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INSIDE VOL. 31, ISSUE 26 / APRIL 17 - 30, 2013
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Kathy Griffin’s Finger is On the Pulse by Stephan Horbelt No stranger to twinks, bears, dykes or ‘silver gays’—or the cover of Frontiers magazine—Kathy Griffin has long been an honorary member of the LGBT community. It’s this very fact that makes her the perfect cover model for our 806th issue, celebrating not only the 31st anniversary of Frontiers as SoCal’s beloved LGBT publication of record but also the strength and vitality of our accomplished community.
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FEBRUARY 19, 2013
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INSIDE
VOL. 31, ISSUE 26 / APRIL 17 - 30, 2013
NEWS News Briefs ..................................................18 Military Servicemembers Deserve Equal Treatment Under the Law ............26 Working for a Healthy LGBT Community in Boyle Heights ..................28
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ENTERTAINMENT Film Reviews................................................60 Music Reviews ............................................62 Theater Reviews ........................................64
L.A.’S TOP 10 LGBT HISTORICAL FIRSTS
COLUMNS Out & About ................................................66 Little Miss Know-It-All..............................67 Billy Masters................................................68 Gossip Gay ..................................................69 Drive ..............................................................70
Vacuous L.A. ain’t. To commemmorate our city’s place in LGBT history, here is a list of the top 10 achievements launched in L.A., culled from a rich 65-year history.
SOCAL EVENTS GUIDE Calendar ......................................................49 Snapshots ....................................................50 Eating Out ....................................................56
CITY GUIDES West Hollywood ........................................72 Orange County ............................................74 Long Beach ..................................................75 Palm Springs ................................................76 HEALTH Off the Couch ..............................................81 FRONTIERS MARKETPLACE Listings ..........................................................82 Business Profile ..........................................83 FRONTIERS4MEN Adult Classifieds ........................................84 Sex Ed............................................................90
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PARTY OUT OF BOUNDS by Michelle McCarthy Hitting 30 can be a stressful time, but once you turn the corner and hit 31, the pressure’s off and you can truly hit your stride. Celebrate 31 years with Frontiers at our annual Birthday Bash and Community Builders Awards, held at The Abbey on Saturday, April 20.
by Karen Ocamb
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LEADING BY EXAMPLE: THE CLASS OF 2013 by Brenden Shucart Frontiers has always strived to tell stories of the LGBT community in all its facets—and from a distinctly LGBT point of view. Here are the 26 individuals and businesses Frontiers honored for their strides in leading by example. How do you lead by example?
46 YOUR GAY
GUIDE TO SAN FRANCISCO by Stephan Horbelt In Part One of this guide to the City by the Bay, we look at San Francisco’s best options for luxe and reasonably priced accomodations, as well as some of the city’s most thrilling and awe-inspiring attractions.
PHOTO BY: MIKE RUIZ / BRAVO MODEL: KATHY GRIFFIN, kathygriffin.net
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Frontiers magazine is published by Frontiers Media, LLC., 5657 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 470, Los Angeles, CA. 90036, and distributed throughout Southern California. Up to the first three copies of any single issue are free; additional copies are $10 each. Violators caught stealing or destroying issues will be prosecuted under California Penal Code 484. For magazine subscriptions, please call (323) 930-3220. The contents of Frontiers may not be reproduced in any manner, either in whole or in part, without permission from the publisher. All rights reserved. Letters to the editor, artwork, photography, manuscripts and other correspondence may be submitted to Frontiers at the above address. We cannot acknowledge or return material unless accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Allow at least three months for processing. Publication of the name or photograph of any person or organization in articles or advertising in Frontiers is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation or the HIV/AIDS status of such person or organization. Copyright © 2013, Frontiers Media, LLC.
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ONLINE Find these articles exclusively at
THE WAY HE IS by Gary Kramer
Colton Ford has performed in TV shows like The Lair, and in films like Another Gay Movie as well as in—ahem—adult films (for 10 months), but he is first and foremost a crooner. Ford has released several albums, the latest of which, The Way I Am, is out next month. Frontiers chats with Colton Ford about all this and more. FrontiersLA.com/ExclusiveInterviews facebook.com/ frontiersmagazine
twitter.com/ frontiersmag
youtube.com/ frontiersweb
A CELEBRATION OF L.A.'S LGBT LITERARY PIONEERS by Michelle McCarthy
The LGBT narrative is rife with literary tales of our lives, loves, struggles and triumphs. And to make sure these stories continue to be written, Lambda Literary Foundation is hosting OUTWRITE!, a celebration of Los Angeles LGBT literary pioneers on Saturday, April 27, at the West Hollywood Public Library. FrontiersLA.com/Features
FIND US ON
INSTAGRAM!
HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE 4/20
Follow Frontiers on Instagram @frontiersLA and we’ll follow you back! Also, share with us your favorite L.A. photos by tagging them with #whyilovegayla. We’ll be picking our favorite images and posting them online at FrontiersLA.com!
The date April 20 (4/20) has long been mystified, but we finally get to the bottom of this favorite day of marijuana smokers the world over. We also gift to our gay ganja enthusiasts a roundup of some of the L.A. area's best dispensaries. FrontiersLA.com/Features
BOOK REVIEWS by The Bookworm
In need of a good read? Check out our reviews of Rest in Pieces: The Curious Fates of Famous Corpses by Bess Lovejoy and Who Was Dracula? Bram Stoker’s Trail of Blood by Jim Steinmeyer. FrontiersLA.com/ BookReviews
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YOUR GUIDE TO COACHELLA 2013 by Dan Loughry
For those ready to tear it up at the second weekend of SoCal’s desert music festival Coachella, don’t pass up reading this three-part guide. Frontiers looks at which LGBT acts are on the bill (Part One) , which of the ‘big guns’ are sure to turn it out onstage (Part Two) and which unknown acts may just become your new favorites (Part Three). FrontiersLA.com/Features
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FrontiersLA.com Volume 31, Issue 26 5657 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 470, Los Angeles, CA 90036 Phone: (323) 930-3220 Sales Fax: (323) 857-0560 Administration Fax: (323) 848-2058 Accounting Fax: (323) 857-0503
Publisher / CEO / Editorial Director David Stern Creative Director Ed Baker Managing Director of Integrated Media Dustin Tyner Editor-in-Chief Stephan Horbelt News Editor Karen Ocamb Associate Editor Brenden Shucart Senior Art Director Garett Yoshida Associate Art Director George Skinner Graphic Designer Michelle Aguirre Jr. Graphic Designer Shannon O’Brien Editorial Intern Aaron Batts Advertising Directors Kevin Browne, JC Gardiner, Vic Gerami, Frank Morales, Brenda Stevens, Cristian Valencia, Billy Wright Palm Springs Advertising Directors Vic Gerami National Advertising Representatives Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863 Art Traffic and Distribution Manager Hope Dunn Classifieds Manager Frank Perez Accounting Merrill Franks, Frank Perez Advertising Inquiries salesmanager@frontiersLA.com Editorial Inquiries editors@frontiersLA.com Advertising Artwork Trafficking art@frontiersLA.com
To contact our staff Email address format:
firstname.lastname@FrontiersLA.com Contributing Writers Aaron Batts, Jackie Beat, Christopher Cappiello, Dr. Greg Cason, Peter DelVecchio, Lawrence Ferber, Gossip Gay, Greg Hernandez, Stephan Horbelt, Jeremy Kinser, Gary M. Kramer, Jim Larkins, Dan Loughry, Billy Masters, Michelle McCarthy, Dana Miller, James F. Mills, Paulo Murillo, Karen Ocamb, Brian Padgett, Eric Rosen, Dominik Rothbard, Rep. Adam Schiff, Brenden Shucart, Les Spindle, Steve Siler, Paul V. Contributing Photographers and Illustrators Gabe Ayala, Tris Beezley, Bravo TV, Brenden-John Photography, Glen Hanson, Michael Lamont, David Lee, Paulo Murillo, Karen Ocamb, Mike Ruiz, Rolling-Blackouts.com , Vincent Sandoval, Jonathan Sirand
PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.
IN MEMORY OF BOB CRAIG, FOUNDING PUBLISHER
©2013 Thanks to the dawn of the information age, we believe distribution/circulation not only encompasses hard copies printed and the pass-on rate of those hard copies, but web browsing and electronic copies being downloaded by our growing online readership. This has become a substantial boost to the number of readers of our magazine. Currently, an average of 30,000 hard copies are printed biweekly. Studies have shown each hard copy has a probable “pass-on rate” of two to three, meaning each hard copy taken will be seen by two to three additional readers. With the pass-on rate alone, estimated readership can conservatively average 55,000 to 90,000, not encompassing visitors who visit us online at FrontiersLA.com.
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NEWS By Peter DelVecchio and Karen Ocamb
Calif. Confirms Transgender Health Insurance Discrimination Protection
Bruce Vilanch
New guidance issued by the California Department of Managed Health Care clarifies the obligations of California health plans under the Insurance Gender Nondiscrimination Act, and confirms that the statute “guarantees all people the right to access coverage for medically necessary care regardless of their gender identity or gender expression,” according to an April 9 release from the Transgender Law Center. The DHMC directive, which applies to HMOs and PPOs regulated by the department, “instructs health plans to revise current plan documents to remove exclusions and limitations related to gender transition,” the release says. The American Medical Association and the American Academy of Family Physicians all consider transition-related care medically necessary for trans people. “This is an important step in protecting the health of all Californians, including transgender individuals,” said out California Assembly Speaker John Pérez, D-Los Angeles.
White House Seeks ‘Champions of Change’ Nominees An April 8 post at the White House blog invites the public to nominate LGBT persons who have been elected or appointed to state or local office and who have a “strong commitment to public service” but “whose contributions have gone unrecognized” to receive the Harvey Milk Champion of Change Award. The blog post notes that “[i]n August 2009, President Obama honored [late gay activist and San Francisco Supervisor] Harvey Milk posthumously with America's highest
civilian medal, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.” The Harvey Milk Champion of Change Award program is meant to further “honor Harvey Milk's legacy.” Milk, the first out gay person elected to public office in California, and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone were shot to death in 1978 by Supervisor Dan White. The blog post includes a link for nominations and stresses that the White House is seeking “unsung heroes.” For more info, go to whitehouse.gov/champions/nominate.
APLA Event Raises Almost $300K AIDS Project Los Angeles raised more than $285,000 at its annual musical theater benefit April 6 at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, an APLA release states. The event, titled the 29th Annual Southland Theater Artists Goodwill Event, or S.T.A.G.E., was themed “Broadway, My Way,” and featured a “company of more than 25 stars of stage and screen” playing to a packed house. Comedy writer and Emmywinner Bruce Vilanch, Madison Claire Parks—daughter of actress, singer, dancer and comedian Betty Garrett— and Emmy and Tony Award-winner Tyne Daly all appeared. Wells Fargo was this year's Presenting Sponsor, making a $50,000 cash contribution to support the event and APLA’s direct services. “Tonight's performance was nothing short of ovation-inspiring,” APLA Executive Director Craig Thompson said. Funds raised support a range of APLA programs, including food pantries, mobile dental services, housing assistance and HIV prevention.
SPEAK OUT “Cookie and I love EJ and support him in every way. We’re very proud of him.” —Basketball legend Magic Johnson regarding his gay son, Earvin Johnson III, in an interview posted at TMZ.com.
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“It started in 2011, when the company hired Ellen DeGeneres, a vocal proponent of same-sex ‘marriage’ as its spokesperson.”
“Everyone deserves fair and just immigration policies that ensure dignity and respect."
—Right-wing anti-gay group the Family Research Council’s Tony Perkins, blaming a 25 percent drop in J.C. Penney’s sales on its having hired the out talk show host and comedian as a front person, at the group’s website, FRC.org.
—Kylar W. Broadus, founder of the Trans People of Color Coalition.
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MARCH 19, 2013
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NEWS By Peter DelVecchio and Karen Ocamb
LGBT Groups Push for Non-Discrimination Executive Order In 29 states, a worker can be fired simply for being gay, according to CNN columnist John D. Sutter. The administration of President Obama is undisputedly the most LGBT-friendly in the history of this country, yet almost $250 billion in federal contracts during the last fiscal year went to contractors in states with no employment protections based on sexual orientation, according to an April 8 report by Buzzfeed. Additionally, nearly $300 billion in federal contracts went to states with no protections based on gender identity or expression, according to the report. While many big government contractors have company policies against LGBT discrimination, their employees' legal rights are limited in states with no or incomplete governmental protection. The LGBT groups that released the report—the Movement Advancement Project, Human Rights Campaign, Center for American Progress, Freedom to Work and Out & Equal—along with others, have been urging the president for years to issue an executive order requiring that federal contractors insti-
tute non-discrimination policies. “An executive order requiring federal contractors to adopt policies barring discrimination against LGBT workers would help ensure employment protections for the majority of the American workforce,” the report says. Obama angered many in the gay community in April 2012 when he announced his refusal to issue such an order, despite having campaigned on expanded protections for LGBT employees of government contractors in 2008. So far, the administration has not moved to undo this decision, explaining that Obama's focus is on enacting federal legislation such as the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, ENDA, versions of which have been knocking around Congress for years. Nonetheless, “two people familiar with White House thinking said the president may reverse that [April 2012] decision and issue the order if Congress does not pass broader legislation offering protection for gays in the workplace,” the Washington Post reported Feb
WARNING:
Possible Meningitis Report in WeHo The City of West Hollywood issued a strong warning on April 12 regarding meningococcal infection, a bacteria-caused illness that can lead to potentially deadly meningitis. “We don't want to panic people,” West Hollywood Councilmember John Duran said in a press release. “But we learned 30 years ago the consequences of delay in the response to AIDS. We are sounding the alarm that sexually active gay men need to be aware that we have a strain of meningitis that is deadly on our hands.” According to the CDC, the strain can be spread by deep kissing but is not spread by casual contact or by simply breathing the air where a person with meningitis has been. Symptoms appear as a sudden onset of fever, headache, and stiff neck, or nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light or mental confusion and can appear within three to seven days after exposure.
Quick Pic
The federal 4th Circuit Court of Appeals has denied a petition filed by Virginia Attorney General and Republican gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli to permit the state to outlaw sodomy despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s having struck down such laws in 2003. Sodomy statutes, some targeting only gays, remain on the books in several states.
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Only 3 Democratic Senators Oppose Marriage Equality Over the last month or so, 12 Democratic U.S. senators have reversed field and now support same-sex marriage, according to a segment on the April 9 edition of MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show. The cascade of dominoes (Maddow’s analogy) began on March 18, when former Secretary of State and potential 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton came out forcefully for marriage equality in a Human Rights Campaign video. Within a week afterwards, four senators also announced their support for samesex marriage—Missouri’s Claire McCaskill on March 24; Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, Mark Warner of Virginia and Mark Begich of Alaska on March 25. On March 26, the same day the U.S. Supreme Court heard the Proposition 8 challenge, John Tester of Montana came out for gay marriage. Kay Hagan of North Carolina came out the next day, March 27, the same day the high court heard a challenge to certain parts of the Defense of Marriage Act. On April 1, it was Bob Casey of Pennsylvania; on April 2, Delaware’s Tom Carper; on April 4, Bill Nelson of Florida; on April 5, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Indiana’s Joe Donnelly; and on April 8, Tim Johnson of South Dakota. The hold-outs are Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Mark Pryor of Arkansas and Joe Manchin of West Virginia. Landrieu recently told CNN she believes “people should love who they love and marry who they want to marry,” and that her views had “evolved,” but that she somehow felt bound to “honor” her state’s constitutional amendment barring samesex marriage. Pryor recently confirmed in an interview with a local radio station that he remains against gay marriage, but said he is “undecided” as to whether gay couples working for the government should receive federal benefits. Manchin has refused comment.
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NEWS
Military Servicemembers Deserve Equal Treatment Under the Law By Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. When President Obama signed the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in 2010, Army Sgt. Tracey Cooper-Harris—a Pasadena, Calif., resident—had already been out of the military for seven years. During her 12 years of military service, which included posts in Kuwait and Kyrgyzstan, she earned more than two dozen medals and commendations and the respect of her peers and superiors. Throughout her distinguished career in the United States Army, Sgt. Cooper-Harris served with the knowledge that if the Army found out whom she loved, her career could come to a sudden end. Once out, she wrote to President Obama about it: “I lived in constant fear serving under ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ I was always looking over my shoulder, censoring what I said and keeping as much physical distance as possible between my military life and my personal life.” Thankfully, DADT is now a thing of the past, but there are many remaining obstacles facing LGBT servicemembers and veterans that are still very real, including dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and the impact that has on relationships. Nine states and the District of Columbia recognize same-sex marriages, but under the Defense of Marriage Act, DOMA, the federal government defines marriage strictly as the union of one man and one woman. As a result, same-sex military couples can be legally married in their state but not be eligible for the U.S. military benefits and privileges that come with marriage, despite selflessly serving their country. As we await the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on DOMA, we know the tide is turning in favor of full equality for all Americans. But despite this progress, many military families are still struggling as second-class citizens. When Sgt. Cooper-Harris married her partner Maggie in November 2008, before the passage of Proposition 8, the couple vowed to love each other “in sickness and in health”— which includes Cooper-Harris’ PTSD and multiple sclerosis that the government has classified as service-connected. The Department of Veterans Affairs considers Cooper-Harris 80 percent disabled and pays her approximately
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Sgt. Tracey Cooper Harris
$1,500 a month in disability benefits, which is $124 less than the VA would pay if she were married to a man. Additionally, Maggie is not entitled to receive survivor's benefits, currently $1,200 a month, if Cooper-Harris passes away, nor is she allowed to be buried alongside her spouse in a military cemetery. Cooper-Harris has filed suit to attack this discriminatory denial of equal benefits. I recently led an effort, joined by almost 40 other House colleagues, to urge Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta to extend equal treatment to same-sex spouses who are denied a wide range of services and benefits, including disability, health insurance, pre-deployment counseling and access to base commissaries. We urged Secretary Panetta to allow spouses the benefits and services that accrue to military families while we pursue the repeal of DOMA. Secretary Panetta agreed, and in his last days in office outlined a series of policy changes to administratively address many of the inequities we raised. And, in addition to benefits available to spouses, the Defense Department extended benefits to same-sex domestic partners—including issuing military identification cards, commissary and exchange priv-
ileges, child care and access to MWR programs and other benefits. While this was a very welcome step, the administrative changes are just not enough. And they are not law. That’s why I have joined with my colleague Adam Smith, D-Wash., to introduce the Military Spouses Equal Treatment Act. This legislation remedies one of the discriminatory impacts of DOMA, by allowing the Defense and Veterans Affairs Departments to recognize any marriage that has been recognized by a state, the District of Columbia, commonwealths, territories or possessions, and provide the same benefits to all spouses of all servicemembers. Congress must act on legislation allowing same-sex couples—in and out of the military— to express their love and commitment through marriage and have that love recognized in every branch of American military service. It’s only fair—and Americans serving now should not have to wait on the Supreme Court to issue its ruling when Congress can end this inequality now and forever. Perhaps Sgt. Cooper-Harris’ spouse Maggie put it best when she said that she is looking forward to the day when her marriage is “a fully recognized marriage in the eyes of the federal government.” Our military men and women make the ultimate sacrifice every day to defend freedom and equality around the world. The least we can do is make sure they receive that equality here at home.
