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dr. William Coleman Caring for Our Four-Legged Children
January 2014 Volume 5 Issue 6
President & Editor
Jade Le
4 Marriage
Advertising & Marketing
William Fernandez: (ph) 808-281-4084
Production
Kamele Eskaran Linda Giang
‘I Do’ Believe It’s About Time: Dec. 02, 2013
6 Lifestyle
Technical & Web Development Brandon Valdez
808 Boyz: Jonny on the Go-Go
8 anti-gay
video & multi-media
Ana Medina Brittney Nitta-Lee Tina Ludewig
Contributing Writers
14 community
Chris Azzopardi D’Anne Witkowski Flavia Francesquini Mickey Weems
Copy Editor Mickey Weems
Legal & Research
4
Glenn Honda, Esq.
Public relations
Same-Sex Marriage Is Legal In Hawai‘i: What’s Next?
16 politics
Drama Queens: And the Winner Is...
18 entertainment
Ana Medina Kamele Eskaran Kimo Orlando PJ Delanoza Tiffany Sabado
Letters and unsolicited content may be sent to: E-mail: info@expression808.com Mail: Letters to the Editor eXpression! Magazine P.O. Box 22487 Honolulu, HI 96823
Les and Liz’s Lez Sis
8 Minutes with Britney Spears
25 tips
Tips For the Year 2014
6
www.expression808.com to subscribe and have your current issue mailed to you Entire contents copyrighted 2008–2014 eXpression! Magazine is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. eXpression! Magazine is published monthly in Hawai‘i and welcomes manuscripts, original works and various forms of expression for publication. eXpression! Magazine reserves publication rights to submitted materials. eXpression! Magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials unless otherwise pre-agreed in writing. eXpression! Magazine does not take any financial or libel obligation to the content of its columnists. All materials submitted are consent to be original. All views and opinions are those of the writer and bear no implications on the opinions of eXpression! Magazine. Registered trademarks used within are hereby acknowledged, images and contents released and permitted. No implication regarding sexual orientation or preference is made in connection with any person, contributor, and or advertiser appearing in this publication.
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Mission Statement
to inspire Hawai‘i’s LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community by featuring people contributing positively to society.
eXpression! Magazine welcomes letters that are concise (up to 150 words). eXpression! Magazine reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and length. Letters and unsolicited content must be signed and include a daytime telephone number.
// December 2013 | 3
marr iage
‘I Do’ Believe it’s about time: Dec. 02, 2013 by Mickey Weems Shawna Puamaeole Okami-Rosehill never thought she would see the day. After waiting for 32 years, she and Kimo Rosehill finally, legally, tied the knot as wife and husband in the land of their birth. “Everything became surreal,” Shawna recalled. “My dream came true as I saw my friends in the audience watching us walk down the aisle.”
Kimo Rosehill and Shawna Puamaeole Okami-Rosehill
Shawna and Kimo could have married years earlier if they really wanted - if Shawna went through all the legal requirements to be recognized as female. But that did not sit well with her. Why should she have to conform to hetero-normative standards in order to exercise a basic right? And what about her friends that were samesex couples with no such option? Nothing, but full marriage equality would do: “I refused to do civil unions,” she said. “I believed we as a couple deserved better, so we waited.” These two were front and center at the statehouse during the marriage equality special session. Shawna recalled a particularly bad incident in which a Christian extremist looked up her skirt, “Oh, that’s a fake vagina!” he declared, and then mocked her as she waved a sign on Beretania Street. So it was with tremendous, tearful satisfaction that she and her man joined 38 other LGBT couples at the Sheraton Waikiki to marry after midnight on December 2, 2013: the date that the marriage equality law came into effect. Shawna and Kimo were one of six couples highlighted that wed immediately after midnight. The other five: Saralyn Batt and Isaja Morales were the first couple to receive a civil union when it legalized on January 1, 2012. It made see page 20
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// January 2014
REp. Chris lee
Isaja Morales and Saralyn Batt
Shaun Campbell and Tony Singh
A Snorkeling
Paradise
All photos taken from the Kai ‘Oli‘Oli.
