Fab Las Vegas Magazine - Volume 21 - #8

VOL 21, #8

LAS VEGAS MAGAZINE

Sequin in a Blue Room

CELEBRITY INTERVIEW

By: Lawrence Ferber

Sexual discovery is on-demand for 16-year-old Sequin, whose hook-up app obsession sends him down a dangerous path in this award winning queer coming-of-age thriller now available on Amazon Prime.

Join us as we interview Brisbaneraised bisexual actor Conor Leach who plays Sequin in the film.

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Photo Credit: Peccadillo Pictures

Sequin in a Blue Room

Facebook.com/FreeZoneLV

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CELEBRITY INTERVIEW Photo Credit: Peccadillo Pictures

Raging hormones barely explain the behavior of Sequin, a gay 16-year-old high school student who who wears a shirt embossed with glittery discs while hooking up with anonymous guys in the director Samuel Van Grivsen’s audacious, erotic and suspenseful feature debut, “Sequin in a Blue Room.”

Played by Brisbane-raised bisexual actor Conor Leach in a fearless breakout performance, the secretive Sequin lives with his wellmeaning, patient single father (Jeremy Lindsay Taylor) while screwing strangers on a strict one-time-only basis (once out the door, he deletes their respective profiles from his hookup app). Yet when Sequin’s invited to a sex party, 6 Fab Vegas

he connects with a young Black guy (Samuel Barrie) on a level he hasn’t felt before and finds himself wanting seconds.

This leads Sequin to break his cardinal rule and meet again with B (Ed Wightman), an older man who can lead him to the mysterious hottie again but soon proves manipulative, dangerous and determined to keep Sequin for himself.

At least in conversation, Leach, comparatively loquacious and well-adjusted, is nothing like the enigmatic Sequin. The actor earned a theater degree at Melbourne’s Victorian College of the Arts in 2017, scored an agent through a graduate showcase, and will next appear in the Aussie TV miniseries “New Gold Mountain.” Here, Leach

chats about the film, hookup apps and the status of that sequin shirt.

The film’s been called a “coming-of-age thriller.”

Do you agree with that description?

Yeah, I think that’s pretty accurate. In the end it’s a film about someone trying to find their way out of loneliness.

In that way, it’s “coming-ofgay.” It’s funny, because we filmed so much material that didn’t make it to the final cut that made it more of a drama. But seeing it for the first time I was shocked by how much of a genre film it is. It’s a thriller through and through and amazing to see a queer story told through those conventions.

Visit www.HawksGym.com

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CELEBRITY INTERVIEW Can you elaborate on the material that was cut out?

Sam cut out a whole storyline, actually, that aimed to give a little more context around the character. I remember he said he edited the film back to how it originally was in the first draft, which was a thriller, quick and fast, to shock the viewers. Some of the scenes that didn’t make it

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were beautiful and, in a way, it’s unfortunate they didn’t make it. But the final product, I think, is better for it.

Hello Blu-ray extras! How are you most like Sequin?

I struggle with this question, because I get asked how I relate to the character a lot, but I think part of acting is

[thinking] nothing that this human [I’m playing] does is alien to me. If I was in these circumstances, I would do these things. But what I related to most was he just fears loneliness and a lot of us are afraid to admit that. I look back on who I was when I was 16, and I needed connection and love and we all still do, and I also wanted to appear

strong and resilient. He wants to appear he has everything under control, and I definitely wanted to seem that way.

Conversely, how are you most unlike Sequin? Clearly you’re not as economical, shall we say, with your words!

Yeah, I was watching the film thinking, “Sequin just does

not speak! Use your words!”

I’d say I’m more of a rule abider. I don’t like to rock the boat. On the surface I’m much more subservient to authority, and I can’t see myself doing anything as reckless as Sequin when I was 16.

I assume that means you weren’t trolling the apps

during high school, either.

No. I was a goody-goody. I was a teacher’s pet! On the surface I was very different.

Why does Sequin cut people off, both the guys he hooks up with and even his own father, whom he keeps in the dark about what he’s up to despite the guy’s clear desire

Photo Credit: Peccadillo Pictures

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CELEBRITY INTERVIEW to love, understand and protect his son?

While we were shooting I developed a detailed backstory that shined a light on how Sequin became like this. I wanted to know what happened and what motivated his actions. I genuinely can’t remember too much now, but I think Sequin loves the power it gives him. The sense of being desired after the encounter. You see that in the scene with B, when B says, “I’d love to see you again,” and Sequin says, “I don’t really see people twice,” and B asks, “Is that everyone or just me?”

Sequin gets off on that, and it’s exactly what he wants. The sense of power and control it gives him — the sense of power that’s been robbed of him in other aspects of his life, I guess.

I read that Sam had his own idea of Sequin’s backstory and you compared notes after shooting and they “differed wildly.”

