APRIL 28 - MAY 11, 2016 | VOL. 35, NO. 01
FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM
25 YEARS AT THE ABBEY: A look at the WeHo institution’s past, present and future (P. 54)
PARIS INTERRUPTED
A tour of the City of Light is disrupted by November’s brutal terrorist attacks p.43
NEW STYLE
FOR SPRING & SUMMER
8 REASONS TO MAKE THE TREK TO THAILAND (P. 25)
RuPaul’s DragCon Returns for Round Two
(p. 29)
New Odefsey速 is now available
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OdefseyA_Frontiers_8.367x10.875.indd 1-2
Actual Size (15.4 mm x 7.3 mm)
One small pill contains rilpivirine, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide (TAF). Ask your healthcare provider if ODEFSEY is right for you. To learn more visit ODEFSEY.com
Please see Brief Summary of Patient Information with important warnings on the following pages. MAY 11, 2016
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Brief Summary of Patient Information about ODEFSEY ODEFSEY (oh-DEF-see) (emtricitabine, rilpivirine and tenofovir alafenamide) tablets Important: Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about medicines that should not be taken with ODEFSEY. There may be new information about ODEFSEY. This information is only a summary and does not take the place of talking with your healthcare provider about your medical condition or treatment. What Is the most Important Information I should know about ODEFSEY? ODEFSEY can cause serious side effects, including: • Build-up of lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis). Lactic acidosis may happen in some people who take ODEFSEY or similar medicines. Lactic acidosis is a serious medical emergency that can lead to death. Lactic acidosis can be hard to identify early, because the symptoms could seem like symptoms of other health problems. Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following symptoms which could be signs of lactic acidosis: – feel very weak or tired – have unusual (not normal) muscle pain – have trouble breathing – have stomach pain with nausea or vomiting – feel cold, especially in your arms and legs – feel dizzy or lightheaded – have a fast or irregular heartbeat • Severe liver problems. Severe liver problems may happen in people who take ODEFSEY. In some cases, these liver problems can lead to death. Your liver may become large and you may develop fat in your liver. Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following symptoms of liver problems: – your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice) – dark “tea-colored” urine – light-colored bowel movements (stools) – loss of appetite – nausea – pain, aching, or tenderness on the right side of your stomach area • You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or severe liver problems if you are female, very overweight (obese), or have been taking ODEFSEY or a similar medicine for a long time. • Worsening of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. ODEFSEY is not approved to treat HBV. If you have HBV and take ODEFSEY, your HBV may get worse (flare-up) if you stop taking ODEFSEY. A “flare-up” is when your HBV infection suddenly returns in a worse way than before. – Do not run out of ODEFSEY. Refill your prescription or talk to your healthcare provider before your ODEFSEY is all gone. – Do not stop taking ODEFSEY without first talking to your healthcare provider. – If you stop taking ODEFSEY, your healthcare provider will need to check your health often and do blood tests regularly for several months to check your HBV infection. Tell your healthcare provider about any new or unusual symptoms you may have after you stop taking ODEFSEY.
OdefseyA_Frontiers_8.367x10.875.indd 3-4
What Is ODEFSEY? ODEFSEY is a prescription medicine that is used to treat HIV-1 in people 12 years of age and older: • who have not received HIV-1 medicines in the past and have an amount of HIV-1 in their blood (“viral load”) that is no more than 100,000 copies/mL, or • to replace their current HIV-1 medicines in people who have been on the same HIV-1 medicines for at least 6 months, have a viral load that is less than 50 copies/mL, and have never failed past HIV-1 treatment. It is not known if ODEFSEY is safe and effective in children under 12 years of age or who weigh less than 77 lb (35 kg). When used to treat HIV-1 infection, ODEFSEY may help: • Reduce the amount of HIV-1 in your blood. This is called “viral load”. • Increase the number of CD4+ (T) cells in your blood that help fight off other infections. Reducing the amount of HIV-1 and increasing the CD4+ (T) cells in your blood may help improve your immune system. This may reduce your risk of death or getting infections that can happen when your immune system is weak (opportunistic infections). ODEFSEY does not cure HIV-1 infection or AIDS. You must keep taking HIV-1 medicines to control HIV-1 infection and decrease HIV-related illnesses. Ask your healthcare provider about how to prevent passing HIV-1 to others. Do not share or re-use needles, injection equipment, or personal items that can have blood or body fluids on them. Do not have sex without protection. Always practice safer sex by using a latex or polyurethane condom to lower the chance of sexual contact with semen, vaginal secretions, or blood.
Who should not take ODEFSEY? Do not take ODEFSEY if you also take a medicine that contains: • carbamazepine (Carbatrol®, Epitol®, Equetro ®, Tegretol®, Tegretol-XR®, Teril®) • dexamethasone (Ozurdex®, Maxidex®, Decadron®, BaycadronTM) • dexlansoprazole (Dexilant®) • esomeprazole (Nexium®, Vimovo ®) • lansoprazole (Prevacid®) • omeprazole (Prilosec ®, Zegerid®) • oxcarbazepine (Trileptal®) • pantoprazole sodium (Protonix®) • phenobarbital (Luminal®) • phenytoin (Dilantin®, Dilantin-125 ®, Phenytek®) • rabeprazole (Aciphex®) • rifampin (Rifadin®, Rifamate®, Rifater®, Rimactane®) • rifapentine (Priftin®) • the herb St. John’s wort or a product that contains St. John’s wort
What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking ODEFSEY? Before taking ODEFSEY, tell your healthcare provider if you: • have liver problems including hepatitis B or C virus infection • have kidney and bone problems • have had depression or suicidal thoughts • have any other medical conditions • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if ODEFSEY can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking ODEFSEY.
. s
.
k m
Y
Pregnancy registry: there is a pregnancy registry for women who take HIV-1 medicines during pregnancy. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the health of you and your baby. Talk with your healthcare provider about how you can take part in this registry. • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you take ODEFSEY. – You should not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby. – At least one of the medicines in ODEFSEY can pass to your baby in your breast milk. It is not known if the other medicines in ODEFSEY can pass into your breast milk. – Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some medicines may interact with ODEFSEY. Keep a list of your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. • You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of medicines that interact with ODEFSEY. • Do not start a new medicine without telling your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider can tell you if it is safe to take ODEFSEY with other medicines. How should I take ODEFSEY? • Take ODEFSEY exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take
• •
• • •
it. ODEFSEY is taken by itself (not with other HIV-1 medicines) to treat HIV-1 infection. Take ODEFSEY 1 time each day with a meal. Do not change your dose or stop taking ODEFSEY without first talking with your healthcare provider. Stay under a healthcare provider’s care when taking ODEFSEY. Do not miss a dose of ODEFSEY. If you take too much ODEFSEY, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away. When your ODEFSEY supply starts to run low, get more from your healthcare provider or pharmacy. This is very important because the amount of virus in your blood may increase if the medicine is stopped for even a short time. The virus may develop resistance to ODEFSEY and become harder to treat.
What are the possible side effects of ODEFSEY? ODEFSEY may cause serious side effects, including: • See “What is the most important information I should know about ODEFSEY?” • Severe skin rash and allergic reactions. Skin rash is a common side effect of ODEFSEY. Rash can be serious. Call your healthcare provider right away if you get a rash. In some cases, rash and allergic reaction may need to be treated in a hospital. If you get a rash with any of the following symptoms, stop taking ODEFSEY and call your healthcare provider right away: – fever – skin blisters – mouth sores – redness or swelling of the eyes (conjunctivitis) – swelling of the face, lips, mouth or throat – trouble breathing or swallowing – pain on the right side of the stomach (abdominal) area – dark “tea-colored” urine
• Depression or mood changes. Tell your healthcare provider right
away if you have any of the following symptoms:
– feel sad or hopeless – feel anxious or restless – have thoughts of hurting yourself (suicide) or have tried to hurt yourself
• Change in liver enzymes. People with a history of hepatitis B or C
virus infection or who have certain liver enzyme changes may have an increased risk of developing new or worsening liver problems during treatment with ODEFSEY. Liver problems can also happen during treatment with ODEFSEY in people without a history of liver disease. Your healthcare provider may need to do tests to check your liver enzymes before and during treatment with ODEFSEY. • Changes in body fat can happen in people who take HIV-1 medicine. These changes may include increased amount of fat in the upper back and neck (“buffalo hump”), breast, and around the middle of your body (trunk). Loss of fat from the legs, arms and face may also happen. The exact cause and long-term health effects of these conditions are not known. • Changes in your immune system (Immune Reconstitution Syndrome) can happen when you start taking HIV-1 medicines. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that have been hidden in your body for a long time. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you start having any new symptoms after starting your HIV-1 medicine. • New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys before you start and while you are taking ODEFSEY. Your healthcare provider may tell you to stop taking ODEFSEY if you develop new or worse kidney problems. • Bone problems can happen in some people who take ODEFSEY. Bone problems may include bone pain, softening or thinning (which may lead to fractures). Your healthcare provider may need to do tests to check your bones. The most common side effects of rilpivirine, one of the medicines in ODEFSEY, are depression, trouble sleeping (insomnia), and headache. The most common side effect of emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide, two of the medicines in ODEFSEY, is nausea. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. • These are not all the possible side effects of ODEFSEY. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. • Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. This Brief Summary summarizes the most important information about ODEFSEY. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about ODEFSEY that is written for health professionals. For more information, call 1-800-445-3235 or go to www.ODEFSEY.com. Keep ODEFSEY and all medicines out of reach of children. Issued: March 2016
ODEFSEY, the ODEFSEY Logo, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, and GSI are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. All other trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. © 2016 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. GILC0217 03/16
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Contents
APRIL 28 - MAY 11, 2016
FEATURES
43
Our Poly Honeymoon Pt. 2: Paris
54
INDOCHINO: EVAAN KHERAJ
The Abbey Turns 25
48
New Looks for Spring & Summer
ON THE COVER Photo by Evaan Kheraj for Indochino MAY 11, 2016
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Contents
APRIL 28 - MAY 11, 2016
DEPARTMENTS NEWSBOX 13
14 16
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Dems Seek to Repeal North Carolina’s HB2 Watercooler Frontiers Celebrates Its 35th Year as SoCal’s LGBT Publication of Record Datebook
THE GAY AGENDA 21 22 22 23
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High Fashions for Heady Times Make Your Own Fashion 2 New Adult Coloring Books HBO Invites the Genderqueer to ’Suit Up’ with New Contest 5 Tracks to Mourn the Loss of Prince
13 29
TRAVEL 25 26 27
22 37
8 Reasons to Visit Thailand Rock Out in Wine Country Down and Out in NOLA
CALENDAR 29 30 34
RuPaul’s Dragcon Snapshots Bears in Space Returns
ENTERTAINMENT 37
38 39 39 40
The Boy from Oz Makes Its West Coast Premiere Theater Reviews 5 Great Films to Come Out of Tribeca 4 Concerts About to Hit L.A. Set Your DVR
COLUMNS 58 60 61
25 58 Frontiers magazine is published by New Frontiers Media Holdings, LLC, 5657 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 470, Los Angeles, CA. 90036, and distributed throughout Southern California. Up to the first three copies of any single issue are free; additional copies are $10 each. Violators caught stealing or destroying issues will be prosecuted under California Penal Code 484. For magazine subscriptions, please call (323) 930- 3220. The contents of Frontiers may not be reproduced in any manner, either in whole or in part, without permission from the publisher. All rights reserved. Letters to the editor, artwork, photography, manuscripts and other correspondence may be submitted to Frontiers at the above address. We cannot acknowledge or return material unless accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Allow at least three months for processing. Publication of the name or photograph of any person or organization in articles or advertising in Frontiers is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation or the HIV/AIDS status of such person or organization. Copyright © 2015, New Frontiers Media Holdings, LLC.
Billy Masters Palm Springs Gossip Gay
PEOPLE INDEX Gregg Araki Clive Barker Beyoncé Big Freedia 6
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29 31 39, 61 35
Tom Cruise 39 Lena Dunham 23 James Franco 18 Todrick Hall 29
Prince 23 Snoop Dogg 26 Toni Tennille 30 Tennessee Williams 27, 34
MAY 11, 2016
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Frontiers is published biweekly, with 40,000 print copies distributed throughout California and Nevada, and an interactive digital version available via Apple Newsstand, Google Play and Amazon. Frontiers is one of five brands owned by the only LGBT publicly traded company, Multimedia Platforms, Inc. (stock symbol: MMPW). Collectively, the Florida Agenda, Frontiers, FunMaps, Guy and Next magazine represent three of America’s most populous LGBT markets and 40 cities across North America, an estimated 7.5 million readers annually. Visit MultimediaPlatformsInc.com for further information. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. PROUD TO BE AFFILIATED WITH
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Dems Seek to Repeal North Carolina’s HB2 500,000+ The number of people pledging to boycott Target stores for its stance against bathroom bills—which is that trans guests should use the bathroom of their gender identity—according to a petition started by the American Family Association. Target stands by its policy.
SPEAK OUT
ABLE ALLEN FOR MOUNTAIN XPRESS
O
pposition to North Carolina’s hateful bathroom bill, HB2, has continued to mount in recent weeks, as protesters from both sides of the debate gathered outside the state’s legislature on April 25, while the state’s Democrats have taken concrete steps towards a repeal. Thousands of activists gathered outside the legislature in Raleigh as it reconvened for the first time since passing the controversial House Bill in a one-day specially convened session last month. The law invalidated local anti-discrimination efforts while also restricting transgender people to the public restrooms that correspond to their birth gender. Thousands of Christian conservatives and other HB2 supporters gathered behind the Legislative Building to praise Republican legislators and the state’s GOP Gov. Pat McCrory for passing the bill. Meanwhile, protesters of HB2 flocked to the building as campaign group TurnOUT! NC delivered a petition with 150,000 signatures calling for the bill’s repeal. By the end of the day, 54 people had been arrested for entering the building and refusing to leave even when the session was adjourned—less than 30 minutes after it began. “Anyone you take the freedoms and rights from my neighbors and from other people I care about, you take them from me,” ABC News credits one protester as saying. Those arrested were reportedly released from jail overnight, greeted by people cheering as they left the detention center. “Hate Bill 2 discriminates against on the basis of age, sex, religion, national origin, race, class and disability, because it takes away the ability of North Carolinians to file employment discrimination cases in state courts,” North Carolina NAACP President the Rev. William Barber said earlier in the day. “Hate Bill 2 targets and discriminates against the LGBTQ community and creates a hostile community atmosphere.” Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers have made their own move to repeal HB2, as House Bill 946—‘An Act to
Repeal House Bill 2 of the 2016 Second Extra Session and to Appropriate Funds to the Human Relations Commission’— was filed the morning of April 25. “It would not undo with the swipe of a pen the incredible damage that House Bill 2 has done to our economy,” Democratic sponsor Grier Martin says of a repeal. “But it would stop the bleeding and put North Carolina back on the path of progress and moving forward.” The damage to the state’s economy has included official travel bans from a number of city and state governments across the country, as well as the cancellation of a number of planned expansions by companies that include PayPal. Perhaps most publicized have been boycotts from stars in both Hollywood and the music industry. Pop stars Nick Jonas and Demi Lovato were the latest to cancel shows in the state, releasing a joint statement on Facebook: “One of our goals for the tour has always been to create an atmosphere where every single attendee feels equal, included and accepted for who they are. North Carolina’s discriminatory HB2 law is extremely disappointing, and it takes away some of the LGBT community’s most basic rights and protections.” They join Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr, Cirque du Soleil and Pearl Jam, all of whom have decided to cancel upcoming North Carolina engagements. —Dominic Preston
“I used the women’s room in the governor’s office. They are not even enforcing this stupid law in state office buildings, which is where it applies. ... They can’t enforce this.” Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality (and trans woman) Mara Keisling, who was in North Carolina to protest HB2 on Monday, April 25
MAY 11, 2016
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WATERCOOLER
Your cheat sheet for intelligent conversation — By Peter DelVecchio
1
Rock Icon Prince Dead at 57
Music legend Prince—whose career spanned nearly 4 decades—died April 21 at 57 years old. He released the first of 39 albums in 1978, the last in 2015. His breakthrough album, Purple Rain, hit the charts in 1984; he won an Oscar for best original score for the film of the same name. Impossible to pigeonhole by genre, he was also known for his gender-bending, overtly sexual lyrics and stage persona. “I’m not a woman; I’m not a man; I am something that you’ll never understand,” he sang in “I Would Die 4 U.” Later in life, the singer became a Jehovah’s Witness, and his views seemed to harden. Asked about gay marriage and other social issues in 2008, Prince said, “God came to earth and saw people sticking it wherever and doing it with whatever, and he just cleared it all out. He was, like, ‘Enough,” the New Yorker reported. Cause of death has not yet been confirmed.
