GGN is pumped to welcome back this year’s Pride Party Topsify Playlist!

Just click here and choose your favourite music streaming platform – and get ready to get your queer Pride 2023 party groove on!

Dua Lipa, Kylie Minogue (“Padam Padam!”), Cher, Adam Lambert, Britney Spears, Jodie Harsh, Madonna, Bebe Rexha, David Guetta, Beyoncé, Robyn, Charli XCX, Fifty Fifty, Ava Max, Sylvester, and Lizzo and The Spice Girls are just some of the incredible artists bringing you classic and new tracks to help you celebrate Pride 2023!

Enjoy, dance, and have a safe and happy Pride!

-GGN

The post Pride Party Topsify Playlist — 2023! appeared first on TheGayGuideNetwork.com.

GGN Contest!

This contest is now closed.

Congratulations to Felipe Antunes Aragao, who won a trip for two to Fièrté Montréal Pride!

******

Enter to win a trip for two to Fièrté Montréal Pride 2023!

The Fièrté Pride Montréal Prize Package includes: VIA rail economy class transportation Toronto-Montréal-Toronto from Saturday Aug. 12 to Monday Aug. 14 – plus two nights at the gorgeous W Hotel Montréal, plus two VIQ passes.

YOU COULD WIN:

To Enter: Readers must subscribe to TheGayGuideNetwork.com Newsletter to enter. You may remove yourself from the subscription at any time. To subscribe email us at ideas@shaunproulxmedia.com with the subject line “Subscribe Me!” to be entered to win. Include in your email:

• – Your full name
  – Your date of birth
• – Your daytime phone number

Existing Subscribers will receive opportunity to enter in forthcoming newsletters – watch your inbox!

Winners will stay at the beautiful W Hotel Montréal (room may not be exactly as pictured.)

Winners will also receive two economy class train tickets aboard Via Rail from Toronto Union Station to Montreal.

Two Fiérte Pride Montreal 2023 VIQ passes.

VIQ passes grant access to the VIQ Area which gives you

• – Dedicated entrance to the main site
• – Exclusive access to the VIQ lounge
• – Access to the TD Front Stage
• – Private toilets (godsend!)
• – Two drinks
• – 20$ on coupons for our food trucks at the Espace Gourmand.

The total value of this awesome Pride package is $5,000!

Image: Alison Slattery

Contest General Rules & Regulations

Application

These rules and regulations shall apply to the “Contest” unless stipulated otherwise, and where alternate rules and regulations are made available to the public. If there are any discrepancies between these rules and regulations and any other rules and regulations posted for any particular Contest (the “Alternate Rules”), such discrepancy shall be resolved in favour of the Alternate Rules.

Eligibility:

The Contest is open to legal residents of Canada who have reached the age of majority in the province in which they reside. No person who is employed by Shaun Proulx Media or its affiliates, and no persons who are domiciled with any such employee shall be entitled to enter the Contest. One contest entry per person.

Prize Description:

Winner will receive:

• Two-night stay at W Hotel Montréal August 12-14, 2023;
• Two economy class train tickets aboard Via Rail from Toronto Union Station to Montréal, and;
• Two Fiérte Pride Montréal 2019 VIP passes allowing access to the VIP area and the privileges within.

Total value of the prize: Approx. $5,000.

How to Enter

There is no purchase necessary to enter the Contest.

Readers must subscribe to TheGayGuideNetwork.com Newsletter to enter. If you are already a member then you can update your profile in order to qualify. You may remove yourself from Membership and subscriptions at any time. To subscribe, email ideas@shaunproulxmedia.com and include:

• – Your full name
  – Your date of birth
• – Your daytime phone number

Contest closes 9 AM, Friday, July 21, 2023. The winner will be selected by random draw after that time, and then announced on Thursday, July 27th, 2023.

Upon being declared a potential winner, the winner will be required to answer, unaided, a time-limited mathematical skill testing question. Upon correctly answering that question, the potential winner will be declared the winner.

Odds of Winning

The odds of winning the Contest are dependent on the number of entries received at any given time.

Liability

The winner acknowledges that the collection or use of the prize may be inherently dangerous and agrees to release and hold harmless Shaun Proulx Media, TheGayGuideNetwork.com, Fiérte Pride Montreal, VIA Rail, or the W Hotel Montréal for any and all damages they may incur through entering the Contest or through the collection or use of the prize, including personal injury or death. The winner also agrees to sign a standard release and waiver of liability prior to claiming the prize.

General

Prize winners shall be responsible for all costs and expenses not explicitly stated to form part of the prize, including but not limited to taxes, fees, gratuities, insurance, or travel to and from train station.

Where the Prize includes travel, the Prize winner must ensure that he and his companion have all the necessary travel documents required to travel to the destination on the dates specified in the prize description.

Prior to receiving the Prize, the Prize winner shall sign a standard release and liability waiver absolving Shaun Proulx Media of all its obligations under the Contest and accepting the Prize as awarded as full and final satisfaction of all items owed to him by Shaun Proulx Media.

Shaun Proulx Media, Fiérte Pride Montreal, VIA Rail, or the W Hotel Montréal may at its sole discretion substitute a prize or a portion thereof with an alternate prize of equal or greater value. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Shaun Proulx Media shall not be responsible to substitute a prize or portion thereof where such Prize cannot be redeemed due to factors beyond its reasonable control.

Shaun Proulx Media reserves the right to cancel or modify the Contest in any way it deems appropriate, and for any reason, at any time prior to the declaration of a winner.

Any pronouns used in these rules and regulations shall be modified for gender and number as the case may require, and shall apply as though the correct gender and number had been included herein.

By accepting the prize, the contest winner consents to receive electronic communications from Fiérte Pride Montréal and its partners. The winner may choose to unsubscribe from these communications at any time.

By entering the Contest, all persons are deemed to have read and to have accepted these rules and regulations.

The post WIN :: A Trip For Two to Fièrté Montréal Pride 2023! appeared first on TheGayGuideNetwork.com.

