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Description
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ToC Cover Story: Tegan and Sarah by Janelle Sorenson and Melany Joy Beck (p50); Lady Liberty by Lyndsey D'Arcangelo (p30); The Producer by Rachel Shatto (p32); Model Behavior by Merryn Johns (p39); Debonair Dude by Jillian Eugenios (p47); Seductive Sweden by Jillian Eugenios (p54); My Nashville by Anne McCue (p58); Amazing Zambia by Allison Steinberg (p64)
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issue
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2
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Date Issued
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March 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_No2_March-2012_OCR_PDFa.pdf
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extracted text
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Top Lesbian
Destinations
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EXCLUSIVE
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Mccarville.
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THE NAME YOU TRUST
FOR MEETING LESBIAN
SINGLES ONLINE
Find your soulmate,
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ove of
ory.I've
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Features
50
30
32
Tegan and Sara
The lesbian indie duo are all grown up and
poised for greatness with their next album.
By Janelle Sorenson and Melany Joy Beck
Lady Liberty
New York Liberty basketball star Janel
Mccarville on being out, and why she was
suspended from the game she loves.
By Lyndsey O'Arcangelo
The Producer
Quirky indie darling Heather Matarazzo steps
behind the camera and in front for her latest
cinema outing. By Rachel Shatto
Travel& Style
We look at the world's best destinations
for lesbian travelers, and sexy new looks,
no matter what your gender expression.
39
47
54
58
64
Model Behavior
Hot out Aussie model Neira Fetahovic.
By Merryn Johns
Debonair Dude
Chaz Bono 's transition led to a whole new
approach to fashion. By Jillian Eugenios
Seductive Sweden
A Scandinavian Summer surprise.
By Jillian Eugenios.
My Nashville
A local musician takes us behind the
scenes of Music City. By Anne McCue
Amazing Zambia
Not quite out in Africa. By Allison Steinberg
page18
t
I
2 curve
page47
t
MARCH2012
Being gay friendly
is part of our
local architecture.
ey est , n t ecome a top gay n
destination by accident. It's by design
From clothing-optional accommodatio
to gay friendly events, restaurants an
activities, Key West has the blueprint
CloseTo Perfect- ForFromNormol for the vacation of a lifetime.
fla-keys.com/gaykeywest
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Departments
IN EVERY ISSUE
6
7
8
10
17
19
20
22
80
11
18
41
curve
Letters
24
Contributors
Editor's Letter
This Is What a Lesbian Looks Like
Out in Front
Scene
26
28
Lesbofile
Lipstick & Dipstick
Stars
Curvatures
70
Bi-national femme couple Wegan
blog about their adventures in love
and style; Elisha Urn's artful expressions of gender through illustration.
72
Laugh Track
76
78
Sassy Sandra Bernhard lets loose
on lesbian fashion and her own
personal style.
74
MARCH2012
The Two of Us
Our monthly profile of lesbian couples
who live, love and work together.
Fitness Advice
Jill Goldstein encourages us to work
on muscle tone for achievable abs.
Politics
Why we need to change our approach
to Women's History Month.
By Victoria A. Brownworth
-
.
-
.
Books: Lesbian author Ellis Avery
astounds with an artistic new novel.
Film: Finding Bigfoot's Ranae Holland
makes us want to believe.
Music: Glam pop duo Nina Sky
wows us at Club Skirts The Dinah.
Tech: Take these tablets on your travels.
Food: Wine glasses as works of art.
Like NowhereElse
,
.
.
'
Enter for a Chance to WIN a Trip for Two
on Olivia's 40th Anniversary Cruise
Get ready for the vacation of a lifetime on one of the world's largest lesbian
cruises! Olivia is talking two cruise ships, 4,200 lesbians, over 20 entertainers,
and three great ports: Aruba, Curacao and a private island in the Bahamas.
Olivia Travel's 40th Anniversary Southern Caribbean Cruises set sail Jan. 27-Feb.
3, 2013 and Feb. 3-10, 2013 from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. One lucky curve reader
(and her guest) will travel in style on the Feb. 3-10, 2013 voyage. The entire ship
will be filled with lesbians-that's 2,100 new friends-so you can be out and
free. You'll enjoy comics, musicians, DJs, theme parties, incredible excursions
like swimming with dolphins and ATV rides, a singles' program, a commitment
ceremony and much more. "This is the biggest celebration Olivia has produced
to date. It will be a giant reunion, entertainment extravaganza and tropical vacation all rolled into one," remarked Tisha Floratos, Olivia's Vice President of Travel.
Visit olivia.com/curvecontest for details and your chance to win; if your name
is drawn, you and your guest will hop onboard Holland America's luxurious
Nieuw Amsterdam for this dream vacation.
Dishing on The Dinah
Did you fall in love with Nina
' Sky after reading our interview
with the dynamo duo on page
74? Well, there is more where
that came from because
we've got interviews with musical icon Chaka Khan and Dinah
Shore headliner Jessica Sutta, now!
And check out all our coverage of Club
Skirts The Dinah on curvemag.com.
LETTERS
Holiday Issue Happiness
From Curve's
Facebook Wall
I've been reading curve off and on-mostly
on, as a subscriber (and contributor)-for
about 22 years. The December (Vol. 21#10)
issue has impressed me more than any
other. Thanks for the serious and insightful
articles about social and political issues as
they affect lesbians ("Nowhere to Bounce
to" and "Palestine's Secret Lesbian World
Unveiled"), as well as a book review about a
memoir from a lesbian in the U.S. military. I
hope to see more such work in the future.
-Gillian Kendall, Melbourne, Australia
OohI loveGlennClose,can'twaitfor the
nextissue.HappyNewYear!!-Alison
Goddard
Woogreatcover!-Amanda Foesser
Justreadit fromcoverto coverand
lovedeverypageof it! • -Cheree Ruff
Thishasbeenoneof myfavoriteissues
--greatjob!!! -JoAnne Sickeri
Domestic Dissenting Opinion
Marriage Reality Check
I just read the Editor's Note ("Love and
Marriage'' Vol. 22 #1) and I am now rethinking
my previous stance on gay marriage. I have
never been happy that it is not like a heterosexual marriage; however, I still had hoped
to get married (even if it was 'gay marriage'')
one day. My girlfriend and I have had several
conversations, with her not wanting to do it
until it is exactly the same and me stating,
let's take what we can get. Until I read the
line about the separate drinking fountains and
gay marriage being basically the same thing.
Thanks for that perspective.
-Angela G., Nashville, TN:
I was a little disturbed by your article on
genderqueer parenting, "Families of Value"
(Vol. 21#10). It wasn't the idea of genderqueer parenting that was disturbing, it was
the dogmatic views that Jane Ward shared
when being interviewed. She says that from
a queer place she is "not into the gay baby
boom;' as if in comparison every other queer
parent is just popping out little ones just to
keep up with the Gay-Jones's. Why does she
think her process of falling in love with the
right person and then deciding to start a
family is so different from everyone else's:' In
the article Ward also said that it was shocking
how many gay and lesbian parents were raising
gender normative children. Huh:' So if you
are raising a child that is cisgendered you are
somehow failing as a progressive, educated
and politically aware parent:'
-T]CM, Oakland, Calif.
Representation Raves
Who_is ~our lesbian
Po 11fashion
icon?
68%
18%
6%
5%
3%
EllenDeGeneres
Teganand Sara
k.d. lang
BethDitto
WandaSykes
According
to a curvemag.com
poll
6
Icurve
Thank you for putting queer women of color
in your magazine. Queers of color are often
rendered doubly invisible. Thank you so
much for putting up stories and faces that
reflect my world and the issues I face. I liked
your magazine before, now I'm a forever fan.
-Crystal Boson, Lawrence, Kan.
Page Turner Praise
I've been a subscriber for a few years now and
SEND LETTERSTO: curve
Curve,Thanksfor representing
super
femmes.It's a welcomerelief.After1O
yearsof beingmarriedto mywife and
2 kids,I amstill mistakenfor straight
everyday.-Laramie Holliman
Yourcoversgetbetterandbetter!!! you
knowhowto spoilyourreadersdon't
you?i loveit:-))) -Evelyne Plate/
MygirlAdelewill gracethe coverof
Cosmonextmonth-how aboutsome
moreAdelein myfavoritemagazine?
I amherBIGGEST
fan-thank
you,Curve!• -Aunt
KateyFantone
Like
I always enjoy it when curve recommends
new books to read. In the September issue
(Vol. 21#7), you recommended "Holding
Still For As Long As Possible" and I am
completely riveted by the read. Have you
ever thought of doing an article on Young
Adult fiction LGBT writers:' There are some
awesome authors out there who portray amazing lesbian and queer characters. Anyway, just
thought I'd share my thoughts, and give a
shout out for the awesome work you do on my
favorite magazine. -M-E Girard, via email
Editor'sNote:Yes!Keep an eye out for more on
LGBT YA fiction in future issues.
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CONTRIBUTORS
Anne McCueis a songwriter, guitarist, music producer
and video director. Her music has taken her all over
the world and she has spent much time in cities such
as Sydney, Melbourne, Ho Chi Minh City, Los Angeles
and Nashville. She has recently directed videos for Yeah
No Yeah and Tracey Bunn. She is a big fan of Southern
literature and films and is writing a feature film script
set in the South. She has released six albums to date, a
DVD Live in Nashville, and is currently recording a new
album. She gives us a tour of her Nashville on page 58.
( annemccue.com)
as an editorial assistant. "I got to interview a bunch of
cool ladies and was able to experience the inner workings
of a magazine firsthand:' Though, regretfully, her time at
curve has come to a close, the recent Mills College grad
isn't through with the magazine biz yet. Harmon is now
working full-time as an editorial assistant at VegNews
magazine, where sampling delicious vegan treats is a part
of the daily job description. But she better enjoy this
decadence while it lasts-soon
she'll be trading cookies
for casebooks as a member of the University of California
Hastings College of Law Class of 2015. Read her profile of
adorable blogger couple Wegan on page 11.
Lyndsey
D'Arcangelo
is a freelance writer and author from
Buffalo, NY. She loves R&B music, college basketball,
baggy clothes, feel-good movies and the color blue. Look
for Lyndsey's GLCS award-winning LGBT young adult
novel, The Trouble with Emily Dickinson, to be re-released
this spring. The sequel, The Education of Queenie
McBride, will also be available in 2012. Read her exclusive
interview with controversial women's lesbian basketball
star Janel McCarville on page 30.
curve's associate editor Jillian Eugeniosfirst started
reading the magazine when she was just a wee baby dyke
coming out in San Francisco, armed with nothing more
than a fake ID and an intense curiosity about what was to
be found behind the doors of the Lexington Club. Now a
card carrying lesbian and happily jaded New Yorker, she
traveled far and wide for this issue, hitting up Sweden
(page 54) and Montreal (page 62) in search of the best of
the best for lady-loving travelers, and then tracked down
"Working here was a great experience;• says Rashida Sandra Bernhard (page 18) and Chaz Bono (page 47) to
talk style, lesbians and
Harmon,who has just comp-leted her three-month stint
March 2012
I7
EDITOR'S
NOTE
curve
THE BEST-SELLING
WLCOME
TO OURSpring Travel & Fashion Issue.
Last year I wrote about lesbian travel. This year I thought I'd
flip it. True, my wardrobe consists of jeans and jackets, skirts
and blazers, and the number of times I dress up in a calendar
year can be counted on my fingers. I'm hardly a fashionista, but
I'd like to try harder. I'm interested in fashion as an art form and
a means of expression. I was born when, and where, the British
supermodel Jean Shrimpton wore a miniskirt to a horse race
(Victoria Derby Day in Melbourne) and caused a commotion
that echoed around the world. I grew
up marveling at the tomboyish elegance
of Lauren Hutton; I swooned over
Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington,
Linda Evangelista-and hoped in vain
that at least one of them was a lesbian. I
was thrilled when Jenny Shimizu burst
out of the Calvin Klein closet. I'm even
happier that these days lesbian fashion
models are no longer so few and far
between (we interview two new faces
in this issue).
A lot of lesbians, apparently, don't
like fashion, dismissing it as the domain
of insecure heterosexual women and
persnickety gay men. I beg to differ,
and would like to think that fashion is
equally ours. Why should yet another
aspect of mainstream culture be off
limits to lesbians-especially
when
numerous queer women, from designer
Patricia Field to androgynous style
allies such as dapperQ aim to give us
gender expression every day. Have you noticed that in recent
months curve has included fashion created and modeled by
lesbians? Times, they are a-changing.
Recently, when the comic Sandra Bernhard was signing CDs
after a show in New York City, I was gobsmacked to see that my
favorite queen of comedy, who routinely name-drops &om the
A list of fashion, had chosen to make her off-stage appearance
in that much-maligned dykey fabric-flannel! When I pointed
this out to her, she threw back her head in silent mock laughter.
Yes,after years of sniping at lesbians about their lack of fashion
sense, she had reclaimed our trademark as her own (both ironic
and cozy) fashion statement. We've come full circle. Take
ex-lesbian Chaz Bono, who muses on his current fashion stylings
in this issue. And if anyone understands labels, it's him.
Behind
the Label
Merryn J
s
Editor-inief
merryn@curvemag.com
s Icurve
MARCH 2012
I
LESBIAN
MAGAZINE
VOLUME 22 NUMBER 2
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 Assistants Emelina Minero, Rosanna Rios Spicer
OPERATIONS
Director of Operations Laura McConnell
ADVERTISING
National Sales
Rivendell Media (908) 232-2021, info@rivendellmediacom
East Coast Sales
Kristin R. Thomas (704) 837-0171, kristin@curvemag.com
Robin Penon (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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Letters to the Editor Email letters@curvemag.com
Volume 22 Issue 2 Curve (ISSN 1087-867)() 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
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Contents of CUve Magazinemay not be reprocu::edn any manner, either whole or n part,
without wntten pemission Iran the pubisher.Publcation of the n.rne or photograph of any
persons or organizationsappearing,advertising or ~ting in Cuva may not be taken as an
incficationof the sexual orientationof that incividualor group unlessspecificallystated. Cuva
welcomes letters, queries, unsolicited manuscripts and artwork. Include SASE for response.
Lack of any representation only signifies insufficient materials. Submissions cannot be
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Femme Visible
When Megan Evans first met Whitney Bacon in fall 2009,
she immediately knew she had found the girl of her dreams.
Bacon's long blonde hair, big smile and South Carolina
drawl were irresistible to the then-Masters student, raised
outside of London.
According to Bacon, the feeling was mutual-just
two
weeks after their first encounter, the inseparable pair
morphed into "Wegan;' blissfully diving into a romance that
would touch even the toughest cynic. There was just one
problem: Bacon, who was studying abroad in London,
would be returning to the University of Hawaii at the end
of the semester to resume her studies.
Bacon's departure from the U.K. launched a three-year
string of plane tickets, temporary relocation and long distance
calls. Evans started What Wegan Did Next to keep them
connected even as distance pushed them apart. Since then,
the diary-style blog has documented every step of their
experience together and apart, from the momentous (getting
engaged in Hawaii) to the mundane (making chickpea
burgers). They say their reasons for starting the blog teeter
between personal and political.
"I just wanted to document us doing long distance to
look back on one day;' Evans explains. 'i\.nd also because
there are a lot of biogs out there, but there aren't any that I
could find that are about two lipstick lesbians. So I thought
that if we put ourselves out there that we could inspire
other people:'
"It's also just good for us to be able to look back, because
we forget what allweve done sometimes;' adds Bacon."So it's
just a reminder of where we've been and where we're going:'
Where they're going is straight to the altar. Though they
haven't set a date yet, they can already visualize their special
day: both will wear dresses and the ceremony will be heavy
on pink. Their wedding plans are a reflection of their personal styles-girly, trend-conscious and fueled by their love
of shopping ( the What Wegan Wore section of their blog is
a particularly adorable testament to the latter).
It's no wonder, then, that covering the entire spectrum
of lesbian identity has become central to What Wegan
Did Next's message. The site features campaigns like
"Femme Visibility" and "Real Life Lesbians;' both of
which are meant to complicate the mainstream notion of
what a lesbian looks like.
To these self-proclaimed lipstick lesbians, these campaigns have a great deal of personal significance.
"When you think about famous lesbians, there aren't that
many that are out, and secondly, there aren't many that are
feminine. When I was growing up, there wasn't any for me
to look up to;' Evans says. 'i\ lot of fellow femme lesbians
say that they have a problem finding other femme lesbians,
so we thought that we'd try to sort of tackle this invisibility
and put the images of other feminine lesbians out there:'
The response to their efforts has been overwhelmingly
positive, and both Evans and Bacon are proud of the influence they have had on their readers. In addition to showing
the world that, yes, two feminine women can fall in love, the
blog also serves as proof that long distance isn't the kiss of
relationship death it used to be.
Evans recently returned to the U.K. after staying with
Bacon and her family in South Carolina for a few months.
Their next step is to get Bacon out to England, where they'd
like to settle down near Evans' family and eventually start
a family of their own. In the meantime, they'll continue to
update their site, and to beat the odds and·stay together.
"Long distance can work. It's just about putting in the
right amount of effort on both halves;' says Evans. "The
number one key is communication, really. Stay in contact
all the time:'
Bacon chimes in: "Plan ahead. It keeps us motivated:'
(whatwegandidnext.blogspot.com)
[RashidaHarmon]
March 2012 j 11
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I
Queer Days
If your days tend to blur together and you find yourself wondering just
where that month went, the SISSY calendar-which
artist Elisha
Lim describes as a way of staying in dialogue with your communityis just what you need to help you focus on the present and save the
date. Because the SISSY calendar isn't just pages filled with boxes
and numbers, it's a vibrant, provocative and proud reclamation and
celebration of femininity and sissydom. Inspired by the queer and
diverse friends and family surrounding Lim, the Montreal-based artist fills the glossy,full color calendar with portraits of self-proclaimed
sissies who pose next to their own written definitions of sissy.
Lim isn't new to transgressing unrealistic gender perceptions to
create space for other artists and the rest of us who've witnessed
or felt the repression of a binary gender structure. Lim, who prefers
the pronoun "they" explains, "I
see my pronoun as a philosophy
on life, which is that so many
people around us are not really a
boy or a girl. It's so clear that 'he'
or 'she' is not sufficient." Their projects
also focus heavily on queer people of
color who are often both marginalized
and exoticized in art. Their images
are beautifully centered on greeting
cards, prints and the much-awaited
graphic novel, 100 Butches coming
out this year.
Lim's bold and colorful drawings
dare you to look, so take a peek and
you might just find yourself staring
back at your own reflection. The true beauty of the work lies in its
simple approach to capturing the life, expressions and nuances of those
around us without putting anyone on display, instead embracing the
complexity and contradictions of gender.
The SISSY calendar makes a fantastic gift for friends and family, or
just treat yourself and dazzle your own bare office walls. (elishalim.com)
[Rosanna
RiosSpicer]
March 2012
I 13
CURVATURES
the rundown
In Baltimore
County,
Maryland
an independent arbiter has ruled that lesbian
SelbyandJuanikaBallardmust be awarded health
police officers Margaret
benefits for their wives. Selby and Ballard, who each married in 2009, filed
grievances against the police department after spousal insurance coverage
fees began being deducted from their salary. Ballard was also denied bereavement leave when there was a medical crisis in her wife's family... The Pakistan
Telecommunication Authority recently released a list of 1,600 words that they
deem "pornographic or offensive to Islam"and which citizens will be prohibited
from using in text messages. "Lesbian" is included amongst the banned words ...
TrinaVodraska
and JanelleSievers,
a lesbian couple from Iowa,were refused
Childress,
learned that Vodraska and
a wedding cake after the baker, Victoria
Sievers were the brides. Childress, in speaking with local media, explained that
she was unable to continue with the business transaction because
as a Christian
of her "convictions for their lifestyle."Vodraska and Sievers are considering taking
Tea.I turned 40 this
legal action against the baker ... "Hi. My name is Michelle
year and realized I forgot to have a child. Now I am trying to get pregnant
before all my eggs dry up;' begins
the lesbian author of Valencia
and other lesbian classics in
her new column at xoJane.com,
appropriately titled "Getting
Pregnant with Michelle Tea:' In
the column Tea chronicles her
attempts at getting pregnant
as a single queer artist in San
Francisco who previously hadn't
thought she had an interest in
Lowrey]
children. [Sassafras
Remindthe worldthat
loveis greaterthan
fear in thisuplifting
tee frommusician
MartineLockeand
her partnerJamie
Price'scustomT-shirt
companyIHA-from
the Sanskritword
meaning"fully
submergedin life."
($20, inthislifenow.com
Get away to Vegas and live it up in the most exciting city in the world. Spend your
days relaxing at our trendy spas or indulging in our incredible shopping. Enjoy nights
filled with fabulous dining and unforgettable entertainment, from one-of-a-kind shows
to pulse-pounding concerts and clubs. Go to VisitLasVegas.com/gaytravel to plan your
ultimate vacation today.
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OUTINFRONT
Dynamic
Dedication
Meet two queer women
pushing for change in
their communities.
By Sheryl Kay
Gotham City Hero
Although they have never met, BambiWeavil
credits Ashley Judd with motivating her to
activism. After reading a feature on Judd's
lifelong desire to join the Peace Corps, Weavil
set herself the same goal, but eventually focused
more on community issues.
Since she graduated from college seven years
ago, Weavil has founded Out Impact, a gay
omnimedia organization that has worked to
support several LGBT concerns, including The
Trevor Project, GayFest NYC, the Greenwich
Village~ChelseaChamber of Commerce's Out
to Work job fair, and GLAAD. "I try to lend
my voice whenever I can;' she says.
Currently, the 30~year~old is working on
the Paper Heart Project, which offers a range
of services to help gay homeless youth in
New York City. She's also been raising money
for the nonprofit CUE Center for Missing
Persons and in 2010 celebrated Out Irr.pact's
third anniversary by hosting a. fundraiser for
the center on a cruise out of Carolina Beach,
N.C., featuring the Original Village People
Cowboy, Randy Jones.
She was also recently spotted at some of
the Occupy protests in Manhattan, lending
her voice and her support. "It's important to
me because we do need change in this country,
as well as accountability for all citizens;' she
says. "I believe it's important to have your
voice heard and to speak up for those who
feel powerless to do so, or can't:'
Weavil says she encourages youth in the
gay community to remember that it wasn't
always so "cool" to be open, and that there is
still a great deal more to accomplish. "Keep
speaking up, never take our rights for granted,
and keep fighting for the ones we deserve;'
she says.
However, Weavil counsels all LGBT youth
in the countryside have to undergo a forced
marriage, and then a divorce, before they can
build a life as a lesbian;' she says. "But they
still have to abide by the 'Don't Ask, Don't
Tell' rule:'
Molyganta got her first taste for activism as
a student when she was involved in the move~
ment to unseat President Suharto, who was
The Indonesian Spring
leading a government rife with corruption
Although homosexuality is not completely
and human rights violations. From there she
outlawed in her home country of Indonesia,
entered into the uncharted waters of LGBT
YulitaMolygantahas still had to face intense
activism, and co~founded Arus Pelangi, one
challenges as an out bisexual, even within
of the leading organizations that address
her own family.
discrimination issues based on sexual orien~
Beyond the occasional legislative references tation and gender identity in Indonesia.
to gay life that include such language _as
Most recently, Molyganta was involved in
"deviant sexual behavior;' and "prostitution;'
hostiµg the _2011 Association of Southeast
Sharia law, the strict moral code of Islam as Asian Nations (ASEAN) ministerial con~
set forth in the Quran, still governs some
ference in Indonesia. For the first time in
outlying areas of Indonesia. "Most lesbians
history, the rights of the LGBT c~mmunity
became· one of the thematic discussions,
due in part to Molyganta's efforts through
Arus Pelangi.
"We were able to bring together more than
40 LGBT activists from ASEAN countries
to participate in the conference;' she notes.
While she appreciates that each country
has its own challenges in bringing about
LGBT civil rights, Molyganta thinks that
ultimately all nations need to work together
to make real effectual changes. "Collaborate;'
she says. "New idealism does not necessarily
mean new organizations. After all, we aim for
the same future, a better life for the LGBT
community around the world:'
venturing into activism to begin by focusing
on their self~image-because there is no way
to fight for acceptance without appreciating
your own talents and qualities first."Be your~
sel£ and love yourself first, because once you
are happy with who you are, the rest falls
into place:'
March 2012
I 17
LAUGH
TRACK
Beautiful Bad Girl
Who better to riff on lesbian style than scandalous Sandra Bernhard? By Jillian Eugenios
Comic icon and out lesbian Sandra Bernhard helped make history
as one of the first bisexual characters on TV, back in 1992 when
her character, Nancy, came out on Roseanne. Since those days at
the Lanford Lunch Box, Bernhard has stayed in our hearts and
before our eyes not only on TV but on the stage and screen.
Bernhard has kept the mainstream lesbian torch burning of late,
playing a guest role on Hot in Cleveland (as Laura San Giacomo's
girlfriend) and a run of live shows that included her stand-up
stylings and musical renditions of everything from rock 'n' roll to
jazz. We caught up with the risque raconteur to talk style, lesbians
and that gorgeous pout.
18
Icurve
Youcoverthe stateof modernculturein yourshows.Arewe in any
realtrouble?
[Laughs) Well, I think it's gone beyond trouble.Trouble still connotes
that people care. I don't think people have any sort of concern
about where we're headed. There's no connection to things of
subtlety or beauty. It's gladiatorial entertainment on so many dif
ferent levels. It's snappy, it's snarky, it's nasty, it's contentious and
that crosses over into politics. It's carnival barkers and snake oil
salesman across the board. But I happen to know a lot of great
performers who are still out there and some young talented people
as well. I like to consider myself to be one of those people who
maintains her dignity and her sense of style and connection to things that I think are important.
Howdoyoudescribe
yourstyle?
It's changed over the years. Thirty years ago I was more
comfortable being in less clothing and now I like a little
more clothing, although there are times when I'll come
out in stockings or a T-shirt and a top hat. My body
is still in relatively appealing shape. But I think as you
evolve as a person you want to be a little classier. Ralph
Rucci is a big designer for me right now.
I rememberin the M•A·Cad youdida few yearsagoyou
talkedaboutyour"sexypowerpout."What'syourfavorite
featuretoday?
I just love the way everything works together. I like the
fact that I haven't felt the need to alter anything to suit
•the standards of beauty in this country. When I look
at my roots from my family in Russia two generations
ago I still look like them and I like that. It's who I am
and I don't want to look like one of the Housewives
of Beverly Hills. I don't want to look like somebody
who has totally chipped away her face and her body
to meet the norms because I'm a unique person and
I embrace that.
Doyouthinkthatthe lesbianaesthetichaschangedover
theyears?
Definitely. I just think that gay girls are much more
comfortable getting dressed up and being a little more
conscious of a good haircut, shaping their eyebrows
and taking care of themselves.
There was a time when it was so political it was
counteractive to what a lot of the early feminist lesbians
believe, and I understand that too. I think now there's
a happy balance between looking healthy and feeling
good and being pretty. I don't mean pretty in a weak
feminine way-just being who you are and taking care
of yourself (sandrabernhard.com)
SCENE
Easy Pickings Atlanta's Peach Pride
and San Francisco Outfest turn it on for the girls.
The official Atlanta Pride Women's Party, the "Peach Mega Dance
Party" on Oct. 8 presented by curve and Pandora Events was the
hottest women's party in the South featuring the Kingdom Pride Drag
King Contest hosted by Chase Daniels, Owen McCod and Whitney
Mixter from The Real L Word. The star-studded Outfest Women's
Soiree on Dec. 3 saw power celesbians turn out to sample cookery
by chef Jamie Lauren and cocktails by Absolut. Attending were hiphop duo God-Des and She, out author Meredith Baxter, rockers
Kate Pierson and Patty Schemel, thespians Thea Gill, Dreya Weber,
Ashleigh Sumner, Traci Dinwiddie, and animal rescue ambassador
Natalie Garcia. (atlantapride.organd outjest.org)[Merryn
March 2012 j "19
LESBOFILE
Sapphic Smackdown
By Jocelyn Voo
Caughtin the Crossfire
Hell hath no fury like a lesbian scorned.
In the reality TV cesspool, there's been a
lot of talk swirling around Real Housewives
of Beverly Hills blonde Taylor Armstrong,
whose husband had purportedly abused her
and once rumors broke, took his own life.
However, one sidelining player also caught in
the crossfire was Real Housewives of Orange
Rocha,who claims she and
County'sFernanda
Armstrong had a sometime tryst together,
but was kicked to the curb when Armstrong
decided it wasn't good for her TV image.
"Be responsible for your actions;' Rocha
told In Touch.''And don't dismiss the other
human being that you are connecting with.
When people started asking, it was like,
'Don't say this, don't say that: That is hurtful.
I couldn't really be open about how I felt
because I was protecting her:'
And this, ladies, is why you don't play with
fire-or the Real Housewives.
Boisvs.Girls?
It's not all love for ChazBono,whose public transitioning journey has received much
public attention. For however much good his
visibility has done for the trans community,
though, not everyone is happy about it. Case
in point: 19-year-old Stephen Ira, transgender
son of Warren Beatty and Annette Bening.
Perhaps you remember the instance when
Bono described to the New York Times that
20
I curve
This month is all about celeb-on-celeb catfights!
being trans was like having a "mismatched"
brain and body, similar to a"birth defect like a
cleft palate:' Ira does. And that's exactly what
got him so infuriated.
"Chaz is a misogynist;' Ira writes on his blog
Super Mattachine. "He is a trans man who
seems to believe that his female-assignedness
[sic] and his female socialization makes him
immune from being a misogynist, and he is
manifestly wrong:'
"This man doesn't represent our community ... The next time you hear Chaz's name
brought up in a conversation about trans
issues, point out the things he's said about
surgery, 'birth defects; and women;' he writes.
"Because I don't want a single person thinking
this guy is the best of us:'
Still, it's not all trans-on-trans hate. "He
seems like an all right guy, his questionable
views aside;' Ira adds. ''And from what I've
seen, he's really remarkably good at the cha cha:'
NothingCompares
2U
In an era of Kim Kardashian-length marriages
(read: not very long), hasbian (who most
recently lent her talents to the Albert Nobbs
soundtrack) SineadO'Connor's
nuptials with
fourth husband Barry Herridge gives a whole
new meaning to "on-again-off-again:' The
singer and therapist were married for only 16
days before O'Connor called it quits, citing
pressure and disapproval from Herridge's
closest circles. However, a mere week later
she reversed course: "Guess who had a mad
love making affair with her own husband last
nightt she tweeted. "We decided to be boyfriend and girlfriend again and stay married
but we did rush so we gonna return to b friend
g friend an be sickenly happy an go counsellin
an move in like a yr regular people ... but stay
married [sic]:•
Fingers crossed, but we'll be checking the
newswires for updates.
Punchlines
What's better than one smart-mouthed TV
host? Two smart-mouthed TV hosts taking
aim at each other.
Veteran David Letterman recently took
a cheap shot at The Rosie Show late-night ,
quickie engagement
rookie RosieO'Donnell's
to Michelle Rounds, cracking, "The woman
she is marrying, her fiancee, was driving
and her car broke down. And guess what
happened? Rosie pulls up right behind her
in her tow truck:'
But not to be outdone, O'Donnell responded in characteristic Rosie fashion, with equal
(if not more) venom: "Why is that Davet she
asked. "Why? I don't remember making fun
of you when you had sex with all your interns!
I didn't make fun of your rampant, throbbing
heterosexuality, did I Davet
Touche, Rosie, touche. In this case, we'd
say it's Dave who's taking the walk of shame
She Said
March 2012
I 21
To Open or Not to Open
By Lipstick and Dipstick
Can you have an open relationship?
Dear Lipstick and Dipstick: My freshman year of college, I met and Lipstick:
If only we could partition our hearts
fell in love with a beautiful, amazing woman. We've been together for like a hard drive, then open relationships
would be rampant in the lesbian community.
nearly a year now and I can't imagine being without her. The problem We'd keep all our lovers partitioned and go
is, starting this summer she'll be doing a year of study abroad and I in and get what we desire from each woman.
won't be able to see her for at least nine months. I'm sort of curious Processing Room-for
the ex who gives
you the best emotional support. Workout
about establishing an open relationship, having other experiences Room-for the ex you love to beat in tennis.
while she's away. (Neither of us was really out in high school, so this Hardware Room-for the ex who fixes
is the first official, long-term relationship for the both of us.) On the your leaky faucets. Red Light Room (with
a revolving door, of course)-exclusively for
other hand, I don't want to hurt her or lose her because I got involved hot sex with fleeting fantasies. It seems like
with other people, and both of us kind of have jealous tendencies. a dandy use of disc space, but this ticker of
Do you think it's possible to have a successful open long-distance mine simply can't be compartmentalized. If
my girl even suggested any of this, my circuit
relationship?- Long-Distance Lola
board would start smoking. For you, Lola,
it might be different. I wish you and your
girlfriend the best of luck in attempting to
Dipstick:I think it's probably easier to have then I highly recommend that you both
reformat your own hearts.
a successful open long-distance relationship
read Tristan Taormino's book Opening Up:
than it is to have one close to home.
A Guide to Creating and Sustaining Open DearLipstickand Dipstick:I'm sureyou've
Or in your home. I remember an open
Relationships. It will give you the tools you had this questiona milliontimes, but it's
relationship I had when I was young (like need to start out on an adventure like this.
absolutelyeatingaway at me so I haveto
you) and I somehow convinced myself that
my lover having sex with my best friend,
our roommate, was no big deal. What was
I thinking? It was disastrous. You really
haven't selfflagellated until you've lain
awake listening to your lover moan and
writhe in the next room. Or worse, walked
in on them lathering each other up in the
bath. Since you say you're both the jealous
kind, I'm wondering how you think this
might work. Sit for a moment and imagine
your lover naked, sweaty, clutching another
woman's hair as she whips her head back
and cries out her name, begging her not to
stop, not to stop. Please don't stop: Imagine
her looking at another woman with the
same lustful look she gives you right before
you throw her down on the couch and bite
her neck. Imagine her walking hand-inhand through all the romantic places in
London, giggling and nuzzling with her
new paramour. How does that make you
feel? If you think you can handle all that,
22
J
curve
Lipstick & Dipstick ADVICE
ask. I am currentlywith a long-term
boyfriend.However,I have had the
feelingthat I might be a lesbianfor
many years now. I stick with boys
becauseit's easierthan dealingwith
comingout. I know I definitelythink
this one is attractive,and he's nice,
andI do lovehim(andI still enjoysex
to someextent),but recentlyall I can
think about is how much I want to
experiencethat with a woman and
exploremy lesbianurges.It feels like
I'm aboutto explode.What shouldI
do?I don'twantto losemy boyfriend,
but at the sametime I needto know
what'sgoingon in my head.-Urgent
WithUrges
Lipstick:Tell me this, Urgent-do
you simply dream of having sex with
a woman? Or, do your fantasies go
even further. Do you actually imagine
creating a life with her? Buying a
house? Getting a dog? Starting a
family? How you answer these questions is crucial, so think about them long
and hard. If it's simply sex, talk to your
boy toy and tell him how you're feeling.
I'd be surprised if he didn't give you permission to explore your Sapphic side. If
you're dreaming of a life with one of us,
you're at a much bigger fork in the road. If
that's the case, write us back. We can help
you take those steps.
Dipstick:Oh what, Lipstick? You're saying
straight girls can compartmentalize their
hearts, but dykes can't? You just contradicted yourself: Look at your answer to the
last question.
Lipstick:Pardon me, but you need to get
your reading glasses out, little stinker. I
said 'T' can't compartmentalize.
Dipstick:As for you, Urgent, yes, we have
gotten this question a million times. Which,
on the bright side, means you're not alone.
Millions of women have stood where you
stand and have had a really tough decision
to make. Some, the brave ones, have dealt
DearLipstickandDipstick:I'm a lesbian
fromIndia.I havea partnerwholovesme
but becauseof Indiancultureshe does
notwantto staywithme.WhatdoI do?I
don'tknow,pleasegivemesuggestions.
-Crying in Calcutta
Dipstick:
Oh Crap, Lipstick, I hate questions like this. I never know what to cell
these poor gals. Can we just charter a
plane or something and bring chem all
over to live with you in Canada, where
gays have rights and stuff?
If only we could
partition our
hearts like a hard
drive, then open
relationships would
be rampant in
the lesbian
community.
with all the "coming our:' Millions have left
their husbands and boyfriends, nice guys
though they were, because they couldn't
be truly happy unless they were living
an authentic life. And even though being
a lesbian is no walk in the lila~ garden,
it sounds like you need to take that dif
ficult walk before something blows. Like
Lipstick says, we're here for you if you
need us.
Lipstick:I wish I could bring all the
troubled international gays over in
one giant boat-Lipstick's
Arc-and
sail chem right under the Lion's Gate
Bridge to chis amazing country I now
call home. The sad fact is, the queen
keeps the port of Vancouver locked
pretty tight, so my boat would simply
be turned away.
These questions, from our sisters in
countries where the decriminalization
of homosexuality is barely in the rearview
mirror, don't ever stop, however. They're
heartbreaking, and they force me to pause,
cake deep breaths of gratitude and search
for words of advice. I did some research
and found an organization called Sappho,
• based in Calcutta, chat offers emotional
support for lesbians in India (sappho.
shoe.org). Maybe your girl will find the
strength to be with you when she's got
a tight circle of women backing her up.
We are stronger and more resilient than
we realize. Just be careful, and try to protect your safety and chat beautiful love
you share. Things will get better. There's
a sea change happening in the world and
it's headed your way. In 2009, your own
Delhi High Court overturned the law
chat had criminalized homosexuality, so
things are looking up. I hope you two can
hang
Tune in to curvemag.com/
lipstickanddipstick
to watchthe
The Lipstick& DipstickShow.
Or writeto tv@lipstickdipstick.com.
March 2012
I23
THETWOOFUS
Sheridan and Lynda
Reefs to Rockies eco-tourism mavens Sheridan Samano and Lynda Gregory share their
adventures in life, love and safaris. By Jillian Eugenics
Del Carmen in Mexico. A yearand-a-half .. .later we did our first
trip to Costa Rica. After I came
back and was still teaching full time
at the college I decided to try and
start a study abroad program. That
was when the seed was planted
that maybe we could start a travel
business. We're both really into the
outdoors and nature ... and it went
from there.
Why they fit so well together
Lynda:Our personalities go well
together. We know each other's
strengths and weaknesses and they
complement each other. We know
when the other one needs to take
the lead in a certain situation. I
think that's what makes things work
very smoothly.
How they met
Sheridan:I was in grad school waiting tables at a restaurant in
downtown Denver and happened to wait on Lynda and a friend
of hers. I had to card her and she still had her Kansas ID. I told
her I'd spent a summer in Junction City, Kan. doing fieldwork on
a migratory bird species, and that's where she was born. She'd just
moved to Denver ... so I told her, if you ever want to hang out we
could do that. About a month and a half later we finally ended up
connecting and it's almost 12 years later.
Lynda:Part of the first conversation we had was
her talking about her research on birds and it
was not a conversation I'd ever had with anybody, but my background is in the sciences so
it was intriguing. She was talking about how
she'd done research in the Konza Prairie, a
prairie I was kind of familiar with because I
went to Kansas State and it's right there by
the college. We had a lot of commonalities and
she was a very intriguing person. I've never met
anybody like her.
Starting the business
Sheridan:We both knew we wanted to travel.