2
Salt Lake City Renames Street After Harvey Milk
Salt Lake City, Utah, ground zero for the Mormon church and often viewed as a vortex of anti-LGBT sentiment, will now sport a street named after slain San Francisco supervisor and gay-rights icon Harvey Milk. City Council, which includes two openly gay men, voted unanimously April 19 to rename 900 South, not far from Mormon headquarters, as “Harvey Milk Boulevard.” “There are a lot of perceptions of what Salt Lake City is and is not,” says out Councilman Stan Penfold, who proposed the measure. “I felt it was really important that we send the message that we are an open and inclusive city.” New street signs will be paid for with funds raised by LGBT advocacy group Equality Utah. Milk, one of America’s first openly gay elected officials, was assassinated along with San Francisco Mayor George Moscone by former supervisor Dan White in 1978.
3
’Looking’ Movie to Premiere at San Francisco Film Festival
The two-hour finale of HBO series Looking will premiere at San Francisco film festival Frameline’s 40th anniversary. Frameline 40 will take place June 16-26. The series, a comedy-drama centered on a group of gay San Francisco friends, ran for two seasons and starred Jonathan Groff, Russell Tovey and Raul Castillo. HBO announced in March last year that the series would not be renewed for a third season, but that the network would produce a movielength series finale. The series, sometimes likened to a gay Sex and the City, received generally favorable critical treatment amidst backlash by many LGBTs upset at its ‘whitewashing.’
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One more item for the “national embarrassment” file: anti-LGBT laws in North Carolina and Mississippi have prompted the UK’s Foreign Office to release an advisory for LGBT travelers to the U.S. “The U.S. is an extremely diverse society and attitudes toward LGBT people differ hugely across the country,” the advisory says. “LGBT travelers may be affected by legislation passed recently in the states of North Carolina and Mississippi.” Gay travelers should avoid “excessive physical shows of affection” and “exercise discretion” in rural areas, the advisory goes on, adding, “if you receive unwelcome attention or unwelcome remarks, it’s usually best to ignore them.” North Carolina recently passed a law requiring people to use bathrooms corresponding to their birth sex and limiting LGBT legal protections. Mississippi’s new law permits businesses to discriminate against gays on religious grounds.
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’Super Gonorrhea’ Might Be on the Way
An especially virulent strain of gonorrhea might be heading to a crotch near you. British doctors are expressing “huge concern” about an outbreak in England of an antibiotic-resistant “super gonorrhea.” Doctors have so far confirmed 34 cases. The outbreak began with straight couples but is spreading to gay men. “We’ve been worried it would spread to men who have sex with men,” sexual health consultant Peter Greenhouse told BBC News. “The problem is [gays] tend to spread infections a lot faster simply as they change partners more quickly.” The increasing resistance of many types of disease-causing bacteria to antibiotics that have worked for decades is one of the most vexing problems facing medicine today.
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UK Warns LGBTs About Traveling to United States
Trump, Cruz Clash Over Bathroom Laws
The transgender bathroom rights battle has spilled into the Republican presidential race. Donald Trump came out against North Carolina’s law requiring people to use bathrooms corresponding to their biological sex, saying, people “should use the bathroom they feel is appropriate.” Texas Sen. Ted Cruz pounced with typical hyperbole: “It is simply crazy—the idea that grown men would be allowed alone in a bathroom with little girls. You don’t need to be a behavioral psychologist to realize that bad things can happen, and any prudent person wouldn’t allow that, and it is only the lunacy of political correctness.” Less than 24 hours later, Trump backtracked from his seemingly enlightened position, telling Fox News’s Sean Hannity he thinks “local communities and states should make the decision.’
MAY 11, 2016
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THE VOICE OF GAY L.A. Frontiers looks back at 34 volumes of the news and culture that defines Southern California’s LGBT community By Frontiers Staff 1982 On May 6, Frontiers publishes its first issue. It’s 35 pages long, with a two-color newsprint cover. Offices are on Magnolia Boulevard in North Hollywood. Founders include Greg Carmack, Jerry Hyde and Bob Craig. Frontiers reprints Larry Kramer’s controversial article, “A.I.D.S. 1,112 and Counting” 1983 Frontiers experiments with glossy covers, including the controversial use of a still from Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. 1984 On Nov. 2, Frontiers takes the lead in promoting cityhood for West Hollywood, and the fall elections bring a gay majority—Valerie Terrigno, Steve Schulte and John Heilman—to the new five-member West Hollywood City Council. 1985 In April, at the order of the West Hollywood City Council, Barney’s Beanery removes its infamous “Fagots Stay Out” [sic] sign.
On Oct. 2, Rock Hudson’s death from AIDS creates a media firestorm.
Louganis comes out as gay and HIV-positive during an interview with Barbara Walters.
1987 The AIDS Memorial Quilt comes to UCLA. Later that year, the federal government reports a total of 48,574 U.S. AIDS cases.
1996 The introduction of protease inhibitors, aka the “AIDS Cocktail,” changes the face of the AIDS epidemic.
Frontiers publisher Bob Craig starts Dispatch, a biweekly arts and entertainment publication, which eventually becomes the short-lived Frontiers: After Dark. 1988 Frontiers’ covers go glossy—and stay that way. 1989 Frontiers reports on the lawsuit of former police officer Mitch Grobeson against the LAPD, which results in a court-mandated gayrecruitment effort. 1993 On July 19, President Clinton announces his new policy on gays in the military, called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Pursue.” Frontiers: San Francisco publishes its first issue.
Ordinances are passed in Los Angeles and West Hollywood barring AIDS-related discrimination. In July, APLA organizes the world’s first AIDS Walk. Organizers hope to raise $100,000; the final tally is $673,000.
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1997 On April 30, Ellen DeGeneres comes out in her eponymous sitcom to an audience of 42 million. 1998 On Oct. 6, 22 year-old gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard is brutally murdered. In November, Democrat Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin becomes the first openly gay or lesbian non-incumbent elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. 2000 On March 7, California voters overwhelmingly pass Proposition 22, outlawing gay marriage. Hilary Swank wins Oscar for Boys Don’t Cry. On April 28, Frontiers founding publisher Bob Craig succumbs to complications from AIDS.
Tom Hanks wins the Best Actor Oscar for Philadelphia. 1995 On Feb. 24, Olympic gold-medal-winning diver Greg
2001 On April 1, Netherlands becomes the first country in the world to recognize same-sex marriages.
IF YOU WANT A SINGING CAREER, STAY AWAY FROM SECONDHAND SMOKE. Ellie’s severe asthma attacks were triggered by secondhand smoke at work. She and her partner have to live with its effects forever. If you or someone you know wants free help to quit smoking, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW.
Ellie, Age 57 Her partner, Karen Florida
www.cdc.gov/tips
#CDCTips MAY 11, 2016
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In August, Frontiers: San Francisco publishes its final issue.
On April 29, Jason Collins of the NBA’s Washington Wizards announces in an essay in Sports Illustrated that he‘s gay.
2003 On June 26, The U.S. Supreme Court legalizes gay sex between consenting adults in Lawrence v. Texas.
Frontiers celebrates its anniversary with Community Builders Awards given to Ivy Bottini, Jewel Thais-Williams, Bill Rosendahl and OUT@NBC Universal
2005 In May, Frontiers completely redesigns its content and becomes full-color.
On June 26, DOMA and Prop. 8 are invalidated by the United States Supreme Court.
On Nov. 8, Star Trek icon George Takei comes out in Frontiers, making world news. 2007 On Aug. 9, HRC and Logo sponsor the first presidential forum focusing on LGBT issues, in which six Democrats participated, including Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. 2008 On Nov. 4, Obama became America’s first black president—but California voters pass Proposition 8. 2009 Sean Penn and screenwriter Dustin Lance Black win Oscars for the film Milk. On Aug. 12, Obama posthumously awards Harvey Milk the Presidential Medal of Freedom. 2010 Gay District Court Judge Vaughn Walker rules California’s Prop. 8 is unconstitutional. 2011 In January, Charo returns to the spotlight and appears on the cover of Frontiers On Sept. 20, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is repealed, ending a ban on gays in the military. 2012 On May 9, Obama endorses same-sex marriage after VP Joe Biden comes out in support. Longtime subscriber to Frontiers John Waters graces the cover of the annual Outfest issue.
SPEAK
OUT
Liza Minnelli graces Frontiers’ holiday issue.
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2013 On April 12, the City of West Hollywood warns against a deadly strain of meningitis.
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The year’s cover models include Richard Simmons, Iggy Azalea, Chloe Grace Moretz, Margaret Cho and L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti. 2014 Frontiers commemorates White Party Palm Springs’ 25th anniversary with an oral history of the “gay men’s Woodstock.” In August, Frontiers puts out two special themed issues: one on L.A.’s obsession with the past, the second on the future of Gay L.A. 2015 Jennifer Coolidge graces the cover of Frontiers sporting only the image of Michelangelo’s David on an apron. On April 24, in a televised interview with Diane Sawyer, U.S. Olympic gold medal winner Bruce Jenner says, “Yes, for all intents and purposes, I’m a woman,” later revealing she’s now Caitlyn. On June 26, The U.S. Supreme Court rules in Obergefell v. Hodges that same-sex couples have the fundamental right to marry and that states cannot say marriage is reserved for straight couples. In July, Jewel’s Catch One, the nation’s first black gay disco, closes its doors. In August, L.A. sees the opening of a new wave of gay bars downtown, which Frontiers dubs “DTLA’s New Pink Triangle.” In September, Multimedia Platforms Inc. acquires New Frontiers Media Holdings, giving the company a West Coast presence.
“If your definition of gay and straight is who I sleep with, then I guess you could say I’m a gay cock tease. ... Yeah, I’m a little gay, and there’s a gay James.” Actor James Franco opens up to Huffington Post about his affinity for gay-themed projects—his latest being the gay porn murder mystery King Cobra—and is as coy as ever
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2002 On April 7, openly gay music mogul and philanthropist David Geffen donates $200 million to endow the UCLA School of Medicine.
DATEBOOK SAT. | APRIL 30
A NIGHT IN THE CATSKILLS
The Pasadena Playhouse’s annual fundraiser and red carpet gala event, a 1960s-inspired soirée set on the playhouse’s proscenium, will honor Jane Fonda and record producer Richard Perry. The evening takes its setting and locale from recent production Casa Valentina. pasadenaplayhouse.org
SAT. | APRIL 23
VALEDICTORIAN SOCIETY COCKTAIL PARTY This Point Foundation event, held at WeHo’s Bar10, is an opportunity to meet Point Scholars and alumni and hear their stories while networking with like-minded young professionals. pointfoundation.org
SAT. | APRIL 30
A BENEFIT FOR SAGE USA
Sage, one of the country’s oldest organizations dedicated to improving the lives of senior LGBTs, will honor MUFG Union Bank and Star Trek alum George Takei at its afternoon event for his LGBT advocacy and strong presence as an engaged LGBT elder in his own right. sageusa.org
SUN. | MAY 1
PAWSAPALOOZA
This annual dog walk and festival is hosted by PAWS/LA and co-sponsored by the City of West Hollywood. It’s a day of pet products and services, live music, food and drink and celebration of the human-animal bond, with proceeds benefitting the organization’s local programs. pawsla.org
SAT. | MAY 7
WEHO WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
This day-long event at the WeHo Council Chambers is geared toward women who live, work and play in West Hollywood, and it will include dynamic speakers, panels, training sessions, exhibitors and a luncheon. Registration required. wehowlc.org
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.com MAY 11, 2016
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THE
GAY AGENDA
High Times Here’s some 420 fashion for smokers, jokers and midnight tokers By Mikey Rox
M PHOTO CREDIT TK
arijuana -inspired and hemp - made clothing and accessories are sprouting up everywhere thanks to laxer laws on the increasingly ubiquitous bud. So incorporate more weed into your wardrobe with these fresh finds.
1. BLAZE OF GLORY
Mix your ganj and gay pride with Cookies’ rainbow leaf T-shirt; it’ll add premium-grade dank style to your already legit swag. Available at Zumiez, Burbank Town Center, 201 E. Magnolia Blvd., $33 MAY 11, 2016
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BREAK OUT THE CRAYONS
THE
GAY
2. 5.
3. 6.
4. 7.
2. LIGHT HEADED
5. HEAT SEEKER
3. BEAT FEET
6. HAT TRICK
4. NATURAL SELECTION
7. CALF-ENIATED
Let your primal urges prevail in this natural hemp safari hat from Scala, featuring hearty leather trim and a smart twill sweatband to shade you from UV rays in the urban jungle. Available at Nordstrom at The Grove, 189 The Grove Dr., $40
Nike’s new SB Dunk Low Premium Hemp has an upper construction made from real hemp, a leather Swoosh and splashes of orange and green branding. It stores on April 20, of course. Available at NikeTown Los Angeles, 9560 Wilshire Blvd., $100 Bohemian handsome gets gussied up with Olderbrother’s classic fit button-down in black indigo, dyed using a technique derived from the Middle Ages. Real shell buttons give this made-in-L.A. woven an extra edge. Available at shopspring.com, $80
Netflix-and-chill-the-eff-out gets cozier with your new favorite long-sleeve: the ribbed, snug-fit baby blue thermal from Manastash that was cotton/hemp-constructed with ultimate comfort in mind. Available at jackthreads.com, $98 A full-grain leather strap with ID logo embossed brass buckle, stitched eyelets and felt circular H.S.Co. patch make the adjustable Glenwood cap from Herschel Supply Co. the right accessory to tame your fragrant bed head. Available at herschelsupply.com, $40
HUF Plantlife crew socks will help you show off a little leg—and your penchant for puffing—with its tie-dye jacquard knit pattern mid-calves. These socks kick casual Friday into high gear. Available at hufworldwide.com, $10.50
COLOR ON OVERDRIVE To say that art meets apparel with the “Print All Over Me” art and fashion collaboration would be a bit of an understatement. With its twisted rainbow hues, it seems more like fashion climbed into bed with art and produced a climactic explosion of color. The godchild of art duo Eli Sudbrack and Christophe Hamaide Pierson (who work as assume vivid astro focus) and the Tom of Finland Foundation, this collabo is a platform for co-created fashion, with tools that allow customers to choose art pieces and place them on 27 unisex articles of clothing. Basically, anyone can instantly become an artist-slash-designer. Set to launch online and at New York’s Frieze art Fair in May, customers will virtually craft their own custom masterpieces, after which the made-to-order designs will be fused onto clothing and shipped their way. printalloverme.com —Jim Larkins 22
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If you think coloring books are just for kids, you’re missing out on all the fun. Adult coloring books provide a platform for escape from everyday life and an opportunity for immersion into a vast world of colorful combinations. The latest collaboration of color introduces the Jean Cocteau Coloring Book, which features notable artwork from the multitalented artist, playwright and filmmaker. It’s inspiring knowing that Cocteau formed friendships with such artistic icons as Picasso, Stravinsky, Gide and more. And with fill-ins lined up alongside the artist’s original illustrations for reference, the coloring books allow the crayonwielder to see how close he can come to creating original masterpieces. Yet another coloring book of contemporary design is comprised of Yves Saint Laurent collections. Many of the iconic fashion designer’s famous creations are featured as templates for hours of coloring fun. In fact, the pages are replete with many of the designer’s original sketches for dresses over the years. With patterns inspired by harlequins, the Carnival of Venice, Pop Art and the cultures of Asia and Africa, the book allows the artist in you to explore Laurent’s true artistic depth. Both coloring books are available in May from Arsenal Pulp Press for $12.95. —J.L.
