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Today, The ArQuives preserves a wide range of material including personal and organizational papers, books, monographs, photographs, moving images, sound recordings, periodicals, artifacts (like buttons, board games, t-shirts, and banners), and other reference material. The ArQuives aspires to be a significant resource and catalyst for those who strive for a future world where LGBTQ2+ people are accepted, valued, and celebrated.

Its mandate is to acquire, preserve, organize, and give public access to information and materials in any medium, by and about LGBTQ2+ people, primarily produced in or concerning Canada, and to also maintain a research library, international research files, and an international collection of LGBTQ2+ periodicals for the public use.

50th Anniversary 

Throughout 2023, The ArQuives will be hosting events, sharing digital content, and connecting with the public to help share this memorable historic milestone.

Interested in sharing how The ArQuives has supported you over the years? Click here to submit a testimonial today.

Anyone can make a donation, whether extensive or small, young or old, serious or humorous, paper or object, personal or not!

Donate to the Arquives

The post The Arquives celebrates 50 years of queer history in 2023, and they want to have your input appeared first on PinkPlayMags.

Through The Magenta Foundation‘s Leadership Lab pilot program and using the LGBTQ2+ ArQuives — the only LGBTQ2+ archive in Canada with a national scope — the organizations are producing a comprehensive research project, exhibition, and catalogue focused on Toronto Pride from 1970 to the present.

Next year marks the 50th anniversary of The ArQuives. To commemorate this important milestone, the Magenta Foundation is partnering with the ArQuives to produce the first ever Toronto Pride Exhibition and Publication seen in this context and presented to a national and global audience. The catalogue launch and exhibition will close the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival and coincide with the 50th anniversary of the ArQuives in June 2023.

Everyone is welcome to submit and participate in the publication titled: Joy. Sorrow. Anger. Love. Pride. 

Whether you are a professional photographer or everyday Pride advocate with a camera, now’s your chance for exhibiting and publishing your work! Pride is for, and about, everyone who identifies as LGBTQ2+ and this project’s aim is to present a multitude of experiences from across our many communities.

Find more info and submit your photos here.

Deadline: December 29, 2022

The post Have your Toronto Pride photos be part of a special Exhibition and Publication appeared first on PinkPlayMags.

Written by emily m. danforth (The Miseducation of Cameron Post) and illustrated by Sara Lautman, this gothic narrative (that feels like a movie within a book about a book) begins at the Brookhants School for Girls. Flo and Clara, two impressionable students, are obsessed with each other and with a daring young writer named Mary MacLane, the author of a scandalous bestselling memoir. To show their devotion to Mary, the girls establish their own private club and call it the Plain Bad Heroine Society. They meet in secret in a nearby apple orchard, the setting of their wildest happiness and, ultimately, of their macabre deaths. This is where their bodies are later discovered with a copy of Mary’s book splayed beside them, the victims of a swarm of stinging, angry yellow jackets. Less than five years later, the Brookhants School for Girls closes its doors forever—but not before three more people mysteriously die on the property, each in a most troubling way.

Over a century later, the now abandoned and crumbling Brookhants is back in the news when wunderkind writer Merritt Emmons publishes a breakout book celebrating the queer, feminist history surrounding the “haunted and cursed” Gilded Age institution. Her bestselling book inspires a controversial horror film adaptation starring celebrity actor and lesbian it girl Harper Harper (not a typo) playing the ill-fated heroine Flo, oppo­site B-list actress and former child star Audrey Wells as Clara. But as Brookhants opens its gates once again, and our three modern her­oines arrive on set to begin filming, past and present become grimly entangled—or perhaps just grimly exploited—and soon it’s impossible to tell where the curse leaves off and Hollywood begins.

A story within a story within a story and featuring black-and-white period illustrations, Plain Bad Heroines is a devilishly haunting, modern masterwork of metafiction that manages to combine the ghostly sensibility of Sarah Waters with the dark imagination of Marisha Pessl and the sharp humor and incisive social commentary of Curtis Sittenfeld into one laugh-out-loud funny, spellbinding, and wonderfully luxuriant read.

The Favourite meets The Haunting of Hill House in this highly imaginative and original highbrow horror-comedy centered around a cursed New England boarding school for girls, a wickedly whimsical celebration of the art of storytelling, sapphic love, and the rebellious female spirit—and the highly-anticipated adult debut from the award-winning author of The Miseducation of Cameron Post.

Available from Harper Collins

About the Author: 

emily m. danforth is the author of the highly-acclaimed young adult novel The Miseducation of Cameron Post. She has an MFA in fiction from the University of Montana and a PhD in English from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. She lives with her wife and two terrible dogs in Rhode Island. Plain Bad Heroines is her first adult novel.

The post Plain Bad Heroines – horror-comedy tale about murderous lesbians appeared first on PinkPlayMags.

Shield Care

These two-layer reusable face masks offer greater protection than a standard cloth mask.
The outside panel is a medical-grade, fluid-proof fabric that provides front line protection and addresses the “spit” factor. A piece of soft, moisture-wicking fabric lines the inside to sit comfortably on the face.

Each face mask is washable and comes with one, five-layer activated carbon replaceable filter that protects against pollen, dust, vehicle emissions, bacteria, and industrial pollution. It’s suggested to replace the carbon filter every week for best use.

Masks are $14.99 each which include 1 filter, many styles in stock including “Pride 2020” and “Love is Love” to choose from or you can also custom design your own fully sublimated mask which will take approximately 3 weeks. Businesses can have their personally branded masks made just for their staff.

Our PM2.5 5-layer activated carbon filters can be inserted in our face masks for greater protection against pollen, dust, vehicle emissions, bacteria, and industrial pollution. We recommend changing your filter once a week. Carbon Filters are also available to purchase for $10 for 10.

You may place your order on https://www.shieldcareproducts.com/ and have the option of picking up in Port Hope, Ontario or have them shipped to you directly.

If you have any questions you may reach out to Kim Dobie at 416.529.1118 or kim.dobie@sympatico.ca

NONIE

Renowned contemporary womenswear brand, NONIE, announced today the release of new summer colourways for the brand’s existing facemask collection. Ethically made in Canada from 100% upcycled cotton, a sustainable fabric, and lined with a certified SMS fabric, which offers a 99.9% barrier protection to help prevent the spread of COVID-19,  each NONIE mask is part of a buy one, donate one initiative.

They come in a variety of colours, including light pink, bright pink, army green, black, navy, white and floral print masks available exclusively at www.houseofnonie.com

“These masks are lined with medical fabrics to ensure the utmost protection against the spread of COVID-19, while being lightweight and breathable,” states Nina Kharey, Creative Director of NONIE.

The lining, a certified SMS fabric, is made of 100% synthetic fibers made of polypropylene, a spunbond network to consist of long, strong and thick polypropylene filaments, and meltblown layers made of short and thin polypropylene microfibers, all to fight airborne and waterborne ingression.

For every mask purchased, NONIE will donate one to organizations in need including the Red Cross, various women’s shelters across Canada, and others. Masks are now available for purchase on their website. Also available on the NONIE e-commerce page are carbon filter inserts for masks, for added protection. The PM2.5 carbon filters are available for purchase in bundles of ten for $13 CDN/$9.25 USD.

The NONIE ready to wear collection has been worn by some of the most influential women in the world, including Meghan Markle, Canada’s First Lady Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau, singer/songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk and many more.

NARCES

NARCES is based in Toronto and have been repurposing materials from their red carpet gowns to create and donate masks with filter pockets to healthcare workers (featured in Vogue). They are creating and donating face masks with pockets for filters to help our community in preventing the spread of Covid-19.  Two or more masks will be donated to local health and care institutions for every mask sold.

NARCES’ masks have multiple layers of fabric, but if you are looking for more protection the recommendations for filters are extra layers of material especially high thread count cotton.  For more information please read on fabric options and testing here. If you decide to purchase a Canada Made filter, please purchase here.

