Frontiers Vol. 32, Issue 02 by Frontiers

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05.15.13 – 05.28.13 VOL 32 | NO 02

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INSIDE VOL. 32, ISSUE 02 / MAY 15-28, 2013

PRIDE PASSPORT 2013 by Michelle McCarthy Hitting up Pride celebrations in different locales is a great excuse to explore the country or get some stylish stamps added to your passport. The LGBT community has been making huge inroads on the path to equality over the last year. There are many reasons to get out there and wave our rainbow flags. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a guide to some Pride festivals going down around the globe.

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FEBRUARY 19, 2013

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INSIDE

VOL. 32, ISSUE 01 / MAY 1 - 14, 2013

LEADING BY EXAMPLE Tom Swan......................................................18 NEWS News Briefs ..................................................24 Accusations of Intimidation and Voter Fraud Mar 13th C.D. Race ............28 SOCAL EVENTS GUIDE Calendar ......................................................45 SnapShots ....................................................46 Eating Out ....................................................57 ENTERTAINMENT Film Reviews................................................60 Music Reviews ............................................62 Theater Reviews ........................................64

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HOT BOX: 16 ITEMS YOU’LL WANT THIS SUMMER by Stephan Horbelt See what’s in our metaphorical summertime toy box with this roundup of fun, functional and downright sexy items.

CITY GUIDES West Hollywood ........................................72 Orange County ............................................74 Long Beach ..................................................75 Palm Springs ................................................76

REMEMBERING 15 YEARS OF MASTERBEAT

HEALTH Off the Couch ..............................................81

FRONTIERS4MEN Adult Classifieds ........................................84 Sex Ed............................................................90

FANTASIA SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT by Michelle McCarthy

Fantasia Barrino says the gay community has been one of her biggest supporters, but can we say the same of the R&B singer? No stranger to controversy, the American Idol and Grammy winner’s struggles have been well-publicized. And then there was an Instagram posting in which it appeared she was speaking ill of gay marriage We talked to her to get her side of the story.

PHOTO BY: © CURAPHOTOGRAPHY DREAMSTIME.COM

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by Mike Ciriaco No one wants to spend the big 3-0 alone, especially Long Beach Pride. The two-day event normally attracts 80,000 participants and over 200 floats in its parade—ranking as the third largest Pride weekend in the nation—and this year’s anniversary celebration is sure to draw in even more LGBT spectators than usual.

COLUMNS Out & About ................................................66 Little Miss Know-It-All..............................67 Billy Masters................................................68 Gossip Gay ..................................................69 Drive ..............................................................70

FRONTIERS MARKETPLACE Listings ..........................................................82 Business Profile ..........................................83

LONG BEACH PRIDE TURNS 30

by Mike Ciriaco Masterbeat mastermind Brett Henrichsen took a quick breather from his jet-setting to update Frontiers on the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend festivities, his favorite memories and the future of Masterbeat.

Frontiers magazine is published by Frontiers Media, LLC., 5657 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 470, Los Angeles, CA. 90036, and distributed throughout Southern California. Up to the first three copies of any single issue are free; additional copies are $10 each. Violators caught stealing or destroying issues will be prosecuted under California Penal Code 484. For magazine subscriptions, please call (323) 930-3220. The contents of Frontiers may not be reproduced in any manner, either in whole or in part, without permission from the publisher. All rights reserved. Letters to the editor, artwork, photography, manuscripts and other correspondence may be submitted to Frontiers at the above address. We cannot acknowledge or return material unless accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Allow at least three months for processing. Publication of the name or photograph of any person or organization in articles or advertising in Frontiers is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation or the HIV/AIDS status of such person or organization. Copyright © 2013, Frontiers Media, LLC.

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APRIL 16, 2013

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ONLINE Find these articles exclusively at

by Michelle McCarthy

facebook.com/ frontiersmagazine

twitter.com/ frontiersmag

youtube.com/ frontiersweb

REALITY CHECK

Frontiers talks to La Toya Jackson about what she misses most about Michael, the time she went roller-skating with Prince and why she’s so terrified of cats (yes, you read that correctly). FrontiersLA.com/ExclusiveInterviews

AN EVENING WITH WOMEN 2013 by Ed Baker

An Evening with Women, produced by Linda Perry to benefit the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, returns to the Beverly Hilton Hotel on May 18 and will feature Ozzy Osbourne, Sia, Natasha Beddingfield and host Kathy Griffin. FrontiersLA.com/Features

FIND US ON

INSTAGRAM! Follow Frontiers on Instagram @frontiersLA and we’ll follow you back! Also, share with us your favorite L.A. photos by tagging them with #whyilovegayla. We’ll be picking our favorite images and posting them online at FrontiersLA.com!

BOOK REVIEWS

AN EPIC CINCO DE MAYO

By Victor Barreiro

On Saturday, May 4, David Rios and Joe Sparks, in association with Frank Romo, served up an unforgettable evening by bringing back the hugely successful Epic for a big Cinco de Mayo celebration. Over 500 partygoers helped the night live up to its name at Ultra Suede in West Hollywood. FrontiersLA.com/LatinFrontier

by The Bookworm

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IT’S MONSOON SEASON by Brenden Shucart

As any drag aficionado knows, Jinkx Monsoon—Seattle’s premier Jewish narcoleptic drag queen—was anointed "America's Next Drag Superstar" and received a crown placed on her head by the immaculately manicured hands of RuPaul herself. Since her victory, Jinkx has been taking a well-deserved victory lap. tinyurl.com/cavnj5r

PHOTO: JI JI LEE

In need of a good read? Check out our reviews of NOS4A2: A Novel by Joe Hill and Serving Victoria by Kate Hubbard. FrontiersLA.com/ BookReviews

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FrontiersLA.com Volume 32, Issue 02 5657 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 470, Los Angeles, CA 90036 Phone: (323) 930-3220 Sales Fax: (323) 857-0560 Administration Fax: (323) 848-2058 Accounting Fax: (323) 857-0503

Publisher / CEO / Editorial Director David Stern Creative Director Ed Baker Managing Director of Integrated Media Dustin Tyner Editor-in-Chief Stephan Horbelt News Editor Karen Ocamb Associate Editor Brenden Shucart Senior Art Director Garett Yoshida Associate Art Director George Skinner Graphic Designer Michelle Aguirre Jr. Graphic Designer Shannon O’Brien Editorial Intern Aaron Batts Advertising Directors Kevin Browne, JC Gardiner, Vic Gerami, Frank Morales, Randall Ross, Brenda Stevens, Cristian Valencia, Billy Wright Palm Springs Advertising Directors Vic Gerami

National Advertising Representatives Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863 Art Traffic and Distribution Manager Hope Dunn Classifieds Manager Frank Perez Accounting Merrill Franks, Frank Perez

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Contributing Writers Aaron Batts, Jackie Beat, Christopher Cappiello, Dr. Greg Cason, Mike Ciriaco, Peter DelVecchio, Gossip Gay, Greg Hernandez, Stephan Horbelt, Gary M. Kramer, Jim Larkins, Dan Loughry, Billy Masters, Michelle McCarthy, Dana Miller, James F. Mills, Paulo Murillo, Karen Ocamb, Dominik Rothbard, Nick Rufca, Brenden Shucart, Steve Siler, Kevin P. Taft, Paul V. Contributing Photographers and Illustrators Gabe Ayala, Joshua Barash, Brenden-John Photography, California Men’s Gathering, Kyle Froman, Matt Graber, Glen Hanson, Lisa Howard, Paulo Murillo, Karen Ocamb, Rolling-Blackouts.com , Jonathan Sirand

PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.

IN MEMORY OF BOB CRAIG, FOUNDING PUBLISHER

©2013 Thanks to the dawn of the information age, we believe distribution/circulation not only encompasses hard copies printed and the pass-on rate of those hard copies, but web browsing and electronic copies being downloaded by our growing online readership. This has become a substantial boost to the number of readers of our magazine. Currently, an average of 30,000 hard copies are printed biweekly. Studies have shown each hard copy has a probable “pass-on rate” of two to three, meaning each hard copy taken will be seen by two to three additional readers. With the pass-on rate alone, estimated readership can conservatively average 55,000 to 90,000, not encompassing visitors who visit us online at FrontiersLA.com.

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BUILDING COMMUNITY

Leading by Example

Tom Swan: Riding to End AIDS By Michelle McCarthy

When Tom Swan decided to participate in the AIDS/LifeCycle Ride to End AIDS—a seven-day, 545-mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles that benefits the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center—he hadn’t been on a bike since the eighth grade. A recovering drug addict who was diagnosed with AIDS seven years ago, Tom sees the fundraiser as a way of giving back to the community that helped him through his darkest days. Why did you decide to take part in the AIDS/LifeCycle this year? I lived in fear of my sexuality for a long time, and it caused me a lot of problems. I really regret that I didn’t have the courage other people had to be honest about who I was. All the people who did have the courage paved the way so that it’s easier to be a gay person in our world. I am really lucky I didn’t die from the disease, and there’s been great treatments for me. I’ve been on the same medicine since day one and haven't really had a sick day since. I’ve had all the medical, emotional and psychological help I’ve needed to manage it and have a healthy, fulfilling life. But I certainly know people who get that through the two organizations this ride benefits. I have made it a mission to raise as much money as possible and expand awareness of what this is all about. The L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation are social service and advocacy organizations that improve the health and wellness of the entire community. I’m trying

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to give back, because other people are my role models. Without them, I don’t know where I would be. How did you train? I made the decision to do LifeCycle around Christmas last year. I bought the bike in January and got on it for the first time in late February. I’ve been training every weekend and cross-training during the week with my trainer. I did 40 miles the first time, 50 miles the second time, 60 miles and then 80 miles. I just completed my first century ride [100 miles] on Saturday. I’m still a little tired from it, so I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like to wake up and do it again, and wake up and do it again, and wake up and do it again. How often do you ride? I’ve only been able to ride once a week on the weekends. I did the Santa Barbara ride, the Palos Verdes ride, and since the second ride, I haven’t fallen off. [Laughs] So that’s progress. I’d been a runner and kept myself in pretty good shape, so it’s more about getting used to the bike and the shifting of the gears. The next two or three weeks are going to be critical, because I’m going to have to do some long rides back-to-back. You’ve raised $125,000 so far by yourself. How did you do it? I’m hoping to raise $150,000. A lot of people use social media. I don’t have much luck that way, so I have gone person by person. I started with everybody in my phone book. Then I went through my old Yahoo books. Then I got old lists for people from college. A lot of the people

who have given to me I haven’t spoken to in 20 years, and they had no idea I was gay, much less that I was HIV positive. I’m very fortunate. I’ve had people who I haven’t seen in 20 years sending in $1,000 or $2,500. What do you hope to gain through this experience? The biggest decision I had to make was whether I wanted to be honest about my HIV status. I knew the way I could have the maximum effect was to be truthful. That became a very healing thing, because I no longer have any secrets from anybody. I lived in fear of being rejected by these people because of my sexuality, and instead they’re embracing me because of my courage. Most of the people who are supporting my ride are not gay. I’ve healed, so I’ve already gotten back more than I can give. The AIDS/LifeCycle takes place June 2-8. For more information, go to aidslifecycle.org.

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APRIL 16, 2013

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MARCH 19, 2013

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NEWS By Karen Ocamb and Peter DelVecchio

Rhode Island and Delaware Legalize Same-Sex Marriage The nation's two smallest states, Rhode Island and Delaware, are the latest to jump on the marriage equality bandwagon, legalizing same-sex marriage in rapid-fire succession over five days in early May. Rhode Island's Independent Gov. Lincoln Chaffee, formerly a Republican, signed the Rhode Island bill into law May 2, making the state the 10th to legalize gay marriage. The measure takes effect Aug. 1. “Today we are making history,” Chaffee told a joyful crowd on the State House steps prior to signing the legislation. “When your belief and heart is in something, it's easy work. I am proud to say that now, at long last, you are free to marry the person you love.” Predominantly Catholic Rhode Island was the last New England state to embrace marriage equality. The House passed the bill in January, and it cleared the state Senate on April 24 with the unanimous

support of the Republican caucus. Delaware followed suit on May 7, when that state's Senate approved a marriage equality bill, which Democratic Gov. Jack Markell signed a half hour later. “I do not intend to make any of you wait one moment longer,” Markell said. During a debate before the Senate vote, opponents of the bill argued that civil unions, instituted in Delaware two years ago, should be enough. Out state Sen. Karen Peterson, however, disagreed. “If my pursuit of happiness somehow demeans or diminishes your marriage, then you need to work on your marriage,” she said. Marriage equality measures are also working their way through state legislatures in Minnesota and Illinois. For a look at marriage equality momentum and how it is challenging old anti-gay Christian and Catholic themes, i.e. that homosexuality is “intrinsically evil,” go to tinyurl.com/cto8js7.

Gillibrand to Introduce Adoption Bill U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., is spearheading a group of legislators in both houses of Congress in an effort to introduce legislation that would make it more difficult for states to prohibit gays and lesbians from adopting children, the Washington Blade reported May 7. Leading efforts in the House is U.S. Rep. and civil rights icon John Lewis, D-Ga. The Every Child Deserves a Family Act would curtail funds for child welfare agencies that, among other things,

discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. “This patchwork of state laws often leads our children across the country without the opportunity for a safe home and loving parents,” Gillibrand said during a May 7 news conference. “Meanwhile, there is an untapped pool of 2 million LGBT people—people who are willing to become adoptive or foster parents—according to the Williams Institute at UCLA."

Jason Collins Comes Out Jason Collins, a National Basketball Association center who has played this year with the Boston Celtics and the Washington Wizards, came out as gay in Sports Illustrated’s May 6 cover story. “I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay,” Collins revealed in the article. Collins, currently a free agent seeking a team, is the first active professional sports player to come out. Response was immediate and almost entirely positive. President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and the NBA itself all said they were proud of Collins. There was some negative reaction, however; ESPN sportswriter Chris Broussard, for example, said homosexuals and all sinners are “in open rebellion to God and Jesus Christ.” Collins credits his college roommate, Massachusetts Rep. Joe Kennedy, with having marched in Boston's 2012 gay Pride parade for his decision to come out.

SPEAK OUT “We’re going to continue to make this world a better place. I have the strength to go forward and do it again.” —Out L.A. City Councilmember Bill Rosendahl in a video on his blog announcing that his cancer is in remission with the help of medical marijuana.

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“It was at this moment that Mr. Donahue advised us that if we entered St. Patrick’s Cathedral with dirty hands, we would be arrested and charged with criminal trespassing.” —Joseph Amodeo, organizer of a protest at the New York cathedral challenging Archbishop of New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan’s statement that people who engage in same-sex sexual acts have “dirty hands” and are unwelcome at church.

“Everybody played with a gay teammate, Dan, and it's no big deal.” —Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley on The Dan Patrick Show about the impact of Jason Collins' coming out, via Advocate.com.

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NEWS By Karen Ocamb and Peter DelVecchio

Fonda Discusses Friendship with Harvey Milk Actress and legendary liberal activist Jane Fonda discussed her friendship with slain LGBT icon San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk during a recent ‘conversation’ with Coco Peru, the famed drag queen and comedian. Peru lauded Fonda for having stood with Milk and others against the 1978 Briggs Initiative—a ballot measure that would have banned gays and lesbians and possibly even their supporters— from working in public schools. The measure was defeated. “He was my friend,” Fonda said of Milk, adding, “he was the most wonderful, lovable, huge, generous spirit—it was a big loss.” Fonda also auctioned off an extremely rare photo of herself with Milk to benefit the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center. Equality California will recognize Harvey Milk Day on May 22 with a “Harvey Milk Day of Action” from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at the EQCA office at 8106 Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood.

Catch One Disco Celebrates 40th Anniversary From May 24 to May 27, Jewel Thais-Williams, founder of Jewel’s Catch One Disco and the Village Health Foundation, will celebrate the 40th anniversary of her historic Los Angeles gay nightclub and disco with four days of parties, awards and activities over the Memorial Day Weekend at the famous disco and LAX Hilton Hotel. Catch One Disco is one of the oldest and longest-running LGBT discos in America and has served as a community center and

cultural institution. It is for good reason that Jewel Thais-Williams is considered an icon and inspiration in the L.A. LGBT community. The four-day celebration is a fundraiser for the Village Health Foundation. Sunday, May 26, will feature a banquet and awards dinner with a live performance by legendary actress Jenifer Lewis. For information about tickets and other details, please visit catchone.org or call (424) 24-CATCH.

Quick Pic The Lambda Literary Foundation celebrated its 25th anniversary on April 27 in West Hollywood with OutWrite!, honoring L.A.'s literary pioneers—the Rev. Malcolm Boyd (who turns 90 in June), Lillian Faderman, Katherine V. Forrest, John Rechy and Patricia Nell Warren. See more at tinyurl.com/clfskzt .

