Frontiers Vol. 34, Issue 09

AUG. 20 - SEPT. 2, 2015 | VOL. 34, NO. 09

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

Pondering the Next Evolution of PrEP

The Paradox of Sex Between Straight Men

‘Dad Bod’ for Dummies

THE

SPORTS ISSUE

The First Annual West Hollywood Sports Festival • 10 Films for the Little League Dropout • Rufskin Does Sexy Athletic Wear • Stay Fit in the Desert • 21 LGBT Hall of Fame Athletes

2

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

2

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

3

4

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

Contents

AUG. 20 - SEPT. 2, 2015

FEATURES

52 Riding Hard with Rufskin

50

WeHo Sports Festival

CAIT LYN JENN ER

BILLY JEAN KING

DIAN A NYAD MICH AEL SAM

60

GAR ETH THO MAS

21 Out & Proud Athletes

ON THE COVER Logan Alan Swiecki Taylor photographed by Coats & Pouches for Rufskin Studio

SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

5

Contents

Download our interactive digital edition with videos, expanded editorial, behind-the-scenes photos and more.

Search for Frontiers magazine on

AUG. 20 - SEPT. 2, 2015

DEPARTMENTS NEWSBOX 13 14 16

18

18 20

The State of Trans Issues in America Flashbulb Watercooler The Dominance of Donald Changing the Chanel: The Power of TV DateBook

THE GAY AGENDA 23 24 26 26

Behind-the-Bar Tips and Tricks Benevolent Bicycles Our Pics for a New 'Daily Show' The Future is Now

13 35

HEALTH 31 32 33 25

How to Get Your 'Dad Bod' On A Guide to Masturbation Meditation The Paradox of Sex Between Straight Men

CALENDAR 35 36 40 43 43

Get FYF'd Up The MisMatch Game Queen Kong The Groundlings' Sundaze Fundaze Eating Out: Chavela

23 45

ENTERTAINMENT 45

46 47 48 48

10 Films for the Gay Little League Dropout Film Reviews Music Reviews Coming to TV Theater Reviews

COLUMNS 64 65 66 72

Billy Masters Gossip Gay Palm Springs Gaydar

31 66 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 Š 2015, New Frontiers Media Holdings, LLC.

PEOPLE INDEX J.J. Abrams 36 Gloria Allred 20 David Beckham 72 David Cooley 16 6

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

Jennier Coolidge 43 Miley Cyrus 48 Zac Efron 45 Roland Emmerich 13

Michael Jackson 35 Madonna 47 Taylor Swift 35, 48 Donald Trump 18-20

SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

7

PUBLISHER

Michael A. Turner Owen Phillips CREATIVE DIRECTOR Ed Baker

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR MANAGING DIRECTOR OF INTEGRATED MEDIA

Dustin Tyner Stephan Horbelt NEWS EDITOR Karen Ocamb ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR George Skinner GRAPHIC DESIGNER Michelle Aguirre EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ADVERTISING DIRECTORS

Mat Jongsma, Cristian Valencia, Jacci Ybarra ACCOUNT DIRECTORS Colleen Butler, Shana Wong

PALM SPRINGS ACCOUNT DIRECTOR Brad Fuhr

NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES

CLASSIFIEDS MANAGER

ACCOUNTING

EMAIL ADDRESS FORMAT

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES

DISTRIBUTION INQUIRIES

EDITORIAL INQUIRIES

Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863 Frank Perez Merrill Franks, Frank Perez

firstinitial.lastname@frontiersmedia.com sales@frontiersmedia.com editorial@frontiersmedia.com distribution@frontiersmedia.com

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Drew Droege

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Michael Anthony, Aaron Batts, Seth Browning, Dr. Greg Cason, Mike Ciriaco, Peter DelVecchio, Gossip Gay, Nathaniel Grey, Tom Paul Jones, Gary Kramer, Jim Larkins, Dan Loughry, Drew Mackie, Billy Masters, James Mills, Eric Rosen, Patrick Rosenquist, Dominik Rothbard, Aaron Savvy, Lydia Siriprakorn, Les Spindle, Bradley Tuck, Paul V. Vitagliano CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS AND ILLUSTRATORS

Gabe Ayala, Michael Lamont, Jeremy Lucido, Rolling-Blackouts, Jonathan Sirand

New Frontiers Media Holdings, LLC 5657 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 470, Los Angeles, CA 90036 p: 323.930.3220 | f: 323.857.0560 /FRONTIERSMAGAZINE

/FRONTIERSMEDIA

/FRONTIERSMAG

/+FRONTIERSMEDIAGROUP

Frontiers Media is the 21st century’s LGBT media company, spanning digital, mobile, print, radio, television, outdoor signage and unique experiential events. With the authority that comes from being a first in gay publishing nearly 35 years ago and incredible access to the entertainment industry, Frontiers Media serves the sophisticated, influential and nuanced LGBT community like no company has before. In addition to publishing FRONTIERS biweekly, Frontiers Media co-produces The Horizon, the world’s most popular gay web series, with over 35 million views hosted on its Frontiers TV platform. Frontiers Media is proud to be a certified LGBT Business Enterprise and a founding member of NEPA, representing LGBT publishers from the top 20 U.S. markets. FRONTIERS has over 40,000 copies distributed biweekly throughout California and Nevada, with an estimated monthly print readership of 360,000.

PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. PROUD TO BE AFFILIATED WITH

8

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

9

10

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

10

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

12

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

California’s Shiloh Quine may become the first inmate to receive sexual reassignment surgery paid for by the state

The State of Trans

Transgender individuals have become hot topics in the mainstream media, with California and New Jersey leading the way in opposite directions By Drew Mackie

400 The number of transgender inmates in California currently receiving hormonal treatment behind bars, according to the LA Times

SPEAK OUT

S

hiloh Quine will most likely serve out the rest of her life as a prison inmate. However, as the result of an Aug. 7 decision by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, she may do so at a women’s prison, despite beginning her life sentence at a men’s prison in 1980.

Quine, who could become the first inmate in U.S. history to have her sexual reassignment surgery paid for by the state, is just the latest example of transgender people taking the forefront in mainstream American news in a way they haven’t before. In the past two weeks, transgender Americans have become a hot topic of conversation and a potential political wedge issue in California, as well as in Washington and New Jersey, where the debate over their use of public restrooms yielded markedly different results.

In a public statement, Quine remarked how these issues permeate American culture and how even she, as a prison inmate, can help shift attitudes toward transgender people.

“After so many years of almost giving up on myself, I will finally be liberated from the prison within a prison I felt trapped in, and feel whole, both as a woman and as a human being,” Quine said in a statement released by the Transgender Law Center, which represented her in a suit against the state. “I know I can never truly make amends for what I’ve done in the past, but I am committed to making myself a better person, and to helping others so they don’t have to struggle the way I have.”

As Rodney, Quine was convicted of murder, kidnapping and robbery charges in 1980. In 2008, Quine began living as a woman, beginning hormone treatment the following year. On June 12, 2014, Quine filed a suit against the State of California, alleging that its refusal to grant her sexual reassignment surgery and regard her as a woman breached

the Eighth Amendment prohibitions against cruel and unusual punishment.

In settling the suit, the state agreed to pay for Quine’s surgery, stating that all doctors weighing in on the matter have determined the procedure to be “medically necessary.”

The agreement has been celebrated as progressive and groundbreaking by transgender activists and supporters.

Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, Kent Scheidegger, legal director of the conservative-leaning Criminal Justice Legal Foundation, pointed out that the agreement may rankle some taxpayers. “The idea that the Eighth Amendment requires something for prisoners not available to the law-abiding public is something a lot of people find offensive,” he said.

Speaking to the San Francisco Chronicle, Department of Corrections spokesperson Jeffrey Callison cautioned that the Quine agreement was not precedent-setting, saying, “We evaluate all such cases on an individual, case-by-case basis.”

In April, a federal judge ruled that Michelle Norsworthy—a transgender inmate at Mule Creek men’s prison in Ione, California, where Quine is also incarcerated—should get gender-confirming surgery. Norsworthy might have become

“When this film finally comes to theaters, audiences will see that it deeply honors the real-life activists who sparked the civil rights movement which continues to this day.”

Stonewall director Roland Emmerich responds to the backlash following the trailer release of his latest film, scheduled to hit theaters Sept. 25

SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

13

FLASHBULB continued

the first inmate to have this surgery subsidized by the state, but she was was paroled in May, effectively rendering the judge’s order moot.

California currently has nearly 400 transgender inmates receiving hormonal treatment, according to the L.A. Times.

Just days after Quine made news, however, transgender rights were placed in the spotlight again on Aug. 10, when Chris Christie, New Jersey governor and Republican presidential hopeful, vetoed legislation that would have made it easier for trans residents to update state records.

The Birth Certificate Modernization Bill would have allowed New Jersey residents to change the gender on their birth certificates without submitting proof that they’d undergone surgery. Christie, who had previously vetoed the bill, said in a statement that he believed it allowed too great a potential for fraud, though he noted that he might reconsider a modified version of the bill that addresses his security concerns.

On Aug. 12, however, Christie seemed to take a sterner stance on the legislation during a interview with conservative radio host Michael Medved, who asked Christie, “You have no compassion for the Caitlyn Jenners of this world?”

Christie restated his concerns about the bill, then continued, “I have to tell the truth, Michael. There are certain things that just go beyond the pale, and that’s not what I’m going to permit the law to be in New Jersey,” Christie said.

“It doesn’t make any sense to me, and that’s why I vetoed it again, and if they send it to me again, I will veto it again.”

Medved remarked that Christie seemed “dangerously conservative,” and Christie chuckled in response—an act that some gay media have interpreted as Christie laughing off concerns about transgender people.

Across the United States, meanwhile, Americans are reassessing how something as simple as public restroom signage may need to change in light of increased consideration toward transgender people. On Aug. 10, for example, the Seattle City Council voted unanimously in favor of making bathrooms in all public spaces—in city buildings and in privately owned businesses alike—open to people regardless of their gender expression.

Locally, groups such as Equality California have this month begun soliciting donations with the express intention of combating the Personal Privacy Protection Act, a quizzically named ballot measure that would require people to use bathrooms associated with their biological gender while in government buildings, including schools and universities. If passed, the bill could allow people to sue those who illegally enter their bathroom space.

That measure would require 365,880 signatures in order to appear on the November 2016 ballot, reports the Sacramento Bee.

SUNDANCE NEXT FEST, Ace Hotel DTLA, August 7-9—The film festival once again paired indie films with indie music with a weekend of screenings, panel discussions and concerts. Top, from left: Director Jason Reitman, Aubrey Plaza, Katie Aselton with Mark Duplass, Transparent star Jay Duplass Bottom: Sky Ferreira, Sundance Film Festival Director John Cooper with writer/ director Noah Baumbach and Next Fest Director of Programming Trevor Groth

PRISM AWARDS, Skirball Cultural Center, July 16—The 19th annual awards honored the accurate depiction of substance abuse, treatment and recovery in TV, film, music and more. Top, from left: American Idol creator Nigel Lythgoe, Mira Sorvino, Max Burkholder of Parenthood, Mel B Bottom: PRISM Awards creator Brian Dyak, Mom co-creators Chuck Lorre and Gemma Baker with White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Michael Botticelli

SPEAK OUT

“Lube is your friend. Believe me.”

Laverne Cox relays valuable sex education to teenagers in a PSA created by Last Week Tonight host John Oliver on Aug. 9, alongside other famous names like Megan Mullally, Jack McBrayer and Kristen Schaal.

Watch it at FrontiersMedia.com.

14

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

D23 EXPO 2015, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, August 13-16—The ultimate Disney fan event came to Anaheim, unveiling new films, theme park attractions and more. Top, from left: J.J. Abrams, Dick Van Dyke, Harrison Ford, Chairman of Disney Studios Alan Horn, Isaac Oliver Bottom: Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Daisy Ridley and John Boyega, The Fosters’ Maia Mitchell and Sherri Saum with Hayden Byerly, George Lucas with Danny Elfman, Johnny Depp

SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

15

WATERCOOLER

Your cheat sheet for intelligent conversation — By Peter DelVecchio

1

1

Target to Drop Gender-Based Signage

In response to customer concerns, signs like “boys’ toys” and “girls’ building sets” will soon disappear from Target stores, replaced by gender-neutral signs.

“In some departments, like Toys, Home or Entertainment, suggesting products by gender is unnecessary,” a statement from the retail giant says. Gendered signage will remain for apparel, where “it makes sense,” the release says.

Seemingly missing the point—that there are no “girls’ toys” or “boys’ toys,” just toys—certain Fox News personalities fear confusion.

“Now you have to ... look at a blended area and wonder, ‘Is this for a boy or a girl?’” Fox & Friends’ Brian Kilmeade said. “There’s going to be some unhappy boys and girls now,” he added.

Some of them, it seems, at Fox.

2

3

2

Mexico’s High Court Strikes Down Gay Adoption Ban

Mexico’s Supreme Court has struck down a 2013 law in the state of Campeche that forbade samesex couples from adopting children.

Regarding the 9-1 ruling, Presiding Judge Luis Maria Aguila said, “I see no problem for a child to be adopted in a society of coexistence, which has precisely this purpose. Are we going to prefer to have children in the street, which according to statistics exceed 100,000?”

The adoption ruling follows on the same court’s June decision holding same-sex marriage bans unconstitutional, shortly before the U.S. Supreme Court ushered in nationwide marriage equality north of the border.

Australian PM Continues Anti-Marriage Battle

With much of the Western world galloping toward full legal equality for LGBTs, Australia’s conservative Liberal Party Prime Minister Tony Abbott is determined to prevent marriage equality down under.

As a result of a closed Aug. 11 party meeting, any members of Abbott’s party voting for marriage on any future bill would be sacked, despite Abbott’s having said the issue is a “deeply personal ... subject on which decent people can differ.”

Abbott has floated the idea of a non-binding referendum of the Australian public on marriage equality after the next election, a proposal opponents view as a delaying tactic.

“The choice in this country is you either have Mr. Abbott or you have marriage equality, but you can’t have both,” Labor party leader Bill Shorten has said.

4

3

Australia PM Tony Abbott

4 The Abbey

Ruth Bader Ginsburg with Osius and Bond

16

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

As LGBT rights advance on legal and social fronts, huge problems remain in HIV/AIDS diagnosis, education and treatment among gay youth. A study last year found that HIV diagnoses among gay and bisexual men aged 13 to 24 jumped 132.5% between 2001 and 2011.

A new analysis by the Strategic Multistate Initiative for the Identification, Linkage and Engagement in Care of HIV-infected youth (SMILE) reveals that this age group now accounts for 25% of new HIV infections, and that a mere 7% attain undetectable viral loads after diagnosis.

That organization works to link infected youth to medical care, but its work is hindered, according to a recent release, by such factors as “insufficient contact information sharing, inability to locate youth, refusal of linkage by youth and repeated failure to keep appointments.”

5

David Cooley Buys Back West Hollywood’s Abbey

David Cooley, who founded The Abbey in 1991 and sold it in 2006, announced Aug. 11 that he was buying back full ownership of the iconic bar. The announcement came at a speakeasy-themed event celebrating his 55th birthday and benefiting the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.

“SBE has had an amazing decade partnering with David and elevating The Abbey to its most impactful and successful years,” said Sam Nazarian, Chairman and CEO of the bar’s current owner, SBEEG Holdings, LLC. “I am grateful for Sam’s support and friendship these last nine years, which has helped us continue to grow the iconic Abbey brand and has set the stage for an exciting future,” Cooley said.

6

5 6

HIV-Infected Youth Falling Through the Cracks

Ginsburg Officiates at Gay Vow Renewal

Supreme Court Justice and progressive heroine Ruth Bader Ginsburg recently officiated at a ceremony in Hanoi where out U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius and his husband, Clayton Bond, renewed their marriage vows.

Ginsburg said that “officiating over the renewal of [the men’s] vows was a joy.”

The couple originally married in Canada in 2006, and repeated the same vows at the Hanoi ceremony before a group that included many Vietnamese LGBT activists.

