SOUTHERN WITH A GAY TWIST
12.30.16 V7-25
5 Resolutions Every Gay Man Should Make return of Love BY JESSEE PRIME
tran quil fenuxe_issue_174.indd 1
12/26/16 9:57 PM
S:14.75”
TRIUMEQ is a once-a-day pill used to treat HIV-1. In some people, TRIUMEQ should not be used by itself. Take TRIUMEQ exactly as your healthcare provider tells you. APPROVED USES TRIUMEQ is a prescription HIV-1 (Human Immunodeficiency Virus-type 1) medicine used alone or with other antiretroviral medicines to treat HIV-1 infection in adults. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS. TRIUMEQ is not for use by itself in people who have or have had resistance to abacavir, dolutegravir, or lamivudine. TRIUMEQ should not be used in children under the age of 18. TRIUMEQ does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. You must keep taking HIV-1 medicines to control HIV-1 infection and decrease HIV-related illnesses.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION What is the most important information I should know about TRIUMEQ? TRIUMEQ can cause serious side effects, including: • Serious allergic reactions (hypersensitivity reaction) that can cause death have happened with TRIUMEQ and other abacavir-containing products. Your risk of this allergic reaction to abacavir is much higher if you have a gene variation called HLA-B*5701. Your healthcare provider can determine with a blood test if you have this gene variation. If you get symptoms from 2 or more of the following groups while taking TRIUMEQ, call your healthcare provider right away: 1. fever; 2. rash; 3. nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach pain; 4. generally ill feeling, extreme tiredness, or achiness; 5. shortness of breath, cough, or sore throat. Your pharmacist will give you a Warning Card with a list of these symptoms. Carry this Warning Card with you at all times. If you stop taking TRIUMEQ because of an allergic reaction, never take TRIUMEQ or any other abacavir- or dolutegravir-containing medicines again. If you take TRIUMEQ or any other abacavir-containing medicine again after you have had an allergic reaction, within hours you may get lifethreatening symptoms that may include very low blood pressure or death. If you stop TRIUMEQ for any other reason, even for a few days, and you are not allergic to TRIUMEQ, talk with your healthcare provider before taking it again. Taking TRIUMEQ again can cause a serious allergic or life-threatening reaction, even if you never had an allergic reaction to it before. If your healthcare provider tells you that you can take TRIUMEQ again, start taking it when you are around medical help or people who can call a healthcare provider if you need one. • A buildup of acid in your blood (lactic acidosis). Lactic acidosis can happen in some people who take TRIUMEQ. This serious medical emergency can cause death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you feel very weak or tired; have unusual muscle pain; have trouble breathing; have stomach pain with nausea and vomiting; feel cold, especially in your arms and legs; feel dizzy/light-headed; or have a fast/irregular heartbeat. • Serious liver problems can happen in people who take TRIUMEQ. In some cases, these serious liver problems can lead to death. You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or serious liver problems if you are female, very overweight (obese), or have been taking nucleoside analogue medicines for a long time. Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following signs or symptoms: • yellow skin, or the white part of the eyes turns yellow (jaundice); dark urine; light-colored stools; loss of appetite for several days or longer; nausea; pain, aching, or tenderness on the right side of your stomach area • Worsening of hepatitis B virus in people who have HIV-1 infection. If you have HIV-1 and hepatitis B virus (HBV), your HBV may get worse (flare-up) if you stop taking TRIUMEQ. A “flare-up” is when your HBV suddenly returns in a worse way than before. Worsening liver disease can be serious and may lead to death. Do not stop taking TRIUMEQ without first talking to your healthcare provider, so he or she can monitor your health. • Resistant hepatitis B virus. If you have HIV-1 and hepatitis B, the hepatitis B virus can change (mutate) during your treatment with TRIUMEQ and become harder to treat (resistant).
• Use with interferon and ribavirin-based regimens. If you’re taking TRIUMEQ and interferon, with or without ribavirin, tell your healthcare provider about any new symptoms. Worsening of liver disease that has caused death has happened in people infected with both HIV-1 and hepatitis C who were taking antiretroviral medicines and interferon. Who should not take TRIUMEQ? • Do not take TRIUMEQ if you: • have the HLA-B*5701 gene variation • are allergic to abacavir, dolutegravir, or any of the ingredients in TRIUMEQ • take dofetilide (Tikosyn®) • have liver or kidney problems What are other possible side effects of TRIUMEQ? • People with a history of hepatitis B or C virus may have an increased risk of developing new or worsening changes in certain liver tests during treatment with TRIUMEQ. Your healthcare provider may do tests to check your liver function before and during treatment with TRIUMEQ. • When you start taking HIV-1 medicines, your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that have been hidden in your body for a long time. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you start having new symptoms after you start taking TRIUMEQ. • Changes in body fat can happen in people who take HIV-1 medicines. • Some HIV-1 medicines, including TRIUMEQ, may increase your risk of heart attack. The most common side effects of TRIUMEQ include: trouble sleeping, headache, tiredness These are not all the possible side effects of TRIUMEQ. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking TRIUMEQ? • Before you take TRIUMEQ, tell your healthcare provider if you: • have been tested and know whether or not you have a gene variation called HLA-B*5701 • have or have had liver problems, including hepatitis B or C infection; have kidney problems; have heart problems, smoke, or have diseases that increase your risk of heart disease such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes; drink alcohol or take medicines that contain alcohol • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if TRIUMEQ will harm your unborn baby • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you take TRIUMEQ • You should not take TRIUMEQ if you also take: • abacavir (EPZICOM®, TRIZIVIR®, or ZIAGEN®) • lamivudine (COMBIVIR®, DutrebisTM, EPIVIR®, EPIVIR-HBV®, EPZICOM, or TRIZIVIR) • emtricitabine (Emtriva®, Atripla®, Complera®, Stribild®, or Truvada®) Important Safety Information continued on next page
©2016 ViiV Healthcare group of companies. All rights reserved. Printed in USA. 723601R0 August 2016
fenuxe_issue_174.indd 2 Glaxo Smith Kline_Triumeq_10072016_Proof.indd 1-2
12/26/16 9:57 PM
S:14.75”
er
Peter Diagnosed with HIV in 2015
Garland Diagnosed with HIV in 2016
Leopold Diagnosed with HIV in 2003
Jeannette Diagnosed with HIV in 2011
Jack Diagnosed with HIV in 2010
Real patients with HIV-1 taking TRIUMEQ as of 2014 or later. Individual results may vary. Individuals compensated for their time by ViiV Healthcare.
• Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements (for example, antacids or laxatives; vitamins such as iron or calcium supplements; anti-seizure medicines; other medicines to treat HIV-1, hepatitis, or tuberculosis; metformin; methadone; or St. John’s wort). Some medicines interact with TRIUMEQ. Keep a list of your medicines to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist. Do not start taking a new medicine without telling your healthcare provider. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Please see Important Facts about TRIUMEQ on the following pages.
fenuxe_issue_174.indd 3
Ask your doctor about
learn more at
triumeq.com
12/26/16 9:57 PM 9/23/2016 12:07:48 PM
New York, New York 10013 T:7”
IMPORTANT FACTS
This is only a brief summary of important information about TRIUMEQ and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment. (TRI-u-meck) MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT TRIUMEQ
ABOUT TRIUMEQ
TRIUMEQ may cause serious side effects, including: • Serious allergic reactions (hypersensitivity reaction) that can cause death have happened with TRIUMEQ and other abacavir-containing products. Your risk of this allergic reaction to abacavir is much higher if you have a gene variation called HLA-B*5701. Your healthcare provider can determine with a blood test if you have this gene variation. If you get symptoms from 2 or more of the following groups while taking TRIUMEQ, call your healthcare provider right away: 1. fever; 2. rash; 3. nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach pain; 4. generally ill feeling, extreme tiredness, or achiness; 5. shortness of breath, cough, or sore throat. A list of these symptoms is on the Warning Card your pharmacist gives you. Carry this Warning Card with you at all times. • If you stop taking TRIUMEQ because of an allergic reaction, never take TRIUMEQ or any other abacavir- or dolutegravircontaining medicines again. If you take TRIUMEQ or any other abacavir-containing medicine again after you have had an allergic reaction, within hours you may get life-threatening symptoms that may include very low blood pressure or death. If you stop TRIUMEQ for any other reason, even for a few days, and you are not allergic to TRIUMEQ, talk with your healthcare provider before taking it again. Taking TRIUMEQ again can cause a serious allergic or life-threatening reaction, even if you never had an allergic reaction to it before. If your healthcare provider tells you that you can take TRIUMEQ again, start taking it when you are around medical help or people who can call a healthcare provider if you need one. • Build-up of lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious medical emergency that can lead to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms: feeling very weak or tired, unusual muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain with nausea or vomiting, feeling cold (especially in your arms and legs), feeling dizzy or lightheaded, and/or a fast or irregular heartbeat. • Serious liver problems, which in some cases can lead to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms: your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice), dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools (bowel movements), loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, and/or stomach pain on the right side. You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or severe liver problems if you are female, very overweight, or have been taking nucleoside analogues for a long time. • Worsening of Hepatitis B (HBV) infection. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking TRIUMEQ. Do not stop taking TRIUMEQ without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months. • Resistant HBV. If you have HIV-1 and HBV, the HBV can change (mutate) while you’re on TRIUMEQ and become harder to treat (resistant). • Use with interferon and ribavirin-based regimens. Worsening of liver disease that has caused death has happened in people infected with both HIV-1 and hepatitis C virus who are taking antiretroviral medicines and are also being treated for hepatitis C with interferon with or without ribavirin. If you are taking TRIUMEQ and interferon with or without ribavirin, tell your HCP if you have any new symptoms.
• TRIUMEQ is a prescription HIV-1 medicine used alone or with other antiretroviral medicines to treat HIV-1 infection in adults. TRIUMEQ is not for use by itself in people who have or have had resistance to abacavir, dolutegravir, or lamivudine. TRIUMEQ should not be used in children under the age of 18. • TRIUMEQ does not cure HIV-1 infection or AIDS. You must keep taking HIV-1 medicines to control HIV-1 infection and decrease HIVrelated illnesses.
®
• have a certain type of gene variation called the HLA-B*5701 allele. Your HCP will test you for this before prescribing treatment with TRIUMEQ. • are allergic to abacavir, dolutegravir, or any of the ingredients in TRIUMEQ. See the full Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in TRIUMEQ. • take dofetilide (Tikosyn®). Taking TRIUMEQ and dofetilide (Tikosyn) can cause side effects that may be life-threatening. • have liver or kidney problems. • If you also take: abacavir (EPZICOM, TRIZIVIR, or ZIAGEN); lamivudine (COMBIVIR®, DutrebisTM, EPIVIR®, EPIVIR-HBV®, EPZICOM, or TRIZIVIR); emtricitabine (Atripla®, Complera®, Emtriva®, Stribild®, or Truvada®) abacavir (EPZICOM, TRIZIVIR, or ZIAGEN) T:9.25”
fenuxe_issue_174.indd 4 Glaxo Smith Kline_Triumeq_10212016_Proof.indd 3
DO NOT TAKE TRIUMEQ IF YOU
BEFORE TAKING TRIUMEQ Tell your healthcare provider if you: • have been tested and know if you have a particular gene variation called HLA-B*5701. • have or had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis B or C virus infection. • have heart problems, smoke, or have diseases that increase your risk of heart disease such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes. • drink alcohol or take medicines that contain alcohol. • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if TRIUMEQ will harm your unborn baby. • are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take: • Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist. • Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about medicines that should not be taken with TRIUMEQ. Do not start taking a new medicine without telling your healthcare provider
12/26/16 9:57 PM 10/7/2016 3:24:31 PM
T:7”
IMPORTANT FACTS (cont’d) MEDICINES THAT MIGHT INTERACT WITH TRIUMEQ
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF TRIUMEQ TRIUMEQ can cause serious side effects including: • See “What is the most important information about TRIUMEQ?” section • Changes in liver tests. • Changes in your immune system • Changes in body fat • Some HIV-1 medicines including TRIUMEQ may increase your risk of heart attack. (cont’d)
Glaxo Smith Kline_Triumeq_10212016_Proof.indd 4 fenuxe_issue_174.indd 5
GET MORE INFORMATION • Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist • Go to TRIUMEQ.com or call 1-877-844-8872, where you can also get FDA-approved product labeling COMBIVIR, EPIVIR, EPZICOM, TIVICAY, TRIUMEQ, TRIZIVIR, and ZIAGEN are registered trademarks of the ViiV Healthcare group of companies. EPIVIR-HBV is a registered trademark of the GSK group of companies. The other brands listed are trademarks of their respective owners and are not trademarks of the ViiV Healthcare group of companies. The makers of these brands are not affiliated with and do not endorse the ViiV Healthcare group of companies or its products. ©2016, the ViiV Healthcare group of companies. All rights reserved. April 2016 TRM:4MG
10/7/2016 3:24:33 PM 12/26/16 9:57 PM
T:4.5”
• antacids, laxatives, or other medicines that contain aluminum, magnesium, sucralfate (Carafate®), or buffered medicines. TRIUMEQ should be taken at least 2 hours before or 6 hours after you take these medicines. • iron or calcium supplements taken by mouth may be taken at the same time with TRIUMEQ if taken with food. Otherwise, TRIUMEQ should be taken at least 2 hours before or 6 hours after you take these medicines • anti-seizure medicines: oxcarbazepine ( Trileptal ® ), phenytoin (Dilantin®, Dilantin® -125, Phenytek ®), phenobarbital, carbamazepine (Carbatrol®, Equetro ®, Tegretol®, Tegretol® -XR, Teril®, Epitol®) • any other medicine to treat HIV-1, medicines used to treat hepatitis virus infections (such as interferon or ribavirin), a medicine that contains metformin, methadone, rifampin (Rifater ®, Rifamate ®, Rimactane ®, Rifadin®), St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum)
The most common side effects of TRIUMEQ are: trouble sleeping, headache, and tiredness These are not all the possible side effects of TRIUMEQ. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking TRIUMEQ. Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with TRIUMEQ. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
FENUXE Contents
12.30.2016
BY JESSEE PRIME
tran quil PG 23
08 10
CALENDAR: 8 GREAT THINGS TO DO OUT & ABOUT PHOTOS
19
FIVE RESOLUTIONS ALL GAY MEN SHOULD MAKE
21
THE RETURN OF LOVE
22 28 30
BOOK REVIEW: TRANS STORIES HEY GIRL HEY GAY NEWS AT A GLANCE Scan the QR Code with your smart phone to like us on
23,258 LIKES
VISIT US ONLINE FENUXE.COM INFO@FENUXE.COM FOLLOW US ON
TWITTER.COM/FENUXEMAGAZINE
fenuxe_issue_174.indd 6
12/26/16 9:57 PM
FENUXE
TM
TYLER CALKINS PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF TYLER@FENUXE.COM
Mike Stone - PUBLISHING/PRODUCTION Dino Thompson-Sarmiento - SENIOR WRITER Peter Garnet - WRITER Mark Cook - FASHION PRODUCTION
ATLANTA MARKETING
Jeff Anderson | 404.835.2016 - Sales Manager Andrea Dwyer - Sales
NATIONAL ADVERTISING Rivendell Media 212-242-6863 sales@rivendellmedia.com
To advertise, please call 404.835.2016 email info@fenuxe.com or visit www.fenuxe.com Published by TW Media Group © 2016 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 1599-A Memorial Drive, Atlanta GA, 30317 Phone: 404.835.2016 | Fax: 404.835.2356 Opinions and claims made by advertisers are those of the advertisers only. Fenuxe accepts no liability for any claims made by advertisers. The views and opinions expressed in this issue are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency of TW Media Group.