GET SUITED: JOJO PHOTO CREDIT TK WHILDEN/COURTESY OF HBO
AGENDA
Bindle & Keep founders Daniel Friedman and Rae Tutera; (below) Tutera with Grace Dunham
5 TRACKS TO MOURN THE LOSS OF PRINCE
“HEAD” (FROM DIRTY MIND)
GET SUITED: JOJO PHOTO CREDIT TK WHILDEN/COURTESY OF HBO
HBO INVITES THE GENDERQUEER TO SUIT UP
HARLEM-BASED lifestyle brand The 125 Collection throws stylish individuality into its customers’ everyday lives with its very first product line, Quote Candles: allnatural, hand-poured soy candles in matte black containers (available in five scents) that offer up one of 19 inspiring or subversive sayings. What do you need in your deskside candle—a reminder (“Good Vibes Only”), instruction (“Do Epic Shit”) or a descriptor (“My Life Is Dope and I Do Dope Shit”)? the125collection.com —S.H.
W
hen it comes to accepting one’s own identity, feeling comfortable in your own skin can extend from flesh to fashion and beyond, and nobody understands that connection between identity and style better than Brooklyn-based clothiers Bindle & Keep. The tailor has designed a wealth of suits specifically fitted to gender-nonconforming and trans clients. “We’re focused on suiting everyone. Without bias,” claims Daniel Friedman, the owner and founder of Bindle & Keep (bindleandkeep.com). “If you have a body, you can be suited. And that’s what makes us so inviting to communities that were, until now, ostracized by a very binary retail industry. This isn’t fashion anymore. This is about the psychology of clothing. The psychology of how we want to see ourselves.” The brand’s queer clients are the focus of the upcoming HBO documentary Suited—a celebration of the deep psychological connection between self-identity and fashion—directed by Jason Benjamin and set to air on the cable network on June 20. To kick off interest in the doc, HBO is launching “Get Suited”—a contest that will give three lucky winners a fashionista (or fashionisto) fairy tale come true. Individuals between the ages of 13 to 24 are invited to visit GetSuitedHBO.com and fill out an entry form. The prize package consists
A Hairy Situation ERIC HANDHOLZ STARTED Beardbrand back in 2012 as an online community for likeminded beardsmen who craved style inspiration and collectively shunned negative stereotypes about guys with facial hair being lazy or unkempt. Since then his company has propelled forward, now focusing
of a custom-tailored suit from Bindle & Keep for yourself and a friend or family member, an all-expense-paid trip to New York, a meet-andgreet with Suited producers Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner (of Girls fame), a photo shoot by a professional photographer and a $5,000 donation made to a charity in the winners’ names. Contest entrants are prompted to upload a video clip detailing their personal take on fashion and identity, and what a tailored suit would mean to them. Submissions will be accepted through May 6. Three winners will be chosen from three different age categories (13-16, 17-20, 21-24) during the week of May 23. “As producers on this film, we learned so much about the transformative power of fashion to cement a sense of identity,” says Dunham. “But it wasn’t until we had our own Bindle & Keep suits made that we fully understood.” —J.L.
on a diverse line of premium products for guys who have casually told razors to ‘fuck off.’ It’s a homegrown brand that purchases all its own inventory and believes in its products, which makes all the difference when it comes to
This story song about sleeping with a virgin bride on the way to her wedding was a sexual revelation on an album stuffed with them. The groove was tight, the falsetto still shocking and the rousing shout into the chorus of “now morning, noon and night I give you head” the perfect rallying cry for young people (including the gay ones) just discovering the power of their own sexuality.
“LET’S PRETEND WE’RE MARRIED” (FROM 1999)
More sex, only this time conjugal and wildly uninhibited. He’d later renounce his filthiest of lyrics, but a line like “I sincerely want to fuck the taste out of your mouth” does leave an impression.
“TAKE ME WITH U” (FROM PURPLE RAIN)
Not “Let’s Go Crazy” or “When Doves Cry” or the title track but this mid-tempo slice of pop perfection is the song I gravitate towards on his commercial breakthrough. I love the strings, the calland-response between he and Wendy and Lisa, and the endless desire that’s the basis of many songs of which only a few are great.
“ADORE” (FROM SIGN O’ THE TIMES)
your handsome, sensitive face. Always dedicated to quality, Beardbrand’s Grooming Kit ($200, beardbrand.com) is the bearded guy’s all-encompassing take on a shaving kit. Inside you’ll find a large comb, a pocket comb and a moustache comb; a boar’s hair brush; trimming scissors; moustache wax; and your pick from the brand’s nine varieties of beard oil. And it all comes housed within a black walnut box specially crafted for Beardbrand customers. —Stephan Horbelt
The final track of his masterpiece is also his most committed, most extraordinary ballad (and that’s saying something). All those multi-tracked Prince voices singing harmony is the modern definition of heaven itself.
“STARE” (FROM HITNRUN PHASE TWO)
Whether this is ‘classic Prince’ shall be determined in the future, but this standout track from his latest is a slinky demonstration of how effortless the funk was for him. Soul isn’t always heavy or labored or strenuous; sometimes it should sound just like you’re gliding on air. —Dan Loughry MAY 11, 2016
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TRAVEL Clockwise, from above: Lunchtime in Thailand, Wat Traimit, Anantara Resort and Elephant Camp, Temple of the Golden Buddha, Bangkok nightlife
PACK IT
UP
8 Reasons to Visit Thailand Find enlightenment, a gorgeous beach paradise and a low-key lifestyle to restart your engine on the other side of the globe By Alex Kacala
Any hardcore traveler will tell you that losing an electronic device to a drained battery while out touring uncharted territory is not the look. With that in mind, the Kyte&Key Cablet ($99-$149, kyteandkey.com) aims to prevent that from happening, all the while keeping you stylish. While there’s no lack of smartphone-charging gadgets on the market, it’s not everyday you stumble across one you wouldn’t mind sporting on your wrist. When needed, plug this bracelet directly into your computer, smartphone or other device to boost battery life. Look for it in various shades of leather and with different metal treatments. —Stephan Horbelt
P
eople get caught up in everyday bullshit, and it often becomes overwhelming. From work stress to financial problems, social media blues to Donald Trump, it can all become too much. This was my own personal reality recently, with trials and tribulations tripping me up. But a recent trip to Thailand changed that. From the blue-water beaches of Phuket to the green hills of Chiang Rai, I traveled far from one corner of the country to another, finding space for a vast amount of enlightenment that grounded and re-centered me. Thailand is a country long respected for the visibility of its LGBT community, and it continues to welcome us with a red carpet. While a great distance away, the trip to this far-off destination is well worth the trek, and here are but a few reasons why.
1. It’s Cheap
Sure, flights going west over the Pacific Ocean can be expensive. But once you’re there, things are cheap. Currently, one Thai baht is equal to .029 dollars. A filling entrée at lunch runs approximately 70 baht (two dollars).
2. The Temples
Buddhism is an integral part of Thai culture, and active participation is among the highest in the world. One of the ways to honor and celebrate this important part of the Thai experience is to visit some of the beautiful temples dotting the landscape. Don’t miss the Big Buddha in Phuket, the Chiang Rai White Temple or the Temple of the Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho in Bangkok.
3. TropOut
This exclusive weeklong trip for gay travelers brings in adventurers from all corners of the globe. The first-ever was set at the tropical paradise of Phuket’s Bang Tao Beach. Its mission is simple: to deliver exceptional and comfortable experiences for gay travelers—experiences filled with relaxation, cultural discovery and chic parties. It’s taking the idea of a gay cruise and putting it on land, where gays can come together and experience a destination together as a group. The Australia-based endeavor will return to Thailand in 2017, and is definitely another reason to spend some time here. MAY 11, 2016
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TRAVEL
IN SEARCH OF THE
WORLD’S
BEST Skylines
1
HONG KONG CHINA
Long tail boats in Koh Phi Phi
5. The Food
Fans of Thai food won’t be disappointed by the bounty that awaits. You’ll find extraordinary Pad Thai on every menu, but don’t limit yourself! Rice is such an integral part of Thai cuisine that the words for rice and food are the same: khao. Tom yum is a soup usually cooked with shrimp, characterized by its hot and sour flavors, fragrant spices and herbs. For dessert you’ll find a lot of khao neeo mamuang—sticky rice with mango—and khao tom mat—a traditional dessert prepared from sticky rice, coconut milk and banana. And stop for the street food; the best meals you’ll have will be kneeling curbside, eating meat on a stick.
6. Bangkok’s Gay Nightlife
Bangkok is a sweeping city filled with skyscrapers, giving it the nickname City of Angels. (Sound familiar?) The vibrancy is felt most at night, when the city really comes alive. This is especially true of gay nightlife, which brings people from far
and wide. Visit Soi 2 to 4 in Patpong—the gay nightlife hot spot of Bangkok, where locals and tourists have a great time and mingle. Telephone Bar is another popular destination, where you can pick up the house phone and dial the extension of the nearest guy who has caught your eye to say hello. There’s also karaoke upstairs most nights.
7. The Beaches
Thailand’s most popular beach destination is Phuket, which comes with spectacular scenery, stunning tropical sunsets and the warm blue Andaman Sea. Just a short 45-minute journey from Phuket and you’re in the tropical paradise of Koh Phi Phi, Thailand’s ultimate tropical getaway, made famous in the 2000 film The Beach. Amazing, white sand beaches and breathtaking rock formations surround the islands, creating a true paradise. Energetic nightlife awaits you at Patong Beach, where the epicenter of gay life is concentrated in the Paradise Complex of guesthouses, go-go bars, discos, gay saunas, restaurants and bars.
8. The People
Residents of Thailand are the country’s most prized possession. They greet you with a smile, and their loving attitude is seen in every interaction. A famous expression every visitor should know is “mai pen rai,” which translates to “no worries.” It sums up life in Thailand perfectly, evidence that Thai people keep their cool through the ups and downs of life. As a visitor, it’s impossible not to have some of that zest rub off on you. Consider it a reminder that we are only one blade of grass in a field that stretches wide.
ROCK OUT IN WINE COUNTRY
COULDN’T MAKE THE TREK out to Indio for Coachella? Or maybe you did hit up the desert mid-April but need more outdoor festival in your life. Well, break out the California casual wardrobe (leaving the flower crowns at home), as BottleRock is returning to Napa just in time to send off spring with a weekend of exclusive eats, local brewery/winery offerings and more of your favorite musicians than you knew could find wine country on a map. Booked acts include everyone from Stevie Wonder, Lenny Kravitz and Cold War Kids to Florence + The Machine and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Coolest of all, there’s a culinary stage where you’ll watch worldfamous chefs paired up with musicians (like last year’s pairing of Masaharu Morimoto with Snoop Dogg). BottleRock’s fourth installment, May 27-29, has already sold-out, but you can still score a weekend pass if you head to uselyte.com/bottlerocknapavalley. —S.H.
2
RIO DE JANEIRO BRAZIL
Few big city skylines offer up views of water, the mountains and lush greenery along with its steel and concrete structures, and Rio one-ups even that with the addition of its world-famous Christ the Redeemer statue atop Corcovado Mountain. See the Rio skyline in full while atop Sugarloaf Mountain, which you can reach in a glass-paneled cable car.
3
NEW YORK CITY NEW YORK
With the most recognizable and photographed skyline, The Big Apple is home to some of the world’s most famed buildings— the Empire State, Chrysler and Flatiron among them—as well as other jaw-dropping structures like the Brooklyn Bridge over the East River. Manhattan, only 23 square miles, is home to 1.6 million New Yorkers (but houses 4 million on weekdays), making it one of the world’s most densely populated spots. —S.H.
FRENCH QUARTER: AMERICANSPIRIT
As symbols of Thailand, they’re everywhere. While many elephant attractions don’t have high standards of living for these magnificent creatures, some do. Anantara Resort and Elephant Camp is in northern Thailand in the middle of the Golden Triangle, a region that borders Myanmar and Laos. Established in 2003, the camp works alongside the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation to perform street rescues and provide a comfortable lifestyle for the animals. Guests can interact with the 22 elephants living at the camp, with several activities to choose from, like walking them through nature to sunset rides.
BOTTLEROCK: GRACE SAGER; SKYLINES: GETTY
4. The Elephants
Views overlooking Victoria Harbour—at night and during the day—are quite spectacular, as the former British colony claims the world’s largest swath of buildings taller than 500 feet, including the 118-story International Commerce Center.
GOOD TO GO
Clockwise, from left: Jazz musicians in the French Quarter; Ursa Major; Le Méridien New Orleans, Southern Decadence
David Bowie may no longer be with us, but his palatial Mandalay Estate on the island of Mustique is now available for rent. Built in ‘89, Mandalay meshes Caribbean charm with Balinese style, houses five bedrooms and an infinity pool and comes with 14 on-site staff members. mandalayestate.com
Down and Out in NOLA
Hollywood’s The Redbury has a new sibling with the opening of The Redbury New York, located on 29th Street between Park and Madison. The musiccentric hotel brand makes use of bold colors and vintage imagery to create a playful and funky boutique experience. theredburynewyork.com
More than a decade after Hurricane Katrina slammed into New Orleans, the Big Easy has proven that wind and rain can’t bring her down By Matthew Wexler
I
t’s been nearly 11 years since an epic civil engineering failure flooded 80% of New Orleans. What seemed insurmountable in 2005 is a potent memory for today’s Crescent City, which is thriving in its own unique, scrappy way. Here are but a few reasons why you should pack your duffel and head to the bayou. What began in 1972 as a going-away party for a group of guys crashing at a house on Barracks Street has grown into a weekend street festival of debauchery. Parades, contests and free music ensue, culminating in the aptly named Hung Over and Broke closing party. Aug. 31 - Sept. 5, southerndecadence.net
Mardi Gras Museum at Arnaud’s
Morning Call in City Park
Mardi Gras is, of course, the city’s marquee event. Next year’s celebration will take place Feb. 28, but if you can’t make it to town to shake your ass for beads, stop by legendary Arnaud’s in the French Quarter for a visit to the Mardi Gras Museum. You’ll find dozens of costumes worn by Germaine Cazenave Wells, who reigned as queen of more than 22 balls from 1937-68. 813 Rue Bienville, arnaudsrestaurant.com
Though Café Du Monde is a local landmark, consider savoring your chicory café au lait and beignets at Morning Call in City Park before strolling through the adjacent Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden. 56 Dreyfous Dr., morningcallcoffeestand.com
FRENCH QUARTER: AMERICANSPIRIT
The Twirl Take an evening stroll with New Orleans historian and drink connoisseur Glenn Louis DeVillier on a gay heritage and drinks tour. Highlights include Tennessee Williams’ home and potent cocktails like the Hemingway Daiquiri at Hotel Monteleone. glfdevilliers.com
August and Lüke Foodies gladly go for broke at James Beard Award-winning chef John Besh’s flagship, August, located in a 19th century French Creole building and featuring contemporary French cuisine and local ingredients. (301
Scheduled to open later this spring, Thompson Hotels’ first property in the Pacific Northwest comes to Seattle in the form of a 12-story, sleek glass structure with floor-toceiling windows in its rooms, suites and residences. You’ll find it downtown near the worldfamous Pike Place Market. thompsonseattle.com —S.H.
