celeb-interviews

Scientist Prepared To Take Genes Off For Lesbian Research!

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:17:37 +0100

Andrea Burri, MSc of King's College, London, is currently offering to shave her hair, run naked across Westminster Bridge or almost anything else, in order to get donations towards a study into possible connections between genetics and female homosexuality - these desperate measures are a direct result of the difficulties in getting funding from official bodies. A good looking, queer, Swiss academic, the naked sprint is not an unappealing prospect - one imagines British lesbians forming mobs to donate and spectate. At this stage, they only have ethical approval to collect samples from volunteers within the UK, although they are very keen to find collaborators and expand into other countries.

Apparently in genetics studies, a homogenous sample is absolutely crucial, due to the differences in the genetic make-up of different races. Initially, the study will focus on caucasians, for purely practical reasons, "It's only because of one practical reason: money. To do genetic studies you need to "genotype" the volunteers, which means you draw a kind of a map or a profile of their genes, in order to be able to compare them with each other. Now this is very very cost intensive. Our department has a twin registry of around 10000 twin volunteers out of which around 4000 have already had their "genotyping" (and their all caucasians) therefore it is much cheaper to use these twins who do not consider themselves as being gay as a control group, but to do that you need to compare them to women who consider themselves bisexual or homosexual which are comparable, therefore they need to be caucasian."

Individual volunteers will not have access to their specific results, simply because mapping one person's genome will not produce any information about that person - while as part of a much larger group of people and their genomes, DNA can be compared and results assessed. The study is also a completely anonymous one, with regards to volunteers and under the auspices of the Ethics Committee, once volunteers have sent in their samples, all of their personal information and contact details are deleted, leaving the sample identified only by an untraceable identification number.

According to Andrea Burri, there has been extensive research into links between genes and male homosexuality, but, "There have been a few very small studies (only about 100-200 sample size) in women. However these studies were really small and had a lot of methodological issues and therefore there results are not really reliable and valid." There are rumours of a department in the USA intending to conduct a similar study, but the work has not yet begun and so this one's the only one of its size and scope so far worldwide. On the importance of getting this research off the ground, Andrea says, "Whereas male homosexuality is a well investigated field and a lot of hypotheses and theories have been written, almost nothing is known about female homosexuality when it comes to physiological, biological correlates."

With a pretty comprehensive absence of existing research and results, Andrea says, "We are looking at any random genes that could influence sexual orientation in women. Of course we will have candidates (genes that have been shown to be involved in male homosexuality, sexual orientation etc - if there are any) to start with but basically knowledge is so limited that we would start from 0, and search in a "blind" fashion for what could underly sexual orientation. We are not interested, or let's say expecting, to find THE gene that makes women gay. It is rather an attempt to explore the genetic basis of sexual orientation in general and many thousands of genes could be involved."

So why has there been research into male homosexuality and the genetic connection and not into the female aspect? Andrea's theories are both complex and interesting, "First of all, because it seems that there are less taboos in the male gay world compared to female gays and this seems to be true also for research. It looks like gay men are "less" scared to take that step and explore and therefore take more initative to do so. Secondly, based on research findings so far it seems that female homosexuality is somehow more complex and therefore harder to "assess" given that for example there are many women who consider themselves heterosexual but still have bisexual tendencies. Then again, many women "come out" at a later age, which seems to occur less in gay men ... it seems like there is a bigger heterogeneity in women when it comes to sexual orientation ... and this of course is harder to study."

As for her own personal interest in the field, "Ah you know when you got ten research papers lying in front of you and you always go for the sex stuff instead of things like depression or phobias then somehow the decision is already made!"

Wanna get involved?

Melanie Lowe Speaks Out About Coming Out

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:32:51 +0100

Melanie Lowe ... the spiky haired girl we all speculated about on the first series of South African Idols, the one whose (male) fiancé didn't stop us speculating, finally came out of the closet in June's O Magazine - a skillful way to let the world at large know something that we, the queer community, have been widely aware of for years now. South Africa's LGBTQ community is a relatively small one and a lot of it is in the closet due to cultural taboo - corrective rape within some segments of the black African population and the general ingrained abhorrence by the Afrikaans Dutch Reformed Church, for example. We also seem to allow people their closets by not outing gay Springbok rugby players and so forth. With that in mind, I asked Melanie how she felt about the open secret not being a secret anymore and how she'd dealt with the dichotomy between her public and private realities.

"It feels pretty good actually! I've been gearing myself up for this for a while so I've been through the whole gamut when it comes to emotions! I arrived at acceptance a few weeks before the O Magazine was due to hit the shelves so when it actually did I could just enjoy the feeling of a weight lifting off my shoulders and that's exactly what I'm feeling now. Like I've let go of a very heavy weight!

It was challenging at times. However, I was lucky in that my partners weren't totally "out" either so we both just accepted that that was how it was. When I look back now I see how silly it was to be so worried and I feel bad for asking it of my partners but, at the time, my biggest fear was that I wouldn't be able to do my fundraising shows for Little Eden. For about 3 years I toured the country doing 90% school shows for kids from grade 0 to grade 7, to raise funds for Little Eden. I loved performing for the kids. They were my favourite shows but I had this fear instilled in me when I was younger, that people didn't want their kids around "someone like me". It was one of the reasons, sadly, that I stopped studying teaching and it's something I regret. It's amazing how the things people say, stay with you. I was juggling things all the time because I really thought that I would have something I love, taken away from me. It seems ridiculous now but I had sleepless nights about what to do about it, for years. I know it made me ill. I was almost permanently stressed. When I met Angi, everything changed. Suddenly I saw my fear for the irrational emotion that it was. How could anyone possibly denounce something that made me feel so complete and so real? That was when the inner battle ended for me and the healing began, which led me up to this point where I am finally, completely, at peace."

Angi, if you haven't already read the O interview, the Times article and all the other commentary, is Melanie's (female) fiancé. It's not as if Melanie hasn't been seen out and around the gay scene before, but I wondered whether being out would mean we'd see more of her.

"We're not big party girls! I did all that 14 years ago! We went out once or twice when I moved to Jhb but we're not really into club music, and being hit on all the time, even when you are holding hands with your girlfriend! We're not big drinkers and we're very against drugs. I do think that kind of environment can be quite destructive to a relationship, gay or straight. If we do go out it's usually when we're in Durban and there's a Bent party happening! That's because it really is like being among family for me. Everywhere I turn I see a familiar face and I can dance and have fun with good friends and feel safe in the knowledge that no-one is going to try and hit on my wife or me!"

There are celebrities who come out with a fanfare (George Michael), those who do so repeatedly (Michael Stipe) and those who never ever do so formally, but about whom there is no doubt (Morrissey) - so what made Melanie summon the fanfare?

"I could feel a change in me almost from the moment I met Angi. Up until I met her I had always been wary of coming out and I often asked myself whether I was ready, at the point that I was at, to make my private life public. Somehow it just never felt quite right. You have to be very sure of your partner and yourself and I guess I just wasn't there yet. From the moment I met Angi I just had a feeling that it was going to happen. It wasn't a conscious decision but, no matter where we were, I found myself not caring about who was watching. I'm surprised people didn't realise it sooner. We're pretty affectionate without even realising it and it just felt natural with her. I honestly didn't mind what people said because somehow I knew it would be ok. After all, how could something so beautiful possibly have anything negative attached to it. When I asked her to marry me, I knew that had kind of forced me into making a decision but I wasn't scared. Marriage is a big thing to us and hiding my wife from the world was not an option. I'm so proud of what we have and who we are and I wanted the world to know! We decided to come out but we had no idea how to go about it. And then out of the blue, O Magazine said they were looking for people for this article and were we interested and we just knew it was meant to be. This was the opportunity we had been looking for. O magazine is a great magazine and we knew they'd present us in a way that reflected "us". The decision was actually very easy at the end of the day."

I presumed that she had told all of her nearest and dearest before she told O Magazine, but I had to ask.

"Yes. In fact my family have known for about 15 years! But it wasn't well received as my family have very strong religious beliefs about it. Even the fact that they had known for 15 years, didn't make it any easier to tell them about my engagement because they had never really taken much interest in my love life! I was terrified. My folks live in the UK and they came out for a holiday and I knew it was my only chance to tell them face to face. I've never been so scared! But when I told them my mom said, "Well my love, we can see the change Ang has made in you and how happy you are. We're very happy that you are happy and if this is what you want then we support you!" I was incredibly shocked, in a good way! We all cried and it was very emotional, especially when they said they would come to the wedding! I just never thought I'd ever be able to share my joy with my family and now I can. It's made my coming out so much easier because I know I have their support. My mom even got a copy of the O Mag sent to the UK so she could see my official coming out. My sister and her family have also booked their plane tickets from the UK to be at our wedding."

I wondered how scared she was - coming out is often tough, unfortunately. The constitution may support our rights, but society in general frequently doesn't even respect us as human beings.

"I was far more terrified to tell my parents! The O Magazine article was planned for several months so I had plenty of time to get used to the idea and, by the time it came out, we were impatient for it to just be out! That same day we were in Sun City as I had a show there and, for the first time ever, we walked around, in a very public place, holding hands:) It was just so liberating there wasn't time to be scared. What WAS a bit nerve-wracking was the letter to my friends and supporters. When I clicked send I was sweating! With O Magazine, people can't click on "comment" and give me feedback. On Facebook, they can. Every time I was notified of a comment, I got shaky! But there hasn't been a single bad comment."