They also have a special Pride inspired collection of masks. Use Code: BUZZxNARCES when ordering and receive 10% off for being a reader of theBUZZ!

Check out this article on what to look for when buying a mask, and scientists have reported they’ve come up with a mask that deactivates the virus. Whatever mask you decide on, now you have plenty of options to choose from for both safety and fashion!

The post Cover Your Face….With Fashion! appeared first on PinkPlayMags.

Decorating your home can seem like such a daunting task, in fact many tend to put off decorating altogether or worse yet, approach decorating with no plan and tend to  “impulse buy” resulting in a disjointed feel and the design style is commonly referred to as “eclectic”. So how do you put together a room when you really have no idea on where to start?

Pick the “overall feeling” of the room. Do you want a brave statement with dramatic colours or are you looking to have a room that is serene. What I like to do with new clients is to have them scour the home decorating magazines and cut out pictures of “dream rooms” that they love. Cut out the pictures and build your own inspiration board, then examine the board and find the common thread – could be colour, furniture style, accent pieces etc. Try to “keep it real” – although you may have an appreciation for lofts with stark modernism, but the truth is you have eight children and live in a traditional home, it will likely not work out very well.

Pick your colour story, but please – no themes!

The reason cow prints and duck themes took on a revolution was that it was easy to understand and put together. You never second guessed yourself on whether the black and white cow salt and pepper shakers matched the black and white cow drapes. In other words, it was the “idiots guide to decorating”. The problem though is that you ended up with a “cartoon like” home filled with livestock and foul, not likely the effect you dreamed of.

The next step in decorating is picking your soft finishing’s. First go to your local fabric store and choose samples that you love. If the idea of searching through countless bolts of fabric terrifies you, don’t panic – instead find one fabric that you love and ask for assistance in developing a story.  Bring with you any fabrics i.e.; sofa cushions, drapery etc. that are going to stay in the room, this will steer you in the right direction as far as appropriate colours and textures goes. Look for fabrics that will perform well as throw cushions, seat covers etc.

Who ever said picking the right paint colour was hard?

Once you identified your fabric selection, picking your paint colour is a breeze. Simply identify whether you want contrast or something that blends together– if you are looking for a contrast in colour for your walls – refer to the colour wheel and pick a shade opposite of the fabric colour that you have. If you’re looking at developing a monochromatic room, then simply match a paint colour to the chosen fabric using tones similar, darker or lighter then the fabric.

Once you have your fabrics and paint colours chosen, keep them close at hand by stapling all the swatches and inspiration pictures to a piece of paper and keep in your bag or car. This will provide you with a quick reference guide whenever you are shopping and will ultimately save you time from countless return trips to stores.

BIO

Glenn Dixon has been a leading Interior Design name since 1999. Specializing in residential, retail and commercial design, Glenn has garnered much acclaim through media in print, radio and television. With a design philosophy of “approachable luxury”, his vision incorporates timeless pieces with contemporary design, resulting in an inviting and aspirational environment. Glenn_dixon@rogers.com Instagram: Glenndixon50

How to add life to your home and get ready for spring

Now that spring is in sight, we are now looking to refresh and revitalize our homes without having to spend too much money. Here are some tips to get you ready to welcome the spring and to lift your spirits!

1.     Paint

It’s been said several times, but the most important and effective way to revitalize your house on the cheap and make it appear model home condition is with paint!  Consider a new palette for the home if it’s been 6 or more years since the last paint job or if there is damage to the walls with cracks, scuffs or dents. Colours and trends have changed somewhat and the wear and tear is surely showing! A newly painted home or even just a room will add vigor to any space. Not ready to paint the walls, a great way to enhance your old painted walls is to buy a can of white paint and quickly coat the baseboards, trims and casings throughout the home, doesn’t take too much effort, but will magically erase the chips and dents!

2.     Flooring

New carpeting can be a costly investment, so if it’s simply dirty, go to your local supermarket and rent a steam cleaner to revive it. Make sure to test an area in a discreet place for colour fastness first. Then clean all of the carpets throughout the home. This will not only present a cleaner impression, but will also freshen up the home of unsightly odors. If the carpeting is in bad condition, visit your local carpet store and check out the “ends or clearance” section for carpeting that has been reduced in price. Even an inexpensive neutral carpet is better then a badly worn carpet any day!

3.     Faceplates, grills, fans etc.

One of the simplest ways to refresh your home is to either clean or replace your light switch faceplates, air return grills, heating duct grills and bathroom ceiling fan fixtures.

Remove all of the above and clean thoroughly using simple soap and water. If they are not in good repair or they don’t shine once done, time to head to the hardware store and purchase new. This does (believe it or not) make a subtle, but very effective difference.

4.     Hardware

A relatively inexpensive way to add updates to your home is through hardware on your internal doors, kitchen and bathroom cupboards. If your home has worn out or ghastly hardware on the doors, you can purchase and install new door hardware for a relative low cost that will update your doors and make the house and doors feel newer. For kitchen cupboards and bathroom vanities, nothing adds sparkle and is considered the jewelry of these rooms more then new hardware. Make sure to select hardware that enhances the cupboards, fixtures and appliances in the room.

5.     Faucets

Nothing dates a home faster then kitchen and bathroom faucets that look like they went out of style with oversized shoulder pads!!

Go to your local hardware store and purchase new faucets, they are available in many finishes and designs at a variety of price points. The trick here is to purchase a reasonable quality, well designed faucet that will sparkle and add a new and improved look to your rooms and counters. Consult a plumber or speak to your local hardware store for advice on installing them. It’s much easier then you think to do it yourself!

6.     Cleaning

The most inexpensive way to refresh your home and get ready for spring is through hard work – that is – cleaning. Nothing welcomes spring more then a home that is sparkling clean and free of dust, dirt and cobwebs! Edit and clean every cupboard in the kitchen and bathrooms, polish floors, wipe baseboards, casings, doors and every square inch of your home. Leave no stone unturned.  Once finished, do the white glove test and “forbid” any family member to dirty it once it’s done.

BIO

Glenn Dixon has been a leading Interior Design name since 1999. Specializing in residential, retail and commercial design, Glenn has garnered much acclaim through media in print, radio and television. With a design philosophy of “approachable luxury”, his vision incorporates timeless pieces with contemporary design, resulting in an inviting and aspirational environment. Instagram: @Glenndixon50

How to Determine if You Need an Interior Designer

Interior design can transform a simple space into something extraordinary. It can convey a mood, inspire creativity or promote relaxation. Though we may think our design skills are on point, it’s unlikely we’re going to be as good as the professionals. Interior Designers can take our ideas and elevate them, beyond what we thought was possible. If you’re in the position where you’re trying to decide if hiring an Interior Designer is right for you, we have some tips to help you determine if it’s the right way to go.

You Have Specific Design Ideas

Say you’ve been reading Home & Garden for ten years all the while building your dream kitchen in your mind. You’re certain you want a vaulted ceiling featuring a large Palladian window, with bright colours and modern furniture. These are specific design ideas that may be difficult to put together in a way that makes sense, if you don’t have specific training to do so. This is where an Interior Designer can help take your specific ideas and build them in a way you’ll love and that works perfectly for you home.

You Want To Use Specific Materials

In more recent years specific materials, especially more sustainable ones, have become the top of many people’s minds when building or renovating their homes. Material like bamboo, recycled steel, precast concrete and wood are in higher demand and harder to get a hold of. Beautiful additions like quartz countertops or granite composite sinks can add up and become quite costly. Interior Designers are the perfect partner when you want specific materials as they’re the ones with the connections. Since this is their livelihood, Interior Designers will have relationships with many vendors and can likely assist you in finding great deals on all the materials you’d like or even suggest ones that would work better for your lifestyle and home.

