Ah yes, those questions that you have about my relationship. We have been making reference to Sister Wives over the past few weeks and this immediately brings me to the number one thing that it takes to be in a 3 way relationship. “Allowing” is something I have been working on over the past year or so. Allowing rather than resisting, for me has provided freedom to my life and most of all movement forward.  My friend Staci refers to this as Grace, I never fully understood this word until now. Living without resisting what’s going on, is living in grace.

So yes, we all do sleep in the same bed although Drasko does have his own place which he tends to visit for days on end. He has a bit of the artistic hermit in him which I completely understand. The rest of the time it’s the three of us. I sleep in the middle and if anyone who happens to be reading this has a solution for the middle guy being trapped under the blankets and over heating please let me know what’s working for you.  The rule here is generally if you’re not sleeping well, you move to the couch.

Okay so maybe I won’t get to all of your questions but please feel free to ask below.

A New Moon in Scorpio is coming to a town near you this Friday.  Stillness, power, passion, and focus – this is what we have to work with this month. November is all about passion and connecting in your heart and gut level to your goals and dreams.

Read the full story

Have you ever had one of those days when you just need something to lighten the mood a little? I have the perfect thing for you! Clam Slam! A little known Pride Affiliated event that’s chalk full’o craziness. First of all I do have to apologize to my Trans readers I so really wanted to cover the March that took place yesterday It was one of those event that I personally have never been too and I am aware of the struggles that this community is experiencing. I will cover some of my thought on this, in a whole post dedicated to the Trans Community as soon as Pride is over.

Early in the morning I went into Maggi’s room and discovered a whole bottle of Lorazapams that she felt she did not need to tell me about. I was feeling rather played by the time we had our guest come over to head out to the Toronto Roller Derby. I was in desperate need of something fun and very silly.

The Hanger, is located at Downsview park it’s quite the complex and I need to investigate the goings on there. I was surprised at the amount of space this complex took up. When we approached the building their was of course, music pouring out of what is a massive empty space with a simple rope line on the ground marking out the rink. Nothing like the old ’70s velodrome rinks. The players were skating around warning up and their was an overwhelming sense of camaraderie between the player a stark contrast to when the game was actually being played.

The crowd was so into the event cheering on team members with names like, Mexican Jumping Mean and Sista Fista. Over all the evening was highly entertaining and very fast paced. Those girls know how to have a good time. Hopefully next year they will have a Trans Team ’cause that would just make the whole event that much more fun. I will go back next year. Also The Toronto Roller Derby holds event through out the year so check out their full schedule on line.

In the end the Vagine Regime won 105 – 60 for the Clam Diggers.

Next on the Pride Train for me is Cindy Lauper have a great pride everybody!

Ultra Naté and Suzanne Palmer perform at Aqua Pride 2010
Pride Toronto announced today that due to promotional commitments for her new album in Europe, Kelis is no longer able to perform at Toronto Pride. She sends her deepest apologies and hopes to reschedule soon.

However, as an event that never disappoints, Aqua Pride, this year a collaboration between Pride Toronto and one of the events in the annual Prism festival, presents Ultra Naté and Suzanne Palmer. Now in its seventh year, Prism Festival has hosted a variety of established artists including Brett Hendrickson, Kelly Rowland, Peter Rauhofer, Ana Paula, Honey Dijon, Abel, Tony Moran Deborah Cox, Hector Fonseca, Chaka Khan, Mya, Tracey Young, Offer Nissim, Mickey Friedman, Roland Belmares, Lena Love, Manny Lehman, Isaac Escalante and many more.
“This year’s edition of Prism Festival’s Aqua Pride is going to be off the chain with these two notorious divas!  We can’t wait!” says Pride Toronto’s Arts & Entertainment Manager, Mary Zondanos.
In 2010 Ultra Naté celebrates two decades of chart-topping hits. A musical chameleon, Naté is always experimenting new sounds. This year it’s non-stop recording for the diva with the likes of David Morales, Quentin Harris, Nervo (who co-wrote David Guetta’s ‘When Love Takes Over’), Tony Moran and a collaboration with Michelle Williams (formerly of Destiny’s Child). Naté will be aiming for super stardom later this year with the release of her new album ‘Hero Worship’.
Suzanne Palmer, a featured vocalist on many tracks by the Grammy award winning Peter Rauhofer, is back with ‘Big Love’ playing in clubs all over the world. Tracks like ‘Hide U’, ‘Show Me’, her smash ‘643/Love’s On Fire’ (with Tiesto), ‘Luv 2 Luv’, ‘Home’, ‘Sound Of The Drum’, ‘Fascinated’, ‘Free My Love’, ‘Style’, ‘Much Better’, ‘Alright’, ‘Muscles’, ‘Hide U’ Palmer never cease to stun crowds. Having spent the last several months recording, including a recent trip to Israel to record tracks with Offer Nissim, Palmer makes a special stop in Toronto especially for this annual ‘can’t miss’ event.