I had been watching Melanie's Facebook status messages just before the O interview came out (so hard to avoid that phrase suddenly) and she was carefully been gender-neutral when mentioning her partner, I asked her whether it was a relief to be able to say "she" at last.

"So relieved it's impossible to describe! I truly just love being able to say what I think and feel! Now, when I am talking to anyone about Angi, I don't even think twice before I say "she" or "her" and I am not worried about people's reactions either. The important ones know and accept it and that's all that counts."

I also asked her about general responses to it all.

"All good! I am sure there are some who don't like it. In fact, I know there are. I have had a few religious people tell me they're happy I'm happy but I must know that God isn't happy.It's not a totally negative comment and I'm so accustomed to hearing that that I don't feel offended by it. Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs. I mean, if I didn't believe that then I don't deserve all the wonderful feedback I've been getting. No-one has the right to judge another. Not until you've walked a mile in their shoes, and few can say that they've actually done that. What I truly believe is that, no matter what your religious beliefs are, they should never come between you and those close to you. Life is too short to uphold rules and laws out of a sense of obligation. Those relationships are real and they are what matters in the here and now. I find it hard to believe that God would punish you for showing compassion to another person, even if their way of life is not something you are comfortable with, or that they think God is against. Isn't it a universal understanding that God is love? If anyone has any questions regarding homosexuality and religion, I recommend www.soulforce.org . It made things so much clearer for me and a lot of people close to me too. And now I'm jumping off my soapbox!"

I wondered if the now long-haired, feminine looking Melanie Lowe identified herself as femme as well as lesbian.

"To be honest I don't identify with either! I am a person who loves another person. My eyes see beyond the outer package, straight to the soul, and THAT is what I identify with."

(Perhaps bisexual or pansexual or pomosexual applies then).

"What is this bizarre human need to label everyone? I was once asked what religion I was, so I said I'm not religious, I'm spiritual and the response to that was, "Oh so you're agnostic then!" She simply HAD to find a label for me! Why do I need to label and categorise so many parts of my life? I do know I have always been drawn to women. I have no explanation for that. I love being a woman. I embrace my femininity 100% and I'd never want to change who I am. I have nothing to prove to anyone and the only person whose respect I really need to have at the end of the day, is respect for myself. Anything over and above that is a bonus! If I can find a balance in my life that gives me room to be the woman I am, to love the woman I am going to marry and to not need any more than that, then I have already found where I fit in this world and need nothing else to validate me."

Ah. Pomosexual. Which, of course, is a label in itself. There's no doubt that it would be great if labels were unnecessary, but while there are still people who get labelled and then discriminated against or murdered for it, perhaps the first thing we need to do about labels like "lesbian" is demystify them and reclaim them from those who use them like ammunition and insults. "Woman" is a label too, after all, not an absolute definition.

I asked her whether any of her songs were about her sexuality.

"Well, I wrote quite a few rather depressing songs around the time that I first came out to my parents! I had a lot of questions. Most of my songs are about my relationships and where I am in my life. I wrote a song called Free which talks about wanting to be free to be me. It hasn't found its home on an album yet. Perhaps the next one, but I think my song, Blue, encompasses everything about me trying to be me. I always introduce it at gigs as the song that's all about me and my struggle against the powers that be trying to make me be something I'm not. But it's also very much about my sexuality and the fact that people thought it was better to hide it. They thought it would do huge damage to my career and I guess I resented that but I still wasn't strong enough in myself to do anything about it. I think there will be a lot more songs coming out through all of this. I just recently wrote one called "Living the truth". Obviously inspired by recent events and by my fiancé, Angi."

I've interviewed Melanie Lowe before and asked her whether she thought celebrities had a responsibility to come out or whether they are entitled to their privacy - this time around, I asked her whether she had a message for any celebrities in closets.

"I believe in live and let live. I didn't start this with a cause in mind. I simply didn't want to hide my wife away once we were married. I realised, for myself, that it was time to live my life honestly so that I could look myself in the eye when I looked in the mirror, and feel proud of who I was. I was at that place. It took me years to arrive. Now that I'm here, I think maybe I've started a cause whether I like it or not! The responses I've had have told me that I am affecting lives in a positive way and I'm not the kind of person who can just walk away from something like that so it's become something more to me. As well known persona, we are not obliged to set an example, but I can't seem to avoid that sense of responsibility, knowing the power it has to affect change. I will say this: Take your time and if you make the decision to come out, make sure you're strong enough and you have enough of a support base to hold you up when things get tough. No-one should expect you to be an open book and it's really nobody's business anyway. If you are scared that it will ruin your career, the fear will probably ruin it for you. If you are worried about losing some friends, consider that maybe they weren't the kind of friends you needed anyway and if you are worried about losing fans, the amount you will gain will far outweigh the few that do leave and again, you only want real people in your life so what have you really lost at the end of the day? From where I stand, I have only gained and lost nothing but my own hang-ups."

We haven't had the right to marry for very long in South Africa, so that plus her coming out and obviously, her engagement, I guessed she would have some opinions about gay marriage.

"I guess I'm an old-fashioned romantic. I've always wanted the white picket fence and a family. It's not so much about the piece of paper for me. If we weren't allowed to get married we'd have had a commitment ceremony. But there's something truly beautiful in making that final commitment. For me it's about celebrating the love that I share with this wonderful woman who has agreed to marry me:) And it's about loving her so much that I am prepared to proclaim it to all and sundry. There's a sense of safety and vulnerability in taking the step. It says that you trust someone enough to open yourself completely to them and you're doing it together, which makes it safe. Marriage changes a person. Two of my closest friends, together for 7 years, finally got married when it became legal. Overnight I saw a change in them. Their relationship moved on to a whole new level. There is a level of trust that comes with the knowledge that you have publicly made promises to each other and it's for better or for worse. There's no getting up and leaving. You're a team in every sense of the word. With that knowledge, comes peace."

Melanie Lowe is out and even if she's not immediately taking up arms on our behalf, at least she is living her truth and even taking it on tour. Every celebrity that comes out feels like a victory and another contribution towards tolerance. She is also happy and in love and what woman in love doesn't like talking about her girlfriend? Over to you, Melanie ...

"Where do I begin? Angi is my eye of the storm, she's my island in a raging sea, she is the yin to my yang. I loved her from the moment I saw her. We are opposites in so many ways and yet, with her, I find my sense of balance. When I looked into her eyes, I recognised her soul and I felt like I had found my home. That was why I knew I had to move to Johannesburg. I need to be near her. I'm completely lost when I know she's not within easy reach, and vice versa. But we are also able to give each other space if it's needed. She makes me laugh, she listens to me, even if it hurts her, even if I'm making no sense, even if she's exhausted, she listens. If I need her, she will be there, no questions asked, no reason needed, even if it's her last cent, she will spend it to get to me. We are our priority and I feel very safe in that knowledge. She is so strong and so wise and I learn so much from her all the time. I think she is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, not to mention sexy. We have been through so much together and it has only made our love stronger. We have learnt what it really means to be part of a team and to be part of something so special and beautiful. I feel privileged to be a part of her life and to know that I am the one she has chosen to spend her forever with and I can't wait to look into her eyes and say, "I do"."

Awwwww!

Interview: Ulla Kelly, photographs from Melanie Lowe's private collection.
Links: the website / the facebook profile / the facebook fan page

The end.

The Taiwanese Lesbian Scene: Tomboy & Pao

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 15:53:47 +0100

I got talking to Andrea Toerien - a friend of mine in Taiwan, who also happens to be a lesbian. She told me about T's and P's; Tomboys and Pao (wives) and showed me photographs and immediately it was apparent that the Taiwanese scene is rather different to the Western butch/femme dynamic - for one thing, they're more scene, theme and appearance conscious than most of us can imagine.

So tomboys don't go out with tomboys and pao don't go out with pao? Usually not. There are a few couples that will have both, but one will always be a little more feminine. The femmes also will dance together to tease the T's , but T's are mostly playful on the dancefloor..not sexual with each other.

Pao … wife … does that mean that their partnerships are monogamous? Usually yes. But , just like straight society, T's have more freedom. Like, they can dance with other girls, tease..but don't let them catch their wives doing the same thing.

They seem to be incredibly fashion conscious – are they label conscious too? Insanely so. Most people in Taiwan are. They follow trends.

How do you fit into the scene – as a foreigner and as someone who I'd have said was androgynous looking? Oh, I fit in well. But they don't understand why I'm not up for one night stands etc. They watch L word and think foreigners are 'spicy' to them that means we're open and wild! In the beginning, when my hair was shaved I got loads of attention from the femmes...with their long plastic nails...yikes. But now that I have long hair people tend to leave me alone. I don't think I'm femme enough for the T's here...although many of them come up to me and want my MSN address...(they cant understand that I don't give it to strangers).

Does the male/female roleplay extend into the sexual sphere? Yes..many femme girls have long nails. And that's all I'm going to say.

Those long, painted nails … do tomboys get any action? Oh..hahahahha. I heard no...some do of course, but they mostly give while the femmes receive. Same as stone butches back home.

How visible are those roles outside of gay bars etc? Very...when they go shopping the T is always the one carrying all the bags while the femme is trying on clothes.

Are tomboys mistaken for boys? I don't think so...

In the photos you showed me, everyone looks really young – where are the older ones? Haha, there are tea bars and coffee shops. There isn't a club for older women. The older women are also snobby and refuse to go into the younger bars. They think that's where the children go.

