001-017 3214.qxd
10/24/13
7:18 PM
Page FC1
001-017 3213.qxd
10/24/13
4:19 PM
Page IFC1
001-017 3214.qxd
10/24/13
7:20 PM
Page 1
001-017 3214.qxd
10/25/13
4:51 PM
Page 2
001-017 3214.qxd
10/25/13
4:51 PM
Page 3
001-017 3214.qxd
10/24/13
7:20 PM
Page 4
001-017 3214.qxd
10/25/13
4:53 PM
Page 5
001-017 3214.qxd
6
10/25/13
FRONTIERSLA.COM
6:04 PM
Page 6
001-017 3214.qxd
10/25/13
6:04 PM
Page 7
NOVEMBER 12, 2013
7
001-017 3214.qxd
10/24/13
7:20 PM
Page 8
INSIDE VOL. 32, ISSUE 14 | OCT. 30 - NOV. 12, 2013
35
MOCA Exposed
BOB MIZER, UNTITLED [LARRY LAMB, WITH TUMBLEWEED]; LOS ANGELES, C. 1959; VINTAGE LARGE-FORMAT BLACK AND WHITE NEGATIVE, SILVER GELATIN PRINT, 8 X 10 INCHES; PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF BOB MIZER FOUNDATION, INC.
8
FRONTIERSLA.COM
001-017 3214.qxd
10/24/13
7:20 PM
Page 9
NOVEMBER 12, 2013
9
001-017 3214.qxd
10/24/13
7:20 PM
Page 10
INSIDE
VOL. 32, ISSUE 14 | OCT. 30 - NOV. 12, 2013
32
LEADING BY EXAMPLE Gary Costa ......................................................16 NEWS News Briefs ......................................................18 Vulnerable House Democrats Need Protection Too ....................................26 Jelly Belly Candy Chair Donated to Frank Schubert’s Anti-Trans Initiative Effort................................................28 SOCAL EVENTS GUIDE Calendar ..........................................................47 SnapShots........................................................48 Eating Out........................................................54 ENTERTAINMENT Film Reviews ..................................................56 Theater Reviews ............................................58 Music Reviews ..............................................60 COLUMNS Billy Masters ..................................................62 Little Miss Know-It-All ................................63 Drive ................................................................64 Out & About ..................................................65 Gossip Gay ......................................................66 CITY GUIDES West Hollywood ............................................67 Palm Springs ..................................................68 HEALTH Off the Couch ................................................75 FRONTIERS MARKETPLACE Listings..............................................................76 Business Profile ..............................................77 FRONTIERS4MEN Adult Classifieds............................................78 Sex Ed ..............................................................84
10
FRONTIERSLA.COM
47 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.
PHOTO: ROLLING-BLACKOUTS
COVER PHOTO:
BOB MIZER, ATHLETIC MODEL GUILD CATALOG BOARD, DAVID ELLIOTT [DOUBLESIDED; THIS SIDE PAGE 2 OF SW SERIES]; C.1965; PHOTOGRAPHS MOUNTED TO MATBOARD AND MIXED MEDIA; PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF BOB MIZER FOUNDATION, INC.; THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, LOS ANGELES; PROPOSED PURCHASE WITH FUNDS PROVIDED BY THE PHOTOGRAPHY COMMITTEE, THE BOB MIZER FOUNDATION & INVISIBLEEXPORTS, NEW YORK
PHOTO: TOKY PHOTOGRAPHY
40
001-017 3214.qxd
10/24/13
7:20 PM
Page 11
SEPTEMBER 3, 2013
11
001-017 3214.qxd
10/24/13
7:20 PM
Page 12
DESPERATELY SEEKING MATTHEW
ONLINE Find these articles exclusively at
By Mark Dawson
facebook.com/ frontiersmagazine
twitter.com/ frontiersmag
Matthew Ludwinski’s latest film, Seek, is about a mistake many of us make everyday when we allow our hopeful view of the future to cloud our vision of the beauty that exists in front of our faces. Directed by first-time filmmaker Eric Henry, the film centers on a group of 20-something urbanites all longing for approval. Matthew Ludwinski is Jordan, the dreamboat underwear model. FrontiersLA.com/ExclusiveInterviews
youtube.com/ frontiersweb
SERVICE: THE BOYS FROM LISBON
Our latest column tells of encounters with folks on the service industry’s front-lines here in L.A. and around the world. This second installment looks at two Portuguese waiters in a West Hollywood bar: A waiter with curly dark hair framing a face of youthful beauty and a smile that sent out sparks or stars—something blinding—stood ready to take our order.
WEHO’S UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST CELEBRATES 100 YEARS By Michael Anthony West Hollywood United Church of Christ is a truly unique congregation with an inspired history—a history so rich, in fact, that it can't be celebrated in just one worship service. The church has spread its 100th anniversary festivities over many weeks. tinyurl.com/kxefoz9
“What do you recommend?” asked Stephen of the waiter. “Don’t ask that,” I told Stephen. “You have to have a frame of reference. Find out what his favorite movie is. Then you will have an idea of his taste.”
LATIN FRONTIER:
LATINOS IN HOLLYWOOD
FrontiersLA.com/Service/Blog
by Victor Barreiro
We’ve got the latest entertainment industry news regarding the country’s biggest Latino stars, from George Lopez, Eva Longoria and Zoe Saldana to America Ferrera, Salma Hayek and Jennifer Lopez. FrontiersLA.com/LatinFrontier
BOOK REVIEWS by The Bookworm
In need of a good read? Check out our reviews of There Are No Sad Dogs in Heaven by Sonya Fitzpatrick and Drama High: The Incredible True Story of a Brilliant Teacher, a Struggling Town, and the Magic of Theatre by Michael Sokolove. FrontiersLA.com/ BookReviews
12
FRONTIERSLA.COM
AFTER ‘I DO’:
A HOUSE OF MANY COLORS By Rolf Danner Rolf and Jeff tied the knot in 2008. For both, that gloriously bright California day came at the end of a long journey, culminating in the congratulations of friends and families. Little did they know that their journey had only just begun. MarriageEqualityFrontiers.com
001-017 3214.qxd
10/24/13
7:20 PM
Page 13
OCTOBER 29, 2013
13
001-017 3214.qxd
10/25/13
4:02 PM
Page 14
FrontiersLA.com Volume 32, Issue 14 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 Advertising Directors Vic Gerami, Randall Ross, Brenda Stevens, Cristian Valencia, Billy Wright Palm Springs Advertising Director Vic Gerami
National Advertising Representatives Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863 Art Traffic and Distribution Manager Hope Dunn Classifieds Manager Frank Perez Accounting Merrill Franks, Frank Perez
Advertising Inquiries salesmanager@frontiersLA.com Editorial Inquiries editor@frontiersLA.com Advertising Artwork Trafficking art@frontiersLA.com
To contact our staff Email address format:
firstname.lastname@FrontiersLA.com Contributing Writers Aaron Batts, Jackie Beat, Christopher Cappiello, Dr. Greg Cason, Gossip Gay, Stephan Horbelt, Gary M. Kramer, Jim Larkins, Dan Loughry, Billy Masters, Michelle McCarthy, Dana Miller, James F. Mills, Paulo Murillo, Karen Ocamb, Brian Padgett, Dominik Rothbard, Brenden Shucart, Steve Siler, Les Spindle, Paul V., Duane Wells Contributing Photographers and Illustrators Gabe Ayala, Dusti Cunningham, Brenden-John Photography, Glen Hanson, Gary Knight. Touko Laaksonen, Sean Lambert, Michael Lamont, Bob Mizer, Paulo Murillo, Karen Ocamb, Rolling-Blackouts, Jonathan Sirand, Toky Photography
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.
14
FRONTIERSLA.COM
001-017 3213.qxd
10/24/13
4:21 PM
Page 15
NOVEMBER 12, 2013
15
001-017 3213.qxd
10/24/13
4:21 PM
Page 16
BUILDING COMMUNITY
Leading by Example
Gary Costa: Bringing Diversity to Palm Springs’ LGBT Community Center By James F. Mills
This week marks the one-year anniversary of Gary Costa becoming the executive director of Palm Springs’ LGBT Community Center of the Desert. Raised on a dairy farm in Hanford, a town of 50,000 people near Fresno, the 51-yearold Costa’s career path has made him an ideal person for transforming what began as a gay senior center and has become a full-fledged LGBT community center. Partnered for the past five years with Stephen Carnes, a men’s couture buyer for online clothing store Zappos, Costa tells Frontiers about his journey to becoming the executive director. You started off as a safer-sex educator with the LGBT Center of Orange County in the early days of the AIDS crisis and later became executive director of Being Alive—the L.A.-based AIDS service organization—during the height of the AIDS epidemic. I saw a change in our community from when I was in Orange County doing HIV prevention to when we were providing direct services to people in later stages of HIV infection. It was eye-opening. It was sad, yet it was motivating to do more. You also worked as Dartmouth College’s West Coast director of development, helping to raise $1.3 billion for its endowment. How does that work influence what you do now? I emerged from that experience better educated because of the training I got and the professional fundraisers who served as my mentors. I am much more able to see how to get from ‘point A’ to ‘point B’ as far as working your connections, effectively developing your
16
FRONTIERSLA.COM
communication, telling the story of what it is you’re trying to achieve and convincing the community how their participation can really make a difference. All that training and education at Dartmouth that I received on the job, I knew that the next time I returned to the nonprofit world—which I always envisioned myself doing in the second half of my life—I would be able to put those skills to great use. I feel much more confident sitting in this chair now than I did when I was sitting in the same chair for Being Alive back in the ‘90s. How has the LGBT Center changed in the past year under your leadership? We had a reputation for a long time that we were a very male-dominant, very male-focused organization. I’ve made it my mission to really let the community know that we are very inclusive now. I take great pride in the fact that over the last year the number of women coming through our doors has skyrocketed. Our transgender group is thriving and growing. Our education in the local schools—now in its second year—is expanding. It’s very exciting to see that we can work well with other nonprofits rather than duplicating services. We’ve developed great relationships with the Mizell Senior Center and Desert AIDS Project and other nonprofits and food banks. We share the wealth and don’t step on each others’ toes. We communicate regularly. You’re striving to maintain the Center as a community center, a place where people come to hang out during the day as well as take classes and get mental health services.
We provide a variety of healthy, safe social activities as an alternative to bars, internet cruising and the Warm Sands hotels. Although the audience is smaller for some programs than others, we provide a vital outlet for all of our members to network, meet other people and avoid isolation. We have a unique population of elder gays here in Palm Springs. Depression is very prevalent in seniors, so anything we do to give them social connections, we feel we are performing an important service for the community. It’s very gratifying to walk down the halls here and see every room being used by different groups of people of all shapes, sizes, colors and backgrounds. People dealing with recovery and other health issues, people painting and doing yoga. When you see that energy going on, you realize this is why you do this. This is why we’re here. The LGBT Center of the Desert is looking to move out of its home in the Sun Center strip mall into its own building, almost twice as large. We have a building in mind that a generous donor is trying to make available to us. Another generous donor is spearheading a feasibility study to see what it would cost to take the building and renovate it to the point where it would serve our purposes. If it’s feasible to do it, we’ll embark on the capital campaign. thecenterps.org
001-017 3213.qxd
10/24/13
4:21 PM
Page 17
NOVEMBER 12, 2013
17
018-035 3213.qxd
10/24/13
4:56 PM
Page 18
NEWS By Karen Ocamb
ObamaCare Website Problems Exacerbate Political War
Will New Jersey Marriage Equality Hurt Chris Christie? Newark Mayor and New Jersey Senatorelect Cory Booker presided over the first samesex weddings in the Garden State on Oct. 21. “The momentum continues to build nationwide, and we are working hard to deliver victories in Hawaii, Illinois and New Mexico yet in 2013,” said Freedom to Marry founder Evan Wolfson. But the news was not so great for Gov. Chris Christie, a presumed Republican presidential candidate in 2016, after he dropped his appeal of a lower court ruling granting marriage equality. “Regrettably, Governor Christie's decision to surrender on marriage reveals him to be a man who lacks the courage of his supposed convictions. As far as we are concerned, it's a disqualifying failure. His surrender on marriage effectively surrenders any chance he might have had to secure the GOP nomination for president,” wrote National Organization for Marriage President Brian Brown in a blog post.
As soon as the debt ceiling and government shutdown crises were abated, Republicans and some Democrats pounced on the troubled rollout of the ObamaCare website, HealthCare.gov, and a renewed war ensued. “I cannot even stand to look at you,” Sen. Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., alleged a top House Republican leader told President Obama during shutdown negotiations. Later, however, White House press secretary Jay Carney said that the incident never occured. Some Republicans are calling for the resignation of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, and Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., has pledged to hold hearings. “To skeptics, the notion of a $3.5 trillion government running on autopilot, with nobody at the helm, is outrageous and frightening,” John Hayward wrote in the conservative Daily Events. “Nobody’s madder than me that the website’s not working like it should, which means it’s going to get fixed,” Obama said at an Oct. 21 news con-
ference. But, he said, “the Affordable Care Act is not just a website. It’s much more.” And according to a new Washington Post/ABC News poll, 66 percent of Americans want ObamaCare to be implemented without any elements being repealed. Economist and longtime health care advocate Jared Bernstein notes that Medicare and the Medicare prescription drug program also had difficult launches. The Covered California website was partially shut down to fix some errors but is running now. California has spent $94 million in outreach to groups with access to those who have lived without health insurance for years to help them “complete the often bewildering process of signing up for coverage,” the New York Times reported. “It’s going to take a little bit of everyone doing a lot of different things to get this all together,” said Lisa Hubbard, a director at St. John’s Well Child and Family Clinic in South L.A., which has one of the highest rates of uninsured in the country. “We’re really going to have to try anything and everything.”
Pet Owners: Call FDA if Pet Gets Sick From Jerky Treats The Food and Drug Administration has received reports of 3,600 dogs and 10 cats becoming sick from jerky treats since 2007, KABC reported recently, adding that about 580 of those pets have died. While the exact cause of the illnesses is unclear, the FDA says the treats came from China—though no specific brand was cited and no recall has been announced. “This is one of the most elusive and mysterious outbreaks we've encountered,” FDA's
Center for Veterinary Medicine Director Bernadette Dunham, DVM, Ph.D., said. “Our beloved four-legged companions deserve our best effort, and we are giving it.” Symptoms include “decreased appetite and activity, vomiting, diarrhea and increased water consumption and urination,” KABC reported. If your pet has fallen ill, please contact the FDA at (888) 463-6332. For more information, visit fda.gov.
SPEAK OUT “When you love someone, you don’t stop fighting for them.” —Maureen Kilian, who married her sweetheart of 40 years, Cindy Meneghin, when marriage equality went into effect in New Jersey on Oct. 21, via a Lambda Legal video (tinyurl.com/mk68ebj).
18
FRONTIERSLA.COM
“I even thought that I was gay.” —Late Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain in a recently discovered interview for PBS.
“I've never considered my relationship with Todd to be an act of activism.” —Emmy-winning Big Bang Theory actor Jim Parsons regarding his longtime partner, graphic designer Todd Spiewak, while accepting GLSEN’s Inspiration Award in Beverly Hills on Oct. 18.
018-035 3214.qxd
10/25/13
4:58 PM
Page 19
018-035 3213.qxd
10/24/13
4:56 PM
Page 20
NEWS By Karen Ocamb
Russian Gay Bashing Victims Had it Coming, Says Right-Winger
Quick Pic
Sometimes the venom and dung that comes from the mouths of professed conservative Christians is enough to make even Jesus blanche. In a radio interview with Mission America’s Linda Harvey on how LGBT activists and athletes will “smuggle pro-LGBT propaganda into Russia” during the 2014 Sochi Olympics, Right Wing Watch reports that Brian Camenker of MassResistance seemed to endorse the anti-gay ‘propaganda’ law and the violence it might provoke. “If you’re going to do something that most of the population considers bad or immoral or disgusting in public, you’re going to get a certain reaction,” Camenker said. “The natural way people react to homosexuality—outside of all the diversity training—is a certain amount of revulsion. So if two men start kissing in the public street, you can expect a certain reaction from people.” While the neo-Nazi thugs post videos of the gays they beat up or harass, there are others whose tortured humanity goes undetected. For instance, Dasha Stern, 22, committed suicide after the propaganda law, Sunnivie Brydum reported in The Advocate on Oct. 22, citing the Association of Russian Lawyers for Human Rights’ blog, RusAdvocat. The blog also reported that Stern had been disowned by her parents and kicked out of her home, presumably for being transgender, and lost access to a mortgage and auto loan after losing her job. “Vladimir Putin has created a system where there is no place for transgender, there is no place for dissenters,” out bisexual trans human
20
rights lawyer Masha Bast told RusAdvocate. “Dasha Stern is the victim of the indifference of Russian society.” Meanwhile, a Russian deputy has temporarily withdrawn his proposed law to take children away from their gay parents, but he will reintroduce it after some tweaks. And in a curious jaw-dropper, out MSNBC anchor Thomas Roberts has signed on to host Donald Trump’s Miss Universe pageant in Moscow on Nov. 9, saying he wants to bring the LGBT community there “hope.”
Jason Pickel and Darren Black Bear are the first gay couple legally married in Oklahoma, thanks to $20, their Native American heritage and the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes’ non-gender-specific code, KOCO TV reports.
FRONTIERSLA.COM
Lambda Legal Appeals HIVPositive Man's Transmission Conviction Lambda Legal is appealing the conviction of Nick Rhoades, an HIV-positive Iowan who was initially sentenced to 25 years in prison and required to register as a sex offender based on a one-time sexual encounter in June 2008 with Adam Plendl during which they used a condom, Lambda said in an Oct. 22 press release. Plendl, who did not contract HIV, cooperated fully with the prosecution. (Read Lambda’s brief at tinyurl.com/kfpucuw.) “The Court of Appeals' decision was based on a misinterpretation of the plain language of the statute, and we look forward to presenting the case to the state's supreme court,” said Scott Schoettes, Lambda Legal’s HIV Project Director. “A person who uses a condom and engages in safe sex, as Nick did, does not have the intent required to support a conviction under Iowa's law addressing exposure to HIV.”
018-035 3214.qxd
10/25/13
4:58 PM
Page 21
NOVEMBER 12, 2013
21
018-035 3214.qxd
10/25/13
5:00 PM
Page 26
NEWS
Vulnerable House Democrats Need Protection Too BY KAREN OCAMB Though floored by the extremes to which the Tea Party Republicans would take the country— a government shutdown and the brink of a default that could have triggered global financial catastrophe—most Democrats were thrilled to see radical Tea Party conservative Sen. Ted Cruz surreptitiously advising House Republicans and doing rhetorical battle with establishment conservatives such as Sen. John McCain, precipitating a possible ‘civil war’ within the GOP. Though Cruz and his followers thought the shutdown was—in pundit Ann Coulter’s words—“magnificent” and “beautifully run,” an Oct. 21 Washington Post/ABC News poll blames Republicans for the 16-day shutdown that cost American taxpayers $24 billion. The Post poll indicates the Republican brand has sunk to an all-time low, with only 32 percent having a “favorable opinion” of the party and eight in 10 Americans disapproving of the shutdown. And while President Obama’s approval rating remains steady—almost half approve of how he has handled his job—the disapproval rating for Congressional Democrats has risen to a record high of 49 percent. Nonetheless, the Post/ABC News poll and other polls sparked intense debate over whether Democrats could win back the House in 2014. “We're a year out ... blah, blah, blah. Yes, a lot can and will happen before the next election,” Markos Moulitsas wrote Oct. 22 on his influential blog, the Daily Kos. “Given the current GOP,
not much of what will happen should be good for the GOP, but still, no one is popping the champagne. What we are doing is pointing out that the GOP is in some serious shit, and if the elections were held today, Nancy Pelosi would be speaker.” Kos cited a USA Today poll that said, “By nine points, Americans who live in districts they say are represented by a Republican say the deadlock has made them less likely to vote for the incumbent. Those who say they are represented by a Democrat are by one point more likely to support him or her.” The liberal MoveOn.org-commissioned Public Policy Polling showed Republicans losing in 17 competitive contests against “generic” Democrats—17 is also the number of seats the Democrats need to win back the House—though the poll doesn’t take into account the quality of candidates the Democrats might recruit. Nonetheless, post-shutdown, political forecaster Charlie Cook changed ratings in 14 races in favor of Democrats. “Democrats still have a very uphill climb to a majority, and it's doubtful they can sustain this month's momentum for another year. But Republicans' actions have energized Democratic fundraising and recruiting efforts and handed Democrats a potentially effective message,” Cook wrote on Oct 17. In his revised outlook, Cook changed Rep. Gary Miller, R-Calif. 31, from ‘toss up’ to ‘lean Democrat.’ He ranks Jeff Denham, R-Calif. 10, as ‘likely Republican’ and David Valadao, R-Calif. 21, as ‘lean Republican.’
