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Description
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ToC Cover: Back to Reality with Jackie Warner by Lyndsey D'Arcangelo (p54); Rebuilding Your Life by Laniaya Hoofatt (p30); Dancing Queen by Lyndsey D'Arcangelo (p32); Seizing the Baton by Kelsy Chauvin (p38); A Career in the Cards by Merryn Johns (p40); The Power of One by Stephanie Schroeder (p43); A Winning Streak by Lyndsey D'Arcangelo (p46); Cover Photo: Per Bernal.
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issue
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4
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Date Issued
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May 2012
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Format
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PDF/A
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Publisher
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Frances Stevens
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Identifier
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Curve_Vol22_No4_May-2012_OCR_PDFa.pdf
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extracted text
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THE NAME YOU TRUST
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Features
54
Back to Reality
Fitness guru and reality TV hottie Jackie
Warner gives us the lowdown on getting fit and
healthy, for keeps. By Lyndsey D'Arcangelo
30
Rebuilding Your Life
Journalist and blogger Te-Erika Patterson
became homeless for a year to try and change
other women's lives. By Laniaya Hoofatt
32
Dancing Queen
Legendary tennis champion and lesbian activist
Martina Navratilova takes her competitive edge
to primetime TV. By Lyndsey D'Arcange/o
TheCareers& AutoIssue
In a tough economy what better way
to be inspired than to meet women who
have chosen challenging and rewarding
career paths. Plus, cars that drive your
pink dollars further.
38
Seizing the Baton
Maestra Jessica Bejarano takes on
the male-dominated classical music
establishment. By Kelsy Chauvin
40
A Career in the Cards
Psychic Gina Spriggs empowers women
with her unique readings. By Merryn Johns
43
The Power of One
Power plant operator Mary Sartori forges
ahead. By Stephanie Schroeder
46
A Winning Streak
Motocross star Stefy Bau shares her love
affair with the world's most dangerous sport.
By Lyndsey D'Arcangelo
32
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MAY2012
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IN EVERY ISSUE
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7
8
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17
19
20
22
80
24
Editor's Letter
26
Scene
28
Lesbofile
Lipstick & Dipstick
Curvatures
Laugh Track
Lesbian comic Lianna Carrera
harvests humor from her
unconventional upbringing.
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Rachel Maddow's book has us all
fired up; lesbian interior designer
Lena Gordon makes haute homes
her business.
18
Politics
Being a feminist means living your
politics, even if that requires sacrifice.
By Victoria A. Brownworth
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69
11
The Two of Us
Our monthly profile of lesbian couples
who live, love and work together.
This Is What a Lesbian Looks Like
Out in Front
Fitness Advice
It's time to hang up your tired excuses.
Jill Goldstein shares her motivational tricks.
Letters
Contributors
MAY2012
72
74
76
Books: Allison Bechdel on her new memoir
Are You My Mother?
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Laricks on taking her queer designs to primetime.
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Music: Ember Swift shares the message of
global citizenry and environmental activism with
her new bilingual album 11:11.
Tech: Hit the road with these road-tested
gadgets and gizmos.
78
&
Food: Delectable treats come directly to your
doorstep thanks to Gourmet Chocolate.
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curve
One-on-One with Amy Ray
Having released her fourth solo album, Lung of
Love, musical dykon Amy Ray shares her thoughts
on why the heart is overrated, life rolling solo and
being political. Read our interview at curvemag.com.
The Love Doctor is Out
Do you have relationship trouble? Or are you still
searching for Ms. Right but feel like you've gotten
lost somewhere along the way? Wish you had a
personal love guru? You do! Dr. Frankie Bashan,
our resident expert on lesbian !'amour is ready
to take your questions and dole out advice on
curvemag. com.
Amy Ray
makes our
hearts sing
Scintillating Cinema
Want to spice up a romantic night in? How about a
lesbian love story to set the mood. From classics,
to ram-corns and even one with radical edge,
check out our picks for 10 romantic lesbian movies
to watch with your lady at curvemag.com.
Karen Loftus is
on the loose
Adventures
in Mexico City
The Crown Jewel of
Latin America, Mexico's capital city
continues to tantalize foodies, fashionistas and
Frida enthusiasts. Follow along as professional
jet-setter Karen Loftus adventures south of the
border at curvemag.com.
May 2012
I5
LETTERS
Gulfport Gratzie
Thank you for your wonderful article about
Gulfport, Fla. (Vol. 22#2] As a longtime
resident and lesbian merchant here in town,
I can tell you Gillian Kendall truly captured
the peaceful and positive energy here. My
partner of 14 years and I have made Gulfport
our home for 11 years and are happily raising
our 7 -year-old daughter in this supportive
and charming little beach town. It has been a
blessing-if not even a bit disconcerting-to
belong to a community where we are nothing more than "ordinary people:' I hope your
readers will be able to visit this little paradise
by the sea someday.
From Curve's
Facebook Wall
• CONGRATULATIONS
TOCHELY
&
LAUREN!!!!
BESTCOVER
EVER!•
-Summer AlexisKolacki
Just got my Curvemagazinein the mail.
Soexcitedto seethe Blitzer-Wright
coupleon the cover!Thanksfor giving
themthe honoredspoton the front of
this issue.
-Kelly Gill
-Tif.f any Anderson-Taylor,Gulfport,Fla.
Baby Bruhaha
Delighted with DiFranco
Thanks for running the article "Choosing
Sides" on Ani Difranco (Vol. 22#3]. I don't
care where she is in her life now sexually or
what she looks like as a woman. She is brilliant and I will always love her, especially
for the songs "She Says" and "If It Isn't Her:'
They are gifts to lesbians everywhere and she
will always be at the top of my list of favorite
queer musicians.
-D. Roth, Indianapolis
"Questioning the Status Quo" (Vol. 22#3]
is a powerful piece. Indeed, raising a child is
the most important decision anyone will ever
make. I believe our culture teaches many of
us that having children is required, to be considered an adult in society; to feel complete,
whole and on-purpose. For many, being a
parent becomes part our self-identity; it
is indoctrinated from a young age, when we
begin playing with baby dolls. The media
encourages this; they portray babies and children as loveable, cuddly, fun and laughing.
Watching over 10,000 TV commercials a
year can be a powerful influence on our selfidentity. I applaud Victoria Brownworth for
raising a controversial subject and providing a
thorough, thoughtful discussion. Fortunately,
lesbians don't get pregnant by accident. If you
want children, don't let cultural expectations
or fantasies influence this life-altering decision.
-Laura W., Lakewood, Colo.
Welcome Aboard!
Poll
Do you have
your dream job?
40% Notevenclose
27% It paysthe bills
26% I enjoymy job
7% I'm oncareercloudnine
According
to a curvemag.com
poll
6
I curve
Just ordered my print and digital subscription!
Yay! Sometimes my partner and I feel like the
only two lesbians in the world out here in
Miamisburg, hoping to feel a little more connected to the community and our interests.
Congratsto the newlyweds
... andto all
of us familieswho nowfeel like rock
starson pg 36!
-Kelly Reagan
Theylookso beautifulandhappy...
<sniff> <little tear>
-Shelli Meyers
I love them both together. ;)
That's how female same-sex
marriageis supposed to
look like. :) Just Adorable.
-Eva Mercedes
Reichmann
I abouthadto do a cartwheelwhen
I sawthemonthe cover!Loveit!
-Mackenzie GraceMoynihan
Thisis the classiestcoverthat I have
everseen-Great work!!! :D
-Sarah Gray
LOVE
seeingthe diversityunfolding
in curve. I didn't usedto readit as
muchbut now... I'm diggingit moreand
more.EqualityTV
andI shouldbe in this
magazinesometime.; )
-Lisa MaeBrunson
~ Like
-Letitia A. DeBrill, Miamisburg,Ohio
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CONTRIBUTORS
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'Tm kind of a comics nerd;' says GraceBello,"so it was
pretty awesome to get to interview Alison Bechdel" for the
story All About My Mother" on page 70. Bello is a freelance
lifestyle and culture reporter based in New York. Her
assignments have offered her the opportunity to interview
the band Balkan Beat Box, Emmy,winning comedy writer
Merrill Markoe and absurdist comics Tim and Eric. Before
writing for publications, she was a full,time copywriter
who drafted everything from marketing e,mails to daily
blog posts. Now she focuses on covering the people and
ideas that drive the cultural conversation forward. To that
end, she has written for The Atlantic, Time Out New York,
Bust and McSweeney's. She also teaches writing in New
York City through Skillshare.com.
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Stephanie
Schroeder
worked on a produce farm as a teen,
at a factory operating a silk,screen printing press in her
20s, was a magazine editor in her 30s and is, in her 40s,
practicing corporate public relations. "Writing about two
women with very different careers made me think about
how today the economy basically dictates what type of job
one has, unless you work in the recession,proof utilities
industry like Mary Sartori;' (page 43) says Schroeder, who
has been contributing to curve for seven years."Otherwise,
I think the only way to ensure you have a job you want and
like is to run your own business as Lisa B. O'Shea does:'
(page 42). Schroeder's first book, a memoir, is slated for
publication in September.
"There are people all over America struggling to find
their niche or redefine themselves with this recession.
I find Te,Erika Patterson refreshing-she has a high goal
and standards. But it's been a while since I have ever met
someone who is literally willing her community to help
themselves out of the employment downfall;' says Laniaya
Hoofatt-whosestory on Patterson can be found on page
30. Hoofatt is currently a political and social networking
researcher and is actively following all the campaigns for
the upcoming 2012 presidential election while putting the
final touches on her novel.
Nationally acclaimed journalist SarahToceis the editor,
in,chief of Seattle's only lesbian publication, The Seattle
Lesbian. The online magazine is regularly featured
in mainstream and LGBT media platforms for its
inclusiveness and dedication to bridge the divide between
all communities regardless of sexuality or gender. As an
activist, Toce works alongside national and state level
organizations to advocate for marriage equality, HIV/
AIDS education and prevention strategies and a number
of other vital community,based initiatives. And in 2011,
Toce contributed 20 profiles of prominent African,
American icons who have had the courage to publicly
claim their place in the LGBT community for the
book Black, Gifted and Gay. For curve she chronicles
the passage and celebration of marriage equality in
Washington state on page 19.
May 2012
I7
EDITOR'S
NOTE
C
curve
THE BEST-SELLING
answer depends on where you live and who you
work for. But should it2 Shouldn't all Americans be equal in
the eyes of the law2 You may have read about Al Fischer, the
St. Louis man, who lost two jobs after announcing his plans
to marry his partner, Charlie Robin, in New York City. (Both
of Mr. Fischer's jobs were affiliated with the Catholic Church.)
And you've probably heard about the Maryland
priest who denied Communion to a lesbian at
her own mother's funeral. Ordinary gays and
lesbians are routinely discriminated against
where they live, work and pray. But being
rich, successful and famous will not absolve
you from discrimination either-this became
apparent when One Million Moms, a division
of the American Family Association, crusaded
to have Ellen DeGeneres sacked from her job
as the spokesperson for retailer JC Penney.
"DeGeneres is not a true representation of
the type of families that shop at their store;'
argued the Moms."The majority of JC Penney
shoppers will be offended and choose to no
longer shop there:' The group posed as a moral
majority, striking at the authenticity of one of
America's best-loved celebrities. As the LGBT
media watchdog GLAAD noted, this incident
was high-level anti- LGBT employment discrimination, and reminded us of the fact that in 29 states you
can be fired because you're gay, and in 34 states you can be fired
for being transgender. Remind me-what century do we live
in again?
For this edition of our annual Careers Issue, we spotlight
lesbians who have pursued innovative and unusual professions
in a tough economy (and often a sexist and homophobic one).
The inspiring women include trailblazer Martina Navratilova,
who lost high-stakes corporate sponsorships in order to be true
to herself, and Rachel Maddow, who, in addition to her stellar
broadcasting career, is now an author too. While individuals
can change hearts, minds and sometimes the course of history,
I am hopeful that the formation of the first-ever LGBT Super
PAC will bring even more change. The Pride PAC (pride-pac.
com) plans to support the 2012 Obama-Biden ticket by lobbying and fundraising through social media. As conservatives
continue to denounce minority groups at work and at the altar,
perhaps a Super PAC can defend our interests at an even higher
level, especially in an election year.
Nice
Work
~·
Merry~
Edito:-~/~:
merryn@curvemag.com
s I curve
LESBIAN
MAGAZINE
OULD
YOUBEFIRED
IFyou came out at work? The
MAY 2012
I VOLUME 22 NUMBER 4
Publisher Silke Bader
Founding Publisher Frances Stevens
EDITORIAL
Editor in Chief Merryn Johns
Managing Editor Rachel Shatto
Associate Editor Jillian Eugenios
Book Review Editor Rachel Pepper
Contributing Editors Victoria A. Brownworth, Gina Daggett,
Sheryl Kay, Stephanie Schroeder, Constance Parten
Copy Editor Katherine Wright
Editorial Assistant Emelina Minero
OPERATIONS
Director of Operations Laura McConnell
ADVERTISING
National Sales
Rivendell Media (908)232-2021, info@rivendellmedia.com
East Coast Sales
Kristin R. Thomas (704)837-0171, kristin@curvemag.com
Robin Perron (910)795-0907, robin@curvemag.com
West Coast & Midwest 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, Kelsy Chauvin, Lyndsey D'Arcangelo, Maria De La
0, Jill Goldstein, Lisa Gunther, Melany Joy Beck, Kristin Flickinger,
Gillian Kendall, Charlene Lichtenstein, Karen Loftus, Sassafras
Lowrey, Ariel Messman-Rucker, Constance Parten, Laurie K.
Schenden, Stephanie Schroeder, Lori Selke, Kristin Smith, Janelle
Sorenson, Allison Steinberg, Dave Steinfeld, Edie Stull, Yana
Tallon-Hicks, Tina Vasquez, 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
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New York, NY i 0034
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Volume 22 Issue 4 Curve (ISSN 1087-867X) is published monthly (except for bimonthly
January/February and July/August) by Avalon Media, LLC, PO Box 467, New York NY
10034. Subscription price: $59.90/year, $59.90 Canadian (U.S. funds only) and $89.95
international (U.S. funds only). Returned checks will be assessed a $25 surcharge. Periodicals
postage paid at San Francisco, CA 94114 and at additional mailing offices (USPS 0010-355).
Contents of Curve Magazine may not be reproduced in any manner, either whole or in part,
without written permission from the publisher. Publication of the name or photograph of any
persons or organizations appearing, advertising or listing in Curve may not be taken as an
indication of the sexual orientation of that individual or group unless specifically stated. Curve
welcomes letters, queries, unsolicited manuscripts and artwork. Include SASE for response.
Lack of any representation only signifies insufficient materials. Submissions cannot be
returned unless a self-addressed stamped envelope is included. No responsibility is assumed
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
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Canadian Agreement Number: 40793029. Postmaster:Send Canadianaddresschangesto crvcs@
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crvcs@magserv.com,
Curve, PO Box 17138, N. Hollywood,CA 91615-7138. Printedin the U.S.
curvemag.com
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2012
JUNE23, 2012
Saturday,
Sp to 2a Adv. Tixs15- s20at the door
Open to the entire LGBTQCommunity
- A tf I~
i AT* DnI NII* pLAv·
101 4th Street,
SF, CA 94103
Advance ticketson sale 4/1/12at
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SANFRANCISCO
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PRIDE
m
Bad Girls Club lesbian
star turned human and
animal rights activist
Shelly Hickman talks
about being a "bad girl"
and the ongoing fight
for equal rights.
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Maddow as Hell
The geek goddess and outspoken politico gives us another reason to love her.
Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power is, like its
author, quite the eyeful. Beginning with the dedication, "To
former Vice President Dick Cheney. Oh please let me interview
you;' this is a powerful analysis of where the United States has
gone wrong as self~appointed boss of the world. ("By 2001,
even the peacetime U.S. military budget was well over half
the size of all other military budgets in the world combined:')
Maddow's razor~sharp insight into this complex history of
militarism ("never to keep an unnecessary soldier" was one of
Thomas Jefferson's tenets) is a non~lesbian~specific read, but
it's a damn good one. The scathing sarcasm we have come to
expect from Maddow is turned like a blowtorch on America's
overuse of military power and the corrupt corpus that is the
Department of Homeland Security. From the misinformed
mythologizing of Republican hero Ronald Reagan to the
siphoning of public funds by Dick Cheney's war machine,
Maddow sets out every heartbreaking step on America's road
to perdition, its moral decline from a nation of peace and an
embodiment of democracy to a bankrupt republic that does
not know who it is unless it's at war with the bad guys; and
while we've seen them come and go over the years, from the
Soviets to Osama bin Laden, Maddow underscores the idea
that the worst terror is often home~grown in a climate of self~
prescribed vigilance. "To the president's mind, a war was not
the country's or even the government's, but the president's
alone;' she writes of George W. Bush's military myopia and
quotes him: "It is my decision. My decision to send these kids
into battle, my decision that may affect the lives of innocence
[sic]:' And it's a decision we're all still paying for, unfortunately.
[MerrynJohns]
The scathing
sarcasmwe have
come to expect
from Maddow
is turned likea
blowtorchon
America'soveruse
of militarypower
and the corrupt
corpusthat is
the Department
of Homeland
Security.
MILITARY
Rachel
Maddow
May 2012
I 11
CURVATURES
Daring Design
Lesbian interior designer Lena Gordon makes nesting glam. By Emelina Minero
Whether you're redecorating your house or creating a shared
space with your new girlfriend, overhauling your home goes a
lot deeper than just moving around furniture and picking pillow
fabrics together. It's exciting, it's fun, but it can also be stressful.
Whose stuff will go where? How will you decorate with your
contrasting styles? This is a process that Lena Gordon, lesbian
interior designer and owner of Dare to Design, understands.
That's because Gordon doesn't only see her profession as making
only aesthetic changes to a space but also as a way to understand
and strengthen relationships.
Howdoesinteriordesignimpactthewaypeoplelive?
Whether we're talking about live, work or play spaces, the interior
design impacts people's lives in the way they feel. Environmental
psychology plays into how well you work, how productive you
are, how well you sleep, everything. Interior design is set up
to invigorate and energize you. Bottom line, it's about making
people's lives better.
Howdorelationships
playintointeriordesign?
Every residential family I work with is different. Their needs are
different. Their tastes are different. Combining [two people's tastes
together is] one of the most exciting things for me. When a couple
or a family tries to plan for something like a kitchen remodel, one
of them likes one thing, the other one likes the other thing and
they end up arguing about it because both people feel like if they
compromise, they're going to be giving in and not really getting
what they want. I'm sort oflike a relationship counselor. I find out
what everybody really wants.
Is it challenging
to be a lesbianin an industrydominated
by gaymen
andstraightwomen?
Sometimes it feels a little bit lonely, but on the other hand I feel
like I have an advantage because on the outside no one is going to
guess I am a lesbian when they first meet me. I'm out, but I don't
broadcast it. So when I first meet a client, I choose whether I am
going to let that information out to them. Some of my clients
I become really close with. They know about my life and I know
about theirs, but [with] some people it's more of a professional
relationship where I don't really talk about that kind of thing. I
definitely get along with contractors really well and I've developed
a lot of really good long-term relationships with my contractors and
I think for some reason there's this weird way in which a lot of
those men respect me just a teeny bit more. I end up being kind of
one of the guys a little bit more.
Howdoyoudescribe
youraesthetic?
I always like to add something shiny, a little teeny bit of glam.
Something that's going to be real wow and luxurious, even if it's a
casual room that will make you go, Oh, I love where I live or I love
where I work. I also like to use color in bright pops here and there.
12
I curve
I'm not trying to push my personal style on anyone because it's my
personal style. Everybody's home has a soul that is as complex and
deep as all of the people who live in it. That's what I try to convey
in each space: the complex stuff, the personality of the people who
use the space. (d2dstudio.com)■
)
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how well you work, how productive you
are, how well you sleep, everything.
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I 13
CURVATURES
Glitter Guardian
Wham-glam, back off Sam!
A new pepper spray is as
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With the intention of helping to end
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it passes as a bejeweled accessory rather than a kick-ass safety
device. The Guardian Girls Winged
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hand. The crystals are not just
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your attacker away! Perfect for the
girl who works or plays late, the
the rundown
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlantahas ruled that the Centers
for
Disease
Control
andPrevention
did not violate the rights of counselor Marcia
Walden.
Walden was laid off after she refused to work with a client who was in a
lesbian relationship after telling her that her "personal values" prevented her from
working with the woman ... A U.K.lesbian couple is in court with a gay man over
the custody of a two~year~old child. The couple argues that the man, who helped
them to conceive the child, was to have limited involvement with the child. The
biological father is now fighting for overnight and holiday visitation with the
boy... AprilDeBoer
and JayneRowsefrom HazelPark,Mich.are suing the govern~
ment in federal court with the hopes of overturning state laws which block
unmarried couples from adopting children. DeBoer and Rowse have been together
for 10 years and co~parent three children, one legally adopted by DeBoer and
two by Rowse ... Four SouthAfricanmen have been sentenced to 18 years in jail
for the murder of ZoliswaNkonyana
in 2006. Nkonyana was stabbed and stoned
to death because she was openly lesbian.
The case is seen as significant in South
Africa because of the length of the
sentence the men received and because
the courts ruled that she was murdered
because she was a lesbian ... President
BarackObamacollected $1,432,000 at
a fundraiser held at the home of Karen
Dixonand NanSchaffer,
a D.C. lesbian
couple. The $35,S00~a~head fundraiser
benefited the Obama Victory Fund.
The president was quoted as saying, "The work that weve done with the LGBT
community, I think, is just profoundly American" and that he would "keep on
pushing" for equal rights for LGBT people. [Sassafras
Lowrey]
Guardian Girls Winged Pepper
Spray is available in a spectrum of
colors and comes with replaceable
cartridge, custom engraving and
cool keychain for attaching to your
bag, belt loop or keys. Every
purchase benefits the Guardian
Girls Foundation in helping end
violence against women and
families. ($75, guardiangirls.com)
[Constance
Parten]
14
I curve
Take a closer look
at this month's
tee and what
at first glance
appears to be a
butterfly-shaped
Rorschach blot
becomes a
lesbian smooch,
putting a whole
new and queer
spin on the
phrase butterfly
kisses ($20,
21ive21ove.com)
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Available in a veritable rainbow
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May 2012
I 15
OUTINFRONT
Love
Warriors
Two lesbians working to deepen
the connection between
partners. By Sheryl Kay
Passion Player
her road to sucAccording to SearahDeysach,
cess began with the search for a sex toy 10
years ago. As she tells it, experience brought
her to the realization that Chicago had no
adult shops that were safe, comfortable and
educational places for women, especially lesbians. Hence the birth of Early to Bed, and the
start of Deysach's career as a retailer of adult
toys. Early to Bed is geared toward women,
but open and welcoming to all. "I wanted to
create a place where everyone, but particularly
women, could shop and ask questions and
have their sexuality supported, not questioned
or ignored;' she says.
Deysach recalls that 10 years ago every
man she mentioned it to thought the idea was
inane, but every woman loved the idea, and
she has had many excited customers (no pun
intended) from day one.
For Deysach, owning Early to Bed comes
with a great commitment to community.
When she's not behind the counter helping
customers, Deysach does a lot of volunteer
work, running educational workshops at the
local LGBT health center, at colleges and
at social service agencies that serve women.
"Getting to speak to a wide range of folks
about how amazing sex can be when you are
able to love your body and respect your desires
is very meaningful;' she says. "I think sex is
an important part of just about everyone's
life, yet so many people struggle with issues
relating to it, and if I can help people, especially women, have better sex with themselves
or their partners then I feel like I have done
my job:' Deysach also sits on the board of the
fr:'
w
Chicago Abortion Fund, which assists low ~Cf) income women in obtaining abortions.
~
And when she looks to the future, what
~a: does her heart desire? ''I'd love the chance
~ someday to work on some of my half cocked
ideas for getting my pro-masturbation, sexpositive message out to the masses-perhaps a
cross-country tour in a retrofitted Airstream
or a food-truck-like mobile sex-ed shop:'
Now there's a mass-marketing strategy we
can all embrace.
Wedlock Warrior
RobinTylerhas won many awards, both for
her work as an outstanding comic and for her
commitment as an LGBT activist. One such
award is a proclamation from the City of San
Diego declaring Sept.17 Robin Tyler Day.
Tyler says she first came out 70 years
ago-on the day she was born in Manitoba,
Canada. "I knew I was born a lesbian when
the doctor hit me, and I hit him back;' she
jokes. And woe to anyone who has stood in
her way since.
Tyler, who is also the CEO of Robin Tyler
International Tours & Cruises for Women,
is perhaps best known as the first plaintiff in
the lawsuit that resulted (briefly) in marriage
equality in California. She was fortunate to be
able to marry before the ruling was rescinded
by Prop. 8. "I think Prop. 8 will end up at the
Supreme Court;' she predicts. "If a majority
of people can take away rights from a minority
by voting on them, then there is no protection
for any minority in this country:'
Tyler was married on June 16, 2008, to her
partner, Diane Olson. Their divorce was filed
on Jan. 26, 2012, after 17 years as partners
and a 40-year friendship. Tyler says what happened is deeply personal.
"I have been working on marriage equality
since 1974, so our divorce does not affect my
work as an activist on this issue;' she says. "I
absolutely do not feel different about marriage rights for our community. I intend to
keep fighting until we all have the right to
marry, including federal recognition:'
There's grassroots work to be done as well,
she says. Bullying is a particularly insidious
issue affecting our community, and Tyler says
it's not enough to tell kids that things will get
better. "We have to fight the bullies, and the
bullies are not limited to the classroom;' she
says. "Bullies are the religious institutions
who preach hate, the politicians who say we
are not good enough for total equal rights, the
bigots who hide behind right-wing moral
garbage cans of intolerance:'
Although Tyler is a committed activist, she
hasn't given up comedy. A film of her onewoman play Always a Bridesmaid, Never a
Groom, which depicts the history of the lesbian
movement, is set to be released soon. "I use
my ex-lovers as transitions;' she says. "Not all
of them, or it would be a film festival:' ■
May 2012
I 17
LAUGH
TRACK
New Queer on the Block
Rising lesbian comic Lianna Carrera on her unique roots. By Emelina Minero
Ready for a new comedy crush? Meet Lianna Carrera, rising lesbian
standup star. From joking about catching the gay in a Pentecostal
exorcism at Jesus camp to complaining about how her deaf family
members can get away with anything, Carreras hilarious and often
controversial brand of comedy comes straight from her life experiences. Raised by a Southern Baptist father and deaf mother, Carrera
credits her singular upbringing with helping to shape her comedic
world. However, rather than focusing on what divides us, the cutie
pie comic hopes her uncompromising comedy will help people see
that differences are to be celebrated.
Howdidyoufirstgetintocomedy?
I was class president [of Randolph- Macon Woman's College] and
we put on this activity, Miss Odd Macon. I hosted it, and the judges
were going off and tallying the scores and they were taking forever
to tally them. So I started performing Ellen DeGeneres' Here and
Now, by mysel£
So I was like, What's the deal with Gogurt? What? We don't
have time for Yogurt? You know. I was just quoting stuff that I had
memorized, just being stupid. Trying to entertain the crowd. And
then I was like, You know what? I'm going to throw on some stuff
that I think is funny, that I have always felt funny and if they don't
laugh, they'll just think it's Ellen DeGeneres, so it doesn't even
matter, right? So I say something horrible, like, What's the deal with
mattress liquidators? Who wants to buy a mattress with the word
18
I curve
liquid in it? Right? I'd been holding onto that joke since I was 13.
And people were giggling, and then I started telling stories about my
mom and things like that.
And then after that, my roommate came up to me and said, I
hope you know that you're supposed to be a standup comic. And
I was like, No, no, no. I'm running for congress. My whole resume
had been stacked. I was interning on Capitol Hill and from a very
young age. And she was like, Nope, this is what you're supposed
to do.
Howhasbeingraisedbya Southern
Baptistministerfatheranda deaf
motherinfluenced
youract?
Well it's fundamentally built who I am and my perspective on life.
I have experiences that I consider normal that no one else, unless
they have deaf parents or a religious parent, know about. I've been
interpreting for my mom since I was 4 years old. Mortgage deals
at the bank, when she got in a car accident, I'd be her voice and I
would tell the person what she was saying. So I grew up really,
really quickly. And then as far as my dad being a minister, that's
just a whole other layer [laughs]. When I went to camp, it was
Jesus camp. It wasn't just camp. When I went to science class, it
wasn't just science. It was God-science.
So, what all of this has done is put me in the middle of all of
these different cultures. It puts me in the middle of hearing culture
and deaf culture. It puts me in the middle of Christian culture and
non-Christian culture. I've had to balance these incongruencies my
entire life.
Tell me aboutthe web seriesyou're
workingon.
I'm really excited about it. It's called
Salt of L.A. and it's going to be nonscripted.
When I moved to L.A. [so many
of my folks and friends] were like, Oh
God. That's a God-awful city. It's full
of materialism. It's full of just people
who all they care about is fame. They're
just money hungry. And people kind of
feel bad for me, but I'm surrounded by
really cool people. I've been lucky to
have people who worked hard for what
they have, who give back, and these
really unique salt of the earth people.
Who are the people that make L.A.
run that's outside the glam and glitz,
the standard side that we have of
Hollywood? There will be a lot of
comedy in that. (liannacarrera.com)
■
SCENE
Celebrating in Seattle The Seattle Lesbian gives us
VIP access to the passage of marriage equality-and the after parties.
On Valentine's Day Eve, Washington state became
the seventh U.S. state to win same~sex marriage
rights for its citizens. Gov. Christine Gregoire signed
the marriage equality bill into law for Washington
state on Feb. 13, 2012. The Seattle Lesbian editor
Charlene Strong and myself were present at the
history~making signing in Olympia, Wash. as well
as the events in Seattle following the passage of the
landmark legislature.
Joining the ladies about town were Washington Sen.
Ed Murray, Col. Grethe Cammermeyer, Change.org's
Joe Mirabella, Greater Seattle Business Association's
Jessica Swetin, Seattle's KOMO News Radio and
a host of other high~profile politicians and notable
supporters. Here's a little of what we saw while in
celebration mode. [SarahToce]
May 2012
I 19
LESBOFILE
Keeping it Real This month's celesbians aren't afraid to show us
their Sapphic sides. By Jocelyn Voo
Kiss Kiss
They say life imitates art, and if that's the
case, Sharon Stone's famous '90s role as
bisexual Catherine Tramell in Basic Instinct
might've been just a prelude to her recently
documented lip,lock with another woman.
Radar Online reports (and has support,
ing photos) that the Burma Conspiracystar
and her lady,friend were walking through
West Hollywood before stopping to hug
and exchange a lippy kiss. More than just
friends? Hard to say. But as Stone herself
has said before many years ago, "Everybody
is bisexual to an extent. Now men act like
women and it's difficult to have a relationship
because I like men in that old,fashioned
way. I like masculinity and, in truth, only
women do that now:'
New Girl on the Block
Lil' Kim and Nicki Minaj, yeah, sure, we
know them. Now, introducing Azealia Banks,
the latest female rapper that's covering all
angles-and, yep, going both ways.
Harlem,bred Banks hit her stride in the
music community last year when taste,
makers Pitchfork included one of her crass,
profanity,laced songs in the top 10 of their
20
I curve
"Top 100Tracksof2011;' andBBCRadio 1
nominated her album as Record of the
Week. She's been in magazines, interviewed
by The New York Times and had one of her
tracks played at Paris Fashion Week. But
despite her growing mainstream success,
don't try to label her as anything, especially
when it comes to her sexuality: 'Tm not
trying to be, like, the bisexual, lesbian
rapper;' she told the Times. "I don't live on
other people's terms:'
And even with that aggressive attitude
and filthy mouth, we'd still totally like to
make out with her.
Gwyneth's Lil' Lesbian
Usually when a mother muses about what
she thought her child would be like while
pregnant, it doesn't usually ring with "I bet
I'm going to have a gay child:' Especially if
that mother is, say, iiber,hetero A,list actor
and sometimes Gleesub Gwyneth Paltrow.
"I was like, I'll bet you anything I'll have
a daughter, and she'll be a really cool butch
lesbian and be so above clothes, and I got
a very clothes,obsessed child;' Paltrow told
Harper's Bazaar. "So if she's a lesbian, she's
a lipstick lesbian. She doesn't like anything
avant,garde at all. She likes anything that's
pretty, pretty, pretty or has a bow or a ruffie
or is pink:'
We hope this magazine clipping went
straight into Apple's baby book. ■
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Trans Bachelor?
First, Chaz came out as trans and shared
his transition on screen. Then he danced in
front of millions. And now details of a new
reality series have been unveiled: the show is
going to be similar to The Bachelor.
Yes, a dating show. And despite mama
Cher being against the idea, Bono is all for
it. Any why not? After his breakup with
girlfriend Jennifer Elia, he's flying solo. And
what better way to get over heartbreak than
sampling the sweetness of 10 other honeys,
am I right?
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May 2012
I 21
My Girlfriend Got Religion What should I do when the Good News is bad
news for our relationship? By Lipstick and Dipstick
Dear Lipstick and Dipstick: I met this girl, Cynthia, and it was crazy
how much we had in common, including the same first name. In the
beginning, we hung out a couple times and seemed to hit it off pretty
well. When we first met, she was going through some tough times and
had to move back in with her older, very religious mom. Suddenly, last
Sunday, things went off track after her mom took Cynthia to church. I
got a text message saying that we couldn't be friends anymore due to
God's plan for her, and that I put her into temptation. I was shocked and
tried to get her to go to a gay-friendly church with me. I tried to explain
that God made her the way she is and she's entitled to happiness.
Cynthia is 27 so I wouldn't think she would be this impressionable. We
do live in a small town in the Bible Belt. I'm not sure what else to do.
Do I give up or keep trying to help? - Born This Way in the Bible Belt
Dipstick:
Have you heard the Good News:'
No matter how hard she tries, she can't
pray herself straight. Unfortunately, there
is also some bad news, like you get from
the devil: She might have to endure a lot
of self~hatred and pain before she comes to
that realization about the limits of prayer.
Like my old friend Pastor Willis always
used to say, "You can't change 'em, but you
can pray for 'em:' In this case, I think you
should pray with 'em. Here's what you do:
Pretend that you're unhappy being gay,
too. Buy a pleated wool skirt, a frilly white
blouse and ugly black shoes, and get her to
invite you to church. Sign up for the choir
and a study group. Tell her you think the
pastor is hot, just to throw her off. Sit close
and read from the same Bible. Press your
pleated wool thigh into her thigh. Insist
you both close your eyes and hold hands
when you pray. One day, when her eyes are
closed, move in for the kiss. Quickly she'll
forget about God's plan, except the part
that has her calling out, "Oh Jesus!"
Lipstick:I dated a girl from the Bible Belt
once and she was an ocean of emotion22
I curve
one night she'd scream "Hallelujah" in bed,
the next she'd shut down because she feared
Jesus and her dead relatives in heaven could
see us doing it. A shamed, crucified soul is
a hard one to resurrect, Born This Way, so
you're going to need a miracle here, one that
I'm not sure you're going to get. It's impor~
tant to remember, though, that there's a big
difference between giving up and letting
go. Here's my advice: Let go. Cynthia is on
her own mission and needs to figure it out
herself. She's not yours to save.
Dear Lipstickand Dipstick:I'm 22 and a
lesbian.I'vebeenlivingwithmygirlfriend
for
two years.I loveher,butshesometimes
hits
me.Shedoesn'tmeanto andshetriesnotto,
butwhenshegetsangry,shelashesout.She
alwayssaysthat she'ssorryafterward,and
that shelovesme,andpromises
neverto do
it again.Lastnight,whenwe were out,she
saidI was flirtingwith anotherwomaneven
thoughI wasn't.Whenwe gothome,shebeat
meup.I don'twantto leaveher,becauseshe
doesn'tdo it all the time,but I'm frightened.
-Lost in Love
Lipstick:And you should be. Leave this
woman immediately! You are in an abusive
ex:
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:,,:'.
ex:
ct
w
ci
CJ
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~
Lipstick & Dipstick ADVICE
Here'swhat you do: Pretendthat
you're unhappybeinggay, too. Buy
a pleatedwool skirt,a frillywhite
blouseand uglyblack shoes, and
get her to inviteyou to church.
relationship and you may end up dead.
Being hit one time is too many. Under
no circumstances should any woman be
physically harming you, no matter what
you've done.
Dipstick:Lipstick, I agree with your sen,
timent here, but your advice is off. It's
hard for an outsider to watch someone
suffer in an abusive relationship, but
simply shouting"Leave;' without helping
her make a plan, is not enough. In fact,
it can even be deadly. Lost, yes, Lipstick
is right, no one deserves to be hitever-but according to the research in
Lesbian Health 101: A Clinician'sGuide,
between 30 and 40 percent of lesbians
have been involved in at least one physi,
cally abusive relationship. It's not a topic
we talk about, for many reasons, including
the fact that we don't want the outside
world to see the flaws in our relation,
ships, in case they might think we're not
worthy of getting equal rights. Lost, and
anyone else out there in a similar situa,
tion, you need to find the inner courage
and self,worth to realize you deserve
better. Until you are ready to leave, here
are some things you should do. First, if
you are in imminent danger, do what,
ever you need to keep yourself safe and
call a friend or 911 when it feels safe
to do so. Talk to a close friend or fam,
ily member you can trust, and explain
what's going on. Make a safety plan for
yourself. Find a place you can go-a
friend's house, a hotel, a women's shelter.
Stash some money away and plan an
escape route from your house or apart,
ment. Pack a bag and have it ready,
with all your important paperwork
and identification. You might want to
stash these items with a trusted friend.
If an argument seems unavoidable, don't
let yourself get backed into a room you
can't escape from, or into a room where
she could get access to weapons. It's
important to talk to a counselor who
specializes in domestic violence, so you
can understand the dynamic that you
are a part of. Couples counseling is not
appropriate in abusive relationships,
so going on your own is important.
Remember, excessive jealousy, rage and
violence are not signs of love-they are
only indications that someone is trying
to control you. The National Domestic
Violence Hotline, 800,799,7233, can
provide information about resources in
your area and the L.A. Gay and Lesbian
Center also has some good information
on its webpage for anyone who wants
to know more about this serious but
under,addressed issue in our commu,
nity. curve's own Victoria Brownworth
and Stephanie Schroeder have written
about this on curvemag.com. Get edu,
cated. Get empowered. And get free. ■
Tune in to curvemag.com/
lipstickanddipstick
to watch
The Lipstick& Dipstick
Show.Or writeto tv@
lipstickdipstick.com.
ADVICE Fitness
Hang Up the Excuses
Overcome your fitness obstacles.
By Jill Sloane Goldstein
I recently spent a Sunday afternoon sitting
at a coffee shop, situated directly across
from a local gym. As I sipped my latte
and watched the flurry of street activity
in front of its doors, I couldn't help but
notice both the people who entered and
those who passed right by. I began to
wonder what factors were accountable for
the disparate behavior-what
drove some
individuals to spend their time working
out and getting fit while others opted outr
If fitness was universally healthy, beneficial and results oriented, why was it only
a priority to some?
An impromptu focus group amongst
friends, aided by a good bottle of shiraz,
would answer those questions. I encountered a myriad of explanations that kept
people from exercise, most of which were
not only significant but rather prevalent.
It wasn't about being lazy and it certainly
was not about feeling indifferent. In fact,
my friends expressed interest in improving
their physique in some way or another,
whether it was slimming down, bulking
up or simply feeling better in clothing.
What inhibited them were things like
unmanageable schedules, lack of inspiration, frustration and in many cases,
intimidation-all
substantial barriers to
walking through those gym doors. But at
the same time, none seemed completely
insurmountable.
One friend admitted to being insecure
about the gym. She was overwhelmed by
the abundance of machines, contraptions,
classes, routines and levels. Should she be
in the fat burning zone or cardio zone?
Tracking her calories, her mileage or her
heart rater How high should the seat be
on her spin bike? What tension should
"two big turns to the left" on the bike's
resistance knob even feel liker Arguably, it
was all quite daunting and confusing. And
the hard bodies that surrounded her didn't
make the experience any more comfortable.
So the gym became easier to swear off
than sweat in.