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Leahy to Introduce LGBT Immigration Protections Ever since Republicans lost the Latino vote by a margin estimated to have been more than 40 percentage points in the 2012 presidential election, bipartisan efforts to devise a comprehensive immigration reform package have made real progress for the first time in years. Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., has announced that he will seek to amend the budding reform package to permit gay American citizens to sponsor foreign same-sex partners for U.S. residency, as straight people are already permitted to do under current law, the Washington Blade reports. “For immigration reform to be truly comprehensive, it must include protections for all families,” Leahy said. “We must end the discrimination that gay and lesbian families face in our immigration law.” A separate Leahy amendment would require that married binational same-sex couples be treated the same as their opposite-sex peers. Prospects for Leahy's amendments, however, are uncertain. Republican members of the bipartisan “Gang of Eight,” a group of senators that has been working on immigration reform, have expressed opposition. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., a potential GOP 2016 presidential hopeful widely seen as going out on a limb with the Republican base by supporting reform, says Leahy’s amendments could tank the whole plan. “[I]f that issue is injected into this bill,” Rubio said, “the bill will fail and the coalition that helped put it together will fall apart." Right-wing thinking on the bill, however, may be more nuanced than is immediately apparent. Powerful supporters of several conservative outside groups supporting reform favor legal equality for gay couples, ThinkProgress.org reports. For example, Microsoft's Bill Gates, Google's Eric Schmidt and Napster co-founder Sean Parker all support marriage equality, and all are involved with Mark Zuckerberg’s FWD.us, which funds Americans for Conservative Action, a group supporting immigration reform.

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NEWS

Accusations of Intimidation and Voter Fraud Mar 13th C.D. Race Text and Photos by Karen Ocamb

Heading into the final stretch of the L.A. Elections on May 21, a new poll by the Pat Brown Institute shows City Controller Wendy Greuel and Councilmember Eric Garcetti in a virtual tie, with Greuel leading by one point. The poll reflects a dramatic drop from a USC/LA Times poll one month ago showing Garcetti with a 10point lead. But no snapshot of voters’ preferences can take into account the unforeseen consequences to Garcetti’s campaign as the nasty battle over who will replace him in the 13th Council District threatens to rob him of votes he might have assumed were locked up. On May 1, Stephen J. Kaufman, attorney for 13th C.D. candidate John Choi, filed an official complaint with the Public Integrity Division of the L.A. County District Attorney’s office alleging “illegal electioneering and vote tampering by Mitch O’Farrell campaign workers.” The complaint says the Choi campaign “has received disturbing reports from permanent vote-by-mail voters that campaign workers associated with Mr. Choi’s opponent, Mitch O’Farrell, have come to their homes to manipulate them into voting for Mr. O’Farrell, physically complete their VBM (Vote-by-Mail) ballots and collect them for return to the City Clerk. The details of these incidents show a concerted effort to defraud these voters and tamper with the voteby-mail process, in direct violation of the penal provisions of the California Elections Code and the Election Code of the City of Los Angeles.” The complaint alleges that O’Farrell campaign workers “fraudulently misrepresented the candidates on the ballot. These voters, who are of Armenian descent, were in many cases told they should vote for Sam Kbushyan, a candidate of Armenian descent who ran but lost during the primary election and has since endorsed Mr. O’Farrell. Mr. Kbushyan is not actually on the general election ballot, but voters were nonetheless fraudulently “shown” by O’Farrell campaign workers how to mark the spot on their VBM ballots to vote for him. “In numerous cases, voters reported that O’Farrell campaign workers physically took possession of the VBM ballots, filled them out and

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John Choi and Mitch O'Farrell shake hands after a debate in Hollywood

then left with those ballots in hand. In other cases, voters were told to deliver their completed ballots to O’Farrell campaign workers. “In one particularly brazen occurrence, the campaign was told that O’Farrell campaign workers went to an Armenian senior home, told the elderly residents that they should vote for Sam Kbushyan and then proceeded to fill out each of the seniors’ vote-by-mail ballots individually. ... These actions threaten to sabotage the democratic process and may very well affect the outcome of this election.” The complaint provides names, addresses and a transcript of an interview with one of the voters who alleges this happened to him. The campaign has since supplied the District Attorney’s office with a long list of additional names, with one Choi campaign staffer telling Frontiers, “In one day we encountered 110 people on one street that had their ballots taken.”

If the allegations are true and the VBM ballots were filled out with the intention of only yielding O’Farrell votes in the Armenian community—where there are 3,000 registered voters—it is likely that no other names were marked on the ballot, even though voters might have wished to vote for their current Councilmember Eric Garcetti for mayor. “I’ve been doing this for 20 years, and I’ve never seen such widespread and brazen vote fraud as we have here,” Kaufman told Frontiers. “We expect the D.A. to fully investigate this and get to the bottom of it sooner rather than later. And we expect city election officials to take appropriate action to make sure no fraudulent votes are counted in this election. The bottom line here is there are ways to see what’s going on and verify how people intend to vote. We still have time to go through the names and ample opportunity to get it right.”

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NEWS

Accusations of Intimidation and Voter Fraud Mar 13th C.D. Race Jane Robison, a spokesperson for the D.A.’s office, told Frontiers, “We are reviewing allegations.” Robison would answer no further questions. On May 9, the LA Times reported that the O'Farrell campaign refuted the allegations, saying Choi’s campaign was actually to blame. “These are Choi people who are doing this,” O’Farrell spokesperson Renee Nahum told The Times. She said the O’Farrell campaign intends to file a complaint of its own with testimony from voters “who said they gave their ballots to Choi campaign workers who falsely claimed that they were representing Kbushyan.” The Times followed up. “Interviews with several voters listed in the Choi complaint suggest improper activity occurred, although it was unclear who was responsible. Eighty-two-yearold Raffik Hambardzumyan told The Times that an Armenian-speaking woman came to his house and helped him and his wife fill out their vote-by-mail ballots about a week ago. Hambardzumyan, who doesn't speak English, said the woman told them they were voting for Kbushyan,” The Times reported. “Galust Khachatryan, 65, said he was recently visited by the same young man and woman, who stopped by his home on behalf of Kbushyan in the primary campaign,” The Times reported. “Khachatryan said they didn't help him vote but did take his ballot. Election law prohibits campaign workers from returning voters' ballots. Khachatryan said he couldn't remember the name of the person he voted for, but said it was ‘for the candidate Kbushyan supported’ and whom he had seen on television with Kbushyan. O'Farrell has appeared on a TV show hosted by Kbushyan that airs on an Armenian-language station.” The allegations of voter fraud and illegal electioneering are just the latest in a string of exchanges between the Choi and O’Farrell campaigns, including allegations from both sides that campaign workers have told Armenian voters not to vote for a candidate because he is gay. “I don’t think [Choi]’s homophobic, and I have not ever said that,” O’Farrell told Frontiers after a debate in Silver Lake. “But there are allegations that in the Armenian community—we’ve received letters—that the Choi campaign has indicated that I’m a gay man in Little Armenia. And that’s a cultural flashpoint in some neighborhoods. So that I’ve heard, but I’ve not complained about that. “We’ve received letters from voters who are upset because they feel some of Choi’s campaign has used that in a way that is divisive and has turned people against me,” O’Farrell continued. “Look, ugly things get said. He has no direct way of necessarily connecting what might have been said—he wasn’t there. So I’m not making a big deal out of it.” O’Farrell’s campaign provided two letters. One was from April 24 from Mnatsakan

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Vardesyan, who lives on Carlton Way. The translated note says, “On April 23, around 7 p.m., they called me regarding the elections. I do not remember the name, but he was a young Eastern Armenian and offered me to vote for John Choi and told me not to vote for Mitch O’Farrell, because he is a ‘homosexualist.’” The other translated note from April 28 reads, “I, Tamara Azatyan, residing at [Heliotrope Dr.] am one of the voters of District 13 in Los Angeles. On April 27 around 4-5 p.m., an Armenianspeaking young person came to our home and

to be spouting this kind of hate, they’ll be instantly gone—they’ll be gone that day. They will no longer be affiliated with this campaign. Meanwhile, my opponent continues to dismiss what was the brandishing of a gun, saying ‘It didn’t happen; there’s no police report’ and now, ‘It’s not our issue; it wasn’t affiliated with our campaign.’ I’ll say again—if anyone in my campaign is caught doing that, they’ll be gone—and I haven’t heard the same type of response and responsibility from Mitch.” What about the letters? Frontiers asked. “I

John Choi and his gay campaign manager Shaun Daniels presented himself as a John Choi election campaign staff member and started to convince me that I give my vote to #99 John Choi, since I voted for Mitch O’Farrell, who is homosexual.” (Please find the O’Farrell letters and the Choi complaint in the online version of this story at FrontiersLA.com.) Choi is still unforgiving about the fliers put on the chairs at the Stonewall Democratic Club endorsement meeting (which O’Farrell won by one vote) identifying a pro-Prop. 8 KoreanAmerican pastor and two others who donated to Choi’s campaign. As soon as Choi and his gay campaign manager Shaun Daniels found out about it, they donated the money to the LGBT youth group GLSEN. The check for $2,100 cleared on May 2. As to the allegations that his campaign has tried to turn voters away from O’Farrell because he’s gay, Choi said, “I’ve been very clear on this issue. I’ve told my staff and I’ve said it publicly—if anyone in this campaign has been found

have not seen them,” Choi said. “It’s obviously concerning, but at the same time, I’ve been very clear with my staff that every single one of my staff reports to my campaign manager, and they’ve said to me they’re not participating in that type of language and that type of behavior. Meanwhile, we have dozens and dozens and dozens of people saying someone came and picked their ballot up and someone filled out the ballot for them, and it’s that type of voter fraud that’s happening every day in this race, and I think it’s a real shame to try to turn that around on me. In fact, I’ve been told that I’m gay by several folks in the community. So this type of divisive language is happening on and on. It’s really unfortunate that it’s gotten to this, and I think Mitch needs to take responsibility.” Inexplicably, little attention is being paid to the allegation of a man allegedly brandishing a pistol to apparently intimidate young Choi campaign workers.

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NEWS

Hrag Kitsinian, 24, the deputy field director for the Choi campaign who has worked on other political campaigns—including Luis Lopez’s recent race for the Assembly—feels that what happened to him and his 16 and 17-year-old canvassers is an issue of public safety. Kitsinian told Frontiers that on April 22 he was supervising a team of canvassers when one called him to say he was being harassed by older O’Farrell supporters while doorknocking near 1632 N. Normandie. They apparently asked the Choi workers how much they were being paid, offered them cigarettes and

else’s fault but my own. At this point, I felt very threatened.” Then, Kitsinian said, one of the people whose door the young canvassers knocked on came out and told the older men to “leave these boys alone. Shame on you.” Then, out of nowhere, another man with tattoos approached Kitsinian, got in his face and said, “Do we have a problem here?” Kitsinian said he tried to avoid a confrontation but the man “turned his back to the Mitch O’Farrell canvassers, pulled out a gun and chambered a bullet, cocked it back

debates, though the “insider vs. outsider” theme has raised hackles. O’Farrell has lived in the district for 31 years and knows the neighborhoods, while Choi has only lived in Echo Park officially for one year, though he lived within one mile of 13th C.D. in Koreatown and Downtown for years. That led to a heated exchange during a debate inside the Karapetian Hall at St. Garabed Armenian Church on May 8. “My opponent has continued to attack me from day one, using language like ‘new arrival,' ‘outsider’ and ‘not one of us,’” Choi exclaimed, barely able to contain his frustration. “That type of language has been used for decades to raise xenophobic fears of outsiders and immigrants.” Choi cited a Communistsuggestive red campaign mailer with a grainy picture of him under the words “not from our community.” O’Farrell said he didn’t like the mailer either. “I thought it was a terrible picture,” he said. “Any sort of hint of discrimination has no place in a campaign.” But, O’Farrell added, “The fact is my opponent is new to the district.” O’Farrell and Choi also clashed over labor. O’Farrell said that while he had come from a union household, “you need to stand up to them as well at times. It's time for leadership to put what is now some out-of-control power in check,” though he said he was not talking about the janitors but the “union bosses.” Mitch O'Farrell with former Assembly candidate Luis Lopez after winning the Stonewall endorsement Choi found it “hard to swallow” that O’Farrell came asked why they were working for Choi because and he looked at me.” from a union household but was nonetheless “he hates Armenians and only likes Mexicans At that point, he felt he should get the young “demonizing” unions, which, he said, are “nothing and Koreans.” They allegedly also said, “Don’t canvassers out of the area. “It was a public safety more than average people fighting for a decent canvass these neighborhoods. They belong to issue.” Kitsinian said he called 911, subsequently lifestyle.” Choi said, “It sounds like you’re taking Mitch O’Farrell.” filed a report with Detective Joe Rios at the Northtalking points from Scott Walker,” referring to Kitsinian said that one of the older men was east Division of LAPD and identified the man the Republican Wisconsin governor who sucformer 13th C.D. candidate Sam Kbushyan’s father, from a six-pack of photos. cessfully curtailed the power of unions in his who tried to intimidate Kitsinian as well—“What Rios confirmed that he took “a signed crime state. Choi said he thinks his experience and kind of Armenian are you? You’re going against report from the victim, who was out soliciting union support enables him to be a better negothe Armenian candidate?”—and handed him a votes for the John Choi campaign.” Rios noted tiator. “I’m going to be able to sit across the piece of literature with a photo of Kbushyan and the gun was never pointed at anybody, and that table and be an honest broker.” O’Farrell. Kitsinian asked in return, “Where do while Kitsinian might have thought the man was Interestingly, not once during the 90-minute you see the Armenian candidate running for the part of an Armenian gang because of his tattoos, debate in Hollywood was the word “gay” ever 13th district?” there is no documentation in the LAPD files indimentioned. Indeed, O’Farrell said that, if elected, Kitsinian said the harassment continued, cating the suspect is part of a gang, nor does he he’d emulate his friend and mentor City Counwith Kbushyan’s father allegedly saying in have much of a rap sheet. Rios said he went to cilmember Tom LaBonge rather than his lesbian Armenian, “Don’t canvass this neighborhood. look for the suspect but couldn’t find him and subpredecessor Jackie Goldberg or his former boss, These are our seniors and our voters”—meaning sequently turned the crime report over to the Eric Garcetti. To be sure, however, whoever wins the voters Kbushyan had registered in the primary. city attorney to determine if it should be filed will have an agenda full of community fenceKitsinian then said he felt Kbushyan’s father and followed up. mending. threatened him. “He said, ‘Canvassing is very For the most part, these fights have been dangerous. If [I] slip and fall, it wouldn’t be anyone behind the scenes, not evident during the public

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ITEMS YOU’LL WANT THIS SUMMER

By Stephan Horbelt

See what’s in our metaphorical summertime toy box with this roundup of fun, functional and downright sexy items.

5 4 Phiaton Moderna Earbuds Since you’re sure to use your phone or iPod to blast tunes this summer—while at the gym, on the beach and everywhere in between—invest in some quality buds. Not to sound cheesy, but these set a new standard—their shape fits into your ear perfectly, which means powerful bass and crystalclear sound. Most importantly, the cables are tangle-free (!) with a built-in mic. $149, amazon.com

5 Venokado Picnic Baskets

1 Top Gun 3-D Blu-ray

What movie says “Summer!” better than Top Gun?! Back when Val Kilmer was sexy and before Tom Cruise was jumping on Oprah’s couch, these guys were total sexpots. Relive the ‘80s with a delightfully cheeseball soundtrack (Kenny Loggins, Berlin) and that one smokin’ hot beach volleyball scene— you know the one. $21.99, amazon.com

2 Stuck On U This hand-blown glass bottle is meant as a klutzproof solution for spill-happy drinkers, but it also makes a great vase for any room in the house, a perfect solution for bring summer indoors! $12, fab.com

3 Warhol Skateboard Deck If you wanna learn to ‘thrash’—or just need a new board—do so in style with this Alien Workshop deck featuring the mug of “Pope of Pop” Andy Warhol. People won’t be able to see Andy’s face when you run them off the sidewalk, but you’ll know he’s there. Currently on sale for $59 at Fab.com. 32

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Summer for many Angelenos means time spent at the Hollywood Bowl, cemetery film screenings and beach days. Venokado—that rad wine shop on Fountain in WeHo, with another shop in Santa Monica—sells customizable picnic baskets perfect for your summer plans. Choose wine, cheese, crackers, chocolate and more. $45-65, venokado.com

6 Moncler Thong Sandal Some people look down on flip-flops, but how can you be an Angeleno and not have a sturdy, fashionable pair? This Ajaccio sandal—with its leather footbed, rubber sole and red-white-andblue straps—is perfect for the summer months. $250, neimanmarcus.com

7 Mercy Hangover Prevention You no longer need to pray for mercy from your roughest hangovers! This carbonated beverage is packed with vitamins and amino acids to help fortify your body against damage caused by alcohol. Make one of these suckers your last drink of the night and wake up in a much better state. These are currently all the rage throughout NYC bars and hotels. $14 for a four-pack, drinkmercy.com

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ITEMS YOU’LL WANT THIS SUMMER

8 Marc Jacobs Beach Towel

11 Pineapple Box

14 Muk Luks Travel Mat

Make buying a new beach towel a summer tradition! This oversized towel has “Marc Jacobs 1984” on one side and the American flag on the other. $35, marcjacobs.com

You may not be able to jet-set to Hawaii this summer, but keep the island close with this rad golden pineapple. Open it up to store whatever you like inside, from coins or trinkets to your sexy-time necessities. $29, urbanoutfitters.com

With this bright striped mat in tow, you’ll never get a soggy butt while enjoying the latest Cinespia screening at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. No one likes a soggy butt, and this mat is actually pretty cute. $20, fab.com

12 BlueTune Solo

15 Flynn Sunglasses by Tom Ford

Start a party wherever you are with this sleekly designed Bluetooth speaker (and speakerphone). It’s small and compact, which means it’ll fit in your beach bag, has a built-in mic for phone calls and has an eight-hour rechargeable battery for those long days in the sun. $49.99, divoomusa.com

While this pair of shades is gonna cost you a pretty penny, in SoCal, a pair of nice designer sunglasses is always a great investment. This black set of unisex frames is guaranteed to look great on just about everybody. $380, solsticesunglasses.com

9 Citrus Zinger Infuse your water with all-natural citrus flavor courtesy of this 28-ounce bottle’s built-in fruit press. You’ll need to keep hydrated during high-impact activities this summer, and this handy contraption will put extra pep in your step. $16.99, zinganything.com

10 Hamburger Bean Bag Since you won’t be eating any hamburgers this summer to maintain that rockin’ bod, at least you can sit on one. This comfy bean bag is quite the conversation starter. And, hey, if staring at this thing makes you hungry for a Double-Double, a hamburger never hurt nobody! $83, amazon.com

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13 Menaji Lip Agent Days spent out in the sun are bound to dry out your precious puckers. Throw away whatever you’ve been using and invest in this tube of vitamins for your lips. It’s enriched with Vitamin E, sunflower, macadamia and jojoba oils. Bottom line: it works, and will have your lips feeling great. $7.50, menaji.com

16 Croquet Mallet Set This vintage set of five croquet mallets makes the perfect starter set for your summer plans to learn a new sport. It’s for sale on Fab.com by hip Atlanta antique shop Brick+Mortar. $64, fab.com

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PRIDE PASSPORT 2013

By Michelle McCarthy

A Guide to LGBT Celebrations Around the World

Summer is fast approaching, bringing with it the annual LGBT Pride festival season. As a proud Angeleno, you probably hit one or all of the local events—Long Beach, L.A., San Diego, Palm Springs—all fun-filled soirees in their own right. But there’s also a big, bright world out there with exciting destinations and unique ways of celebrating. Hitting up Pride celebrations in different locales is a great excuse to explore the country or get some stylish stamps added to your passport. The LGBT community has been making huge inroads on the path to equality over the last year. There are many reasons to get out there and wave our rainbow flags. Here’s a guide to some Pride festivals going down around the globe.

