Calgary’s Queer Film Fest Hires New Festival Director
The Fairy Tales Presentation Society is pleased to announce it has found a new Director for its annual gay & lesbian film festival.
Matt Salton has taken over the reins from out-going coordinator Brenda Lieberman after seven years with the festival.
“Brenda did wonderful things for the festival and we wish her all the best in her new ventures.” says Fairy Tales Board President Gordon Sombrowski. “Ironically Matt has been a special guest over the years as the programming director of the reelout festival in Ontario. We are delighted to welcome Matt who brings with him much experience in film festival organization and many connections in the film world. We look forward to working with Matt in continuing to ensure Fairytales place as one of the great film events in Calgary.”
Matt Salton has been with the reelout queer film + video festival for the past six years as a programmer, publicist and as their advertising/sales representative. He is also a video artist and actor. This is Matt’s first return to residence in Alberta after living in Ontario for the past ten years. Since his return this summer he has been writing about the arts & popular culture for Outlooks magazine and studying Film & Video Production at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.
“It dawned on me that I was hyping and selling a medium’s aesthetics without understanding its dynamics,” says Salton. “I am learning so much from film school and more. Want to know what a negative cutter is? Talk to me. I’m your man!”
This year’s seven day festival celebrating the best of queer-themed Canadian and international films will commence in Spring 2007.
Outfest Call For Volunteers
OutFest 2007, which is a part of the North American OutGames to be held in Calgary between April 1st to 8th, 2007, has an immediate need for volunteers to staff a number of committees and to assist in the performance and exhibition of various arts and cultural events.
Volunteer opportunities exist in the areas of promotion, marketing, and coordinating theatre, comedy, vocal, and film performances as well as visual art exhibitions.
OutFest 2007 is one of the 3 parts of the North American OutGames, the other 2 being the OutRights human rights conference, and the OutGames sporting events. Several thousand participants and visitors are expected to attend and participate in the event. The North American OutGames will without doubt be the largest GLBT event to occur in Calgary and Alberta. It is expected that OutFest will feature approximately 25 live performances and have several visual art exhibitions centered at the Epcor Centre in downtown Calgary.
To be part of OutFest and volunteer please contact garycourtney@shaw.ca. For further information see www.calgary2007.com..
IN:Camera Call for Film Workshop Proposal
IN:Camera is seeking proposals from women interested in exploring their creative talents through film. 9 women will be selected to produce a 2-3 minute film featuring their own creative idea while, gaining extensive training and skills in the art of film production from professional women. Due to the intensity of the workshop, full participation will be mandatory for the 10 day/evening period.
If you are interested, please submit a proposal that includes: 1) Letter of Intent (why this would be beneficial to you). 2) Resume that includes any relevant experience you may have. 3) Maximum one-page concept (idea) for a 2-3 minute film. Proposals must include a contact email address.
Little or no prior experience is necessary. Women with experience in other creative fields are also encouraged to apply.
The workshop is free, though participants are required to purchase a $40.00 associate membership (includes GST) from The Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers (CSIF) prior to taking the workshop. Equipment and materials for the workshop are included.
Limited childcare and transportation subsidies are available upon request.
Workshop Period and Location: February 15 - 25, 2007
Held in conjunction with CSIF: J2, 2711 Battleford Ave SW, Calgary, AB, T3E 7L4

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS 4:00 PM – Friday, January 5, 2007 to be mailed or delivered to:

herland - IN:Camera Film Production Workshop
#208, 223-12 Avenue SW, Old Y Centre
Calgary, AB, T2R 0G9

A special thank you goes out to The Canada Council for the Arts, CSIF and EMMEDIA for making this workshop possible.

For more information visit www.herlandfilmfestival.com

Snow Queen Raises Over $600 For Those Living With HIV
Snow Queen 2006 raised $614.26 for Living Positive (Edmonton Persons Living with HIV Society). The event also collected a number of toys for 630 CHED Santa’s Anonymous. The event was held on Saturday, December 2, 2006 at Boots Bar. This was the fifth time this event has been hosted by Northern Chaps.
The evening saw three tough drag contestants vying for the title of Snow Queen 2006. There were also performances by members of the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose.

