BY SID MARCH
Lesbian.com

Melissa Millan knows just how hard it can be to find clothes you love. The mastermind behind Androgyny, a queer-centric but everyone-positive fashion startup, Millan spent 18 months designing a perfect button-down shirt: “A men’s aesthetic re-engineered to accommodate the female form.” Yes, you heard those magic words right.

Millan was working in investment banking when she decided to change gears. The improbability of walking into a store and finding the most basic thing – a button-down shirt – that actually fit was a source of ongoing frustration for her and she knew she wasn’t alone. For women who prefer more androgynous fashion, a woman’s shirt can look great on the rack but have way too much flare in the hips, or a “boob button” that pops; a man’s shirt can be all wrong in the sleeves and bulky in the shoulders. Often, otherwise neutral women’s shirts are made more intentionally “feminine” with little details like darts or  softened collars. It’s really just not easy to find a simple shirt.

With Androgyny, Millan set out to address these issues. While these are definitely much-lamented conundrums among queer women, there are certainly straight women who feel their best in clothes that lean toward “menswear,” and some trans*men have been thrilled with Androgyny‘s offerings after struggling to find clothes that fit their bodies properly. “The [lesbian] community knows [this shirt] was designed to solve their specific pain, but anyone else who feels empowered wearing our clothing should have access to it. It’s a broader solution.”

Millan had over 60 fit-testers during the shirt’s many iterations before it was brought to the market.  Getting it right (and having her products made fairly in the USA), seems to have made the 18 months well worth it.

The signature shirt is available in various prints, patterns and solids. It’s one of those designs you love so much, you want one in every color. You know – like your favorite underwear. It’s also a convenient shirt. The buttons are on the right side, like men’s shirts, so it doesn’t cost so darn much at the dry cleaner, though it’s machine washable, too. It’s also made so you can get out the door after a quick, light press instead of a lengthy and detailed ironing.

Look at those shirts! (Photo courtesy Melissa Millan/Androgyny)

Androgyny’s Signature Shirt comes in S-XL, but other sizes are on the drawing board.

That’s it? Well, for now. Millan has aspirations to increase Androgyny’s offerings but won’t just sell things because they look cool. Other items will be problem-solvers too, continuing the trend of thoughtfully designed items. Androgyny may just become your go-to brand for clothes that really just work.

Learn more about Melissa Millan and Androgyny at www.WearAndrogyny.com.

Want to check out the designs in person, east coast? Androgyny will be at Catwalk 718 presented by Whitney Day Events and dapperQ this Saturday night in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Catwalk 718 @ This n’ That (TNT), 108 North 6^th Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn will be held from 10 pm – 4 AM. $5 before 11, $10 after, 21+ only. Dapper dress encouraged. For more details, visit the event’s Facebook page.

The post Androgyny: Melissa Millan’s quest to design the perfect button-down shirt first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Beavers at “The Burn.”
(Photo: Ana Grillo)

Most of us have heard about Burning Man, a gathering and temporary city, an experiment in art, community, self-exploration and self-reliance. Friends come back deeply changed by their week in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert where Burning Man is held. Sometimes, it even seems they need a bit of a re-adjustment to the “default world,” or the world outside of Burning Man and that much of their year is focused on their return to Black Rock City.

Participants in Burning Man are committed to both the pillars of its philosophy and the experience itself. One of the many things these “burners” appreciate about the temporary, intentional community are the numerous theme camps that cater to and incorporate many different interests and lifestyles — and one of those camps is what Ana Grillo, a veteran of Burning Man, and Beth Nelsen, a total newbie, have come together to explore in their new documentary, “Meet the Beavers.”  Described as “one of the biggest sexual playpens in the world,” Camp Beaverton is Black Rock City’s welcoming home for the lesbian, bisexual, trans*, queer, questioning and heteroflexible women among the 50,000 plus participants in Burning Man.

Camp Beaverton is a trans* inclusive, all women, sex positive camp that boasts massively popular events, sex-ed workshops and a safe-haven environment that allows all kinds of women to explore all kinds of queer. Grillo, an independent filmmaker and award winning photographer, and Nelsen, an indie documentary filmmaker, take a look at Camp Beaverton and this segment of the radical social arts festival through fresh eyes as they introduce us to the Beavers and showcase what makes the camp so very special.

Grillo and Nelsen have started an IndieGoGo campaign to help fund the completion of the film. It’s in its final hours, so contribute now or learn more about the film at MeetTheBeavers.com

Meet The Beavers is an official selection at the Frameline37 Film Festival in San Francisco. Like Meet the Beavers on Facebook or view the official trailers to learn more.

