Stories

Riding into retirement - Age doesn't stop motorcyclists from freedom of the open road

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Written by Livingston Daily

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It took more than four decades for Breina Nagrant to find her freedom — and, in the process, get a part of her life back.

The 57-year-old Green Oak Township grandmother still wells up every time she talks about it. She said she can’t help it. The tears come whenever she casts her gaze upon the 2012 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softtail in her garage: her first motorcycle.

“I am choked up,” Nagrant said. “I’m choked up every time I look at it.” READ ON

The other side of the Motorcyle Adventurer

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Written by irishtimes.com

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Thanks to his films, we can follow in the trail of the pioneer Carl Clancy without a bike

The reports that I have been writing for the past week in the newspaper (and which also may be read online through searching my name) concern Carl Stearns Clancy and his motorcycle partner, Walter Rendell Storey.  READ ON

Street Freestyle: Motorcycle Stunt Riding

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Written by Grantland

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The first video in a series about the men and women who routinely risk their lives on motorcycles

Eight years ago, I was driving to Brooklyn on the Jersey Turnpike and I was passed by two motorcycles. Normally not a big deal, but these motorcycles were going 80 miles per hour and popping wheelies.

Until that moment — aside from a few Ruff Ryders music videos — I had been ignorant of the subculture of stunt riding. After a bit of Internet research, I discovered the XDL, the only real governing body in the growing sport. So I reached out to series founder Randy Grube. At the time, I worked in development at ESPN and had big ideas about making stunt riding an event in the X Games or a reality series or whatever. Also at the time, I had no idea how to make such things actually, you know, happen. READ ON

Being Gay Shouldn't Matter, But It Still does

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Written by Lisa Christie Perry

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In 1967, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, who, in my opinion, our greatest Prime Minister, famously said "there's no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation."

Is Canada homophobic? It's an old question but one that is being asked yet again. The answer: Yes.

A new anti-homophobia campaign launched by the provincial government is asking Quebecers if they are really open to sexual diversity.

The government says the campaign is meant to ensure the full recognition of the rights of individuals who are a part of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community.

Rampant homophobia exists right across this country: In Canadian schools, workplaces, churches, homes, police and government.

According to many, homophobic comments are a common and accepted part of life, even uttered by some who are gay.

LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, two-spirited, queer, or questioning) are exposed to language that insults their dignity as part of everyday experiences, and youth with LGBTQ family members are constantly hearing their loved ones being denigrated.

While no one should be surprised that homophobia still exists, the reality highlights the extent of homophobia and its impact on young and old.

Girls and young women are more likely than boys and young men to suffer verbal and physical harassment because of their sexual orientation.

That may surprise some, shock a few, however the popular misconception is that straight males are more likely to be bullies, and have the opportunity to bully gay males.

Aboriginal are most likely to know a person who is ‘‘out,’’ and are most likely to see discussions about sexual orientation as positive. I personally can attest to this: My Dad was in the RCMP, and one of the postings included a large First Nations community, in which my sisters and I attended the school operated by the band. While many schools have well-developed human rights policies based on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, few specifically include LGBTQ people in those policies. However this First Nation's school was progressive, and well ahead of its time, considering I attended it in the 90s.

Regrettably, most schools and too many teachers are not automatically allies and supportive adults of students suffering discrimination, nor do they always intervene: Teachers often look the other way when they hear homophobic and transphobic comments, and some of them even make these kinds of comments themselves.

As a part of the Quebec campaign, a series of TV and Radio advertisements follow same-sex couples going about their daily lives. The ads end with each of the couples sharing a kiss and then a question is posed to the audience: "Does this change the way you thought twenty seconds ago?"

The government also launched an interactive website that tells the stories of individuals with a range of sexual and gender identities, and asks viewers to honestly consider how comfortable they are with each scenario.

Visit the website at: fighthomophobia.gouv.qc.ca 

What is disturbing to me, a Lesbian, is the lack of advocacy in BC, particularly with our elected officials. Attending a pride parade, is all fine and well, but what are you doing the other 364.242 days of the year? It is every public figure's social responsibility to be out: clear where they stand, whether gay or not, to make life better for those without publicists and Pilates instructors. Those who cry because they don't feel safe, is everyone's business! 

Who cares who I Love?! IT SHOULDN"T MATTER!!! 

Now I'm directing my comments at all BCers: There is NO excuse for shirking your public duty, and deny the shame that keeps the closet door shut. 

Do straight people consider their orientation private? You cannot skip the tough part of a human rights struggle. 

I long for the day when being gay is nobody's business, and it doesn't matter. There are no need for pride parades or campaigns to challenge the way some think. We exist and accept others. But clearly, across Canada, and particularly here in BC, we're a long way off. 

10 years and going strong