Calgary SSP gay life

[sitchensis]

Hey Chadilaccc, sent you a PM about the rugby thing.

[sitchensis]

Guess I might as well introduce myself too. Mid twenties guy here. Been living in Calgary for almost four years now (but lurked the forums here at SSP for much longer). Have a great bf who I live with in a soviet style apartment block in the middle of downtown. Just finished University at the UofC and I am currently working for the City (and that's as specific as I'm gonna get! Lots of juicy tidbits, but then where's the surprise when they come out?)

Been out since I was 17. Masculine guy, but have total respect and admiration for men and women who break out of their gender roles (wish I had enough guts to do it sometimes). Been lucky to have had nothing but acceptance of my sexual orientation from people around me (personally and professionally).

Haven't really been involved in the gay community in Calgary. It seems really dispersed and disjointed here. Kind of disappointing, but given the homophobic legacy of Alberta, I am not surprised that it seems to be hard to find. With this thread though... well, hey what could be better than other people in the city who are just as much into same-sex attraction and urban development as I am?

[YYCguys]

sitchensis, it's nice to meet you! Welcome to the forum! I, myself, have become pretty disengaged from the Calgary gay community myself, being a 40 something guy living in Airdrie. I rarely get down to the hang out locales and therefore don't really know anybody in the community anymore. My job requires me to out of town quite a bit so that hampers it even more. I hope my schedule allows for me to join in with the next meet up!

[Radley77]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

I think only Toronto and Montreal have gay teams now. Vancouver used to (I think?) but I'm pretty sure not anymore.



about another meet up, I'm not sure. I'd definitely be down if others are.

I'd be up for meeting again...

Was also looking at posting this infographic on the interwebs about liberalizing trends in Alberta:

http://infogr.am/Liberalization-Trends-in-Alberta/

Any thoughts/changes?

[Rusty van Reddick]

Sitchensis, there are places with current and historical homophobia far worse than Alberta and Calgary in particular, which is no more homophobic than any city in Canada, that have much more centralized gay scenes. Houston and Atlanta are perfect examples as are many major Latin American cities. Calgary simply isn't an enclave city period, it's too new to have built ghettoes of any description and frankly I like it that way.

[Chadillaccc]

Any of you boys coming out to the rodeo this weekend?

[YYCguys]

I'm out of town this weekend. Operating flights to Kona and Honolulu. -

[Radley77]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

Any of you boys coming out to the rodeo this weekend?

Out in Fernie, British Columbia this last weekend. How was the rodeo? I went a few years ago and had a fun time just hanging out with some friends RV and having a few brews.

[Chadillaccc]

It was awesome Was my first time too! Colin did the rodeo school, it was quite something to watch him wrangle a steer. He couldn't compete though cause he had to come back into Calgary for a bit on the Saturday. We met some really amazing people, volunteered at the bar there, and had a lot of fun! I hadn't been camping in years. Got a wicked tan

How was Fernie?

[Radley77]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

It was awesome Was my first time too! Colin did the rodeo school, it was quite something to watch him wrangle a steer. He couldn't compete though cause he had to come back into Calgary for a bit on the Saturday. We met some really amazing people, volunteered at the bar there, and had a lot of fun! I hadn't been camping in years. Got a wicked tan

How was Fernie?

Small town rodeos are the best!

Fernie was fun, lots of goofing off, poker and Ol' Willy Wit ale with friends & family at a chalet on the ski hill.

Also, interesting event comin up, details below:

Osteria de Medici Stampede tent hosts Calgary’s first & only LGBT Stampede event

After 4 years of hopping onto the Stampede western bandwagon, Osteria de Medici, the Italian restaurant who has hosted the likes of Christopher Reeve, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Kevin Costner and George W Bush, has once again pushed the envelope with their Stampede venue and challenging views on the LGBT community by hosting Stampede’s FIRST gay-themed event, simply called, The "O" Party.

After over 26 years on the corner of Kensington Road and 10th Street NW, and 4 years operating one of Calgary’s most popular Stampede tents, owner/operators the Terrigno family decided it was time for another change. "With Calgary becoming more metropolitan and liberal, especially in its views and opinions on the LGBT community, we were still surprised that the Calgary Stampede did not have any specific events tailored to be gay-friendly, " says Maurizio Terrigno, general manager, along with Tara Somers, Marketing Director & Events Coordinator. "We already have the market cornered for gourmet cuisine, amazing service and product knowledge.....during Stampede, we take all that, put a Western twist on it, and put it outside in our tent....so why not take our venue, which is different than all other Stampede tents, and do something completely new that Calgary hasn’t seen before?."