Le Méridien New Orleans Large-scale artwork appears throughout this redesigned former W Hotel, and those who want to soak up more culture to offset the booze can take advantage of its Unlock Art program, offering complimentary admission to the Contemporary Arts Center, the New Orleans Museum of Art and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art. 333 Poydras St., lemeridienneworleanshotel.com
Southern Decadence
BOTTLEROCK: GRACE SAGER; SKYLINES: GETTY
Tchoupitoulas St., restaurantaugust.com) For a more casual but equally delicious meal, Lüke’s brasserie setting is the perfect backdrop for favorites like stuffed P&J oysters, Creolestyle gumbo and three exclusive beers on tap. 333 St. Charles Ave, lukeneworleans.com
Ursa Major After establishing themselves in the emerging Bywater neighborhood with Booty’s Street Food, business and life partners Nick Vivion and Kevin Ferrell opened Ursa Major with an equally ambitious menu and zodiac-inspired cocktails. 611 O’Keefe Ave., ursamajornola.com
GoNOLA “I see the LGBT community in New Orleans becoming more connected,” says Ryan Cochran, marketing manager of Communify, a local gay-owned marketing firm. “I am seeing progress in how we can all work together and create a louder, prouder voice in the South.” Keep an eye on GoNOLA, the city’s official tourism blog, which has an LGBT section for visitors. gonola.com/lgbt-new-orleans
COAST TO COAST FRAMELINE SAN FRANCISCO
June 16-26 One of the world’s biggest LGBTQ film fests, Frameline celebrates its 40th year with a new rebrand and 11 full days of queer screenings and commemoration of industry legends. Among this year’s announced films are the Looking wrap-up film on closing night. frameline.org
BROADWAY BARES
June 19 This year’s 26th annual benefit for Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS at the Hammerstein Ballroom is a television-themed evening of super sexy striptease numbers. NYC’s hottest male and female dancers will take part in the evening’s two shows. broadwaycares.org
EUROGAMES HELSINKI
June 29-July 2 Finland will play host for Europe’s largest multi-sport event regardless of gender identity or orientation (or home, as non-Europeans participate). Some 3,000 athletes will participate in 13 different sports, from badminton and basketball to tennis. eurogames helsinki.org —S.H.
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events ■ Fri. | April 29 DTLA CURATORIAL WALKTHROUGH A+D Museum L.A.
The next walkthrough for “Come In! DTLA” will feature exhibition curator Danielle Rago and participating designers Lawrence Azerrad, Jessica Fleischmann and experimental shoe designer Chris Francis. Free with museum admission. aplusd.org
nightlife
theater
exhibits
■ Sat. | April 30 CELL BLOCK Precinct
You’ll want to ‘spread ‘em!’ for this dance party inspired by the cops of Tom of Finland. DJ Aaron Elvis will craft the soundtrack, while last issue’s cover model, Anthony Bennett, will be one of the party’s dancers. precinctdtla.com
■ Fri. | April 29 LONG FORM RELIGIOUS PORN Stockroom Silver Lake
A one-night-only event celebrating the release of Laura Lee Bahr’s novel, a provocative book filled with sex, violence, humor and vampires. There will be a reading, hosted bar and drag performance by Meatball. lauraleebahr.com ■ Fri. | April 29 URBAN DEATH Zombie Joe’s Underground
The theater group’s signature horror production, with all-new inexplicable horrors, monstrosities and disturbed spirits. Through May 28. zombiejoes.tix.com
■ Sat. | April 30 AN EVENING WITH PATTI SMITH The Getty Center
Join renowned singersongwriter, poet and visual artist Patti Smith for a performance exploring her extraordinary friendship with Robert Mapplethorpe, timed with the major retrospectives currently at LACMA and The Getty. getty.edu ■ Sat. | April 30 RHYME FEST Belasco Theatre
De La Soul leads the charge of this hip-hop underground music festival, also featuring The Grouch & Eligh, Jarren Benton and Garth Trinidad. rhymefestla.com ■ Sat. | April 30 CONSENT: KYLIE NIGHT Redline
■ Sat. | April 30 PRETTY THINGS PEEPSHOW Bob Baker Marionette Theater
After a whirlwind U.S. tour, the troupe is back with a (sure to sell out) showcase of local acts that include knife-throwing, burlesque, sword-swallowing and naughty puppets. bobbakermarionettes.com
The popular DTLA bar will be transforming into an oasis fit for the goddess Kylie Minogue herself, with DJ Josh Peace tasked with playing her pop hits all night. redlinedtla.com
10 Reasons to Sashay Your Way to RuPaul’s DragCon 2016
A look at the second annual event’s celebrity guests, special events and tucked-and-plucked panel discussions By Stephan Horbelt
A
s we watch the contestants of Drag Race Season 8 get whittled down on a weekly basis, discussion of RuPaul’s empire is on the tip of LGBTs’ collective tongue. In addition to the drag icon’s hosting duties on three shows (Logo’s Gay for Play and GSN’s Skin Wars rounding out the trifecta), there’s a successful music career—eighth studio album Realness saw release in March—and RuPaul’s rightful role as the queer community’s mother mogul, evidenced in May’s return of (a tripled in size) DragCon to the L.A. Convention Center. Tens of thousands of drag-lovers the world over will descend upon DTLA May 7 and 8. Here’s why.
1. For RuPaul’s Keynote Speech You don’t want to miss what the legendary mother has to say, do you? Part motivational speech and part ‘welcome to the party,’ last year’s keynote saw RuPaul discuss the origins of the convention—“Finding your tribe, your constituency, your comrades, that’s what this event is all about”—and remind the audience of the ultimate goal here—”to become the realization of your own imagination.”
floor (imagine the ultimate safari but one in which all the colorful creatures are sporting lip gloss), but at some point many will sit for pre-planned autograph sessions.
3. For the Shopping Spree More than 100 vendors and exhibitors will be present at the convention, hawking wares ranging from the sexy fetish wear of Slick it Up to artwork and the merchandise of your favorite Drag Race alums.
4. For the Celebrity Appearances DragCon isn’t limited to the queens you know and love; this year will see face time from guests of honor including Amber Rose, Big Freedia, Debbie Gibson, Todrick Hall and “My Neck, My Back” singer Khia.
5. For the Film Screenings Among the films being screened at this year’s convention are UK drag documentary Dressed as a Girl; Ireland’s Oscars entry about a Cuban drag queen, Viva; ‘90s cult classic Jawbreaker; and Mysterious Skin, after which director Gregg Araki will stick around for a Q&A.
2. For the Autographs
6. For the ‘Drag Is Punk’ Panel
Many of Drag Race’s 100 queens will be out in full force, roaming the convention center
Lyndsey Parker of Yahoo Music will moderate a panel on Saturday about what makes drag a MAY 11, 2016
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■ Sat. | April 30 TONI TENNILLE Barnes & Noble, The Grove
■ Sun. | May 1 DAPPER DAY Disneyland
Grammy winner and music icon of the ‘70s and ‘80s Toni Tennille will sign copies of her memoirs and discuss life in—and behind—the spotlight.
Dress in your Sunday best while visiting both parks of the Disneyland Resort with 20,000+ other fashionable guests! (Regular admission to the park is required.) dapperday.com
■ Sat. | April 30 SWAGGER LIKE US Los Globos
■ Sun. | May 1 THE MARK OF ZORRO Segerstrom Concert Hall
This queer hip-hop and house music dance party will feature up-and-coming artists including gay rapper Cakes da Killa, plus multiple DJs. swaggersf.com
Organist Dennis James recreates the soundtrack of the 1920 silent film, which starred Douglas Fairbanks. pacificsymphony.com
SNAP SHOTS ✱
9. For the Ultimate Kiki About New York Queens
They say that if you remember the ‘90s drag scene of New York, you probably weren’t there, but that isn’t stopping James St. 7. For a Live Taping of Alyssa’s Secret James from pulling Linda Simpson, Our favorite web series, hosted by Constance Cooper, Sherry Vine none other than Season 5 vet and Michael Schmidt together Alyssa Edwards, will be filmed to discuss the era’s past, presin front of a live audience on RUPAUL’S ent and future. Saturday, and we wouldn’t DRAGCON L.A. Convention Center miss those backrolls for May 7-8 anything! 10. For the Opening rupaulsdragcon.com
8. For the Cosplay Panel Drag Race vets and cosplay queens Chad Michaels, Dax Exclamationpoint and Phi Phi O’Hara will hop onstage to discuss bringing the world of comic book heroes and pop culture icons to life.
Night Spectacular
When a party gets branded as a “spectacular,” you know you’re in for a treat. Kick off DragCon weekend on Friday, May 6, at DTLA’s Belasco Theater with performances by Gia Gunn, Jujubee, Katya, Lady Bunny, Trixie Mattel and more.
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BIG BAD WOLF | FAULTLINE Photos by Jeremy Lucido
DAPPER DAY: CHRISTINA HOUSE FOR LA TIMES
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form of punk rock expression, speaking with Alaska Thunderfuck, the Boulet Brothers and Henry Rollins. (Yep, that Henry Rollins.)
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■ Tue. | May 3 DAVID SEDARIS Royce Hall
The humorist, bestselling author, playwright and radio personality returns to UCLA to share anecdotes, worksin-progress and readings from recent and popular books. cap.ucla.edu
■ Through May 1 A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER Ahmanson Theatre
This Tony-winning musical tells the story of Monty Navarro (Kevin Massey), a distant heir to a family fortune who tries to jump the line of succession, by any means necessary. centertheatregroup.org ■ Sun. | May 1 ENDGAME Kirk Douglas Theatre
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FRESH FRIDAYS | FLAMING SADDLES Photos by Jason King
■ Through May 15 FATHER COMES HOME FROM THE WARS Center Theatre Group
Set during the Civil War, a slave named Hero is offered freedom if he joins his master in the ranks of the Confederacy. For what could be an empty promise, Hero must decide about leaving the people he loves. centertheatregroup.org ■ Thu. | May 5 TOUCH THURSDAYS The Abbey
In an absurdist world somewhere between existence and death, four characters cling to sanity while performing daily rituals as they wrestle with the nothingness of life. Through May 22. centertheatregroup.com
As the gay weekend starts on Thursday, Frontiers Media presents a night of dancing, drinking and all-around rabble-rousing before the weekend gets fully underway. Join us as we people-watch some of the city’s sexiest men and women ... and maybe ogle a go-go dancer or two. abbeyfoodandbar.com
■ Sun. | May 1 PETER & THE WOLF Valley Performing Arts Center
■ Thu. | May 5 SCI-FEST Acme Theater
Actress Nancy Cartwright (Bart Simpson) brings her inimitable voice to the role of narrator in Sergei Prokofiev’s musical children’s fable, with the Pacific Symphony. pacificsymphony.org
This is the third year of the L.A.-based science fiction one-act play festival, which will showcase plays adapted from Janis Ian and horror master Clive Barker. Through May 29. sci-fest.com
DAPPER DAY: CHRISTINA HOUSE FOR LA TIMES
■ Through May 1 THE JUNGLE BOOK El Capitan Theatre
A special engagement of Jon Favreau’s all-new, live-action film includes a performance by The Side Street Strutters Jazz Band performing classic Sherman Brothers music live onstage before the movie. elcapitantickets.com
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Gay L.A.’s Ultimate Parking Lot Party Returns
W ■ Fri. | May 6 THE GLASS MENAGERIE Sierra Madre Playhouse
■ Fri. | May 6 DREAMGIRLS La Mirada Theatre
The play that launched the career of Tennessee Williams remains a favorite with audiences. Through June 12. sierramadreplayhouse.org
This story of an up-andcoming 1960s girl group will be presented for four performances. Through May 8. lamiradatheatre.com ■ Fri. | May 6 CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR El Capitan Theatre
■ Fri. | May 6 BBQ & BEER FESTIVAL Central Park, Santa Clarita
California Beer Festival presents the very first installment of this two-day showcase for craft beers and BBQ. Sample over 45 on-tap brews, delicious eats and live music. bbqandbeerfestival.com
Catch the film in Dolby Atmos at this famed Hollywood theater, which now offers VIP Nightcap Tickets for adults (includes a preferred seat, popcorn and beer or wine). Through May 22. elcapitantickets.com
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THAT'S SO WRONG | PRECINCT Photos by Jeremy Lucido
BEARS IN SPACE: ROLLING-BLACKOUTS
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ith the return of spring’s warmer months come many things, not least of which are more bouts of day-drinking added to the gay Angeleno’s social calendar. Helping to usher in that tried-and-true L.A. tradition is popular fête Bears in Space, which every year around this time transforms the parking lot of Silver Lake watering hole Akbar into a massive playground of drinks, drag and disco. The love child of East Side party boys Chris Bowen and Victor Rodriguez, Bears in Space is a bacchanal of epic proportions. Taking place through the summer months and spanning nearly the entire day (from 2 p.m. through 2 a.m., moving inside around the 7 p.m. mark), it’s more than your typical parking lot party—and if you’re not tipped off to that fact by the ’bouncy house’ looming over the lot’s back corner, you’ll likely get the gist from the Mac-O-Licious food truck and pop-up clothing boutiques set up among the tarmac’s tables, chairs and umbrellas. Drew Droege, who has long kept the interwebs laughing with his spot-on Chloë Sevigny impersonation, will emcee the night’s many performances—from local queens including Monistat, Daphne Von Rey, Fifi La Fille and Cupcake Canne—starting at 6 p.m. BEARS IN SPACE As much as this party has to offer daytime drinkers, its emphaAkbar sis has long been on the music, with Bowen and Rodriguez regularly May 15 akbarsilverlake.com drawing some of the nation’s top DJ talent to the turntables. This season’s inaugural event will feature special guests Dirty Dave and Solar, the latter of which plans to deliver an extended dance floor set to those who stick around longer than the sun. No other local celebration beckons the boys to heated concrete quite like Bears in Space, a party that truly provides the soundtrack to spring and summer in gay L.A. —S.H.
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continued ■ Fri. | May 6 UNEMPLOYED. FINALLY. Whitefire Theatre
■ Sun. | May 8 TRANSITION INCOMPLETE MOCA
Winner of the Producers Award at last year’s Hollywood Fringe Festival, this comedy returns to the stage. It’s the story of Heather Dowling’s 30 jobs in 30 years, from sailor to bartender to journalist. Through June 10. whitefiretheatre.com
New York-based poets and performers Felix Bernstein and Gabe Rubin give a special L.A. performance, inspired by Bernstein’s latest book of poems, Burn Book. moca.org
ACE ■ Mon. | May 9 WHY DRAG? LAUNCH PARTY The Abbey
com
■ Sat. | May 7 BIG FREEDIA Regent Theater
The Queen of Bounce returns to L.A. with her vibrant twist on hip-hop, rapid-fire beats and booty-shaking. theregenttheater.com
Join photographer Magnus Hastings for the unveiling of his latest book, Why Drag? Hosted by the Boulet Brothers, the event will feature Courtney Act, Manila Luzon, Detox and more queens, plus Jodie Harsh (all the way from London) as DJ. theabbeyweho.com
■ Sat. | May 7 BUST CRAFTACULAR Superchief Gallery L.A.