Fenuxe is proud to support:
COVER BY
JESSE PRIME
fenuxe_issue_174.indd 7
12/26/16 9:57 PM
WANT YOUR EVENT FEATURED? SEND IT TO US AT INFO@FENUXE.COM
JAN 5
THEATRE
GREETINGS, FRIEND
Thursday, January 5 The new Topher Payne play opens at Georgia Ensemble Theatre tonight. “Greetings Friend Your Kind Assistance is Required” follows a retired school teacher reading an email from her spam folder and embarking with a friend on an international adventure. 8 p.m., running through January 22, www.get.org
Saturday, December 31 Your favorite dance show is back on the road with “Dancing with the Stars: Live! – We Came to Dance,” giving fans the opportunity to see the best dancers in the business perform live in Atlanta. Among the traveling dancers are Artem Chigvintsev and Val Chmerkovskiy, 7 p.m., Fox Theatre, www.foxtheatre.org
Monday, January 2 The PFLAG support group for parents and families of LGBTQ children meets today from 7:30 – 9 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, 1605 I-85 Frontage Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, www.uuca.org Attendees are divided into small groups and each group is led by a trained facilitator.
Friday, January 13 Atlanta Black Pride hosts an Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend of events, with a sophisticated and sexy lineup www.atlblackpride.com
NAKED BOYS SINGING
Wednesday, January 4 Six Guys, Sixteen Songs, and Zero Clothes! A winning combination if ever there was one! The hilarious off-Broadway smash-hit musical hits the road and it’s next stop is Atlanta! From the sassy opening number “Gratuitous Nudity,” to the screamingly funny “Bliss of a Bris,” audiences and critics alike fall in love with “Naked Boys Singing!” 8 p.m. 7 Stages, www.7stages.org
COMMUNITY CHARITY
MLK
MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY LINE UP
THEATER JAN 4
PFLAG SUPPORT GROUP
JAN 16 05.03.15
Friday, December 30 Out actor Harold Leaver returns to Horizon Theatre’s gay themed “The Santaland Diaries” – The outrageous holiday comedy, written by NPR comic genius David Sedaris, stars Crumpet, a rebel without a Clause who recounts the true-life tale of an out-of-work writer’s stint as a Macy’s Department Store elf. – tonight at 8 p.m. running through Dec. 31, www.horizontheatre.com
DANCING WITH THE STARTS
JAN 2
DEC 31
SANTALAND DIARIES
PFLAG
ARTS
JAN 13
DEC 30
THEATER
LOST N FOUND
Monday, January 16 HRC & Lost-n-Found Youth invite you to the Martin Luther King Day of Service, transforming this national holiday into a “day on, not a day off” with a service project benefiting homeless & at-risk LGBTQ youth. You can make a difference in our community by donating items and volunteering your time. Lostn-Found Youth, 2585 Chantilly Drive NE, Atlanta, GA 30324
FUN JAN 21
CALENDAR
MS. RUCK N MAUL
Saturday, January 21 Mark your calendar to join the Atlanta Bucks for what promises to be a truly beautiful mess of an evening at their annual Miss Ruck N Maul drag competition. Tickets available online at Eventbrite.com A silent auction will also be on tap. 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Jungle Atlanta, www.jungleatl.com
08: December 30, 2016
fenuxe_issue_174.indd 8
12/26/16 9:57 PM
Come View our Decorated Model Towns at Breton Ridge Townhomes from the upper $300s For more information, please call Heather Isaac at 678.627.0772.
Limited Time Only! Purchase a To-Be-Built Home and Receive:
10,000
$
Use How You Choose Credits*
PLUS
10,000
Up $ To
Toward Closing Costs when financing with our affiliate lender, CalAtlantic Mortgage, and using our affiliate CalAtlantic Title Atlanta, LLC, as your closing agent/title insurer.*
*Available only when you close on a To-Be Built home in the Towns at Breton Ridge community pursuant to a contract you sign on or between 12/1/16-12/31/16. Receipt of $10,000 credit or other seller contribution that is contingent upon use of CAM; $10,000 credit is subject to limits and is contingent upon buyer closing a loan with our affiliated lender, CalAtlantic Mortgage or, where permitted by seller, another seller preferred lender. Receipt of $10,000 in closing costs or other seller contribution that is contingent upon use of CAM and affiliate title; $10,000 in closing costs is subject to limits and is contingent upon buyer closing a loan with our affiliated lender, CalAtlantic Mortgage or, where permitted by seller, another seller preferred lender, and obtaining title insurance and closing services from our affiliated title agent, CalAtlantic Title of Atlanta, LLC. The offer to pay closing costs does not include payment of prepaid taxes, property or mortgage insurance, or mortgage installments. Pre-payments of HOA assessments are typically subject to lender limits. Seller provided credits may be applied to upgrades or options. Upgrades and options available solely through Seller’s Design Center. Availability of items may vary by community. Offer does not have any cash value. The combined value of seller incentives, credits and other seller contributions may exceed lender limits established for the loan program for which buyer qualifies. Buyer should ask his or her lender about the impact of such limits. Prices, plans and terms are effective on the date of publication and subject to change without notice. Depictions of homes or other features are artist conceptions. Hardscape, landscape and other items shown may be decorator suggestions that are not included in the purchase price and availability may vary. CalAtlantic Mortgage, Inc., NMLS# 203897 , Georgia Residential Mortgage Licensee License #24225, 8660 E Hartford Drive, Suite 200A, Scottsdale, AZ; 1000 Mansell Exchange West, Suite 210, Alpharetta, GA License #68278. CAATL013
FENUXE.COM : 9
fenuxe_issue_174.indd 9
12/26/16 9:57 PM
OUT & ABOUT
PHOTOS
10: December 30, 2016
fenuxe_issue_174.indd 10
12/26/16 9:58 PM
OUT & ABOUT
PHOTOS
13TH ANNUAL TOY PARTY PHOTOS BY: SHER PRUITT
11: December 30, 2016
fenuxe_issue_174.indd 11
12/26/16 9:58 PM
OUT & ABOUT
PHOTOS
13TH ANNUAL TOY PARTY PHOTOS BY: ANDREA DWYER
12: December 30, 2016
fenuxe_issue_174.indd 12
12/26/16 9:58 PM
Gated Community! Towns at Druid Hills
Townhomes from the low $500s
For more information, please call Bakari Maxwell or Tarecia Johnson at 404.634.4485.