Have you dated anyone in this scene? Gimme details! I only dated a girl when I got here..but I was her first so she didn't have any hang-ups about roles. I did feel like she enjoyed showing me off to her friends and gave more attention to me when we were outside than alone.

Besides the bar you showed me, what else is out there on the Taiwanese lesbian scene for them? We have this group called 'Lez's meeting' and they always have pool parties, movie screenings etc. And we have a gay area in Hsimenting, a cool shopping area...a friend of mine has a little bar named 'Hitch' she used to do speed dating nights all over town. Then there's another club named Esha. I used to go there a lot but the bargirls at Taboo are much friendlier. They sell bra's to bind your boobs....most Ts wear these vests... (that's Lawrence, a friend of mine.) Many times the girls 'strip' and take shirts off..but then they're wearing tank tops underneath!

How are they perceived/treated by the rest of the Taiwanese lesbian scene? How are who perceived? They are the whole lesbian scene unfortunately.

Do you think they draw any inspiration from the West? Oh yes. Taiwan is obsessed with America and the West. This is why they get nose implants, eyelids implanted etc....it's sad.

Photos: Taboo, Taiwan
Words: Ulla Kelly & Andrea Toerien

Deb Adler - cool and old skool

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 11:34:11 +0100

By Ulla Kelly

Deb Adler has been entertaining diverse audiences professionally for over forty years. Trained in both music and theater, Deb's performance background includes everything from glee clubs, choruses, and classical choral unions, to folk groups, to solo performances.

You've been out and singing about it for a long time now – what are the biggest changes you've noticed?
Definitely the integration into mainstream. When I started performing as a "Lesbian-feminist singer-songwriter" the term "Women's music" was a code phrase for "Lesbian music." A few years back I went into a music store and asked if they had a "Women's music" section. The clerk, a young woman in her early-to-mid twenties, looked at me quizzically and then with a touch of disdain, quipped, "Women's music- that would be like any woman who sings, right?"

"Well, we've arrived!" I thought!

With performers like K.D. Lang and Melissa Etheridge and others openly out in mainstream genres, there's been a definite evolution/revolution. In addition, the audience has grown more sophisticated and discerning. These are women who have "made it" in their respective genres while being openly out. Their straight fans love them for their music and their Lesbian fans love them for their music and that they are Lesbians, but it isn't a "political" love – if you know what I mean.

In a strange way that may be a natural outgrowth of what the original "women's music movement" was about. What began as a grass-roots word-of-mouth movement of music written, performed and produced by, for and about Lesbians grew into a launching pad for performers, producers, sound and lighting engineers, and others to gain access to and eventually recognition in the music industry that heretofore had denied women altogether.

Performing as a "Lesbian-feminist" singer-songwriter meant writing and singing about politically relevant issues for us as Lesbians and Women. The appeal of today's music by Lesbian artists is not about political content. There are still Lesbian performers who appeal to a strictly Lesbian audience whose material has a political slant, but today, much more so than when I began performing, the venues are limited for them. If they are going to "survive" as performing artists, they must be able to appeal to a broader audience.

Two things that proliferated during the 70's and early 80's were "chemical free coffeehouses" and "Women-only spaces." It seems that those have dwindled and the bars are the again, predominant venue for Lesbian musicians, which has it's drawbacks for me as a recovered alcoholic.

Even the bar scene is changing. I recently saw an article interviewing gay bar owners who agreed that one of the unfortunate results of people becoming more tolerant of gays in public was that gay bars were losing traffic to straight gay-friendly bars. It's an interesting paradox!

What are some of the differences between your generation of gay women, and the current generation?
About 40 years. (LOL) Seriously though, I see many similarities as well as differences. It's still very difficult to categorize the gay population because too many remain closeted to protect themselves, their jobs, or loved ones. Coming out is still a gamble all these years later. So how do you describe an iceberg – from just what you see on the surface?

I'm not sure I'm really qualified to quantify the current generation of gay Women as I move as a Lesbian in a predominantly straight world. I'm totally accepted by my extended family (I live in community with people I have worked alongside and lived with in some cases for over 20 years). My sexuality is not an issue.

I am extremely grateful to see a lot more visible support organizations, help-lines, LGBT Centers and business organizations, as well as strong pop culture role models. I didn't have that growing up as a kid in the 1950's. In that sense, it's a very different world today. My "MsQueer" blog is an attempt to offer on-line resources for those seeking support and information relating to LGBT issues. People are searching for understanding, not just going into denial. The internet has been a tremendous tool in our favor in that respect.

Of course, there's more confidence for many Lesbians being out in public – women holding hands, showing affection, being natural as friends and lovers without being "guarded" – That's very different.

I sometimes wonder if the current generation of Lesbians might take the freedom they do have for granted. I'm concerned about the anger and defiance I see in demonstrations and marches sometimes. Shouting obscenities as you march by; threatening to "convert" all those straight folks' children is not necessarily a smart strategy for gaining trust and acceptance. When I see women marching bare-breasted in Gay Pride Parades, I wonder if they have thought about what it took just to be able to march peaceably in cities around the world. Defiance and anger are neither peace-winning, nor coalition-building strategies.

I think there's a lot more sense of "in your face" identity for those who are out. Like, "You better accept me or else." (And I think that's a direct outgrowth of the fact that we can be more visible now – at least in some places!)

I recently saw a video of the 2008 "Dyke March" in Boston, where Lesbians were carrying signs like "10% is not enough – recruit" and "My girlfriend has a bigger dick than your boyfriend." My concern for this sort of approach of trying to force acceptance is that it only generates more fear and prejudice. We will not win allies nor influence others by threatening them.

I never found the need for that approach. I have found that as I am accepting of and comfortable with my own sexual identity, so do those around me accept and respect me. I don't look to others for acceptance. I offer respect and acceptance/tolerance to those I meet and seek to find a common ground in which to relate. If someone clearly shows that they are not capable of that, I practice compassion – to the best of my ability - because that is what helps me in the end.

Gay Rights has taken some serious blows here in the States with the passing of California's Proposition 8 rescinding the Gay Marriage law and other anti-gay legislation passing around the country this past November. There's a lot of anger out there right now in the LGBT population, but I like what the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is attempting to do with their "Anger Into Action" campaign.

We can't afford to just stew in our own rage – it is more destructive to the person maintaining that than to any possible target. What I know from my own work in the holistic health field is that anger and rage are a breeding ground for cancer. If we die off and our opponents live on – who wins? We have to acknowledge our anger, feel it without dwelling there permanently. Then it is absolutely imperative that we convert it into some form of positive action, to heal ourselves and to become part of the solution.

Hopefully the election of President Obama will help to keep alive the promise of equal rights for ALL. He has pledged to be a champion for that and I believe his intentions are pure. We shall see.

What was it like coming out when you did? Scary. Even with the activism of the 70's, there was a stigma attached to being "gay" and coming out was a tremendous risk.
Actually the worst part was growing up in the 1950's. As early as elementary school I experienced crushes and being attracted to my girl friends in school. I can remember having these incredible urges to lean over and kiss one of my girlfriends. (And that urge became a re-occurring one). I was confused and scared and there was no one to turn to. I couldn't tell my parents, or a teacher. I lived afraid and ashamed of what I did not understand in myself. My greatest fear was that if I should tell someone about my feelings and urges that I would be taken away from my parents, locked up and never be allowed to come back to them. (Actually, that wasn't too far off the mark, because many Gays were institutionalized). I didn't know anything about being Gay. I only knew that I had this horrible secret that I had to keep because I was so different from everyone else, and I didn't dare let anyone know!

It wasn't until my early twenties that I discovered the book Lesbian/Woman , by Del Martin and Phyllis Lyons that literally saved my life. Finally I could understand who I was and what all those feelings and urges had been about. I learned self-acceptance from those two wonderful pioneers of Lesbian Rights and activism.

I worked for a Lesbian business-woman who had her own company in my early thirties. She was very out amongst her friends and co-workers. Most of her clients knew about her as well, and had met her partner who did some work for the firm.

When I started singing and becoming active in marches and rallies locally, she went crazy. I actually tried performing under a different name for a while, trying to keep my job and stay active as a performer – but it backfired because the Lesbian audience already knew me as Deb Adler. So I found a better job to go on to and kept performing as me. But that is a typical example of how paranoid – and to some extent not without justification – many gays were still at that time.

Do you think we have it easier now? I think we have more visibility now, and it certainly helps to see more gay characters in mainstream television shows, the movies, and publicly out performing artists, writers, political figures, etc.
I think some of the pressure to remain hidden is off. I see a lot more couples holding hands or kissing in public without people around registering huge reactions. But the initial act of coming out to one's family and friends is still one that can cause great pain and angst in the anticipation of people's reactions, if not from the actual responses themselves. I think more people have a greater tolerance and there are credible and instant (courtesy of the web) resources for people to tap to find answers to questions or someone to talk to. At my MsQueer.com blog, my Gay Teens page is one of the most popular and people get there by various searches, including "my son is gay" or "my daughter is a Lesbian" for example.

