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Simon Thibault.com

Journalism. Food Writing. Editing.

Filtering by Category: Queer

News - November 28, 2011

One of the great things that my recent position as a blogger for Xtra has given me is the chance to write on a daily basis. I’ve had the chance to write on a number of topics, from pop culture to current events.

I’ve taken to organising the posts thematically on the blog, with such categories as Popping Culture and more. Here are a few examples.

Op-Eds
Op-eds are pretty self-explanatory. I recently posted an editorial about the Transgender Day of Remembrance. I also wrote about the RCMP officer who is blowing the whistle on improper behaviour in the handling of the Pickton case in B.C.

Queer Halifax
Halifax has a lot of interesting queer stories. I recently had the opportunity to talk with Lyn Murphy, who is part of a group of LGBTQ elders called Elderberries. I also wrote about how Halifax’s Youth Project created a mosaic to celebrate transgender individuals’ lives.

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Love Letters To The Past

I firmly believe in revisiting and embracing the past, especially in terms of understanding cultural (and sexual) identities. I am a huge fan of the film and love how, 20 years later, it’s still a landmark of documentary filmmaking and queer culture. In the same vein, I also am a fan of oft-forgotten queer icons, such as Sal Mineo.

Arts
One of my favorite things about writing online is the immediacy in which people have access to certain things, such as art and artists themselves. We now have access to scenes that before,we would only hear about. For example, there is an artist based out of Los Angeles who has created a worldwide queer art phenomenon called Homo Riot. Films have also become much more accessible, in the case of artists like Jaime Carrera, who recently helped to create a silent film about the culture of online dating and cruising.

Open Letters
And lastly, I’ve also always been a fan of the open letter. It allows a more personal and often anecdotal way to speak to, rather than of a subject. I’ve written them to Scott Thompson andJohn Waters.

Stay tuned for more updates.

The News - February 16th, 2011

It’s a good thing I like to write. I’ve been doing a lot of it lately.

Things on Passable are as busy as ever, with lots of interviews being posted recently.

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I spoke with Bill Wood from Wood’n'Hart Farms for Passable. Wood was charming to say the least.I also interviewed him for an upcoming story I did for East Coast Living Magazine which will come out this spring. I recently wrote an article for East Coast Living about citrus fruit, featuring “Feisty Chef” Renée Lavalée.

I also recently interviewed Peter Boudreau, the owner of The Fish Shop at the Seaport Market. On the less-than-local side, I had the chance to interview Daniel Klein, the creator of The Perennial Plate. Based in Minnesota, Klein is a former chef (he has worked in kitchens owned by Thomas Keller, Heston Blumenthal, to name a few) who decided to tell stories about food and the people who bring it to our kitchens. The thing that struck me the most about Klein’s site is that his philosophy towards eating locally and seasonally can be done in climes such as ours. Minnesota and Nova Scotia may be miles apart, but winter is winter, and sustainability is the same thing no matter where you put your fork.

I also recently wrote a cover story for Gaze Magazine. You can check out the latest issue online here or find it for free at various retailers in Atlantic Canada.

I’m currently working on a number of new projects for Passable as well as East Coast Living and a few other projects I’ll keep you abreast of. Stay tuned!

Image courtesy Wood’n'Hart