Live long and live healthy.

Check your HIV status today.

Knowing your HIV status puts you in control—of your health and your future. No matter when you last checked, there’s no time like the present to update your status at the CARE Center at Dignity Health – St. Mary Medical Center. We offer safe, simple, fast, and confidential HIV and STI screenings—in addition to comprehensive medical, dental and behavioral health services in one convenient location. No insurance? No worries— we’re here for you regardless of your ability to pay. Schedule an appointment today by calling (562) 685-8796. Learn more at dignityhealth.org/stmary/testing

June 8 June 8

August 3 August 3

I was doing a play called Santa Claus for President and wore a fat suit. I acted as if I was Lucy, pregnant! I got all these laughs. The director of the play said to me afterward “You want to do this for a living, don’t you?“ and I said, with a Cheshire cat grin…”yes!”

His stand-up comedy has certainly evolved from his early years, but always stays sincere, even in the face of today’s political correctness directing cancel culture.

Most of my early years as a stand-up comic was about my weight problem, my punk rock girlfriend (I know, what was I thinking?), and my crazy family, as always. For me, I have always spoken my own truth, and talked about my own experiences without holding back, leading me to laugh at myself and make it MY joke about me. Political correctness has not always been an issue for me. Finding a decent boyfriend has!

Despite coming out before it was trendy, his career has thrived. To what has he attributed his success?

Showing up and being OK with being uncomfortable a lot of the time. Learning my craft as an actor and continuing to share my thoughts and feelings as a comedian. Always be open to learning new things and not be so hard on myself.

His personal crowning achievement would come from playing the opposite of who he was to the world.

It was when I was cast in the historical drama in a major supporting role in The Birth Of A Nation. Playing a white heterosexual Christian plantation owner in 1831, with everyone knowing that I was a liberal gay Jewish man. That experience changed my entire life as an actor and as a human being, to really connect to what has happened to black people in this country and to understand generational wealth. My motto has always been, you can always learn more in a deeper way.

With his Rolodex of high-profile celebrities he’s worked with, who has been a favorite?

I’d say working with George Clooney years ago on a series called Sunset Beat playing a club manager was so much fun. He wasn’t as famous as he is now, but he was still drop-dead gorgeous. He loved to improvise and was so incredibly supportive. Also, working with Faye Dunaway was an incredible experience - watching someone that famous still love and respect the work. People have said a lot of things about her, but I gotta say she really cares and worked as hard as she did on any of her big studio pics in her heyday. As did Kyra Sedgwick when I worked with her on The Closer. My worst experiences have always been with actors who felt like they didn’t get theirs - and most or all were not as famous.

Spilling the tea and dishing should be listed on Jason’s resume under special skills. He put these skills together with his life story for his autobiography Shut Up, I’m Talking!, now in its third print. It was a rave-reviewed hit.

I read several biographies and love learning about people who are in the process of life. How they handle trauma and move on to the next place is very important to me. So, when the reaction to my book came in, I was thrilled that through my experience, strength, and hope in life, people were actually interested in the story of this gay Jewish kid who has been losing the same 10 pounds for 40 years! I had a story to tell, and it made people feel less alone. It made me happy.

In addition to being a gay man, being Jewish also plays a big part in Jason’s comedy. Proud of his heritage, he learned a lot about life from his father, who was a Holocaust survivor.

My dad‘s life was mostly like the film starring Adrien Brody The Pianist. He lived with his parents and brother in barns, basements, attics, and ghettos. Having an immigrant family taught me to have more sympathy for people. It taught me not to give my opinion about other people’s experiences, and just shut up and listen. And to know sometimes folks just need to be heard.

His mother also plays a big part in his stories. Having recently moved to Palm Springs, Jason resides next door to his 86-yearold mom. This funny-as-hell mom-and-son routine wasn’t always so hilarious.