As I was listening to reports leading up to President Barrack Obama's swearing-in on inauguration day, the BBC recapped an interview with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1964, in which he was asked to comment about a statement made by then President John F. Kennedy who thought the United States would see an Afro-American (my terminology – both Kennedy and King used the term "Negro") President in the next 40 years. Dr. King said he could see it happening in 25 years. So it took 44 years and the election of an Afro-American to America's highest political office is not going to wipe prejudice off the map in this country. But is does mark the tremendous strides we've made and I take that as a sign of hope that our country, and the global Human Family will move more rapidly towards acceptance of diversity in peoples – be it race, religion, creed, sexual orientation, whatever…

What inspired you to define yourself as a Lesbian singer/songwriter?
After I was introduced to the music of Holly Near, Cris Williamson and Meg Christian at a summer resident camp where I was working, I found a whole new direction for my music writing and performance to take. I began writing and performing songs about Women's issues and love songs, as well as songs about my own personal experiences and journey.

I am who I am and it just seemed the natural thing to do. I wanted to "declare" myself. I felt it was important to step up and be counted, to be publicly visible. The most obvious path through which to do that was my gift of music.

That decision led to many extraordinary experiences. I had the privilege to be a featured performer at the very first Lesbian-Gay Pride March in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1983. We had a few hundred people that day, including some straight allies. It was a very well publicized event in the community-at-large with a lot of advanced media coverage.

Being there was both exciting and scary. None of us knew what might happen. We had "peace marshals" who had been trained to cope with potential trouble-makers along the parade route, but we had no way to know if there might be some sort of adverse reaction or violence coming from anti-gays. What those of us who were marching knew was that there were hundreds, maybe thousands more who could not join us in the street that day, or even be seen anywhere near the events, for whom we were marching. Performers and Speakers alike understood that we, perhaps more than the others that day, would be "open targets" on the stage.

The parade and rally went without incident. It was a real celebration of declaring ourselves, our rights, our right to love. At the end balloons were released with messages in them from loved ones such as "My mom is a Lesbian and I love her. Brian. Age 7."

Have you encountered much homophobia as a result?
Sometimes. Homophobia can pop up in the most unexpected places, sometimes so close at hand that it can come as a real surprise. I never cease to marvel at where I might discover someone's prejudices or fears, based on their comments. Mostly I just roll with it. I make a policy not to agree with statements I don't believe in, but I may continue "unannounced" in a conversation – if with a stranger - and make my points in a way that gives the person a reason to think without being intimidated or attacked.

When we come to recognize that people who act from prejudice are acting out their parents' programs, as well as other authority figures in their lives, then it's possible to separate the individual from their behavior. I believe we must treat those who have the greatest contempt for us and would have us destroyed with compassion. These people have been reared on hatred and ignorance and fear. They live in irrationality and believe that it is rational. It is extremely intimidating and painful to the point of life-threatening for them to consider that the foundation they were raised with might be a false one. If we can offer them what they are incapable of offering us…acceptance, respect for their perspective, allowing them their ways without judging them, then we become their teachers. We give them the example of dignity and respect that they obviously did not have while growing up.

The best antidote I have found for homophobia is to be a solid citizen, make a contribution to the community – locally and globally - being of service, and to genuinely care about others. At the very least, I will confound them as a contradiction to their fondest bigoted beliefs.

What made you decide to reissue your old cassette recordings as free mp3 downloads?
I want the music to reach more Lesbians. There are songs that I haven't done for a long time because they are angry, and I don't want to leave my audience there. Music is a powerful communicator. It has been hailed as "the language of the heart." But in its power to inspire, it can also incite, confound, confuse, and leave one wallowing in raw emotion. I believe in the artist's responsibility to their audience.

But these songs, birthed through the exploration and defining of my own sexuality and status as a Woman, cover legitimate phases of self-discovery and empowerment we share as Women and Lesbians. Plus there are many more songs that I have written over the years that I want others to be able to access beyond what is available on "D.J. Adler – Here and Now" and "Songbyrd."

There is a sense of urgency that I feel at this point in my life to share with those who come after me. My songs are my children, so to speak, and I want to set them free.

When I began writing music and lyrics in my early teens, I hid my songs, partially out of shyness, but then Simon and Garfunkel released a song called "Sounds of Silence." One line in that song, "People writing songs that voices never share…no one dares disturb the sounds of silence.,"* haunted me. I began performing my own songs in public.

Now, it seems to have come around full circle again. I've been told many times over the years how people relate to my lyrics on a deeply personal level, that it touches something very deep within them. That has been one of my gifts. I've been off the performance circuit for a while, and I want to make sure that my songs get into the hands of those who can relate to them. Hopefully that will introduce a whole new generation to an "old gal's" tunes that they may appreciate.
*written in 1964 by Paul Simon.

Have you ever sung a love song as a duet with another female singer?
No. Not yet. But I'm open to the possibility!

Can we expect any new stuff from you?
Yes, I have a double CD planned called "Homegrown/Rawtracks" which features home and small studio sessions of songs I've written over the past 25 years. Then I plan to go into the studio for a CD that will feature the most recent songs I've written. They range in style from traditional folk, folk-rock to pop, rock, and a capella. I'm looking for a producer to work with on this and would like it to include collaboration with other musicians.

Songwriting has always been a means of processing feelings, or commenting on the times. So long as I am coherent, I will be writing new songs!

What other queer artists and performers do you admire?
From the beginning, Holly Near, Meg Christian, Cris Williamson, Kay Gardner, Margie Adam. More recently, Melissa Etheridge, K.D. Lang……………………….

You're a recovering addict and you got sober at an interesting place – tell us a little about that?
I attended the 4th Michigan Women's Music Festival in 1979. Through a series of events that I describe in detail at my website ( www.debadler.com : "My MWMF Story…Sobriety Rocks!"), I was able to admit in a safe space of other Lesbians who were alcoholics and addicts that I had been addicted to alcohol. I had suspected for some time that I had a problem, but some things happed there that led to an "ah-hah" moment and realize that I was in fact dealing with denial of an addiction for many years. I spent the next three days in a nurturing, loving cocoon of recovering Lesbians of all ages and from all over the States, and in some cases, from other countries. They shared their "courage, strength and hope" with me and gave me encouragement and advice as to what to do when I went home from the festival.

We had support meetings available 3 times a day, and then a group of us sat together at the evening concerts in the "chemical free" seating section. Without those Women and the Chemical Free camping and concert space provided by the organizers of the festival, I might not have come out of there alive. Had I started drinking at the festival, given my history and pattern up to that point, there's no telling what might have happened. Instead I got a start on a new life – and a passion to travel and share my new-found sobriety through my music, as I began writing a flurry of new songs reflecting my new freedom almost immediately.

What are Lesbian music fans like?
(LOL) At their worst, very demanding and very possessive. Lesbian music fans have some very definite opinions as to what their performers should and should not be doing - and with whom! J I have seen performers who were bisexual shunned by Lesbian music fans, as well as those who work with men or straight Women. Hopefully as we evolve those prejudices will resolve themselves, but I think there will always be a core group who feel ownership over performers and be very judgmental regarding their conduct.

At their best, I know Lesbian fans to be extremely loyal, loving and supportive. Through the years I have performed at rallies and events and concerts where I was hosted by the producers or their friends, where I was welcomed into their "circle" and community. I have many wonderful memories of the women I have met along the way – many of extraordinary accomplishment in their own careers or fields of endeavor – all good hearts. My life is a great deal richer for the roads I have traveled and the Women I have met.

What advice or warnings would you give up and coming queer singers?
Be aware of how you distribute your music over the internet. As with any contract, make sure you read the fine print before you click "OK." MySpace, CDBaby.com, Facebook, Glee.com, and many other social networks and independent music promotion sites can help to spread the word in a way that we could not access years ago! But you will definitely be giving up a measure of control over marketing and profits.

Remember, music is a business and as performers, like it or not, we are businesswomen. You have a rich heritage of Lesbians Artists, Producers, and Technicians who formed the first Women-owned/Lesbian-owned record companies, sound companies, artist booking companies, music distribution networks and Women-only catalogs, etc. All had to learn business and through those lessons we all became stronger as Women empowered.

Be consciously aware of what you are creating with your music and how it will impact your audience.

Be true to yourself. Know what you want and what you are willing to do and not do to get it.

Live, laugh, love and have fun while you share your talents and gifts with the world. Some of us will reach millions, some will reach far fewer numbers. To make a one-on-one connection with a person is a true accomplishment. In the end it's all about "have you touched one heart today?" If the answer is yes, and you know you've made a difference in at least one other person's life, then it is a good day!

What advice would you give younger Lesbians in general?
I think I've covered a lot of that in the question about differences between mine and the current generation of Lesbians. So, rather than be redundant, I would like to say to my Lesbian Sisters of this generation:

Stand tall. Be sure of yourself as a Lesbian and as Woman.

Understand that as you come to respect and love yourself, the world will follow. Don't believe the hate-mongers' hype. They are filled with their own insecurities, ignorance and insanities.

Have compassion for those whom you would consider your "enemies." My Cherokee Grandmother teaches that the opposition comes to show us the power and strength of who and what we are. It comes as a reflection to us. It can only defeat us if we allow it. In Physics we know that there can be no creation without resistance. Welcome it. Use it. Let your "struggles" be that which brings you greater inner strength and peace for having faced them.

If you enjoy a freedom today, remember that there was most likely one or many who had to fight, some at the expense of their own lives, so that you could know a better world. Take a moment to remember and appreciate the Grandmothers, Mothers and Daughters who have gone before you.

Walk with Pride. Know that you as a Lesbian are no less than any other Being in the eyes of Creator, Universal Intelligence, the Goddess…however you may define that which is Universal Order and Harmony.

Never doubt that you are loved. You are.

