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Great Sermons Aren’t Preached
Publisher/Executive Editor: David Vandygriff dvandygriff@cityxtramagazine.com
By Dr. Harvey Carr
5 Painful Conditions of HIV
Editor In Chief: Harvey Carr editor@cityxtramagazine.com
By Dr. Dan Bowers
Creative Designer: Jason Smith designer@cityxtramagazine.com
Gay Epidemic of Loneliness By Jake Johnson
Sales Department: Adam Plante, Esq. aplante@cityxtramagazine.com
Lambda Legal Civil Rights Act 1964 By David Vandygriff
RPDR’s Peppermint & Willie Wonka By Rachel Davis
Mary’s 2nd Location in Jacksonville
cityXtra Magazine is published by cityXtra Inc . 2941 Plum Street Jacksonville, FL 32205 (904) 300-3320 www.cityxtramagazine.com Like us on Facebook/cityxtra Twitter/cityxtra
By David Vandygriff
Contributing Writers
Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa By Debi Perry
Trump’s ‘Voter Fraud’ Commision By Jesse Childers
Laura Riggs, Dr. Harvey Carr, Meredith O’Malley Johnson, Tina Vaughn, Jake Moore, Joey Amato Tyler Curry Editor HIV Equal Online, Sebastian Fortino, David Vandygriff,
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www.cityxtramagazine.com 3
Great Sermons Aren’t Preached, They’re Lived By Dr. Harvey Carr
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV) What if someone followed you around with a video camera all day documenting your every move, catching all my words, facial expressions, actions and reactions on camera? What if someone packaged it all together and played it on some sort of reality TV show for all the world to see? What would be the glaring message of your life?
reaction.
and then find myself angry at the person who cuts me off in traffic just an hour later? The pat answer of Jacksonville drivers is no excuse for my
I realize there is a place for God’s tender mercies for me in all things. I also know that while no TV cameras are following me around, my life is speaking a message about what I really believe, and I want that message to honor God. I once heard someone say, “Great sermons are not preached, they are lived.” How I long to live a message that speaks loud and clear, “God is real and the principles found in His teachings work!”
responses and remind me throughout the day of the truths He taught me that morning. • Invitation: The next essential view of my quiet time each morning is recognizing I’ve just invited God to do life with me, so I need to look for His activity throughout my day. My minuteby-minute theme becomes, “Not my will God, but Yours be done.” So if something happens that causes my flesh to want to rear up and act ugly, I can say, “Not my will God, but Yours be done.” This slight pause and acknowledgment of God redirects my frustration and replaces it with grace. And most wonderful of all, it helps me connect my time with Him to everyday life choices. Making that connection is one of the ways we personally experience God.
I know sometimes it’s hard to spend time with God first thing in the morning. I’m certainly not trying to make this just another When I thought about myself, I demand on our time. But His really had to do some serious invitation to us to sit with Him is self-examination. such an incredible gift. He loves If someone were to ask me, us so much He wants to help us. “What are you all about?” I am He knows what each day holds, • Preparation: “All Scripture is sure I could produce some and He longs to prepare us for God-breathed and is useful for nice-sounding answers; but, every single thing He sees teaching, rebuking, correcting what actually happens during the and training in righteousness, so coming our way. strains of everyday life can that the servant of God may be Let’s accept His invitation to sit sometimes betray my best thoroughly equipped for every with Him. Let’s listen to Him intentions. good work,” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). intently. And let’s ask Him to I want to be a loving man and intervene before our natural Every verse I read is part of pastor. But my closet friends reactions to things betray our God’s preparation for me that and confidants know the exact best intentions. Then we will be day. So, instead of just rushing buttons to push that send me able to live lives that speak to to check off my to-do list that I into a tailspin of guilt, emotion, spent a few minutes with God, I the fact that we have spent time and exhaustion. must allow His teachings to seep with Jesus … and without saying a word, our imperfect lives will I want to be a strong witness for into my heart and mind, to be a God-honoring sermon. God; so, why is it I can read my become a part of my being. Bible first thing in the morning Then, I can prayerfully ask God to interrupt my natural fleshly 06 www.cityxtramagazine.com
Let’s just be honest: It’s tough being a sold-out soul for God stuck in a body that’s so tempted to do wrong. That’s why it’s essential I view my time with God each morning as a preparation and an invitation.