Portland

Honolulu

June 15-16

June 1

Puerto Vallarta May 24-26 This gorgeous Mexican city’s annual LGBT event, Vallarta Pride, will take place this year on the weekend of May 24. Events will start with a cocktail kick-off at Casa Cupula Hotel Boutique and continue for three days, celebrating LGBT culture and Puerto Vallarta’s welcoming community with music festivals, beach parties, fashion shows, a mass commitment ceremony and activities in participating bars and clubs. The city’s Zona Romantica is home to many businesses that are LGBT-owned and/or cater to gays, including beaches, tours, restaurants, bars and gay-friendly resorts and hotels. gaypv.mx

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Do you really need an excuse to pack your bags and head to paradise? At this annual Pride celebration on Oahu, you can take in the thriving LGBT scene located in Hawaii’s capital and work on your tan simultaneously. Hawaii consists of six major islands—Hawai’i, Maui, O’ahu, Kauai, Moloka’i, Lana’i— and no matter which one you decide to visit, you’ll experience pristine water, gorgeous sunsets, breathtaking natural landscapes and an endless list of fun activities. The theme of this year’s Pride celebration is Stand Up, Stand Out, Stand Proud! 2012’s event boasted more than 4,000 people at the festival and upwards of 10,000 at the parade. It all kicks off with the parade at 10 a.m. at Magic Island. The festival then takes over from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at Kapiolani Park Bandstand with live entertainment, LGBT groups, a keiki area, local crafters and food vendors. honolulupride.org

Berlin June 15-22 Berlin’s Pride party, which is lovingly called Christopher Street Day, spans a whole week and consists of shows, exhibitions, lectures, films, concerts and a ton of partying. The capital of Germany is known for its festivals, nightlife, arts and diverse architecture. Registered life partnerships (i.e., civil unions) were legalized in Germany in 2001, which covers rights on inheritance, health insurance, immigration, name change, alimony, child support and more. Berlin’s Pride fest offers around 200 events and is touted as one of the most eclectic Pride celebrations in Europe. berlingaypride.com

If you’ve ever seen the show Portlandia, its depiction of the crunchy, pro-bike-rights, veganinfested world of the People’s Republic of Portland ain’t too far off. Portland is conscious of everyone’s and everything’s right to be, from LGBT rights to protecting the freedom of avid knitters. The mission of Pride Northwest, Inc. is to encourage and celebrate the positive diversity of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans communities, and to assist in the education of all people through the development of activities that showcase the history, accomplishments and talents of these communities. The official 2013 theme is Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now, and the event will again open with the Portland Dykes & Allies on Bikes. Weekend events include a screening of the documentary Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin, a Pride Comedy Showcase, Avenue Q the musical, the Waterfront Festival and the 43rd annual Pride Parade. pridenw.org

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New York City

New Orleans

June 28-30

June 21-24 New Orleans Pride got its start in 1971 with a “Gay In” picnic orchestrated by the Gay Liberation Front of New Orleans, the first such event in Louisiana. It became an official annual event in 1978. The Big Easy is home to a host of unofficial-but-may-aswell-be-official gay events (Halloween, Mardi Gras) and official gay events (Southern Decadence, Gay Easter Parade) year-round. It’s a city chock-full of some of the most down-to-earth characters and soulful music around, and the best Southern food you’ll find on any side of the MasonDixon line. Whether you want to press your luck viewing dem gators up close on a swamp tour, take a walking tour of the opulent plantation houses in the Garden District or do whatever it takes to earn a set of coveted beads on Bourbon Street, this town is a nonstop party. The French Quarter is the eye of the storm, with bars on every corner and live music of all varieties streaming out of countless clubs. Pride events will span every interest, from the Boomtown Casino Kickoff Party to Family Day at Washington Square Park to the Block Party hosted by Jaymes and James and Blanch Debris to the Remembering the Upstairs Lounge memorial gathering. prideneworleans.org

Dublin June 21-30 The Dublin LGBTQ Pride Festival is the largest LGBTQ Pride gathering in the Republic of Ireland. What started as a one-day event back in 1983 has expanded to a 10-day series of events culminating in a lively Pride parade. The event’s mission is to produce a professional Pride festival and an annual Pride Day that includes a parade through Dublin city center, a politically based rally and free entertainment, all while working for the improvement of LGBTQ communities. Ireland’s stance on LGBT rights has become increasingly liberal in recent years, and a 2013 survey reported that 75 percent of the population believes same-sex marriage should be legalized. Civil unions have been recognized since 2010. The theme of the 30th Dublin LGBTQ Pride Festival is Live, Love, Be Proud. dublinpride.ie

If you’re heading to Pride weekend in New York City, be prepared for a jam-packed, nonstop, whirlwind hootenanny. It’s a town known for its lack of sleep, and never is that as apparent as when the Big Apple breaks out its rainbow-colored flags, so plan accordingly. Always a frontrunner in progressive politics (Stonewall, anyone?), New York is a friend to the gays year-round with an impressive LGBT culture—from nightlife to the arts. But Pride weekend really kicks out the jams. The Rally on June 28 serves as the official kickoff for Pride and showcases a list of performers and speakers. Drop in at the VIP Rooftop Party on June 29, which takes place on an exclusive rooftop overlooking the city. Dance your butt off at Rapture on the River, the only official women’s event at NYC Pride on June 29. Take to the streets and show your pride at The March on June 30; grand marshals Edith Windsor, Harry Belafonte and Earl Fowlkes will be leading the 2013 March down 5th Avenue. Then get yourself to Hudson Street later that day for the 20th anniversary of PrideFest, the weekend’s raucous festival. And finally, wind your Pride down on June 30 with the Dance on the Pier in TriBeCa. nycpride.org

Paris June 29

Barcelona June 28-30 Same-sex marriage was legalized in Spain in 2005, and the country prides itself on being a shining example of LGBT rights, “always reaffirming our open, respectful and tolerant character,” according to Barcelona Pride’s website. Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain and is located on the Mediterranean coast with gorgeous beaches and a bustling downtown area. Now in its fifth incarnation, Barcelona Pride is listed as occurring on three days, but the celebration actually runs from June 20-30 and offers 10 days of culture, sport, debate, entertainment and parties. And get this—it’s all free. The parade starts at 6 p.m. on June 29 and travels to Plaza Espanya, where the main party takes over and continues until 2 a.m. There’s also a heel race, foam party, drag race and much more. pridebarcelona.org/en

With the recent legalization of same-sex marriage in France, the city of love just got more sumptuous. The annual turnout for the biggest French Gay Pride Parade, or Marche des Fiertes LGBT, usually rests around 700,000, but we don’t doubt records will be broken this year since there’s a lot to celebrate. The parade kicks off on June 29 at Montparnasse and will head to Bastille. But the entire weekend is dedicated to celebrating pride in our community with a number of parties and balls. Gay clubs, hotels, pubs and restaurants throughout the city will be hosting special events as well. First-timers will want to check out the City of Lights’ mustsee sites (The Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral, Eiffel Tower) and test out its world-famous cuisine, but definitely spend time in the Marais District, the Parisian version of Boystown. gaypride.fr

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PRIDE PASSPORT 2013

Austin Sept. 7

San Francisco June 29-30 Harvey Milk. Castro. Folsom. Eagle Tavern. Lexington. San Francisco is Mecca for the LGBT community. The homeland. It’s the city where seeing samesex couples walking down the street hand-in-hand is so commonplace, when you happen to see a straight couple doing the same, it makes you do a double take. The Transgender March takes place on June 28, the Dyke March on June 29. The theme for the 43rd annual San Francisco Pride Celebration and Parade is Embrace, Encourage, Empower. To take part in the celebration, get yourself downtown to the Civic Center on June 29 (noon to 6 p.m.) and 30 (11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.). The parade kicks off at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday at Market and Beale and ends at Market and 8th Streets in Downtown SF. Be sure to wear rainbowcolored flowers in your hair. sfpride.org

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Amsterdam

Vancouver Aug. 4

July 27 - Aug. 4 Described last year by CNN as one of “the best picks around the world for celebrating Pride,” Amsterdam Gay Pride is one of those events that seems to embody the spirit and character of its iconic location. Still the only Pride parade on Earth to take place on the water, this event is for many Amsterdammers—and increasingly for ‘in the know’ visitors—the highlight of the summer’s cultural agenda in a city that knows how to party and has much to celebrate. It’s the perfect opportunity to explore and delight in a city that is treasured internationally for its unique spirit of tolerance and diversity. amsterdamgaypride.nl

Our neighbors to the north— who legalized gay marriage in 2005—like to show their pride all summer long. Official 2013 Pride events commence on June 29 with the East Side Pride celebration and continue with a Pride dinner and game (Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Seattle Sounders) on July 6, Gay Day at Playland on July 13, the Pride Run & Walk on July 27, Picnic in the Park on July 27, Davie Street Party on Aug. 2 and the Terry Wallace Memorial Breakfast on Aug. 3. The revelry all leads up to the Vancouver Pride Parade and Pride Festival and Market on Aug. 4. Plans are also underway for a youth dance and movie night. vancouver pride.ca

When a city’s slogan demands the town remain weird, you know you’re in for a good time. Just as the bulk of the summer’s Pride activities are winding down, Austin steps in to take over and keep the party going. 2012’s outing was the largest and most successful one to date, and this year’s 22nd annual celebration promises to exceed expectations. More than 100,000 revelers will descend on Austin to partake in the fourth annual Rainbow Run 5K, the Pride Festival at Lady Bird Lake at Fiesta Gardens and the evening Pride Parade, which will take its first steps at the State Capitol. “More than a party, Austin Pride is a celebration of diversity and community that raises funds for—and awareness of—the numerous resources and charitable/nonprofit organizations available to the LGBTQ community in Central Texas,” according to Austin Pride’s website. The event has donated more than $54,000 in the past two years to nonprofit organizations. And while you’re there, be sure to take in the city’s finger-licking barbecue and TexMex food, cutting-edge music and eccentric arts scene. austin pride.org

Atlanta Oct. 12-13 Known as the gay epicenter of the South, Atlanta delivers the goods with an impressive Pride celebration. Now in its 43rd year, Atlanta Pride opens Friday with the Official Kick-Off Party, followed by an Official KickOff After-Party for those who aren’t ready to call it a night. On Saturday, there’s a Children’s Show, Atlanta Pride Commitment Ceremony, the Atlanta Pride Car and Motorcycle Show, the Annual Trans March (celebrating and promoting visibility of the trans community), the Annual Dyke March (dedicated to the empowerment of the women of Atlanta and beyond) and the Official Atlanta Pride Women’s Party. Then on Sunday, you can enjoy The Annual Atlanta Pride Parade, the drag entertainment of The Starlight Cabaret and the Official Atlanta Pride Closing Party. Ongoing events all weekend long include the Pride Cultural Exhibit, the Community Health Expo and the Pride Marketplace. atlantapride.org

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APRIL 30, 2013

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LONG BEACH PRIDE TURNS 30

By Mike Ciriaco No one wants to spend the big 3-0 alone, especially Long Beach Pride. This May, the Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride Festival celebrates its 30th year in what is sure to be good company. The two-day event normally attracts 80,000 participants and over 200 floats in its parade—ranking as the third largest Pride weekend in the nation—and this year’s anniversary celebration is sure to draw in even more LGBT spectators than usual. Frontiers has compiled a guide to navigating this month’s parade and festival, but remember, if Long Beach Pride asks, tell her she still looks 25.

THE FESTIVAL

May 19, step-off at 10:30 a.m.

This year's festival features seven large dance areas, including a main stage, which for past Pride celebrations has featured musical artists including Maya, Jennifer Hudson and last year's royal headliner, Queen Latifah.

Since 1969, the inclusion of a flamboyant and boisterous parade has been a big component of Pride tradition. Long Beach's parade hot spot kicks off an hour early at 9:30 a.m. Located along Cherry Ave. and Ocean Blvd. at Bixby Park, the location provides plenty of shade and a community gathering spot for anyone watching the parade. Early arrivals who show their pride could receive free admission to the festival, exclusive Long Beach Pride merchandise and other possible prizes. A pre-parade show, hosted by Jewels and starring Hamburger Mary’s own Brunchettes, will begin at 10:15 a.m.

Main Stage

Dance

TV aficionados will be elated with this year's lineup. Saturday's stage will be headlined by American Idol alumna Fantasia. Amidst rumblings of an alleged antigay marriage statement late last year, Barrino is sure to go that extra mile to assuage the LGBT masses. Sunday features vocalists from not one but two reality singing competitions—American Idol finalists David Hernandez, Kimberly Caldwell and Paris Bennett share the main stage with The Voice finalists Beverly McClellan, Jamar Rogers and Frenchie Davis.

Get sweaty to the sounds of DJ Draper as she returns to the turntables this year, accompanied by the talents of DJs Nova Jade, Boom, Sha, Steve Cunningham, Groove Section and Mike Bryant. Dancers Beau, Lisa Golightly, Panda and Arienne Moran will be there to show you how to shake your thing.

Country For all you queer cowpokes hankering for more of a downhome twang in your tune, be sure to hit up the Country stage. While this stage wrassles up a decidedly more masculine energy, take note that not all these good ol' boys are, well, boys. One performer of note is the hilarious Landon Cider, who has been credited for “raising the bar for drag kings entering the business.” Similarly, Arizona-based gender-bending troupe Sisterzz Twisted will be trekking to Cali to join Mr. Cider and others on the Country stage. It just goes to show that you don't need to be a boy in order to play cowboy.

Beverly McClellan

THE PARADE

May 18 & 19

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Fiesta Caliente Those of you with a spicier appetite should definitely shake it over to the Fiesta Caliente stage and its strong Latin musical flavors. Mexican pop duet Sentidos Opuestos grabs center stage with classic hits like “Historias de Amo” and “Escribeme en el Cielo.” Other Spanish language acts include Vina Rouge, Nina Guzman, MAO and Banjee Boys.

Urban Soul Where are all my soul sistas? Let me hear ya flow, sistas! Flow straight on over to the Urban Soul stage. This year, the stage features music from Push Party, DJ Tish Corleon and Kanary Diamond.

Fantasia

LONG BEACH LESBIAN & GAY PRIDE 30 Years Proud!

May 18-19 longbeachpride.com

Frenchie Davis

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Other Events

For those gay Long Beachers unavailable or simply too young to attend the festivities over the weekend, rest assured there are plenty of events scheduled in the week leading up to Pride Weekend. These include parties specifically geared towards queer adolescents and athletic events for those who prefer to celebrate the occasion with heart-healthy activities. Find details on a ton more Pride events online at longbeachpride.com.

Latrice Royale

Wild Wednesday Pride Show Start Pride Weekend early on Wednesday, May 15, with host Jewels and her lovely ladies. The Starlette Review starts at 10 p.m. and stars RuPaul's Drag Race diva Latrice Royale. Hamburger’s Mary’s, 740 E. Broadway

1st Annual Rally and Dyke March On Friday, May 17, Long Beach women will take to the streets in the first annual rally and Dyke March at 6:30 p.m. The rally welcoming will be delivered by Long Beach’s own Councilwoman Suja Lowenthal, and keynote speaker Robin Tyler will deliver the rally call. Straight, bi, lesbian and trans females are encouraged to march in solidarity for the empowerment of all women. Bring your signs! The March begins at Junipero and 2nd Streets and ends at Hamburger Mary’s, with free entrance to all marchers as Jennifer Corday takes the stage.