The first trip we ever did together was Playa
24
I curve
Traveling together
Lynda:Sheridan is definitely a planner and needs to know what
we're doing, where we're going and how long we're doing it, which
is great, it works very well for structuring a trip, especially for our
clients. I'm more let's fly by the seat of our pants and see where
the day takes us.
Sheridan:
We're super excited about getting to go to Tanzania for
the first time together. We're going to check out a conservancy and
we're doing some tented camps in
the Serengeti and then we're checking
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ADVICE Fitness
The Strength Within
By Jill Sloane Goldstein
Spend a brief amount of time in any gym
locker room and you're bound to hear a
litany of body envy: "I wish I had her arms"
or 'Td kill for her stomach:' Wishful body
swapping at its best. While it may be impossible to Frankenstein our way to a more
desired figure, there is hope in our quest.
Because no matter our current body type
or how we stack up to those we admire, we
all possess the fundamental building block
from which to work towards a more fit
physique: Muscle.
So the next logical question is: How do
I get those arms or abs? Well before we
tackle the how, let's briefly address the why:
because underneath the cosmetics of sixpacks and tight triceps lies a myriad ofhealth
benefits to building muscle. I'm not talking
about the ripped, vein-bulging kind reserved
26 j curve
Uncover your own muscle potential.
Strengthtraining
is essentialto
creatingvisual
changein our
bodies.
immediately, and arguably, more appealing, strength training increases our resting
metabolic rate. So if we're trying to reduce
body fat, it'll happen more easily with
muscle present.
Strength training is essential to creating
visual change in our bodies. In order to
acquire firmer arms or a tighter bum, the
most essential thing to do is get our minds
in the right place-words
you've heard
me utter before. But there is an important
for bodybuilders, rather some general (and • truth to them. As with any-exercise,assuming
achievable) muscle mass. For starters, muscle a confident, capable and dedicated mindset
helps builds bone mass and decreases the is critical. Just like we found with interval
risk of arthritis and osteoporosis during
training, the change in our bodies happens
later stages of life.It also prevents age-related during the truly strenuous moments. So
muscle deterioration. But let's be honest, it's when you're lifting weights or doing a resisthe here and now we're focused on, right? tance exercise and it begins to get difficult,
Let our 401Ks protect our future. More
do. not. stop.Power through another five or
10 reps (safely of course) because this
is when your muscle is transforming.
If you remember that, I promise you'll
learn to love that crunch burn!
Another_strength training how-to that
warrants dispelling is this common myth
among women: Lifting heavy weights
will not make you bulky. In fact, most
women are genetically unable to create
large muscles because they lack sufficient
hormones or body structure to do so. So
get rid of the notion that your routine
must involve light weights, high reps.
It's not doing you any good. You must lift
a weight that is heavy enough to create
muscle fatigue. Working your muscles
to fatigue means that your muscles refuse
to lift/ move the weight any longer in a
correct and safe fashion. Reaching this
point will not create unsightly muscle
mass but it will challenge your muscle
fibers to rebuild stronger. Read: you'll
like the results.
Also consider using your own body
weight in your workout (i.e. push ups,
plank, tricep dips, etc.). Not only does
it free you from needing equipment and
pricey gym memberships, the practice
works several muscles at once and pushes
you to greater lengths than weights will.
Our bodies weigh a lot more than the
10 pound dumbbells we'd be grabbing
off the rack so we're doing more for our~
selves, using ourselves.
But perhaps the most important piece
of this entire muscle puzzle is to lose
excess body fat. Subcutaneous (under
the skin) fat surrounds our muscles and
obscures their shape. Unless we reduce
this layer,we'll never see the muscles we're
working so hard to build. So don't forego
the healthy eating and regular cardio.
The next time you find yourself eyeing
someone else's physique, turn the energy
inward and remember one simple fact:
the muscles you're admiring also rest
upon your own frame. The only thing
you truly need to swap to get them is
your willingness to train.
FITTIPS
A few of my favorite strength training exercises include:
ARMS: Grab 8-10 pound weights and complete a set of 25
bicep curls. Extend your arms up and down fully, do not stop
midway through the movement. Then bend your arms 90
degrees (so they make a right angle) and bring the two weights
together so that they're touching in the middle of your body.
Extend your arms forward as straight as you can and then pull
back in towards your chest. Aim for 10 reps. Repeat the set
three times.
TOTAL BODY: Stand with your feet slightly wider than hip-width
apart, and point your toes slightly outward. Bend your knees
and squat until your thighs are at least parallel to the floor
(pretend you are sitting in a seat behind you). Try not to extend
your knees past your toes. To be sure your doing it correctly,
you should be able to lift and wiggle your toes with ease. Add
difficulty by holding 8-10 pound weights by your shoulders.
ABS: Assume the plank
position. Keep your
body in a straight line
from ears to toes with
no sagging or bending.
Your head is relaxed and
you should be looking
at the floor. Hold for 60
seconds. Add difficulty
by raising one leg 5-7
inches off the floor.
Switch legs.
Lie on the floor with
your arms stretched out
above your head and
your legs extended.
Exhale and bend at the
waist, bringing your legs
and torso up at the same
time, to make a "V." Try
totouchyourhandsto
your shins as you raise
your shoulders off of the
floor. As you inhale, lower your legs and arms back towards the
floor (try not to rest your legs on the floor, rather allow them to
hover a few inches above it). Do two sets of 15 to 25 repetitions.
To add difficulty, hold a weight in your hands.
March 2012
I27
POLITICS
Women's History Month
What are we celebrating when women are still the second sex? By Victoria A. Brownworth
lfEARLESS
INDOMITABLE
WOMAN~IOOD
AFEARLESS
INDOMITABLE
RACE:'
WILLIAM ROONEY.
In honor of Women's History Month in
March, I usually celebrate the achievements of notable lesbians. I started thinking
about doing that again, maybe with a sidebar
on International Women's Day, since this is
the 101st anniversary, and then I thought,
Why2 Why am I perpetuating the sham
that is Women's History Month? I knowthat's heresy, right?
I hope so. I'm tired of Women's History
Month. Of trotting out the usual suspectsSojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, Harriet
Tubman, Jane Addams (well, maybe not
2s
I
curve
Jane), Eleanor Roosevelt. Tired of revisiting
our lesbian and bisexual foremothers
who are legends because they managed to
achieve something greater than what men
normally allow women to do.
It isn't that I've lost respect for these
women. Far from it. In fact, the older I
get, the more respect I have for all they
achieved, given the restrictive historical
contexts in which they lived. But here I
am in the 21st century and I still battle
sexism and homophobia, plus I have to
deal with a watered-down heterosexual
feminism orchestrated by upper-middleclass women who think the only women's
issue is abortion.
Women's History Month has one place
only: school. Girls need to know that
women can make a name for themselvesnot just as American Idol winners or
Kardashians or other celebrities. They
need to know that women can rule, if only
we support one another in doing that.
What I hate about Women's History
Month is that it exists. During Women's
History Month no one talks about what
it really means to be female today. No one
teaches girls that one in three of them will
be raped in her lifetime, that one in four
will be the victim of child sexual abuse (a
euphemism for adults raping children),
that one in two will be the victim of domestic violence. No one teaches girls that 80
percent of the illiterate people in the world
are female, that 70 percent of all refugees
are female, that the leading cause of death
among pregnant women is murder. No one
teaches girls that going out on their own,
without a male relative, is punishable by
death in some countries.
No one is teaching girls that the real
history of women is oppression,
repression, and obliteration: Honor
killing is still not considered a
crime in most countries where it is
endemic, rape is still not considered
a crime in a third of the countries
in the world, infanticide of female
children is pandemic throughout
Asia, and sex-selection abortion has
reached such a dramatic level in
countries such as India and China
that the men now outnumber the
women by nearly three to one. Girls
are fed less than boys during times
of famine. Genital mutilation of girls
is still epidemic throughout the
Middle East and Africa, and even in
the West is practiced secretly, even though
it is against the law in many countries.
Women's History Month should be
about more than trotting out family photos
of women who managed to excel against
all odds. It should be about fighting the
oppression that makes Women's History
Month necessary. Women's History Month
needs to be about revamping feminism.
Many of the early feminists were lesbians.
We aren't allowed to call them that because
some Serious Feminist Historians decided
in the 1970s that women didn't have sex
with one another prior to Stonewall. But
as a historian, I deem that nonsense. It's
absurd to presume that lesbian sex was
invented in the 1960s.
Jane Addams, my own favorite heroine,
was a lesbian. She had two long-term female
lovers. They each shared her bed, and she
exchanged love letters with them back in
the days before texting. Jane Addams also
changed the world.
So can we.
I want the significance of Women's
History Month to shift from 31 days
of conciliatory gesture to 31 days of
action. Women and girls throughout the
world are being oppressed, repressed, and
made to disappear because the hatred of
femaleness is so great.
Feminism has been defanged. It is now
mostly collaborationist with patriarchy.
Feminism has ceased to be about
saving the lives of women and girls or
transforming the world so that women
What are we doing to stop this?
What are we doing to get American
feminist organizations to make the rights
oflesbians a priority? If "reproductive rights"
is truly a feminist issue, then the rights of
lesbians to have childr~n should be just as
important as the rights of heterosexual
women to not have children.
One of the most important issues for
all women worldwide is water. In the
developing world, women and girls spend
an average of four hours a day procuring
water for their families. It's a female job.
It's backbreaking and dangerous, and
girls are getting water instead of going to
Women'sHistoryMonth
shouldbe about fighting
the oppressionthat makes
Women'sHistoryMonth
necessary.Women's
HistoryMonth needsto be
about revampingfeminism.
have an equal place in it.
Jane Addams, fearless lesbian crusader,
worked to create a world in balance. She
won the Nobel Peace Prize before it was
given to men who were fomenting wars
even as they accepted it. She co-founded
the ACLU. She was the founder of modern
social work. She cared about the lives of
women and the poor, and devoted her life
to saving and enriching theirs.
We can do this again. We can be followers of Addams and devote our Women's
History Months to addressing what's happening to women and girls right now, here
in the U.S. and elsewhere.
In Uganda and South Africa, Gaza
and Jamaica, rape is considered a "cure"
for lesbianism. In Poland and the former
Soviet bloc nations, lesbianism is punishable
by imprisonment. In Iran, it is punishable
by death.
school. Water.org has proven that when
water is made available, women and girls
are freed up to do other work and to attend
school. What are we doing to give women
this freedom?
We must stop collaborating with the
patriarchy in the hope that they might give
us something we want if we are good girls
and act the way they want us to.
No more good_girls. No more co-option
of feminism by single-issue heterosexual
women and men who think they have any
idea what it means to be a woman in the
real world. No more calling other women
bitches, cunts, whores or sluts. No more
allotting just 31 days to celebrate who we
are. No more.
We can act or we can be acted upon.
The choice is ours. This Women's History
Month, let's stop reading about history. It's
time we made history. Again.
March 2012
I 29
Janel Mccarville is living
every female basketball
player's dream. She was
drafted No. 1 overall in the
2005 WNBA draft, appeared
in the 2004 Final Four for the
Minnesota Golden Gophers,
won Most Improved Player in
2007 and she gets to travel
overseas and play basketball
in Europe during the WNBA's
offseason. McCaNille isn't your
average WNBA player. For one
actively shied away
things LGBT. Now she's
,
her recent suspension from the
New York Liberty. In early 2011,
rumors began swirling that
McCaNille wasn't going to show
up for training camp and the
media speculated, painting her
as a rebellious player. The truth
is, McCaNille doesn't really care
what the media or anyone else
has to say. She knows who she
is and what she's about-and
for this lesbian baller that will
always be her family and friends.
30
Icurve
The WNBA star talks about living the dream and why she was really
suspended from the game she loves. By Lyndsey D' Arcangelo
• •
Whendidyoufirstgetinvolved
in
basketball?
I grew up playing football with my
brothers and never thought much
about basketball. My brother 'Tracy
really pushed me to get better. It wasn't until my freshman
year that I started to really apply myself and tried to make
myself a better player. It was [then] that I realized I could
play and that I was relatively better than the other girls.
Someplayerslosetheirloveof basketball
overtime,especially
because
oftheworkthatgoesintoit. Didthathappen
to you?
I am not going to lie, I do love this sport but [over] time it
turns into a job. You have to train mentally and physically to
endure the things we have to overcome. It's hard always being
in the public eye. You always have eyes and ears on what you
do. People think athletes get better treatment from professors
in college and I'm going to go on record and say that's not
true. You have to work so hard as a student athlete to keep
good grades. Throw in 20 hours of basketball practice, plus
games and travel into that, whew-I am surprised I made it
when I think back on it.
Howdidyourprofessional
andpersonal
lifechangeduringand
afterthe2004FinalFourappearance?
I guess it changed because before that only people in the
Big 10 conference knew who I was and what I could do.
Obviously, playing against UCONN in the 2004 Final Four
[in front of] a national audience of about 20,000 people
changed that. It was kind of a weird feeling, almost as if
people were always watching [~e]. It comes with the territory
and it was something I had to get used to.
Whatwasit liketo getdraftedNo.1 overallintheWNBA?
It was great, period! I alwaysjoked when I was younger that I
was going to be the number one pick [in the WNBA]. Hamakes me laugh just thinking about it. I honestly lived every
single female basketball player's dream.
Youseemto havefounda homewiththeNewYorkLiberty.
I really meshed well with former general manager, Carol
Blazejowski. We were similar in so many ways and we really
just clicked. I am very appreciative of the opportunities she
gave me, and the relationship that we had. She will be missed
in New York.
At the beginning
of the 2011season,youweresuspended
for
failingto showupfortrainingcamp.Istheremoreto thestory?
Bad communication started it all, but these are the events
that followed: My season ended in Italy on May 11. I packed
my things on the 12th and had a flight out the morning of
the 13th. It took me 24 hours to get home. I pulled into my
driveway in Wisconsin at 1 a.m. on Sunday morning. Sunday
was the day we were supposed to be in camp for physicals
because camp started on Monday. So I asked for four to five
days to unpack and relax. I was told I would be fined $1,000
per day for being late. Remember how I said it was mentally
hard earlier? Five months away from friends and family is a
lot. I needed to see my family, friends and relax. Since my
[overseas] season ended so close to the start of the WNBA
camp, I didn't think my mind and body could jump right
back into the thick of it. On the fifth day, I said I was ready •
to go [to camp] and the New York Liberty told ine I was going
to be fined $5,000. I felt it was unfair and decided to take the
summer for mysel£ Since 2006, I have not been home for
more than 14 days at a time.
Homosexuality
is a taboosubjectin sportsat boththe college
andprofessional
level.Why?
I don't know. People are scared of things they don't
understand.
Doesbeingoutnegatively
affectyouprofessionally?
I don't know ifI am "out" or not to be honest. I have not held
a press conference or anything. I just live my life as I want. I
don't hide or change who I am. As of now, if you know me
then you know my business. Not once has my lifestyle
affected my ability as a player to perform. Nor has it affected
my basketball career. I have never been told to hide anything,
since college and so on. It's not like a straight woman runs
around saying she is straight just so everyone knows!
Docloseted
athletesnegatively
affectLGBT
youth?
I don't think people hide, I just think privacy is nice. You see
celebrities get married and cameras are everywhere. I feel like
lesbian athletes just try and fly under the radar, and live their
lives happily and media free. In our personal lives we are who
we want to be-fans and media just don't see that side of us.
Whatadvicewouldyougiveaspiring
lesbianathletes?
I think there is less scrutiny these days or least I hope it's
less. Just be who you are comfortable being. If you hide who
you are, you are hiding the best part. People will accept you
as you are no matter what you think. If your friends are true
friends, they will be there for you. I'm not saying it was always
smooth sailing for me, but every now and again I enjoy
rocking the boat. (wnba.com/liberty)
March 2012
I31
The Producer
I
ndie darling and out lesbian Heather Matarazzo has.
come a long way since her breakthrough role as the
painfully awkward Dawn Wiener in vVelcome to the
Doll1.10use,
working steadily in film and TV Today, the
grown and glamorous Matarazzo is engaged to rhe wom~n
of her dreams (playwright Caroline Murphy), is comfortable
in her own skin, and is raking her career to the next level with
a foray behind the camera.
While she may have carved a career out of playing quirky
outsiders on-screen, behind the scenes Ivfatarazzo has hit
her stride, making her producing debut with the indie dark
comedy Mangus! Its future appears bright: Rather than
disappearing after festival viewings-the fare of many indie
films-Jvfo11gus! was picked up by powerhouse LGBT
distributor Wolfe Video.
Now Matarazzo gives us the lowdown on her new film,
dishes on what's next for her, sets the record straight on her
wedding plans, and tells us why she loves her curves.
Matarazzo (left)
and fiancee Murphy
lndie starlet Heather Matarazzo steps
behind the camera and into the limelight.
By Rachel Shatto
WasfilmingMangus!differentthanyourprevious
experie·nces
onset?
It was really an opportunity to be of service to the film and to
our crew and to our cast in a very different way, as opposed
to just showing up and reading my lines and going home. So
that was really beautiful and really, really wonderful. It was
a lot of fun.
Didyouenjoybeinginvolved
withthebusiness
sideofthings?
Absolutely. I found that in certain instances [in the past]
I would watch what would happen on certain films and I
wouldn't understand some of the decisions that were being
made. I felt like it was a really great opportunity for meespecially working on such a low-budget independent filmto really kind of put my money where my mouth was.
Also, I felt for the first time that I actually got to be a part
of something and got to be a part of a solution, as opposed
to just silently sitting by and watching helplessly. Which is
a really beautiful thing because I love every single aspect of
filmmaking, and I love the people who are there-who are
helping us bring the film into fruition.
Youalsostarin Mangus!
as the lead'ssister,a roleyouwent
blonde
for.Howwasthatfora consummate
brunette
likeyou?
You know, it was really interesting. I said to myself after I
finished Saved! I would never ever dye my hair blonde again,
because I love my hair and I want to keep it. But when we
were getting ready to shoot, it really did come down to: This
is a girl who is very white trash, [so I was] willing to take
that risk, the potential damage to my hair. But I would still
get startled every time I would pass the mirror, because I
would forget that I was a blonde.
Youare suchan indieicon.Is that an identityyou like to
cultivate?
[Regarding my career] I think that if somebody was to ask
me, "What is the one thing that you would love to cultivate?"
I would say a) longevity and b) just not settling. It doesn't
matter whether it's mainstream or whether it's indie. It
just seems as though there are some indie filmmakers
that are more willing to take a risk with me than a bigger
studio. And that's not to say that a bigger studio won't
take more risks with me in the future, but what I've heard
time and time again when it comes to me [is] that I am
continually the one that is unexpected, which is a beautiful
thing. I like the idea of being unexpected.
Ona lessprofessional
subject,
rumorhasit you'replanning
your
dreamwedding.
How'sthatcomingalong?
It's not going to be like a Kim Kardashian affair. But the
truth of the matter is that she [Caroline] and I have had the
fortunate opportunity to both be so busy in terms of work
that weve barely had time to scratch our heads, let alone sit
down and be like, OK, what is it exactly that we want to do:1
And I kind of feel like, as with our relationship, it's going to
happen in the most organic time, in the most organic way. I
want to be able to love the idea of planning a wedding, but
Anyplansforstartinga family?
I obviously don't love it so much that I'm sitting down with
• bridal magazines.
Yes,not tomorrow. I don't have any pregnancy news. [Laughs]
You'rein NewYork,wheresame-sexmarriageis legal,butdo Definitely within the next five or seven years. But again, we
youfeelpressure
to getmarried,
in casesomething
happens
and don't know what's going to happen with 2012. Who knows
youlosetheright,likewhathappened
withProp.8 in California? if we're going to be around:'
Here's the truth of the matter: It is my divine right to be able
But the truth is, I love children. I grew up with a lot of kids
to get married-so, with that, you can't take away a right • around me because my mom was a foster parent, and I just
love kids and I always wanted to be a mom. I think it's one of
that's inherently yours. I don't want to get married to my
the greatest gifts. Whether it's through adoption or getting
fucking partner based off of some fear.
to give birth, it's something that I've always wanted to get
I've really had to stay away from that whole politicking
to experience.
when it comes to gay rights ... because I swear I needed to
So,nowthatyouhaveactedandproduced,
what'snext?
take a step back. Otherwise, I would have dev~loped such an
I have been interested in directing for God knows how long,
ulcer, because it hurts me so personally-to
the point that
was
I'm paralyzed with hatred. And that is not the kind of life and I had a feature film that I was set to direct-that
another independent film that I really loved-and that now
that I want to live. That is not the kind of being that I want
were adapting, actually, into a TV series based on the writer's
to be. And I haven't grown so much to be able to love those
success with her memoir.
that persecute me. I would love to be able to get there-like,
It feelslikeyou'reina verygoodplacerightnow.
that is my ideal.
Yes... I really do believe, because I've had the direct experience,
I understand, intellectually, that ignorance is born out of
that the universe-God, Goddess, whatever the hell you want
fear and whatnot, and that we've used the Bible to condone
to call it-is always conspiring for my good. And really, that's
slavery, we've used the Bible to condone segregation. Now
what kind of keeps me going, because the continual resultswe're using the Bible to condemn two people that happen to
like, I'm continually glad and I'm continually surprised. That's
be so in love with each other, that happen to be of the same
one of the biggest gifts that is being set out before me.
sex. It's absolutely ridiculous.
Lezzie LightingRound
Forourannualspringfashionissue,sassyfashionista
Heather
Matarazzo
givesushertakeonSapphic
style.
Howdoyoudeflneyour
nalsMe
It's veryclassic,verysimple.I'm
nota fan of patterns.I'm nota fan
of flamboyancy.
I will leavethatto
LadyGaga.Shedoesit a lot better
thanI do.I lookto thefashionsof
the '20s,'30sand'40s.
1
s
e ianstyle
stereotype?
Havingnostyle,period.
a JI avea favorite
lg r?
I'm a reallybigfan of Cynthia
Rowley,andI'm a reallybigfan
of KennethCole.And,youknow,
I just loveTomFord.I just think
thatTomFordis a geniusallaround.Whetherhewoulddress
meor directme,I wouldbethe
happiestgirl in the world.
Whois thebigge clothing
thiet youor Cr1raline?
Thereis nostealing.Welive
together[laughs].I knowwhere
it is. It's eitherin the closet,or
in the laundrybasket,or on one
of us.
Whatdoyoulike to wearon
th redcarpet?
I loveto pullout oneof my Cole
dresses... I feel muchmore
comfortablein a dress.Thereis
somethingaboutit that elicits
suchconfidencewithinme.
Becauseit's veryeasyto hidemy
curvesin a pairof pants,andthe
truth of the matteris, I fucking
lovemycurves.I lovemy body.
Sowhy notshowit off?
WhatIs thesexiestthinga
womancanwear?
Nothing[laughs].I feel like it
dependsonthe woman.Caroline
couldbewearingpajamasCarolinedoeswearpajamasandstill is the sexiestwomanI've
ever
March 2012
I33
haughty
higli
heels
for
femmes
who like
to put
their
foot
down.
rom
..... •·•....... .
Photography:Chris Huzzard • Stylist: Eva Scolaro • Hair: Jody Fiannaca • Makeup: Giselle Van Truong
•••••••••••••••••••••••••
sassy $280
Patent and soft leather upper
Exposed hand-stitching
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March 2012 \ 35
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Exposed upper stitching
Hand-stitched metal embellishments
4-inch stiletto heel
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36
Icurve
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J
curve
••••••••••••
transgressing
menswear
with da erQ.
By Rachel Shatto
Photos by LeslieVan Stelten
an
n
o be a fashiontrendsetteryou can't be afraidto
be daring,to subvertthe expectedand to claima
styleidentitythat is new and unique.No one knows
that better than Susan Herr,founder(she prefers
transgressor-in-chief)
of dapperQ,a websitededicatedto
reclaimingan aestheticthatwas previously
the privilegeof
cis-menalone:the dapperdandy.
Herr created the site two years ago after witnessing the large community
of genderqueers and transmen in her Brooklyn neighborhood. In an effort to
bridge what she refers to as the "transgenerational divide;' Herr began researching
the topic of gender non-conformity. "Conversations on this topic are traditionally
rife with controversy, often doing more harm than good. DapperQ was born
when it occurred to me that style might be a neutral ground upon which we
could build solidarity;' says Herr.
She coined the term dapperQ"to describe those of us who challenge societal
norms when we don menswear. It's shorthand for a wide spectrum of folks
who B. Cole, of the Brown Boi Project, has eloquently dubbed 'masculine of
center: Being dapperQ is an intensely unique experience ... ! can't speak for
others but I can say I don't do it to make a point. It's not cross-dressing. Me in
a dress is cross-dressing:'
In addition to promoting the sexy and debonair dapperQ style, Herr has a
deeper agenda: to help her readers live a more authentic life. To illustrate what
that means, Herr shares a story. "A mother reached out for advice about how
she might support her gender nonconforming daughter in dressing to attend
a formal wedding in the South. After exploring many options, she eventually wore a tux shirt and cuffiinks from my wedding. To my mind, what was
most important was not that folks approve of her fashion choices but that they
recognize those choices as both thoughtful and intentional. That's the goal of
dapperQ writ large:'
March 2012
I41
dapperQ
was born
when it
occurred to
me that style
might be a
neutral ground
upon which
we could build
solidarity
Herr's mission is also expressed through dapperQ's
He Said/We Said project-of which this accompany~
ing pictorial is part. Spearheaded by dapperQ features
editor Juanita Erb, He Said/We Said showcases real
world dapperQs in their interpretation of high fashion
menswear. "Each edition features a different inspiration,
photographer and group of models in order to celebrate
diversity in our community and examine fashion as a ,
cultural construct:'
The idea for the project occurred to Erb as she became
increasingly frustrated by the lack of menswear options
for her partner. "I kept seeing outfits and thinking, 'That
would look great on my partner' or 'Our readers would
love this: The only problem is I couldn't just recommend
these outfits to our readers 'as is' because most menswear
is not made to fit dapperQ bodies;' says Erb, adding,"yet,
fashionable dapperQs are able to pull off similar styles
as well as, if not better than, some of the zine models.
So, I put our models to the challenge by giving them
an image of a menswear ensemble and asking them
how they are able to recreate the look with their own
personal twists:'
Unlike a traditional photo shoot, the dapperQ models .
arrive in their own clothes and accessories. This makes
for an eclectic and chic mix, promoting diversity,
which is very important to Erb. "In general, my goal
for the feature, and Susan's overall goal for the site,
is to avoid featuring the same people over and over.
Our community is sometimes guilty of knowingly or
unknowingly recreating the same hierarchies, divisions,
biases, preferences and unattainable expectations that
are perpetuated in society at large. We want to break
through those barriers by giving everyone a voice-all
shapes, sizes, races, ethnicities, ages and gender presen~
tations are welcome:'
This message is shared by Herr. Ask her who she
wants to reach and her answer is broad: "Those who
transgress men's fashion, be they in suburbs, big cities
or small towns. I especially hope dapperQ provides
comfort to youngsters growing up in places where such
difference is scorned rather than celebrated. But I also
hope that visibility projects like He Said/We Said
serve as one building block in what will eventually be a
mainstream appreciation for this aesthetic:'
As with the best fashion, today's transgressions
provide tomorrow's style. "Twenty years from now
our choices may be expanded;' says Herr. "Until then,
I think dapperQs will have to blaze their own fashion
paths with inspiration from our peers and the support
of good tailors:' (dapperq.com)
own it
Name:Avni Jade
Age:Old enough to know better,
young enough to still do it!
Occupation:
Digital Photograph
Media Processer
Outfit:Leather jacket by Diesel, pea
coat by Guess, denim jacket by FCUK,
tuxedo shirt by Brooks Brothers, black
shirt by Diesel (Avni tore off sleeves),
suspenders, scarf, tie and sunglasses by
unknown designer (closet finds), belt by
Diesel, shoes by FCUK, watch by Guess
ThemeSong:"Main Hoon Don" by Shaan
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
classic dcube
Name:Hana To
Age:
Occupation:
Private C
Outfit:Hat by H&t
clothes are vinta
ThemeSong:"I've Got the Wo
...............
on a String" by Frank Sina
faux undercover
Name:Amos Mac
Occupation:Photographer; Editor; Writer;
Publisher of Original Plumbing magazine
and Translady Fanzine
Outfit:Trench coat by Topman, military jacket
by H&M, scarf found at a sidewalk sale in
San Francisco, jeans by Topman, boots
by Frye, shirt by UNIQLO
ThemeSong:"Silent Night" by Klaus Nomi
,r
t
urban dirty preppy
Name:Jack Elliot
Age:39
Occupation:Writer/Producer
Outfit: Hawkins McGill shirt
by Urban Outfitters, tie by
Stringbeans, jeans by Levi's,
hat is a hand-me-down,
glasses by Sol Mascot
ThemeSong:"People Are People"
by Depeche Mode
••••••••••••••••••••••••••
March 2012
I45
deb
nair
dude
•••••••••••••
cently, Chaz Bono told Time magazine that his
asts had always been an obstacle, hence his
ire for top surgery. "I did everything that I could
always do to de-emphasize and hide them. To finally
have that be gone for me was like the final piece of the
puzzle ... when I looked in the mirror and saw a male
chest it was exhilarating."
For Bono, this sense of liberation has extended to his
closet where for the first time he has found pleasure in
dressing his now male body. "You know," he says, "I enjoy
every aspect of my life so much, including fashion. So, I
think that the opportunity to kind of have more fun and
express myself more with clothing now than before is
because I never felt comfortable in women's clothes. And
men's clothes never quite fit me right."
Bono hasn't been shy about his male-contoured chest.
Out in the world or on TV in Being Chaz or Dancing With the
Stars he is usually sharply suited, favoring silks, light colors
and well-cut pieces. Bono also made Out magazine's top
100 last year, channeling a 1950s Marlon Brando in a faceshaving scene that showed off those unmistakable bilateral
scars. That photo in particular sparked controversy among
the lesbian community, including some curve readers,
who said he wasn't part of the community anymore
because of his newly-minted male privilege, his trans
identity and his abandonment of the lesbian community for
mainstream attention.
While that certainly isn't our stance on the subjecttrans-inclusivity is near and dear to our hearts-I wonder
if Bono still sees himself as part of the lesbian community,
even if many lesbians don't want to invite him to the party,
fine suit tails and all? "I can only really comment on how
it's changed with my lesbian friends and it hasn't changed
at all," he says. "I have a lot of very close friends who
are lesbians and I haven't lost any of them as a result
of transitioning. I don't really have a gauge of the larger
lesbian community but I think that probably there's not
a full understanding that sexual orientation and gender
identity are two different things. I mistakenly thought
when I was younger and coming out that I was a lesbian
because I knew about gay and lesbian people ... later in
life I realized that wasn't what the issue was but it was
an issue of my gender identity. My transition was in
no way a slap in the face to the lesbian community.
I realized that wasn't what the issue was when I
didn't get the comfort that somebody who is a
lesbian would get by coming out."
One thing is certain, when Bono arrives at
the party with his renewed passion for fashion,
he'll be decked out and
ns
az
nhow
onlnq
him
March 2012
I47
renaissance
man
•••••••••••••••
alexi melvindoes
it all with style.
By Emelina Minero
48
Icurve
t 12, Alexi Melvin took her first steps into the
modeling world. At 19, she became a regular
at AfterEllen with her fashion vlog, Alexi's
Closet, giving fashion advice to the ladies
who love ladies. Now at 23, Melvin is taking
on new challenges: Acting, writing, producing and
improv-and this out Jill-of-all-trades is only just
beginning to tap into her creative potential. "Right
now I'm at a discovery point in my life. There's a lot
of things that I love and I'm trying to push through
them all in their own ways," says Melvin who is
endorsed by the lesbian owned and operated Lyon
Fine Jewelry.
Aside from writing a screenplay, developing a
memoir, modeling and co-producing a film, Melvin
is also a spokeswoman for juvenile diabetes.
Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 14, she has
been an advocate ever since. "I'm always trying
to raise money and awareness," Melvin says. "I
actually started a cause on Facebook called Cure
Diabetes and it's one of the biggest causes on
Facebook, ever."
Melvin is refreshing, sincere and passionateand full of great fashion tips. Ask her about the
hottest lesbian trend and she'll tell you: flannel
button-ups. When asked about the biggest fashion
mistake a lesbian can make, she'll give it to you •
straight: "I would say as a whole, just a little bit too
laid back. It's fine to throw on a hoodie, jeans and
sneakers every now and then, but also every now
and then, throw on a pair of boots, a nice button up
or maybe a cool jacket." On her fashion inspiration
and favorite designers, "I'm really into [the style of]
movie stars from the '50s, like the very sophisticated
Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly" and "I really like
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen's line called The Row.
They're really talented as fashion designers."
Never short on opinions or the moxy to express
them, Melvin shares her thoughts on what she feels
is the biggest misconception people have with the
modeling industry: "Airbrushing-because I don't
think people really realize how much airbrushing
is involved. I swear, we don't look like that. It's just
ridiculous." (a/exime/vin.com)
realIi
m
-theI prqect
-the U.K:s
leading lesbian
musicianslend
their voices to it
does get better...
11
By Sheryl Kay
I
n a new effort to cast a greater light on the issue of bullying of
gay youth, "It Does Get Better," a Sapphic single hit the air waves
in February, a product of the efforts of more than a dozen of the
U.K.'s leading lesbian musicians.
Recorded at the Dean Street Studios in London, the catchy,
•
upbeat melodic song brings together renowned artists Georgey
& Emma (Greymatter), Sofia Antonia Milone (Geekgirl), Sandra
MacBeth, Amber (HeadsHearts), Mel Sanson (Kenelis), Nina McCann,
O'Hooley & Tidow, Lorna Thomas, Leanna Goring, Juey, Jess
Gardham, Amy Sutton (Neon Choir), Nicky Mitchell, Ella Chambers
and Scottish legend, Horse, all under the name The L Project. The
women performed pro bono, and all proceeds generated from the
sale of the single will go to Diversity Role Models and Stonewall, two
groups that specifically address the issue of bullying in schools.
Writer, and co-organizer Georgey Payne notes that bullying is not
just an American phenomenon, recalling the case of 15-year-old
Dominic Crouch, who walked out of school during his lunch break and
jumped off a six-story building to his death in England back in 2010. A
year later, Dominic's father Roger Crouch, took his life as well.
"It's everywhere," she says. "This is the harsh reality of just how
bullying messes up whole families' lives."
Payne says it's about time for the gay community to have a song of
its own, one which raises money and awareness for the community
and at the same time will help gay youth who feel alone. "If this song
stops only one person from committing suicide upon hearing it, then
that makes everything that everyone has ever done for this project
worthwhile," Payne says. (facebook.com/TheLProject)
TEGANAND SARACOME
CLEANON ROMANCERUMORS,
HOW THEYSTILLGETALONG
AND WHAT'SON THEIR
MYSTERIOUS
NEW ALBUM.
'
ORKNG0RLS
BYJANELLE
SORENSON
AND MELANYJOYBECK
upcoming album promises to
be a departure from the sound
INDIEMUSIC.BURSTING
ONTOTHESCENEIN1998AS EAGERTEEN
Tegan and Sara fans have come
to expect.
ROCKERS,
THECANADIANDUO HAVEBLOSSOMED
INTOH!GH~Y
"I don't want this record to
ACCLAIMEDLYRICAL
MUSICIANS.
WITHSEVENALBUMSUNDER
feel like anything weve ever
THEIRCOLLECTIVE
BELT
AND POISEDFORNUMBER
EIGHT,
TEGAN
done before;' says Sara Quin. "I
think stylistically each album
AND SARANOW CONTEMPLATE
MOVINGINTHEDIRECTION
OF
has changed, but I want this
UNDENIABLE
GREATNESS.
to be the biggest leap. Were
making a high-fidelity record
with a pop sensibility.We want
"I wake up in the middle of the night with my jaw
to push the envelope, to keep ourselves interested, and to help
grow our audience'
clenched and my teeth aching from stress and anxiety;'
says Tegan Quin, on the hotly anticipated follow-up to
"It's a pretty diverse, pretty schizophrenic group of
their 2009 record, Sainthood. "We have 35 songs written
songs;' Tegan agrees. 'Tm not really sure what were doing:'
and we're just going to kind of wing it and see what comes
After using familiar names like Howard Redekopp
from that. Thematically, we've been challenging ourselves
(The New Pornographers) and Chris Walla (Death Cab
not to write so much about relationships and love, but
for Cutie) on The Con and Sainthood, the duo are looking
maybe change the perspectives we're writing from:'
outside their inner circle to find a new producer for the
Tegan and Sara's hard work culminated last November
project. "What we're really trying to do is make an undein Get Along, a series of three films accompanied by a live niably great record;' says Tegan. "Is it going to sound like
album. The ambitious project acted as a veritable capstone
a Tegan and Sara record? Of course;' she laughs. "We're
still in the band:'
to their 13 years of music making. Their next step, however,
has the two at a crossroads as they prepare to make the
''I've forced myself to write some pop songs, some dance
final transition from the teenage indie rockers we know
songs, and to not be overly precious about lyrics;' Sara
and love to fulUledged pop stars.
says, reflecting on the process of preparing new mateAfter a slew of collaborations, with various artists from
rial for the studio. "I've done anthemic, obvious melodies.
Theophilus London to DJ Tiesto to Morgan Page, the
I've forced myself to write songs that are longer than two
EGANAND SARAAREOFTENREFERRED
TO AS THEDARLINGS
OF
so Icurve
minutes, and songs that make me uncomfortable:'
Both Tegan and Sara are excited about the idea of
expanding their empire while relishing the comfort of
hitting a more stable phase in their 13~year career. "I live
in a grown~up house;' says Sara. 'i\nd I swear to God I
have arthritis in my wrists. I'm old. I'm an adult lady;' she
says, in contrast to the perception of fans and critics alike
that the two are still just a couple of angsty teens. "It's
the idea that we're living in a constant state of emotional
distress, and in reality our life is about business and
traveling and paying bills and making sure the people
who work for us have health insurance;' Sara says. "If you
want to imagine me and Tegan in teenage bedrooms, with
music posters and crying, then go for it. We did that ...
when we were 17 :'
52 I curve
Gone as well are the days of pining over girls. Both
Quin sisters are now happily partnered. ''I've been with
the same person for three and a half years;' Tegan says.
"Most people know that I'm dating Lindsey Byrnes, who
is the photographer that takes all of our photos:'
Tegan admits that her early relationship with Byrnes
was the inspiration for some of the most emotionally
fraught material on their record The Con. "It's her fault I
can't write sad songs [anymore];' jokes Tegan, on finding
love with Lindsey. "But it's also her fault I wrote all of
those sad songs:'
Despite wild speculation, Sara continues to play it cool,
keeping the true identity of her ladylove a secret. At least
for now. "Something that's happened to me in the past
is that I dated Erny Storey [Tegan and Sara's longtime
E'REEXCHANGING
EMOTIONSFORMONEY.AND
THATIMMEDIATELY
PUTSUSINA
DIFFERENT
WORLDTHANMOST
PEOPLE.
WE AREASKINGPEOPLE
TO GETON BOARD,
TO INVEST.
AND WE HAVETO SHARE
OURSELVES.
IT'SPART
OF
THENEGOTIATION."
creative director], and it was such a public relationship.