Sam never actually talked to me in too much detail about his vision for the character’s past. My imagining of Sequin’s upbringing was quite different in terms of the amount of privilege he had, his relation with his mum, even what his real name is. He gave me that creative license. I remember explaining my ideas to him after the film and he was like, “Oh my goodness, I would have been worried if you expressed all this to me before the shoot!” But that’s all work the audience doesn’t need to see. That’s for the actor. So I 10 Fab Vegas

was very thankful we didn’t need to speak of it during the shoot.

To prepare for the role, did you spend a lot of time on hookup apps or ask friends about their crazier app experiences?

Yeah, I definitely looked into it. Oh goodness me. I heard some absolute doozies.

Would you be amused to learn that someone had a profile with your photo and Sequin’s name on Grindr now?

(Laughs.) Power to them. You do you.

You’re wearing a nice ochretoned sweater today, Conor, but I’ve got to ask: Where’s the sequin shirt, and do you ever pull it out on occasion?

I did not keep it. Sam kept it and lost it — for a little while, it went missing — but it was so smelly and rancid. I cannot stress enough: It was rank, because it couldn’t be washed!

It was meticulously sequined and lined; it was so stinky. But Sam keeps it hidden away so people don’t convulse, I guess!

Sequin gave off a mermaid vibe, almost, by wearing that shirt. And there’s even a bit where B discovers one of its “scales” left behind on the bed. What was the intent?

It’s kind of an abstract choice that asks the audience to have their own associations and resonances. I very much

developed my own backstory of how he might have come across this shirt or made it, but I don’t think I regarded it in quite that abstract associative way. They had it made for the film, though. It was still being finished on day one of the shoot! It took ages!

Has the film caused any controversy in Australia because the character is 16 and already has a prolific sex life? After all, the country has seen waves of moral panic about teenage sexuality over the years, notably some specifically over the work of acclaimed photographer Bill Henson.

I don’t think it’s caused controversy. I know there are people in Australia who wouldn’t like it. But we’ve been thrilled with the response it’s had in Australia. The conversations it’s started are amazing. Festival screenings are incredible. When I read the script, I thought, “I haven’t read something this bold and ambitious, let alone in Australia.” There’s still deep, deep conservatism here, so I’m very proud of how the film addressed something that needs to be addressed.

“Sequin in a Blue Room” is available to stream on Amazon Prime.

Photo Credit: Peccadillo Pictures FabLasVegas.com

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Handwashing

at Home, at Play, and Out and About Germs are everywhere! They can get onto your hands and items you touch throughout the day. Washing hands at key times with soap and water is one of the most important steps you can take to get rid of germs and avoid spreading germs to those around you.

How can washing your hands keep you healthy?

Germs can get into the body through our eyes, nose, and mouth and make us sick. Handwashing with soap removes germs from hands and helps prevent sickness. Studies have shown that handwashing can prevent 1 in 3 diarrhea-related sicknesses and 1 in 5 respiratory infections, such as a cold or the flu.

Handwashing helps prevent infections for these reasons: People often touch their eyes, nose, and mouth without realizing it, introducing germs into their bodies.

Germs from unwashed hands may get into foods and drinks when people prepare or consume them. Germs can grow in some types of foods or drinks and make people sick.

Germs from unwashed hands can be transferred to other objects, such as door knobs, tables, or toys, and then transferred to another person’s hands.

What is the right way to wash your hands?

1. Wet your hands with clean running water (warm or cold) and apply soap.

2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap.

3. Scrub all surfaces of your hands, including the palms, backs, fingers, between your fingers, and under your nails. Keep scrubbing for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song twice.

4. Rinse your hands under clean, running water.

5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

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When should you wash your hands?

Handwashing at any time of the day can help get rid of germs, but there are key times when it’s most important to wash your hands.

• Before, during, and after preparing food • Before eating food • Before and after caring for someone who is sick • Before and after treating a cut or wound • After using the bathroom, changing diapers, or cleaning up a child who has used the bathroom • After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing • After touching an animal, animal food or treats, animal cages, or animal feces (poop) • After touching garbage • If your hands are visibly dirty or greasy

What type of soap should you use?

You can use bar soap or liquid soap to wash your hands. Many public places provide liquid soap because it’s easier and cleaner to share with others. Studies have not found any added health benefit from using soaps containing antibacterial ingredients when compared with plain soap. Both are equally effective in getting rid of germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

How does handwashing help fight antibiotic resistance?

Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria resist the effects of an antibiotic – that is, germs are not killed and they continue to grow.

Sicknesses caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria can be harder to treat. Simply using antibiotics creates resistance, so avoiding infections in the first place reduces the amount of antibiotics that have to be used and reduces the likelihood that resistance will develop during treatment. Handwashing helps prevent many sicknesses, meaning less use of antibiotics.

Studies have shown that handwashing can prevent

1 in 3 diarrhea-related sicknesses and

1 in 5 respiratory infections, such as a cold or the flu.