OutRights Human Rights Conference Coming to Calgary in April 2007
AIDS Calgary Awareness Association announces the upcoming North American gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender (GLBT) human rights conference, OutRights, being held in
Calgary, Alberta on April 2 & 3, 2007. Keynote speaker Judy Shepard, executive director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation and a mother who lost her 21 year-old son to a murder motivated by anti-gay hate, will speak April 3rd about the importance of embracing diversity, respect for everyone and the prevention of hate.
“OutRights will provide conference delegates the opportunity to share knowledge, create action and raise awareness on the human rights issues facing GLBT communities and their allies,” says Susan Cress, executive director, AIDS Calgary.
Expected to attract over 500 delegates from across North America, OutRights will feature a variety of presentations and plenary sessions including guest speakers and expert panels, encompassing four conference themes relating to GLBT human rights: Creating Social Change, Essential Rights, Inclusion Within, and Health.
“We are delighted to be presenting this event to the Calgary community,” continues Cress. “Bringing together diverse communities to develop a culture of acceptance fosters an economically vibrant and prosperous community.”
At the conclusion of the conference, a Calgary Blueprint for Action document will be developed and distributed to conference delegates. This Blueprint will act as a declaration of commitment to human rights and will help foster change, inspire inclusion and inform people of their human rights.
Online registration for OutRights is now available at www.calgary2007.com/OutRights.asp.
For more information about OutRights, Human Rights Conference, please email outrights@aidscalgary.org or call (403) 508-2500.
Lesbian and Gay Students Deserve More than Tolerance
In mid October, a 15-year-old girl was attacked, verbally harassed with homophobic slurs and beaten by a group of girls outside her high school. A few days before the vicious assault, Mary says, one girl threatened to kill her. Mary isn’t gay but her mom and partner live together as a same-sex couple.
(Mary is a pseudonym. The Youth Criminal Justice Act prohibits identification of either the 15 year old victim or her alleged assailants.)
Dr. Phillips, Superintendent of the Battle River School Division, initially responded by denying in the Edmonton Journal on Nov. 21, 2006 that homophobia played a role in this assault. On December 3, 2006 Dr. Phillips wrote a letter to the Edmonton Journal to clarify the district’s actions in this matter, where he stated “ We notified the local police, who conducted a criminal investigation, and, subsequently, laid charges against each of the perpetrators. The school administrator provided care to the victim, and also interviewed all students who were present. We then used the authority given under the School Act to suspend and later expel the students who committed these assaults.”
Dr. Phillips also stated “While we cannot speak on behalf of rural communities as a whole, the Battle River School Division would like to state, unequivocally, that we in no way encourage or condone a homophobic culture in our school environment.” In his letter also he made numerous references to the teaching of tolerance for others and generic anti-bullying initiatives within the district.
“We are relieved to see swift action by the Battle River School Division in dealing with the perpetrators of this alarming attack. Dr. Phillips public condemnation of homophobia in schools is a good start, but the school division needs to go two steps further. In the short term, we call upon the Battle River School Division to introduce anti-homophobia workshops immediately throughout the district to educate both students and staff. The Alberta Teachers’ Association offers these workshops free of charge to schools.” states Surrey, B.C. teacher James Chamberlain.
“As part of a longer term plan, The Battle River School Division needs to develop a comprehensive anti-homophobia policy to help prevent incidents like this from occurring in the future. As educators who deal with homophobia and its effects in our school systems on a far too regular basis, we cannot respond to incidents like this one by comprehensive actions at just one school site. Mary’s case is a tragic reminder of the consequences of not having a district wide anti-homophobia policy in existence.” states Ontario educator Joan Beecroft. Her rural school board in Chesley, Ontario has such a policy in place.
Egale Canada’s President, Gemma Schlamp-Hickey notes, “Far too many school boards across Canada continue to ignore the plight of youth like this girl who are targeted as lesbian based upon rumour, gossip and innuendo. Homophobia can affect any child. Our Education Committee is willing to offer support and resources to any school district in formulating a policy to protect their students from homophobic assaults.”
Sadly, stories similar to those of “Mary” happen everyday in Canadian schools. Verbal and physical harassment based upon one’s real or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression are far too common. For these students, schools are simply not safe spaces for them to learn in.
The Battle River School Board can do more than teach and model tolerance for all students. Anti-bullying programs for students should be oppression specific and teach students to respect and appreciate one another’s differences. This includes lesbian and gay students and those from same-gender parented families.
Egale calls on this school board and others to live up to their legal responsibilities to provide a non-discriminatory educational environment for all students by introducing clear anti-homophobia policies and workshops for students, teachers, and all school staff.
Strong Support from Copenhagen for Outgames 2009
“Never before in Danish history has so much financial support been given to a single sporting event” states Ole Udsholt, City Director of the 2009 Outgames referring to the record breaking 20 million Danish Kroner (nearly $4 million USD) the City of Copenhagen is giving to Outgames 2009. “Support for the Outgames is wide spread”.
“There’s an energy surrounding Outgames 2009 that is obvious. The City has
embraced the Outgames vision and is anxious to host the world the Copenhagen way in 2009”, comments Catherine Meade, GLISA’s Co-President while in Copenhagen to finalize the agreement which, among other things, formalized the City’s financial commitment to the 2nd World Outgames 2009.
The completion of the contract between GLISA and Copenhagen is the second of a two-phase agreement that began in February 2006. GLISA also used this occasion to complete a second round of site inspections and leaves Copenhagen giving it high marks for the venues that will be used to stage the 2009 World Outgames.
The model for success of the 2009 World Outgames combines the support of
