Los Angeles Blade, Volume 07, Issue 24, June 16, 2023

NOH8 project: A photo is worth the change it makes in the world

The NOH8 Campaign is the silent photographic protest created by celebrity photographer Adam Bouska & partner Jeff Parshley

By SIMHA HADDAD

LOS ANGELES - They say a picture is worth a thousand words. But for Adam Bouska and Jeff Parshley, the founders of the  NOH8 campaign, a photo is worth the change it makes in the world, and that change is exponentially ever-growing.

The NOH8 campaign

The NOH8 Campaign is the silent photographic protest created by celebrity photographer Bouska and his romantic partner Parshley, an outspoken activist for the LGBTQ+ community, in direct response to the passage of California’s Proposition 8 nearly 15 years ago.

didn’t even have TV shows like Glee that portrayed gay characters in a positive light. I just felt like there was a lack of knowledge growing up in somewhere that has no resources like that.”

“My experience was very similar,” Bouska reflected. “We didn’t have a Gay-Straight Alliance at school or anything like that. My experience taught me the necessity and importance of activism and shoots like these today.”

“We know what it’s like to have no resources in your area,” Parshley lamented. “That’s why it’s really important for us to get to some smaller places like those as well.”

Recently, the couple was able to bring NOH8 to Parshley’s old high school - an accomplishment that Parshley felt brought his childhood experience full circle.

“I love that we can spread the message that you are not alone,” he said.

The couple met through a charity photoshoot the pair was working on for Aids Project LA (APLA) over fifteen years ago. Together, they identified with their shared passion for activism and love for photography and bringing people together.

During their first six months together working on that APLA gig, the two fell in love and have been inseparable ever since.

“We were uniting activism with photography in the process of us uniting at the same time,” Parshley wryly quipped.

Currently on a 40-location tour with their NOH8 project and traveling partially the U.S. by RV the pair continues to spread their message, one photo at a time.

Bouska and Parshley started to realize the breadth of the NOH8 message when participants shared their reasons for joining the fight against hate with the couple. To their surprise, participants wanted to combat the hate that extended into their own lives, often having nothing to do with LGBTQ+-specific hate.

“People started coming in and saying, ‘I’m here because I’m hated on because of my religion, or because of my skin color, or because of my body shape, or because of how much money I have,’” said Parshley. “We realized that there are a lot of different reasons people can relate to hate or discrimination. When they started sharing these stories, we thought, Wow. This is so much more relatable than we initially realized. Because the message was relatable to such a large scale of people, it became even more important for us to bring NOH8 to new places.”

So far, the NOH8 team has accomplished photoshoots in 23 countries and counting.  “People overseas understand the message of NOH8 without being able to speak the same language as us,” said Bouska. “This message is universal.”

“I think it’s beautiful how every single event can be so different because everyone has a different reason to be involved,” said Parshley. “But there is one similarity. We have all come together over one cause.”

Bouska and Parshley continue to use the NOH8 in correlation with current events. Recently, they created an event centered entirely around the Club Q shooting, which took place at a drag bar in Colorado Springs last November, killing 5 people and injuring 25 more.

Colloquially known as simply Prop 8 – the proposition against gay marriage in the Golden State – was placed on the ballot in 2008 and in November passed. Before its passage, California was only the second U.S. state (after Massachusetts) to allow same-sex marriage.

NOH8 Campaign photos feature subjects with duct tape over their mouths, symbolizing their voices being silenced by Prop 8 and similar legislation around the world, with “NOH8” painted on one cheek in protest.

“Even when it was up for a vote, we were thinking, ‘oh, there’s no way. There were rallies and marches all over the city in Los Angeles,” Parshley told the Blade. “We were taking part in all of those, but we also wanted a way to speak out beyond the streets.”

Parshley, who is from a small town in New Hampshire, and Bouska who is also from a small town growing up in Illinois shared that, as gay youths, they felt they had nowhere to turn for advice or support.

“Growing up, I didn’t even know what gay was,” Parshley said. “I knew the feelings I was having, but I didn’t know how to describe them. I didn’t have anybody to look up to. I

“It seemed like a natural response for me to use photography to combat this issue,” said Bouska reflecting on the initial foundation of NOH8 . “Jeff was the first one to upload his photo to Myspace at the time. That was around the birth of social media, and we were really using it to change activism. We know that photos are not the end all, but lending a face to the fight for visibility does create change.”