You’re Limited On Time

Hiring an Interior Designer will in all likelihood save you a lot of time if you’re looking to complete a project ASAP. Most interior designers will be not only supporting you but executing and managing your project for you, freeing up more of your time. If you’re pushing for a specific completion date or have a busy life, an Interior Designer just makes sense.

Consistency and Aesthetics Are Important

Let’s not forget the design part of Interior Design. It’s all about consistent looks, the right materials, colours and finishing touches. Ensuring the brushed copper handles in your kitchen match the brushed copper in your powder room or that the blue you picked for the kitchen cupboards are reflected in the rug in your living room. Design is about consistency and if this is something that you strive for, it’s definitely worth hiring someone who can help you get there.

Hiring an interior designer is not something you should do lightly. It takes time and research to find out the best fit for you and is a bit of an investment in the long run. Find someone who designs in the styles you enjoy; don’t pick a designer who does bright floral wallpapers if you’re going for a more Scandinavian feel. List out what you’re looking for, your dreams and desires for your space and sit back and enjoy the process.

BIO

Since 1954, Tasco Appliances has been committed to providing expert service and high-quality, innovative appliances. The Tasco Pros are serious about appliances and are committed to understanding the evolving needs of their customers. They are your appliance professional for life. www.tascoappliance.ca

The Number One Tip for Enjoying Your Home in the 21st Century

While processes like decluttering and downsizing have adopted a prominent role in home decor and design in recent years, what we’d like to see catch on is a passion for energy efficiency. Nothing will contribute to the overall health of your home environment more than paying attention to your home’s energy footprint. While it will undoubtedly feel good to clear out years of paperwork and collectibles, the detritus of modern living, nothing about this process will help with a home that is an energy hog and costly to run.

At EkoBuilt, we regularly receive requests from readers on how to transform an existing home into a passive home, as the interest in making a home healthy, sustainable and deeply affordable to run gains interest. Not everyone needs, wants or can afford a brand new home, so the question becomes, how to make the best of an older home? This is where the PassiveHouse standard comes in.

Building to PassiveHouse standard makes the home environment healthy for its occupants, but it also makes the world a much healthier place as our dependency on petroleum-based fuels as heating and cooling sources is removed. Additionally, a passive house is much cheaper to run. You can think of a passive house as the domestic equivalent of an electric vehicle.

There are three essential design features in a passive home that can be applied to existing homes: air-tightness, thermal envelope, and proper windows. To achieve the PassiveHouse standard in the most cost-effective manner, the approach will obviously vary depending on the home in question, but some general rules apply:

For the walls: Airtight/vapor tight permeable layers and extra insulation will need to be installed. This will mean that either the interior or exterior finish will need to be removed (the choice will usually depend on which is most cost-effective). Certified windows and doors will also be sourced.

For the roof: If the home has an attic space (most do), extra insulation will be added to that space with an airtight/vapor tight permeable membrane installed on the ceiling side. If there is no attic, then an extra thermal later will have to be installed on the interior. If the ceiling is cathedral in design, it should be simple to build the ceiling down to the required R value. If the ceiling is flat and losing height is an issue, than a vacuum panel will be used to provide a thermal barrier with minimal loss in ceiling height.

For the slab/floor:  If a basement is unavailable/unusable, then a thermal layer will be added to the existing floor cavity. If a basement is present and usable, a vacuum panel will be used to provide the thermal barrier with minimal loss in height.

Before you consider that zen kitchen makeover that you’ve been convinced you need, have a look at your home’s energy efficiency. Transforming your older home into a supremely efficient, healthy and comfortable space may be the best decision just waiting to be made.

BIO

Established since 2004, EkoBuilt specializes in energy and environmentally-conscious custom home building. We have solutions for the homeowner seeking a high quality, all-in-one-shell that can be assembled on a budget, as well as end-to-end custom service for the homeowner looking to realize their dream home or passive house. Our proven low energy home design techniques will protect your dreams – today and tomorrow.

Paul Kealey B.Sc. SBA
EkoBuilt
www.ekobuilt.com

Incorporate Pantone’s Colour of the Year Throughout Your Home With These Tips

A perfect choice as we transition into the 2020s, this blue is timeless, rich, and a much-anticipated follow up to the pastel scene. Unlike last year’s colour of the year, “Living Coral”—which can appear perpetually sunny and optimistic—Pantone’s “Classic Blue” offers grace, depth, and introspection.

In 2000, the colour of the morning sky, “Cerulean”, was chosen as Pantone’s colour of the year. “Classic Blue” is the colour of the evening and a nod to the last two decades. At this year’s GTA Home and Reno Show, now being referred to as The Home Show: Home Improvement edition, there will be a variety of design ideas, tips and tricks for incorporating this colour into your surroundings. Perfect for a whole range of decor, be it an accent wall or decal on a tea cup, “Classic Blue” is sure to find it’s way into your home.

Porcelain

Blue and white pottery is making a comeback, but was it ever not on our radar? Hit up your local thrift store for mismatched porcelain or ask your grandma if she has any laying around. Plates, although practical, work as excellent stand alone pieces when hung on walls or centred on coffee tables and bowls can multi-task as key holders.

Accent Wall

Have you ever had the urge to paint your bedroom a different colour? Now is your chance. Similar to black or neutrals, “Classic Blue” is an incredibly versatile colour and not only pairs well with just about any colour, it also fits in well with just about any period or style. Paint away!

Wooden Furniture

Have some old wooden furniture hanging around? Found a ratty Windsor chair on Huron Street that you don’t know what to do with? A paint job might just be the revamp you’ve been waiting for. Ranging from modern to kitschy, playful to solemn, a “Classic Blue” paint job might just be the perfect addition to your living room.

Something soft! A pillow! Your sofa!

This plush, jewel-toned colour is best celebrated on soft materials where its full depth and many shades can be admired from different angles. We suggest a soft material, such as suede, in order to really get the most of Classic Blue’s depth and complexity.

Paired with last year’s colour of the year!

Is there a better way to step into the 20s? “Living Coral” is the perfect accent to this year’s colour of the year. Cheerful, young, and naive—coral beautifully contrasts 2020’s full-bodied exhale.

BIO

Since 2000, the Pantone Color Institute has declared a particular color “Color of the Year”. Twice a year the company hosts, in a European capital, a secret meeting of representatives from various nations’ color standards groups. After two days of presentations and debate, they choose a color for the following year. www.pantone.com

You’re Basic… but that doesn’t mean your Condo has to be

Toronto is an oversaturated marketplace of bland, poorly executed, condo units; some with incredible views, and some with views of other condo buildings and maybe a ‘weird naked guy’ or two. With the cost of housing in this city, it makes sense to invest in someplace, almost anyplace, to build equity and eventually make a profit.

As the age-old saying goes, “You have to spend money to make money.” And what many people don’t account for are the ‘nesting’ expenses after the closing. I’ve seen it time and time again, friends are ‘house poor’ and fill their spaces with unnecessary amounts of disposable IKEA furniture. Not only is this not environmentally friendly, it’s basic AF. With the amount of money spent on those cheap polyester area rugs, you could have purchased a collector’s item to pass down through generations. Your home is your sanctuary, your safe place and should reflect your personality. Here are my tips to separate your space from your neighbours:

Canis Chair by Chance Shermet, Industrial Design Student at OCAD, Class of 2021

Buy Local:  In the heart of the city on McCaul street we have a hub of young, talented, artistic minds. OCAD University students are cranking out works of art for grades and recognition. They are using their student loans to rent out gallery spaces and trade show booths to showcase their pieces and grow their resume. Sadly, the majority of these fine pieces, go right back home with the artist who rarely appreciate them. They may not always have price tags, but these babies are for sale! You will go home will a one-of-a-kind piece and a warm fuzzy feeling that your purchase was probably the first sale that kid has made in his young career.
Left: Canis Chair by Chance Shermet, Industrial Design Student at OCAD, Class of 2021

The slab that chose me. Ceppo Honed Marble from CIOT

Go Natural:  That white quartz countertop with a glossy speckled sheen on every condo Kitchen and Bathroom
countertop in the city is over. Why is it everywhere? Because it’s inexpensive, manmade, durable, and has zero personality. My favourite part of a project is going to the slab yard with my client and letting the slab choose them. I say that because when they see it, it evokes emotion and they know right then and there, it is for them.
Right: The slab that chose me. Ceppo Honed Marble from CIOT

Mosaique Surfaces (Montreal) at Surfaces & Co., 133 Miranda Avenue.

