Frontiers Vol. 34, Issue 05 by Frontiers

JUNE 25 - JULY 8, 2015 | VOL. 34, NO. 05

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THE

HOT LIST 2015

Miley Cyrus, Matt Bomer, Jussie Smollett and 17 other Angelenos who are currently rocking our radar

A THONG HISTORY

Behind the Scenes of Magic Mike XXL

AMAZEBALLS! L.A.’s Favorite A**holes Return to the Stage

The City’s Best New Restaurants, the World’s Top Homoerotic Artists and Our Favorite Celebrity Beach Bods

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Contents

JUNE 25 - JULY 8, 2015

FEATURES

43 The Hot List 2015

The City's Best New Restaurants

Behind the Scenes of Magic Mike XXL

ON THE COVER Beth Bishop, Seth Browning and Derek Jameson of Phoenix Effect photographed exclusively for Frontiers by Nate Jensen at INN8 creative; hair (Beth) by Olga Churkina; hair (guys) by Eric Leonardos; makeup by Jeffrey Scott; grooming by Chris Garcia / Solaric Tan; wardrobe provided by LASC, Lululemon and Rufskin JULY 8, 2015

Contents

JUNE 25 - JULY 8, 2015

DEPARTMENTS NEWSBOX 09 10 12 14

14 16

When Will Gays See Full Equality? Flashbulb Watercooler WeHo Asks Commission to Analyze PrEP Plan The Right to Die with Dignity DateBook

09 29

THE GAY AGENDA 19

Discover George Quaintance in an All-New Gallery Exhibition Customizable Condoms

HEALTH 25

26 26 27 27

Rid Your Body of Those Pesky Back Handles Sex Ed: Fighting a Frigid Libido Fitness Q&A Off the Couch: The Power of Awe Our Favorite Celebrity Beach Bods

19 37

CALENDAR 29 31 33 33

Headphone Celebrates 5 Years Brothafest San Francisco Pride Eating Out: Jon & Vinny's

ENTERTAINMENT 37 38 39 40 40

COLUMNS 56 57 58 64

25 58

Jessica and Hunter Return to the Stage Film Reviews Music Reviews Coming to TV Theater Reviews

Frontiers magazine is published by New Frontiers Media Holdings, LLC, 5657 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 470, Los Angeles, CA. 90036, and distributed throughout Southern California. Up to the first three copies of any single issue are free; additional copies are $10 each. Violators caught stealing or destroying issues will be prosecuted under California Penal Code 484. For magazine subscriptions, please call (323) 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 ÂŠ 2015, New Frontiers Media Holdings, LLC.

Billy Masters Gossip Gay Palm Springs Gaydar

PEOPLE INDEX Tyson Beckford Frenchie Davis Alyssa Edwards Caitlyn Jenner 4

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64 31 25 30, 56

Nick Jonas Madonna Chris Pratt Maya Rudolph

56 29, 64 27 41

Dan Savage Shakira Jessica Simpson Henry Winkler

38 25 57 33

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CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Michael Anthony, Aaron Batts, Seth Browning, Christopher Cappiello, Dr. Greg Cason, Mike Ciriaco, Peter DelVecchio, Gossip Gay, Nathaniel Grey, Tom Paul Jones, Gary Kramer, Jim Larkins, Dan Loughry, Billy Masters, James Mills, Eric Rosen, Patrick Rosenquist, Dominik Rothbard, Aaron Savvy, Lydia Siriprakorn, Les Spindle, Paul V. Vitagliano CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS AND ILLUSTRATORS Gabe Ayala, Jesús Banuelos, Adam Bouska, Jose Guzman Colon, Mel Dalena, Dylan + Jeni, Jim Fall, Jonathan Clay Harris, Chelsea Kyle, Michael Lamont, Wonho Frank Lee, Rolling-Blackouts, Jonathan Sirand, Brett Warren, Austin Young

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Caution: It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over The Supreme Court will soon decide on the right to marry, but securing marriage rights is not the same as full equality By Karen Ocamb

he 16th Street Baptist Church bombing that killed four little black girls on Sunday, Sept. 15, 1963, led to the 1964 Civil Rights Act, but 52 years later, despite the shock over June 17 terrorist killings of a pastor and his Bible study group at the historic Emanuel AME black church in Charleston, racism is still rampant. “Racism—we are not cured of it,” President Obama said June 22 on the WTF with Marc Maron podcast. “And it’s not just a matter of it not being polite to say ‘nigger’ in public. That’s not the measure of whether racism still exists or not. ... It’s not just a matter of overt discrimination. Societies don’t, overnight, completely erase everything that happened 200 to 300 years prior.” Obama also noted that it’s “incontrovertible that race relations have improved significantly during my lifetime.” But, he said, referring to the AME church shooting, “There’s no other advanced nation on earth that tolerates multiple shootings on a regular basis and considers it normal.” Similarly, it’s incontrovertible that homophobia has dissipated significantly since the early 1960s—including a recent poll showing more than 60% approval for marriage equality. But a positive ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in Obergefell v. Hodges won’t mean homophobia has evaporated. It is still legal to fire a legally married gay person in 29 states, which in turn leads to significantly higher rates of poverty, according to a 2013 report from The Williams Institute, especially among lesbian couples of color with children. Such overt discrimination with no chance at a federal LGBT Civil Rights Act is a legacy of institutional and structural homophobia. But perhaps there’s hope for change. South Carolina Republican Gov. Nikki Haley wants to remove the Confederate flag from the capital grounds this summer in the aftermath of the church shooting. But no one has mentioned how the Confederate flag strikes fear in the hearts

SPEAK OUT

The number of House of Representatives cosponsors of the First Amendment Defense Act, yet another “right to discriminate” law, including Illinois Democrat Rep. Daniel Lipinski

of other minorities—women, Jews and LGBT people—in an Caption tk environment where hate groups are on the rise, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. The Williams Institute reports that African-American same-sex couples tend to live in the South. And while Obama calls out institutionalized racism, and the South struggles with its symbols of white supremacy, the structural legacy of homophobia is so ingrained in society that even LGBT defenders miss blatant opportunities to call it out. Gay attorney Richard Socarides points this out in an essay for The New Yorker, noting that several Supreme Court observers “were struck during the oral arguments by how foreign the idea of long-term, loving gay relationships still seemed to some of the Justices.” Socarides wrote that even pro-gay Justice Anthony Kennedy said, “the word that keeps coming back to me in this case is ‘millennia,’” as if marriage has been an exclusive heterosexual institution for centuries. “There was no real response from the plaintiffs, even though there is a rich history of same-sex relationships and marriages from other periods and civilizations,” Socarides wrote. “To some observers, it seemed that neither the Court nor the attorneys before it rose to the significance of the case.”

“I will not float. I will make bold moves, and I will get blood on my hands. Heads will roll!” Audrey Middleton, 25, a digital media consultant from Georgia and the first transgender contestant to enter the Big Brother house. The show’s current season began June 24.

JULY 8, 2015

FLASHBULB continued The Confederate flag flies above the South Carolina Statehouse

DAVID MIXNER’S OH HELL NO!, El Rey Theatre, June 11—The author, political strategist, activist and political firebrand performed his theatrical tell-all. Top from left: Trevor Project CEO Abbe Land with husband Martin Gantman, ANGLE’s Diane Abbitt and former White House Social Sec. Jeremy Bernard, Dave Koz with Rory O’Malley. Bottom: Mixner (center) with Alan Uphold and Jeff Olde, Judith Light with Point Foundation’s Jorge Valencia

LAMBDA LEGAL LIBERTY AWARDS, Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel, June 11—An evening of tribute to those who have made an impact on LGBT lives, honoring Aisha Tyler and Amazon’s Transparent. Top from left: Event host Wendy McLendon-Covey, Amy Landecker, Greg Louganis with John Chaillot, Daniel Franzese with Joseph Bradley Phillips, Gavin MacIntosh. Bottom: Aisha Tyler with Dan Bucatinsky, Zackary Drucker

SPEAK OUT “If we want to advocate for equality, it’s important to ... not objectify women less but just objectify men as often as we objectify women.” Chris Pratt speaks to BBC Radio 4 about how his career has changed thanks to the transforming of his physique

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2015 RAINBOW KEY AWARDS, Plummer Park, West Hollywood, June 18—The annual awards honored those who have made significant contributions to the LGBT community. From left: Matt Palazzolo with Our Lady J and Ivy Bottini, Mike Gerle with Brendan Rome, The Tweakers Project Founder Jimmy Palmieri, Lambda Legal’s Jon W. Davidson

PHOTO OH HELLCREDIT NO: ANDY KEILEN/POINT FOUNDATION; LIBERTY AWARDS: COURTESY LAMBDA LEGAL; RAINBOW KEY: JOSHUA BARASH

And now it is questionable whether the LGBT community is rising to the significance of the structural homophobia underlying the spate of new anti-gay “religious liberty” laws that have popped up since the fleeting victory over Indiana’s anti-gay Republican Gov. Mike Pence. On June 17, for instance, Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho, and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, introduced the so-called “First Amendment Defense Act,” which is another “right to discriminate” law. The bill would prevent the government from taking any “adverse action” against an individual or organization that discriminates against a legally married same-sex couple as long as the discrimination is in accordance with their religious beliefs. The implications are far-reaching. “If passed, this legislation would create a breakdown of government services and runaway litigation,” according to the Human Rights Campaign. “It would permit a federal employee, for example, to refuse to process tax returns, visa applications or Social Security checks whenever a same-sex couple’s paperwork appears on his or her desk. This legislation would also permit recipients of federal grants and contracts, including those for social services programs like homeless shelters and substance abuse treatment programs, to turn away LGBT people.” It also allows a lawsuit if an individual or groups feel prohibited by the government from enjoying their freedom to act in accordance with their own conscience and religious convictions. “The vast majority of Americans today still hold a robust view of religious liberty, yet across the country the right of conscience is threatened by state and local governments that coerce, intimidate and penalize individuals, associations and businesses who believe that marriage is a union between a man and a woman,” Lee said in a statement. “[The First Amendment Defense Act is necessary to ensure that this kind of government excess never occurs at the federal level.” The bill has 57 co-sponsors in the House, including Illinois Democrat Rep. Daniel Lipinski, with 18 Republican co-sponsors in the Senate. Though the bill seems to be a version of DOMA on steroids, this bill and other state religious liberty bills like it could be overlooked or given a pass if viewed in the context of structural homophobia. But it shouldn’t take an act of violence for someone to take notice.

JULY 8, 2015

WATERCOOLER

Your cheat sheet for intelligent conversation — By Peter DelVecchio

Mexico Beats the U.S. to Marriage Equality (Sorta)

It is now possible for same-sex couples to marry anywhere in Mexico, but they may have to fight to make it happen. With some Mexican states and Mexico City already having legalized gay marriage, Mexico’s Supreme Court earlier this month issued a decision called a “jurisprudential thesis” holding any state law restricting marriage to heterosexuals “to be discriminatory in its mere expression.” In the States, such a high court ruling would automatically nullify contrary state laws, and samesex couples could marry without further ado.Under Mexican jurisprudential tradition, however, state bans remain enforceable, but couples denied licenses can appeal, and appellate judges would be bound to enforce the Supreme Court ruling. An appeal could cost upwards of $1,000, meaning “a couple with resources can get married. A couple without resources can’t,” says Iberoamerican University scholar José Luis Caballero.

‘Ex-Gay’ Therapy on Trial in New Jersey

“Ex-gay” therapy, essentially the notion that a therapist can talk one out of being gay—a practice rejected by all relevant medical professional organizations—is having its day in court in New Jersey. JONAH, a Jewish ex-gay group, was sued by several former clients alleging consumer fraud. Plaintiffs described several “therapeutic” practices they regarded as inappropriate and suspect. One client was asked to strip standing in front of a mirror while the “counselor”—an older “ex-gay” man—stood close behind him, breathing down his neck. Other therapy involved clients cuddling with the counselor or each other to learn how to touch other men non-sexually. Some in the right-wing press have defended JONAH, with Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute president Austin Ruse writing that “science is on trial” in New Jersey.

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1 3

4 Rick Jones

Carl DeMaio

Gay-Bashed Utah Man’s Plight Continues

Rick Jones, 22, was attacked April 25 inside the pizza restaurant his family owns in Delta, Utah. His head was slammed into a wall, and when he came to, someone was atop him forcing him to drink bleach. “Die fag” was cut into his arm with a knife. A sister found him after he didn’t return home from work. But Rick’s troubles were not over. A few days later, someone spray-painted “Die Fag” on his family’s garage door. After the Utah Pride Festival Weekend, a Molotov cocktail was thrown through Rick’s bedroom window, and “You’ll Die. Burn Fag” was spray-painted on the family’s house. The Sheriff’s office says it is investigating several leads and notes there is a reward for information leading to conviction, and asks for the community’s help in finding the perpetrators.

Anti-LGBT Wave Sweeping East Africa

With most of the Western world moving toward greater respect for LGBT rights, a retrograde tide is washing over East Africa, where anti-LGBT groups are increasingly succeeding in pushing their agendas into the spotlight. The Ugandan Supreme Court struck down the nation’s famous “kill-the-gays” law last year, but draconian anti-gay federal laws exist in Nigeria, where male homosexuals may be put to death. In Kenya, a popular “safari” vacation destination, one political party is busy drafting a new virulently anti-gay law. “For our local citizens, it proposed life sentences. For the foreigners, we propose stoning to death,” says Vincent Kidaha, head of Kenya’s Republican Liberty Party. “There is no African, no Kenyan, who is born homosexual. It’s not natural.”

Study Finds Scientific Consensus on Gay Parenting

A new study confirms a decades-old scientific consensus that there are no differences between children raised by straight and gay parents. This consensus among social scientists was forming by 1990 and had become “overwhelming” by 2000 and beyond, according to the Colorado University study’s lead researcher, associate health and behavioral scientist professor Jimi Adams. Pre-1990 studies “disproportionately focused on same-sex parenthood that occurred following dissolved heterosexual relationships,” the new study says, making it impossible to separate the effects of divorce from those of the parents’ genders. The consensus solidified once such extraneous factors were removed, and differences between same-sex and opposite sex households disappeared.

DeMaio Sexual Harrassment Accuser Admits Lying

O ut Republican former San Diego Cit y Councilmember Carl DeMaio was doing fairly well in his 2014 challenge to Democratic freshman Rep. Scott Peters, but just weeks before election day, CNN ran a long tabloid story focused on Todd Bosnich, a fired staffer who accused DiMaio of sexual harassment. DiMaio lost by 6,080 votes. But on June 12 in federal court, Bosnich pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and admitted lying to FBI agents about the threatening emails he created to bolster his claim of harassment. Additionally, only after the election was it revealed that San Diego Police Detective Garrick Nugent believed Bosnich burglarized DeMaio’s campaign office, after which stolen campaign strategy wound up in the Peters campaign.

JULY 8, 2015

WeHo Asks Commission to Analyze PrEP Plan

A DIGNIFIED DEATH One California coalition is pushing for a bill allowing terminally ill patients to shorten the inevitable dying process By Karen Ocamb

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PHOTO: COMPASSION & CHOICE

he West Hollywood Lesbian and Gay Advisory Board’s recommendation on Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention seems to fall in line with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors’ June 9 vote to develop a “robust, comprehensive program” to provide PrEP countywide. The advisory board proposed that agencies that contract or have collaborative services with the city be required to include PrEP as part of counseling when doing HIV testing. AIDS Healthcare Foundation does not receive funding from the city but is permitted the space of two parking meters for their HIV testing van. AHF balked at being mandated by the city government to provide PrEP counseling as a violation of its First Amendment rights, believing PrEP should be discussed between doctor and patient. The WeHo City Council voted June 15 to send the advisory board proposal to the Human Services Commission for analysis. “We are hoping that [AHF] will offer PrEP info along with their info on why they don’t support it and recommend condom use,” Councilmember John Duran told Frontiers. “Human Services will hopefully work with all of them to smooth out the rough edges. I think we are all saying the same thing—just differently.” Councilmember John Heilman says that everyone wants to stop the spread of HIV, and the community should be fully informed about prevention, including PrEP, and treatment options. He also says that he understands AHF’s concerns. “I think we should make sure professionals are handling giving advice to people so that individuals get all the information that is appropriate for them as an individual” on a case by case basis, says Heilman. “But I do think there are some people who view PrEP as the panacea—that they don’t have to use good judgment any more.” But, Heilman says, “I also recognize that there are some people who either will not use condoms or are going to be in a state of impairment where they may forget to use condoms. And if we know that in advance, I think preventing the spread of HIV is really important. And I think [AHF President Michael Weinstein] probably recognizes it as well—that for those who absolutely will not or cannot or who are not certain that condom use will be part of their sexual activity—then absolutely, we want to stop the spread of HIV. And PrEP is a tool for a person like that.” California State Sen. Mark Leno says $2 million was added to the $115.4 billion state budget to establish “a PrEP navigator program” to fund PrEP education. —K.O.

35-year-old Michael Saum (right) suffers from headaches, nausea and worse, with no respite from even the strongest painkillers. He’s worried he’ll die before SB 128 is enacted.