People came to expect that when the next person came
along she'd be in all of the videos and she'd be there with
me [as well]:'
Though several celebrity gossip blogs have identified
Sara's girlfriend as MTV talent coordinator Stacy Reader,
the quieter Quin neither confirms nor denies the rumors,
only saying that her current partner "is a more behind~the~
scenes kind of gal. She is a grown adult woman with a life,
and I'm sure she appreciates her anonymity and privacy
to remain intact;' adding, "I don't expect she'll be a public
figure anytime soon:'
In an increasingly Kardashian world, Tegan and Sara
have always walked a fine line between being accessible
to their fans and maintaining their personal privacy. "It's
basically like we're prostitutes;' says Sara."We're exchanging
emotions for money, and that immediately puts us in a
different world than most people. We are asking people to
invest, to get on board, and we have to share ourselves. It's
part of the negotiation:'
That negotiation has proven successful for the duo. With
legions of loyal fans, critical acclaim, and their personal
lives on lock, it's easy to say that the future for Tegan and
Sara is bright, even as it is heading into uncharted territory.
"We have the strength of this team, and we have that
bond;' says Sara on the band's staying power. "However
dysfunctional our relationship would seem at times, after
this many years most people aren't able to do it. So we
must be doing something right:' To their fans and family
alike, it's clear that they are. ( teganandsara.com)
March 2012
I 53
Summertime scenes: A diving
tower, Gothenburg Harbour,
Stockholm Pride, Kayaks for rent
54
I curve
A SWEDISH
SLJMMER
GET READY FOR A SCENIC SEDUCTIVE
SOPHISTICATED SCANDINAVIAN SOJOURN.
BY JILLIAN EUGENIOS
For a small country with fewer than 10 million people,
Sweden manages to pack quite a punch. Real and imaginary
leading ladies, from screen legend Greta Garbo to pop star
Robyn to feisty, fictional Lisbeth Salander, are known for
their style and power. Even the children's book character
Pippi Longstocking is strong and assertive. And if H&M
threads and IKEA furniture define your lifestyle, perhaps
you've been crushing on Sweden long before now.
When you think of Sweden, you might also think
of ice and cold. But summer is a spectacular and scenic
time to be there. Begin your visit in Stockholm, a city
built on 14 islands, which gives it an open, idyllic feel,
with stunning views of the water from virtually every
neighborhood. An easy-to-use metro system and bikes available for rent throughout the city make getting around
Stockholm a breeze.
The Sheraton Stockholm Hotel is on the island of
Sodermalm, or Soder (meaning"south"). Large and centrally
located, it has great views of Lake Malaren. For eco-minded
travelers not wanting to compromise on luxury, the environmentally friendly Hilton Stockholm Slussen is the first
hotel in Sweden with an eco-labeled buffet breakfast,
which includes honey generated by the 60,000 bees that
live in a hive on the roof of the hotel. My personal favorite,
the 30-room Hotel Hellsten, is near Stockholm's Old Town.
The deep colors of the interiors and the wooden furnishings
make it a perfect sanctuary.
For a day in Old Town, begin with breakfast at the
gay-run cafe Chokladkoppen (Stortorget 18). From
there, go for a tour of the Royal Armoury, a museum in
the Royal Palace; or take the walking tour inspired by
Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy. Then see a show at
NS FOR LESBIANS
~GLTA
lesbian
travelsurvey
you
youmostwanttogoandwhy.
the Royal Dramatic Theatre, which offers contemporary
theatre in a gorgeous Art Nouveau building. And speaking
of dramatic, my tour guide in Stockholm had a fanny pack
with built-in speakers that blared out ABBA tracks right
there on the street. "Dancing Queen;' which had always
been my go-to karaoke song, found a new home.
Sweden is an incredibly gay-friendly country. The
mainstream Swedish community doesn't just tolerate the
queer community but welcomes everybody to the party.
Hold your girlfriend's hand anywhere you please. For
lesbian parties, head to Kolingsborg (Sodermalmstorg
2). The club hosts three girl nights every month, which
are inclusive of the trans community as well. A definite
must on your itinerary is a stop at Roxy (Nytorget 6) for
a drink, dinner or brunch. Gay-owned and -operated, it's
a comfortable and welcoming venue with a slightly kitschy
vibe that only makes it more fun.
If the islands of the city have given you a yearning for
nautical adventure, look no farther than Stockholm's
surrounding archipelago, composed of 30,000 islands.
Rent a boat or score a ride to the village of Sandhamn
(Larsson fans, take note-this is where Mikael Blomkvist
had his vacation house). A perfect day trip can include a
boat ride, a short kayak adventure, a stroll along the water and
even a hike. For those looking to stretch their legs, check out
the Bullero Nature Reserve, which offers overnight camping
and fishing cottages that date back to the 18th century.
Venture beyond Stockholm. Our trip was in the summer,
so we opted for a rental car and a little jaunt up the west
coast, where the ocean rocked us to sleep and wildlife such
as reindeer, moose and beaver are plentiful-as are oysters,
crayfish and lobster.
MOST
WANTED
INTERNATIONAL
>
March 2012 \ 55
)
Gothenburg is a good place to start your exploration
of the west coast. It's also a perfect excuse to stay at the
Hotel Avalon, which is feng shui-certified and boasts a
glass-bottomed rooftop pool that juts out over the plaza
below. Be sure to get yourself a Gothenburg City Card,
which makes sightseeing less expensive. It gave us free
admission to the botanical gardens and the Gothenburg Art
Museum, with its impressive collection of 19th and 20th
century Nordic art, as well as a free trip on a Paddan boat
for a guided tour around the city.We went under 20 bridges,
one of which is so low that it's called the "cheese slicer"everyone has to lie down while the boat goes under it.
The best coffee in town is at Bar Centro (Kyrkogatan 31).
You'll spot it from a distance by the groups of well-dressed
Swedes hanging around out front drinking cappuccinos.
There is a small gay scene in Gothenburg, and it's mostly
centered around Greta's (Drottninggatan 35). We were
there on a Sunday night, which was relaxed enough that
we could sit at the bar and have a reasonably priced meal
of homemade soup and dark beer while chatting with the
bartender. On busy nights, the Mata Hari-themed nightclub upstairs is the place to be.
After a couple of days in Gothenburg, head north. It's
best to book your accommodation ahead of time up the
coast, beginning with Salt & Sill on Kladesholmen Island.
Salt & Sill's 23 guest rooms are built on platforms that float
in the sea. On the way to Salt & Sill, stop in at the Nordic
Watercolour Museum in Skarhamn on Tjorn Island. Have
lunch at Vatten, which is adjacent to the museum and
offers gorgeous views of the surrounding water. Interested
in taking a dip after lunch? Just past the museum there's a
place to jump off the dock. On our visit, a family of Swedes
was jumping into the water off a 10-foot makeshift diving
board. I did the same, and you must as well.
Hop back in your car with wet hair and head to the
Sculptures at Pilane, a 1,000-year-old archeological heritage
site with contemporary sculptures jutting out of the landscape. If you're lucky, a herd of sheep will also be there to
keep you company.
Dine at Salt & Sill's restaurant on Kladesholmen. The
island produces 40 percent of all Swedish herring. Salt
& Sill offers a tasting plate of herring and schnapps
pairings, which is a great way to learn which local flavors
you like best.
Don't stay on dry land for long. The next day, go farther
north for an oyster or lobster safari in Grebbestad. There
is only one place to go for this experience, and it is aboard
the fishing boat that belongs to the fisherman Per Karlsson
•
56
I curve
FRANC
·nated herring with butter and cheese
and his brother. The directions to Per's place were my
favorite: "Take a right before the church, drive about 100
meters, follow the tiny road and look for a yellow sea hut
standing on poles in the water:'
We were welcomed into the sea hut and Per set about
raking oysters up from his backyard, which just happens
to be the ocean. He tossed the smaller ones, collected the
good ones, and set them in his fishing boat. We hopped
on the boat as well and spent an afternoon chugging away
into the open sea, checking on the crab pots he'd set out
earlier along trolling lines.
Per gave us gloves and knives on the boat and taught
us how to shuck oysters. We ate them right there on the
boat, slurping them down with locally made beer. Almost
all the Swedish oysters come from the waters around
Grebbestad, and don't worry-the oyster safaris are certified
Naturens Basta ("Nature's Best"), the national quality
mark for eco-tourism. Once we were back in the hut, Per
made us a delicious lunch of freshly caught crayfish, local
cheese and freshly baked bread.
Another great stop on your west coast tour is Lysekil, a
quaint little town in the Bohuslan Archipelago. Perfect for
kayaking, this part of the coast doesn't have any strong
currents or tidal waters. The water is warm in summer,
making a few days of camping among the islands and islets a
perfect addition to your trip. Nautopp Seakayaking Sweden
(nautopp.se) offers a guided trip of the archipelago, or you
can simply rent kayaks and make your own tour.
From an ABBA-themed stroll through the cobblestone
streets of Stockholm, to an aquatic adventure on the west
coast of Sweden, a smorgasbord of cultural opportunities
and natural wonders awaits you. Summer in Sweden is
simply irresistible. (visitsweden.com/sweden)
GREECE
-
SPAIN
-Lesbian, Lesbian-friendly, or simply friendly, whatever you're looking for in a destination,
you can count on a warm and laid-back, typically Swedish welcome in Stockholm!
: Check out our rainbow offers:
' www.visits!_~~khol"!_~CO'!llg~)'-lesbia
n
V.ISi·t ••
-•
Sweden
www.visitsweden.com
Stockholm
The Capitalof Scandinavia
Book now:
www.flysas.com/us
...-c;oy•---
Scandinavian
Airlines
MY NASHVILLE
A LOCAL MUSICIAN
GIVES US AN INSIDER
TOUR OF MUSIC CITY. BY ANNE MCCUE
When you think of Nashville, what do you think of? Fine
wine and dining? Italian bootmakers? Alternative rock music?
Concert halls? Art galleries? Gay culture? I didn't think so.
I bet you think of country music and big hair, Taylor Swift
and Kenny Chesney. (Personally, I'd rather think of Nicole
Kidman and Keith Urban-they also live in Nashville and
they're Australian, like me!) Anyhow, if you visit that fair
city of the South, you're in for a few surprises.
First and foremost, there is East Nashville, the Rive
Gauche of Tennessee's capital city. Once resplendent, then
falling into decay and riddled with crime, it now rises like
a phoenix from the ashes due to the combined efforts of
longtime residents and an influx of artists from all over the
world. They have created a demand for the arts, world~class
culture, healthy food-things
that were hard to find in
Nashville only a decade ago-and music of all genres.
East Nashville has plenty to offer visitors, especially in
the Five Points area. Sister restaurants Margot Cafe & Bar
(dinner) and Marche (brunch) are two of the city's finest.
There are several great bars to hang out at, including the
Red Door and 3 Crow Bar. For live music, try the 5 Spot,
which has a totally acoustic jam on Wednesday nightsbanJos, fiddles and mandolins galore-and alternative rock
the rest of the week. Then, just up the road there's Fanny's
House of Music, where you will be welcomed as you would
be in no other music store, ever. Fanny's is owned by two
musicians-Pamela Cole and Leigh Maples-and exudes a
completely charming family atmosphere. It is such a novelty
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to go into a music store run by women, not to speak of a
music store that sells artwork and vintage clothing as well.
East Nashville is also home to the Lipstick Lounge,
a two~story building on Woodland just down from
Five Points, proudly painted purple, green and red.
Predominantly lesbian in clientele, Lipstick also attracts
karaoke fans. Friday nights feature live bands and a good
dance party afterward. Go there a few times and the place
becomes like Cheers-where everybody knows your name.
Meanwhile, across town (everything in Nashville is no
more than 15 minutes away) is the area known simply as
12 South, a strip of restaurants, vintage clothing stores and,
most important to this writer, the 12 South Tap Room,
which offers hundreds of beers and some great live music. I
recall spending a St. Patrick's Day there, drinking Guinness
with a bunch of other musicians. It's that kind of place.
As you head north, Germantown is worth a visit for
culinary adventures, especially cupcakes! According to
Mignon Francois, founder of The Cupcake Collection,
"Love conquers all, including calories. Were not just giving
them cupcakes, we're giving them a bit oflove:' That's 6,000
bits oflove a day, because business is booming. Flavors such
as cafe mocha, cafe au lait and strawberry cheesecake are
impossible to resist. Mignon, originally from New Orleans,
is brimful of joy and laughter, and it is infectious. She must
be somewhat of an optimist too, because she started the
shop during the recession. "I just wanted to keep the lights
on;' she says. It worked!
Also north of the city, right down the road, is Neuhoff,
once a meatpacking plant and now a burgeoning cultural
center. There you will find Peter Nappi. The Italian boot~
maker's shop is filled with classic, stylish boots and bags,
classy furniture and other handcrafted products, and it is
beautiful to behold. Nashville's Jazz-yes, jazz-Workshop
also makes its home at Neuhoff, and the legendary song~
writer John Prine has his recording studio there. Artists
such as Lady Antebellum, Yeah No Yeah and Robert Plant
have used the location for their video shoots.
If you get a chance to go to a show at the Ryman
Auditorium while you are in town, go! I thoroughly recom~
mend the tour. Our tour guide, Art, made his first sojourn
to the Ryman in 1956 for the Grand Ole Opry. He recalls
that the place was packed to the rafters and smelled like
the farms that people had been working on during the day,
their only perfume being sweat and cigarette smoke. If you
can get Art as your guide you won't be disappointed; he
exudes the Tennessee charm that makes Nashville such a
great place to visit. Built by Thomas Ryman-a gambler,
-
drinker and saloon owner who saw the light and after an
epiphany built what was originally a church-the Ryman
seats almost 2,500 music lovers. In America, there may be
no better place for a musician to play, or for an audience to
bear witness to musical talent. I recently saw Brandi Carlile
give a superlative performance there, and k.d. lang gave it
her all only a few weeks before. Lang dedicated her last
song to East Nashville, saying she wished it had been like it
is now back in the '80s, when she was living there.
There is a respectable list of trendy and health~conscious
restaurants nowadays, but if you are seeking a traditional
food experience, mac 'n' cheese is still considered a vegetable
on many menus. Places like Puckett's Grocery and
Restaurant offer all the old favorites: fried chicken, chicken~
fried steak, fried okra, fried green tomatoes, fried green
beans, fried pickles and fried jalapeiios. You get the gistmost everything is fried. Monell's is another Nashville fixture,
serving and seating you family~style. This all~you~can~eat
dining experience, including all the best fried foods and
saturated greens, is a must for carnivores.
For a more upscale dining experience, or just to stop
in for a drink at the Oak Bar, you must visit the beautiful
Hermitage Hotel-situated
on the hilltop of downtownwhere even the men's bathroom is sbmething to behold, in
all its black~and~green~tiled Art Deco glory; women are
welcome to check it out as long as a guy makes sure no one
is using the facilities.
On the night my crew and I visited the Hermitage, the
food was delicious and the lovely staff plied us with so
much white wine that I was quite delirious by the time I
got to our first show at Nashville's Next Big Thing Music
GERMANY
THE
-
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March 2012 j 59
Festival (now named SoundLand)-so
I shall reserve
judgment about the musical act I saw that night.
On the next night, however, I was stone cold sober for
our visit to Jack White's Third Man Records and stunned
by the music that awaited us there. Our jaws dropped as
we watched Brittany Howard sing like Aretha, Adele and
Janis all rolled into one, play guitar like Bo Diddley and
give the performance of her life with her band of exquisite
young men. "Who is she?"was mouthed at many different
times against this din of passionate, sweat-and-tears rock.
Her band is called Alabama Shakes-watch out for it.
Three other places in Nashville are simply stunning.
Frist Center for the Visual Arts, originally a Hoover-era
post office, has been transformed into a wonderful art
gallery and museum with a world-class calendar of events
and exhibitions. _Evenmore striking is the Schermerhorn
Symphony Center, home of the Nashville Symphony;
it's a new building designed in the style of a 19th century
European concert hall. When I went, Bela Fleck was
playing banjo with the Nashville Symphony. The third
place you have to see is Gruhn Guitars on Broadway,just
down from all the honky-tonk bars. I got to go upstairsthat legendary floor where only the big-time guitar
collectors get to go-and saw hundreds of the most
beautiful and expensive guitars ever made. There was a
1960 Sunburst Les Paul with a price tag of $150,000.
You get the picture. I didn't dare ask ifl could play one!
The best show in this town might just be a jam on
someone's back porch, but two regular shows that cannot
be missed if you are in town early in the week are both at
the Station Inn-Monday nights it's the Time Jumpers
with Vince Gill, and Tuesday nights it's the funny and
clever Doyle and Debbie Show. Of course, you can't leave
town without visiting the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Nashville has many of the benefits of a big city, while
feeling like a small town. It's a place that gives you time
to think, hear, listen, dream. You can grow your own
vegetables and raise chickens, if you want to. Friendly
conversation between strangers has not yet gone the way
of the dodo, as it has in most cities. Drivers, in general,
go a little slower, and there is a whole lot less traffic. It
is peaceful and quiet-a must for song catchers if they
want to hear those songs in the ether-and plenty of
songs are floating down to Nashville every day. Because
it's the music and musicians that make this place tickand make a guitar-toting sheila from Australia feel
real welcome! You'll feel real welcome too, if you get the
chance to visit Music City. (visitmusiccity.com)
FLORIDA'S
LESBIAN
BEACH
TOWN
MORE THAN LESBIAN-FRIENDLY,
GULFPORT IS FULL OF FRIENDLY
LESBIANS. BY GILLIAN KENDALL
Like many other tourist destinations, Gulfport claims to be
Florida's last undiscovered secret. But there's nothing undiscovered and not many secrets in this 2.8 square mile beach town
(population 13,000). It's also said to have a "Key West flavor;' but
it's more densely dykey than Key West. Out gay city council member Barbara Banno estimates the lesbian-household population
of Gulfport at about 35 percent. Furthermore, Gulfport proudly
lacks two things that clutter too many beach towns: chain stores
and parking metres.
In all of Gulfport-even on the main drag, Beach Blvd. South;
even in front of the pier and O'Maddy's Bar and Grille; even by
the beach near the converted casino where women play volleyball on Sunday mornings and then cross Shore Blvd. to party at
Neptune-parking is free. There are no meters, no valets, no parking
garages and no parking tickets anywhere in town.
Even better, once you've ditched your car to stroll, maybe for
the twice-monthly ArtsHop, or just for an afternoon of shopping,
beach-going and eating out, you won't see a single chain store or
restaurant. No green-and-white Starbucks signs mar the pretty,
white-lit downtown blocks; no nasty 7-11 neon breaks up the
lighting from the little bulbs in the trees and the candles on outdoor tables. It's refreshingjust to see the original signage, and even
more refreshing to step inside to browse through original artwork
and hand-made gifts, or sit down to food prepared and served by
residents. Every shop in town and virtually every stall at the market
is owned by a local.
An example of the kind of trust this spirit engenders: at the end
of the weekly Tuesday market I was out of cash, and the artist selling the handmade brooch I wanted, Judy Greer, didn't take credit
cards. She offered to take a check and, when I said I had none,
asked me to mail her one "sometime;' and cheerfully wrapped up
my small purchase in a one-of-a-kind cloth bag.
The market was like the craft stalls at Michigan Womyn's Music
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FLORIDA
Festival, only without the mud and with men (note:
friendly, and often gay, men). Booth after booth is staffed
by smiling, short-haired craftswomen in hand-made
T-shirts or jewelry, who seem more interested in chatting
with everyone than making sales, although sales are good.
Marsha Warner, a Chamber of Commerce volunteer
who shows me around, knows just about everyone, because
she lives on 22nd St. South, known as "Lesbian Lane:'
And most everyone is a lesbian, and "a really nice person;'
according to Warner. "See her on the bike? That's T., she's
my neighbour. She used to date K., who runs that booth
over there. Now she lives with S., over there, talking to
N:' And so it goes as we wend through the stalls of homemade crafts, local produce and real art.
Warner introduces me to the token straight couple
who've moved onto her street, who say that despite their
minority status, they feel embraced by their new neighbors. Everyone, it seems, is welcome in Gulfport as long as
they don't try to divide the community.
So wholesomely united is this town that the one attempt
to open a categorically "gay bar" ( the Dive Bar and Grill)
petered out. Many people went to the opening, says Daniel
Hodge of the Gulfport Fresh Market. "Everyone wentgay, straight, old ladies, young bikers, everyone, because
that's the way it is here. We support local businesses:' But
the overt determination of the owners to create a gaymale environment backfired, and the locals returned to
drinking and mingling happily at O'Maddy's, Neptune
and Back Fin.
In Gulfport, even a casual visitor can spend her days
surrounded by sisters. Join in dog-walks in the two dog
parks, play volleyball on the beach
on Sunday mornings, hear regular gigs by lesbian band Karmic
Tattoo at Oar House or On
the Rocks, join the beach drum
circle Friday nights, and attend
fundraisers at area restaurants
for AIDS support group ASAP
or the Sonia Plotnick women's
health fund-not
to mention
eating at the gay-owned and gayfriendly cafes all around town,
such as Stella's Deli.
For drinking and dancing, The
Oar House is popular with lesbians, Pepperz has drag shows, and
the old, renovated Casino hosts
dances of various kinds nearly every night of the week. A
recent lesbian Halloween dance party attracted some 250
costumed women; the Valentine's Dance has drawn up to
700 lady-lovers.
For event listings, reach for the tabloid called Gabber,
or Womyn's Words, said to be the oldest gay publication
in Florida, and be sure to sign up online to ProSuzy
List (prosuzy.com). "Suzanne is the glue;' says long-time
Florida resident Marie Corbett. She's speaking of Suzanne
Noe (featured previously in curve's 'Women We Love")
who singlehandedly puts out the regular e-newsletter and
organizes frequent bike trips, games nights, parties, cardexchanges and more every month.
In this whole sweet small town there are only a few
dozen hotel rooms. The superbly comfortable, multiple
award-winning Sea Breeze Manor B&B is only steps
from the beach and the main shopping area. All the
rooms are spacious suites, and downstairs is an expansive
library/lounge/veranda. My suite had a bath overlooking
the beach and wraparound veranda overlooking everything. Winner of Rand McNally and USA Today's Best
Romantic Hotel award, this queer-friendly B&B is run
by mover and shaker Lori Russo, a D.C. transplant who
also heads the Chamber of Commerce. Other overnight
or dining options include the gracious, handicappedaccessible Peninsula Inn and Spa on Beach Blvd., an area
landmark and host to occasional lesbian events.
Gulfport makes a great overnight for dykes driving
through Florida, or a good destination for anyone looking
for a taste of San Francisco or Provincetown without the
winter weather. (visitstpeteclearwater.com)
•
•
MASSACHUSETTS
ARIZONA
WASHJN
March 2012
I61
MARVE L,,OUS
MONTREAL
A TASTE OF FRANCE, NORTH OF THE BORDER.
BY JILLIAN EUGENIOS
Ah, Paris. The nightlife, the restaurants, the a~r. .. the
exorbitant airfare, the lousy dollar-to-euro conversion
rate, the well-deserved moniker "Most Expensive City
in the World:' What's a girl to do if she needs to save her
shekels but has an itch to spend her mornings in brasseries,
peppering her conversation with bonjourand merci?
There's no need to deny yourself those Nutella crepes
and the pursuit of that European je ne sais quoi. You can
stick to your budget by heading up to Montreal, Canada,
the second-largest primarily French-speaking city in the
world (after Paris). Montreal
is often called the city of a
hundred nations; to me, this
cultural mash-up makes it
the epicenter of everything
awesome that's happening to
our north.
I began my visit to Montreal
just the way I introduce myself
to most new places: by eating.
To get a fasMrack version of
Montreal's cuisine, I hit up
Brasserie T!, a new concept
sprung from Toque!, one of
Montreal's finest restaurants.
The menu offers delights like
gratin dauphinoisand saucisson
en briocheat accessible prices,
and Brasserie T! is just below
the Musee d'art contemporain de Montreal. With two
culturally significant experiences in one place, 185
Sainte-Catherine
Ouest 1s
the perfect introduction to
Montreal.
Urbane Montrealians have
embraced the French penchant
for chic fashion and languorous dining and combined it
with the very Canadian qualities of hospitality, openness,
and optimism. Check our the synergy at the Hotel Le
Germain Montreal (2050 rue Mansfield, germainmontreal.
com), a swanky boutique hotel with luxurious furnishings
and rooms that feel like exclusive lofts. Tres bien!
The Village, or "le Village;' is Montreal's gayborhood
and is seen as a symbol of the city's overwhelming sense of
openness and joie de vivre. If the flags on the street don't
tip you off as to where you've found yoursel£ the rainbowthemed metro stop should do the trick. Though the Village
is where most gay establishments are concentrated, the city
itself is so welcoming that you don't have to confine your
hand-holding to the Village's 15 blocks.
The Village can be very male-scene heavy. I stopped in
at a gay strip bar and ended up circled around a small table
with some fabulous boys. It was pirate night and the
strippers were dressed like Captain Jack Sparrow. Amused
but not especially thrilled, I set off to find the lesbians.
There are plenty of them, and they're found at Faggity Ass
Fridays on-you guessed it-Fridays, or Meow Mix on
Saturdays, or during the week at the new _lesbian-owned
Royal Phoenix up in Mile End.
The Mile End is an arty district with a reputation for
being the heart of the city's independent music scene. I
discovered that one of the most important features of
the neighborhood was the bagel bakery, St-Viateur Bagel
(263 St. Viateur West, stviateurbagel.com). The place is
small, but packed with hand-rolled bagels being baked
before your eyes in a wood-burning oven. Stop by for a
nosh at any time of the day, as it is open 24/7. Perfect for
a snack after hitting up the girl night in Mile End, and
much better for you than overdosing on piles and piles of
poutine, an infamous-and delicious-Canadian
specialty
consisting of French fries with cheese curds and gravy.
I spent a gloriously sunny afternoon exploring Old
Montreal along the banks of the Saint Lawrence River. It's
a great place to get lost among some of the oldest buildings
LOUISIANA
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in the city, many of which look like they've been teleported
straight from Paris. Take note of the Gothic Revival
La Basilique Notre-Dame and Place Jacques-Cartier, a
large square that leads to a fountain. Avoid the touristtrap restaurants in the area and walk along the water to
Cluny ArtBar (257 Rue Prince, cluny.info)-a gay-owned
establishment in a former foundry, it has high ceilings, big
windows, and a menu of pastries, sandwiches and more.
I tried the vegetarian plate and got a platter overflowing
with roasted vegetables. I also helped myself liberally from
the basket of freshly baked bread that's ne~r the register.
(Obviously, I have a weakness for carbs, and Montreal isn't
shy about satisfying it.) Check out the exhibition space
next door and see what's happening.
Montreal offers more than you can shake a baguette at
in terms of culture. In addition to Cirque du Soleil (they're
Montreal residents), there are festivals in progress yearround: the Montreal International Jazz Festival, the Sketch
Comedy Festival, the Fringe Festiyal, several film festivals
and more.
•
OREG
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If you grow weary of museum hopping and performance
watching, head out into nature and visit "the mountain;'
which is the big hill north of the city and is officially
known as Mount Royal Park. When I was there, I saw a
person in a squirrel suit walking through the woods. Since
I live in New York City, I regard these things as normal
and assumed it was just a Canadian out for a morning
walk, like everyone else. Montreal really does embrace
everyone. And don't forget-gay
marriage is legal in
Canada. Need I say more2 Get up there, mademoiselle.
( tourisme-montreal.org)
TEXAS
Dostatediscrimination
lawsorsame-sex
marriage
lawsinfluence
yourtraveldecisions?
March 2012
I 63
AMAZING
ZAMBIA
THE LANDLOCKED AFRICAN NATION IS ALSO LOCKED
AGAINST LGBT RIGHTS, BUT ONE CUPVETTE AND
HEP GIRLFRIEND VISITED. BY ALLISON STEINBERG
It sounds like a recipe for dyke disaster: staying at a Catholic
convent with my lesbian lover in a country where homosexuality is punishable by long-term imprisonment. It also
sounds like the opening to a bad Margaret Cho sketch. But
while the entire experience felt surreal, it exposed a harsh
reality-this is the way much of the world lives.
I recently traveled with my girlfriend and my Jewish
mother to visit Catholic nuns in Kitwe, Zambiaspecifically, one nun my mom had befriended some 12
years ago, when she came to the United States in search
of a better education. Zambia, just north of Botswana and
south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is a landlocked country in sub-Saharan Africa. It just recently held
its first fair election, after decades of corrupt rule left the
people impoverished and the infrastructure in ruins.
From the moment we landed on the single dirt runway at
tiny Ndola airport, I was petrified of breathing the wrong
way-would someone take note of the gay way I looked
at my girlfriend and realize we weren't just friends? Would
our short haircuts and wide strides give us away? What i£
out of habit, I accidentally put my hand on her thigh or
offered her a bite of my dinner?
I soon realized that no one noticed anything. In fact, I
E-
THERLANDS
64
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came to feel safer in Zambia than I have felt in other parts
of the world where gay people, though hardly tolerated, are
more visible. In societies where homophobia is so thickly
entrenched in the law, and religion is so strictly enforced,
there is no discourse around being gay and therefore no
radar by which to detect it. No one thought I was gay
because in Zambia there's no such thing, or so it seemed.
Ironic to the Western eye, affection between men is
visible in Zambia. There were men holding hands and
walking with their arms around each other, but, as is the
case in many countries, this is a sign of friendship, and gay
men would never dare showcase their affection in public.
The gay community in Zambia is silent at best. Attempts
to create a more visible community in the late 1990s were
quickly stamped out by the government; this led to a
decade of silence. The creation of an official gay group in
Zambia is still in the works, and only in the past three years
have some brave LGBT people come together in conjunction with the CDC to help collect ethnographic research to
foster support for HIV/ AIDS awareness and education.
Theirs is the first such study in the country, although the
HIV/ AIDS prevalence rate is around 16 percent. The
research group calls itself the Friends of Rainka, after a
• •
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ENGLAND
SPAIN
CANADA
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Victoria Falls {from left), school
children, local nuns, elephants
in the Zambezi River
local DJ and known lesbian who worked to further human
rights before dying of an unknown illness. The suppression
of gay identity in Zambia only compounds the severity of
the HIV/ AIDS epidemic since emerging HIV programs
will ignore LGBT people because they are not recognized
as a part of society.
Zambia was officially declared a Christian nation in
1991 by then president Frederick Chiluba. This caused
myriad problems, most notably a lack of access to birth
control and disease prevention: Zambia has the highest
incidence of HIV/ AIDS of any country in the world ( the
reported 16 percent are the people who are aware that they
have the disease, but owing to poverty, poor healthcare and
the cultural suppression of women many more people are
likely to be living with HIV/ AIDS and not know it). A
single handwritten sign at the side of a road-"Stop HIV/
AIDS. Use a condom:' -was the only visible attempt I saw
to provide HIV-prevention education.
Women are married off at 15 or 16, are having babies
shortly thereafter and have little access to education or
decent healthcare. Zambia is just starting to have the
conversation about equal rights for women; gay rights is
light-years away.
Of course, my girlfriend and I kept our affection curbed
for safety's sake, something that as out-and-proud New
Yorkers tugged heavily at our ethical heartstrings. After
seeing the horrid conditions of the hospitals, schools and
homes in Zambia, we both agreed that compromising our
identity for a few days was better than dying in prison at
the hands of a nation that has a very weak relationship with
its U.S. and British embassies.
AUSTRALIA/
NEW ZEALAND
•
To perpetuate our hetero myth, after we pushed our
twin cots together at night in the convent, we begrudgingly separated them again during waking hours. We stole
kisses in dark hallways and held hands in the backseat of
the pickup when the nuns weren't looking. It was all very
high school, even a little exciting; the fear of being caught
was terrifyingly consequential. There were moments when
I wondered if the nuns had some idea that we were lovers,
particularly the one who had been educated in the United
States and had 12 years of New York City under her belt.
I could have sworn I saw a smirk in the rearview of the
pickup at one point.
Interestingly, it is the nuns who are turning gender on its
head in Zambia. The religious order we stayed with-and'
many others-run
private schools there (public school is
not free after the sixth grade) and have a shared goal of
empowering women to break free of the cycles of female
degradation that are still alive there. The nuns, by dint of
their being nuns, are not marrying young and having
babies; they are not contracting HIV or living within the
parameters of what's considered"women's work:'Tue sisters
are educated, and they teach at the schools. They hire men
to cook and clean, tend to the land, even launder their habits
for them. Many of the nuns we met were young, and we
wondered whether they came to the order out of religious
conviction or as a survival tactic. How many of them were
lesbians and had chosen celibacy over forced marriage?
"Thank you for having the courage to visit Zambia;' one
of the sisters who had lived in the States wrote to us upon
our return home. Though it hadn't been said, she knew just
how different life is in Zambia and how shocking the trip
must have been for us. I'm not sure whether I'd be willing
to travel to another homophobic country with my partner,
but I do know that Zambia was more educational than any
LGBT-friendly destination could have been, and what's
more eye-opening than that?
SWEDEN
-
GERMANYMarch 2012
I65
LOVE
ON
LONG
ISLAND
NEW YORK'S
RESORT DESTINATION
WELCOMES LESBIANS
TO SAVE THE DATE.
BY MERRYN JOHNS
With New York State's marriage equality win, it's no
surprise that Long Island is getting in on the gay wedding
boom. What may seem like pure pragmatism rather befits
the "live and let live" ethos of The Big Apple and comes
across as a genuine welcome. Such is the case with the
Long Island Convention-& Visitors Bureau, which went
so far last July as to create an entire wedding campaign in
partnership with ILOVENY, rhe office of state tourism.
And this was no flash-in-the-pan campaign designed to
cash in on queers rushing to rhe altar on July 24, 2011:
The Long Island CYB has decided to further extend
the welcome by partnering with the Long Island GLBT
Services Network and provide information about planning
your 2012 wedding on Long Island.
Yes, it's rimes like these that I am proud to call New
York my home. Like many New York residents, I even find
myself vacationing in the state; whether it's a festival in the
Finger Lakes, mountain magic in the nearby Catskills, or a
weekend beach adventure our on Long Island.
Long Island, which lies just east of Manhattan and
juts slightly north into the Atlantic Ocean like an upside
down crab claw, is a refuge from the urban intensity many
associate with New York City-especially
in summer,
when N.Y.C. residents get in cars or on trains and flee to
the beaches known as the Hamptons (and let's not forger
Fire Island or the "Gay Hamptons" locales of Cherry
Grove and The Pines). Even though Long Island is part
of the New York Metropolitan area, and is the most
•
GREECE
66
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populated island in any U.S. state or territory, it offers
places of spectacular beauty, awe-inspiring history and
many opportunities for the visitor to relax in the arms of
nature, and indulge in several aspects of culture, too.
While Long Island as a geographical location may
conjure suburban images of housewives, ticky-tacky
houses, strip malls and traffic snarls, many places on the
island more closely resemble quaint New England villages:
Oyster Bay, Port Jefferson, Sag Harbor, and the secluded
and beautiful Shelter Island make it hard to believe you
are only a couple of hours from New York City.
Yes, the diverse and very urban melting pots of N.Y.C.
boroughs Queens and Brooklyn are part of Long Island,
bur it's really the stretch of beaches, from Long Beach on
the Southwestern shore, to Monrauk at the furthermost
Northeastern point, that make the trip worthwhile to
Manhatranires. Bur no matter where you are from, there
is a lot to love and discover about this 120-mile-long land
mass-especially its proactive decision to roll our the red
carper to commitment-loving lesbians. Which brings us
back to why you might find yourself there this year.
To understand the needs of gays and lesbians choosing
the area as a vacation destination, the Long Island CYB
held meetings with the Long Island GLBT Services
Network, their reciprocal partner, to discuss issues affecting our community. They also participated in a Long
Island Business, Life and Wedding Expo in October last
year, geared to educating the LGBT community about
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marriage equality and other services in
New York State, and launched a weddings page on their website with special
offers, promotions and listings of recom~ended wedding venues, accommodations
and services.
To help you plan, and find a wedding
location, request a free Long Island Travel
Guide, or a free Long Island Meeting
Facilities Guide. The following are special
offers from participating "Save the Date"
campaign partners to encourage same-sex
couples to choose Long Island as their
wedding destination. (discoverlongisland.
com/ weddings)
complimentary the next morning for up
to 25 guests. (hiltonlongisland.com)
CURVE
DROVE THIS
RAINBOW PRIDE
Thispastsummer,
curve wasluckyenough
tohosta Hamptons
partywiththeLGBTand-atlies
group,
dot429.com.
429Escape
benefitted
theHetrick
MartinInstitute
and
tookplaceina haute-designed
showhome
end_inthehamlet
ofWatermill.
Aswank,
of-summer
partyintheHamptons-what
betterexcuse
totestdriveoneofthebest
sports
carsofalltime?Thefirstthingwe
noticed
aboutthePorsche
911Carrera
GTS
Cabriolet
wasitslonger,
lowerandseemingly
widerprofile.
Ourinitialreaction
was,"Thisis
going
tobetoughto parallel
park(always
the
concern
ofManhattanites},"
butwecouldn't
havebeenmorewrong.
Thecarhandles
as
wellata virtualstandstill
asit doesonthe
highway
at 80mph.Before
wehittheroad,we
acquainted
ourselves
withthecar'sinterior
control
panels,
whichwereprettystraightforward.BothourBlackBerry
andiPhone
synced
inseconds
withthePorsche
Communication
Management
system,
allowing
hands-free
phone
usewithvoiceactivation.
Theonboard
GPSwassimple
to program
andworked
flawlesslyoncewesorted
outhowtoincrease
the
navigation
system
audiosowecouldhearit
overtheimpressive
Burmester
sound
system.
Thestereosystem
includes
12 individually
controllable
speakers,
a 300-wattsubwoofer
and16amplifier
channels
witha totaloutput
ofmorethan800watts.Withthetopdown,
themusicplaying
andthedestination
loaded,
wewereexhilarated,
andwehadn'teven
started
theengine.
Assoonasthatformidable
Porsche
growlsounded,
weknewwewere
infora thrill.Thiscardidnotdisappoint.
The
steering
istight,theacceleration
isinstantaneous,
thebraking
isdynamic
andresponsive.
Theskyreallyisthelimitwiththisluxe
convertible.
[Constance
Parten]
WEDDING RECEPTION
Celebrate the love of your life with the
wedding of a lifetime at Danfords Hotel
& Marina, with its spectacular views of
Port Jefferson Harbor. This boutique
hotel's wedding planners can design a
complete wedding package for you, from
an intimate family event up to a 175-guest
reception in the ballroom. Overnight
accommodation in renovated rooms and
suites and on-premises spa and salon
services are available. (danfords.com)
"SHOW YOUR PRIDE"
WEDDING PACKAGE
The Glen Cove Mansion has always
welcomed LGBT weddings, and now
they are celebrating New York's historic
same-sex marriage law with a new iPad 2
outfitted with a Rainbow Case-loaded
with your wedding pictures (minimum
of 125 guests, $150 per person). The
Show Your Pride Wedding waves the
ceremony fee and includes butler-style
champagne at your ceremony or reception. (glencovemansion.com)
RAINBOW PACKAGE
Say yes to an oceanfront wedding, to a
rooftop poolside ceremony with gourmet
organic cuisine-and
the next day,
watching the sunrise over the Atlantic
from a luxury suite. The Allegria would
like to make you feel welcome on your
special day. Make sure to ask for the
special Rainbow Package for just $144
per person. Contact the Allegria Hotel
for food selection choices and options.
