Fenuxe Magazine Issue V8-01

SOUTHERN WITH A GAY TWIST

01.13.17 V8-01

+

COMING OUT TO CHRISTIAN PARENTS?

6

events worth travelling for

u nder constru ction photography: Maxine Johnston model: Joel Knight

PRESENTED BY ROGERS REALTY

DEAN ROGERS, LISTING AGENT DEAN@ROGERSREALTYGA.COM

DIRECT: 404.312.5002

FOR SALE

LISTING PRICE: $ 344,900

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.

ROGERS REALTY CONSULTANTS

FENUXE

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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 © 2017 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.

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photography: Maxine Johnston model: Joel Knight

FENUXE

Contents

01.13.2016

8 GREAT 06 CALENDAR: THINGS TO DO

08 18

PG: 29

u nder constru ction photography: Maxine Johnston model: Joel Knight

OUT & ABOUT PHOTOS 6 GAY EVENTS WORTH TRAVELLING FOR

23

WHY GAY GIRLS HAVE IT TOUGHER THAN GAY GUYS

24

COMING OUT TO CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIAN PARENTS

34 36

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

WANT YOUR EVENT FEATURED? SEND IT TO US AT INFO@FENUXE.COM

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

CHILDREN & THE LAW

Saturday, January 14 Are you parenting children in a same-sex relationship without a legal order of parentage? Many families think that because they are legally married or because both their names appear on their child’s birth certificate that their parental rights are protected. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Join attorneys from Georgia Legal Services The suggested donation is $5.

7 – 9 p.m., Charis Books, www. charisbooksandmore.com COMMUNITY

MUSICAL MONDAY @ PLAZA THEATRE Monday, January 16 Musical Monday is debuting tonight at The Plaza Theatre with the musical hit “Dreamgirls.” Drinks begin at 7 p.m. and the screening at 7:15 p.m. An open mic after-party follows. Pre-sale tickets $10 and $12 at the door, www.plazaatlanta.com

06: January 13, 2017

JAN 19

JAN 16

FUN

AGLCC BUSINESS BUILDERS LUNCH

Thursday, January 19 The Atlanta Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (AGLCC) presents its Business Builder Midtown Luncheon today, hosted by Chip Ivie and Chris Torrens on the Third Thursday of each month at 11:45 a.m. at Henry’s Midtown Atlanta, 132 10th St. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30309

CHARITY JAN 16

JAN 15

WOMEN SWEET ON WOMEN

Sunday, January 15 Featuring songwriter, sound healer and medicine woman Gina Breedlove from Brooklyn, New York, she has graced stages nationally and internationally. A coalescence of rhythm and blues with storytelling cadences of folk and gospel, Gina’s folk-soul is music that seeps into your being. This is a women-only event. 7:30 – 9 p.m., The Commons Performing Arts Hall

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 CHARITY JAN 21 05.03.15

JAN 14

JAN 13

MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY LINE UP

SHOW

LEGAL

MLK

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

COMMUNITY JAN 24

CALENDAR

A STRIVING PARENT

Tuesday, January 24 The Race Conscious Parenting Collective is designed to support the ongoing development of white parents of white and multiracial children who are seeking to unlearn and dismantle white supremacy.

It is facilitated by Shannon Gaggero, author of the blog “A Striving Parent,” 7:30 – 9 p.m., Charis Books, www. charisbooksandmore.com

OUT & ABOUT

08: January 13, 2017

PHOTOS

NYE PARTY @ HENRY’S PHOTOS BY: SHER PRUITT

MAKING ITS TRIUMPHANT RETURN TO ATLANTA!

ON SALE NOW

FEBRUARY 22 - MARCH 5 FoxTheaTre.org/PhanTom • 855-285-8499

FENUXE.COM : 09

OUT & ABOUT

10: January 13, 2017

PHOTOS

GAYBORHOOD HOLIDAY PARTY PHOTOS BY: SHER PRUITT

OUT & ABOUT

12: January 13, 2017

PHOTOS

PARTY @ JOE’S ON JUNIPER PHOTOS BY: SHER PRUITT

Gated Community

Towns at Druid Hills

Townhomes from the low $500s

For more information, please call Bakari Maxwell at 404.634.4485.

Limited Time Only Purchase a To-Be-Built Home and Receive:

UP TO

$20,000

Use How You Choose Credits*

PLUS

UP TO

$10,000

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 1/1/17-1/31/17. 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. CAATL189

FENUXE.COM : 13

OUT & ABOUT

14 January 13, 2017

PHOTOS

PARTY @ JUNGLE PHOTOS BY: MIKE STONE

“New you, new life”

Do You Want To Know Your Future?

Are You Tired of Being Single?