Ginsburg was in Vietnam as part of a State Department speaker program. She reportedly met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court Truong Hoa Binh and other governmental officials while there.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

17

The Dominance of Donald

1

B

illionaire real estate mogul, TV personality and awful hair poster boy Donald Trump is streaking across the GOP presidential firmament like some weird UFO, performing instantaneous 180s that would splatter other candidates—pro-choice to pro-life, pro-Clinton to Hillary basher—and defying political gravity by gaining altitude because of outrageous statements that would send others careening to the ground.

Announcing his candidacy, Trump labeled Mexican immigrants “rapists” and drug dealers, advancing the bizarre theory that the Mexican government was purposely sending criminals across the border.

Cries of racism echoed across the blogosphere. The Donald had crashed on take-off, pundits confidently declared.

But a certain, not insubstantial, angrily xenophobic segment of the Republican base ate it up, and Trump’s ascent began.

Then Trump questioned Sen. John McCain’s war hero status, declaring, “I like people who weren’t captured,” referring to the Arizona Republican’s years as a POW. Surely this was the end, commentators agreed. Trashing Mexicans was one thing, but all things military, including McCain, are sacrosanct with the Republican base, right?

Wrong. Trump continued to rise, attaining national frontrunner status.

The other GOP hopefuls seemed flummoxed as to how to handle this bull in their china shop. Some tried to ignore him.

Others, most notably former Texas Governor Rick Perry, tried to elbow their way into Trump’s spotlight by criticizing him for his McCain remarks, while one, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, went obsequious, no doubt hoping to inherit Trump’s supporters.

Then came the first debate, on Aug. 6. Mainstream observers agreed Trump was awful, especially with his confrontation with Fox News darling Megyn Kelly over prior misogynistic remarks and his gratuitous swipe at Rosie O’Donnell. The next day, Trump implied that Kelly must have been menstruating during the debate. This too, however, failed to sink the Donald, whose numbers either remained steady or improved in post-debate polling.

For LGBTs, Trump’s omnipresence might have eclipsed relevant news from the debate. Encouragingly, when Ohio Gov. John Kasich described attending a gay wedding, the crowd applauded, a far cry from the boos that greeted a gay soldier’s question about “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” at a 2012 debate.

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, who has previously urged states to simply ignore marriage equality court rulings, sagely observed that “the Supreme Court is not the Supreme Being.”

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, who once compared gay relationships to “man on dog,” likened the Supreme Court’s June marriage ruling to the later-overturned Dred Scott decision, seemingly blind to the irony of equating an opinion that greatly expanded freedom to one that reinforced Southern slavery.

Trump has yet to attack LGBTs as he whirls dervishly across the landscape, but stay tuned; the cycle is young. —P.D.

2

3

CHANGING THE CHANNEL Gays have become all too familiar with the power of television, able to impact culture, influence elections and construct Americans’ point of view

By Karen Ocamb

A

mericans are hungering for a superhero—someone just like them, only stronger, smarter and imbued with a super quality that enables them to overcome formidable obstacles thrown up by Establishment obstructionists.

This year, that longed-for political superhero emerged as the unfettered, politically incorrect disrupter Donald Trump, whose wealth underwrites his independent bravado. In fact, Trump’s TV image is so powerful that he has soared to Teflon status in the Republican presidential field leaving his 16 competitors gulping for air time. Trump has transformed running for president of the United States into a reality game show, with voters choosing their favorite contestant based not on policy positions or experience governing but on how superhero-ish they come across on TV. But regardless of the outcome, Trump TV has powerfully changed the culture—a phenomenon with which LGBT people are familiar, having watched television’s increasingly positive portrayal of gay characters lead to dramatic changes in LGBT civil rights.

Californians are exceedingly aware of Trump’s cult of personality influence on politics. On Oct. 7, 2003, body builder, film action star and businessman Arnold Schwarzenegger was selected over a crowded field of candidates to replace Gov. Gray Davis in a special election—despite pre-election published reports of sexual harassment from more than six women. But “Gropegate” didn’t hurt Schwarzenegger, nor did reports that the movie star attended sex orgies, smoked pot and used and advocated the use of steroids when the drug was legal.

In 2004, Schwarzenegger starred in the re-election of George W. Bush where he was dubbed the “Governator” (referring to hit film The Terminator) and received wild applause for calling Democrats “girlie men.” There was even talk of circulating a Constitutional amendment to

$4.4 BILLION

The amount of money that will be spent on television ads for the 2016 election, according to the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, which predicts that three-quarters of that will be spent on local TV broadcast ads, and that spending on national TV ads will be greater than ever before

change the rules so Schwarzenegger, who is not a natural born U.S. citizen, could run for president. He easily won re-election in 2006, but by the time he left office, Schwarzenegger’s approval ratings had dropped from a high of 89% in December 2003 to 23% in January 2011, only 1% higher than Davis’s when he was recalled. In 2010, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington dubbed Schwarzenegger one of the 11 “worst governors” in America.

But Americans love an “outsider” with balls, especially when it comes to politics and celebrities. “There’s something very attractive about this race,” Schwarzenegger told USA Today recently, referring to the upcoming 2016 presidential eletion. “We have people outside of the arena, outside politics, and people from within. People now have a choice. Do they want to go with someone who is a political hack, that is an insider, who is climbing the ladder of politics? Or is it someone who is an outsider, thinking more outside of the box? There’s something very unique and very refreshing about that.”

Interestingly, Schwarzenegger was inspired to get into politics not by fellow California actor-turned politician Ronald Reagan, but by Richard M. Nixon, the least TV-ready president in modern history. Apparently, the newly arrived Austrian immigrant hit U.S. shores just in time for the 1968 presidential debate between Nixon and Democratic Vice President Hubert Humphrey. Schwarzenegger liked Nixon’s Republican talking points and has been a Republican ever since.

Nixon plays a feature role in broadcaster/activist David Bender’s documentary-in-progress, Playing Gay: How America Came Out on Television, which he is producing with prolific David Permut (executive producer on Prayers for Bobby), executive producer and renowned environmental and social justice activist Wendy Abrams and longtime LGBT activist and actor Wilson Cruz, who is also serving as an executive producer.

“For me, one of the most powerful examples of the cultural shift has been right in front of us—on television.

And that’s why I’m doing Playing Gay,” Bender tells us. “I grew up in Los Angeles, and I’ve been very political from an early age in electoral politics. I volunteered for Robert Kennedy when I was 12 years old. What I learned growing up in L.A. was that it was possible—because of MECLA [the Municipal Elections Committee of Los Angeles, the nation’s first gay political action committee]—to see what was politically possible and what can work.”

Bender says he moved to New York City in 1981 and helped set up the national Human Rights Campaign Fund, the precursor to HRC, because he’d seen it work with MECLA’s Diane Abbitt and Randy Klose. “Everyone has been a part of this journey,” Bender says.

“Since the Kennedy-Nixon debates in 1960, we’ve seen the power of television to affect the political process,” Bender says. “Television is such a huge bellweather of our culture. I analogize it to a house of mirrors—it both reflects and affects how we see ourselves. So for the period of time when LGBT people were invisible on television, they’re invisible in the culture, too. Certainly, in the 1950s and most of the 1960s, it was virtually impossible to be out. Coming out was not an act of courage— it was often an act of self-destruction. And people were outted in ways that could destroy their lives.”

Bender pinpoints the moment culture changed to the

SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

19

continued

SPEAK

OUT

first season of All in the Family and the episode Norman Lear wrote about Archie Bunker having a friend who Archie did not know was gay—a very macho guy—and how Archie dealt with his coming out. That episode, in February 1971, “was a turning point for what networks and Americans were able to see.”

As Playing Gay points out, the episode had a significant impact on President Nixon, who describes on White House tape recordings the episode to top aides John Ehrlichman and Bob Haldeman, using homophobic slurs while at the same time telling the two conservative henchmen that he was not homophobic. Nixon was just concerned about not “glorifying” homosexuality on public television, “any more than you glorify whores.”

Nixon postulates how the Greek empire ended because of rampant homosexuality—“You know what happened to the Greeks. Homosexuality destroyed them.

Sure, Aristotle was a homo—we all know that. So was Socrates.”

To which Ehrlichman replied, “But he never had the influence that television had.”

More than 40 years later, Lear reflects in the documentary on Nixon’s obsession with the episode. “I wonder if the president didn’t have a problem with his own sexuality, the way he described those two guys as ‘handsome’ and ‘virile,’” Lear, 93, remarks in a clip.

“I remember being delighted,” Lear told Talking Points Memo when he first heard of

20

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

Nixon’s 11-minute reaction. “I thought it was delicious that in the Oval Office—I didn’t care for what he was saying; I didn’t care for that particular president in any shape, way or form—but to hear the president and his confederates talking about that show and at some length, reasoning about it and comparing it to the Greek civilization, that could not have been more interesting.”

“The first thing I saw that began to plant that seed of possibility and hope for me was that episode of All in the Family in 1971,” Bender told Talking Points Memo. “I had no idea that Richard Nixon was watching it, too.”

“Television can change hearts and minds,” Bender tells us. “You welcome it into your home the way you would a friend, and that’s different from the movies. You go out, you choose to go there, but with television it’s right there, and when people see an image on television, they begin to feel they know that person. And that person is a friend of theirs. It’s a fascinating phenomenon. But it’s real, and that’s how so many people have come to know LGBT people. It’s because they’ve seen somebody and they like that person.”

Perhaps that’s why Donald Trump continues to soar in the polls: so many people feel they know and like him. But while Trump TV has certainly changed the political atmosphere, will America really elect a made-forTV reality star? Only time will tell.

“We had a bunch of drag queens on the crew. I didn’t want to be excluded from the fun, so I asked if there was any way I could come in drag.”

Alexander Skarsgard on arriving at the recent San Francisco premere of his latest film, Diary of a Teenage Girl, as his drag alter-ego, Lady Libido Lushbody

●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●

The first actor to ‘play gay’ in a sitcom was Philip Carey (inset), who played Archie’s friend Steve on an episode of All in the Family, starring Jean Stapleton and Carroll O’Connor (left)

DATEBOOK SAT. | AUG. 22

PAF ANGEL AWARDS Twenty-five years ago, Marianne Williamson had an idea to deliver meals to homebound people will life-threatening illnesses. Nine million meals later, Project Angel Food honors her and her dream with an Angel Award. For more info and tickets, go to angelfood.org.

SAT. | AUG. 22

9TH ANNUAL HERO AWARDS

Stonewall Young Democrats host this special evening to celebrate and honor LGBT leaders and the recent Supreme Court marriage ruling.

Enjoy a hosted bar and hors d’oeuvres as former Councilman Bill Rosendahl and the Black AIDS Institute’s Phill Wilson are honored. stonewallyoungdems.org

SUN. | AUG. 23

THE ABBEY BOYS GET WET

Frontiers Media and The Abbey present this event marking the second anniversary of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Donations for research can be made at BeyondALS.org, a nonprofit established by Ben Trust and his partner José Cofiño, who is living with ALS. The buckets come out at 3 p.m.

WED. | AUG. 26

WOMEN’S EQUALITY DAY

Join the City of West Hollywood in commemorating the 95th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote, from 6:30-9 p.m. at the City Council Chambers. Gloria Allred and Lisa Bloom are the event’s special guest speakers.

RSVP at whwedrsvp@gmail.com.

SUN. | OCT. 11

AIDS WALK LOS ANGELES

AIDS Project Los Angeles recently announced the date for one of the city’s most popular HIV/AIDS fundraisers.

The Walk, which starts and ends in WeHo, is expected to draw a crowd of more than 25,000 and raise millions in support of those afflicted in L.A. County.

Register at la.aidswalk.net

PRESENTS

Fall Fashion & Culture Preview ADVERTISING DEADLINE: AUGUST 28, 2015

+

What to Wear This Fall, The 25 Best-Dressed Gay Celebs

Now Distributing 40,000 Magazines with 6,000 delivered into San Francisco

Advertising Deadline

Print and Online Release Date

Dedicated eBlast to Opt-In Subscribers

August 28, 2015

September 3, 2015

September 8, 2015

Home & Garden

L.A.’s Music Obsession

Halloween & Gay Horror

Ad Deadline 9/11/15 Release Date 9/17/15

Ad Deadline 9/25/15 Release Date 10/1/15

Ad Deadline 10/9/15 Release Date 10/15/15

UPCOMING ISSUES

CONTACT: sales@frontiersmedia.com | 323-930-3220

SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

21

22

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

THE

GAY AGENDA

Tricks of the Trade Up your Labor Day cocktail party game with these simple behind-the-bar tips, courtesy of the city’s star drink-slingers By Tom Paul Jones

A

s you put away the summer’s seersucker shorts and white shoes, planning your Labor Day bash libations with a little care means you’ll gain extra points in the ‘person of taste’ stakes. God is in the details, it’s been said, so we’ve asked a few of our favorite startenders around Los Angeles for their favorite tips to make you look like a party pro.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

23

THE

GAY

AGENDA

1 3 2 4 THE PORN STAR

• Russian Standard vodka • Passion fruit • Fresh lime • Serve with a shot of champagne THE OAXACA FRESCA

• Dry sherry • Fresh lime • Hibiscus syrup • Light rum • El Silencio mezcal

1

The Perfect Ice-Breaker At the gorgeous Cliff’s Edge in Silver Lake (3626 Sunset Blvd., cliffsedgecafe. com), Darwin Manahan makes a crushed ice coupe for his Cocchi Cobbler, and you can do the same for any drink served in a tall, narrow Collins glass. Take an ordinary handheld citrus squeezer. Place a handful of crushed ice in the squeezer and squeeze, as if you were juicing a lemon. Open it up and, using a cocktail pick, poke out the ‘ice coupe’ that has formed, resting it on top of your completed cocktail. Use it as an ice bowl to hold berries and edible flower garnishes. It’s a simple trick that will leave your party guests floored.

2

Have Fun with Your Garnish The best garnishes use aroma to complement the nose and flavor of a cocktail.

At Culver City hotspot The Wallace (3833 Main St., thewallacela.com), beverage director Greg Bryson uses a blowtorch to gently singe some fresh sage leaves for the Oaxaca Fresca drink. The smoky, sagebrush aromatics complement the mezcal’s smoke with each sip. Experiment with flamed citrus peels and let your imagination and some experimentation guide you!

3

Flash in the Pan At newly opened bar and restaurant Avenue 31 in the ritzy Sunset Plaza (8630 Sunset Blvd., avenue31sunset.com), and at his pop-ups around the city, star “cocktail chef” Matthew Biancaniello is using flash-fried shallot roots as a garnish. Cut the roots off the shallot, heat some vegetable oil on high, then drop the roots in and fry quickly til crisp. Lift them out and dry them on paper towels. In the glass, set them on top of a big rocks cube and use them as a ‘nest’ to hold tiny tomatoes, currants or grapes.

4

Finish Yourself Off Sometimes being an all-star party host requires nothing more than a small detail, like letting your guest ‘finish’ his own drink. A great example, at West Hollywood’s travel-themed fun palace Now Boarding (7746 Santa Monica Blvd., nowboardingla.com), bartender Will Figueroa created the Porn Star cocktail. The drink is ‘finished’ by pouring a shot of champagne into the cocktail, giving it a nice froth and some dry bubbles. You could of course use all sorts of bubbles—from Champagne to sparkling Shiraz to ginger ale—to add some froth to your fun. Let your hair down and experiment!

BIKE TRACKS AND SOCIAL FOOTPRINTS come together in the wake of trailblazing, philanthropic bicycle company Vélosophy. The innovative Swedish bike maker is uniting technology and bicycles as well as creating a (literal) vehicle for underprivileged girls to reach schools, stores and other destinations that are critical to their survival. The company has partnered with UNICEF to form a “buy one, give one” program that puts a Ghana schoolgirl in the bicycle seat every time one of its cutting-edge, color-soaked bikes is sold. But Vélosophy produces much more than your average beach cruiser. These smart bikes, priced at around $825, come with scalable carrying systems and app-based cloud connections that allow for everything from motion sensors to GPS tracing to automobile-emulating “time for service” indicators.The philosophy of Vélosophy has been, from the beginning, about solving problems, facilitating urban pedaling and transforming lives in a positive, meaningful way. velosophy.cc —Jim Larkins 24

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

PROPER: JORDAN TAYLOR ADAMS

BENEVOLENT BIKES

SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

25

THE

GAY

From left: E.G. Daily, Michael Urie, Kristen Schaal, Swoosie Kurtz

AGENDA

GRAVITY GONE WILD

ON THE DAILY Jon Stewart may have called it quits, but here are the people we’d love to see with a daily show of their own By Drew Droege

G

rowing up, I got all my news from Saturday Night Live. When Jan Hooks put on a wig, I knew that Kitty Dukakis was swimming in the sauce. I learned the name of the heinous president of Romania thanks to a plug for Puppy Ceausescu. I have nostalgia for Barbara Bush, only because I miss Phil Hartman. As an adult, I garnered the same education by entertainment from The Daily Show.