My mother took me out for my 24th birthday and I was all set to tell her that I was gay. But I couldn’t get the words out. So, I maneuvered the conversation so she would ask me, and she did: “Have had ever had sex with a man?” I said, “What do you mean?” She said, “What do you mean?!” And we both laughed out loud. It was very hard on her and took her a number of years to learn to accept me. She would stop speaking to me at one point, which was the best thing that could’ve ever happened to me. I had to learn to make my own decisions without worrying about what she would think of me, to learn to become a man. And now with lots of forgiveness, my mom and I are very close. She is in Ross Dress For Less right now! I have to pick her up soon. [Laughs]

This last year has been full of recognition of Jason’s work. This past year he won the Worldwide Comedy Award for Best LGBTQ Comedian and was honored in the 100 Out for Out Magazine. He also won the Best Actor in a Comedy title for the Indie Series Awards, recognizing his performance in the comedy series Smothered. Delivered in short, deliciously funny episodes, Smothered is a “hysterical and sobering look at a gay, Jewish middle-aged couple trying to salvage their hideous relationship in therapy hell.” The show has become an instant hit with Season 2 having just dropped, featuring a bevy of recognizable faces from the entertainment community.

I co-created the series with my pal Mitch Hara. It’s taught me more than I’ll ever know about collaboration, focus, and willingness to get things done no matter what stands in your way. We both have a motto that we live by: “We don’t wait for other people to create.” I’m extremely excited and proud of this accomplishment. Both Mitch Hara and I agreed that we wanted to make a show that was funny, real, and had dramatic moments. Our goal was for the work to be good first, and to have a good time doing it. Also, to get it out to as many people as possible. Revry. tv got us on all platforms and you can read all about it on Smotheredtv.com. I think have accomplished all that, especially with the support and love of our director Carlyle King and editor Robb Padgett.

Did Jason have any idea that Smothered was going to be such a big hit?

I thought the gays and the Jews would love it, and I was over the moon when it went viral. But the idea of a self-involved couple who hate each other and can’t afford to get divorced becoming a hit really proved to me to just do your best work. Build it and it will come. Our characters’ [Ralph & Randy] dysfunctional relationship seems to be universal among many couples. As Amazon fans are saying, we are comedy gold.

As the first season of Smothered featured the couple with a variety of therapists, Season 2 turns to a more episodic formula, featuring an even bigger roster of actors.

Everyone from Amanda Bearse from Married with Children to Armand Fields from Queer As Folk to Aida Rodriguez from her popular HBO special, and Jai Rodriguez from Bros are in it. It’s more real and down to the bone of Randy & Ralph’s marriage. It takes you down the path of their hateful relationship, but also shows the love that they have for each other. And all that comes out in the form of laughout-loud comedy - and you may even shed a tear.

Jason’s favorite thing about doing the show?

What I learned most is that I have the confidence to create a TV show (with Mitch Hara) for a second season that has the quality of a network or streaming show. And if you are over 50, you are not dead yet!

Jason has been a part of and witness to the evolution of LGBTQ representation in Hollywood. He states that while his groundbreaking has paved the way for younger generations of artists to walk, so too, does he get to walk that walk. What is Jason’s view on Hollywood today?

We are now being included in many of the stories, and a lot of us are now able to play the big gay roles as we are as successful as some of our white counterparts. I still think there is a bias against actors who appear to be gay. People can only see what they can see. And a lot have been not given the opportunity to show that they are capable of playing more than one type of role. I am an actor who happens to be gay, and I am now playing straight roles. You have to be prepared when opportunity hits! You must have the craft to be able to do that. I work extremely hard to accomplish that …so thank you, Ivana Chubbuck and Larry Moss.

And Jason’s message this Pride season?

Come out, come out, wherever you are. And if you’re struggling, find somebody who’s safe, and tell them your truth one day at a time.

You can follow Jason on IG: @theJasonStuart Check out Smothered at smotheredtv.com

Want to stay undetectable* with fewer medicines?

DOVATO is different: unlike other HIV treatments that contain 3 or 4 medicines, DOVATO contains just 2 medicines in 1 pill.

DOVATO is a complete prescription regimen for adults new to HIV-1 treatment or replacing their current HIV-1 regimen when their doctor determines they meet certain requirements.

Learn more at DOVATO.com

Important Facts About DOVATO

This is only a brief summary of important information about DOVATO and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and treatment.

What is the most important information I should know about DOVATO?

