Fab Las Vegas - Volume 20 issue 4

Volume 20, issue 4

20 SECONDS

INTERVIEW

MARTHA WASH

It’s still raining men for this reigning queen COVID-19

CORONAVIRUS

How to stay productive

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.

CS 280522A

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

7 Fab Vegas

FabLasVegas.com

9

SÍNTOMAS DE LA ENFERMEDAD DEL CORONAVIRUS 2019 Los pacientes con COVID-19 han presentado enfermedad respiratoria de leve a grave.

Los síntomas* pueden incluir

TOS

Consulte a un médico si presenta síntomas y ha estado en contacto cercano con una persona que se sepa que tiene el COVID-19, o si usted vive o ha estado recientemente en un área en la que haya propagación en curso del COVID-19.

FIEBRE

*Los síntomas pueden aparecer de 2 a 14 días después de la exposición.

DIFICULTAD *Symptoms may PARA RESPIRAR appear 2-14 days after exposure.

cdc.gov/COVID19-es CS 315252-B March 16, 2020, 1:35PM

FabLasVegas.com

12

SYMPTOMS OF CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 Patients with COVID-19 have experienced mild to severe respiratory illness.

Symptoms* can include

COUGH

Seek medical advice if you develop symptoms, and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 or if you live in or have recently been in an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19.

FEVER

*Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure.

SHORTNESS OF BREATH

cdc.gov/COVID19-symptoms CS 315252-A March 20, 2020, 12:51PM

13 Fab Vegas

Keep your distance.

It’s not easy, but social distancing is one way to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

• • • •

Wash your hands with soap and water, or use hand sanitizer.

Cover your coughs and sneezes with tissue.

Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces you may touch.

Stay home and away from others, especially when sick.

Learn more about COVID-19 at www.snhd.info/covid19 Follow us on: SNHD.info and GetHealthyClarkCounty.org Instagram.com/SouthernNevadaHealthDistrict Facebook.com/SouthernNevadaHealthDistrict Facebook.com/ez2stop Twitter.com/SNHDinfo Twitter.com/ez2stop 14 Fab Vegas

------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOW TO > CORONAVIRUS

------------------------------------------------------------------------

6 Productive Ways to Spend Your Time During the Coronavirus Crisis As we all hunker down to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus, here are a few ways you can cope and stay productive for sanity’s – and humanity’s – sake.

1. Take free online classes Your mediocre SAT scores may not have gotten you into the Ivy League school of your dreams (don’t feel bad – mine didn’t either), but the internet doesn’t give a hoot about aptitude tests. You now can take online courses from the 15 Fab Vegas

likes of Harvard, Columbia and Princeton, among other top institutions, without paying a dime or leaving the comfort of your home. More than 450 free courses are available in a collection on Class Central (classcentral. com), in categories that range from computer science and engineering to humanities and art and design. Learn about the United States health policy (which is more topical than ever in these wild times we’re living in), take an intro to classical music, or brush up on Buddhism and modern psychology. You’ll

also find LGBTQ courses, including the titles “Queering Identities: LGBTQ+ Sexuality and Gender Identity” and “Monitoring the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons.”

2. Get a head start on your taxes The IRS is expected to postpone the tax deadline (that announcement was not made as of press time, however), but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use your time off to get your

----------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------------------financial life in order. Doing it now will help avoid the crunch later, provide your accountant a head start before everyone makes their own mad dash, and it’ll be one less burden hanging over your head during this already stressful time of extreme uncertainty. You likely won’t get much assistance from library resources this year considering the wide-ranging closures, which is something to consider if that’s help you typically rely on.

3. Hit some of your local trails and practice other self-care Curfews have been instituted in several states already – and that practice shows no sign of slowing as COVID-19 continues to spread widely and rapidly. While social distancing has been encouraged, it doesn’t mean you have to lock yourself in the house for the foreseeable future. There’s always nature, and it’ll do you good to get out and stay active so long as you’re not spreading germs with person-to-person contact or congregating in groups of more than 10, per instructions from the White House. Take a private hike, clear your mind, and recognize that this temporary interruption in our lives is just that – temporary.

Fresh air and sunshine will be necessary to fight the doom and gloom of news and social media. Other self-care to practice includes getting regular exercise (gyms like Planet Fitness are offering free streaming workout class to members and non-members 16 Fab Vegas

alike), maintaining proper hygiene (take a shower and get dressed every day), and treating yourself to mindand body-soothing activities like at-home facials, partner massages, meditation and yoga.

4. Update your resume and plan new goals

If you’ve been considering a career change, take this time to update your resume and set new goals. It may take a while for the economy to get back on track after this crisis has ended, but we will bounce back, and there’s no reason you shouldn’t be prepared to hit the ground running when we do.

are _not_ the answer to your boredom right now, by the way), look around to see what you can accomplish in your safe space (a clean, organized home will immediately improve your mood – I promise), and resolve to focus on the positive. It may not seem like it on the surface, but there’s still plenty of that left if you look for it right where you are.