tourism, government and a powerful local LGBT community. The City of Copenhagen, Wonderful Copenhagen and the local LGBT community have combined resources, philosophies and spirit to ensure the success of the 2009 Outgames from a number of different levels. That partnership and work have been progressing for well over a year.
In an innovative move, Copenhagen has assembled an Outgames 2009 Advisory Board with representation from government, tourism and the local LGBT community to ensure the integrity and vision of the World Outgames 2009 continues to be strong.
Equality Forum 2007 To Feature United Nations - GLBT Rights as Human Rights
Equality Forum 2007 will feature the United Nations. Equality Forum, a national and international GLBT civil rights organization, presents annually the nation’s largest annual GLBT civil rights forum.
Equality Forum 2007, from Monday, April 30 to Sunday, May 6, 2007, in Philadelphia, will include 60 programs, parties and special events in collaboration with approximately 65 regional, state, national and international organizations. There is no registration fee, and all substantive programs are free. In recent years the annual Equality Forum has featured Germany, Canada, and China.
“Equality Forum 2007 offers a global perspective by highlighting the United Nations, with participation of the GLBT workplace organizations at the United Nations, World Bank, and European institutions,” stated Malcolm Lazin, Executive Director of Equality Forum. A lead program will be “GLBT Rights as Human Rights,” moderated by Jim Hormel, the first openly gay US Ambassador, with panelists Congressman Barney Frank; Paula Ettelbrick, Executive Director, International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission; and Scott Long, Director LGBT Rights, Human Rights Watch.
Equality Forum 2007 includes the International Equality Dinner at the National Constitution Center, the National Interfaith Service, ten parties, two film premieres, and SundayOUT! in Old City.
Groundbreaking Transgender Storyline On Abc’s “all My Children”
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the US lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy group, today applauded the announcement that ABC’s “All My Children” will introduce an ongoing transgender character and storyline on Thursday, November 30, 2006. This is the first time a daytime drama - or any series on broadcast television - will chronicle a transgender coming out story.
The storyline involves Zarf (Jeffrey Carlson), a male-to-female transgender character who has hidden behind a larger-than-life rock-star persona. Zarf initially connects with and shares her struggles with Bianca (Eden Riegel), whose life experiences in coming out as a lesbian leads to her own education, acceptance and compassion.
“’All My Children’ has a long standing commitment to telling socially relevant stories that entertain and inform. Viewers can expect a heartfelt story between two people who share a common ground, yet learn about inherent differences and understanding. At its core, this is a story of acceptance and love,” says executive producer, Julie Hanan Carruthers.
“Telling the story of a character’s transition from male to female is groundbreaking television,” says Damon Romine, entertainment media director of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), which consulted with the daytime drama on this story. “’All My Children’ has a track record of telling honest and important stories, and we applaud them for their commitment to sharing Zarf’s story with compassion and integrity.”
Romine notes that Showtime’s “The L Word” is the only other scripted series that has told the story of a transgender character’s transition; Moira (Daniela Sea) transitioned to Max last season.
OUTtv’s “Sugar Rush” Nominated for an International Emmy Award
OUTtv’s new marquee series Sugar Rush has just been nominated for an international Emmy Award for the Children’s & Young People category. Winners will be announced at a black-tie ceremony on November 20th in New York. Julie Burchill’s popular teen novel, Sugar Rush about growing up as a Lesbian in the United Kingdom has become an internationally critically acclaimed continuing comedy drama series. The Sony Pictures Television series began airing on Channel 4 in the UK where it became a big hit, and the North American Broadcast Premiere is coming to OUTtv this November 19th. Channel 4 is currently airing season 2 of the series to huge ratings, and is in production on a third season.
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 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.”
Domestic Gay Travel Research to be Conducted
The Canadian Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Canadian Tourism Commission and The Bay Charles Consulting Company, will be conducting the first Canadian lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) travel research study. The study, to be fielded this winter, comprises both a national online survey and focus groups. The purpose of the research is to obtain an understanding of the travel habits and motivators of the Canadian LGBT traveler.
R. Bruce McDonald, Co-founder of the Canadian Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC), said “This research is long overdue. This information has been available about US LGBT travelers for the past eleven years, but never has the Canadian tourism industry taken a serious examination of our own domestic gay travel market.”
The CGLCC has partnered with several destinations and industry partners to assist in bringing this research project to fruition. The Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) is the largest partner in the project. As the CTC is a research driven organization, it realizes the importance of this research, and that it is essential for the Canadian tourism industry to have a complete understanding of the market before engaging in selling to them.
The quantitative research will be launched in December, 2006 and commence in January, 2007. Focus groups will be held in Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, and Halifax. Preliminary results of the study should be available February 2007, with the completed study available by March, 2007.
Says McDonald, “The Canadian LGBT market has an estimated buying power of nearly $75 billion and, if the US market is any indication, over $7 billion is spent on travel. If the Canadian tourism industry really wants to start reaching this market, they are going to need to know who this market is, what they want, and how they travel. With this research project we will be able to provide the data on the market.”
Launched in 2003, the Canadian Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce is committed to opening the lines of communication and trade for LGBT businesses, professionals and students of business across Canada. The Chamber promotes economic growth and opportunities for Canadian LGBT and LGBT friendly businesses, and works in association with provincial and regional Gay & Lesbian Chambers/Business Associations across Canada..