This indie craft fair will highlight more than 100 sellers of handmade and vintage treasures, accessories, clothing, original art, and some will offer tutorials at their booths. bust.com
BEARS IN SPACE: ROLLING-BLACKOUTS
■ Through May 22 VAMPIRE LESBIANS OF SODOM Precinct
The famed play by Charles Busch comes to life onstage, starring RuPaul’s Drag Race’s Kelly Mantle and Brad Griffith. It’s running Saturdays and Sundays. vlsla.com ■ Sat. | May 7 UCLAXFILMFEST Laemmle Theatre, NoHo
■ Through Sept. 12 FACTORY OF THE SUN MOCA
This inaugural one-day film festival, organized by Entertainment Studies at UCLA Extension, is designed to showcase the best short films by current and previous students. uclaextension.edu
It’s the U.S. premiere of Hito Steyerl’s landmark video installation, in which he looks at the unprecedented global flow of data and the prevalence of surveillance. moca.org MAY 11, 2016
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Andrew Bongiorno as Peter Allen
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Return to Oz
Celebration Theatre brings The Boy from Oz—the musical life story of famed Australian composer Peter Allen—to the Hollywood stage By Patrick Rosenquist
NEXT FALL: ZEKE RUELAS
A TEST OF FAITH IT WAS CALLED “artful, thoughtful and very moving“ by The New York Times, and now Next Fall, nominated for the 2010 Tony Award for Best Play, is coming to the heart of West Hollywood for a limited engagement. Starring local talent Tom Berklund and Jay Ayers (pictured above from left), the Geoffrey Nauftts-penned story shows us Adam and Luke—an ’opposites attract’ gay couple—the former a neurotic atheist, the latter a struggling actor and devout Christian. When Luke is involved in an accident, after which family and friends run to his bedside for support, the couple’s differences collide. The production—not just a touching story but a look at commitment and unconditional love—is staged at Macha Theatre from May 12-22. nextfallweho.com —Stephan Horbelt
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his play is about a fiercely flamboyant gay man,” says Andrew Bongiorno, star of The Boy from Oz. “It’s the life story of an Australian man born in a small town.” The production recounts the life of Peter Allen, a composer who died of AIDS-related complications in 1992. Forty-eight when he passed, Allen wrote numerous songs, including the Academy Award-winning ”Arthur’s Theme.” Bongiorno, who is also from a small town in Oz, plays the title character, and he has more than a few connections to the play, which made its Broadway debut in 2003 starring Hugh Jackman, another man who studied at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. Nick Enright, who wrote the book for the musical, was one of Bongiorno’s mentors. As a teenager, Allen moved from Australia to Hong Kong, where he met Judy Garland. Fascinated by his talent, Garland asked him to join her in New York, where he began his career as a Broadway and Hollywood composer. Shortly after, he married Garland’s daughter, Liza Minnelli. A few years later, Allen came out of the closet, divorced Minnelli and fell in love with a man. Despite his tumultuous personal life, Allen had, as Bongiorno puts it, “An amazing career.” The musical is filled with songs by the titular composer, including “Bi-Coastal“ and “Continental American.“ Now making its West Coast debut, The Boy From Oz has transitioned from a MAY 11, 2016
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Clockwise from top: Electricity, Father Comes Home From the Wars, The Fantasticks
On the Stage ELECTRICITY
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THE FANTASTICKS
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FATHER COMES HOME FROM THE WARS
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Two Roads Theatre // Through May 22 // Sparks fly when two gay high school classmates from Ohio reunite in a motel room at four class reunions, between 1983 and 2013. The premise is quite similar to the 1970s Broadway and Hollywood heterosexual rom-com Same Time Next Year, which starred Ellen Burstyn. Electricity, by Terry Ray, charts a strong malemale romantic attraction that keeps defying a committed relationship. As the lives of the two men (Ray as initially closeted Gary, and Kevin Scott Allen as promiscuous kook Brad) are affected by the AIDS crisis, major wars, divorce, the advent of gay marriage and more, they walk a tightrope between diehard friendship and something stronger. Director Steven Rosembaum and the two superb actors bring a full measure of humor and poignancy to the proceedings. Though Ray’s script could use sharper focus at times, this is an admirable “borrowing“ of a tried-and-true premise, with plenty of appeal for gay audiences and beyond. —Les Spindle
Two Roads Theatre // Through May 22 // Known as the world’s longest-running musical (Off-Broadway from 1960-2002), this fanciful fable by composer Harvey Schmidt and librettist Tom Jones is widely considered a gem. Alternating whimsy, Shakespeareanflavored romance, slapstick and slightly darker elements, the simple love story has a classical feel. The gorgeous score, highlighted by the immortal “Try to Remember,“ remains the show’s biggest strength, here under the helm of musical director/accompanist William A. Reilly. As the young next door neighbors who fall in love against formidable odds, Michael J. Marchak and Shayna Gabrielle sing sweetly and exude charm. Kurt Andrew Hansen is appropriately imposing and funny as dashing actor El Gallo, enlisted by the parents to keep the young lovebirds apart. Cyle Conely is delightful as the Mute, a funny and resourceful stage manager/prop man who’s a character in his own right. Beyond the production’s occasional lapses, director-choreographer Lisaun Whittingham keeps the proceedings spryly entertaining. —L.S. Mark Taper Forum // Through May 15 // If it is possible to write a play about freedom, slavery and the American Civil War that is simultaneously provocative and playful, philosophical and frisky, Pulitzer Prize winner Suzan-Lori Parks has done so with the epic and lyrical When Father Comes Home from the Wars (Parts 1, 2 &3), currently receiving a superlative staging at the Taper under the artful direction of Jo Bonney. The evening is made up of three short, connected pieces (the first in a 12-part series) set in 1862-63, following the Homeric journey of a slave aptly named Hero (the captivating Sterling K. Brown) who follows his master (a hilarious Michael McKean) to war for the promise of freedom. Parks’ poetic dialogue deftly mixes period formality and contemporary expressions, with characters directly addressing the audience, and a hilarious talking dog (Patrena Murray) providing important and highly entertaining plot twists. It’s rare for a play that is this much fun to linger so hauntingly in your memory, and for a play about big political ideas to hurt on such a personal level. That is Parks’ magic. —Christopher Cappiello
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FATHER: CRAIG SCHWARTZ; ELECTRICITY: ELIZABETH IGE
Manhattan spectacle into something more intimate. With a pared-down cast and a smaller venue in The Lex Theatre, director Michael Shepperd has tried to recreate the show into something more honest: “What I think really sticks about Allen is that his songs always tried to tell stories. You don’t see that a lot these days. You see a lot of great hooks and melodies, but I think there isn’t a great amount of plot in songs. Allen knew how to create an entertaining story.” Shepperd, who has been the artistic director of Celebration Theatre for 12 years, is excited about bringing a huge show to a smaller venue. “We’re fitting this production into a 50-person black box theater. He was splashy, fun and flamboyant—we have to do it just right,” he says. The show, which opens April 29, fits with Celebration Theatre’s mission. The oldest LGBTfocused theater in the States, it strives to highlight and explore gay themes that may not find a home elsewhere. The company, Shepperd admits, used to be known for its inclusion of male nudity instead of its artistic endeavors. “It was a place where you could see a penis onstage,” he says, adding, “We are more focused on The Boy the artistic aspect.” From Oz Founded in 1982, Celebration is best known for The Celebration its revival of The Color Purple, a Theatre recounts 2012 production that similarly the life of gay Aussie composer tucked a huge show into a small Peter Allen space, earning accolades and recognition for its nuanced The Lex Theatre and scaled-down approach to April 29 - June 19 a Broadway classic. celebrationtheatre.com Celebration‘s staging of Bash’d in 2011 is emblematic of what Shepperd thinks they do best. “It was a gay hip-hop musical, and it’s unapologetically queer, and it’s unapologetically black. Some people responded to it, some didn’t—but we didn’t change the show,” he says. The Boy from Oz is a musical that Shepperd believed would never reach the West Coast. It first debuted in Sydney in 1998, before hitting New York five years later. “When I asked for the rights, I thought, ‘They’re never going to give it to us,’” he says, so he was floored when the creators of the Tony-nominated musical decided to greenlight the production. “This is the type of story Celebration Theatre does best,” he says. Bongiorno, who plays Allen, feels a connection to the subject of the musical even beyond their shared heritage. “This is a show about a life lived,” he says. ”It’s inspirational.”
4 TOURS ON THEIR WAY TO L.A.
Clockwise from top left: Contemporary Color, Califórnia, King Cobra, Check It, Strike a Pose
BEYONCÉ
5 GREAT FILMS TO COME OUT OF TRIBECA
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t was a very queer year at New York‘s Tribeca Film Festival, with more than a dozen features, documentaries and short films from around the world showcasing LGBT characters. An impressive number of films addressed the issue of AIDS—sometimes obliquely, sometimes head on. Here are five highlights from the uniformly strong fest.
King Cobra
Out writer/director Justin Kelly’s film—one of the festival’s most buzzed-about—is a salacious true crime story set in the gay porn world, revolving around Sean Paul Lockhart (gay porn star Brent Corrigan, played by Garrett Clayton), murder and money, lawsuits and scandals. Kelly wisely never judges his characters, presenting them as flawed but human. As such, his film is more than skin deep. Although there are some naughty moments, there’s greater emphasis on identity, and less on sex. Christian Slater is fantastic as a porn kingpin, and the irresistible Clayton is appropriately charming, seductive and insouciant.
FATHER: CRAIG SCHWARTZ; ELECTRICITY: ELIZABETH IGE
Strike a Pose
On May 16, 1986, the film Top Gun took flight. It was an action-packed ode to masculinity that had straight guys the world over clamoring to become American naval fighter pilots, all the while confirming the homosexuality of men and young boys who couldn’t look away from a certain shirtless beach volleyball scene. On May 3 we can all relive the glory days of Tom Cruise with the 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Blu-ray Combo Steelbook ($15), complete with the film in HD, a making-of doc and interviews with Cruise himself (hopefully sitting—not jumping— on a couch). —S.H.
This poignant doc reunites six of the seven backup dancers who performed alongside Madonna on her 1990 Blonde Ambition tour and also appeared in her film Truth or Dare. The men—all but one of whom are gay—explain in heartfelt, often tearyeyed interviews the impact the job had on their lives and the impact they had as role models for gay youth. The dancers also eloquently discuss the struggles they had during and after the tour. Strike a Pose excels at showing the inspiration and humanity of these men, whose lives were forever changed by their unique experience.
NEW MUSIC RELEASES OUT NOW This Is What the Truth Feels Like, Gwen Stefani Lights Out, Mike Munich Take All My Loves, Rufus Wainwright
Check It The hate crime rate for LGBTQ youth in D.C. is alarmingly high, so a gang called Check It was created to combat bullying by fighting back. This doc introduces several engaging queer youth of color, including Trey, who is more comfortable as a woman than a man, and Skittles, a wiry, talented young guy who could have success on the boxing circuit. The members still face problems—violence, rape, prostitution—but what comes across is the resilience of these kids who literally fight for everything they have—and they do it passionately and with style.
Contemporary Color This 100% fun documentary, spearheaded by David Byrne, features 10 high school color guard teams who performed at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center in 2015. The spectacles each team creates are fabulous riots of color accompanied by original songs by Byrne, Lucius, Ad-Rock and Nelly Furtado, among others. The students’ energy—not to mention their synchronicity—is spellbinding as they perform their complex routines. Snippets of interviews provide a sense of some individual students, but it’s their hard work on display throughout that truly dazzles.
The all-stadium Formation World Tour, announced during February’s Super Bowl 50, heads to the Rose Bowl on May 14. The tour had exceeded $100M in revenue even before Bey released Lemonade.
MEGHAN TRAINOR
Her biggest tour yet, The Untouchable Tour, will pile into the Greek Theatre on July 21. Actress and newfound pop star Hailee Steinfeld will act as Trainor’s opening act.
Califórnia While this Brazillian import, set in 1984 São Paulo, traverses familiar coming-of-age territory, it’s a modest gem. Teenager Estela (Clara Gallo) falls hard for class stud Xande (Giovanni Gallo) but shares a love of The Cure, David Bowie and other singers with the new goth kid, JM (Caio Horowicz), a strange teen other students think is gay. Meanwhile Estela’s gay uncle Carlos (Caio Blat) returns home from America because he has AIDS. Califórnia sensitively depicts Estela’s maturation and getting of wisdom with compassion and a great soundtrack. —Gary M. Kramer
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MAY 6
American Myth, Margaret Cho The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser, Rob Zombie
Detour, Cyndi Lauper HOPELESSNESS, Anohni
MAY 13 Playing with Fire, Jennifer Nettles Thank You, Meghan Trainor
MAY 20 Dangerous Woman, Ariana Grande
COLDPLAY
The band’s A Head Full of Dreams Tour—which has already played to huge numbers in Latin America and Europe—will play two nights at Pasadena’s Rose Bowl on Aug. 20 & 21.
GWEN STEFANI
The former (and future?) No Doubt frontwoman hits the road this summer, stopping at The Forum on Oct. 15 to support her new album, This Is What the Truth Feels Like. —S.H.
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SET YOUR
DVR 1. ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME
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This year’s inductees include Chicago, Cheap Trick, N.W.A., Deep Purple and Steve Miller (whose tirade made headlines; let’s see if they keep it in the telecast). Once again our hopes for a Chumbawamba induction are dashed. Fingers crossed for 2017. (Saturday, April 30, HBO)
2. PENNY DREADFUL
This Showtime series, which somehow keeps Josh Hartnett employed, returns for Season 3. Major changes include making Patti Lupone a series regular, albeit a new character. Also, Henry Jekyll will join the roster of literary characters the series loves to resurrect. (Sunday, May 1, Showtime)
3. GRACE & FRANKIE
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OK, so you’re done binging Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. (Isn’t Mikey the dreamiest?!) Well, look no further than this Netflix series, back for a second season and already renewed for a third. Hunky Sam Elliott joins the cast as a love interest for Fonda’s Grace. (Friday, May 6, Netflix)
4. THE REAL MVP: THE WANDA DURANT STORY
In what is the clearest sign that Lifetime has run out of ideas for movies, the network presents this made-for-TV film. Wanda Durant—whose real name is Wanda Pratt (don’t even get me started)—is the woman who birthed the 6’9” basketball player Kevin Durant. Painful? Yes. Worthy of a Lifetime movie? We’ll let you decide. (Saturday, May 7, Lifetime)
5. THE GOOD WIFE
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The lingering scent of a Dash Doll
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A sudden lack of will to live
Artfully arranged cookies
Arthur George socks
It’s always so hard to say goodbye. TV’s most stylish, sophisticated and smart drama ends its seven-year run. This means it’s time to start bombarding CBS with letters begging for a Kalinda (Archie Panjabi) spinoff. You know you’d watch it. (Sunday, May 8, CBS)
6. CHELSEA
Keeping Up with the Kardashians Season 12, May 1, E!
I guess posting topless pictures on social media gets boring after a while. Chelsea Handler returns from a self-imposed vacation with Chelsea, Netflix’s first attempt at a talk show. With the streaming service’s relaxed nudity policy, Handler’s areolas should feel right at home. (Tuesday, May 10, Netflix) —Dominik Rothbard
LOS ANGELES’ FAVORITE GROCERY STORE IS GIVING AWAY FREE GROCERIES! THE ORIGINAL FARMERS MARKET SPRING GROCERY GIVEAWAY
Enter to win one of six $500 Farmers Market Grocery Shopping Sprees, between April 4—May 26. Look for the miniature shopping carts found at these participating grocers to enter: Marconda’s Puritan Poultry Dragunara Spice Bazaar Mr. Marcel Gourmet Market Farm Boy Produce Normandie Bakery Farm Fresh Produce T&Y Bakery Farmers Market Poultry T (Tea) Shop Greenhouse Produce Tusquellas Seafoods Huntington Meats & Sausage Marconda’s Meats
6333 W. THIRD ST. • LOS ANGELES 323.933.9211 • FARMERSMARKETLA.COM /FARMERSMARKETLA Insta
TWO HOURS FREE PARKING at Farmers Market surface lots (along Third & Fairfax) with Market purchase validation, or ONE HOUR FREE PARKING at The Grove’s nearby parking structure. Must be 18 years or older to participate. One entry per person, per week. Farmers Market employees, merchants, their employees and immediate family members are not eligible to win. All winners will be notified by phone or email before May 27, 2016. You need not be present to win.
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HONEYMOON Part 2
Paris, Interrupted A culinary, cultural and sexual tour of The City of Light is disrupted by last November’s brutal terrorist attacks By Jeff Leavell MAY 11, 2016
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boulangerie right across from the metro stop, and picked up two camembert and butter baguettes, a pistachio chocolate brioche and a pain au chocolate. My mother loved the apricot crescent rolls and the little handmade chocolates they had there. We used to stay just across the boulevard and down one of those narrow streets. Paris felt slightly haunted to me. Full of memories. We had an apartment on the pedestrian section of the Rue des Rosiers, right next to King Falafel. As we walked through the Marais, toward the Rue des Rosiers, we noticed armed soldiers outside all the synagogues and kosher markets. The soldiers were all young and pink-cheeked and strangely sexual. (Maybe this is just my issue; I tend to sexualize the world.) They looked unprepared for the large weapons they were holding. It was an inescapable testament to a city that had already suffered at the hands of terrorists. We ate falafel and then decided to go wander the city a little. We walked toward the Seine and onto the Ile de la Cite. We took pictures in front of Notre Dame, and Alex marveled at the gargoyles. Afterward we crossed the river onto the Left Bank, where we got lattes and wandered around Shakespeare and Company, an Englishspeaking bookstore famous for housing refugee writers. We had made plans to meet a thick, bull of a Turkish man, Erol, later in the evening, so we slowly walked back to our apartment, showered and headed out again.
