SOUTHERN WITH A GAY TWIST
04.07.17 V8-06
BY TERRY SARTOR PHOTOS BY: WES
Alissah Brooks: Rising Star
WHAT IS GENVOYA®? GENVOYA is a 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in people 12 years and older and weigh at least 77 lbs. It can either be used in people who are starting HIV-1 treatment and have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements. These include having an undetectable viral load (less than 50 copies/mL) for 6 months or more on their current HIV-1 treatment. GENVOYA combines 4 medicines into 1 pill taken once a day with food. GENVOYA is a complete HIV-1 treatment and should not be used with other HIV-1 medicines. GENVOYA does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. To control HIV-1 infection and decrease HIV-related illnesses, you must keep taking GENVOYA. Ask your healthcare provider if you have questions about how to reduce the risk of passing HIV-1 to others. 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.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
medicines that should not be taken with GENVOYA. Do not start a new medicine without telling your healthcare provider. • The herbal supplement St. John’s wort. • Any other medicines to treat HIV-1 infection.
What are the other possible side effects of GENVOYA? Serious side effects of GENVOYA may also include: • Changes in body fat, which can happen in people taking HIV-1 medicines. • Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking GENVOYA. • Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking GENVOYA. The most common side effect of GENVOYA is nausea. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you or don’t go away.
What is the most important information I should know about GENVOYA?
What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking GENVOYA?
GENVOYA may cause serious side effects:
• All your health problems. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you have or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis virus infection.
• Build-up of an acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious medical emergency. Symptoms of lactic acidosis include 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. The liver may become large and fatty. Symptoms of liver problems include your skin or the white part of your eyes turning yellow (jaundice); dark “tea-colored” urine; light-colored bowel movements (stools); loss of appetite; nausea; and/or pain, aching, or tenderness in the right side of your stomach area. • You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or serious liver problems if you are female, very overweight, or have been taking GENVOYA for a long time. In some cases, lactic acidosis and serious liver problems have led to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any symptoms of these conditions. • Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. GENVOYA is not approved to treat HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV and stop taking GENVOYA, your HBV may suddenly get worse. Do not stop taking GENVOYA without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to monitor your health.
Who should not take GENVOYA? Do not take GENVOYA if you take:
• All the medicines you take, including prescription and overthe-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Other medicines may affect how GENVOYA works. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist. Ask your healthcare provider if it is safe to take GENVOYA with all of your other medicines. • If you take antacids. Take antacids at least 2 hours before or after you take GENVOYA. • If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if GENVOYA can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking GENVOYA. • If you are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk.
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 GENVOYA including Important Warnings on the following page.
• Certain prescription medicines for other conditions. It is important to ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about
Ask your healthcare provider if GENVOYA is right for you, and visit GENVOYA.com to learn more.
GENVOYA does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.
SHOW YOUR
POWER
Take care of what matters most—you. GENVOYA is a 1-pill, once-a-day complete HIV-1 treatment for people who are either new to treatment or people whose healthcare provider determines they can replace their current HIV-1 medicines with GENVOYA.
IMPORTANT FACTS This is only a brief summary of important information about GENVOYA and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.
(jen-VOY-uh) MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT GENVOYA
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF GENVOYA
GENVOYA® may cause serious side effects, including: • 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. • 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 (jaundice); dark “tea-colored” urine; light-colored bowel movements (stools); loss of appetite; nausea; and/or pain, aching, or tenderness in the right side of your stomach area. • Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. GENVOYA is not approved to treat HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking GENVOYA. Do not stop taking GENVOYA 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 GENVOYA for a long time.
GENVOYA can cause serious side effects, including: • Those in the “Most Important Information About GENVOYA” section. • Changes in body fat. • Changes in your immune system. • New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure. The most common side effect of GENVOYA is nausea. These are not all the possible side effects of GENVOYA. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking GENVOYA. Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with GENVOYA.
