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Description
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ToC Drinks: Simple Vodka (p16); Wedding: Shannon & Heidi (p30); Style: dapperQ (p44); Photography: Queer Looks (p52); Interview: Tegan and Sara (p58); Cover: Vita & Virginia (p64)
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issue
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3
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Date Issued
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Fall 2019
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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_Vol29_No3_Fall-2019_OCR_PDFa.pdf
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extracted text
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LIVING
TRUE
MASTHEAD
CURVE
I
LIVING
TRUE
Fall201g » volume2g number 3
Publisher Silke Bader
Founding Publisher Frances Stevens
EDITORIAL
Editor-in-Chief Merryn Johns
Senior Copy Editor Katherine Wright
Contributing Editors Victoria A. Brownworth, Lyndsey D'Arcangelo,
Janelle and Melany Joy Beck, Alex Eugene, Lisa Tedesco, Dave Steinfeld
PROOFING
Proofreader Melanie Barker
ADVERTISING
National Sales Rivendell Media (908) 232-2021
Email todd@curvemagazine.com
ART/PRODUCTION
Art Director Gavin Woodhouse
COVER
Cover Image by
IFCFilms
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
Georgie Krokus
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Victoria A. Brownworth, Anita Dolce Vita, Alex Eugene,
Dave Steinfeld, Lisa Tedesco
CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORS & PHOTOGRAPHERS
Grace Chu, Jill Greenberg, Sheryl Kay, Syd London, B. Proud,
Amanda Ramon, Erica R. Ryan, Stephanie Saias, Rachael Zimmerman
CONTACT
Curve Magazine
PO Box 1099
Darlinghurst NSW 1300, Australia
Phone (415) 871-0569
Subscription Inquiries subscriptions@curvemag.com
Advertising Email todd@curvemagazine.com
Editorial Email editor@curvemag.com
Letters to the Editor Email letters@curvemagazine.com
Volume 29 Issue 3 Curve (ISSN 1087-867X) is published 4 times per year (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter) by Avalon
Media, LLC, PO 1099 Darlinghurst NSW 1300, Australia. Subscription price: $35/year, $49 Canadian (U.S. funds
only) and $75 international (U.S. funds only). Returned checks will be assessed a $25 surcharge. Periodicals postage
paid at San Francisco, CA 94114 and at additional mailing offices (USPS 0010-355). Contents of Curve Magazine
may not be reproduced in any manner, either whole or in part, without written permission from the publisher. Publication of the name or photograph of any persons or organizations appearing, advertising or listing in Curve may
not be taken as an indication of the sexual orientation of that individual or group unless specifically stated. Curve
welcomes letters, queries, unsolicited manuscripts and artwork. Include SASE for response. Lack of any representation only signifies insufficient materials. Submissions cannot be returned unless a self-addressed stamped envelope
is included. No responsibility is assumed for loss or damages. The contents do not necessarily represent the opinions
of the editor, unless specifically stated. All magazines sent discreetly. Subscription Inquiries: Please write to Curve,
Avalon Media LLC., PO Box 1099 Darlinghurst NSW 1300, Australia, email subscriptions@curvemag.com Canadian Agreement Number: 40793029. Postmaster: Send address changes to subscriptions@curvemag.com , Curve, PO
Box 17138, N. Hollywood, CA 91615-7138. Printed in the U.S
curvemag.com
FALL
CURVE 3
WELCOME
Editorial
T
here are many things I love about fall:
dusting off my boots, being open to
plaid, pumpkins, and pies again, thinking
about what I can put in the oven, putting
full-bodied red wine back on the drinks menu, and
considering what might drop into my Netflix queue
now that the temperatures are dropping. Yes, it's the
season for food, fashion, and film binges. The cooler
weather ushers in a host of cool things, especially
cultural.
This issue we take a look at food and drink, fashion, film, photography, and other fun pursuits. But
we also celebrate some magnificent trailblazing females of different generations: Tegan and Sara Quin
and Edie Windsor and Judith Kasen-Windsor have
come out with memoirs that trace the remarkable
Editorin Chief
"Yes,
it'stheseason
forfood,
fashion,
andfilmbinges."
Merryn Johns
trajectories of their inspiring queer lives. If you're
looking for something to read, I can't recommend
both of these books highly enough.
Fall also brings us one season closer to the release of Ahead of the Curve, the new documentary
about Franco Stevens and the thirty-year history of
America's best-loved lesbian magazine! If you're not
supporting or following the film, get behind it now
on lnstagram at @curvemagmovie.
merryn@curvemag.com
4 CURVE
I
FALL
/fl!T
OUR TEAM
Contributors
Manuel
Rodriguez Victoria
A.Brownworth
Photography
Politics
Janelle
Beck
Debbie
JeanLemonte
Music
Style
ManuelRodriguez
Manuel is a New York-based photographer and director and the creator of UNTITLED
(self-published, Blur). Born in Colombia, Rodriguez's portfolio includes portraits, still lifes, interiors, and
fashion and lifestyle photography. His directorial debut documentary, LINISH, won best documentary
at the QueerX 2019 fest. Manuel's work has been published and celebrated in Architectural Digest, Elle
Decor, Martha Stewart Living and more. manufoto.com
VictoriaA.Brownworth
Victoria is a life-long Socialist, feminist and advocacy journalist, who lives and breathes politics. She has been
nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and won the Society of Professional Journalists Award, NLGJAAward, Lambda
Literary Award and was the first out lesbian with a daily newspaper column. She's published two dozen books,
including the award-winning Ordinary Mayhem, Coming Out of Cancer and From Where They Sit. In 2010 she
founded Tiny Satchel Press,which publishes books for kids of color and LGBTQkids.
Janelle
Beck
Janelle has been writing for Curvefor over seven years, alone and with her co-writer and wife Melany
Joy Beck. When she's not working on bringing Curve readers the best and brightest LGBTQ stars, she
has worked on documentary films including Nevada Film Festival Special Jury Prize winner Bring It
2 Peter, contributed harmonies to alt-country band Delavan, and has been seen moonlighting as an
extra in the Showtime series "Shameless:' She is also obsessed with her chihuahua, Bella.
Debbie
JeanLemonte
Debbie is a NYC/NJ-based wedding, portrait, and lifestyle photographer. This journey started when
her close friend gifted her a camera, a Canon T3i. After graduating with a degree in Dance and Psychology, she focused her passion for both studies and infused it with a love for art, learning photography and building a business. Her work has been featured on NBC News, Vanity Fair,TeenVogue,The
Cut, Reflnery29, BuzzFeed, Huffington Post, DapperQ, to name a few. dagimagesnyc.com
FALL
I
CURVE 5
Content
Drinks: Simple Vodka
High quality, delicious vodka, and you
can give back to charities that help to
fight hunger in America. Now that's the
spirit!
Wedding: Shannon
& Heidi
Two wild-at-heart brides went chasing
waterfalls and got married their way, in
the heart of nature.
Style: dapperQ
New York Fashion Week's most diverse
show brimming with queer and nonconforming designers and models, courtesy
of Dapper Q.
6 CURVE
I
FALL
Cover: Vita & Virginia
The literary love affair between Virginia
Woolf and Vita Sackville-West is brought
Interview: Tegan and
Sara
to life in a new lesbian biopic.
Everybody's favorite pop duo are back
Photography: Queer
Looks
with a revealing memoir and a brand
new album.
Manuel Rodriguez turns his lens on the
beauty of our community in all its colors.
and individuality.
FALL
I CURVE 7
Nothing makes your senses come alive quite like exploring the natural beauty of our world. The feel
of soft sand beneath your feet. The smell of the sea on a warm Gulf breeze. The beautiful symphony
of bird calls and nature sounds in the wilderness. Come experience it all in a place where every day
offers the opportunity for a new adventure: Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades.
Known as Florida's Paradise Coast,
the area is a must-see for anyone
with a true adventurer's spirit. The
world-famous Everglades are North
America's largest wetlands ecosystem,
and a natural visual masterpiece.
Imagine hiking, canoeing, or kayaking
through stunning waterways, river
grass, ancient trees and colorful
wildflowers. For a one-of-a-kind old
Florida experience, take an airboat
or pole boat ride and spot native
wildlife like birds, manatees, panthers,
alligators and more - many of which
can only be found in Florida. With
everything from learning centers
to guided tours, there is an adventure
for everyone in the Everglades.
For a more laid-back adventure, soak
up some sunshine on the white sand
beaches of Naples and Marco Island.
Situated on the gentle shores of the
Gulf of Mexico, the area's beaches
offer mile after mile of uncrowded
beauty. Here, there's almost no limit
what you can do: Make a splash and
swim in cool, sparkling waters. Hunt
for shells you won't find anywhere
else. Try paddle boarding or other
watersports. Or simply relax under
the palm trees in the warm Florida
sun. Whatever you do, be sure to
keep an eye out for dolphins
swimming playfully in the distance.
The beaches of Florida's Paradise
Coast are sure to deliver some truly
unforgettable moments.
The only things better than the
destination's adventures are
its amenities. Known as one of
Southwest Florida's most luxurious
(but approachable) getaways,
you'll have endless opportunities
to indulge in the finer things. Dine
at award-winning restaurants and
taste delicious straight-from-the-Gulf
seafood, seasonal stone crab, fresh
local produce, Floribbean cuisine
and international fare. Live it up at the
area's ever-growing scene of LGBTQfriendly bars, breweries and cocktail
lounges. Enjoy a round on one of our
many championship golf courses.
When it's time to call it a night, unwind
in one of the destination's beautiful
beachside resorts, boutique hotels
or charming campsites. And as a Blue
Zone Community, Florida's Paradise
Coast is dedicated to improving the
well being of residents and visitors
by encouraging healthy menu options
at restaurants, fun fitness activities
and wellness events.
Whatever your interests, whatever
your style, you're sure to feel
at home in Naples, Marco Island
and the Everglades. Craft your
unforgettable adventure on Florida's
Paradise Coast soon. Learn more
at Paradisecoast.com/LGBTO.
Just the two of you.
cation.
One unforgettable va
Love, Paradise
FLORIDA'S
PARADISE
COAST
GBTQ
Paradise Coast. com!L
WOMEN WE LOVE
Melanie
Cristal
Howa lawyer-turned-sex
educator
reimagined
thedentaldam.
Onhowsheidentifies
manufacturer that makes condoms for penis-in-vagina sex
I've been proudly bi for a really long time, though lately I'm
wouldn't make (essentially) a condom for tongue-in-vagina
thinking about whether pansexual is more accurate!
sex! It was so surprising and disappointing, but not worth
pursuing further. Other potential manufacturers just weren't
Ontheinspiration
forLorals
latexpanties
interested in new products. I needed a factory that could
I was on a vacation, and we couldn't have oral because we
make a very high-quality product. Lorals had to look silky
didn't have dental dams. It's hard to find them in stores in the
and beautiful. They needed to be incredibly stretchy and not
U.S.,much less on the coast of Mexico. She and I both want-
break, and they needed to be ultra-thin for maximum sensa-
ed to feel hot and confident, and a flappy sheet of rubber just
tion. They needed to taste great and have no remnants of a
didn't fit the bill. So...we just didn't have oral, and that was a
rubber odor. That's a tall order.
big disappointment. After the trip I went back to my lawyer
job, but I kept thinking about dental dams.
Ondeveloping
theproduct
I started having conversations with friends and so many of
them were saying no to oral sex when they wanted to be
saying yes. They were worried about STls, others said no because they felt self-conscious; because they'd been through
sexual trauma and oral sex felt too intimate; because their
partners had scratchy facial hair and oral sex physically hurt.
I realized that a better dental dam, one that people actually
wanted to use, needed to exist. So I quit my law job to reinvent the dental dam.
"Ihadagreatjob.Enough
savings
tobuyahouse.
AndI waswalking
away
fromit tomake
...oralsex
panties?"
Overcoming
obstacles
I located a great US-based manufacturer who had a lot of ex-
Ontheloneliness
ofbeingavisionary
perience making condoms. I told them the size of the product
Almost everyone in my life, to some extent, thought I was
and that it was made of latex, and they were excited about
crazy. I had a great job, financial stability, a strong relation-
the project. Then I told them that the product would be used
ship, enough savings to buy a house. And I was walking away
for cunnilingus ...and they disappeared. Their management
from it to make ...oral sex panties? On top of starting a busi-
wasn't comfortable with how the product would be used. A
ness with very little entrepreneurial experience, I was starting
FALL I CURVE 11
WOMEN WE LOVE
a business that most people couldn't
say with a straight face. Everything is
so much easier now that the product
is in the market, and I can feel the impact of it improving people's lives.
OnwhoLorals
mightfit best
Queer women tell me they've used
Lorals when they're with a brand-new
partner and don't want skin-to-skin
contact yet, or in situations (camping or after the gym) where they feel
sweaty and would otherwise say no.
Some people like to use Lorals when
they're on their period. Tons of people
use Lorals regularly for rimming. We
have poly customers who use Lorals
with secondary partners and have
skin-to-skin oral with primary partners. One transmasculine customer
told us that oral started hurting his
girlfriend after he started T and was
growing facial hair, and now Lorals
have solved the problem for them.
Lorals allow transmasculine, transfeminine, and non-binary customers
to separate thoughts of their genitals from the sensations of oral sex.
Lorals can also be used as a fun toy
to spice things up. We've also loved
hearing from sex therapists and sex
educators whose patients are using Lorals to help overcome trauma,
shame, and emotional barriers. My
overarching goal with Lorals is to celebrate oral sex and help people have
it as much as they want, in whatever
way feels best for their bodies.
mylorals.com
12 CURVE
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FALL
PRODUCTS I BEAUTY
New
Season,
NewSkin
Summer may be over, but your
skin still needs protection.
T
he days may be shorter and
the sun may be shining less
strongly, but the environment
and the cooler temperatures
can still
damage your skin. Those harmful UV
rays are out there even in Autumn;
pollution;
digital rays from so much
time spent indoors with our screens;
and stress. Plus, a cold snap, wind, or
SoleilToujoursAfter Sun Rescue+ Repair
BrighteningSerum($98): We love spending time in the sun but we need a plan to
neutralize sun damage and ward off environmental toxins . Voila: anti-aging action to
improve skin tone, texture, and brightness.
Notable ingredients include red algae, Vitamin E, ginger root extract, Bisabolol, sodium
hyaluronate and cyperus papyrus leaf cell
extract. Silicon-free and naturally scented.
SoleilToujoursAloeAnti-OxidantCalming
Mist ($26): Aloe is well-known as after-sunburn care but it also soothes skin irritated
by windburn or any kind of elemental irritation. Soothe chafing, itchiness, peeling and
dehydration. Ideal for use after a day on the
slopes, in the ocean, or taking a run. Organic
aloe, green tea leaf extract, hyaluronic acid,
grapeseed oil and extract. Hypoallergenic,
vegan, free of gluten, parabens, and chemical and synthetic irritants.
sudden snow can dry out your skin
quickly. Here's our recommendation
for products
that can bring a little
post-summer skin protection and restoration to your valuable visage.
skinauthority.com/SkinSuit
soleiltoujours.com/
SoleilToujoursOrganicExtremeFace+
Scalp Mist SPF 50 Sport ($36): If you're
planing on getting in the water or on the ice
this fall and winter, spritz the face, hands
and scalp for 80 minutes with this product
to receive ocean or snow resistance from
this lightweight mist. Full of calming and
hydrating antioxidants including Green Tea
Extract, Red Algae, Bisabolol, Vitamins C
and E. Hypoallergenic, vegan, cruelty-free,
coral reef safe.
SkinSuit™Face ($59) and SkinSuit™Lips
($24): Created by Celeste Hilling, this
weightless product guards against UV
radiation, pollution, blue light, infrared and
induced heat caused by exercise. Hydrates
the skin and suits most skin types, color corrects to hide small imperfections and offers
mineral protection. SPF 50, reef safe, cruelty
free, free from parabens, no added dyes, no
added perfumes, no microbeeds and keeps
skin looking healthy, fit, and fabulous.
FALL
I
CURVE 13
FOOD
RubyFruitTableE
ntertaining during the festive season
tends to invoke images of poultry
and meat, so this time of year can be
challenging for vegetarians. One easy way
Add the color and flavor of
pomegranates to your Fall table.
to spruce up your dinner table in a way that
will even please omnivores, is to incorporate POM arils into your recipes and side
dishes. Here are a couple of easy ideas.
INGREDIENTS:
0
oz POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice 8 oz apple juice,
chilled
0
oz Calvados, chilled
C,
oz hard cider (3 12oz bottles)
0
red apple, thinly sliced
0
green apple, thinly sliced 1 small
orange, thinly sliced 1 cup POM
POMS Fresh Arils
Rosemary
sprigs for garnish
METHOD:
In a pitcher add juices, Calvados, and
hard cider.
Lightly stir to combine.
Add sliced fruit and POM POMS Fresh
Arils.
Keep chilled up to two days or serve
over ice with some of the fruit.
Garnish with a rosemary sprig.
14 CURVE
I
FALL
FOOD
INGREDIENTS:
G
G
cup lentils
0
0
0
0
cup water
cup POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice
teaspoon kosher salt
tablespoon olive oil
arge cloves garlic, minced l /2 cup
shallot, diced
0
0
tablespoon thyme leaves
0
0
cups kale, finely chopped
G
oz cremini or button mushrooms,
sliced
tablespoons Marsala wine 1 baguette, sliced and toasted 114 cup
pistachios, chopped
cup POM POMS Fresh Arils
METHOD:
CombinePOM Wonderful 100%Pomegranate Juice and water in medium
saucepan.Add lentils,bringto boil. Simmer until tender,about 15 - 20 minutes.
Stir in 114teaspoonsalt.
In a nonstick skillet,saute garlic in olive
oil overmediumheat.After 1 minute,add
shallots and thyme. Cook until shallots
havesoftened,about 7 minutes.
Add mushroomsand cook until they release liquid. Add the kale,cooking until
it'stender,about3 minutes.Addthe Marsala and cooked lentils,stirring to combine,and cook for another3 minutes.
-Spoonlentil mixtureonto baguetteslices and top with POM POMSFreshArils
and choppedpistachios.
FALL
I
CURVE 15
DRINKS
he state of California began
inside each bottle. Winemaker, and
life as a Republic, and its fron-
Sonoma County native Aaron Piot-
tier spirit lives on today with
ter has harnessed the untamed
proud and innovative wines. Flying
flavors of Zinfandel, the rich char-
T
their flag of independence high is
acter of Cabernet Sauvignon, and
Bear Flag Wines, a big-dreaming
the delicious complexity of careful-
label of sophisticated winemakers.
ly selected red blends to produce
Quite literally, this pioneering sensi-
three wines that make unique gifts
bility is invested in the label of the
or distinctive
bottles, which are designed using a
Thanksgiving or dinner table.
additions to your
19th Century font embossed with
real gold. And there's more treasure
16 CURVE
I
FALL
bearflagwine.com
DRINKS
BearFlagZinfandel
2016,Sonoma
County
Made from grapes sourced from the Dry Creek Valley, one of the most renowned Zinfandel growing
areas where the grapes develop bold fruit characteristics along with hints of spice and complexity
unique to the area. Structured and full-bodied with
a subtle hint of spice the dark fruit characteristics
reminiscent of blueberry pie. Notes of toasted oak
and vanilla create a velvety mouthfeel.
BearFlagEureka!
RedBlend
Batch
No.LCalifornia
This blend of bold California Reds has layers of
bold, juicy flavors: ripe plum, boysenberry jam and
creme de cassis, creating a lush sensation in the
mouth. Hints of graham cracker, milk chocolate
and candied orange zest add suprise and delight,
and means this is the wine to carry you through to
dessert. 'Smores, anyone?
BearFlagCabernet
Sauvignon,
Sonoma
County
This Cabernet Sauvignon displays unique fruit
and spice nuances and a depth and that makes
this easy-drinking but bold wine complex wine
enough to pair with just about anything on your
table, from turkey and beef to all the side dishes
including mac and cheese or a cheese plate. With
86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petite Syrah, 2%
Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot, this was our favorite
of the three.
FALL
I
CURVE 17
DRINKS
Cocktails G
ThatGive
Back
iving
back
this
Holiday
be
Simple!
relief organizations in the US, such
When entertaining
guests
as Feeding America. Now you can
who drop in for a social, it always
feel good as you sip your favorite
season
can
meal) to national and local hunger
pays to have a bottle of vodka in
cocktail, knowing that it's putting
the freezer for a quick welcome
food on the plates of the needi-
drink. But what if there was a brand
est. Simple Vodka is gluten-free,
of top-shelf
sustainably produced from Idaho
liquor that actually
helped someone less fortunate?
potatoes, and available nationwide
Simple Vodka is a philanthropic
for a recommended retail price of
brand created with the mission to
$27.
help fight hunger in America.
Simple Vodka donates 20 meals
per bottle
18 CURVE
I
FALL
produced (1 drink=l
simplevodka.co
DRINKS
SimpleVodkaSoda
SimpleRoseMartini
1 1/2 oz SimpleVodka
l / 4 oz Rosewater
1/4 oz FreshLemonJuice
1/4 oz SimpleSyrup
Ediblerosepetal
Shake all ingredients in a cocktail
shaker with ice and strain into a glass.
Garnish with edible rose petals.
FALL
I
CURVE 19
TRENDS
TheGift Slidependant
EmeraldPassionearrings
20 CURVE
I
FALL
Gifts
ofaLifetime
Elegant, high concept custom made jewelry designs.
ois Sasson has had a long and
were considered a joke in the dia-
distinguished career as a jewel-
mond trade of that time. "Some joke;'
er-from Rodeo Drive in Bever-
says Sasson now. "As we became
ly Hills to Bergdorf's in Manhattan. A
famous, they stopped laughing. We
life-long lover of design, architecture,
were making jewelry that said some-
and aesthetics-especially
thing about our art and our political
L
the time-
less elegance of Art Deco-Sasson
times. I cannot separate art from
was an Art minor and Psychology
politics. Our bracelets tell stories of
major in college and fell into the busi-
struggle, peace and love."
ness of designing elegant personal
Sasson, who later came out about
adornments where her trademark
her partner of 33 years, the singer
came to be rings, necklaces, earrings,
Lesley Gore, says that coming out is
bracelets, and cufflinks embedded
essential. "We must come out to be-
with special messages. Elegant, but
lieve in something bigger than safe
solid enough to wear on a daily basis,
and comfortable lifestyles. Everyone
Sasson was conscious of creating
has to look in the mirror and decide
"the antiques of the future:'
what it is they want to be remem-
A feminist activist since the 1970s,
bered for."