Mikey Rox is an awardwinning journalist and LGBT lifestyle expert whose work has been published in more than 100 outlets across the world. He currently lives in his van, saving money and traveling the country. Connect with Mikey on Instagram @ mikeyroxtravels health.

5. Finish your home projects Have any half-finished projects around the house?

Most of us do. Grab what you need from the hardware store and get to work.

6. Unplug from all your devices a few hours every day The worst way to spend your time during this recommended period of self-isolation is with your face buried in a phone or television while your hands are shoveling snacks. Constant inundation of negativity combined with inactivity will only make you feel worse – if not increase your paranoia – and nobody needs that. Limit yourself on screen time (sex apps

Consistent with Apple’s strong dedication to user privacy, the COVID-19 app and website were built to keep all user data private and secure. The tools do not require a sign-in or association with a user’s Apple ID, and users’ individual responses will not be sent to Apple or any government organization.

Anyone in the US who is 18 years or older can access the screening tool and resources today by downloading the COVID-19 app on the App Store or visiting apple.com/ covid19.

Love can shape your future.

On the 2020 Census, you’ll have the option to identify a relationship as same-sex—informing community planning for families and providing vital statistics to advocates and policymakers who work on LGBTQ+ issues.

For more information, visit:

2020CENSUS.GOV D-PO-LG-EN-043

South Torrey Pines Dr

Upland Boulevard

Alta Dr

iv e

West Charleston Boulevard

West Charleston Boulevard

Valley Vi ew Boulevard

Buffalo

South Cimarron Road

South Durango Drive

rd

va

ard

South Decatur Boulevard

lev

South Rampa

u Bo

rt B ou le

nd

Charleston Heights

Alta Drive

South Jones Boulevard

ridge

r

la Up

ive

w Boulevard

a Dr

Ramparet Boulevard

A lt

Alta Driv e

FLEX

WEST CHAR

Hills R

oa d

Buffalo Drive

THE PHOENIX

ve Dri

Sout hR anc ho

W es t Flamingo Road

15

West Tropicana Avenu e

CHARLIES

Raphael Rivera Way Roy Horn Way

Dean Martin Dr

West Sunset Road

Sunset Rd

West Sunset

South Fort Apache Road

d West Warm Spring s Roa

South Decatur Boulevard

South Decatur Blvd

S El Capitan Way

Mountain's Edge

Jones Boulevard

Buffalo Drive

South Durango Drive

West Wigwam Avenue

West Pebble Road

20 Fab Vegas

Enterprise

Dean Martin Dr

West Windmill Lane

West Robindale Road

Rainbow Boulevard

South Buffalo Drive

West Robindale Road

South Jones Boulevard

West Warm Springs Road

Warm Spri ngs Road

Rd

215

Raphael Rivera Way Roy Horn Way

Dean Martin Drive

Raphael Rivera Way Roy Horn Way

Raphael Rivera Way Roy Horn Way

Way

South Jones Boulevard

Brent Thurman Way

a el Riv era Way

orn

Dr

Raph

yH

West Sunset Rd

Sunset Road

South Rainbow Boulevard

Ro

rtin

15

West Sunse t Road

Road

Russell Roa

Dean Ma

South Decatur Boulevard

South Buffalo Drive

South Rainbow Boulevard

Tar kanian W Jerry ay

West Hacienda Avenue

West Russell Road

Rue de

Dean Martin Drive

ay Brent Thur man W

e

West Harmon A ve n u

Dr ive

West Tropicana Avenue

Spanish Trail

Spanish Hills

Sinat ra Dr

De Mar an tin Dr

West Flamingo Road

South Decatur Boulevard

West Tropicana Ave

in A ve

Dean Martin Dr

Spring Valley

Flamingo Heights

Tw a

Frank Sinatra Dr

West Flamingo Road

South el Capitan Way

We st

West Twain Avenue

Buffalo Ranch

Bridgeport

Spring Mou

Arville Street

Peace Way

Chinatown

Frank Sinatra

South Durango Drive

West Twain Av enue

South Jones Boulevard

South Cimarron Road

South El Capitan Way

Spring Mountain Road

South Lindell Road

st Twain Avenue

South Torrey Pines Drive

West Desert Inn Road

Polaris Avenue

th Drive

Rainbow Boulevard

Buffalo Drive

as t Dri ve eE ak

Lake Sou

West Pennwood Ave

Edna A venue

Decatur Boulevard

South Fort Apache Road

L

Valley View Boulevard

The Lakes

Frank

West Sahara Avenue

Road

Lake North Drive

Arville Street

South Cimarron

Canyon Gate

West Oakey Boulevard Lindell Road