Limited Time Only! Purchase a To-Be-Built Home and Receive:
20,000
Up $ To
Use How You Choose Credits*
PLUS
10,000
Up $ To
Toward Closing Costs when financing with our affiliate lender, CalAtlantic Mortgage, and using our affiliate CalAtlantic Title Atlanta, LLC, as your closing agent/title insurer.*
*Available only when you close on a To-Be Built home in the Towns at Druid Hills community pursuant to a contract you sign on or between 12/1/16-12/31/16. Receipt of $20,000 credit or other seller contribution that is contingent upon use of CAM; $20,000 credit is subject to limits and is contingent upon buyer closing a loan with our affiliated lender, CalAtlantic Mortgage or, where permitted by seller, another seller preferred lender. Receipt of $10,000 in closing costs or other seller contribution that is contingent upon use of CAM and affiliate title; $10,000 in closing costs is subject to limits and is contingent upon buyer closing a loan with our affiliated lender, CalAtlantic Mortgage or, where permitted by seller, another seller preferred lender, and obtaining title insurance and closing services from our affiliated title agent, CalAtlantic Title of Atlanta, LLC. The offer to pay closing costs does not include payment of prepaid taxes, property or mortgage insurance, or mortgage installments. Pre-payments of HOA assessments are typically subject to lender limits. Seller provided credits may be applied to upgrades or options. Upgrades and options available solely through Seller’s Design Center. Availability of items may vary by community. Offer does not have any cash value. The combined value of seller incentives, credits and other seller contributions may exceed lender limits established for the loan program for which buyer qualifies. Buyer should ask his or her lender about the impact of such limits. Prices, plans and terms are effective on the date of publication and subject to change without notice. Depictions of homes or other features are artist conceptions. Hardscape, landscape and other items shown may be decorator suggestions that are not included in the purchase price and availability may vary. CalAtlantic Mortgage, Inc., NMLS# 203897 , Georgia Residential Mortgage Licensee License #24225, 8660 E Hartford Drive, Suite 200A, Scottsdale, AZ; 1000 Mansell Exchange West, Suite 210, Alpharetta, GA License #68278. CAATL013
SATION! N E S Y A ID -HOT HOL D E R ’S A T ATLAN
d n a l a t San JDiaries Diar r ies DAVID SEDARIS The e
BBY
AWARD-WINNING SATIRICAL AUTHOR HOR
J
18 TH SMAS YEARH !
8NOV 131 DEC
Harold M. Leaver
Euclid and Austin Aves in Little Five Points
horizontheatre.com • 404.584.7450 flx FENUXE.COM : 13
fenuxe_issue_174.indd 13
12/26/16 9:58 PM
Specializing in Service and Repair - Mercedes - BMW - Audi - VW - Porche - Jaguar - Land Rover -
$20
off any service Must Present Coupon
Buckhead at 3097 Piedmont Rd | 404-554-4300 Sandy Springs at 4400 Roswell Rd | 404-252-8669 alpharetta at 4010 McGinnis Ferry Rd | 770-664-9222 Duluth at 4095 Pleasant Hill Rd | 770-674-3400
Do You Want To Know Your Future? Are You Tired of Being Single?
Get Answers & More RIGHT NOW Call: (514) 726-7226
FENUXE.COM : 14
fenuxe_issue_174.indd 14
12/26/16 9:59 PM
OUT & ABOUT
PHOTOS
POSITIVE IMPACT CELEBRATES 25 YEARS AT CENTER FOR CIVIL RIGHTS PHOTOS BY: SHER PRUITT
15: December 30, 2016
fenuxe_issue_174.indd 15
12/26/16 9:59 PM
What is TRUVADA for PrEP (Pre-exposure Prophylaxis)?
uYou may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or serious liver problems
TRUVADA is a prescription medicine that can be used for PrEP to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection when used together with safer sex practices. This use is only for adults who are at high risk of getting HIV-1 through sex. This includes HIV-negative men who have sex with men and who are at high risk of getting infected with HIV-1 through sex, and malefemale sex partners when one partner has HIV-1 infection and the other does not. Ask your healthcare provider if you have questions about how to prevent getting HIV-1. Always practice safer sex and use condoms to lower the chance of sexual contact with body fluids. Never reuse or share needles or other items that have body fluids on them.
Who should not take TRUVADA for PrEP?
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION What is the most important information I should know about TRUVADA for PrEP?
Before taking TRUVADA for PrEP to reduce your risk of getting HIV-1 infection: uYou must be HIV-negative. You must get tested to make sure that you do not already have HIV-1 infection. Do not take TRUVADA for PrEP to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 unless you are confirmed to be HIV-negative. uMany HIV-1 tests can miss HIV-1 infection in a person who has recently become infected. If you have flu-like symptoms, you could have recently become infected with HIV-1. Tell your healthcare provider if you had a flu-like illness within the last month before starting TRUVADA for PrEP or at any time while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Symptoms of new HIV-1 infection include tiredness, fever, joint or muscle aches, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, night sweats, and/or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or groin. While taking TRUVADA for PrEP to reduce your risk of getting HIV-1 infection: uYou must continue using safer sex practices. Just taking TRUVADA for PrEP may not keep you from getting HIV-1. uYou must stay HIV-negative to keep taking TRUVADA for PrEP. uTo further help reduce your risk of getting HIV-1: • Know your HIV-1 status and the HIV-1 status of your partners. • Get tested for HIV-1 at least every 3 months or when your healthcare provider tells you. • Get tested for other sexually transmitted infections. Other infections make it easier for HIV-1 to infect you. • Get information and support to help reduce risky sexual behavior. • Have fewer sex partners. • Do not miss any doses of TRUVADA. Missing doses may increase your risk of getting HIV-1 infection. • If you think you were exposed to HIV-1, tell your healthcare provider right away. uIf you do become HIV-1 positive, you need more medicine than TRUVADA alone to treat HIV-1. TRUVADA by itself is not a complete treatment for HIV-1. If you have HIV-1 and take only TRUVADA, your HIV-1 may become harder to treat over time. TRUVADA can cause serious side effects: uToo much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious medical emergency. Symptoms of lactic acidosis include weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, nausea, vomiting, stomach-area pain, cold or blue hands and feet, feeling dizzy or lightheaded, and/or fast or abnormal heartbeats. uSerious liver problems. Your liver may become large and tender, and you may develop fat in your liver. Symptoms of liver problems include your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, lightcolored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, and/or stomach-area pain.
if you are female, very overweight (obese), or have been taking TRUVADA for a long time. In some cases, these serious conditions have led to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any symptoms of these conditions. uWorsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. If you also have HBV and take TRUVADA, your hepatitis may become worse if you stop taking TRUVADA. Do not stop taking TRUVADA without first talking to your healthcare provider. If your healthcare provider tells you to stop taking TRUVADA, they will need to watch you closely for several months to monitor your health. TRUVADA is not approved for the treatment of HBV. Do not take TRUVADA for PrEP if you already have HIV-1 infection or if you do not know your HIV-1 status. If you are HIV-1 positive, you need to take other medicines with TRUVADA to treat HIV-1. TRUVADA by itself is not a complete treatment for HIV-1. If you have HIV-1 and take only TRUVADA, your HIV-1 may become harder to treat over time. Do not take TRUVADA for PrEP if you also take lamivudine (Epivir-HBV) or adefovir (HEPSERA).