Sasson and her female partner start-
When it comes to luxury jewelry
ed a jewelry business together but
designs, Sasson wants to be remem-
Women'sWorldring
Women'sWorldbracelet;LadyLibertycufflinks,or canalsobeearrings
TRENDS
"Weweremaking
jewelry
that
saidsomething
about
ourartand
ourpolitical
times."
bered for producing gifts that matter,
al" and "Visible and Powerful" for the
expressing sentiments that fuse the
Women's Media Center, which pur-
personal and the political.
sues the mission of advancing wom-
Handcrafted in New York, these
en in media.
and
And while Sasson has attracted
semi-precious pieces not only last a
some high profile clients through pri-
solid,
symbolic,
precious
lifetime-they tell a story of a life. "My
vate commissions, she is also thrilled
pencil ring salutes the writer, the jour-
to sell to non-celebrities via her
nalist, the teller of stories;' she says.
website or through Bergdorf Good-
Other unique pieces embody wit,
man department store in New York
whimsy, and heartfelt wishes-such
City. "It's the same joy. We all want
as a gold ring made from the words
to please and smile with a satisfied,
'You Are the Owner of My Heart'
happy client;' she says.
which form a circle; or the Women's
At one time an aspiring therapist,
World ring, in which two golden fe-
the well-traveled Sasson is wise in
male figurines are conjoined, holding
matters of the heart, spirit, and mind.
aloft a gemstone world; or the Magni-
She knows all the provenances and
fy My Love ring in which a fractional
properties of gemstones and pre-
carat ruby or diamond is topped by a
cious metals. So should you be in the
tiny magnifying glass! A favorite mo-
market for a custom piece with spe-
tif of Sasson's is the Statue of Liberty,
cial powers, she's the jeweler in the
and the face of Lady Liberty features
know-and quite literally possess a
on cufflinks and lapel pins.
heart of gold.
She also creates pieces for organizations that promote equality and
positivity for women. For example,
she has designed bracelets that spell
ldsass.com
out the mantras "Sisterhood is Glob-
FALL
I
CURVE 23
LIVES
AWildandPrecious
Life
Judith Kasen-Windsor has ensured that
Edie Windsor's legacy was left to us
in a posthumous memoir.
VictoriaA. Brownworth
A
n attractive, vibrant blonde still in
Of their marriage, Judith says, "When I
her 50s, Judith Kasen-Windsor is a
come home, it's difficult. She was so full of
grieving widow nonetheless, mourn-
love. We squeezed ten years into two:'
ing one of the most important lesbian figures
An activist in her own right, Judith has
in LGBTQhistory, her late wife, Edie Windsor.
devoted the time since Edie died to defining
Edie Windsor was the lead plaintiff in the
her wife's legacy. It's a prodigious and nev-
2013 U.S. Supreme Court case United States
er-ending task, yet one that Judith is deeply
v. Windsor,which overturned Section 3 of the
invested in because of its crucial importance
Defense of Marriage Act, leading to the legal-
to LGBTQ history. "She did so much;' Judith
ization of same-sex marriage in 201 5.
says. "There are so many stories to tell:'
"Widow" seems a word out of another era.
For over a year Judith has spent many of
Yet when Curvesat down to talk with Judith
her days working with Josh Lyon, the writer
about Edie's memoir, which Judith has shep-
who helped complete Edie's memoir, A Wild
herded to completion, we were reminded of
and PreciousLife (St. Martin's Press), which
all that the word means, including the fact
was left unfinished when she died. The
that, in a previous time it was considered a
source material has been taken from over 80
title. Widows have a place of honor in society,
hours of Edie's own audio tapes as well as
left as they are to carry on living their own
interviews with dozens of people who knew
lives while preserving the memory of a part-
her and her work. Judith has also traveled
ner who has died.
the country to speak about Edie, appearing
Judith Kasen-Windsor is doing just that-
on panels and officiating at ceremonies and
carrying on without the love of her life, while
events where Edie Windsor's name has been
keeping Edie's
enshrined in memoriam.
memory vividly alive. She was, Judith says,
Judith is putting Edie's name up across
"the best thing that ever happened to me:' In
the country. On awards. On buildings. There
photographs of the couple, Edie looks at Ju-
is now an office with Edie's name on it at the
dith with love and tenderness. They look hap-
Hetrick Martin Institute, the country's largest
py. "I love talking about her,'Judith says.
LGBTQyouth services organization. There is
FALL
I
CURVE 25
LIVES
a coffee shop at the New York City LGBTQ
just a beginning to Judith. "I don't have low
center named for Edie and her first wife,
expectations about this book-I have the
Thea Spyer. There's the Edie Windsor Cen-
highest expectations;' she explains. "I want
ter at the Southampton Hospital. Judith
it to be a No. 1 best seller. I think it will be
got the center named for Edie and got the
great for women, great for the Jewish com-
services at Southampton expanded to in-
munity, great for older LGBTQpeople, great
clude care for people with HIV/AIDS.
for everyone. It's such a good story:' She
Judith makes a point of noting how important the issues of HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ
youth and trans people were to Edie, and
how important they are to her. She says
she's not just there to write the checks, but
to ascertain where Edie's name belongs.
Judith reveals that she keeps alive the
flame for Thea Spyer as well, recognizing
Thea's role in Edie's life and history. She explains this as if anyone would do it, but it
seems remarkable in its selflessness.
Yet at the end of these days filled with
a TV series. It's easy to imagine both. It's
when Judith returns home alone the famil-
easy to envision Judith making it happen.
iar sense of loss sets in. And she is remind-
When it comes to Edie,Judith is driven.
Judith says, quite simply, emotion well-
0
.,,
C
'i
c.,,
hard:'
about a woman whose life spanned near-
Judith speaks quickly and animatedly, in
ly a century and who, as she traversed so
much the same way that her late wife did.
many decades, created change as she
She has a lot to say and she talks in a rush,
went. Judith tells a story of how, when the
as if she might forget some vital detail if
couple went to see the film HiddenFigures,
she doesn't get the words out as fast as
Edie jumped up in the theater and gave a
possible. It's a disarming quality, as is the
mini-lecture on the subject from her own
way her voice lilts and lifts when she talks
vantage point, having been one of the first
about Edie.
women computer engineers and program-
Judith is excited about the memoir,
mers at IBM. She had top-level clearance,
which Edie spent the last year of her life
worked with physicists and with UNIVAC,
working on.
the world's first commercially produced
~
"This book is happy and positive;' Judith
says. "This book-there is so much bad in
::s
and engaging.
It's a page-turner full of history, a vivid read
:;;
"")
A WildandPreciousLife is, as Judith says,
a good story-compelling
ing in her voice, "Well, I loved her, so it's
<ii
=
also wants the story to be a film, and even
activism and history, days filled with Edie,
ed again that she is a widow.
"Cl
''There
issomuchbadinthe
world.Thisbookis a rayof
sunshine.Ediewasa rayof
sunshine."
the world, in our world under Trump-this
is a ray of sunshine. Edie was a ray of sun-
computer. She worked with the Atomic Energy Commission.
"We have all the documents from IBM;'
Judith says. "NYU [New York University]
has all her papers, and you can see, right
shine:'
Judith wants everyone to read Edie's
there in red ink, 'request denied; where she
memoir. "Did you like it?" she wants to
tried to put Thea's name down as her bene-
know. 'Tell me what you think:' She laughs
ficiary on her life insurance:'
a little. "I don't come in till near the end:'
Completing the memoir of this woman
she describes as "charming and tough" is
26
CURVE
I
FALL
Thea Spyer and Edie were partnered for
44 years, until Thea's death in 2009.
How Judith and Edie got together is a
LIVES
charming love story. "I chased that wom-
ways coming up to the couple on the
an for five to six years;' Judith laughs. "I
street. "People would cry and break into
had to wear her down. It took a long time.
tears and tell her how much what she did
And then from our first date, we were to-
meant to them, for them;' she says.
gether:' Judith was, she says, in love with
and so publicly to change the lives of mil-
Edie from the start.
But Edie was "very sad, very lonely, like
any movie star-surrounded
But the woman who fought so hard
by people
but on her own. I get it now. I come home
alone. I can really relate, now-all this notoriety, but it's still just you, by yourself'
lions of lesbians and gay men carried the
weight of her past with her-a past filled
with homophobic reprisals.
Judith says, "We would be walking
down the street holding hands, and we'd
Judith's glad she was able to give Edie
see people coming toward us, and she
a second chance at love. "I told her, if
would slowly let go of my hand. She car-
anyone has the right to get married, it's
ried that fear her entire life:'
you:' Judith said she was glad Edie could
She continues, "Edie and Thea never
"benefit from the right to marry, from all
walked down the street holding hands. I'd
she fought tor:'
come home and go to kiss her and if the
There are stories that are heartbreak-
shades were open-she'd put the shades
ing, too. Judith says Edie was recognized
down. She was literally frightened of me
wherever they went, so people were al-
kissing her in front of the open window:'
FALL
I
CURVE 27
LIVES
Of all she hopes to accomplish in
Edie's memory, Judith is most fierce
New York CitY: Her name is Edie Wind-
about Edie Windsor getting her due as
sor and she changed history. She's not
a historic figure. "Do I maintain Edie's
just some lady from New York CitY:'
a vengeance. I'm
A year later at a different event Grif-
not sure what would've happened if
fin came up to Judith and apologized,
legacy? Yes-with
28 CURVE
I
FALL
you ever call my wife 'a lesbian from
I hadn't been here to make sure her
saying he now understood why she
name is known;' Judith says.
was so adamant about naming Edie.
Edie had wanted her papers to stay
Judith says, "I will go anywhere and
in New York, even though the Smithso-
do anything [to promote Edie's memo-
nian wanted them. But Judith had to
ry]. There is nothing I wouldn't do for
fight to be sure that NYU would share
her!'
access with the LGBTQ center. The
And that includes maintaining Thea
university finally acquiesced to her
Spyer's legacy, as well as Edie's. Ju-
demand.
dith has made sure that there have
Judith details how at a Human
been namings for Thea, a renowned
Rights Campaign (HRC) gala after
psychologist, as well. "She was the
Edie's death, HRC President Chad Grif-
go-to therapist for the whole gay com-
fin spoke about the historic nature of
munity,' Judith says. "It should be rec-
the same-sex marriage decisions, but
ognized. I am just protective of them
referred obliquely to "a lesbian from
both. I want to honor them both!'
New York City,' who made it all hap-
Her love for Edie runs that deep. Ju-
pen. Judith was livid. She confronted
dith says, "I came home one day and
Griffin: "I grabbed him by the tie-well,
Edie had removed some of the photos
not literally-and got in his face and
of Thea-to make me feel better-and
said, 'You have to say her name. Don't
I said, 'You were with her for 44 years.
LIVES
Judith
wantspeople
toknowthat
Ediewasafighter
totheendof
herlife.Andthatshewasfunny.
How could I not love her as much as I
love you?'"
Judith wants people to know that Edie
ER
Dlt.l..&
UY-
1n11
--..~Cl!NTER
Ttlli~&AT,~I
was dedicated and meticulous, that she
was tireless, that she was a fighter to the
end of her life, and that she was funny.
"She was really, really funnY:'
As former Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton, who spoke at the memorial for
Edie Windsor, said in her eulogy, "She refused to give up on the promise of America ... We really owe it to her, to ensure
that gay rights are human rights and
human rights are gay rights, now and forever... She pushed us all to be better, to
stand taller, to dream bigger:'
Edie's widow, Judith, the keeper of her
flame, says, "She is the rainbow in our
clouds:'
FALL
I
CURVE 29
WEDDING
Shannon
&Heidi
Adventure and play form the
heart of a wedding in the midst
of nature.
Photographs
byKylePfenning
W
hen Shannon Enete, a former
paramedic, and currently an
adventure lifestyle author
decided to get married, it was, well-an
adventure!
"Nature doesn't judge, it accepts
us as we are;' says Enete who found
solace in the great, global outdoors
when her family wouldn't accept her
as she is. Naturally, Enete's wedding
ceremony took place in the very heart
of Oregon's natural wilderness, also
fitting for someone who had traveled
the world for seven years writing adventure travel guides.
Now the founder of Adventure
Guru, Enete can be spotted filming
and exploring the world's best natural
assets with a contagious, child-like exuberance. If you see a blonde running
around with a GoPro and a huge grin
please stop her and say hi. "It's important to never stop playing, no matter
your age;' says Enete, 38, who married
her girlfriend Heidi McGivney, 34, at
Sahalie Falls, Ore. in May of his year.
"This is our favorite waterfall, our
fairytale land;' says Enete. "We knew
of a spot that was not super-easy to
access due to the high water level and
30
CURVE
I
FALL
WEDDING
E
0
u
>..c
Cl..
ca
ci
.s
0
..c
Cl..
C'I
·=
C
C
's.
32 CURVE
I
FALL
WEDDING
thought it would make the perfect
universe conspired to help me
wedding since we wanted nature
find you. Every day with you is the
and our closest five people to
best day. Your smile charges my
share in our magical moment."
The couple set up cameras,
heart with love. I promise to show
you every day that I know exactly
cocktails (for post-ceremony
how lucky I am to have you in my
toast), and a cheese board. Enete
life."
had decorated the magical setting
with a vintage white runner, rose
They promised to build their
dream life together.
''Don't
worryabout
what
everyone
elsethinksyour
wedding
should
belike."
petals, and a sheer drape to
The honeymoon was six days in
center the ceremony around. They
Puerto Vallarta for sun, rest, and
wrote their own vows and their
recharge-and to bask in their love
best friend acted as officiant. Af-
for each other.
ter the ceremony they enjoyed the
"Don't over complicate it;' is
surrounding scenery of the private
Enete's advice to lovestruck
waterfall to the left, and a tranquil
couples looking to wed. "Decide
creek wrapped with massive ce-
what you love and how you can
dars to their right. "We were on an
integrate that into your ceremony.
idyllic is-land of sorts. After the
What matters to you both? If what
bottle of double oaked Woodford
matters costs more than a down
Reserve was empty it was time to
payment on a house, take a good
go;' laughs Enete.
look at why that matters to you-
Shannon's words to Heidi: "I'm
the underlying reason-and
see
so grateful that my dreams didn't
if you can recreate that in a more
come true because you are so
simple way. Simpler is always
much better than anything I've
better in my book. Don't worry
dreamt up. You are my perfect
about what everyone else thinks
person in every way. You've taught
your wedding should be like. Love,
me to dream bigger, and your
passion, and authenticity are
love and patience have been my
great cornerstones to build your
teachers. You're generous with
wedding and new life together on."
your time, your skills, your money,
and your love. I wouldn't change a
adventure-guru.org
damn thing about you, I'm all in."
Heidi's words to Shannon: "I'm
much more me when I'm with
you. I love you because the entire
FALL
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CURVE 33
IN THE CROSSFIRE
Women
Are
intheMajority
I want a woman president.
So where is our president?
VictoriaA. Brownworth
Unequivocally, I want a woman
leading the United States. I have
gone my entire life without being
I
FALL
she had the most progressive platform in American history.
Hillary's platform is still available
represented in the White House-as
online, and I read it over periodically
did my mother, a Civil Rights work-
as I report on the 2020 primary be-
er, and her mother, a suffragist who
cause I want the women running for
chained herself to the White House
president now to surpass Hillary's
fence as a teenager.
political acumen and expand on her
I wanted that woman president to
34 CURVE
even further to the left, but as it was,
plans for the nation's future.
be Hillary Clinton in 2016 because
In addition to a platform filled
she'd been working for progressive
with policy that centered on women,
causes-and for women-since she
Hillary had also promised to give us
was an undergraduate at Welles-
an administration that looked more
ley College. With decades of public
like America than any other admin-
service on her resume, she was a
istration ever had. Her staff had al-
smart, hard-working, seasoned pol-
ways been half women and 40 per-
itician. I would have liked her to be
cent people of color. For decades,
IN THE CROSSFIRE
>
0
01
(1)
"'
C
~
~
~
..
..
.
..
.
..
..
.
..
.
.
..
..
..
.
..
Hillary's top aides had all been women of color. Her cabinet would have
been representative of America for
the first time in history. She was the
first candidate to have an out gay
campaign manager.
But we didn't get Hillary Clinton's
presidency and the game-changer it
would have been. Instead, we have
the most misogynist presidency of
our collective lifetimes, led by an
accused rapist. That presidency is
also virulently anti-LGBTQ.
Throughout 2019 alone, I have
written
dozens of news stories
about the Trump administration's
attacks on women and LGBTQpeople. It has been, frankly, harrowing .
Harrowing because it is a new
normal that just keeps building on
itself.
Many of those news stories have
been about the relentless rollback
of civil rights that were gained over
long and incremental battles yet
were overturned overnight by President Trump and his Justice Department, Education Department, and
Health and Human Services Department.
In August, the Trump administration filed amicus briefs to the U.S.
Supreme Court (SCOTUS) in three
antidiscrimination
cases brought
by gay men, lesbians, and a trans
woman. Those briefs, if considered,
could set LGBTQ civil rights back
decades. The Trump Department
of Justice (DOJ) is demanding that
the SCOTUS dismiss any lawsuits
brought on the basis of Title VI I
of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. (The
Obama administration
FALL
I
had previ-
CURVE 35
IN THE CROSSFIRE
ously expanded Title VII to include
protections for sexual orientation
and gender identity.)
The same week Trump ordered
that action by the DOJ, he also
moved to broaden religious freedom
laws to allow federal contractors
to discriminate against LGBTQemployees-a move that could impact
420,000 workers. The new rule proposed in the Federal Register by
the DOJ would allow any federal
contractor to deny employment to
and/or fire any employee who was
LGBTQ,in deference to the contrac>
tor's religious beliefs. Earlier in the
0
~
spring Trump had already expand-
ro
C
Q.)
(/)
ed religious freedom laws under
(/)
·c:::
ro
..c
Health and Human Services (HHS)
to include medical providers who
choose not to treat LGBTQpeople.
Not since President Dwight D. Eisenhower's Executive Order 10450,
which led to a witch hunt that saw
scores of lesbians and gay men
investigated by the federal government and prompted the McCarthy
hearings, have there been such terrorizing orders against LGBTQ people from a president.
Trump's attack on LGBTQpeople
is so extreme that it's expanded to
sheer pettiness. In June, Trump
disallowed any American embassy
from flying the rainbow flag in honor
of Pride month, despite its being the
50th anniversary of the Stonewall
Rebellion, where the modern queer
civil rights movement began.
Concomitant with these recent
actions by Trump and his administration, the Accelerating Acceptance Index found in June that
36 CURVE
I
FALL
IN THE CROSSFIRE
Trump is making Americans less
new and present danger for LGBTQ
tolerant of LGBTQ people. Accord-
people.
ing to the study, 39 percent would
find it unsettling that
their child
Yet despite all of these studies
and statistics and acts by the presi-
was learning about LGBTQhistory in
dent and his administration, despite
school, compared to just 30 percent
the fact that the first openly gay
in 2018. And finding out that their
candidate, Pete Buttigieg, has been
doctor was LGBTQmade 34 percent
polling in the top five throughout the
uncomfortable, up from 27 percent
Democratic race, the primary has
been virtually devoid of attention
to either women's issues or LGBTQ
"Ihavegonemyentirelife
withoutbeingrepresented
intheWhiteHouse."
issues.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
raised both issues in the first two
debates, but she withdrew from
the race before the September debates when she failed to qualify
in the polls. Gillibrand's campaign
was driven by issues that centered
on women, issues like family leave,
closing the pay gap, and abortion
in 2018.
Most surprising is that the least
rights. She also had the best LGBTQ
tolerant segment of the population
rights platform of any candidate,
is millennials-people
and has been a strong LGBTQ ally
35 and un-
der. These findings dovetail uncom-
since before it was trendy for politi-
fortably with FBI reports that hate
cians.
crimes against LGBTQpeople are up
Most of the remaining Democratic contenders-only
exponentially in just the past year.
10 qualified for
The news gets worse: A study
the September debates, including
from The Trevor Project found that
three of the remaining five women
LGBTQ suicides are on the rise,
in the race-support
while a different study from Brown
and issues. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-
LGBTQ rights
University found that although self-
CA) was marrying lesbian and gay
harm is down among heterosexual
couples in San Francisco in 2004,
teens and young adults, it is on the
when Mayor (now Governor) Gavin
Newsom declared same-sex mar-
rise among LGBTQpeople.
The profound effect Trump and
his anti-LGBTQ administration
is
having on queer and trans people
is endemic. The only way to stop
riage legal after it was legalized in
Massachusetts.
Harris regularly tweets
about
LGBTQ issues, and it was she who
Trump is by voting him out-and the
raised the issue of gay civil rights
November 2020 election feels very
during
far away when every day brings a
hearings for Brett Kavanaugh. Har-
the
Senate confirmation
FALL
I
CURVE 37
IN THE CROSSFIRE
ris asked the prospective Supreme
be representing the views of the
any other actions Trump has taken
Court justice if he viewed Obergefell
people, not a small number of ho-
against queer and trans people in
v. Hodges as a landmark civil rights
mosexual extremists."
either debate.
case. Kavanaugh refused to an-
Gabbard also voted against help
Spiritual guru Marianne William-
swer-which in itself was an answer.
for LGBTQ teens, claiming none
son was a friend to people with HIV/
But Harris's attention to LGBTQ
were being bullied in the schools.
Al DS back when it was a rarity for
and women's issues-like the crisis
She objected to teaching students
straight people. She founded Proj-
in black maternal healthcare-has
that homosexuality is "normal and
ect Angel Food in 1989 to deliver
barely been mentioned in the de-
natural" and said a pro-gay resolu-
food and provide other services, like
bates. Nor has Sen. Elizabeth War-
tion would be "inviting homosexu-
hospice care, to those with terminal
ren's (D-MA) longtime advocacy for
al-advocacy organizations into our
illnesses. Most of those the organi-
LGBTQ people, and her attention to
schools to promote their agenda to
zation served were suffering from
women-centered
our vulnerable youth."
legislation.