PHOTO: COMPASSION & CHOICE

n 1996, on the cusp of the lifesaving three-drug HIV cocktail, Eric Roberts starred in It’s My Party by director Randal Kleiser, one of the first films to feature a gay man who not only insists on dying with dignity but doing so with a festive, emotional flare. Roberts’ character had been diagnosed with an aggressive disease that would rob him of his mental acuity months before he would actually die, so he wants a goodbye party while he can still recognize the ones he loves. The film was Kleiser’s tribute to his own ex-lover, who died of AIDS in 1992. In the film Roberts had a brain disease, so he still looked young, fit and beautiful. Most gays with AIDS surrendered vanity early on as their once-worshipped bodies were ravaged by the wasting syndrome or the purple lesions of Kaposi’s Sarcoma. They were rendered helpless and unrecognizable to themselves, an agony sometimes worse than the unrelenting physical pain. Death was a welcome blessing, and many were quietly helped to that end by bereft loving friends, lovers and family, despite the pall of illegality. It was in this context that efforts to legalize physicianassisted suicide in California were launched in 1992, 1995

4 States that already have medical-aidin-dying laws on the books. Nearly twothirds of Californians favor a similar bill to give terminally ill patients the option to die peacefully

and 1999. But the prospect of a dying person choosing a good death became highly politicized by the religious right with the Florida case of Terri Schiavo, where Gov. Jeb Bush sided with the family and ordered her life prolonged, despite the wishes of her husband who said his wife expressly said she wouldn’t want to be kept alive in a vegetative state. Today there is another effort underway in the California Legislature to pass a well-crafted bill—modeled on the successful death-with-dignity bill in Oregon—that even won the support of the California Medical Association after 28 years of opposition. On June 4, the Senate passed the End of Life Option Act, SB 128, by 23 to 14, buoyed by a poll last year showing that nearly two-thirds of Californians favor giving a terminally ill patient the option to die peacefully. Currently Washington, Montana, Vermont and New Mexico also have medical-aid-in-dying laws. Co-authored by Senate Majority Leader Bill Monning and Senate Majority Whip Lois Wolk, SB 128 has a “checklist” of safeguards to prohibit the possibility of abuse. Essentially the bill would allow a mentally competent, terminally ill adult (18 or over) the option of requesting (both orally and in writing) a doctor’s prescription for medication to shorten the inevitable dying process so they might die peacefully, without pain. “I’m doing everything I can to extend my life. No one should have the right to extend my death,” out State Sen. Mark Leno recalls one woman dying of lung cancer saying during a Senate hearing on the bill. Leno is a principal co-author of SB 128. “I happen to be of the philosophical belief that government should not come between an individual and a decision he or she may make with a physician,” Leno says during a phone interview with Frontiers. “There is nothing more personal and of greater importance than our end-of-life choices. I don’t think government should be in the way. That’s what this bill does. It provides a choice for someone in a very specific situation.” Leno knows something about this. He lost his partner Doug in 1990 and Doug’s younger brother in 1986. “Those of us of a certain age,” Leno says, “saw the tortured deaths of hundreds of friends” at a time when there was no hope of surviving. “So I’ve seen firsthand how cruel that can be.” And with aging parents and siblings approaching their last years, “it becomes a very real issue all over again.” Leno says he found it “astounding” that a Republican colleague described his opposition to the bill by suggesting a terminally ill patient could drive over a cliff or shoot themselves in the temple instead. “The level of insensitivity is so extreme,” he says. Michael Saum, a 35-year-old transgender man who is dying from brain cancer, wishes he had that option. Saum’s doctors think he will die in the next few months, before the bill reaches Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk. “It’s not that I want to die; I don’t want to die,” Michael tells Frontiers. “I love life, but I don’t want to live like this.” Saum was battling cancer for 14 years before going into remission—an 18-month respite during which he took the opportunity to become the man he always felt himself to be. His mother, who had been fine when then-Heidi came out as a lesbian, could not handle his transition. When he

JULY 8, 2015

continued

SPEAK OUT

was diagnosed with Stage IV brain cancer that had spread throughout his body, he turned to his lesbian friends, most importantly his best friend Julia, whom he had once dated, to provide him refuge in her El Monte home and to take care of him. “It’s the kind of love I can’t even describe. She’s selfless,” he says. Saum is currently at the strongest dose of painkiller allowed, but it’s not working. He has severe headaches, nausea, unregulated body temperature, short-term memory loss, unfiltered speech—“so many things go wrong” having big tumors in both the left and right frontal lobes. “I’m in terrible pain every day, to the point that I’m crying nearly every day,” he says. “I’ve been told by my doctor that there is no chance for change, no miracle; no treatment is going to heal me. “I think I’m going to pass before this bill is enacted,” Saum says, “but if it’s not there for me, I’m grateful I’m able to help others in my situation.” Out Assemblymember Susan Eggman, Chair of the LGBT Legislative Caucus, is the lead principal co-author in the Assembly. A former hospice social worker who also lost friends in the ‘80s and ‘90s and cared for family members as they lay dying, she is uniquely positioned to understand the

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significance of SB 128. “I come at this from a lot of different perspectives,” Eggman tells Frontiers. I believe—and I think polling shows—that Californians are ready for this.” Additionally, 17 years of research out of Oregon show that there is virtually no coercion or abuse. “We know that oftentimes people don’t even go through with it. They just know that they have that option,” Eggman says. The bill is not for people who are depressed or seniors or disabled. “This is for somebody with a terminal illness, for which no cure is expected, and their end-of-life trajectory is within six months to a year.” And, she notes, the End of Life Option Act is “for those who have had a certain degree of control in their life—this is something that is important to them.” Perhaps more people than the dying and their loves ones are beginning to grasp the moral and ethical urgency of this bill. In a sharp contrast to the political and religious-based Schiavo controversy, a bipartisan poll conducted June 16-21 shows that nearly seven out of 10 Californians (69%) support SB 128, and that includes Catholics (60%), non-evangelical Protestants (65%) and evangelical Christians (57%). The deadline to pass SB 128 in the Assembly is September 11.

“Contemporary art’s job is to wreck what came before. Is there a better job description than that to aspire to? Go out in the world and fuck it up beautifully.” John Waters during his May 30 commencement speech to the graduating class of the Rhode Island School of Design

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Out Assemblymember and former hospice social worker Susan Eggman is the lead principal co-author of SB 128 in the Assembly

DATEBOOK SAT. | JUNE 27

CELEBRATE: SHELTER

This year’s Architecture and Design Museum gala takes place at its new warehouse-turnedmuseum in DTLA’s Arts District. Come for the silent auction of custom-designed “shelters” created by architecture and design luminaries, installed exhibit-style in the new space. aplusd.org

FRI. | JULY 3

14TH ANNUAL STRIKE OUT AIDS

Enjoy an evening of baseball as The Wall Las Memorias Project brings AIDS awareness to Dodger Stadium. This year’s event features a pre-game ceremony, the formation of a human AIDS ribbon on the field and a live DJ and dance party behind the outfield. thewalllasmemorias.org

SAT. | JULY 11

SADDLE UP L.A.

Life Group L.A.’s 10th annual AIDS benefit—a horseback trail ride and country BBQ—will be held in the beautiful Griffith Park mountains, with a goal of raising $100,000. This year’s honorary trail guide is Laura Bell Bundy, star of Anger Management and Hart of Dixie. saddleupla.org

THU. | JULY 16

PRISM AWARDS

Now in its 19th year, the Prism Awards honors the accurate depiction of substance abuse, treatment, recovery and mental health in TV, film, music and more. This year’s ceremony takes place at the Skirball Cultural Center. prismawards.com

SAT. | JULY 25

SPECIAL OLYMPICS WORLD GAMES

The largest sports and humanitarian event anywhere in the world in 2015 is happening in L.A.! The opening ceremony will take place in the historic L.A. Memorial Coliseum, with sports competitions throught the games being open to the public and free to attend. Through Aug. 2. la2015.org

JULY 8, 2015

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

THE

GAY AGENDA

Macho Men The mid-century's most popular physique painter, George Quaintance, joins Tom of Finland and Bob Mizer in an all-new gallery exhibition By Patrick Rosenquist

COURTESY OF TASCHEN

George Quaintance's Hercules (1957), oil on canvas

hen it comes to mid-century homoeroticism, one name comes to mind— Tom of Finland. His overtly homoerotic art defined a pre-Stonewall era, when overt gay art was not only not in vogue but flat-out illegal. Yet Finland and his contemporaries—Harry Bush and Etienne, among others less celebrated—had a precedent. George Quaintance, the '40s and '50s illustrator who set the parameters of gay art for nearly a half century, and whose work will be on display at the Taschen Gallery beginning July 1, explored the limits of the male physique before other artists dared to. Taschen released a book of Quaintance’s art back in 2010, but the objective was always to spotlight the L.A.-based artist with his own show. Speaking about Quaintance’s output, Dian Hanson, editor of the coffee table book, states the paintings are “so big and impressive, and culturally vital, it was always intended to give them a gallery show.” Before dying of heart failure in 1957, Quaintance’s work usually appeared in magazines that celebrated the male physique, including Body Beautiful, Demi-Gods and Physique Pictorial—publications that skirted tight content regulations by ostensibly appealing to bodybuilders and others with an acceptable and “healthy” interest in the male physique. His oil paintings featured full-color semi-nudes, pushing not only the homoerotic bounds of acceptability but the edges of polite society in the '40s and '50s.

JULY 8, 2015

THE

GAY

AGENDA

Clockwise from top left: Tom of Finland's Tom's Men (1970), Quaintance's Havasu Creek (1948), Mizer's Ramon Gabron (1971), Quaintance's Gloria (1953), Mizer's Nick & Blue Max Hensley (1975), Quaintance's The Bandit (1952)

each other, and there were rumors about who might have what and where missing links might be. I was surprised how secretive much of it was—people not wanting their names used, paintings hidden in closets, artifacts here and there,” says Hanson. One of the most invaluable resources was the Tom of Finland Foundation, located in Echo Park, which held a large number of oils by Quaintance. “The Foundation tracked down the last residence of Quaintance’s partner, Victor Garcia, and found Quaintance’s lifelong scrapbooks in a carport in Hollywood, and Bob Mainardi and Trent Dunphy of The Magazine Archive in San Francisco, who own many original sketches, physique photos and various ephemera related to Quaintance.” Taschen's Quaintance tomb ($100, 168 pp.) has many exclusive and pristine prints of the painter's groundbreaking work, but while Hanson spent a long time putting together the edition, she recommends an in-person visit. “The results were a beautifully produced, large format book. It did justice to the work, but there’s nothing like seeing these big canvases in person!” Come July, anyone can see Quaintance’s beautiful, detail-oriented and groundbreaking work the way it was produced. The Art of George Quaintance opens July 1 at the Taschen Gallery, 8070 Beverly Blvd., L.A. taschen.com

SHARE THE LOVE If you've ever thought to yourself, "I sure do wish this condom had something fun printed on it", you will wish no more! The good folks over at Graphic Armour are producing the only FDA-approved condoms in the world to feature custom designs, and they will be happy to print anything your little heart desires. Compatible with water-based lubes, these latex canvases of personal expression are made with nontoxic ink that is cured directly into the condom, resulting in graphics that will not rub off during normal use. When you're ready to unleash your inner Picasso of Prophylactics, simply visit their website to upload your photos and/or text (imagine the alternative business card potential!) and choose your quanity (minimum order is 33). Before you know it your custom-designed rubbers will be on their way home to you, ready to brighten the day of anyone you chose to share them with. graphicarmour.com —George Skinner 20

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MIZERIMAGES © BOB MIZER FOUNDATION

“There really wasn’t anyone doing what Quaintance was doing in the 1940s and early ’50s," says Hanson. "His painting Dashing was featured on the very first cover of Bob Mizer’s Physique Pictorial, and Mizer used his work on covers right up until his death,” over a decade before the modern gay rights movement found its mainstream footing. “That same year, Tom of Finland’s first drawing appeared on a Physique Pictorial cover—a clear passing of the torch to the next generation," she says. "No one worked in oil on canvas like Quaintance did, in the scale and with the facility he did, in the ’40s. Tom of Finland was a fantastic pen and ink artist, but he never became really comfortable with color.” Quaintance’s subjects also veered from the mainstream, featuring many aspects common in the West. Spaniard and Mexican bullfighters and religious symbols populate his work, along with traditional oil paintings of cowboys and stereotypical masculine Western figures. Despite his outsized influence, Quaintance was not a prolific artist, only producing 55 oil paintings during his lifetime, leaving a very potent seed of creativity but a dearth of material for progenitors to follow. Creating the show at the Taschen Gallery involved tracking down the remaining Quaintance paintings on the market. “Fortunately, the small circle of collectors knew

JULY 8, 2015

THE THE

GAY

AGENDA

L.A. IS A T-SHIRT TOWN. Whether you're heading to work in an understated tee, the gym in a cut-off tank or the club squeezed into a too-tight tunic, this city takes its cotton blends very seriously. Since 1998, Junk Food Clothing has been at the forefront of L.A.'s demand for comfortable, vintage-inspired T-shirts. Carried in stores throughout the world, you're no doubt familiar with more than a few of its original designs, found in collections that range from Star Wars and superhero-themed to concert tee recreations from decades gone by. The weekend of June 26-27, locals are in for a real treat, as the company is holding a sample sale inside its L.A. boutique (5770 W. Jefferson Blvd.) from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The cash-only sale is offering up shirts for $5-10—a deal no Angeleno could pass up. —Stephan Horbelt

Clockwise from top left: The avocado toast at Terrine, DTLA's Redbird, the bar at Odys + Penelope, a medley of dishes from The District by Hannah Ah, Guisados’ taco sampler plate

What’s New? BEST BRUNCH Terrine is the bustling new brasserie of Beverly Boulevard, opened by two of L.A.’s favorite culinary authorities—Kris Morningstar (Ray’s + Starck Bar) and Stephane Bombet (Faith & Flower). Indulge in classic French dishes like the onion soup with a gooey Comté crust and steak frites, paying just as much mind to the clever cocktails by bar director Ryan Wainwright. 8265 Beverly Blvd., terrinela.com BEST DOWNTOWN SETTING A culinary gift from God, Neal Fraser’s Redbird is part of the Vibiana complex, the deconsecrated building that was once L.A.’s first cathedral. The restaurant itself is in the former rectory, though the ambience is all contemporary. Standouts include the Rabbitchetta—a play on porchetta—and the nettle gnocchi with lobster. 114 E. 2nd St., redbird.la BEST PIZZA New from the guys who opened Animal and Son of a Gun, Jon & Vinny’s is now your best bet for a 22

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delicious pie. You’ll definitely want to stop in with a couple friends so you can try various iterations. (Check out our full review on page 37.) 412 N. Fairfax Ave., jonandvinnys.com BEST HIDDEN RESTAURANT You might have already heard the buzz about Maré, which you’ll actually enter through Greenspan’s Grilled Cheese on Melrose. Having quietly debuted in May, the new patio-only spot features coastal European dishes, the focus being shellfish (mussels, clams, shrimp) for which you choose your own broth. 7465 Melrose Ave., maremelrose.com BEST SMOKED MEAT Husband-and-wife duo Quinn and Karen Hatfield (previously of Hatfield’s) opened Odys + Penelope, a casual, neighborhoody spot, back in January. It’s a contemporary grill where food is cooked simply over open flames, but there’s also a Brazilian churrasco and a smoker to imbue that heady tinge of wood to certain dishes. 127 S. La Brea Ave., odysandpenelope.com

BEST NOODLE JOINT The city’s best new spot for noodles, The District by Hannah Ah, is a bit more upscale than your average noodle joint, adeptly using fresh SoCal ingredients to take on Vietnamese-inspired fare. One refined dish includes handmade noodles, chunks of sweet crab, fresh uni and chive. 8722 W. 3rd St., thedistrictbyha.com BEST TAQUERIA With L.A.’s stellar reputation for quality tacos, this one is a tie. The recently opened WeHo location of Guisados, born in Boyle Heights five years ago and expanded throughout the city since, has a simple menu that offers a plethora of meat, seafood and veggie options to load onto their handmade tortillas—and for $3 a pop, it can’t be beat. 8935 Santa Monica Blvd., guisados.co. Ray Garcia’s B.S. Taqueria is another new favorite, opting for a more high-end take on the favorite Mexican foodstuff. Opened in April, the menu offers eight tacos ($7-10 for a pair), including one of Garcia’s childhood favorites, the bologna taco. 514 W. 7th St., bstaqueria.com

TERRINE: JESÚS BAÑUELOS; REDBIRD & ODYS + PENELOPE: DYLAN + JENI; DISTRICT: MEL DALENA

We make sense of the hot new restaurants currently raining down on L.A. When it comes to culinary hot spots, there's no drought in sight By Eric Rosen and Stephan Horbelt

JULY 8, 2015

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Backrolls?!

health FOR YOUR

Flying Off the Handle Rid your body of those pesky ‘back handles’ with a mix of adjusted exercise and proper diet

LOW CABLE WOODCHOPER

With your cable low to the floor, stand with your feet wider than shoulder width apart and grab the cable handle with both hands. Rotate your body upwards toward your opposite shoulder, making sure you keep your arms straight and rotate through your midsection

By Seth Browning

PIOTR MARCINSKI | BRUCE ROBBINS | DREAMSTIME.COM

hen it comes to burning body fat, one area is always the last to go—those dreaded back handles, the frustrating area right above your ass. For a lot of guys, it’s a mystery how they got there, and even more so how to get rid of them. Let’s unravel that, shall we? Many moons ago, we moved more. There were fewer computers, less driving and more manual labor. Hunting for food, cleaning and harvesting, we used our body to twist, bend and flex in our daily life. Now we are an anterior-based (front body) society, constantly sitting, typing and texting. This underuse is compounded by two factors. First, men naturally hold fat around their waistline. Second, there isn’t a ton of muscle in that area, so it’s a hard area to target. The key is changing the movements of your exercise. As Shakira says, the hips don’t lie. They’re our focus. Mainly you want to do core exercises, and crunches wont cut it. Exercises that flex, extend and twist at the hip are key. These are generally movements that use the upper and lower body together, contracting muscles in that area and activating those sleeping muscle fibers. Let’s not forget about cardio, either. Making

just the slightest adjustments in how you step can make all the difference. When using the treadmill, try interval sprinting on an incline. This not only forces you to stabilize the muscles in your hip area but flexes the joint, too. And the next time you hop on a stair machine, skip every second step. That simple alteration will make you flex at the hip. The second part of the solution is choosing the right foods. Repeat after me: “Veggies are my friend.” Try to include leafy greens in most meals. (Think broccoli, spinach and chard.) Throw in healthy fats, too, like avocado and almonds. All of these help to incinerate fat. Also, try and cut down on your cocktail intake. Alcohol calories are incredibly hard for the body to metabolize. You don’t have to stop, just cut back. All of these methods, when done together, will not only help to rid you of back handles but will help keep you out of the chiropractor’s office. When you strengthen your hips, you’ll get injured less and move better, and who can argue with that?

