So I'm back home, slightly jet-lagged, at my desk reflecting on the wonderful 5 days spent across the pond and the generosity and kindness which everyone showed me during my stay. This is just the beginning of our international Fag Hag journey together. The possiblities are endless - an English publication of Fag Hag, SWiSH at Stockholm Pride 2008, the Fag Hag series on HBO, the book on tape starring Joey Chips.
Thank you, Linda, for your honest, truthful, funny book that celebrates the love that will make the world a more compassionate, inclusive place. Thank you to you and Fredrik for being wonderful hosts, and to your families and friends for making me feel so welcome. All of you have open inviations to stay with Sean, me and the SWiSH crew in NYC (I hope to see Ingrid, Bo, and Richard here in the coming weeks.)
Lots of SWiSH love, Sue
11.05.2007
The Book!
Back to the city for some champagne and a reading of the SWiSH chapter of Fag Hag by Fredrik, which was no small task, as he was translating as he read. Let me say that the book both moving and hilarious - if it wasn't our lives, I would think that someone made up a whole bunch of quirky, smart, hysterically funny, colorful characters. Everyone is in the book - Jason, Jamie, Andromeda, Laszlo, Mark, Aaron, Josh, Sean, and Joey Chips. Linda re-creates the Friday night pre-Pride scene at The Web with great skill and observation, and captures all of the SWiSH "characters" and Pride March moments in vivid detail.
Hearing it read gave me great joy and pride about what we have all created together. America needs to read Fag Hag - we have to put our heads together - and tap our contacts in the gay mafia - to get it published here. At the very least, we have to build an event around Linda's next visit to NYC - hopefully in the Spring - for her to do a reading. And she, the gays, and her sister hag, Lisa, all want us to work on bringing the SWiSH float to Stockholm Pride next July.
Never doubt that a small group of citizens can change the world - indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
Hearing it read gave me great joy and pride about what we have all created together. America needs to read Fag Hag - we have to put our heads together - and tap our contacts in the gay mafia - to get it published here. At the very least, we have to build an event around Linda's next visit to NYC - hopefully in the Spring - for her to do a reading. And she, the gays, and her sister hag, Lisa, all want us to work on bringing the SWiSH float to Stockholm Pride next July.
Never doubt that a small group of citizens can change the world - indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
Slash Saturday
Emma
Linda, Alex and Mikey (who are also in the book) took me to a slash fiction (or fan fiction) convention on Saturday. Tons of nerdy, yet super talented and artistic kids hanging out and celebrating Japanese anime and drawing, reading about, and dressing up as their favorite characters. We met Emma, one of the organizers, who became a Fag Hag when she first saw one of her favorite anime films, where two of the male characters fall in love. She was very excited to meet Linda, hear about SWiSH, and be able to sell the book at the convention.
Sing Star Friday
After a lovely girls lunch and shopping afternoon with Linda (and a trip to the state-owned liquor store) we arrived back at Ostermalmsgatan 80 for an evening of "Sing Star" with the Stockholm gays.
"What is Sing Star?" I asked. Well, it's a singing game on Play Station where you 'compete' singing songs through the TV, and the game scores you on your performance and how well you match pitch - American r&b and pop, along with Swedish pop songs. I was a little intimidated by having to sing in front of people I was meeting for the first time. In fact, I refused to do it - initially. Some wine and a couple Swedish pop tunes later, I jumped in with the best of them.
Over terrific pizza and wine and lots of singing, I met Linda and Fred's lovely and creative friends. The cast of characters:
Magnus: a gaming journalist and law student who gets to play and review all the latest and greatest, while getting paid.
Christopher: Linda's gay husband. A lawyer and, even though he denies it, a budding pop star. (The pictures tell all.)
Anders: A very tall, saracastic character with lots of fantastic rings, who takes a great photos with mannequins.
Thomas: Also very lanky and blonde. He joined me in protesting Sing Star at first, but after a few jumped right in with the bunch.
Morgan: A friend of Christopher's who also secretly wants to be a pop start, despite his career as an IT expert. He'd just returned from a trip to NYC and a visit to Splash, where he says "Everyone was very friendly in the gay bars." (Again, when you see the pics, you'll realize why the normally cynical NYC gays were so friendly to Morgan.)