Be Bold:  Sometimes replacing a countertop is too much of a commitment. You want to stay neutral and let the
accents do the talking. An inexpensive, but easy change is your backsplash. This is a small area of interest that can pack a big punch, and most condos only require 10-20 square feet of material. So if you are dying to put that natural stone somewhere, this is a great place to start!
Left: Mosaique Surfaces (Montreal) at Surfaces & Co., 133 Miranda Avenue.

The Rug Company studio at Avenue Road, 415 Eastern Avenue.

Invest, Invest, Invest:  Did you know that a well made, properly maintained area rug can last 300 years?! The
craftsmanship that goes into each handmade rug are ancient techniques perfected and passed down through
generations. There are endless colours and fibres to choose from and it is easier than ever to design your own.
This can be a very costly item, if not the most you may ever spend on a single piece, but when you are 80 and
still feeling those fibres between your toes, will you really remember the expense? To know that your money is
being put to the betterment of humanity, look for the GoodWeave label. It assures that no child labour was used
in the making of your rug in India and Nepal.
Above: The Rug Company studio at Avenue Road, 415 Eastern Avenue.

BIO

Michelle Lise Lamontagne is the Owner of Mi LaMont and Principal Design at Neven Custom Homes. She has
been in the industry for 13 years specializing in Residential and Hospitality Interior Design.

The post Home Improvement – Home Design appeared first on PinkPlayMags.

The unveiling of the $1 Equality circulation coin at The 519 in Toronto (April 23, 2019). From left: Brent Hawkes, Krystin Wong-Tam, Julie Dabrusin, Randy Boissonnault, Bill Morneau, Rob Oliphant, Marie Lemay, Michelle Douglas, Kathleen Wynne, Charlie Petch and Phyllis Clark. (CNW Group/Royal Canadian Mint)

“For the past 50 years and beyond, Canadians have fought for their right to love, marry, start a family and live openly as their most authentic selves,” said Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre. “The Equality coin recognizes their triumphs and encourages all of us to build a better, more inclusive Canada – because like the coin itself, the more equality we have in Canada, the richer we all are.”

“Today is an important day for the LGBTQ2 community, and for all Canadians, as this commemorative coin enters circulation,” said Randy Boissonnault, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on LGBTQ2 Issues. “It is an opportunity to reflect on a landmark event in our country’s history, and a reminder of the progress still to be made as we work toward inclusion and equality for all LGBTQ2 Canadians.”

“The Mint plays a significant role in celebrating Canada’s culture, history and values through coins. Marking 50 years since a landmark decision that began a process of legal reforms to recognize the rights of LGBTQ2 Canadians is a powerful way to recognize Canada’s profound belief in equality and inclusion,” said Marie Lemay, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. “The Mint constantly strives to live these values, and our employees are proud to share the message of equality through this new commemorative circulation coin.”

Joe Average is a Vancouver-based artist whose early interest in drawing and photography led him to dedicate his life to his art when he was diagnosed as HIV-positive in 1984. The design he created for the reverse of this coin is a stylized celebration of equality viewed through an LGBTQ2 perspective. The image of two intertwined faces reflects gender fluidity and the spectrum of genders and is left open to interpretation: they may belong to two individuals or they may represent different aspects of one’s identity.

The reverse includes the words “EQUALITY” and “ÉGALITÉ” on two curved bands, as well as the double dates “1969” and “2019” to mark 50 years since the process of decriminalizing homosexual acts was initiated in Canada. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt, in use on Canadian coins since 2003.

Limited to a mintage of three million, the one-dollar “Equality” circulation coin is now entering general circulation and will be available through several public coin exchanges to be announced soon (limited to Canada only).

This coin can also be collected in a special wrap roll of 25 uncirculated coins, retailing for $54.95 and limited to a mintage of 15,000 rolls. Joe Average’s artwork is also celebrated on a full colour, 99.99% pure silver collector version of the “Equality” coin, which retails for $49.95 and is limited to a mintage of 15,000.

These collectibles can be ordered by contacting the Mint at 1-800-267-1871 in Canada, 1-800-268-6468 in the US, or online at www.mint.ca/equality. They can also be found at the Royal Canadian Mint’s boutiques, as well as through the Mint’s global network of dealers and distributors, including participating Canada Post outlets.

About the Royal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint is the Crown corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada’s circulation coins. An ISO 9001 certified corporation, the Mint is recognized as one of the largest and most versatile mints in the world, offering a wide range of specialized, high quality coinage products and related services on an international scale. For more information on the Mint, its products and services, visitwww.mint.ca.

The post Royal Canadian Mint introduces new “Equality” one-dollar coin appeared first on PinkPlayMags.

Festive Flooring Upgrades For Your Holiday Home

Tis the season to put your best foot forward…literally! Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring is just what you need to upgrade your holiday home. Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring (LVP) is the perfect solution because it’s so realistic yet it can take all the wear and tear holiday homes can bring. Whether it is a mountainside chalet in Whistler or a cottage in Muskoka, you need to select flooring that will stand up to snow, sand, mud, and salt.

Holidays are when memories are made. Canadians are investing more and more in a vacation property, so why not make your holiday home a place to relax and enjoy.  Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring means never having to worry about your flooring, as the kids run in and out from building a snowman, racing down the slopes, or simply sitting by the fire as big fluffy snowflakes make magic outside.

Interior designer Fiona Roeske, is the Specification Specialist for the 4 Corners brand of LVP, www.4Corners.ca explains why Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring is so popular with designers. “Not only are the colours beautiful, but the textures make this flooring so realistic, you think it’s real wood.  It’s also water-resistant and dampens sounds. The best part: LVP is super durable and able to withstand all kid and pets’ activities, all at an amazingly affordable price,” explains Fiona. “My clients absolutely love this product!”

Over four hundred retailers across Canada carry the 4 Corners brand of Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring due their exceptional selection and service, so chances are there is a dealer near you. Each LVP plank is comprised of several layers with an antimicrobial coating and is water, scratch, and stain resistant, making 4 Corners LVP flooring the perfect flooring option. The high standards of their mill in South Korea, also ensure the 4 Corners brand of LVP flooring satisfies Green Building Standards.

DIY enthusiasts find it easy to install. It is versatile; easy to clean and maintain. Not only that, it will last longer than other flooring choices without the high price tag. It can quickly transform any home by being able to go over other floors such as hardwood or even ceramic. The floors are flexible too; you can easily pull up one plank if needed rather than having the nightmare of undoing click together flooring.

“I’ve been installing vinyl flooring in the Greater Toronto Area for 16 years. For the last 2 years, I’ve been installing 4 Corners Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring. The contemporary colours, ease of install, makes this economically positive. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this product,” says Shawn Daley of Generations Flooring.

So as you light the fireplace this holiday, enjoy entertaining your family and friends on your beautiful LVP flooring.

Written by Lesley Diana and Fiona Roeske

Interior Designer Fiona Roeske is the founder of Isabella’s Haus www.isabellashaus.com and the Specification Specialist for the 4 Corners Flooring www.4Corners.caworking with designers across Canada for their flooring needs. She has spent much of her life traveling to Europe developing her love of European art and architecture. Fiona divides her time between her homes in France and Canada, importing fabulous European antiques from chateaus and castles across Europe for Isabella’s Haus.

fiona@4Corners.ca or Fiona@Isabellashaus.com

Lesley Diana is a publicist and freelance journalist. She has worked on many high profile feature film projects and TV series for Sony Pictures and eOne and many others. As a personal publicist to some of Canada’s most talented actors she also works with HGTV’s ‘Worst to First’ and host Todd Talbot. Lesley is the author of a nationally published book and writes articles for Drift Travel and Niche Magazine. www.thepromotionpeople.ca, lesley@thepromotionpeople.ca

What are the Benefits of Waterproofing your Basement?