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Five Painful Conditions OF HIV By Dr. Dan Bowers The aches and pains of HIV are often overshadowed by concurrent illnesses or concerns about elevated cholesterol, blood sugar, liver enzymes, or blood pressure. Sometimes they are simply considered trivial complaints by a patient or by a physician who feels that the stabilization of HIV by combination therapy is such a godsend that it is inappropriate to complain about sore muscles and aching joints. This dismissal is not acceptable.
because of the persistent low -grade pain of arthralgias. But the
presentation is different. Here it is often the larger joints that ache, compared to neuropathy's onset of pain in the ends of the fingers and toes. The reassuring feature is that these joint aches do not lead to degenerative joint disease or arthritis.
therapy. There is a wide range of HIV-associated muscle diseases, starting with the marked muscle aches (myalgias) often seen at the time of seroconversion. About a third of HIV patients have some myalgia or fibromyalgia, which also includes joint pain. As in HIV-negative patients, nonsteroidal drugs and antidepressants can help.
Polymyositis is muscle inflammation characterized by mild weakness in the large muscles and an elevated enzyme called creatine phosphokinase. Many viral infections cause The cause is unclear, but a joint to become hot and biopsies usually show swollen, and HIV-associated infiltration of CD8 cells. arthritis behaves like the Steroids usually help, but rest. It lasts up to six immunosuppressants may weeks and gets better with be needed. nonsteroidal drugs or Unique to HIV is diffuse An infection like HIV causes steroids like prednisone. infiltrative lymphocytosis the body to produce a host HIV-associated reactive syndrome, indicated by of immune responses — arthritis is more involved. enlarged parotid salivary antibodies, white-cell Fingers and toes may swell. glands at the angle of the activations, and various The Achilles tendon and the jaw in front of the ear. DILS circulating immune plantar fascia in the arch of also includes dry mouth and complexes that attack the foot may be inflamed. higher levels of CD8 cells, invading organisms and The skin often has which are the prominent surrounding tissues. extensive scaly dryness: infiltrates in the parotid psoriasis. Mucus membrane glands. Prednisone or local These are called collagenirritation, specifically vascular or rheumatologic radiation may be used to diseases and are treated by urethritis, can occur. A shrink the parotid glands. nonsteroidal drug called the medical subspecialty Interestingly, rheumatoid indomethacin works well rheumatology. In the arthritis and lupus may go here. Also, rheumatoid simplest form, joint aches, into remission during HIV arthritis medications called called arthralgias, occur in infection. When HIV is tumor necrosis factor 45 percent of people living controlled, rheumatoid blockers may help in with HIV. No clear cause is arthritis and lupus may difficult cases. identified, and treatment return or sometimes even with nonsteroidal antiWhile psoriasis and the appear for the first time. inflammatory drugs like arthritis associated with it This would correlate with ibuprofen or naproxen both are worse in the the observation that T cells helps. presence of HIV, are part of this People with HIV often think improvement can be seen inflammatory process. they are getting neuropathy during combination www.cityxtramagazine.com 09
combination of boredom and loneliness,” he says. “I used to come home from work exhausted on a Friday night and it’s like, ‘Now what?’ So By Jake Johnson I would dial out “I used to get so excited when to get some meth delivered and the meth was all gone.” This is check the Internet to see if there my friend Jeremy. were any parties happening. It was either that or watch a movie “When you have it,” he says, “you have to keep using it. When by myself.”