Rainbow Candy Rave 5th Annual Teen Pride Festival The next generation of gays and lesbians get the first crack at this year’s Pride festival with this free event for youths, held inside the festival by the Rainbow Lagoon on May 17 from 4-9 p.m. Activities include carnival games, an arts & crafts area, gladiator joust, chill lounge, DJs playing dance, electronic, Latin, techno and hip-hop tunes, a dance contest and youthfriendly resource booths. School ID or another form of identification will be required at entrance. This is a tobacco, drug and alcohol-free zone area with strict security.

Rainbow Run Gays looking for a healthier way to celebrate Pride should participate in the annual Rainbow Run at 8 a.m. on Sunday, May 19, at Junipero and Ocean Boulevards. Be sure to cross the finish line by 9:29 a.m., because the parade is sure to kick off at 9:30 sharp.

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FANTASIA BARRINO Sets the Record Straight BY MICHELLE MCCARTHY Fantasia Barrino says the gay community has been one of her biggest supporters, but can we say the same of the R&B singer? No stranger to controversy, the American Idol and Grammy winner’s struggles have been well-publicized—a victim of sexual assault as a child, teen pregnancy, money issues, a suicide attempt, allegations she was dating a married man. And then there was an Instagram posting in which it appeared she was speaking ill of gay marriage. Fantasia recently released her fourth studio album, Side Effects of You, and is set to perform at the 30th annual Long Beach Pride festivities. We talked to her to get her side of the story.

Have you played a Pride festival before? I’ve done Atlanta, D.C., New York and L.A. I love playing Pride, because people are so free. You don’t have to worry about being judged, and everybody does what they want to do. I know when I hit the stage, it’s going to be really turned up. I’m going to be doing a little bit of everything. You never know who’s in the audience. You never know who’s going through a certain situation. And some song may motivate them to keep going. Why do you think the gay community is drawn to your work? I think it’s me being me. Me being free. Me being open. Me being the type of person who stands for what I believe in. I don’t judge. Let people be themselves. Let people be free. When all that bull crap came out and they were saying I was against gay people or against gay marriage, it really bothered me and hurt me, because when I stepped on the Idol stage, I was open and free. I didn't want people to judge me. I wanted people to let me be free. They would say, “How can she be an idol? She has a child. She doesn’t have a diploma.” We all have flaws, we all have things we’ve gone through. That doesn't mean we’re not special or that we can’t do what we want to do. That we can’t love who we want to love. I think that’s why they supported and loved me and my music.

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You’ve said your Instagram message about gay marriage was taken out of context. What were you trying to say? I wasn’t saying I’m against gay people. All I was saying was stop trying to judge people, getting on my page and getting on my Twitter and quoting scriptures and telling me what I did was a sin. Let people live their life. All this stuff you’re quoting, nobody’s doing that right now. Yes, the Bible speaks that, but come on! It’s 2013. Everybody in this world has a story. Nobody’s perfect but Jesus. I’m not trying to be perfect. I never have, I never will. I just want to live my life. Do I try to do good? I do. Do I try to do good by people? I do. I never want to hurt anyone. I never want to disrespect anyone or tear anyone down. So that’s all I was saying—stop tearing people down and judging folks. Move the hell on with your life. The people who have something to say have a bunch of skeletons in their closet, too. Fall back. Then people started pretending they were me and putting up quotes on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, like, “I am a Christian and I stand for only things that are said in the Bible.” The people who looked at my Instagram and took that and twisted it got joy and satisfaction out of feeling, “Yes, we were able to make her look like a bad person.” The people who really know Fantasia should’ve known that was a bunch of B.S. If you look back at my history, I’ve done many, many gay

Prides. I’ve been to many events where there’s a marriage or something going on. I know they’d realize, “She couldn’t have said that.” I am a Christian, but I grew up in a church where there were gay people in the church. If you knew me, you’d know that is not something I would ever say. It was just somebody lurking, trying to start more drama in Fantasia’s world.

very sad, because I posted a picture today and I noticed there were 20 good comments and then, boom, here they came, people saying some of the most hideous things about my children. It makes a parent want to go on there and just blast off—and I know that’s what they want. I have to look at it like that’s just showing ignorance and their insecurities. So I have to look over it.

Social media seems like it can be a double-edged sword. It’s a blessing and a curse to me. It’s turning out to be more of a curse right now, because people are pretending to be celebrities, starting drama between other artists, putting things out there that’s not true, and taking pictures of them that are not too flattering and putting them out. I love Instagram, because I can share my children and my journey with the world. But sometimes I also get upset because people are being bullies on social media. Everybody has something they’re working on every day. People take those things and put them out there for the world to see and try and tear people down. Then when you click on their page, you notice it’s somebody that is not too flattering themselves. You know what I’m saying? It’s like, “How would you like it if I was to take your flaws and call them out?” [Social media] can be good to promote your music or promote where you’re going to be. But then it can be

American Idol gave you the opportunity of a lifetime, but do you ever miss your anonymity? I do, sometimes. Celebrities are just like regular people. They just give us that name. We have our bad days, our moody days, our sick days. Me being a mother, sister, friend and boss lady, I have a lot of things I have to deal with. There are some days when it just takes over my mind and becomes an overload. When you’re out and about, you can’t look at people and say, “Look, I’m having a bad day.” The first time you do that, it’s like, “She is a bitch” or “She is a diva.” You have to put on a smile and keep on moving. Sometimes I do wish I was still that little girl Tasia that could walk the streets and sit on my best friend’s porch and kick it and chill. On the other end, I’m happy I got to share my music and story with the world. Long Beach Pride takes place May 18-19 along Shoreline Drive in Long Beach. Catch Fantasia on Saturday’s main stage.

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EVENTS

NIGHTLIFE

THEATER

EXHIBITS

go to FrontiersLA.com/Entertainment for more listings Wed. | May 15

LEGENDARY BINGO Hamburger Mary’s WeHo Having just celebrated 15 years as WeHo’s goto spot for a good time, don’t miss out on celebrity guests, great prizes and a raucous night of Bingo with Bingo Boy and his drag queen hostesses. Take your pick of the 7 or 9 p.m. shows—or up your chances and play in both. bingoboyinc.com Wed. | May 15

DREAMSCAPES Anderson School, UCLA UCLA Anderson School of Management is exhibiting the celebrated art of UCLA alumna artist Jane Gottlieb. The collection includes 25 magnificent hand-painted and digitally enhanced large-scale photographs of dream cars and vistas from around the world. jane gottlieb.com Thu. | May 16

BETTY BUCKLEY Segerstrom Center Betty Buckley has worn many hats throughout her celebrated career in show business— Broadway star, recording artist, film and TV actor, teacher. But it’s in her intimate cabaret performances where she becomes that rare artist who makes each performance completely unforgettable. Through May 18. scfta.org Thu. | May 16

THE CRUCIBLE The Antaeus Company, NoHo This L.A. classical theater company presents an untraditional staging of Arthur Miller’s popular parable. The piece offers a frightening depiction of what can happen when fear clouds fact and reason is replaced by

blame. The fully double-cast Antaeus production aims to highlight the play’s universal and timeless themes. Through July 7. antaeus.org Thu. | May 16

OBJECTS IN MOTION Akbar This month the party brings in the head honcho of Smokecloud Records, Osmose—who has worked with artists from Grandmaster Flash to Sleazy McQueen—and welcomes back hostess Ambrosia Salad. As always, there’s no cover and some of the cheapest drinks in town. crittercontrol.tumblr.com Thu. | May 16

GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS James Bridges Theater, UCLA L.A. Theatre Works records David Mamet’s scathingly funny Pulitzer Prize-winning drama about small-time real estate brokers who vie for the hot leads at a Chicago firm selling shoddy properties. Joe Mantegna reprises his Tony Award-winning role as Richard Roma from the original 1984 Broadway production. Gordon Clapp, Richard Schiff and Richard Dreyfuss also star. Through May 19. latw.org Fri. | May 17

SHAKTI FEST Joshua Tree Retreat Center Shakti Fest—the spring celebration of the divine feminine, produced by Bhakti Fest, originator of yoga and kirtan festivals—is celebrating its third season in Joshua Tree. In addition to a focus on kirtan music and hosting the country’s top yoga teachers, Shakti Fest brings together some of the top wisdom teachers of our time for over 25 workshops. bhaktifest.com

ANCHORS AWEIGH Held in conjunction with Long Beach Pride Weekend, the Queen Mary is pleased to present the Poseidon dance party, held May 18. Acclaimed local DJs Manny Lehman and Ryan Kenney will set the floor on fire with party anthems and the latest club hits as guests celebrate under the stars while a choreographed laser show cuts through the night sky. Dance the night away on the open-air top deck and bridge, set against the backdrop of the Long Beach Harbor Skyline. Located in the Port of Long Beach, the Queen Mary features a rich maritime history, authentic art deco décor and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and Long Beach city skyline. At the time of her maiden voyage in May of 1936, she was considered the grandest ocean liner ever built. Guests are encouraged to dress in nautical-inspired costumes. Select guests will be invited to participate in Poseidon’s Hunky Sailor Contest, where they will be eligible for prizes totaling more than $1,000. For those who want to stay and play, the Queen Mary is extending special room rates beginning at $139. Tickets and reservations can be made online at queenmary.com. Poseidon Sat., May 18, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. The Queen Mary, 1126 Queens Hwy., Long Beach queenmary.com

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Fri. | May 17

HATS OFF TO DR. SEUSS Fingerhut Gallery, Laguna Beach

stable of sluts that will manage to bring the dirty ... everything else. There's no better place to blackout than at this party! facebook.com/RaunchLA Sat. | May 18

Few authors are better known than Dr. Seuss, yet, to this day, his secret art and his fantastical hat collection are virtually unknown to the general public. This exhibition delivers a unique opportunity to view Seuss’s superb hat collection and view their direct impact on his works of art. Traveling in a specially retrofitted old-fashioned steamer trunk, the exhibition was unveiled at the New York Public Library in February. fingerhutart.com Fri. | May 17

AT THE FLASH Celebration Theatre It’s the L.A. premiere of a new play, a fierce and funny show that condenses LGBT history into the story of five characters—a closeted man in the ‘60s, a black drag queen in the ‘70s, a club kid in the ‘80s, a budding lesbian activist in the ‘90s and a family man/entrepreneur in the ‘00s. Through May 26. celebrationtheatre.com Fri. | May 17

LOL WITH JASON STUART The Ice House, Pasadena It’s a night of stand-up comedy at Pasadena’s Ice House Comedy Club with host Helen Hong, Jill Michele Meleán (Reno 911, Mad TV) and headliner Jason Stuart (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Will & Grace). Shows at 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. icehousecomedy.com Fri. | May 17

EX-RATED FRIDAYS Executive Suite, Long Beach It’s an insane lineup in honor of Long Beach Pride, featuring performances by the likes of Raja, Rhea Litré and Mike Munich. Plus, 10 new go-go boys, giveaways, two dance floors, drink specials and more at this Pride kick-off event. $5 all night. tinyurl.com/cdlajjy Fri. | May 17

RAUNCH Faultline Celebrate two years of this popular monthly party with DJ James Cerne, who will bring the dirty beats, and a 46

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GINGER Eagle L.A.

» BRUTUS | FAULTLINE |

Photos by Rolling-Blackouts

Summer is just around the corner, and the gingers need someone to rub their sunscreen on. Celebrate the one-year anniversary of this monthly party for redheads and their admirers with DJs Eric Adams and James Cerne and host Devan M, plus hot ginger go-gos! $5. eaglela.com Sat. | May 18

BACK TO DISCO Circus Disco France Joli made the song “Come to Me” a disco classic more than 30 years ago, and her latest single “Hallelujah” was a smash in P-Town and Fire Island last summer. She makes a rare L.A. appearance at this 10th anniversary party, featuring three rooms of music. backtodisco.com Sat. | May 18

STOLEN & FORBIDDEN West Hollywood City Council Chambers This special Pride preview explores the year’s festival theme, “The Sacred and the Profane.” Before the internet, young gay men looking for answers would often read in secret or pilfer books and magazines out of shame. In this special event, famous gay men will read from texts that were stolen or forbidden in their youth. weho.org/pride Sat. | May 18

REFLEX AFTER-HOURS Ultra Suede Reflex presents DJ Joshua D for a night of lasers, dancing and video by Jeremy Beard. The doors open at 2 a.m., and express entry advance tickets can be purchased at reflex presents.com. Raja Through May 19

FABULOUS PALM SPRINGS FOLLIES Plaza Theatre After nearly 200 performances, the 22nd edition of The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies—”Dance to the Music!”—comes to a close. All season long, Follies has celebrated the dance crazes of the ‘40s, ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s with a cast old enough to remember the way it really was! It’s your last chance to hear Lesley Gore perform “You Don’t Own Me” and “It’s My Party.” psfollies.com

Find more photo albums — and additional photos from these events — at FrontiersLA.com/Entertainment.

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Remembering 15 Years of Masterbeat By Mike Ciriaco This Memorial Day weekend, Masterbeat mastermind Brett Henrichsen adds a new layer of veneration to the holiday. Nestled between Saturday's Basic Training and Monday's Military Pool Party, Masterbeat: The Club's 15th Anniversary celebrates a decade and a half of cutting-edge music and legendary debauchery. Henrichsen took a quick breather from his jet-setting to update Frontiers on the upcoming festivities, his favorite memories and the future of Masterbeat. What can Masterbeat fans expect at the 15th anniversary party? Our anniversary combines the party scene of 1998 and the party scene of 2013. In 1998, nightclubs like the Probe—where Masterbeat: The Club first started—were packed with over 1,000 hot guys every Saturday night. We want to bring that excitement back to 2013 by getting the Mayan for the first time ever on a Saturday night. Then we’ll present Masterbeat: The Club’s 15th Anniversary on Sunday night next door at the amazing Belasco Theater. How will the anniversary party differ from other Masterbeat parties this summer? We want the night to take everyone on a musical journey of the past 15 years, bringing back some of the original classics that made the Masterbeat CD series classic. I love when I throw a Masterbeat classic into a set and the young crowd runs up asking what it is, thinking it’s brand new. How has Masterbeat evolved over the last decade and a half? Masterbeat started in 1996 as a CD

compilation series. We threw our first The Club event to promote the CDs. We evolved from a CD series into a record label and finally a full-blown iTunes competitor. What do you know now that you wish you knew 15 years ago when you were first starting the Masterbeat brand? I wish we had a chance to do the music site all over again. I learned a lot about the backwards music industry during those years. Maybe Masterbeat would have been Soundcloud. Over the past 15 years, which moment stands out in your mind? Fifteen years ago, the World Wide Web had just started. I remember working all night to launch our first website to sell the CDs. No one dreamed someday we’d be downloading music and the CD would be obsolete. I asked a friend at Disney to log onto his computer and pull up the website to see if it worked. I remember explaining what “WWW” meant, the site taking a minute to load and him not knowing how to scroll down in a browser to see the entire site. In 2013, the site comes up on your phone!

What are you looking forward to most at your own anniversary party? The Club was famous for projecting the name and artist of every song on the walls and screens around the club so people knew what they were listening to. Some people who were there have been asking, “Are you going to do that again?” Yes! Why do you think Masterbeat has been so successful? I like to think it’s because I think of myself as my own customer. I’ve never done anything if I didn’t like it 100 percent. Where do you see Masterbeat in the next 15 years? We’ll be producing events in outer space, and the music will be immediately embedded in your Google Glass v. 10 HUD display as you beam back to Earth after the final song. Find info on Masterbeat’s weekend of anniversary events—Basic Training 7 (May 25), The Club’s 15th Anniversary (May 26) and the Military Pool Party (May 27)—at Masterbeat.com.

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Sun. | May 19

A SOUL ON FIRE ONE Archives Charles Reeese brings famed American writer and civil rights activist James Baldwin to life at this literary salon. Reese will perform select excerpts from the acclaimed off-Broadway play James Baldwin: A Soul on Fire, followed by a brief conversation and book signing. onearchives.org Through May 19

FLASHDANCE Segerstrom Hall It’s the inspiring and unforgettable story of Alex Owens. A steel welder by day and a bar dancer by night, she’s aspiring to be accepted at a prestigious ballet academy. When she catches the eye of her boss, their romance shows her the meaning of love and drives her ambition to pursue her dream. scfta.org Mon. | May 20

THE ELEGIAC VISIONS OF PHIL SOLOMON REDCAT Since 1975, Phil Solomon has been making films that magically penetrate the surface of images and reveal depths of new poetic meaning. Solomon presents two masterful films—What's Out Tonight is Lost (1983) and Psalm I: "The Lateness of the Hour" (1999)—and several digital works. redcat.org

THE GENTLEMEN GET FANCY Wildly campy staged readings of The Gentlemen developed a cult following in Silver Lake that spread like scabies. Hipsters and homo-glitterati alike have been clamoring for tickets to sold-out, standing-room-only performances since its 2012 premiere. The infectious crowd pleaser is now making its way to Santa Monica to debut as a fully staged production at the Behold Theater Festival on May 17 and 18. Written by Martin Matamoros, The Gentlemen draws inspiration from the classic 1939 film The Women, reenvisioning the comic drama with gay men in modernday West Hollywood. Naïve, romantic idealist Carlito (Matamoros) is forced to question who his real friends are when gossipy pal Sylvester (Stephen Bowman) tricks Carlito into discovering that his husband is cheating on him with young, cosmetic-hawking internet sensation Chris Allen (Rich Yap). Scandal ensues, relationships are tested and new loyalties are formed as the drama unfolds with hilarity and heart. Darryl Stephens (Noah’s Arc, Hot Guys with Guns) and Matamoros co-direct this rambunctious production, which also stars Ian MacKinnon, Scott Scruggs, Nabor Arias, Jason Fulk, Robert Ford and Jason Thatcher.