SUPERMAN

While face-down on a mat, simultaneously raise your arms, legs and chest off the floor and hold this contraction for two seconds. Pro tip: Squeeze your lower back to get the best results from this exercise, and remember to exhale during this movement

ROTATING SIDE PLANK

On a mat, position your elbow directly under your shoulder, with your legs, knees, ankles and feet stacked, tightening your abs. Start with your arm extended, and push your right elbow against the floor as you lift up your glutes and hips until your left shoulder, hip and foot are in a straight line.

Contact Seth at BodyByBrowning.com and on Instagram @sethenator JULY 8, 2015

FOR YOUR

health SEX ED

By Jim Larkins

Me (Not) So Horny

There are many reasons—psychological and physical—why a man’s libidinous thermometer may drop to frigid

WITH AARON SAVVY

➸ Send your questions to aaronsavvy@ gmail.com

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How long should my workouts be?

Just how important is it to have protein for breakfast?

—Ryan M., Hollywood

—Glen D., Beverly Hills

Total workout time will vary from one person to another. It’s generally based on endurance, strength and the type of workout. I suggest, however, that weight training last no more than 45-60 minutes. You can thereafter do cardio for 20-30 minutes.

It’s crucial to fuel your body with protein within 45 minutes of waking up. I suggest either a shake or eggs for breakfast. You want to have a minimum of 35 grams of protein to refuel the body after a night of fasting, as the two components our bodies are mostly made up of are water and protein..

BILETSKIY | DREAMSTIME.COM

FITNESS

If a sexual hunger gap has driven a wedge into your otherwise happy, horny home life, don’t fret, because there’s hope. When it comes to abuse-related lack of libido, psychotherapy for victims has proven to be a very effective tool for turning the clock back and fixing what got broken. As for weight-related issues, there are a great many legitimate, healthy diet solutions. One goal-oriented slogan might be to remember that you simply can’t have your cake and eat him too.

CORNELIUS20 | DREAMSTIME.COM

f you find that your man is lagging in the footrace to the bedroom, your first thoughts might be self-deprecating—that maybe he’s just not that into you. But his short supply of erotic appetite isn’t necessarily your fault. It’s just a simple fact that levels of libido vary widely from man to man. The good news for “hombre y hombre” relationships is that, because men have instinctively high libidos, the intensity of sexual desire may be more compatible among males than between men and women. But one’s degree of sexual hunger can be weakened or reduced or, god forbid, become absent altogether. The causes can be psychological and/or physical. Fortunately, unraveling the mystery behind your man’s urges going stone-cold might be as simple as looking into his history. According to Sigmund Freud, libido is a transitional journey through a series of developmental stages within the individual. Any break in the sequence could result in a failure to adapt to one’s own physical demands and cause libidinal energy to become ‘dammed up’ or stuck at one stage. The end result is a sexually unresponsive adult. Generally, loss of sexual appetite is derived from lack of privacy or intimacy, stress, depression or other distractions. It’s no secret that breaks in the cultivation of youth, such as childhood sexual abuse, can bring about sexual issues later in life. Not all victims of pedophilia strive to jump in the sack with anyone and everyone, and sometimes these individuals get thrown into a kind of sexual reversal. Other psychological causes include depression, sexual performance anxiety, stress or fatigue. There are also physical factors that can clip your libidinous wings. Hypothyroidisms, a lack of testosterone or deficiencies in sexual desire like that found in asexual people are all potential candidates. Another of life’s libido crushers, excessive weight, is derived from both psychological and physical factors. Obviously, you may not feel very sexy if the scale says you’re on the brink of becoming twice the man you were when you met your mate. But extremes in physical dimensions may also lead to a diminishing libido because severe obesity—or being extremely underweight or malnourished—can interfere with normal hormonal levels.

OUR

` FAVE CELEBRITY

BEACH

BODS By Stephan Horbelt

Off the Couch

By Dr. Greg Cason

Awe Shucks

BILETSKIY | DREAMSTIME.COM

CORNELIUS20 | DREAMSTIME.COM

There’s nothing like a venture outside the gay ghetto to become a more centered person in our vast universe “ I S N ’ T IT G R E AT TO G ET O UT of We s t Hollywood?” That was the question a fellow gay traveler at a nearby table asked of our table as we all were gathered to have a dinner and watch a jazz show in Beverly Hills. Shocked by this man’s newly found appreciation of city limit crossing, I whipped my head around to my friend and whispered ever so loudly, “Get into a car and drive once in a while.” My friend would have none of my bitchiness! Ever the public defender of the overprivileged underdog, he whipped back and said that some people live and work in West Hollywood and don’t like to leave when they play, which got me thinking—are there benefits to getting out of the gay ghetto? Cities like West Hollywood and Palm Springs—as well as San Francisco, New York, Ft. Lauderdale and many others—provide a sense of safety and security to the LGBT person who has moved from a far off land to live in peace, comfort and perpetual sexual arousal with his fellow man. Once he has found paradise, he sees no reason to ever leave. All came into stark contrast as I decided to accompany my sister, her husband and her two silence-challenged kids on a trip to Yosemite over Memorial Day weekend. Before this starts to sound like an exercise in poor decision-making, let it be known that I drove my own car and intended to eat in restaurants and stay in a cabin with a private bathroom, away from my family. I believe the term is “glamping.” Even though I had been there five times before and remembered that it was one of the most glorious places I’ve experienced in all my travels, I wasn’t prepared for the transformation that was about to happen. As we approached the park, traffic had slowed to a snarl. The normal 30-45 minutes from the park entrance to our campsite took over three hours, with nearly two hours of it completely stopped—the nightmare nearly every L.A. resident fears on the 405. But a funny thing happened when all cars were at a standstill. Eventually people got out and looked around at the grandeur that rose above them. Towering cliffs, gushing falls, soaring trees and colossal rock formations began to have an effect on us tiny creatures stuck in the traffic below, and as if by magic,

people were nice to each other. No one honked, and people talked, shared food and pointed out nearby shrubbery that could double as a urinal. It was nothing like the 405. It turns out that’s exactly the power of places like Yosemite. They inspire awe. Awe is that sense of wonder and reverence we feel in the presence of something that transcends our understanding of the world. And according to Paul Piff, Ph.D., and some other brains at the UC Irvine, that sense of awe can transform us instantly into better versions of ourselves. According to Piff’s studies published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, a sense of awe serves a vital social function. By diminishing the emphasis on the individual self, awe may encourage people to forgo strict self-interest to improve the welfare of others. When experiencing awe, behavior is more positive and helpful, and people promote social acceptance and friendship. According to the study, one need not drive to a national park to be awed. It also occurs from sitting in a grove of eucalyptus tress or observing natural threats such as tornadoes and volcanoes. Everything had the same effect—making people feel smaller and less self-important. As a result, they behaved in a more pro-social fashion. In a city where people are often trying to get bigger and feel more important, we often lose sight of the fact that we are but an infinitesimal part of an enormous land, globe, galaxy and universe. When we are reminded, suddenly the needs and wants of our fellow man with whom we share this space suddenly matter more. So the answer to my fellow jazz enthusiast’s question is yes, it’s good to get out of the gay ghetto and go somewhere that reminds you that you’re a very small part of something vastly bigger. I figured out one way to do it—to get into a car and drive once in a while. Only this time, instead of for a patient, that advice was for me. Contact Dr. Greg Cason by going to DrGreg.com, or interact with him on Twitter @DrGregCason

1. Andy Cohen

Bravo’s reigning king of housewife reunions, 47, looked damn good while shirtless on the beaches of Miami this past spring.

2. Zac Efron

From Disney twink to hardbodied hunk, Zac, 27, is in peak shape, as you can see in this shot from the set of Dirty Grandpa, in theaters February 2016.

3. Channing Tatum

You might expect “Magic Mike” to sport lean, washboard abs, but we’re fans of the 35-yearold actor’s flat, not-super-ripped stomach.

4. Paul Rudd

Marvel’s next big superhero (Ant Man comes to theaters July 17), Rudd, 45, looks great tossing around a football on the beach in Cabo.

5. Chris Pratt

Our favorite guardian of the galaxy, 35, isn’t only sexy because he’s hilarious. Here he is looking hella hunky in Hawaii. JULY 8, 2015

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events ■ Through August 1 AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY Theatricum Botanicum

After their father disappears, the large Weston family from Oklahoma explodes in a maelstrom of repressed truths and unsettling secrets. It’s a major contemporary play exposing the dark side of the Midwestern America family. theatricum.com

■ Thu. | June 25 LEGENDS OF MOTOWN: THE SUPREMES Grammy Museum

nightlife

This moving revival of an American classic is the story of the tenuous line between restraint and desire, also the winner of the 1953 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award. Through Aug. 16. antaeus.org ■ Fri. | June 26 ROARING NIGHTS MUSIC SERIES L.A. Zoo

The zoo kicks off its summer music series at 7 p.m., featuring a live band, dance party, food trucks, bars, pop-up zookeeper talks and animal encounters. Also on July 24 and Aug. 21. lazoo.org

exhibits

■ Fri. | June 26 DICKSLAP Precinct

The Seattle party that has gotten sexy guys laid 50 million times is coming to take over Los Angeles! Featuring DJs Victor Rodriguez and Alison Swing, and hosted by the Boulet Brothers and Ambrosia Salad, the party settles into its new L.A. home. precinctdtla.com

Give Good Headphone

■ Fri. | June 26 MISS BARBIE Q: RUMOR HAS IT The Actors Company

Jasten King’s eclectic boylesque cabaret celebrates five years of music, dance and film

A Hollywood Fringe Festival production featuring L.A.-based drag queen extraordinaire Miss Barbie Q, who has been performing for 12 years, it takes audiences on a journey as she dives into what makes a marriage. hollywoodfringe.org

By Mike Ciriaco

Explore the enduring legacy of Motown Records’ premier recording artists with an exhibit that offers visitors a unique look at the life and career of one of the most successful American singing groups of the ‘60s. grammymuseum.org ■ Thu. | June 25 PICNIC Antaeus Theatre Company

theater

■ Fri. | June 26 SING-A-LONG: THE SOUND OF MUSIC Hollywood Bowl

Celebrating the film’s 50th anniversary, this interactive night of music also features costumes and thousands of fans to make for one of the most enjoyable nights of the summer. hollywoodbowl.com

Beginning in 2011 at Silver Lake’s Moving hink of Headphone as Jasten King’s Arts Theater, the cabaret show bounced mix tape to gay L.A. Like the DIY casover to Akbar for a couple of years before settes that angsty Grunge-era teens settling into its current WeHo residency. would cobble together to share their unique Of Headphone’s myriad locales, to King, musical tastes with friends, this boy-centric Fubar is ideal. burlesque show flaunts a heterogenous “As much as I loved the more theaterlineup of not only music but performance style seating that previous venues had to art as well. bring, the shenanigans that Fubar is legNotorious as Hollywood’s first regular endary for really helped shake this show up all-male cabaret, Headphone will feature its into something even more rowdy than ever signature compilation of music, dance and before,” he says. film when it returns to West Hollywood’s This summer, King promises to elevate favorite raunch pit, Fubar, on June 27 to the bar in its artistic antics department. In celebrate its fifth anniversary. In fact, it August, Headphone will even journey up to was King’s yearning for artistic diversity San Francisco and perform alongside drag that motivated the show’s creation a halflegend Heklina at Saturday party Mother. decade ago. Closer to home, local burlesque notables “I had played in punk bands for so many like Haute Coque, Ricky Rebel, and the years,” says King, “that when I started to geek-chic Eric Deloretta will perform reach a certain age, I began thinking, in King’s new series of themed I need to expand my interests nights, featuring musical styles soon, otherwise I’ll be stuck that include Broadway, rock ‘n’ in a van with a bunch of HEADPHONE roll and Madonna. That last smelly dudes—and not in a CELEBRATES theme is one close to King’s cute way—for the rest of 5 YEARS Fubar heart—and other organs. my life. So the idea was to June 27 “I got to recreate really create an open stage facebook.com/ Madonna’s infamous Truth to explore these things— headphonecabaret or Dare masturbation scene dance to comedy to music— with a male equivalent to a cone not only for myself but for my bra,” King says. “My mom was there performance-minded friends as for that one and was probably not as well. The name came from the feelamused as I was.” ing you get from putting on headphones But that’s the thing with a mix tape, and really escaping into various worlds isn’t it? It’s more an outlet to assert your of music.” personal musical aesthetics and less about Fitting for Headphone’s artistic throughpleasing others. If your mom finds the tape line, as King’s goal is to guide audiences into and gets pissed off, you know you’re doing realms of the imagination, the show itself has something right. travelled to several locales over its lifespan. JULY 8, 2015

■ ■ ■ ■ NEW FILMMAKERS L.A. FILM FESTIVAL AT&T Center June 27 newfilmmakersla.com

Basement Jaxx

■ Sat. | June 27 DRAGULA Faultline

■ Sun. | June 28 BASEMENT JAXX Hollywood Bowl

The East Side’s monthly celebration of filth, leather, drag and glamour welcomes guest hostess Jackie Beat along with Love Connie, Saint Peter Dvil and Ridge Gallagher, with a $400 drag pageant at midnight. faultlinebar.com

Following their Grammy nod for last summer’s Billboard club chart topper Never Say Never, the UK dance maestros bring a full live show to the States. With 12 performers on stage, Basement Jaxx shows are a riot of color, movement and energy. hollywoodbowl.com

■ Sat. | June 27 OFF THE KING’S ROAD Odyssey Theatre

After his wife passes away, a retired American businessman takes a week’s respite in London. After checking into a small hotel, his stay unexpectedly turns into a voyage of selfdiscovery. odysseytheatre.com

■ Sun. | June 28 LIFE IN THE FIRST GAY CITY Renberg Theatre

Ranging in age from 55-87, a troupe of 17 performers known as NewStAGES has created this story about life in West Hollywood, in which they dance, sing, laugh and cry. weho.org/pride

SNAP SHOTS ✱

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✱

Gays On Film

New Filmmakers L.A. celebrate Pride month with 6 LGBT stories from around the world BUST OUT THE POPCORN, because this month the gays are taking over the cinema. On June 27, New Filmmakers L.A., a showcase for emerging cinematic talent, unfurls the red carpet at DTLA’s AT&T Center to host its annual film festival. In honor of Pride month, NFLA will spotlight a number of LGBT films from artists who have courageously shared the challenges faced by their friends, families and, most often, themselves. In light of Caitlyn Jenner’s recent transition, the trans community has become one of the LGBT community’s most visible niches, which will be reflected in this year’s fest. Arguably, the most highly anticipated screening is of Shunned, a documentary by firsttime feature director Janice Villarosa that chronicles the challenges facing a group of Filipino trans women who are competing in a pageant. Another entry, Alex, deals with a Norwegian teenager struggling with transphobia and cyberbullying. Gay adolescence is another major theme explored in this year’s film fest. Cameron Thrower’s Pretty Boy follows an 18-year-old boy whose father hires a prostitute to boink the gay out of him. In After School, directed by Sam Greisman (the son of Sally Field), a 15-year-old boy faces a growing attraction toward his best friend. A great ‘date night’ film, it’s an opportunity to reflect on your own boyhood experiences while also acknowledging the simple truth that life gets better with age. —M.C.

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FRESH PRIDE | GREYSTONE MANOR Photos by Jason King

Real World alum Karamo Brown, Frenchie Davis

S N A P SHOTS ✱

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CUB SCOUT | EAGLE L.A. Photos by Rolling-Blackouts

O BROTHA WHERE ART THOU?