Gay Epidemic of Loneliness
or rejected by his family. He can’t remember ever being called a faggot. He was raised in a West Coast suburb by a lesbian mom. “She came out to me when I was 12,” he says. “And told me two sentences later that she knew I was gay. I barely knew at that point.” This is a picture of me and my family when I was 9. My parents still claim that they had no idea I was gay. They’re sweet.
Jeremy and I are 34. In our lifetime, the gay community has made more progress on legal it’s gone, it’s like, ‘Oh good, I can That’s not his real name. Only a and social acceptance than any go back to my life now.’ I would few of the names of the gay men other demographic group in stay up all weekend and go to in this article are real. history. As recently as my own these sex parties and then feel Jeremy is not my only gay friend adolescence, gay marriage was like shit until Wednesday. About who’s struggling. There’s a distant aspiration, something two years ago I switched to Malcolm, who barely leaves the newspapers still put in scare cocaine because I could work house except for work because quotes. Now, it’s been enshrined the next day.” his anxiety is so bad. There’s in law by the Supreme Court. Jeremy is telling me this from a Jared, whose depression and Public support for gay marriage hospital bed, six stories above body dysmorphia have steadily has climbed from 27 percent in Seattle. He won’t tell me the ex- shrunk his social life down to me, 1996 to 61 percent in 2016. In act circumstances of the overthe gym and Internet hookups. pop culture, we’ve gone from dose, only that a stranger called And there was Christian, the “Cruising” to “Queer Eye” to an ambulance and he woke up second guy I ever kissed, who “Moonlight.” Gay characters here. killed himself at 32, two weeks these days are so commonplace after his boyfriend broke up with they’re even allowed to have Jeremy is not the friend I was him. Christian went to a party flaws. expecting to have this store, rented a helium tank, conversation with. Until a few Still, even as we celebrate the started inhaling it, then texted his scale and speed of this change, weeks ago, I had no idea he ex and told him to come over, to the rates of depression, used anything heavier than make sure he’d find the body. martinis. He is trim, intelligent, loneliness and substance abuse gluten-free, the kind of guy who For years I’ve noticed the in the gay community remain wears a work shirt no matter divergence between my straight stuck in the same place they’ve what day of the week it is. The friends and my gay friends. been for decades. Gay people first time we met, three years While one half of my social circle are now, depending on the ago, he asked me if I knew a has disappeared into study, between 2 and 10 times good place to do CrossFit. relationships, kids and suburbs, more likely than straight people Today, when I ask him how the the other has struggled through to take their own lives. We’re hospital’s been so far, the first isolation and anxiety, hard drugs twice as likely to have a major thing he says is that there’s no and risky sex. depressive episode. And just like Wi-Fi, he’s way behind on work the last epidemic we lived None of this fits the narrative I emails. through, the trauma appears to have been told, the one I have “The drugs were a told myself. Like me, Jeremy did be concentrated among men. In not grow up bullied by his peers a survey of gay men who 10 www.cityxtramagazine.com
recently arrived in New York City, three-quarters suffered from anxiety or depression, abused drugs or alcohol or were having risky sex—or some combination of the three. Despite all the talk of our “chosen families,” gay men have fewer close friends than straight people or gay women. In a survey of care-providers at HIV clinics, one respondent told researchers: “It’s not a question of them not knowing how to save their lives. It’s a question of them knowing if their lives are worth saving.” I’m not going to pretend to be objective about any of this. I’m a perpetually single gay guy who was raised in a bright blue city by PFLAG parents. I’ve never known anyone who died of AIDS, I’ve never experienced direct discrimination and I came out of the closet into a world where marriage, a picket fence and a golden retriever were not just feasible, but expected. I’ve also been in and out of therapy more times than I’ve downloaded and deleted Grindr.
says Christopher Stults, a researcher at New York University who studies the differences in mental health between gay and straight men. “But for a lot of other people, it was a letdown. Like, we have this legal status, and yet there’s still something unfulfilled.”
