump it up, add hot water and enjoy.
($135, handpresso.com)
6/ Handle It
Ever cut your finger digging around in
that plastic and metal mire you call a
utensil drawer? Consider that problem
solved with Think Geek's Click 'n Cook.
This 5-in- 1 kitchen utensil features
a handy storage block, an ergonomic
handle and five interchangeable spatula
heads including: classic flat spatula,
long and flexible slotted spatula, extrawide slotted spatula, flexible mixer and
a slotted spoon. Click and get cookin'.
($35, thinkgeek.com)
0
8/ The Scientific Method
Do the words spherification, gelification and emulsification set your queer
little foodie heart a-flutter? Good
news: The Molecular Cuisine Starter
Kit comes complete with perfectly
proportioned chemicals, a set of
tools and a DVD featuring 50 recipe
demonstrations to help get you started
making dynamic delicacies like arugula
spaghetti, beet foam and self contained
mojito shots. Mmm-the
future tastes
amazing. ($80, thinkgeek.com)
9/ Kitchen Counterpart
Like and iPod for your recipes, Dem
is the world's first kitchen-safe digita
recipe reader and will allow you to
consolidate all your favorite recipes
and learn hundreds more all on one
sleek, splash-resistant device.
($200, mydemy.com)
meals will be cooked
by efficient-if socially
awkward-robots
(think
Rosie or C-3PO). But for
now we'll have to be satisfied
by letting one very special
robo-friend lend a helping
hand, head, foot and torso.
The Robocup is a quirky
solution for all your measuring
needs. Stacked together it's an
adorable robot; taken apart it
becomes measuring cups.
($8, thinkgeek.com)
REVIEWSIn The Stacks
WalksOn the Wild Side
Two books with bite. By Rachel Pepper
From the twilight world of lesbian vampires to the travels of
a transgender author; two solid
reads to sink your fangs into.
Girls Who Bite: lesbian Vampire
Erotica, Edited by Delilah Devlin
(Cleis Press): Vampires continue
to be a hot topic in the collective
lesbian imagination. Mainstream
TV shows like True Blood, with their
oft-glamorous portrayal of dyke san,roti"
\esbia11 om~1re
guinarians, certainly have heightened
their appeal even more. Girls Who Bite
is not the first bloody lesbian erotica
collection to ever be published; Cleis
Press alone has put out several previously,
notably Daughters of Darkness: Lesbian
Vampire Tales.Yet, like a vampire hunting
for their next long drink, our community
has a thirst for more. Thus, readers who
appreciate the combination of blood lust evenings, consider these stories which celand dyke erotica will be excited by Girls ebrate the creatures that prowl the nightWho Bite, whose editor writes, "Blood is life. and the recesses of our deepest, darkest,
most primordial fantasies.
And for a vampire, a blood host is more than
food; the relationship is one to be nurtured,
NinaHereNor There,ByNickKrieger(Beacon
and who better to understand that than
Press):For anyone who wonders what a
women:>" Indeed, this offering of stories
features vampires who know how to make journey of gender discovery might look like
from the inside out, Nina Here Nor There,
other women hot, deservedly earning their
reputation 0£ as the back cover states, being by San Francisco travel writer and yogi
"the ultimate lesbian bad girl:' Included in Nick Krieger, will, fits the bill. Although
this collection are ''Al Dente;' about two promoted as a 'Journey beyond gender;'
this is really more accurately a "transgender
vampires enjoying the delights a Roman
coming of age tale" -and a beautifully writevening has to offer, a vampire protectress
known
in "Dark Angel;' and a wax figure comes to ten one at that. When Nina-now
landed in San Francisco,
life in the editor's own piece, "Night at the as Nick-Krieger
Wax Museum:' Here, a lesbian security
he began a journey of self-discovery into an
unexpected land of gender non-conformity.
guard is seduced by a vampire, the seduction
Krieger originally hung with a crowd of
reported-and
repeated. This anthology
''A-gay" lesbians, part of the newly emergent
has many delights, one of which is not
'gaystream"-lesbians who were "older, estataking itself too seriously, enjoying both
the timelessness and current popularity of blished, coupled-off, home-buying capital
its subject. What it does take seriously is its L-Lesbian'' and backyard parties with lots of
responsibility to heat up the reader's libido, beer and lewd chatter. Although fairly comwhich it does successfully, over and over, like fortable as a lesbian, Krieger still felt like an
a vampire's need to feed. So if you're looking outsider within the women's community.
Thus, he quickly became captivated-and
for some red hot erotica to heat up your
g l r\ s .
78
I curve
NiNA HERE
My Jo~~F!