anch

West W

Av e

Pecos Road

Ro ad

lark

Pe co

s Ve

Av e

East Stewart Avenue

BACKDOOR

th La

ville

EC

Eastern Ave

rd leva Bou

ne

gas

St

Av e

Bo n

s

La St

4th

th C Bou asino leva Cen rd ter

ue

Sou

S Cen outh tral Grand Par kway

Ma in

South Rancho Drive

So uth Martin L King Boulevard

ss

CENTER

rk A ven

Boulevard

Cla

Ga

Marion Dr

515

ndhill Road

Downtown

North Mojave Road

West Ave Bonneville

Eastern Ave

Alta Drive

d

Sou

on e tre

d ise R

Par ad

HE

HAWKS GYM

Sand Rd hill

LAS VEGAS LOUNGE SPOTLIGHT LOUNGE

East Desert Inn Road

Swenson Street

Maryland Parkway

UNLV

EASTERN AVE

Koval Lane

ne

515 East Flamingo Rd

EAST HARMON AVE

e Monte Carlo

East Harm Ave

515

THE EAGLE

East Tropica na Ave

Parad

East Hacienda Avenue

EASTERN AVE

East Hacienda Ave

Ru ss

Russell Road

ell

Ro

ad

North Green Valley Parkway

East Patrick Lane

Sunset Road

Sunset Road

Sunset Road

Sandhill Road

N

oa

R et

ns Su

South Las Ve gas Boulevard

MCCARRAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Ru s Rd sell

South Pecos Road

Departing Flights

East Hacienda Avenue

East Hacienda Avenue

oad ise R Russell Road

ad

East Tropican a Avenue

EAST TROPICANA AVE

Mountain Vista Street

Giles St

Swenson Street

EAST TROPICANA AVE

Mandalay Bay Rd

East Flamingo Road

Sandhill Rd

RD

Swenson St

DISE

THE GARAGE

NAPLES DR

on

EAST FLAMINGO RD

PARA

The Loop

rc

ct

Spencer Street

In

MARYS

East Flamingo Road

te

Sandhill Road

od

e cL

Koval Lane

FUN HOG

South Nellis Boulevard

s-M

PARADISE RD

EAST DESERT INN RD

East Twain Ave

FREEZONE GET BOOKED PIRANHA QUADZ

Veg as Valley D rive

o Pec

Sands Ave

EASTERN AVE

Paradise Rd

EG SV LA

my

BADLANDS SALOON ENTOURAGE

d

Sa m

C

“T

VD BL AS

rD riv e nio

Da vis

Ju

e

HAWKS GYM

Convention Center Dr

d

Karen Avenue

Center / Square

R ill

ve

Karen Avenue

Karen Avenue

E

East Sahara Avenue

dh

lley Pa rk

Eastern Av enue

East Windmill Lane

Windmill Lane

Green Valley

le Val N o rth e Dr V erd

East Windmill Lane

East Windmill Lane

North Pecos Road

Paradise Road

South Las Vegas Boulevard

East Robindale Road

North Valle Verde Dr

East Warm Springs Road

North Arroyo Grande Boulevard

Road

W

Va ll e Verde Drive

wa

y

or th

East Warm Springs

East Warm Springs Rd

East Warm Springs Road

South Pecos Rd

East Windmill Parkway North Vall e V er de

Pecos Road

Wigwam Parkway

Pebble Roa

d

Pebble Road

Paseo Verde

oV er

de

P ark

wa y

e Drive

FabLasVegas.com ut h

Green Valley

So

eo Verde Par kwa y

Pa se

Pa se

P as

V alle Verd

oV e rd

Serene Ave nue Serene Avenue

de

eP a

ay rkw

n Gra South A rroyo ar d B oulev

Eastern Avenue

Bermuda Road

Pebble Road

ive

East Pebble Road

Dr

Wigwam Park way

South Maryland Parkway

Warm Springs R d

215

d

Hidden We ll Road

George Cro ckett Road

North Green Va

Dri

East Sahara Avenue

n Sa

nd

East Saint Louis Avenue

EAST SAHARA AVE

McLeod Drive

hla

East St Louis Ave

East Saint Louis Avenue

East St Louis Ave

North Lamb Boulevard

ST RIP ”

t

Hig

East Wyoming Avenue

tS

South Bridge Lane

e

515

em Fr

15

d

EAST CHARLESTON BLVD

South Main St

18b Arts District West Wyoming Ave

untain Roa

EAST CHARLESTON BLVD

South

RLESTON BLVD

21

------------------------------------------------------------------------

TECHNOLOGY > CORONAVIRUS

------------------------------------------------------------------------

The new COVID-19 app and website provide the latest information and guidance from the CDC for users across the US.

Apple releases new COVID-19 app and website based on CDC guidance Apple has released a new screening tool and set of resources to help people stay informed and take the proper steps to protect their health during the spread of COVID-19, based on the latest CDC guidance. The new COVID-19 website, and COVID-19 app available on the App Store, were created in partnership with the CDC,1 the White House Coronavirus Task Force and FEMA to make it easy for people across the country to get trusted information and guidance at a time when the US is feeling the heavy burden of COVID-19.