For more information and a video demonstration of how to wash your hands, visit the CDC handwashing website:

www.cdc.gov/handwashing

https://espanol.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html

Síntomas del coronavirus (COVID-19) Conozca los síntomas del COVID-19, que pueden incluir:

Tos, falta de aire o dificultad para respirar

Dolor en el cuerpo o los músculos

Fiebre o escalofríos

Vómito o diarrea

Pérdida reciente del gusto o del olfato

Los síntomas pueden ser de leves a graves, y aparecer de 2 a 14 días después de la exposición al virus que causa el COVID-19.

Busque atención médica de inmediato si alguien tiene signos de advertencia de una emergencia del COVID-19 • Dificultad para respirar • Dolor o presión persistentes en el pecho • Estado de confusión de aparición reciente

• No puede despertarse o permanecer despierta • Color pálido, gris o azulado de la piel, los labios, o el lecho de las uñas, dependiendo del tono de piel

Esta lista no incluye todos los síntomas posibles. Llame a su proveedor de atención médica si tiene cualquier otro síntoma que sea grave o que le preocupe.

cdc.gov/coronavirus-es CS-317142-G MLS 323226

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html

Symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Know the symptoms of COVID-19, which can include the following:

Cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Muscle or body aches

Fever or chills

Vomiting or diarrhea

New loss of taste or smell

Symptoms can range from mild to severe illness, and appear 2–14 days after you are exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19.

Seek medical care immediately if someone has Emergency Warning Signs of COVID-19 • Trouble breathing • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest • New confusion

• Inability to wake or stay awake • Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone

This list is not all possible symptoms. Please call your healthcare provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.

cdc.gov/coronavirus CS-317142-A

CELEBRITY INTERVIEW

By: Chris Azzopardi

On the New ‘L Word,’ Everybody’s Invited to the Party

Photo Credit: Showtime

Series vets Hailey, Moennig and Beals talk shining a light on a new LGBTQ+ generation with ‘Generation Q’

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What did the first run of “The L Word” get wrong? It’s a question that was posed to veteran stars Jennifer Beals, Leisha Hailey and Kate Moennig on Zoom one recent afternoon.

“Haircuts!” Hailey, 50, exclaims. “First season outfits, sunglasses,” adds Moennig, 43.

Of course Hailey can’t deny it: “There were some bad sunglasses,” she emphasizes.

But the actresses who helped revolutionize queer characters on TV with “The L Word” when the show first aired on Showtime from 2004 to 2009 are also fully aware that the shades, the cuts and the outfits aren’t the only thing that hasn’t aged particularly well. The series, for as groundbreaking as it was then, has been criticized for missing the mark on trans representation. It’s hard to ignore that fact retroactively in the years following the show, as trans issues are finally at the forefront of our cultural and political landscape.

“We were where we were when we were there,” Hailey says, noting this is a common response of hers when asked about the passé parts of the show’s initial run, something she seems to be asked about often. “It’s so easy to be the Monday morning quarterback at this point. The show is dated stylistically, but thematically I think it still holds up.”

Moennig isn’t reticent about holding the show accountable for “storylines that are considered problematic now.”

“There’s no denying that,” she says. “But at that time, no one was there to hurt anyone’s feelings or disparage anyone.

That’s what we knew then.”

As the tide keeps turning for LGBTQ+ progress in this country, so does content that reflects those shifts. Between the original series and the 10 years that passed before the reboot premiered on Showtime in 2019, Hailey, Moennig and Beals saw an opportunity: to feature a young, diverse cast of

LGBTQ+ characters who could reflect contemporary queer life, along with delving into modern love dynamics like polyamory.

Though the three actresses aren’t writing the episodes, they’re still doing their due diligence. “We need to make sure that our show is relevant,” says Hailey, who adds that during the decade the show was off the air “the world was changing before our eyes.”

She says they felt not only a “responsibility to bring these characters back to show how they’re living in today’s world, but also: ‘Let’s bring on some new characters to represent people in the community.’”

Seeing as though they’ve “completely changed language,” Beals, 57, was thrilled to spotlight a new LGBTQ+ generation. “They’ve added words to the dictionary — non-binary used to be just a mathematical term,” she says. “We look at language in a different way (because) of this generation who refused FabLasVegas.com

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CELEBRITY INTERVIEW

-----------------------------------------------------------------------to be anything other than self-identified. So to be able to bring the show back on and explore those stories is really important and exciting to me.”

At the onset of “Generation Q,” Beals, who plays Bette, expressed what subject matter she wanted to see represented in the series. One of those issues was race, especially colorism, in the LGBTQ+ community. Aging, which was also on her mind, was a topic she brought to the writers’ room. Her suggestion led to an exploration of Bette’s menopausal experiences in Season 1 of “Generation Q.”

Photo Credit: Showtime

“For me, the show in itself is doing a lot of that work when it comes to personally my character,” Hailey says. “I want to go into personal stories and I feel like through that kind of representation, just being a gay woman and showing what we go through, is doing that work.

It’s not always about getting on the soapbox — it’s about the subtleties of what we do.”

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Moennig’s on the same page.