PHOTO: KAREN OCAMB
Rep. Janice Hahn with Francisco Orozco and Yolanda Lopez, candidates for Compton Unified School District Board of Trustees, at the L.A. County Democratic Party awards dinner, Oct. 20. 26
FRONTIERSLA.COM
Cook also moved gay Democrat Mark Takano, D-Calif. 41—who Rep. Janice Hahn told Frontiers at the recent L.A. County Democratic Party awards dinner was vulnerable—from ‘likely Democrat’ to ‘solid Democrat.’ Hahn also noted that Los Capps, D-Calif. 24, is vulnerable. Cook also has freshman Julia Brownley, DCalif. 26, as ‘leaning Democrat,’ but political consultant Jim Ellis has a different perspective (see his synopsis of California races at tinyurl.com/k2m55sz), saying Brownley’s expected opponent, former state Sen. Tony Strickland, a Republican, “will need a major change in the turnout model” if he is to win. Other Democrats considered vulnerable include freshman Palm Springs Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Calif. 36—whose political fortunes may change after his heroic actions helping a fellow airline passenger (story at tinyurl.com/lt9lhq9)—as well as Ami Bera, D-Calif. 7, and Scott Peters, D-Cailif. 52. The Peters race in particular should be fascinating since he’s being challenged by openly gay Republican Carl DeMaio, the former city councilmember who lost his San Diego mayoral race to the now-disgraced Bob Filner by four points. Roll Call reports that DaMaio has already raised a lot of money and has more than $700,000 in the bank. He has support from House Speaker John Boehner, House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. 23, and Ron Paul ‘liberty’ candidates, alongside extreme anti-LGBT Tom McClintock, R-Calif. 4. The Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call rates the 52nd District as ‘tilt Democratic.’ At the L.A. County Democratic Party Roosevelt dinner, out LACDP Chair Eric Bauman said Ted Cruz and Tea Party gubernatorial candidate Tim Donnelly were “gifts that keep on giving.” But he also stressed the importance of voter turnout in off-year elections and touted LACDP’s new website with online voter registration, lacdp.org. There are several state and local elections Democrats want to win—including those of gay candidates Speaker John A. Pérez, who is running for State Controller, and West Hollywood City Councilmember Jeff Prang, who is running for L.A. County Assessor. Other races are important, too, such as that of college student Francisco Orozco, who is a candidate with Yolanda Lopez for Compton Unified School District Board of Trustees. 2014 may prove to be the off-year that Democrats come out to vote.
018-035 3213.qxd
10/24/13
4:56 PM
Page 27
NOVEMBER 12, 2013
27
018-035 3213.qxd
10/24/13
5:33 PM
Page 28
NEWS
Jelly Belly Candy Chair Donated to Frank Schubert’s Anti-Trans Initiative Effort BY KAREN OCAMB Herman Rowland Sr., Chair of the Jelly Belly Candy Company, is a major contributor to the Privacy for All Students initiative campaign led by Prop. 8 strategist Frank Schubert, political director for the National Organization for Marriage. Just as he did with Prop. 8, Schubert is using misrepresentations and scare tactics to collect signatures to qualify an initiative on the 2014 ballot that would repeal the historic “School Success and Opportunity Act, ” AB 1266, authored by out Assemblymember Tom Ammiano. The trans-
Frank Schubert
28
FRONTIERSLA.COM
gender student law goes into effect on Jan. 1, unless the measure qualifies, which would put the law on hold. Schubert, initiative sponsor Capitol Resource Institute and the Pacific Justice Institute have blatantly and shamelessly sexualized AB 1266. “Yesterday afternoon I spoke with a father who wants to help,” Schubert wrote in a fundraising email. “His daughter just started kindergarten at a K-8 public school. He reminded me that an 8th grader looks pretty big to a little kindergartner. The last thing she needs is to be confronted in the bathroom by an 8th grade male who claims a ‘gender identity’ with the female sex.” But Schubert’s fearful image of a hormonal 8th grade boy pretending to be a girl distorts the truth—trans kids fear the bathroom, fear being exposed, fear being bullied and beaten up by people who share Schubert’s point of view. In truth, trans girls are more like 12-year-old Jazz, who wanted to play on the girls’ soccer team at school, and 6-year-old Coy Mathis, whose family fought back after her school said she was not allowed to use the girls’ bathroom. For their courage, the two trans girls were honored at GLAAD’s 24th Media Awards in New York City last March. Nonetheless, Schubert, CRI and PJI continue to use ugly misrepresentations for their Machiavellian political purposes, no matter who they hurt or how precisely, widely and firmly their claims have been debunked. For instance, PJI warned about school districts that promote LGBT History Month with icons who “will alarm many.” People such as “California transgender Gwen Araujo. Living as a woman, he was killed in 2002 after tricking several men at a party into having sexual relations with him,” reported conservative One News Now. The coalition is also warning “what the future holds if the law is not overturned by referendum,” citing in their fundraising email a discredited story about a trans student at Florence High School in Colorado Springs, Colo., who PJI claimed had harassed other girls. PJI also claimed that the girls were “warned” by the school “that if they continued to speak out against the boy's presence in their restrooms, they could face punishment
including being removed from the school’s athletic teams or even charged with hate crimes. [PJI] also claims the girls were told that if they didn’t like sharing a bathroom with the boy, they could simply refrain from using those facilities at all.” “This is exactly the kind of horror story we have been warning would accompany the push for radical transgender rights in schools, and it is the type of situation that LGBT activists have been insisting would not happen,” PJI attorney Matthew McReynolds said in a statement, reported by LifeSite News. But school superintendent Rhonda Vendetti told Transadvocate blogger Cristan Williams that “[t]his is one parent basically bringing their viewpoint about this situation to the media because they weren’t getting the responses that they hoped they would get from the district, from parents of students at the high school or from the board and myself.” Meanwhile, PJI has turned the life of that trans student, whom Tranadvocate identified only as Jane Doe, into a living hell. “I know my daughter,” Doe's mother told The Advocate. “She’s a shy and timid person. It was upsetting. As a matter of fact, before we moved to this town, she was afraid that she would be bullied at school. She had a fear that if she went to this new school, something would happen and she wouldn’t be safe.” The Advocate pointed out that “[a]fter the truth came to light that no ‘harassment’ occurred and the report was from a lone parent who feared this kind of ‘harassment’ might take place, the anti-gay PJI clarified its complaint by alleging that the mere presence of a transgender girl in the girl's bathroom constituted harassment against the cisgender students.” But Schubert does care who’s hurt. “Our challenge is to get on the ballot,” Schubert told the Los Angeles Times’ George Skelton. “If we do, I don't think we'll have a great deal of difficulty winning the campaign. Most people I talk to can't believe they [Gov. Brown, the California Legislature, Democrats] did this. What were they thinking? To say that we need to open up our school showers and bathrooms just doesn't make sense.” But Wendy Hill, an Assembly staffer who
018-035 3213.qxd
10/24/13
5:33 PM
Page 29
NOVEMBER 12, 2013
29
018-035 3213.qxd
10/24/13
5:33 PM
Page 30
NEWS
Jelly Belly Candy Chair Donated to Frank Schubert’s Anti-Trans Initiative Effort helped pass AB 1266, told Skelton “the common fear” about open showers is outdated—water, towels, janitorial services cost too much. “[A]nd most important,” said Hill, “they don't want to be responsible for watching all the naked minors,” which could lead to accusations of teacher molestation. “In some schools that still have showers, they're single-stalled, with curtains.” “They have bathrooms and changing areas,” Schubert countered. “Kids are going to be exposed.” “[T]he very last thing” transgender children want to expose is their genitalia, Hill told Skelton. “It gives them away. They're not old enough to have had transgender surgery.” Indeed, while school districts in L.A. and San Francisco have long had trans policies similar to AB 1266 without incident, in schools that don’t, “some transgender students just don't go to the bathroom. They hold it all day long. There are higher incidences of urinary tract infections. They don't eat breakfast—the most important meal of the day—or even drink water in order to avoid going to the bathroom. Dehydrated, hungry kids aren't learning as well. They cut school and even leave school.” ‘So what?’ Schubert suggests. “[L]et’s not act as if gender identity is some innate, inborn characteristic of humanity, because it’s not,” he told The Daily Beast. “It’s a political creation designed to advance an agenda.” Sara Train, head of Project SPIN (Suicide Prevention Intervention Now) at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, works very closely with the Los Angeles Unified School District and disagrees. “Most students don't know that one of their classmates is transgender. When students are allowed to use the facilities that they identify with, other students get it,” she told Frontiers. “By contrast, forcing students to use facilities that don't correspond with their gender identity is uncomfortable for all.” The Center, Equality California, the Transgender Law Center and the National Center for Lesbian Rights are closely monitoring the situation and asking people to decline to sign Schubert’s petitions. “We have no evidence to suggest they were able to achieve 500,000 signatures,” as Schubert claimed in his interview with the L.A. Times, Masen Davis, Executive Director of the Transgender Law Center, told Frontiers. “Regardless, we are confident that fair-minded Californians will prevail. I know this issue might be new to some folks, even in the LGB community, so let’s be clear: transgender boys are boys and transgender girls are girls, and all students should be supported and able to attend
30
FRONTIERSLA.COM
Trans students Jazz, 12, and Coy Mathis, 6, were honored by GLAAD for their courage and visibility at the GLAAD Media Awards in New York City last March.
school as their authentic selves. Every student should have a fair chance at success, that’s what this law is all about.” But Schubert’s ties with NOM and with anti-LGBT Catholics have certainly helped raise money. In 2010, Jelly Belly disavowed any anti-gay attitudes when the sad NOM-backed Latino tour bus (tracked by the Courage Campaign) tried to pay a visit. “Jelly Belly does not allow any group to promote their special interests, pass out flyers or approach our visitors for their own interests at our public tours,” Jelly Belly Consumer Affairs Manager Kit McCoy said. Apparently the chair of the Jelly Belly Candy Company makes exceptions. According to the New York Times, Herman G. Rowland Sr. hosted a Jelly Belly rally for Rick Santorum in March 2012. The Times reported that Rowland Sr. calls himself “an ultra-conservative” who contributed to Santorum, Gingrich, Mitt Romney and Rick Perry. But Rowland’s $5,000 contribution is dwarfed by those of Sean Fieler, managing member of New York-based Equinox Partners and the Kuroto Fund. He’s another conservative Catholic according to a bio on the Catholic Finance Association website. In a New York Times story about former antigay marriage proponent David Blankenhorn, whose Institute for American Values Sean Fieler once financially supported, the hedge fund manager’s average annual donation “ranged from $200,000 to $250,000.” According to the California Secretary of State website, so far Fieler has contributed $150,000. The money-pitch is stepping up. On Oct. 23, Privacy for All Students sent out a somewhat confusing email, saying the organization doesn’t know how many signatures it has gathered so far but “we know exactly how many signatures the paid gatherers have collected. ... We have donor commitments for $50,000 but a need to match it with another $50,000 to complete the target number of paid signatures collected.” The next day, on Oct. 24, NOM asked for “an immediate donation” to NOM California to help the coalition effort. “Because nakedness trumps sincerity. I do not want a naked boy in front of a young girl in the shower or bathroom even if he sincerely identifies as a girl,” NOM President Brian Brown wrote. To qualify the Referendum to Overturn Non-Discrimination Requirements for School Programs and Activities, Schubert and Privacy for All Students must submit 504,760 valid signatures to the counties by Nov. 8 and to the state by Nov. 10.
018-035 3214.qxd
10/25/13
5:05 PM
Page 31
NOVEMBER 12, 2013
31
018-035 3214.qxd
10/24/13
6:27 PM
Page 32
It’s Time PALM SPRINGS PRIDE CELEBRATES 27 YEARS OF DIVERSITY By Michelle McCarthy
You’ve been Priding it up at every kind of event all summer long. You walked in the PFLAG contingent at New York City Pride, manned the beer booth here in L.A. and danced ‘til they dragged you off the dance floor in Atlanta. Convinced you’d have to patiently await next year’s revelry, you placed your rainbow LED tiara back in its tissue paper and protective packaging. But just because it’s getting a little colder doesn’t mean the party is over. Palm Springs Pride takes place the first weekend of November and is chock-full of so many activities, you may not know where to start. The theme for the 27th annual Greater Palm Springs Pride Celebration is “It’s Time.” As the event’s website explains, this sentiment is a nod to the Palm Springs Pride Parade past. “The theme also repreGrand Marshal sents new hope, new beginRoss Mathews nings and future progress toward equality. It sets the tone for the 27th annual celebration and will be a call for the community to step off the sidewalk and into the street and march for equality in the annual Pride Parade.”
32
FRONTIERSLA.COM
Fri., Nov. 1 If you’re a proud swinger, be sure to sign up for the Palm Springs Pride Golf Classic at the Tahquitz Creek Gold Resort starting at 8 a.m., where $10 of your $99 entrance fee goes to the Pride Fund. In the evening, you can take in the sweet sounds of Irene Soderberg, the Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus and DJ D spinning ’80s tunes at the Stonewall Equality Concert. The free show kicks off at 6 p.m. and takes place at Forever Marilyn (125 N. Palm Canyon Dr.). Then head down to the Uptown Design District for an evening of art, style, design and dining at the Uptown Chill-Out. The Palm Canyon Theatre is hosting Miss Broadway in Drag starting at 8 p.m., which promises to delight, entertain and amuse.
Sat., Nov. 2 Does the Hot, Wet & Proud Pool Party at CCBC Resort really need an introduction? You get a day of sunshine, naked men, music and a drag show under the stars. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door. But pace yourself—the event goes from noon to 11 p.m. Justin David’s annual Desert Tea takes place from noon to 6 p.m. over at the Saguaro Palm Springs, a sure bet for sexy guys and a killer soundtrack. The OUT PSP Block Party is a free outdoor music and dance fest that will
showcase performances by DJ Josh Peace, The Cliks, Steve Grand and more, held at Forever Marilyn from 6 to 10:30 p.m. The doors to the Pride Festival at Palm Springs Stadium Sunrise Park kick open at 11 a.m. Tickets are $15 for a single day, $25 for two days. At the U.S. Bank Stage, performances run from 11:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. Check out Debora Iyall of Romeo Void at 2:45 p.m. and headlining band Berlin featuring Terri Nunn at 5:30 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 3 The 2013 Palm Springs Parade starts at the corner of Palm Canyon Drive and W. Baristo Road at 10 a.m. This year’s celebrity grand marshal is Ross Mathews, who you know and love from Chelsea Lately and now his own show, Hello Ross! High Tea at Forever Marilyn will showcase music by DJ/producer John LaPage, DJ Ray Rhodes, DJ Mistress and DJ Corey D, plus a performance by pop/dance duo Rowsy Bosch. Admission is $15, and the party runs from 2 to 8:30 p.m. A daytime drag party straight from our San Francisco brethren, Daytime Desert Realness will be wigging out from 1 to 6 p.m. at Alcazar Palm Springs (622 N. Palm Canyon Dr.). Back at the Pride Festival, make sure to see recent Frontiers cover models Hi Fashion performing at 4:40 p.m. and Double Duchess at 5:15 p.m. on the U.S. Bank Stage.
018-035 3213.qxd
10/24/13
4:56 PM
Page 33
A Desert Survival Guide WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE HITTING THE ROAD TO PALM SPRINGS By Michelle McCarthy
So you’re heading out to Palm Springs. This desert oasis has long been known as a sleepy town filled with chic art galleries, a shopping opportunity on every corner and boy bars galore. In other words, it’s SoCal’s gay Mecca. No wonder LGBTs make up almost 50 percent of its population. But make no mistake—Palm Springs is located in the desert and should be approached as such. (Just ask anyone who has braved Coachella unprepared.) We’ve pulled together a desert survival kit so you can get in, have fun and get out in one piece.
Keep Hydrated You’re in the desert. It’s going to get hot, then cold, then hot again. The best defense against this drastically changing climate is to keep a steady stream of fluids going—and by fluids we mean juice mixed with alcohol. Hunters (302 E. Arenas Rd.) was named Best Dance Bar by Palm Springs Magazine, and it prides itself on having a very long … happy hour—from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. That’s nine hours! If you’re looking for a local bar with good drinks and zero attitude, Toucans Tiki Lounge (2100 N. Palm Canyon) is your spot. The bar has a cal-
endar filled with events all week long, which you should check out online. Other desert bars worth your time and money are Streetbar (224 E. Arenas), SpurLine (200 S. Indian Canyon Dr.), The Barracks (67625 E. Palm Canyon Dr.) and Tool Shed (600 E. Sunny Dunes Rd.).
Sustenance We’ve read your mind—and first off, you’re twisted. Second, that’s quite an ambitious to-do list for only three days. You’ll need plenty of energy to fuel the weekend you have planned, and what
better way than to start with brunch? Cheeky’s (622 N. Palm Canyon Dr.) does it all so well, but make sure to sample the duck confit hash with poached eggs, bacon flight and huevos rancheros. Las Casuelas (222 South Palm Canyon Dr.) serves authentic and great-tasting Mexican food that will coat your stomach before or after the damage is done. You can get tried-and-true favorites or go for something a little different (e.g., pomegranate guacamole in the winter). Also try Pepper’s Thai (396 N. Palm Canyon), Wang’s in the Desert for deli-
cious Pan Asian cuisine (424 S. Indian Canyon Dr.) and Al Dente Trattoria Toscana (491 N. Palm Canyon).
Retreat from the Sun The Palm Springs landscape is littered with all sorts of melted items on the ground—melted to the point where you can’t tell what they once were. Tragic. So, yeah, it gets hot during the day. Thankfully, Palm Springs shops know that to attract customers, they’ve gotta crank the A/C. Take advantage of that free cool air and pick up a smart outfit in the process. You’re not too good for the old Desert Hills Premium Outlets, located in Cabazon, are you? (48400 Seminole Dr.) There you can find last season’s fashions at ridiculously cheap prices. Or take your fancypants over to the El Paseo Shopping District (found in Downtown Palm Desert), where you’ll find more than 300 shops and boutiques featuring designer fashions and more. We’re also fans of The River at Rancho Mirage (at the intersection of Highway 111 and Bob Hope Dr.) and the myriad of shops located in and around Downtown Palm Springs. NOVEMBER 12, 2013
33
018-035 3214.qxd
34
10/25/13
FRONTIERSLA.COM
5:05 PM
Page 34
018-035 3213.qxd
10/24/13
5:34 PM
Page 35
MOCA Exposed The L.A. museum welcomes an exhibit featuring the work of Bob Mizer and Tom of Finland
By Mike Ciriaco
estern artists have long considered portrayals of the ideal male physique to be a deserved focus of aesthetics. In Ancient Greece, Lysippos of Sikyon’s most recognizable sculpture, Apoxyomenos (aka The Scraper), depicts a nude athlete scraping oil from his body after exercising. The muscle-toned youth exhibits a chiastic stance echoed in nude male statuary through the centuries, most notably in Michelangelo’s most famous work, David. The idealized masculine image, however, isn’t confined to classical sculpture. Over the ages, portrayals of strapping, disrobed young men have featured prominently in paintings as well, evidenced by the oeuvre of Thomas Eakins, a 19th century Philadelphia-based artist whose work frequently showcased his male students sunbathing in the buff. The pendulum of art—like the history which produces it—constantly swings from liberalism to conservatism. Its blade regularly vacillates between an exaltation of the male form and the form’s condemnation. Often during these darker, sexually repressed eras, fields of creativity would suffer from suppression and censorship. During the Middle Ages, for instance, the Vatican castrated numerous statues, including the aforementioned Apoxyomenos, replacing statues’ phalluses with sexually neutral fig leaves.
W
LEFT: TOM OF FINLAND (TOUKO LAAKSONEN, FINNISH, 1920-1991), UNTITLED (FROM JUNGLE SEAFOOD STORY), 1972; PEN & INK, GOUACHE ON PAPER 8.63” X 6.94”; TOM OF FINLAND FOUNDATION PERMANENT COLLECTION #72.41, © 1972 TOM OF FINLAND FOUNDATION CENTER: BOB MIZER, PHYSIQUE PICTORIAL, VOLUME 11, NUMBER 4; MAY 1962; PUBLICATION; PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF BOB MIZER FOUNDATION, INC. RIGHT: BOB MIZER, PHYSIQUE PICTORIAL, VOLUME 7, NUMBER 1; 1957; PUBLICATION; PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF BOB MIZER FOUNDATION, INC.
