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TALKING ABOUT MONEY CAN HELP COUPLES LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER By Sean Van Gorder
According to a 2014 Wells Fargo study, only about half (54 percent) Americans feel it’s important to know their significant other’s credit score before comingling finances. Yet, financial experts would say that discussing how to handle joint finances is one of the best ways lovebirds can set themselves up for happily ever after. Combining accounts Many couples already have their own accounts so when considering comingling finances, the question is whether to combine everything into joint accounts or keep them separate. Having separate accounts lets each individual feel independent, knowing that he or she can tap his or her finances whenever the need arises. On the other hand, joining accounts helps unite the couple’s goals and can help create a more effective investment program. One solution to consider: keep separate accounts and have a joint account that both individuals contribute to for covering household expenses. Budgeting Some say that the key to financial success is to spend what you have after saving, rather than saving what’s left after spending. Many couples find themselves in the latter position because they lack a budget to control their expenses, often leaving them with nothing to save. It’s usually better for a couple to sit down and list their monthly income and expenses. Then it becomes a matter of determining how they will control expenses so they
can set money aside to help achieve their goals. For example, a couple may want to purchase a home within a few years. If so, they can create a “fund” that they contribute to so they can accumulate a sizable down payment, which will help reduce the size of their mortgage and, in turn, their monthly payments.
1. Discuss your financial situation, including your credit score: be honest about your credit history. When discussing how to finance an item such as a car or a mortgage, always discuss how you will repay the loan with your partner.
2. Plan a realistic budget together: calculate your income, expenses, and Joint credit savings for future plans as well as While couples are not required to retirement plans. apply for credit jointly and may apply separately as an individual or 3. Set financial ground rules: track how with people other than a spouse or much you’re spending as a couple and domestic partner, having good credit set parameters to help you save and is still an important first step towards plan for emergencies. developing a sound financial future. Good credit can help when applying 4. Share your financial goals: create for a mortgage or car loan, and in a realistic financial plan together to some cases, a job. For example, a help you reach your goals. common misconception about credit is that when you get married, your 5. Maintain an open and ongoing partner’s credit score may lower dialogue: your credit score can change yours. While this is not true, it is rapidly, and even missing a single important to note that what it might payment can influence it. Be sure to affect is your ability to access credit if inform your partner of any changes you are seeking joint credit. with your credit, if it might also affect them. Buying a home together You may always apply for loan as an Talking about money and credit can induvial, but couples looking to buy feel awkward but when starting a a home together will find that most life together, it’s important to have lenders look at the credit history of awareness and understanding of each both applicants and consider the other’s financial situation. average of your two credit scores when approving a loan. This is also true if you are looking to purchase a car together. If your or your partner has a low credit score, not only can it affect the loan amount and the interest rate, but it can also prevent you from obtaining the loan. Financial goals Maintaining good credit is important as you prepare for different life events – including when you’re considering combining finances with your significant other. Wells Fargo offers these five important tips to keep in mind when thinking about money and your relationship:
Sean Van Gorder, Sun City / Summerlin Store Manager, Wells Fargo Bank
Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 5
Wrap-up
COMMUNITY
By Clair Koetitz & Lyndon Marquez
2016 started with a bang for the community. PRIDE started the year with exciting, and well-attended Bingo’s. In February it was “Mardi Gras” Bingo and in March, “Flamingo” Bingo. We look forward to this monthly activity as it is always a fun new theme with old and new faces at each event. The April theme is “I Wanna Lei-ya” which should make for an exciting time. PRIDE also produced a well-attended Wedding Expo “Love is Love” at Emerald at Queensbridge. The event is always a great addition to the GLBT community with vendors focused on providing services to everyone. We did a walkthrough at Sunset Park in preparation for an exciting new PRIDE festival on October 22 & 23rd. The space was analyzed with placement being decided for each of the exciting festival features for this year. PRIDE OUTside continues to be a great daytime activity with a new hike planned each month. We wish to thank our outgoing 2015 Royalty and are excited to announce our 2016 Royalty. Coronation will take place April 22nd at Charlie’s Las Vegas, we hope to see everyone there. HRC continues to hold their 3rd Thursday happy hour which is also a great event with many attendees. The Betty’s Outrageous Adventures had a busy spring with a picnic, Valentine’s Dance at the Artisan, a walk/ride at Sunset Park, a Spring Celebration at the Bellagio, and other activities. They are organizing a pet-friendly Brunch at the Hard Rock Café, “Rockin Paws Benefit Brunch” Sunday May 15th 10am – 2pm benefiting the L group at the Center and Street Dogz and Cats too. Advance tickets are available at The Center. 8 | Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine
The Sin City Sisters’ annual Red Dress “Red Dress 2016 XTravaganza a 10 Year Celebration” was held at Rendezvous Las Vegas and as usual was a roaring success with monies raised and donated to the community to continue their philanthropic work. The Center was also busy with many activities going on throughout the
season. A preview party was held for Picnic by Design at the Museum of Natural Art, plan on attending the event at Symphony Park, April 30th. They celebrated their 3rd anniversary at the current location with Homecoming 3 that featured food trucks, an extensive health fair along with a garage sale benefiting the Primetimer’s. A great time was had by all. The Center is also hosting a community calendar where all nonprofit organizations can post their events. If you have something coming up, please go to www.lgbtq.vegas and post your event so the community can go to one site and see just what is happening in our community.
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Contents
30 Dixie’s Tupperware Party: Not Your Grandmother’s Tupperware Party 32 Stiched Fashion
EVENTS
30 2016 HRC Las Vegas Gala
PRIDE Events
48 Leather Church
6
Hanky Panky at Charlie’s
43 IGRA World Gay Rodeo Finals® 57 Picnic by Design
12 June PRIDE Family Bingo
59 LGBTQ Career Fair
23 Cantina Nights at Share
ARTICLES
39 July PRIDE Family Bingo 45 Las Vegas PRIDE Pets
5
54 Long Beach Pride
Talking About Money Can Help Couples Live Happily Ever After
8
Community Wrap-up
58 Albuquerque Pride
13 Welcome
59 Orange County Pride
14 Joey Galon - Artist, Fashion Designer & Pageant Coach
64 Down & Derby Skate Night
16 Who You Gonna Call? Ghostsmashers!
69 Santa Fe Pride 76 San Diego Pride
20 11th Annual HRC Gala
78 Pride Pool Party Season
24 Why Pride Matters
Other Events
26 An Interview With Toby Allen: Finding Harmony Between Show Business & Family Life
19 2016 HRC Las Vegas Gala 22 Phat Pack Pool Party
40 Resolving Dog Daycare Dilemmas 42 Friends & Family: Getting to Know Chippendales Dancer, Ryan Stewart & Bruno 44 Family & Friends: Photos With Our Pets 46 Will Gay Events Soon Be A Thing Of The Past? 48 LGBT Community Directory 50 Las Vegas Guide Map 61 Family Acceptance Project At Community Counseling Center 62 Las Vegas Bar & Nightclub Schedule 67 The Gay Softball League: One Big Happy Family 70 The LGBTQ Center 71 The Community That Works Together, Thrives Together 73 New Youth Service Manager Foresees Evolution In QVolution 75 David R. Parks Lending Library Experiences Continuous Growth
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, Chris Purdum (Orange Soda Photography), Kevin Daniels, Marc Garcia, Kevin Daniels and Bradford Rogne ON THE COVER Joey Galon and model Jade Kelsall COVER PHOTO Katherine Graciano - Hair & Makeup, LV Mannequins and Fresh Wata CONTRIBUTORS Patrick Bozarth, Cathy Brooks, Paul Cieslewicz, Michael Dimengo, Jeff Dorta, Joey Galon, Adam Groffman, Clair Koetitz, Lyndon Marquez, Dave Mondt, Guy Puglisi, Steve Romero, Randy Slovacek, Olivia Steinberg, Sean Van Gorder and Brandon Wayne 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.