(allegriahotel.com)
"MAKE IT OFFICIAL" PACKAGE
The Hilton Long Island/Huntington
hotel is a first class, full-service hotel
offering a 5-hour Make It Official Wedding package including: Customized menu,
deluxe open bar, complimentary ceremony
space, a complimentary suite for the happy
couple, two complimentary rooms for
guests of choice, elegant chair covers and
linens, valet parking and discounted room
rates for out of town guests. Mention you
want to make it "Official" and breakfast is
FIRE ISLAND LIMO
Fire Island Limousine has been joyfully
catering to the gay and lesbian community since 1980 with their tradition of
combining newly-fashioned limousines
with old-fashioned service. They cater to
Cherry Grove, The Pines, Ocean Beach,
Fair Harbor, Davis Park, Montauk,
Amagansett, the Hamptons or to any
Long Island resort. (fireislandlimo.com)
LOVING LONG ISLAND
Long Island has long been a gay-friendly
destination, with the world-renowned
queer haven of Fire Island, the superchic Hamptons, and the increasingly
popular Long Island and wine country
are just a few draws among many.
Another benefit of a Long Island
wedding is your choice of four seasonsand no matter what the weather you
know that this island welcomes you
with an official rainbow-colored smile.
(discoverlongisland.com)
March 2012
I67
DESERT DESTINY
CALIFORNIA'S DESERT OASIS IS THE DESTINATION FOP
"LESBIAN SPRING BREAK" AND IS WORTH A VISIT ALL
YEAR POUND. BY MERRY,N JOHNS AND KRISTIN SMITH
Palm Springs is considered a gay oasis and according
to Ron Oden, the openly gay former mayor, as many as
33 percent of the residents in the Coachella Valley identify
as gay or lesbian. This 1s a place where heterosexual
Republicans rub shoulders with queer Democrats; a place
that turns its streets over to the hedonistic lesbian hordes
Queen of Hearts ( queenofheartsps.com),
a lesbian
resort and hotel for women, offers another wonderful dyke
oasis. The proprietor, Michelle Secor, considers the Queen
of Hearts a "home away from home:' And it is-if you're
lucky enough to live in a spacious home with a heated
pool and incredible views of the mountains. Most of the
every spring for The Dinah Shore Weekend ( thedinah.
com); and it is also a most desirable destination for retirement or second-home ownership among an increasing
number oflesbians. And on a recent fall visit, curve found
good reason to visit the desert any time of the year.
women who stay here have been coming for years, and
with good reason. This affordable and comfortable resort
has great rooms, with full kitchens, private dining patios
and panoramic views. More than that, it has community.
Within an hour of arriving, we'd already made friends
with the Canadian couple who were visiting for their fifth
year and the Northern California woman who proudly
confessed that she "practically lives here:• While the rooms
are great and the location is amazing (it's just around the
corner from Casitas Laquita, the Ace Hotel and the Palm
Springs strip), what really makes the Queen of Hearts a
favorite card in the traveler deck is Michelle, a rare host
who loves what she does. She's likely to bring you freshpicked fruit in the morning and give you a generous hug
before you leave. It's no wonder so many ladies return.
DESERT DIGS: WHERE TO STAY
Casitas Laquita Resort (casitaslaquita.com) is a lovely
place to call home. Dramatic mountain views frame the
1.2-acre property, which offers 15 private casitas done
in tasteful Southwestern
decor. Manicured grounds
surround a welcoming pool, which is the perfect place to
cultivate your far niente and watch hummingbirds dart in
and out of the bougainvillea. Established in 1998 by the
wonderful and welcoming Joanna Funaro and her partner,
Denise Roberson, Casitas Laquita was recognized by
Out & About as one of the world's 10 most romantic gay
guesthouses. Budget-conscious dykes will welcome the
well-equipped casitas, which make self-catering a preferable option to always dining out. An added bonus is the
fresh-baked slab of Joanna's cinnamon-laced coffee cake
that will be awaiting you in your kitchen.
68
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DESERT DIVERSIONS:
Casitas
Strokes
lesbian
erotica.
authors
WHAT TO DO
Laquita is also the partner venue for the Bold
Books Festival (March 1-4) featuring notable
authors of LGBT-themed sci-fi, poetry-and
Festival attendees can meet many of their favorite
(Radclyffe is on this year's roster), buy their works,
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discover and eajoy previews hot-off-the-presses-all
poolside. Conceived of in 2007 by Casitas Laquita's
Funaro and Roberson, who teamed with Bold Strokes Books,
the nearby Queen of Hearts Resort, and the Palm Springs
Bureau of Tourism, the Bold Strokes Books Festival is a
unique experience for literary lesbians. But don't forget to
pull yourself away to eajoy all the rest of Palm Springs!
If you are in town during The Dinah, the partying
and indoor (read bedroom) activity can make it easy to
forget the wild natural beauty of the desert, just a short
drive away. Andreas and Palm Canyons offer breathtakingly beautiful treks into the hills. Take a tour with Desert
Adventures (red-jeep.com) and make sure you request
the lovely, loquacious Morgan-you'll
learn everything
about the Agua Caliente Cahuilla (pronounced Kaw-we-ah)
Indians, who developed complex communities in the
Palm Springs area. Explore the ancient Indian Canyons
and marvel at the largely unspoiled and stunning desert
landscape, pristine snowmelt streams and tall California
palms (don't refer to them as trees; they're actually a type
of grass). A hike into Andreas Canyon is breathtaking,
without leaving you breathless (indian-canyons.com).
For a cultural excursion, and a flashback to an era of
old world glamour, take a tour of the Annenberg Retreat
at Sunnylands (sunnylands.org). Open this month after
extensive renovations, the estate incorporates a historic
house, an education center, a desert garden and a solar
farm. The retreat intends to host high-level conferences
and seminars on issues of global importance. Sunnylands,
a tribute to the Mid-Century Modern movement in architecture and design, was the home of entrepreneurs and
philanthropists Walter and Leonore Annenberg, who
entertained presidents, royalty, international political
figures and entertainment icons. It's an impressive place
to stop, and contemplate your own place in the world.
DESERT HEARTS
LESBIAN PALM SPRINGS
Palm Springs is known primarily as a mecca for gay men,
but it also has a vibrant lesbian history. The Hollywood
screen siren Gloria Swanson stayed at the Desert Knight,
the town's first lesbian hotel, in 1969; today, the Queen of
Hearts. Dr. Florilla White, a pants-wearing horsewoman
and adventurer, settled in Palm Springs in 1913. She built
and operated the Palm Springs Hotel, was also the area's
first doctor, and was said to be friends with bisexual silentscreen star RudolfValentino. Dinah Shore, the Hollywood
singer-actor who had numerous male paramours but was
also a champion of that favorite lesbian pastime, golf, was
a longtime supporter of women's professional golf, and
lent her name to the Dinah Shore Weekend, arguably
the largest lesbian event in the world. For more queer
history, dip into A City Comes Out: The Gay and Lesbian
History of Palm Springsby David Wallace.
Today, Palm Springs offers several resources for queer
visitors, including an online magazine for the lesbian
community of Coachella Valley, LSpot Palm Springs
(lspotpalmsprings.com); the monthly Desert Dyners where
lesbians can dine out and meet, (desertdyners.co~); and
the Golden Rainbow Center, now the LGBT Community
Center of the Desert (thecenterps.org)
DESERT DECADENCE:
TAKE THE WATERS
A spa treatment at the Spa Resort Casino Hotel is a surefire way to get into relaxation mode. Being in the desert,
sometimes we forget that Palm Springs is named for
its waters, which were known to the Cahuilla Indians for
their curative powers. The Spa Resort Casino's signature
service is the famous "Taking of the Waters;' a therapeutic
10-minute soak in a private sunken tub filled to the brim
with mineral waters. Precede this with steam, sauna and
eucalyptus inhalation to embark on a journey that leaves
you rejuvenated-and
ready for all the rest of Palm
Springs' pleasures. (sparesortcasino.com)
DESERT DINING:
THREE'S COMPANY
The queer vibe abounds in Palm Springs eateries, so you
can eat out anywhere and feel at home. But if you really
want to sample and support a gay establishment and eat
exceptionally well (mostly seasonal and organic), there
is no better restaurant than Trio (triopalmsprings.com).
This dining destination offers some standout dishes, from
the innovative (soy ceviche is a tasty vegetarian option) to
the comforting ( the mac and five cheese was sumptuously
indulgent). If you have a sweet tooth, finish with the Trio
nut torte-although
we were lucky to sample the pie of
the day, a towering slice of lip-smacking lemon meringue
made by none other than a local lesbian! Trio is located
in an Old Las Palmas bank in the Design District, and
Tony Marchese and Mark Van Laanen have a solid investment-on two curve visits, seating was waiting-list-only.
But kudos to these guys, who give back to the community
with events and fundraisers all year round. And kudos to
a community that will keep us coming back.
(visitpalmsprings.com)
March 2012
I69
REVIEWSIn The Stacks
A Portraitof the Artist,Naked
A Lambda LiteraryAward-winningauthor recreatesa historic lesbianaffair. By Merryn Johns
Art Deco historians have
told us very little about lesbian
painters in the Jazz Age, even though we
know that literary luminaries Gertrude
Stein, Natalie Barney, Radclyffe Hall,
Colette and Djuna Barnes were part of a
Sapphic milieu-their
contributions to
the construction of lesbian identity in the
20th century are well-documented, but
scant attention has been paid to queer female
artists of the era.
Tamara de Lempicka, who stalked the
same Parisian turf as those famous women
writers, was arguably the 20th century's
first female celebrity painter, sought after
by collectors, who fought to acquire her
bold, jewel like, erotically charged canvases.
De Lempicka was an art star in her own lifetime, long before feminists canonized Frida
Kahlo and Georgia O'Keefe. And, unlike
those two trailblazers, de Lempicka actually
was queer and painted in the context of her
identity-she
painted the women she was
attracted to or involved with.
It is this largely untouched lesbian history
that Ellis Avery chooses as the basis for her
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exquisite new novel, TheLast Nude. Avery's
lush, clever, and sexy reverie is set in Paris
in 1927, when a young and impoverished
American named Rafaela Fano allows
herself to be picked up by a glamorous
stranger-the artist Tamara de Lempicka.
A would-be seamstress teetering on
the brink of prostitution, Fano agrees
to model for de Lempicka. When the
older woman seduces
her model and
Fano blossoms
under her patron's
touch, art history
is changed: Fano's
erotic longing for
de Lempicka finds
its way into what
will become one of
the most iconic paintings of its era. The
sexual charge embedded in the painting sets
off a bidding war, and de
Lempicka and Fano find
themselves embroiled in intrigue, scandal
and a love affair that will haunt them till
their end days.
Avery, who earned three awards for
her brilliant lesbian-themed novel The
Teahouse Fire, has applied her imagination
to history again with TheLast Nude. Avery
starts with what is known about Tamara
de Lempicka: She was an enigmatic, aristocratic, part-Jewish blonde who fled the
Bolshevik Revolution for Paris, only to
endure the creeping tide of Nazism. It is
known that her numerous affairs ( and
lashings of cocaine) fed her work, and that
she was a genius whose prodigious output
(28 canvases in six months for her first
major show) captured the elegance and
modernity of the late Jazz Age. But Avery
weaves a new and glimmering thread into
this tapestry, adding that in spite of her
peripatetic Bohemian ways, de Lempicka
was very likely in love with Fano; and that
turning away from this passionate attachment
to pursue fiscal pragmatism and social
ambition became the chief regret of her
later years.
There is one fact that Avery seized upon
to spin this story: The painting that de
Lempicka was working on when she died
in 1980 was a copy of her 1927 Beautiful
Rafaela. Avery asks why the artist returned
to this work. "Fifty-three years later this
painting came back to her: That is the fact.
What that might have meant to her is my
job. Was it because this was the pinnacle of
her work and she wanted to recapture that?
Was it because she was doing what elderly
artists do-revisit
their earlier work? My
belief is that she had Rafaela, the girl herself,
on her mind, and she wanted to return to
that affair:'
While Avery admits that this is "the kind
of willful interpretation that fiction writers
get to indulge in;' I doubt that her readers
will object; they will grant Avery her indulgence when historical revisionism leans in a
lesbian direction. The chief delight of this
book is its sexy re-creation of scenes that
must have occurred but have been lost in
the footnotes of history-for
example, the
moment de Lempicka and Fano meet. That
de Lempicka did in fact meet a girl while
walking her dog in the Bois de Boulogne
has been documented in a memoir by
Lempicka's daughter, Kizette, and Avery
decided to elaborate further on what she
imagines was already a "crazy and sexual
and intense" encounter. When Fano first sits
for the artist, Avery plays out the erotically
charg~d scene in detail.
Looking at my mouth Tamara bit the side
of her thumb. Drew the wet thumb across my
lower lip. "There. Good."
She took her drawing board and charcoal
and moved her chair closer to the couch where
I lay. My lower lip pulsed as she drew...
Tamara set down her drawing board, and
leanedforward. When I felt her hair wisping
against my face again, I inhaled sharply.
When she kissed me, I sighed. Her tongue
..J
--'
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a.
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acrossmy lip made me clenchat thefold of silk betweenmy
thighs. "I can tell you are going to be a difficult model,"
she said, coming up brieflyfor air before dipping back
into my mouth.
While Avery has stuck close to the biographical
details of de Lempicka's life, her method has been to
enlarge up n certain events and to imaginatively
reconstruct what they might have meant to the painter.
For the sake of the plot, she has also made adjustments
to some dates and locations, so that the action would
play out more smoothly. She will admit that she had
great fun sketching in the unknown details of Rafaela
Fano's origins-and longings-and that the fictional
character she calls Anson Hall is a projection of what
Ernest Hemingway might have become, if he had never
gotten over losing all his manuscripts in 1922.
Perhaps Avery's most willful creative act is her
decision about who would tell the tale. The majority
of the novel unfolds not from de Lempicka's point
of view but from the largely unformed conscious~
ness and rather innocent heart of the least~known
character, Rafaela Fano. Only at the end are we
allowed inside the mind of the cool~hearted genius, and
we find that despite her ambition, as streamlined as
a luxury vintage car, she harbors a devastating shard
of regret about the lovely young woman she painted
again and again.
This novel is about creative and romantic failure,
says Avery. "Once she married again, de Lempicka
had fame, she had money, she had a tide-everything
she ever wanted and more-and
surfeit killed her
ambition:' Once she achieved the fame and wealth
she had always coveted, "the inferno of hunger that
fed her work wasn't there anymore:•
While some would label de Lempicka (and Fano,
too) bisexual, that's a moot point as far as Avery is
concerned. "I don't think that people were using
labels to the extent that they are today:' For example,
de Lempicka had no qualms about marrying the rich~
est man in Europe, even while involved with Fano. ''As
far as Tamara's concerned, why wouldn't she?" muses
Avery. "Rafaela might think they're falling in love, but
Tamara thinks it's the painter's prerogative to sleep
with the model. Both women are having the relation~
ship that they think they are having," she continues,
which leads to the complications that provide the
explosive climax of the book.
"However, Tamara has the rest of her life to dis~
cover she was in love and didn't realize it," says Avery.
"Rafaela is the one that got away..:'
Nevertheless, de Lempicka is, in other ways, a
portrait of female strength rather than loss. "Tamara
thought of herself as a painter first, and she wasn't
going to let her gender get in the way of that:'
EROTICSUGGESTIONS
These two new sexy anthologies have us all a-flutter.
TakeMe There:Trans
and
edited
Genderqueer
Erotica,
byTristanTaormina
and
BestLesbianErotica2012,
editedbyKathleen
Warnock
selectedandintroduced
by
SinclairSexsmith
(CleisPress)
CleisPressstill setsthe standard
for queererotica,andthis year's
cropincludesanotherentryin the
annualBestLesbianEroticacanon
andthe groundbreaking
new
anthologyof transandgenderqueer
eroticaeditedbyTristanTaormino,
TakeMe There.
BestLesbian
Erotica's
2012has
storiesselectedby sexblogger
SinclairSexsmithandis editedby
KathleenWarnock,andincludes
writerssuchas LuluLaFramboise,
XanWest,Ali Oh,AnneGrip,Anna
WatsonandGiselleRenarde.
There's
evena humorousshortpieceby
comicLeaDeLariaentitled"The
ElevatorMan,"whichopenswith,"I
ama hardnosed
butch.Thekindof
butchyoudon'tseemuchof these
days.Wehavegoneout of fashion,
like landlinesandcassettetapes.
Occasionally
we popup whenyour
deckneedsbuildingor yourPride
Parademarshaling."
Asthis serieshasmatured,the
toneof the collectionshasvaried,
with someyearsfocusingon certain
themes,suchas vampirefiction,or
daddy-boiplay.Thisyear'santhology
is timelywithoutbeingtrendy,and
includesstoriesaboutbloodplay,
yoga,naughtyGirlScouts,shopping
for sextoys,sexin carsandvarious
sexualandgenderconfigurations.
It's a well-balanced
collection,
with narya dudin the batch,and
containsenoughvarietyto satisfy
anyeroticaproclivity.
Thetimefor a collectionsuchas
TristanTaormino'sTakeMe There:
is
Trans
andGenderqueer
Erotica,
definitelyripeandready.Although
it's a first,this readslike analreadyclassiccollection,andit's
clearTaorminominedher Rolodex
for the bestwritersin this genre-
whichincludea who'swho of both
queerandtranswriters,including
LauraAntoniou,KateBornstein,
GinadeVries,S.BearBergman,
HelenBoyd,PatrickCalifia,Ivan
Coyote,RachelKramerBusseland
ShawnaVirago.
Thisis an impeccablygathered
collection,as mostreaderscould
openthe bookanywherewithin
nearly300pagesandbecome
completelyabsorbed.
Thereare
the requisiteraunchysexstories
here,sure,manyfeaturingsome
combinationof BDSM,kink,and
cocks,albeitwith gender-bending
angles.Butthis reviewer'sfavorite
piecesleanawayfromthe obvious
andmoretowarda light-hearted
humor.TheseincludeAnnaWatson's
"FemmeFatigue,"in whicha
famoustransmanwriter'soverlookedfemmegirlfriendgetsher
due;Bornstein'srevisionisttakeon
HuckFinn,"DixieBelle,"in which
Huck-now a sexworkernamed
DixieBelle-writes TomSawyer
to informhimof somechangesin
his life; andTobiHill-Meyer'seerie
timetravelpiece,"Self-Reflection,"
in whichthe maincharactermeets
a versionof herselfpost-transition,
sentfromthe future,andproceeds
to havesexwith her/self.Smartand
sassy,TakeMe Therewill surelybe
the standardbearerfor the many
transgendereroticacollectionsyet
to come.(cleispress.com)
[RachelPepper]
(ellisavery.com/thelastnude)
March 2012
I 71
REVIEWSSapphic Screen
Sapphic Scientist
Finding Bigfoot's Ranae Holland searches for the truth. By Rachel Shatto
Do you believe in Bigfoot? Well if someday,
definitive proof comes to light it may very
well be an LGBT~identified woman who
makes the discovery. Who is this scientific
sleuth, combing the wilds of North America
in search of Sasquatchr Ranae Holland,
research biologist, Bigfoot skeptic and co~star
of Finding Bigfoot. The Animal Planet series,
which is now in its second season, follows
the exploits of Holland and three Sasquatch
true believers as they hunt for proof of one
of nature's most enduring cryptids.
Raised in South Dakota, an alleged hotbed
for Bigfoot activity, Holland grew up with
the tale of a mysterious creature at large.
While she has always been fascinated with
the stories, being science minded she has
never believed in their existence. However,
her life~long interest in the phenomena, her
training as a research biologist-she received
a Bachelor of Science from the School of
Aquatic and Fishery Sciences-and her time
spent in the field in the Northwest (another
popular Bigfoot sighting region) make her
uniquely qualified for the search. And really,
72
Icurve
I'll keep doing this as
passed away. While going through some of
his personal belongings I ran across some
long as those kids show Bigfoot paraphernalia and I had wonderful
flashbacks of being a little girl with my dad.
up with their dads to the So I found myself out in the thick woods
town halls or the queer where all of the Bigfoot stories from my
childhood were. I hadn't even thought of
youth come, all day long. it. So, I jumped on the Internet and ...
found BFRO [Bigfoot Field Researchers
I'll keep doing it for them. Organization], which is [co~star] Matt
Moneymaker's group. And we developed a
No question.
relationship where I don't believe in Bigfoot,
but I love Bigfoot stories and Matt can
can you blame us for hoping when and if contact me and ask anything that he would
the big Sasquatch discovery comes, that it's want to ask a research biologist.
made by a sistar
Canyoudescribe
yourroleontheteam?
How did you get involvedwith the series I am essentially called the skeptic scientist.
Finding
Bigtoon
I love Bigfoot stories. It's this phenomenon
My special time with my dad growing up that persists for hundreds of years if you
was when we'd watch Bigfoot movies and all think of the Eurocentric aspect, but from
things paranormal that you would find on oral traditions of Native Americans and
In Search Of .. everything from that 1970s the tribes across North America, for thou~
craze. I grew up, moved out to Seattle and sands of years. I don't believe Bigfoot's real.
I became a Research Fisheries Biologist. I'd I can't wrap my head around it. I've never
been out there for a few years and my father seen one. I've never seen proof that for me
definitively says: yes. So how does this
Sowhatis it that keepshopealive?Howdo
mythos persist? It's fascinating to me.
youstaymotivated?
Doestherestofthecrewevergetonyourcase This job takes us around the country to
forbeinga non-believer?
rural America ... and it's a lot of hard work,
Definitely. They're like brothers now. And
it's outdoors and a lot of time in the dark
we come fr m different opinions. I mean
in rough conditions. I'm feeling spent, and
those guys will even argue within themselves, I feel like: What am I doing? I'm looking
let alone I'm the one that doesn't believe.And
for a unicorn? What are you doing, Ranae?
it really comes down to ultimately tolerance
And I stop, and here comes this little
8,year,old with his dad, and I'm taken
and being respectful of each other. All four
back 30 years and I'm that little 8,year,
of us bring unique specialized skill sets
to the team. And we're a team for
a reason because one is no better,
stronger than the other.
Whatwill happenif youactuallyfind
a Bigfoot?
~.
"'
\~
Well, interestingly, in season one,
'
I
we had a nice little exchange, in
·,,.
our North Carolina episode. We
all had this agreement ... that if we
Trigger
Mangus!
see some heat signature [on the]
(WolfeVideo}
(WolfeVideo}
thermal imaging camera, that we'd
radio each other and then we'd try
All Manguswantsisto MollyParkerandTracy
to corner it and move in closer. And
followin thefootsteps Wright(inherfinalrole)
Matt went rogue-Matt just went
starin this beautifully
of hisfather(whois
running after it. So now we basi,
acteddramaaboutthe
deployed
in Iraq)and
cally have our agreement that we
playthe partof Jesus passionandchaosof
a dysfunctional
friendin hishighschool's
at least try to communicate before
ship.Thefilm opens
production
of "Jesus
we move in. But I'm just telling you
ChristSpectacular." duringa performance
if I'm sitting there and I see some,
of the duo'sband,
Butwhentragedy
thing in the line of sight. I'm going
Trigger,
that endswith
strikes
and
Mangus
is
after it. [Laughs]
Vic(Wright)storming
left
paralyzed
from
the
As a specialistin this area, which
waistdown,hismusical off stage,andpicks
cryptidis mostlikelyto bereal?
debutis putinjeopardy. upseveralyearslater
I would say something aquatic. It
Makingmattersworse, whenthetwo are
would have a higher percentage
hisselfishstepmother reunitedfor thefirst
than anything terrestrial. And if it
time.Theybeginthe
shipshimoffto live
is terrestrial it better be something
eveningstill caught
withhismotherand
small-but
I don't believe in the
up in thetoxicityof
closeted
sisterinthe
old with my dad, at a car show and some
Bigfoot person is there. And I'm like, OK,
it's all right. And then even more so, I go
to some town hall meeting, and an LGBT
youth comes up to me and wants a picture
with me and just wants to give me a hug.
I'll keep doing this as long as those kids
show up with their dads to the town halls
or the queer youth come, all day long.
I'll keep doing it for them. No question.
( animalplanet.com)
..
chupacabra.
Do youfind it challenging
to be so
publicly
outasLGBT-identified?
It's so interesting to really wrap my
head around the idea that, first of
all, I'm a research biologist and
fascinated by Bigfoot. I never meant
to be on TV and here I'm on TV
to the point where I'm publicly
discussing my sexuality, which is so
foreign to me. And at one point, it
saddens me that it's even a perti,
nent question, but at the same time
I respect that for gay youth, it's very
important.
Portlandia:
Season1
{VideoServ}
OurIdiotBrother
(TheWeinstein
Company}
StarringSNLvetFred
Armisenandbisexual Whenwordbrokethat
Sleater-Kinney
alum
ObercutiesZooey
CarrieBrownstein,
this Deschanel
andRashida
wonderfully
bizarreand Joneswouldbeplaying
deeplyqueersketch
gayin OurIdiotBrother,
comedyseriesturns
needless
to sayit
its incisiveeyeto the
caughtourattention.
principles'hometown Whilesadlythefilm is
of Portland,
Ore.The
nota lezzierom-com
showfeaturesa variety ala ImagineMe&
of characters
including You,it's a charming
a duoof women'sonly film aboutanidealistic
bookstore
owners,a
manandhissisters
militantbikerideranda (ofwhichDeschanel
is
varietyof liberalyuppy one).WhenNed(Paul
characters.
Portlandia Rudd)is released
from
lovinglyskewersevery- jail hereturnshometo
theirpastbutoverthe
thingthatis wonderful discover
trailerpark.Thisdark
hisgirlfriend
courseof the night
comedyco-starring
andsillyaboutthat
hasa newmanand
theyremember
what
Northwestern
city's
outlesbianHeather
shekickshimoff his
theyloveabouteach
cultureandfortunately biodynamic
Matarazzo
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farm.He
other-reconnecting
youdon'thaveto be
marksthe indie
movesbackhome
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fluentin thewaysof
darling's
producing
whereheimmedichildhoodfriendship- Portlandians
to bein
debut.Politically
atelycomplicates
his
astheydealwiththe
onthejoke.A bevyof
incorrecthumorand
sisters'lives,ultimately
realitiesof agingand
familiarfacesincluding uncovering
subversive
themes
unwanted
lossof identity.It's also SelmaBlair,Heather
aboundinthisquirky
truths.Whileit maynot
a welcomereminder
Graham,
AimeeMann havebeenthequeer
indiemusicalin the
andKyleMaclachlan film of ourdreams,it
veinof Saved!--plus of the riotgrrrlscene
makeguestappearancesis a heartfelt,
funny
it featuresa wickedly andboastsa rocking
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andlesbian-inclusive
ironiccameofromJohn soundtrack
haveyoudustingoff
easilyaccessible
if nar- comedysureto puta
Watersthatno
iconoclast
shouldmiss. yourBikiniKillrecords. rawlyfocusedpremise. smileonyourface.
I
March 2012
I73
REVIEWSMusic Watch
DreamyDuo
Meet this year's Dinah Shore headliners, Nina Sky.
By Rosanna Rios Spicer
Nicole and Natalie Albino, the talented
twins better known as Nina Sky, soared
to the top of the charts with the hit "Move
Ya Body" -and right into our big lesbian
hearts. Since then we simply can't get
enough of these soulful sisters. They use
their melodious voices to do more than just
serenade us with backdrops of reggaeton,
R&B and dance beats; they also are vocal
in their stand for LGBT rights. And that's
one note that hits close to home, as Nicole
recently wed her partner, fashion designer
Erin Magee, and is also the first Latina
recording artist to publicly come out. To
add to their pro~lesbian cred, you can also
catch them performing center stage at this
year's White Diamonds party at Club Skirts
The Dinah. The dreamy duo talks to us
about musical inspirations, sisterly bond,
and their newest album, The Other Side.
Whatare youmostlookingforwardto while
playingat TheDinah?
Natalie:Performing some new jams, the
reaction of the audience, getting to see
the Dinah Shore dynamic. We hear it's
a great event!
We loveyourN0H8campaignphotos.What
wasyourfavoritepartof theshoot?
Natalie:Thanks. My favorite part of the
shoot was putting the NOH8 on my face.
Whois yourcelesbian
idol?
Both:Oprah! [Laughs]
Natalie:Teresa Weatherspoon and Suzie
Orman.
Any pre-showritualsor goodluck charms
beforegoingonstage?
Natalie:We used to do push up competi~
tions backstage before shows with our
security and anyone that wanted to join in.
We never won. More recently, we just lay
low and ~ave all that energy for the stageand the after party!
What'sonyouriPod?
Nicole:My iPod is a crazy mix of everything
from Broadway songs, TV theme songs,
references of songs we're working on and
74
Icurve
For The OtherSide
we wantedto record
musicthat was fun and
inspiredby the music
we listenedto growing
up in Queens,N.Y.
It'sa dance-influenced
projectwith an
R&B base.
Nicole:I used to call Natalie Tita: Our
grandma gave her the nickname when
we were babies. When we were 16 she
told me to quit it. Since then, she's just
been Nat.
Natalie:I kind of miss being called Tita.
I call Nicole Nicolasa and Nico. If she's
annoying me I'll call her Nicholas. She
every genre of music that exists.
hates to be called Nicholas.
Natalie:What she said, a little bit of every~ Whatwastheinspiration
behindyournewest
album?
thing. Majority of ~ine is filled with R&B
Nicole:For The Other Side we wanted to
jams though.
What'sthe onethingyoucan'tlivewithout record music that was fun and inspired
backstage?
by the music we listened to growing up
in Queens, N.Y. It's a dance~influenced
Nicole:Groupies (laughs].
project with an R&B base. It's the first
Natalie:Candy.
Doyouhavenicknames
foreachotherandif project we released independently with~
out a major label and we are super excited
so,wheredidtheycomefrom?
about how it's been received by our fans.
Tellmeaboutwhat'snextforyou.
Natalie:Our next project will be consistent
with our previous release, The Other Side.
It still has that dance influence, but it has
more vocals, a little more vibe. Something
for everyone. The first single is called
"Daydreaming:' Once you hear it you'll
totally understand what I mean!
Tellus abouta timewhenyourmusiccame
froma lifeexperience?
Natalie:When "On Some Bullshit" was
recorded, it was literally just that: on some
bullshit.
Nicole and I had an argument, the first
blowout ever, and she refused to travel
with me. We had sessions scheduled, so
I ended up flying to Miami alone to record
with Salaam Remi. Salaam and I were
trying to build a vibe and I believe at some
point I just broke and kept on talking
about how, 'Tm on some bullshit" and he
said, "Fuck what you heard" and the chorus
was created!
We ended up writing the track about a
relationship gone sour. And, after hearing
the joint over the phone, Nicole flew in
the next day to lay down the rap part, so it
all worked out. (ninaskyhigh.com)
DIFRANCO
righteous
babe.com
REVIEWSTech Girl
TravelComQanion
Which tablet is right for you? By Rachel Shatto
Travel is exciting, full of exotic locales, cuisine and people-thrilling
new experiences and adventures wait around every
corner. So it's little wonder that hitting the road is such a popular pastime. But as any globetrotting lezzie who has had a flight
delayed, missed a train or had to hop a late~night bus knows, travel comes with a fair bit of downtime, too. What should you
do when you've got nowhere to go and nothing to do but sit and wait? Well, you can read a book, do some people watching,
write in your travel journal, catch up on your correspondence-or
you can do all of the above with a tablet, which is why
these compact gadgets have become such popular traveling companions. But, with so many options available on the market,
it can be hard co decide which tablet is right for you. Fortunately for you busy, jet~setting lesbians, curve has got you covered.
Check out our three favorite options below to find your perfect tablet match. Bon voyage!
0
iPad2
Samsung
GalaxyTab10.1
KindleFire
Currently
the mostpopular
tabletonthe market,the iPad
2 runsApple'siOSoperating
system,makingit userfriendly
for thosefamiliarwiththe iPhone
or iPodtouch.
Oneof the mostpopulartablets
builton Google's
Android
operatingsystem,which
alsopowersmanyleading
smartphones.
Alsoavailable
in a 7-inchmodel.
Amazon's
first colortablet
expandsontheirprevious
e-readerswith a touchscreen,
appsanda highlycustomized
versionof theAndroid
operatingsystem.
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$500andup
$500andup
$200
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Webbrowsing,movies,music,
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books,games,productivity
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Webbrowsing,books,
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•
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•
•
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e.
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76
PROS
Largestselectionof apps
Supports
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size
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• Monospeaker
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unstableOS
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IDEAL
FOR
Appleenthusiasts,
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Featuring
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BA.CA.ROI.
REVIEWSFood & Wine
Art of Glass
Savor your favoritewine from a work of art. By Merryn Johns
Becky Suriano loves wine, but when
it came to finding a suitable vessel
from which to sample her favorite
beverage, the glass was half empty, so
to speak. Last year, the New Jersey
27 -year-old was shopping for a souvenir wineglass to use for sampling
at the many wine-tasting events she
attended. As usual, she found what
was on offer to be generic, unimaginative and far from aesthetically
pleasing. "Nothing felt fresh, unique
or edgy to me, and none of the glasses
were geared to appeal to my generation. I wanted to drink out of a glass
that reflected my own personal style.
I had always wanted to start my
own business, but never had a solid
enough idea:' That day, which also
happened to be Suriano's birthday,
she went home, bought some art supplies
and painted her first glass.
So began her wineglass-painting business: Wine Me? But in reality, the business
had its roots further back in Suriano's
history. The self-taught artist has had no
professional training in painting, but her
evident talent had been encouraged by her
mother since she was a small child, and
later by her teachers. "Painting has always
been something I enjoyed doing, something
that fulfilled me and gave a lot of pleasure
to others, when I did it:'
For her first wineglass-painting adventure, Suriano made four glasses in assorted
colors depicting the silhouette of a tree over
a starry background. She and a few friends
went to the next wine-tasting festival and
took the glasses to use. "People kept coming up to us, asking us where we bought
our glasses. I would hand them my business card and sometimes even sold them
my glass on the spot, if they insisted. I did
that all summer, and eventually took the
next step and paid for a table at a local flea
market, set up for business, and the whole
thing took off like a rocket ship:'
That first "tree" design has been her most
78 I curve
popular to date, however, Suriano paints
many other designs and accepts custom
requests. (Her interpretation of Vincent
van Gogh's "Starry Night" is a favorite.)
Suriano's approach to adorning each artglass is both admirable and authentic. "I
start with a clear glass and use_glass paint
for everything. A lot of people ask me if I
spray or dip them, but I don't. Everything is
done with my good ol' paintbrush:' (In case
you were worried, the paints are nontoxic
and durable, although Wine Me? glasses
must be washed by hand in warm water,
rather than dumped in the dishwasher.)
Suriano prices her glass-ware from
$15 to $100 per piece-which
sounds like a lot, but not if
you consider that these are
hand-painted
artworks.
The price of a custom
glass depends on the
design and the degree of
detail, of course, and
Suriano is happy to give
estimates. No design is
too obscure or too personal: The most unusual
order Suriano received is
in fact the very first custom
order she took. "The background of
the glass was painted as the world,
and it had a dragon boat, ice skates,
an ice luger, a diver, a kite and, well,
you get the point-it
was quite
unusual:'
In spite of the labor-intensive
nature of her business, Wine Me?
is growing by leaps and bounds.
Suriano has no need or time left to
pursue any other work. Currently
100 percent self-employed, the glass
artist is now at the point where she's
just trying to keep up. "I would like
to hire qualified artists to help with
the rapidly growing demand:'
Suriano, who identifies as a lesbian,
is keen to get the word out about
Wine Me? to other gay women. As
a small-business owner, she would
welcome the support of the community,
and in these economically-challenging
times, her vision and dedication is an inspiration to would-be queer entrepreneurs.
"Realizing and embracing my sexuality
somehow helped me be more confident to
listen to my gut, to trust mysel£ to be an
independent thinker:'
And it's that spirit that's likely to take
Suriano to the top of her field, as specialized
as it is. "I was recently honored to be named
the Grand Prize winner in winemaker
Georges Duboeuf's Nouveau ExpressionBe Heard national art contest. My
work was showcased in New
York City during Nouveau
Day events and received
a $1,000 prize. I also
won the People's Choice
Award from the Em pact
100 List [it recognizes
the top entrepreneurs
under 30), where Wine
Me? was honored m
Washington, D.C., at
the White House:'
Let's drink to that!
(winemecompany.com)
Summer Hill Road, Vacy,
HUNTER REGION, NSW,
AUSTRALIA
p. +61 2 4938 8233
e. enquiry@
eaglereach.com.au
www.eaglereach.com.au
--;~_t'.llj\~
-" ·:. -- __
,:;i,i~~-·
•
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PETS
WEDDING
MAGAZINES
GIFTS
FAMILY
JEWELRY
Enter code: Curve 2011
March 2012
I79
STARS
Seductive Spring
By Charlene Lichtenstein
Pisces(Feb.20-March20)
ThePisceswomanachesfor
a faithful relationship.She
is in lovewith loveandcan't
wait to find a lovergrrlwith
whomto shareher dreamsof
blissfulhappiness.Sheloves
childrenandavidlyseeksa
partnershipwith a likemindedwoman.If you settle
downwith a SapphicPisces,
expectthe pitter-patterof
little feet within the first
two years,and I don't mean
cats! Hernaiveoptimismin
relationshipsare oftenput
to the test and,as muchas
shedesiresa forever,she is
a mutablesign who knows
whenforeversimplymeans
for the time being.
As the weather warms up, so will you.
Aries(March21-April20)
Lambda Rams command attention this March-even
more than usual. So use all this personal oomph to
your advantage to launch new projects, meet new
important women and push your personal agenda
one giant step forward. Make an impression on some
impressionable young lady.
Libra(Sept.24-0ct. 23)
It is never too late to show a certain someone just how
much you love her. And you may be surprised at how
many people are seeking a connection with you now.
Build up those disparate and far-reaching connections
and build them into relationships. Many of them will
prove to be very valuable as the year progresses.
Taurus(April21-May 21)
Rub your crystal ball and see what March madness
you can conjure up. A mysterious aura surrounds you
and there is a lot going on behind the scenes that can
inflame, surprise and even shock. Good! Life was getting too boring. A misinterpreted rumor takes root and
could compromise your squeaky clean reputation.
Scorpio(Oct.24-Nov.22)
Your job is on your lots-to-do list but life doesn't have
to be boring. A co-worker has her eye on you and this
definitely spices things up. Rev up your antics around
the office and see who is interested in pushing your
paperclip in the Xerox room. A word of caution:
Avoid nudity and nosey bosses during working hours,
unless it's your boss you are nosing.
Gemini(May22-June21)
Don't be surprised if your various social circuits fray
and zap all through March. There are just too many
wonderful choices of things to do all at the same time.
What a dilemma! Be choosy, be discerning, if you can.
And if not, just go with the flow and see where you
wash up ashore.
Cancer(June22-July 23)
Your professional path takes a sharp turn and guides
you to new opportunities and advancements. But
watch what you say and who you say it to this March.
One pointed comment could poke the big brass in the
you-know-where. Maybe that is your intention? If so
be prepared for any fall-out.
Leo(July24-Aug.23)
The world is your oyster as an international amour du
jour beckons. Will you heed the siren call? If time and
money are tight, your hot-wired romancing can be
done via the internet. But sexting your hot bot only
goes so far, Lioness. Try to make an in-person appearance while your engines are revving. Hey, any excuse
to take a vacation!
Virgo(Aug.24-Sept.23)
Even though it feels like life is one big stop and start
motion,
march boldly forward with anything having
Charlene
Lichtenstein
is
to
do
with
intense emotions, sexuality and family
theauthorof HerScopes:
intrigue this month. There is something you need
A GuidetoAstrology
to grapple with and, once grappled, will liberate you
(Simon&
for Lesbians
from any self-doubt. You are a force with whom to be
Schuster)
(tinyurl.com/HerScopes).