A summer celebration for black men from around the globe, Brothafest celebrates SoCal sun and nightlife

in White: The Rise of the nyone with a FaceEmpire at Chakra in Beverly book feed can tell Hills. (Just don’t forget you that it’s a struggle your green, either, as there being African-American in will be strippers thirsty for this country, and not just tips, too.) within America’s Deep South. On Saturday, historic Even inside our rainbow acroroots will be commemorated, nym, gays of color are often and we’re talking about more treated as minorities within than just Independence Day. our minority, fighting for The July 4th Epix party will representation. West Holhe held at L.A.’s legendary lywood, the gay Mecca of Los Catch One Night Club, which Angeles County, according holds the distinction of being to the 2010 census conthe first black gay dance club ducted by the WeHo Chamin the States (and will ber of Commerce , unfortunately be is nearly 85% hosting its last white. It’s this dance later environment BROTHAFEST this summer of disproporThroughout L.A. on J uly 1 8). tionate LGBT July 2-5 That night representation brothafest.com will feature a that motivated performance Jeffrey King and by American Idol Ivan Daniel III to alum Frenchie Davis, organize Brothafest. as well as a twerking contest. Running 4th of July The weekend slows weekend across numerous down Sunday with an afterL.A. venues, Brothafest holds noon of intellectual stimulathe distinction of being the tion at Carl Bean Mansion city’s first black gay malewith Wine and Words, feafocused circuit party. The turing the city’s most gifted festivities kick off Thursday visual, literary and spoken evening with Speakeasy, word artists. Entry means a Brothafest’s opening recep$5 donation or a pair of jeans tion, hosted at Hollywood’s that will donated to Out of Next Door Lounge. The the Closet. party boasts the presence With a range of events to of such gay personalities accommodate all personaliof color as MTV’s The Real ties, during this celebratory World alum Karamo Brown, weekend, Brothafest proves Miss L.A. Pride Hailie Sahar that black is as valid and vivid and singer Tony Walk. Then as every color in the LGBT bust out your best alabasrainbow. —M.C. ter threads for Friday’s Men JULY 8, 2015

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TOUCH THURSDAYS | THE ABBEY Photos by Rolling-Blackouts

■ Sun. | June 28 THE GRIND The Standard DTLA

This ‘90s rooftop pool party is back for the summer, a Sunday Funday you don’t want to miss. DJ Amara and others will spin the era’s best jams all day long (1-8 p.m.), maybe while wearing slap bands and scrunchies. standardhotels.com ■ Sun. | June 28 CELEBRATING THE MUSIC OF RANDY NEWMAN Hall of Liberty, Forest Lawn

The New Valley Symphony Orchestra, led by Dr. A. Phoenix Delgado, presents its second annual pops concert featuring the film music of the L.A. composer. Newman first gained public attention as a singersongwriter with his hits “Short People” and “I Love L.A.” nvsorch.org ■ Fri. | July 3 FRESH FRIDAYS Greystone Manor

Jeffrey Sanker’s weekly party offers up a packed crowd, killer music and a fresh vibe to the L.A. nightlife scene. Expect world-famous DJs and a sexy group of gays dancing the night away. Free until 10:30 p.m., or until 11 with a Fresh Card. jeffreysanker.com

■ Sat. | July 4 4TH OF JULY BLOCK PARTY Grand Park

Celebrate Uncle Sam’s favorite holiday with music, food and an incredible fireworks display launched from the Civic Center skyline. Bring your own picnic or purchase food on-site, but it’s an alcohol-free event. Gay favorites Chris Bowen and Victor Rodriguez are among the day’s DJs. grandparkla.org

■ Sat. | July 4 ROMEO AND JULIET: LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD Rockwell Table & Stage

A new spin has been put on Shakespeare’s classic tale of star-crossed lovers, energizing it with the rocking music of ‘80s icon Pat Benatar. The result is a high-octane adaptation that’ll move you to tears while making you move your feet. Through Aug. 29. rockwell-la.com ■ Sat. | July 4 ALL-AMERICAN JULY 4TH The Queen Mary

A rag-tag group of kids search for pirate treasure that might save their neighborhood in this Cinespia screening of an ‘80s film favorite. It will be seen under the stars, followed by a professional fireworks show and topped off the next day with another favorite, Top Gun. cinespia.org 32

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■ Sun. | July 5 SIZE Here Lounge

This Tom Whitman weekly party celebrates more than a decade of great Sunday afternoons. Expect to find a gorgeous group of guys imbibing and dancing before starting up the work week. tomwhitmanpresents.com

JON & VINNY'S: WONHO FRANK LEE

■ Fri. | July 3 THE GOONIES Hollywood Forever Cemetery

This festive all-age party presenting 100 years of American spirit and tradition features entertainment, music, activities, food and fun for the whole family. As night falls, The Queen Mary’s decks will become front-row seats to an elaborate fireworks display. queenmary.com

SAN FRANCISCO PRIDE June 27-28 sfpride.org

POLITICALLY CHARGED PRIDE LGBT celebration continues in the Bay Area with social activism and an eclectic roster of queer entertainers

JON & VINNY'S: WONHO FRANK LEE

ith L.A. Pride wrapped up, the rainbow confetti has been swept up from West Hollywood Park and Kesha has stumbled on to gayer pastures, but if you’re already fiending for another hit of LGBT revelry and can’t wait another 12 months, don’t sweat it. Just hit up our socially conscious, environmentally sensitive, freak flagflying neighbor to the north. Beginning June 27, the city of San Francisco celebrates its own Pride weekend under the banner of “Equality Without Exception.” The politically active nature of San Francisco’s Pride theme underscores the innate difference between our two cities. Like a pair of mismatched siblings, one has proven to be ambitious, attractive and often self-absorbed, while the other is wellread, fiercely liberal and occasionally condescendingly elite. What unites these polar opposites is their innate emphasis on LGBT heritage. Like L.A., San Francisco held its first Pride event in 1970 to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. While queer Angelenos celebrated their culture with a festive procession, our Bay Area analogues marked the occasion with a protest-reminiscent Pride march. That politically charged legacy continues to the present day, as this year’s parade grand marshals have been selected based on their contributions to the LGBT community. Those marshals include Alicia Garza, a co-founder of #BlackLivesMatter; Brian Basinger, an advocate for homeless and impoverished members of the LGBT community; and Belo Caprini, and advocate for the blind and disabled. Of course, San Francisco Pride is more than social sensitivity and multicultural awareness. Bay Area gays can party as hard as Angelenos, and Pride weekend features its own festival hosted in side the city’s downtown Civic Center with a number of music venues. Most visible is the festival’s mainstage, which will feature the talents of OG drag diva Lady Bunny, queer indie darlings Shiny Toy Guns and SoCal local Mike Munich. The event will also cater to a wide spectrum of diverse musical tastes, with venues including the Homo Hip-Hop Stage, International Stage and Sundance Country-Western Dance Corral. Evidently San Francisco Pride’s “Equality Without Exception” theme extends to entertainment options as well, which is only to be expected from our socially sensitive brother by the bay. —M.C.

EATINGOUT

Your New Favorite Pizza Joint

with grilled leek scape vinaigrette and piave hen you walk into a pizza joint bread crumbs for some texture. and the guy seated in the booth The real draw is a selection of crispnext to you is the Fonz, you know crusted pizzas, the dough of which has a speyou’re in for a good meal. cial sour tang thanks to a 48-hour ferment and That’s what happened to me a few weeks rest. The “L.A. Woman” is a simple pie of local after the opening of Jon & Vinny’s. The new burrata, tomato, basil, olive oil and sea salt— “California Italian” eatery is on Fairfax across uncomplicated but perfect. For something from Jon Shook’s and Vinny Dotolo’s first spicy, “The Supreme” is topped with mozzawell-known restaurant, Animal. There was rella, provolone picante, red onion, mustard Henry Winkler enjoying an early Tuesday greens, chili oil and smoky mortadella. dinner out with his family, chowing down on Among the house-made pasta dishes, pizza and pasta. What’s good enough for the the green nettle conchiglia is topped with Fonz is good enough for me. shaved ham, truffle fonduta cheese and Indeed, it’s good enough for any English peas, just the right combination of Angeleno. Jon & Vinny’s is the fifth effort creamy richness and grassy lightness. For from the dynamic duo, whose other outposts something meatier, the luscious lamb agnoinclude the aforementioned carnivorous lotti with green garlic aglio e olio, pecorino extravaganza, the seafood-inspired Son of a and pickled Fresno cherry is stellar, as are Gun and, along with bad-boy Frenchie Ludovic the braised meatballs and veal Milanese. Lefebvre, Trois Mec and Petit Trois. The restaurant’s playful This one feels more like take on tiramisu hits the spot Shook and Dotolo at their at the end of a large meal most laidback, though. The with a jolt of caffeine, but narrow, stark, sky-lit blondfor something a little more wood interior belies the nostalgic, try the strawberry hearty, homey cuisine on the swirl cheesecake with cream menu, which in turn belies and strawberry sauce. the sophistication with which One of the restaurant’s these dishes are turned out. most interesting features is With Pride come and that it contains a minuscule gone, load up on carbs with a Jon & Vinny’s wine shop in the back called few starter crostini. The aru412 N. Fairfax Ave., L.A. Helen’s (operated by Animal gula and walnut pesto option (323) 334-3368 beverage director Helen is earthy and herbaceous, jonandvinnys.com Johannessen), where dinwhile the one with spicy fava $$$$$ ers can browse the mostly beans, Japanese tomato and European bottles and select salty pecorino sardo is also one for supper. Have a look delicious. Save the one lavAtmosphere Neighborhood pizza jointbefore picking the right ishly spread with ricotta and meets-contemporary trattoria Dolcetto. orange blossom honey for If you find it too hard to dessert. Among the market Standout Dishes Nettle conchiglia, “L.A. get a table for dinner (and veggies, you’ll find grilled Woman” pizza reservations have been tight), baby broccoli with lemon and come in for breakfast or lunch, Drinks Calabrian chili vinaigrette, European-skewed wine list when space seems more readand a plate of blackened ily available. You won’t be givsugar snap peas served with Hours 8 a.m.-10 p.m. daily ing up quality, with options like pickled ramp ranch—kind of pan de mie with nutella, olive like veggie hot wings—as well Reservations oil and sea salt. —Eric Rosen as a marinated baby artichoke Recommended

★★★★★

JULY 8, 2015

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JULY 8, 2015

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The best in TV, film, music and more

Life on the Z List

YouTube’s favorite jerks, Jessica and Hunter, return to Silver Lake’s Casita del Campo for two nights of live laughs By Mike Ciriaco

W JESSICA & HUNTER: JONATHAN CLAY HARRIS, SPIDEY: ARIEL OLIVETTI

hile California may be steadily running out of water, there’s one resource that will never completely dry up here in Los Angeles—terrible people. On the weekend of July 10, the city’s masses of vapid, binge-drinking, overconsuming, self-absorbed trainwrecks will be represented onstage during Jessica and Hunter Live, coming to Cavern Club Theater—inside Silver Lake’s famed Mexican eatery Casita del Campo—for a two-night engagement.

Directed by gay stage and screen darling and Frontiers Contributing Editor Drew Droege, Jessica and Hunter Live stars Beth Crosby and JC Gardiner as its eponymous, drug-addled duo. “They are everything that is loathsome and lovable about Los Angeles,” says Gardiner, describing the monstrous creations he co-conceived with Crosby. “They also encompass and personify our country’s shallow obsession with undeserving, talentless reality

SPIDEY CAN'T BE GAY, SONY HACK REVEALS

ikiLeaks has released a new batch of documents from last year’s Sony hack, leading to a fresh wave of revelations as the files are slowly sorted through. Gawker has already found a doozy, though—a 2011 agreement between Marvel and Sony, prior to the two Andrew Garfield-starring Amazing Spider-Man films, in which the comics company stipulates the superhero’s mandatory character traits. Under a section billed ‘character integrity obligations,’ Marvel first specifies that Spider-Man must not torture, use foul language, sell drugs or abuse alcohol. He’s also not allowed to have sex before he turns 16, and he has to be Caucasian. Oh, and he can’t be gay, either.

Written in 2011, the licensing agreement ironically came shortly after half-black, half-Latino character Miles Morales took over as Spider-Man in Marvel’s Ultimates universe, an alternate comic line the company publishes. Notably, the agreement does leave room for Sony to make films featuring a gay Spider-Man, but only if “Marvel has portrayed that alter-ego as a homosexual,” forcing the movies to wait for the comics to give us a gay Spider-Man first. There’s also no specification that Parker be cisgender—is now the time to start a petition for a trans take on the webslinger? The character is next set to appear in Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War, with casting for the white, straight Peter Parker is currently underway. —Dominic Preston JULY 8, 2015

film DO I SOUND GAY? Opens July 17

*****

Last year, J.C. Chandor gave us a deeply felt portrait of a man attempting to conduct his life and his business morally, the quietly affecting A Most Violent Year. Writerdirector Noel Buschel’s Glass Chin, with Corey Stoll as a former boxer and Billy Crudup as an unscrupulous entrepreneur, is a bookend of sorts. It’s a pensive exploration of how a downtrodden man responds to forces beyond his control. Does he have the character to do the right thing for himself, his girlfriend and his young boxing charge? It’s a mostly successful film of large ideas writ small, as cool and measured as Nicolas Winding Refn with a few static shots cribbed (unnecessarily) from the Martin Scorcese playbook. —Dan Loughry

JACKIE & RYAN Opens July 3

*****

This film is a sweet, unassuming indie by Ami Canaan Mann about a drif ter, a single mother and what happens when their paths cross in Ogde n , U tah . English actor Ben Barnes, laconic and sexy, is Ryan, full of wanderlust and curiosity as he coasts from place to place, performing his folksy songs for change from passersby. Jackie, a lowkey Katherine Heigl, has returned home from New York, struggling with a bitter ex-husband in an ugly divorce over the custody of their daughter. Mann, who wrote the screenplay as well, doesn’t go in for showy set pieces; she lets the film take shape around the natural rhythms of her cast and the organic chemistry between her leads. Just like their attraction, the film sneaks up on you. —D.L. 38

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ALSO IN

JESSICA & HUNTER: JONATHAN CLAY HARRIS

Opens June 26

stars and mind-numbing news media. I think Jessica and Hunter help people to laugh at the inanity of how we can place too much importance on celebrities and image.” Crosby and Gardiner’s comedy partnership traces back to their early days developing material at L.A.’s Groundlings Theater. Gardiner was molding a new character who would sit around Chateau Marmont all day criticizing celebrities, while at the same time Crosby was fleshing out a similarly minded MAC countergirl who insisted on giving everyone smoky eyes and pale lips. The pair quickly agreed these two sociopaths needed to be BFFs, though it wasn’t until they were confronted by some unexpected real-life inspiration that the Jessica and Hunter characters were fully formed. “We had been going to bars in WeHo to unwind after rehearsals, and were constantly laughing at some of the characters we would see there,” says Crosby. “I remember we met these two 20-year-olds at The Abbey one night in matching skinny jeans who were talking shit about everyone at the bar and would finish each others’ sentences. They asked us how old we were—I think we were 27 at the time—and when we told them they shrieked, ‘Don’t tell anyone that! Oh. Ma. Gawd!’ They were horrified by our age. I wanted to write something that satirized those shallow, selfobsessed, socialite trolls. Can you tell I’m still bitter?” Jessica and Hunter’s collective cherry was officially popped on the boards of the Groundlings stage while Crosby and Gardiner were performing with the troupe’s Sunday Company. The trashy twosome soon transitioned into online media, where their YouTube channel currently boasts nearly 1 million views. Their last video, “Popstarz,” was posted seven months ago, before the duo went into a brief hiatus. Jessica and Hunter Live marks a renaissance of sorts for the characters. “We figured the characters needed some time to go to rehab—again— and get some illegal plastic surgery in Thailand. So we gave them a bit of a break,” jokes Crosby. “We took a little break from producing videos and performing live,

>> theatres

Out Now

June 26

Dope

The Little Death

Inside Out

Ted 2

Jurassic World

July 1

The Overnight

Magic Mike XXL

Spy

Terminator Genisys

PHOTO CREDIT TK

GLASS CHIN

JESSICA AND HUNTER LIVE Cavern Club Theater July 10-11 cavernclubtheater.com

PHOTO CREDIT TK

Filmmaker David Thorpe thinks he “sounds gay.” So he hires speech and voice coaches to help him lose his sibilant S, gain confidence and get rid of his vocal effeminateness. Do I Sound Gay? nimbly chronicles this mission, and features clips of Paul Lynde and Boys in the Band as well as interviews with Dan Savage, David Sedaris, George Takei and others to address queer stereotypes, adjusting/covering, camp, “performing gayness” and even the advantages of sounding gay. While the film make salient points about bullying and confidence, self-loathing and self-acceptance, masculinity and gay culture, Thorpe’s repulsion towards his and other effeminate gay men’s voices ultimately has him talking out of both sides of his mouth. —Gary M. Kramer

music DE LUX

Generation (Innovative Leisure)

*****

JESSICA & HUNTER: JONATHAN CLAY HARRIS

Beth Crosby and JC Gardiner

because we had other projects pop up and we were developing a series for Jessica and Hunter that never quite got off the ground in the right way,” adds Gardiner. “So we’re excited to get back into what we and the viewers love about Jessica and Hunter—being a-holes in public.” Beyond Jessica and Hunter reclaiming their a-hole birthrights, the show will feature performances by fellow Groundlings alum Alex Staggs and Second City’s Marc Warzecha. Crosby and Gardiner will also use the show to take a peek beneath the characters’ fake-baked veneers. “We’re going a little deeper and start to get to the root of Jessica and Hunter and why they are such haute messes,” says Gardiner. “This show has special guests, a bit of gorgeous eye candy, videos, lots of audience interaction and more celeb references than a shitfaced Guliana Rancic,” continues Crosby. “Also, its an hour long, as opposed to our last show, which was a half-hour, and I’m really curious to see if these characters can last onstage for an hour without blacking out from too much Cinnabon-flavored vodka.” Within the incestuous realm of L.A. sketch and improv comedy, the show’s director Droege—himself another Groundlings notable—has crossed paths with Crosby and Gardiner on several occasions, making this show a quasi-family reunion. “I was lucky enough to see Hunter and Jessica’s debut in a sketch at The Groundlings several years ago,” he says. “They were in line at Starbucks, and I fell in love with them the moment they complimented a woman for having earrings the size of dinner plates. I could also smell their bronzer and raspberry vodka sweats across the theater. They were fully realized, horrible, sick, pathetic trash bags who I loved and knew all too well. They’ve just gotten more disgusting and drugaddled and deplorable as the years have marched across their chemically altered faces. I’m honored to call them good friends.” Of course, these good friends embody the most vile, toxic Angelenos imaginable. But like all trainwrecks, it’s simply impossible to look away from Jessica and Hunter.

