Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine - Issue 32

FEMALE SEXUAL ORIENTATION GENETICS RESEARCH DEPENDS ON YOU

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CONTENTS VOLUME 6, ISSUE 32

07 08 10 14 18 26 27 30 31

PRIDE OUTside Group Hiking Events

By Brady McGill

A Letter from the Editor

By Joslyn Hatfield

Celebrating LGBTQ Black Womxn in Business

By Nicole Williams

Sum of Us: Connect, Learn, and Grow

By Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine Staff

The Show Must Go On: An Interview with Keyska Diva

By Joslyn Hatfield

MX Native UNLV Annika Roseen

By Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine Staff

Optimistic About the Future

By Veronica D. Joseph

Save Our Bars: The Phoenix

By Joslyn Hatfield

Credit Card Debt: Problems, Fixes, and Prevention

By Freddy Lopez

32 34 38 39 40 30 46 48 49 57

ClexaCon

58

Telling Our Stories

By Joslyn Hatfield

Finding Common Ground

By Latoya Holman

The Center Adapts Programming

By Clair Koetitz

Henderson EQ Center

By Sarah Mitchell

Crushing It with Kortney Olson

By Joslyn Hatfield

PRIDE Explorer Series

By Stacy Sakamoto

HerStory Movement

By Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine Staff

You Are Not Alone

By Lupie Janos

A’Ja Wilson

By Lupie Janos

Justice Denied: The Death of Giovanni Melton

By Brady McGill

By Lupie Janos

PUBLISHER Southern Nevada Association of PRIDE, Inc. EDITOR Joslyn Hatfield LAYOUT & DESIGN Jake Naylor ADVERTISING Brady McGill PHOTOGRAPHY Yev Z Photography, Ned Dishman (Getty Images) ON THE COVER Keyska Diva at The Phoenix Bar & Lounge COVER PHOTO Yev Z Photography CONTRIBUTORS Joslyn Hatfield, Latoya Holman, Lupie Janos, Veronica D. Joseph, Clair Koetitz, Freddy Lopez, Brady McGill, Sarah Mitchell, Stacy Sakamoto, Nicole Williams 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 brady@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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By Brady McGill

GROUP HIKING EVENTS The Las Vegas PRIDE OUTside Hike program began in July of 2015.

Community members requested a new event – something LGBT+ focused, all-ages, not in a bar, free to attend, and fun! Brady McGill, then Secretary of the PRIDE Board, had a history of outdoor exploring and took on the project. Now in its fifth year, the PRIDE OUTside Hikes have become a welcome way to get some exercise, mingle with new people, and explore some beautiful scenery in the greater Las Vegas area.

Our featured trail for the next hike will be “The Historic Railroad Tunnel Trail”, located in Boulder City. This trail is built on the remnants of the train track built to transport equipment and supplies for the construction of the Hoover Dam. The trail is well-maintained, level, and nearly flat, making it a very welcoming trail for hikers of all experience levels. This trail is also accessible to those needing mobility assistance (we have had participants join us in wheelchairs in the past).

In 2020, the PRIDE OUTside Hikes have been the only in-person events hosted by Las Vegas PRIDE. These events are able to be conducted with proper health and safety precautions and are outdoor events. With inperson events a rarity, it is so nice to have the chance to catch up with friends and experience some social interaction all while spending time outdoors and getting some exercise!

On the PRIDE Hikes, we travel 2.1 miles along the trail, from the parking area adjacent to the Alan Bible Visitor’s Center to a picnic area with water fountain and a restroom.

There, we take a break before returning to the trailhead. Along the way, we pass through tunnels created for the train and equipment to make their way down to the construction sites, beautiful desert

landscapes, and stunning views over Lake Mead.

If you plan to attend a hike, please take some precautions with appropriate footwear and clothing. Wear sunscreen and bring snacks and plenty of water! If you have any questions or would like to connect with Brady, please email him at: hike@lasvegaspride.org.

Upcoming Events: Second Sundays Monthly - 10am (No events December-January) February 14, 2021 Historic Railroad Tunnel March 14, 2021 Calico Basin (Kraft Mountain Loop) The entire 2021 hiking schedule and additional information is available online at: LasVegasPRIDE.org

Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 7

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Welcome Readers!

2021 has arrived and I am delighted to usher in the new year by writing my first letter to the Las Vegas LGBTQ+ community as the editor of Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine. We have closed the door on one of the most challenging years in modern history. The world has changed and we have too.

So much so that it would be comical to try to summarize everything we overcame. You were there.

And we made it. I’ll leave it at that. We are clearly not out of the woods yet, but I can’t help but embrace the coming months with a hopeful heart.

I am excited to present the most talented and diverse PRIDE Magazine staff ever. We’ve aligned our content strategy to our mission to be a true LGBTQ+ community resource. And we are introducing an optimized digital offering to reflect media consumption habits in the age of COVID-19 and beyond.

Our first issue is dedicated to stories of LGBTQ+ womxn and allies. These are many of the womxn who move us. They educate us, entertain us and the most importantly, inspire us. And so, we start the year by celebrating the undeniable power of womxn like we never have before.

We may want to forget 2020, but I implore you, please don’t. Reflect on the extraordinary events (bad and good). And steady yourself for the journey ahead. We need each other now more than ever. Welcome to the Las Vegas PRIDE Womxn’s Issue.

In Pride, Joslyn Hatfield Editor, Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine

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Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 11

Connect, Learn, and Grow No Matter What is Happening Around You

By Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine Staff Madison Eker (she/her) is a trailblazer in the LGBTQ+ wellness industry.

The founder and CEO of Sum of Us Festival – the first wellness festival for the womxn, trans, and gender nonconforming communities has been featured in magazines, podcasts and is a frequent speaker on wellness, consciousness, and authenticity. Eker is revolutionizing the way wellness manifests within her communities by bringing diversity and inclusion to the forefront.

Yet, there was an absence of places that focused on connection (to self and others). “Not only that, but our community sadly has the highest rates of mental health issues, depression, and suicide,” said Eker.

The vision of Sum of Us was to begin to combat those terrible statics and revolutionize the LGBTQ+ community.

“I dreamt of a place where we could be our authentic selves and talk about what’s really going on underneath,” she said. “I wanted to create that fun,

“I never felt understood until I found my place in the LGBTQ+ community” Long before COVID-19 was a part of daily life, Eker felt strongly about the importance of fostering a supportive community. “I never felt understood until I found my place in the LGBTQ+ community,” she said. “Growing up, I felt like I was in an isolated bubble.

I didn’t know another queer person until I was in my 20s.”

She sensed that people ultimately sought the one thing, connection.

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authentic, safe space where wellness and growth were at the forefront.”

“Two years of planning and production went into the live festival,” she said. To say that the 2020 live festival cancelation was devastating would be a gross understatement.

Sustaining financial loss was one thing. Seeing the safe space of her dreams slip away was almost insurmountable. Almost.

When the pandemic hit, the Sum of Us team pivoted to a virtual event. While not the same, the event was extremely successful. The introduction of new programming met the evolving needs of a community left in peril from isolation, depression, and extreme stress.

With the introduction of Sum of Us Connect, the team channeled the feelings of hope and connection from the virtual festival into a weekly wellness series incorporating a mix of modalities to keep the community together, learning, and growing.

2021 will see more community connection and a continued focus on SUM OF US CONNECT.” It’s an affordable, no-commitment membership that allows you to heal with other womxn, trans, and nonbinary community members while having access to mental, physical, creative, and sexual workshops,” said Eker.

The Sum of Us virtual festival is scheduled for early Spring. Eker and team look forward to the day when the live festival becomes a reality. Follow them on Instagram @sumofusfest or for more information, visit sumofusfest.com.

Mandy Potter (she/her) COO

Madison Eker is a trailblazer in the LGBTQ+ wellness industry. She is the founder and CEO of Sum of Us Festival – the first wellness festival for the womxn, trans, and gender non-conforming communities.

Mandy Potter was named Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year in 2019 by Startup Canada. Potter is a director, speaker, judge for Lesbians Who Tech, and panelist for Women Who Code.

