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Wrap-up
COMMUNITY
By Clair Koetitz & Lyndon Marquez
December was a busy month for the LGBT community. For the first time World AIDS Day was celebrated at the Center with a theme of “Getting to Zero” – zero deaths, zero discrimination and zero new cases. The day started with the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign turning red to honor the day. It continued with testing throughout the community and culminated with a Remembrance and Celebration hosted by Joey Gassion at the Center celebrating the lives of those that have left us due to HIV/AIDS during the year.
the 9th annual SNAPI Holiday Wreath Auction held at Alexis Park All Suite Resort. Along with a fun evening playing bingo, many decorated wreaths were available for sale. The wreaths were sold through a silent auction which encouraged the participants to keep a sharp eye on their favorite wreath to ensure they were able to purchase them. We want to thank everyone who participated in the auction and congratulations to each of the winners. A special thanks to Ernie Yuen for his efforts to make sure this event is a huge success each year. Everyone looks forward to The month continued with PRIDE seeing the new and exciting wreaths Family Bingo on December 2nd and that are created each year. Stay
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tuned for the 10th annual auction in December 2016. The month and year concluded with a grand celebration for the LGBT community, EVOLVE. The event was held in the Havana Room at The New Tropicana and was attended by over 1,000 guests representing 6 continents. The fabulous Miss Edie from Cirque du Soleil’s “Zumanity” kept the evening moving as master of ceremonies introducing the various entertainers including Trixie Mattel from season seven of “RuPaul’s Drag Race”; Bravo TV’s Scott Nevins; recording artist Z LaLa and aerialist act the Las Vegas Sky Boys while gogo dancers entertained the guests from various locations around the room. The weather cooperated and everyone was able to go out on the pool deck to watch the fireworks at midnight. The party continued long into the morning with guests enjoying libations and dancing. Photos of the EVOLVE event below courtesy of EvolveVegasNYE.com.
Contents EVENTS
ARTICLES
6
PRIDE Events 5
Community Wrap-up
11 Welcome
Las Vegas PRIDE 2016
15 April PRIDE Family Bingo
12 10 Powerful Lesbians Dominating the World
36 Phoenix Pride
17 Women’s History Month
39 May PRIDE Family Bingo
18 *batteries not included - Not Just For Toys Anymore!
Other Events
21 DJ Devi Dev: Beautiful Inside & Out
10 Dinah Vegas 19 White Party Palm Springs
23 National Women and Girls HIV/ AIDS Awareness Day
30 2016 HRC Las Vegas Gala
26 Kristine W Feels the Love
42 AFAN AIDS Walk 48 Leather Church
32 An Interview with Tatiana Lewis, the Lady Behind The Ladies of Q Socials
57 Picnic by Design
40 LGBT Community Directory
59 LGBTQ Career Fair
43 2016 AFAN AIDS Walk
44 Las Vegas PRIDE Map 46 Las Vegas Bar & Nightclub Schedule 48 Why the Las Vegas boys of Leather? Why Not? 52 Hillary: A Recent Chat with Secretary Clinton -- Transgender Ally 54 The Center 55 Making Love Last 53 Rockin’ The Ribbon 58 Women Always Welcome 60 7 Types of Lesbians You’ll Find in a Gay Bar
PUBLISHER Southern Nevada Association of PRIDE, Inc. EDITOR Ernie Yuen LAYOUT & DESIGN Jake Naylor ADVERTISING Ernie Yuen, Lyndon R. Marquez & Clair Koetitz PHOTOGRAPHY Barbara Maeker, Bobby Black, Chris Purdum (Orange Soda Photography), Marc Garcia, Rufskin Studios, and Karl Giant ON THE COVER Kristine W COVER PHOTO BY Kevin Wagner & Korby Banner CONTRIBUTORS Paul Cieslewicz, Kimi Cole, Devika “DJ Devi”, Michael Dimengo, Jeff Dorta, boy Fido, GLSEN, Tim Hogan, Paul Hutnick, Mila Jaroniec via Thought Catalog, Clair Koetitz, Tatiana Lewis, Lyndon Marquez, and Viral Thread Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Southern Nevada Association of PRIDE, Inc. (SNAPI). No part of this publication, including stories, artwork, advertising or photos, may be reproduced without written permission from SNAPI. For information regarding the Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine or to advertise in future issues, contact SNAPI at 4001 S. Decatur Blvd. #37-540, Las Vegas, NV 89103-5800, (866) 930-3336 or email ernie@lasvegaspride.org. For information regarding Las Vegas PRIDE events, visit www.lasvegaspride.org. The appearance of any person, business or organization in this publication, by name, advertisement or photograph, is not an indication of sexual orientation. SNAPI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on race, sex, color, religion, creed, national origin, disability or sexual orientation.
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Welcome By Ernie “Pineapple” Yuen
Aloha!
Wow it’s already March, time is just flying by. Before you know it, summer will be here. I hope all is well with you. I have tons of information to share! First, the most exciting news is an update about our 2016 PRIDE Festival and Parade. We are moving locations and taking PRIDE back to Sunset Park, many of you have said the Government Center is too small and we were very limited on want we could do. Sunset Park is a very large area with tons of space to do more activities. There will be multiple entertainment stages, dance areas, PRIDE Pets, Kid’s Zone, Art in the Park and large vendor/exhibitor and food court areas. We also pushed the date to October 21, 22, and 23, when the temperature will be in the 80’s, (there were many complaints that it was too hot in September). The Parade will remain downtown and on Friday night. Las Vegas PRIDE hosts the city’s largest and most organized parade, something we are very proud of. I’m excited we are bringing back PRIDE Pets to the Pride Festival; yes you can bring your furry kids to the festival with you to celebrate diversity! Follow us on Facebook as we finalize events you’ll be the first to know. I promise! This entire issue is dedicated to the women in our community. March is Women’s History Month and we wanted to recognize and highlight the women and women’s organizations in
and the walk stats at 10:30am and ends by 11:30am. You can make a difference! The Las Vegas PRIDE Family Bingo 2016 season started in February. We had a full house and it was a great success. I like to give a BIG B-I-N-G-O welcome our new hosts Fantasia and Miranda Wrights who are quick witted and funny; perfect to host a fun event like Bingo.
I’m delighted to welcome all of our new Bingo sponsors; we have great show tickets, sun tanning and laser treatment gift cards, lots of restaurant gift certificates, movie baskets, family dinner packets, wine and liquor baskets, and more. March is “Let’s Make a Deal Bingo” which is always fun! Get dressed up and be ready for all of the surprises. Please join us the 1st Wednesday of every month. our community. On our cover is Kristine 6:00pm is happy hour and Bingo start W; she’s a Las Vegas native and a huge at 7:00pm sharp at Alexis Park All ally to our LGBT community. She’s very Suite Resort. energetic, fun and talented. I’m glad to call her a friend. I was also pleased I would like to welcome all of our new to interview Tatiana from The Ladies advertisers, thank you for supporting of Q Socials and DJ Devi Dev; both Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine; we of whom are amazing, beautiful and understand there are many choices strong women. I hope you enjoy their when it comes to advertising and articles. Kimi Cole is also featured this would like to welcome you to month, please read her article about the Las Vegas PRIDE Family. Your her journey and becoming friends contributions not only support our non-profit magazine but also the with Hillary. entire Las Vegas LGBT Community. April 17, is a very important day. Please come out and Support AFAN’s Celebrate Women’s History month, AIDS Walk. Last year, more than participate in AFAN’s AIDS Walk 6,000 people walked with us to raise and join us at PRIDE Family Bingo! awareness for the cause. We invite Celebrate diversity, stay safe and you to walk with your friends, family, please be nice to one another. co-workers, neighbors, or alongside the thousands of other members of In PRIDE, our community who come together to show their support. The walk will be Ernie “Pineapple” Yuen held at Town Square Las Vegas, 6605 Executive Director Las Vegas Boulevard. The walk route Southern Nevada Association is approximately 3 miles. Registration of PRIDE, Inc. is 8:00 to 9:00am, the opening ceremony is from 9:00 to 10:30am Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 11
10 POWERFUL LESBIANS DOMINATING THE WORLD Courtesy of Viral Thread: This article originally appeared on viralthread.com
Lesbianism is so in right now. It has never been cooler to be gay and, at Viral Thread, we salute anyone who makes coming out that little bit easier for boys and girls around the world. The women on this list have done that and more, leading the way in their respective careers and changing attitudes around the world.