Since its inception, the NOH8 Campaign has grown to a collection of well over 100,000 individual faces and continues to grow at an exponential rate. The campaign began with portraits of everyday Californians from all walks of life and soon rose to include politicians, military personnel, newlyweds, law enforcement, artists, celebrities, and many more from across the globe.

“Prior to the campaign starting, a lot of people didn’t have this kind of outlet,” Parshley said. “I think we are providing this outlet to people, celebrities, and everyday people. Everyday people are the foundation of this campaign.”

While inspired by the passage of Prop 8 and the fight for marriage equality, the scope of the NOH8 campaign has grown to stand against discrimination and bullying of all kinds all around the world.

“If the people here in Colorado Springs felt like their voices weren’t being heard in support of the LGBTQ community, that’s why we are here to share their voices,” Parshely said at the event.

The shooting started with hate speech online, targeted drag queens and the LGBTQ+ community as “groomers” and “pedophiles” before culminating in violence and death.  With so many hate crimes like these starting online, Bouska and Parshley agree that something must be done to curb the way the community is targeted on social media.

“Hate speech is not free speech,” Bouska emphasized.

TRANS LIVES MATTER

Recently, Bouska and Parshley started working on a new section of the NOH8 campaign, specifically targeting anti-transgender hate. These photos feature subjects with the trans flag colors painted on their hands and faces, signifying their support of the trans lives matter movement and their condemnation of anti-transgender laws currently sweeping the country.

CONTINUES ON PAGE 04

(Courtesy of NOH8)

LA vs Hate partners with anti-Defamation League on mural LA

vs

By LA BLADE STAFF

LOS ANGELES - A new mural was unveiled in Pico-Robertson honoring the Jewish community, presented by the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations’ initiative LA vs Hate, in partnership with the Los Angeles chapter of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles.

The mural, titled “The Common Thread,” was designed by Cloe Hakakian, an Iranian-Jewish muralist and native Angeleno, and weaves a vision of Jewish history and tradition together with the collective memories of Jews in Los Angeles.

In 2022 there were 3,697 antisemitic incidents throughout the United States according to a recent report by the ADL, indicating a 36% increase from 2021 and the highest number on record since ADL began tracking antisemitic incidents in 1979. Los Angeles saw notable antisemitic incidents occur in the last year, including the separate shootings of two Jewish men in Pico-Robertson, as well as banners over a highway overpass that read “Kanye is right about the jews [sic],” referencing Kanye West’s widely-publicized antisemitic rants that created a ripple of hate acts towards the Jewish community across the country.

The mural unveiling was celebrated with an event at The Mark, with speakers such as LA County Third District Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, President of the LA County Commission on Human Relations Ilan Davidson, Executive Director of the LA County Commission on Human Relations Robin Toma, LA City District 5 Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, Regional Director of ADL Los Angeles Jeff Abrams, and President & CEO of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles Rabbi Noah Farkas. They shared remarks on the significance of the Jewish community in Los Angeles and celebrated art’s unique power to unite communities and share experiences across diverse cultures. Following the unveiling and opening remarks, the community enjoyed live performances, food and more.

The mural is part of LA vs Hate: Summer of Solidarity, a summer-long celebration of the County’s cultural and community diversity. The series of events includes monthly art-led

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“We ve had to explain … ‘this campaign is not solely a campaign for marriage equality, this is a campaign for  no hate, this is a campaign for equality, this is a campaign for anti-discrimination and anti-bullying, this is a campaign to bring people together.”

“You would think that everybody who poses for the NOH8 campaign supports trans lives, but we can’t assume that,” said Parshley, explaining why he and Bouska felt it important to show trans-specific support.

When asked to compare how this new chapter of anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment and legislation compares to the passage of Prop 8, both Bouska, and Parshley agreed that circumstances feel more dire now than ever before.

and community-centered events in each of the County’s five Supervisorial districts. Through partnerships with community-based organizations, the festivities will uplift and celebrate cultural moments and traditions – all to showcase that unity is stronger than hate. The Summer of Solidarity also seeks to remind residents of the County’s hate reporting system, where anyone can report an act of hate and receive free and confidential support by calling 2-1-1, or by filing a report online at www.LAvsHate.org.