Representative Adam Schiff, D-Calif., serves in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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Working for a Healthy LGBT Community in Boyle Heights By Karen Ocamb
From 1987 to roughly 1995, the mostly white gay community united through ACT UP and other HIV/AIDS organizations to sear the idea into the public consciousness that health care is a right, not a privilege. With the advent of lifesaving HIV medications, that unity of purpose dissolved, and health care once again became an issue of individual “personal responsibility.” Fifteen years later, when a spate of gay teen suicides shook the conscience of society, people of compassion rallied around the simple positive notion that “It Gets Better.” The cultural tables were turned, and bullying, once considered a teenage rite of passage, came to be considered shameful behavior. Issues of mental health, such as depression and substance abuse, started to be seriously integrated into health care conversations. More recently, the new focus on marriage equality has raised issues that underscore LGBT second-class citizenship—issues such as health care benefits, hospital visitation rights and the legal status of surviving spouses, partners and children. Now the majority of Americans seem to agree that the so-called Defense of Marriage Act is unfair and same-sex couples should have the same rights as opposite-sex couples. But on the ground, especially in communities of color where anti-gay churches still hold sway as the primary source of community, homophobia and varying degrees of LGBT-bashing are often given a pass. Some still consider gays inherently evil, as the Catholic Church once decreed, and therefore bring any harm they incur upon themselves. Others are more accepting, allowing gays to live in the community under a kind of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” code of silence. But for many LGBT people of color, living an inauthentic or double life hurts less than the prospect of forfeiting the love and respect of family and community, regardless of the cost to their physical, mental, emotional or spiritual health.
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PHOTO CREDIT: DEBRA EVANS FOR THE LATINA EQUALITY ALLIANCE/CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
(From left to right) Gautam Raghavan, LGBT Liaison, The White House; Norma Roque, Reporter, Univision Channel 34 News; Ari Gutierrez, Chairwoman, Latino Equality Alliance; Sandy Jo MacArthur, Assistant Chief of Police, Los Angeles Police Department; Jane Wishon, National Board Member, Marriage Equality USA
On April 6, the Latino Equality Alliance, in conjunction with the California Endowment's Building Healthy Communities Boyle Heights site and more than 50 community-based organizations, held an event with the intention of once again uniting around health care inequality. Although the California Endowment has worked before with HIV/AIDS groups such as The Wall Las Memorias, the LGBTQ Forum for Youth, Families and Community Services was the firstever gay-health-specific public event held in Boyle Heights, bringing together non-gay service providers and those who feel too afraid and marginalized to seek their services. Over 100 LGBTQ youth, families, local service providers and faith leaders came together at Mariachi Plaza to start transforming the community into one where LGBT youth and their families can
feel safe to be themselves. The event included workshops where community and faith leaders and local service providers learned how to be culturally competent in responding to and providing resources for the LGBT community in their midst. “Today and this event is special for many reasons,” Latino Equality Alliance Co-Chair Ari Gutierrez told the crowd. “It is the first time an openly gay public event is held in Boyle Heights! The first time that we are able to bring our community together to discuss the safety and health of our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer identified youth. The first time that we can stand in our own community, in the public plaza and say to the world that ‘tolerance’ is not enough! And when it comes to discussing LGBTQ issues, we say that maintaining our family rela-
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Working for a Healthy LGBT Community in Boyle Heights tionships with love, compassion, communication and understanding of our shared values is key to a whole and well society!” LAPD Assistant Chief Sandy Jo MacArthur also addressed the crowd. The LAPD recently became one of the few law enforcement organizations in the nation to create a set of guidelines for how officers must deal with the transgender population. "Safety is a major component of health," MacArthur said. "At the LAPD, we strive to ensure the safety of all communities and individuals. We are taking steps not only to address safety issues in real time, but also prevent crime from happening in the first place." White House LGBTQ Liaison Gautam Raghavan also attended the event as part of the Obama administration’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness about LGBT health issues. “Policy improvements either at the local or national level cannot happen without the active support of the community. Events such as this one are a shining example of how communities across America can come together and unite service providers, families and individuals to seek solutions to the unique issues facing LGBTQ youth,” said Raghavan. Later Raghavan told Frontiers, “I was inspired by the coalition of local organizations, advocates and service providers—from legal advocates to HIV prevention services to faith organizations— that came together to organize and support the event. I also felt a real interest and energy among participants for common sense immigration reform that will keep families together and provide an earned pathway to citizenship.” In fact, the event fell just two weeks after National LGBT Health Awareness Week, which this year focused on enrolling LGBT people into the Affordable Care Act, which starts January 2014. (Enrollment opens in October—go to HealthCare.gov/Marketplace.) “LGBT Americans have experienced—and continue to experience—health disparities and are more likely than other Americans to be uninsured or underinsured. Now, because of the Affordable Care Act, our major national health surveys are beginning to include data on LGBT populations. This will give us the information we need to target and reduce disparities among this group going forward. We have also formed an internal working group to ensure we’re developing and coordinating policies targeted at increasing access to care for LGBT Americans and addressing their special health care needs,” Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a March 25 press release. But those health disparities multiply in communities of color. “Discrimination limits opportunity and choice. As a result, LGBT people of color may be more likely than either white LGBT people
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or straight and non-transgender people of color to be less healthy and experience greater disparities in health care access. They are more likely to live in poverty, to have trouble seeing a doctor when they need to, and to live in environments where the surgeon general’s goal of making the healthy choice the easy choice remains an unfulfilled promise. For too many Americans, each additional ‘disparity factor,’ from having a disability to being a woman to living in a rural area,
“Discrimination limits opportunity and choice. As a result, LGBT people of color may be more likely than either white LGBT people or straight and non-transgender people of color to be less healthy and experience greater disparities in health care access.”
magnifies the health gap,” writes Kellan Baker of the Center for American Progress on the Think Progress blog. “An important step in breaking the cycle of disparities breeding disparities is changing our lens from health disparities—a focus on what has gone wrong—to health equity—a focus on where we want to be. The U.S. Office of Minority Health defines health equity as the attainment of the highest level of health for all people. Achieving it requires not only valuing everyone equally but also taking concrete steps to address inequality, close disparities and build a healthier society.”
"Inclusiveness, acceptance and respect are essential elements of a healthy community," said Beatriz Solís, Director of Healthy Communities, South Region, for The California Endowment. "The California Endowment is proud to sponsor this important forum that will 'lift up' the profile and strengths of Boyle Heights' LGBTQ community." The California Endowment's Building Healthy Communities Boyle Heights site is one of 14 sites selected for the foundation’s 10-year “placebased” initiative committed to making these communities more healthy. In a lengthy phone interview with Frontiers, Solis (who is the sister of former Labor Secretary Hilda Solis) said the foundations’ approach to this initiative “has been to really listen to issues and concerns on the ground in each of these communities … rather than having a top-down approach.” That enables the local communities to come up with local solutions aimed at public health outcomes. But it also exposes the difficulties of old issues of homophobia. As a result of their top-down approach, “we have 20,000 people from across the state from these 14 communities [voting] with their feet on what they thought was an important priority. And that, I believe, set the tone for a new partnership with communities,” said Solis. “On one hand, we gained the respect and willingness to be that partner on the ground, to help deal with some of those hard issues. And one of those hard issues is the issue of structural racism and legacy there and also LGBTQ issues in certain communities of color and how inclusive or non-inclusive communities can be to multiple voices in these places.” Solis is keenly aware of the difficulties faced by marginalized LGBT people of color, including having to leave one’s own community to get access to health care services. But she hopes the Endowment’s initiative will help unify all communities in conceiving better solutions to disparities in health care. “How do you create a welcoming environment in a community that they’re familiar with? So this forum, in that sense, kind of lifts the profile for people in the community of why it’s important to be inclusive,” Solis said. “The endowment really applauds the local groups coming together to really lift up the profile of health issues that are impacting LGBTQ in Boyle Heights. As part of our Building Healthy Communities Initiative, the endowment sees that all communities, all members of the community should be at the table. We’re excited to hear what emerging issues need to be addressed.” Please visit FrontiersLA.com to read a longer version of this story, including more of the interview with Dr. Solis and Ari Gutierrez’s comments at the event.
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L.A.’s Top 10 LGBT Historical ‘Firsts’
By Karen Ocamb
Two years ago, the Oxford English Dictionary added “La-La Land” as a term referring to Los Angeles and “a state of being out of touch with reality—and sometimes to both simultaneously.” Despite being the second-largest city in America, contributing billions to the world economy and serving as a font of creativity, L.A. is too often considered vacuous and insignificant compared to New York or San Francisco. And yet L.A. is the real birthplace of the modern American LGBT movement—just scan the ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives Institute (onearchives.org) or C. Todd White’s history of ONE, Inc. at the Homosexual Information Center (tangentgroup.org) for proof. Vacuous L.A. ain’t. Consider, for instance, that the first LGBT publication, a newsletter called Vice Versa by “Lisa Ben,” was mimeographed at RKO Studios in 1947. To commemorate L.A.’s place in LGBT history, here is list of the top 10 achievements launched in L.A., culled from a rich 65-year history:
Sal Mineo and James Dean
1.
2.
3.
4.
The Mattachine Society
Sexual and Psychological Politics
The Black Cat Riots
Metropolitan Community Church
In 1948, Harry Hay first got the idea for the Mattachine Society—officially founded two years later in Hay’s Silver Lake home with his designer lover Rudy Gernreich, Chuck Rowland, Dale Jennings and Bob Hull—just as McCarthyism was witch-hunting homosexuals and Communists. In 1952, Mattachine’s Dorr Legg proposed ONE magazine, devoted to homophile issues, including marriage. In 1954, the L.A. Postmaster refused to distribute ONE, declaring it “obscene.” ONE, Inc. fought back, and in January 1958, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that ONE is not obscene, paving the way for Playboy to be distributed through the mail, igniting the ‘60s sexual revolution.
In 1948, sex researcher Alfred Kinsey’s Sexual Behavior in the Human Male was read aloud as a political act in gay cruising spot Pershing Square across from the ‘closeted-gay friendly’ Biltmore Hotel. Also during this time period, UCLA psychologist Evelyn Hooker started her four-year study of the differences between homosexual and heterosexual men—she found both are equally well-adjusted. The 1957 published report provided the impetus for protests against homosexuality’s designation as an officially listed psychological mental illness, which the American Psychiatric Association voted to remove in December 1973. Meanwhile, the Beat movement had its gay poets William Burroughs and Alan Ginsberg (Jack Kerouac was bisexual), but Hollywood had “genderbenders” like Katherine Hepburn and vulnerable sex idols like James Dean embracing gay Sal Mineo on film.
New Year’s Eve, 1967—the LAPD raided the Black Cat Tavern in Silver Lake, leading to 16 arrests (including two men “caught” kissing) and subsequent protest rallies—two years before Stonewall. An organizational newsletter noting anti-police protests became The L.A. Advocate. On Nov. 8, 2008, the L.A. City Council declared the Black Cat to be a historic landmark. In 2012, the LAPD announced positive guidelines for interaction with transgender individuals. Meanwhile, Jewel’s Catch One Disco, the world’s first gay black disco, also had run-ins with the LAPD but has outlasted Studio One (later The Factory) and has been running strong in the mid-Wilshire District since 1972.
In 1968, Rev. Troy Perry started the Metropolitan Community Church with 12 people in his living room, based on a commitment to worship and social justice, including protests, fasts, opposing Anita Bryant and the Briggs Initiative, marrying gay couples and ordaining women. In 1977, Perry was part of a small contingent invited to the White House by Midge Costanza. He helped plan the 1979 March on Washington with Robin Tyler, with whom he protested on behalf of marriage equality for years after his own marriage to Phillip Ray De Blieck in Canada, leading to the original marriage equality case in 2004. By 2007, MCC had more than 300 congregations in 18 countries.
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L.A.’s Top 10 LGBT Historical ‘Firsts’
6. State Government Support
5. The Center In 1971, a handful of activists—including June Herrle, Jim Kepner, Gay Liberation/L.A. Co-Founders Morris Kight and Don Kilhefner and LGF/L.A. activist John Platania—opened the Gay Community Services Center in an old Victorian house at 1614 Wilshire Boulevard. In 1974, the Center became the first openly gay organization to receive tax-exempt status from the IRS, though with a condition: the Center must not “advocate the practice of homosexuality or contend that homosexuality is normal” and no “avowed homosexuals” could serve on its board. That’s fine—they were gay, not homosexual, which was deemed a government term. Today, the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center offers legal, social, cultural and educational services, with unique programs for seniors, families and youth.
In 1979, Gov. Jerry Brown was the keynote speaker at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Community Services Center’s first big fundraiser—a roast for rich businessman Sheldon Andelson, with Lily Tomlin as emcee. Many L.A. elected officials attended, several of whom had accepted contributions from the nation’s first gay political action committee, MECLA. In 1979, Brown appointed longtime MECLA and Center board member Steve Lachs as the nation’s first openly gay judge and named Andelson the first openly gay member of the University of California Board of Regents in 1980. Many members of MECLA, such as David Mixner and Diane Abbitt, were SoCal activists against the anti-gay Briggs Initiative—as were grassroots activists such as lesbian feminist Ivy Bottini—while San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk led the successful campaign in Northern California. Former Gov. Ronald Reagan wrote an impactful op-ed opposing the Briggs Initiative after a private visit with some gays, but when he became president in 1980, many of the Religious Right backing the Briggs Initiative wound up in his cabinet and drastically influenced the administration’s non-action on AIDS.
7. Reports on a Mysterious New Disease On July 3, 1981, the New York Times published the first story of a mysterious disease found in 41 gay men in New York and California. The report came from a CDC report written by L.A.’s Dr. Michael Gottlieb with input from gay doctor Joel Weisman on their gay patients. It turns out the L.A. Gay Community Services Center, which moved to 1213 N. Highland Avenue in Hollywood in 1975, had been seeing people with what the CDC called GRID (Gay Related Immune Deficiency Disorder) at the popular STD clinic since 1979.
8. The Birth of West Hollywood In 1984, voters created the city of West Hollywood, electing the first-ever city council with a gay majority, which quickly enacted antidiscrimination laws based on sexual orientation and HIV status. City co-founder Councilmember John Heilman also established the first domestic partnership registry for city employees and residents in 1985. Also in 1984, Fairfax High School science teacher Virginia Uribe launched Project 10, the nation’s first anti-dropout program for LGBT kids. The program would become the model for GLSEN and Gay/Straight Alliances around the country. In 1985, AIDS outed Hollywood glamour boy Rock Hudson, prompting Elizabeth Taylor and Dr. Gottlieb to create an AIDS foundation, which soon merged with one led by Dr. Mathilde Krim to become amFAR. 34
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9. The First-Ever Gay Voting Bloc In 1991, Democratic presidential candidate and Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton sought and received the endorsement of ANGLE, led by his friend David Mixner, after which the L.A.-based group raised a historic $1.3 million in early money and created the first-ever gay voting bloc. Clinton told the L.A. Times he would have signed the gay rights bill AB 101, and he later became the first presidential candidate to speak to a gay audience with HIV/AIDS at an ANGLE/Human Rights Campaign event at the Palace Theatre in Hollywood (tinyurl.com/ckqmh2k) . Once elected, Clinton couldn’t keep his big promises, enacting “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the Defense of Marriage Act.
10. Spotlight on California On Aug. 9, 2007, the Human Rights Campaign and Logo TV sponsored the first presidential forum focusing on LGBT issues, in which six Democrats participated, including Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. On Nov. 4, 2008, Obama became America’s first black president—but California voters passed Proposition 8. On May, 27, 2009, after the California Supreme Court upheld Prop. 8 on a technicality, the L.A.-based American Foundation for Equal Rights (afer.org) announced a federal Equal Protection challenge to the proposition. On Aug. 4, 2010, gay District Court Judge Vaughn Walker ruled Prop. 8 was unconstitutional. Just over one month later, on Sept. 9, 2010, District Court Judge Virginia A. Phillips ruled DADT is unconstitutional in a case brought by the Log Cabin Republicans. The ruling created chaos in the Pentagon, which eventually led to the repeal of DADT. Meanwhile, the challenges to Prop. 8 and DOMA reached the U.S. Supreme Court in March 2013—the first time the high court has weighed marriage equality—with the outcome still unknown.
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Frontiers’ Birthda y Bash and Community Build ers Awards
Y T R A P s d n u o B f o Out By McCarthy lle he Mic b and Karen Ocam
Hitting 30 can be a stressful time. “Soooo, the big 3-0, huh?” gets tossed at you constantly. Even if you feel fitter, happier and more productive than ever, the way everyone else is carrying on can make you second-guess yourself. But once you turn the corner and hit 31, the pressure’s off and you can be allowed to truly hit your stride. Frontiers will be blowing out 31 candles this year, so it’s time to put away the Grim Reaper Mylar balloons and carry on. It’ll be business as usual for the voice of SoCal’s LGBT community. But just because we’re a year older and wiser, that doesn’t mean the partying will stop. We’re throwing our annual Birthday Bash and Community Builders Awards extravaganza on Saturday, April 20, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the world-famous Abbey Food & Bar (voted “The Best Gay Bar in the World” by Logo). The hilarious comedy duo and YouTube “It Girls” Jessica & Hunter (jessicaandhunter.com) will be serving as ringleaders for the evening, and resident DJ at Micky’s, DJ eur-O-steve, will be spinning tunes. There’ll be a sponsored bar from 4 to 5 p.m., with drink specials all night long, so you can whet your whistle before taking part in an amazing silent auction. And if your number doesn’t hit, don’t fret—expect loads of fun giveaways. And don’t forget to enjoy a free Joia all-natural soda. The 2013 Community Builders being honored for their groundbreaking work are:
Ivy Bottini Feisty. Fearless. Authentic. Three little words to describe the boldest bad-ass in West Hollywood, 87-year-old Ivy Bottini. An artist, mother and outspoken lesbian feminist, Bottini has been an LGBT, AIDS and human rights activist for more than 40 years. Ask anyone who preaches assimilation about Bottini’s defiant resistance and crusade to preserve the awesome uniqueness of LGBT people. In 1971, Bottini was kicked out of the New York chapter of NOW, which she helped found. According to Betty Friedan, Bottini was the original “Lavender Menace”—a slur she turned into a badge of honor. Once in Los Angeles, Bottini served as a grassroots leader to defeat the Briggs Initiative and the ‘No on LaRouche’ and ‘No on 64’ initiative campaigns. She founded or co-founded numerous organizations, came up with the idea to provide affordable housing for LGBT seniors and used her position as co-chair of West Hollywood’s Lesbian and Gay Advisory Board (1999-2010) to draw attention to partner abuse, the crystal meth epidemic and the annual Dyke March. Ivy Bottini can still be found wherever an LGBT cause needs a bold voice.