When the show launched with Craig Kilborn, it was a delightful companion to Weekend Update, with hilarious commentary by Brian Unger and hysterical interviews with the incomparable Beth Littleford. But when Jon Stewart took over, it got sharper, smarter, angrier, more political and even funnier.

Stewart’s Daily Show proved that everyone could and should be scrutinized, revealed and held to his word. To have a show that champions furious intelligence over trending sound bites on television today is no small feat, and for that, we shall miss Jon Stewart. I’m really interested to see the show with Trevor Noah at the helm, but here are my choices for dream hosts: Jessica Williams, Kristen Schaal and Wyatt Cenac I’m a huge fan of a lot of the current correspondents, but if I had my druthers, I would hand the host desk to these guys. They all have the freshest, wildest, weirdest voices on the show, yet they all exhibit poise and professionalism as they deliciously feast upon the insipid. Oh, and they are criminally intelligent, plus they know the show.

W

e’ve all heard such phrases as “the future i s h e r e ,” h e r a l d i n g the technologically unsurpassed toys of our times. But when it comes to Slide, the gravitydefying hoverboard by Lexus, you could say that “back to the future” has finally arrived. Looking a lot like the fast-floating board that transported time traveler Michael J. Fox out of harm’s way, this weightless wonder is airborne with the help nitrogen liquidcooled magnets and superconductors. Just don’t plan on wowing your friends with a magic carpet ride anytime soon.

For now, the board exists solely for elevating the Lexus brand image. —J.L.

The Shade of it All WITH GUMBY-LIKE FLEXIBILITY and a mixand-match versatility allowing you to choose from over 100 color combos, Baendit sunglasses (pronounced like “bandit,” baendit. com) are the perfect replacements for your scratched-up old Oakley’s.

What makes this Hong Kong-based company’s specs so unique is the frames’ maleability, made possible by using TR-90 polymer, otherwise known as “memory plastic” because of its unique molecular structure.

Whether you’re tired of losing an endless supply of cheap sunglasses or you just can’t seem to hang onto those wayward wayfarers, Baendit solves your absentminded dilemma with shades that will stick to you like glue.

The sunglasses are so pliable they can be bent around your arm for an oddball bracelet or worked into a headband. Got a big beak? No worries; even the temple and nosepieces bend and conform to your face.

The individual frames takes their names from such notorious bandits as Ned Kelly, the Australian equivalent of Robin Hood; and infamous Sicilian bandit Salvatore Giuliano.

Compared to the cost of your average designer eyewear, these supple shades live up to their namesakes, a steal starting at just $59. —J.L.

Michael Urie Onstage, this guy effortlessly rattled off 100 minutes of Barbra-lovin’ brilliance in Buyer and Cellar for over 600 performances around the world, and now he’s holding his own against Patti LuPone in Shows for Days at Lincoln Center. Both pieces required him to speak directly to audiences for long stretches, and he has an uncanny ability to connect and illuminate and charm. On TV, he hosts Logo’s Cocktails & Classics, in which he comfortably navigates film history, criticism and drunks (like me), and he does all of it with a smile.

Swoosie Kurtz Cause she’s fanfuckingtastic. She gives no fucks. And you would watch it every fucking day.

No One Just nix the host, fire the writers, can the guests, and air Fox News. Call it Comedy Central Presents “This Shit.”

Can’t wait to tune in come September!

26

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

Ned Kelly shades by Baendit, $119

PHOTO CREDIT TK

E.G. Daily Because her name’s already on the show. Can you imagine how strange and wonderful that would be? On the other hand, bitch has 171 credits on IMDB, so we could only dream that she would have time.

Advertisement

SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

27

Advertisement

Hair Restoration

Q:

I read about a robot that is doing hair transplant surgery. Is it safe?

A:

The ARTAS robot is a great technology to harvest the hair using the Follicular Unit Extraction technique. It is a highly precise instrument that assists the doctor to accurately harvest hair follicles. I am very intimate with the technology as my U.S. Patent #6572625 is licensed within the ARTAS system.

Q:

Are you saying you invented the ARTAS robot?

A:

Q A &

Dr. William Rassman answers your questions about modern hair transplant techniques

The doctors at the New Hair Institute are pioneers in the field of medical hair restoration. They revolutionized the way hair transplantation is done. Gone are the days of large hair plugs and doll hair. The surgical tools they invented are used in their practice and in medical hair transplant practices throughout the U.S. and the world. Let’s find out more about NHI and hair loss treatment techniques.

Q:

I’m considering a hair loss treatment. Why should I pick the New Hair Institute over other well-respected hair restoration practices?

A:

The New Hair Institute opened its doors in 1992.

As part of our goal to provide world-class hair restoration treatment, we immediately set out to reengineer the barbaric and deforming surgical procedures that were in use at that time.

We pioneered a new method of harvesting hair grafts and transplanting these grafts in a way that created a natural look for the patient. These new methods were published in leading medical journals and peer reviewed journals. We even published a book called “Hair Loss and Replacement for Dummies” to help the people understand how hair transplants are performed.

Our techniques are now used throughout the United States and the world and have become the benchmark in hair restoration surgery.

Q:

I saw a strip procedure in a hair transplant online that leaves a nasty scar on the back of the head. Is there a technique that doesn’t leave a scar?

A:

All hair transplant techniques will leave some form of scar. The skill of the hair transplant surgeon and how well you heal will determine how visible the scar will be. In harvesting donor hair, the surgeon may use the Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) or the ARTAS robotic system. Both of these techniques will leave small circular scars on the back of the head, which can be concealed by the hair.

Actually, Dr. Pak, my partner at NHI, designed the concept of the robot back in 1997 when he was working for me as an engineer.

We patented the technology.

Interestingly, Dr. Pak’s engneering professor was the one who headed the design team that eventually made the ARTAS a reality.

Q:

I also hear about many doctors offering the latest technology in hair transplant called NeoGraft surgery.

How does that compare to the ARTAS robot?

A:

Neograft is another great technology I am very familiar with. I am good friends with its inventor, Dr. Pascal Boudjema. I also hold many patents used in the NeoGraft. Like the ARTAS, NeoGraft is a fine tuned instrument that assists doctors performing FUE surgery. I must point out these great technologies do not mean any doctor will produce great results. There is still the human factor of artistry involved in cosmetic surgery.

Q:

What about non-surgical options such as Scalp Micro Pigmentation (SMP) that seems to be the new “in” thing.

A:

SMP is a great option for those who realize hair transplant surgery may not be what they are looking for. SMP can give a bald man the look of a shaved head without the unattractive rim of hair.

Have a question for Dr. Rassman? Send it to hairdoc@newhair.com or call 1-800-NEW-HAIR

SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

27

30

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

health FOR YOUR

Get Your ‘Dad Bod’ On

Hollywood’s hottest dad bods, from left: Chris Pratt, Gerard Butler, Seth Rogen, Ryan Phillippe, Channing Tatum, Jon Hamm

Not everyone wants a six-pack, and for those guys, pop culture’s latest fitness phase is the perfect medium of happy and healthy By Seth Browning

W

hat the hell is “Dad Bod” anyway? The phrase itself has actually been whispered for years. However, when a 19-year-old college student attempted to unravel the mystery in an explanatory essay, the expression went viral.

According to Pearson, Dad Bod is “a nice balance between a beer gut and working out.”

A dude with Dad Bod eats pizza when he wants, has no problem throwing back a beer and laughs at the idea of cardio. He’s a man who enjoys life but lifts maybe a few days each week. Dad Bods appreciate exercise, but they aren’t obsessed with it.

While the term may have been coined by heterosexuals, it’s definitely gaining traction in the gayborhood. You may have heard it at the gym—“I think I’m gonna do the Dad Bod workout today“—or, my personal favorite, at a recent L.A. pool party cleverly called “The Dad Bod Pool Party.” It seems this Dad Bod thing is really resonating with people.

Jokes aside, could it be that many people are seeing the Dad Bod as a refuge from the exhaustion of having to look perfect? It brings up a great talking point: Is there not a happy medium in health and

fitness? Must we all embody a certain body fat percentage? Who really defines what’s “hot” anyway?

More new clients than ever are coming to me saying they don’t care to have a six pack or to become a muscle guy. They simply want to look and feel healthy. Most people simply want a solid, effective workout that will cause change; they also want to have fun and have carbs.

Here’s the deal: You don’t have to slave away for hours in the gym to be healthy, and if you don’t that doesn’t mean you’ve “let yourself go.” There is a balance. I’ve put together an effective yet manageable fitness action plan that will help people get results.

Workouts That Work for You Find some realistic times during the week when you can make it into the gym. Schedule them in your calendar. The amount of time doesn’t matter. Just showing up at those times will get you into a fitness rhythm.

Train Your Total Body A great way to look fit from head to toe is to train that

way. Make sure that in each workout you include your legs, core and upper body. Great exercises include squats, lunges, planks, push-ups and pull-ups.

The Occasional Cardio Have some days where you jog on the treadmill, elliptical or climb the StairMaster. You’re fine with only 15 to 20 minutes. It’s best to do cardio after strentgh training to maximize caloric burn.

Have Fun and Mix it Up Part of the reason people stop working out is they get bored. Get a workout buddy, hire a trainer or take group fitness classes. These things break up the monotony by not only helping you make new friends but by challenging you. Screw the societal pressure; rock your Dad Bod with a few workouts each week that work for you.

Contact Seth at BodyByBrowning.com and on Instagram @sethenator SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

31

FOR YOUR

health

OFF THE COUCH

By Dr. Greg Cason

A GUIDE TO

MASTURBATION MEDITATION

Pondering the Python Type-A gays can moan a sigh of relief, as there’s a sexy solution to stress.

Put down that glass of Jameson and meet the new and improved meditation

A

ccording to some, meditation is a cure-all that has been touted to reduce pain and stress, increase concentration and achievement, reduce blood pressure, create more happiness and even slow aging. If it could make a good omelet, there wouldn’t be any reason to leave the house!

Even with the promise of fewer wrinkles, people won’t do it because it’s difficult to just sit and clear your mind. For most people, exactly the opposite happens! Comedian Ricki Lindholm nailed it when she said, “Meditation is like giving a bullhorn to all the thoughts I’d quieted with television.”

To break through the mental morass, I often suggest combining it with a simple daily activity that one already does—washing the dishes, drinking tea or gardening. But you Type-A gays need a little something more exciting. Introducing: masturbation meditation!

Masturbation during meditation comes (ahem) out of a mistranslation of Taoist texts into English

by Zen master Charles Luk. The Westernization of the concept created Masturbation Meditation by using the sensual body to help focus the mind and increase sensations. Consider it a “win-win.”

FITNESS WITH AARON SAVVY

➸ Send your questions to aaronsavvy@ gmail.com

32

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

Meditation is the art of focusing 100% of your attention in one area. Why not your nether regions? Here are some tips to start you on the path to neural nirvana: 1. Make it a formal practice.

Set aside one time each day; preferably two. Start small. I recommend two to three minutes.

2. Get naked and find a place to lie down.

Make sure you don’t have any distractions, like porn, a needy dog or a curious husband (unless he’s doing it with you).

3. Close your eyes and focus on your breath.

Feel it fill up your entire body, exhaling slow and with purpose.

4. Let the thoughts fly by.

If you start thinking, “I need to lose 10 pounds,” “This is stupid” or “Donald Trump needs a better hairstylist,” see them fly by and don’t follow them. Then take your attention back to your breath and your body.

5. Feel your body with your mind.

Start with the feet and then slowly move your way up the body. Feel the air on your skin. Feel the heat in your genitals. Notice the tingling on your nipples. Focus.

6. Explore.

Now slowly lift your hands and begin exploring your body, all while continuing to focus on your breath into the part of your body you are touching. Then slowly move into your typical masturbation technique, only now you are fully focused. If your mind wanders, take it back to your body and your breath.

7. Continue until the time is up, then feel free to cum.

Unlike the Tantric tradition, which often avoids ejaculation, this technique allows you to bring yourself to full release. Namaste, Type-A gays.

Contact Dr. Greg Cason by going to DrGreg.com, or interact with him on Twitter @DrGregCason

How many cheat meals can I have each week?

Are there advantages or disadvantages to working my chest two days in a row?

—Charles, Beverly Hills

—Phillip, Silver Lake

I would limit yourself to one cheat day per week, or even one cheat meal per week. This will vary for the individual, but getting to your fitness goal is all about a healthy routine and consistency.

It’s best to wait at least two days between working on your chest, though you could get away with only one day of rest. Your muscles are building and repairing while you’re busy working other muscle groups, so if you work your chest without the needed rest, muscle building will be delayed.

IS A PREP IMPLANT THE NEXT STAGE IN HIV PREVENTION?

Sex Ed

By Jim Larkins

The Paradox of Sex Between Straight Men A new book thrusts us into the real world, where straight guy-on-guy sex isn’t a myth but a reality

S

tumble into a party with a circle of naked guys, each of whom stand leaning forward with their thumbs up the asses of the guy in front of them, and you’d probably assume this wasn’t your typical hetero hoedown. But according to UC Riverside Professor Jane Ward, author of the new book Not Gay: Sex Between Straight White Men (240 pp., $25, NYU Press), that’s not necessarily the case. The hazing ritual that has you gaping with widemouthed wonder is actually called the “elephant walk,” and it’s a fairly common initiation rite among the white male-dominated halls of higher learning.

It’s also one of the centerpieces of Ward’s book, because it’s a telling example that, according to Ward, “straight guy-on-guy sex is not a myth, but a reality.”

Ward backs up her claim by citing online personal ads, in which straight men seek other straight men to masturbate with; the long history of straight men stalking public bathrooms in search of other straight men to have sex with; and the time honored ceremonial penis grabbing and anal penetration of heterosexual fraternity and military hazings.

“These hazing rituals have a sexualized component, and yet it’s not so simple,” says Ward. “Many of the men who participate in these sorts of military and fraternity initiation rituals do so without understanding this form of contact to be sexual. They may think it’s funny, gross, rebellious, et cetera, but it doesn’t challenge their heterosexuality precisely because it isn’t perceived to be ‘sex’ by participants.”

It’s safe to say that dabbling with homosexual play under the guise of such hetero rituals as frat initiations is a convenient mechanism for white guys to enjoy some form of sex together while safely avoiding the tag “gay.”

But if anal play during these college and military rituals is justified through hazing, then sex among white civilian dudes can be achieved safely as well, allowing them to

enjoy the best of both sexual worlds with their heterosexuality and masculinity sill securely intact. This is where Ward connects the dots between race, heterosexuality and masculinity.

“The book is about how and why this culture has ignored the homosexual practices of straight white men, and what this means for our understanding of the intersections between race, gender and sexuality,” says Ward.

“The reason my book is focused on white men is because an extraordinary amount of attention has been paid to straight-identified black men ‘on the down low,’ while the complexities of straight white men’s sexuality has flown under the radar of this kind of scrutiny.”

But Ward’s peek into justifiable homosexuality for straight white buddies goes deeper than that. She perceives, for instance, that men conducting hazing rituals believe they are achieving something productive as they finger each other’s anuses. But just as important as these homosexually mechanized bonding rituals are, it’s just as critical that the participants remain identified as heterosexual.

“In this project ... I observed straight-identified people compulsively pointing to queerness, like a compass always pointing in the same direction,” Ward concludes in the book. “Straight boys and men, in particular, persistently call on fags to occupy the earnest, immutable, congenital and often tragic space of ostensibly unchosen and unwanted homosexuality. When gay boys and men occupy this narrow space, presumably the space of ‘real’ homosexuality, the possibilities for heterosexual with same-sex sexuality expand.”