WHALES - DOLPHINS - SNORKELING SIGHT SEEING - ADVENTURE
Whale Watch December – April
Scan & Watch Our Video
marriage committee members: michael golojuch, jr. and Tambry young
CALL (808) 677-1277 Toll Free: 1-888-677-1277 www.OceanJoyCruises.com // January 2014 | 5
Lifest y le
It’s all about the fantasy. And Jonny Blaze, founder of 808 Boyz, is a dream merchant. He delivers the goods four nights a week with his crew of go-go dancers, blending muscle with rhythm, approaching but not crossing the thin line between sexy and sex worker. The fantasy world of the club scene is nevertheless grounded in real world problems. Go-go dancers and strippers are well nigh worshipped in the gay male community. The adoration they receive can be a trap: those who tempt the crowd with their bodies are tempted to get high, high, high. They may bite the lure, shift from showing muscle 6 |
// January 2014
onstage to sex for pay (or sex for drugs) and get themselves into situations that can lead to their physical and psychological ruin. Fast money, fast lifestyle, and cocksure recklessness confront young men whose beauty cannot shield them from crashing along the way. Blaze is all about keeping his Boyz off the path to disaster, and he has the background training to do so. Born on O‘ahu and raised in Mililani, Blaze got a job in social services after graduating from college. He eventually became a case manager and put in seven years counseling dual diagnosed (mentally ill/substance abuse) adults. But he wanted a life that
revolved around more than just his job. “I decided I wanted to make some relatively easy and good extra income to help offset the costs of my home mortgage and new vehicle,” he said in his interview with eXpression! Magazine. “I also needed some balance from my full time occupation and an outlet to release some stress.” So now he has a life that other men only dream of, one that is sexy, fun and dedicated to the best interests of his crew. Blaze agreed to speak with eXpression! about the difference between a go-go boy and a dick dancer (stripper), the rules of the game for dancers and audience,
why his dancers’ performances are so vanilla (sexually conservative), and the hard reality surrounding the dream. How did 808 boyz get started? To make a long story short, Hula’s Bar & Lei Stand in Waikiki wanted to promote an event on Thursdays called RIOT! So I, along with a friend who was a go-go dancer at the time approached the event promoter and said that we would gladly help promote it with a group of our very own go-go’s. I came up with the name “808 Boyz” and brought in some fresh faces to the scene. Over time, we began to get more recognition and the responses
Lifestyle to take their place on stage. No stripping and “hot seat” performances, or walking into the crowd wearing G-strings. There is no physical contact involved with go-go dancing other than tucking a bill into a waistband. It’s much more vanilla in that aspect compared to stripping.
by Mickey weems photos JTL
Some places outside of Hawai‘i are more risqué, aren’t they? I have been to Mardi Gras at a bar called OZ in New Orleans and they are a far cry from being vanilla! Their go-go’s dance on top of the bars and sometimes take it all off with only a cup to cover the frontal view. Another example is in Las Vegas at a nightclub called Share. The go-go’s there strip down sometimes, and are also invited to private rooms by the clientele to perform.
were positive. Eventually, it went from one Thursday night to four nights a week [ThursdaySunday]. It has now been eight years since, and still going strong. Let’s talk the nuts and bolts of professional dancing for gay male establishments. What is the difference between a go-go boy and a dick-dancer? It’s funny you ask since the majority of the people seem to think we are pretty much the same thing, but there really is a difference. Go-go boys basically perform for a certain amount of time until the next one rotates
With your experience in helping people in trouble, do you find yourself mentoring some of your Boyz? Yes, given my background in the social services field as a case manager, I tend to be a good listener, a positive role model, and a friend to my 808 Boyz as much as possible: not just a boss. I have a relatively good reputation in the community to uphold – the guys also reflect upon me and 808 Boyz as a group. Does go-go dancing ever cause issues with significant others? Yes, jealousy definitely happens in that respect, but the other half should be understanding and
know that what we do is left on stage. The club world is an easy place to get caught up in the drug scene to the point of engaging in pnp [“party ’n’ play,” sex for drugs], and to dabble in sex work. Have drugs and reckless behavior been issues for 808 Boyz? It has with regards to substance abuse. I don’t condone it... Given my occupation working in the field with substance abuse, it became natural for me to counsel some of the Boyz on the side. However, outside of the club scene it is out of my control. Basically, if they were under the influence, they would be asked to leave and not perform. In recent years, it hasn’t been an issue - thank goodness. What are the guidelines the Boyz must follow? The house rules while performing: No leaving the stage to go into the crowd, no exposing the front or rear at anytime, and not doing anything that is inappropriate - like touching oneself in a provocative manner while performing on stage. And the clientele? Patrons aren’t allowed to touch or grope the Boyz while they are performing, and also aren’t allowed on stage due to liability issues. Hugs and such are okay. Just nothing too inappropriate, which happens at times when a patron is drunk or overzealous. Lionel, Hula’s security, is there to regulate if necessary.
What is the proper role of fantasy in the go-go boy-worshipful admirer relationship? Proper role of fantasy? Hmmmm... a lot of the patrons tend to enjoy the fantasy of a straight dancer or a military man. I have a few dancers that are actually straight. I’m constantly asked when a new dancer is introduced to the scene, “Are they gay or straight?” For me, it doesn’t make a difference. Can you give our readers some tips for getting in go-go boy shape? Take selfies in the mirror. Just kidding! Well, for me personally it is. JONNY BLAZE’S 10 COMMANDMENTS FOR GAINING MUSCLE: 1. Watch your diet. Seriously. 2. Drink lots of water. 3. Get adequate rest. 4. Hit the gym regularly, at least three times a week. 5. Get some cardio, whether you like it or not (I for one don’t). 6. Eat Lots of protein! Coco puffs are not a protein source. 7. Take vitamin supplements. 8. Take whey protein supplements. I have 2-3 whey protein shakes daily. 9. Lift heavy weights doing each set to muscle failure. 10. A good massage does wonders for muscle tissue repair and recovery. Watch behind the scenes video: www.expression808.com
(l-r) Angelo Joseph Maldonado, Jonny Blaze, Jerad Siekawitch, Jonathan Lopez Barrera, Jonathan Weeks, Anthony Lopez Casciano
// January 2014 | 7
Anti-G ay
Liz Cheney
by D’Anne Witkowski
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// January 2014
One of the anti-gay right’s favorite arguments is that the gays are actually the intolerant ones. It’s a pretty laughable premise, actually. When it is proposed that LGBT people shouldn’t be protected from workplace discrimination, that same-sex couples shouldn’t be allowed to get married, that transgender folks should be put in camps, that gays should be stoned to death: LGBT people and their allies understandably protest. And then we are accused of being intolerant of our persecutors’ religious or moral beliefs.