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Jewel Thais-Williams As the owner of Jewel’s Catch One Disco, the most successful and longest-running gay black disco in the world, Jewel Thais-Williams has a long, respected history of philanthropy, political acumen and founding or co-founding numerous organizations, including UCLA’s Lambda Alumni Association at her alma mater. She co-founded the Unity Fellowship Church and its Minority AIDS Project with Bishop Carl Bean and others in the mid1980s, when AIDS was killing gay men at alarming rates and black churches were spurning the very members who superbly sang in or directed their choirs. She also joined the board of AIDS Project Los Angeles to bring AIDS services “to the hood,” and co-founded the food pantry Imani Unidos in South L.A. Thais-Williams also co-founded Rue’s House with her wife Rue, a housing facility for women with AIDS and their children. Frustrated with patronizing, pill-based standard medicine, Thais-Williams went back to school, graduated from Samra University with an MSOM degree in traditional Chinese medicine and founded the nonprofit Village Health Foundation and its alternative health care clinic, where she and her staff treat low-income people on a sliding scale. Called “mother” by Catch One Disco patrons whom she helped get clean and sober, Thais-Williams wants to help heal the world.
Bill Rosendahl “Great! Great! Great!” The superlative declarations have become a signature for L.A. City Councilmember Bill Rosendahl, L.A.’s first openly gay male councilmember. His unbridled enthusiasm is contagious and inspiring, especially after his cancer diagnosis, when he returned to work with an enthusiastic “thumbs up!” But the flip side of that sheer glee is a fierce anger at injustice of any kind—especially discrimination against the LGBT community. Rosendahl was elected to the L.A. City Council in 2005 after an award-winning 16-year career as a cable TV executive, producer and moderator of several important and always fair, diverse and nonpartisan public affairs talk shows. After his partner of 14 years died of AIDS in 1995, Rosendahl quietly came out on-air and then invited AIDS Healthcare Foundation President Michael Weinstein to give regular AIDS updates. Rosendahl’s passion for social and economic justice—inculcated in 1968, when he worked on Robert F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign—is not limited to LGBT and AIDS issues. Even after he retires this year, Rosendahl is expected to keep bringing peace to the universe, to which we say, “Great! Great! Great!”
OUT@NBC Universal An affinity group for LGBT and straight ally employees at NBCUniversal, this organization’s goal is to attract, develop and retain lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender individuals and straight allies, and to help the many businesses under its corporate umbrella effectively reach the LGBTQ community. In addition to advocating for policies that promote an inclusive work environment, the organization provides networking opportunities to members, speaker series and meaningful volunteer and charity opportunities. Founded in 1986, OUT@NBCUniversal is one of corporate America’s oldest LGBT employee groups, currently operating with eight regional hubs and over 1,400 voluntary members. By being visible in the local LGBTQ community, this organization builds NBCUniversal’s reputation as an employer of choice in today’s day and age.
THE BIRTHDAY BASH AND COMMUNITY BUILDERS AWARDS EVENT
benefits The Frontiers Awareness & Education Foundation, which empowers the next generation of LGBT media professionals and allies, training authentic new voices through evolving sustainable media platforms to ensure our stories continue to be fully and accurately told. Founded in 1982, Frontiers has served as a proud voice for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, focusing on the Southern California area. It has informed readers of landmark moments in the community’s fight for equal rights, documented celebrity coming-out stories and reported on advances in research, prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. The Abbey Food & Bar is located at 692 N. Robertson Blvd. in West Hollywood. RSVP is required for entry—rsvp@frontiersLA.com—and you can visit FrontiersLA.com/birthdaybash for more party info.
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g n i d a Le By : e l p m Exa Class of 2013
n Shucart by Brende has tiers magazine years ago, Fron ts. 30 ce er fa ov its d l al de un mmunity in Since it was fo s of the LGBT co the political arena to ie or st ll te to in always strived d s and defeats re, nightlife an ng our victorie in queer cultu ts From chronicli m en fro pm s lo ie ve or latest de g LGBT st cataloging the mitted to tellin Frontiers is com entertainment, w. , Frontiers has BT point of vie our community on a distinctly LG ng rti po re a platform just d has acted as But more than community an at launched th rs ild tie on bu Fr to always helped es. To that end, iti rs ve di on those r ht ou l lig and al to put a spot that unites us column in 2012 deserving e” d pl an l am na Ex tio by ira its “Leading munity are insp within our com whose efforts comprise our on. s listed below of our recogniti and businesse n right. ls ow ua r vid he di or in The 26 e a hero in his on ch ea , es re no first class of ho d by example? How do you lea
David Bohnett is the founder of dot-com darling GeoCities, and he sits on the boards of several corporations. But David holds that his greatest achievement is philanthropy through his nonprofit, the David Bohnett Foundation, which is “committed to improving society through social activism,” focusing primarily on the LGBT community, the arts, animal welfare and improving the civic and cultural life of Los Angeles.
Bert Champagne began volunteering with AIDS Project Los Angeles after losing many friends and loved ones to AIDS, and discovering that he was HIV-positive himself. He began lending his time to AIDS Walk L.A., where he has served as supervisor of office management and community coalition specialist for the last 15 years.
The late Bob Craig was a businessman and activist who had a profound impact on the LGBT community of Southern California. In addition to once being the owner of Frontiers magazine, he also co-founded what is now the Los Angeles Business Alliance and was integral to the incorporation of West Hollywood.
Rick Davis, the Western Regional Director of Lambda Legal, oversees operations in 11 Western states. He comes from a proud tradition of fighting for civil liberties and has helped to lead the campaign against so called “reparative therapies.”
Oscar De La O is the president and CEO of Bienestar, a nonprofit community-based organization for Latinos in Southern California. He is a longtime grassroots activist who has spent the last 30 years fighting HIV and building stronger communities.
Jeffrey Drew moved to Hollywood at 17 with big dreams, but he fell into all the wrong traps— crystal meth, drinking and prostitution—and at 23 was diagnosed as HIVpositive. But he found sobriety and is now a celebrated musical theater dancer and the choreographer for Aid for AIDS’ annual Best in Drag Show.
Heifer International was founded in 1944 during the Spanish-American War to end hunger in developing countries. The nonprofit works to give animals—cows, pigs, ducks, goats, sheep, water buffalo, etc.—to villagers in over 50 countries around the world.
In addition to his job as an account manager at Cord Media, Kerry Hendrix also serves as executive director of the Desert Business Association—the Coachella Valley’s LGBT chamber of commerce—and volunteers with numerous nonprofits, including the AIDS Assistance Program, Desert AIDS Project, Friends of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter and Picture Me Happy.
L.A. City Council candidate for District 9, Sherita J. Herring, believes in empowering and helping people to meet their potential. This mother of two founded Kreative Images Foundation 18 years ago to help people create nonprofits and coach small businesses on effective growth strategies.
Mark Hundahl was one of this planet’s most supportive straight allies. He co-founded the Probe, one of gay culture’s most fondly remembered dance clubs, and (along with David Stern) IN Magazine, which was later merged with Frontiers when Hundahl and Stern bought this publication in 2007. He passed away earlier this year.
Lorri L. Jean has been a champion for LGBT and women’s equality since a young age. Before becoming CEO of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, she studied law, worked in government and led the drive to get birth control and quality gynecological care at Arizona State University’s student health center.
Besides being the first openly HIV-positive actor in Hollywood, Michael Kearns is an author, director, teacher, producer and activist who believes strongly in the power of mentorship—and that success comes with profound responsibility.
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Leading By Example: Class of 2013
Mitchel Moore created Heart of Los Angeles— which provides underserved youth with programs in academics, arts and athletics—in 1989 after Catholic Big Brothers turned him away from its volunteer program because he was gay.
NBCUniversal has always been a trailblazer for LGBT Equality. The company is responsible for the first lesbian kiss on TV (L.A. Law, 1991), the first television series featuring a gay lead (Love, Sidney, 1981) TV’s first lesbian wedding (Friends, 1996) and TV series and films that have shaped our culture, including Will & Grace, Brokeback Mountain, Milk and The Kids Are All Right.
Attorney Ron Palmieri is not only a dedicated activist in the LGBT community and philanthropist of HIV/AIDS service organizations, but also a longtime contributor to Frontiers magazine. He was the first gay president of the senior class and valedictorian of USC, marched against Anita Bryant and Senator Briggs. Later he was the first gay man to run for governor of California.
Pride Card Services offers companies an easy way to give back to the LGBT community. Merchants who process credit card transactions with Pride Card Services are able to contribute to AIDS Project Los Angeles and other local nonprofits.
A little over three years ago, German native Frank Roller helped to found Gay for Good, an organization that lends manpower to Los Angeles area nonprofits—such as the L.A. Animal Shelter, Heal the Bay, the Venice Family Clinic and the L.A. Food Bank—in need of a few extra hands.
Sunnie Rose is a former lawyer who gave up practicing the law to involve herself in nonprofit work. When Shanti L.A. shut its doors in 2005, she went on to found Life Group L.A., a nonprofit that provides emotional support and educational programs for people “infected or affected by HIV and AIDS.”
Patrick Rush is more than “just a guy in a tux who facilitates the ‘beauty’ onstage.” The co-founder and original emcee of what later became the Best in Drag Show is well-respected for his contributions to our community—especially those living with HIV—and well-loved for his wit and humor.
When Frontiers asked Rodney Scott, Board President of Christopher Street West, to write about people who inspired him in the LGBT community, he chose to focus on the L.A. Pride Parade (one of the nation’s first gay Pride celebrations) and the individuals who helped make it possible.
Known as “the Dean of Gay American Journalism,” the list of Mark Segal’s efforts to bring the cause of LGBT rights to the mainstream is endless—hunger strikes, debates with elected officials, the founding of Philadelphia Gay News and Gay Raiders, a Philadelphia-based activism group.
There are few individuals living in the LGBT community today who are as widely respected or influential as Jewel ThaisWilliams. She is an advocate, a businesswoman and a founding board member of Unity Fellowship Church, The Minority AIDS Project, UCLA’s Lambda Alumni Association the Village Health Foundation, among others.
Currently the executive director of the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, Marquita Thomas redefines what it means to be ‘involved,’ volunteering with the Lesbian Visibility Committee for the city of West Hollywood, United Lesbians of African Heritage, Black Lesbians United, the Council of Chambers and Business Organizations and the Western Business Alliance.
DJ Paul V was not only the resident DJ for L.A.’s longest-running underground dance party, Dragstrip 66, but is also the author of Born This Way: Real Stories of Growing Up Gay, a book featuring out celebrities like Elton John and Jackie Beat that might inspire gay kids and show them that gay people they admire had similar experiences.
Michael Weinstein helped to found the AIDS Hospice Committee in 1987 during the height of the Plague Years in a time when all gay men wanted was to die with dignity. Twenty-six years later and that organization has become the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the largest HIV services provider in the world.
Jeff Zarrillo & Paul Katami have been challenging the federal constitutionality of Prop. 8 since the day after the anti-gay marriage initiative passed in November 2008. Their team of lawyers—led by famed odd couple Ted Olson and David Boies—has won at the district and appeals court levels and on March 26th made a case before the Supreme Court.
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Kathy Griffin’s Finger is On the Pulse By Stephan Horbelt
No stranger to twinks, bears, dykes or ‘silver gays’— or the cover of Frontiers magazine—Kathy Griffin has long been an honorary member of the LGBT community. It’s this very fact that makes her the perfect cover model for our 806th issue, celebrating not only the 31st anniversary of Frontiers as SoCal’s beloved LGBT publication of record but also the strength and vitality of our accomplished community. Known for her fiery brand of sass and celebrity gossip-fueled stand-up routines, Kathy Griffin makes it a point to always leave you blushing—albeit with a huge grin on your face. She can ‘tell it like it is’ like no other—and, boy, does she. There really isn’t much that Kathy Griffin hasn’t accomplished, having branched out from her stand-up comedy brethren long ago. A two-time Emmy winner, New York Times bestselling author, Grammy nominee, GLAAD Vanguard recipient and a Trevor Project Life Award honoree, no one understands better than she that amazing things can happen—for yourself, your close friends and the community surrounding you—when you employ the power of laughter. Kathy Griffin had me rolling with laughter during our recent chat, as you’ll see below. Find out what she has planned for her upcoming May 4 show at the world-famous Dolby Theatre, Kathy Griffin’s idea of a ‘party’ and what this brazen redhead wants to do to the future of news programming. (Hint: it involves a certain silver fox favorite of yours.)
PHOTO: MIKE RUIZ / BRAVO
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PHOTO: BRAVO
Hi Kathy! How are ya? I’m in Cincinnati, turning this city gay! I’m sure it could use a little gay in its life. You know, it really does. I have a sold-out show tonight, which I’m really happy about, but last night I went to this really good pizza place with my boyfriend, and these three guys are kinda eyeing me—and I’m a Midwestern girl myself, so I was like, “Yes, it’s Kathy Griffin.” Can I tell you, I didn’t even get that they were Midwest gays! The Midwest gays—I don’t mean to be rude—they wouldn’t cut it in WeHo for one minute. So you’re saying they threw off your gaydar? Yes, they did! And after this, I go to Columbus, Ohio, so good luck to me! This isn’t the first time you’ve graced the cover of Frontiers, and it’s certainly not the first time we’ve spoken to you. I’m a cover model! I’m a shallow, shallow cover model. I’m going to puke after this conversation to feel more like a model. This is actually our big 31st anniversary issue, and we’re very happy to have you on the cover. You’re known for your charity work for the gay community— Well, what a time this is, right? Literally just waiting day by day for
the Supreme Court decision. Does your gay charity work come from having so many friends in the community? Yeah, primarily I think it comes from the feeling of—well, I identify with the LGBTQIA community—and don’t you leave out one letter, Stephan. Well, and don’t leave out the number 2 for the Native American community. You’ve heard about that, haven’t you? What?! So it’s LGBTQIA2? Oh, thank god you told me this. Many Native Americans believe gays are “two-spirit” people, so some put the number 2 on the end of our long acronym. I accept that, but I will say that the ‘2 community’—and I’m gonna go ahead and call them a community now—they may have trouble going into a ‘2 bar,’ so I’m suggesting for the time being they go ahead and start with, “Hello, I’m a member of the LGBTQIA2 community.” You might have to explain the ‘2’ for a while. Let me tell ya, the ‘QIA’ has been a struggle for me, to be honest. I don’t think you’re alone. Here in Ohio, they’re just “the gays.” The other letters—those are baby steps. I’m very fascinated to hear about the ‘2,’ though. I personally feel like it was an organic thing. I always say, “I found the gays, the gays found me”—at a young age. I think it’s a feeling where
you’re on the outside looking in, and you have to jump higher and work harder, and that’s how I’ve always felt. I think that’s why the gay community and I inherently found each other. As far as charity work, honestly, that once again was quite organic, where I was hanging out with my gay friends and started getting involved in everything from Best in Drag Show, which benefits Aid for AIDS—I do that show every year, of course, and then work with the group outside that event. And the other thing is that when I was starting out as a stand-up comedian and desperate for stage time anywhere, I really would do anything from The Comedy Store to The Improv to open mic night at a gay club, where they didn’t want comedians, so I’d sing a song. I remember very distinctly my parents—from Oak Park, Ill.—coming to see me in gay clubs and just thinking, [mimicking her mother Maggie’s Midwest accent] “Oh my, these audiences are very enthusiastic, Kathleen. All the men are in such great shape!” So which came first, the chicken or the egg? In time with the magazine’s anniversary, we’ve got our big Birthday Bash coming up at The Abbey. I know you’re not a drinker, but does Kathy Griffin like to party? Oh, do I! My partying—this is something I’m afraid the community will not identify with, especially
the ‘2s’—my partying comes in the form of hot donuts or donut holes. So, I’m no stranger to the donut shop right in the middle of WeHo—the one that has the signs on it at Crescent Heights and Santa Monica. First of all, I’m going to acknowledge the bitterness I have against that particular donut shop, because I go for donuts at a fairly reasonable hour—you know, you can stumble out of Hamburger Mary’s and go get one—but they have those damn signs covering the windows, so you can’t actually see the fryer. I’ve actually gotten into altercations when I’ve gone there—if I’m not worried about my girlish, hot model body and want a donut—because I feel like they’re holding out on me and not giving me hot ones. I’d say that donuts for me are a food group. I also enjoy a cake pop. I have a sweet tooth, and that is my version of partying. The thing is, I have parties quite a bit. You know, I love me some ‘silver gays’—or as my mother calls them, the ‘sober gays,’ because she doesn’t care for sober people, and also her hearing’s not so good—but I’ve had many, many pizza nights with the ‘silver gays’ at my house. I will admit, though, that I tend not to have them over if the younger partying gays are over, because often it will lead to an argument of “What the f*ck do you mean you’ve never heard of Stonewall?” I get upset with the young gays when they don’t know about Stonewall, or that AIDS was called GRID. I expect people to know their damn history, because that’s what we’re fighting for. I agree. And going back to the donuts, you’ll be happy to know that donut shop is going to be leveled and turned into a Walgreens. What?! That whole strip center is going to be turned into a big Walgreens, so no more donuts. First of all, that’s fine, because I’d like to see more meth heads hanging out at the door and a little more crime in that corner. [Laughs] That’ll be great. But let me tell you, the death of a donut shop in West Hollywood is something only a straight person is going to care about, so you’ll probably just see me in a ball crying in front of their very final batch of warm glazed buttermilk donuts.