Then all tipsy and energized by several hours of Sing Star, Linda, Christopher, Morgan, and I headed out on the town to Coco Loco, where we danced to more Swedish pop music, and helped a 24-year old questioning Swede through his coming out process. All in a Fag Hag's day's work.
The night ended with the ultimate "It's a Small Gay World" story:
We are standing in line for our coats, and I squeeze the very nice bicep of a very dark and handsome man. "You're cute," I say in my best flirty Hag tone.
"Where are you from?" says tall, dark and muscular.
"New York."
"Really? I just came back from New York. We were there for the big Halloween party."
"At Allegria? My boyfriend was there. He's a DJ."
"Yes. Where does he DJ?" "At The Web," I say.
"We know DJ Sean! My boyfriend says that his girlfriend is going to be in Stockholm this week."
"That would be me," I say. "Does your boyfriend happen to be Song?"
"Yes, it is!" Song is a friend and loyal supporter of Sean's at The Web and other venues. He's part of Sean's whole gaysian club posse, and is living for a year abroad in STKHLM. So lots of "Oh my gods!" and hugs were exchanged before we headed off into the snowy wee hours.
"What is Sing Star?" I asked. Well, it's a singing game on Play Station where you 'compete' singing songs through the TV, and the game scores you on your performance and how well you match pitch - American r&b and pop, along with Swedish pop songs. I was a little intimidated by having to sing in front of people I was meeting for the first time. In fact, I refused to do it - initially. Some wine and a couple Swedish pop tunes later, I jumped in with the best of them.
Over terrific pizza and wine and lots of singing, I met Linda and Fred's lovely and creative friends. The cast of characters:
Magnus: a gaming journalist and law student who gets to play and review all the latest and greatest, while getting paid.
Christopher: Linda's gay husband. A lawyer and, even though he denies it, a budding pop star. (The pictures tell all.)
Anders: A very tall, saracastic character with lots of fantastic rings, who takes a great photos with mannequins.
Thomas: Also very lanky and blonde. He joined me in protesting Sing Star at first, but after a few jumped right in with the bunch.
Morgan: A friend of Christopher's who also secretly wants to be a pop start, despite his career as an IT expert. He'd just returned from a trip to NYC and a visit to Splash, where he says "Everyone was very friendly in the gay bars." (Again, when you see the pics, you'll realize why the normally cynical NYC gays were so friendly to Morgan.)
Then all tipsy and energized by several hours of Sing Star, Linda, Christopher, Morgan, and I headed out on the town to Coco Loco, where we danced to more Swedish pop music, and helped a 24-year old questioning Swede through his coming out process. All in a Fag Hag's day's work.
The night ended with the ultimate "It's a Small Gay World" story:
We are standing in line for our coats, and I squeeze the very nice bicep of a very dark and handsome man. "You're cute," I say in my best flirty Hag tone.
"Where are you from?" says tall, dark and muscular.
"New York."
"Really? I just came back from New York. We were there for the big Halloween party."
"At Allegria? My boyfriend was there. He's a DJ."
"Yes. Where does he DJ?" "At The Web," I say.
"We know DJ Sean! My boyfriend says that his girlfriend is going to be in Stockholm this week."
"That would be me," I say. "Does your boyfriend happen to be Song?"
"Yes, it is!" Song is a friend and loyal supporter of Sean's at The Web and other venues. He's part of Sean's whole gaysian club posse, and is living for a year abroad in STKHLM. So lots of "Oh my gods!" and hugs were exchanged before we headed off into the snowy wee hours.
11.02.2007
Two Lovely Days in Stockholm
After sleeping 12 hours post-book party, Linda's hubby Fredrik, Helena, and I met Linda's mom Anette and her beau, Bo, for a lovely traditional Swedish lunch at a restaurant in "Animal Park" near the Nordic Museum, called Carl Michael. I had yummy cabbage stuffed with meat, mashed potatoes, and lingenberries, which was recommended by Anette. The weather has been lovely and clear and cool. Great for long walks and taking in the beauty of this city.