Since 2006, the Prism team has worked hard to build a solid foundation in the city, increasing attendance by 30 percent at their annual festival over the last four years. Prism takes place this year at the Kool Haus, Guvernment, Skybar, Fly Nightclub and Pride Toronto’s Wellesley Stage.

Year-round, Prism produces events in venues throughout the city:  Prism College, Madonnarama, Britney Mania, Prism Divas, Eden (Labour Day), Arrival (New Year’s) and a slew of other events that keep our local talent busy (Shawn Riker, Marc Falco, Jeremy Khamkeo, Cajjmere Wray, GIA, Lena Love, Jamal, Sumation, Cesar Murillo). Prism was also behind the legendary ‘Queer As Folk Babylon tour’, producing 100 shows for over 200,000 people across North America.

Prism has carved out a reputation for producing some of the hottest late-night parties during Pride Week. Their annual Prism Festival has featured artists like Chaka Khan, Kelly Rowland, Offer Nissim, Ana Paula, Peter Rauhofer, Manny Lehman, Flava, DJ Abel, Francois Sagat, Tony Moran, Tracy Young, Deborah Cox and Sydney Blu.

Single event tickets and weekend passes are on-sale now exclusively at www.priape.com/prismtoronto or through Priape retail locations in Toronto and Montreal. Call PRIAPE at 1-800-461-6969 for more details or for store locations.

Pride Toronto once again stands in solidarity with LGBTTIQQ2SA communities around the world with its human rights program, called Global Human Rights for Queers: What OUT is About 2010. This program promotes awareness of queer human rights abuses around the world, ranging from anti-sodomy laws to the death penalty in a number of countries.

“This is the fifth year since we introduced this annual program,” says Frank Folino, Human Rights Coordinator. “The 2010 program includes a wide variety of events, as well as several exhibits throughout the festival.”

Highlights of Global Human Rights for Queers: What OUT is About 2010 include:

Tuesday, June 29^th – Bridging Queer International Human Rights at Home and Around the World: A panel discussion at the historic Gladstone Hotel in the heart of the Queer West Village, the event will feature panelists Arsham Parsi, Marilyn Byers, Kim Vance, and Kenji Tokawa led by moderator Andrew Vail. 1214 Queen Street, at 6 pm

Friday, July 2^nd – Trans After Party: Annual performers Funkasia pay tribute to the Trans community through the edgy and the underground by hosting the official after party for the Trans march. At the Phoenix, 410 Sherbourne Street, 10pm

Saturday, July 3^rd & Sunday July 4^th -What OUT is About Exhibits: Visitors can learn about the civil and human rights violations faced by queer communities around the world and what can be done to support the continuing movement for equality. Saturday and Sunday, 11 am to 8 pm – Church Street, north of Wellesley and Queen’s Park.

Sunday, July 4^th – YogaPalooza – Peace, Love & Pride in Queen’s Park: Toronto’s Biggest Yoga Class ever is free on Sunday in Queens Park. Join in the unique celebration of music, movement and meditation for Human Rights led by renowned Yogi, Salimah Kassim-Lakha. Queens Park, mainstage, 12:30pm to 1:30pm. Register at http://yogavision.com/yogapalooza.

More information on all events can be found at www.pridetoronto.com/events.

About the Moderator and Panelists:

Andrew Vail: the creator/writer of The Middle Edge, which can be read on www.gayguidetoronto.com. He has also written for Xtra! as well as a variety of local and national publications. Andrew joined the group Lesbian and Gay Youth Toronto in 1982 and became a youth activist for queer rights, marching in many Pride parades over the years.

Arsham Parsi: is a founder and Executive Director of Iranian Railroad for Queer Refugees – Also Coordinator and Cultural Ambassador of the Stockholm-based International Lesbian and Gay Cultural Network (ILGCN), official member of the Brussels-based International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA), the Toronto-based Rainbow Railroad group, and the Berlin-based Advisory Committee of the Hirschfeld-Eddy Foundation for LGBT Human Rights.

Marilyn Byer: is proud to be one of the founding members with Barbara & Tom Beattie of PFLAG Canada-York Region On. (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, Transgendered). Marilyn’s son “came out” to her in 1994, and this chapter was started in 1996. PFLAG’s mission is to support and educate- to cope with an adverse society; to enlighten an ill-informed public; to end discrimination and to secure equal human rights. She does by giving workshops, presentations and speeches for corporations, churches, and clubs and frequently in high schools on “How to end Homophobia”. Marilyn spoke at the “RISE” conference (respectful, inclusive and supportive education).