Anything you'd like to say to us South Africans?
I think it would be pretty presumptuous of me to think that I knew enough about your political and socio-cultural situation today to be able to offer you any advice. What I have to say would go to all of us around the planet.

We as the Human Family are growing and experiencing over and over again the quest for dignity and respect, the guarantee of human rights to ALL People. I was fortunate enough to travel to East Africa in 1975, to stay for the summer with a Kenyan family in Nairobi, work alongside people from Kitui helping with a local building project, as well as travel to meet many wonderful people of Mombasa, Lamu, Malindi and other East Kenyan coastal cities.

We learned from each other. The strength and hope of this world is with the People. Governments are the devise of a greedy few who seek control. They create artificial boundaries and barriers that are only an illusion. Their motive is to divide the Human Family. If we remember that, we will never be conquered. Human rights will prevail, and there will be dignity and respect for all.

As LGBT people, we cannot afford separatism – not within our own community, or the larger community of Humankind. We are one. We must embrace inclusiveness inorder to survive. My Cherokee Grandmother has taught me, among so many other things, that those of us here on this planet Earth at this time are here to heal separation.

It is only through separation that we can be conquered. As we remember that the Human Spirit is One – that there is no separation – we are unconquerable. We are the prevailing force that will return Mother Earth to wholeness and her People to abundant living.

The key to it all is Unity.

www.debadler.com

Karma: Comfort & Confusion

Sat, 28 Feb 2009 20:38:49 +0100

With her new CD, “Papercuts” coming out in South Africa at the end of the month, it seemed like a great time to talk to Karma; a firm favourite amongst South Africans since the nineties and Henry Ate. I asked her about American things, South African things, queer things - and things about how she writes the kind of songs that stick in your heart and mind forever. Unfortunately, I completely forgot to ask her how many of her fans are Buddhist. 2008 has seen her play on three continents (including London Pride), the release of the new CD, the defeat of Lil Wayne - and she still finds time to let the world know via Facebook how and what she’s doing. I remember seeing her play live in a tiny Cape Town venue back in the nineties and being so utterly caught by the music; both tunes and lyrics. I stared and tried to hold on to those moments and when she sang “Just” I phoned a faraway friend so she could listen too. Karma seems to separate her art from her personality efficiently; she guards her privacy and is intelligent and eloquent on the subject. I’m not the only dyke around wishing Karma would be more of a queer role model, but then again, why should she? It’s her choice and after all, songs last longer than personalities.

: Photo by Matthaeus

If you look back at your journey, which has taken you all the way to LA so far; how do you feel about it? Travel-weary at all?
I was pretty much exhausted when I arrived in LA - not only from the tour I had just done across the States covering 7600 miles with 28 performances in 32 days - but I think from the fact that i had been touring pretty much non stop since January including tours to London and to South Africa.

This quote of yours, “I’ll listen to anything once…twice if I like it..three times if it makes me smile - forever if it breaks my heart!” - what kind of music is heartbreaking?

Probably the songs that sing themselves into your heart at times when your heart is listening - which is usually when you’re heart sore.

What’s your American fan base like?
Great - and it’s growing with every tour and every effort put in. My efforts in the States have all been tour based and therefore building an audience from the ground up - 5 years later i have managed to build a pretty solid fan base.

I believe you answer all your own fan mail every Friday - have you ended up with long-term correspondents?
Not really - I think I am lucky in that people seem - for the most part - to respect my privacy and once they get their answers they leave me to write more songs to confuse or comfort them further. There are the occasional ‘out of line’ emails but they very rarely make it through to me.

Do you still get lots of fan mail from South Africa?
Yip - tons of it comes in. Facebook has also opened a door of opportunity for fans in South Africa to be kept up to date on what is going on this side of the world.

Is South Africa still home?
South Africa is the country that I come from and to that end will always be my home. At the same time America is where I live and work for the most part - it took me a long time to feel at home in America - and honestly I was very thankful when I started to feel more settled in here - I do consider America my home as well and am extremely grateful for the kindness and opportunities that I have received here.

What do you find attractive in a lover?
I like women who are beautiful, intelligent, kind, honest and have a good sense of humour.

Papercuts - out soon

What are your views on celebrities and their sexuality i.e. privacy issues?
It really should be left up to the individual as to what they do and do not wish to discuss with the press. I don’t feel any sense of obligation to discuss my sexuality or private life with the press on a general basis and certainly steer clear of involving any friends or partner in these discussions when I choose to do the occasional interview. My personal view is that the only reason I am being interviewed is because I am a musician – so lets talk music!

What is your stand on the right to privacy in terms of media exposure, where do you draw the line on what fans are entitled to know and not know?
When someone says that fans are entitled to know is where I draw the line! This sense of entitlement is where things seem to go horribly wrong – I don’t feel I own my fans so why should they feel they own me and have the right to know anything and everything about me. My personal experience has been that – for the most part – my fans want to know about the songs, upcoming tour dates and new material I am working on – I have very rarely found them to be intrusive and entitled in any respect. I have and always will be an extremely private person – it’s just who I am and has little to nothing to do with my celebrity status - there are however many artists and public figures (I read US Weekly too) who choose - or don’t but seem to benefit greatly all the same - to further their careers through continuous and often shocking headlines in the press – that is their prerogative – for me personally I have the same view of the press as I do any other relationship – your freedom ends when it fucks with mine!

Now that gay marriage is legal in both SA and California, would you ever consider it?
I don’t know – will have to cross that bridge when I get to it.

If you could change anything in your life, what would it be?
I trust that everything happens for a reason so I would be hesitant to change anything in the past, despite mistakes and regrets and I think I can honestly say that I am exactly where I need to be doing what I need to be doing today – so I wouldn’t change that either.

If you could change anything in the world, what would it be?
World poverty.

What does the future hold for you, musically?
I would like to further my skills as a writer and get more involved in writing songs for other artists. I am also working on several projects of my own at the moment that will hopefully see the light of day early 2009.

Where does your songwriting inspiration come from?
The world around me and the one inside my head. I have been writing since I was 9 years old and not too much has changed about the process for me – I have obviously learned different techniques and styles etc – hopefully even gotten better – but the process of writing and accessing the part of me that just allows words to flow out of me is the same. Often I am just commenting on where I am at, something I have witnessed, something I have felt, something someone has told me, something I have read or heard, something that bothers me, something that doesn’t etc you get the idea….

Do you edit much when you write songs?
With regards to the songs I write for me - not really – a word here and there - If I am not feeling it I am not feeling it – I write more in a process of flow. Getting involved in writing songs for others – especially when you don’t know who ‘other’ is yet is a whole different ballgame!

What comes first; words or music?
It’s different with each song – sometime lyrics just jump into my head and I have to find a cool chord progression to fit and other times I have the chords and am strumming away and just start singing over them. Other times it comes to be simultaneously.

What does it feel like when you hear the song as a whole for the first time?
It’s the best feeling in the world – I love hearing my words and music come to life – and it’s even better if I can’t stop playing the song or get it out of my head – then I know that the song and I are at the start of a great relationship.

And finally, when are we going to hear you play in South Africa again?
At the moment it looks like I will be coming through to South Africa for a tour in Feb/March 2009

Karma online: the website / the myspace / the facebook

Drag is a Verb Too

Sat, 28 Feb 2009 20:36:31 +0100

23 10 2008

: HRH Nomi Perron

Drag queens make me think of disco balls rotating lazily, filling rooms with sparkles. They make me think of high heels, lipstick, cabaret and beautiful, brave people. The general preconception is that they’re all wannabe women, as camp as a row of pink tents. Until I photographed drag queens at Joburg Pride recently, I’ve never had much personal contact with them at all, apart from the odd giggle together at a gay club. None of my best friends are drag queens and that isn’t because I dislike them, it’s simply that the opportunity’s never arisen. In the process of finding out who I’d photographed at Pride, I thought it’d be extremely interesting to interview them too, on the assumption that my general ignorance about drag is possibly shared by others. HRH Nomi Perron was gracious and patient enough to answer my often gauche questions and open a window into areas of sexuality and gender that are relatively alien to me. As I started jotting down questions, I realised that I didn’t even know if the term ‘drag queen’ was the right one to use. I felt a little ashamed, I mean, I’m a right-on feminist dyke, dammit, I’m supposed to know this stuff. Armed with big ears and stupid questions, I approached royalty.

In her own words, from her own palace, with a decade of drag under her glittery crown, I give you … HRH Nomi Perron!

I believe that the term drag queen is used merely to describe universally all gay men who cross-dress. You see, my view is that the drag scene is a subculture within a subculture (i.e. the gay community). I believe there are three distinct categories branching from the description/title ‘drag queen’ - drag queen, drag artist and female impersonator. ‘Drag queen’ refers to the more over the top drag e.g. drags who dress and use make up that’s way over the top; like wearing eyelashes 2 km long and a lot of bling. ‘Drag artist’ refers to two types of drags - one group that drags because of the belief that it is an art form to transform from male to female and they are expressing their artistic side, and the other group that call themselves artists because they only drag when they perform on stage – lip-syncing to the songs of famous singers. ‘Female impersonator’ refers to those who drag to make the transformation from male to female as believable as possible, in other words they try to look as much as possible like the real thing. I categorize myself under the latter, even though it overlaps with the other categories; for instance, I try to look as much as possible like a woman while retaining some of the glamour of a drag queen - not to blend in completely - which in itself is an art. I also perform on stage, lipsyncing and singing live.