10 | Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine
Welcome By Ernie “Pineapple” Yuen
Aloha!
Here we are, almost halfway through our year and time is sure flying by. This issue celebrates “Family & Pets”. Thank you, Randy Slovacek for your great article on Human Nature’s Toby Allen, a story about Toby, his partner, their children and raising a family while balancing a career. In June we celebrate Pride. Currently Pride season is in full swing across the country and around the world. June is the iconic month to celebrate Pride as we remember Stonewall in New York City where it all began. There are many reasons to celebrate Pride and our fight for equality continues. Adam Groffman wrote a great article “Why Pride Matters” it makes a lot of sense… do you matter? Starting April 14, Las Vegas PRIDE has teamed up with Share Nightclub to produce Cantina Nights, a Latin focused evening with music by DJDC. The evening also includes a great drag show with Latin performances starting at 1 am. Join us for hot gogo boys and even hotter drink specials. This is an inclusive event and everyone is welcome! The music will keep everyone dancing with top 40, salsa, reggeton, cumbia & more. Mr. & Miss Orgullo Latino Las Vegas 2016, Jorge and Kandy will host the night along with many special guests including Paloma Makary, Miss Las Vegas Pride 2014. A special grand opening celebration is scheduled for May 5 on Cinco De Mayo.
buddy Bruno. Ryan, like many of us, considers pets not possessions, but as friends and family members.
If you check out our Las Vegas PRIDE Facebook page, you’ll see we have teamed up with Lipshtick and Human Nature and we are giving tickets away, all you need to do is email us and your name will be entered in the drawing, On April 22nd we hosted our Las we pick new winners weekly. Vegas PRIDE Coronation, an evening of glamor and rhinestones. I would Pool season is almost here and once like to say “Thank you” to our 2015 again Las Vegas PRIDE will be coRoyalty, Lisa, Wayne, Craig, Armando hosting pool parties with our MGM and Chi Chi, they did a wonderful job partners at the Luxor, please mark representing Las Vegas and Las Vegas your calendar for our pool parties on PRIDE throughout the 2015 PRIDE June 5, July 10, August 7, September season. Please help me welcome our 11 and our Opening Pool Party for the new royalty: Miss Las Vegas PRIDE Las Vegas PRIDE Festival on October 2016, Kenneth Blake; Mr. Las Vegas 16. We have lots of special events PRIDE 2016, Rico Ramirez; Miss planned and great drink specials, stay Orgullo Latino Las Vegas 2016, Kandy tuned for more information. Makary and Mr. Orgullo Latino Las Vegas 2016, Jorge Gamboa. Cory at The Center has been working really hard on a new project, LGBTQ Watch for our unique combined effort Vegas, a calendar for our Las Vegas with Charlie’s Las Vegas, Hanky Panky, LGBT Community. Please visit on the second Wednesday of every www.LGBTQ.vegas to see the new month. At Hanky Panky, PRIDE Royalty community calendar. We are excited will perform and sell Jell-O injection that there is now one central calendar shots and drink specials. Kenneth that we can all utilize. Take note: May Blake will also perform circuit style 18 is HIV Vaccine Awareness Day and numbers during the course of the June 27 is National HIV Testing day. evening. The fun starts at 9:00pm. We’ve got a lot of new things planned This is the first time we have a famous for future issues of our magazine and fashion designer/pageant coach it’s exciting to see it grow every month. appear on our cover and I have to say Please let me know if you would like we are all very proud of Joey Galon. to be involved with our magazine or A fellow Hawaiian, Joey has been in Las Vegas PRIDE. We welcome your Las Vegas for many years and touches ideas, comments and thoughts. This many people’s lives. He is very community magazine will always be generous with his talents and always growing and changes will be made as gives back to our community. I hope we learn. Celebrate diversity, stay safe you enjoy our Q&A interview article and be nice to one another. and if you ever see Joey out and about say hello, it’s always good to make a In PRIDE, new friend. Ernie “Pineapple” Yuen I also got to sit and chat with Ryan Executive Director Stuart from the world famous Southern Nevada Association of Chippendales and chat about his PRIDE, Inc. Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 13
of the foliage and especially when immersed in the waters. I think what makes for the true magic of the islands are the Ohana... the people of Hawaii. The sense of family consciousness where I always felt welcomed and was always ready to welcome others into my home and into to my life. The true aloha love culture in the communities is what I miss the most.
SIMPLY NO KA OI! (THE BEST)
JOEY GALON
ARTIST, FASHION DESIGNER & PAGEANT COACH By Ernie Yuen, Executive Director of Las Vegas PRIDE
When you think about a magazine cover there are many ways you can look at making a decision on who should be on your cover, the reason they would be on your cover, and then sometimes you just tell yourself this makes sense and it’s the right time. It’s no hidden secret that I’m from Hawaii, I am proud of where I’m from. When I met this fellow local boy and saw him excel and do amazing things with his talents, I wanted to share his story with everyone.
I moved to Los Angeles to “answer the call” and attend ministerial school at Agape International Spiritual Center. I had already been licensed as a Professional Spiritual Practitioner for many years and thought that was it, however, I guess the Universe had another plan for me. I thought I’d never leave Maui but when I gave Joey, please share your involvement in to the proverbial “spiritual tug,” I with the pageant world. found myself off island, in Los Angeles about to embark on a very deepening journey of my spiritual practice, education and awareness.
Please meet Joey Galon, A Maui boy at heart and a very talent artist, he Do you miss Hawaii? is well known for his Fashion Designs I do miss Hawaii so much. I don’t and being a Pageant Coach. think anyone can truly understand the magic (or the “Mana”) of life on island Joey when did you move away from unless you’ve experienced first hand home and what started your career? for yourself. It’s an invisible magic that Aloha Ernie! I actually moved off permeates in the fragrance of the air, island (Maui... No Ka Oi!) back in 2006. the warmth of the sun, the energies 14 | Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine
How long have you been here in Vegas? What are your contributions dedicated to this amazing city we call home? I moved initially to Las Vegas in 1996. I hadn’t visited Las Vegas since I was a kid but in 1995, I helped drive my friend’s 24’ moving truck from San Francisco when they relocated and moved to Las Vegas. I found Las Vegas fascinating and unlike any city I’ve ever experienced before. At the time, I was heavily into my special events career. When I visited Las Vegas, I was eager to check out their style of events. But from what I saw, the level of the events was far behind in production value and style compared to what I was familiar with in San Francisco and Los Angeles. I’ve supported many charitable groups over the years from helping the veterans via Shine Family Foundation, advisory counsel for the Liberace Foundation, Events Chair for the Las Vegas Fashion Council & countless additional groups for the many years that I’ve lived here.
