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Sessions’ Religious Liberty Taskforce By Jennifer Davis
Undetectable = Untransmittable By Drew Williams
Jax Homeless Teen Going To Georgetown By Amy Bennett
GOP To Ban Gay Pride Flags At Us Embassies By Robert Anderson
“Head Over Heals’ A Worthy Jukebox Musical By Mary Roberts
Genderless Shopping Is Transforming Fashion By David Vandygriff
FX vs Netflix For Gay Money By David Vandygriff
A-List Vacation In Palm Beach Florida By William Joshlin
Gay Marine Wins Alabama Primary By Maria Sampson
Mother’s Sad Truths—End of Summer By Janet Griffin
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Sessions’ Religious Liberty Taskforce By Jennifer Davis
Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the creation of a “Religious Liberty Task Force” at the Justice Department.
Sessions announced the task force in a speech this morning, where he said that Donald Trump’s election has given the right a “rare opportunity” to stop a “dangerous movement, undetected by many” that is eroding religious freedom. “We have gotten to the point where courts have held that morality cannot be a basis for law; where ministers are fearful to affirm, as they understand it, holy writ from the pulpit; and where one group can actively target religious groups by labeling them a ‘hate group’ on the basis of their sincerely held religious beliefs,” Sessions said. Sessions mentioned Jack Phillips three times. Phillips is the owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, which took a case to the Supreme Court recently to ask for a religious exemption to Colorado’s antidiscrimination law so that it could refuse to serve a gay couple. But while conservatives prefer to talk about cases involving cake, the Trump Administration this past January announced a 06 www.cityxtramagazine.com
new Department of Health and Human Services initiative to advance doctors’, nurses’, and other medical workers’ “religious freedom” to refuse to help LGBTQ people. Sessions said that the task force will implement Trump’s executive order on religious freedom from this past May that required all federal agencies to “respect and protect the freedom of persons and organizations to engage in religious and political speech.” The task force will be co-chaired by Associate Attorney General Beth Williams and Jesse Panuccio, a lawyer to fought for the supporters of Proposition 8 in California, a 2008 ballot initiative to ban marriage equality. Sessions introduced Archbishop Joseph Kurtz at the end of his speech, who he said is “an expert on these matters.” Kurtz argued that antidiscrimination policies were hurting children because many states refuse to work with adoption and fostering agencies that want to ban LGBTQ parents. “Faith-based child welfare providers are being targeted for closure because of their religious convictions about the
family. The number of children in need is going up, yet in places like Illinois, Massachusetts, San Francisco, here in D.C., service providers who have a track record of excellence in recruiting and assisting foster families have been shut down,” Kurtz said. LGBTQ advocates are worried that the task force would be used to roll back equality. “This taxpayer funded task force is yet another example of the Trump-Pence White House and Jeff Sessions sanctioning discrimination against LGBTQ people,” said HRC Legal Director Sarah Warbelow. “Over the last 18 months, Donald Trump, Mike Pence and Jeff Sessions have engaged in a brazen campaign to erode and limit the rights of LGBTQ people in the name of religion. The Attorney General standing shoulder-to-shoulder this morning with anti-LGBTQ extremists tells you everything you need to know about what today’s announcement was really all about.” But the Southern Poverty Law Center-designated hate group, Liberty Counsel, was pleased with the announcement.