Those who are not gay cannot be called drag queens! One has to be a gay male to fall under the category drag queen. A straight male dressing up in female clothing is called a transvestite. An individual who has had a sex-change done, half way or completely is called transsexual - again, this is my personal opinion.

A good friend of mine dared me ten years ago to enter a drag beauty pageant, after I made a remark about the contestants not even making an effort to walk like a woman - I entered the next month’s competition and won. That was back in February 1998, and I`ve been doing it ever since.

Since I drag only at gay venues, I do not encounter the phobia element much, except on my way to a venue in the car, when we stop at a robot and cars pull up next to me and something about my make up would give the fact away that I am a man. People either laugh or give very discontented looks; it’s jealousy I tell you - they wish they could look as fab as me!

Everyone has the right to be themselves - if I dress up in female clothing in my spare time and am not offending anyone, I feel I am being the pulse and heartbeat of my people and a preserver of gay history and culture. It is my right and choice - freedom of choice and association. No-one has the right to be the judge of what is right for me.

Films about drag - I love all of them, they all confirm the strength and perseverance of drags. Two movies in

Nomi

particular stand out; ‘Stonewall’, which emphasises that it was drag queens initially that were at the forefront in the first struggle of the gay riots in America. Even though we are being frowned upon, even nowadays by our own people, history shows that it was the drag who picked up one of the first stones and cast it against oppression - our screams will forever ring through history and echo into eternity. They left big footprints and shoes to follow and fill. Long live The Queen! The other movie is ‘Too Wong Foo’ and of course, though it’s not completely gay orientated, but a gay classic; ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’. ‘Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’ is another one I adore, as well as ‘The Birdcage’ where it was drags who came to the rescue of those straight people!

(I asked Nomi what make-up she uses; this question came via a group of my female friends, both gay and straight. When I was planning the interview, I asked them if there was anything they wanted to know and they all immediately mentioned cosmetics.)

This is where I differ from most drags. The world’s most famous drag (RU-Paul) said, “a cheap queen can still be a beauty queen.” I do not rely on expensive make up - it’s all about technique.

For obvious reasons when I am in drag I have to play the part, therefore I will be acting like a woman with regards to my mannerisms and gestures, for I am no longer a man then, but a woman; “see the ball, be the ball.” I am always reserved and to myself, seem a little aristocratic even - all trademarks of my star sign Aquarius, so in essence I am the same at all times, I just look different sometimes! I have been criticised for being a bitch and unapproachable and vain. I’ve learned to live with these comments for I am who and what I am and will not change to satisfy others. Those who take the time to get to know me always reply by saying, “I thought you were a bitch but see now that you are not.” I respond by saying “never judge a book by its cover!” I have no preference for either my male or female persona - I am just as comfortable in the one as the other, for both are actually the same person.

I must admit after ten years I am a household name in Gauteng. I’ve won various beauty pageants, been on South African TV - Egoli, Front Row on M-Net, The Res, Felicia on eTV, SABC, Take 5. So many people know me and know I am always at the Pretoria night club ‘Legends’, and before that, ‘Stardust’. I perform each Sunday at Legends and perform songs from Gladys Knight, I impersonate Tina Turner, Mary J Blige, Beyonce, Bette Midler, Jennifer Hudson, Sinead O’ Connor, Whitney Houston, Patti La Belle, Aretha Franklin and the list goes on. I sing live at times as well.

The fact that the South African constitution is one of the most liberal in the world does not necessarily mean I have it easier than drags in other countries. Sure the rate of tolerance is much higher here but that didn’t come without blood, sweat and tears! The challenge of eliminating ignorance is still as much alive and real here as in any other country. Even educating our own kind about drag is a challenge for believe it or not, many gay people still do not understand the concept of and motives behind drag and still believe the moment they see a drag, that the individual wants to be a woman. I don’t deny that there are those who want be a women but that puts them under a whole new category. Eliminating ignorance, that is the challenge.

I am a true Queen - a humble servant of my people.

I think drag takes balls - and not just disco balls either. I’m looking for drag queens and kings and other queer performers and artists to interview - please feel free to contact me.

Melanie Lowe

Sat, 28 Feb 2009 23:31:16 +0100

24 10 2008

: Melanie Lowe

Gay men always comment on my shoes! And gay women … well, I’ll leave you to decide what it is they comment on.

From her funky, vibrant presence on Idols all those years ago, to today’s more sultry woman, Melanie Lowe has paid her dues on the South African music scene. She handles her own career and like many artists these days, is utilising social networking tools such as Myspace and Facebook to stay close to her fans. She’s an incredibly articulate writer - if her lyrics aren’t proof enough of that for you, check out her Myspace blog. If you haven’t heard her latest CD (Unspoken Truth) yet, visit her Facebook iLike page to listen to loads of song samples. She has an infectiously positive, enthusiastic attitude and seemingly boundless energy.

What was it like supporting Katie Melua? Did you get a chance to hang out with her at all?

It was quite a learning curve for me. It was the first major tour I have had to organise on my own. I started my own company and started managing myself a few months back and, while I know all that’s involved in organising a tour, I’d never had to do the legwork. Being a perfectionist and an entirely practical Virgo; I prefer this route, because at least I know it’ll be done to my own specifications. But organising sponsors and all the logistics was a huge undertaking, especially with no budget (support acts never get paid or reimbursed for transport, accommodation etc). Then there were rehearsals to be organised and songs to perfect! All that was just the “behind the scenes” part. The shows themselves were incredible. They were full to capacity and what was great for me was that they seemed to appreciate my show as much as Katie’s! Often the support act feels a bit like an intruder. The crowd is there to see the main act, not you. You’re very aware of that and it’s a lot of pressure to feel on top of everything else. But it seems her following is my following and it was fantastic. I sold so many CD’s and had so much positive feedback. After the Port Elizabeth show we all had a glass of wine backstage and devoured packets of sweets! Sounds bizarre I know, but we were all exhausted and just wanted to chill. My band, her band and the two singers sat and chatted for about an hour or so and swapped stories. I felt quite sorry for her because she was totally exhausted from being on tour for several months but she was very sweet and polite and friendly and it was great that she still took the time to spend some time with us.

Mellow Music is proactive in helping female singer/songwriters, would you tell us a bit about that please?

If you take a look at my list of influences you’ll see that they’re all female singer/songwriters who are very much alternate to the mainstream. Maybe it’s because I relate better to them, being a female singer/songwriter myself! I’m not sure what it is but their songs touch me in ways that other music doesn’t. I need to be challenged by music to be able to fall for it and that is my reason for preferring alternate. Generally females achieve the depth I look for because they are, by nature, more open to their emotions. That’s like a magnet for me. Cliches bore me. It’s so easy to write a cliched song. It doesn’t come from a very deep place and I am on a constant quest to find depth and challenges in music. If I find something that I am passionate about you can’t hold me back. I will throw myself into it with everything I have. But I am very picky, because it’s pointless me trying to promote something I can’t relate to. I know there is so much talent out there. I wish I could hear it all. This country has so many Tori Amos/Sarah McLachlan equivalents and I’m just dying to find them because South Africa needs more of them and less girl and boy groups singing guaranteed hits. I have chosen one of the hardest routes musically, especially in this country. But I am managing to do it and that means I can help someone else do it and if I can do that for even one woman, who is passionate about what she does, I will feel like there is still hope for real music!

You’re very open about emotions and so on on your Myspace blog - do you find blogging cathartic?

I find writing cathartic, whether it’s songwriting or just letting my thoughts meander over a keyboard or plain, old-fashioned pen and paper. It’s a way to exorcise my demons and it’s helped me through more than one difficult situation. Once something is written down I can put it away. It’s found it’s place and that’s where it will stay, giving me the freedom to carry on until the next situation arises. My CD’s are my diary, as is my blog. Nothing can heal you if it’s not completely open and honest. I don’t see the point of writing if that’s the case. I’m very honest in my songs. I don’t know how else to write. If people really listened to my lyrics, they’d know me more intimately probably than a partner would. But most people don’t listen that hard! I’m not sure whether that’s a good or a bad thing.

Fans … this being a queer site and me being queer and all, I have to ask you - are your concerts good places to spot hot lesbians?

Ha ha! I should imagine you would spot more than a few if you looked hard enough. In fact, there’s someone for everyone at my shows! I have fabulous fans from all walks of life. I don’t make a habit of asking them their sexual preference so I couldn’t say for sure and these days, with people being less conservative, it’s very hard to stereotype anyone and I have never been one to do that anyway. So I can’t say for sure but there are lots of gorgeous people at my shows.

You’re a queer-friendly sort of artist, right? Have you played any queer-specific gigs and if so, how was it?

I like to think I’m a friendly gal. I never saw the point in labels and discrimination of any kind. I despise bigotry, sexism, chauvanism, most “isms” actually. I still don’t understand why everyone feels the need to be placed into a category. I do understand wanting to belong, but putting yourself into a box is so limiting to your own personal growth. There is no greater pleasure than singing for an audience that appreciates your music and I will never shut off any corner of the market, for any reason. I have played at many queer-specific venues but the audience is always varied which, I think, is testament to how unimportant a person’s sexual preference is, to most people, and how important the music is. Music bridges the gaps between all communities. That’s one of the things I love about it.

Got many queer fans?

Well, I don’t have great gaydar! But, at the risk of stereotyping, I’d say I do! Gay men always comment on my shoes! And gay women … well, I’ll leave you to decide what it is they comment on.