By Raquel Richards

It’s the middle of the night, and you’re cozy, asleep in bed. All of a sudden, you are woken up by a loud thumping noise. Two large male figures are silhouetted by the light outside your bedroom. They barge into your room, whip the covers off you, grab your arms, and fiercely drag you out of bed. Your heels indent lines in the plush carpet. Your arms feel like they will rip out of their sockets. As you’re hauled away, you see your parents shaking their heads, holding each other as heavy tears drench their faces. ‘Why is this happening?’, you think to yourself through your screams echoing down the stairs and out the door into a dark van.

This was the beginning of what Paris Hilton and others like her will never be able to turn back from — trauma.

We all wear many masks every day: work mask, son/daughter mask, parent mask, and so on.

The mask a trauma survivor wears — like that of a Paris Hilton, dragged out of her home in the middle of the night as her parents watched — is anything but temporary. The mask we wear becomes normal. We wear it day and night; for years.

A trauma survivour’s mask becomes their protective shield. Many of us unconsciously wear a mask because it takes away the abuse we endured. Trauma survivours desperately want to portray anything but the sad, hurt, tired, and scared person under their mask. 

Paris Hilton, in her 2020 documentary, “This is Paris” is a perfect example of this type of trauma. How you perceive Paris is because of how she wants you to receive her. She put on her mask after she left Provo Canyon boarding school – where her parents sent her to “smarten up” – when she was a teen. Now at 39, she has decided to take off her mask to reveal her true self. After filming her doc for a year, it became personally important for her to unmask and reveal her truth.

It was through an on-camera self-discovery journey that she noticed how heavy her mask was and how much work it was to wear every day. It became so overbearing she realized people only viewed her as this “Simple Life” baby-talking, bubble-headed, sex tape, DUI girl, when underneath she is a strong woman who works hard for everything she has built. 

My experience of wearing a mask took a lot of energy, emotion, and presentation.

It became my lifestyle. According to the Canadian Association for Mental Health (CAMH), children who are abused, as I was, may not be able to understand what is happening to them is wrong. Yet, their bodies may register the danger and as adults, their bodies still hold the memories of abuse.

At 15, Paris’ trauma came from the abuse she endured while at boarding schools for teens with behavioural problems in the late 1990s. Her parents, Rick and Kathy Hilton chose to send her to the program. Paris explains that until making the documentary, they were not privy to the treatment she endured. She was forced into solitary confinement, forced to take unknown drugs which left her numb and tired, and she endured physical and emotional abuse. 

I recall being threatened to I’d sent to boarding school when I was a teen. Thankfully, it never happened.

However, my father was verbally and physically abusive. When I was 14, I came home from school for lunch where my father had heated tomato soup for me. I took a few sips before he got angry. 

“The dishes aren’t done!” A hard, wicked kick to my side sent me flying out of my chair, onto the floor. The soup flew into the air, splashed onto the table, and the bowl broke when it crashed to the ground.

I curled up into a ball on the floor as my father punched my head and kicked me like a soccer ball, into the sunroom. When he was done, he left me lying there, coiled in the fetal position and in pain. I cried quietly.

Eventually I slowly stood up, picked up my backpack and made my way back to school, feeling ashamed. That afternoon, I had swimming class, but I couldn’t swim because I was too dizzy from the blows to my head. I lied to the teacher and said I wasn’t feeling well. As I sat poolside watching my classmates joyfully swim, tears streamed down my face. Swim class was one of my favourites.

When I was 17, my father roared, “I’m tired of raising you! Be someone else’s problem! I don’t care where you go just as long as you leave when you’re 18!”

Better put on my mask.

To this day, some of my family don’t believe the abuse I endured.

Probably like Paris’ family and other families who find out about the trauma after it happened, it’s difficult for them to accept the abuse, when they know they could have done something but chose not to.

It’s easier to look the other way and pretend ignorance.

Wearing a mask allows the survivor to be anyone they want to be. According to CAMH, traumatic childhood events can change the way a person’s brain and body works. Trauma can affect emotions, memory, thinking, and the sense of self. It can also affect relationships.

In “This Is Paris,” we see Paris preparing to play the biggest festival of her DJ career, Tomorrowland. Her then-boyfriend, Aleks Novakovic, is drunk and belligerent. He drops her laptop, manhandles her, and demands she pays attention to him. No one intervenes. Paris, unlike any Paris have seen  before, angrily tells him to leave her alone and to leave the festival. She tells security and her team to cut his admission bracelets and get him off the festival grounds. 

It’s in this scene we realize how alone she is, but also how strong she is. “I feel that I’ve grown up so much, especially in the past year, doing this film. I just had so many realizations and realized who I truly am and why I am the way I am,” she told Variety.

According to CAMH, trauma can cause eating disorders, misuse of alcohol and drugs, or harm themselves. These behaviours may help to cope for a while, but they often lead to isolation, depression, and can increase anxiety and sleeping problems.

In the documentary, we learn that Paris suffers from insomnia and has constant nightmares of men taking her away. This is a struggle she has endured since being at Provo. I suffer from insomnia as well. I believe my nightmares are due to the abuse I endured as a child, and from being assaulted with a weapon in 2019. Paris’ nightmares are of her being taken away at night. Mine consist of being attacked and escaping. 

The brain is a powerful organ, and it doesn’t forget trauma. It’s good at hiding awful memories, which is when the mask slowly creeps around the hurt and protects the survivor from the monsters they believe are creeping around them. 

For Paris, me, maybe you, or someone you know, trauma has no bias.

Trauma hurts. It really fucking hurts. The sufferer pays the emotional price for someone else’s actions, but one thing for certain is that the trauma isn’t the fault of the sufferer.

I wore a mask for most of my life. When I decided to take it off, the uncomfortableness of showing my true self was frightening. I was, and still am at times, a little uneasy of showing my flaws, imperfections, and vulnerability. 

As we age, we become comfortable with who we are. Like a snake, we shed our skin to reveal the shiny new us. Except we are not new, nor is our skin. It’s our spirit, confidence, and the need to be happy that gives the mask wearer the strength and confidence to take it off for good.

