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QUEBEC
SPLITS
We know it’s confusing, even in English. Montreal’s Pride parade
and street festival got moved to June from August, then cancelled.
Well, now they’re back on again (totally new organizers), the
weekend before the city’s long-running queer cultural fest,
Divers/Cité. Obviously, Montreal’s tourism department would
like you to come to for all 10 days, but some of us will have
to pick a weekend.
Here are the pros and cons.
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| ORGANIZATION(S) |
Celebrations
LGBTA Montreal |
Divers/Cité
and BBCM’s Twist party |
| LENGTH
OF COMMITMENT |
Saturday
and Sunday of a regular weekend |
Wednesday
through Sunday over a long weekend |
| WHAT
YOU GET TO LOOK AT |
Parade
on Sunday at 1pm, not Montreal’s biggest but at least
40 community and sports groups |
Five
nights of screenings and performances including Patsy
Gallant and Dr. Draw on Sunday |
| HOW
TO MEET NEW PEOPLE |
Community
group and corporate tables on Ste-Catherine St on Saturday |
Chillin’
in Parc Émilie-Gamelin and at the various parties |
| PARTYING |
Ste-Catherine
St village strip closed all weekend, with bars extending
their terraces to the street; free-to-roam drinking privileges |
Official
Divers/Cité parties at Unity, Stereo and other clubs,
plus five BBCM Twist dance parties with Saturday main
event |
| COST |
Main
events are free, but, of course, the aim is generating
local business |
Performances
are free. Parties start at $10; the Twist weekend pass
is $120 |
| EVENT
STATUS |
New organizers
just started planning in June |
15-year
history, 16 for BBCM |
| MORE
INFO |
www.celebrations-lgbta.org |
www.diverscite.org
and www.bbcm.org |
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The
Spice Girls are back!
Nearly a decade after their last “zig-a-zig-ahh,” they’re
reuniting for a girl-power world tour later this year. What
convinced the girls to get back together?
Victoria “Posh” Beckham: It’s a chance to
escape L.A. neighbour Tom Cruise, who’s lecturing her about
Scientology and stalking her husband.
Melanie “Sporty” Chisholm: Nothing kills
off those pesky lesbian rumours like spending months in a
cramped tour bus with four other women.
Melanie “Scary” Brown: With Eddie Murphy
singing, “The kid is not my son,” the 10 million pounds she’s
expected to earn will certainly pay for Pampers.
Emma “Baby” Bunton: It’s either this or another
celebrity-dancing reality show.
Geri “Ginger” Halliwell: Being a Spice Girl
again, she says, is “a once-in-alifetime opportunity.” Unlike,
say, another hit solo record.
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For 41 years, CHIN International
Radio has held its multicultural summer picnic. One highlight
is the Mr. CHIN Bikini Contest
and this year fab was asked to help judge the contestants on
looks, stagework and charisma. The job was (ahem) harder than
it looks, as all 16 contestants were built, gorgeous, well-spoken
and gay-friendly. So we just went for the prettiest one. Irish-born
personal trainer Andrew Judson clearly knows what girls AND
boys like as he worked the huge crowd. Congratulations to all! |
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Ote’a Tane is “an all-male,
all-gay hula group,” says choreographer
Ramon Lara. “We perform authentic traditional hula.” But where’s
the coconut bras and grass skirts? “That’s exactly the stereotype
we’re trying to change!” he laughs. “In ancient Hawaii, it was
the guys who performed the real hula movements, which are very
athletic.” Back then, Lara says, “there was no stigmatization
of different sexual relationships…Hawaiians didn’t question
how nature expressed itself.” Performing Sundays at the Wellesley
Community Centre, Ote’a Tane are “the only gay performers that
can reach out to other communities, like Muslims,” says Lara.
“The basic pose is straight back, bent knees, pride and strength,
which is our message, really. Pride and courage.” |
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The Friends
for Life Bike Rally is the main
fundraising event for the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation.
More than 250 cyclists will leave July 29, biking more than
600km to Montreal. We asked some past cyclists to share memories
about places along the way...
That first turn of the pedal, that first revolution of the wheels,
the butterflies start up in my stomach!
- James
As a chiropractor on the “wellness team,” I prepare for the
hundreds of adjustments and massages we’ll do.
- Brian
I go for a swim and find a pair of Italian designer sunglasses.
I go back in, hoping for a Rolex.
- Trevor
Pub Night: walking over the top of tables to chat with cute
guys was not very polite.
- Eric
Collapsing after biking the fastest day, thanks to the six margaritas
the night before!
- Jeff
Campfire Night: cyclists share their goals, emotions and triumphs.
I usually cry.
- James
Looking back at a long, unbroken line of cyclists and thinking,
“Holy shit, we made it!”
- Carol
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