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s we walked to Erol’s apartment, Alex took my hand. “I miss Jon,” he said. It was too early in L.A. to call him, so instead we just told funny stories about our boyfriend, the gorgeous and awkward and funny man who had found his way into our lives. Alex had been away for six months working on Z Nation, a Syfy Channel zombie show. He had left just weeks after we had gotten married. A few weeks after, Jon moved in with us. This was our time to reconnect. Our honeymoon. And yet more and more I was aware that Jon was supposed to be a part of our time. In the beginning of this strange little relationship triad I had found myself in, I thought Alex and I would maintain a kind of hierarchy. A status set apart; we were Us. But the longer the three of us were together, the more clear it became: Us was now the three of us. It’s a hard thing
Get to know PARIS LE MARAIS
Spread across the 3rd and 4th arrondissements, on the right bank of the Seine, it’s known as the gay and Jewish neighborhood but is also popular with artists and art galleries. It’s populated mostly by the hip and wealthy now— cafés, upscale restaurants, high fashion.
BEARS’ DEN
A bear bar in the heart of the Marais, it’s small, and crowds often spill out onto the street. It has a large downstairs sex dungeon dug out of the caves underneath Paris. The bar is friendly and inviting, full of bears and daddies; staff is friendly, too. A great place to make friends.
L’IMPACT
Two floors of clothing-optional decadence. Seedy, dark and cruisy, upstairs is the bar, downstairs is the dungeon, with slings and piss tubs and anything else you might want.
LES PHILOSOPHES
Perfect spot to grab coffee and a pastry or steak frites. Servers are extremely gay-friendly, and the clientele is local and aloof. Sit outside and watch the world move around you.
THE CATACOMBS
Experience the darker, creepier side of Paris here at these underground ossuaries. There are an estimated 6 million dead contained within. It’s a long, claustrophobic walk into the Catacombs, so if you’re afraid of tight, airless spaces, not recommended; if you want to experience something completely otherworldly and stunning, it’s a great stop.
PÈRE LACHAISE CEMETERY
The largest cemetery in the city, it houses Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf and many others. Even if you don’t care about the famous burials, it’s a beautiful spot to get lost.
to explain. People don’t understand it. They want to believe that love is a very particular kind of thing—that relationships are bound by certain rules and definitions. I recently tried to explain to a friend why I thought sometimes you needed to fall a little in love with someone outside your relationship. Why sometimes it was important to have a crush. Maybe to cheat. Go on a date. Just to have that feeling. Because it isn’t limited; you carry it around with you, into all areas of your life, into your main relationship. I believe that allowing myself these things has saved my relationship when it was going through dark times. I tried to tell my friend Tim that. “No,” Tim said. “You’re just avoiding. I don’t even know if I think threeway relationships can work, but adding more people into the mix? You have a boyfriend and a husband. You’re just being greedy. It doesn’t work that way. Life isn’t like that. You want your cake, and you want to eat it, too.” Of course I want my cake and to eat it too. Why the fuck would I have a piece of cake I couldn’t eat? And what is so wrong with more? Why don’t we all deserve more? More love, more excitement, more sex. We certainly get more pain and sadness and despair. Why can’t we have more of the good stuff, too? Why is that greedy? And if it is greedy, I don’t fucking care. I want it all. I’m done pretending different.
SHAKESPEARE: KOVALENKOV PETR; ARC DE TRIOMPHE: TOMAS GRIGER
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e flew from Berlin to Paris on Easy Jet. The flight cost $52 for the two of us. The thing about Paris is that it’s exactly what you want it to be. Paris is fucking Paris: beautiful and elegant and magical. It’s strange to think that in just four days the world would implode and terrorists would run through these streets and more than 130 people would die, suddenly and violently. But first, we arrive. I have spent a lot of time in Paris. I used to meet my mother there. We would take an apartment in the Marais, always with a balcony because she loved to sit at night looking out over the city and read her tarot cards, divining futures surprisingly similar to current realities. My mother wore purple turbans and large—verging on lascivious—jewelry. She was a short Russian Jewish lady with huge tits and a Southern accent, and when she laughed, she would hold her belly and howl. We would spend our days walking the Seine, looking at books and strange artifacts, eating onion soup and mussels, getting lost in the winding streets of the Latin Quarter. My mother liked to channel the spirits of the city, asking for guidance and for friends among the spirit world. I swear she once spoke to me fluently in French, a language she couldn’t speak beyond the basic bonjour and voilá! Afterward I asked her what she had said and she just smiled and said, “It was meant for me, honey, not you. It was a love poem.” This was the first time I had been to Paris since my mother got cancer. It was Alex’s first time ever. We took the metro from Charles De Gaulle Airport to the Rue de Rivoli St. Paul stop. We made our way through the labyrinth that is the Paris underground, up the steep stairs and into the world. Alex stopped, standing suddenly still and looking around him. For some reason I felt like crying; he was so beautiful in that moment. So stunned by the beauty and perfection of that exact spot, right there, in the heart of the Marais—the merry go round that looked like it was out of the set of a movie, the wide avenue interrupted by narrow, walled in streets and alleys, the chocolate shops and boulangeries, the women in their high heels and long black coats, the men holding hands, the rushing of traffic. “It’s like I stepped into a postcard,” Alex said. “It doesn’t look real.” We stopped in at the Aux Desirs de Manon, a
Read “Our Poly Honeymoon, Part 1: Berlin” at FrontiersMedia.com
(Opposite page) The carousel in Le Marais; (right) the view from the top of the Arc de Triomphe; (below) Bears’ Den; Shakespeare and Company; Les Philosophes
Erol was one of those rare guys who is much hotter in person than on his Scruff profile. He was 5’10”, thick and hairy, with a big red beard and green eyes. He was in his 30s, with big hands and huge, muscled thighs. His dick was short but fat, and he liked to make out with Alex while pushing me down on it. The two of them fucked me for three hours, and I still wanted more because I’m the greediest man there is, and I want all the fucking there is. Afterward we wandered to Bears’ Den on the Rue des Lombards. It’s a small bar with a large downstairs cruising area. I liked the easy friendliness of the place. The bartender bought us drinks, and we made out with another couple visiting from Israel. It’s strange to think that in five nights we would be locked inside Bears’ Den while terrorists went on a killing spree throughout the city.
SHAKESPEARE: KOVALENKOV PETR; ARC DE TRIOMPHE: TOMAS GRIGER
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he Israelis convinced us to go with them to L’Impact, a seedy, dark bar with a maze downstairs. We ran into a guy we knew from L.A., and Alex and I went downstairs where I blew them both while a strangely zombie-like older man was in a sling, being fucked by random guys who walked by. Something about the desolation of the place made the experience less sexy than we had thought, so we gave up, went back upstairs and told stories about our travels. Our friend had just arrived in Paris after six months of traveling in Asia. The Israelis were busy pissing on strangers in the dungeon, so Alex and I decided to leave. We found a restaurant in the Marais that was open late, Les Philosophes, on the Rue des Templiers, just around the corner from where we were staying. The waiter was a small energetic gay man who grabbed my beard and pounded his chest and said, “Now this, these here are men!” We ordered onion soup and a cheese plate and a steak with fries. We sat quietly, Alex scrolling through Tumblr, and I read on my iPhone Kindle. The food was perfect. It was 3 a.m. and people were still sitting around, eating and drinking wine and laughing. The waiters locked the doors but told us to stay, eat, enjoy. An older man in a dark purple suit went from table to table, sitting down, asking guests how they were. When he learned we were from L.A., he kissed both our cheeks and told us, “Welcome to Paris. I love L.A. It is very beautiful and sun-kissed. And the Mexican men! I could eat them all day long!” The next morning, I got ham and cheese baguettes and chocolate croissants from Aux Desirs de Manon, and then we made the long walk to The Louvre. We tried to get close to the Mona Lisa, but she was drowning in tourists, so we ended up wandering
vast rooms with endless marble statues of naked men. I took a lot of pictures of marble asses that day. We left The Louvre and headed toward the Champs-Élysées so that Alex could listen to his three favorite Champs-Élysées-related songs, John Cale’s “Paris 1919,” The Decemberists’ “Legionnaire’s Lament” and Placebo’s “Too Many Friends,” as he walked along the boulevard. Alex wore his special fancy coat he bought just for Paris. He kept asking me if he looked debonair. And he did. He looked debonair as fuck in that fancy coat. A Christmas fair was being built along the boulevard, and we stood in front of a strange haunted Christmas house themed after Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Neither of us really understood the relationship any of it had to Christmas, but the idea was so fascinating, so abstract and manufactured, that I think we must have stood there staring for 20 minutes. We climbed to the top of the Arc de Triomphe and looked out at the sparkling night view. The world was lit in jewels, the searchlights of the Eiffel Tower illuminating the world in flashes of brilliant clarity. We felt alive; we felt far from home and in love. We kissed up there, holding each other, and felt safe. “I could live like this,” I said. “Always traveling, moving. I love this.” We met an Italian named Marco at Cox later that night. We found him on Growlr. He kept calling the meeting a date. He was 24, tall and startlingly handsome—model-handsome, Italian-handsome. He wore a grey turtleneck and dark jeans and had wolf-like eyes. He kneeled down to kiss me because I had to stand on tippy toes to reach him. Cox was a bar on the Rue des Archives. Patrons spilled out onto the street and into the small side alley. We stood in the alley drinking beers. Marco had just graduated university in Milan. He was a designer. His plan was to stay in Paris for two years then move to Hong Kong. We made out for a while, and then he had to go. He had another date that night with a regular fuckbuddy of his. “I will take a video of him fucking me for you,” he said, smiling, sweet and innocent. We made him promise to make many videos, and then we agreed to meet late Friday night. I slipped my hands down the back of his pants, my fingers playing with his ass for a second. That dude brought out the top in me in all kinds of aggressive ways. Alex and I went back to Les Philosophes and ate cheese and soup at a table outside. The night was warm. A group of young people sat at the table next to us, arguing loudly over a book. I couldn’t tell what the book was, as they were arguing in French. They smoked endless cigarettes and ordered three MAY 11, 2016
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The Eiffel Tower; (opposite page, clockwise from top left) Cox; a crowd runs from gunshots and explosions on Nov. 13, 2016; the Catacombs of Paris
When we got Bears’ Den, we ran into a few guys from the United States and one from London. It was nice to be able to talk to people who spoke English in the same way we did; people who picked up on sarcasm, on the nuances not expressed by words alone. I texted Jon to see what he was doing. He was at work. He said he missed us. He was feeling lonely. Alex and I decided we would find him a date. We knew one boy—a strange and sexy little scientist who Jon liked a lot. The idea of the two of them eating pizza and sitting on our couch making out drove me a little wild. I loved that idea. Alex and I had already hooked up a few times with the little scientist, and one night we had all met and made out at the Faultline, then when driving him home, he and Jon sat in the back of my car and made out, jerking off a little. I liked watching it through the rear view mirror. There was something sweet and magical about the way they touched. I love watching Jon and Alex make out with other guys. I love watching that moment of intimacy, that moment of connection with another person. Once the conversation was facilitated between Jon and the scientist, all I had to do was sit back and watch. (I wanted them to make the arrangements in a group chat so Alex and I could participate. That’s most of the fun.) Jon had his date arranged, and Alex and I had ours, who was set to arrive any minute. The bar spilled onto the street. The night was nice; alive and happy. Alex and I were talking to three guys from London, a South African and a guy from Seattle. At first no one noticed the people rushing through the streets, the crowds slowly thinning. I received a text message from Jon: “Are you guys OK?”
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Of course I want my cake and to eat it, too. Why the fuck would I have a piece of cake I couldn’t eat? And what is so wrong with more? Why don’t we all deserve more? More love, more excitement, more sex. We certainly get more pain and sadness and despair. Why can’t we have more of the good stuff, too?
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n our second to last morning in Paris, Alex and I went to the Catacombs. It was an overcast, rainy day. A cold wind was blowing. Dark clouds overhead. Paris looked beautiful and poetic. The line to the catacombs was short. The entrance stretched endlessly, the roof getting closer and closer, the walls narrowing, until suddenly the long hall opened up onto a large room, piles of bones on the floor, the walls lined with skulls. It took a moment to fully take it all in. I had a moment where I almost had a panic attack. I imagined every horror movie, every Lovecraftian story I’d ever read. I imagined all the lights going dark—us trapped in this endless cavern of death with some spectral evil. But the fear lifted, and I lightened up, and suddenly the place became magical—filled with a dreaded kind of wonder. It was such a strange and magnificent thing to do, create rooms and structures from human bones. Afterwards we went to the Père Lachaise
Cemetery, where I stood in front of Oscar Wilde’s gaudy tomb and smiled at the startling ugly beauty of it. My mother and I had visited this cemetery often. She said she liked to talk to the ghosts. Alex took a picture of me, my pants down, ass sticking out of a mausoleum. It was the kind of thing grownups shouldn’t do, but it was dark and moody, and it seemed funny at the time. It was Friday night. We decided to stop at Cox for an early drink, then to Bears’ Den. This was our last night in Paris, and we wanted to go to all our favorite spots. Marco was going to meet us later. I was excited. I remembered the pictures of his ass and I wanted him. Cox was crowded. We said hello to a few of the guys we had met the night before. Everyone asked when we were leaving. We were scheduled to go to Barcelona the following day.
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efore I could respond, there were soldiers moving down the small, narrow alley, pushing us toward the bar. The bar’s doorman began ushering us inside. More soldiers were moving through the streets. Once inside the bar, the iron gate was pulled down. It was loud and jarring. We were locked in. My phone was buzzing. I got automated texts from Airbnb asking if we were OK. My apartment host texted us, “Are you at the apartment? Are you safe?” Facebook checked me in at the center of a terrorist attack. My father was calling. My brother was texting. I looked at Alex. “What the fuck is going on?” We had no idea. The street was empty except for groups of soldiers with machine guns. “There has been an attack,” the owner of Bears’ Den said. He was a large and burly and sexy man. He stood before Alex and I. “We don’t know everything yet, but you can’t go outside. We are in a hold down.” I translated hold down to lockdown. “What kind of attack?” I asked. “Bombs. Men with guns on the streets. A bad attack. It is not far from here.”
CATACOMBS: NICOLA MORELLO; ATTACK: DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/GETTY
bottles of wine and a large bowl of mussels and fries. Two men stood on the corner kissing. A Rabbi and a soldier told jokes and laughed, or so I assumed. That’s how it looked from a distance. A young woman on the phone was crying. She was so beautiful that it was hard to look at her. After dinner we went back to Cox. We liked it there. The bartenders were friendly, and the crowd was fun and flirty. People seemed to want us to join them. They wanted to talk to us. It is one of the most inclusive bars I’ve ever been to. We took a long walk late at night, across the river and up the hill to the Sorbonne. There was a warm breeze. We stopped in at a late-night tabac and ordered baguettes and cheese and sausage. The man behind the counter was American from Baltimore. He was a writer who had moved to Paris to live at Shakespeare and Company. He said he slept on the floor there for a month before deciding he needed his own place. “Do you miss it—home?” I asked him. “I miss parts of it,” he said. “I’m sure I’ll go back one day. But right now, I don’t know. I’m thinking of moving to Portugal in a few months. The men there are so beautiful, and the food is amazing. You can really live a great life in Portugal.” He was reading Jamie O’Neil’s book At Swim, Two Boys. It was the book I was reading the last time I was in Paris with my mother. I remember the way I sobbed at parts of that book. I remember the way it blew me away. Some writers, they have a way of getting inside your soul. Of decimating you. Of elevating you. “Do you like it?” I asked, pointing at the book. “I love it,” he said. “I do, too. It’s fucking outrageously beautiful.”