Yinka Freeman (she/her) Event Coordinator

Jess Weiner (they/them) Event Manager

Yinka Freeman is the founder of Triple Pocket Events, a full-service event planning firm in San Diego, California. Freeman brings 15+ years of international hospitality experience, restaurant & catering management to the team.

Jess Weiner is a Trans/Non-Binary Disability advocate. Jess works as an Event Manager and Creative Producer of queer-based events, offering safe spaces to celebrate queer culture and diversity.

MEET THE SUM OF US TEAM

Madison Eker (she/her) Founder & CEO

Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 15

MEET THE SUM OF US TEAM

Mira Rawady (she/her) Social Media Manager

Jamie Tobin, (she/her) Ticketing Manager

Mira Rawady loved finding people who can benefit from SOU’s wellness services and integrating them into the community.

Jamie Tobin is a native Californian based in Berlin, Germany, and manages ticket operations. She has 10+ years of experience in music and events and cannot go a day without eating dark chocolate.

Her largest event to date is Burning Man.

Megan Morley, (she/her) Outreach & Engagement

Kane Andrade, (he/him) Videographer

Megan Morley works to connect, engage, and advocate with Sum of Us. She’s currently pursuing both a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Technical Theatre.

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Kane C. Andrade is a trans masculine photographer, videographer, and 3D animator based in the Bay Area. He has worked with artists Bad Bunny, Troy Sivon, Martin Garrix, Ink Master: Angels, Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and Rockmsakura.

THE SHOW MUST GO ON Talking Royalty, Resilience and 3rd Degree Burns with Keyska Diva Interview By Joslyn Hatfield Photography by Yev Z Photography

You have to get up pretty early in the morning to get a jump on Keyska Diva. Already a six-time titleholder, Keyska visited Las Vegas for the first time in 2006. Three months later, she pulled up stakes in Texas and made the Las Vegas valley her home. She has represented national brands and advocated for the LGBTQ+ communities through her involvement in innumerable projects

across the Southwest United States and she knows a thing or two about putting on a show.

Keyska can keep you laughing or render you speechless within the confines of a single conversation.

And she is everything a true diva should be ďż˝ glamorous, sassy, smart, and funny - no surprises there. What sets her apart is the subtle warmth

that tinges her persona. She draws you in with the trappings of glitter and glam, but you want to stay because she is effortlessly a star and welcomes anyone interested warmly to have a taste of her world.

She has an impressive history of community involvement that speaks for itself. The titleholder, entertainer, cover girl, and stylist currently

“glamorous, sassy, smart, and funny�

Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 19

performs at least two shows a week at The Phoenix, where she serves as the Entertainment Director and Jill/ Jackie of All Trades. The whirlwind pace of nightly shows was never a problem for our Diva, but things all took an abrupt and unexpected turn in early 2020.

“Like everyone else, The Phoenix was at a standstill,” Keyska said.

“We were fortunate to have existing foodservice operations that we were able to open when we came out of the shutdown.” The shift represents a common scenario for the LGBTQ+ bar community forced to reimagine their business model to stay viable in the era for social distancing and stay at home orders.

“The changes were difficult. But, it has been refreshing to see an entirely new clientele embrace us,” she adds. “The pandemic gave us the unique opportunity to connect with people on a personal level. People are seeking connection right now, so they are more vulnerable, and some of the conversations are incredibly intimate and real.” It speaks to the vital role that LGBTQ+ bars and businesses play in our community.

Like so many others, Keyska struggled with isolation at the onset of the pandemic. “At the beginning, I was struggling really hard,” she confessed.

“I live alone, so I didn’t have anyone to quarantine with � except my fur baby.” She spoke about her feelings of isolation shared by many who are distanced from their chosen families in the local LGBTQ+ community.

“I am a really social person, and then one day, without warning, nearly all of my human contact was just gone.

I struggled with that,” she shared. “I was lonely. But in hindsight, it was a blessing because it allowed me to ground myself. And as a result, I have rekindled friendships and reconnected with some amazing people. For that, I am grateful.”

The former Ms. Las Vegas PRIDE 2012 reflects fondly on her reign. “I have so many great memories with Las 20 | Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine

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Vegas PRIDE!” she said. “Before I was Ms. Las Vegas PRIDE, I was part of the 2011 Royalty Contingency. We were all really close. We traveled together and made all of our own costumes. It was hard work, but also a lot of fun!”

She reflected fondly on the rights of passage for the Las Vegas PRIDE contingency at the time. “We had costume-making workshops, and the joke was if you don’t burn yourself at least once with the glue gun, you are not doing it right.”

Las Vegas PRIDE Adult Royalty Titles represent countless hours of volunteering, dedication, and hard work. Titleholders interact with local government, businesses, and other institutions and engage in publicfacing interaction and service. By any measure, titleholders become the face of Las Vegas PRIDE during their reign. They represent Las Vegas and the PRIDE Board at events and take thousands of photos with attendees, encouraging them to come to our annual Las Vegas PRIDE events.

“We had costume-making workshops, and the joke was if you don’t burn yourself at least once with the glue gun, you are not doing it right.”

Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 23

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The importance of being a positive representative was never lost on Keyska. “To be effective in the role of Ms. PRIDE, you have to stay true to yourself, but at the same time be willing to listen to others,” she said. “It’s important to try to help the charities and organizations you truly believe in. It’s not just walking around with a crown and pretty costumes,” she added. “You have to do the work.”

Connect with Keyska Diva on social media: Instagram: @keyskadiva @industrialdiva1 @thephoenixlv Facebook: facebook.com/ariel.everitts.7

“It’s important to try to help the charities and organizations you truly believe in. It’s not just walking around with a crown and pretty costumes.

You have to do the work.”

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MX NATIVE UNLV

ANNIKA ROSEEN

REPRESENTATION, ACTIVISM AND MENTAL HEALTH

By Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine Staff

The Mx. Native UNLV Pageant was introduced in 2018 by the Native American Student Association (NASA) to provide a platform for Indigenous leaders to enact meaningful change and advocate for issues important to them. Mx. Native UNLV, Annika Roseen came to embody these values by advocating for changes in diversity that have made the title more inclusive than ever.

“Prior to 2020, the pageant was called the “Miss Native UNLV Pageant,” said Roseen.” NASA was already moving towards language that was more inclusive of the full spectrum of identities within the Native community, and she saw an opportunity to advance that work.

“Mx honors all expressions of gender identity,” she said, “We felt this allowed Native American students to compete as their authentic selves, so we moved to implement the change.”

Roseen understands the power of language and felt it was critical that the interest of the full community be represented. “As a member of the queer community myself, I knew the importance of being seen,” she said.

Roseen also uses her platform to bring awareness to the national epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous 26 | Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine

Women. As reported by the National College of American Indians Policy Research Center, Indigenous women and two-spirit people are more than twice as likely to experience sexual violence, domestic and intimate partner violence, sex and human trafficking, and deaths than their non-native peers. She uses the visibility of her title to bring awareness to the initiative.

“Many indigenous researchers are doing amazing work on Indigenous people’s experiences of disease and mental health issues impacting our people at extremely high rates,” said Roseen. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), members of indigenous communities share many burdens, including education and healthcare disparities, discrimination, and mental health challenges rooted in a long history of trauma. The result of this trauma includes mental illness, substance use disorders, and suicide.

“Indigenous wellness is integrating more aspects of mental health today, which is incredibly helpful for addressing systemic issues and cycles of trauma,” she said. “Trauma is a barrier to healthy individuals and communities.” Roseen is particularly excited to begin training as a peerto-peer advocate. “I derive a lot of fulfillment from my involvement with NAMI,” she said. “When I complete the training, I will be able to lead a class that helps individuals cope and live healthy lives with mental illness.”

Roseen credits NAMI Program Coordinator Ashley Floyd for nurturing her passion for mental health.

“Meeting her changed so many things

for me,” she said. “I really found my calling for non-profit work and investment in my community while volunteering under her.” The passion she observed from her colleague for helping others inspired her to pursue her own calling in mental health. “Her passion is infectious, and when I was beginning to pursue Native American activism, she was the push I needed to get involved in a more significant way.”