ABOUT GENVOYA • GENVOYA is a prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in people 12 years of age and older and weigh at least 77 lbs who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before. GENVOYA can also be used to replace current HIV-1 medicines for some people who have an undetectable viral load (less than 50 copies/mL of virus in their blood), and have been on the same HIV-1 medicines for at least 6 months and have never failed HIV-1 treatment, and whose healthcare provider determines that they meet certain other requirements. • GENVOYA does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. Ask your healthcare provider about how to prevent passing HIV-1 to others. Do NOT take GENVOYA if you: • Take a medicine that contains: alfuzosin (Uroxatral®), carbamazepine (Carbatrol®, Epitol®, Equetro®, Tegretol®, Tegretol-XR®, Teril®), cisapride (Propulsid®, Propulsid Quicksolv®), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45®, Migranal®), ergotamine (Cafergot®, Migergot®, Ergostat®, Medihaler Ergotamine®, Wigraine®, Wigrettes®), lovastatin (Advicor ®, Altoprev®, Mevacor ®), lurasidone (Latuda®), methylergonovine (Ergotrate®, Methergine®), midazolam (when taken by mouth), phenobarbital (Luminal®), phenytoin (Dilantin®, Phenytek®), pimozide (Orap®), rifampin (Rifadin®, Rifamate®, Rifater®, Rimactane®), sildenafil when used for lung problems (Revatio®), simvastatin (Simcor®, Vytorin®, Zocor®), or triazolam (Halcion®). • Take the herbal supplement St. John’s wort. • Take any other HIV-1 medicines at the same time.
BEFORE TAKING GENVOYA Tell your healthcare provider if you: • Have or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis infection. • Have any other medical condition. • Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. • 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 GENVOYA. HOW TO TAKE GENVOYA • GENVOYA is a complete one pill, once a day HIV-1 medicine. • Take GENVOYA with food. GET MORE INFORMATION • This is only a brief summary of important information about GENVOYA. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more. • Go to GENVOYA.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5 • If you need help paying for your medicine, visit GENVOYA.com for program information.
GENVOYA, the GENVOYA Logo, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, and LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. All other marks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. Version date: December 2016 © 2017 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. GENC0126 01/17
FENUXE
Contents
04.07.2017
8 GREAT 08 CALENDAR: THINGS TO DO
10
OUT & ABOUT PHOTOS
24
COVER STORY: ALISSAH BROOKS RISING STAR
26
THIS IS HOW IT ALWAYS IS
29 36 38
NICOLE PAIGE BROOKS SAYS “DONT BE A DICK” HEY GIRL HEY GAY NEWS AT A GLANCE Scan the QR Code with your smart phone to like us on
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The Eagle Atlanta 306 Ponce de Leon Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30308 www.atlantaeagle.com
APRIL 14
COMEDY
THE MAGIC NEGRO
Friday, April 14 This hilarious one-man show by Mark Kendall shows a performer at war with himself. Dissecting common themes in representations of the African-American experience, Mark makes us laugh and ask ourselves why we are laughing. From race cards to white flight, Aunt Jemima, and even Black Jesus—you will laugh until you cry and cry until you laugh. Alliance Theatre 1280 Peachtree St. Atlanta, GA. 08: April 07, 2017
Saturday, April 8 Join today’s March Against Hate! Local Georgia activists join forces with major groups to show the world that we can overcome the discrimination many people face on a daily basis. As one force, it can be a force that cannot be broken, 1 p.m., Centennial Olympic Park, 265 Park Ave. West N.W., Atlanta, GA 30313 FUN
ICON PARTY
Saturday, April 15 For All Humans presents ICON a celebration of Janet + Michael Jackson, with the likes of performers Jai Myers, Andi Monroe, Star Martin, Sami Michelsen, Naomi Vul Seyy, John James, Michael Robinson, Biqtch Puddin’, Steven Glen Diehl and Gwendolyn Van Cartier. Doors open at 10:30 p.m., Jungle Atlanta, 2115 Faulkner Road. N.E, Atlanta, GA 30324
APRIL 12
APRIL 8
NICOLE PAIGE BROOKS PRESENTS ‘DON’T BE A DICK’ Saturday, April 8 Join the fabulous Nicole Paige Brooks and all of the cute VIGRboys at Jungle Atlanta for the presentation of the new dating app VIGR - an app that promotes being authentic and nice to others online. 10pm. Jungle Atlanta 2115 Faulkner Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30324 THEATRE CHARITY
05.03.15 APRIL 18
APRIL 8
Friday, April 7 Be part of the biggest and best party of the year as Atlanta Eagle celebrates 30 years. DJ Ron Pullman is kicking off the weekend tonight with no cover, 10 p.m. – 3 a.m.
ATLANTA MARCH AGAINST HATE
APRIL 15
APRIL 7
THE EAGLE TURNS THIRTY!
COMMUNITY
MARCH
COMMUNITY
MATILDA
Saturday, April 18 Winner of 50 international awards, including four Tony Awards, Matilda the Musical is the story of an extraordinary girl who, armed with a vivid imagination, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny. It is smart, sweet, zany and stupendous fun. The Fox Theatre 660 West Peachtree St NW, Atlanta, GA 30308
FUN
ARIANA GRANDE: DANGEROUS WOMAN TOUR
Wednesday, April 12 Multi-platinum selling and Grammy Award-nominated artist, Ariana Grande comes to Atlanta’s Philips Arena on Wednesday, April 12. “Dangerous Woman”captured No. 1 on Top Pop Songs Chart minutes after release. “Dangerous Woman” also debuted in the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100.