Well, first and foremost, pageants are kinda of my birthright! Pageants are a huge part of Filipino culture as my own immediate family treated pageantry as if it was at the level of the Super Bowl or Olympics. Our family past time was to be glued to the TV for Miss Universe, Miss USA & Miss America. We’d bet each other who would make it to the top ten and all the way to the final crowned winners. Even after we parted our own ways via college, careers, etc. my family would call each other up to discuss who we thought would be crowned the winner. My personal favorite has always been the evening gown competition. Not only was it a unique creation of some designer’s art, it was a way of a woman to be celebrated via an elegant gown. My motto has always been: “I believe every woman should be celebrated in a beautiful gown!” Truly it was a dream come true to see my gown on stage and on TV! This year, another dream come true as one of my gowns will be featured on national TV again only on the Miss America Pageant stage. I’m excited to see my gown again on TV. Your gowns are amazing and beautiful. Each one has a story, will you share with me your most memorable gown? As an ordained minister, I realize it’s a bit odd and far fetched but my ministry has evolved into empowering women to be their best, showcasing their ultimate confidence wherever they are... on a red carpet, special occasion or on stage in a pageant. My designs are inspired by the women I meet and their unique personalities. You recently did a fashion show in LA, California, please tell us about that experience. I showcased my line at L.A. Fashion Week 2016 this past March. It was the very first time I have showcased my line and I agreed to do this only
about 30 days prior to fashion week. I decided to do L.A. Fashion week in a short amount of time as both of my parent’s health was in decline and I wanted to pay tribute to them by showcasing at L.A. Fashion Week and showing to them that... I did it! Someway, somehow I made it happen and I am eternally grateful for being able to make it happen. I have also been invited to showcase at Miami Fashion Week, New York Fashion week and have the potential to travel and showcase my work in South America. It’s been an incredible ride so far!
for Las Vegas. Maui and the aloha spirit is forever in my heart. For all those mentors and predecessors that opened many doors for me as a young man, I will forever cherish and honor them and will forever be indebted and grateful for so many other angels that have supported and guided me on my path!
You’re very giving to the LGBT community and we all have our personal stories of how we got involved and why we give back; what’s your journey? I was born and raised in San Francisco so my experience of LGBT was unique, common and to me and the normalcy growing up. It wasn’t until I moved away from San Francisco that I noticed the difference in cultures, attitudes and beliefs. As for AIDS in particular, one of the reasons I’ve continued to pursue my career in pageantry was due to some predecessors, mentors that took me under their wing back in the 80’s. They taught me about pageantry the ins and outs and everything in between. Both had passed away from AIDS and when they did, I vowed and made a pact with myself that all that they taught me about pageantry was not knowledge for me to have, rather, it was knowledge for me to share and to give. So for that, I’d been involved with pageantry for close to 30 years starting when I was a teenager. Las Vegas has initially been my home since 1996 and I am forever grateful of our community. It’s a small town and I often used to say Las Vegas is the smallest community I’ve ever lived in after coming from San Francisco & Los Angeles. However, living on Maui blew away the small town feel I had Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 15
WHO YOU GONNA CALL?
GHOSTSMASHERS! (SERIOUSLY! THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL TITLE!) By Paul Cieslewicz
It has been well documented that my movie going experience was, to say the least, limited while growing up. My parents’ propensity for not allowing exposure to anything of the sci-fi, supernatural or horror genres greatly reduced my chances of seeing any of the “cool” movies of the time. I had to settle for attempting to watch TV shows that I could convince my parents were harmless, or that I could watch in secret in the living room after my parents went to bed. We only had a motorized antennae on a tower (it’s still there!) that picked up the local ABC, CBS, NBC and PBS stations, sometimes not even those when it froze during the Wisconsin winters. Cable did not (and still doesn’t!) reach my family’s house, thereby greatly limiting the number of channels I could watch. Supernatural and horror were some of my favorite genres when attempting to watch TV shows. While it was easy to convince my parents to let me watch Mr. Boogedy and Bride of Boogedy on The Disney Sunday Movie (though it was still scoffed at), I had to be more cunning in order to watch the likes of Dark Night of the Scarecrow, Shadow Chasers, Freddy’s Nightmares: A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Series or Friday the 13th: The Series. My favorite, though, was also the easiest for me to watch, since it was a Saturday morning cartoon, The Real Ghostbusters.
know everything I could about this movie, besides every word of the oft-replayed theme song! It wouldn’t be until around 1988 that I was actually able to see Ghostbusters on VHS at a friend’s house. In the meantime, though, in 1986, The Real Ghostbusters debuted. Suddenly I had something I could watch free of my parents’ ire that not only filled me in on what happened in the movie, albeit sparsely, but also continued the adventures of the characters. Just the revelation that the green ghost had a name, Slimer, had me hooked from the start. I felt as empowered as a geek could be with all the knowledge I possessed when, in the summer of 1989, Ghostbusters II was released. I could finally flaunt the trivial knowledge I had collected over the years by way of a cartoon that I watched way too religiously, just so I could appear smarter than the average movie goer. Sadly, I was hugely disappointed in the movie. Although it had its fair share of moments I enjoyed, it felt like a underwhelming rehash of the original.
My enthusiasm for Ghostbusters, though slightly tarnished, was still unwavering. Over the years I would find myself procuring all manner of merchandise related to the films, from original movie posters, soundtracks and DVDs, to Slimer bobble heads, glowI had wanted to see Ghostbusters in its in-the-dark collector’s edition vinyl of the original movie form, but that, of course, theme song and eventually the Blu-rays. was not going to happen while living under my parents’ roof. The most I could see Now with only a few months until the release were snippets of the film on commercials of the all-new, all female Ghostbusters, my or while watching the Siskel & Ebert review enthusiasm has reached epic proportions on At the Movies. I had absolutely no clue yet again. With a cast composed of some what the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man or of the best modern comedic queens and the crazy looking blob of a green ghost was, Thor… errr, I mean Chris Hemsworth, and but I knew they were the coolest things I cameos by all the surviving original cast had ever seen. And I could barely contain members (sans Rick Moranis), what could my excitement as I watched with wide possibly go wrong, right? Right?! Please, eyed amazement as the librarian ghost somebody agree with me on this! Well, I transformed from subtle to scary. I had to guess we’ll see July 15th. 16 | Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine
Purchase Tickets Online: www.hrc.org/events/2016-las-vegas-gala
11 ANNUAL HRC GALA TH
AT THE COSMOPOLITAN OF LAS VEGAS MAY 14TH
Human Rights Campaign – Las Vegas is excited to announce our 11th annual Gala, held for the first time at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Dinner Committee Co-Chairs Kelly Smith, Matthew Howard, and Wendell Blaylock invite you to celebrate with us on Saturday, May 14th. Central to this year’s celebration is the City of Las Vegas achieving a perfect score of 100 in the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index (MEI) for the first time since the MEI’s creation! The MEI examines the laws, policies, and services of municipalities and rates them on the basis of their inclusivity of LGBTQ people who live and work there. As you’ve no doubt seen in the headlines recently, tremendous pushback is being experienced in states across our nation to recent gains we’ve made including last year’s historical marriage victory. Never has areas of life, including employment, it been more important to get out and housing, credit, education, public vote to elect fair-minded officials. spaces and services, federally funded programs, and jury service. While our HRC’s recent work has also focused protections are strong in Nevada, in 31 on passage of the Equality Act. The other states an LGBTQ couple can be Equality Act would provide consistent married at 10 am but then fired from and explicit anti-discrimination their jobs at noon and evicted from protections for LGBT people across key their home at 2 pm simply because
they posted their wedding photos on Facebook. Our honorees this year are two outstanding local leaders. Betsy Fretwell, Las Vegas City Manager, will receive the HRC Leadership Award, and John Nelson, Senior Vice President, AEG, will receive the HRC Equality Award. Both recipients are incredibly deserving of their award. HRC looks forward to celebrating both our community’s as well as our country’s many equality achievements, as we look ahead to ensuring we are prepared and ready for our next challenges. To become a sponsor, purchase a program book ad, buy a table, or donate an item to the auction, please email Gala@HRCLV.org. Individual tickets are available at hrc.org/lasvegasdinner.