Get Answers & More RIGHT NOW Call: (514) 726-7226 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

FENUXE.COM : 15

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:

UP TO

$10,000

Use How You Choose Credits*

PLUS

UP TO

$5,000

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 1/1/17-1/31/17. 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 $5,000 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. CAATL189

16: January 13, 2017

OUT & ABOUT

PHOTOS

PARTY @ BLAKES PHOTOS BY: SHER PRUITT

FENUXE.COM : 17

6

gay events to travel to this year

SYDNEY GAY & LESBIAN MARDI GRAS FESTIVAL

miami, fl

london, uk

Sydney, Australia: February 17 - March 5

Sydney’s renowned Mardi Gras makes the jet lag worthwhile. More than two jam-packed weeks of events including gay film and comedy festivals, numerous art exhibitions, scores of theater, music and dance performances and countless parties. It all culminates in the annual Mardi Gras Parade (slated for March 4 in 2017), cheered on by hundreds of thousands, followed by the 12,000-strong Mardi Gras Party—to be headlined this year by Tegan & Sara.

sydney, austrailia

WORLD OUTGAMES

QUEER BRITISH ART

Miami, Florida: May 26 - June 4

London, UK: April 5 - October 1

Gay athletes from around the world will head to Miami in late spring for the fourth edition of World OutGames—the first time they’ve ever been held in the United States. Athletes from more than 40 countries have already registered, with more than 450 events planned in 34 sports. Some 15,000 people are expected to attend during World OutGames’ 10 days.

England celebrates the 50th anniversary of the decriminalization of homosexuality, with exhibitions and events planned around the country. London’s Tate Museum will host a groundbreaking show of works by British artists from the century or so before decriminalization Meanwhile, up in Manchester, the People’s History Museum will present an exhibition focusing on the period since 1967.

From Miami, Florida, to Sydney, Australia, there is no shortage of LGBTQ events to choose from in 2017. Whether it’s the best in music, sports, film, art or just full-on celebration you’re after, as you start plotting your next getaway, here are a few travel-worthy events to put on your radar.

Los Angeles

amsterdam

WORLD PRIDE MADRID, SPAIN Madrid, Spain: June 23 - July 2

OUTFEST

Milkshake Festival

Los Angeles, California: July 6 - 16

Amsterdam, Netherlands: July 29 - 30

Kicking off with a gayceleb-filled Opening Night Gala in downtown L.A., the 11-day festival showcases some of the newest, best and brightest in global gay cinema— the 2016 edition featured 162 films from 19 countries, including many world & American premieres. A number of special screenings throughout the fest take place at the iconic Ford Theatres in the Hollywood Hills. More than 15 jury & audience awards are doled out to the best of the best.

Amsterdam’s annual Milkshake festival— now in its 6th year— consistently features a stellar lineup of the world’s most cuttingedge queer artists, making it one of the most reliable places on the planet to experience good, gay-positive, music live. Milkshake—a roster of 1,100 performers in 2016 included theater acts, go-go dancers, fetish experiences & vogue drag houses. They even have a special day for mentally disabled LGBTQ people.

Madrid’s already phenomenal annual Pride event—attended by 1.5 million people in 2016—kicks things up exponentially for 2017 as it becomes both the fifth-ever World Pride and the 24th continentwide EuroPride. The colossal event will also mark a couple of big LGBTQ anniversaries for the city of Madrid: its 40th Pride and the 30th time the festivities have been centered on its main

gay neighborhood of Chueca. Ten days of concerts, parties, art, sports and more (happening all around greater Madrid) will kick off with the Opening Ceremony on June 23, and will include an International Cultural Festival, a Human Rights Conference and a WorldPride Park.

The climax comes on July 1, when some two million people are expected to take part in the Madrid’s biggest ever Pride Parade through the streets of the city.

madrid, spain

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.

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

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

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.

COMMUNITY

WHY GAY GIRLS HAVE IT HARDER THAN GAY GUYS

BY JAMIE TABBERER

(WRITTEN BY A GAY GUY)

often special relationship between THE straight women and gay men is long-

documented. And romanticized. So much so, it even inspired an international, possiblysoon-to-be-returning hit TV show. But what about gay men’s relationship with lesbian women? As a gay man myself, I sometimes sense that things are strained between us; especially as we approach something distantly resembling sexual equality in certain parts of the world. I would urge any gay man to reconnect with his lesbian friends, while bearing in mind the following five ways in which way have it easier than our Sapphic sisters. #1: Lesbians are less represented in popular culture than gay men Gay male characters are popping up in movies and TV shows more and more.

Although, granted there’s still a long way to go. But their female counterparts are a lot harder to find – when they’re not being killed off entirely. And while Sam Smith, Adam Lambert, Troye Sivan and Olly Alexander are making a splash on planet pop, how many gay girl equivalents can you think of? Take lesbian sister duo Tegan and Sara. They’re just as amazing as those guys. But they’ve never reached the same dizzying heights of fame and success. Why? Is it perhaps because people struggle to ’get’ their queer image, because they’re girls?

