Julia Minamata
For one night this month Calgarians will have a chance to make the Yuletide gay — in every sense of the word.
The Big Gay Christmas marks the union of Hot Mess a pop-up gay dance party that burst onto the scene in the summer of 2012 and Velvet Cinema a queer-themed movie night which launched last September. The two events have been wanting to hook up for some time and they promise to get it on in style. Guests are encouraged to wear ugly sweaters to a screening of Love Actually at the Plaza after which buses equipped with “party amplification specialists” will transport them to the Republik where they can dance the night away and snap some pics in the Hunk Santa photo booth.
If all this sounds a tad campy that’s exactly the tone organizers are aiming for. “Christmas is already pretty gay. It’s like super happy and such a fun time” says Velvet Cinema co-founder David Cutting.
“We both knew we wanted to end the year with some extra warm and fuzzy vibes” chimes in co-founder Garrett McCoy.
And it doesn’t get much warmer and fuzzier than Love Actually the star-studded 2003 romantic comedy that chronicles 10 interlinked love stories as they unfold in London in the weeks before Christmas. The film has become something of a cult classic despite receiving mixed reviews upon its release.
“People love that movie” says Cutting. “People love love. It’s so cliché. But we announced it at our last movie and everyone was just like ‘Aw…’ in unison. It was super cute. It’s the ultimate romantic comedy and the ultimate Christmas movie. It’s like a bag of cheesy camp.”
Moviegoers moreover will be free to join in choruses of “Aw” during the film itself a reflection of Velvet Cinema’s interactive spirit. Audience members are invited to dress up in character shout out lines and participate in drinking games during screenings — freedom they’ve taken full advantage of at the three screenings so far.
“That’s part of the campy edge of Velvet Cinema we want audience participation… whether it be us handing out a drinking game sheet or a bingo sheet” says Cutting. “Zoolander flew on its own — people screamed ‘orange mocha frappuccino’ at the top of their voice.”
Although it grew out of the desire for more events for the gay community Velvet Cinema’s fan-base isn’t exclusively gay which is how Cutting and McCoy like it. The two hope in the words of their website that the event “creates a space for people to gather build relationships express themselves and let go.”
“There’s lots of gay people who come and support and get really into it but we get everyone” says Cutting. “And I think that comes through with our mission we don’t want anyone to be excluded. It’s a pretty welcoming place.”
And while Velvet Cinema was originally conceived as an alternative to Calgary’s shrinking gay bar scene the Big Gay Christmas’ four organizers are excited about bringing the two events together.
“Both our events are pop-up” says Hot Mess co-founder Blake Spence. “We take over a space and make it gay for a night once a month. The model works. It gives people something to look forward to and to plan for and I think Calgary needs more stuff like that and not just in the gay community.”
Cutting for his part says he enjoys how the atmosphere at Hot Mess events is more “authentic” than at the typical gay bar. “It had more of an inclusive feel. It felt more like a place where you could come and belong. I found people were connecting easier there. It created like a new idea the new sort of paradigm for coming out and being in the gay environment.”
Talk of paradigms aside Hot Mess co-founder Sean Stewart likens the event instead to his “mutant baby.” From its humble origins in community halls the dance party now draws crowds of over 300 and Stewart believes its destiny is still unfolding. “Nothing that you create is ever going to be quite what you think it’s going to be when you start and Hot Mess like anything has become its own thing in a really cool way. And it’s just been cool to watch that help shape it.”
It will be interesting to witness the spawn of Hot Mess and Velvet Cinema. But Cutting hopes people will leave happy relaxed and with the feeling love actually is all around.
“I want people to walk away from our event feeling that they experienced something that was really fun and really unique and made them feel like Calgary is growing more in an authentic direction when it comes to homosexuality in the city.”
Big Gay Christmas takes place Saturday December 20 with a screening at The Plaza followed by a dance party at Republik.
Taking a trip down Candy Cane Lane
The Big Gay Christmas is sure to be a night to remember for all involved. But it turns out the four organizers already have some campy cheesy holiday memories to rival anything in Love Actually. Here’s what they shared.
Blake Spence
“My parents used to tell us when we were kids that Santa would send elves out to deliver pyjamas. So we’d hear this little knock at the door and we’d run out and there’d be pyjamas and we’d be so excited looking for the elves. And they’d point to some random plane in the sky and be like ‘Oh that’s them they’re leaving. You missed them.’ It was the most exciting thing for Christmas.”
Sean Stewart
“My mom sews us custom pyjamas every year. I’ve got three younger brothers and she scouts out a pattern for us every year. When my first boyfriend spent Christmas with us she made him a pair. It’s a really cool thing that she does. I’ve got pyjama pants with little DJs on them. Actually those are the coolest pyjamas I can imagine because they’re a Tyrannosaurus Rex DJing with headphones on.”
David Cutting
“My great uncle would always come for Christmas dinner and he always brought two things: orange pop and mandarin oranges. My family doesn’t drink orange pop anymore but the mandarin oranges we’ve maintained. His spirit is still there.”
Garrett McCoy
“Christmas morning everyone wears a onesie. We all get out our onesies. The night before we all go out for dinner and we wear ugly homemade Christmas sweaters. It’s always out in public somewhere the whole gang of us so everybody just looks at you in a fancy restaurant.” (No word on whether he plans to don his ugly sweater for the Big Gay Christmas.)