20 | Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine
Pride can be a powerful thing. It’s a terribly strong emotion. You can be proud about any number of things in your life — from your nationality to your ethnicity, your gender to your sexuality. You can even be proud about things that you get to decide and control: such as your religion or an adopted home.
Pride can be a powerful thing. It’s a terribly strong emotion. You can be proud about any number of things in your life — from your nationality to your ethnicity, your gender to your sexuality. You can even be proud about things that you get to decide and control: such as your religion or an adopted home. There’s no doubt that pride can also be dangerous. It’s often blinding and narrows one’s view. But for those people that are open to understanding and appreciating other cultures, pride can be powerful and useful. Personally I’m proud of many things about my life. Sure, there is much to be improved upon, but there’s nothing wrong with a little bit of pride in who you are and what you do. Pride in an over-saturated extreme can be dangerous, but so can most things. 24 | Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine
WHY PRIDE MATTERS By Adam Groffman - This article originally appeared on Adam’s travel blog: www.travelsofadam.com
Why Gay Pride Matters All this public thought about pride comes about because of some recent discussions I’ve had regarding gay pride. What is gay pride and why is it important? Well, honestly I think it means something a bit different to each and every queer individual. Most publicly, gay pride takes place in the month of June (declared LGBT Pride month) in the form of festivals and parades. That’s because of the historical June 1969 Stonewall riots. Many communities across the world celebrate gay pride during the summertime with cultural festivals, street parades, parties and public speeches. From Dallas to Toronto, San Francisco to Amsterdam gay pride festivals are often a place for supporters to publicly come together and celebrate. Why does all this matter, though? Why is gay pride still
important? In a time and age when gay rights are increasingly becoming a reality in many nations, gay pride still matters… Because there’s still more work to be done We have marriage equality but there’s still work to be done. That’s why gay pride is important. I look at what’s going on in this world and think how far things have come (even just in my short lifetime), yet I know there is still a far way to go. Gay pride festivals are a reminder of what’s been done, and a push to keep working toward full equality. And an annual celebration of the gay rights recently achieved doesn’t set things back, but how I see it — pushes activists onward and forward. It’s often a chance to get inspired and motivated.
Because others can’t always celebrate Mainstream media has been covering some recent setbacks for gay rights around the world—notably Russia— the past few weeks. With calls of boycotts and front-page news of Russia gay rights abuses, there is much to remember about gay rights around the world. While some countries are quickly marching forward, some are inevitably moving backward. Most gay pride festivals I’ve been to have been joyous occasions — full of fun and cheer — but many around the world are still very political. There are gay and lesbians fighting for their lives in some places, let alone their equality. Because sometimes you still need to have fun Summertime is the time for festivals: music, food, cultural, camping, movie… if there’s something that can be celebrated, there’s almost always a festival for it in the summer. Gay pride is no different and each gay pride I’ve been to has been a unique and different experience from the next. In Tel Aviv earlier this summer, the TLV Gay Film Festival coincided with the pride parade and beach party. International gay-themed films were shown throughout the week, as well as LGBT parties at clubs and on the beach. Together, the pride wasn’t just one big party: but with all the other ongoing events throughout the festival, there were options for just about everyone—gay or straight!
Not to mention the empowering effect of celebrating diversity, life and equality.
Follow Adam Groffman on Twitter: twitter.com/travelsofadam This article originally appeared on www.travelsofadam.com
Because it’s important to have public support There’s something really special about seeing straight allies and other supporters at a gay pride event. I’ve got plenty of friends who fully support equality, but all year long…it’s a mostly silent support. Then it’s time for a gay pride parade and suddenly they’re the first ones to suggest marching, rallying or otherwise. That means the world to me. And I suspect for others as well. I know from my own personal experience, seeing prominent and influential “out” gays and lesbians helped me overcome my own fears. Add in a party where there are so many smiling and supportive people, a week of gay-themed events…and suddenly a regular festival can mean so much more. Pride matters. Maybe not to everyone. But to some. And that’s all you really need.
Photos above and to the left by Barbara Maeker. Photo at right courtesy of VicedMAN underwear
Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 25
AN INTERVIEW WITH
TOBY ALLEN FINDING HARMONY BETWEEN
SHOW BUSINESS & FAMILY LIFE By Randy Slovacek - www.therandyreport.com
Venetian. With success (and a stable performing schedule) on the Las Vegas Strip, Allen gets to enjoy regular family time at home with husband Darren Weller and 3 year old twins Harvey and Roxanne. Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine caught up with Allen to see how show business and family life find harmony together in the City of Entertainment. LVPM: Las Vegas audiences knows Human Nature for the massive success you’ve had here singing Motown hits, but now we’re going to get to here a much broader musical spectrum in the new show, yes? Toby Allen: Absolutely. With “JUKEBOX” we’ll be able to introduce them to some of our own hits from the 90s. Plus, favorites of ours from the 60s, 70s, 80s, all the way up to today.
After six years of sell-out crowds and standing ovations with their first Las Vegas Strip show, “MOTOWN,” world-famous vocal group Human Nature is back with a brand new show “JUKEBOX,” specially crafted for its home at the Sands Showroom in The Venetian. Over more than 25 years together, Human Nature’s Andrew and Michael Tierney, Toby Allen and Phil Burton have sold more than 2.5 million albums, earned 25 platinum awards, 17 top 40 hits and five top 10 hits worldwide. “JUKEBOX” showcases Human Nature’s signature vocals and dance moves, backed by a seven-piece band
We’ve approached this like a human jukebox. A jukebox is always where all the hits were, and people would dance to it. It was the center of the party. That’s what we’re trying to do with the show - really highlight all this incredible music from across a massive span of time that makes for and world-class dancers, as they a great party. celebrate a mix of pop classics with doo-wop; boy-band with Bandstand; LVPM: In addition to Human Nature’s soul standards with Motown, and even killer vocals, there’s a lot of humor in some “Uptown Funk.” “JUKEBOX” the show. And great dance moves. includes timeless hits like “Will You That’s got to be hard to perfect. Love Me Tomorrow,” “Stand By Me,” and “Unchained Melody,” all the TA: It gets harder and harder way up to today’s chart toppers “All (laughing). The dancing is probably About That Bass” and “Shake It Off.” the one aspect we spend the most They show that this “JUKEBOX” plays time rehearsing, but really enjoy everything from The Temptations to challenging ourselves with new and Meghan Trainor, from The Beatles to exciting things as well. The singing comes naturally - we’ve obviously Bruno Mars. been practicing for 26 years. This Human Nature’s Toby Allen is the lone show has a wide range of songs, and gay member of the former “boy band” dancing to them is a whole different (there’s always one, as the legend thing than dancing to Motown. goes). Allen has much to celebrate in Challenging, but really fun. addition to the new production at the
LVPM: Were the twins a surprise? TA: The way it all came about was very special. We originally approached my sister to see if she would donate eggs for the surrogacy, and she said “yes.” So, she donated eggs and Darren fertilized. We wound up with four embryos. We tried two transfers in two weeks. But none of them took. Then, Darren’s sister, who was 28 at the time and living in Vancouver, wanted to donate eggs! She hadn’t had her family yet, but she was willing to donate to us. So, we did the reverse - I fertilized, and we wound up with a whole bunch of embryos. We transferred two hoping to at least get one healthy child, but both of them took! It was as genetically close to having our kids as we could get. It was like “Wow, here we go!” We’ll be wishing Toby and Darren a Happy Father’s Day come this June!