NOVEMBER 12, 2013
35
036-055 3214.qxd
10/24/13
6:09 PM
Page 36
MOCA Exposed This mentality of unease towards homoerotic imagery permeated Puritaninfluenced American culture, and it was within a climate of homo-repression that artistic rebels like Bob Mizer and Tom of Finland flourished. Considered pioneers of the 20th century male nude, both artists will be showcased in The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles’ new exhibit, Bob Mizer & Tom of Finland, the first American museum exhibition devoted to the works of Mizer (1922-92) and Touko Laaksonen (1920-91), the man behind the Tom of Finland name. Curated by Bennett Simpson and guest co-curator Richard Hawkins, the MOCA show features a selection of Laaksonen’s iconic and masterful drawings, collages and books, juxtaposed with Mizer’s photographs, films and a collection of his groundbreaking magazine, Physique Pictorial. Presented in collaboration with the Bob Mizer Foundation and the Tom of Finland Foundation, the exhibit seeks a wider appreciation for Mizer and Laaksonen’s art, considering their aesthetic influence on generations of artists, both gay and straight, while also acknowledging the artists’ profound cultural and social impact, most importantly in providing open, powerful imagery of queer sexuality in an era of rapidly shifting attitudes towards homosexuality. “There’s a joyful, celebratory and sex-positive aspect to Mizer’s photographs and Tom’s drawings,” says Hawkins. “Both artists began working and publishing 20 years before Stonewall, so we know very clearly that they were ahead of their time. But I would like to think that they actually helped create a time.” In the 1940s, Bob Mizer carved a niche for himself by photographing young bodybuilders clad solely in posing straps—a precursor to the modern day ‘G-string.’ These black and white images would be used as evidence to convict Mizer for unlawful distribution of obscene material through the U.S. mail. At the time, implied male nudity wasn’t just taboo—it was illegal. The young photographer served a nine-month prison sentence at a work camp in Saugus, Calif. (now known as Santa Clarita). This hardship and oppression only served to stimulate his ambitions. 36
FRONTIERSLA.COM
BOB MIZER, PHYSIQUE PICTORIAL, VOLUME 16, NUMBER 4; FEBRUARY 1968; PUBLICATION; PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF BOB MIZER FOUNDATION, INC.
“I feel more strength now than ever before, but this strength, this driving energy, shall be carefully bridled and directed with wisdom,” Mizer wrote to his mother in a letter from the work camp. “My ambition is everything—pleasure, physical sensations mean nothing compared to great accomplishments.” Following his release, Mizer flaunted social mores and pressure from the law by founding the beefcake studio Athletic Model Guild as well as the magazine Physique Pictorial. It was within the pages of this periodical that Mizer’s destiny crossed that of Laaksonen’s. Adopting the pseudonym Tom of Finland for English-speaking audiences,
Laaksonen regularly contributed to Physique Pictorial, his artwork first gracing the magazine’s cover in 1957 with a drawing of muscular lumberjacks at work. These libidinous log-drivers are but one example of Laaksonen usurping archetypically heterosexual personae and recasting them in a homoerotic light. At the time, gay men were generally portrayed as effeminate in films and vaudevillian theater. Laaksonen challenged this narrow-minded, homophobic perspective by cultivating the homo-masculine potential of cops, cowboys, sailors and, most prominently, bikers. Laaksonen’s renditions of the latter are what inspired our modern day
leather movement. “Tom of Finland can be considered the forefather of the leather community,” says Hawkins, “in that he singlehandedly perfected—through his own meldings of the sexiest aspects of biker and military leathers—what we can now readily identify as leather and fetish gear. But, in addition to that, Tom was able to create characters who were devout and self-confident enthusiasts of gay sex without even a hint of shame. In that sense, the work can be considered militant … as well as hot.“ Laaksonen influenced American culture and vice versa. In the 1962 case Manual Enterprises v. Day, the Supreme Court ruled that nude male photographs were not obscene. As a result, soft-core pornography featuring fully nude males quickly eclipsed the merely suggestive beefcake genre. In turn, Tom of Finland was free to publish much more overtly graphic imagery, often exaggerating his figures’ musculature and genitalia. His fixation on muscle mass is the biggest difference between Laaksonen and Mizer. “If Tom of Finland was able to perfect a masculine-identified gay look— ’Tom’s Man’—Mizer was able to open up our perceptions about ideal bodies,” explains Hawkins. “While most of Mizer’s models were certainly toned, very few could actually be considered bodybuilders. I believe that if there’s a message to Bob Mizer’s work, it’s about total erotic democracy, as if he were saying, ‘Just about any guy’s hot with his clothes off, so why sit around waiting for the perfect one to come along?’” As a true Angeleno, Mizer adopted the Hollywood studios’ star system of the time. His Athletic Model Guild specialized in handsome, natural-bodied ‘boy next door’ talent as opposed to the era’s muscle-bound norm. “There’s a lot of the Hollywood studio system in Mizer’s work in particular,” says Hawkins. “Young actors step off buses from the Midwest, become ‘discovered’ and go on to enter the households and lives of fans worldwide.” Mizer photographed and filmed over 10,000 models—a roughly estimated 60 photos a day, seven days a week for almost 50 years—often featuring hunky young men popping bodybuilding poses or wrestling in pairs. Notable models shot within the Athletic Model Guild
036-055 3214.qxd
10/25/13
4:04 PM
Page 37
TOM’s Olli Rahkonen
BOB MIZER, UNTITLED [RAY HORNSBY, WITH SKULL STAFF]; LOS ANGELES, C. 1957; VINTAGE LARGE-FORMAT BLACK AND WHITE NEGATIVE, SILVER GELATIN PRINT, 8 X 10 INCHES; PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF BOB MIZER FOUNDATION, INC.
included Warhol protege Joe Dallesandro, Ed Fury, Glenn Corbett, Alan Ladd and California’s former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Mizer always presented a fresh-faced and free, unashamed and gregarious, totally natural and light-hearted approach to male nudity and intimate physical contact between men. For these groundbreaking perspectives in eroticized representation alone, Mizer ranks with Alfred Kinsey at the forefront of the sexual revolution. Mizer’s progressive vision was a trait he shared with Laaksonen. Harvey S. Shipley Miller—trustee of The Judith Rothschild Foundation, which donated five Tom of Finland drawings to the MoMA in 2006—lauded the Finnish artist, stating, “Tom of Finland is one of the five most influential artists of the 20th century. As an artist he was superb, as an influence he was transcendent.” Mizer and Tom of Finland have inspired several generations of artists, both gay and straight, including Kenneth Anger, David Hockney, Robert Map-
plethorpe, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Jack Pierson, G.B. Jones, Henrik Olesen, Mike Kelley, John Waters and Andy Warhol. In addition to influencing fellow creatives, Hawkins believes the works of these two visionaries paved the path for a considerably more homo-tolerant culture embraced by modern Americans. “A lot of advances on the road to a more liberated position in the world have been made by insisting—and stimulating— our erotic selves. Call it porn if you want, but it provided a lot of fuel for the rights that we enjoy today.” It’s the combination of Mizer’s and Laaksonen’s influence and courage that makes the Museum of Contemporary Art at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood an ideal venue for this unapologetic art show. “MOCA has a history of presenting innovative and forward-thinking programming, even in the realm of historical shows,” says Hawkins. “Since this show is—as far as I’ve been able to discover—the only focused ‘no holes barred’ look at the erotic
Tom of Filmland
Get ready to be tag-teamed by a pair of Tom of Finland biopics. The foreplay began when Finland’s Helsinki-filmi production company announced at this year's Toronto Film Festival that it would be making the first authorized film biography of Touko Laaksonen. Directed by a fellow Finn, Dome Karukoski— best known for Lapland Odyssey and Forbidden Fruit—the film begins shooting in December for a 2014 release date. It's Karukoski’s first stab at an English-language film. While Laaksonen and his work has been featured in previous documentaries—such as 1988’s Boots, Biceps and Bulges: The Life & Works of Tom of Finland and 1991’s Daddy and the Muscle Academy—this upcoming feature is the first to be authorized by the Tom of Finland Foundation. “We are working quite closely with the foundation,” stated Aleksi Bardy, a producer of the project, during an interview with Screen Daily. “It was very important for them that we wanted to respect the copyrights for his work. He has been pirated so much over the years.” Be sure to save some stamina for round two with a second Tom of Finland movie. TOM follows Touko Laaksonen as he finishes fighting in World War II and begins living a double life— an advertising artist and pianist by day, a creator of homoerotic drawings by night. The underdog project is currently raising funds on Indiegogo to meet its projected 2015 release. Find the very sexy teaser trailer at tinyurl.com/blul9yz.
NOVEMBER 12, 2013
37
036-055 3214.qxd
10/24/13
6:09 PM
Page 38
MOCA Exposed aspects of art since, perhaps, the Robert Mapplethorpe retrospective at the Whitney in 1989, I can’t imagine another venue being bold enough to host it.” Mizer’s and Laaksonen’s brazen attitudes earned them as much infamy as acclaim, evidenced by Mizer’s nine-month work sentence. Tom of Finland wasn’t without controversy either. Most notably controversial was Laaksonen’s erotic depiction of men clad in Nazi uniforms. These images form a minor percentage of the artist’s body of work and have been expunged from the most recent Tom of Finland anthologies. Still, the typically flattering visual treatment of these characters has led some viewers to infer sympathy or affinity for Nazism. Later in his career, Laaksonen disavowed this work and was at pains to dissociate himself and his work from fascist or racist ideologies. Another controversy involved Laaksonen’s habitual use of African-American men in his drawings. While these eroticized men of color bare no overt racial or political message in the context in which they appear, some commenters evoke similarities between these images and racist portrayals of the ‘hypersexual black male’ stereotype. Even the most cursory gleaning of Laaksonen’s works, though, reveal the artist attributed those same characteristics to Caucasian males. There is also considerable debate over whether his depiction of ‘supermen’—male characters with huge sexual organs and muscles—is facile and distasteful, or whether there is a deeper complexity in the work that plays with and subverts those stereotypes. Despite these controversies, the MOCA exhibition strives to acknowledge the profound cultural and social strides these artists’ work has made over the course of 50 years, especially in providing open, powerful imagery for a community of desires at a time when that was still criminal. Presenting the broader historical context and key aspects of Mizer’s and Laaksonen’s shared interests and working relationship, as well as more in-depth solo rooms dedicated to each artist, the exhibition establishes the importance of these legendary figures’ staggering bodies of work.
In addition to approximately 75 finished and preparatory drawings by Tom of Finland spanning 1947-1991, the MOCA show features a never-before-seen selection of Laaksonen’s scrapbook collages, as well as examples of his serialized graphic novels, including the legendary leatherman Kake. The exhibit also showcases Mizer’s ‘catalogue boards,’ Athletic Model Guild films and a complete set of Physique Pictorial magazines. An accompanying publication includes texts by the exhibition co-curators and a selection of images. While this MOCA exhibit displays the artistic and cultural achievements of Mizer and Laaksonen in an erudite and mature context, Hawkins points out that the innately erotic qualities of these works shouldn’t be sanded over. An unapologetic sexuality is important to acknowledge both within the confines of this art show as well as in gay culture as a whole. Lets face it—you can’t spell ‘homosexual’ without sex. “I think it’s worthwhile to remind America that not only do we gay people sleep in the same beds, we also have sex in them,” says Hawkins. “We always have. This show is about celebrating the sexual side of ourselves. My hope is that viewers will walk away undeniably turned on.” In the 21st century, an Athletic Model Guild film of two youths grappling carries equal artistic weight as Lysippos of Sikyon’s statue of a virile athlete scraping oil from his toned physique— and both are equally sexy.
Bob Mizer & Tom of Finland is exhibited at MOCA Pacific Design Center Nov. 2 - Jan. 26. For complete exhibit information and info on two panel discussions at West Hollywood City Council Chambers, go to moca.org.
38
FRONTIERSLA.COM
LEFT: BOB MIZER, UNTITLED [BARRY MAURER, HAND ON GUN]; LOS ANGELES, C. 1961; VINTAGE LARGE-FORMAT BLACK AND WHITE NEGATIVE, SILVER GELATIN PRINT, 8 X 10 INCHES; PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF BOB MIZER FOUNDATION, INC. CENTER: BOB MIZER, UNTITLED [DENNIS LAVIA SEATED IN GARAGE]; LOS ANGELES, C. 1964; VINTAGE LARGE-FORMAT BLACK AND WHITE NEGATIVE, SILVER GELATIN PRINT, 8 X 10 INCHES; PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF BOB MIZER FOUNDATION, INC. RIGHT: BOB MIZER, UNTITLED [LARRY LAMB, WITH TUMBLEWEED]; LOS ANGELES, C. 1959; VINTAGE LARGE-FORMAT BLACK AND WHITE NEGATIVE, SILVER GELATIN PRINT, 8 X 10 INCHES; PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF BOB MIZER FOUNDATION, INC. BOTTOM: TOM OF FINLAND (TOUKO LAAKSONEN, FINNISH, 19201991), UNTITLED (1 OF 4 FROM “CIRCUS LIFE” SERIES), 1961; GRAPHITE ON PAPER 12.25” X 9.75”; BOB MIZER/AMG COLLECTION, TOM OF FINLAND FOUNDATION PERMANENT COLLECTION #61.11, © 1961 TOM OF FINLAND FOUNDATION
036-055 3214.qxd
10/24/13
6:09 PM
Page 39
NOVEMBER 12, 2013
39
036-055 3214.qxd
10/24/13
6:09 PM
Page 40
PHOTO: TOKY PHOTOGRAPHY
Christopher Rice Visits the Supernatural Realm in ‘The Heavens Rise’
40
In the
FRONTIERSLA.COM
036-055 3214.qxd
10/24/13
6:45 PM
Page 41
W
hen New York Times best-selling author Christopher Rice was 9 years old, he dictated a novella to his aunt called The Day the Golden Gate Bridge Burned, which was heavily inspired by his love of Irwin Allen disaster movies from the ’70s. “Once I had dictated the whole thing, my mother came in and said, ‘The Golden Gate Bridge is steel. It can’t burn.’ I was absolutely crushed,” he recalls with a laugh. Most kids would be able to brush off the critique, but those kids’ mothers aren’t legendary gothic fiction author Anne Rice. Clearly, Christopher has recovered. And lest you think Anne has been anything but over-the-moon supportive of her son’s literary career, when she found out his second book, The Snow Garden, had debuted on the New York Times Best Sellers list at number 12 in 2002, she screamed so loud that she set off the burglar alarm in her home.
Christopher’s latest book, The Heavens Rise, is his first supernatural thriller, a subject near and dear to his mother’s heart. As such, and because it was released on Oct. 15, the same day Anne’s novel The Wolves of Midwinter was released, Christopher and Anne decided to join forces and venture out on their first book tour together. “We’ve accepted a few invitations in California over the past few years to be onstage in conversation, and it went really, really well,” Christopher says. “When people saw our dynamic together onstage, they thought we should take the act on the road.” Frontiers spoke to Christopher the day after the Rice clan made a stop in New York City, where more than 300 people showed up at Barnes & Noble in Union Square. He was prepping for an appearance in Saratoga Springs with another 300-plus eager fans later that day. In addition to the great publicity and opportunity to meet readers in the flesh, the tour has allowed the mother and son duo to spend some quality time together. “She lives in the desert now and I live in West Hollywood, so she’s only about two hours away from me,” Christopher says. “But this is probably the longest block of time we’ll have spent together in a while.” Christopher has a pretty good grasp on his fan base, but what’s been interesting on the book tour is the surprisingly high number of Anne’s fans who are buying his book. “There’s always a risk when you share the table with someone of her caliber that you’re just going to be sitting there watching her sign books,” he says. “And then every 20 minutes someone comes up with yours. But we’ve done a very high ratio of people, and lots of people are saying this is going to be their first Christopher Rice book. My fans—obviously the gay dudes—are all there, and I love that. That’s my core audience.” The gay dudes show up first and foremost because Christopher is wildly talented. But it doesn’t hurt that the out writer is easy on the eyes, endlessly charming and tends to incorporate LGBT themes in his tomes.
So what’s the feedback been like for The Heavens Rise? He’s received positive reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, British paper The Sun and horror writer Peter Straub right out of the gate. And his fans have been contacting Christopher on Twitter and Facebook to let him know they can’t put the book down. The Heavens Rise revolves around a parasite that bubbles up out of the Louisiana swamp. Exposure to this parasite gives you the power to control other people’s minds, but that power comes at a terrible price revealed later in the novel. “The book opens with a young woman, Niquette Delongpre, going out to her family’s property in the swamp with this guy,” Christopher explains. “She thinks her boyfriend is cheating, so she’s going to get back at him by sleeping with this guy. It turns out the guy’s psychotic, and they end up tumbling into this artesian pool that’s filled with this parasite, and they both get exposed. The jumping off point is this insane power enters the world, and it has infected a good person and a very bad person.” What inspires Christopher to sit down and write are news stories he can’t get out of his head. The Heavens Rise is a supernatural horror story with a sense of social justice to it. He says good horror and good thrillers have that burning issue that has captivated the author’s attention. “Even if the book appears to be about killer insects or zombies, there’s some deeper thing there that the author is poking at,” he says. “That’s what happens for me. I tried to generate concepts for supernatural books for years, and I always got stuck on the supernatural concept. I’d say, ‘Am I going to write a ghost story?’ And then in my head, I’d go around and around on the topic of ghosts. What happened was I found this character, began developing it and then discovered in the process that she had a supernatural ability.” While Christopher’s latest release expands from his past work in that it’s not expressly a gay book, you’ll still find LGBT themes incorporated in its tales. For instance, one of the main characters is an openly
gay journalist who works for an alternative New Orleans newspaper battling corrupt politicians. “It is a book with a gay man in it doing something other than looking for love and sex in New York City or San Francisco or West Hollywood,” Christopher says. “He’s part of the fabric.” Christopher was born in Northern California; his family moved to New Orleans when he was 10. He spent all his days there until he moved to Los Angeles in 2001, so he knows the Big Easy well and refers to it as “terminally unique.” But because The Heavens Rise takes place in New Orleans—and since he hadn’t been back post-Hurricane Katrina—Christopher needed to revisit his old digs to experience its new layout firsthand. “The devastation in the Lower Ninth Ward was shocking, and it’s still shocking,” Christopher recalls. “People are startled by how slow the recovery in those areas has been. What was startling was seeing how Uptown had changed because those people came back first. The changes in the public education system there were pretty dramatic—some of them for the better, some of them not. The political situation there continues to be very complicated, but it’s a city with great promise and great beauty, and there’s no other city like it in America. It needs to be defended for that reason.” Interestingly enough, according to Christopher, if he’d had it his way, he never would have become a writer. He was an avid reader and lover of literature in high school, but at that age, he just couldn’t conceive of entering into his mother’s industry. When he left high school, he was “Mr. Theater Guy” and was dead-set on becoming an actor. “I went to college and planned to storm their theater department—and they were not interested in being stormed,” he says. “I always thought I’d write plays that I’d perform in, and screenplays, and that I would be a big fucking deal. When I didn’t get called back for a single audition, which was devastating to my ego, I went to my dorm room and just started writing. And nobody could disrupt that connection. They had to stand between me and the computer.” Christopher Rice has come a long way since his first foray into writing—the tale of the bridge that could not burn—but the sage advice his mother gave him when he first started out still rings in his ears. “She told me to write the book that you want to read, not the book you think will sell or win an award. That’s the centering advice. It all springs from that.” Christopher and Anne Rice will be signing books at the Barnes & Noble at the Grove on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 2 p.m. The Heavens Rise is on sale now.
Blood
By Michelle McCarthy
NOVEMBER 12, 2013
41
036-055 3214.qxd
10/25/13
4:26 PM
Page 42
PHOTOS: ASTUDILLO-PHOTO.COM
It has been less than five months since marriage equality returned to California, but Frontiers Media already is getting in on the celebration by hosting a special event to help lesbian and gay couples navigate all of their wedding-planning needs. The Los Angeles Lesbian & Gay Wedding Expo will be held on Sunday, Nov. 10, at the historic Los Angeles Athletic Club at 431 W. Seventh Street in Downtown Los Angeles. “Frontiers Media was inspired to create this event because the community now needs its own highquality wedding expo. Until now, gays have been systematically excluded from the wedding industry. Couples want to work with people who they know are gay-friendly and supportive of marriage equality,’’ says David Stern, CEO of Frontiers Media, publisher of Frontiers magazine. “By signing up to exhibit at the expo, our wedding industry professionals are making a strong statement that they support our community and deserve our business.” Now that gay marriage is legal, the Los Angeles wedding industry is embracing lesbian and gay couples who wish to marry. Many gays and lesbians never even imagined they would be able to get married—now they are suddenly faced with navigating the frequently overwhelming task of planning a wedding. “When my partner and I talk about what our wedding will look like, the conversation ends with more questions than answers,” says Stern. “Fron42
FRONTIERSLA.COM
Exercise Your Right to Plan the Wedding of Your Dreams
By Lee Condon
tiers has been a trusted source for our community, so who better to produce an expo than us?” At the expo, couples will meet professionals who have planned gay weddings and can help them sort through choices about location, wardrobe and invitations, and what type of ceremony they want to host. The expo will be their one-stop shop for planning the wedding of their dreams in a supportive, festive, fun environment. The event will include breakout sessions relevant to the gay community, including panels about immigration issues, fertility and financial planning. Customized to the needs of gay and lesbian couples, this expo will set the stage for thousands of fantastic ceremonies. Tickets for the expo are $10 for general admission and $25 for VIP tickets. The VIP tickets include a special gift bag and complimentary top-shelf bar including signature wedding cocktails by Premiere Events. Please visit LAGayWeddingGuide.com for more information. Kristin Banta, a top Los Angeles wedding planner and longtime gay marriage advocate, said attending an expo is a great place for couples to meet wedding industry professionals all in one place. “Guests can expect to meet a wide variety of professionals who will be able to advise them on all facets of planning their wedding,” Banta says.