study partners when they had an undeUndetectable = Untransmittable tectable By Drew Williams viral load. An enormous trove of The HPTN 052 study included evidence has just been only heterosexual couples, released that supports the while the PARTNER study increasingly solid global included both male-female consensus that having an un- and male-male couples; the detectable viral load thanks to Opposites Attract study, which antiretroviral (ARV) treatment was just published, focused is associated with effectively exclusively on male-male zero chance of transmission. couples. The long-awaited results from the PARTNER2 study of mixed-HIV-status gay male couples are finally in. Presented today at the International AIDS Conference in Amsterdam (AIDS 2018), the prospective observational study saw zero transmissions between study partners when the HIV-positive partner had a fully suppressed viral load, even after nearly 77,000 condomless anal sex acts. Together with the 12,000 condomless sex acts documented between such partners in the Opposites Attract study, researchers now have data on 89,000 such acts between male partners. In recent years, three major studies have followed mixed-HIV-status couples over time in an effort to assess the power of ARV treatment to prevent transmission. None have seen the HIV-positive participants transmit the virus to their 08 www.cityxtramagazine.com
Because the PARTNER study had less data on gay male partners compared with heterosexual partners, the study authors extended the study with a phase called PARTNER2 to gather more data pertaining to gay couples. The purpose of this extended and expanded study was to reach a refined level of mathematical certainty about the risk of transmission of HIV between men when one has an undetectable viral load and the other is HIV negative. According to an agency press release, having reviewed the evidence from these studies, Anthony S. Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), in an address he gave in a July 22 preconference meeting in Amsterdam, concluded “that the body of scientific evidence to date has established that there is effectively no risk of sexual transmission of HIV when the
partner living with HIV has a durably undetectable viral load, validating the U=U [Undetectable = Untransmittable] message of HIV treatment as prevention.” The PARTNER study was conducted in 14 European countries. The first phase, which ran from September 2010 to May 2014, recruited heterosexual and gay male mixed-HIV-status, or serodiscordant, couples. The second phase ran through April 2018 and continued following serodiscordant gay male couples already in the study while also recruiting new couples in this demographic. The investigators collected sexual behavior information from participants upon their entry into the study and every six to 12 months thereafter. The HIV-negative partners also received testing for the virus while the HIV-positive partners received viral load tests at each study visit. If an initially HIV-negative partner contracted the virus, the study authors conducted genetic testing to determine whether his virus was genetically linked to his partner’s, helping to determine whether the virus transmitted from one to the other.
The investigators collected sexual behavior information from participants upon their entry into the study and every six to 12 months thereafter. The HIV-negative partners also received testing for the virus while the HIV-positive partners received viral load tests at each study visit. If an initially HIVnegative partner contracted the virus, the study authors conducted genetic testing to determine whether his virus was genetically linked to his partner’s, helping to determine whether the virus transmitted from one to the other.
equation, not two.) Each couple was followed for a median of 1.6 years. Upon entry into the study, the average age of the participants was 40 years old for the HIVpositive partners, with the 25th to 75th percentile range spanning 33 to 46 years old. The corresponding respective figures for the HIV-negative men were 38 years old and 31 to 45 years old. The HIVpositive men had been on treatment for the virus for a median 4.0 years at the study’s outset. The couples reported condomless sex during a As with Opposites Attract, the median of 1.0 years of final analysis of the extended follow-up. PARTNER study, known as Twenty-seven percent of the PARTNER2, looked only at HIV-positive participants and study follow-up time during 23 percent of the HIV-negative which the HIV-positive partners participants were diagnosed had a viral load below 200, the with a sexually transmitted HIV-negative partners were not infection (STI) during the on PrEP and the participants study’s follow-up period. reported condomless anal sex Thirty-seven percent of the HIV within each couple. -negative men reported Between September 2010 and condomless sex with outside July 2017, the study enrolled partners. 972 serodiscordant gay male couples; 783 of these couples During the follow-up periods eligible for the final analysis, provided the study with 1,596 the couples in PARTNER2 cumulative years of follow-up reported 76,991 condomless that qualified for the final sex acts with one another, or a analysis. (Each year of median of 43 such sex acts per follow-up for each couple couple per year, with a 25thto counted as one year in this 75thpercentile range of 19 to
74 acts per couple per year. Opposites Attract, meanwhile, had data on 12,447 reported acts of condomless anal intercourse between two men in which one was HIV positive and had a viral load below 200 and the other was HIV negative and not on PrEP. So between PARTNER2 and Opposites Attract, researchers have now documented 89,438 condomless sex acts and zero HIV transmissions within mixed -HIV-status gay-male couples in which the HIV-positive partner had a fully suppressed viral load. When Opposites Attract’s findings were first presented at the 9th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science in Paris (IAS 2017) a year ago, this cumulative figure was far less than half that, at 35,000 such sex acts. The first phase of PARTNER, meanwhile, had data on about 36,000 condomless sex acts between mixed-HIV-status heterosexual couples and zero transmissions of the virus between them. In PARTNER2, 37 percent of the HIV-negative men reported condomless sex with partners other than their main partner. Fifteen of the initially HIV-
negative men in PARTNER 2 tested positive for the virus during follow-up, 11 of whom reported recent condomless sex with outside partners. None of these infections were genetically linked to these men’s primary partners. Consequently, the study authors concluded that there were zero genetically linked HIV transmissions within the couples during the follow-up time that qualified for the final analysis.