Who is Samira Wiley? She’s only Poussey Washington, one of Orange Is The New Black‘s best characters. Along with Ruby Rose and, it seems, half the set, Samira is changing perceptions of lesbians one issue at a time. But Samira has taken it to another level. Lauren Morelli, one of the show’s writers, had a husband before she started writing for the show. Sensationally, writing the raunchy sex scenes led Morelli to realise that she is in fact a lesbian, upon which she divorced her husband and now dates Ms Wiley.
Is she? Isn’t she? Let’s be honest, no one really knows who or what Miley Cyrus actually is but we know, or at least we think she know, who she’s currently dating. And we think you’ll agree that she’s made a good choice. Cyrus has been pictures holding hands out and about with Victoria Secret model Stella Maxwell but doesn’t regard herself as straight, bi or gay. We don’t really mind what she is but we think it’s cool that she’s proud to be different and that’s sort of what it’s all about really.
It’s hard not to like Ellen Page. Shot to fame by 2007’s Juno, Page is the loveable indie girl with easy good looks and a non-judgemental persona. But it wasn’t until the 2014 ‘Time to Thrive’ conference in Las Vegas that she really came into her own, announcing in a moving and powerful speech that she had was “tired of lying” and felt she had a social responsibility to come out so that others could avoid the years of unhappiness she had experienced. It was a bold and beautiful moment that, we are happy to report, did nothing to stop her star from rising further. She’s a main character in the upcoming giant Freeheld, expected to be a big success.
Although you wouldn’t know by looking at her, Monroe is a serious badass. She shot to fame in the UK when people took notice of her blog A Girl Called Jack in which she produced a food menu for an entire week for less than £10 that would feed her son and herself. That led to deals with website Mumsnet, the Huffington Post and well respected British newspaper The Guardian. While she is now better off than she was before (though still living in an overdraft because…Journalism yo), that hasn’t stopped her campaigning for the rights of the poor which she does from a prominent position in the Green Party.
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“The girl from Twilight” has always divided opinion. To some, she’s a sullen bore who should have been dropped after the first movie. To others, like Viral Thread, she’s a complex character who refuses to conform to society’s expectations. She’s a mainstay in the Hollywood actress value for money charts and is now in a relationship with Alicia Cargile. If she ever breaks up with Alicia, VT hopes she’ll look a little bit further for her next girlfriend… Cargile is her personal assistant.
You knew she’d be on the list. Forbe’s 50th most powerful woman in the world and in the top 5 most powerful LGBT people for several years, Ellen DeGeneres is a powerhouse. She was the first openly gay or lesbian person invited to present at the Oscars, her chat show Ellen goes from strength to strength and she orchestrated the most retweeted image of all time in 2014. An astute businesswoman, a great personality and a strong relationship to Portia de Rossi amount to a women to look up to.
After exploding onto our screens with her role in hit Netflix show Orange Is The New Black, it seems like the whole world is talking about Ruby Rose. The multi-talented Australian began as a Video Jockey on MTV Australia but has also been a model, a DJ and even has a few songs. She came out at the age of 12 and, in spite of massive bullying at school, has rise to become one of the most desired women in the world.
Abby Wambach is killing it right now. Just days after the US Supreme Court ruled that same sex couples across America had the legal right to marry, Wambach created the most touching picture of the women’s world cup by kissing her wife while celebrating the USA’s win. It has been dubbed ‘the kiss heard around the world’ and it capped a brilliant week for Wambach and, more importantly, same sex couples.
Before The L Word, lesbian characters were few and far between on our screens. The New York Times pointed out that it more or less the first time that gay women could watch themselves portrayed on screens living complex and exciting lives. If you’re a lesbian, it’s essential watching. It’s only right that one of the stars of the show makes it onto this list and Katherine Moennig, who continues to hold a high profile in the LGBT world, is the obvious choice.
Cara Delevingne is undoubtedly the most in demand model in the world and, probably, the world’s most recognizable lesbian. In a recent interview with Vogue she admitted to being in love with girlfriend Anna Clark. It’s brave for any celebrity to come out, even more so when you consider that sexuality is an enormous part of Carla’s business. Props to you, Ms Delevingne.
March is Women’s History Month, which means it is time to reflect on the past milestones for women, examine the issues facing women today, and celebrate the incredible women who are working to change lives around the world. Lesbian, bisexual and transgender women make up some of the most important female figures in history and have made some of the most important contributions to history.
Tammy Baldwin served as the first openly gay member of the U.S. Senate. Wanda Sykes is an openly lesbian comedian and actress. Anna Paquin is an out bisexual actress. Georgina Beyer was the world’s first openly transgender mayor and Member of Parliament. Today, LGBT women are still making history and shaping our culture. Ellen DeGeneres is one of the most popular figures in all of entertainment. Alice Walker is a Pulitzer Prize winner and one of the most beloved authors and poets in the world. Amanda Simpson is an aerospace expert and one of the first transgender presidential appointees to any federal government. And Iceland’s Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir is the first out lesbian head-of-state in the world.
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH Courtesy of GLSEN: This article originally appeared on the GLSEN Share Blog
Within the movement for LGBT equality, many of our trailblazers have been women. Barbara Gittings, Del Martin, Phyllis Lyon, Mandy Carter, Kay Lahusen, Stormé DeLarveri, Anne Kronenberg and LaWana Mayfield. Women allies played a big role moving our culture to where it is today. Figures like Janice Langbehn and Laurel Hester changed countless hearts and minds by telling their stories. And moms like Sirdeaner Walker, Judy Shepard, Elke Kennedy and Tammy Aaberg have fought through personal family tragedies to deliver messages of hope and inspire people to change. Despite the great strides LGBT women have made, there is still more work to do. Not only do women face more discrimination in employment than men. Transgender women, especially
transgender women of color, face a disproportionately higher rate of discrimination in employment, housing and several other areas compared to the general population, according to reports from the National Transgender Discrimination Survey. LGBT women also continue to face high levels of bias-motivated and intimate partner violence. A study by the Williams Institute of UCLA found bisexual women were at an elevated risk of facing intimate partner violence compared to lesbian and heterosexual women. In the 2011 report on anti-LGBT bias-motivated violence by the Anti-Violence Project, transgender women made up 40% of murder victims, but only 10% of violence survivors.
Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 17
*batteries not included
NOT JUST FOR TOYS ANYMORE By Paul Cieslewicz
A funny thing happened on the way to my becoming a movie geek. For the better part of a decade I never saw any movies. In fact, I went 6 ½ years without ever stepping foot in a movie theater. Now I realize that might make people wonder how I can even call myself a film enthusiast, but, to be fair, those 6 ½ years were between the young ages of 9 to 16. While Sweet 16 might be considered more a coming of age for females, my Sweet 16 could be considered a coming of age, a reawakening so to speak, to the world of movies. And it all came to be because of perfect attendance in school (I was such a prude) and a bunch of little aliens in a family film entitled *batteries not included, executive produced by some guy named Steven Spielberg and written by Brad Bird, the man behind The Iron Giant and The Incredibles. It all began in the summer of 1981. Up to this point my movie going had been few and far between as it was. I recall being fascinated with the “Heigh Ho” sequence in a re-release of Disney’s Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs, crying my eyes out at the conclusion of For the Love of Benji, being enthralled by a full-length Peanuts movie, Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown and wanting to dig through the local landfill to find the print of Disney’s The Rescuers that had been accidentally picked up and thrown out with the trash from the theater. As you can see, the films I was exposed to on the big screen were mostly animated films and animal adventures. Little did I know that Disney’s The Fox and the Hound would be the last film I would see in a theater for a long, long time. As year after year passed by, I would become increasingly bitter watching movie after movie slip by without being able to see them on 18 | Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine
the big screen. In 1984 my entire family went to see The Muppets Take Manhattan, but I was forced to stay home in order to do yardwork. My sole source of movie viewing was when my father decided to rent a VCR once every few months (back when they used to be the size of a stack of large briefcases…and twice as heavy!) in order to watch old family movies, such as Old Yeller. I dutifully got used to missing every movie in the theater that I might’ve had any interest in seeing. I’d have to wait years to see movies like Poltergeist and Ghostbusters (insert gratuitous plug for upcoming summer reboot!), which would later become personal favorites of mine. Growing up in the middle of Wisconsin, where our backyard was a mile long if you took out the fences between the fields, your only means of transportation to school was a couple hours sitting on a school bus, and you weren’t allowed to participate in any extracurricular activities after school, being studious enough to earn a perfect attendance award wasn’t entirely surprising. What made it especially worth earning was that the award was passes to the movies. Now my parents had no choice but to let me reenter the world of cinema, because now it was free! But what to watch? It was December of 1987, and it was a busy time for movies. In a month filled with high caliber films like Wall Street, Moonstruck, Broadcast News and Good Morning, Vietnam, what caught my attention was a family friendly science fiction comedy, *batteries not included. *batteries not included was originally intended to be just an episode of NBC’s anthology series, Amazing Stories. Steven Spielberg, who also executive
produced the series, liked the story so much that he decided to expand it into a full-length motion picture. The story centers around a group of residents in a crumbling building that’s set to be demolished to make way for a new modern skyscraper. The residents refuse to leave their beloved building, and are pressured by the developer of the proposed skyscraper and some thugs hired to “persuade” them to move. After a severe act of vandalism convinces many residents to move, the simple act of leaving a window open allows for some “living” alien spaceships to enter the building and repair the damage. The spaceships become known to the residents as “The Fix-Its.” With the help of The Fix-Its, the residents set out to save their building from the encroaching developer and his henchmen. In this one film I rediscovered my love of movies again. It had everything I wanted in a film: action, comedy, an element of sci-fi that I wasn’t usually allowed to see (hence my previous Star Wars article), amazing special effects (for that time) and amazing actors, the late, great Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy and Elizabeth Peña (may they all rest in peace), bringing the characters to life. All the wonderment and joy of seeing movies, especially on the big screen, had been rekindled in that moment. It would be another 6 months before I was able to see another movie on the big screen, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, but there was no stopping me now. I was hooked (re-hooked?)! Fast forward nearly 30 years later, and my eyes lit up again upon seeing the announcement that *batteries not included was finally being released on Blu-ray this March. Once again I’ll be able to relive the exuberance of seeing the movie as I did on the big screen in 1987… just on a slightly smaller screen. Sure, there was a DVD released way back in 1999, but who counts that standard definition dinosaur? Either way, the movie that reestablished my love of movies will be mine again, and hopefully many more people will discover or rediscover this little gem.
I first met DJ Devi Dev at the 2014 Las Vegas PRIDE Festival where she left a lasting impression with her tasteful choice of music. Her involvement in the community has been strong & generous as she donates her time & set of skills to events such as InterPRIDE, The L Group & PRIDE Family Bingo. By Ernie Yuen, Executive Director Las Vegas PRIDE
I want to introduce a friend of mine who provides a refreshing spark of entertainment in our community. She is one of the few lesbian DJ’s in Las Vegas & over the years, has deejayed at a variety of events from fashion shows to large clubs & festivals.
Devika, originally from Minneapolis, MN, is now known for her LGBT events & DJ sets at popular venues around the valley. At a young age, Dev was immersed in her musically inclined Indian culture & Guyanese community. She spent most of her time modeling Indian garments, dancing to Bollywood tunes & playing cultural Indian instruments for community fundraisers. Her Indo-Guyanese culture thus fostered her seasoned experience in music & arts and it continues to be the main influence of her diverse style & choice of work. She launched her career as a DJ by playing at a local Vegas hookah lounge & soon progressed to the ‘artsy’ DTLV where she instantly made a splash in the Deep & Soulful House scene. It didn’t take long for her raw talent to be noticed throughout the city as she demonstrated her DJ artistry & her ability to get anyone, of any age, grooving to her beats. Dev has a unique way of mixing mainstream hits & classic club bangers into fresh remixes. With an impressive and quickly growing resume, DJ Devi Dev is undeniably one of the most dynamic DJ’s in the city. You can find Devi Dev on Facebook & Instagram. To hear Dev live in the mix, check out Mingo’s Kitchen & Lounge for the “Love Bites” Edition, February 13th at 6pm sponsored by Findlay Fiat Valley AutoMall Henderson. Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 21
National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is observed on March 10 to raise awareness about how women can protect themselves and their partners from HIV. National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is a time each year when organizations and communities across the country come together to help women and girls take action to protect themselves and their partners from HIV – through prevention, testing, and treatment. The observance is sponsored by the Office on Women’s Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
HIV Among Women and Girls HIV remains a significant health issue for women and girls, who comprised 23% (280,200) of the 1.2 million people living with HIV in the United States in 2011. In 2014, one out of five (9,278) of the estimated 47,165 new diagnoses of HIV infection were among women and girls over age 13. The majority of these diagnoses (87%) were attributed to heterosexual contact. While these numbers are still too high, the latest available data about HIV among women and girls
show some encouraging trends. The rate of HIV diagnoses among adult and adolescent women decreased from 8.3 per 100,000 in 2009 to 6.9 per 100,000 in 2013, due in part to a 21% reduction in the number of HIV infections among African American women from 2008 through 2014. African American and Hispanic/ Latina women continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV. The rate of HIV infection among African American women remains the highest among all women — 19 times that of white women and almost 4 times that of Hispanic/Latina women.* African American women face a number of challenges that
contribute to their higher rates of HIV infection. Among other factors, the greater number of people living with HIV (prevalence) in a community can increase the risk of HIV infection with each new sexual encounter. Although most (88%) of women living with HIV in 2014 were aware of their infection, less than half of them (45%) were engaged in medical care. Even fewer were prescribed antiretroviral medicines to treat HIV (41%), and less than a third (32%) had achieved viral suppression. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) reduces the amount of virus (viral load) in blood and body fluids and can keep people with HIV healthy for many years, and greatly reduces the chance of transmitting HIV to sex partners if taken consistently and correctly. Testing, diagnosis, and achieving viral suppression through treatment are all essential to reducing new infections and improving the health of people with HIV.
Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 23
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Vegas showgirl Kristine W has enjoyed a twenty-year love affair with dance music. The community loves her for consistently delivering notes that touch hearts and compel bodies to find the mighty groove out on the dancefloor. Kristine throws the love right back at ‘em, sharing intimate aspects of her life and emotions through song and enjoying a grassroots affection with fans. In her career, Kristine has scored 17 #1 dance hits and a record-setting string of nine consecutive #1s. Billboard Magazine named her #3 among their Best of 2000s Dance Artists. So how did a ranch-raised small-town girl end up as “the most soulful vocalist in dance music, period,” according to All Music Guide? It started when her father, a rodeo champion and country music singer, passed away, forcing her mother to find work, singing in bars. “She showed me a singing career was possible,” says Kristine. “Mom did it because we were babies and it was a matter of survival.” From almost the time she could walk, Kristine was singing in church, talent contests and local Oprys. Somewhere and somehow along the way, the late disco pioneer, Donna Summer, caught her ear. “Donna’s voice sounded like gospel to me,” remembers Kristine. “It was dance with big background vocals, a jazzy overtone and layered harmonies. When you latch onto an artist like that and immerse yourself in their music, you pick up on all of their nuances.” “She was a huge influence on how I approached my music career.” Following Summer’s lead, Kristine took lessons in guitar, piano, alto saxophone, as well as opera, scat singing and improvisation. These talents would prove fruitful at the Miss America pageant, where Kristine competed as Miss Washington, winning the talent categories.
KRISTINE W FEELS THE LOVE By Paul Hutnick
She took her scholarship money from Miss America and headed to Las Vegas. “I was determined to front and lead my own band, just as mom had done.” She heard a lot of ‘you can’t do that, you can’t do this, it’s not gonna happen, you’re going to have to sing with somebody else’s band...’ Of course, Kristine didn’t listen. She launched her band, Kristine W and the Sting, to the Vegas market, eventually performing at the Las Vegas Hilton more than any other entertainer, including Elvis. “I won Entertainer of the Year, Best Singer, Best Band, Best Showband…” she explains. “I had 18 employees! I was the most successful female bandleader ever, as far as showbands go.” She would use the same tenacity when the record labels began courting her. The A&R reps at some of the biggest labels scouted her Vegas shows. Everyone thought they knew the best direction for Kristine, but she had her own ideas. She eventually signed with RCA, the one label that would allow her at least some autonomy, and the rest, as they say, is musical history.
“Music is a gift and I’m thankful for it,” she reflects. “It has definitely made my life very interesting. I’ve gotten to make a difference and bring a lot of joy to the world, and that’s really what’s important.” Lucky for us, Kristine W isn’t done yet. In fact, she is scheduled to release her next full-length album on her own label, Fly Again Music, this year. “Releasing albums on my own
is thrilling, but it’s a lot of work,” she admits. “I always going into it saying to myself, ‘Fasten your seatbelt, honey, we’re in for a bumpy ride’”, she laughs. “But, that said, I’m always comforted knowing that anything can happen when you love what you do and you’re doing it for the right reasons.” Visit kristinew.com for her latest music.
Photos of Kristine W at left and at top right by Bobby Black // Black & white photos of Kristine W above courtesy of KristineW.com
Look for upcoming event details on Facebook.com/HumanRightsCampaignLV or Twitter.com/HRC_LASVEGAS
AN INTERVIEW WITH
TATIANA LEWIS THE LADY BEHIND THE LADIES OF Q SOCIALS By Ernie Yuen, Executive Director of Las Vegas PRIDE
I did not know the Ladies of Q Social even existed and they have been an active Lesbian Social Group for over 5 years here in Las Vegas. I had a chance to chat with Tatiana Lewis about this amazing event and would like to share the conversation we had about “The Ladies of Q Socials”
E: Are there any special requirements for the hosting venue? T: Most important is that they have drink specials or food specials for our group. It helps make their place more fabulous for one night.
What do you think is the key to your success? E: Sounds like you’ve got the right recipe for success; how long have T: The philosophy is simple; never you been doing this for the ladies of charge people to socialize, make sure Las Vegas? I am sure it brings a lot the venue is LGBTQ friendly, and make of business to each of your locations it a comfortable environment for I’m sure they are very happy. everyone.
E: Tatiana thank you so much for E: What is the first major step to taking the time to talk to me, so tell creating one of your socials? me how did this all get started? T: When approaching different bars T: Nine short months after I came out and restaurants about doing these I hosted my first lesbian event. From events, the first thing I put in my our humble beginning of just 14 ladies email, after my name is that this is a in attendance, we have grown to lesbian event. hundreds in attendance - it is nothing short of a miracle. What started out, E: For the most part how have your as a Monday night social gathering for requests been received? lesbians has now become a Saturday night event that lesbians from all over T: I’m proud to say no venue has ever the Vegas valley come to attend. turned us down because of the nature of our event. In fact they welcome E: what was your reason you wanted us with open arms and are happy to start The Ladies of Q Socials?
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to appeal to our demographic. They have always been accommodating.
T: “Yes they are always happy with us and we have never disappointed a client”. I’ve been doing this for 5 years and only two places have ever given me a percentage of the bar at the end of the night, I donate that right back into the community.
T: I want to thank all those who have volunteered their time or given me discounts for their services. From all the DJ’s, live performers, drag kings/ drag queens, thank you from the bottom of my heart. E: Anything else? T: Yes! Thank you to my beautiful community, without you, none of this would be possible. I’m humbled and blessed by your support. E: Tatiana be honest, is there any event at a beloved hangout. This is revenue you get from being the host not a job for me; it’s always been my of this event? After 5 years you must passion project since day one. be tired? E: You just informed me that this is T: Many people have asked me why your first article and that Las Vegas I’ve “kept doing this for so long without PRIDE is the first group to reach out getting paid?” well simply put, I love to you. Here is your chance, what it. I love meeting new people, seeing would you like to tell your Las Vegas my friends/regulars, and introducing community? people to new places or holding an
Thank you Tatiana, the best of success to you. The Ladies of Q Socials meet the 2nd Saturday of each month. Please email Tatiana Lewis at tklewis33@gmail.com for more information. If you have an amazing venue that you think would be perfect for The Ladies of Q Socials, please reach out to Tatiana, she is always looking for new and exciting venues to host her events.
Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 33
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LGBT COMMUNITY DIRECTORY NIGHTLIFE | BUSINESSES | COMMUNITY RESOURCES | SPIRITUALITY
GAY BARS Badlands Saloon
953 E. Sahara Ave. #22 Las Vegas, NV 89104 (702) 792-9262 facebook.com/ BadlandsSaloonLasVegas Open 24/7, Gaming, No Cover
Bastille on 3rd
1402 S. 3rd St. Las Vegas, NV (702) 385-9298 bastillelv.com Open 10am-2am, 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
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 79169 (702) 791-7001 funhogranchlv.com Open 24/7, Gaming, No Cover
The Garage
1487 E. Flamingo Rd., Suite C Las Vegas, NV 89119 (702) 440-6333 thegaragelv.com Open 24/7, Gaming, No Cover 40 | Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine
The Phoenix
Share Nightclub
Quadz Video Bar
BUSINESSES
4213 W. Sahara Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89102 (702) 826-2422 facebook.com/thephoenixlv Open Noon – 4am, Gaming, No Cover 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. Gamins. No Cover
GAY NIGHTCLUBS Flex Nightclub
4347 W. Charleston Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89102 (702) 878-3355 flexlasvegas.com Open 24/7, Gaming, No Cover
Goodtimes Nightclub & Bar
1775 E. Tropicana Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89119 (702) 736-9494 facebook.com/goodtimesbarlv Open 24/7, Gaming, Cover Varies
Piranha Nightclub
4633 Paradise Rd. Las Vegas, NV 89169 (702) 791-0100 piranhavegas.com Open nightly 10pm, No Cover
4636 Wynn Rd. Las Vegas, NV 89103 (702) 258-2684 sharenightclub.com Open Thur – Sat, 10pm, No Cover
The Black Room
1000 E. Sahara, Ave, Ste 108 Las Vegas, NV 89104 (702) 685-8688 theblackroomvegas.com Las Vegas Fetish Shop
Entourage Vegas
953 E. Sahara Ave., #19 Las Vegas, NV 89104 (702) 650-9191 entouragevegas.com Men’s Gym & Spa
Get Booked
4640 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas, NV 89169 (702) 737-7780 getbooked.com Underwear/Swimwear, Accessories, Novelties, PRIDE Merchandise
Hawks Gym
953 E. Sahara Ave., #35B Las Vegas, NV 89104 (702) 731-4287 hawksgym.com Club for Men
Onyx Theater
953 E. Sahara Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89104 (702) 732-7225 Theater
Tito Jimy
3900 Paradise Rd. Las Vegas, NV 89169 (702) 862-4577 titojimyllc.com Underwear. Swimwear, Sportswear
Leather Uniform Club (LUC) of Las Vegas Las Vegas boys of Leather lasvegasboysofleather.org
4001 S. Decatur Blvd. #37-540 Las Vegas, NV 89103-5800 (866) 930-3336 lasvegaspride.org
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Las Vegas Men’s Chorus
Southern Nevada Bi-Sexuals
Aid for Aids of Nevada
lasvegasprimetimers.com
1120 Almond Tree Ln. Las Vegas, NV 89104 (702) 382-2326 afanlv.org
Aids Healthcare Foundation (702) 862-8074 aidshealth.org
American Civil Liberties Union (702) 366-1226 aclunv.org
The Center
401 S. Maryland Pkwy. Las Vegas, NV 89101 (702) 733-9800 thecenterlv.org
Community Counseling Center of Southern Nevada 714 E. Sahara Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89104 (702) 369-8700 cccofsn.wix.com/ccc-new
Golden Rainbow
714 E. Sahara Ave. #101 Las Vegas, NV 89104 (702) 384-2899 goldenrainbow.org
HRC Las Vegas
hrc.org/lasvegas info@hrclv.org
Imperial Royal Sovereign Court of the Desert Empire P.O. Box 46481 Las Vegas, NV 89114 desertempire.org
lucoflv.com
Southern Nevada Association of PRIDE, Inc. (Las Vegas PRIDE)
lvmenschorus.org
Las Vegas Prime Timers National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Nevada Gay Rodeo Association (NGRA) ngra.com
New Horizons Nevada
newhorizons-nv.com Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders
PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends, of Lesbians and Gays) P.O. Box 20145 Las Vegas, NV 89112 (702) 738-7838 pflag.org
Safety Specialized Alternatives for Family & Youth 4285 N. Rancho Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89109 (702) 385-5331 safy.org
Saint Therese Center HIV Outreach Center 100 E. Lake Mead Pkwy. Henderson NV 89015 (702)564-4224 sainttheresecenter.org
Sin Sity Sisters SADAP P.O. Box 60005 Las Vegas, NV 89160 (702) 592-6969 sinsitysisters.org
Meet on the Second Monday of Every Month at The Center
Trevor Project Suicide Hotline for LGBT Youth 1-866-488-7386 thetrevorproject.org
SPIRITUALITY Community Spiritual Center 8125 West Sahara Avenue Las Vegas, NV 89117 (702) 451-4608 communityspiritualcenter.com
Metropolitan Community Church 1140 Almond Tree Lane Las Vegas, NV 89104 702-369-4380 mcclv.com
Northwest Community Church 101 S. Rancho Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89106 (702) 562-1897 nwcclv.org
SGI-USA Buddhist Center 2725 W. Charleston Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89102 (702) 258-6489 sgi-usa-lasvegas.org
Unity Center in the Valley 3037 E. Warm Springs Rd. Las Vegas, NV 89120 (702) 435-3289 unitycenterinthevalley.org
For more information about this directory or to suggest a correction or addition, please write to us at magazine@lasvegaspride.org. Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 41
SAVE THE DATE
The Las Vegas valley is a buzz as Aid for AIDS of Nevada gears up for their 26th Annual AIDS Walk Las Vegas on April 17, 2016 at Town Square. Aid for AIDS of Nevada (AFAN) was founded in 1984 and is the oldest and largest AIDS service organization in the state of Nevada. 2016 marks our 32nd year of providing unparalleled services, support and advocacy for adults and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS in southern Nevada. Last year more than 6,000 walkers joined AFAN filling Town Square for the 26th annual AIDS Walk. The combined efforts of the community helped AFAN raise nearly $430,000 to benefit client services, including prevention/education, housing, medical transportation, nutritional therapy and overall mental health intervention. Penn & Teller continue to be amazing supporters of the organization by not only ushering in the walkers as grand marshals for the
15th year, but also matching walker donations of $250 or more. The duo treat all challenge participants to an amazing VIP area the day of the walk as well as exclusive incentives for fundraising, including VIP incentives to the highest fundraisers. Walgreens continues to participate in an unprecedented manner by providing an opportunity for shoppers to donate a dollar to AFAN at checkout throughout the month of March. Always striving to exceed their goals, Walgreens is looking to win the title of largest walking team with 500 walkers in 2016.
AIDS WALK pets. Your participation allows us to remember our loved ones we have lost and honor the ones that live with HIV/AIDS. It also allows us to educate our community about HIV/ AIDS, support our clients that need our services, advocate for additional services and keep the hope that we can one day eradicate HIV/AIDS from our lives. Join us and register for the walk by going to AFANLV.org and following the AIDS Walk 2016 link.
The walk has become a staple in the community bringing out our community partners, local companies, individuals, families and an amazing array of highly motivated walking teams – including our beloved Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 43
Las Vegas Guide Map
44 | Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine
Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 45
LAS VEGAS BAR & NIGHTCLUB SCHEDULE HOURS | SPECIALS | NIGHTLY EVENTS | AMENITIES | LOCALS SPECIALS Bastille on 3rd (702) 385-9298
Open 10am-2am / Gaming Jukebox / Free Trivia Daily Special: 2-4-1 Drinks (11am-2pm & 4pm-8pm) Monday: 1/2 Price Martinis (8pm-11pm) Tuesday: Top Shelf Tuesdays - $3 Off (8pm-11pm) Wednesday: $3.50 Patron Silver Shots (8pm-11pm) Thursday: $3 Fireball or Jager Shots (8pm-11pm) Friday: $4 Absolut (8pm-11pm) Saturday: $4 Any Jack Daniel’s or Bacardi (8pm11pm) Sunday: $2.50 Well & $2 Off Signature Cocktails (8pm-11pm)
Charlie’s Las Vegas (702) 876-1844