This feeling of emptiness, it turns out, is not just an American phenomenon. In the Netherlands, where gay marriage has been legal since 2001, gay men remain three times more likely to suffer from a mood disorder than straight men, and 10 times more likely to engage in “suicidal self-harm.” In Sweden, which has had civil unions since 1995 and full marriage since 2009, men married to men have triple the suicide rate of men married to women.
All of these unbearable statistics lead to the same conclusion: It is still dangerously alienating to go through life as a man attracted to other men. The good news, though, is that epidemiologists “Marriage equality and the and social scientists are closer changes in legal status were an than ever to understanding all improvement for some gay men,” the reasons why. www.cityxtramagazine.com 11
job as a security guard at Georgia Regional Hospital. Evans says supervisors targeted her for By David Vandygriff termination after harassing Lambda Legal has just petitioned her because she is a lesbian, as the U.S. Supreme Court to rule NCRM reported. In March a that federal civil rights laws three judge panel of the 11th banning sex discrimination Circuit ruled 2-1 against Evans. extend to protecting gay, lesbian, Citing precedent to support and bisexual employees. The Evans' case, Lambda Legal on LGBT legal group argues that Thursday notes that earlier this several appellate courts have year "the full Seventh Circuit already ruled that discrimination ruled that Ivy Tech Community on the basis of sexual orientation College violated the Civil Rights and gender identity is sex Act by discriminating against discrimination. Sex Kimberly Hively because she is a discrimination is banned by Title lesbian." VII of the Civil Rights Act of "In May, the full Second Circuit 1964. Court of Appeals granted en Earlier Thursday the 11th Circuit banc review in Zarda v. Altitude Court of Appeals denied Lambda Express the case of a New York Legal's request for an en banc skydiving instructor who was hearing of the case of Jameka K. fired from his job because he Evans, who was fired from her was gay."
Lambda Legal Civil Rights Act 1964
Greg Nevins, Counsel and Employment Fairness Strategist for Lambda Legal, says: “We will continue to press the legally correct argument, recognized by so many other courts, that the Civil Rights Act protects all workers against sexual orientation discrimination, whether they are genderconforming in particular ways or not.� Nevins told the Washington Blade they will ask the Supreme Court "to resolve this once and for all and say on a national level that you cannot file people under federal law for being lesbian, gay or bisexual." The Supreme Court last week agreed to hear the Masterpiece Cake Shop case, and will decide if discrimination against LGBT people based on religious beliefs is constitutional. If the Court accepts the Evans case, next year will be a huge one for the LGBTQ community and allies.
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new trailer.
RuPaul’s Drag Race season 9 contestant Peppermint, By Rachel Davis who’s In a new outtake from last currently one of four finalists, is week’s RuPaul’s Drag Race the subject of an upcoming docfinale, season 9 runner-up umentary. Peppermint reveals how she Titled Project Peppermint, the first got started doing drag. film captures the New York “One of my favorite movies was queen’s rise to international Charlie and the Chocolate stardom after years of struggle. Factory,” Peppermint tells the A crowdfunding campaign has crowd. “When my mom left the just been launched on house to go to work, I snatched IndieGoGo to help fund the last her blue jumper from the closet stages of production and and put it on, painted my face distribution for the film, which is blue, I made a wig out of orange due for release next year. yarn, and turned myself into Violet Beauregarde, the girl who Filmmaker Oriel Pe’er has been following Peppermint since turned into a blueberry. And I before her Drag Race journey rolled around on that floor like began, chronicling her coming no other.” Isn’t that a sweet out as a trans woman. She origin story? opens up in the film for the first An upcoming documentary, time about initially considering Project Peppermint, captures sex work to pay for her the proud trans woman’s rise to gender-alignment surgery. international stardom after Peppermint also addresses the years of struggle. “Even if I’d criticism that she has received never been assigned male at as trans woman in the drag birth, I would have found my way to the stage,” she says in a scene. “Even if I’d never been assigned male at birth, I would
RPDR’s Peppermint and Willy Wonka
16 www.cityxtramagazine.com
have found my way to the stage,” she says in a new trailer. “Am I going to continue to do drag and wear lashes and put on makeup and go out on stage? Yes. My spirit belongs on stage.” Project Peppermint also includes interviews with Peppermint’s close friends, including Laverne Cox, Transparent’s Trace Lysette, and Bob the Drag Queen. Donation incentives on IndieGoGo include an exclusive brunch and one-on-one makeup tutorial with Peppermint.