PHOTO CREDIT TK

music

MATES OF STATE You’re Going to Make It (Barsuk)

*****

Mates of State return with another mercilessly cheerful outing. Much like their male/female indie counterpoints Matt PRIME CUTS: & Kim, it seems like Kori Gardner and “Sides of Boxes” husband Jason Hammel are incapable “Staring Contest” of dark thoughts. Unlike Matt & Kim, “I Want to Run” they’ve managed to stay fresh-sounding for nearly two decades. Their Casiotone melodies are as fleshed out as their best work. “Staring Contest” opens You’re Going To Make It, the Mates’ first release in almost five years, and much like Chipotle, it’s a welcome reminder of their endlessly marvelous combinations using the same few familiar ingredients. “Gonna Get It” sounds straight off their 2006 breakthrough LP Bring It Back, while closer “Sides of Boxes” injects some much-needed melancholy pathos to the whole affair. If you’re a Mates of State fan, you’ll love this, and if they’ve never moved you, this won’t change things. —Dominik Rothbard

YEARS & YEARS Communion (Interscope)

*****

>> NEW RELEASES

Out Now

June 30

July 10

Adam Lambert The Original High

Miguel Wild Heart

Little Boots Working Girl

Giorgio Moroder Déjà Vu

Neil Young The Monsanto Years

Owl City Mobile Orchestra

Kacey Musgraves Pageant Material

L.A.’s De Lux is Sean Guerin and Isaac Franco, who forged a fun sound all their own on their first album—a synthesis of PRIME CUTS: post-punk, disco, funk and, of course, “Someday Now” electronic wizardry. Generation follows “30” last year’s debut and builds upon an “Living In An exhilarating synthesis of electropop, Open Place” lo-fi guitar strains and ‘80s new wave. It’s also somewhat of a concept album, strangely “inspired by the infamous lyrics of punk performance artist Karen Finley” that mines the depths of life’s complex issues. The twosome traverse through the duality of childhood and adulthood, nostalgia and aspiration, dream and reality. There’s a sort of Modest Mouse-meets-Hot Chip-meets-Talking Heads vibe going on, and it’s quite intriguing. In fact, there are moments when the singer kind of sounds exactly like David Byrne. —Paul V. Vitagliano

The-Dream Crown Jewel

Just when I’ve had it up to here with the unmitigated crap that calls itself electro-pop, along comes an act to PRIME CUTS: turn a stoic old hater into a dewy-eyed “King” convert. Case in point: this London trio “Shine” featuring the openly gay vocalist/key“Desire” boardist (and actor) Olly Alexander, bassist Mikey Goldsworthy and synth player Emre Turkmen. What makes them different is the passion and concentration of a band as well as the still-palpable thrill of pop music made by gays, pronoun specific though universal to all. They’re best when they’re buoyant—giddy, romantic or just loving the life still ahead for such enthusiastic young men in their 20s. —D.L. JULY 8, 2015

By Nathaniel Grey

A Peek at MTV’s Summer Slate

Scream

Catfish

stage

AMERICAN IDIOT The MET Theatre Through July 26

*****

We’re going to have to start coining new superlatives for the reliably fantastic work of DOMA Theatre Company after this breathtakingly bold and brilliantly executed production of the stage adaptation of Green Day’s American Idiot. The large young cast’s talent is matched only by its 110% commitment to the vision of director Marco Gomez, all exquisitely realized on John Iacovelli’s imaginative and adaptive industrial set. American Idiot examines adolescent angst in a post9/11, Bush-era world, with three friends taking very different paths out of their suburban ennui. What might be lacking in the book (by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer) is more than made up for in the hit album’s iconic songs, all brought to life with power and fidelity by musical director Chris Raymond’s virtuoso band. Jess Ford’s sexy Johnny and Andrew Diego’s Mephistophelian St. Jimmy lead the best-singing cast you’ll hear this year. I just hope you can find a ticket. —Christopher Cappiello 40

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Teen Wolf

MISERABLE WITH AN OCEAN VIEW Whitefire Theatre Through July 18

*****

Howard Skora’s zany dark comedy, directed by Jim Fall, stars vete ran a c tre ss Pat t y McCormack (who is well-remembered as an 11-year-old Oscar nominee , playing a murderous moppet in the classic 1956 thriller The Bad Seed). Here she plays a ball-busting mommie dearest. Regrettably, her role as a wheelchair-bound and mute hellcat is surprisingly limited, offering McCormack insufficient opportunity to truly shine, though she has fine moments. Mommie’s grown children include a shrill and unhappily married daughter (uproariously played by Elizabeth Regen), a cloddish elder son (the amusing Alex Skuby), and a neurotic gay son (the funny Paul Elia in Woody Allen shmuck mode). Drew Droege shines in a sidesplitting turn, for which the specifics are best left a surprise. (He also elicits guffaws in a brief bit as a perplexed headshrinker.) Though Skora’s script could use some tightening, it’s nonetheless a likely crowd-pleaser, with particular appeal for gay audiences. —Les Spindle

PHOTO CREDIT TK AMERICAN IDIOT: MICHAEL LAMONT; MISERABLE: JIM FALL

aving long since strayed from its 1981 purpose of bringing music videos to the masses, MTV has in the last few decades proven to be a powerhouse in the realm of original television programming for younger audiences (and, sure, older viewers as well). This upcoming television season will be no exception, as MTV’s summer viewing choices are heating up once again. Teen Wolf, the most homoerotic non-gay-focused show on TV, returns for its fifth season on Monday, June 29. Making up for the demotion of hunky Tyler Hoechlin from series regular to guest star in the new season is the return of Keanu Kahuanui’s gay character, Danny, who was unfortunately missing from Season 4. New to the show are boyfriends Corey and Lucas, who will reportedly make their debut during the new season’s fourth episode. The following night,June 30, brings us the TV debut of Scream, a series version of Wes Craven’s ‘90s-’00s horror film franchise. Though not a reboot, this new chapter is set in a different town, which means a different killer and a new mask (one that is less cartoony than the Ghostface façade and much more frightening). Theis latest batch of terrorized teens include Royal Pains’ Willa Fitzgerald and Arrow’s Bex Taylor-Klaus. Catfish, which also began as a feature film, will return to TV with a brandnew season of gullible gay and straight online daters on July 8, followed by even more young people making poor decisions with new episodes of Teen Mom 2 on July 9. As this heatwave of MTV small screen hits approaches, now would be the time to start planning those viewing parties.

Hollywood Cycle July 7, E! A new facet in reality programing arrives with a show about the WeHo and Santa Monica cardio-cycling studios named Cycle House. Six hourlong episodes look at the lives of facility instructors, trainees and clients with varied levels of determination, confidence and personalities. The cast includes demanding instructor Nichelle Hines, her egotistical ladies man brother Aaron Hines, class clown troublemaker trainee Chad Tepper, teacher’s pet Shannon Decker, the outspoken Sarafina Mundo and Cycle House co-owners Adam and Lara Gillman.

HUMANS June 28, AMC This remake of the Swedish series Real Humans is about a suburban family that purchases the latest fad—an android servant—only to discover that it’s slowly evolving toward human emotion. Set in an alternate future but in modern time, Damages vet William Hurt plays an elderly widower who relationship with his “Synth” is as if it were his own biological son. Hurt is joined by 24: Live Another Day’s Emily Berrington, Cucumber’s Jack Derges and Merlin’s Colin Morgan. Monday, June 29

TELEVISION LONG DIVISION

A.I.

Blade Runner

I, Robot

Humans

HBO celebrates Larry Kramer’s 80th birthday by airing the documentary Larry Kramer in Love and Anger, which gives us a detailed look at the life of the activist and co-founder of Gay Men’s Health Crisis and ACT UP (9 p.m. on HBO)

PHOTO CREDIT TK AMERICAN IDIOT: MICHAEL LAMONT; MISERABLE: JIM FALL

Tuesday, June 30 Zoo is a series based on James Patteron’s novel about a global pandemic that causes animals to begin organized attacks against mankind. The cast includes Game of Thrones’ Nonso Anozie, Mad Men’s James Wolk, House of Cards’ Kristen Connolly and Twilight’s Billy Burke. (9 p.m. on CBS)

MILLION DOLLAR LISTING SAN FRANCISCO July 8, Bravo What began simply as Million Dollar Listing eventually branched out to explore various cities—Los Angeles, New York, Miami and now the Bay Area. Much like the series’ L.A. and New York editions, this new spin-off features three young successful realtors—Roh Habibi, an Afghani-born Muslim; San Francisco high society-connected Justin Fichelson; and out realtor Andrew Greenwell (pictured above with Habibi), who recently married his partner, fellow co-worker Paal Salvesen. As filming began in October, their nuptials will unfortunately not be seen on this debut season, but here’s hoping for next.

Wednesday, July 1 Halle Berry is back as star and executive producer for Season 2 of the sci-fi series Extant. A reboot in plot from last year will introduce Watchmen star Jeffrey Dean Morgan as a cop from the future with Tomorrowland’s Pierce Gagnon returning as Berry’s android son. (10 p.m. on CBS) Tuesday, July 7 Jane Lynch is back hosting the third season of Hollywood Game Night, produced by Will and Grace vet Sean Hayes—a game show that teams up celebrities with common folk for party games. (10 p.m. on NBC)

SET YOUR

Tuesday, July 7 The Spoils Before Dying is a six-part sequel to last year’s miniseries satire The Spoils of Babylon. Set in the seedy underbelly of the 1950s jazz scene in L.A., it costars Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig, Haley Joel Osment, Maya Rudolph and Michael Sheen. (9 p.m. on IFC)

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HOT LIST

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a Frontiers tradition to kick off summer with our annual roundup of local LGBTs who should be on your radar. The 20 men and women on this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s list evidence the vibrancy of Los Angeles via their work in the arts, entertainment, activism and more, each illuminating his or her own brand of talent, inspiration and sex appeal By Mike Ciriaco, Stephan Horbelt, Patrick Rosenquist & Lydia Siriprakorn JULY 8, 2015

Clockwise from top left: Arnold Myint with drag alter-ego Suzy Wong, Alexandra Grey, Neal Baer, Frankie Grande, Jussie Smollett, Matt Bomer

HOT LIST When you think of someone from Nashville, Arnold Myint’s face may not be the first you envision, but when this openly gay, Asian former figure skater and current celebrity chef—who splits his time between Tennessee and Los Angeles—is confronted by prejudice, it may not be for the most obvious reason. “The biggest challenge is people who don’t live in Nashville, who have preconceived ideas of what Nashville is, based on stereotypes,” says Myint, calling from an office inside blvd, his consciously non-capitalized Nashville restaurant. “I’ve never seen any social challenges based on my race. Nashville is a hip, big entertainment city. I went to a diverse school growing up. I felt bad not because I was Asian but because I was one of the only kids in my school who wasn’t Jewish. I felt left out because I never got a bar mitzah!” Myint now has the opportunity to celebrate a different rite of passage as he is currently competing on the 11th season of Food Network Star. Tackling the reality competition series seems like a logical evolutionary step for the successful restaurateur. In addition to blvd, Myint has also opened the Asianinspired PM and the campier Suzy Wong’s House of Yum. That last restaurant references his drag alter-ego, Suzy Wong. “Suzy is a lot taller, and I leave that to her seven-inch heels,” Myint says. “I’m the same persona, just with a different outfit on.” As his male self, Myint already honed his craft on a different culinary competition series, which he feels may give him an edge on Food Network Star. “I was on Top Chef, so I know the pressure of cooking under time constraints. I know what it’s like to work with production teams, with wardrobe, producers.” The super chef adds with a knowing laugh, “I also respect the magic of editing.”

Dreams Do Come True At 24 years old, Alexandra Grey has one simple, ambitious goal—to become the first transgender star in mainstream music. She’s certainly had an enviable string of gigs—performing for Mayor Eric Garcetti at City Hall’s LGBT Heritage Month Celebration, singing with the Gay Men’s Chorus of L.A. at their Spring Awakenings concert and, in what she calls her “Beyoncé at the Super Bowl” experience, helming the mainstage at this year’s L.A. Pride celebration. “It was the moment that changed my life forever,” says Grey. “I never wanted that moment to end. The idea that I could touch someone else with my talent changed everything for me.” Getting to that moment, 44

F RO NT IERSM EDIA.COM

however, was difficult. Grey, a Chicago native, was rejected by her foster family who considered her, before transitioning, a gay man. “This July marks the fourth family reunion I was not allowed to attend,” she says. Grey arrived in L.A. homeless, but sought help from the LGBT Center, which provided transitional housing before she struck out alone. Her career has since blossomed; Grey was featured on Glee and Chasing Life, and starred as Sophia Burset (Laverne Cox’s character) in Orange is the New Musical, which had a one-night-only showcase at L.A. Theatre Center last month. Speaking about the musical and Cox, Grey knows she has to deal with a lot of expectations. “I already love Cox," says Grey. "She is such a positive example of what the transgender community stands for. It was an honor being able to give my take on her fierce and fearless character.” The show will reportedly go on to tour Las Vegas later this year. Grey is enthralled by her new home of Los Angeles. “I’ve always seen L.A. as a place of dreams,” she says. “Being here gives me the hope that one day I, too, will be able to make my dreams of breaking barriers in the entertainment world.”

Fabulousness & Philanthropy Unlike most reality television participants who use their camera time to cash in on a Warholian 15 minutes of fame, Frankie Grande used his experience on the 16th season of TV heavyweight Big Brother to aid a worthy cause. The 32-year-old Broadway alum used his fifth-place winnings from the show to found a school in Africa. But philanthropy is nothing new to the overachieving Grande, who for seven years has taught dance to disadvantaged youths through his own nonprofit, Broadway in South Africa. After that charity dissolved, Grande looked for a new humanitarian outlet, and the universe sent him a sign through its most holy gay vessel, Madonna. “One of the organizations we worked with, BuildOn, that builds schools all over the world, had a representative contact me and say, ‘You know, we’re the same organization Madonna [is partnered with]. Do you want to get involved?’ I was like, ‘Yes! You had me at hello,” says Grande, phoning us between takes on the set of one of his many upcoming projects. Much like the venerable Material Girl, Grande is notable for warming multiple irons in the fire. Beginning July 29, Grande will serve as a judge on the new season of America’s Best Dance Crew. Although this will mark his return to reality television, Grande is quick

to emphasize the talent aspect of the series and looks forward to reclaiming his choreography roots. “It’s exciting to be back in the artistic community, and on a dance-based show,” says Grande, who as the brother of pop starlet Ariana Grande obviously comes from a talented gene pool. “I’m a dancer, and I don’t think the world necessarily sees me as that, so I’m excited to immerse myself in culture and dance.” In August, Grande will also host a TV special called Worst. Post. Ever. on Oxygen, which will cheekily look at the do’s and don’ts of social media. Grande opines that when it comes to the Facebook-Insta-Twitterverse, more is more. Or, as he likes to put it, “Go Grande or go home.”

A Hollywood Hunk Strips Down A little over one year ago, Hollywood hunk Matt Bomer stunned the world when he revealed a giant secret—not that he was gay, as he'd already come out in 2012 while accepting an award from the Desert AIDS Project in Palm Springs, but that he'd actually been married to his husband, Simon Halls, since 2011. The two are also loving parents to three sons. These days the Houston, Texas, native doesn't leave much to the imagination, particularly on-screen. The White Collar and Chuck vet reprises his 2012 role of New Ageobsessed male entertainer Ken in Magic Mike XXL, coming to theaters everywhere July 1. Fans of Bomer's dashing good looks won't be disappointed in the sequel, which delivers more than a fair amount of shirtless choreography. Between his turns as a dancer-for-hire, Bomer was talked up for his portrayal of Felix Turner in HBO's 2014 adaptation of The Normal Heart, for which he had to lose 40 pounds. The actor said the intense preparation was "the least I could do for Larry Kramer." Mat t B omer is the 'real deal' in Hollywood—an actor who can go from provocative to poignant, all while staying true to his LGBT identity.