Roseen counts fellow student leader Ryan Boone and mentor Jonnette Paddy as her most cherished collaborators. “Ryan is my coworker at the Student Diversity and Social Justice center,” she said. “He does amazing work promoting language retention and education about preserving culture.” Former titleholder Jonnette Paddy makes that list as well. “She is a strong Navajo woman that I really look up to,” said Roseen. “She’s a great support and inspiration for me in learning about my culture and creating projects that support our people.”

Roseen remains grounded by engaging with her support system and dedication herself to her studies and advocacy work. She hopes to travel internationally with her girlfriend when it is safe to do so and pursue a career as a mental health provider.

For now, she will settle for improving the health outcomes for her community through advocacy and escape her troubles with the occasional slasher movie marathon with mom.

Dr. Christina Madison is

Optimistic About the Future The well-regarded pharmacist discusses COVID-19 vaccination efforts in Nevada.

By Veronica D. Joseph On January 31, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global health emergency.

Just a week prior, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced that it had identified the first COVID-19 case in the US. Although the WHO was reporting 200+ deaths and 9,800+ cases worldwide, it would be another two months before former US President Trump recognized the COVID-19 pandemic as a national emergency and released federal funding to fight the spread of the disease.

The pandemic continues to wreak havoc on society over a year later.

At the time of this publication, there were over 1.9 million deaths and 89 million cases worldwide. In Nevada, the surge continues with 3,409 deaths and 244,166 cases, marking a grim start to the new year.

The US Food and Drug Administration issued emergency authorization for two COVID-19 vaccines in December 2020 that have shown high degrees of efficacy. The Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccine are both approximately 95% effective at reducing the risk of getting sick from COVID-19.

Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 27

It remains to be seen whether the vaccines will prevent asymptomatic infection, if people can transmit the virus if they become infected and do not show symptoms. Both vaccines require two shots and weeks between doses. The Southern Nevada Health District developed a tiered prioritization structure to help manage the state’s limited supply of vaccines.

PRIDE Magazine caught up with infectious disease and immunization expert Dr. Christina Madison to gain a deeper understanding of the state’s vaccination program and process.

The Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Roseman University of Health Sciences and CEO of The Public Health Pharmacist gave her perspective on administering the vaccine.

This is an edited and condensed version of our conversation.

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What is a vaccine POD? A system called the National Incident Management System was developed around the 1980s in response to wildfires. It later became the standard for how government agencies handle mass vaccinations, casualties, or disaster exercises.* The term POD stands for “point of distribution.”

I’ve participated in PODs with the Nevada Health District for a decade.

But things are different for COVID19 because there are parameters for things such as social distancing.

How are people responding to getting the vaccine?

There is a wide range of reactions.

The first person I immunized was crying and said, “These are happy tears, I swear.” On the other end of the spectrum, another woman was extremely hesitant and made it very clear that she was only doing it because she works in a medical

center that requires it. Everyone who I personally immunized and spoke to understood the gravity of what they were participating in; so, most people were very thankful. This is what we need to do to really help us get out of the pandemic.

How is administering the COVID-19 vaccine different?

For our typical vaccination, you can use part of it, put it back in the refrigerator, and use the dose later. For the COVID vaccine, once you take it out of the refrigerator, you have to take many steps before you can use it, and you have to use it within six hours.

We cannot take it out and not have people to give it to, or we will waste the doses. I think that is what people do not realize - the reason why we are not going so fast is because we cannot waste vaccines. This is precious inventory. This is lifesaving, and we don’t want to take a vaccine out and not have anyone to give it to.

There’s a lot of misinformation and fear about the vaccine. Why should someone get the vaccine?

For me, I look at the vaccine as hope.

Hope for a future when we won’t have to wear masks or be separated without connection to people because we have to keep a physical distance. But it’s also about protecting the health of our communities.

“I look at the vaccine as hope.”

I’ve spoken to a lot of people who have lost a loved one during the pandemic. If they could have taken a vaccine six months ago to prevent that person from dying, I think they would have.

What did you learn from your experience working during the H1N1 pandemic that you are applying now to COVID-19?

We can do this. We have done this before. We have done mass vaccination campaigns that have vaccinated 80% of our community.

So, I’m hopeful that the incoming administration will prioritize organization and implementation processes that will help us achieve better outcomes. I don’t think it is too late.

What do you think about Nevada’s response to the pandemic?

I was impressed by the way the PODs were conducted during the first week. We vaccinated 600 people in four hours. From the appointment time, to the duration each person must be in observation. All of those little details were managed well.

When additional community partners come online who can operate a POD, it really will accelerate how many people are being immunized.

What questions do you feel are not being asked or considered when it comes to COVID-19?

It would be easier if we had a coordinated effort and a clear vision for how that effort will be backed financially.

I don’t currently see any subgroups being disenfranchised because we are tackling the Tier 1 group. But it will be important to be mindful of populations such as people of color and the LGBT community because they often suffer from homelessness and challenges with mental health.

We must find a way to get the vaccine to them. There has been discussion about using what we call strike teams for patient populations that are hard to reach and don’t have reliable transportation to access care.

What are you doing to stay healthy during the pandemic?

I have been very cautious, and I do not dine indoors. Studies have shown that indoor dining and bars are high-risk areas for infection. I will dine outdoors, and many places have heaters now. But I can’t tell you the last time I dined inside.

How have you changed from when you started as a pharmacist?

others, especially vulnerable populations. I’ve spent a decade working for the health department, advocating for public health, and helping the public understand why we need it.

Public health isn’t just vaccination – it’s clean water, clean air, it’s streets that are paved so that you don’t have a car accident, it’s sidewalks so that people can access public transportation, so they don’t get hit by a car, disaster preparedness… it’s so many things.

If I wanted to volunteer and help, where should I start?

You can sign up through Battle Born Medical Corps. You can be a non-medical or medical person, and you would tell them where you live and where you’re willing to be a volunteer. * The United States Department of Homeland Security established The National Incident Management System (NIMS) in 2004. In Riverside, California, the United States Forest Service Forest Fire Laboratory developed the Incident Command System (ICS) in the 1970s in response to a series of catastrophic fires in California and integrated ICS into NIMS in 2004.

My love for public health has grown.

I’ve always had this desire to help Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 29

Q: How has your clientele changed over the last year?

Heins: It’s been a challenge to navigate the various mandates, protocols, and rules necessary to operate in the current environment. It’s been interesting to see a pretty clear difference among various generations on “going out.” We have seen our younger clientele largely adhering to recommendations to stay home. But the older crowd is still coming. One of our customers said, “gay bars are like our church; we need these places.” I don’t know that we expected that.

SAVE OUR BARS

THE PHOENIX BAR & LOUNGE

An Interview with Landon Heins

By Joslyn Hatfield It wasn’t so very long ago that the LGBTQ+ community existed largely in the shadows. Finding and fostering community was scarce, difficult, and often downright dangerous, which might partially explain why gay bars have served as an unyielding bedrock in recent LGBTQ+ history.

The cultural, historical, and community impact of LGBTQ+ bars (gay bars) cannot be overstated. As the COVID-19 global pandemic has left us isolated, thick in the thighs, and more anxious than ever, we are issuing a call to action: Save Our Bars.

This series will explore some of the few LGBTQ+ spaces that remain and fight like hell to keep every last queer space we have.

The SOBS starts with The Phoenix Bar & Lounge, the location for our cover shoot, and the home of the one and only Ms. Keyska Diva. We caught up with owner Landon Heins for a fireside chat.

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Q: You recently celebrated your 7th Anniversary. What advice would you give your former self about running this business before you started?

Heins: Follow your gut, open a kitchen and be patient. The kitchen operations have really saved us during the pandemic. It has allowed us to stay connected to the community and maintain a viable way to survive and keep our people employed.

Q: Can you tell us more about how you have adapted in light of the pandemic?

Heins: We embraced all of the safety requirements and capacity limitations. But we also completely revamped our operations to make it work for our customers and staff.

More physical space between our patrons meant we needed additional staff to ensure that our service standards were maintained. It was a shift.

But we have made it work.

When you consider that isolation is linked to all kinds of negative mental health outcomes like depression, anxiety (or worse, suicide), it really becomes even more clear that gay bars and other spaces like this need to be open. People need them. There has been a lot of talk about the “hidden pandemic,” and isolation is a big part of that for our community.