There are saving graces, of course. Chat show queen Ellen DeGeneres is the seventh most-followed person on Twitter, while the Oscar-nominated Ellen Page and

Oscar-winning Jodie Foster have thrived since coming out. Plus, Orange is The New Black has changed the world of TV forever.

Furthermore, the growing list of prominent bisexual and non-heterosexual female stars is hopefully a comforting sign for gay girls.

Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Cara Delevingne, Kristen Stewart, Sarah Paulson, Evan Rachel Wood, Michelle Rodriguez, Megan Fox, Angelina Jolie, and Amber Heard are just a few powerful examples. #2. Lesbians suffer misogyny – including from gay men A lot of men hate women, are prejudiced against women and objectify women. A lot of men try to tell women what to do. There are infinite examples of all of this, so instead, I’ll focus on some of the specific ways gay men can fall into this trap, sometimes unwittingly. Every time a gay guy says he’s disgusted at the thought of a vagina, I roll my eyes. Really? It’s the same reason I can’t watch RuPaul’s Drag Race, where queens are ridiculed as ‘fishy’ and all either have banging bodies, or are comically overweight. Is that really how we see women?

Then there’s the way some gay men demean other gay men for being ‘femme’, as if femininity is lesser. #3. Lesbians are sexually objectified by straight men (in a way gay men aren’t by women) You might think straight women aren’t interested in gay sex, but that’s not strictly true. Reports claim more and more women

are watching gay porn than ever, and a close girlfriend of mine once admitted that Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger together in Brokeback Mountain was a turn-on for her.

The fact is, the spectrum of sexuality is complicated in a good way. But the way straight women view male homosexuality – basically, with respect – is completely different from the way straight men view female homosexuality. Some straight guys think gay girls exist purely for their pleasure and entertainment. This is the epitome of sexual objectification. Straight men often abjectly fail to grasp that real, authentic lesbianism has literally nothing to do with them. (The cruelest irony being when the guys in question are homophobic). I can only imagine the harassment and lechery gay girls suffer as a consequence.

That’s not to say it’s unnatural for a straight guy to be turned on by lesbian sex. It’s all about context and respect. If straight, lesbian or bi girls get it on, and all parties consent to a man’s involvement, there’s no invasion of space or identity. A safe, considerate space for exploration is created. But rare is the straight man I’d trust in that scenario. #4. There’s hardly any porn made with lesbians in mind Speaking of lesbianism and the male gaze, just look at lesbian porn. Over 99% of it is geared to appeal to straight guys. All the women are ulta-femme, love rough sex and engage in cliche-ridden scenarios which – surprise, surprise – often end up involving a guy.

To put this ridiculousness into perspective for a second, just imagine the reverse. What would gay male porn look like if it were made with straight women in mind? ’Female-friendly lesbian porn’ exists, of course.

But it’s pretty crazy that you have to use those exact terms to find it, because ‘lesbian porn’ has already been claimed for straight men – because men’s needs are apparently more important than women’s. #5. There are fewer dedicated spaces for lesbians to hang out than for gay men Every week, another iconic gay bar or club around the world closes. For gay guys looking to socialise with other gay guys, the options are evermore limited. But it’s a problem gay girls have been dealing with for decades.

I can count on one hand the amount of dedicated lesbian clubs and bars I know on one hand. But this isn’t nearly enough, and it never was. Add to this the problem of door people at gay clubs discriminating against women, and it’s a wonder gay girls make it out at all.

FENUXE.COM : 23

COMMUNITY

BY: BRAD WALSH

BY PASTOR MARK LANDRY

Coming Out To Your Conservative Christian Parents?

I

t’s time to sit down with your parents and share something deeply personal - something that’s intimately tied to your future, your hopes, your community. Just about everything in your life is touched by this.

But mom and dad have an understanding of God that might lead them to reject you on some level, because that’s what they believe God wants them to do... ...which is ironic.

No faithful follower would argue that to be Christian is to attempt to live as Jesus did. But that guy condemned only one group of people - the holier-than-thou, self-righteous ilk who made it their business to reject others “in the name of God.” He had strong words for this group, even a threat or two.

The founder of your parent’s religion traveled around the 1st century Judean outskirts rounding up everyone the religious elite had rejected, delivered the notso-politically-correct news that they were acceptable to God, then unleashed them into the world to turn it on its head.

If Jesus were here today, there would be lots of gay people in his entourage, which means that there will also be lots of gay people in heaven, so much so that the religious elite might prefer the other place.

One of the fundamental messages of the Bible, especially the New Testament, is that God has nothing but open arms for you.