CATACOMBS: NICOLA MORELLO; ATTACK: DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/GETTY
(Left) Topography of Terror Museum; (right) Berlin at night; (below, from top) Berghain, Café Morgenland, WOOF Berlin
Marco sent us a text: “I am a block from the explosions. My street has been shut off. I am OK. Are you?” Jon was our contact to reality. He was filtering all the information as it came in and relaying it back to us: ISIS, terrorists, Paris under siege. It was surreal, abstract. We were locked in a bear bar during an ISIS terrorist attack. We went downstairs, into the dungeons with strange cave-like walls carved out of actual earth. A lone, older gentleman in a dark suit was dancing to a pulsating techno disco. Colored lights flashed around us, flickering like otherworldly messages. He stopped dancing. He walked up to us. He stood there, smiling, sweat making his hair and face wet. “All we can do,” he said, his voice thick with a French accent—“All we can do is this.” He waved his arm broadly to the dance floor. “The bombs will go. The soldiers will march. And one day we will all be dead.” He put his hands above his head and twirled, the colors of the light merging with the honey gold of his eyes. “Some of us sooner than others.” He returned to the dance floor and kept dancing. “That guy,” a voice behind us said, heavy with some European accent, “He is 89. He has been through much. His words are wise. They carry more weight than the words do. If that will make any sense.” I have thought a lot about what that man said to me. About the weight of the words, not just the words themselves. A few men made their way into slings, into small, dark cubby holes. They were giving up on the night. They were celebrating something different or hiding from the ugliness that was surrounding us. I don’t believe they were being cavalier. I don’t believe they were fucking out of disrespect. I think there is a pain that connects us. And we all try to find our way through that pain. To survive it. Whether we dance or we fuck or we get drunk, we are looking for a connection that will slow the spread of hurt. I remember standing there, feeling lonely, feeling deeply sad. Out there in the city night, people were suffering; they were screaming and dying. Out there
the world was falling apart. And I felt angry. I felt furious at those people: terrorists and monsters. I didn’t care about their cause. I didn’t care about their hurt. They lost that privilege. I took Alex’s hand. I held it. We told stories about our travels with our new friend from Seattle. We sent pictures of the surreal world we had fallen into to Jon, who was in Bakersfield, at work. And that man kept dancing. I swear he didn’t stop for the whole two hours we were locked inside that bar.
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fter two hours, we were told we could go home, but to be quick and not to stop. Alex and I made our way through the deserted streets back to our tiny pedestrian street. Soldiers lined the streets. They asked us where we were going. We showed them our keys and our passports. They walked behind us, following us to our home. The next morning we learned that our plane would leave on time. I went to Aux Desirs de Manon to buy sandwiches and chocolate croissants and café au laits. The women recognized me; they had seen me every day for the past six days. They clapped their hands. One came from behind the counter and hugged me. “Our American friend. We share in this terrible thing together,” she said, kissing my cheek. They told me the sandwiches were on Paris. I found myself crying. They all laughed. Back on the street people were out and moving. They were alive. The city was still there. We were still there. We took a cab to the airport. In a few hours we would be in Barcelona. “I love Paris,” Alex said. “I really love this fucking city.” “Me, too,” I replied. We texted our Seattle friend, who was heading to London and then Glasgow, to make sure he was OK. We texted Marco. Jon sent us a picture of him waking up, his hair tousled, his eyes glorious. On the plane ride to Barcelona, I listened to Ladytron and tried not to cry. At one point I got up and went to the bathroom and sobbed. Not because
I was sad, but because I felt grateful. Lucky. Lucky because I learned something important. Here is what I learned: When the attacks first began, hundreds of friends and family sent messages to Alex and I asking if we were OK. Telling us they loved us. The owner of Bears’ Den pulled us all off the streets and pulled down the gates. We weren’t allowed on the streets. He bought us drinks and told us stories, and everyone pulled together and there was a real camaraderie. We made a new friend from Seattle, who we kept in touch with for the rest of our trip, because he was there, with us. My father sent me his credit card number without any limits or questions, in case we were going to be held up in Paris. My mother, a woman who continues to survive with stage-four cancer, who has lived six and a half years longer than she should have, kept us informed. Our Airbnb host said that if our flight was cancelled we could stay in the apartment for free as long as we needed. Our upcoming host in Barcelona checked in with us, a man we’d never met, making sure we were OK. Our new friend from Berlin, Hanno, kept checking in to make sure we were safe. Dudes on Scruff we’ve never met sent us all kinds of amazing words. Our beautiful love, Jon, took care of us all night and confirmed all our flights while we slept, surrounding us with total love. In the morning, the women at our local cafe hugged us and gave us free sandwiches. All around us, taxis gave people free rides to safety. A system of local homes was made available to travelers in need. Paris showed herself beautifully. All the terrorists did was prove the vile patheticness of their beliefs, while the world showed me love and kindness. I agreed with Alex. I really fucking love Paris. Pick up the May 12 issue for Our Poly Honeymoon, Part 3: Barcelona Jeff Leavell is a writer living in Hollywood with his husband and boyfriend, their three cats and dog Paco. Find him online at jeffleavell.com. MAY 11, 2016
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EVAAN KHERAJ
These three labels want you to look your best through spring and summer. You don’t want to disappoint them, do you?
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Indochino
EVAAN KHERAJ
Leader of the custom-made menswear revolution, Indochino brought its innovative spark to Beverly Hills last August when it opened its first SoCal showroom, where customers personalize their own suits and shirts. The label’s Summer 2016 collection is its largest to date—a tailored take on the season’s relaxed nature, featuring bright pops of color, unexpected patterns and lightweight fabrics, all of which let you easily transition from work to play. indochino.com
(Left to right) Tan Micro Houndstooth Cotton Suit, $699; Summer Orange Gingham Oxford Shirt, $129; Charcoal Micro Houndstooth Cotton Suit, $699; Lavender Wrinkle-Free Shirt, $79; Bright Violet Silk Knit Tie, $49; Gray Micro Houndstooth Cotton Suit, $499; Premium Ice Blue Shirt, $129; Ultramarine Silk Knit Tie, $49 (Opposite page) Burgundy Cotton Suit, $499; Sailboat Print Dobby Shirt, $129; Ultramarine Blue Silk Knit Tie, $49; Emerald Green Cotton Suit, $499; Navy Peony Print Shirt, $129; Lake Blue Cotton Suit, $499; Premium Ice Blue Shirt, $129; Azure Blue Silk Knit Tie, $49; Peacock Silk Pocket Square, $49 MAY 11, 2016
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After years of working for established and fledgling fashion brands, San Francisco resident Peter Papas founded his own label, specializing in heritage-inspired men’s apparel. Products are made in limited quantities and manufactured here in the United States, usually close to the Bay Area. Shop Blade + Blue for everything from sweaters and polos to slim-cut boxer shorts. bladeandblue.com
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JOHN HODGES PHOTOGRAPHY
Blade + Blue
JOHN HODGES PHOTOGRAPHY
“David” Coral Plaid Shirt, $128; Tan Leather Skinny Suspenders, $45; Blue Melange Necktie, $39; Vintage Brass Pistol Tie Clip, $24 (Opposite page) “Hombre” Blue Ombre Shirt, $138; Black Leather Bow Tie, $88; Black Elastic Skinny Suspenders, $20; Vintage Felco Wristwatch, $125
MAY 11, 2016
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King & Stone
TROY DEAN WARDLOW
Following a successful Kickstarter campaign in which it hit 113% of its goal, King & Stone launched last September as the latest way for men to purchase footwear outside of traditional brick and mortar stores. Aiming to take the hassle out of shoe shopping, all footwear is $75, and the company’s subscription model offers up a new pair every three months. kingandstone.com
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TROY DEAN WARDLOW
Tizqar shoe in Cobalt, $75, available June 15 (Opposite page) Eldol shoe in Sard (amber brown), $75; black and bamboo sunglasses, $30
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ut aside every association you have with The Abbey—as a West Hollywood nightclub, as a brunch emporium, as a place you were obligated to take your relatives when they last visited L.A., as a bustling gay nightclub that you hit right after you came out, all fresh-faced and unschooled in the electric world of homosexuality. For a moment, just consider The Abbey as a metaphor for big city gay life as it has evolved to be today. Unlike the windowless, privacy-protecting gay bars of ages past, The Abbey is out in the open and basking in the light; anyone walking by can see you hanging out on that patio. It’s also firmly integrated into the community around it. The Abbey is not and never has been some seedy spot on the edge of town. In fact, it almost functions like a de facto community center for West Hollywood. And perhaps most telling of all, it’s not a homogenous group that’s gathering there. Gay and straight alike are enjoying cocktails side by side, as if to remind you that—at least in this part of the world—Joe and
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Jane Heterosexual are down to celebrate diversity. (Or at least they want in on the party.) Yes, The Abbey, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this May, is an institution—in the way it’s become a focus for a quarter-century of gay life in Los Angeles, but also in the way the Hollywood sign is an institution. You can’t say it doesn’t loom large over the greater Los Angeles area, even if you haven’t actually been to it in a long time. It’s also a remarkable business story. During a time when gay bars nationwide have struggled to keep their rainbow flags flying, The Abbey hasn’t just endured but has thrived. “It’s very exciting. It’s a little overwhelming,” says Abbey founder and owner David Cooley during a recent sit-down with Frontiers. “I’m very proud to have a dream that started off as a little coffeehouse with seven employees and that is now celebrating 25 years. It’s all because of the support of the city of West Hollywood and an amazing clientele that’s been with me since day one.”
Before the end of the year, Cooley and his longtime patrons will have an additional reason to celebrate. The currently 14,000-square-foot bar is scheduled to open its newest expansion—the 5,000 square feet of adjacent space formerly known as Here Lounge—by early autumn. Cooley swears that the added space, which will operate under the name The Chapel, won’t feel like a mere conquest of the Abbey empire, with a different look and even more patio space. And at least for the first few months, The Chapel will be operated as a separate business from The Abbey. Upon being asked why his bar should be thriving (and how West Hollywood bar-goers should feel about the perceived conquest of Here by the Abbey empire), Cooley gives away one of the secrets to his success. “People ask me why I’m so fortunate to be expanding, and I tell them that I never cater to one sort of clientele. All the bars that did specify in a certain sort of customer, those are the ones that
PHOTOS COURTESY THE ABBEY
AN ICON AT
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It’s a coffee shop. A nightclub. A West Hollywood institution. For a quartercentury, The Abbey has had a hand in shaping the landscape and crafting the identity of gay Los Angeles, and its founder, David Cooley, is showing no sign of slowing down. By Drew Mackie
PHOTOS COURTESY THE ABBEY
(Left) The Abbey in its current incarnation at 692 N. Robertson Boulevard; (above) owner and founder David Cooley; (below) The Abbey in 1991, when it was located across Robertson from its current location
are closing. I can name off 10 bars in Los Angeles that have closed as a result of that,” he says. “Since I opened up my gates 25 years ago, I’ve always said that everyone is welcome. Everyone. That is my policy. I feel everyone is treated as my VIP. There is no red velvet rope.” To Cooley, that policy includes straight people, too—in spite of those who feel boy-on-girl dance floor grinding infringes on their homo space. Explains Cooley, “When people say, ‘Oh, The Abbey has become so straight,’ I say, ‘Well, everything is becoming so straight, in a way.’ You can’t discriminate against straights just because you want to have a gay bar.” It’s a theory that members of the West Hollywood City Council support. “The Abbey has always been cognizant of cultural trends,” says Councilmember Lindsey Horvath. “I think the more we see equality becoming the law of the land, the more we’re going to see people celebrating the diversity that West Hollywood has
always celebrated.” Horvath alleges that the city of West Hollywood currently has the highest percentage of LGBT-identifying residents that it’s ever had—40%—and although its culture has changed, the core principles remain. “I think who we are has stayed the same and is very much rooted in the kind of community we have and the kind of businesses, like The Abbey, that we’ve celebrated for a long time,” she says. Councilmember John Duran praises The Abbey as a symbol of the progress made by West Hollywood and gay culture in general. “Instead of being in the darkness and the shadows, the gay community has come into the light,” he says, drawing a parallel with The Abbey’s prominence and the way its design makes it open to the world around it. “The Abbey is one of the cultural landmarks that show how far we’ve come.” As Duran sees it, The Abbey’s acceptance of all customers—gay, straight and otherwise—is an example the rest of gay culture should follow.
“One of the biggest challenges for the gay community is that we have over the decades been demanding equality. Now we’re finally getting there, but if you really want equality, you have to extend it back. This is what we were fighting for,” Duran says. “Some people feel it’s threatening, but I see it as a sign of progress that we can mingle together in a business like The Abbey as long as everyone can respect the culture.”
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t remains to be seen if time will prove Cooley correct in his theory—that gay bars today need to be all-inclusive to the point of expanding the general definition of a gay bar. It should be noted, however, that there’s a precedent for Cooley to be ahead of nationwide trends. After all, when The Abbey first opened in 1991—notably across the street from its current location, where Bossa Nova stands now—it was not a bar. It was a coffeehouse—the first one MAY 11, 2016
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after that for a full liquor license. Several expansions and renovations later, The Abbey exists as it does now, but Cooley notes with pride that he has preserved the coffeehouse and baked goods all the while. “People think of The Abbey as a nightclub now, but you can still get homemade pastries delivered to your table.” In the interim, of course, was Cooley’s partnership with SBE Entertainment Group, an L.A.-based hospitality company led by CEO Sam Nazarian and whose big-name ventures include the SLS Hotel Group. Cooley sold a majority ownership stake to SBE in 2006, resulting in what some longtime patrons felt was an intrusion of straight bar culture into a dedicated gay bar. But Cooley celebrated his 55th birthday on Aug. 11, 2015, with an announcement at the bar that he’d bought back his ownership stake. “SBE wanted to take to take my brand nationally,” Cooley explains of the partnership. “Sam ultimately went in a different direction, more into hotels and clubs, and it was just the right time to acquire it all back,” he says. “The Abbey has always been my baby.” Today, Cooley recalls his time with SBE and the decision to part ways as “very friendly, very amicable.” He acknowledges, however, that more than a few customers were pleased to learn the bar was fully in Cooley’s hands once again. “It goes back to the community I love so much.
They were so happy when I bought it back,” he says. Among the changes he made subsequent to repurchasing the bar were a revamped menu with improved appetizers, fresh juice for cocktails—as opposed to the bottled or box stuff—and an upgrade from a sixounce wine glass to a nine-ounce one. The original, seven-person staff of the original Abbey has grown to around 220, with another 30 to 40 expected at the Chapel once it opens. That’s quite a workforce, but that’s apparently what’s needed to keep drinks in customers’ hands. Cooley boasts that his bar is the number one client for liquor brands like Bacardi, Stoli and Absolut, though his staff declines to state just how many cases of the hard stuff the bar goes through in a given business week. There’s also a certain pride in the way Cooley says his staff currently includes many who have stayed with The Abbey for more than a decade. Among them is Todd Barnes, general manager, who credits working at The Abbey as helping to redefine his entire life. Barnes recalls having previously been married to a woman, then coming out and shortly beginning work at The Abbey in 2001 as a floor manager. “I felt like it was destiny for me,” he says. “Working at The Abbey, I found my calling in life. I was dealing with my sexuality, and I realized I wanted to be living out and in the open, not having to hide
BAR: COURTESY THE ABBEY; NIGHTLIFE SHOTS: ROLLING-BLACKOUTS
ever to exist in West Hollywood, no less, as strange as it may seem to imagine any L.A. neighborhood without a coffeehouse on every corner. Cooley says he got the idea from the Living Room, L.A.’s very first coffeehouse, which Robert Kass opened in 1990 at La Brea Avenue and 1st Street. “I studied his business and thought, ‘I can do that,’” says Cooley, who at the time had only recently graduated college with a degree in hotel and restaurant management, then come out (as gay) and come out again (to move from Las Vegas to West Hollywood). “So we opened up 1,100 square feet with an espresso machine and a few cakes.” In case you’ve ever wondered how The Abbey got its name and resulting religious imagery, know that it was all a result of Cooley’s frugal business sense. “I had a business partner at the time, and he had some stained glass windows in his basement, so we based the theme of the place around them,” Cooley recalls. “When it came to the name, I realized that ‘abbey’ only had five letters in it, so we could save money on signage. And with that, we opened The Abbey—on a shoestring and a credit card, so any way we could save money, that’s what we did.” Three years later, Cooley’s landlord at the time, Denny Edwards, offered to let the establishment move to its current location. A year after, Cooley applied for a beer and wine license, and two years
“I’VE ALWAYS SAID EVERYONE IS WELCOME. THAT IS MY POLICY. THERE IS NO RED VELVET ROPE.” —DAVID COOLEY
BAR: COURTESY THE ABBEY; NIGHTLIFE SHOTS: ROLLING-BLACKOUTS
myself. And The Abbey was the perfect place to do that—to live my true self. And David mentored me and molded me into the manager I wanted to be. Everything else was just leading up to that moment.”