Cover image source

The post Empowerment :: Trauma, Trust, Love, and Paris Hilton. appeared first on TheGayGuideNetwork.com.

GGN Founder & Publisher Shaun Proulx and his SiriusXM colleague Arlene Bynon revisit what has happened with Sean Cribbin since they first broke the story almost three years ago after the serial killer, Bruce McArthur was arrested for 2 of the 8 murders he would eventually be charged with by Toronto Police.

Listen to the Interview with Sean Cribbin

Bynon and Proulx also talk with Cribbin about the new award-winning documentary about his experience in, Was I Next? The Sean Cribbin Story. 

Watch the trailer for Was I Next

The post GGN Radio :: What Happened To Sean Cribbin? appeared first on TheGayGuideNetwork.com.

GGN Publisher, Shaun Proulx discusses Racism and Oppression Awareness Month that launches this November with Carlos Idibouo, Vice President of Accessibility, Diversity and Inclusion at Interpride.

Note: Racism and Oppression Awareness Month was originally scheduled for September of this year, and the audio reflects this and was published before the change to November.

Show Notes

• The Racism and Oppression Awareness Month is the initiative of a group of Black, Indigenous and People of Color involved with InterPride. 
• The project will be implemented to express their support to the Black Lives Matter movement, but also to the whole Pride organizations and LGBTQI+ globally. 
• Carlos discusses how, although over years, InterPride managed to bring together the LGBTQI+ communities around the world to celebrate our Pride, issues related to racism, oppression, sexism, misogyny, transphobia, unconscious biases have always been relevant. The organization has not been successful in addressing them.
• Carlos also shares why he feels the Covid-19 pandemic played a role in the global protests following the killing of George Floyd.

The post GGN Radio :: November is Racism and Oppression Awareness Month appeared first on TheGayGuideNetwork.com.

GGN Publisher, Shaun Proulx speaks with long-term survivors, Shari Margolese and Ron Rosenes, two legends in the HIV/AIDS world who share chilling comparisons between the AIDS pandemic and COVID-19, as well as the lessons we can learn and apply to COVID-19 from what we learned from AIDS. It’s a COVID-19 conversation you’ve not heard before.  

The post GGN Radio :: Chilling Comparisons Between the HIV/AIDS & COVID-19 Pandemics appeared first on TheGayGuideNetwork.com.

Haven’t We Been Here Before?

In this special edition of the Think Queerly Podcast, show host Darren Stehle speaks with friend and colleague, GGN Publisher Shaun Proulx about the issue of shaming and judgment of those who are choosing (and needing) to have sex during the COVID-19 pandemic and social quarantine.

Darren and Shaun get into the various contrasts we are witnessing in human behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic and why that reminds of our own experiences having lived through the very beginnings of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1980s.

We discuss the layers of shame, including gay shame, bareback shaming from the early days of AIDS and eating our own — how marginalized groups are often more judgmental of their own, which further exacerbates feelings of shame and a lack of belonging and acceptance. Shaun drives home the point that this is a conversation for everyone who has sex, not just gay men. Everyone needs to hear this message and have this conversation.

Darren talks about the neuroscience of the mammalian brain, which is always seeking acceptance, connection, care. If those needs are not met, we have a difficult time using our pre-frontal cortex, the so-called human brain for logic, reasoning, and planning for things like safer-sex strategies. This all comes back to the human need for touch, physical connection, and sex — the longer we go without social connection, the more difficult it is to be “human.” We are all feeling some form of social-distancing fatigue.

All this makes it even more of a challenge being single right now, especially for people living alone. For those who suffer depression or have challenges with addiction, following the rules is more challenging and stigma and preaching abstinence simply does more harm than good.

We conclude with a discussion about the need for compassionate and empathetic advocacy, as well as practicing more empathy for all of us. COVID-19 is the straw that has broken the camel’s back; it is a tipping point for humanity to realize that it’s not just a global health pandemic, rather, this is a life-changing, world-altering, system-disruption that is forcing us to evaluate civil liberties, human rights, and greater respect for the planet.

Links to Articles Mentioned on the Show

• HIV/AIDS in Contrast with the COVID-19 Pandemic — Lessons in History
• The Prejudice of PrEP: You’re Fucked if You Don’t Bareback — LOP093
• Why Gay Shame Is Your Superpower
• Humanity’s Tipping Point — Without a Return to Compassion, We’re Finished
• GGN EMPOWERMENT: Pandemic Shaming — Sex In COVID Times
• GGN EMPOWERMENT: Sex + PnP In Pandemic Times
• COVID Conversations with Shaun Proulx
• fagdemic on Twitter & Instagram

About Darren Stehle & Think Queerly

Darren is a personal leadership coach living in Toronto, Canada who helps his clients to connect and embrace their uniqueness and freely create the life they want. He writes and podcasts regularly about Queer Leadership and how we can create a more loving and accepting world for all people. Find out more at DarrenStehle.com and download his book, Think Queerly: Meditations & Critical Reflections On Liberating Humanity.

The post GGN Radio :: Sex Shaming During COVID-19  – Think Queerly Podcast appeared first on TheGayGuideNetwork.com.

Covid-19; New HIV treatments; Single and Starting PrEP?

GGN had some burning questions and took them to the long-time trusted pharmacist in the heart of Toronto’s Village, Zahid Somani, who just opened his second Village Pharmacy location serving Toronto’s LGBTQ+ community.

GGN: There’s so much pandemic talk out there – give us the real deal about COVID19 and HIV. Are HIV-positive people more at risk?

Zahid Somani: This is absolutely a question that’s top of mind for everyone. If you’re HIV-positive and on effective treatment, you are not at any greater risk than anyone else for COVID19, according to The World Health Organization, the CDC (US Centers for Disease Control), UNAIDS, and Canada’s own CATIE, to name a few. It’s still vitally important that you take your meds regularly, have good hygiene (wash your hands often / don’t touch your face), practice physical distancing, and contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about your meds, or think you might have COVID19. 