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Unfortunately, as so many pastors in the U.S. are coming to realize, conservative religious people have been historically adept at losing this plot, especially as it applies to the Gay community. Your news might be a bitter pill for them to swallow.

Be prepared for any number of responses. Your parents might be shocked, or confused. Few of us show up the way we want to in moments like these. They might shut you down, or try to convince you that you’re not Gay, that you’re going to hell, etc.

But this is a conversation that you must have.

As wrong as it would be for your parents to respond this way, it might happen. Instead of lashing out, getting defensive, or retaliating, demand that they deal with the impact that their response is having on you. Tell them calmly and respectfully that they’re hurting you. If they get defensive, simply repeat yourself until they understand that they’re causing you pain. Most religious folk will ultimately get to a place where they’re ready to listen.

I don’t know what it’s like to be you, but I do know what it’s like to be a religious conservative, and have spent the past 20 years or so deeply entrenched in the culture you’re getting ready to go up against.

Following are some steps to consider as you move forward.

Tell Your Story, and Demand that They Listen We’re human - we relate to stories better than we do to news especially if that news might come as a shock to us. Tell mom and Dad about your journey - not just the end part - the whole thing. The more personal you get, the more apt they are to listen.

It’s OK to practice a bit. I don’t go into big encounters without rehearsing. That might sound weird and a bit impersonal, but it helps to give me confidence, and to clarify the things that are most important.

Tell them how you finally came to realize that you’re gay - talk about what it felt like. Tell them about your friends, your community, your dreams for the future. Talk about how scary it is to have this conversation with them. When you’re done, let them know that you love them, that you want to be as close as you can.

If they decide not to listen, remind them that you love them, but respectfully excuse yourself until they’re ready to respond differently.

Take Shame off the Table The last thing you need to feel when you meet with your parents is that there’s something wrong with you. Most religious people who view homosexuality as something that needs to be stamped out have some deep emotional/spiritual issues that have nothing to do with someone’s orientation. I’ve worked for years with people like this. They’re not healthy folk. They live with a sense of shame that permeates everything, including their religion.

They’re typically people who’ve faced significant rejection in their own lives but never managed to reconcile, heal, or move on. People who live with this level of shame can’t help but pass it to others, especially to the people closest to them.

So, have some compassion and some confidence.

You’re not the problem. You have every right to tell your story, share the news, and put the ball squarely in their court. Make eye contact, don’t giggle or squirm - carry yourself like someone articulating the most important news of their life. Allow some awkward silence, let it sink in. And be respectful. I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t like to be respected.

But in the end remember - if your parents are truly Christian, their job is to accept you, consider you equal, and move forward with love and a deep desire to be close.

Help Your Parents to be More Like Jesus If your parents don’t hold an affirming position, they’ll probably recite a few scriptures, and you’ll be left feeling rejected, even if they hug you and bring out the milk and cookies. Or worse, they might disown you, treat you like a “sinner,” or some other brand of bigoted behavior. At this point you’ll have two options - retaliation or forgiveness.

Nobody would blame you if you decide to retaliate, but remember that nothing will eat your soul faster than unforgiveness. I have friends in their 50’s who are still hating on their parents. It’s not working for them. A friend of mine recently came out to her Evangelical parents, who weren’t happy to get the news, but refused to disengage. Of course, this hasn’t been easy on my friend, but she’s also refused to disengage, continuing to pursue their relationship, awkward and strained as it may be.

She’s an extraordinary person, partly because when life gets hard she responds in extraordinary ways. Choosing not to hate her parents, to walk with them, give them time to process/re-think things, and forgive them when things get difficult has changed her, made her stronger, more at peace. And because she’s decided to stay in relationship with mom and dad, they’re compelled to deal with one of the most fundamental tenets of Biblical Christianity - followers of Jesus are to reject nobody, to accept everyone as they are, to let them be different, love them without condition, and consider them equals. I’d wager that her parents are dealing with this on a personally unprecedented level. All because my friend made the decision to act like the guy her parents are trying to follow.

You may never convince your parents to embrace a more affirming view of homosexuality, but you can leverage the fundamentals of Christianity, which might push them over the edge, into a fuller, much more risky expression of their own faith. While that will yield a spiritual benefit for your parents, for you it’ll feel a bit like retaliation, which makes it even better.

There’s no way to do this perfectly. Religious folk can be tough to deal with on a number of issues, especially this one. And because you love your parents, your encounter with them will be charged with emotion as you wait on pins and needles for their response. Will they love you? Reject you?

Disown you?

Many from my camp would call you a hero for even considering such an encounter, much less doing it in a way that respects your parents and your orientation.

Take your time, talk to some friends, consult a few more resources, practice a bit, then enter this arena.

Regardless of the outcome, you’ll be stronger, less likely to let anyone influence your self esteem ultimately more skilled at the lost art of finding peace in the toughest of places.

