I had so much fun celebrating VanPride2010 last Sunday. I was thrilled to check out Raul Pacheco-Vega’s photo stream on flickr. He captures tons of pictures of the CITR Crew broadcasting live. My favourite of course is the photo he took of the two of us.
Smiling pretty with the handsome, Mr. Raul Pacheco-Vega. Multi-talented Raul posed and took this picture.
Although the parade is over, pride continues on. It is a great opportunity to cuddle up, nibble on popcorn and check out some great movies at the Vancouver Queer Film Festival.
I was thrilled to discover the Sexy in Vancity podcast with the unstopable Conni Smudge is yours to download. Although Conni and I didn’t get to swap microphones as she emceed the parade for the 3rd year in a row and I broadcasted from the parade.
CITR 101.9FM Volunteers Broadcasting Live at Pride. Photo by Raul Pacheco-VegaCITR and Mint Records Volunteers Celebrating VanPride 2010 with Live BroadCast Photo by Raul Pacheco-VegaRaul Pacheco-Vega joins me on the CITR 101.9FM and Mint Records Float for pride. Photo by Raul Pacheco-Vega
A few weeks ago, Dr. Faizal Sakurhan was on our show chatting about hymenoplasty. This week’s edition of Sexy in Vancity Radio took that topic to a deeper level. On Wednesday night, Sheri Winston, author of Women’s Anatomy of Arousal and I chatted about how designer vagina surgeries are on the rise. Although the internet has brought sexuality into our homes, pornography addiction is on the rise. With our society’s exposure to pornography, women are becoming more aware of how we “should” look. As Sheri said, “Porn is for entertainment not education.”
I was thrilled when I mentioned Nick Karras’ book Petals which features black and white photographs of 48 vulvas (each looking beautiful yet different than the last), Sheri laughed as she had a copy of the book open in front of her. I applauded her in her book Women’s Anatomy of Arousal has the anatomy maps and pictures of vulvas in different shapes and sizes.
This edition of Sexy in Vancity Radio talks about:
During my twenty-something stint, music got me out of bed in the morning. My roommates and I would stumble out of bed. Bleary-eyed, I would hit play on my cassette deck. “We Go Together” from the Grease Soundtrack filled our tiny basement suite. Giggling we would hug each other as we danced around. During the six-week stint I stayed there, music filled my days.
Nights were filled with music blasting from my car stereo. We would sing and move with the music as we drove from club to club. Life became a musical. Whenever I hear old songs, they propel memories into my mind. Good, bad, funny and sad memories seem filled with fondness. Perhaps that is one of the reasons I tend to start every episode of Sexy in Vancity with a throwback to the 80s – music to remember to.
The experience broadcasting live from VanPride 2010 inspired me. After spending the Pride Parade dancing and singing with CITR 101.9FM personalities such as Teddy Smooth, E-Rock, Duncan McHugh, Jason Colantonio, Marie Benard, and many more inspired me to expand my repertoire of music. For those of you who haven’t caught their shows on 101.9FM CITR, they are definitely worth listening to.
If you have sexy songs created by Vancouver musical artists that you would like to hear on Sexy in Vancity Radio, send them to me. Like a school girl, I need to pull up my knee socks and fasten the buckles on my Mary Janes when it comes to learning about music. To give me a head start, my friend, Barb Snelgrove, Grand Marshall of VanPride2010 Parade suggested I give Destineak a listen.
I listened and I liked it. Hence I started last night’s show with their song Just the Music.
“This one looks like a tropical plant,” Eugene Levy’s character in American Pie said as he examined the centerfold in a pornographic magazine. I didn’t realize how true that statement is. Thanks to commercial photographer, Nick Karras’ book Petals, I was able to see just how different vulvas can be. Last September, Nick Karras chatted to me on Sexy in Vancity about how he took pictures of a former lover’s vulva to show her how beautiful she was. At first she was uncomfortable looking at the photos. When he printed the photos in black and white, it seemed to erase the embarrassment she felt. She realized how beautiful her vulva was and showed the pictures to a friend.