Nowavailable
asanebook.
reckoned, Virgo.
so Icurve
Sagittarius(Nov.23-Dec.22)
You may think that party season has passed you by but
you would be wrong. March is the month to march to
a different drummer and to as many different parties
as possible. Expand your social circle and get involved
in something wildly creative and artistic. And don't be
surprised if an intoxicating lovely by the bar shakes
and stirs you.
Capricorn(Dec.23-Jan.20)
It is never too early for spring-cleaning-both physical
and psychological. Cleaning out your assorted closets
will not only have some cathartic benefits, it will also
help you create a more harmonious home and family
situation. Once all the hard work is done, relax and
recharge. Invite some bosom buddies over and see
how really cathartic life can be.
Aquarius(Jan.21-Feb.19)
Bold and brassy statements have their appeal but
know when to craft your message for your audience.
Think carefully about what you really want to say,
work your tongue and make it do magic things. You
will succeed in changing hearts and minds.
Pisces(Feb.20-March20)
Counting your pennies doesn't seem like much
fun but it will pay off. Rather than save and invest,
Guppies would prefer to spend with abandon and
buy lots of beautiful and gaudy trinkets. Think ahead
and manage your love relationships with a practical
eye. Leave buying trinkets to a new benefactress.
See all items with this value
-
Top Lesbian
Destinations
r
EXCLUSIVE
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Mccarville.
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nook-UP•
Features
50
30
32
Tegan and Sara
The lesbian indie duo are all grown up and
poised for greatness with their next album.
By Janelle Sorenson and Melany Joy Beck
Lady Liberty
New York Liberty basketball star Janel
Mccarville on being out, and why she was
suspended from the game she loves.
By Lyndsey O'Arcangelo
The Producer
Quirky indie darling Heather Matarazzo steps
behind the camera and in front for her latest
cinema outing. By Rachel Shatto
Travel& Style
We look at the world's best destinations
for lesbian travelers, and sexy new looks,
no matter what your gender expression.
39
47
54
58
64
Model Behavior
Hot out Aussie model Neira Fetahovic.
By Merryn Johns
Debonair Dude
Chaz Bono 's transition led to a whole new
approach to fashion. By Jillian Eugenios
Seductive Sweden
A Scandinavian Summer surprise.
By Jillian Eugenios.
My Nashville
A local musician takes us behind the
scenes of Music City. By Anne McCue
Amazing Zambia
Not quite out in Africa. By Allison Steinberg
page18
t
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2 curve
page47
t
MARCH2012
Being gay friendly
is part of our
local architecture.
ey est , n t ecome a top gay n
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From clothing-optional accommodatio
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activities, Key West has the blueprint
CloseTo Perfect- ForFromNormol for the vacation of a lifetime.
fla-keys.com/gaykeywest
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Editor's Letter
This Is What a Lesbian Looks Like
Out in Front
Scene
26
28
Lesbofile
Lipstick & Dipstick
Stars
Curvatures
70
Bi-national femme couple Wegan
blog about their adventures in love
and style; Elisha Urn's artful expressions of gender through illustration.
72
Laugh Track
76
78
Sassy Sandra Bernhard lets loose
on lesbian fashion and her own
personal style.
74
MARCH2012
The Two of Us
Our monthly profile of lesbian couples
who live, love and work together.
Fitness Advice
Jill Goldstein encourages us to work
on muscle tone for achievable abs.
Politics
Why we need to change our approach
to Women's History Month.
By Victoria A. Brownworth
-
.
-
.
Books: Lesbian author Ellis Avery
astounds with an artistic new novel.
Film: Finding Bigfoot's Ranae Holland
makes us want to believe.
Music: Glam pop duo Nina Sky
wows us at Club Skirts The Dinah.
Tech: Take these tablets on your travels.
Food: Wine glasses as works of art.
Like NowhereElse
,
.
.
'
Enter for a Chance to WIN a Trip for Two
on Olivia's 40th Anniversary Cruise
Get ready for the vacation of a lifetime on one of the world's largest lesbian
cruises! Olivia is talking two cruise ships, 4,200 lesbians, over 20 entertainers,
and three great ports: Aruba, Curacao and a private island in the Bahamas.
Olivia Travel's 40th Anniversary Southern Caribbean Cruises set sail Jan. 27-Feb.
3, 2013 and Feb. 3-10, 2013 from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. One lucky curve reader
(and her guest) will travel in style on the Feb. 3-10, 2013 voyage. The entire ship
will be filled with lesbians-that's 2,100 new friends-so you can be out and
free. You'll enjoy comics, musicians, DJs, theme parties, incredible excursions
like swimming with dolphins and ATV rides, a singles' program, a commitment
ceremony and much more. "This is the biggest celebration Olivia has produced
to date. It will be a giant reunion, entertainment extravaganza and tropical vacation all rolled into one," remarked Tisha Floratos, Olivia's Vice President of Travel.
Visit olivia.com/curvecontest for details and your chance to win; if your name
is drawn, you and your guest will hop onboard Holland America's luxurious
Nieuw Amsterdam for this dream vacation.
Dishing on The Dinah
Did you fall in love with Nina
' Sky after reading our interview
with the dynamo duo on page
74? Well, there is more where
that came from because
we've got interviews with musical icon Chaka Khan and Dinah
Shore headliner Jessica Sutta, now!
And check out all our coverage of Club
Skirts The Dinah on curvemag.com.
LETTERS
Holiday Issue Happiness
From Curve's
Facebook Wall
I've been reading curve off and on-mostly
on, as a subscriber (and contributor)-for
about 22 years. The December (Vol. 21#10)
issue has impressed me more than any
other. Thanks for the serious and insightful
articles about social and political issues as
they affect lesbians ("Nowhere to Bounce
to" and "Palestine's Secret Lesbian World
Unveiled"), as well as a book review about a
memoir from a lesbian in the U.S. military. I
hope to see more such work in the future.
-Gillian Kendall, Melbourne, Australia
OohI loveGlennClose,can'twaitfor the
nextissue.HappyNewYear!!-Alison
Goddard
Woogreatcover!-Amanda Foesser
Justreadit fromcoverto coverand
lovedeverypageof it! • -Cheree Ruff
Thishasbeenoneof myfavoriteissues
--greatjob!!! -JoAnne Sickeri
Domestic Dissenting Opinion
Marriage Reality Check
I just read the Editor's Note ("Love and
Marriage'' Vol. 22 #1) and I am now rethinking
my previous stance on gay marriage. I have
never been happy that it is not like a heterosexual marriage; however, I still had hoped
to get married (even if it was 'gay marriage'')
one day. My girlfriend and I have had several
conversations, with her not wanting to do it
until it is exactly the same and me stating,
let's take what we can get. Until I read the
line about the separate drinking fountains and
gay marriage being basically the same thing.
Thanks for that perspective.
-Angela G., Nashville, TN:
I was a little disturbed by your article on
genderqueer parenting, "Families of Value"
(Vol. 21#10). It wasn't the idea of genderqueer parenting that was disturbing, it was
the dogmatic views that Jane Ward shared
when being interviewed. She says that from
a queer place she is "not into the gay baby
boom;' as if in comparison every other queer
parent is just popping out little ones just to
keep up with the Gay-Jones's. Why does she
think her process of falling in love with the
right person and then deciding to start a
family is so different from everyone else's:' In
the article Ward also said that it was shocking
how many gay and lesbian parents were raising
gender normative children. Huh:' So if you
are raising a child that is cisgendered you are
somehow failing as a progressive, educated
and politically aware parent:'
-T]CM, Oakland, Calif.
Representation Raves
Who_is ~our lesbian
Po 11fashion
icon?
68%
18%
6%
5%
3%
EllenDeGeneres
Teganand Sara
k.d. lang
BethDitto
WandaSykes
According
to a curvemag.com
poll
6
Icurve
Thank you for putting queer women of color
in your magazine. Queers of color are often
rendered doubly invisible. Thank you so
much for putting up stories and faces that
reflect my world and the issues I face. I liked
your magazine before, now I'm a forever fan.
-Crystal Boson, Lawrence, Kan.
Page Turner Praise
I've been a subscriber for a few years now and
SEND LETTERSTO: curve
Curve,Thanksfor representing
super
femmes.It's a welcomerelief.After1O
yearsof beingmarriedto mywife and
2 kids,I amstill mistakenfor straight
everyday.-Laramie Holliman
Yourcoversgetbetterandbetter!!! you
knowhowto spoilyourreadersdon't
you?i loveit:-))) -Evelyne Plate/
MygirlAdelewill gracethe coverof
Cosmonextmonth-how aboutsome
moreAdelein myfavoritemagazine?
I amherBIGGEST
fan-thank
you,Curve!• -Aunt
KateyFantone
Like
I always enjoy it when curve recommends
new books to read. In the September issue
(Vol. 21#7), you recommended "Holding
Still For As Long As Possible" and I am
completely riveted by the read. Have you
ever thought of doing an article on Young
Adult fiction LGBT writers:' There are some
awesome authors out there who portray amazing lesbian and queer characters. Anyway, just
thought I'd share my thoughts, and give a
shout out for the awesome work you do on my
favorite magazine. -M-E Girard, via email
Editor'sNote:Yes!Keep an eye out for more on
LGBT YA fiction in future issues.
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CONTRIBUTORS
Anne McCueis a songwriter, guitarist, music producer
and video director. Her music has taken her all over
the world and she has spent much time in cities such
as Sydney, Melbourne, Ho Chi Minh City, Los Angeles
and Nashville. She has recently directed videos for Yeah
No Yeah and Tracey Bunn. She is a big fan of Southern
literature and films and is writing a feature film script
set in the South. She has released six albums to date, a
DVD Live in Nashville, and is currently recording a new
album. She gives us a tour of her Nashville on page 58.
( annemccue.com)
as an editorial assistant. "I got to interview a bunch of
cool ladies and was able to experience the inner workings
of a magazine firsthand:' Though, regretfully, her time at
curve has come to a close, the recent Mills College grad
isn't through with the magazine biz yet. Harmon is now
working full-time as an editorial assistant at VegNews
magazine, where sampling delicious vegan treats is a part
of the daily job description. But she better enjoy this
decadence while it lasts-soon
she'll be trading cookies
for casebooks as a member of the University of California
Hastings College of Law Class of 2015. Read her profile of
adorable blogger couple Wegan on page 11.
Lyndsey
D'Arcangelo
is a freelance writer and author from
Buffalo, NY. She loves R&B music, college basketball,
baggy clothes, feel-good movies and the color blue. Look
for Lyndsey's GLCS award-winning LGBT young adult
novel, The Trouble with Emily Dickinson, to be re-released
this spring. The sequel, The Education of Queenie
McBride, will also be available in 2012. Read her exclusive
interview with controversial women's lesbian basketball
star Janel McCarville on page 30.
curve's associate editor Jillian Eugeniosfirst started
reading the magazine when she was just a wee baby dyke
coming out in San Francisco, armed with nothing more
than a fake ID and an intense curiosity about what was to
be found behind the doors of the Lexington Club. Now a
card carrying lesbian and happily jaded New Yorker, she
traveled far and wide for this issue, hitting up Sweden
(page 54) and Montreal (page 62) in search of the best of
the best for lady-loving travelers, and then tracked down
"Working here was a great experience;• says Rashida Sandra Bernhard (page 18) and Chaz Bono (page 47) to
talk style, lesbians and
Harmon,who has just comp-leted her three-month stint
March 2012
I7
EDITOR'S
NOTE
curve
THE BEST-SELLING
WLCOME
TO OURSpring Travel & Fashion Issue.
Last year I wrote about lesbian travel. This year I thought I'd
flip it. True, my wardrobe consists of jeans and jackets, skirts
and blazers, and the number of times I dress up in a calendar
year can be counted on my fingers. I'm hardly a fashionista, but
I'd like to try harder. I'm interested in fashion as an art form and
a means of expression. I was born when, and where, the British
supermodel Jean Shrimpton wore a miniskirt to a horse race
(Victoria Derby Day in Melbourne) and caused a commotion
that echoed around the world. I grew
up marveling at the tomboyish elegance
of Lauren Hutton; I swooned over
Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington,
Linda Evangelista-and hoped in vain
that at least one of them was a lesbian. I
was thrilled when Jenny Shimizu burst
out of the Calvin Klein closet. I'm even
happier that these days lesbian fashion
models are no longer so few and far
between (we interview two new faces
in this issue).
A lot of lesbians, apparently, don't
like fashion, dismissing it as the domain
of insecure heterosexual women and
persnickety gay men. I beg to differ,
and would like to think that fashion is
equally ours. Why should yet another
aspect of mainstream culture be off
limits to lesbians-especially
when
numerous queer women, from designer
Patricia Field to androgynous style
allies such as dapperQ aim to give us
gender expression every day. Have you noticed that in recent
months curve has included fashion created and modeled by
lesbians? Times, they are a-changing.
Recently, when the comic Sandra Bernhard was signing CDs
after a show in New York City, I was gobsmacked to see that my
favorite queen of comedy, who routinely name-drops &om the
A list of fashion, had chosen to make her off-stage appearance
in that much-maligned dykey fabric-flannel! When I pointed
this out to her, she threw back her head in silent mock laughter.
Yes,after years of sniping at lesbians about their lack of fashion
sense, she had reclaimed our trademark as her own (both ironic
and cozy) fashion statement. We've come full circle. Take
ex-lesbian Chaz Bono, who muses on his current fashion stylings
in this issue. And if anyone understands labels, it's him.
Behind
the Label
Merryn J
s
Editor-inief
merryn@curvemag.com
s Icurve
MARCH 2012
I
LESBIAN
MAGAZINE
VOLUME 22 NUMBER 2
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 Assistants Emelina Minero, Rosanna Rios Spicer
OPERATIONS
Director of Operations Laura McConnell
ADVERTISING
National Sales
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Business Development
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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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Femme Visible
When Megan Evans first met Whitney Bacon in fall 2009,
she immediately knew she had found the girl of her dreams.
Bacon's long blonde hair, big smile and South Carolina
drawl were irresistible to the then-Masters student, raised
outside of London.
According to Bacon, the feeling was mutual-just
two
weeks after their first encounter, the inseparable pair
morphed into "Wegan;' blissfully diving into a romance that
would touch even the toughest cynic. There was just one
problem: Bacon, who was studying abroad in London,
would be returning to the University of Hawaii at the end
of the semester to resume her studies.
Bacon's departure from the U.K. launched a three-year
string of plane tickets, temporary relocation and long distance
calls. Evans started What Wegan Did Next to keep them
connected even as distance pushed them apart. Since then,
the diary-style blog has documented every step of their
experience together and apart, from the momentous (getting
engaged in Hawaii) to the mundane (making chickpea
burgers). They say their reasons for starting the blog teeter
between personal and political.
"I just wanted to document us doing long distance to
look back on one day;' Evans explains. 'i\.nd also because
there are a lot of biogs out there, but there aren't any that I
could find that are about two lipstick lesbians. So I thought
that if we put ourselves out there that we could inspire
other people:'
"It's also just good for us to be able to look back, because
we forget what allweve done sometimes;' adds Bacon."So it's
just a reminder of where we've been and where we're going:'
Where they're going is straight to the altar. Though they
haven't set a date yet, they can already visualize their special
day: both will wear dresses and the ceremony will be heavy
on pink. Their wedding plans are a reflection of their personal styles-girly, trend-conscious and fueled by their love
of shopping ( the What Wegan Wore section of their blog is
a particularly adorable testament to the latter).
It's no wonder, then, that covering the entire spectrum
of lesbian identity has become central to What Wegan
Did Next's message. The site features campaigns like
"Femme Visibility" and "Real Life Lesbians;' both of
which are meant to complicate the mainstream notion of
what a lesbian looks like.
To these self-proclaimed lipstick lesbians, these campaigns have a great deal of personal significance.
"When you think about famous lesbians, there aren't that
many that are out, and secondly, there aren't many that are
feminine. When I was growing up, there wasn't any for me
to look up to;' Evans says. 'i\ lot of fellow femme lesbians
say that they have a problem finding other femme lesbians,
so we thought that we'd try to sort of tackle this invisibility
and put the images of other feminine lesbians out there:'
The response to their efforts has been overwhelmingly
positive, and both Evans and Bacon are proud of the influence they have had on their readers. In addition to showing
the world that, yes, two feminine women can fall in love, the
blog also serves as proof that long distance isn't the kiss of
relationship death it used to be.
Evans recently returned to the U.K. after staying with
Bacon and her family in South Carolina for a few months.
Their next step is to get Bacon out to England, where they'd
like to settle down near Evans' family and eventually start
a family of their own. In the meantime, they'll continue to
update their site, and to beat the odds and·stay together.
"Long distance can work. It's just about putting in the
right amount of effort on both halves;' says Evans. "The
number one key is communication, really. Stay in contact
all the time:'
Bacon chimes in: "Plan ahead. It keeps us motivated:'
(whatwegandidnext.blogspot.com)
[RashidaHarmon]
March 2012 j 11
CURVATURES
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Queer Days
If your days tend to blur together and you find yourself wondering just
where that month went, the SISSY calendar-which
artist Elisha
Lim describes as a way of staying in dialogue with your communityis just what you need to help you focus on the present and save the
date. Because the SISSY calendar isn't just pages filled with boxes
and numbers, it's a vibrant, provocative and proud reclamation and
celebration of femininity and sissydom. Inspired by the queer and
diverse friends and family surrounding Lim, the Montreal-based artist fills the glossy,full color calendar with portraits of self-proclaimed
sissies who pose next to their own written definitions of sissy.
Lim isn't new to transgressing unrealistic gender perceptions to
create space for other artists and the rest of us who've witnessed
or felt the repression of a binary gender structure. Lim, who prefers
the pronoun "they" explains, "I
see my pronoun as a philosophy
on life, which is that so many
people around us are not really a
boy or a girl. It's so clear that 'he'
or 'she' is not sufficient." Their projects
also focus heavily on queer people of
color who are often both marginalized
and exoticized in art. Their images
are beautifully centered on greeting
cards, prints and the much-awaited
graphic novel, 100 Butches coming
out this year.
Lim's bold and colorful drawings
dare you to look, so take a peek and
you might just find yourself staring
back at your own reflection. The true beauty of the work lies in its
simple approach to capturing the life, expressions and nuances of those
around us without putting anyone on display, instead embracing the
complexity and contradictions of gender.
The SISSY calendar makes a fantastic gift for friends and family, or
just treat yourself and dazzle your own bare office walls. (elishalim.com)
[Rosanna
RiosSpicer]
March 2012
I 13
CURVATURES
the rundown
In Baltimore
County,
Maryland
an independent arbiter has ruled that lesbian
SelbyandJuanikaBallardmust be awarded health
police officers Margaret
benefits for their wives. Selby and Ballard, who each married in 2009, filed
grievances against the police department after spousal insurance coverage
fees began being deducted from their salary. Ballard was also denied bereavement leave when there was a medical crisis in her wife's family... The Pakistan
Telecommunication Authority recently released a list of 1,600 words that they
deem "pornographic or offensive to Islam"and which citizens will be prohibited
from using in text messages. "Lesbian" is included amongst the banned words ...
TrinaVodraska
and JanelleSievers,
a lesbian couple from Iowa,were refused
Childress,
learned that Vodraska and
a wedding cake after the baker, Victoria
Sievers were the brides. Childress, in speaking with local media, explained that
she was unable to continue with the business transaction because
as a Christian
of her "convictions for their lifestyle."Vodraska and Sievers are considering taking
Tea.I turned 40 this
legal action against the baker ... "Hi. My name is Michelle
year and realized I forgot to have a child. Now I am trying to get pregnant
before all my eggs dry up;' begins
the lesbian author of Valencia
and other lesbian classics in
her new column at xoJane.com,
appropriately titled "Getting
Pregnant with Michelle Tea:' In
the column Tea chronicles her
attempts at getting pregnant
as a single queer artist in San
Francisco who previously hadn't
thought she had an interest in
Lowrey]
children. [Sassafras
Remindthe worldthat
loveis greaterthan
fear in thisuplifting
tee frommusician
MartineLockeand
her partnerJamie
Price'scustomT-shirt
companyIHA-from
the Sanskritword
meaning"fully
submergedin life."
($20, inthislifenow.com
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OUTINFRONT
Dynamic
Dedication
Meet two queer women
pushing for change in
their communities.
By Sheryl Kay
Gotham City Hero
Although they have never met, BambiWeavil
credits Ashley Judd with motivating her to
activism. After reading a feature on Judd's
lifelong desire to join the Peace Corps, Weavil
set herself the same goal, but eventually focused
more on community issues.
Since she graduated from college seven years
ago, Weavil has founded Out Impact, a gay
omnimedia organization that has worked to
support several LGBT concerns, including The
Trevor Project, GayFest NYC, the Greenwich
Village~ChelseaChamber of Commerce's Out
to Work job fair, and GLAAD. "I try to lend
my voice whenever I can;' she says.
Currently, the 30~year~old is working on
the Paper Heart Project, which offers a range
of services to help gay homeless youth in
New York City. She's also been raising money
for the nonprofit CUE Center for Missing
Persons and in 2010 celebrated Out Irr.pact's
third anniversary by hosting a. fundraiser for
the center on a cruise out of Carolina Beach,
N.C., featuring the Original Village People
Cowboy, Randy Jones.
She was also recently spotted at some of
the Occupy protests in Manhattan, lending
her voice and her support. "It's important to
me because we do need change in this country,
as well as accountability for all citizens;' she
says. "I believe it's important to have your
voice heard and to speak up for those who
feel powerless to do so, or can't:'
Weavil says she encourages youth in the
gay community to remember that it wasn't
always so "cool" to be open, and that there is
still a great deal more to accomplish. "Keep
speaking up, never take our rights for granted,
and keep fighting for the ones we deserve;'
she says.
However, Weavil counsels all LGBT youth
in the countryside have to undergo a forced
marriage, and then a divorce, before they can
build a life as a lesbian;' she says. "But they
still have to abide by the 'Don't Ask, Don't
Tell' rule:'
Molyganta got her first taste for activism as
a student when she was involved in the move~
ment to unseat President Suharto, who was
The Indonesian Spring
leading a government rife with corruption
Although homosexuality is not completely
and human rights violations. From there she
outlawed in her home country of Indonesia,
entered into the uncharted waters of LGBT
YulitaMolygantahas still had to face intense
activism, and co~founded Arus Pelangi, one
challenges as an out bisexual, even within
of the leading organizations that address
her own family.
discrimination issues based on sexual orien~
Beyond the occasional legislative references tation and gender identity in Indonesia.
to gay life that include such language _as
Most recently, Molyganta was involved in
"deviant sexual behavior;' and "prostitution;'
hostiµg the _2011 Association of Southeast
Sharia law, the strict moral code of Islam as Asian Nations (ASEAN) ministerial con~
set forth in the Quran, still governs some
ference in Indonesia. For the first time in
outlying areas of Indonesia. "Most lesbians
history, the rights of the LGBT c~mmunity
became· one of the thematic discussions,
due in part to Molyganta's efforts through
Arus Pelangi.
"We were able to bring together more than
40 LGBT activists from ASEAN countries
to participate in the conference;' she notes.
While she appreciates that each country
has its own challenges in bringing about
LGBT civil rights, Molyganta thinks that
ultimately all nations need to work together
to make real effectual changes. "Collaborate;'
she says. "New idealism does not necessarily
mean new organizations. After all, we aim for
the same future, a better life for the LGBT
community around the world:'
venturing into activism to begin by focusing
on their self~image-because there is no way
to fight for acceptance without appreciating
your own talents and qualities first."Be your~
sel£ and love yourself first, because once you
are happy with who you are, the rest falls
into place:'
March 2012
I 17
LAUGH
TRACK
Beautiful Bad Girl
Who better to riff on lesbian style than scandalous Sandra Bernhard? By Jillian Eugenios
Comic icon and out lesbian Sandra Bernhard helped make history
as one of the first bisexual characters on TV, back in 1992 when
her character, Nancy, came out on Roseanne. Since those days at
the Lanford Lunch Box, Bernhard has stayed in our hearts and
before our eyes not only on TV but on the stage and screen.
Bernhard has kept the mainstream lesbian torch burning of late,
playing a guest role on Hot in Cleveland (as Laura San Giacomo's
girlfriend) and a run of live shows that included her stand-up
stylings and musical renditions of everything from rock 'n' roll to
jazz. We caught up with the risque raconteur to talk style, lesbians
and that gorgeous pout.
18
Icurve
Youcoverthe stateof modernculturein yourshows.Arewe in any
realtrouble?
[Laughs) Well, I think it's gone beyond trouble.Trouble still connotes
that people care. I don't think people have any sort of concern
about where we're headed. There's no connection to things of
subtlety or beauty. It's gladiatorial entertainment on so many dif
ferent levels. It's snappy, it's snarky, it's nasty, it's contentious and
that crosses over into politics. It's carnival barkers and snake oil
salesman across the board. But I happen to know a lot of great
performers who are still out there and some young talented people
as well. I like to consider myself to be one of those people who
maintains her dignity and her sense of style and connection to things that I think are important.
Howdoyoudescribe
yourstyle?
It's changed over the years. Thirty years ago I was more
comfortable being in less clothing and now I like a little
more clothing, although there are times when I'll come
out in stockings or a T-shirt and a top hat. My body
is still in relatively appealing shape. But I think as you
evolve as a person you want to be a little classier. Ralph
Rucci is a big designer for me right now.
I rememberin the M•A·Cad youdida few yearsagoyou
talkedaboutyour"sexypowerpout."What'syourfavorite
featuretoday?
I just love the way everything works together. I like the
fact that I haven't felt the need to alter anything to suit
•the standards of beauty in this country. When I look
at my roots from my family in Russia two generations
ago I still look like them and I like that. It's who I am
and I don't want to look like one of the Housewives
of Beverly Hills. I don't want to look like somebody
who has totally chipped away her face and her body
to meet the norms because I'm a unique person and
I embrace that.
Doyouthinkthatthe lesbianaesthetichaschangedover
theyears?
Definitely. I just think that gay girls are much more
comfortable getting dressed up and being a little more
conscious of a good haircut, shaping their eyebrows
and taking care of themselves.
There was a time when it was so political it was
counteractive to what a lot of the early feminist lesbians
believe, and I understand that too. I think now there's
a happy balance between looking healthy and feeling
good and being pretty. I don't mean pretty in a weak
feminine way-just being who you are and taking care
of yourself (sandrabernhard.com)
SCENE
Easy Pickings Atlanta's Peach Pride
and San Francisco Outfest turn it on for the girls.
The official Atlanta Pride Women's Party, the "Peach Mega Dance
Party" on Oct. 8 presented by curve and Pandora Events was the
hottest women's party in the South featuring the Kingdom Pride Drag
King Contest hosted by Chase Daniels, Owen McCod and Whitney
Mixter from The Real L Word. The star-studded Outfest Women's
Soiree on Dec. 3 saw power celesbians turn out to sample cookery
by chef Jamie Lauren and cocktails by Absolut. Attending were hiphop duo God-Des and She, out author Meredith Baxter, rockers
Kate Pierson and Patty Schemel, thespians Thea Gill, Dreya Weber,
Ashleigh Sumner, Traci Dinwiddie, and animal rescue ambassador
Natalie Garcia. (atlantapride.organd outjest.org)[Merryn
March 2012 j "19
LESBOFILE
Sapphic Smackdown
By Jocelyn Voo
Caughtin the Crossfire
Hell hath no fury like a lesbian scorned.
In the reality TV cesspool, there's been a
lot of talk swirling around Real Housewives
of Beverly Hills blonde Taylor Armstrong,
whose husband had purportedly abused her
and once rumors broke, took his own life.
However, one sidelining player also caught in
the crossfire was Real Housewives of Orange
Rocha,who claims she and
County'sFernanda
Armstrong had a sometime tryst together,
but was kicked to the curb when Armstrong
decided it wasn't good for her TV image.
"Be responsible for your actions;' Rocha
told In Touch.''And don't dismiss the other
human being that you are connecting with.
When people started asking, it was like,
'Don't say this, don't say that: That is hurtful.
I couldn't really be open about how I felt
because I was protecting her:'
And this, ladies, is why you don't play with
fire-or the Real Housewives.
Boisvs.Girls?
It's not all love for ChazBono,whose public transitioning journey has received much
public attention. For however much good his
visibility has done for the trans community,
though, not everyone is happy about it. Case
in point: 19-year-old Stephen Ira, transgender
son of Warren Beatty and Annette Bening.
Perhaps you remember the instance when
Bono described to the New York Times that
20
I curve
This month is all about celeb-on-celeb catfights!
being trans was like having a "mismatched"
brain and body, similar to a"birth defect like a
cleft palate:' Ira does. And that's exactly what
got him so infuriated.
"Chaz is a misogynist;' Ira writes on his blog
Super Mattachine. "He is a trans man who
seems to believe that his female-assignedness
[sic] and his female socialization makes him
immune from being a misogynist, and he is
manifestly wrong:'
"This man doesn't represent our community ... The next time you hear Chaz's name
brought up in a conversation about trans
issues, point out the things he's said about
surgery, 'birth defects; and women;' he writes.
"Because I don't want a single person thinking
this guy is the best of us:'
Still, it's not all trans-on-trans hate. "He
seems like an all right guy, his questionable
views aside;' Ira adds. ''And from what I've
seen, he's really remarkably good at the cha cha:'
NothingCompares
2U
In an era of Kim Kardashian-length marriages
(read: not very long), hasbian (who most
recently lent her talents to the Albert Nobbs
soundtrack) SineadO'Connor's
nuptials with
fourth husband Barry Herridge gives a whole
new meaning to "on-again-off-again:' The
singer and therapist were married for only 16
days before O'Connor called it quits, citing
pressure and disapproval from Herridge's
closest circles. However, a mere week later
she reversed course: "Guess who had a mad
love making affair with her own husband last
nightt she tweeted. "We decided to be boyfriend and girlfriend again and stay married
but we did rush so we gonna return to b friend
g friend an be sickenly happy an go counsellin
an move in like a yr regular people ... but stay
married [sic]:•
Fingers crossed, but we'll be checking the
newswires for updates.
Punchlines
What's better than one smart-mouthed TV
host? Two smart-mouthed TV hosts taking
aim at each other.
Veteran David Letterman recently took
a cheap shot at The Rosie Show late-night ,
quickie engagement
rookie RosieO'Donnell's
to Michelle Rounds, cracking, "The woman
she is marrying, her fiancee, was driving
and her car broke down. And guess what
happened? Rosie pulls up right behind her
in her tow truck:'
But not to be outdone, O'Donnell responded in characteristic Rosie fashion, with equal
(if not more) venom: "Why is that Davet she
asked. "Why? I don't remember making fun
of you when you had sex with all your interns!
I didn't make fun of your rampant, throbbing
heterosexuality, did I Davet
Touche, Rosie, touche. In this case, we'd
say it's Dave who's taking the walk of shame
She Said
March 2012
I 21
To Open or Not to Open
By Lipstick and Dipstick
Can you have an open relationship?
Dear Lipstick and Dipstick: My freshman year of college, I met and Lipstick:
If only we could partition our hearts
fell in love with a beautiful, amazing woman. We've been together for like a hard drive, then open relationships
would be rampant in the lesbian community.
nearly a year now and I can't imagine being without her. The problem We'd keep all our lovers partitioned and go
is, starting this summer she'll be doing a year of study abroad and I in and get what we desire from each woman.
won't be able to see her for at least nine months. I'm sort of curious Processing Room-for
the ex who gives
you the best emotional support. Workout
about establishing an open relationship, having other experiences Room-for the ex you love to beat in tennis.
while she's away. (Neither of us was really out in high school, so this Hardware Room-for the ex who fixes
is the first official, long-term relationship for the both of us.) On the your leaky faucets. Red Light Room (with
a revolving door, of course)-exclusively for
other hand, I don't want to hurt her or lose her because I got involved hot sex with fleeting fantasies. It seems like
with other people, and both of us kind of have jealous tendencies. a dandy use of disc space, but this ticker of
Do you think it's possible to have a successful open long-distance mine simply can't be compartmentalized. If
my girl even suggested any of this, my circuit
relationship?- Long-Distance Lola
board would start smoking. For you, Lola,
it might be different. I wish you and your
girlfriend the best of luck in attempting to
Dipstick:I think it's probably easier to have then I highly recommend that you both
reformat your own hearts.
a successful open long-distance relationship
read Tristan Taormino's book Opening Up:
than it is to have one close to home.
A Guide to Creating and Sustaining Open DearLipstickand Dipstick:I'm sureyou've
Or in your home. I remember an open
Relationships. It will give you the tools you had this questiona milliontimes, but it's
relationship I had when I was young (like need to start out on an adventure like this.
absolutelyeatingaway at me so I haveto
you) and I somehow convinced myself that
my lover having sex with my best friend,
our roommate, was no big deal. What was
I thinking? It was disastrous. You really
haven't selfflagellated until you've lain
awake listening to your lover moan and
writhe in the next room. Or worse, walked
in on them lathering each other up in the
bath. Since you say you're both the jealous
kind, I'm wondering how you think this
might work. Sit for a moment and imagine
your lover naked, sweaty, clutching another
woman's hair as she whips her head back
and cries out her name, begging her not to
stop, not to stop. Please don't stop: Imagine
her looking at another woman with the
same lustful look she gives you right before
you throw her down on the couch and bite
her neck. Imagine her walking hand-inhand through all the romantic places in
London, giggling and nuzzling with her
new paramour. How does that make you
feel? If you think you can handle all that,
22
J
curve
Lipstick & Dipstick ADVICE
ask. I am currentlywith a long-term
boyfriend.However,I have had the
feelingthat I might be a lesbianfor
many years now. I stick with boys
becauseit's easierthan dealingwith
comingout. I know I definitelythink
this one is attractive,and he's nice,
andI do lovehim(andI still enjoysex
to someextent),but recentlyall I can
think about is how much I want to
experiencethat with a woman and
exploremy lesbianurges.It feels like
I'm aboutto explode.What shouldI
do?I don'twantto losemy boyfriend,
but at the sametime I needto know
what'sgoingon in my head.-Urgent
WithUrges
Lipstick:Tell me this, Urgent-do
you simply dream of having sex with
a woman? Or, do your fantasies go
even further. Do you actually imagine
creating a life with her? Buying a
house? Getting a dog? Starting a
family? How you answer these questions is crucial, so think about them long
and hard. If it's simply sex, talk to your
boy toy and tell him how you're feeling.
I'd be surprised if he didn't give you permission to explore your Sapphic side. If
you're dreaming of a life with one of us,
you're at a much bigger fork in the road. If
that's the case, write us back. We can help
you take those steps.
Dipstick:Oh what, Lipstick? You're saying
straight girls can compartmentalize their
hearts, but dykes can't? You just contradicted yourself: Look at your answer to the
last question.
Lipstick:Pardon me, but you need to get
your reading glasses out, little stinker. I
said 'T' can't compartmentalize.
Dipstick:As for you, Urgent, yes, we have
gotten this question a million times. Which,
on the bright side, means you're not alone.
Millions of women have stood where you
stand and have had a really tough decision
to make. Some, the brave ones, have dealt
DearLipstickandDipstick:I'm a lesbian
fromIndia.I havea partnerwholovesme
but becauseof Indiancultureshe does
notwantto staywithme.WhatdoI do?I
don'tknow,pleasegivemesuggestions.
-Crying in Calcutta
Dipstick:
Oh Crap, Lipstick, I hate questions like this. I never know what to cell
these poor gals. Can we just charter a
plane or something and bring chem all
over to live with you in Canada, where
gays have rights and stuff?
If only we could
partition our
hearts like a hard
drive, then open
relationships would
be rampant in
the lesbian
community.
with all the "coming our:' Millions have left
their husbands and boyfriends, nice guys
though they were, because they couldn't
be truly happy unless they were living
an authentic life. And even though being
a lesbian is no walk in the lila~ garden,
it sounds like you need to take that dif
ficult walk before something blows. Like
Lipstick says, we're here for you if you
need us.
Lipstick:I wish I could bring all the
troubled international gays over in
one giant boat-Lipstick's
Arc-and
sail chem right under the Lion's Gate
Bridge to chis amazing country I now
call home. The sad fact is, the queen
keeps the port of Vancouver locked
pretty tight, so my boat would simply
be turned away.
These questions, from our sisters in
countries where the decriminalization
of homosexuality is barely in the rearview
mirror, don't ever stop, however. They're
heartbreaking, and they force me to pause,
cake deep breaths of gratitude and search
for words of advice. I did some research
and found an organization called Sappho,
• based in Calcutta, chat offers emotional
support for lesbians in India (sappho.
shoe.org). Maybe your girl will find the
strength to be with you when she's got
a tight circle of women backing her up.
We are stronger and more resilient than
we realize. Just be careful, and try to protect your safety and chat beautiful love
you share. Things will get better. There's
a sea change happening in the world and
it's headed your way. In 2009, your own
Delhi High Court overturned the law
chat had criminalized homosexuality, so
things are looking up. I hope you two can
hang
Tune in to curvemag.com/
lipstickanddipstick
to watchthe
The Lipstick& DipstickShow.
Or writeto tv@lipstickdipstick.com.
March 2012
I23
THETWOOFUS
Sheridan and Lynda
Reefs to Rockies eco-tourism mavens Sheridan Samano and Lynda Gregory share their
adventures in life, love and safaris. By Jillian Eugenics
Del Carmen in Mexico. A yearand-a-half .. .later we did our first
trip to Costa Rica. After I came
back and was still teaching full time
at the college I decided to try and
start a study abroad program. That
was when the seed was planted
that maybe we could start a travel
business. We're both really into the
outdoors and nature ... and it went
from there.
Why they fit so well together
Lynda:Our personalities go well
together. We know each other's
strengths and weaknesses and they
complement each other. We know
when the other one needs to take
the lead in a certain situation. I
think that's what makes things work
very smoothly.
How they met
Sheridan:I was in grad school waiting tables at a restaurant in
downtown Denver and happened to wait on Lynda and a friend
of hers. I had to card her and she still had her Kansas ID. I told
her I'd spent a summer in Junction City, Kan. doing fieldwork on
a migratory bird species, and that's where she was born. She'd just
moved to Denver ... so I told her, if you ever want to hang out we
could do that. About a month and a half later we finally ended up
connecting and it's almost 12 years later.
Lynda:Part of the first conversation we had was
her talking about her research on birds and it
was not a conversation I'd ever had with anybody, but my background is in the sciences so
it was intriguing. She was talking about how
she'd done research in the Konza Prairie, a
prairie I was kind of familiar with because I
went to Kansas State and it's right there by
the college. We had a lot of commonalities and
she was a very intriguing person. I've never met
anybody like her.
Starting the business
Sheridan:We both knew we wanted to travel.
The first trip we ever did together was Playa
24
I curve
Traveling together
Lynda:Sheridan is definitely a planner and needs to know what
we're doing, where we're going and how long we're doing it, which
is great, it works very well for structuring a trip, especially for our
clients. I'm more let's fly by the seat of our pants and see where
the day takes us.
Sheridan:
We're super excited about getting to go to Tanzania for
the first time together. We're going to check out a conservancy and
we're doing some tented camps in
the Serengeti and then we're checking
out a couple of other areas that are a
little bit off the beaten track. We are
going to look for stellar game viewing,
great food, a welcoming atmosphere,
comfortable beds and a sense of
place. It's amazing how tired you
are after a day on safari and getting
into a comfortable bed is one of the
most refreshing aspects of it. You get
in and go, that was an awesome day.