“They will meet vendors who can assist them in everything from selecting a location to choosing a caterer, determining entertainment options to obtaining a license. This is the perfect way to begin the process, all the while with a cocktail in hand— my personal preference, and the way all good things should begin.” Many gays and lesbians are involved in the hospitality and tourism industry, where we expect same-sex weddings to open an all-new and lucrative sector for the wedding planning industry and bring new jobs to the city. Whether their weddings are small, intimate events with a few friends or over-the-top extravaganzas, gays and lesbians in California are sure to have an enormous influence on the style and energy of all weddings. In June 2012, New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg released a city report that showed New York’s Marriage Equality Act had generated $259 million in economic impact on New York City alone. The economic impact survey was conducted by NYC & Company and the New York City Clerk’s Office. In January 2012, The Williams Institute issued a report estimating that the approval of gay marriage in Washington State would result in $88 million in wedding-related and tourism expenses in three years.
For more information about the expo, please visit LAGayWeddingGuide.com.
036-055 3214.qxd
10/24/13
6:10 PM
Page 43
Frontiers Wedding Guide
Announcing Our New Wedding Listings Tell the world about your engagement by publishing your announcement in our new weddings section! Three little words or 300—you decide! Include a photo with your annoucement to run in classic black & white for $70, or full-color for $80. See our form on page 87 for complete pricing, or give us a call: (323) 930-3220, ext. 412 To all you Planners, Caterers, Florists and DJs, let our readers know you’re available! List your wedding services in our new section and let the celebrations begin! NOVEMBER 12, 2013
43
036-055 3214.qxd
10/25/13
4:29 PM
Page 44
036-055 3214.qxd
10/25/13
4:29 PM
Page 45
036-055 3214.qxd
46
10/24/13
FRONTIERSLA.COM
6:10 PM
Page 46
036-055 3214.qxd
10/24/13
6:10 PM
Page 47
SOCAL EVENTS GUIDE
EVENTS
NIGHTLIFE
THEATER
EXHIBITS
go to FrontiersLA.com/Entertainment for more listings Tue. | Oct. 29
MEET THE BEEKMAN BOYS The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills This popular L.A. cheese boutique is celebrating the third annual American Cheese Month with an in-store appearance by past Frontiers cover models Josh KilmerPurcell and Brent Ridge, the makers of Beekman 1802 Blaak goat/cow-blend cheese, who star in The Fabulous Beekman Boys on the Cooking Channel. cheesestorebh.com Through Nov. 23
ENDGAME A Noise Within Endgame mixes beauty, vitality and wry humor in a devastating distillation of the human condition. The title of the play is taken from the game of chess and is a term used for the end portion of the game where very few chess pieces are left. anoisewithin.org Wed. | Oct. 30
STRIPPER CIRCUS
lenges of relationships and the often hilarious power of love. Through Nov. 2. annenberg theater.org Fri. | Nov. 1
CUB SCOUT Faultline One of the East Side’s most popular nightlife events returns with the November installment of its signature blend of rhythm and soul. DJ duo Critter Control—along with San Fran Den Mother Lady Bear— will have you dancing, cruising and drinking cheap draft beer. eaglela.com Fri. | Nov. 1
MACBETH St. Nicks Pub The Groundless Shakespeare Ensemble performs Macbeth as both audience and actors discover the play together while it unfolds, embracing the accidents and minor miracles that can only be found in live theater. Shakespeare is truly taken off the pedestal as the audience is encouraged to call out, answer their cell phones, order food and drink, completely ignore or thoroughly participate in the onstage action. groundlessshakes.com
Here Lounge You’ve never been to a party quite like this, with carnival games, WeHo’s cutest boys and chances to win cash and prizes all night long, now with more strippers than ever. $5. herelounge.com Fri. | Nov. 1
STANDING ON CEREMONY Annenberg Theatre New short plays conceived by Brian Shnipper make up the stories of Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays in a unique take on the moments leading up to ‘I do.’ Witty, warm and occasionally wacky, these plays are vows to the blessings of equality, the universal chal-
Fri. | Nov. 1
THE WICKER MAN Nuart Theatre This restored, definitive version of the 1973 thriller The Wicker Man tells the story of pagan worshippers on a remote Scottish isle who harbor a 12-year-old girl and resist rescue attempts by devout Christian cop Edward Woodward. landmarktheatres.com
GO-GO GOING FOR THE GOLD BY MIKE CIRIACO On Nov. 9, WeHo venerates the most unsung—and undressed—members of the gay nightlife community. Frontiers, the city of West Hollywood, the Tom of Finland Foundation, Visit West Hollywood and the gayborhood's collective bars and clubs have banded together to present the third annual Go-Go Dancer Appreciation Day Festival & Competition. The seven go-go finalists, who will be selected by Frontiers readers via an online competition at FrontiersLA.com/gogo2013, will duke it out in front of judges and a live audience on the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard at Larrabee for a chance to win $1,000, a Palm Springs weekend package and a Frontiers cover shoot. Hosted by Billy Francesca with music by Derek Monteiro, the event will also offer two other titles—West Hollywood Boystown Ambassador for the dancer who will best represent the city of West Hollywood, and the Embodiment Award: Fit & Firm for the dancer with the healthiest and fittest physique. Following the competition, Micky's will host an after-party beginning at 10:30 p.m. “Go-go dancers are a huge part of the revenue and draw for most of the clubs in West Hollywood,” says Francesca, adding, “The fact that the city of West Hollywood gets behind an event like Go-Go Dancer Appreciation Day
speaks volumes about how progressive we are as a community.” All of this year’s semi-finalists fill a specific niche within SoCal’s queer culture, which means they will each need an edge to bring home the crown. Francesca shares which traits he believes this year’s winner must possess. “In my seasoned opinion—as someone who go-go danced on the Niña, the Pinta and the Santa María—I think it takes a special mix of attractive and sweet and an ability to connect with people, not only when you are dancing but also when you are out and about. I know a lot of go-go dancers personally, and the guys I enjoy the most are the ones who mix sexy with funny.” As these competing studs are showcasing their buff bodies and senses of humor, DJ Derek Monteiro will be mixing the beats. To Francesca, this soundsmith perfectly rounds out the evening. “Derek has a great talent of reading the crowd. He and I love working together, as we both feed off the energy of the crowd and have fun. Derek spins at a lot of clubs in West Hollywood as well as VIP private parties, and I believe it’s his love of DJing and music, combined with being in tune with whatever crowd he is DJing for, that makes the night a great fun success—so get ready to dance!” Vote for your favorite go-go dancer now at FrontiersLA.com/gogo2013!
NOVEMBER 12, 2013
47
036-055 3214.qxd
10/24/13
6:10 PM
Page 48
SOCAL EVENTS GUIDE
Sat. | Nov. 2
Sun. | Nov. 3
#ENDHIV HOEDOWN
SIZE
The Abbey
Here Lounge
Join the #ENDHIV team for a Westernthemed tea dance at WeHo’s most infamous destination and support testing of the most promising new vaccine for AIDS in years. The evening will feature performances by some of L.A.’s most talented, including line dancing by Vicky Vox, a duet by roller cowboys Trey Knight and Mario Diaz and a transformed Country/Western-style Abbey. tinyurl.com/ltuu598
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. And because bigger is better, Billy Francesca hosts Size Queen from 4-7 p.m. tomwhitman presents.com
Sat. | Nov. 2
El Capitan Theatre
THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS Catch Tim Burton’s animated classic in Disney Digital 3-D with spine-tingling 4D sensory effects. And don’t pass up the sensational ‘making of’ exhibition in the theatre’s basement. elcapitan.go.com
Faultline
Sat. | Nov. 2
YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN Musical Theatre West In Young Frankenstein, Fredrick faces a dilemma after inheriting his grandfather's castle in Transylvania. Does he continue to run from his family’s tortured past? Or does he stay in Transylvania to carry on his grandfather's mad experiments reanimating the dead and, in the process, fall in love with his sexy lab assistant, Inga? Through Nov. 17. musical.org Sun. | Nov. 3
MODERN BEAR BOOK SIGNING Design 849 After their appearance in the weekend’s Pride parade, Modern Bear (bloggers, authors and culture gurus Travis Smith and Chris Bale) will host a book signing for their best-selling gay travel guide Guide for the Modern Bear. Join them for some furry fun, refreshments and treats. All types of critters welcome. modernbear.net Through Nov. 3
HUMOR ABUSE Mark Taper Forum This work by Lorenzo Pisoni delivers a tender homage to his perfectionist father, to the art and the discipline of comedy and to the magic of circus. At 2 years old, Pisoni was the youngest clown in the Pickle Family Circus, founded by his parents in San Francisco. He quickly learned that comedy is a deadly serious business. centertheatregroup.org
48
FRONTIERSLA.COM
Photos by Dusti Cunningham
Through Nov. 3
INFERNO: DAY OF THE DEAD At this post-Halloween installation of the East Side event, celebrate the birth (and inevitable death) of party creator Matt Scott. The night features brews from Stone Brewery, an art installation and traditional altars, a cigar bar, Dia de los Muertos face painting and photo booth, performances throughout the evening—plus lots and lots of ghosts. faultlinebar.com
» B BAR THURSDAYS | EAGLE L.A.
Tue. | Nov. 5
TWELVE ANGRY MEN Pasadena Playhouse Reginald Rose’s classic drama will be presented as the second production of the Pasadena Playhouse’s 2013-2014 season. The presentation will be comprised of a mix of African-American and white actors, with casting and the creative team not yet announced. Through Dec. 1. pasadena playhouse.org Tue. | Nov. 5
EVITA Blok 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 parties have featured guest appearances by the likes of Amanda Lepore and more. Free. facebook.com/evitalosangeles Tue. | Nov. 5
PLAY DEAD Geffen Playhouse This interactive production includes disturbing images and nudity and is inappropriate for the faint of heart. We’re so there. At the Geffen Playhouse, Todd Robbins hosts a look at life, death and everything in between, telling his story with the use of illusion and telepathy. You are never so alive as when you are scared to death. Through Dec. 15. geffenplayhouse.com
Find more photo albums — and additional photos from these events — at FrontiersLA.com/Entertainment.
036-055 3214.qxd
10/24/13
6:10 PM
Page 49
NOVEMBER 12, 2013
49
036-055 3214.qxd
10/24/13
6:10 PM
Page 50
SOCAL EVENTS GUIDE Thu. | Nov. 7
PART OF A COMPLETE BREAKFAST iam8bit Studios In a tribute to Saturday mornings full of cartoons, cereal and toys, iam8bit studios is hosting Ben Butcher’s first-ever solo exhibition. Butcher is a former Disney and Pixar artist whose art is influenced by everything from abstract expressionism to folk painting. This show is all about nostalgia for childhood treats like Cap’N Crunch, Star Wars and Scooby Doo. Through Nov. 17. iam8bit.com Fri. | Nov. 8
A CLUB CALLED RHONDA Los Globos L.A.’s most renowned dance party for music lovers is back. This time around, set a course for the nearest galaxy. For discounted entry before 10 p.m. to this interstellar-themed party, go to eepurl.com/GXLfj. Fri. | Nov. 8
GET YOUR PHIL DINNER & CONCERT PACKAGE DTLA The L.A. Phil has partnered with DTLA's best restaurants for an exclusive offer. Get a delicious prix fixe dinner followed by a concert featuring the world-class Los Angeles Philharmonic at Walt Disney Concert Hall—all for a special low price, including tax and tip. Tonight's featured restaurant is Le Ka. Reserve a spot at laphil.com/getyourphil.
ANGELS AMONG US Angels of Change launched in 2008 in response to the growing need for health care services among L.A.’s transgender youth. The organization showcases its youth members as positive role models through a yearly calendar, now in its sixth year thanks to the support of our city’s broad LGBTQ community. Accompanying each new Angels of Change calendar is a launch party and runway show including the year’s featured youth. The event, taking place in Hollywood, benefits the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Division of Adolescent Medicine for TransYouth Health and Development.
“Angels of Change is an event that empowers young trans and gender-non-conforming youth,” says Bamby Salcedo, the event’s project coordinator. “It is an event that needs to be supported by all of the community. This year the models thought of ‘Unifying the Rainbow’ as the theme for the runway show. We have to understand that our youth are our future, and we need to support and empower them. This year is promised to be better than ever, and the models are very excited that the LGB community in general will be supporting their efforts.” Head to the Angels of Change website for more info and to purchase tickets.
Angels of Change Calendar Release & Runway Show Saturday, Nov. 2 — 5-8 p.m. — Arena Nightclub — angelsofchange.net
Find more photo albums — and additional photos from these events — at FrontiersLA.com/Entertainment.
» BRUTUS | FAULTLINE |
50
FRONTIERSLA.COM
Photos by Rolling-Blackouts
036-055 3214.qxd
10/25/13
5:49 PM
Page 51
NOVEMBER 12, 2013
51
036-055 3214.qxd
10/24/13
6:10 PM
Page 52
SOCAL EVENTS GUIDE
CLASSIC PORN GROOVES AT MOCA
What do you think it means that the works of Mizer and Tom of Finland are being curated by a major cultural institution like MOCA? It seems to me that the last couple of decades of institutional support for queer arts have walked a path to display the integrity and intellect of queers—to show works that create universal understanding, archive the queer rights movement or show that queers aren't all trying to rape you or your children. Exhibitions like this one show us that times are changing for what needs to be hidden about queer culture in order for us not to be demonized. Eroticism has always been a major theme in art (see Venus of Willendorf), and frankly I am just happy we are starting to celebrate a bulge as much we have been celebrating tits for so long.
On Nov. 2, the Museum of Contemporary Art Pacific Design Center is presenting the first major museum exhibition devoted to the art and collaborations of Bob Mizer and Touko Laaksonen (Tom of Finland) in West Hollywood. As part of that program, MOCA has invited the history-minded San Francisco DJ collective known as Honey Soundsystem to host a special event. The collective’s own DJ P-Play, Jacob Sperber, sat down to talk with Frontiers about the importance of the forthcoming exhibit, their party plans and more. How did you become involved in the upcoming exhibit? We are presenting our own event at the Pacific Design Center on Saturday, Nov. 16, as part of the Bob Mizer and Tom of Finland exhibition—an ‘afterhours’ event at the museum from 6-8 p.m., which will feature Honey Soundsystem DJing live in the plaza in front of the museum. We will be honoring and celebrating the release of a new record from late great synthesizer legend Patrick Cowley. The music was originally featured in gay porn films from a Los Angeles production company called Fox Studio. Kim O'Grady, director of the MOCA store, found out
BY BRENDEN SHUCART
Patrick Cowley
about the record, saw the wonderful correlation of themes related to the release and the exhibition of erotic art being shown and asked us to put something together. We will be projecting film loops from the original ‘80s porn onto the PDC building alongside curated performances related to Cowley's work and life.
An extended version of this interview can be found at FrontiersLA.com. Honey Soundsystem’s After-Hours at the Museum event takes place in the plaza of the Pacific Design Center on Nov. 16. To hear a sampling of Patrick Cowley’s music, go to soundcloud.com/honeysoundsystem.
Find more photo albums — and additional photos from these events — at FrontiersLA.com/Entertainment.
» GUYS GONE WILD | THE ABBEY |
52
FRONTIERSLA.COM
Photos by Rolling-Blackouts
036-055 3214.qxd
10/24/13
6:10 PM
Page 53
NOVEMBER 12, 2013
53
036-055 3214.qxd
10/25/13
4:12 PM
Page 54
SOCAL EVENTS GUIDE
Fri. | Nov. 8
Through Nov. 10
NINE INCH NAILS
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL’S TOTEM
Staples Center You want to do what? To whom? Like an animal? Never claiming to be a gentleman courter, Trent Reznor is back with his boys who put industrial music on the map. Reznor’s gone from ’90s Lollapalooza-playing, Courtney Lovedating rocker to an Academy Award winner. We can’t wait to see what his latest incarnation looks like at the Staples Center. staplescenter.com Fri. | Nov. 8
FRESH CLASSIC FRIDAYS
Port of Los Angeles The trademark blue-and-yellow big top returns with an all-new awe-inspiring production, Totem. This Cirque du Soleil production and winner of New York’s Drama Desk Award is inspired by mythology and illustrates through a visual and acrobatic language the evolutionary progress of species. cirquedusoleil.com Sun. | Nov. 10
LOS ANGELES LESBIAN & GAY WEDDING EXPO Los Angeles Athletic Club
Eleven Nightclub
PHOTO: GARY KNIGHT
It’s one of the most popular nights in West Hollwood, with some of the city’s hottest man candy as well. The party features world-class DJs, dancers and pop artist performers, all of which makes for one hell of an entertaining night. eleven.la Fri. | Nov. 8
HOMO HARVEST
SEASONAL STEAKHOUSE SATISFACTION BY BRIAN PADGETT Voted DTLA’s best steakhouse by Los Angeles Downtown News, Nick + Stef’s has been delighting Bunker Hill diners for over a decade. Since assuming the restaurant’s executive chef position in 2010, Patina Group veteran Megan Logan shares her passion for high-quality fare and beverage pair-
Nick + Stef’s Steakhouse L.A. 330 S. Hope St., DTLA (213) 680-0330 nickandstefs.com
54
FRONTIERSLA.COM
ings. As one of the few U.S. restaurants with a displayed aging room on-site, patrons are afforded a glimpse of the dry-aging processes New York and rib-eye cuts undergo to guarantee optimal flavor. Steakhouse meals demand steakhouse cocktails, and from Tanqueray martinis to Gosling’s highballs, your inner Don Draper thirst is easily quenched. Chef Logan’s seasonal innovation is best experienced, however, through the lens of autumn’s most apropos libation—bourbon. The Nick + Stef’s Dare to Pair program allows diners to sample a range of premium bourbons with selections of gourmet sliders and seasonally rotating oysters. Through these pairings, both Logan’s gastronomic tenacity and the complexities of bourbon are unequivocal. Using only USDA Prime and Certified Angus Beef cuts, the carnivorous selections at Nick + Stef’s are superb. In addition to New York and ribeye cuts, both the 22-ounce porterhouse and filet mignon have garnered devoted followings. Noteworthy seasonal sides include an airy pumpkin gnocchi delicately dressed with candied ginger and the roasted butternut squash, served with a delightful mélange of fennel and pomegranate. In an effort to assuage carnivorous confusion and to help expand patrons’ palates, Chef Logan hosts a monthly Meat 101 class onsite at Nick + Stef’s. For $40, guests can explore the complexities of different cuts under Logan’s tutelage and learn about aging processes in an interactive setting. With heightened attention to the importance of pairings, Logan’s Meat 101 ‘students’ enjoy wines selected to complement their studies. The next Meat 101 course, exploring the differences between New York and rib-eye steaks, will be held Nov. 22. Reservations are required.
Spirit Studio A mix of music, spoken word, video art and interactive tasting ceremonies, Homo Harvest is centered around the themes of food, nature and the rituals of autumn. A paganfriendly atmosphere abounds, complete with a DIY glitter makeup station, gay cornucopia community altar and cruisy fire pit. Beverages available. Through Nov. 9. homo-harvest.tumblr.com Sat. | Nov. 9
FALSTAFF Dorothy Chandler Pavilion L.A. Opera presents a new production of Giuseppe Verdi's comic masterpiece Falstaff in celebration of the composer's 200th birthday. Shakespeare’s portly knight of Windsor hatches a plot to improve his love life by courting two different married women, thereby launching a flood of comic chaos and romantic misadventure. Through Dec. 1. laopera.com Sat. | Nov. 9
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK
Presented by Frontiers, this event is a celebration of our newfound marriage equality, providing grooms and bridesto-be in our community with LGBT-friendly wedding professionals to assist with planning the perfect wedding day. A carefully curated selection of exhibitors covering the entire spectrum of wedding preparation will be represented under one chic and elegant roof in Downtown Los Angeles. There will be gourmet food and wine tastings, fashion shows highlighting wedding party attire, handcrafted cocktails and music from local wedding DJs and bands, as well as panels and educational presentations. Find complete event info at LAgayweddingguide.com.