The solution seemed simple: Ditch the
24
I curve
machines, move the coffee table and get
active at home. With her body and some
free space, my friend had complete ability to
give her entire body a workout with push
ups, crunches, planks, lunges, squats and
my favorite in terms of overall effective~
ness, burpees. * She could do them on her
own or with assistance of a DVD~based
home fitness program (such as PX90). In
truth, there is no better way of building an
athletic, toned, physique than using our
own bodies as the resistance. (A quick
glance at a gymnasts will show you just
how muscular your body can become with
such an approach.)
Another friend cited guilt and time man~
agement as the impetus for her fitness
shortfall. With a baby at home and a full
time job, she felt selfish devoting hours to
working out when that time could be spent
with her child or taking care of things at
home. I challenged her to get creative.
Holding her daughter in her arms offered
significant weight baring opportunities
that could turn most activities, such as
walking, climbing stairs or picking laundry
up off the floor, into exercise. She could
also forego shopping carts and opt to carry
her groceries or run the dog instead of
walk him.
The most important thing she needed
to realize was that exercise didn't require
lengthy, carved out periods of time to
count. Short bursts of energy expenditure
throughout the day add up, and would
allow her to reap benefits.
Then I encountered the uninspired; the
*Burpees: Stand with your feet shoulderdistance apart and your arms at your
sides, drop into a squat and press your
hands flat to the floor. Kick your feet
backward into a plank position, pause (or
do a push up) and then jump back into a
squat. Push your body straight up off the
ground, raise your arms above your head
and jump as high as possible. Aim for
10-15 in under a minute.
bored, the frustrated, the unmotivated
who wanted to work out but lacked or lost
the luster somewhere along the way. Their
results had tapered, their routines grew
vapid and newer priorities began to dry up
their sweat. I had many suggestions up my
sleeve to offer that included experimenting
with new activities, committing to a friend
for encouragement and accountability, even
buying new sneakers to test drive. But
what proved most motivating and certainly
most inventive-especially
to the overly
jaded-was
a new app called Gym Pact.
With this app, users provide their credit
card info and enter how many times they
plan on going to the gym during a given
week, as well as how much they're willing
to pay for each missed workout. At the end
of the week, they're charged for whatever
gym dates they missed, with the money
going to reward people who went to the
gym as promised. Best of all, users can't
cheat the system by lying to their phone
and telling it they went when they were really
at home watching Greys Anatomy reruns.
They must check into the gym using their
phone's GPS and stay for at least 30 minutes
for it to count.
The good news in all of this may also
read as bad news for those hanging on to
excuses. Working out is not impossiblefor anyone. There are always means, there
is always time and there are always flexible
alternatives. And best of all, there is always
a group of friends and some good wine
from which to source your inspiration. ■
FITTIP
accident or injury, such as your name,
With the weather back in full
gies to medication. Plus, their product
identify you in the event of an
DOB, emergency contact and aller-
cooperation, hopefully our exercise
lines allow you to decide where to
routines have been taken outdoors.
wear the vital info-on your wrist,
Running, hiking, biking, group
ankle, shoe or around your neck.
sports-activity
options aplenty,
When we are exercising, safety
and more appealing than those
is not a gimme. The unexpected
under the hot fluorescent lights of
can happen and having your vital
a gym. But that also means that
information readily available can
we may be moving about without
save your life. Put simply in the
our purses, wallets and any other
company's mission, "It's far better to
important identification that would
have Road ID and not need it than
be critical during an emergency.
to need Road ID and not have it. It's
Fortunately,there is a wonderful
not just a piece of gear, it's peace of
company that addresses that
mind." (roadid.com)
potential issue. Road ID provides
a durable, rugged, athletic and
fashionable line of identification at a
very affordable price. These various
forms of ID contain critical information that would help someone (an
EMT, doctor, nurse, pedestrian)
JAMIEA JOHNSON
LOSANGELES,
CA USA
HOME859-426-3457
BROTHER
859-426-3458
ERIC859-426-3459
NEVERGIVEUP!
May 2012
I 25
THETWOOFUS
Arley-Rose and Morgan
Married couple Arley-Rose Torsone and Morgan Calderini of Ladyfingers Letterpress bring
old-fashioned print making to loved-up couples everywhere. By Jillian Eugenics
Starting the business
Morgan:Our biggest challenge was feeling like we really wanted
to see change. We're really socially active and both work to change
the way things are, whether it be resources for artists, good design
work or fighting for equal rights. When we found each other we
were like, we have to make this change and also exist in this crazy
wedding industry. The question was, could we sustain ourselves
in this business and be a voice for people like ourselves who don't
have a lot of great options:' Invitations can be so tacky and covered
in rainbows all the time. We wanted to provide good design
to clients who would be willing to support us and we'd provide
a quality product while helping change the marriage tide in the
country, which are no small goals.
On queer weddings
Morgan:We're at the height of
engagement and wedding invi~
tation season right now. Of the
couples we're working with I
would say maybe a third identify
as queer couples. We have a lot of
couples coming to us from New
York right now.
Arley-Rose:
In the future I would really like to see that ratio of
same~sex couples to straight couples switch. I'd love to have a
majority of our business be same~sex couples.
Morgan:I would like to see that anyone who wants to get married
be able to get married.
How they met
Arley-Rose:
I was working at an arts non~profit in Providence
called AS220 doing their graphic design. At the time they'd finished
redeveloping a new building and I was doing tours for artists who
were interested in renting studio spaces. Morgan was riding by on
her bike with her friend and they stopped to check out the studio
that she ended up taking.
Part of what we'd envisioned at AS220 was to start a print shop.
Morgan had just graduated from print making at Rhode Island
School of Design and like magic she just appears and says she's
going to put this print shop together. She starts raising all this
money, getting supplies donated and creates a print shop from
nothing. As a graphic designer we started collaborating and we
worked together for two years and then decided that, you know,
we're good at this, we're great at working together, people are hiring
us to do design and print jobs and we really could start something.
26
I curve
Working together
Morgan:We both really love what we do. Arley does all of our
design work; she is astounding with her lettering and her attention
to detail. She makes everything that we print and she is so gifted.
I love the part that I get to do, which is to print out that beautiful
stuff on these cast iron presses that are over 100 years old on my
beautiful soft paper. When we sit down with clients we warn them
ahead of time that we're really incredibly geeky and nerdy about
stuff that I think a lot of people don't even think about. But when
you hold that piece of paper we get excited about that.
Arley-Rose:
We have a lot of respect and awe for what each other
does. I am just blown away by what Morgan does. I couldn't do it.
People come up to me and they're like, Oh you and Morgan started
the print shop, and I'm like, Yup, that's my wife! She does magical
things and I'm so proud of her. (ladyfingersletterpress.com) ■
WE
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R THE
E
T
R
A
CH
SHIP!
E
R
I
T
EN
POLITICS
Living Our Politics
When it comes to feminism, do we get a day off? By Victoria A. Brownworth
It was my birthday. A simple celebrationdinner and a movie. We were going to see
Carnage, which had recently opened to
stellar reviews.
The film stars lesbian icon Jodie Foster
and Academy Award-winner Kate Winslet.
The director is Roman Polanski.
Roman Polanski, the child rapist.
No doubt, some reading this will say,
"But he was never convicted:' Or might
echo Whoopi Goldberg's assertion that his
crime wasn't "rape-rape:'
But Polanski was convicted. The grand
jury charges against him included rape, sodomy, lewd acts and a range of other crimes.
The courtroom transcript is gruesome. His
victim, Samantha Geimer, had just turned
13. He was 42. Polanski raped her vaginally,
2s
I curve
anally and orally, after he drugged her with
champagne and a Quaalude. It was like a
scene out of Taxi Driver. Martin Scorsese's
famous film, from the year before the rape,
stars Jodie Foster as a teenage prostitute.
There's a line in that film where her pimp
says, "You can cum on her, fuck her in the
mouth, fuck her in the ass, cum on her face,
man:' It was kind of like that.
Polanski fled the United States rather
than go to prison. In 2009, he was arrested
in Switzerland on the 32-year-old charge.
Yet he was never extradited to the United
States, despite the efforts of Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton. He still hasn't
served time for the rape, and a myriad of
actors, directors and producers have come
to his defense.
At the time I chose the film, I didn't
realize that Polanski was the director. But
as I walked into the theater I saw his name
on a poster for the film. So I could have
chosen to see something else right then,
but I didn't.
Carnage, adapted from a play by Yasmina
Reza, was good, the performances by the
four actors, superb. But it was more than
the claustrophobic content of the film that
made me feel increasingly uncomfortable.
The next day, I emailed a few friends
about it. Their responses were equally discomfitted. No one liked it that I had gone
to see the film, yet no one outright excoriated me for it.
Nevertheless, what was a meta-feminist
like me doing supporting a rapist's film-
especially after Polanski's re-arrest in
Switzerland in 2009, about which I had
written extensively.
I was appalled with myself and also with
the two women who star in the film, both
of whom are mothers. What made them
think that starring in a film made by a
child rapist was acceptabler
In February, a group called One Million
Moms urged a boycott of JC Penney after
Ellen DeGeneres was signed as its spokesperson. The group argued that choosing
an open lesbian as a spokesperson sent the
wrong message to children.
JC Penney stood behind DeGeneres,
and the ads featuring her debuted during
the Oscars telecast. Support for her ran
nearly 10 to one on JCP's Facebook page.
It seems that there were less than One
Million Moms supporting the boycott.
Nor was there a boycott or a protest
over the booking of Carnage at one of
Philadelphia's most prestigious art theaters.
Was there not a single outraged feminist in
Philadelphia, a city of 5 million peopler
Including me:1
Back when I was in college, and both a
lesbian separatist and militant feminist, I
was involved in a protest against the film
Snuff. At the time, there was a lot of controversy over the film, in which a woman is
killed on camera, allegedly for real.
It was winter when the film opened at a
major downtown theater. I was a member
of a group called Dyketactics, and we were
out there in the freezing cold, with our
megaphone and our chants, for hours. We
closed the film down.
I remember the protest well, and my
outrage. Yet it was only a few years later
that I crossed a picket line outside a repertory theater showing Bernardo Bertolucci's
Last Tango in Paris. The group Women
Against Violence Against Women was
protesting the forcible rape scene in the
film. I remember the discussion I had
with a woman I knew on the picket line. I
argued for free speech and artistic merit.
She argued back at me about the importance of not demeaning women under the
guise of art.
It's complicated, this living by moral and
ethical rules in a politically charged cultural
landscape. Carnage is, after all, written by
a woman. So why shouldn't I choose to
support her work:'
Yet why did Yasmina Reza let a child
rapist direct her work:' Why did she give
her most prized possession to a man who
had assaulted a girl:'
All these questions are germane to
our perception of what feminism really is
and what our responsibility as feminists
must be.
As feminists,not
onlydo we have to
be vigilantabout
how societyis
treatingwomen and
girls,we have to be
vigilantabout howand if-we live
our politics.
I was wrong to go to see Carnage. I realize that, now. And Reza was wrong to let
Polanski film her work. And all four of the
actors in the film were wrong to appear in
it-especially
Foster, who won an Oscar
for her portrayal in The Accused of a rape
victim who was dismissed as not really
having been "rape-raped:'
If Polanski had gone to prison, served
his time, and then made films again OK. We should all believe in redemption.
But he didn't. He continued to enjoy his
lavish international lifestyle and to receive
many awards. In 2002, he won the Oscar
for Best Director for The Pianist. He was
kept from receiving the award in person
because he would have been arrestedand his supporters cited this as an example
of his suffering.
We have one job as feminists, and that
is to support, nurture, protect and fight for
the lives of women and girls worldwide.
Feminism can't be passive; it must be active.
As feminists, not only do we have to be
vigilant about how society is treating women
and girls, we have to be vigilant about
how-and if-we live our politics.
Rape is a crime against women and girls.
Supporting a rapist means saying rape is
OK. Or that it's OK when it happens to
that woman or that girl, as long as it doesn't
happen to us. It's the proverbial slippery
slope. It's what One Million Moms were
protesting-the
slippery slope of letting
something that violates the standards of
decency, as they perceive it, be broadcast
repeatedly on TV. I get their point, even
though I disagree with it.
I realized as I left the theater that I had
violated my own beliefs, and that in doing
so I hadn't just let myself and a handful of
hard-core feminist friends down-I
had
let down Samantha Geimer, the woman
Polanski raped, and any other woman or
girl he may have forced himself on since
he committed that crime, because he had
never been held accountable.
If Polanski had been the plumber down
the street from Geimer instead of a worldrenowned director, he would have gone
to prison, and no retinue of Hollywood's
elite would have stood up for him. Part
of our role as feminists is to hold all men
accountable for their actions, not just the
ones without power.
It was a small thing, my going to that
film. But as feminists we don't have the
luxury of telling ourselves that this or that
violation of our ethics is OK because it's
something we want to do.
Can we all be pure feminists:' Probably
not. But pure feminism is a goal we all
should be striving to attain-I
myself
included. Feminism is our only antidote
to the pandemic level of violence against
women and girls worldwide.
Too many people stood up for Roman
Polanski in 1977, instead of standing up
for Samantha Geimer. They did the same
thing in 2009. And regrettably, when I
entered that theater on my birthday, within
days of the 35th anniversary of that rape, I
was doing it as well.
It isn't easy, living our politics. But as
women, as lesbians, do we have another
choice:' If we don't stand up for ourselves,
who will:' ■
May 2012
I 29
Journalist and life coach Te-Erika Patterson (left); In a corner
of the COSAC Homeless Shelter, Patterson would record her
experience on the streets and frame a structure for the Rebuild
Your Life Project; Patterson slept most nights at the shelter.
w
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Walking the path from
poverty to prosperity, one
woman recounts her real-life
experience of survival.
By Laniaya Alesia Hoofatt
ow far would you go to change your life?
What if you had lost any motivation,
any hope, any desire to keep forging on?
Would you wipe the slate clean, switch
directions and go down a path of uncer~
tainty just to see if you could survive?
A year and a half ago Te~Erika Patterson, the founder
of the Rebuild Your Life Project and a blogger for
MySavvySister.com and Huffington Post of South Florida,
did just that. She had lost both her jobs and dropped out
of graduate school because of stress and anxiety. She was
fed up with collecting unemployment and desired more out
of life. "I remember looking in the mirror and saying, 'You
are so failing at life right now: I didn't know what to do;'
she says.
So she decided to start again. She had lost her car, let go
of her apartment and given away her furniture and clothing.
Days after she found herself homeless, Patterson started
living at the COSAC Homeless Shelter in Hollywood, Fla.
"This is the most notorious homeless shelter in Florida
because it is home to the perpetually homeless. Most of
the people there have lived there for five or more years;'
says Patterson.
While South Beach's hip nightclubs and restaurants
glamorize Miami, Patterson soon became aware of its
seamy side, and gained an appreciation for those who survive
it on a day~to~day basis.
She was offered drugs plenty of times while she was
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5
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homeless, from pain pills, to alcohol, to Ecstasy-she had
plenty of enablers if all she was after was getting high.
While she was at the shelter Patterson befriended a man
named Charlie Brown. A black man in his 40s, with a sweet
smile and an admitted love for crack cocaine, he promised
Patterson that he would leave the city, return home to
Detroit and somehow beat his habit.
"I allowed Charlie to take me around the neighbor~
hood to show me his favorite spots. He took me behind
a gas station and showed me the spot where he drank his
Milwaukee's Best Ice, only 95 cents at the corner store.
He took me to a cluttered backyard behind an apartment
building and showed me where he did his drugs in private;'
says Patterson.
One night while she was with Charlie, he made her an
offer: "We can go upstairs and go in the bathroom," he
suggested. "To do what?" she asked him. "We can each have
a hit (of crack];' he said."No one will know. Then we can
kiss on my bed and watch TV." Patterson laughed it off. "I
love you, Te~Erika;' he said solemnly. Patterson smiled
but politely refused his offer.
"The next morning I woke from a very vivid dream where
I did take a hit of the drug that has devastated so many lives,
and it was oh so lovely. The feeling I got from trying crack
in the dream was so powerful and so amazing that I said to
mysel£ 'If it's that good in my dream, I can never take it in
real life because I would be hooked;" says Patterson.
Her experience with Charlie had pushed her boundaries
and tested her limits, but she did not waver, and on the streets
of Miami Patterson formulated the idea that would become
the Rebuild Your Life Project, an empowerment outreach
aimed at teaching women to overcome their fear of failure.
An overwhelming feeling of destitution-or
maybe it was
just seeing what was in front of her-propelled Patterson to
take action.
The Florida Department of Children and Families
reports that 57,643 people in Florida are homeless on any
given night, and 34 percent of those people are women.
Florida's definition of homelessness changed in 2009 and
now also applies to individuals with a lack of fixed, regular
or nighttime residence, and includes all those living on the
streets, in shelters and in places not meant for human habita~
tion-living doubled up in motel rooms or in campgrounds
due to a loss of housing or economic hardship.
Resources for the homeless in Florida are stretched thin,
and the state has one of the highest unemployment rates
in the country, an estimated 9.9 percent at the end of last
year, according to the US. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That
number is down from a historic high of 12 percent at the
end of December 2010. But how those numbers relate to
the LGBT community is unclear, and while job fairs and
economic resources are becoming more and more common
in the Sunshine State, nothing is specifically targeted to
the LGBT community.
As Patterson drifted around South Florida, making
contact with disenfranchised American veterans, homeless
women who feared sexual assault and kids who had been
kicked out of their homes because of their sexuality, she
began to practice the principles of Rebuild Your Life.
One day at the shelter Patterson noticed a petite woman
walk past her with a beautiful baby, bouncy and smiling.
When Patterson later decided to approach the woman, and
asked her to take a walk in the nearby park, Sara* had by this
point lost her baby to Child Protective Services, because she
could not provide a proper home. In broken English, Sara
explained that her caseworker had promised to help her get
her baby back, but first she had to find employment and
a suitable place to live. "That day, I promised [Sara] that I
would join focus with her and help her rebuild her life while
I was rebuilding mine;' says Patterson.
Call it instinct, female intuition or pure and simple
compassion, but Patterson got to work immediately. "I
took her to a local job placement agency and began to
make phone calls around the city to the agencies that
serve the Hispanic population, telling them all about
[Sara] and asking for help;' says Patterson.
While working to promote interest in a job fair for
homeless women, Patterson contacted all the people she
knew, to try to find gainful employment for Sara. A fast
food company got back to her, saying that any woman she
sent in would be interviewed immediately and considered
for a job. Patterson contacted Sara, excited with the news,
and was shocked by the response she was given. "I can't do it
today. I have too much to do:'
"Days later, when I approached her again, she ignored me.
After that, she made it clear that she wasn't interested in my
help at all. "I don't want to be a part of your program;' she
told me. I left her alone after that. Weeks later, she disap~
peared from the shelter, and I never saw her again. This was
my first inkling that most of the women who were homeless
did not believe they could leave the lifestyle, and did not take
the action necessary to do so;' says Patterson.
How to take action was the driving force behind the
creation of the Rebuild Your Life Project. "This project aims
to teach women how to overcome their fear of failure by
showing them what extreme failure looks like and teaching
them the skills to survive it. Although I became homeless
and advocated for the homeless women in my community
during my time as homeless, I am not an advocate for
the homeless. I am an advocate for women who want to
move on from a situation that no longer serves them;' says
Patterson. "By showing them how to move on from it, what
resources are available, how to get a job and how to handle
being depressed and losing out in life, I hope that they will
learn to move forward in life knowing that they can conquer
anything;' says Patterson.
"I am asking big businesses to partner with the Rebuild
Your Life Project to offer a day of mass hiring, to extend
employment opportunities to Americans;' says Patterson.
Patterson's battle is not an easy one. With just one
volunteer to assist her, she approaches business leaders,
community activists and business owners looking for any
resources, open doors and financial support she can find
for homeless women.
She saw a need; her desire to help pushed Patterson
into action. She is a strong~willed woman with a powerful
mind-and
with the voices of South Florida's homeless
women at her back, Patterson has a clear mission for the
future of the Rebuild Your Life Project. To do for others
what she has done, in essence, for herself. She has rebuilt
her life. She has renewed herself, moved on, survived.
( therebuildyourlifeproject.org)
■
*Real name changed to protect privacy
May 2012
I 31
cirig
ee
32
1
curve
t 55, Martina Navratilova is a hero to lesbians everywhere and not just
because of her incredible tennis career. Winning 59 Grand Slam titles
(including 20 at Wimbledon) and a whopping 359 tournament victories
during a career that spanr1ed four decades, Navratilova revolutionized women's tennis with her amazing
talent. But she also made it cool to be an out lesbian athlete. In 1981, at the height of her popularity,
she did something that so many other closeted professional athletes were (and still are) afraid to
do-she came out publicly, proving that she believes in honesty and integrity both on and off the court.
As one of the first openly gay sports figures, she faced prejudice and gender stereotyping and even
lost millions of dollars in endorsements. Since then, Navratilova has become a respected civil rights
advocate and a strong supporter of many LGBT organizations. She is also a vocal advocate for equal
marriage rights. Now she's headed to ABC's Dancing with the Stars to learn some new moves, and
whether or not she wins the competition, she's sure to win many new fans in the process.
()
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Whatmadeyoudecideto doDancingwiththeStars?
Well, I wanted to get some dancing shoes and this was
the best way to get them [laughs]. Actually, I always
wanted to learn how to dance, but I am so shy. I thought
the best way to get over my fear was to dance in front
of millions of people. I'm always willing to face my fears
and take on new challenges. That's what I talk about as
the Ambassador of Fitness for the AARP [American
Association of Retired Persons]-be
brave and don't be
afraid to try new things. Since I talk about it, I have to
do it as well.
You'recertainlyagile on the tennis
court.Doyouthinkyou'llbe ableto
keepupwithyourdancepartner,
Tony
Dovolani?
Tony is a great teacher and he cho~
reographs all of the dances for us.
He knows my limitations and how
far he can push me. So, I won't be
doing any splits or anything like
that. I think my tennis agility will
come in handy, and I might be able
to do some moves that other people
can't do. You'll just have to watch
and see what I can do.
Whatareyoulookingforwardto most
in beingontheshow?
I'm really looking forward to learning how to
dance and feeling like a dancer. Of course, I'd
love to win the competition because I am a
competitor. But I want to feel like an accom~
plished dancer the most. I also want people
to enjoy watching me. Let's be honest-it's
a
popularity contest. But I really hope to surprise
a few people. And since I've been out of the
closet for a long time now, I need the support
of all of my sisters. I need them to vote for me!
Youmadewaveson the tenniscourtand in the
courtof publicopinionwhenyou came out in
1981. What do you think has
changed
sincethen?
The average American's accep~
tance has grown exponentially
since then. It's been an amazing
growth spurt. I said back in
2005 that we would have full
marriage equality in this country
in 10 years. And it's realistic
when you see what's happening.
I truly believe that it's going to
happen before 2015.
Somehigh-profileathletesare
stillreluctantto comeout,for fearof losingsponsors
andfans.What'syourtake onthat,sinceyouwerea
high-profile
athleteat thetimeyoucameout?
Little by little it will continue to change. The more
people who come out, the easier it will be for every~
one else. [The world] is more accepting today, and
it will eventually transfer to the athletic world as
well. But I still think that the day that professional
basketball players and football players come out as
openly gay is further away than marriage equality
for everyone.
You'vebeenretiredfromtennissince2006.Whathave
youbeenupto since?
[Laughs] A lot. In 2007, I became the
Ambassador of Fitness for the AARP.
I travel the world and speak a lot about
health and living an active lifestyle no
matter what age you are. I also pro~
vide commentary and analysis for the
Tennis Channel during its coverage of
the Grand Slams. In addition to that,
I give speaking engagements and moti~
vational speeches on LGBT diversity to
different organizations. And then I play
in tennis legends events as well. I keep
busy. (martinanavratilova.com) ■
May 2012
I 33
ANDER
SlyLE
ntil recently, Swedes and lesbians had something
in common: a suspicion of fashion as an ethically
dubious display of conspicuous consumption. In
other words, anti-fashion. But this perception has
changed for both Scandinavians and Sapphically
inclined women, with fashion now seen as an avenue
through which to explore forms of dress as a reflection of identity, rather than as a way of trapping and
conforming the female body. Americans may be
familiar with the rise of Swedish retail giant H&M,
which offers practical yet affordable designs with a
fashion sensibility. More recently, the works of Stieg
Larsson and his Millennium trilogy have undoubtedly
had some impact on Swedish fashion; the image and
identity of Lisbeth Salander, a quintessentially Swedish
character with her complex psychology, resourcefulness
and functional, monochromatic punk wardrobe embodies
much of the contemporary Swedish aesthetic, and evidence
of her influence was found all over the runways of Mercedes
Benz Fashion Week Stockholm, Autumn/Winter
2012.
Noomi Rapace, who played Salander in the original films,
even opened Fashion Week with a special ribbon-cutting
appearance and was spotted at numerous shows.
For many years, if anyone had asked me what Swedish
fashion was, I would have thought of unisex overalls for
intellectual socialists, or perhaps Greta Garbo in a black
turtleneck sweater and men's trousers, striding away
from photographers. It's true that this expectation of
no-fuss functionality clings to Swedish fashion design,
much as it does to their other design movements, IKEA
representing the best-known of these. However, in the
past few years, Swedish fashion designers have started
to push the envelope and wonderfully, some of the major
proponents of change are women-starting
with Katja
Geiger, the first Swedish fashion designer to have international success (her bold collection debuted at Lord
& Taylor in New York in the late 1940s) through to
Ann-Sofie Back who now shows regularly in Paris and
London. For the Swedes, as for us, fashion is finally
fashionable. (stockholmfashionweek.com)
SWEDEN'S
NEWfASH
IONAESlHEllC
HASPLENlY
OfANDROGYNOUS
APPEAL.
PYMERRYN
JOHNS
Cheap Monday began with a mission to provide fashion-
able jeans at a lower price than leading labels. The first
800 pairs with signature skull logo hit the market in 2004
and today Cheap Monday can be found in around 1800
stores worldwide. The womenswear displays the influence
of Eastern and urban aesthetics, from contemporary
martial arts to 1980s streetwear. (cheapmonday.com)
The Local Firm is inspired by the European industrial age
and the German Bauhaus art and design movement. The
label combines contrasting garments, colors and materials
and the women's line offers an androgynous silhouette, and
flashes back to the edgy urban minimalism of the early '90s.
( thelocalfirm.com)
Dagmar was founded in 2005 by three sisters and named
after their muse-their
grandmother Dagmar, who was
a seamstress. The label combines sensuality with female
strength and recently paid tribute to two inspirational
Swedish women: fictional icon Lisbeth Salander and
20th century Swedish modernist painter Sigrid Hjerten.
In 2011, Dagmar was awarded with the most prestigious
fashion prize in Scandinavia, the Guldknappen. (houseofdagmar.se)
Minimarket was also founded by three sisters and harks
back to the golden age of vaudeville where illusion and
escapism reigned. Vibrant theatrical colors not often seen
in Swedish design are combined with caped and cropped
garments for startling effect. At Fashion Week, who better
to present their collection than Women on the Verge of a
Nervous Breakdown icon, Rossy de Palma (minimarket.se)
UNllLRECENlLY,
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Hernandez-Cornet is the label of former model
and young conceptual designer Ana HernandezCornet. She once said, as though to challenge
Swedish fashion itself, "I think people should dress
with more power ... ! would like to see women dress
more confident and not always put the main focus
on the practical and comfortable and 'hide the body
away in multiple layers ofjerseY:" Game on, ladies!
(hernandez-cornet.com)
Maria Nordstrom blends couture with everyday
functionality in a typically Swedish way. Leather
contrasts with hand-dyed silk presenting a contemporary fashion edge. The womenswear explores
underlying themes of darkness, from Catholic notions
of purgatory to the rebellious and revelatory avantgarde. Very Salanderesque. ( marianordstrom.com)
Fifth Ave Shoe Repair showcases deconstruction,
draping and minimalism, creating a depersonalized
or almost stark institutionalized effect, and yet
paradoxically the designs convey an unmistakable
individualism. The womenswear features distorted
proportions and structural embellishments that are
at once futuristic, noirish and evoke the Millenium.
(vave-shoerepair.com)
Mayla was founded by graphic designer Marlene
Abraham, and those with a love of a more conventional female fashion aesthetic will adore her
elegant lines and 20th Century nostalgia. This
collection showcases elegant and flattering pieces:
think 1930s Greta Garbo, dark and moody, in long
silhouetted cashmere coats, tailored trouser suits,
reefer jackets and berets. ( mayla.se)
MARIA
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OU CANDERIVE
just as much inspiration
from hearing a conductor explain her passion as from knowing that another gender
barrier has fallen. In recent years, the world
of classical music-let's not call it rigid, just congenitally
resistant to change-has
seen the advent of women
on the podium everywhere from Milan to Baltimore to
Manitoba. Maestra Jessica Bejarano is an enthusiastic
addition to those women in the spotlight, and she'll be the
first to tell you that maintaining a career in classical music
isn't as tough as earning the baton.
"It's a really competitive field;' says Bejarano, 31. "It
takes a lot of energy, a lot of work, a lot of focus, a lot of
organization to be a conductor and to make your career
happen. Never mind if you're a man trying to break into
the field. It's just tough:'
Yet she has risen to the challenge, and now the San
Francisco-based, out-and-proud Bejarano is at the helm
of three orchestras: the Peninsula Symphony, the Bay
Area Rainbow Symphony and the Community Women's
Orchestra. She also leads the West County Winds, a
group of 60 woodwind, brass and percussion musicians
in a concert ensemble.
The Southern California native says she took to music
as soon as her big brother began playing the trumpet in
the school band. Just a third-grader then, Bejarano would
sneak into his room to test her skills and long for fifth
grade, when she too could join the band. Those early
years, which she spent playing with some decidedly
non-symphonic groups, were capped at age 18, when she
found her musical calling.
"The first time I ever listened to classical music, I fell
in love;• she says. "I rushed over to Tower Records and I
could not buy enough CDs. It was like the music was
already in me, I just needed to dig it out:'
Y
That fervor led her to an undergraduate degree in music
education from the University of Wyoming, where her
leadership instincts kicked in and she soon took over the
250-member marching band as drum major. Then, armed
with a master's degree in conducting from U.C. Davis,
Bejarano began exploring the international world of classical
music, with visits to Italy, Russia, Bulgaria and beyond
to learn the ways of world-class symphonies from elite
conductors.
She has wielded the baton ever
since, devoting herself heart and soul
to conducting, a career that still captivates her-and
a passion that fuels
her success.
"It's a very small world, the music
world, and word spreads;• she says. "If
you do good work, people are going
to hear about you and get to know
you, and they're going to invite you to
work with them:'
Although female conductors have
undoubtedly broken the glass ceiling,
Bejarano says that at every performance some people in the audience
are seeing a woman on the podium
for the first time. And at the same
time, being a trailblazer means that
Bejarano also serves as a role model for
aspiring musicians and conductors.
"We don't belong in boxes;' says
Bejarano. "I wasn't born into classical music. I wasn't born
in the conservatory. And yet here I am. It's a blessing to
have a career doing something I'm passionate about. And
I think I exude that energy with my musicians as well:'
0essicabejarano.com) ■
SEIZING THE
The Bay Area's
newest maestra,
Jessica Bejarano,
has harmony within.
By Kelsy Chauvin
I
MAGINE
THATthere was no glass ceiling, no barriers
or limits to how successful you could be. Imagine
yourself at the top, living, as Oprah Winfrey would
say, your best life. Well, even Oprah didn't predict
that she would become who she is. "I think that's the real
beauty in following your heart without a destination;' says
Gina Spriggs, a tarologist who aims to empower women.
Spriggs discovered her psychic abilities at an early ageat just 3 years old she telekinetically threw a shoe at her
cranky father. "The shoe just moved;' she laughs. Aged 10,
she saw the apparition of a girl emerge from a wall and walk
down the corridor of her Manhattan apartment building.
"I would see her every day walking toward me and I literally had to walk through her to get to my apartment and I
would turn and she wasn't there. I finally told my mother
and she smiled and nodded and the next thing I knew I
was at a psychiatrist's office:' When the 16-year-old Spriggs
read her friends' tarot cards and saw that one of them was
pregnant, she put away her cards for almost 20 years. "I put
out that fire;' she says.
A CAREER IN THE
CARDS
A tarologist offers empowerment through
her readings. By Merryn Johns
"We all have it;' says Spriggs of her psychic ability. "We
just don't tap into it:'
Many of us ignore our female intuition and yet crave
psychic advice, especially when at a crossroads, doubtful
of which path to take, fearful we're already on the wrong
road, wanting a sign. Should you seek such direction, you
can do no better than Spriggs. She is uncannily accurate,
from where your relationship or job is at, to your health
problems or pets, to even what books you are reading (full
disclosure: my reading with Spriggs wasn't all rainbows
and unicorns but it turned out to be spot on). Far from
trying to spook you about your future, she wants you to
get where you need to go in life. Women, she says, "are
raised to be nice, to be kind" -often to the point where
they neglect their own futures and selves.
"The future really doesn't happen until you step into it.
Just because I say something to you in a reading doesn't necessarily mean that it's set in stone. You still have the gift of
choice. You're empowered to make more informed decisions
because you are now receiving a trailer of your life. If you
like what you're seeing, you can keep on feeding it. If you
are going through something terrible, you can see the light
at the end of the tunnel and you can plan what's next. You
can choose your response. It's like knowing you're going to a
surprise party. You are empowered with more information
so that you can make intelligent decisions:'
A session with Spriggs starts with her asking her client
for a question they would like answered. If they do not have
one, she asks them to think of a time in the past when they
were truly happy or to project themselves into the future
where they see themselves as happy. "I lead them to their
own intuition. I ask, 'What makes your heart sing:" When
you have joy in your life you know you want to keep that
joy, but when you have fear, you have to really analyze
what's behind the fear:'
These days, as we are all affected by recession, rapid
technological advancements and global political upheaval,
Spriggs sees a lot of people on the brink of making pivotal
choices, and she assists them to step into their destiny using
intuition. "Think less and feel more;' is her advice.
A professional psychic with 12 years of tarot study and
seven additional years learning about intuitive reading,
Spriggs draws on her dairsentient talents, which she believes
adds an extra layer to her readings, picking up dues not
only from the cards, but from the emotions and vibrations
of the client. She also teaches others to tap into their psychic
talents; her students have the ability to accurately read
someone after merely three classes.
Based in North Carolina where she is supported by the
lesbian community (she estimates that 98 percent of her
client base is female, with about 40 percent of them gay
and bisexual) she comes out to her clients so that she 'gives
them permission to be who they are:' While she feels some
lesbians are reticent to come to her for fear that something
will 'get out;' she emphasizes that, much like a therapist, she
practices complete client confidentiality. "People are coming
to me not only because I'm good, but because they don't
hear their business in the street;' says Spriggs, who is also
an ordained minister ('Td rather be referred to as a high
priestess than a reverend"). And like a therapist Spriggs
believes that what she does at the end of the day "is a form of
healing:' (tarologist.com)■
111111111111111
I I I I III I I I I II II I I I III I I I I II II
111
HANDS-ON
HEALING
An Eastern practice gave an engineer the energy she was seeking.
By Stephanie Schroeder
L
ISAB.O'SHEA
began her career as a chemical
engineer. A graduate of the prestigious
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, she worked
at Kimberly~Clark and Mobil Chemical for
several years. Then, when she became a single mother, she
didn't want the heavy travel schedule her job demanded
and went back to school to earn a teaching credential with
the intention of teaching high
school chemistry and physics.
In the meantime, she sought
out tai chi and qigong classes
to deal with stress.
O'Shea fully embraced East~
ern healing traditions when her
severe asthma symptoms disap~
peared, about six months after
she began her qigong practice.
She also studied hypno~
therapy and Reiki to help her
understand more about how
the body works. ''As an engi~
neer;' O'Shea says, "I yearned
to understand the mind~body
connection. I come from a
family of doctors-my
father
was a surgeon and my grand~
mother was a pediatrician-so
it was a very medical model:'
Qigong is about unblocking
energy and getting it to flow
through the body in a healthy manner. Practitioners use
movement, visualization and breathing to achieve that
healthy flow, using different configurations with differ~
ent people.
O'Shea soon experienced her own energy flow: What
began as a part~time avocation and a hobby for stress
relief eventually turned into a profitable business, and in
1998 O'Shea created the Qi Gong Institute of Rochester,
in western New York. These days, she has a thriving
full~time private practice, and, in addition, she offers
qigong healing classes and seminars, through which others
can become certified instructors. Her certification program
also includes counseling in traditional Chinese medicine
and nutrition. ''A session usually begins with some hands~
on healing to jump~start the process, and then I use
qigong teaching to help clients improve their own health;'
she says.
O'Shea says her private practice consists of an equal
ratio of women and men, but her certification classes are
mainly composed of women. "I think women seek out
self~care in a more social setting, while men tend to engage
more in self~study:'
"I don't think many lesbians are yet in this field;' says
O'Shea about her second career. "Not because it's not
appealing, but because it does not yet have broad visibility.
Women see nursing, social work, massage therapy and
other Western healing and seek those out as careers:'
Qigong is certainly not a new discipline, but even
though it is relatively new to the United States, it's gaining
in popularity. O'Shea says she enjoys the business end of
things just as much as her energy practice. ''I'd say I spend
a quarter of my time on the business aspect. I like to work
on the computer, crunch numbers and analyze the business.
I've done all my own business work, including promotion,
advertising and PR, until my most recent video, which I
did with a publisher:'
O'Shea, who recently married her partner of 12 years on
the first day lesbians could marry in New York State, will
be releasing a new qigong video this fall. It's especially for
women, and addresses our physical, emotional, psycho~
logical and relationship health. (qigongrochester.com) ■
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A nontraditional career in the utilities
industry pays off in dollars and sense.
By Stephanie Schroeder
M
MARVSARTORI,
49, has been working
for nine years at Colorado Springs
Utilities (CSU) as an outside operator
at Front Range Power, a 480-megawatt combined-cycle turbine power plant. It uses natural
gas, rather than coal, to deliver power.
'Tm the eyes and ears of the plant;' she says. "I go
outside to record and monitor the performance of plant
equipment, take appropriate corrective actions as required
and report abnormalities to the control room operator. I
assist with the start-up, operation, and shutdown of all
equipment, performing daily water chemistry analysis and
assisting maintenance personnel:'
Winters are cold in Colorado, and when the weather
dips too far below zero, sometimes Sartori has to take
drastic action, climbing up a 10-story boiler with a torch
to find and loosen frozen valves.
After spending four years in the Air Force as a jet engine
mechanic, Sartori worked in a chemical process plant
for five years and as a TSA agent for a while, too. This
unusual combination of employment experiences turned
out to be just what CSU was looking for, and Sartori was
chosen as the most qualified of the 400 applicants for
her current job.
Among the 22 people at the plant, just three of
Sartori's coworkers are women: two in administration
and her control room operator. "There are two people
per shift needed to operate the plant;' she says, "and me
and my control room operator are the only female-female
team in CSU at a power plant.
"The pay is extremely good, but even better is the job
security. Utilities are one of the few fields that are actually always looking for qualified people, especially women;'
says Sartori. In her case, going the nontraditional route
has landed her a job that is unaffected by any downturn
in the economy.
Sartori says her coworkers are supportive. ''I've never
run into any problems with coworkers for being gay,
because, I believe, I never make it a big deal. I have had to
'feel' out how people felt about this issue before I would let
them know, but I've been fortunate to have worked with
great people, both now and in the past:' She was out to
only a few people when she was in the Air Force, "but that
was when DADT was still in place:'
Her plant runs 24/7 and Sartori works rotating day and
night shifts, putting in 12-hour stints on a four-days-on,
four-days-off shift rotation. And, although she loves that
schedule, she sometimes has to work weekends and holidays. "It can impede my personal life a bit;' she admits.
Sartori is happily engaged to her soulmate, Jennifer.
They have been together for almost two years. "She
supports and understands the work that I do, and my
schedule. She knows that we will not be spending every
weekend and holiday together, but we make up for it on
other days. I am very lucky and blessed to have her as my
other half!" ■
THE POWER OF
WHERE
WISDOM
AND BUSINESS
CONVERGE
Tami Simon has built a company and a community on spiritual awakening.
By Kelsy Chauvin
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HEREIS A SENSEOF balance around Tami
Simon. She seems equally instinctive and
studious, modest and driven. Her company,
Sounds True, is a for,profit multimedia
publishing venture, yet shares a library of wisdom. Her
life's work has been a source of inspiration for hersel£
and for countless others who have formed a community
around spiritual awakening.