The post ‘Meet the Beavers’: Documentary explores the queer side of Burning Man first appeared on Lesbian.com.

BY SID MARCH

On May 9, it’s time to open your wallet (or butch purse) and smash that piggy bank. It’s the first national Give OUT Day, an initiative intended to get us giving in support of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. LGBTQ nonprofits are registered on GiveOUTDay.org, making the site into a donation hub of sorts.

“Less than 5% of the LGBTQ community gives to an LGBTQ cause, according to research from the Horizons Foundation and Movement Advancement Project,” says Bolder Giving’s Executive Director Jason Franklin. “Give OUT Day aims to raise awareness of the need to support LGBTQ nonprofits and elevate the level of LGBTQ philanthropy.”

How can you support Give OUT Day?

Contact your local LGBTQ or Pride center right away! Help them get signed up so that people in your area can donate to them. They can access a Tool Kit with resources to help them maximize their success.

Spread the word via Social Media. On Twitter, use hashtag #giveOUTday or mention @giveOUTday — it’s that easy!

Become a Champion! Champions are teams (or individuals) who work on behalf of nonprofits to get them donations. Sign up under a nonprofit who has already registered and set up your fundraising page.

Donate. Well. You probably guessed that.

To find out more about Give OUT Day, visit www.giveoutday.org

The post Get giving for the first national Give OUT Day first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Carlyle at the Palace

BY SID MARCH
Lesbian.com

Long Island has spring fever! This Friday night May 3, Human Rights Campaign Long Island and Colette Lee Inc., bring you The Long Island Spring Affair, to be held at Carlyle at the Palace (1600 Round Swamp Road, Plainview, NY).

Featuring DJ Kimmie C, Hardbody Dance Crew, body-painted beauties and performances by legendary drag queens including Violet Storm and Miss Fire Island Ariel Sinclair, this spring fling will be a fabulous night full of surprises (and delicious passed hors d’oeuvre). Hosted by Frankie Fileti and Ms. Sinclair herself, the evening is a continuing celebration of marriage equality and more.

“It is time to raise a glass and celebrate all of our achievements while supporting the road ahead. And what better way to bring us all together than a Spring Fling at the very chic Carlyle at the Palace!” Said Bobbie Heichman, HRC Long Island Community Events Co-Chair.

You are probably familiar with the HRC, a major LGBT rights organization, but do you know Colette Lee? “Colette Lee Inc. produces top level events that benefit wide ranging organizations, from the Wounded Warriors to the Human Rights Campaign,” said Colette Morales, founder and President of Colette Lee Inc. “We’ve previously produced a fantastic fashion event with celebrities and designers with HRC Long Island, and we are thrilled to be back to co-host the hottest spring party on Long Island!”

So, we’re pretty into the body painting… (Photo: Lory Diaz)

So what are you waiting for? Get your tickets now.

Ticket price (cash only): $25 includes an annual HRC membership and passed hors d’oeuvre.

$250 VIP Ticket includes 4 entries to the event, 4 annual HRC’s membership, complimentary food and a table with Stoli bottle service

Check out the event details on Facebook. Remember, RSVPing to the Facebook event does not guarantee you admission, but you can buy your tickets in advance.

The post Must-go event: Long Island Spring Affair first appeared on Lesbian.com.

The ladies of Aqua Girl’s float at Miami Beach Pride (Photo via Facebook)

BY SID MARCH
Lesbian.com

Miami Beach, are you ready for Aqua Girl? It its 14th year, Aqua Girl is a wild week of events for LBT women, with 100% of the proceeds going toward the Aqua Foundation for Women. Every dollar helps support lesbian, bisexual and transgender women in South Florida by fostering equality and funding grants, scholarships and initiatives. The party gets started May 15 (special VIP cocktail reception May 11) and runs through May 19.

With hot dance parties, side-splitting comedy shows, live music, pool parties and even bowling, brunches and dinners out, Aqua Girl has a little something for everyone… and as the largest charity women’s week in the USA, you can feel really, really good about having some fun in the Miami Beach sun.

Highlights for this year include a live taping of “The Derek and Romaine Show,” featuring an interview with Lauren Bedford Russell of ‘The Real L Word,” VIP receptions in both Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, “Fuego,” a steamy Latin Dance Party and “Temptation” featuring DJs Lisa Pittman and Zehno, as well as VOICE finalist Frenchie Davis.

For a full schedule of events, visit the Aqua Girl Events page.
To learn more, purchase tickets or make a donation, visit www.aquagirl.org

Want to win a pair of tickets? Just tag both @lesbiandotcom and @aquagirlevents in a sweet tweet or Facebook mention — #WeLoveAquaGirl — for your chance to win!