THERE
eyond Gender
repelled-by the gender queer activists with
whom he kept company, including those
he lived with. Thus, Krieger's curiosity was
piqued, and his own gender journey was
launched. Many milestones are exquisitely
documented in the book, such as: his first
invitation to a "Ta-Ta Tatas" benefit party
for a transitioning friend's chest surgery;
compiling his own "Classics ofTransgender
History" reading list; watching a friend's
first testosterone shot; trying out a binder;
changing his pronoun; and exploring a
loving relationship with a female partner
while fighting discomfort in a body his lover
still saw as female. Through all this, Krieger
begins to slowly question his own assumptions about gender and search for a new
place to feel at home on the gender spectrum. Anyone who has ever explored their
own gender will appreciate Krieger's honesty
in tracking the places he has journeyed,
both to find himsel£ and in his colorful
descriptions of the city he now claims as
home. Accessible and full of humor, there's
no question that in the growing canon of
first person transgender narratives, this is
already a classic. ■
cucxe
marketolace
-
come'lifflilif
_ L1m1n.[ li'-mm]
L
-verb
._
Caribbean translation relaxing
-
-
-
J
.
Need an AustralianVisa
for Work, ~lay or Love?
MlOzis the appointed
Migration Consultant
for AvalonMedia.We
provideadviceon all
Australiantemporary &
permanentvisa categories.
Specialisingin de facto &
Employerwork visas, we will
provideyou, your Australian
partner,or your employer
with a confidential complete
migration service:
• Initial eligibility advice
• How to achieve the partner
residency criteria
• Work visa rights
• Employer Sponsorship requirement
• Letter to the Department addressin
the visa criteria specific to your
circumstances
Appointments in Australia at:
Port Macquarie 621Brisbane
OR by telephone and email.
www.pearlskeywest.com
S2SUnited
Street
• KeyWest,FL33040
1.800.749.6696
• Member
IGLTA
Sydney
Out!
Women's res
ookstores &
Legal arriage,
Honeymoons
and Romantic Getaways
S,Canada,E
or visit us on line
RAINBOW WAREHOUSE
Get Gurl Scout
by Damron
on your iPhone!
• PETS
•WEDDING
• MAGAZINES
• GIFTS
• FAMILY
• JEWELRY
Enter code: Curve 2011
www.highlandsinn-nh.com
1-877-LES-B-INN
November 2011
I 79
STARS
Naughty November
Enjoy this month with all the trimmings and lots of sauce.
By Charlene Lichtenstein
Scorpio(Oct.24-Nov.22)
Youcan recognizea typical
Scorpiosister by her
intensenatureand serious
appearance.
Shedressesnot
onlyto impressbut to also
createa persona.If tattoos,
overallsandjackbootsare
de rigueur,she's got to have
them. But if she'sa corporate
animal,expectsomehighpriced,highly-styledimported
suits in her wardrobe.These
womenare complexsouls
caughtin a world that strives
for simpleanswers.Forthis
reasonshe mayexperience
boutsof depressionor
frustration.A wise loveror
gal pal will find creativeways
to take her mindoff such
things.Gee,I wonderwhat
will do the trick?
Scorpio(Oct.24-Nov.22)
Gal pals in need put a crimp in your wallet. Set limits
and see if there is anything you can do to solidify your
own finances through careful research, a good advisor
and your own fiscal acumen. Once you are rolling in
dough you easily become someone's well~endowed
benefactress.
Taurus(April21-May 21)
Is it possible to have too much of a good thing? You
will find out this November. Not only will you have a
choice of all the best parties, each event will bring with
it a new sticky romantic possibility. Ah, but maybe
getting stuck here, there and everywhere is what love
is really all about.
Sagittarius(Nov.23-Dec.22)
Who is this vision of loveliness? Who is this dynamic
personality? You seem to have it all wrapped up nicely
in one package, Sagittarius. Maximize your personal
light. Now is the time to meet and greet and sweep
ladies off their feet. Alas, too soon the demands of
your career will deplete your personal oil and divert
your attention.
Gemini(May22-June 21)
Girlfriends want much more from you and may deliver
you an ultimatum. Are you prepared to make the big
mover If so, there are things that need to be done
around the house that will make it more comfortable
and spacious for the two of you. If not, you might
want to create an escape plan or a diplomatic retreat.
Capricorn(Dec.23-Jan. 20)
There is a lot of intrigue happening behind the scenes
this November. Enjoy all the upheaval and ensuing
excitement. For those Capricorns embroiled in a legal
entanglement, it may be best to handle it immediately
rather than wait weeks. Try to rest your case while the
jury is out.
Cancer(June22-July 23)
You are more talk than action now. Action just seems
to require way too much energy, especially when it has
to do with exercise, diet or a revamp of your current
health regime. But if you can muster the energy to do
something beneficial for your body, you will find other
bodies wanting to get in on your action.
Aquarius(Jan.21-Feb.19)
You are in the social epicenter this November and will
need to find innovative ways to entertain large groups
of interesting and important women. This is not a bad
assignment but it comes with a word of warning: Try
not to mix business with pleasure unless you want
your life severely complicated and messy.
Leo(July24-Aug.23)
Creativity, fun and romance are all highlighted this
November. And so is the opportunity to lavish your
attentions on a bevy of party gals. Lionesses go into
festive overdrive when there seems to be too many
opportunities and not enough quality time. Can you
dance at multiple events with only one tail? Well you
can certainly try!
Pisces(Feb.20-March 20)
The demands of your job may have to take precedence
over relationships this month. Devise ways to make
everyone happy by compromising with partners and
deferring your ambitions. How can you achieve the
ultimate balancer A deft hand is needed. Of course a
deft hand is always needed to keep relationships fresh
and exciting.