What is it about LGBTQ+ bars that meets these needs for connection?

There is power in our ability to gather.

Our bars provide a physical space to come together. I think they also offer people a place to be accepted for who they are, have fun, and enjoy life. The Phoenix is very much come-as-youare. We provide a place for our community to gather, we embrace our allies, and we try to build people up where we can. We are hopeful that we will continue to move towards “opening back up.” The economy has suffered, businesses have suffered, and people have too. We are hopeful for better days ahead.

Better days indeed.

The Phoenix is located at 4213 W Sahara Ave. At the time of this publication, reservations are highly recommended as the Nevada State Mandates operating at 25% capacity and a four-person limit per table. Reservations can be made at thephoenixlv.com or by calling (702) 826-2422 for more information.

CREDIT CARD DEBT:

PROBLEMS, FIXES, AND PREVENTION

By Freddy Lopez America’s outstanding credit card debt topped $930 billion in 2019, according to the statistics from the Federal Reserve. On a practical level, the average indebted household owes more than $8,000, the highest amount since the start of the Great Recession, according to a recent study from credit card search engine CardHub. Long-term retirement savings are up, a positive, but many hard-earned lessons from the recession are not being observed, including the need for an emergency fund and a reassessment of spending habits.

THE FIXES Make a list of what you owe monthly per card and the card’s annual percentage rate (APR). Have a specific goal in mind for cutting debt like “I want to pay $50 per month per card over the minimum” or “I want to cut total monthly payments by $200.”

Pay the minimum on everything except the card with the highest balance, on which you pay more. Or pay more on the card you owe the least on. That way you’ve paid off a few cards entirely and feel like you’ve made progress. Once a particular card is paid off, keep the account open, but don’t use it and you’ll increase your credit capacity longterm.

Meanwhile pay off and close out the accounts on the credit cards that are the most tempting: department or chain-store specific cards. Swapping out these niche cards for more

traditional credit cards may help you spend less.

Seek the help of non-profit credit counselors that can help you cut your debt and create a budget. Try the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC). Check out the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the country’s consumer protection agency as well.

Sudden medical expenses are the leading cause of personal bankruptcy, according to a recent study¹. And the chances that you will be too ill or injured to work at some time in your working life are one in four².

If you are part of the full-time workforce, you should take advantage of health insurance and disability insurance, either offered through your employer or independently. Also take advantage of your company’s retirement plan if it has one.

Of course, contributing to all these considerations – retirement and insurance – reduces your immediate available income.

But making such moves now may help you handle future expenses that would otherwise push you into a credit card crunch.

PREVENTION Planning for bad times and unexpected expenses in the present is a key part of avoiding credit card debt problems in the future.

Experts agree that everyone should have an emergency fund. That way if you get into trouble again, it’s better to cash out that fund than to add to your credit card debt.

¹NerdWallet Health finds Medical Bankruptcy accounts for majority of personal bankruptcies, 2013. ²Council for Disability Awareness 2015 Long-Term Disability Claims Review.

Provided by Freddy Lopez, courtesy of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual). © 2016 Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, Springfield, MA 01111-0001 FY1084 / CRN201809-204858

But it’s also important to recognize that you will get older and may have health issues down the road. Without preparation, these developments often lead people to turn to their credit cards and subsequently get burdened with overwhelming credit card debt again.

Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 31

By Joslyn Hatfield

The first and largest multi-fandom event for LGBTQ+ women and allies, ClexaCon, brings together thousands of diverse LGBTQ+ fans and content creators from around the globe in Las Vegas to celebrate positive representation in media. In three short years, the event has already re-invented itself twice over.

2021 will see the introduction of new programming, better opportunities to connect, and an aggressive strategy to realize the full potential for an inclusive community. With an eye for honoring the voices of its dedicated assortment of fandoms, world-class creators, and virtually everyone in between, the genesis of ClexaCon continues in a most refreshing way.

The path to leading the undisputed mother of all queer multi-fandom events could not have been more different for newly appointed Executive Directors Stacy Calvert and Kimberly Hooper. Calvert managed the ClexaCon Film Festival for three years prior to taking on her new role, focused largely on nurturing the needs of the fanbase moving forward. “Experiencing each phase of our journey as an organization has been fascinating,� she said.

Executive Director Kimberly Hooper first attended the event on a whim with her wife, Jaclyn. “I first attended with my wife because she wanted to come,” she said. “I worked for most of the time before finally exploring the convention floor and panels.”

The long-time operations professional explained that it was her attraction to the passions in others that attracted her most. By the second year, she had signed on as a henna tattoo vendor and spent a lot of time meeting people in the vendor hall. “The panels that first year are what really hooked me.” And just like that, a dynamic leadership duo was formed.

“We joined countless event producers in dedicating months to an event that never materialized,” said Calvert.

“So, it’s exciting to be in a position to finally launch some of the things that were developed but had to be postponed because of the pandemic.”

ClexaCon took significant steps to remain connected to its dedicated community during a year of unrest, isolation, and lockdowns. But, establishing meaningful ways to connect with a massive international community in varying degrees of lockdown and isolation was a tall order.

The con maintained relevance by embracing the global shift to virtual events. Notable highlights included hosting a virtual film festival, joining a collaborative of other womxn-serving organizations to present SQ:UAD Festival, and hosting PubCon, a virtual celebration of literature (by and for the ClexaCon Community).

Lessons learned will figure prominently in the future for ClexaCon. “ClexaCon has had to overcome some growing pains, but continuous improvement has been a focus for us, and that will carry on this year and beyond,” said Hooper.

The pair is proud of the significant effort that has gone into implementing meaningful changes for future events. “When we return in-person, we will have introduced technology that will allow us to receive and

respond to feedback from attendees in real-time,” Hooper explained.

She is quick to point out that managing a brand that inspires intense emotion is a blessing. “It’s an honor to be a part of something people are passionate about,” she said.

“When people stop caring, you are in trouble.”

“The energy moving forward will be very collaborative,” said Calvert. “The

intent is to continue to celebrate queer content in every possible way, but also introduce a lot of resources to help creators and community members be successful.”

With a community of over 4,000 LGBTQ+ womxn committed to both giving and receiving support, ClexaCon is poised to help revolutionize the experience of queer womxn in media and beyond.

“ClexaCon has had to overcome some growing pains, but continuous improvement has been a focus.”

Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 33

FINDING COMMON

GROUND

Like many people, I have bouts of loss, anger, fear, shame, pride and even triumph when I think of 2020.

As I dare to have a vision and dreams for Nevadans and for our country in 2021, I am filled with energy, focus, and hope. My vision for all of us? To embrace respect, learn with openness, focus on common ground, have empathy for others, and collaborate like our future depends on it.

To many, these words may feel idealistic and utopian, but to me, my priorities and my expectations of those around me couldn’t be clearer.

Ensuring that my values are aligned with those with whom I surround myself in work and in my personal life is key to my vision for our community.

I am the child of two humble Black leaders. My mother and father taught me at a young age that in the end, it’s service to others that matters. My goal for 2021 is to continue my work with various organizations, 34 | Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine

encouraging them to lean into what they have in common and to identify as many collaborative efforts as possible in an effort to strengthen their independent missions and increase the impact in our community exponentially.

I have the honor of serving many organizations that play a critical role in the betterment of lives in Nevada to include; 2020 Jameson

By Latoya Holman

Fellowship, Impact NV Blue Ribbon Panel Steering Committee on Social and Racial Equity, Nevada School of the Arts, Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada, Social CirKISH, Chairwoman of the Discovery Children’s Museum DEI Advisory Council, MaxStar Urban Arts Foundation, NAACP Las Vegas, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).

This Page: At Left: Sean VanGorder and Latoya Holman Below: Latoya Holman with the late Congressman John Lewis Opposite Page: Top: Hillary Clinton speaks with Latoya Holman and other women.

Bottom: Latoya Holman with her Line Sisters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.

As the Director of Community Outreach for the LVMPD Foundation, I also take my role in ensuring that our LVMPD officers have what they need to strengthen relationships with those that they serve seriously.

Building bridges between communities of color, in particular the Black

with law enforcement and the Black community.