The post Aqua Girl: Get ready to party for a cause first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Lucas Silveira (Photo: Skye Chevolleau)

BY SID MARCH
Lesbian.com

Lucas Silveira is a musician, visual artist and frontman of a band you’ve probably seen play at Pride by now: The Cliks. After releasing his solo album “Mockingbird” in 2011, Silveira has returned with producer Hill Kourkoutis to release a new Cliks album unlike anything you have heard from them before.

With a different sound, a slick look, and Silveira’s husky, deeper voice (Silveira, who is transgender, started taking testosterone prior to recording “Mockingbird”, but it’s his first Cliks album since transitioning), “Black Tie Elevator” goes a whole new, sexy direction.

We caught up with The Cliks’ Lucas Silveira to talk about his creative ventures, personal life and bridging genres.

“Black Tie Elevator: is the long anticipated upcoming new Cliks album. You’re the only original member of the Cliks still in the band, so who is playing with you on the new album?

Most of the instruments are myself with my producer Hill Kourkoutris. I always call her my little genius! She played a lot of the bass, guitar, keys; we went back and forth. There’s also a local Toronto dummer, a couple horn players, and a string arrangement by Mike Olsen.

Who will you take on the road if you tour?

Because I’ve been doing this a while, this has pretty much become my project and I can’t expect any other players to put all their energy into something that’s not their personal project. I had to scout and I ended up finding some pretty amazing players, including a bass player from Boston, Dhy Berry who’s a phenomenal Berkelee kid, and another Berkelee kid, drummer Stephanie Barker. I am also going to be taking my partner/fiancée on the road with me, Skye Chevelleau. She’s a keyboard player and she sings on one of the songs on “Black Tie Elevator.”

This is totally inappropriate of me, but she’s super hot!

Yea, she’s a babe! I’m a lucky guy!

You so are! Anyway, back to the band.

I’m fumbling around with if I will play or if this guy Griffin, just simply “Griffin”, might. We haven’t been in touch for like 14 years. He used to play in a band with my brother, but I texted him and I was like “hey, want to do this?” and he was like “yea!”

I really want to focus on singing. With this record, it’s all about my voice and feeling comfortable in it, giving my all from within in it.

The sound is really different. The production seems like its gone a whole different direction, even though there’s this undeniable Lucas thing going on.

The strangest thing for me was the attachment people have to the style and genre of music I used to do. Obviously with transition my voice changed, and it’s completely not something I did personally but my style of music kind of transitioned with me. Testosterone changes not just the way you look but for me, it changed the way I create and my artistic process. I started feeling really connected to the roots of what I loved when I was younger, a lot of blues and soul music, and it naturally started coming out of me. Still, everybody was perturbed that the genre was changing.

People started feeling alienated from me and the band when I changed and transitioned physically and vocally, but I think a lot of people have come around. I have had so much support from the lesbian community: my core audience! It’s been a balancing act.

You did the cover art work? That’s a self portrait, I’m brilliantly assuming?

Yes, I did! I worked very closely with my producer Hill not just on the music but on the entire concept of the album. She’s a very close friend and I’ve been talking to her about this for about three years. I wanted to be comfortable with somebody I was working with who really knew where I was coming from. But how do I package this? You start scratching your head. The cover is usually easy: a photo of the lead singer or a photo of the band or whatever. But Hill said, “you’re an artist, paint something! Steam punk art, paint a picture of yourself!” I started thinking about how my insides really changed, I had this different sort of pathway in my thoughts and emotions, hence the machine in the back of my head.

Tell me more about your visual art and when you started actually selling pieces. What’s your favorite medium?

I have been creative visually since I was super young, but I thought “I’m a musician, I’m not really an artist, it’s just something I do on the side.” I got a break with the transition and decided to get back into into it. It’s the closest thing to me for meditating: I do something, go into it, don’t think about anything else. I never thought I could sell any of my art and I kinda just put it on Facebook and started getting emails saying, “I want to buy this!” And I was like, yea! I like this idea!

I love working with black ink and black pens. I’m simple, I’m not trained in anyway.

I heard you might be doing an art show.

That’s something I really want to do! Art takes time; good art takes a lot of time. It took me 4-5 days to do that painting on the cover (it’s really big)! I think it will be at World Pride in Toronto, I believe in 2014, that’s what we’re aiming for.

Lucas and his fiancée, Skye. (Photo: N. Maxwell Lander)

OK, now things are going to get personal! Most of your fans know you’re fairly recently engaged. Do you have a wedding date set yet?