Open 24 Hours / Gaming / Billiards / Darts Daily Special: 2-4-1 Drinks (3pm-8pm & 3am-8am) Monday: Karaoke with Wil (9pm-1am) Tuesday: Double Dare Game (9pm) / $2 Long Islands, $8 Beer Bust (9pm-Midnight) Wednesday: Underwear Night - Guys in Guys Underwear Drink Free Wells & Select Beers Thursday: Free Line Dance Lessons (7pm) / 2-4-1 Drinks till 10pm Friday: Studs and Suds - Hot GoGos Shower on Stage (10pm) / $10 Well Liquor Bust, $20 Premium (9pmMidnight) Saturday: $8 Draft Beer Bust (9pm-Midnight) Sunday: $8 Draft Beer Bust (4pm-8pm) / 3-4-1 Drinks (8pm-11pm)
Flex Cocktail Lounge (702) 431-9775
Open 24 Hours / Gaming / Billiards / Darts Monday: Movie Mondays - Movies & Fresh Popcorn (7pm-1am) Tuesday: $2 Drafts, $2 Wells (7pm-Late) Wednesday: Dragaokie! (9pm-1am) Thursday: FlamBOYance Drag Show (11pm) Friday: Dance Party - GoGo Boys, Live DJ Saturday: What a Drag (11pm) Sunday: $4 Bloody Mary & Mimosa Specials (10am4pm) / Sing-Along Sundays (3pm-7pm) 46 | Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine
Fun Hog Ranch (702) 791-7001
Open 24 Hours / Gaming Daily Special: $2 Well & Domestic Beer (8am-Noon) / 2-4-1 Happy Hour (Monday-Friday 3pm-7pm) Monday: $4 Jager Shots, $3 Smirnoff Flavored Drinks (8pm-Midnight) / $1.50 Long Island Teas (9pm-2am) Tuesday: $5 Fun Hog Brew, $7 Bud Lite/Miller Lite or $10 Well Liquor Bust (9pm-2am) Thursday: $5 Fun Hog Brew, $7 Bud Lite/Miller Lite or $10 Well Liquor Bust (9pm-2am) Saturday: $5 Fun Hog Brew, $7 Bud Lite/Miller Lite Beer Bust (Noon-4pm) Sunday: $2 Well or $4 ABSOLUT Bloody Marys (8am4pm) / $5 Fun Hog Brew, $7 Bud Lite/Miller Lite Beer Bust (6pm-9pm)
The Garage (702) 440-6333
Open 24 Hours / Billiards / Darts / Shuffleboard Daily Special: 2-4-1 Drinks (11am-7pm) Monday: $4 Absolut Cocktails / Beer Bust ($5 Domestic, $8 Import, 9pm-Midnight) Tuesday: $3 Fireball Shots / Liquor Bust ($10 Wells or $20 Premiums, 9pm-Midnight) Wednesday: $4 Jack Daniels / Beer Bust ($5 Domestic, $8 Import, 9pm-Midnight) Thursday: $3 Off Top Shelf Liquor Friday: $3 Cherry/Jager Bombs Saturday: Half Price Long Islands Sunday: $3.50 Patron Silver Shots / Liquor Bust ($10 Wells or $20 Premiums, 9pm-Midnight) / Beer Bust ($5 Domestic, $8 Import, 5pm-9pm)
GoodTimes (702) 736-9494
Open 24 Hours / Gaming / Billiards Daily Specials: 2-4-1 Drinks (3pm-7pm) / Lunch Specials (1pm-8pm) Tuesday: Karaoke Thursday: Insurgence Friday: Variety Fridays - American & Latin Pop Saturday: Latin Night
The Phoenix Bar & Lounge (702) 826-2422 Open 24 Hours / Gaming / Billiards / Food Daily Special: 2-4-1 Drinks (11am-7pm)
Tuesday: Funderwear Night (9pm-1am) / Underwear Night / Go Go Boys / $5 Liquor Bust Wednesday: Hump Day Happy Hour (9pm-1am) Thursday: Karaoke with Sheila (9pm-1am) Friday: Phired Up Fridays (9pm-1am) / Go Go Boys / Drag Show / Beer Bust Saturday: Brunch (11am-1pm) Sunday: Brunch (11am-1pm) / Karaoke with Sheila (9pm-1am)
Piranha & 8 1/2 Ultra Lounge (702) 379-9500
Open 24 Hours / Gaming / Free Billiards Daily Special: 2-4-1 Liquor & Draft Beer (12pm-9pm)
Quadz Video Bar (702) 733-0383
Open 24 Hours / Gaming / Billiards / Darts Daily Special: 2-4-1 Drinks (Noon-8pm) Monday: Karaoke Tuesday: Trivia / Liquor/Beer Bust Wednesday: Game Night & Way Back Wednesday (10pm-3am) Thursday: Free Billiards All Day / Liquor/Beer Bust (8pm-11pm) Friday: Showtunes & Fresh Fridays DJ (10pm-3am) / Liquor/Beer Bust (8pm-11pm) Saturday: Saturday Your Way DJ (10pm-3am) / $1 Schnapps Shots, $3 Fireball Shots Sunday: Country Sundays - Country Music & Videos / $3 Sweet Tea Vodka
Monday: 50% Off Drinks (4pm-9pm, with Industry Card) Tuesday: Piranha Idol Karaoke / La Noche at the Tropics (Drag Show at 2am) Wednesday: Boylesque Drag Show Thursday: Drag Queen Bingo (7pm-11pm) / $20 Unlimited Wells / Hot Body Contest Friday: Theme Party Nights - 2 Rooms, 2 Different Sounds / Hot GoGos Saturday: Theme Party Nights - 2 Rooms, 2 Different Sounds / After Hours (4am) Sunday: El Deseo / Sinful Sundays Goddess Show (1:30am)
SHARE Nightclub (702) 258-2681
Open Thursday-Saturday, 10pm-4am Daily Special: Locals Drink Free 10pm-12am & 2am-4am Thursday: SHARE Thursday Friday: Stripper Circus Saturday: SHARE Saturdays
Spotlight Lounge (702) 431-9775
Open 24 Hours / Gaming / Billiards / Darts / Shuffleboard Daily Special: 2-4-1 Well & Domestic Beer (2pm-7pm) Monday: $10 Well, $20 Call Liquor Bust (9pmMidnight) Tuesday: $3 Jose Cuervo Gold Shots & $2 Dos Equis Draft (8pm-11pm) Wednesday: $3 Jagermeister Shot (8pm-11pm) Thursday: $3 Jagermeister Shot (8pm-11pm) Friday: $6 Long Island Ice Tea (9pm-Midnight) Saturday: $4 Jack Daniel’s Shot (9pm-Midnight) Sunday: $5 Well Martinis (8pm-11pm)
UPCOMING EVENTS April 6th - “I Wanna Lei Ya” Bingo May 4th- “Muy Caliente” Bingo
www.LasVegasPRIDE.org Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 47
Why the Las Vegas boys of Leather?
WHY NOT? By boy Fido, President, Las Vegas boys of Leather
My name is boy Fido. I have just been that brief moment in time are yours, elected as the new President for the are the gems that keep my harness LVboL. ready and polished! And then we flourish as friends. Having a deeper Leather is personal for me: there’s an understanding of each other. Leather energy passed through the touching is more than a community and a of the harness, the strips of a flogger, lifestyle. To me, leather is my freedom and the total trust of the blindfold. and passion. The brotherhood of excitement, lust and passion. There’s respect in every I grew up in a religious household. I touch, word or command. It’s an had often missed the peace of mind erotic mess summed up in respect and a group of like-minded friends fills pleasure for all the people present. your soul with. When I first found the The rules make it safe and consensual. LVboL I was new to the Vegas area. I Respecting the rules makes it worth was looking for something that was it. Some like the look. Those who take greater than myself to be a part of. time to talk, teach, and learn, who for The members I met were kind. They
Above: Las Vegas boys of Leather group photo. Below: Las Vegas boys of Leather Board of Directors
48 | Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine
had a spark for life that I was looking to regain. They took me in with open arms and became my leather family. In them I have everything I sought for. The LVboL, being a 501c3 charity, also raises money to help people in need in the Vegas Community. It is the perfect organization for me all around. Where else could I do what I love and help others while pursuing it? I invite all to come see what we can offer you in your life as well. In Leather, boy Fido
“ The staff is especially impressive. They provide genuinely friendly service that is inclusive to everyone.” KELLY MARRUJO - TWO YEAR CLIENT
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HILLARY A RECENT CHAT WITH SECRETARY CLINTON -- TRANSGENDER ALLY By Kimi Cole
A few months ago I received a call from someone named Hillary, but the story leading up to that day begins years prior. Many transgender folks can probably relate, but since I was about 5 years old I knew that something was different. Growing up, I saw both sides of the spectrum: male and female. Although I related much more to the feminine, I believed that society demanded masculine presentation. I lived with that and struggled for years. I didn’t feel confused (I knew who I was), but I didn’t feel that society would accept me. My personal struggle lasted more than 50 years, 30 of which included counseling. There wasn’t much information regarding gender dysphoria available when I was growing up, and I had no idea where to go. Counseling suggestions, such as “tough it out,” didn’t provide any relief. One consolation I heard several times was that, “You should outgrow this by the time you’re 50.” I might be one of the only people I’ve ever known looking forward to turning 50. Could this “thing” actually go away?