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oday, Cooley is looking toward the future, and that includes news about Cooley’s, the gastropub announced nearly three years ago as intending to occupy the Santa Monica Boulevard space next to Lisa Vanderpump’s PUMP Restaurant Lounge and Mother Lode. Though Cooley has continued to lease the space all this time, construction never began. Cooley remains mum on the future of the restaurant. “I have a few options. Hopefully I will be discussing some exciting news in a couple of weeks,” he says of the future of Cooley’s. And then there’s the matter of the Abbey-based reality show that’s allegedly in the works. Cameras were recording Cooley’s birthday speech about buying The Abbey back, allegedly for use on the series, though it’s not been stated on what network the show would air or when it might premiere. That makes for a few question marks on The Abbey’s immediate horizon, so it’s perhaps understandable when Cooley puts off questions about why
The Abbey hasn’t already become a franchise in cities across the country—or at least with satellite locations in Downtown L.A. or Palm Springs. “People ask me that. My response is, ‘I’ve got a lot on my plate right now.’ I’m going to stay focused right here, on what I’m doing on this block right now. This business is very hands-on,” he says, noting that his usual work schedule has him on-site at The Abbey around 70 hours per week. (Don’t tell him, but if that’s been his schedule since day one, conservative math puts the total amount of time he’s spent at The Abbey around 70,000 hours, which adds up to about eight continuous years.) “Let me get through these projects now,” he says, “and maybe we’ll be announcing something later on.” Meanwhile, Cooley is using the Abbey name and his considerable fundraising brawn to invest a lot of that gay cocktail money back into progressive politics, through fundraisers for left-leaning politicians like Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and most recently Kamala Harris, who’s running for Senate. This political advocacy occurs alongside The Abbey’s partnership with the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation: One dollar of every sale of The Abbey’s Elizabeth Taylor cocktail goes to the foundation, as do $0.30 of the bar’s ATM surcharges (the latter of which raises a couple hundred dollars every month). Cooley himself counts having drinks with Taylor
in The Abbey as one of the most mind-blowing experiences of the past 25 years, and a portrait of the actress and HIV/AIDS advocate has hung in the bar since her death in 2011. To Cooley, The Abbey as it functions today represents a dream realized—but he’s the first one to point out that it was only realized because he took a lot of risks and refused to compromise on the kind of business he wanted to run. “I knew I could never be one of those nine-tofive corporate people. My nine-to-five starts at 9 p.m. and goes until 5 in the morning—and sometimes back to 9 a.m. the next day. When I opened up on Robertson Boulevard, people didn’t believe in the location. They told me there was nothing on Robertson and that I should be on Santa Monica. But I’ve learned that you’ve got to follow your own instincts, your own desires,” he says. “A dream of mine was to open my own little business, and now I’ve watched it grow into a great, wonderful business,” says David Cooley. “Thanks in part to the fact that West Hollywood is a place where you can make your dreams come true.” On Tuesday, May 24, The Abbey will celebrate 25 years with a blowout party starting at 10 p.m., featuring celebrity regulars from years past and cocktails by Ketel One, Jeremiah Weed and Red Bull MAY 11, 2016
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THE WORLD OF BILLY MASTERS From left: Barry Manilow, Anderson Cooper with Gloria Vanderbilt, Nyle DiMarco, Ricky Martin with Jwan Yosef
WHAT ANDERSON AND GLORIA FAILED TO MENTION, A ‘WHO’S WHO’ OF WHITE PARTY PALM SPRINGS, RICKY MARTIN PUCKERS UP
Birds of Paradise Congratulations to ABC News’ Gio Benitez, who recently got married to model Tommy DiDario. The intimate ceremony took place in Miami and was officiated by DiDario’s sister. Attending the wedding were fellow newsman Thomas Roberts and his husband, Patrick Abner. They posed for some photos with a cock or two. Damn Autocorrect! That was supposed to be a cockatoo. A Few Things Left Unsaid If you ask me, HBO’s Gloria Vanderbilt/Anderson Cooper documentary Nothing Left Unsaid left quite a bit unsaid. Huge chunks of both their lives were completely glossed-over or ignored. Like what? Well, Anderson’s personal life was verboten. OK, so maybe it was more about Gloria. It was nice to see some attention paid to the two sons she had with Leopold Stokowski. We heard from eldest son Stan, but when it came to the second son, Gloria said, “Chris has disassociated himself from us all. He never wants to see any of us again.” Even the death of Anderson’s father and the suicide of his brother didn’t bring Chris back. Gloria seems sanguine on the separation: “It’s been very hard for me to come to this conclusion 58
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and point in my life, but I think that is really what he wants.” I find it fascinating that Vanderbilt is resigned to having no contact with a living son for four decades but has such angst and regret about a son who killed himself in front of her 28 years ago. So, what happened with Chris? According to sources, everything started to unravel when Gloria became involved with psychiatrist Dr. Christ Zois. Their relationship went far beyond the typical therapist/client type. Gloria paid for Dr. Zois, his family and his lawyer to have first-class vacations, gave them access to her homes and lavished them with gifts. She also turned a blind eye when he meddled in the affairs of her kids—particularly Christopher. Her blind eye also extended to finances. She trusted Zois enough to give him (and his lawyer) power of attorney and control of her finances. She claims they emptied out her bank accounts, sold off the license to use her name for home furnishings and didn’t pay her taxes. She sued them and won $1.5 million, with the court saying they preyed on her wealth and emotional fragility. While she got some money back, her relationship with Chris was irreparably damaged. What exactly happened is a mystery. A White Party ‘Who’s Who’ You never know where you’ll run into someone. I was flipping through photos from Jeffrey Sanker’s White Party in Palm Springs, and there, amongst the plethora of hot men, was professional ice skater Joel Mangs. You probably know him under his gay porn moniker, Brad Patton. Last I heard, the sexy stud hooked up with fellow “actor” Brian Hansen and retired. He later resurfaced on Dancing on Ice in the Netherlands, where he lives. (He was born in Australia, raised in Sweden.) From what I can see, he’s still in enviable shape, and nary a Hansen in sight. (Rumor has it Hansen’s dating Stefano Gabbana.) Someone else made a quick cameo at White Party. During the Sunday Tea Dance, Barry Manilow was spotted walking around with manager/husband Garry Kief. We came across a photo of him with
financial guru David Rae, who’s no slouch in the looks department. We’ll run the photos on my site. The $90K Kissing Booth I was the first to tell you about Ricky Martin’s new beau, and since then, they’ve gone public. Martin and Jwan Yosef even held hands on the red carpet of the amfAR Inspiration Gala in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Martin posted a photo of two and wrote the caption, “Yup,” which I translate as “Yes, Billy Masters was right.” But that wasn’t the most momentous thing that happened at the benefit. Ana Paola Diniz is a big Ricky Martin fan—and apparently has big bucks, too. She bid the equivalent of $90K for a passionate kiss on the lips by the Latin heartthrob. Ricky is nothing if not accommodating, and I would say Diniz got her $90K worth—as you can see in the video on my site. Ask Billy: A Follow-Up Question This leads perfectly into a quick follow-up “Ask Billy” question. Nick in Miami writes, “Thanks for telling us about Ricky and Jwan. I know you said Jwan was an artist. Has he ever modeled? Because he’s gorgeous.” I don’t know if he’s officially worked as a model, but I just received a fully nude, full-frontal photo purported to be Jwan. It appears to have been taken during a photo session. Maybe it was a modeling shoot. Maybe it was part of an art project. Wherever it came from, you’ll certainly enjoy it on my site. When Jwan is showing how he can hold his palette without using his hands, it’s definitely time to end yet another column. It may cost $90K to get a kiss from Ricky Martin, but you can read this column for free each and every week on BillyMasters.com, the site that’s the best bargain online. If you’ve got a question, send it along to Billy@BillyMasters.com, and I promise to get back to you before Nyle leaves something unsaid. Until next time, remember, one man’s filth is another man’s bible.
PHOTO CREDIT TK
Swapping Fluids Picture it: a world where being in a same-sex relationship is the norm and opposite-sex couples are unusual. That kinda happened recently on Dancing with the Stars. Nyle DiMarco was asked by his partner, Sharna Burgess, if he’d ever been hurt in a relationship. Nyle said (through his interpreter), “Yeah, I was in a 10-year relationship.” Sharna followed up by asking, “And was he deaf as well?” Nyle responded, “She was deaf.” Sharna, somewhat mortified, said, “She. Sorry. Why did I say he? I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way.” It was an honest mistake. Nyle is handsome, talented and artistic. You’d think he’s gay, but he actually calls himself “sexually fluid”—which sounds terrible unsanitary to moi!
MAY 11, 2016
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PALM SPRINGS WEST HOLLYWOOD SERIES
Fri. | April 29 JUNK Desert Rose Playhouse
Explore the gay generation gap as two gay men clean out the contents of a deceased friend’s house in this new musical by Michael Penny, performing through the end of May. desertroseplayhouse.org
PENNY DREADFUL SEASON 3 EPISODE 1 & 2 SNEAK PREVIEW
West Hollywood City Council Chambers May 4, 2016 7:30 PM
Introduction by Co-Executive Producer Chris King
©2016 Showtime Networks Inc. All rights reserved. SHOWTIME is a registered trademark of Showtime Networks Inc., a CBS Company. “Penny Dreadful”: ©Showtime Networks Inc. All rights reserved. While supplies last. Theater is overbooked to ensure a full house, therefore a pass is not a guarantee of a seat. Passes have no replacement value if not used for any reason .
Presented By
Fri. | April 29 VICTOR/VICTORIA McCallum Theatre
Thu. | May 12 JOSHUA TREE MUSIC FESTIVAL Sunfair
It’s “Le Jazz Hot” as a woman pretends to be a man impersonating a woman in Blake Edwards’ musical, performing through May 1. mccallumtheatre.com
We haven’t heard of any of the artists on this year’s lineup, but more than three dozen bands will perform over four days. joshuatreemusicfestival.com
Thu. | May 5 CINCO DE MAYO PARTY Toucans Tiki Lounge
Fri. | May 13 FULL HOUSE BAND Ace Hotel
Porn stars, go-go boys, DJ Konrad Parker and drag queen host Jazmyn Simone Echelon will be on hand to help celebrate. toucanstikilounge.com
Crooner Nena Anderson lends her lush vocals to the jazz-folk-Western sound of the Full House Band, starting at 8 p.m. acehotel.com
Sat. | May 7 GILDA RADNER TRIBUTE Purple Room
Fri. | May 20 HARVEY MILK DIVERSITY BREAKFAST Palm Springs Convention Center
Singer-actress Francesca Amari examines the late Saturday Night Live veteran’s life in You Make Me Laugh! A Love Song to Gilda Radner at 7 p.m. purpleroompalmsprings.com
Leaders of Equality California, Palm Springs Pride and Desert AIDS Project discuss the past and future of the gay rights movement. pspride.org
TWO TIMES THE DESERT FUN BLACK AND LATINO GAY MEN—and gay cowboys (and cowgirls)— will swarm Palm Springs the weekend of May 5-8 as both Blatino Oasis and the Gay Rodeo come to town. The 10th annual Blatino Oasis event offers dances, pool parties and a street fair for gay and bisexual men of color (though of course all races are welcome) from across the country. With over 1,000 men expected to turn out, it’s the largest such retreat on the West Coast. Find more info at blatinooasis.com. Meanwhile, Hot Rodeo 2016—held at the AC Dysart Equestrian Park in Banning, about 20 miles west of Palm Springs—offers rodeo events like bull riding, bareback bronco riding and wrestling a steer to the ground, as well as calf-roping and barrel-racing. To add a gay spin, several campy events are planned, such as steer-riding in drag and a competition to see who’s fastest at putting underwear on a goat. Many related events will take place in Palm Springs, including a pool party and a Western dance. More info at hotrodeo.org. —James F. Mills 60
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QUEERSAY
BY GOSSIP GAY
BOW DOWN, BITCHES
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here’s perhaps nothing more eyeroll-inducing than when your Uber driver takes a wrong turn and you know it’ll add an extra 75 cents to your bill. Such was the case when I called for a pick-up on a recent jaunt to LAX. The driver was nice enough—a beautiful mid-20s black woman who was a selfproclaimed actress-musician-dancer. I had to ask her, “So, what have you done?” (So often in this town people profess to be professional artists and have little more than a Pizza Hut commercial under their belt.) Her response came quick: “Do you know Beyoncé?” To which I reacted even quicker, offering a “Single Ladies”-inspired over-thehead double wrist flick, shoulder, shoulder, should e r- p u m p, n e c k s n a p . “Yaaaaaaaaaaaaas, queen!” I said. “I was one of her dancers at the halftime show at the Super Bowl,” she said. My gayer-than-ever jaw hit the floor. ”Tell me everything!” I pressed. Apparently the girls were sworn to secrecy over the process, but I got a few tidbits. They rehearsed for over a month in a large studio, adjacent to Beyoncé’s working offices where she was writing new music and designing her workout clothing line. The girls would rehearse for full days, and Beyoncé would drop in for two hours; I was told she has the “most amazing work ethic” and is “0% a diva.” Apparently when the girls would take breaks and chitchat at the proverbial watercooler, Beyoncé would join and laugh along but never draw focus or need to be the center of attention. She was simply “one of the girls” and continually thanked the dancers for their hard work and dedication. “Oh, and she’s super beautiful, even without makeup!” my driver added. Now this girl could be bat-shit crazy, and this could all be nothing more than the ramblings of a delusional Uber driver. Either way, the rich description of a month with Beyoncé was worth an extra 75 cents!
THROWING SHADE
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have a new favorite place to Sunday Funday in WeHo. The all-new(ish) Bar10 is the place to be! Think gastropub-meets-pool hall; Chicago meets Brooklyn with just the slightest hint of Austin. Not only is the food great, but—at least on Sundays around 6 p.m.—the men are gorgeous! I couldn’t love my new haunt more ... except for a recent little incident. While elbowing my way up to the bar for yet another low-carb margarita, I was second-hand assaulted. At first, all I heard was a loud and catty “What’s that, bitch? You think I’m a bitch? No, you’re a bitch, you bitch!”—standard fare for midday drinking conversation. Then I feel a cold stream of alcohol soak my newly purchased jeans. I look up to see two hot messes (both bitches, IMO), limp-wristedly slapping each other, throwing shade and clawing for the jugular. It took a gaggle of 10 gays to restrain these two past-their-prime psychos. Security quickly and efficiently separated the two drunkards, but the damage was done. My overpriced pantalones were Smirnoff-soaked! (Though I got a free drink out of it.) A word for the catty queens who went all Housewives: You ain’t pretty enough to be on a Bravo show; you’re VH1 ratchet at best! Grow up and get your shit together!
For more Gossip Gay, go to FrontiersMedia.com. Drop me your dirty little secrets at QueerSay@hotmail.com, and don’t worry, I never give up my deep throat! MAY 11, 2016
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