Shortly after this, he was approached by several of the women in a women’s group of sexual violence survivors. Many of the women asked if they could pose for him. Through this process, he photographed over 100 women’s vulvas and the subjects of the photography sessions found healing through the process. When they saw the photographs, they could look at their vulvas without shame or stigma. His journey and the opinions of several sex educators (including Betty Dodson and Linda Savage PHD) was documented in the 2008 Winner of the Sexual Intelligence Award Film Petals Journey into Self Discovery. Last year, I saw the film during the Vancouver International Film Festival.
Towards the end of the film, the black and white photos revealed 48 photographs of vulvas. Each one did resemble a flower. Each one beautiful in its own right. Photograph after photograph paused for a brief moment on the screen. I sat in the dark watching each image different from the previous one. This should be a prerequisite to anyone studying the female anatomy, I thought. During the question and answer session after the film, Nick Karras mentioned that he was looking for models for a colour version of Petals geared towards university medical students.
Perhaps this should be a prerequisite to sex education in the school system. For some women, the only opportunity they have to see a vulva is if they hold a hand mirror at the exact perfect angle between their legs. How do we expect lovers of women to be able to give pleasure when we (ourselves) do not know what our anatomy is?
I am looking forward to chatting to celebrated sexuality teacher, Sheri Winston, CNM, RN, BSN, LMT about that on tonight’s show. Winston, author of Women’s Anatomy of Arousal Secret Maps to Buried Pleasure’s unique perspective is derived from decades of experience as a certified nurse-midwife, gynecology practitioner, registered nurse, holistic healer, childbirth educator, massage therapist, and student of the esoteric erotic arts. She is the founder and executive director of the Center for the Intimate Arts.
You can listen live at 101.9FM CITR or www.citr.ca at 10pm PST.
Headphones off, feather pink boa tossed aside, Raul Pacheco-Vega (@hummingbird604) and I waving to thousands of people who came out to celebrate VanPride2010! Photo by Mark Robins
Yesterday”s post prompted queries of what my dress looked like. Thanks to Mark Robins from Gavancouver.net, there is evidence.
Yesterday I flicked through the wonderful moments Gay Vancouver.net captured in their photo album displayed on their site.
Readers, please add your links to online photos of the CITR float during VanPride2010 under the comments section.
”What should I wear?” I wailed. I stared at my closet packed with clothes. Although I chatted to the Unstoppable Conni Smudge during my Wednesday Night show about what was “hot” and what was “not” for Vancouver Pride 2010, I still was unclear about what to wear. Last year’s costume of space age Audrey Hepburn simply would not do. It wasn’t every day that Ms Sexy in Vancity gets to broadcast live at Vancouver Pride on the CITR 101.9FM float.
The Unstoppable Connie Smudge chatted to Me on Wednesday's Edition of Sexy in Vancity about what's Hot and What's Not during VanPride 2010 Photo by Tyler Ingram 2010
CITR 101.9FM and Mint Records chose the colours teal and gold for dress code for the float. After much deliberation, I finally settled on a strapless white/gold form fitted dress and a Prade styled light pink feathered wrap. For a moment I considered wearing a pair of comfortable flip flops. Then I imagined Conni Smudge running through the crowd to jump up on the float to exchange microphones with me when we passed Denman and Robson where she would be giving her personal play by play of the parade. If Conni can run in six inch heals, so can I, I thought as I strapped my feet into a pair of gold, BCBG spikes.
For a moment, I wondered if I should have taken Conni up on her offer. She had offered to dress me up as Marilyn Monroe. Although the white dress would be fetching, the concept of wearing a wig under my black headphones did not appeal. Ruefully, I wondered how I would be able to secure my waist length hair under a wig. With growing anticipation, I jumped into my taxi. I am no stranger to conducting live interviews. I play the getting to know you game every week during my 60 minute spot on CITR. Without a webcam recording “control-booth-Caroline” in action, you will have to take my word that I rarely wear makeup when I come in to do the show. I was nervous about coordinating Olivia and French Connection’s Marie-Eve Dumalong - roaming reporters, the studio with The Synchronicity Radio’sMarie Benard, and still smiling for everyone who came out to support pride.