APRIL 20
CALENDAR
POLITICS
CONGRESSWOMAN MAXINE WATERS
Saturday, April 20 The Democratic Party of Georgia’s 2017 State Dinner will take place tonight with a special guest – Congresswoman Maxine Waters. The dinner will be held from 6 – 9 p.m., at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta located at 265 West Peachtree St. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30303.
OUT & ABOUT
10: April 07, 2017
Leslie Jordan
Straight Outta Chattanooga
PHOTOS BY: SHER PRUITT
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OUT & ABOUT
12: April 07, 2017
PHOTOS
JOINING HEARTS MARGARITA BUST @ ZOCALO PHOTOS BY: SHER PRUITT
“New you, new life”
“FAR AND AWAY THE
BEST MUSICAL OF THE YEAR!” -NPR
W I NN ER ! BR OA DWA Y.C O M ’ S AU DIE N C E C HOIC E AWA R D F OR BE S T MUSIC A L
May 16-21
FoxTheatre.org/Neverland 855-285-8499 FENUXE.COM : 13
OUT & ABOUT
14: April 07, 2017
PHOTOS
A WICKEDLY GOOD BACHELOR AUCTION @ OSCARS ATLANTA PHOTOS BY: SHER PRUITT
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OUT & ABOUT
16: April 07, 2017
PHOTOS
SPRING FESTIVAL ON PONCE DE LEON PHOTOS BY: SHER PRUITT
zine’s E Maga
#1
e Year! h t f o Show
TIM
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*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 4/1/17-4/30/17. Receipt of up to $5,000 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 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. 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. CAATL243
18: April 07, 2017
OUT & ABOUT
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PARTY @ BLAKES ON THE PARK PHOTOS BY: SHER PRUITT
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What is TRUVADA for PrEP (Pre-exposure Prophylaxis)?
u You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or serious liver
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 male-female 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: u You 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. u Many 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: u You must continue using safer sex practices. Just taking TRUVADA for PrEP may not keep you from getting HIV-1. u You must stay HIV-negative to keep taking TRUVADA for PrEP. u To 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. u If 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: u Too 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, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, and/or stomach-area pain.
problems 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. u Worsening 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: u Kidney 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. u Bone problems, including bone pain or bones getting soft or thin, may lead to fractures. Your healthcare provider may do tests to check your bones. u Changes 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?
u All 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. u If 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. u If 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. u All 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. u If 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™? 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 for PrEP. 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. 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.
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. Common side effects in people taking TRUVADA for PrEP include stomacharea (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.
• 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.
ABOUT TRUVADA FOR PrEP (PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS)
HOW TO FURTHER REDUCE YOUR RISK
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).
• 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.
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 © 2017 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. TVDC0083 03/17
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
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.
Alissah Brooks: Rising Star By Terry Sartor From her hometown beginnings in Mexican city Durango to hitting it big on the Atlanta entertainment scene, Alissah Brooks has come a long way baby - even being featured on big-time TV shows such as VH1’s ubiquitous hit Love and Hip Hop Atlanta and the very popular, cutting-edge Teen Wolf series on MTV. Her talent arsenal has indeed become very loaded over the years with varying roles as a singer, dancer, producer, DJ, actress and activist. Of course not resting on her laurels, Alissah’s star is shining even brighter now with the release of her latest single “Dope S**t (featuring J. Tyler)” on the Big Snow Entertainment music label. Did we mention a very busy performance schedule showcasing her bold brand of performance drama at venues around Atlanta like Jungle, Blake’s and Burkhart’s??! Let’s dive deeper into the fascinating world of Alissah Brooks. So Alissah, you’ve been on the music entertainment scene for quite some time. How did you initially get your started? Just going out...I was sneaking out at 16 to Club Rush [on Buford Hwy in Atlanta]. I was just seeing shows and that’s when it all started. I was like I could be that. What were the shows like there? The shows were very high energy because you had Pheonix who 24: April 07, 2017
now has a lot of pull in the scene of Atlanta. Back then was when she first got at the top of her game. Going back to your Florida days in Panama City, how long were you there? In Panama City, there was just one club in town and one on the beach. They were rivals and you had to do one or the other. So it was tough doing shows. I was there until 2009. I managed to work my way around through Pensacola, Tallahassee and Orlando. What was the Orlando scene like? Where were you performing there? I was in the MetroWest area and back then it just seemed like a movie to me...like watching a scene of Queer as Folk. I did talent nights at Parliament House and guest spots at Southern Nights and at Pulse. How did you work your way up to here in Atlanta from Orlando? I grew up in Gainesville. So I’m from this area and would see my friends when I visit. The transition to Atlanta was just easy because I already knew everyone. I got my way in through the people I already knew and just worked my way around. Where were some of the first places that you started performing in Atlanta? The first place that I worked at was Chaparral. It’s called Club Rush now. It was an amateur night. Back then the Friday nights were very, very busy with a lot people that you were performing in front of. Of course Blake’s, Burkhart’s and Jungle have been consistent. How would you describe your performance style? I would be the girl you see in a music video. I like to be up to date with fashion. I love anything old school too like 90s mixed with the club scene. Where is your favorite place to perform in Atlanta? If it is a bar, I would say Burkhart’s because of the energy. I’ve been there for almost 6 years now. I love the energy. It is 360. As far as a stage goes, I would have to say Jungle. You were part of the all girl trans group Secret Girls. What was that like?