For people whose CD4 count is on the low side or who are not on treatment for HIV for any reason, and for those over the age of 60 for whom there may also be underlying health issues (like heart disease, diabetes, etc), there is a greater risk for serious illness from COVID19 infection. If any of these scenarios apply to you, please start/resume HIV treatment right away. I’d also say it’s a good idea to take extra precautions – stay at home and arrange deliveries for food and meds. And, if you feel unwell, contact your doctor as soon as possible.

GGN: What’s new with HIV treatment – it feels like there’s always something. 

Somani: The amazing thing about HIV treatment is that it’s always evolving. There’s so much research going on around the world, and exciting new developments that are helping people live long and healthy lives. We’ve come a long way from the days of AZT & HIV cocktails, and in a relatively short amount of time too. 

There’s a couple of things that are exciting about the latest HIV treatments: 

The first is ‘Dual Drug Therapy,’ that is, 2-in-one single-tablet treatments that maintain viral suppression and overall good health, with lower cost and fewer side-effects. I’ve found that my clients appreciate that the single-pill regimens are convenient and well-tolerated, which makes taking meds regularly that much easier.

Dovato is the latest single-tablet regimen available for the treatment of HIV and is now covered by the Ontario Drug Benefit program (ODB) as well as most insurance companies. Dovato is approved for those who are newly diagnosed with HIV and just starting anti-retroviral therapy, or for those with high viral loads. Trials are currently underway to assess the effectiveness of Dovato when switching from more complicated regimens. Initial results are promising.  

Juluca is also a new 2-in-one that is approved for use in Canada, and it is covered by ODB. Doctors prescribe Juluca as maintenance therapy, that is, once the virus has been suppressed for some time, and is a good option to consider if you want to simplify your drug regimen. 

Injectables are another new development in HIV treatment. Cabenuva is the first long-acting HIV injection to be approved in Canada and the first anywhere in the world. The drug, by Glaxo-Smith Kline, is administered once a month. It’s still early days, and details are limited right now about costs and insurance coverage, but we’re certainly keeping tabs on how this will roll out as a treatment option in Ontario.

GGN: It’s amazing how many MSM are unaware of what “undetectable” means. The U=U campaign is helping with education around that.

Somani: Yes! U=U stands for Undetectable = Untransmissible, and that is absolutely true. Based on much research around the world, U=U means that if HIV is suppressed in your body, and your viral load is undetectable on a blood test, you cannot transmit HIV to a sexual partner, period. The Government of Canada has officially endorsed U=U and provides guidance to medical professionals.

GGN: A 40+ friend who is HIV-negative is just coming out of a long-term monogamous relationship. Is PrEP right for someone like them?

Somani: Over 40% of new HIV infections in Canada are among those over 40. That’s sobering. Thinking about PrEP means you’re taking control of your health. And, at the same time, you’re helping to reduce the spread of HIV in the community. No matter your age, if you have multiple sexual partners and want peace-of-mind protection from HIV infection, PrEP is an option that provides 95%+ protection against HIV infection when taken as directed. 

PrEP is just one pill once a day and is generally very well-tolerated. Both generic Truvada and the newer Descovy are used for PrEP and are equally effective. However, Truvada is much cheaper and is covered by insurance plans and the Ontario Drug Benefit program.

GGN: You’ve been on Church Street in Toronto for a long time and now you’ve just opened up a second location on Yonge Street. What drove that decision?

Somani: You’re right! I’ve been around since the early days of HIV, and I’ve seen both HIV treatment and the Village evolve during that time. The Church Street location will always be our hub. Unfortunately, the HIV-infection rate in Toronto and across Ontario continues to go up each year, so the need to reach more people with front-line HIV expertise remains higher than ever.  

The 535 Yonge Street location has given us extra space to offer more in-depth HIV services including HIV-testing, HIV medication consultations for both existing and New-to-HIV clients, and PrEP consultations in a safe, welcoming and confidential space. Providing access to care is something we’ve worked hard on, and will continue to do moving forward. This means helping with insurance and trillium applications, co-pay support, connecting them to doctors/clinics, HIV-services and mental health organizations and more. 

I’m so blessed to have great staff who are friendly and knowledgeable in HIV, understand the importance of confidentiality, and have a good, solid, no-nonsense work ethic. They’ve been amazing, especially during this crisis. 

Both our locations are open regular hours and provide phone/text consultations and free-delivery as always. Clients can also find info about our services on our website, along with COVID19 updates, and a trove of HIV & PrEP resources plus my HIV blog.

GGN: Final thoughts? 

Somani: Just a couple: In these crazy pandemic times, for those of you who are HIV-positive or think you might be positive, getting on and staying on HIV treatment is the number one thing you can do for your health. And for everyone, physical distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face, and getting in touch with your doctor as soon as you’re feeling unwell, can go a long way to staying healthy at this time.

The Village Pharmacy is here for you. Please reach out if you have questions about HIV, PrEP or COVID19. 

The post HIV/AIDS :: Covid and HIV; New HIV Treatments – A Q&A With Zahid Somani appeared first on TheGayGuideNetwork.com.

October is “Small Business Month” in Canada.

On the show this month we salute entrepreneurs and small business owners everywhere. Al Ramsay, National Manager LGBTQ2+ Business Development shares the remarkable story of his recent diversity efforts in Calgary at the TD-sponsored “Pride In Business” presentation of the first Inclusion and Diversity Award during Small Business Week. Al discusses the impact that had on him and those in attendance.

GGN Publisher, Shaun Proulx speaks with guest Darrell Schuurman of the Canadian Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. Next, we learn about TD’s leadership partnership with the Chamber. Darrell also shares the good word about CGLCC’s young entrepreneurship program and why it’s important to support queer businesses.

Listen to the Small Business episode of #FinanciallyFit!

#FinanciallyFit – Money talk that’s anything but dry.

Al Ramsay has a team of financial advisors dedicated to supporting the LGBTQ2+ community. Book a meeting or connect on with Al on Twitter, @Al_ForeverProud.