Ironically, Simon's vocational achievements only began
once she dropped out of college in 1983 and left for a
yearlong trip to India, Sri Lanka and Nepal that changed
her world. "It was in that year [abroad] that I discovered
the practice of meditation;' she says. ''And that became the
most important ground in my life from which everything
else has sprung:'
The clarity she found on that journey returned home
with her, and coincided with an inheritance. The then
23,year,old Simon decided to use that sudden income to
find a sustainable means to share the world's major spiritual
traditions-and
Sounds True was born. She was now on
a path where she could use "business as a vehicle for fol,
filling our hearts' highest ideals:'
"It wasn't so much that I wanted to be in business or
start a business; what I wanted to do was disseminate
spiritual wisdom;' says Simon, now 49. "I wanted to take
the greatest discoveries and insights of the world's wisdom
traditions-along
with the techniques, practices and
approaches that had been incubated in those traditions
and taught from generation to generation-and
make
them available as easy as possible in a contemporary way:'
Today, Sounds True is a self,proclaimed "independent
and sustainable employee,owned organization;' one that
serves as a gateway between authors and spiritual leaders,
and those exploring personal growth and development.
Simon and her company of about 80 employees are com,
mitted to values she calls "multiple bottom lines": purpose,
people and profit.
Purpose is the overriding business model-the company
publishes work that inspires, supports and serves "contin,
uous spiritual awakening and its expression in the world:'
People make the company successful, and enjoy a work,
place that fosters personal growth and community, building
loving relationships that form the root of the business.
Simon calls it the "groovy bottom line:' And as with any
good business, Simon's goal is to "create profits through
working together creatively and efficiently:' Profit is also
essential to broadening the company's reach, and building
archives that future generations can easily access.
On August 22, Sounds True will host the five,day
Wake Up Festival in Estes Park, Colo., near the company
headquarters in Louisville. Simon says it will be a tangible
experience for visitors wishing to access spiritual wisdom
and traditions, in a context of people who approach
awakening from many different perspectives-dancers,
musicians, yogis, poets, energy healers, neuroscientists
and teachers.
Simon is calling the festival "a celebration of the heart's
unfolding:' And with it, she is likely to open more doors
for those willing explorers, and share her own sense of
balance in the world. (soundstrue.com) ■
"I -wanted to take the
greatest
discoveries
and insights
of the
-world's -wisdom
traditions
and make
them available
in a
contemporary
-way."
A WINNING STREAK
Motocross star Stefy Bau was a legendary competitor in one of the
world's most dangerous extreme sports. By Lyndsey D'Arcangelo
ention Stefy Bau's name to any motocross fan-male
or female-
and you'll instantly see their eyes widen with admiration. After all,
Bau is known throughout the racing world as the Female G.O.A.T.
(Greatest Of All Time). She is to motocross what Tony Hawk is to
skateboarding-a
pioneer of the modern-day sport we see on ESPN.
"I was practically born into the sport;' says Bau, who
grew up in Milan, Italy. "I remember waiting for the weekend so I could ride with my father on his motorcycle. I was
fascinated at a very young age:'
At 4 years old, Bau boldly asked her parents if she could
have her own motorcycle. "I expected them to tell me I was
too young, and they actually said yes! They gave me a
peewee motorcycle. It was a real bike meant for small kids.
It was the best gift ever:'
It wasn't long before Bau's parents could tell that their
daughter had natural talent. "During one of the trips I
used to do with my dad on the weekends, we saw some
kids racing dirt bikes on a small track. My dad said, 'Get
ready, you're going to race: I went in and beat all the little
boys that were there. That's what started it all:'
In her first official race, in 1983, Bau came in third. After
that, she won every race she competed in as a 6-year-old.
As a result of her early success, her racing career quickly
took off.
"I had a different type of childhood than most kids, but
it was entertaining at the same time. You live two different
lives. I was a bit of an outcast at school because I wasn't
like every other kid, but that's what gave me independence
and strength:'
Throughout her early years, Bau often ran into male
racers who would say,"What are you doing here? This is a
guys' sport:' But adversity only made her stronger.
"Racing back then, as a little girl, was almost a no-no,
especially in Italy, because it was a conservative country.
It was a different kind of culture. But I was determined to
prove to myself that I belonged there. I stayed committed
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"It'sa hard sport.
But if you can embraceit,
it teaches you so much."
and kept going. When I became a professional racer,
the perception changed. I was respected just like every,
one else:'
Over the years, motocross has continued to evolve and
grow. For one thing, it's no longer seen as a male,only
sport. ''At the beginning, at least in my area, when I started
it was very difficult to be a little girl riding against boys;'
Bau explained. "It was hard for my parents because they
were judged by other people [for letting me race]. Now, a
little girl can grow up and ride bikes and it's accepted:'
But what if that little girl happens to be gay?
"Whenever you get involved in any professional sport,
you have so much other stuff to consider, such as the
league you are in. Even though I was in a male,dominated
sport, I was just myself. I didn't declare [that I was gay]
to the world but everyone knew about it. For me, it was
normal. So it was never a problem in my career. I was
respected for what I did for the sport. I think if you are
happy with your life and with who you are, you shouldn't
have anything to hide. But you also have to do what is
best for you in your career:'
The same courageous attitude that led Bau to be true
to herself throughout her career also led her to seven
Italian and five U.S. Championships, before she retired,
reluctantly, in 2006. Among her many racing awards and
achievements, she is also the first woman to ever partici~
pate in a male All~World Motocross event-and the first
woman motocross racer to be featured in two PlayStation
video games.
"It's definitely cool to be in a video game;' says Bau,
laughing. "It's weird, and at the same time very powerful.
They recorded my voice for one of the games, to make it
as realistic as possible. Not a lot of people get to be in a
video game, so it's a milestone for sure:'
Though she may be officially retired now, Bau continues
to train and inspire the next generation of female racers
through her elite motocross academy, 211 MX School.
"It's a hard sport;' she said. "But if you can embrace it,
it teaches you so much. If you love it, keep pushing and
keep going-just like anything else in life:' ■
May 2012
I 49
HOT WHEELS
Balancing beauty and motorbikes is a passion for Jess Bowen.
By Merryn Johns •
Photos by Jessie Prince, Styling by Nathan Smith
nlike many women who pose with cool cars and beautiful bikes,
Jess Bowen, 33, is very likely to own the hardware herself-and
understand every nut and bolt of it. The gorgeous beauty salon
owner and interior designer is a motorbike and classic car
fanatic. She's also an avid surfer, which comes as no surprise
given that she resides in the picturesque coastal town of
Byron Bay, situated on Australia's most easterly point.
Bowen is passionate about restoring the beauty of old things,
whether they be houses, bikes or surfboards. The motorcycle in
these photos is a 1976 Honda 750 four modified to a cafe racer
in L.A. by cafe racer specialist Steve Carpenter. Bowen owns this
bike along with a modified 1976 Holden teal green HQ utility
with a 308 V8 engine, a Harley Davidson 1200 sportster modified into a bobber cafe, and a KTM exc-f 250 dirt bike (she's also
passionate about dirt bike riding). "I love the look and smell of
vintage bikes and cars; you can see how they are made and the
craftsmanship that goes into them; you can modify them to anything that inspires you. I have:'
Cars, bikes and surfboards are
not the only things Bowen collects.
There are also tattoos- 200 of
them. "I have been collecting tattoos for 17 years now. They have all
been from experiences, people and
travels-kind
of like a timeline of
my life:' Her favorites include a gold
revolver on her thigh and a black
and gray rose on her neck.
Whether it's setting up her
beauty salon business or creating
body art, Bowen likes to make her
mark, and 2012 is no exception.
"This year is really about taking
time out for myself and focusing
on fitness, surfing and building up
my new business. I am also looking
forward to starting a family in the
next couple of years:'
While the brunette bombshell
is shy about her current relationship
status, she's sure to find admirers
in curve.''! don't like to put a label
on myself, but my long-term relationships have been with women:'
( mudhoneysalon.com.au) ■
May 2012
I 51
DRIVEWITH PRIDE
Get into gear with a gay car. By Constance Parten
hese days, everything seems to be fraught with poli,
tics and even our patterns of consumption can have global
impact. As we count down to a federal election with cam,
paign candidates often endorsed by corporations and big
brands, simple household purchases can become unwitting
political acts.
Buying a car, when gas prices are rising and oil is a com,
modity linked to any number of political situations, is
especially worrisome for politically,conscious lesbians.
Thankfully, there is a website to help you navigate your next
vehicle purchase so that you can make an educated choice.
Gaywheels.com launched in June 2005 (in conjunction
with L.A. Pride) "as a gay,friendly way to research and
buy a car or truck and related services:' At gaywheels.com,
users can investigate which automakers and other automo,
tive companies are gay,friendly. Initially, the gay,friendly
criteria was defined simply by whether or not companies
had anti,discrimination policies to protect their LGBT
employees, says website spokesperson Richard Read.
"Since nearly all major automakers-with
the exception of
Hyundai, Kia, Porsche and Suzuki-now
have such poli,
cies in place, we've begun to push further, inquiring about
insurance for domestic partners and other benefits:'
Sometimes, however, buying a car has more to do with
marketing and what appeals to us as lesbians, rather than
what feels politically correct. Take, for example gay men's
love of the Mini Cooper, or lesbians' legendary loyalty to
Subaru. "There are clearly cars that are marketed to women
52
I curve
(the old New Beetle, most minivans), cars that are mar,
keted to men (the 2012 Beetle, most pickups) and cars that
are marketed to LGBT consumers (the Fiat 500, Buicks):'
says Read. "The marketing mix for most vehicles looks like
a Venn diagram, with a handful of overlapping demo,
graphics like: Women, affiuent, double,income,no,kids
and so on. While I think that automakers are very aware of
their LGBT consumers, I have a hunch that the marketing
efforts that separate lesbians and gays are grounded in the
more general differences between women and men:'
Read notes, however, that some of his lesbian friends
have been known to be drawn to cars ordinarily pitched to
straight men-"badass sports cars like the Subaru WRX:'
Gender and sexuality stereotypes aside, like any con,
sumer product, Read believes a car is an expression of
the buyer's identity. ''As more Americans come out of the
closet, as more of them feel comfortable expressing their
sexual orientation, more of them will feel comfortable
buying vehicles that represent their personality-no matter
whether those vehicles scream butch or femme or some,
thing in,between:'
While the site's founding editor was laughed at when
he first visited auto shows under the gaywheels.com
banner, the auto industry now seems "very eager to talk
about LGBT issues. In fact, most of the bigger automakers
now make a concerted effort to reach out to LGBT media.
After all, we're their link to a market segment with
considerable purchasing power:' (gaywheels.com) ■
AUTOMOTIVEALLIES
When you buy a car there are so many factors to contemplate. Hybrid or electric? Domestic
or foreign? New or used? The decisions are endless, but have you stopped to consider how
gay-friendly your car company is? Gaywheels.com has, and here's what they tell us.
I...EXI...IS
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Gay fitness
goddess
Jackie Warner
on growingher
empireand
if she'llever
returnto 1V.
BY LYNDSEY D'ARCANGELO
REALITY
At 43, Jackie Warner is in the best shape of her life. She has the kind of
body that many women dream of-washboard abs, toned muscles and a
sun-kissed L.A. tan. But even this Work Out star wasn't always fit. "When
I was in college, I went from 114 pounds to 169 pounds in three or four
months," Warner confesses. "I was eating fast food and I blew up overnight.
I sat in my dorm room one night and cried, and I made the decision to get
control of my life. I gave up fast food and walked to school every day. Once
the weight came off, I wanted to learn more [about being healthy]."
That decades~old decision to get healthy
is what helps keep Warner motivated
to continue working hard on her own
health and fitness, and to continue helping
others. "When I can tell that someone
is ready to change and there is a fire in
them, I get inspired. If I don't feel that
they are motivated to change, then I am
not interested. It doesn't matter if it's
Julia Roberts or whoever:'
If you've seen Warner on Bravo's
Work Out and Thintervention, then you
know she means business. But after the
final season of Work Out, it was time
for Warner to take a break from reality
television. "It's a double~edged sword;'
says Warner. "I had no control over
the editing in Work Out, and however
they wanted to portray it, they could. If
producers want to create an image, they
can do it through editing. I executive
produced Thintervention, so I know how
editing can play a part. But I would not
trade [my] experience [with Work Out]
for one bad season. It made me grow as
tough as nails:'
Though the self~confessed reality TV
junkie isn't currently starring in her own
show, she's not opposed to doing another
one-as
long as it doesn't involve her
May 2012
I 55
I
personal life."I love reality. It's all I ever watch, and I have
written some shows, but I wouldn't want to do one about
my personal life again. It's too boring. No one would want
to watch it. I don't go out, and I'm in bed by 9 p.m:'
If you want to see Warner on television, you'll have
to pick up her latest workout DVD, Personal Training
With Jackie. Released last December, it's already a
best seller. "This DVD was different because I literally
opened my training logbook and incorporated pyramid
training from my own workout. It's a plateau,buster and
it's fun, because you are changing your movements back
and forth. Whenever I create a DVD, I know how to
push people without pushing them past their limit:'
Warner is also enjoying the recent launch of her
new book, 10 Pounds in 10 Days: The Secret Celebrity
Program for Losing Weight Fast. Normally reserved for
celebrities and LA:s elite, the exclusive lOx 10 program
''
IT'S ABOUT BALANCING
THE OVERALLBODY WITH
FOOD AND
EXERCISE.
YOU LEARN HOW TO
CHANGE YOUR BODY
CHEMISTRYIN A DAY.
YOU CAN ACTUALLY CHANGE
THE GENES YOU WERE BORN WITH.
YOU CAN ALSO
CHANGE
YOUR RELATIONSHIPWITH
FOOD.''
56
I curve
is now available for everyone. "I actually submitted a dif,
ferent book idea to my publisher;' Warner says. "It was
about spirituality and other things I was interested in. As
a side note, I told them about the lOx 10 program, which
I had written 15 years ago. And that's what they wanted
to publish!"
Warner developed the l0x 10 program initially because
celebrities would often ask her how to lose 10 pounds fast.
'J\nyone can lose 10 pounds, but not everyone knows how
to keep it off;' says Warner, who hired a researcher to help
her analyze hours and hours of nutritional data for the
book. "I wanted to be at the cutting edge and teach what
we're going to be talking about five years down the road.
I like to learn and grow. Honestly, I am at a place where I
don't have to do anything I don't want to do. So, I do what
interests me the most:'
Warner is no stranger to literary success. Her previous
book, This Is Why You're Fat (And How to Get Thin
Forever), made it onto the New York Times Best Seller
list. Fans can be sure to expect another great weight loss
book in 10 Pounds in 10 Days. "Honestly, it's the easiest
program to follow. I wanted to create a program that lit,
erally takes the thinking out of it. You don't have to do
anything-it's
all in the book:'
According to Warner, anyone can follow the program.
In fact, she wrote it with the average person in mind. "It's
for anyone who wants to lose weight and get in shape. It's
about balancing the overall body with food and exercise.
You learn how to change your body chemistry in a day.
It's very unbelievable, but true. You can actually change
the genes you were born with. You can also change your
relationship with food:'
Warner's relationship with food is a lot healthier today
than it was when she was in college. But she still indulges
in guilty pleasures now and again. "I don't say no to myself
about anything;' laughs Warner. "If I want chocolate or
dessert, I'll eat it without any guilt, because I know that
my metabolism is so fast that it will process it right away.
The only thing I decrease and try to get my clients to
decrease is alcohol. It stunts your ability to release fat,
burning hormones:•
With another best,selling DVD, and a new book and
website in the works, Jackie Warner is a busy woman. But
it's hard not to wonder if we'll ever see her on television
again in the future.
"I am currently negotiating an infomercial deal, and
I am hoping to get that off the ground;' Warner says.
"That's what I am focusing on now. I would also like
to do a fun, competitive reality show that I can executive
produce and that doesn't focus on such heavy subject
matters. It's draining to try to get someone's weight down
in just a couple of months. I'd rather get people to laugh
through the process instead:' 0ackiewarner.com) ■
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May 2012
I 57
Casitas LazDfvaz:
Hammocks on the
beach (clockwise), inside the
Marlene casita;
proud purveyors
Sara and Berit
ss I curve
As our tech-obsessed world grows smaller, it seems that
finding someplace to drop out, even on vacation, is as elusive
as finding the perfect sunset. But one place where peace and
quiet-and
sunsets-are
abundant is Costa Rica, so much
so that gays and lesbians are actually moving there to work
and telecommute, not just to vacation or retire. The gay scene
in Costa Rica is "expanding and continues developing," says
James Remes, the owner of Colours Oasis Resort in the
capital, San Jose. "Costa Rica has a young median age, so gay
acceptance is on the increase. Gay nightlife, dubs and socialOutside the city,
izing have grown, especially in San Jose:'
however, some venues are certainly considered gay-friendly,
but they're not the meccas they used to be. Manuel Antonio
and Quepos, for instance, are becoming more mainstreama fate they share with formerly gay destinations like Key West
and South Beach-but you can still find many gay-owned
homes, condos and vacation rentals. Most general businesses
are friendly to traveling gays, and gay travelers themselves are
becoming more adventurous, setting out to explore the entire
country. "We rarely hear of hate crimes, as the Costa Rican
people in general are peace loving by nature;' says Remes. In
the whole of Central America, Costa Rica is "the premier
country for gay acceptance:'
If you absolutely fall in love with the rich coast and wish
to move there, Allen Lungo and his husband, David Kepler,
who relocated from Chicago several years ago, have established a web portal, TheNextGayCostaRica.com, to promote
real estate to the LGBT community, and they will be happy
to give you information about gorgeous Guanacaste, a
province on the Northwest Pacific Coast.
THE GIRLS OF GUANACASTE
Berit Funke, originally from Munich, and her partner, Sara
Arrand, originally from Boston, arrived in Costa Rica in
2000 and soon made plans to send down roots, just like a
Guanacaste, the national tree of Costa Rica. A year later
they purchased a beachfront lot, then built a house and
some casitas, and in 2003 opened their doors for business
as Casitas LazDivaz Bed and Breakfast (lazdivaz.com).
The beach outside their door is Playa Samara, a beautiful
4-kilometer (roughly 2.5-mile) bay protected from riptides
by a barrier reef and considered one of the safest swimming
beaches in Costa Rica. Samara has 'Just enough restaurants,
beach bars and dance halls to entertain, after a day of
swimming, surfing, kayaking, hiking or hanging in a hammock;' says Arrand. In spite of some real estate development,
Guanacaste has maintained the charm that drew the couple
there and they have further cultivated its welcoming vibe. ''At
our B&B, we have created a culture of our own-an atmosphere where couples and single travelers, regardless of sexual
orientation, are comfortable and feel safe and at home while
vacationing in a gorgeous beachfront location;' says Funke.
"We have had many happy lesbian honeymooners swinging
in our double hammocks:'
While Casitas LazDivaz does target the lesbian and gay
market (its casitas are themed after iconic female entertainers such as Tina Turner and Marlene Dietrich, and the
business is advertised as "lesbian-owned and -operated;
straight-friendly"), the guest demographic "reflects the diversity that we strive to celebrate;' explains Arrand."Our guests
seem to be attracted to the general vibe of acceptance and
appreciation of good fun that we have created in our little
compound:' Nevertheless, she estimates that about 20 percent
of their guests are lesbians.
Costa Rica's friendliness just naturally includes being
lesbian-friendly."We describe the Costa Rican culture as being
neither homophilic nor homophobic, but rather, 'homoblivious; " says Arrand. "The locals are generally respectful of
others' right to privacy and, in our experience, truly practice
a live-and-let-live philosophy. We have always been out as a
lesbian couple and active in the local community, working on
environmental and animal-protection projects, and we are
respected as the normal couple that we are:'
Sallyanne Monti, who works for curve, and her wife,
Mickey Neill, feel the same way about the Costa Rican
culture. They have split their time between the San Francisco
Bay Area and the beach town of Playas del Coco on the
Northwest Pacific Gold Coast in Guanacaste province since
2007, after they fell in love with Costa Rica and the generosity of its people while they were on vacation. "The people
are accepting of everyone. Their national slogan is pura vida,
"pure life;' but it really means "live and let live;' and it embraces
generosity of spirit toward others, and celebrates the successes
of others:' And it doesn't hurt, she notes, that Costa Rica has
no army, has affordable health care for its residents and
offers tasty and fresh produce-all of which contribute to an
atmosphere of relaxation and calm (tranquilla). No wonder
it was voted the Happiest Place on Earth in 2009's Happy
Planet Index.
Monti and Neill agree that the country is safe for lesbians.
"We spend many of our Saturday nights in town at various
local establishments, dancing to visiting bands. My wife and
I dance together-slow
dancing as well. No one even bats
an eye. People just don't care. Matter of fact, they are happy
to see the expression of love between two people. We have
never had a negative experience here. Even local vendors will
say to Mickey or me when they see us alone, "Como estas tu
esposa?"
-How is your wife? Although gay marriage is not
a law here in Costa Rica, the people recognize and embrace
that love is just love. People are just people here. No one cares
what color you are, what nationality you are, or who you love.
If you're happy, they're happy. Pura vida:'
STAYGAY IN SAN JOSE
While visitors to the Northwest are able to fly into Liberia
Airport (officially called Daniel Oduber Quiros International
Airport), most others fly into Sanjose, which is not a pretty
city, nor a well-organized one, so picking somewhere to stay
while you get your bearings and continue on to the next part
of your trip is important. The gay-owned landmark Colours
May 2012
I 59
Oasis Resort (coloursoasis.com) is the main gay,oriented
attraction when it comes to lodging in the capital. Colours
is owned by James Remes, a long,term LGBT travel ambas,
sador and entrepreneur and he warmly welcomes women to
his homey and well,equipped establishment. Twenty vari,
ously sized and reasonably priced rooms and apartment,style
suites, some with cooking facilities, give you many options,
depending on your needs. The in,ground pool is the focal
point of the property, and you'll probably find yourself chat,
ting with friendly guests there or at the cozy bar. The onsite
restaurant serves good breakfasts, and dinner can be worth
staying in for-the pizza is excellent-although
Remes and
the super,friendly staff can recommend other dining options
nearby. Colours can also organize trips to Poas Volcano, La
Paz Waterfall Gardens and coffee plantations, all manage,
able day trips from the hotel. The tour operator Expediciones
T ropicales was truly friendly and welcoming to us as gay clients
of Colours. During your stay, check out the local gay and
lesbian bar La Avispa, which has been a fixture since the late
1970s and features a tico (local,style) tea dance on weekends;
Friday night is usually lesbian night, but check with the
Colours staff before you put on your dancing shoes.
DYKES IN GOLFO DULCE
Mandy McNeil, originally from Canada, and Bekah McNeil,
from California by way of Alabama, had been living in Toronto
before moving to Costa Rica four months ago after purchas,
ing the established guesthouse of Casa Siempre Domingo
(casa,domingo.com). Located in Pavones near the port town
of Golfito on the Southern Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, the
casa sits high on a hill, behind it rainforest and before it a truly
breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean and the Golfo Dulce.
The beach has one of the world's longest left surfing breaks,
and there is one paved road in and out-which
means
lots of nature,loving surfers and no money,grubbing
developers.
"Pavones has a very in,touch community of women, many
of whom teach yoga and do body and spiritual work. It would
be inaccurate to say that the town is a great place specifically
to be lesbian, but is a great place to just be yoursel£ What
60
I curve
appeals to us as lesbians here is the respect that people have
for nature and each other;' says Mandy.
The McNeils are actively promoting Casa Siempre
Domingo as an LGBT,friendly destination and they are in
the process of creating travel packages specifically for lesbians,
with female guides, instructors and workshop providers for
activities as diverse as surfing, horseback riding, yoga, snor,
keling, cooking, hiking, bird,watching and massage. "We are
also planning to block out periods of time that are lesbian,
and LGBT,only, to provide a more comfortable experience
for guests if that is their preference:• Like other expat lesbians
in Costa Rica, the McNeils feel welcome. "We are regularly
asked if we are sisters, but when we answer that we are married
the reactions are fine. We know that we stand out here, but
we have still been very warmly received in the community:'
GET WET AT LAS AGUAS
Misty mountain vistas, howler monkeys at dawn and lush
jungle waterfalls. Sound like your cup of java:' Las Aquas
Jungle Lodge (lasaguas.com) is named after the waterfalls
and jungle pools that are within walking distance of the
property, and this stately gay,owned guesthouse is perfect
for gay groups, and offers lovely inland views for sitting and
relaxing. But if you enjoy nature hikes, as many lesbians do,
those waterfalls and natural swimming holes are just 20 to
40 minutes from the house, so strap on your Vibram soles
and get out there. Zip lining through the jungle canopies or
rafting the rivers are also exciting options. This is the only
gay accommodation in the immediate area, and a good place
to stop on your way to gay,centric Manuel Antonio.
MAGICAL MANUELANTONIO
The more,or,less official gay area of Costa Rica is undoubt,
edly the National Park and beaches of Manuel Antonio.
Villa Roca (villaroca.com) is a gay,owned and ,operated
Mediterranean,style property that is booked exclusively for
LGBT travelers and has lovely views over the forest to the
Pacific Ocean. There are lots of restaurants and bars within
walking distance, or you can take a short taxi ride to Liquid,
the full,time local gay bar.
Gaia Hotel and Reserve (gaiahr.com) is a place to really
spoil yourself-an adults,only and very gay,friendly luxury
boutique hotel and resort and a member of the Small Luxury
Hotels of the World. From its prime location, atop a small
mountain with a commanding view over jungle and coast,
line, you have the best of both worlds: indigenous coastal
forest and world,class food, drink and spa treatments. The
resort has its own nature preserve, a refuge for diverse and
rare species, so you could be visited by monkeys and colorful
birds at breakfast and at happy hour.
Manuel Antonio may be gradually mainstreaming, but as
honeymooners Carol Anastasio and Mimi Brown discovered
while staying at a resort there, ''A corner of our spectacular
semi,private beach was obviously the weekend getaway spot
for the local gay population. We felt right at home!" ■
V .ISi·t ••
-•
Sweden
www.visitsweden.com
~
Stockholm
The Capitalof Scandinavia
Intematlonal Gay & Lesbian Travel Association
Scandinavian
Airlines
62
I curve
Carol Anastasio, 49, and Mimi Brown, 58, met on a blind
date on Oct. 1, 1990. Dining at the Cowgirl Hall of Fame
in the West Village that fall evening they had no idea that
21 years later they would become part of New York State
history. Anastasio, who works for the N.Y.C. Department
of Parks & Recreation, and Brown, a managing editor
for Getty Images, were among the first gay couples to
be married in New York last July. While they had always
considered themselves to be a married couple, they were
finally inspired to make it official after watching the vote live
on The RachelMaddow Show."We agreed that if it passed,
we'd be among the first to register for marriage in New
York. We definitely wanted to be counted;' says Brown. So
enthusiastic were they that they raced down to the Marriage
Bureau only to find out they had to wait another month to
allow Gov. Cuomo's historic signing of same-sex-marriage
legislation to go into effect.
But help was at hand. "Speaker Christine Quinn had
followed our story in the Daily News and she selected us,
along with four gay male couples, to be among the first to be
married at the Manhattan City Clerk's Office that Sunday,
July 24, 2011, the first day oflegal same-sex weddings in New
York State;' recalls Brown. At the Clerk's Office, Quinn's
longtime girlfriend, Kim Carullo, welcomed them with bouquets of white roses. "Every single person working that day
was smiling and excited, so kind, so loving;' says Anastasio.
"Everyone seemed conscious and respectful and joyful at this
remarkable moment in time. Judge James Mitchell asked us
to autograph his script, explaining with tears in his eyes that
we were the first couple that he would be marrying on this
historic day and how honored he felt:'
Following the ceremony, they were photographed by the
New York Times and ushered outside to meet the international press. "The whole thing, the buildup to the wedding,
the newspaper and TV coverage, the worldwide reach of the
event, and then the day itself, was a breathtaking, incredible,
moving and magical experience;' says Brown.
But there was more magic to come. The owners of the
oldest steak house in N.Y.C., the Old Homestead, offered
the brides a free all-inclusive wedding reception, Speaker
Quinn even dropped by to congratulate the couple and
offered a toast thanking them for making their big day
public, so that the world could see what a loving lesbian
relationship looks like.
The universe was smiling on these newlyweds, long-term
residents of the world's best-known concrete jungle: Next,
they were offered a honeymoon in a real jungle-Monte
Azul, a boutique resort and nature preserve in Costa Rica.
The owners, Carlos Rojas and Randy Langendorfer, a gay
couple formerly from San Francisco, were so moved that
New York State had finally passed the law that they extended
a special offer. "When they saw our story in the Daily News,
they contacted the paper to offer us a free honeymoon;' says
Anastasio. "The fit between Monte Azul and us could not
have been better. The resort focuses on art and design, with
fine food, environmental sustainability, and outdoor adventure-all things we love!"
Monte Azul is situated on a 125-acre private nature
preserve in the tropical rainforest about two and a half
hours south of San Jose. In addition to being an eco-resort
respectful of its fragile location, Monte Azul operates as an
artists' colony, producing and exhibiting fine art and design
that uses environmentally sustainable methods. Each casita
is inspired by mid-century modern architecture and acts as
both a curated gallery and a residence, connecting harmoniously with the lush landscaping around it. Using Monte Azul
as a luxurious base camp, the women explored the region
nearby. "We enjoyed it immensely, from the our first sloth
sighting, to meeting local artists-one a cheese maker, another
a print maker-to
roaming the national parks, to floating
idly in a hot spring halfway up a mountain for 45 minutes
by ourselves, with only a toucan overhead for company;' says
Brown. "There's a raging river at your back door and a waterfall a short hike away-at once thrilling and peaceful. We are
lucky enough to have traveled extensively, and Monte Azul
ranks among our favorite experiences:'
The women were charmed by everyone they met, from
their hosts, Carlos and Randy, to the staff, who remembered
their names and how they took their coffee (grown at Monte
Azul, by the way), to the ticos,as the locals call themselves.
"They showed a joy for life, a love for their country, and an
awareness and pride in all the green efforts Costa Rica makes
to preserve its wonderful environment;' says Anastasio.
"We didn't notice any type of homophobia, veiled or overt.
Everyone we met in Costa Rica was warm, welcoming and
accommodating-and
we were dearly a couple:'
Reflecting on their charmed union, Anastasio believes
they had a little heavenly help. "My 92-year-old dad had
recently passed away. He knew we had registered to marry,
he loved Mimi, and I'd often reminded him, if possible, to
pull strings for us when he got to the other side:' Whether he
did or not, they now look to the future with gratitude, and
focus on "appreciating everything life has given us and never
losing track of what is most important-our
friends, family,
and each other:' ■
May 2012
I 63
In Cuernavaca, Mexico,
a progressive language
school has LG BT and
women's programs.
By Julia Steinecke
Our teacher, Lety, is a sturdy butch with a ready smile. She
stands beside a whiteboard and covers it with words and
pictures that illustrate Mexico's derogatory but colorful gay
and lesbian slang, Mariposa is the word for butterfly and for
a gay man. Lesbians are thought to wear only blue jeans, so
more
their nicknamJ is Levi's in Spanish, Livais-and,
specifically, quin·entos uno, for the original 501 style.
I never thought I'd learn these things in a classroom, but
this is no ordinary Spanish class. Cetlalic (cetlalic.org.mx),
or the Tlahuica Centre for Language and Cultural Exchange,
takes its name from the city's original inhabitants, whose own
language is seriously endangered. The center was founded in
1987 as an alternative to the mainstream schools that were
drawing thousands of tourists to Cuernavaca.
There are almost 40 full- and part-time Spanish schools
in the city, which are located in the mountains just south of
Mexico City. Students are drawn to this location for the
climate (Cuernavaca is called the City of Eternal Spring),
the parks and the culture. Cetlalic favors a teaching method
it calls Popular Education, emphasizing participation and
dialogue rather than rote learning. Special curriculums
are offered throughout the year, including women's and
LGBT studies.
"Twenty-five years ago, I met Holly Near;' says school
director Jorge Torres, referring to the activist singer, "and she
had a big influence on me:' The teaching staff, most of whom
were straight, did workshops to learn about gay and lesbian
realities, and in the mid-1990s the first queer program was
launched. I'm visiting the Winter LGBTQ Program, which
runs at the same time as Women and Social Change in
Mexico. The summer program offers students a chance to
participate in Mexico City's Pride march.
The slang we are learning today seems crass compared to
the lofty ideals of Cetlalic, but it shows what Mexican gays
and lesbians have to contend with. The discussion ends with
some role reversal as we teach American slang to our teachers,
who struggle with the flat r's, to our amusement.
My host is a lesbian who lives with her four dogs in a comfortable house in the north end of the city. We go out to meet
her younger girlfriend and my host tells me that at the age
of 25 she had a long-term relationship with a 55-year-old
woman, so now she's enjoying the other side of an intergenerational match.
Many Cetlalic students choose the homestay option, and
every morning I hear them raving about the hospitality and
the delicious cuisine they're enjoying. The school has over a
dozen gay, lesbian and bisexual hosts.
64
I curve
The other students in my program include a couple of
retired schoolteachers, a gay businessman who likes to
sketch portraits of everyone, some activists and a youth
worker-drag king. Most are visiting Mexico on their own,
combining education and travel. We bond immediately and
spend most of our free time together, exploring the city,
talking politics and laughing. Most of them speak a halting,
grammatically correct Spanish, while I blab rapidly, making
mistakes everywhere.
We study in open-air classrooms surrounded by fruit
trees and ferns. My teacher acts out the words-I've never
had so much fun learning the subjunctive-and also helps us
understand the subtleties of Mexican culture.
Morning classes are followed by afternoon charlas
(discussions) and outings. We tour the Robert Brady
Museum, a tribute to an American artist and collector
who filled his home with an astonishing and eclectic art
collection, fabulous guests and scandalous rumors. We have
a drink at the queer-friendly Barecito Cafe (facebook.com/
barecitocafe), where folk and indie music fills the air. At
the home of another artist we meet Lina Rodriguez, a local
lesbian photographer and filmmaker who's working on a
movie about women accused of witchcraft in Spain.
Other guest lecturers come to the school, like T rini
Gutierrez, who talks about the history of Mexico's gay and
lesbian movements. It's interesting to learn that the very
first lesbian group met in the home of the legendary activist Nancy Cardenas, who lived near Cuernavaca. Little did
they know that someday travellers would journey to this city
from all over the world to study Spanish and be part of their
community. (visitmexico.com) ■
IFYOU GO
Enrollment
at all the Spanishschoolsin Cuernavaca
has
gonedownsincemyvisit dueto reportsof drug-related
violence,but residentsbelievethe city is safe."The
Spanishstudentsthat still cometo learnthe language
andthe culture,theyalsolearnaboutthe reality,"says
JorgeTorreswho believesthereis "exaggeration
on
the newsin [the]U.S.or Canadaaboutthe situationin
Mexico."Beforetraveling,visit the lessalarmistThorn
Treetravelforumat lonelyplanet.com/thorntree.
Therloridd
Keys
KeyWest
Oo.eTolle,f,a.fiuficmNonn.l
www.gaykeywesHl.com
800.535. 7797
Warm beer, cool girls and a Wicked good time.
By Gillian Kendall
Having tihe 2012 Olympics in London is like having all our
Christmases come at once, as the Brits say. Arguably the
most queer-friendly capital in the world, London has plenty
of charm: Really, the weather is no worse than it is in Paris,
gay culture is up there on a par with San Francisco's and the
architecture is better than what you'll see in Sydney. And
million visitors expected
right now with-no
kidding-1
in July, Uondon is toned and fit, coached and prepped, just
crouching on the starting line, waiting for your arrival.
But despite the plethora of wall maps and Englishspeaking guides, and a tourism office on practically every
corner, a visitor can easily get confused. Everything in the
city is beautiful or fascinating and almost everything is "dear"
(or, as we Yanks say, extremelyexpensive).So it's wise to plan a
few excursions, as well as accommodation, before you arrive;
otherwise, even the most street-smart dyke might spend her
vacation wandering from pillar to Parliament to pub ...
66
I curve
GET YOUR BEARINGS. For a first-timer
in London, two
experiences are de rigueur:First (early in the trip), you have
to see the city from an Original Tour hop-on, hop-off tour
bus. A day atop an open-air double-decker convinced me
that much of the beauty of London begins at the secondstory level, way above what a normal pedestrian would
notice. Some of the routes offer low-key recorded commentary; all of them travel through fascinating parts of the
city and give you a good overall introduction. Second, no
matter what else you miss, make time for the London Eye,
a smooth, trippy, slow-motion journey around a huge wheel
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set beside the Thames. The trip-one
time around-takes
about 35 minutes, and though the time goes fast, the pods
move slowly, so there's no disorienting sense of motion. In
America, the same attraction would probably cost three
figures, but the Eye is amazingly only £17 (inevitable up~
grades are available, such as a river cruise, champagne and
a private capsule). It's the best $25 you'll spend in London.
The only drawback to the Eye is that they make you get out
when your capsule comes back to earth, but for consolation
you can cross the Thames to the Houses of Parliament and
then continue on to the nearest pub, which happens to be
the beautifully renovated St. Stephen's Tavern, where you
can enjoy real ale, or at least real coffee. Once you've had
an Eye~ful, grab a Time Out (restaurant and entertainment
guide) and a Tube map, log on to allinlondon.co.uk and
start planning the rest of your trip.
WHERE THE GIRLS ARE. Sport~dykes heading to cheer on
the contestants should stay near the Olympics action at
Aloft Hotel at the ExCeL Centre; Aloft is a surreal place
that seems less like a hotel that recently opened (October
2011) than one that will appear 30 years in the future.
Offering spacious, sleek rooms amid this rather bleak
section of the city, it's a good space to recharge between
excursions into the overwhelming rest of London. Aloft will
also appeal to wheelchair users, because it's ultra~accessible.
You don't encounter a single step or stair between leaving
the train, registering in the lobby, and entering your room.
On my recent arrival, I knew which was my room because,
although the door numbers were not yet in place, my door
was open and the larger~than~life TV screen was scrolling a
welcome message for me with my name on it. Needless to
say, I was impressed.
Can't get tickets to the events you wanted? No worries:
Check out the nonprofessional competition at the Ladies'
Pond, Hampstead Heath. This secluded, clean, women~
only outdoor bathing area has been hosting mermaids
since America was in its infancy. For £2 you can swim in
the opaque~but~clean pond, girl~watch or (ha!) sunbathe on
the green slopes surrounding the water.
LESBIAN CENTRAL: SOHO. If London is the gay capital of
the UK, then Soho is the hub of the capital, and the best
place in the universe to take a dinner date. Anyone who
can't find a good meal in Soho isn't trying: The rest of us
can barely choose between the array of Indian, Japanese,
Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, African and oh~yes tradi~
tional English eateries, with prices starting in the mid~range
(£9 entrees) and going up.
For the second part of your really~big~date night, head
to the theater ( or theatre! or theatah!). Of the musicals
currently in London, the three that might appeal most to
curve readers are Billy Elliot, Wicked, and Les Miserables,
each a fascinating blend of the personal and the political.
Billy Elliot tells the story of a young boy from a working~
class background who wants to be a ballet dancer, despite
the attendant stereotypes and discouragement. Wicked
is about much more than what happened in Oz before
Dorothy's arrival: It's about language and labels, female
friendship and transgression. It's also beautiful to watch,
May 2012
I 67
RATHER
THAN
COMPLAIN
ABOUT THE
BRITISH
ECONOMY
ORTHE
WEATHER,
JUST
DECIDE
THATTHE
RAINYDAY
YOU'VE
BEEN
SAVING
FOR HAS
COME AT
LAST.
68
I curve
and unexpectedly hip and funny. Tickets at shops
in or near Leicester Square offer half,price or
discounted same,day tickets for most shows,
most nights-get
there early for the best seat
selection and shop around-some
places sell out
before others.
Interspersed between restaurants are most of
London's theatres and gay bars, including the only
real lezzo stronghold, Candy Bar at 4 Carlisle
Street. Lesbians in search of warm beer and cool
girls should also venture into the forbidding
G,A,Y bar on Old Compton Street, in a sub,
terranean basement called Girls Go Down, but
it's gloomy and thick with cruising men. But no
matter-all over Soho, dykes and gay boys mingle
amiably with the nonqueerish couples and every,
one crowds into Molly Moggs for the cheerful,
colorful drag and cabaret.
