See also SEXUAL REORIENTATION MOVEMENT

A piece of my mind [in which author discusses gay issues that remain unresolved post-Stonewall -- difficulty in coming out, lack of support systems for those who have not come out and are struggling with their feelings; the need to be more active in providing community assistance; etc.]. By Gens Hellquist.
P50 (v7n5)(July 12, 1989): 20-21 (79cm.)

The meaning of pride? [in which author discusses a broader meaning of gay pride as a "feeling," a sense of self-esteem; the importance of community pride celebrations, but the need for gays/lesbians to exhibit in other situations a sense of feeling good about themselves; etc.]. By Gens Hellquist.
P97 (v13n4)(June 7, 1995): 9 (70cm.)

Glad to be gay [in which author focusses on the many positive aspects of being gay]. By Gens Hellquist.
P99 (v13n6)(Sept. 13, 1995): 9 (57cm.)

Pride ponderings. By G.V. & K.C.
P105 (v14n4)(June 5, 1996): 6 (52cm.)

Do we believe we're equal? By Gens Hellquist.
P107 (v14n6)(Sept. 11, 1996): 6 (43cm.)

Letters [response of a rural Saskatchewan gay to article in P107, "Do we believe we're equal?"].
P108 (v14n7)(Oct. 23, 1996): 4 (17cm.)

Off the Narrow Way [the author's journey to self-acceptance of his gayness; his experiences with The Narrow Way organization, the goal of which is to alter sexual orientation; author gives details of other organizations with the same goal, including Exodus International, Love in Action, and Desert Stream Ministries (all based in California and which the author calls "the three most famous"), and Homosexuals Anonymous; also reference to a video and a Web site; author concludes with message to confront "homo-haters of all faiths who continue to oppress us" and to "continue to promote the message that being gay or lesbian is normal"]. By Guy Vanseters.
P112 (v15n3)(April 23, 1997): 6-7 (95cm.)

Start a revolution: stop hating your body! By Garnet Woloschuk and Erin Scriven.
P119 (v16n2)(March 18, 1998): 8 (44cm.)

Bears and other creatures [in which author discusses emphasis in gay culture on youth and beauty norms; difference of attitudes in the Bear movement in gay culture, which author considers a healthy development; etc.]. By Gens Hellquist.
P120 (v16n3)(April 29, 1998): 8-9 (55cm.)

The uncomfortable pew [in which the author, a United Church minister, discusses her attempt in a conversation to "separate spirituality from organized religion"; when we try to present ourselves as someone else, we send message that we are not worthy and "perpetuate an abusive message often sent...by organized religion"; etc.]. By Heather Funk.
P122 (v16n5)(July 29, 1998): 9 (17cm.)

Frightened by the light [in which the author discusses opinions and arguments which have grown from the Matthew Shepard murder, denial by individuals of complicity in the young man's murder, the need for gays to stand up and stand out, and in general the struggle between homophobes and those supporting gay issues; "we must begin taking our light into new places"; etc.]. By Gens Hellquist.
P124 (v16n7)[misnumbered v16n6 on contents page](Oct. 28, 1998): 6-7 (62cm.)

It's going to be a long, bumpy ride [in which author comments on various gay community issues, including Foundation for Equal Families (gay/lesbian rights group) announcement of lawsuit against federal government to force legislative amendments and the attacks that will result from the radical religious right; how few in community benefit from victories; how many in community are in penal institutions because they can't deal with their sexual orientation; true equality "will only come when individuals have access to support that confirms that they are valuable human beings..."; etc.]. By Gens Hellquist.
P126 (v17n1)(Jan. 27, 1999): 4-5 (61cm.)

The uncomfortable pew [personal and motivational piece in which the author asks, "What are you motivated by?", "What do you love and feel called to do?", "What's stopping you?"; etc.]. By Heather Funk.
P127 (v17n2)(March 10, 1999): 7 (31cm.)

Getting naked with Ken and Jim; or, How 12 inches of plastic changed my life [Ken and Jim being male dolls; discussion, with much humour, about body image; both personal and general observations]. By Jeff Dodds.
P131 (v17n6)(Sept. 15, 1999): 6-7 (76cm.)

You can't scare me [concerning rising HIV infection rates, safer sex, condomless intercourse; gay men's sexual behaviors are "part of the complex realities of trying to survive in a hostile environment..."; need for more open discussion; etc.]. By Gens Hellquist.
P139 (v18n6)(Sept. 13, 2000): 4-5 (80cm.)