If you have both human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection and Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, DOVATO can cause serious side effects, including:

• Resistant HBV. Your healthcare provider will test you for HBV infection before you start treatment with DOVATO. If you have HIV-1 and hepatitis B, the HBV can change (mutate) during your treatment with DOVATO and become harder to treat (resistant). It is not known if DOVATO is safe and effective in people who have HIV-1 and HBV infection.

• Worsening of HBV infection. If you have HBV infection and take DOVATO, your HBV may get worse (flare-up) if you stop taking DOVATO. A “flare-up” is when your HBV infection suddenly returns in a worse way than before.

° Do not run out of DOVATO. Refill your prescription or talk to your healthcare provider before your DOVATO is all gone.

Results may vary.

° Do not stop DOVATO without first talking to your healthcare provider.

° If you stop taking DOVATO, your healthcare provider will need to check your health often and do blood tests regularly for several months to check your liver function and monitor your HBV infection. It may be necessary to give you a medicine to treat hepatitis B. Tell your healthcare provider about any new or unusual symptoms you may have after you stop taking DOVATO.

For more information about side effects, see “What are possible side effects of DOVATO?”

What is DOVATO?

DOVATO is a prescription medicine that is used without other HIV-1 medicines to treat human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection in adults: who have not received HIV-1 medicines in the past, or to replace their current HIV-1 medicines when their healthcare provider determines that they meet certain requirements. HIV-1 is the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). It is not known if DOVATO is safe and effective in children.

Please see additional Important Facts About DOVATO on the following page.

Ask your doctor about staying undetectable with fewer medicines in 1 pill.

Important Facts About DOVATO (cont’d)

Who should not take DOVATO?

Do not take DOVATO if you:

• have ever had an allergic reaction to a medicine that contains dolutegravir or lamivudine.

• take dofetilide. Taking DOVATO and dofetilide can cause side effects that may be serious or life-threatening.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before using DOVATO?

Tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

• have or have had liver problems, including hepatitis B or C infection.

• have kidney problems.

• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. One of the medicines in DOVATO (dolutegravir) may harm your unborn baby.

° Your healthcare provider may prescribe a different medicine than DOVATO if you are planning to become pregnant or if pregnancy is confirmed during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

° If you can become pregnant, your healthcare provider may perform a pregnancy test before you start treatment with DOVATO.

° If you can become pregnant, you and your healthcare provider should talk about the use of effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with DOVATO.

° Tell your healthcare provider right away if you are planning to become pregnant, you become pregnant, or think you may be pregnant during treatment with DOVATO.

• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you take DOVATO.

° You should not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby.

° DOVATO passes to your baby in your breast milk.

° Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Some medicines interact with DOVATO. Keep a list of your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

• You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of medicines that interact with DOVATO.

• Do not start taking a new medicine without telling your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider can tell you if it is safe to take DOVATO with other medicines.

What are possible side effects of DOVATO?

DOVATO can cause serious side effects, including:

• See “What is the most important information I should know about DOVATO?”

What are possible side effects of DOVATO? (cont’d)

• Allergic reactions. Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop a rash with DOVATO. Stop taking DOVATO and get medical help right away if you develop a rash with any of the following signs or symptoms: fever; generally ill feeling; tiredness; muscle or joint aches; blisters or sores in mouth; blisters or peeling of the skin; redness or swelling of the eyes; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; problems breathing.

• Liver problems.People with a history of hepatitis B or C virus may have an increased risk of developing new or worsening changes in certain liver tests during treatment with DOVATO. Liver problems, including liver failure, have also happened in people without a history of liver disease or other risk factors. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests to check your liver. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following signs or symptoms of liver problems: your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice); dark or “tea-colored” urine; light-colored stools (bowel movements); nausea or vomiting; loss of appetite; and/or pain, aching, or tenderness on the right side of your stomach area.

• Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis). Too much lactic acid is a serious medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following symptoms that could be signs of lactic acidosis: feel very weak or tired; unusual (not normal) muscle pain; trouble breathing; stomach pain with nausea and vomiting; feel cold, especially in your arms and legs; feel dizzy or lightheaded; and/or a fast or irregular heartbeat.

• Lactic acidosis can also lead to severe liver problems, which can lead to death. Your liver may become large (hepatomegaly) and you may develop fat in your liver (steatosis). Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the signs or symptoms of liver problems which are listed above under “Liver problems.”