COMMUNITY

BY TOM TIETJEN

AS TOLD BY US tells the story of Layla, who, after four years of being bullied in high school, seeks to discover herself and come to terms with her true identity. She quickly becomes the town’s “It Girl”, experiencing love and lust as she weaves her way in and out of relationships with an assortment of young women. But just as she is thriving in her newfound freedom, a string of mysterious suicides among her inner circle of friends threatens to lead Layla toward a twisted journey of undeniable fate.

The story is based on author Gabriella Meghan’s own experiences, living and loving in a world she describes as harsh, chaotic and malicious. It explores a darker side of the lesbian community that many may be surprised to learn about: rampant with sex, addiction and mental illness.

Do you worry As Told By Us may give a negative impression of the lesbian community?

Gabriella Meghan: I like to think that the book is eye-opening to the realities individuals within the community face everyday.

Would you say its true-to-life?

Gabriella Meghan:It is certainly true to life of the community I experienced. The community I experienced was very small and dysfunctional.

Why do you think that was?

Gabriella Meghan: My theory is that LGBTQ people have learned to hide who they are by lying to loved ones for fear of being an outcast. We’ve become better at lying and hiding things, and that makes it easier to be malicious.

Did you base your main character, Layla, on yourself?

Gabriella Meghan: Layla’s experiences and life are strongly based on my own. Layla and I both went through many changes and obstacles in our late teens and early twenties including divorce, coming out, rebelling, struggling with an eating disorder, being in and breaking free from an abusive relationship, death of friends and more.

Are Layla’s lovers based on your real life lovers?

Gabriella Meghan: Yes, very much so. I based the character of Jade off an extremely toxic yet passionate relationship I was in. It was abusive in more ways than one, and I didn’t realize it while I was in it. I only started to realize the abuse and the intensity of it once I began therapy a few years down the road. A lot of my fears, anxieties, and insecurities stem back to her.

Does your ex still control you?

Gabriella Meghan: It was that kind of relationship where no matter how much time goes by, if I see her today, I know she will have an immediate hold on my soul.

But I realize I can control those feelings, acknowledge them, and move forward with my life in a positive manner. In a way I am thankful to have had a Jade in my life. I learned a lot of valuable lessons, I became stronger, and I learned that I am capable of accomplishing anything. I have forgiven

that person and moved on to a healthy relationship and happy life.

Did you find writing the book to be therapeutic?

Gabriella Meghan: As Told By Us was my therapy before therapy! Before ever seeking out a therapist to talk to, I wrote.

The book allowed me to tackle the demons of that period of my life. It allowed me to self-reflect, which I think is so incredibly important in order to grow into a better person.

What are your feelings today about the lesbian community?

Gabriella Meghan: There are times I miss the chaos, and there are times that I am thankful I made it out in one piece. This past year I travelled to a lot of the United States, met tons of new people, and learned the lesbian community is so much bigger than what I experienced in my small town. Its restored my faith in the community.

What do you hope readers take away from As Told By Us? Gabriella Meghan: I think it is important that we talk about the hardships that many LGBTQ youth go through with drugs, alcohol and addiction. We shouldn’t pretend these problems don’t exist. Addiction is a serious thing, and we should address it and work together as a community to fight it.

Visit http://www.gabriellameghan.com.

PHOTO BY VALENTIN CASARSA

TOXIC

"LOVE" IN HER DEBUT NOVEL, AUTHOR GABRIELLA MEGHAN WRITES A CAPTIVATING STORY OF ROMANCE AND MURDER , SET IN A SMALLTOWN LESBIAN COMMUNITY

REVIEW

By: Terri Schlichenmeyer

BOOK REVIEW:

I

“MISS JANE: A NOVEL”

n its most basic description, it’s a muscle.

Nothing computerized, no easy-to-follow instructions or list of parts. Nope, it’s a muscle – a dub-thumping, miraculous group of cells that was beating when you were born, due to simple electrical activity. It’s just a muscle, although in the audiobook “Beast” by Brie Spangler, the heart knows who it loves.

At six-foot-four and 260 pounds, fifteen-year-old Dylan Ingvarsson was a beast.

And he hated it.

Not only did he tower over every single student and most of the teachers at St. Lawrence Prep, but he was also hairy as a fakefur blanket. You might get teased, but you don’t get bullied when you’re like that. You don’t have a lot of friends, either, and you don’t get girls.

If it wasn’t for his best friend, JP, Dylan wouldn’t know what to do. They’d known one another since they were little and he was everything Dylan was not: well-off, well-groomed, and well-liked. Just walking the halls with JP made Dylan cool, though there was a bit of a dark side to JP’s friendship. Dylan hated that, too.

