Tag Archives: LGBT

Stoli Russian Vodka Boycott in LGTB Community

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Stoli Russian vodka boycott in Vancouver

Dear readers, as Vancouver’s Pride Parade is about to go on this week, the hype around the Russian vodka boycott is getting heated in our city.  I would like to present you with a response from Lena who lives in Belarus as an example of a fresh perspective on the topic.

 

by Lena, Belarus

Putin, Russian Vodka and Gays

Putin, Russian vodka and gays, what is the connection? If you ask this question nowadays, people may think that you are completely ignorant or you live on an uninhabited island. Russia issued anti-gay laws, that caused protests in America and activists suggested to boycott Russian vodka. Sounds ridiculous, but this is the truth.

Here we do not talk about sexual minorities. Maybe because there are not so many of them. By the way, just to specify “Here” means not in Russia. I am from Belarus. And here we really do not pay special attention to sexual minorities. People like millions of others, they work, eat, drink, relax… usual activities. We do not see any reason to speak about them too much or to forbid them to live. Politicians organize parades and shows to honor themselves. Why not gays then? I don’t think they are worse. But if you think so, you can give me reasons why.

I also do not understand what this anti-gay law is for. Why then not anti-criminals law? Criminals who took people`s lives are not forbidden, they stay in prison, eat and drink for money that we pay as taxes.

Well, Putin knows better, maybe gays are more dangerous that criminals. Here we have the same culture as Russia, I wouldn’t say that we are more democratic or more developed. We have the same religion, the same traditions. But we judge people according to their personality, their attitude to us, not by their nation or race or whether they belong to sexual minority or not.

Now about vodka. How is vodka connected with gays and Russian legislation? Completely different thing is Olympic Games in Sochi. This for sure would have influence. But I do not think that such kind of boycott can be supported by majority of people. Russia have always been and still is a great country with strong traditions and unique culture, and visiting Olympic Games can be a good reason for many foreigners to discover Russia. America can boycott the Olympic Games, but since it’s Europe here, and Europeans will gladly use such an opportunity.

But right, if Olympic Games are boycotted, this will be a good reason for Russia to think about gays once more. Though again gays will be accused, as nobody would accuse for this the Russian government. If any kind of boycotting will make the Russian government change their mind? I do not think, so, they for sure were ready for protests. At least they could forecast that there will be unsatisfied people.

Ah, by the way, again to vodka. I don’t think that boycotting of Russian vodka Stolichnaya will support the Russian gays or will make the Russian government think. It would be more logical to boycott Russian products rather than Latvian, as Stolichnaya is neither produced nor bottled in Russia any more. Anyway, the Russian government will be grateful for such protests as they wanted to get that brand back. That is why before running to streets and yelling about protests maybe better to ask yourself a question: who will have the main profit from it? In this case this is Russia who will take the main advantage.

Davie street rainbow pavement for Vancouver Pride Week 2013

Rainbow pavement on the intersection of Bute and Davie in Vancouver in the spirit of Pride Week.

 

Vera Wylde and Her Tips for Crossdressers

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Vera Wylde

Vera Wylde is one of my most favourite crossdressers to watch on Youtube.  Even though I am a genetic woman myself, I always had that question of “How do they do it?” when looking at a beautiful drag queen on stage.

One time in Toronto I saw a feminine apparition like that at the Pride Parade and I was amazed by her grace to the point that I asked her if I could kiss her hand.  She let me!  Really don’t know if she expected a gesture of this sort from a woman, especially a straight woman, who knows.

Vera in her Youtube show reveals many secrets of how dressers can pull it off so well.  Here are some that I find especially entertaining.

Breast Inserts

The general rule of thumb is that if it has breasts, it’s a woman!  It’s like a badge of femininity.  Actually not only dressers have the challenge of creating breasts.  There are women who are flat chested, but don’t look like that because of all the padding and silicone breast forms that they insert in their bra.