Would you consider singing a duet with a lesbian?

When I decide to sing a duet with anyone I look only at their voice, their music and their intergrity as a person and as an artist. The rest is completely unimportant to me. I have very strong ideas about what makes an artist worthy of being in the limelight and their sexuality doesn’t feature anywhere in my list of prerequisites.

Do you think there’s any discrimination against gay artists in the music industry?

I haven’t really noticed discrimination against gay artists. Celebs seem to take a bit of flack when they come out, Ellen de Generes being an example, but it dies down eventually as the next story comes along. I think there’s always going to be discrimination against the unknown, because there will always be people who fear something they don’t understand and a natural reaction to fear is to strike out at the object causing their fear. I think, as a female artist, there is discrimination at a higher level because we are not as marketable as our male counterparts. Heterosexual females are more inclined to buy a CD because they think the guy is hot, whereas guys will be more inclined to wait for the artist to do an FHM photoshoot and then buy that rather than the CD! Of course, that’s just my opinion!

In your opinion, should celebs come out of the closet or are they entitled to their privacy?

I think it’s a personal choice. It always amazes me that nobody expects a celeb to openly admit they’re straight. While I will concede that people are more inclined to to assume “the norm” the theory still applies. Why are people forced to categorise themselves? It should have nothing to do with who a person is sleeping with and EVERYTHING to do with their art. If people want to put me in a box, they are welcome to and I will leave them to their theories and thoughts on who or what I am but I am just me. I never planned to be public property. The public decided to put me there. No matter what I say, they already have preconceived ideas of who and what I am. I don’t think I owe anyone but myself, a private viewing of my life and I should imagine most celebs feel the same. I am entirely comfortable with who I am as a person and I can’t spend my life trying to make other’s comfortable with me. When you are sitting in your rocking chair at the end of your life, reflecting on all you’ve done, you are the only person you will have to answer to. Everyone else who ever criticised you, or tried to change you will be sitting in their own rocking chairs, thinking only of themselves as well. You won’t feature then, so why feature now. I do think that no-one has the right to judge another person and if someone chooses to keep their private life, private, it’s their choice and people should respect that.

If an Idols candidate, for example, was gay; would that be an advantage or a disadvantage?

During the show, there were a lot of stories that came out about all the contestants. The media were looking for scandal, and they found all sorts. A 17 year old had a 2 year old son, one of the guys had a baby he’d never known about until the show. That turned out to be a lie. One of them had been struggling with anorexia for years. The stories lasted a few days and then died out. It’s very hard to tell if these stories had any impact on the votes. There were rumours of voting syndicates. There was no way to tell if the voting was a true reflection of what the public thought. I can’t say whether a contestant being gay or not is an advantage or disadvantage. The best way to tell is in the CD sales afterwards I guess. In the entertainment industry they do say that no publicity is bad publicity. It’s when they’re not talking about you that you should be concerned.

Where do your songs come from? Tell us a bit about your process.

I’m not sure where they come from actually! It hits me at the oddest of times, often in the middle of the night when I’m half asleep. If I don’t act on the impulse immediately I lose it. I can’t force them out. I wish I could! I have to be inspired by something and I can’t choose what inspires me either! It usually starts with the first line of the song and sometimes it’s the music first and sometimes the lyrics but more often than not they come together and the rest generally tumbles out afterwards in a matter of minutes.

Do you need to hurt in order to write? Can you write when you’re happy?

My best songs come when I am chin-deep in angst. It’s a terrible thing, because I get criticised for not doing more happy songs, but I write about what touches me on a very deep, emotional level. Relationships gone wrong are an obvious one but people affect me hugely and a lot of my songs are written about people I don’t necessarily even know well, but for some reason, something about them touches me. I often sense people’s pain. Maybe it’s because I keep a lot in, myself. I’m an introvert by nature, more of an observer than a partaker in life and I have always been very sensitive to things and people around me. My output is in the form of writing. When I get that sensation, I sit down and I write and it’s always from a buildup of sensory input until I reach a point where it bursts out in some form of writing, and the end result is a song. So, to write a song according to a specific format is very hard for me, as an artist. I could easily sit down and write a catchy, commercial song. But I would never feel comfortable about claiming it as my own and it would never have any place in my heart. I guess I’m a bit of a purist at heart, musically, even though I have made compromises along the way, to try and create awareness of my music. I’ve always tried to maintain my musical integrity, sometimes at a huge cost. However, as I mature, I am learning how to channel some things more than others and my writing style has changed and grown. I think my newer music is an example of that. For the first time I have a happy, commercial song playing on radio stations and charting well! I guess that just shows that the art has to be slightly compromised if you are going to succeed, sadly.

What motivates you to perform?

Being onstage is my high. I feed off the energy of the audience. My whole body comes alive and I’m bursting with energy, no matter what state of mind I happen to be in at the time. It’s the one place I know exactly what I am doing and who I am. I love to sing. I love to tell my stories to people who are willing to listen and if there is even one person in the audience who is “getting” me, then that is enough to keep me going all night!

What is it about jazz and blues that attracts you?

I find jazz and blues very sexy to sing. The odd thing is I don’t really listen to it much! But performing it is a whole different story. The thing with jazz and blues is the freedom of it. Vocally you can redo a jazz or a blues song over and over again, and do it differently everytime. I find the format of the songs very easy to understand and that gives me the freedom to go where i want to vocally because I can anticipate where the music is going to go. It also gives me the freedom to really feel the music and let go when I perform. I love to make songs my own when I sing them and jazz and blues really allows me to do that.

OK, the soapbox is yours … you’re passionate about green issues … go for it …

I mentioned in an earlier question that, if I am passionate about something, it’s hard to hold me back and this is something I feel strongly about. I’ve been recycling for a few years and have been trying to convert all my friends and family but didn’t feel I should enforce it because it was my passion, not theirs. But then I had a conversation with a friend who is a scientist who works very closely with the government. We were talking about gloabal warming and I asked her how bad the situation actually was and she basically told me it was better just to not have children! She said we had 5 years at the most, to turn it around. That scared me enough to make the decision that it was time to make my passion everybody else’s problem;) So I started with the facebook group, Green Celebrities. And the reason I chose that name is an answer to your question! I do feel that celebs should be responsible. We ARE role models, whether we like it or not. What we do makes a direct impact on the people watching us. I am very aware of that a lot of the people who listen to and support my music, also watch my every move and comment on it at any given time, whether it’s positive or negative!! It makes sense then, that if I am setting a good example, people will not only take note, but learn from it. I think anyone in the public eye, who doesn’t try and make a positive difference is being more than remiss. My hope is that the more celebrites who live “green” the more people will feel compelled to do the same thing. Bono and Angelina Jolie are good examples of celebs trying to make a difference and it gets people’s attention!

It’s a powerful position to be in, where you can change lives and one that should never be abused or taken for granted. Society these days is all about “me, me, me” and that is even more evident when something goes wrong! Everybody says “what about me?” There are more important things going on and it’s not all about “you” anymore. It’s going to take a joint effort to fix things. People only seem to acknowledge a person’s importance by how many magazines and tv shows they appear in! So I’m taking advantage of that by getting celebrities to start making a change. The thing is that everyone has a role model and they don’t have to be on TV to make a diffference to someone’s life. We undervalue our own importance all the time. There are unsung heroes in everyone’s lives, and what they do will impact directly on those who aspire to be like them.

So to cut a long enough story short, I am living green and I am encouraging not only my fellow celebrities to do the same but for everyone to join the initiative. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

How to join Green Celebrites:
On Facebook
On my Ning social network
Or they can email: greencelebrities@melanielowe.co.za with a request to be added to the group and they will receive updates that way. I know some people are blocked at work with social networks so I made this option available too.

When America Laughs - an Interview with Kate Clinton

Sat, 28 Feb 2009 20:31:55 +0100

She calls herself a fumerist (feminist humourist) - Kate Clinton; stylish butch and one of the funniest lesbians in the USA And for fellow South Africans who may not know much about her, the good news is that there’s plenty out there to get your grubby little cyber paws on. She blogs all over the place and there’s lots of video too. her live performances are legendary, her DVD’s are hysterical and she’s been in the comedy game for 25 years. When you get to her website, you could be forgiven for wondering if you’d reached Hilary Clinton’s site - the colour scheme’s patriotically American and politics are in evidence everywhere - not to mention the Hilarity Clinton 08 badge.. When Americans vote, we pay attention, so when Americans laugh, we should pay attention to that too.

Congrats on making Curve Mag’s top 5 funniest lesbians list – are you planning to overthrow the other 4?
Outlast, not overthrow.

Fangirl question: have you met Ellen? What’s she like?
She’s great - and we love that she’s gotten so mad about the California ban on gay marriage. Her mother is great too!

You seem to be incredibly passionate about American politics; do you think comedy can make a difference?
Sometimes it’s the only thing. People hear things they wouldn’t ordinarily hear when they are open and laughing.

Is there anything that you consider off-limits in terms of humour?
As long as I feel confident and competent in a line, I’ll do it. The Bush regime has been quite repressive, so it’s important not to add your own self-censorship.

Do you apply any of the roles and labels within the queer subculture to yourself e.g. butch, femme and so forth?
Yes, especially ’stylish butch’ - I’m trying to brand myself with it.