Right-wing broadcaster Les Kinsolving has an especially insulting take on “tolerance” in a guest column posted on World Net Daily on Dec. 2. For the uninitiated, WND is a rabbit hole of hate and lies by and for right-wing luminaries. The hot subject on WND right now is Nelson Mandela, and how he was a Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Person.
Anti-Gay
Kinsolving’s column, however, focused on Mary Cheney and what an intolerant dyke she is. Kinsolving writes wistfully, “There was once a day in this nation when lesbians and others with alternate sexual orientations were comparatively mute.” If Kinsolving could get his hands on a time machine he would take it back to 1969 to stop the Stonewall Riots. Kinsolving continues, “There has developed a militancy that may well know no bounds, and that has torn apart the family of the former vice president of the United States.” Mary Cheney, as we all know, is a lesbian. Liz Cheney, her sister, is a candidate for the U.S. Senate. And Liz “does not believe in same-sex marriage,” which is a stupid thing to say since same-sex marriage is an actual thing. The same goes for people who say, “I don’t believe in organized religion” because, duh, organized religion is real. So you’re either saying you don’t think it exists, or what you
if she were polyandrous (female polygamy), a pedophile, incestuous or necrophiliac?”
Heather Poe, Mary Cheney really mean is that you don’t practice it or like it or whatever. For Liz’s stance on “same-sex marriage,” Kinsolving writes, “She has been publicly denounced by her militant lesbian sister, Mary Cheney, and Mary’s similarly militant lesbian mate, Heather Poe.” Poor Dick Cheney and his family torn apart by lesbian militants. Makes you wonder why terrible things happen to terrible people.
and Mary is holding out until Liz changes her tune. He then quotes Mary as saying, “Liz’s position is to treat my family as second-class citizens. That’s not a position I can be ‘lovingly tolerant’ toward.” Kinsolving writes, “This really begs a question: How would lesbian Mary expect her sister to regard her orientation
Actually, it does not beg that question at all. Not only is equating lesbianism with polygamy, pedophilia, and necrophilia insulting, it’s a clear attempt to dehumanize Mary Cheney and Heather Poe, and to excuse Liz Cheney’s shitty treatment of her family for her own political gain. In Kinsolving’s world, Mary is the intolerant person in this equation because she’s calling out her sister for being an asshole instead of letting Liz slap her in the face and responding, “Thank you sister, may I have another?” I say Hail Mary! - For calling bullshit when she sees it.
Kinsolving reports that the Cheney sisters aren’t speaking,
There was once a day in this nation when lesbians and others with alternate sexual orientations were comparatively mute.
// January 2014 | 9
Cove r S tory
by: Flavia Francesquini
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Photos: JTL
// January 2014
Cover S to ry
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” – Mahatma Gandhi Buster was the greatest dog who ever lived. Or maybe it was Howard, or Koa, or Shayne; maybe it was Maile. Dog owners everywhere can attest to this one fact: They own the world’s best dogs – even when their dogs are behaviorally challenged. The same can be said about cats. Countless folks go home to their feline companions everyday and can’t imagine a better cat anywhere in the planet. In the event that our pets get sick, we want our vets to think of them the way we do: as our loyal and beloved family members. Good veterinarians know this about their clients. William Coleman is a kind and soft-spoken man. We agreed to talk when he woke up at 4pm – he is an emergency vet who owns an animal hospital and oversees the night shift with the dedication of a monk.
// January 2014 | 11
Cove r S tory
Dr. Coleman was born to a very conservative family in Georgia. His father, a forester, would frequently find little creatures in need of help and bring them home. Invariably Coleman was able to care from them. “There was always a little squirrel or some other small animal who had gotten hurt or was too young to survive on their own, and I would keep them until they were feeling better,” he remembered. “Everyone thought I should be a vet, but I really wanted to be an architect.” Despite his love for architecture, Coleman went on to become an emergency vet, to the benefit of countless animals. After graduating, Coleman moved to Colorado with some of his college buddies and worked with seven other emergency doctors for the next several years. “We didn’t get much sleep then, but it just becomes part of your life.” Life in Colorado and the distance from his family allowed Coleman to explore feelings he had tried to suppress all his life: his interest in a same-sex relationship. Coleman had dated women and had even been engaged during his college years. His relationship with his ex had been so genuinely based on friendship, that she was the first person he came out to all those years ago. “She was actually very nice about it,” he said. “We are still friends and I am glad she was in my life.” Coming out was not a walk in the park for Coleman. Like so
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// January 2014
“Years ago, I went to a therapist looking to change, to become straight!”