Tue. | Nov. 12
ALISON MOYET Club Nokia Who can forget the iconic cover imagery of Yaz’s 1982 release Upstairs at Eric’s? Since the duo’s demise, singer Alison Moyet has forged an impressive solo career (and continues to look hotter every year). She’s now touring in support of her latest release, The Minutes, and will be making a stop at Club Nokia. clubnokia.com
Electric Dusk Drive-In Best Picture nominee Raiders of the Lost Ark plays on the outdoor screen as Harrison Ford portrays the iconic archeologist and expert in the occult. Hired by the U.S. government to find the biblical Ark of the Covenant, Indy and his former flame, Marion, travel to Cairo to face Hitler’s henchmen and attempt to recover the Ark. electricduskdrivein.com
Through Nov. 16
THE LARAMIE PROJECT: 10 YEARS LATER Davidson/Valenti Theatre This work is the result of many interviews that took place surrounding the aftermath of Matthew Shepard’s brutal murder. Ten years after Shepard’s death, several members of the Tectonic Project returned to Laramie. What has changed in the town since that dreadful night? lagaycenter.org
036-055 3214.qxd
10/24/13
6:10 PM
Page 55
SOCAL EVENTS GUIDE
TURN UP THE HEAT
Thu., Nov. 7
Meet & Greet Hunters Nightclub This year’s contestants will be introduced, as will the competition’s judges, and the contestants will draw their numbers. 9-11 p.m. Fri., Nov. 8
As is tradition, the weekend following Palm Springs Pride is one for the desert’s leather-clad men and those who love them. Palm Springs Leather Pride will be held Nov. 7-10 this year, allowing those who head out to the desert to fit both Palm Springs Pride and Leather Pride into their trips. A full extended weekend of fetish gear, cocktails, cigar smoke and the crowning of Mr. Palm Springs Leather 2014 is planned. desertleatherpride.com
Formal Leather Dinner & Cocktails Rancho Mirage Country Club Tickets are limited for this yearly event, with preference to those who hold weekend packages. 6:30-10 p.m. Fri., Nov. 8
Back Lot Cruise Party/Leather Vendor Market Tool Shed Parking Lot Stock up on leather gear and have your fetish gear questions answered by the experts. 7 p.m.-2 a.m.
Sat., Nov. 9
Mr. Palm Springs Leather Contest & Silent Auction Palm Springs Convention Center Watch as the new Mr. Palm Springs Leather is picked by a panel of distinguished judges. Guest DJ Luc Benech will provide the event’s soundtrack. Doors open at 6 p.m., contest begins at 7 p.m. Sat., Nov. 9
Leather/Fetish Victory Dance Palm Springs Convention Center DJ Matt Consola (Bearracuda) will have the leather-clad masses dancing until the wee hours of the morning. Special guest performances by Brenda Reed and Vicki Shepard. 10 p.m.-4 a.m. Sun., Nov. 10
Pool Party/BBQ & Soaked T-Shirt Contest
Sat., Nov. 9
Cigar/Pipe Party & BBQ The Barracks Enjoy your favorite stogie or pipe and meet new friends. Wear your dog tag for special drink prices and a BBQ, compliments of The Barracks. Cigars sold by Maximus. 2-5 p.m.
Helios Resort The year’s brand-new Mr. Palm Springs Leather will host this clothing-optional event, sponsored by Elbow Grease. 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Find more photo albums — and additional photos from these events — at FrontiersLA.com/Entertainment.
» RASPUTIN | ROBERTSON |
Photos by Nareth Chuon
NOVEMBER 12, 2013
55
056-067 3213.qxd
10/24/13
6:37 PM
Page 56
ENTERTAINMENT
FILM
REVIEWS DALLAS BUYERS CLUB Starring Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto, Jennifer Garner Opens Nov. 1
****
Ron Woodruff (McConaughey), the protagonist at the center of the powerful Dallas Buyers Club, is an unrepentant Texas redneck—a homophobic, racist womanizer whose only concerns are bull-riding, hard partying and keeping his dick wet (we meet him in the middle of a threesome in a bull pen). It’s early 1985, and soon we learn along with Woodruff that’s he’s HIV-positive with 30 days left to live. ‘Denial’ is too soft a word to describe what he goes through, yet he rallies, determined to live, and the film is a tough-eyed testament to a selfish asshole who becomes an embittered hero. McConaughey’s nothing short of transformative; it’s his greatest screen work by far (and one of the best performances of the year). He’s matched in supporting turns by Garner, who brings her naturalistic empathy to the role of Dr. Eve Saks; Denis O’Hare, a slimy physician/bureaucrat stumping for the toxic AZT drug (and pharmaceutical company money); and, particularly, Leto as the transgender Rayon. Rayon’s tentative relationship with Woodruff is the center of the film, and Leto’s portrayal is heartrending without false sentiment. Big kudos to director Jean-Marc Vallée, and screenwriters Craig Borten and Melisa Wallack for their exemplary accomplishment. —Dan Loughry
GOD LOVES UGANDA Now showing
****
This bracing documentary about gay rights chronicles the insidious behavior of American evangelicals who come to Uganda to inspire a new generation of Africans. These missionaries impose their values and beliefs on African villagers and blindly espouse the ideologies of International House of Prayer senior leader Lou Engle. When they encounter Muslims in traffic, these Christian youths still try to talk with them about Jesus. God Loves Uganda also shrewdly addresses the country’s condom and abstinence campaigns to fight HIV and AIDS. When LGBT ally Bishop Christopher Senyonjo acknowledges that abstinence policies are not realistic, his message is juxtaposed with scenes showing that such campaigns are done to secure American financial support. The film also introduces inspiring gay rights activist David Kato, who was murdered in a hate crime and whose funeral is seen in the film being disrupted by protestors. They are contrasted with antigay activists David Bahati—who introduced a bill to parliament that would punish people who engage in same-sex relationships with jail or death—and pastor Martin Ssempa who riles up his congregation by showing and discussing explicit images of gay sex acts. The even-handed approach may make queer viewers’ blood boil, but God Loves Uganda is an important and potent documentary. —Gary M. Kramer
56
FRONTIERSLA.COM
RUNNING FROM CRAZY
SAL
Mariel Hemingway Opens Nov. 8
Starring Val Lauren, Jim Parrack, James Franco Opens Nov. 1
***
Addressing the “Hemingway curse” in particular and issues surrounding suicide/mental illness in general, Running from Crazy documents Mariel Hemingway coping with her family’s madness. Director Barbara Kopple’s film recounts Mariel’s struggles with parents who were drunk and dysfunctional, her sibling rivalry with Margaux and Joan (aka Muffet) and her efforts to find balance and happiness in her own life. When Mariel talks candidly and courageously about her sister Margaux’s wild behavior, the joy and pain of her first marriage and the sexual abuse she witnessed her father initiate, Running from Crazy is heartbreaking. But too much of this overlong documentary feels like a series of therapy sessions for Mariel and creepily voyeuristic for viewers. The home video footage and photographs—particularly interviews with Margaux and scenes of her with her family— are fascinating, and they emphasize the tragedy of a life cut short. However, the film offers no tangible solutions for suffering, just awareness along with the message that the stigma needs to be removed from mental illness and suicide. This is an important point, and Mariel proves to be a graceful spokeswoman, but Running from Crazy seems to fall short of its potential. —Gary M. Kramer
**
Not a biopic of Sal Mineo (Lauren) but more of a mood piece chronicling the last day of his life, Sal is more enervating than illuminating. The film, directed by Franco, eschews plot for a series of extended scenes— starting with a strenuous and sweaty shirtless workout—that create impressions of the actor’s life ranging from elegiac to tedious. Franco exasperatingly shoots much of Sal in close-up as if to scrutinize his subject and really emphasize his solitude and isolation. However, actor Val Lauren—who played the Pacino role in Franco’s Interior. Leather Bar.— largely remains inscrutable here. The film does have some hypnotic moments, as when Sal drives around West Hollywood in his car, but too often there are long, interminable passages. A health club sequence, an extended phone call and a pointless recreation of Mineo and Keir Dullea (Parrack) rehearsing P.S. Your Cat Is Dead! stretch out Sal; viewers may become impatient waiting for him to be murdered. Franco’s vague film asks audiences to piece together Mineo’s life from hints about dinner theater and film projects, as well as potential boyfriends and mentions of James Dean, but ultimately this film does not do its interesting subject justice. —Gary M. Kramer
056-067 3214.qxd
10/25/13
5:30 PM
Page 57
NOVEMBER 12, 2013
57
056-067 3213.qxd
10/24/13
6:37 PM
Page 58
ENTERTAINMENT
THEATER REVIEWS THE HOMOSEXUALS CELEBRATION THEATRE (ATWATER VILLAGE THEATRE) 3269 Casitas Ave., Atwater Village | Through Dec. 1 | celebrationtheatre.com Forced to leave its longtime Hollywood digs this summer, the Celebration Theatre temporarily sets up shop at the state-of-the-art Atwater Village Theatre, presenting the West Coast premiere of Philip Dawkins’ The Homosexuals—an ambitious comic drama that follows a group of gay male friends through the first decade of the 21st century. While seeming to emulate iconic works like Love! Valor! Compassion!, The Homosexuals lands with some laughs and some tears, but—despite a typically strong Celebration production— is frustratingly unoriginal in a post-Queer as Folk world. The play centers on Evan (Brian Dare), a 20-something Iowa boy who lands in Chicago in 2000 and quickly becomes part of a circle of gay friends who hook up, break up and hold each other up through a series of dramatic events in the
ensuing decade. Using reverse chronology, the final scene of the play shows us the fateful 2000 party where a wide-eyed Evan first meets the other characters. Reverse chronology is most effective when the opening scene establishes circumstances that leave us dying to know how the characters got there. Dawkins’ opening scene, however, is the weakest in the play. Set at a skating rink in 2010, Evan is ending his current relationship with Peter (Butch Klein), a substantially older theater director and the play’s token bitchy queen. Klein pushes too hard with Dawkins’ clichéheavy dialogue, and we are left wondering why Evan would have endured even a first date with this self-involved bloviator. The play gathers steam as it goes, particularly in the second act. Each scene moves back two years in the past, featuring Evan and one of the other char-
PHOTO: SEAN LAMBERT
acters in the circle of friends. This pas de deux structure is engaging, and Dawkins explores questions like whether gay men can be “just friends,” and whether younger gays owe anything to those who came before. The cast is mostly terrific, even if the usually dynamite direction of Michael Matthews feels a little perfunctory. The appealing Dare is excellent as the farm boy in the big city, charting his journey with charm and precision. Kurt Quinn is a standout as Michael, the reliable friend whose unrequited love for Evan is heartrendingly conveyed with a stroke of the hand or a nervous glance. Kelly Schumann delivers humor and humanity as the straight girl-
friend, and we wish we could see more of Matt Crabtree’s heartfelt Collin. Stephen Gifford’s flexible urban set feels slightly unfinished, but Allison Dillard’s costumes are perfect, even as they are shed easily and often. Dawkins is clearly a skilled writer. The stakes and territory covered just don’t live up to the play’s grand title. Some judicious trimming would allow for an intermissionless sweep through the decade, highlighting the most trenchant arguments, killing some darlings and leaving these homosexuals packing more of a punch. —Christopher Cappiello
WAIT UNTIL DARK GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE | 10886 Le Conte Ave., Westwood Through Nov. 17 | geffenplayhouse.com The 1966 thriller Wait Until Dark by Fredrick Knott (Dial M for Murder), now being revisited in a world-premiere adaptation by Jeffrey Hatcher, relies on a timelessly intriguing damsel-in-distress formula. In a tense showdown between a Greenwich Village housewife and some thugs who invade her home, the key twist remains the heroine’s blindness. This affliction proves both a weakness and a strength for her amid a battle of ingenuity and determination. In director Matt Shakman’s handsomely mounted and entertaining staging of this new version, the plot details don’t feel substantially different from the original material. Though the setting is switched from the mid-’60s to World War II era 1944, and the stashed loot that motivates a dangerous confrontation is now diamonds rather than heroin, the only truly noticeable change here derives from the spunky defiance of a feistier heroine. This 1940s gal has more of a women’s lib attitude than did Lee Remick 58
FRONTIERSLA.COM
in the 1966 Broadway original or Oscarnominated Audrey Hepburn in the 1967 film version. The narrative still includes several of Knott’s hard-to-swallow plot developments and coincidences. The conniving criminals rush in and out of the home of sightless Susan (The Newsroom’s Allison Pill) under different guises while her doting—but also possibly suspicious—husband Sam (Matt McTighe) is away. Gloria (Brighid Fleming), the bratty young girl next door, becomes a shrewd ally to Susan. Everything that precedes the intense climactic moments is still primarily a tease for the scene everyone came to see, telegraphed by the play’s title. Prior to that, the complex plot sometimes feels less than gripping. Shakman has elicited engaging performances, headed by Pill’s surprisingly funny and likable portrait of a woman who’s mad as hell and not going to take it anymore, as she uses wit and courage to battle her adversaries. Rod McLachlan
PHOTO: MICHAEL LAMONT
is effectively creepy as the ruthless Carlino, who we quickly discover is not the police officer he pretends to be. As his coconspirator, Roat, a menacing lout, Adam Stein gives a performance as chilling as the one offered by Alan Arkin in the film. Mather Zickel has good moments as Mike, who introduces himself as a former Marine buddy of Sam. Fleming is amusing as the precocious Gloria, and McTighe is capable in his mostly obligatory role. The famous confrontation at the end delivers the expected thrills. Credit for this goes to fight director Ned
Mochel, lighting designer Elizabeth Harper, Shakman’s staging and the actors who carry the action out with adeptness and precision. Also enhancing the production are set designer Craig Siebels’ appealing depiction of a brownstone apartment with an ominous winding staircase, and costumes by E.B. Brooks. Though this can’t be considered a major tweaking of a memorable potboiler, it should deliver the chills and thrills audiences will expect. —Les Spindle
056-067 3213.qxd
10/24/13
6:38 PM
Page 59
SEPTEMBER 3, 2013
59
056-067 3213.qxd
10/24/13
6:38 PM
Page 60
ENTERTAINMENT
MUSIC
Katy Perry Prism (Capitol Records)
**
REVIEWS
What a disappointment. After two pretty fantastic pop records— 2008’s statement-of-intent One of the Boys and 2010’s juggernaut, Teenage Dream—it seemed as if Katy Perry was one of the few commercial artists on the verge of ascending to the artistic ranks of, say, P!nk or Lady Gaga. (Like I said, on the verge, and I have my doubts about Lady Gaga, but that’s another story.) Perry is one of the few pop artists who provide maximum fun with actual content; that she often wraps it in music that’s as fluffy as a plushie makes it all the more enticing. Yet her latest, Prism, is much less than it initially sounds. It’s certainly sonically pleasing. She’s working here again with her bevy of producers—as well as Swedish knob-twiddler Max Martin—and hoping for a cross between Robyn and Sia (who contributes a co-write to one of the record’s better tracks, “Double Rainbow”). But self-reflection—due to her getting older (she’s almost 29!), her divorce from Russell Brand, whatever—doesn’t suit her. Neither does the mainstream and similar grooves that turn most of these tunes monochromatic. She knew better back when she was chasing her next threesome or kissing a girl. —Dan Loughry
Anoraak
MEN ft. JD Samson
Momus
Poliça
We Are Scientists
Chronotropic (Grand Blanc)
Labor (Men Make Music)
Bambi (American Patchwork/Darla)
Shulamith (Mom & Pop Music)
Business Casual (Dine Alone Records)
***
French artist/producer Anoraak (Frédéric Rivière) is best known for remixing Junkie XL, Neon Indian and Mika, and for dropping his luscious “Nightdrive with You” single in 2008. For his latest, Anoraak paints in bolder strokes, seamlessly blurring the edges of Italo disco, ‘80s-inspired synths and sepia-toned French electro. Tightening things up a bit with more confidence, Chronotropic aces it by combining carefully measured pop tropes with taut, syncopated disco beats and heady keyboard washes that keep things locked down, resulting in his most sophisticated outing yet. He also handles all vocals with aplomb, most notably on opening track “Behind the Shades” and the stuttering “Hello Again.” Though we’re heading into the cold winter months, these 11 tracks gleam with warmth and sunlight, especially on the uptempo and airy “Made Up” and the jaunty lead single “Morning Light.” Even some of the downtempo, languid or instrumental tracks (“Sunrise to Sunset, “Falling Apart”) make for cinematic soundscapes and a seductive listen. Though his output is definitely very ‘80s-leaning, he’s able to modernize it with the same joie de vivre you’d expect from fellow French counterparts like Alan Braxe, Sébastien Léger or Breakbot. C’est si bon, Monsieur Anoraak. —Paul V.
60
FRONTIERSLA.COM
****
You most likely know JD Samson as the cute boy with the mustache and thick eyebrows in Le Tigre (RIP). Of course, JD is no boy (or man)—she just likes playing one as a self-described “lesbian, feminist electro-punk artist” in all she procures. On her latest with her Brooklyn-based collective known as MEN (there she goes again!), she has truly outdone herself. When she sings “I love you so deep it goes all the way through” (on the A Guy Called Gerald-inspired “All the Way Through”), she’s truly describing just how wholly infectious this entire sophomore disc is. Not only are her lyrics strikingly personal and Sapphic, but she has mastered the art of crafting earworms. From the electrothrobbed, wobblebass strains of “Club Thang” and “Neon Poles” to the bursting-atthe-seams indiepunk pogo of “Semenya,” “Take It Away” and the latest single, “Making Art,” Samson’s songwriter prowess is more obvious than ever. Speaking of which, a common lyrical meme here is making and sharing art with peers, and how a collective body of artists supporting other artists is unstoppable. This is also showcased on opening track “Power Strobe,” where JD finds strength in “Filling up our body parts with our art.” Simply stated, this is an A+ worthy record. —Paul V.
***
**
Bambi is roughly the 25th studio LP from Scotland’s Nick Currie (aka Momus) in so many years. It’s tempting for prolific artists to repeat themselves, but not so for Momus. He goes through periods, inventing genres (Analogue Baroque, anyone?) and exploring them for all they’re worth. It seems Momus has opened a new chapter with Bambi. Throwing out most of the synths and electronics that typify his work, Bambi is an album of tape loops, distorted vocals and mandolin solos. It’s not for everyone, and in fact it might be Currie’s least commercial LP to date. While it’s far from the dissonant mess that is, say, Metal Machine Music, it has a lot in common with that notorious Lou Reed LP. It’s not until we get to track five, the beautiful “Love Isn’t a Right,” that something finally feels like a proper Momus song. A handful of gems pepper this 14-track album, most notably “Kinsky Gets Angry” and “Crispbread Pagoda.” Unfortunately the production on this LP is shoddy. The bass is mixed way too high, and the vocals, too, and distortion effects are used too liberally. It’s exhilarating, though, to watch Momus construct and then deconstruct a genre on one disc. If only it was a little catchier.
I don’t think a debut record was ever better named than the Minneapolis band Poliça’s Give You the Ghost. The release, wellreviewed, was spookily amorphous—an electronic work high on atmosphere, effects and technological prisms that made things sound as if the record was being transmitted from beyond the grave. What it lacked, to my ears, were actual songs—it worked more as a complete composition than as individual pieces. The group’s sophomore follow-up, Shulamith, is nowhere near as willfully strange. In many ways, it’s a conventional work—12 gently soulful electronic tracks similar to other bands such as Rhye or Washed Out. Vocalist Channy Leaneagh is strong here; her vocals are front and center, expressive. She’s so good that you practically don’t notice when Justin Vernon from Bon Iver shows up on “Tiff.” In addition, the lyrics are less abstract than before. On “I Need $,” the content couldn’t be clearer. Yet while it’s great to acknowledge the band can do ‘normal,’ the band is also underwhelming. The songs fade from memory long before they’re actually over, and for sheer soul, I’d rather listen to London Grammar’s debut If You Wait or Rhye’s Woman.
—Dominik Rothbard
—Dan Loughry
***
There are few things as frustrating as watching a good band go through an identity crisis. There is a need in the music industry to never repeat your last album. For many bands, this is a fun exercise. Unfortunately We Are Scientists is a band currently lost, trying to recapture what made earlier albums so much fun and enduring. Buisness Casual opens with the rocking “Dumb Luck,” which throws a sheen of distorted guitars over one of the band’s most tuneful tracks, nearly obscuring its intelligence. “Good Answer,” softer and more nuanced, suggests the band has more success with mid-tempo ballads these days than it does with radio-friendly rock. Lead single “Return the Favor” is another mid-tempo track, with hints of Editors, but that’s not to say the Scientists have gone all ‘gloom and doom’ on us. Keith Murray’s bright vocals still remain the best argument for We Are Scientists, and the sometimes-too-clever lyrics have been shaded down to the right amount of clever. Business Casual ends with a tepid cover of “Take My Breath Away,” which only serves as a reminder that Berlin has better songs. There’s nothing groundbreaking here, but plenty to please We AreScientists fans. —Dominik Rothbard
056-067 3214.qxd
10/25/13
4:21 PM
Page 61
NOVEMBER 12, 2013
61
056-067 3213.qxd
10/24/13
6:38 PM
Page 62
COLUMNS
“Sometimes the best thing you can do for your career is die.” —Cher tells David Letterman the positive side of a performer dying young. Well, it’s too late for that.