What are the other possible side effects of TRUVADA for PrEP?
Serious side effects of TRUVADA may also include: uKidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests to check your kidneys before and during treatment with TRUVADA for PrEP. If you develop kidney problems, your healthcare provider may tell you to stop taking TRUVADA for PrEP. uBone problems, including bone pain or bones getting soft or thin, may lead to fractures. Your healthcare provider may do tests to check your bones. uChanges in body fat, which can happen in people taking TRUVADA or medicines like TRUVADA. Common side effects in people taking TRUVADA for PrEP are stomacharea (abdomen) pain, headache, and decreased weight. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you or do not go away.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking TRUVADA for PrEP?
uAll your health problems. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you
have or have had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis virus infection. uIf you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if TRUVADA can harm your unborn baby. If you become pregnant while taking TRUVADA for PrEP, talk to your healthcare provider to decide if you should keep taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Pregnancy Registry: A pregnancy registry collects information about your health and the health of your baby. There is a pregnancy registry for women who take medicines to prevent HIV-1 during pregnancy. For more information about the registry and how it works, talk to your healthcare provider. uIf you are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. The medicines in TRUVADA can pass to your baby in breast milk. If you become HIV-1 positive, HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk. uAll the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. TRUVADA may interact with other medicines. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. uIf you take certain other medicines with TRUVADA for PrEP, your healthcare provider may need to check you more often or change your dose. These medicines include ledipasvir with sofosbuvir (HARVONI). You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see Important Facts about TRUVADA for PrEP including important warnings on the following page.
fenuxe_issue_174.indd 16 GD16HCP801B_MASTER_A_Fenuxe_8-375x10-875.indd 1-2
12/26/16 9:59 PM
.
Have you heard about
TRUVADA for PrEP ? TM
The once-daily prescription medicine that can help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 when used with safer sex practices. • TRUVADA for PrEP is only for adults who are at high risk of getting HIV through sex. • You must be HIV-negative before you start taking TRUVADA. Ask your doctor about your risk of getting HIV-1 infection and if TRUVADA for PrEP may be right for you.
visit start.truvada.com
fenuxe_issue_174.indd 17
12/26/16 9:59 PM 10/14/16 5:30 PM
IMPORTANT FACTS (tru-VAH-dah)
This is only a brief summary of important information about taking TRUVADA for PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection. This does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your medicine.
MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT TRUVADA FOR PrEP
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF TRUVADA FOR PrEP
Before starting TRUVADA for PrEP to help reduce your risk of getting HIV-1 infection: • You must be HIV-1 negative. You must get tested to make sure that you do not already have HIV-1 infection. Do not take TRUVADA for PrEP to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 unless you are confirmed to be HIV-1 negative. • Many HIV-1 tests can miss HIV-1 infection in a person who has recently become infected. Symptoms of new HIV-1 infection include flu-like symptoms, tiredness, fever, joint or muscle aches, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, night sweats, and/or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or groin. Tell your healthcare provider if you have had a flu-like illness within the last month before starting TRUVADA for PrEP.
TRUVADA can cause serious side effects, including: • Those in the “Most Important Information About TRUVADA for PrEP" section. • New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure. • Bone problems. • Changes in body fat.
While taking TRUVADA for PrEP to help reduce your risk of getting HIV-1 infection: • You must continue using safer sex practices. Just taking TRUVADA for PrEP may not keep you from getting HIV-1. • You must stay HIV-1 negative to keep taking TRUVADA for PrEP. • Tell your healthcare provider if you have a flu-like illness while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. • If you think you were exposed to HIV-1, tell your healthcare provider right away. • If you do become HIV-1 positive, you need more medicine than TRUVADA alone to treat HIV-1. If you have HIV-1 and take only TRUVADA, your HIV-1 may become harder to treat over time. • See the “How to Further Reduce Your Risk” section for more information. TRUVADA may cause serious side effects, including: • Buildup of lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious medical emergency that can lead to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, nausea, vomiting, stomach-area pain, cold or blue hands and feet, feeling dizzy or lightheaded, and/or fast or abnormal heartbeats. • Severe liver problems, which in some cases can lead to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms: your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, and/or stomach-area pain. • Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. If you have HBV and take TRUVADA, your hepatitis may become worse if you stop taking TRUVADA. Do not stop taking TRUVADA without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months. You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or severe liver problems if you are female, very overweight, or have been taking TRUVADA for a long time.
ABOUT TRUVADA FOR PrEP (PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS) TRUVADA is a prescription medicine used with safer sex practices for PrEP to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection in adults at high risk: • HIV-1 negative men who have sex with men and who are at high risk of getting infected with HIV-1 through sex. • Male-female sex partners when one partner has HIV-1 infection and the other does not. To help determine your risk, talk openly with your doctor about your sexual health. Do NOT take TRUVADA for PrEP if you: • Already have HIV-1 infection or if you do not know your HIV-1 status. • Take lamivudine (Epivir-HBV) or adefovir (HEPSERA). TRUVADA, the TRUVADA Logo, TRUVADA FOR PREP, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, and HEPSERA are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. All other marks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. Version date: April 2016 © 2016 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. TVDC0050 09/16
fenuxe_issue_174.indd 18 GD16HCP801B_MASTER_A_Fenuxe_8-375x10-875.indd 3
Common side effects in people taking TRUVADA for PrEP include stomach-area (abdomen) pain, headache, and decreased weight. These are not all the possible side effects of TRUVADA. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with TRUVADA for PrEP.
BEFORE TAKING TRUVADA FOR PrEP Tell your healthcare provider if you: • Have or have had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis infection. • Have any other medical conditions. • Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. • Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you become HIV-1 positive because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take: • Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist. • Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about medicines that should not be taken with TRUVADA for PrEP.
HOW TO TAKE TRUVADA FOR PrEP • Take 1 tablet once a day, every day, not just when you think you have been exposed to HIV-1. • Do not miss any doses. Missing doses may increase your risk of getting HIV-1 infection. • You must practice safer sex by using condoms and you must stay HIV-1 negative.
HOW TO FURTHER REDUCE YOUR RISK • Know your HIV-1 status and the HIV-1 status of your partners. • Get tested for HIV-1 at least every 3 months or when your healthcare provider tells you. • Get tested for other sexually transmitted infections. Other infections make it easier for HIV-1 to infect you. • Get information and support to help reduce risky sexual behavior. • Have fewer sex partners. • Do not share needles or personal items that can have blood or body fluids on them.
GET MORE INFORMATION • This is only a brief summary of important information about TRUVADA for PrEP to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more, including how to prevent HIV-1 infection. • Go to start.truvada.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5 • If you need help paying for your medicine, visit start.truvada.com for program information.
12/26/16 9:59 PM 10/14/16 5:30 PM
COMMUNITY
FIVE RESOLUTIONS ALL GAY MEN SHOULD MAKE
BY TYLER CURRY
Nope, but that would be a much better excuse than ignoring all of your real life friends sitting a few feet away, because you are too busy refreshing your Instagram feed. Last year, many of us swore to stack our phones in the middle of the table as a way to avoid the social media pull. But there aren’t very many iPhone Jenga piles being erected anymore. Let’s take it one step further. Let’s make a commitment to leave our little virtual friends at home when we make a date with our real live ones. If you just can’t stomach leaving your precious phone all the way at home, your car will probably suffice. #4. Be nice. Period.