LVPM: Speaking of “contemporary hits,” you and your husband Darren Weller have two of your own now - 3 year old twins Harvey and Roxanne. How’s being a dad? TA: It’s so much fun. They are a handful some of the time, but they are adorable. They’re such great little personalities, and seeing them growing up is really fascinating. It’s really broadened me as a person to have them in my life. They remind you of aspects of life that you had forgotten. I’m really blessed to experience this. LVPM: Did you always know you wanted to be a dad? TA: Darren and I had talked about kids for some time, but it wasn’t until we were here in Vegas that we seriously considered it. Living in Australia, we
You can catch Toby Allen and the rest of HUMAN NATURE performing “JUKEBOX” at The Venetian Tuesday were always traveling, whether it be through Saturday nights at 7:00 p.m. a national tour in Australia, or Asia, or Tickets by calling 702-414-9000. Also Europe. Coming here and doing our online at HumanNatureLive.com. show so regularly, it’s really felt like a home base - very stable - so it’s been Randy Slovacek is the author of The Randy Report - a daily LGBT blog covering fantastic.
entertainment, pop culture and politics. Follow him at www.therandyreport.com
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DIXIE’S TUPPERWARE PARTY Not your grandmother’s Tupperware party, Dixie’s Tupperware Party takes over Troesh Studio Theater at The Smith Center this summer beginning May 17 By Olivia Steinberg | Photo By Bradford Rogne
In 2007, the hilarious, colorful and fast-talking Dixie Longate took America by storm as she introduced her outrageous Tupperware Party to the big stage, snagging a Drama Desk Award nomination for her outstanding solo performance as America’s favorite Tupperware lady. In 2007, the hilarious, colorful and fast-talking Dixie Longate took America by storm as she introduced her outrageous Tupperware Party to the big stage, snagging a Drama Desk Award nomination for her outstanding solo performance as America’s favorite Tupperware lady. Now, the trashy ex-con turned selfmade entrepreneur has performed in more than 1,000 shows in five different countries, bringing her contagious laughter, energy and fun to some of the most celebrated performing arts centers in the world. On Tuesday, May 17, Dixie will take over The Smith Center for the Performing Arts here in Las Vegas as she hosts her famous Tupperware Party for six nights through Sunday, May 22. Hailed as “pure theatrical bliss” that’s “not your grandmother’s Tupperware party,” Dixie’s Tupperware Party will feature outrageously funny tales, heartfelt accounts, free giveaways, audience participation and the most fabulous assortment of Tupperware ever sold on a theatrical stage. “I started selling the fantastic plastic crap in 2001 and have never had 30 | Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine
so much fun drinking for free in my life!” said Dixie Longate. “Within a year, I was one of the top sellers in the nation because, well, me and some plastic bowls and a bunch of drunk hookers—I mean, women— somehow equals lots of sales. I know, shut up, right!” Known as “all smiles and sweet sugar,” this southern Alabama belle has tickled audiences in cities across the globe, winning the hearts of many with her ability to make others laugh and giggle. For years, she has brought her beloved act and colorful assortment of Tupperware to renowned theatres worldwide, selling more than $2.7 million in tickets during the off-Broadway run. Now, Las Vegas will have the opportunity to meet the notorious Dixie Longate as she takes over The Smith Center’s Troesh Studio Theater this summer. Tickets are now on sale starting at $33. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit TheSmithCenter.com.
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RESOLVING DOG DAYCARE DILEMMAS TIPS FOR SELECTING THE PERFECT PLACE FOR YOUR PUP By Cathy Brooks, Owner – The Hydrant Club
Finding the best dog daycare provider can be daunting in light of the enormous number of offerings. A simple web search results in a dizzying array of solutions. How to choose?
such requirements than those that do. Nevada does not have any regulation. Ethical facilities will enforce a ratio (which should never be greater than 15:1). The sad truth is many promoting 15:1 actually are 25:1 or more.
Here are a few simple things to keep in mind that narrow the field quickly. Know how staff is trained: Managing off leash play is hard, Know the right setting for your dog: especially when there is no size or There are myriad formats for dog breed separation or cages/crates/ daycare. Some separate by size or breed. Others have breed restrictions. There also are “open play” facilities where dogs are intermingled in one centralized play space with no separation. Know the human to dog ratio: In some states there are regulations around how many dogs a facility may have per handler (usually 15:1). Unfortunately far more states lack 40 | Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine
kennels. This isn’t about special certifications (though those are nice). It’s about having a standard to which staff is held for pack management. Ask how staff is trained, how much experience they have with dogs, how they’re tested and who’s managing that process. Know your dog: Not every dog is designed for daycare. Dogs are pack animals but they do not naturally play “in groups”. Most dog play is one on one or just a couple of dogs together (thus another reason large group play can result in fights and injuries). Some dogs prefer the company of humans. Some prefer the company of just a few dogs. Some prefer no company at all. Don’t force your dog into daycare just because you feel they must. If it’s about getting your dog out to pee during the day, a licensed and certified dog walker is a great option.
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FRIENDS & FAMILY GETTING TO KNOW CHIPPENDALES DANCER, RYAN STEWART & BRUNO
Labrador that wasn’t from a puppy mill. When I found Bruno, he had already had two other offers and deposits on him. But, as it turned out, I was the only one who didn’t ask for photos/measurements, so the owners decided I would be the best father because I hadn’t asked for pictures. I just knew he’d be perfect.
LVPM: You had a dancing injury last year that kept you sidelined for some Las Vegas PRIDE spoke to Ryan time. Was Bruno a big part of the Stuart, one of the world famous healing process? Chippendales (and devoted dog lover), whose friendship with his RS: Oh my god, yes. Just the energy chocolate lab, Bruno, has become a that Bruno exudes on a daily basis is grounding center for his busy, hectic healing. He was always there by my daily life. side for the entire time I was off.
By Randy Slovacek - www.therandyreport.com
Many people these days refer to their pets not as possessions, but as friends and/or family members. Pets, like other family members, are always ready to be supportive, take part in daily activities, or just join their humans for a TV-binge-watching session on the couch.
Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine: Have you LVPM: What is your favorite always had furry family members personality trait of Bruno’s? around you? RS: I think my favorite thing about him Ryan Stuart: Yes, ever since I was two is his smell. Even two years later he I’ve had dogs. still smells like a puppy and follows me from room to room. He always wants LVPM: How did Bruno come into your to be near his dad, and that warms my Dogs are like an eternal fountain life? Did you know he was “the one?” heart beyond belief. of youth. They charm us with their puppyish enthusiasm, and then RS: I had researched and searched for LVPM: I have to ask: has Bruno ever gracefully accept the infirmities of months and months for a chocolate worn the iconic Chippendales “cuffs their older years. and collar?” Perhaps that’s why so many gay men and women have found joy in bringing dogs into their lives. Dogs have the ability to love without judgment and no regard to sexual orientation. Their affection is truly unconditional.