Z Hotel (remember, it's pronounced "zed" in
England), an eclectic collection of repurposed
townhouses, is slotted into the narrow street
between Compton Street (London's version of
Christopher or Castro Street) and the musical
Singin' in the Rain. This prime location keeps
you close to the Soho nightlife, and Z also keeps
you close to your partner-a
double room is not
much bigger than the bed. But the fascinating
view out my window-where
talked day and night-made
wriggle room.
people strolled and
up for the lack of
GETTING POSH. Walking distance from Soho is
the upscale, serene and expensive neighbourhood
of St. James's, home to St. James's Palace, Green
Park and some of the best (read: most expensive)
shops in the UK. A 10,minute stroll from the Eye,
The Strand, the Ritz (high tea is an institution,
perhaps a cliche) and a zillion other things you
want to see is the Cavendish, a warm and gracious
old,style hotel that has been open in the same loca,
tion (under different names) since the 18th century.
Rooms aren't cheap, but the little luxuries make it
worthwhile-rooms
have a swish coffeemaker,
and housekeepers will provide extra bedding, bath
pillows and salts, special cookies and more.
The Cavendish is on the famous Jermyn Street
(where Victorian men kept their mistresses), home
to dangerous shopping, including Britain's oldest
cheese shop, Paxton & Whitfield; this writer's
favorite bootmaker, Russell & Bromley; and some
of the best shirtmakers in the world. Butches of
all shapes can get exquisite shirts and suits tailor,
made-for a formidable price. Don't miss Fortnum
& Mason, a stylish department store as good as
Harrods and on a more human scale.
SAVINGMONEY.Apart from buying an Oyster card
for your Tube and bus transportation, there's little
you can do to keep the pounds from pouring out of
your purse. London is one of Europe's most expen,
sive capitals, where a pint of beer or even a decent
cappuccino will set you back about $5. Rather than
complain about the British economy or the weather,
just decide that the rainy day you've been saving for
has come at last. Buy tickets for Singin' in the Rain,
be prepared to get wet and figure out how to keep
your girlfriend warm. ■
In The Stacks REVIEWS
InsideOut
Two stories about reconcilingthe internaland external. By Rachel Pepper
I AmJ,CrisBeam(LittleBrown):In the growing category of trans-oriented YA fiction,
there have been several recent standouts.
These include Luna, Parrotfish and Almost
Perfect, which all successfully portray
teenagers grappling with their gender
identity. It makes sense that Cris Beam,
who has written so knowledgably about
trans teens in the past, decided to turn
to fiction and create the story of J.
I Am J takes place in New York City
and focuses on a teenage trans boy
who lives with his parents and is of
Puerto Rican and Jewish heritage.
I Am J focuses on the time in J's life
where he starts to make sense of his
gender identity on both a cognitive and
emotional level. In the novel's beginning,
J already thinks of himself as male, but is
still thought of by others as female. J has
few friends, except for Melissa, a girl he
has a crush on, but who thinks of him only
as a friend. "Other girls, of course, rejected
J, saw only the most superficial aspects of
him-the way he was so butch and toughlooking-and
they'd run away, thinking he
was a freak or a dyke or both. Something
predatory, something hard and impenetrable:' As J begins to make sense of his male
identity he finds that he must shed some
of his old life, and that his parents are not
yet able to accept him. Like many actual
trans youth, J decides to leave home for a
while, and is able to begin shaping a new
life. Along the way, he develops new social
relationships as a man, learns to bind his
breasts, supports his friend Melissa's own
recovery, allows his photography to be
exhibited and drops in on a support group
for young transmen. Having worked with
trans youth, Beam is able to write with
both wisdom and respect as we travel with
Jon his journey of self-discovery. By book's
end, readers may find the novel's tone has
become a bit too chipper. Still, given that
many real-life teens struggle for a happy
ending to their strife, this reviewer is glad
that J's tale has one.
the throes of a full scale, all-encompassing
eating disorder are harrowing. "The other
Rockettes don't realize that while they carry
on, chattering about what song they will
sing at their next audition ... I'm thinking
about if and how I should kill myself...!
entertain myself with suicidal ideation at
least every other day. They don't realize that
on our long break during shows, instead
of resting I'm gorging myself at the Dean
& Deluca gourmet deli in the Rockefeller
Complex:' Further, Gleissner describes her
bulimic episodes with the honesty of someone who's been in the trenches-and
with
her head over the toilet. Thus, the reader is
made fully aware that bulimia is truly akin
to being at war with one's own body, from
the inside out. Binging, purging, sore
throats, infections, chest pains, electrolyte imbalance, dizziness, isolation, obsessiveness, crystal meth use and theft
are only some of the issues she faced
down when she was in her disease.
The descriptions Gleissner includes
might be triggering to some readers
who've also struggled with an eating
disorder, but certainly enlightening
for those who've never experienced
such trauma. Gleissner eventually goes to treatment, and not surprisingly
(given the insidiousness of eating disorSomethingSpectacular:The TrueStory of ders), relapses soon afterwards. However,
One Rockette'sBattle with Bulimia,Greta in the 10 years between those years and the
Gleissner
(SealPress):How does the issue of writing of this book, the author has made
sexual identity intersect with the acuity of great strides in her recovery. Committed to
an eating disorder:' Something Spectacular, delving headlong into the emotional bayous
a memoir by Greta Gleissner, dares to ask of the mind, she began to resolve her ramthis question. Gleissner trained hard as a pant perfectionism, feelings of inadequacy
and the internal shame she carried about
dancer from a very young age, performed
through her school years and was eventuher sexual orientation. Today the author
is recovered, a practicing therapist and
ally selected to join the competitive troupe
of Rockettes in New York City. Gleissner
an open lesbian in a committed relationtackles the topic of bulimia, explaining how ship with another woman for eight years.
her home environment-where
appear- Which just might prove that being true to
ances were paramount and emotions were onesel£ seeking professional support and
stuffed-was
a combustible combination
doing some hard emotional work are paving
when paired with her dance training.
stones on the path to recovery, as well as in
Gleissner's descriptions of her descent into
coming out. ■
May 2012
I 69
REVIEWSIn The Stacks
AllAbout My Mother
Alison Bechdel presents her breathtaking new graphic memoir. By Grace Bello
Alison Bechdel does not yet feel relieved. At press time, it's only
three weeks since she finished writing and drawing her new graphic
memoir, Are You My Mother?, a six,year creative undertaking that
intertwines scenes from her childhood, her therapist's office, her
girlfriends' bedrooms and her own mind. She tells me by phone
from her home in Vermont, "I think I actually drew most of it in
nine months in a crazy frenzy first:' An appropriate gestation period.
"For a long time, I described the book differently. It was a book
about relationships, the self and other, and while it still is those
things, I realize it's primarily a story of me and my mother:'
Before you start thinking that Bechdel is navel,gazing, you
should know that what put her on the map was her long,running
comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For, a peek at the political and
personal lives of a community of lesbians, and Time's 2006 Book
of the Year Fun Home, a graphic memoir of her closeted gay father
as well as a document about homosexuality in a pre,Stonewall
America. Bechdel looks at the world through a lesbian lens as well
as from the perspective of a friend, a sister and a daughter.
Dykes ran in alternative newspapers from 1983 to 2008. In the
tradition of Gay Comix creator Howard Cruse, the comic strip
chronicles the LGBT movement through the lives of lesbian char,
acters. Born not only from her desire for women but from her desire
to catalog them, Dykes is cheeky and insightful, poignant and richly
detailed. And it unfolds at the speed of life. For example, in 1990,
we watch Clarice and Toni have a commitment ceremony. Years
later, Toni gives birth to their son Rafli. As Vermont spearheads
marriage equality, the happy couple ties the knot. And, after years
of being together, the relationship takes a crescendo into divorce.
Dykes to Watch Out For, which the author began as a zine before
the term "zine" entered popular vernacular, now gets incorporated
70
I curve
into college syllabi; "I get brought to schools by the Gender Studies
Department;' says Bechdel, "which is something that never existed
30 years ago:'
As alternative newspapers began to fold, the artist knew that the
comic strip might no longer be financially viable, and she turned to
a book concept that she had been thinking of writing for about 20
years, a memoir about her father called Fun Home.
In 1980 at the age of 20, Bechdel came out to her parents in
a letter that she sent while she was away at college. Her father, a
stoic but provincial intellectual, seemed fine with her choice to, he
says euphemistically, "take a side:' Her mother, however, recoiled:
"Couldn't you just get on with your work:"' It is then that Bechdel
finds out from her mother that her father is gay and closetedhadn't she known?-and
has been having affairs with men for
years, notably with her former babysitter Roy. Weeks later, Mr.
Bechdel gets run over by a truck and dies, which the author
asserts is a suicide.
As Art Spiegelman did with his 1986 Holocaust graphic memoir,
Maus, Bechdel uses both literary and visual storytelling to capture
the tragedy, irony and humor of someone who was persecuted by
the times in which he lived. However, in the case of Fun Home, the
tension comes also from the ensuing neglect that Mr. Bechdel
inflicted on his family. He is both victim and aggressor, charged
with offering alcohol to a local teenage boy. "The real accusation
dared not speak its name;' Bechdel says in the book.
As complex and dark as the character of her father is, Bechdel
still sees him as a sweet man: the one who played Airplane with her
when she was a kid, the one who bonded with her over The Catcher
in the Rye, the one who brought her to a post,Stonewall West Village
when she was 16 where she first saw a thriving gay community like
the one she portrayed in her comic strip. Her
father's plight set Bechdel on her trajectory of
unabashedly exploring her sexuality, both in her
life and her art: when Fun Home was published,
the author said, "I felt that to a certain extent he
killed himself because he couldn't come out, so I
was determined to be utterly and completely out
in my own life:' Self~acceptance, curatorial talent
and literary acumen, these things are the author's
inheritance from her father.
Which brings us back to her latest book, Are
You My Mother? Mrs. Bechdel, an intelligent and
exacting presence, balks at her daughter's coming
out. However, that disapproval is not necessarily
due to homophobia. The author points out, "It
was also bound up with how she felt about my
father's sexuality. It was never an easy or clear
thing; all her feelings were not just about me but
about him and the kind of jeopardy he put her in
for so many years:'
We see Mrs. Bechdel, a skilled stage actress,
take refuge from her husband in the world of the
theater. And when the author is an adult, we see
her mother disapprove of a bound collection of
Dykes: "I would love to see your name on a book;'
Mrs. Bechdel says, "but not on a book of lesbian
cartoons:' This remoteness causes the author to
seek solace from her therapists and her girlfriends
for years. When I ask her how her relationship
with her mother impacted her relationships with
women, Bechdel says, "You know, I sort of hoped
I would figure that out by writing the book, but
I still don't have any fucking idea. Intimacy is not
my strong suit:'
And though the author's latest work-as
stunning, as moving, but more conceptual than
her last-brings her some catharsis, her motiva~
tion was much more than that. She says, "In both
the book about my father and the book about my
mother, it was kind of getting myself out from
under their critical gaze. Freeing myself from
their scrutiny. I feel, to a certain extent, I've been
inhibited creatively by both my parents, but also
empowered by both of them. I had to navigate
the complicated thing of both challenging them
and embracing them, each in turn:'
Incidentally, now Mrs. Bechdel is supportive
of her daughter's sexuality. Bechdel says that it
took her mother about 10 years of meeting her
girlfriends, reading her comic strip and ultimately
spotting her daughter's cartoon in Ms. magazine
for her to accept not only that her daughter is a
lesbian but also that she's an artist who portrays
her sexuality on the page. As Bechdel prepares to
unveil Are You My Mother? to the literary world,
that maternal embrace must bring her, finally,
some peace. ■
May 2012
I 71
REVIEWSSapphic Screen
Fabulous Fashion Star
Kara Laricks is taking her andro designs to primetime. By Rachel Shatto
When it comes to lesbian representation
on television, reality TV has been a boon.
From The Real World to The Real L Word
it has provided a venue for queer~identified
women to be visible. The latest lady~loving
trailblazer to grace our screens is Fashion
Stars' Kara Laricks. This statuesque and
fiercely mohawked fashionista is working
double duty not only representing queers but
also combating the gradually diminishing
stereotype that lesbians lack fashion sense.
With her overtly androgynous designs she
is bringing a queer atheistic to primetime
and proudly declaring herself a lesbian
tastemaker.
Howdidyougetinvolved
withFashion
Star?
I was teaching fourth grade for 10 years and
I always had a dream of designing so I
decided to go back to school at the Academy
of Arts in San Francisco for Fashion Design.
Once I graduated I packed up my car, and
Quickie with Kara
Whichcelesbian
wouldyou
mostliketo designfor?
I wouldloveto dressTilda
Swinton.
Ohmygosh.A longtime
agoI sentoneof mytiesthrough
fanmailto Ellen.Whoknows
whathappened
to thattie.ButI
wouldloveto geta tie to Ellen,
for sure.
Who'syourfavoritedesigner?
YohjiYamamoto
is a Japanese
designer
thathasbeenaround
sincethe '80s.He'skindof quiet
andbehindthescenes,
buthe
putsoutspectacular
collections
seasonafterseasonandhas
sucha distinctlook.
Whatis the worstlesbian
stylestereotype?
Flannel
forever!I amproudof
everylookthatanylesbianhas
evertried.I wouldsaygofor it.
There'snotanything
thatI would
saynomoreof.
Whatarticleof clothingor
accessory
canyounotlive
without?
I havea luckypairof pinstriped
pants.Theygowithmeeverywhere.AndanytimeI havean
important
interviewor anytime
I justwantto feelfoxy,I wear
thosepinstriped
pants.
my girlfriend and my dog and we drove
across the country and moved to New York.
I started my own little accessory line ... and
then the opportunity came up for Fashion
Star. And I just thought, I would be crazy to
pass up the opportunity to be able to really
create a full women's wear line, which has
always been a dream of mine.
Whatcompelled
youto quita stableteaching
careerandmoveacrossthecountry-twice?
I love teaching. I love that career. The tough
part about it was that I felt always partially
in the closet when I was teaching. And not
because I wasn't proud of who I was or any~
thing like that. I've always been fortunate to
have a really accepting family and great girl~
friends. But I loved that job. I didn't want
to lose it. And I always wanted to design.
After 10 years of teaching, [I thought] I'm
not getting any younger. This is something I
really want to do. And I took a huge risk.
Youwentfrombeingafraidto beout,to being
outonprimetime.
Talk about one extreme to the other, right?
It was crazy. As soon as I went back to
school for fashion design I felt really like
this huge weight of responsibility was lifted
off my shoulders. It's given me the strength
and the purpose in order to be one of those
out-hopefully-role
models. You really
can do whatever it is you want to do. You
might have to take some twists and turns in
order to get there, but that's OK.
Unlike
otherdesign
showsFashion
Starrequires
youtofocusondesign
andcommercial
viability.
Howwasthatexperience?
I have never been happier in my life. We
started at the crack of dawn and then
worked late each day. But I have to tell you,
it's what I love do to. So to be able to design
without worrying about ... can I afford to
do this, can I afford to do that? To really
have free reign and all of the resources that
I needed just to strictly focus on design, I
was in heaven. The challenge with the show
is, you're really trying to appeal to three very
different markets. The people who shop at
H&M, versus the people that shop at Sachs
and Macy's. The trick was really trying to
please all three.
Youraesthetic
isveryandrogynous.
Hasbeing
queerinfluenced
it?
There is no doubt that being part of the
queer community has influenced my style.
I love kind of a masculine style, but that
fits a female body. And it's so hard to find
great men's~inspired clothing that really fits
a woman. Another challenge on the show
was really keeping in mind the mainstream
consumer. Because I know that the amount
of women that want to wear a menswear
style head to toe is very few compared to
what most of America wears. But what I
really tried to do on the show was introduce
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little ways that you can incorporate an
androgynous piece into your existing ward~
robe and still get that kind of cool feel from
the masculine~meets~feminine.
Is there a politicalstatementbehindyour
designor is it justyourpersonal
style?
I feel like wherever I go, I see a lot of women
really trying to fit themselves into a tight
dress ... they've seen so much of the media
telling them that they have to accentuate
their waist, or they have to do this or they
have to do that to look thinner or to fit
some standard of beauty. And in my mind,
a standard of beauty is seeing someone who
stands out, is someone who has got their
own style. Someone who can take a piece
TheGirlwiththe
DragonTattoo
{SonyPictures)
JamieandJessie
AreNotTogether
{Peccadillo
Pictures)
Thisremakefollowsdisgraced
investigative
journalistMikael
Blomkvist
(DanielCraig)whois
hiredto investigate
the missing
andpresumed-to-be-murdered
nieceof a wealthyfamilyand
uncovers
theirdarksecretswith
the helpof bisexual
gothhacker
extraordinaire
LisbethSalander.
Rooney
Mara'sportrayalof
Salander
is a darkerandmore
damaged
takeonthecharacter
thanintheoriginalSwedish
film,
butprovesthatSalander
is more
compelling
andcharismatic
for
herflaws.Fansof theoriginal
will noticeseveraldivergingplot
pointswhichhelpmakeit a fresh
experience
whilethestunning
actingandart directionhas
helpeddrawnewcomers
to this
brilliantandchillingthriller.From
thedazzlingly
disturbing
opening
creditsto thesatisfying-yet
open-ending,it's a talewellworthtellingtwice.
Thisengaging
musicaldrama
depictsthecomplicated
relationshipbetweenlesbianroommates
JamieandJessie-and marks
a complete180fromdirector
WendyJo Carlton's
previous
offering,the heartbreaking
dramaHannah
Free.Jamieis a
confident,
talentedlesbianlothario
withhopesof makingit bigon
Broadway.
Jessieis awkward,
neuroticandnotsosecretlyin
lovewithJamie.So,whenJamie
announces
thatsheis moving
to NewYorkintwoweeks'
time,Jessiepanicsandbegins
datingotherwomento make
Jamiejealous.Punctuated
with
theoccasional
songanddance
number,
JamieandJessieAreNot
Together
is a welcomebreakfrom
thestereotypical
plotlines
that
oftenplaguelesbianfilms,and
thereis alsoa refreshing
amount
of bodydiversityrepresented
amongstthecast.
that not everyone can wear and really make
it her own and make it in a way that she
feels comfortable and confident. I would
love to challenge that sort of standard of
beauty where women have to look thin and
nipped and tucked.
Doyoufeelanypressure
to represent
usfashionablequeersonTV?
I'm just really, really proud to represent our
community. I don't necessarily want to be
known as a lesbian designer, but I do want
to be known as a talented designer and that
I'm happy for everyone to know that I'm
gay as well. So I just really hope that I will
do our community proud and represent
and be exactly who I am. ■
NurseJackie:SeasonThree
{Showtime
Entertainment)
!Women
ArtRevolution
{Zeitgeist
Films)
Season
threeof thealways
lesbian-inclusive
seriesNurse
Jackieseesits eponymous
antiherostillstruggling
to stayonelie
aheadof herfriends,familyand
coworkers
asshecontinues
to
strugglewithaddiction.
Theseries
kicksoff withtheaftermathof the
intervention
thatJackie'shusband
andherbisexualbestfriendDr.
O'Harastagedin the previous
season's
finale.Hermarriageis
strainedandherfriendship
with
O'Haraappears
to bepermanently
damaged.
Andthingsaren't
muchbetterfor Dr.Cooper
whose
belovedlesbianmothers-played
bySwoosie
KurtzandJudith
Light(havingsteppedin for
BlytheDanner)
havesomebad
life-changing
news.Onceagain,
NurseJackiesucceeds
infinding
humorin theabsurdity
of the
darkestpartsof life-addiction,
illness,infidelity-andcontinues
to fleshoutits castof endearingly
flawedcharacters.
Fortyyearsagoa freshoutof
collegeandnewlyradicalized
LynnHershman
Leesonbegan
documenting
thefeministartists
aroundher.It'sthisfootagethat
makesupthebackbone
of this
illuminating,
infuriating
and
movingdocumentary.
!Women
Art Revolution
givesvoiceto the
secrethistoryof feministart,as
wellas unveilsthe patriarchy
of
the mainstream
artworldand
its insidious
attemptsto dismiss,
invalidate
andsilencewomen
artists.Featuring
interviews
with
artists,criticsandhistorians
(ofwhommanyarequeer)this
oft-unsung
movement
begins
withits 1960sorigin,explores
thefieryandfascinating
evolution
andoffshootsin the '?Osand'80s
andoffersa lookat its effectson
today'sfemaleartists.Alongthe
wayit touchesseveralimportant
momentsincluding
the"The
DinnerParty"scandalandthe
Guerrilla
Girlsmovement.
May 2012
I 73
REVIEWSMusic Watch
CitizenSwift
Ember Swift sharesthe message of global citizenrythrough music. By Emelina Minero
Canadian musician, songwriter and activist
Ember Swift has been in the music game for
nearly all her life. She began writing songs at
9, performing at 10 and in 1996 she released
her first album. And while Swift started out
as an angst-driven acoustic folk artist, her
music can no longer be boxed into a single
genre. Over the past 16 years it has evolved,
taking inspiration from jazz, electronica, rock,
funk, folk-rock, pop, reggae and world music.
Currently living in Beijing, China, Swift's
passion for peaceful global relations is hugely
influential to her music. Her recent offering,
11:11, is a bilingual album written in both
Mandarin and English, with songs about
the environmental challenges China faces
today. In keeping with her global mission,
her group, The Beijing Band, is made up of
members hailing from Australia, East Africa,
China and Canada. Swift believes in the
power of music to bring awareness to important issues and to unite people from across
the planet.
Whyis musicsucha powerfulmedium?
Music is a cross-cultural language. Anywhere
you are in the world, you can use it to communicate with people. There's so much more
conveyed through music than just what's
written in the lyrics, so it transcends language differences and becomes the ultimate
unifying language in and of itsel£ Music has
enormous power to unite people.
Whatroledoesactivismplayin yourmusic?
My earlier work was more vocal politically,
but my current work is more political than
anything I've ever done. That's because I live
and work out of Beijing, China now and I'm
a foreigner in a foreign land interested in
cross-cultural communication and understanding. The very existence of my bilingual
11:11 album is a political statement. To my
knowledge, there's no other foreign artist
singing in Mandarin about pertinent environmental issues, for example, here at this
time. As an overall album, it communicates
that we can all coexist.
In a time when China is the rising power,
74
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there's bound to be fear and competi~
tion emerging, which are both divisive
elements in terms of global relations.
Maybe this music can be a tool towards
harmony instead.
Whatothercausesarecloseto your
heart?
I'm also really interested in environmental
issues, particularly water conservation
and protection. Finally, I'd say human
rights issues related to women and child~
ren, poverty and sexual orientation are
all enormously important.
Howhasyourbilingual
albumbeen
received
in China?
As I live in Beijing now, having a body of
work that includes lyrics in Mandarin
was vital to my ability to perform for
Chinese audiences. Music can tran~
scend spoken language, but when
you're part of a community and sud~
denly speaking as a resident of a city
in which you are performing regularly
and seeking listeners, it's important to
be able to speak in the language of the
land, out of cultural respect!
I really wanted to build a collection
of songs that could have their "twin ver~
sions" in either language so that when
touring in North America or Australia
I could swap them back to English and
have them as easily understood there as
they are here in China.
So far, it's been enormously helpful
for gathering Chinese~speaking fans. I
was on the Chinese rock charts this past
fall for six solid weeks with one of my
songs! I was told that I was the first for~
eigner to ever be on those charts!
Howhasmotherhood
influenced
your
musiccareer?
I know I won't do much touring in the
first year of her life and I feel quite fine
with that. I have trekked all over the
place for many, many years and it's OK
to mostly stay put while I enjoy her
infancy. What's more, she's the most
amazing thing that I've ever madefar more interesting than all of my 11
albums put together-so
I don't feel
like I have to make a decision right now.
I'm just taking things one~step at a time.
(emberswift.com)■
DeborahVial
StagesandStones
(Lavendar
Lung
Music)
Girlyman
Supernova
(FineFeathered
Music)
Me of a Kind
YouAreHere
(Rampage
Productions)
Openlylesbian
rockerDeborah
Vialtookthe
scenicrouteto a
solocareer.The
Dallasnativewent
directlyfromcollegeto performing
overseasfor the
troops,a journey
thattook herfrom
Croatiato Iceland
to the KoreanDMZ
thenbackto Dallas
andfinally,with her
partnerandmusic
labelownerCaron
Barrett,to Maui.
NowVialis lending
herrich andhusky
vocalsto Stages
andStones,a rock
albumwith no
shortageof attitude
anda bit of edge.
Standouttrack
"Don'tMakeMe
TakeIt" is an edgy
androckinganthem
full of pounding
drumsandgrinding
guitars.Fansof
ChristineMartucci
andMelissa
Etheridgewill find
plentyto sinktheir
teethintowith
StagesandStones.
Keepan eyeonVial
as shecontinuesto
makewavesin the
lesbianrockscene.
Fortheuninitiated,
queerquartet
Girlyman
is a
collaboration
byTy
Greenstein,
Nate
Borofsky,
Doris
Muramatsu
andher
partner(andformer
PoGirlalum)JJ
Jonesonthedrums.
Thebanddescribes
themselves
as
"harmony-driven
genderpop"which
translates
to wonderfullygimmick-free
folk-infused
pop
createdbythesonic
synergyof expertly
mergingandoverlappingrichharmonies.
Theresultis a
sunnybalmfor your
eardrums.
Theupbeat
yetcynicallovesong
"NoMatterWhatI
Do"is sincerewithout
beingsappyandthe
ennui-laden
album
opener"Nothing
Left"conveys
heartbreak
without
leavinglisteners
emotionally
bereft.
Despitefrequently
drawinginspiration
fromheartache,
the
vimandvigorof the
tempoandvocals
translates
the pain
intoa 13-trackfeelgoodalbum.
Thereis something
comfortably
familiar
aboutYouAreHere.
Maybeit's the blending'9OsGothand
trip hopwith hints
of skathatstrikesa
cordwiththischild
of the '9Osreviewer.
Orperhapsit'sjust
thatthetalentbehind
thisalbum-former
drummerof the
seminalqueercore
bandTribe8, Jen
Schwartz-hasa gift
for creatingmusic
thatresonates
with
queeraudiences.
Eitherway,Meof
a Kind,whichpairs
Schwartz
withBecky
Gebhardt
of Raining
JaneandValerie
Sternof LaylaLane,
isjusttheauditory
treatto satisfyyour
nostalgic
appetite.
"TheRain"is an
orchestral
and
percussion-heavy
trackthat'spleasantlyatmospheric
andmoodyand"The
LastTime"is part
NewAgeserenade
andpartglamrock
ballad.Whileit may
notbeasovertly
politicalasTribe8,
Meof a Kindis not
shortonedge.
Nneka
Soulis Heavy
(DeconRecords)
Youshouldtake
Nnekaveryseriously
because
sheis a
serioustalent.This
Nigerianhiphop
artistdrawsinspirationfromthe political
corruptionin her
homecountryand
hermusicalinfluencesfromreggae,
hip-hop,modernR&B
andvintagesoul,all
of whicharevery
fittingplatforms
for
herconfrontational
anddeeplyintrospectivemessages.
"My
Home"is a stellar
brass-heavy
anthem
and"Lucifer"is an
easy,breezyreggae
jam.Herbreathy,
urgentvoiceand
lyricsareso heartfelt
andrawtheygivelistenersthesensethat
it's notjust hertalent
ondisplaybuther
(heavy)
soul.Shehas
rightfullydrawncomparisons
to Lauryn
HillandErykahBadu.
However,
with her
latestalbum,Nneka
mayhaveleft her
contemporaries
behind.It's brilliant,
unapologetically
experimental
and
yet Soulis Heavy
somehowremains
accessible.
May 2012
I 75
REVIEWSTech Girl
Hit the Road
You'll be good to go with these auto-enhancing gadgets. By Rachel Shatto
According to the 2009 U.S. Census, Americans spend an average of 72 minutes a day in their
cars. Yikes. At that rate, commuting queers can rack up a serious amount of behind,the,wheel
time over the course of a calendar year. Fortunately, it's not all gridlock and road congestion:
hitting the road can be a liberating adventure and road trips, well, they pretty much rule.
Vehicles are also rife with opportunities for the tech,inclined lezzie to trick out their ride
with the latest in mobile gadgetry. So, here are 10 road,friendly and auto,inspired devices
sure to get your motor running.
0
1 . Trip with a Twist
Have a long drive with a little one in tow who you need to keep busy?
Or maybe you just want a little back seat entertainment-of
the tablet
variety, we mean. Well, the T wist360° tablet mount makes that pos,
sible when attached to the back of a headrest and voila: you have your
own personal backseat theater. ($40, bracketron.com)
2. Wi-Fi on Wheels
Need Internet access even while on the road? Stay iiber,productive by
turning your car into a Wi, Fi hotspot with Autonet's Automotive Wi, Fi
router. Watch video, send email, listen to Internet radio or keep on
top of you social networking with this simple device. Monthly service
plans are available for as low as $29. ($103, amazon.com)
3. Fire it Up
If you're tired of getting into an ice,cold car in the morning, you're
in luck, because the Viper Smart Start is your heating helper. This
remote system will allow you to start, unlock and even locate your car
from anywhere with the use of your smart phone from the warmth
and coziness of your house. ($299 and up, viper.com)
4. High Tech Hindsight
Blind spots are the worst-if only there were some high tech solution
to help prevent backing into things. Oh wait, there is: Pyle's Video
Monitor Review mirror. This swanky bit of tech allows you to keep
an eye on everything behind you with its full color camera (which
switches to night vision) with the press of its wireless remote.
($223, pyleaudio.com)
0
5. Glove Box Booster
A dead battery under the best of circumstances is a pain.
But under less ideal conditionsstranded alone-it can
be a major problem. Fortunately, the Glove Box Battery
Jumper is a simple solution that doesn't even require you
to exit the car. This 30,volt battery plugs into the lighter
outlet and in just 10 minutes can fire up your vehicle.
Reverse the switch to charge the gizmo back up. ($35,
hammacher.com)
6. Highway Highlight
While the open highway may represent boundless opportunity
for adventure, it also offers boundless opportunities for breakdowns. With the Road Torq you can shine a little light on one of
the darker sides of driving. This self-powered flashlight and threeLED flashing beacon works double duty allowing you to see what
you're working on, on the side of the road while keeping you visible
to other cars, too. ($40, etoncorp.com)
10. Mini Memory
Who said USB drives can't be classy:' Give your memory stick a
touch of glam with this Mini Cooper replica with a flash drive in
its trunk. It's available in a variety of colors and paintjobs as well as
in capacities from 1GB to 8GB. Plus, its headlights light up when
it's plugged in. How cute is that:' ($30, amazon.com)
7. Car-to-Car Communication
Feeling grumpy, giddy, filled with ennui or perhaps you want Sir
Tailgates-a-Lot to back off your bumper:' Give your fellow drivers
a heads up with Think Geek's Drivemocion LED car sign, which
displays your inner angst or joy emoticon style with a customizable LED face. ($30, thinkgeek.com)
8. Drive Dialing
When chatting it up on the road, go hands-free with Scosche's
motor MOUTH IL This award-winning plug and play Bluetooth
kit and streaming audio receiver works with your smart phone to
allow you to simply plug the device into your AUX jack, pair your
phone and then start calling. ($80, scosche.com)
9. Parking Lot Pickle
Ever forget where you parked your car and had to walk up and
down searching while the panic mounts:' Consider that particular
problem solved thanks to the Back Track GPS, which allows
you to mark the spot with the press of a button and use the
guidance screen on your key chain to make your way back to
that location with ease. ($80, hammacher.com)
Professional
lesbianscanwakeup in stylewith Edifier'sTick
TockDock.Modernfunctionalitymeetsretrodesignin this
alarmclockslashiPhonedock,whichtakesits aestheticcues
fromthe '60s.Thehalf-rounddesignmaybe inspiredby
MadMen-eraalarmclocks,howeverthe old-schoolbellshave
gottenan updatein theformof two omni-directional
stereo
speakersandthestandardclockfacehasgivenway
to a large,brightLCDscreen.If that's
notenoughfunctionality,
it canalsoplaymusic
viaa Bluetooth
enableddevice.It's
a sleeksolutionfor
thefirst andsometimes
toughestchallenge
of
the day.(edifier.us.com)
[RachelShatto]
REVIEWSFood
UglyTrufflesare PrettyTasty
Chocolate Gourmet's handmade treats take the cake. By Rachel Shatto
What's better than chocolate? How about
chocolate that comes to your doorstep?
Thanks to Mary Winslow, founder of
Chocolate Gourmet and Take the Cake,
delectable treats including truffles, brownies
and cookies are just a click away. This
Chicago-based, online company specializes
in all-natural, gourmet baked products and
chocolate truffles, and for unique delectable
treats you really can't do better than their
assortment of Ugly Truffles.
Ugly Truffles however, is a bit of misnomer. Winslow chose this moniker to stress
that unique flavors are more important than
presentation with these hand-rolled
treats-and
in that she succeeds in
spades. The truffles all have cheeky
names like Oozy Boozy Caramel (a
creamy caramel center surrounded
by brandy milk chocolate ganache,
encased in milk chocolate and rolled
in toasted pecans), You Suck Lemon
(fresh lemon white chocolate ganache
covered in bittersweet
chocolate
and dusted with powdered sugar),
and this writer's personal favorite,
Gordito Picante ( smooth cinnamony
Mexican chocolate warmed with chili
spices and surrounded in milk chocolate and toasted corn tortillas).
For something a little different,
try their Fair & Square blondie. This chewy,
mouth-watering browned-butter square is
studded with salted pecans and butterscotch
chips and it melts in your mouth. But for
diehard chocoholics the E=mc 2 is the ultimate
fix, with its hints of espresso topped with
caramelized cocoa nibs.
If your mouth is starting to water, you're
beginning to get the picture.
Last-but
certainly not least-Gourmet
Chocolate also carries Chubby Wubby
cookies. Similar in structure to a whoopie
pie, soft and chewy chocolate cookies sandwich a ganache center which comes in mint,
chocolate, caramel and raspberry flavor. We
suggest ordering the raspberry and never
looking back. (chocolategourmet.com) ■
78
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May 2012
I 79
STARS
Get Ready for Adventure
Love runs amok with Venus in retrograde this month.
By Charlene Lichtenstein
Taurus(April21-May 21)
As generous as you may feel, the wining and dining
of love will cost more than you think this May. But
that should not dissuade you from opening your wallet
and treating your lovergrrl to a night to remember.
For those who are seeking connection, check out some
new hot spots.
Gemini(May22-June 21)
As you make your grand entrance onto center stage,
be sure that your outer appearance matches your inner
confidence. You're brimming with great new ideas
and impressive personal plans and should not be
hindered by a less than alluring first impression. Take
a good long look at yourself in the mirror, Gemini.
Then show the crowds the true meaning of Pride.
Taurus(April21-May 21)
Taureangirlfriends
areslow,
steadyanddeliberatein their
communication.
Blessedby
charismatic
Venus,(herruling
planet)thissmoothoperator
canposeas a friendto all
andcharmeventhe surliest
of beasts.Because
sheis
sopolitically
astute,sheis
generally
verycarefulin her
wordingandtoneof voice.
Forthisreason,shemakes
an excellentpublicrelations
front.Youmayneverknow
whensheabsolutely
hatessomeone.
That's
herlittlesecret!
Cancer(June22-July 23)
Are you sending out the right signals to capture the
grrl of your dreams:' Maybe, and maybe not. Who are
you targeting:' There are so many love distractions that
there is a chance this May that your arrows of love hit
the wrong target. In addition, you have a secret admirer
who has the magic touch but who might lose connection in the confusion.
Leo(July24-Aug.23)
Proud Lionesses seek to expand their social circle
into a globe and can make new friendships easily now.
Current gal pals want to get into your act. So become
a social director and plan an array of intimate gettogethers. Don't let May go by without also inviting
April and June. You know how close these ladies are.
Virgo(Aug.24-Sept.23)
For those who are seeking a leg up the ladder, brush off
your resume and juice up your experience. You manage
to charm the power brokers into your way of thinking.
So use the entire month of May to showcase your
professional talents and beat the corporate sharks at
their own game.
Libra(Sept.24-0ct. 23)
Expand your outreach and spread your best ideas
Charlene
Lichtenstein
is
theauthorofHerScopes: across the universe. And who knows who you will
meet in your various international jaunts:' She may be
A Guideto Astrology
just
the one great idea you are missing. For those who
for Lesbians
(Simon&
can't travel far at this time, pour your influence out
Schuster)
(tinyurl.com/HerScopes).
Nowavailableasan ebook.
into cyberspace. Start a blog or just kvetch via email.
so I curve
Scorpio(Oct.24-Nov.22)
There is something in the air that makes you especially
alluring and sexy. I am not sure exactly what it is but
you will be able to use this delicious personal juice to
your advantage and can cajole almost anyone into your
bed. Lovergrrls will have their demands all through
May. Thankfully you don't seem to mind being the
submissive one-for now.
Sagittarius(Nov.23-Dec.22)
Relationships will have their ups and downs. The ups
will be delirious and glorious. What you have to try
to do is manage the downs. This can be accomplished
by trying to be more considerate of her needs. That
means no dirty socks on the pillow and no dirty underwear on the dining room table.
Capricorn(Dec.23-Jan. 20)
The work is piling up and you have a lot of tasks to
handle this May, but I doubt whether you will feel that
your workload is too much. What will you do with all
that free timer Concentrate on your diet and health.
Swimsuit season is approaching and you want to look
your best for you-know-who
Aquarius(Jan.21-Feb.19)
Make merry while May marches on. Aqueerians feel
expansive, artistic and full of fun. You enter the epicenter of any festivity and are the "must have" at every
top party. Not only will you be sprinkled with great
opportunities, you may also stumble head over heels
into a "wilde" romance.
Pisces(Feb.20-March20)
If you find yourself preferring to stay close to home
this May, allow yourself to do what feels right. Guppies
love to cocoon and can plan some intimate tete-a-tete
with certain bosom buddies. Should you feel the urge,
you could also spend some time making your crib
more luxurious and trendy. Of course that may mean
getting rid of those macrame plant holders.