And then you hear lions roaring off
in the distance. We count ourselves
lucky, day in and day out, that we get
to do this. (reejstorockies.com)
Our personalities
go
well together.We know
each other'sstrengths
and weaknessesand
they complementeach
other.We know when
the otherone needsto
take the lead in a
certainsituation.
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ADVICE Fitness
The Strength Within
By Jill Sloane Goldstein
Spend a brief amount of time in any gym
locker room and you're bound to hear a
litany of body envy: "I wish I had her arms"
or 'Td kill for her stomach:' Wishful body
swapping at its best. While it may be impossible to Frankenstein our way to a more
desired figure, there is hope in our quest.
Because no matter our current body type
or how we stack up to those we admire, we
all possess the fundamental building block
from which to work towards a more fit
physique: Muscle.
So the next logical question is: How do
I get those arms or abs? Well before we
tackle the how, let's briefly address the why:
because underneath the cosmetics of sixpacks and tight triceps lies a myriad ofhealth
benefits to building muscle. I'm not talking
about the ripped, vein-bulging kind reserved
26 j curve
Uncover your own muscle potential.
Strengthtraining
is essentialto
creatingvisual
changein our
bodies.
immediately, and arguably, more appealing, strength training increases our resting
metabolic rate. So if we're trying to reduce
body fat, it'll happen more easily with
muscle present.
Strength training is essential to creating
visual change in our bodies. In order to
acquire firmer arms or a tighter bum, the
most essential thing to do is get our minds
in the right place-words
you've heard
me utter before. But there is an important
for bodybuilders, rather some general (and • truth to them. As with any-exercise,assuming
achievable) muscle mass. For starters, muscle a confident, capable and dedicated mindset
helps builds bone mass and decreases the is critical. Just like we found with interval
risk of arthritis and osteoporosis during
training, the change in our bodies happens
later stages of life.It also prevents age-related during the truly strenuous moments. So
muscle deterioration. But let's be honest, it's when you're lifting weights or doing a resisthe here and now we're focused on, right? tance exercise and it begins to get difficult,
Let our 401Ks protect our future. More
do. not. stop.Power through another five or
10 reps (safely of course) because this
is when your muscle is transforming.
If you remember that, I promise you'll
learn to love that crunch burn!
Another_strength training how-to that
warrants dispelling is this common myth
among women: Lifting heavy weights
will not make you bulky. In fact, most
women are genetically unable to create
large muscles because they lack sufficient
hormones or body structure to do so. So
get rid of the notion that your routine
must involve light weights, high reps.
It's not doing you any good. You must lift
a weight that is heavy enough to create
muscle fatigue. Working your muscles
to fatigue means that your muscles refuse
to lift/ move the weight any longer in a
correct and safe fashion. Reaching this
point will not create unsightly muscle
mass but it will challenge your muscle
fibers to rebuild stronger. Read: you'll
like the results.
Also consider using your own body
weight in your workout (i.e. push ups,
plank, tricep dips, etc.). Not only does
it free you from needing equipment and
pricey gym memberships, the practice
works several muscles at once and pushes
you to greater lengths than weights will.
Our bodies weigh a lot more than the
10 pound dumbbells we'd be grabbing
off the rack so we're doing more for our~
selves, using ourselves.
But perhaps the most important piece
of this entire muscle puzzle is to lose
excess body fat. Subcutaneous (under
the skin) fat surrounds our muscles and
obscures their shape. Unless we reduce
this layer,we'll never see the muscles we're
working so hard to build. So don't forego
the healthy eating and regular cardio.
The next time you find yourself eyeing
someone else's physique, turn the energy
inward and remember one simple fact:
the muscles you're admiring also rest
upon your own frame. The only thing
you truly need to swap to get them is
your willingness to train.
FITTIPS
A few of my favorite strength training exercises include:
ARMS: Grab 8-10 pound weights and complete a set of 25
bicep curls. Extend your arms up and down fully, do not stop
midway through the movement. Then bend your arms 90
degrees (so they make a right angle) and bring the two weights
together so that they're touching in the middle of your body.
Extend your arms forward as straight as you can and then pull
back in towards your chest. Aim for 10 reps. Repeat the set
three times.
TOTAL BODY: Stand with your feet slightly wider than hip-width
apart, and point your toes slightly outward. Bend your knees
and squat until your thighs are at least parallel to the floor
(pretend you are sitting in a seat behind you). Try not to extend
your knees past your toes. To be sure your doing it correctly,
you should be able to lift and wiggle your toes with ease. Add
difficulty by holding 8-10 pound weights by your shoulders.
ABS: Assume the plank
position. Keep your
body in a straight line
from ears to toes with
no sagging or bending.
Your head is relaxed and
you should be looking
at the floor. Hold for 60
seconds. Add difficulty
by raising one leg 5-7
inches off the floor.
Switch legs.
Lie on the floor with
your arms stretched out
above your head and
your legs extended.
Exhale and bend at the
waist, bringing your legs
and torso up at the same
time, to make a "V." Try
totouchyourhandsto
your shins as you raise
your shoulders off of the
floor. As you inhale, lower your legs and arms back towards the
floor (try not to rest your legs on the floor, rather allow them to
hover a few inches above it). Do two sets of 15 to 25 repetitions.
To add difficulty, hold a weight in your hands.
March 2012
I27
POLITICS
Women's History Month
What are we celebrating when women are still the second sex? By Victoria A. Brownworth
lfEARLESS
INDOMITABLE
WOMAN~IOOD
AFEARLESS
INDOMITABLE
RACE:'
WILLIAM ROONEY.
In honor of Women's History Month in
March, I usually celebrate the achievements of notable lesbians. I started thinking
about doing that again, maybe with a sidebar
on International Women's Day, since this is
the 101st anniversary, and then I thought,
Why2 Why am I perpetuating the sham
that is Women's History Month? I knowthat's heresy, right?
I hope so. I'm tired of Women's History
Month. Of trotting out the usual suspectsSojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, Harriet
Tubman, Jane Addams (well, maybe not
2s
I
curve
Jane), Eleanor Roosevelt. Tired of revisiting
our lesbian and bisexual foremothers
who are legends because they managed to
achieve something greater than what men
normally allow women to do.
It isn't that I've lost respect for these
women. Far from it. In fact, the older I
get, the more respect I have for all they
achieved, given the restrictive historical
contexts in which they lived. But here I
am in the 21st century and I still battle
sexism and homophobia, plus I have to
deal with a watered-down heterosexual
feminism orchestrated by upper-middleclass women who think the only women's
issue is abortion.
Women's History Month has one place
only: school. Girls need to know that
women can make a name for themselvesnot just as American Idol winners or
Kardashians or other celebrities. They
need to know that women can rule, if only
we support one another in doing that.
What I hate about Women's History
Month is that it exists. During Women's
History Month no one talks about what
it really means to be female today. No one
teaches girls that one in three of them will
be raped in her lifetime, that one in four
will be the victim of child sexual abuse (a
euphemism for adults raping children),
that one in two will be the victim of domestic violence. No one teaches girls that 80
percent of the illiterate people in the world
are female, that 70 percent of all refugees
are female, that the leading cause of death
among pregnant women is murder. No one
teaches girls that going out on their own,
without a male relative, is punishable by
death in some countries.
No one is teaching girls that the real
history of women is oppression,
repression, and obliteration: Honor
killing is still not considered a
crime in most countries where it is
endemic, rape is still not considered
a crime in a third of the countries
in the world, infanticide of female
children is pandemic throughout
Asia, and sex-selection abortion has
reached such a dramatic level in
countries such as India and China
that the men now outnumber the
women by nearly three to one. Girls
are fed less than boys during times
of famine. Genital mutilation of girls
is still epidemic throughout the
Middle East and Africa, and even in
the West is practiced secretly, even though
it is against the law in many countries.
Women's History Month should be
about more than trotting out family photos
of women who managed to excel against
all odds. It should be about fighting the
oppression that makes Women's History
Month necessary. Women's History Month
needs to be about revamping feminism.
Many of the early feminists were lesbians.
We aren't allowed to call them that because
some Serious Feminist Historians decided
in the 1970s that women didn't have sex
with one another prior to Stonewall. But
as a historian, I deem that nonsense. It's
absurd to presume that lesbian sex was
invented in the 1960s.
Jane Addams, my own favorite heroine,
was a lesbian. She had two long-term female
lovers. They each shared her bed, and she
exchanged love letters with them back in
the days before texting. Jane Addams also
changed the world.
So can we.
I want the significance of Women's
History Month to shift from 31 days
of conciliatory gesture to 31 days of
action. Women and girls throughout the
world are being oppressed, repressed, and
made to disappear because the hatred of
femaleness is so great.
Feminism has been defanged. It is now
mostly collaborationist with patriarchy.
Feminism has ceased to be about
saving the lives of women and girls or
transforming the world so that women
What are we doing to stop this?
What are we doing to get American
feminist organizations to make the rights
oflesbians a priority? If "reproductive rights"
is truly a feminist issue, then the rights of
lesbians to have childr~n should be just as
important as the rights of heterosexual
women to not have children.
One of the most important issues for
all women worldwide is water. In the
developing world, women and girls spend
an average of four hours a day procuring
water for their families. It's a female job.
It's backbreaking and dangerous, and
girls are getting water instead of going to
Women'sHistoryMonth
shouldbe about fighting
the oppressionthat makes
Women'sHistoryMonth
necessary.Women's
HistoryMonth needsto be
about revampingfeminism.
have an equal place in it.
Jane Addams, fearless lesbian crusader,
worked to create a world in balance. She
won the Nobel Peace Prize before it was
given to men who were fomenting wars
even as they accepted it. She co-founded
the ACLU. She was the founder of modern
social work. She cared about the lives of
women and the poor, and devoted her life
to saving and enriching theirs.
We can do this again. We can be followers of Addams and devote our Women's
History Months to addressing what's happening to women and girls right now, here
in the U.S. and elsewhere.
In Uganda and South Africa, Gaza
and Jamaica, rape is considered a "cure"
for lesbianism. In Poland and the former
Soviet bloc nations, lesbianism is punishable
by imprisonment. In Iran, it is punishable
by death.
school. Water.org has proven that when
water is made available, women and girls
are freed up to do other work and to attend
school. What are we doing to give women
this freedom?
We must stop collaborating with the
patriarchy in the hope that they might give
us something we want if we are good girls
and act the way they want us to.
No more good_girls. No more co-option
of feminism by single-issue heterosexual
women and men who think they have any
idea what it means to be a woman in the
real world. No more calling other women
bitches, cunts, whores or sluts. No more
allotting just 31 days to celebrate who we
are. No more.
We can act or we can be acted upon.
The choice is ours. This Women's History
Month, let's stop reading about history. It's
time we made history. Again.
March 2012
I 29
Janel Mccarville is living
every female basketball
player's dream. She was
drafted No. 1 overall in the
2005 WNBA draft, appeared
in the 2004 Final Four for the
Minnesota Golden Gophers,
won Most Improved Player in
2007 and she gets to travel
overseas and play basketball
in Europe during the WNBA's
offseason. McCaNille isn't your
average WNBA player. For one
actively shied away
things LGBT. Now she's
,
her recent suspension from the
New York Liberty. In early 2011,
rumors began swirling that
McCaNille wasn't going to show
up for training camp and the
media speculated, painting her
as a rebellious player. The truth
is, McCaNille doesn't really care
what the media or anyone else
has to say. She knows who she
is and what she's about-and
for this lesbian baller that will
always be her family and friends.
30
Icurve
The WNBA star talks about living the dream and why she was really
suspended from the game she loves. By Lyndsey D' Arcangelo
• •
Whendidyoufirstgetinvolved
in
basketball?
I grew up playing football with my
brothers and never thought much
about basketball. My brother 'Tracy
really pushed me to get better. It wasn't until my freshman
year that I started to really apply myself and tried to make
myself a better player. It was [then] that I realized I could
play and that I was relatively better than the other girls.
Someplayerslosetheirloveof basketball
overtime,especially
because
oftheworkthatgoesintoit. Didthathappen
to you?
I am not going to lie, I do love this sport but [over] time it
turns into a job. You have to train mentally and physically to
endure the things we have to overcome. It's hard always being
in the public eye. You always have eyes and ears on what you
do. People think athletes get better treatment from professors
in college and I'm going to go on record and say that's not
true. You have to work so hard as a student athlete to keep
good grades. Throw in 20 hours of basketball practice, plus
games and travel into that, whew-I am surprised I made it
when I think back on it.
Howdidyourprofessional
andpersonal
lifechangeduringand
afterthe2004FinalFourappearance?
I guess it changed because before that only people in the
Big 10 conference knew who I was and what I could do.
Obviously, playing against UCONN in the 2004 Final Four
[in front of] a national audience of about 20,000 people
changed that. It was kind of a weird feeling, almost as if
people were always watching [~e]. It comes with the territory
and it was something I had to get used to.
Whatwasit liketo getdraftedNo.1 overallintheWNBA?
It was great, period! I alwaysjoked when I was younger that I
was going to be the number one pick [in the WNBA]. Hamakes me laugh just thinking about it. I honestly lived every
single female basketball player's dream.
Youseemto havefounda homewiththeNewYorkLiberty.
I really meshed well with former general manager, Carol
Blazejowski. We were similar in so many ways and we really
just clicked. I am very appreciative of the opportunities she
gave me, and the relationship that we had. She will be missed
in New York.
At the beginning
of the 2011season,youweresuspended
for
failingto showupfortrainingcamp.Istheremoreto thestory?
Bad communication started it all, but these are the events
that followed: My season ended in Italy on May 11. I packed
my things on the 12th and had a flight out the morning of
the 13th. It took me 24 hours to get home. I pulled into my
driveway in Wisconsin at 1 a.m. on Sunday morning. Sunday
was the day we were supposed to be in camp for physicals
because camp started on Monday. So I asked for four to five
days to unpack and relax. I was told I would be fined $1,000
per day for being late. Remember how I said it was mentally
hard earlier? Five months away from friends and family is a
lot. I needed to see my family, friends and relax. Since my
[overseas] season ended so close to the start of the WNBA
camp, I didn't think my mind and body could jump right
back into the thick of it. On the fifth day, I said I was ready •
to go [to camp] and the New York Liberty told ine I was going
to be fined $5,000. I felt it was unfair and decided to take the
summer for mysel£ Since 2006, I have not been home for
more than 14 days at a time.
Homosexuality
is a taboosubjectin sportsat boththe college
andprofessional
level.Why?
I don't know. People are scared of things they don't
understand.
Doesbeingoutnegatively
affectyouprofessionally?
I don't know ifI am "out" or not to be honest. I have not held
a press conference or anything. I just live my life as I want. I
don't hide or change who I am. As of now, if you know me
then you know my business. Not once has my lifestyle
affected my ability as a player to perform. Nor has it affected
my basketball career. I have never been told to hide anything,
since college and so on. It's not like a straight woman runs
around saying she is straight just so everyone knows!
Docloseted
athletesnegatively
affectLGBT
youth?
I don't think people hide, I just think privacy is nice. You see
celebrities get married and cameras are everywhere. I feel like
lesbian athletes just try and fly under the radar, and live their
lives happily and media free. In our personal lives we are who
we want to be-fans and media just don't see that side of us.
Whatadvicewouldyougiveaspiring
lesbianathletes?
I think there is less scrutiny these days or least I hope it's
less. Just be who you are comfortable being. If you hide who
you are, you are hiding the best part. People will accept you
as you are no matter what you think. If your friends are true
friends, they will be there for you. I'm not saying it was always
smooth sailing for me, but every now and again I enjoy
rocking the boat. (wnba.com/liberty)
March 2012
I31
The Producer
I
ndie darling and out lesbian Heather Matarazzo has.
come a long way since her breakthrough role as the
painfully awkward Dawn Wiener in vVelcome to the
Doll1.10use,
working steadily in film and TV Today, the
grown and glamorous Matarazzo is engaged to rhe wom~n
of her dreams (playwright Caroline Murphy), is comfortable
in her own skin, and is raking her career to the next level with
a foray behind the camera.
While she may have carved a career out of playing quirky
outsiders on-screen, behind the scenes Ivfatarazzo has hit
her stride, making her producing debut with the indie dark
comedy Mangus! Its future appears bright: Rather than
disappearing after festival viewings-the fare of many indie
films-Jvfo11gus! was picked up by powerhouse LGBT
distributor Wolfe Video.
Now Matarazzo gives us the lowdown on her new film,
dishes on what's next for her, sets the record straight on her
wedding plans, and tells us why she loves her curves.
Matarazzo (left)
and fiancee Murphy
lndie starlet Heather Matarazzo steps
behind the camera and into the limelight.
By Rachel Shatto
WasfilmingMangus!differentthanyourprevious
experie·nces
onset?
It was really an opportunity to be of service to the film and to
our crew and to our cast in a very different way, as opposed
to just showing up and reading my lines and going home. So
that was really beautiful and really, really wonderful. It was
a lot of fun.
Didyouenjoybeinginvolved
withthebusiness
sideofthings?
Absolutely. I found that in certain instances [in the past]
I would watch what would happen on certain films and I
wouldn't understand some of the decisions that were being
made. I felt like it was a really great opportunity for meespecially working on such a low-budget independent filmto really kind of put my money where my mouth was.
Also, I felt for the first time that I actually got to be a part
of something and got to be a part of a solution, as opposed
to just silently sitting by and watching helplessly. Which is
a really beautiful thing because I love every single aspect of
filmmaking, and I love the people who are there-who are
helping us bring the film into fruition.
Youalsostarin Mangus!
as the lead'ssister,a roleyouwent
blonde
for.Howwasthatfora consummate
brunette
likeyou?
You know, it was really interesting. I said to myself after I
finished Saved! I would never ever dye my hair blonde again,
because I love my hair and I want to keep it. But when we
were getting ready to shoot, it really did come down to: This
is a girl who is very white trash, [so I was] willing to take
that risk, the potential damage to my hair. But I would still
get startled every time I would pass the mirror, because I
would forget that I was a blonde.
Youare suchan indieicon.Is that an identityyou like to
cultivate?
[Regarding my career] I think that if somebody was to ask
me, "What is the one thing that you would love to cultivate?"
I would say a) longevity and b) just not settling. It doesn't
matter whether it's mainstream or whether it's indie. It
just seems as though there are some indie filmmakers
that are more willing to take a risk with me than a bigger
studio. And that's not to say that a bigger studio won't
take more risks with me in the future, but what I've heard
time and time again when it comes to me [is] that I am
continually the one that is unexpected, which is a beautiful
thing. I like the idea of being unexpected.
Ona lessprofessional
subject,
rumorhasit you'replanning
your
dreamwedding.
How'sthatcomingalong?
It's not going to be like a Kim Kardashian affair. But the
truth of the matter is that she [Caroline] and I have had the
fortunate opportunity to both be so busy in terms of work
that weve barely had time to scratch our heads, let alone sit
down and be like, OK, what is it exactly that we want to do:1
And I kind of feel like, as with our relationship, it's going to
happen in the most organic time, in the most organic way. I
want to be able to love the idea of planning a wedding, but
Anyplansforstartinga family?
I obviously don't love it so much that I'm sitting down with
• bridal magazines.
Yes,not tomorrow. I don't have any pregnancy news. [Laughs]
You'rein NewYork,wheresame-sexmarriageis legal,butdo Definitely within the next five or seven years. But again, we
youfeelpressure
to getmarried,
in casesomething
happens
and don't know what's going to happen with 2012. Who knows
youlosetheright,likewhathappened
withProp.8 in California? if we're going to be around:'
Here's the truth of the matter: It is my divine right to be able
But the truth is, I love children. I grew up with a lot of kids
to get married-so, with that, you can't take away a right • around me because my mom was a foster parent, and I just
love kids and I always wanted to be a mom. I think it's one of
that's inherently yours. I don't want to get married to my
the greatest gifts. Whether it's through adoption or getting
fucking partner based off of some fear.
to give birth, it's something that I've always wanted to get
I've really had to stay away from that whole politicking
to experience.
when it comes to gay rights ... because I swear I needed to
So,nowthatyouhaveactedandproduced,
what'snext?
take a step back. Otherwise, I would have dev~loped such an
I have been interested in directing for God knows how long,
ulcer, because it hurts me so personally-to
the point that
was
I'm paralyzed with hatred. And that is not the kind of life and I had a feature film that I was set to direct-that
another independent film that I really loved-and that now
that I want to live. That is not the kind of being that I want
were adapting, actually, into a TV series based on the writer's
to be. And I haven't grown so much to be able to love those
success with her memoir.
that persecute me. I would love to be able to get there-like,
It feelslikeyou'reina verygoodplacerightnow.
that is my ideal.
Yes... I really do believe, because I've had the direct experience,
I understand, intellectually, that ignorance is born out of
that the universe-God, Goddess, whatever the hell you want
fear and whatnot, and that we've used the Bible to condone
to call it-is always conspiring for my good. And really, that's
slavery, we've used the Bible to condone segregation. Now
what kind of keeps me going, because the continual resultswe're using the Bible to condemn two people that happen to
like, I'm continually glad and I'm continually surprised. That's
be so in love with each other, that happen to be of the same
one of the biggest gifts that is being set out before me.
sex. It's absolutely ridiculous.
Lezzie LightingRound
Forourannualspringfashionissue,sassyfashionista
Heather
Matarazzo
givesushertakeonSapphic
style.
Howdoyoudeflneyour
nalsMe
It's veryclassic,verysimple.I'm
nota fan of patterns.I'm nota fan
of flamboyancy.
I will leavethatto
LadyGaga.Shedoesit a lot better
thanI do.I lookto thefashionsof
the '20s,'30sand'40s.
1
s
e ianstyle
stereotype?
Havingnostyle,period.
a JI avea favorite
lg r?
I'm a reallybigfan of Cynthia
Rowley,andI'm a reallybigfan
of KennethCole.And,youknow,
I just loveTomFord.I just think
thatTomFordis a geniusallaround.Whetherhewoulddress
meor directme,I wouldbethe
happiestgirl in the world.
Whois thebigge clothing
thiet youor Cr1raline?
Thereis nostealing.Welive
together[laughs].I knowwhere
it is. It's eitherin the closet,or
in the laundrybasket,or on one
of us.
Whatdoyoulike to wearon
th redcarpet?
I loveto pullout oneof my Cole
dresses... I feel muchmore
comfortablein a dress.Thereis
somethingaboutit that elicits
suchconfidencewithinme.
Becauseit's veryeasyto hidemy
curvesin a pairof pants,andthe
truth of the matteris, I fucking
lovemycurves.I lovemy body.
Sowhy notshowit off?
WhatIs thesexiestthinga
womancanwear?
Nothing[laughs].I feel like it
dependsonthe woman.Caroline
couldbewearingpajamasCarolinedoeswearpajamasandstill is the sexiestwomanI've
ever
March 2012
I33
haughty
higli
heels
for
femmes
who like
to put
their
foot
down.
rom
..... •·•....... .
Photography:Chris Huzzard • Stylist: Eva Scolaro • Hair: Jody Fiannaca • Makeup: Giselle Van Truong
•••••••••••••••••••••••••
sassy $280
Patent and soft leather upper
Exposed hand-stitching
Metal zip
Wide 3.5-inch heel
March 2012 \ 35
envL1$350
Suede feather upper
Exposed upper stitching
Hand-stitched metal embellishments
4-inch stiletto heel
•••••••••••••••••
36
Icurve
•••••••••••••••••••
-toffee $300
Leather upper
4-inch platform wedge heel
38
J
curve
••••••••••••
transgressing
menswear
with da erQ.
By Rachel Shatto
Photos by LeslieVan Stelten
an
n
o be a fashiontrendsetteryou can't be afraidto
be daring,to subvertthe expectedand to claima
styleidentitythat is new and unique.No one knows
that better than Susan Herr,founder(she prefers
transgressor-in-chief)
of dapperQ,a websitededicatedto
reclaimingan aestheticthatwas previously
the privilegeof
cis-menalone:the dapperdandy.
Herr created the site two years ago after witnessing the large community
of genderqueers and transmen in her Brooklyn neighborhood. In an effort to
bridge what she refers to as the "transgenerational divide;' Herr began researching
the topic of gender non-conformity. "Conversations on this topic are traditionally
rife with controversy, often doing more harm than good. DapperQ was born
when it occurred to me that style might be a neutral ground upon which we
could build solidarity;' says Herr.
She coined the term dapperQ"to describe those of us who challenge societal
norms when we don menswear. It's shorthand for a wide spectrum of folks
who B. Cole, of the Brown Boi Project, has eloquently dubbed 'masculine of
center: Being dapperQ is an intensely unique experience ... ! can't speak for
others but I can say I don't do it to make a point. It's not cross-dressing. Me in
a dress is cross-dressing:'
In addition to promoting the sexy and debonair dapperQ style, Herr has a
deeper agenda: to help her readers live a more authentic life. To illustrate what
that means, Herr shares a story. "A mother reached out for advice about how
she might support her gender nonconforming daughter in dressing to attend
a formal wedding in the South. After exploring many options, she eventually wore a tux shirt and cuffiinks from my wedding. To my mind, what was
most important was not that folks approve of her fashion choices but that they
recognize those choices as both thoughtful and intentional. That's the goal of
dapperQ writ large:'
March 2012
I41
dapperQ
was born
when it
occurred to
me that style
might be a
neutral ground
upon which
we could build
solidarity
Herr's mission is also expressed through dapperQ's
He Said/We Said project-of which this accompany~
ing pictorial is part. Spearheaded by dapperQ features
editor Juanita Erb, He Said/We Said showcases real
world dapperQs in their interpretation of high fashion
menswear. "Each edition features a different inspiration,
photographer and group of models in order to celebrate
diversity in our community and examine fashion as a ,
cultural construct:'
The idea for the project occurred to Erb as she became
increasingly frustrated by the lack of menswear options
for her partner. "I kept seeing outfits and thinking, 'That
would look great on my partner' or 'Our readers would
love this: The only problem is I couldn't just recommend
these outfits to our readers 'as is' because most menswear
is not made to fit dapperQ bodies;' says Erb, adding,"yet,
fashionable dapperQs are able to pull off similar styles
as well as, if not better than, some of the zine models.
So, I put our models to the challenge by giving them
an image of a menswear ensemble and asking them
how they are able to recreate the look with their own
personal twists:'
Unlike a traditional photo shoot, the dapperQ models .
arrive in their own clothes and accessories. This makes
for an eclectic and chic mix, promoting diversity,
which is very important to Erb. "In general, my goal
for the feature, and Susan's overall goal for the site,
is to avoid featuring the same people over and over.
Our community is sometimes guilty of knowingly or
unknowingly recreating the same hierarchies, divisions,
biases, preferences and unattainable expectations that
are perpetuated in society at large. We want to break
through those barriers by giving everyone a voice-all
shapes, sizes, races, ethnicities, ages and gender presen~
tations are welcome:'
This message is shared by Herr. Ask her who she
wants to reach and her answer is broad: "Those who
transgress men's fashion, be they in suburbs, big cities
or small towns. I especially hope dapperQ provides
comfort to youngsters growing up in places where such
difference is scorned rather than celebrated. But I also
hope that visibility projects like He Said/We Said
serve as one building block in what will eventually be a
mainstream appreciation for this aesthetic:'
As with the best fashion, today's transgressions
provide tomorrow's style. "Twenty years from now
our choices may be expanded;' says Herr. "Until then,
I think dapperQs will have to blaze their own fashion
paths with inspiration from our peers and the support
of good tailors:' (dapperq.com)
own it
Name:Avni Jade
Age:Old enough to know better,
young enough to still do it!
Occupation:
Digital Photograph
Media Processer
Outfit:Leather jacket by Diesel, pea
coat by Guess, denim jacket by FCUK,
tuxedo shirt by Brooks Brothers, black
shirt by Diesel (Avni tore off sleeves),
suspenders, scarf, tie and sunglasses by
unknown designer (closet finds), belt by
Diesel, shoes by FCUK, watch by Guess
ThemeSong:"Main Hoon Don" by Shaan
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
classic dcube
Name:Hana To
Age:
Occupation:
Private C
Outfit:Hat by H&t
clothes are vinta
ThemeSong:"I've Got the Wo
...............
on a String" by Frank Sina
faux undercover
Name:Amos Mac
Occupation:Photographer; Editor; Writer;
Publisher of Original Plumbing magazine
and Translady Fanzine
Outfit:Trench coat by Topman, military jacket
by H&M, scarf found at a sidewalk sale in
San Francisco, jeans by Topman, boots
by Frye, shirt by UNIQLO
ThemeSong:"Silent Night" by Klaus Nomi
,r
t
urban dirty preppy
Name:Jack Elliot
Age:39
Occupation:Writer/Producer
Outfit: Hawkins McGill shirt
by Urban Outfitters, tie by
Stringbeans, jeans by Levi's,
hat is a hand-me-down,
glasses by Sol Mascot
ThemeSong:"People Are People"
by Depeche Mode
••••••••••••••••••••••••••
March 2012
I45
deb
nair
dude
•••••••••••••
cently, Chaz Bono told Time magazine that his
asts had always been an obstacle, hence his
ire for top surgery. "I did everything that I could
always do to de-emphasize and hide them. To finally
have that be gone for me was like the final piece of the
puzzle ... when I looked in the mirror and saw a male
chest it was exhilarating."
For Bono, this sense of liberation has extended to his
closet where for the first time he has found pleasure in
dressing his now male body. "You know," he says, "I enjoy
every aspect of my life so much, including fashion. So, I
think that the opportunity to kind of have more fun and
express myself more with clothing now than before is
because I never felt comfortable in women's clothes. And
men's clothes never quite fit me right."
Bono hasn't been shy about his male-contoured chest.
Out in the world or on TV in Being Chaz or Dancing With the
Stars he is usually sharply suited, favoring silks, light colors
and well-cut pieces. Bono also made Out magazine's top
100 last year, channeling a 1950s Marlon Brando in a faceshaving scene that showed off those unmistakable bilateral
scars. That photo in particular sparked controversy among
the lesbian community, including some curve readers,
who said he wasn't part of the community anymore
because of his newly-minted male privilege, his trans
identity and his abandonment of the lesbian community for
mainstream attention.
While that certainly isn't our stance on the subjecttrans-inclusivity is near and dear to our hearts-I wonder
if Bono still sees himself as part of the lesbian community,
even if many lesbians don't want to invite him to the party,
fine suit tails and all? "I can only really comment on how
it's changed with my lesbian friends and it hasn't changed
at all," he says. "I have a lot of very close friends who
are lesbians and I haven't lost any of them as a result
of transitioning. I don't really have a gauge of the larger
lesbian community but I think that probably there's not
a full understanding that sexual orientation and gender
identity are two different things. I mistakenly thought
when I was younger and coming out that I was a lesbian
because I knew about gay and lesbian people ... later in
life I realized that wasn't what the issue was but it was
an issue of my gender identity. My transition was in
no way a slap in the face to the lesbian community.
I realized that wasn't what the issue was when I
didn't get the comfort that somebody who is a
lesbian would get by coming out."
One thing is certain, when Bono arrives at
the party with his renewed passion for fashion,
he'll be decked out and
ns
az
nhow
onlnq
him
March 2012
I47
renaissance
man
•••••••••••••••
alexi melvindoes
it all with style.
By Emelina Minero
48
Icurve
t 12, Alexi Melvin took her first steps into the
modeling world. At 19, she became a regular
at AfterEllen with her fashion vlog, Alexi's
Closet, giving fashion advice to the ladies
who love ladies. Now at 23, Melvin is taking
on new challenges: Acting, writing, producing and
improv-and this out Jill-of-all-trades is only just
beginning to tap into her creative potential. "Right
now I'm at a discovery point in my life. There's a lot
of things that I love and I'm trying to push through
them all in their own ways," says Melvin who is
endorsed by the lesbian owned and operated Lyon
Fine Jewelry.
Aside from writing a screenplay, developing a
memoir, modeling and co-producing a film, Melvin
is also a spokeswoman for juvenile diabetes.
Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 14, she has
been an advocate ever since. "I'm always trying
to raise money and awareness," Melvin says. "I
actually started a cause on Facebook called Cure
Diabetes and it's one of the biggest causes on
Facebook, ever."
Melvin is refreshing, sincere and passionateand full of great fashion tips. Ask her about the
hottest lesbian trend and she'll tell you: flannel
button-ups. When asked about the biggest fashion
mistake a lesbian can make, she'll give it to you •
straight: "I would say as a whole, just a little bit too
laid back. It's fine to throw on a hoodie, jeans and
sneakers every now and then, but also every now
and then, throw on a pair of boots, a nice button up
or maybe a cool jacket." On her fashion inspiration
and favorite designers, "I'm really into [the style of]
movie stars from the '50s, like the very sophisticated
Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly" and "I really like
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen's line called The Row.
They're really talented as fashion designers."
Never short on opinions or the moxy to express
them, Melvin shares her thoughts on what she feels
is the biggest misconception people have with the
modeling industry: "Airbrushing-because I don't
think people really realize how much airbrushing
is involved. I swear, we don't look like that. It's just
ridiculous." (a/exime/vin.com)
realIi
m
-theI prqect
-the U.K:s
leading lesbian
musicianslend
their voices to it
does get better...
11
By Sheryl Kay
I
n a new effort to cast a greater light on the issue of bullying of
gay youth, "It Does Get Better," a Sapphic single hit the air waves
in February, a product of the efforts of more than a dozen of the
U.K.'s leading lesbian musicians.
Recorded at the Dean Street Studios in London, the catchy,
•
upbeat melodic song brings together renowned artists Georgey
& Emma (Greymatter), Sofia Antonia Milone (Geekgirl), Sandra
MacBeth, Amber (HeadsHearts), Mel Sanson (Kenelis), Nina McCann,
O'Hooley & Tidow, Lorna Thomas, Leanna Goring, Juey, Jess
Gardham, Amy Sutton (Neon Choir), Nicky Mitchell, Ella Chambers
and Scottish legend, Horse, all under the name The L Project. The
women performed pro bono, and all proceeds generated from the
sale of the single will go to Diversity Role Models and Stonewall, two
groups that specifically address the issue of bullying in schools.
Writer, and co-organizer Georgey Payne notes that bullying is not
just an American phenomenon, recalling the case of 15-year-old
Dominic Crouch, who walked out of school during his lunch break and
jumped off a six-story building to his death in England back in 2010. A
year later, Dominic's father Roger Crouch, took his life as well.
"It's everywhere," she says. "This is the harsh reality of just how
bullying messes up whole families' lives."
Payne says it's about time for the gay community to have a song of
its own, one which raises money and awareness for the community
and at the same time will help gay youth who feel alone. "If this song
stops only one person from committing suicide upon hearing it, then
that makes everything that everyone has ever done for this project
worthwhile," Payne says. (facebook.com/TheLProject)
TEGANAND SARACOME
CLEANON ROMANCERUMORS,
HOW THEYSTILLGETALONG
AND WHAT'SON THEIR
MYSTERIOUS
NEW ALBUM.
'
ORKNG0RLS
BYJANELLE
SORENSON
AND MELANYJOYBECK
upcoming album promises to
be a departure from the sound
INDIEMUSIC.BURSTING
ONTOTHESCENEIN1998AS EAGERTEEN
Tegan and Sara fans have come
to expect.
ROCKERS,
THECANADIANDUO HAVEBLOSSOMED
INTOH!GH~Y
"I don't want this record to
ACCLAIMEDLYRICAL
MUSICIANS.
WITHSEVENALBUMSUNDER
feel like anything weve ever
THEIRCOLLECTIVE
BELT
AND POISEDFORNUMBER
EIGHT,
TEGAN
done before;' says Sara Quin. "I
think stylistically each album
AND SARANOW CONTEMPLATE
MOVINGINTHEDIRECTION
OF
has changed, but I want this
UNDENIABLE
GREATNESS.
to be the biggest leap. Were
making a high-fidelity record
with a pop sensibility.We want
"I wake up in the middle of the night with my jaw
to push the envelope, to keep ourselves interested, and to help
grow our audience'
clenched and my teeth aching from stress and anxiety;'
says Tegan Quin, on the hotly anticipated follow-up to
"It's a pretty diverse, pretty schizophrenic group of
their 2009 record, Sainthood. "We have 35 songs written
songs;' Tegan agrees. 'Tm not really sure what were doing:'
and we're just going to kind of wing it and see what comes
After using familiar names like Howard Redekopp
from that. Thematically, we've been challenging ourselves
(The New Pornographers) and Chris Walla (Death Cab
not to write so much about relationships and love, but
for Cutie) on The Con and Sainthood, the duo are looking
maybe change the perspectives we're writing from:'
outside their inner circle to find a new producer for the
Tegan and Sara's hard work culminated last November
project. "What we're really trying to do is make an undein Get Along, a series of three films accompanied by a live niably great record;' says Tegan. "Is it going to sound like
album. The ambitious project acted as a veritable capstone
a Tegan and Sara record? Of course;' she laughs. "We're
still in the band:'
to their 13 years of music making. Their next step, however,
has the two at a crossroads as they prepare to make the
''I've forced myself to write some pop songs, some dance
final transition from the teenage indie rockers we know
songs, and to not be overly precious about lyrics;' Sara
and love to fulUledged pop stars.
says, reflecting on the process of preparing new mateAfter a slew of collaborations, with various artists from
rial for the studio. "I've done anthemic, obvious melodies.
Theophilus London to DJ Tiesto to Morgan Page, the
I've forced myself to write songs that are longer than two
EGANAND SARAAREOFTENREFERRED
TO AS THEDARLINGS
OF
so Icurve
minutes, and songs that make me uncomfortable:'
Both Tegan and Sara are excited about the idea of
expanding their empire while relishing the comfort of
hitting a more stable phase in their 13~year career. "I live
in a grown~up house;' says Sara. 'i\nd I swear to God I
have arthritis in my wrists. I'm old. I'm an adult lady;' she
says, in contrast to the perception of fans and critics alike
that the two are still just a couple of angsty teens. "It's
the idea that we're living in a constant state of emotional
distress, and in reality our life is about business and
traveling and paying bills and making sure the people
who work for us have health insurance;' Sara says. "If you
want to imagine me and Tegan in teenage bedrooms, with
music posters and crying, then go for it. We did that ...
when we were 17 :'
52 I curve
Gone as well are the days of pining over girls. Both
Quin sisters are now happily partnered. ''I've been with
the same person for three and a half years;' Tegan says.
"Most people know that I'm dating Lindsey Byrnes, who
is the photographer that takes all of our photos:'
Tegan admits that her early relationship with Byrnes
was the inspiration for some of the most emotionally
fraught material on their record The Con. "It's her fault I
can't write sad songs [anymore];' jokes Tegan, on finding
love with Lindsey. "But it's also her fault I wrote all of
those sad songs:'
Despite wild speculation, Sara continues to play it cool,
keeping the true identity of her ladylove a secret. At least
for now. "Something that's happened to me in the past
is that I dated Erny Storey [Tegan and Sara's longtime
E'REEXCHANGING
EMOTIONSFORMONEY.AND
THATIMMEDIATELY
PUTSUSINA
DIFFERENT
WORLDTHANMOST
PEOPLE.
WE AREASKINGPEOPLE
TO GETON BOARD,
TO INVEST.
AND WE HAVETO SHARE
OURSELVES.
IT'SPART
OF
THENEGOTIATION."
creative director], and it was such a public relationship.