Virgo(Aug.24-Sept.23)
As much as you will try to find some down time at
home, there will be a rush of admirers to your front
door. It is your time to meet and greet from the comfort
of your couch. Why fight fate? Plan a few homey get
togethers with bosom buddies. Finish the month off
with a huge T urkeyfest. I wonder who has the best
candied yams r
Aries(March21-April 20)
Lambda Rams have itchy hooves this month, so find
Charlene
Lichtenstein
is
theauthorofHerscopes: any excuse to get out of town and explore delightful
parts unknown with a certain beauty. Or maybe your
A Guideto Astrology
travel companion will be someone from work. Heat is
for Lesbians
(Simon&
generated around the copy machine. You meet some~
Schuster)
(tinyurl.com/HerScopes).
Nowavailableasan ebook.
one who instinctively knows how to load your toner.
Libra(Sept.24-0ct. 23)
Loose lips sink ships. You don't mean to give away
any secrets but you just can't help it. But don't panic,
Libra. There are some secrets that absolutely need to
be tossed out of the closet. By the end of the month
you will find that there was nothing to worry about
and everything to gain from being open. ■
so I curve
TRACY CHAPMAN / KIRSTEN VANGSNESS / SANORA BERNHARD /
JODIE FOSTER / ANI DIFRANCO / MELISSA ETHERIDGE/ TAMMY LYNN
MICHAELS / ALEXANDRA HE0ISON / LILYTOMLIN / KELLY MCGILLIS /
SARA GILBERT/ JENNY SHIMIZU / MARTINA NAVRATILOVA/ MTE
CLINTON / MICHELLE WOLFF/ CLEA DUVALL/ TEGAN & SARA/ JANE
LYNCH/ K,0, LANG/ JACKIE WARNER/ ANNE HECHE / MEREDITH
BAXTER / JANIS IAN / WE GOT THEM COVERED / ANGELINA JOLIE/
KRISTANNA LOKEN / JOEY LAUREN ADAMS / TALLULAH BANKHEAD
LAUREL HOLLOMAN / DREW BARRYMORE / AMANDA BEARSE /
CRYSTAL BERNARD/ BILLYJEAN KING / CHAZ BONO / AMBER HEARD
/ OREA OE MATTEO / CRIS WILLIAMSON / FERRON / ALIX DOBKIN
/ JOAN JETT/ SUBSCRIBE+ SEE/ CATHY 0EBUONO / MARLENE
DIETRICH/ AMANDA DONOHOE / GINA GERSHON / LINDA FIORENTINO
/ JILL BENNETT/ PEGGY SHAW/ GRETA GARBO / ULRIKE FOLKERTS
/ INDIGO GIRLS / ROSIE JONES / LAUREN HAYS / BAI LING / MELISSA
FERRICK/ FRIDA MHLO / REGINA LUND / ROXANNE MICHAELS
/ NICOLE RAYBURN/ TOSHI REAGON/ MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ/
FIONA SHAW/ ALLY SHEEDY/ ALICIA SILVERSTONE/ IONE SKYE/
BARBARA STANWYCK / RACHEL MA00OW / ELLEN 0EGENERES /
PORTIA 0EGENERES / SAFFRON BURROWS / FIONA SHAW/ SARAH
PAULSON / CHERRY JONES / LEISHA HAILEY/ HEATHER MATARAZZO
/ CYNTHIA NIXON / KYLIE MINOGUE / MADONNA / WANDA SYKES /
RUBY ROSE / GUINEVERETURNER / SUZE ORMAN / CLEMENTINE
FORD / ROSIE O 0ONNELL / JILLIAN MICHAELS / BRANDI CARLILE /
DEL MARTIN / WANDA SYKES / COURTENAY SEMEL/ BETH DITTO /
DANIELA SEA / MARGARET CHO / RACHEL ROBINSON / GRETCHEN
PHILLIPS/ SUZANNE WESTENHOEFER / CHELY WRIGHT / PHYLLIS
LYON/ CURVEMAG.COM / MEGAN FOX/ MTE MOENNIG / AMELIE
MAURESMO / ROBYN / BITCH / AUDRE LORD / DORIA ROBERTS /
SARAH SHAHI / SHERYL SWOOPES / CATIE CURTIS / CHRISTINA
AGUILERA/ LADY GAGA/ OPRAH/ HILLARY CLINTON/ JANE VELEZMITCHELL / KRISTEN STEWART/ ILENE CHAIKEN / MARGARETHE
1
CAMMERMEYER / SAM RONSON / LINDSAY LOHAN
curve
ENJOY
.
Q
•
~
Ill
~
~
2:3
0
,..
i~
s to
~~
~~ t•
~
8
~
~
~
Cl
Ill
0
C:
Ill
WITH
ABSOLUT
RESPONSIBILITY~
ABSOLUT®VODKA. PRODUCTOF SWEDEN. 40% ALC./VOL. DISTILLED
FROM GRAIN. ©201 l IMPORTEDBY ABSOLUTSPIRITSco, NEW YORK, NY
See all items with this value