“In many ways,” she continues, “gay men and lesbians perform a kind of unpaid labor for straights, embodying the symbolic and romanticized position of sincere gayness and amplifying the normalcy of those whose homosexuality is insincere and meaningless.”

DESPITE BEING NEARLY universally accepted by the scientific and medical communities as a much-needed additional resource in HIV prevention, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, PrEP, has been dogged by detractors arguing that poor adherence to the once-perday pill Truvada could result in new HIV infections. Now comes news that the latest evolution in HIV prevention could be PrEP as an implant.

Newsmagazine HIV Equal reported back in June that Cabotegravir, a long-lasting integrase inhibitor not yet approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, was being investigated for its use as an injectable form of PrEP. Now a National Institutes of Health five-year grant has been won by scientists at Chicago’s Northwestern University to uncover a way for Cabotegravir to be delivered as PrEP via implant.

“Long-acting systems have the great advantage of not requiring repeated modification of behavior,” says Patrick Kiser, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering and one of the project’s principal investigators. “With implants or injectable systems that deliver antiretroviral drugs, a person no longer has to worry about contracting HIV for a relatively long period of time.”

Kiser’s team will reportedly take the $17.5 million grant and put it to use to invent, develop and test two different implant systems, with the goal to provide those at high risk of contracting HIV with protection for up to one year. The better of the two implant systems will reportedly then be advanced to clinical trial. According to HIV Equal, antiretroviral delivering implants have already proven effective when tested on canines.

“The funding of this project represents a new era in HIV prevention research at Northwestern and places our team at the cutting edge in both basic science and clinical development of HIV prevention and treatment technologies,” Kiser says. —Stephan Horbelt

SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

33

34

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

events ■ Through Sept. 11 FM ART WITH HEART Industry Gallery at PDC

Friend Movement presents a beautifully curated exhibition of “art with a conscience.” Proceeds fund workshops in art therapy for the underserved, and local artists exhibiting include R. Rupert Santos, Chris Danes and Michael Turchin. friendmovement.com ■ Thu. | Aug 20 DINING IN HELLENISTIC GREECE Getty Center

Discover the ancient world in this workshop by Maite GomezRejon exploring the culinary history of Hellenistic Greece. Visit the exhibition Power and Pathos: Bronze Sculpture of the Hellenistic World, then learn ancient dining customs and prepare a meal inspired by historical recipes and ingredients. $85. Through Aug. 21. getty.edu ■ Fri. | Aug. 21 RHONDA: PARADISE CITY Belasco Theatre

A one-night Rhondavous timed with FYF Fest, expect three rooms of pure party paradise from 8 p.m.-3 a.m., featuring the musical genius of Simian Mobile Disco, Horse Meat Disco and more, plus a “very special guest.” rhondainternational.com ■ Fri. | Aug. 21 TAYLOR SWIFT Staples Center

The pop princess you love (or love to hate) comes to L.A. for no less than five live shows, treating fans to songs from her most recent album, 1989, which has already sold more than 3 million copies.

Let’s hope Kanye doesn’t show up. staplescenter.com ■ Fri. | Aug. 21 DISCO DADDY Akbar

The sequel to the SF party’s Memorial Day L.A. premiere, DJ Bus Station John returns to

nightlife

theater

exhibits

town—alongside special guest DJ Victor Rodriguez—spinning classic and underground disco and Hi-NRG music.

See you under the disco ball! akbarsilverlake.com ■ Sat. | Aug. 22 THE PROUD PICNIC Grand Park

Allies, families and LGBTs are invited to play and connect through music, food trucks and games on a summer afternoon. The picnic launches Grand Park’s upcoming Proud Series, a collaboration uniting and reflecting various interests of local LGBT experiences. grandparkla.org ■ Sat. | Aug. 22 BOOTIE L.A.: MICHAEL JACKSON MASHUP NIGHT The Regent Theater

The city’s only mashup music nightclub celebrates the King of Pop with resident DJ Shyboy and special guest DJ Axel. Dance, drink and enjoy aerial silk performances by Astro Doves and a stage show by dance crew R.A.I.D. theregenttheater.com ■ Sat. | Aug. 22 TO ELLA AND NAT WITH LOVE Los Angeles Arboretum

Michael Feinstein and the Pasadena Pops continue their outdoor summer concert series with this tribute to two iconic American singers, Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole. Expect to hear all your favorites and more. pasadenasymphony-pops.org ■ Sat. | Aug. 22 NISEI WEEK JAPANESE FESTIVAL Little Tokyo

An annual celebration of JapaneseAmerican culture, this is the second of two main attraction weekends.

Check out folk dance, martial arts, DJs, bonsai artisans, tea ceremonies and more.

Through Aug. 23. niseiweek.org

Get FYF’d Up L.A.’s most eclectic music festival returns, taking over a new venue with multiple genres of talent By Mike Ciriaco

T

The comedy aspect of this fledging DIY o Sean Carlson, FYF is a mix tape. festival manifested the following year, introSince 2004, the L.A.-based Fuck Yeah ducing stand-up talent such as Matt Dwyer, Festival, founded by a then-18-yearMorgan Murphy and gay fan fave Sarah old Carlson has served as a showcase for an Silverman to complement musicians like eclectic roster of musicians. This year’s iteraRolling Blackouts and Dillinger Four tion, which rocks out L.A. Sports Arena and displays of local artwork. and Exposition Park later this month, Over the course of the next continues in that tradition, featurnine years—and a venue change ing gay rapper Frank Ocean on the FYF FEST L.A. Sports Arena & to L.A. State Historic Park—FYF same stage as pop legacy SolExposition Park would continue to pair indie ange Knowles and Scottish altAug. 22-23 music with indie comedy by rockers Jesus and Mary Chain. fyffest.com spotlighting the stand-up acts “It’s boring to have everyof Maria Bamford, musical comthing sound the same,” according edy duo Garfunkle and Oates and to Carlson. “If everything was just UCB’s Matt Besser. But, as is apropos electronic music or everything was just to the protean nature of this event, once the indie rock, everything’s gonna sound the same festival moved to its current L.A. Sports Arena after awhile. You want it to be different.” location, the focus of FYF was narrowed to just FYF’s innate diversity manifests not only music, downplaying the art aspect and flushing in its lineup but also in its evolution. The fesout the comedy completely. tival began as a one-night event, featuring a “It didn’t work at the new location; we just roster of L.A.’s indie vanguard—bands like didn’t find a place where this would translate Wires on Fire, The Mean Reds and Toys That and make sense, so we axed comedy,” says Kill. The inaugural FYF utilized a number of Carlson. “There’s stuff to do, but really, when small venues, including East Side performance you go to a festival, you wanna see music. staple The Echo, the banquet hall that would There’s some interactive stuff with fans, but eventually be remodeled into today’s Echoplex, there’s not, like, a huge Burning Man art project Sea Level Records and its back alley. where a giant butterfly is shooting flames into “It just kinda happened,” Carlson tells the crowd. As much as I wish we did, we didn’t the Huffington Post. “There wasn’t an idea get the budget this year for the giant butterfly, to do the festival, and it was very small the so that’s off the table.” first year. I have friends that played in bands, Pyrotechnic butterfly or not, the need for I have friends that were artists, I have friends a considerably larger venue is evidence of the that were comedians, and then we combined success of FYF. This summer, head downtown all three of them, and the first few years were with your boys and experience the biggest, very focused on art, comedy, music; it was most eclectic mix tape that L.A. has to offer. replicated off an art crawl, and it was free.”

SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

35

■ ■ ■ ■

■ Sun. | Aug. 23 ILLUMINAUGHTY Revolver ■ Sat. | Aug. 22 PACIFIC SYMPHONY: STAR TREK Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre

Principal Pops Conductor Richard Kaufman leads the orchestra in this symphonic night at the movies when the 2009 J.J. Abrams blockbuster takes the big screen. Onstage the Symphony performs Academy Award-winner Michael Giacchino’s epic score. pacificsymphony.org

It’s a night of naughty fun at WeHo’s famed video bar as DirtyBurty presents a raunchy night of sexy go-gos, backroom private lap dances and shot specials all night long. revolverweho.com ■ Through August 23 NO HOMO Atwater Village Theatre

Exploring the delicate balance between love, friendship, sexuality, identity and bromance, this play tells the anti-love story of roommates Luke and Ash. With everyone convinced they’re leading a secret gay life, there’s only one way to find out. ensemblestudiotheatrela.org

■ Sat. | Aug. 22 PEE-WEE’S BIG ADVENTURE Hollywood Forever Cemetery

Tim Burton’s breakout feature tells the story of Pee-wee’s mission to get back his most prized possession, his bike. As he travels across America, he meets a wild cast of characters. DJ Chris Holmes, a Pee-wee photo booth and other surprises will accompany the night. cinespia.org

■ Tue. | Aug. 25 ONE TRICK PONY Grandpa Johnson’s

This new party comes from the twisted brains of Billy Francesca and DJ Derek Monteiro, held in a sleek, Art Deco Hollywood venue.

The music runs the gamut, from old-school to new deep house, so dress sharp and hit the dance floor.

SNAP SHOTS ✱

36

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

✱

THE MISMATCH GAME Aug. 29-30 Renberg Theatre lalgbtcenter.org

Meet Your Match The MisMatch Game, a spotlight on the city’s local comic greats, returns to the Renberg stage SLAP ON YOUR LEISURE SUIT AND BRACE YOURSELF for a heavy dose of kitsch, because The MisMatch Game is back. This month at the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Renberg Theater, the pastiche of 1960s game show The Match Game features a cast of gay L.A.’s most talented comedians and impressionists donning celebrity personas.

Hosted by local funny man Dennis Hensley, the show will once again donate its proceeds to the Center.

Before it was a successful fundraiser, MisMatch was merely an elaborate party theme. “The MisMatch Game started as something fun to do for my birthday party in 2000,” recalls Hensley. “People really laughed their asses off, although that may just have been because Kathy Griffin as Brett Somers made every single answer about semen.”

Fifteen years later, the laughs—minus the spunk—are still flying. This latest iteration will feature queer comedic favorites Drew Droege as Tanya Roberts, Jackie Beat as Bea Arthur (pictured above with Hensley) and Tom Lenk as Zooey Deschanel. Patrick Barstow will also perform, though he says he doesn’t know as whom just yet.

“This excites me, because the last time he said that he showed up as a chain-smoking Virgin Mary, and it was hysterical,” says Hensley.

The show’s host may possibly add some extra talent to make the production pop.

“I’m toying with the idea of having MisMatch Game dancers this time around, although that’s not locked down yet. They could be sort of like the Solid Gold dancers—and if you’re too young to get that reference, eat me.” —M.C.

✱

HIGH & TIGHT | REDLINE Photos by Jeremy Lucido

SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

37

38

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

39

■ ■ ■ ■

S N A P SHOTS ✱

✱

✱

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

QUEEN KONG Every Friday Precinct precinctdtla.com

THE NEW QUEENS OF DTLA The Boulet Brothers crush Downtown L.A. with their latest weekly party, Queen Kong

40

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

PHOTO CREDITJEREMY TK QUEEN KONG: LUCIDO

I

n the new gay DTLA, all one needs to secure nightlife dominance is a matching pair of queens—as long as those queens are the Boulet Brothers (pictured top left). The twincestuous drag duo behind famed parties Miss Kitty’s Parlour and Dragula have now conquered the queer Downtown scene with Queen Kong, a brand-new Friday night party at Precinct. Serving as a melting pot of the burgeoning neighborhood’s alternative LGBT artistry, the party tempers graffiti shows by Homo Riot with appearances from drag legends—Peaches Christ, Heklina, Willam Belli and a litany of local talents among them—as well as every possible type of live performance.

“Queen Kong is all about the show,” says Mona, one half of the ghoulish duo. “It’s a full-on eight-show production every week, and it is going to disgust you, shock you and entertain you.

But most of all it’s going to make you laugh and have a good time.”

“Parts of it are interactive,” adds Lona, “and all of it is drenched in liquor, glamour and regret.”

Liquor, glamour and regret were the unholy trinity that permeated MIss Kitty’s Parlour, the Hollywood cavalcade of kink produced by the Boulet Brothers every Friday night for nine years.

Their other success, Dragula, not only haunts Silver Lake’s Faultline with their trademark filth, leather and glitz, but San Francisco and New York as well. With this new party, though, the Boulets are embarking on a new frontier for their traveling nightlife troupe.

“Downtown is raw, creative, unstable and really queer.

That kind of energy resonates with us and our brand of events,” says Mona.

“You have this creative group of people who live down there who are excited to have gay bars in their neighborhoods, and they just want to party and go out and have a good time,” says Lona.

“It’s a great fit for what we do.”

As with all the Boulets’ parties, both the crowd and the talent are a heterogenous mix of countercultural misfits, artists and rebels. “We’ve curated a huge queer crew of talented guests, from drag queens just starting out to Rupaul’s Drag Race winners, gay porn stars, bands, stand-up comics, singers, dancers and performance artists,” Mona says.

“If it’s creative, gay, shocking, campy and fun, we’re going to feature it,” Lona says, finishing her partner’s thought, as if the Boulet Brothers are two queens sharing the same bizarrely beautiful brain. —M.C.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

41

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Fri. | Aug. 28 CLUELESS Hollywood Forever Cemetery

Celebrate the 20th anniversary of the classic ‘90s film on the Fairbanks Lawn in a picnic atmosphere. Bring blankets, pillows, low chairs, wine, beer and snacks while enjoying music by DJ Casey Alva, waiting for the sun to set. lagbtcenter.org

S N A P SHOTS ✱

✱

✱

COMMODORE | HOORAY HENRY'S Photos by Jeremy Lucido

■ Sat. | Aug. 29 THE SCARLET STONE Royce Hall, UCLA

Dr. Emily Morse of the show Sex with Emily explores everything you want to know about anal sex but have always been too afraid to ask.

Guests will get tips, tricks, champagne and giveaways during this workshop. Just RSVP at hhrsvp@lfp.com ■ Thu. | Aug. 27 TOUCH THURSDAYS The Abbey

As the gay weekend starts on Thursday, Frontiers Media presents a night of dancing, drinking and all-around rabble-rousing before the weekend gets fully underway.

Join us as we people-watch some of the city’s sexiest men and women ... and maybe ogle a go-go dancer or two. abbeyfoodandbar.com ■ Thu. | Aug. 27 L.A. FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL Throughout Los Angeles

The fifth annual fest will feature three nights and four days of tastings, dinners, lunches, seminars, book signings, cooking demonstrations and special events. Nowhere else will you find so many Michelin stars and James Beard awardwinners. Through Aug. 30. lafw.com ■ Fri. | Aug. 28 DANCE BITCH Fubar

After a bit of a hiatus, WeHo’s most outrageous nightlife event has returned to the scene of the crime, and this upcoming installment comes with an “under the sea” theme. Expect bingedrinking mermaids and the like. fubarla.com 42

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

■ Sat. | Aug. 29 GAY MUSIC REVOLUTION Spirit Studio

Local performance activist Ian MacKinnon is back with an exciting new theatrical multimedia tour of queers in music. He follows his fetish for homo history from the dawn of time while highlighting some lesserknown queer musicians. thegaymusicrevolution.bpt.me

■ Sun. | Aug. 30 JOX ON THE LOT Faultline

Always a popular spot for beer drinking and people watching on Sundays, this Faultline lot party, running 2-7 p.m., benefits gay sports in L.A. Plus, you’ll be treated to a rockin’ soundtrack by DJs Chris Bowen and Max Bruce. faultlinebar.com ■ Wed. | Sept. 2 GENDERTON PROJECT WeHo City Council Chambers

Drew Droege and other local talents star in this new comedy series in which genders are reversed through three intertwining storylines and eras. Watch the first three episodes at 7:30 p.m. outfest.org

SUNDAY FUNDAY: COURTESY OF GROUNDLINGS

■ Tue. | Aug. 25 BACK DOOR BASICS Hustler Hollywood

This multidisciplinary and collaborative work, based on Shahnnameh by Ferdowsi and the poem by Siavash Kasrai, incorporates live interaction between music, real-time video animation and the movement of world-class dancers. scarletstone.com

Pitchoun, Pure (inset)

EATINGOUT SUNDAYZE FUNDAYZE Groundlings Theatre Through Oct. 18 groundlings.com

SUNDAY FUNDAY Local comedy troupe The Groundlings continue to bring the funny with an all-new show for the summer

SUNDAY FUNDAY: COURTESY OF GROUNDLINGS

I

f you’re a fan of local talents like Drew Droege, you’re a fan of The Groundlings. Gay L.A.’s friendly neighborhood Chloë Sevigny impersonator cut his teeth at the venerable comedy institution, joining the ranks of other out and LGBT-friendly comedians like Michael McDonald, Jennifer Coolidge and Kathy Griffin. Now, every Sunday, Groundlings showcases the next generation of funny guys and gals with the new show Sundayzed and Confused. Directed by Alex Staggs, this new installment from the theater’s Sunday Company features great sketch material on a weekly basis, attracting not only gay talent but also LGBT audiences.