Like
benefit to people with HIV/AIDS, Wil-
claimed to have changed her stance
liamson also has a history of telling
word of it has been mentioned in the
on LGBTQ rights. But she has re-
AIDS patients that "sickness is an
debates. And Sen. Amy Klobuchar
fused to meet with the Hawaiian
illusion."
(D-MN) has made few inroads in the
LGBT Caucus. Yet, like nearly every
Will any of these women be able
debates on either women's issues or
Democrat in the House, Gabbard is a
to break the choke hold that men
those that involve the LGBTQ com-
member of the Congressional LGBT
have on the presidency? It's cer-
munity.
Equality Caucus and supports the
tainly possible. Warren has the sec-
Equality Act.
ond-largest amount of money raised
platform on LGBTQ rights. Not one
The remaining two women in
In
Congress,
Gabbard
HIV/AIDS. But while this was a huge
has
Harris, Warren has a comprehensive
the Democratic race are highly
During the first debate, Gabbard
and has steadily risen in the polls to
controversial candidates. Rep. Tul-
claimed she was "very young" when
be in a dead heat with Joe Biden and
si Gabbard (D-HI) has a long and
deeply troubling history of virulent
anti-LGBTQ activism, and one of
the only questions about LGBTQissues came in the first debate when
she was asked about that history.
While she was a state senator, Gabbard was staunchly anti-gay. Her
father led a statewide fight against
'Theremaining
twowomen
intheDemocratic
raceare
highlycontroversial."
same-sex marriage through his orshe was an anti-gay activist, imply-
Bernie Sanders, both of whom have
Marriage, which also supports con-
ing she was a minor. No one contra-
run before and have 100 percent
version therapy.
dicted her narrative, or even stated
name recognition, as well as an es-
Gabbard was an activist in her fa-
that she was already a state legis-
tablished voting base.
ther's campaign, which succeeded
lator when she held these views
Harris has had a more complex
ganization, Alliance for Traditional
in passing a constitutional amend-
and voted on them, actively harm-
time in the primary, rising and fall-
ment banning same-sex marriage in
ing LGBTQ people. Gabbard is run-
ing and plateauing in the polls; as a
Hawaii. As a member of the Hawaii
ning on her record as a soldier, but
black woman, she has faced more
House of Representatives, Gabbard
has never mentioned Trump's ban
scrutiny for her role as a former
declared, "As Democrats we should
on trans people in the military, or
prosecutor than have others in the
38 CURVE
I
FALL
IN THE CROSSFIRE
race. Nevertheless, she has remained a
steady fourth behind Biden, Sanders, and
Warren, and has an undeniable charisma
on the campaign trail.
The centrist Klobuchar, who holds the
Senate record for most legislation passed,
has been well received on the campaign
trail, but has failed to break out in the debates or rise past the low, second-tier position she shares with Buttigieg, Sen. Cory
Booker (O-NV),and former Texas representative Beto O'Rourke.
Representation matters. When Hillary
Clinton ran for president, she refused to
ignore women and the LGBTQ community, despite mainstream media claims that
she was running on "identity politics."
Harris has used that term and refuted it in
her campaign speeches. She's said, 'The
phrase 'identity politics' is often used to
either marginalize the topic of discussion
or to shut people up. Not anymore. Where
America stands on these issues is about
America's identity."
I want a woman president. I want a
president who knows that my identity as
a woman should never be marginalized
because she shares that identity, a woman who not only respects my identity as a
lesbian but will fight for my civil rights. As
the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment looms in August 2020, I hope that a
woman can win the nomination, win the
general election, and set this country back
on a course toward equality and justice for
all-especially
for those of us who have
been denied equality and justice throughout American history.
FALL
I
CURVE 39
WELLNESS
LGBTO Writers
and Artists
Health
011 Mental
~nd wellness
, .• .,s1Pphanic• srhroNlt-1·
rPrPsa theophano
TheLast 11
Queer
Taboo
we
are the experts in
our own illness, well-
tailed her harrowing experience with
ness, and care."
she faced in navigating the mental
sums up the
health system as a lesbian. Now
theme behind Stephanie Schroed-
she and co-editor Teresa Theopha-
That statement
A new book addresses the
shame and stigma around
LGBTQ mental illness
VictoriaA. Brownworth
er's brilliant new anthology, Head-
no, a licensed clinical social worker
case: LGBTQ Writers and Artists on
at SAGE(Services and Advocacy for
Mental Health and Wellness (Ox-
GLBT Elders), have combined their
ford University Press). The book
personal experiences to create this
combines
compelling and at times highly un-
first-person
accounts
from LGBTQ people with histori-
settling look at how different it is
cal and clinical data to provide a
to be dealing with mental illness in
much-needed overview of the range
a system designed to treat LGBTQ
of issues facing LGBTQpeople with
people as already suspect because
mental illness in America. With the
of their sexual orientation and/or
Trump administration
gender identity.
demonizing
both LGBTQand mentally ill people,
Theophano comes to the work
this showcase of personal essays,
from a different but equally essen-
poetry, fiction, visual art could not
tial perspective. At SAGE,she helps
come at a more crucial time.
oversee the provision of case man-
Schroeder's earlier memoir, Beautiful Wreck: Sex, Lies & Suicide, de-
40 CURVE
I
FALL
bipolar disorder and the difficulties
agement services to older LGBTQ
adults and their family caregivers.
WELLNESS
"...herharrowing
experience
withbipolar
disorder
andthe
difficulties
shefacednavigating
thementalhealthsystem"
FALL
I
CURVE 41
WELLNESS
She also has a small client caseload
opportunity to address the breadth
and facilitates support groups. So
of the LGBTQexperience within the
Theophano is immersed in the sys-
mental health system. Schroeder
tem from a range of vantage points.
has been part of a veritable under-
It's a lot-but the breadth of her work
ground railroad, whose mission is
has given her a unique perspective.
to help other LGBTQ people with
"As a social worker, a peer-
mental illness. Her essay in Head-
someone living with and receiving
case details the impact of being
treatment for a mental health condi-
denied access to medications, an
"...a panoply
of literaryandartistic
approaches
to LGBTQ
mentalhealthl
mental
illness,
andmentalwellness."
tion-and a queer writer/editor;' The-
issue that so many queer and trans
ophano told Curve,"I wanted to bring
people face because the mental
this book into existence because
health system is often inaccessible
there are so few explorations in the
to them. Also inaccessible: pricey
literature of what it means to be out
meds for other various illnesses.
as a queer and/or trans peer." The-
Schroeder talks excitedly about
ophano said she thinks it's crucial
the book as she details how "Head-
that LGBTQpeople have peers treat
case evolved into a collection that
them, because the history of how
is groundbreaking in scope. It in-
queer and trans people have been
cludes a panoply of literary and ar-
treated by the mental health system
tistic approaches to LGBTQ mental
is so overwhelmingly negative.
She explained, "Our anthology
also examines stigma and shame
around both LGBTQ identities and
health, mental illness, and mental
wellness."
She
adds,
"Contributors
cut
across class, race, ethnicity, gender,
living with mental health condi-
and age. The book is full of insight-
tions. We wanted to share a written
ful writing and artwork by 'patients'
account of what it means to move
and 'providers' alike, but without as-
through the world with these inter-
cribing more authority to one group
secting identities."
than the other:'
For Schroeder, the project was an
42 CURVE
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Theophano illustrates why it was
WELLNESS
paramount to give voice to LGBTQ
she says, "I knew I had stumbled
people in Headcase. "Many very
upon a kindred spirit. I didn't know
regressive and very loudmouthed
how easy the collaboration with her
individuals and some institutions
would end up being, or how close
still equate homo- and bisexuality
our friendship would become."
and transgender identity with men-
She adds, "I feel lucky that some-
tal illness;' Theophano says. "Head-
one whose writing resonates this
case includes stories of how this
deeply with me is also such a savvy
wrongheaded assumption
editor and publicist, as well as a tru-
affects
our lives, and also touches on how it
shows up in the DSM [Diagnostic and
ly kind soul."
Schroeder and Theophano are
planning another project togeth-
Statistical Manuan,''
Theophano
er but, Schroeder says, "the time
worked on the book for several years
frame is up in the air." For now, they
and the result is more than 300 pag-
are working to get Headcase into as
es of writing from a wildly divergent
many hands and classrooms and
group of contributors. Some of the
libraries as possible. Library Jour-
art will challenge readers to rethink
nal gave the book a starred review,
Schroeder
and
how they view "invisible" illness; it
noting in part, "The editors intend to
illustrates the ways in which people
start a conversation among LGBTQ
suffering from mental illness often
people and the therapy community
feel erased and threatened as a con-
about topics that are usually hidden
sequence.
or ignored ... They succeed admira-
For Schroeder, the journey with
bly!' Theophano sums up what she
the book was deeply personal. She
and Schroeder want to do for queer
spoke about how working with
and trans people with mental illness,
Theophano "was both overwhelm-
saying, "Many of us are not safe, es-
ing and amazing. To share such a
pecially in the current political envi-
great responsibility as bringing our
ronment, and we hope to foster bet-
voices-38
ter understanding of what queer and
published pieces-into
print with someone who, in the beginning, I didn't know well, was very
humbling;' adding, "Collaborating on
trans peers face."
Schroeder is succinct: "We rarely
find personal accounts from LGBTQ
the writing is something I had never
folks with mental health concerns.
done before, but it all went surpris-
Amplifying our voices on these top-
ingly smoothly, we agreed on every-
ics is imperative."
thing, and our friendship flourished."
A project as massive as the one
Theophano envisioned made her
realize that she couldn't do it alone.
After she read Schroeder's memoir,
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STYLE
44
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Hot
Pursuit
Dapper Q's 6th annual queer
New York Fashion Week show
featured an unprecedented lineup of gender nonconforming
designers and models.
Photographs
byDebbieJeanLemonte
0
n Thursday, September 5, the
opening day of New York Fashion Week, digital queer style
magazine dapperQ provided an alternative to the traditional binary men's/
women's shows with a queer fashion
show featuring 10 designers, 70+ models at Brooklyn Museum. The show,
titled Pursuit, drew over 2000 in attendance-the
largest New York Fashion
Week (NYFW) runway event showcasing queer style. High profile models
joined the lineup including Zach Barack
(Marvel's first openly transgender actor), Jason A. Rodriguez (Lemar Wintour on Pose),and Alysse Dalessandro
(body activist) to name a few.
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STYLE
"ThelargestNewYorkFashion
Weekrunwayevent
showcasing
queerstyle.''
46
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48
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The stage was one of the most diverse
NYFW runways ever. "We meticulously selected our designers to reflect the diversity
of fashion that we have evolved to celebrate,
moving beyond masculinity as the most
prominent way of expressing queerness
through fashion to celebrating the range of
feminine to masculine and everything in between and outside of that represents our rich
communities;' dapperQ owner Anita Dolce
Vita told Curve. Regular Pose cast member
B. Hawk Snipes kicked off the evening's festivities as the show's official host, and queer
fashion celebrities such as Hester Sunshine
of ProjectRunway,Season 17 sat front row.
Pursuit's theme mirrored the Museum's
PierreCardin:Pursuit of the Future exhibit as
part of the Museum's year-long Stonewall
installation.
"We were extremely honored to work with
Brooklyn Museum for the sixth consecutive
year to create a platform that celebrates
queer bodies and queer style. LGBTQ and
POC communities have a rich legacy of being creative visionaries in beauty and fashion, but our ideas are often co-opted without
any credit or visibility. Pursuit is for us and by
us, bringing our talents, bodies, innovations,
and voices to the forefront under one roof in
Brooklyn Museum's 10,000 square foot, artfully designed Beaux Arts Court:'
The all-queer dapperQ production team
also noted that their annual NYFW show,
which was sponsored by gender-neutral
underwear label TomboyX-while
helping
to set a new industry standard for diversity,
inclusion, and fashion as activism-is
part
of a longer history of queer fashion in New
York extending back to 1980s ball culture.
This year's featured designers were: Cilium, Claire Fleury, Devon Yan, HALZ, Landeros New York, Shane Ave, Sharpe Suiting
x Goorin Bros., Stuzo Clothing, Travis Oestreich, and TomboyX.
dapperq.com
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PHOTOGRAPHY
Queer
Looks
A portrait series presents the
spectrum of notable individuals
in our community.
ward-winning
A
visual
artist
Manuel Rodriguez has part-
nered
with
self-publishing
house Blurb.com to launch UNTITLED,
a book of queer portraits showcasing a photographic trajectory of the
LGBTQcollective today. The book was
released in time for Pride 2019, 50
years since Stonewall, and celebrates
what it means to be queer half a century later. The portraits are studies in
identity while capturing the nuanced
self-expression of select LGBTQ individuals. Rodriguez says, "While the
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PHOTOGRAPHY
54 CURVE
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PHOTOGRAPHY
book by no means covers the wide
spectrum and diversity of our entire
queer community, we are proud to feature individuals from all walks of lifeyoung, old, genderfluid, non-binary,
drag queens, activists, trans, etc.,-who
are embracing our expanded queer narrative and all that we represent now:'
Notable lesbian, queer or bi women
featured in the portrait series include
New York City music producer Barb
Morrison, NYC artist Francesca Galliani, photographer Allison
Michael
Orenstein, Colombian film and TV producer Veronica Vargas, and many more
prominent LGBTQfigures, from DJS to
activists, who have transformed their
personal journeys into living projects
that intersect with and validate our
community.
thephluidproject.com
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INTERVIEW
HighSchoolT
Reunion
How Tegan and Sara visited
the past and found their way
to a bright creative future.
JanelleBeckandMelanyJoyBeck
egan and Sara Quin, the Ca-
a nostalgic trip down memory lane,
nadian twins who have been
chronicling the relatable ups and
audiences world-
downs of being teens in the '90s;
wide for 20 years (and nine studio al-
the conflicted yet codependent rela-
bums), have never stopped evolving.
tionship Tegan and Sara had before
charming
After the career-changing success
becoming Tegan and Sara; and their
of their fifth album, The Con, and a
first steps toward becoming the icon-
two-record visit to the world of elec-
ic duo they are today. Written from al-
tro-pop, Love You to Death and Heart-
ternating perspectives, the memoir is
throb, the sisters Quin managed to
akin in tone to the compelling onstage
mine the past for a treasure trove of
banter they have become known for.
content that resulted in not only their
Relatable, self-deprecating, and with
first memoir, High School,but the stu-
a self-awareness that's beyond the
dio album Hey,I'm Just Like You,(out
average teenager, High Schoolstands
September 27th on Sire). Hey,I'm Just
alone as a compelling piece of work.
Like You is a reimagining of songs
The sisters approached the process
Tegan and Sara wrote in, well, high
of writing a memoir in much the same
school. The guitar-driven album quite
way as they approach writing music.
literally brings Tegan and Sara fans
back to where it all began.
'Tegan and I finished touring our
rate on the music or sequencing on
wanted to pursue another creative
our albums, and with the book we did
endeavor that wasn't just writing a
a little bit of preliminary outlining sim-
new album, recording a new album,
ply because we didn't want to spend
and touring the new album;' says Sara
too much time writing about the same
Quin when we recently caught up with
stories;' Sara says. "We outlined those
her. "We had done that cycle for al-
big marker moments and then disap-
most 20 years and we were both feel-
peared into our own worlds for three
ing really creative and excited, but we
or four months, to just write. In a way,
both wanted to direct that into some-
I was writing my own book and Tegan
thing fresh, something that would
was writing her own book, and then
challenge us, and we had sort of
as we started to compile our chapters
thrown the idea around about doing a
and create our first draft we started to
book. It was a fun creative process to
go back and forth with them:'
the book itself was really wonderful:'
I
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actually come together and collabo-
last album and both agreed that we
even arrive at that place, and writing
58 CURVE
"We write in our own studios and
homes for months on end before we
Based on their three years of high
school in Canada, each sister delves
For Tegan and Sara fans and new-
into her particular experiences with
comers alike, High School provides
friendships, coming out, music, and
INTERVIEW
looking for material for the book.
the transition from playing guitar in
reflect that. I realized that there was
the bedroom to making a real go of it
quite a lot about our songwriting and
"We had been writing for quite a
in the music industry, in the pre-inter-
storytelling that really naturally works
few months before we found the dem-
net and pre-cell phone '90s. While not
in this medium, too. Both Tegan and
os that we wrote in high school;' she
every reader can look back on travel-
I really enjoyed taking our skills at
says. "I didn't listen to them for weeks
ing the world as a professional musi-
writing music and telling stories and
because I just thought that they would
cian, the book has a relatable tone that
performing on stage and using them
be cringe-worthy. I would often work
will invite all of us to reflect back on
to make something really different.
on the book in the library, and as I was
our own high school years.
I think the fact that we were able to
coming home from the library one
"I think that for people who grew
write this book and accomplish it indi-
day I just put my headphones on and
up in that era it's sort of interesting to
cates that we both really enjoyed the
played the songs, and I was extreme-
remember what their high school ex-
process. I think to some degree that
ly moved. It was quite emotional to
perience was like;' says Sara. "I've sort
maybe I struggled a little more with
hear the music. I just thought to my-
of spent my life looking for pieces of
the material and the emotions that
self, specifically as a songwriter, that
identity inside of things and relating to
came out in writing the book. I had a
these were remarkable songs. Now
them. I really force the idea that even
little harder time of it in high school
I can hear past the rough recordings
though I am a queer women writing
than Tegan did, and I struggled, know-
and the scratchy vocals and the sim-
about my queer experience as a young
ing from a very young age that my sex-
plicity of the playing. I can hear there
woman in high school in the '90s,
uality was different. I had a hard time
were sophisticated ideas that we were
there should be something in there for
integrating that without quietly, inter-
already intuitively in touch with, and
everyone to relate to, no matter what
nally suffering a little bit for it. And be-
that's what really inspired me!'
your background is!'
For anyone, taking a deep dive into
cause I ended up in relationships with
When Tegan and Sara's music start-
women, girls, as a young person, I had
ed to gain accolades, some were quick
''Ithinkwehavefoundawaytotakeourcriticism
andtension
anddifficulties
andtrytochannel
thatintoproductive
things."
to assume that it was their status as
the past has the potential to be an un-
to face that reality a little bit sooner
comfortable yet gratifying experience,
than Tegan. So, that emotional strug-
identical twin sisters or their youth
and for Tegan and Sara, who have un-
gle was more a part of my writing,
that gave them a niche appeal, not
til now primarily worked in the realm of
whereas for Tegan it was a little bit
their talent. That narrative stuck with
music, the creative and emotional pro-
lighter. We both loved writing the book
the women for years, and working on
cess was different for each of them.
and have plans to write more. Actually,
Hey,I'm Just Like Youhas finally given
we are in the process of working on
them another perspective on the ori-
another project right now!'
gins of their success.
"I think that both of us are artistic
and creative and extremely rigorous
and disciplined when it comes to
The inspiration for Hey, I'm Just
"I've had enough distance from the
self-evaluation and manifesting cre-
Like Youcame about somewhat acci-
young version of myself that instead
ative output:' Sara says. "I sort of look
dentally, as they had already started
of cringing I felt deeply proud;' Sara
at myself and analyze myself, and I
working on the next album before
says. "Like, no wonder recording-in-
have a desire to create things that
stumbling upon some old songs while
dustry people were trying to sign us
60 CURVE
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.,.
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62 CURVE
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INTERVIEW
when we were in high school. I tell that
them a modern spin while staying true
of the fact that we have managed to
story with a completely different slant
to their original essence.
stay in a band, and in some ways really
now. I used to say, almost apologeti-
"Even when I was looking at the lyr-
cally, like, 'Yeah, people were interest-
ics, for example, I was like, 'We're not
From enjoying the artists' quirky onstage banter to identifying with their
enjoy each other again:'
ed in us in high school: I don't want
going to just change the song: For
the narrative I read in the press-that
example, in "Hey I'm Just Like You;'
music, fans around the world will no
people were interested in us when we
Tegan and I were talking about our
doubt be interested to gain access to
were teenagers because we were mar-
friendship with our friends and each
another facet of their lives and talents.
"When we found the videotapes,
"Wearestrong
partners
and
strong
collaborators.
Andwealso
driveeachothercrazy."
it was so fascinating to see the two
of us so affectionate. We were best
friends, we adored each other, we
loved each other, we were inseparable, and we wanted to be around each
other all the time. We were always in
each other's room and jamming and
ketable or cute. Now I feel really angry
other, and it was the first song I wrote
playing, and we were also at each oth-
that I bought into that, because when
on the electric guitar, and I was still
er's throats, and it was good to know
I listened to the music, it's fantastic.
taking a lot of drugs and having adven-
that love can coexist with something
As women, as young women, we ac-
tures with my friends, and everything
a little bit darker-maybe that makes
cepted that there was something that
was crazy. I was like, 'This song needs
us more interesting:'
made us attractive to people and it
to stay there: I can't just take the melo-
Catch Tegan and Sara during their
was a thing we couldn't control-what
dies and write something totally differ-
upcoming tour and grab a copy of the
our bodies looked like, that we're girls,
ent. We really try to honor each song;'
new book and album coming in Sep-
that we're twins, that we're cute or
Sara says.
tember.
whatever. Instead, I want to reclaim
When asked how their relationship
that narrative and say, 'No, we were
has evolved after working so closely
doing something really fantastic: At
for so many years, Sara is quick to
17 years old we were writing songs
acknowledge the complexity of their
that were really fantastic and people
dynamic, but says she is ultimately
saw potential in that and it clearly
grateful to have such a close bond.
worked out. I am trying to reclaim that
narrative now-like,
'Yeah, we were
songwriters even back then: "
teganandsara.com
"I think Tegan and I are good at
what we do;' she says. "We are strong
partners and strong collaborators.