As a member of the Executive Committee of the National Board of Governors for HRC (the largest LGBT civil rights organization in the country), fighting for equality means we

“our power is in the intersections of our missions” community, is vital to this work. In the spirit of learning with openness, I managed the LVMPD Foundation’s Unite for Heroism Gala, which brought together three powerful Black female leaders of Las Vegas to celebrate the heroism of LVMPD officers while also focusing on the importance of improving relations

can’t afford to let anyone fall through the cracks. Working with diverse organizations like the NAACP Las Vegas reminds me of the struggles on the shoulders of our youth regardless of their color, background, orientation, or identity.

Our youth are in crisis. I’m working hard to do more for them and do

better by them. In the spirit of collaboration, I coordinated the partnership with HRC and the NAACP Las Vegas for the Martin Luther King Day of Service on January 18, 2021, which impacted over 3,000 children in Las Vegas and brought together ten different organizations in honor of Dr. King.

Thinking back on how this all started, I’m reminded of a dinner with friends. The dinner was in honor of an incredible woman named Judy. It was my first time meeting her. It was clear to me that my friends had deep reverence for her. After dinner, Judy told me about her son Matthew.

Her son Matthew Shepard was abducted, tortured and left for dead tied to a fence in Laramie Wyoming.

Matthew died in a hospital shortly after being found. After telling me about her beautiful son, Judy encouraged me to make a commitment to my work with the Human Rights Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 35

Campaign and to speak for her son, who could no longer speak for himself.

As I reflect on meeting Judy Shepard, now a personal hero of mine, I’m humbled by the lesson that she taught me without even knowing it. I learned that our power is in the intersections of our missions. At the time, she represented the Matthew Shepard Foundation but was advocating for the Human Rights Campaign.

The power in that moment was in our common ground.

brilliance of art (Nevada School of the Arts), in fighting for equality for all (HRC), and as a Black woman, I believe in knowing where you came from to know where you are going (NAACP Las Vegas).

I honor Judy Shepard and many other leaders and personal mentors for providing a path for me to obtain that vision and clarity.

Although my community work is broad, I see a clear connection between all of the organizations that I serve. I believe in our future female leaders (Girl Scouts of Southern NV), in providing development opportunities for at-risk youth (Social CirKISH), in recognizing the gift of diversity (Discovery Children’s Museum), in celebrating the uniqueness and

Top: Latoya Holman and various members of the Divine Nine (black sororities and fraternities) Above: Latoya Holman with Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States of America Left from left: Chasten Buttigieg, Latoya Holman, Mayor Pete Buttigeg, President Biden’s Transportation Secretary Nominee

36 | Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine

THE CENTER ADAPTS PROGRAMMING KEEPING THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY ENGAGED IN THE AGE OF COVID-19

By Clair Koetitz The LGBTQ Center of Southern Nevada (The Center) is a community-based organization, that supports and promotes activities directed at furthering the well-being, positive image, and human rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, asexual, two-spirit, and queer community, its allies, and low to moderate income residents in Southern Nevada.

For nearly 30 years The Center has risen to the challenge of meeting the ever-changing needs of the LGBTQ+ community of Southern Nevada. In 2020, that included a near overnight adaptation of programming to continue serving the community in a global pandemic.

Aptly named, The Online Center is a vital resource for the Southern Nevada LGBTQ+ community, during the COVID-19 health crisis. “We had to adapt programming across the board to keep the community engaged,” said Youth Programs Manager & Prep Coordinator AJ Huth.

Youth programming experienced a reasonably smooth transition to the virtual environment. The QVirtual online program is conducted via Zoom and the Center’s Discord server for youth ages 13 - 24. The intent is to keep youth who regularly attend in-person programming connected to support services.

“Our Youth Program easily transitioned to engagement online and via social media when the pandemic hit,” said Huth. “Our Youth Resource Specialist, Ashante Herring, quickly shifted to incorporating Instagram and Facebook Live functions to keep our LGBTQ+ youth involved during this difficult time.”

The Center was also able to continue its Center Advocacy Network (CAN) 38 | Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine

program to support victims of crime in a virtual environment. Victim advocates provide confidential and non-judgmental support, education, resources, & referrals to on and off campus entities following experiences of interpersonal violence.

“We have had to completely re-imagine how we deliver our services,” said Huth. Helping clients file a protection order, calling a social service on behalf of a client, helping a family member or partner of a victim/survivor find resources: these are examples of advocacy that shifted online.

According The Center’s website, The Center Advocacy Network makes history as one of two advocacy training programs in Nevada and the only advocacy program in the United States to focus on LGBTQ issues. CAN provides comprehensive LGBTQIA+ advocacy training in 12 meaningful sessions, 1 day per week for 6 weeks.

Training sessions and materials are free to all attendees.

CAN 24-HOUR VICTIM CRISIS HOTLINE 833-740-0500 in Las Vegas 702-740-0500

The LGBTQ Center of Southern Nevada is also working in partnership with other non-profit organizations and restaurants across Las Vegas Valley to ensure that vulnerable members of our community can access food during the global pandemic. Delivering with Dignity is a solution that offers a non- physical contact delivery of essential food where the most vulnerable are safest—at home.

Delivering With Dignity service is intended for people struggling financially on a day-to-day basis and who are most at risk according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control guidelines for contracting Coronavirus if they leave their homes. This includes people who are elderly, underlying medical conditions, and their family members living in the same household. Organizers are working with nonprofit organizations in the community, including The Center to identify and provide service to the entire population in-need in the Las Vegas Valley.

HENDERSON EQUALITY CENTER

By Sarah Mitchell

LESBIAN SOCIAL NETWORK The Lesbian Social Network (LSN) is an open topic group run by women for women.

Ages 18 and older, who identify as lesbian, bisexual, queer, or are questioning their sexuality.

Meets: 1st Monday of each month, 6:00-7:30pm BISEXUAL+ SOCIAL GROUP FOR ADULTS This is a social group for individuals who identify as bisexual+.

The groups meets to provide peer support, discuss and share experiences, learn and practice effective communication to build trust and intimacy for relationships, and build a community for the bisexual+ community.

Meets: 1st Wednesday of each month 6:30-7:30pm

The Henderson Equality Center is a community supported organization created to engage, empower, enrich, and advance the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, allies, and queer community of Henderson, Nevada.

It provides a safe space, a place to pursue resources, and provides courses focused on educational, social, support, skill building, and job assistance classes for at-risk, low-income LGBTQ youth and adults.

The Henderson Equality Center first opened its doors on June 8, 2020 in a 900 square foot office space. In less than three months, however, the Center expanded and moved into a new office space with 3,000 square feet. This new and bigger space has provided the Center with many more opportunities to help the community. There are many programs offered, such as youth tutoring services, NA and AA support groups, Youth in Recovery support groups, GSA Youth Group, Trans Youth Social Group, Bisexual Youth Social Group, Adult Trans Social Group, Lesbian Social Network, LGBTQ People of Color Peer Social Group, Asian/Pacific Islander

Social Group, Bisexual Social Group for Adults, and Reiki Circles.

In February of this year, the Henderson Equality Center added an HIV/STD testing clinic. This is going to be an amazing addition and service provided to those in need. Another service offered by the Center is the Youth Food Pantry, open every Tuesday and Thursday. Teens in need of food only need to show their school ID card to take advantage of this service. Along with the food pantry, there is also a Clothing Room for those community members who may be in need of more clothes.

As March is home to International Women’s Day, let’s highlight how the Henderson Equality Center works with wonderful women in the community. First off, out of the nine board members, six of those members are women: Sharyn Mitchell, Kat Diane Sandigo, Rachel Marsh, Samantha Palaggi, Sarah Mitchell, and Angelica Cuevas. The Henderson Equality Center also has multiple social groups that cater to all women.

ADULT TRANS SOCIAL GROUP This is a peer led and confidential social group for individuals who identify as trans men, trans masculine and/or female-to-male (FtM), trans women, trans feminine and/or male-to-female (MtF). This is a safe, drop-in space providing peer-run social support, engaging conversation, and relevant resources to attendees.

Meets: 3rd Wednesday of each month 6:30-7:30pm Henderson Equality Center during 2021 will host monthly Bingo nights, a youth Easter Egg Hunt, job readiness programs, Pride Fest, National Coming Out Day, Toy Drive, meals for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and more! The Henderson Equality Center has had an incredible first year of being open, and has already provided for hundreds of families.