Aries(March21-April 20)
You won't think twice about approaching any lofty
lady who catches your amorous eye. Bravo to your
confidence! But think carefully before you speak the
language of love. Some things may get lost in translation. When in doubt, let your actions speak louder
and prouder than your words. ■
TRACYCHAPMAN/ KIRSTENVANGSNESS / SANDRABERNHARD/
JODIE FOSTER/ ANI DIFRANCO/ MELISSAETHERIDGE/TAMMYLYNN
MICHAELS/ ALEXANDRAHEDISON/ LILYTOMLIN/ KELLYMCGILLIS/
SARA GILBERT/ JENNY SHIMIZU/ MARTINANAVRATILOVA/KATE
CLINTON/ MICHELLEWOLFF/ CLEA DUVALL/ TEGAN & SARA/ JANE
LYNCH/ K,D, LANG / JACKIEWARNER/ ANNE HECHE/ MEREDITH
BAXTER/ JANIS IAN/ WE GOT THEM COVERED / ANGELINAJOLIE/
KRISTANNALOKEN/ JOEY LAURENADAMS / TALLULAHBANKHEAD
LAURELHOLLOMAN/ DREW BARRYMORE/ AMANDA BEARSE/
CRYSTALBERNARD/ BILLYJEAN KING/ CHAZ BONO / AMBER HEARD
/ OREADE MATTEO/ CRIS WILLIAMSON/ FERRON/ ALIXDOBKIN
/ JOAN JETT/ SUBSCRIBE+ SEE/ CATHYDEBUONO/ MARLENE
DIETRICH/ AMANDA DONOHOE / GINA GERSHON/ LINDAFIORENTINO
/ JILL BENNETT/ PEGGYSHAW/ GRETAGARBO / ULRIKEFOLKERTS
/ INDIGOGIRLS/ ROSIEJONES / LAURENHAYS/ BAI LING/ MELISSA
FERRICK/ FRIDAKAHLO / REGINALUND / ROXANNEMICHAELS
/ NICOLERAYBURN/ TOSHI REAGON/ MICHELLERODRIGUEZ/
FIONASHAW/ ALLYSHEEDY/ ALICIASILVERSTONE/IONESKYE/
BARBARASTANWYCK/ RACHELMADDOW/ ELLENDEGENERES/
PORTIADEGENERES/ SAFFRONBURROWS/ FIONASHAW/ SARAH
PAULSON/ CHERRYJONES / LEISHAHAILEY/ HEATHERMATARAZZO
/ CYNTHIANIXON/ KYLIEMINOGUE/ MADONNA/ WANDA SYKES/
RUBY ROSE/ GUINEVERETURNER/ SUZE ORMAN / CLEMENTINE
FORD/ ROSIE0 DONNELL/ JILLIANMICHAELS/ BRANDICARLILE/
DEL MARTIN/ WANDA SYKES/ COURTENAYSEMEL/ BETH DITTO/
DANIELASEA / MARGARETCHO / RACHELROBINSON/ GRETCHEN
PHILLIPS/ SUZANNEWESTENHOEFER
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LYON/ CURVEMAG.COM / MEGAN FOX/ KATEMOENNIG/ AMELIE
MAURESMO/ ROBYN/ BITCH/ AUDRELORD / DORIAROBERTS/
SARAH SHAHI/ SHERYLSWOOPES/ CATIECURTIS/ CHRISTINA
AGUILERA/ LADY GAGA/ OPRAH/ HILLARYCLINTON/ JANE VELEZMITCHELL/ KRISTENSTEWART/ ILENECHAIKEN/ MARGARETHE
CAMMERMEYER/ SAM RONSON/ LINDSAYLOHAN
1
curve
■
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Features
54
Back to Reality
Fitness guru and reality TV hottie Jackie
Warner gives us the lowdown on getting fit and
healthy, for keeps. By Lyndsey D'Arcangelo
30
Rebuilding Your Life
Journalist and blogger Te-Erika Patterson
became homeless for a year to try and change
other women's lives. By Laniaya Hoofatt
32
Dancing Queen
Legendary tennis champion and lesbian activist
Martina Navratilova takes her competitive edge
to primetime TV. By Lyndsey D'Arcange/o
TheCareers& AutoIssue
In a tough economy what better way
to be inspired than to meet women who
have chosen challenging and rewarding
career paths. Plus, cars that drive your
pink dollars further.
38
Seizing the Baton
Maestra Jessica Bejarano takes on
the male-dominated classical music
establishment. By Kelsy Chauvin
40
A Career in the Cards
Psychic Gina Spriggs empowers women
with her unique readings. By Merryn Johns
43
The Power of One
Power plant operator Mary Sartori forges
ahead. By Stephanie Schroeder
46
A Winning Streak
Motocross star Stefy Bau shares her love
affair with the world's most dangerous sport.
By Lyndsey D'Arcangelo
32
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Lesbofile
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Lesbian comic Lianna Carrera
harvests humor from her
unconventional upbringing.
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Stars
Rachel Maddow's book has us all
fired up; lesbian interior designer
Lena Gordon makes haute homes
her business.
18
Politics
Being a feminist means living your
politics, even if that requires sacrifice.
By Victoria A. Brownworth
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69
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The Two of Us
Our monthly profile of lesbian couples
who live, love and work together.
This Is What a Lesbian Looks Like
Out in Front
Fitness Advice
It's time to hang up your tired excuses.
Jill Goldstein shares her motivational tricks.
Letters
Contributors
MAY2012
72
74
76
Books: Allison Bechdel on her new memoir
Are You My Mother?
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Fi Im: Fashion Star's lesbian contestant Kara
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Laricks on taking her queer designs to primetime.
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Music: Ember Swift shares the message of
global citizenry and environmental activism with
her new bilingual album 11:11.
Tech: Hit the road with these road-tested
gadgets and gizmos.
78
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Food: Delectable treats come directly to your
doorstep thanks to Gourmet Chocolate.
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curve
One-on-One with Amy Ray
Having released her fourth solo album, Lung of
Love, musical dykon Amy Ray shares her thoughts
on why the heart is overrated, life rolling solo and
being political. Read our interview at curvemag.com.
The Love Doctor is Out
Do you have relationship trouble? Or are you still
searching for Ms. Right but feel like you've gotten
lost somewhere along the way? Wish you had a
personal love guru? You do! Dr. Frankie Bashan,
our resident expert on lesbian !'amour is ready
to take your questions and dole out advice on
curvemag. com.
Amy Ray
makes our
hearts sing
Scintillating Cinema
Want to spice up a romantic night in? How about a
lesbian love story to set the mood. From classics,
to ram-corns and even one with radical edge,
check out our picks for 10 romantic lesbian movies
to watch with your lady at curvemag.com.
Karen Loftus is
on the loose
Adventures
in Mexico City
The Crown Jewel of
Latin America, Mexico's capital city
continues to tantalize foodies, fashionistas and
Frida enthusiasts. Follow along as professional
jet-setter Karen Loftus adventures south of the
border at curvemag.com.
May 2012
I5
LETTERS
Gulfport Gratzie
Thank you for your wonderful article about
Gulfport, Fla. (Vol. 22#2] As a longtime
resident and lesbian merchant here in town,
I can tell you Gillian Kendall truly captured
the peaceful and positive energy here. My
partner of 14 years and I have made Gulfport
our home for 11 years and are happily raising
our 7 -year-old daughter in this supportive
and charming little beach town. It has been a
blessing-if not even a bit disconcerting-to
belong to a community where we are nothing more than "ordinary people:' I hope your
readers will be able to visit this little paradise
by the sea someday.
From Curve's
Facebook Wall
• CONGRATULATIONS
TOCHELY
&
LAUREN!!!!
BESTCOVER
EVER!•
-Summer AlexisKolacki
Just got my Curvemagazinein the mail.
Soexcitedto seethe Blitzer-Wright
coupleon the cover!Thanksfor giving
themthe honoredspoton the front of
this issue.
-Kelly Gill
-Tif.f any Anderson-Taylor,Gulfport,Fla.
Baby Bruhaha
Delighted with DiFranco
Thanks for running the article "Choosing
Sides" on Ani Difranco (Vol. 22#3]. I don't
care where she is in her life now sexually or
what she looks like as a woman. She is brilliant and I will always love her, especially
for the songs "She Says" and "If It Isn't Her:'
They are gifts to lesbians everywhere and she
will always be at the top of my list of favorite
queer musicians.
-D. Roth, Indianapolis
"Questioning the Status Quo" (Vol. 22#3]
is a powerful piece. Indeed, raising a child is
the most important decision anyone will ever
make. I believe our culture teaches many of
us that having children is required, to be considered an adult in society; to feel complete,
whole and on-purpose. For many, being a
parent becomes part our self-identity; it
is indoctrinated from a young age, when we
begin playing with baby dolls. The media
encourages this; they portray babies and children as loveable, cuddly, fun and laughing.
Watching over 10,000 TV commercials a
year can be a powerful influence on our selfidentity. I applaud Victoria Brownworth for
raising a controversial subject and providing a
thorough, thoughtful discussion. Fortunately,
lesbians don't get pregnant by accident. If you
want children, don't let cultural expectations
or fantasies influence this life-altering decision.
-Laura W., Lakewood, Colo.
Welcome Aboard!
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Congratsto the newlyweds
... andto all
of us familieswho nowfeel like rock
starson pg 36!
-Kelly Reagan
Theylookso beautifulandhappy...
<sniff> <little tear>
-Shelli Meyers
I love them both together. ;)
That's how female same-sex
marriageis supposed to
look like. :) Just Adorable.
-Eva Mercedes
Reichmann
I abouthadto do a cartwheelwhen
I sawthemonthe cover!Loveit!
-Mackenzie GraceMoynihan
Thisis the classiestcoverthat I have
everseen-Great work!!! :D
-Sarah Gray
LOVE
seeingthe diversityunfolding
in curve. I didn't usedto readit as
muchbut now... I'm diggingit moreand
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CONTRIBUTORS
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'Tm kind of a comics nerd;' says GraceBello,"so it was
pretty awesome to get to interview Alison Bechdel" for the
story All About My Mother" on page 70. Bello is a freelance
lifestyle and culture reporter based in New York. Her
assignments have offered her the opportunity to interview
the band Balkan Beat Box, Emmy,winning comedy writer
Merrill Markoe and absurdist comics Tim and Eric. Before
writing for publications, she was a full,time copywriter
who drafted everything from marketing e,mails to daily
blog posts. Now she focuses on covering the people and
ideas that drive the cultural conversation forward. To that
end, she has written for The Atlantic, Time Out New York,
Bust and McSweeney's. She also teaches writing in New
York City through Skillshare.com.
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Stephanie
Schroeder
worked on a produce farm as a teen,
at a factory operating a silk,screen printing press in her
20s, was a magazine editor in her 30s and is, in her 40s,
practicing corporate public relations. "Writing about two
women with very different careers made me think about
how today the economy basically dictates what type of job
one has, unless you work in the recession,proof utilities
industry like Mary Sartori;' (page 43) says Schroeder, who
has been contributing to curve for seven years."Otherwise,
I think the only way to ensure you have a job you want and
like is to run your own business as Lisa B. O'Shea does:'
(page 42). Schroeder's first book, a memoir, is slated for
publication in September.
"There are people all over America struggling to find
their niche or redefine themselves with this recession.
I find Te,Erika Patterson refreshing-she has a high goal
and standards. But it's been a while since I have ever met
someone who is literally willing her community to help
themselves out of the employment downfall;' says Laniaya
Hoofatt-whosestory on Patterson can be found on page
30. Hoofatt is currently a political and social networking
researcher and is actively following all the campaigns for
the upcoming 2012 presidential election while putting the
final touches on her novel.
Nationally acclaimed journalist SarahToceis the editor,
in,chief of Seattle's only lesbian publication, The Seattle
Lesbian. The online magazine is regularly featured
in mainstream and LGBT media platforms for its
inclusiveness and dedication to bridge the divide between
all communities regardless of sexuality or gender. As an
activist, Toce works alongside national and state level
organizations to advocate for marriage equality, HIV/
AIDS education and prevention strategies and a number
of other vital community,based initiatives. And in 2011,
Toce contributed 20 profiles of prominent African,
American icons who have had the courage to publicly
claim their place in the LGBT community for the
book Black, Gifted and Gay. For curve she chronicles
the passage and celebration of marriage equality in
Washington state on page 19.
May 2012
I7
EDITOR'S
NOTE
C
curve
THE BEST-SELLING
answer depends on where you live and who you
work for. But should it2 Shouldn't all Americans be equal in
the eyes of the law2 You may have read about Al Fischer, the
St. Louis man, who lost two jobs after announcing his plans
to marry his partner, Charlie Robin, in New York City. (Both
of Mr. Fischer's jobs were affiliated with the Catholic Church.)
And you've probably heard about the Maryland
priest who denied Communion to a lesbian at
her own mother's funeral. Ordinary gays and
lesbians are routinely discriminated against
where they live, work and pray. But being
rich, successful and famous will not absolve
you from discrimination either-this became
apparent when One Million Moms, a division
of the American Family Association, crusaded
to have Ellen DeGeneres sacked from her job
as the spokesperson for retailer JC Penney.
"DeGeneres is not a true representation of
the type of families that shop at their store;'
argued the Moms."The majority of JC Penney
shoppers will be offended and choose to no
longer shop there:' The group posed as a moral
majority, striking at the authenticity of one of
America's best-loved celebrities. As the LGBT
media watchdog GLAAD noted, this incident
was high-level anti- LGBT employment discrimination, and reminded us of the fact that in 29 states you
can be fired because you're gay, and in 34 states you can be fired
for being transgender. Remind me-what century do we live
in again?
For this edition of our annual Careers Issue, we spotlight
lesbians who have pursued innovative and unusual professions
in a tough economy (and often a sexist and homophobic one).
The inspiring women include trailblazer Martina Navratilova,
who lost high-stakes corporate sponsorships in order to be true
to herself, and Rachel Maddow, who, in addition to her stellar
broadcasting career, is now an author too. While individuals
can change hearts, minds and sometimes the course of history,
I am hopeful that the formation of the first-ever LGBT Super
PAC will bring even more change. The Pride PAC (pride-pac.
com) plans to support the 2012 Obama-Biden ticket by lobbying and fundraising through social media. As conservatives
continue to denounce minority groups at work and at the altar,
perhaps a Super PAC can defend our interests at an even higher
level, especially in an election year.
Nice
Work
~·
Merry~
Edito:-~/~:
merryn@curvemag.com
s I curve
LESBIAN
MAGAZINE
OULD
YOUBEFIRED
IFyou came out at work? The
MAY 2012
I VOLUME 22 NUMBER 4
Publisher Silke Bader
Founding Publisher Frances Stevens
EDITORIAL
Editor in Chief Merryn Johns
Managing Editor Rachel Shatto
Associate Editor Jillian Eugenios
Book Review Editor Rachel Pepper
Contributing Editors Victoria A. Brownworth, Gina Daggett,
Sheryl Kay, Stephanie Schroeder, Constance Parten
Copy Editor Katherine Wright
Editorial Assistant Emelina Minero
OPERATIONS
Director of Operations Laura McConnell
ADVERTISING
National Sales
Rivendell Media (908)232-2021, info@rivendellmedia.com
East Coast Sales
Kristin R. Thomas (704)837-0171, kristin@curvemag.com
Robin Perron (910)795-0907, robin@curvemag.com
West Coast & Midwest 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, Kelsy Chauvin, Lyndsey D'Arcangelo, Maria De La
0, Jill Goldstein, Lisa Gunther, Melany Joy Beck, Kristin Flickinger,
Gillian Kendall, Charlene Lichtenstein, Karen Loftus, Sassafras
Lowrey, Ariel Messman-Rucker, Constance Parten, Laurie K.
Schenden, Stephanie Schroeder, Lori Selke, Kristin Smith, Janelle
Sorenson, Allison Steinberg, Dave Steinfeld, Edie Stull, Yana
Tallon-Hicks, Tina Vasquez, 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
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Volume 22 Issue 4 Curve (ISSN 1087-867X) is published monthly (except for bimonthly
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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
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2012
JUNE23, 2012
Saturday,
Sp to 2a Adv. Tixs15- s20at the door
Open to the entire LGBTQCommunity
- A tf I~
i AT* DnI NII* pLAv·
101 4th Street,
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Advance ticketson sale 4/1/12at
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SANFRANCISCO
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PRIDE
m
Bad Girls Club lesbian
star turned human and
animal rights activist
Shelly Hickman talks
about being a "bad girl"
and the ongoing fight
for equal rights.
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Maddow as Hell
The geek goddess and outspoken politico gives us another reason to love her.
Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power is, like its
author, quite the eyeful. Beginning with the dedication, "To
former Vice President Dick Cheney. Oh please let me interview
you;' this is a powerful analysis of where the United States has
gone wrong as self~appointed boss of the world. ("By 2001,
even the peacetime U.S. military budget was well over half
the size of all other military budgets in the world combined:')
Maddow's razor~sharp insight into this complex history of
militarism ("never to keep an unnecessary soldier" was one of
Thomas Jefferson's tenets) is a non~lesbian~specific read, but
it's a damn good one. The scathing sarcasm we have come to
expect from Maddow is turned like a blowtorch on America's
overuse of military power and the corrupt corpus that is the
Department of Homeland Security. From the misinformed
mythologizing of Republican hero Ronald Reagan to the
siphoning of public funds by Dick Cheney's war machine,
Maddow sets out every heartbreaking step on America's road
to perdition, its moral decline from a nation of peace and an
embodiment of democracy to a bankrupt republic that does
not know who it is unless it's at war with the bad guys; and
while we've seen them come and go over the years, from the
Soviets to Osama bin Laden, Maddow underscores the idea
that the worst terror is often home~grown in a climate of self~
prescribed vigilance. "To the president's mind, a war was not
the country's or even the government's, but the president's
alone;' she writes of George W. Bush's military myopia and
quotes him: "It is my decision. My decision to send these kids
into battle, my decision that may affect the lives of innocence
[sic]:' And it's a decision we're all still paying for, unfortunately.
[MerrynJohns]
The scathing
sarcasmwe have
come to expect
from Maddow
is turned likea
blowtorchon
America'soveruse
of militarypower
and the corrupt
corpusthat is
the Department
of Homeland
Security.
MILITARY
Rachel
Maddow
May 2012
I 11
CURVATURES
Daring Design
Lesbian interior designer Lena Gordon makes nesting glam. By Emelina Minero
Whether you're redecorating your house or creating a shared
space with your new girlfriend, overhauling your home goes a
lot deeper than just moving around furniture and picking pillow
fabrics together. It's exciting, it's fun, but it can also be stressful.
Whose stuff will go where? How will you decorate with your
contrasting styles? This is a process that Lena Gordon, lesbian
interior designer and owner of Dare to Design, understands.
That's because Gordon doesn't only see her profession as making
only aesthetic changes to a space but also as a way to understand
and strengthen relationships.
Howdoesinteriordesignimpactthewaypeoplelive?
Whether we're talking about live, work or play spaces, the interior
design impacts people's lives in the way they feel. Environmental
psychology plays into how well you work, how productive you
are, how well you sleep, everything. Interior design is set up
to invigorate and energize you. Bottom line, it's about making
people's lives better.
Howdorelationships
playintointeriordesign?
Every residential family I work with is different. Their needs are
different. Their tastes are different. Combining [two people's tastes
together is] one of the most exciting things for me. When a couple
or a family tries to plan for something like a kitchen remodel, one
of them likes one thing, the other one likes the other thing and
they end up arguing about it because both people feel like if they
compromise, they're going to be giving in and not really getting
what they want. I'm sort oflike a relationship counselor. I find out
what everybody really wants.
Is it challenging
to be a lesbianin an industrydominated
by gaymen
andstraightwomen?
Sometimes it feels a little bit lonely, but on the other hand I feel
like I have an advantage because on the outside no one is going to
guess I am a lesbian when they first meet me. I'm out, but I don't
broadcast it. So when I first meet a client, I choose whether I am
going to let that information out to them. Some of my clients
I become really close with. They know about my life and I know
about theirs, but [with] some people it's more of a professional
relationship where I don't really talk about that kind of thing. I
definitely get along with contractors really well and I've developed
a lot of really good long-term relationships with my contractors and
I think for some reason there's this weird way in which a lot of
those men respect me just a teeny bit more. I end up being kind of
one of the guys a little bit more.
Howdoyoudescribe
youraesthetic?
I always like to add something shiny, a little teeny bit of glam.
Something that's going to be real wow and luxurious, even if it's a
casual room that will make you go, Oh, I love where I live or I love
where I work. I also like to use color in bright pops here and there.
12
I curve
I'm not trying to push my personal style on anyone because it's my
personal style. Everybody's home has a soul that is as complex and
deep as all of the people who live in it. That's what I try to convey
in each space: the complex stuff, the personality of the people who
use the space. (d2dstudio.com)■
)
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Environmental psychology plays into
how well you work, how productive you
are, how well you sleep, everything.
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May 2012
I 13
CURVATURES
Glitter Guardian
Wham-glam, back off Sam!
A new pepper spray is as
powerful as it is pretty.
With the intention of helping to end
violence against women, Guardian
Girls has launched a limited edition
pepper spray that is so elegant
it passes as a bejeweled accessory rather than a kick-ass safety
device. The Guardian Girls Winged
Pepper Spray is a Swarovski
crystal-encrusted cylinder that
fits snugly in the palm of your
hand. The crystals are not just
for adornment-they
also provide
a secure grip. Unlock the safety
with a flick of your thumb and
depress the activator and spray
your attacker away! Perfect for the
girl who works or plays late, the
the rundown
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlantahas ruled that the Centers
for
Disease
Control
andPrevention
did not violate the rights of counselor Marcia
Walden.
Walden was laid off after she refused to work with a client who was in a
lesbian relationship after telling her that her "personal values" prevented her from
working with the woman ... A U.K.lesbian couple is in court with a gay man over
the custody of a two~year~old child. The couple argues that the man, who helped
them to conceive the child, was to have limited involvement with the child. The
biological father is now fighting for overnight and holiday visitation with the
boy... AprilDeBoer
and JayneRowsefrom HazelPark,Mich.are suing the govern~
ment in federal court with the hopes of overturning state laws which block
unmarried couples from adopting children. DeBoer and Rowse have been together
for 10 years and co~parent three children, one legally adopted by DeBoer and
two by Rowse ... Four SouthAfricanmen have been sentenced to 18 years in jail
for the murder of ZoliswaNkonyana
in 2006. Nkonyana was stabbed and stoned
to death because she was openly lesbian.
The case is seen as significant in South
Africa because of the length of the
sentence the men received and because
the courts ruled that she was murdered
because she was a lesbian ... President
BarackObamacollected $1,432,000 at
a fundraiser held at the home of Karen
Dixonand NanSchaffer,
a D.C. lesbian
couple. The $35,S00~a~head fundraiser
benefited the Obama Victory Fund.
The president was quoted as saying, "The work that weve done with the LGBT
community, I think, is just profoundly American" and that he would "keep on
pushing" for equal rights for LGBT people. [Sassafras
Lowrey]
Guardian Girls Winged Pepper
Spray is available in a spectrum of
colors and comes with replaceable
cartridge, custom engraving and
cool keychain for attaching to your
bag, belt loop or keys. Every
purchase benefits the Guardian
Girls Foundation in helping end
violence against women and
families. ($75, guardiangirls.com)
[Constance
Parten]
14
I curve
Take a closer look
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tee and what
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putting a whole
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May 2012
I 15
OUTINFRONT
Love
Warriors
Two lesbians working to deepen
the connection between
partners. By Sheryl Kay
Passion Player
her road to sucAccording to SearahDeysach,
cess began with the search for a sex toy 10
years ago. As she tells it, experience brought
her to the realization that Chicago had no
adult shops that were safe, comfortable and
educational places for women, especially lesbians. Hence the birth of Early to Bed, and the
start of Deysach's career as a retailer of adult
toys. Early to Bed is geared toward women,
but open and welcoming to all. "I wanted to
create a place where everyone, but particularly
women, could shop and ask questions and
have their sexuality supported, not questioned
or ignored;' she says.
Deysach recalls that 10 years ago every
man she mentioned it to thought the idea was
inane, but every woman loved the idea, and
she has had many excited customers (no pun
intended) from day one.
For Deysach, owning Early to Bed comes
with a great commitment to community.
When she's not behind the counter helping
customers, Deysach does a lot of volunteer
work, running educational workshops at the
local LGBT health center, at colleges and
at social service agencies that serve women.
"Getting to speak to a wide range of folks
about how amazing sex can be when you are
able to love your body and respect your desires
is very meaningful;' she says. "I think sex is
an important part of just about everyone's
life, yet so many people struggle with issues
relating to it, and if I can help people, especially women, have better sex with themselves
or their partners then I feel like I have done
my job:' Deysach also sits on the board of the
fr:'
w
Chicago Abortion Fund, which assists low ~Cf) income women in obtaining abortions.
~
And when she looks to the future, what
~a: does her heart desire? ''I'd love the chance
~ someday to work on some of my half cocked
ideas for getting my pro-masturbation, sexpositive message out to the masses-perhaps a
cross-country tour in a retrofitted Airstream
or a food-truck-like mobile sex-ed shop:'
Now there's a mass-marketing strategy we
can all embrace.
Wedlock Warrior
RobinTylerhas won many awards, both for
her work as an outstanding comic and for her
commitment as an LGBT activist. One such
award is a proclamation from the City of San
Diego declaring Sept.17 Robin Tyler Day.
Tyler says she first came out 70 years
ago-on the day she was born in Manitoba,
Canada. "I knew I was born a lesbian when
the doctor hit me, and I hit him back;' she
jokes. And woe to anyone who has stood in
her way since.
Tyler, who is also the CEO of Robin Tyler
International Tours & Cruises for Women,
is perhaps best known as the first plaintiff in
the lawsuit that resulted (briefly) in marriage
equality in California. She was fortunate to be
able to marry before the ruling was rescinded
by Prop. 8. "I think Prop. 8 will end up at the
Supreme Court;' she predicts. "If a majority
of people can take away rights from a minority
by voting on them, then there is no protection
for any minority in this country:'
Tyler was married on June 16, 2008, to her
partner, Diane Olson. Their divorce was filed
on Jan. 26, 2012, after 17 years as partners
and a 40-year friendship. Tyler says what happened is deeply personal.
"I have been working on marriage equality
since 1974, so our divorce does not affect my
work as an activist on this issue;' she says. "I
absolutely do not feel different about marriage rights for our community. I intend to
keep fighting until we all have the right to
marry, including federal recognition:'
There's grassroots work to be done as well,
she says. Bullying is a particularly insidious
issue affecting our community, and Tyler says
it's not enough to tell kids that things will get
better. "We have to fight the bullies, and the
bullies are not limited to the classroom;' she
says. "Bullies are the religious institutions
who preach hate, the politicians who say we
are not good enough for total equal rights, the
bigots who hide behind right-wing moral
garbage cans of intolerance:'
Although Tyler is a committed activist, she
hasn't given up comedy. A film of her onewoman play Always a Bridesmaid, Never a
Groom, which depicts the history of the lesbian
movement, is set to be released soon. "I use
my ex-lovers as transitions;' she says. "Not all
of them, or it would be a film festival:' ■
May 2012
I 17
LAUGH
TRACK
New Queer on the Block
Rising lesbian comic Lianna Carrera on her unique roots. By Emelina Minero
Ready for a new comedy crush? Meet Lianna Carrera, rising lesbian
standup star. From joking about catching the gay in a Pentecostal
exorcism at Jesus camp to complaining about how her deaf family
members can get away with anything, Carreras hilarious and often
controversial brand of comedy comes straight from her life experiences. Raised by a Southern Baptist father and deaf mother, Carrera
credits her singular upbringing with helping to shape her comedic
world. However, rather than focusing on what divides us, the cutie
pie comic hopes her uncompromising comedy will help people see
that differences are to be celebrated.
Howdidyoufirstgetintocomedy?
I was class president [of Randolph- Macon Woman's College] and
we put on this activity, Miss Odd Macon. I hosted it, and the judges
were going off and tallying the scores and they were taking forever
to tally them. So I started performing Ellen DeGeneres' Here and
Now, by mysel£
So I was like, What's the deal with Gogurt? What? We don't
have time for Yogurt? You know. I was just quoting stuff that I had
memorized, just being stupid. Trying to entertain the crowd. And
then I was like, You know what? I'm going to throw on some stuff
that I think is funny, that I have always felt funny and if they don't
laugh, they'll just think it's Ellen DeGeneres, so it doesn't even
matter, right? So I say something horrible, like, What's the deal with
mattress liquidators? Who wants to buy a mattress with the word
18
I curve
liquid in it? Right? I'd been holding onto that joke since I was 13.
And people were giggling, and then I started telling stories about my
mom and things like that.
And then after that, my roommate came up to me and said, I
hope you know that you're supposed to be a standup comic. And
I was like, No, no, no. I'm running for congress. My whole resume
had been stacked. I was interning on Capitol Hill and from a very
young age. And she was like, Nope, this is what you're supposed
to do.
Howhasbeingraisedbya Southern
Baptistministerfatheranda deaf
motherinfluenced
youract?
Well it's fundamentally built who I am and my perspective on life.
I have experiences that I consider normal that no one else, unless
they have deaf parents or a religious parent, know about. I've been
interpreting for my mom since I was 4 years old. Mortgage deals
at the bank, when she got in a car accident, I'd be her voice and I
would tell the person what she was saying. So I grew up really,
really quickly. And then as far as my dad being a minister, that's
just a whole other layer [laughs]. When I went to camp, it was
Jesus camp. It wasn't just camp. When I went to science class, it
wasn't just science. It was God-science.
So, what all of this has done is put me in the middle of all of
these different cultures. It puts me in the middle of hearing culture
and deaf culture. It puts me in the middle of Christian culture and
non-Christian culture. I've had to balance these incongruencies my
entire life.
Tell me aboutthe web seriesyou're
workingon.
I'm really excited about it. It's called
Salt of L.A. and it's going to be nonscripted.
When I moved to L.A. [so many
of my folks and friends] were like, Oh
God. That's a God-awful city. It's full
of materialism. It's full of just people
who all they care about is fame. They're
just money hungry. And people kind of
feel bad for me, but I'm surrounded by
really cool people. I've been lucky to
have people who worked hard for what
they have, who give back, and these
really unique salt of the earth people.
Who are the people that make L.A.
run that's outside the glam and glitz,
the standard side that we have of
Hollywood? There will be a lot of
comedy in that. (liannacarrera.com)
■
SCENE
Celebrating in Seattle The Seattle Lesbian gives us
VIP access to the passage of marriage equality-and the after parties.
On Valentine's Day Eve, Washington state became
the seventh U.S. state to win same~sex marriage
rights for its citizens. Gov. Christine Gregoire signed
the marriage equality bill into law for Washington
state on Feb. 13, 2012. The Seattle Lesbian editor
Charlene Strong and myself were present at the
history~making signing in Olympia, Wash. as well
as the events in Seattle following the passage of the
landmark legislature.
Joining the ladies about town were Washington Sen.
Ed Murray, Col. Grethe Cammermeyer, Change.org's
Joe Mirabella, Greater Seattle Business Association's
Jessica Swetin, Seattle's KOMO News Radio and
a host of other high~profile politicians and notable
supporters. Here's a little of what we saw while in
celebration mode. [SarahToce]
May 2012
I 19
LESBOFILE
Keeping it Real This month's celesbians aren't afraid to show us
their Sapphic sides. By Jocelyn Voo
Kiss Kiss
They say life imitates art, and if that's the
case, Sharon Stone's famous '90s role as
bisexual Catherine Tramell in Basic Instinct
might've been just a prelude to her recently
documented lip,lock with another woman.
Radar Online reports (and has support,
ing photos) that the Burma Conspiracystar
and her lady,friend were walking through
West Hollywood before stopping to hug
and exchange a lippy kiss. More than just
friends? Hard to say. But as Stone herself
has said before many years ago, "Everybody
is bisexual to an extent. Now men act like
women and it's difficult to have a relationship
because I like men in that old,fashioned
way. I like masculinity and, in truth, only
women do that now:'
New Girl on the Block
Lil' Kim and Nicki Minaj, yeah, sure, we
know them. Now, introducing Azealia Banks,
the latest female rapper that's covering all
angles-and, yep, going both ways.
Harlem,bred Banks hit her stride in the
music community last year when taste,
makers Pitchfork included one of her crass,
profanity,laced songs in the top 10 of their
20
I curve
"Top 100Tracksof2011;' andBBCRadio 1
nominated her album as Record of the
Week. She's been in magazines, interviewed
by The New York Times and had one of her
tracks played at Paris Fashion Week. But
despite her growing mainstream success,
don't try to label her as anything, especially
when it comes to her sexuality: 'Tm not
trying to be, like, the bisexual, lesbian
rapper;' she told the Times. "I don't live on
other people's terms:'
And even with that aggressive attitude
and filthy mouth, we'd still totally like to
make out with her.
Gwyneth's Lil' Lesbian
Usually when a mother muses about what
she thought her child would be like while
pregnant, it doesn't usually ring with "I bet
I'm going to have a gay child:' Especially if
that mother is, say, iiber,hetero A,list actor
and sometimes Gleesub Gwyneth Paltrow.
"I was like, I'll bet you anything I'll have
a daughter, and she'll be a really cool butch
lesbian and be so above clothes, and I got
a very clothes,obsessed child;' Paltrow told
Harper's Bazaar. "So if she's a lesbian, she's
a lipstick lesbian. She doesn't like anything
avant,garde at all. She likes anything that's
pretty, pretty, pretty or has a bow or a ruffie
or is pink:'
We hope this magazine clipping went
straight into Apple's baby book. ■
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Trans Bachelor?
First, Chaz came out as trans and shared
his transition on screen. Then he danced in
front of millions. And now details of a new
reality series have been unveiled: the show is
going to be similar to The Bachelor.
Yes, a dating show. And despite mama
Cher being against the idea, Bono is all for
it. Any why not? After his breakup with
girlfriend Jennifer Elia, he's flying solo. And
what better way to get over heartbreak than
sampling the sweetness of 10 other honeys,
am I right?
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May 2012
I 21
My Girlfriend Got Religion What should I do when the Good News is bad
news for our relationship? By Lipstick and Dipstick
Dear Lipstick and Dipstick: I met this girl, Cynthia, and it was crazy
how much we had in common, including the same first name. In the
beginning, we hung out a couple times and seemed to hit it off pretty
well. When we first met, she was going through some tough times and
had to move back in with her older, very religious mom. Suddenly, last
Sunday, things went off track after her mom took Cynthia to church. I
got a text message saying that we couldn't be friends anymore due to
God's plan for her, and that I put her into temptation. I was shocked and
tried to get her to go to a gay-friendly church with me. I tried to explain
that God made her the way she is and she's entitled to happiness.
Cynthia is 27 so I wouldn't think she would be this impressionable. We
do live in a small town in the Bible Belt. I'm not sure what else to do.
Do I give up or keep trying to help? - Born This Way in the Bible Belt
Dipstick:
Have you heard the Good News:'
No matter how hard she tries, she can't
pray herself straight. Unfortunately, there
is also some bad news, like you get from
the devil: She might have to endure a lot
of self~hatred and pain before she comes to
that realization about the limits of prayer.
Like my old friend Pastor Willis always
used to say, "You can't change 'em, but you
can pray for 'em:' In this case, I think you
should pray with 'em. Here's what you do:
Pretend that you're unhappy being gay,
too. Buy a pleated wool skirt, a frilly white
blouse and ugly black shoes, and get her to
invite you to church. Sign up for the choir
and a study group. Tell her you think the
pastor is hot, just to throw her off. Sit close
and read from the same Bible. Press your
pleated wool thigh into her thigh. Insist
you both close your eyes and hold hands
when you pray. One day, when her eyes are
closed, move in for the kiss. Quickly she'll
forget about God's plan, except the part
that has her calling out, "Oh Jesus!"
Lipstick:I dated a girl from the Bible Belt
once and she was an ocean of emotion22
I curve
one night she'd scream "Hallelujah" in bed,
the next she'd shut down because she feared
Jesus and her dead relatives in heaven could
see us doing it. A shamed, crucified soul is
a hard one to resurrect, Born This Way, so
you're going to need a miracle here, one that
I'm not sure you're going to get. It's impor~
tant to remember, though, that there's a big
difference between giving up and letting
go. Here's my advice: Let go. Cynthia is on
her own mission and needs to figure it out
herself. She's not yours to save.
Dear Lipstickand Dipstick:I'm 22 and a
lesbian.I'vebeenlivingwithmygirlfriend
for
two years.I loveher,butshesometimes
hits
me.Shedoesn'tmeanto andshetriesnotto,
butwhenshegetsangry,shelashesout.She
alwayssaysthat she'ssorryafterward,and
that shelovesme,andpromises
neverto do
it again.Lastnight,whenwe were out,she
saidI was flirtingwith anotherwomaneven
thoughI wasn't.Whenwe gothome,shebeat
meup.I don'twantto leaveher,becauseshe
doesn'tdo it all the time,but I'm frightened.
-Lost in Love
Lipstick:And you should be. Leave this
woman immediately! You are in an abusive
ex:
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Lipstick & Dipstick ADVICE
Here'swhat you do: Pretendthat
you're unhappybeinggay, too. Buy
a pleatedwool skirt,a frillywhite
blouseand uglyblack shoes, and
get her to inviteyou to church.
relationship and you may end up dead.
Being hit one time is too many. Under
no circumstances should any woman be
physically harming you, no matter what
you've done.
Dipstick:Lipstick, I agree with your sen,
timent here, but your advice is off. It's
hard for an outsider to watch someone
suffer in an abusive relationship, but
simply shouting"Leave;' without helping
her make a plan, is not enough. In fact,
it can even be deadly. Lost, yes, Lipstick
is right, no one deserves to be hitever-but according to the research in
Lesbian Health 101: A Clinician'sGuide,
between 30 and 40 percent of lesbians
have been involved in at least one physi,
cally abusive relationship. It's not a topic
we talk about, for many reasons, including
the fact that we don't want the outside
world to see the flaws in our relation,
ships, in case they might think we're not
worthy of getting equal rights. Lost, and
anyone else out there in a similar situa,
tion, you need to find the inner courage
and self,worth to realize you deserve
better. Until you are ready to leave, here
are some things you should do. First, if
you are in imminent danger, do what,
ever you need to keep yourself safe and
call a friend or 911 when it feels safe
to do so. Talk to a close friend or fam,
ily member you can trust, and explain
what's going on. Make a safety plan for
yourself. Find a place you can go-a
friend's house, a hotel, a women's shelter.
Stash some money away and plan an
escape route from your house or apart,
ment. Pack a bag and have it ready,
with all your important paperwork
and identification. You might want to
stash these items with a trusted friend.
If an argument seems unavoidable, don't
let yourself get backed into a room you
can't escape from, or into a room where
she could get access to weapons. It's
important to talk to a counselor who
specializes in domestic violence, so you
can understand the dynamic that you
are a part of. Couples counseling is not
appropriate in abusive relationships,
so going on your own is important.
Remember, excessive jealousy, rage and
violence are not signs of love-they are
only indications that someone is trying
to control you. The National Domestic
Violence Hotline, 800,799,7233, can
provide information about resources in
your area and the L.A. Gay and Lesbian
Center also has some good information
on its webpage for anyone who wants
to know more about this serious but
under,addressed issue in our commu,
nity. curve's own Victoria Brownworth
and Stephanie Schroeder have written
about this on curvemag.com. Get edu,
cated. Get empowered. And get free. ■
Tune in to curvemag.com/
lipstickanddipstick
to watch
The Lipstick& Dipstick
Show.Or writeto tv@
lipstickdipstick.com.
ADVICE Fitness
Hang Up the Excuses
Overcome your fitness obstacles.
By Jill Sloane Goldstein
I recently spent a Sunday afternoon sitting
at a coffee shop, situated directly across
from a local gym. As I sipped my latte
and watched the flurry of street activity
in front of its doors, I couldn't help but
notice both the people who entered and
those who passed right by. I began to
wonder what factors were accountable for
the disparate behavior-what
drove some
individuals to spend their time working
out and getting fit while others opted outr
If fitness was universally healthy, beneficial and results oriented, why was it only
a priority to some?
An impromptu focus group amongst
friends, aided by a good bottle of shiraz,
would answer those questions. I encountered a myriad of explanations that kept
people from exercise, most of which were
not only significant but rather prevalent.
It wasn't about being lazy and it certainly
was not about feeling indifferent. In fact,
my friends expressed interest in improving
their physique in some way or another,
whether it was slimming down, bulking
up or simply feeling better in clothing.
What inhibited them were things like
unmanageable schedules, lack of inspiration, frustration and in many cases,
intimidation-all
substantial barriers to
walking through those gym doors. But at
the same time, none seemed completely
insurmountable.
One friend admitted to being insecure
about the gym. She was overwhelmed by
the abundance of machines, contraptions,
classes, routines and levels. Should she be
in the fat burning zone or cardio zone?
Tracking her calories, her mileage or her
heart rater How high should the seat be
on her spin bike? What tension should
"two big turns to the left" on the bike's
resistance knob even feel liker Arguably, it
was all quite daunting and confusing. And
the hard bodies that surrounded her didn't
make the experience any more comfortable.
So the gym became easier to swear off
than sweat in.
The solution seemed simple: Ditch the
24
I curve
machines, move the coffee table and get
active at home. With her body and some
free space, my friend had complete ability to
give her entire body a workout with push
ups, crunches, planks, lunges, squats and
my favorite in terms of overall effective~
ness, burpees. * She could do them on her
own or with assistance of a DVD~based
home fitness program (such as PX90). In
truth, there is no better way of building an
athletic, toned, physique than using our
own bodies as the resistance. (A quick
glance at a gymnasts will show you just
how muscular your body can become with
such an approach.)
Another friend cited guilt and time man~
agement as the impetus for her fitness
shortfall. With a baby at home and a full
time job, she felt selfish devoting hours to
working out when that time could be spent
with her child or taking care of things at
home. I challenged her to get creative.
Holding her daughter in her arms offered
significant weight baring opportunities
that could turn most activities, such as
walking, climbing stairs or picking laundry
up off the floor, into exercise. She could
also forego shopping carts and opt to carry
her groceries or run the dog instead of
walk him.
The most important thing she needed
to realize was that exercise didn't require
lengthy, carved out periods of time to
count. Short bursts of energy expenditure
throughout the day add up, and would
allow her to reap benefits.