Cover S to ry
W i l l i a m C a r i n g many in our community, he struggled with fears of rejection, disappointing his parents, facing his true self and not being able to turn back. When he did decide to deal with his feelings, he found the right person at the right time. “Years ago, I went to a therapist looking to change, to become straight! Luckily, he listened to me and then told me that he could not help me to change, but he could help me to accept myself as I am.” In 2002, he met Chris Frendreis, an entrepreneur who swept Coleman off his feet. With a three-hour drive each way between them, it is hard to imagine that their relationship would last, but they commuted for six years. They visited Hawai‘i about seven years ago and fell in love with the islands. “On the way home we started talking about ways in which we could go about moving here!” Almost two years later, they made the big move.
f o r
O u r
C o l e m a n :
F o u r - L e g g e d
On their way to Hawai‘i, they stopped in San Francisco and made it legal by getting married. “It was around the time Prop 8 was up for votes,” he said, “but we made it. We married on Halloween, then we had a party in Hawai‘i.” Coleman’s parents, however, have yet to come to terms with his life choice. “Chris’ family is very supportive, but my parents grew up in a small town. They’ve been very conservative all their lives, very Republican, very religious, and gay is not okay with them. They fear for me.” Despite the struggles, he is still very close with his mother, “My mom either calls or texts me at least once a day.” Once in Hawai‘i, Coleman soon realized that there was only one emergency clinic in O‘ahu, and the idea to open an animal hospital was born. Coleman enlisted his husband’s business skills, and Frendreis assumed the role of Director of Operations. In January of 2012, they opened the doors
to Veterinary Emergency and Referral Center of Hawai‘i on Ala Moana Boulevard. They have built their practice steadily, and today they have eight doctors – five of which are specialists – and 40 employees. Coleman has finally put his love for architecture to good use by overseeing and even designing parts of the hospital. They see mostly cats and dogs. Coleman has noted a particular difference in the patients he sees now when compared to his Colorado clientele: “In Colorado there is a lot of room. Houses are big and yards are huge so people tend to have large dogs. Here we have a space problem – most people live in apartments, so little breeds are much more popular.” The exception to the size rule applies to Pit Bulls. “I often joke that Chihuahuas and Pit Bulls are the state dogs. Because of their size you don’t see them everywhere, but Pits are still amongst the favorites with locals.” This difference in
C h i l d r e n patient population brings a difference in the kinds of problems Coleman treats. “Big dogs tend to have more problems related to joints, hips, and hearts, while the little guys most often suffer from skin and teeth problems.” If the patients are different in Hawai‘i, so are their owners. “People are very connected with their animals here. Perhaps it is part of the Buddhist philosophy to respect all lives that’s somehow ingrained in the culture, but I find that folks here don’t measure efforts in what they’ll do to save their pets’ lives. It’s quite amazing!” Although it is true that we can go a little nutty over our four-legged babies, there is still a considerable amount of animal neglect in Hawai‘i. “Socioeconomics play a part on one’s ability to, or even desire to care for their pets, but it’s not really an excuse,” said Coleman. (Folks who witness animal cruelty can place an anonymous call to the Humane Society).
Coleman suggested a few basic rules to keep pets safe year-round: NEVER leave a pet in a car Heat exhaustion is deadly and unfortunately very common in warm places like Hawai‘i. Always make sure to have fresh water available. Keep pets – especially furry ones – well protected against fleas and ticks They spread nasty diseases that can actually kill your pet and make you sick as well. These pests can be carriers of the virus that causes Meningoencephalitis, an inflammatory disease that infects the brain and causes a loss of nervous system function.
Watch where your pet swims and drinks water Look for warning signs of possible Leptospirosis, a disease that can be fatal to animals and people alike. It has been called the great imitator because its symptoms are flu-like, which makes it difficult to diagnose. Keep up with preventative alternatives Avoid unnecessary risks. Vaccines, heartworm prevention medicine and insect repellent are easier to administer, cheaper than treatment of a serious condition, and can ensure that pets will live a longer, healthier life.
// january 2014 | 13
Comm unity
Same-Sex Marriage Is Legal In Hawai‘i: by Mickey Weems
At the dawn of 2014, the door is wide open for marriage equality nationwide, and it is possible at least half the American population will live in states that recognize same-sex marriages. Some people believe that the worst is over, and they may be right. But anti-LGBT bias is still a major force in the halls of power and in the lives of everyday people. We still have issues that need to be addressed.