She feels the show, by its very queer nature, is innately political, and always on her mind while filming is: “How do I make this as honest as possible?”

“It’s the little things that actually seem to provide a lot of impact,” she adds.

Moennig recognizes that, from the beginning, the show was always meant to be a “celebration, not a woe-is-me fest.”

It still is, she says.

Beals wholeheartedly agrees: “It’s primarily centered in joy and the smaller moments, and I think in that way it’s been really forward-moving.”

In Season 1, Alice (Hailey) navigates a throuple, Shane (Moennig) opens a queer bar, and Bette (Beals) is coparenting Angie (Jordan Hull) with ex Tina (Laurel Holloman). Season 2 finds Bette more deeply exploring her mother-daughter

relationship with Angie, while Alice writes a book that brings buried personal issues to the surface, things she hasn’t quite figured out yet — “a lot of stuff you would think she might’ve at her age,” Hailey says, laughing. And what’s going on with Shane? Moennig says to expect “a very, very slow burn where you’re going to have to watch a good majority of the season to get any kind of answer.”

As for bringing their Alice, Bette and Shane together with the cast of the upcoming “Queer as Folk” reboot — well, it’s not an impossible idea.

“That would be amazing!”

Beals says. “Boy, would that be cool,” Hailey adds. “That’d be fun.”

And Beals, enthused by these two queer universes colliding, knows just the person to unite these iconic casts: “I know Alice is going to host a party and everybody’s going to be there.”

Take your shot.

It’s safe, effective and free!

Schedule your appointment at www.snhd.info/covid-vaccine

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HOME SWEET HOMO

By: Mikey Rox

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WELCOME HOME Interior Design Hacks for Budget-Conscious First-Time Buyers

Upon initial walk-through of the first home I’d buy, my head was consumed with designing that space, top to bottom, exactly how I wanted. I was so eager to hit the ground running that furniture and fixtures arrived in a succession of FedEx trucks before the real estate agents sealed the deal.

No longer culled creatively by a landlord, I had big plans for the bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, and outdoor areas.

Only one hurdle: I had a conservative budget that limited my ostentatious ideas.

Ever resourceful, however, I was able to bring my vision to life without going broke. Here are a few ways I did it that you can too.

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Freshen up the place with paint and accent wallpaper A simple coat of paint on drab walls is transformational.

Anything but white is fair game in my homes, and I choose colors that will not only complement my existing wares but also inspire my mood on a daily basis. In the past I’ve been partial to a bright-and-cheery sky blue that runs through the main room in all three of my properties, but I’ve also turned walls red, pink, yellow, green, gray, and tan.

I also have a passion for wallpaper, but not full-on

four-wall coverage. I choose one wall to drape with pattern, like behind the living room couch – and I make it count.

I select ultra-premium paper from high-end producers.

That sometimes costs a pretty penny, but the expense is justified in that I’m only dressing one accent wall and that one accent wall will become the focal point of that room.

These days you can find quality prints on removable paper that costs a fraction of the real deal on the front and back ends of the project (traditional wallpaper is notoriously hard to hang and remove). Just peel and stick

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-----------------------------------------------------------------------and peel again when you fancy a switch-up. The price difference between the two variations is in the thousands of dollars.

Change fixtures instead of committing to complete overhauls When I had a contractor estimate the cost of a bathroom remodel, I was left mouth agape by the total.

He quoted 10 grand, which was beyond my reasonable expectation and my budget.

And that bathroom was small. So I did the next best thing. Instead of a complete revamp, I replaced the vanity, mirrors, faucets, shelving, and lighting. I’ve also upgraded the toilet in the past. Elbow grease on the tile brought it back to its original luster, and for less than a grand I had a new bathroom that I also outfitted with a cloth shower curtain, stylish curtain rings, complementary floor mat, color-coordinating towels, candles, and art. The reveal was a spa-quality oasis that left me satisfied mentally, physically, and financially.

Buy floor models when possible I have a few go-to home retailers I shop when designing my spaces, most of which are accessible to modest budgets. My personal aesthetic leans more toward the styles of West Elm and CB2, but there are plenty of other outlets that will accommodate your design preferences.

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I never look at full price items either. If it’s not on sale, I don’t buy it. Most often, I head straight for the clearance sections or search for deeply discounted floor models.

Large area rugs, for example, can extract hundreds from your budget, but lightly tread floor models (that can be washed professionally and inexpensively) are discounted up to 70 percent in some cases.

My prized find was a gorgeous six-person glass-top dining table that retailed for $750 reduced to $250 because of a small scratch on the glass. A few months later, West Elm contacted me to receive a new glass top because of a recall on the original for the way it shattered if broken. It was delivered scratch-free and free of charge just because I was willing to take the L in the first place. Bona fide W in the end.

Make or print your own art Have I spent hundreds – even thousands – on artwork? Yes. Certainly not thrifty, but I saved up over time for the pieces I wanted. To offset those major expenses, I also make my own art using various resources and materials.

