EPITHET :: ‘Butch’, ‘Femme’, ‘Lipstick Lesbian’, ‘Chapstick Lesbian’, ‘Gold-Star Lesbian’, ‘Lone Star Lesbian’, ‘Hasbian’, ‘Stem Futch Boi’… Labels make me crazy! At an event a couple of years ago my wife Laurie and I were standing close to the stage when a prop fell to the floor in front of us. As I moved to lift it back up, the MC said into the mic, “That’s what we need, Breakspear. A strong butch to take care of things around here.”

I felt my face burn and I began to seethe. Not only had she called me a butch – a label I’ve never been comfortable with – but she did so in front of a crowd of people who could now possibly associate me with that label.

I’ve never been comfortable with labels, nor do I understand why the queer community is so keen to attach them to ourselves and other people. When I came out at 18 it was the early 80’s. Annie Lennox was Elvis at the Grammy Awards, David Bowie had taken  Ziggy Stardust into androgyny fame, and Susan Sarandon, Catherine Deneuve and again Bowie were the sexiest undead ever. Both the famous and the not-so were resisting being pegged as any one specific look or type.

Likewise, my peers and I didn’t want to be the butches and femmes of the previous generation. We wore our Levis, rugby shirts and high tops and thought we were pushing against the tide. We wore ear cuffs, spiked our hair and danced all night to Parachute Club, Cyndi Lauper, The Eurythmics, Wham! and Culture Club. We thought we were creating a place for ourselves where it didn’t matter how any of us presented ourselves or whether in any given moment we looked or seemed more masculine or feminine.

For ten years I was a paramedic and wore a uniform to work. I was read as a guy just as often as I was a woman. The uniform was what people saw first, particularly in time of crisis, and their expectation was that the capable person in uniform was male.

As the Executive Director of QMUNITY, my work day uniform is the West Coast version of business casual (which means very casual) but there are times for suits, and getting glammed up is in order now and again. For dress-up occasions I have found a number of sufficiently dressy, cleavage revealing, colourful outfits (and even a dress now and then) and, most importantly, heels I can wear comfortably for a few hours. I subsequently enjoy the confusion I see on the faces of some who had thought they had me all figured out.  I am more than my clothes and I am certainly more than what anyone might think my clothes mean.

And so is my partner. It hadn’t occurred to me until she pointed it out that when someone assigns a label to me they are also making limiting assumptions about her. As in, if they read me as butch she must be femme, etc. If there is one thing I’ve learned in our 15+ years together, Laurie will not be limited. She is made up of many different aspects much like a polygon with many different sides (and I say that not just because she is a Gemini). It is all those limitless possibilities, differences and dimensions that are why I love her. And why I can’t stand it when she or I or anyone else is confined by one dimensional stereotypical perceptions.

A label conveys a superficial glimpse at one aspect of a person.  Let’s keep the labels and boxes for holiday gifts, and free our imaginations to see beyond one momentary presentation.

We are all so much more.

Photo: Kris Krug. Featured photo on GGT homepage: iO Tillet Wright

Three words: Force. Of. Nature. More words: Driven, authentic, shoe-a-holic, frontman for The Cliks, who are set to take to the stage this Toronto Pride. Lucas Silveira is our new Man of the Hour and takes our TMI Questionnaire:

JUST THE FACTS

I’m a: Leo.
I’m (age): Hell no girl- a tranny never tells.
I was born: July 30th in Toronto.
I am: A musician/songwriter/rock star.
My fave colour: Black.
Passion: Music.
Fantasy entourage: Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Angelina Jolie.
Turn-ons: Confidence. I love it when a woman hits on me first.
Irresistible in a mate: Passion and focus.
Phrase I most overuse: I need coffee. Now.
Most people would be surprised to know I: Am a psychic intuitive. Scoff but it’s true.
Fictional best friend: Snoopy.
Talent I wish I had: Cooking.
When I order a cocktail I ask for: What dark chocolatey roasty beers do you have?—or a Heineken.

GUILTY PLEASURES

TV: The Facts Of Life.
Song: Wake Me Up Before You Go Go by Wham!
Greatest extravagance: Buying $350 Fluevog Boots- but I was about to perform a duet with Cyndi Lauper at Radio City Music Hall in New York so, need I say more?