• You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or severe liver problems if you are female or very overweight (obese).

• Changes in your immune system (Immune Reconstitution Syndrome) can happen when you start taking HIV-1 medicines. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that have been hidden in your body for a long time. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you start having new symptoms after you start taking DOVATO.

• The most common side effects of DOVATO include: headache; nausea; diarrhea; trouble sleeping; tiredness; and anxiety.

These are not all the possible side effects of DOVATO. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Where can I find more information?

• Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

• Go to DOVATO.com or call 1-877-844-8872, where you can also get FDA-approved labeling.

Trademarks are owned by or licensed to the ViiV Healthcare group of companies.

October 2022 DVT:7PIL

By Ethylina Canne

I first met Mama Tits at Seattle Pridefest pre-covid. She was hosting a brunch at the lovely W Hotel, and I was immediately a fan. She’s a larger-than-life package of simply divine decadence and if you haven’t seen her show, you need to truly treat yourself to that experience.

You’re not really having a full Puerto Vallarta moment until you witness her belting out some live vocals, mixed with just the right amount of comedy and racy tidbits thrown in at the perfect moments. You will leave the show a better person for it, TRUST!

I’m so thrilled that I got to catch up with her before she leaves the sandy shores of Mexico for a solo tour of the West Coast. (While writing this for my readers, I got a late breaking bulletin that it is now a North American Tour with new dates and venues added!)

How long have you lived in Puerto Vallarta and what made you decide to move to Mexico?

I’ve been living in Puerto Vallarta for the past seven going on eight years. I fell in love with PV within the first week of coming here for my first gig many years ago. It was the people, the culture, the food, the location, the beauty…everything! I immediately fell in love and knew that I needed to make this magical place my home.

Since moving there, you have become a staple in that town selling out your nightly shows year after year. What’s your secret to packing the house?

Hahaha! That’s an excellent question. I have no idea. but seriously, I’ve always just been myself and always try to keep my shows

100% authentic to who I am. And to be honest, it’s all that people should ever strive to be is 100% authentic to who they are. The magic of that is that it seems to be very relatable and many people are able to connect on a personal level. I can’t tell you how many times I have people tell me after a show that they felt that I was speaking directly to them, and that feels amazing.

You’re embarking on your first ever West Coast Solo Tour. How did that all come together and were you fearful of taking that first step?

Yes, thank you. I’m super excited for this opportunity and I can’t believe that we’re kicking it off in the beautiful city of Palm Springs. However, this tour has grown now into a complete North American tour! And I’m over the moon!!!!

Funny thing - I have been working with different people over the past many years to try to get some semblance of a tour created, but nobody could ever get anybody to bite. So this year I decided to take it upon myself, like the old adage says “if you want something done right…you gotta do it yourself.“ So, that’s exactly what I did. Now of course I did not do it alone, but I did take the helm.

It first started with me reaching out to my good Judy, Sherry Vine. I asked her for some leads on venues. She also said I could drop her name which could’ve been good or bad, depending on where we’re dropping it. I mean it is Sherry Vine after all, but seriously it helped me get a little leg up because they all knew Sherry and since I was able to use her name, gave me an opportunity for them to listen to what I had to pitch. And boy did I pitch my show. Baby, if there’s one thing I know how to do it sell what I do!! So, I did just that. And trust me, it’s not as easy for a gal who’s built her own career her own way, without the aid of a television show. And that is in no way a dig towards anybody who’s been on TV, just a statement of fact. Without the television show backing you, it can be a much more grueling uphill climb. On the other hand, it can be more rewarding. So, I sent off the emails and waited. It wasn’t a week later that I had my first response and then a second, and then the third and so on. Everyone was so kind and welcoming that encouraged me to keep going.

Overnight the tour went from a few stops to a nine city 15 show tour. I’m going on tour! Now, it is scary and expensive, but I know that I’m worth it. I mean I tell people all the time “remember you’re worth it” so of course I’ve got to walk the walk, and not just talk the talk. And the beautiful thing is usually when you take a chance on yourself and trust in the universe, The Goddess is there to catch you and show you that you did the right thing.

Drag is EVERYWHERE these days. Do you feel the drag in Mexico is different than here in the states?