He hated his entire life, come to think, so he took risks. Big, stupid risks, which is how Dylan ended up on a roof, which was how he ended up falling and busting his leg, which was how he got sent to group therapy for self-harmers, which was how he met the girl of his dreams.

Her name was Jamie, she was the same age as Dylan, gorgeous, tall, smart, and she had the same struggles with the way her life was going. She only wanted to be friends, but he wanted so much more – partly because Jamie was funny and he liked her, partly because she liked him, and partly because she would prove to JP that Dylan could get a girl by himself.

But then everything fell apart.

She said she told Dylan that she was transgender, but he didn’t hear that. Was she a dude? He wasn’t gay. She hadn’t hidden anything, hadn’t lied, but Dylan couldn’t get over facts.

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And he couldn’t get over Jamie…

Two minutes. Get past the preliminary tracks in “Beast,” and that’s how long it will take before you’ll be eager to know more about Dylan. Author Brie Spangler gave him the right words with the right attitude, Andrew Eiden reads them perfectly, and you’ll genuinely like this kid with a tough exterior but a marshmallow center.

Spangler and Eiden make Dylan come alive in this boy-meetsgirl-who-used-to-be-a-boy story, by giving him more than just one dimension. He’s a warm, responsible, and complex, wellcrafted character; with Dylan, Spangler beautifully tackles a could-be-thorny subject, wrestles with its conscious some, then lets it do its own soulsearching. That leads to a newold-fashioned love story that really couldn’t be sweeter.

Be aware that this audiobook includes a delicately-presented make-out scene that turns surprising, but not graphic. It might be controversial for some, but it fits, so don’t let it deter you.

Start “Beast,” and you’ll (heart) it.

By: Always Overbooked...

Terri Schlichenmeyer The Bookworm Sez, LLC bookwormsez@gmail.com The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer.

Terri has been reading since she was 3 years old and she never goes anywhere without a book.

FAITH

Spiritual Fitness:

SPIRITUAL AWAKENING

piritual awakening is a sudden shift S in consciousness, sometimes drastic, mainly for a better life and or in a good direction. Webster’s Dictionary defines it as an enlightening realization.

Some of us might be experiencing a spiritual awakening and not know it. Here are 11 signs that indicate that you are experiencing and awakening or enlightening.

1. You are creating new belief systems.

2. You want more freedom and less stuff.

3. A sudden desire or change in life.

4. You find yourself drawn to inspiration & personal development.

5. You have a deep desire to connect with nature.

6. Experiencing usual burst and energy and unusual sleep patterns.

7. You have increased self talks or talks with your creator.

8. You are experiencing synchronicity.

9. You are having a greater feeling of

oneness.

10. You desire to take better care of the whole body.

11. Feeling of really deep emotions!

John O’ Donahue has a famous quote: “Once the soul awakens, the search begins and you can never go back. From then on you are inflamed with a special longing that will never again linger in the lowlands of complacency and partial fulfillment. The eternal makes you urgent. You are loath to let compromise or the threat of danger hold you back from striving towards the summit of fulfillment”. This statement is so true.

It’s kind of like an onion you begin to peel all the way to the core and begin to live again in a better way with great expression, and for people who don’t understand this it would seem very odd or crazy. That doesn’t matter because when you begin to open and shift your consciousness in a new better direction you begin to really be connected to oneself. When you are connected you are free! Finally when you are free,

BY JOSHUAH NEAL

connected and awaken you have no interest in judging others are worry about others judging you!

Spiritual awakening is also the 12th step (last step) in the TWELVE STEP PROGRAM for Alcoholic/ Substance Abuse Program or Rehab centers. The reason it is the final step is because you have to use the other 11 Steps to become awakened or enlighten. The 1st in the 12 step Program is admitting that you are powerless over alcohol and substance and you life has became unmanageable. Therefore in the 12 Step Program you go from step 1 being powerless to the final step, step 12 being powerful and awaken of your life.

Personally I began my spiritually awakening not too long ago at all and still working on it in every single one of my affairs. One my personal quotes that tend to refer to is: “I’m not the same soul I once was. A lot has changed. A lot is still changing.

A lot had to have change. Therefore you can not expect out of my what I embodied in the past. For that part of me no longer exist!” My spiritual awakening also includes daily talks with my Creator! I’m so connected with myself right now that all I can do is just smile!

Spiritual Awakening may not come when you want it to, but it will come. I promise! You may not realize it at the time it’s happening but once you start see.

I hope this helps, Joshua Neal Behavioral Health Coach & Fitness Expert www.TinyHabits.com www.AnytimeFitness.com www.CrisisTextLine.com

u nder

constru ction Behavioral Health & Development photography: Maxine Johnston 2 Peachtree NWKnight model:StJoel Atlanta, GA 30303 (404) 657-225

30: January 13, 2017

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Hey Girl Hey! Holler Poodles!