Dogs accept the idiosyncrasies of their human companions without argument or complaint. Many have a unique ability to attune to their human’s mood. They are ready to share in our happiness, or offer comfort when their human is in pain. We also experience from our furry family members certain behaviors essential to a relationship: the ability to give and receive love, the capacity to tend to the needs of another, and openness to the presence of another being. LGBTs have discovered that the special magic of pets is the wholehearted way they enrich our lives. 42 | Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine
Ha ha! Absolutely! That was the first thing he wore!!! And he was incredibly handsome. Speaking of handsome, the Chippendales family has a temporary addition to their “stage family” as world-famous actor and model Antonio Sabato, Jr. is the latest celebrity guest host to grace their stage. His limited engagement with the legendary Chippendales runs from May 5 through June 5, 2016, at Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino. And yes, Chippendales is LGBT friendly - all are welcome. Randy Slovacek is the author of The Randy Report - a daily LGBT blog covering entertainment, pop culture and politics. Follow him at www.therandyreport.com Photo of Ryan by Gabriel Goldberg
f&amily
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Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 45
WILL GAY EVENTS SOON BE A THING OF THE PAST? By Guy Puglisi
After spending the last 20 years or more volunteering and participating in GLBTQ events and organizations, I find myself wondering if events such as gay rodeos and gay pride will soon be extinct. Over the last 15 years, the GLBTQ community in the United States has experienced many milestone accomplishments resulting in liberation from oppression and new freedoms on many forefronts. As the Southern Nevada Association of PRIDE, Inc. (SNAPI) and the International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA) embark on a collaborative effort to bring tourists and residents a week-long extravaganza, I wonder what other creative ideas will help our events continue to be successful. As the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for IGRA, I am exposed to every facet of our organization. In a recent conference, I posed the question to our members about reinventing ourselves. IGRA’s contestant base has always been allinclusive, which is what differentiates us from traditional rodeo; however, 46 | Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine
or maintain their identities. As the GLBTQ community becomes more and more mainstream and with online technology making it easier to meet new people and socialize without ever leaving home, people do not have to go to gay establishments or events to Over the years, the reason we were find people like themselves. founded and the world has almost changed entirely. As an organization I never imagined going to any rodeo, born in the heart of the AIDS crisis, let alone a gay one. Rodeo has since our original mission was to raise become my greatest passion and I monies for charities to help our ailing would not trade my rodeo family for brothers and sisters from this often anything. If you have never been to a fatal epidemic. People rarely die from gay rodeo, your chance to see one of AIDS anymore and with the Affordable the best is less than six months away. Care Act, almost everybody has access SNAPI and IGRA have an exciting week to healthcare. planned and we hope to see all of According to a posting on gaypatriot. you at the Las Vegas PRIDE Parade net in 2005, “...as gay people in Downtown Las Vegas, the PRIDE becoming increasingly visible, it’s Festival at Sunset Park, and the World beginning to seem that ‘Pride’ is Gay Rodeo Finals® at South Point Hotel passé. Pride now seems to be merely & Casino. The festival and rodeo will the name of the gay and lesbian street both be held on Saturday and Sunday festival where people gather to have so everybody will have an opportunity a good time one spring weekend.” to see a little of everything. For more The world has evolved but many information, cowboy up and visit us organizations have not evolved with online at www.igra-wgrf.com and it and are struggling to survive and/ www.lasvegaspride.org! our straight contestant base continues to grow and being gay really is not a focal point anymore. We are just one big family who likes to get together, have a great time, and raise money for the less fortunate.
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 48 | 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
4636 Wynn Rd. Las Vegas, NV 89103 (702) 258-2684 sharenightclub.com Open Thur – Sat, 10pm, No Cover
LAMBDA Business Association 4015 Maryland Pkwy Las Vegas, NV 89101 (702) 893-2088 lambdalv.com LGBT Business Directory & Guide
The Black Room
1000 E. Sahara, Ave, Ste 108 Las Vegas, NV 89104 (702) 685-8688 theblackroomvegas.com Las Vegas Fetish Shop
Flex Nightclub
Entourage Vegas
4347 W. Charleston Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89102 (702) 878-3355 flexlasvegas.com Open 24/7, Gaming, No Cover
953 E. Sahara Ave., #19 Las Vegas, NV 89104 (702) 650-9191 entouragevegas.com Men’s Gym & Spa
Goodtimes Nightclub & Bar
Get Booked
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
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
COMMUNITY RESOURCES Aid for Aids of Nevada 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
Leather Uniform Club (LUC) of Las Vegas lucoflv.com
Southern Nevada Association of PRIDE, Inc. (Las Vegas PRIDE)
Las Vegas boys of Leather lasvegasboysofleather.org
4001 S. Decatur Blvd. #37-540 Las Vegas, NV 89103-5800 (866) 930-3336 lasvegaspride.org
Las Vegas Men’s Chorus
Southern Nevada Bi-Sexuals
lvmenschorus.org
Las Vegas Prime Timers lasvegasprimetimers.com
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 | 49
Las Vegas Guide Map
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ORANGE COUNTY PRIDE CELEBRATION By Steve Romero, Director of Parades, OC Pride
Big news for the OC Pride Festival in Orange County, California: they have received city approval to hold the first Orange County Pride Parade the morning of their annual event. This year the festival and parade take place on June 25, 2016 during Pride month. After stepping off at 11 am and traveling along main city streets, the disassembly of the new parade will lead directly to the festival site right in the heart of the Arts District of Downtown Santa Ana. In addition to vendor tents, food trucks and a sunny Southern California sky, the festival site has expanded to include a new indoor
venue called Underground DTSA. This space will offer a new air conditioned dance floor, additional bar and special entertainment engagements like an afternoon comedy show.
Theater, a massive night club venue. This year’s entertainment lineup is just as massive headlined by hunky singer Steve Grand, Australian sensation Courtney Act and the dance styles of Haus of Edwards: Alyssa Edwards, Laganja Estranja and Gia Gunn. Alyssa Edwards will also be leading the parade with what is sure to be a fierce spectacle. The celebration continues til 2am with a takeover by the biggest Orange County Gay Club: Club Lucky!
Ticket and other information on the For the second year in a row the Main OC Pride Parade and Festival can be Bar and Main Stage for the festival found at www.prideoc.com. will be held inside The Historical Yost
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FAMILY ACCEPTANCE PROJECT AT CCC
is a research, intervention, education, and policy initiative that focuses on preventing physical health and mental health risks and promote well-being for LGBTQ children and youth. The project also works to prevent suicide, homelessness, and HIV transmission, By Patrick Bozarth, Executive Director - Community Counseling Center all within the context of promoting Family therapy is guided by the or gender expression has a significant family unity. principle that all individuals within a impact on the adolescent’s emotional The project uses a research-based, family unit deserve love, support, and well-being. culturally-grounded approach to acceptance. Yet for many years since its inception in the early 1950s, family Negative parental responses to help strengthen ethnically, socially, therapy oftentimes neglected to sexual orientation or gender identity and religiously diverse families and uphold these standards when dealing are sharply associated with a young promote positive development and with individuals who identified as person’s psychological distress, as healthy futures for LGBT children and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, the already vulnerable state of the youth. or for those who questioned their adolescent’s well-being is put at a Community Counseling Center is sexual orientation or gender identity significantly greater risk. proud to offer the Family Acceptance (LGBTQ). As a result of this, many injustices have been committed In contrast, however, a parent-child Project as our way of remaining against LGBTQ-identified individuals relationship that is characterized by steadfast in our commitment to and especially against the youth of closeness and support will typically strengthening families, individuals and that population who continue to face reflect greater stability and emotional upholding our support of the LGBTQ the highest incidences of behavioral health. Therefore, in order to help community of Southern Nevada. health disparities when compared to ensure the safety and well-being of their heterosexual-identified peers. LGBTQ youth, it is imperative that Founded in 1990 by Ronald Lawrence, parents, mental health professionals Community Counseling Center was Negative social attitudes and and leaders of society work to increase formed to address the need for discrimination related to an understanding and acceptance of affordable mental health treatment. Since then, CCC has been providing individual’s