Listen to past episodes of #FinanciallyFit, here on the Gay Guide Network.

The post #FinanciallyFit :: A Salute to Small Businesses – S4E10 appeared first on TheGayGuideNetwork.com.

Fall in love this autumn with getting #FinanciallyFit!

TD Bank’s Al Ramsay and Nishaa Agarwal serve up the heart, soul, and a fine financial philosophy with me on The Shaun Proulx Show. Al’s LGBTQ+ leadership led him to travel to Thailand. Find out what has learned since that experience. 

If the annual holiday spending pressure starts early, why not prepare your finances as well? TD Wealth Advisor, Nishaa Agarwal shares why and how to budget now for the upcoming months of “spend-spend-spend that will keep you #FinanciallyFit into 2020.

Listen to this month’s episode of #FinanciallyFit!

#FinanciallyFit – Money talk that’s anything but dry.

Al Ramsay has a team of financial advisors dedicated to supporting the LGBTQ2+ community. Book a meeting or connect on with Al on Twitter, @Al_ForeverProud.

Listen to past episodes of #FinanciallyFit, here on the Gay Guide Network.

The post #FinanciallyFit :: Why & How to Budget for the Coming Holiday Season – S4E09 appeared first on TheGayGuideNetwork.com.

In today’s post, part two, Samantha asked a number of the performers and a few attendees, “What does Pride mean to you?” and, “If you had a message to your younger, queer self, what would it be?”

What does Pride mean to you?

“Pride is synonymous with hope.”

“Being proud means not being ashamed.”

“Pride is about belonging.”

“Pride is about being honestly who you are without fear.”

GGN Publisher, Shaun Proulx reminds us that we must be proud of who we are. We need to remember those who came before us, who refused to not be their authentic selves. We can’t take for granted these freedoms some of us enjoy, like the freedom to hold hands in public or kiss our lover or partner openly.

Shaun’s message to his younger self:

“You are perfect the way you are. You are worthy, you belong and everything is going to be okay.”

GGN Editor, Darren Stehle’s (yours truly) message to his younger self:

“Just take the risk and not be afraid to be who you are. The shame that you may have felt is not your fault. That’s the conditioning of the status quo that made you believe that something was wrong with you – which is absolute bullshit. The more challenging it is to believe this, the more you are on the verge of living your authentic self.”

Video by Samantha Lauzon.

Samantha Lauzon is a social media personality and porn star. When she’s not teaching people how to cook on her YouTube channel she’s a tireless activist for change within the Trans community, giving a voice to Sex Workers and Non-Sex workers alike. She talks openly about addiction and mental health in the hope to #EndTheStigma. 

You can find her family-friendly content by using @SamanthaLauzon across most major Social Media platforms including Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube.

The post What Does Pride Mean to You? Fierté Montreal Pride 2019 appeared first on TheGayGuideNetwork.com.

Editor’s note: I asked the winner of the “Trip for Two to Fierté Montreal Pride 2019” (sponsored by Shaun Proulx Media) if he would send me a few lines about his experience. What follows is more than a few lines, but a wonderful reflection of the uniqueness that is Fierté. Be sure to scroll all the way down to see the gorgeous images we took at Fierté!

Going to Montréal and experiencing Pride/Fierté is quite the different experience compared to Toronto Pride – where I have been living and what I have been attending for the past 10 years. The city of Montréal itself seems to have a more calm, relaxed vibe, as opposed to Toronto’s non-stop busyness (which I also love). This made it easy and relaxing to explore and enjoy.

The easy accessibility to Montréal’s Old Port from the hotel where my partner and I stayed made this Pride experience that much more enjoyable. From finding a delicious espresso place to relax at every morning during our visit (shout out to ALOHA Espresso Bar!), to being able to walk and wander the cobblestone streets of historic old Montréal and take in the architecture, the abundance of culture, Canadian and other, certainly enhanced this experience.

In addition to our proximity to Old Montréal, the hotel we stayed at, the Fairfield by Marriott Montreal Downtown is located on Rue Berri between Rue Sainte-Catherine and Boul René-Lévesque. We were able to conveniently walk out of the hotel, turn a corner and quite quickly be in the Gay Village. If you wanted gay in your face, you had gay in your face. It was amazing.

Unlike Toronto’s Gay Village, Montréal’s is a pedestrian zone. This experience allows you to casually stroll down Rue Sainte-Catherine and take in everything gay – whether you want it in your mouth (e.g., the abundance of restaurants and bars), or in your bum (e.g., through the variety of bathhouses to choose from). We were also able to experience the BALL installation for the last time as it will be retired at the end of September/Summer 2019. This might seem unimportant, but the balls form a canopy down Rue Sainte-Catherine, acting, in my opinion, as an embrace of the sexualities, identities, queerness, and culture Montréal’s Gay Village offers. It is more than just aesthetic; it is an example of how powerful pride (in whatever aspect) can be experienced.

Now for the events and dancing: My partner and I did not attend any of the after-hours parties but, thanks to GGN, we received VIQ passes to experience the lineup of cultural events and dancing at Parc des Faubourgs. The centrality of events in this space was probably the most convenient aspect of being able to experience and participate in Fierté’s culture. From being able to see a variety of cultural performers right in front of our faces from the designated VIQ section near the front of the TD stage, to almost being able to touch Ciara, the VIQ passes/experience is worth it – not to mention a food buffet and generously flowing drinks (*glug glug*)! I would certainly like to experience this again and already have plans to purchase the VIQ pass next year.

The highlight of Fierté, regardless of holding a VIQ pass or not, is the Sunday Tea Dance at Parc des Faubourgs. Everyone is packed like sardines on the dance floor (ground, really) – and I mean everyone: gay, straight, trans, gender-nonconforming, non-binary, people with disabilities – all enjoying a free and accessible opportunity to share what is an enveloped space of queerness. It is just so different (compared to Toronto Pride), and feels much more inclusive.