I was a virgin to partaking in the Pride Parade. I’ve always been a pride supporter from afar. Maybe it is because my brother came out as a teen. During that period, he wanted nothing to do with his girly-girl sister. Over the years, I stopped asking if I could go with him to pride as he was worried I would embarrass him. Last year, I attended the parade as a spectator. I spent most of the parade slouched over. Silly as it might seem, I still felt guilty attending the parade without my brother’s blessing.
This was one of the reasons I offered to host the broadcast for CITR’s pride parade. I needed to come out! I wanted to show my support and the fact that I am proud that we live in a society where we can be proud of our sexuality. Although my brother has long since moved from Vancouver, that sense of guilt remained. Like an out of season coat, it needed to be disposed of.
I took a deep breath and hoped that I would be able to do the broadcast okay. Crossing my fingers, I hopped out of the cab to start the journey.
When I arrived at the float, Caba Radio’s Teddy Smooth, E-Rock, Duncan and other CITR personalities were dancing to the music as they formed an assembly line to tie ribbons and lollipops to the helium balloons. I wasn’t sure how I was going to conduct interviews with the blue gates set up separating the floats from the crowds. Thankfully, Raul Pacheco http://twitter.com/hummingbird604) was able to get through the crowd control.
Raul Pacheco-Vega, one of the country’s top bloggers and one of UBC’s faculty members chatted with me about coming out in Vancouver AND in Mexico. Raul, the youngest of five brothers came out in Vancouver first then in Mexico. Mexico, a Catholic country may cause a young man concern in regards to coming out. Thankful, Raul’s family was incredibly supportive and loving. Raul’s advice for people was: ” There’s a lot online support in Vancouver for people are considering coming out GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans).” According to Raul, some key resources include Gayvancouver.net - very community oriented website. Number of magazines like Vrag, Pinq Magazine. Another key resource is qmunity resource centre. Raul advised coming out at your own comfort. “You can come out first to your friends, then to your coworkers and whoever else you feel most comfortable with,” advised Raul.
Sweetly smooth the day sailed along. Thanks to Marie Benard skillful engineering, we bounced gently from interview, to song, to roaming reporters. On location broadcast coordinator, Bronwyn brought people up to the float for me to interview. It was exciting to find out about how different organizations supported pride. Amnesty International wanted our listeners to know that there were places in the world where people are not able to celebrate Pride. Youth Co AIDS Society offers support and education for people under 30 years old living with HIV/AIDS, and Stop War talked about how they support pride.
One of my favourite Sexy in Vancity guests popped on the float, Sexual Savant Salon’s Kim Anami. Her eyes shined as she spoke about how thrilled she was with the huge turn out. Thousands of people cheered as we practiced our “princess wave”. When I asked her what she was up to (when she wasn’t a vision dancing on the CITR float in a long blue dress), she mentioned her multi-orgasmic couple workshop that she is hosting at Tart Boutique on Friday, August 6th.
Vancouverites dressed up and down for VanPride2010. Photo by Tyler Ingram 2010
As we curved around the corner at Denman and Robson, I heard my name shouted over the cheering. Conni Smudge who was emceeing the parade greeted the CITR 101.9FM and Mint Records float. As I looked across the street trying to see Conni, I realized that we would not be switching mikes that day. There were thousands and thousands of people cheering.
Towards the end of the broadcast, I thanked Marie Benard. With the CITR show swap coming up, we had chatted about possibly co-hosting a show. Laughing we joked that we had a live run. As I hung up the phone and turned off the sound, I sat down on the edge of the float. As I looked up at the sea of teal and gold dancers on our float, I smiled. What a great way to celebrate Pride, I thought. Playing the getting-to-know-you game had paid off. Before I even gathered my things to leave, my iphone informed me that I had a few new friend requests on facebook. With fondness, I hit “accept.” Several of the CITR volunteers had added me.
As we headed towards English Bay, a familiar face greeted me. Raul climbed back on the float. As Duncan from Duncan’s Donuts and Fine Mist sang and danced, Raul and I continued to wave at the crowd. What a great way to end the parade, I thought. With old friends and new friends I sat tall and proud.