We are hopeful that the year 2021 will bring even more help to those in our community.

Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 39

40 | Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine

Crushing It with Kortney Olson TAKING ON DIET CULTURE, ADDICTION AND SMASHING THE PATRIARCHY

Article by Joslyn Hatfield Photography of Kortney Olson by Olga Filatova Kortney Olson is at it again. The CEO of the multi-million dollar GRRRL Clothing brand and certified badass is (still) on a mission to empower womxn and see diet culture burn.

She is self-made and has not one single f$%* to give for the systems that severely undervalue the outright power of womxn. Her self-published novel Crushing It takes an intimate look at her journey towards overcoming her demons, addiction, and realizing her dream of empowering womxn across the world.

and the media from an early age. She then applied those same principles to her latest venture, GRRRL Clothing.

The Las Vegas based brand is the first to reject traditional sizing (which varies widely) in favor of utilizing the body measurements of female athletes to guide womxn to their ideal fit. The brand rejects industry beauty standards and refuses to photoshop or airbrush models.

In her author debut, Kortney takes the reader on a hold-on-to-your-seat drive through her rise to lead a global clothing revolution from the deepest, darkest points of human existence.

The memoir explores reclaiming power and learning to love oneself against all odds. “I’ve been there. I’ve suffered. And I have triumphed,” she said. “And now, so can you.”

Olson plans to do this by sharing her remarkable story of survival, “I know a lot about dragging myself up from the bottom,” she said. “By the time I was 21, I had already survived a rape, an eating disorder, depression, and addiction.” Her experiences have taught her to turn trauma, pain, and despair into power, strength, and confidence.

Her efforts to reclaim her power led her to found Kamp Konfidence, a prevention-based wellness experience camp for teenage girls ages 14-17. Campers were taught and encouraged to look beyond the harmful messages they receive from society Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 41

And frankly, it checks out. Olson is an Australian Women’s arm-wrestling champion, Queensland state Brazilian Jiu-jitsu champion, 3x international bodybuilding competitor, author, TV personality, certified personal trainer, Olympic lifting, and CrossFit coach.

Crowned the “woman with the world’s deadliest thighs” by Stan Lee, creator of Marvel Comics, Olson is known for smashing watermelons between those thighs, shutting down social media trolls, and cutting to the chase with precision and humor. She is a self-appointed “teen whisperer” who makes time to connect with kids navigating the challenges of puberty, bullying, and existing in the world today.

Her vision remains consistent in each endeavor she pursues. Elevate the voices and experiences of womxn from all walks of life. Value womxn for their capabilities and honor womxn of all races, abilities, and life experiences. Olson unabashedly inspires radical self-love and demands gender equality even if she has to take it one GRRRL at a time.

Visit grrrl.com to learn more about Kortney Olson and GRRRL clothing.

“I’ve been there.

I’ve suffered.

And I have triumphed. And now, so can you.”

42 | Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine

Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 43

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She Fest, San Diego, CA

By Stacy Sakamoto

Las Vegas PRIDE is a proud member of CAPI, InterPride and USAP. Our PRIDE Explorer Series will feature some of our favorite PRIDE events and programs from around the US and beyond!

A hop, skip, and a jump away from Las Vegas is America’s finest city -San Diego. In addition to beaches, burritos, and beers, we are fortunate to have a large, thriving LGBTQ+ community in our city. Our annual LGBTQ+ Pride festival and parade boasts over 300,000+ attendees and participants, we are home to two major LGBTQ+ serving organizations (the San Diego LGBT Center and San Diego Pride), and we recently swore-in our first openly gay mayor, Todd Gloria.

For as many reasons as there are to celebrate being LGBTQ+ in San Diego, there are also as many different ways to celebrate being LGBTQ+ in San Diego. For womxn, non-binary folks, and intentional allies, She Fest serves as an annual one-day outdoor festival for folks wanting to celebrate LGBTQ+ womxn. I’m one of the volunteers who helps organize She Fest and am grateful for the opportunity to share it with Vegas Pride Magazine’s readers.

She Fest was founded in 2013 by community member Kelcie Kopf.

“The convergence of two realizations led to: there was a scarcity of events that supported and encouraged community among women,” said Kopf. “As well as the pattern I saw of women consistently being relegated to the background in society in general, but also within the LGBTQIA 44 | Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine

San Diego She Fest Planning Committee Zoom meeting community.” Fueled by a desire to disrupt this pattern, Kopf sought other community members who felt the same way, and together they put on the first She Fest in 2014.

Since its start, She Fest has been an annual outdoor free festival held in a neighborhood park with live music, sports and games, educational workshops, food vendors, and community groups and small businesses tabling throughout the day. She Fest centers LGBTQ+ womxn by being 100% intentional in our choice of performers,

vendors, activity leaders, and presenters directly from our own community. We celebrate one another by centering one another.

A trip to She Fest might include squaring off in a tug-of-war against a womxn’s boat racing team, meet a vendor selling menstrual pad alternatives or learning from experts about pronouns, midwifery, racial justice, self-care, and kink -- all while being serenaded from our stage by a wife and wife singing duo.

She Fest is known for producing truly inclusive and accessible events. Our committee includes a team that ensures accessibility for people with disabilities and access needs -- our flagship event is held in a park that is accessible to wheelchairs and other mobility devices. Our Accessibility team fields requests from folks with other access needs. We provide ASL interpretation on-stage and interpreters to help participants with accessibility needs attend workshops and explore our event.

We are very proud to keep She Fest a free community event. We believe financial status should never be a barrier to celebrating with the community. The event is intentionally and explicitly inclusive and affirming of trans womxn and non-binary people, a principle that has become vitally important as we see increased transphobia in LGBTQ+ womxn’s spaces.

Our daytime space is also a sober space and our environment is both kid-friendly - including both parent/ child and youth spaces- and (perhaps more importantly) pet friendly.

While the onset of COVID-19 has taken much from all of us, including the ability to safely meet for large gatherings in-person, it cannot take away our dedication to one another and our commitment to highlighting LGBTQ+ womxn. In the wake of the pandemic, we pivoted our

in-person annual event to a virtual online bonanza with over 5-hours of Facebook live-streaming content and three workshop rooms over Zoom.

Over 13,000 people logged on throughout the day and found everything from LGBTQ+ womxn politicians talking about their experiences, to a pet fashion show. Participants learned about self-care methods, stretching and yoga from a LGBTQ+ instructor and learned from LGBTQ+ youth, mixed, mingled, and most importantly, celebrated one another.

As the pandemic marches on, so too do we. With loneliness and isolation raging, and the fate of large in-person gatherings remaining uncertain, our volunteer group continues to pivot and we’ve morphed into a team dedicated to bringing robust year-round programming to LGBTQ+ womxn in San Diego and beyond. Our efforts will continue to culminate in our annual event, but we’ve also got our sights set on spreading joy, community, and enrichment throughout the entire year through virtual events and on-demand content.

We can’t wait for you to see it! And I hope that once it’s safe to do so again, you might consider joining us in San Diego for some beaches, some burritos, some beer, and some very gay times celebrating LGBTQ+ womxn.

You can find us on Instagram at @ sdshefest or online at sdpride.org/ shefest.

Pictured Above: San Diego She Fest Vendors at a previous event.

Pictured at Left: Tug of War held during previous in-person San Diego She Fest event.

Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 45

Herstory Movement Presents

Her Journey Retreat

By Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine Staff

Her voice, her story. The herstory movement has origins dating back to the 1970s and has evolved into a culture that is rewriting history to include women that were erased from history and their contributions.

It strives to include history from a woman’s point of view and to include the role women have played throughout history.

The overlooked or forgotten contributions of women are coming to light thanks to the release of movies such as Hidden Figures, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, and Self Made.

Women are receiving long-overdue credit in mainstream media; however, herstory remains a movement worthy of our attention and energy.