“The vibrant neighborhood of Pico-Robertson is known for being a beacon of light and connection to the Jewish community in Los Angeles that we are celebrating today,” said Supervisor Horvath. “We re honored to have this talented artist create a piece that articulates a beautiful expression of love, family, and heritage.”

“Public art like this beautiful Jewish community mural has the power to share experiences, create human connections and uplift solidarity within and between communities,” said Robin Toma, Executive Director of the LA County Commission on Human Relations.

“LA vs Hate’s Summer of Solidarity will continue to create art and community-led events to bring people of all walks of life together and to promote dialogue, understanding, and compassion needed to build unity against hate,” added Ilan Davidson, LA County Commission on Human Relations President.

“At a time when we see antisemitism and hateful messaging on the rise, it’s more important now than ever to highlight the experience and contributions of Jews and other marginalized communities in our city,” said Jeffrey I. Abrams, Regional Director of ADL Los Angeles. “We know that exposure to other cultures and experiences can reduce bias and hate and that is exactly what we hope this mural will accomplish.”

“We are proud to help lead this unifying collaboration, which heightens our sense of awareness of the uniqueness of communities across Los Angeles,” said Joanna Mendelson, SVP Community Engagement, Jewish Federation of Greater

Los Angeles. ”The Summer of Solidarity initiative provides an opportunity to reflect the diversity of our Jewish community, and provides a moment to capture the cultural, historical, and spiritual influences that embody the Jewish Angeleno experience. We are prioritizing efforts to build bridges with our neighbors across Los Angeles, and recognize art, such as this mural, is a powerful vehicle to unite.”

“The mural depicts a mother lighting Shabbat candles, with their flames illuminating the Hebrew script for  L’dor V’dor, from generation to generation,” explained muralist Cloe Hakakian. “The folds of her headscarf become vignettes that celebrate the diversity of Jews within our community and the cultural experiences shared across time and place. There is a young child held in the arms of her mother as older generations stand behind her, each figure wearing a pattern from the diverse cultural diasporas in Los Angeles county. Footprints move through the desert toward a bright horizon, a metaphor for migration, healing, and resilience within the Jewish community. Silhouettes of culturally significant Los Angeles county landmarks sit on the horizon, reminding the viewer of the greater community within which the Jewish community thrives.”

Throughout the Summer of Solidarity, LA vs Hate will continue to commission and reveal new murals celebrating different communities and cultures across the County through partnering with community organizations. The next mural unveiling will take place in South LA in partnership with the Brotherhood Crusade and LA Commons to bring to life a mural that articulates the experience of the black community with its long history battling racism in Los Angeles. During Long Beach Pride, a mural that honors the LGBTQ+ community will be unveiled in Bixby Park, in partnership with the Long Beach LGBT Center, Long Beach Human Relations Commission and Long Beach Parks Department.

For more information, visit LAvsHate.org, and for the LA vs Hate: Summer of Solidarity calendar of events, visit  lavshate. org/community-events-calendar.

“In many ways, it feels like history repeating itself,” said Bouska. “This is yet another marginalized community being attacked. This really puts people’s lives at stake. In some ways, what is happening now seems more cruel.”

“Queer and especially trans people are in danger right now,” said Parshley.

“I think it is important to remember that gender-affirming care being under attack in so many states is a life-threatening issue,” Parshley said. “Trans people are much more likely to attempt to commit suicide than someone else within the queer community. When you take away someone’s ability to be authentic to themselves, you are putting their life at risk. This definitely seems worse

than before.”

ABOUT NOH8

Anyone who wants to join in the fight against hate is welcome to do so by attending one of NOH8’s many photo events listed on a calendar on their website. Single photos cost $40, and pictures of multiple people cost $20 per face in the photo. Events marked as “free” are sponsored, and so come at no cost to all participants.

“Ideally, we would provide all of these for free,” said Parshley, “but we can’t do that, unfortunately. This looks like a big operation, but it’s really just Adam and me. These are the same price as when we started, though, because we refuse to raise them.”

Hate’s Summer of Solidarity will continue to create art and community-led events to bring people of all walks of life together

Elton John AIDS Foundation launches ambitious new initiative

NEW YORK - The Rocket Fund is the Elton John AIDS Foundation’s latest transformative $125 million campaign to redouble the fight against AIDS everywhere. Growing levels of stigmatization, marginalization, and poverty have led to high rates of HIV and low access to healthcare globally.

reaching everyone, everywhere with education and compassionate care is still as strong as ever. The Rocket Fund will turbo-charge our mission and reach those most at risk from this terrible disease. Now is the time. This epidemic has gone on too long. We must all act together to see AIDS defeated in our lifetimes.”