It was a learning experience. You have four girls that are different in every way and all have insecurities and flaws. You put that all together and the diva comes out to play. We grew a lot in the short time that we were together because we had different opinions. The group was in its early stages. I’m glad that I got to be a part of it, but decided that maybe it was not for me. I started on my first single and wanted all of my attention focused on that. Your new song with Atlanta rapper J. Tyler is fierce! Where did the idea come from to do it and how did you bring it to fruition? I was driving down the street and my producer [Ryan Snow] sent it to me. He thought that [“Dope S**t” ] would be great for me. I gave it a shot and fell in love with it. Me and J.Tyler had been talking about doing something together music-wise for a long time. So that transpired into this song. You also directed the video. When did you get into video production? I did that when I was in high school. It’s something that I was just so fascinated with. I was obsessed with the TV show “Making the Video” on MTV. When I saw all that goes into a video and all of the preparation, that excited me. Ever since then, I was like I want to try video production. I taught myself how to do it. I didn’t go to any school for it and I’ve been doing it ever since. What about your other club banger “I’m That Girl”, how did that one come about? That one just happened. I heard the beat and I kept saying “I’m that girl who makes the beat go boom” over and over again. I sat down with J. Tyler who helped me co-write it. We went back and forth on some ideas. I wanted to tell people what I like and what I like to bring to the party. As soon as J. Tyler said “I like high heels six inches” my ears stood up. That was the beginning of it. Our creative collaboration spiralled from there. My producer added on accents here and there. It was a collaboration between all three of us. Today’s dance music scene is rapidly evolving with different genres emerging and existing ones evolving. As an artist yourself on the dance music scene, how would you categorize or describe your particular (continued on page 26)
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sound? It’s pop-driven with a hip-hop flair. I’ve always been attracted to hip-hop and the sound of it. But pop music has always held a special place in pop culture. I would say hip-hop pop if you will with a little twist. Who are some musical artists that inspire you? Debbie Deb is one of my favorites. “When I Hear Music” and all that was just brilliant to me back in the day. It always stuck to me throughout the years. Another one was Salt-NPepa. That was one of my first tapes that I ever had when I was in third grade. I liked to listen to that kind of stuff. Of course Britney Spears. Performance is obviously a big part of how you present yourself and your music. How would you describe your performance style? I would describe it as controlled. I like to control every beat...every movement. I like to go through a storyline if you will starting off slow and then going through a build-up and then to a full out thing. I like to give my audience a variation of attention. There are moments when you have to pause and acknowledge the audience and then moments when you show out. If I go 90 the whole time, I can’t give the audience any attention. I’m very engaging with everyone. I like to
acknowledge everyone to make sure that we’re all present and enjoying the moment. You’re a DJ too. I’m a DJ myself and understand that rush you get when DJing. How does the rush of DJing compare to when you’re performing one of your songs live? It’s a different rush. When you’re DJing, you hope that it doesn’t come out on the wrong beat. You worry about the music. In a performance, you have to worry about not only if the music skips but also if my costume is falling apart, the floor being slippery or my hair falling out of place. I’m so worried about a million things that it gives me a different type of adrenaline to be able to do that. Sometimes I tell people that I just black out. I don’t even remember performing. It’s a different rush for me. I have to literally push myself out into my number. Your TV and movie resume has become quite impressive boasting features in MTV’s popular Teen Wolf, VH1’s very rowdy Love & Hip Hop Atlanta - one of my personal faves - as well as Tyler Perry’s hit movie Good Deeds.