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Kathy Griffin’s Finger is On the Pulse You have an upcoming gig at the Dolby Theatre here in L.A. Where are Oscars are! I’ve arrived, and I’m very excited. The Dolby, formerly the Kodak, formerly I don’t know what. I still call it the Kodak, which is wrong, but I just say, “You know, the theatre where they do the Oscars at Hollywood and Highland, where you can all park.” Just knowing that I’ll be doing standup where Oprah has her post-Oscars specials, knowing that I will be standing where Jennifer Lawrence tripped on her Dior—I mean, I just love that. I’ve seen many shows there, except Cirque [du Soleil], I’m not going to lie. I’m not a Cirque fan. I’m bitter against Cirque du Soleil because they took the Dolby away from me for two years. But I got my night at the Dolby back—Saturday, May 4, I’m taking it back. Without giving too much away, what are the big topics of your act this time around? Well, first of all, obviously we will be talking about the Supreme Court decision, and I’ll be waiting up to the minute. Trust me, I’m on my computer—or if I have a TV backstage—up until the last second. I was doing a show recently when rapper Lil Wayne was in a coma from drinking too much sizzurp, and I happen to find sizzurp humorous, even though I guess it could kill you—I find something funny about people getting high from codeine cough cyrup, Fanta and Jolly Ranchers, especially when one of those people might be Justin Bieber. So, anyway, I was about to go onstage and Lil Wayne was in a coma at Cedars, and I was actually on my phone—I went onstage at 8—I was on my phone until 7:59 debating whether or not I could do the joke. I thought, if he dies during the show, I’m gonna look like an asshole. So I’m about to go onstage and he’s still alive, and Nicki Minaj is visiting him, and Drake is visiting him—you know, before Drake went to murder Amanda Bynes’ vagina, which I don’t think he did, I just think she wants him to. Anyway, it was showtime and I said screw it, I’m doing the joke. The truth is, I have a general idea of what I’m going to say, but trust me, I don’t really know what I’m going to say until I’m out there. And the people that have been to see me live in Los Angeles multiple times—they know it’s improvised and that I really don’t know what I’m going to say until I’m up there. Will I be giving up the greatest hits? Yes. Might my Oprah impression come out? Yes. Might I make fun of Ryan Seacrest a little bit? Yes, I think he can handle it. You know, my mom will probably 44
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be at that show, which means we’ll need to beef up security. Gays love her—they want to adopt her and be adopted by her. Kathy, my favorite thing about you is that you’re such an advocate for the gay community and you know your gay history, but at the same time, you can reference Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj and Drake murdering Amanda Bynes’ vagina. It’s impressive. My finger is on the pulse. Also, I’m not above making fun of any politician. OK, well maybe I’m going to make fun of conservatives like the Palins a little more, but only because they keep doing funny shit. You know, I’m fascinated— at CPAC, Sarah Palin literally accused President Obama of wanting to be a reality star. Last time I checked—and let me tell you, if there’s one thing I know, it’s reality television—I don’t think the president has had even one reality show, and I think the Palins have had about five. I thought that was ironic. And then Senator Rob Portman of Ohio coming out for gay marriage, which I’m going to make fun of, and here’s why: I think it’s an amazing thing—Ohio is arguably a red state, it’s on the bubble— but you don’t think it’s a little bit funny that he’s in favor for gay marriage because of his gay son? [Laughs] I mean, is that what it’s going to take? Does every United States Senator have to have a kid come out and say, “Mom, Dad, I’m gay” for them to actually believe in equal rights? If that’s the case, I say we infiltrate. I say we go canvassing door-to-door to conservative—especially religiously conservative—representatives, and we go to their teenage children. Seriously, it’d probably take 50 dollars. We say, “I need you to do me a solid. Tonight at dinner, just tell your parents that you’re gay. See if they change their vote, and if you play nice, there might be a payment of 10 bucks per month for the next year.” Do I have to think up all the big ideas, Stephan? I’m not saying it’s legal. I’m just saying it’s an idea. Well, legality isn’t the most important thing here. It’s relative. We’re fighting the good fight. I want to talk about your late-night show, Kathy, on Bravo. You just wrapped up Season Two. We wrapped up Season Two, and they have not ordered anymore—I think you know what that means. We’ve fulfilled our obligation and they have chosen for us not to return—ever. [Laughs] And I just wanna say, it was sorta accidentally the gayest show in the world.
PHOTO: MIKE RUIZ / BRAVO
First of all, I’m really proud of the show, because I think first and foremost, it was a funny show. But if you look at the guests I had—and I really loved having all three celebrities up there at once— we had Chris Colfer and Johnny Weir and Lily Tomlin and Jane Lynch and Margaret Cho and Pauley Perrette. I was really proud that our guests ran the spectrum of a religious person like Pauley Perrette—but one who’s very pro-gay rights—and then you have Margaret Cho who, like me, has been involved in this community and working for this community for years, and then you have Lily Tomlin, who definitely was more of a trailblazer in the community. Then you have Chris Noth—Mr. Big [from Sex and the City]—who’s kinda accidentally part of this community because every gay guy loved or loves him. Then you’ve got Kelly Osbourne, who is the ‘A’ in LGBTQIA, as I am. So yeah, I’m very proud of the show, and I’m very sorry it’s not coming back. We had a blast doing it. I was a big fan myself, I have to say. I’m curious, though, what you had to say or do for the network to let you do the show live. [Laughs] You know what, I had to do something called New Year’s Eve and get an 18 percent ratings spike with Anderson Cooper.
I mean, I really wanted to be live year one, and they were nervous about it, and I said, “Well, CNN is a news network, and they’ve been letting me do it for seven years.” Season One, we had these long, laborious tapings, and we tried having the three panelists be civilians, and then honestly I had celebrities approach me who wanted to do the show. That’s how we got into the format of having three celebrity guests. Then, luckily, I convinced them to let the guests stay up there longer. They wanted to just have the guests up there for a few minutes, and I said, “Look, when you’ve got Josh Groban, Kristin Chenoweth and Eva Longoria, you want to give them as much time as possible. They’re all pros, they’ve all performed live.” I really just begged them to let me go live for Season Two, and I definitely think it was the way to go. I’m just a live performer. I have three live shows in three different cities this weekend. But also, the guests were thrilled because they were in there and out of there in an hour. I kinda pride myself on doing live television, because not everyone likes to do it. I know a lot of comedians and talk show hosts who have no desire to go live, but I just love it. It’s been pretty widely reported at this
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point that you recently filmed a pilot for CNN with Anderson Cooper. Can you say anything about that? I think Jeff Zucker [the president of CNN Worldwide] is looking to kick things up over there. He was my boss at NBC for a long time, and I admire that he is willing to make bold moves. [The pilot] was a lot of fun, and I think Jeff is looking to capture some of the New Year’s Eve razzle dazzle, but with the gravitas of someone like Anderson Cooper, who really is just bringing the heat day after day— Anderson being an actual newsman who likes to have fun, and me being a real comedian with awards and a real body of work behind me. Thinking of me on CNN might be a bit of a stretch, but you know, Jeff is thinking he has two people in their fields who know what they’re doing. But I actually have no idea what’s going to happen with that. I know Jeff is making changes, and Anderson and I enjoy working together. I actually filmed his last Anderson Live, so I felt like I got to be the Bette Midler to his Johnny Carson, and I just think the guy’s great. He definitely knows his shit, and he likes to have fun. I hear you have something else in L.A. coming up soon, Kathy. Yes! I’m star struck as much as the next guy, so I’m thrilled to be doing this—Linda Perry and Sara Gilbert approached me to host this really great event called An Evening with Women to benefit the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center. Number one, Ozzy Osbourne is performing, so I’m really excited about that, because, believe it or not, I’ve never even met Ozzy, even though I know Sharon and Kelly very well. I’ve been working with the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center longer than I can remember. It’s a great evening at the Beverly Hilton on May 18. Natasha Bedingfield is performing, and Sia, and of course Linda Perry is a legend and Sara Gilbert has been walking the walk for a very long time. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to host it. And also, when you host an event called An Evening with Women for the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, it’s not exactly like I’m going to be Ricky Gervais getting in trouble at the Golden Globes. Let’s face it—there’s nothing like a gay audience, especially a thinking and generous gay audience. No matter what I do, it can’t top anything Ozzy has ever done. If it will help the gay cause, I’m happy to eat the head of a bat, although I’m more afraid of PETA than the gays. But maybe a bat that’s made out of a donut?
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On a recent episode of Kathy, you were attached to a lie detector and you confessed that you were at least a little— Oh my god, Stephan, are you gonna f*cking throw this in my face? I am going to! You brought up Ryan Seacrest earlier, and on your show you unfortunately confessed that you were sexually attracted to him. That was the worst moment of my life! Have you heard from him since your little confession? Let me tell you something about Ryan Seacrest. Ryan Seacrest is a game player, alright? It made his f*cking year when I failed my lie detector test. And I don’t mean to sound like an angry single father on The Maury Povich Show, but I now believe that test was rigged! I am such an idiot, once again, trying to bring my best work to Bravo and entertain the audience at any cost. They were like, “We can just do a fake one,” and I was like, “No, I really don’t think any lie detector is going to show that I could possibly be sexually attracted to Ryan Seacrest.” I guess the joke was on me. Now it has set off an obvious chain of events. You know the real victim of this is Julianne Hough. Obviously there is a link between Ryan finding out I am somehow inexplicably attracted to him, and the fact that poor Julianne Hough is now going to be an old maid. She’s basically the collateral damage of the undeniable sexual tension between Ryan Seacrest and myself. No, I have not seen him! I cannot face him, and I know why—he’s going to shove it in my face. He’s probably walking around with a lie detector right now, just hoping to run into me. You’re breaking up families left and right! He’ll probably be in row one of the Dolby Theatre. He and my mom are my biggest fears at the Dolby—them being in the audience. I’m not even worried about the Westboro Baptist Church anymore. I’m much more worried about Ryan Seacrest and my mother disrupting a live show. Although, you know I don’t mind a protest. I’m sure your readers probably wouldn’t protest. I’m just saying, it kinda makes my day when I get protested. Getting protested in L.A. is kinda a stretch, but honestly, I think I have a pretty good shot of being protested tomorrow night in Columbus, Ohio. Well, best of luck with that, Kathy, and we’ll see you at the Dolby here in L.A.!
Find more on Kathy Griffin, including her tour schedule, at kathygriffin.net. Purchase tickets for Kathy’s Dolby Theatre gig at LiveNation.com.
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By Stephan Horbelt
YOUR GAY GUIDE TO
SANFRANCISCO Part One: Stay Here
As small as San Francisco may be, the city itself and its various attractions can seem quite sprawling, which means your best bet is to stay in the city’s hub, close to Union Square. Some will denounce and decry the touristy nature of the neighborhood—yes, the slow-paced foot traffic of out-of-towners and air filled with taxi exhaust can be frustrating at times—but Union Square and its adjacent neighborhoods (SOMA, the Financial District, Nob Hill, etc.) are quite central to anywhere you’d need to go, from the Castro to the Embarcadero. Public transportation—whether you’re taking the BART, MUNI, a trolley or cable car—is a breeze from the area, as is window shopping new threads for what is sure to be a riveting-yet-laidback vacation. In a lively city like San Francisco, where you lay your head at night shouldn’t be your primary concern, but as a discerning gay traveler, you require only the best.
Hotel Palomar
Mystic Hotel
This place epitomizes the term “boutique hotel.” The Palomar’s quaint (and quite lovely) entrance and compact, sleek lobby usher you into a property that knows a thing or two about design. Here you’ll find a hotel perfect for the modern traveler, with all the amenities you need, and a design aesthetic that is sophisticated but fun—a quality lacking in so many properties these days. Forego a stay at some of the city’s stuffy properties for an extended stay here, and bring Fido along, as pets stay free. (If your pet can’t make it, let the hotel provide you with a companion goldfish during your stay.) Tip: Make use of the Palomar’s amenities, like a complimentary bicycle for use during the day or discounted rates at area gyms. Enjoy complimentary coffee and tea service at the Fifth Floor Lounge, and once your day begins to wind down, pop by again for the evening wine reception from 5-6 p.m. hotelpalomar-sf.com
A hotel ideal for the “urban explorer,” here you have a property located in the heart of bustling Downtown San Francisco— blocks from Union Square, Chinatown and the Financial District—but one that also holds onto a sense of serenity among the area’s heavy foot traffic. Walking into the hotel is a serene experience indeed, and the Mystic Hotel combines its monochromatic modernity with masculinity, as evidenced by the exposed brick you’ll find in your room. The rooms here do away with needless flourish and give you exactly what you need during your stay—a comfortable bed, a large window, a desk for surfing the web, a stocked minibar and a pristine white bathroom outfitted with a walk-in shower. Tip: Pack light when staying at this 79-room property, as you won’t want excess belongings to clutter your streamlined room. And take advantage of the hotel staff when you can—for dining recommendations or anything else—as they really are willing to bend over backwards to help you out. mystichotel.com
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Grand Hyatt
Hotel Monaco
After undergoing a $70 million renovation and reopening last fall, the Grand Hyatt now competes with the city’s most expensive hotels for a modern, comfortable stay while exploring San Francisco. Even if you’re a traveler who normally shirks off big-name hotel chains, look into the Grand Hyatt. Courtesy of the renovation, the hotel lobby has been transformed into an expansive Grand Foyer fitting of the highest-caliber properties. Part-library, part-living room and part-lounge, the nearly 6,000-square-foot foyer is a comfortable place to meet up with friends—or a business partner, should the situation arise. Tip: Make reservations at the onsite restaurant, OneUP. This hidden gem of the neighborhood is perfect for a delicious brunch or a chill, sophisticated dinner, and the cocktails menu is quite impressive as well. grandhyattsanfrancisco.com
A Kimpton hotel like the Palomar, Hotel Monaco spares no expense to guarantee your stay lives up to the full San Francisco experience, and much like the city itself, the hotel is sure to inspire you. The property’s dramatic architecture is complemented by its playful yet sophisticated design, found in the hotel’s illustrious lobby but also carried into the rooms. In addition to the comfort your room will bring, expect it to inspire your design sensibilities. This is the living room and bedroom you would design for yourself were you a brilliant decorator, complete with bold colors, sumptuous fabrics and striking wallpapers. Splurge on a suite and enjoy a stylish sitting room (also containing a sleeper bed) and a Jacuzzi tub. Tip: Similar to Hotel Palomar, the Monaco treats its guests each night to an evening wine reception. Step into the hotel’s drawing room, grab a glass and mingle with fellow travelers. monaco-sf.com
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Mandarin Oriental No San Francisco hotel does luxury quite like the city’s Mandarin Oriental property. This is San Francisco’s tallest hotel, which means you’re treated to unparalleled panoramic views of the city without leaving your room. Take your pick of stunning vistas—perhaps you want an up-close and personal view of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and the Transamerica Pyramid (pictured at left); or maybe you’d rather take in the now-iconic “Bay Lights” light sculpture installed on the Oakland Bay Bridge. While the Mandarin Oriental is no doubt one of the city’s pricier options, many would say a suite here is worth every penny. This isn’t a spot where you ‘crash for the night’—it’s a luxe hotel property where you indulge in only the finest amenities. Tip: Make an appointment at the on-site spa for 45 minutes to an hour after checking in to really loosen up before taking on the city. After exchanging your shoes for slippers and being treated to a beverage, you’ll be escorted to a treatment room where you can begin the journey to total relaxation. mandarinoriental.com
Hotel Abri
The Fairmont
A property perfect for the business traveler, Hotel Abri has an unrivaled sense of urban hospitality and practicality that is what many travelers to San Francisco—particularly Angelenos—are seeking. Perhaps most importantly, the hotel features very reasonable rates, an important quality for the budget-conscious among us— and these days, who isn’t? The lobby of Hotel Abri is outfitted with a wall of iPads, a snack bar complete with various sundries and a compact computer station perfect for looking up a restaurant location before stepping out onto the street. Tip: Whether you’re pressed for time or feel wiped out after spending the day exploring à pied, dine in your room courtesy of the attached Puccini & Pinetti, an Italian eatery showcasing local, seasonal ingredients and a stellar dessert menu. hotelabrisf.com
A famed property in its own right (I mean, the United Nations was created in the hotel’s Garden Room), The Fairmont is exactly what you think of when someone mentions old-school grandeur. The hotel lobby is truly a sight to behold, the encapsulation of a time gone by, only accessible in a few amazing locales. The hotel sits atop Nob Hill, which means the view from your room is bound to be stellar—expect a panoramic view of the city and the bay. (Coit Tower at night is a personal favorite.) The Fairmont is also the only spot where each of the city’s cable car lines meet, which lets you indulge in a real San Francisco treat. Tip: Plan to rely on public transporation during your stay—Nob Hill can seem more like Nob Mountain when you’re on foot, particularly with luggage in tow, as I found out the hard way. Don’t be a hero—grab a taxi. fairmont.com/san-francisco
Find a more in-depth look at these hotels online at FrontiersLA.com/Travel, and look for “Part Two: Play Here” in our May 29 issue. APRIL 30, 2013
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SOCAL EVENTS GUIDE
EVENTS
NIGHTLIFE
THEATER
EXHIBITS
go to FrontiersLA.com/Entertainment for more listings Tue. | April 16
Thu. | April 18
Sat. | April 20
Sat. | April 20
BILLY ELLIOT
THE LIAR
YOU’RE INVITED: FRONTIERS BIRTHDAY BASH
GLAAD AWARDS
Segerstrom Hall, Costa Mesa Based on the film from the year 2000, with music by Sir Elton John and book and lyrics by Lee Hall, Billy Elliot revolves around motherless Billy, who trades boxing gloves for ballet shoes. The story of his personal struggle and fulfillment are balanced against a counterstory of family and community strife caused by the Northern England coal miner’s strike. Through April 28. scfta.org Wed. | April 17
ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER Dorothy Chandler Pavillion
Following record-breaking performances in New York City that brought full houses to their feet, Alvin Ailey returns to L.A. with a six-performance engagement. Led by Artistic Director Robert Battle, the show will include 30 of Ailey’s dancers in three powerful and memorable programs. Through April 21. musiccenter.org Wed. | April 17
THE TRIP
Real D Screening Room Outfest board member James Duke Mason invites you to a special retrospective screening of The Trip to benefit the LGBT film organization. The $20 ticket includes free parking, a hosted bar and an intimate postscreening Q&A and reception. Purchase tickets via tinyurl.com/cx3zgdp.
James Bridges Theater, UCLA This is the story of a charming, handsome, pathological liar, Dorante, who goes to Paris seeking pleasure and falls head over heels for the beautiful Clarice. Mistaking her name with that of her best friend Lucrece, Dorante finds himself lying into a world of trouble and has to continue lying to dig himself out. Through April 21. latw.org Fri. | April 19
WEHO WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
Silver Screen Theatre, Pacific Design Center
The Abbey
Celebrate 31 years of SoCal’s premier LGBT magazine with us at our Birthday Bash and Community Builders Awards, honoring Ivy Bottini, Bill Rosendahl, Jewel ThaisWilliams and OUT@ NBCUniversal. We’ll have drink specials all night, a silent auction, loads of giveaways and a special appearance by YouTube’s “it girls,” Jessica and Hunter. 4-7 p.m. RSVP to attend by emailing RSVP@FrontiersLA.com.
J.W. Marriott, L.A. Live
The 24th annual awards will include a cocktail reception and silent auction, sit-down dinner and the GLAAD Media Awards show, with a VIP after-party following. Tickets start at $500 and can be purchased at glaad.org/mediaawards. Sat. | April 20
FURR TRADE Faultline
Step into East Side watering hole Faultline on this Saturday night to catch a musical performance by the always inappropriate
The mission of the WeHo Women’s Leadership Conference is to provide tools and support, inspired by the City’s Core Values, for women to be successful leaders in their private lives, in business and in the community. At this kick-off event, Geena Davis will give a keynote address to open the conference. weho.org/wlc Fri. | April 19
FRESH
Eleven Nightclub It’s one of the most popular nights in West Hollwood, with some of the city’s hottest man candy as well. The party features world-class DJs, dancers and pop artist performers, which makes for one hell of an entertaining night. eleven.la Through May 5
SLIPPING
Rattlestick Playwrights Theater Alone, numb and friendless after the death of his father, gay high school senior Eli moves with his English professor mom to a fresh start in Iowa. A new relationship with a boy at school, though, exposes him to the possibility of closeness and the danger of being swallowed by it. rattlestick.org
OLDIES BUT GOODIES By Jeremy Kinser To paraphrase the lyrics of a certain Barbra Streisand standard, people who love movies are the luckiest people in the world. Well, the folks with tickets to the premiere of the restored version of Funny Girl, Streisand’s superstar-making film debut, will definitely consider themselves among the most fortunate. The classic 1968 musical will launch the fourth annual TCM Classic Film Festival: Destination Hollywood on April 25 at the Chinese Theatre. Over four days, films will screen at TCL Chinese Theatre (formerly Grauman’s), its adjacent multiplex and the nearby Egyptian Theatre. The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel serves as festival headquarters.