This is a question I ask almost everyone I interview; do you have lesbian groupies and if so, do they send you interesting things? Or bad poetry?
A woman came up to me once and said that she was stalking me, that she’d seen a show fourteen months ago. I told her, “That’s not stalking. That’s slacking. Slalking.”

You’re popular on Facebook; are you being driven insane by Lil green Patch requests and so on?
I’m more bothered by the rotating rainbow asshole that indicates my computer has frozen up again.

How on earth do you find the time to blog and vlog so much?
Thanks for your empathy. Try telling that to my big butch publicist from Staten Island. When she says, “I need a blog,” I hop to.

What do you think of the Oprah phenomenon?
Oprah is a great role model and businesswoman. She has been a force for good for women for a long time.

Last year a lesbian couple was murdered in Soweto just for being gay, a gay couple were killed recently in their home in the USA – do you think there’s really a chance that homophobia will ever disappear?
Who would have thought apartheid would disappear? When fear disappears, there is a chance of homophobia disappearing. What is disappearing is the notion that LGBT are going to take anti-gay violence.

Should celebrities come out or are they entitled to their privacy?
When homophobia disappears (see above) closeted celebrities can be fully entitled to their privacy.

Have you encountered much homophobia as a performer?
Is the pope scary? Of course I have, in little and large ways. Don’t forget sexism and ageism. It’s a trifecta of trouble, but I’ve always believed that truth will win.

What is your ultimate dream?
That we will get serious about feeding people. That is the real revolution.

Are there any other queer artists and performers you’d like to recommend to South Africans?
For a sampler of LGBT comics, get the DVD series called “Laughing Matters.”

Anything else to declare?
On occasion I have googled a crossword puzzle answer. So there.

Keeping Up With The Stealing Love Joneses

Sat, 28 Feb 2009 20:29:38 +0100

photo: scott graham

I’ve seen Stealing Love Jones play live a good few times, to big crowds and small. I even saw Esjay do an acoustic set once. I’ve also seen her play at lesbian events and she was not only truly cool and comfortable with it, but pretty flirtatious with the crowd too. The music is fabulous - slightly offbeat, but mostly damn good rawwwk. Esjay is one of those people who seems to have been born and bred for stardom. She’s a natural; she’s straightforward, in-yer-face, flamboyant and as graceful as a supermodel. A supermodel with serious attitude. South Africans know them best as Love Jones and so they were, until an American band called Love Jones emailed them to ask them to change it … hence the new name.

Esjay I begged for this interview, because I know you’re a queer-friendly performer - are there many of us in your fan-base do you think?
I hope so! It makes no difference to me what you are… I think it’s people who are not confident in their own sexuality who feel uncomforatble with gay or bi people.

Are you comfortable with it?
Yup…

Ever had any queer experiences yourself?
I play in a band!! that should answer the question for you! ha ha! I love men and woman… it’s rock n roll!

Any queer musicians/artists/performers you’d like to recommend to us?
I have been shooting my new video for the first single “99″ off my new album with a bunch of drag queens and these girls are unbelievably talented and amazing! Go check out “Chad Michaels does Cher” on Youtube. He, or she i should rather say, is incredible! She does impersonations but it’s surreal to see it live!

What’s your opinion of celebrities who stay in the closet - should they come out or are they entitled to their privacy?
Everyone’s entitled to their privacy. Gay people want to be acknowledged and respected so they should do the same unto others. Its the fundamental principle of knowing that everyone in their individuality is precious.

Bleed to Bloom (the new album) … what was it like making it in Chicago?
We actually flew Bjorn Thorsrud out to South Africa to record the album at Face Studios in Westville. once we had all the tracks done, I flew over to Chicago and sat in on all the mixing and mastering of the album. It was a life changing experience and I hope you can feel that when you hear the record.

What’s your American fan-base like compared to the South African one?
The American fan base is only beginning so it’s not as strong in numbers as South Africa, but the American fans totally freak out when they see us which is not like home at all. I think America has this concept of “celebrity” that South Africa hasnt caught on to yet

What are American radio deejays saying about Stealing Love Jones when they play one of your songs?
“You gotta see this girl live… she’s like a Courtney Love with talent!” can you believe that? my jaw hit the floor when I heard that.

You’ve played with some amazing bands and in some amazing venues too; what were your favourites?
Supporting Seether on their 2008 homecoming tour and opening for Fall Out Boy infront of 20 000 people at The Dome!

Which singers/bands did you most enjoy meeting?
Seether and Jimmy Eat World!

What was it like playing in Zimbabwe?
WOW WOW WOW! Life changing and utterly humbling. It’s such an emotional feeling knowing that you have brought joy to people who havent felt hope for a long time!

Are you looking forward to ‘Do the band’? Do you have any idea what it’ll be like?
Ya! I cant wait to be hanging out in a house with a bunch of creative people and being watched 24/7 by an entire nation! Crazy!

You guys seem to have your finger on the pulse of postmodern viral marketing - Facebook and so on - do you enjoy that kind of direct connection with your fans?
I think people expect it… I know that I expect the attention from the artists that I am fans of, so I just do what I would want. It’s great because you can really connect with your fans and see what they want and what their opinions are on new material etc.

Groupies! Do you get them and if so, what are they like? Are any of them hot lesbians?
Definitely! Generally they are older guys who can’t pick up chicks. I much prefer the hot lesbian groupies.. There are so many hot girls it’s ridiculous!

Do fans send you gifts?
Sometimes. Generally they give them to me at shows which is always super special.

What’s the ultimate backstage rider for SLJ?
Sushi baby… and more sushi… with maybe a little bit of Jack Daniels.

Do you miss Durban when you’re away?
Aaww… you just made me more homesick than i am already! Ya, i’ve been in the States for two months now and I can definitely feel that it’s time to get back to Durbs. There’s no place like home… truly!

If this interview was a concert, what would you yell to the crowd at the end of it?
“YOU ALL MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO DO WHAT I LOVE… I CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH! SEE YA WHEN I’M LOOKING AT YA!”

Shooting the Breeze with Michelle Breeze of Darkpop

Sat, 28 Feb 2009 20:21:43 +0100

I found Michelle by surfing along to www.darkpop.co.uk where I saw that Darkpop made the site themselves, and that it’s the only way to get your sticky paws on their exceedingly sublime album ‘Golden Lillies + Mr Smith.’ If you have a look at the Biography link, you’ll see that the mesmerising vocalist is our very own Michelle Breeze, of Fetish fame. There’s an intriguing remark on the website’s front page too, “We know that we are definitely not cool, therefore your love is all the more true.” Well they sound incredibly cool to me, but then, I think the coolest things happen when people aren’t actually trying to be cool.

I first heard of Darkpop from an online connection of mine - another lesbian, who started the Fetish fan group on Facebook. So I had a listen and fell in love and added Ms Breeze as a friend on Facebook. I landed up chatting to her there late one night and so I thought I’d ask for an interview. It happened thus …

Ulla: What made you decide to handle so much of your own stuff yourself? You guys designed your own website and you’re very proactive on Facebook too i.e. taking the time to interact with fans, uploading tracks to the iLike application and so forth. How’s the personal approach working and are you finding it very different to past experience?

Michelle: I suppose it wasn’t a decision we made overnight, we never started recording music with any specific path in mind. Once we started to realise how much we believed in the project, it became obvious that we could not follow the conventional route - with the music industry what it is today it seemed stupid to give away all the power to someone else. We had an offer for distribution and turned it down on the grounds that the deal was unfair; we just thought, “what is stopping us from doing it ourselves?” In retrospect, if we knew then how much work it would be we may have been less keen. however we have learnt an incredible amount about the business and ourselves. The personal approach is working well for Darkpop, but it is a huge challenge to find the energy to maintain momentum, especially on such a grass roots level project - but it feels honest.

Ulla: The album has a raw, grungey feel, with your rather pure angelic voice over it - was that dichotomy deliberate?

Michelle: No i dont think its deliberate, it was just the way it seemed to be. Perhaps the way we recorded it made the dichotomy more obvious - 95% of the album was recorded in a home studio in Chris’ lounge, so i think the vocal takes are quite intimate.

Ulla: Where did the title “Fade Caress” come from? Can you describe the concept in physical terms?

Michelle: I sometimes wonder if giving explanations can take away the magic of a song, but i will try to explain without doing that. Its about the struggle of remaining faithful to a partner; the song has scenes of a failing relationship played out - and one of those is a fading caress.

Ulla: 40 Hours is currently my favourite track, for its haunting, trippiness - care to share what the “40 Hours but not your voice” represents?

Michelle: A forty hour week is what I was working in the UK, so it seemed that they wanted 40 hours and not my voice.

Ulla: After 7 years in the UK, what’s your accent like these days?

Michelle: Oh god the accent … it can sound very English at times; I dont have many SA friends and I work in a shop with the British public so it just seems to creep in. I hate it, I would much rather sound South African. Most people dont even recognise where I am from anymore, as i now say ‘jumper’ instead of ‘jersey’ and ‘knickers’ instead of ‘panties,’ but you have to, otherwise they just dont understand you. The worst is when they think I’m Australian, that really does my head in, I mean, can’t they hear the difference?

Ulla: How do you feel about your gay fans?

Michelle: I have been with a few girls over the years, so it’s something I’m familiar with and maybe people know about. However I think that I am a strong woman, which is probably more what appeals to my gay fans. As fans they are very dedicated and loyal, which is really fantastic.

You can listen to Darkpop using Facebook’s iLike application, or on their website at www.darkpop.co.uk