Well Well Well. Snowpocalypse 2017 has come and gone like a fart in the wind--only my fart has left something behind. What a let down! I really don’t understand how weather forecasters can get it so wrong with so much technology at their disposal. And yet, I seem to fall for it every time along with countless others. It really makes me wonder are the grocery stores in cahoots with the weather services or is it all just a ratings ploy? Last year it was much the same thing. Forecasted snow then nothing.

And while I understand an abundance of caution is needed to prevent incidents like a few years ago when people were stuck on the road in their cars, there is a big difference between accuracy and preparedness. My beef is with the level of consistent inaccuracy. I mean really.

One of my favorite childhood memories was getting out of school at 2:00pm to find my mom waiting for me outside. It had just started snowing and the roads were already frozen. By the time we got home (only 2 miles away) the roads were already covered and by nightfall, there was about 4 inches of snow on the ground and it continued to fall. My brother and neighbor and I went outside to hang out I remember the how beautiful and peaceful it was. It was like insulation and everything was quiet and serene.

Now if you’ve spent any time up North then I apologize for my romanticizing what you probably think of as ridiculous. However, growing up in the South, snow is such a rare event that many of us think it’s pretty damn cool. I will never understand, however, why we go to the grocery stores in droves to buy milk, bread and eggs.

So in summary, if you want to get in my panties, take me somewhere it is snowing and my romantic juices will flow. (Ewww, did I just say juices?)

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.COM : 35

Gay News At A Glance ORLANDO UNVEILS 49 RAINBOW STADIUM SEATS TO HONOR PULSE VICTIMS Orlando City president Phil Rawlins has unveiled 49 rainbow seats honoring the 49 victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting. The seats, honoring the people killed at the gay nightclub on June 12, are in section 12 of the Lions’ new stadium set to open in March.

Copyright Getty Images

‘Just over six months ago on June the 12th, there was the senseless loss of 49 lives at the Pulse Nigthclub,’ Rawlins said. ‘And as a sports, as

a community, as a soccer club, we responded to that tragedy in the very best possible way. ‘And it was my belief, I know it’s your belief as a club, that this sport can lift up a community and help to heal a community.

He added: ‘We made a commitment on that day that, which is that we would commemorate, forever, in the new stadium a memory of the 49 victims that lost their lives that day. And today we’re here to do that.

‘We’re here to commemorate and unveil the 49 rainbow seats that will sit permanently in section 12.’

On 18 June, the Saturday after the tragedy, the Orlando City soccer club played a home game and included tributes to the Pulse victims.

The seats have been set in a prominent location and have been sold to fans with season tickets and should be occupied every game.

VIRGINIA’S GOVERNOR BANS STATE FROM DOING BUSINESS WITH FIRMS THAT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST LGBTI PEOPLE Virginia’s governor has signed an executive order banning state contracts with firms that discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe announced the order on Thursday (5 January).

It builds on an order McAuliffe signed three years ago banning such discrimination in the state workforce.

McAuliffe said he has taken these actions to ‘take divisive social issue battles off the table and help build an

36: January 13, 2017

open and welcoming economy.

‘Virginia is home to the best state workforce in the country and this policy will ensure there is no question that all Virginians are to receive the full benefits of their citizenship, without regard to their sexual orientation or gender identity,’ the governor said in a written statement.

The order applies contracts entered into by the states executive branch which would cover such things as building roads and highways.

But McAuliffe’s order does not cover contracts entered into by the state legislature or the courts. It is also limited to new contracts that are valued at over $10,000.

House of Delgates Speaker William J. Howell, a Republican, was critical of the order and accused the governor of harming religious liberty ‘by discriminating against individuals, businesses, and faith-based charities that provide critical services to the Commonwealth and its citizens.

‘Instead of focusing on improving Virginia’s declining economic climate, the Governor is choosing to focus on divisive issues that play to his base,’ he said in a statement.

CHER RETURNS TO ACTING It turns out 2010’s Burlesque will not be Cher’s acting swan song.

The Oscar winner will star in Flint, a Lifetime TV movie about the Flint, Michigan, water contamination crisis.

Cher’s role will be that of a Flint resident whose family is impacted by the poisoned water.

The fact-based drama not only looks at the human element of the crisis but also at the politics and poor management that led to it.

The ultimate gay icon has been passionate in speaking out about the crisis and has donated vast amounts of clean drinking water to the residents of Flint.

UKGRANT SPERMISSIONFOR 3-PARENTBABIES

The UK’s Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has given the go ahead for the creation of three-parent babies; children who have genetic material from three individuals.

Although the concept of threeparent babies is something that some gay and lesbian people have dreamed about, the HFEA has made it clear that it is granting permission under very

Focusing more on live performing in recent decades, Cher has made relatively few films since her Academy Awardwinning performance in the 1987 film Moonstruck.