LGBTQ identity are sexual and gender identity diversity. quality substance abuse and mental significant contributing factors to these disparities, and often result Fortunately for this purpose, there is health treatment to the southern in institutional, interpersonal, and research being done that is helping Nevada population. We are dedicated individual stressors that affect an to validate the importance of family to empowering our clients through individual’s mental health, safety and support of LGBT youth thanks to the education, prevention treatment, and personal well-being. efforts of Licensed Clinical Social advocacy. We promote the healthy Worker, Caitlin Ryan of California functioning of individuals, families and society. Due to these circumstances, LGBTQ State University, San Francisco. youth can face a myriad of risks that include bullying, abuse, abandonment, For more than 40 years, Caitlin We are committed to providing neglect and the highest rate of Ryan has worked to advance the culturally competent, affordable, homelessness and suicide among our practice and understanding of LGBTQ and linguistically appropriate mental general population. affirmative psychotherapy through health care in a manner that is both her innovative work in developing the compassionate and professional. The age of adolescence can come Family Acceptance Project. For more information about the with many challenges, but for LGBTQidentified adolescents, this age can The Family Acceptance Project is the Family Acceptance Project or other be especially hard if they do not first of its kind program that is designed services of Community Counseling receive the love, understanding and as an LGBT affirmative family therapy Center, please visit www.cccofsn.org support of their family members. model to help strengthen support or call 702-369-8700. Family response to an adolescent’s and understanding within the family sexual orientation, gender identity, unit. The Family Acceptance Project
STRENGTHENING FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS
Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 61
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) 62 | 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 June 1st - “Space Wars” Bingo July 6th- “Red, White & Blue” Bingo
www.LasVegasPRIDE.org Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 63
DOWN & DERBY By Brandon Wayne
I’m about to give everyone an excuse to bust out your shortest shorts, spandex unitard or that really cute sequin jumpsuit you found at a vintage shop like two summers ago. It’s rowdy, wild and magic. With disco, glitter and beautiful people. No, not Studio 54 circa ‘79. It’s called Down & Derby and it’s the coolest roller skate party since roller skating was cool. Sorry - Cher, Diana and Bianca not included. Produced every third Wednesday of the month at the Gold Spike in downtown Las Vegas, the retro roller disco attracts a unique audience of all ages and styles, singles and couples, pro skaters with skills and people who haven’t been on skates since their 4th grade birthday party. Richard Alexander and Vince Masi founded the event in Pittsburgh, Pa. way back in 2006. It’s popularity and success led to the skate night expanding to the West Coast, with residencies in Vegas inside Rain at Palms, The Joint at Hard Rock and Beauty Bar. So it was only natural to keep the party rolling with a hot, new party downtown. “The Gold Spike is known for being an adult playground and roller skating fits perfectly,” said Alexander. “We have over 200 pairs of retro roller skates and we encourage people to dress up.”
Photos by Kevin Daniels
This month Down & Derby and Gold Spike are teaming up with Las Vegas PRIDE to host their first ever partnership event; Neon Kweens. YASSS, it’s a costume contest! Have as much fun with it as you want. NO, there is no dress code! Though, neon is encouraged. Wednesday, May 18th, the Gold Spike will once again be transformed into a retro roller rink featuring cheap drinks, skate rental, and DJs playing everything from funky ‘70s disco to ‘90s hip hop. The best part – it’s totally free. No cover and complimentary skate ‘rentals’. Party starts at 8 pm but we suggest you arrive early to make sure you snag a pair of skates before they’re all laced up. Alexander added, “It’s always a fun night of carefree skating, drinking, dancing and making out on eight wheels.” Oh, Down & Derby, where have you been all my life? Gold Spike is located 217 N Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89101. Visit sk8party.com for more information. 64 | Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine
... educational (like the time THE GAY SOFTBALL LEAGUE: and Tracy’s teammates had to explain that
ONE BIG, HAPPY FAMILY By Dave Mondt // www.lvgsl.com
a Super Bowl bear party had nothing to do with the NFL’s team from Chicago). Her advice to anyone looking to play?
“Just do good things, send out great vibes and energy, surround yourself with people who aren’t like you, and watch amazing things happen in your life,” Tracy Coleman said. “My husband and I have preached that since our kids were babies, and I think they’ve been picking up what we’ve been putting down. Every chance I get, I speak highly of the LGBT community.” The Las Vegas Gay Softball League’s season ends June 6, but will start again in the fall, with skills assessment sessions expected in September. The league is open to players of all skill LVGSL fans and players take in the action during a March Sunday of league play at Sunset Park. levels and includes two women’s divisions in addition to three “open” When Travis Coleman joined the local Softball World Series — twice in the D divisions. For more information, visit gay softball league, he was just trying division and once in the C division. He’s www.lvgsl.com. to meet new people, make new friends even had the chance to help coach his and participate in sports. He never parents’ team. expected the league would become like family or that family would For Tracy and Fred Coleman, playing become league members. in an LGBT league has been enriching But that’s exactly what happened. Coleman started out on a new team thrown together because there were extra players and not enough teams. His parents, both in their 50s, came out to his games to watch and support their son. Eventually, they joined teams, as well (each team is permitted up to three non-LGBT players), and have become mainstays in the league. “My mother joined the league and we were able to play together for my last season in the D division, which was something exceedingly special, and my father joined a year later for the following fall season,” Travis said. Since that first season, Travis’ Las Luke Uphill, of the Vegas Thunder in the LVGSL Vegas Lightning teams have three Tracy Coleman poses with her son, Travis, and D division, throws the ball to first base during a times qualified for NAGAAA’s Gay his dog Missy before their games. game at Sunset Park. Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 67
401 S. Maryland Pkwy. • Las Vegas, NV 89101 • 702-733-9800 • www.TheCenterLV.org
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THE COMMUNITY THAT WORKS TOGETHER, THRIVES TOGETHER A
BY MICHAEL DIMENGO CEO OF THE CENTER
few short weeks after I was appointed the CEO of The Center, I was visited by Gary Vrooman of the Lambda Business Association. Gary, a veteran in the LGBTQ community, spoke fondly of the many years that he had been involved in LGBTQ affairs. He was a pioneer of the movement in Southern California. He came to me with a suggestion. “It is time,” he said, “that we all come together in a larger way to serve the LGBTQ community in Southern Nevada. It is time that we bring all LGBTQ organizations together.” He spoke firsthand of other communities in Southern California promoting a wider and broader collaboration. The
gay and lesbian community centers in those areas were the catalyst of that collaboration. They were the hub of that collaboration. I have never let go of Gary’s vision for a better community here in Southern Nevada. In my perception, the LGBTQ community here is made up of a variety of diverse well-intentioned organizations, serving a variety of needs and providing a variety of services. But in many ways as I soon perceived, many of these organizations did their good work in silos. There was very little cross-communication. I did not see the type of community-building collaboration that Vrooman envisioned. That was a role of The Gay and Lesbian
Community Center of Southern Nevada since our mission is to serve and advocate for all without exception. The life of a community ebbs and flows with the passage of time, and our LGBTQ community here in Southern Nevada is no exception. This community has deep roots in LGBTQ lives that existed far before any of us and existed in many other places. And, it has never been more profoundly affected since the beginning of our LGBTQ Movement — from Stonewall in 1969 to the present. Today, our community enjoys new freedoms and recognition that it has CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE u
never enjoyed before. In addition to these new freedoms, our community enjoys a high degree of visibility. Given this extraordinary growth, you can’t continue to grow as a community based on the paradigms and obsolete practices of the past. New growth requires new ways of acting. The growth of the LGBTQ community in Southern Nevada requires new modes of communication and collaboration if we are to serve our community best. So, on Wednesday, March 23, at my invitation to a wide variety of organizations, about 20 nonprofit leaders came together to discuss our health, our need for growth, and the general welfare of the LGBTQ community. Ultimately, we envisioned that a Community Council of some sort would come together on a periodic basis (perhaps every six months), to review the health, growth, and welfare of our community and to iron out issues that need to be addressed as a whole.