Osteria de Medici’s The "O" Party will be held on Sunday, July 14th from 11am-midnight; revelers will start the day off from 11am-2pm with the "Brokeback Brunch", served by local politicians. General admission for the all day, all night event starts at 3pm, with proceeds going to "Crowns for Kids", a charity founded by the infamous Miz Ronda, who coordinates toy drives at Christmas all across Alberta, and has done toy drives in San Diego, while she was Empress of the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Chinook Arch. Miz Ronda is the host of the "O" Zone, and this premiere event features 50/50 draws, door prizes, dance contests, and performances by world –renowned Cirque de Cirque performer Safire, flash mob dances by Studio Bollywood, and North America’s #1 Lady Gaga Impersonator. Live DJ’s, LED hula-hoop dancers, and fire-eaters come out to play after 9pm in what is sure to be Calgary’s most exciting event of Stampede 2013. All media and photographers are welcome; please contact mailto:[email protected] for more information, and to purchase tickets for this event.

Named after the medieval aristocratic Italian family that helped to develop the Italian culture and Italian cuisine, Osteria De Medici was established in 1989 through the fruits of 27 years of restaurateur experience of Antonietta and Rocco Terrigno. Now recognized as one of Canada's premier fine dining establishments, Osteria De Medici has become a favorite of celebrities and locals alike, and continues to attract the most demanding and discriminating diners from around the world.

http://www.gaycalgary.com/Magazine/NewsRelease.aspx?id=762

[Govertical]

I wanted to go to the rodeo but did not know what to expect? is it just a big party as I've heard?

[Chadillaccc]

Pretty much. Tons of little parties going on around the campground, so many great people, plus the dances every night on the rodeo grounds, the rodeo school, and the rodeo itself. It's unfortunate that it's pretty much been turned into a big dumb twinky club fest instead of a masculine/lesbian oriented weekend of country drinking fun It's still a bitchin time, just the music at the dances sucks now.

[Rusty van Reddick]

Originally Posted by Govertical

I wanted to go to the rodeo but did not know what to expect? is it just a big party as I've heard?

I have nothing against rodeo, but watching a bunch of juiced up fake cowboys putting underpants on a goat made me sick. Physically nauseated. No reference to ranching skills, just a camp event to make them feel like they're doing rodeo. I did it once, am never going back.

Also hated, hated, hated the carpetbagging assholes from Vancouver who hate- actively, resolutely despise- Calgary but deign to come to the rodeo because they think they're macho and there's nothing like it in Vancouver, RV at the rodeo grounds and are absolutely insulted at the idea that they'd actually enter the city of Calgary. I KNOW these people exist because I was excoriated by a gaggle of the twats at Pumpjack. Why I'd want to run the gauntlet of them again... ain't gonna happen.

I love Vancouver and the only time I've felt unwelcome there is at the gay bars- for being from Calgary ("where are you from?" "Calgary." "Oh you have my deepest sympathy."). I felt like somebody from Toronto is made to feel everywhere and by everyone in Vancouver. So I have nothing to do with gay assholes in Vancouver and sure as hell am not going to subject myself to them here.

[Radley77]

Originally Posted by Rusty van Reddick

I have nothing against rodeo, but watching a bunch of juiced up fake cowboys putting underpants on a goat made me sick. Physically nauseated. No reference to ranching skills, just a camp event to make them feel like they're doing rodeo. I did it once, am never going back.

Also hated, hated, hated the carpetbagging assholes from Vancouver who hate- actively, resolutely despise- Calgary but deign to come to the rodeo because they think they're macho and there's nothing like it in Vancouver, RV at the rodeo grounds and are absolutely insulted at the idea that they'd actually enter the city of Calgary. I KNOW these people exist because I was excoriated by a gaggle of the twats at Pumpjack. Why I'd want to run the gauntlet of them again... ain't gonna happen.

I love Vancouver and the only time I've felt unwelcome there is at the gay bars- for being from Calgary ("where are you from?" "Calgary." "Oh you have my deepest sympathy."). I felt like somebody from Toronto is made to feel everywhere and by everyone in Vancouver. So I have nothing to do with gay assholes in Vancouver and sure as hell am not going to subject myself to them here.

Sorry to hear your experience was unwelcoming.

When i went I first to the rodeo I had just moved to calgary and wasnt out, I met a gay jewish Vancouver lawyer online who had connected me to some good people here in Calgary. We met up at the rodeo, and later he met my boyfriend and when we visited Vancouver he took us on a bike ride around Vancouver.