Oh hell no! People always ask me that. Me and Skye are both artists and when it comes to that, we’re super chill. Our goal would be next year but you know, we have a great agreement between each other; we refused to go into this to get married until we can do something that we like. We are considering eloping because everyone is like, “it was the most stressful day of my life!” Maybe we’ll hit it up with Elvis in Vegas.

You are really active on YouTube. I personally like your version of “What Goes Around” better than Justin Timberlake’s version but don’t tell him! Is that a forum for you to see fan reactions to potential upcoming covers or new songs, or are you using it to network? I don’t see too many musicians posting such awesome and personal free content all the time!

I’ve always loved to do covers. When my voice changed, I didn’t want to tell anybody. I didn’t want to tell anybody I was on testosterone, I felt like I had babysat everyone through every coming out I had: first a lesbian, then a transman, then top surgery and it became so frustrating to have to deal with other people instead of taking care of myself through my own changes. I decided to only tell people close to me. I started using YouTube as a way to slowly get people to hear my voice changing and to see what people’s reactions would be. As the process was happening I started feeling more comfortable with the kind of music I was telling you about: soul, blues, I wanted to show people I wasn’t just a rock musician.

I think it was a transitional tool to get people used to what they’re hearing now. It’s just really fun to take other people’s songs and put your own spin on it! You know it’s a good song when you can do it in any style.

“Black Tie Elevator” will be available on iTunes April 23. To find out more about Lucas, The Cliks or the single to be released April 2, visit TheCliks.com

The post Get ready for ‘Black Tie Elevator’: Interview with Lucas Silveira of The Cliks first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Andrea Meyerson (Photo: Maria Brunner Ventura)

BY SID MARCH
Lesbian.com

Andrea Meyerson is the driving force behind Southern California’s premier lesbian social club Women On A Roll. Additionally, she is an award-winning filmmaker and the brains behind StandOut Productions. Meyerson caught up with Lesbian.com to discuss just some of her many projects and what is has been like to come so far.

Women On A Roll, nearly two decades old now, is said to be the largest lesbian social club on the West Coast, providing women/lesbians with a variety of events and trips specially geared toward them: cultural and sporting events, weekend adventures, amazing vacations and numerous other social opportunities. Did you ever expect to see it take off the way it has?

When I first started Women On A Roll (WOAR), my intention was just to meet other women who enjoyed bicycling. I would organize rides and always provide an opportunity to socialize afterwards during breakfast or lunch. I kept meeting women who seemed interested in doing other activities together so I started organizing more events — cocktail parties, dinners, art openings, theater outings, kayaking… Before long, hundreds of women were attending these events on a regular basis. I had no expectations when I put together that first bike ride in August of 1995 that this would happen but clearly there was a void in the community. I quickly realized that I wasn’t the only who was longing for more opportunities for women to connect and share unique experiences outside of the bar scene.

When the group takes weekends away or trips abroad, do you usually go along?

Absolutely! I put a great deal of work into planning these trips — custom designing every day and every activity and I want to be there to make sure everything goes smoothly. Women trust me with two very important things: their vacation time and their money! I want to make sure our trips exceed their expectations!

We have traveled all over the world together: Peru, Costa Rica, Fiji, France, Italy, Spain, London, Alaska, Provincetown, Key West, D. C. and all over California. We take between 25 and 50 women on each trip so it’s truly bonding experience for everyone, including me!

You expanded into Stand Out Productions in 1997, a complement to Women On A Roll. What’s the biggest crowd one of the acts has drawn? Who was the first big-name performer to come on board?

I decided to leave my corporate gig and launch StandOut Productions two years after launching WOAR. My passion for serving the LGBT community was overpowering and I decided to focus on that solely. When I first launched StandOut Productions, I spent many years producing fundraisers in the community and soon that led to producing shows. My first really exciting show was a benefit for the LA Gay & Lesbian Center. It was an all-female comedy show hosted by the late Nell Carter and featuring Michele Balan, Carlease Burke, Mimi Gonzalez, D.D, Rainbow and Suzanne Westenhoefer. We did two shows back-to-back, packed the theater and broke all fire codes! To date, it still remains one of my favorite shows. The first shows I produced that were much larger were with Kate Clinton in an 800+ seat theater and then Cris Williamson and Holly Near in a 1,200+seat venue. Some of the bigger names I have produced in the years following have been Wanda Sykes, k.d. lang, Indigo Girls, Rosanne Barr and Brandi Carlile.  Those shows range in attendance between 1,200 and 3,000, depending on the theater.

Having directed and produced nearly 30 movies, you’re definitely a familiar name in the industry. How did you first get into film?