“I think Groundlings resonates with gay audiences because we create characters that are outsiders, that don’t always belong but want to fit in and be accepted,” says Staggs. “We celebrate the wonderfully strange and colorful people we know, and the weirdos and oddballs we see on the fringes.”

Staggs believes gay audiences understand and appreciate the fearlessness involved in creating these characters onstage.

“As a 100% gay myself, that’s what drew me to The Groundlings as a student and audience member before I became part of the company,” he says. “I learned how to embrace what makes me different and strange to the ‘normals’ and use it to make people laugh.”

This embracing of weirdos and oddballs traces back to Gary Austin, an ex-pat of San Francisco, the mecca of fringe. In 1972, Austin assembled a rag-tag group of L.A. performers into what would eventually become the Groundling Theatre Troupe.

“Together they would improvise, perform monologues, scenes, characters, songs, dances, classic plays—you name it,” Staggs says. “After about a year, they started doing performances and inviting friends to come and watch. Word got out about the workshop, more people started coming, and soon a core group of performers began to showcase their material at various venues around Hollywood.”

Out comedy legend Lily Tomlin was one of The Groundlings’ earliest fans, hiring several of its members for The Lily Tomlin Show. In 1975, a space that was previously a gay bar was repurposed into the current Groundlings Theatre, where young comedy hopefuls scramble for laughs and the chance to be the next Will Ferrell or Kristen Wiig. On Sundays this summer, after you down your last mimosa, head over to Melrose and check out the next generation of comedic greats. —M.C.

Go Vegan on Vine at Chavela

I

cashew cheese, chili oil and cilantro. The real t’s been a few years since Peruvian cuistandout, however, has to be the chicharrones, sine came into vogue around Los Angewhich, instead of pork rinds, Carr makes by les, but even if you’re all ceviche’d out frying Portobello mushrooms and cauliflower and can’t look at another causa, there are in spicy homemade batter, served with tartar fun new things in store at Chavela. sauce and a tangy salsa guera. On these hot Located right next to (and adjoining, since summer evenings, the heirloom tomato and it’s co-owned by the same folks) Hollywood’s avocado ceviche with citrus-habanero broth hippest Peruvian joint, Los Balcones, Chavela and red onions is a zesty appetite-whetter is a cozy but spare new space designed by the that will have you salivating.

Spacecraft Group, where the dishes are all Among the mains, of which there are vegan. The décor is industrial-chic, with bare about a half-dozen, the mole verde enchilada concrete walls, natural blond-wood furniture is probably the heartiest, swaddled in cabbage and stark metal chairs and stools, though with a stuffing of wild mushrooms and corn there are a few plants hanging off the walls over a bed of black beans, quinoa and jicama to freshen up the mood. slaw. For something a little more unusual, try Chef Rachel Carr, whose résumé includes the rich quinoa-corn polenta, stints at Cru and SunCafe, made from heirloom Peruvian puts a polished, plant-based corn and embellished with patina on typical Peruvian sautéed shiitake mushrooms dishes, with nods to the and a healthy dose of bright staples of other Central and red tomato-rocoto pepper South American culinary trasauce that comes with a kick. ditions as well.

The chile relleno is Sip on one of mixoloanother great choice. A huge gist Joel Black’s signature poblano is charred and stuffed cocktails, like the strong but Chavela with lentils and potato, served smooth Hotel Nacional with 1358 Vine St., Hlywd with a delicate sweet potato Blackweel Jamaican rum, (323) 592-3226 gratin layered with rich cashew pineapple, lime and apricot (323) 871-8099 cream, drizzled with aji verde liqueur, or one of the chave$$$$$ and served with organic nonlas or Peruvian-style sangrias, GMO corn tortillas for wiping from which the restaurant Atmosphere the dish clean. gets its name. The rosé sanIndustrial-chic cocina No one would blame gria is sunset-pink thanks to you for being skeptical of hibiscus liqueur, Aperol, silver Standout Dishes Mushroom and cauliflower vegan desserts. No eggs? rum, lemon and rose, while chicharrones, quinoa-corn No butter? No dairy? But the fresca is a white sangria polenta you won’t miss any of them flavored with peach, curacao, Drinks in the agave-sweetened lemon, mint, vanilla tea and Fresca white sangria lemon-strawberry cheeseSauvignon Blanc; it’s decepcake with tropical fruit Hours tively refreshing. coulis, while chocoholics Among the starters are 5-10 p.m. Mon-Thu, should gravitate toward the 5-11 p.m. Fri-Sat, dishes you might buy on 5-9 p.m. Sun chile-chocolate ganache with the Perurail train to Machu avocado and chocolate cream.

Picchu, like grilled organic Reservations corn on the cob with chipotle —Eric Rosen Not required

★★★★★

SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

43

44

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

*********

The best in TV, film, music and more

Heavy Hitters

We count down the 10 most enjoyable sports films for the gay Little League dropout who's not particularly athletic By Drew Mackie

G

rowing up ill-suited for most sports, I have to admit that the most thrilling athletic victories I have experienced, I did so vicariously— and often through sports movies.

They’re magic in the way they can trick even the left-footed, noodle-armed kid into learning about trying, overcoming and succeeding in ways his short-lived little league career did not.

In fact, it was these movies that helped me come around to getting more out of actual sports. Case in point: Getting dragged to a screening of Oliver Stone’s 1999 movie Any Given Sunday helped me realize that one of football’s greatest virtues is the pants those players wear. These are pants that are made for squatting. That’s something this little gay boy hadn’t previously put together by virtue of having fled the family room to play video games during Sunday Night Football.

In that vein, here are 10 great sports movies that everyone should watch, no matter their feelings toward

actual sports. We've also included a few pointers as to what gay viewers might especially take away from them.

10. Personal Best (1982) You might accuse us of stacking the deck in with a lesbian classic, but even without an Olympic track-and-field hopeful (Mariel Hemingway) engaging in a steamy affair with her coach (Patrice Donnelly), Personal Best holds up. It’s recommended viewing for anyone down for a look at how hard athletes try for greatness, even knowing that their dreams may not come to pass.

9. The Bad News Bears (1976) More than a few young lesbians probably saw this Walter Matthau classic and zeroed in on the badass tomboy (Tatum O’Neal) who becomes the team’s pitcher. She’s awesome, and O’Neal is awesome in the role. Gay content pretty much ends there, but if you can’t find a reason to love The Bad News Bears, you may be too scarred by

'BAYWATCH' HEADS BACK TO THE BEACH

Z

ac Efron has clearly figured out his career niche, signing onto yet another film that will require him to stay shirtless for most of the running time. The former High School Musical actor is currently in talks to join Dwayne Johnson on the beach for the upcoming film adaptation of TV classic Baywatch.

In the film, Johnson and Efron will join forces as two lifeguards—the former a very 'by the books' and serious lifeguard, the latter a young hothead—trying to “save their beach from environmental destruction at the hands of an oil tycoon,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. Johnson’s own production company is producing the adaptation, alongside Beau Flynn and Ivan Reitman.

No word yet on whether original Baywatch stars David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson will work their way into the project, but it would make sense to expect a few cameos. The original Baywatch was a staple of 1990s television, syndicated in 148 countries.

Johnson took to Twitter to announce Efron's joining the project, saying “Our movie will be big, fun and Rated R. Like me when I drink.“ He followed up the tweet with another: “Me and [Zack] been talkin' bout this one for a long time. And someone get me my baby oil.“ Baywatch will begin shooting in early 2016 for a planned 2017 release. After years of development, Seth Gordon, director of Horrible Bosses, has been pegged as director. —Dominic Preston SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

45

film THE CURSE OF DOWNERS GROVE Opens Aug. 21

*****

The curse in this teen thriller, co-written by Bret Easton Ellis, has a Downers Grove High School senior dying every year just before graduation. Chrissie (a charismatic Bella Heathcote), however, is practical and doesn’t believe in the curse. Her troubles revolve around an escalating war with Chuck (Keven Zegers); she took his eye out when he tried to take her virginity. As Chuck beats up Chrissie’s boyfriend (Lucas Till) and her younger brother (Martin Spanjers), the macho posturing becomes tiresome. The Curse of Downers Grove never generates any real tension or jolts. As for the mystery of who will die? It is as unremarkable as this B-movie. —Gary M. Kramer

forced little league participation to come to terms with a classic.

8. The Endless Summer (1966) Yes, a documentary. Why? First, it’s the ur-surf movie. But secondly, it concerns two guys traveling the world together to wherever summer is at its peak and enjoying beautiful beach locations. If that doesn’t sound like the perfect gay honeymoon, what does? And if that doesn’t win you over, try this—90 minutes of tanned surfer bodies in the age before baggy beachwear.

THE MEND Opens Aug. 21

*****

7. Friday Night Lights (2004) There’s not much that's explicitly gay here, and its famous locker room speech scene is maybe the least homoerotic ever committed to film. However, if you want to watch young, (presumably) straight guys use athletics to bond and experience love in one of the deepest ways that young, (presumably) straight guys can, this is it. Plus, you get pop culture bragging rights over all those who have only watched the TV series.

In this peculiar comedy/ drama, the earthy Mat (Josh Lucas) arrives at his uptight younger brother Alan’s (Stephen Plunkett) apartment the evening before Alan is planning a getaway to propose to his girlfriend, Farrah (Mickey Sumner). Mat soon invites his girlfriend Andrea (Lucy Owen) and her son Ronnie (Corey Nichols) over—and then Alan returns home prematurely. As the characters fight, suffer power outages and have misadventures (drunken and otherwise), The Mend vividly captures the messiness of the characters’ lives—their anxieties, indecisions, frustrations and indifference. The acting is excellent, but viewers may find this film, with its own sense of apathy, to be an endurance test. —G.M.K.

6. Raging Bull (1980) Martin Scorsese’s black-and-white epic stars a toned and shirtless Robert De Niro as real-life boxer Jake LaMotta. As with most boxing movies, it gets at something primal about the male body, but gay viewers will zone in on the scene in which LaMotta must fight pretty boy pugilist Tony Janiro (Kevin Mahon) and jokes about not knowing whether he should “fight or fuck him.”

Gay viewers: “Wait, did he just say that?” This is a line that can launch a thousand film thesis papers.

STATION TO STATION

5. Bull Durham (1988) Rewatch the film and think of it as a story of Nuke (Tim Robbins) torn between baseball groupie Annie (Susan Sarandon) and big daddy Crash (Kevin Costner).

There’s palpable tension there. If that doesn’t do it for you, focus on the bondage

D oug A it ke n ’s Station to Station consists of 61 one-minute films strung together, recording a crosscountry trip by train that took 24 days, covered 4000 miles and included live performances, art installations, interviews, philosophical ruminations and 10 staged “happenings” that in various areas of America. It’s a high-concept hybrid film—dotted with music from Patti Smith, Dan Deacon and others, some of it performed at the happenings, some on the train itself—and it’s oddly both fragmentary and fully integrated. It may well have been a staged opportunity, but by the end of the film, Aitken has presented an encompassing portrait of the current state of American art culture. —Dan Loughry 46

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

w

ALSO IN

>> theatres

Out Now

August 21

Dark Places

Grandma

Fantastic Four

Hitman: Agent 47

The Gift

Sinister 2

The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

August 28

Ricki and the Flash

We Are Your Friends

PHOTO CREDIT TK

*****

PHOTO CREDIT TK

Opens Aug. 21

Clockwise from left: Personal Best, The Endless Summer, Michael Ontkean in Slap Shot, The Bad News Bears

music BEACH HOUSE Depression Cherry (Sub Pop)

*****

scenes involving Nuke and Annie and the implications of forcing a captive man to listen to you read Walt Whitman poetry.

This may be the most perfectly titled release from the Baltimore dreampop duo of Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally. Not much has changed for their fifth release. The songs are still stately and, right, dreamy. Legrand’s breathy PRIME CUTS: vocals are still front and center; the music “Levitation” anchored by Legrand’s organ and Scally’s “Days of Candy” guitar punctuations. And while I’ll be the first to admit “Sparks” my enjoyment of this genre started with Cocteau Twins and ended around the time of Mazzy Star, I’ll also go as far as to claim that this, hands down, is their best. Whether I’ll listen to it much is another matter entirely, though it will make a great bedtime partner or useful background music for more isolated pursuits. —Dan Loughry

THE FRATELLIS

4. Rocky (1976) It’s actually Rocky III that features the fantastically homoerotic montage between Sylvester Stallone and Carl Weathers, but the first Rocky is the best and a sports movie classic. Yes, two shirtless guys going at it can be damn good entertainment, even without taking advantage of all the gay potential therein.

3. Bend It Like Beckham (2002) Jess (Parminder Nagra) clashes with her family over how her compulsions don’t jibe with what her traditional family expects of her. If that’s not a relatable plotline for gay viewers, throw in young Keira Knightley looking like a lesbian dreamboat with her cropped hair. In the end, the drama of soccer convinces her family to condone her alternative lifestyle—as an athlete, not a lesbian, but still.

2. Slap Shot (1977) Michael Ontkean’s naked butt made me gay. There, I said it. There’s a scene in which the Twin Peaks vet strips to his jock strap and parades around the ice. It’s fantastic, and it’s one of the many reasons to love this hockey film—a comedy, but an underrated classic. Slap Shot should have won Ontkean at least as many fans as his role in the more explicitly gay Making Love.

1. A League of Their Own (1992) What’s not to love about a movie that features Madonna, Geena Davis, Rosie O’Donnell and a pre-Tank Girl Lori Petty? Gay men and lesbians alike have plenty to love here, but I think we can all agree that Madonna has never been put to better use in a role than she was as “All the Way” Mae Mordabito. May this movie forever be the playground of queer moviegoers in need of a touching sports story.

PHOTO CREDIT TK

PHOTO CREDIT TK

music

>> NEW RELEASES Out Now

August 28

Robyn & La Bagatelle Magique Love is Free

Motörhead Bad Magic

August 21 Carly Rae Jepsen E·MO·TION

The Weeknd Beauty Behind the Madness Yo La Tengo Stuff Like That There

Eyes Wide, Tongue Tied (Cooking Vinyl / MRI)

*****

It has seemed for ages that Glaswegian trio The Fratellis were a one-and-done proposition. They sprang out of the box with popular debut Costello Music (and the insinuatingly catchy glam-abilly of PRIME CUTS: “Chelsea Dagger”) and then receded.

“Thief” Two follow-ups came and went, the band “Baby Don’t You went on hiatus and side-projects followed. Now they Lie to Me!” are back, still mining the rock ‘n’ roll vein, no new “Too Much Wine” sounds to crow over, yet refreshed and enjoyable.

While it may be true that the time for solid rock records has long passed, all it will take is one great single to revive a flagging career. By that measure, there are a few great ones here from which to choose. —D.L.

PAUL SMITH AND THE IMITATIONS Remixes & Covers (Casablanca)

*****

Just like it says on the tin, this 17-track collection features Tel Aviv’s The Young Professionals dropping exactly what they do best—having added their own discoball sparks to other people’s work, and offering their own takes on some PRIME CUTS: classic ditties. The diversity comes in “Reintroducing the wide swath of genres they tackle. On the remix the Red Kite” side, everyone from Moby to Imagine Dragons to “Fluid Identity” Zedd to Tegan and Sara get perfect spitshines. And “Break Me Down” their Tove Lo “Talking Body” remix is magnificent!

