plurality --tolerance
DIVERS / CITE
by
MARCEL DUBOIS
For
many people, Thanksgiving is their favorite holiday because
it is non-denominational, it excludes no one.
DIVERS / CITE, 
Montreal’s
annual gay and lesbian arts festival, is conceived in that same
spirit where differences are celebrated through the arts.
Whether
we ackowledge or not, we are all in favour of diversity, be
it in our choice of restaurants, radio and TV stations, cultural
events, places of travel, genres of films, and the books and
newspapers we read. As a society, we are so fascinated by diversity
we look for it all of our endeavors. 
Diversity,
in its best and most productive sense, is the elan vital
of the open minded in their quest for knowledge and meaning
in life.
The
15th edition of DIVERS / CITE took place between Aug. 1 and
5th and was a success on all counts. The best of Quebec talent
showed up for the event, including: Florence K., who a month
earlier gave 3 shows at the Montreal Jazz Festival, Nancy Martinez,
Dawn Tyler Watson, Julie Massicotte, Johanne Blouin, Hilary
Porter, Angel Forrest, Sylvie Desgroseilliers, Stacy Tabb, Stephane
Lemieux, Louisa 
Pepe,
Paul Alleruzzo, Paul Mathieu and Marie Claude Petit. Blues,
jazz and pop fans were treated royally as were opera buffs,
as witnessed by the standing ovation that erupted for Nathalie
Choquette after her moving interpretation of Nessum d’Orma,
from Puccini’s Turandot.
Among
the many musical highlights were Joanne Blouin singing "Enough
Is Enough" and "Regarde-moi", Dawn Tyler Watson’s
"Rocking Blues" and Angel Forrest’s interpretation
of "What’s Up."
As
usual, the event was organized around various cultural themes,
such as Latino Evening, Cinema in the Park, Indoor Cabaret,
La Grande Dance, Disco Ball and Boulevard of Dreams.
With
the weather cooperating fully -- unlike last year – these
first 5 days of good vibrations in August demonstrated that
not only does diversity work, but is its own reason and justification.
For this exceptional result, a tip of the cap goes to festival
curator/organizer/emcee
Marleen Maynard and her team for meeting both the political
and artistic objectives of the event.
Make
sure you put this event on your calendar for next year.
Photo
Credits: MARCEL
DUBOIS