Vera mentions breast forms as a more feasible option to fill the bra, create a cleavage without looking like a caricature.  But she warns you that it may be expensive!  You can see some examples at this breast form store that sells them so realistic that they even have a nipple.  Vera recommends to acquire a pair because otherwise the clothes just doesn’t fit properly – she already owns two sets herself.

You can watch the video below where she talks about some tips and points out technical details that she discovered for herself, like why an insert that was supposed to be cup D ended up fitting like cup C.  For most of us it’s probably a surprise that such inserts even exist.

Hosiery

Vera also touched on the topic of hosiery: knee highs, stockings, stay ups, pantyhose.  For most of you this is pretty basic information, however I must admit I’ve never seen anyone roll on stockings before.  I bunch mine up in my hands and slowly release it as I pull it on.

Her preference is stockings over pantyhose because she doesn’t like the constricting feeling on the top.  She would rather wear a garter belt to hold up her stocking.  In one of her stage performances she even dances around in a corset and stockings held up by a 6 strap garter belt.

High Heels

Walking on high heels is a challenge that not only cross dressers experience.  When I lived in Toronto, I remember laughing every time I’d go to a club.  Young women there would get a tipsy and begin to wobble off the dance floor, grabbing on walls and bystanders, trying not to fall off those stiletto heels or lose a shoe all together.

Vera mentions that it is better to buy a shoe that has a thicker heel and a strap on the top.  That type of shoe looks like a tango shoe and that strap makes it so much more comfortable to wear.  This is a perfect shoe for women like described above who don’t want to end up walking around barefoot by the end of the party.  A sky high heel shoe just will look comical on a person who can’t walk on it.

Vera Wylde recently started a form of Q & A called “Dear Vera”.  So if you have a question for her, feel free to ask her.  She is a very unique individual with a lot of insight on the subject and she also runs a blog.  Maybe some day I’ll get lucky and have a chance to watch her perform on stage or even meet in person.

Dana International – Always a Diva!

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One of my favourite music events to watch is the Eurovision.  It is something that brings out the best from countries from all over the world.  Not surprisingly, one of my treasured family posessions is a memorial coin from Eurovision in 1999 that was hosted in Israel because their contestant, Dana International, won in the previous year.

It is so hard to believe that this Israeli Eurovision winner, Dana International, used to be a boy.  Her popularity skyrocketed after her victory in 1998.  I remember those times when all of my Israeli friends were listening to her song “Diva”.  She returned to represent Israel at Eurovision many times after that, including 2011 with her song “Ding Dong”.

 

 

Can you imagine, she was banned on TV and radio when she just started out because “transsexual sent the wrong message to the nation’s youth”?  Still, even in countries like in Canada, I run into people who manage to make a mean comment about a transgendered woman.  Dana was met with a lot of opposition from religious groups when she performed at the Eurovision.  This is what she said as a reponse to that:

“My victory proves God is on my side. I want to send my critics a message of forgiveness and say to them: try to accept me and the kind of life I lead. I am what I am and this does not mean I don’t believe in God, and I am part of the Jewish Nation.”

Now she is over 40 and looks better than most women!  She even dresses more feminine – in most of her videos she is wearing either pantyhose, fishnets, leggings, or some kind of tight sexy leg wear.  Could that be why she is one of my favourite performers?

 

Jenna Talackova is giving interview for Out TV at Vancouver Pride 2012

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I saw her giving an interview for Out TV, of course, I couldn’t hear what she was saying, but I tried to film her pretty face anyway.  She’s beautiful!

Jenna wasn’t born with this name.  It used to be Eugene, and “Page” in between.  It’s hard to believe that this long-legged woman was not born female!

Some sources say that she has Czech descent, some say that she is aboriginal.  But most sources point that her family is from northern British Columbia First Nation community.  It’s quite surprising to see her with blond hair like that, most native people here look very different.  Oh well, she’s unique!  But my opinion is that she is the most optimized hybrid of two descents.