Wendy Ho. You’ll find $3 Rolling Rock beers on sale all night, great music by DJ McB and tons of sexy go-go bears. faultlinebar.com Sat. | April 20
GYM CREW EVENT The Montalbán
This amazing one-night event features crews from gyms all over the city—Gold’s Gym, Equinox, Crunch, 24 Hour Fitness, L.A. Fitness, Spectrum Club and others—plus special guest performances, celebrity judges and a drag queen host. Watch as these local crews fight for the title of L.A.’s Best Gym Crew. realdanceproductions.com
While there’s no confirmation that La Babs will actually attend, plenty of other vintage celebrities—including Tippi Hedren, Eva Marie Saint and Jane Fonda—will be present to share moviemaking memories with TCM’s dapper host Robert Osborne. Fonda will be fêted with a two-part celebration that includes a screening of 1981’s On Golden Pond, which she will help introduce, and on April 27, the two-time Oscar-winner will receive Hollywood’s highest honor—her hand and footprints will be enshrined in cement in front of the legendary Chinese Theatre. This year’s central theme is “Cinematic Journeys: Travel in the Movies,” so expect revered cinema classics set around that theme. For LGBT film buffs, there are numerous mustattend screenings, such as the 1956 epic Giant, with its torrid Texan love triangle of James Dean and Rock Hudson dueling for the affections of Elizabeth Taylor. And who’d want to miss Mildred Pierce? With its immensely quotable dialogue, Joan Crawford’s Oscar-winning 1945 L.A.-based noir classic has become rite-of-passage viewing for countless gays. But there’s so much more—literally hundreds of films—and you will find something to suit your mood and your passion at any number of the screenings. You can find the full schedule and information on individual tickets and festival passes at TCM.com.
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Sat. | April 20
Mon. | April 22
JANE FONDA
PLANETARIUM WITH SUFJAN STEVENS
Renberg Theatre
Join Coco Peru for an intimate conversation with Jane Fonda as they discuss her legendary film career. There will also be an original, signed photo of Jane Fonda and Harvey Milk auctioned off at charitybuzz.com in conjunction with this event. VIP tickets include assigned seating plus a private reception with Ms. Fonda. cocoandjane.eventbrite.com Sat. | April 20
EAGLE L.A. 7-YEAR ANNIVERSARY
Walt Disney Concert Hall
At the West Coast premiere of Planetarium, Bryce Dessner, Sufjan Stevens and composer Nico Muhly come together to consider the cosmos. For the first half, a string quartet performs each artist’s classically informed compositions. In the second half, Stevens’ voice anchors a planet-by-planet song cycle that melds the collaborators’ distinct creative contributions into a harmonic whole. laphil.com/planetarium
Eagle L.A.
Tue. | April 23
Join the men of the Eagle, L.A.’s favorite leather bar, in celebrating seven years of cheap drinks, great music and a friendly crowd. Wear your gear and get a free anniversary pin upon arrival, or purchase a limited-edition anniversary Tshirt (only 100 were made). eaglela.com
Acme Comedy Theatre
Sat. | April 20
EARTH DAY LATINO L.A. Historic State Park
This free event will feature urban camping, urban animals, healthy BBQ, career presentations, meet-and-greets with mayoral candidates and an indigenous land ceremony. Saturday 3 p.m. - Sunday 10 a.m. Through April 21
END OF THE RAINBOW Ahmanson Theatre
Gain unique insight into the inner conflict that inspired and consumed Judy Garland. It’s December 1968, and Judy is about to make her comeback—again. In a London hotel room with both her new young fiancé and her adoring accompanist, Garland struggles to get “beyond the rainbow.” centertheatregroup.org Sun. | April 21
DECADE Micky’s
End your weekend at Decade, where you’re sure to hear nothing but the classics while tearing up the dance floor. Indulge in disco-dancing go-go boys and live drag performances before you head back to work on Monday. mickys.com
» BIG FAT GRUNT | EAGLE L.A. |
Photos by Rolling-Blackouts
IT’S ALL THE RAGE Comic Marilyn Pittman’s award-winning solo show balances comedy and tragedy, touching on domestic violence, veterans’ PTSD and mental illness. It’s All The Rage transcends her personal story to relate to the wider world and connect with today’s headlines. acmecomedy.com Tue. | April 23
DRUNK ON STAGE Akbar
Started as a weekly alternative to Hollywood’s straight boys’ club of standup comedy, Bruce Daniels and Erin Foley host a night of entertainment by gay and gay-friendly comedians. This week features special guests Jessica and Hunter. $5, 8 p.m. akbarsilverlake.com Tue. | April 23
MISS JULIE Geffen Playhouse
August Strindberg’s classic tale of sex, greed and manipulation has been adapted by the modern master of such tantalizing topics, Neil LaBute. This scandalous turn-of-the-century drama, banned in Britain for almost 50 years after its publication, chronicles the night-long flirtation and seduction between the wealthy lady of the house and one of her father’s household employees. Through June 2. geffenplayhouse.com Wed. | April 24
PUNCHLINE Faultline
If you’re in the mood for cheap cocktails and stand-up MARILYN: MY comedy, head to SECRET East Side watering Macha Theatre hole Faultline for this monthly comedy A dramedy with music, chronevent. This time icling the life of Norma Jean Jonny McGovern hear the comedic from unwanted orphan to bit stylings of Jonny player to sex goddess, this production McGovern, Shawn Pelofsky, Michael includes untold stories of Marilyn's Cornacchia and more! faultlinebar.com affairs with both female and male lovers, Through April 21
revealing all of the passion and secrets. Through April 21. plays411.com 50
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Through June 30
STANLEY KUBRICK LACMA
Stanley Kubrick was one of film’s alltime legendary directors, and his efforts reconceived the genres in which he worked. The exhibit spans 50 years, beginning with his early photographs for Look magazine and continuing with his groundbreaking directorial achievements. His films are represented through a selection of annotated scripts, production photography, set models, costumes and props. lacma.org Wed. | April 24
STRIPPER CIRCUS Here Lounge
You’ve never been to a party quite like this, with carnival games, WeHo’s cutest boys and chances to win cash and prizes all night long, now with more strippers than ever. $5. herelounge.com Fri. | April 26
TRACES
Dorothy Chandler Pavillion NYC’s most acclaimed and groundbreaking circus, Traces, created by the Montreal-based troupe 7 Fingers, strips away everything you thought you knew about the Big Top and fuses the traditions of circus with the energy of street performance, creating an explosive display of emotion and physicality set to the music of Radiohead and more. Through April 28. musiccenter.org
The very first West Coast production by Rattlestick Playwrights Theater has arrived in L.A.—Slipping is the tale of gay high school senior Eli, who moves with his mom to a fresh start in Iowa after the death of his father. Frontiers stopped to chat with the work’s writer/director, Daniel Talbott, about the production, and why Slipping holds such a special place in his heart. How autobiographical is the story of Eli? Slipping in its storyline is not autobiographical, but I feel like it’s such a deeply personal and insanely close play to me, and so much of my heart and a few really close relationships are buried in it. Slipping is about a ton of things for me, and a ton of relationships in my life, but its heart is definitely in my relationship with my best friend from high school. As I get older, I think I understand more and more how rare, deep and difficult it is to find
SLIPPING AWAY someone who truly has your back and is proud to walk down the street with you regardless, to find someone who will embrace your damage as much as the light you bring. I hope the play is about that kind of love and struggle, and is a celebration of how hard we tried. As your very first work, does Slipping hold a special place in your heart? It has a hugely, hugely special place in my heart. It was my first full-length play, and I was frickin’ terrified to try to write anything at all, and I had no idea what I was doing—and still feel like I don’t in a lot of ways—and I just tried to
learn as much as I could from the amazing playwrights who I was lucky enough to be around every day at school and in New York. In your mind, how does the arts scene in Los Angeles differ from that of the East Coast, New York in particular? I find the local theater community [in L.A.] to be full of hugehearted, insanely hard-working, dedicated, scrappy and ballsy folks who are doing it for the love and hard work of it and nothing else. There’s exceptional theater happening all over L.A., and I’m really excited and feel very lucky to get to be a part of it.
Read the complete interview with Daniel Talbott at FrontiersLA.com/ExclusiveInterviews.
Find more photo albums — and additional photos from these events — at FrontiersLA.com/Entertainment.
» STRIPPER CIRCUS | HERE LOUNGE |
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AMERICAN BUFFALO Geffen Playhouse
ON THE FLOOR
A mover-and-shaker of L.A.’s gay nightlife scene, DJ eur-O-steve sat down with Frontiers to discuss how he broke into the DJ line of work, his favorite places in L.A.—and the world—to man the decks and what we can expect from him at the upcoming Frontiers Birthday Bash. How did you initially get into DJ work?
In the mid-’90s I started out as an assistant helping a wellknown DJ around London. I was in college at the time, and this job opened my eyes to the dance club scene and gave me a handson education on what it takes to be a DJ. I knew then that it was something I wanted to pursue. I really attribute my inspiration and techniques to that DJ, who was a constant perfectionist. He instinctively knew how to energize a club floor, which is dinitely something I have integrated into my own DJ experience. What are your favorite places to spin here in L.A. and around the world? In West Hollywood I really enjoy working with Micky’s, where I spin often. The diverse crowd intermingled with familiar faces is always
fun. However, I would say my favorite events to DJ overall are big pool parties. I like mixing while basking in the sunlight—with 100 sunblock on, of course!—seeing smiles and shaking bums, and enjoying great music outdoors. Internationally I gravitate to Atlántida in Sites Spain, which has amazing beach parties all summer long, and I can’t forget the off-the-beaten-track clubs further up in Ibiza. That’s where I leave my soul. You're going to DJ the upcoming Frontiers Birthday Bash. What can we expect? You can expect to hear (and feel) unexpected twists on familiar tracks and flashbacks. By the end of the night, my goal is to have you dancing to something you’ve never heard before, which may just become your new favorite!
Read the complete interview with DJ eur-O-steve at FrontiersLA.com/ExclusiveInterviews.
Instantly hailed as a new American classic when it opened on Broadway in 1977 for its explosive humor, frenetic energy and surprising tenderness, this play promises a mesmerizing night whether rediscovering it or seeing it for the first time. Misguided misfits out on their luck plot to steal a rare coin collection, and as time approaches, tension tests loyalties and friendships. geffenplayhouse.com Sat. | April 27
ABBAMANIA
Torrance Cultural Arts Center This season’s popular guest artist series concludes with Abbamania, a rock musical that takes you back to the disco era. The show features nine musicians and singers performing the hits of ABBA, complete with costume changes, choreography, a live band, backup singers and big-studio sound. torrancearts.com Sat. | April 27
PHOTO VIDEO WEST Del Mar Fairgrounds
The largest educational photography expo on the West Coast returns to San Diego for an actionpacked, two-day event. A forum for photographers, Photo Video West allows photographers of all skill levels to learn, share, network and expand their photographic abilities. Added to this year’s agenda is a focus on videography, printing, framing and mobile imaging. photovideowest.com
Find more photo albums — and additional photos from these events — at FrontiersLA.com/Entertainment.
» SINFUL FRIDAYS | THE ABBEY |
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Sat. | April 27
Sat. | April 27
OUTWRITE
PETER PAN: THE BOY WHO HATED MOTHERS
West Hollywood Public Library Outwrite is the celebration of L.A. LGBT literary pioneers Malcolm Boyd, Lillian Faderman, Katherine V. Forrest, John Rechy and Patricia Nell Warren. The evening marks the 25th anniversary of the Lambda Literary Foundation, will honor rising names of entertainment and will feature a cabaret performance by none other than Mx. Justin Vivian Bond. lambdaliterary.org Sat. | April 27
CLUB MEDITERRANEA Club Ripples
Long Beach gets a costume change with this blend of Euro-pop, industrial and electronica beats by SF export DJ Freddy Agredano. Claim a cabana in the newly remodeled Mediterranean-style patio, envelop yourself in the aromas of the hookah lounge and nibble on the buffet. clubripples.com
on a musical journey of Hutton’s amazing songbook. For first-timers and followers alike, this performance is not to be missed! nuttinbuthutton.com
Blank’s 2nd Stage Theatre
A radically fresh retelling of the popular story, Peter Pan: The Boy Who Hated Mothers explores the classic you know but with a dark, disturbing, magical twist. This is Peter Pan as you have never seen him before. theblank.com Sat. | April 27
THE WILD BEAST CONCERT SERIES CalArts
Massive rhythms will churn into the night at this celebration of the music, singing and dance of the people of Ghana. The CalArts African Music and Dance Ensemble is joined by special guest drummer and dancer Prosper Nudzor in what is sure to be a highlight of the 2013 World Music and Dance Festival. Families and picnics encouraged. calarts.edu/node/2697 Sun. | April 28
REFLEX AFTER-HOURS Ultra Suede
Reflex After-Hours, featuring DJ/producer Serving O’vahness, gives you lightspeed lasers and Reflex dancers from 2-7 a.m., which means you can dance the weekend away—literally. $20 at the door. reflexpresents.com
Through June 9
THE HAPPY SHOW Pacific Design Center
UCB Theatre
MUSICAL MONDAYS
This first annual celebration of the art and creativity of all things related to puppetry is presented by a myriad of puppetry organizations located throughout L.A. The festival offers a variety of events, shows, exhibitions and classes for all ages and tastes. lapuppetfest.com
Let out your inner diva every week. From 9 p.m.-midnight, the best of Broadway comes to life with a live show full of musical and comedic fun, complete with singing contests, ticket giveaways and live performances from Tony Award winners. eleven.la
Stefan Sagmeister is perhaps best known for his album covers—for Talking Heads, Lou Reed, OK Go and The Rolling Stones, to name only a few—as well as innovative campaigns for companies like Levis that have entered the public consciousness. The Happy Show centers around the designer's 10-year exploration of happiness with typographic investigations of rules to live by originally culled from his diary, manifested in a variety of imaginative and interactive forms. moca.org
Tue. | April 30
Through May 19
Through April 28
L.A. PUPPET FEST 2013
Sun. | April 28
ACCIDENTAL BEAR BUST Eagle L.A.
Your favorite bear blog, Accidental Bear, teams up with DJ Ryan Jones to bring an evening of furry faces, fuzzy music and live performances to L.A.’s East Side. Expect a few specials and surprises. $5. 3-9 p.m. eaglela.com; accidentalbear.com Through April 28
NUTTIN’ BUT HUTTON NoHo Arts Center
Celebrate the songs of the oneand-only Betty Hutton with over 20 show-stopping musical numbers. The cast takes the audience
Mon. | April 29
Eleven Nightclub
THE MIRACLE WORKER
EVITA Blok
Crossley Theatre
Luke Nero and Andres Rigal of Mr. Black L.A. have brought this new party to the masses, taking place in a different Hollywood venue but showcasing the same hedonism and joie de vivre you’ve come to expect. Past weeks have featured guest appearances by the likes of Amanda Lepore and Cazwell. Free. facebook.com/ evitalosangeles
Winner of the Tony Award for Best Play, The Miracle Worker is the true story of young Helen Keller, blind Luke and deaf, and her Nero struggle to overcome adversity with the help of an extraordinary teacher who taught her to communicate with the world—a truly miraculous story of determination, hope and love. actorsco-op.org
RivaBella 9201 Sunset Blvd., WeHo. (310) 278-2060 rivabellarestaurant.com
LA BELLA VITA BY ERIC ROSEN
What the old Hamburger Hamlet up on Sunset lacked in style, its unvarnished all-American menu made up for in substance, making it an old-school power lunch favorite. Plenty of Hollywood moguls were sad to see its demise a few years ago, but they’re already flocking in droves to RivaBella, the upscale Italian restaurant overseen by chef Gino Angelini that replaced it, courtesy of IDG, the group behind L.A. powerhouse eateries like Boa and Sushi Roku. Diners won’t recognize the formerly cavernous 56
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space now that it has been transformed into an intimate indoor urban garden—perfect for a power dinner or a romantic date—with trees and shrubs, a brick fireplace, a retractable glass roof over the main dining room and barrel-vault ceilings over a private dining room in back that create a wine-cellar-like space. Order a specialty cocktail like the fruit-forward yet herbaceous Amore di Violette with Oxley Gin, crème de violette and maraschino liqueur with fresh blackberries and candied violet petals as you decide
among starters, like the smoky eggplant parmigiana or what has already become a crowd favorite, the roasted octopus salad with potatoes, zesty Taggiasche olives and a dash of tangy tomato sauce that somehow incongruously fits. Come on your ‘carb splurge day’ so you can indulge in specialties like the twisty strozzapreti with succulent shrimp, cherry tomatoes and spinach, or the braised oxtail agnolotti in sage butter with shaved black truffles if it’s one of Angelini’s daily specials. Also on the list of specialties is a grilled branzino filet over sautéed spinach, though those with meatier tastes can opt instead for the grilled lamb chops or wood-fired porterhouse steak with radicchio, sea salt and roasted potatoes. For dessert, there’s no beating a simple tiramisu, with fluffy layers of espresso cake and brandy-soaked ladyfingers enveloping luscious mascarpone cream and sprinkled with cocoa.
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» WHITE PARTY 2013 | PALM SPRINGS
Find more photo albums — and additional photos from these events — at FrontiersLA.com/Entertainment.