But several of her movies have been memorable including Mask, Silkwood, The Witches of Eastwick, Suspect, Tea with Mussolini, Mermaids and Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean.

Cher has made only one other TV movie in her career.

It was 21 years ago when she was one of the stars of the HBO trilogy of abortion stories If These Walls Could Talk for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award.

Deadline Hollywood reports that Cher will produce the movie along with Craig Zadan, Neil Meron, and Katie Couric.

strict conditions.

Three-parent children will be conceived only to mitigate the risk of rare genetic disorders, and will include genetic material from two women and one man.

They will entail a small part of genetic material being removed from a woman’s egg, being replaced with genetic material from another woman, before fertilization with a man’s genetic material.

The process can ensure that disorders linked to mitochondria – part of the nucleus of every cell – will not be passed down from mother to child.

HOMOPHOBIC GOSPEL SINGER KIM BURRELL DISCOVERS WHY IT’S NOT GOOD TO BE A HATER Kim Burrell is quickly finding out that being homophobic is not such a good career move. The gospel singer’s radio show Bridging the Gap has been dropped by Texas Southern University’s public radio station KTSU. This comes a day after Burrell got herself quickly axed from an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show this week and now she will not take part in next weekend’s BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Honors.

Over the weekend, Burrell launched into an epic anti-gay rant during a church sermon.She said ‘that perverted, homosexual spirit is a spirit of delusion and confusion’ and implied that all homosexuals are likely to die in 2017.

The sermon was captured on video and posted on YouTube and has been viewed more than 1 million times. TSU is located in Houston, Texas, which is where Burrell started her musical career with the Greater Emmanuel C.O.G.I.C. Choir. Her radio show had debuted seven months ago. Burrell is no longer mentioned on the KTSU FENUXE.COM : 37

COMMUNITY

AN IMPLANT COULD REVOLUTIONIZE THE WAY WE PROTECT OURSELVES FROM HIV People at high risk of contracting HIV can significantly lower their chances of getting the virus with a daily pill known as PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis. One of the most common and effective PrEP medications is called Truvada, a revolutionary pill introduced by Gilead Sciences in 2004. Around the world, hundreds of thousands have been taking PrEP on a daily basis for several years. While this innovation has led to significantly lower rates of new HIV cases, it's difficult for some to stick to the once-a-day regimen, prompting scientists to search for a low-effort, long-term way for people to take PrEP on schedule.

“PrEP can stop HIV from taking hold and spreading throughout your body,” according to the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “It is highly effective for preventing HIV if used as prescribed, but it is much less effective when not taken consistently.” A daily dose of PrEP can reduce the risk of contracting HIV from sex by more than 90%. Getting patients to take the drug daily, a problem with most chronic diseases, is critical for preventing HIV effectively.

Hoping to address this issue, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is investing $140 million to help Intarcia Therapeutics, a Boston-based biopharmaceutical company, develop a tiny implantable drug pump. The pump will use Intarcia’s Medici Drug Delivery System, which delivers HIV preventive medicine to healthy patients, ensuring they are consistent in the treatment. The matchstick-size mini-pump is embedded just under the dermal layer of the patients’ skin by a trained physician in an in-office procedure. The pump can hold six- or

12-month supplies of the drug.

The Gates Foundation’s investment is divided into two parts; $50 million for an equity stake in the company and $90 million in grants, pegged to Intarcia achieving certain milestones in developing the device. In the future, additional grants will be made to ensure broader access to the treatment, Intarcia said in a statement.

“There’s a vital need for an HIV/AIDS intervention that allows those at risk to incorporate prevention more easily into their daily lives,” said Sue Desmond-Hellmann, CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The money is part of $1.5 billion fund created by the Gates Foundation to invest in technologies developed in the private sector that advance the foundation’s mission.

Intarcia is also developing a version of the pump, called the ITCA 650, to treat type 2 diabetes, and filed an application with the US Food and Drug Administration to market the device in November. The device may be particularly helpful for people in sub-Saharan Africa, where the highest HIV and AIDS burden exists.

Currently there is no effective HIV vaccine and antiretroviral drugs that protect against HIV infection are only available in the form of a daily pill. Intarcia’s implantable System, which could be used to deliver long-acting anti-retroviral drugs, has the potential to solve current adherence challenges and help more people protect themselves from HIV infection.

The company and the foundation have yet to decide which HIV preventive drug to use in the pump. And it will unfortunately take several years before it reaches the market. While it will be sold in the United States and other developed nations, the agreement between the foundation and the company is to ensure access to the pump in the developing world, and particularly in Africa.

YOU DESERVE

ANSWERS HIV Answers gives you the information you want, privately, right on your phone.

Get started online at

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UNBC3194 04/16

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