The COVID-19 app and 22 Fab Vegas

website allow users to answer a series of questions around risk factors, recent exposure and symptoms for themselves or a loved one. In turn, they will receive CDC recommendations on next steps, including guidance on social distancing and self-isolating, how to closely monitor symptoms, whether or not a test is recommended at this time, and when to contact a medical provider.

This new screening tool is designed to be a resource for individuals and does not replace instructions from healthcare providers or guidance from state and local health authorities.

The app and website also offer access to resources to help people stay informed and get the support they need.

Users will receive answers to frequently asked questions about COVID-19, including who is most at risk and how to recognize symptoms. In addition, they will learn the most up-to-date information from the CDC like best practices for washing hands, disinfecting surfaces and monitoring symptoms.

The social distancing screen in the COVID-19 iPhone app.

Users can answer a series of questions around risk factors, recent exposure and symptoms in order to receive

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------CDC recommendations on next steps. They can also access a set of resources from the CDC to help them stay informed and get the support they need.

Along with the new COVID-19 app and website, customers across the US may also ask Siri, “How do I know if I have coronavirus?” to access guidance and resources from the CDC and a curated collection of telehealth apps available on the App Store.

This week, travelers landing at select international airports throughout the US started receiving notifications on their iPhone to remind them of current CDC guidance to stay home and monitor their health.

Consistent with Apple’s strong dedication to user privacy, the COVID-19 app and website were built to keep all user data private and secure. The tools do not require a sign-in or association with a user’s Apple ID, and users’ individual responses will not be sent to Apple or any government organization.

Anyone in the US who is 18 years or older can access the screening tool and resources today by downloading the COVID-19 app on the App Store or visiting apple.com/ covid19.

FabLasVegas.com

23

Photo Credit: Mike Ruiz

FabLasVegas.com

24

By: Chris Azzopardi

Martha Wash

Disco queen talks gays who snatched ‘It’s Raining Men,’ Sylvester memories and exploring new sounds

On her new album, Love & Conflict, Martha Wash is far removed from her disco days, when she became known as half of The Weather Girls.

With the late Izora RhodesArmstead, the duo began their career as Two Tons O’ Fun. They shot to stardom in the early ’80s as The Weather Girls, after releasing one of the biggest gay anthems, “It’s Raining Men.” During her solo career in the 1990s, Wash’s booming voice was infamously used without her permission on dance-pop touchstones like Seduction’s “(You’re My One and Only) True Love” and Black Box’s “Strike It Up” and “Fantasy,” as well as C+C Music Factory’s No. 1 hit “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now).” In 2014, Rolling Stone called Wash “the most famous unknown singer of the ’90s.”

Released on her own independent record label,

Purple Rose Records, Love & Conflict is a fusion of funk, blues and R&B – “another departure from what people are used to hearing me sing,” she says. But, perhaps more importantly, the record represents Wash’s artistic freedom.

The 66-year-old disco queen recently spoke about breaking out of the dance-pop music mold, singing about dating apps but being too leery to use them, and that time she and iconic gay singer Sylvester literally shook the San Francisco War Memorial Opera House.

How have you kept your voice intact all these years? What are your tricks?

I have no tricks! And look, I think over time don’t we all kind of change a bit? (Laughs.)

While I am grateful to still be able to sing, you know, the voice changes over time – and

I’ve been doing this a long time! (Laughs.)

On “Never Enough Money,” you sing, “Sugar’s waiting in the back, you’re flirting on a dating app…” Are you on dating apps, Martha?

No, I am not!

So you’re not speaking from personal experience?

No, no. But you hear so much about especially young … well, not even young people anymore! Everybody’s doing it. It doesn’t matter the age anymore. People are trying to find love wherever they think they can, and there’s so many different (apps) out there. You see people, their heads just down in their phones with the email, or the dating apps, and things like that. (Sighs.) Hey, technology.

Say hypothetically you did have FabLasVegas.com

25

FabLasVegas.com

26

Photo Credit: Mike Ruiz

a Tinder profile.

Oh god.

What would you say about Martha Wash in your Tinder profile?

Goodness. I like flowers.

(Laughs.) Confident.

What would you look for in another person’s profile?

Let’s see: A guy that likes to laugh or can make me laugh.

A sense of humor is always good.

Sense of humor’s always good ’cause I don’t always have one.

(Laughs.) Sense of humor and can deal with my madness.

Also somebody who has a strong spiritual background.

I’m a homebody, but I also like to travel. Somebody who’s adventurous.

How about TV shows? What do you binge?

Oh god, there’s too many of ’em to count! I have so many TV shows in my library that I have to keep deleting them because I’m almost at 100 percent. Seriously! And there’s still a whole lot of shows and movies that I have not even seen on Netflix or Hulu at all.