Bullying: The Youth and Safe Schools Too many people believe that bullying “Our youth are still bearing the brunt LGBT folks is appropriate behavior years of societal intolerance for lifestyles perceived as unnatural by – the fact that Westboro Baptist Church is still allowed to picket funerals is many,” said Gigi Lee, co-chair of the proof. We must be willing to change Equality Hawai‘i Foundation. “Marriage the law to stop people who verbally equality is a great step in the right abuse the innocent, including the dead. direction in sending a message to our young people that at least it is now Although we do not have bullies like Westboro Baptist here on the Islands, legal to be gay. We are putting all of bullies still stalk our children in Hawai‘i our efforts moving forward into making it safe to be gay.” schools and on our streets.
Employment Discrimination Surveys, polls and wage data indicate that employment discrimination against LGBT people is persistent and pervasive, according to new research conducted by UCLA’s Williams Institute. Research further indicates that enforcement of anti-discrimination protections is not overly burdensome and businesses generally support non-discrimination policies.
The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which would protect against sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination, now awaits consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Ex-Gay Therapy Right in line with the freedom to bully, is the right to offer bogus cures (scams) for homosexuality. People desperate for acceptance in their religious communities are coerced into hating themselves, then given false hope for a cure that does not exist. What is even worse, is when those treated are minors with no control over what is done to them. Hawai‘i should join California and New Jersey in outlawing this quackery. As with laws against bullying, a law against ex-gay therapy has far-reaching implications. It could lead to a wider moratorium on all kinds of religious tomfoolery designed to wrap individuals’ minds and hearts in a cocoon controlled by questionable organizations.
see page 26
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// january 2014
// January 2014 | 15
politics
And The Winner Is... by Mickey Weems The special session to legalize marriage equality inspired earnest, anti-gay performances delivered in the spirit of Christ-like love from thousands of people. But the best ones were delivered by seasoned actors in the Hawai‘i Senate and House of Representatives. Six of these thespians gave the performances of their lives: Representatives Richard Fale, Sharon Har, Gene Ward, Jo Jordan, Bob McDermott and Senator Donna Kim. Of these gifted superstars, only McDermott has continued to push against the new law. We can expect more fine performances from the other five if enough
// January 2014
Or maybe not. Perhaps they will discover that working against the gay community does not give them sufficient political capital. It could even be that displays of intolerance last October-November might cost some of them their seats. As a community, this is something we should strive to make happen in the next election cycle. Let us take a look at the actors - what they did during the special session, and what they have done since.
Representative Richard Fale
Representative Sharon Har
His soaring oratory, impasioned hand gestures and athletic marathons on the stairs connecting the House floor to Christianist chanters outside in the rotunda mark him for stardom, or at least made-for-TV versions of Elmer Gantry and Raging Bull if he ever learns to sit still. Fans can only pray that they might someday see Fale in a future episode of Hawai‘i 5-0, sprinting after a villain with as much energy as he spent trying to run down LGBT rights.
If Fale was a shining, sweaty Rocky Balboa during the hearings, Har was a sexy Lady MacBeth, a vision of feminine fury as she denounced her colleagues that got in the way of traditional marriage. Imagine her in full Al Pachino/And Justice For All mode: “No, Mr. Speaker, you’re out of order! This whole special session is out of order!” If Hollywood did a remake of the funky gun-toting vigilante angel Cleopatra Jones, the director need look no further. No doubt Har would werq some bellbottom pants.
Since his utter failure to halt the march of history, Fale has done nothing of note. Perhaps he lost his voice while hitting the bullhorn during the special session: much like a pot fiend hitting a bong one too many times.
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homophobic congregations are willing to raise money for them in the next election cycle.
Like Fale, Har has not gone public with any more righteous anger since her special session jeremiad, although it is difficult to believe she is suddenly okay with gay folks as her equals. Then again, maybe it really was just an act, and she is awaiting her Oscar.
politics
Representative Bob McDermott
Representative Gene Ward One of the most beloved roles in American cinema is the boring professor, a role that Ward has perfected as if born for the part. If he learned to say “M’kay?” he could be the perfect Mr. Mackey from South Park. Twice during the special session, Ward’s microphone was cut off. He said he was being unfairly silenced, prevented from voicing his support for traditional marriage. But in reality, perhaps it was to keep his fellow representatives from slitting their wrists. Ward has continued to drone on the subject of marriage equality. His hilarious attempts to walk back a statement he made comparing the passage of marriage equality to the terrorist attacks on 9/11 might land him his own HBO comedy series – they could call it Psyche Ward – with fellow snoremeister Senator Sam Slom, starring as his nutty senile sidekick.
Senator Donna Mercado Kim Representative Jo Jordan Speaking of thespians, let’s talk Jo. Her coming-out-yetnot-supporting-the-LGBT-community performance brought tears to the eyes of ethically challenged politicians around the globe. Jordan was every bit as earnest as she was incoherent, going full Jody Foster in her masterful rendition of cognitive dissonance. And like Ms. Foster at the Academy Awards 2013, Jordan’s tortured testimony was rich in compassion and congratulations. All of it generously extended to herself, for standing up to haters who just could not see her for who she was: a woman of principle. Never before has the House floor seen such a stirring portrayal of political suicide. So far, not a whole lot from Jo(dy) since her weepy speeches.