* On a personal note, my brother helped me locate guests to interview via facebook chat for this year’s Vancouver Pride. I like to think he is proud of me too.
Several decades ago, Madonna coined the phrase Like a Virgin. Five years ago, doctors in LA took that literally. Women started booking appointment for hymenoplasty. According to Dr. Faizal H Sahukhan, PHD women started getting the operation as a gift to their husbands. In South Asian cultures this surgery is performed for different reasons.
In the western world, many men value experience. In South Asian cultures, there is a high value placed on virginity. In the case of arranged marriage, famillies will go through great lengths to recreate virginity before that marriage takes place. A few weeks ago, the Province ran a story letting Vancouverites know this is happening in our home town.
You can download the podcast for last night’s in depth discussion about Revirginalization right here.
Adorning the walls of their fashionable store with art isn’t unusual for Lüt Boutique, but this time owners Jennifer Cummer and Stephan Bourke have brought in an artist who’s pieces will hopefully do more than just add colour to the walls. Lüt’s proceeds from the sale of the colourful collection will go directly to Qmuinty, BC’s leading queer resource center.
Qmuinty contributes to the health and well-being of LGTB communities through information and referral, education, coming-out groups, social support, recovery meetings, counseling, and community development. Painter Ben Worth’s Spectral Cities couldn’t be a more suiting collection for raising funds for a community who counts a rainbow as one of its many trademarks. The paintings are a part of a grouping of rainbow swathed cityscapes which in essence pay homage to our diverse metropolis.
The Art will hang in Lüt Boutique from July 22nd – August 31st but to kick off the hanging of Ben’s creations Lüt is holding an Art Opening at the store (4219 Main Street, Vancouver) on Thursday July 22 7pm – 10pm; attendees will be treated to a complimentary beverage and get to meet the artist.
All you have to to is leave a comment on this post about what your favourite thing is about seeing a movie. (one entry)
RT @sexyinvancity WANT TO WIN 2 tix to #Grown Up Movie Star http://sexyfitness.wordpress.com/2010/07/15/win-tickets-to…-up-movie-star/ (one entry)
Winner will be announce on Wednesday’s edition of Sexy in Vancity Radio on 101.9FM CITR. at 10pm PST.
***OFFICIAL SELECTION SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 2010***
…”A performance that leads ‘Grown Up Movie Star” to be one of the boldest and ballsiest coming of age films in a while and certainly one of best films of the (Sundance) festival.” – Alan Bacchus
…”Maslany is magnificent as the worldly Ruby.” – Toronto Star
…”Grown Up Movie Star’ sends a grenade into the coming-of-age subgenre of cinema.” – Daily Film Dose
…”It all comes together so dazzlingly….A tight package that never feels weighed down by its themes.” – Susan G. Cole, NOW Toronto
On July 22nd, First Weekend Club will bring you the Canadian Film that turned Sundance upside down, “Grown Up Movie Star”. This festival-haunting hit has won (or broken) the hearts of critics and reviewers, and thrown the dramatic coming-of-age genre upside down with a one-two punch of hard to face themes of family, sexuality and homosexuality, intermingled with snappy dialogue and the all too real beauty of teenage angst. But this is no case of a tragedy-overloaded Canadian film; levity and pacing is provided by the kind of comedy and dialogue that could only come from our far eastern province, or what Newfoundlanders like to call, “The Rock”. This film is raw. It is gritty and is an unapologetically close and personal look at coming of age. Simply put, this film has blown away festival indie audiences and we are thrilled to bring something of this calibre to Canada Screens as our July red carpet event, and to use the event to premiere it as our DVD Club pick, with an online interactive component.