male couples, the estimate range on HIV transmission risk for this demographic was less precise than for heterosexuals. Breaking down these estimate ranges by sex acts, the PARTNER study estimated that per 100 cumulative years of follow-up among gay-male couples, the risk of transmission was as little as zero for all sex acts and as great as 0.84 transmissions for any kind of sex, 0.89 transmissions for anal sex in general, 1.0 transmission for When the PARTNER results insertive anal sex (being the were published in 2016, the top), 2.7 transmissions for study authors provided various receptive anal sex with estimate ranges within which ejaculation (bottoming with the the true risk of transmission lies top cumming inside) and 1.68 for various sex acts when one transmissions for receptive partner has a fully suppressed anal sex without ejaculation. HIV viral load and the other is HIV negative. For Thanks to the much greater heterosexuals engaging in anal level of follow-up data or vaginal sex, the investigators supporting the PARTNER2 estimated that the risk of findings, these upper limits of transmission per 100 the risk of transmission were cumulative years of follow-up in narrowed to a respective 0.23, this context was between zero 0.24, 0.27, 0.57 and 0.43 and 0.97 transmissions when transmissions per cumulative the male has and between zero 100 years for any kind of sex, and 0.88 when the female has anal sex in general, insertive HIV. anal sex, receptive anal sex with ejaculation and receptive Because this initial phase of anal sex without ejaculation. In the study had less data on gay addition, the study authors
calculated that the upper limits of the risk of transmission for any type of sex while infected with an STI was 2.74 transmissions per cumulative 100 years. Again, the low end of all these estimate ranges was zero, meaning that the true risk of HIV transmission for any kind of intercourse between men may indeed be zero, provided the partner living with the virus has a fully suppressed virus. “Now we can have just as much confidence in the power of [HIV] treatment as prevention for gay-male couples as we have had for heterosexual couples,� said Linda-Gail Bekker, MD, PhD, president of the International AIDS Society and the international chair of AIDS 2018, in a call with reporters prior to the conference. Bekker is a professor of medicine and the deputy director of the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. In PARTNER2, the respective cumulative years of follow-up and number of reported condomless sex acts for any kind of sex was 1,596 years and 76,991 acts for any kind of sex, 1,546 years and 70,743 acts for anal sex in general, 1,345 years and 52,572 acts for insertive anal sex, 652 years and 20,770 acts for receptive anal sex with ejaculation, 867 years and 23,153 acts of receptive anal sex without ejaculation, and 135 years and 6,301 acts for any sex with an STI.
Jax Homeless Teen Going To Georgetown University By Amy Bennett
A gay teenager hopes to fulfil his dream of going to college – even though he was rejected by his parents and made homeless. 18-year-old Seth Owen of Jacksonville, Florida was made homeless after his parents, who are evangelical Christians, discovered that he is gay by snooping on his phone messages. His parents ordered him to attend gay ‘cure’ sessions at a local church, and gave him an ultimatum, telling him to either do so or leave home. The teen chose to remain true to himself, and became homeless. He explained to local news outlet News4Jax: “They made it clear the intention was to make me straight. [That] was their end goal. Either go to church or you can move out. “I called a mentor. I said, I can’t do this. I went back in and asked, ‘Is there any way that we can compromise,’ and my dad said no. “I was really, really upset. It was extremely hurtful to know that I was walking out that door 12 www.cityxtramagazine.com
not knowing what lay ahead and feeling I don’t know how to explain it it was devastating, absolutely devastating.” Luckily Seth was able to stay with friends, and could make ends meet by working full-time alongside his education. Thanks to his own drive and the help of the community around him, the bright student held down an impressive 4.16 grade point average at school, and became his class’s co-valedictorian. The teen secured a place at Georgetown University, but his scholarship only covers part of the cost – putting his dream at risk as he had no way to fund the rest of his tuition. But a crowdfunder launched by one of his high school teachers has succeeded in raising more than $49,000 to cover his first year at college. Jane Martin, a teacher at First Coast High School, said: “I taught Seth biology and mentored him throughout his high school years. He was the ring bearer in my wedding. “Last month, I watched him walk across the [graduation] stage in a Jacksonville arena
weighted down by more cords and medals to count. I’m writing this community for help.” She added: “He’s been living with friends and working to sustain himself since financially. His parents have refused to support him emotionally or financially because they deem his sexual orientation inconsistent with their religious beliefs. “Throughout this all, Seth held his head high and continued to work almost full-time while finishing high school at the top of his class as the co-valedictorian “I know the goal seems unrealistic and the circumstances aren’t ideal, but i also know communities can make the impossible possible. “It’s Pride Month and rainbows abound around the world. Help me bring a rainbow in the midst of Seth’s storm.” An emotional Seth, who plans to become a lawyer, added: “I don’t think thank you is good enough. Of course I am extremely grateful, but I think thank you doesn’t say it. Now it’s time to pay it forward.”