AS
we prepare to put on our gyms clothes and try to get one of the remaining treadmills, there is still one more blowout night of the holiday season to come. Filled with champagne, confetti, poor judgment, New Year’s Eve is also when we swear to resolve one of our imperfections in the coming year. Some of us may take our intoxicated promises more seriously than others, but few of us can remember whatever vice we swore off the year before. Still, there is some merit to making a vow to enrich our life as we look forward to the promise of a new year. And there are a few resolutions that we all could afford to hold on to for a little longer than a week or so. Here are the five resolutions that all gay men should make: #1. Less Staring, More Sharing. Whether it’s at the gym, the bar or the grocery store, we are all guilty of pretending not to see people we know from time to time. For whatever excuse, sometimes you just don’t want to be bothered with striking up a conversation when you are in the middle of your squat set. But this aversion to the spoken language can cause much more harm to your environment than a friendly five-minute conversation ever could. Assumptions are created in silence, and you most certainly don’t want others believing that you harbor any ill feelings,
however casual the acquaintance they may be. Extending a smile and an earnest “hello,” may sometimes be the last thing you want to do after a long day at the office. But you may be surprised at just how much of a difference in your own life as well as person you exchange your latest update with. In other words, enough with the awkward glances, and just ask the person how their day was already. #2. Break the Cycle. Patterns are natural and routines can bring comfort. We all have our favorite restaurant that we frequent and our normal work regime. Hell, you may have been stuck on the same Glade scent for five years running. But no matter what your cycle is, monotony is never good. Whether it is as drastic as dying your blond locks to black, or as subtle as taking a different route to work, a little something out of the ordinary each day can make quite an impact on your psyche. Your brain, your boredom and your taste buds will thank you. #3. Disconnect, disconnect, disconnect. It is probably one of the worst phenomena of our generation. We have all been there — you are sitting at a table with your friends and no one is uttering a sound. Did a tribe of Amazon women cut out all of your homosexual tongues because you wouldn’t give them a child?
The gay community is already pretty small. But when you start running your mouth and talking negatively about others, your little gay world can shrink to the size of a pinhole. No matter what grievance about someone else you feel the need to air in public, it only makes you look worse. Conversely, choosing to air on the positive side can elevate your standing so much so that you will forget about whichever bitchy comment you had before. Remember, this isn’t a drag show, and you aren’t getting paid in tips, so there is no need for trash talking. #5. Do something beautiful. As gay men, we are pretty much the experts when it comes to the steps it takes to perfect our image. It’s easy to get carried away in seeking the right look, and forget to make your actions just as beautiful as your complexion. No matter how attractive you are, the quest to look good will always leave you feeling incomplete. There will never be a procedure, beauty product or article of clothing that will ever compare to the gratification of performing selfless acts for others. This year, make sure you take some time to beautify yourself from the inside out. Who knows, your smoking hot character might be what turns the most heads this year. All kidding aside, the welcoming of a new year carries with it the opportunity to shake off our short comings, and look forward to the chance to do it all again. Is there any real merit to the idea that the changing of a number on our calendar year is the equivalent to a clean slate? Absolutely. But only because each day is a new chance to make changes in your life that bring forth piece, happiness and greater acceptance of yourself and others. Except on New Years, we can do it with a bang. FENUXE.COM : 19
fenuxe_issue_174.indd 19
12/26/16 9:59 PM
GIVING
BY FRANK LOWE
Carols for a Cure
THE holiday season is not complete
without the perfect music to accompany it. “Broadway’s Carols for a Cure” is the latest compilation album that embodies the spirit of the season like nothing else can. A project born completely out of love, “Broadway’s Carols for a Cure” pairs the casts from famous Broadway musicals with songs that are both classic and new. The result is pure gold that will make you reach for the “repeat” button over and over again. Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is “Broadway’s incredible, dedicated nonprofit organization that helps individual people with serious illnesses such as AIDS and women’s health issues receive the health care and support they need. In addition, they provide financial support in the form of grants to AIDS and family service organizations throughout the country,” according to “Broadway’s Carols for a Cure” producer Lynn Pinto. With a jaw-dropping list of all the most popular musicals, each production company is allowed the creative freedom
to choose their contribution. Instead of the typical live singing the artists are used to, they’re provided with intimate studios that allow for vocal and instrumental isolations. This makes the album unique from the majority of cast albums on the market, and showcases some of the best voices and instrumentalists in the world. After 18 years of experience, you can imagine that producer Lynn Pinto and engineer Andros Rodriguez know how to create perfection. The production team they work with is passionate and relentless in their pursuit of the ideal sound. After listening to several seconds of any track, it becomes very clear that “Broadway’s Carols for a Cure” is magical. The only way to immerse yourself in the beauty and love “Broadway’s Carols for a Cure” exudes is to listen to it in its entirety. It will envelop you with warmth, like a cozy blanket on a snowy Winter’s day. “Broadway’s Carols for a Cure” is available on iTunes.
MAKING ITS TRIUMPHANT RETURN TO ATLANTA!
ON SALE NOW
FEBRUARY 22 - MARCH 5 FoxTheaTre.org/PhanTom • 855-285-8499
fenuxe_issue_174.indd 20
12/26/16 9:59 PM
COMMUNITY
BY JOHN STEIN
George Figares and DJ Blacklow are well known DJs in the national gay club scene. Blacklow’s sets are noted for his big diva vocals, while Figares, a product of Miami’s underground house scene, takes a more after-hours, minimalist approach to his sets and production work. The duo united on their first musical collaboration three years ago. It was a high-energy remix of Sara Bareilles’ “Brave”. Since then, they have unleashed a slew of remixes to clubs including Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl”, Fifth Harmony’s “BO$$”, and a sweatinducing tribal take on Toy Armada & DJ GRIND’s “St. Elmo’s Fire”. This month, they’re upping the ante with their first single release, “To Be Able To Love (Remix EP #1)”. It’s a remake of the Jessica Folker song made popular by DJ Jonathan Peters in 2001. “I first fell in love with the track on the dance floors of NYC,” says Blacklow, recalling how, at the turn of the millennium, Junior Vasquez would play JP’s remix of “To Be Able To Love” at Twilo and Peter Rauhofer and James Andersen would play it at Roxy. The song really started to become an anthem for the national gay community when DJs David Knapp and Manny Lehman began playing it at circuit events. “George and I were looking for a big vocal track to do together and I kept finding myself gravitating towards “To Be Able to Love,” continues Blacklow. The song is about wanting to embark on a new romance but not being emotionally able to because of lingering damage from a past relationship. Blacklow admits it’s a song he can relate to. “I went through a really tough break-up in 2009, during which the foundation of my life fell out from under me in a circumstance that I didn’t see coming. It took many years before I was able to date again in a healthy manner. The lyrics from ‘To Be Able To Love’ were often the soundtrack in my head.” The guys knew remaking the song would be an enormous undertaking. “Properly resurrecting the feeling and integrity of the original Johnathan Peters mix was of real concern to us,” says Figares. “In order to introduce the song to a younger generation, we had to get it right.” In many ways, their version follows a similar formula as the original but with a more modern take and feel. San Franciscobased vocalist Brenda Reed breathes new life into the track by nailing the heartbreak.
fenuxe_issue_174.indd 21
“We were familiar with Brenda and her work, but it wasn’t until she demo’d some lines for us in the studio that we realized we needed to offer her the track,” explains Figares. “She’s got a voice like Kristine W, Erin Hamilton or Heather Small.” The remix package on “To Be Able To Love (Remix EP #1)” is equally stellar. Toy Armada & DJ GRIND deliver a gorgeous anthem in their trademark Big Room style. The UK’s Lucius Lowe takes the track in a Nu-Disco direction. Division 4 & Matt Consola serve a classic house entry, while the Virgo Brothers (Orlando) present a progressive house remix reminiscent of classic Hex Hector. House of Labs from Portugal delivers an epic tribal/circuit mix, while Bret Law (Seattle) and Jay Santos’ (Manila) mix bridges the gap between circuit and house.