You know, I have subscriptions but I haven’t used ’em! So I just have my favorites. I like crime shows, I like medical shows.

So there you have it: We’ve just written your Tinder profile.

I have never thought about doing that.

It’s never gonna happen?

Photo Credit: Ellen von Unwerth

I’m not gonna say never, but I’m kind of leery of all of that.

I really am.

FabLasVegas.com

27

------------------------------------------------------------------------

CELEBRITY INTERVIEW

-----------------------------------------------------------------------How did “Never Enough Money” come about?

It has to do with greed, power, attention and a lot of things we see in the world today, and it’s a right-in-your-face kind of situation; it’s like you wanna turn your head away but can’t.

The situations will not let you turn your head away and, for the most part, I want to say it’s negative.

You’re the kind of artist who seems to relish continual artistic evolution. How is Love & Conflict an evolution for you as an artist?

It’s just another avenue of the kind of music that I want to be able to record. I’ve always said I never wanted to be pigeonholed into one particular genre of music.

Everybody knows me for the most part as a dance music artist. I came from R&B and disco and that’s what I listened to as a teenager. But also growing up, I listened to all kinds of music, so I was able to appreciate all different genres of music.

So when I didn’t have a record label, I decided to create my own to put out the kind of music that I felt I wanted to put out. That’s grown so much over the years, in fact.

I’ll talk to my manager and he’ll say, “What do you think you wanna do this time?” So he reached out to (producer) Sami Basbous and all the music, the musicians and everything are Canadian. And we recorded in Montreal.

So it’s basically a Canadianbased album, and he just

had some great songs that we put together. And what we came up with was Love & Conflict because we all have or have been through love and conflict, and sometimes it’s on a daily basis, but it’s about how we decide to deal with things.

I firmly believe that love always trumps conflict. Love always wins in the end.

I’ve been at this for so long it’s just become a natural thing.

You lost a lot of friends during the AIDS epidemic, including Sylvester. How do you reflect on that period of time?

Yeah, especially more so over the years. I’ve always believed that the higher power was always love, and there’s scripture in the Bible about love covering a multitude of sins, so the bottom line is love encompasses all.

Sad. So many people were lost because of fear and ignorance, and I want to say putting a death sentence on the gay community during that time, because everybody was pointing fingers. And all the fingers were pointing to the LGBTQ community, you know. And then on the other side of that, people that were winding up HIV positive, some of them didn’t pay attention, some of them did not listen.

When did you feel like you’d first been embraced by the LGBTQ community? Do you recall a specific moment?

Not even the president at the time, Ronald Reagan, would acknowledge that AIDS was an issue.

No, because in school I had gay friends and some of my teachers were gay. It was never a big thing to me. And then when I started singing background for Sylvester, it just continued on but just as a larger group of people. The gay community was always behind Sylvester, and with Izora and I singing background for him there was never any problem, and it just continued over the decades. And I’d have to say that the gay community has always been the biggest fan base for me.

And information wasn’t being put out correctly. So there became this big stigma regarding that and the gay community, like they weren’t Christians and this was the wrath of God, that whole kind of madness.

Has that always been your motto?

And you’re no stranger to the Pride circuit. Is that a special experience for you?

Well, (laughs) I think because

I remember a newspaper article about a black woman who wound up with AIDS, and I’m reading the article and I’m saying to myself, “OK, what you’re saying is this is a gay disease but this woman was not gay, so how did she wind up with AIDS?” In the media it was all geared toward the gay community and gay men. That was the frustration.

Were you trying to correct that FabLasVegas.com

28

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------misconception?

Yeah. I’d have conversations with my friends: “Well, now they’re saying this in the media but this is happening to somebody who’s not gay so it cannot be just a gay disease, I don’t believe it.”

Can you share a story with me of you and Sylvester that illustrates just how close you were then?

Oh god, we would have a lot of fun on the road, between him and Izora and myself and the band. Sometimes we’d all get together and have dinner or just hang out and it would just be madness. (Laughs.) We did have a lot of fun, and then talking and kidding each other and all this other kind of stuff.

Several icons passed on “It’s Raining Men,” including Cher and Diana Ross, and even you and Izora were reluctant to record it. After you did, when did you know the song had become an LGBTQ anthem?

When they snatched it!

Absolutely snatched it!

(Laughs.)

How did it become apparent that we snatched it?

Well, I think maybe in my mind, in the way back of my mind, when (the song’s writer) Paul Jabara initially said that he wanted us to record the song, I looked at Izora and we said, “You gotta be kidding” and he said, “No, I need to hear you record this song.”

I said, “Nobody is going to buy that song.” And I wasn’t particularly thinking at that

time of the gay community, I really wasn’t. I was thinking broader. And I said, “Nobody is going to buy that song.” He said, “I need you to record this song.”

He said, “This song is going to be a hit,” and he was right.