WEAR APPARENT

Jeans: Nudies, Diesel, Levi’s
Footwear: Fluevogs, Timberland, Vans, Converse, Pony, Adidas, Penguins, I have an addiction to shoes. I could go on. No joke.
Watch: Don’t wear one
Eyewear: Ray Bans- Aviator & Wayfarer
Casual: Jeans, Tshirt, kinda guy but it’s all gotta come together with the shoes.
Formal: Suit, tie, leather, black boots baby.
Perfume / Cologne: Man – Calvin Klein.

BEAUTY DUTY

Shampoo: Whatever is at the hotel or whatever I brought home from the hotel. Or Dove.
Face wash: Neutrogena.
Moisturizer: Kheils Jet Fuel w 15 SPF.
Body Lotion: Vaseline Body Lotion (unscented).
Indulgence: Can’t say I really have one.

GOTTA GETTA GADGET

Gadgets: Everything Mac makes. I have 2 iPhones but I always want the newest one. A black Mercedes Benz.
On my music player now: The Strokes – Angles.
I always PVR: Never. Barely watch TV.

CULTURE VULTURE

Last book read: Reading- Naked- David Sedaris.
Last movie seen: Black Swan.
Last concert: A great funk band in New York city at Rockwood Music Hall called Aabaraki.
Last play: Something w my ex girlfriend and her parents in Niagara On The Lake but I can’t remember.

OBSESSIONS

Current obsession: My career.
Past obsession: My career.
Future obsession: My career.

CRYSTAL BALL

The next big thing will be: I want to write a book.

AND FINALLY …

Words of wisdom: Have the courage to make mistakes. That’s how you learn to never make them again.

I have a new solo CD called “Mockingbird”. It’s available on iTunes. Amazon and at www.indiepool.com, and I will be performing with The Cliks on Friday, July 1st at the post Trans Pride March festivities at 10 PM.

For all upcoming shows please visit thecliks.com

Juno nominated Dragonette return to the Pride Toronto festival and this time open for Cyndi Lauper. In 2008 Dragonette collaborated with Lauper on the track ‘Grab a Hold’ for her ‘Bring Ya to the Brink’. The next year they released ‘Fixing to Thrill’ much to the adoration of all of us. The album garnered interest from Kaskade and Martin Solveig, who they’ve collaborated with since then. They’ve also opened up for the highly respected Basement Jaxx and Sugababes. We can’t wait to see what they do next!

Dragonette opens for friend Cyndi Lauper as part of Dyke Day on Saturday July 3 in Queen’s Park at 7:30pm.

Pride Toronto’s 30^th anniversary festival features local heroes, international stars, literary lights, interactive arts and everything that is diverse, inclusive, queer and progressive on 9 stages spread over 35 blocks in downtown Toronto.

“Pride-goers can see Cyndi Lauper on the new Queen’s Park stage as part of the expanded Dyke Day program along with local favourites The Cliks, Saidah Baba Talibah, Dragonette, Betti Forde and more” says Mary Zondanos, Arts and Entertainment Manager at Pride Toronto.

Alternaqueer expands its program across the weekend with Lovers Love Haters (Debora Cohen from The Organ’s newest project), MEN, Misstress Barbara LIVE w/ Girls On A Ducati, Ryan G. Hinds, Josie Cotton, Woodhands, Diamond Rings, Private Life (Katie Stelmanis), Copenhagen’s Fagget Fairys and many more.

Divas reign supreme this year with Zelma Davis (from C+C Music Factory), Lolene, one the UK’s hottest exports, local darling Nancy Rancourt, resident Pride diva Simone Denny, Amanda Morra and R&B sensations Ivana Santilli and Jully Black.

Pride Week 2010 also features the TransVerse program, celebrating the Trans community with America’s Best Dance Crew Vogue Evolution, a commissioned dance piece by local superstar Scott Fordham (‘Full of GLEE’), Buck Angel, S. Bear Bergman, Alec Butler, Girlyman – who recently collaborated with Margaret Cho on her upcoming album, San Francisco hip hop notable Katastrophe and more including the official after party done in partnership with Pride Toronto’s South Asian program, FunkAsia!

Dance takes on many forms with Project Dance back for Round Two, along with Colour Me Dragg, Queer Idol’s tribute to Pride Toronto’s 30 year history, House of Monroe, FunkAsia’s amazing dancers, and – another first – the Pride Toronto Flashmob.

In 2010 for the first time, Pride Toronto introduces ‘Werq!’ a circuit music program which spans the whole weekend, taking over Wellesley stage.