Covers-wise, they transform both Lana Del Rey’s “Video Games” and Abba’s “SOS” into electro, indie rock stompers. Just to put a cherry on top, they also offer an infectious new track for the dance floor. Keep this collection handy poolside or as you’re headed to the club. —Paul V. Vitagliano SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

47

tv

By Nathaniel Grey

MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS Aug. 30 9 p.m. on MTV

Expect the Unexpected at This Year's VMAs

stage

CONSCIOUS GETTING UNSTUCK

Hudson Guild Theatre Through Sept. 19

*****

This offbeat autobiographical piece by writer-director-performer Dr. Merle Conscious Soden, subtitled Homeles s to Holly wood, makes up for lapses in technical polish with sly humor, heart and sincerity. Though billed as a solo show, the 90-minute piece includes a few unbilled supporting performers, in filmed segments and in the climactic moments. Soden relates the tragicomic trajectory of her remarkable life story, which began as the daughter of hardened criminals in Brooklyn, and progressed to sexual abuse, HIV infection, drug addiction, homelessness and other forms of suffering.

But she pulled her life together in a big way, connecting with mega-stars Queen Latifah and Oprah Winfrey, leading to an impressive Tinseltown career (on camera and off) and ultimately earning a doctorate degree in Management and Homeland Security. Soden's inspirational message of triumph over adversity and the lessons she imparts on the ravages of HIV/ AIDS are compelling, while sometimes ironically amusing.

48

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

Maybe one of the men took your slot.” The two later chalked everything up to a misunderstanding.

Airing Sunday, Aug. 30, this year’s festivities will include such nominees as Kendrick Lamar, Swift, Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars, each of whom received four nominations, and Beyoncé, who received three. Though many performers’ names have been kept under wraps, Tom Cruise recently sent out a spoiler tweet announcing that Canadian artist The Weeknd would be performing.

Despite the fact that MTV is no longer a music-focused network, the VMAs are in their third decade. Today’s viewers typically don’t tune in for the awards compnent as much as to see what people are wearing (or, in Cyrus’ case, not wearing), which surprise guests will present and who throws shade at whom. Only one thing is certain, evidenced by a recent video promo showing Cyrus wearing a cherry cluster hat, tongue protuding while riding a giant kitten bronco-style: expect the outrageous.

GOD'S MAN IN TEXAS 2nd Stage Theatre Through Sept. 5

*****

Writer-director David Rambo's seriocomic 1999 play is about men of the cloth who experience personal soulsearching amid institutional power struggles, and this production surpasses the Geffen Playhouse's 2002 L.A.-premiere rendition. Rambo's revival benefits from a terrific trio of actors and his assured staging of the still-relevant work. Elderly televangelist Dr. Gottschall (Ted Heyck) is nearing retirement from his lucrative empire, heading a Houston Baptist church, as he considers turning the ropes over to promising young family man Dr. Mears (Brian Letscher). Playing a crucial role amid an emerging kerfuffle is the church's assertive video technician Hugo (Tom Costello), who harbors a secret past. The three actors superbly capture the play's full range of poignancy, humor and food for thought. While taking a potent look at the dark side of ambitiousness in the clergy, this production convincingly balances the characters' strengths and human frailties. Rambo delivers a thoughtful and highly engaging late-summer treat. —Les Spindle

PHOTO CREDIT TK GOD'S MAN: MICHAEL LAMONT

I

f you think the MTV Video Music Awards have lost their pop culture relevance, think again. The morning this year’s nominations were announced, VMA discussion on Twitter reached over 1,400 tweets per minute by 11:30 a.m. That number may be broken still the morning after this year’s ceremony, which will be hosted by none other than Miley Cyrus.

Cyrus caused much ballyhoo following her raunchy 2013 performance with Robin Thicke, in which she twerked to her hit song “We Can’t Stop” and gestured provocatively with a giant foam finger.

This year we’ve already seen pre-broadcast controversy in the form of a “Twitter feud” between Nicki Minaj and Taylor Swift. The former felt shut out from the Video of the Year category for her song “Anaconda,” tweeting, “If your video celebrates women with very slim bodies, you will be nominated for vid of the year.” Swift, who took the tweet as a jab, responded, “I’ve done nothing but love & support you. It’s unlike you to pit women against each other.

Fashion Police Aug. 31, E! This fan-favorite look at celebrity fashion is back for a second incarnation following the death of original host, iconic comedienne Joan Rivers. It comes after a quite controversial comeback earlier this year in which Kathy Griffin hosted. Despite some hot water that panelist Giuliana Rancic got in and the departure of Kelly Osborne, the powers that be at E! were convinced by the show’s executive producer Melisssa Rivers, Joan’s daughter, to give it another chance with herself as the main host. She’ll be joined onec again by Rancic and stylist to the stars Brad Goreski.

TODRICK August 31, MTV

Jumping the gun of Neil Patrick Harris’ upcoming NBC variety show revival, MTV introduces this new docuseries featuring the adorable and multi-talented (and openly gay) Todrick Hall. Impatient to become superstars, Hall and his team of creative friends collaborate on a collection of weekly videos featuring comedy, music and dancing—a revamp of the classic, almost forgotten variety format. The premise comes from years of Hall’s fabulously self-made, often musical YouTube videos, which have a substantial enough following to give them a new home on MTV. TELEVISION LONG DIVISION

Glee

The Carol Burnett Show

RuPaul's Drag Race

Todrick

Saturday, Aug. 22 Tig Notaro's Boyish Girl Interrupted is the first HBO comedy special for this Grammy-winning comedian and cancer survivor. It's a brand-new production, not the documentary Tig that premiered at Outfest and has been airing on Netflix. (10 p.m., HBO)

PHOTO CREDIT TK GOD'S MAN: MICHAEL LAMONT

NARCOS Aug. 28, Netflix Timing couldn’t be better for this new crime thriller about a drug lord. Though not about recently escaped drug lord El Chapo, the comparisons are plenty. This look at real-life Colombian drug lord and cocaine trafficker Pablo Escobar stars the sexy Pedro Pascal (better known as the late bisexual Prince Oberyn Martell on Game of Thrones), who plays Javier Pena, a DEA agent hunting down Escobar (Brazilian actor Wagner Moura) to bring him to justice. The show is sure to be a detailed and dramatic look at the global cocaine business.

Sunday, Aug. 23 Fear the Walking Dead—the spinoff/prequel of The Walking Dead that takes place at the beginning of the zombie plague—starts its first season of six episodes with a 90-minute premiere. A second season has already been ordered for 2016. (9 p.m., AMC) Tuesday, Aug. 25 Here comes a new stylish 1960sset crime drama called Public Morals starring Edward Burns.

Joining him in this Mad Menstyle look at organized crime are Desperate Housewives vet Neal McDonough and Michael Rapaport. (10 p.m., TNT)

SET YOUR

Wednesday, Sept. 2 Million Dollar Listings L.A.—the original of the successful franchise, back for its eighth season— details the cut-throat world of SoCal real estate (10 p.m., Bravo) Friday, Sept. 4 The new series Hand of God stars Hellboy’s Ron Perlman as a tough guy who suffers a mental breakdown and believes God is talking to him. Garrett Dillahunt joins Dana Delany in this intense drama from Burn Notice creator Ben Watkins and World War Z director Marc Forster. (Amazon) SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

49

A NEW

PLAN

Help level the playing field at the first-ever West Hollywood Sports Festival, where you’ll compete alongside the city’s gay sports leagues, win medals and score a few new friends

os Angeles is a world-class city for gay sports— with over a dozen leagues in games as varied as kickball and rugby, a healthy love of competition and a community that adores fitness and the outdoors, our town’s sports fever makes perfect sense. But as Ray Robles, the President of the Los Angeles Volleyball Organization says, “It doesn’t seem a lot of these leagues and players get to mingle.”

There are a lot of men and women heading out to play with their friends, but most of the gay leagues in L.A. seem disconnected—and as a result, the vibrancy and breadth of the gay sports scene is hard to grasp. Just exactly how big is it, and what kind of people are serious about their sports?

That’s why Robles’ organization, in conjunction with 10 other local gay leagues, is putting together the West Hollywood Sports Festival, the first of its kind in Los Angeles.

As an organizer of this undertaking, Robles hopes the celebration will make gay Angelenos realize how diverse and large the community’s sports culture really is. As the stereotypes surrounding gay men and women collapse, it’s no longer as mind-bending for straight America to accept a gay sports nut. It may be time, too, for those gay men and women who can’t bear their way through a football game to check out other options and leagues—and get some great exercise, too.

In fact, one of the goals of the West Hollywood Sports Festival is to expose the disinclined to pick up a baseball or hockey stick and experience the friendliness and approachability of L.A.’s gay leagues. Robles hopes the appeal sticks, saying, “We want an alternative to the nightlife, where guys can make friends in a healthy social environment. We’d love it if those who were on the fence about taking up a sport saw a game and thought, ‘Hey, I can do that!’”

The Los Angeles Volleyball Organization has experience handling large-scale events, hosting a number of its own tournaments in and around the city. “LAVO has nearly 1,400 participants,” says Eric Gonzales, the organization’s executive director. “We host two tournaments per year, in the spring and fall, and we’ve always wanted to do something 50

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

larger, but we couldn’t figure out where to put it.”

Robles first had the idea of a large sports festival when he was participating in the Ohio Gay Games in 2014. He wanted all of Los Angeles’ teams to march as a group in the opening parade, and he realized that this was, most likely, the first time they had all linked together.

“I brought up the idea with some other leagues’ organizers, and there was a spark in their eyes,” says Robles. “I play volleyball and softball, but I haven’t had a chance to connect with other leagues,” he says. There were several teams and sports right in his backyard, but he didn’t know many of them.

Enthusiasm was high, and leagues like Lamba Basketball, the West Hollywood Soccer Club and hockey team The Los Angeles Blades jumped at the opportunity to show off their players and network with other sports enthusiasts.

Putting together the event, however, was daunting. Both Gonzales and Robles wanted to build an event that would endure, hoping to bring an annual gala to West Hollywood and the greater Los Angeles area. “We want to be a premier event for the city,” says Robles.

UCLA was an eager partner in the festival, solving the question of where to hold such a massive sports event.

(Hockey and water polo will be held elsewhere at The Rinks in Lakewood and the Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Pool, respectively.) LAVO and other leagues have spent nearly a year coordinating and conceiving this event, partnering with sponsors like Coca Cola to fund the free festival—a perk both Gonzales and Robles are proud to offer. The festival has also provided funds and support for participants in the Special Olympics, which wrapped up earlier this month in Los Angeles.

The West Hollywood Sports Festival has been a boon for the participating leagues, allowing one—Lambda Basketball— to host its first tournament in nearly seven years. The swell of interest will also bring together far-flung friends. Gonzales is excited to see the festival turn into a can’t-miss for players nationwide, becoming California’s answer to the popular Las Vegas Shootout, a multi-sport tournament that attracts nearly 6,000 out-of-towners to the Tropicana every winter.

That also means the organizers have to make the festival

PIXATTITUDE | DREAMSTIME.COM

By Patrick Rosenquist

JOIN IN ON THE

FUN Want to know more about the teams participating in the West Hollywood Sports Festival? Here’s some info on the inaugural bunch. If your favorite isn’t listed, don’t fret—there’s always next year!

LAMBDA BASKETBALL Active year-round. lambdabasketball.com

WEHO DODGEBALL Active year-round, with games every Tuesday and Thursday. wehododgeball.com

LOS ANGELES FLAG FOOTBALL Games kick off in the spring, with registration in January. laflagfootball.com

LOS ANGELES BLADES Active year-round, with novice hockey games every Tuesday night. bladeshockey.com

WEST HOLLYWOOD SOCCER CLUB

PIXATTITUDE | DREAMSTIME.COM

The league plays in the spring, with amateur games throughout the year. westhollywoodsoccerclub.org

memorable and fun. You can’t have a workout without a reward, after all. The festival begins Friday, Sept. 4, at the Andaz West Hollywood, letting players and spectators mingle before the first home run or three-point shot of the weekend.

During the actual tournament on Saturday and Sunday, spectators can upgrade from a free ticket to a $15 pass allowing them to access an exclusive lounge and an open bar. Sunday even closes with a bash at The Abbey.

Both Gonzales and Robles are eager to revamp and expand for next year’s event, hoping to draw an even bigger crowd and expand upon the inaugural 11 leagues.

“We want to include more sports, like kickball,” says Gonzales, adding, “We have such a great fitness culture here in L.A. We have a ton of supplement shops, gyms and trainers. It’d be great if we included that part of the city, too, and become a general health and wellness festival.”

Robles is also excited to see the festival grow, hoping that if it continues to be successful, the organizations can put together a Los Angeles bid for the Gay Games, the largest LGBT sports event in the world. Until then, however, Robles just wants those who come by to have a good time.

“We want people to have fun, meet friends, and maybe try a new sport,” he says. “We just want this to be a great experience.”

GREATER LOS ANGELES SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION The next season starts in September, with 17 teams participating. lagaysoftball.com

WEST HOLLYWOOD AQUATICS Swimming and water polo is active year-round, with coached swim team workouts daily and water polo workouts once per week. wh2o.org

LOS ANGELES TENNIS ASSOCIATION Matches start in late summer for paying members. lataweb.com

LOS ANGELES VOLLEYBALL ORGANIZATION Tournaments are held every spring and fall. playlavo.org

Find the festival’s complete schedule, and register to compete in (or watch) 10 different sports at wehosportsfestival.org.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

51

RUF RIDERS 52

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

F S

This page: Logan Alan Swiecki Taylor wears BARD singlet, $78; LEE pants, $98. Opposite: FLASCAR leggings, $92; shoes by Adidas

San Diego-based label Rufskin is fully committed to keeping men’s athletic apparel sleek and sexy PHOTOGRAPHY & STYLING B Y C OAT S & P O U C H E S

SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

53

54

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

This page: NUAGE shorts, $62. Opposite: SHANG singlet, $58; shoes by Umbro, gloves by Everlast

SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

55

56

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

This page: POW leggings, $52; shoes by Umbro, pack

by Camelbak. Opposite: DRAGO leggings, $89; shoes by Reebok

SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

57

This page: LING top, $54; DRAGO leggings, $89.

Opposite: Behind the scenes of the Frontiers photo shoot; Marcus Randall wears VIPER white jeans, $168

58

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

R

ufskin was created to fill a void. In 2002, longtime couple Hubert Pouches and Douglas Coats founded the San Diego-based fashion label to remedy the dearth of sexy denim options for men.

“Back then, all the guys were looking for low-rise jeans—that sexy, ‘70s rock ‘n’ roll, Lenny Kravitz style,” says Pouches in his thick French accent, phoning from the guys’ Palm Springs residence. “So they would go to girls’ stores to get sexy jeans. We started right away with low-rise jeans with unique styling, and we made it our signature.

Men needed a jean that was cut just right for them, and this has always been the dominant focus of our design process.”

That inaugural line of low-rise, form-fitting denim would exemplify Rufskin’s mission: to create men’s clothing that is sexy, masculine and athletic, while balancing equal parts vintage and modernism.

Pouches and Coates have described their aesthetic as “Euro postmodern attire that pays homage to American forward thinking.”

The duo founded the company in a humble San Diego garage and quickly expanded onto the global fashion stage, incorporating swimwear, underwear and athletic apparel into their purview. The success of Rufskin’s clothing was aided by consistently scintillating photo shoots, often conducted in and around the couple’s desert home.

While Rufskin has carved a deep niche in the Californian fashion terrain, its roots actually trace back to France. The partners met in the early ‘90s during a Parisian fashion show. “A week later, we started dating,” says Pouches. “Twenty-five years later, we’re still together.”

While in Paris, Pouches cut his teeth on labels like Bernard Perris and Courreges. His work with these companies, combined with his time in Brazil designing for Victoria’s Secret, heavily influence the tasteful sensuality he currently incorporates into Rufskin’s apparel. “Our products are very sexy and masculine, but not vulgar,” Pouches emphasizes.