GOP To Ban Gay Pride Flags At US Embassies By Robert Anderson
Republicans introduced a bill banning any flag or emblem from flying at United States embassies other than the American flag. This includes flags like the rainbow one for pride. Rep. Jeff Duncan of the House Republicans led the introduction of the bill. He introduced the Old Glory Only Act on Thursday (19 July) and by Friday, 26 other Republicans signed on to it. While the bill bans all flags and emblems, not just the rainbow flag, it does come after various embassies raising the rainbow as a sign of LGBTI solidarity. The US embassy of Belize flew the rainbow flag just last month
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shooting.
to honor Pride Month. In 2016, the US embassy of Jamaica flew the flag following the Pulse nightclub
concentration camps wear pink triangles to label them. ‘The United States flag is the single greatest symbol of ‘I thought of the American flag freedom the world has ever with its thirteen stripes and known,’ Duncan told the thirteen stars, the colonies Washington Examiner. breaking away from England to ‘There’s no reason for anything form the United States,’ he but Old Glory to be flying over wrote. our embassies and posts ‘I thought of the vertical red, around the globe.’ white, and blue tricolor from the The late Gilbert Baker created French Revolution and how both flags owed their the rainbow flag as a symbol beginnings to a riot, a rebellion, for the LGBTI community. or revolution,’ before As Baker wrote in his upcoming continuing, ‘I thought a memoir, before the rainbow gay nation should have a flag flag, the symbol of the commu- too, to proclaim its own idea of nity was the pink triangle. This power.’ image, however, had a dark Flying it provides specific history in its association with connotations and support for World War II and the Holocaust. Nazis made gay men in the community.
“Head Over Heal” A Worthy Jukebox Musical By Steven Massengill
Peppermint (from Drag Race Season 9) is the nonbinary Oracle of Delphi who arrives in a glittery headdress to announce that “Arcadia could lose its famous beat” unless it heeds various prognostications and warnings. The intricate plot that results has a shepherd who’s the suitor of one of the royal daughters ending up in drag as an Amazon, which seems to bring out the lesbianism in the other royal daughter, as well as titillating the King and galvanizing the Queen (who knows he’s a man in drag and As part of that (very) high wants it bad). The script apes concept, the story involves classical speech patterns wordplay, gender play, and while also mocking them, and rampant sexuality, as various in the process, is full of giddy royal family characters find shtick (Peppermint gets to their true selves and partners, announce “Thou better while accidentally getting back workest” before an exit). “the beat.” The fabulous The cast is hardworking and It’s not often that you read complaints on a chat board that a jukebox musical is “too hard” and needs to be dumbed down for mass consumption. But Head Over Heels is a very unusual jukebox show. Rather than tell the story of the ‘80s girl group the Go-Gos, it instead uses their (and lead singer Belinda Carlisle’s) hits, from “We Got The Beat” to “Vacation” and beyond, to enliven a story borrowed from a 16th Century work, The Arcadia. (Jeff Whitty conceived and wrote the show’s book, and James Magruder did the adaptation).
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talented, especially the amazing Bonnie Milligan as the more narcissistic of the two daughters and the Peter Scolari-ish Andrew Durand as the lead drag queen, who breaks fourth walls and romantic barriers. The Oracle’s lover gets to sing “I’m mad about them” and gets a big laugh (though it’s all in good fun; the show celebrates its diverse characters). The Oracle even gets to reveal an alter ego, which I won’t spoil, and there’s also a serious twist, which doesn’t quite come off, though things get funny again. Michael Mayer’s direction and Spencer Liff’s choreography are specific and vigorous (with lots of voguing moves thrown in), and at the end, the all-girl band is revealed. If you can’t figure out why they have an all -girl band, then this show is too hard for you.