I highly recommend the Fierté Montréal experience, VIQ or not. There is a lot to experience and take in during Pride in Montréal and I am quite fortunate to have had that opportunity. (Side note: If anyone wants to give me a job (English-speaking only), I would move to Montréal in a second. Let’s chat!)

À la prochaine, Montréal ?️‍? – CP Rawa

Slideshow from Montreal Pride, 2019

All images by Samantha Lauzon.

Samantha Lauzon is a social media personality and porn star. When she’s not teaching people how to cook on her YouTube channel she’s a tireless activist for change within the Trans community, giving a voice to Sex Workers and Non-Sex workers alike. She talks openly about addiction and mental health in the hope to #EndTheStigma. 

You can find her family-friendly content by using @SamanthaLauzon across most major Social Media platforms including Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube.

The post Reflections on Fierté Montreal Pride 2019 – Queerness & Inclusivity appeared first on TheGayGuideNetwork.com.

TD Bank: Proud to Present Fiérte Montreal Pride

Find out what Al Ramsay, National Manager LGBTQ2+ Business Development, learned this year on his 2019 Pride tour that he didn’t know last year. The TD team talks about why creating an inclusive, diverse, and safe work environment will help your business thrive. Apparently, Al Ramsay is not the only one who came out at work before telling his friends and family. Lastly, hear the heartwarming story that made GGN Publisher, Shaun Proulx well up, yet again.

A few images from TD marching at Montreal Pride

Listen to the 2019 Montreal Pride episode of #FinanciallyFit!

Enjoy some behind the scenes laughs and personal pride with the team in Montreal, including Al Ramsay, Martine Roy – Regional Director + Business Development Quebec & Eastern Canada, and Steve Yan – LGBTQ Market Lead Quebec & Eastern Canada.

#FinanciallyFit – Money talk that’s anything but dry.

Al Ramsay has a team of financial advisors dedicated to supporting the LGBTQ2+ community. Book a meeting or connect on with Al on Twitter, @Al_ForeverProud.

Listen to past episodes of #FinanciallyFit, here on the Gay Guide Network.

The post #FinanciallyFit :: Fierté Montreal Pride 2019– S4E08 appeared first on TheGayGuideNetwork.com.

TD in the Community: #ForeverProud

GGN Publisher, Shaun Proulx and Al Ramsay, National Manager LGBTQ2+ Business Development, discuss the challenges of coming out at work, and the huge backlash when TD first sponsored Toronto Pride in 2005. Al shares the deep meaning embedded in his recent time spent at World Pride and Stonewall 50 held in New York City, where TD was a platinum sponsor.

Sound Money Advice for Entrepreneurs

TD Wealth Advisor, Nishaa Aggarwal, answers listener questions and tackles your money concerns – including one of the biggest challenges faced by many entrepreneurs running their own business, inconsistent cash flow.

Listen to July’s episode of #FinanciallyFit:

#FinanciallyFit – Money talk that’s anything but dry.

Al Ramsay has a team of financial advisors dedicated to supporting the LGBTQ2+ community. Book a meeting or connect on with Al on Twitter, @Al_ForeverProud.

Listen to past episodes of #FinanciallyFit, here on the Gay Guide Network.

The post #FinanciallyFit :: Listener Questions & Money Advice for Entrepreneurs – S4E07 appeared first on TheGayGuideNetwork.com.

GGN Summer Weekends Approved!

What’s gayer and more fabulous than a summer BBQ? A gathering of Big-Bold-Queers? We all know BBQ is short for “bar-b-que”, but why can’t we have both – and at the same time?

This week, we offer you a selection of delicious (and dare-I-say) healthy GGN approved BBQ delights that are a recipe for your Gay Guide to the Good Life. Many thanks to the lovely Janet Perry, C.H.N.C., CSNC, and Certified Holistic Nutritional Consultant, who created the recipes below.

Serrano Honey Grilled Chicken

With the long weekend quickly approaching, we’ve got grilling on our minds here at Eau Claire Oil & Vinegar Bar. This recipe is one of our favourites, it’s simple yet its flavours are complex. The sweet and spicy flavours from the Serrano honey vinegar blend brilliantly with the garlic olive oil and Dijon mustard to create the perfect marinade. If you’re vegetarian, this marinade will work nicely with cauliflower or tofu steaks. You can easily double the recipe for a larger group. Serves 4

Ingredients

• 4 Chicken Breasts, boneless & skinless
• ¼ Cup Eau Claire Oil & Vinegar Bar Serrano Honey Vinegar
• 2 Tbsp. Eau Claire Oil & Vinegar Bar Garlic Olive Oil
• 2 Tbsp. Dijon Mustard
• 1 Tsp. Dried Oregano
• 1 Tsp. Smoky Paprika
• ½ Tsp. Eau Claire Oil & Vinegar Bar Pink Himalayan Sea Salt

Method

1. In a small bowl mix together the vinegar, olive oil, Dijon, oregano, paprika, and salt.
2. Place chicken breasts in a stainless steel or glass bowl, pour marinade over top. Stir to make sure all of the breasts are evenly coated.
3. Cover and place in refrigerator for 2 – 4 hours, or overnight.
4. Preheat grill for a medium high and lightly oil the grate.
5. Remove chicken breasts from the bowl and discard unused marinade.
6. Cook chicken on the preheated grill until no longer pink when pierced with a fork and the juices run clear, 7 to 8 minutes per side.
7. Enjoy warm.

Corn and Avocado Salad

This salad is the perfect accompaniment to our Serrano Honey Grilled Chicken. The sweetness of the Pineapple White Balsamic neutralizes the heat from the Chipotle Olive Oil, creating a delicate sweet and smoky taste. This healthy and easy to prepare recipe is high in fibre, and loaded with vitamins and minerals. Serves 4

Ingredients

• 2 Cups Corn Niblets
• 2 Avocados, pit removed and diced
• 2 Roma Tomatoes, diced
• 1/2 English Cucumber, sliced
• 1 Red Pepper, seeded and diced
• Fresh Parsley, optional

Chipotle-Pineapple Dressing

• 1/4 Cup Eau Claire Oil & Vinegar Bar Chipotle Olive Oil
• 2 Tbsp. Fresh Lime Juice
• 2 Tbsp. Eau Claire Oil & Vinegar Bar Pineapple White Balsamic
• 1/2 Tsp. Ground Cumin
• 1/2 Tsp. Dried Oregano
• Pinch Eau Claire Oil & Vinegar Bar Pink Himalayan Sea Salt – optional
• Freshly Ground Black Pepper to taste – optional

Method

1. To a serving bowl, add the corn niblets, avocado, tomatoes, cucumber, and red pepper.
2. In a small dish whisk the dressing ingredients together.
3. Toss the dressing with the vegetables.
4. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with fresh parsley, if using.
5. Enjoy immediately.