The 12-track album is a thrilling
We know how to run a business and
offering, with windows-down rockers
we know how to balance each other,
like "I'll Be Back Someday,' and the
and we also drive each other crazy.
introspective "Call It Off"-reminiscent
I'm proud to admit that we no longer
ballad "Hello I'm Right Here;' and the
wrestle or throw punches or say horri-
brooding "Don't Believe the Things
bly scarring things to each other,' she
They Tell You (They Lie):' Their status
says. "I think we have found a way to
as seasoned musicians is apparent in
take our criticism and tension and dif-
the reimagined tracks, taking the ear-
ficulties and try to channel that into
liest songs of their career and giving
productive things. We feel really proud
Teganand Sarahavewritten a memoir
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V
irginia Woolf, in her essay A
pen. Sometimes women do like women;'
Roomof One'sOwn,wrote that in
wrote Woolf in her characteristically deli-
order for a woman to write fiction
cate-yet-direct discursive voice.
she must have two things: a room of her
own and enough money to support her-
But how is one to sustain this "like"emotionally,
physically, psychological-
self. This declaration came to be applied
ly, domestically? Perhaps the carnally
not just to writing but to life itself when
averse Woolf felt the same way as Mar-
it was taken up by a generation of fem-
lene Dietrich, who is thought to have said,
inists. But I have always wondered how
"Sex is much better with a woman, but
Woolf would have handled it if there were
then one can't live with a woman!"
two women writers in that one room; and
Virginia's great Sapphic love was Vita
what her practical recipe for lesbian love
Sackville-West, but how did that work? All
might have looked like-especially when
we really know about it comes from the
there wasn't really a word for it then other
letters the two women wrote to each oth-
than "Sapphic"-and
anyone who pur-
er over a decade, and from the analysis
sued Sapphic love in Edwardian England
of it by Vita's son, Nigel Nicolson. And as
would have been considered a social out-
astute as his book Portraitof a Marriageis,
cast, if not something worse.
he is both a man and a son. For him to get
"Let us admit in the privacy of our own
into bed with these women, figuratively
society that these things sometimes hap-
speaking, was not possible. While it is as-
COVERSTORY
COVERSTORY
Director
Chanya
Buttonmodernizes
the
relationship
betweentwolesbianfeminist
literaryicons.
66 CURVE
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COVERSTORY
sumed that Woolf was "sexually frigid;'
work; her essay 'The Cinema' is part of
I'm not sure how this can be proven.
the reason I became a filmmaker. She
I spoke to writer-director Chanya
came to me very early. I studied her
Button about how her feature film
work at university, where I learned how
Vita & Virginia originated and why she
she rewrote literary form ...she was so
chose to modernize the relationship
ambitious with how she wanted to write
between these two lesbian-feminist lit-
down her experiences and communi-
erary icons. As she is to many women
cate them to other people:'
who think and write, Virginia Woolf has
Like many of us who had heard of or
always been central to Button's under-
read Orlando,Button was not acquaint-
standing of the world.
ed with the exact context of its inspira-
"Over the last few years I've wracked
tion-Virginia's
breakup-makeup letter
my brain to remember when I first dis-
to Vita. "Discovering that was one of the
covered her, but she's sort of hard-wired
great joys of making the film. Vita is an
into my brain because I've read all of her
absolutely fascinating character:'
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COVERSTORY
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But where to begin in pinning down
way that it tackles Vita and Virginia's
"Obviously, it was a big discussion,
how we would approach every ele-
between
relationship;' says Debicki. "I hadn't
these two remarkable women? Eileen
read anything else like it before. It's in-
ment of making the film, but what was
Atkins brought them to life in her play
telligent and sharp, the incorporation
wonderful was that I really had the
Vita & Virginia, which she performed
of their literary canon with the letters
support of everyone;' says Button. "We
Off-Broadway in 1994 opposite Va-
and how they speak to each other. It's
discussed everything and we were all
nessa Redgrave. More recently, Atkins
an honoring of their work but it brings
on the same page. When you're mak-
has worked with Gemma Arterton,
them into a human realm, and at the
ing an independent film, you're in total
who is a friend of Button's and who
center of it is this love story, which is
creative control. That's the forum in
first raised the notion of making a film
really poignant:'
which you make bold choices. If you're
exactly
what
happened
of it. After all, Virginia has not been
"We couldn't believe it when Eliz-
portrayed on screen outside of Nicole
abeth agreed to do the film;' says
you've got total creative control, and
Kidman's Oscar-winning portrayal in
Gemma Arterton. "She's perfect, she
you're not making bold choices, then
brings so much to the part and it's not
you're missing a golden opportunity:'
TheHours.
making an independent film
and
It's a treat to see another Amazoni-
an easy role to play-there's an incred-
And those bold choices were "very
an Australian tackle the role. Elizabeth
ible amount of pressure, but she really
conscious ones;' says Button, who
Debicki (often referred to as "the next
has gone for it. I've watched her on the
hoped to dust off these two women
Cate Blanchett") is 6'2", willowy and
other side of the camera and then had
and present them as vital, daring, sexy,
luminous. This fantastically talented
to remind myself to act because I've
fashionable, fearsome, fun. "It was
actor made an immediate impression
been so impressed by her!"
very much my hope that younger au-
on Button. "She read the script on a
Button tells me that Debicki was
Thursday and she was all signed up
"a dream to direct, as was Gemma. It
by the following Monday,' she says. "I
did not feel like directing, in the sense
diences would feel spoken to by the
film:'
Button consciously cast the actors
have never come across an actor who
is as decisive and brave in displaying
her integrity and her ambition as an
artist 'Yes,this sounds interesting, I'm
up for it:"
Elizabeth Debicki has earned praise
for her portrayal of the hypersensitive
writer, and while writers are not often
dynamically
portrayed
Debicki's almost
on screen,
translucent,
Australian
Elizabeth
Debicki
isoftenreferredtoas'the
nextCate
Blanchett'.
sea-
foam-colored eyes seem to reveal all
of Virginia's deepest thoughts and
of me overseeing their performances.
about a decade younger than they
emotions. Vita once wrote of her first
We felt like three artists who were col-
were in reality; consciously used a
impression of Virginia: "At first you
laborating on a project. We shared the
contemporary soundtrack as a way of
think she is plain, then a sort of spiri-
same goals, we really respected each
underscoring the freshness of these
tual beauty imposes itself on you, and
other:'
women's legacies, which were forged
you find a fascination in watching her:'
And those three artists had some
between 1922 and 1928. It was one
and made
of the most prolific periods for the
first you think she is too beautiful, then
some bold choices around key issues.
Woolfs' Hogarth Press, during which
she reveals her plainness, her spiritual
Was Virginia Woolf a lesbian? Was she
Virginia wrote Mrs Dallowayand Orlan-
beauty, and the core of her turbulence.
mentally ill? Was she a genius? Was
do,and exhausted herself through the
"My first impression of the script was
Vita bisexual? Pansexual? Queer?Was
effort.
that it was very bold and unique in the
Virginia asexual?
The opposite is true of Debicki. At
interesting discussions
"Both of these women were incredi-
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COVERSTORY
with withering grace and menace by
bly progressive and forward-thinking in
marriage, regardless of her other de-
the art they made, in the lives they led,
sires-is a really important moment on
Isabella Rossellini. She expresses dis-
and in the relationship they had with
screen. It didn't feel very controversial
gust for her daughter's same-sex fling
each other,' says Button, who did not
or shocking for us to stage because it
with Virginia, who she says is mad.
want to couch all of that complexity in
felt very natural. We didn't burden our-
a conventional period drama.
selves with the pressure of their legacy.
over the past couple of years-language
"It's been very interesting, especially
Another bold choice is the sex scene
Their romance was a part of their iden-
changes very fast and they didn't have
between Virginia and Vita. When I ask
tity, which is very universal. I can't relate
any of the language we have now-but
Button what her approach was to re-
to being a literary genius, but I can re-
that didn't stop them from having the
hearsing and directing the scene, she
late to being in love:'
relationship;' says Button. The lack of
says simply, "what you see in the film!"
And how we might want to label that
a precise terminology had partly to do
Which I shall refrain from describing
love is misleading. The Bloomsbury set
with the fact that deviant sexuality was
would not have used the term "queer"
punishable by law at that time.
here.
"I really wanted young audiences and
to describe their sexualities. (Woolf
Another bold creative choice Button
LGBTQ audiences to feel like this film
does use the word but in the sense of
makes is to address Woolf's mental ill-
was for them. We don't often see our-
something odd or unpleasant, such as
ness stylistically, vegetation and birds
selves reflected in films, in period films,
"a queer sensation:') They might have
becoming hallucinations, and, in a dis-
or in history. So for one of our most
been seen as Bohemian and as deca-
tressing moment, when she is robbed
iconic writers to have had an amazing
dent, which is certainly suggested by
of her usual eloquence by what appears
lesbian relationship-regardless of her
Vita's mother, Lady Sackville-played
to be a short-circuiting of her brain, leaving her temporarily dumbstruck. What
ailed Woolf? Was it bipolar disorder, as
some have guessed?
"I made a decision when making the
film not to retrospectively diagnose her,'
says Button. "She suffered complex
and profound emotional and psychological challenges. I don't think we can
impose our language on her:'
Those challenges are indivisible from
Virginia's creative powers, and the film
portrays the way Leonard Woolf understood and managed Virginia's mental
health and helped structure her life so
that she could function professionally,
socially, and domestically.
When Vita determines to seduce Virginia, it is unknown whether she will be
a blessing or a blight on the hypersensitive writer. The film's vignettes show the
extent to which their relationship was
multifaceted:
competitive;
passion-
ate; aggravating; inspiring. Vita thinks
Virginia's character, Mrs Dalloway, is
"dazzling, evasive, infuriating, exactly
like you:'
It's a dangerous relationship. What
does Vita want: A conquest? A muse?
70 CURVE
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lu::
u
!::!::
She wants Virginia's genius, and she
wants to possess her. But the tables turn
and it is Vita who ends up as the muse, the
object of fascination, and the inspiration
for a great work of art. As Vita once wrote:
"How right [Virginia] is when she says that
love makes anyone a bore, but the excitement of life lies in 'the little moves' nearer
to people:'
And in Vita & Virginiathere are many of
these little moves-including
Virginia's
checkmate, which contains the lusty, androgynous, globe-trotting Vita between
the covers of a book, and reminds us that
there were always trailblazing queer women, even before the term applied.
Vita& Virginiaisnowplaying.
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ACTIVISM
Cantopop princess Denise Ho never
came out to her parents, but in 2012
she made a snap decision to come
out to the world. Today she's a frontline LGBTQ activist in Hong Kong,
leading the charge for democracy
and human rights.
AlexEugene
W
hen we connect on Skype for
our interview, Denise Ho looks
picture-perfect.
Sporting
a
crisp white shirt and a cropped blond
hairdo, the cantopop celebrity is warm,
bubbly, but short on time. She only has 15
minutes to spare, because another media
team will be coming to set up shortly.
She is incredibly articulate and confident-probably because she lived in Montreal, Quebec, with her family during her
teenage years.
"It was a very important period for me. I
got a lot of my values and ways of thinking
from that time;' she remembers.
It was in Montreal, around age 17, Ho
remembers, that she knew she liked girls.
And while she never had that talk with her
parents, she says she gave them "a very
long period of time to get used to the idea."
The same female friend had been visiting for years, but her parents never asked
her any questions. And with her music career taking off, "of course I had all these
songs about two girls, or two boys, I guess
they just gradually knew;' Ho smiles.
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ACTIVISM
"I think the most important thing
It was a groundbreaking moment:
is that I showed them I knew what I
Ho became the first female celebrity
was doing in my career, and I could
to come out publicly in China.
take care of myself. But of course it's
Part of her inspiration was Antho-
very controversial in Hong Kong. For
ny Wong, a fellow Chinese singer
some people it's still very difficult."
who had come out just six months
Ho says she often tells fans who
earlier, and was the first male celeb-
are having a difficult time with their
rity to do so. At this point, the pair
parents to take her advice-give
joined forces to create their nonprofit
them time, and show them what
organization, Big Love Alliance.
you're worth in every other part of
Several years on, the group has
hundreds of members, a board that
life.
"Wedon'thaveuniversal
suffrage
inHong
Kong
...andwithoutdemocracy
wecan't
reallydomuchaboutLGBTQ
rights."
But it's a battle the Chinese LGBTQ
community at large is still fighting.
With no antidiscrimination laws in
group Pink Dot, to widen their reach.
place, many people still face con-
And although Big Love Alliance be-
stant bullying and harassment. It's
gan in response to a political injus-
this wider issue that Ho dedicates
tice, Ho says currently the focus is on
community outreach and education.
most of her activism to.
Back in 2012, a recommendation
With the Communist "one country,
bill was
two systems" arrangement in place,
made to the government, but was
there's little hope of influencing poli-
immediately shut down without any
tics at this stage, she explains.
for an antidiscrimination
public consultation. Since the Chi-
"We don't have universal suffrage
nese public had no voting power, the
[full voting rights] in Hong Kong ...
motion couldn't be argued.The event
and without democracy we can't re-
changed everything for Ho.
74
includes Chinese legislators, and an
alliance with the Singapore-based
ally do much about LGBTQrights:' In
"I realized we had a legislative
fact, being open about her sexuality
system that was very rigged and fa-
and political views has had the oppo-
vorable to the government, so I was
site effect-instead
very angry. I made a quick decision to
ers, it's backfired and cost her dearly.
of inspiring oth-
come out a few days after I saw the
Since 2012, Ho has been banned
news ... and that was the beginning
from performing in mainland China,
of this whole journey:'
where previously she had performed
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ACTIVISM
to thousands of fans in sold-out
tries and different people silencing
concerts.
themselves
She's also reportedly
because they don't
get from these big countries."
But amid it all, there's a silver
been dropped from promotional
want to be on the wrong side of Chi-
lining, Ho says. "I believe a lot of
sponsors as a result of her public
na;' she says.
people have been awakened. When
views. A similar fate has befallen
"We see the way China has been
you see the government being more
her colleague Anthony Wong, who
ignoring the promises they made
and more suppressive, and ignoring
has had his music censored since
with the British government [to
all these things that are happening,
he came out in 2012.
progress toward democracy], and
people get very angry. That is why
In China, disagreeing with the
the way they have been treating
this whole young generation has
government has dire consequenc-
the Uyghurs in Xinjiang, and so on.
stood up [in recent protests], the
es, and the fear-mongering is real.
Then they are shutting people up
way people like us in older gener-
with their financial power ...
ations have stood up ...
"China has been tightening the
and
grip on Hong Kong and also using
of course they are in alliance with
its economic power to shut a lot of
other countries.
people up. They're also violating human rights;' Ho says.
"Should we conform with these
countries? I think that if you be-
And while Chinese politics may
lieve in human rights and human-
not seem like an issue that we over
ity, we have to stand up. And it's
here need to worry about, she be-
up to the people to speak up-the
lieves it's creating problems for the
governments have their hands tied
whole world. "You see whole coun-
because of the benefits they might
it hasn't
always been like that.
"I guess the way the government has been treating people has
caused a lot of awakening:'
biglovealliance.org
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CULTURETRIP
erhaps the
P
ultimate
luxury
when traveling is not having to
worry about anything once you
arrive at your destination: from bed-
ding to bathing to dining to tipping. In
all my travels I hadn't yet experienced
a property that could pull this off-until
I tried 5-star, adults only UNICO20°87°
Hotel Riviera Maya.
This is a unique all-inclusive hotel
that sets a high standard and achieves
it. The property's definition of all-inclusive (along with the usual inclusions)
means: select tours, spa treatments,
beauty salon, barbershop services and
unlimited golf for a 25% service fee.
And not only do you feel as though you
are sequestered on in sophisticated
oasis, but you also feel a connection
to the culture around you-and I don't
mean the tourist strip in Cancun. I am
referring to the beauty of indigenous
Mexican culture of the Yucatan Peninsula. It's this cultural immersion combined with state-of-the-art luxury that
makes for a perfectly easy vacation.
But first let's start with the location,
signified by the resort's title, which includes the exact latitude and longitude
of the region: 20°N 87°W.And the property has taken major steps to represent
these coordinates during your stay.
The staff are local, friendly and knowledgeable individuals. For example, at
the spa I asked for a special blend of
bath salts that might produce an effect
of calm and happiness in the bather
and the spa attendant used a blend
of aromatic oils and local herbs in my
preparation, explaining the benefits of
each ingredient.
Elsewhere on property everyone
from chefs to baristas to mixologists
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CULTURETRIP
are proud to incorporate the region's
absolute best in your experience. The
landscaping of UNICO 20°87° makes
the most of its location nestled between Mayan jungle and the oceanfront. Many trees were preserved when
designing the contemporary hacienda-style hotel and drought-proof vegetation indigenous to the Riviera Maya
adds to the soothing effect inherent in
the grand scale of the statement architecture by Artigas. Design and decor
are proudly Mexican, conceptualized
by AvroKO. If you'd like to take home
a little keepsake, high quality local art
and souvenirs are available for purchase on property.
But perhaps the most impressive
aspect of UNICO 20°87° is the suites
themselves: 448 modern-rustic guestrooms decorated with handcrafted
accent pieces and local artworks, and
boasting mostly with panoramic ocean
views. You get to choose from either a
swim up pool (ground floor suites) or
outdoor hydro spa tubs (upper floors).
I was delighted with the latter, which
was almost as large as my New York
City apartment, and I relished relaxing
in my outdoor tub and using the custom bath amenities supplied by Botanicus, a Mexican company of beauty
products that incorporates traditional
essential oils and natural extracts. And
good news for allergy sufferers: ask for
a PURE® Hypo-Allergenic room, which
undergoes an additional seven-step
purification process that reduces airborne particles and minimizes potential irritants. My suite was delightfully
fresh.
78 CURVE
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LGBTweddingsarewelcome
CULTURETRIP
Experience
UNICO
20°87°
withVACAYA
From October 27-November 2, 2019, premiere LGBTQIA travel lifestyle company
VACAYAwill take over UNICO20°87° Hotel
Riviera Maya for a week of endless adventure and festivities including a Halloween
costume party on October 31st and a Dia
de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration on November 1st. This is a week not
to miss out on and with VACAYA pulling
out all stops to include more women in
their events I asked for their thoughts on
why they chose UNICO 20°87°. It all came
down to shared values. "We wanted to
provide the LGBT+ community with the
opportunity to experience a higher level of
luxury and Mexican culture with a modern
twist;' said VACAYA'sPatrick Gunn. "As the
newest member of The Leading Hotels of
the World, UNICO 20°87° offers a level of
luxury and inclusions never before seen in
the world of all-LGBT travel:' If you're on a
budget VACAYA is offering an "Essentials
Rate" starting at just $1397-"without
a
few of the extra bells and whistles, but still
with an undeniable 5-star luxury, top shelf
drinks, and all the VACAYA parties and activities:' Other reasons VACAYAand UNICO
joined forces was their belief in unsurpassed hospitality, welcoming to all, and
giving back to local communities.
myvacaya.com/trip/mexico-resort
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CULTURETRIP
Other resorts have gigantic pools,
swim-up bars, and 24-hour room service but UNICO 20°87° has tweaked
these imaginatively to offer fresh hot
chocolate and churros as part of that
room service; and instead of traditional
butler service, your own personal Local
Host assists you with things such as
restaurant and spa reservations, laundry, pop-up programming, or a perfectly-mixed cocktail brought to your suite
in time for sunset. My Local Host was
happy to prepare my outdoor tub for
me so that when I got back from dinner
it was ready and waiting for me.
Sign up for some extra-curricular
activities such as the outdoor cooking
classes using local ingredients and
flavors, live demonstrations from musicians, artisans, and more. And if you
fancy yourself as a foodie, the dining
at UNICO 20°87° is a cut above other
all-inclusive resorts. Five unique onsite
restaurants combine the best of international cuisine with local flavors.
Cueva Siete (Cave Seven, after the
Mayan legend about the origins of the
world) showcases the hearty Mexican
flavors of the Yucatan Peninsula with
menus created by a rotation of top
chefs who tap into the soul of Mayan
Mexican tradition. Mura House serves
Asian-influenced
meals
including
excellent sushi and yakitori that can
be enjoyed family-style in a stunning
ambience. Mi Carisa serves elegant
coastal Italian-antipasti,
pasta, en-
rees and excellent woodfired pizza.
20.87 Restaurant is your venue for casual beachside dining and the superb
breakfast buffet. And Cafe Inez is the
place to pick up a fresh juice, or healthy
lunch of salad or panini. Four bars and
lounges make socializing over sommelier-selected wine and top-shelf cock-
80 CURVE
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SHOPPING
Marketplace
r---------------------------------------1
TheHighands
Inn
IN A SENTENCE:Known as "A Lesbian Paradise;' the
Highlands Inn is a 13-room women's resort on 100 private acres in New Hampshire's White Mountains.
WHAT MAKESOURSERVICESPECIAL:We have operated
continuously as a popular lesbian destination.
FIND US: highlandsinn-nh.com
WildRainbow
AfricanSafaris
IN A SENTENCE:Lesbian-owned and guided safaris that
show you the real Africa while keeping safety, comfort, and
fun top priorities.
WHAT MAKESOURSERVICESPECIAL:Owner and expert
Jody Cole has traveled to Africa more than 75 times.
FIND US: wildrainbowsafaris.com
RealEstate
IN A SENTENCE:Instant free access to the nation's top
LGBTQrealtors. No cost or obligation to be represented.
WHAT MAKESOURSERVICESPECIAL:We give back.
GayRealEstate.com provides monthly financial support to
over 20 LGBTQnon-profits nationwide.
FIND US: GayRealEstate.com
FALL
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CULTURETRIP
tails a real pleasure. Palmera Lounge
is a Prohibition-era Cuban cocktail
lounge with Latin entertainment on
Thursday and Saturday nights. The
stunning Bar Salam, off the lobby, is
the place to try a cocktail with a modern Mexican twist. ("Salam" is Mayan
for jaguar and say hello to the namesake statue). For something special to
enjoy later on drop by La Botella wine
shop; or simply cool off poolside with a
gin and tonic from Gin Time.
To truly immerse yourself in the local history and culture, sign up for a
signature excursion. Just a short ride
from UNICO is Tankah Mayan Community where you can learn about the
indigenous culture, explore the pristine
and sacred cenotes, and share a traditional Mayan lunch.