Well, 50 arrived and the disconnect I felt did not subside. In fact, I started feeling worse. That year I lost three close friends, suddenly gone before their time. A “motivational” question asked numerous times in training seminars began to haunt me: “If you found out that your life was absolutely, shortly limited, what would be your biggest regret?” And that stayed with me: for whatever time I have left on this planet, if I didn’t try living
authentically as myself, that would be my damning regret. I refused to ignore my feelings any longer. At 54 years old I made the choice to transition. I began telling close friends and family. Some were supportive, a few weren’t. Some were skeptical, some simply turned away. That was absolutely devastating at the time, but I learned many lessons from my decision. It gave me perspective --
position, is for you to actively and publicly accept and acknowledge the transgender community. Will you do that?” She said, “Absolutely, count me in!” And she kept her promise. Recently, she has spoken out on behalf of transgender youth and parents. She addressed trans-phobic violence, particularly against women of color. During a town hall at Pearson Community Center in Las Vegas this August, she told the mother of a transgender child that her daughter deserved the medical care she needed. She has been supportive of the Pentagon ending the ban on transgender service members.
suddenly I understood what it felt like to be singled out and designated as different. Realizing how much work needs to be done for transgender rights, I began organizing and speaking out. I began by attending community events. Often, I heard a common, whispered refrain: ”this tall blonde with the deep voice, what’s that all about?” My job was to let them know the simple answer: I get up in the morning, take a shower, I eat breakfast and go to work like everyone else. I began speaking to groups -community service organizations, schools, law enforcement groups -- anytime, anywhere I could to get in front of an audience and share my story, I did it. One painfully apparent truth I learned is that the transgender community is a minuscule percentage of the population. We need strong, vocal allies. We can make things happen and make things better, but we need support. So I am constantly searching for allies.
That’s where my friend Hillary comes in. A few months ago, I was going about my business on an ordinary afternoon when the phone rang. The voice on the other end asked, “Could you take a minute to speak with Secretary Clinton?” Honestly, I was looking around for a hidden camera trying to catch my expression. My response was a skeptical, “Uh, okay.” Within a few seconds, I was on the phone with Hillary Clinton.
She has a record of standing up for the LGBT community, and for her, the T is not silent. That is why I’m endorsing Hillary Clinton for president. I am proud of who I am, and I am thrilled to count the woman who will keep our country moving forward in 2016 as a friend and an ally.
Five years ago I couldn’t imagine something like this happening, having someone with such stature reach out just to talk. We had a conversation like old friends. She knew about my journey and wanted to hear more about my life, my struggles, and my aspirations. One of the things she asked me was, “What can I do?” The fact that she cared enough to ask meant the world to me. I responded, “One thing I’ve seen that is really important, especially for somebody in a high leadership
Kimi Cole is a transgender Democratic activist and community leader in rural northern Nevada.
Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 53
401 S. Maryland Pkwy. • Las Vegas, NV 89101 • 702-733-9800 • www.TheCenterLV.org
Connect with us on social media!
facebook.com/thecenterlv twitter.com/thecenterlv instagram.com/thecenterlv youtube.com/thecenterlv
Making Love Last... BY MICHAEL DIMENGO
O
ne of the folks who comes to The Center was musing about the role of CEO. “You’re like the mayor of Gayville!” he quipped. Well, he’s not far from the truth. This job at The Center puts me at the hub and cross section of so much activity and so many peoples’ lives. It truly is a joy and a privilege to be at the service of so many wonderful people. One of the extraordinary learnings of this role is getting to know so many LGBTQ couples. Despite the pioneering years of the movement, and despite the lack of role models, so many people have partnered for mutual love and respect. Indeed, being partnered is still a wondrous miracle. And, I’ve been so pleased to learn of LGBTQ couples who have been partnered for 10, 20, even 30+ years. In my relationship with Douglas, my partner, we have partnered for 19+ years and I’m still amazed. How do these folks make it all work? In a recent article that I read about relationships and longevity, Denise Henry, writing about all types of relationships in Lifescript, notes five distinct tips for making love last:
1
Play together. I was surprised to learn that early in relationships, romance has a tendency to cause you and your partner to sim-
ply “goof off” with one another. Then life abruptly sets in with the maturing of a relationship. Life then has a larger tendency to steal away the fun and spontaneity of relationships. In order for love to last, couples need to plan simple and creative fun activities. It’s the “glue” to relationships according to Henry. It creates a positivity around relationships. It’s common for couples to forget about dating and playful activities with one another. Making time for play makes a lot of sense in a world in which more and more responsibility challenges us with the obligatory and the mundane.
2
Make an effort to see the best in your partner.
We’re all human beings, and I’m sure each one of us could start a laundry list of the shortcomings of our partner. Henry suggests that instead of stewing over the failures and weaknesses of your partner, why not try to see your partner’s goodness and success? It’s a plain fact: the way that we see one another affects the way we behave toward each other. Seeing your partner’s goodness and seeing the best in your partner breeds a type of reciprocity. They naturally look for your goodness
and the best in you when you are accentuating it in them. It contributes to the positivity of your relationship.
3
Team up for tasks and errands. I like this tip. Again, this makes a lot of sense. In the busy lives that we live, it’s easy to get caught up in the errands that we have and the limited time that we have to do them. So, our natural instinct is to divide and conquer—assign tasks and errands that your partner can accomplish, while assigning some to yourself. Again, Henry makes a lot of sense by suggesting that we team up for the completion of tasks and errands together. Earlier last year, I attended the vow ceremony of a longstanding gay couple who had been together for nearly 28 years. I remember being taken aback when they both stated that some of their most fulfilling days together in their relationship is when they spend time doing errands together on Saturdays. Rather than do tasks solo, join forces together to get them done. It feeds your relationship with a mutual support and caring. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE u
4
Kindle the flames. Is there ever a lack of sex and sexual expression in the LGBTQ community? We are known for a sex-positive movement and sexual creativity abounds in our culture and in our community. Nevertheless, while sexual sparks fly at the beginning of our long term relationships, over the years there is a settling effect and there needs to be a healthy cultivation of sexual expression between long-term couples. I wasn’t aware but many social psychologists cite research that sex is strong early on in long-term relationships due to the release of neurochemicals in the body. It’s easy to keep sex alive and active because of that release. Then, after a period of two years or so, that stage of neurochemicals comes to an end. But sex shouldn’t. Regular date nights and adding new sexual activities compen-
sates for boredom that comes with the familiarity with one another.
5
And last, did your partner hurt you? Say so. It’s amazing at times how we might harbor hurt feelings without ever mentioning it to our partner. Then, when there is a flare up, we go right back to that source of hurt and throw it into our partner’s face. They are often surprised to learn of something that has been festering for such a long time. It comes to them like it’s a smack in the face. Research indicates, according to Henry, that when people share true emotions with their partner honestly and without fear of recrimination, they experience calming and bonding effects. Another neuro chemical, oxytocin, kicks in with securing, reassuring, and anxiety-reduc-
ing effects. Partners who merely hide their hurt miss out on this important “cement” to their relationship. So, bring on February and all its Valentine’s Day wonder. Yes, sparks will fly and the frivolity of love and love-making will abound. We’ll certainly get fatter on chocolates. But beyond the Valentine Day experience, hard work and joyful effort take place to make the love of Valentine’s Day work and endure, for many years. Making love work can be a challenge but a joyful work for ones involved. We have plenty of role models to draw from who have been successful in making love work! q
JOIN OUR BRILLIANT TEAM OF
IVE S N HE TION E R P CA COMX EDU ENTER C SE THE AT
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INCLUDING CONTRACEPTION, CONSENT, IDENTITY FORMATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF HIV/STI PREVENTION, FEATURING THE CORE VALUES OF ABSTINENCE, PROTECTION & PREGNANCY PREVENTION IN AN LGBTQ-INCLUSIVE AND GENDER NEUTRAL ENVIRONMENT
EACH PARTICIPANT MUST COMPLETE THE ENTIRE 16 SESSIONS TO EARN A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION AS WELL AS A FREE GIFT! SESSIONS WILL BE ONGOING • EMAIL AJHUTH@THECENTERLV.ORG TO REGISTER This program is supported by the Nevada State Division of Public and Behavioral Health through Grant Number 1401NVPREP from the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Nevada State Division of Public and Behavioral Health nor the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.