I’ve turned postcards and periodical clippings into masterpiece collages; driftwood into conversationpiece jewelry organizers; and I’ve repurposed garage and flea finds into functional items like eye-catching

reupholstered chairs.

To save even more dough, I keep a file on my computer that includes printable projects, like links for rasterizing favorite photos into frameable, large-format wall hangings (Rasterbator.net) and the free Charley Harper florafauna poster series available via the National Park Service website. There are tons of other search-specific options out there for whatever tickles your decorating pickle.

Invest in plants Plants make a house a home.

They’re relatively cheap, space up otherwise empty areas, and, well, they make everybody feel frickin’ fantastic. I mix real and fake plants all over my spaces to create comfortable, welcoming environments.

Keeping them alive, of course, is half the battle, but we’re adulting now and plants are our babies – babies that don’t scream, cry, or spit up on you.

Let the straights keep those; I’ll take another terrarium, please.

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LGBTQIA+ OPINIONS

By: D’Anne Witkowski

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ON BLAST Anti-Vaxxers What an incredibly stupid time to be alive. Every day Republicans and their network, Fox, are telling people NOT to get vaccinated.

That COVID-19 is either a hoax or just not a big deal.

That being required to wear a mask is akin to living in Nazi Germany. That being unvaccinated is patriotic.

But it’s not. It’s idiotic. People!

Are! Still! Dying! From! This!

Virus! And the vast majority of deaths at this point are among unvaccinated people.

There are plenty of people who can’t get vaccinated, including kids under 12 and people with compromised immune systems or serious health conditions. Which is why the willfully unvaccinated people are especially awful. A living example of selfishness and stupidity.

Honestly, it’s a strange strategy to tell your base to NOT save themselves from a deadly virus. Then again, Republicans believe that dead people vote, don’t they? Oh, wait.

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Dead people only vote for Democrats.

Being sick sucks. Even a mild cold can ruin an entire week, let alone COVID-19. Look, I’ve had cancer. Twice. And if I could get a shot that would help protect me from getting it again, I would do that. But it’s not an option. But I can, and did, get a shot to protect me and everybody else from COVID-19.

People are scared of cancer.

They believe it’s real. Well, most people do. There are always going to be people on the fringe who believe that every health problem is a conspiracy by Big Pharma to make money. It would certainly help if Big Pharma didn’t legitimately have skeletons in its Big closet.

But when I was diagnosed, everything happened so fast.

I got a referral for a surgeon, had surgery on my birthday, and was promptly sent to a medical oncologist where my body was pumped with really horrifying medication, frankly (one of the medicines

I got was a very bright red, like I was getting an infusion of Faygo Red Pop). I lost all of my hair. Then I was sent to a radiation oncologist where I was microwaved like a bag of popcorn.

To make a long story short, it was not fun. But also through it all there wasn’t a sizable population of Americans claiming that cancer was a hoax and that everybody being treated for it was a dupe.

Cancer hasn’t been politicized like COVID-19 — not on a national level with one of two major political parties egging on their followers to die to own the libs.

It bums me the fuck out, frankly. And it’s scary.

I mean, the folks who are the loudest and most adamantly anti-vaccine because they say it’s government overreach and mind control and against our freedom are the same people who say that the people who stormed the capitol were just tourists. Which is to say, the very people who are crying

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-----------------------------------------------------------------------fascism are also cheering on fascism.

Instead of fighting the virus, we’re fighting each other. And each side is not armed with the same arsenal. On one side, you’ve got people who are like, “Okay, I’m going to defer to the scientists and medical experts on this whole COVID-19 thing” and then you have people who will beat the shit out of a grocery store clerk (or worse) who asks them to wear a mask. There is no middle to meet in here.

We’ve all lost a lot in the past 18 months. Hundreds of thousands of Americans lost people they love, and yet somehow that’s not a motivation to the anti-vax creeps. They would rather

scream maskless about shutdowns than do anything to alleviate the cause of the shutdowns. But instead of coming together in order to achieve a common goal during a time of crisis, we’re coming apart at the seams. And one side believes seams exist, and the other doesn’t.

I’m getting on a plane for the first time in well over a year.

I am not excited about it with the Delta variant and all, even though I’m vaccinated.

And I am hopeful that there is no one on my flight who throws a fit over the federal transportation mask mandate.

But if there is, I’ll do my best to film it, adding to the archive so that our children’s children will one day be able to relive

this very, very stupid and selfish time.

If you’re not vaccinated, then get vaccinated. If you are vaccinated, then encourage people who aren’t vaccinated to get the shot. It’s the patriotic thing to do, if you’re into that.

It’s the moral thing to do. It’s the only real way out of this.

The Republican response to COVID-19 is eerily similar to their response to HIV/AIDS in the early 80s. They ignored it, made jokes about it, and didn’t care about the people who were dying. That they are doing the same thing during another health crisis should disqualify them from holding public office.

Vote them out.