How did all of that come about?! When I did those projects, it was all word of mouth. Casting directors came to the clubs. They asked around. It just all happened. It was just directed to me. I never once auditioned for anything. I was asked to do it and I did it. To me, it was another show. It felt consistent with my career and what I like to do. LGBT activism has been a big part of who you are. Why has that been so important to you? A situation happened to me where I was denied entry into a club. For the most part, that sparked my interest in being more active in activism. Raising money. Standing up. Marching with someone. You can’t just sit back and watch. At least that’s how I feel about myself. I have to somehow be involved in trying to spread the word. What else is up next for you? We’re trying to get the second single out and finish the album. I’ve been working on an EP and trying to put it all together. I want to make a party album. That’s what I want to do. “Dope S**t) feat. J. Tyler)” by Alissah Brooks is out now iTunes. www.alissahbrooks.com
REVIEW
By: Terri Schlichenmeyer
BOOK REVIEW:
“THIS IS HOW IT ALWAYS IS” You
must not tell.
You cannot breathe a word to anyone who doesn’t already know. That Which Cannot Be Spoken must remain buried, put away, frozen, lips sealed, or in the closet. You cannot tell because, as in the new novel “This Is How It Always Is” by Laurie Frankel, secrets change everything.
In the beginning was Roosevelt, known to his loved ones as Roo. Not long after he was born, Ben entered the family. Then the twins, Orion and Rigel, arrived and so Rosie Walsh, still hoping for a girl baby, did everything the Talmud recommended she do next. Months later, she and her husband, Penn, welcomed… Claude. And that was okay. Another boy in their raucous, rowdy family of boys was fine and Rosie and Penn loved them all. They were happy in their big, rambling, open farmhouse just outside of Madison, Wisconsin. Rosie loved her job. Penn worked on his novel. And Claude dreamed of being a girl. It started when, as do most parents, Rosie told Claude that he could “be anything” he wanted to be someday. Claude was three years old and loved dress-up; it didn’t seem odd to let him wear dresses at home. But soon, home wasn’t enough and Claude tantrumed until he was allowed to wear dresses to preschool, though he was told that he’d have to use the nurse’s station bathroom and his teacher was “not happy.” Still, Rosie and Penn were willing to do what it took to make Claude feel secure. With his dresses and pink, he was a confident child; without, he was sullen and sad. None of his classmates minded his clothing. His brothers never gave it a second thought. Claude was simply Claude, until he asked his parents to call him Poppy. And that was fine, too, especially when the family moved to 28: April 07, 2017
another state and it was easier to keep quiet – until it wasn’t. Until Poppy started growing up, the world became a vicious place, and secret-keeping couldn’t last forever. And so, here’s the thing: once you’ve started reading “This Is How It Always Is,” you might as well just clear your schedule. Cancel all appointments. You won’t want to do anything but read, so just give in. Blame it on the book. Part of the appeal, I think, is in the way that author Laurie Frankel writes: there are no airs, no try-to-impress-you words, nothing uppity. Her characters are normal people with everyday lives, trying to maintain that normalcy and Frankel writes like they might talk: with down-toearth matter-of-factness and a fast dash of humor that winds its way through a serious topic. And on that topic, you’ve perhaps heard it before (or something similar) but not in a voice like this, and not quite as enjoyable. One more thing: be sure to read Frankel’s after-notes, which brings her novel full-circle and will make you smile. But don’t peek; instead, start “This Is How It Always Is” from the beginning and savor it properly. It’ll make you want to tell everyone. By: Always Overbooked... Terri Schlichenmeyer The Bookworm Sez, LLC bookwormsez@ gmail.com
There’s a new gay dating app on the scene, but this one strives to bring the community together. Rather than foster an atmosphere of anonymity and overt sexualization, VIGR seeks to humanize the gay dating experience. I recently chatted with VIGR Chief of Operations David Dvir and the fabulous diva Nichole Paige Brooks who will be hosting the VIGR party on April 8th at Jungle. David, tell us a little bit more about yourself - where are you from? I grew up in Tel Aviv, Israel. I came out after I finished my military service. I began my professional training as a lawyer, but over the years I’ve been primarily attracted to business development because of my love for interacting with new & interesting people. Creating VIGR has been a fascinating opportunity for me because it allows me to combine my passions for business and encourage people to be the best they can be. Why did you see a need for this app to be developed considering the amount of dating apps available online today? We’ve been complaining for some time about the fake profiles, dick pics as a form of hello, and messages that never get read and so much more. We all have the same 3, 4, or 5 apps, but at some point I started imagining the ideal utopian gay dating app that would enable us to behave like we do in real life. A place where you know who we are talking to or at least create an environment where we feel comfortable to meet
someone, go on a date, even hookup or just interact the same as we do in real life. I envision an app that creates new ways for us to meet guys, interact with our community and who knows, possibly even find great new friends or our partner for life. Why did you name it VIGR? Was it to imitate Grindr/ Growlr/Tinder? VIGR came after a long collective creative process - we wanted to convey the feeling users have while using the app. We also had the challenge of keeping it clean, short and concise. In Grindr you grind, in Scruff you feel the scruff, but with VIGR you can be invigorated, control your interaction, control your conversations and meet people in new ways, in the most authentic,
“Creating VIGR has been a fascinating opportunity because it allows me to combine my passions for business & encourage people to be the best they can be.”