Water is the source of life, but it can also be your home’s biggest enemy. From the slow spread of mold and mildew to the sudden appearance of a swamp in your basement, there are many ways that moisture can seep in and destroy your home from the foundation up. You may not always be able to predict a leak or flood, but professional basement waterproofing in Toronto will go a long way toward preventing the need for foundation crack repair and other structural fixes.

Strong Homes Begin With a Solid Foundation

Your basement is more than just bonus space under your house. It’s also the foundation upon which the entire structure stands. Depending on the depth of your basement, your basement or crawl space may be more susceptible to moisture buildup. Even if it never floods, mold can develop on walls, flooring, and ceiling support beams, which are the elements responsible for propping up the rest of your home.

If your basement is unfinished or you haven’t committed to basement waterproofing, wood, stone, and cement construction materials can begin to crumble slowly over time. Your indoor air quality may also become affected.

Most homeowners in the GTA don’t even think about their foundation until there’s a major problem and they need to find a basement foundation repair specialist. However, there are signs that indicate that your foundation is vulnerable, including:

l  Soil buildup near the foundation. Even if your yard is level, the soil around your house should slope away from the foundation by about 6 inches for the first 10 feet.

l   If you stand some distance away from your home and look straight-on, do any of the walls or the roof appear to be bowing or curved? That might be a sign of settling.

l  Are there cracks in the foundation that are wider than 1/16th of an inch? These will only become bigger if you don’t get the foundation repaired and sealed.

Signs That Your Basement is in Trouble

You don’t necessarily need a soaking wet basement to see there’s a problem present. Basement leak repair may be required to address an issue that’s been festering for a while. There are five tell-tale signs that there’s a problem in your basement before flood waters pour in, and they can be easy to miss.

l  Damp walls or floors—Even if there is no standing water or moisture stains and the rest of your basement is dry, damp patches on the wall or floor can indicate tiny cracks in the foundation. You might notice that some areas are darker than others or feel cold and damp to the touch. Left unattended, the area will become weaker over time and lead to major flooding in a heavy rain.

l  Stains—Water comes and goes in small amounts. There may be issues with sweating walls when the air is humid that you don’t see at the time. The water will evaporate, but it will leave a subtle stain behind.

l  Humidity—If you notice that the air feels heavier in your basement than the rest of the house, you probably have a lot of humidity. Many people also house their laundry room in the basement, which can add to the problem. This won’t lead to major flooding, but it’s the perfect environment for mold and mildew to set in.

l  Efflorescence—This a white powder or crusty substance that might appear on basement walls and floors. It’s caused by minerals that are left behind after water evaporates.

l  Musty smells—If you’ve ever been in a basement or crawlspace that has a damp, musty odor, you’ve been in the presence of a moisture problem. This is usually the first sign that mold or mildew are present even before you can see them.

Your home is more vulnerable to moisture damage and flooding if it’s an older home, if it sits below the water table, or if your property has improper drainage. Professional waterproofing in Toronto is one of the most reliable wet basement solutions there is. You should also have your home inspected once a year from roof to foundation to look for issues like:

l  Missing or broken downspouts and gutters

l  Cracked foundations

l  The presence of mold and mildew

l  Excessive settling

The Benefits of Waterproofing

There are no benefits to having a leaky basement, but there are plenty of advantages to waterproofing your basement! The benefits of crack repair and waterproofing can be divided between aesthetics, health, and cost-effectiveness.

l  Waterproofing will get your basement ready for remodeling.

l  Fixing your wet basement will avoid health problems that result from toxic, damp air.

l  Floors that have been waterproofed are easier to clean and maintain.

l  Your foundation will be stronger.

l  You’ll add bonus space to your home.

l  A finished waterproof basement adds to your home’s value and marketability should you decide to sell.

l  Waterproofing your basement lowers the humidity in your house and improves energy efficiency.

What is Underpinning?

Underpinning your basement is a go-to solution if the structural damage has become severe due to shifting or instability. This usually happens if the soil in the area has changed or if the original foundation was inadequate for the conditions. Basement underpinning adds height to your foundation to prevent flooding and improve function.

Finding the Right Contractor

The cost of waterproofing your basement is negligible when you compare it to the price of underpinning your basement or the costs of fixing basement leaks. Your waterproofing contractors should be licensed and certified and appear to have a deep knowledge of problems and possible solutions, and they should also be able to answer your questions directly in a way that’s easy to understand. The best ones will offer a free written estimate that’s accurate for time and total cost.

Noreen MacRae
GJ MacRae Foundation Repair
905 824 2557 Mississauga, ON
Since 1975 – The original full service foundation repair people.
WWW.WETBASEMENTS.COM

Add Drama to your Powder Room!

Think of your powder room as the perfect place for a new, experimental design project. This compact space can be as dramatic as you’d like, where you can explore the latest in décor and design without busting the budget.

Here are just a few ways to add some drama.

Go to the dark side

Choosing rich, dark shades of charcoal grey, navy blue, chocolate brown or black will create the perfect base for a dramatic palette. Coating ceilings, walls, doors and door frames in the same colour reduces contrast and the room’s edges almost disappear, leaving you with the jewel box ready for its gems.
Since it’s a small room, consider splurging on some expensive wallpaper in the same dark shade. You can find patterns that have a hint of glimmer, a subtle reflective quality. It’s on trend right now and just needs some light to make it shine.

Lighting? Bring on the bling!

I’m a firm believer in layered lighting, especially in the powder room. Lighting can change everything—from functional to glamourous. Installing pot-lights (even just one) in the ceiling is a good upgrade for the room. That crisp, downlight is a good way to light surfaces. Avoid the flycatchers, those upside down “dishes” that light up the ceiling instead of what’s below (and are a good source for dead flies). Chandeliers add sophistication and set the reflective surfaces shimmering. In addition, add cross-illumination or side lights like pendant lights that hang on either side of the mirror, or choose show-stopping sconces. Some bathroom vanities now feature under-mounted lighting to reflect the floor—great for a night light. Choose the prettiest, shiniest, most glamourous lighting you can handle. The blingier the better.

Mirror, mirror…everywhere!
Mirrors offer three wonderful things; style, shine and a perfect reflection of you. Whether an entire wall is covered in smoky subway tiles, or it covers the vanity, mirrored surfaces add double the drama in the room. Make sure there is always something interesting for the mirror to reflect, like framed artwork.

Add dramatic flair to the floor

When it comes to flooring, tile in the powder room is a great choice. Because of the limited floor area, you may want to go all out on your choice. Go for a glossy or reflective surface for a rich dramatic look. Since you’re covering a small area, it’s also an opportunity to add a personal touch by creating your own pattern.

From soap to knobs

From the vanity to the soap dish, there are lots of choices for powder room upgrades. Today, the dresser-as-vanity trend continues, you can find a great selection of styles at Decorating Details in Mississauga (www.decoratingdetails.ca)

We’re seeing more custom-made cabinetry that looks like furniture, but you can transform the look for less by upgrading faucets, taps, cabinet pulls, and knobs. Go ahead and mix your metals, from copper to gold and bronze. Even one, new, cherish-able soap dish can add drama to a powder room.

Jane Lockhart is an award-winning designer, TV personality, author and one of Canada’s leading design experts. Jane is Principal Designer of the Toronto firm she founded in 1997, Jane Lockhart Interior Design (www.janelockhart.com). In addition to her full slate of projects, Jane has designed and manufactured two lines of furnishings, Jane By Jane Lockhart and Jane Lockhart Platinum.