“It all kicks off with Aqua Pride, a co-presentation between Pride Toronto and Prism Festival,” says Zondanos. “Prism is one of North America’s largest circuit festivals and we are proud to working with them again.”

The Werq! Stage features Ana Paula, Isaac Escalante, David Morales, Australian dream Kitty Glitter, Honey Dijon, Cajjmere Wray, Mike Viera, Pierre Fitch and others.

The Blockorama stage returns for the 12^th year with a solid line up of resident favourites and new discoveries in George Hislop parkette, including DJ Memphis Sugar, Nik Red, Ayo Leilani, Craig Dominic, Abstract Random, Troy Jackson, Michelle Ross, Ill Nana, Unruly Twin, DJ Bugo and Jojo Flores.

Those hot for electronic music can join JELO, Robb G, The House Moguls, Sydney Blu, Hector Fonseca, Dwayne Minard, MC Flipside, DJ Blackcat, Adam K & Soha, Panic Bomber, Deko-ze, Don Berns AKA Dr. Trance, Neill Macleod, DJ Ritu (BBC radio), Brandon Sek, Chiclet, and  the Yes Yes Y’all crew.

“Pride Toronto’s Village stage includes a stellar line up of Drag Queens, Kings and Burlesque,” Zondanos says, “featuring the Degenderit Cabaret, Zippers Angels, Carlotta Carlisle, GIA, Michel Doiron, Divinesque, Eddie Barnett, Michelle Ross, Ivory, Daytona Bitch, Divine, Genderfuct, Miss Conception, Sofonda Cox, Laura Landauer, Dirk and Flare.

For the younger set, Fruit Loopz produced by Supporting our Youth includes two stages with youth artists in sunny Alexander Parkette, complete with Toronto’s most talented young musicians, slam poets, dancers, actors and drag artists.

The Community Café, Pride Toronto’s community space in which performers donate their performance to the festival in celebration of the community includes the Asian Community AIDS Services, Canadian Tamil Congress, NIA, Bold Steps Dance Studio, Queer Dance Community, Hula Sun Village Dance Troupe, Sapphire Dance Productions and 88 Days of Fortune.

The Pride Lounge, the festival’s singer/songwriter space, will feature performances from Michael Caplan, Meridith Shaw, Melissa Li (from Good Asian Drivers), Michelle Mondesir, Shawnee Lynne, eMKeh, Jaceyln Holmes, Rachel Newman, VIVIV and more.

Literary program Proud Voices is back again with curator Susan G. Cole (Senior Entertainment and Books Editor at NOW Magazine) hosting an incredible and inspiring program with the Aqsa Collective, Truth Is…, Beth Ann Fisher, Christina Starr, Jess Dobkin, Rose Cullis, Krystle Mullin, Lex Vaughn, Mariko Tamaki, Jon Redfern, Shaun Proulx, Emma Donoghue, Pink Ink and Vivek Shraya.

Plot, Engage, Disperse, Pride Toronto’s interactive art program, returns again with students from the Toronto Alternative Arts school, youth from Sketch, life size twister, the “What Does Pride Mean to You” photo project from Pride Toronto’s Youth Committee, live graffiti, sketching and many other ways people can interact with the festival!

Pride Toronto’s new Spotlight Series showcases some of the individuals and organizations who contribute year round to the vibrancy of our cultural community. Carlyle Jansen presents ‘Crave’ a women’s erotic cabaret at the Phoenix, the women behind the ‘club skirts’ Dinah Shore present ‘Jet Setter’ at 99 Sudbury, and Matt Sims presents a special Pride edition of ‘HEY REBEL!’, one of Toronto’s best monthly all ages events at one of Toronto’s best venues, The Great Hall.

In addition, Zahra Dhanani of Funkasia, Nik Red and Shafik Kamani present the official Transverse afterparty at the Phoenix Concert Theatre; Denise Benson and Cozmic Cat present ‘CHERRY BOMB: PRIDE: A DEEPER LOVE’ at Revival; Big Primpin’ does a special edition at Wrongbar; Alan Kliffer presents ‘Gay for Comedy’ at the Panasonic Theatre and the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives present a remount of their National Portrait Collection.

“And that’s definitely not all,” says Zondanos. “There are many other performers we will be hosting at Pride this year, so stay tuned!”

For a full schedule of events, including dates, times and locations, keep checking www.pridetoronto.com.