I was very involved with Outfest: L.A. Gay & Lesbian Film Festival for many years. I had been producing their annual women’s fundraiser and helping with outreach within the lesbian community. During that time, I had an opportunity to meet many of the filmmakers. I was inspired by them and had an idea for a documentary. Ellen and Rosie had recently come out and it seemed that the world felt these were the only two lesbian comics. I LOVED that they came out but I wanted to pay tribute to the out lesbian comics I had been producing for years — Kate Clinton, Marga Gomez, Suzanne Westenhoefer and Karen Williams. These women were out from the very beginning of their comedy careers and I thought their honesty was extremely commendable and should be acknowledged and celebrated. They are very funny and I felt certain that the fact they were out affected their opportunities to gain a greater level fame – it certainly wasn’t from lack of talent. I’m thrilled that it’s getting easier to be out and proud in the entertainment industry, but 25 to 30 years ago, it was definitely a game-changer. I made “Laughing Matters” in one year and it premiered at Frameline: San Francisco Gay & Lesbian Film Festival to a sold-out audience at The Castro Theater. Suzanne, Karen and Marga were with me at the premiere — a very exciting night! The following month it played at Outfest where it won the Audience Award for Best Documentary. I guess I got the bug after that because I kept thinking of other films I wanted to make. So, in 2005 I filmed “Laughing Matters…More!”

Which was the most challenging piece you have worked on? Which would you say has had the best reception?

My newest documentary, “I Stand Corrected” was probably the most challenging. I worked on it for five years. It is my first film that isn’t about standup comics. The subject, Jennifer Leitham, is an amazing jazz musician. I originally was going to make a short film but once we started production and I learned more about her and her extraordinary career, I quickly realized it had to be full length in order to really share her journey. As a result, I think it has had the best reception. We have won nine awards — both audience and jury awards — and have been accepted into many mainstream festivals. That is definitely one or my goals when making LGBT films. I always want straight audiences to see them because I think it’s a great way to enlighten and create change.

You’ve just recently finished production on the short film “Seamless” which is the first narrative film you have directed. Where will we be able to see it, and what makes it exciting?

It was accepted in the Pride of the Ocean Film Festival so it will definitely be screened there! We’ll be going on an Alaska Cruise, August 18-25, 2013. It’s a wonderful film festival — I went last year with them to Bermuda and absolutely loved it. So much so, that we are offering it as a WOAR trip this year! It’s a great mix of LGBT women and men and even a few straight allies!

“Seamless” is a comedic short film with a great cast. In addition to Matthew Moore who is an accomplished standup comic and improviser, it stars Carlease Burke (“Shameless,” “In Her Shoes”) and Mindy Sterling (“Austin Powers”). It’s nine minutes of light-hearted joy and laughter!

Matthew Moore, the executive producer and writer, just started submitting it to film festivals so hopefully you’ll be able to see it at many of the festivals this year.

Your activism and involvement in the LGBTQ community is tireless. What would you call your biggest accomplishment so far?

Running a lesbian organization for 18 years!

Seriously, I am proud of the work I have done within the LGBTQ community. I spent many years fundraising and doing outreach for many of our nonprofit organizations and as a result raised over one million dollars collectively through the years. That’s a great feeling.

I’m nowhere near done doing this work. It’s my calling and I feel my greatest accomplishments are yet to come!

With all the incredible things you do, you must be impossibly busy! What’s your favorite thing to do on a day off?

Spending time with my girlfriend and my dog. I’m in a long-distance relationship so our time together is really precious to me. I love making popcorn at home (the old fashion way), and watching a movie on the couch together. And I still love bicycling!!

Any words of advice for other women looking to start big projects of their own?

Do it! Stay focused and committed until it’s completed no matter what challenges you encounter.

The post Andrea Meyerson is on a roll first appeared on Lesbian.com.

That’s an awkward picture of me in sepia tone. Obligatory blog photo, voilà.

BY SID MARCH
Lesbian.com

All month, writers at Lesbian.com have been working on pieces about women they love. We couldn’t come up with a closed list of who was worthy of being talked about; there are just so many amazing queer women, lesbians and allies doing phenomenal things. We decided to make it personal: who makes each of us tick? Cindy Zelman blogged about coming out stories that were important to her. Other writers are working on bios and interviews. Me?

I started writing a simple list of 5 amazing queer women, but it’s impossibly hard to condense my appreciation for people into some kind of abbreviated index. I admire courage, tenacity, creativity and the ability to be oneself even when society says to be otherwise. I like people with edge, people with well-balanced power rooted in kindness, writers who harness words and ride them at full canter, musicians who play heart strings like violins, socialites whose charisma can knock you off your feet, activists motivated by powerful compassion. My list has evolved to include people of different levels of fame, with numerous talents and diverse identities (because one-size-fits-all actually fits almost no one)… Oh, and there’s way more than five.