A smorgasbord of spontaneous sex [author's account of "all those years ago when I was but a confused young man trying to find my tribe"; "the only thing... that I do know now, and the one thing that I wish all people who are struggling with their sexual orientation could know, is this: it does get better, it does get easier, and you will be okay"]. By Jeff Dodds.
P139 (v18n6)(Sept. 13, 2000): 6, 8 (62cm.)

Don't drink the water [author discusses his coming out and frequent encountering of question of how he became gay; his impatience now with one-sided questioning; demand that straights explain why we are denied rights; title of article derived from report that Peruvian TV claimed water in a community caused all men to become homosexual]. By Jeff Dodds.
P142 (v19n1)(Jan. 31, 2001): 5-6 (55cm.)

Material possessions [author describes how she has come to better know herself, how material possessions are not of importance to her, how simplifiying and changing her life has been therapeutic; "if it ain't working or serving some kind of positive useful function in your life, deal with it"]. By Toni Vere.
P149 (v19n8)(Dec. 5, 2001): 6 (41cm.)

Family [author writes about issues around her coming out and self-acceptance; "remember the people that make a difference in your life," whether they be biological family or chosen family]. By Toni Vere.
P150 (v20n1)(Jan. 30, 2002): 6 (42cm.)

Affirmations [in which author writes of her own development towards self-acceptance]. By Toni Vere.
P152 (v20n3)(April 24, 2002): 6 (42cm.)

Bitter? Not me! [author discusses his growing up and coming out, a discussion prompted by a question from a younger man who "seemed impressed by the fact that I wasn't bitter"]. By Jeff Dodds.
P152 (v20n3)(April 24, 2002): 7, 9 (53cm.)

Reflections [on author's own life -- coming out, self-acceptance, and some of the matters that have accompanied these growing processes]. By Toni Vere.
P153 (v20n4)(June 5, 2002): 6, 8 (56cm.)

What will the neighbours think? [author writes that community has made advances towards equality and acceptance, and uses attendance at GALA Awards this year as an example; we need to have the courage to expect a good reaction when we come out or request what we deserve; homophobia, though, "still has enormous power"; etc.].
P154 (v20n5)(July 31, 2002): 4, 8 (56cm.)

Takes balls to wear a dress [broad, brief discussion of clothing and conformity; author points out that "society has placed some rather arbitrary standards on both sexes"; "style options for menswear are extremely limited"; "the next time you see a man in a dress think outside the box....you're seeing a hero who has the balls to publicly proclaim" his independence and self-acceptance; etc.]. By Kelly Ries.
P161 (v21n4)(May 28, 2003): 7 (35cm.)

Missing in action: some thoughts on gender, violence and integrity [author relates story of elderly person, "Michael," found wandering Calgary streets and who was found to be a woman, Mary Schnaider, originally from a small Saskatchewan town and who had disappeared in 1950; also discusses her own hospitalization in psychiatric hospital after being raped, and meeting transgendered Chris in that Kingston institution; social difficulties of revealing personal issues; "why not edit one's life-story...?"; "our memories are the key to whatever integrity we can claim"; etc.]. By Jean Hillabold.
P162 (v21n5)(July 23, 2003): 5-6, 11 (107cm.)

Porn and self-image [University of Saskatchewan psychology professor Melanie Morrison and graduate student Becky Bradley conducting research project on use by gay men of "sexually explicit material and several variables pertaining to the body and sexuality"; other details; contact for those wanting "a brief written summary of the study"].
P167 (v22n2)[misnumbered v22n1 on contents page] (March 10, 2004): 12 (19cm.)

Raging bull / calm blue ocean [author writes about his own attitudes towards responsibility and his different consequent reactions; there are real victims in life, but "we live in a world where it is common to blame someone else for our own shortcomings and failures"; etc.]. By Kelly Ries.
P169 (v22n4)(June 2, 2004): 5 (39cm.)

Simon says, "I like this" [autobiographical account of author's youth in a a small Manitoba city; experiences of coming out and self-acceptance; when first shown magazine photos of a naked man, he was unable, then, to say, "I like this"]. By Jeff Dodds.
P170 (v22n5)(July 21, 2004): 6-7, 9 (106cm.)

Uh, hello! [despite all the advances towards gay liberation, and as the gay movement has entered the fourth decade, "we still can't have a simple conversation in an open public place without being completely guarded"; author provides a vivid and direct personal example in a meeting "last Sunday...at the Roastery on Eighth Street"]. By Kelly Ries.
P172 (v22n7)(Oct. 27, 2004): 5 (36cm.)