Grilled Asparagus

Asparagus is one of my favourite vegetables and this incredibly easy side dish is packed with flavour and nutrients. Asparagus is a very good source of fibre, as well as the antioxidant rich vitamins A, C, and E. Our Butter Infused Olive Oil is vegan and gets its creamy buttery taste from organic botanical ingredients. Asparagus adds beautiful colour and flavour to any meal. Serves 4

Ingredients

• 1 ½ Lbs. Asparagus
• 1 Tbsp. Eau Claire Oil & Vinegar Bar Butter Olive Oil
• Eau Claire Oil & Vinegar Bar Pink Himalayan Sea Salt
• Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• Aluminum Foil
• Lemon wedge – optional

Method

1. Wash and trim the asparagus spears.
2. Cut a piece of aluminum foil large enough to allow the asparagus to fit in a single or double layer. Clumping the asparagus together makes it more difficult to cook it evenly.
3. Drizzle the olive oil over the asparagus, stir the spears around to ensure each one is lightly covered in oil.
4. Season with the sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
5. Fold over the foil and seal the asparagus inside so the foil doesn’t come open. Grill the asparagus for about 10 minutes turning the packet over halfway through grilling. Carefully open the foil packet to check if the asparagus is cooked to your liking. Re-seal and place back on grill for a few more minutes if it requires more time.
6. Open the packet and transfer asparagus to a serving plate. Squeeze some fresh lemon over, if using, and enjoy immediately.

Cascadian Wild Raspberry White Balsamic Shrub

This cool and refreshing drink is an excellent beverage to enjoy on a hot day. The White Raspberry Balsamic adds a subtle sweetness without adding any refined sugar. If you would like to make this into an adult drink, you can add an ounce of vodka. This drink without the vodka, has only 10 calories. You can’t go wrong! Serves 1

Ingredients

• Ice to fill a glass
• 1 Tbsp. Eau Claire Oil & Vinegar Bar Cascadian Wild Raspberry Balsamic
• 12 – 16 oz. Chilled Sparkling Water
• Few Sprigs Fresh Mint (optional)
• Couple of Raspberries (optional)

Method

1. Fill a tall glass with ice, pour raspberry balsamic over the ice cubes.
2. Add the sparkling water, stir.
3. Garnish with fresh mint and raspberries, if using.
4. Enjoy immediately.

Note from the Editor At GGN we do like our ‘Adult Drinks’. Besides vodka, why not try adding a fine Canadian gin! Cheers to a safe and fun long weekend. 

At Eau Claire Oil & Vinegar Bar we're a team of passionate foodies who believe you deserve the highest quality products to turn a simple meal into a gourmet culinary adventure in your own kitchen. We want our clients to not only enjoy fresh quality Non-GMO Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegars, but to experience the health benefits, uses, recipes and education within the beautiful surroundings of our spa-like store.Visit our website at Eau Claire Oil & Vinegar Bar.

The post Fabulous and Delicious BBQ Summer Recipes appeared first on TheGayGuideNetwork.com.

Meet Cody Barlow

You might not know this handsome, Southern boy’s face, but you might have seen his truck, pictured above, proudly showing his support for LGBTQ individuals.

Find out why Cody’s story brought GGN Publisher, Shaun Proulx to tears.

Listen to Shaun’s interview with Cody:

You can follow Cody Barlow on Facebook.

The post The Best Feel-Good Story You’ll Hear this Pride, 2019 appeared first on TheGayGuideNetwork.com.

Try something different for Pride this year: out-of-the-ordinary cocktails to raise your spirits – enjoy!

Michael Fortier is the National Brand Ambassador for El Jimador tequila and Herradura Tequila. He shares with GGN a fresh tequila cocktail recipe:

Horseshoe Margarita 

• 2 oz. Herradura Reposado 
• 1 oz. Fresh Lime Juice 
• ½ oz. Agave Nectar 

Shake all ingredients together then strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass with a half salt rim. 

Billy Killin, bar manager at Viaggio Restaurant in Toronto, shares some recipes for light, summery cocktails – just in time for Pride!

‘Mojito de Sauco’ 

• 5 mint leaves
• 1.5 oz. Flor de Caña 7
• ½ oz. Elderflower Liquer
• ¾ oz. Lime Juice
• ½ oz. Simple Syrup
• Schweppes Zero Grapefruit or Blood Orange.

Shake, pour on ice, and top with the Schweppes Zero flavour of your choice and mint leaves. 

Caesar Proud

• 2 oz. El Jimador Tequila
• ½ oz. Red Wine
• 4 dashes Worcestershire 
• 2 dashes Sriracha 
• 1/5 tsp. Horseradish 

Top with Mott’s Clamato.

‘Violet Chachki’

• 1 oz. Crystal Head Vodka
• 1 oz. Dry Vermouth
• ½ oz. Lemon
• ½ oz. Simple Syrup

Infuse the first three ingredients with a bag of butterfly pea flower tea (turns the drink bright purple and adds tea flavour). Shake and pour on the rocks. Garnish with rainbow candy.

Hiccy Pride – whoopsie, I mean, Happy Pride! ?️‍?

The post Just In Time For Pride Summer Cocktails appeared first on TheGayGuideNetwork.com.

Happy Pride! June is officially Pride Month, but for Al Ramsay, National Manager, LGBTQ2+ Business Development at TD, it’s Pride 365 – which means all year long and #ForeverProud every day!