Last night I took my lovely hosts to dinner at Kungsholmen, a restaurant on the water. Quite the hotspot with great cocktails - sake martinis and passion fruit margaritas and champagne cocktails. Then more drinks with Anette and Bo in Gamla Stan (Old Town) at Rouge with red velvet banquets and candle chandeliers. Lovely. We all were feeling very tingly as we headed home to bed. An interesting coincidence - Rouge is the sight where both Anette and Bo AND Fredrik and Linda shared their first kisses! Both couples were reminiscing.
Linda has been so busy - as if promoting her book wasn't enough, she is also finishing a big article on J. Lindberg, the Swedish designer, for her magazine AND she and Fredrik signed papers for a big, beautiful, new apartment. Plenty of room for the SWiSH kids to stay on the next trip to Stockholm! Their families are very excited that now they will have room for a "family." (That was mentioned several times by both sets of parents at the book party.)
Today I met Linda for some shopping near her office and lunch, and a walk around the winding, cobbled streets of Gamla Stan before another interview to promote her book. Now we are waiting to hear her interviewed on a radio show, and tomorrow we go to a slash, or fan, fiction convention for a book signing. She is quite the celebrity these days. And may become a bigger one because of a local scandal between a male TV reporter (who is rumored to be gay) and the female politician he was photographed kissing in the papers. Scandalous because it is unethical for a reporter to curry favor with politicians by giving them gifts or buying them drinks, let alone get caught canoodling with them. The politician has been fired, and the twist is that the mainstream press isn't allowed to report that the journalist is gay - but the blogs have been all ablaze with the gossip, and have been citing Linda's book! So if he comes out publicly it will be a HUGE fag hag story, and ultimately might help Linda sell her book. Ah, the tangled gay webs we weave!
Dinner with Linda's gays tonight and some gay clubbing, too. Although I have been warned about the music in the Swedish gay clubs - very poppy and campy, I'm told. Most people hate it apparently. Should be an experience. More later. Hugs. S.
Last night I took my lovely hosts to dinner at Kungsholmen, a restaurant on the water. Quite the hotspot with great cocktails - sake martinis and passion fruit margaritas and champagne cocktails. Then more drinks with Anette and Bo in Gamla Stan (Old Town) at Rouge with red velvet banquets and candle chandeliers. Lovely. We all were feeling very tingly as we headed home to bed. An interesting coincidence - Rouge is the sight where both Anette and Bo AND Fredrik and Linda shared their first kisses! Both couples were reminiscing.
Linda has been so busy - as if promoting her book wasn't enough, she is also finishing a big article on J. Lindberg, the Swedish designer, for her magazine AND she and Fredrik signed papers for a big, beautiful, new apartment. Plenty of room for the SWiSH kids to stay on the next trip to Stockholm! Their families are very excited that now they will have room for a "family." (That was mentioned several times by both sets of parents at the book party.)
Today I met Linda for some shopping near her office and lunch, and a walk around the winding, cobbled streets of Gamla Stan before another interview to promote her book. Now we are waiting to hear her interviewed on a radio show, and tomorrow we go to a slash, or fan, fiction convention for a book signing. She is quite the celebrity these days. And may become a bigger one because of a local scandal between a male TV reporter (who is rumored to be gay) and the female politician he was photographed kissing in the papers. Scandalous because it is unethical for a reporter to curry favor with politicians by giving them gifts or buying them drinks, let alone get caught canoodling with them. The politician has been fired, and the twist is that the mainstream press isn't allowed to report that the journalist is gay - but the blogs have been all ablaze with the gossip, and have been citing Linda's book! So if he comes out publicly it will be a HUGE fag hag story, and ultimately might help Linda sell her book. Ah, the tangled gay webs we weave!
Dinner with Linda's gays tonight and some gay clubbing, too. Although I have been warned about the music in the Swedish gay clubs - very poppy and campy, I'm told. Most people hate it apparently. Should be an experience. More later. Hugs. S.
11.01.2007
FABulous Book Party Last Night
Everyone from the book
Helena, Linda and me I joined about 100 or so friends and colleagues of Linda and her hubby Frederik last night at this beautiful, historic space called Berns, where August Strindberg and his writer-artist pals used to drinks, hang out and write - sort of the Swedish equivalent of the Algonquin.