real environment you can find in the gay dating world. So, what exactly makes VIGR different? Anonymity and physical distance between strangers fool us into thinking our words and actions have zero real-world consequences. We somehow imagine our online behaviors do not affect the persons with whom we are interacting. Sometimes we even find ourselves communicating in ways that we never would when face to face. We believe that transparency encourages the best in us. So VIGR is loaded with features & measures designed to create a more authentic environment where people can also control their privacy. The app is now and always will be totally free – no premium packages – all features are open to all. Every member has a face and it’s required to even get an account. Members can validate themselves via a
nicole paige Brooks says dont Be a dick By Tyler Calkins
New Dating App Seeks to Change the Online Gay Dating Scene FENUXE.COM : 29
something online about one of the RuPaul girls and she and her friends started attacking me online. It came to the point where people were creating fake profiles just to come out and be rude. I just had to start deleting and blocking. If you’re going to be ugly go be ugly on someone else’s page, not on mine. But, if you had to have a profile with a verified profile face picture, they would not have been able to create anonymous accounts. It’s a great thing because you’re more accountable if your face is involved. When you’re anonymous it’s much easier to say all sorts of mean things. You’re much less likely to be rude if your face is out there. You’re less likely to say something about my wig if I go to your picture and see you have a receding hairline, you know? *laughs* And also, you’re signing up for their hashtag of “not being a dick” so hopefully that will be in the back of your mind as you use the app. So, generally speaking Nicole, because I know that you have been on the receiving end of some cyber bullying here lately - what type of advice would you give to people - especially those that are younger in our community that are getting cyber bullied? Don’t engage at all. I really just don’t engage - cause if you respond then they will respond back. I just delete and block. If I see you liking, sharing, or saying something that is derogatory about me or demeans my character - I just delete and block.
selfie, or get ‘verified” by other members they know in real life. Aside from text (another commonly shared frustration of the existing dating apps), members can make calls from within the app and send voice clips and pics easily without sharing their phone numbers. You can even set a timer for any photos you send to self-destruct automatically. Best part of all if you send something you regret, you can simply remove it from the recipient’s inbox. We’re not just a “dating app”. Our goal is also to be a social hub for all gay & bi men who are seeking authenticity and interact with fellow community members. Nicole - I know you normally host Wild Out Wednesdays at Felix’s on the Square and also perform at Blakes on Thursdays - with everything you have going on what made you to want to promote this particular app? I really like their mantra of “dont be a dick”. There is so much cyber bullying 30: April 07, 2017
going on right now and even when you’re looking for trade you should be nice. They give you hints about how to respond to things & you have to have a verified face picture so you’re not opening it up and having a bunch of dicks and assholes in your face. There is actually a face involved. I also like that they have an events section - it’s definitely not just a hook up app. It’s got all the features you would want while also including some features if you’re just trying to meet people. There’s also just less cat fishing because you can videochat through the app and see what you’re actually walking into and you can call them through the app - you don’t have to give out your phone number. Like David said, they have this thing - if you end up sending someone some pictures one drunken night that you later regret and you’re like “oh shit,” you can get it back & they wont have a copy. There’s just a lot of safety and privacy issues that they have addressed. I’ll give you an example, I recently said
Well, I love your shows, your style, flare and your artistry and I highly enjoy watching them, so I’m excited to see you at this event can you tell us more about it? Thank you! So, we’re gonna be at the Fantasy Girls event at Jungle Atlanta with VIGR starting at 10 pm and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are going to be helping out with it as well. We’re going to be handing out T-shirts and of course I’ll have about 10 or 15 supercute VIGTboys that will be with me talking about the app. See you there! Anything else we should know? Be kind to one another and don’t be a dick!
Join Nicole and all the VIGRboys at Jungle on April 8th at 10pm.