And I remember sometimes when Izora and I were doing shows he would wind up at the club and he was giving the DJ the acetate of that record.

There’s a 12-inch, almost no label on it, and he’d say, “Play this song.” So it became a hit long before radio ever picked up on it.

So it was a hit in the gay clubs first.

Oh yeah.

And that was instant.

For them. (Laughs.)

In 1990, you famously filed lawsuits against producers and record labels for credit and compensation on hit songs you had sung, which resulted in federal legislation that made vocal credit mandatory.

This stemmed from your lead vocal being uncredited on several songs by Black Box, including “Strike It Up” and “Everybody Everybody.” What was the lasting impact of those lawsuits?

Well, just to that end, I’d have to say my attorney, Steven Brown, argued some kind of way that became lawful, that any person that is featured on a project has to have their name credited.

That’s a big deal. I can’t imagine how the industry might take advantage of artists now if he hadn’t gone through with that litigation.

That’s true. And look, I think some of that stuff still goes on today, you know what I’m saying?

Why do you think that?

If there’s a way for people to get around stuff, they’re gonna do it.

Do you know of it happening?

I can’t say that I know of it specifically, but I would not be surprised. I think between the parties involved, anything can be done and anything can be said. In the movies, for decades, Marni Nixon was the voice of a lot of the actresses you heard singing in movies and you thought it was their real voice. Well, Marni Nixon did all the singing for these actresses in movies.

I’m curious if ghost singing still happens.

Well, there’s a lot of AutoTuning, so maybe not so much ghosting anymore! (Laughs.)

What do you think of AutoTune?

Look: If it makes me sound fabulous, then I’m OK (with it). (Laughs.) But I mean, when your whole show is Auto-Tuned – the true test comes with a piano and a vocalist and that’s it. The thing FabLasVegas.com

29

is, in the previous decades, you had real singers.

Regarding the Black Box controversy: Because fashion model Katrin Quinol was seen in videos lip-syncing to your vocals, it seemed the record label didn’t think your body type would appeal to music consumers. Now, we have artists like Lizzo, a plus-size black woman who’s at the top.

What do you think of that shift when it comes to body positivity and the way more people seem to be embracing full-figured women now?

I think it’s a good thing. First of all, we’re all individuals: We’re all not built the same way, we all don’t look the same way, we all don’t act the same way. So I think it’s great that Lizzo has got this platform now, and she’s doing what she’s doing very well, and she’s the kind of person who doesn’t give a shit about what you think of her. She’s doing her thing, whether you like it or not. And everybody has their own preference, but my thing would be: I don’t think size should ever come into play.

But we’re such a visual society, especially nowadays with the invention of technology and the internet. Embrace what they do, because everybody’s talent doesn’t come in the same-sized package.

So you do recognize that people are embracing a wider range of body sizes more now than they were in the ’70s during the Black Box controversy?

Oh yes – going all the way

back to Two Tons O’ Fun and singing background for Sylvester, I want to say the record label didn’t necessarily know how to market us. We were two large women – and funny thing is, we were two large women who could sing.

And up until that time, you never saw a large woman out in the front, a front vocalist, until you saw us. Think about it: The only other person I could think of would’ve been Mama Cass from the Mamas & the Papas. You have to go all the way back to the ’70s and the ’60s. The Mamas and the Papas came out in the ’60s.

And Mama Cass Elliott was the only one that I knew of or that I could visually see on TV who was large.

So it sounds like you at least appreciate Lizzo. Who are you listening to these days?

Actually not too many people.

(Laughs.) I don’t listen to a whole lot of different people.

I’ll hear songs on the radio. I do like H.E.R. But I have to be kind of truthful: I’m an oldschool girl. I like old-school R&B, that kind of stuff. And I like old-school disco music too.

’n’ roll band, but a band like Sylvester had performed at the San Francisco War Memorial Opera House. I think the first one was The Pointer Sisters.

And so when we did it, the place was sold out and people just wore whatever they wanted to wear. I saw so many different outfits (laughs). One guy had both of his ass cheeks out – seriously. I saw another woman who was in a full ball gown. It was just a cross section of people. Everybody was having a great time, and it was (the song) “Dance (Disco Heat)” we were doing and the place was just going up, to the point that the last balcony started shaking because there were so many people up there.

The building was moving and, you know, San Francisco is prone to earthquakes, so the people of the opera house were not too pleased (laughs).

I don’t think there’s been another act up in there like that ever again.

A friend wanted me to ask you if your performance of “You Are My Friend” with Sylvester was really the insanely transcendent performance moment it sounds like it was?

Yeah, that place was rockin’.