Rufskin differentiates itself from its rivals by not producing traditional collections. Pouches shrugs off the confines of that expectation, choosing to create and release per his own whim. “Inspiration strikes, samples are cut, production is done and we launch product simultaneously on our website, in the Rufskin boutiques and to wholesalers,” he says. “Because of our structure, we do not have to stick to one direction or one type of product. You never know what will come next, but when it is out, it is there, and it is available immediately.”

Pouches’ rejection of fashion industry mores reflects one of Rufskin’s most defining characteristics, individuality. The brand’s mission statement describes their target demographic as “confident, inventive and unafraid to experiment with his personal style,” plainly evidenced in the label’s newest collection of athletic wear, which commemorates the Year of the Ram. The line is inspired by vintage Chinese circus attire, but with a modern slant, evoking a trapeze uniform from a bygone era.

It’s a collection that evidences the cornerstone of Pouches’ fashion advice for men. “Don’t follow anybody,” he says. “Do whatever suits you the best and reflects the image you want to portray.” —Mike Ciriaco

Rufskin’s Hubert Pouches (left) and Douglas Coats met in the early 1990s in Paris, when Coats modeled for Pouches’ agency

SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

59

A LEAGUE OF OUR OWN

LGBTs have long been present in professional sports, and these 21 ‘out’ athletes have helped to create our own special Hall of Fame By Drew Mackie

D

id you know that, by most accounts, we give high-fives as a congratulatory gesture for success—athletic and otherwise—as the result of a gay baseball player?

On Oct. 2, 1977, Dodgers outfielder Glenn Burke raised his hand up high to congratulate Dusty Baker after he hit his 30th home run of the season. Baker slapped Burke’s hand, and as far as anyone can tell, it was the first instance of a high-five on record. The gesture went viral from there, and we’ve never stopped doing it. According to Burke, it originated as a way for gay residents of San Francisco’s Castro to greet each other.

This story of the high-five works as a metaphor for the presence of

BILLY JEAN KING Hometown: Long Beach, California Career Highlights (1959-1983): 12 Grand Slam singles titles, 27 doubles titles, beating Bobby Riggs in the 1973 Battle of the Sexes Came Out: In 1971, as a result of a lawsuit by her former girlfriend. “I wanted to tell the truth, but my parents were homophobic and I was in the closet,“ King told The Times in 2007. “I had people tell me … it would be the end of the women’s tour.”

60

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

queer professional athletes in general—they’ve always been a part of sports, whether the people cheering in the stands realized it or not. We look forward to the day when an athlete’s sexuality is less of an issue than, say, ability to throw, catch or kick a ball. However, we should also take a moment to appreciate the fact that right now we have more out gay, lesbian and trans professional athletes than we’ve ever had before.

This is good news for casual sports fans looking for someone to cheer on, but it’s even better news for our next generation of athletes.

Somewhere there’s a boy or girl dreaming of athletic glory, saying, “If they’ve already done it, so can I.” Here are just a few of the trailblazing sports stars who give hope to a younger generation of athletes.

DAVID KOPAY Hometown: Chicago, Illinois Affiliations: 49ers, Lions, Redskins, Saints, Packers Career Highlights (1964-1972): 876 career rushing yards gained, 3 touchdowns, first openly gay pro team athlete Came Out: 1975, in a Washington Star article about gay athletes. “I got very, very few hate mails,” Kopay told Outsports. “Mostly the mail that poured in was amazingly supportive and telling their own stories.

There were hundreds of letters forwarded to me.”

MARTINA NAVRATILOVA Hometown: Prague, Czechoslovakia Career Highlights (1975-2006): Holds records for most singles titles (167) and most doubles titles (177), earned more than $21 million in prize money.

Came Out: July 30, 1981, in a New York Daily News article. Writing about Jason Collins in 2013 for Sports Illustrated, Navratilova urged, “Come out, come out wherever and whoever you are. It is beautiful out here and I guarantee you this: You will never, ever want to go back.”

CAITLYN JENNER Hometown: Mount Kisco, New York Career Highlights (1972-1976): Gold medal in the 1976 Olympic decathlon, enduring 10 seasons of Keeping Up with the Kardashians Came out: April 24, 2015, in an ABC News interview.

“If I was lying on my deathbed and I had kept this secret and never ever did anything about it, I would be lying there saying, ‘You just blew your entire life,’” she told Vanity Fair the following June

DIANA NYAD Hometown: New York City, New York Career Highlights: Numerous record-setting longdistance swims, including from Cuba to Florida in 2013 and the Bahamas to Florida in 1979. Once ranked 13th among U.S. women squash players.

Came Out: Around 1970. “I like to think that I’m fearless and go through life boldly,” she told Out in 2012. “This is a cherished little window of time you have, so you’ve got to grab it and live it large.”

GREG LOUGANIS Hometown: El Cajon, California Affiliations: U.S. men’s Olympic diving team Career Highlights (1976-1988): 5 Olympic medals, 47 national diving titles Came Out: Feb. 27, 1995, on The Oprah Winfrey Show, explaining “It’s been so difficult, with the secrets and asking people to keep those secrets.

It’s an incredible burden.”

BILLY BEAN Hometown: Santa Ana, California Affiliations: San Diego Padres, L.A. Dodgers, Detroit Tigers Career Highlights (1987-1995): .226 batting average, 5 home runs, 53 RBIs. Currently MLB’s first-ever Ambassador for Inclusion.

Came Out: In 1999, after he retired. “For nine years, I felt as though I had one foot in the major leagues and one on a banana peel,” Bean told The New York Times of his closeted career.

RENEE RICHARDS Hometown: New York City, New York Career Highlights (1977-1981): Ranked 20th in the world February 1979, successfully sued for the right to play in the U.S. Open as a woman Came Out: In a 1976 news report about her trans status. Speaking to GQ in June 2015, Richards said, “I was not an activist. It was a private act for my own self-betterment, for what I wanted to do. I wanted to go and play tennis, you know? And I wanted to stand up and say what I was.

ESERA TUAOLO Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaii Affiliations: Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers Career Highlights (1991-1999): Morris Award Winner 1989, played in Super Bowl XXXIII Came out: In 2002 on HBO’s Real Sports. “It was just so difficult for me, because I would hear those things, and I would have to bite my lip,” he said of being gay in a locker room. “Especially hearing it from somebody that you could kick their ass.”

SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

61

A LEAGUE OF OUR OWN

GARETH THOMAS Hometown: Sarn, Bridgend, Wales Affiliation(s): Bridgend Ravens, Cardiff Blues, Wales national rugby union team, Barbarian F.C. Career Highlights (1994-2010): 12th highest try scoring rugby player (41), tied for 27th most-capped player (103) Came Out: Dec. 19, 2009, telling the Daily Mail, “I was like a ticking bomb. I thought I could suppress it, keep it locked away in some dark corner of myself, but I couldn’t. It was who I was, and I just couldn’t ignore it anymore.”

ORLANDO CRUZ Hometown: Yabucoa, Puerto Rico Affiliations: World Boxing Organization Career Highlights (2000-present): 21 wins to date (11 of them KOs), 4 losses Came Out: Oct. 4, 2012, telling the Associated Press, “I am and will always be a proud Puerto Rican gay man.”

62

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

JOHN AMAECHI Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts and Stockport, England Affiliations: Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, Utah Jazz Career Highlights (1995-2003): Intercontinental Cup champion 1996, Euroleague champion 1998 Came Out: February 2007 on ESPN’s Outside the Lines, saying, “I think that the coming out process for these individuals … is theirs and theirs alone. And I don’t think that they should be pressured or pushed for the good of the gay community or otherwise.”

JASON COLLINS Hometown: Northridge, California Affiliations: New Jersey Nets, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets Career Highlights (2001-2014): First publicly gay athlete to play in a major North American pro sports league, Pete Newell Big Man Award 2001 Came Out: May 6, 2013, in a Sports Illustrated column, writing, “I didn’t set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport.

But since I am, I’m happy to start the conversation.”

SHERYL SWOOPES Hometown: Brownfield, Texas Affiliations: Tulsa Shock, Seattle Storm, Houston Comets Career Highlights (1997-2011): First player signed to the WNBA, three-time WNBA MVP, 3 Olympic gold medals Came Out: Oct. 26, 2005, telling ESPN magazine, “Male athletes of my caliber probably feel like they have a lot more to lose than gain [by coming out].

I don’t agree with that. To me, the most important thing is happiness.”

JOHNNY WEIR Hometown: Coatesville, Pennsylvania Career Highlights (2001-2013): 3-time winner U.S. National Figure Skating Championship (20042006), two-time Olympian (2006, 2010) Came out: January 2011, in his biography Welcome to My World, saying, “With people killing themselves and being scared into the closet, I hope that even just one person can gain strength from my story.”

ROBBIE ROGERS Hometown: Rancho Palos Verdes, California Affiliations: Columbus Crew, Leeds United, L.A. Galaxy Career Highlights (2005-present): First openly gay athlete to join a Major League Soccer team; scored his first goal for the Galaxy on LGBT Pride Night on June 24, 2015 Came Out: Feb. 23, 2013, in a blog post, saying, “My secret is gone, I am a free man, I can move on and live my life as my creator intended.”

BRITTNEY GRINER Hometown: Houston, Texas Affiliations: Phoenix Mercury Career Highlights (2013-present): Led Phoenix to win WNBA championship 2014,Best Female Athlete ESPY Award in 2012 Came Out: April 17, 2013, in a Sports Illustrated interview, saying, “Being one that’s out, it’s just being who you are. Again, like I said, just be who you are.”

MATTHEW MITCHAM Hometown: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Career Highlights (2002-present): Gold medal at the 2008 Olympics for the Australian men’s diving team, received the highest single-dive score in Olympic history Came out: May 24, 2008, in a Sydney Morning Herald piece profiling Olympic hopefuls, saying hardships of growing up gay made him tougher. “I probably wouldn’t have as much of a fighting spirit,” he said.

MICHAEL SAM Hometown: Galveston, Texas Affiliations: Montréal Alouettes, Dallas Cowboys, St. Louis Rams Career Highlights (2014-2015): First openly gay player drafted into the National Football League, finished 10th place on Dancing with the Stars Came Out: Feb. 2, 2014, in an ESPN interview, saying, “It’s a big deal. No one has done this before. And it’s kind of a nervous process, but I know what I want to be. ... I want to be a football player in the NFL.”

MEGAN RAPINOE Hometown: Redding, California Affiliations: Chicago Red Stars, Philidelphia Independence, U.S. women’s national soccer team Career Highlights (2009-present): Gold medal in 2012 London Olympics, led U.S. team to victory in 2015 Women’s World Cup Final Came Out: July 2, 2012, in an Out magazine interview, saying, “I feel everyone is really craving [for] people to come out. People want—they need—to see that there are people like me playing soccer for the good ol’ U.S. of A.”

DAVID DENSON Hometown: West Covina, California Affiliations: Helena Brewers Career Highlights (2015-present): He’s the first out gay baseball player on an MLB-affiliated team Came Out: Aug. 15, 2015, in a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article, saying of his teammates, “They gave me the confidence I needed, coming out to them. They said, ‘You’re still our teammate. You’re still our brother. ... We don’t treat you any different.

We’ve got your back.’”

SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

63

THE WORLD OF BILLY MASTERS From left: Matthew Broderick, Sarah Jessica Parker, Benedict Cumberbatch, Lenny Kravitz, Blake Shelton

THE STATE OF CELEBRITY RELATIONSHIPS, PLUS A PLETHORA OF PENIS

What Tweets May Come Benedict Cumberbatch is getting rave reviews for his turn as Hamlet on London’s West End. There’s only one problem—the show hasn’t opened yet!

In a flagrant disregard for protocol, to say nothing of common decency, two of London’s leading papers surreptitiously sent critics to see the very first preview and write about it. These reviews are based on the actors’ first run-through in front of a live audience. Yes, it’s lovely that they were raves.

64

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

But who do you people think you are, me?

Cumberbatch personally met with fans after a performance asking that they not film portions of the performance. “I can’t give you what I want to give you, which is a live performance that hopefully you will remember in your minds and brains—whether it’s good, bad or indifferent— rather than on your phones. So please don’t.” To get the message out, he’s asked people to “Tweet, blog, hashtag the shit out of this one for me.” He added that the theater staff would “detect and evict” people illegally filming.

Getting Friendly with Fido A.R. Gurney’s Sylvia is a play about a man in a love triangle with his wife and his dog. Yes, Sylvia is the dog. The play was a hit off-Broadway two decades ago. Finally, the show will be making its Broadway debut and will star Matthew Broderick as the aforementioned man. This is not in itself a column-worthy item, except when you realize that the original off-Broadway production starred Sarah Jessica Parker as the dog. (There’s a joke in there somewhere. Maybe I’ll think of one by the time I get to the last paragraph.) Perhaps Broderick and Parker will perform a scene from the play when they do their first joint concert at Town Hall in Provincetown on Aug. 17. You can still get tix at PtownArtHouse.com.

Ask Billy: DTLA Gets Bent This leads perfectly into our question. Henry in Hollywood writes, “After reading your great review of Bent at L.A.’s Mark Taper Forum and seeing your uncut footage of Jake Shears, I quickly snapped up a ticket. I loved it. But you didn’t mention that gorgeous naked guy at the beginning of the show.

Wow, what a stud. And what a beautiful dick. I can’t believe you didn’t get that for your website.”

You and me both. Most certainly, Tom Berklund is a fine actor. But that is somewhat eclipsed by his amazing body and enormous penis—and a semihard penis at that. Alas, not even I had the hubris

to try and capture it for posterity. That would be like biting the penis that feeds me. I was fairly sure that Mr. Berklund’s penis would be one of those things you see once in your life and then wonder if it was real—like Bigfoot, or a hit movie starring the Olsen Twins. And then, poof, his penis popped up in my inbox. (No, that is not a euphemism.) It was sent to me by an enthusiastic and industrious fan who was giving me the exclusive. I haven’t gotten this excited about a stage penis since Steven Weber virtually poked my eye out with his. This one is every inch as impressive—no Visine required. So, along with every inch of Shears’ performance, you must check this video out as well on my site. [Bent runs at the Mark Taper Forum through Aug. 23.]

Lenny Splits His Leather Because we can never have enough male nudity, I’m sure you’re all familiar with the dick heard ‘round the world. That ponderous penis belonged to singer Lenny Kravitz. During a concert in Stockholm, the singer squatted down while wearing skintight leather pants. And before you can say “Jack Robinson” in Swedish, his pants split at the crotch, exposing his privates along with some hardware.

Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler reportedly texted his love, envy and astonishment to Kravitz: “Dude. No underwear and pierced. Fuck me. You never showed me that shit.” Check out the enhanced video and photo of the performance on my site.

When we’re featuring a bent penis, it’s definitely time to end yet another column. Well, it’s not actually bent, but it does curve slightly downward.

You can see all that and more at BillyMasters.com, the site that has nothing to hide. Since I’ll be in Provincetown this week, I’m sure I’ll see more than my share of penises, but that won’t distract me from answering your questions. Send an e-mail to Billy@BillyMasters.com, and I promise to get back to you before Matthew Broderick takes Sarah Jessica Parker out for a walk! Until next time, remember, one man’s filth is another man’s bible.

PHOTO CREDIT TK

Splits, Hookups, Tyings of the Knot I have no explanation why some of our favorite celebrities have recently announced they are separating, divorcing, hooking up or getting married. It must be the heat. First is Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert. A quick perusal of this week’s tabloid covers will tell you that she cheated on him with oodles of men, or that he’s been stepping out on her. So who really knows? What seems clear is that Blake initiated the split—to the point that when they were both away from home, he had his assistant pack up all of Miranda’s belongings and leave them on the porch. Now, I normally don’t go for those gay rumors, but these actions really seem to be the definition of a “hissy fit,” typically thrown by a “bitchy queen.” I calls ‘em like I sees ‘em.

Perhaps the most troubling story is the one about Tom Cruise’s love for his personal assistant. I don’t know what it is about this story. That one of them works for the other? That Tom’s roughly twice as old as the PA? I just can’t put my finger on it. Oh, yes, now I remember—it’s that the PA is a woman! I bet she won’t be able to put her finger on it, either!

Kate Pierson from The B-52s recently got married to her longtime girlfriend, Monica Coleman.