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Photo Credit: Vegas Urban Pride

PLANET HOLLYWOOD

By: Romeo San Vincente

Photo Credit: KathClick

‘The Peripheral’ moves into the cyberfuture with Alexandra Billings We are huge fans of trans actor Alexandra Billings. She’s the reason we didn’t bail on “The Conners.” And it’s exciting to watch a performer come into their own on screen, which is how it seems to be going for her. Next she’ll step into a role in the upcoming Amazon original series “The Peripheral,” starring Chloe Grace Moretz and Jack Reynor (the boyfriend in the bear costume in “Midsommar”).

Based on the novel by legendary author William Gibson, the plot involves mysterious cyberspace-based employment, gaming and possibly murder, none of which will really make sense 28 Fab Vegas

until we watch it. Our favorite detail: Billings’ character, a major role as a mysterious detective, is transgender, as was the character in the original novel, so three cheers for giving trans roles to trans actors. Created by Scott B. Smith, starring people we enjoy, we’ll be watching.

Treasure hunting with Charles Busch and Margaret Cho in ‘The Sixth Reel’ The legendary playwright and drag performer Charles Busch (“Psycho Beach Party,” “Die, Mommie, Die!”) forged his own path with the offBroadway Theatre-in-Limbo company and, after creating those comedy mainstays, didn’t rest on that success.

That’s a longwinded way of saying he’s back and ready for the big screen again with “The

Sixth Reel.” Co-written and co-directed by Busch and Carl Andress, the latest project stars Busch as a movie memorabilia collector, obsessed with classic Hollywood. When a friend’s death reveals the existence of the final reel of a classic horror film that was thought to be lost, a race to cash in commences with a variety of ruthless and comedic schemes.

Along for the ride are Limbo alum Julie Halston, Tim Daly and stand-up queen Margaret Cho. The film will get its world premiere at this summer’s Outfest. Look for it to roll out into the world soon after.

‘MK Ultra’ co-stars Jen Richards in CIA drug drama Did you know that in the 1950s and ’60s the CIA

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PLANET HOLLYWOOD Photo Credit: Instagram

engaged in a program called Project MKUltra and it was designed to develop interrogation techniques with LSD, brainwashing and psychological torture and that they used human subjects?

Well, it’s yet another slice of American history they don’t teach you in school and now there’s going to be a movie about it. It’s called “MK Ultra,” from writer-director Joseph Sorrentino (the documentary “Coyote”) and it stars Anson Mount (“Star Trek: Discovery”) as a psychiatrist whose professional and ethical boundaries are tested when he becomes involved in the project. Jason Patric and Jaime Ray Newman (“Little Fires Everywhere”) co-star, as does one of our favorite ascendant trans actors/filmmakers, Jen Richards, who’s appeared in “Clarice,” “Mrs. Fletcher,” “Tales of the City,” and is an Emmy nominee for “Her Story.” Already in postproduction, with an expected release of late December, look 30 Fab Vegas

for it to take you on a bad trip this holiday season.

Growing up with BeBe Drag superstars are not born fully formed, bursting out of the crib ready for their close-up. It takes time to

develop one’s artistry. And that is also the case with BeBe Zahara Benet, who was the first-ever winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” in a moment when no one had heard of such a competition and when the latest young crop of queens were entering elementary school. As it happens, the cameras were on Marshall Ngwa, aka BeBe, early in life, growing up in Cameroon and then France before settling in Minneapolis and developing a beloved drag persona. And it’s this 15-year-long accumulation of archival footage that forms the fascinating backstory of BeBe’s stardom in the new documentary “Being BeBe.” We love the prospect of peeking backstage to watch a legend in progress, and we’ll be ready for the doc’s premiere at this summer at Los Angeles’ Outfest. After that it’ll surely sashay its way into theaters and streaming platforms before year’s end.

Photo Credit: Instagram

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35

Information for Teens: Staying Healthy and Preventing STDs If you choose to have sex, know how to protect yourself against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

What are sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)?

STDs are diseases that are passed from one person to another through sexual contact. These include chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, human papillomavirus (HPV), syphilis, and HIV. Many of these STDs do not show symptoms for a long time. Even without symptoms, they can still be harmful and passed on during sex.

consider before having sex. It’s okay to say “no” if you don’t want to have sex.

•

If you do decide to have sex, you and your partner should get tested for STDs beforehand. Make sure that you and your partner use a condom from start to finish every time you have oral, anal, or vaginal sex. Know where to get condoms and how to use them correctly. It is not safe to stop using condoms unless you’ve both been tested for STDs, know your results, and are in a mutually monogamous relationship.

•

Mutual monogamy means that you and your partner both agree to only have sexual contact with each other. This can help protect against STDs, as long as you’ve both been tested and know you’re STD-free.

•

Before you have sex, talk with your partner about how you will prevent STDs and pregnancy. If you think you’re ready to have sex, you need to be ready to protect your body. You should also talk to your partner ahead of time about what you will and will not do sexually. Your partner should always respect your right to say no to anything that doesn’t feel right.