PHOTOSHOOT
BY JOSHUAH NEAL
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!
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.
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 I hope this helps, from striving towards the summit of fulfillment”. This statement is so true. Joshua Neal It’s kind of like an onion you begin to Behavioral Health Coach peel all the way to the core and begin & Fitness Expert to live again in a better way with great www.TinyHabits.com expression, and for people who don’t www.AnytimeFitness.com understand this it would seem very odd www.CrisisTextLine.com or crazy. That doesn’t matter because when you begin to open and shift your Behavioral Health & Development consciousness in a new better direction 2 Peachtree St NW you begin to really be connected to Atlanta, GA 30303 photography: oneself. When you are connected youMark Yolando Alex West (404) 657-225 are free! Finally when youModel: are free,
sweet dream
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Hey Girl Hey! Holler Poodles! Don’t you just love underwear?. While I’m more of a commando type of person, I have to admit I think certain underwear on certain people is very, very hot! I guess you could technically call it a fetish of mine because certain underwear really gets my crank going. That’s why I was so happy when Fenuxe magazine asked me to inspect all the jockstraps, briefs, manties and thongs in the metro area to compile a report. It was so much work having to meet with the neurotic exotic strippers dancers at BJ Roosters for song after song after song to inspect the latest styles but alas we reached a happy ending when my research concluded. I really took it in the eye one for the team this time but a drag queen’s work is never done. It was suggested to me that the outlet mall in Commerce, GA was a craptacular spectacular place to find unique (cheap) underwear. I took along my twinkie (full of creamy delicious filling) friend to try the different brands and styles on. To glance at them, you’d think they were the real deal but upon further inspection, something just wasn’t right! For instance, I picked up what looked like a pair of 2(x)ist underwear. However, upon closer inspection, it said 2e(x)its but both were in the back. Huhhhhh???? Ewwwww! There were other obvious knock offs like Calvin Clein, Engorgio Army, Andrew Christmas, and instead of Diesel there were a pair called Leaded which I kinda liked. Then instead of Cn2 there was a version for my redneck friends called LookOHere! Clever was renamed Ph.D. and PPU was renamed PNMe. All of these were so awful I bought two pair of each. And while I know most of you frown at the thought of a guy in a thong, it remains one of my favorites because it frames the gluteus maximus so perfectly!
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
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Gay News At A Glance
Gilbert Baker, creator of The Rainbow Flag that has become the symbol of the modern LGBT movement, died on Friday, March 31st. Baker died of natural causes at the age of 65 at his home in the Hamilton Heights neighborhood of Manhattan. His work as a flag maker spans 39 years and includes two world records for flag making. The first Rainbow Flag made its public debut in 1978 at San Francisco Pride. Each stripe on the original eight-color flag had a meaning
starting with hot pink which represented sexuality. Red represented life, orange was healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, turquoise for magic and art, blue for serenity and harmony and violet for spirit. ‘I am heartbroken,’ activist and author Cleve Jones wrote in a Facebook post. ‘My dearest friend in the world is gone. Gilbert gave the world the Rainbow Flag; he gave me forty years of love and friendship. I can’t stop crying. I love you forever Gilbert Baker.’ Jones, creator of the worldfamous AIDS Memorial Quilt and a protege of Harvey Milk, asked friends to meet him Friday night at Baker’s flag that waves at Castro and Market streets in San Francisco. It has flown in the Castro District permanently since 1997. Baker did not profit from use of the flag as a commercial product because it is in the public domain as are all flags.
Baker served in the US Army from 1970-1972 and was stationed in San Francisco just at the start of the gay liberation movement. He was honorably discharged from the military and stayed in San Francisco where he taught himself to sew. ‘I had to look like David Bowie and Mick Jagger every single moment of my life, but I had no money,’ Baker told ABC News earlier this year. ‘I had to learn how to sew and to be able to express myself.’
Copyright Getty Images
RACHEL DOLEZAL BELIEVES IT’S HARDER TO BE TRANSRACIAL THAN TRANSGENDER
38: April 7, 2017
Born to caucasian parents, Dolezal identifies as African American and is the author of new book, In Full Color: Finding My Place In A Black And White World. She said, ‘Caitlyn Jenner’s story came out almost simultaneously with mine in 2015, so there was kind of this comparison. What’s not similar is the stigma right now. There was stigma in the past for sure,
Baker credits his friend, the late Harvey Milk, for inspiring his work. Milk asked Baker to create something that would take the place of the pink triangle used by the Nazis to identify homosexuals and Baker knew it had to be a flag. He applied this sewing skills to making banners for gay and anti-war street protest marches whenever asked by Milk. He will forever be missed.