Did You Know Your Home Can Work for You?

What if you were told that while you travel your home could continue to make you money? It’s true! The era of home sharing is here and as we look for ways to integrate our home into our lifestyles, there are ways to get your space working for you even when you’re away. It may seem strange to have complete strangers in your space while you’re not, but home sharing and guest houses account for millions of listings across the world. Glen Peloso, principal designer of Grafus Design Build & Studio shared everything you need to know before you consider getting your home ready to start bringing in the dough and feel more like a hotel.

Personal Items need to GO!

An excess of photos, your grandchild’s macaroni fridge art, and family heirlooms are all things that you should consider removing before guests arrive.“People who are sharing your home, want to feel ’at home,’” says Peloso. “The more personal things you leave in a house, the more guests feel like they are imposing on your space.” Try swapping family photos with a gallery style display of wall art. Anything contemporary that compliments your décor esthetic, either with a common theme or similar colour palette in an array of sizes will allow your walls to look less bare and provide a touch of understated sophistication.

When it comes to bedding, go above and beyond

When travelling, people often splurge on a hotel to avoid staying with friends and family. No one likes to sleep on the dreaded “guest bed” or worse, a used sofa or futon. Be sure to avoid giving your home share guests this experience at all costs. “Invest in a great sheet set, cotton sateen with a 450 – 650 thread count is ideal. A combination of both down and “down alternate” are great for sleeping and providing neck support,” says Peloso. “Finish the bed off with lots of pillows— Ideally you want to give that full and luxurious look, and have your guests feeling pampered and cared for.”

Have your bathroom screaming spa-cation

The bathroom—the one room in the house that needs to be in tip-top shape, and at supreme cleanliness. Even the slightest misstep in this room can have guests poo-pooing their experience and send your ratings down. Updating fixtures and supplying thick, white terry cloth towels and bathmats are easy ways to add elegance and will help visitors forget that they’re not in a 5-star hotel.

Accessorize, the extra touches go a long way

Travellers use home sharing site to find guest houses to enjoy a more relaxed stay, with all of the amenities of an actual home. Ensuring that the check-in process is simple and seamless is a must! To aid in this try integrating smart home items like connected door locks, these allow you to give your visitors access at the touch of a button. Adding in a few small touches to your space will ensure your guests will have a great stay and leave happy. Accessories like throw blankets, pillows and other decorative accents are key elements that will give your guests comfort, and ensure they are given an experience, rather than justa place to stay. A memorable experience will have your guests raving about your home and sure to rebook in the future!

Glen Peloso is the Creative Principal of Grafus Design and operates a retail store of the same name, in Toronto’s King East Design district. He has designed more than 300 residential and commercial projects in various countries around the world and brings almost 20 years’ experience, creating environments that marry clients’ lifestyles and personalities with the architecture of their space.

This article was created specifically for HomeFest presented by Booking.com, which will take place again in the Fall of 2019.

Fall/Winter 2018 Trends

Cold weather awaits. The summer months are over, fall is approaching — and winter won’t be far behind. While there may not be much to look forward to from a weather standpoint, there’s one thing that fall and winter bring to the table: redesign inspiration. The beautiful texture and colour trends of 2018 will warm up your home and make you fall in love with your space all over again. Glen Peloso, Creative Principal of Grafus Design has curated a list of all the right ways to restyle without any big renovations or hassle.

From velvet pillows to brass tone finishes, this piece will provide you with all the tips to spruce up your home for the colder seasons, bringing warmth into your home with décor.

1    Huge Floral Prints Whether it’s incorporated into your wall art, wall paper or fabrics, large floral prints have now made their way from beautiful tattoos into our homes in a BIG way. When incorporating this trend into your space, don’t be shy, think bold, oversized and colourful.

2    Marble: Black and White or Green! As we move into fall, black and white, and the revival of green veined marble will be a fresh new addition. Despite coming with a more hefty price tag, green veined marble will make a big statement and set you apart from the “black and white” group. It can be incorporated into any room and in a vast variety of forms, including counter tops, coffee tables and smaller applications such as coasters, vases etc…

3    Velvet Everything Nothing says opulence or adds texture to a room like velvet. This versatile fabric is showing up on every search engine. Think curtains, upholstery, accessories pillows and throws. You can now get velvet in just about ANY colour, to add a little “lux” to any room!

4    Muted Brass Tones A great alternative to the polished nickel, rose gold and stainless steel we’ve seen, muted brass is surprisingly warm and won’t overshadow other pieces in your space, particularly when paired with marble in kitchens and bathrooms and velvet in other areas of the home. Mix this metal with any other for a layered textured look.

5    Sheep Shearling Fur has always been a staple in interior décor, real or faux, that shearling texture is “velvet to the next level”. Classic mid-century modern silhouettes upholstered in shelling fabrics, pillows, throws, bedding or area rugs are all the rage and offer a functional soft touch to your space. Don’t feel constrained to the classic white styles, these pieces can add some depth to your colour pallet in every colour in the rainbow.

And the beauty in all these trends is that all these luxury materials mix perfectly together!

Peloso has appeared as host and designer on several television series including RESTAURANT MAKEOVER, TAKE THIS HOUSE AND SELL IT, and RENOVATE MY WARDROBE.

Also a design journalist, Glen contributes regularly and has been featured in many newspapers and magazines across the country and internationally. He currently writes a design column for The Toronto Star’s “New in Homes” section in the Saturday edition of the newspaper. He is also the national design editor for Canadian Homes Trends magazine, a regular contributor to Niche magazine, On the Go magazine, and Post City Magazine (Homes).

This article was created specifically for HomeFest presented by Booking.com, which will take place again in the Fall of 2019.

The post Home Improvement – Home & Garden appeared first on PinkPlayMags.

Alphonso King Jr is probably best known as DJ Relentless or Drag Recording Artist Jade Elektra. For the past seven years, he and his husband John Richard Allan have produced events and fundraisers for various HIV/AIDS organizations and the HIV+ Community in Toronto.

Richard Berkowitz is a gay American author and activist best known as an early advocate of safe sex in response to the AIDS crisis among gay men in the 1980s. The award-winning 2008 documentary Sex Positive is about his life and activities.

Richard and Alphonso

I was diagnosed with HIV in 1990 but didn’t really become an activist until I got engaged to my husband in 2009. I spoke about my status to close friends and with lovers but never publicly. Since 2009 I’ve been very out and vocal about being HIV+. My husband, John Richard Allan, and I have spent the past 6 years creating events and Facebook groups for our community here in Toronto (POZPLANET, POZ-TO, Daddy Issues Fundraiser, The “HIV Is Everyone’s Business Campaign” and The POZ-TO Awards where we honor ten people from the community for their activism). In 2010, I wrote and recorded a track called “H-I-Vogue” with DJ Fierce Tease for my drag persona, Jade Elektra. I conceived it as a public service announcement in Bitch Track format. I also produced a music video with Brian Finch. Posted online in 2011, it features a montage of my husband’s H-I-Vogue Magazine Covers Series.

One day I was looking through the comments and saw one from Richard Berkowitz. Most of you probably have no idea who this man is but you should. In May 1983, Berkowitz, along with his late friend, Michael Callen and their doctor, Joseph Sonnabend wrote and published a 40-page booklet called How to Have Sex in an Epidemic which was the invention of safe sex. I knew, so I happily grabbed Richard’s quote and put it at the beginning of my video. 

As an author and activist, safe sex is Richard’s legacy. He’s the last surviving co-founder of the PWA self-empowerment movement that created the Denver Principles. His 2003 book Stayin’ Alive: The Invention of Safe Sex inspired the 2009 documentary, Sex Positive, which captures sex in the ‘70s and the early years of AIDS in New York. It was an honour to have him lend his voice to my efforts. It felt like he was passing the torch to me.