•

Make sure you get the health care you need. Ask a doctor or nurse about STD testing and about vaccines against HPV and hepatitis B.

•

Girls and young women may have extra needs to protect their reproductive health.

Talk to your doctor or nurse about regular cervical cancer screening, and chlamydia and gonorrhea testing. You may also want to discuss unintended pregnancy and birth control.

•

Avoid mixing alcohol and/or recreational drugs with sex. If you use alcohol and drugs, you are more likely to take risks, like not using a condom or having sex with someone you normally wouldn’t have sex with.

How are STDs spread?

You can get an STD by having vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who has an STD. Anyone who is sexually active can get an STD. You don’t even have to “go all the way” (have anal or vaginal sex) to get an STD. This is because some STDs, like herpes and HPV, are spread by skinto-skin contact.

How common are STDs? STDs are common, especially among young people. There are about 20 million new cases of STDs each year in the United States. About half of these infections are in people between the ages of 15 and 24. Young people are at greater risk of getting an STD for several reasons: •

Young women’s bodies are biologically more prone to STDs.

•

Some young people do not get the recommended STD tests.

•

Many young people are hesitant to talk openly and honestly with a doctor or nurse about their sex lives.

•

Not having insurance or transportation can make it more difficult for young people to access STD testing.

•

Some young people have more than one sex partner.

What can I do to protect myself?

•

The surest way to protect yourself against STDs is to not have sex. That means not having any vaginal, anal, or oral sex (“abstinence”). There are many things to

36 Fab Vegas

against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

If Iare getsexually an STD, how will Idiseases know? (STDs)?

What transmitted STDs are diseases that are passed from one person to another Many STDs don’t cause any symptoms that you through sexual contact. These include chlamydia, gonorrhea, would notice. only way(HPV), to know for sure genital herpes, humanThe papillomavirus syphilis, and HIV. if you haveSTDs an STD to get tested.forYou can get an Many of these do notis show symptoms a long time.

Even without they can stillwith be harmful and passed STDsymptoms, from having sex someone whoonhas no during sex. symptoms.

Just like you, that person might not

even he or she has an STD. How are know STDs spread?

You can get an STD by having vaginal, anal or oral sex with Where can I get tested? someone who has an STD. Anyone who is sexually active can get an STD.There You don’t have that to “gooffer all theteen-friendly, way” (have anal or vaginal areeven places sex) to get an STD. This is because some STDs, like herpes and HPV, confidential, and free STD tests. This means that are spread by skin-to-skin contact.

no one has to find out you’ve been tested. Visit

How common to arefind STDs? GetTested an STD testing location near

STDs are common, especially among young people. There are you. about 20 million new cases of STDs each year in the United States.

About halfSTDs of thesebe infections are in people between the ages of Can treated?

15 and 24. Young people are at greater risk of getting an STD for Your doctor can prescribe medicine to cure several reasons:

some STDs, like chlamydia and gonorrhea.

• Young women’s bodies are biologically more prone Other STDs, like herpes, can’t be cured, but you to STDs.

can take medicine to help with the symptoms.

• Some young people do not get the recommended If STD youtests. are ever treated for an STD, be sure to

•finish Manyall young peoplemedicine, are hesitanteven to talkifopenly and better of your you feel honestly with a doctor or nurse about their sex before you finish it all.

Ask the doctor orlives. nurse

testing and treatment for your partner, •about Not having insurance or transportation can make it more difficult young people to access STD avoid testing.having too.

Youfor and your partner should until you’ve both been •sex Some young people have moretreated. than one Otherwise, sex partner you may continue to pass the STD back and forth. It is possible to get an STD again (after

What can I do to protect myself?

• The surest way to protect yourself against STDs is to not you’ve been you have sex with have sex.

Thattreated), means notifhaving any vaginal, anal, or someone who has anThere STD. oral sex (“abstinence”). are many things to consider before having sex. It’s okay to say “no” if you don’t want to What happens if I don’t treat an STD? have sex.

Some curable STDs can be dangerous if they aren’t treated. For example, if left untreated, CS287360A chlamydia and gonorrhea can make it difficult— or even impossible—for a woman to get pregnant. You also increase your chances of getting HIV if you have an untreated STD. Some STDs, like HIV, can be fatal if left untreated.

What if my partner or I have an incurable STD? Some STDs, like herpes and HIV, aren’t curable, but a doctor can prescribe medicine to treat the symptoms.

If you are living with an STD, it’s important to

tell partner before youyouhave sex. partner Although • Ifyour you do decide to have sex, and your should get tested for STDs beforehand.

Make sure that you and it may be uncomfortable to talk about your your partner usehonest a condom from start to finish every STD, open and conversation can help time you have oral, anal, or vaginal sex. Know where to your partner make informed decisions to get condoms and how to use them correctly. It is not protect his or her health. safe to stop using condoms unless you’ve both been STDs, knowwho your results, and are them? in a mutually If Itested havefor questions, can answer monogamous relationship.