Didya know the fabulous Patti LuPone was just in town? She was brought out by producer Mark Cortale, who struck gold when pairing La LuPone with the irrepressible personality and pianist Seth Rudetsky at the Provincetown Art House. Seth interviews Patti and then they sing songs—the catch being that Patti has no idea what Seth will ask her to answer ... or sing. So each show is different. In fact, the two sold-out shows at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica had only one duplication (“Ya Got Trouble” from The Music Man). LuPone never disappoints and actually was in better voice for the second show. She clearly trusts Rudetsky, who knows how far to push the diva and how to sit back and milk a moment. The pairing is pure magic, so catch them if you can. They have upcoming gigs in New Orleans and Fort Lauderdale. Or you can see the famous P-Town show at SethTV.com. By the way, look for more stellar soloists at the Broad Stage with Mr. Rudetsky, including Sutton Foster (Feb. 22) and Chita Rivera (March 29). You can get more details at TheBroadStage.com. Another act from the P-Town Art House will be showing up in our locale—the tasty and talented singing string quartet Well-Strung will be adding a bit of class to the holidays at Rockland in Hollywood on Dec. 30 and Martinis Above Fourth in San Diego on New Year's Eve. Check out the group’s website at Well-Strung.com. Two years after announcing that Mariska Hargitay would be getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the event is finally happening on Nov. 8. What was the hold up? As with many things, it was location, location, location. It took a little maneuvering, but Mariska’s star will be right next to the one honoring her mom, Jayne Mansfield. I’m not sure who had to be moved—probably someone like a Sebastian Cabot or Imogene Coca.
Lorna Luft and Liza Minnelli
62
FRONTIERSLA.COM
While we were in the midst of the government shutdown, some good news came from a federal agency. The U.S. Post Office (which is virtually self-sufficient) just announced they will issue a Harvey Milk stamp sometime in 2014. Lee Daniels is riding high after Precious and The Butler (to say nothing of Nicole Kidman peeing on Zac Efron in The Paperboy). But it’s his next project that has us excited. He’s in the midst of developing an “interracial love affair action movie” which he describes as Mr. and Mrs. Smith but with two good-looking
Zac Efron in That Awkward Moment
guys—who just happen to be gay (a fact revealed matter-of-factly at the end). As for casting, Daniels said, “Alex Pettyfer is in it, but I have to find the right black guy opposite him. He’s so hot, isn’t he? So hot. And so aware of his hotness in a way that’s so ... I love him to death.” Keep it in your pants, Lee. Although That Awkward Moment doesn’t open until Jan. 31, the Zac Efron comedy has already generated quite a bit of buzz. My hunch is that everyone is gleefully anticipating the scene where he accidentally takes a Viagra and has to deal with an endlessly throbbing hard-on. If I had a nickel for every time that’s happened to moi... But back to Zac—if it weren’t for the photos from that scene on BillyMasters.com, I wouldn’t even mention it. Quite a few performers have been raising funds for worthy causes. Lorna Luft’s Pink Party at Birdland in NYC was a benefit for various women and cancer causes as administered through the Actors Fund. In fact, they did two shows—a week apart—and raised close to a quarter of a million bucks! I’m sure many people show up just to see Lorna reuniting onstage with sister Liza Minnelli, who performed in a sling. I once performed in a sling— obviously to numerous standing ovations and generating an orgasmic reaction. Liza’s sling was on her arm, because she had fallen and broken her wrist. But in
Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness
the tradition of the Luft-Minnelli-Garland-Gumm household, the show must go on. And it did. Meanwhile, Hugh Jackman was on the West Coast performing his one-man show as a benefit for the Motion Picture & Television Fund. This très exclusive event brought out a number of usual suspects who would be interested in a hot guy singing show tunes. People like Robbie Rogers, Darren Criss, Kristin Davis, Barry Diller (with Mrs. Diller-von Furstenberg), Michael Kors, Cybill Shepherd, Octavia Spencer, Carole Bayer Sager and Tom Cruise. The event, which took place on Jackman’s birthday, raised nearly $2 million for the charity. Bravo! While Jackman was onstage at the Dolby Theatre, I was performing in Downtown L.A. at the Nokia with the glorious Jenifer Lewis at Sheryl Lee Ralph’s Divas Simply Singing. This is the longest continuously running AIDS fundraiser in the country. Over the past 23 years, the stunning Sheryl Lee has not only raised countless dollars for the fight against AIDS but also brought together some amazing artists. This year we had Martha Wash, Amber Riley, Karyn White, Kelly Price, Alex Newell and many more. Just before we walked onstage, Jenifer casually mentioned that she asked the band to join in our performance. This meant I’d not only be playing the piano but also leading the band—with no rehearsal! One of the joys of the Divas show is that all of the performers are in the wings cheering you on. So we just went out there and worked it. You can see the results on BillyMasters.com. Because of my responsibility to Divas, I wasn’t able to attend the wedding of Greg Louganis and Johnny Challiot. The ceremony took place in Malibu and was attended by a number of celebrities— including Bruce Vilanch and Barbara Eden (forever squelching rumors that they are the same person). The couple
got engaged in April and met just about a year ago ... on Match.com! See? The internet’s not just for hooking up for hot sex (or for looking at hot sex on BillyMasters.com). This leads perfectly into our “Ask Billy” question. Josh in New Hampshire writes: “I heard that a bunch of nude photos of Scott Evans are floating around. True? Can you track them down?” Scott (the openly gay younger brother of hunky Chris Evans) has had some success on the small screen, most notably One Life to Live as well as guest spots on White Collar and Law & Order. Alas, he’s also known more recently for a drug bust, and now this latest scandal. Scott’s photos appear to have materialized from his profile on an online ‘dating’ site. Since they show him from virtually every angle, I can attest that he’s looking mighty fine. Since the Evans pics have passed the analysis of our experts, I feel safe in sharing them with you at BillyMasters.com. Lastly, Mario Lopez recently found
Mario Lopez
himself in a tight spot in Las Vegas. While getting into the limo, the entire back of his pants split open. Being a pro, Lopez handled this the only way he could—by leaning on his back, legs spread in the air and exhibiting his torn tush for a photo. Which, of course, will turn up you-know-where. When guys are bending over backwards to get me to write about them, it’s definitely time to end yet another column. Naturally, you can find all of these men (and then some) on BillyMasters.com, the site that is bursting at the seams. If you’ve got a question or concern that I can address, send it along to Billy@BillyMasters.com and I promise to get back to you before Cruise joins Jackman for a spirited rendition of “You’re the Top!” So, until next time, remember, one man’s filth is another man’s bible.
056-067 3214.qxd
10/25/13
4:22 PM
Page 63
COLUMNS
ILLUSTRATION BY
GLENHANSON .COM
DIM SUM AND THEN SOME The most popular song in America right now is a shameless love song to Szechuan cuisine called “Chinese Food,” sung by a 12-year-old little blonde girl named Alison Gold. (With that last name, I’m assuming she’s Jewish, and you just know how “those people” love Chinese food, right?) I don’t want to say the song is bad, but it makes one-shitwonder Rebecca Black’s “Friday” sound like “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Why am I so bitter? Because over 20 years ago I wrote a song called “Chinese Food,” too! Mine was sung to the tune of David Bowie’s “China Girl,” and unlike Alison’s racially insensitive music video (which has been viewed over 9 million times), it does not mistakenly include Japanese things such as Geisha girls. Idiot. Here are the lyrics to my superior song. Please feel free to sing it next time you’re at karaoke. CHINESE FOOD Oh oh oh oh oh oh – Give me Chinese food Oh oh oh oh oh oh – Delicious Chinese food I could escape this hunger, with some Chinese food I feel a wreck without my delicious Chinese food I’m craving Chow Mein with crispy noodles And lots of soy sauce dripping down I’m a mess without my take-out Chinese food Wake up in the morning, where’s my leftover Chinese food? I want Pork Egg Rolls and Kung Pao Chicken With Tsingtao beer to wash it down I’m feeling starving like I’m Mahatma Gandhi When I go out for Chinese food One hour later and I’m once again hungry
When I go out for Chinese food Spoken: Of all the wonderful and exotic things on the menu, my favorite has to be the spare ribs, but remember ladies, the ironic thing about ribs is the more of them you eat the less you can see of your own! I go to Chinatown and order a whole cow Visions of Sizzling Beef in my head, rice for everyone! Bring me some Shrimp with Snow Peas... Prease! My little Chinese restaurant you shouldn’t mess with me I’ll ruin everything you are Your sign says for five dollars, it’s all that I can eat I’ll put you out of business, can’t you see? So when you see me coming, blow out your Chinese lanterns Oh, baby, just you shut your doors “Shhh. Act like we closed, maybe she go away Shhh. That white bitch was here for five hours yesterday!” Spoken: The other day I ordered some Chinese food to be delivered, and guess what I found in the bottom of the bag? Six sets of chopsticks and six fortune cookies! Do you know what that means? It means they think I’ve ordered enough food for six people! But that’s not true. I just like finger foods! So when you see me coming, blow out your Chinese lanterns Oh baby, just you shut your doors Yeah, if you see me coming, turn off your neon sign Oh baby, just you lock that door “Shhh. Here come big white girl named Jackie Beat.” They say... Shhh. She gives new meaning to the words “All You Can Eat!” NOVEMBER 12, 2013
63
056-067 3213.qxd
10/24/13
6:38 PM
Page 64
COLUMNS
DRIVE By Steve Siler
2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA250: What Price Class? When gays think of Mercedes-Benz, most of us envision glamorous, spacious luxury cars with Autobahn-storming performance and bank vault solidity, so many a plucked eyebrow has risen at the idea of Mercedes offering its all-new CLA class for an eye-poppingly cheap starting price (for a Mercedes, anyway) of $29,900. On paper, the CLA is the stuff hipster dreams are made of—a message put forth in Mercedes’ famous Super Bowl ad wherein a starry-eyed 20-something declines an offer to sell his soul to the devil (played by the inimitable William Dafoe) since he could afford the car himself. First, it’s gorgeous, with a broad, low nose, swoopy “four-door coupe” roofline and banana-shaped body contours much like its sexy big brother, the CLS class. It also has a powerful turbocharged fourcylinder engine, a seven-speed paddleshifted transmission, sophisticated infotainment screen (which looks like an iPad Mini perched up on the dashboard) and incredible mpg ratings of 26 city/38 highway/30 combined. That said, our little hipster may need to ask for a raise if he wants to turn his CLA into a true dream ride. In the metal, the $30K CLA feels like ... well, exactly what you’d expect a $30K Mercedes to be like. It’s got solid bones but is conspicuously missing certain niceties any Mercedes would feel incomplete without, including dual-zone climate control, a sunroof, navigation, LED running lights, a rearview camera, auto-dimming mirror and programmable garage door opener. All of that (and much more) is available as options, of course, but to add it all, you’ll be pushing $40K, not $30K. The
64
FRONTIERSLA.COM
good news is that, at $40K, the CLA feels convincingly upscale and, indeed, worth the money, especially if you order the panoramic sunroof that pours light into what is otherwise a somewhat claustrophobic interior. The CLA’s dirty little secret is that, like a Honda Civic or a Toyota Corolla (and unlike nearly every other MercedesBenz), it’s a front-wheel-drive car, though fortunately its performance is more akin to a grown-up VW GTI than some bargain econocar. Steering quality, handling and high-speed stability, for example,
exhibit typical Teutonic stability. And despite being powered by only four cylinders, this thing’s got puh-lenty of scoot. (Thank you, turbocharger.) Now, if you really want to splurge, you can add beautiful LED running lights and taillamps as well as a sport package with gorgeous 18-inch wheels and aggressive body kit. Loaded to the gills, the CLA250 can top $43K, which is kinda steep for a small, front-wheel-drive anything. But for that kind of money, you get a sexy and fuel-efficient Benz that really puts the ‘CLA’ in ‘CLASS.’
By the Numbers 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 Price as tested (incl Dest) Styling Engine Handling Interior décor Quality Interior space Cargo Space Parkability EPA fuel economy, city/hwy
$43,245 ##### ### #### ##### #### ### ##### ##### 26/38 mpg
What a Concept! Cadillac’s arrestingly beautiful Elmiraj concept coupe stole the show this year at the Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance. While there is virtually no possibility it will make its way to production in the exact form you see here, it’s likely that Cadillac’s long-rumored flagship super-sedan—expected to push six figures—would take a lot of its styling cues from this car. In the meantime, feast your eyes and cross your fingers that Cadillac will green-light a flagship model that looks darn close to this. Bravo!
056-067 3213.qxd
10/24/13
6:38 PM
Page 65
COLUMNS
TOYS, BOOKS & BLISS It all began almost 18 years ago in a vestibule of St. Thomas the Apostle Church on Hollywood Boulevard. Just 50 of us showed up with toys, a few bottles of wine, some plastic cups and an intense desire during that holiday season to comprehend something that was ultimately incomprehensible. At the time, a number of us had become quite familiar with the historic gothic parish via its seemingly never-ending procession of memorials and services for friends and family felled by AIDS. During those dark days I once mumbled through three eulogies in one week at St. Thomas. We gathered that cold December afternoon almost two decades ago not in the name of sacramental meditations or to lay sorrow, life, guilt or love to rest. No, this time this flock of collected souls had come together in celebration. It was the creation of Toy Box Party. A simple gathering of like-minded folk determined to bring a little joy and some form of light to families and friends, brothers and strangers directly affected by HIV/AIDS. Sweet New York City real estate maven Robby Browne had created the bash on the East Coast and friends Alan Friel and Curt Sharp imported it to our hamlet. The idea was uncomplicated. Invite friends to come together during the holidays for a festive bash that lives to give back. From day one the total price of admission to our Toy Box Party has been simply showing up to the shindig with an unwrapped toy to be gifted to local families living their lives with HIV/AIDS. It’s that simple. Think back to your gifts under the tree—the joy, warmth and even security they laid on you. You are capable of offering that same happiness to some local people who will bask in your giving and just for a moment smile and savor this holiday season. Toy Box Party is love in action, and I want you involved. The client families of AIDS Project Los Angeles are the beneficiaries. Our 18th Annual Toy Box Party is set for Sat., Dec. 7 from 4-8 p.m. in West Hollywood. We are hoping for 1,000 celebrants. HBO is our presenting sponsor this year. Bring a toy, have a drink, hug a friend, meet some new ones and hit the hay that night knowing your account in the bank of karma is rich and full. For all the stuff you need to know, check out our Facebook page, under ‘18th Annual Toy Box Party.’ Please share the invite with all your friends and family. Happy Holidaze! See you at Toy Box! In other news, I’m rarely temped to read a book based on a review. If a pal who can generally conjugate tells me to check something out, it is much more likely that I will on that prompt than being persuaded by anything James Wood at the New Yorker spouts on about. Having now negated the concept of reviews from strangers, I inexplicably toss to you two new books I really want you to read. Christopher Rice is a gift from exquisite literary pedigree, his mom being Anne Rice and his dad the late poet Stan Rice. Lots of kids come from purebreds and develop into dregs, yet this three-time New York Times best-selling author delivers again with The Heavens Rise, a chilling, dark, captivating yarn that continues his string of awesomely written novels. I loved Chris’s A Density of Souls, and The Heavens Rise returns the author to New Orleans in this great, shadowy, intense thriller. It wasn’t a friend who pushed me to this one—it was Chris himself. His Facebook posts and his weekly whacked-out live online comedy romp with pal Eric Shaw Quinn—titled The Dinner Party Show—constantly demonstrate what a special and unique voice our neighbor owns. Also on my must list is my pal Kergan Edwards-Stout’s new collection of tales of holidays, Gifts Not Yet Given. I loved Kergan’s first novel, Songs for the New Depression, and once again he delivers compassion, sincerity and a warm honesty in his writing that I just treasure. Plus, hell, one excellent piece is called “Festive Beaver.” Kergan was honored as one of HRC’s Dads of the Year in 2011. He and his partner Russ are raising two beautiful boys. Gifts is a stunning compilation from a smart and skilled author. Hit the party and read the books, ‘cause you know the time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time! Toys + Books = Bliss
NOVEMBER 12, 2013
65
056-067 3214.qxd
10/25/13
4:23 PM
Page 66
COLUMNS
Queersay CASH BACK QUEENS
$1 MAKES YOU HOLLER
Sugar daddies, beware—the house bois of West Hollywood are getting smart! (Well, as smart as an uneducated 18-year-old country bumpkin who fell off a turnip truck can get.) You see, I spent last Sunday brunching with what I call my Kept Coffee Klatch—a gaggle of barely legal gays who live in Hollywood Hills mansions with entertainment executives old enough to be their granddaddies. The boys and their benefactors have an understanding— the granddaddies pay the bills while the young lads grab their ankles and pray for daylight. (Don't judge—it is, after all, the Los Angeles way!) One of these boys is planning for a ‘rainy day’ (also known as the day he turns 30 and inevitably gets recycled), squirreling away a secret nest egg. Over our drag queen brunch at Hamburger Mary’s, he told us his dastardly, underhanded plan to steal away some of his granddaddy’s dough, and it is utterly delicious. So he spills:
Baby kittens, Pomeranian-Yorkie puppies, the sale racks on Rodeo Drive— yes, few things are as cute and adorable as a Sunday afternoon Abbey stripper, especially the six-packed, bubble-butted, bottle-blonde variety! While I can pontificate and profess to love them for their ballet-trained pointed toes and Mensa capabilities to remember all the lyrics to Britney Spears’ “Work Bitch,” let’s get real! At least I know the WeHo rules of etiquette when it comes to stripper stalking. Stare all you want while those gyrating go-go boys dry hump the air, but if you’re going to saunter up to their platform and steal a feel, you’d better have (at least) a one-dollar bill ready and willing to go from your wallet into his jockstrap. It’s queer common sense! One of WeHo’s dumpy daddies ain’t playing by the rules, and the bar’s most spank-bankable stripper ain’t having it. He kvetched to me—off the record and off the pole, of course:
Basically, I told [my sugar daddy] that I wanted to start contributing to our relationship more by doing all the household errands, so he got me a debit card from his account. I’ve been going to places like the grocery store, buying a packet of gum and getting $100 cash back. He checks the account and it says $101.08 was spent at Ralphs. He doesn’t question it because I tell him I went food shopping for him. Between Target, the post office and Vons, I pulled in over $2,600 last month alone! I wonder, is this how Bernie Madoff got his start? Word to the wise, sugar daddies—stick to pre-paid cards and always ask for receipts, otherwise you’ll find yourself paying dearly for all those latenight money shots! 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 Queersay. m/ .co LA ers nti Fro
66
FRONTIERSLA.COM
I’m up there working it—you know, winking at the patrons, flirting, doing my job to keep them happy and drinking—but every time I make eye contact with this one old guy, he thinks it’s like an invitation to come over. He snaps his fingers at me to bend down. Literally! He snaps at me! Like I’m a dog or something! And then he all starts rubbing on me, grabbing my you-know-what, even licking my abs! And the worst part is that he doesn’t leave anything—not a dollar, not anything! Nothing at all! Ever! I mean, I’m not a whore, but I’m not here for my health, either. These guys need to know that if they expect to grab our you-know-whats, they’d better give us something in return. It’s only fair. Screw homeless animals—Sarah McLaughlin needs to start doing PSAs for these abused go-go professionals. Because for just a $1 a day, we too can save the six-pack of a stripper in need.