“Grown Up Movie Star”, shot in Newfoundland and directed and written by Adriana Maggs, is a riveting tale of confused love, family and discovery of identity. This coming of age film is relevant to many ages due to the poignant, multi-layered and absolutely grounded portrayal of characters by a cast which features Shawn Doyle, Tatiana Maslany, Jonny Harris, Mark O’Brien, Andy Jones, Julia Kennedy and Sherry White. And a cameo by Canadian comedy and maritime icon, Mary Walsh. If you can’t join us on the 22nd, rent it from one of our partners and join FWC’s DVD Club and post your comments. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the DVD Club, it’s like a book club, but for film. Follow the DVD Club Blog to read behind-the-scenes scoop, interviews with the filmmaking team and industry updates of our Official DVD Selections. By commenting on the DVD Club Blog and participating in the FWC Clubhouse, you are entered to win iTunes giftcards and free rentals from Videomatica.ca. Simply make a profile on our website and join in the discussion. It’s a great way to interact with Canadian stars and filmmakers and meet fellow film fans. See you online! Synopsis: Grown Up Movie Star tells the story of disgraced NHL star Ray and his precocious daughters Ruby and Rose. Once the town hero, Ray has returned home to Newfoundland from the US following a drug conviction, only to have his wife Lillian leave him for another man and aspirations of stardom. With Lillian gone, Ray flails from woman to woman trying to find a replacement for her, while struggling against a growing awareness of his homosexuality. At loose ends for lack of guidance, Ruby attempts to follow her mother’s starlet dreams with make up and sexual behavior, and in a desperate plea for attention, begins putting herself in increasingly risky situations. Ruby begins spending more and more time with Ray’s best friend Stuart, confined to a wheelchair following an accident involving Ray. When Stuart finds himself attracted to Ruby, dangerously motivated by fear and anger, he leads the three of them towards a heartbreaking conclusion.
EVENT DETAILS: When: Thursday, July 22nd Where: District 319 (319 Main Street, Vancouver) Time: 6:30 PM: Pre show celebration & wine reception (complimentary glass of wine), live music. 7:30 PM: Film screening followed by a Q&A with Director via Video Skype followed by a post-screening party. Cost: $15 in advance only through PayPal or at 604-983-5373. Buy tickets online Tickets must be purchased in advance by Monday, July 19th at 5pm or until tickets sell out. Please arrive at screening by 7:20 pm to ensure entry. No Minors. Thank you. DISCOUNT GIFT CARDS Save money per screening by buying Canada Screens Gift Cards in advance on our web site, at Videomatica, BIZ Books or at the screening. All seats for Gift Card holders, Ambassadors, Sponsors & Partners must be claimed by 7:20 pm after which unclaimed seats will be released for rush sales. Gift Card holders please RSVP to vip@firstweekendclub.ca by 5pm Monday, July 19thand arrive at screening by 7:20pm to ensure entry. Thank you. DINNER & MOVIE DEAL 15% off at Boneta Restaurant Before the movie, go to Boneta Restaurant for dinner and get 15% off dinner plus treats. #1 West Cordova St at Carrall St, just a few blocks from the theatre. Tel 604 684-1844. Bring your ticket print out or use the password: ‘Movie Star’. Event Photography by Murielle Freo
People wonder why it is difficult to date in Vancouver. In our multicultural city, there is Many times it is difficult for people to figure out if they are actually on a date. According to Man Meets Woman’s Ronald Lee Vancouver does not have a dating culture. Ronald and Conversation Art’s Vincent Ng chat about some of the issues Asian men face dating in Vancouver. This inspired their www.vancouverasianmen.com workshops. Key topics include:
Differences between Asian men’s concept of dating from Generation X to Generation Y
Lack of Male Asian role models portrayed in mainstream media.
Family focus on education and career BEFORE dating.
Attitude differences between Canadian Chinese born here and immigrated in regards to dating.
Concepts of where marriage and sex fit into the picture.
Man’s responsibility to keep the romance flowing after the honeymoon phase.
Hiding behind the computer and learning to socialize in person.
Sexy = Confidence. Talking and writing about sex and relationships is nothing new for Caroline MacGillivray. One of the JuiceBox Radio Alumni, this former JuiceBox Radio Girls produced and hosted the weekly talk show, JuiceBox Radio Radio. Her weekly On the Town column that chronicled her dating exploits entertained readers ... Continue reading »