As chair of the Senate on the last day of the special session, Kim’s cool demeanor in the face of defeat was nothing short of astonishing. Those who did not know her might have assumed she was on the right side of history. But nothing could be further from the truth – only the subtlest of clues revealed her displeasure with the outcome on that day: proof that a jaw clench can say so much more than mere words. Of all those in the anti-gay gang of six, Kim is easily the finest of the bunch. She remained chill and, for the most part, classy, successfully avoiding future surgery to remove her foot from her mouth. That way, she looks less like an ignorant bigot as she runs for the U.S. House of Representatives against candidates that could easily be judged better educated than she.
At the other end of the spectrum from Kim is McDermott, a representative who appears to have fallen head-over-heels in love with his own voice. McDermott was mugging the cameras every chance he could, pleading with anyone within earshot to just listen to him. Even after marriage equality passed, he kept on talking. Unlike his good buddy Ward, McDermott’s voice is not a stupefying sedative, but rather a mild irritant, like cayenne pepper in a glass of Pog. Hearing him at the microphone is like wearing wet underwear: the longer it is on, the more uncomfortable it feels. We can expect McDermott to continue his crusade defending the freedom of bigots to oppress those they do not like. Unfortunately, he has no future in movies or TV because he has yet to figure out when to shut up, take a bow and leave the stage. His insistence upon being the center of attention by climbing on the backs of LGBT folks may be less of an actor’s bid for publicity, and more a manifestation of unresolved “Mommy/Daddy, look at me!” issues.
// January 2014 | 17
Ente rtainment
by Chris Azzopardi photos by Michelangelo Di Battista
Pop star on (not) being a gay icon, feeling like an outsider and that “adorable and hilarious” comment “It’s Britney, bitch.” No, really, it is. She’s on the phone. And Britney Spears – the meek, reserved, mediashy entertainer – doesn’t get on the phone with press very often these days. She’s speaking to me from L.A. on a busy day full of frenzied promo leading up to her eighth release, Britney Jean, when she drops the word that elicited eye rolls from some in the gay community.
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// January 2014
The word is “adorable,” and Spears – who, in a radio interview with San Francisco radio station 99.7 NOW FM, used it to describe her beauty team (they’re also “hilarious,” she said at the time) – mentions it to me when I ask her how wild the gay boys go when they’re in the midst of their pop princess. “They’re adorable,” says Spears, 32. “They’re absolutely adorable.” It seems like an appropriate time to tell her how that “adorable and
hilarious” comment went viral and rubbed some the wrong way. “Wait, what? Who felt the other way?” she asks, sincerely concerned she’s offended people, and even a little lost. You get the impression Britney Spears doesn’t Google herself. So, I fill her in. “I would never say anything to be mean to
Entertainment
them. I love my gay fans. Gay people are always usually my best friends in the whole world,” she says. “I completely adore them.” Considering the pop star’s clout in the gay community, it’s obviously mutual. From the then-17-year-old’s sexually suggestive breakout hit, “... Baby One More Time” – when the once-Mouseketeer, dressed in that iconic Catholic schoolgirl getup, merged childhood innocence with the onset of sexual desire – to “Toxic,” easily one of the greatest gay club jams of the aughts, Spears has influenced the queens and queers of the dance floor as much as they’ve influenced her. “I get inspiration from them on almost all of my songs,” Spears says of her
gay fans. “They’re somewhat girls, so it’s so inspiring to do stuff that they like to hear, like the cool ‘in’ stuff. Whatever I do for each record is definitely inspired by them.” If you’ve heard 2007’s defiantly bold Blackout and its pop-dance follow-up Circus, and then, obviously, Femme Fatale, you know Spears isn’t just full of it. These are really gay albums. But her gayest? Is it Britney Jean? “I would say so, yes,” Spears says, sounding almost unsure, as if the gayness exists equitably on all her releases (and, really, it does). “I just feel like it has that feeling. You
can’t really put your finger on it. It just really has that feeling of ... that.” “Work Bitch” has the feeling of “that” – of gay – so much so that Spears herself has said it’s a salute to her queer fans. The title is “a term of endearment” and was inspired by gay patter among her pals. What other queer street slang has she picked up from them? She snickers, letting her Louisiana drawl fully flex. “I don’t really know that much. I mean, I hang out with gays all the time. They always surprise me. It changes weekly, you know?”