Now, local author, screenwriter, and filmmaker B. Danielle Watkins, and Onyx Keesha, the Atlanta based founder of M.PoWer Productions and Onyx Keesha Films, have taken the herstory concept and pushed it to a new level with the Herstory Movement; created to take the art of storytelling and give women a voice that has been taken away. The educational movement has been paired with women’s empowerment and birthed the HERJourney retreat. That, 46 | Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine

as Watkins describes it, has “drive and purpose that brings women to the forefront.”

Above from left: B.Danielle Watkins and Onyx Keesha. Photo by Michele Dearing

The HERJourney Retreat was held January 8-10 in Gatlinburg, TN. The three-day event featured morning meditations, a super HERo pajama party, workshops, think tanks, a vision board breakfast, an indoor pool party, and premiere screening. Onyx Keesha said of HERJourney, “This is so much more than an event, it is so much more than a great time in the cabins,” she said. “It’s a movement, a movement to empower women to be unapologetic and claim the life of abundance they deserve.”

“We have to dead the idea that women have to compete with each other,” Onyx Keesha added. “We celebrate one another, we encourage each other, and we collaborate. Of all the types of work I do, events like these truly mean so much to me.”

Watkins discussed the importance of creating the right environment to get the most out of the experience. “It is something about being away from everything and everybody,” you know that gives you a sense of freedom that allows you to explore the unknown, she said.” “HERJourney is more than a title, much like HERStory, it is a movement; it has drive and purpose that brings women to the forefront.”

If you missed the January event, the HERJourney next retreat scheduled for October 1-3, 2021should be on your bucket list.

Watkins and Keesha are Las Vegasbased creators with a well-established history of success on the film festival circuit, including OutReels and Cinema Systers. In January of 2016, Watkins launched production company Dream N 1 Productions, LLC. Onyx Keesha Films is a queer film company focused on untold stories with several film festival wins and over a million views on YouTube.

The power of the Herstory movement lies in the ability of women to write their own stories. Watkins and Keesha are living proof that the contributions of women to the world cannot be ignored. By focusing on HERjourney, they remind us that women have always been impactful. But now, it is documented and celebrated.

YOU ARE NOT

ALONE

By Lupie Janos

In the spirit of the Hunger Games (stay with me), let’s play a game: real or not real. Election fraud, not real.

Racism, real. COVID-19, real. UFOs, let’s leave that one alone.

You know what else is real? March 2020. THAT changed our lives and the whole world along with it. But it changed for all of us. A pandemic that resulted in having to remain home, businesses closing, job loss and an apparent toilet paper shortage.

We saw the death of the enigmatic female icon, RBG, and the shotgun confirmation of her replacement. We had mostly peaceful protests against racism and social injustice and were consumed with a heated election and its contested results. We endured a year without cherished Pride events, very weird holidays and then a hope that 2021 would be different.

All of this, only to find ourselves, six days into the new year, watching a deadly insurrection at our nation’s capital overshadow the victory in Georgia (thank you Stacey Abrams).

Talk about trauma. Experiencing any one of those things would be tough to deal with, but compounded, makes for a dangerous combination.

The strongest and healthiest of us have struggled.

Some people responded to the events of 2020 by drinking or eating more, others turned to home projects, or learning something new. We found ways to volunteer our time and learned how to love virtual events (kinda).

48 | Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine

But there were many, many people who did not find it easy. Isolation is tough. Why are children put in “time out” and why do prisoners dread “the hole”? In many ways it was hard not to feel disciplined this year.

We may have asked ourselves, why?

And who didn’t experience the cycle of hope, fear, despair, loneliness, anger, more hope and more despair.

Rinse and repeat. Yet, in spite of it all, and I can’t stress this enough, you are not alone.

Many have escaped the Groundhog Day cycle by finding a routine.

Knowing what to expect can be comforting. Focusing on the one thing you can control, yourself, might just be the way to the other side (wherever that may be).

What does that look like? Wash your hands, maintain social distance, wear a mask and stay healthy. Exercise, get outside, spend time with your fur baby, try one of those language learning apps, find a hobby, attend virtual events (just try it).

Make a TikTok video, journal, meditate, drink tea, cook good food and reach out to family and friends.

Chances are, you will find someone who feels the same way you do.

If you are coping well, then reach out to others. Chances are, there is someone on the other end of that call, text or video call that may really need to hear from someone who was thinking about them.

This will end and we will eventually return to a world that allows social activity, live events and will figure out the new normal. It is just going to take time. The reality is it still may be hard. But you are not alone.

Seek professional resources if you need them. You are not alone. If you aren’t sure where to start, you don’t have to look far. The LGBTQ Center of Southern Nevada has social programming and resources for food and wellness, and information can be found on their website.

The Crisis Support Services of Nevada is available 24/7 by texting “CARE” to 839863 or calling (800) 273-8255.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 by calling (800) 273-TALK or utilizing their chat option online.

WNBA LEAGUE MVP

A’JA WILSON THE LAS VEGAS ACES STAR TALKS SOCIAL JUSTICE, THE WUBBLE AND ADVENTURES IN QUARANTINE COOKING

By Lupie Janos

Photograph of A’ja Wilson by Ned Dishman courtesy of Getty Images

Photograph of A’ja Wilson by Ned Dishman courtesy of Getty Images A’ja! A’ja! A’ja! If you remember the live Aces games at Mandalay Bay, you have heard her name and maybe even screamed it. If you watched the games played in the Wubble (the WNBA bubble) during the 2020 season, you saw her passion and probably heard her war-cry after sending an opponent’s ball out of bounds. Not in her house.

The consummate professional athlete, A’ja Wilson has a career thus far that is littered with accolades and honors. In 2014 while in high school, she was awarded the Naismith Award and named the High School National Player of the Year. In college, while attending the University of South Carolina (Go Gamecocks!), she was selected to First Team All-SEC four times, named SEC Player of the Year three times, won a national 50 | Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine

championship in 2017 and earned the Wooden Award, the Wade Trophy as well as being named the Associated Press and the Naismith College Player of the Year in 2018.

But Ms. Wilson was not done. After being selected as the first overall pick in the 2018 WNBA draft by our own Las Vegas Aces, she continued to excel and was later named the WNBA Rookie of the Year. She is a two-time All Star and last year, amid the craziness of 2020, she was named the WNBA Most Valuable Player. All of this before she reached the age of 24.

She could drop the mic there, but something tells me Wilson is still not done. Wilson was gracious enough to speak to us and described 2020 as a roller coaster year. “We made it through and that is a blessing,” she said. Wilson entered the Wubble

determined to do what she needed to do but the MVP award was unexpected, “I honestly wasn’t thinking about that during the season,” she said. “We knew we had to prepare for an environment unlike anything we had experienced. So that was really my focus.”

She is family-oriented, and loves her “fur babies”, but in the Wubble, she did not have any of her usual support system. It was mentally, emotionally and spiritually challenging. “It was rewarding to make it to the finals when people never thought we could,” said Wilson. But, the experience of being swept in the WNBA finals is not one she will soon forget. “I hated being swept,” she said. “Maybe time will bring perspective, but I don’t think I will ever be ok with it.” She learned

a lot about herself and her team through the experience.

Wilson has found a home with the Aces and appreciates that they are forward-thinking. The organization showed true concern for player welfare and generally ensured players were “OK” during the unprecedented experience in isolation. Winning MVP was amazing for Wilson who said, “It’s nice to know my name is forever in the record books, next to other great players I respect and admire.”

Photograph of A’ja Wilson by Ned Dishman courtesy of Getty Images

As for the Wubble, well, she would not describe it as fun. “It was hard seeing opponents and referees around constantly,” she said. “It was like Groundhog’s Day at times.” She notes that while it wasn’t ideal, it was relatively safe. “We were safer there than anywhere else, and we were able to have a season.”

A’ja Wilson layup during WNBA Finals Game, photograph by Ned Dishman courtesy of Getty Images Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 51

“Always be true to you, and go at it at your own pace.”

A’ja Wilson with MVP trophy. Photograph by Ned Dishman courtesy of Getty Images 52 | Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine

A’ja Wilson celebrates post-WNBA Semifinals Game 5.