Drag is different everywhere. That’s one of my most favorite things about Drag. It’s rooted in what we know. Meaning, the artists create from their own history, their own culture, their own surroundings. So, when the art hits the stage, if you will, it’s undoubtedly coming from its own perspective and completely individual. Now of course, if you want to make broad generalizations, yes there is a “type” of drag that is more prominent here in Mexico, which is based more in the cubs and consists of passionate ballads sung by very popular Spanish speaking artists. They not only perform one song, but they also do up to three or four in a row! It is amazing and something I’ve never seen before coming here. But again, even with that broad stroke, each individual artist is so uniquely themselves. And that is what makes drag magic to me.

As we are all aware, laws are trying to be put in place banning drag in many states in the US. You were on the front lines many years ago and went viral with some folks who had some views that you didn’t agree with. Tell us about that moment.

Oh, you want to know about THE moment? Well, it was a bright sunny June morning. I was set to host Seattle Pride from Westlake Center alongside some other people from the community. However, the beginning of the parade, which of course takes forever…so we had a lot of downtime while they were setting everything up. People were arriving while the parade marchers were getting in place. Unfortunately, there was a permit mistake, and a simple clerical error allowed a “religious” hate group to also march and had a police escort.

As the pride parade is waiting to start, here comes this group of anti-gay hate filled people. The moment I saw their signs on the parade route, I felt rage, but not a blind rage, a controlled calculated rage. I looked at my cohorts and invited them to come and “Care Bear stare“ these religious bigots! Of course, they all looked at me like I was crazy. I walked out in the middle of the road by myself, placed my arms straight out to my side and stood there, staring at the ringleaders eyes. He never actually looked into my eyes, but did not move one step in his route, even though I was standing directly in his way, so we became infamously “tits to nose“ and that’s where the famous picture was captured . Now mind you in that moment. I had no idea anybody was really watching. I was so focused on my own situation right there and making my own stand. The protester actually hit me with his sign while I was being surrounded by his cohorts, and I noticed none of them had any life behind their eyes. Everybody seemed almost zombie like. It was crazy . After he hit me with the sign and I pushed back, that’s when the police started showing up to separate us. The anti-gay protesters then continued past me at the behest of Seattle police and continued walking the opposite route of the parade, quickly encountering a wall of dikes on bikes. However, before they could even reach the dykes on bikes, a group of teenagers ran into the middle of the parade, locked arms and created a wall of protection. At this moment was when the sound team was able to give me a microphone, I had 100,000 watts of sound projected over six city blocks in the palm of my hand. Up to this point it was voice against megaphone, but now I had the sound.

I remember thinking to myself “be 100% accountable for every word that comes out of your mouth from this moment on“ because I knew I had a responsibility especially because it was being projected publicly over many city blocks during the largest parade in the city. I had a responsibility to keep it classy, keep it factual, and keep it poignant. And that’s when I started to speak and it wasn’t until I saw the video later, that I actually knew what I had said. I felt like I was a conduit for all the people in the past and the words just came from me. It felt like I had Divine on one shoulder and Marsha P. Johnson on the other shoulder, with Sylvia Rivera, standing behind me, giving me strength and power to take on this hate. And the rest as they say, is history. But that was the day that changed my life forever and I’m very grateful to have had that experience.

Your current show “Por Que’ No? Life is Short” will be the one you take on tour. What do you hope the audience takes away from the show? Or what message do you hope they hear?

If we have learned nothing in the past couple of years, it’s that the world can change in an instant. Everything we thought we knew was gone or changed or stopped for an undetermined amount of time. And that got me to thinking “what was I waiting for?“ My main take away from my show is: “What are you waiting for?” It’s your life, so live it how you want. You don’t need anybody to give you permission except for yourself. You don’t need anybody’s approval except for your own. We get one life. Get out there and live it and when your expiration date comes, I want you to be able to look back at your life and say, “I did it all and it was GRAND!”

See Mama Tits when she makes her first tour stop at Oscar’s Palm Springs. June 7th at 7 pm. Limited tickets are available at www.oscarspalmsprings.com. For other tour dates and appearances head over to www.themamatits.com

Joyfully,

Ethyl

Our mission is to provide an open and welcoming environment for all members of the LGBTQ family.