The Gentlemen May 17 & 18, 8:30p.m. Highways, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica highwaysperformance.org

Find more photo albums — and additional photos from these events — at FrontiersLA.com/Entertainment.

» LEGENDARY BINGO CELEBRATES 15 YEARS | HAMBURGER MARY'S WEHO Photos by Brenden-John Photography

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EVITA

PHOTO: CALIFORNIA MEN'S GATHERINGS

Blok

California Men’s Gatherings 76th Gathering: Flourish! Come Grow with Us May 24-27 Camp Shalom, Malibu thecmg.org/V5/spring.asp

Luke Nero and Andres Rigal of Mr. Black L.A. have brought this new party to the masses, taking place in a different Hollywood venue but showcasing the same hedonism and joie de vivre you’ve come to expect. Past weeks have featured guest appearances by the likes of Amanda Lepore. Free. facebook.com/evitalosangeles Wed. | May 22

BEAROMETER Micky’s

FLOURISH

Did you ever go to summer camp as a kid? If not, don’t miss this chance to enjoy those great times. A “gathering” is the chance to unplug and destress while reading a book by the pool; or to engage and grow in one of over 50 workshops and activities; to dance the night away; or stretch those latent acting talents. All of these things are designed to empower you to take chances and grow. You will make new friends, see old ones and come back changed.

This California Men’s Gathering weekend attracts upwards of 300 men from around the world. All men over 18 are welcome. Expect all types—gay, bisexual, heterosexual and transgender; tall, short, big and small; older and younger. The one unifier is that they all want to learn and grow, are respectful and sensitive to others’ boundaries and seek to make connections with other men. Accommodations are either your greatest fantasy or your worst

nightmare—bunk beds, 15 other guys and you. If you’re feeling rustic, there’s space to pitch a tent for that camping feel. For those less adventurous, there are semi-private rooms for two (though those sell-out fast). Fees to attend are on a sliding scale based on the attendee’s income. Registration includes accommodations, meals, workshops and all special events. There is an additional fee for semi-private rooms, for participation in the ropes course and horseback riding.

What kind of bear are you? Come find out at Bearometer. From smooth to scruffy to full-blown hairy, whether you are a bear or just a bear at heart, this night welcomes all. Plus a preview of the second season of hit web series Where the Bears Are. mickys.com Fri. | May 24

JOHN REILLY AND FRIENDS Theatricum Botanicum Renowned actor and musician John C. Reilly performs western swing, folk and old-school country with friends Becky Stark and Tom Brosseau in celebration of Theatricum Botanicum’s 40th Anniversary. theatricum.com

Find more photo albums — and additional photos from these events — at FrontiersLA.com/Entertainment.

» FUNCTION | AKBAR |

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SEX & SANDWICHES WISH The Western Institute for Sexual Health in Santa Monica is offering free “Lunch & Learn” educational sessions with board certified urologists, psychologists and other experts every Friday from noon to 1 p.m. through the month of May. Guest speakers—authors, sexual health experts, psychologists and physicians—will discuss the value of a healthy sex life at all stages of our adult lives. For more info and a reservation, call (800) 222-WISH.

from Liberace to Michael Jackson, from Paris Hilton to the Manson Family. Plus, you can ask her anything! zerve.com/DDTours/Nellie Fri. | May 24

FRESH Eleven Nightclub It’s one of the most popular nights in West Hollwood, with some of the city’s hottest man candy as well. The party features worldclass DJs, dancers and pop artist performers, which makes for one hell of an entertaining night. eleven.la

Through May 25

AFFINITIES Couturier Gallery This is an exhibition of recent works by L.A. painter Olga Seem and collage artist Maritta Tapanainen. Focusing on the contrasting disciplines of drawing and collage, Affinities highlights the shared intricacies that both artists bring to their individual approaches examining the micromacrocosm world around them. couturiergallery.com Sun. | May 26

SIZE Here Lounge

long, now with more strippers than ever. $5. herelounge.com Thu. | May 30

QUEER MAGIC El Cid Get ready for magic to happen. For one night only, legendary queer performer Carole Pope—an agent provocateur who pushes the boundaries of sexuality, sexual politics and the status quo—will take the stage. Supporting her are local L.A. queer bands Silver and Gold and Clutch the Pearls. tinyurl.com/br4spck Fri. | May 31

Fri. | May 24

This Tom Whitman weekly party celebrates nine years of great Sunday afternoons. Expect to find a gorgeous group of guys imbibing and dancing before starting up the work week. tomwhitman presents.com

THE NASTY NELLIE OLESON TOUR OF HOLLYWOOD Dearly Departed Tours During this special three-hour tour, Alison Arngrim—who played Nasty Nellie Oleson on Little House on the Prairie— will entertain you with personal anecdotes from her zero degrees of separation to the legends. You name it, she has a story for just about everyone,

Wed. | May 29

STRIPPER CIRCUS Here Lounge You’ve never been to a party quite like this, with carnival games, WeHo’s cutest boys and chances to win cash and prizes all night

LIVING IN LIMBO WeHo Library This groundbreaking exhibit by Carolyn Sherer, subtitled Lesbian Families in the Deep South, was the first full exhibition about the LGBT community to be shown at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute in Alabama. In these photos, families chose to either face or turn their backs to the camera, depending upon their comfort with public acknowledgment of their sexual identities. Through July 10. weho.org/pride

Thu. | May 30

FRONTIERS NIGHT OUT: PRISCILLA Pantages Theatre Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, the outrageously fun musical, is finally in L.A. Attend a special Frontiers Night Out, where you can party in the lobby with the cast after the show! The after-party will be in the lobby of the Pantages immediately after the show, and there will also be a special drawing for a Palm Springs weekend getaway! Drag queens are especially encouraged to come, as there will be a special prize for “Best Drag Ensemble.” frontiersLA.com/priscilla

THE TWO SIDES OF DUPLEX ON THIRD Duplex on Third BY NICK RUFCA

There’s something complex about Duplex on Third, the glittery and relatively new two-story upscale café and bar on 3rd Street, just south of the Beverly Center. The ambitiously reimagined space that was formerly the Barefoot Café is a vast improvement. Inside, the rooms flow into each other with a clean and modern ease, while they somehow managing to remain distinguished on their own. The sweeping patio is breezy and comfortable, perched high enough above the street that patrons may enjoy the passing hustle and bustle without being distracted. One walk through the restaurant and it’s easy to envision a multitude of occasions it could be suited for—a baby shower on the deck, a casual happy hour on the lounge sofas or a buttoned-up corporate dinner party deep within a private room. In other words, Duplex on Third has the potential to be a neighborhood hotspot, which makes it a bit of a disappointment the menu doesn’t deliver on the same level as

8722 W. 3rd St., L.A. , (310) 276-6223 duplexonthird.com

the incredible atmosphere. On first visit, my waiter suggested the Duplex Burger as the item to try. With farmhouse cheddar, crispy onion and an heirloom tomato on top, it certainly seemed like a good bet. Yet the flavor of the beef was unspectacular and unmemorable when stacked up against L.A.’s plethora of excellent gastropub-style burgers. This one doesn’t make the cut. The Lamb Meatballs al Forno seemed enticing, but they arrived overly dressed and drowning in tzatziki sauce and cheese, while the normally reliable French fries were soggy and, frankly, bland. Things fare a bit better when sticking to the flatbread menu. Prosciutto, mascarpone, caramelized onion, figs and arugula blend beautifully together on one to create a salty and sweet combo worth trying. There’s one with red pesto and pine nuts, which makes for a satisfactory choice as well. Other menu standouts worth mentioning include

a Jidori chicken served alongside cranberry couscous, honey roasted carrots and apple curry-flavored spinach, and the braised lamb shank served with baby kale salad. Service at Duplex was friendly and personable yet lacking in many areas as well. During my lunch visit with a friend, a friendly hostess seated my friend and I on the empty patio. Fifteen minutes later, our waitress finally greeted us. With high enthusiasm, she suggested the veggie burger, only to return after considerable time to tell me it wasn’t actually available. Complexities aside, Duplex on Third has the potential to be a roaring success. The space, location and menu standouts are all worth championing to bring this particular stretch of 3rd Street the destination dining it deserves. I am rooting for it to overcome its service hiccups and elevate the food to a quality that will give Duplex on Third a much stronger foundation. M AY 2 7 , 2 0 1 3

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Paris with Liberace

Tell us one of your favorite Liberace stories. Liberace was the most generous person you could ever meet. If Lee loved you, there was nothing he would not do for you. And so many people took advantage of that—horrible! One night, we were at the London Palladium, finishing our “No, No, Nanette” number—tap dancing! As we tapped offstage and reached the wings, Lee whispered in my ear, “Wanna go to Paris?” I laughed and winked, “Oh yeah!” Right after final bows, a car was waiting for us.

We flew to Paris, to the Ritz Hotel, and when we arrived we had the most beautiful suite you could imagine, as if I had stepped right into heaven. It was the most enchanting two days a 16-year-old kid could ever dream of having. Seeing Paris with Liberace? It was like going to the Emerald City with the Wizard! There’s been some controversy about casting Michael Douglas as Liberace. What did you think when you heard of his casting? Well, for me it was not the casting of the project I objected to. It was the content and the portrayal of the project itself. This film is based on a very, very questionable character's account of things. You see, they took one aspect of a so-called story from a person who put out a book and then said, “These are the facts.” And now a film is made. I'm sorry, but I think it’s horrible. This film is not about Lee. As far as Michael Douglas, he’s a great pro. His work is always terrific. I just wish he had been able to show it in a better project. His work deserves that! Can you tell us a little of what audiences will get to see in your tribute? OK, but I don't want to give too much away. The

PHOTO: BILL WESTMORELAND

You’re performing in L.A. for the first time in eight years at the Center’s Renberg Theatre. In the show you talk about your long friendship with Liberace. How did you first meet him? I had just turned 16 years old. I was signed as one of the contract artists at Caesar’s Palace, where I was also contracted to perform with Frank Sinatra. That was the beginning of a 17-year friendship with Liberace. I loved Lee so much. And as a result of our friendship, we knew each other’s families and close friends as well. To this day, I am dear, dear friends with Liberace's longtime director and choreographer, Ray Arnett, whom I just spoke to yesterday!

JULIE BUDD ON HER UPCOMING L.A. PERFORMANCE AND HER FRIEND LIBERACE

tribute is at the very end of the first act. All I will say is, you will totally ‘get’ everything I am talking about once you see it. Much love, and I hope to see you at the concert! An Intimate Evening with Julie Budd Saturday, May 18, 8 p.m. The Renberg Theatre at The Village, 1125 N. McCadden Pl., Hlywd. lagaycenter.org/theatre

Find more photo albums — and additional photos from these events — at FrontiersLA.com/Entertainment.

» STRIPPER CIRCUS 4-YEAR ANNIVERSARY | HERE LOUNGE Photos by Brenden-John Photography

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FILM

REVIEWS I DO Starring David W. Ross, Maurice Compte, Alicia Witt, Jamie-Lynn Sigler Opens May 31 (theatres and VOD)

I Do, written by and starring David W. Ross as a gay Brit losing his U.S. immigration status, is a strange hodgepodge of a movie. This full-length feature debut has much to recommend it—at least during its first half—from Ross’s anchored performance as Jack Edwards, who loses his brother Peter (Grant Edwards) in the first few minutes after being told that Peter’s wife Mya (Witt) is expecting, to the young Jessica Tyler Brown who plays his 7-year-old niece when the film picks up after the tragedy. Jack, a photographer’s assistant, learns that his visa’s not being reinstated, and—reluctant to leave New York City and his makeshift family—marries his lesbian BFF Ali (Sigler) in order to get his green card. Enter Mano Alfaro (Compte), a Spanish architect and possibly Jack’s great love, and a simple ‘issue’ movie becomes a rom-com, an overwrought melodrama and almost entirely unbelievable. On top of inaccuracies concerning the INS (which hasn’t existed since 2003), the script doesn’t find a melodramatic situation to which it doesn’t say, fatally so, ‘I do.’ On the plus side, Ross has a rocking hard body, and Sigler gets to wear some truly festive earrings. —Dan Loughry

JAVA HEAT

FRANCES HA

WHAT MAISIE KNEW

Starring Kellan Lutz, Mickey Rourke, Ario Bayu Opens May 17

Starring Greta Gerwig, Mickey Sumner Opens May 17

Julianne Moore, Alexander Skarsgård, Steve Coogan Opening May 17

Model-turned-actor Kellan Lutz provides some nice eye candy in Java Heat, a ‘B’—as in bad—movie set in Indonesia. The film offers some guilty pleasures in Lutz’s former marine/FBI agent (posing as a Cornell art history TA!) shooting at bad guys—once while upside-down in the back of an overturned cop car. The plot has Jake Travers (Lutz) trying to catch a terrorist in Java. During his covert investigation, he gets embroiled in the case of a kidnapped sultana and her cheap-looking expensive necklace. Working with local cop Hashim (Bayu), Jake tracks down the villain, Malik (Rourke, sporting fashions as wild as his accent). There is some mild exoticism, but Java Heat consists mostly of serviceable action scenes and shoot-'em-up set pieces, peppered with uninspired banter between Hashim the local cop, and Jake, the bule (stupid white person). Lutz certainly has the build to be an action star—a gratuitous shirtless exercise montage proves this—but his acting is mostly unconvincing. In contrast, Rourke seems to be having considerable fun as a character so evil he prompts someone to utter the line “You defile all you touch.” Actually, Java Heat is enlivened—not spoiled—by Rourke’s hamminess. —Gary M. Kramer

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****

Frances (Gerwig, who co-wrote the film) is the lost and selfish 27-year-old title character of director/cowriter Noah Baumbach’s excruciating Frances Ha. Mostly broke, Frances needs to get her shit together, but she seems too busy acting like an overgrown adolescent to bother doing so. Viewers may be irked from the onset as she has cutesy exchanges with her BFF, Sophie (Sumner), pees off a subway platform and breaks up with her boyfriend because she won’t move in with him. It’s quite difficult to like Frances, in fact, because she really does not like herself. Watching her pathetic character behave irresponsibly and impulsively—when she is not humiliating herself at a dinner party—is neither endearing nor amusing, however ‘authentic’ it is. While Frances and her obstreperous behavior is the main problem with the film, Baumbach uses annoyingly quirky music cues, and a twee device of providing intertitles to indicate where the action is taking place. The various jump cuts—one of many homages to the French New Wave—just seem cliché, as does the arty black-and-white cinematography. The film is so artificial—such forced whimsy—that even at the slight 82-minute running time, Frances Ha is an endurance test for actress and audience.

Gay Scott McGehee and straight David Siegel codirected a superb adaptation of Henry James’ novel, What Maisie Knew, set in contemporary New York. The film depicts a fierce custody battle between Susanna (Moore) and Beale (Coogan) and is told mostly and shrewdly from the couple’s daughter Maisie’s (Onata Aprile) point of view. Significantly, much of the action is at the child’s eye level. While her selfish, unfit parents follow their careers, Maisie is left to contend with her feelings of neglect and abandonment, often in homes overstuffed with animal toys and games to make her feel less lonely and more loved. McGehee and Siegel use the game and animal motifs well to express the idea that Maisie is a pawn being passed back and forth between parents, or that she is a cute pet—one that her parents dote on when it is convenient. Susanna and Beale are also lousy partners to their new spouses—Lincoln (Skarsgård) and the likeable Margo (Joanna Vanderham)—treating their lovers like professional babysitters. But if What Maisie Knew sounds to be dark or depressing, the film is absorbing and ultimately hopeful. This is, clearly, because of the strong performances by Moore, Skarsgård and Aprile, as well as the filmmakers’ skillful handling of the tough material.

—Gary M. Kramer

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Capital Cities In a Tidal Wave of Mystery (Capitol)

REVIEWS

L.A.’s Capital Cities are two DIY boys making good. The duo self-produced and funded its first EP and tours, got major love from music blogs and wound up getting signed by a major label. And one listen to this full-length will make it clear why. With their ‘80s-inspired wash of sunny synths, inescapable melodies and positive vibes throughout, it’s the kind of smile-while-you-dance effort we swoon over. And those good vibes are palpable between Ryan Merchant and Sebu Simonian, the frontmen, singers, songwriters and multi-instrumentalists who've both made music since they were kids. Merchant grew up loving Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder and Jeff Buckley, and there’s plenty of soul in the grooves, too. You probably know their smash “Safe & Sound” (which still sounds so fresh and so clean). Outkast’s Andre 3000 makes a star turn on the pop culture-loving/citing “Farrah Fawcett Hair” (which is, indeed, some “good sh*t”), and tracks like “I Sold My Bed, But Not My Stereo” and “Chartreuse” are speaker-leaping ditties loaded with funky basslines, wah-wah guitars, horny horns and lush harmonies. They’ve achieved an inspired formula of forward-thinking electropop that nods to everyone from The Beatles to the Bee Gees to Prince without sounding outmoded or cheesy. —Paul V.