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marr iage from page 4 perfect sense to them to fly to O‘ahu from their home in Pahoa on the Big Island and be among the first people to solemnize their marriages. Donna Gedge and Monica Montgomery with 35 years together, hold the record among the six couples for having the longest romantic relationship. In addition to their December 2 wedding, both also had a civil union ceremony on the first day of 2012. The shortest romantic relationship of the six just under five years, is that of Tony Singh and Shaun Campbell. Both men have been in Hawai‘i for two decades, but fell in love five years ago. Tony is originally from Guyana, a country where homosexuality can be punishable by life in prison. Shaun was raised in Utah, so he no doubt understands what it is like to be from a place that does not accept us as we are. Tony and Shaun’s legally recognized marriage will be a big help in Tony’s immigration asylum proceedings. Proudly representing the ursine brotherhood as Vice President and International Director of Aloha Bears are Gary Bradley and Paul Perry. Leaving his home in Australia,
Monica Montgomery and Donna Gedge
chris nelson and jonipher Kwong photo by: Dwight Morita
Renea Stewart and Lisa Veneri
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Paul moved to Hawai‘i two years ago to be with Gary. The ceremony on December 2 was their third official commitment to each other in the five years they have shared with each other: First, a reciprocal beneficiary registration before civil unions were legalized, then a civil union and finally marriage. Keola Akana and Ethan Wung have been together six years since falling in love two years after Ethan moved to Hawai‘i from Massachusetts. Keola is a kama‘aina who has been pushing for marriage equality since the first lawsuit, Baehr v. Lewin (later called Baehr v. Miike), in 1990. Keola and Ethan opted for a civil union before their wedding on December 2.
Gary Bradley and Paul Perry
Keola Akana and Ethan Wung
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Dec. 02, 2013 Day One of Marriage Equality In addition to the 39 couples who celebrated their nuptials at the Sheraton Waikiki, eXpression! congratulates Reverend Jonipher Kwong of the First Unitarian Church and his husband Chris Nelson, who married at 12:01 a.m. in the First Unitarian Church of Honolulu, as well as Renea Stewart and Lisa Veneri, who held their wedding at the Hilton Waikiki Beach Hotel later that same afternoon. “There are so many people in Hawai‘i who have waited a long time for this day to finally arrive. Our groups knew we had to step up and do this for our community,” said Tambry Young of Citizens for Equal Rights and member of the Hawai‘i Marriage Equality Celebration Committee (HMECC) that sponsored the December 2 event at the Sheraton Waikiki.
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Lyra Johnson and Senator Will Espero 22 |
// January 2014
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Ente rtainment
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“The slang you learn?” I ask, just to be clear. “Yeah.” So maybe Spears doesn’t watch RuPaul’s Drag Race on the regular, maybe she isn’t out getting all crazy at the gay clubs (she tells me that being a mom doesn’t allow for nights out with her friends at queer bars, but before children: “Yeah, always”), but part of her – a part she’s not really addressed until now – can empathize with the plight of growing up gay. “Alien,” one of the most selfreflective tracks on Britney Jean, alludes to her own feelings of being an outcast, of being alone, of being Britney Spears: “Had to get used to the world I was on - While yet still unsure if I knew where I belong - That was then, like an alien.” “The song is basically about when you’re all alone
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and you feel like you’re alienated from the world,” Spears says. “I think it’s human nature. We all innately do that sometimes and keep to ourselves, and that’s what the song is about.” It was during her second release, 2000’s Oops! ... I Did It Again, with its self-empowerment mantra “Stronger,” that she recognized a big gay following. “I really started noticing more coming to the shows,” Spears recalls. “People were emulating my clothes and wearing the same outfits, and it was just really fun.” Through the years, she’s met many of these gay boys after shows, where, she says, “a couple of them have told me about their heartbreaks and shared stories about their boyfriends, which has been really kind of sweet.” I tell her we relate to people who fall down and get
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tips
2014 by Flavia Francesquini Certified wellness counselor and life coach
The first day of January signifies a new beginning, a blank slate and of course, a new chapter. Such clichés are hard to take seriously – what made January 1, 2014 different from any other Wednesday? People who have made New Year’s resolutions knows the feeling of failure when they can’t keep them up past Valentine’s Day. Have we really grown so cynical that we can’t even believe the promises we make to ourselves? It is entirely possible. And yet, because I still love the poetic simplicity of the date, 1-1, I will turn the cynicism around me into my best resolutions yet. In 2014, I will not allow broken belief systems to attach themselves to me. I will instead create my own list, and then allow myself to change my mind as my reality changes throughout the year. I will treat the incoming year as a leg of a great journey. With that in mind, I shall pack carefully and travel light. Come along with me:
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• Let us forget the gossip and bring the encouragement • Leave the stress and bring the exuberance • Ditch popularity and bring friendship • Dump pride and bring wisdom • Discard noise and bring peaceful solitude • Forsake the not now and bring the let’s try it • Get rid of the fear and bring the curiosity • Cast off the preconceived and bring an open mind • Abandon greed and bring gratitude • Renounce the need and bring the give • Throw out the GPS and bring the adventure And to ensure that we will last past January in our endeavors to become, rather than assimilate: • Let’s play more and worry less • Love more and predict less • Move more and escape less • Work less and laugh more • Concentrate more on being better people than better players • Embrace our inabilities and celebrate our talents • Try something revolutionary, become more by having less • Become more compassionate by having less feelings of superiority • Be more appreciative by feeling less entitled • Become more satisfied by being less disparaging • Let’s become more loving by having less fear • Let us remember to be joyful!
