See also HOMOSEXUALITY

Doin' what comes...un-naturally [providing a definition of "unnatural" and pointing out in some detail the faulty reasoning in labelling gay sex as "unnatural"]. By Edward Oxton.
P16 [1985]: 22-23 (43cm.)

Fear of phobias [brief discussion of phobias, with definition of "uranophobia" and mention, in connection with homosexuality, of "heterophobia," "porphyrophobia," and "homophobia"]. By Colleen Gerwing.
P62 (v9n1)(Jan. 16, 1991): 24 (25cm.)

A few minutes with Svend [i.e., Sven?] [concerning language (some words and phrases) used by both sides in debate about dignity for gays/lesbians]. [By Sven Svensson?].
P94 (v13n1)(Jan. 25, 1995): 6 (69cm.)

Term warfare [discussion of some leather terminology and its frequent misinterpretation]. By Don Bastian.
P99 (v13n6)(Sept. 13, 1995): 6 (53cm.)

In search of the gay lifestyle [in which author rejects the word "lifestyle" as superficial and transient; inappropriate to be used in reference to identity and to the ways in which gay lives are lived, just as it would be unsatisfactory to refer to "heterosexual lifestyle"]. By Nils Clausson.
P125 (v16n8)(Dec. 9, 1998): 5 (45cm.)

Who is the community? [author considers who, or what, a "community" is; since Stonewall, or before, we have been referring to "our community"; evolution of self-referencing terms (gay, gay and lesbian), inclusion or not of bisexuals, and transgendered people; backlash response of rejecting labels doesn't work; who should "represent" the "community" to government or mainstream; etc.]. By Jean Hillabold.
P129 (v17n4)(June 2, 1999): 10-11 (53cm.)

The force of words [in which author discusses concepts of "freedom of the press," "freedom of speech," and "freedom of religion" in relation to homophobia and its effects on individuals in the gay/lesbian community and in relation to his upcoming participation in the human rights tribunal hearings of the Hugh Owens and Saskatoon Star-Phoenix advertisement case]. By Gens Hellquist.
P130 (v17n5)(July 28, 1999): 6, 9 (57cm.)

The problem with labels [in which the author takes a broad view of men with men and women with women in society -- this is part of the natural order; the concepts of "gay", "lesbian", etc., are unnatural and political to some extent; much greater diversity of gay community now than in earlier times; need to recognize this diversity, to support one another; need for safe environment in which to develop selves is necessary whether or not we choose to label ourselves; etc.]. By Gens Hellquist.
P134 (v18n1)(Jan. 26, 2000): 4-5 (66cm.)

Fag & faggot: just what do they mean? [author presents a history of usage of the words; debate in community about whether we should "take back" these derogatory terms, to "change a negative into a positive"]. By Kelly Ries.
P138 (v18n5)(Aug. 2, 2000): 9 (30cm.)

The problem with labels ["as our community has grown and diversified, we seem to be congregating into small enclaves"; author says that liberation movement was about "ending isolation" and "bringing together people with similar life experiences"; we have become more fragmented, even though "to our enemies we are all one"; etc.]. By Gens Hellquist.
P141 (v18n8)(Dec. 6, 2000): 5, 10 (57cm.)

Editorial [difficulty of expressing inclusivity when gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, trassexual, and Two-spirit terms need to be used; at recent health gathering in Saskatoon, it was agreed that the term "Fabulous People" would be used; community needs to acknowledge both diversity and similarities].
P147 (v19n6)(Sept. 12, 2001): 3 (15cm.)

Are we queer yet? [in which author discusses use of word "queer" to refer to "a community which now includes at least four identified sub-groups: lesbians, gay men, bisexuals...and transgendered folk..."; the term offends some; etc.]. By Jean Hillabold.
P149 (v19n8)(Dec. 5, 2001): 5, 7 (54cm.)

What does two-spirit mean? [what the term "two-spirit" has come to mean and what a research student at University of Manitoba is finding that it means; Rishona Slutchuk "will be conducting interviews with self-identified two-spirit men and women to determine what they think of the use of the term"; contact information].
P149 (v19n8)(Dec. 5, 2001): 11 (22cm.)

Looking for the real thing (but not very hard) [in which author discusses semantic difficulties with labels, including "gay," "lesbian," and "straight"; they are "hard to pin down and therefore easy to get 'wrong' in the eyes of the critics"; "is anyone 'real' or a textbook case? And if so, who wrote the textbook"]. By Jean Hillabold.
P153 (v20n4)(June 5, 2002): 5, 8 (61cm.)

Apologizing for slurs [newsnote that Liberal MP and Public Works Minister Ralph Goodale "was forced to apologize for what many interpreted as an anti-gay slur"; was quoted as saying Canadians won't be "pansies and pantywaists" in trade dispute with United States; other details].
P158 (v21n1)[cover misnumbered v201](Jan. 22, 2003): 11 (18cm.)

Morality and other dirty words [introductory comments on some U.S. Republican (and Democratic) Party politics regarding same-sex marriage and Republican Party member's proposal of "bill to limit language used on public radio and television"; author then suggests that he sides with Republicans in considering that some words should indeed be illegal; provides an annotated list of his own "seven dirty word" -- housewife, compassionate conservative, irregardless, democracy, sodomiser, bathhouse, and gay]. By Jeff Dodds.
P166 (v22n1)(Jan. 28, 2004): 6, 7 (55cm.)

Mythical beast -- the metrosexual ["metrosexuals are seen as a combination of high urban sensibilities and down-to-earth rural manners and physicality"; author says term first used in mid-1990s to describe David Beckham, British soccer star]. By Kelly Ries.
P167 (v22n2)[misnumbered v22n1 on contents page] (March 10, 2004): 5 (37cm.)

Outbursts! A Queer Erotic Thesaurus. By A.D. Peterkin. Reviewed by Jean Hillabold.
P169 (v22n4)(June 2, 2004): 20, 23 (83cm.)

Editorial [concerning difficulty with surveys about sex and sexuality; recent survey by Statistics Canada produced result that only 1.7 percent identified as gay or bisexual, with substantial provincial variation; queer tribe is diverse; gay is a political label not accepted by all; etc.].
P170 (v22n5)(July 21, 2004): 3 (16cm.)

The Queen's English in Canada [concerning 2nd edition of Canadian Oxford Dictionary, which will include many gay-related terms; e.g., GLBT, lesbigay, lipstick lesbian, bareback, bi-curious, gaydar; several other entries mentioned; some additional details].
P170 (v22n5)(July 21, 2004): 23 (21cm.)

Don't call me fifi [newsnote that gay man awarded $1,000 by Quebec Human Rights Commission after filing complaint against Sorel, Québec used car salesman who referred to him as "fifi," which translates as "fag"; Commission ruled term inappropriate and showed lack of respect for human dignity].
P172 (v22n7)(Oct. 27, 2004): 27 (12cm.)