He Runs the Show More than just the showrunner of Under the Dome on CBS, which returns to TV on June 25, Neal Baer has been overseeing hits in the entertainment industry since the days of famed shows like ER and Law & Order: SVU, both of which he executive produced. He does what the do-gooder in all of us wishes we could do and uses Hollywood as a platform for change. “Those shows allowed me to do that, but I went in with the intention,” Baer says. He’s

MYINT: MARGARET ELLIS; SMOLLETT: COURTESY OF FOX; GRANDE: ADAM BOUSKA; BAER: CHELSEA KYLE

Cooking with Fire (and Eyeshadow)

MYINT: MARGARET ELLIS; SMOLLETT: COURTESY OF FOX; GRANDE: ADAM BOUSKA; BAER: CHELSEA KYLE

a pediatrician, writer and producer, as well as a husband and father. How he found time to build a successful TV career and go to Harvard Medical School, we’re not so sure. But it’s a good thing he did, because he’s broken a lot of boundaries on TV for the greater good, like being the first writer to bring a longrunning HIV-positive character to primetime on ER. Baer has never been afraid to push the envelope with his characters and storylines, having written about controversial issues like euthanasia, teen access to abortion and gun control, refusing to shy away from tough subject matter that sparks debate. “Anything that was sort of a contentious social issue, I did, and it was by choice,” he says. Baer’s avant-garde approach to public health on television is what earned him seven Emmy nominations and a Writers Guild Award for his work on ER, and a SHINE Award for Law & Order: SVU. “Any and all forms of storytelling I’m interested in, and in promoting public health,” he says. Since the ‘90s, Baer has been known as one of the most gay-friendly writers in the business, but only in the last year did he also

become part of the community. At 50, Baer came out this past summer in a beautifully written essay for Huffington Post, and has received tremendous support since. His future plans include telling stories that break away from the heteronormative narrative, and we can’t think of a better guy to do it.

Overseeing an LGBT Empire He can sing, dance, act and break records. The crazy-talented Jussie Smollett is more than a triple threat in Hollywood—he’s the face of the LGBT community on Fox’s hit show Empire. On the show Smollett plays the pivotal role of Jamal Lyons, one of Lucious' and Cookie’s three sons, who is gay and struggles with his father’s disapproval. The show reached unexpected levels of success in its first season, and since its debut on Jan. 7, it has set one record after another. For the first time in more than 23 years, Empire was the first primetime scripted series to grow in viewership with each episode. “There is, without a doubt, no closet JULY 8, 2015

Our Favorite Brand of Sexy Fashion, celebrities and TV—those three exciting ele me nts of the L . A . dream . They also happen to be the foundation of Brad Virata’s work as a Creative Director at NBCUniversal, where he spearheads the company's brand development and creative licenses for E! Entertainment Network and Esquire. Virata is the guy behind the media giant’s cobranded products, like its partnership with Stila and the E! Live from the Red Carpet shoe line at Macy’s. His résumé reads like the pages of a glossy fashion magazine or a FIDM 46

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student’s visionboard—Guess?, Lucky Brand, Justin Timberlake's denim line William Rast, the Jonas Brothers, Disney. Recently he’s even done some on-camera work as the host of lifestyle pieces for E! But Virata has more up his sleeve than great style and toned biceps. Back in 2006, he competed on the CBS hit reality show Survivor: Cook Islands and became one of America’s first gay, Asian-American characters to be featured on reality television, and the very first to appear on Survivor. “The media often portrays Asian men as asexual and subordinate,” Virata says. “In the gay community, Asian men are automatically categorized as effeminate and lesser-than. I wanted to break the racist perception that Asian men are not ‘real men.’” And that he most definitely did, lasting on the island for a challenging 21 days. Today, when he’s not working the red carpet scene, Virata is also actively involved with charitable organizations like Give Kids the World, OUT@NBCUniversal, the L.A. LGBT Center, Downtown Dog Rescue and the Asian Pacific Americans Alliance.

CAYNE: AUSTIN YOUNG; NOTARO: KATE LACEY; DONAGHUE: ANDREW JOHNSTON

that I’ve ever been in,” Smollett told Ellen DeGeneres in March when he officially came out on her show. It takes a man of great talent and character like Smollett to carry the role of Jamal on such an influential show. We look forward to watching Season 2 of Empire, which is currently set to premiere Sept. 23.

Clockwise from top left: Candis Cayne, The Welcoming Committee's Kris Fitzgerald, Rene Reyes, Dr. Chris Donaghue, Tig Notaro, Brad Virata

Spotlighting Our TV Legacy

CAYNE: AUSTIN YOUNG; NOTARO: KATE LACEY; DONAGHUE: ANDREW JOHNSTON

It was a lifelong love of cinema and TV that led Rene Reyes to his current post as the Director of Public Programs and Festivals at the Paley Center for Media here in Los Angeles. For the last 11 years, he has run the city’s beloved annual PaleyFest, as well as PaleyFest TV Previews and live panel conversations with the biggest names in television past and present. Whether it’s the cast of The Mindy Project, George Lucas or Judd Apatow, Reyes creates programming that honors influential shows and people. His passion—which aligns seamlessly with the Paley Center’s mission to preserve TV history—is evident when he speaks in awe of his work and of the actors and industry vets he’s met over the years. “It’s been amazing who I’ve had the chance to know,” Reyes says. “The chance to be able to shine a light on their work and give it some context in the history of television and the history of popular culture is a thrill to me.” But beyond star-studded events and bringing the public closer to their favorite TV shows and celebrities, Reyes is also shining a light on underrepresented populations. “It’s amazing how fast histories get lost or people’s work doesn’t get appreciated,” he says. Last year Reyes helped establish the Paley Center’s LGBT Collection. It includes 50 years of LGBT achievements in the television format, and he’s not done yet. “What we did with the LGBT archive, we’re doing the same with African-American achievements in television,” he says. His excitement for the project is inspiring and palpable, making him just the guy you want holding the spotlight.

Humor is the Best Medicine "Good evening. Hello. I have cancer. Is everybody having a good time?" With those four sentences, days after being diagnosed with breast cancer, stand-up comedian Tig Notaro famously stunned a 2012 West Hollywood audience and endeared herself to the world. Her struggles with becoming a critical smash of a comic and navigating a new relationship are now the basis of a documentary, simply titled Tig, that after rocking Sundance with an extended standing ovation will open this year's Outfest Film Festival on July 9. Notaro's doc features several of the standup stage's golden children, including Sarah Silverman and Zach Gaifianakis, which isn't surprising for the comic who regularly brings "Tig Has Friends" to Largo here in town (next on July 3)—a showcase that is almost a showingoff of how many local talents respect her comic

HOT LIST skills and knack for the pregnant pause. An L.A. resident since the late '90s, Notaro is a shining example of resurgence and proof that overcoming obstacles is merely what's expected of us in life. She reminds us that sometimes the best path to take is the one involving complete vulnerability.

A Proper Welcome L.A.’s gay community is going back to a time when making friends meant more than just a Facebook invite, thanks to The Welcoming Committee, an organization all about broadening the spectrum of gay life by bringing LGBTQs to typically straight places, whether you want to hit the slopes in Vermont or take over a straight bar once a month as part of its Guerilla Queer Bar events. “Most social groups in L.A. are extremely focused on their particular genre of activities,” says Kris Fitzgerald, volunteer leader of the L.A. chapter. “The Welcoming Committee creates a diverse range of events and activities that are inclusive of everyone in our LGBTQ community. We host a wide range of events that span physical activities, bar nights, sporting events and vacation experiences.” Having moved to L.A. from Hawaii back in 2007, Fitzgerald knows firsthand what it’s like to search for genuine connection in a city with so much to do and so much to offer. After meeting up with another Welcoming Committee chapter in West Hollywood one night, he realized, “It was something I wish I had run into much earlier in my L.A. life.” Now as volunteer leader of the new local chapter, Fitzgerald aims to make everyone feel welcome by creating an environment that’s more about forging real-life connections than accumulating friends on social media. “I love the LGBTQ community in Los Angeles,” he says. “The strength, diversity and leadership—as individuals we are unique and interesting, but when we come together as a group, we exponentially increase our ability to have new and exciting adventures.” Fitzgerald’s love of our city runs deep, and his dedication to The Welcoming Committee ensures that others will get the warm welcome we all wish we’d gotten when we came to L.A.

A Champion of Authentic Sexuality When it comes to sex, Dr. Chris Donaghue prefers to think outside the box. “Normal is not the goal. Stop trying to normalize,” says the nationally certified sex therapist, who openly identifies as queer. “We need to lean back and start to support and

find value in alternative styles, which is the basis of the LGBT community. We’re not like heterosexuals, and we don’t have to be, and we don’t want to be.” Donaghue’s philosophy of anti-normative sexuality found an apt mouthpiece this year when the good doctor served as a panelist for WE TV’s new show Sex Box. Adapted from a British television series, the show featured couples entering the titular camera-free, soundproof cube and fornicating in front of a live studio audience. The pair would eventually emerge from the box and discuss their intimacy with the aforementioned trio of sexperts in order to improve their relationship. Provocative in concept, the series failed to garner a second season. “As far as we’ve come, sex still scares the crap out of everyone,” Donaghue says. “Our culture, and the viewers, are still not ready to actually confront and encounter sex in an honest way. I was on a panel with two experts that were afraid to be supportive of sex and to find the health in it. The show wasn’t able to air in its entirety because right-wing, Christian, family-centric groups couldn’t handle the honesty that people have sex and, yes, we’re going to talk about it.” Fortunately, Donaghue’s message finds a new outlet on July 14 with the release of his new book, Sex Outside the Lines: Authentic Sexuality in a Sexually Dysfunctional Culture. The new work encourages the honest acceptance of our most innate desires rather than obeying social expectations. “We are still really obsessed with pathologizing alternative identities and sexualities,” he says. “The book challenges that. It says that being different is healthy.”

Blazing a Path Through Primetime More than a decade before Caitlyn Jenner there was Candis Cayne. In the ‘90s, this Maui-born performer carved a niche for herself within the New York drag scene, turning it out at such iconic venues as Wigstock and Boy Bar. By 1996, Cayne began transitioning into a woman, and soon after began yet another type of transition—from the cramped stages of New York’s East Village to a major guest starring role on ABC’s Dirty Sexy Money in 2007. As Carmelita Rainer, Cayne became the first trans actress to portray a recurring trans character in primetime. “I always wanted to act, but then I transitioned, and I thought I would never make it as an actress, even though I never stopped,” she says, phoning us from New York. “I got CSI , then within six months I got Dirty Sexy Money, and I’ve been working continuously since then. JULY 8, 2015

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Would you imagine that one of L.A.’s most revered international artists would also be a sweet gay guy who cares about foster kids in South Central’s Leimert Park and is funny as fuck to boot? Mark Bradford, all 6’8” of him, spent his childhood in West Adams and went on to CalArts, a MacArthur ‘Genius Grant’ Fellowship and art shows around the globe. It’s weird that only now at 53 he receives his first solo museum show in his hometown—Scorched Earth is at the Hammer Museum until Sept. 27. The work is beautiful and terrifying at once—thick paintings inspired by observations of microscopic HIV cells. Despite the science behind them, they’re raw and expressionistic. As Bradford said at a press preview, “I wanted them to be vascular, lacerated, bloody.” In the lobby, the artist has created a monumental map by scraping through layers of past paintings. On it he’s placed out-of-date HIV rates by state— the misinformation is about trust of statistics, the ability to fathom the suffering and a growing false sense of security in the community. There’s also a seductively hilarious video piece called Spiderman. Inspired by Eddie Murphy’s 1983 concert film Delirious—which used the word “faggot” thousands of times— Bradford plays a very ‘80s-sounding, very raunchy African-American comedian turning gender every which way but Murphy’s. It’s the rare art installation you don’t want to hear spoilers about. 48

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L.A.’s Pop Culture Professional It was the snap heard ‘round the world. On the May 8 episode of Jeopardy, pop culture correspondent Louis Virtel was asked to identify an allegorical play by Arthur Miller. Virtel not only correctly answered The Crucible but punctuated his response with a snap so fierce it was worthy of Damon Wayans’ Blaine Edwards and David Alan Grier’s Antoinne Merriweather. Although he didn’t take home the big prize in the episode, he did carve a name for himself in the annals of Jeopardy history with what USA Today dubbed “the sassiest Double Jeopardy in history.” “I realized that Jeopardy is a culmination of most things I enjoy—knowledge, reflexes, competitiveness, pageantry and fancy handwriting,” says the hilarious Virtel, reflecting on his gameshow experience. “If I could’ve done the whole thing in androgynous Annie Lennox drag, I would’ve, because Jeopardy is basically my version of pop stardom.” Pop stardom is certainly in Virtel’s wheelhouse. The self-anointed “Verbal Voguer” has ripped celebs to shreds by writing for such entertainment sites as After Elton, The Backlot and, most recently, HitFix. Virtel’s success in the genre stems from his genuine passion for the entertainment industry—specifically its divas. “I’m one of those gay guys who has a handful of icons he’ll never stray from—Madonna, Jane Fonda, Liz Phair, Aimee Mann, Gilda Radner, The Carpenters, Madeline Kahn,” Virtel says. “I love covering entertainment, because I already know everything about it, including most Oscar categories by year, and it’s edifying to add to that comprehension.” But while he adores our community’s commitment to celebrity culture, there is one area he wishes gays would focus on more closely. “I wouldn’t mind if the LGBT community paid a bit more attention to standup comedy. With Amy Schumer kicking ass, there’s a renewed gay interest in the art form, but we have plenty of fab LGBT comics, too,

BRADFORD: JOHN D. & CATHERINE T. MACARTHUR FOUNDATION

An Art Star Goes Solo

Meanwhile, Bradford and his partner of 18 years, Allan DiCastro, along with the philanthropist and art collector Eileen Harris Norton, have opened a private foundation back in Leimert Park. The block-long campus is supporting young people who have aged out of the foster youth system and brings art and artists to the community via exhibitions and a residency program. For Bradford it all ties back to the late ‘80s—the AIDS crisis, the war zone he grew up in that culminated in the Rodney King riots and comedians like Eddie Murphy calling open season on gays.

MATTEL: JOSE GUZMAN COLON

Not as much as I’d like, but continuously.” While Cayne acknowledges that trans acceptance is at an unprecedented high these days, she also emphasizes that the community still has many hurdles to overcome. “Right now we have all the visibility in the world, with Caitlyn and a bunch of other people who are doing things”—Cayne’s voice drops to a whisper as she giggles, “like myself.” She continues, “Now we can actually have the backing to do something that helps the community forward, like passing laws and helping out teens who are having a hard time.” Today Cayne’s acting résumé includes series including Nip/Tuck, Drop Dead Diva, Necessary Roughness and Elementary, as well as roles in films like To Wong Foo, Stonewall and RuPaul’s Starrbooty. The longevity of her career can be attributed to Cayne’s sense of artistic integrity. “I feel privileged and fortunate to work as long as I have, and to have made a positive impact on our community,” she says. “It was always super important to me that I play true roles, and that I was honest about who I was as an actress. More and more that has become more acceptable, and it can only get better from here.”

Clockwise from top left: Karis Wilde, Gregorio Adam Davila, Louis Virtel, Mark Bradford, Trixie Mattel

like Guy Branum, James Adomian and Judy Gold.” These comics deserve snaps, according to Virtel, and who are we to argue?

BRADFORD: JOHN D. & CATHERINE T. MACARTHUR FOUNDATION

MATTEL: JOSE GUZMAN COLON

All Dolled Up Her name may not be Talky Tina, but she’s definitely killing it. Much like the titular Living Doll from that classic Twilight Zone episode, RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Trixie Mattel is like a smacktalking, runway-walking Barbie doll sprung to life. “My look is very different,” says Trixie (né Brian Firkus), phoning in from his hometown of Milwaukee. “You never see a drag queen look like me. I look like a crazy sock puppet, Fraggle Rock kind of thing. It’s this doll-like character, very deadpan, cutting comedy. It’s a My Little Pony children’s toy that talks trash. People really respond to that.” It’s this unique aesthetic that earned Trixie a spot on TV’s signature drag competition show in the first place. Although the pink-hued queen didn’t emerge as the latest season’s Drag Queen Superstar, the experience did reveal hidden strengths of which even she was unaware. “We’re in a high-impact, high-stress environment, and the impossible is being asked of us in the smallest amount of time,” she says. “You figure out what your dominant hand is when you catch with it without thinking. I never went into Drag Race thinking I’m a comedian, but I left being like, ‘Oh, comedy is my thing.’” Now a slightly more self-actualized Trixie is traveling the country, flaunting her nascent stand-up skills and continuing to flex her creative muscles. Most notably, back in May she appeared at L.A.’s first-ever DragCon, sporting an oversized, pastel doll box, à la Barbie, where fans could pose for photo ops with the darling damaged doll. As extra icing on the strawberry shortcake, Trixie’s recent spate of touring gives her a practical excuse to escape from the Midwest. “It’s a culture I don’t really belong to. Wisconsin drag is very commercial. Very Top 40 music, very classic pageant look and performances. I’m very fringe and strange,” says Trixie, who has plans to become SoCal’s newest drag fixture when she moves to L.A. in the coming months. “Before Drag Race, in my own city, I couldn’t get a regular gig. I was the pink sheep. It’s funny, because drag is a subculture. What is weird for drag? We’re all weird. Coming from a city where I couldn’t get work, now I get to travel the world. It’s my Pretty Woman moment.”