Kim Vance: is a founder and Co-Director of ARC International, based in Canada and Switzerland. ARC International is an organization which uses a unique community leadership development model to: facilitate international coordination and networking among organizations working to advance human rights based on sexual orientation and gender identity; develop and facilitate the use of tools to engage in international advocacy (particularly within the UN); and foster the relationship between grassroots organizations and governments and/or human rights mechanisms. Before founding ARC, Kim served as President of Egale Canada, and is a seasoned activist within the LGBT communities at the national and local level in Canada.

Kenji Tokawa: is a founder and coordinator of a program attempting to make arts and activism more accessible to trans people of colour – GenderFOC: writing workshops for trans/gendervariant people of colour. GenderFOC is only a seed project with funding from the Community One Foundation to run a small series of pilot workshops, and we are waiting to hear back on more funding to continue it. She has been a facilitator with the Trans Access Project out of the 519 Church Street Community Centre since spring 2008; we are a team of trans people who train social service providers how to make their services more accessible to trans people.

The following is a response to a piece written by Stephen Lane of Oxballs. Oxballs is a company that makes insertables as well as various cock and ball toys made of high grade silicone. The piece was published on Leatherati.com and can be viewed here.

Let me open saying this. I agree with you in one regard. The comments you make about the IML Barebacking Ban and the inclusion of bestiality porn in the vendor market are incredibly valid. But I am not writing this in order to agree with you. So lets get on to where our opinions differ.

You say it isn’t right for a trans person to enter a contest for men. You complain that it would be unfair for example you to enter a contest intended for lesbians and take the title. That both your hypothetical actions and those very real actions of my brother Tyler deprive someone more deserving of a title. International Mr. Leather is a contest for men. They have clear definitions of what constitutes someone of male gender. Tyler very obviously fits those requirements. Your point is all but moot, no? Your own transphobia is showing.

You say that inclusion only goes so far. That we have to draw the line somewhere. Your going to withdraw your support from all groups and organizations that don’t have the “balls” to get lesbian and trans individuals out? Go ahead. Feel free. Do you think those organizations who support inclusion really want the money from a bigot? You say “This is the leather community’s Sarah Palin…just in leather.” I am assuming you mean to say that we have chosen a figure head which exemplifies the worst in our community? Much like when Republicans chose her as their VP candidate? I think the comparison would be more apt were we to of chosen a pig headed, bigoted asshole such as your self to represent us. Someone who exemplifies our worst points?

I will applaud you for one thing. You are willing to take such a big risk associated your incredibly popular products with your own bullshit views. You could have left an anonymous comment. You could of bitched to your friends. But you chose to publish your opinions for all to see. Bravo. It takes a lot of balls to do that.

I won’t be supporting your company and I will ask my friends to do the same. So go burn your leather and hang out with the Rubber guys.

DOWNLOAD THE FREE PRIDE TORONTO iPhone App!

Pride Toronto this year is launching of its own iPhone application. Designed and developed by Toronto-based firm Mobile Fringe, the Pride app is free and available through Apple’s App Store.

“Visitors new and old will rely upon the PrideTO mobile app to keep track of the various events, the entertainment activities and featured locations throughout the 10-day festival,” says Tracey Sandilands, Executive Director of Pride Toronto.

Powered by Mobile Fringe’s mobile event platform, the app features:

• List of Pride events with detailed information
• Map of event locations
• Affiliated events with map and detailed information
• What’s On Today – a filter of each day’s events
• Links to social media, including Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, You Tube, and the Pride photo album on Flickr where users can post their own photos directly:

Other information available includes contact info for the organization, location of Dis/Ability areas, TTC info and event tips.

Words of Pride daily news!

Click the tagline to get to the full story!

Shaun Proulx talks Yogapalooza with Salimah Kasim- Lakha!

Porn Star Pierre Fitch:  Artist of the Day!

What does Pride Toronto mean to Kyle Rae?  Find out!

Words of Pride daily news!

Click the tagline to get to the full story!

Runnin’ to Artist of the Day: Jully Black!

Celine Dorion? NO! It’s  Artist of the Day: Michel Dorion!  YES!

88 Days of Fortune with Artist of the Day: Ayo Leilani!

Words of Pride daily news!

Click the tagline to get to the full story!

Artist of the Day: MEN!

Grand Marshal’s win Pride Toronto Theme Award!