Andrea Gibson (Photo via AndreaGibson.org)

Andrea Gibson was one of the first people that came to mind. She is a master of spoken-word poetry, confronting social issues like privilege, war, class, gender and bullying in her work, as well as weaving her way through love and sexuality. Often a voice at events like Take Back The Night, Pride and beyond, she is an activist for social justice, a brilliant thinker and a poet in a poet’s truest form. Every quote she shares, whether her own or an inspiration picked up elsewhere, resonates.

Staceyann Chin, a Jamaican-American poet and performer, is a lioness. Her words are sometimes unexpected, magnificently volatile, commanding, confrontational, playful, human. She is a stunning performer and watching her can shake me. She is fearless. Then there’s Ivan Coyote, a Canadian storyteller, writer and spoken word artist. Considered at once a voice for the butch experience, the lesbian experience and the transgender experience, Ivan has recently been working on a performance project called Gender Failure (along with indie musician Rae Spoon). Ivan’s stories are beautiful. They’re written in achingly genuine language and often challenge notions of binary gender (my inclusion of Ivan is to honor how these stories have shaped me, not to make any assumptions/statements about someone else’s identity), while telling stories that are so perfectly real, they are accessible to everyone.

Laura Jane Grace of Against Me! (Photo: LastFM)

I wish I had discovered narratives like Ivan’s during my teen years, but I relied more upon music to find my way. Laura Jane Grace is the lead singer of Against Me!, a band that was part of the soundtrack to my noisy and tumultuous adolescence. After years in the public eye as a modern punk rock icon who had been seen as male, she came out as a transgender woman. It was a risk, the world isn’t always as kind as we hope it will be, but she was true to herself. Remaining married to her wife Heather, she continues playing music that makes my getting-gray-around-the-edges heart pound like I’m still in front of the speakers. She is an inspiration to the many trans* youth that have welcomed her as their star. Some, however, may have already had an idol in Lana Wachowski, another gifted transwoman (married to another amazing, supportive wife), who came out publicly. She is one of the brains behind the “Matrix” trilogy and has spoken emotionally and honestly about her experiences growing up transgender.

Dee Rees (Joe Kohen/Getty Images North America)

So, with “Matrix” comes Hollywood. I’m not always impressed by the movies I watch; it’s strange to look into a thousand mirrors and never see yourself. Dee Rees, the filmmaker behind the critically acclaimed, semi-autobiographical movie “Pariah,” created a mirror for her own experience by bringing a black, masculine-of-center lesbian protagonist to the silver screen, yet another character that is all too often exempt from mainstream cinema. Rees is quoted as saying that many in the industry thought the “scope” was too small — going on to call it code for there being little Hollywood desire to back black/gay/coming of age films. It didn’t stop her. She even earned the support of Spike Lee, and together they brought the film to light and big success.

What determines success, anyway? Is it when someone like me recognizes you because you have a cool blog on the internet? That’s how I encountered Bevin Branlandingham, all that clever behind QueerFatFemme.com and the hostess of Rebel Cupcake, a fabulous dance party “for all shapes and flavors” that rocks NYC every month. She is a vocal advocate for self-love and body-positivity. While women are still subjected to heavily airbrushed images of what can be unreasonable body ideals, Bevin is cheering us on not despite of who we are, but because of who we are. She writes candidly about her own experiences in a way that validates all body types: yes, everyone deserves to feel great in their own skin!

Margaret Cho, showing off some beautiful art.

Thinking about bodies led me to thinking about tattoos (a little habit that’s taken over a serious percentage of my own body), and I could talk about a tattoo artist, but I’m in the mood to talk about Margaret Cho, the (tattooed) comedian and serious advocate of LGBT-rights. Cho is vocal about who and what she supports and how she sees different issues. You can be Christian and gay, you can be a woman married to a man and not be straight (true and true!). She’s out as bisexual/queer (labels that she discussed publicly) which is fairly uncommon when the public focus is on either “gay” or “straight.” It takes guts to be raw and funny and uncensored and queer.

There are so many others that I want to mention. From household names like Rachel Maddow, Cat Cora and Beth Ditto, to lesser known artists and performers like Dalila Ali Rajah to countless LGBTQ and women’s rights activists across the world, I could keep writing until the letters on my keyboard all disappear. But I’m generous, and I think I ought to leave a few for someone else to talk about. Who has changed the way you see the world?