John Vanderslice Dagger Beach (Tiny Telephone)

Dagger Beach is John Vanderslice’s ninth solo album. In 2000, when he released his debut, Mass Suicide Occult Figures, Vanderslice sounded tired, grumpy, angry with the world. That desolate outlook never left him, though the past 13 years have changed him significantly. His lyrics are now more patient, contemplative, less abstract, but still just as dark. “Raw Wood” opens the LP with its stop-start melody and Vanderslice’s liquidy vocals. No one produces an album like JV, and from the first note of this LP, you can tell it’s unmistakably him. Dagger Beach was completely fan-funded through Kickstarter. Fans who donated were offered bonus features such as a 20-track rarity compilation and a track-by-track rerecording of david Bowie’s Diamond Dogs. These are amazing extras, considering the album’s brilliant and stands on its own. Distorted industrial percussion mingles with laid-back folk melodies and stark, alternatingly hilarious and heartbreaking lyrics. “Song For Dana Lok” packs about 10 years of emotion into two minutes the way only John Vanderslice can. “Damage Control,” “How the West Was Won” and “North Coast Rep” are also highlights. For fans of literate folk rock with an electronic edge, you can’t go wrong with Dagger Beach. —Dominik Rothbard

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The Pigeon Detectives

Primal Scream

She & Him

Willy Moon

More Light (Ignition)

Volume 3 (Merge)

Here’s Willy Moon (Interscope Records)

I’m going out on a limb to say something you’ve probably never heard a music critic say. I like the Pigeon Detectives. I think they’re great! Being a Pigeon Detectives fan isn’t easy, but it must be harder to actually be a Pigeon Detective. Ever since the band’s 2007 debut album, critics have mocked the band for its simple lyrics and interchangeable melodies. So maybe The Pigeon Detectives have been writing the same song for the past seven years, but, oh, what a song it is! Angular, choppy Brit-rock with huge memorable choruses populate each Pigeon Detectives LP. The band sounds like the nonthinking man’s Arctic Monkeys, and that’s OK. This fourth LP, We Met at Sea, doesn’t break the formula one iota. Ten three-minute pop ditties about chasing tail and getting drunk—sounds like a universal message to me. Lead singles “Animal” and “I Won’t Come Back” open the album with an explosive, catchy punch. That energy stretches through 31 cheery minutes with little deviation. None of these songs would sound out of place on the band’s debut LP. If you’re looking for growth or maturity, you’re not going to find it here. These guys are too busy solving pigeon crimes to be bothered with evolving. But that’s OK, as long as they keep churning out fun songs like “Unforgettable,” “Light Me Up” or album closer “Where You Are.” Best enjoyed with lots of cheap beer.

Scotland’s Primal Scream was the epitome of the “Madchester” rock resurgence circa 1991, and the band’s Screamedelica album remains a mind-melding, genredefining classic. Since that time they’ve dropped six more albums that mixed garage rock with synthetics with varying results. Here, the musical shifts in style and pace are a constant presence, and More Light just might be the full-circle effort longtime fans have been pining for. Much credit is due to producer David Holmes for his meticulously layered and cinematic polish. It kicks off with the eight-minute-plus “2013,” which is like a scabrous soundtrack to some kind of futuristic acid trip. Standouts include the swampy “Elimination Blues” featuring the one and only Robert Plant, the hip-shaking “Invisible City” and the caustic call-toarms of “Culturecide” (featuring Pop Group’s Mark Stewart in the choruses). The raw, raucous “Hit Void” and Gospel honky-tonk of “It’s Alright, It’s OK” are pure Screamadelica 2.0. Thus, kudos to the band for fine-tuning its marriage of the psychedelic with the electronic, embracing the band’s own legacy and using lots of brass and horns, too. Singer Bobby Gillespie still hero-worships at the feet of Mick Jagger, but if the Rolling Stones ever put out a record this fresh and eclectic, they would finally sound relevant again.

So here’s the third chapter of actress Zooey Deschanel and singer-songwriter M. Ward’s musical side-project. As befits the prosaic title Volume 3, approach with the same expectations you had the first two times. That said, the amount of this type of music you need—slightly retro, whimsical (which is Deschanel’s wheelhouse, in case you’ve never seen her on TV’s New Girl), highly melodic and enjoyable—is entirely up to you. I know plenty of folks who are done with it; they’re over Deschanel particularly, and never had much use for a nostalgiabased musical genre to begin with. I’ve always liked her and find signs throughout that she’s growing as an artist. Her vocals aren’t as ethereal as before; her range is developing a smoky, sensual lower register that adds a frisky insouciance to songs such as the girl group pastiche “I’ve Got Your Number, Son” and the sweetly melancholic “Turn to White.” I could live without their cover of “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me,” which is karaoke to my ears, but think their take on Blondie’s “Sunday Girl” is a heartfelt homage to their spiritual ancestors. Like them or not, they’re not dilettantes; this is a sound they’ve now fruitfully cultivated over their short career.

Unlike the staunchly retro sounds of Eli ‘Paperboy’ Reed or even She & Him, the New Zealandborn but London-based performer Willy Moon (born William George Sinclair) infuses his love of ‘50s rock ‘n’ roll with up-to-date production techniques and the urban attitudes of hip-hop. Sure, he looks like a throwback on the cover of his debut, Here’s Willy Moon, but one listen and you’ll be transported from “At the Hop” to an Atlanta church to the streets of Compton and back again. A few examples: “Railroad Track” begins with the sounds of rain, the clarion call of bells and a background chorus of gospel singers before a stomping hip-hop shuffle chimes in with Moon’s halfblues/half-rap vocal. The single “Yeah Yeah” meshes a skittish ‘50s horn riff with scratching techniques and a pseudo-jazz drumbeat. “My Girl” is as basic as you’d expect from a Phil Spector rip, except for its electroindie flourishes. And “I Wanna Be Your Man” might be straight blues until the big ‘80s drumbeats and echo-y production takes it into another dimension. The only time he falls into strict genre is on his cover of “I Put a Spell on You,” easily the weakest thing on an impressive debut.

—Dominik Rothbard

—Paul V.

We Met at Sea (Cooking Vinyl)

—Dan Loughry

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THEATER REVIEWS FLASHDANCE: THE MUSICAL SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS | 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa Through May 19 | SCFTA.org PHOTO: KYLE FROMAN

It’s hard to believe it’s been 30 years since the film Flashdance hit theatres and became a pop-culture phenomenon. Boosted by a twice-multi-platinum soundtrack featuring the Grammy and Golden Globe Award-winning song “Flashdance… What a Feeling,” the film is now a kitschy classic. What people might not know is that it was originally conceived as a stage show until Hollywood bought the rights and made it into the beloved film starring a then-unknown Jennifer Beals. Three decades later and that first conceived stage show is now a touring company hit. Written by Tom Hedley, who co-wrote the original screenplay with Joe Esterhaus, the show still tells the story of Alex, a “steel town girl” in Pittsburgh who dreams of being a professional dancer. But she’s got bills to pay, so she works fulltime at the local steel mill with dreams of joining an exclusive dance academy. Even-

tually, she falls for Nick Hurley, the son of the family that owns the mill, and soon enough things get complicated. There’s not much more than that storywise, which makes it the perfect setup for a musical. The problem here is that in keeping the nostalgia of the original film, key moments (like the water/chair dance) need to occur. And those moments seem to butt up with the rest of the musical, which, for the most part, takes itself seriously. This isn’t a spoof of the ‘80s in the way Rock of Ages was. This is a tried-and-true musical with steel workers bemoaning their potential layoffs, earnest duets between new lovers, and even a dream sequence number by a naïve girl named Gloria who just wants to make it big. It sounds great, and to its credit, the songs by Robert Cary and Robbie Roth are fairly good. But when that sort of standard musical fare bumps up against Flash-

dance faves like “Manhunt” and “I Love Rock and Roll,” the combination feels schlocky. There’s also the awkward direction by Sergio Trujillo (who also did the choreography). Known for directing the Tony Award winning Memphis, Trujillo doesn’t let his actors do much. When they sing ballads, they do so statically, downstage and to the audience. Group numbers lack energy and many times when there are big dance sequences about to happen that involve cool props like plastic drums or shovels, those moments are never mined for effect. The dancing mimics the style of the ‘80s, which makes sense on paper, but for the audience, this style is underwhelming and you keep waiting to be wowed. And when the finale is Alex’s big dance audition set to that award-winning song, you expect it to be dynamic. Instead, we get a random Greek chorus of girls singing the song while

Alex mirrors the choreography from the film—minus the “big leap” that essentially nailed Alex the audition. Here it’s a hohum moment and soon enough the show is over. There are good things about this show—the songs aren’t bad, but not necessarily memorable. The actors, including Jillian Mueller as Alex and Matthew Hudzik as Nick, all have terrific voices and endless energy. But there just seems to be something dynamic missing from the show. With a few tweaks and more impressive choreography, this could be a true sensation. But when you don’t even have the lead character singing the final song of the show, well, it just seems a bit off. Flashdance: the Musical is a terrific effort, but in order for it to break away from the steel mill, it needs a little more dance and a lot more flash. —Kevin P. Taft

PETER PAN: THE BOY WHO HATED MOTHERS THE BLANK’S 2ND STAGE THEATRE | 6500 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood Through June 2 | theblank.com

After taking home a 2012 Ovation Award for his splendid 99-seat reimagining of the sprawling musical The Color Purple at the Celebration, director Michael Matthews has raised the bar for inventive theatricality with this Blank Theatre production of Michael Lluberes’ adaptation of J.M. Barrie’s classic tale about the boy who wouldn’t grow up. In fact, Matthews’ production is so imaginative, and his cast is so strong, that you will barely notice that Lluberes’ supposedly dark retelling of the familiar Peter Pan story never dares to veer far enough from its source material. When entering the tiny Blank space, we are first struck by Mary Hamrick’s deliciously decaying set. There is nothing darling about this Darling family home, where young Wendy (Liza Burns) and John (Benjamin Campbell) live with their grieving mother (Trisha LaFache) after the recent death of baby Michael. From Mary Martin to Cathy Rigby, we are accustomed to women playing Peter Pan, so 64

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when the virile, slightly savage Daniel Shawn Miller lands with acrobatic muscularity on the nursery windowsill, we think we are in for a world of surprises. Instead, Lluberes hews disappointingly close to Barrie’s original novel, with Peter winging the children off to Neverland, where the familiar pirates and Indians pose threats, and a series of adventures ends with the children returning home to a grateful mother. Even the promising double-casting of Mrs. Darling and the nasty Captain Hook doesn’t lead to any great narrative revelations. But this hardly matters because, with direct address, sidebars and lightningfast changes of character and costume, the game cast takes every brilliant idea of Matthews’ and runs with it—often literally. Whether enacting the famous flying scenes with their bodies, creating waves from flipping fabric, or adding surprisingly moving sound effects with a tub of water, the ensemble takes us on a thrilling

PHOTO: MATT GRABER

theatrical journey and has an infectiously great time in the process. At times we have the sense we are watching a gang of incredibly creative kids at play. Burns is nuanced and delightful as Wendy, and Miller is physically and emotionally daring in his portrayal of the iconic Peter. Among the fine ensemble, David Hemphill beguiles with his comic subtlety and Jackson Evans is a wonder with his childlike enthusiasm and bubbling life. LaFache’s obvious physical prowess is perfect for Hook, but vocally and emotionally

she is more effective as the mother. As always, the Blank’s production values are top-shelf. Tim Swiss and Zack Lapinski add atmospheric lighting, Kellsy MacKilligan’s costumes are deceptively simple and perfect, and Rebecca Kessin’s sound adds immeasurably to the experience. Reveling in Matthews’ enchanting production, I was reminded of Willy Wonka’s classic lyric: “There is no life I know / To compare with pure imagination.” —Christopher Cappiello

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IT TOOK A PLAGUE TO GET IT RIGHT As things settle about this very real recent meningitis scare—and we are given the benefit of a few weeks to separate fact from fiction—let's do a quick post mortem on the initial announcement of the death of WeHo resident Brett Shaad and the ultimate revelation that in fact four gay men had recently become infected from this hideous infection: John Duran got it right. It took Councilman Duran along with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation to get our own public health department and its chief, Dr. Jonathan Fielding, to acknowledge the need to impart important information to the public that the good doc's office serves. It took a media bully pulpit to force the hand and head of the county to offer what a nonprofit—one whose focus is on HIV and AIDS, not meningitis—had been doing for days: offer free vaccines to all at risk, regardless of ability to pay. Articulate, watchful and vocal politicians like Councilmembers John Duran, John D'Amico and Jeff Prang are in power today because of AIDS. It's true. Just a few years ago, AIDS rallied our community to come together, become powerful and politically savvy. Sadly, it took AIDS to draw gays from the shadows and the periphery of the populace, and at the same moment it politicized our vast yet splintered community. It is a true paradox. AIDS caused greater recognition and in fact greater acceptance of homosexuality. It was legitimation via disaster. In making our community aware of this health scare in April, Duran made reference to the fact that many of us of a certain age lived through a time, not so long ago, when few folks, and certainly not our government, cared about a strange virus that was killing predominantly gay men. In the beginning, the aloof Reagan administration did not understand the essential role of government in disease prevention. John Duran now is government, and he got it right and used the power of the backing of his constituents to wake the sleeping medical giant who likely should have been the voice out front. In the early moments of this, Duran

didn't get it all right and perhaps stepped on a few toes. Yet he stood as a public servant and sounded the clarion call. In doing so, he didn't create widespread panic. He did nothing pernicious. He informed his constituents of a very real danger and offered solid and salient alternatives. He did what we elected him to do—watch our backs. Duran and so many of us remember that the White House inaction in the early days of AIDS without a doubt increased the spread of HIV around the world. He remembers the war zone. People would not shake your hand. If you even looked a tad fey, people would not sit next to you. He certainly remembers that if you had AIDS, you could not fly; mortuaries refused to handle bodies, and even a ton of health care professionals would not care for gay folks. John without a doubt remembers on February 4, 1985, the arrogant Reagan administration wholly out-and-out rejected the initial Centers for Disease Control-crafted AIDS Prevention Plan. They just said “no” due to politics. At the time, there were 10,000 cases in the United States. We just weren't a big enough deal. Sadly, yet thankfully, those early dark days molded and shaped those who would become our future leaders. Illness and death has left a lifelong indelible stamp on the psyche of so many. Duran referenced it. We have seen governmental apathy in the past. We will not let it happen again, on any scale. You can forget what hurt you in the past, just never forget what it taught you. John Duran got it right. He represents a new, more enlightened politician that is absolutely needed to serve our particular needs. Sometimes we move too fast and forget too much. If AIDS has taught us nothing else, it is that it is better to be safe than sorry. Our politicians and our nonprofits reminded us of that. I think it is important to jump back in time once in awhile and remember life and in fact death before the John Durans and the AHFs. It was bleak. Thanks for being here today, and for getting it right.

The opinions of this column do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Frontiers magazine.

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ILLUSTRATION BY

GLENHANSON .COM

GREETINGS FROM CEDARS-SINAI HOSPITAL ... WISH YOU WERE HERE! Dear Friend, I am writing to you from my adjustable bed here in the Rehabilitation Center. It’s been a few days since I finally had my double hip replacement surgery, and I am feeling surprisingly good. This may come as a surprise to anyone walking past my room and peeking in at me, because I’m crying just about every five minutes. But these are tears of gratitude. I am so blessed. First of all, I am surrounded by friends. The staff here cannot believe how many visitors I’ve had. And those friends who can’t be here have sent flowers. It looks like the botanical gardens in here! There are also magazines galore, enough helium balloons to pick my bed up off the floor and a giant teddy bear from my BFF Mario. I am also being 'visited' by hundreds of people I’ve never met via Facebook and Twitter. So many words of encouragement. So much love. Second, the nurses and physical therapists here are amazing. I have been overwhelmed by the kindness they have shown. Not everyone should become a health care worker—for some, it’s merely a job—but these special people were clearly born to do this. They are so selfless and nurturing. As news anchors on every channel rehash the Boston Marathon bombing, I am reminded that most people are not just good, but very good. One nurse in particular, named Josie, has really gone above and beyond. She marvels at cell phone pictures of me in drag (“that’s you?”), promising to come to a show. She sings, “That’s the way, uh huh uh huh, I like it!” when she comes into the room and assures me that I will soon be shaking my booty. “Where there is life, there is hope,” she told me upon our first meeting. I fought the urge to roll my eyes. I mean, that’s so Hallmark greeting card, you know? But when she

went on to explain that she had contracted viral meningitis in Libya and was comatose for three years, my cynicism melted away. She fought, got better, met her “hot Italian papa” and married him. And speaking of hot papas, my physical therapist, Rand, is like the love child of the Marlboro Man and Mother Theresa. He is the perfect combination of tough and tender. I hesitate to single out Josie and Rand, because everyone here is so wonderful, but they really made me feel safe Third, I was shown clearly how mindboggling modern medical science is. I am so lucky to have had this surgery when and where I did—Los Angeles in 2013. My recovery has been shockingly swift, thanks to the superhuman skill of my surgeon, Brad L. Penenberg, and the fact that they do not cut through muscle, nor was I put under general anesthesia. I woke up from surgery feeling refreshed and ready to heal. Fourth, and finally, I was once again reminded how magical and miraculous the human body is. Even without our souls and spirits and hearts and brains and emotions, the machine itself is astonishingly resilient and strong. It is also quite fragile, so I am beyond grateful that this body I have maligned and bitched about ad nauseum for most of my adult life has served me well. Thank you, body. I love you. Sincerely, The Most Grateful Patient in the History of Modern Medicine, Jackie Beat P.S. If you’re ever in the hospital, make sure to ask if they have therapy dogs. If laughter is the best medicine, then these smiling, furry little creatures are the Florence Nightingales of the animal kingdom! M AY 2 7 , 2 0 1 3

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“Django wasn't the lead, so it was like, I need to be the lead. The other character was the lead!” —Will Smith explains why he passed on Django Unchained. His part wasn't big enough! Apparently Jamie Foxx has no concerns about the size of his part—and he showed off every inch of it in the film (and on our website).