People came to expect that when the next person came
along she'd be in all of the videos and she'd be there with
me [as well]:'
Though several celebrity gossip blogs have identified
Sara's girlfriend as MTV talent coordinator Stacy Reader,
the quieter Quin neither confirms nor denies the rumors,
only saying that her current partner "is a more behind~the~
scenes kind of gal. She is a grown adult woman with a life,
and I'm sure she appreciates her anonymity and privacy
to remain intact;' adding, "I don't expect she'll be a public
figure anytime soon:'
In an increasingly Kardashian world, Tegan and Sara
have always walked a fine line between being accessible
to their fans and maintaining their personal privacy. "It's
basically like we're prostitutes;' says Sara."We're exchanging
emotions for money, and that immediately puts us in a
different world than most people. We are asking people to
invest, to get on board, and we have to share ourselves. It's
part of the negotiation:'
That negotiation has proven successful for the duo. With
legions of loyal fans, critical acclaim, and their personal
lives on lock, it's easy to say that the future for Tegan and
Sara is bright, even as it is heading into uncharted territory.
"We have the strength of this team, and we have that
bond;' says Sara on the band's staying power. "However
dysfunctional our relationship would seem at times, after
this many years most people aren't able to do it. So we
must be doing something right:' To their fans and family
alike, it's clear that they are. ( teganandsara.com)
March 2012
I 53
Summertime scenes: A diving
tower, Gothenburg Harbour,
Stockholm Pride, Kayaks for rent
54
I curve
A SWEDISH
SLJMMER
GET READY FOR A SCENIC SEDUCTIVE
SOPHISTICATED SCANDINAVIAN SOJOURN.
BY JILLIAN EUGENIOS
For a small country with fewer than 10 million people,
Sweden manages to pack quite a punch. Real and imaginary
leading ladies, from screen legend Greta Garbo to pop star
Robyn to feisty, fictional Lisbeth Salander, are known for
their style and power. Even the children's book character
Pippi Longstocking is strong and assertive. And if H&M
threads and IKEA furniture define your lifestyle, perhaps
you've been crushing on Sweden long before now.
When you think of Sweden, you might also think
of ice and cold. But summer is a spectacular and scenic
time to be there. Begin your visit in Stockholm, a city
built on 14 islands, which gives it an open, idyllic feel,
with stunning views of the water from virtually every
neighborhood. An easy-to-use metro system and bikes available for rent throughout the city make getting around
Stockholm a breeze.
The Sheraton Stockholm Hotel is on the island of
Sodermalm, or Soder (meaning"south"). Large and centrally
located, it has great views of Lake Malaren. For eco-minded
travelers not wanting to compromise on luxury, the environmentally friendly Hilton Stockholm Slussen is the first
hotel in Sweden with an eco-labeled buffet breakfast,
which includes honey generated by the 60,000 bees that
live in a hive on the roof of the hotel. My personal favorite,
the 30-room Hotel Hellsten, is near Stockholm's Old Town.
The deep colors of the interiors and the wooden furnishings
make it a perfect sanctuary.
For a day in Old Town, begin with breakfast at the
gay-run cafe Chokladkoppen (Stortorget 18). From
there, go for a tour of the Royal Armoury, a museum in
the Royal Palace; or take the walking tour inspired by
Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy. Then see a show at
NS FOR LESBIANS
~GLTA
lesbian
travelsurvey
you
youmostwanttogoandwhy.
the Royal Dramatic Theatre, which offers contemporary
theatre in a gorgeous Art Nouveau building. And speaking
of dramatic, my tour guide in Stockholm had a fanny pack
with built-in speakers that blared out ABBA tracks right
there on the street. "Dancing Queen;' which had always
been my go-to karaoke song, found a new home.
Sweden is an incredibly gay-friendly country. The
mainstream Swedish community doesn't just tolerate the
queer community but welcomes everybody to the party.
Hold your girlfriend's hand anywhere you please. For
lesbian parties, head to Kolingsborg (Sodermalmstorg
2). The club hosts three girl nights every month, which
are inclusive of the trans community as well. A definite
must on your itinerary is a stop at Roxy (Nytorget 6) for
a drink, dinner or brunch. Gay-owned and -operated, it's
a comfortable and welcoming venue with a slightly kitschy
vibe that only makes it more fun.
If the islands of the city have given you a yearning for
nautical adventure, look no farther than Stockholm's
surrounding archipelago, composed of 30,000 islands.
Rent a boat or score a ride to the village of Sandhamn
(Larsson fans, take note-this is where Mikael Blomkvist
had his vacation house). A perfect day trip can include a
boat ride, a short kayak adventure, a stroll along the water and
even a hike. For those looking to stretch their legs, check out
the Bullero Nature Reserve, which offers overnight camping
and fishing cottages that date back to the 18th century.
Venture beyond Stockholm. Our trip was in the summer,
so we opted for a rental car and a little jaunt up the west
coast, where the ocean rocked us to sleep and wildlife such
as reindeer, moose and beaver are plentiful-as are oysters,
crayfish and lobster.
MOST
WANTED
INTERNATIONAL
>
March 2012 \ 55
)
Gothenburg is a good place to start your exploration
of the west coast. It's also a perfect excuse to stay at the
Hotel Avalon, which is feng shui-certified and boasts a
glass-bottomed rooftop pool that juts out over the plaza
below. Be sure to get yourself a Gothenburg City Card,
which makes sightseeing less expensive. It gave us free
admission to the botanical gardens and the Gothenburg Art
Museum, with its impressive collection of 19th and 20th
century Nordic art, as well as a free trip on a Paddan boat
for a guided tour around the city.We went under 20 bridges,
one of which is so low that it's called the "cheese slicer"everyone has to lie down while the boat goes under it.
The best coffee in town is at Bar Centro (Kyrkogatan 31).
You'll spot it from a distance by the groups of well-dressed
Swedes hanging around out front drinking cappuccinos.
There is a small gay scene in Gothenburg, and it's mostly
centered around Greta's (Drottninggatan 35). We were
there on a Sunday night, which was relaxed enough that
we could sit at the bar and have a reasonably priced meal
of homemade soup and dark beer while chatting with the
bartender. On busy nights, the Mata Hari-themed nightclub upstairs is the place to be.
After a couple of days in Gothenburg, head north. It's
best to book your accommodation ahead of time up the
coast, beginning with Salt & Sill on Kladesholmen Island.
Salt & Sill's 23 guest rooms are built on platforms that float
in the sea. On the way to Salt & Sill, stop in at the Nordic
Watercolour Museum in Skarhamn on Tjorn Island. Have
lunch at Vatten, which is adjacent to the museum and
offers gorgeous views of the surrounding water. Interested
in taking a dip after lunch? Just past the museum there's a
place to jump off the dock. On our visit, a family of Swedes
was jumping into the water off a 10-foot makeshift diving
board. I did the same, and you must as well.
Hop back in your car with wet hair and head to the
Sculptures at Pilane, a 1,000-year-old archeological heritage
site with contemporary sculptures jutting out of the landscape. If you're lucky, a herd of sheep will also be there to
keep you company.
Dine at Salt & Sill's restaurant on Kladesholmen. The
island produces 40 percent of all Swedish herring. Salt
& Sill offers a tasting plate of herring and schnapps
pairings, which is a great way to learn which local flavors
you like best.
Don't stay on dry land for long. The next day, go farther
north for an oyster or lobster safari in Grebbestad. There
is only one place to go for this experience, and it is aboard
the fishing boat that belongs to the fisherman Per Karlsson
•
56
I curve
FRANC
·nated herring with butter and cheese
and his brother. The directions to Per's place were my
favorite: "Take a right before the church, drive about 100
meters, follow the tiny road and look for a yellow sea hut
standing on poles in the water:'
We were welcomed into the sea hut and Per set about
raking oysters up from his backyard, which just happens
to be the ocean. He tossed the smaller ones, collected the
good ones, and set them in his fishing boat. We hopped
on the boat as well and spent an afternoon chugging away
into the open sea, checking on the crab pots he'd set out
earlier along trolling lines.
Per gave us gloves and knives on the boat and taught
us how to shuck oysters. We ate them right there on the
boat, slurping them down with locally made beer. Almost
all the Swedish oysters come from the waters around
Grebbestad, and don't worry-the oyster safaris are certified
Naturens Basta ("Nature's Best"), the national quality
mark for eco-tourism. Once we were back in the hut, Per
made us a delicious lunch of freshly caught crayfish, local
cheese and freshly baked bread.
Another great stop on your west coast tour is Lysekil, a
quaint little town in the Bohuslan Archipelago. Perfect for
kayaking, this part of the coast doesn't have any strong
currents or tidal waters. The water is warm in summer,
making a few days of camping among the islands and islets a
perfect addition to your trip. Nautopp Seakayaking Sweden
(nautopp.se) offers a guided trip of the archipelago, or you
can simply rent kayaks and make your own tour.
From an ABBA-themed stroll through the cobblestone
streets of Stockholm, to an aquatic adventure on the west
coast of Sweden, a smorgasbord of cultural opportunities
and natural wonders awaits you. Summer in Sweden is
simply irresistible. (visitsweden.com/sweden)
GREECE
-
SPAIN
-Lesbian, Lesbian-friendly, or simply friendly, whatever you're looking for in a destination,
you can count on a warm and laid-back, typically Swedish welcome in Stockholm!
: Check out our rainbow offers:
' www.visits!_~~khol"!_~CO'!llg~)'-lesbia
n
V.ISi·t ••
-•
Sweden
www.visitsweden.com
Stockholm
The Capitalof Scandinavia
Book now:
www.flysas.com/us
...-c;oy•---
Scandinavian
Airlines
MY NASHVILLE
A LOCAL MUSICIAN
GIVES US AN INSIDER
TOUR OF MUSIC CITY. BY ANNE MCCUE
When you think of Nashville, what do you think of? Fine
wine and dining? Italian bootmakers? Alternative rock music?
Concert halls? Art galleries? Gay culture? I didn't think so.
I bet you think of country music and big hair, Taylor Swift
and Kenny Chesney. (Personally, I'd rather think of Nicole
Kidman and Keith Urban-they also live in Nashville and
they're Australian, like me!) Anyhow, if you visit that fair
city of the South, you're in for a few surprises.
First and foremost, there is East Nashville, the Rive
Gauche of Tennessee's capital city. Once resplendent, then
falling into decay and riddled with crime, it now rises like
a phoenix from the ashes due to the combined efforts of
longtime residents and an influx of artists from all over the
world. They have created a demand for the arts, world~class
culture, healthy food-things
that were hard to find in
Nashville only a decade ago-and music of all genres.
East Nashville has plenty to offer visitors, especially in
the Five Points area. Sister restaurants Margot Cafe & Bar
(dinner) and Marche (brunch) are two of the city's finest.
There are several great bars to hang out at, including the
Red Door and 3 Crow Bar. For live music, try the 5 Spot,
which has a totally acoustic jam on Wednesday nightsbanJos, fiddles and mandolins galore-and alternative rock
the rest of the week. Then, just up the road there's Fanny's
House of Music, where you will be welcomed as you would
be in no other music store, ever. Fanny's is owned by two
musicians-Pamela Cole and Leigh Maples-and exudes a
completely charming family atmosphere. It is such a novelty
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to go into a music store run by women, not to speak of a
music store that sells artwork and vintage clothing as well.
East Nashville is also home to the Lipstick Lounge,
a two~story building on Woodland just down from
Five Points, proudly painted purple, green and red.
Predominantly lesbian in clientele, Lipstick also attracts
karaoke fans. Friday nights feature live bands and a good
dance party afterward. Go there a few times and the place
becomes like Cheers-where everybody knows your name.
Meanwhile, across town (everything in Nashville is no
more than 15 minutes away) is the area known simply as
12 South, a strip of restaurants, vintage clothing stores and,
most important to this writer, the 12 South Tap Room,
which offers hundreds of beers and some great live music. I
recall spending a St. Patrick's Day there, drinking Guinness
with a bunch of other musicians. It's that kind of place.
As you head north, Germantown is worth a visit for
culinary adventures, especially cupcakes! According to
Mignon Francois, founder of The Cupcake Collection,
"Love conquers all, including calories. Were not just giving
them cupcakes, we're giving them a bit oflove:' That's 6,000
bits oflove a day, because business is booming. Flavors such
as cafe mocha, cafe au lait and strawberry cheesecake are
impossible to resist. Mignon, originally from New Orleans,
is brimful of joy and laughter, and it is infectious. She must
be somewhat of an optimist too, because she started the
shop during the recession. "I just wanted to keep the lights
on;' she says. It worked!
Also north of the city, right down the road, is Neuhoff,
once a meatpacking plant and now a burgeoning cultural
center. There you will find Peter Nappi. The Italian boot~
maker's shop is filled with classic, stylish boots and bags,
classy furniture and other handcrafted products, and it is
beautiful to behold. Nashville's Jazz-yes, jazz-Workshop
also makes its home at Neuhoff, and the legendary song~
writer John Prine has his recording studio there. Artists
such as Lady Antebellum, Yeah No Yeah and Robert Plant
have used the location for their video shoots.
If you get a chance to go to a show at the Ryman
Auditorium while you are in town, go! I thoroughly recom~
mend the tour. Our tour guide, Art, made his first sojourn
to the Ryman in 1956 for the Grand Ole Opry. He recalls
that the place was packed to the rafters and smelled like
the farms that people had been working on during the day,
their only perfume being sweat and cigarette smoke. If you
can get Art as your guide you won't be disappointed; he
exudes the Tennessee charm that makes Nashville such a
great place to visit. Built by Thomas Ryman-a gambler,
-
drinker and saloon owner who saw the light and after an
epiphany built what was originally a church-the Ryman
seats almost 2,500 music lovers. In America, there may be
no better place for a musician to play, or for an audience to
bear witness to musical talent. I recently saw Brandi Carlile
give a superlative performance there, and k.d. lang gave it
her all only a few weeks before. Lang dedicated her last
song to East Nashville, saying she wished it had been like it
is now back in the '80s, when she was living there.
There is a respectable list of trendy and health~conscious
restaurants nowadays, but if you are seeking a traditional
food experience, mac 'n' cheese is still considered a vegetable
on many menus. Places like Puckett's Grocery and
Restaurant offer all the old favorites: fried chicken, chicken~
fried steak, fried okra, fried green tomatoes, fried green
beans, fried pickles and fried jalapeiios. You get the gistmost everything is fried. Monell's is another Nashville fixture,
serving and seating you family~style. This all~you~can~eat
dining experience, including all the best fried foods and
saturated greens, is a must for carnivores.
For a more upscale dining experience, or just to stop
in for a drink at the Oak Bar, you must visit the beautiful
Hermitage Hotel-situated
on the hilltop of downtownwhere even the men's bathroom is sbmething to behold, in
all its black~and~green~tiled Art Deco glory; women are
welcome to check it out as long as a guy makes sure no one
is using the facilities.
On the night my crew and I visited the Hermitage, the
food was delicious and the lovely staff plied us with so
much white wine that I was quite delirious by the time I
got to our first show at Nashville's Next Big Thing Music
GERMANY
THE
-
NETHERLANDS
March 2012 j 59
Festival (now named SoundLand)-so
I shall reserve
judgment about the musical act I saw that night.
On the next night, however, I was stone cold sober for
our visit to Jack White's Third Man Records and stunned
by the music that awaited us there. Our jaws dropped as
we watched Brittany Howard sing like Aretha, Adele and
Janis all rolled into one, play guitar like Bo Diddley and
give the performance of her life with her band of exquisite
young men. "Who is she?"was mouthed at many different
times against this din of passionate, sweat-and-tears rock.
Her band is called Alabama Shakes-watch out for it.
Three other places in Nashville are simply stunning.
Frist Center for the Visual Arts, originally a Hoover-era
post office, has been transformed into a wonderful art
gallery and museum with a world-class calendar of events
and exhibitions. _Evenmore striking is the Schermerhorn
Symphony Center, home of the Nashville Symphony;
it's a new building designed in the style of a 19th century
European concert hall. When I went, Bela Fleck was
playing banjo with the Nashville Symphony. The third
place you have to see is Gruhn Guitars on Broadway,just
down from all the honky-tonk bars. I got to go upstairsthat legendary floor where only the big-time guitar
collectors get to go-and saw hundreds of the most
beautiful and expensive guitars ever made. There was a
1960 Sunburst Les Paul with a price tag of $150,000.
You get the picture. I didn't dare ask ifl could play one!
The best show in this town might just be a jam on
someone's back porch, but two regular shows that cannot
be missed if you are in town early in the week are both at
the Station Inn-Monday nights it's the Time Jumpers
with Vince Gill, and Tuesday nights it's the funny and
clever Doyle and Debbie Show. Of course, you can't leave
town without visiting the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Nashville has many of the benefits of a big city, while
feeling like a small town. It's a place that gives you time
to think, hear, listen, dream. You can grow your own
vegetables and raise chickens, if you want to. Friendly
conversation between strangers has not yet gone the way
of the dodo, as it has in most cities. Drivers, in general,
go a little slower, and there is a whole lot less traffic. It
is peaceful and quiet-a must for song catchers if they
want to hear those songs in the ether-and plenty of
songs are floating down to Nashville every day. Because
it's the music and musicians that make this place tickand make a guitar-toting sheila from Australia feel
real welcome! You'll feel real welcome too, if you get the
chance to visit Music City. (visitmusiccity.com)
FLORIDA'S
LESBIAN
BEACH
TOWN
MORE THAN LESBIAN-FRIENDLY,
GULFPORT IS FULL OF FRIENDLY
LESBIANS. BY GILLIAN KENDALL
Like many other tourist destinations, Gulfport claims to be
Florida's last undiscovered secret. But there's nothing undiscovered and not many secrets in this 2.8 square mile beach town
(population 13,000). It's also said to have a "Key West flavor;' but
it's more densely dykey than Key West. Out gay city council member Barbara Banno estimates the lesbian-household population
of Gulfport at about 35 percent. Furthermore, Gulfport proudly
lacks two things that clutter too many beach towns: chain stores
and parking metres.
In all of Gulfport-even on the main drag, Beach Blvd. South;
even in front of the pier and O'Maddy's Bar and Grille; even by
the beach near the converted casino where women play volleyball on Sunday mornings and then cross Shore Blvd. to party at
Neptune-parking is free. There are no meters, no valets, no parking
garages and no parking tickets anywhere in town.
Even better, once you've ditched your car to stroll, maybe for
the twice-monthly ArtsHop, or just for an afternoon of shopping,
beach-going and eating out, you won't see a single chain store or
restaurant. No green-and-white Starbucks signs mar the pretty,
white-lit downtown blocks; no nasty 7-11 neon breaks up the
lighting from the little bulbs in the trees and the candles on outdoor tables. It's refreshingjust to see the original signage, and even
more refreshing to step inside to browse through original artwork
and hand-made gifts, or sit down to food prepared and served by
residents. Every shop in town and virtually every stall at the market
is owned by a local.
An example of the kind of trust this spirit engenders: at the end
of the weekly Tuesday market I was out of cash, and the artist selling the handmade brooch I wanted, Judy Greer, didn't take credit
cards. She offered to take a check and, when I said I had none,
asked me to mail her one "sometime;' and cheerfully wrapped up
my small purchase in a one-of-a-kind cloth bag.
The market was like the craft stalls at Michigan Womyn's Music
NEW
YORK
60
I curve
•
FLORIDA
Festival, only without the mud and with men (note:
friendly, and often gay, men). Booth after booth is staffed
by smiling, short-haired craftswomen in hand-made
T-shirts or jewelry, who seem more interested in chatting
with everyone than making sales, although sales are good.
Marsha Warner, a Chamber of Commerce volunteer
who shows me around, knows just about everyone, because
she lives on 22nd St. South, known as "Lesbian Lane:'
And most everyone is a lesbian, and "a really nice person;'
according to Warner. "See her on the bike? That's T., she's
my neighbour. She used to date K., who runs that booth
over there. Now she lives with S., over there, talking to
N:' And so it goes as we wend through the stalls of homemade crafts, local produce and real art.
Warner introduces me to the token straight couple
who've moved onto her street, who say that despite their
minority status, they feel embraced by their new neighbors. Everyone, it seems, is welcome in Gulfport as long as
they don't try to divide the community.
So wholesomely united is this town that the one attempt
to open a categorically "gay bar" ( the Dive Bar and Grill)
petered out. Many people went to the opening, says Daniel
Hodge of the Gulfport Fresh Market. "Everyone wentgay, straight, old ladies, young bikers, everyone, because
that's the way it is here. We support local businesses:' But
the overt determination of the owners to create a gaymale environment backfired, and the locals returned to
drinking and mingling happily at O'Maddy's, Neptune
and Back Fin.
In Gulfport, even a casual visitor can spend her days
surrounded by sisters. Join in dog-walks in the two dog
parks, play volleyball on the beach
on Sunday mornings, hear regular gigs by lesbian band Karmic
Tattoo at Oar House or On
the Rocks, join the beach drum
circle Friday nights, and attend
fundraisers at area restaurants
for AIDS support group ASAP
or the Sonia Plotnick women's
health fund-not
to mention
eating at the gay-owned and gayfriendly cafes all around town,
such as Stella's Deli.
For drinking and dancing, The
Oar House is popular with lesbians, Pepperz has drag shows, and
the old, renovated Casino hosts
dances of various kinds nearly every night of the week. A
recent lesbian Halloween dance party attracted some 250
costumed women; the Valentine's Dance has drawn up to
700 lady-lovers.
For event listings, reach for the tabloid called Gabber,
or Womyn's Words, said to be the oldest gay publication
in Florida, and be sure to sign up online to ProSuzy
List (prosuzy.com). "Suzanne is the glue;' says long-time
Florida resident Marie Corbett. She's speaking of Suzanne
Noe (featured previously in curve's 'Women We Love")
who singlehandedly puts out the regular e-newsletter and
organizes frequent bike trips, games nights, parties, cardexchanges and more every month.
In this whole sweet small town there are only a few
dozen hotel rooms. The superbly comfortable, multiple
award-winning Sea Breeze Manor B&B is only steps
from the beach and the main shopping area. All the
rooms are spacious suites, and downstairs is an expansive
library/lounge/veranda. My suite had a bath overlooking
the beach and wraparound veranda overlooking everything. Winner of Rand McNally and USA Today's Best
Romantic Hotel award, this queer-friendly B&B is run
by mover and shaker Lori Russo, a D.C. transplant who
also heads the Chamber of Commerce. Other overnight
or dining options include the gracious, handicappedaccessible Peninsula Inn and Spa on Beach Blvd., an area
landmark and host to occasional lesbian events.
Gulfport makes a great overnight for dykes driving
through Florida, or a good destination for anyone looking
for a taste of San Francisco or Provincetown without the
winter weather. (visitstpeteclearwater.com)
•
•
MASSACHUSETTS
ARIZONA
WASHJN
March 2012
I61
MARVE L,,OUS
MONTREAL
A TASTE OF FRANCE, NORTH OF THE BORDER.
BY JILLIAN EUGENIOS
Ah, Paris. The nightlife, the restaurants, the a~r. .. the
exorbitant airfare, the lousy dollar-to-euro conversion
rate, the well-deserved moniker "Most Expensive City
in the World:' What's a girl to do if she needs to save her
shekels but has an itch to spend her mornings in brasseries,
peppering her conversation with bonjourand merci?
There's no need to deny yourself those Nutella crepes
and the pursuit of that European je ne sais quoi. You can
stick to your budget by heading up to Montreal, Canada,
the second-largest primarily French-speaking city in the
world (after Paris). Montreal
is often called the city of a
hundred nations; to me, this
cultural mash-up makes it
the epicenter of everything
awesome that's happening to
our north.
I began my visit to Montreal
just the way I introduce myself
to most new places: by eating.
To get a fasMrack version of
Montreal's cuisine, I hit up
Brasserie T!, a new concept
sprung from Toque!, one of
Montreal's finest restaurants.
The menu offers delights like
gratin dauphinoisand saucisson
en briocheat accessible prices,
and Brasserie T! is just below
the Musee d'art contemporain de Montreal. With two
culturally significant experiences in one place, 185
Sainte-Catherine
Ouest 1s
the perfect introduction to
Montreal.
Urbane Montrealians have
embraced the French penchant
for chic fashion and languorous dining and combined it
with the very Canadian qualities of hospitality, openness,
and optimism. Check our the synergy at the Hotel Le
Germain Montreal (2050 rue Mansfield, germainmontreal.
com), a swanky boutique hotel with luxurious furnishings
and rooms that feel like exclusive lofts. Tres bien!
The Village, or "le Village;' is Montreal's gayborhood
and is seen as a symbol of the city's overwhelming sense of
openness and joie de vivre. If the flags on the street don't
tip you off as to where you've found yoursel£ the rainbowthemed metro stop should do the trick. Though the Village
is where most gay establishments are concentrated, the city
itself is so welcoming that you don't have to confine your
hand-holding to the Village's 15 blocks.
The Village can be very male-scene heavy. I stopped in
at a gay strip bar and ended up circled around a small table
with some fabulous boys. It was pirate night and the
strippers were dressed like Captain Jack Sparrow. Amused
but not especially thrilled, I set off to find the lesbians.
There are plenty of them, and they're found at Faggity Ass
Fridays on-you guessed it-Fridays, or Meow Mix on
Saturdays, or during the week at the new _lesbian-owned
Royal Phoenix up in Mile End.
The Mile End is an arty district with a reputation for
being the heart of the city's independent music scene. I
discovered that one of the most important features of
the neighborhood was the bagel bakery, St-Viateur Bagel
(263 St. Viateur West, stviateurbagel.com). The place is
small, but packed with hand-rolled bagels being baked
before your eyes in a wood-burning oven. Stop by for a
nosh at any time of the day, as it is open 24/7. Perfect for
a snack after hitting up the girl night in Mile End, and
much better for you than overdosing on piles and piles of
poutine, an infamous-and delicious-Canadian
specialty
consisting of French fries with cheese curds and gravy.
I spent a gloriously sunny afternoon exploring Old
Montreal along the banks of the Saint Lawrence River. It's
a great place to get lost among some of the oldest buildings
LOUISIANA
62
Icurve
-
ALASK
in the city, many of which look like they've been teleported
straight from Paris. Take note of the Gothic Revival
La Basilique Notre-Dame and Place Jacques-Cartier, a
large square that leads to a fountain. Avoid the touristtrap restaurants in the area and walk along the water to
Cluny ArtBar (257 Rue Prince, cluny.info)-a gay-owned
establishment in a former foundry, it has high ceilings, big
windows, and a menu of pastries, sandwiches and more.
I tried the vegetarian plate and got a platter overflowing
with roasted vegetables. I also helped myself liberally from
the basket of freshly baked bread that's ne~r the register.
(Obviously, I have a weakness for carbs, and Montreal isn't
shy about satisfying it.) Check out the exhibition space
next door and see what's happening.
Montreal offers more than you can shake a baguette at
in terms of culture. In addition to Cirque du Soleil (they're
Montreal residents), there are festivals in progress yearround: the Montreal International Jazz Festival, the Sketch
Comedy Festival, the Fringe Festiyal, several film festivals
and more.
•
OREG
-
If you grow weary of museum hopping and performance
watching, head out into nature and visit "the mountain;'
which is the big hill north of the city and is officially
known as Mount Royal Park. When I was there, I saw a
person in a squirrel suit walking through the woods. Since
I live in New York City, I regard these things as normal
and assumed it was just a Canadian out for a morning
walk, like everyone else. Montreal really does embrace
everyone. And don't forget-gay
marriage is legal in
Canada. Need I say more2 Get up there, mademoiselle.
( tourisme-montreal.org)
TEXAS
Dostatediscrimination
lawsorsame-sex
marriage
lawsinfluence
yourtraveldecisions?
March 2012
I 63
AMAZING
ZAMBIA
THE LANDLOCKED AFRICAN NATION IS ALSO LOCKED
AGAINST LGBT RIGHTS, BUT ONE CUPVETTE AND
HEP GIRLFRIEND VISITED. BY ALLISON STEINBERG
It sounds like a recipe for dyke disaster: staying at a Catholic
convent with my lesbian lover in a country where homosexuality is punishable by long-term imprisonment. It also
sounds like the opening to a bad Margaret Cho sketch. But
while the entire experience felt surreal, it exposed a harsh
reality-this is the way much of the world lives.
I recently traveled with my girlfriend and my Jewish
mother to visit Catholic nuns in Kitwe, Zambiaspecifically, one nun my mom had befriended some 12
years ago, when she came to the United States in search
of a better education. Zambia, just north of Botswana and
south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is a landlocked country in sub-Saharan Africa. It just recently held
its first fair election, after decades of corrupt rule left the
people impoverished and the infrastructure in ruins.
From the moment we landed on the single dirt runway at
tiny Ndola airport, I was petrified of breathing the wrong
way-would someone take note of the gay way I looked
at my girlfriend and realize we weren't just friends? Would
our short haircuts and wide strides give us away? What i£
out of habit, I accidentally put my hand on her thigh or
offered her a bite of my dinner?
I soon realized that no one noticed anything. In fact, I
E-
THERLANDS
64
Icurve
came to feel safer in Zambia than I have felt in other parts
of the world where gay people, though hardly tolerated, are
more visible. In societies where homophobia is so thickly
entrenched in the law, and religion is so strictly enforced,
there is no discourse around being gay and therefore no
radar by which to detect it. No one thought I was gay
because in Zambia there's no such thing, or so it seemed.
Ironic to the Western eye, affection between men is
visible in Zambia. There were men holding hands and
walking with their arms around each other, but, as is the
case in many countries, this is a sign of friendship, and gay
men would never dare showcase their affection in public.
The gay community in Zambia is silent at best. Attempts
to create a more visible community in the late 1990s were
quickly stamped out by the government; this led to a
decade of silence. The creation of an official gay group in
Zambia is still in the works, and only in the past three years
have some brave LGBT people come together in conjunction with the CDC to help collect ethnographic research to
foster support for HIV/ AIDS awareness and education.
Theirs is the first such study in the country, although the
HIV/ AIDS prevalence rate is around 16 percent. The
research group calls itself the Friends of Rainka, after a
• •
•
ENGLAND
SPAIN
CANADA
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Victoria Falls {from left), school
children, local nuns, elephants
in the Zambezi River
local DJ and known lesbian who worked to further human
rights before dying of an unknown illness. The suppression
of gay identity in Zambia only compounds the severity of
the HIV/ AIDS epidemic since emerging HIV programs
will ignore LGBT people because they are not recognized
as a part of society.
Zambia was officially declared a Christian nation in
1991 by then president Frederick Chiluba. This caused
myriad problems, most notably a lack of access to birth
control and disease prevention: Zambia has the highest
incidence of HIV/ AIDS of any country in the world ( the
reported 16 percent are the people who are aware that they
have the disease, but owing to poverty, poor healthcare and
the cultural suppression of women many more people are
likely to be living with HIV/ AIDS and not know it). A
single handwritten sign at the side of a road-"Stop HIV/
AIDS. Use a condom:' -was the only visible attempt I saw
to provide HIV-prevention education.
Women are married off at 15 or 16, are having babies
shortly thereafter and have little access to education or
decent healthcare. Zambia is just starting to have the
conversation about equal rights for women; gay rights is
light-years away.
Of course, my girlfriend and I kept our affection curbed
for safety's sake, something that as out-and-proud New
Yorkers tugged heavily at our ethical heartstrings. After
seeing the horrid conditions of the hospitals, schools and
homes in Zambia, we both agreed that compromising our
identity for a few days was better than dying in prison at
the hands of a nation that has a very weak relationship with
its U.S. and British embassies.
AUSTRALIA/
NEW ZEALAND
•
To perpetuate our hetero myth, after we pushed our
twin cots together at night in the convent, we begrudgingly separated them again during waking hours. We stole
kisses in dark hallways and held hands in the backseat of
the pickup when the nuns weren't looking. It was all very
high school, even a little exciting; the fear of being caught
was terrifyingly consequential. There were moments when
I wondered if the nuns had some idea that we were lovers,
particularly the one who had been educated in the United
States and had 12 years of New York City under her belt.
I could have sworn I saw a smirk in the rearview of the
pickup at one point.
Interestingly, it is the nuns who are turning gender on its
head in Zambia. The religious order we stayed with-and'
many others-run
private schools there (public school is
not free after the sixth grade) and have a shared goal of
empowering women to break free of the cycles of female
degradation that are still alive there. The nuns, by dint of
their being nuns, are not marrying young and having
babies; they are not contracting HIV or living within the
parameters of what's considered"women's work:'Tue sisters
are educated, and they teach at the schools. They hire men
to cook and clean, tend to the land, even launder their habits
for them. Many of the nuns we met were young, and we
wondered whether they came to the order out of religious
conviction or as a survival tactic. How many of them were
lesbians and had chosen celibacy over forced marriage?
"Thank you for having the courage to visit Zambia;' one
of the sisters who had lived in the States wrote to us upon
our return home. Though it hadn't been said, she knew just
how different life is in Zambia and how shocking the trip
must have been for us. I'm not sure whether I'd be willing
to travel to another homophobic country with my partner,
but I do know that Zambia was more educational than any
LGBT-friendly destination could have been, and what's
more eye-opening than that?
SWEDEN
-
GERMANYMarch 2012
I65
LOVE
ON
LONG
ISLAND
NEW YORK'S
RESORT DESTINATION
WELCOMES LESBIANS
TO SAVE THE DATE.
BY MERRYN JOHNS
With New York State's marriage equality win, it's no
surprise that Long Island is getting in on the gay wedding
boom. What may seem like pure pragmatism rather befits
the "live and let live" ethos of The Big Apple and comes
across as a genuine welcome. Such is the case with the
Long Island Convention-& Visitors Bureau, which went
so far last July as to create an entire wedding campaign in
partnership with ILOVENY, rhe office of state tourism.
And this was no flash-in-the-pan campaign designed to
cash in on queers rushing to rhe altar on July 24, 2011:
The Long Island CYB has decided to further extend
the welcome by partnering with the Long Island GLBT
Services Network and provide information about planning
your 2012 wedding on Long Island.
Yes, it's rimes like these that I am proud to call New
York my home. Like many New York residents, I even find
myself vacationing in the state; whether it's a festival in the
Finger Lakes, mountain magic in the nearby Catskills, or a
weekend beach adventure our on Long Island.
Long Island, which lies just east of Manhattan and
juts slightly north into the Atlantic Ocean like an upside
down crab claw, is a refuge from the urban intensity many
associate with New York City-especially
in summer,
when N.Y.C. residents get in cars or on trains and flee to
the beaches known as the Hamptons (and let's not forger
Fire Island or the "Gay Hamptons" locales of Cherry
Grove and The Pines). Even though Long Island is part
of the New York Metropolitan area, and is the most
•
GREECE
66
Icurve
populated island in any U.S. state or territory, it offers
places of spectacular beauty, awe-inspiring history and
many opportunities for the visitor to relax in the arms of
nature, and indulge in several aspects of culture, too.
While Long Island as a geographical location may
conjure suburban images of housewives, ticky-tacky
houses, strip malls and traffic snarls, many places on the
island more closely resemble quaint New England villages:
Oyster Bay, Port Jefferson, Sag Harbor, and the secluded
and beautiful Shelter Island make it hard to believe you
are only a couple of hours from New York City.
Yes, the diverse and very urban melting pots of N.Y.C.
boroughs Queens and Brooklyn are part of Long Island,
bur it's really the stretch of beaches, from Long Beach on
the Southwestern shore, to Monrauk at the furthermost
Northeastern point, that make the trip worthwhile to
Manhatranires. Bur no matter where you are from, there
is a lot to love and discover about this 120-mile-long land
mass-especially its proactive decision to roll our the red
carper to commitment-loving lesbians. Which brings us
back to why you might find yourself there this year.
To understand the needs of gays and lesbians choosing
the area as a vacation destination, the Long Island CYB
held meetings with the Long Island GLBT Services
Network, their reciprocal partner, to discuss issues affecting our community. They also participated in a Long
Island Business, Life and Wedding Expo in October last
year, geared to educating the LGBT community about
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marriage equality and other services in
New York State, and launched a weddings page on their website with special
offers, promotions and listings of recom~ended wedding venues, accommodations
and services.
To help you plan, and find a wedding
location, request a free Long Island Travel
Guide, or a free Long Island Meeting
Facilities Guide. The following are special
offers from participating "Save the Date"
campaign partners to encourage same-sex
couples to choose Long Island as their
wedding destination. (discoverlongisland.
com/ weddings)
complimentary the next morning for up
to 25 guests. (hiltonlongisland.com)
CURVE
DROVE THIS
RAINBOW PRIDE
Thispastsummer,
curve wasluckyenough
tohosta Hamptons
partywiththeLGBTand-atlies
group,
dot429.com.
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showhome
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911Carrera
GTS
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istight,theacceleration
isinstantaneous,
thebraking
isdynamic
andresponsive.
Theskyreallyisthelimitwiththisluxe
convertible.
[Constance
Parten]
WEDDING RECEPTION
Celebrate the love of your life with the
wedding of a lifetime at Danfords Hotel
& Marina, with its spectacular views of
Port Jefferson Harbor. This boutique
hotel's wedding planners can design a
complete wedding package for you, from
an intimate family event up to a 175-guest
reception in the ballroom. Overnight
accommodation in renovated rooms and
suites and on-premises spa and salon
services are available. (danfords.com)
"SHOW YOUR PRIDE"
WEDDING PACKAGE
The Glen Cove Mansion has always
welcomed LGBT weddings, and now
they are celebrating New York's historic
same-sex marriage law with a new iPad 2
outfitted with a Rainbow Case-loaded
with your wedding pictures (minimum
of 125 guests, $150 per person). The
Show Your Pride Wedding waves the
ceremony fee and includes butler-style
champagne at your ceremony or reception. (glencovemansion.com)
RAINBOW PACKAGE
Say yes to an oceanfront wedding, to a
rooftop poolside ceremony with gourmet
organic cuisine-and
the next day,
watching the sunrise over the Atlantic
from a luxury suite. The Allegria would
like to make you feel welcome on your
special day. Make sure to ask for the
special Rainbow Package for just $144
per person. Contact the Allegria Hotel
for food selection choices and options.
(allegriahotel.com)
"MAKE IT OFFICIAL" PACKAGE
The Hilton Long Island/Huntington
hotel is a first class, full-service hotel
offering a 5-hour Make It Official Wedding package including: Customized menu,
deluxe open bar, complimentary ceremony
space, a complimentary suite for the happy
couple, two complimentary rooms for
guests of choice, elegant chair covers and
linens, valet parking and discounted room
rates for out of town guests. Mention you
want to make it "Official" and breakfast is
FIRE ISLAND LIMO
Fire Island Limousine has been joyfully
catering to the gay and lesbian community since 1980 with their tradition of
combining newly-fashioned limousines
with old-fashioned service. They cater to
Cherry Grove, The Pines, Ocean Beach,
Fair Harbor, Davis Park, Montauk,
Amagansett, the Hamptons or to any
Long Island resort. (fireislandlimo.com)
LOVING LONG ISLAND
Long Island has long been a gay-friendly
destination, with the world-renowned
queer haven of Fire Island, the superchic Hamptons, and the increasingly
popular Long Island and wine country
are just a few draws among many.
Another benefit of a Long Island
wedding is your choice of four seasonsand no matter what the weather you
know that this island welcomes you
with an official rainbow-colored smile.
