Identity through literature
Death delays Ottawa's gay literary festival

The 11th annual Wilde About Sappho, Ottawa's annual celebration of gay and lesbian literature- normally scheduled for November but delayed because of the death of Chris Landry, a key member of the board - is now confirmed for Feb 5th.

Aside from readings by prominent authors, Wilde About Sappho is also a way to promote the Lambda Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that grants scholarships to university students who have contributed greatly to the study or research of gays and lesbians in society.

This year's main organizer, Beverley Stevens, says "Chris had succumbed to AIDS on May 20, 2001,and as part of his legacy to the Lambda Foundation, he left us $65,000 for scholarships and administrative fees. Fifteen thousand dollars of this goes towards a scholarship at the University of Manitoba, $15,000 for another at the University of New Brunswick. He left $10,000 to Pink Triangle Services and $5,000 to the Lambda Foundation to administer the bequests.

"Unfortunately, it became obvious that the funds would not be released to us in time to bequeath the new scholarships in November. We made a decision to hold off the event until February because it coincides with the 125th anniversary of the University of Manitoba, and they were willing to have a reading there to announce the founding of the new scholarship. It just made sense to hold everything in February," says Stevens.

From all accounts, it appears the wait was worthwhile. In addition to the two new scholarships, making for a total of four with another two in the works for future years, this year's line-up of authors is an impressive selection of big names, award winners, and hot new up-and-comers.

The most established author will be Helen Humphreys, whose new novel, Afterimage, was named one of the ten best paperbacks of the year by the Globe and Mail. [I have just finished the book and thought it was magnificent.] Humphreys, a resident of Kingston, Ontario, has written one other novel, the award-winning Leaving Earth, a novella and three collections of poetry.

Ottawa's own Darren Greer will be reading from his widely acclaimed first novel, Tyler's Cape, and was thrilled to be invited to participate this year, according to Stevens. Greer is currently working on his second novel, Still-Life with June, which is due out in the fall of 2002 from Cormorant Books. "Having local authors read with big-name writers gives them an opportunity to enjoy a wider audience and gain more exposure," says Stevens.

In an exciting change for the event, Gerry Rogers, a respected and award-winning documentary film writer/director, will be featuring her very personal film about her battles with breast cancer, My Left Breast, which has since gone on to win two Gemini awards. "Gerry will bring another aspect to Wilde About Sappho," says Stevens. "Her film is a real bridge. It doesn't matter that she's gay, we are all human beings and we all suffer the same things. The film was just so poignant to me that it blew me out of the water."

At the event, Rogers is scheduled to be showing a segment of the movie in which she receives many e-mails while looking for information about cancer on the Internet. After the clip, she will be reading some of the best of the e-mails she received, and her responses to them. Says Stevens, "I know I'm deviating from the traditional format, but I think it's worth it."

Arguably, the most exciting author at the event will be Jamie O'Neill, whose novel, At Swim, Two Boys, took a lengthy 10 years to write and was awarded the largest advance for an Irish author in history. His work was also named one of the 10 top international novels of the year by the Globe and Mail.

According to O'Neill, the trip to Canada is an honour. "I'm still stunned and utterly delighted. I hope something will come of this, and by the way, I'm told I give quite a good reading." A correspondence O'Neill had with Stevens gives a glimpse into the mind of a rare and remarkable talent and a passion for the importance of literature.

"I have made a point of remarking in the press reviews I've done in Ireland about the importance of books in a young person's life, most particularly if that person is growing up gay. I know this from my own personal experience -moral code, sense of identity, the common propriety of behaviour, just feelings. Where do you learnt hese? Ideally from your family, from school, from your peers.

"But often, as with myself, these avenues are not open. This is where books come into their own. They tell you, when you most need to know, that this has happened before. You will survive; you may prosper. And what I hope to do with my book is show that you can be part of the good world, the very good world, in fact, the best."

Literature as a means of gaining identity is what makes such an event important, and is what draws the many sponsors and volunteers to participate year after year. Louise Tardif, a long-time supporter of the event, feels much the same way as O'Neill about the significance of reading.

"I read a lot and I think we need to encourage the creative process. Film, art, and the written arts - they legitimize who we are." Tardif also looks forward to the event itself. "It brings me back to when I was a little girl, because I've always loved being read to. I always look forward to discovering new writers at the event."

Randall Ware of the National Library, which has been the location of the event since the beginning, is always impressed with the level of professionalism and the calibre of talent the foundation gathers. "Wilde About Sappho is the longest running annual program we have at the Library. It's become clear that the community is really supporting it. Often, the gay community is perceived as flighty, but this event shows that there are serious elements to the community as well. I hope we keep doing it. I hope we have this conversation 10 years from now."

Alex Munter, a past moderator and returning to moderate again this year, is thrilled to take part. "It is such an uplifting and celebratory evening. It is an opportunity to enjoy literature and creativity and artistic expression, but it's also an opportunity to enjoy some of the best the lesbian and gay community has to offer."

He also applauds the work that the Lambda Foundation does with the scholarship grants. "I think that lesbian and gay people have taken their full role in our society, and with that follows many social changes and many issues that need to be addressed by the academic world. The Lambda scholarships are important contributions to supporting the work of those who are looking at some of these issues."

I ask Stevens what she most hopes the audience will take away from the event. "I hope they are going to take away lots of books!" she quips. "I hope they are going to walk away and say, 'That was fabulous. My God, I got a chance to get Helen Humphreys to sign my book. I got a chance to shake Jamie O'Neill's hand.' I want them thinking, 'Holy shit, this was great! I'm going back next year. And it only cost me 10 bucks.'"

- printed in Capital Xtra, Issue #101, Jan 18, 2002. Photo - Jamie O'Neill.