Photograph by Ned Dishman courtesy of Getty Images

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A’ja Wilson layup in traffic during WNBA Finals Game, photograph by Ned Dishman courtesy of Getty Images The start of the 2020 WNBA season and the resulting Wubble coincided with much of the racial and social unrest that captured the nation’s attention last summer. As a result of the murders of unarmed people of color, or those in police custody, the nation took to the streets in mostly peaceful protests. As professional athletes, players in the WNBA used their platforms to express their solidarity as 54 | Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine

voices for the voiceless and demand change in support of the Say. Her. Name. initiative.

together, striving to create change, make an impact, and demand something better… was powerful.”

Wilson joined the Social Justice Council for the league. Recognizing that the WNBA has the most dynamic fan base ever: black, white, straight, gay, they understood what was at stake. “We all care for each other,” she said. “To see 144 women come

The WNBA is transparent about what they do: the players demand change and want to amplify unheard voices.

During the season, the Council had the opportunity for a Zoom call with Stacey Abrams and another with Michelle Obama. To her dismay,

Wilson missed that call because she was playing. “I am proud of how much we accomplished,” she said.

“We may not be the only reason for change, but we were certainly a part of it.”

the opportunity to learn how to bake and dialed-in her cooking skills. “I’ve finally been entrusted with family recipes,” she said with pride in her voice. “But I still have no idea how to do Tik Tok.”

After the Wubble, the pandemic forced Wilson to join the rest of the world in spending a lot more time at home. Wilson reluctantly embraced

Wilson plans to attack 2021 the way she does every year. “I’ll spend some time setting goals for myself, and I’m excited about what the year might

bring,” she said. “You can’t take steps backwards, only forward.” She is excited for what is in the works with the league and the Aces organization. “If we all use our masks, wash our hands and distance ourselves, then maybe we get back a little bit of normal.”

The fate of the 2021 Olympics is uncertain, but Wilson is excited to

Photograph of A’ja Wilson by Ned Dishman courtesy of Getty Images Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 55

be in the pool of players under consideration for the team. “I would be extremely excited to play for coach Dawn Staley again,” she began.

“Seeing one of my role models, Dawn Staley, a black woman, named as the head coach of the national team, was inspiring.”

Wilson also draws inspiration from the many powerful female role models she has had throughout her life. She still fondly recounts the story behind her signature strand of pearls. “I didn’t always fit in as a kid,” she said. “My grandmother saw that, and she boosted my self-esteem with a gift of pearls telling me, “Pretty girls wear pearls.”’ They have been a staple ever since. She describes her family as supportive and gratefully credits them for her development.

Wilson faced her own adversity and learned to persevere. She struggled with dyslexia growing up until she realized that she simply learned differently. “I had to go at my own pace, but once I realized that, I was at ease with it,” she said. She learned to be her own support and believe in herself. Her experiences led her to create the A’ja Wilson Foundation to focus on overcoming the stigma of dyslexia and putting an end to bullying.

What would a symbolic string of pearls for the next generation of young women look like for Wilson?

It would start with staying true to oneself. “Always be true to you and go at it at your own pace,” she said.

“There will be trials and tribulations.

But by facing those and facing adversity, you learn who you are. And once you know that, you go at your own pace,” she continued. “Find a rhythm and do you.” Spoken like a true MVP.

“Find a rhythm and do you.”

A’ja Wilson jersey hanging in locker at WNBA Finals Game.

Photograph by Ned Dishman courtesy of Getty Images 56 | Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine

JUSTICE DENIED THE DEATH OF GIOVANNI MELTON

By Brady McGill Parks and quiet neighborhoods dominate the headlines for Henderson, NV. The community scored a 94/100 on the 2020 Human Rights Campaign Municipal Equality Index, up 38 points from its 2017 ranking. The Las Vegas suburb ranked as the second safest large city in 2020 (based on reported crime data). In November 2017, Henderson made international headlines for a very different reason.

More than three years have passed since the evening of November 2, 2017 when Wendell Melton shot and killed his 14-year-old son, Giovanni.

And still, there has been no closure for his family as Melton faces charges including murder, felony possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and first-degree felony child abuse.

Notably missing from that list is the charge of hate-crime. Close friends and family of the victim have expressed anger and disgust that the true motive of this crime have not been adequately addressed in the judicial process. The family reports a pattern of abuse from Wendell Melton and the current charges lack specificity for what Giovanni endured. Several years have passed and some worry that justice may never be served.

court proceeding playout, Melton enjoys a life largely untouched by his hate crimes. He arrives to court comfortably in casual clothes. Much too comfortably for his friends, family and mother Veronica.

It remains unclear what justice will be left for Giovanni when Melton finally gets his day in court. He claims self-defense stating that Giovanni attacked him. He had stated in an arrest report that the shooting and death of his son were an accident. He further claims that he was “afraid of the people Giovanni hung out with.”

Despite a litany of reports from close friends and family recounting previous altercations and history of violence, prosecutors seem to lack an appetite to pursue the case against Melton with any enthusiasm.

The case has not been pursued as a hate crime and prosecutors do not acknowledge sexual orientation as a significant factor in the case. “In this case there is nothing to suggest (sexual orientation was a factor), there is no evidence that we have to introduce into a court of law that

this was the motivation by the father who shot his own son,” said District Attorney, Steve Wolfson.

In what seems to be a slow-moving train destined to wreck, justice for Giovanni slips further away with every passing day. His February 2020 court date was postponed due to COVID-19 and community advocates share the concerns of friends and family that the delay will inevitably lead to minimal consequences for Wendell Melton.

The life and legacy of Giovanni Melton continue through the work of the Giovanni Melton Foundation whose mission is focused on helping LGBTQ youth of color they are at an increased risk for senseless killings and violence, learn more at giovannimelton.org.

Melton served just five months in jail while awaiting trial. After a series of delays and postponements, he posted a $200,000 bail, and has since lived under house arrest. While Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 57

SISTER OUTSIDER AUDRE LORDE

By Lupie Janos What happens when you cross a black, lesbian, mother, warrior, and poet with racism, sexism, classism, and homophobia? The incomparable civil rights activist known as Audre Lorde. She described herself as those things and lived her life in the pursuit of having conversations about and confronting those social injustices.

Lorde, who died in 1992, memorized poetry and used it to communicate her feelings from a young age. But when published and existing poems failed to capture what she was truly feeling or thinking, she began to write her own. Her first published poem came when she was still in high school, and she went on to publish countless more poems and essays.

Power is about Lorde’s feelings about the acquittal of a police officer who shot a ten-year-old black child. She wrote poetry throughout her life to communicate her feelings and protest. Lorde’s poem Power has an air of familiarity with current events across our nation and was brought into the international spotlight last summer when scores of people took to the streets for mostly peaceful protests.

“A kind of fury rose up in me; the sky turned red. I felt so sick. I felt as if I would drive this car into a wall, into the next person I saw,” Lorde once said. “So, I pulled over. I took out my journal just to air some of my fury, to 58 | Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine

“It is not our differences that divide us.

It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.” get it out of my fingertips. Those expressed feelings are that poem.”

Lorde’s life was full of many concerns and pursuits both nationally and internationally, but her concern around her communities’ marginalization never failed. Lorde pushed for social and racial justice and shared her experiences as a black woman, as a lesbian, and even as she battled cancer.

She was a staunch proponent of transparent conversations, intersectionality, and celebrating the differences between people. “It is not our differences that divide us,” she once said. “It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.”

Lorde also once said in an interview, “My sexuality is part and parcel of who I am, and my poetry comes from the intersection of me and my world,” she explained. “Objection to my work is not about obscenity, or even about sex. It is about revolution and change.”

Lorde earned a BA from Hunter College, a MLS from Columbia University, and was a librarian in New York during the 1960s. She held multiple positions at a variety of universities, including as a writer in residence at Alabama’s Tougaloo College. She taught at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Lehman College, and Hunter College. Lorde was awarded a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts and was poet laureate of New York from 1991-1992.

She had two children and spent more than 20 years with her long-time partner, Frances Clayton before she moved to St. Croix to live out the remainder of her life with her final partner, Dr. Gloria I. Joseph.

Lorde’s book Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches (1984) is still utilized in numerous university classes. Her legacy lives on in her poetry and prose and appears to have transcended her life. Words of wisdom from a sister outsider, “Revolution is not a onetime event.”

Photograph of Audre Lorde by K. Kendall Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine | 59