more selfexpressive life.” “In many ways, I have created a Genderless Shopping Is retail space and Transforming Fashion community By David Vandygriff center I wish When you go into most I had access to as a young clothing stores, the chances person.” are you’ll have two options: to Spaces like the Phluid browse the male section, or Project, where customers can the female section. sip coffee, chat to others and Things are beginning to browse gender-free brands – change, though. Fashion which are divided by aesthetic designers are combining – are going to become more men’s and women’s common, Smith adds. collections on the runway, parents are pushing to scrap “It has become very evident that people need a space “boys” and “girls” labels on which allows you to be clothing and a number of yourself, where assumptions retailers are defying gender are checked at the door and conventions altogether – to honouring the individual is cater exclusively for priority,” Smith says. non-binary people. Crucially, though, gender-free The Phluid Project, a new shopping space in New York clothing is also about tackling City which opened in March, the challenges faced by nonis one of the first gender-free binary people when shopping. stores of its kind. It’s not just “They may be challenged, or about buying clothes, but feel worried about being about creating an inclusive challenged, when shopping in shopping experience for stores that split their clothing non-binary customers. by gender, particularly if their “There is a paradigm shift that external appearance leads is currently happening in our staff or other shoppers to believe they fit into a binary society,” says founder Rob Smith. “Today’s young people gender category,” says 26year-old Nat Saunders, who are leaving behind the is non-binary. traditional roles and structures that constrained “They may also feel generations prior. They are uncomfortable choosing choosing to live a freer and which changing rooms to use if those are divided by gender 18 www.cityxtramagazine.com
– or, again, worry about being challenged by staff or other shoppers.” Offering genderless shopping is simply about adding another option for people when shopping for clothes – rather than ridding shops of gendered clothing completely. “Shops which don’t separate things out by gender make things easier for some people and don’t really affect anyone else,” Saunders adds. “It would be simple to mark clothing with tags to indicate what kind of cut it has and what kind of body shape it will fit. Nobody loses out, and it makes things easier for lots of people – you don’t have to worry about people making assumptions about you and judging you for being in the ‘wrong’ section, for example.” But importantly, gender-free options benefit lots of people, as well as non-binary and gender-fluid people. It creates an easier atmosphere for people to choose clothing that appeals to them with no questions asked – irrespective of gender. Having more gender fluidity in fashion isn’t just about androgynous clothing which fits a certain body shape, too. In 2016, Zara released a collection of gender-neutral clothing but faced criticism for only using thin, white models to promote the line. This defeats the point of aiming to be more inclusive,
says Amy Bender, co-founder of the US-based genderless shopping app RIGit. Instead, it’s about taking clothing that might have originally been designed only for a male or only for a female and styling them in a way that can appeal to a wider audience.
Removing the gender we often assign to inanimate objects – whether it’s sunglasses, a top or jeans – is also important in breaking gender stereotyping too, Bender says. “When we claim a pair of jeans are women’s jeans, we are saying much more than they “We show the same items on are simply designed for a both male and female woman’s body. Clothing that is presenting models,” Bender deemed ‘women’s clothing’ has explains. “One of our brands the connotation of being sells these incredible skinny feminine, sexy, and soft,” she cargo pants, they actually look says. good on anyone who puts them “You aren’t forced to choose a on. I’m a curvy 5’3” and they fit box that says man or woman me amazingly well, and one of before we show you any our male models is a thin 6’1” clothing. For folks who identify and they look incredible on as non-binary, or wake up him. some days identifying with “We believe that any article of different ends of the gender clothing should be worn by spectrum, traditional shopping anyone that likes it.” can feel judgemental and anxiety-ridden,” Bender says,
adding this is something RIGit co-founder April Mellas has struggled with. “She has always shopped in both the men’s and women’s departments and it is almost always an uncomfortable experience,” Bender says. “Most of the time when she walks into the men’s department, the sales associates would ask if she is shopping for her brother, father or boyfriend – her response always came with a hesitation because she didn’t want to admit she was shopping for herself.” “The goal behind RIGit is to create a world where any item of clothing can be for any person, where a person can put on clothes that they believe best represents their style and individuality.”