THE RETURN OF
"LOVE" GEORGE FIGARES & DJ BLACKLOW REINVENT A 15-YEAR-OLD CLUB ANTHEM
“To Be Able To Love (Remix EP #1)” is available on iTunes. Visit swishcraftmusic.com.
12/26/16 9:59 PM
REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW:
By: Terri Schlichenmeyer
“TRANSGENDER STORIES” E
verybody, as they say, has a story to tell.
An ancestor was captured in an early war. Parents overcame adversity in a new country. A health scare, a welcome blessing, a lucky streak, a chance meeting, we all have our tales to share. And in “On Christopher Street: Transgender Stories,” photographs by Mark Seliger, you’ll read a few. Where would you go if you just wanted to be yourself? If you are transgender and living in or near Manhattan, you’d go to Christopher Street in the West Village. There, you could find support, advice, community, or family, if you needed it. Recently, you might have also run into photographer Seliger, who says in a brief statement that he noticed the “freedom of expression and gender identity” that was once abundant is “vanishing” from the area. High-end condos, cafes, and restaurants are moving in and the trans community is being pushed aside; here, Seliger put a marker on it before it’s gone. “… I realize that everybody has a trans story, that being trans is something that affects all of us,” he says, using his camera as storyteller. Being in prison as a trans woman, says one photo subject, is like being “caged.” You don’t belong with the men. They won’t put you in the women’s lockdown. Everybody knows what’s going on and sometimes, the guards have one more slapdown in store for you just before you’re released. Many stories begin with “I was four” or five or eight when the teller realized that they were in the “wrong body.” Families were supportive (or not), transitioning “is not easy,” and the decision for or against surgery is deeply personal but ultimately, it’s the “inner peace” that matters. Still, lying about being trans can backfire and even if nobody knows, there’s a “constant state of paranoia and fear” that may yet linger.
fenuxe_issue_174.indd 22
And then there’s the place itself: Christopher Street has “a dark side,” with drugs, prostitution, and harassment. That means that for LGBTQ youth, which comprise 40 percent of the nation’s street kids, it isn’t always safe… And so there I was, quietly reading “On Christopher Street: Transgender Stories,” when it suddenly… ended! The surprise was not that it did so, but that I was so wrapped up in the inside this book that I didn’t notice the last pages looming. Yes, it’s that kind of thing, filled with photographical portraits that are worth the clichéd thousand words, and then some. Photographer Mark Seliger’s subjects seem mostly well-at-ease in snapshots that feel random but natural; some people are identified, some are not, and not all of them weigh in, verbally. Those that do, tell tales that hit hard, in part because they leave readers with the sense that there’s more, but that it’s too difficult to speak. This large-size, elegantlypresented coffee-table book is one you’ll return to again and again because what’s inside is so compelling. If it is, indeed, true what they say about everyone having a story, “On Christopher Street” is filled with good ones. By: Always Overbooked... Terri Schlichenmeyer The Bookworm Sez, LLC bookwormsez@ gmail.com
12/26/16 9:59 PM
PHOTOSHOOT
BY JESSEE PRIME
tran q uil
MODEL: TADD WARRENTON
fenuxe_issue_174.indd 23
12/26/16 9:59 PM
24: December 30, 2016
fenuxe_issue_174.indd 24
12/26/16 9:59 PM
fenuxe_issue_174.indd 25
12/26/16 9:59 PM
fenuxe_issue_174.indd 26
12/26/16 9:59 PM
FENUXE.COM : 27
fenuxe_issue_174.indd 27
12/26/16 9:59 PM
Hey Girl Hey! Holler Poodles!
Fall on our knees ladies! The holidays are upon us and I am bloated with acceptance. With these technological devices and disdragtions everywhere, it occurs to me y’all might need some advice on navigating the holiday dating scene. Listen up girls!
Mary Edith Pitts’ Holiday Dating Do’s and Don’ts
1. DO set up a Grindr, Growlr or Scruff Profile. If you ain’t a pretty girl, use somebody else’s picture cause everybody needs love. If you ain’t got no iphone, yo ass is screwed! 2. This is a game so never ever show your true feelings! When you see a guy you like, DO NOT initiate contact. Stand in a corner all meek and mild-this gives the impression you are shy, pristine and virginal. If you is too forward, he’ll know you is a slut! 3. When yo man approaches you to speak, remember, you is a lady! DO let the purse fall out yo mouth and let the sibilant ‘SSSSS’ run free. He knows you is a lady and likes it! 4. DO NOT shower before your date. That way if things start getting heated, you’ll remember yo ass is stank and is off limits. Remember poodles, it is an outright sin to go butt bumpin on a first date! “Keep yo legs closed to married men.” 5. DO have 1, 2, or 7 drinks before your date cause girl, even I can smell your ass! If you’re drunk, you won’t care. But Damn! 6. When you go on your first holiday date to Cowtippers, Joe’s or Roxx, DO make sure you tell your date you forgot your wallet cause a lady ain’t supposed to pay. Keep drinking cause you know he is starting to make your panties wet! 7. When he takes you back to his place, run to the bathroom and DO an emergency cake test. If your finger comes out clean, wash yo ass with soap and toilet paper. That way, when he sees the tp residue, he’ll know you washed! I recommend red and green paper for the holidays. 8. After your date is done, DO text AND call him frequently to tell him you loved your holiday date. If he doesn’t return your calls, he’s just playing a game. Show up at his door to let him know you mean business!
Love and Lashes,
Mary Edith Pitts Mary Edith Pitts
P.S. If you have any questions, comments or feedback, please contact me at maryedith99@gmail.com or @maryedithpitts on twitter!
Expert Dentist
fenuxe_issue_174.indd 28
12/26/16 10:00 PM
FENUXE.COM : 29
fenuxe_issue_174.indd 29
12/26/16 10:00 PM
Gay News At A Glance GEORGE MICHAEL DIES AT AGE 53 George Michael has died at the age of 53. The Wham! singer is said to have ‘passed away peacefully at home’, according to his publicist. Thames Valley Police said there were no suspicious circumstances. The gay star sold more than 100 million albums with his group and as a solo artist, becoming known for songs like Careless Whisper, Faith, and Last Christmas. He first came out as bisexual, before officially being out as gay. Born Georgios Panagiotou in North London — his father was a Greek immigrant — Michael met another aspiring musician, Andrew Ridgeley, while both were attending secondary school in Hartfordshire. By 1982, they were recording together as the bubblegum duo Wham!, who by 1984 would be among the world’s most popular singers, with bouncy hits such as Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go and Freedom becoming staples of the early MTV era. Speaking about his time with Wham! in the 1980s, Michael said: ‘I used to sleep
Copyright National Geographic
MOM OF TRANS GIRL ON COVER OF NATL GEOGRAPHIC SPEAKS OF HATEFUL ONLINE ABUSE Avery Jackson, aged 9, is transgender. She told her family from a young age that she identified as female, and they have supported her desire to transition from the age of 4. She appears on the cover of the National Geographic’s ‘Gender Revolution’ issue that is sent to subscribers. The newsstand issue – out 27 December – will feature a different cover. This edition of the magazine explores ‘the shifting landscape of gender.’ Jackson is from Kansas City, and her parents have spoken to Kansas City Star about the reaction the family has received to her appearing on the cover,
with women quite a lot in the Wham! days but never felt it could develop into a relationship because I knew that, emotionally, I was a gay man. I didn’t want to commit to them but I was attracted to them. Then I became ashamed that I might be using them.‘ In 2009, Michael said: ‘My depression at the end of Wham! was because I was beginning to realize I was gay, not bisexual.’ In a statement, the star’s publicist said: ‘It is with great sadness that we can confirm our beloved son, brother and friend George passed away peacefully at home over the Christmas period. ‘The family would ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult and emotional time. There will be no further comment at this stage.’