Last summer I got a message from Richard asking to meet during my visit to New York City. I was thrilled. I wish more people would seek out those who laid the groundwork for the roads we’re on, and the ones ahead. You can learn so much from queer people who were shaped by different eras and places.

Meeting Richard was like seeing an old friend. He was so open and honest about his life. Hearing his perspective on how the LGBT community had changed and grown was fascinating. When I returned home, I decided to ask him a few questions to capture our conversation about being voices of the HIV+ community.

It was so nice to meet you. As one POZ person to another, did you think that you would still be around today? I know I didn’t.

RICHARD: I’ve had an unusual journey with AIDS. I became symptomatic at 26 in 1982. News reports terrified me. When I had a lymph node biopsy — a gland cut out of my neck – I knew I was doomed. My doctor, Joe Sonnabend, intervened. He asked me, “Why do you believe everything you hear?” He said, “AIDS is a new disease and there are no experts, so why give up hope when so little is known?” I didn’t know Joe was a world-class virologist. I thought he was just a doctor. He taught me how exposure doesn’t always lead to infection, why infection doesn’t always lead to sickness, how sickness doesn’t always mean death. As I began to understand his views, I found science-based hope that made the invention of safe sex possible. I knew then I’d lived to see my 40s. When I got KS and began to die in 1995, retroviral drugs came out and saved me in the nick of time. So, out of 36 years with HIV, I only felt doomed twice for a brief time, but I haven’t survived unscathed.

One of the things that I sometimes come across when talking with other positive people is “survivor’s guilt”. Do you or have you ever experienced that?

RICHARD: No. I couldn’t fathom why I should feel guilty about surviving AIDS when I did my best to promote safe sex and save lives. People kept asking me if I felt guilty, but activist-writing can work as an anti-depressant. You’re busy being creative, you’re helping others. When you’re trying to save the world, you don’t realize that no matter how many battles you lose, you can end up saving yourself. I have wondered if survivors’ guilt can take another form – being so grateful you survived a catastrophe that it feels like you’re a tiny speck adrift in an ocean of gratitude that’s so vast it can drown you. I got lost in that, but with therapy and meditation, it got better. 

I just recently turned 51 back in August. I work as a DJ and drag performer. So, often people think I am a little younger than I am. But with that said I watch a lot of ageism. What’s your perspective on aging as a gay man?

RICHARD: Aging is a sign that none of us are here forever, not a happy reminder. The toughest thing I ever witnessed was watching friends I came out with during the 1970s, and realizing that they wouldn’t live to see 40. I guess that’s my perspective on aging, to cherish longevity. My friends would’ve given anything to grow old and wrinkled. Plus, I’ve met thousands of young gay men traveling around the country to do Q&As after screenings of SEX POSITIVE. They were so caring for me and the work I was part of. It took me 25 years to see the impact my efforts had. I felt it in the younger faces telling me what it meant to them, so I’ve been blessed regarding ageism. 

Let’s talk about the Gay Movement from the 70s to the 80s. What is it that you would like the young people to know or understand about “sexual freedom” back then?

RICHARD: The gay movement was lots of things, but I’ll tell you what it meant to me. It felt like part of a great awakening that began in the 1960s with civil rights and the antiwar movement. Everything queers had been taught to believe — to hate ourselves and each other — was such bullshit, that it led some of us to question everything we’d been taught. That meant getting informed, reading, listening to each other. Back then, the LGBT press was radical and informative; it said, “gay lib” and feminism were inextricably linked — or what we now call gender. I had to learn what wasn’t taught in public school. We’d been schooled in conformity, to mind our own business, follow the rules and go along. Once all that flies out the window, which is what made coming out in the ‘70s revolutionary, we then had to figure out, what did it mean to be queer?  Sexual freedom was just one life-affirming part of that, and for some men, that was all they cared about. But knowing what’s wrong doesn’t give you the right answers, so it was a time of exhilarating creativity, experimentation, and courage. We made progress and mistakes, but we lost so many radicals early in the AIDS crisis who never got a chance to say what those times meant to them and why we did what we did.

I’ve noticed that there is a trend that sort of looks like that time period happening all over again…plenty of 70s porn clones who look like Tom of Finland drawings come to life. It must be weird to see that come back, or did it never leave from your perspective?

RICHARD: I never get enough of the 1970s. I’d hoped that when we came out with How to Have Sex in an Epidemic that we could keep the party going. For some it did, but times change and history never stands still, even when it’s busy repeating itself. I loved how the working-class fashions of the gay ‘70s, mostly from Army/Navy stores, reflected our time: Pocket T-shirts with sleeves cut off in summer, tight lived-in jeans, gym socks inside boots or sneakers, leather or denim jackets and loose sloppy hairstyles or Afros. It was sexy, cheap, unpretentious and affordable to everyone. It said, we’re all in this together and what else do you need to wear to go cruising for sex?

I started going out to gay bars in 1985 during my last year of high school. A lot has changed and come and gone. I have always been a people watcher…how they interact and approach each other was always a fascination for me. I’m a very social person and love communicating. I find that with the advent of the internet and smartphones communication has changed drastically. How do you feel about today’s scene?

RICHARD: There’s a short film, The Date, on YouTube about two gay men hooking up online. They meet at a restaurant, sit down, look approvingly at each other and then pick up their phones and continue texting instead of talking. It leads to miscommunication that texting is famous for, and it abruptly ends their date. I like the old way of going out, meeting and talking to people. It wasn’t always easy, but the challenge was exciting. It socialized us. We weren’t slaves to electronic pings and interruptions. On the other hand, outside of a few gay ghettos, my generation had to search on foot or drive around endlessly to explore where to meet other gay men, especially when traveling. It was lonely and frustrating to be somewhere where you knew there were others but had no way to find them. We would have loved an app like Grindr. We couldn’t have imagined it. It means you can live almost anywhere. That’s freedom.

Of course, we have to talk about the elephant in the room….PrEP. Between the U=U Campaign and this drug, the landscape of sex has really changed in the past couple of years. What do you think about these movements?

RICHARD: Time will tell. As I said, I’ve had an unusual journey. The invention of safe sex was about more than HIV. When Michael Callen or I had the chance to speak, we always stressed that certain other sexually transmitted viruses and infections (STIs) were bad for your health. People seemed to get it, but then they go back to a world where everything they hear is only about HIV, and so nuance gets lost in the establishment discourse. For a message to stick, it has to be repeated over and over and come from sources that people see as authoritative. If not, it vanishes. But I learned from traveling with SEX POSITIVE to never lose faith in the common sense of ordinary gay men. The elephant in the room is that PrEP is flawed. You can’t just brush off every risk that isn’t HIV. People have evolved in a way that they tend to limit the number of different partners they have. But since Stonewall, there’s been a tendency, especially among queer theorists to say that gay men are unique human beings and that we are somehow meant to have large numbers of partners as part of our identity. I lived that life. But gay men come with different needs, which is why, post-AIDS, we now have gay marriage, however creatively gay men re-define it for themselves. It has NOTHING to do with morality, it’s just the nature of the multi-partner activity – gonorrhea, hepatitis, staph infections, chancroids, and the list goes on. No one can say that after HIV something else won’t come along that could be worse than the recent fatal outbreaks of meningitis.

It’s a fact of life that’s probably always been true, that when there is a lot of activity between many partners, STIs increase and affects everybody involved. The first evidence that gay men were adopting safe sex was that gonorrhea and syphilis rates plummeted in the early 80s, but if you read current reports, they’re going up again. There’s nothing morally wrong with having large numbers of partners, but it depends on where you are and the prevalence of STIs in your location. Many urban gay men in the late 1970s took antibiotics before going to the baths because we knew we were likely to get something, but in the 1960s, no one needed to do that. PrEP isn’t a new idea. But as we learned, some protections don’t turn out to be enough. In the digital age, Grindr is the new bathhouse but if you’re in Alaska, STIs may not be a problem. In large urban centers, it can be. Is PrEP the new safe sex? It depends on who you’re talking about. We know that STIs increase infectivity and infectability with HIV, so for those using PrEP as an alternative to condoms, rising STI rates are a concern. And among the poor, evidence suggests that HIV infection can be *higher* among those on PrEP I’d say google “Prep STIs” and decide for yourself. You can always go off
it with medical supervision.