And last month, Olympic speed skater Blake Skjellerup (who has posed nude, which we’ll post on our website) got married to his beau, Saul Carrasco. Why are we grouping them together?

Because both of these unions happened in Hawaii.

Ho’omaika’i ‘ana.

QUEERSAY

BY GOSSIP GAY

JORDAN TO THE RESCUE

T

hree homophobes walk into a Starbucks and ... no, it’s not one of those bad jokes that your annoying second cousin tells at the family reunion; it really happened in West Hollywood.

The shocking, first-hand dramatics were recounted to yours truly on Facebook: “Three guys run into the Big Gay Starbucks this morning, get up in customers’ faces and start screaming, ‘Y’all are faggots!’ It lasted for minutes, and no one did anything ... until, that is, Leslie Jordan, 4’11” star of Will and Grace, and three of his friends stood up and confronted the guys. Suddenly, cold-brew beverages began flying, and a tea was actually flung into someone’s face! Finally, the police arrived and arrested the homophobic and crazy men. It was beautiful to watch Leslie and his friends stand up to the hate and craziness. Call it a modern-day, caffeinated Stonewall!”

I applaud you, Leslie Jordan and friends, for taking a cold coffee to the gut and standing up for all that is right, just and fabulous in this crazy world. Hopefully no Versace was harmed in the making of this heroic act!

ONE LAST CRY, COMING WEEKLY

I

t’s official, as confirmed by one of our Hollywood executive moles: the gayfavorite (and everyone else favorite?) movie The Notebook is being made into a television show. I’m told, “What surely made you bawl as a film will surely make you bawl as a weekly small-screen treat.”

No word yet on who will be playing the leads or on which network the 60-minute drama will run, but the in-the-works writing team promises me, “It’ll be hot, hot, hot and beyond sob-inducing.” My box of Kleenex and I wait with bated breath!

SPOTTED!

O

n a Tuesday night, Sam Smith— donning an all-black ensemble—was spotted at The Abbey with his band, enjoying a much-needed night out in the midst of his summer tour. By all accounts, Smith was looking happy, health and hot to trot with a new, banging body!

We saw Heidi Klum at Runyon Canyon, sauntering with a mysterious gentleman caller shortly before a judge’s round shoot for America’s Got Talent. Not only is her smile worth a million dollars, but so is her aging-in-reverse body!

Matt Damon was spied in Zuma, bustling down the street and attempting to hide behind a baseball cap and casual hoodie. There’s no use in trying to hide, Mr. Damon. We’d recognize that cute mug anywhere!

A TO Z CONSTRUCTION INC.

BUILDING FROM THE GROUND UP

. Kitchen . Bathroom . Roofing . Plumbing . Electrical

. Painting . Foundations . Additions . And much more . No job is too small

FREE ESTIMATES Serving all of the Valley, Los Angeles and Orange County areas Lic. #988824

Your home deserves an upgrade.

Call us today!

(310) 697-9380 www.AtoZConstructionsInc.com

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!

SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

65

PALM SPRINGS

HUSTLE IN THE HEAT The desert summer may be hot as hell, but your body isn’t going to sculpt itself.

Here are half a dozen ways to stay fit in Palm Springs, from making a splash poolside to hiking some of the area’s most scenic trails By Lydia Siriprakorn Palm Springs Gay Softball League If just the thought of working out solo is enough to make you sweat, join the Palm Springs Gay Softball League for a team-oriented workout.

Regardless of your skill level, it’s only $30 to register, and you’ll be joining a team of like-minded, welcoming individuals who just want to play some friendly, adult, slow-pitch softball. Games are played at Demuth Park, Sundays at 3 p.m. New player clinics start in September, but you still have time to register. The upcoming fall season begins Oct. 4.

1717 E. Vista Chino, psgsl.org

Palm Desert Aquatic Center There’s certainly no shortage of private pools to lounge by in Palm Springs, but finding a place to swim laps and work on sculpting your swimmer’s body is another story. Palm Desert Aquatic Center is the go-to place for anyone looking to make a splash with their workout. The eight-acre property includes three pools, slides, diving boards and water fitness classes for all ages. For just $6 ($4 for residents), you can choose from an Olympic long-course pool (50 meters) or a short-course pool (25 meters) to swim laps and take your breastroke to beastmode. 73751 Magnesia Falls Dr., Palm Desert

Ruth Hardy Park The title of best tennis court is tough to call in a resort town like Palm Springs, but for a free facility, Ruth Hardy Park gives a lot of the private clubs a run for their money. This city park offers eight public courts, open every day until 10 p.m. The entire park spans 22 acres and includes plenty of open space to run around, and several children’s play areas, which attract lots of families and dog owners. There’s also a basketball court, three sand volleyball courts and a meditation area if you find yourself in need of some peace and quiet. 700 Tamarisk Rd., palmspringsca.gov

PedalSpin Studio Spin junkies, rejoice! Heading to the desert doesn’t mean giving up on spin class. Southern California-based spin studio PedalSpin recently opened its sixth location in Palm Springs, and it’s got everything you’ve come to love about the boutique spin studio scene, including a stylish, pristine space, upbeat instructors, an invigorating playlist, fresh towels, water and air conditioning on full blast to keep you cool. 71743 Highway 111, Ste. B, Rancho Mirage, pedalspinstudio.com

CrossFit Palm Springs For four years and counting, CrossFit Palm Springs has earned a gold-star reputation in the area. The coaches are as skilled as they are supportive, and they’re all about creating an all-inclusive environment—while they kick your ass, of course. Group classes are capped at 10 people, so you’ll never have to worry about overcrowding. Just make sure to reserve your spot online as a drop-in for $20. If you’re really feeling committed, get a week of unlimited sessions for $60. 820 Research Dr., Ste. 9, crossfitpalmsprings.com 66

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

Tahquitz Canyon Head outdoors to one of Palm Springs’ most scenic trails. Ask anyone for a hiking recommendation and Tahquitz Canyon almost always tops the list because of its breathtaking views and waterfall at the end of the trail. At just two miles, it’s short and relatively flat, making it accessible to seasoned hikers and leisurely visitors alike. For a $12.50 entry fee, you’ll see all kinds of wildlife along the way, including birds, lizards and, for a lucky few, maybe some wild Bighorn sheep. Check the park’s hours before going as they vary by season. 500 W. Mesquite Ave., tahquitzcanyon.com

ww

Sat. | Aug 22 PULP FICTION Camelot Theatre

John Travolta made his comeback as a hitman in Quentin Tarantino’s ultra - hip 19 94 crime come dy, screening at 8 p.m. as part of the theater’s Blockbuster Movies series. camelottheatres.com Tue. | Aug 25 SINGING AUDITIONS Jewish Community Center

Thu. | Aug 27 WIZARD OF OZ SING-ALONG Ultra Star Desert Cinemas, Cathedral City

Follow the yellow brick road as “queen of camp” Miss Jersey Shore offers outrageous commentary during a sing-along screening of the 1939 classic, starting at 7 p.m. A cocktail mixer with the drag queen precedes the screening at 6. ultrastarmovies.com Sun. | Aug 30 A COUPLE OF SWELLS Joslyn Center, Palm Desert

The Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus holds auditions for new members for the 2015-16 season, starting at 7 p.m. psgmc.com

Francesca Amari and Gilmore Rizzo offer a fast-paced mini-musical revue with songs and comedy bits by famous Hollywood and TV duos, starting at 2 p.m. joslyncenter.org

Tue. | Aug. 25 24TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY Streetbar

Wed. | Sept 2 OPEN MIC NIGHT Three Sixty North Bar and Grill

A party benefitting the LGBT Center, celebrating the bar’s anniversary, with food served all day and drag performances at 5, 8 and 9 p.m. psstreetbar.com

It’s a New York-style cabaret open mic night for serious singers, hosted

by Les Michaels with Joel Baker on piano, every Wednesday, starting at 7:30 p.m. threesixtynorth.com

ww

MIXED PLATE CABARET Desert Rose Playhouse Aug. 29 desertroseplayhouse.org

COACHELLA CABARET SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 2010, the Desert Rose Playhouse has become such an important part of the Coachella Valley’s LGBT community that last year Palm Springs Pride named it Organization of The Year.

“We are the only LGBT-oriented stage company in the very gay Palm Springs area, providing quality plays, musicals and special presentations that highlight the world of the LGBT citizen in a positive way,” explains Paul Taylor, Desert Rose’s managing director.

Later this month, the Playhouse hosts a fundraiser titled Mixed Plate—an eclectic cabaret show featuring actress/singer Joey English, actor/dancer John Ferrare, singer Francesca Amari and Carol Channing impersonator Nicky Ciampoli, plus the cast from the playhouse’s recent smash revue, Vitamin Q, and more. Showtime is 7 p.m.

“Mixed Plate is our only annual fundraising event, so its success is vital to our work,” says Taylor. “And it will be a lot of fun!” —James F. Mills SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

67

MARKETPLACE HEALTH

Gravity Medical Spa Want to look your best without surgery or major downtime? Come to Gravity Medical Spa and allow us to pamper you from head to toe. Enjoy non-surgical body contouring with CoolSculpting or facial rejuvenation services in our beautifully appointed, state-of-the-art spa in Orange County.

Call now for a complimentary consultation!

2626 Dupont Dr., Ste. A-10 Irvine, CA 92612 (949) 387-6118 gravitymedspa.com

SHOPPING

Calligaris at Pomp Home

Now open at 633 North La Brea, near the corner of Melrose and La Brea This is the first Calligaris monobrand showroom on the West Coast of the United States featuring the complete collection of Italian furniture, lighting, rugs and accessories. Calligaris boasts one of the largest quick ship programs in North America, offering a huge inventory ready for shipping nationwide as well as special order items shipping out of Italy.

In addition to the Calligaris monobrand showroom, Pomp Home features their second showroom, THE ANNEX, with more Calligaris items, as well as Eilersen, Jesse and rugs and lighting from a variety of vendors. THE ANNEX is also a great place to find clearance items and floor samples.

The showroom is open 11-6 Monday to Saturday and 12-5 on Sundays. pomphome.com

SHOPPING

HEALTH

HENZEL STUDIO HERITAGE: TOM OF FINLAND

On view at AUSTERE through September 14th AUSTERE is honored to launch HENZEL STUDIO HERITAGE, an ongoing collection of art rugs and pillows created in close collaboration with foundations of some of the most prominent and influential artists of the 20th century. TOM OF FINLAND marks the first installment, and includes one free-form hand knotted rug and twelve hand tufted rugs, all made of the finest silk and New Zealand Wool.

912 S. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90015 (844) 287-8373

TO ADVERTISE CALL 323.930.3220 OR VISIT FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

Jacob Johnson Return to youth with a customization.

(323) 651-1725

MARKETPLACE

SERVICES

SERVICES

CHROMA STUDIO

We specialize in haircutting, color and non-surgical hair replacement.

Chroma Studio is a hair salon located in the heart of West Hollywood. We specialize in haircutting, color and nonsurgical hair replacement. Come in for your wedding day special request. We offer Kevin Murphy, Sojourn, Moroccan Oil, Rita Hazan, Curlicious Curls, Style Edit, DS Labs and Bonsai Kids Products.

New customers receive 20% off by mentioning Frontiers. Call today to set up an appointment.

Jacoby Limousine Service We strive to deliver the highest level of standards for clientele satisfaction.

8229 Santa Monica Blvd., Ste. 101 West Hollywood, CA (323) 466-6353 thechromastudio.com

jacobylimo.com

SERVICES

SERVICES

The Beehive of Beverly Hills

Gay Matchmaking Club

Remove hair and expose your amazing tattoo, tan or glowing skin. Waxing dates back to the ancient Egyptians. It was not only a beauty aid but a necessity. At Beehive, we use a special natural formula that caters to the special needs of our clients. It is suitable for sensitive skin, normal skin and coarse hair.

Want an alternative to online dating? Want your next connection to be remarkable?

Are you ready to make finding love a priority? We are passionate about making connections for busy professionals who want a fulfilling dating life. Call (323) 786-2850 or e-mail info @gaymatchmakingclub.com for additional information!

With over 30 years of experience, our welcoming and well-trained staff will meet with you privately and provide a personal consultation for your exact needs. We specialize in the areas of nose, back, shoulders, legs, arms, buttocks and underarms. We invite you to feel the difference.

415 N. Camden Dr., Ste. 108 Beverly Hills, CA 90210 (310) 278-7374 beehive-of-beverly-hills-waxing.com

800 S. Robertson Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90035 (323) 786-2850 gaymatchmakingclub.com

TO ADVERTISE CALL 323.930.3220 OR VISIT FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

MARKETPLACE CLASSIFIEDS A DOMESTIC ANGEL

House Cleaning + Dave 323-460-4071 [85SC0210]

JOBS AVAIL./WANTED

ANNOUNCERS

GARDENING-TREE SERVICE

No experience necessary Host music/talk-shows for our radio stations.

P/T $10-15/hr, $200+ per show plus fantastic benefits 323-468-0080 714991-1966. [15SC2423]

Landscape, maintenance, irrigation and tree services. Free est. Call Martin 323323-219-1389 [85SC2424]

PC HELP $45

Teach Help Fix Advise; Take pix of you & upload to net; Good w/beginners; Emergencies ok; Let’s talk Chris 323 261-8894 [85SC2424]

OLDER MEN WANTED

Only age over 55 until 80. For XXX videos with younger Guys. Call Chris 323-841-8298 or apply on line at: myfirstdaddy.com/model [15SC2423]

REAL ESTATE

TOP L.A. GAY REALTORS FREE Buyers Representation!

Choose your Perfect Realtor; www.GayRealEstate.com [35SC0909]

MASSAGE THERAPY

THE BEST FROM THE WEST INDIES

CMT Physical Therapy/Massage 11.7 Perfect Hands to put you to ease.

In/Out Bryan 323-868-9183. Regular clients [65SC0202] P00001

FULL BODY MASSAGE

By professional in shape Masculine Guy, Friendly, OUT ONLY $80.00 Ron 626488-6751. No texting [65SC0813 ] Full body massage by Latin swimmer body smooth touch. Erick, 19 yrs, Out. 818-814-1524w [65SC0813 ]

A MASSAGE BUFFET!!

ORGANIZATIONS

OLDER GAYS

Meet new friends at Project Rainbow!

Free every Wed. 12-2pm In lounge at Plummer Park, West Hollywood 818-244-8567 www.ProjectRainbowLA.org [135SC0207]

PRIMETIMERS

Mature gay men and their admireres montly social (323) 733-6412 Clothing optional www.laprimetimers.org [135SC2524]

Spa pckgs, Salt Bath, Scrubs +more.

Dave CMT 323-460-4071. [35SC0210]

PERSONAL SERVICES

BODY HAIR TRIMMING

65.00 Complete trim. Back and shoulders -trim/shave 30.00 Excellent qualitywork. Call for appt.

323 651-5050 In WeHo [75SC0302]

BUSINESS SERVICES

[85SC1010] T0163

$5off Thai Private rooms. 4903 W PICO Blvd., LA. CA. 90019 (323)-937-5183 / (818)476-2568 [65SC1818] P05401

70

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

[85SC1010] T0163

TO ADVERTISE CALL 323-930-3220

SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

71

GAYDAR

GO, TEAM, GO! In the arena of gay sports, it’s not whether you win or lose but how you handle the balls MUCH PAIN WITH THIS GAIN

IT’S A BOY’S CLUB

CROSSING THE LINE

CENTER FIELD CENTERFOLDS

THIRD BASE

GRABS THE GOLD

We’re pretty sure rugby is European for ‘WOOF’ Watch out, Ambien, golf is gaining on you

Life lesson: after giving it your all, don’t lose points to a sloppy dismount

When will wrestling come out of the closet?

There will be no participating in anything that involves rental shoes

Gay Dodgeball—our very own “Take Back the Night” Bryce Harper, aka “the fella over there with the hella good hair”

In the wide world of sports, croquet is kinda like the Brooklyn

God. Bless. Basketball.

Remember that semester when you completed your “Men of the Water Polo Team” collection?

We already like where this is headed Thank you, soccer

Yes football, you’re the manliest, straightest sport of them all—now hit the showers!

“Me talk pretty one day”

72

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

JULY 23, 2014

1

2

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM