Frontiers Vol. 32, Issue 25 by Frontiers

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inside VO L . 3 2 , I S S U E 2 5 | A P R . 2 - 1 5 , 2 0 14

L.A. FASHION AFTER DARK

ON THE COVER Photography: Astudillo-Photo.com || Model: Ben Styling: Jack Austin, jackaustinstyling.com and Diana Bowland, dianabowland.com Grooming: Phoebe Dawson using MAC, phoebedawson.com Location: Acabรกr, 1510 N. Stanley Ave., Hollywood. acabar-la.com

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PHOTO: ROLLING-BLACKOUTS

inside VOL. 32, ISSUE 25 | APR. 2 - 15, 2014

BOYS NIGHT OUT

EDITOR’S LETTER

..............................11

NEWSBOX News Briefs ......................................................13 Special Reports ..............................................18

THE GAY AGENDA............................23 CALENDAR Events Calendar ............................................43 SnapShots ......................................................44 Eating Out........................................................45

ENTERTAINMENT Music ................................................................53 TV ......................................................................54 DVDs ................................................................55 Theater ............................................................56 Film ....................................................................57

COLUMNS Little Miss Know-It-All ................................58 Billy Masters ..................................................60 Out & About ....................................................61 Queersay..........................................................62

HEALTH HIV Living ........................................................63 Off the Couch ................................................64 Fit ......................................................................65 Recovery ..........................................................66

CITY GUIDES Palm Springs ..................................................68

FRONTIERS MARKETPLACE FRONTIERS4MEN Adult Classifieds ............................................72 Sex Ed ..............................................................77

26 27

p. 6

Listings ..............................................................71

PHOTO: SEAN JAMES

PHOTO: DUSTI CUNNINGHAM

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Photographed exclusively for Frontiers on January 25, 2014, by Astudillo-Photo.com

Frontiers magazine is published by New Frontiers Media Holdings, 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) 9303220. 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 © 2014, New Frontiers Media Holdings, LLC.

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FRONTIERSLA.COM WEB_CONTENTS #TRENDING ON INSTAGRAM: YOU PUT YOUR WHAT IN A WHAT?! 10 GAY STRANGERS KISS FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME (VIDEO) SXSW 2014: THE MUSIC FESTIVAL’S BEST (AND WORST) MOMENTS

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RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE EPISODE RU-CAPS AND EXIT INTERVIEWS WITH THE QUEENS WHO SASHAYED AWAY

LADY GAGA’S WTF FASHION: 15 LOOKS FROM HER LATEST MUSIC VIDEO

FACEBOOK GIVEAWAY: ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK

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FRONTIERSLA.COM VOLUME 32, ISSUE 25 5657 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 470, Los Angeles, CA 90036 Phone: (323) 930-3220 Sales Fax: (323) 857-0560 Accounting Fax: (323) 857-0503

Publisher: Michael A. Turner Contributing Editor: Owen T. Phillips 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 Advertising Directors: Randall Ross, Brenda Stevens, Cristian Valencia, Billy Wright, Jacci Ybarra 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: editor@frontiersLA.com Advertising Artwork Trafficking: art@frontiersLA.com

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firstname.lastname@FrontiersLA.com Contributing Writers Aaron Batts, Jackie Beat, Dr. Greg Cason, Mike Ciriaco, Peter DelVecchio, J.R. Diaz, Gossip Gay, Nathaniel Grey, Stephan Horbelt, Gary M. Kramer, Jim Larkins, Dan Loughry, Billy Masters, Michelle McCarthy, Dana Miller, James F. Mills, Paulo Murillo, Karen Ocamb, Brian Padgett, Ryan Raftery, Eric Rosen, Dominik Rothbard, Aaron Savvy, Brenden Shucart, George Skinner, Kevin P. Taft, Paul V., Michael Weinstein, Kevin Wilen Contributing Photographers and Illustrators Gabe Ayala, Laura Copland, Jose Cisneros, Enci, Lani Garfield, Davide Laffe, Dina Marrone, Karen Ocamb, Tashi Palmer, Rolling-Blackouts, Karl Simone, Jonathan Sirand

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©2014 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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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Some people say that L.A. nightlife is dead. Of course, those people usually say the same thing about the bar scenes of New York, London and every other major metropolitan destination. Let me be the one to tell you that such a statement couldn’t be further from the truth. Each year I’ve looked forward to our annual “L.A. After Dark” nightlife issue. Coincidentally, my career with Frontiers started nearly a decade ago as the magazine’s nightlife correspondent. At the time I was newly transplanted from Memphis, where I’d just graduated college, and I was instantly in awe of all that L.A. offered after sunset. In the years since my move to L.A., some things have changed, not all for the better—there are fewer gay bars than when I initially made my trek. Back in the late aughts we lost three gay bars back-to-back, all in a two-mile stretch of West Hollywood, and by the time you read this, popular Silver Lake hangout MJ’s will have closed its doors for good. But other things have stayed the same—I still find myself enamored by L.A. nightlife. As Angelenos we live in a city comprised of talented DJs, eccentric club promoters, friendly bar owners and kooky party personalities. This issue’s feature ranking L.A.’s top 50 gay parties (whittled down from a list of over 100 events) is a testament to the fact that our nightlife scene is far from dead. In crafting the story (p. 29), we reached out to five individuals (the issue’s ‘party people’) who are well-known fixtures of our city’s after-dark culture. They assisted in placing an assortment of parties into the definitive list before you, and we couldn’t have done it without them. While the order of parties in our list is sure to spark ire from some—it doesn’t get much more subjective than ‘fun,’ does it?—our intention is to draw your eye to the exorbitant number of options at our disposal here in the City of Angels. And while we may have lost some gay bars, don’t fret—this summer will see a brand-new one opening in Downtown Los Angeles. We speak to its new owners in this very issue (p.26). For those seeking out nightlife options that don’t involve a bar or nightclub, we present two openly gay gentlemen whose contributions to gay after-dark culture are made via the stage— singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright (p. 27) and Hedwig and the Angry Inch mastermind Stephen Trask (p. 25). Wainwright will be performing at the Orpheum Theatre in the near future, and Trask has his hands full with a new run of Hedwig on Broadway starring Neil Patrick Harris. (You may have heard of him.) Elsewhere in the issue, News Editor Karen Ocamb continues to deliver the poignant and informative special reports that have become essential to keeping up with local LGBT news and politics. She delves into transgender rights, the L.A. County Supervisor’s race and openly gay Senate candidate Dr. Vito Imbascianti (p. 21) with familiarity and principle. Also of note is the jawdroppingly gorgeous photo spread that Creative Director Ed Baker has put together (p. 35). The gorgeous models and sleek, sophisticated fashion they showcase fully embodies what L.A. is capable of once the sun goes down. With this issue, I ask all of our readers to keep partying. Long live the night!

Stephan Horbelt Editor-in-Chief

PHOTOS: ROLLING-BLACKOUTS

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K A R E N

O C A M B

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P E T E R

D E L V E C C H I O

DEMANDING AN END TO THE MADNESS Obama calls for a stop to Russia’s anti-LGBT terror, groups call for CalPERS to divest First it was locking up Pussy Riot. Then it was the OK-ing of gay-bashing to “protect” the kids. The world uttered rhetoric of condemnation but went to the Sochi Olympics anyway. Then Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops into the sovereign Ukraine and annexed Crimea. The United Nations General Assembly has voted to consider that annexation illegal. On March 26, President Obama linked Putin’s land grab with Russia’s anti-gay “propaganda” law in a major speech to 2,000 mostly young Europeans at the Palais des Beaux Arts in Brussels, Belgium. “In the end, the success of our ideals comes down to us,” Obama said. “Instead of targeting our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters, we can use our laws to protect their rights.” That’s what the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and Equality California (EQCA) are urging the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), the nation’s largest public pension fund, to do—divest their $25 million from Russ-

ian companies that directly support the Russian internet company posting videos of LGBT teenagers being kidnapped, tortured and beaten, encouraging copycat attacks, and outing the young gays to their families and anti-LGBT gangs in Russia. “In Russia, many LGBT people live in daily terror,” said NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell. “We must bring to bear whatever pressure and influence we can to end the violent repression of LGBT people in Russia.” “These companies know they are enabling a campaign of terror against Russia’s LGBT community but have failed their barest responsibility to end their complicity in kidnappings, beatings and torture,” said John O’Connor, Executive Director of EQCA. “CalPERS must shoulder that responsibility to put lives above profit—it is literally the least they can do.” NCLR and EQCA have launched a petition they will deliver to CalPERS. Find that petition at nclrights.org.

“My soul isn’t struggling & I don’t want arms of Heavenly Father around me. A girl’s arms? Yes.”

“Imagine, 20 years from now as Americans look back and say, ‘How in the hell could that have ever been allowed?’”

—Recently out actress Ellen Page responds to an anti-LGBT clergyperson via Twitter

—Vice President Joe Biden, referring to gay and lesbian job discrimination while addressing the HRC gala in L.A. on March 22

“I believe what the Bible says.” —Duck Dynasty star Willie Robertson to CNN’s Kyra Phillips on March 26, continuing to defend patriarch Phil Robertson’s anti-gay comments last year before the show’s ratings tanked

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Mozilla Under Fire for New CEO’s Prop. 8 Donation Shortly after software company Mozilla named Brendan Eich its new CEO on March 24, Hampton Catlin, CEO of app developer Rarebit, called for a boycott of Mozilla’s popular browser Firefox. Catlin’s issue is that in 2008 Eich donated $1,000 to California’s Yes on Prop. 8 campaign, a “very personal” issue for Catlin, who with his husband struggled as a binational couple before they were legally married. Eich responded by promising inclusiveness and expressed “my sorrow at having caused pain. I am committed to ensuring that Mozilla is, and will remain, a place that includes and supports everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, age, race, ethnicity, economic status Brendan Eich or religion.” Blogger David Badash was unsatisfied: “[W]hat Eich and Mozilla have not done is apologize for Eich’s donation, or for promoting him, or made any suggestion that Eich has ‘evolved’ on the issue of same-sex marriage or equality. Which means he hasn't.” Many have taken to Twitter to announce a boycott of all Mozilla products and a switch to Firefox’s competitor, Google Chrome. Because of a three-year deal making Google Firefox’s default search engine, though, Google is actually Mozilla’s biggest revenue source.

World Vision Welcomes Married Gays, Then Reverses World Vision, one of the world’s largest evangelical charities, has a stated mission of alleviating poverty, especially among the young. To reconcile and unify its coalition of churches—some of which support LGBT people and marriage equality—World Vision U.S. President Richard Sterns announced on March 24 in Christianity Today that the organization would employ gay Christians who are in legal same-sex marriages. “Changing the employee conduct policy to allow someone in a same-sex marriage who is a professed believer in Jesus Christ to work for us makes our policy more consistent with our practice on other divisive issues,” Sterns said. “It also allows us to treat all of our employees the same way—abstinence outside of marriage, and fidelity within marriage.” Anti-gay evangelicals freaked, and the policy was quickly reversed. “The board acknowledged it made a mistake and chose to revert to our longstanding policy requiring sexual abstinence for all single employees and faithfulness within the biblical covenant of marriage between one man and one woman,” the board said in a statement. “We are brokenhearted over the pain and confusion we have caused many of our friends, who saw this decision as a reversal of our strong commitment to biblical authority.” LGBT religious leaders were then brokenhearted. “We are devastated by the decision of World Vision USA to purposefully exclude married lesbian and gay employees after only recently taking an important first step in addressing inequality in their workplaces,” said Dr. Sharon Groves, Director of the Human Rights Campaign’s Religion & Faith Program. “While they said their aim was to respect the diversity of religious viewpoints on marriage, they have now buckled under the pressure of the radical right and alienated millions of fair-minded people of faith.”

Jonathan Fielding, Head of L.A. County Dept. of Public Health, Resigns Dr. Jonathan Fielding announced in a staff memo yesterday that he would step down as head of the Los Angeles Department of Public Health, returning to a life in academia as soon as a replacement could be found. “I have decided to leave county service when a successor, whom I understand will be identified through a nationwide executive search, is ready to assume the post,” Fielding said. “I plan to return to UCLA to help train future public health leaders and do research on how we can be even more effective. “It has been a great pleasure to work with each and every one of you over the years. With your assistance as Public Health Ambassadors, together we have changed the capacity and face of public health in the most populous county in the nation.”

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The 72-year-old Fielding has served with the county health department for 16 largely productive and effective years— increasing health care access to poorer families, modernizing the county’s emergency response infrastructure and overseeing a sharp drop in the number of AIDS cases over the last decade and a half—though recently he has been mired in a running battle with Michael Weinstein of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, who has objected to (among other things) allocation of public health resources, the implementation of L.A.’s controversial AHF-backed “condoms in porn” law and the health department’s handling of last year’s meningitis scare, which claimed the lives of four Southern California gay and bisexual men. Jonathan Fielding

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DATEBOOK APRIL 4-6 Cops4Causes, in coalition with law enforcement and military organizations, sponsors “Heroes in the Shadows: Homeless Veteran Stand Down” in South El Monte to help L.A.’s homeless vets. cops4causes.org

HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN GALA, J.W. Marriott at L.A. Live, March 22

APRIL 5 The National Center for Lesbian Rights brings professional football player Chris Kluwe to its Dinah Weekend Reception in Palm Springs. Actress Meredith Baxter and comedienne Fortune Feimster (Chelsey Lately) will be there for the girls. nclrights.org

— A sold-out audience of 1,000 attended the gala, where Vice President Joe Biden delivered such a knock-out speech that some urged him to run for president in 2016. Read more about Biden’s speech and the gala at FrontiersLA.com. (1) George Takei (right) and husband Brad, who decided to take George’s last name. (2) HRC honored DGA President Paris Barclay (center), pictured with husband Christopher Mason (left) and their friend, Glee star Darren Criss. (3) Rep. Mark Takano got a shout out from Biden. (4) HRC President Chad Griffin (center) poses with former L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (left) and Adam Umhoefer, Executive Director of the American Foundation for Equal Rights, the organization that overturned Prop. 8. PHOTOS BY KAREN OCAMB

APRIL 5 Equality California sponsors a panel with Alice Kessler and Marianne Williamson on family equality during the Fertility Planit conference at UCLA, featuring LGBT and straight celebs and experts. fertility planit.com

APRIL 12 Jennifer Lopez, producer of ABC Family’s The Fosters, is honored with the Vanguard Award at the 25th Annual GLAAD Media Awards Los Angeles, taking place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. It’s a sold-out event, but there’s a waiting list. glaad.org

WESTWEEK 2014, Pacific Design Center, March 19 — Day one of

PHOTO BY PDC PHOTOGRAPHER EVANS

HONOR PAC INAUGURAL GALA, Japanese American National

APRIL 25 Los Angeles Center of Photography, L.A.’s first ever nonprofit photo center, has its grand opening in a new facility at 1515 Wilcox Ave. in Hollywood. The starstudded event is sure to attract photographers, industry luminaries and celebs. LACP regularly offers free events, film screenings, exhibitions and classes.

APRIL 27 Retiring Congressman Henry Waxman will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the nation’s oldest Stonewall political club at the 2014 Stoney Awards, held at the Sheraton Universal.

Westweek culminated with the invitation-only Stars of Design Awards, honoring SoCal’s most prolific talents for their accomplishments, commitment to excellence and contributions to their profession. Art Gray (pictured, left) received an award for his outstanding work in photography. He poses with Charles S. Cohen, owner and president of the Pacific Design Center.

Museum, March 22 — The keynote speaker at the statewide LGBT

3 PALM SPRINGS ART MUSEUM 75TH ANNIERSARY CELEBRATION, Palm Springs

Latino political action committee’s event was poet Richard Blanco, who made history as the first openly gay person to deliver a poem at a presidential Inauguration. Pictured are elected officials (from left) State Senator Ricardo Lara, D-L.A., Assemblymember Susan Talamantes Eggman, D-Stockton, Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez, D-L.A., Assembly Speaker-Elect Toni Atkins, DSan Diego, and HONOR PAC President Alfred Fraijo Jr. PHOTOS COURTESY HONOR PAC

Convention Center, March 15 — Nearly 1,000

people turned out for the museum’s annual fundraising gathering—so many, in fact, that the gala was moved from the museum to the convention center to accommodate the large number of guests. (1) Harold Meyerman, chairman of the museum’s board of trustees (right), with Dr. Steve Nash, Carol Nash and Dorothy Meyerman (2) Artist Lon Michaels (left) and Todd Olson (3) Greg Polzin (left) and Kevin McBride PHOTOS BY LANI GARFIELD

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WeHo-Based Organization Funds Research to Prove Bisexuality

AirBnB Raises Ire of WeHo Tenants and Landlords By Paulo Murillo AirBnB, the peer-to-peer apartment rental company offering individuals a way to monetize their extra living space and travelers a cheap place to stay—seemed like the perfect answer to the rising cost of living in cities like West Hollywood. The service claims to connect people to a unique traveling experience at any price point, but neighborhoods all over Los Angeles—including Silver Lake— are attempting to ban the rent-sharing company due to a list of greivances ranging from rowdy, inconsiderate guests to violations of rental agreements. Some Angelenos have accused the rental company of running bordellos. AirBnB began with Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia, who offered air mattresses and breakfast for up to three guests per night to help them cover their rent in San Francisco back in 2007 with a site called AirBed&Breakfast. In February 2008, Nathan Blecharczyk, a Harvard graduate and technical architect joined the duo as a third co-founder. The company initially focused on high-profile events where temporary lodging was scarce or expensive. The site AirBedandBreakfast.com officially launched in August 2008. According to local blog WEHOville, discord has reached the city of West Hollywood. Property owners argue that AirBnB violates a landlord’s right to control who occupies property through background and credit checks. They also claim the

service breaks WeHo zoning laws, which prohibit short-term rentals (under 30 days). Tenants complain of strangers in their buildings who are inconsiderate and do not follow building rules, smoking in undesignated areas and blasting music at inapropriate times. There are also concerns about tenant safety. There are currently 234 West Hollywood rooms and apartments offering space for rent on AirBnB. WEHOville reports that one person—identifying himself as a real estate agent—is offering six apartments in WeHo and Hollywood for short-term rentals, which goes against the city’s land use rules. West Hollywood has served cease and desist orders to 15 property owners in the city who are suspected of renting their space out. Reports suggest West Hollywood is cracking down on the way AirBnB is used. Someone who rents for fewer than 30 days faces a fine of $250 for the first violation, $450 for the second, $750 for the third and possible criminal charges for a fourth violation. The rent-sharing company claims to be a trusted community marketplace for people to list, discover and book unique accommodations around the world, online or from a mobile phone. The service is a lot like eBay, in which individuals offer one another products and services without having to go through retailers or business owners. Today AirBnB has gone global, with 500,000 listings in 33,000 cities and 192 countries.

White House Advisor Valerie Jarrett Tours L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center Jarrett (left) meets with Lorri Jean at the Gay & Lesbian Center

Two days after Vice President Joe Biden praised the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center at the Human Rights Campaign gala, Senior White House Advisor Valerie Jarrett met with Center CEO Lorri Jean, toured the facilities and met with homeless youth in the Transitional Living Program. Jarrett tweeted, “Fantastic visit at @LAGayCenter today—World’s largest #LGBT community center that welcomes nearly a quarter-million client visits a year!” on March 24. “We’re extremely pleased that Ms. Jarrett was interested in a behind-the-scenes look at the world’s largest provider of services to the LGBT community,” Jean told Frontiers. “[W]e are proud that the administration has supported the Center’s efforts to provide critical services to people who have no other place to turn. It was an honor to welcome Ms. Jarrett and show her some of the work the Center does to support our shared vision of a better life for all Americans.” 16

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According to activists, we still live in a world unconvinced that bisexuality is real, particularly for males, but a West Hollywood-based organization is out to prove existence of the ‘B’ in LGBT. The American Institute of Bisexuality is partly responsible for a recent surge of academic and scientific research into the nature of bisexuality. Founded in 1998 by Fritz Klein— a wealthy bisexual psychiatrist—AIB is headquartered on the first floor of a quiet courtyard in West Hollywood. In the last few years the institute has supported the work of around 40 researchers, including those looking at bisexual behavior and mental health, sexual-arousal patterns of bisexual men, bisexual youth and “mostly straight” men. The board of supervisors for AIB is deciding which additional studies to fund, as well as brainstorming on ways to increase bisexual visibility. AIB board member Brad S. Kane, who identifies as gay, believes bisexuals are misunderstood. “They’re ignored,” he recently told The New York Times, “They’re mocked. Even within the gay community, I can’t tell you how many people have told me, ‘Oh, I wouldn’t date a bisexual.’ Or, ‘Bisexuals aren’t real.’ There’s this idea, especially among gay men, that guys who say they’re bisexual are lying, on their way to being gay or just kind of unserious and unfocused.” According to a 2013 Pew Research Survey, only 28 percent of people who identified as bisexual said they were open about it, prompting a San Francisco Human Rights Commission to refer to them as “an invisible majority” in need of resources and support. “We’re making great progress where there was little hard science,” says AIB President John Sylla. He insists that research “now completely validates that bisexual people exist.” —P.M.

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TRANS LAW FOES CONTINUE TO WAGE WAR Privacy For All Students claims abuse of discretion in signature rejections, files suit BY KAREN OCAMB The anti-LGBT coalition attempting to overturn AB 1266, California’s transgender equal access law, filed suit on March 14 against the California Secretary of State and other officials in an attempt to jump-start its effort to place a measure on the 2014 ballot. Privacy For All Students is hoping a court will force Secretary of State Debra Bowen to accept 17,276 petition signatures the organization claims were “unlawfully disqualified.” PFAS tried for much of last year to collect enough petition signatures to place a repeal referendum on the ballot. A random sampling showed they failed to come up with the necessary 504,760 valid signatures required to qualify, but enough to trigger a hand count in each of California’s 58 counties. On Feb. 24 that count came up short as well. The organization isn’t through exhuating its list of grievances, however. Gina Gleason, the director of faith and public policy at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills and the official proponent for the failed PFAS referendum announced, “We have

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served the Secretary of State with another legal action asking her to qualify the referendum, and we have served county officials across the state with a demand for the documents to prove the abuse of discretion in rejecting more than 131,000 signatures.” The lawsuit filed on Gleason’s behalf details the organization’s belief that Bowen and various county clerks “illegally” discarded petition signatures, thereby disenfranchising them. Election officials wrongly disqualified signatures, PFAS claims, because signers were not registered to vote. The PFAS suit also claims disqualifications resulted from “clerical” and “scrivener’s errors.” The suit also notes that standards of review for voters are inconsistent from county to county. “If there are two different but equally viable interpretations of the Election Code by election officials, the Secretary abused her discretion to count the more restrictive interpretation of law as valid, particularly when a more permissible interpretation was also used in another county,” the suit says. Wait, the ultra-conservative religious PFAS wants the Secretary of State to be more liberal?

“We are confident in the ability of the Secretary of State to appropriately determine if an initiative has qualified for the ballot. Indeed, the Secretary of State’s decision that a statewide initiative did not qualify has never been reversed by the courts,” says Masen Davis, Executive Director of the Transgender Law Center, the organization that has taken the lead for the Support All Students coalition. “We will vigorously defend this law as needed so that all students are able to continue being their authentic selves at school. The School Success and Opportunity Act has broad support, including the California Teachers Association and 100 other organizations representing parents, families, teachers and students. Already, as schools are implementing policies, we've seen the law working to help ensure all students, including transgender students, are able to have the same fair chance to do well and be happy in school.” The writ of mandate for the case has been assigned to Superior Court Judge Timothy M. Frawley in Sacramento. It is uncertain whether he will take note that the Pacific Justice Institute, one of the law firms representing Gleason, has been declared a “hate group” by the Southern Poverty Law Center. It’s also uncertain whether the judge will hear arguments about contradictions between pronouncements and practices. “Counting all of the valid signatures is an issue of integrity and trust,” Gleason wrote in her pitch for support. But investigative reporter Cristan Williams of Transadvocate has audio of a PFAS signaturegatherer claiming that “we’ve had a couple of rapes, we’ve had molestations” in schools. Whether Judge Frawley will ask for concrete evidence—and not just fear-based bias—of a problem that should be put up to a vote by the people in the first place is anyone’s guess.

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L.A. COUNTY SUPERVISOR’S RACE HEATS UP OVER MONEY Gay candidates Duran and Kuehl face off against ‘family values’ proponent Ulich and Hollywood political insider Shriver BY KAREN OCAMB The contest to replace termed-out Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky’s 3rd District seat is one of the most civilized embroilments in political memory. But there is still time to pull out the metaphoric slings and arrows of outrageous fortune before the June 3 election for the county’s wealthiest district. Political campaign contributions will matter in this post-Citizens United age of independent expenditures and suspended spending caps.

Duran

Kuehl

eight years in the state Senate. Duran said that because of its wealth, the 3rd District has a responsibility to be the economic driver for the county. “This is one of the most powerful jobs in the United States,” said KCRW host Warren Olney, who moderated a March 20 debate hosted by the Society of Professional Journalists. In both debates, the candidates, all lawyers, discussed how to deal with an independently elected sheriff by using the county purse strings, managing jails overcrowded with the mentally ill, how to provide housing and services to the homeless (with much focus brought by Shriver on homeless vets)

Ulich

anticipation of independent expenditure attacks. The LA Times reported March 24 that Shriver also collected $547,736 “from a list that reads like a who’s who of the entertainment industry, including talk show host Oprah Winfrey, actor Tom Hanks and producer Jerry Bruckheimer.” Shriver was also endorsed by Tom Sheridan, President of the Washington, D.C.-based lobbying firm The Sheridan Group. In a recent letter to LGBT people in L.A., Sheridan touted Shriver’s “vision to demand transformative ideas to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic” in Africa. A local political consultant told Frontiers that the email he received

Shriver Meet the candidates for L.A. County Supervisor at FrontiersLA.com.

So far, the fact that two of the candidates are gay—former multi-term state lawmaker Sheila Kuehl and West Hollywood City Councilmember and former Mayor John Duran—is a simple fact of biography without any particular political sway. There are moments, however, where differences show. Asked by journalist Patt Morrison at the L.A. Press Club/KNBC debate on March 27 if he owned a gun, Duran pointed to his biceps, a reaction that might not occur to former Santa Monica Mayor Bobby Shriver. And former Malibu Mayor Pamela Ulich’s statement that she is “driven by family values” might drive away LGBT voters who see that as conservative code. With 88 cities and a population of 10 million, L.A. County is more populous than 42 individual states. The 3rd District supervisor represents 2 million residents in some of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the nation, including Malibu, Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, Bel-Air, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Universal City and a large swath of the San Fernando Valley. Kuehl noted that she represented the area well during her six years in the state Assembly—arriving in 1994 as California’s first openly gay state legislator—and 20

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and how to fix the troubled Department of Children and Family Services, among other issues. Interestingly, though the candidates discussed the Affordable Care Act and the fate of the MLK Hospital in the 2nd District, they skipped the news that Public Health Director Dr. Jonathan Fielding resigned. Public Health has an annual budget exceeding $750 million, according to the department’s website, and while Fielding has been praised by many, he has also been heavily criticized—particularly by Duran, who is HIV-positive—during the gay community’s meningitis scare last April. Fielding told Frontiers the Public Health Department does not collect statistics on LGBT residents, despite that recommendation from Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, who noted on March 26 during LGBT Health Awareness Week that “[a]ccess to affordable care has long been an obstacle to good health and financial security for the LGBT community and all Americans.” The candidates’ disagreement over campaign financing will likely get more heated. Shriver, a member of the famed Kennedy clan, refused to accept voluntary spending limits, putting up $300,000 of his own money “to be able to tell my story” in

from Sheridan came to an address the consultant uses specifically for the Victory Fund. In a phone interview, Sheridan said he has no idea how he got that email address. He asked 25 friends and colleagues for 10 names of influential leaders in L.A., which were then compiled into a list of 60 addresses by his assistant. Sheridan apologized for any misunderstanding and said he’d be happy to delete the address. Kuehl was criticized for accepting a $75,000 contribution from the California Nurses Association, a result, she said, of her legislation regulating the nurse-to-patient ratio, not because they were trying to buy influence. “I have 2,500 individual contributors, whose average donation is $78,” Kuehl said, adding that her campaign manager, Parke Skelton, joked, “You look more like UNICEF—who’s giving you quarters?” Duran said he’s raised $200,000 in a short period of time, money he needs for “old fashioned” mailers. He said he’s not getting $75,000 from unions, though he joked that he’d accept it if offered. If none of the four candidates secures more than 50 percent of the vote on June 3, the top two candidates will vie for votes on Nov. 4.

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PHOTO COURTESY DR. VITO

Dr. Vito with his husband George with their two adopted sons, now ages 12 and 14

UNDERCOVER ACTIVIST Meet Dr. Vito Imbasciani, the 26th Senate District Race’s Gay Candidate BY KAREN OCAMB Dr. Vito Imbasciani, a colonel in the California Army National Guard Medical Corps, struck an imposing pose in uniform waiting on a West Hollywood side street to ride in the 2013 L.A. Pride Parade. And then he smiled. It was a smile deepened and broadened by history—28 years in the Medical Corps, deployed four times in two wars to care for sick, wounded and broken Californians in Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Germany. Finally, he wasn’t serving under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” In fact, he was waiting to join openly gay Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez, Maj. Gen. David S. Baldwin, the Adjutant General of the California National Guard, and a contingent of about 10 people, half gay, half straight, in the guard’s first Pride contingent. “We are a performance-based force, and one’s sexual orientation shouldn’t affect their ability to serve and excel,” Baldwin said. “Duty to one’s state and nation—not sexual orientation—is the defining trait of our soldiers and airmen.” Imbasciani wants to bring his military and health care experience to the California Legislature. He is vying in the June 3 election for the 26th Senate District seat vacated by State Sen. Ted Lieu, who is running to replace Rep. Henry Waxman. There are a slew of candidates, including longtime LGBT ally and former Assemblymember Betsy Butler and newer ally, attorney and reproductive rights activist Sandra Fluke. But Imbasciani is the only gay person in the race, and if money matters as a marker of political credibility, he’s off to a good start. Campaign finance disclosures from Jan. 1 through

March 17 indicate that Imbasciani, a “lifelong Democrat,” had $168,133 in his account, compared to two other candidates with well over $200,000. Butler reported $145,709 in her account, while Fluke reported $121,025, according to the Los Angeles Times. Imbasciani’s friends—from Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez, who officiated the November wedding of Imbasciani and his partner George to University of Pennsylvania Law School Professor Tobias Barrington Wolff—say Imbasciani is a longtime LGBT activist. “When President Obama came to Los Angeles in 2012 for an LGBT event, I told friends on his staff about Vito’s history of service,” Wolff told Frontiers. “They were captivated by Vito’s story. Before I knew it, they were asking whether Vito might be willing to introduce President Obama, and days later the president himself was onstage describing the example that Vito has set for the nation. I could not have been more proud.” But how could Imbasciani be a longtime LGBT activist without having made at least one headline in Frontiers or any other LGBT publication until he introduced Obama in 2012? As it turns out, not all activism has to be seen to be felt. “So how do you become an activist when you’re secretly under ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’? It’s by approaching—on the down low, if you will—every member of Congress on the House and Senate Armed Services Committee, through their staff,” he says, “giving them my story and sort of tantalizing them with the willingness to appear before Congress under my constitutional right as a solider to redress grievances. And to let them know the difficulties of

being a gay man in uniform and the terrible loss of talent and the terrible expense that the military has to go through in replacing these highly qualified [experts].” Imbasciani also badgered the staff of Admiral Mike Mullen, the Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, “to stand up to the generals who didn’t want any part of ending ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’” When CNN’s Anderson Cooper called, LGBT military expert Bridget Wilson cautioned against him going on the show. “I know you want to be the Rosa Parks of this whole movement,” she said, “but you’ll make a big splash and then they’ll kick you out.” Imbasciani listened to her advice but continued to work to end DADT. “Every aggrieved group in the history of the United States—war veterans, farmers, women seeking their right to vote, African-Americans trying to end segregation—everybody with a cause was always free to go out into the streets to demonstrate and to have sit-ins and to make their presence known in a public way to their elected officials to try to end the obnoxious policy,” he says. Everybody but gays in the military. “I’ve seen grown men and women actually break down in tears over that history. It was a life lost because it was not a life shared.” The story illustrates Imbasciani’s character and suggests that, as a legislator, he would reach across the aisle, listen to sage advice and, perhaps most importantly, not dismiss protesters with a good cause. Find a video clip of President Obama sharing Dr. Vito’s story at FrontiersLA.com. APRIL 15, 2014

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Stephen Trask talks Hedwig

There goes the neighborhood

Rufus Wainwright

p. 25

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BY STEPHAN HORBELT

‘82 WAS A GREAT YEAR*

why drinks here are named after nerdy pop culture references, like the n00b (vodka, lemon, honey, bee pollen, lemongrass and apple juice) and the Zangief (vodka, lime, ginger beer, fresh ground ginger). EightyTwo plans to host gaming competitions in the near future, which is sure to bring out a colorful set of Angelenos, and the barcade, which is open until 2 a.m. nightly (but closed Mondays), also claims to have an interesting music program in store. You’ll find me sipping a n00b while playing Paperboy. *Full disclosure: I was born in 1982

Games You’ll Find at

EIGHTYTWO: Addams Family Asteroids Burger Time Centipede Dig Dug Doctor Who Donkey Kong Dragon’s Lair Frogger Funhouse Galaga Gauntlet Marble Madness Metallica Pro Mortal Kombat II Pac-Man Paperboy

Space Invaders Street Fighter II Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Tron X-Men

Seeing a band at the Hollywood Bowl that has never before played the famed L.A. venue is always a treat. Generally the artist is in such awe of his or her surroundings that it’s a live show for the record books, even if you’re way back in the cheap seats. On Sept. 28, alt-rock legends the Pixies will make their debut at the Bowl, with Gogol Bordello and Cat Power charged with warming up the crowd. One of the most influential and pioneering groups of the late ‘80s and ‘90s, the Black Francisfronted Pixies disbanded in ‘93, reunited in ‘04, celebrated the 20-year anniversary of 1989 album Doolitle in ‘09, announced Kim Deal was leaving the band in ‘13 and released the second of two EPs in January of this year, the band’s first collection of new music in more than two decades. hollywoodbowl.com

A GIGANTIC SHOW APRIL 15, 2014

PHOTO: HOLLYWOOD BOWL

March 21 saw the opening of a brand-new hangout in DTLA’s Arts District, and it’s one that’ll have both nubile geeks and rickety reminiscers running to local change machines for quarters. Located on the corner of Alameda and East 3rd Street, EightyTwo is L.A.’s newest barcade, featuring two 2,000-square-foot rooms of vintage arcade games and pinball machines restored from the 1960s-’90s. You can likely envisage the colorful aesthetic of these beautiful retro arcade games, a vibe that EightyTwo juxtaposes against the barcade’s minimalist, art gallery-like interior. After all, what is an arcade game but a playable work of art? Nothing better accompanies button-mashing and childish hissyfits (“I was totally blocking that hit!”) than craft cocktails, which is

EIGHT

YTWO 707 E. 4th P (213) 6 l., DTLA 26-820 0

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I AM A QUEEN

PHOTO: JOSE CISNEROS

Kyle Jackson is a “girly boy,” and he wouldn’t have it any other way. He’s spent the last four years photographing drag queens in his studio, and his photo series American Queen has since expanded to include all individuals who feel empowered by their femininity. It’s a campaign for gender equality, and the message is clear: Be yourself, love yourself, feel empowered. If you’re a drag queen or openly fem individual living in New York or L.A., consider this your open call to sit for a portrait. Reach out to Jackson by going to his website, kylejacksonmedia.com.

SO MANY PIECES If you thought for a second that LEGO bricks were merely a timesuck for young kids, think again. Up-andcoming artist David Tracy, 23, creates downright enchanting contemporary furniture and inventive sculptures from those vibrant, tiny, plastic pieces. On view at Forest Lawn Museum in Glendale through Memorial Day, A Million and One Pieces is Tracy’s first solo exhibition, with works ranging in size from 2,700 to 26,000 LEGO bricks. Pieces include chairs, lamps, tables and a sculpture of a human head, each glued together by hand, brick by brick. Exhibition curator Joan P. Adan says, “David Tracy’s impressive pieces bring such joy. They present at once a nod to the child in each of us who grew up playing with these colorful LEGO bricks and pave the way for the future of contemporary art and modern design.” forestlawn.com

AGAINST THE GRAIN Shaving is a bitch if you’re a guy with coarse, curly hair or super-sensitive skin— an irritated mug is never a winning look, and razor blades shouldn’t be a thing of fear. Bevel, a new line of shaving products, is the first full-bodied shaving system for guys who have to worry about these problems. Bevel is a subscription service that attempts to make shaving an enjoyable experience for our more delicate brethren. An initial 30-day starter bundle includes a double-edge safety razor, a badger shaving brush, razor blades, priming oil, shave cream and restoring balm. Every 90 days you’ll be sent a continuity kit. Head to the Bevel website, getbevel.com, for more info about the subscription service, and for a Shaving 101 lesson. Maybe you’ve been doing it wrong all this time!

GOTTA HAVE IT Melbourne, Australia-based men’s lifestyle brand Huntley Homme is dedicated to dressing the eccentric homo, and for that we love them. (‘Huntley’ is actually British slang for a homosexual from the ‘50s.) The brand’s designs, particularly its tees, are subtle from a distance yet in-your-face when viewed up close, but always coming from a place of empowerment. Huntley Homme’s street art-inspired designs appear on tees, tank tops, the line’s signature Y-front sweatpants and track shorts. huntleyhomme.com

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE… SHAKE IT UP If you plan to wake up in Vegas in the near future (or if you just end up there—hey, it happens), check out the photography exhibits recently added to the Polaroid Museum, which will open on the second floor of the company’s flagship store inside Sin City’s The LINQ on April 17. The Polaroid retail store is already open for business. The recently added exhibits celebrate celebrity, which perfectly complements the Capturing Celebrity exhibit, planned to feature 50 of Andy Warhol’s most prized celeb snapshots. polaroidfotobar.com 24

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OUR FAVORITE

UNSHAVED CELEBS

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Finding ‘the guy’ ‘HEDWIG’ MASTERMIND STEPHEN TRASK TELLS US WHY NEIL PATRICK HARRIS IS THE BEST WOMAN FOR THE JOB By Ryan Raftery

edwig and the Angry Inch premiered off-Broadway at the Jane Street Theatre in 1998, spawning a film version in 2001 that has since reached cult status reminiscent of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Next month the production heads to the Great White Way with a bigger budget and a huge star under that famous feathered wig. Frontiers spoke with Hedwig’s original composer/lyricist Stephen Trask about the show—its genesis in a rock ‘n’ roll gay bar, the changes required for bringing the show to a Broadway audience—and how he really feels about Doogie Howser in drag.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch has begun previews and opens April 22 at NYC’s Belasco Theatre. For tickets and more info, visit hedwigbroadway.com.

TRASK ON ‘90S GAY ROCK BAR SQUEEZEBOX, BIRTHPLACE OF HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, AND ITS INFLUENCE ON THE SHOW’S CREATION... In the beginning, John [Cameron Mitchell, Hedwig co-writer and star] and I had been working on a show about a rock star. ... I was the music director at Squeezebox, and we were stuck for material. I took out my pen and said to John, “Tell me some interesting stories about your life, and we’ll try to find some material here.” John told me about this babysitter woman who lived on the Army base— John’s father being a general, he spent lots of time on the base in Germany— and I said, “Let’s make her a rock singer who sang with the rock star, and now she’s singing in dives and he is successful.” The whole idea of Hedwig sprang from there. Hedwig didn’t so much change at Squeezebox as much as Hedwig only exists because of Squeezebox. Since this was a rock bar with a live band that performed with drag queen singers, if I didn’t work there it would have never occurred to me to suggest that John do this as a drag character. ON THE CASTING OF NEIL PATRICK HARRIS AS THE SHOW’S NEW LEAD ON BROADWAY...

I’ve wanted Neil to do this role since 2003, maybe earlier. I had met him at the Jane Street Theatre in 1998 when he came to see the show, and I was very taken with him—really into him as a performer. I liked the way he talked and the way he carried himself. In the discussions after we knew John wasn’t going to play the role again, Neil’s name came up very early. He always seemed to be ‘the guy.’ ON THE IMPORTANCE OF HEDWIG BEING PLAYED BY A GAY ACTOR... I guess very and not at all. It’s just important to me that it be pulled off. The ‘gayness’ that Neil brings to it is informed by that conflict that exists inside gay people—the butchness and femme-ness that you can’t escape if you’re gay, and the top-ness and bottom-ness and all that crap. I think that a lot of the straight actors who play gay can get most of the outward symbols or gestures, but there is more to it. Michael Cerveris replaced [Hedwig] in the original production, and he was great. We’ve had many, many straight actors play the role, and they’ve all been great. ON BRINGING THE SHOW TO A BROADWAY AUDIENCE... I have a couple of trepidations, but none of them are about the changing of

the audience, because in general I think Broadway audiences have changed. If we were ahead of our time in ’98, we’ve caught up with our time now—we’re in sync. People are used to hearing rock music onstage. When we did our show, there had been some pop musicals, but nothing that sounded like rock music and followed the rules of rock music. People are now ready for drag queens, obviously. When we did it before, theatres turned us down—empty theatres that had been long empty turned us down. The drag queen factor, rock ‘n’ roll music, the sex change operation, the intergenerational love story, the whole fucking thing—it was a whole package that people didn’t want. But now I think people are ready for it. ON WHICH POP SINGER HE’D LOVE TO PERFORM A SONG FROM HEDWIG... I love the way Spoon did “Tear Me Down,” and I’d love to hear it live. I bet Madonna could do a great job with “Wicked Little Town.” There’s a song on the movie soundtrack called “In Your Arms Tonight” that I always wanted to hear Michael Stipe sing. ON FINDING A DREAM REPLACEMENT FOR NEIL PATRICK HARRIS COME AUGUST... I would genuinely like to see Justin Timberlake do it. The person who does it has to be a real entertainer, and he seems to be an all-around entertainer. Did River Phoenix sing? If he did, he would’ve been good. Honestly, I can’t think past Neil. He is spectacular. APRIL 15, 2014

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There Goes the Neighborhood DTLA Finally Gets a Gay Bar

You know a neighborhood is officially gentrifying once the gays move in. After years of steadily restoring itself from a sprawling mass urinal back into a thriving center of culture and commerce, Downtown Los Angeles has hit a milestone in its burgeoning renaissance—it’s getting a gay bar.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW PHOTO: DUSTI CUNNINGHAM

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By Mike Ciriaco

ground gay neighborhood, and iconic gay bars like The Brian McIntire and Thor Stephens, a connubial gay Score have long since closed. We hope to honor the past party promotion team, is currently renovating the space on the corner of Broadway and 4th Street. It’s the future as well as expand on some of the great things going on home of Precinct, a Prohibition Era police station-themed Downtown today. Successful parties have already tavern anticipated to launch this summer. The bar’s acquainted the gay community with DTLA. We would like to complement and build upon what is already hapconstruction reflects the neighborhood’s burgeoning pening without infringing on anyone. We feel that the queer presence. more there is to do Downtown, the more people will come “Downtown Los Angeles has a growing gay poputo play.” lation, and we hope to provide a welcoming atmosphere McIntire has no doubts that DTLA’s metamorphosis for them,” said McIntire during a recent interview. “There are a handful of DTLA establishments that are already will attract the often-insular denizens of West Hollywood and Silver Lake. hosting weekly events that cater to our community, and “As West Hollywood and Silver Lake continue to genwe would like to build upon that foundation. It’ll be great to see more Downtown options than only a few specific trify, there’s an increasing exodus of gays to Downtown and its surrounding neighborhoods. We’ve adapted to not nights of the week.” Gay gatherings like Mustache Mondays may draw only gay-friendly/alternative venues, especially when looking for a rock ’n’ roll sensibility, but following the gays downtown one night each week, but Precinct promoters, DJs and performers to is laying roots to provide gays with their whichever part of town they’ve made a very own DTLA clubhouse. home for themselves. East Siders have “As is the case with most T C IN C PRE a pretty long history of ‘schlepping’ west of the Historic District, the mmer u s is th A Coming St., DTL th to go out—maybe the tide is turning.” building we are in was constructed 4 d n a y Broadwa .com While stereotypes dictate that just after the turn of the 20th cena tl d ct n preci West Hollywood attracts muscle tury. Much of the ‘Bringing Back queens and Silver Lake parties cater to inkedBroadway’ initiative revolves out hipsters, Precinct wants the new DTLA to transcend around the concept of returning the cliques of other L.A. neighborhoods. the neighborhood to its original glory. Personally, we’re “One of the clearest lessons learned in the evolufans of the architecture of the era—a time when there was a more open celebration of individual craftsman- tion of gay culture has been an embrace of alternatives. As promoters, we’ve always tried to operate on a ‘come ship and artistry—less disposable cookie-cuttery.” Precinct plans to pay homage to Downtown’s LGBT as you are, or as you want to be’ approach, and we would like to hang onto that idea,” says McIntire, adding, “We’re history as much as it does that architectural legacy. hoping to see lots of beards and tattoos, with equal parts “Much of Downtown L.A.’s gay history is all but forglitter, lipstick and leather.” gotten. Back in the ‘50s, Pershing Square was an under-

FRONTIERSLA.COM

McIntire (left) and Stephens

1. Precinct, at 8,500 square feet, will be divided into three public areas—(1) a veranda/patio facing both Broadway and 4th Street, (2) the pub and (3) the performance space.

2. The performance space will be located behind the front bar area, including an open dance floor, a 20-foot stage, DJ booth and separate bar service station.

3. The venue is planned to be an adaptable one, used for dance parties, live music and drag shows.

4. Precinct will cater to the Downtown lunch crowd in its front space with a menu curated by Hunter Fox of Eagle L.A.

5. McIntire and Stephens are already hard at work on the bar’s programming, which will likely include parties by some of L.A.’s most infamous party promoters.

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By Stephan Horbelt

How’s London? London’s cool. I’m finally over the jetlag and ready to watch a lot of television and eat a lot of chocolate. [Laughs] I’m getting ready to start my tour. I’m doing a lot of gigs in Eastern Europe, so that should be interesting, especially with what’s going on in Kiev right now. I’m kinda heading into the fire. This should be interesting. To say the least. How’s the family? The family’s great. My husband is fantastic, and my daughter is in L.A. with her mother, where she lives. Martha [Wainwright, his sister] just had another baby, so I have a new nephew. These are the good times. The family’s getting bigger and bigger. That’s exciting! Also exciting—how does it feel to have a greatest hits album? Well, I have to correct you, because it’s not quite a ‘greatest hits.’ It’s more of a ‘best of.’ People keep saying ‘greatest hits,’ but there would only be two tracks. [Laughs] In terms of not having any massive radio hits, I’ve managed

to maintain a level of integrity and a level of privacy and still get well-paid for what I do, so I’m fine with the ‘best of.’ Tell me about the process of choosing which tracks would appear. There are a couple people who were very helpful, most notably Neil Tennant, who was really great, and also my publicist, Barbara Charone, in England. I felt it was necessary to open up the decisionmaking. I didn’t want it to necessarily be my opinion, because I tend to go for the more esoteric.

flipped over. Spending time with my daughter, I’m in wonderment over the knowledge and wisdom of a child, and how arguably you get stupider as you get older! [Laughs]

Do you have a maternal feeling over your songs? Is the old cliché true—are they all your babies, and you could never pick a favorite? I’m very egalitarian. Each song is really imbued with a memory or an experience or some kind of trauma or celebration. I’ve always been a very personal and revealing artist, so they’re all from moments of my life. Without every moment in your Rufus Wainwright life, you wouldn’t have plays the Orpheum a full one. Theatre on April 18.

In the liner notes, your aunt Anna says about you, “He’s stronger and surer of what he’s doing with only a slightly more mature outlook.” Do you agree? Are you stronger and more sure? I’m sure with certain things I am. Artistically I have somewhat of a firm footing in what I want to accomplish. When you have a child, though, your entire world is completely

You recently turned 40, but you say that the bark is far worse than the bite. That’s refreshing to hear. Yes, the bark is far worse than the bite, but the bite might have a bit of poison in it. [Laughs] I wouldn’t say it’s easy, but you have to reassess your perspective of what

PHOTO: SEAN JAMES

We caught up with the lauded ‘baroque pop’ singer-songwriter before beginning his latest tour, which heads into L.A. on April 18. Wainwright chats with us from London about his growing family, turning 40 and Vibrate, his brand-new collection of songs. Just don’t call it a ‘greatest hits’ album.

the world has to offer and your place in it. It’s fantastic if you’re able to appreciate what you’ve learned over the years. There are still very gay moments when I wish I was 19 and totally, blissfully ignorant—a slut. A big, gay ol’ slut. [Laughs] So what can we expect from this latest round of tour dates? You know, they’re solo shows, which I haven’t done in L.A. for a very long time. I’ve done them in the area—in San Diego and Long Beach—but in L.A. proper I haven’t done a solo jaunt, so I think that’ll be a nice homecoming. L.A. is where I began, and that’s where I cut my teeth—on Santa Monica Boulevard. I’m looking forward to coming back. My sister Lucy Wainwright Roach will be with me, so there will be some family time as well. You’re known for your splashy style. Any hints as to what you might be wearing onstage? I have no idea at this point, but we’ll see after I get back from Eastern Europe. I might come back with a mullet or something!

A RUFUS RETROSPECTIVE

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2014 APRIL 15, 2014

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After Dark Bar List 3225

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MEET OUR Brutus

BOYS NIGHT OUT

Anyone who’s ever thrown a party knows it’s no easy feat—what with securing libations, culling the perfect guest list and settling on a soundtrack— yet somehow Los Angeles’ gay nightlife promoters manage to make it look easy. And, boy, are there options! The old cliché “there’s something for everyone” really does ring true here in gay L.A., where parties span West Hollywood, Silver Lake and Downtown to topsecret underground locales. But what good are options with no semblance of order? In an attempt to help you navigate our fair city’s most fabulous fêtes, we’ve ranked L.A.’s 50 best gay parties (from a list of over 100—yep, we counted), all to help you with the one question that’s as old as Saturday night—Where should we go out?

A Ranking of L.A.’s 50 Best Gay Parties

EVITA DBA, Tuesdays Filling the void created by the absence of one-time Tuesday night staple Mr. Black L.A., the party partnership of Luke Nero and Andrés Rigal offers a pansexual bacchanal to midweek scenesters. Hosted inside DBA, the latest incarnation of West Hollywood’s consistently scandalous 7969 Santa Monica Boulevard space, Evita showcases the DJ talents of Josh Peace as a colorful crowd of drag queens, fashionistas and queer hipsters slam stiff drinks and mingle on the dance floor. While the rest of L.A. is snoozing to soon face the daily grind, Evita’s gay vanguard embraces the night. —Mike Ciriaco

These five individuals, each of whom is immersed in the city’s phenomenal nightlife culture, helped us order our list of L.A.’s 50 best gay parties.

DJ AARON ELVIS Ex-New Yorker. DJ extraordinaire.

DOMINICK MUNAFO Go-go god. Party promoter.

BRUTUS Faultline, second Saturdays If you could craft the most perfect party in your head, what would it entail? A soundtrack that keeps you clamoring for more? A sexy, fun-loving crowd? Reasonably priced drinks? L.A.’s number one party should by definition house each of these tricks under its sleeve, and no nighttime diversion crafts a perfect atmosphere of booze-infused horseplay, hedonistic dabbling and sassy absurdity quite like Brutus. DJ Chris Bowen spins eclectic all-vinyl sets that seamlessly transition the party’s mood throughout the evening, while party provocateur Mario Diaz takes the lead in getting the crowd of revelers riled up. VJ Mark Cuadrado treats partygoers to live video montages, complementing but not interrupting the party’s flow with special presentations throughout the night, and special guest hosts—comedians, makeup artists, actors, actresses and drag performers—bring to this well-loved party a flurry of added excitement. The only party endorsed by all five members of our panel, Brutus—celebrating four years this August—never fails to deliver a stellar night out at one of L.A.’s best indoor/outdoor venues. —Stephan Horbelt

PARTY PEOPLE

GIORGIO’S The Standard, Saturdays In Los Angeles, celebrities can be found anywhere and everywhere. On Saturday nights, however, you’ll find them at Giorgio’s. Referencing the creator of disco himself, Giorgio Mororder, this exclusive invite-only party is a collaboration between The Standard owner André Balazs, L.A. promoter Bryan Rabin and DJ Adam XII that has attracted a cabal of A-listers including Lenny Kravitz, Rufus Wainwright, Baz Luhrmann, Lupita Nyong’o, Mick Jagger and Moroder himself. This clubhouse for Hollywood's superstars and those fortunate enough to orbit around them doesn’t tolerate wannabes—cell phone shots are strictly forbidden, meaning your time is best spent on the dance floor. —M.C.

A CLUB CALLED RHONDA Los Globos, second Fridays Say her name. The quintessential den for polysexual hard-partying continues to deliver year after year. What began as a celebration of disco and house music in the basement of a Guatemalan restaurant has become an internationally recognized party, spanning two levels and multiple dance floors. The line for entry grows excessively long, so if you’re serious about experiencing some of the world’s finest DJs (James Murphy, Dimitri from Paris, Tensnake) you must arrive early, work a look and trust in Rhonda. Welcome to the pleasure dome. —Kevin Wilen

DJ PAUL V. Club and radio DJ. Author.

RAJA L.A. native. World-renowned drag artist.

SQUEAKY BLONDE Performance artist. Drag legend.

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BIG FAT DICK Fubar, Thursdays There's a very simple reason why BFD is L.A.'s longest running party for gay dudes: We love penis. Big or small (but preferably big), hidden away under khakis or photographed in all their glory and thrown onto a clothesline in the middle of the bar, we love ‘em all. For more than 11 years now, L.A.’s King of Sleaze, Mario Diaz, has been a Pied Piper for the city’s sexy set. Many are lured by the party’s infamous photo competition, while others are there for the fun electro tracks spun by DJ Riley More. What’s not to love about a party where everyone who’s on the prowl gets laid? —S.H. MUSTACHE MONDAYS La Cita, Mondays You’d think it would be difficult to draw a decent crowd on Monday nights, but keep in mind that much of this city doesn’t abide by a 9-to-5 desk job schedule. Of course, even 9-to-5ers can’t say no to the amazing nightlife output of DJs Total Freedom and Josh Peace (not to mention the party’s amazing special guests). Here you’ll find the city’s hippest crowd of artists, stylists, musicians and dancers who simply refuse to let the weekend die. —S.H. SUMMERTRAMP DTLA, summer months Another brainchild of impresarios Luke Nero and Andrés Rigal, Summertramp offers a wet and wild alternative to the pretension of other L.A. pool parties— emphasis on the ‘wild.’ Every summer a DTLA parking lot is transformed into a makeshift waterpark, and despite this party’s impermanence, the concept and execution is so unique we couldn’t not include it on our list. While this seasonal event is most accessible to downtown gays, Summertramp’s ability to attract revelers from all of the city’s gay ghettos is unprecedented. Nowhere else will you spy WeHo queens, East Side bears, drag divas and butch queens splashing around in unison. —M.C. CUB SCOUT Eagle L.A., first Fridays A well-rounded L.A. party if ever there was one, the music at this monthly party is consistently stellar (courtesy of Critter Control DJs Chris Bowen and Victor Rodriguez, plus whatever special DJ guest is on the menu), drag den mother Lady Bear of San Francisco plays an excellent party host, and the boys are friendly. As if that weren’t enough, Cub Scout offers one of L.A.’s best drink specials ($2 light drafts) and routinely draws some of the city’s sexiest guys—that is, presuming facial hair is your thing. —S.H. 30

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PLASTIC FANTASTIC Eleven Nightclub, Saturdays It’s only fitting that a plastic surgerythemed party would take place in a recently ‘facelifted’ nightclub, no? Taking to heart L.A.’s image-conscious obsessions, this Nero/Rigal party preaches the art of transformation to the masses via fun video montages all night long. Patrons of this relatively new party don’t dare disappoint with their Saturday night fashions, arriving ready to take advantage of the club’s recently expanded dance floor, particularly when pop stars show up to partake in the fun, as pop/R&B diva Mya did a short while back. —S.H.

Big Fat Dick

DRAGULA Faultline, fourth Saturdays Celebrating the spooky fun of gay L.A. nightlife (‘cause it can be pretty damn scary), this party—thrown by diabolical duo the Boulet Brothers—is unlike any other in town. Nowhere else will you find tarot readings offered out of coffins and a drag aesthetic that encourages more blood than blush. The party’s most recent bash was themed “Rocky Horror Chainsaw Massacre,” a delightful combination of the merry and the macabre, which is exactly what Dragula does best. —S.H. SPOTLIGHT Secret Downtown locations It’s been two and a half years since legendary Hollywood watering hole The Spotlight served its last cocktail, but its spirit lives on thanks to the hardcore house and techno beats at this secret gay underground warehouse party. The brainchild of local DJ Chris Cruse and designer Christopher Kreiling, Spotlight strikes the perfect balance of sleaze and sophistication while consistently welcoming a plethora of sexy East Side guys. Check your inhibitions—and your shirt— at the door, stay hydrated and lose yourself to the rhythm of the dance floor. —K.W. STRIPPER CIRCUS Here Lounge, Wednesdays A problem plaguing many L.A. parties is that they’re little more than a clever name. Stripper Circus rises above many of its nightlife competitors because it fully realizes and delivers on its theme— a weekly queer carnival. Ringmastered by Paul Nicholls and Woody Woodbeck, WeHo’s premier hump day event swirls up hot dancers and fresh beats with thematic elements like gay carnival games and gypsy tarot readings. Throw in colorful resident drag queen carnies and you’ve got the gayest show in town. —M.C.

Stripper Circus

Flashback Saturdays

Bears in Space

TIGERHEAT Avalon, Thursdays The largest weekly dance party on the West Coast, TigerHeat provides the caliber of mega-party that gay L.A. deserves. Housed in a Hollywood theater that once played host to Judy Garland, the party is notorious for a crowd too young to pick Garland out of a lineup. TigerHeat has played an integral role in many young L.A. gays’ coming out, and the party is still guaranteed fun for an under-21 set that worships the pop music divas spun by famed DJ Ray Rhodes. —M.C. DREAMGIRLS Rage, Tuesdays Los Angeles may have the most talented drag queens in the world, a notion reinforced when you sit down for this weekly drag show on the Santa Monica strip. Boasting a cast comprised of several RuPaul’s Drag Race contestants, Dreamgirls offers no less than a dozen performances every Tuesday night. Whether you sit through the song-anddance routine of a pageant girl or the knee-slapping set of a comedy queen, you know you’re looking at (and hopefully tipping) pure talent. —S.H.

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MEAT RACK Eagle L.A., second/fourth Saturdays No party in Los Angeles does sleazy fun like Meat Rack, a party so fun that once per month just wasn’t enough. You’ll feel the heat radiating from the bar before you step foot inside, so dress appropriately. If you’re like most patrons, that translates to practically naked. Inside you’ll find a friendly mixture of scruffy studs, hairy hunks and L.A.’s leather set, all in the mood to let off some steam. —S.H.

SIZE Here Lounge, Sundays As gay L.A.’s longest-running Sunday party, Size proves that bigger (and longer) is always better. Promoter Tom Whitman’s events are infamous for their dual draws—world-class DJs and hot boys. Artists who have graced the party’s turntables include DJs Brett Henrichsen, Manny Lehman and Josh Peace. As for the party’s sexy crowd, you may not stumble into musings on contemporary literature here, but no matter—you’ve come for the hardbodied muscle studs. —M.C.

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Sunday Funday

Full Frontal Disco

TNT

Cub Scout

Summertramp

GRUNT Eagle L.A., third Fridays The military theme of Grunt (one part of the name’s double entendre) most definitely takes a backseat to the real theme of Justin David’s Friday night party—sexy dudes stancing. The Eagle isn’t a dance club by any means, but with the pop-influenced dance tracks you’ll hear every third Friday of every month, you’ll wish it was. The party is also the perfect opportunity to change up your ‘do—high-and-tight cuts are offered right in the back of the bar. —S.H. ROOM SERVICE The Standard, Wednesdays Throwing an event in a space called “Mmhmmm” underneath The Standard sounds like something touted by Stefon on SNL’s Weekend Update, but the West Coast branch of this European dance party franchise is serious fun. DJs like gay fan favorite Derek Monteiro serve up cutting-edge underground house, and flamboyant hosts like the kooky Billy Francesca and Gregory Alexander work the room and dish out the latest fashions. Room Service is a brash—and welcome—addition to L.A.’s often-uptight nightlife scene. —M.C.

FULL FRONTAL DISCO Akbar, first Saturdays This “celebration of disco decadence” is a love letter to the bygone days of Studio 54, when gold lamé and a passion for dance were the order of the day. Resident DJs Slash Fiction keep the dance floor packed with a healthy mix of Nu-Disco and classic hits, while party head Mario Diaz’s attention to detail transforms Akbar from a watering hole into a hedonistic wonderland. Special dance performances from the likes of Hi Fashion, Ryan Heffington and other local talents make this party so much more than another night at the disco. —Brenden Shucart B BAR Eagle L.A., Thursdays L.A. residents will be hard-pressed to find a more friendly, laid-back vibe elsewhere. It’s a party where hairy dudes take a breather before the weekend attacks, relaxing with a cold beer in a welcome environment. B Bar is more akin to a book club than a sweaty dance party—on the patio, conversations are held and cigarettes are smoked; inside the local bear community sways to the beats of a rotating DJ roster. —S.H.

WE OWN THE NIGHT Secret Downtown locations Serious fans of dirty disco, deep house and all things illicit know that sometimes you have to travel off the beaten path in order to find the best party in Los Angeles. This ‘members and their guests only’ event caters to an eclectic and diverse crowd united by a shared love of music and dancing. To stay informed of upcoming parties you must first apply for a We Own the Night membership card on the party’s website. —K.W. BEARS IN SPACE Akbar lot, summer months Were this party a more regular affair it would have placed much higher on our list. We want more, dammit! The biggest and best lot party of L.A.’s East Side, Bears in Space is notorious for a sea of hirsute, disco-loving hipsters, world-class DJs, pop-up shops, food trucks, a bouncy house for the kids (though there are none) and jaw-dropping drag routines that sometimes introduce the ‘cool kids’ to their new favorite performer. Vive le summer. —S.H. THE CAFETERIA The Short Stop, third Tuesdays This monthly shindig boasts a friendly and loyal crowd of hard-dancing hipster boys and low-key, stylish ladies. They’re drawn back each month by the sensual beats of DJ Sindri Salad, affordable drink specials, surprise appearances by the likes of Jake Shears and San Francisco’s DJ P-Play and one of the only worthwhile dance floors on L.A.’s East Side. Stick around for the “midnight assembly,” featuring performances from some of the city’s most talented queer dance and drag artists. —B.S. HOT ROD/OTTER POP Micky’s, Wednesdays Hump day sleaze-fest Hot Rod—a party that drives straight to the point by showcasing fast men, hard bodies and an appreciation for manual stick shifts— switches things up with Otter Pop (which takes over every first Wednesday of the month)—a party for WeHo residents who don’t pluck their brows and appreciate a hairy mug. Both parties are meant for cruising, and it’s likely you won’t drive home with an empty passenger seat. —M.C.

FLASHBACK SATURDAYS Revolver Video Bar, Saturdays The appeal of this WeHo watering hole has always been its nostalgia factor, and on this night the usual contemporary pop standards and music videos make way for ‘80s and ‘90s classics. Like a revolving door, this party is sure to bring you back ‘time after time,’ but it’s the $5 happy hour cocktails and bevy of sexy go-go dancers that’ll keep you here once the sentimentality begins to fade. —M.C.

TNT Micky’s, Tuesdays Another nostalgia night but one that skews slightly younger, Totally Nineties Tuesdays celebrates highlights of the Crazy Sexy Cool epoch. The party’s ‘90sera soundtrack emphasizes the decade’s most danceable hits, courtesy of L.A. DJ staples Casey Alva and Josh Peace. While popular party Evita may attract the alt-kids every Tuesday night, TNT draws the mainstream millenials. —M.C.

CLASSIC BEER BUST Faultline, Sundays This one’s the grandaddy of L.A. beer busts, and we aren’t referring to that dude who dances like a drunk baby onstage each week. A Silver Lake institution, the beer bust at this storied East Side haunt is always packed, and there’s nothing you can do about that—just accept the fact that you’ll likely get groped and appreciate the sentiment while it lasts. —S.H.

SUNDAY FUNDAY The Abbey, Sundays Who says gays don’t go to church? We just call it The Abbey. Instead of imbibing the body and blood of Christ to get into heaven, we imbibe overpriced Bloody Marys to get over last night’s hangover. West Hollywood may offer a plethora of brunch spots, but only here will you find a side of high-profile DJs and inked go-go gods with your huevos rancheros. Just don’t indulge in too much sin, because tomorrow is a workday. —M.C. APRIL 15, 2014

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Trannyshack L.A.

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FRESH CLASSIC FRIDAYS Eleven Nightclub, Fridays The name of this weekly Friday party, the brainchild of über-promoters Jeffrey Sanker and Paul Nicholls, sums up the quintessential WeHo nightlife experience—constant evolution that retains a sense of familiarity. Most familiar is the loop—from the bar to the smoking patio to the upstairs VIP lounge—that this two-story venue is tailored for. More intimate than a fullon dance club experience, Fresh Classic Fridays are a proper Boystown diversion. —M.C. JACK Secret Downtown locations Who is Jack? Jack is your all-night roaming dance party that draws in fashionable and flamboyant mixed crowds of straights and gays. The product of acclaimed resident lesbian DJ Jeniluv, Jack never fails to turn up the volume and the energy at its periodic secret themed events, including the recent We Are Monsters—an insanely over-the-top costume party. For updates on upcoming events, head to whoisjack.net, but promise us you’ll keep this one hush hush. —K.W. ABSOLUT UNDRWURLD Faultline, Thursdays It’s a party meant for exhibitionists and those who simply like to watch. Faultline is always a short stumble away if it’s cheap beer and cocktails you’re looking for, but here’s a night where the stiff drinks are even cheaper when you remove those pesky pants. A free pants check outside on the patio—that has most of the bar’s patrons in their skivvies—and fun rock and dance tracks are the real draw here. —S.H. 32

FRONTIERSLA.COM

Ginger

CLUB MACHO MAN Circus Disco, Fridays We offer props to any L.A. affair going on its 14th anniversary, let alone a party for gay boys (you know we’re a fickle bunch). Club Macho Man’s mostly Latin crowd is a loyal one, showing up week after week to dance, drink and stand in jaw-dropped amusement before the midnight drag show. One of the biggest clubs on the West Coast, it’s hard to get bored when there are four dance floors with sexy men tearing it up. —S.H. GINGER The Eagle, first Saturdays The beauty of L.A.’s East Side is its ability to fetishize even the most mundane aspects of life—body hair, uniforms, even hair color. Once each month the L.A. branch of the kink clutch that is the Eagle idolizes our red-headed brethren, drawing gaggles of gingers and their admirers. Conceived by Cody Bayne and DJ Eric Adams, the party’s most prominent feature is its team of Ginger Chews, a pet name for the rusttopped (and bottomed, we’re sure) gogo boys. —M.C.

OBJECTS IN MOTION Akbar, third Thursdays Akbar has long been known as a hipster haven, catering to those whose tastes sit left of center. At this monthly get-together, popular local DJ Chris Bowen (Brutus, Cub Scout) spins eclectic all-vinyl sets for a crowd that eats it up with a spoon. The party now features impromptu performances by local drag talents Cupcake Cane and Killer, which means you have yet another reason to throw caution to the wind and head east. —S.H. SATURDAY NIGHT SLUT Fubar, Saturdays Most nights that excel at Fubar embrace the claustrophobic intimacy of an East Village party. Fortunately, Saturday Night Slut is helmed by NYC ex-pat Jonny McGovern, whose raunchy East Coast aesthetic folds in seamlessly with WeHo’s most beloved dive bar. While the rough trade go-go dancers are fun to watch— and apt for the party’s title—nothing can beat $1 happy hour cocktails. Nothing. —M.C.

REFLEX Ultra Suede, first Saturdays L.A. nightlife has long suffered from an absurdly early last call, but while most parties are wrapping up at 2 a.m., Reflex is just getting started. As Boystown’s longest-running after-hours event, Reflex attracts some of the world’s most adept DJs. Of course, due to California’s liquor laws, the party is a dry one, so the focus is on the music—well, that and whatever else is keeping patrons awake til the sun comes up. —M.C. SMOKIN’ SATURDAYS Jewel’s Catch One, Saturdays Opened in 1972 as the first black LGBT disco in the U.S., Jewel’s Catch One hosted the release party for Madonna’s Music album back in 2000. While the club may no longer enjoy that ‘celeb hangout’ reputation of yesteryear, it’s still one of the city’s best venues for a high-energy night out devoid of pretension and judgment. Open til 4 a.m. on Saturdays, enjoy the best Top 40, hiphop, R&B, soul, dance, reggae and house tracks here on the dance floor. —S.H. TRANNYSHACK L.A. Dragonfly, semi-regularly The L.A. offshoot of this infamous San Francisco party happens only once or twice each year, but every time it’s as if a hurricane has ravaged our fair city. Who knows how the Bay Area stays upright? There’s no drag show quite like this one—presented by SF legend Heklina and L.A. promoter Cody Bayne (Ginger)—which consistently serves up batshit crazy routines from the likes of kooky local queens and the occasional bigname talent from out of town. —S.H.

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Inferno

Olé Olé

Hustler Thursdays

Drunk On Stage

PLAZA Plaza, weekends The weekend drag shows at Plaza aren’t comprised exclusively of Latin numbers (Lady Gaga and Shania Twain will occasionally stop by), but the real draw at this divey cantina are the super-serious impersonations of Latin music’s finest songstresses. Leave any pretension at the door, step up to the bar and order a bucket of Coronas with plenty of fresh lime. Stay for one of the night’s two shows, and after you’re tipsy, stumble half a block down to Pink’s for a hot dog or two. —S.H.

45 Decade

40 SHOWGIRLS Micky’s, Mondays Full disclosure: there isn’t much going on within West Hollywood city limits on a Monday evening. This party, though, is more than worth getting dolled up on a school night. A drag show that’s of true Los Angeles caliber, Showgirls is also Logo’s official L.A. screening party for RuPaul’s Drag Race, which means each week you can watch the new episode and then watch current and past seasons’ queens perform live. They’re a catty bunch, though, so watch out for spilled marbles. —S.H.

HUSTLER THURSDAYS The Abbey, Thursdays Here’s a party that’s aptly named, whether referring to the dancers atop the go-go boxes, the party’s Hustler Hollywood cross-promotional giveaways or that shady trick working the well-dressed daddy across the room. When the gay weekend starts on Thursday, even The Abbey knows it’s gotta sweat to compete. —M.C.

DECADE Micky’s, Sundays If getting razed to the ground by fire couldn’t stop Micky’s from partying, you have no excuse to stay in on a Sunday night. The club’s post-inferno design features a second story of dance space, making it one of WeHo’s best venues for closing out the weekend. Sundays are a retro hodgepodge of ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s tracks, and no, it’s not weird that ‘90s is now considered ‘retro.’ (It just means you’re old now, boo.) —M.C.

INFERNO Faultline, first Saturdays There’s a little bit of devil in us all, and he’s guaranteed to come out and play at Inferno. From the party’s chest-rattling heavy metal soundtrack and offbeat performance art pieces to the brilliant costumes and sets crafted by ringleader Matt Scott, this is a theme party worthy of an L.A. crowd. —S.H.

44 RECESS Eleven Nightclub, Tuesdays For the 18+ set, TigerHeat events are always a sure shot for nightlife hijinx. Recess—the Tuesday night twink fest presided over by DJ Ray Rhodes and the rest of the TigerHeat crew—bounces with the signature sugar-pop beats that typify the famed event brand, but in a much more intimate setting. Think of Recess as an appetizer before Thursday night’s main course. —M.C.

OLÉ OLÉ Cobra, Saturdays Those on the hunt for Latin music (and perhaps a Latin lover) best venture to North Hollywood and charm the Cobra. L.A.’s premier Hispanic gay bar attracts some of the city’s sexiest guys, free of inhibitions and ready to dance. Cobra’s inside décor is admittedly 818 through and through, but it’s no secret that Cobra isn’t relying on architectural aesthetics to get by. Stop in for a live show by Karlotta and music by DJ Raul and you’re in for a sweaty, raucous fiesta. —M.C. DRUNK ON STAGE Akbar, Tuesdays While not a party per se, it’s proven that laughter can cure what ails ya, and that’s good enough for us. This 7-year-old showcase of LGBT and gay-adjacent stand-up comedy—the innovation of local talents Bruce Daniels and Erin Foley—is a guaranteed fun time if ever there was one. Past performers have included everyone from Fortune Feimster and Shawn Pelofsky to perennial gay favorite Margaret Cho. —S.H. MUSICAL MONDAYS Eleven Nightclub, Mondays If West Hollywood were a high school, Musical Mondays would be the glee club. Presented by Ryan O’Connor, the weekly party showcases the best musical theater talent in L.A. Recent performers include the cast of the satirical 50 Shades: The Musical and Tony Award-winner Daisy Egan. It’s a weekly must for those queens who live to mix their showtunes and cocktails. —M.C.

LUMBERJACKED Eagle L.A., first Sundays Sundays are sacred for the gay boys of Los Angeles. Sun-drenched day-drinking is taken very seriously, perhaps nowhere more so than at the Eagle, where the drink of choice is light draft beer and the music is always edgy but fun. Of the storied leather bar’s Sundays, the month’s first one reigns supreme, offering an all-day beer bust, slutty—er, sexy—go-go dancers and a friendly, sloshed crowd. —S.H.

BIG BAD WOLF Faultline, third Saturdays The brainchild of Shawn Morales, whom you likely know as a Pit Crew member on RuPaul’s Drag Race, Big Bad Wolf is a party that huffs and puffs to bring you a weekend you won’t forget. Cheap drinks and sexy tunes are the name of the game, brought to you by a team of hosts dubbed the “Wolf Pack”—local party people and some of L.A.’s sexiest go-go gods. —S.H.

RETRO DISCO NIGHT Oil Can Harry’s, Saturdays Describing this line-dancing haven as ‘retro’ is a tad redundant, but every Saturday night Oil Can Harry’s replaces the Boot Scootin’ Boogie with the Hustle. This Valley venue regularly attracts a more mature audience, so a ‘70sthemed night is really more nostalgic than novelty. For those used to the bar’s Country-Western style, Saturdays are a chance to swap boots and head-to-toe denim for platforms and polyester. —M.C.

PHOTO CREDITS: Photos of Brutus, Big Fat Dick, Bears in Space, Full Frontal Disco, Cub Scout, Sunday Funday, Trannyshack L.A., Ginger and Hustler Thursdays courtesy of Rolling-Blackouts, Rolling-Blackouts.com. Photo of Stripper Circus courtesy of Brenden-John Photography. Photo of Flashback Saturdays courtesy of Revolver Video Bar. Photo of TNT courtesy of Jason King Photo. Summertramp photo courtesy of Summertramp. Photo of Inferno courtesy of Matt Scott. Photos of Olé Olé courtesy of ClubCobraLA.com.

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GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

These L.A. parties may be defunct today, but damn were they a good time. Their spirit lives on in the promoters, DJs and partygoers who remember them fondly. Here they are in no particular order. —S.H.

BEIGE

HOT DOG

CLUB MAKEUP

Tuesdays at 360, later Falcon

Saturdays at The Parlour Club, and later 7969, Palms, Dragonfly

El Rey Theater

This famed weeknight fête, initially begun by Billy Erb, DJ Victor Rodriguez and Rusty Updegraff, was L.A.’s see-andbe-seen party from its beginning in 1998 until its final hoorah in 2009. “Being on the 19th floor, we had 360degree views of the entire city, so it was like one big VIP room,” says Updegraff. “People say they loved that it gave them a place to dress up. Celebrities just started showing up—Demi Moore, Naomi Campbell, Mark Walhberg, Janet Jackson, Madonna, Debbie Harry, Grace Jones and tons of others just tearing it up with the gays (and some straights) on the dance floor.” “One of my favorite memories from Beige was the time Grace Jones showed up 30 minutes before we were closing and asked if we could keep the party going for a little longer,” Rodriguez remembers. “We had an intimate disco party with her ‘til 6 a.m. At the end of it she came up to me, gave me a huge hug and said we’d taken her on a musical trip she’d not been on in a very long time.”

A legendary weekly party by a ‘fresh from New York’ Mario Diaz (find his interview with Jackie Beat on p. 58), Hot Dog was the place to be in West Hollywood for years. The party jumped around a bit towards the end, but it was always the most fun group of people to ever gather in one space. “Hot Dog was my first parlay into L.A. nightlife from NYC, so I brought to town the kind of grit that turns me on,” says Diaz. “I don’t think L.A. had ever really hosted the kind of parties I was known for on the East Coast—dark, loud, smoky, retro porninspired, themed sets, costumed go-go dancers. Basically any fantasy I had in my head I’d put onstage, and it wasn’t about standing around and looking cute—we danced. When I got here it looked like all the homos in this town had a bar of soap in their pocket, so I made it my job to dirty them up a bit. I think I did well.”

From 1999 to 2002, there was always a line around the block for Club Makeup. It was a raunchier, glam rock version of oldschool disco parties, and the midnight rock show had a life of its own. “Club Makeup was amazing,” recalls Willam. “It was everything. I remember Momma stacking my arms with her costumes and boxes, high enough that they couldn’t see my face and card me. “Sometimes you got paid, sometimes you didn’t, but it was the pool that I learned to swim in: singing backup for Dee Dee Ramone on ‘I Wanna Be Sedated’ for his last show on a Saturday night (he was discovered dead Monday morning after OD'ing); singing with Adam Lambert and Alexis Arquette and Linda Perry and so many other cool people made me realize I didn’t have to become a lip-synching clone. I could do drag any way I wanted.”

Dragstrip 66

Club Makeup Beige

Hot Dog

Studio One

DIRTY DEEDS

STUDIO ONE

DRAGSTRIP 66

CHERRY

Wednesdays at Fubar

Studio One

Various L.A. locales

Fridays at the Love Lounge (now Ultra Suede)

An L.A. sleazefest that would have made New York’s East Village proud, porn directrix Chi Chi LaRue and Michael Schmidt (himself a famed New York party maestro) really knew how to throw a party in the late ‘00s. “Dirty Deeds was the brain demon of fashion icon Michael Schmidt and myself,” LaRue recalls. “We wanted to bring some cock ‘n’ roll to West Hollywood! Porn stars and rock stars, designers and celebs, drag queens and tranzillas—all dancing their butts off to Blondie, Kiss, Cher and The Runaways! One night we had Nina Hagen and Dita Von Teese, and another we had Brigitte Nielsen and Chris Crocker. It was the best and funnest club in L.A.!”

Back in the ‘70s and ‘80s, Studio One was L.A.’s answer to famed New York hotspot Studio 54. Its logo was a winged pegasus, its staff was renowned for wearing tight satin shorts, and the club beckoned all sorts of celebs, musical acts and legends. “Studio One was magical,” says Dana Miller. “New Year’s Eve and Halloween were over-the-top, but just about every night was spectacular. Owner Scott Forbes (rumored to have the biggest cock in L.A.) just knew how to toss a party. With its myriad of labyrinthine rooms, spectacular strobe lighting, disco balls and music that was decidedly our own, pre-AIDS and pre-liberation, Studio One was a place where gay men felt free to be true—even if just for a few hours.”

Dragstrip attained legendary status over its 20-year run as a truly alternative bacchanal of trashy drag (for straights and gays), hot guys, strong drinks and insanely cool music. According to the party’s founder Paul V., “Dragstrip 66 started because Silver Lake needed an alternative space that welcomed everybody. Monthly pop culture parody themes inspired crossdressing and drag personas. There was no attitude, the music was everything under the sun and the drinks were lethally strong. The queens were messy and the boys were horny—you didn’t go there to get laid, but you always did!” Watch out for a ‘frockumentary’ about the party, coming soon.

Constantly packed with artists, drag queens and rockers, from 1994 to 2002, the guests at Cherry were the entertainment. At the party’s four-year anniversary party in ‘98, a surprise performance by Bow Wow Wow had to be cut short because the crowd so exceeded the bar’s capacity. “Cherry and Club Makeup were the first places I made a name for myself in the L.A. nightlife scene,” says Raja. “I met everyone I know now at these clubs. I go-go danced in drag every week, and I loved every moment. It was centered in L.A., but the cast of characters was otherworldly. It changed my life, especially when I saw a drag queen pull her cock out at the bar and pee on the carpet ... or, wait, I think that was me.”

> OTHER FABULOUS PARTIES OF YESTERYEAR < >< Club Louie >< Club Sucker >< Helter Skelter >< Men’s Room >< Scream >< Shits & Giggles >< Sin-a-matic >< Sit and Spin >< Velvet >< 34

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY ASTUDILLO-PHOTO.COM Nestled among a fairly quiet stretch of Sunset Boulevard sits one of Hollywood’s most iconic, storied works of design. For 42 years the space housed famed Moroccan restaurant Dar Maghreb, but last year the venue was reborn as Acabár, best described as an international journey for the senses, inviting you to drink, dine and dance with abandon. Located on the corner of Sunset and Stanley Avenue, step into Acabár when you’re seeking out a stellar meal (a journey along the Spice Trail by L.A. chef Octavio Becerra), delicious and meticulously crafted cocktails (a program representing an accurate history of the cocktail, developed by esteemed mixologists Josh Goldman and Julian Cox), a night of entertainment that includes everything from impromptu live performances to cultivated DJ sets, or perhaps a mirthful night of all three.

From outside, Acabár’s windowless walls give no sense of the beauty that awaits you inside—emblematic Moroccan arches, original glazed tiles, intricate brass and glass lanterns, ornately carved plaster and wood friezework, elaborately painted beamed ceilings and low-slung seating made up of plush banquettes. There’s no place this side of Marrakesh quite like this bar/restaurant/lounge, which makes it the perfect backdrop for our annual “L.A. After Dark” photo shoot. The following pages feature a feast for the senses, bolstered by a gorgeous setting but, foremost, courtesy of three gorgeous models showcasing amazing after-dark fashion reminiscent of L.A.’s hippest revelers. The ensembles featured here are a perfect alloy of sophistication and sex—the calling card of L.A.’s nightlife culture—and we think you’ll agree. —Stephan Horbelt APRIL 15, 2014

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BEN: BLAZER BY THE RAS COLLECTION, SHIRT BY H&M, PANTS BY ZARA, POCKET SQUARE BY POLO BY RALPH LAUREN, WATCH BY BURBERRY, SHOES BY H BY HUDSON (ALSO ON PREVIOUS PAGE) CAMERON: SHIRT BY ENTRﾃ右 LS, PANTS BY THEORY, ASCOT BY GENTS CLOSET, BELT BY J. CAMPBELL

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GEORGE: VEST BY VINTAGE ARMANI, SHIRT BY KRAMMER & STOUDT, PANTS BY H&M, TIE BY CALVIN KLEIN, BELT BY J. CAMPBELL, SHOES BY H BY HUDSON APRIL 15, 2014

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BEN: VEST BY VINTAGE ARMANI, SHIRT BY KRAMMER & STOUDT, PANTS BY H&M, TIE BY CALVIN KLEIN, BELT BY J. CAMPBELL, SHOES BY H BY HUDSON

CAMERON: CARDIGAN BY VINTAGE PRADA, SHIRT BY KRAMMER & STOUDT, SCARF BY H&M, SUSPENDERS BY H&M

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GEORGE: CARDIGAN BY H&M, SHIRT BY H&M, BOW TIE BY MR HYDE BOW

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BEN: BLAZER BY PRINCE EDWARD BY LORD WEST, SHIRT BY KRAMMER & STOUDT, PANTS BY THEORY, BOWTIE BY GENTS CLOSET, SHOES BY H BY HUDSON GEORGE: BLAZER BY H&M, SHIRT BY VINTAGE MARIO VALENTINO, PANTS BY H&M, TIE BY CALVIN KLEIN, POCKET SQUARE BY PENGUIN, BELT BY J. CAMPBELL, SHOES BY H BY HUDSON CAMERON: BLAZER BY BLACKBIRD JEANS, VEST BY VINTAGE DSQUARED2, SHIRT BY J. CHEIKH, PANTS BY H&M, SHOES BY H BY HUDSON

Styling: Jack Austin, jackaustinstyling.com and Diana Bowland, dianabowland.com || Grooming: Phoebe Dawson using MAC, phoebedawson.com Location: Acabรกr, 1510 N. Stanley Ave., Hollywood. acabar-la.com APRIL 15, 2014

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As baseball season kicks off, gays are left wondering, whereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s our #42? by Frank Bua

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While the pace of a baseball game may be too sluggish for some, the sport—as a reflection of American culture—has progressed steadily, remaining if not ahead of the social curve then certainly in line with the times.

abe Ruth served as the poster child for the conspicuous consumption of the 1920s, and Ted Williams, by giving up his prime years to enlist in the war effort, embodied the type of sacrifice that many Americans were willing to make in the 1940s. Sometimes the National Pastime has been socially brazen and downright progressive, like when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947, years before the Warren Court desegregated schools “with all deliberate speed.” And international ballplayers have long found a friendly home in the States even as our immigration policy remains as much of a Cold War relic as Vladimir Putin. So with progress a part of the DNA of MLB, it is befuddling that the boys of summer are poised to become the last men standing in the closet. With public opinion of the LGBT community riding high, each theory put forth to justify baseball’s great gay rain delay rips as hollow as Alex Rodriguez’s hopes for the Hall of Fame. The money? Some players may fear the repercussions of Madison Avenue more than those of Main Street, but with an average baseball salary of $3.39 million, this excuse is getting stale. The Locker Room? Sure, the culture of the clubhouse will undergo a few adjustments, but given what we’ve learned from the NFL bullying fiasco, that may not be such a bad thing. The Distraction? The perceived ill effect of being “that guy”— the one whose sexual revelation detracts from the team’s mission—has precipitously faded in the past year. Robbie Rodgers shook up the soccer world by coming out in his blog, and soccer is no less boring since his revelation. Jason Collins has spent more time graciously handling questions from the press about the basketball court than he has the locker room. Michael Sam will soon find his sexual preference does little to detract from his placement in the NFL draft or his prowess on the field. Still, there is no gay player standing in the on-deck circle, and the absence is conspicuous.

Jason Collins

Ironically, Major League Baseball is perhaps the best situated of all major league sports to handle the attention—and to ease the assimilation—of a gay ballplayer, and the league is covering its bases to prepare for the inevitable. More than half of major league baseball teams— even the Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves, and including L.A.’s own Dodgers—host annual LGBT nights for fans. Last summer, the league issued a new code of conduct that strengthened its stance against discrimination by including provisions on sexual orientation. Last fall, MLB honored GLAAD’s Spirit Day by turning all teams’ Twitter avatars the requisite purple for the day. And just last month, Justin Verlander and David Ortiz vocally supported a prospective gay teammate with a Seinfeldian “not that there’s anything wrong with that” nonchalance. Perhaps these players understand that only baseball—with its Norman Rockwell imagery and deep hold on the American psyche—can unequivocally banish the stigma of a gay player. Or maybe they are just keeping up with the times. Either way, baseball is ready for an openly gay man to waltz up to the plate. It has been 11 years since Richard Greenberg’s play Take Me Out—the story of a popular baseball player who comes out of the closet—bowed on Broadway. Mason Marzac, the player’s accountant memorably portrayed by Denis O’Hare, ultimately comes to recognize the transcendent power of the sport when he opines, "Baseball is better than democracy—or at least democracy as it’s practiced in this country—because unlike democracy, baseball acknowledges loss and that the seemingly pointless, time-wasting home run trot is a vital ritual that honors our desire to show respect for one another. For what we can be.” And we can be better than this. It is time for one brave gay man to put an end to this game of ‘hide and seek’ in the MLB. Come out, come out, whomever you are. If history is any indication, your teammates will be waiting for you with a high five—or maybe a pat on the ass.

Robbie Rogers

Michael Sam

MEET OUR NEW FAVORITE ATHLETES, MAJOR LEAGUE’S ‘GAY HALL OF FLAMERS’ NBA player Jason Collins publicly came out after the 2012-13 season concluded. He became a free agent and didn’t play again until last February, when he signed with the New Jersey Nets and became the first out athlete to play in the major leagues. Robbie Rogers came out in February 2013, the second male footballer in Britain to do so, before joining the L.A. Galaxy last May. Football player Michael Sam is a defensive end who attended the University of Missouri and came out as gay after completing his college football career. If Sam is signed to a major league team, he would become the first active NFL player to come out as gay. APRIL 15, 2014

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Events

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Nightlife

Wed. | April 2

to learn Shakespearean verse in a five-week period. Through April 19. thebroadstage.com

Palm Springs

Fri. | April 4

CLUB SKIRTS DINAH SHORE WEEKEND More than 15,000 women from all over the world are once again expected to gather at the biggest lesbian event in the world. Celebrating its 24th anniversary, this unique five-day event features headliners Tegan and Sara, Eve and Iggy Azalea along with several other Grammyworthy talents. Through April 6. thedinah.com Thu. | April 3

COUNTRY ROADS: A JOHN DENVER CELEBRATION El Portal Theatre Starring Jim Curry, this is a multimedia musical production celebrating the music, life and legacy of John Denver. Curry’s voice was heard in the TV movie Take Me Home: The John Denver Story, and the tribute artist has performed Denver’s music in soldout shows throughout the country. Through April 13. elportal theatre.com Thu. | April 3

DRAG & MODERN DANCE COLLIDE REDCAT With a bold theatrical vision and a score of remixed pop, electronica and more, Trajal Harrell concocts an intoxicating blend of strutting, voguing, extravagantly outré fashion and irresistible movement in the latest and largest edition of his acclaimed series of works, the full title of which is Antigone Sr./Twenty Looks or Paris is Burning at the Judson Church (L). redcat.org Thu. | April 3

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM The Broad Stage An experimental puppetry performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream hits the stage with very energetic actors who have never worked with puppets before this production, and who also had

CUB SCOUT Eagle L.A. One of the East Side’s most popular parties is a signature blend of rhythm, soul and cute bearded boys. The DJ duo Critter Control— Chris Bowenand Victor Rodriguez—along with San Francisco Den Mother Lady Bear will have you dancing, cruising and drinking cheap draft beer throughout the evening. eaglela.com Fri. | April 4

HOMECOMING QUEEN’S GOT A MUSICAL Cavern Club Theatre This production is an ‘80s music video set onstage, filled with singing, dancing and murder. Students are dropping dead at Betty Ford High, yet all attention is on the highly anticipated homecoming. Join Julie Brown and best friend Debbie Dickey as they count down the minutes ... and the student bodies. Through April 6. juliebrown.tix.com Sat. | April 5

2014 CELEBRITY DOODLES Palm Springs Air Museum Created by Alan Hamel, manager and husband of Suzanne Somers, 2014 Celebrity Doodles is the desert’s “ultimate cocktail party.” The event recruits its celebrity friends to donate art, tickets to special events, signed memorabilia or make a “doodle” to benefit the event’s charity partner, The Desert AIDS Project. This year’s event includes doodles from Pam Ann, Susan Anton and more, with Taylor Dayne scheduled to perform. celebrity doodles.com

Theater

Exhibits

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Lynda Carter is Having the Time of Her Life BY MIKE PINGEL

Lynda Carter will always and forever be our Wonder Woman, but her real passion is singing. She’ll be performing her yearly concert in L.A. for two nights this month at the Catalina Jazz Club. We were able to chat with her about the new tour, Arizona bill veto, kissing Ashton Kutcher and more. Your upcoming tour is titled “The Time of My Life.” Are you having the time of your life? I am having the time of my life! My kids are doing well, my life is going well, I’m happy, I’m working. It’s more about the experiences in your life. Every day is going well. It’s nice. What do you have in store for this year’s audience? Every year I pull together a list of new songs I want to do. I go down to Nashville with the band, and we all work on the new songs. I have a general idea how I want it to go. We create these new and different approaches to the songs. I’m thinking I want to do a mixture of old-timey and new. There’s a Patty Loveless song, and an Amy Winehouse song. I might do a Gotye song. I love Sara Bareilles’ “Brave.” The message in that song is really great. Does any one thing stand out from last year’s concert tour? I met Pete Marston, the son of the creator of Wonder Woman! He is in his 80s but keen of mind. He and his family came to see the show, and I spent some time with them. Then we went up to his house, where he has a museum of Wonder Woman. It was so wonderful that I was able to meet these people whose father created something that changed my life. Speaking of Wonder Woman, do you have

LYNDA CARTER’S THE TIME OF MY LIFE Catalina Jazz Club April 11 & 12 catalinajazzclub.com

any advice for upcoming actress Gal Gadot? None whatsoever! She will have her hands full. I wish her luck. I hope they portray Wonder Woman as she is intended to be. If they ever redo it, I hope they would talk to me. They really should get a handle on what the intention was with Wonder Woman to begin with and keep the mission of peace. Wonder Woman is having a resurgence. Microsoft is using my Wonder Woman in their commercials. In Vegas, they are making a slot machine with me on it. You recently had a guest appearance on Two and a Half Men. From one to 10, how would you rate kissing Ashton Kutcher? That would be weird, weird, weird! I can’t even go there. We were hearsing, and I took him aside—I had my iPad with me—I said, “Ashton, I’ve got to tell you something. Every time I’m about to kiss you, I just want to giggle.” He said, “Oh, don’t worry about it,” thinking it’s because he’s Ashton Kutcher. I said, “No, no, no, you don’t understand.” Then I opened up my iPad and showed him a picture of my son. “This is my son. He’s 26. This is too weird.” It was so cougar. He’s a bit old to be my son, but it still felt like that—and then I got over it.

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Sat. | April 5

DON THOMPSON LGBT FILM FESTIVAL

David DeSantos as MacDuff (left) and Elijah Alexander as Macbeth

The Seventh Annual Don Thompson LGBT Film Festival showcases up-and-coming Trojan LGBTQ filmmakers and has become one of USC Lambda’s signature events over the years. Submissions include an eclectic mix of genres, and awards will be handed out for artistic merit and LGBT awareness. tinyurl.com/m483zqb Sat. | April 5

GINGER Eagle L.A. This party for redheads and the men who love them features a pack of Ginger Chew go-go dancers and sounds by DJ Eric Adams. The red-hot night is hosted by the ginge-tinged lady boy Devan M. eaglela.com Sat. | April 5

RHYE Walt Disney Concert Hall Pop-soul duo Rhye make a special appearance accompanied by a live band—supplemented with strings, brass and woodwinds—specifically for this show. Comprised of two artists who admired each others’ work, Michael Milosh and Robin Hannibal seamlessly blend their talents on their full-length album, Woman. laphil.com

A BLOODY GOOD TIME The fact that Shakespeare’s body of work is “I’ve directed a lot of Shakespeare,” says Carbrilliant isn’t exactly up for debate. But what could penter, “but this play is the one I keep returning to— make a staging of Macbeth even more appealing? Gorfantastically well-constructed, it contains some of the geous, oft-shirtless actors playing the lead roles, Bard’s absolute best poetry. Macbeth is a present tense and fresh, modern costumes, naturally. event where the characters dance with evil forces, Directed by esteemed Tony Award nominee Larry and my staging includes the audience as participants.” Carpenter, this production marks the first time Yet another draw for gay theater fans are in more than a decade that A Noise Within the production’s costumes, designed by has staged the Bard’s most timeless dark Jenny Foldenauer, which sit somewhere MACBETH tragedy. Written between 1603 and 1607, between Marc Jacobs—men in long black A Noise Within Macbeth tells the story of a Scottish general shirts and combat boots—and AlexanThrough May 11 who overhears witches prophesy that he will anoisewithin.org der McQueen—particularly Lady Macbeth’s gowns. one day be king. Consumed by ambition and While this production of Macbeth runs spurred to action by his power-hungry wife, through May 11, join artists from the production Macbeth murders the king and seizes the throne. for a post-show informal dialogue with audience memTo protect his reign, more murders follow, leading him bers on April 11, 27 and May 9. and his wife into a battle with madness and death.

» CUB SCOUT | EAGLE L.A. |

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PHOTO: CRAIG SCHWARTZ

USC

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EATING

OUT

Hakkasan

233 N. Beverly Dr., Bev. Hills (310) 888-86 61 $$$$ hakkasanbeve rlyhills.com

» PLASTIC FANTASTIC | ELEVEN NIGHTCLUB Photos by Davide Laffe Imaging

CAGE DINING BY ERIC ROSEN

Isn’t that a nightclub? No one can blame you for thinking Beverly Hills’ newest dining hotspot is a swank nightlife destination, thanks to the Hakkasan brand’s other farflung franchises, from Dubai to Mumbai to Shanghai. But Hakkasan has a fine-dining side as well, and in this newest, architecturally stunning iteration, that means mouthwatering multi-course Asian-inspired banquets that are meant to impress. Over-the-top ostentation is tempered by elegance here. The moment you walk

STANDOUTS: Bird's Eye Margarita, Crispy Duck Salad, Tea-Smoked Short Ribs

in the massive but understated sculpted metal doors, you are shown through the dining room, which is in fact a series of dining ‘cages’ screened from one another by intricately carved Chinese screens. The effect is that of an exotic maze where guests are given tantalizing glimpses of food as it is carried by. At the far end is the bar, backed by a lit-up white marble calacatta wall. (Try

the Sidecar, made with Calvados and Mandarin Napeoleon, or the Bird’s Eye margarita—El Silencio Joven mescal sweetened with agave nectar and Creole bitters, then garnished with bird’s eye chile for a delicious kick.) The menu was created by Michelinstarred chef Ho Chee Boon and has no shortage of already-signature dishes. Every meal should start with what is probably the bestknown dish here, the crispy duck salad with juicy pomelo pulp, pomegranate seeds, pine nuts, fresh cress and microgreens, topped with slivers of lotus root and hoisin-plumsoya dressing. As with all the dishes here, the waitstaff—we had no fewer than five people attending our table’s various needs throughout the evening—will present the dish, list its ingredients and portion it out to the diners. Other amazing dishes include the fragrant jasmine tea-smoked pork short ribs, the dim sum platter—featuring Chinese chive dumplings, black crab and squidink dumplings, succulent scallop shu mai and simple shrimp har gau—and the grilled sea bass with Chinese honey. For dessert, the platter of exotic fruits— including baby guava and dragonfruit—is a simple standout, while the black sesame florentine with yuzu ice cream, caramelized pine nut clusters and flourless chocolate cake is a beguiling mélange of east-meetswest flavors. The restaurant has also launched a new lunch menu that treats midday diners to signature items. The $29 prix-fixe menu is designed to get diners in and out in 45 minutes for lunch-on-the-go.

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6 Things We Hope to Taste at

THE CENTER’S ANNUAL FOOD FEST

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The last 12 months of carb-starving was worth it. You’re now svelte enough to indulge in a well-deserved binge, and just in time for the ninth annual L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center’s Simply diVine Wine and Food Tasting. This hardcore nosh-fest at the Village at Ed Gould Plaza raises funds for the vital community organization by sampling food and drinks from some of the city’s best restaurants and food trucks. Here are some of the treats we hope to pig out on this year. —Mike Ciriaco

MAC ‘N’ CHEESE BALLS FROM FRED 62

SIMPLY DiVINE The Village at Ed Gould Plaza April 9, 5-9 p.m. simplydivinela2014.org

3. BEER-AND-PRETZEL ICE CREAM FROM COOLHAUS

5. EUREKA! WIT FROM ANGEL CITY BREWERY

This retro Los Feliz diner serves up one of the tastiest guilty pleasures in L.A. Delivering exactly what the name promises, these silver dollar-sized balls of macaroni and cheese are breaded and deep-fried to perfection. Who needs nutritional value when you have cheesy goodness?

L.A.’s agriculturally inspired ice cream truck offers a wide selection of creamy confections, the most badass being this dark stoutflavored ice cream balanced by the saltiness of pretzels.

DTLA’s most distinguished brewery takes a traditional Belgium white ale and gives it the Cali facelift. Its sugary aromatic notes harmonize perfectly with the coming summer months, making it perfect for this jubilant food fair.

2. POT ROAST FROM JAR

Arguably SoCal’s trendiest burger chain, Umami spins the classic burger into a cutting-edge designer tastebud-tickler. Pray there will be slider versions of this truffleglazed indulgence at the big event.

Chef Suzanne Tracht’s modern American chop house is legendary for its choice selection of steaks, but Jar’s signature entrée is its pot roast. Fingers crossed they’ll be serving this homestyle belly-filler.

4. TRUFFLE BURGER FROM UMAMI BURGER

6. ASTURIAS BLEND FROM JONES COFFEE ROASTING CO. The Pasadena-based Jones Coffee Co. lives by the mantra “Roasted locally, sought globally.” This weekend, we hope to tweak on a cup of the Asturias Blend, an intense, fullbodied java that’ll kickstart the evening nicely.

Find more photo albums at FrontiersLA.com/Entertainment

» SUNDAY FUNDAY | THE ABBEY |

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FRONTIERS NIGHT OUT

» FULL FRONTAL DISCO | AKBAR |

Photos by Rolling-Blackouts

Sat. | April 5

RETURN TO GREY GARDENS Wilshire Ebell Theatre

San Francisco drag icon Peaches Christ and current RuPaul’s Drag Race reigning superstar Jinkx Monsoon star in this fully realized production written exclusively for the stage. Following the 90-minute performance, guests in costume will be invited onstage to participate in an “Either Edie Costume Contest,” hosted and judged by the two drag superstars. Return to Grey Gardens met with sold-out crowds in San Francisco and Seattle last October, so don’t miss this one-night-only event. peacheschrist.com

Sun. | April 6

MY LIFE IS... POETRY READING L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center The My Life Is... Poetry Reading is a culmination of a poetry workshop for LGBT seniors. Students will read autobiographical poetry created in class, voicing perspective from a place of experience, defiance, vulnerability and heart. facebook.com/50pluslgbt Sun. | April 6

DECADE Micky’s End your weekend by dancing up a storm at thisWeHo party, where you’re sure to hear nothing but the classics. Indulge in disco-dancing go-go boys and live drag performances before you head back to work on Monday. mickys.com Through April 6

MARLENE DIETRICH AUCTION The Hollywood Museum Browse a 250-itemplus collection of personal and intimate keepsakes, memorabilia, jewelry and documents from legendary cinematic icon Marlene Dietrich. Sold by three grandchildren of the infamous actress, the auction provides unique insight into Dietrich’s life and personality. auctionmystuff.com Sun. | April 6

MINIMALIST MASTERWORKS CONCERT Walt Disney Concert Hall

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The Los Angeles Master Chorale, heralded around the globe for its exceptional artistry and wide-ranging reper-

toire, showcases works by celebrated American composers Steve Reich and David Lang. The concert is part of the second installment of the L.A.Phil’s citywide, multi-disciplinary Minimalist Jukebox Festival, curated by composer John Adams. lamc.org Tue. | April 8

TNT

Micky’s Tuesdays just became da bomb! Sam Ortiz, Tom Whitman and Flip present Totally Nineties Tuesdays, the newest party to hit WeHo. Hosted by Mayhem Miller and featuring resident DJs Josh Peace and Casey Alva, you’ll hear your favorite ‘90s hits all night long. No cover all night. mickys.com Tue. | April 8

INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL ArcLight Hollywood The 12th annual Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles looks to bridge the gap between two of the world’s largest entertainment industries in the world—Hollywood and Bollywood. The six-day festival will showcase more than 30 films, host red carpet galas and bring back the Bollywood by Night series. Through April 13. indianfilmfestival.org

Thu. | April 10

UNFRAMED The Ebell of Los Angeles Art Salon This art exhibit/book launch event celebrates Camille Waldorf’s new book of the same name. The exhibition will include 20 contemporary paintings and drawings by the artist, all of which are also featured in the book, due out on April 17, with advance copies available at the exhibition. ebelloflosangeles.com

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Fri. | April 11

FRESH CLASSIC FRIDAYS 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

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will recognize and honor media for fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the LGBT community and the issues that affect our lives. The event includes a cocktail reception and silent auction, sit-down dinner/awards ceremony and a VIP after-party following the show. Jennifer Lopez, executive producer of The Fosters, will be honored. glaad.org/mediaawards

Second City Hollywood Hannah and Miley are sisters. Of course there’s sibling rivalry, but can they twerk it out? The Second City celebrates 50 years of cutting edge satiric revues and continues to deliver the leading voices in comedy while touring the globe. Fridays. secondcityhollywoodshows.com Sat. | April 12

LA TIMES FESTIVAL OF BOOKS USC The 19th annual festival celebrates creativity and the written word with art, comedy, food, music, photography and poetry. Drawing more than 150,000 attendees, the festival is—for the first time ever—calling for local talent to join the “Inspire Us” contest and upload their own work for the chance to present in front of a live audience. Through April 13. events.latimes.com Sat. | April 12

BRUTUS Faultline This packed party sails into Faultline every second Saturday of the month, and it’s all hotties on deck. Have a beer and join in on the search for hidden treasure. DJ Chris Bowen provides the soundtrack, Mark Cuadrado mixes live video montages for the crowd and Mario Diaz hosts. faultlinebar.com Sat. | April 12

COMPOSERSLAB: L.A. Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts Now in its fourth year, Composers Lab: L.A. is a day-long workshop for composers, filmmakers, students and other industry professionals looking to engage with music in film. The event will empower and connect the next wave of emerging artists by offering them access to some of the top composers working in the industry today. thewallis.org Sat. | April 12

GLAAD MEDIA AWARDS Beverly Hilton Hotel The 25th Annual GLAAD Media Awards

OUT

Sat. | April 12

EAST BOROU G

H 9810 Washing ton Blvd., Culve r City (310) 596.8263 $$$$ east-borough.c om

PLASTIC FANTASTIC

Through April 18

MILEY MONTANA: THE MUSICAL

EATING

Eleven Nightclub The nightlife impresarios behind Mr. Black L.A., Evita, Rasputin and Summ e r t ra m p — L u ke Nero and Andrés Rigal—present WeHo nightlife’s latest fête, a weekly Saturday party that promises the city’s hottest DJs and a team of hosts dubbed Botoxed Bitches. eleven.la Sun. | April 13

SIZE

Here Lounge It’s a West Hollywood party that has survived nearly a decade of plying cute gay boys with booze and getting them to cut loose on the patio. The party regularly features amazing sets by local DJs and special guest performances. tomwhitmanpresents.com

VIETNAM COMES TO CULVER CITY BY BRIAN PADGETT

Tue. | April 15

EVITA DBA This party from the brains of prodigal nightlife team Luke Nero and Andres Rigal brings the kind of glamour and hedonism you’ve come to expect from the duo. This party is people-watching at its finest, but you’ll likely be too busy on the dance floor to partake. facebook.com/evitalosangeles Through May 4

DOCTOR ANONYMOUS Zephyr Theatre Set during the Frank Rizzo campaign for mayor of Philadelphia and the dawn of gay Pride, Doctor Anonymous is inspired by the true story of Dr. John E. Fryer. This world premiere drama tackles the controversial subject of gay conversion therapy in a tale of love, liberation and opera. plays411.com/doctor Through April 26

FLORAL JOURNEY Autry National Center Art and spirituality converge with trade and commerce in Floral Journey: Native North American Beadwork, a groundbreaking exhibition. Through 250 unique objects and personal stories, it’s the first of its kind to explore how beaded floral designs became a remarkable art form as well as a means of economic and cultural survival for the Native North American people. theautry.org

From the rustic sensibilities revealed For those in favor of heavier fare, the in hearty, meat-based heo to the French tamarind-glazed lamb ribs, spiced with colonial influence evinced in the deepSriracha and Thai basil, will not disapfried, crepe-like báhn xeo, Vietnamese cuipoint, and neither will the formidable Phosine highlights the cross-cultural fusion catini. A new addition to the Culver City and flavorful innovation that is the magic menu, this oxtail-based dish culls garlicky behind culinary progression. Having opened richness from its hoisin understructure nearly four years ago, Costa Mesa’s beloved and is garnished with bean sprouts and “Fraîche Vietnamese” eatery East Borough Thai basil. has amassed a large following thanks to Unlike its Orange County counterpart, chef Chloe Tran and business partner John the Culver City East Borough location boasts Cao’s utilization of marketdriven ingredients while simultaneously contemporizing and respecting time-honored recipes. Tran and Cao joined forces with Pitfire Pizza owner Paul Hibler and Superba Snack Bar’s Jason Neroni to recently open a second, more elaborate location in Culver City. Open for lunch and dinner, the East Borough team serves bánh mì sandwiches replete with generous porSTANDOUTS: tions of flame-grilled lemonPhocatini, Pho Baguette, grass pork or spicy tofu, each Bánh Mì Sandwiches, Spring Rolls topped with cucumbers, cilantro, jalapeños and pickled daikon, and dressed in a house-made soy vinaigrette. The spring a full bar and a wide selection of sperolls—bursting with lemongrass chili tofu cialty cocktails. The surprisingly light and grilled pork sausage and served with Golden Axe—a delicate blend of rye, dry a sweet-and-savory peanut sauce that envermouth, ginger and lemon—is a wonthusiastically highlights the spicy tomato derful thing to sip while soaking in the first paste—warrant a visit on their own. days of spring.

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THE DESERT DELIVERS

OutKast

15TH COACH VALLEY MUSIELLA AND ARTS FE C STIVAL

A Preview of Coachella’s Most Promising Acts It’s time for the yearly pilgrimage to Indio for Coachella. As a longtime festival-goer, it still surprises me how tailored the experience can be. It’s basically your own live, personalized playlist. You want to immerse in sparkly electro? You can fill your three days with nothing but. Same for dance/EDM, hip-hop, singer-songwriter, etc. Here are a few suggestions across the board (with more detailed blogs to come at FrontiersLA.com). —Dan Loughry

Indio, Calif. April 11-13, Ap ril 18-20 coachella.com

HEADLINERS

DANCE/EDM

BREAKOUT ARTIST

REUNITED

Arcade Fire and Muse are fine, but this year’s festival belongs to OutKast, everyone’s favorite ATLiens. It’s been radio silence since 2006’s Idlewild film and soundtrack, but a chorus of “Hey Ya” met the reunion report. And they’re sure to deliver, with hits from “Ms. Jackson” to “Rosa Parks,” “Stankonia (Stanklove)” and loads more.

I’m curious to see if the U.K. brother dance act Disclosure can translate their grooves-withguest-stars vibe to the live arena. (Word is they can.) So even though I’d prefer Pet Shop Boys or even Skrillex, I’ll be amongst the faithful for Guy and Howard Lawrence, hoping that breakout star Sam Smith will be onboard to perform the fantastic “Latch.”

Speaking of breakouts, nobody’s hotter now than Future Islands since the group’s appearance on Letterman went viral. On the back of a career-best record, the superlative Singles, here’s where they demonstrate their mettle. Samuel T. Herring is one helluva showman, but he’ll have plenty of competition from buzzbands CHVRCHES, Bombay Bicycle Club, The 1975 and countless others.

‘90s alt-rock is a faraway dream. The biggest dreamers may have been Neutral Milk Hotel. They released only two records— 1998’s In the Aeroplane Over the Sea made their arty rep—and here’s where believers and novices find out if they can cut it live. Also see The Replacements or The Afghan Whigs, all good choices.

Strings Attached From Lambchop and Pinocchio to Kermit and Yoda, puppets have played an important, colorful part of our pre-CGI childhoods. Celebrating this cherished art form, L.A. Puppet Fest returns for its second year of entertaining and educating SoCal with the best that puppetry has to offer. Here are some must-sees of the two-week festival. —M.C.

SINGERSONGWRITER You want mellow, go for Neko Case or the beautiful-voiced James Vincent McMorrow. You want singer-songwriter vibes with indie attitude? Courtney Barnett is the Aussie Liz Phair. She’s only released a handful of EPs, but a full-length should be coming down the pike soon.

April Fool’s Puppet Ball Kickoff L.A. Puppet Fest with this red carpet opening night event. DJ Eric de la Cruz mans the turntables while you act a fool for this puppetry spectacle. The night includes performances from Puppet School and a costume contest. April 1, 7-11 p.m., Micky’s, 8857 Santa Monica Blvd., WeHo. $15

Awesome Puppet Films & Filmmakers Besides bestowing Muppets and Fraggles unto the world, puppetry genius Jim Henson also sired several talented children who continue his legacy. Heather Henson’s Handmade Puppet Dreams presents a pair of puppetry-based short film collections. The screenings showcase a diverse cross-section of independent artists from across the globe. Henson may be gone, but his influence is far from forgotten. April 2, Barnsdall Gallery Theatre, 4800 Hollywood Blvd., Los Feliz. $2$10

SWEET! Puppetry An event for children of all ages, this one’s perfect for parents of younger kids. The colorful afternoon includes musical sing-alongs with Leedo and Booey, but the highlight is the “design your own chocolate bar” attraction. April 5, 10 a.m., Hollywood & Highland Center, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hlywd. Free or $15 VIP

L.A. 014 t Fest 2 e p p u P 3 -1 April 1 om etFest.c LAPupp

Big Green Puppetzilla Puppet Slam

The L.A. Guild of Puppetry presents the adult side of this barrier-breaking art form. This event combines elements of vaudeville, burlesque and avantgarde performance art, utilizing every conceivable puppetry style. Sets run the gamut from works in progress to finely honed acts. This night of oftenrisqué puppet performance is made possible in part by a grant from the Puppet Slam Network. April 6, 6:30 p.m., Bootleg Theatre, 2220 Beverly Blvd. L.A. $10 in advance, $15 at event

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40 Years of

Yellow Bricks Though it’d be years before Elton John came out of the closet, he became a real friend of Dorothy in 1973 when he released Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. And, hunty, did he turn it out live—the platform shoes, the ridiculous glasses, the sequins and glitter! The album, Elton John’s seventh, is partcularly known for four of its tracks, all successful hits for the flamboyant rocker—Marilyn Monroe tribute “Candle in the Wind,” “Bennie and the Jets,” “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” and “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting.” On Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road comes in at number 91, and according to Sound on Sound, it has sold over 31 million copies worldwide. Universal Music is pulling out all the stops for the album’s 40th anniversary, with six different configurations! For those with unlimited funds, the 5-CD/DVD box set is the way to go, rife with B-sides, bonus tracks, live cuts, an illustrated hardcover book and more. Those not looking to splurge should spring for the 2-CD set, scoring nine covers of Elton classics by John Grant, Ed Sheeran, Miguel and more. It’s an embarrassment of riches. —Dan Loughry Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road: 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (Universal Music) is available now.

new releases NOW AVAILABLE

APRIL 8

APRIL 15

Boy George, This Is What I Do Shakira, Shakira Steel Panther, All You Can Eat

The Faint, Doom Abuse John Frusciante, Enclosure Liam Finn, The Nihilist

Ingrid Michaelson, Lights Out Jason Derulo, Talk Dirty Shonen Knife, Overdrive The Birds of Satan, The Birds of Satan

music GEORGE MICHAEL

KYLIE MINOGUE

TOKYO POLICE CLUB

Symphonica (Virgin EMI Records)

Kiss Me Once (Warner Brothers)

Forcefield (Pledgemusic)

*****

The worst thing that happened to George Michael was his debut, Faith, becoming an enormous success. After that, he stopped being a pop star and became an ‘artist.’ That’s great, but not much fun. He’s still chasing his misdirected muse on Symphonica, his sixth release, a collection of well-loved songs and covers performed with an orchestra. He’s in superb voice here, and he’s sure to appeal to the aging New Wave contingency looking for a Rod Stewart-type songbook set, yet I can’t help but wish Michael had spent his time writing the next “I Want Your Sex” or “Freedom ‘90.” Prime Cuts: “A Different Corner,” “Let Her Down Easy” —D.L.

The big question Kylie Minogue wants answered in 2014 is “Can I still compete in a pop world loaded with scandals, breakdowns, obligatory guest rappers and twerking?” At 45 years old she remains the scandal-less, ‘aw shucks’ nice girl, but for her very focused 12th effort, she’s upped the sex appeal (the word sex appears in three song titles alone) and gets her hands a bit more playfully dirty. The great news is that she delivers heartily, using her varied guest collaborators (Pharrell Williams, Enrique Iglesias and Sia, also the album’s co-executive producer) to full effect on effervescent, electro-disco pop ditties. Prime Cuts: “I Was Gonna Cancel,” “Sexy Love,” “Million Miles” —Paul V.

There must be something wrong with my copy of the new Tokyo Police Club album. The sleeve says Tokyo Police Club, but I’m certain this is a Kooks record. If these guys are who they say they are, this album is a complete surprise. Gone are the odd, angular melodies, replaced with breezy, summery pop tunes that sound ... well, exactly like The Kooks. That’s not an awful thing, mind you, just unexpected. Album opener “Argentina Pts 1, 2 & 3” shows a little more scope than the rest of this LP, but for the most part it’s business as usual ... for The Kooks. Prime Cuts: “Argentina,” “Toy Guns,” “Feel the Effect” —Dominik Rothbard APRIL 15, 2014

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DIRE WOLVES, WILDINGS & DRAGONS, OH MY! April 6 brings us the long-awaited new season of HBO’s Game of Thrones. What’s in store for this fourth season? In contrast to last year’s shocking Red Wedding, Joffrey will finally walk down the aisle for a real wedding. Creator David Benioff has confirmed that this senior-year season will have more character deaths than ever before, promising to top last season in jaw-dropping moments. The show has upped the ante for visuals, too. Prepare to feast your eyes upon a grand throne room atop an 800-foot pyramid, the series’ biggest battle to date and dragons that have grown too big to perch atop Daenerys’ shoulder. Kingslayer Jaime Lannister, played by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, sees a change to suffering the loss of his hand in Season 3. Returned to King’s Landing and his family, he is gifted a beautiful golden hand. Without the dexterity of movable fingers, it is mostly aesthetic—or is it? Nashville’s Michiel Huisman replaces Ed Skrein as the Daario Naharis character, though it’s been so long since last season I doubt the minor character’s new look will even be noticed. For readers of the original George R.R. Martin books on which the series is based, this new season is influenced by the second half of the third book, A Storm of Swords.

I SEE DEAD PEOPLE

Tyler Labine

Reaper’s Tyler Labine stars in the new Hulu exclusive series Deadbeat, which becomes available for streaming on April 9. Labine plays a medium who speaks to the dead and discovers that competitor Camomile White, a huge business empire, is actually a fake. So You Think You Can Dance’s Cat Deeley plays White and chose to base the character on Dynasty diva Alexis Carrington Colby. The 10episode series will feature G.B.F.’s Paul Iacono, 2 Broke Girls’ Brooke Lyons and Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters’ Brandon T. Jackson.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau

THE WACKY WORLD OF FARGO Transport yourself ot North Dakota with the April 15 premiere of Fargo on FX. This 10-part miniseries version of Joel and Ethan Cohen’s quirky comedy has the same dark comedic tone of the original film but without Officer Marge Gunderson or a wood chipper, don’tcha know? Like the film, the series examines a true crime case. The show stars Billy Bob Thornton as Loren Malvo, a drifter who arrives in the North Dakota town and seizes the opportunity to impact residents with his style of malice and violence. Among his victims is an insurance agent with low self-esteem, played by Sherlock’s Martin Freeman. Dexter vet Colin Hanks plays Police Deputy Gus GrimBob Odenkirk ly, whose role as a single dad adds to the stress and demands of his law enforcement career. Bob Odenkirk goes from playing a sleazy lawyer in Breaking Bad to this new role as Deputy Bob Oswalt. Joining him in recurring roles are X-Men: First Class’ Oliver Platt, Private Practice’s Kate Walsh, The Mindy Project’s Glenn Howerton and Damages vet Keith Carradine. —Nathaniel Grey

SET YOUR DVR Sunday, April 6

Sunday, April 6

Sunday, April 13

Monday, April 14

TURN

SILICON VALLEY

« MTV MOVIE AWARDS

2 BROKE GIRLS

A Revolutionary War-set drama starring Jamie Bell (Billy Eliott), it’s the story of America’s very first spy ring. It could be a yawn, but the guys are hot! (9 p.m. on AMC)

A workplace-centered comedy from Office Space director/writer Mike Judge starring previously typecast actors Kumail Nanjani, T.J. Miller and Martin Starr. (10 p.m. on HBO)

FRONTIERSLA.COM

Conan O’Brien hosts the night’s ceremonies, wherein the cast of Entourage will present former boss and series producer Mark Wahlberg with the MTV Generation Award. (9 p.m. on MTV)

Continuing a quest to redeem herself in the public eye—and show prospective employers she’s not the mess she’s proven to be in the past—Lindsay Lohan guest stars. (8:30 p.m. on CBS) —N.G.

10. VAMPIRE DIARIES A promo video showed to the audience before this show’s panel discussion teased the arrival of new villain Markos, who will be played by Raffi Barsoumian.

9. AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. The show’s producers encouraged fans to see Captain America: The Winter Soldier (in theatres April 4), as the film will have “strong repercussions” that cross over into the show.

8. SLEEPY HOLLOW The panel for one of our favorite new shows doled out plenty of spoilers, the best of which was that Headless will be getting a new opponent—a “new creature that [the cast] kinda controls but doesn’t, a dangerous creation ... as evil and scary as Headless,” said Executive Producer Roberto Orci.

7. COMMUNITY This Joel McHale show, which seems to be always on the brink of getting canceled, screened the first ep of the two-part Season 5 finale. Apparently Greendale is being sold to a private company ... by the name of Subway. Yes, the school is being converted into a sandwich-making academy.

6. MAD MEN Generally a show’s cast and creators will arrive at PaleyFest ready to divulge a couple secrets, but not Mad Men. The famously tight-lipped drama didn’t budge a bit. Of course, the presence of Jessica Paré (Megan Draper) on the panel would suggest her character is coming back next season, right? And as for the Sharon Tate conspiracy theories, the entire panel stayed mum.

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This year’s ultimate TV fan festival, held March 13-28 at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre, had quite a few surprises to lay on loyal viewers. These were some of our favorites. —Stephan Horbelt Ike Barinholtz and Mindy Kaling attend PaleyFest 2014: The Mindy Project at Dolby Theater on March 25.

5. LOST Speaking of keeping secrets, four years after the fantasy drama ended, its creators Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof are still keeping a lid on unexplained plot points. “We just didn’t feel like there was a way to answer all the open questions without it being didactic and boring,” says Cuse.

PHOTO: MICHAEL KOVAC

THE 10 BEST SPOILERS FROM PALEYFEST 2014

10:34 PM

4. VEEP The best part of this poltical comedy’s panel was learning that show creator Armando Iannucci has been approached by real D.C. staffers who say the show’s absurd scenarios have actually happened! In Season 3, expect Selina (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) to be “out and about.” She’ll go to Silicon Valley, Detroit, Ohio and even London.

Vincent Kartheiser and Jon Hamm attend PaleyFest 2014: Mad Men at Dolby Theater on March 21.

3. ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK Litchfield gets a new inmate in Season 2, named V (played by TV vet Lorraine Toussaint). But first things first—we’ll get to see the conclusion of the first season’s shocking cliffhanger between Piper (Taylor Schilling) and Pennsatucky (Taryn Manning).

AN ICON OF BAD TASTE Julia Louis-Dreyfus and fans attend PaleyFest 2014: Veep at Dolby Theater on March 27.

2. THE MINDY PROJECT After a painfully long hiatus and crazy cliffhanger, The Mindy Project will return with eight new eps. What’s in store for Mindy Kaling and Danny (Chris Messina)? Expect “more bumps in the road. It’s going to play out like a rollercoaster,” says Eexecutive Producer Matt Warburton. Also in store: more flavors of Danny’s Doctor Dan’s beer.

Plus-sized “cinematic terrorist” Harris Glenn Milstead is profiled in I Am Divine via interviews with John Waters, Tab Hunter, Mink Stole and his mother. Available on DVD April 8, with commentary and 30 minutes of deleted scenes.

ENGAGE THE UNFAMILIAR James Franco famously teamed up with director Travis Mathews to reimagine the lost 40 minutes of 1980’s Cruising with documentary/fiction hybrid Interior. Leather Bar. Starring Val Lauren. Available on DVD April 15, with the trailer, interviews and two short films.

CHINATOWN MEETS BOYSTOWN A modern take on the old-fashioned detective story, Hot Guys with Guns is basically Lethal Weapon had Mel Gibson and Danny Glover been ex-boyfriends. Starring Marc Anthony Samuel and Brian McArdle. Available on DVD May 6 with a blooper reel.

1. AMERICAN HORROR STORY Last year, Ryan Murphy announced onstage Kathy Bates’ Coven role. This time he announced that Michael Chiklis would star in Freak Show, along with all the other onstage guests, including Bates and Angela Bassett!

WATCH THESE AT HOME

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Natasha Lyonne and Uzo Aduba attend PaleyFest 2014: Orange is the New Black at Dolby Theater on March 14.

concerts

COMING SOON

ARTIST

VENUE

DATE

Blood Orange One Republic Gavin DeGraw Janelle Monáe Röyksopp | Robyn Tori Amos Nine Inch Nails | Soundgarden Boy George Iggy Azalea Kiss | Def Leppard

El Rey Hollywood Bowl Greek Theatre Hollywood Bowl Hollywood Bowl Greek Theatre Hollywood Bowl Belasco Theater The Wiltern The Forum

April 14 June 5 June 18 June 22 June 29 July 23 August 25 April 29 May 16 July 8

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FOR THE RECORD: TARANTINO DBA | 7969 Santa Monica Blvd., WeHo Through May 17 | dbahollywood.com For the Record: Tarantino is back, and it’s more badass than ever! The long-running series has found a new home at DBA, right in the heart of West Hollywood. For those unacquainted, For the Record takes the songs of a film director’s soundtrack and—with a rotating cast of 23 breathtaking performers—uses them to put on a cabaret-style show like no other. As the cast moves around the venue, singing on tables, re-enacting scenes on the center stage and popping up in every nook and cranny, the show becomes a truly immersive experience. And with the new location offering a more open seating plan, expert lighting and sound and room for the actors to breathe, For the Record: Tarantino is ready to blow the roof off West Hollywood. With a cast that includes a number of Broadway veterans, you won’t find a better group of vocalists and committed performers on the West Coast. On opening night a confident Rumer Willis took center stage as The Bride from Kill Bill and proved she is a force to be reckoned with. While the rest of the cast is perfection, the standout number of the night was Danielle Truitt’s roof-raising version of “Satisfied Mind” that brought the audience to its feet. This is the show to see in Los Angeles, and the continuing success of its cast and creators is well-deserved. Bravo. —Kevin Taft

stage

A STEADY RAIN Odyssey Theatre 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West L.A. Through April 20 | odysseytheatre.com

CLASSIC COUPLES COUNSELING Secret Rose Theatre 11246 Magnolia Blvd., NoHo Through April 27 | secretrose.com PHOTO: DINA MARRONE

*****

The Bard meets Dr. Ruth in Lloyd J. Schwartz’s zany comedy, directed by Ted Lange. “Doctor, heal thyself” would be sage advice for Patricia (Constance Mellors), a neurotic modern-day shrink who, through some apparent time-warp, provides counseling for famous romantic couples of Shakespeare’s classics. Patricia holds sessions with each couple before overseeing a group meeting. The couples at odds include Hamlet and Ophelia, Romeo and Juliet, the mixed-marriage Othello and Desdemona, Petruchio and his untamed shrew Kate, plus the murderous Macbeth and his wicked Lady. Schwartz’ far-fetched conceit is good for some rib-tickling comparisons between 21st century sexual issues and attitudes of centuries gone by, and the performances are generally solid. Unfortunately, the repetitive gags wear out their welcome in this sitcom-thin concoction, which inexplicably drags on past the two-and-a-half-hour mark. —Les Spindle

also onstage

***** PHOTO: ENCI

Previously presented on Broadway in 2009, starring Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig, Keith Huff’s hard-hitting drama A Steady Rain packs the testosterone-charged punch of a David Mamet play, coupled with a surprisingly tender portrait of a complex male friendship. Huff spins the story of two Chicago cops who find themselves entangled in a web of escalating violence and impending tragedy. Director Jeff Perry elicits characterizations that are sometimes repellent yet paradoxically empathetic. Sal Viscuso plays Denny—a racist, self-destructive, married cop—and Thomas Vincent Kelly his alcoholic lifelong pal, Joey. Denny’s extramarital dalliance with a hooker leads to harrowing showdowns with some local criminals and a betrayal of trust by Joey. Huff’s intimate two-hander alternates piercing monologues with gripping scenes between two characters headed for inevitable calamity. Viscuso and Kelly offer bravura performances, and the design elements are first-rate. Perry’s staging is resonant and powerful. —L.S.

A Song at Twilight, Pasadena Playhouse, Through April 13 Harmony, Ahmanson Theatre, Through April 13 L.A. Deli, Marilyn Monroe Theatre, Through April 27

Macbeth, A Noise Within, Through May 11 » Shades, Macha Theatre, Through April 19 Slowgirl, Geffen Playhouse, Through April 27 PHOTO: CRAIG SCHWARTZ

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film DIVERGENT Now Playing

*****

If we’re to believe the rash of young adult novels that have become popular over the last decade, America’s youth (young women, especially) should just give up now, because in the near future life will suck. Based on Veronica Roth’s trilogy Divergent and starring Shailene Woodley and the amazingly sexy Theo James—those lips!—this is basically The Hunger Games set in post-apocalyptic Chicago. Future dystopia, check. Warring factions, check. Brooding hotties and girls coming of age, check. That said, it’s a well-done adaptation, less engaging than The Hunger Games’ first installment but brisk popcorn entertainment. —D.L.

10 RULES FOR SLEEPING AROUND Opens April 4

*****

This unsubtle sex comedy has all the makings of a great comedy—door-slamming, naked guys on the loose (or in bed together), a faux homo, men in drag, Jersey girls on drugs and two bestiality gags. But somehow 10 Rules for Sleeping Around is woefully unfunny. Writer/director Leslie Grief has his horny characters straining themselves, telling lies upon lies and never getting laid. The various and not very satisfying climaxes come at an exclusive party given by a famous and outrageous bisexual, Mr. Fields (Michael McKean). Alas, this forced farce is never as outrageous as it thinks it is. —Gary M. Kramer

NYMPHOMANIAC: VOLUME II Now showing

*****

Nymphomaniac: Volume II delivers more—much more—than the first volume, but somehow the overall effect is, sadly, less. Joe (Charlotte Gainsbourg) has lost all sexual sensation, so she has a series of “dangerous” encounters, which include a tryst with two men and sessions with K (Jamie Bell), a sadist who flogs her. Joe also has motherhood issues, attends sex addicts anonymous sessions and takes a job as a “debt collector.” Meanwhile, Seligman (Stellan Skarsgaard) reveals some surprising things about himself. While there are sequences both sacred (a spontaneous orgasm that induces visions) and profane, Nymphomaniac Volume II addresses larger issues of shame, abuse and redemption but never completely satisfies. —G.K.

also in Now showing The Grand Budapest Hotel Bad Words Muppets Most Wanted Noah

theatres April 4 Alan Partridge « Captain America: The Winter Soldier

April 11 Oculus Only Lovers Left Alive Perfect Sisters « Rio 2

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COLUMNS

LITTLE MISS KNOW-IT-ALL

KING OF SLEAZE PHOTO: TASHI PALMER

Down and dirty with ‘Club King’ Mario Diaz

BY JACKIE BEAT

Mario Diaz is best known to audiences as the leading man (and king of douchebags) in the indie hit Hollywood Sex Wars. You may recognize him as the circus ringleader in a recent Subway $5 FootLong commercial. He’s also the co-lead singer of the band Dirty Sanchez, an aspiring dancer and the creator and promoter of countless nightclubs and dance parties around Los Angeles. Mario loves puppies, pizza and tube socks, but he hates your flip-flops. If this were speed dating, how would you describe yourself to a complete stranger in just one sentence? Hello, I’m Mario, and I like chihuahuas and Chinese noodles! If you could only watch one movie, every single day for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? John Waters’ Female Trouble, starring the greatest actress of all time, Divine. The movie has everything— drama, intrigue, beauty and liquid eyeliner. Hold onto your seat, because it’s about to get real. What’s your favorite color? And think of a pretentious new name for it. Umm ... oh, Jesus. “Oh, Jesus Green?” It’s heavenly! Complete the sentence: “I could not live without …” I could not live without my beautiful, brilliant, talented and amazing family of friends. My “framily.” Sprint stole that term from us, by the way, those bastards. What celebrity would you like to have wild, passionate dirty animal sex with? Tony Danza in Who’s the Boss? circa 1984. What song title could also be the name of your autobiography? “The Kid Is Hot Tonight” by Loverboy. It’s my anthem! Describe in detail your ‘death row meal.’ May I please have the cheese, peanut butter, chocolate, pizza, popsicles and quiche with bacon?

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Worst job you’ve ever had? As a teenager I worked as a telemarketer, soliciting prospective customers to buy products and services. It was so gross. “Sorry to have bothered you, but this is the only job I could get with big black goth hair and eyeliner on.” Share your favorite beauty tip with us. Exfoliate! It’s the key. And don’t become a bitter old queen. Who or what is your ‘spirit animal’? Tiger. Tell me a secret! I once pooped in the public swimming pool when I was 7. God, it feels so good to finally get that off my chest! Finally, be a total shameless whore and plug whatever you want. I throw the “longest-running weekly boy party in Los Angeles”—11 years and still going strong— every Thursday night at Fubar, called BFD. Every first Saturday night at Akbar I throw a dance party called Full Frontal Disco, where we have amazing midnight performances by some of the best choreographers and professional dancers in L.A. And every second Saturday is my “man party” called Brutus at The Faultline. Oh, and I’m extremely happy and excited to announce the world premiere of Club King, a documentary about yours truly, at the 16th annual Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival!

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THE WORLD OF BILLY MASTERS

COLUMNS

SKATING AROUND THE ISSUE There’s some troublesome news coming out from Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation. I like Gaga and think her heart is in the right place, but what about those around her? This foundation (run by her mom) spent over $1.5 million on legal fees, publicity and internet consultants. That’s not an enormous amount, but the donations for the same time period equaled $2.6 million. So more than half the donations went into supporting the foundation. None of this was included in an interview Gaga did last week with the latest correspondent to join Access Hollywood, Johnny Weir. The skater gushed, “You’re popping my cherry and I’m really, really excited to be interviewing you as my first sort of sit-down with Access Hollywood.” Gaga smiled (at least I think she was smiling) and said, “I’m very honored to be taking your interviewing virginity.”

sent to Voronov, it seems Weir was lessthan-faithful, and Voronov retaliated in a particularly hurtful way. Weir wrote, “If you decide to wreck things, please wreck cheaper things than Birkins. The ‘Fuck You’ on the Birkin is kinda cool, though, you artist. I know you don’t care about how I’ll survive if you divorce me, but please leave my Birkin bags, Celine bags and Chanel bags alone.” What drama! That’s what we wanted to see on The A-List! What a missed opportunity. But Weir is keeping a sense of humor about the situation. He claims the worst thing Voronov could do “would be to post naked photos that we have between

Danny Pintauro

each other. And I look flawless.”

WHO’S THE GROOM?

Johnny Weir

from me months ago.” Needless to say, this ain’t gonna be an amicable split. Voronov’s reps state: “Victor was a highly educated person, a lawyer and willfully gave up his career at the request of Johnny to devote himself to Johnny as a traditional spouse often does.” Of course, there are two sides to every story. Sometimes three. In an email Weir

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Joe Manganiello

Patti LuPone

these two ex-wives deal with this will inevitably lead to madcap mayhem. The series has received a 13-episode order and is set to shoot later this year.

DON’T QUESTION A DIVA

DEATH OF A BIRKIN BAG Alas, it hasn’t been all smiles for Weir. Only weeks ago, he was sitting in a New Jersey courtroom presenting a united front with hubby Victor Voronov against charges of domestic biting (the charges were dropped). Turns out Weir had been doing some fancy legal footwork behind Voronov’s back. Days ago, Voronov tweeted, “It’s true: I am only now finding out that my husband @johnnygweir filed for divorce

BY BILLY MASTERS

PHOTO: ETHAN HILL

REUNITING DIVAS, ‘COCK SOCKS’ & TROUBLE IN THE HOUSE OF WEIR

Thank God we have a positive gay love story to cleanse the palate. It’s been a while since we’ve talked about Danny Pintauro. I think the last story I ran was when he announced his foray into selling Tupperware in Las Vegas. Apparently he not only found a new career—he also found love. In April he announced his engagement to boyfriend Wil Tabares. The couple now says the wedding is imminent. “The BIG DAY is coming soon! I mean, like, REAL SOON! Dan and I are totally excited and can’t wait to seal the deal.” Congrats, boys.

TOGETHER AGAIN Another couple is reuniting, and it feels so good. Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin will once again team up for a new series on Netflix. Grace and Frankie will be a halfhour comedy about sworn enemies whose husbands fall in love with each other! How

Let’s turn our attention to another diva, the divine Patti LuPone. She appeared at the Parker Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale under the aegis of producer Mark Cortale alongside the irrepressible Seth Rudetsky. This was similar to the shows they’ve done elsewhere. Seth interviews Patti and makes her sing whatever he wants. She doesn’t know the questions or the songs. In fact, sometimes Seth doesn’t even know the songs, such as when he asked Patti what she used to sing for auditions when she was starting out. She chided him by saying, “You know what my audition song was.” He said, “I don’t remember your life!” Patti turned to the audience and quipped, “Don’t you think he should think about it before I get up here?” She reminded him the song was “Don’t Rain on My Parade” and launched into it (once he found the music) as if Mama Rose were playing Fanny Brice. Fantastic! If anything, Patti’s voice gets stronger, richer and more dramatically incisive at a time when most of our divas are in deep vocal decline. And I’ll prove it by posting it at BillyMasters.com.

DANCING FOR DOLLARS Joe Manganiello seems unable to leave stripping behind. The sexy True Blood star did quite a bit of research for the role of Big Dick Richie in Magic Mike, including talking to a number of real-life strippers at notorious Dallas strip club La Bare. He says, “People would walk out of Magic Mike saying, ‘I loved it, but I wish there was more of the guys. I wish I knew more about them, where they live, who they go out with, what their lives are like.’ So I knew there was a lot left on the table.”

He put his money where his mouth ought to be, hired a crew, went to Dallas and began making the documentary about these real-life strippers. The flick was very popular at Slamdance, and Manganiello signed a distribution deal with Main Street Films for mid-six figures. Look for La Bare: The True Story Behind the Magic to hit art houses sometime this summer.

ASK BILLY: JAKE’S NETHER REGIONS Our question comes from Gary in Austin: “I read that Jake Gyllenhaal was filming a nude scene and photos are circulating. What is the movie, and do you think you could track down the photos?” I’m almost insulted—insulted that you would think I didn’t already have the photos! The film in question is called Everest, and it’s about climbing Mount Everest. Now, why people climbing a mountain covered in snow would be running around naked is anyone’s guess—maybe it’s a dream sequence. It certainly would be a dream come true for me after being disappointed by Jake one too many times. These photos are fascinating not only for what they show but what they don’t. Sure, Jake is almost completely nude. But he is wearing what is known in the business as a “cock sock” over his nether regions. But unlike most of these devices, this one seems larger than usual. In fact, it appears to be more of a flap attached with some flesh-colored adhesive tape. Oh, and the flap is black. Strangely, the photos seem to have been disappearing from the web. Except for the ones on BillyMasters.com. When we’re inching closer to a 9 to 5 reunion courtesy of Netflix, it’s definitely time to end yet another column. Would it kill Jane and Lily to call Dolly Parton? Surely I can picture her being married to someone who ended up being gay. Heck, the tabloids run that story with alarming regularity! Of course, you don’t need the tabloids to keep tabs on your favorite celebs. Simply check out BillyMasters.com, the site that delivers 24/7. If you have a question for me, send it along to Billy@BillyMasters.com and I promise to get back to you before Logo produces a madefor-TV movie about Johnny Weir’s domestic struggles starring Danny Pintauro! So,

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OUT & ABOUT

FULLY LOADED

A Tale of Drugs, Drowning & Death BY DANA MILLER It sneaks up on you like a coyote in a dog park—one day you are chasing a couple balls, the next you are being eviscerated. With booze it generally takes a few years. With drugs like GHB and meth, your first walk in the park could be your last. My stumble into the steam was a steady flow of chardonnay. The self-imposed grape-swig twisted a fairly nimble creative energy into something about as clever as a bag of ferrets. It was a slow stroll. My steadiness on terra firma is one of those ‘one day at a time’ things you’ve heard about. There has recently been such a rash of overdoses and suicides from the craziness that abuse and addiction cause— and way too many instant deaths from ‘recreational’ drugs—that it resembles people hurling themselves off life’s buildings like confetti. What in the hell are we doing? I hadn't seen Terry in 20 years. He once worked for me as a writer, and he went on to become an elementary school teacher, falling in love with a very cool guy. Running into him at the West Hollywood Recovery Center across from the Log Cabin was a jolt. His skin had turned ashen, his blue eyes blank and his teeth were—well, they were gone. Terry dabbled in a double life until the singularity of the high won out. His home became an alley, Melrose Baths replaced his king-sized bed and he forgot to show up for his job. Fancy bars turned into those found at our local sheriff’s station. I asked local licensed psychotherapist Chris Lawver how easy it is to get started in a cycle. “Let’s say it’s Saturday afternoon, I’m horny and want to use, or ‘party.’ Bars aren’t even necessary any-

more. All I need to do is log onto an app like Scruff or Grindr, take a few naked selfies, upload, connect and off I go. ‘Hey man, parTying today? What are you into? G-cocktails. WhaT’s up Mr?’ Within no time it’s an awesome afternoon. Six to 12 months later, that story will turn into a tragedy of losses.” In some cases Lawver’s timeline is generous. We’ve seen a few local cases recently with guys whose friends say they were not addicts—they just took too much one too many times and died. West Hollywood Councilmember and L.A. County Supervisor candidate John Duran says, “None of these guys believed the dose they were taking would result in their last day alive. They believed they were going to take it, manage it, not overdose, have fun and wake up the next day.” One of the smartest cats on the planet about this stuff is Jimmy Palmieri, founder of The Tweakers Project. “Scare tactics don’t work. Changing behavior is tough, and recovery is not for sissies. Government, recovery homes and 12-step groups all have an important place, but I think it starts with friends. With your peers.” Jimmy’s right. With AIDS we had walking billboards in sight daily. Drug use is a dirty little secret we think we can hide—and we can, until we can’t. You likely won’t be scared until it’s too damn late. Clearly it’s far easier to ignore things, but the truth is we have a visceral responsibility for our brotherhood of man. Tolerance and love is key. Sure, everyone has a responsibility for one’s own life, but from time to time we all need a hand. Keep a keen eye on yourself and your friends. You take care of me and I’ll take care of you. It’s the only way this can work.