STD & Oral HIV Testing Every Second Tuesday of Each Month By The AIDS Healthcare Foundation
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FX vs Netflix For Gay Money By Michael Davidson
Look out, Netflix! You may have lured away FX’s biggest producer, but the network’s not giving up on going for those gay dollars just yet…
based on Sam Wasson’s 2013 Fosse biography and is being executive produced by Broadway superstar Earlier this year, Ryan Murphy Lin-Manuel Miranda. inked a $300 million deal with In addition to being considered steaming giant Netflix. With one of the greatest and most their cash cow producer influential choreographers in heading off for greener pasdance history, Bob Fosse he tures, FX began searching for was an accomplished new talent to appeal to its filmmaker. In 1972, he nabbed growing LGBTQ viewership. a Best Director Oscar for Well, they may have found it. Cabaret. The network just greenlit Verdon, Fosse’s muse, is Fosse/Verdon, a limited series widely considered one of the about legendary Broadway best dancers in Broadway choreographer Bob Fosse and history, winning a total of four acclaimed dancer Gwen Tony Awards over the course Verdon. of her decades-long career. The eight-episode series will be She, too, dabbled in film and is
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perhaps best known for her roles in 1958’s Damn Yankees and 1996’s Marvin’s Room. The Hollywood Reporter says “the series will feature Fosse’s choreography and explore the hidden corners of showbiz, the price of pursuing greatness and the suffering inflicted in the name of art.” Production is slated to begin in just a few weeks. Fosse will be played by Oscar winner Sam Rockwell; Verdon will be played by multi-Oscar nominee Michelle Williams. The series will premiere sometime next year.
Thankfully, the service was splendid, the seat was comfortable and the dog A-List Vacation In Plam Beach FL was quiet. By Brett Williams Arriving in the cool tropical Palm Beach, Florida is home to climate, I headed straight to the the super-rich. Extravagant boutique hotel. mansions are commonplace and luxurious miles of beaches Crane’s Beach House is a hideaway in Delray Beach with are the norm. two pools, lined with palm You might wonder if there is trees. I stayed in one of the anything attainable behind the luxury villas, and it was glittering facade for the normal everything I could want. person. With an open floorplan, the The town is an hour’s drive, king bedroom was very large around fifty miles, from the gay and comfy. There is a state of hub of Fort Lauderdale. It’s the art 60″ flat screen smart TV about an hour and a half’s drive with digital cable and from Miami and a hundred complimentary Netflix access. miles from the Florida Keys. There’s also a private patio, a So is there anything behind the kitchen, complimentary glittering facade for the normal bicycles and yoga mats. person? Say a gay guy looking Arts Garage was one of the for a relaxed weekend? go-to places for me at Delray With beautiful weather all year Beach. An innovative round, I headed on a premium independent creative arts seat with Norwegian. venue, it plays host to many up From the second I stepped -and-coming performers in onto the flight from London South Florida. Gatwick to Fort Lauderdale, I Garage Queen is a pageant knew I’d be encountering some style contest people who lived the high life. for 12 drag My seat neighbor was an queens, American woman who has hosted every houses in both Palm Beach Friday during and London. Accompanying the summer. her was a ‘therapy dog’, the I went to go cutest little ball of fluff. see the ‘She’s not allergic!’ she said, Markus her insanely white teeth glaring Gottshlich at me. ‘She has hair just like Trio, led by the us!’ Austrian jazz pianist. It was 22 www.cityxtramagazine.com
held in an intimate setting and I can’t ever complain about a place that has a policy of bringing your own booze. Perhaps the quickest and easiest ways of getting to know Palm Beach is by bike. Led by the hilarious and knowledgeable Leslie Diver, I learned everything about the town from famous residents to its colorful history. We spotted Donald Trump’s gaudy gold-trimmed mansion next door to Rod Stewart’s rocking abode. Speaking as a Londoner, it’s always hilarious to me when Americans try to say something that was built a century ago is really ‘old’. And don’t get me wrong, comparisons are relative, but the Henry Morrison Flagler museum was only built in 1902. Flagler is known as the ‘grandfather of Palm Beach’, an oil monopolist who created the Florida East Cost Railway and a series of luxury hotels. If you’re a fan of the Gilded Age, it’s somewhere I would recommend. However, it’s not essential.
While Palm Beach may not have as much LGBT nightlife compared to Fort Lauderdale and Miami, there is still fun to be had. Palm Beach is home to the Gay Polo League, a group representing a crosssecton of ages and abilities. We interviewed the founder, Chip McKinney, and we will posting a full article when the league comes to London for a special tournament. Rooster’s is one of the most popular spots, having been going strong since the early ’80s. Check out some of the best drag southern Florida has to offer on the weekends. Fort Dix is a friendly diverse dive bar. Cheap beer and a bar lined with games, it’s one for the locals.
