2Bmag online

From gay divorce to transgender rights in airports, the first year since the Harper government’s majority victory in the May 2011 elections has not been quiet for LGBT people. For Philip Toone, openly gay Member of Parliament (NDP) for the Gaspé, the discriminatory trend is likely to continue in the coming months. Êtremag’s Antoine Aubert caught up with the Honorable Mr. Toone to look back on a year of Tory rule.

“A few powerful experiences made me passionate about sex education as well as contributing to my desire to build a place to counter the sex negativity in our culture,” says Shelley Taylor, founder of Venus Envy. In the Top 10 for 2B’s 10th Anniversary: obviously!

When we asked Glenn Crawford what he was most proud of when he saw the City of Ottawa erect “The Village” signs in October 2011, he said it was “having our community come out of the closet.” We felt like we could relate: Glenn is an out and proud member of our exclusive Top 10 Personalities of the Decade for 2B’s 10th Anniversary.

As the co-founder and executive director of the Center for Research-Action on Race Relations (CRARR), Fo Niemi is a force to be reckoned with in defending the rights of LGBT and racialized people. We are honoured to have him in our Top 10 Personalities of the Decade for 2B’s 10 Anniversary.

Like an oppression-seeking missile, Michael Hendricks has honed in on some of the most difficult struggles facing the GLBT community over the last 40 years, and he’s not done yet. That’s why he’s one of our Top 10 Personalities of the Decade for 2Bmag’s 10th Anniversary!

A decade in the print industry is like 30 years in the real world. In the 10 years since 2Bmag (which started as To Be in April, 2002), the GLBT landscape has metamorphosed from fringe to centre, with strides made in politics that no one ever thought would see the light. Join us to celebrate our 10th Anniversary Exhibit Opening and Panel on Wed. April 11, 5pm @ the Ecomusée du fier monde.

When visiting Montreal author and film critic Matthew Hays, one needs a moment to absorb the wonderful aesthetic of his home. A giant still from Mary Tyler Moore hangs above his desk. Decorative plates featuring various political figures, from Nixon to Obama, adorn the walls of his kitchen. This all seems fitting, seeing as I’m there to discuss Hays’ intermingling passions of movies and politics. 2Bmag’s Mark Ambrose Harris spoke to the critic and journalist about his Arsenal Pulp Press book series Queer Film Classics, and what to do about Mr. Harper…

“I remember when I first came out as trans in the late 90′s, and none of my friends could use my right pronoun,” Dean Spade told me as we chatted via Skype last week. A lot has changed since then, but as the recent Transport Canada regulation revealed, the political set-backs on trans issues have been as common as the social advances. Dean Spade’s new manual to trans issues and the law, NORMAL LIFE, launches this Friday, Feb 17, at Café l’Artère, 6:30pm.

A Canadian justice department lawyer sparked a media frenzy last week when he told a foreign lesbian couple who were married in Canada and seeking a divorce that there was no need, arguing that same-sex marriages performed in Canada are not “legally valid” unless also recognized by a couple’s home country. Mike Hawrysh recaps the drama that ensued…

The General Director of Arc-en-ciel d’Afrique, Alexis Musanganya, recently participated in an international conference “Stop Bullying – Ending violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity” hosted by the United Nations on December 8. The conference, which was organised as part of International Human Rights Day (celebrated December 10), allowed the voices of activists to be heard, an issue that remains fundamental, according to Musanganya.