One morning last week, I woke up to the following headline: “Collins Invited to Lead Gay Pride Parade.” My first thought once again illustrates how out of touch I am: Joan Collins is going to be in a gay pride parade? I knew that wouldn't happen—La Collins hasn't seen direct sunlight since 1902. Maybe they meant Jackie Collins—you know, the one with all of that hair. Or maybe I was thinking of her because I just watched the Kentucky Derby. I was wrong on both counts. They were talking about

Jason Collins—the first male athlete to come out while still participating in a professional sport (the basketball star was with the Washington Wizards but is currently a free agent). His historic coming out was via an essay in Sports Illustrated. “I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay.” Jason reveals one of the things that inspired his revelation: “I realized I needed to go public when Joe Kennedy, my old roommate at Stanford and now a Massachusetts congressman, told me he had just marched in Boston's 2012 gay Pride parade. I was proud of him for participating but angry that as a closeted gay man I couldn't even cheer my straight friend on as a spectator.” This led to the invitation to be grand marshal of the 2013 Boston Pride parade. So far, Jason hasn't responded, but I believe both of the Collins girls are available. This week, the Tony nominations came out, and I must congratulate a few special friends. Not surprisingly, Kinky Boots got the most nominations (13), including my dear Jerry Mitchell as Best Director of a Musical. The brilliant Holland Taylor got a Best Actress nod for her work in Ann (which just extended through the summer). And, of course, Andrea Martin will walk away with her Best Featured Tony for Pippin. Congrats! 68

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Bette Midler

The nominations also delivered a few surprising snubs. OK, I'm sure nobody really expected Scarlett Johansson to get a nomination (the first “Maggie” on Broadway not to get one). And despite some champions, no one really expected Jessica Chastain or Katie Holmes to even be invited as seat-fillers. Then there's Bette Midler, who got love letters from the critics for her portrayal of Sue Mengers in I'll Eat You Last. I don't know how to explain it, except that maybe some people on the nominating committee still see her as a replacement “Tzeitel”! Even more shocking was the omission of Alan Cumming for his solo take on Macbeth. But Alan's having the last laugh and has already lined up his next Broadway project—a revival of his Tony-winning turn as the Emcee in Cabaret. Someone who will not be starring alongside him is Anne Hathaway, who many outlets said was being pursued to play Sally Bowles. In fact, Emma Stone is the frontrunner for the part. Moving on to television, this week also brought the Daytime Emmy nominations. Yes, they still hold the Daytime Emmys—except now they're on HLN (airing live on June 16). Since the daytime field has really thinned out, it was a pretty predictable bunch. But we were happy to see Katherine Kelly Lang get her first nod after playing “Brooke Logan” for 26 years on The Bold and the Beautiful. Of course, my fondness for KKL might be encouraged by my fondness for her 23-year-old son, Jeremy Skott Snider. Although he previously worked with his mom on the soap, Jeremy has moved on to greener pastures—gay porn. OK, he only did it once. Well, twice. While his solo work is pleasant enough, his (alleged)

“first time” bottoming scene has attracted scores of fans from the first time I ran it. Since it's come up yet again, I see no harm in sharing with you again at BillyMasters.com. The legal situation over at Fashion Police has escalated. As we previously reported, the writers on the E! show had filed a complaint with the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement stating they had not been compensated for overtime owed to them as hourly employees. They then filed a grievance with the Writers Guild of America, only to find out the show does not fall under the union's jurisdiction. And that's why they walked out on strike. In addition to the overtime, they want the network to give them union contracts. I'm thinking maybe they walked out in the middle of writing a joke for Joan Rivers. This may explain why Auntie Joan continuously says, “It's just....” without finishing the sentence. Didya know that one of the writers on Fashion Police is the outrageous Jackie Beat? Perhaps if Fashion Police was unionized, Jackie would have health insurance. Beat was definitely not laughing when her doctor told her she needed to have a double hip replacement. (Funny, I'd have assumed her knees would have given out first.) Since the out-of-pocket expenses would be around $50K, Beat set up a fundraiser on GiveForward.com and linked directly to her website (MissJackieBeat.com). By the day of her surgery, over $40K had been raised. Although this column will come out after the fundraiser ends, I'm sure she'd gratefully accept any help you can provide. We have a theater-related “Ask Billy” question. Roger in Connecticut writes: “I was looking at your photos on Facebook and was wondering if anyone has ever said that you look like Tony Goldwyn? My partner claims he saw Goldwyn naked in a play, but I've never heard about that. Is it true?” You are not the first person to note my resemblance to Tony Goldwyn. It started after he did Ghost—back then, we also had similar hair. Needless to say, I take the comparison as a huge compliment. As to your second question, your partner is correct—Goldwyn did indeed

appear nude in the 2006 off-Broadway production of The Water's Edge (written by Theresa Rebeck). As he undresses to take a bath, he not only exhibited an impressive physique (better than mine ever was) but also a substantial penis— which dangled and everything! We've unearthed some very explicit footage of this scene, which you can watch on BillyMasters.com. When I'm attracted to my own doppelgänger, it's definitely time to end yet another column. There's one last story

Jackie Beat and Roseanne

to mention. Way back in 2000 when Miss Ross mounted her “kinda Supremes” reunion without Mary and Cindy, biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli said to me, “The only person who could ever keep those two in line was Berry Gordy. If he wanted to, he could sit them down in a room and resolve everything.” But that never happened ... until recently. The new Broadway show Motown: The Musical depicts Gordy's rise to fame— including his romance with Diane. On opening night, both former Supremes were in attendance. As the press descended on Berry after the show, they found him positioned between Diane and Mary—talk about a Kodak moment! The photos and footage are priceless—but, then again, so is everything at BillyMasters.com, the site that's worth its weight in gold. While you don't need to send me gold, I do encourage you to continue to ask your questions (for the column, or just between us). So send an e-mail to Billy@BillyMasters.com and I promise to get back to you before Mary Wilson auditions to play Miss Ross in the national tour of Motown: The Musical! So, until next time, remember, one man's filth is another man's Bible.

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Queersay OSCAR OUTING Long ago when I began this column, I resolved that I would never ‘out’ someone. Yes, I'd poke fun at, make allusion to, and insinuate with spot-on Page 6 suspicions— but never would I push someone out of the proverbial closet. And today, I’ll continue to honor that promise—but it kills me, deeply and greatly. Last Thursday, the biggest, best piece of gay gossip dropped into my well-squatted lap. You see, I found myself—as I so often do—sitting at a dinner table of elite, A-list Hollywood movers and shakers, talking shop and sipping chardonnay, as is our way. We warbled the customary garble—who got fat; who got laid; who got dumped; who got fired; who got nipped, pulled and tucked—but then [insert name of Hollywood power-publicist here] stood up in the most dramatic of fashions, clinked her glass and asked to make a toast. Of course, she told us that the contents of her speech were to be kept in strict confidence. However, the contents of her liver were also slosh-full of vodka, and she had little discretion. The long and short of it is that her client [insert name of Hollywood power-actress here] is coming out of the closet—partially because she “can no longer live a lie,” but mostly because she is looking to make her directorial debut with a new indie screenplay she just finished and is in search of funding. We were asked to stand, clink our glasses, wish her well ... and funnel any of our “perhaps interested” money people to her Kickstarter page. Now, while I am dying to tell you who this newly arrived lady of Lesbos is, I cannot. You'll simply have to wait and find out for yourself around August 2013. (Yes, they even have a date picked for the great gay reveal! That's what we've come to in this town— scheduling C-sections and closet departures!) However, to titillate your inquisitive mind, I will give you a few hints: 1) Girlfriend is an Oscar nominee. 2) She's one of those girls that you wouldn't look at and think, “Oh, yeah, that's a lesbian!” However, once you know she's a lesbian, you'd look at her again and say, “Oh, yeah, I can see that!” 3) She made one of the best movies you’ve ever seen and then quickly followed it up with one of the worst movies you’ve ever seen. 4) She starred in commercials for crap you couldn't afford. 5) She was dating a crazy chick (also Hollywood royalty) who kissed Angelina Jolie in the third-base region in the late ‘90s—allegedly!

Drop me your at dirty little secrets m. .co queersay@hotmail r give I neve And don't worry, oat! up my deep thr y, go to For more Queersa eersay. Qu m/ .co FrontiersLA

I know this column isn't the New York Times crossword puzzle. I honestly and truly hate to keep you guessing and kvetching, but if I'm ever going to be invited back to the chef's table at Cut, I'd best keep my shocked lips sealed. Happy guessing!

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DRIVE By Steve Siler

Mercedes C350 Coupe

2013 MercedesBenz C-Class Coupe Base Price Range (incl. dest/del): $38,705 (C250), $43,105 (C350) EPA Fuel Econ (city/hwy): C250 21/31 (C250), 20/29 (C350)

The Baby Benz Gets Personal Mercedes-Benz has long battled BMW for gay buying bucks, but even with its CClass sedan being as good as it is, has never quite snatched the tiara from its Bavarian archnemesis, the 3-Series. One of the reasons is that the C-Class lineup was always missing our favorite kind of car, a coupe. That changed last year when Mercedes finally introduced a two-door version of the likeable C-Class as part of the car’s mid-cycle refresh, and we just took a turn at the wheel of the more powerful of the two available models (not counting the steroidal C63 AMG model, which is a rather different animal), the C350 coupe. The best way to sum it up is to say that this time, it’s personal.

Lower and Sleeker Besides having two fewer doors, the C-Class coupe is just plain prettier. Its

lower stance snugs it down on its wheels, and its rising beltline give it a more dynamic appearance than its more upright fourdoor sibling. The standard panoramic sunroof joins the windshield and rear window with dark tinted glass, accentuating the beautiful, arching roofline. The only unfortunate aspect is that, unlike other twodoor Mercedes-Benz models—namely the E-Class and CL-Class coupes—the C coupe has a B-pillar, and thus both rows of windows can’t open into a single al fresco opening. That’s what convertibles are for. Maybe next-gen, Mercedes. The interior of the C-Coupe is more intimate than that of the sedan, not just because the back seat is smaller but because the front seats feel conspicuously lowerset within the car’s body. This allows for a two-inch-lower roof, which, being all-glass, is friendlier to claustrophobes.

Already Winning Beauty Contests: Mercedes’ Hot New CLA-Class Mercedes CLA 250

As nice as the C-Class coupe is, Mercedes has another coupe-ish thing on the way, and it’s already being recognized as one seriously beautiful piece of sculpture. The upcoming, $30K CLA-Class (think of it as a shrink-wrapped CLS) was just recognized by the readers of Germany’s Auto Bild magazine as “Germany’s Most Beautiful Car.” It’s quite a feat of design—not only does its stunning curves and glitzy grille mask its efficient-minded, front-wheel-drive layout, but it achieves record-setting aerodynamics in the process. Having seen the CLA in person a number of times already, I would have to agree with the Auto Bild honors and can attest that it by no means looks as cheap as the price suggests. I predict good things for the little guy when it arrives in Mercedes-Benz showrooms later this year.

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One of the most interesting tech features newly available for 2013 is “mbrace2,” which, among other functions, allows you to program destinations on your smartphone and send them to your car, and—get this—you can even locate and drive to your friends (with their expressed permission, of course).

Fast and Stable My white C350 tester was the quicker of the two models, with a 302-hp V-6 in place of the C250’s 201-hp turbocharged four-cylinder, which is also plenty powerful but, interestingly, not much more fuel-efficient. Both cars feature a seven-speed automatic with shift paddles on the steering wheel. Rear-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is offered now as well, should you be inclined to take your personal coupe up to Big Bear with any regularity. I found that it drove as well as expected, not as scintillating as the BMW 3-Series but easily as well as the Audi A5. Out on the freeway, the C350 was brilliant, reminding me that no company handles high-speed stability quite like Mercedes-Benz. At $51,200, the lightly optioned test was actually a little less expensive than I had expected it to be, and certainly cheaper than it looked. If you’d be OK with less power, you could get one that looked like this, perhaps with even more goodies, with an MSRP in the mid-$40K range. Not a bad deal for a MercedesBenz of any design, but especially a Mercedes-Benz coupe.

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APRIL 30, 2013

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PHOTO: JOSHUA BARASH

PARTY SHUTTLE TO LAUNCH IN WEHO

WEHO CELEBRATES PRIDE THROUGH THE ARTS BY PAULO MURILLO Pride season is right around the corner. The City of West Hollywood is the gay destination for everything rainbowcolored during the One City One Pride queer arts festival, which celebrates Pride and the artistic contributions of the LGBTQ community. Free and ticketed events will feature theater, film screenings, music, spoken word, visual art exhibits, concerts, parades and several parties. This year’s festival theme is “The Sacred and the Profane.” It all begins with a pre-festival preview of Stolen and Forbidden on Saturday May 18, 3 p.m. at the West Hollywood City Council Chambers. The preview takes a hysterical look at the great lengths young gay men went through to find themselves before there was such a thing as the internet. Back then, shoplifting gay books and magazines was a common thing. Clint Catalyst, Steven Reigns, Jonny McGovern, Del Shores and Bruce Vilanch will read from texts they pilfered out of the

shame of being gay or were forbidden to read in their youth. Events in May also include a staged reading of 8: The Play by Dustin Lance Black (Academy Award Winner for best original screenplay for the movie Milk) on Friday, May 31, 7 p.m., and a talk and a tour of the groundbreaking exhibit of Living in Limbo, Lesbian Families in the Deep South, with a special artist reception on May 31, 7 p.m. at the West Hollywood Library. This is an exhibition of photographs that highlights Carolyn Sherer’s ‘coming out’ as well as other participants from the South. This is the first full LGBTQ exhibit to be shown at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute in Alabama. It will run through July 10 as part of West Hollywood’s One City One Pride queer arts festival. For event updates, details and ticketing information, visit weho.org/pride or call (323) 848-6377.

WHAT FORBIDDEN LITERATURE DID YOU FIND BEFORE YOU CAME OUT OF THE CLOSET? “I ditched math class when I was a 14-year-old freshman for a week to read Trying Hard to Hear You by Sandra Scoppettone at the library because I was too embarrassed to check it out. It’s about a high school girl who had a crush on a guy who was gay and he had a crush on another guy. The two guys hook up, and then there's a tragedy.” —Thom Senzee

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“I was too afraid to go to the library and look up gay books, so the first time I got a hold of a magazine with naked men was when I was 15. I went to the liquor store and removed the cover of a sports magazine and switched it over a Playgirl mag. I had integrity, so it wasn’t stealing, because I’d actually pay for it.” —Edward Slavin

Plans continue for a weekend entertainment shuttle that will run along Santa Monica Boulevard between Fairfax and Doheny. The Entertainment Shuttle will consist of two shuttles, scheduled for Friday and Saturday nights from 8 p.m. until 3 a.m. The shuttles will be free of charge for riders and will be designed to have no longer than 15-minute wait times using existing Metro and West Hollywood City Line bus stops. At an April 1 City Council meeting, Councilmember John Duran and Mayor Pro-Tempre John D’Amico requested that staff assess costs for two or three vehicles. A third shuttle would increase the frequency but also increase the cost to $31,000 above the $62,000 estimated costs. The goals of the pilot program are to provide an easy to understand distinctive route, provide connection to local business, restaurants, nightclubs and other points of interest for residents and tourists, provide transit service for short trips serving as many destinations as possible and encourage nonauto travel for local employees, residents in adjacent neighborhoods and visitors in the area. There are talks of launching a teaser shuttle in time for CSW / L.A. Pride in June. The official launch is scheduled on or around July 15.

SPEAK OUT “The book was called Boys and Sex by Wardell B Pomeroy, Ph.D., I remember the chapter ‘Sex Play Before Adolescence,’ which basically stated that it was OK when boys fooled around with each other. I stole it from the library, but I was such a goody two shoes that I returned it after I was done. I also remember the International Male catalogues.” —Bruce B. Heller

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ORANGE COUNTY

CLEVE JONES TO APPEAR FOR HARVEY MILK DAY BY GREG HERNANDEZ Activist Cleve Jones, a close friend of late gay rights leader Harvey Milk, is giving a guest lecture at Cal State Fullerton on May 23 in honor of Harvey Milk Day, which takes place a day earlier. Jones, who began working with Milk as a student intern, was portrayed in the Gus Van Sant-directed film Milk by Emile Hirsch. In the movie, Hirsch as Jones says “Standing out in front of a church in Orange f*cking County for two days” would be enough time to gather the required signatures to get the anti-gay Briggs Initiative on the ballot, which sought to ban gays and lesbians and their supporters from working in California's public school system. The measure, proposed by Orange County lawmaker John Briggs, was defeated by more than one million votes, largely due to Milk's leadership. Milk was the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. As a supervisor, Milk was responsible for passing a stringent gay rights ordinance for the city. But just 11 months into his term, he and Mayor George Moscone were murdered at City Hall by former Supervisor Dan White. Milk was just 48 years old and had been a gay rights activist for less than a decade. Harvey Milk Day takes place on the late activist's birthday. His story, message and legacy are globally celebrated to give hope and inspire disenfranchised communities. “I'm just really excited that Cleve is coming to help us celebrate that we've come a long way since John Briggs,“ says Laura Kanter, director of youth services at

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The Center OC and a member of the Harvey Milk Day Planning Committee. “And we are doing it at Cal State Fullerton, where, in the movie, a debate between Milk and Briggs takes place.” “The story of Cleve is not made up in the film,” Kanter said. “He worked very closely with Harvey, and he became a fulltime activist for LGBT rights and human rights. He founded the AIDS Quilt and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. He's a man for the people just like Harvey was. He's a passionate activist. He's a wonderful person to speak of his relationship to Harvey.” She added, “Harvey Milk was his mentor for his career as an activist. He represents what Harvey Milk Day is about for many of us, how important it is to come together and unite, to have voices, to collaborate with allies.” Jones works as a community organizer for the Hotel Workers Rising campaign of UNITE HERE, an international union. Hope Will Never Be Silent: An Evening With Cleve Jones takes place from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Cal State Fullerton Titan Student Union. There will be a light reception after the talk. The event is free, but an RSVP is requested via the event's Facebook page, tinyurl.com/bolzzr8. Donations can be mailed to The Center OC or will be accepted at the door. If making a donation, please make checks payable to The Center Orange County and indicate Harvey Milk Day in the note section of your check. For more information, contact Kevin O'Grady at (714) 953-5428 or kevin.ogrady@thecenteroc.org.