When we originally met online I was feeling very down at the time and didnt have much hope.

Meeting someone who was out, intelligent, kind, masculine, independent, sober and gay was a turning point in my life.

Sometimes I feel very beside myself I havent been active or volunteered with the LGBT community.

[Radley77]

Originally Posted by Rusty van Reddick

I have nothing against rodeo, but watching a bunch of juiced up fake cowboys putting underpants on a goat made me sick. Physically nauseated. No reference to ranching skills, just a camp event to make them feel like they're doing rodeo. I did it once, am never going back.

Also hated, hated, hated the carpetbagging assholes from Vancouver who hate- actively, resolutely despise- Calgary but deign to come to the rodeo because they think they're macho and there's nothing like it in Vancouver, RV at the rodeo grounds and are absolutely insulted at the idea that they'd actually enter the city of Calgary. I KNOW these people exist because I was excoriated by a gaggle of the twats at Pumpjack. Why I'd want to run the gauntlet of them again... ain't gonna happen.

I love Vancouver and the only time I've felt unwelcome there is at the gay bars- for being from Calgary ("where are you from?" "Calgary." "Oh you have my deepest sympathy."). I felt like somebody from Toronto is made to feel everywhere and by everyone in Vancouver. So I have nothing to do with gay assholes in Vancouver and sure as hell am not going to subject myself to them here.

Sorry to hear your experience was unwelcoming.

When i went I first to the rodeo I had just moved to calgary and wasnt out, I met a gay jewish Vancouver lawyer online who had connected me to some good people here in Calgary. We met up at the rodeo, and later he met my boyfriend and when we visited Vancouver he took us on a bike ride around Vancouver.

When we originally met online I was feeling very down at the time and didnt have much hope.

Meeting someone who was out, intelligent, kind, masculine, independent, sober and gay was a turning point in my life.

Sometimes I feel very beside myself that I havent been active or volunteered with the LGBT community.

[Chadillaccc]

Wow that's brutal, just letting a bunch of Vancouver douchebags ruin an entire long weekend? and having such an outrageously cynical and bitter view of the school? It's obviously a beginners class, it's not like many average gay dudes wrangle steers or ride bulls on a regular basis. It was awesome to watch and see how hard some of them tried/succeeded. Hell, my man held down a bucking steer for 90 seconds oon his first time ever even touching one. Couldn't have been more proud of him


and Radley! If you are going to the rodeo next year and would like to volunteer, let me know and I will hook you up with my buddy's info, he's the organizer. I volunteered about 8 hours bar tending over the weekend. It's a great way to meet people and we also got into all the events of the weekend free However, the 4 classes at the school cost $25 each to enroll, and if you intend to show your skills in the actual rodeo, it's a $25 fee to enter each event. A few of my friends did it, they loved it!

[Radley77]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

Wow that's brutal, just letting a bunch of Vancouver douchebags ruin an entire long weekend? and having such an outrageously cynical and bitter view of the school? It's obviously a beginners class, it's not like many average gay dudes wrangle steers or ride bulls on a regular basis. It was awesome to watch and see how hard some of them tried/succeeded. Hell, my man held down a bucking steer for 90 seconds oon his first time ever even touching one. Couldn't have been more proud of him


and Radley! If you are going to the rodeo next year and would like to volunteer, let me know and I will hook you up with my buddy's info, he's the organizer. I volunteered about 8 hours bar tending over the weekend. It's a great way to meet people and we also got into all the events of the weekend free However, the 4 classes at the school cost $25 each to enroll, and if you intend to show your skills in the actual rodeo, it's a $25 fee to enter each event. A few of my friends did it, they loved it!

Thanks for the tip. That sounds like fun, even though I could never bartend unless serving just beers and rye and coke.

[Chadillaccc]

That's basically what it is man. Very simple stuff. I had never served or mixed drinks en masse before. It was really fun though. The most difficult thing on our menu was Caesars, and I managed to do pretty well with those after the first couple orders

[Radley77]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

That's basically what it is man. Very simple stuff. I had never served or mixed drinks en masse before. It was really fun though. The most difficult thing on our menu was Caesars, and I managed to do pretty well with those after the first couple orders

Awesome, sounds like it's not too bad. I came across this article in Vice and had a laugh just imagining Walt Wawra (the nosehill gentlemen) if he had ended up at this venue instead:

Vice Magazine: I Went To a Gay Rodeo, and Now I want to Bone Cowboys

[Chadillaccc]

haha nice




I never thought I would say this, but I'm actually excited for Calgary Pride! Just like in Edmonton, my bf and I will be marching with the Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association.