If• you have questions, talk to a parent or other Mutual monogamy means that you and your partner both trusted be afraid be each openother. andThis agreeadult. to only Don’t have sexual contactto with honest with themagainst aboutSTDs, yourasconcerns.

If both you’re can help protect long as you’ve been and know evertested confused or you’re need STD-free. advice, they’re the first place to start.

After were young once, • Before you have sex, all, talk they with your partner about how too.you will prevent STDs and pregnancy. If you think you’re ready to have sex, you need to be ready to protect your

Talking about sexalso with parent or another body. You should talkato your partner ahead of time adult doesn’t need bewill a one-time about what you willto and not do sexually. Your partner conversation. bestyour to leave the forthat should alwaysIt’s respect right to saydoor no to open anything doesn’t feel right. conversations in the future.

• Make sure you get the health care you need. Ask a doctor It’s also important to talk honestly with a doctor or nurse about STD testing and about vaccines against or nurse.

Ask which STD tests and vaccines HPV and hepatitis B. they recommend for you.

• Girls and young women may have extra needs to protect

their reproductive health.information?

Talk to your doctor or nurse Where can I get more

about regular cervical cancer screening, and chlamydia

CDC and gonorrhea testing. You may also want to discuss

unintended birth control.

How You Canpregnancy Preventand Sexually Transmitted • Avoid mixing alcohol and/or recreational drugs with sex.

Diseases If you use alcohol and drugs, you are more likely to take www.cdc.gov/std/prevention/

risks, like not using a condom or having sex with someone

Teen youPregnancy normally wouldn’t have sex with. https://www.cdc.gov/ teenpregnancy/teens/ index.htm

CDC-INFO Contact Center 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) Contact wwwn.cdc.gov/dcs/ ContactUs/Form HealthFinder.gov STD Testing: Conversation Starters https://healthfinder.gov/ HealthTopics/ Category/health-conditions-and-diseases/ hiv-and-other-stds/std-testing-conversationstarters American Sexual Health Association Sexual Health and You http://www.iwannaknow.org/ teens/ sexualhealth.html FabLasVegas.com

37

STD (SEXUALLY TRASMITTED DISEASES) INFO SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES INFO, TESTING & RESOURCES WHAT IS A SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE? Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), also referred to as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), are infections that are commonly spread by sexual activity, especially vaginal intercourse, anal sex and oral sex.

WHAT IS HIV? HIV is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system.It is usually spread by anal or vaginal sex or sharing syringes with a person who has HIV. The only way to know you have HIV is to be tested.

Everyone aged 13-64 should be tested at least once, and people at high risk should be tested at least once a year. Ask your doctor, or visit gettested.cdc.gov to find a testing site. Without treatment, HIV can make a person very sick or may even cause death. If you have HIV, start treatment as soon as possible to stay healthy and help protect your partners.

Nevada is the fifth highest state in the United States for rates of new HIV diagnoses and is #1 in Syphillis *According to CDC HIV Surveillance Report, 2017 and the CDC Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance Report, 2017 released in 2018

38 Fab Vegas

STD TESTING RESOURCE SOUTHERN NEVADA HEALTH DISTRICT ADDRESS: 280 S. Decatur Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89107 HOURS: Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.* *The clinic opens at 9:00 a.m. on the first Thursday of every month.

The following services are offered at the Sexual Health Clinic: 1.

Diagnosis and treatment of active or suspected cases of:

•

Chlamydia

•

Gonorrhea

•

Syphilis

•

HIV

•

Trichomonas (females only)

•

Bacterial Vaginosis (females only)

2.

Free condoms and instruction on how to safely use them (both male and female condom)

3.

Follow-up bloodwork

4.

High-risk behavior counseling

5.

HIV Nursing Case Management

6.

Injection series for syphilis medication

7.

Partner notification

8.

Referrals by private physicians

9.

Sexual assault follow-up

10. Test results and couseling Clients seeking treatment at the Sexual Health Clinic should know that the Health District is required to report cases involving assault or abuse to appropriate agencies.

HIV Testing: HIV antibody testing is a simple blood test performed by a trained professional. This procedure is strictly confidential. Counseling regarding the meaning of the test and its result take place before the actual testing to ensure you understand HIV infection and the testing procedure.

HIV testing procedure: Blood Test – Blood drawn from a vein is tested for HIV antibodies. This test is available at the Sexual Health Clinic (280 S. Decatur Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89107 ), Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Please call (702) 759-0702 for more information.

If you have questions, contact the clinic by phone at (702) 759-0702 or by email at SexualHealth@snhd.org.

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PRIDE FLAGS

PRIDE FLAGS

COMMUNITY RESOURCES 44 Fab Vegas

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www.afanlv.org Aid for AIDS of Nevada (AFAN) provides support and advocacy for adults and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS in Southern Nevada.

AFAN works to reduce HIV infection through prevention and education to eliminate fear, prejudice and the stigma associated with the disease.