Pajama Men in Fine Form, Until November 11th only! Get your scare on (and hurt yourself laughing at the same time) as the Pajama Men explore a haunted hotel in what can only be described as a hilarious romp! (Really, we tried calling it a “laugh-a-minute giggle fest” but it just didn’t work). Shenoah Allen and Mark Chavez will dazzle you with split-second shifts between a myriad of odd and endearing characters, including a horse with a murderous bent, lovelorn senior citizens and, of course, the British twins Nigel and Nigel. Get your tickets today to this limited run show! Do you want to be the only person in your office who doesn’t know why the phrase “spicy lemonade” is so funny? Some heroes prefer tights; these comic heroes prefer pajamas. Shenoah Allen and Mark Chavez are The Pajama Men, winners of the 2005 Edinburgh Fringe Festival Double Act Award, as well as critical acclaim and awards at festivals and venues across Europe and North America. The Pajama Men’s shows have often been called “indescribable”. They are known for swapping and changing characters in a split second, weaving together multiple story-lines, and engaging in some of the most unique and hilarious physical comedy you will ever see. Wear your pajamas to the performance and you will receive our admiration. One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre presents Pajama Men At the Big Secret Theatre – EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts #21 225 8th Avenue SE, Calgary Regular Show Times: Tuesday – Saturday @ 8pm and Sunday @ 2pm  or www.ticketmaster.ca Information and Passes: (403) 264-3224 or www.oyr.org Religious Leaders Say “No” To Re-opening Equal Marriage Religious leaders gathered on Parliament Hill on October 24th to let Canadians know that not all religions are opposed to marrying same-sex couples, and urged the Prime Minister to remove the cloud of uncertainty that now hangs over the heads of same-sex couples and all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. Meanwhile, Defend Marriage and the Canada Family Action Coalition, both religious opponents of equal marriage, lobbied MPs to re-open the divisive equal marriage debate. They claim that with same-sex couples included in civil marriage, “religious institutions and facilities have no protection.” See www.defendmarriage.ca for details. “To reopen the debate and deny the right to equal marriage would be a violation of the religious freedom of faith communities, such as ours, who wish to recognize same-sex marriage as part of their religious practice,” said The Right Rev. David Giuliano, Moderator of The United Church of Canada. “There are many pressing and significant moral issues facing Canadians - the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan, growing poverty, climate change and healthcare benefits, to name a few. The issue of equal marriage has been nationally debated and resolved. To spend further precious time and the country’s resources on the question in the House of Commons is morally inexcusable. We respectfully ask that Prime Minister Harper tell Canadians that he considers the matter settled.” “As Reform Jews, we no longer accept any of the theoretical rationales of the prohibitions against homosexual behaviour,” said Rabbi Steven Garten of Temple Israel Ottawa. “We partake of a religious culture which affirms the right and the duty of its members to set aside those aspects of the tradition which no longer reflect our consciousness of reality and morality. We therefore lack any defensible moral or religious grounds to withhold from gays and lesbians the opportunity to express the sanctity of their unions in precisely the way that heterosexual couples have always expressed it: through marriage.” “We’ve been marrying same-sex couples for several years now,” said Elizabeth Bowen, former President of the Canadian Unitarian Council. “Their love and commitment we’ve witnessed is a wonderful testament to our belief that no couple should be excluded from marriage simply because of their sexual orientation. Same-sex couples deserve the same joy, love, celebration and community support as everyone else.” “In 2003, we publicly stated our support for civil marriage to be available to all committed couples,” said Carol Dixon, Past-Clerk of the Canadian Friends Service Committee, the peace and service arm of the Quakers. “Our spiritual discernment on this issue was shaped by the experience of wonderful, loving, same-sex couples in our community, many of whom are now legally married. Some were married within our community years before, but not legally recognized as married. Taking away the legal right to marry at this point would be terribly unjust for all committed gay and lesbian couples.” “Many people’s religious beliefs embrace equal marriage,” said Laurie Arron, National Coordinator of Canadians for Equal Marriage. “While many religions don’t wish to marry same-sex couples, which is their right, the religion of some should not become the law for others. It’s important that our laws be inclusive of all Canadians.” “Two-thirds of Canadians consider equal marriage to be settled and want to move on,” Mr. Arron continued. “It’s unfair to leave this uncertainty hanging. It’s time for Mr. Harper to get on with it, rather than delaying to please the religious right.” Mr. Harper had planned to move forward with the vote in early October but, as Parliament resumed, he announced to his caucus that his government’s motion to re-open the equal marriage debate would be delayed until just before Christmas. Equality opponents want a delay because they know Parliament is poised to defeat this motion. (See http://www.equal-marriage.ca/resource.php?id=518) Stain of the Berry: A Russell Quant Mystery Canadian prairies are on equal footing with other great locales around the world—Paris, New York, Barcelona, the Arctic—as gay Canadian detective, Russell Quant, traipses the globe on the heels of bad guys, always returning home to where he lives a big life in a small city. On Sunday, November 19, 2006, Saskatchewan writer, Anthony Bidulka, will launch the fourth novel in the increasingly popular Russell Quant mystery series, Stain of the Berry, at McNally Robinson Booksellers in Calgary. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan provides the main setting in this series for the clash of prairie and urban, gay and straight, trendy and traditional. Blending character, place and culture, Bidulka creates novels of intrigue, wit, action and travel. In June 2005, Bidulka became the first Canadian to win the Lambda Literary Award for Best Men’s Mystery at a gala ceremony in New York City. Bidulka was on hand to receive the award amidst the company of many of the same authors who inspired him to write in the genre. Born and raised on a Saskatchewan farm and currently living in Saskatoon, Bidulka’s eclectic background is fertile ground for his writing. He has three degrees from the University of Saskatchewan as well as a Chartered Accountant (CA) designation, he has worked as an auditor, teacher, waiter and shoe seller, he has toiled in a Saskatchewan Uranium mine and served drinks at the Saskatoon airport. Bidulka has toured extensively in Canada and the U.S., and he was recently named the Guest of Honour for the Bloody Words Mystery Conference to be held in Victoria, BC June 2007. Book Launch November 19, 2006 at 2:00pm At McNally Robinson (120 8th Ave SW) See www.anthonybidulka.com for other dates, locations and details. “Sugar Rush” on OUTtv, Biggest Program Acquisition in Network’s 5-year History Julie Burchill’s popular teen novel about growing up as a Lesbian in the United Kingdom has been made into a critically acclaimed continuing comedy drama series called Sugar Rush. The series airs on Channel 4 in the UK, and the North American Broadcast Premiere is coming to OUTtv this November. Channel 4 is airing season 2 of the series to huge ratings, and is in production on a third season. The series will launch on Sunday, 19th November, at 10:30pm EST / 7:30pm PST on OUTtv. Repeats include airings Wednesdays at 9pm EST / 6 pm PST and Fridays at 10pm EST / 7 pm PST during the same week. Sugar Rush is a riotous and honest exploration of what it means to be young, queer, and growing up in 21st century Britain. OUTtv is airing series 1 and 2, consisting of twenty thirty-minute shows. The show will continue with season 3 in 2007. Sugar Rush explores the world of in the closet Lesbian Kim (played by Olivia Hallinan), and her love for the gorgeous and sassy Maria Sweet (otherwise known as Sugar and played by Lenora Crichlow) Kim, the Lesbian, is the most normal character in the series. Kim’s family consists of an obsessively house-proud dad, a mum who is behaving as if she herself is 15 years old, and a troubled brother she would like to throttle. Each episode takes us into Kim’s world- her wry observations bring us into the mind of a mixed up and lustful adolescent experiencing the bright lights of Brighton and the rush of forbidden love for the first time. “Sugar Rush represents the type of exceptional programming that will be coming to OUTtv over the next while”, says VP Programming and Marketing Wendy Donnan. “We are in the process of acquiring and producing top notch dramas, comedies, movies, and other programming that will appeal strongly to our audience of GLBT and GLBT friendly viewers. It will also help to build a solid reputation for OUTtv as the network grows in subscribers and viewership.” Stories, Lies and Heroes, At Vertigo Studio Stories, Lies & Heroes is a touching tale of the consequences of following your passion. John leaves the farm (and Rosalie) to go on the road with Hank Williams. After 30 years of struggle, John finally hits a song and returns to his hometown to discover he is a grandfather. Choices made are for life. Original music by local singer/songwriter Steve Nugent is entwined with country legends such as Hank Williams, Johnny Cash and Kitty Wells. Written by Lynn Eaton, Stories, Lies and Heroes was developed during a playwriting competition and workshopped through the Alberta Playwrights Network. “My father could capture an audience. He told me many stories over my lifetime, some were funny, others were sad, some frightening and most very, very long. There were stories about local farmers, family members and the ghosts in the houses we lived in. There were stories of intrigue and cruelty. There was a story about Johnny Cash and how he got the scar on his cheek. And there was never a way to prove or disprove his stories,” says Eaton. “We moved around a lot but the one constant was the farm in Upper Canard where my family had farmed since the 1700’s. I remember sitting at the dining room table at my grandparents’ farmhouse when my aunts and uncles would return home for visits. I would be exempt from dishes and allowed to sit at the table and listen to the discussions as long as I didn’t open my mouth. They were all storytellers. They would share jokes and debates and philosophical questions and discussions about new seeds and grafting techniques. The old radio would be playing softly in the background and sometimes dinner would be cleared away and supper would begin to be set before anyone made a move to leave the table. So this is part of why I tell stories. It’s in my blood.” Vertigo Studio presents, Stories Lies and Heroes $20 Adult, $15 Student Nov 30th – Dec 8th, 2006 Tickets: (403) 221-3708