and their decision to support their child to live life as a girl. While the vast majority of feedback they received has been positive, there have been hateful messages. ‘It’s just a bunch of internet trolls,’ said Avery’s mother, Debi Jackson, “What they do for fun is find people to make fun of and start threads. This one particular group likes to target the trans community — a lot of them try to target people and harass them so much so that they’ll commit suicide. They’ve said I’m horrible and abusive parent who obviously has twisted sexual deviancy issues to make my boy act like a girl… People later commented, “Yeah, she’s definitely one who needs to be cyberbullied until she commits suicide.”’ The American Family Association was among the right-wing , religious organizations to blast National Geographic for its choice of cover star. It posted on its official Facebook page: ‘National Geographic is the latest print media company to abandon what it does best to foist a lifestyle in the American public that the medical community identifies as unhealthy. In response to these and other comments, Debi posted to her own Facebook page: ‘Thank you for all of the hate-filled comments & threats! I’m
saving each one to show lawmakers why anti-discrimination and hate crime laws are needed. You’re doing God’s work. Bless you!’ National Geographic received thousands of comments on its own Facebook page when it announced that it was featuring Avery on one of its cover. Again, many were positive, but others referred to the image as ‘profound child abuse.’ Susan Goldberg, Editor in Chief, penned a response, noting that some people had even vowed to cancel their subscription to the magazine. ‘These comments are a small part of the profound discussion going on right now about gender. Our January issue focuses mostly on young people and how gender roles play out around the world. [Avery] has lived as an openly transgender girl since age five, and she captured the complexity of the conversation around gender. Today, we’re not only talking about gender roles for boys and girls—we’re talking about our evolving understanding of people on the gender spectrum. ‘We hope these stories about gender will spark thoughtful conversations about how far we have come on this topic—and how far we have left to go.’
30: December 30, 2016
fenuxe_issue_174.indd 30
12/26/16 10:00 PM
CONVICTION: 1ST FEDERAL TRANS HATE CRIME
Mississippi man, Joshua Vallum, 29, was convicted of the first federal hate crime against a transgender victim. He was in violation of the 2009 Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act and it’s the first time the act has been used to charge anyone for committing a crime against someone based on their gender identity. The act was passed in 2009 and added crimes against a victim because of sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability to the Federal Hate Crimes law. In 2015 Vallum killed 17-year-old Mercedes Williamson by shocking her with a stun gun, stabbing her, and beating her with a hammer before hiding her body in the woods near his house. Vallum initially claimed to have killed Williamson in a panic after learning she was trans, but this was later proven to be false after finding out they were in a relationship for a few months in 2014. On Wednesday he admitted that he would not have killed her if she was not trans. He faces up to a life sentence in prison and a $250,000 fine.
NC’S INCOMING GOV STILL VOWS TO GET HB2 REPEALED North Carolina’s Governor-elect Roy Cooper is not giving up on getting House Bill (HB2) repealed. A day after the state’s Senate voted down the motion to repeal the controversial so-called ‘bathroom bill,’ Cooper said: ‘It was our best chance to get this done, but it cannot be our only chance.’ ‘When I get sworn in next year, we’re going to work to get this repealed,’ he tells NPR. ‘Because, number one, it discriminates against people and it’s wrong in and of itself. But we
know that this is costing us and we’ve got to fix it.’ A plan by North Carolina Republicans to repeal the state’s sweeping anti-LGBTI measure ran afoul this week with Democrats who charged that they had reneged on a promise for a full appeal of HB2. HB2 forces transgender people to use a bathroom matching their gender at birth and strips cities of the right to pass antidiscrimination ordinances protecting LGBTI people. It has badly damaged the state’s reputation and hurt its economy. ‘House Bill 2 does not reflect who we are as North Carolinians,’ Cooper said. ‘We want people of all kinds to be here. We’re open for business. And I’m going to keep working very hard to get this repealed.’
via Facebook (Mark McCabe, left; Buck Cooke, right)
LANCE BASS SAYS ‘THERE ARE PLANS’ TO TRAVEL INTO SPACE
Former NSYNC boyband member Lance Bass has spoken of his future space travel plans. The openly gay Finding Prince Charming host says: ‘There’s no specific date, but there are plans for me to go.’ He told Business Insider: ‘Things keep getting delayed and delayed. But eventually in the next five to 10 years, I would say that once we’re really flying to space a lot more that I’ll be able to take that mission.’ The singer has undergone extensive space training in the past, even joining Space Adventures of one of its scheduled Zero-Gravity training flights in 2002. Lance is married to actor and artist Michael Turchin, who the pop icon often share romantic posts about on social media. Talking about his passion for outer space, the star added: ‘When I was a kid, my first launch my grandfather took me to when I was probably eight years old. I [have been] addicted since then.’ ‘I went to a space camp. I loved everything about it. I wanted to go to school for space engineering, so I could become an astronaut. And then, my life detoured into music for a little bit.’ Lance sold 50 million albums with NYSYNC, reaching the top of the Billboard Hot 100 with It’s Gonna Be Me. A TV biopic on the band is currently in the works.
fenuxe_issue_174.indd 31
12/26/16 10:00 PM
PRESENTED BY ROGERS REALTY
DEAN ROGERS, LISTING AGENT DEAN@ROGERSREALTYGA.COM
DIRECT: 404.312.5002
FOR SALE
LISTING PRICE: $ 339,900
HOT EDGEWOOD/KIRKWOOD AREA! This adorably restored 3 bedroom 2 bathroom bungalow on a big lot has charming updates throughout. Original hardwood floors with a dark sexy finish, large updated kitchen, granite countertops, fireplace, stainless steel appliances, beautiful landscaping with a modern fence, newly stained deck, covered front porch, double vanity sinks and walk-in closet in the master. Conveniently located near the Edgewood shopping district (40+ boutique and speciality shops plus a 24hr Kroger, Target, Lowes, & Best Buy), near new Atlanta Beltline trail, Little 5 Points (L5P), close to schools, easy access to Marta and very close to the new new Edgewood Marta Mixed Use Development!! Quick interstate access & very close to downtown/intown fun! You’ll fall in love with this beautiful, move-in ready home! Go to http://goo. gl/B36Mgp to view more pictures! Call now for a showing: 404-312-5002
1353 MERIDIAN ST. SE ATLANTA, GA 30317 ©2016 Rogers Realty Consultants, L.L.C.; All Rights Reserved.
fenuxe_issue_174.indd 32
ROGERS REALTY CONSULTANTS
12/26/16 10:00 PM