Documenting Our City’s Queer Legacy It all began with a bit of Los Angeles trivia, when Gregorio Adam Davila was told that one of his favorite neighborhood bars—the

former Le Barcito, better known by its original and now-current name, The Black Cat—was the sight of the first LGBT riots, predating Stonewall by two years. The young native Angeleno’s inner history geek was piqued, resulting in hours of research that led Davila to direct the new film L.A.: A Queer History. Focusing on the city’s rich gay legacy not just from a civil rights perspective but from a cultural one as well, the documentary theorizes that L.A.’s gay culture is defined by one primary characteristic. “Cruising,” laughs Davila. “I’m half-joking, but it’s true. When you look back at history, the one constant that you’ll find is the strong desire and longing to ‘connect’ with others who are like you. A need to find and understand your identity. Whether it’s going to a vaudeville show at the turn of the 20th century and seeing the famed female impersonator Julian Eltinge, watching Marlene Dietrich wearing a man’s tux in Morocco in 1930, a sailor cruising Pershing Square at night for anonymous sex in the ‘40s, a married man sneaking off to a seedy, back-alley gay bar downtown or the more liberated gay Pride parades of today, queer people have always had a strong desire to find others who were like them.” That yearning to identify with a common community has motivated Davila to become an advocate for L.A.’s LGBT Latino youths, a minority within a minority. “When I came out, all I saw were images of muscled white men everywhere, and so I began to think that’s what being gay was supposed to be, and I denied my heritage for a long time,” he says. “Latinos make up roughly 40% of the queer population in L.A., and yet all our spaces are closing and disappearing. It was very important for me to include the queer Latino minority story in the film. Queer people of color have also contributed to the community, and the world as well, and their stories are rarely told.” Ultimately, Davila’s film isn’t for oblivious straight audiences but for the majority of LGBT Angelenos who are themselves often ignorant of their own heritage. “The best defense against ignorance is education,” he says. “My hope is to educate everyone on the contributions and the utterly unique culture of the LGBT community.”

He's a Magnum Girl "I’ve been In L.A. my whole life," says local performance artist and androgyne Karis Wilde, "but I was born in Mexico. When I was kneehigh to a grasshopper, my mother threw me over the border with some oranges and said, 'Go, my child. Go and make juice—they’ve never heard of it.'” Wilde is no doubt familiar to fans of DTLA's popular Mexican wrestling events JULY 8, 2015

Lucha VaVOOM as a master with the hula hoop, though he got his start with the troupe reluctantly. "I was hesitant at first since it was a very straight audience; they were there to see wrestling and boobs," he says. "But the audience responded very well to my show, and I very quickly became one of the main performers. Ten years later I’m still there shaking everything little baby Jesus didn’t give me." Most recently, Wilde became a spokesmodel for Magnum Ice Cream Bars, which sought out genderqueer inividuals for its new ad campaign. "I was in front of the camera for a total of 15 minutes, and I thought I was going to end up on the cutting room floor. I was absolutely floored when they called and asked if I would go to Cannes Film Festival to unveil the spot." What's next for Wilde? His own fashion line, of course. "I’ve been working on it for about a year now. I’m getting close to making it available to people, but the problem is I’m such a perfectionist. I'd rather take my time with it and do it right," he says.

Pop Music's Happy Hippie From Hannah Montana to rave kid to LGBT activist, 22-year-old Miley Cyrus has already lived quite a few lives. The former Disney star recently told Paper magazine that she came out to her mom as bisexual while filming that bubble gum kid's show at 14. "It was so hard for her to understand. She didn’t want me to be judged, and she didn’t want me to go to hell. 50

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But she believes in me more than she believes in any god. I just asked for her to accept me, and she has.” Of course, Cyrus did away with her good-girl status permanently when she exploded back onto the scene in 2013 with her fourth studio album Bangerz, and has been pushing the envelope with her avante-garde sexuality ever since. Proving herself to be much more than racy photoshoots and provocative dance moves (and let's not forget that tongue), now that she has the world’s attention, Cyrus is using her platform for good, recently launching the Happy Hippie Foundation, a nonprofit that advocates for LGBT homeless youth. Cyrus has taken a hands-on approach to her new role as activist, posting live music performances with fellow stars like Ariana Grande to raise awareness, and visiting the L.A. LGBT Center to scope things out for herself. She has also joined the fight against AIDS, which the amfAR Inspiration Gala in New York honored her for earlier this month. “I want to work every day to do something good for someone else, or I will feel not only as if this honor has just been wasted but my life and all the influence that comes with it,” Cyrus said at the podium. She’s passionate, she’s boisterous and we think she’s just the woman for the job.

Queer Rap's Renaissance Man Rapper, engineer, advocate—E. Levi Allen certainly sports an eclectic list of passions. The 23-year-old Washington, D.C., native is a

recent transplant to the Southland, and while he doesn’t know for certain which path will prove most successful, he has a damn good shot at any one of them. Allen raps under the name jACE the Caveat, and his path to queer rap was a little different than most. He began pouring his energy into music back in high school, initially rapping about God and Christianity. By college, however, he had stepped out of the closet and changed up his material. “I almost instantly went from praising the Lord to critiquing the establishment,” he says. “My work has been most changed by the idea of 'the other.’ In a world where we always find ways to divide ourselves, there’s no greater tool than music to support marginalized groups and discuss inclusion.” By day, Allen works as a software engineer for OpenX, and he also manages social media for the San Diego-based Leather Foundation, an advocacy group focused on individuals with HIV and Hepatitis C in the kink community. After driving cross-country earlier this year, landing in South Pasadena, Allen is fascinated by Southern California’s abandoned spaces and loves the Mexican food, but he’s most excited by L.A.’s talent pool. “I love the simplicity of building my Rolodex, because everyone here is talented,” he says. That includes Allen as well, whose first album, ALPHA, is set to see release soon. And after that? “I’m starting a record label in December with an emphasis on queer artists,” Allen says. “I’ll always sing and produce, but my passion is just to tell the truth on records.”

PHOENIX EFFECT: NATE JENSEN AT INN8 CREATIVE

From left: Miley Cyrus, E. Levi Allen, Phoenix Effect's Beth Bishop (right) with trainers Derek Jameson and Seth Browning

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PHOENIX EFFECT: NATE JENSEN AT INN8 CREATIVE

A Force for Fitness Good Business owner and personal trainer Beth Bishop has a philosophy that has shaped her life’s work. “Everyone who has a body is an athlete,” she says. That turn-no-one-away approach is being put into action with her revamp of Phoenix Effect, the Melrose gym that’s part-workout facility, part-community outreach and wholly different from any fitness class you’ll find here in L.A. “I want to help the community by using fitness to make the world a better place,” says the 30-year-old Minnesota native. This burning urge to help others has been a through line in what has otherwise been a hectic career—one that has taken her around the world and through several unusual professions. Through everything, “I understood that business could be a force for good. It could really help people,” she says. After a few years of being stuck behind a desk, the work got to her. The realization slowly crept up on her that there was no way she could work a regular job. The question then became, what the hell else is out there? “I’ve always been a fitness buff,” she says, “but who thinks of that as a career? You see these angry trainers yelling at people doing push-ups. That isn’t me.” When a college friend noticed Bishop’s office misery, he prodded her to leave her prejudices behind and simply try a position as a part-time personal trainer. If it didn’t work out, she still had her day job. But Bishop fell in love with training and became certified, deciding to make the switch full-time. She embraced being a trainer, though she felt she had outgrown her Boston home. Los Angeles seemed the perfect place to build a dream career. After moving to L.A. and taking a stint at upscale gym franchise Equinox, she

met Max Phoenix and started to work for his fledgling Max Phoenix Effect gym, which was then renting space inside the private gym Mansion Fitness. She was floored by the attention to detail and caring nature the trainers there brought to every client, and she knew this was where she’d stay. After tragedy struck Phoenix Effect—with its namesake taking his own life and another founder losing his life shortly thereafter—Bishop knew the new business needed to weather those tragedies, to honor and make real what both those men had worked hard to achieve. She decided to lead a rebranding of the gym. “The phoenix is a very powerful symbol,” Bishop says. “It’s a signal of rebirth. I kept the name to honor Max.” Bishop has also worked to create a community-oriented business. The Midwesterner is dismayed with the antiseptic nature of commercial gyms, which made her determined to enact two policies in her own—make everyone feel welcomed and appreciated, and hire trainers who, in her own words, “give a shit about people.” “I hire people who know everyone’s name—and their dog’s name. They know your goals, your struggles, what you’re celebrating. They care,” she says. The Phoenix Effect Community Outreach also organizes barbeques, hikes and charity events—having raised $3,000 for the LGBT youth camp Brave Trails and $12,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society—and she hopes she interjects some of her small-town Minnesota caring into what is usually a very detached experience. “It’s about the nice, little things,” sums up Bishop. “It’s all in the details.”

JULY 8, 2015

THE BOYS ARE BACK A behind-the-scenes peek at the bottles of baby oil, screaming female fans and skimpy G-strings of this summer’s Magic Mike XXL By Stephan Horbelt

Anecdotes from the Set ANDIE MACDOWELL: We were shooting nights, and they had been shooting quite a while when I came in. I was terrified but pretending that I wasn’t, and I came in acting in the role of this crazy woman, and I think Amber Heard felt that really was who I was. AMBER HEARD: I just learned yesterday that she actually wasn’t a crazy woman. AM: I’m not! AH: I thought Andie was out of her mind, but that’s a testament to how great she is. This movie is funny because the energy between everybody is palpable, both in the room, on set—and then you can also see it on the screen. There’s a strange truth represented here. JADA PINKETT SMITH: During rehearsal I got a special lap dance from Matt [Bomer]. CHANNING TATUM: Dude! I didn’t know about this. Hold up. JPS: I think I got set up, because I just wanted to watch his rehearsal, ‘cause I found out how well he sings and I was like, Oh, I’m gonna just stay. I just want to see Matt. They were like, Yeah, yeah, yeah, come over here, sit in this chair right here. So I’m sitting there and he comes out and starts his routine, and he came over to me and we had a little special moment. [Laughs] It was awesome. CT: I didn’t know that. JPS: You were there, Channing, remember? CT: I don’t remember that. I blocked most of that out. [Laughs] 52

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Donald Glover, Andie MacDowell, Stephen ‘Twitch’ Boss Jada Pinkett Smith and director Gregory Jacobs—recently met up in West Hollywood to discuss the making of the sequel, a surefire summer hit, and we were there to take it all in. One thing’s for certain—you’d be hard-pressed to find a sexier ensemble of actors and actresses than this group reminiscing about private lapdances, Matt and Joe’s longstanding bromance and the fun of raiding your local Mini-Mart. JOE MANGANIELLO: It totally was a set up, though. Sorry. JPS: Were you there, Joe? JM: Yeah, that was a set up. CT: We did the same thing to Joe Manganiello. We were like, Here, sit here, Joe. We’re like, Matt is gonna dance for you. STEPHEN ‘TWITCH’ BOSS: It was just an incredible time. Always in the back [of my mind], no matter how many incredible performances were going on, you knew there was a moment when you would have to stand there wearing nothing. It was in that moment that it all came together . When you have to stand there with your ass cheeks kinda waving in the wind, that’s when you look around the room and catch eye contact with everybody, you know what I mean? And you say, This is what we’re here for. This is it. We’re changing lives right now. [Laughs] ADAM RODRIGUEZ: It’s really hard to pick just one moment, because the whole ride literally was from start to finish one of the most fun times I’ve had in my life, nevermind just in my career. But I can’t get Michael Strahan out of my head. Michael Strahan—just baby oil head-to-toe in a tight pair of gold shorts. A Hall of Fame NFL player jumping six feet in the air over a woman on a table that he’s massaging. I just will not ever be able to get that out of my head. CT: I see him in my sleep sometimes. MATT BOMER: One of the fun things about doing a road trip movie is that everyday is a new adventure. We never stayed in one place too long. One day we were at [Jada’s character] Rome’s club and I was seeing Donald freestyle and you’re getting to dance with Jada, and then you’re with a bunch of drag

COURTESY WARNER BROS.

ollywood’s strapping, stripping hunks have returned, and this time they’ve brought a few new friends along for the ride. In Magic Mike XXL, set to heat up theaters and soak a few seats on July 1, Channing Tatum, Matt Bomer and Joe Manganiello tell a new story comprised of butt-baring showstoppers and the everlasting bonds of brotherhood. The film’s entire cast—including new franchise additions Amber Heard,

queens. I mean, it was all a new adventure, but for me in particular, [the highlight was] seeing Joe’s Mini-Mart scene. That moment was so mind-blowing and epic that I literally just stood behind the camera wanting popcorn—or really any carbohydrates—just with my jaw on the ground thanking god. I will never look at Mini-Marts the same way again ever. CT: Or Cheetos. DONALD GLOVER: Speaking of food, we were in Savannah, Georgia, so there was a lot of very unhealthy but delicious food— that we could not have. On the first day there was a thong in my dressing room—a silver thong. And I was like, This is it. Then I do my scene, and it was awesome, and I came back in and realized that no one ever saw this thing. It was a solidarity thong. I was like, Wow, I’m really in this movie. KEVIN NASH: When I got the call that we were gonna do the second one, being the only guy on the dance crew that was currently reading the AARP magazine, staying in touch with everybody and getting a chance to read Joe’s book and see the shape that he was in, I’m going, Jeez, here we go again. Even though we had the experience of the first one and you know it’s coming, it doesn’t make it any [less scary] than it was the first time. It had been a couple of years and a couple of years on my body. CT: I know I can look around to all these people—these lovely and talented people up here—and just thank ‘em, ‘cause this is a crazy movie and this is a crazy part of my life, and now I can always look around through the years and say, Hey, remember that time we all got naked together? We have that. I just want to thank ‘em all for being in the film. I love you.

Opposite page, from top: Adam Rodriguez, Kevin Nash, Matt Bomer, Channing Tatum, Joe Manganiello and Gabriel Iglesias are reunited once again; Stephen ‘Twitch’ Boss shows off his moves (and that six pack); Manganiello gets serious This page, clockwise from top: Bomer, Rodriguez, Tatum and Nash; a preview of Manganiello’s finale routine

Being Friendly Off Set CT: [The fun we have together] really was the reason to do the second film. You don’t even have to write anything; just turn the cameras on. I know a lot of people say [about filming], Oh, we just loved each other. We all really like hanging out and stuff. But I don’t know, I haven’t been on a movie where people would show up on their days off to watch and to support their friends. That doesn’t happen on other movies; it just doesn’t, and that’s ultimately what happened everyday on this thing.

The Matt and Joe Bromance JM: Well, I’ve known Matt since he was 18, and we did come through drama school together. MB: Oh, we’ve done Shaw together. JM: Shaw and Chekov and Shakespeare and Ibsen and all of that has brought us to this moment in our careers where Scene 1, Take 1 was, Uh, Joe? You’re gonna get naked and cannonball Channing into a pool. CT: A Crowning achievement. JM: Yeah, that education really paid off. Matt is such a humble guy, and I feel like sometimes I’m Matt’s agent or I’m Matt’s color man, getting behind him letting people know Matt can sing. One night we were filming in Tampa and Matt and I went out to this karaoke bar, and I dared Matt to sing Jon Bon Jovi’s “Blaze of Glory,” and he sang it so well and so hard and nailed every note, which is, like, really difficult—a lot of people crash on the rocks of Bon Jovi songs at karaoke bars all over the world. And Matt killed it so bad that he got a free bottle of water afterwards. [Laughs] I remember coming back the next day and talking to Channing or whomever, and I was like, You’ve gotta get Matt to sing. So I’m so happy the world will now know—or at least the audience who hasn’t seen him sing on Glee is now gonna know—that he killed that D’Angelo song [near the film’s finale], which is once again not an easy feat. MB: Easy, easy. I just don’t want to be on D’Angelo’s bad side.

COURTESY WARNER BROS.