Money from the fund will go towards supporting access to HIV prevention and treatment services, including providing access to HIV tests, antiretroviral therapies, and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), according to the press release. Donatella Versace, one of the Rocket Fund’s cochairs — alongside Furnish, Tani Austin, and David Geffen — has also pledged to match donations to the fund up to $300,000 during the month of June.

Man and produced in partnership with global communications agency BCW.

The Foundation launched this critical initiative on June 5, the day in 1981 when the Centers for Disease Control released its first report on what would become the AIDS epidemic. This inaugural Rocket Day commemorates the early days of the fight against HIV/AIDS, while committing to accelerate progress towards ending AIDS for all.

“For years, HIV/AIDS has caused enormous pain across the world, but I pray that soon this epidemic will be a thing of the past” said Sir Elton John. “More than 30 years after I launched the Elton John AIDS Foundation, my passion for

Throughout Pride Month, Sir Elton John and the co-chairs of The Rocket Fund are challenging supporters to let their #InnerElton out. Letting your #InnerElton out is about proudly expressing your authentic self, showing love for others and taking compassionate action. Supporters are encouraged to join the movement by posting photos of themselves on social media wearing their own take on Elton’s signature looks – or whatever makes them feel their true self – with the hashtag #InnerElton. Many notables are joining to let their #InnerElton out, including Dolly Parton, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, JoJo Siwa, Heidi Klum, Smokey Robinson and more. Learn more here. The Let Your Inner Elton Out campaign was created by advertising agency Invisible

“The end of the HIV/AIDS epidemic is within sight, and The Rocket Fund is the push we need to finally cross the horizon,” said David Furnish, Chairman of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. “To end AIDS, we must make targeted investments that can level the playing field, by tackling the inequalities and stigma that prevent people from accessing the care they desperately need. By joining The Rocket Fund and our mission, you can help transform the future for millions of people globally.”

“As we’ve learned through the global fight to stop COVID-19, epidemics do not recognize state borders, economic or cultural differences. If left unchecked, they only worsen with devastating impacts on the most vulnerable,” said Anne Aslett, Chief Executive Officer of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. “It is critical that we meet this moment to connect vulnerable people with the care and resources they need to live vibrant, healthy lives and we welcome all who want to see an end to this disease to join us.”

OC bans flags except U.S., state, county on county property

SANTA ANA, Calif. - In a narrow 3-2 vote Tuesday, the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved a policy that would limit flying of flags on county property to solely federal, state and county flags.

The new policy was authored by board Vice Chairman Andrew Do, who told his fellow supervisors he wanted to limit the county’s exposure to being accused of supporting any particular interest group.

“The flag policy that I proposed today has nothing to do with any particular cause or social issue,” Do said. “We have speakers from both sides so both sides can claim they’re right and there have been efforts to define my item as one being exclusionary, particularly with respect to sexual orientation and I want to unequivocally refute that point.”

There had been debate around the Pride Flag, which is normally flown in acknowledgement of LGBTQ people during the month of June. Do deflected telling the audience and the board:

“Orange County is welcoming to everyone,” Do said. “This board has demonstrated that over and over. I recruited Dr. Chau, a member of the LGBTQ community, here during COVID to head of our health care agency.”

The issue over the display of flags arose after a failed effort from Supervisors Katrina Foley and Vince Sarmiento backing a proclamation in support of Pride Month to honor the LGBTQ community. The two supervisors also voted no on the Vice Chairman’s flag policy.

“We know this is not about (constitutional) law — this is really more of a political decision,” Foley argued. “As the sixth-largest economy in America and the fourth-largest economy in California, as the home of Disneyland, as the home of Vans, as the home of so many corporations who are inclusive and express that inclusivity, they’re supporting Pride not because it’s divisive, but because it’s inclusive. It’s a representation of diversity.”

Supervisor Sarmiento noted the high level of suicide and depression in the LGBTQ community.