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QUEERSAY

COLUMNS

SAVE A HORSE, RIDE A COWBOY BY GOSSIP GAY

Of the two men I have truly and genuinely cared for, never once was it love at first sight. In wooing Yours Truly it often takes months of fancy dinners, lavish gifts and a clandestine glance over my man’s shoulder at the ATM to ensure there are at least six digits (left of the decimal) worth of savings in his bank account. That said, it’s with shock and awe that I profess my love to a man I met last night—and by ‘met’ I mean creepily stared at across the Oil Can Harry’s dance floor in a drunken Smirnoff-saturated haze for well over an hour. Yes, folks—free dance lessons at the good ol’ Oil Can! Some look upon it as a place to let loose with our fellow LGBTQ brethren, while I use it as a place for my two left feet to get in some free cardio. On this night of a thousand stars, though, I was surely outdone by my future ex-husband. Tall, dark, handsome and sporting tight jeans and an even tighter white Tshirt, my heart went goo-goo while watching him grapevine to the latest Gaga. Adding kicks, spins and shimmies where no kicks, spins or shimmies were called for, I could only imagine how his on-the-floor grooves might translate to in-theboudoir moves. Granted, we didn’t talk. I was a little too embarrassed to say hello after Electric Sliding directly into a pole and twisting my ankle. Alas, here and now I profess my undying love to you, Mr. Cowboy Casanova. You are truly something special— the white Stetson knight I have long been waiting for ... uh, unless you’re poor.

READER RUBBED THE WRONG WAY Recently I got an email from the self-proclaimed “biggest Gossip Gay fan ever” who has a warning for my readers. It turns out this WeHo resident has had a rough go of it lately and hired a massage therapist to rub him the right way. He writes: Dear Gossip Gay, It is important that you warn your readers that not all of the gay guys who advertise for massages online are what they seem! It is not uncommon for me to sometimes book a guy to come over after a long night at the bars—nothing sexual, you know, just a massage! Six times now I’ve had a guy show up at my place and look nothing like his pictures. Maybe that was a picture of him 10 years ago, but he looks nothing like that today. Also, some of them are even straight! It’s so disappointing, and it really makes me angry. Please tell your readers to get their potential masseurs to cam with them first before inviting them over. Also, never send money For more Gossip Gay, go to on PayPal ahead of time because FrontiersLA.com/QueerSay. Drop your dirty little secrets at sometimes they never show up. Fool you once, shame on them. Fool you twice, shame on you! Pre-paying with PayPal? That’s just plain stupid! My advice: rub it out yourself! —G.G. 62

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QueerSay@hotmail.com. And don’t worry, I never give up my deep throat!

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HIV LIVING

HEALTH

The Grammys 2014

CULTURE WARS: PART 2 RELIGION, CULTURE AND POLITICAL OPPORTUNISM HINDERING THE ROAD TO EQUALITY By Michael Weinstein President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation

Jason Collins and Michael Sam have exploded onto the scene as the first openly gay major league players in any sport. Same-sex marriages bans are dropping like so many dominoes in red states across the country and an increasing number of nations across the globe. A mass wedding at the Grammys included gay men and lesbians. AHF recently sponsored an event at a premier black church, Holman United Methodist in South L.A., where the Reverend Al Sharpton and others made the connection between homophobia and the spread of HIV in the African-American community. At the rate all of these things are going, one could assume that homophobia will soon be a thing of the past, but reality is much more complicated. Recent anti-gay laws with stringent penalties have been passed in Nigeria and Uganda, leading to terrible persecution and violence against men and women there. There are a total of 76 countries worldwide with these discriminatory laws. Russia routinely and violently breaks up gay events, and the inability to deal with gay sexuality is handicapping the war against AIDS in many places. Religion, culture and political opportunism are at the heart of the movement to marginalize the LGBT community in much of the world. The passing of anti-gay laws in Africa appeals to Christian fundamentalists as a way to stand up to modern day colonialism and as a distraction from the poverty and corruption in most of these countries. Here at home you still have homophobic hate spewing from pulpits across the country. Republicans by and large are still opposed to equality for the LGBT community, and many people are still not out of the closet to their families, friends, neighbors and co-workers. Hiding in shadows— and the shame associated with that—are deforming to people. Closeted individuals’ lives are devalued, and as a result they make bad choices that endanger their health and happiness. As we celebrate all the amazing accomplishments that have been achieved, it is important to keep in mind how far we have to go on the road to equality. Ultimately, in the decades to come, that road will be played out in churches, over dinner tables and in our own hearts and minds.

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OFF THE COUCH

HEALTH

continues, and a wedge is driven between you and your partner that can persist as long as the relationship. But how many wedges can you have driven between you and your partner before you are both finally driven apart?

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR MAN PART 4: WHEN HE JUST WON’T CHANGE BY DR. GREG CASON

I don’t want to over-sell this, but I am about to give you and your partner the real answers to life, the universe and everything else. Maybe The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and Google will tell you it’s the number 42 (go ahead, Google it), but what I’m about to tell you will solve the unsolvable when your man just won’t seem to do what he’s told. In my previous three articles, I’ve shown you the principles of training your man. In short, if you want him to do something, you reward him with appreciation. If you want him to stop doing something, you ignore him (or give him a dose of disapproval). But, let’s face it, you can’t always get him to do what you want. Like your dog, he may learn a few new tricks, but when your back is turned he still wants to sniff butts and chase tail. A good clue that he doesn’t want to change is when he tells you that he “can’t change.” You and I both know he’s wrong—nearly anyone can change his behavior—but it’s not easy, and it may be more difficult than what your man is willing to take on. So what’s a boy to do? THE BASIC PRINCIPLE: ACCEPTANCE This means seeing the reality of a (very often negative) situation without attempting to change it, protest it or exit. 64

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Acceptance will lead you to a happier relationship and a happier you. It really is the true miracle solution. Unfortunately, acceptance is also one of the most misunderstood concepts in psychology, and chances are you misunderstand it, too. Most people think they accept a situation when they finally realize they can’t change it, but that’s only half the story. If you’re also feeling defeated, dismayed and disregarded by your man’s lack of improvement, chances are you’re not feeling acceptance—you’re feeling resignation. RESIGNATION IS HALF-WAY TO GIVING UP. Resignation is judging a situation negatively while believing you can’t change it, protest it or exit—basically, feeling powerless and giving up rather than fighting anymore. You’ll know you’re caught in the trap of resignation when you hit the three R’s of resignation: (1) Recognize: Judging your man’s action as a horrible thing that is also a repetition of something that has happened many times in the past. (2) Resist: Trying without success to stop your man from repeating that past deed or just protesting him doing it. (3) Resent: After your many futile attempts to change his behavior, you finally give up the fight but grow angrier as he continues to do it. This

THE SOLUTION IS ACCEPTANCE. The solution—of course—is acceptance. But how do you get there? I recommend these three A’s of acceptance. (1) Acknowlege: The key here is to see the situation without judgment. See it as new and singular, even if it seems familiar. See it as something that just is. (2) Allow: Rather than trying to hold it off or defend against it, allow it to be. Allow your man to do what he does without trying to stop it or defend against it in your mind. Let it go by like a leaf on a river—even if that river can roll like rapids at times. (3) Appreciate: Look at your partner as a whole person versus focusing on his incredibly annoying parts. Appreciate him for who he is. And even look to appreciate the parts of him that annoy you too. His annoying parts are just part of his total repertoire. RELATIONSHIPS ARE ABOUT BOTH PEOPLE. Nobody is perfect. Obviously not him, certainly not me, especially not you. The more you appreciate others for exactly who they are, the more they will appreciate you back. And in doing so, your relationship and your life will improve dramatically! Really. So how can I sum up the lessons in the “How to Train Your Man” series? Give him appreciation for the things you’d like him to keep doing. Take away that appreciation if you want him to stop. If he just won’t budge, practice acceptance. Voilà! By mastering these three simple concepts—especially that last one—you will begin to have the partner and relationship that up until now you’ve only dreamed about. The real lesson here? If you want to see a change in your man (or anyone else), the change has to begin not with him but with the man in the mirror. Relationships are about both people, but the only real power you have to change things is within yourself. And if that doesn’t work? Well, 42.

Dr. Greg Cason is a licensed psychologist based in West Hollywood, specializing in cognitive therapy with individuals and couples. He can be contacted at DrGreg.com.

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ZERO TO SAVVY

10 TIPS TO GET YOUR BODY BEACH READY BY AARON SAVVY

Summer is nearly here, and for those of us in Southern California that means BBQs, beach days and lots of time lounging half-naked in the sun. Here are 10 tips to help you feel a little more comfortable shucking your shirt poolside. 1. Drink water. Drinking water is crucial to keep your complexion looking healthy and—more importantly— to keep your whole central nervous system in working order. Drinking water also acts as a cleanser and diuretic, allowing you to shed weight quickly. I suggest drinking a minimum of four liters of water per day, a gallon if you are fairly active. 2. Avoid alcohol. No one wants to hear it, but avoiding alcohol will save you big time. That tropical cocktail is made up of calories that add zero nutritional value. Drinking alcohol will not only dehydrate you—booze acts as a sponge preventing your body from absorbing nutrients. 3. No carbs after 4 p.m. Avoiding carbohydrates—breads, pastas, potatoes, rice—after 4 p.m. will help you shed unwanted body fat. As evening falls we have a tendency to slow down, so it’s not necessary to consume added carbohydrates that can easily convert into fat. The best sources of healthy carbohydrates are oatmeal, sweet potatoes and brown rice. 4. Exercise. Did you see this one coming? Combining both weight training and cardio will ensure optimal results. I suggest training four to five days per week, an hour of weight training and 30-45 minutes of cardio each of those days.

5. Sleep. It’s a fast-paced world, and most of us don’t get the sleep our bodies need. Getting seven to eight hours of sleep each night will keep your metabolism in working order. Lack of sleep keeps your metabolism from re-energizing and replenishing itself. Without sleep, your metabolism holds onto every calorie, resulting in unwanted body fat. 6. Avoid high saturdated fats. Fried foods, beef, sugary desserts and fast food restaurants are just a few items to avoid when wanting to slim down. The goal is to eat clean, consuming lean meats (fish, chicken), grains, fruits and vegetables. Also, avoid eating dairy. 7. Tan up. Tanning will help enhance muscle definition. If you are one to avoid tanning salons for health reasons, spray tans are safe and work great. 8. Say no to salt. Avoid adding salt or consuming salty foods. Consuming more than 1,500 grams of sodium in a day can result in added water retention and a puffy look to your body. 9. Fat Burners? If you are exercising and eating clean, then yes, consuming a fat burner will definitely assist in getting rid of that last little bit of body fat. If you are sensitive to caffeine, there are fat burners that are caffeine free. 10. Hit the NOX. If you want to have the vascular look, I suggest taking a nitric oxide. Consuming a nitric oxide will help open up and dilate the veins, allowing more blood flow, and will increase muscle pump. For best results, take nitric oxide 30-45 minutes on an empty stomach prior to working out. APRIL 15, 2014

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RECOVERY

THE EXORBITANT COST OF GETTING HIGH By J.R. Diaz My journey started when I was 15. As the middle child of seven children who grew up in the San Fernando Valley, I felt I didn’t belong. I knew early that I was different from other boys, and I started using marijuana to escape and isolate myself from my family. As I became a young man I started drinking lots of alcohol, then found cocaine. By the time I was into my mid-30s I had a $100-per-day cocaine habit, and by 1994 I was living in West Hollywood and had discovered crystal meth. There was a brief period when I topped using cocaine and crystal meth, though I did continue to drink and use marijuana. In 2005, my dealer started selling cocaine, and later he would sell me crystal meth. Soon my meth habit was running me over $1,200 a month. My heavy use continued well into 2011, the worst year of my life. In June 2011 I found myself robbed at knifepoint by my roommate, his drug dealer and friends. At the end of the week after the robbery, I had quit my job of 10 years and checked myself into into a psychiatric facility, worried I might hurt myself or someone else. I sold most of my personal belongings to maintain my apartment but eventually was evicted. The day before I was kicked out I received news that my mother had passed away. These horrific events unfolded in less than five months, and yet I continued to use. In March 2012 I’d had enough. I quit cold turkey and found Friends Getting Off. During my time at FGO I discovered I was HIV-positive and had contracted an STD. By December 2012 I had relapsed yet again, and I again sought help with Friends Getting Off. This time I was determined my sobriety was going to be different, and it has been. I experienced my first sober New Year’s Eve in 35 years at #Boom. I found The Tweakers Project through the #Boom event on Facebook and have become an active member, and I attend five to six 12-step meetings each week. I have commitments at three of these meetings, and I have an incredible sponsor. I have also obtained a network of sponsor brothers and more from the fellowship. I am currently working on my Associates Degree in Psychology to become a substance abuse counselor. These are the tools I use to keep my sobriety in check. Today I have 111 days. J.R. Diaz is 50 years old, looking for work and taking one day at a time.

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PALM SPRINGS PHOTO VIA CHARLESTOWNSENDVINVI.COM

CITY GUIDES

Charles Townsend Vinci (left) and the late Gordon Moller

DEATH THREATS, HOMOPHOBIA PLAGUE RANCHO MIRAGE COUNCIL RACE BY JAMES F. MILLS Rancho Mirage is generally considered a quiet city, but its upcoming City Council elections are causing quite a ruckus. In mid-February, some Rancho Mirage residents received a homophobic mailing that attacked openly gay Councilmember Scott Hines. Now another openly gay candidate in that City Council election is reporting he received a death threat. Council candidate Charles Townsend Vinci, who was the longtime life partner of the late Rancho Mirage Councilmember Gordon Moller, told the Desert Sun he received a threatening call on his private cell phone—a number he has only given to a small number of people—referencing Moller, who died in 2012. When Vinci informed the caller that Moller had died, Vinci said the caller responded, “So, Gordon is dead? Well, you should be, too.” The caller allegedly used a fake Chinese accent. Vinci, who owns the upscale home furnishings business Charles Townsend Collection and

serves as interim CEO of the Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce, said he was stunned by the call but opted not to notify the police. He also said he didn’t check the caller ID to see if the call was traceable. “I’m concerned that this has gotten so out of hand, really,” Vinci said of the election rhetoric to the Desert Sun. “I can’t believe anybody in the city of Rancho Mirage or down here would think of anything as bizarre. … To even think of that is frightening.” A political newcomer, Vinci is running for the Council seat held by Hines. Vinci is running on a slate with three Rancho Mirage City Council incumbents—Dana Hobart, Ted Weill and Iris Smotrich. The four are running their joint campaign under the banner “Experience You Can Trust.” The homophobic attack ad that Rancho Mirage residents found in their mailboxes this February read “Send Hines Packing Back to Palm Springs (where he belongs).”

The postcard displayed a picture of a shirtless Hines with a caption in rainbow-colored lettering reading “No More ‘Fab’ Party Guy Scotty.” Letters of the message lined up vertically to spell out “FAGS.” Hines, who was elected to the Rancho Mirage City Council by 11 votes in 2010, says the shirtless photo was on his iPhone, which was stolen from his City Hall office in December. Hines, the CEO of an educational technology company, has been careful not to assign blame about who is responsible for that anonymous mailer, but many in town believe the postcard came from his four campaign opponents who have attacked him in other mailers and emails. Hines told The Desert Sun that three years ago he found a note left on his car threatening his family, after which he filed a police report. This year’s Rancho Mirage City Council election is being conducted entirely by mail. Ballots were mailed out on March 10 and are due back

It is with heavy hearts that we mark the passing of Linda “Fabulous” Gerard on March 21 after her long battle with lung cancer. She was 75 years old. Desert residents might know her best at The Singing Hostess of Sissy Bingo at the Ace Hotel, but she was also an actress on Broadway in the ‘60s—where she filled in for Barbra Streisand 12 times as an understudy in Funny Girl—and a successful businesswoman, co-owning the Pied Piper (one the East Coast’s most famous lesbian bars) in Provincetown, Mass., before opening the Rose Tattoo— “a real New York cabaret”—in West Hollywood in 1988. A born entertainer and true star, Gerard spent her life bringing joy to others with her natural gifts for music and comedy. She will be greatly missed. —Brenden Shucart 68

FRONTIERSLA.COM

PHOTO: LAURA COPLAND

A LEGEND EXITS THE STAGE

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PALM SPRINGS

CITY GUIDES

PALM SPRINGS ENACTS SWEEPING PLASTIC BAG BAN BY JAMES F. MILLS

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

FRONTIERSLA.COM

“Paper or plastic?” won’t be a question asked in Palm Springs gorcery stores for much longer. Instead, the question will become, “Did you bring your own bags?” Come October, single-use plastic bags won’t be available in Palm Springs shops, as the City Council voted unanimously at its March 19 meeting to ban the ubiquitous carryalls. Modeled after similar single-use plastic bag bans adopted in roughly 100 other California cities and counties, the measure is meant to protect the environment, as the plastic bags do not disintegrate quickly in landfills, can clog storm drains and are frequently seen blowing in the wind on sidewalks and across the desert. Palm Springs shoppers will be encouraged to bring their own reusable carryout bags. If they do not, retailers will be required to make paper bags available at a cost of at least 10 cents per bag. While stores larger than 10,000 square feet must comply with the ordinance by Oct. 1, smaller stores have until Feb. 1, 2015, to comply. Small, single-use plastic bags for meat or produce are exempt from the ordinance since those items often need to be separated from other grocery items for health or sanitation reasons. Also exempt are plastic bags for pet waste, which are made out of compostable material. The Palm Springs ban has the sup-

port of the California Grocers Association, which has been pushing for consistency from one municipality to the next to make it easier for grocers. “The model that Palm Springs has— it follows in line with the ones our industry can work with,” says Dave Hylen, a spokesman for the California Grocers Association. “I think for both the business community and for consumers, we think it’s more effective to be consistent with whatever the model is.” With passage of the ordinance, Palm Springs becomes the first city in the Coachella Valley to ban plastic bags. Mayor Steve Pougnet predicted that 10 years from now, half the other cities in the valley will not have even looked at banning plastic bags. State lawmakers are currently considering a statewide plastic bag ban, SB 270, authored by Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Pacoima. On Jan. 1, Los Angeles became the largest city in the nation to ban plastic bags. California uses an estimated 14 billion single-use plastic bags a year, about 53,000 tons of plastic carryout bags. However, less than five percent of singleuse plastic bags are recycled, according to state government statistics. Palm Springs plans to spend the spend the next six months educating residents about the ban. The city has also been giving out free, reusable carryout bags at VillageFest and other events.

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SEX ED

HEALTH

CHOKE AND CROAK THE DANGERS OF AUTO-EROTIC ASPHYXIATION By Jim Larkins Bagging, scarfing, choking, erotic breath play—the ritual of cutting off oxygen to the brain for increased sexual sensation is known by many names. Beyond caressing, sucking and biting, after your heart kicks into high gear and blood rushes to your rapidly growing erection, your breathing naturally becomes heavier. It’s the interruption of this last part—the breathing—that some men have discovered adds fuel to the erotic furnace. While it’s very rare that serious injury or death occurs when there are two of more participants (nicknamed “gaspers”) involved, it goes without saying that being choked to near unconsciousness isn’t a risk-free venture. “One can start reducing oxygen in the blood fairly quickly and get a rush by limiting breathing, but it’s doubtful that both will pass out,” says Kathryn Ando Ph.D, sexologist and board member at San Francisco’s Center for Sex and Culture. “If they do, they’ll just break apart, start breathing again and wake up.” The risk factor increases dramatically, though, when sexual smothering is performed solo. Cutting off one’s air supply, usually by hanging while masturbating, is called auto-erotic asphyxiation (AEA), and it has been deemed a seriously perilous gamble. Like two-partner breath play, AEA allows the individual to stir up a sense of euphoria by stemming the flow of oxygen to the brain. But without a trusted partner to cut him loose and get him breathing again, the erotic adventurer can easily go from getting all choked up to checking out for good. The unaccompanied choker relies on specialized knots that are supposed to release under pressure, but even the best of these twisted knot knitters can be tripped up. All too often the sophisticated hangman’s noose gets tangled. According to a report presented to the American Alliance for Health, PE, Recreation and Dance National Conference and Exposition, Andrew P. Jenkins Ph.D. noted that in nearly all cases of AEA-related accidental strangulation, there was some failure in the operation of the “safety” or “escape system” built into the strangulation tool. The danger of getting one’s kicks by solitary asphyxiation is reflected in the data. It is estimated that between 250 and 1,000 people (mostly young men) die each year in the U.S. while attempting AEA. In actuality, this figure is probably even higher, as many crime scenes are tampered with by embarrassed lovers and relatives of the deceased. In the long run, erotic breath play—like any other sexual variation—is going to be attempted by those who are a little more curious than cautious. Remember that if you attempt to get turned on by tying off, don’t go it alone. It’s just not worth it.

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