056-067 3213.qxd
10/24/13
6:38 PM
Page 67
CITY GUIDES
PHOTO: PAULO MURILLO
TRIBE GETS ‘BEST GAY MEN’S DISCUSSION GROUP’ RECOGNITION
CITY COUNCIL REVIEWS WAYS TO IMPROVE L.A. PRIDE BY PAULO MURILLO The West Hollywood City Council found different approaches to support Christopher Street West in the organization’s efforts to increase revenue, attendance, relevance and to generate a lineup of big-name talent for the annual 2014 L.A. Pride celebration during a council meeting on Oct. 21. Mayor Pro-Tempore John D’Amico and Councilmember John Duran submitted a list of improvements, which D’Amico hopes will be circulated throughout CSW and discussed widely at the city’s Lesbian and Gay Advisory Board community town hall forum on Oct. 30, 7 p.m. at the West Hollywood Library Community Room. D’Amico wanted to make it clear that he and Duran are collaborating closely with CSW Presi-
dent Rodney Scott to maximize the effective use of the city’s investments, the investments of WeHo residents and the hard work of the CSW board. He also hopes the city’s involvement does not come off as antagonistic. “It is important to us that we talk about inclusiveness,” D’Amico said at the meeting. “We want to collaborate with CSW along the way.” CSW’s L.A. Pride will be discussed in depth at a Nov. 18 city council meeting, giving CSW additional time to review what is brought up at the community forum. An extended version of this story can be found at FrontiersLA.com
What are some benefits from discussion groups like TRIBE, versus the gay groups you find in social media? “Sitting face-to-face with men who share the same challenges of dating, mating and social oppression is like watching a movie in IMAX 3-D compared to watching it on your phone. In the room there is an authenticity and vulnerability impossible to replicate online. We’re creating community, not FB friends.” —Mikel Gerle
According to L.A. Weekly, gay men have much to discuss in WeHo. The magazine’s “Best of L.A. 2013” awards recently recognized West Hollywood’s gay men’s discussion group TRIBE with the title “Best Gay Men’s Discussion Group, 2013,” making it the only city-sponsored program to earn this merit. TRIBE is a unique discussion group that meets the third Thursday of every month, 7:30 p.m. at the West Hollywood Library’s Community Conference Room, for a series of moderated discussions about the gay male experience. It is the only program in WeHo that offers a gathering space for gay men of all ages to meet socially and talk about experiences and challenges they currently face. A facilitator offers a topic and provides an open space to promote a conversation about issues such as love, dating and sex. Topics vary month to month. Meetings are currently comoderated by community members Mikel Gerle and Brendan Rome. “Gay men are not born into their own tribe the way others are. When it comes time to navigate dating, mating and social oppression, our bio families, no matter how well-intentioned, do not have the life experience to council us on those issues,” Gerle stated in a city press release. “WeHo TRIBE brings together a diverse trove of experience from gay men that allows us to benefit from wisdom only a person's peers can provide. Our primary mission is to leverage that shared experience and foster internalized dignity in all the men who attend.” L.A. Weekly also honored local businesses and other programs sponsored by the city of West Hollywood with “Best of L.A. 2013” awards, major categories of which range from the city’s unique food, nightlife and entertainment to exercise and community-building. For WeHo’s full “Best of L.A. 2013” awards list, visit weho.org. For more information on TRIBE, visit weho.org/tribe.
“One of the best things about TRIBE is the diversity—men of all ages, colors, sizes and abilities coming together to discuss important topics is key to how we break down barriers and create better understanding. The benefit of being together is that you get to learn real stories from real people without the layer of protection of a computer or phone.” —Sam Borelli
SPEAK OUT “I think gay social media groups provide access to a larger audience. I definitely feel safer sharing my opinions online than out in public. However, TRIBE is a great way to meet people, socialize and discuss opinions objectively. I feel like participating in local communities is a great way to get your opinion voiced without hiding behind a monitor.” —Matthew Kalin
NOVEMBER 12, 2013
67
068-077 3213.qxd
10/24/13
7:02 PM
Page 68
CITY GUIDES
DESERT
SUSAN ANTON SET TO HEADLINE PALM SPRINGS FOLLIES BY JAMES F. MILLS Ever an optimist, singer-actress Susan Anton is looking on the bright side of the news that Palm Springs Follies—the Broadway-caliber musical revue that has been celebrating midcentury Americana at the Plaza Theatre in Downtown Palm Springs since 1992— is closing in May 2014. “It’s going to be a spectacular final season,” says Anton, who grew up on an apple ranch near Yucaipa, about 40 miles west of Palm Springs. “As sad as it is to see it go, [the producers] know when it’s time to go and they’ll go out on top.” She didn’t hesitate to agree to be the Follies headliner from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, the third time she’s worked for them. “Quite honestly, it’s one of the best, sweetest, most enjoyable jobs I’ve ever had, and I’ve had some pretty terrific jobs in my 30-some-year career,” says Anton, who was crowned Miss California in 1969 and second runner-up for Miss America in 1970. “The audiences that come to the Follies are absolutely delicious.” Greg Purdy, Follies’ communications director, reports that not only do audiences love Anton, the cast and crew do as well. “She’s an absolute delight,” says Purdy. “She’s wonderful to work with.” However, it took a long time to get her to Follies. They approached her numerous times but she always declined, put off by their rule that they only cast singers and dancers who had actually lived through the era they are portraying onstage (a rule that results in the youngest cast member being 55, the oldest 84). “In the beginning, I was way too young to even consider doing the Follies,” says the now-63-year-old Anton, who lives in Las Vegas with her husband, actor68
FRONTIERSLA.COM
producer Jeff Lester. “They would ask and ask and I always said ‘no.’ Then I realized one year that they asked—‘You know, Susan, you are old enough to do the Follies.’ And I’m so glad I did.” Anton first entered the public consciousness via her mid-1970s Muriel cigar commercials and then went on to have the country music hit “Killin’ Time” in 1980. She made a splash on Broadway in Mike Nichols’ production of Hurlyburly and later as part of the original cast of Tommy Tune’s Tony Award-winning musical The Will Rogers Follies. Many also remember her for playing Nicole Eggert’s mother on TV’s Baywatch. Her biggest success came with The Great Radio City Music Hall Spectacular with the Rockettes, being the female headliner during a two-year touring production and then performing over 5,000 shows when the show took up residence at the Flamingo hotel in Las Vegas. Follies audiences can expect her to perform a medley of Christmas songs including “Jingle Bells,” “Winter Wonderland,” Let It Snow,” “Boogie Woogie Santa Claus” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” before closing out her set with the Bob Dylan hit “Forever Young,” which she describes as “an affirmative song about life and our spirit.” “I would encourage everyone who’s ever thought about coming to the Follies and hasn’t come to make sure they don’t miss this season,” she says. “It is something that is truly spectacular. It will inspire you to live a really more involved life. There’s really nothing in the world like it.” psfollies.com
PHOTO: PALM SPRINGS FOLLIES
HOT TOPIC
068-077 3213.qxd
10/24/13
7:02 PM
Page 69
NOVEMBER 12, 2013
69
068-077 3213.qxd
10/24/13
7:02 PM
Page 70
CITY GUIDES
DESERT
HOT TOPIC
PALM SPRINGS GAY MEN’S CHORUS HAS BIG PLANS FOR 2013-14 SEASON BY JAMES F. MILLS With a new artistic director in place and 30 new members joining, the Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus has a big season planned for 20132014. Season tickets are now on-sale, offering not only a 20 percent discount but also the chance to reserve your seats. “We’ve got a fantastic season coming—three great shows the audiences are going to love,” reports board chair David Sanchez. “Rehearsals are going well. Everybody’s excited. It’s going to be a great season. We’re hoping for a big turnout for the shows.” The 80-man-strong chorus has three concerts planned: Holiday Concert: With Bells On features the Hallelujah Chorus as well as both classic and contemporary Christmas songs, plus several songs accompanied by hand bells. Performances are Saturday, Dec. 14, at 8 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 15, 3 p.m. at the Palm Springs High School Auditorium. Spring Concert: Optimistic Voices offers uplifting songs celebrating everything gay, from Stonewall and Harvey Milk to rainbow flags and marriage equality. Performances are Saturday, April 26, 8 p.m.; Sunday, April 27, 3 p.m. at the Palm Springs High School Auditorium. Summer Cabaret: It’s Too Darn Hot! features standards, pop hits and Broadway favorites in a cabaret setting, complete with light food and alcohol for purchase. Performances are Saturday, Aug. 2, 8 p.m.; Sunday, Aug. 3, 3 p.m. at Temple Isaiah, 332 W. Alejo Rd., Palm Springs. psgmc.com
70
FRONTIERSLA.COM
068-077 3214.qxd
10/25/13
3:59 PM
Page 71
NOVEMBER 12, 2013
71
068-077 3213.qxd
10/24/13
7:02 PM
Page 72
CITY GUIDES
BOBBIE EAKES: STILL BOLD & BEAUTIFUL BY JAMES F. MILLS Some people know actress Bobbie Eakes for playing Krystal Carey on All My Children. Others know her as Macy Alexander on The Bold and the Beautiful. Come Friday, Nov. 8, Eakes returns to her songbird roots, performing at the Annenberg Theater inside the Palm Springs Art Museum for a show called Turn the Page. “It’s a one-woman show, a retrospective of my varied musical tastes,” explains Eakes, a Georgia native. “It’s my first show of my own, just me and a back-up band. I’m starting a new chapter in my career—that’s why we’re calling it Turn the Page. Her playlist includes a mix of pop, country and jazz songs by artists including Dixie Chicks, Adele, Liza Minnelli, Stevie Wonder and Billy Joel. “It’ll be a high-energy show, not just ballad after ballad,” says Eakes, who was the 1982 Miss Georgia and made it to the Top 10 of the 1982 Miss America pageant. “I want people standing up and dancing. I want them dancing in the aisles.” Fans of her stint on The Bold and the Beautiful are familiar with her vocal prowess. She performed often on the show and also did an album with costar Jeff Trachta that went double-platinum in Europe. She got her start in the music business in the mid-1980s as the lead singer of an all-girl dance-pop group called Big Trouble. 72
FRONTIERSLA.COM
In recent years, she’s been performing at various LGBT events, including the EQCA gala in early October. She credits playwright Del Shores and his play Southern Baptist Sissies with helping her became a gay rights activist. “When I saw the play, I knew so many of those [ultra religious, homophobic] characters. I grew up around so many of them in Georgia,” she says. “There’s a lot of work that needs to be done. People are still being persecuted, teenagers are still being bullied, marriage equality isn’t nationwide yet. Anything I can do to help, I’m glad to.” Eakes also has a featured role in the movie version of Southern Baptist Sissies, which will be in theatres next year. She and her husband of 21 years, character actor David Steen, have called Palm Spring home for the past three years. “We restored a mid-century house, originally intending it to be a second home,” says Eakes. “We’ve moved around so much over the years, but this was our favorite place, so we’re here fulltime now. The desert is incredible.” Expect to see a few special guests at her Nov. 8 show, including a soap star friend who’ll join her for a song or two, but she’s keeping mum on his identify. “You want to know who he is?” she asks. “Come to the show on Nov. 8.” reactionshows.com
068-077 3214.qxd
10/25/13
4:00 PM
Page 73
NOVEMBER 12, 2013
73
068-077 3213.qxd
74
10/24/13
FRONTIERSLA.COM
7:02 PM
Page 74
068-077 3214.qxd
10/25/13
4:25 PM
Page 75
HEALTH
OFF THE COU PHOTO
O TV F BRAV RTESY O
COUCH
By Dr. Greg Cason
THE NUDITY CURE
Feeling Tired? Rundown? Listless? Do you poop out at parties? Are you unpopular? Maybe you need to be around naked people. Dr. Greg Cason is a licensed psychologist based in West Hollywood, specializing in cognitive therapy with individuals and couples. He can be contacted by going to DrGreg.com.
Researchers at the University of Tampere and Aalto University—both in Finland—have found that viewing a nude body gets the brain working more efficiently. In a 2011 study, scientists found it takes less than 0.2 seconds for the brain to process pictures of nude or scantily clad human bodies. (I'll bet they had no difficulty recruiting college students for that study.) In fact, the less clothing the models in the pictures were wearing, the faster their brains worked and the more they were aroused in the rest of their bodies as well (no surprises there). So there is little doubt that many gay men and women will have faster-firing neurons during Palm Springs Pride—and specifically in and around the Warm Sands area, where the majority of gay clothing-optional resorts call home. Now, I know that Palm Springs is not just a place to vacay nakay. It has long been a place where gay boys and girls go to unwind and be with our fellow homos. With a year-round population that is an estimated 40 percent gay, the frenzied parties of Dinah Shore and White Party weekends, the creativity of the LGBT Cinema Diverse Film Festival and being one of the top 10 cities in the country with the highest concentration of same-sex couples, it is truly our place. In his book A City Comes Out: How Celebrities Made Palm Springs a Gay and Lesbian Paradise, David Wallace talks about the influx of gay Hollywood power brokers. Early Hollywood stars/hunks such as William Haines and Rock Hudson with his lover George Nader would go there to let loose without the fear of
being outed. But, as Wallace writes, “It was the sexual freedom that was the most popular draw of Palm Springs,” and perhaps still is. People take more sexual risks when they're on vacation—whether straight or gay. A British study published in 1999 in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine showed an increase of visits to sexual health clinics following holiday periods. But the gay men tend to come out on top (so to speak) when it comes to having more new partners and more unprotected sex when compared to their hetero counterparts. And it seems that the farther you go from home, the naughtier you’re gonna be. A 2001 study published in Clinical Infectious Disease showed that as many as 50 percent of travelers engage in casual sexual experiences while traveling. And, that was before hook-up apps! But who exactly are the men frequenting these forbidden playgrounds? Are they filthy sex perverts or frustrated desperados? Neither appears to be true. And besides, Palm Springs is firmly on U.S. soil, so people aren’t as adventurous. In a 2009 study published in the Journal of Homosexuality that specifically looked at men who vacation at gay resorts, of all the men who visited these resorts, only 24 percent even had sex with someone other than their partner (if they had one). A surprising three-quarters of the men were looky-loos! It was that 24 percent who tended to get busy. In general, men who frequent these resorts tend to be more sexually active, and—if they go to the resort with the purpose of meeting other sex partners—hey tend to engage in riskier behavior than men who travel with a
partner or without the intent of meeting a new boy toy. It seems there is a lethal combination of sun, substances and sexual arousal that leads people to do things they wouldn't do on their home turf. And there may be no place in the world that has a higher concentration of all three more than the clothing-optional resorts of Palm Springs. And the guests of these resorts are no slouches. Gay-cationers who visit such resorts tend to be in relationships and have higher incomes. In that same 2009 study, it was reported that 33 percent made over $61K, and 54 percent were in relationships. And since you are probably wondering—only about one-quarter of those relationships allowed outside partners. Most men frequent gay resorts not for the sex but for the camaraderie and ability to temporarily live in a world that is exclusively gay. And being naked may facilitate those connections. In a study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology back when you were allowed to do studies like this (1977), it was found that people who participated in a social nudity experience (versus a simple outing or nothing at all) disclosed more to each other than those in the other groups did. They also liked themselves better and even described the ‘body-disclosing’ day as a peak experience. So, maybe the conclusion is this: If you want to make your brain work better, you should be around naked people. But if you want to make your social life better, you might want to shed some clothing yourself. And perhaps there is no better place to do it than Palm Springs.
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. NOVEMBER 12, 2013
75
068-077 3214.qxd
10/25/13
3:06 PM
Page 76
MARKETPLACE DOCTORS DAVE’S EXAM Physicals 323-460-4071 [75SC0816]
JOBS AVAIL./WANTED
RENTALS AVAIL./WANTED
ATTENTION ADVERTISERS
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Read your ad carefully when it initially appears. We are not responsible for errors or minor copy changes after first issue of publication. If an error is found, please contact the classifieds department immediately for corrections. Frontiers assumes no responsibility for error or omission of copy. The right to reject, edit, cancel and determine proper placement of a classified ad is the right of this publication. [04CS0000]
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Pride Card Services, a full-service, gayowned and operated merchant payments processor, is seeking a National Account Executive to add to its West Hollywood Sales team. Pride Card Services provides support to HIV/AIDS, civil rights and equality-focused charities while offering affordable and reliable payment solutions to the businesses in the LGBT community and LGBT-friendly organizations.
CARPENTER/HANDYMAN Decks, Doors, Windows, Dry Wall, Fencing and Gates, Painting and Stucco, and full remodeling. Ref. available. Over 30 yrs in business. Call Don 323-668-2989 [85SC1220]
1Br House in 4 Plx Alhambra Plus Lg bonus Rm New Carpets Unfurnished W/D A/C Cat Ok 821 S. Stoneman Ave. #D $1000 Call Dag 949-548-9411
PC HELP $45 Teach Help Fix Advise; Take pix of you & upload to net; Good w/beginners; Emergencies ok; Let’s talk Chris 323 261-8894 [85SC1414]
[25SC1414]
SO. PAS. HOUSE Cozy 2 bdrm, 1 ba w/wood & Tile Floors, remodeled Ktchn, Fireplace, Fenced gnd. Responsible pet owners encouraged. $2,600 per mo. Call 323-397-5010 [25SC1414]
REAL ESTATE
HANDYMAN
[75SC1414] T02443
HOUSECLEANING PLUS DAVE 323/460-4071. [75SC0917]
GLNDLE & VERDUGO Lg 1 bdrm, 2nd Story in 4-plex, wood & tile floors, 2 sm balconies, fenced gdn, updated kitchen. Great frwy access. Responsible pet owners encouraged. $1,530.00 per mo. Call 323-397-5010 [25SC1414]
BUSINESS SERVICES SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA A DOMESTIC ANGEL.. DAVE 323-460-4071
The ideal candidate will have deep roots in the gay community, 2+ years’ demonstrated direct selling success (preferably in the payments processing industry), excellent verbal and written communication skills, professional presentation skills and ability to work as a team player. Knowledge of Microsoft Office required. Associates degree in business, sales or related field is preferred. Pride Card Services offers competitive compensation and benefits. Interested candidates should send resume, references and salary history to: employment@4pride.com with “National Account Executive”in the subject line. No phone calls please. [15SC1414]
REAL ESTATE! LOANS!
GARDENING
REMODELING
“FREE TRAINING! FREE SEMINARS!”SPLITS TO 90% JOIN A SUCCESSFUL OFFICE 46 YEARS SAME LOCATION BROKER NICK 818-7349133 [35SC1015]
Kitchens, Bathrooms, Room Additions, High Quality In a Timely Manner Guaranteed. FREE Estimates. Call 310-570-2723. 10% Discount with Ad. LIC. B 957909. [85SC1414]
MASSAGE THERAPY
INCOME TAX
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA A GARDEN OF EDEN Msge-Hydrothrpy-Scrubs-Facial+ Ft Trtmnts+ Dave 323-460-4071!
(323)-937-5390
[85SC1414] T01632
[65SC1414]
FEET TREATMENTS DAVE 323-460-4071 [65SC0816]
END NECK + BACK PAIN 323-460-4071
HANDYMAN! Lou’s Handy Services. Simple Sensible Solutions For All Your Handy Needs. Carpentry, Electrical, Plumbing, Drywall & Much More. Free Estimates. References Available 323-913-5989 [85SC1220]
[65SC0917]
PERSONAL SERVICES
ANNOUNCERS
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BODY HAIR TRIMMING 65.00 Complete trim. Back and shoulders -trim/shave 30.00 Excellent quality work. Call for appt. 323 651-5050 In WeHo [75SC1716]
FRONTIERSLA.COM
COMPUTER GUY 4HIRE PC Troubleshoot, Network, Fix Web sites, Tutor. $50.with a 2hr Min. CrCards accepted! Mitch (323) 868-2089 www.mmc-enterprises.com [85SC1414]
Gardening Irrigation and Tree Services Weekly Biweekly Monthly Free Est. Call or Text Martin 323-219-1389 [85SC0915]
WANT TO SUCCEED?
No experience necessary Host music/talk-shows for our radio stations. P/T $10-15/hr, $200+ per show plus fantastic benefits 323-468-0080 714991-1966. [15SC2221]
76
Roof Repair Stucco doors and windows, Paint, Dry Wall, Plumbing, Electric. We do it All. FREE Estimates. 26 Years Experience. Call Simon 310359-3215 [85SC1318]
[85SC0816]
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Responsibilities include door-to-door selling in the LGBT community, making cold calls, following up on warm leads, making 60+ calls per day, activating dormant accounts, as well as project and account management. The successful candidate will participate in a two (2) week comprehensive training program to learn about the Signature credit card processing system and how to use Signature ‘s proprietary database to assist in direct sales efforts.