Copyright Getty Images
THE MAN WHO CREATED OUR ICONIC RAINBOW FLAG HAS DIED AT AGE 65
and that still perpetuates… but there’s more stigma for race fluidity than gender fluidity right now, and I don’t think anybody would deny that.’ ‘There was a time when we did call transgender, and even gay and bisexual, people crazy.’ But National Director of the Trans Women of Color Collective, Lourdes Ashley Hunter believes there is no comparison. Hunter said: ‘Her blackness is a performance and our transness is our identity – it’s who we are. ‘And we’re quite often persecuted for living unapologetically in that truth. Dolezal believes attitudes are changing and more people than ever are coming out to her as transracial.
Rachel Dolezal said: ‘Maybe we will evolve and grow, and racial fluidity will become a thing in 20 years. ‘I do hope that inclusivity does expand to all people of all stripes,’ she said. Rachel Dolezal: ‘Race isn’t biological either’ ‘Actually, race has been, to some extent, less biological than gender. ‘We’ve evolved into understanding that gender is not binary, it’s not even biological. ‘But what strikes me as so odd is that race isn’t biological either. When asked to clarify if she identified as transracial, Dolezal replied: ‘I believe that the word transracial has become socially useful in describing racial fluidity and identity.’
ONE IN FIVE MILLENNIALS IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ
One in five millennials identify as LGBTQ, a new study has found. Most studies put the percentage of LGBTQ people compared to the rest of the population at anything from 4-10%. But people aged between 18 and 34 were twice as likely to not consider themselves heterosexual. Additionally, 12% of millennials stated they identify as transgender or gender nonconforming. This is far higher than the 1 to 2% often claimed to be compared in the general population. It comes as it was announced a person’s LGBTI identity would not be counted on the 2020 US
BEYONCÉ MIGHT TAKE A KEY ROLE IN DISNEY’S LION KING REMAKE Beyoncé could play a key part in the live-action remake of Disney’s The Lion King. The singer is reportedly wanted for the role of Nala. According to Variety, she is director Jon Favreau’s top choice for the part. And he is so keen on booking the star, he is said to be willing to do ‘whatever it takes’ to get Queen Bey on board. So far the Grammy winner, who cancelled her Coachella headline
Census. ‘As the administration begins to fulfill its pledges to move the country backwards, many are concerned about progress made in recent years for the LGBTQ community,” Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD President & CEO, said. ‘However, this report shows a remarkable new era of understanding and acceptance among young people – an inspiring indication of the future. Though laws can be unwritten, hearts and minds in America have been changed for the better – and that is a reality less easily unraveled.’ In January, Gallup stated over 4% of US adults identified as LGBT in 2016, increasing from 3.5% in 2012. In 2015, YouGov found a third of younger Americans considered themselves something other than completely straight. gig because she is pregnant, has not committed to the role. It wouldn’t be the first on-screen role for Beyoncé either. She has played parts in Dreamgirls and Austin Powers in Goldmember, among others. Her last appearance was in 2013 animated movie Epic, where she voiced Queen Tara, the queen of the forest. So far, the Lion King remake has cast two leading men. Donald Glover will voice Simba, and James Earl Jones is taking on the role of Simba’s father Mufasa, which he originated in 1994. The film will reportedly feature lions instead of being close to the stage version.
RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE STAR GIA GUNN COMES OUT AS TRANSGENDER
Season 6 Drag Race star Gia Gunn came out as transgender on her Instagram account. Using Transgender Day of Visibility (March 31), the star wanted to share her transition in the spirit of being out and proud. Gunn said: ‘I thought I would dedicate today in the spirit of being visible to share my transition with all of you. ‘I have been on hormone replacement therapy now for almost about a year and I identify as female. ‘I indeed am transgender.’ Fans reacted with nothing but love and positivity. One fan wrote: ‘You are a wonderful inspiration for the transgender community. I am a transgender woman who will begin hormone replacement therapy very soon and I’m extremely nervous but hopeful and excited about this first step in my transition. I’m so happy to see girls like us embracing who we truly are.’ In her season of Drag Race, Gunn wasn’t shy of controversy. Known for her hatred of ‘messy queens, cheap queens and manly queens,’ Gunn confronted competitor Milk for portraying a mother and child in her runway look. Her most notable catchphrase is: ‘Absolutely’. She was eliminated on episode five, during the snatch game where she played Kim Kardashian.Since appearing on the show, Gunn appeared on Alaska’s 2016 album called Poundcake. FENUXE.COM : 39
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