Then I encountered the uninspired; the
*Burpees: Stand with your feet shoulderdistance apart and your arms at your
sides, drop into a squat and press your
hands flat to the floor. Kick your feet
backward into a plank position, pause (or
do a push up) and then jump back into a
squat. Push your body straight up off the
ground, raise your arms above your head
and jump as high as possible. Aim for
10-15 in under a minute.
bored, the frustrated, the unmotivated
who wanted to work out but lacked or lost
the luster somewhere along the way. Their
results had tapered, their routines grew
vapid and newer priorities began to dry up
their sweat. I had many suggestions up my
sleeve to offer that included experimenting
with new activities, committing to a friend
for encouragement and accountability, even
buying new sneakers to test drive. But
what proved most motivating and certainly
most inventive-especially
to the overly
jaded-was
a new app called Gym Pact.
With this app, users provide their credit
card info and enter how many times they
plan on going to the gym during a given
week, as well as how much they're willing
to pay for each missed workout. At the end
of the week, they're charged for whatever
gym dates they missed, with the money
going to reward people who went to the
gym as promised. Best of all, users can't
cheat the system by lying to their phone
and telling it they went when they were really
at home watching Greys Anatomy reruns.
They must check into the gym using their
phone's GPS and stay for at least 30 minutes
for it to count.
The good news in all of this may also
read as bad news for those hanging on to
excuses. Working out is not impossiblefor anyone. There are always means, there
is always time and there are always flexible
alternatives. And best of all, there is always
a group of friends and some good wine
from which to source your inspiration. ■
FITTIP
accident or injury, such as your name,
With the weather back in full
gies to medication. Plus, their product
identify you in the event of an
DOB, emergency contact and aller-
cooperation, hopefully our exercise
lines allow you to decide where to
routines have been taken outdoors.
wear the vital info-on your wrist,
Running, hiking, biking, group
ankle, shoe or around your neck.
sports-activity
options aplenty,
When we are exercising, safety
and more appealing than those
is not a gimme. The unexpected
under the hot fluorescent lights of
can happen and having your vital
a gym. But that also means that
information readily available can
we may be moving about without
save your life. Put simply in the
our purses, wallets and any other
company's mission, "It's far better to
important identification that would
have Road ID and not need it than
be critical during an emergency.
to need Road ID and not have it. It's
Fortunately,there is a wonderful
not just a piece of gear, it's peace of
company that addresses that
mind." (roadid.com)
potential issue. Road ID provides
a durable, rugged, athletic and
fashionable line of identification at a
very affordable price. These various
forms of ID contain critical information that would help someone (an
EMT, doctor, nurse, pedestrian)
JAMIEA JOHNSON
LOSANGELES,
CA USA
HOME859-426-3457
BROTHER
859-426-3458
ERIC859-426-3459
NEVERGIVEUP!
May 2012
I 25
THETWOOFUS
Arley-Rose and Morgan
Married couple Arley-Rose Torsone and Morgan Calderini of Ladyfingers Letterpress bring
old-fashioned print making to loved-up couples everywhere. By Jillian Eugenics
Starting the business
Morgan:Our biggest challenge was feeling like we really wanted
to see change. We're really socially active and both work to change
the way things are, whether it be resources for artists, good design
work or fighting for equal rights. When we found each other we
were like, we have to make this change and also exist in this crazy
wedding industry. The question was, could we sustain ourselves
in this business and be a voice for people like ourselves who don't
have a lot of great options:' Invitations can be so tacky and covered
in rainbows all the time. We wanted to provide good design
to clients who would be willing to support us and we'd provide
a quality product while helping change the marriage tide in the
country, which are no small goals.
On queer weddings
Morgan:We're at the height of
engagement and wedding invi~
tation season right now. Of the
couples we're working with I
would say maybe a third identify
as queer couples. We have a lot of
couples coming to us from New
York right now.
Arley-Rose:
In the future I would really like to see that ratio of
same~sex couples to straight couples switch. I'd love to have a
majority of our business be same~sex couples.
Morgan:I would like to see that anyone who wants to get married
be able to get married.
How they met
Arley-Rose:
I was working at an arts non~profit in Providence
called AS220 doing their graphic design. At the time they'd finished
redeveloping a new building and I was doing tours for artists who
were interested in renting studio spaces. Morgan was riding by on
her bike with her friend and they stopped to check out the studio
that she ended up taking.
Part of what we'd envisioned at AS220 was to start a print shop.
Morgan had just graduated from print making at Rhode Island
School of Design and like magic she just appears and says she's
going to put this print shop together. She starts raising all this
money, getting supplies donated and creates a print shop from
nothing. As a graphic designer we started collaborating and we
worked together for two years and then decided that, you know,
we're good at this, we're great at working together, people are hiring
us to do design and print jobs and we really could start something.
26
I curve
Working together
Morgan:We both really love what we do. Arley does all of our
design work; she is astounding with her lettering and her attention
to detail. She makes everything that we print and she is so gifted.
I love the part that I get to do, which is to print out that beautiful
stuff on these cast iron presses that are over 100 years old on my
beautiful soft paper. When we sit down with clients we warn them
ahead of time that we're really incredibly geeky and nerdy about
stuff that I think a lot of people don't even think about. But when
you hold that piece of paper we get excited about that.
Arley-Rose:
We have a lot of respect and awe for what each other
does. I am just blown away by what Morgan does. I couldn't do it.
People come up to me and they're like, Oh you and Morgan started
the print shop, and I'm like, Yup, that's my wife! She does magical
things and I'm so proud of her. (ladyfingersletterpress.com) ■
WE
-
~~-----
R THE
E
T
R
A
CH
SHIP!
E
R
I
T
EN
POLITICS
Living Our Politics
When it comes to feminism, do we get a day off? By Victoria A. Brownworth
It was my birthday. A simple celebrationdinner and a movie. We were going to see
Carnage, which had recently opened to
stellar reviews.
The film stars lesbian icon Jodie Foster
and Academy Award-winner Kate Winslet.
The director is Roman Polanski.
Roman Polanski, the child rapist.
No doubt, some reading this will say,
"But he was never convicted:' Or might
echo Whoopi Goldberg's assertion that his
crime wasn't "rape-rape:'
But Polanski was convicted. The grand
jury charges against him included rape, sodomy, lewd acts and a range of other crimes.
The courtroom transcript is gruesome. His
victim, Samantha Geimer, had just turned
13. He was 42. Polanski raped her vaginally,
2s
I curve
anally and orally, after he drugged her with
champagne and a Quaalude. It was like a
scene out of Taxi Driver. Martin Scorsese's
famous film, from the year before the rape,
stars Jodie Foster as a teenage prostitute.
There's a line in that film where her pimp
says, "You can cum on her, fuck her in the
mouth, fuck her in the ass, cum on her face,
man:' It was kind of like that.
Polanski fled the United States rather
than go to prison. In 2009, he was arrested
in Switzerland on the 32-year-old charge.
Yet he was never extradited to the United
States, despite the efforts of Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton. He still hasn't
served time for the rape, and a myriad of
actors, directors and producers have come
to his defense.
At the time I chose the film, I didn't
realize that Polanski was the director. But
as I walked into the theater I saw his name
on a poster for the film. So I could have
chosen to see something else right then,
but I didn't.
Carnage, adapted from a play by Yasmina
Reza, was good, the performances by the
four actors, superb. But it was more than
the claustrophobic content of the film that
made me feel increasingly uncomfortable.
The next day, I emailed a few friends
about it. Their responses were equally discomfitted. No one liked it that I had gone
to see the film, yet no one outright excoriated me for it.
Nevertheless, what was a meta-feminist
like me doing supporting a rapist's film-
especially after Polanski's re-arrest in
Switzerland in 2009, about which I had
written extensively.
I was appalled with myself and also with
the two women who star in the film, both
of whom are mothers. What made them
think that starring in a film made by a
child rapist was acceptabler
In February, a group called One Million
Moms urged a boycott of JC Penney after
Ellen DeGeneres was signed as its spokesperson. The group argued that choosing
an open lesbian as a spokesperson sent the
wrong message to children.
JC Penney stood behind DeGeneres,
and the ads featuring her debuted during
the Oscars telecast. Support for her ran
nearly 10 to one on JCP's Facebook page.
It seems that there were less than One
Million Moms supporting the boycott.
Nor was there a boycott or a protest
over the booking of Carnage at one of
Philadelphia's most prestigious art theaters.
Was there not a single outraged feminist in
Philadelphia, a city of 5 million peopler
Including me:1
Back when I was in college, and both a
lesbian separatist and militant feminist, I
was involved in a protest against the film
Snuff. At the time, there was a lot of controversy over the film, in which a woman is
killed on camera, allegedly for real.
It was winter when the film opened at a
major downtown theater. I was a member
of a group called Dyketactics, and we were
out there in the freezing cold, with our
megaphone and our chants, for hours. We
closed the film down.
I remember the protest well, and my
outrage. Yet it was only a few years later
that I crossed a picket line outside a repertory theater showing Bernardo Bertolucci's
Last Tango in Paris. The group Women
Against Violence Against Women was
protesting the forcible rape scene in the
film. I remember the discussion I had
with a woman I knew on the picket line. I
argued for free speech and artistic merit.
She argued back at me about the importance of not demeaning women under the
guise of art.
It's complicated, this living by moral and
ethical rules in a politically charged cultural
landscape. Carnage is, after all, written by
a woman. So why shouldn't I choose to
support her work:'
Yet why did Yasmina Reza let a child
rapist direct her work:' Why did she give
her most prized possession to a man who
had assaulted a girl:'
All these questions are germane to
our perception of what feminism really is
and what our responsibility as feminists
must be.
As feminists,not
onlydo we have to
be vigilantabout
how societyis
treatingwomen and
girls,we have to be
vigilantabout howand if-we live
our politics.
I was wrong to go to see Carnage. I realize that, now. And Reza was wrong to let
Polanski film her work. And all four of the
actors in the film were wrong to appear in
it-especially
Foster, who won an Oscar
for her portrayal in The Accused of a rape
victim who was dismissed as not really
having been "rape-raped:'
If Polanski had gone to prison, served
his time, and then made films again OK. We should all believe in redemption.
But he didn't. He continued to enjoy his
lavish international lifestyle and to receive
many awards. In 2002, he won the Oscar
for Best Director for The Pianist. He was
kept from receiving the award in person
because he would have been arrestedand his supporters cited this as an example
of his suffering.
We have one job as feminists, and that
is to support, nurture, protect and fight for
the lives of women and girls worldwide.
Feminism can't be passive; it must be active.
As feminists, not only do we have to be
vigilant about how society is treating women
and girls, we have to be vigilant about
how-and if-we live our politics.
Rape is a crime against women and girls.
Supporting a rapist means saying rape is
OK. Or that it's OK when it happens to
that woman or that girl, as long as it doesn't
happen to us. It's the proverbial slippery
slope. It's what One Million Moms were
protesting-the
slippery slope of letting
something that violates the standards of
decency, as they perceive it, be broadcast
repeatedly on TV. I get their point, even
though I disagree with it.
I realized as I left the theater that I had
violated my own beliefs, and that in doing
so I hadn't just let myself and a handful of
hard-core feminist friends down-I
had
let down Samantha Geimer, the woman
Polanski raped, and any other woman or
girl he may have forced himself on since
he committed that crime, because he had
never been held accountable.
If Polanski had been the plumber down
the street from Geimer instead of a worldrenowned director, he would have gone
to prison, and no retinue of Hollywood's
elite would have stood up for him. Part
of our role as feminists is to hold all men
accountable for their actions, not just the
ones without power.
It was a small thing, my going to that
film. But as feminists we don't have the
luxury of telling ourselves that this or that
violation of our ethics is OK because it's
something we want to do.
Can we all be pure feminists:' Probably
not. But pure feminism is a goal we all
should be striving to attain-I
myself
included. Feminism is our only antidote
to the pandemic level of violence against
women and girls worldwide.
Too many people stood up for Roman
Polanski in 1977, instead of standing up
for Samantha Geimer. They did the same
thing in 2009. And regrettably, when I
entered that theater on my birthday, within
days of the 35th anniversary of that rape, I
was doing it as well.
It isn't easy, living our politics. But as
women, as lesbians, do we have another
choice:' If we don't stand up for ourselves,
who will:' ■
May 2012
I 29
Journalist and life coach Te-Erika Patterson (left); In a corner
of the COSAC Homeless Shelter, Patterson would record her
experience on the streets and frame a structure for the Rebuild
Your Life Project; Patterson slept most nights at the shelter.
w
-
LL
..J
a:
::::,
0
Walking the path from
poverty to prosperity, one
woman recounts her real-life
experience of survival.
By Laniaya Alesia Hoofatt
ow far would you go to change your life?
What if you had lost any motivation,
any hope, any desire to keep forging on?
Would you wipe the slate clean, switch
directions and go down a path of uncer~
tainty just to see if you could survive?
A year and a half ago Te~Erika Patterson, the founder
of the Rebuild Your Life Project and a blogger for
MySavvySister.com and Huffington Post of South Florida,
did just that. She had lost both her jobs and dropped out
of graduate school because of stress and anxiety. She was
fed up with collecting unemployment and desired more out
of life. "I remember looking in the mirror and saying, 'You
are so failing at life right now: I didn't know what to do;'
she says.
So she decided to start again. She had lost her car, let go
of her apartment and given away her furniture and clothing.
Days after she found herself homeless, Patterson started
living at the COSAC Homeless Shelter in Hollywood, Fla.
"This is the most notorious homeless shelter in Florida
because it is home to the perpetually homeless. Most of
the people there have lived there for five or more years;'
says Patterson.
While South Beach's hip nightclubs and restaurants
glamorize Miami, Patterson soon became aware of its
seamy side, and gained an appreciation for those who survive
it on a day~to~day basis.
She was offered drugs plenty of times while she was
>
C)
;s;
a
5
ffi
ct
30
I curve
homeless, from pain pills, to alcohol, to Ecstasy-she had
plenty of enablers if all she was after was getting high.
While she was at the shelter Patterson befriended a man
named Charlie Brown. A black man in his 40s, with a sweet
smile and an admitted love for crack cocaine, he promised
Patterson that he would leave the city, return home to
Detroit and somehow beat his habit.
"I allowed Charlie to take me around the neighbor~
hood to show me his favorite spots. He took me behind
a gas station and showed me the spot where he drank his
Milwaukee's Best Ice, only 95 cents at the corner store.
He took me to a cluttered backyard behind an apartment
building and showed me where he did his drugs in private;'
says Patterson.
One night while she was with Charlie, he made her an
offer: "We can go upstairs and go in the bathroom," he
suggested. "To do what?" she asked him. "We can each have
a hit (of crack];' he said."No one will know. Then we can
kiss on my bed and watch TV." Patterson laughed it off. "I
love you, Te~Erika;' he said solemnly. Patterson smiled
but politely refused his offer.
"The next morning I woke from a very vivid dream where
I did take a hit of the drug that has devastated so many lives,
and it was oh so lovely. The feeling I got from trying crack
in the dream was so powerful and so amazing that I said to
mysel£ 'If it's that good in my dream, I can never take it in
real life because I would be hooked;" says Patterson.
Her experience with Charlie had pushed her boundaries
and tested her limits, but she did not waver, and on the streets
of Miami Patterson formulated the idea that would become
the Rebuild Your Life Project, an empowerment outreach
aimed at teaching women to overcome their fear of failure.
An overwhelming feeling of destitution-or
maybe it was
just seeing what was in front of her-propelled Patterson to
take action.
The Florida Department of Children and Families
reports that 57,643 people in Florida are homeless on any
given night, and 34 percent of those people are women.
Florida's definition of homelessness changed in 2009 and
now also applies to individuals with a lack of fixed, regular
or nighttime residence, and includes all those living on the
streets, in shelters and in places not meant for human habita~
tion-living doubled up in motel rooms or in campgrounds
due to a loss of housing or economic hardship.
Resources for the homeless in Florida are stretched thin,
and the state has one of the highest unemployment rates
in the country, an estimated 9.9 percent at the end of last
year, according to the US. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That
number is down from a historic high of 12 percent at the
end of December 2010. But how those numbers relate to
the LGBT community is unclear, and while job fairs and
economic resources are becoming more and more common
in the Sunshine State, nothing is specifically targeted to
the LGBT community.
As Patterson drifted around South Florida, making
contact with disenfranchised American veterans, homeless
women who feared sexual assault and kids who had been
kicked out of their homes because of their sexuality, she
began to practice the principles of Rebuild Your Life.
One day at the shelter Patterson noticed a petite woman
walk past her with a beautiful baby, bouncy and smiling.
When Patterson later decided to approach the woman, and
asked her to take a walk in the nearby park, Sara* had by this
point lost her baby to Child Protective Services, because she
could not provide a proper home. In broken English, Sara
explained that her caseworker had promised to help her get
her baby back, but first she had to find employment and
a suitable place to live. "That day, I promised [Sara] that I
would join focus with her and help her rebuild her life while
I was rebuilding mine;' says Patterson.
Call it instinct, female intuition or pure and simple
compassion, but Patterson got to work immediately. "I
took her to a local job placement agency and began to
make phone calls around the city to the agencies that
serve the Hispanic population, telling them all about
[Sara] and asking for help;' says Patterson.
While working to promote interest in a job fair for
homeless women, Patterson contacted all the people she
knew, to try to find gainful employment for Sara. A fast
food company got back to her, saying that any woman she
sent in would be interviewed immediately and considered
for a job. Patterson contacted Sara, excited with the news,
and was shocked by the response she was given. "I can't do it
today. I have too much to do:'
"Days later, when I approached her again, she ignored me.
After that, she made it clear that she wasn't interested in my
help at all. "I don't want to be a part of your program;' she
told me. I left her alone after that. Weeks later, she disap~
peared from the shelter, and I never saw her again. This was
my first inkling that most of the women who were homeless
did not believe they could leave the lifestyle, and did not take
the action necessary to do so;' says Patterson.
How to take action was the driving force behind the
creation of the Rebuild Your Life Project. "This project aims
to teach women how to overcome their fear of failure by
showing them what extreme failure looks like and teaching
them the skills to survive it. Although I became homeless
and advocated for the homeless women in my community
during my time as homeless, I am not an advocate for
the homeless. I am an advocate for women who want to
move on from a situation that no longer serves them;' says
Patterson. "By showing them how to move on from it, what
resources are available, how to get a job and how to handle
being depressed and losing out in life, I hope that they will
learn to move forward in life knowing that they can conquer
anything;' says Patterson.
"I am asking big businesses to partner with the Rebuild
Your Life Project to offer a day of mass hiring, to extend
employment opportunities to Americans;' says Patterson.
Patterson's battle is not an easy one. With just one
volunteer to assist her, she approaches business leaders,
community activists and business owners looking for any
resources, open doors and financial support she can find
for homeless women.
She saw a need; her desire to help pushed Patterson
into action. She is a strong~willed woman with a powerful
mind-and
with the voices of South Florida's homeless
women at her back, Patterson has a clear mission for the
future of the Rebuild Your Life Project. To do for others
what she has done, in essence, for herself. She has rebuilt
her life. She has renewed herself, moved on, survived.
( therebuildyourlifeproject.org)
■
*Real name changed to protect privacy
May 2012
I 31
cirig
ee
32
1
curve
t 55, Martina Navratilova is a hero to lesbians everywhere and not just
because of her incredible tennis career. Winning 59 Grand Slam titles
(including 20 at Wimbledon) and a whopping 359 tournament victories
during a career that spanr1ed four decades, Navratilova revolutionized women's tennis with her amazing
talent. But she also made it cool to be an out lesbian athlete. In 1981, at the height of her popularity,
she did something that so many other closeted professional athletes were (and still are) afraid to
do-she came out publicly, proving that she believes in honesty and integrity both on and off the court.
As one of the first openly gay sports figures, she faced prejudice and gender stereotyping and even
lost millions of dollars in endorsements. Since then, Navratilova has become a respected civil rights
advocate and a strong supporter of many LGBT organizations. She is also a vocal advocate for equal
marriage rights. Now she's headed to ABC's Dancing with the Stars to learn some new moves, and
whether or not she wins the competition, she's sure to win many new fans in the process.
()
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Whatmadeyoudecideto doDancingwiththeStars?
Well, I wanted to get some dancing shoes and this was
the best way to get them [laughs]. Actually, I always
wanted to learn how to dance, but I am so shy. I thought
the best way to get over my fear was to dance in front
of millions of people. I'm always willing to face my fears
and take on new challenges. That's what I talk about as
the Ambassador of Fitness for the AARP [American
Association of Retired Persons]-be
brave and don't be
afraid to try new things. Since I talk about it, I have to
do it as well.
You'recertainlyagile on the tennis
court.Doyouthinkyou'llbe ableto
keepupwithyourdancepartner,
Tony
Dovolani?
Tony is a great teacher and he cho~
reographs all of the dances for us.
He knows my limitations and how
far he can push me. So, I won't be
doing any splits or anything like
that. I think my tennis agility will
come in handy, and I might be able
to do some moves that other people
can't do. You'll just have to watch
and see what I can do.
Whatareyoulookingforwardto most
in beingontheshow?
I'm really looking forward to learning how to
dance and feeling like a dancer. Of course, I'd
love to win the competition because I am a
competitor. But I want to feel like an accom~
plished dancer the most. I also want people
to enjoy watching me. Let's be honest-it's
a
popularity contest. But I really hope to surprise
a few people. And since I've been out of the
closet for a long time now, I need the support
of all of my sisters. I need them to vote for me!
Youmadewaveson the tenniscourtand in the
courtof publicopinionwhenyou came out in
1981. What do you think has
changed
sincethen?
The average American's accep~
tance has grown exponentially
since then. It's been an amazing
growth spurt. I said back in
2005 that we would have full
marriage equality in this country
in 10 years. And it's realistic
when you see what's happening.
I truly believe that it's going to
happen before 2015.
Somehigh-profileathletesare
stillreluctantto comeout,for fearof losingsponsors
andfans.What'syourtake onthat,sinceyouwerea
high-profile
athleteat thetimeyoucameout?
Little by little it will continue to change. The more
people who come out, the easier it will be for every~
one else. [The world] is more accepting today, and
it will eventually transfer to the athletic world as
well. But I still think that the day that professional
basketball players and football players come out as
openly gay is further away than marriage equality
for everyone.
You'vebeenretiredfromtennissince2006.Whathave
youbeenupto since?
[Laughs] A lot. In 2007, I became the
Ambassador of Fitness for the AARP.
I travel the world and speak a lot about
health and living an active lifestyle no
matter what age you are. I also pro~
vide commentary and analysis for the
Tennis Channel during its coverage of
the Grand Slams. In addition to that,
I give speaking engagements and moti~
vational speeches on LGBT diversity to
different organizations. And then I play
in tennis legends events as well. I keep
busy. (martinanavratilova.com) ■
May 2012
I 33
ANDER
SlyLE
ntil recently, Swedes and lesbians had something
in common: a suspicion of fashion as an ethically
dubious display of conspicuous consumption. In
other words, anti-fashion. But this perception has
changed for both Scandinavians and Sapphically
inclined women, with fashion now seen as an avenue
through which to explore forms of dress as a reflection of identity, rather than as a way of trapping and
conforming the female body. Americans may be
familiar with the rise of Swedish retail giant H&M,
which offers practical yet affordable designs with a
fashion sensibility. More recently, the works of Stieg
Larsson and his Millennium trilogy have undoubtedly
had some impact on Swedish fashion; the image and
identity of Lisbeth Salander, a quintessentially Swedish
character with her complex psychology, resourcefulness
and functional, monochromatic punk wardrobe embodies
much of the contemporary Swedish aesthetic, and evidence
of her influence was found all over the runways of Mercedes
Benz Fashion Week Stockholm, Autumn/Winter
2012.
Noomi Rapace, who played Salander in the original films,
even opened Fashion Week with a special ribbon-cutting
appearance and was spotted at numerous shows.
For many years, if anyone had asked me what Swedish
fashion was, I would have thought of unisex overalls for
intellectual socialists, or perhaps Greta Garbo in a black
turtleneck sweater and men's trousers, striding away
from photographers. It's true that this expectation of
no-fuss functionality clings to Swedish fashion design,
much as it does to their other design movements, IKEA
representing the best-known of these. However, in the
past few years, Swedish fashion designers have started
to push the envelope and wonderfully, some of the major
proponents of change are women-starting
with Katja
Geiger, the first Swedish fashion designer to have international success (her bold collection debuted at Lord
& Taylor in New York in the late 1940s) through to
Ann-Sofie Back who now shows regularly in Paris and
London. For the Swedes, as for us, fashion is finally
fashionable. (stockholmfashionweek.com)
SWEDEN'S
NEWfASH
IONAESlHEllC
HASPLENlY
OfANDROGYNOUS
APPEAL.
PYMERRYN
JOHNS
Cheap Monday began with a mission to provide fashion-
able jeans at a lower price than leading labels. The first
800 pairs with signature skull logo hit the market in 2004
and today Cheap Monday can be found in around 1800
stores worldwide. The womenswear displays the influence
of Eastern and urban aesthetics, from contemporary
martial arts to 1980s streetwear. (cheapmonday.com)
The Local Firm is inspired by the European industrial age
and the German Bauhaus art and design movement. The
label combines contrasting garments, colors and materials
and the women's line offers an androgynous silhouette, and
flashes back to the edgy urban minimalism of the early '90s.
( thelocalfirm.com)
Dagmar was founded in 2005 by three sisters and named
after their muse-their
grandmother Dagmar, who was
a seamstress. The label combines sensuality with female
strength and recently paid tribute to two inspirational
Swedish women: fictional icon Lisbeth Salander and
20th century Swedish modernist painter Sigrid Hjerten.
In 2011, Dagmar was awarded with the most prestigious
fashion prize in Scandinavia, the Guldknappen. (houseofdagmar.se)
Minimarket was also founded by three sisters and harks
back to the golden age of vaudeville where illusion and
escapism reigned. Vibrant theatrical colors not often seen
in Swedish design are combined with caped and cropped
garments for startling effect. At Fashion Week, who better
to present their collection than Women on the Verge of a
Nervous Breakdown icon, Rossy de Palma (minimarket.se)
UNllLRECENlLY,
SWEDES
AND
LESBIANS
HAD
SOMElHING
INCOMMON:
ASUSPICION
Of FASHION
ASAN
EUUCALLY
DUBIOUS
DISPLAY
Of
CONSPICUOUS
CONSUMPllON.
INOlHER
WORDS,
ANll-fASHION.
Hernandez-Cornet is the label of former model
and young conceptual designer Ana HernandezCornet. She once said, as though to challenge
Swedish fashion itself, "I think people should dress
with more power ... ! would like to see women dress
more confident and not always put the main focus
on the practical and comfortable and 'hide the body
away in multiple layers ofjerseY:" Game on, ladies!
(hernandez-cornet.com)
Maria Nordstrom blends couture with everyday
functionality in a typically Swedish way. Leather
contrasts with hand-dyed silk presenting a contemporary fashion edge. The womenswear explores
underlying themes of darkness, from Catholic notions
of purgatory to the rebellious and revelatory avantgarde. Very Salanderesque. ( marianordstrom.com)
Fifth Ave Shoe Repair showcases deconstruction,
draping and minimalism, creating a depersonalized
or almost stark institutionalized effect, and yet
paradoxically the designs convey an unmistakable
individualism. The womenswear features distorted
proportions and structural embellishments that are
at once futuristic, noirish and evoke the Millenium.
(vave-shoerepair.com)
Mayla was founded by graphic designer Marlene
Abraham, and those with a love of a more conventional female fashion aesthetic will adore her
elegant lines and 20th Century nostalgia. This
collection showcases elegant and flattering pieces:
think 1930s Greta Garbo, dark and moody, in long
silhouetted cashmere coats, tailored trouser suits,
reefer jackets and berets. ( mayla.se)
MARIA
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OU CANDERIVE
just as much inspiration
from hearing a conductor explain her passion as from knowing that another gender
barrier has fallen. In recent years, the world
of classical music-let's not call it rigid, just congenitally
resistant to change-has
seen the advent of women
on the podium everywhere from Milan to Baltimore to
Manitoba. Maestra Jessica Bejarano is an enthusiastic
addition to those women in the spotlight, and she'll be the
first to tell you that maintaining a career in classical music
isn't as tough as earning the baton.
"It's a really competitive field;' says Bejarano, 31. "It
takes a lot of energy, a lot of work, a lot of focus, a lot of
organization to be a conductor and to make your career
happen. Never mind if you're a man trying to break into
the field. It's just tough:'
Yet she has risen to the challenge, and now the San
Francisco-based, out-and-proud Bejarano is at the helm
of three orchestras: the Peninsula Symphony, the Bay
Area Rainbow Symphony and the Community Women's
Orchestra. She also leads the West County Winds, a
group of 60 woodwind, brass and percussion musicians
in a concert ensemble.
The Southern California native says she took to music
as soon as her big brother began playing the trumpet in
the school band. Just a third-grader then, Bejarano would
sneak into his room to test her skills and long for fifth
grade, when she too could join the band. Those early
years, which she spent playing with some decidedly
non-symphonic groups, were capped at age 18, when she
found her musical calling.
"The first time I ever listened to classical music, I fell
in love;• she says. "I rushed over to Tower Records and I
could not buy enough CDs. It was like the music was
already in me, I just needed to dig it out:'
Y
That fervor led her to an undergraduate degree in music
education from the University of Wyoming, where her
leadership instincts kicked in and she soon took over the
250-member marching band as drum major. Then, armed
with a master's degree in conducting from U.C. Davis,
Bejarano began exploring the international world of classical
music, with visits to Italy, Russia, Bulgaria and beyond
to learn the ways of world-class symphonies from elite
conductors.
She has wielded the baton ever
since, devoting herself heart and soul
to conducting, a career that still captivates her-and
a passion that fuels
her success.
"It's a very small world, the music
world, and word spreads;• she says. "If
you do good work, people are going
to hear about you and get to know
you, and they're going to invite you to
work with them:'
Although female conductors have
undoubtedly broken the glass ceiling,
Bejarano says that at every performance some people in the audience
are seeing a woman on the podium
for the first time. And at the same
time, being a trailblazer means that
Bejarano also serves as a role model for
aspiring musicians and conductors.
"We don't belong in boxes;' says
Bejarano. "I wasn't born into classical music. I wasn't born
in the conservatory. And yet here I am. It's a blessing to
have a career doing something I'm passionate about. And
I think I exude that energy with my musicians as well:'
0essicabejarano.com) ■
SEIZING THE
The Bay Area's
newest maestra,
Jessica Bejarano,
has harmony within.
By Kelsy Chauvin
I
MAGINE
THATthere was no glass ceiling, no barriers
or limits to how successful you could be. Imagine
yourself at the top, living, as Oprah Winfrey would
say, your best life. Well, even Oprah didn't predict
that she would become who she is. "I think that's the real
beauty in following your heart without a destination;' says
Gina Spriggs, a tarologist who aims to empower women.
Spriggs discovered her psychic abilities at an early ageat just 3 years old she telekinetically threw a shoe at her
cranky father. "The shoe just moved;' she laughs. Aged 10,
she saw the apparition of a girl emerge from a wall and walk
down the corridor of her Manhattan apartment building.
"I would see her every day walking toward me and I literally had to walk through her to get to my apartment and I
would turn and she wasn't there. I finally told my mother
and she smiled and nodded and the next thing I knew I
was at a psychiatrist's office:' When the 16-year-old Spriggs
read her friends' tarot cards and saw that one of them was
pregnant, she put away her cards for almost 20 years. "I put
out that fire;' she says.
A CAREER IN THE
CARDS
A tarologist offers empowerment through
her readings. By Merryn Johns
"We all have it;' says Spriggs of her psychic ability. "We
just don't tap into it:'
Many of us ignore our female intuition and yet crave
psychic advice, especially when at a crossroads, doubtful
of which path to take, fearful we're already on the wrong
road, wanting a sign. Should you seek such direction, you
can do no better than Spriggs. She is uncannily accurate,
from where your relationship or job is at, to your health
problems or pets, to even what books you are reading (full
disclosure: my reading with Spriggs wasn't all rainbows
and unicorns but it turned out to be spot on). Far from
trying to spook you about your future, she wants you to
get where you need to go in life. Women, she says, "are
raised to be nice, to be kind" -often to the point where
they neglect their own futures and selves.
"The future really doesn't happen until you step into it.
Just because I say something to you in a reading doesn't necessarily mean that it's set in stone. You still have the gift of
choice. You're empowered to make more informed decisions
because you are now receiving a trailer of your life. If you
like what you're seeing, you can keep on feeding it. If you
are going through something terrible, you can see the light
at the end of the tunnel and you can plan what's next. You
can choose your response. It's like knowing you're going to a
surprise party. You are empowered with more information
so that you can make intelligent decisions:'
A session with Spriggs starts with her asking her client
for a question they would like answered. If they do not have
one, she asks them to think of a time in the past when they
were truly happy or to project themselves into the future
where they see themselves as happy. "I lead them to their
own intuition. I ask, 'What makes your heart sing:" When
you have joy in your life you know you want to keep that
joy, but when you have fear, you have to really analyze
what's behind the fear:'
These days, as we are all affected by recession, rapid
technological advancements and global political upheaval,
Spriggs sees a lot of people on the brink of making pivotal
choices, and she assists them to step into their destiny using
intuition. "Think less and feel more;' is her advice.
A professional psychic with 12 years of tarot study and
seven additional years learning about intuitive reading,
Spriggs draws on her dairsentient talents, which she believes
adds an extra layer to her readings, picking up dues not
only from the cards, but from the emotions and vibrations
of the client. She also teaches others to tap into their psychic
talents; her students have the ability to accurately read
someone after merely three classes.
Based in North Carolina where she is supported by the
lesbian community (she estimates that 98 percent of her
client base is female, with about 40 percent of them gay
and bisexual) she comes out to her clients so that she 'gives
them permission to be who they are:' While she feels some
lesbians are reticent to come to her for fear that something
will 'get out;' she emphasizes that, much like a therapist, she
practices complete client confidentiality. "People are coming
to me not only because I'm good, but because they don't
hear their business in the street;' says Spriggs, who is also
an ordained minister ('Td rather be referred to as a high
priestess than a reverend"). And like a therapist Spriggs
believes that what she does at the end of the day "is a form of
healing:' (tarologist.com)■
111111111111111
I I I I III I I I I II II I I I III I I I I II II
111
HANDS-ON
HEALING
An Eastern practice gave an engineer the energy she was seeking.
By Stephanie Schroeder
L
ISAB.O'SHEA
began her career as a chemical
engineer. A graduate of the prestigious
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, she worked
at Kimberly~Clark and Mobil Chemical for
several years. Then, when she became a single mother, she
didn't want the heavy travel schedule her job demanded
and went back to school to earn a teaching credential with
the intention of teaching high
school chemistry and physics.
In the meantime, she sought
out tai chi and qigong classes
to deal with stress.
O'Shea fully embraced East~
ern healing traditions when her
severe asthma symptoms disap~
peared, about six months after
she began her qigong practice.
She also studied hypno~
therapy and Reiki to help her
understand more about how
the body works. ''As an engi~
neer;' O'Shea says, "I yearned
to understand the mind~body
connection. I come from a
family of doctors-my
father
was a surgeon and my grand~
mother was a pediatrician-so
it was a very medical model:'
Qigong is about unblocking
energy and getting it to flow
through the body in a healthy manner. Practitioners use
movement, visualization and breathing to achieve that
healthy flow, using different configurations with differ~
ent people.
O'Shea soon experienced her own energy flow: What
began as a part~time avocation and a hobby for stress
relief eventually turned into a profitable business, and in
1998 O'Shea created the Qi Gong Institute of Rochester,
in western New York. These days, she has a thriving
full~time private practice, and, in addition, she offers
qigong healing classes and seminars, through which others
can become certified instructors. Her certification program
also includes counseling in traditional Chinese medicine
and nutrition. ''A session usually begins with some hands~
on healing to jump~start the process, and then I use
qigong teaching to help clients improve their own health;'
she says.
O'Shea says her private practice consists of an equal
ratio of women and men, but her certification classes are
mainly composed of women. "I think women seek out
self~care in a more social setting, while men tend to engage
more in self~study:'
"I don't think many lesbians are yet in this field;' says
O'Shea about her second career. "Not because it's not
appealing, but because it does not yet have broad visibility.
Women see nursing, social work, massage therapy and
other Western healing and seek those out as careers:'
Qigong is certainly not a new discipline, but even
though it is relatively new to the United States, it's gaining
in popularity. O'Shea says she enjoys the business end of
things just as much as her energy practice. ''I'd say I spend
a quarter of my time on the business aspect. I like to work
on the computer, crunch numbers and analyze the business.
I've done all my own business work, including promotion,
advertising and PR, until my most recent video, which I
did with a publisher:'
O'Shea, who recently married her partner of 12 years on
the first day lesbians could marry in New York State, will
be releasing a new qigong video this fall. It's especially for
women, and addresses our physical, emotional, psycho~
logical and relationship health. (qigongrochester.com) ■
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A nontraditional career in the utilities
industry pays off in dollars and sense.
By Stephanie Schroeder
M
MARVSARTORI,
49, has been working
for nine years at Colorado Springs
Utilities (CSU) as an outside operator
at Front Range Power, a 480-megawatt combined-cycle turbine power plant. It uses natural
gas, rather than coal, to deliver power.
'Tm the eyes and ears of the plant;' she says. "I go
outside to record and monitor the performance of plant
equipment, take appropriate corrective actions as required
and report abnormalities to the control room operator. I
assist with the start-up, operation, and shutdown of all
equipment, performing daily water chemistry analysis and
assisting maintenance personnel:'
Winters are cold in Colorado, and when the weather
dips too far below zero, sometimes Sartori has to take
drastic action, climbing up a 10-story boiler with a torch
to find and loosen frozen valves.
After spending four years in the Air Force as a jet engine
mechanic, Sartori worked in a chemical process plant
for five years and as a TSA agent for a while, too. This
unusual combination of employment experiences turned
out to be just what CSU was looking for, and Sartori was
chosen as the most qualified of the 400 applicants for
her current job.
Among the 22 people at the plant, just three of
Sartori's coworkers are women: two in administration
and her control room operator. "There are two people
per shift needed to operate the plant;' she says, "and me
and my control room operator are the only female-female
team in CSU at a power plant.
"The pay is extremely good, but even better is the job
security. Utilities are one of the few fields that are actually always looking for qualified people, especially women;'
says Sartori. In her case, going the nontraditional route
has landed her a job that is unaffected by any downturn
in the economy.
Sartori says her coworkers are supportive. ''I've never
run into any problems with coworkers for being gay,
because, I believe, I never make it a big deal. I have had to
'feel' out how people felt about this issue before I would let
them know, but I've been fortunate to have worked with
great people, both now and in the past:' She was out to
only a few people when she was in the Air Force, "but that
was when DADT was still in place:'
Her plant runs 24/7 and Sartori works rotating day and
night shifts, putting in 12-hour stints on a four-days-on,
four-days-off shift rotation. And, although she loves that
schedule, she sometimes has to work weekends and holidays. "It can impede my personal life a bit;' she admits.
Sartori is happily engaged to her soulmate, Jennifer.
They have been together for almost two years. "She
supports and understands the work that I do, and my
schedule. She knows that we will not be spending every
weekend and holiday together, but we make up for it on
other days. I am very lucky and blessed to have her as my
other half!" ■
THE POWER OF
WHERE
WISDOM
AND BUSINESS
CONVERGE
Tami Simon has built a company and a community on spiritual awakening.
By Kelsy Chauvin
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HEREIS A SENSEOF balance around Tami
Simon. She seems equally instinctive and
studious, modest and driven. Her company,
Sounds True, is a for,profit multimedia
publishing venture, yet shares a library of wisdom. Her
life's work has been a source of inspiration for hersel£
and for countless others who have formed a community
around spiritual awakening.