We believe the times call for creating such an organization to effect greater support of our community as well as collaboratively advance the causes and issues that would support our LGBTQ movement in Southern Nevada. We believe that a lot of harm can come about by mistrust and a lack of communication. It is time that we take a proactive role in supporting and advancing our community. The idea was widely and enthusiastically supported and accepted. There was not one voice of opposition raised. Instead, one organizational leader voiced the need for a community-wide coalition to take place. And, as a first tool to mirror that collaboration, Cory Burgess of The Center demonstrated some new technology that was launched on April 1 at www. lgbtq.vegas. It is a community-wide calendar targeted to the entire LGBTQ population here in Las Vegas. It is a tool meant to assist in coordinating
event calendars among organizations as well as to promote LGBTQ activities to our community and beyond. The Community Coalition is in its organizing and infancy phase. There was consensus and agreement that we would come together again to talk about our mission, vision, and values. The planning work is underway to bring additional organizations and membership onboard. If you are a 501(c)(3) organization that serves the LGBTQ community in some fashion, we invite your participation. We ask that your organization’s leaders contact Logan Seven at lseven@thecenterlv.org, or call him at The Center at 702-802-5420. We’re trying to get as many organizational leaders involved as possible to be representative of the entire community. Please join us in making our Southern Nevada LGBTQ community healthier and stronger. Your thoughts and suggestions are appreciated! q
JOIN OUR BRILLIANT TEAM OF
IVE S N N E REHCATIO P COMX EDU ENTER EC SE H AT T
YOUTH AGES 13-19, SIGN UP TODAY FOR
FREE CLASSES IN FULL SEXUAL EDUCATION
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.
New Youth Services Manager Foresees Evolution Within QVolution R
obert Peraza was no stranger to working with young adults when he was recently promoted to the role of Youth Services Manager at The Center (in his previous role, he co-facilitated the Vegas Mpowerment Project, which focused on 18 to 30-year-old men) but the QVolution youth program, with its younger 13-24 audience, comes with its own challenges and needs. Robert shares his observations of the program’s past and present and his wishes for the future of QVolution.
Since you have recently assumed the role of Youth Services Manager, what are your observations on QVolution at the the time you took over? It seemed that many of the youth were well-informed about social justice and proficient with the language to describe the institutions of oppression (sexism, racism, heterosexism, ageism, cissexism, classism, ableism, faithism, etc.). However, it seemed like there were very few opportunities for them to apply these skills in community-based organizations that work
ROBERT PERAZA YOUTH SERVICES MANAGER
towards dismantling oppression. This is an ongoing concern and a significant inclusion issue, as sometimes as adults we can be very dismissive of the perspectives of the young. Part of activism and advocacy is self-advocacy and self-care. An alarming number of LGBTQ+ youth are insecurely housed, are unemployed/ underemployed, or are facing significant barriers to accessing healthcare systems (especially mental health and preventative care services). For them to be the most effective change agents they can be, our youth need to be able to thrive. There are many services available for the 13 to 24 year old demographic. It is often a matter of ensuring the providers are prepared to meet the needs of queer and gender diverse youth, and then making sure youth are aware of the services and prepared to access them. What challenges, if any, do you find yourself facing with the program? Likewise, what positives have you experienced in these past few
months? It is so easy to fall into the trap of wanting to protect our youth so much that we inadvertently harm them by not partnering with organizations that can meet their needs better than us due to capacity constraints. Most youth-serving organizations genuinely want to assist youth, but have outdated training on gender, sexuality, orientation and identity. My responsibility is to educate leadership and find those staff at those organizations that can champion for LGBTQ cultural competency internally. A significant positive trend I am seeing is that our youth are becoming much more eager to partner with other programs internally at The Center (i.e. Women’s Programming, Trans Programming, HIV Services, Senior Services), and we’re seeing more youth becoming volunteers internally. Sometimes, we adults promulgate the myth of youth apathy by treating it as a bygone conclusion and not asking youth to partner or be involved. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE u
Our Volunteer Coordinator, Nicol, has also helped me identify volunteers with ‘hidden’ talents that lend themselves to activities and workshops for our youth. For example, our volunteer Frank is a retired chef, and he is now teaching a monthly cooking class for our youth where they are learning a valuable life skill. How has the program changed since you became Youth Services Manager, either through your own efforts or organically? As The Center as a whole evolves from being primarily social/support group oriented to doing more direct human services work, so is QVolution. We are weaving more developmental programming in with our social activities, using a sandwich method: Youth enjoy some unstructured socialization with their peers on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6pm
to 6:30pm, followed by educational programming (Comprehensive Sex Ed, Financial Literacy, or Social Justice Workshops, depending on the month) from 6:30pm-7:30pm. Then, after a 15-minute break, we usually have a group recreational social activity until 9 p.m., such as a game, discussion, arts and crafts session, movie/tv show viewing, etc. This approach “sandwiches” educational programming in between the opportunities for peer socialization and support that draw the youth to The Center. Youth also receive incentives for their participation and completion of the Sex Ed and Financial Literacy Programs. What evolution do you hope will happen with the QVolution program as time goes on? My aspiration for Qvolution is sustainability, in two areas: 1 — A program model that is sustain-
able in staying consistent with community needs and, where appropriate, funding trends. It is imperative that we find ways to prepare and network our youth while educating employers on inclusive policies and practices for trans* and gender non-conforming youth. It is also absolutely essential that we address the HIV, mental health, and housing insecurity disparities facing LGBTQ+ youth. 2 — Sustainable relationship-building with our youth. How awful would it be for a youth to turn 25 and discover that there is no longer anything of value for them at The Center? We are exploring ways to develop additional “Bridge” programming to keep young adults connected to The Center. “Bridge” programs work best with a built in overlap of age frames to allow a transition period between them trying out a new group and aging out of Qvolution. q
David R. Parks Lending Library experiences continuous growth thanks to community donations W
hen The Center moved into its previous home in Commercial Center, a small room was dedicated to establishing an LGBTQ-focused library in Las Vegas, named in honor of openly gay State Senator David R. Parks. The shelves were soon stocked full of books generously donated from our community. After The Center moved downtown in 2013 and became more visible, the number of books donated each month steadily increased. Located in The Center’s spacious MGM Resorts International Great Room, the library shelves are now full of nearly 5,000 paperbacks and hardbacks as well as hundreds of DVDs. The David R. Parks Lending Library is a little-known treasure that covers every corner of our LGBTQ community. “Our library is a lot more inclusive than people may think. We have new
categories such as bisexual fiction, polyamorous fiction and fetish fiction,” says Julian Concepcion, the Center staffer who manages the library. “And we are currently improving our transgender section, both nonfiction and fiction.” The works of many local authors may be found in the library, including Taking the Scenic Route to Manhood by Jeremy Wallace, The Queerling by Austin Gary and If I Told You So by Anthony Woodward. When asked what his favorite book from the library is, Concepcion named Queer in Aztlán: Chicano Male Recollections of Consciousness and Coming Out. Borrowing a book or DVD from the David R. Parks Lending Library is free of
charge for Nevada residents and may be done at the information and referral desk during regular Center business hours. A guest may borrow up to four books and two DVDs for a two-week period, with renewals available. To keep informed about new additions to the library, special news from the book world and announcements of author signings and readings, follow the David R. Parks Lending Library at www.facebook.com/lgbtqlibraryofSN. To view the current card catalog, visit www.thecenterlv.org/services/library. See the wish list on the Facebook page for book donations specifically requested for the library. Contact Concepcion at 702-802-5413 with any questions before donating. The Center is open Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-10 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-3 p.m., except on most holidays. q
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