The Motes family opened Hamburger Mary’s Jacksonville 6 years ago and owns the Hamburger Mary’s Daytona By David Vandygriff Beach as well. As Hamburger Mary’s has become a Gay Staple for the Congrats to the Motes family, Hamburger Mary’s Jacksonville LGBT staff, and all guest on the Community we see our expansion. Welcome to community growing once Riverside. again. Hamburger Mary’s in Hamburger Mary’s has announced a second location Riverside will have its signature hamburgers — and for Jacksonville in the King late-night drag shows on Street District of Riverside. Friday and Saturday and a Home to the largest LGBT brunch show every Saturday population in Jacksonville. and Sunday. Located in the old Blind “We’ve been trying to get Rabbit's location will be a new concept for Hamburger across the bridge for years and, when this space Mary’s. A concept built around a non-smoking, food became available, we and bar, dubbed Mary’s Bar. jumped on it,” Motes said.
Mary’s 2nd Location in Jacksonville
Motes said the Hamburger Mary’s Bar & Grille in Riverside will be sportsthemed. The sports theme is a new addition to Hamburger Mary’s, which has nearly 20 locations including Orlando, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Daytona Beach, Clearwater and Brandon. “We’re going to add crazy decorations and sports memorabilia from my personal collection,” he said. “We’ll have signed jerseys and paintings on the wall — it’ll be like a sports museum.” Motes said Hamburger Mary’s Bar & Grille will be open at 11 a.m. for lunch service and close at midnight during the week and by 4 a.m. on weekends. He anticipates opening the Riverside location in lateJuly. www.hamburgermarys.com
STD & Oral HIV Testing Every Second Tuesday of Each Month By The AIDS Healthcare Foundation
Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa By Debi Perry
The award-winning Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa Southern California's only Relais & Châteaux property has garnered a reputation as one of the West's most sought-after five star resorts. A sanctuary of good living tucked away on 45 acres of lush gardens and olive groves, this Mediterranean-inspired, all-suite property near Del Mar, California completed a $30 million renovation in 2013 including remodeled guest casitas, a brand new restaurant, new bar, and completely remodeled meeting space, as well as major enhancements to The Spa and fitness center.
immerse yourself in romance with a glowing fire and a bottle of wine on your private hotel suite patio.