On Making the Decision to Shoot a Sequel CT: People had to go to the first one to really even merit making a second one. We couldn’t have any idea that the first one was gonna do what it did. That’s why we made it for so little money— we were just kinda making a little independent movie. And then, I don’t know, we won the lottery with it somehow. After that I think the only thing we knew that was creative left on the table was the JULY 8, 2015

On Bringing Jada Into the Fold GREGORY JACOBS: Well, I will say this. [Jada’s character of stripclub owner Rome] was originally written for a guy. We were all together and [the film’s writer Reid Carolin] said, Ya know, wouldn’t it be cool if...? And literally he did not have to finish that sentence; we all knew where he was going with it. So the idea of the character being a woman was the group’s. It was the group’s and the gods’, and she was really the first person we thought of, and thankfully she agreed to do it. CT: She came in and really created that character. Basically we just wrote placeholders for all the female parts and then wanted to cast the women and have them tell us how they wanted to do it, because they’re brilliant, and they’re amazing creators in their own right. So they really all killed it. GJ: I don’t think Jada got the script until, like, the day before we were shooting or something like that. CT: We waited to give her the pages so she couldn’t quit until the last minute, so she’d feel really guilty if she didn’t like them. [Laughs]

On the Film’s Female Extras CT: They were wildly well-behaved! In the first film they ripped Matthew McConaughey’s thong off of his body and that was not even 100 of them. I thought that 1,000 women [in this film] was gonna be uncontrollable. But I don’t know, everybody was just really, really wellbehaved. We just loved that they were there. I think they really enjoyed it because we didn’t rehearse onstage, so they didn’t get to see what was coming in a way. They got to see it for the first time every time, in a way. 54

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From top: The gang’s all here; Bomer’s finale routine, featuring the actor’s real vocals on a D’Angelo song; Donald Glover serenades the audience

CT: We did have a little mishap. JM: Yes. Take 1 of my finale routine, which we rehearsed and rehearsed and rehearsed, my dance partner did something unrehearsed and the result was—audible to me—a loud rip and a pop. It was my bicep. We went into the back and we had our, like, “All-Valley Karate Tournament Mr. Miyagi moment” in the back where I was on the table, and—normally a bicep snaps and rolls up into your shoulder, the arm turns black and caves in. That didn’t happen, so I thought it was a dislocated bone in my arm. So we had a masseuse come in. MB: That’s what happens when you’re Joe Manganiello and your biceps have biceps. [Laughs] JM: This masseuse is trying to work what we thought was a bone back into my arm. Channing is there, and Greg and Stephen, and Channing says, I can move my routine up, and I’ll do it today. I just thought, there is no way—I’m not gonna make it tomorrow. Tomorrow my arm is not gonna move. If we can go, we gotta go now. CT: It was right out of Rocky, man. I was like, Dude, I’ll go on, I’ll go on. He’s like, No I got it! Just pop it back in, just go! JM: Yeah so, you know what, I came back out and we—for the next four and a half hours—did this routine, which involves this sex swing and these monkey bars on top that I have to run and jump up on top of, and my brain wouldn’t allow me to visualize landing on it, because it knew—it was trying to stop me. But we made it through, and everybody was like, pat on the back, ice bag, Bro that was amazing! And [new fiancée Sofía Vergara] was there that day. We got back in my trailer and as soon as the door closed she looked at me and said [mimicking Sofía’s accent], If I see you at the fucking gym tomorrow, we’re done, I’m going to fucking leave you, that’s it. CT: So he hasn’t been in a gym since. [Laughs] JM: Yeah, I don’t even think about gyms.

COURTESY WARNER BROS.

Accidents on Set

convention, and we knew Matt was gonna sing, and that was about it. The rest of it we had to start filling in. Greg really took the lead on that.

JULY 8, 2015

THE WORLD OF BILLY MASTERS

From left: Jim Bailey, Caitlyn Jenner, John Stamos, Laverne Cox, Nick Jonas

CATCHING UP WITH CAITLYN JENNER, A DRAG LEGEND REMEMBERED & A PENIS IDENTIFIED

What a Gentleman Nick Jonas continues to put himself out there for his gay fans. After hearing that Iggy Azalea pulled out of headlining Pittsburgh Pride, he called up the organization and offered to fill in. “When I heard about the difficult position Pittsburgh Pride was in just days before their event, I knew I had to find a way to help. I’m excited to do what I can to support the LGBT community in Pittsburgh.” He just got even hotter to me. Catching Up with Caitlyn We hear Caitlyn Jenner has been approached to be a judge for the Miss USA Pageant, which takes place July 12. Note that this isn’t Miss America; Miss USA is the one owned by Donald Trump where, I believe, you can’t compete unless you’ve had a minimum of three plastic surgery procedures and at least two things implanted. It should also be mentioned that Miss USA allows transgender contestants. It’s really quite a good fit, especially since Jenner watched that very pageant when trying to come up with a female name. It’s been reported that Jenner’s net worth has gone up exponentially since going public as Caitlyn. The going rate for a Caitlyn appearance is over $100K, whereas Bruce only got about $20K. 56

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That said, Jenner waived any fee recently for two hours at the L.A. LGBT Center spent touring the facility and speaking with transgender youth, although I hasten to add that this visit was filmed for her reality show. In addition to the show and personal appearances, Jenner has also been asked to appear on the second season of the Amazon hit Transparent, though creator Jill Soloway explained she isn’t sure exactly how to work Caitlyn into the show. “I don’t know if she’d want to act, but we definitely want to incorporate the fact that she came out into this season,” she says. Cox is the New Wax Laverne Cox has gotten used to making history. She was the first transgender person to pose for the cover of Time, to get an Emmy nomination and to appear nude in Allure magazine. Now she has something else to add to that list—the first transgender person to be immortalized as a wax figure inside the San Francisco Madame Tussauds. Lies in the Legal System Let’s move to Michael Egan’s suit against Bryan Singer, Garth Ancier and other industry bigwigs. When last we left this tawdry tale, Egan’s story of being plied with alcohol and drugs and being taken advantage of while underage was unraveling. Now Egan’s former attorneys have publicly apologized to the accused. Lead attorney Jeff Herman told Ancier, “Based on what I know now, I believe that I participated in making what I now know to be untrue and provably false allegations against you. I deeply regret the pain, suffering and damage the lawsuits and publicity have caused you, and your family, friends and colleagues.” It was revealed that the attorneys would make a “significant financial payment” to Ancier. Remembering a Legend Recently the legendary Jim Bailey passed away. In these days of drag queens having mainstream

cachet, Bailey was an original. He didn’t need RuPaul to bring him to national prominence— he had someone named Ed Sullivan! This led to appearances on The Carol Burnett Show, The Dean Martin Show, The Tonight Show and others. Bailey became the characters he portrayed, which included acting in plays and singing live as Barbra Streisand, Judy Garland and others. In fact, he memorably appeared as Judy alongside Liza Minnelli at the Flamingo Hotel in 1973. In 1985, he acted in an episode of Night Court playing a transsexual college friend of John Larroquette. He was certainly ahead of his time, and he will be missed. A s k B i l l y: D o c t o r e d o r Na h? Our question comes from Gareth in London: “Did you hear about footballer [soccer player to us Yanks] Aaron Moody? Pics of his naughty bits are making the rounds. Thoughts? Could that thing be real?” Aaron Moody is a 19-year-old goalkeeper from Swindon Town Academy, and he’s been identified as someone who posts nude photos online under the clever moniker “bigwhitecock20.” Well, that ticks all our boxes. I believe the photos are undoctored, which leads me to make an observation you’ll rarely hear me utter—I think he’s actually too big! Although the pics have been deleted from most websites, you can see them on my site. When Moody can enter a three-legged-race, we’ve come to the end of yet another column. Before we wrap up, I’d like to acknowledge the passing of porn star Cole Tucker. While the term “legend” is tossed around haphazardly, Tucker certainly qualified for the unique niche he created in the world of gay porn. Learn about all kinds of legends at BillyMasters. com, the site that can fill any niche. If you’ve got a question for me, send it to Billy@BillyMasters.com, and I promise to get back to you before I try some of Stamos’ greek yogurt! Until next time, remember, one man’s filth is another man’s bible.

PHOTO CREDIT TK

Suspicion Surrounding Stamos I could have been rear-ended by John Stamos. There’s an opening (so to speak) I never thought I’d utter. At roughly 7:45 p.m. on a recent Friday, the Beverly Hills police department received calls about a reckless driver. Shortly thereafter, Stamos was pulled over at the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Beverly Drive—just a hop, skip and jump from Billy Masters International! Alas, I was in Fort Lauderdale, so I missed all the drama. The cops ascertained that Stamos needed medical assistance, so he was rushed to a hospital where he was treated and issued a citation for suspicion of DUI. He’ll get his day in court on Sept. 11.

QUEERSAY

BY GOSSIP GAY

FOR SHAME!

’ll readily admit that getting into gay L.A. summer shape gets harder with each passing year. Now that I’ve crossed over into my dreaded third decade, dropping 10 extra pounds of winter weight in order to reclaim my svelte body takes more work than ever before. (Janet Jackson, I now understand your pain!) That said, I will say that 24 Hour Fitness Zumba works wonders; just two classes a day not only got my glutes toned and my waistline tight but my bubble butt back to that of a hungry 20-year-old stumbling Santa Monica Boulevard for the first time! So with my step-touches and snap-kicks back in working order, I decided to return to one infamous Hollywood dance studio to reclaim my former position in one of the city’s toughest dance classes. Three years as a former after-hours stripper had taught me well; back in 2005, I once ruled this class! But as I quickly found out, the past decade has not been kind to my knees ... or back ... or feet ... or any other muscle group below the waist. Yes, quickly I became one of those dance class rejects who, 8-count by 8-count, slowly but surely moves farther and farther back until they’re up against the exit door. I will, however, give myself credit for finishing the class. But I was blasted with shade when—after the session ended—a gaggle of gays sauntered up to me, giggling and shifty-eyed. Their mean girl of a leader said, “Uh, you know this is an advanced class, right? Gurlfriend, get it together!” before laughing and sashaying away. My two left feet were completely mortified, until the instructor told me that mean girl was a former Jessica Simpson backup dancer who hasn’t shimmied for pay in years. What’s wrong with us WeHo gays? Can’t former strippers get along?

ALL THAT GLITTERS

ost-Pride season always leaves me reflective—on how far we’ve come and how far we’ve yet to go—but this year’s Sunday morning binge-drinking down the parade route had my head spinning for a whole different reason. On the outside, Hot Henry—a silver-haired, muscle-bound daddy who’s long been one of my besties—looks like he has it all together: tailored tank tops, a house in the Hills and a convertible that makes Barbie jealous. In reality his wardrobe is from Out of the Closet, his home was willed to him by an old trick and his car was a CarMax quick sale. Hot Henry hasn’t worked in decades, and he has no more than a nickel to his name, but the dude cleans up well. That’s exactly why young bumpkins fresh off the turnip truck flock to him, and on Pride Sunday I enviously watched on as a 19-year-old, fresh-faced Idahoan drunkenly clung to Henry’s biceps. I write this to that dear, stupid boy. Consider it a cautionary warning from one former “kept boi” to another. While I know you think this budding intergenerational romance is your swift ticket to easy street, Hot Henry is nothing more than a prettied-up pig covered in a lipstick of lies. I beg thee—process your daddy issues and move on to fiscally greener pastures. You’ll soon learn that in WeHo, all that glitters does not yield precious metal—even sugar daddies with flecks of silver in their hair.

For more Gossip Gay, go to FrontiersMedia.com. Drop me your dirty little secrets at QueerSay@hotmail.com, and don’t worry, I never give up my deep throat! JULY 8, 2015

PALM SPRINGS

INDEPENDENCE DAY IN THE DESERT Celebrate July 4th this year with fireworks, a game of baseball, an old-fashioned steak dinner and day-drinking alongside shirtless locals By Lydia Siriprakorn

BATTER UP! There’s no better way to say “Happy birthday, America!” than with favorite pastime baseball. Catch the Palm Springs Power as they take on the San Francisco Seals at Palm Springs Stadium. The game starts at 6:05 p.m. and will lead into a free fireworks show at 9:15. 1901 E. Baristo Rd. For tickets visit palmspringspowerbaseball.com. THE GLAMOROUS LIFE Celebrate for a cause at an upscale affair benefitting the AIDS Assistance Program. The evening will be held at the historic O’Donnell House and includes cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a fireworks show at 9:15 p.m. Tickets run $125 and include valet parking, and you won’t get a better view of Palm Springs than on the terrace of this gorgeous property. 412 W. Tahquitz Canyon Way. For tickets visit aidsassistance.org. PICNIC IN THE PARK It just wouldn’t be Independence Day without a massive fireworks blowout, right? For a more traditional celebration, you can catch a free fireworks show 58

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at Palm Desert Civic Center Park. The fun kicks off at 7:30 p.m. with live music by the Swing Cats Big Band, followed by a 20-minute fireworks display at 9. Bring a picnic, some blankets and a few of your favorite people for a good old-fashioned 4th of July. 73510 Fred Waring Dr., cityofpalmdesert.org RESTAURANT WEEK REDUX Escape the desert heat altogether at the recently reimagined steakhouse Mr. Lyons. If you missed its Palm Springs Restaurant Week menu, here’s your second chance. The steakhouse is offering a Summer Sessions menu at the bar with delectable options like foie gras-stuffed dates, twice-baked potatoes and beignets, ranging from $4 to $12. A special drink menu exclusively for July 4th is even more reason to come here to cool off. 233 E. Palm Canyon, mrlyonsps.com EAT, PLAY, LOVE Be sure to check in with The Ace Hotel, Hunters Nightclub and Oscar’s Cafe & Bar closer to the weekend for their own July 4th announcements. The Ace is guaranteed to put its amazing pool to good use with a favorite local DJ or two. 701 E. Palm Canyon Dr., acehotel.com. If you’re in the mood for music, live dancers and day-drinking alongside gorgeous men, head to Hunters, where the patio is always a popular gathering spot. 302 E. Arenas Rd., hunterspalmsprings.com. And for those who prefer to spend Independence Day with the whole family (dogs included), Oscar’s plans to offer up bottomless mimosas for Saturday brunch. 125 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, oscarspalmsprings.com

COACHELLAVALLEY.COM

ummer has officially arrived, and Palm Springs is just getting started. The sun can be harsh this time of year, but a little heat isn’t going to stop the desert from having fun during July 4th weekend. From fireworks to dance parties, the desert cities are in full-on celebration mode with Independence Day festivities. Here are a few good reasons to head out to the desert for America’s 239th birthday.

Sun. | June 28 PRIDE OPEN HOUSE Stonewall Gardens

Guest speaker Richard Pass shares his memories of being present at the 1969 Stonewall Riots in a free open house at the LGBT senior assistedliving facility, starting at 10 a.m. stonewallgardens.com Sun. | June 28 TRANS PRIDE PICNIC Ruth Hardy Park

C e l e b r a te t r a n s gender pride with a picnic from 1-4 p.m. Bring a smile and a dish to share. tinyurl.com/ncajgxe Fri. | July 3 MICHAEL L. WALTERS AS DAME EDNA Purple Room

World-renowned Australian drag queen Dame Edna Everage may be retired, but the tart-tongued diva lives on thanks to impersonator Michael L. Walters, performing through July 5. purpleroompalmsprings.com

Sat. | July 4 AAP’S INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION O’Donnell House

The Fourth of July fireworks are spectacular when viewed from the historic O’Donnell House, high up on the mountain, in this celebration benefitting the AIDS Assistance Program. aidsassistance.org Wed. | July 8 THE WILD BUNCH Camelot Theatre

William Holden and Ernest Borgnine star in director Sam Peckinpah’s 1969 western, playing at 8 p.m. as part of the of the theater’s Classic Hollywood Film Series. camelottheatres.com Thu. | July 9 KARAOKE CABARET Spurline

Show off your singing abilities with the best of them, every Thursday night starting at 9 p.m. spurline.com

PRESENTS

Outfest 2015

ADVERTISING DEADLINE: JULY 3, 2015

Inside L.A.’s Film Culture, Burning Man, Summer Grooming Guide

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SHHH! IT’S A PARTY “SILENT DJ” POOL PARTIES are one of the hottest trends in the nation, and it’s a trend that has now come to the desert. The Hyatt Palm Springs (285 N. Palm Canyon Dr., palmsprings. hyatt.com) hosts monthly nighttime pool parties where attendees are given wireless headsets with a recording of a live DJ set, plus alternate channels with other playlists. It allows each person to have his own party while being part of a larger one. These are in addition to the hotel’s popular Saturday afternoon pool parties. “Hyatt Palm Springs is especially proud to be the first hotel in the area to feature the ‘Silent DJ’ parties as part of these summer monthly weekends, and guests can look forward to a great time,” says general manager Dene Nui. The pool parties run from 8 to 11 p.m. one Saturday each month. Catch the next one on July 4, followed by parties on Aug. 8 and Sept. 5. The parties are open to hotel guests as well as the general public, and there’s no cover charge or dress code. —James F. Mills

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JULY 8, 2015

GAYDAR

BITCH, GET OFF MY POLE With abs so hard they could cut glass, a heart of gold and a college education to pay for, who can say they don’t love a stripper? YOU SHOOK ME ALL NIGHT LONG

DO YOU WANT TO TOUCH ME?

IT’S GETTING HOT IN HERRE

INSIDE THE CHAMPAGNE ROOM

BRINGING BOYS TO THE YARD

I’M IN LOVE WITH A STRIPPER

Who doesn’t think these shoes are fabulous?

Dita is singlehandedly responsible for making stripping classy again

He’s come to arrest you for disturbing the peace Pole dancing classes—when naked yoga just seems pedestrian Showgirls is our favorite cinematic study of T&A Put it back on! Put it back on!

Can you say to the ‘90s, “Hey, listen up. This is the pinnacle of your career”? No. Such is Mango. In front of us stand two beautiful men, but in our hand, only one g-string Make it rain! You had us at XXL You’ve been given a 4 inch square of spandex and a roll of dental floss—now make it work!

Madonna, forever stepping outside of her comfort zone

From Dusk Till Dawn’s vampire queen Santanico Pandemonium understands the value of the perfect boa

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If you aren’t reflective, you aren’t wearing enough

Think Willy Wonka is the tour guide at Tyson Beckford’s Chocolate City?

JULY 23, 2014

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