TD in the Community: #ForeverProud

GGN Publisher, Shaun Proulx, had to literally kidnap AL for the 2019 Pride Edition of #FinanciallyFit, because not only is AL participating and supporting Pride Toronto (the festival weekend happens 21-23 June), but he’s leaving on a jet plane to attend World Pride in NYC the following weekend! The #ForeverProud Team will be attending additional Pride in Kelowna, Vancouver, Montreal, Halifax, Calgary, and Ottawa. TD’s brand colour might be green, but it is pink with its sponsorship of 93 Pride Festivals and over 180 community organizations throughout the queer year!

In Toronto (where GGN is based) TD is a lead sponsor for Toronto Pride as well as the GreenSpace Festival held at the 519 Community Centre on Church St. Shaun and Al have a heart-to-heart about why Pride – in every city, no matter how big or small – is still so important and why continued financial support from TD and other sponsors is vital to our acceptance and visibility as a community.

Your 2019 Pride and Summer Budgeting

Orlando Lopez, TD Financial Planner, offers hot tips to manage your Summer Spending for your Pride travels, vacation, and other summer activities.

Let’s be honest, we all know that Pride can be expensive. You have to buy clothes, tickets to events, pay for transportation after a long day (and night out), and those “after hours costs” like parties and all the fun and imbibing that comes with it. It’s too easy when you are not at your “soberest” to hit the ATM and wreck your budget. Here’s how to manage your finances around Pride and over the summer:

1. Speak to your Financial Advisor – It’s likely you’ll spend more during the Summer holidays so budget and plan according. You can leverage financial apps like TD My Spend Tools and Cash Flow Management.
2. Use your credit card (instead of cash) and loyalty cards – make them work twice as hard for you by earning and using Aeroplan miles or cash-back rewards. 
3. Cash is also another alternative so that you stay on budget.
4. Be creative – share expenses with family and friends. Organize a potluck dinner or entertain at home and at friends instead of eating out
5. Staycation – enjoy outdoors parks and bring your own food or take out.

Hear all the details and helpful advice on the Pride Edition of #FinanciallyFit:

#FinanciallyFit – Money talk that’s anything but dry.

Al Ramsay has a team of financial advisors dedicated to supporting the LGBTQ2+ community. Book a meeting or connect on with Al on Twitter, @Al_ForeverProud.

Listen to past episodes of #FinanciallyFit, here on the Gay Guide Network.

The post #FinanciallyFit :: How to Budget For Pride and Summer 2019 – S4E06 appeared first on TheGayGuideNetwork.com.

TD in the Community: #ForeverProud

Ramsay tells us about the recent success of A Taste for Life. Many TD employees helped by taking part in this worthy cause all across Canada. By all accounts, this may be the most successful year to date for this fundraising event.

Small Business, Big Dreams

Al explains how TD is helping small businesses succeed by giving back to their community, something he does by offering mentorship. TD is a major partner for World Pride, taking place in New York City this year. TD will be meeting with its top 150 leaders from Canada, the USA, and Europe, for a 3-day summit in NYC to discuss what it means for TD to support the LGBTQ community.

If you get a tax refund, what should you do with it?

TD Wealth Advisor, Nishaa Aggarwal, asks Shaun what he does when he gets his tax refund. His answer: Shoes! Nishaa kindly suggest that it’s nice to do something for ourselves when we get a refund, but what are your other options?

TD has a helpful, new resource called, MoneyTalkGo.com, and an interactive article called, What will you do with your tax refund? Based on what you did, you flip a card in the online article that reveals what your choice says about your personality. Can you guess what Shaun’s choice says about his personality? You’ll have to listen in to find out!

Listen to May’s episode of #FinanciallyFit:

#FinanciallyFit – Money talk that’s anything but dry.

Al Ramsay has a team of financial advisors dedicated to supporting the LGBTQ2+ community. Book a meeting or connect on with Al on Twitter, @Al_ForeverProud.

Listen to past episodes of #FinanciallyFit, here on the Gay Guide Network.

The post #FinanciallyFit :: What to Do with Your Tax Refund – S4E05 appeared first on TheGayGuideNetwork.com.

This month, Al Ramsay shares actionable wisdom for those of you who network and explains why you should mark May 1st in your calendar for a dinner/date night if you live in Canada.

TD in the Community: #ForeverProud

A Taste For Life happens on May 1st at participating restaurants across Canada who give back 25% of their proceeds to a local AIDS charity. Ramsay and his team will be hosting clients at various restaurants across the country, with hundreds of other TD employees participating.

The Canadian Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC) Annual Summit happens May 30-31st. Ramsay is on the board and he tells us that the Summit brings together leaders and experts from government, corporations, entrepreneurship, academia, and global economic development. Through educational programming and networking, the Summit strengthens the ecosystem that supports the advancement of economic and social development of LGBT+ entrepreneurs and the LGBT+ community at large, in Canada and globally.

Spring is in the air! Time for Spring Cleaning.

In Canada, the weather is slowly getting nicer and people want to spend more time outdoors. Does your backyard need a bit of sprucing up? Maybe some painting or a renovation around the home? The housing market usually heats up again during the Spring and many people wonder if they should sell, buy a home, or even a cottage.

Most have done what TD Financial Planner, Orlando Lopez says NOT to do (and GGN Publisher, Shaun Proulx admits he has done as much). Lopez talks about the importance of Spring cleaning your finances before buying or selling your home, along with other sage advice.

Listen to April’s Spring Cleaning episode of #FinanciallyFit:

Al Ramsay has a team of financial advisors dedicated to supporting the LGBTQ2+ community. Book a meeting or connect on Twitter @Al_ForeverProud.

Listen to previous episodes of #FinanciallyFit,here on the Gay Guide Network.

#FinanciallyFit – Money talk that’s anything but dry.

The post #FinanciallyFit :: Time for Spring Cleaning: Reno, Buy, or Sell? S4E04 appeared first on TheGayGuideNetwork.com.