Ironically, Simon's vocational achievements only began
once she dropped out of college in 1983 and left for a
yearlong trip to India, Sri Lanka and Nepal that changed
her world. "It was in that year [abroad] that I discovered
the practice of meditation;' she says. ''And that became the
most important ground in my life from which everything
else has sprung:'
The clarity she found on that journey returned home
with her, and coincided with an inheritance. The then
23,year,old Simon decided to use that sudden income to
find a sustainable means to share the world's major spiritual
traditions-and
Sounds True was born. She was now on
a path where she could use "business as a vehicle for fol,
filling our hearts' highest ideals:'
"It wasn't so much that I wanted to be in business or
start a business; what I wanted to do was disseminate
spiritual wisdom;' says Simon, now 49. "I wanted to take
the greatest discoveries and insights of the world's wisdom
traditions-along
with the techniques, practices and
approaches that had been incubated in those traditions
and taught from generation to generation-and
make
them available as easy as possible in a contemporary way:'
Today, Sounds True is a self,proclaimed "independent
and sustainable employee,owned organization;' one that
serves as a gateway between authors and spiritual leaders,
and those exploring personal growth and development.
Simon and her company of about 80 employees are com,
mitted to values she calls "multiple bottom lines": purpose,
people and profit.
Purpose is the overriding business model-the company
publishes work that inspires, supports and serves "contin,
uous spiritual awakening and its expression in the world:'
People make the company successful, and enjoy a work,
place that fosters personal growth and community, building
loving relationships that form the root of the business.
Simon calls it the "groovy bottom line:' And as with any
good business, Simon's goal is to "create profits through
working together creatively and efficiently:' Profit is also
essential to broadening the company's reach, and building
archives that future generations can easily access.
On August 22, Sounds True will host the five,day
Wake Up Festival in Estes Park, Colo., near the company
headquarters in Louisville. Simon says it will be a tangible
experience for visitors wishing to access spiritual wisdom
and traditions, in a context of people who approach
awakening from many different perspectives-dancers,
musicians, yogis, poets, energy healers, neuroscientists
and teachers.
Simon is calling the festival "a celebration of the heart's
unfolding:' And with it, she is likely to open more doors
for those willing explorers, and share her own sense of
balance in the world. (soundstrue.com) ■
"I -wanted to take the
greatest
discoveries
and insights
of the
-world's -wisdom
traditions
and make
them available
in a
contemporary
-way."
A WINNING STREAK
Motocross star Stefy Bau was a legendary competitor in one of the
world's most dangerous extreme sports. By Lyndsey D'Arcangelo
ention Stefy Bau's name to any motocross fan-male
or female-
and you'll instantly see their eyes widen with admiration. After all,
Bau is known throughout the racing world as the Female G.O.A.T.
(Greatest Of All Time). She is to motocross what Tony Hawk is to
skateboarding-a
pioneer of the modern-day sport we see on ESPN.
"I was practically born into the sport;' says Bau, who
grew up in Milan, Italy. "I remember waiting for the weekend so I could ride with my father on his motorcycle. I was
fascinated at a very young age:'
At 4 years old, Bau boldly asked her parents if she could
have her own motorcycle. "I expected them to tell me I was
too young, and they actually said yes! They gave me a
peewee motorcycle. It was a real bike meant for small kids.
It was the best gift ever:'
It wasn't long before Bau's parents could tell that their
daughter had natural talent. "During one of the trips I
used to do with my dad on the weekends, we saw some
kids racing dirt bikes on a small track. My dad said, 'Get
ready, you're going to race: I went in and beat all the little
boys that were there. That's what started it all:'
In her first official race, in 1983, Bau came in third. After
that, she won every race she competed in as a 6-year-old.
As a result of her early success, her racing career quickly
took off.
"I had a different type of childhood than most kids, but
it was entertaining at the same time. You live two different
lives. I was a bit of an outcast at school because I wasn't
like every other kid, but that's what gave me independence
and strength:'
Throughout her early years, Bau often ran into male
racers who would say,"What are you doing here? This is a
guys' sport:' But adversity only made her stronger.
"Racing back then, as a little girl, was almost a no-no,
especially in Italy, because it was a conservative country.
It was a different kind of culture. But I was determined to
prove to myself that I belonged there. I stayed committed
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"It'sa hard sport.
But if you can embraceit,
it teaches you so much."
and kept going. When I became a professional racer,
the perception changed. I was respected just like every,
one else:'
Over the years, motocross has continued to evolve and
grow. For one thing, it's no longer seen as a male,only
sport. ''At the beginning, at least in my area, when I started
it was very difficult to be a little girl riding against boys;'
Bau explained. "It was hard for my parents because they
were judged by other people [for letting me race]. Now, a
little girl can grow up and ride bikes and it's accepted:'
But what if that little girl happens to be gay?
"Whenever you get involved in any professional sport,
you have so much other stuff to consider, such as the
league you are in. Even though I was in a male,dominated
sport, I was just myself. I didn't declare [that I was gay]
to the world but everyone knew about it. For me, it was
normal. So it was never a problem in my career. I was
respected for what I did for the sport. I think if you are
happy with your life and with who you are, you shouldn't
have anything to hide. But you also have to do what is
best for you in your career:'
The same courageous attitude that led Bau to be true
to herself throughout her career also led her to seven
Italian and five U.S. Championships, before she retired,
reluctantly, in 2006. Among her many racing awards and
achievements, she is also the first woman to ever partici~
pate in a male All~World Motocross event-and the first
woman motocross racer to be featured in two PlayStation
video games.
"It's definitely cool to be in a video game;' says Bau,
laughing. "It's weird, and at the same time very powerful.
They recorded my voice for one of the games, to make it
as realistic as possible. Not a lot of people get to be in a
video game, so it's a milestone for sure:'
Though she may be officially retired now, Bau continues
to train and inspire the next generation of female racers
through her elite motocross academy, 211 MX School.
"It's a hard sport;' she said. "But if you can embrace it,
it teaches you so much. If you love it, keep pushing and
keep going-just like anything else in life:' ■
May 2012
I 49
HOT WHEELS
Balancing beauty and motorbikes is a passion for Jess Bowen.
By Merryn Johns •
Photos by Jessie Prince, Styling by Nathan Smith
nlike many women who pose with cool cars and beautiful bikes,
Jess Bowen, 33, is very likely to own the hardware herself-and
understand every nut and bolt of it. The gorgeous beauty salon
owner and interior designer is a motorbike and classic car
fanatic. She's also an avid surfer, which comes as no surprise
given that she resides in the picturesque coastal town of
Byron Bay, situated on Australia's most easterly point.
Bowen is passionate about restoring the beauty of old things,
whether they be houses, bikes or surfboards. The motorcycle in
these photos is a 1976 Honda 750 four modified to a cafe racer
in L.A. by cafe racer specialist Steve Carpenter. Bowen owns this
bike along with a modified 1976 Holden teal green HQ utility
with a 308 V8 engine, a Harley Davidson 1200 sportster modified into a bobber cafe, and a KTM exc-f 250 dirt bike (she's also
passionate about dirt bike riding). "I love the look and smell of
vintage bikes and cars; you can see how they are made and the
craftsmanship that goes into them; you can modify them to anything that inspires you. I have:'
Cars, bikes and surfboards are
not the only things Bowen collects.
There are also tattoos- 200 of
them. "I have been collecting tattoos for 17 years now. They have all
been from experiences, people and
travels-kind
of like a timeline of
my life:' Her favorites include a gold
revolver on her thigh and a black
and gray rose on her neck.
Whether it's setting up her
beauty salon business or creating
body art, Bowen likes to make her
mark, and 2012 is no exception.
"This year is really about taking
time out for myself and focusing
on fitness, surfing and building up
my new business. I am also looking
forward to starting a family in the
next couple of years:'
While the brunette bombshell
is shy about her current relationship
status, she's sure to find admirers
in curve.''! don't like to put a label
on myself, but my long-term relationships have been with women:'
( mudhoneysalon.com.au) ■
May 2012
I 51
DRIVEWITH PRIDE
Get into gear with a gay car. By Constance Parten
hese days, everything seems to be fraught with poli,
tics and even our patterns of consumption can have global
impact. As we count down to a federal election with cam,
paign candidates often endorsed by corporations and big
brands, simple household purchases can become unwitting
political acts.
Buying a car, when gas prices are rising and oil is a com,
modity linked to any number of political situations, is
especially worrisome for politically,conscious lesbians.
Thankfully, there is a website to help you navigate your next
vehicle purchase so that you can make an educated choice.
Gaywheels.com launched in June 2005 (in conjunction
with L.A. Pride) "as a gay,friendly way to research and
buy a car or truck and related services:' At gaywheels.com,
users can investigate which automakers and other automo,
tive companies are gay,friendly. Initially, the gay,friendly
criteria was defined simply by whether or not companies
had anti,discrimination policies to protect their LGBT
employees, says website spokesperson Richard Read.
"Since nearly all major automakers-with
the exception of
Hyundai, Kia, Porsche and Suzuki-now
have such poli,
cies in place, we've begun to push further, inquiring about
insurance for domestic partners and other benefits:'
Sometimes, however, buying a car has more to do with
marketing and what appeals to us as lesbians, rather than
what feels politically correct. Take, for example gay men's
love of the Mini Cooper, or lesbians' legendary loyalty to
Subaru. "There are clearly cars that are marketed to women
52
I curve
(the old New Beetle, most minivans), cars that are mar,
keted to men (the 2012 Beetle, most pickups) and cars that
are marketed to LGBT consumers (the Fiat 500, Buicks):'
says Read. "The marketing mix for most vehicles looks like
a Venn diagram, with a handful of overlapping demo,
graphics like: Women, affiuent, double,income,no,kids
and so on. While I think that automakers are very aware of
their LGBT consumers, I have a hunch that the marketing
efforts that separate lesbians and gays are grounded in the
more general differences between women and men:'
Read notes, however, that some of his lesbian friends
have been known to be drawn to cars ordinarily pitched to
straight men-"badass sports cars like the Subaru WRX:'
Gender and sexuality stereotypes aside, like any con,
sumer product, Read believes a car is an expression of
the buyer's identity. ''As more Americans come out of the
closet, as more of them feel comfortable expressing their
sexual orientation, more of them will feel comfortable
buying vehicles that represent their personality-no matter
whether those vehicles scream butch or femme or some,
thing in,between:'
While the site's founding editor was laughed at when
he first visited auto shows under the gaywheels.com
banner, the auto industry now seems "very eager to talk
about LGBT issues. In fact, most of the bigger automakers
now make a concerted effort to reach out to LGBT media.
After all, we're their link to a market segment with
considerable purchasing power:' (gaywheels.com) ■
AUTOMOTIVEALLIES
When you buy a car there are so many factors to contemplate. Hybrid or electric? Domestic
or foreign? New or used? The decisions are endless, but have you stopped to consider how
gay-friendly your car company is? Gaywheels.com has, and here's what they tell us.
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Gay fitness
goddess
Jackie Warner
on growingher
empireand
if she'llever
returnto 1V.
BY LYNDSEY D'ARCANGELO
REALITY
At 43, Jackie Warner is in the best shape of her life. She has the kind of
body that many women dream of-washboard abs, toned muscles and a
sun-kissed L.A. tan. But even this Work Out star wasn't always fit. "When
I was in college, I went from 114 pounds to 169 pounds in three or four
months," Warner confesses. "I was eating fast food and I blew up overnight.
I sat in my dorm room one night and cried, and I made the decision to get
control of my life. I gave up fast food and walked to school every day. Once
the weight came off, I wanted to learn more [about being healthy]."
That decades~old decision to get healthy
is what helps keep Warner motivated
to continue working hard on her own
health and fitness, and to continue helping
others. "When I can tell that someone
is ready to change and there is a fire in
them, I get inspired. If I don't feel that
they are motivated to change, then I am
not interested. It doesn't matter if it's
Julia Roberts or whoever:'
If you've seen Warner on Bravo's
Work Out and Thintervention, then you
know she means business. But after the
final season of Work Out, it was time
for Warner to take a break from reality
television. "It's a double~edged sword;'
says Warner. "I had no control over
the editing in Work Out, and however
they wanted to portray it, they could. If
producers want to create an image, they
can do it through editing. I executive
produced Thintervention, so I know how
editing can play a part. But I would not
trade [my] experience [with Work Out]
for one bad season. It made me grow as
tough as nails:'
Though the self~confessed reality TV
junkie isn't currently starring in her own
show, she's not opposed to doing another
one-as
long as it doesn't involve her
May 2012
I 55
I
personal life."I love reality. It's all I ever watch, and I have
written some shows, but I wouldn't want to do one about
my personal life again. It's too boring. No one would want
to watch it. I don't go out, and I'm in bed by 9 p.m:'
If you want to see Warner on television, you'll have
to pick up her latest workout DVD, Personal Training
With Jackie. Released last December, it's already a
best seller. "This DVD was different because I literally
opened my training logbook and incorporated pyramid
training from my own workout. It's a plateau,buster and
it's fun, because you are changing your movements back
and forth. Whenever I create a DVD, I know how to
push people without pushing them past their limit:'
Warner is also enjoying the recent launch of her
new book, 10 Pounds in 10 Days: The Secret Celebrity
Program for Losing Weight Fast. Normally reserved for
celebrities and LA:s elite, the exclusive lOx 10 program
''
IT'S ABOUT BALANCING
THE OVERALLBODY WITH
FOOD AND
EXERCISE.
YOU LEARN HOW TO
CHANGE YOUR BODY
CHEMISTRYIN A DAY.
YOU CAN ACTUALLY CHANGE
THE GENES YOU WERE BORN WITH.
YOU CAN ALSO
CHANGE
YOUR RELATIONSHIPWITH
FOOD.''
56
I curve
is now available for everyone. "I actually submitted a dif,
ferent book idea to my publisher;' Warner says. "It was
about spirituality and other things I was interested in. As
a side note, I told them about the lOx 10 program, which
I had written 15 years ago. And that's what they wanted
to publish!"
Warner developed the l0x 10 program initially because
celebrities would often ask her how to lose 10 pounds fast.
'J\nyone can lose 10 pounds, but not everyone knows how
to keep it off;' says Warner, who hired a researcher to help
her analyze hours and hours of nutritional data for the
book. "I wanted to be at the cutting edge and teach what
we're going to be talking about five years down the road.
I like to learn and grow. Honestly, I am at a place where I
don't have to do anything I don't want to do. So, I do what
interests me the most:'
Warner is no stranger to literary success. Her previous
book, This Is Why You're Fat (And How to Get Thin
Forever), made it onto the New York Times Best Seller
list. Fans can be sure to expect another great weight loss
book in 10 Pounds in 10 Days. "Honestly, it's the easiest
program to follow. I wanted to create a program that lit,
erally takes the thinking out of it. You don't have to do
anything-it's
all in the book:'
According to Warner, anyone can follow the program.
In fact, she wrote it with the average person in mind. "It's
for anyone who wants to lose weight and get in shape. It's
about balancing the overall body with food and exercise.
You learn how to change your body chemistry in a day.
It's very unbelievable, but true. You can actually change
the genes you were born with. You can also change your
relationship with food:'
Warner's relationship with food is a lot healthier today
than it was when she was in college. But she still indulges
in guilty pleasures now and again. "I don't say no to myself
about anything;' laughs Warner. "If I want chocolate or
dessert, I'll eat it without any guilt, because I know that
my metabolism is so fast that it will process it right away.
The only thing I decrease and try to get my clients to
decrease is alcohol. It stunts your ability to release fat,
burning hormones:•
With another best,selling DVD, and a new book and
website in the works, Jackie Warner is a busy woman. But
it's hard not to wonder if we'll ever see her on television
again in the future.
"I am currently negotiating an infomercial deal, and
I am hoping to get that off the ground;' Warner says.
"That's what I am focusing on now. I would also like
to do a fun, competitive reality show that I can executive
produce and that doesn't focus on such heavy subject
matters. It's draining to try to get someone's weight down
in just a couple of months. I'd rather get people to laugh
through the process instead:' 0ackiewarner.com) ■
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May 2012
I 57
Casitas LazDfvaz:
Hammocks on the
beach (clockwise), inside the
Marlene casita;
proud purveyors
Sara and Berit
ss I curve
As our tech-obsessed world grows smaller, it seems that
finding someplace to drop out, even on vacation, is as elusive
as finding the perfect sunset. But one place where peace and
quiet-and
sunsets-are
abundant is Costa Rica, so much
so that gays and lesbians are actually moving there to work
and telecommute, not just to vacation or retire. The gay scene
in Costa Rica is "expanding and continues developing," says
James Remes, the owner of Colours Oasis Resort in the
capital, San Jose. "Costa Rica has a young median age, so gay
acceptance is on the increase. Gay nightlife, dubs and socialOutside the city,
izing have grown, especially in San Jose:'
however, some venues are certainly considered gay-friendly,
but they're not the meccas they used to be. Manuel Antonio
and Quepos, for instance, are becoming more mainstreama fate they share with formerly gay destinations like Key West
and South Beach-but you can still find many gay-owned
homes, condos and vacation rentals. Most general businesses
are friendly to traveling gays, and gay travelers themselves are
becoming more adventurous, setting out to explore the entire
country. "We rarely hear of hate crimes, as the Costa Rican
people in general are peace loving by nature;' says Remes. In
the whole of Central America, Costa Rica is "the premier
country for gay acceptance:'
If you absolutely fall in love with the rich coast and wish
to move there, Allen Lungo and his husband, David Kepler,
who relocated from Chicago several years ago, have established a web portal, TheNextGayCostaRica.com, to promote
real estate to the LGBT community, and they will be happy
to give you information about gorgeous Guanacaste, a
province on the Northwest Pacific Coast.
THE GIRLS OF GUANACASTE
Berit Funke, originally from Munich, and her partner, Sara
Arrand, originally from Boston, arrived in Costa Rica in
2000 and soon made plans to send down roots, just like a
Guanacaste, the national tree of Costa Rica. A year later
they purchased a beachfront lot, then built a house and
some casitas, and in 2003 opened their doors for business
as Casitas LazDivaz Bed and Breakfast (lazdivaz.com).
The beach outside their door is Playa Samara, a beautiful
4-kilometer (roughly 2.5-mile) bay protected from riptides
by a barrier reef and considered one of the safest swimming
beaches in Costa Rica. Samara has 'Just enough restaurants,
beach bars and dance halls to entertain, after a day of
swimming, surfing, kayaking, hiking or hanging in a hammock;' says Arrand. In spite of some real estate development,
Guanacaste has maintained the charm that drew the couple
there and they have further cultivated its welcoming vibe. ''At
our B&B, we have created a culture of our own-an atmosphere where couples and single travelers, regardless of sexual
orientation, are comfortable and feel safe and at home while
vacationing in a gorgeous beachfront location;' says Funke.
"We have had many happy lesbian honeymooners swinging
in our double hammocks:'
While Casitas LazDivaz does target the lesbian and gay
market (its casitas are themed after iconic female entertainers such as Tina Turner and Marlene Dietrich, and the
business is advertised as "lesbian-owned and -operated;
straight-friendly"), the guest demographic "reflects the diversity that we strive to celebrate;' explains Arrand."Our guests
seem to be attracted to the general vibe of acceptance and
appreciation of good fun that we have created in our little
compound:' Nevertheless, she estimates that about 20 percent
of their guests are lesbians.
Costa Rica's friendliness just naturally includes being
lesbian-friendly."We describe the Costa Rican culture as being
neither homophilic nor homophobic, but rather, 'homoblivious; " says Arrand. "The locals are generally respectful of
others' right to privacy and, in our experience, truly practice
a live-and-let-live philosophy. We have always been out as a
lesbian couple and active in the local community, working on
environmental and animal-protection projects, and we are
respected as the normal couple that we are:'
Sallyanne Monti, who works for curve, and her wife,
Mickey Neill, feel the same way about the Costa Rican
culture. They have split their time between the San Francisco
Bay Area and the beach town of Playas del Coco on the
Northwest Pacific Gold Coast in Guanacaste province since
2007, after they fell in love with Costa Rica and the generosity of its people while they were on vacation. "The people
are accepting of everyone. Their national slogan is pura vida,
"pure life;' but it really means "live and let live;' and it embraces
generosity of spirit toward others, and celebrates the successes
of others:' And it doesn't hurt, she notes, that Costa Rica has
no army, has affordable health care for its residents and
offers tasty and fresh produce-all of which contribute to an
atmosphere of relaxation and calm (tranquilla). No wonder
it was voted the Happiest Place on Earth in 2009's Happy
Planet Index.
Monti and Neill agree that the country is safe for lesbians.
"We spend many of our Saturday nights in town at various
local establishments, dancing to visiting bands. My wife and
I dance together-slow
dancing as well. No one even bats
an eye. People just don't care. Matter of fact, they are happy
to see the expression of love between two people. We have
never had a negative experience here. Even local vendors will
say to Mickey or me when they see us alone, "Como estas tu
esposa?"
-How is your wife? Although gay marriage is not
a law here in Costa Rica, the people recognize and embrace
that love is just love. People are just people here. No one cares
what color you are, what nationality you are, or who you love.
If you're happy, they're happy. Pura vida:'
STAYGAY IN SAN JOSE
While visitors to the Northwest are able to fly into Liberia
Airport (officially called Daniel Oduber Quiros International
Airport), most others fly into Sanjose, which is not a pretty
city, nor a well-organized one, so picking somewhere to stay
while you get your bearings and continue on to the next part
of your trip is important. The gay-owned landmark Colours
May 2012
I 59
Oasis Resort (coloursoasis.com) is the main gay,oriented
attraction when it comes to lodging in the capital. Colours
is owned by James Remes, a long,term LGBT travel ambas,
sador and entrepreneur and he warmly welcomes women to
his homey and well,equipped establishment. Twenty vari,
ously sized and reasonably priced rooms and apartment,style
suites, some with cooking facilities, give you many options,
depending on your needs. The in,ground pool is the focal
point of the property, and you'll probably find yourself chat,
ting with friendly guests there or at the cozy bar. The onsite
restaurant serves good breakfasts, and dinner can be worth
staying in for-the pizza is excellent-although
Remes and
the super,friendly staff can recommend other dining options
nearby. Colours can also organize trips to Poas Volcano, La
Paz Waterfall Gardens and coffee plantations, all manage,
able day trips from the hotel. The tour operator Expediciones
T ropicales was truly friendly and welcoming to us as gay clients
of Colours. During your stay, check out the local gay and
lesbian bar La Avispa, which has been a fixture since the late
1970s and features a tico (local,style) tea dance on weekends;
Friday night is usually lesbian night, but check with the
Colours staff before you put on your dancing shoes.
DYKES IN GOLFO DULCE
Mandy McNeil, originally from Canada, and Bekah McNeil,
from California by way of Alabama, had been living in Toronto
before moving to Costa Rica four months ago after purchas,
ing the established guesthouse of Casa Siempre Domingo
(casa,domingo.com). Located in Pavones near the port town
of Golfito on the Southern Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, the
casa sits high on a hill, behind it rainforest and before it a truly
breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean and the Golfo Dulce.
The beach has one of the world's longest left surfing breaks,
and there is one paved road in and out-which
means
lots of nature,loving surfers and no money,grubbing
developers.
"Pavones has a very in,touch community of women, many
of whom teach yoga and do body and spiritual work. It would
be inaccurate to say that the town is a great place specifically
to be lesbian, but is a great place to just be yoursel£ What
60
I curve
appeals to us as lesbians here is the respect that people have
for nature and each other;' says Mandy.
The McNeils are actively promoting Casa Siempre
Domingo as an LGBT,friendly destination and they are in
the process of creating travel packages specifically for lesbians,
with female guides, instructors and workshop providers for
activities as diverse as surfing, horseback riding, yoga, snor,
keling, cooking, hiking, bird,watching and massage. "We are
also planning to block out periods of time that are lesbian,
and LGBT,only, to provide a more comfortable experience
for guests if that is their preference:• Like other expat lesbians
in Costa Rica, the McNeils feel welcome. "We are regularly
asked if we are sisters, but when we answer that we are married
the reactions are fine. We know that we stand out here, but
we have still been very warmly received in the community:'
GET WET AT LAS AGUAS
Misty mountain vistas, howler monkeys at dawn and lush
jungle waterfalls. Sound like your cup of java:' Las Aquas
Jungle Lodge (lasaguas.com) is named after the waterfalls
and jungle pools that are within walking distance of the
property, and this stately gay,owned guesthouse is perfect
for gay groups, and offers lovely inland views for sitting and
relaxing. But if you enjoy nature hikes, as many lesbians do,
those waterfalls and natural swimming holes are just 20 to
40 minutes from the house, so strap on your Vibram soles
and get out there. Zip lining through the jungle canopies or
rafting the rivers are also exciting options. This is the only
gay accommodation in the immediate area, and a good place
to stop on your way to gay,centric Manuel Antonio.
MAGICAL MANUELANTONIO
The more,or,less official gay area of Costa Rica is undoubt,
edly the National Park and beaches of Manuel Antonio.
Villa Roca (villaroca.com) is a gay,owned and ,operated
Mediterranean,style property that is booked exclusively for
LGBT travelers and has lovely views over the forest to the
Pacific Ocean. There are lots of restaurants and bars within
walking distance, or you can take a short taxi ride to Liquid,
the full,time local gay bar.
Gaia Hotel and Reserve (gaiahr.com) is a place to really
spoil yourself-an adults,only and very gay,friendly luxury
boutique hotel and resort and a member of the Small Luxury
Hotels of the World. From its prime location, atop a small
mountain with a commanding view over jungle and coast,
line, you have the best of both worlds: indigenous coastal
forest and world,class food, drink and spa treatments. The
resort has its own nature preserve, a refuge for diverse and
rare species, so you could be visited by monkeys and colorful
birds at breakfast and at happy hour.
Manuel Antonio may be gradually mainstreaming, but as
honeymooners Carol Anastasio and Mimi Brown discovered
while staying at a resort there, ''A corner of our spectacular
semi,private beach was obviously the weekend getaway spot
for the local gay population. We felt right at home!" ■
V .ISi·t ••
-•
Sweden
www.visitsweden.com
~
Stockholm
The Capitalof Scandinavia
Intematlonal Gay & Lesbian Travel Association
Scandinavian
Airlines
62
I curve
Carol Anastasio, 49, and Mimi Brown, 58, met on a blind
date on Oct. 1, 1990. Dining at the Cowgirl Hall of Fame
in the West Village that fall evening they had no idea that
21 years later they would become part of New York State
history. Anastasio, who works for the N.Y.C. Department
of Parks & Recreation, and Brown, a managing editor
for Getty Images, were among the first gay couples to
be married in New York last July. While they had always
considered themselves to be a married couple, they were
finally inspired to make it official after watching the vote live
on The RachelMaddow Show."We agreed that if it passed,
we'd be among the first to register for marriage in New
York. We definitely wanted to be counted;' says Brown. So
enthusiastic were they that they raced down to the Marriage
Bureau only to find out they had to wait another month to
allow Gov. Cuomo's historic signing of same-sex-marriage
legislation to go into effect.
But help was at hand. "Speaker Christine Quinn had
followed our story in the Daily News and she selected us,
along with four gay male couples, to be among the first to be
married at the Manhattan City Clerk's Office that Sunday,
July 24, 2011, the first day oflegal same-sex weddings in New
York State;' recalls Brown. At the Clerk's Office, Quinn's
longtime girlfriend, Kim Carullo, welcomed them with bouquets of white roses. "Every single person working that day
was smiling and excited, so kind, so loving;' says Anastasio.
"Everyone seemed conscious and respectful and joyful at this
remarkable moment in time. Judge James Mitchell asked us
to autograph his script, explaining with tears in his eyes that
we were the first couple that he would be marrying on this
historic day and how honored he felt:'
Following the ceremony, they were photographed by the
New York Times and ushered outside to meet the international press. "The whole thing, the buildup to the wedding,
the newspaper and TV coverage, the worldwide reach of the
event, and then the day itself, was a breathtaking, incredible,
moving and magical experience;' says Brown.
But there was more magic to come. The owners of the
oldest steak house in N.Y.C., the Old Homestead, offered
the brides a free all-inclusive wedding reception, Speaker
Quinn even dropped by to congratulate the couple and
offered a toast thanking them for making their big day
public, so that the world could see what a loving lesbian
relationship looks like.
The universe was smiling on these newlyweds, long-term
residents of the world's best-known concrete jungle: Next,
they were offered a honeymoon in a real jungle-Monte
Azul, a boutique resort and nature preserve in Costa Rica.
The owners, Carlos Rojas and Randy Langendorfer, a gay
couple formerly from San Francisco, were so moved that
New York State had finally passed the law that they extended
a special offer. "When they saw our story in the Daily News,
they contacted the paper to offer us a free honeymoon;' says
Anastasio. "The fit between Monte Azul and us could not
have been better. The resort focuses on art and design, with
fine food, environmental sustainability, and outdoor adventure-all things we love!"
Monte Azul is situated on a 125-acre private nature
preserve in the tropical rainforest about two and a half
hours south of San Jose. In addition to being an eco-resort
respectful of its fragile location, Monte Azul operates as an
artists' colony, producing and exhibiting fine art and design
that uses environmentally sustainable methods. Each casita
is inspired by mid-century modern architecture and acts as
both a curated gallery and a residence, connecting harmoniously with the lush landscaping around it. Using Monte Azul
as a luxurious base camp, the women explored the region
nearby. "We enjoyed it immensely, from the our first sloth
sighting, to meeting local artists-one a cheese maker, another
a print maker-to
roaming the national parks, to floating
idly in a hot spring halfway up a mountain for 45 minutes
by ourselves, with only a toucan overhead for company;' says
Brown. "There's a raging river at your back door and a waterfall a short hike away-at once thrilling and peaceful. We are
lucky enough to have traveled extensively, and Monte Azul
ranks among our favorite experiences:'
The women were charmed by everyone they met, from
their hosts, Carlos and Randy, to the staff, who remembered
their names and how they took their coffee (grown at Monte
Azul, by the way), to the ticos,as the locals call themselves.
"They showed a joy for life, a love for their country, and an
awareness and pride in all the green efforts Costa Rica makes
to preserve its wonderful environment;' says Anastasio.
"We didn't notice any type of homophobia, veiled or overt.
Everyone we met in Costa Rica was warm, welcoming and
accommodating-and
we were dearly a couple:'
Reflecting on their charmed union, Anastasio believes
they had a little heavenly help. "My 92-year-old dad had
recently passed away. He knew we had registered to marry,
he loved Mimi, and I'd often reminded him, if possible, to
pull strings for us when he got to the other side:' Whether he
did or not, they now look to the future with gratitude, and
focus on "appreciating everything life has given us and never
losing track of what is most important-our
friends, family,
and each other:' ■
May 2012
I 63
In Cuernavaca, Mexico,
a progressive language
school has LG BT and
women's programs.
By Julia Steinecke
Our teacher, Lety, is a sturdy butch with a ready smile. She
stands beside a whiteboard and covers it with words and
pictures that illustrate Mexico's derogatory but colorful gay
and lesbian slang, Mariposa is the word for butterfly and for
a gay man. Lesbians are thought to wear only blue jeans, so
more
their nicknamJ is Levi's in Spanish, Livais-and,
specifically, quin·entos uno, for the original 501 style.
I never thought I'd learn these things in a classroom, but
this is no ordinary Spanish class. Cetlalic (cetlalic.org.mx),
or the Tlahuica Centre for Language and Cultural Exchange,
takes its name from the city's original inhabitants, whose own
language is seriously endangered. The center was founded in
1987 as an alternative to the mainstream schools that were
drawing thousands of tourists to Cuernavaca.
There are almost 40 full- and part-time Spanish schools
in the city, which are located in the mountains just south of
Mexico City. Students are drawn to this location for the
climate (Cuernavaca is called the City of Eternal Spring),
the parks and the culture. Cetlalic favors a teaching method
it calls Popular Education, emphasizing participation and
dialogue rather than rote learning. Special curriculums
are offered throughout the year, including women's and
LGBT studies.
"Twenty-five years ago, I met Holly Near;' says school
director Jorge Torres, referring to the activist singer, "and she
had a big influence on me:' The teaching staff, most of whom
were straight, did workshops to learn about gay and lesbian
realities, and in the mid-1990s the first queer program was
launched. I'm visiting the Winter LGBTQ Program, which
runs at the same time as Women and Social Change in
Mexico. The summer program offers students a chance to
participate in Mexico City's Pride march.
The slang we are learning today seems crass compared to
the lofty ideals of Cetlalic, but it shows what Mexican gays
and lesbians have to contend with. The discussion ends with
some role reversal as we teach American slang to our teachers,
who struggle with the flat r's, to our amusement.
My host is a lesbian who lives with her four dogs in a comfortable house in the north end of the city. We go out to meet
her younger girlfriend and my host tells me that at the age
of 25 she had a long-term relationship with a 55-year-old
woman, so now she's enjoying the other side of an intergenerational match.
Many Cetlalic students choose the homestay option, and
every morning I hear them raving about the hospitality and
the delicious cuisine they're enjoying. The school has over a
dozen gay, lesbian and bisexual hosts.
64
I curve
The other students in my program include a couple of
retired schoolteachers, a gay businessman who likes to
sketch portraits of everyone, some activists and a youth
worker-drag king. Most are visiting Mexico on their own,
combining education and travel. We bond immediately and
spend most of our free time together, exploring the city,
talking politics and laughing. Most of them speak a halting,
grammatically correct Spanish, while I blab rapidly, making
mistakes everywhere.
We study in open-air classrooms surrounded by fruit
trees and ferns. My teacher acts out the words-I've never
had so much fun learning the subjunctive-and also helps us
understand the subtleties of Mexican culture.
Morning classes are followed by afternoon charlas
(discussions) and outings. We tour the Robert Brady
Museum, a tribute to an American artist and collector
who filled his home with an astonishing and eclectic art
collection, fabulous guests and scandalous rumors. We have
a drink at the queer-friendly Barecito Cafe (facebook.com/
barecitocafe), where folk and indie music fills the air. At
the home of another artist we meet Lina Rodriguez, a local
lesbian photographer and filmmaker who's working on a
movie about women accused of witchcraft in Spain.
Other guest lecturers come to the school, like T rini
Gutierrez, who talks about the history of Mexico's gay and
lesbian movements. It's interesting to learn that the very
first lesbian group met in the home of the legendary activist Nancy Cardenas, who lived near Cuernavaca. Little did
they know that someday travellers would journey to this city
from all over the world to study Spanish and be part of their
community. (visitmexico.com) ■
IFYOU GO
Enrollment
at all the Spanishschoolsin Cuernavaca
has
gonedownsincemyvisit dueto reportsof drug-related
violence,but residentsbelievethe city is safe."The
Spanishstudentsthat still cometo learnthe language
andthe culture,theyalsolearnaboutthe reality,"says
JorgeTorreswho believesthereis "exaggeration
on
the newsin [the]U.S.or Canadaaboutthe situationin
Mexico."Beforetraveling,visit the lessalarmistThorn
Treetravelforumat lonelyplanet.com/thorntree.
Therloridd
Keys
KeyWest
Oo.eTolle,f,a.fiuficmNonn.l
www.gaykeywesHl.com
800.535. 7797
Warm beer, cool girls and a Wicked good time.
By Gillian Kendall
Having tihe 2012 Olympics in London is like having all our
Christmases come at once, as the Brits say. Arguably the
most queer-friendly capital in the world, London has plenty
of charm: Really, the weather is no worse than it is in Paris,
gay culture is up there on a par with San Francisco's and the
architecture is better than what you'll see in Sydney. And
million visitors expected
right now with-no
kidding-1
in July, Uondon is toned and fit, coached and prepped, just
crouching on the starting line, waiting for your arrival.
But despite the plethora of wall maps and Englishspeaking guides, and a tourism office on practically every
corner, a visitor can easily get confused. Everything in the
city is beautiful or fascinating and almost everything is "dear"
(or, as we Yanks say, extremelyexpensive).So it's wise to plan a
few excursions, as well as accommodation, before you arrive;
otherwise, even the most street-smart dyke might spend her
vacation wandering from pillar to Parliament to pub ...
66
I curve
GET YOUR BEARINGS. For a first-timer
in London, two
experiences are de rigueur:First (early in the trip), you have
to see the city from an Original Tour hop-on, hop-off tour
bus. A day atop an open-air double-decker convinced me
that much of the beauty of London begins at the secondstory level, way above what a normal pedestrian would
notice. Some of the routes offer low-key recorded commentary; all of them travel through fascinating parts of the
city and give you a good overall introduction. Second, no
matter what else you miss, make time for the London Eye,
a smooth, trippy, slow-motion journey around a huge wheel
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set beside the Thames. The trip-one
time around-takes
about 35 minutes, and though the time goes fast, the pods
move slowly, so there's no disorienting sense of motion. In
America, the same attraction would probably cost three
figures, but the Eye is amazingly only £17 (inevitable up~
grades are available, such as a river cruise, champagne and
a private capsule). It's the best $25 you'll spend in London.
The only drawback to the Eye is that they make you get out
when your capsule comes back to earth, but for consolation
you can cross the Thames to the Houses of Parliament and
then continue on to the nearest pub, which happens to be
the beautifully renovated St. Stephen's Tavern, where you
can enjoy real ale, or at least real coffee. Once you've had
an Eye~ful, grab a Time Out (restaurant and entertainment
guide) and a Tube map, log on to allinlondon.co.uk and
start planning the rest of your trip.
WHERE THE GIRLS ARE. Sport~dykes heading to cheer on
the contestants should stay near the Olympics action at
Aloft Hotel at the ExCeL Centre; Aloft is a surreal place
that seems less like a hotel that recently opened (October
2011) than one that will appear 30 years in the future.
Offering spacious, sleek rooms amid this rather bleak
section of the city, it's a good space to recharge between
excursions into the overwhelming rest of London. Aloft will
also appeal to wheelchair users, because it's ultra~accessible.
You don't encounter a single step or stair between leaving
the train, registering in the lobby, and entering your room.
On my recent arrival, I knew which was my room because,
although the door numbers were not yet in place, my door
was open and the larger~than~life TV screen was scrolling a
welcome message for me with my name on it. Needless to
say, I was impressed.
Can't get tickets to the events you wanted? No worries:
Check out the nonprofessional competition at the Ladies'
Pond, Hampstead Heath. This secluded, clean, women~
only outdoor bathing area has been hosting mermaids
since America was in its infancy. For £2 you can swim in
the opaque~but~clean pond, girl~watch or (ha!) sunbathe on
the green slopes surrounding the water.
LESBIAN CENTRAL: SOHO. If London is the gay capital of
the UK, then Soho is the hub of the capital, and the best
place in the universe to take a dinner date. Anyone who
can't find a good meal in Soho isn't trying: The rest of us
can barely choose between the array of Indian, Japanese,
Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, African and oh~yes tradi~
tional English eateries, with prices starting in the mid~range
(£9 entrees) and going up.
For the second part of your really~big~date night, head
to the theater ( or theatre! or theatah!). Of the musicals
currently in London, the three that might appeal most to
curve readers are Billy Elliot, Wicked, and Les Miserables,
each a fascinating blend of the personal and the political.
Billy Elliot tells the story of a young boy from a working~
class background who wants to be a ballet dancer, despite
the attendant stereotypes and discouragement. Wicked
is about much more than what happened in Oz before
Dorothy's arrival: It's about language and labels, female
friendship and transgression. It's also beautiful to watch,
May 2012
I 67
RATHER
THAN
COMPLAIN
ABOUT THE
BRITISH
ECONOMY
ORTHE
WEATHER,
JUST
DECIDE
THATTHE
RAINYDAY
YOU'VE
BEEN
SAVING
FOR HAS
COME AT
LAST.
68
I curve
and unexpectedly hip and funny. Tickets at shops
in or near Leicester Square offer half,price or
discounted same,day tickets for most shows,
most nights-get
there early for the best seat
selection and shop around-some
places sell out
before others.
Interspersed between restaurants are most of
London's theatres and gay bars, including the only
real lezzo stronghold, Candy Bar at 4 Carlisle
Street. Lesbians in search of warm beer and cool
girls should also venture into the forbidding
G,A,Y bar on Old Compton Street, in a sub,
terranean basement called Girls Go Down, but
it's gloomy and thick with cruising men. But no
matter-all over Soho, dykes and gay boys mingle
amiably with the nonqueerish couples and every,
one crowds into Molly Moggs for the cheerful,
colorful drag and cabaret.