MANNY’S CLEANING I clean apts, condos, or small houses, wkly or twice monthly. Excllnt. service, dependable, good rate. (310) 339-1235 [85SC1414]
IF IT IS TAX, WE DO IT 310-382-0584 Specializing in Personal (RDP/SameSex),Business, and Prior-Year Amendments. Experienced CPA/Former IRS Agent, Serving the Community with Pride since 1996. ed@mofradfinancial.com mofradstaxservices.com [85SC0314]
Personal or Business income tax preparation.Domestic partners and out of State returns welcome. Clear and reasonable fee structure. IRS problems? Under Audit? Salary/bank accounts garnished? Unfiled income tax returns? Tired of the worry? Will help you answer letters from IRS and the Franchise Tax Board. Free consultation. Call: Dean A. Wong, CPA. [85SC1716]
CONSTRUCTION Home improvement, Design and remodeling. Bathroom, Kitchen Paint Flooring Roofing Plumbing Electric Decks Doors Windows Stucco. You name it -we do it. Lowest price guarantee lic.#965043 . 26 yrs Exp. Simon 310-359-3215 FREE ESTIMATES. [85SC1318]
068-077 3214.qxd
10/25/13
3:06 PM
Page 77
MARKETPLACE
BUSINESS
PROFILE A TASTE FOR ENTERTAINING
Truly memorable events always appear to run with minimal effort, but rarely is that impression remotely close to accurate. Great events require either an exceptionally socially adept host (or hostess) or an event production mastermind. Fortunately for the hordes of fashionable party hosts who call Los Angeles home, Randy Fuhrman is both. Randy Furhman Events is a fullservice event production and gourmet catering company with a roster of clients that reads like a master list of Hollywood power players. While the likes of MTV, CBS, Fox, Paramount and the Oprah Winfrey Network have all availed themselves of Fuhrman’s A-list services, so have a gaggle of Tinseltown’s biggest names, including Barbra Streisand, Joan Rivers, John Travolta, Robin Williams and Nicolas Cage. From bringing to life a “black tieonly Jacuzzi party”—for which he had to build a plank in order to provide service to the guests who were literally in the Jacuzzi—and finding elephants to greet the attendees of an African safari wedding to planning a party on top of a mountain, Randy Fuhrman Events has brought the fantasies of its clients to fruition with scarcely a sideways glance. And to think all this magic was born of a bit of teenage tomfoolery. “Well, it was kind of like Risky Business,” Fuhrman says of his first foray into event planning. “My parents went to Hawaii, and I threw a party for about 300 people in a little track home in Van Nuys. I cooked at my mom's best friend’s house for a month to create the food for the party. When my mom came home, the neighbor (who I did not invite to the party) told her that I had 300 people at the house. My mom said to my dad, ‘Randy is out of the house now!’ For almost 20 years, my mom didn’t talk to her best
BY DUANE WELLS
friend—until I threw a dinner and got them at the dining table together! But that is how my career got started.” I suppose that, as the old saying goes, all’s well that ends well, which is indeed the case for Fuhrman, whose innocent transgression eventually led to the debut of Randy Fuhrman Events, where along with his team, Fuhrman prides himself on the ability to deliver fantastical affairs ranging from special dinners for two to over-the-top events for thousands with equal aplomb. Asked what makes a Randy Fuhrman event stand out from the endless rounds of parties consuming the lives of most Angelenos, the event maestro offers a succinct response—“We think outside the box. Always have.” “We’re not followers. We’re risk takers,” he continues. “We always know it can be done. What I say to my clients is that I want you to be a guest at your own event. That is why you hire me. The team at RFE is truly a one-stop shop. We handle everything from invitations, print design, location scouting, food, cocktails, flowers, entertainment, lighting, hotel arrangements, rentals, photography, video, animation—anything that pertains to the style of event you need we can and will take care of. That is why I have been in business for over four decades and am still thinking outside the box.” Still thinking outside the proverbial box indeed. And why not? To borrow yet another old saying, if it ain’t broke, why fix it? Check out RFE’s brand-new website at randyfuhrmanevents.com as well as the new blog at randyfuhrmanevents. wordpress.com. And don’t forget to try Randy’s famous brownies and cakes— they’re every bit as deliciously unforgettable as his events.
ROOFING
NICHOLASNICHOLAS
All Types, High quality and Fast Installation. FREE Estimates Call 310-570-2723. 10% discount with Ad. LIC. C39 957909 [85SC1414]
GAY POET REQUIEM FOR A SNAPPY DRESSER
HARDWOOD FLOORING Installation and refinishing. 20 years experience. Licensed GENERAL CONTRACTOR for home improvement projects (829947) Bonded, insured, references Free estimate. (310) 430-4545 www.jbhardwoodflooring.com [85SC1414]
BARNES & NOBLE AMAZON.COM [105SC1015]
AND
ORGANIZATIONS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
PRIMETIMERS ANNOUNCEMENTS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 2 AKC REGISTERED MALE AND FEMALE ENGLISH BULLDOGS FREE TO A NEW GOOD HOME, THEY HAVE CURRENT SHOTS AND PLAY ALONG WITH CHILDREN AND OTHER ANIMALS. CONTACT JERRYKENT941@YAHOO.COM [105SC1414]
MATURE GAY MEN AND THEIR ADMIRERS MONTHLY SOCIAL (323) 733-6412 www.laprimetimers.org Clothing optional [135SC2101]
OLDER GAYS Meet new friends at Project Rainbow! Free every Wed. 12-2pm In lounge at Plummer Park, West Hollywood 213621-3180 www.ProjectRainbowLA.org [135SC0918]
HELP BRING DOROTHY’S SURRENDER BACK TO WEHO Visit: WWW.DOROTHYSURRENDER.COM [105SC1414]
NOVEMBER 12, 2013
77
078-bc 3214.qxd
10/25/13
4:33 PM
Page 78
.COM TO ADVERTISE CALL 323.930.3220 OR SEE THE ORDER FORM ON PAGE 87
MODELS/ESCORTS
ATTENTION MODELS AND MASSEURS
is ce ve ., rd ar al, n me
Frontiers prefers all photo shots above the waist only; any shot below the waist must be non-suggestive and non-explicit. Examples of unacceptable photos would include (but are not limited to) “groping” of the genital area, or anatomical details of the genital area visible through sheer/tight fabric. Please do not write on, cut, or deface photo in any way! All photos submitted that do not fit these guidelines will not be used. Your ad will be printed without a photo or a previous photo from your Photo File will be used in its place. Frontiers is not responsible for Photo Ads that are submitted incorrectly. If you have a concern regarding your photo please call us before you submit your ad. Thank You for your cooperation. [3BCS0100]
SEXY LATIN STUD 323-706-7779
SPA PACKAGES!!! DAVE 323/460-4071 [175SC1018]
Eduardo 7.5 Uncut top Latin guy 5’7 140lbs Slim body available any time. Sunset & Western.165SC1414]
BUTTS ONLY! Hot Muscle leather daddy makes your ass feel great! Massage fingers toys spank relaxation give it up! 213-5804704 [175SC1414]
MANLY MSG + CMT 5’9” 170 Friendly Discreet Masc Sensual Full Body Contact 9yrs exp Table In $60 Out $90 Str8 Married Gay Bi Welc Shower EZ park 323-3099881 [175SC1312]
11X8 “THICK DICK Discreet BM 6’2, 180, nice & smooth skin.Voyagers/couples welcome. Buddies Avail 24/7 for you. *82-323906-5373 [165SC1414] P05340
DAD BIG 10”TOP In good shape, 6’4” black man 4 a good time. Pals are also available! Call (323) 273-2137 [165SC1414]
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
HOT T I M E Hndsum 6/4 200 8c 310.749.8532 Pics & more jackXXXsanders.com
$5OFF M4M YOUNG THAIBOYPRIVATE ROOMS.. 4903W PICO BLVD., LA. CA. 90019 (323)-937-5183/323-836-4017 [175SC1414] P05293
VISITING From New York Vglkg Hunk 6’2 230 lbs, Musclr, very Masculine 9”inches. Great full body deep tissue erotic Nude. 646-517-1997 Mike. [175SC1414] SHOWER SCRUBS!!!! DAVE 323/460-4071.
Hello guy, My name is Johnny Please say what you like the best in a massage, or with your massage? I work with athletes and everyday men who know great massage. I am licensed 3 yrs. in Calif. Incall only. Enjoy your day feeling 323-599-1153 [175SC1414] P05377
[175SC0816]
[165SC1414]
MASSAGE / BODY RUBS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
THE ULTIMATE MALE! MASCULINE, GOOD LOOKS, AND BUILT! TEXAN BODY BUILDER/CONSTRUCTION WORKER 6’3 245LBS. of Pure Natural Muscle. 36y/o. Dirty Blond Hair/Blue Eyed Hot White Male. Big, solid and rock Hard From Head to Toe...All of it! over 12 yrs Experience. Erotic Massage/Safe Fantasy by the Best Kenny 818-9088888 [165SC1419] P05266 Sexy Dom Japanese Masseur 8I8-3I49699 [165SC2221]
78
FRONTIERS4MEN.COM
NUDE EROTIC Hung 9”+, Very hndsm, masc 6’ 220. Treat yourself to deep tissue body rub W/Incredible release. In/Out 24/7 Mark 323 540-0930 [175SC1414] P00541
MUSCLEWORKS Musc/masc Irish athlete, pro-trained, focuses on yr specific needs. DT, Swedish, erotic. WeHo Ez park Discreet No attitude Sean 323 658-8860. Late OK! [175SC1414] P03733
WHAT U WANT2 Fullbody massage+more by handsome all Italian guy 5’11 168 81/2” Versatile /fun. 323-874-5762 [175SC1414]
NUDE MASSAGE Masculine, worked out, muscle jock offers a combination of Thai, Swedish, Deep tissue & erotic styles for your pleasure. Very high number of repeat clients. San Fernando Valley and LA areas. Tim (818) 625-8094. [175SC1414] P05254
OC LONGBCH LA Black masseur 5F4 130# lean muscular Handsome face Smooth Oceanview Massage Michael 562 714 4270 MCVisa [175SC1414]
078-bc 3214.qxd
10/25/13
3:54 PM
Page 79
SEPTEMBER 3, 2013
79
078-bc 3214.qxd
10/25/13
3:54 PM
Page 80
SEXY HUNG ITALIAN NUDE MASSAGE Sexy Uncut Top ready for sensual erotic Massage. Call 310-854-3521 [175SC1414]
[175SC1414] T02290
MEN4MEN
NUDE MASSAGE
$10 OFF Swedish with ad Nice Asian & Hot Latino here All private rooms & Free Shower In Calls & Out Calls 8250 W.3rd St unit 105 LA. CA 90048 2314 Pico Blvd. Santa Monica CA 90405 Call or Text 310.698.9427
Masculine, worked out, muscle jock offers a combination of Thai, Swedish, Deep tissue & erotic styles for your pleasure. Very high number of repeat clients. San Fernando Valley and LA areas. Tim (818) 625-8094. [175SC1414]
[175SC1117] P05374
MANLY MSG + 5’9” 180 Friendly Discreet Masc Deep Sensual Full Body Contact 8yrs exp Table In $60 Out $85 Str8 Married Gay Bi Welc Shower EZ park 323-3099881 [175SC1414]
$5OFF M4M YOUNG THAIBOYPRIVATE ROOMS.. 4903W PICO BLVD., LA. CA. 90019 (323)-937-5183/323-836-4017 [175SC1414] P05328
P05368
SILVER DAD ATHLETIC G/L LATIN Swedish Full body massage Relax and release your sore muscles with my strong gentle hands. Located in SGV. In or Outcalls. Hour or 1/2 hrs. available. Men 35+ I’m 54 yrs in shape Masseur Steve 626-407-1390 [175SC1319]
Release stress w/VGL model, masseur/healer. (323) 533-4775 [175SC1414] P05264
ASIAN NUDE MASSAGE Massage by cute Asian 5’9 140lbs Swedish Erotic Sensual in nude full body $69 Call 323-282-6092 [175SC1314] P05375
PERSIAN STYLE CLASSIC TOUCH By Essan with Strong Hands & Sensual Touch 323-449-0894 Try It! [175SC1119]
SENSASIAN
[175SC1414] P05348
with Pro massage by Ray (818) 503-0453 [175SC1414]
YOUNG 23 YO 23 6’1 Thin and tone Enjoy a healing sensual massage 831-713-8957 incall/outcall [175SC1414]
STOP NOW R u tired of the samethings, If you want to get a G8 Nude Erotic Sensual Massage, I can make you feel better like a King 4 more info Call 323-5331244. U be Glad You call Frank
[175SC1414] T02368
SENSUAL SALT BATH Jonathan (323)460-4071
[175SC0917]
[175SC1414] T02449
MEN’S HEALTH SPA 6’1 190 Goodlooking Asian guy let me release your stress IN/Out call Ming 626-297-3030 [175SC1415]
Jacuzzi Dry & Steam Sauna Shiatsu & Fullbody massage 8a-10pm. Out calls also In the South Bay 310-707-3248. Pain Clinic Doctor Available. [175SC1414]
078-bc 3214.qxd
10/25/13
3:54 PM
Page 81
NOVEMBER 12, 2013
81
078-bc 3214.qxd
10/25/13
3:54 PM
Page 82
FULLERTON Will give you a full-body massage in the nude, by goodlking GM 35y. 5’11” 185# $40in/$60+out Eric 714 8795293 24/7 [175SC1114]
RELATIONSHIPS
ATTENTION ADVERTISERS
MUSCULAR LATIN Very Relaxing Massage with great touch. 5’10 165 lbs, 34 yrs. 323513-8875 [175SC1414] SEEKING HAIRY DUDE Guy under 45 with very Hairy arms wanted who can give a Spanking no BS! 818-505-4596 [175SC1415]
XXHUNG MASSUER 6ft4 White Athl Smooth Swedish Deep tissue on table In-calls only Central Hollywood Total nude Total release Handsome Friendly guy www.hugehunguy.com 323 252 3412 [175SC1414] [175SC1414] T02307
[00CS0000]
P04962
Masseurmeister big strong German hands will do the job. $45/hr. $70/1.5hr. (818) 997-7972 [175SC0715]
HUNG FUN CMT 10 + Yrs Experience Serious to Playful. Legit to anything goes, table, Nude, Thick 9” Dick Weho or Out, Ez Parking , Shower Avail, All Welcome 323-8282015 [175SC1314]
NEW HOT MUSCLE Xtra Hung Nude Erotic Strong Hands Great touch Vglkg can Host 24/7 Matt 310-967-2033 [175SC1314] P05287
MARK SLADE 6’3”, 240, VGL masseur gives DT, Swedish, sensual massage. 24/7 call 530-200-1494. [175SC1414] P04981
MASSAGE + MORE From Italy Versatile n fun for awesome good time! 323-874-5762 [175SC1414]
ORANGE COUNTY CA
AWESOME MSG Cert pro Strong/sensitive touch Erotic/relaxing Nice guy/body Spiritual 7am-11pm Chuck 714 743 8275 No calls after 11pm [175OC0715]
FULLMOON THAI SPA M4M SMOOTH BOYS 5$ OFF COMBO MASSAGE 4781 SANTA MONICA BLVD 323-663-6558 PRIVATE ROOM AND SHOWER ROOM FREE PARKING - VISA/MC 10AM - 10PM [175SC1414] P05362
S&M MODELS
MUSCLE LATIN GUY 29 Yrs, 6’215 lbs, Available 24/7 Incall only No Block Calls No Text Messages Call Robert. Hollywod and Western Ave. 323-503-5053 [175SC1414] P05376
Dave
PERENEAL MASSAGE!! 323-460-4071. Awsome.
[175SC0816]
Read your ad carefully when it initially appears. We are not responsible for errors or minor copy changes after first issue of publication. If an error is found, please contact the classifieds department immediately for corrections. Frontiers assumes no responsibility for error or omission of copy. The right to reject, edit, cancel and determine proper placement of a classified ad is the right of this publication.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Kinky Japanese Muscle Master 8I8-3I4-9699 [195SC2221]
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FRIENDSHIP GWM, 47, nice guy, shy, Looking for similar 30- 45 for friendship. Came out late, dont have many gay friends. Would like a buddy to see a movie, have dinner, watch a football game. Give me a call, tell me about yourself. RJ 323-919-9699 [205SC1314]
WANT TO MEET SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WANT MUSTACHE JOCK LEE WORSHIPER LA 323-665-7217 [215SC1119]
MEET HOT LOCAL MEN! Browse & Reply FREE! (323) 648-3999, (213) 316-1006 Use Free Code 2636, 18+ [215SC1414] GWM Dutch/Italian 48, 5’8, BlueBrown, Want to meet Asian 50 to 75 for friendship and if chemistry more, 323-979-5235 A. H. [215SC1414]
078-bc 3214.qxd
10/25/13
3:54 PM
Page 83
NOVEMBER 12, 2013
83
078-bc 3214.qxd
10/25/13
3:54 PM
Page 84
FRONTIERS4MEN.COM
SEX ED
MASTURBATION ALLEGATION BY JIM LARKINS What was supposed to be the beginning of a sincere, long-term relationship took a sudden turn south for one young man when, to his amazement, he was accused of cheating. Considering he had never strayed from the relationship, this allegation naturally came as a total surprise to the accused. But even more astounding was the evidence that was presented—and that it was interpreted as cheating. Apparently the perp had left behind the, uh, sticky remnants of a passionate bout of selfgratification. Yes, I know. Those of us who first heard the news had the same reaction that most of you reading this are having right now. But the fact is whether we’re talking about sexual infidelity, perversion or pretty much anything dealing with human sexuality, interpretation is largely in the mind of the beholder. To most of us who see masturbation as a natural and healthy act of nature, the claims of the oddly jealous partner might seem to border on the ridiculous. But the fact that the issue was such a big deal to him warrants further investigation rather than waving it off into the ‘bizarre beliefs’ file. First and foremost is the huge influence that religion can have on one’s sexual behavior. It would come as no surprise to discover the disgruntled lover hailed from one of the religions
84
FRONTIERS4MEN.COM
that intertwine damnation with its condemnation of masturbation. The mix of a threat to one’s own soul and expulsion from the family will likely have a lasting impact on future sexual endeavors. Another effect on the likes and dislikes of the sexually active adult is past abuse. The adult who was forced into acts of oral copulation as a child might have reservations about performing oral sex for his partner. The problem can become even more pronounced where there was penetration involved. A survivor of childhood sodomy might not relish the idea of being a bottom. Even in adulthood a person can continue to have his sexual penchants influenced by former relationships. Take the aforementioned situation, for example. Even though it might not be likely that this person would meet someone with such unconventional views on sex, he could still become a bit gun-shy in future relationships when it comes to revealing his monkey-spanking ‘me time.’ But all of this can be avoided if you delve a bit deeper than most people do when finding out what makes your partner tick in the first place. At the onset of the relationship you’re getting to know each other anyway, so why not ask relevant questions about his past that might reveal trouble spots in the future?
078-bc 3214.qxd
10/25/13
3:54 PM
Page 85
078-bc 3214.qxd
10/25/13
5:33 PM
Page 86
WEBSITES
ANNOUNCEMENTS
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
SLAMMER STUDENT NIGHT Slammer Student Night 8pm-4am. All students with current ID, save $5 on entry to the club. Take a break from school and cum play at Slammer. 3688 Beverly Blvd. LA, CA 90004. 213-388-8040 www.slammerclub.com [105SC1414]
ROOMMATES SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA [235SC1414] T02443
VIDEOS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
VENTURA HOME OWNER 55 LOOK 35 BI BTTM SEEK TOP STUD RMMT SINGLE? WED? W/WIFE WHO LIKES 2 WATCH? JOIN IN? CAN’T KNOW? ME 6FT 200 LB TAN WM YOU WNT WKDAY GTAWAY FT PT OK RACE OPEN 805-628-0991 STEVE [45SC0816]
MAN FETISH KINKVIDEO.COM Boot Sock Foot Tickle Trample Cock Rim Spank Fuck BDSM! Free broch DVD/VHS/VOD 415-436-9840 KV-FR, POB 14108, SF, CA 94114 [245SC1414]
PERSONAL SERVICES SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
THE GENITALIST Pubic Trim Ball Shave Prof. Excellent work to enhance your sex organ. $35 & up Discreet, Lovely atmosphere 323828-4809 appt. Spoil yourself you’ll Love it! [75SC1314]
WANT TO BUY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COLLECTOR WILL BUY Your gay porn collection DVDs, mags, photos, books, 8mm films. Call Phil 323 230 9606 What do you have? [115SC1414]
078-bc 3213.qxd
10/24/13
7:13 PM
Page 87
#32.15 #32.16 #32.17 #32.18
10/30/13 11/13/13 11/26/13* 12/11/13
11/13/13 11/26/13* 12/11/13 12/24/13*
*denotes date change due to holiday
!!! MARKET EW K 120 Weddings N K Announcements / Services K 10 Jobs K 20 Rentals
K K K K K
ADULT K 160 Models/Escorts K 170 Massage/Body Rubs K 180 S&M
K 190 S&M Models K 200 Relationships K 210 Want to meet
30 40 50 60 70
Real Estate Roommates Health Services Massage Therapy Personal Services
K K K K K
80 Business Services 90 Travel 100 Announcements 110 For Sale 130 Organizations
K 220 Mail Order K 230 Websites K 240 Videos
NOVEMBER 12, 2013
87
078-bc 3214.qxd
10/25/13
5:34 PM
Page 88
078-bc 3213.qxd
10/24/13
7:13 PM
Page 89
078-bc 3213.qxd
10/24/13
7:13 PM
Page 90