(discoverlongisland.com)
March 2012
I67
DESERT DESTINY
CALIFORNIA'S DESERT OASIS IS THE DESTINATION FOP
"LESBIAN SPRING BREAK" AND IS WORTH A VISIT ALL
YEAR POUND. BY MERRY,N JOHNS AND KRISTIN SMITH
Palm Springs is considered a gay oasis and according
to Ron Oden, the openly gay former mayor, as many as
33 percent of the residents in the Coachella Valley identify
as gay or lesbian. This 1s a place where heterosexual
Republicans rub shoulders with queer Democrats; a place
that turns its streets over to the hedonistic lesbian hordes
Queen of Hearts ( queenofheartsps.com),
a lesbian
resort and hotel for women, offers another wonderful dyke
oasis. The proprietor, Michelle Secor, considers the Queen
of Hearts a "home away from home:' And it is-if you're
lucky enough to live in a spacious home with a heated
pool and incredible views of the mountains. Most of the
every spring for The Dinah Shore Weekend ( thedinah.
com); and it is also a most desirable destination for retirement or second-home ownership among an increasing
number oflesbians. And on a recent fall visit, curve found
good reason to visit the desert any time of the year.
women who stay here have been coming for years, and
with good reason. This affordable and comfortable resort
has great rooms, with full kitchens, private dining patios
and panoramic views. More than that, it has community.
Within an hour of arriving, we'd already made friends
with the Canadian couple who were visiting for their fifth
year and the Northern California woman who proudly
confessed that she "practically lives here:• While the rooms
are great and the location is amazing (it's just around the
corner from Casitas Laquita, the Ace Hotel and the Palm
Springs strip), what really makes the Queen of Hearts a
favorite card in the traveler deck is Michelle, a rare host
who loves what she does. She's likely to bring you freshpicked fruit in the morning and give you a generous hug
before you leave. It's no wonder so many ladies return.
DESERT DIGS: WHERE TO STAY
Casitas Laquita Resort (casitaslaquita.com) is a lovely
place to call home. Dramatic mountain views frame the
1.2-acre property, which offers 15 private casitas done
in tasteful Southwestern
decor. Manicured grounds
surround a welcoming pool, which is the perfect place to
cultivate your far niente and watch hummingbirds dart in
and out of the bougainvillea. Established in 1998 by the
wonderful and welcoming Joanna Funaro and her partner,
Denise Roberson, Casitas Laquita was recognized by
Out & About as one of the world's 10 most romantic gay
guesthouses. Budget-conscious dykes will welcome the
well-equipped casitas, which make self-catering a preferable option to always dining out. An added bonus is the
fresh-baked slab of Joanna's cinnamon-laced coffee cake
that will be awaiting you in your kitchen.
68
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DESERT DIVERSIONS:
Casitas
Strokes
lesbian
erotica.
authors
WHAT TO DO
Laquita is also the partner venue for the Bold
Books Festival (March 1-4) featuring notable
authors of LGBT-themed sci-fi, poetry-and
Festival attendees can meet many of their favorite
(Radclyffe is on this year's roster), buy their works,
u.
0
a:
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Ill
CJ)
C,
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er
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3
discover and eajoy previews hot-off-the-presses-all
poolside. Conceived of in 2007 by Casitas Laquita's
Funaro and Roberson, who teamed with Bold Strokes Books,
the nearby Queen of Hearts Resort, and the Palm Springs
Bureau of Tourism, the Bold Strokes Books Festival is a
unique experience for literary lesbians. But don't forget to
pull yourself away to eajoy all the rest of Palm Springs!
If you are in town during The Dinah, the partying
and indoor (read bedroom) activity can make it easy to
forget the wild natural beauty of the desert, just a short
drive away. Andreas and Palm Canyons offer breathtakingly beautiful treks into the hills. Take a tour with Desert
Adventures (red-jeep.com) and make sure you request
the lovely, loquacious Morgan-you'll
learn everything
about the Agua Caliente Cahuilla (pronounced Kaw-we-ah)
Indians, who developed complex communities in the
Palm Springs area. Explore the ancient Indian Canyons
and marvel at the largely unspoiled and stunning desert
landscape, pristine snowmelt streams and tall California
palms (don't refer to them as trees; they're actually a type
of grass). A hike into Andreas Canyon is breathtaking,
without leaving you breathless (indian-canyons.com).
For a cultural excursion, and a flashback to an era of
old world glamour, take a tour of the Annenberg Retreat
at Sunnylands (sunnylands.org). Open this month after
extensive renovations, the estate incorporates a historic
house, an education center, a desert garden and a solar
farm. The retreat intends to host high-level conferences
and seminars on issues of global importance. Sunnylands,
a tribute to the Mid-Century Modern movement in architecture and design, was the home of entrepreneurs and
philanthropists Walter and Leonore Annenberg, who
entertained presidents, royalty, international political
figures and entertainment icons. It's an impressive place
to stop, and contemplate your own place in the world.
DESERT HEARTS
LESBIAN PALM SPRINGS
Palm Springs is known primarily as a mecca for gay men,
but it also has a vibrant lesbian history. The Hollywood
screen siren Gloria Swanson stayed at the Desert Knight,
the town's first lesbian hotel, in 1969; today, the Queen of
Hearts. Dr. Florilla White, a pants-wearing horsewoman
and adventurer, settled in Palm Springs in 1913. She built
and operated the Palm Springs Hotel, was also the area's
first doctor, and was said to be friends with bisexual silentscreen star RudolfValentino. Dinah Shore, the Hollywood
singer-actor who had numerous male paramours but was
also a champion of that favorite lesbian pastime, golf, was
a longtime supporter of women's professional golf, and
lent her name to the Dinah Shore Weekend, arguably
the largest lesbian event in the world. For more queer
history, dip into A City Comes Out: The Gay and Lesbian
History of Palm Springsby David Wallace.
Today, Palm Springs offers several resources for queer
visitors, including an online magazine for the lesbian
community of Coachella Valley, LSpot Palm Springs
(lspotpalmsprings.com); the monthly Desert Dyners where
lesbians can dine out and meet, (desertdyners.co~); and
the Golden Rainbow Center, now the LGBT Community
Center of the Desert (thecenterps.org)
DESERT DECADENCE:
TAKE THE WATERS
A spa treatment at the Spa Resort Casino Hotel is a surefire way to get into relaxation mode. Being in the desert,
sometimes we forget that Palm Springs is named for
its waters, which were known to the Cahuilla Indians for
their curative powers. The Spa Resort Casino's signature
service is the famous "Taking of the Waters;' a therapeutic
10-minute soak in a private sunken tub filled to the brim
with mineral waters. Precede this with steam, sauna and
eucalyptus inhalation to embark on a journey that leaves
you rejuvenated-and
ready for all the rest of Palm
Springs' pleasures. (sparesortcasino.com)
DESERT DINING:
THREE'S COMPANY
The queer vibe abounds in Palm Springs eateries, so you
can eat out anywhere and feel at home. But if you really
want to sample and support a gay establishment and eat
exceptionally well (mostly seasonal and organic), there
is no better restaurant than Trio (triopalmsprings.com).
This dining destination offers some standout dishes, from
the innovative (soy ceviche is a tasty vegetarian option) to
the comforting ( the mac and five cheese was sumptuously
indulgent). If you have a sweet tooth, finish with the Trio
nut torte-although
we were lucky to sample the pie of
the day, a towering slice of lip-smacking lemon meringue
made by none other than a local lesbian! Trio is located
in an Old Las Palmas bank in the Design District, and
Tony Marchese and Mark Van Laanen have a solid investment-on two curve visits, seating was waiting-list-only.
But kudos to these guys, who give back to the community
with events and fundraisers all year round. And kudos to
a community that will keep us coming back.
(visitpalmsprings.com)
March 2012
I69
REVIEWSIn The Stacks
A Portraitof the Artist,Naked
A Lambda LiteraryAward-winningauthor recreatesa historic lesbianaffair. By Merryn Johns
Art Deco historians have
told us very little about lesbian
painters in the Jazz Age, even though we
know that literary luminaries Gertrude
Stein, Natalie Barney, Radclyffe Hall,
Colette and Djuna Barnes were part of a
Sapphic milieu-their
contributions to
the construction of lesbian identity in the
20th century are well-documented, but
scant attention has been paid to queer female
artists of the era.
Tamara de Lempicka, who stalked the
same Parisian turf as those famous women
writers, was arguably the 20th century's
first female celebrity painter, sought after
by collectors, who fought to acquire her
bold, jewel like, erotically charged canvases.
De Lempicka was an art star in her own lifetime, long before feminists canonized Frida
Kahlo and Georgia O'Keefe. And, unlike
those two trailblazers, de Lempicka actually
was queer and painted in the context of her
identity-she
painted the women she was
attracted to or involved with.
It is this largely untouched lesbian history
that Ellis Avery chooses as the basis for her
70
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exquisite new novel, TheLast Nude. Avery's
lush, clever, and sexy reverie is set in Paris
in 1927, when a young and impoverished
American named Rafaela Fano allows
herself to be picked up by a glamorous
stranger-the artist Tamara de Lempicka.
A would-be seamstress teetering on
the brink of prostitution, Fano agrees
to model for de Lempicka. When the
older woman seduces
her model and
Fano blossoms
under her patron's
touch, art history
is changed: Fano's
erotic longing for
de Lempicka finds
its way into what
will become one of
the most iconic paintings of its era. The
sexual charge embedded in the painting sets
off a bidding war, and de
Lempicka and Fano find
themselves embroiled in intrigue, scandal
and a love affair that will haunt them till
their end days.
Avery, who earned three awards for
her brilliant lesbian-themed novel The
Teahouse Fire, has applied her imagination
to history again with TheLast Nude. Avery
starts with what is known about Tamara
de Lempicka: She was an enigmatic, aristocratic, part-Jewish blonde who fled the
Bolshevik Revolution for Paris, only to
endure the creeping tide of Nazism. It is
known that her numerous affairs ( and
lashings of cocaine) fed her work, and that
she was a genius whose prodigious output
(28 canvases in six months for her first
major show) captured the elegance and
modernity of the late Jazz Age. But Avery
weaves a new and glimmering thread into
this tapestry, adding that in spite of her
peripatetic Bohemian ways, de Lempicka
was very likely in love with Fano; and that
turning away from this passionate attachment
to pursue fiscal pragmatism and social
ambition became the chief regret of her
later years.
There is one fact that Avery seized upon
to spin this story: The painting that de
Lempicka was working on when she died
in 1980 was a copy of her 1927 Beautiful
Rafaela. Avery asks why the artist returned
to this work. "Fifty-three years later this
painting came back to her: That is the fact.
What that might have meant to her is my
job. Was it because this was the pinnacle of
her work and she wanted to recapture that?
Was it because she was doing what elderly
artists do-revisit
their earlier work? My
belief is that she had Rafaela, the girl herself,
on her mind, and she wanted to return to
that affair:'
While Avery admits that this is "the kind
of willful interpretation that fiction writers
get to indulge in;' I doubt that her readers
will object; they will grant Avery her indulgence when historical revisionism leans in a
lesbian direction. The chief delight of this
book is its sexy re-creation of scenes that
must have occurred but have been lost in
the footnotes of history-for
example, the
moment de Lempicka and Fano meet. That
de Lempicka did in fact meet a girl while
walking her dog in the Bois de Boulogne
has been documented in a memoir by
Lempicka's daughter, Kizette, and Avery
decided to elaborate further on what she
imagines was already a "crazy and sexual
and intense" encounter. When Fano first sits
for the artist, Avery plays out the erotically
charg~d scene in detail.
Looking at my mouth Tamara bit the side
of her thumb. Drew the wet thumb across my
lower lip. "There. Good."
She took her drawing board and charcoal
and moved her chair closer to the couch where
I lay. My lower lip pulsed as she drew...
Tamara set down her drawing board, and
leanedforward. When I felt her hair wisping
against my face again, I inhaled sharply.
When she kissed me, I sighed. Her tongue
..J
--'
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a.
:I
::?
acrossmy lip made me clenchat thefold of silk betweenmy
thighs. "I can tell you are going to be a difficult model,"
she said, coming up brieflyfor air before dipping back
into my mouth.
While Avery has stuck close to the biographical
details of de Lempicka's life, her method has been to
enlarge up n certain events and to imaginatively
reconstruct what they might have meant to the painter.
For the sake of the plot, she has also made adjustments
to some dates and locations, so that the action would
play out more smoothly. She will admit that she had
great fun sketching in the unknown details of Rafaela
Fano's origins-and longings-and that the fictional
character she calls Anson Hall is a projection of what
Ernest Hemingway might have become, if he had never
gotten over losing all his manuscripts in 1922.
Perhaps Avery's most willful creative act is her
decision about who would tell the tale. The majority
of the novel unfolds not from de Lempicka's point
of view but from the largely unformed conscious~
ness and rather innocent heart of the least~known
character, Rafaela Fano. Only at the end are we
allowed inside the mind of the cool~hearted genius, and
we find that despite her ambition, as streamlined as
a luxury vintage car, she harbors a devastating shard
of regret about the lovely young woman she painted
again and again.
This novel is about creative and romantic failure,
says Avery. "Once she married again, de Lempicka
had fame, she had money, she had a tide-everything
she ever wanted and more-and
surfeit killed her
ambition:' Once she achieved the fame and wealth
she had always coveted, "the inferno of hunger that
fed her work wasn't there anymore:•
While some would label de Lempicka (and Fano,
too) bisexual, that's a moot point as far as Avery is
concerned. "I don't think that people were using
labels to the extent that they are today:' For example,
de Lempicka had no qualms about marrying the rich~
est man in Europe, even while involved with Fano. ''As
far as Tamara's concerned, why wouldn't she?" muses
Avery. "Rafaela might think they're falling in love, but
Tamara thinks it's the painter's prerogative to sleep
with the model. Both women are having the relation~
ship that they think they are having," she continues,
which leads to the complications that provide the
explosive climax of the book.
"However, Tamara has the rest of her life to dis~
cover she was in love and didn't realize it," says Avery.
"Rafaela is the one that got away..:'
Nevertheless, de Lempicka is, in other ways, a
portrait of female strength rather than loss. "Tamara
thought of herself as a painter first, and she wasn't
going to let her gender get in the way of that:'
EROTICSUGGESTIONS
These two new sexy anthologies have us all a-flutter.
TakeMe There:Trans
and
edited
Genderqueer
Erotica,
byTristanTaormina
and
BestLesbianErotica2012,
editedbyKathleen
Warnock
selectedandintroduced
by
SinclairSexsmith
(CleisPress)
CleisPressstill setsthe standard
for queererotica,andthis year's
cropincludesanotherentryin the
annualBestLesbianEroticacanon
andthe groundbreaking
new
anthologyof transandgenderqueer
eroticaeditedbyTristanTaormino,
TakeMe There.
BestLesbian
Erotica's
2012has
storiesselectedby sexblogger
SinclairSexsmithandis editedby
KathleenWarnock,andincludes
writerssuchas LuluLaFramboise,
XanWest,Ali Oh,AnneGrip,Anna
WatsonandGiselleRenarde.
There's
evena humorousshortpieceby
comicLeaDeLariaentitled"The
ElevatorMan,"whichopenswith,"I
ama hardnosed
butch.Thekindof
butchyoudon'tseemuchof these
days.Wehavegoneout of fashion,
like landlinesandcassettetapes.
Occasionally
we popup whenyour
deckneedsbuildingor yourPride
Parademarshaling."
Asthis serieshasmatured,the
toneof the collectionshasvaried,
with someyearsfocusingon certain
themes,suchas vampirefiction,or
daddy-boiplay.Thisyear'santhology
is timelywithoutbeingtrendy,and
includesstoriesaboutbloodplay,
yoga,naughtyGirlScouts,shopping
for sextoys,sexin carsandvarious
sexualandgenderconfigurations.
It's a well-balanced
collection,
with narya dudin the batch,and
containsenoughvarietyto satisfy
anyeroticaproclivity.
Thetimefor a collectionsuchas
TristanTaormino'sTakeMe There:
is
Trans
andGenderqueer
Erotica,
definitelyripeandready.Although
it's a first,this readslike analreadyclassiccollection,andit's
clearTaorminominedher Rolodex
for the bestwritersin this genre-
whichincludea who'swho of both
queerandtranswriters,including
LauraAntoniou,KateBornstein,
GinadeVries,S.BearBergman,
HelenBoyd,PatrickCalifia,Ivan
Coyote,RachelKramerBusseland
ShawnaVirago.
Thisis an impeccablygathered
collection,as mostreaderscould
openthe bookanywherewithin
nearly300pagesandbecome
completelyabsorbed.
Thereare
the requisiteraunchysexstories
here,sure,manyfeaturingsome
combinationof BDSM,kink,and
cocks,albeitwith gender-bending
angles.Butthis reviewer'sfavorite
piecesleanawayfromthe obvious
andmoretowarda light-hearted
humor.TheseincludeAnnaWatson's
"FemmeFatigue,"in whicha
famoustransmanwriter'soverlookedfemmegirlfriendgetsher
due;Bornstein'srevisionisttakeon
HuckFinn,"DixieBelle,"in which
Huck-now a sexworkernamed
DixieBelle-writes TomSawyer
to informhimof somechangesin
his life; andTobiHill-Meyer'seerie
timetravelpiece,"Self-Reflection,"
in whichthe maincharactermeets
a versionof herselfpost-transition,
sentfromthe future,andproceeds
to havesexwith her/self.Smartand
sassy,TakeMe Therewill surelybe
the standardbearerfor the many
transgendereroticacollectionsyet
to come.(cleispress.com)
[RachelPepper]
(ellisavery.com/thelastnude)
March 2012
I 71
REVIEWSSapphic Screen
Sapphic Scientist
Finding Bigfoot's Ranae Holland searches for the truth. By Rachel Shatto
Do you believe in Bigfoot? Well if someday,
definitive proof comes to light it may very
well be an LGBT~identified woman who
makes the discovery. Who is this scientific
sleuth, combing the wilds of North America
in search of Sasquatchr Ranae Holland,
research biologist, Bigfoot skeptic and co~star
of Finding Bigfoot. The Animal Planet series,
which is now in its second season, follows
the exploits of Holland and three Sasquatch
true believers as they hunt for proof of one
of nature's most enduring cryptids.
Raised in South Dakota, an alleged hotbed
for Bigfoot activity, Holland grew up with
the tale of a mysterious creature at large.
While she has always been fascinated with
the stories, being science minded she has
never believed in their existence. However,
her life~long interest in the phenomena, her
training as a research biologist-she received
a Bachelor of Science from the School of
Aquatic and Fishery Sciences-and her time
spent in the field in the Northwest (another
popular Bigfoot sighting region) make her
uniquely qualified for the search. And really,
72
Icurve
I'll keep doing this as
passed away. While going through some of
his personal belongings I ran across some
long as those kids show Bigfoot paraphernalia and I had wonderful
flashbacks of being a little girl with my dad.
up with their dads to the So I found myself out in the thick woods
town halls or the queer where all of the Bigfoot stories from my
childhood were. I hadn't even thought of
youth come, all day long. it. So, I jumped on the Internet and ...
found BFRO [Bigfoot Field Researchers
I'll keep doing it for them. Organization], which is [co~star] Matt
Moneymaker's group. And we developed a
No question.
relationship where I don't believe in Bigfoot,
but I love Bigfoot stories and Matt can
can you blame us for hoping when and if contact me and ask anything that he would
the big Sasquatch discovery comes, that it's want to ask a research biologist.
made by a sistar
Canyoudescribe
yourroleontheteam?
How did you get involvedwith the series I am essentially called the skeptic scientist.
Finding
Bigtoon
I love Bigfoot stories. It's this phenomenon
My special time with my dad growing up that persists for hundreds of years if you
was when we'd watch Bigfoot movies and all think of the Eurocentric aspect, but from
things paranormal that you would find on oral traditions of Native Americans and
In Search Of .. everything from that 1970s the tribes across North America, for thou~
craze. I grew up, moved out to Seattle and sands of years. I don't believe Bigfoot's real.
I became a Research Fisheries Biologist. I'd I can't wrap my head around it. I've never
been out there for a few years and my father seen one. I've never seen proof that for me
definitively says: yes. So how does this
Sowhatis it that keepshopealive?Howdo
mythos persist? It's fascinating to me.
youstaymotivated?
Doestherestofthecrewevergetonyourcase This job takes us around the country to
forbeinga non-believer?
rural America ... and it's a lot of hard work,
Definitely. They're like brothers now. And
it's outdoors and a lot of time in the dark
we come fr m different opinions. I mean
in rough conditions. I'm feeling spent, and
those guys will even argue within themselves, I feel like: What am I doing? I'm looking
let alone I'm the one that doesn't believe.And
for a unicorn? What are you doing, Ranae?
it really comes down to ultimately tolerance
And I stop, and here comes this little
8,year,old with his dad, and I'm taken
and being respectful of each other. All four
back 30 years and I'm that little 8,year,
of us bring unique specialized skill sets
to the team. And we're a team for
a reason because one is no better,
stronger than the other.
Whatwill happenif youactuallyfind
a Bigfoot?
~.
"'
\~
Well, interestingly, in season one,
'
I
we had a nice little exchange, in
·,,.
our North Carolina episode. We
all had this agreement ... that if we
Trigger
Mangus!
see some heat signature [on the]
(WolfeVideo}
(WolfeVideo}
thermal imaging camera, that we'd
radio each other and then we'd try
All Manguswantsisto MollyParkerandTracy
to corner it and move in closer. And
followin thefootsteps Wright(inherfinalrole)
Matt went rogue-Matt just went
starin this beautifully
of hisfather(whois
running after it. So now we basi,
acteddramaaboutthe
deployed
in Iraq)and
cally have our agreement that we
playthe partof Jesus passionandchaosof
a dysfunctional
friendin hishighschool's
at least try to communicate before
ship.Thefilm opens
production
of "Jesus
we move in. But I'm just telling you
ChristSpectacular." duringa performance
if I'm sitting there and I see some,
of the duo'sband,
Butwhentragedy
thing in the line of sight. I'm going
Trigger,
that endswith
strikes
and
Mangus
is
after it. [Laughs]
Vic(Wright)storming
left
paralyzed
from
the
As a specialistin this area, which
waistdown,hismusical off stage,andpicks
cryptidis mostlikelyto bereal?
debutis putinjeopardy. upseveralyearslater
I would say something aquatic. It
Makingmattersworse, whenthetwo are
would have a higher percentage
hisselfishstepmother reunitedfor thefirst
than anything terrestrial. And if it
time.Theybeginthe
shipshimoffto live
is terrestrial it better be something
eveningstill caught
withhismotherand
small-but
I don't believe in the
up in thetoxicityof
closeted
sisterinthe
old with my dad, at a car show and some
Bigfoot person is there. And I'm like, OK,
it's all right. And then even more so, I go
to some town hall meeting, and an LGBT
youth comes up to me and wants a picture
with me and just wants to give me a hug.
I'll keep doing this as long as those kids
show up with their dads to the town halls
or the queer youth come, all day long.
I'll keep doing it for them. No question.
( animalplanet.com)
..
chupacabra.
Do youfind it challenging
to be so
publicly
outasLGBT-identified?
It's so interesting to really wrap my
head around the idea that, first of
all, I'm a research biologist and
fascinated by Bigfoot. I never meant
to be on TV and here I'm on TV
to the point where I'm publicly
discussing my sexuality, which is so
foreign to me. And at one point, it
saddens me that it's even a perti,
nent question, but at the same time
I respect that for gay youth, it's very
important.
Portlandia:
Season1
{VideoServ}
OurIdiotBrother
(TheWeinstein
Company}
StarringSNLvetFred
Armisenandbisexual Whenwordbrokethat
Sleater-Kinney
alum
ObercutiesZooey
CarrieBrownstein,
this Deschanel
andRashida
wonderfully
bizarreand Joneswouldbeplaying
deeplyqueersketch
gayin OurIdiotBrother,
comedyseriesturns
needless
to sayit
its incisiveeyeto the
caughtourattention.
principles'hometown Whilesadlythefilm is
of Portland,
Ore.The
nota lezzierom-com
showfeaturesa variety ala ImagineMe&
of characters
including You,it's a charming
a duoof women'sonly film aboutanidealistic
bookstore
owners,a
manandhissisters
militantbikerideranda (ofwhichDeschanel
is
varietyof liberalyuppy one).WhenNed(Paul
characters.
Portlandia Rudd)is released
from
lovinglyskewersevery- jail hereturnshometo
theirpastbutoverthe
thingthatis wonderful discover
trailerpark.Thisdark
hisgirlfriend
courseof the night
comedyco-starring
andsillyaboutthat
hasa newmanand
theyremember
what
Northwestern
city's
outlesbianHeather
shekickshimoff his
theyloveabouteach
cultureandfortunately biodynamic
Matarazzo
also
farm.He
other-reconnecting
youdon'thaveto be
marksthe indie
movesbackhome
overmusicandtheir
fluentin thewaysof
darling's
producing
whereheimmedichildhoodfriendship- Portlandians
to bein
debut.Politically
atelycomplicates
his
astheydealwiththe
onthejoke.A bevyof
incorrecthumorand
sisters'lives,ultimately
realitiesof agingand
familiarfacesincluding uncovering
subversive
themes
unwanted
lossof identity.It's also SelmaBlair,Heather
aboundinthisquirky
truths.Whileit maynot
a welcomereminder
Graham,
AimeeMann havebeenthequeer
indiemusicalin the
andKyleMaclachlan film of ourdreams,it
veinof Saved!--plus of the riotgrrrlscene
makeguestappearancesis a heartfelt,
funny
it featuresa wickedly andboastsa rocking
thatwill
andhelpmakethisan
andlesbian-inclusive
ironiccameofromJohn soundtrack
haveyoudustingoff
easilyaccessible
if nar- comedysureto puta
Watersthatno
iconoclast
shouldmiss. yourBikiniKillrecords. rawlyfocusedpremise. smileonyourface.
I
March 2012
I73
REVIEWSMusic Watch
DreamyDuo
Meet this year's Dinah Shore headliners, Nina Sky.
By Rosanna Rios Spicer
Nicole and Natalie Albino, the talented
twins better known as Nina Sky, soared
to the top of the charts with the hit "Move
Ya Body" -and right into our big lesbian
hearts. Since then we simply can't get
enough of these soulful sisters. They use
their melodious voices to do more than just
serenade us with backdrops of reggaeton,
R&B and dance beats; they also are vocal
in their stand for LGBT rights. And that's
one note that hits close to home, as Nicole
recently wed her partner, fashion designer
Erin Magee, and is also the first Latina
recording artist to publicly come out. To
add to their pro~lesbian cred, you can also
catch them performing center stage at this
year's White Diamonds party at Club Skirts
The Dinah. The dreamy duo talks to us
about musical inspirations, sisterly bond,
and their newest album, The Other Side.
Whatare youmostlookingforwardto while
playingat TheDinah?
Natalie:Performing some new jams, the
reaction of the audience, getting to see
the Dinah Shore dynamic. We hear it's
a great event!
We loveyourN0H8campaignphotos.What
wasyourfavoritepartof theshoot?
Natalie:Thanks. My favorite part of the
shoot was putting the NOH8 on my face.
Whois yourcelesbian
idol?
Both:Oprah! [Laughs]
Natalie:Teresa Weatherspoon and Suzie
Orman.
Any pre-showritualsor goodluck charms
beforegoingonstage?
Natalie:We used to do push up competi~
tions backstage before shows with our
security and anyone that wanted to join in.
We never won. More recently, we just lay
low and ~ave all that energy for the stageand the after party!
What'sonyouriPod?
Nicole:My iPod is a crazy mix of everything
from Broadway songs, TV theme songs,
references of songs we're working on and
74
Icurve
For The OtherSide
we wantedto record
musicthat was fun and
inspiredby the music
we listenedto growing
up in Queens,N.Y.
It'sa dance-influenced
projectwith an
R&B base.
Nicole:I used to call Natalie Tita: Our
grandma gave her the nickname when
we were babies. When we were 16 she
told me to quit it. Since then, she's just
been Nat.
Natalie:I kind of miss being called Tita.
I call Nicole Nicolasa and Nico. If she's
annoying me I'll call her Nicholas. She
every genre of music that exists.
hates to be called Nicholas.
Natalie:What she said, a little bit of every~ Whatwastheinspiration
behindyournewest
album?
thing. Majority of ~ine is filled with R&B
Nicole:For The Other Side we wanted to
jams though.
What'sthe onethingyoucan'tlivewithout record music that was fun and inspired
backstage?
by the music we listened to growing up
in Queens, N.Y. It's a dance~influenced
Nicole:Groupies (laughs].
project with an R&B base. It's the first
Natalie:Candy.
Doyouhavenicknames
foreachotherandif project we released independently with~
out a major label and we are super excited
so,wheredidtheycomefrom?
about how it's been received by our fans.
Tellmeaboutwhat'snextforyou.
Natalie:Our next project will be consistent
with our previous release, The Other Side.
It still has that dance influence, but it has
more vocals, a little more vibe. Something
for everyone. The first single is called
"Daydreaming:' Once you hear it you'll
totally understand what I mean!
Tellus abouta timewhenyourmusiccame
froma lifeexperience?
Natalie:When "On Some Bullshit" was
recorded, it was literally just that: on some
bullshit.
Nicole and I had an argument, the first
blowout ever, and she refused to travel
with me. We had sessions scheduled, so
I ended up flying to Miami alone to record
with Salaam Remi. Salaam and I were
trying to build a vibe and I believe at some
point I just broke and kept on talking
about how, 'Tm on some bullshit" and he
said, "Fuck what you heard" and the chorus
was created!
We ended up writing the track about a
relationship gone sour. And, after hearing
the joint over the phone, Nicole flew in
the next day to lay down the rap part, so it
all worked out. (ninaskyhigh.com)
DIFRANCO
righteous
babe.com
REVIEWSTech Girl
TravelComQanion
Which tablet is right for you? By Rachel Shatto
Travel is exciting, full of exotic locales, cuisine and people-thrilling
new experiences and adventures wait around every
corner. So it's little wonder that hitting the road is such a popular pastime. But as any globetrotting lezzie who has had a flight
delayed, missed a train or had to hop a late~night bus knows, travel comes with a fair bit of downtime, too. What should you
do when you've got nowhere to go and nothing to do but sit and wait? Well, you can read a book, do some people watching,
write in your travel journal, catch up on your correspondence-or
you can do all of the above with a tablet, which is why
these compact gadgets have become such popular traveling companions. But, with so many options available on the market,
it can be hard co decide which tablet is right for you. Fortunately for you busy, jet~setting lesbians, curve has got you covered.
Check out our three favorite options below to find your perfect tablet match. Bon voyage!
0
iPad2
Samsung
GalaxyTab10.1
KindleFire
Currently
the mostpopular
tabletonthe market,the iPad
2 runsApple'siOSoperating
system,makingit userfriendly
for thosefamiliarwiththe iPhone
or iPodtouch.
Oneof the mostpopulartablets
builton Google's
Android
operatingsystem,which
alsopowersmanyleading
smartphones.
Alsoavailable
in a 7-inchmodel.
Amazon's
first colortablet
expandsontheirprevious
e-readerswith a touchscreen,
appsanda highlycustomized
versionof theAndroid
operatingsystem.
PRICE
$500andup
$500andup
$200
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CANDO
Webbrowsing,movies,music,
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Webbrowsing,movies,music,
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Webbrowsing,books,
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•
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size
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unstableOS
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Featuring
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mostfa
partySoturdoy,
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BA.CA.ROI.
REVIEWSFood & Wine
Art of Glass
Savor your favoritewine from a work of art. By Merryn Johns
Becky Suriano loves wine, but when
it came to finding a suitable vessel
from which to sample her favorite
beverage, the glass was half empty, so
to speak. Last year, the New Jersey
27 -year-old was shopping for a souvenir wineglass to use for sampling
at the many wine-tasting events she
attended. As usual, she found what
was on offer to be generic, unimaginative and far from aesthetically
pleasing. "Nothing felt fresh, unique
or edgy to me, and none of the glasses
were geared to appeal to my generation. I wanted to drink out of a glass
that reflected my own personal style.
I had always wanted to start my
own business, but never had a solid
enough idea:' That day, which also
happened to be Suriano's birthday,
she went home, bought some art supplies
and painted her first glass.
So began her wineglass-painting business: Wine Me? But in reality, the business
had its roots further back in Suriano's
history. The self-taught artist has had no
professional training in painting, but her
evident talent had been encouraged by her
mother since she was a small child, and
later by her teachers. "Painting has always
been something I enjoyed doing, something
that fulfilled me and gave a lot of pleasure
to others, when I did it:'
For her first wineglass-painting adventure, Suriano made four glasses in assorted
colors depicting the silhouette of a tree over
a starry background. She and a few friends
went to the next wine-tasting festival and
took the glasses to use. "People kept coming up to us, asking us where we bought
our glasses. I would hand them my business card and sometimes even sold them
my glass on the spot, if they insisted. I did
that all summer, and eventually took the
next step and paid for a table at a local flea
market, set up for business, and the whole
thing took off like a rocket ship:'
That first "tree" design has been her most
78 I curve
popular to date, however, Suriano paints
many other designs and accepts custom
requests. (Her interpretation of Vincent
van Gogh's "Starry Night" is a favorite.)
Suriano's approach to adorning each artglass is both admirable and authentic. "I
start with a clear glass and use_glass paint
for everything. A lot of people ask me if I
spray or dip them, but I don't. Everything is
done with my good ol' paintbrush:' (In case
you were worried, the paints are nontoxic
and durable, although Wine Me? glasses
must be washed by hand in warm water,
rather than dumped in the dishwasher.)
Suriano prices her glass-ware from
$15 to $100 per piece-which
sounds like a lot, but not if
you consider that these are
hand-painted
artworks.
The price of a custom
glass depends on the
design and the degree of
detail, of course, and
Suriano is happy to give
estimates. No design is
too obscure or too personal: The most unusual
order Suriano received is
in fact the very first custom
order she took. "The background of
the glass was painted as the world,
and it had a dragon boat, ice skates,
an ice luger, a diver, a kite and, well,
you get the point-it
was quite
unusual:'
In spite of the labor-intensive
nature of her business, Wine Me?
is growing by leaps and bounds.
Suriano has no need or time left to
pursue any other work. Currently
100 percent self-employed, the glass
artist is now at the point where she's
just trying to keep up. "I would like
to hire qualified artists to help with
the rapidly growing demand:'
Suriano, who identifies as a lesbian,
is keen to get the word out about
Wine Me? to other gay women. As
a small-business owner, she would
welcome the support of the community,
and in these economically-challenging
times, her vision and dedication is an inspiration to would-be queer entrepreneurs.
"Realizing and embracing my sexuality
somehow helped me be more confident to
listen to my gut, to trust mysel£ to be an
independent thinker:'
And it's that spirit that's likely to take
Suriano to the top of her field, as specialized
as it is. "I was recently honored to be named
the Grand Prize winner in winemaker
Georges Duboeuf's Nouveau ExpressionBe Heard national art contest. My
work was showcased in New
York City during Nouveau
Day events and received
a $1,000 prize. I also
won the People's Choice
Award from the Em pact
100 List [it recognizes
the top entrepreneurs
under 30), where Wine
Me? was honored m
Washington, D.C., at
the White House:'
Let's drink to that!
(winemecompany.com)
Summer Hill Road, Vacy,
HUNTER REGION, NSW,
AUSTRALIA
p. +61 2 4938 8233
e. enquiry@
eaglereach.com.au
www.eaglereach.com.au
--;~_t'.llj\~
-" ·:. -- __
,:;i,i~~-·
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PETS
WEDDING
MAGAZINES
GIFTS
FAMILY
JEWELRY
Enter code: Curve 2011
March 2012
I79
STARS
Seductive Spring
By Charlene Lichtenstein
Pisces(Feb.20-March20)
ThePisceswomanachesfor
a faithful relationship.She
is in lovewith loveandcan't
wait to find a lovergrrlwith
whomto shareher dreamsof
blissfulhappiness.Sheloves
childrenandavidlyseeksa
partnershipwith a likemindedwoman.If you settle
downwith a SapphicPisces,
expectthe pitter-patterof
little feet within the first
two years,and I don't mean
cats! Hernaiveoptimismin
relationshipsare oftenput
to the test and,as muchas
shedesiresa forever,she is
a mutablesign who knows
whenforeversimplymeans
for the time being.
As the weather warms up, so will you.
Aries(March21-April20)
Lambda Rams command attention this March-even
more than usual. So use all this personal oomph to
your advantage to launch new projects, meet new
important women and push your personal agenda
one giant step forward. Make an impression on some
impressionable young lady.
Libra(Sept.24-0ct. 23)
It is never too late to show a certain someone just how
much you love her. And you may be surprised at how
many people are seeking a connection with you now.
Build up those disparate and far-reaching connections
and build them into relationships. Many of them will
prove to be very valuable as the year progresses.
Taurus(April21-May 21)
Rub your crystal ball and see what March madness
you can conjure up. A mysterious aura surrounds you
and there is a lot going on behind the scenes that can
inflame, surprise and even shock. Good! Life was getting too boring. A misinterpreted rumor takes root and
could compromise your squeaky clean reputation.
Scorpio(Oct.24-Nov.22)
Your job is on your lots-to-do list but life doesn't have
to be boring. A co-worker has her eye on you and this
definitely spices things up. Rev up your antics around
the office and see who is interested in pushing your
paperclip in the Xerox room. A word of caution:
Avoid nudity and nosey bosses during working hours,
unless it's your boss you are nosing.
Gemini(May22-June21)
Don't be surprised if your various social circuits fray
and zap all through March. There are just too many
wonderful choices of things to do all at the same time.
What a dilemma! Be choosy, be discerning, if you can.
And if not, just go with the flow and see where you
wash up ashore.
Cancer(June22-July 23)
Your professional path takes a sharp turn and guides
you to new opportunities and advancements. But
watch what you say and who you say it to this March.
One pointed comment could poke the big brass in the
you-know-where. Maybe that is your intention? If so
be prepared for any fall-out.
Leo(July24-Aug.23)
The world is your oyster as an international amour du
jour beckons. Will you heed the siren call? If time and
money are tight, your hot-wired romancing can be
done via the internet. But sexting your hot bot only
goes so far, Lioness. Try to make an in-person appearance while your engines are revving. Hey, any excuse
to take a vacation!
Virgo(Aug.24-Sept.23)
Even though it feels like life is one big stop and start
motion,
march boldly forward with anything having
Charlene
Lichtenstein
is
to
do
with
intense emotions, sexuality and family
theauthorof HerScopes:
intrigue this month. There is something you need
A GuidetoAstrology
to grapple with and, once grappled, will liberate you
(Simon&
for Lesbians
from any self-doubt. You are a force with whom to be
Schuster)
(tinyurl.com/HerScopes).
Nowavailable
asanebook.
reckoned, Virgo.
so Icurve
Sagittarius(Nov.23-Dec.22)
You may think that party season has passed you by but
you would be wrong. March is the month to march to
a different drummer and to as many different parties
as possible. Expand your social circle and get involved
in something wildly creative and artistic. And don't be
surprised if an intoxicating lovely by the bar shakes
and stirs you.
Capricorn(Dec.23-Jan.20)
It is never too early for spring-cleaning-both physical
and psychological. Cleaning out your assorted closets
will not only have some cathartic benefits, it will also
help you create a more harmonious home and family
situation. Once all the hard work is done, relax and
recharge. Invite some bosom buddies over and see
how really cathartic life can be.
Aquarius(Jan.21-Feb.19)
Bold and brassy statements have their appeal but
know when to craft your message for your audience.
Think carefully about what you really want to say,
work your tongue and make it do magic things. You
will succeed in changing hearts and minds.
Pisces(Feb.20-March20)
Counting your pennies doesn't seem like much
fun but it will pay off. Rather than save and invest,
Guppies would prefer to spend with abandon and
buy lots of beautiful and gaudy trinkets. Think ahead
and manage your love relationships with a practical
eye. Leave buying trinkets to a new benefactress.
See all items with this value