Photos by Vincent Sandoval /Wire Image >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
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ENTERTAINMENT
FILM
REVIEWS DECEPTIVE PRACTICE: THE MYSTERIES AND MENTORS OF RICKY JAY Opens April 17
****
By no means a traditional biopic, directors Molly Bernstein and Alan Edelstein’s documentary sees magician, author and raconteur Ricky Jay share many of the names and routines that influenced him. Tracing Jay’s earliest years as a child magician appearing with his grandfather, Max Katz, through his years as a guest on popular nighttime talk shows (in one fun ‘70s clip, he flim-flams comedian/friend Steve Martin in a game of ThreeCard Monte on The Dinah Shore Show) to more recent live engagements heavy on card trickery, Deceptive Practice never delves that deeply into his personal life. As the title indicates and promises, Jay serves more as an oral historian of important (and largely forgotten) magicians, like Cardini, Al Flosso and Roy Benson. Friends, collaborators and contemporaries of Jay, including David Mamet—who directed him in films like House of Games—chime in with anecdotes and testimony. While, sometimes frustratingly, nobody reveals what’s up their or anybody else’s sleeve—the tricks seen here entail downright brilliant showmanship—this is a delightful bit of magic indeed. —Lawrence Ferber
IN THE HOUSE
LOTUS EATERS
MIDNIGHT’S CHILDREN
Starring Fabrice Luchini, Kristin Scott-Thomas, Ernst Umhauer Opens April 19
Starring Antonia Campbell-Hughes, Benn Northover, Cynthia Fortune Ryan Opens April 12
When a high school student, Claude (Umhauer) , turns in a writing assignment chronicling an attempt to insinuate himself within the household of a dim classmate, Rapha, for impure reasons, his jaded literature teacher, Germain, is both alarmed and intrigued. The boy, unlike his peers, can write brilliantly, so against better judgment—including that of Germain’s gallery curator wife—he encourages Claude to continue his writings, which grow increasingly suspenseful and potentially dangerous. Director Francois Ozon, working from Juan Mayorga’s play The Boy in the Last Row, returns to the sly humor, psychosexual edge and young male eye candy of Water Drops on Burning Rocks and Sitcom, and at a brisk pace to boot. Like House’s manipulative teen protagonist—Umhauer is enigmatic and sweet-seeming— Ozon keeps confounding expectations, even when you want things to go in a certain direction, while literally bringing Germain into the classmate’s house through playful, theatrical techniques. Luchini is hysterical as the hooked-in Germain, and Scott-Thomas as his wife proves a worthy foil. This one’s a pageturner for sure.
O youth and beauty! The rich, young and boring— er, bored—protagonists of the louche Lotus Eaters are an insular, selfish bunch. They attend and/or throw parties that flaunt their lack of purpose. Director/cowriter Alexandra McGuinness’ film flaunts her lack of talent. While this drama is luminously shot in black and white, feeling for the decadent characters amounts to less than zero. Alice (Campbell-Hughes), her would-be boyfriend Felix (Northover) and the shitstirrer Orna (Ryan), among others, slouch from party to party, cavorting in pools, vodka-filled bathtubs and even with a pet monkey wearing a bejeweled collar. When a woman says a couple having sex makes her sick, she soon vomits on them. Lotus Eaters is that kind of film. And while Alice mourns the untimely death of her junkie ex, Felix and Orna are undisturbed. The characters often spout howlingly bad dialogue, such as “Young is the new beautiful,” or “I could dance to this song for the rest of my life!” proving that this film would make lovely video wallpaper at a party if shown without sound. Whereas viewers usually want attractive actors to ‘shut up and f*ck,’ McGuinness’ pretentious film makes viewers want them to shut up and f*ck off.
Salman Rushdie’s coming-of-age novel Midnight’s Children was a literary sensation when released in 1981. It won the Booker Prize in the U.K. and cemented his status as a front-rank novelist. It’s a classic bildungsroman, only in this case it’s not only the two children at its center that are growing up but the newly independent country of India. Deepa Mehta’s film version—with a screenplay by Rushdie himself—is a sprawling canvas, involving from its very first images (and despite a rather ponderous and overtly literary voiceover performed by Rushdie). Saleem (Satya Bhabha) and Shiva (Siddharth) are born at midnight on the day of India’s liberation from Great Britain. They are then switched at birth by an overzealous wouldbe revolutionary, so that the poor boy is given rich parents, the rich boy condemned to grow up in poverty. We get an insider’s view of India and also Pakistan, which makes Midnight’s Children a thematically rich viewing experience. Yet Rushdie’s main conceit remains just that—the boys are devices through which we see the tough growing pains of a country. What the film doesn’t have are two flesh-and-blood characters that move us through their plights. They’re mere pawns on an imposing historical chessboard.
—Gary M. Kramer
—Dan Loughry
****
—Lawrence Ferber
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Starring Satya Bhabha; Siddharth Opens May 3
***
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ENTERTAINMENT
MUSIC
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Mosquito (Interscope/Polydor)
REVIEWS
Where to begin with Mosquito. First of all, the artwork is simply hideous. I assume that’s the intention—ugliness/beauty has always been part of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs schtick. Mosquito is not as bad as its album sleeve would suggest, but the half-hearted experimentation found within simply doesn’t push the envelope far enough. Take opening track “Sacrilege”—it’s an exciting Florence & the Machines-esque affair, even ending with a “Like A Prayer”-type choir. The song builds up hope for an album the band has yet to record. As exciting as “Sacrilege” is, it segues into “Subway” which (cleverly?) uses a loop of a subway train as percussion. The song lays there, flat and lifeless, in complete juxtaposition to its predecessor. Album sequencing problems aside, the album simply goes downhill from there. The title track sounds like a tired imitation of Bow Wow Wow. The band dips its toes into reggae for “Under the Earth,” but not far enough to make it count. “These Paths” is the fun dance-y centerpiece of the LP. It’s a tent pole that’ll keep you listening to Mosquito until Dr. Octagon begins rapping on the unfortunate “Buried Alive.” Instead of picking up Mosquito, I suggest a citronella candle. —Dominik Rothbard
British Sea Power Machineries of Joy (Rough Trade)
Charli XCX True Romance (IAMSOUND)
John Grant Pale Green Ghosts (Partisan Records)
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark English Electric (100% Records/BMG)
Youngblood Hawke Wake Up (Universal/Republic)
This nature-loving British sextet may be the most underexposed, broadly experiential of rock bands. No subject matter’s offlimits (WWII POWs, the collapse of an Antarctic peninsula, etc.). They’ve played shows in unusual places (caverns, sea forts) , but their exploratory nature is often sloppy and unfocussed. 2011’s Valhalla Dancehall was a sprawling underachiever. Last year they put out six strange EPs. Yet let me thank BSP for those messy EPs here because, without them, Machineries of Joy wouldn’t be the return to form it is. They cherry-picked amongst the EP tracks, so when it came time to re-recording they’d honed it down to the best songs. (I could still live without “Hail Holy Queen.”) Their post-punk is more muscular than ever, and the songs are razor-sharp throughout (highlights being the flesh-loving title track and “A Light Above Descending,” which is as amorphously beautiful as its title suggests). Singers Yan and Hamilton remain weedy vocalists, which works conceptually on these 10 tracks about the ephemeral essence of life, nature, happiness and anger, and the band is in concentrated lockstep. Now all I want to know is whether “Radio Goddard” is about the French filmmaker (misspelled) or the co-leader of Hot Chip. —Dan Loughry
Before we go any further, let’s thank Charli XCX for writing one of this year’s most infectious club jams—Icona Pop’s “I Love It.” This self-described “Wednesday Addams-meets-Winona Ryder in Beetlejuice-meets Baby Spice” Londoner has been writing and performing since age 14, and at 20 she’s poised for some major stateside buzz. With help from producers who’ve worked with Robyn, Major Lazer and Lana Del Rey, her eclectic debut is a crosspollinated mix of dark and emotional Goth-glam (“Grins,” “Set Me Free”), ethereal confessionals (“Stay Away,” “So Far Away”) and four-to-the-floor electropop (“Take My Hand,” “Black Roses”). Her pipes are powerful yet graceful, childlike yet edgy, and she might remind you of a cross between Ellie Goulding and The Knife’s Karin Dreijer Andersson. She also drops some streetwise hip-hop on “Cloud Aura” that features the bawdy Brooke Candy handling the rhymes. The heady synth sounds here are fuzzy, darkwave and orchestral, the production is pitch-perfect and every corner of her romantic history is explored in the lyrics. It really comes together quite nicely. Having said that, she’s made a record the charms of which continue to be revealed upon each new listen. Catch her live in L.A. on May 11 with Marina & the Diamonds. —Paul V.
When John Grant fronted littleknown but much-loved The Czars from 1996 to 2005, he utilized his gorgeous alto for a folksy take on indie rock. (Seek out Paint the Moon from 2004.) But he’s a different beast as a solo artist. On 2010’s superb coming-out platter Queen of Denmark, and now on his electrotinged follow-up Pale Green Ghosts, Grant’s no longer interested in lulling you to a safe place. Queen of Denmark dealt often with his coming out and his years of drug addiction. Pale Green Ghosts confronts a destructive relationship and testing HIV-positive. Tough subjects all, yet Grant’s a pretty funny guy. His song about discovering his HIV status breaks down the odds with a calculator before turning, in a strange and somehow correct non-sequitur, to a movie star for guidance. (The track’s called “Ernest Borgnine.”) He devastates his ex with a few cutting lines in the bouncy “Blackbelt.” (My favorite: “You’ve got lots of time to think up new ways to deceive yourself.”) And “GMF” explains everything that is wrong with Grant before concluding that he’s the “greatest motherfucker” you’re ever going to meet. On the basis of Pale Green Ghosts, I’m not going to argue with him. —Dan Loughry
When OMD reformed in 2010 with The History of Modern, chart success was clearly goal. Indeed, the band charted (modestly) and recorded an album filled with potential dance-pop singles that owed a lot to peers (Pet Shop Boys, Erasure, Human League). But OMD was never about chart success. And indeed, the band has proved that with its second post-reunion LP, English Electric. If you’re a fan of the band, you’ll appreciate that this album pays direct homage to OMD’s most experimental LPs of the early ‘80s—Architecture & Morality (1981) and Dazzle Ships (1983) . Short tracks like “Please Remain Seated,” “Decimal” and “The Future Will Be Silent” weave samples into OMD’s signature electronics and then get nestled amongst glossy pop gems like “Metroland,” “Night Café” and “Kissing the Machine,” which was co-written by Karl Bartos of Kraftwerk and features Claudia Brucken from Propaganda on vocals. There’s much to love for any ‘80s fan on English Electric, but the highlight of the LP is easily “Helen of Troy,” a virtual sequel to OMD’s 1981 hit single “Joan of Arc.” For a band 35 years into its career, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark has never sounded fresher or more relevant. —Dominik Rothbard
L.A. indie rockers Youngblood Hawke wowed me when I first heard “We Come Running” used in a TV promo. It is the kind of song that penetrates your brain like a pneumatic drill and stays there forever. If ever there was a positive, feel-good anthem that makes your wanna sing along and dance, this is it. And that’s the West L.A. Children’s Choir soaring in the deliciously radiant chorus (just as they did on fun.’s “We Are Young”). So, can this upstart quintet follow that up and deliver an album’s worth of similar charms? The answer is ‘hell yes.’ The pianodriven “Say Say” is a strong contender to be the next earworm to rule some radio spins, as is “Last Time,” which closes the record with quite a bang. The entire disc is an organic yet polished production, where acoustic guitars are accompanied by fat, synthesized bass sounds and urgent percussion. Each song virtually explodes with a multitude of voices in their respective chorus, making for a dynamic yet consistent, catchy yet complex listen. And it’s the kind of record you want to blare out of your car windows while breaking the speed limit on the freeway. Go running to see them live on May 22 at The Avalon. —Paul V.
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THEATER REVIEWS DREAMGIRLS THE MET THEATRE | 1089 N. Oxford Ave., L.A. Through May 5 | domatheatre.com Having seen the glitzy 2010 Ahmanson revival, the 2006 film and even the legendary original Broadway production 31 years ago, I honestly wondered if there was anything more to experience with Dreamgirls. Well, leave it to DOMA Theatre Co.—the little theatre that could—to bring out new nuances in director Marco Gomez’s sumptuous and intimate staging currently thrilling audiences at the MET Theatre. As they’ve done with such Broadway blockbusters as The Who’s Tommy and Avenue Q, DOMA’s 99-seat staging of Dreamgirls brings an added human dimension to the piece, helping us focus on the fact that beyond the glorious score (lyrics by Tom Eyen and music by Henry Krieger) and gorgeous costumes
(Michael Mullen), there is a moving and messy drama about imperfect people, in this case a Supremes-like girl group that goes from a talent night at the Apollo to the height of fame, leaving deep wounds in almost all concerned. Watching the show unfold in such an intimate setting, one is struck by how perfectly crafted Dreamgirls is; the music serves the story, and the story is so efficiently told. We first meet the pretty Deena (Jennifer Colby Talton), perky Lorrell (Tyra Dennis), outsized Effie (Constance Jewell Lopez) and her sweet songwriter brother, C.C. (Frank Andrus Jr.), at an Apollo Theatre talent competition. Within a few songs, they have been picked up as backup singers to James “Thunder” Early (Keith Arthur Bolden),
PHOTO: MICHAEL LAMONT
enjoyed success and decided to go on their own at the urging of Mephistophelean manager Curtis Taylor Jr. (Welton Thomas Pitchford). That’s when feelings get hurt, bridges get burned and a feelgood ending is set up. DOMA’s cast is mostly terrific, with Talton every inch the Diana Ross-like lead and Lopez owning the overexposed Act One closer “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” with impressive individuality. Andrus has an innocence that complements his lovely singing voice, and any rough edges of Bolden’s performance are erased with sweat equity. Pitchford sings beautifully, but the stakes are too high for his creepy Curtis to be so nonchalant in his spoken scenes. Gomez uses Amanda Lawson’s two-
tiered set to great effect, telling the story with a seamless forward motion. Rae Toledo’s smart choreography helps us chart the years from the Motown-infused early ‘60s to the disco-driven ‘70s, and Mullen’s endless stream of Broadwaycaliber costumes are a knockout. The ladies’ gowns are gorgeous, and I lost track of how many different sparkling tuxedos the capable male chorus came out in. While DOMA’s production values are all top-notch, what truly sets the troupe’s efforts apart is the extraordinary quality of the music. Credit musical director Chris Raymond and his crack band for giving this 99-seat evening a Broadway sheen. —Christopher Cappiello
NUTTIN’ BUT HUTTON NOHO ARTS CENTER | 11136 Magnolia Blvd., NoHo. Through April 28 | thenohoartscenter.com Such vintage bio-musicals as Gypsy and George M! have skillfully combined the appeal of a zesty show-business narrative with vibrant song and dance numbers, providing a crowd-pleasing formula. The new labor-of-love project, Nuttin’ But Hutton, conceived by and starring Diane Vincent, who co-wrote the book with her husband Sam Kriger, wraps a grab-bag of songs performed by film star Betty Hutton (1921-2007) into a wisp of a narrative framework. There’s plenty to admire in this fastpaced production, bolstered by a superb supporting ensemble, yet there’s room for improvement. The show salutes the prodigiously talented actress/singer who is fondly remembered today primarily by film buffs of the Baby Boom generation or earlier. Though Hutton did many films before her life descended into a spiral of addiction, failed marriages, poverty and deep depression, she is perhaps most widely known for two films—the Cecil B. DeMille circus epic The Greatest Show on Earth and as a replacement for the fired Judy Garland in MGM’s adap64
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tation of Irving Berlin’s musical Annie Get Your Gun. The impetus for Vincent’s piece was clearly as a vehicle for herself. She doesn’t so much portray Hutton or any particular performer as capitalize on the zany novelty songs that became Hutton’s trademark. The enterprise succeeds in showcasing Vincent’s own skills as a vibrant songstress/comedienne. (Among her credits are heralded Lucille Ball impersonations.) However, there’s too much of a sameness to the style of the zany and largely unfamiliar songs, which are mainly geared toward hyperactive schtick. The songs perhaps worked well in their original contexts but elicit a cumulative tedium here. Vincent is unquestionably a gifted performer, but her parade of frantic comedic numbers begins to feel more athletic than funny or melodic. The miniscule story—emulating an old-fashioned screwball comedy—introduces Vincent as DeeDee, an ambitious performer, trying to persuade a downon-his-luck producer, Buster (Nathan Holland)—seemingly second cousin to
PHOTO: TRIS BEEZLEY
Max Bialystok—to back her vehicle, a salute to Hutton. The hyperactive first act has Vincent and three hammy-buttalented cohorts (Tom—Chad Borden; Dick—Daniel Guzman; Harry—Justin Jones) along with Buster—whose own performing ambitions come to light— traipsing through songs, dances and slapstick routines, staged with precision and flair by director Larry Raben. After intermission, the premise awkwardly shifts to something closer to a Lifetime biographical portrait—albeit in a tongue-in-cheek style. Humorous mock-
documentary filmed footage alternates with songs performed by the cast. It’s a welcome relief that the overwrought comic segments give way to straightforward renditions of classic showtunes like “No Business Like Show Business” and a South Pacific medley. Plenty of praise is due for Kriger’s rousing orchestrations, arrangements and musical direction, Lee Martino’s terrific choreography and a splendid design team. Here’s hoping this promising new work gets the retooling that it deserves. —Les Spindle
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ANNIVERSARIES GALORE This issue also marks the 10th year of my column, Out & About, in this magazine. That roughly translates to 240,000 words over a decade. It's fairly easy reading yet hard writing. Mark Twain once wrote, “Substitute ‘damn’ every time you're inclined to write ‘very’; your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.” I have followed that advice, and I'm still standing. Over the past decade I have had truly talented and gracious editors who have put up with all my crap. My debt of gratitude to Jeremy Kinser, John Hobbs, Aaron Drake and now Stephan Horbelt is truly unbounded. These guys have been a very real blessing in my life, and I sincerely thank them all.
For a decade now I've been writing my own historical perspective of bars and bathhouses, boobs of all kind and bulges. I have taken on shame and scandal, good hearts and low-lifes, faded stars and bright ones. Thankfully there is a cornucopia of fodder in our flaming commonwealth. Over 10 years, I have successfully pissed a few folks off and, hopefully, made a few folks happy. During my time, these guys have let me take on Pride, City Hall, candidates, gay twinks and gay elders, businesses that advertise with them and famous folks in our community. Remarkably, they have never asked me not to go to a place I went. I don't think one can minimize the importance and impact of all sorts this magazine has had over the past three decades— and how it has documented our history. Strolling back over past issues, it is extraordinary how both Frontiers and IN magazines gave their readers insight into the moral, political and cultural world around us. Our own little niche world has its own booming, cutting-edge and accurate voice covering social, legislative and gay absurdities. Just prior to Frontiers’ birth, the gay plague hit—a plague that has forever changed what was to be and what ultimately is. For many, many years before that first issue, our little hamlet was scattered with hookers on Santa Monica by Shakey's with colored bandanas in their back pockets telling you what they would happily deliver for 20 bucks. There was the dinner party crowd. The closet queens. The bar boys, the bathhouse babes, those leather lads, the bears and the lesbians—and none of them ever crossed paths. Never! Our niche
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world was made up of so many subsets, it was like a fabulous, gay and festive six degrees of separation. But AIDS changed all that. Men of all colors of that rainbow were dropping like flies, and lesbians instantly and wonderfully became the first caregivers. No one knew what was causing the “gay cancer,” and all joy had left our little planet. Out of tragedy came the extreme need for unity. AIDS had created a community. Not long into it, Frontiers was born and delivered vitally on two fronts: inform this new, full community of ever-changing facts, and return a tad of fun to what was becoming our scorched earth. Now, 31 years later, it is still doing just that. Fun and where to find it still plays a very important part in the editorial direction of this magazine. And it is still on the forefront of news on something that ain't over— HIV and AIDS. Today Frontiers proudly tackles LGBT civil rights issues better than anyone—and way beyond West Hollywood. That's its home, but today, 31 years in, Frontiers is covering our great big out world. It's no secret that due to digital space, the print world has been walloped. Tina Brown and Barry Diller killed off the print version of Newsweek after 80 years, the L.A. Times is a ghost of its former self, the Washington Post is threatening to go allonline and the industry as a whole has been under great stress from the internet. It's not easy to chop down trees, print something on paper and then take it all about town. Thankfully, Frontiers is available 24/7 under the adroit auspices of its Managing
Director of Integrated Media, Dustin Tyner. It is constantly changing, with updates of all kinds—News Editor Karen Ocamb's breaking news; blogs of every sort imaginable; calendars; fun places to hit; Positive Frontiers.com on HIV and AIDS; Film, theater and TV reviews; plus the entire print magazine is accessible there. Check it all out at FrontiersLA.com. It's very cool. Yet for many of us, holding the thing you are reading in your hand is true joy. Feeling it in your paws, the touch and smell of the paper, strolling slowly, page after page—feeling closer to Creative Director Ed Baker's stunning covers than you would on your tablet. Holding on to the print edition for many of us is about the explosion of color, the tactile and very real, as opposed to pixels that seem so far away. And, thankfully, in 2013, Frontiers offers us both. The choice is yours. On my 10th anniversary here, I just want to express how grateful I am. I'm grateful to the team both past and present for its undying support during both my good and bad times. My sweet friend Mark Hundahl, who just passed away, asked me to write my column. I truly miss him every day. And I'm so grateful to owner David Stern, who has always been and continues to be so supportive. I so love them both. As well, I am especially grateful to the readers who read the crap my mind kicks out as it sputters and spits. I'm grateful to those who both hate and like my stuff and who write to me about it. I send you a decade worth of thanks, love and true blessings. Here's to another 10! Congratulations, Frontiers!