The post Essay: A meandering list of awesome, inspiring people first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Photo courtesy Gabrielle Lindau

BY SID MARCH
Lesbian.com

Filmmaker, foodie and visionary Gabrielle Lindau has filled her life with keen observations — and things that taste like chicken. Lindau has traveled the world filming, exploring, taking big chances for her art and tasting the local flavors. Her latest project, “It Tastes Like Chicken,” is a global adventure in local eats, and her first collaborative project with her fiancée, illustrator Emily Bowers.

Before we get into your backstory, tell me about your upcoming cookbook “It Tastes Like Chicken.”

My fiancée Emily is doing the illustrations. It’s our first collaborative effort, and a change of pace for me as a filmmaker. I grew up always hearing “it tastes like chicken!” My parents would say it to get me to eat things I didn’t want to try, and I’ve heard this phrase all over the world! There are so many recipes out there that really fall into the list, from alligator sausage to escargot. I’m exploring those recipes and sharing how I came across eating these things around the world.

Did you discover any unexpectedly awesome foods in the process? What kind of culinary adventures have you had?

The strangest thing was alligator sausage. I went to New Orleans a number of times in early 2000, I love shooting down there, taking pictures of the culture, the different colors that the city has to offer. I went to the French market and there was this little stand that had alligator on a stick! Part of me said “oh no!” but there was this other part of me that had to. Surprisingly, it was really yummy. I was expecting to take a bite or two and be like “eh, gross” but it was delicious! Turtle Soup is another thing. Believe it or not, “it tastes like a chicken.” (laughs) And believe me, I don’t eat like this normally at all! My diet truly consists of mostly and fruits and vegetables and legumes and whole grains, but every once in awhile in my travels, I find myself in these predicaments where the local culture is offering me something, and I’ve just got to.

The cover drawing for “It Tastes Like Chicken.” Illustration by Emily Bowers.

You recently contributed to the “Sweet Cookbook” — can you give us a little preview you of what you shared?

I contributed a Persian rice dish. When Candy Parker reached out to me, I was so happy. There’s a really interesting mixture of people writing recipes, too. When Candy told me about the Cozumel Humane Society [whom the book will benefit], I could totally identify with why she wanted to help. So many homeless dogs wandering on the beach!

Let’s talk about your other projects. “These Showers Can Talk” is the piece of yours that seems to have earned the most widespread awareness/fame. Hey, it’s on IMDB.

It definitely just happened to be the perfect recipe for an independent short film at the time because of the amazing people we had contributing and the subject matter.

The piece addresses lesbian stereotypes. I saw an interview with you that touched upon the kind of existentialist slant, an influence spurred by your reading of “Nausea” by Jean-Paul Sartre. Is there anything about this piece, any guts that you feel haven’t been touched by previous interviews?

Existentialism and Sartre fascinate me. He proposes this question of existence and “I am my own hell.” I always wonder what type of philosophies are being developed around the world and in what time frames, given the certain circumstances in world history.

What I wanted to do was explore that more from an individual perspective. What does it mean to be gay, to encounter media stereotypes, to be a butch lesbian or a feminine lesbian. I was always hearing these words. For a good while, there was only a certain type of person being portrayed in the media. What is it like to date as a lesbian and to encounter what the media says exists? It is a dark comedy. I wanted it to be.

“Who You Are” is a feature length film that documents hate crimes against LGBT people around the globe. It could be a real eye opener to people who aren’t normally exposed to the sheer level of violence and the extremity of the responses people frequently have toward the LGBT community in other parts of the world. What is the most critical aspect of this particular piece to you?

The most important thing was to get the message across about whats happening out there. [My co-filmmaker] Vertna Bradley, who I met at the European Graduate School in Switzerland, and I just started hearing more about recent hate crimes.  We kept seeing more and more young kids killing themselves. It starts with a punch in the face in the bathroom at Stonewall and it can lead to a mob beating. It’s very hard to see. In Serbia, one man who came out and was celebrating at a gay parade was attacked by 15-20 neo-nazis and beaten to a bloody pulp. This can happen here too. We have socially had a lot of awareness toward the issue but things like this can happen here if attention isn’t brought to the issue and if compassion isn’t in the hearts of all Americans.

How do you personalize the violent imagery so it breaks through our American densensitization to images of brutality ? What approach do you, as a filmmaker, take to making things touch us?

It’s hard as a filmmaker to really step outside of the American candy coating factory. We take certain risks, we take the risk that it’s so gory or so real that people aren’t going to want to watch it. We’re exposing an issue that still has an enormous amount of opposition. We had planned to cover Euro Pride in Warsaw, Poland; it was the first time Euro Pride had been held in the Eastern Bloc. We were down to thinking of even wearing masks. We realized what dangers we were actually getting into as filmmakers.