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LONG BEACH

PRE-PRIDE EVENTS IN LONG BEACH BY GREG HERNANDEZ While the Long Beach Pride festival officially takes place on Saturday, May 18, and Sunday, May 19, there are plenty of other events happening in the days leading up to the big weekend that Pride revelers will want to take note of. The sixth annual Pink Party is being held on Friday, May 17, from 8 p.m. to midnight at the East Village Arts District at 1st and Linden. Organizers vow to transform the area into a “pink extravaganza,” and guests are encouraged to do their part by wearing pink attire. There will also be pink hair and nail stations at the venue to add to your look. The event is being hosted by famed drag performer Jewels Long Beach, who is the 2013 Long Beach Pride Community Grand Marshal. Entertainment includes DJs spinning high-energy dance music and drag divas Detox, Delta Work, Raja and Sonique entertaining the crowd. There will be two outdoor bars hosted by Hamburger Mary’s and Bliss 525, and some Downtown restaurants are serving up food. A portion of the proceeds from the Pink Party will benefit the Long Beach Gay & Lesbian Center’s Mentoring Youth Through Empowerment (MYTE) program. Tickets cost $10 per person at the gate or online. There is a discounted pre-sale offer of $16 for two tickets which can be mailed up until five days prior to the event or picked up at will call on Elm and 1st. Online tickets can be ordered at downtownlongbeach.org/ sales/tickets. Also kicking off on Friday, May 17, is Teen Pride, an event for youth between the ages of 13-19 (ID required for entrance). It includes drag shows, dancing and singing competitions, games, DJs, information booths, a wed-

ding photo booth and live performances by local musicians and artists. Teen Pride takes place on the festival grounds by the Rainbow Lagoon area and continues Saturday and Sunday. The event's Facebook page stresses that adults are not allowed unless they are volunteering or chaperoning a teen. Teen Pride is presented by California Families in Focus and supported by Gay & Lesbian Long Beach Pride, Inc. Other Pride week events include the Wild Wednesday Pride Show at Hamburger’s Mary’s, hosted by Jewels Long Beach, on May 15. The Starlette Review 10 p.m. show (for 21 and over) stars RuPaul’s Drag Race diva Latrice Royale. Find more information at hamburgermarys.com/longbeach. Also on May 15, the “I am Equality Campaign” Pride edition photo shoot is presented by EqualityTV and Equality Campaign at The Center Long Beach (2017 E. 4th St.) from 16:30 p.m. The shoot is for individuals, couples and families to participate in a global ad campaign and PSA. Participants will be asked, “What will you do to make equality go viral?” Answers will be woven into the photo campaign and distributed via media outlets. Get more information at (562) 434-4455. Long Beach Pride is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Last year, approximately 80,000 people attended the twoday event. The festival takes place along Shoreline Drive and includes seven large dance areas. The Pride parade will be held on Sunday, May 19, beginning at 10:30 a.m. along Ocean Avenue, starting at Lindero Avenue and ending at Alamitos Avenue. Find more information at longbeachpride.com. M AY 2 7 , 2 0 1 3

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HOT TOPIC

SAVE THE DATE! Although no one is sure yet exactly when the date will be. Whatever day the U.S. Supreme Court announces its ruling on Prop. 8, a rally will be held at 6 p.m. in front of the Forever Marilyn statue at the corner of Palm Canyon Drive and Tahquitz Canyon Way in Downtown Palm Springs. “We’re either going to have a celebration or a rally,” says Gary Costa, Executive Director of the LGBT Community Center of the Desert, one of the organizations sponsoring the event along

with the Desert AIDS Project, Equality California, Lambda Legal, the Human Rights Campaign and other groups. If the Supreme Court upholds Prop 8, a march down Palm Canyon Drive is planned. If the Supreme Court rules it unconstitutional, a party will be held. The Supreme Court ruling is expected to come in the latter half of June. Typically the court gives 12 to 24 hours advance notice prior to announcing a ruling. tinyurl.com/chxqrzr

In our May 1 issue, a photograph was used to accompany the article “Coachella Valley Unfazed by Meningitis Scare” that belonged to Guest House Films. Frontiers was unaware the photo belonged to Guest House Films and used it without their permission or knowledge. There is no connection between the photo and the information contained in the article it accompanied. We regret any confusion this may have caused our readers and would like to apologize to Guest House Films and the actors depicted in the photograph. 76

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JUDGE WALKER AT HARVEY MILK BREAKFAST BY JAMES F. MILLS With the United States Supreme Court expected to rule on the constitutionality of Proposition 8 sometime in June, a special speaker will be providing insights into that ruling during the keynote address at the second annual Coachella Valley Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast. Judge Vaughn Walker, the man who first ruled that Prop. 8 was unconstitutional, is the featured speaker at the breakfast. In 2010, Walker served as the judge in the landmark Perry v. Schwarzenegger case, the federal constitutional challenge to the 2008 voter initiative that eliminated the right of same-sex couples to marry in California. Walker ruled that Prop. 8 was unconstitutional under the due process and equal protection clauses of the United States Constitution. Now retired from the United States 9th Circuit Court, Walker is viewed as a hero in the gay community because of that ruling. After his retirement in 2011, Walker came out publicly as a gay man. He now has a private law practice

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in San Francisco focusing on mediation and arbitration and also lectures at the UC Berkeley and Stanford University law schools. The breakfast, held on Thursday, May 23, at 9:30 a.m. at the Hilton Palm Springs, 400 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, honors the memory of gay rights leader Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man ever elected to public office in the United States. Milk, who was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977, was assassinated in November 1978. In 2009, the state of California began observing May 22 (Milkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s birthday) as Harvey Milk Day. At that breakfast, Mattie Leyden, a transgender activist and former Marine, will receive the Harvey B. Milk Leadership Award of the Coachella Valley. Tickets for the breakfast are $35, with proceeds benefitting Coachella Valley high school gay-straight alliance organizations. Find more information regarding the Harvey Milk Breakfast at tinyurl.com/buut6vm.

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DESERT LGBT CENTER CONDUCTS COMMUNITY SURVEY BY JAMES F. MILLS How’s your health? What are your wellness concerns? What needs aren’t being addressed? What are your concerns about the Coachella Valley gay community in general? Where should area LGBT groups focus their attention? These are just some of the questions being asked in a new LGBT community online survey done by the LGBT Center of the Desert ( more commonly known as “The Center”). “There has been very little data in general on the LGBT community, but there has never been a comprehensive health needs assessment on the LGBT community in the Coachella Valley,” reports Jill Gover, Ph.D., the survey project manager and the Center’s director of counseling. “This data will be helpful for us in terms of identifying specific health and wellness issues, in terms of looking at future funding, designing our own programming to meet the needs of this community and sharing this data with other agencies.” Although the LGBT community makes up an estimated 45 to 50 percent of the population of Palm Springs, very little is actually known about the LGBT community in terms of demographics and specific needs. In the past, area groups have looked to surveys done in other parts of the country and extrapolated those results to the area. “Up until this point, we’ve always had to just make basic assumptions,” explains Gary Costa, the Center’s executive director. “But we’re not West Hollywood. We’re not San Francisco. This is going to give us hard data about what the realities in the Coachella Valley are.

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We’ve based a lot of our decisions on the fact we have an aging senior population and saying this is probably what needs to be done.” The online survey takes 20 to 30 minutes to answer. Pen and pencil surveys are also available at the Center, 611 S. Palm Canyon Dr. The survey is being conducted through the end of May, perhaps longer depending on how many responses they get. While the gay community is the target audience, the Center also hopes straight people will take the survey to provide a comparison group. “We’ll use [heterosexual] responses as a control group,” says Gover. “For example, we want to see if aging issues are the same for the gay community as they are for the straight community.” Although the survey focuses primarily on health and wellness issues, it also asks general questions about the gay community. The survey is for individuals 18 years and older, and will help the Center create programs to address those needs. Almost a year in the planning, the survey is funded through a $79,000 grant from the Desert Healthcare District. Center officials plan to share the results with other area groups as well as the city of Palm Springs. “We’ll be doing presentations wherever people are interested,” says Costa. “They results are going to tell us a lot about our community. I think there will be a lot of people who want to know what we find out.” SurveyMonkey.com/s/LGBT_Health

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OFF THE VO TV OF BRA

COUCH

By Dr. Greg Cason

ESY COURT PHOTO

WHEN IS IT SAFE TO TAKE YOUR BOYFRIEND ON A GAY-CATION? Every year for the past four years, my partner and I have gone to Cancun with a large gay-owned travel organization. For those who don't know, it's a tour group that organizes cruises and land trips all around the world for mostly gay men. I won't say the name, but it rhymes with Schm-Atlantis.

Dr. Greg Cason is a licensed psychologist based in West Hollywood, specializing in cognitive therapy with individuals and couples, both gay and straight. He can be contacted at (877) 437-4734.

For those who have not been on one of these trips, you have probably seen ads with ripped muscle boys cavorting joyously on sundrenched beaches and beside sparkling deck pools. This advertising definitely attracts many customers but seems to intimidate others. To the intimidated, let me reinforce your fears and say there are examples of these male showponies prancing around, but thankfully for the rest of us, they are fairly few compared to the regular-looking gay men (who are still better looking than most straight men their age). These trips attract a wide variety of people from all over the world. The majority of attendees are couples—approximately two-thirds. And a lot of them come back year after year. Now, there is the occasional “thruple” (a three-way relationship), but they get all the attention because everyone wants to know who does the laundry. (I doubt it's the newest one.) That is why it was odd when a previously single friend canceled his annual trip because he was now in a relationship. This eight-month unsingle friend was afraid that taking his new beau on such a trip may rock the boat—or would even cause his boyfriend to abandon ship. Which lead me to wonder, when is it O.K. to go on a gay vacay with the fiancé (or other paired-up partner)? For the uninitiated, these packaged gay-cations have all those activities that boys who like boys like to do. There are the predictable parties where scantily clad lads dance to a never-ending thump. There are pop stars, Broadway singers, lounge acts, drag queens and comics, all imported for added fun. And there are loads of things to do all day long (and no, I don't mean "Miss Things"). But the single

most prominent feature of such a vacation is the sense of community and togetherness. There is an almost instant understanding and camaraderie that comes out when we gays gather together. Wow, I sound like I am selling it! Now to validate my friend's concerns.... I hear stories of people who snort mysterious substances and stumble into slings, but in all my time I have never encountered such a thing (probably because I don't snort or stumble). I think the people who encounter those things are probably looking for them. But I do see a lot of innocent flirting and more than a few walks of shame. Kevin and I go for an entirely different reason— to relax in a place where we can be ourselves, free of judgment, scorn and raised eyebrows. As much as we may fear judgment from the occasional prissy queen, our real problems have come from a larger society that doesn't always get us. And who can blame them? The general public thinks all we do is go shirtless and dance to thumpy music because that's what they see on TV shows (mine notwithstanding). Unless someone close has come out to them, they don't know we can be a rather unglamorous bunch who shop at Target, sleep with our mouths open and fight over the remote. Most wouldn't even dare take off their shirt in public (or even in private for that matter). But I digress. So, really, this doesn't answer my question. When is a relationship strong enough to go into a group of men who are seen as ‘the competition,’ even if they are also in a relationship? For some that may be week two of a relationship. For others, that may be year 20. Time isn't the issue; it's the security each person in the relationship has in themselves first and in the relationship second. To check your own security, ask yourself if you believe you are worthy of this relationship and the

affections of the man or woman who is in it with you. Also, ask yourself if your partner communicates his or her affection for you both behind closed doors and when out in the gay public. If not on both counts, you will probably find yourself prone to jealousy and insecurity, and this vacation may not be fun for you. Also, ask yourself if you can trust your own wandering eye not to turn into wandering hands. If you can't, then it’s best to step away from the buffet. If your partner is flirty, you have to ask yourself if you can stand others reciprocating. (It's only polite.) Or, if your partner is much better looking or younger than you are, be prepared for the vultures to start circling and then swooping in when you step away for a smoke. All of this is what straight couples have to put up with all the time, so don't start thinking it has anything to do with being gay. It’s human nature. Once you have passed all of these insecurity checkpoints, you need to talk with your partner and map out some rules for the vacation. What do you both want from the experience? Shall we spend time apart or stay attached at the hip? What happens when you want to do different things (or different people)? Shall we bring one “toy” and share so we have more room for the headdress? Don't assume anything! It's not easy to have a talk like this, but it is worth it! And if you do at the beginning of your relationship, you are far more likely to have a successful first-time gay-cation and begin to develop the skills for a successful long-term partnership as well. For the record, Schm-Atlantis (and its subschmidiaries) did not pay me a fee for this article and, in fact, has only ever taken my full-fare, nondiscounted money. So, I write this without remuneration (or consent)!

If you have any questions and/or comments, please direct them to: Frontiers, 5657 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 470, Los Angeles, CA 90036, or email them to feedback@frontiersla.com. M AY 2 7 , 2 0 1 3

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A dentist appointment you can actually look forward to? Could such a thing possibly exist? Dr. Rouzita Rashtian of Serenity Dental Center has not only ticked the ‘yes’ box in reply to both questions, she has built her whole practice on what might be called the cutting-edge new frontier of dentistry—a parallel reality where dental care is not something that we merely endure but instead an experience that is part and parcel of a holistic life. At her state-of-the art Serenity Dental Center, Dr. Rashtian practices holistic/biological dentistry, a philosophy that recognizes the teeth and their orally associated kin as a part of the whole body. In layman’s terms, that means, among other things, that at Serenity your oral health is treated as it relates to your overall health, and wherever possible Dr. Rashtian encourages Amalgam-free and Mercurysafe dentistry. It’s no secret that over the years, the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology as well as other prominent holistic dental organizations have issued recommendations warning of the health risks associated with amalgams. And that is precisely why at Serenity Dental Center you’ll find safe, biocompatible dental materials are encouraged over their counterparts. So much so in fact that Dr. Rashtian believes in removing and replacing amalgam fillings safely based on those recommendations. Which only makes sense, because after all, if teeth are viewed as part of the whole body, the prevailing view is that what is toxic in one part of the body is toxic throughout. This level of care and interest in every patient’s total health profile is all part of

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Dr. Rashtian’s greater philosophy about dentistry and her practice, founded on the principal that every individual deserves the highest quality in dental care along with her commitment to developing highly personalized relationships with each and every patient according to their respective needs. A graduate of UCLA and the USC School of Dentistry, in addition to being a member of a number of prestigious dental associations including the Holistic Dental Association and the International Association of Mercury-Safe Dentists, the good Dr. Rashtian’s expertise and credentials are well-established. However, it is what Serenity Dental offers beyond the traditional dental office experience that sets it apart. While putting a great deal of effort into bringing state-of-the-art dentistry and the latest technology into her current practice, Dr. Rashtian prides herself on “communicating and listening very closely to every patient’s need,” a trademark skill that is quickly bolstering her reputation as a dental surgeon whose compassion matches her skill. Dentistry with a heart—who would have thought? Next thing you know they’ll be selling bottled water from glaciers at the neighborhood grocery store. Dr. Rashtian is Invisalign and ClearCorrect-certified and has extensive experience in dental implants, veneers, different types of dental fillings, teeth whitening, Invisalign braces, composite fillings, porcelain crowns and more.

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FRONTIERS4MEN.COM

SEX ED

OH GOD, IT’S ANOTHER DISEASE BY JIM LARKINS When two Los Angeles County gay men who had contracted bacterial meningitis died from the disease within a six-month span, a wave of concern swept through the gay community. There was even talk of the disease having made a bicoastal leap from New York to Los Angeles. There were 13 cases of meningitis reported last year in L.A., but it is unclear how many of these were gay men. It is therefore important to educate all individuals, regardless of sexual preference, on this extremely destructive disease. Just what is bacterial meningitis, and how do you catch the disease? Or more importantly, how do you avoid catching it? Bacterial meningitis occurs when the multilayered tissue known as the meninges, protecting the brain and spinal cord, is infected with bacteria. The leading causes of the disease—haemophilus influenzae type B, neisseria menintidis and streptococcus pneumonia—are all transmitted by throat or nose secretion. The swiftness at which bacterial meningitis acts makes it an extremely formidable enemy of the human system. Victims can experience flu-like symptoms so severe that permanent brain damage, paralysis, hearing loss, blindness, shock or even death can occur within a couple of hours. For that reason, it is important to seek treatment immediately if you or anyone you observe is showing such symptoms without getting better.

FRONTIERS4MEN.COM

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