And don't forget: UNICO 20°87° Hotel Riviera Maya is LGBT-friendly,and in
addition to being booked out by LGBT
travel company VACAYA this fall (see
sidebar), it has already hosted a number of same-sex weddings. Marylen Exposito is standing by to help you plan
your dream wedding and her work has
been featured in multiple major wedding publications.
unicohotelrivieramaya.com
82 CURVE
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LIVING
TRUE
c\j}) ...
CURVE
~~~
4 timesa year
• Spring • Summer • Fall • Winter
PRINT $35
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DIGITAL $13
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See all items with this value
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LIVING
TRUE
MASTHEAD
CURVE
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LIVING
TRUE
Fall201g » volume2g number 3
Publisher Silke Bader
Founding Publisher Frances Stevens
EDITORIAL
Editor-in-Chief Merryn Johns
Senior Copy Editor Katherine Wright
Contributing Editors Victoria A. Brownworth, Lyndsey D'Arcangelo,
Janelle and Melany Joy Beck, Alex Eugene, Lisa Tedesco, Dave Steinfeld
PROOFING
Proofreader Melanie Barker
ADVERTISING
National Sales Rivendell Media (908) 232-2021
Email todd@curvemagazine.com
ART/PRODUCTION
Art Director Gavin Woodhouse
COVER
Cover Image by
IFCFilms
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
Georgie Krokus
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Victoria A. Brownworth, Anita Dolce Vita, Alex Eugene,
Dave Steinfeld, Lisa Tedesco
CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORS & PHOTOGRAPHERS
Grace Chu, Jill Greenberg, Sheryl Kay, Syd London, B. Proud,
Amanda Ramon, Erica R. Ryan, Stephanie Saias, Rachael Zimmerman
CONTACT
Curve Magazine
PO Box 1099
Darlinghurst NSW 1300, Australia
Phone (415) 871-0569
Subscription Inquiries subscriptions@curvemag.com
Advertising Email todd@curvemagazine.com
Editorial Email editor@curvemag.com
Letters to the Editor Email letters@curvemagazine.com
Volume 29 Issue 3 Curve (ISSN 1087-867X) is published 4 times per year (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter) by Avalon
Media, LLC, PO 1099 Darlinghurst NSW 1300, Australia. Subscription price: $35/year, $49 Canadian (U.S. funds
only) and $75 international (U.S. funds only). Returned checks will be assessed a $25 surcharge. Periodicals postage
paid at San Francisco, CA 94114 and at additional mailing offices (USPS 0010-355). Contents of Curve Magazine
may not be reproduced in any manner, either whole or in part, without written permission from the publisher. Publication of the name or photograph of any persons or organizations appearing, advertising or listing in Curve may
not be taken as an indication of the sexual orientation of that individual or group unless specifically stated. Curve
welcomes letters, queries, unsolicited manuscripts and artwork. Include SASE for response. Lack of any representation only signifies insufficient materials. Submissions cannot be returned unless a self-addressed stamped envelope
is included. No responsibility is assumed for loss or damages. The contents do not necessarily represent the opinions
of the editor, unless specifically stated. All magazines sent discreetly. Subscription Inquiries: Please write to Curve,
Avalon Media LLC., PO Box 1099 Darlinghurst NSW 1300, Australia, email subscriptions@curvemag.com Canadian Agreement Number: 40793029. Postmaster: Send address changes to subscriptions@curvemag.com , Curve, PO
Box 17138, N. Hollywood, CA 91615-7138. Printed in the U.S
curvemag.com
FALL
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WELCOME
Editorial
T
here are many things I love about fall:
dusting off my boots, being open to
plaid, pumpkins, and pies again, thinking
about what I can put in the oven, putting
full-bodied red wine back on the drinks menu, and
considering what might drop into my Netflix queue
now that the temperatures are dropping. Yes, it's the
season for food, fashion, and film binges. The cooler
weather ushers in a host of cool things, especially
cultural.
This issue we take a look at food and drink, fashion, film, photography, and other fun pursuits. But
we also celebrate some magnificent trailblazing females of different generations: Tegan and Sara Quin
and Edie Windsor and Judith Kasen-Windsor have
come out with memoirs that trace the remarkable
Editorin Chief
"Yes,
it'stheseason
forfood,
fashion,
andfilmbinges."
Merryn Johns
trajectories of their inspiring queer lives. If you're
looking for something to read, I can't recommend
both of these books highly enough.
Fall also brings us one season closer to the release of Ahead of the Curve, the new documentary
about Franco Stevens and the thirty-year history of
America's best-loved lesbian magazine! If you're not
supporting or following the film, get behind it now
on lnstagram at @curvemagmovie.
merryn@curvemag.com
4 CURVE
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/fl!T
OUR TEAM
Contributors
Manuel
Rodriguez Victoria
A.Brownworth
Photography
Politics
Janelle
Beck
Debbie
JeanLemonte
Music
Style
ManuelRodriguez
Manuel is a New York-based photographer and director and the creator of UNTITLED
(self-published, Blur). Born in Colombia, Rodriguez's portfolio includes portraits, still lifes, interiors, and
fashion and lifestyle photography. His directorial debut documentary, LINISH, won best documentary
at the QueerX 2019 fest. Manuel's work has been published and celebrated in Architectural Digest, Elle
Decor, Martha Stewart Living and more. manufoto.com
VictoriaA.Brownworth
Victoria is a life-long Socialist, feminist and advocacy journalist, who lives and breathes politics. She has been
nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and won the Society of Professional Journalists Award, NLGJAAward, Lambda
Literary Award and was the first out lesbian with a daily newspaper column. She's published two dozen books,
including the award-winning Ordinary Mayhem, Coming Out of Cancer and From Where They Sit. In 2010 she
founded Tiny Satchel Press,which publishes books for kids of color and LGBTQkids.
Janelle
Beck
Janelle has been writing for Curvefor over seven years, alone and with her co-writer and wife Melany
Joy Beck. When she's not working on bringing Curve readers the best and brightest LGBTQ stars, she
has worked on documentary films including Nevada Film Festival Special Jury Prize winner Bring It
2 Peter, contributed harmonies to alt-country band Delavan, and has been seen moonlighting as an
extra in the Showtime series "Shameless:' She is also obsessed with her chihuahua, Bella.
Debbie
JeanLemonte
Debbie is a NYC/NJ-based wedding, portrait, and lifestyle photographer. This journey started when
her close friend gifted her a camera, a Canon T3i. After graduating with a degree in Dance and Psychology, she focused her passion for both studies and infused it with a love for art, learning photography and building a business. Her work has been featured on NBC News, Vanity Fair,TeenVogue,The
Cut, Reflnery29, BuzzFeed, Huffington Post, DapperQ, to name a few. dagimagesnyc.com
FALL
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Content
Drinks: Simple Vodka
High quality, delicious vodka, and you
can give back to charities that help to
fight hunger in America. Now that's the
spirit!
Wedding: Shannon
& Heidi
Two wild-at-heart brides went chasing
waterfalls and got married their way, in
the heart of nature.
Style: dapperQ
New York Fashion Week's most diverse
show brimming with queer and nonconforming designers and models, courtesy
of Dapper Q.
6 CURVE
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Cover: Vita & Virginia
The literary love affair between Virginia
Woolf and Vita Sackville-West is brought
Interview: Tegan and
Sara
to life in a new lesbian biopic.
Everybody's favorite pop duo are back
Photography: Queer
Looks
with a revealing memoir and a brand
new album.
Manuel Rodriguez turns his lens on the
beauty of our community in all its colors.
and individuality.
FALL
I CURVE 7
Nothing makes your senses come alive quite like exploring the natural beauty of our world. The feel
of soft sand beneath your feet. The smell of the sea on a warm Gulf breeze. The beautiful symphony
of bird calls and nature sounds in the wilderness. Come experience it all in a place where every day
offers the opportunity for a new adventure: Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades.
Known as Florida's Paradise Coast,
the area is a must-see for anyone
with a true adventurer's spirit. The
world-famous Everglades are North
America's largest wetlands ecosystem,
and a natural visual masterpiece.
Imagine hiking, canoeing, or kayaking
through stunning waterways, river
grass, ancient trees and colorful
wildflowers. For a one-of-a-kind old
Florida experience, take an airboat
or pole boat ride and spot native
wildlife like birds, manatees, panthers,
alligators and more - many of which
can only be found in Florida. With
everything from learning centers
to guided tours, there is an adventure
for everyone in the Everglades.
For a more laid-back adventure, soak
up some sunshine on the white sand
beaches of Naples and Marco Island.
Situated on the gentle shores of the
Gulf of Mexico, the area's beaches
offer mile after mile of uncrowded
beauty. Here, there's almost no limit
what you can do: Make a splash and
swim in cool, sparkling waters. Hunt
for shells you won't find anywhere
else. Try paddle boarding or other
watersports. Or simply relax under
the palm trees in the warm Florida
sun. Whatever you do, be sure to
keep an eye out for dolphins
swimming playfully in the distance.
The beaches of Florida's Paradise
Coast are sure to deliver some truly
unforgettable moments.
The only things better than the
destination's adventures are
its amenities. Known as one of
Southwest Florida's most luxurious
(but approachable) getaways,
you'll have endless opportunities
to indulge in the finer things. Dine
at award-winning restaurants and
taste delicious straight-from-the-Gulf
seafood, seasonal stone crab, fresh
local produce, Floribbean cuisine
and international fare. Live it up at the
area's ever-growing scene of LGBTQfriendly bars, breweries and cocktail
lounges. Enjoy a round on one of our
many championship golf courses.
When it's time to call it a night, unwind
in one of the destination's beautiful
beachside resorts, boutique hotels
or charming campsites. And as a Blue
Zone Community, Florida's Paradise
Coast is dedicated to improving the
well being of residents and visitors
by encouraging healthy menu options
at restaurants, fun fitness activities
and wellness events.
Whatever your interests, whatever
your style, you're sure to feel
at home in Naples, Marco Island
and the Everglades. Craft your
unforgettable adventure on Florida's
Paradise Coast soon. Learn more
at Paradisecoast.com/LGBTO.
Just the two of you.
cation.
One unforgettable va
Love, Paradise
FLORIDA'S
PARADISE
COAST
GBTQ
Paradise Coast. com!L
WOMEN WE LOVE
Melanie
Cristal
Howa lawyer-turned-sex
educator
reimagined
thedentaldam.
Onhowsheidentifies
manufacturer that makes condoms for penis-in-vagina sex
I've been proudly bi for a really long time, though lately I'm
wouldn't make (essentially) a condom for tongue-in-vagina
thinking about whether pansexual is more accurate!
sex! It was so surprising and disappointing, but not worth
pursuing further. Other potential manufacturers just weren't
Ontheinspiration
forLorals
latexpanties
interested in new products. I needed a factory that could
I was on a vacation, and we couldn't have oral because we
make a very high-quality product. Lorals had to look silky
didn't have dental dams. It's hard to find them in stores in the
and beautiful. They needed to be incredibly stretchy and not
U.S.,much less on the coast of Mexico. She and I both want-
break, and they needed to be ultra-thin for maximum sensa-
ed to feel hot and confident, and a flappy sheet of rubber just
tion. They needed to taste great and have no remnants of a
didn't fit the bill. So...we just didn't have oral, and that was a
rubber odor. That's a tall order.
big disappointment. After the trip I went back to my lawyer
job, but I kept thinking about dental dams.
Ondeveloping
theproduct
I started having conversations with friends and so many of
them were saying no to oral sex when they wanted to be
saying yes. They were worried about STls, others said no because they felt self-conscious; because they'd been through
sexual trauma and oral sex felt too intimate; because their
partners had scratchy facial hair and oral sex physically hurt.
I realized that a better dental dam, one that people actually
wanted to use, needed to exist. So I quit my law job to reinvent the dental dam.
"Ihadagreatjob.Enough
savings
tobuyahouse.
AndI waswalking
away
fromit tomake
...oralsex
panties?"
Overcoming
obstacles
I located a great US-based manufacturer who had a lot of ex-
Ontheloneliness
ofbeingavisionary
perience making condoms. I told them the size of the product
Almost everyone in my life, to some extent, thought I was
and that it was made of latex, and they were excited about
crazy. I had a great job, financial stability, a strong relation-
the project. Then I told them that the product would be used
ship, enough savings to buy a house. And I was walking away
for cunnilingus ...and they disappeared. Their management
from it to make ...oral sex panties? On top of starting a busi-
wasn't comfortable with how the product would be used. A
ness with very little entrepreneurial experience, I was starting
FALL I CURVE 11
WOMEN WE LOVE
a business that most people couldn't
say with a straight face. Everything is
so much easier now that the product
is in the market, and I can feel the impact of it improving people's lives.
OnwhoLorals
mightfit best
Queer women tell me they've used
Lorals when they're with a brand-new
partner and don't want skin-to-skin
contact yet, or in situations (camping or after the gym) where they feel
sweaty and would otherwise say no.
Some people like to use Lorals when
they're on their period. Tons of people
use Lorals regularly for rimming. We
have poly customers who use Lorals
with secondary partners and have
skin-to-skin oral with primary partners. One transmasculine customer
told us that oral started hurting his
girlfriend after he started T and was
growing facial hair, and now Lorals
have solved the problem for them.
Lorals allow transmasculine, transfeminine, and non-binary customers
to separate thoughts of their genitals from the sensations of oral sex.
Lorals can also be used as a fun toy
to spice things up. We've also loved
hearing from sex therapists and sex
educators whose patients are using Lorals to help overcome trauma,
shame, and emotional barriers. My
overarching goal with Lorals is to celebrate oral sex and help people have
it as much as they want, in whatever
way feels best for their bodies.
mylorals.com
12 CURVE
I
FALL
PRODUCTS I BEAUTY
New
Season,
NewSkin
Summer may be over, but your
skin still needs protection.
T
he days may be shorter and
the sun may be shining less
strongly, but the environment
and the cooler temperatures
can still
damage your skin. Those harmful UV
rays are out there even in Autumn;
pollution;
digital rays from so much
time spent indoors with our screens;
and stress. Plus, a cold snap, wind, or
SoleilToujoursAfter Sun Rescue+ Repair
BrighteningSerum($98): We love spending time in the sun but we need a plan to
neutralize sun damage and ward off environmental toxins . Voila: anti-aging action to
improve skin tone, texture, and brightness.
Notable ingredients include red algae, Vitamin E, ginger root extract, Bisabolol, sodium
hyaluronate and cyperus papyrus leaf cell
extract. Silicon-free and naturally scented.
SoleilToujoursAloeAnti-OxidantCalming
Mist ($26): Aloe is well-known as after-sunburn care but it also soothes skin irritated
by windburn or any kind of elemental irritation. Soothe chafing, itchiness, peeling and
dehydration. Ideal for use after a day on the
slopes, in the ocean, or taking a run. Organic
aloe, green tea leaf extract, hyaluronic acid,
grapeseed oil and extract. Hypoallergenic,
vegan, free of gluten, parabens, and chemical and synthetic irritants.
sudden snow can dry out your skin
quickly. Here's our recommendation
for products
that can bring a little
post-summer skin protection and restoration to your valuable visage.
skinauthority.com/SkinSuit
soleiltoujours.com/
SoleilToujoursOrganicExtremeFace+
Scalp Mist SPF 50 Sport ($36): If you're
planing on getting in the water or on the ice
this fall and winter, spritz the face, hands
and scalp for 80 minutes with this product
to receive ocean or snow resistance from
this lightweight mist. Full of calming and
hydrating antioxidants including Green Tea
Extract, Red Algae, Bisabolol, Vitamins C
and E. Hypoallergenic, vegan, cruelty-free,
coral reef safe.
SkinSuit™Face ($59) and SkinSuit™Lips
($24): Created by Celeste Hilling, this
weightless product guards against UV
radiation, pollution, blue light, infrared and
induced heat caused by exercise. Hydrates
the skin and suits most skin types, color corrects to hide small imperfections and offers
mineral protection. SPF 50, reef safe, cruelty
free, free from parabens, no added dyes, no
added perfumes, no microbeeds and keeps
skin looking healthy, fit, and fabulous.
FALL
I
CURVE 13
FOOD
RubyFruitTableE
ntertaining during the festive season
tends to invoke images of poultry
and meat, so this time of year can be
challenging for vegetarians. One easy way
Add the color and flavor of
pomegranates to your Fall table.
to spruce up your dinner table in a way that
will even please omnivores, is to incorporate POM arils into your recipes and side
dishes. Here are a couple of easy ideas.
INGREDIENTS:
0
oz POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice 8 oz apple juice,
chilled
0
oz Calvados, chilled
C,
oz hard cider (3 12oz bottles)
0
red apple, thinly sliced
0
green apple, thinly sliced 1 small
orange, thinly sliced 1 cup POM
POMS Fresh Arils
Rosemary
sprigs for garnish
METHOD:
In a pitcher add juices, Calvados, and
hard cider.
Lightly stir to combine.
Add sliced fruit and POM POMS Fresh
Arils.
Keep chilled up to two days or serve
over ice with some of the fruit.
Garnish with a rosemary sprig.
14 CURVE
I
FALL
FOOD
INGREDIENTS:
G
G
cup lentils
0
0
0
0
cup water
cup POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice
teaspoon kosher salt
tablespoon olive oil
arge cloves garlic, minced l /2 cup
shallot, diced
0
0
tablespoon thyme leaves
0
0
cups kale, finely chopped
G
oz cremini or button mushrooms,
sliced
tablespoons Marsala wine 1 baguette, sliced and toasted 114 cup
pistachios, chopped
cup POM POMS Fresh Arils
METHOD:
CombinePOM Wonderful 100%Pomegranate Juice and water in medium
saucepan.Add lentils,bringto boil. Simmer until tender,about 15 - 20 minutes.
Stir in 114teaspoonsalt.
In a nonstick skillet,saute garlic in olive
oil overmediumheat.After 1 minute,add
shallots and thyme. Cook until shallots
havesoftened,about 7 minutes.
Add mushroomsand cook until they release liquid. Add the kale,cooking until
it'stender,about3 minutes.Addthe Marsala and cooked lentils,stirring to combine,and cook for another3 minutes.
-Spoonlentil mixtureonto baguetteslices and top with POM POMSFreshArils
and choppedpistachios.
FALL
I
CURVE 15
DRINKS
he state of California began
inside each bottle. Winemaker, and
life as a Republic, and its fron-
Sonoma County native Aaron Piot-
tier spirit lives on today with
ter has harnessed the untamed
proud and innovative wines. Flying
flavors of Zinfandel, the rich char-
T
their flag of independence high is
acter of Cabernet Sauvignon, and
Bear Flag Wines, a big-dreaming
the delicious complexity of careful-
label of sophisticated winemakers.
ly selected red blends to produce
Quite literally, this pioneering sensi-
three wines that make unique gifts
bility is invested in the label of the
or distinctive
bottles, which are designed using a
Thanksgiving or dinner table.
additions to your
19th Century font embossed with
real gold. And there's more treasure
16 CURVE
I
FALL
bearflagwine.com
DRINKS
BearFlagZinfandel
2016,Sonoma
County
Made from grapes sourced from the Dry Creek Valley, one of the most renowned Zinfandel growing
areas where the grapes develop bold fruit characteristics along with hints of spice and complexity
unique to the area. Structured and full-bodied with
a subtle hint of spice the dark fruit characteristics
reminiscent of blueberry pie. Notes of toasted oak
and vanilla create a velvety mouthfeel.
BearFlagEureka!
RedBlend
Batch
No.LCalifornia
This blend of bold California Reds has layers of
bold, juicy flavors: ripe plum, boysenberry jam and
creme de cassis, creating a lush sensation in the
mouth. Hints of graham cracker, milk chocolate
and candied orange zest add suprise and delight,
and means this is the wine to carry you through to
dessert. 'Smores, anyone?
BearFlagCabernet
Sauvignon,
Sonoma
County
This Cabernet Sauvignon displays unique fruit
and spice nuances and a depth and that makes
this easy-drinking but bold wine complex wine
enough to pair with just about anything on your
table, from turkey and beef to all the side dishes
including mac and cheese or a cheese plate. With
86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petite Syrah, 2%
Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot, this was our favorite
of the three.
FALL
I
CURVE 17
DRINKS
Cocktails G
ThatGive
Back
iving
back
this
Holiday
be
Simple!
relief organizations in the US, such
When entertaining
guests
as Feeding America. Now you can
who drop in for a social, it always
feel good as you sip your favorite
season
can
meal) to national and local hunger
pays to have a bottle of vodka in
cocktail, knowing that it's putting
the freezer for a quick welcome
food on the plates of the needi-
drink. But what if there was a brand
est. Simple Vodka is gluten-free,
of top-shelf
sustainably produced from Idaho
liquor that actually
helped someone less fortunate?
potatoes, and available nationwide
Simple Vodka is a philanthropic
for a recommended retail price of
brand created with the mission to
$27.
help fight hunger in America.
Simple Vodka donates 20 meals
per bottle
18 CURVE
I
FALL
produced (1 drink=l
simplevodka.co
DRINKS
SimpleVodkaSoda
SimpleRoseMartini
1 1/2 oz SimpleVodka
l / 4 oz Rosewater
1/4 oz FreshLemonJuice
1/4 oz SimpleSyrup
Ediblerosepetal
Shake all ingredients in a cocktail
shaker with ice and strain into a glass.
Garnish with edible rose petals.
FALL
I
CURVE 19
TRENDS
TheGift Slidependant
EmeraldPassionearrings
20 CURVE
I
FALL
Gifts
ofaLifetime
Elegant, high concept custom made jewelry designs.
ois Sasson has had a long and
were considered a joke in the dia-
distinguished career as a jewel-
mond trade of that time. "Some joke;'
er-from Rodeo Drive in Bever-
says Sasson now. "As we became
ly Hills to Bergdorf's in Manhattan. A
famous, they stopped laughing. We
life-long lover of design, architecture,
were making jewelry that said some-
and aesthetics-especially
thing about our art and our political
L
the time-
less elegance of Art Deco-Sasson
times. I cannot separate art from
was an Art minor and Psychology
politics. Our bracelets tell stories of
major in college and fell into the busi-
struggle, peace and love."
ness of designing elegant personal
Sasson, who later came out about
adornments where her trademark
her partner of 33 years, the singer
came to be rings, necklaces, earrings,
Lesley Gore, says that coming out is
bracelets, and cufflinks embedded
essential. "We must come out to be-
with special messages. Elegant, but
lieve in something bigger than safe
solid enough to wear on a daily basis,
and comfortable lifestyles. Everyone
Sasson was conscious of creating
has to look in the mirror and decide
"the antiques of the future:'
what it is they want to be remem-
A feminist activist since the 1970s,
bered for."