It was so bad that I have to tell you this story: It was the second time, I think, that – I’m not gonna say a rock FabLasVegas.com

30

Photo Credit: Mike Ruiz

FabLasVegas.com

31

--------------------------------------------------------------------------LGBTQ NIGHTLIFE DIRECTORY --------------------------------------------------------------------------NIGHTCLUBS

THE BACK DOOR 1415 E Charleston Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89104 (702) 831-0621. Backdoor.Vegas

PIRANHA NIGHTCLUB 4633 Paradise Road. Las Vegas, NV 89169 (702) 791-0100. PiranhaVegas.com Gaming. NO COVER.

BARS

CLUB MARY’S 1700 E. Flamingo Rd. Las Vegas, NV 891119 (702) 733-8787. FlairVegas.com

BADLANDS SALOON 953 E. Sahara Ave. #22 Las Vegas, NV 89104 (702) 792-9262. Badlands-Saloon.com Open 24/7. Gaming. NO COVER.

FLEX LAS VEGAS 4347 W. Charleston Blvd.

Las Vegas, NV 89102 (702) 878-3355. FlexLasVegas.com Open 24/7. Gaming. NO COVER.

CHARLIE’S LAS VEGAS 5012 S Arville Rd. Las Vegas, NV 89118 (702) 876-1844. CharliesLasVegas.com Open 24/7. Gaming. NO COVER.

FREEZONE NIGHTCLUB & BAR 610 E. Naples Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89119 (702) 794-2300. FreezoneLV.com Open 24/7. Gaming. NO COVER. ICONIC NIGHTCLUB 4636 S Wynn Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89103 (833) 342-6642. IconicNightclub.com Hours on website

THE EAGLE 3430 E. Tropicana Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89121 (702) 458-8662. facebook.com/thelasvegaseagle Open 24/7. Gaming. NO COVER. FUN HOG RANCH 495 E Twain Las Vegas, NV 89169 (702) 791-7001. FunHogRanchLV.com Open 24/7. Gaming. NO COVER.

THE GARAGE 1487 E. Flamingo Rd., Ste. C Las Vegas, NV 89119 (702) 440-6333. TheGarageLV.com Open 24/7. Gaming. NO COVER. LAS VEGAS LOUNGE 900 Karen Ave C101, Las Vegas, NV 89109 (702) 737-9350 Open 24/7. NO COVER. THE PHOENIX 4213 W. Sahara Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89102 (702) 826-2422. facebook.com/thephoenixlv Open 24/7. Gaming. NO COVER. QUADZ VIDEO BAR 4640 Paradise Rd. Las Vegas, NV 89169 (702) 733-0383. QuadzBar.com Open 24/7. Gaming. NO COVER. SPOTLIGHT LOUNGE 975 E. Sahara Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89104 (702) 431-9775. SpotlightLounge.com Open 24/7. Gaming. NO COVER.

NIGHTLIFE SCHEDULE SUNDAYS // GARAGE 2-for-1 drinks 11a-7p. Beer bust 5p-9p $7 domestic $11 import. $4 Patron Silver shots 8p-4a. MUSIC VIDEOS & LIQUOR BUST 9p-12a $12 well $22 call. RED ZONE FOOTBALL free appetizers 2p-7p.

PHOENIX SUNDAY BRUNCH WITH KEYSKA DIVA AND FRIENDS 2p - 6p ($15 All you can drink mimosa’s & sangria) 2 for 1 Happy Hour 4p - 7p SUPERSTAR SUNDAY KARAOKE w/ Shiela 9p - 2a CHARLIES SICKENING SUNDAYS CLUB MARY’S GOSPEL BRUNCH EAGLE POT LUCK BBQ FLEX SING-A-LONG KARAOKE 3p-9p FUN HOG RANCH SUPER SUNDAY ICONIC AVANT LAS VEGAS LOUNGE CHICAS RICAS Latin Show 11p SPOTLIGHT KARAOKE 10p-2a FLAIR OPEN ON SUNDAYS FREEZONE DRAG SHOW QUADZ SOCIAL SUNDAYS MONDAYS // GARAGE 2-for-1 drinks 11a-7p. Beer bust 9p-12a $7 domestic $11 import. $4.50 Absolut cocktails 8p-4a. MAN CAVE MONDAYS free appetizers 5p-8p, whiskey specials after happy hour and weekly prizes giveaways.

PHOENIX 2-for-1 Happy Hour 11a-7p BURNING MONDAYS (Burning Man Meetup) 6p-9p Afterburn Mondays 9p - 1a BADLANDS BINGO 32 Fab Vegas

CHARLIES DRAG QUEEN KARAOKE EAGLE LIQUOR BUST FLEX MOVIE NIGHT FUN HOG RANCH Drink Special 9p-1a ICONIC AVANT LAS VEGAS LOUNGE TRANS MONDAY FREEZONE KARAOKE SPOTLIGHT OPEN ON MONDAYS QUADZ OPEN ON MONDAYS TUESDAYS // GARAGE 2-for-1 drinks 11a-7p. LIQUOR BUST $12 well $22 call 9p-12a. $3.50 Fireball shots 8p-4a.