and throughout the area. Explore DINING - Infused with the flavors the beautiful surroundings in Rancho Santa Fe and pedal off of Rancho Santa Fe, California with our resort bicycles. Take in The talented culinary team, led a yoga class to enhance your by Executive Chef Jarrod Moiles practice and attain a sense of and Chef De Cuisine Josh Holt, inner calm. Hit the courts at our works personally with some of top-ranked tennis facility to work the country's most notable farms on your serve. Dabble in dozens to source the elements for of other diversions, all close at Rancho Valencia's cuisine, hand. ensuring only the best ingredients and freshest flavors WEDDINGS & MEETINGS Abundant in timeless luxury, possible at the two restaurants. events at Rancho Valencia are SPA - Enter the gates and truly inspired experiences. discover an enclave of possibility With lush landscaping, beautiful surroundings and open air event Tucked away amidst lush Among the property's offerings gardens and olive groves lies an space, Rancho Valencia is an are 49 luxuriously appointed enchanting venue for your enchanting escape of guest casitas with private patios, self-discovery, wellness and upcoming event. Whether you rejuvenating spa treatments and relaxation - The Spa at Rancho envision corporate meetings, a wellness-oriented fitness executive retreats or weddings Valencia. Celebrating the program at The Spa, two and celebrations with family and revitalizing benefits of herbs, distinctive restaurants - Veladora flowers, oils and minerals that friends, the hotel offers a variety and The Pony Room make up the world's canvas, our of wedding venues and meetings showcasing Rancho Valencia's spa resort in Southern California rooms - from the ballroom to farm-to-table philosophy, and an offers tempting choices to soothe gardens and everything in award-winning tennis program. between. Rancho Valencia the spirit, rejuvenate the body boasts a stellar staff, dedicated and enrich the mind. ACCOMMODATIONS - Comfort, to ensuring each and every privacy and all the amenities of ACTIVITIES - One destination. detail is executed flawlessly. home Unlimited opportunities for adventure. Wake up to a glass of To learn more visit: fresh-squeezed orange juice and With the year-round sunny www.ranchovalencia.com a newspaper delivered to your climate of Southern California, door each morning. Pamper Rancho Valencia offers guests yourself with custom-blended access to a variety of outdoor bath products. In the evening, activities on the resort grounds www.cityxtramagazine.com 23
"While there are news reports that 44 states have 'refused' to provide voter information to the Commission, these reports By Jesse Childers are patently false, more The White House has released a 'fake news'. At present, only 14 statement falsely calling reports states and the District of most states have refused to Columbia have refused the comply with Trump's Voter Commission's request for Integrity Commission's requests, publicly available voter "fake news." Yes, this White information," Kobach claims. House is so media obsessed, so "Despite media distortions and hell-bent on attacking the free obstruction by a handful of state press every chance it gets it politicians, this bipartisan uses terms like "fake news." commission on election integrity will continue its work to gather Except, the White House is the the facts through public records one that's spreading lies. requests to ensure the integrity "On June 28, the Presidential of each American's vote because Advisory Commission on the public has a right to know." Election Integrity issued a letter What, exactly, the public has a requesting that states provide right to know is unclear, but the publicly available voter data as permitted under their state laws," commission was created to prove Trump's lies that millions the statement by Kris Kobach, of people voted "illegally." the commission's vice-chair, begins. "At present, 20 states Now, some actual facts. have agreed to provide the Kobach and his commission publicly available information (technically chaired by Vice requested by the Commission President Mike Pence) and another 16 states are requested from all 50 states the reviewing which information can names, addresses, party be released under their state affiliation, voting history, partial laws," it claims. social security numbers, and
Trump’s ‘Voter Fraud’ Commission
"In all, 36 states have either agreed or are considering participating with the Commission's work to ensure the integrity of the American electoral system," Kobach, who is the attorney for an anti-immigrant hate group, continues. That number appears to be false. 26 www.cityxtramagazine.com
other information of all registered voters in the nation. So first, the Commission is operating in an illegal manner, according to Larry Schwartztol, an
ACLU litigator and Counsel of the group Protect Democracy.
"Dropping this sweeping request on the nation’s election officials also violated federal law," specifically, the Paperwork Reduction Act, Schwartztol writes, adding it also "violates federal privacy protections for the government to assemble a master database of voting records." Next, Ari Berman of The Nation, who is one of the best reporters on voting rights, makes clear exactly why Kobach is totally wrong. Berman says 20 states won't comply, 25 states will only hand over partial data, and 5 states have yet to respond. That makes 45 states not fully complying, not 44. Kobach has a bad reputation and ties to white nationalists. Berman has been named one of the “50 most influential political pundits.” Florida’s Governor Rick Scott has ordered the Secretary of State to comply with Kobach’s. The information will be kept on a White House computer by an aid to the Vice President Mike Pence. DOJ has now ordered a purge of all voter rolls in every state. Stay tuned for the lawsuits.