We wanted to go to Russia to talk to some of the people who have made underground gay and lesbian film. I spoke with a Russian attorney about this: would my life be in jeopardy? The truth is it really would have been and to do those things, I would have had to go undercover in some of the places. Instead of risking our lives, it was more important to bring awareness to the issue in our own backyard first. There have been milestones made but it is still a battle many citizens around the world face. I do believe it’s getting better.

Besides trying to go undercover, are there any big risks you’ve taken on the road?

When I was shooting “Dinosaur Hunters,” a reality TV show I’ve created with construction guys who are amateur paleontologists, we went to the Badlands in Montana. Everyone said, “wasn’t it beautiful, wasn’t it gorgeous?” It was not. It was dangerous, it was the end of August, and it was hot and very frightening. If you get lost, there’s a good chance you’re not coming back. It’s nothing like what you see in pictures. There’s a reason why the Indians turned it to badlands – the brush you see is up to your knees and spiders as big as your palm are living in it! I found myself one day walking on the edge of a cliff, going for a huge collection of a petrified wood. I had no pick, no rope and thought, “what am I doing?!” All I had was my camera! I took baby steps.

Editor’s Note: The day before this article was published, Gabrielle Lindau’s grandmother, who was a major inspiration for “It Tastes Like Chicken” and who fostered Gabrielle’s love of cooking, passed away. Her grandmother, who grew up in Nazi-occupied France, worked for an aunt’s restaurant in Lyon. When she was 19 years old, she left Lyon for Paris, intending to fly to America and meet the love of her life. She missed her flight and, as fate tends to have such twists, the plane she would have been on crashed. With hope and love in her heart, she took the next flight, which landed safely on American soil, welcoming her to a new life. Her stories and strength have been a huge inspiration to Gabrielle. She wishes to share this story in her honor and memory. We at Lesbian.com send our deepest condolences as well as our thanks for sharing such a personal journey with us.

Read more about Gabrielle and her projects online at GabrielleLindau.com. Her partner and collaborator on “It Tastes Like Chicken” has recently launched her own site, EmilyBowers.com

“It Tastes Like Chicken” will be available via Gabrielle’s website and Amazon.com before spring.

The post In the kitchen and on the road with Gabrielle Lindau first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Heather Smith of Rubyfruit Radio

BY SID MARCH
Lesbian.com

Heather Smith is the founder of all-girls-all-the-time Rubyfruit Radio, a podcast for lovers of independent, female musicians. With roughly 13,000 global listeners, Rubyfruit Radio certainly has a market, and it’s not just queer women. Smith, garnering her on-air skills from her years as a DJ in college, says “for every ten songs [on the radio] by guys, there [was] one by a woman.” Discontent with corporate radio, she took matters into her own hands.

Although she doesn’t take credit for any of the acts she has played getting huge, she’s been able to expose underground musicians to a new, broad listener base. “I tend to shy away from the pop-sounding things [other] people tend to gravitate toward,” she says, knowing that many of the artists she showcases might remain independent. She’s discovered some real gems, however, thanks to her listeners’ suggestions. One of those treasures is Allison Greenfield who started Tinderbox Music Festival, geared toward empowering women.

Smith doesn’t just have a rad podcast and an ear for great tunes. She’s also on the board of directors with Tinderbox (and recently interviewed experimental folk pop duo Cocorosie), has a full-time job in IT, dabbles in social media work, raises a kid, and just got picked to play with the Atlanta Phoenix, a professional women’s tackle football team. “It took me four days to recuperate!” she says of the try-outs, but she did, and now she’s gearing up to join them for the season. On top of football, the Atlanta Phoenix does community outreach and charity work through the Phoenix Foundation; Smith is sure to get involved.

If you think her schedule sounds full, she doesn’t. “I know so many people who go to work, go home, sit in front of the TV, then go to bed. I don’t want to do that!” To fill up more of her days, Smith also works with Reforming Arts, a Georgia-based non-profit, going into prisons and helping introduce incarcerated women to humanities and arts. The program is intended to boost self-esteem and reduce recidivism rates, hoping to provide positive outlets for inmates and tools for productive futures.

For all of the good she does for women and the arts, Smith still finds time to kick-back. “It’s fun to drink some wine and listen to bad music,” she laughs, but it seems to be a bit of a guilty pleasure. Rubyfruit Radio broadcasts an eclectic array of music by women; she tends to play the good stuff.

Rubyfruit Radio podcasts are available on iTunes or via www.rubyfruitradio.com.

The post On the air with Rubyfruit Radio’s Heather Smith first appeared on Lesbian.com.