Z Hotel (remember, it's pronounced "zed" in
England), an eclectic collection of repurposed
townhouses, is slotted into the narrow street
between Compton Street (London's version of
Christopher or Castro Street) and the musical
Singin' in the Rain. This prime location keeps
you close to the Soho nightlife, and Z also keeps
you close to your partner-a
double room is not
much bigger than the bed. But the fascinating
view out my window-where
talked day and night-made
wriggle room.
people strolled and
up for the lack of
GETTING POSH. Walking distance from Soho is
the upscale, serene and expensive neighbourhood
of St. James's, home to St. James's Palace, Green
Park and some of the best (read: most expensive)
shops in the UK. A 10,minute stroll from the Eye,
The Strand, the Ritz (high tea is an institution,
perhaps a cliche) and a zillion other things you
want to see is the Cavendish, a warm and gracious
old,style hotel that has been open in the same loca,
tion (under different names) since the 18th century.
Rooms aren't cheap, but the little luxuries make it
worthwhile-rooms
have a swish coffeemaker,
and housekeepers will provide extra bedding, bath
pillows and salts, special cookies and more.
The Cavendish is on the famous Jermyn Street
(where Victorian men kept their mistresses), home
to dangerous shopping, including Britain's oldest
cheese shop, Paxton & Whitfield; this writer's
favorite bootmaker, Russell & Bromley; and some
of the best shirtmakers in the world. Butches of
all shapes can get exquisite shirts and suits tailor,
made-for a formidable price. Don't miss Fortnum
& Mason, a stylish department store as good as
Harrods and on a more human scale.
SAVINGMONEY.Apart from buying an Oyster card
for your Tube and bus transportation, there's little
you can do to keep the pounds from pouring out of
your purse. London is one of Europe's most expen,
sive capitals, where a pint of beer or even a decent
cappuccino will set you back about $5. Rather than
complain about the British economy or the weather,
just decide that the rainy day you've been saving for
has come at last. Buy tickets for Singin' in the Rain,
be prepared to get wet and figure out how to keep
your girlfriend warm. ■
In The Stacks REVIEWS
InsideOut
Two stories about reconcilingthe internaland external. By Rachel Pepper
I AmJ,CrisBeam(LittleBrown):In the growing category of trans-oriented YA fiction,
there have been several recent standouts.
These include Luna, Parrotfish and Almost
Perfect, which all successfully portray
teenagers grappling with their gender
identity. It makes sense that Cris Beam,
who has written so knowledgably about
trans teens in the past, decided to turn
to fiction and create the story of J.
I Am J takes place in New York City
and focuses on a teenage trans boy
who lives with his parents and is of
Puerto Rican and Jewish heritage.
I Am J focuses on the time in J's life
where he starts to make sense of his
gender identity on both a cognitive and
emotional level. In the novel's beginning,
J already thinks of himself as male, but is
still thought of by others as female. J has
few friends, except for Melissa, a girl he
has a crush on, but who thinks of him only
as a friend. "Other girls, of course, rejected
J, saw only the most superficial aspects of
him-the way he was so butch and toughlooking-and
they'd run away, thinking he
was a freak or a dyke or both. Something
predatory, something hard and impenetrable:' As J begins to make sense of his male
identity he finds that he must shed some
of his old life, and that his parents are not
yet able to accept him. Like many actual
trans youth, J decides to leave home for a
while, and is able to begin shaping a new
life. Along the way, he develops new social
relationships as a man, learns to bind his
breasts, supports his friend Melissa's own
recovery, allows his photography to be
exhibited and drops in on a support group
for young transmen. Having worked with
trans youth, Beam is able to write with
both wisdom and respect as we travel with
Jon his journey of self-discovery. By book's
end, readers may find the novel's tone has
become a bit too chipper. Still, given that
many real-life teens struggle for a happy
ending to their strife, this reviewer is glad
that J's tale has one.
the throes of a full scale, all-encompassing
eating disorder are harrowing. "The other
Rockettes don't realize that while they carry
on, chattering about what song they will
sing at their next audition ... I'm thinking
about if and how I should kill myself...!
entertain myself with suicidal ideation at
least every other day. They don't realize that
on our long break during shows, instead
of resting I'm gorging myself at the Dean
& Deluca gourmet deli in the Rockefeller
Complex:' Further, Gleissner describes her
bulimic episodes with the honesty of someone who's been in the trenches-and
with
her head over the toilet. Thus, the reader is
made fully aware that bulimia is truly akin
to being at war with one's own body, from
the inside out. Binging, purging, sore
throats, infections, chest pains, electrolyte imbalance, dizziness, isolation, obsessiveness, crystal meth use and theft
are only some of the issues she faced
down when she was in her disease.
The descriptions Gleissner includes
might be triggering to some readers
who've also struggled with an eating
disorder, but certainly enlightening
for those who've never experienced
such trauma. Gleissner eventually goes to treatment, and not surprisingly
(given the insidiousness of eating disorSomethingSpectacular:The TrueStory of ders), relapses soon afterwards. However,
One Rockette'sBattle with Bulimia,Greta in the 10 years between those years and the
Gleissner
(SealPress):How does the issue of writing of this book, the author has made
sexual identity intersect with the acuity of great strides in her recovery. Committed to
an eating disorder:' Something Spectacular, delving headlong into the emotional bayous
a memoir by Greta Gleissner, dares to ask of the mind, she began to resolve her ramthis question. Gleissner trained hard as a pant perfectionism, feelings of inadequacy
and the internal shame she carried about
dancer from a very young age, performed
through her school years and was eventuher sexual orientation. Today the author
is recovered, a practicing therapist and
ally selected to join the competitive troupe
of Rockettes in New York City. Gleissner
an open lesbian in a committed relationtackles the topic of bulimia, explaining how ship with another woman for eight years.
her home environment-where
appear- Which just might prove that being true to
ances were paramount and emotions were onesel£ seeking professional support and
stuffed-was
a combustible combination
doing some hard emotional work are paving
when paired with her dance training.
stones on the path to recovery, as well as in
Gleissner's descriptions of her descent into
coming out. ■
May 2012
I 69
REVIEWSIn The Stacks
AllAbout My Mother
Alison Bechdel presents her breathtaking new graphic memoir. By Grace Bello
Alison Bechdel does not yet feel relieved. At press time, it's only
three weeks since she finished writing and drawing her new graphic
memoir, Are You My Mother?, a six,year creative undertaking that
intertwines scenes from her childhood, her therapist's office, her
girlfriends' bedrooms and her own mind. She tells me by phone
from her home in Vermont, "I think I actually drew most of it in
nine months in a crazy frenzy first:' An appropriate gestation period.
"For a long time, I described the book differently. It was a book
about relationships, the self and other, and while it still is those
things, I realize it's primarily a story of me and my mother:'
Before you start thinking that Bechdel is navel,gazing, you
should know that what put her on the map was her long,running
comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For, a peek at the political and
personal lives of a community of lesbians, and Time's 2006 Book
of the Year Fun Home, a graphic memoir of her closeted gay father
as well as a document about homosexuality in a pre,Stonewall
America. Bechdel looks at the world through a lesbian lens as well
as from the perspective of a friend, a sister and a daughter.
Dykes ran in alternative newspapers from 1983 to 2008. In the
tradition of Gay Comix creator Howard Cruse, the comic strip
chronicles the LGBT movement through the lives of lesbian char,
acters. Born not only from her desire for women but from her desire
to catalog them, Dykes is cheeky and insightful, poignant and richly
detailed. And it unfolds at the speed of life. For example, in 1990,
we watch Clarice and Toni have a commitment ceremony. Years
later, Toni gives birth to their son Rafli. As Vermont spearheads
marriage equality, the happy couple ties the knot. And, after years
of being together, the relationship takes a crescendo into divorce.
Dykes to Watch Out For, which the author began as a zine before
the term "zine" entered popular vernacular, now gets incorporated
70
I curve
into college syllabi; "I get brought to schools by the Gender Studies
Department;' says Bechdel, "which is something that never existed
30 years ago:'
As alternative newspapers began to fold, the artist knew that the
comic strip might no longer be financially viable, and she turned to
a book concept that she had been thinking of writing for about 20
years, a memoir about her father called Fun Home.
In 1980 at the age of 20, Bechdel came out to her parents in
a letter that she sent while she was away at college. Her father, a
stoic but provincial intellectual, seemed fine with her choice to, he
says euphemistically, "take a side:' Her mother, however, recoiled:
"Couldn't you just get on with your work:"' It is then that Bechdel
finds out from her mother that her father is gay and closetedhadn't she known?-and
has been having affairs with men for
years, notably with her former babysitter Roy. Weeks later, Mr.
Bechdel gets run over by a truck and dies, which the author
asserts is a suicide.
As Art Spiegelman did with his 1986 Holocaust graphic memoir,
Maus, Bechdel uses both literary and visual storytelling to capture
the tragedy, irony and humor of someone who was persecuted by
the times in which he lived. However, in the case of Fun Home, the
tension comes also from the ensuing neglect that Mr. Bechdel
inflicted on his family. He is both victim and aggressor, charged
with offering alcohol to a local teenage boy. "The real accusation
dared not speak its name;' Bechdel says in the book.
As complex and dark as the character of her father is, Bechdel
still sees him as a sweet man: the one who played Airplane with her
when she was a kid, the one who bonded with her over The Catcher
in the Rye, the one who brought her to a post,Stonewall West Village
when she was 16 where she first saw a thriving gay community like
the one she portrayed in her comic strip. Her
father's plight set Bechdel on her trajectory of
unabashedly exploring her sexuality, both in her
life and her art: when Fun Home was published,
the author said, "I felt that to a certain extent he
killed himself because he couldn't come out, so I
was determined to be utterly and completely out
in my own life:' Self~acceptance, curatorial talent
and literary acumen, these things are the author's
inheritance from her father.
Which brings us back to her latest book, Are
You My Mother? Mrs. Bechdel, an intelligent and
exacting presence, balks at her daughter's coming
out. However, that disapproval is not necessarily
due to homophobia. The author points out, "It
was also bound up with how she felt about my
father's sexuality. It was never an easy or clear
thing; all her feelings were not just about me but
about him and the kind of jeopardy he put her in
for so many years:'
We see Mrs. Bechdel, a skilled stage actress,
take refuge from her husband in the world of the
theater. And when the author is an adult, we see
her mother disapprove of a bound collection of
Dykes: "I would love to see your name on a book;'
Mrs. Bechdel says, "but not on a book of lesbian
cartoons:' This remoteness causes the author to
seek solace from her therapists and her girlfriends
for years. When I ask her how her relationship
with her mother impacted her relationships with
women, Bechdel says, "You know, I sort of hoped
I would figure that out by writing the book, but
I still don't have any fucking idea. Intimacy is not
my strong suit:'
And though the author's latest work-as
stunning, as moving, but more conceptual than
her last-brings her some catharsis, her motiva~
tion was much more than that. She says, "In both
the book about my father and the book about my
mother, it was kind of getting myself out from
under their critical gaze. Freeing myself from
their scrutiny. I feel, to a certain extent, I've been
inhibited creatively by both my parents, but also
empowered by both of them. I had to navigate
the complicated thing of both challenging them
and embracing them, each in turn:'
Incidentally, now Mrs. Bechdel is supportive
of her daughter's sexuality. Bechdel says that it
took her mother about 10 years of meeting her
girlfriends, reading her comic strip and ultimately
spotting her daughter's cartoon in Ms. magazine
for her to accept not only that her daughter is a
lesbian but also that she's an artist who portrays
her sexuality on the page. As Bechdel prepares to
unveil Are You My Mother? to the literary world,
that maternal embrace must bring her, finally,
some peace. ■
May 2012
I 71
REVIEWSSapphic Screen
Fabulous Fashion Star
Kara Laricks is taking her andro designs to primetime. By Rachel Shatto
When it comes to lesbian representation
on television, reality TV has been a boon.
From The Real World to The Real L Word
it has provided a venue for queer~identified
women to be visible. The latest lady~loving
trailblazer to grace our screens is Fashion
Stars' Kara Laricks. This statuesque and
fiercely mohawked fashionista is working
double duty not only representing queers but
also combating the gradually diminishing
stereotype that lesbians lack fashion sense.
With her overtly androgynous designs she
is bringing a queer atheistic to primetime
and proudly declaring herself a lesbian
tastemaker.
Howdidyougetinvolved
withFashion
Star?
I was teaching fourth grade for 10 years and
I always had a dream of designing so I
decided to go back to school at the Academy
of Arts in San Francisco for Fashion Design.
Once I graduated I packed up my car, and
Quickie with Kara
Whichcelesbian
wouldyou
mostliketo designfor?
I wouldloveto dressTilda
Swinton.
Ohmygosh.A longtime
agoI sentoneof mytiesthrough
fanmailto Ellen.Whoknows
whathappened
to thattie.ButI
wouldloveto geta tie to Ellen,
for sure.
Who'syourfavoritedesigner?
YohjiYamamoto
is a Japanese
designer
thathasbeenaround
sincethe '80s.He'skindof quiet
andbehindthescenes,
buthe
putsoutspectacular
collections
seasonafterseasonandhas
sucha distinctlook.
Whatis the worstlesbian
stylestereotype?
Flannel
forever!I amproudof
everylookthatanylesbianhas
evertried.I wouldsaygofor it.
There'snotanything
thatI would
saynomoreof.
Whatarticleof clothingor
accessory
canyounotlive
without?
I havea luckypairof pinstriped
pants.Theygowithmeeverywhere.AndanytimeI havean
important
interviewor anytime
I justwantto feelfoxy,I wear
thosepinstriped
pants.
my girlfriend and my dog and we drove
across the country and moved to New York.
I started my own little accessory line ... and
then the opportunity came up for Fashion
Star. And I just thought, I would be crazy to
pass up the opportunity to be able to really
create a full women's wear line, which has
always been a dream of mine.
Whatcompelled
youto quita stableteaching
careerandmoveacrossthecountry-twice?
I love teaching. I love that career. The tough
part about it was that I felt always partially
in the closet when I was teaching. And not
because I wasn't proud of who I was or any~
thing like that. I've always been fortunate to
have a really accepting family and great girl~
friends. But I loved that job. I didn't want
to lose it. And I always wanted to design.
After 10 years of teaching, [I thought] I'm
not getting any younger. This is something I
really want to do. And I took a huge risk.
Youwentfrombeingafraidto beout,to being
outonprimetime.
Talk about one extreme to the other, right?
It was crazy. As soon as I went back to
school for fashion design I felt really like
this huge weight of responsibility was lifted
off my shoulders. It's given me the strength
and the purpose in order to be one of those
out-hopefully-role
models. You really
can do whatever it is you want to do. You
might have to take some twists and turns in
order to get there, but that's OK.
Unlike
otherdesign
showsFashion
Starrequires
youtofocusondesign
andcommercial
viability.
Howwasthatexperience?
I have never been happier in my life. We
started at the crack of dawn and then
worked late each day. But I have to tell you,
it's what I love do to. So to be able to design
without worrying about ... can I afford to
do this, can I afford to do that? To really
have free reign and all of the resources that
I needed just to strictly focus on design, I
was in heaven. The challenge with the show
is, you're really trying to appeal to three very
different markets. The people who shop at
H&M, versus the people that shop at Sachs
and Macy's. The trick was really trying to
please all three.
Youraesthetic
isveryandrogynous.
Hasbeing
queerinfluenced
it?
There is no doubt that being part of the
queer community has influenced my style.
I love kind of a masculine style, but that
fits a female body. And it's so hard to find
great men's~inspired clothing that really fits
a woman. Another challenge on the show
was really keeping in mind the mainstream
consumer. Because I know that the amount
of women that want to wear a menswear
style head to toe is very few compared to
what most of America wears. But what I
really tried to do on the show was introduce
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little ways that you can incorporate an
androgynous piece into your existing ward~
robe and still get that kind of cool feel from
the masculine~meets~feminine.
Is there a politicalstatementbehindyour
designor is it justyourpersonal
style?
I feel like wherever I go, I see a lot of women
really trying to fit themselves into a tight
dress ... they've seen so much of the media
telling them that they have to accentuate
their waist, or they have to do this or they
have to do that to look thinner or to fit
some standard of beauty. And in my mind,
a standard of beauty is seeing someone who
stands out, is someone who has got their
own style. Someone who can take a piece
TheGirlwiththe
DragonTattoo
{SonyPictures)
JamieandJessie
AreNotTogether
{Peccadillo
Pictures)
Thisremakefollowsdisgraced
investigative
journalistMikael
Blomkvist
(DanielCraig)whois
hiredto investigate
the missing
andpresumed-to-be-murdered
nieceof a wealthyfamilyand
uncovers
theirdarksecretswith
the helpof bisexual
gothhacker
extraordinaire
LisbethSalander.
Rooney
Mara'sportrayalof
Salander
is a darkerandmore
damaged
takeonthecharacter
thanintheoriginalSwedish
film,
butprovesthatSalander
is more
compelling
andcharismatic
for
herflaws.Fansof theoriginal
will noticeseveraldivergingplot
pointswhichhelpmakeit a fresh
experience
whilethestunning
actingandart directionhas
helpeddrawnewcomers
to this
brilliantandchillingthriller.From
thedazzlingly
disturbing
opening
creditsto thesatisfying-yet
open-ending,it's a talewellworthtellingtwice.
Thisengaging
musicaldrama
depictsthecomplicated
relationshipbetweenlesbianroommates
JamieandJessie-and marks
a complete180fromdirector
WendyJo Carlton's
previous
offering,the heartbreaking
dramaHannah
Free.Jamieis a
confident,
talentedlesbianlothario
withhopesof makingit bigon
Broadway.
Jessieis awkward,
neuroticandnotsosecretlyin
lovewithJamie.So,whenJamie
announces
thatsheis moving
to NewYorkintwoweeks'
time,Jessiepanicsandbegins
datingotherwomento make
Jamiejealous.Punctuated
with
theoccasional
songanddance
number,
JamieandJessieAreNot
Together
is a welcomebreakfrom
thestereotypical
plotlines
that
oftenplaguelesbianfilms,and
thereis alsoa refreshing
amount
of bodydiversityrepresented
amongstthecast.
that not everyone can wear and really make
it her own and make it in a way that she
feels comfortable and confident. I would
love to challenge that sort of standard of
beauty where women have to look thin and
nipped and tucked.
Doyoufeelanypressure
to represent
usfashionablequeersonTV?
I'm just really, really proud to represent our
community. I don't necessarily want to be
known as a lesbian designer, but I do want
to be known as a talented designer and that
I'm happy for everyone to know that I'm
gay as well. So I just really hope that I will
do our community proud and represent
and be exactly who I am. ■
NurseJackie:SeasonThree
{Showtime
Entertainment)
!Women
ArtRevolution
{Zeitgeist
Films)
Season
threeof thealways
lesbian-inclusive
seriesNurse
Jackieseesits eponymous
antiherostillstruggling
to stayonelie
aheadof herfriends,familyand
coworkers
asshecontinues
to
strugglewithaddiction.
Theseries
kicksoff withtheaftermathof the
intervention
thatJackie'shusband
andherbisexualbestfriendDr.
O'Harastagedin the previous
season's
finale.Hermarriageis
strainedandherfriendship
with
O'Haraappears
to bepermanently
damaged.
Andthingsaren't
muchbetterfor Dr.Cooper
whose
belovedlesbianmothers-played
bySwoosie
KurtzandJudith
Light(havingsteppedin for
BlytheDanner)
havesomebad
life-changing
news.Onceagain,
NurseJackiesucceeds
infinding
humorin theabsurdity
of the
darkestpartsof life-addiction,
illness,infidelity-andcontinues
to fleshoutits castof endearingly
flawedcharacters.
Fortyyearsagoa freshoutof
collegeandnewlyradicalized
LynnHershman
Leesonbegan
documenting
thefeministartists
aroundher.It'sthisfootagethat
makesupthebackbone
of this
illuminating,
infuriating
and
movingdocumentary.
!Women
Art Revolution
givesvoiceto the
secrethistoryof feministart,as
wellas unveilsthe patriarchy
of
the mainstream
artworldand
its insidious
attemptsto dismiss,
invalidate
andsilencewomen
artists.Featuring
interviews
with
artists,criticsandhistorians
(ofwhommanyarequeer)this
oft-unsung
movement
begins
withits 1960sorigin,explores
thefieryandfascinating
evolution
andoffshootsin the '?Osand'80s
andoffersa lookat its effectson
today'sfemaleartists.Alongthe
wayit touchesseveralimportant
momentsincluding
the"The
DinnerParty"scandalandthe
Guerrilla
Girlsmovement.
May 2012
I 73
REVIEWSMusic Watch
CitizenSwift
Ember Swift sharesthe message of global citizenrythrough music. By Emelina Minero
Canadian musician, songwriter and activist
Ember Swift has been in the music game for
nearly all her life. She began writing songs at
9, performing at 10 and in 1996 she released
her first album. And while Swift started out
as an angst-driven acoustic folk artist, her
music can no longer be boxed into a single
genre. Over the past 16 years it has evolved,
taking inspiration from jazz, electronica, rock,
funk, folk-rock, pop, reggae and world music.
Currently living in Beijing, China, Swift's
passion for peaceful global relations is hugely
influential to her music. Her recent offering,
11:11, is a bilingual album written in both
Mandarin and English, with songs about
the environmental challenges China faces
today. In keeping with her global mission,
her group, The Beijing Band, is made up of
members hailing from Australia, East Africa,
China and Canada. Swift believes in the
power of music to bring awareness to important issues and to unite people from across
the planet.
Whyis musicsucha powerfulmedium?
Music is a cross-cultural language. Anywhere
you are in the world, you can use it to communicate with people. There's so much more
conveyed through music than just what's
written in the lyrics, so it transcends language differences and becomes the ultimate
unifying language in and of itsel£ Music has
enormous power to unite people.
Whatroledoesactivismplayin yourmusic?
My earlier work was more vocal politically,
but my current work is more political than
anything I've ever done. That's because I live
and work out of Beijing, China now and I'm
a foreigner in a foreign land interested in
cross-cultural communication and understanding. The very existence of my bilingual
11:11 album is a political statement. To my
knowledge, there's no other foreign artist
singing in Mandarin about pertinent environmental issues, for example, here at this
time. As an overall album, it communicates
that we can all coexist.
In a time when China is the rising power,
74
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there's bound to be fear and competi~
tion emerging, which are both divisive
elements in terms of global relations.
Maybe this music can be a tool towards
harmony instead.
Whatothercausesarecloseto your
heart?
I'm also really interested in environmental
issues, particularly water conservation
and protection. Finally, I'd say human
rights issues related to women and child~
ren, poverty and sexual orientation are
all enormously important.
Howhasyourbilingual
albumbeen
received
in China?
As I live in Beijing now, having a body of
work that includes lyrics in Mandarin
was vital to my ability to perform for
Chinese audiences. Music can tran~
scend spoken language, but when
you're part of a community and sud~
denly speaking as a resident of a city
in which you are performing regularly
and seeking listeners, it's important to
be able to speak in the language of the
land, out of cultural respect!
I really wanted to build a collection
of songs that could have their "twin ver~
sions" in either language so that when
touring in North America or Australia
I could swap them back to English and
have them as easily understood there as
they are here in China.
So far, it's been enormously helpful
for gathering Chinese~speaking fans. I
was on the Chinese rock charts this past
fall for six solid weeks with one of my
songs! I was told that I was the first for~
eigner to ever be on those charts!
Howhasmotherhood
influenced
your
musiccareer?
I know I won't do much touring in the
first year of her life and I feel quite fine
with that. I have trekked all over the
place for many, many years and it's OK
to mostly stay put while I enjoy her
infancy. What's more, she's the most
amazing thing that I've ever madefar more interesting than all of my 11
albums put together-so
I don't feel
like I have to make a decision right now.
I'm just taking things one~step at a time.
(emberswift.com)■
DeborahVial
StagesandStones
(Lavendar
Lung
Music)
Girlyman
Supernova
(FineFeathered
Music)
Me of a Kind
YouAreHere
(Rampage
Productions)
Openlylesbian
rockerDeborah
Vialtookthe
scenicrouteto a
solocareer.The
Dallasnativewent
directlyfromcollegeto performing
overseasfor the
troops,a journey
thattook herfrom
Croatiato Iceland
to the KoreanDMZ
thenbackto Dallas
andfinally,with her
partnerandmusic
labelownerCaron
Barrett,to Maui.
NowVialis lending
herrich andhusky
vocalsto Stages
andStones,a rock
albumwith no
shortageof attitude
anda bit of edge.
Standouttrack
"Don'tMakeMe
TakeIt" is an edgy
androckinganthem
full of pounding
drumsandgrinding
guitars.Fansof
ChristineMartucci
andMelissa
Etheridgewill find
plentyto sinktheir
teethintowith
StagesandStones.
Keepan eyeonVial
as shecontinuesto
makewavesin the
lesbianrockscene.
Fortheuninitiated,
queerquartet
Girlyman
is a
collaboration
byTy
Greenstein,
Nate
Borofsky,
Doris
Muramatsu
andher
partner(andformer
PoGirlalum)JJ
Jonesonthedrums.
Thebanddescribes
themselves
as
"harmony-driven
genderpop"which
translates
to wonderfullygimmick-free
folk-infused
pop
createdbythesonic
synergyof expertly
mergingandoverlappingrichharmonies.
Theresultis a
sunnybalmfor your
eardrums.
Theupbeat
yetcynicallovesong
"NoMatterWhatI
Do"is sincerewithout
beingsappyandthe
ennui-laden
album
opener"Nothing
Left"conveys
heartbreak
without
leavinglisteners
emotionally
bereft.
Despitefrequently
drawinginspiration
fromheartache,
the
vimandvigorof the
tempoandvocals
translates
the pain
intoa 13-trackfeelgoodalbum.
Thereis something
comfortably
familiar
aboutYouAreHere.
Maybeit's the blending'9OsGothand
trip hopwith hints
of skathatstrikesa
cordwiththischild
of the '9Osreviewer.
Orperhapsit'sjust
thatthetalentbehind
thisalbum-former
drummerof the
seminalqueercore
bandTribe8, Jen
Schwartz-hasa gift
for creatingmusic
thatresonates
with
queeraudiences.
Eitherway,Meof
a Kind,whichpairs
Schwartz
withBecky
Gebhardt
of Raining
JaneandValerie
Sternof LaylaLane,
isjusttheauditory
treatto satisfyyour
nostalgic
appetite.
"TheRain"is an
orchestral
and
percussion-heavy
trackthat'spleasantlyatmospheric
andmoodyand"The
LastTime"is part
NewAgeserenade
andpartglamrock
ballad.Whileit may
notbeasovertly
politicalasTribe8,
Meof a Kindis not
shortonedge.
Nneka
Soulis Heavy
(DeconRecords)
Youshouldtake
Nnekaveryseriously
because
sheis a
serioustalent.This
Nigerianhiphop
artistdrawsinspirationfromthe political
corruptionin her
homecountryand
hermusicalinfluencesfromreggae,
hip-hop,modernR&B
andvintagesoul,all
of whicharevery
fittingplatforms
for
herconfrontational
anddeeplyintrospectivemessages.
"My
Home"is a stellar
brass-heavy
anthem
and"Lucifer"is an
easy,breezyreggae
jam.Herbreathy,
urgentvoiceand
lyricsareso heartfelt
andrawtheygivelistenersthesensethat
it's notjust hertalent
ondisplaybuther
(heavy)
soul.Shehas
rightfullydrawncomparisons
to Lauryn
HillandErykahBadu.
However,
with her
latestalbum,Nneka
mayhaveleft her
contemporaries
behind.It's brilliant,
unapologetically
experimental
and
yet Soulis Heavy
somehowremains
accessible.
May 2012
I 75
REVIEWSTech Girl
Hit the Road
You'll be good to go with these auto-enhancing gadgets. By Rachel Shatto
According to the 2009 U.S. Census, Americans spend an average of 72 minutes a day in their
cars. Yikes. At that rate, commuting queers can rack up a serious amount of behind,the,wheel
time over the course of a calendar year. Fortunately, it's not all gridlock and road congestion:
hitting the road can be a liberating adventure and road trips, well, they pretty much rule.
Vehicles are also rife with opportunities for the tech,inclined lezzie to trick out their ride
with the latest in mobile gadgetry. So, here are 10 road,friendly and auto,inspired devices
sure to get your motor running.
0
1 . Trip with a Twist
Have a long drive with a little one in tow who you need to keep busy?
Or maybe you just want a little back seat entertainment-of
the tablet
variety, we mean. Well, the T wist360° tablet mount makes that pos,
sible when attached to the back of a headrest and voila: you have your
own personal backseat theater. ($40, bracketron.com)
2. Wi-Fi on Wheels
Need Internet access even while on the road? Stay iiber,productive by
turning your car into a Wi, Fi hotspot with Autonet's Automotive Wi, Fi
router. Watch video, send email, listen to Internet radio or keep on
top of you social networking with this simple device. Monthly service
plans are available for as low as $29. ($103, amazon.com)
3. Fire it Up
If you're tired of getting into an ice,cold car in the morning, you're
in luck, because the Viper Smart Start is your heating helper. This
remote system will allow you to start, unlock and even locate your car
from anywhere with the use of your smart phone from the warmth
and coziness of your house. ($299 and up, viper.com)
4. High Tech Hindsight
Blind spots are the worst-if only there were some high tech solution
to help prevent backing into things. Oh wait, there is: Pyle's Video
Monitor Review mirror. This swanky bit of tech allows you to keep
an eye on everything behind you with its full color camera (which
switches to night vision) with the press of its wireless remote.
($223, pyleaudio.com)
0
5. Glove Box Booster
A dead battery under the best of circumstances is a pain.
But under less ideal conditionsstranded alone-it can
be a major problem. Fortunately, the Glove Box Battery
Jumper is a simple solution that doesn't even require you
to exit the car. This 30,volt battery plugs into the lighter
outlet and in just 10 minutes can fire up your vehicle.
Reverse the switch to charge the gizmo back up. ($35,
hammacher.com)
6. Highway Highlight
While the open highway may represent boundless opportunity
for adventure, it also offers boundless opportunities for breakdowns. With the Road Torq you can shine a little light on one of
the darker sides of driving. This self-powered flashlight and threeLED flashing beacon works double duty allowing you to see what
you're working on, on the side of the road while keeping you visible
to other cars, too. ($40, etoncorp.com)
10. Mini Memory
Who said USB drives can't be classy:' Give your memory stick a
touch of glam with this Mini Cooper replica with a flash drive in
its trunk. It's available in a variety of colors and paintjobs as well as
in capacities from 1GB to 8GB. Plus, its headlights light up when
it's plugged in. How cute is that:' ($30, amazon.com)
7. Car-to-Car Communication
Feeling grumpy, giddy, filled with ennui or perhaps you want Sir
Tailgates-a-Lot to back off your bumper:' Give your fellow drivers
a heads up with Think Geek's Drivemocion LED car sign, which
displays your inner angst or joy emoticon style with a customizable LED face. ($30, thinkgeek.com)
8. Drive Dialing
When chatting it up on the road, go hands-free with Scosche's
motor MOUTH IL This award-winning plug and play Bluetooth
kit and streaming audio receiver works with your smart phone to
allow you to simply plug the device into your AUX jack, pair your
phone and then start calling. ($80, scosche.com)
9. Parking Lot Pickle
Ever forget where you parked your car and had to walk up and
down searching while the panic mounts:' Consider that particular
problem solved thanks to the Back Track GPS, which allows
you to mark the spot with the press of a button and use the
guidance screen on your key chain to make your way back to
that location with ease. ($80, hammacher.com)
Professional
lesbianscanwakeup in stylewith Edifier'sTick
TockDock.Modernfunctionalitymeetsretrodesignin this
alarmclockslashiPhonedock,whichtakesits aestheticcues
fromthe '60s.Thehalf-rounddesignmaybe inspiredby
MadMen-eraalarmclocks,howeverthe old-schoolbellshave
gottenan updatein theformof two omni-directional
stereo
speakersandthestandardclockfacehasgivenway
to a large,brightLCDscreen.If that's
notenoughfunctionality,
it canalsoplaymusic
viaa Bluetooth
enableddevice.It's
a sleeksolutionfor
thefirst andsometimes
toughestchallenge
of
the day.(edifier.us.com)
[RachelShatto]
REVIEWSFood
UglyTrufflesare PrettyTasty
Chocolate Gourmet's handmade treats take the cake. By Rachel Shatto
What's better than chocolate? How about
chocolate that comes to your doorstep?
Thanks to Mary Winslow, founder of
Chocolate Gourmet and Take the Cake,
delectable treats including truffles, brownies
and cookies are just a click away. This
Chicago-based, online company specializes
in all-natural, gourmet baked products and
chocolate truffles, and for unique delectable
treats you really can't do better than their
assortment of Ugly Truffles.
Ugly Truffles however, is a bit of misnomer. Winslow chose this moniker to stress
that unique flavors are more important than
presentation with these hand-rolled
treats-and
in that she succeeds in
spades. The truffles all have cheeky
names like Oozy Boozy Caramel (a
creamy caramel center surrounded
by brandy milk chocolate ganache,
encased in milk chocolate and rolled
in toasted pecans), You Suck Lemon
(fresh lemon white chocolate ganache
covered in bittersweet
chocolate
and dusted with powdered sugar),
and this writer's personal favorite,
Gordito Picante ( smooth cinnamony
Mexican chocolate warmed with chili
spices and surrounded in milk chocolate and toasted corn tortillas).
For something a little different,
try their Fair & Square blondie. This chewy,
mouth-watering browned-butter square is
studded with salted pecans and butterscotch
chips and it melts in your mouth. But for
diehard chocoholics the E=mc 2 is the ultimate
fix, with its hints of espresso topped with
caramelized cocoa nibs.
If your mouth is starting to water, you're
beginning to get the picture.
Last-but
certainly not least-Gourmet
Chocolate also carries Chubby Wubby
cookies. Similar in structure to a whoopie
pie, soft and chewy chocolate cookies sandwich a ganache center which comes in mint,
chocolate, caramel and raspberry flavor. We
suggest ordering the raspberry and never
looking back. (chocolategourmet.com) ■
78
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May 2012
I 79
STARS
Get Ready for Adventure
Love runs amok with Venus in retrograde this month.
By Charlene Lichtenstein
Taurus(April21-May 21)
As generous as you may feel, the wining and dining
of love will cost more than you think this May. But
that should not dissuade you from opening your wallet
and treating your lovergrrl to a night to remember.
For those who are seeking connection, check out some
new hot spots.
Gemini(May22-June 21)
As you make your grand entrance onto center stage,
be sure that your outer appearance matches your inner
confidence. You're brimming with great new ideas
and impressive personal plans and should not be
hindered by a less than alluring first impression. Take
a good long look at yourself in the mirror, Gemini.
Then show the crowds the true meaning of Pride.
Taurus(April21-May 21)
Taureangirlfriends
areslow,
steadyanddeliberatein their
communication.
Blessedby
charismatic
Venus,(herruling
planet)thissmoothoperator
canposeas a friendto all
andcharmeventhe surliest
of beasts.Because
sheis
sopolitically
astute,sheis
generally
verycarefulin her
wordingandtoneof voice.
Forthisreason,shemakes
an excellentpublicrelations
front.Youmayneverknow
whensheabsolutely
hatessomeone.
That's
herlittlesecret!
Cancer(June22-July 23)
Are you sending out the right signals to capture the
grrl of your dreams:' Maybe, and maybe not. Who are
you targeting:' There are so many love distractions that
there is a chance this May that your arrows of love hit
the wrong target. In addition, you have a secret admirer
who has the magic touch but who might lose connection in the confusion.
Leo(July24-Aug.23)
Proud Lionesses seek to expand their social circle
into a globe and can make new friendships easily now.
Current gal pals want to get into your act. So become
a social director and plan an array of intimate gettogethers. Don't let May go by without also inviting
April and June. You know how close these ladies are.
Virgo(Aug.24-Sept.23)
For those who are seeking a leg up the ladder, brush off
your resume and juice up your experience. You manage
to charm the power brokers into your way of thinking.
So use the entire month of May to showcase your
professional talents and beat the corporate sharks at
their own game.
Libra(Sept.24-0ct. 23)
Expand your outreach and spread your best ideas
Charlene
Lichtenstein
is
theauthorofHerScopes: across the universe. And who knows who you will
meet in your various international jaunts:' She may be
A Guideto Astrology
just
the one great idea you are missing. For those who
for Lesbians
(Simon&
can't travel far at this time, pour your influence out
Schuster)
(tinyurl.com/HerScopes).
Nowavailableasan ebook.
into cyberspace. Start a blog or just kvetch via email.
so I curve
Scorpio(Oct.24-Nov.22)
There is something in the air that makes you especially
alluring and sexy. I am not sure exactly what it is but
you will be able to use this delicious personal juice to
your advantage and can cajole almost anyone into your
bed. Lovergrrls will have their demands all through
May. Thankfully you don't seem to mind being the
submissive one-for now.
Sagittarius(Nov.23-Dec.22)
Relationships will have their ups and downs. The ups
will be delirious and glorious. What you have to try
to do is manage the downs. This can be accomplished
by trying to be more considerate of her needs. That
means no dirty socks on the pillow and no dirty underwear on the dining room table.
Capricorn(Dec.23-Jan. 20)
The work is piling up and you have a lot of tasks to
handle this May, but I doubt whether you will feel that
your workload is too much. What will you do with all
that free timer Concentrate on your diet and health.
Swimsuit season is approaching and you want to look
your best for you-know-who
Aquarius(Jan.21-Feb.19)
Make merry while May marches on. Aqueerians feel
expansive, artistic and full of fun. You enter the epicenter of any festivity and are the "must have" at every
top party. Not only will you be sprinkled with great
opportunities, you may also stumble head over heels
into a "wilde" romance.
Pisces(Feb.20-March20)
If you find yourself preferring to stay close to home
this May, allow yourself to do what feels right. Guppies
love to cocoon and can plan some intimate tete-a-tete
with certain bosom buddies. Should you feel the urge,
you could also spend some time making your crib
more luxurious and trendy. Of course that may mean
getting rid of those macrame plant holders.
Aries(March21-April 20)
You won't think twice about approaching any lofty
lady who catches your amorous eye. Bravo to your
confidence! But think carefully before you speak the
language of love. Some things may get lost in translation. When in doubt, let your actions speak louder
and prouder than your words. ■
TRACYCHAPMAN/ KIRSTENVANGSNESS / SANDRABERNHARD/
JODIE FOSTER/ ANI DIFRANCO/ MELISSAETHERIDGE/TAMMYLYNN
MICHAELS/ ALEXANDRAHEDISON/ LILYTOMLIN/ KELLYMCGILLIS/
SARA GILBERT/ JENNY SHIMIZU/ MARTINANAVRATILOVA/KATE
CLINTON/ MICHELLEWOLFF/ CLEA DUVALL/ TEGAN & SARA/ JANE
LYNCH/ K,D, LANG / JACKIEWARNER/ ANNE HECHE/ MEREDITH
BAXTER/ JANIS IAN/ WE GOT THEM COVERED / ANGELINAJOLIE/
KRISTANNALOKEN/ JOEY LAURENADAMS / TALLULAHBANKHEAD
LAURELHOLLOMAN/ DREW BARRYMORE/ AMANDA BEARSE/
CRYSTALBERNARD/ BILLYJEAN KING/ CHAZ BONO / AMBER HEARD
/ OREADE MATTEO/ CRIS WILLIAMSON/ FERRON/ ALIXDOBKIN
/ JOAN JETT/ SUBSCRIBE+ SEE/ CATHYDEBUONO/ MARLENE
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/ INDIGOGIRLS/ ROSIEJONES / LAURENHAYS/ BAI LING/ MELISSA
FERRICK/ FRIDAKAHLO / REGINALUND / ROXANNEMICHAELS
/ NICOLERAYBURN/ TOSHI REAGON/ MICHELLERODRIGUEZ/
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BARBARASTANWYCK/ RACHELMADDOW/ ELLENDEGENERES/
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PAULSON/ CHERRYJONES / LEISHAHAILEY/ HEATHERMATARAZZO
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RUBY ROSE/ GUINEVERETURNER/ SUZE ORMAN / CLEMENTINE
FORD/ ROSIE0 DONNELL/ JILLIANMICHAELS/ BRANDICARLILE/
DEL MARTIN/ WANDA SYKES/ COURTENAYSEMEL/ BETH DITTO/
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SARAH SHAHI/ SHERYLSWOOPES/ CATIECURTIS/ CHRISTINA
AGUILERA/ LADY GAGA/ OPRAH/ HILLARYCLINTON/ JANE VELEZMITCHELL/ KRISTENSTEWART/ ILENECHAIKEN/ MARGARETHE
CAMMERMEYER/ SAM RONSON/ LINDSAYLOHAN
1
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