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MY STYLE FROM A TO Z, PART 1 I’m a drag queen, so any advice I give on style should be taken with a grain of sel de mer. But if you like things chunky, funky and punky, then I’m your girl. If you cringe upon hearing the phrase “less is more,” sit next to me. If you think tacky ‘n’ tasteless can go full-circle and become sassy ‘n’ stunning, read on! These are the 26 things I am currently obsessed with. ANIMALS. My God, animals are bonkers and beautiful. From my adorable dogs to exotic creatures on the internet, I can’t think of an animal that doesn’t fascinate me.
HOREHOUND. Made from the herb marrubium vulgare, horehound is used to flavor lozenges and candy. If you like root beer, sarsaparilla, black licorice or anise, you will probably like horehound!
BLACK WALNUT. Men’s cologne by Banana Republic. A sexy three-way of cognac, tobacco and cedar that conjures up visions of dad’s den—if your dad was Don Draper.
ITALIAN. Let’s be honest, anything Italian is pretty much the best—fashion, movies, the men, the women, opera, art, cars, wine, food. And I’m not just saying this because my mother was born in Milan and I am half-Italian.
COCONUT. Whether sweet or savory, I’m just nuts for coconuts. The water, the milk, the meat—delicious! I feel sorry for people who don’t like coconut. DANCE. All dancing is great. Ballet, ballroom, break, disco, modern, square, twostepping, you name it. Trust me, go see a dance performance! EBAY & ETSY. I realize these websites are nothing new, but there’s nothing better than sitting in bed and searching for cool stuff from all over the world. Click. Mine! FAGS. I just love my homosexuals, my Marys, my queens. From pansies of the past like Paul Lynde to current cocksuckers such as Chris Colfer, I’m hot for homos! GLASSES. Geek chic, naughty nerds, hot for teacher. I have a mind-boggling collection of fake prescription spectacles, empty frames and, of course, tons of glamorous sunglasses.
JACKIE BEAT. Me. I’m kind of obsessed with myself. Trust me—don’t bother going to see a drag queen who isn’t her own biggest fan. KINDNESS. You may think that being rude is cool, but I beg to differ. The best accessories are a smile and a kind word. What’s the point of trying to make people happy through your art, music or creativity if you’re just going to be an asshole in real life? LEMONS. Lemons make everything better. Always keep a big bowl of lemons in your kitchen and you’ll be happy. I am blessed to have a lemon tree in my backyard! MARIO & MUFFY. Friends are very important, and two of my best friends are Mario Diaz and Muffy Bolding. I call people like this my “framily,” which is the family that I have made up from friends.
My A to Z list is continued next issue in Part 2! APRIL 30, 2013
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"I've spent time with George Clooney, and he's the most interesting man on the planet. He can do it all. Yep, I guess what I'm saying is I'd have sex with him." —Channing Tatum shares this information with a reporter at a screening for his film White House Down. Note that the question was not "What man would you have sex with?" It was "Who do you think is the sexiest man in the world?” I guess Chan just had a burning desire to say he'd have sex with Clooney.
Dionne Warwick
With everything going on in the world, it may seem trite to open this week's column announcing Dionne Warwick's bankruptcy. But, let's face it, if I'm not going to make Dionne Warwick a lead story, who is? According to papers filed in court, Warwick has roughly $1,000 in cash against a $10 million tax debt. I hate to sound insensitive (a statement that usually precedes something terribly insensitive), but where were her Psychic Friends? You'd think someone could have warned her about this. Frankly, I don't expect Dionne to be able to navigate her way through turbulent financial waters. Back in the ‘60s, she didn't even know the way to San Jose! In the past few years, Regis Philbin and Larry King have been pushed off the small screen before they wanted to depart. This, of course, is nothing new—after all, Johnny Carson was also ousted. Even Donahue was dumped—twice. Sometimes people are good at their jobs and want to work but are pushed out by a network pursuing bigger ratings and a younger audience—something that usually doesn't happen. I wouldn't be surprised if Barbara Walters pitches a new idea next year that goes something like this: "I had this idea for a show. Different people with different backgrounds and views. A journalistic legend in his early hundreds. A late-night comedian with an enormous chin. Someone who has interviewed Moses. A man who once hosted a show wearing a dress. And in a perfect world, I'd be the boss of all of them. We call it ‘The New View'!" Another talk show host is out of work. Bravo has cancelled Kathy Griffin's quirky gabfest, although we hear she'll still do comedy specials for the network. Of course, this frees her up for that mysterious project she's been developing with Anderson Cooper. 68
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Another iconic performer is caught in the middle of a bit of drama. Although Joan Rivers isn't directly involved, the writers on her hit E! show Fashion Police have claimed the network owes them over $1 million! The argument is that producers have broken California law by not compensating them for overtime hours. If the writers were being paid a flat salary, they wouldn't have a case. However, they appear to be paid by the hour, which means any time beyond an eight-hour day (or 40-hour week) should result in overtime. They filed a claim with the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement demanding this additional money. Stay tuned.
Kelly Osbourne
Fashion Police co-host Kelly Osbourne claims she'd like to change her purple hair but she isn't allowed to. "I'm contracted to this hair color. I can't change it for two years. I wanted to go green but was told I wouldn't be able to work anymore." How foolish—Kelly can't change her hair, but Joan Rivers can change her face? Crazy! Last week, all eyes were on Magic Johnson after TMZ ran a video of his 20year-old son EJ walking down Sunset Boulevard holding hands with another boy. The paparazzi might have been looking for a scandal (which wasn't so far-fetched since EJ was wearing a black boa, pink shoes and carrying a red Chanel purse), but they were sadly disappointed. After EJ confirmed he was gay, Magic sat down with Harvey Levin and said, "I think this is gonna be good for a lot of young black people who want to come out. EJ is really gonna help a lot of young people." This is not the first time Magic has shown support for the gay community. When Proposition 8 was on the ballot, he
recorded a robocall condemning the proYou aren't alone in your surprise. Quite posed amendment, saying, "Prop. 8 sina number of people have commented on gles out one group of Californians to be Channing Tatum's lack of skin—especially treated differently, including members of since Magic Mike. But Chan tends to go our family, our friends and our co-workers. up and down about 20 pounds, and he That is not what California is about. So wasn't in peak shape when filming this this Tuesday, vote no on Proposition 8. It G.I. Joe sequel (which was shot prior to is unfair and wrong." Bravo! Magic Mike). However, D.J. Cotrona (who In gay marriage news, little Danny played Flint) did take off his shirt in one Pintauro is engaged. His boyfriend Wil scene—and he was very hot. MysteriTabares popped the question on their oneously, this footage ended up on the cutyear anniversary. While the couple was ting room floor just before the film opened. vacationing in Palm Springs, Wil showed Wonder why? Maybe the other leads were Danny a video of him holding up a ring box. When Danny looked over at Wil, he had the same box in his hand and proposed. The glitch is that the couple lives in Las Vegas, where Danny is managing a PF Chang's (apparently he gave up his flourishing career selling Tupperware), and Nevada is far from legalizing gay marChanning Tatum, riage. But that clever Pintauro D.J. Cotrona, and has that covered. "Our plan is Dwayne Johnson to move to California once Prop. 8 is overturned." Jenna Wolfe, weekend anchor of the a little jealous. Thank heavens we can Today Show, has not only announced show you the evidence on BillyMasters.com. that she is gay but is having a baby with By the way, Dwayne "The Rock" NBC News correspondent Stephanie Gosk. Johnson has been gushing about his costar. "I love Channing. The truth is, and I I must say, this story shocked me. can say this because I'm very comfortWho knew the Today Show had a weekend able in my own manhood and sexuality, edition? he is a very sexy guy. He's a good-looking I'd like to acknowledge the passing of guy. He has nice eyes. Everybody talks comedian Scott Kennedy. The first I heard about his eyes, right? He got lost in my of his death was when I drove by the eyes." Geez, get a room. Improv here in Hollywood and saw "RIP When there's the possibility of a Scott Kennedy" up on their marquee. For three-way between Channing, The Rock one of the biggest comedy clubs in the and Clooney, we've definitely come to country to acknowledge the passing of a the end of yet another column. With gay comedian is high praise indeed, and that, I'm off to Florida for South Beach he deserved nothing less. For years, Scott Pride, where Adam Lambert will be toured under the banner "Gay Comedy making his virgin gay Pride appearance. Jam" with Kevin Maye. On his own, he And if Adam turns you on, feel free to worked in clubs across the country and chat him up—he's recently single. Of also performed for our troops in Iraq and course, you can always approach me— Afghanistan. In fact, he did over 50 tours I'm perpetually available. Or you can in these war-torn areas, often performing check out BillyMasters.com, the site that five times a day. Now there's a real gay never goes down. If you feel the need to American hero. reach out and touch me in a virtual way, Our "Ask Billy" comes from Donny drop a note to Billy@BillyMasters.com in Albany: "I went to see G.I. Joe: Retaland I promise to get back to you before iation and was disappointed. How could I say a little prayer for Dionne. Until next a film have Channing Tatum and The time, remember, one man's filth is another Rock and not have anyone even take a man's Bible. shirt off?"
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Queersay
AB CHECK I'd like to take a moment and address the two young twinks who stand outside the WeHo 24 Hour Fitness at approximately 3 p.m. every weekday. You may be wondering which two young twinks I am referring to. I am referring to the two blonde-haired, blue-eyed 20-somethings who are quite obviously from a state that teaches creationism; the ones who dilly-dally in front of the bike racks, consistently and repeatedly lifting their cheap tank tops and feeling on each others' barely there abs—not for a quick pat on the manorexic gut, either, but for what borders on 20 minutes of a touchy-feely creepiness. Yes, you two. Please stop it. At best, you're both Sean Cody one-time threeminute live-stream test bottoms. None of us are lining up to pop either of your bubble-wrapped butts. Your bizarre slap-and-tickle is more off-putting than that 60-year-old man at KooKooRoo who stands outside and asks young boys, "Want to know why they call this place the Cluck 'N F#ck?!" Stop it! Stop it now!
QUEERSAW Celeb sightings come a dime a dozen in this town, but it's always a sweet treat when we see one of our tween idols! Yes, I espied with my queer little eye one Melissa Joan Hart, our favorite teenage witch, sauntering out of some overpriced, hole-in-the-wall sushi joint on Studio City's Ventura Boulevard. Girlfriend looked good—a healthy head of curls, full red lips and killer curves. Almost so good that I stumbled up to give her a homo-approved high-five—until I heard the entourage of screaming little children behind her. Oh, how I watched in horror as a pile of chatty, giggling, whining, yapping spawn stumbled into her red SUV. Yes, Ms. Hart drives me crazy in the best of ways! (How could I not be obsessed with any TGIF star with a Britney Spears music video cameo under her belt?!) But children drive me insane in the absolute worst of ways! Drop me your at dirty little secrets m. .co queersay@hotmail r give I neve And don't worry, oat! up my deep thr y, go to For more Queersa eersay. Qu m/ .co FrontiersLA
XOXO, Gossip Gay
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DRIVE By Steve Siler
2013 Ford Escape
2013 Ford Escape
Great Escape: Ford’s littlest crossover
pours on the fantastic—at a price.
Trim level tested: Titanium, 2.0-liter Ecoboost Price Range: $23,295 (S 1.6L) — $31,195 (Titanium 2.0-liter Ecoboost) Engine: 2.5-liter 4-cylinder, 168 hp, 170 lb-ft of torque; 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder, 178 hp, 184 lb-ft of torque; 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder, 240 hp, 270 lb-ft of torque Transmission: 6-speed automatic Drive Wheels: front or all EPA Fuel economy (city/hwy): 21-23/28-33 mpg
BMW Concept X4
Introduced way back in 2001, Ford’s little Escape crossover was one of the earliest of the “cute” crossovers. Sadly, it remained pretty much neglected since then, so by 2012, it felt older than the dead dinosaurs it was intended to save. At last, Ford rolled out a new Escape for 2013, which wears slick sheetmetal and contains a high-style, content-laden interior and is powered by a sweet and efficient four-cylinder engine. It grew up both in size and attitude, leaving Ford with one of the most compelling compact SUVs on the market.
On the Outside The Escape’s body and fascias borrow heavily from the smaller Focus hatchback and enormous Explorer SUV. Pricier examples get a bar of trendy LED day-
time running lamps in each headlight, as well as huge wheels to fill out the wheel wells. Base models don’t look bad, however, thanks to sheetmetal that is highly sculptural.
On the Inside The Escape’s interior is roomy and upscale enough to make crossover buyers on a budget not feel like said budget is terribly tight. On the other hand, even spendy types may get a little light-headed when they see the sticker price of a loaded Titanium edition, which—when equipped with 4WD, a moonroof and full leather seating—can top 37K. Yes, $37,000 for a Ford Escape. For that, however, you get a bewildering array of functions in a huge color touch screen display, a parallel parking
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Under the Skin A trio of four-cylinders provide motivation for the ’13 Escape—a 168-hp 2.5liter, a 178-hp turbocharged 1.6-liter and a 240-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter—the last being my favorite. (Surprise!) The turbo 1.6 is a honey, too, balancing power and fuel efficiency. The non-turbo 2.5-liter engine in the base Escape S is both slower and less fuel-efficient, making the case for upgrading to the SE model more than compelling. Handling is tidy for a crossover, though not quite as sharp as the snappy Focus with which the Escape shares much of its architecture.
The Verdict
Coupe Scoop! Speaking of crossovers, BMW has just released images and information on its Concept X4, previewing its upcoming niche-of-a-niche crossover “coupe” based on the popular X3. Looking like a shrink-wrapped X6, the Concept X4 is technically a concept, though the production X4 is expected to look more or less identical, save for perhaps less fanciful headlamps and slightly normalized wheels. The sculpted hatchback body will carry into production more or less intact, with an intimate, stylish and techladen interior. Expect to see the X4 in dealerships sometime next year to take on Porsche’s upcoming Macan.
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system (that really works) and a handy foot-swoosh-operated tailgate to assist in opening the door when your arms are loaded with IKEA boxes or Gucci bags.
Stylish, spacious and efficient, the Escape is easy to like. While the sticker price can be alarming on top-tier versions, there are plenty of nice combinations between the base model and the dressy Titanium. Competition has stiffened since the 2013 Escape launched last year—Subaru and Toyota both have compelling new offerings— but it remains one of the very best compact crossovers available.
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WEHO DEBUTS ‘TEMPLE OF FOLLY’ ART EXHIBIT BY PAULO MURILLO The city of West Hollywood has debuted its latest “Art on the Outside” exhibit, showcasing the works of Los Angeles sculptor Liz Craft. The Los Angeles Nomadic Division, LAND, presented a collection of new outdoor art at a reception that was held on Sunday, April 7, at the West Hollywood Park. The collection of sculptures, entitled “The Temple of Folly,” features a hard-to-miss large-scale creation that’s part-teepee and part-creature. Find it at West Hollywood Park’s concrete stage area on San Vicente Boulevard, across the street from the Pacific Design Center. The collection also includes the “Hairy Guys” series, which showcases smaller bronze figures around the park—however, these hairy sculptures look more like they’re descendants of Cousin Itt from The Addams Family than the type of furry guys one would find on Scruff. “Art on the Outside” is a program of the City of West
Hollywood’s Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission that exposes the public to art, while at the same time enhancing the city’s lively pedestrian culture. Last September, the program unveiled “Frostig at Large,” an art exhibit of six large-scale sculptures currently located on the Santa Monica Boulevard median. The exhibit comes from the Frostig Collection, a nonprofit organization for the benefit of children with learning disabilities. The city initiative has now partnered with LAND, itself a nonprofit organization founded in 2009 by director and curator Shamim M. Momin, former Contemporary Curator at the Whitney Museum of American Art, and Christine Y. Kim, Associate Curator of Contemporary Art at LACMA. LAND is a public art initiative committed to curating contemporary art projects in Los Angeles and beyond. For more information on “The Temple of Folly,” the artist or LAND, visit nomadicdivision.org.
WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE NEW ‘ART ON THE OUTSIDE’ EXHIBIT AT WEHO PARK? “I appreciate art. I can appreciate that this is someone’s form of selfexpression. I think children will love it—they’ll think it’s cute—but I don’t particularly care for it. This artwork does not appeal to me whatsoever.” —Christopher Graham
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Read the parking signs. The city of West Hollywood has rereleased information regarding plans to extend parking meter operating hours to better serve local businesses and the broader community. According to a recent city press release, parking becomes a problem after 6 p.m. when the meters stop running—the most visible and convenient parking spaces fill up, forcing visitors to park in off-street parking garages that charge a higher rate than the hourly meter rate. Residents have concerns that extended parking meter hours mean more annoying parking citations, but the city’s goal is to make more meter parking available for visitors throughout the evening. The new hours promise to funnel long-term parkers into appropriate spaces in parking lots and keep metered parking open to local business customers. A space that holds one car per night will serve three or more customers. Other benefits include improved traffic circulation, reduced greenhouse gas emissions from cars hunting for parking and private parking lots that will be forced to compete with meter parking rates. Different solutions are being offered depending on the uniqueness and variety of needs in the community by location. To view a map that illustrates the hours of enforcement proposed for each area, visit weho.org.