The one thing I feared was that Palm Beach would just be pretty on the outside. If you’re not a multi-millionaire, can you even enjoy yourself? I learned you absolutely can. It has a soulful, relaxed, chilled atmosphere with amazing views. And for the food, well, I might go back just for the pasta.
Gay Marine Wins Alabama Primary By Maria Sampson
Well, here’s some slightly good political news during what is proving to be an otherwise very bleak week in American politics… After a tough primary followed by an even tougher runoff, a former U.S. Marine and openly gay man running for a House seat in Alabama’s 54th district has just won his party’s nomination.
reelection.
year. The seat is being vacated by Democrat Patricia Todd, the state’s first gay legislator, who announced in January that she would not be seeking
Yesterday, Rafferty won the Democratic runoff election, receiving 2,531 votes, or 67.12 percent, of the vote. His opponent Jacqueline Gray Miller, an environmentalist and marketer, trailed behind him at 32.88 percent. So how did he celebrate his runoff Neil Rafferty announced his bid victory, you wonder? for a seat in the Alabama House back in February of this By going to a bar, of course!
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After the results came in yesterday evening, Rafferty, who works as the director of research and development at Birmingham AIDS Outreach, took to Facebook to invite his friends and supporters to celebrate with him at Crestwood Tavern, a local dive bar. But for now, it’s back to work for Rafferty. He needs to prepare for the general election in November, where he will face off against Independent Joseph Baker.
you to make the beginning observations before summer started. It’s OK; you can cheat off of my list. Just don’t let the teacher catch you. Mother’s Sad Truths Beginning of summer End of Summer poolside By Janet Griffin observations: We are coming up on the end of The moms have their legs shaved. summer, and I don’t like it any more than you do. In fact, on Snacks are seen around the the first day of school, you’ll find pool. These wholesome snacks me kicking and screaming my include things like almonds or way through the hallways of my various other “skinny bikini kids’ school. School body” snacks. administrators will probably Everyone does a collective have security remove me again, “suck in” of their tummy as they since I am not enrolled and my walk into the locker room of the children will be a bit pool. They do not relax again embarrassed by the whole until they leave the locker room. thing. I can see their eyes rolling The hair is done. The highlights already. are fresh. The roots are covBut that’s not the point. The ered. point is that fall is coming and in Everyone cordially smiles. order to get through this crisis, Politeness is smacking you in we all need our coping the face. There are "excusemechanisms. And I can help. mes" issued by all and kids wait Who better to help you cope their turn. than the lady being escorted off school premises? No one, that’s But that was then and this is now. And oh, how things have who. changed. Look around you at My favorite end of summer the pool. Are you seeing what coping technique is where I I’m seeing here? compare and contrast pool time “There appears to be a from the beginning of summer Sasquatch in the pool,” people to the end. It helps me to see how far we’ve come, or how far say as I swim by them. My long shiny hair floating behind me. gone we are. It’s a little comparison checklist I do at the And by hair, I mean leg hair. pool. You can borrow it and use There was a mother who smuggled an entire pizza into it at your pool to see if it helps the pool area. She may have you. been chewing on crust when Unfortunately, I didn’t prepare she went by me. I stared in awe and appreciation. Almonds, 26 www.cityxtramagazine.com
schmalmonds. No one has time to suck in their gut. I have kids to try to forcibly remove from the pool and I can’t focus on sucking in and cursing under my breath. The hair highlights have grown out. Now we are pretending that we are going for the ombre look. You can’t prove that it’s just laziness. There is a smile on our faces. It might be a little bit vacant. There could be an eye twitch that wasn’t there before. It’s been a long summer. The water is splashed excessively. Every time you turn around there is another cannonball spraying urine-filled chlorine water into your already red eyes. It burns, for the love of Pete, it burns! There are no “I’m sorries.” It could be my imagination, but I think I hear evil cackles of delight. Those perceived laughs ring through my ears as we leave the pool for the last time this summer. I picture a scene from an action movie where the pool explodes behind me, but we don’t look back. We are the gangsters; nothing can stop us now. But my fantasy comes to a screaming halt as I stumble and drop my keys, my moment of imaginary coolness evaporating. It's back to mom life for me.