Sasson and her female partner start-
When it comes to luxury jewelry
ed a jewelry business together but
designs, Sasson wants to be remem-
Women'sWorldring
Women'sWorldbracelet;LadyLibertycufflinks,or canalsobeearrings
TRENDS
"Weweremaking
jewelry
that
saidsomething
about
ourartand
ourpolitical
times."
bered for producing gifts that matter,
al" and "Visible and Powerful" for the
expressing sentiments that fuse the
Women's Media Center, which pur-
personal and the political.
sues the mission of advancing wom-
Handcrafted in New York, these
en in media.
and
And while Sasson has attracted
semi-precious pieces not only last a
some high profile clients through pri-
solid,
symbolic,
precious
lifetime-they tell a story of a life. "My
vate commissions, she is also thrilled
pencil ring salutes the writer, the jour-
to sell to non-celebrities via her
nalist, the teller of stories;' she says.
website or through Bergdorf Good-
Other unique pieces embody wit,
man department store in New York
whimsy, and heartfelt wishes-such
City. "It's the same joy. We all want
as a gold ring made from the words
to please and smile with a satisfied,
'You Are the Owner of My Heart'
happy client;' she says.
which form a circle; or the Women's
At one time an aspiring therapist,
World ring, in which two golden fe-
the well-traveled Sasson is wise in
male figurines are conjoined, holding
matters of the heart, spirit, and mind.
aloft a gemstone world; or the Magni-
She knows all the provenances and
fy My Love ring in which a fractional
properties of gemstones and pre-
carat ruby or diamond is topped by a
cious metals. So should you be in the
tiny magnifying glass! A favorite mo-
market for a custom piece with spe-
tif of Sasson's is the Statue of Liberty,
cial powers, she's the jeweler in the
and the face of Lady Liberty features
know-and quite literally possess a
on cufflinks and lapel pins.
heart of gold.
She also creates pieces for organizations that promote equality and
positivity for women. For example,
she has designed bracelets that spell
ldsass.com
out the mantras "Sisterhood is Glob-
FALL
I
CURVE 23
LIVES
AWildandPrecious
Life
Judith Kasen-Windsor has ensured that
Edie Windsor's legacy was left to us
in a posthumous memoir.
VictoriaA. Brownworth
A
n attractive, vibrant blonde still in
Of their marriage, Judith says, "When I
her 50s, Judith Kasen-Windsor is a
come home, it's difficult. She was so full of
grieving widow nonetheless, mourn-
love. We squeezed ten years into two:'
ing one of the most important lesbian figures
An activist in her own right, Judith has
in LGBTQhistory, her late wife, Edie Windsor.
devoted the time since Edie died to defining
Edie Windsor was the lead plaintiff in the
her wife's legacy. It's a prodigious and nev-
2013 U.S. Supreme Court case United States
er-ending task, yet one that Judith is deeply
v. Windsor,which overturned Section 3 of the
invested in because of its crucial importance
Defense of Marriage Act, leading to the legal-
to LGBTQ history. "She did so much;' Judith
ization of same-sex marriage in 201 5.
says. "There are so many stories to tell:'
"Widow" seems a word out of another era.
For over a year Judith has spent many of
Yet when Curvesat down to talk with Judith
her days working with Josh Lyon, the writer
about Edie's memoir, which Judith has shep-
who helped complete Edie's memoir, A Wild
herded to completion, we were reminded of
and PreciousLife (St. Martin's Press), which
all that the word means, including the fact
was left unfinished when she died. The
that, in a previous time it was considered a
source material has been taken from over 80
title. Widows have a place of honor in society,
hours of Edie's own audio tapes as well as
left as they are to carry on living their own
interviews with dozens of people who knew
lives while preserving the memory of a part-
her and her work. Judith has also traveled
ner who has died.
the country to speak about Edie, appearing
Judith Kasen-Windsor is doing just that-
on panels and officiating at ceremonies and
carrying on without the love of her life, while
events where Edie Windsor's name has been
keeping Edie's
enshrined in memoriam.
memory vividly alive. She was, Judith says,
Judith is putting Edie's name up across
"the best thing that ever happened to me:' In
the country. On awards. On buildings. There
photographs of the couple, Edie looks at Ju-
is now an office with Edie's name on it at the
dith with love and tenderness. They look hap-
Hetrick Martin Institute, the country's largest
py. "I love talking about her,'Judith says.
LGBTQyouth services organization. There is
FALL
I
CURVE 25
LIVES
a coffee shop at the New York City LGBTQ
just a beginning to Judith. "I don't have low
center named for Edie and her first wife,
expectations about this book-I have the
Thea Spyer. There's the Edie Windsor Cen-
highest expectations;' she explains. "I want
ter at the Southampton Hospital. Judith
it to be a No. 1 best seller. I think it will be
got the center named for Edie and got the
great for women, great for the Jewish com-
services at Southampton expanded to in-
munity, great for older LGBTQpeople, great
clude care for people with HIV/AIDS.
for everyone. It's such a good story:' She
Judith makes a point of noting how important the issues of HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ
youth and trans people were to Edie, and
how important they are to her. She says
she's not just there to write the checks, but
to ascertain where Edie's name belongs.
Judith reveals that she keeps alive the
flame for Thea Spyer as well, recognizing
Thea's role in Edie's life and history. She explains this as if anyone would do it, but it
seems remarkable in its selflessness.
Yet at the end of these days filled with
a TV series. It's easy to imagine both. It's
when Judith returns home alone the famil-
easy to envision Judith making it happen.
iar sense of loss sets in. And she is remind-
When it comes to Edie,Judith is driven.
Judith says, quite simply, emotion well-
0
.,,
C
'i
c.,,
hard:'
about a woman whose life spanned near-
Judith speaks quickly and animatedly, in
ly a century and who, as she traversed so
much the same way that her late wife did.
many decades, created change as she
She has a lot to say and she talks in a rush,
went. Judith tells a story of how, when the
as if she might forget some vital detail if
couple went to see the film HiddenFigures,
she doesn't get the words out as fast as
Edie jumped up in the theater and gave a
possible. It's a disarming quality, as is the
mini-lecture on the subject from her own
way her voice lilts and lifts when she talks
vantage point, having been one of the first
about Edie.
women computer engineers and program-
Judith is excited about the memoir,
mers at IBM. She had top-level clearance,
which Edie spent the last year of her life
worked with physicists and with UNIVAC,
working on.
the world's first commercially produced
~
"This book is happy and positive;' Judith
says. "This book-there is so much bad in
::s
and engaging.
It's a page-turner full of history, a vivid read
:;;
"")
A WildandPreciousLife is, as Judith says,
a good story-compelling
ing in her voice, "Well, I loved her, so it's
<ii
=
also wants the story to be a film, and even
activism and history, days filled with Edie,
ed again that she is a widow.
"Cl
''There
issomuchbadinthe
world.Thisbookis a rayof
sunshine.Ediewasa rayof
sunshine."
the world, in our world under Trump-this
is a ray of sunshine. Edie was a ray of sun-
computer. She worked with the Atomic Energy Commission.
"We have all the documents from IBM;'
Judith says. "NYU [New York University]
has all her papers, and you can see, right
shine:'
Judith wants everyone to read Edie's
there in red ink, 'request denied; where she
memoir. "Did you like it?" she wants to
tried to put Thea's name down as her bene-
know. 'Tell me what you think:' She laughs
ficiary on her life insurance:'
a little. "I don't come in till near the end:'
Completing the memoir of this woman
she describes as "charming and tough" is
26
CURVE
I
FALL
Thea Spyer and Edie were partnered for
44 years, until Thea's death in 2009.
How Judith and Edie got together is a
LIVES
charming love story. "I chased that wom-
ways coming up to the couple on the
an for five to six years;' Judith laughs. "I
street. "People would cry and break into
had to wear her down. It took a long time.
tears and tell her how much what she did
And then from our first date, we were to-
meant to them, for them;' she says.
gether:' Judith was, she says, in love with
and so publicly to change the lives of mil-
Edie from the start.
But Edie was "very sad, very lonely, like
any movie star-surrounded
But the woman who fought so hard
by people
but on her own. I get it now. I come home
alone. I can really relate, now-all this notoriety, but it's still just you, by yourself'
lions of lesbians and gay men carried the
weight of her past with her-a past filled
with homophobic reprisals.
Judith says, "We would be walking
down the street holding hands, and we'd
Judith's glad she was able to give Edie
see people coming toward us, and she
a second chance at love. "I told her, if
would slowly let go of my hand. She car-
anyone has the right to get married, it's
ried that fear her entire life:'
you:' Judith said she was glad Edie could
She continues, "Edie and Thea never
"benefit from the right to marry, from all
walked down the street holding hands. I'd
she fought tor:'
come home and go to kiss her and if the
There are stories that are heartbreak-
shades were open-she'd put the shades
ing, too. Judith says Edie was recognized
down. She was literally frightened of me
wherever they went, so people were al-
kissing her in front of the open window:'
FALL
I
CURVE 27
LIVES
Of all she hopes to accomplish in
Edie's memory, Judith is most fierce
New York CitY: Her name is Edie Wind-
about Edie Windsor getting her due as
sor and she changed history. She's not
a historic figure. "Do I maintain Edie's
just some lady from New York CitY:'
a vengeance. I'm
A year later at a different event Grif-
not sure what would've happened if
fin came up to Judith and apologized,
legacy? Yes-with
28 CURVE
I
FALL
you ever call my wife 'a lesbian from
I hadn't been here to make sure her
saying he now understood why she
name is known;' Judith says.
was so adamant about naming Edie.
Edie had wanted her papers to stay
Judith says, "I will go anywhere and
in New York, even though the Smithso-
do anything [to promote Edie's memo-
nian wanted them. But Judith had to
ry]. There is nothing I wouldn't do for
fight to be sure that NYU would share
her!'
access with the LGBTQ center. The
And that includes maintaining Thea
university finally acquiesced to her
Spyer's legacy, as well as Edie's. Ju-
demand.
dith has made sure that there have
Judith details how at a Human
been namings for Thea, a renowned
Rights Campaign (HRC) gala after
psychologist, as well. "She was the
Edie's death, HRC President Chad Grif-
go-to therapist for the whole gay com-
fin spoke about the historic nature of
munity,' Judith says. "It should be rec-
the same-sex marriage decisions, but
ognized. I am just protective of them
referred obliquely to "a lesbian from
both. I want to honor them both!'
New York City,' who made it all hap-
Her love for Edie runs that deep. Ju-
pen. Judith was livid. She confronted
dith says, "I came home one day and
Griffin: "I grabbed him by the tie-well,
Edie had removed some of the photos
not literally-and got in his face and
of Thea-to make me feel better-and
said, 'You have to say her name. Don't
I said, 'You were with her for 44 years.
LIVES
Judith
wantspeople
toknowthat
Ediewasafighter
totheendof
herlife.Andthatshewasfunny.
How could I not love her as much as I
love you?'"
Judith wants people to know that Edie
ER
Dlt.l..&
UY-
1n11
--..~Cl!NTER
Ttlli~&AT,~I
was dedicated and meticulous, that she
was tireless, that she was a fighter to the
end of her life, and that she was funny.
"She was really, really funnY:'
As former Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton, who spoke at the memorial for
Edie Windsor, said in her eulogy, "She refused to give up on the promise of America ... We really owe it to her, to ensure
that gay rights are human rights and
human rights are gay rights, now and forever... She pushed us all to be better, to
stand taller, to dream bigger:'
Edie's widow, Judith, the keeper of her
flame, says, "She is the rainbow in our
clouds:'
FALL
I
CURVE 29
WEDDING
Shannon
&Heidi
Adventure and play form the
heart of a wedding in the midst
of nature.
Photographs
byKylePfenning
W
hen Shannon Enete, a former
paramedic, and currently an
adventure lifestyle author
decided to get married, it was, well-an
adventure!
"Nature doesn't judge, it accepts
us as we are;' says Enete who found
solace in the great, global outdoors
when her family wouldn't accept her
as she is. Naturally, Enete's wedding
ceremony took place in the very heart
of Oregon's natural wilderness, also
fitting for someone who had traveled
the world for seven years writing adventure travel guides.
Now the founder of Adventure
Guru, Enete can be spotted filming
and exploring the world's best natural
assets with a contagious, child-like exuberance. If you see a blonde running
around with a GoPro and a huge grin
please stop her and say hi. "It's important to never stop playing, no matter
your age;' says Enete, 38, who married
her girlfriend Heidi McGivney, 34, at
Sahalie Falls, Ore. in May of his year.
"This is our favorite waterfall, our
fairytale land;' says Enete. "We knew
of a spot that was not super-easy to
access due to the high water level and
30
CURVE
I
FALL
WEDDING
E
0
u
>..c
Cl..
ca
ci
.s
0
..c
Cl..
C'I
·=
C
C
's.
32 CURVE
I
FALL
WEDDING
thought it would make the perfect
universe conspired to help me
wedding since we wanted nature
find you. Every day with you is the
and our closest five people to
best day. Your smile charges my
share in our magical moment."
The couple set up cameras,
heart with love. I promise to show
you every day that I know exactly
cocktails (for post-ceremony
how lucky I am to have you in my
toast), and a cheese board. Enete
life."
had decorated the magical setting
with a vintage white runner, rose
They promised to build their
dream life together.
''Don't
worryabout
what
everyone
elsethinksyour
wedding
should
belike."
petals, and a sheer drape to
The honeymoon was six days in
center the ceremony around. They
Puerto Vallarta for sun, rest, and
wrote their own vows and their
recharge-and to bask in their love
best friend acted as officiant. Af-
for each other.
ter the ceremony they enjoyed the
"Don't over complicate it;' is
surrounding scenery of the private
Enete's advice to lovestruck
waterfall to the left, and a tranquil
couples looking to wed. "Decide
creek wrapped with massive ce-
what you love and how you can
dars to their right. "We were on an
integrate that into your ceremony.
idyllic is-land of sorts. After the
What matters to you both? If what
bottle of double oaked Woodford
matters costs more than a down
Reserve was empty it was time to
payment on a house, take a good
go;' laughs Enete.
look at why that matters to you-
Shannon's words to Heidi: "I'm
the underlying reason-and
see
so grateful that my dreams didn't
if you can recreate that in a more
come true because you are so
simple way. Simpler is always
much better than anything I've
better in my book. Don't worry
dreamt up. You are my perfect
about what everyone else thinks
person in every way. You've taught
your wedding should be like. Love,
me to dream bigger, and your
passion, and authenticity are
love and patience have been my
great cornerstones to build your
teachers. You're generous with
wedding and new life together on."
your time, your skills, your money,
and your love. I wouldn't change a
adventure-guru.org
damn thing about you, I'm all in."
Heidi's words to Shannon: "I'm
much more me when I'm with
you. I love you because the entire
FALL
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CURVE 33
IN THE CROSSFIRE
Women
Are
intheMajority
I want a woman president.
So where is our president?
VictoriaA. Brownworth
Unequivocally, I want a woman
leading the United States. I have
gone my entire life without being
I
FALL
she had the most progressive platform in American history.
Hillary's platform is still available
represented in the White House-as
online, and I read it over periodically
did my mother, a Civil Rights work-
as I report on the 2020 primary be-
er, and her mother, a suffragist who
cause I want the women running for
chained herself to the White House
president now to surpass Hillary's
fence as a teenager.
political acumen and expand on her
I wanted that woman president to
34 CURVE
even further to the left, but as it was,
plans for the nation's future.
be Hillary Clinton in 2016 because
In addition to a platform filled
she'd been working for progressive
with policy that centered on women,
causes-and for women-since she
Hillary had also promised to give us
was an undergraduate at Welles-
an administration that looked more
ley College. With decades of public
like America than any other admin-
service on her resume, she was a
istration ever had. Her staff had al-
smart, hard-working, seasoned pol-
ways been half women and 40 per-
itician. I would have liked her to be
cent people of color. For decades,
IN THE CROSSFIRE
>
0
01
(1)
"'
C
~
~
~
..
..
.
..
.
..
..
.
..
.
.
..
..
..
.
..
Hillary's top aides had all been women of color. Her cabinet would have
been representative of America for
the first time in history. She was the
first candidate to have an out gay
campaign manager.
But we didn't get Hillary Clinton's
presidency and the game-changer it
would have been. Instead, we have
the most misogynist presidency of
our collective lifetimes, led by an
accused rapist. That presidency is
also virulently anti-LGBTQ.
Throughout 2019 alone, I have
written
dozens of news stories
about the Trump administration's
attacks on women and LGBTQpeople. It has been, frankly, harrowing .
Harrowing because it is a new
normal that just keeps building on
itself.
Many of those news stories have
been about the relentless rollback
of civil rights that were gained over
long and incremental battles yet
were overturned overnight by President Trump and his Justice Department, Education Department, and
Health and Human Services Department.
In August, the Trump administration filed amicus briefs to the U.S.
Supreme Court (SCOTUS) in three
antidiscrimination
cases brought
by gay men, lesbians, and a trans
woman. Those briefs, if considered,
could set LGBTQ civil rights back
decades. The Trump Department
of Justice (DOJ) is demanding that
the SCOTUS dismiss any lawsuits
brought on the basis of Title VI I
of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. (The
Obama administration
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had previ-
CURVE 35
IN THE CROSSFIRE
ously expanded Title VII to include
protections for sexual orientation
and gender identity.)
The same week Trump ordered
that action by the DOJ, he also
moved to broaden religious freedom
laws to allow federal contractors
to discriminate against LGBTQemployees-a move that could impact
420,000 workers. The new rule proposed in the Federal Register by
the DOJ would allow any federal
contractor to deny employment to
and/or fire any employee who was
LGBTQ,in deference to the contrac>
tor's religious beliefs. Earlier in the
0
~
spring Trump had already expand-
ro
C
Q.)
(/)
ed religious freedom laws under
(/)
·c:::
ro
..c
Health and Human Services (HHS)
to include medical providers who
choose not to treat LGBTQpeople.
Not since President Dwight D. Eisenhower's Executive Order 10450,
which led to a witch hunt that saw
scores of lesbians and gay men
investigated by the federal government and prompted the McCarthy
hearings, have there been such terrorizing orders against LGBTQ people from a president.
Trump's attack on LGBTQpeople
is so extreme that it's expanded to
sheer pettiness. In June, Trump
disallowed any American embassy
from flying the rainbow flag in honor
of Pride month, despite its being the
50th anniversary of the Stonewall
Rebellion, where the modern queer
civil rights movement began.
Concomitant with these recent
actions by Trump and his administration, the Accelerating Acceptance Index found in June that
36 CURVE
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IN THE CROSSFIRE
Trump is making Americans less
new and present danger for LGBTQ
tolerant of LGBTQ people. Accord-
people.
ing to the study, 39 percent would
find it unsettling that
their child
Yet despite all of these studies
and statistics and acts by the presi-
was learning about LGBTQhistory in
dent and his administration, despite
school, compared to just 30 percent
the fact that the first openly gay
in 2018. And finding out that their
candidate, Pete Buttigieg, has been
doctor was LGBTQmade 34 percent
polling in the top five throughout the
uncomfortable, up from 27 percent
Democratic race, the primary has
been virtually devoid of attention
to either women's issues or LGBTQ
"Ihavegonemyentirelife
withoutbeingrepresented
intheWhiteHouse."
issues.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
raised both issues in the first two
debates, but she withdrew from
the race before the September debates when she failed to qualify
in the polls. Gillibrand's campaign
was driven by issues that centered
on women, issues like family leave,
closing the pay gap, and abortion
in 2018.
Most surprising is that the least
rights. She also had the best LGBTQ
tolerant segment of the population
rights platform of any candidate,
is millennials-people
and has been a strong LGBTQ ally
35 and un-
der. These findings dovetail uncom-
since before it was trendy for politi-
fortably with FBI reports that hate
cians.
crimes against LGBTQpeople are up
Most of the remaining Democratic contenders-only
exponentially in just the past year.
10 qualified for
The news gets worse: A study
the September debates, including
from The Trevor Project found that
three of the remaining five women
LGBTQ suicides are on the rise,
in the race-support
while a different study from Brown
and issues. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-
LGBTQ rights
University found that although self-
CA) was marrying lesbian and gay
harm is down among heterosexual
couples in San Francisco in 2004,
teens and young adults, it is on the
when Mayor (now Governor) Gavin
Newsom declared same-sex mar-
rise among LGBTQpeople.
The profound effect Trump and
his anti-LGBTQ administration
is
having on queer and trans people
is endemic. The only way to stop
riage legal after it was legalized in
Massachusetts.
Harris regularly tweets
about
LGBTQ issues, and it was she who
Trump is by voting him out-and the
raised the issue of gay civil rights
November 2020 election feels very
during
far away when every day brings a
hearings for Brett Kavanaugh. Har-
the
Senate confirmation
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CURVE 37
IN THE CROSSFIRE
ris asked the prospective Supreme
be representing the views of the
any other actions Trump has taken
Court justice if he viewed Obergefell
people, not a small number of ho-
against queer and trans people in
v. Hodges as a landmark civil rights
mosexual extremists."
either debate.
case. Kavanaugh refused to an-
Gabbard also voted against help
Spiritual guru Marianne William-
swer-which in itself was an answer.
for LGBTQ teens, claiming none
son was a friend to people with HIV/
But Harris's attention to LGBTQ
were being bullied in the schools.
Al DS back when it was a rarity for
and women's issues-like the crisis
She objected to teaching students
straight people. She founded Proj-
in black maternal healthcare-has
that homosexuality is "normal and
ect Angel Food in 1989 to deliver
barely been mentioned in the de-
natural" and said a pro-gay resolu-
food and provide other services, like
bates. Nor has Sen. Elizabeth War-
tion would be "inviting homosexu-
hospice care, to those with terminal
ren's (D-MA) longtime advocacy for
al-advocacy organizations into our
illnesses. Most of those the organi-
LGBTQ people, and her attention to
schools to promote their agenda to
zation served were suffering from
women-centered
our vulnerable youth."
legislation.