SPEAK OUT “It’s kind of a fun installation, but is it inspiring? Is it timeless? No. Those creatures look like they have hair made out of Play-Doh. I’m looking forward to the Nair installation.” —Judd Minter
“I’m always a supporter of art and artists. There are a million different mediums, but I’ve always enjoyed painting more than sculpture. However, I think these sculptures are pretty interesting, especially that big one-eyed teepee. One-eyed teepees—I’ve seen plenty of those.” —John T. Stapleton
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WALK DISNEY BY GREG HERNANDEZ You have to get up pretty early in the morning to beat the crowds at Disneyland, and that's just what participants in this year's 26th annual AIDS Walk Orange County will be doing on Sunday, May 6. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll begin their three-mile walk at 6:45 a.m. on a route that goes through Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure and ends at Downtown Disney. In addition to seeing such sites as Sleeping Beauty's Castle, the Matterhorn and Main Street USA, walkers will also get treated to a performance by Men Alive--the Gay Men's Chorus of Orange County--as well as by the Long Beachbased International Peace Choir and students from the Orange County High School of the Performing Arts. Last year's event drew 3,000 walkers and raised $515,000. The goal this year is to raise $575,000. The money raised goes to support programs and services for men, women and children infected and impacted by HIV and AIDS. "We are inviting everyone in the community to form teams or to walk as individuals," said Caroine Spivak, the director of events and community outreach for AIDS Services Foundation Orange County. "Walkers have a unique opportunity to experience the park without the crowds and a really nice opportunity to support a really important cause that is still so relevant. There are approximately 8,000 people in Orange County living with HIV, and it's important that the community support the work of AIDS Services Foundation and the other agencies." 74
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In addition to ASF, six other organizations benefiting from last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s event included AEGiS, The Center Orange County, Laguna Beach Community Clinic, Mercy House, Orange County Cornerstone Outreach, Public Law Center, Shanti Orange County and Straight Talk Clinic, Inc. The Disneyland Resort has been a corporate sponsor of the event since 2000, with the money raised increasing by 25 percent once the event relocated to the Anaheim theme parks in 2011. There are various incentives for participants. Those who raise at least $50 can buy discounted tickets into the theme parks. Those who raise $100 or more get a commemorative T-shirt, and a total of $250 gets walkers a mesh backpack. There are several other incentive levels up to the $2,000 level, which results in two free Park Hopper Passes to Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure. First held in 1987 at Mason Park in Irvine, the walk has taken place in various locations and raised over $14 million in donations to help provide services for people affected by HIV/AIDS in Orange County. ASF is a nonprofit organization founded in 1985. Each year, the agency assists more than 1,600 men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS. Among the services ASF provides are food, transportation, housing, emergency financial assistance, mental health counseling, HIV testing and HIV prevention and education programs. To learn more about ASF, go to ocasf.org. For more information about AIDS Walk, visit aidswalkorangecounty.org.
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ATTENTION FILMMAKERS BY GREG HERNANDEZ Organizers of the Long Beach QFilm Festival have announced they are accepting submissions for this year's event, now through June 8. The festival itself will take place Sept. 6-8. "The number of submissions has doubled over the last five years," says festival organizer Ron Sylvester. "There have been many fights over film selections--everyone is very passionate." The event celebrates its 20th anniversary of presenting narrative features, documentaries and short films that embody the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community. It began two decades ago with a series of studentproduced shorts at Cal State University Long Beach. As part of the anniversary celebration, there are efforts to restore some of the festival’s original shorts and showcase them. "QFilm is on the map for many LGBT filmmakers,” Sylvester said. "Even though we live in the shadow of Outfest (in Los Angeles), a lot of people have come to know QFilm as another great Southern California film festival." Festival organizers have tried to create a balance of selections to appeal to everyone in the LGBTQ community. "We are three days--we're not two weeks like Outfest--so we have 13-15 slots to fill," says Sylvester. "We are looking for a diverse program and [want to] hit all audiences of the community at least once. We try to pick the best of the best." Last year’s event was the most successful yet, with a record 1,300-plus atten-
dees, featuring several West Coast, Southern California and area premieres, as well some of the most acclaimed features on the 2012 film festival circuit. Last year’s opening night film was Cloudburst, starring Academy Award winners Olympia Dukakis and Brenda Fricker; the closing night film was I Do, written by and starring David W. Ross and directed by Glenn Gaylord. Feature and short film submissions are currently being accepted via withoutabox.com. Those selected will be screened at the historic Art Theatre, located at 2025 East 4th Street, and the neighboring Center Long Beach, both on Long Beach’s renowned “Retro Row.” There is a nominal fee for each submission, since the festival is a major fundraiser for the community services provided by the nonprofit Center Long Beach. The full festival lineup of films-as well as passes and tickets for purchase--will be available beginning mid-August through the Long Beach QFilm Festival website, qfilmslongbeach.com. Festival events feature numerous parties and opportunities for attendees to meet and mingle with filmmakers, actors, critics and other industry professionals. Jury awards are given annually to worthy films in several categories. "Most people call us Outfest without the attitude," Sylvester said. "We're a more intimate festival, and there's a friendly party vibe to the event. You have access to filmmakers and actors who have shown up for their movies, and it's a fun, casual atmosphere." APRIL 30, 2013
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THE PALM SPRINGS GAY MEN’S CHORUS GOES THROUGH A ‘METAMORPHOSIS’ BY JAMES F. MILLS The Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus is undergoing an incredible transformation. Membership has increased from 45 men to 105 men in just over a year, while attendance has nearly doubled at their concerts in the past two years. Now they’ve adopted a new name. Gone is the original name of Caballeros (Spanish for “gentlemen”), dropped in favor of a simpler, more direct name— the Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus. “The original founders didn’t know what to call themselves. They were rehearsing on Caballeros Street, so they decided to name themselves after the street,” explains chorus president David Sanchez. “Fourteen years later, the chorus has gone through ups and downs, and currently we’re in a very steep upswing, so we started talking about rebranding ourselves. We decided to identify ourselves with the place where we live, and also to acknowledge the fact that we’re
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very proud gay men who sing in a chorus together once a week and perform three times a year. So we became the Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus.” Come April 27-28, people will get the chance to see the newly christened chorus in action, performing a transformation-themed concert titled Born This Way. Yes, they perform the Lady Gaga song of the same name, along with wellknown hits like “YMCA,” “I Am What I Am,” “Over the Rainbow,” “Walk Like a Man,” and Josh Groban’s “The Prayer.” The concert also features the Southern California premiere of Metamorphosis, a work written by the chorus artistic director, Robert Seeley, who composed the music, and whose partner, Robert Espindola, wrote the lyrics. “Metamorphosis takes up the entire second act—we’re talking 12 songs, all original compositions,” says Sanchez,
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who joined the chorus in January 2012. “Metamorphosis takes folks on a journey from being born to adulthood, and what has happened between that period, some good, some not so good. The message at the end is that it does get better and things are good.”
Commissioned by the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus in Minnesota, Seeley and Espindola interviewed members of the chorus about growing up gay, about being gay in their workplace and about retirement. He then created Metamorphosis. The piece had its debut in March 2004. “This is really, really good music,” Sanchez reports. “It’s been a challenge for the chorus to learn because it’s amazing music. It’s been a challenge for so many in the chorus because so many can relate to issues we all had growing up, dealing with being gay. Interestingly enough, the word ‘gay’ is never used in any of the 12 songs. But it’s a wonderful piece, and we’re proud to be performing it.” The Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus performs on Saturday, April 27, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 28, at 3 p.m. in the Palm Springs High School Auditorium. psgmc.com
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A DESERT OASIS BY JAMES F. MILLS Actor/model DeMarco Majors is getting excited about Blatino Oasis, the annual weekend getaway for gay and bisexual men of color. “I just love Palm Springs, and I love this weekend,” says Majors, who will serve as host for many of the events connected to Blatino Oasis. “It’s fun, and it’s a high-energy weekend. Lots of things to do. Lots of people to connect with. Lots of people to reconnect with. I can’t wait.” Held May 3-5, Blatino Oasis features dance parties, fashion shows, a masquerade party, tea dances, a movie screening, an art exhibition and more. Most events are held at the Saguaro Hotel (1800 E. Palm Canyon Dr.) and the Canyon Club Hotel (960 N. Palm Canyon Dr.). “People will have an amazing time. The weekend is packed with activities,” says Majors, whom Logo viewers may remember from the 2008 reality series Shirts and Skins about an all-gay basketball team trying to uphold its three-generation legacy of international Gay Games gold medals. “Some of the guys attending are going to be some of the most beautiful men you’ve laid your eyes on. And they’re nice guys too!” Now in its seventh year, Blatino
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Oasis started after Oakland-based activist Joe Hawkins vacationed in Palm Springs for the first time and fell in love with the place. He quickly decided to have a party to expose his friends to the gay-friendly city and to the tranquility of the desert. That party not only became an annual event, it also became a mustattend event, attracting people from across the nation. “There aren’t many parties like this anywhere in the country,” says Majors, whom Out magazine named one of the top 100 most influential gay men and women thanks to his being an openly gay professional basketball player in the American Basketball Association. “It brings in a wonderful mix of people.” Don’t let the word ‘blatino’ fool you. While the weekend primarily attracts black and Latino gay men, all races come and all races are welcome. “You will be welcome on the confidence you bring when you see beautiful men,” Majors says. “You can walk into any club in the world and be shy and you won’t be welcomed. You come in with your confidence, your energy, your love, your joy, your fun—you will always be welcome.” blatinooasis.com
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OFF THE
COUCH
By Dr. Greg Cason
COU PHOTO
TV F BRAVO RTESY O
WHEN DOES A VICTIM STOP BEING A VICTIM? As I share my story on L.A. Shrinks, it feels like I stand psychologically naked before a million viewers every Monday night on Bravo. And what surprises me most is that some of those people perceive me as a victim. But that is definitely not something I want to be! So it got me thinking, when does someone stop being a victim?
Dr. Greg Cason is a licensed psychologist based in West Hollywood, specializing in cognitive therapy with individuals and couples, both gay and straight. He can be contacted at (877) 437-4734.
For those who haven't seen the show, I will summarize my shame for you—like many out there, I lived in an atmosphere of abuse for most of my childhood. It was rough. Fortunately, it's over. Many people have had some emotional or physical assault befall them at one time or another. Even more gay and bisexual men and women share the history of being bullied, ‘coming out’ rejections or even the nightmare of gay bashing. It really is a tough world out there, and being gay can make it even tougher. But before this article starts to move into downer territory, let me give an interesting research finding that may perk you up. Robert-Paul Juster and his colleagues were able to demonstrate in a study highlighted in the January 2013 edition of the journal Psychosomatic Medicine that gay men and lesbians who come out of the closet have fewer psychiatric symptoms and lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol than their closeted brothers and sisters. So coming out is a really good thing for your physical and mental health. On top of that, it seems like gay men in particular have lower physiological stress levels than their straight counterparts. Overall, researchers are suggesting that all the stuff we go through may help us to develop better coping
mechanisms. Apparently, us ‘out gays’ are a resilient people! As a psychologist, I love to help people out of their problem pants and into a success skirt. Throw in some nice shoes and a matching handbag—well, you get the picture. Kind of like the Rachel Zoe of psychology, minus the pinchy voice. But some people are stuck in their problem pants. They've gorged on self-pity, and now the pants are stuck on tight. Because they continually see their problems as due to another person, they see themselves as a perpetual victim. That means (to stretch this metaphor mercilessly) they can't get those pants off without the help of the person who victimized them in the first place. Now, I am not saying that being the victim is an incorrect characterization for some. When one is victimized, they can be rightly called a victim. But when does it stop? When do they stop playing that role? When I think of that person who is stuck in the victimhood role, I think of the person who shows you their battle scars. Then they tell you how they have been compromised by their injury and that they have not gotten over it emotionally, and that it is negatively impacting many areas of their life for a significant amount of time. Then they tell you of the resentment toward another for having given it to them. That's how you can tell they are holding onto
victimhood—the resentment. If you are in recovery, you already know my favorite saying about resentment: Resentment is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies. Though it is an effective emotion to keep you separated from another person, it's just nasty—like emotional acid in your system. When you blame others for your problems, you generally believe the solution must come from them as well. They caused it, and only they can fix it. Now, this is easier said than done. The other person must first acknowledge what they did and that it’s wrong. Then they need to apologize and make amends. That last one is tough, because most victims can't tell you what amends will work for them. But if the perpetrator can figure it out, all ostensibly becomes OK again. There is little chance all of this will happen, at least not in a timely manner. If you wait for someone else to change before you do, I would pack a lunch, because it’s probably going to take a while. Until then, it might be best to focus on yourself. This is when it's good to make use of those advanced coping mechanisms that were so hardwon in the coming out process. But if you find it difficult to let go of resentment, you might be stuck in victimhood. Next time, I'll get you out of those victimhood problem pants and into a sassy survivor skirt. (I'm sure Jeff Probst would be proud.)
If you have any questions and/or comments, please direct them to: Frontiers, 5657 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 470, Los Angeles, CA 90036, or email them to feedback@frontiersla.com. APRIL 30, 2013
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BUSINESS
PROFILE THE PERFECT SHOT: MARC WATREL PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHELLE MCCARTHY
Marc Watrel has at least two cameras on him, plus his phone, at all times. You could say he’s passionate about photography. “I can’t explain it, but when I’m behind a camera, I’m happy. I’m at peace. Focused. I’m never happier than when I’m on a set.” The Los Angeles-based men’s fashion and portraiture photographer and owner of Marc Watrel Photography has been capturing images since he was a child, first with his father’s 8mm film camera and then with his 35mm Olympus. What started as a hobby remained so for many years, as Marc pursued a career in the film industry. Two of his short films appeared at film festivals. Over the years, he went to film school, worked in the development end of the business, worked in publishing, then went back to the entertainment industry. All the while, he was taking pictures. “I decided corporate work was not for me,” Watrel says. “I said, ‘What is my passion?’ Photography and film had always been my passions. I sat down and decided to make it my life. I spent a couple of years putting together my portfolio and another year editing it. Two years ago, I started doing it full-time.” Watrel generally has a shoot every 10 days and is always testing new models, constantly trying to better himself. If there’s a master class somewhere, he’ll take it. If he doesn’t know something, he goes out and learns it. His vibe tends to lean more toward romantic and glam-
orous. He tries to go for contemporary, pretty and edgy with a sense of fantasy, wonder and whimsy. While Watrel primarily concentrates on portraits and fashion, he is open to any project, from corporate shots to children to landscapes. “I don’t do traditional ‘Let’s all stand around a chair’ sort of thing. I do real personal portraits. I try to capture the person. I love to shoot children. I don’t do the backdrop with the bunny and the carrot, but I try to capture the child as he or she is—not how the parent wants the child to be.” Clients can choose to shoot at Watrel’s home studio, at their own residence or office, or at an outdoor location. And Marc encourages a collaborative atmosphere. “A lot of people come to me because they need a picture for their website or something professional—that’s pretty straightforward,” he explains. “If they want to do it at their office, we’ll light their office and shoot there. That’s a basic package for me. If someone wants an art portrait, we’ll sit down and determine what they want. I try to get to know them and get a sense of who they are. That’s my favorite. I can do my art stuff. When I get to play, I’m at my most creative. I love the back and forth with clients.” “I just love creating images,” Watrel concludes. “If I could paint, I would be a painter. I love the art of trying to capture a moment, an emotion.”
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ATTENTION MODELS AND MASSEURS Frontiers prefers all photo shots above the waist only; any shot below the waist must be non-suggestive and non-explicit. Examples of unacceptable photos would include (but are not limited to) “groping” of the genital area, or anatomical details of the genital area visible through sheer/tight fabric. Please do not write on, cut, or deface photo in any way! All photos submitted that do not fit these guidelines will not be used. Your ad will be printed without a photo or a previous photo from your Photo File will be used in its place. Frontiers is not responsible for Photo Ads that are submitted incorrectly. If you have a concern regarding your photo please call us before you submit your ad. Thank You for your cooperation. [3BCS0100]
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MEN’S HEALTH SPA Jacuzzi Dry & Steam Sauna Shiatsu & Fullbody massage 8a-10pm. Out calls also In the South Bay 310-707-3248. Pain Clinic Doctor Available. [175SC2111]
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SEX ED
EAT, DRINK AND BE HORNY BY JIM LARKINS When it comes to following a diet that promotes a strong and healthy sex life, you really are what you eat. We’re not talking knobby root and mysterious powder aphrodisiacs like those found in the back alley shops of Chinatown. The fact is, you needn’t look any further than your neighborhood grocer for edibles that allegedly have the power to put lead in your pencil. Yes, everything from chocolate to steak to oranges to hot peppers can aid you in sporting a sexual salute. Actually, most all non-processed foods contain some sex-boosting vitamins and minerals. However, there are a select variety of phallic-friendly edibles that stand out because they reduce cholesterol, enhance blood flow and give the penis cells the injection of chemical energy needed to stand at full salute. Carrots, for instance, might not increase vision as the myth goes, but they could help give your partner something to look at that is fresh-carrot stiff. The carrot gets its vibrant orange color from beta-carotene, a compound that happens to reduce ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol, making it easier for a guy to produce and maintain an erection. Another suggestively erect veggie that can help you brandish that desired spear is the asparagus. These vegetables are loaded with calcium, phosphorous, vitamin E and potassium, all ingredients to a healthy urinary system. They also provide nutrients for producing testos90
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terone and other sex hormones. Your partner will be sounding the fire-in-the-hole alarm when you show him what hot chilies can do. Chilies contain capsaicin, which not only lets you know your mouth is aflame but dilates blood vessels allowing a surge of polehardening blood. Discover the jean-creaming effects of ice cream. Low-fat ice cream has high counts of calcium and phosphorous, minerals that build muscular energy reserves and boost libido. Since the muscles that control ejaculation need calcium to contract properly, ice cream can also make for more explosive orgasms. Pack your meat with a cut of lean sirloin. Levels of dopamine and norepinephrine, two brain chemicals that heighten sexual sensitivity, increase when you consume beef. Steak is also stuffed with zinc, which ignites your libido by reducing prolactin, an arousalretarding hormone. In fact, now there is even a so-called sex cereal that is infused with ingredients that are supposed to light a fire under your libido. The breakfast concoction is formulated with grains and seeds and comes in two versions—one for the guys and one for the gals. The stud-enhancing granola brainchild came from Canadian entrepreneur Peter Ehrlich, who backs his product with a common sense approach. “Who doesn’t eat cereal, and who doesn’t like sex?” claims Ehrlich.
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Read your ad carefully when it initially appears. We are not responsible for errors or minor copy changes after first issue of publication. If an error is found, please contact the classifieds department immediately for corrections. Frontiers assumes no responsibility for error or omission of copy. The right to reject, edit, cancel and determine proper placement of a classified ad is the right of this publication. [00CS0000]
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