I met her publisher, the lovely Richard (who is coming to NYC on the 13th, and I have promised him the SWiSH hospitality. Hopefully we can help him find a publisher for Fag Hag in NYC.) There are a TON of SWiSH pics in the book, and I have copies for folks, which the lovely author has promised to sign. She has also promised to translate our chapter for me this evening - a bedtime story perhaps.
I met lots of wonderful people. Helena, a 19 year old pastry chef from southern Sweden, who writes gay fan fiction about Justin and Andrew from Desperate Housewives - her video has over 670,000 views on you tube! Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyLO-6ptPP0. And a fag hag couple from Berlin, and Linda's gay husband Christopher, and a group of young Swedes who have a secret Fag Hag club here. I also met Linda's mom and her husband, and Fredrik's lovely parents who will be in NYC next week as well.
Stockholm is just so gorgeous - so clean and efficient and friendly. And it literally sparkles at night. Off to the modern art museum today and a restaurant opening tonight. As journalists, Linda and Fredrik, seem to know everyone in town and go to lots and lots of openings and events. More to come.
10.31.2007
Laying Over in Amsterdam
Arrived in Amsterdam nearly an hour early! KLM is first rate - doesn't make me want to fly on U.S. domestic airlines anymore, for sure. I slept the whole time. Grooving in an internet cafe right now, hoping that some of my night owl friends might be up! Cleared customs right away - no crowds at this time - and got a travel tip from the customs guy to visit the beaches in Croatia. I'll have to talk with Cynthia at Candyplum (my favorite shop in Astoris) about that when she returns from her honeymoon. Need to go eat something and brush my teeth b/c my mouth tastes like something died in it. Lots of love from Amerstdam.
xoxox S.
P.S. They have meditation centers here in the airport. We need to catch up at home!
xoxox S.
P.S. They have meditation centers here in the airport. We need to catch up at home!
10.29.2007
SWiSHing Across the Pond
It all started a year ago when I received an email entitled "Swedish Fag Hag Writer" from a woman named Linda Leopold who identified herself as "a Swedish journalist, editor, and writer. And fag hag." Now mind you, I get emails like this all the time in my capacity as Co-Founder and Queen Hag of SWiSH. But this one intrigued me. Linda expressed her interest in including a chapter on SWiSH in the book, aptly titled "Fag Hags." She said we would be interviewed about love, friendship, politics, and activism along with Margaret Cho, Rufus Wainright and other fags and hags across the pond and in the U.S. Could she follow us around during Pride 2007 in NYC?, she asked. "Sure!" was my reply.
Fast forward to June 2007, and five fun days preceeding and following Pride in NYC telling my innermost fag hag thoughts to this smart, creative woman whom I had just met, and had quickly grown to love. She interviewed Jay and Jamie and Mark and Sean and me about the early days of SWiSH, what we were thinking. We looked at SWiSH home movies and hundreds of photos and our scrapbooks. And while we may have been helping Linda with her book, we were also renewing our faith and love of SWiSH and being reminded about why we all came together on this crazy journey to begin with.
So now I am getting ready to leave tomorrow for 5 days in Stockholm with Linda, her sister hags and fellow fags to celebrate the publication of her book in grand style, and on the unofficial gay holiday - Halloween.
With good news of my first consulting gig in my pocket and waiting for my return, I leave excited and energized for my international fag hag adventures.
Tune in daily for reports from Stockholm.
www.swishpride.org
Fast forward to June 2007, and five fun days preceeding and following Pride in NYC telling my innermost fag hag thoughts to this smart, creative woman whom I had just met, and had quickly grown to love. She interviewed Jay and Jamie and Mark and Sean and me about the early days of SWiSH, what we were thinking. We looked at SWiSH home movies and hundreds of photos and our scrapbooks. And while we may have been helping Linda with her book, we were also renewing our faith and love of SWiSH and being reminded about why we all came together on this crazy journey to begin with.
So now I am getting ready to leave tomorrow for 5 days in Stockholm with Linda, her sister hags and fellow fags to celebrate the publication of her book in grand style, and on the unofficial gay holiday - Halloween.
With good news of my first consulting gig in my pocket and waiting for my return, I leave excited and energized for my international fag hag adventures.
Tune in daily for reports from Stockholm.
www.swishpride.org
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