Like
benefit to people with HIV/AIDS, Wil-
claimed to have changed her stance
liamson also has a history of telling
word of it has been mentioned in the
on LGBTQ rights. But she has re-
AIDS patients that "sickness is an
debates. And Sen. Amy Klobuchar
fused to meet with the Hawaiian
illusion."
(D-MN) has made few inroads in the
LGBT Caucus. Yet, like nearly every
Will any of these women be able
debates on either women's issues or
Democrat in the House, Gabbard is a
to break the choke hold that men
those that involve the LGBTQ com-
member of the Congressional LGBT
have on the presidency? It's cer-
munity.
Equality Caucus and supports the
tainly possible. Warren has the sec-
Equality Act.
ond-largest amount of money raised
platform on LGBTQ rights. Not one
The remaining two women in
In
Congress,
Gabbard
HIV/AIDS. But while this was a huge
has
Harris, Warren has a comprehensive
the Democratic race are highly
During the first debate, Gabbard
and has steadily risen in the polls to
controversial candidates. Rep. Tul-
claimed she was "very young" when
be in a dead heat with Joe Biden and
si Gabbard (D-HI) has a long and
deeply troubling history of virulent
anti-LGBTQ activism, and one of
the only questions about LGBTQissues came in the first debate when
she was asked about that history.
While she was a state senator, Gabbard was staunchly anti-gay. Her
father led a statewide fight against
'Theremaining
twowomen
intheDemocratic
raceare
highlycontroversial."
same-sex marriage through his orshe was an anti-gay activist, imply-
Bernie Sanders, both of whom have
Marriage, which also supports con-
ing she was a minor. No one contra-
run before and have 100 percent
version therapy.
dicted her narrative, or even stated
name recognition, as well as an es-
Gabbard was an activist in her fa-
that she was already a state legis-
tablished voting base.
ther's campaign, which succeeded
lator when she held these views
Harris has had a more complex
ganization, Alliance for Traditional
in passing a constitutional amend-
and voted on them, actively harm-
time in the primary, rising and fall-
ment banning same-sex marriage in
ing LGBTQ people. Gabbard is run-
ing and plateauing in the polls; as a
Hawaii. As a member of the Hawaii
ning on her record as a soldier, but
black woman, she has faced more
House of Representatives, Gabbard
has never mentioned Trump's ban
scrutiny for her role as a former
declared, "As Democrats we should
on trans people in the military, or
prosecutor than have others in the
38 CURVE
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IN THE CROSSFIRE
race. Nevertheless, she has remained a
steady fourth behind Biden, Sanders, and
Warren, and has an undeniable charisma
on the campaign trail.
The centrist Klobuchar, who holds the
Senate record for most legislation passed,
has been well received on the campaign
trail, but has failed to break out in the debates or rise past the low, second-tier position she shares with Buttigieg, Sen. Cory
Booker (O-NV),and former Texas representative Beto O'Rourke.
Representation matters. When Hillary
Clinton ran for president, she refused to
ignore women and the LGBTQ community, despite mainstream media claims that
she was running on "identity politics."
Harris has used that term and refuted it in
her campaign speeches. She's said, 'The
phrase 'identity politics' is often used to
either marginalize the topic of discussion
or to shut people up. Not anymore. Where
America stands on these issues is about
America's identity."
I want a woman president. I want a
president who knows that my identity as
a woman should never be marginalized
because she shares that identity, a woman who not only respects my identity as a
lesbian but will fight for my civil rights. As
the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment looms in August 2020, I hope that a
woman can win the nomination, win the
general election, and set this country back
on a course toward equality and justice for
all-especially
for those of us who have
been denied equality and justice throughout American history.
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WELLNESS
LGBTO Writers
and Artists
Health
011 Mental
~nd wellness
, .• .,s1Pphanic• srhroNlt-1·
rPrPsa theophano
TheLast 11
Queer
Taboo
we
are the experts in
our own illness, well-
tailed her harrowing experience with
ness, and care."
she faced in navigating the mental
sums up the
health system as a lesbian. Now
theme behind Stephanie Schroed-
she and co-editor Teresa Theopha-
That statement
A new book addresses the
shame and stigma around
LGBTQ mental illness
VictoriaA. Brownworth
er's brilliant new anthology, Head-
no, a licensed clinical social worker
case: LGBTQ Writers and Artists on
at SAGE(Services and Advocacy for
Mental Health and Wellness (Ox-
GLBT Elders), have combined their
ford University Press). The book
personal experiences to create this
combines
compelling and at times highly un-
first-person
accounts
from LGBTQ people with histori-
settling look at how different it is
cal and clinical data to provide a
to be dealing with mental illness in
much-needed overview of the range
a system designed to treat LGBTQ
of issues facing LGBTQpeople with
people as already suspect because
mental illness in America. With the
of their sexual orientation and/or
Trump administration
gender identity.
demonizing
both LGBTQand mentally ill people,
Theophano comes to the work
this showcase of personal essays,
from a different but equally essen-
poetry, fiction, visual art could not
tial perspective. At SAGE,she helps
come at a more crucial time.
oversee the provision of case man-
Schroeder's earlier memoir, Beautiful Wreck: Sex, Lies & Suicide, de-
40 CURVE
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bipolar disorder and the difficulties
agement services to older LGBTQ
adults and their family caregivers.
WELLNESS
"...herharrowing
experience
withbipolar
disorder
andthe
difficulties
shefacednavigating
thementalhealthsystem"
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CURVE 41
WELLNESS
She also has a small client caseload
opportunity to address the breadth
and facilitates support groups. So
of the LGBTQexperience within the
Theophano is immersed in the sys-
mental health system. Schroeder
tem from a range of vantage points.
has been part of a veritable under-
It's a lot-but the breadth of her work
ground railroad, whose mission is
has given her a unique perspective.
to help other LGBTQ people with
"As a social worker, a peer-
mental illness. Her essay in Head-
someone living with and receiving
case details the impact of being
treatment for a mental health condi-
denied access to medications, an
"...a panoply
of literaryandartistic
approaches
to LGBTQ
mentalhealthl
mental
illness,
andmentalwellness."
tion-and a queer writer/editor;' The-
issue that so many queer and trans
ophano told Curve,"I wanted to bring
people face because the mental
this book into existence because
health system is often inaccessible
there are so few explorations in the
to them. Also inaccessible: pricey
literature of what it means to be out
meds for other various illnesses.
as a queer and/or trans peer." The-
Schroeder talks excitedly about
ophano said she thinks it's crucial
the book as she details how "Head-
that LGBTQpeople have peers treat
case evolved into a collection that
them, because the history of how
is groundbreaking in scope. It in-
queer and trans people have been
cludes a panoply of literary and ar-
treated by the mental health system
tistic approaches to LGBTQ mental
is so overwhelmingly negative.
She explained, "Our anthology
also examines stigma and shame
around both LGBTQ identities and
health, mental illness, and mental
wellness."
She
adds,
"Contributors
cut
across class, race, ethnicity, gender,
living with mental health condi-
and age. The book is full of insight-
tions. We wanted to share a written
ful writing and artwork by 'patients'
account of what it means to move
and 'providers' alike, but without as-
through the world with these inter-
cribing more authority to one group
secting identities."
than the other:'
For Schroeder, the project was an
42 CURVE
I
FALL
Theophano illustrates why it was
WELLNESS
paramount to give voice to LGBTQ
she says, "I knew I had stumbled
people in Headcase. "Many very
upon a kindred spirit. I didn't know
regressive and very loudmouthed
how easy the collaboration with her
individuals and some institutions
would end up being, or how close
still equate homo- and bisexuality
our friendship would become."
and transgender identity with men-
She adds, "I feel lucky that some-
tal illness;' Theophano says. "Head-
one whose writing resonates this
case includes stories of how this
deeply with me is also such a savvy
wrongheaded assumption
editor and publicist, as well as a tru-
affects
our lives, and also touches on how it
shows up in the DSM [Diagnostic and
ly kind soul."
Schroeder and Theophano are
planning another project togeth-
Statistical Manuan,''
Theophano
er but, Schroeder says, "the time
worked on the book for several years
frame is up in the air." For now, they
and the result is more than 300 pag-
are working to get Headcase into as
es of writing from a wildly divergent
many hands and classrooms and
group of contributors. Some of the
libraries as possible. Library Jour-
art will challenge readers to rethink
nal gave the book a starred review,
Schroeder
and
how they view "invisible" illness; it
noting in part, "The editors intend to
illustrates the ways in which people
start a conversation among LGBTQ
suffering from mental illness often
people and the therapy community
feel erased and threatened as a con-
about topics that are usually hidden
sequence.
or ignored ... They succeed admira-
For Schroeder, the journey with
bly!' Theophano sums up what she
the book was deeply personal. She
and Schroeder want to do for queer
spoke about how working with
and trans people with mental illness,
Theophano "was both overwhelm-
saying, "Many of us are not safe, es-
ing and amazing. To share such a
pecially in the current political envi-
great responsibility as bringing our
ronment, and we hope to foster bet-
voices-38
ter understanding of what queer and
published pieces-into
print with someone who, in the beginning, I didn't know well, was very
humbling;' adding, "Collaborating on
trans peers face."
Schroeder is succinct: "We rarely
find personal accounts from LGBTQ
the writing is something I had never
folks with mental health concerns.
done before, but it all went surpris-
Amplifying our voices on these top-
ingly smoothly, we agreed on every-
ics is imperative."
thing, and our friendship flourished."
A project as massive as the one
Theophano envisioned made her
realize that she couldn't do it alone.
After she read Schroeder's memoir,
FALL
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STYLE
44
CURVE
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STYLE
Hot
Pursuit
Dapper Q's 6th annual queer
New York Fashion Week show
featured an unprecedented lineup of gender nonconforming
designers and models.
Photographs
byDebbieJeanLemonte
0
n Thursday, September 5, the
opening day of New York Fashion Week, digital queer style
magazine dapperQ provided an alternative to the traditional binary men's/
women's shows with a queer fashion
show featuring 10 designers, 70+ models at Brooklyn Museum. The show,
titled Pursuit, drew over 2000 in attendance-the
largest New York Fashion
Week (NYFW) runway event showcasing queer style. High profile models
joined the lineup including Zach Barack
(Marvel's first openly transgender actor), Jason A. Rodriguez (Lemar Wintour on Pose),and Alysse Dalessandro
(body activist) to name a few.
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STYLE
"ThelargestNewYorkFashion
Weekrunwayevent
showcasing
queerstyle.''
46
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STYLE
48
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STYLE
The stage was one of the most diverse
NYFW runways ever. "We meticulously selected our designers to reflect the diversity
of fashion that we have evolved to celebrate,
moving beyond masculinity as the most
prominent way of expressing queerness
through fashion to celebrating the range of
feminine to masculine and everything in between and outside of that represents our rich
communities;' dapperQ owner Anita Dolce
Vita told Curve. Regular Pose cast member
B. Hawk Snipes kicked off the evening's festivities as the show's official host, and queer
fashion celebrities such as Hester Sunshine
of ProjectRunway,Season 17 sat front row.
Pursuit's theme mirrored the Museum's
PierreCardin:Pursuit of the Future exhibit as
part of the Museum's year-long Stonewall
installation.
"We were extremely honored to work with
Brooklyn Museum for the sixth consecutive
year to create a platform that celebrates
queer bodies and queer style. LGBTQ and
POC communities have a rich legacy of being creative visionaries in beauty and fashion, but our ideas are often co-opted without
any credit or visibility. Pursuit is for us and by
us, bringing our talents, bodies, innovations,
and voices to the forefront under one roof in
Brooklyn Museum's 10,000 square foot, artfully designed Beaux Arts Court:'
The all-queer dapperQ production team
also noted that their annual NYFW show,
which was sponsored by gender-neutral
underwear label TomboyX-while
helping
to set a new industry standard for diversity,
inclusion, and fashion as activism-is
part
of a longer history of queer fashion in New
York extending back to 1980s ball culture.
This year's featured designers were: Cilium, Claire Fleury, Devon Yan, HALZ, Landeros New York, Shane Ave, Sharpe Suiting
x Goorin Bros., Stuzo Clothing, Travis Oestreich, and TomboyX.
dapperq.com
so CURVE I
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PHOTOGRAPHY
Queer
Looks
A portrait series presents the
spectrum of notable individuals
in our community.
ward-winning
A
visual
artist
Manuel Rodriguez has part-
nered
with
self-publishing
house Blurb.com to launch UNTITLED,
a book of queer portraits showcasing a photographic trajectory of the
LGBTQcollective today. The book was
released in time for Pride 2019, 50
years since Stonewall, and celebrates
what it means to be queer half a century later. The portraits are studies in
identity while capturing the nuanced
self-expression of select LGBTQ individuals. Rodriguez says, "While the
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PHOTOGRAPHY
54 CURVE
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PHOTOGRAPHY
book by no means covers the wide
spectrum and diversity of our entire
queer community, we are proud to feature individuals from all walks of lifeyoung, old, genderfluid, non-binary,
drag queens, activists, trans, etc.,-who
are embracing our expanded queer narrative and all that we represent now:'
Notable lesbian, queer or bi women
featured in the portrait series include
New York City music producer Barb
Morrison, NYC artist Francesca Galliani, photographer Allison
Michael
Orenstein, Colombian film and TV producer Veronica Vargas, and many more
prominent LGBTQfigures, from DJS to
activists, who have transformed their
personal journeys into living projects
that intersect with and validate our
community.
thephluidproject.com
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INTERVIEW
HighSchoolT
Reunion
How Tegan and Sara visited
the past and found their way
to a bright creative future.
JanelleBeckandMelanyJoyBeck
egan and Sara Quin, the Ca-
a nostalgic trip down memory lane,
nadian twins who have been
chronicling the relatable ups and
audiences world-
downs of being teens in the '90s;
wide for 20 years (and nine studio al-
the conflicted yet codependent rela-
bums), have never stopped evolving.
tionship Tegan and Sara had before
charming
After the career-changing success
becoming Tegan and Sara; and their
of their fifth album, The Con, and a
first steps toward becoming the icon-
two-record visit to the world of elec-
ic duo they are today. Written from al-
tro-pop, Love You to Death and Heart-
ternating perspectives, the memoir is
throb, the sisters Quin managed to
akin in tone to the compelling onstage
mine the past for a treasure trove of
banter they have become known for.
content that resulted in not only their
Relatable, self-deprecating, and with
first memoir, High School,but the stu-
a self-awareness that's beyond the
dio album Hey,I'm Just Like You,(out
average teenager, High Schoolstands
September 27th on Sire). Hey,I'm Just
alone as a compelling piece of work.
Like You is a reimagining of songs
The sisters approached the process
Tegan and Sara wrote in, well, high
of writing a memoir in much the same
school. The guitar-driven album quite
way as they approach writing music.
literally brings Tegan and Sara fans
back to where it all began.
'Tegan and I finished touring our
rate on the music or sequencing on
wanted to pursue another creative
our albums, and with the book we did
endeavor that wasn't just writing a
a little bit of preliminary outlining sim-
new album, recording a new album,
ply because we didn't want to spend
and touring the new album;' says Sara
too much time writing about the same
Quin when we recently caught up with
stories;' Sara says. "We outlined those
her. "We had done that cycle for al-
big marker moments and then disap-
most 20 years and we were both feel-
peared into our own worlds for three
ing really creative and excited, but we
or four months, to just write. In a way,
both wanted to direct that into some-
I was writing my own book and Tegan
thing fresh, something that would
was writing her own book, and then
challenge us, and we had sort of
as we started to compile our chapters
thrown the idea around about doing a
and create our first draft we started to
book. It was a fun creative process to
go back and forth with them:'
the book itself was really wonderful:'
I
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actually come together and collabo-
last album and both agreed that we
even arrive at that place, and writing
58 CURVE
"We write in our own studios and
homes for months on end before we
Based on their three years of high
school in Canada, each sister delves
For Tegan and Sara fans and new-
into her particular experiences with
comers alike, High School provides
friendships, coming out, music, and
INTERVIEW
looking for material for the book.
the transition from playing guitar in
reflect that. I realized that there was
the bedroom to making a real go of it
quite a lot about our songwriting and
"We had been writing for quite a
in the music industry, in the pre-inter-
storytelling that really naturally works
few months before we found the dem-
net and pre-cell phone '90s. While not
in this medium, too. Both Tegan and
os that we wrote in high school;' she
every reader can look back on travel-
I really enjoyed taking our skills at
says. "I didn't listen to them for weeks
ing the world as a professional musi-
writing music and telling stories and
because I just thought that they would
cian, the book has a relatable tone that
performing on stage and using them
be cringe-worthy. I would often work
will invite all of us to reflect back on
to make something really different.
on the book in the library, and as I was
our own high school years.
I think the fact that we were able to
coming home from the library one
"I think that for people who grew
write this book and accomplish it indi-
day I just put my headphones on and
up in that era it's sort of interesting to
cates that we both really enjoyed the
played the songs, and I was extreme-
remember what their high school ex-
process. I think to some degree that
ly moved. It was quite emotional to
perience was like;' says Sara. "I've sort
maybe I struggled a little more with
hear the music. I just thought to my-
of spent my life looking for pieces of
the material and the emotions that
self, specifically as a songwriter, that
identity inside of things and relating to
came out in writing the book. I had a
these were remarkable songs. Now
them. I really force the idea that even
little harder time of it in high school
I can hear past the rough recordings
though I am a queer women writing
than Tegan did, and I struggled, know-
and the scratchy vocals and the sim-
about my queer experience as a young
ing from a very young age that my sex-
plicity of the playing. I can hear there
woman in high school in the '90s,
uality was different. I had a hard time
were sophisticated ideas that we were
there should be something in there for
integrating that without quietly, inter-
already intuitively in touch with, and
everyone to relate to, no matter what
nally suffering a little bit for it. And be-
that's what really inspired me!'
your background is!'
For anyone, taking a deep dive into
cause I ended up in relationships with
When Tegan and Sara's music start-
women, girls, as a young person, I had
ed to gain accolades, some were quick
''Ithinkwehavefoundawaytotakeourcriticism
andtension
anddifficulties
andtrytochannel
thatintoproductive
things."
to assume that it was their status as
the past has the potential to be an un-
to face that reality a little bit sooner
comfortable yet gratifying experience,
than Tegan. So, that emotional strug-
identical twin sisters or their youth
and for Tegan and Sara, who have un-
gle was more a part of my writing,
that gave them a niche appeal, not
til now primarily worked in the realm of
whereas for Tegan it was a little bit
their talent. That narrative stuck with
music, the creative and emotional pro-
lighter. We both loved writing the book
the women for years, and working on
cess was different for each of them.
and have plans to write more. Actually,
Hey,I'm Just Like Youhas finally given
we are in the process of working on
them another perspective on the ori-
another project right now!'
gins of their success.
"I think that both of us are artistic
and creative and extremely rigorous
and disciplined when it comes to
The inspiration for Hey, I'm Just
"I've had enough distance from the
self-evaluation and manifesting cre-
Like Youcame about somewhat acci-
young version of myself that instead
ative output:' Sara says. "I sort of look
dentally, as they had already started
of cringing I felt deeply proud;' Sara
at myself and analyze myself, and I
working on the next album before
says. "Like, no wonder recording-in-
have a desire to create things that
stumbling upon some old songs while
dustry people were trying to sign us
60 CURVE
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INTERVIEW
.,.
FALLI CURVE 61
INTERVIEW
62 CURVE
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INTERVIEW
when we were in high school. I tell that
them a modern spin while staying true
of the fact that we have managed to
story with a completely different slant
to their original essence.
stay in a band, and in some ways really
now. I used to say, almost apologeti-
"Even when I was looking at the lyr-
cally, like, 'Yeah, people were interest-
ics, for example, I was like, 'We're not
From enjoying the artists' quirky onstage banter to identifying with their
enjoy each other again:'
ed in us in high school: I don't want
going to just change the song: For
the narrative I read in the press-that
example, in "Hey I'm Just Like You;'
music, fans around the world will no
people were interested in us when we
Tegan and I were talking about our
doubt be interested to gain access to
were teenagers because we were mar-
friendship with our friends and each
another facet of their lives and talents.
"When we found the videotapes,
"Wearestrong
partners
and
strong
collaborators.
Andwealso
driveeachothercrazy."
it was so fascinating to see the two
of us so affectionate. We were best
friends, we adored each other, we
loved each other, we were inseparable, and we wanted to be around each
other all the time. We were always in
each other's room and jamming and
ketable or cute. Now I feel really angry
other, and it was the first song I wrote
playing, and we were also at each oth-
that I bought into that, because when
on the electric guitar, and I was still
er's throats, and it was good to know
I listened to the music, it's fantastic.
taking a lot of drugs and having adven-
that love can coexist with something
As women, as young women, we ac-
tures with my friends, and everything
a little bit darker-maybe that makes
cepted that there was something that
was crazy. I was like, 'This song needs
us more interesting:'
made us attractive to people and it
to stay there: I can't just take the melo-
Catch Tegan and Sara during their
was a thing we couldn't control-what
dies and write something totally differ-
upcoming tour and grab a copy of the
our bodies looked like, that we're girls,
ent. We really try to honor each song;'
new book and album coming in Sep-
that we're twins, that we're cute or
Sara says.
tember.
whatever. Instead, I want to reclaim
When asked how their relationship
that narrative and say, 'No, we were
has evolved after working so closely
doing something really fantastic: At
for so many years, Sara is quick to
17 years old we were writing songs
acknowledge the complexity of their
that were really fantastic and people
dynamic, but says she is ultimately
saw potential in that and it clearly
grateful to have such a close bond.
worked out. I am trying to reclaim that
narrative now-like,
'Yeah, we were
songwriters even back then: "
teganandsara.com
"I think Tegan and I are good at
what we do;' she says. "We are strong
partners and strong collaborators.