I know that you travel sometimes to speak about “Sex Positive”. I love that you share your experiences with others so that they can learn how to live with HIV+. So many become depressed and preoccupied with death. My husband and I try to show our community in Toronto that we can live every day to the fullest. Is there any advice you would give to someone who has been newly diagnosed? 

RICHARD: Your work is so important. I’d say don’t waste time feeling guilty. Be grateful you live in an era when HIV is treatable. Good people died trying to make it happen and good people won’t make you feel bad over something that happens because you’re human. 

I thank you so much for all your time. I hope that you continue to be a voice for the HIV+ Community. Perhaps we can work on something together to continue your important work and message.

RICHARD: I’d love to.

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October marks Thanksgiving, a traditional holiday in Canada when families get together and give thanks. It is a time to celebrate, to eat, to listen to music and to dance. Since 1991, Montreal has been the host of a different kind of tradition on Thanksgiving weekend, when our LGBTQ+ family also gets together to celebrate, listen to music and to dance. It’s called the Black & Blue and more than 80,000 party goers have attended over the past years. What started as a party for a bunch of friends is now a week-long festival with several events. The Bad Boys Club Montreal (BBCM) Foundation has contributed to the cause of helping organizations by providing direct assistance to people living with HIV / AIDS in Montreal. BBCM is now an institution in Montreal and if you’ve never been to the Black & Blue, you’re missing an amazing circuit party with great music, great shows, amazing lights,…. and oh…. the beautiful men and women dancing their asses off on the dance-floor. SO MUCH FUN!!!

This year, I made the trip to Montreal to relive the Black & Blue experience. I remember my first Black & Blue…. it was 1993 – I recall climbing the long escalator in the main party room …. the closer I got to the dance-floor, the more bass and boom boom boom I felt. It was incredible. Then, I entered a room filled with thousands of the coolest people in the world. I’ll never forget that moment… I was hooked. I went for several years and I’ve had some of the best times so I was thrilled to be able to report on the 28th Black & Blue. I saw this as a great opportunity to hang with my partner of 22 years, Stephan, as we relived some memories. We certainly don’t party like we used to: the little baggie in my pocket contained ear plugs and my shoes were orthotic. So – ya – I’m a little more practical than I used to be. LOL. However – we can appreciate and enjoy a good party like the Black & Blue.

Let’s talk about the weekend. There were actually multiple events throughout the week. I specifically had my sights on the following:

Bal en Cuir @ Lion d’Or (5 oct.)
Party District @ Hangar (6 oct.)
Black & Blue – Événement principal – Partie 1 @ MTelus
Black & Blue – Événement principal – Partie 2 @ Club Soda

Unfortunately, we arrived late on Friday Oct. 5 so we were unable to attend Bal en Cuir. I heard it was a smaller venue but the music was good and the event was busy…. Sorry I missed it… it’s always a pleasure to see a sea of leather and fur (woof!!). District was fun…. the space was a converted warehouse -essentially, a big room with lights and effects. Alain Jackinsky was great and the atmosphere was pretty hot. It was definitely not the highlight of the weekend but a great warm up for the main event. It was just what we needed to get into the mood and into the zone. Next stop….Black & Blue!!!

This year, organizers tried something new: they split the event into two parts. Partie 1 was held at M Telus (aka Club Metropolis) and started early at 5pm, but ended at 3am and Partie 2 was right around the corner at Club Soda and ran from 2am until 10am. This split offered attendees a variety of experiences to suit their tastes. M Telus is a beautiful theatre venue that is no stranger to the gay scene as it has been host to classic parties such as Wild n Wet and the Military Ball. Club Soda is a slick music venue that has been used for many parties and concerts. Just a few blocks west of the village, the locations were easy access.

The splashy Partie 1 at M Telus was host to a spectacular light show and a medley of entertainment from acrobatics to dancers to singers and even a tribute to Aretha Franklin. The venue was filled with boys and girls, young and old, wearing anything and everything that was black and blue. I saw leather, I saw plastic, I saw makeup, I saw feathers and I saw a lot of skin! I think everyone was into the theme, which made it quite festive, and there was always something or someone new to see wherever you walked. The dance floor was busy the whole time I was there. We only got there at around 10pm because we had to have a serious disco nap after the previous night at District and dancing for about 5 hours… not to mention Partie 2 was still to come. I can’t keep up like I used to, but I sure try! This is where I thank the creators of energy drinks! Not a big fan usually, but they allowed us to keep going all night (and morning) and to dance our butts off. For me, the highlights were the DJs, the lights, and the energy drinks – nah… just kidding….the venue, of course.  It was amazing to see Ultra Naté spinning and then sing her anthem “Free” which, honestly, made the night for me. I associate so many great memories to that song so it was great to see her perform it again after so many years. And…. what can I say about Roger Sanchez? – he is, and will always be, an epic DJ that satisfies all your dancing needs. And I just loved the lights – although I personally would have loved to see a laser (but I always want a laser – I’d put one in my kitchen if I could!). Overall, the event was nice and fluffy – dancy music, fun lights, nice entertainment and a pleasant ambience.

Then we made our way to Partie 2 at Club Soda. There was a definite change in the atmosphere…. Suddenly it was a hard core after-hours club: security was super tight, the lights were low, the music was darker, and the ambience was a little raunchier. This is where I would disappear into the music and become one with the speakers – well…. that was a few years ago and it took more than a few energy drinks to get there. I noticed a few familiar faces (and other body parts) from Partie 1, but I got the impression that most partiers were just getting going…. And going they got! Hot boys and girls all over the place dancing and grooving as bright white and yellow spotlights ripped through the dark room. DJ Abel Aguilera got the crowd pumped up in no time. The atmosphere was jacked up and Partie 2 was well under way as more hot sexy boys filled the dance-floor. It was a sweet reminder of how awesome after-hour clubs and club music are.

Regrettably – we didn’t make it to 10am…. Are you kidding???!! It would have been nice, but I don’t do all-nighters anymore. I was happy and satisfied as we walked home and stopped at a 24-hr fast food chain and stuffed our faces….. hmmmm…. POUTINE!!!

I’m really glad I was able to return to the Black & Blue after years of being away. I thought I might be disappointed as I held on to memories of 18,000 of the coolest people in huge spaces (with lasers!) where we lost it on the dance floor to the best music, but I honestly was not. It was so much fun. There is literally something for everyone here and I applaud the organizers at BBCM for catering to a diverse crowd. And it was great to spend a few days in Montreal to catch up with friends and family, eat out and have a few drinks. Ste Catherine was still closed to traffic and home to the brand new Carnaval des Couleurs, which offered residents and visitors an opportunity to meet and discover the talents, cultures and flavours that make up the city’s great mosaic. In fact, for 5 minutes, I ran away and joined the circus! It was awesome! Robert Vézina, BBCM President and founder, took a moment to tell me “We are very happy to have added the new Carnival of Colours during the Black & Blue weekend for the 2018 edition. It’s a new street fest in the gay village, open to all for free, that complements the Black & Blue beautifully, with live music, dance performances, circus acts and other activities.  With this new street fest, the Black & Blue Festival in Montreal will expand its audience and its role in the coming years.”

If you want to take Thanksgiving to the next level and celebrate and dance with hundreds of your LGBTQ+ brothers, sisters & non-binary siblings, the Black & Blue Festival is where you need to be! Check it out next year and start planning your black and blue outfits now!

See y’all on the dance-floor!

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