PHOENIX 2 for 1 Happy Hour 11a - 7p TWISTED TUESDAY TRIVIA 6:30p - 8p GAME NIGHT W/ ANYONKA 8p - 11p / UNDERWEAR PARTY Liquor bust for $5 in undies 9p - 1a CHARLIES DRAG QUEEN BINGO CLUB MARYS KARAOKE EAGLE KARAOKE FLEX DRINK SPECIALS FUN HOG RANCH DRINK SPECIALS 9p-1a LAS VEGAS LOUNGE TRANS TUESDAY FREEZONE KARAOKE SPOTLIGHT OPEN ON TUESDAYS QUADZ OPEN ON TUESDAYS WEDNESDAYS // GARAGE 2-for-1 drinks 11a-7p. BEER BUST 9p-12a $7 domestic $11 import. $4.50 Jack Daniels 8a-4a.

MUSIC VIDEOS 9p-12a.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------LGBTQ NIGHTLIFE DIRECTORY --------------------------------------------------------------------------PHOENIX 2 for 1 Happy Hour 11a - 7p MUSIC VIDEO BINGO w/ E’Stefano 7p - 10p CARNIE ASADAS CIRCUS 10PM-12AM CHARLIES WET WEDNESDAYS EAGLE TRIVIA CONTEST FLEX DRAG KARAOKE 10p-2a FUN HOG RANCH PIGS ON BROADWAY KITTY LITTER LAS VEGAS LOUNGE TRANS TUESDAY FREEZONE DRAG SHOW SPOTLIGHT OPEN ON WEDNESDAYS QUADZ KARAOKE THURSDAYS // GARAGE 2-for-1 drinks 11a-7p. $3 OFF TOP SHELF 8p-4a.

PHOENIX 2 for 1 Happy Hour 11a - 7p THERAPY THURSDAY KARAOKE w/ Shiela 9pm - 2am CHARLIES 10s across the board CLUB MARY’S MARYS GOT TALENT EAGLE POKER TOURNEY FLEX FLAMBOYANCE DRAG SHOW 10:30p FUN HOG RANCH DRINK SPECIALS 9p-1a ICONIC HIP-HOP NIGHT LAS VEGAS LOUNGE TRANS THURSDAYS FREEZONE DRAG SHOW QUADZ POKER NIGHT SPOTLIGHT OPEN ON THURSDAYS

SATURDAYS //

GARAGE 2-for-1 drinks 11a-7p. Beer bust 8p-11p $7 domestic $11 import. $4 LONG ISLANDS 8p-4a.

PHOENIX BRUNCH 11a - 3p ($15 All you can drink mimosa’s & sangria) 2 for 1 Happy Hour 4p - 7p Different Party Each Week 9p - 1a BADLANDS OPEN ON SATURDAYS CHARLIES STUDS OF CHARLIES CLUB MARY’S STARS & STILLETOS FUN HOG RANCH OPEN FLEX QUEENS OF LAS VEGAS DRAG SHOW 10:30p ICONIC VARIED PROMOTION FUN HOG RANCH 1ST SATURDAY LEATHER NIGHT LAS VEGAS LOUNGE LADIES OF SECRET SHOW 1a FLAIR OPEN ON SATURDAYS FREEZONE DRAG SHOW PIRANHA PIRANHA SATURDAYS THE BACKDOOR LATIN NIGHT QUADZ SOUNDWAVE SPOTLIGHT KARAOKE

FRIDAYS // GARAGE 2-for-1 drinks 11am-7pm. $3.50 CHERRY OR JAGER BOMBS 8p-4a PHOENIX 2 for 1 Happy Hour 11a-7p FIRED UP FRIDAY w/ KEYSKA DIVA Showtimes 10:30pm & 11:30pm Music by DJ Panda Funk 9p-1a CHARLIES LIQUOR BUST CLUB MARY’S STARS & STILLETOS EAGLE ORIGINAL UNDERWEAR PARTY FLEX VARIED PROMOTION ICONIC VARIED PROMOTION LAS VEGAS LOUNGE TRANS FRIDAYS FUN HOG RANCH 2ND FRIDAY BEARS LAS VEGAS QUADZ FRESH FRIDAYS SPOTLIGHT KARAOKE FLAIR OPEN ON FRIDAYS FREEZONE DRAG MADNESS THE BACKDOOR GROUPS & LIVE BANDS

PROMOTIONAL GLOSSARY: LIQUOR BUST OR BEER BUST - a promotion involving a one time fee for an all-you-can-drink time frame. GAMING - this establishment has a gaming license and you can expect gambling machines such as video poker, etc. * Venue responsible for updates. Promotions are not guaranteed. Verify information with venue directly. *

34 Fab Vegas

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.

FabLasVegas.com

39

PRIDE FLAGS

PRIDE FLAGS

COMMUNITY RESOURCES 44 Fab Vegas

45 Fab Vegas

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.