The 12-track album is a thrilling
We know how to run a business and
offering, with windows-down rockers
we know how to balance each other,
like "I'll Be Back Someday,' and the
and we also drive each other crazy.
introspective "Call It Off"-reminiscent
I'm proud to admit that we no longer
ballad "Hello I'm Right Here;' and the
wrestle or throw punches or say horri-
brooding "Don't Believe the Things
bly scarring things to each other,' she
They Tell You (They Lie):' Their status
says. "I think we have found a way to
as seasoned musicians is apparent in
take our criticism and tension and dif-
the reimagined tracks, taking the ear-
ficulties and try to channel that into
liest songs of their career and giving
productive things. We feel really proud
Teganand Sarahavewritten a memoir
FALL
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V
irginia Woolf, in her essay A
pen. Sometimes women do like women;'
Roomof One'sOwn,wrote that in
wrote Woolf in her characteristically deli-
order for a woman to write fiction
cate-yet-direct discursive voice.
she must have two things: a room of her
own and enough money to support her-
But how is one to sustain this "like"emotionally,
physically, psychological-
self. This declaration came to be applied
ly, domestically? Perhaps the carnally
not just to writing but to life itself when
averse Woolf felt the same way as Mar-
it was taken up by a generation of fem-
lene Dietrich, who is thought to have said,
inists. But I have always wondered how
"Sex is much better with a woman, but
Woolf would have handled it if there were
then one can't live with a woman!"
two women writers in that one room; and
Virginia's great Sapphic love was Vita
what her practical recipe for lesbian love
Sackville-West, but how did that work? All
might have looked like-especially when
we really know about it comes from the
there wasn't really a word for it then other
letters the two women wrote to each oth-
than "Sapphic"-and
anyone who pur-
er over a decade, and from the analysis
sued Sapphic love in Edwardian England
of it by Vita's son, Nigel Nicolson. And as
would have been considered a social out-
astute as his book Portraitof a Marriageis,
cast, if not something worse.
he is both a man and a son. For him to get
"Let us admit in the privacy of our own
into bed with these women, figuratively
society that these things sometimes hap-
speaking, was not possible. While it is as-
COVERSTORY
COVERSTORY
Director
Chanya
Buttonmodernizes
the
relationship
betweentwolesbianfeminist
literaryicons.
66 CURVE
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COVERSTORY
sumed that Woolf was "sexually frigid;'
work; her essay 'The Cinema' is part of
I'm not sure how this can be proven.
the reason I became a filmmaker. She
I spoke to writer-director Chanya
came to me very early. I studied her
Button about how her feature film
work at university, where I learned how
Vita & Virginia originated and why she
she rewrote literary form ...she was so
chose to modernize the relationship
ambitious with how she wanted to write
between these two lesbian-feminist lit-
down her experiences and communi-
erary icons. As she is to many women
cate them to other people:'
who think and write, Virginia Woolf has
Like many of us who had heard of or
always been central to Button's under-
read Orlando,Button was not acquaint-
standing of the world.
ed with the exact context of its inspira-
"Over the last few years I've wracked
tion-Virginia's
breakup-makeup letter
my brain to remember when I first dis-
to Vita. "Discovering that was one of the
covered her, but she's sort of hard-wired
great joys of making the film. Vita is an
into my brain because I've read all of her
absolutely fascinating character:'
FALL
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COVERSTORY
68 CURVE
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COVERSTORY
But where to begin in pinning down
way that it tackles Vita and Virginia's
"Obviously, it was a big discussion,
how we would approach every ele-
between
relationship;' says Debicki. "I hadn't
these two remarkable women? Eileen
read anything else like it before. It's in-
ment of making the film, but what was
Atkins brought them to life in her play
telligent and sharp, the incorporation
wonderful was that I really had the
Vita & Virginia, which she performed
of their literary canon with the letters
support of everyone;' says Button. "We
Off-Broadway in 1994 opposite Va-
and how they speak to each other. It's
discussed everything and we were all
nessa Redgrave. More recently, Atkins
an honoring of their work but it brings
on the same page. When you're mak-
has worked with Gemma Arterton,
them into a human realm, and at the
ing an independent film, you're in total
who is a friend of Button's and who
center of it is this love story, which is
creative control. That's the forum in
first raised the notion of making a film
really poignant:'
which you make bold choices. If you're
exactly
what
happened
of it. After all, Virginia has not been
"We couldn't believe it when Eliz-
portrayed on screen outside of Nicole
abeth agreed to do the film;' says
you've got total creative control, and
Kidman's Oscar-winning portrayal in
Gemma Arterton. "She's perfect, she
you're not making bold choices, then
brings so much to the part and it's not
you're missing a golden opportunity:'
TheHours.
making an independent film
and
It's a treat to see another Amazoni-
an easy role to play-there's an incred-
And those bold choices were "very
an Australian tackle the role. Elizabeth
ible amount of pressure, but she really
conscious ones;' says Button, who
Debicki (often referred to as "the next
has gone for it. I've watched her on the
hoped to dust off these two women
Cate Blanchett") is 6'2", willowy and
other side of the camera and then had
and present them as vital, daring, sexy,
luminous. This fantastically talented
to remind myself to act because I've
fashionable, fearsome, fun. "It was
actor made an immediate impression
been so impressed by her!"
very much my hope that younger au-
on Button. "She read the script on a
Button tells me that Debicki was
Thursday and she was all signed up
"a dream to direct, as was Gemma. It
by the following Monday,' she says. "I
did not feel like directing, in the sense
diences would feel spoken to by the
film:'
Button consciously cast the actors
have never come across an actor who
is as decisive and brave in displaying
her integrity and her ambition as an
artist 'Yes,this sounds interesting, I'm
up for it:"
Elizabeth Debicki has earned praise
for her portrayal of the hypersensitive
writer, and while writers are not often
dynamically
portrayed
Debicki's almost
on screen,
translucent,
Australian
Elizabeth
Debicki
isoftenreferredtoas'the
nextCate
Blanchett'.
sea-
foam-colored eyes seem to reveal all
of Virginia's deepest thoughts and
of me overseeing their performances.
about a decade younger than they
emotions. Vita once wrote of her first
We felt like three artists who were col-
were in reality; consciously used a
impression of Virginia: "At first you
laborating on a project. We shared the
contemporary soundtrack as a way of
think she is plain, then a sort of spiri-
same goals, we really respected each
underscoring the freshness of these
tual beauty imposes itself on you, and
other:'
women's legacies, which were forged
you find a fascination in watching her:'
And those three artists had some
between 1922 and 1928. It was one
and made
of the most prolific periods for the
first you think she is too beautiful, then
some bold choices around key issues.
Woolfs' Hogarth Press, during which
she reveals her plainness, her spiritual
Was Virginia Woolf a lesbian? Was she
Virginia wrote Mrs Dallowayand Orlan-
beauty, and the core of her turbulence.
mentally ill? Was she a genius? Was
do,and exhausted herself through the
"My first impression of the script was
Vita bisexual? Pansexual? Queer?Was
effort.
that it was very bold and unique in the
Virginia asexual?
The opposite is true of Debicki. At
interesting discussions
"Both of these women were incredi-
FALL
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COVERSTORY
with withering grace and menace by
bly progressive and forward-thinking in
marriage, regardless of her other de-
the art they made, in the lives they led,
sires-is a really important moment on
Isabella Rossellini. She expresses dis-
and in the relationship they had with
screen. It didn't feel very controversial
gust for her daughter's same-sex fling
each other,' says Button, who did not
or shocking for us to stage because it
with Virginia, who she says is mad.
want to couch all of that complexity in
felt very natural. We didn't burden our-
a conventional period drama.
selves with the pressure of their legacy.
over the past couple of years-language
"It's been very interesting, especially
Another bold choice is the sex scene
Their romance was a part of their iden-
changes very fast and they didn't have
between Virginia and Vita. When I ask
tity, which is very universal. I can't relate
any of the language we have now-but
Button what her approach was to re-
to being a literary genius, but I can re-
that didn't stop them from having the
hearsing and directing the scene, she
late to being in love:'
relationship;' says Button. The lack of
says simply, "what you see in the film!"
And how we might want to label that
a precise terminology had partly to do
Which I shall refrain from describing
love is misleading. The Bloomsbury set
with the fact that deviant sexuality was
would not have used the term "queer"
punishable by law at that time.
here.
"I really wanted young audiences and
to describe their sexualities. (Woolf
Another bold creative choice Button
LGBTQ audiences to feel like this film
does use the word but in the sense of
makes is to address Woolf's mental ill-
was for them. We don't often see our-
something odd or unpleasant, such as
ness stylistically, vegetation and birds
selves reflected in films, in period films,
"a queer sensation:') They might have
becoming hallucinations, and, in a dis-
or in history. So for one of our most
been seen as Bohemian and as deca-
tressing moment, when she is robbed
iconic writers to have had an amazing
dent, which is certainly suggested by
of her usual eloquence by what appears
lesbian relationship-regardless of her
Vita's mother, Lady Sackville-played
to be a short-circuiting of her brain, leaving her temporarily dumbstruck. What
ailed Woolf? Was it bipolar disorder, as
some have guessed?
"I made a decision when making the
film not to retrospectively diagnose her,'
says Button. "She suffered complex
and profound emotional and psychological challenges. I don't think we can
impose our language on her:'
Those challenges are indivisible from
Virginia's creative powers, and the film
portrays the way Leonard Woolf understood and managed Virginia's mental
health and helped structure her life so
that she could function professionally,
socially, and domestically.
When Vita determines to seduce Virginia, it is unknown whether she will be
a blessing or a blight on the hypersensitive writer. The film's vignettes show the
extent to which their relationship was
multifaceted:
competitive;
passion-
ate; aggravating; inspiring. Vita thinks
Virginia's character, Mrs Dalloway, is
"dazzling, evasive, infuriating, exactly
like you:'
It's a dangerous relationship. What
does Vita want: A conquest? A muse?
70 CURVE
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COVERSTORY
lu::
u
!::!::
She wants Virginia's genius, and she
wants to possess her. But the tables turn
and it is Vita who ends up as the muse, the
object of fascination, and the inspiration
for a great work of art. As Vita once wrote:
"How right [Virginia] is when she says that
love makes anyone a bore, but the excitement of life lies in 'the little moves' nearer
to people:'
And in Vita & Virginiathere are many of
these little moves-including
Virginia's
checkmate, which contains the lusty, androgynous, globe-trotting Vita between
the covers of a book, and reminds us that
there were always trailblazing queer women, even before the term applied.
Vita& Virginiaisnowplaying.
FALL
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ACTIVISM
Cantopop princess Denise Ho never
came out to her parents, but in 2012
she made a snap decision to come
out to the world. Today she's a frontline LGBTQ activist in Hong Kong,
leading the charge for democracy
and human rights.
AlexEugene
W
hen we connect on Skype for
our interview, Denise Ho looks
picture-perfect.
Sporting
a
crisp white shirt and a cropped blond
hairdo, the cantopop celebrity is warm,
bubbly, but short on time. She only has 15
minutes to spare, because another media
team will be coming to set up shortly.
She is incredibly articulate and confident-probably because she lived in Montreal, Quebec, with her family during her
teenage years.
"It was a very important period for me. I
got a lot of my values and ways of thinking
from that time;' she remembers.
It was in Montreal, around age 17, Ho
remembers, that she knew she liked girls.
And while she never had that talk with her
parents, she says she gave them "a very
long period of time to get used to the idea."
The same female friend had been visiting for years, but her parents never asked
her any questions. And with her music career taking off, "of course I had all these
songs about two girls, or two boys, I guess
they just gradually knew;' Ho smiles.
FALL
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ACTIVISM
"I think the most important thing
It was a groundbreaking moment:
is that I showed them I knew what I
Ho became the first female celebrity
was doing in my career, and I could
to come out publicly in China.
take care of myself. But of course it's
Part of her inspiration was Antho-
very controversial in Hong Kong. For
ny Wong, a fellow Chinese singer
some people it's still very difficult."
who had come out just six months
Ho says she often tells fans who
earlier, and was the first male celeb-
are having a difficult time with their
rity to do so. At this point, the pair
parents to take her advice-give
joined forces to create their nonprofit
them time, and show them what
organization, Big Love Alliance.
you're worth in every other part of
Several years on, the group has
hundreds of members, a board that
life.
"Wedon'thaveuniversal
suffrage
inHong
Kong
...andwithoutdemocracy
wecan't
reallydomuchaboutLGBTQ
rights."
But it's a battle the Chinese LGBTQ
community at large is still fighting.
With no antidiscrimination laws in
group Pink Dot, to widen their reach.
place, many people still face con-
And although Big Love Alliance be-
stant bullying and harassment. It's
gan in response to a political injus-
this wider issue that Ho dedicates
tice, Ho says currently the focus is on
community outreach and education.
most of her activism to.
Back in 2012, a recommendation
With the Communist "one country,
bill was
two systems" arrangement in place,
made to the government, but was
there's little hope of influencing poli-
immediately shut down without any
tics at this stage, she explains.
for an antidiscrimination
public consultation. Since the Chi-
"We don't have universal suffrage
nese public had no voting power, the
[full voting rights] in Hong Kong ...
motion couldn't be argued.The event
and without democracy we can't re-
changed everything for Ho.
74
includes Chinese legislators, and an
alliance with the Singapore-based
ally do much about LGBTQrights:' In
"I realized we had a legislative
fact, being open about her sexuality
system that was very rigged and fa-
and political views has had the oppo-
vorable to the government, so I was
site effect-instead
very angry. I made a quick decision to
ers, it's backfired and cost her dearly.
of inspiring oth-
come out a few days after I saw the
Since 2012, Ho has been banned
news ... and that was the beginning
from performing in mainland China,
of this whole journey:'
where previously she had performed
CURVE
I
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ACTIVISM
to thousands of fans in sold-out
tries and different people silencing
concerts.
themselves
She's also reportedly
because they don't
get from these big countries."
But amid it all, there's a silver
been dropped from promotional
want to be on the wrong side of Chi-
lining, Ho says. "I believe a lot of
sponsors as a result of her public
na;' she says.
people have been awakened. When
views. A similar fate has befallen
"We see the way China has been
you see the government being more
her colleague Anthony Wong, who
ignoring the promises they made
and more suppressive, and ignoring
has had his music censored since
with the British government [to
all these things that are happening,
he came out in 2012.
progress toward democracy], and
people get very angry. That is why
In China, disagreeing with the
the way they have been treating
this whole young generation has
government has dire consequenc-
the Uyghurs in Xinjiang, and so on.
stood up [in recent protests], the
es, and the fear-mongering is real.
Then they are shutting people up
way people like us in older gener-
with their financial power ...
ations have stood up ...
"China has been tightening the
and
grip on Hong Kong and also using
of course they are in alliance with
its economic power to shut a lot of
other countries.
people up. They're also violating human rights;' Ho says.
"Should we conform with these
countries? I think that if you be-
And while Chinese politics may
lieve in human rights and human-
not seem like an issue that we over
ity, we have to stand up. And it's
here need to worry about, she be-
up to the people to speak up-the
lieves it's creating problems for the
governments have their hands tied
whole world. "You see whole coun-
because of the benefits they might
it hasn't
always been like that.
"I guess the way the government has been treating people has
caused a lot of awakening:'
biglovealliance.org
FALL
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CULTURETRIP
erhaps the
P
ultimate
luxury
when traveling is not having to
worry about anything once you
arrive at your destination: from bed-
ding to bathing to dining to tipping. In
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I tried 5-star, adults only UNICO20°87°
Hotel Riviera Maya.
This is a unique all-inclusive hotel
that sets a high standard and achieves
it. The property's definition of all-inclusive (along with the usual inclusions)
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And not only do you feel as though you
are sequestered on in sophisticated
oasis, but you also feel a connection
to the culture around you-and I don't
mean the tourist strip in Cancun. I am
referring to the beauty of indigenous
Mexican culture of the Yucatan Peninsula. It's this cultural immersion combined with state-of-the-art luxury that
makes for a perfectly easy vacation.
But first let's start with the location,
signified by the resort's title, which includes the exact latitude and longitude
of the region: 20°N 87°W.And the property has taken major steps to represent
these coordinates during your stay.
The staff are local, friendly and knowledgeable individuals. For example, at
the spa I asked for a special blend of
bath salts that might produce an effect
of calm and happiness in the bather
and the spa attendant used a blend
of aromatic oils and local herbs in my
preparation, explaining the benefits of
each ingredient.
Elsewhere on property everyone
from chefs to baristas to mixologists
76 CURVE
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CULTURETRIP
FALL I CURVE 77
CULTURETRIP
are proud to incorporate the region's
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landscaping of UNICO 20°87° makes
the most of its location nestled between Mayan jungle and the oceanfront. Many trees were preserved when
designing the contemporary hacienda-style hotel and drought-proof vegetation indigenous to the Riviera Maya
adds to the soothing effect inherent in
the grand scale of the statement architecture by Artigas. Design and decor
are proudly Mexican, conceptualized
by AvroKO. If you'd like to take home
a little keepsake, high quality local art
and souvenirs are available for purchase on property.
But perhaps the most impressive
aspect of UNICO 20°87° is the suites
themselves: 448 modern-rustic guestrooms decorated with handcrafted
accent pieces and local artworks, and
boasting mostly with panoramic ocean
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swim up pool (ground floor suites) or
outdoor hydro spa tubs (upper floors).
I was delighted with the latter, which
was almost as large as my New York
City apartment, and I relished relaxing
in my outdoor tub and using the custom bath amenities supplied by Botanicus, a Mexican company of beauty
products that incorporates traditional
essential oils and natural extracts. And
good news for allergy sufferers: ask for
a PURE® Hypo-Allergenic room, which
undergoes an additional seven-step
purification process that reduces airborne particles and minimizes potential irritants. My suite was delightfully
fresh.
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LGBTweddingsarewelcome
CULTURETRIP
Experience
UNICO
20°87°
withVACAYA
From October 27-November 2, 2019, premiere LGBTQIA travel lifestyle company
VACAYAwill take over UNICO20°87° Hotel
Riviera Maya for a week of endless adventure and festivities including a Halloween
costume party on October 31st and a Dia
de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration on November 1st. This is a week not
to miss out on and with VACAYA pulling
out all stops to include more women in
their events I asked for their thoughts on
why they chose UNICO 20°87°. It all came
down to shared values. "We wanted to
provide the LGBT+ community with the
opportunity to experience a higher level of
luxury and Mexican culture with a modern
twist;' said VACAYA'sPatrick Gunn. "As the
newest member of The Leading Hotels of
the World, UNICO 20°87° offers a level of
luxury and inclusions never before seen in
the world of all-LGBT travel:' If you're on a
budget VACAYA is offering an "Essentials
Rate" starting at just $1397-"without
a
few of the extra bells and whistles, but still
with an undeniable 5-star luxury, top shelf
drinks, and all the VACAYA parties and activities:' Other reasons VACAYAand UNICO
joined forces was their belief in unsurpassed hospitality, welcoming to all, and
giving back to local communities.
myvacaya.com/trip/mexico-resort
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Other resorts have gigantic pools,
swim-up bars, and 24-hour room service but UNICO 20°87° has tweaked
these imaginatively to offer fresh hot
chocolate and churros as part of that
room service; and instead of traditional
butler service, your own personal Local
Host assists you with things such as
restaurant and spa reservations, laundry, pop-up programming, or a perfectly-mixed cocktail brought to your suite
in time for sunset. My Local Host was
happy to prepare my outdoor tub for
me so that when I got back from dinner
it was ready and waiting for me.
Sign up for some extra-curricular
activities such as the outdoor cooking
classes using local ingredients and
flavors, live demonstrations from musicians, artisans, and more. And if you
fancy yourself as a foodie, the dining
at UNICO 20°87° is a cut above other
all-inclusive resorts. Five unique onsite
restaurants combine the best of international cuisine with local flavors.
Cueva Siete (Cave Seven, after the
Mayan legend about the origins of the
world) showcases the hearty Mexican
flavors of the Yucatan Peninsula with
menus created by a rotation of top
chefs who tap into the soul of Mayan
Mexican tradition. Mura House serves
Asian-influenced
meals
including
excellent sushi and yakitori that can
be enjoyed family-style in a stunning
ambience. Mi Carisa serves elegant
coastal Italian-antipasti,
pasta, en-
rees and excellent woodfired pizza.
20.87 Restaurant is your venue for casual beachside dining and the superb
breakfast buffet. And Cafe Inez is the
place to pick up a fresh juice, or healthy
lunch of salad or panini. Four bars and
lounges make socializing over sommelier-selected wine and top-shelf cock-
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SHOPPING
Marketplace
r---------------------------------------1
TheHighands
Inn
IN A SENTENCE:Known as "A Lesbian Paradise;' the
Highlands Inn is a 13-room women's resort on 100 private acres in New Hampshire's White Mountains.
WHAT MAKESOURSERVICESPECIAL:We have operated
continuously as a popular lesbian destination.
FIND US: highlandsinn-nh.com
WildRainbow
AfricanSafaris
IN A SENTENCE:Lesbian-owned and guided safaris that
show you the real Africa while keeping safety, comfort, and
fun top priorities.
WHAT MAKESOURSERVICESPECIAL:Owner and expert
Jody Cole has traveled to Africa more than 75 times.
FIND US: wildrainbowsafaris.com
RealEstate
IN A SENTENCE:Instant free access to the nation's top
LGBTQrealtors. No cost or obligation to be represented.
WHAT MAKESOURSERVICESPECIAL:We give back.
GayRealEstate.com provides monthly financial support to
over 20 LGBTQnon-profits nationwide.
FIND US: GayRealEstate.com
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tails a real pleasure. Palmera Lounge
is a Prohibition-era Cuban cocktail
lounge with Latin entertainment on
Thursday and Saturday nights. The
stunning Bar Salam, off the lobby, is
the place to try a cocktail with a modern Mexican twist. ("Salam" is Mayan
for jaguar and say hello to the namesake statue). For something special to
enjoy later on drop by La Botella wine
shop; or simply cool off poolside with a
gin and tonic from Gin Time.
To truly immerse yourself in the local history and culture, sign up for a
signature excursion. Just a short ride
from UNICO is Tankah Mayan Community where you can learn about the
indigenous culture, explore the pristine
and sacred cenotes, and share a traditional Mayan lunch.
And don't forget: UNICO 20°87° Hotel Riviera Maya is LGBT-friendly,and in
addition to being booked out by LGBT
travel company VACAYA this fall (see
sidebar), it has already hosted a number of same-sex weddings. Marylen Exposito is standing by to help you plan
your dream wedding and her work has
been featured in multiple major wedding publications.
unicohotelrivieramaya.com
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