WOMEN ALWAYS WELCOME THE L GROUP CHAT N’ MORE www.facebook.com/theLgroupnews This social group for lesbians and bisexual women meets at The Center each Friday at 7 p.m. The group features a chat group on the the first and third Fridays of the month, crafts on the second Friday and lesbian movie night the fourth Friday.
TRANS.LATION Built upon the concept of celebrating people of all gender identities and expressions, Trans.lation provides support and community-building opportunities for transgender people and their loved ones of all ages. Meetings are held every Friday at 5:30 p.m.
WIZE WOMYN WIZE WOMYN is for mature lesbians to get acquainted and discuss topics of interest, each Wednesday at
THE CENTER OFFERS SUPPORT AND SOCIAL GROUPS FOR LESBIAN, BI AND TRANS WOMEN
12 noon. These meetings take place during the ACT III (Aging Communities Together) Women’s Wednesdays, which is a drop-in center for women 50 and above.
PLUS, TWO NEW GROUPS — ELLE Launched in January, Elle is a group meeting for younger lesbians, ages 18 to 30, with a goal of empowering them to end lesbian erasure and claim their place in the community. Every other Friday 6-9 p.m.
THE F WORD Held on every other Friday night 6-9 p.m., alternating with Elle, The F Word is a group focused on feminism, activism and how it affects
The Center presents THE BLACK LGBTQ COMMUNITY IN SOUTHERN NEVADA: A PANEL DISCUSSION on Feb. 23, 6-8pm. Believe it or not, there is a black LGBTQ community in Las Vegas. Where are they? Who are they? And what are their accomplishments and struggles? Join us for a discussion. Free to attend and open to all.
the community. All genders are welcome to attend. q
THE CENTER 401 S. MARYLAND PKWY. LAS VEGAS, NV 89101 702-733-9800 THECENTERLV.ORG
Learn about career opportunities at local businesses and organizations that have demonstrated ongoing support of our human rights and will provide a welcoming, equal workplace for LGBTQ individuals.
CAREER FAIR MONDAY MARCH 14, JULY 11 & NOVEMBER 14, 2016 1–4PM
FIND UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION OR REGISTER YOUR BUSINESS TO PARTICIPATE AT
THECENTERLV.ORG/ CAREERFAIR
401 S. MARYLAND PKWY LAS VEGAS, NV 89101
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TYPES OF LESBIANS YOU’LL FIND IN A GAY BAR By Mila Jaroniec // This article was originally featured on Thought Catalog
A relatively small sampling of the many different types of girls who like girls you can expect to encounter in gay bars nationwide. If you don’t come across any of these, you are clearly not at a gay bar.
60 | Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine
The Plastic Dyke The Plastic Dyke never has a hair out of place, most likely because it is frozen in time with the help of five different kinds of hairspray and pomade. You’ll know her when you see her: shiny combat boots, tight pants sagged low enough to show off three pairs of designer boxers, several studded belts, and a multitude of shirts colorcoordinated with a vest, a blazer and a bomber jacket. There is doubtlessly a bandana in the mix. Her selfconsciously assembled yet irreverently edgy outfit sends the dual message of “I layer like a pro” and “No really, I’m gay,” somehow girls mistake this for originality and genuine sex appeal. You can actually catch this one posing. Can also be found at: 7-Eleven buying Four Loko with pocket change
The Constantly-Pegged-AsStraight Ultra-Femme This girl shows up at the bar in 6-inch heels, a skintight mini, a pound of makeup and two feet of cleavage, but nine times out of ten ends up boozy, dejected, and in a cab to Taco Bell by the end of the night. Even though she wants nothing more than to get piledrived by an aggressive butch, everyone just assumes she’s too pretty to be gay and leaves her alone. After she gets ignored by the bartender for at least fifteen minutes, she will post up at the bar, pop her hip, sip her cocktail, flip her hair, and check her phone every three minutes, all the while shooting off “come bang me” vibes toward the herd of masculine girls hanging around obliviously. Can also be found at: Starbucks, the MAC counter
The Under-Rager Deliberately wears long sleeves to hide the obnoxious black X’s on her
hands. Before she gets kicked out for doing shots under a table, she will have successfully banged a 28-yearold peroxide blonde in a bathroom stall. She will feel a swell of pride and accomplishment for this but make sure to act like it’s NBD. Can also be found at: School
The Deceptively Sexy Faux-Butch This is the girl femmes cream over. She is, for lack of a better word, smoking hot–she puts the short hair, tattoos, great arms, and genuine swagger on display as far as the eye can see, and she’s not sorry. Unfortunately, she is also the embodiment of the “butch in the streets, femme in the sheets” archetype. She can fix your car, kill a spider, shotgun two beers at once and grill out with your dad, but you’ve got a better chance at getting a compass to point South than getting this one to give you good top. She’s aggressive and dominating in all other areas of life, but get her in bed and she’s the one throwing her legs up. This behavior usually elicits a suppressed “WTF?” reaction from the unsuspecting femme who took her home under the false assumption that she scored herself a daddy. Can also be found at: Home Depot, roller derby
The Frat Boy Prototype As the title suggests, this one is essentially a frat boy in girlie form. She burps loudly and unapologetically, still plays Edward Forty-Hands with her housemates, and is able to quote Fight Club and Family Guy in her sleep. She may or may not actually be in college. Trappings of the Frat Boy Prototype include cargo shorts, a crew cut, plaid boxers, and the requisite Live Strong bracelet. On the dance floor, she will soulfully lip sync to Lil Wayne
and prematurely grab your ass. She actually enjoys missionary. Can also be found at: The beer pong table
The Starry-Eyed New Girl Fresh off the boat from the straight side, this girl has absolutely no idea what she’s getting herself into. Though she has “experimented” with girls in the past, she has always envisioned herself ending up with a guy–until now. Excited about no longer having to S anyone’s D or panic about late periods, she embraces the lesbian life with hopeful enthusiasm. She has no idea how to approach women and can often be seen missing her mouth with the bottle of Blue Moon she’s attempting to swig from while checking them out. She is also under the strange, naive impression that dating women exclusively will make for deep, fulfilling relationships marked by partnership and mutual understanding. Can also be found at: J.Crew, brunch
The Lesbian Who Hates the Gay Bar This girl just wants to go home. The only reason she is at the bar is because her friends dragged her there, and all the drunken idiots around her only serve to reinforce the newly-formed conviction that she is never going out again. She can be seen sipping a whiskey soda through pursed lips, adjusting her cardigan, and sighing/ rolling her eyes/scoffing at all the debauchery going on. It’s times like these she wishes she were straight – until she realizes that means she would have to be straight, which is too much of a cliché and therefore not worth it. Someone will inevitably spill a drink on her before the night is over. Can also be found at: Home on her couch with her girlfriend and cats Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 61