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Transphobia With few exceptions, groups antagonistic to same-sex orientation tend to be even more negative regarding trans identities. Bullying and pressure to gender-conform, including therapy for that purpose, are huge problems for transpeople, especially trans youth. At its heart, transphobia is rooted in an understanding of the universe that is more basic and visceral than religious dogma: 1. The universe itself designed life forms with two biological sexes: strictly for the purpose of reproduction. 2. Gender identities as feminine or masculine are mutually exclusive, and should be tied solely to one’s sexual physiology as female or male, respectively. 3. The only practical purpose of erotic-romantic attraction is making babies. 4. Any variation of individuals outside of these three principles is a sure sign of a physical or psychological defect. The greatest success in correcting faulty assumptions about sexual physiology, gender and orientation has been the rise in public acceptance of same-sex attraction. Some progress has been made in Hawai‘i, such as guaranteeing the right to a properly gendered driver’s license. But there is so much more work to do for our trans siblings, including those who face discrimination in the workplace, and who cannot openly serve in the U.S. military.
Intersexphobia Due to the same errors in logic that lead to trans-bashing, intersex people continue to face oppression and physical mutilation, oftentimes soon after they are born. Surgeries designed to make such individuals into hetero-normal beings result in health problems, significantly decreased abilities to feel erotic pleasure, and chronic psychological agony even before the onset of puberty. Laws guaranteeing the intersex person’s right to choose or reject surgical options at an appropriate age should be passed in Hawai‘i, as well as protections against bullying for not conforming to a polarized model of male/masculine and female/feminine.
Allies Representative Chris Lee, a man who stood by us through thick and thin, is under attack for supporting LGBT rights. Religious extremists are fundraising to replace him with an anti-marriage equality candidate, and Lee’s situation is not unique. If enough progressive members of congress lose their seats, it is not too late for newly elected homophobic legislators to reverse the recent gains we have made. According to Michael Golojuch, Jr. of the Democratic LGBT Caucus, allies who helped us achieve marriage equality deserve our help in return. “Our community has a lot of debts to repay,” observed Golojuch. “For example, we need to support raising the minimum wage, and we need to support women’s reproductive rights because in other states, our enemies have turned their sights on those issues when they lost on the marriage front.”
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F r o m shy person,” Spears admits. I right back up. Spears, for all her success, has been to the top, ask, “Would you say you felt like an outsider then?” Her voice but not without seeing the bottom. Between 2006 and 2008, drops. “A little bit, yeah.” Spears divorced Kevin Federline, Because she felt different as a fought tirelessly for the custody of her two boys, and sobered kid, but also, of course, musically – Spears, despite her up at a drug rehab facility. There was also the panty-less public ups and downs, has been a mainstay in the queer scene partying, the British accent, the for the last 15 years – I wonder head-shaving and the time she attacked a paparazzi with an if Britney considers herself what umbrella. Life was looking bleak many call her: a gay icon. for Spears then, and she knew “I don’t know about that,” she it. On “Piece of Me,” a track off says, surprisingly frank. “But I Blackout, Spears called herself “Miss Bad Media Karma.” know I do have gay fans.” I remind her that a large part of the community sees her as a But when she talks about the gay icon. Her response? “That’s time she felt alienated, there’s nice. I don’t know about that.” no mention of this more recent regrettable history. It’s clear – But surely she’s thought about not just from our chat, but the her status in the gay community, rare times she’s been on the right? “Not really, no.” phone with a journalist in the last five years – that she doesn’t What about equal marriage? care to look back. For the most Would Britney like to see her gay part, anyway. “Since I was in friends (she tells me later, via high school, I’ve been kind of a
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email, that she has an “amazing” because obviously – but also relationship with them, many “look forward to a really good time. They’re gonna definitely of which are her dancers) – get married? feel like they’re a part of a show.” “Yeah,” she says. Then silence. “Yeah, it would be a special moment.” “So you believe gay people deserve equal rights?” “Yeah,” she assures. “I think everyone should be treated equally.” At this point, seven minutes into the conversation, a publicist grabs Spears’ attention. She tells me to hang on a second. Because she’s getting whisked away for a Britney Jean listening session that she’s already late to, “This has to be the last question,” she informs, sounding distracted.
Milking every second of my scheduled 10 minutes with her by sneaking in one final question, I ask her which girl kiss she preferred: the cheek peck Rihanna gave her during the 2011 Billboard Awards, or the legendary Madonna lip-lock at the Video Music Awards? There’s brief silence, a “Thank you” and then a sudden click. That’s it. Our eight minutes together. And just like that, Britney Spears gives exactly what she promised: a piece of her.
I ask about Las Vegas, where she’s launching her two-year residency, Britney: Piece of Me, at Planet Hollywood. Expect half-naked men – she says,
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