“My son, who is queer, says those numbers are totally underestimated,” Sarmiento said. “To me, it is personal. We have to have a talk with my son whenever he goes and when he wants to show affection to his partner. Don’t hold his hand, don’t embrace him, don’t have him do all of these things we take for granted, and he cannot because there is still rampant hate in this county, unfortunately.”

The Orange County Board’s actions comes four months after the Huntington Beach City Council approved an ordinance/policy to restrict display of flags on city-owned property to only flying the city, state and national flags, along with occasionally flying the county flag and flags supporting prisoners of war and each branch of the military.

The council voted 4-3 approving the ordinance/policy along party lines with Democratic council members Dan Kalmick, Natalie Moser and Rhonda Bolton voting against it.

Republican Councilman Pat Burns, a former Long Beach Police Department Lieutenant, and a publicly proclaimed proponent of “family values” said “Special flags or recognition flags of some sort that aren’t governmental or representative of the community, as one, I don’t believe has a space on our government flag poles.”

BRODY LEVESQUE

BRODY LEVESQUE

ELTON JOHN & DAVID FURNISH at Oscars Viewing Party 2021

(Screenshot/YouTube Hollywood TV)

Vice Chairman ANDREW DO, Orange County Board of Supervisors (Screenshot/YouTube)

LOS ANGELES - This Summer, join Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation for fun in the sun, activities and adventure! We are offering a variety of new, FREE and paid programs for youth and families, ranging from sports clinics and nature exploration programs to aquatics and overnight camping at the park, as well as special events to enjoy!. Make LA County Parks your destination for summer activities!

It’s ‘Park Time’ at LA County Parks

program is designed to promote a healthy lifestyle, elevate energy levels and ensure children do not go hungry while playing at the park. This program is FREE and no pre-registration is required.

OUR SPOT

Monday - Friday / 3 - 7PM

Our SPOT is a FREE after-school program for teens ages 12-18, providing a fun, safe and supportive place where teens can checkin daily, Monday through Friday all year long. Our SPOT focuses on aiding teens in setting meaningful goals to accomplish individually and collaboratively while also participating in various forms of recreation programming, visual arts sessions, social action activities, and educational field trips.

RECREATION

***NEW!***  EVERY BODY PLAYS SUMMER ADVENTURES

June 12 - August 4 / Monday – Friday 11AM5:30PM.

This summer, we’ve rebooted and retooled our Every Body Plays program to bring you more activities and fun than ever before to 56 parks countywide! In addition to our beloved drop-in recreation program, this summer you can enjoy a variety of engaging activities; ranging from Arts & Crafts, Sports, Performing Arts, Capers (theater), ESTEAM activities and even field trips at an LA County Park near you!

SUMMER LUNCH AND SNACK PROGRAM

June 12 - August 4 / Monday – Friday / Snack: 12 - 1PM / Lunch: 3 - 4PM

Youth 18 years old and younger can enjoy a healthy lunch and snack at select LA County parks. Kids are invited to receive free nutritious lunch and snacks that include vegetables, fruits, seeds and healthy dairy products like milk, string cheese and yogurt. The

SENIOR PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES

Monday - Fridays / Times Vary

Over 20 of our County Parks host amazing senior activities and programming every single day to serve our senior centers that visit us. They’re a perfect place for seniors to stay fit, active and socialize with one another. You can expect programming like cooking classes, dances, senior social hour, and light exercise classes. And on top of that, our seniors go on wonderful trips together; whether it be horseback riding, trips to farmer’s markets, Dodgers games, the Getty, or even the Hollywood Bowl. We are always striving to go above and beyond for our elders. Call your local park to find a senior center near you today!

OVERNIGHT CAMPING

June - August / Fridays

Our popular Overnight Camping program returns this summer to Castaic State Recreation Area, Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park, Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Park,  Santa Fe Dam and Whittier Narrows. Spend a night under the stars camping with your loved ones along with fishing, campfire games and

more! Our Overnight Camping is guaranteed to make for a perfect summer staycation. Be sure to  register online prior to, entry is only $10 per person.

AQUATICS

It’s going to be a hot one this summer, but LA County Parks has got you covered with an array of aquatic activities. Whether you are looking to get some light aerobic exercise in our Adult Aqua Exercise class, learning the building blocks with our Learn to Swim Program or mastering your skills through our Novice Swim Team (year round facilities only), LA County Parks has something for you! Explore below to see the numerous aquatics programs offered in the off-season and visit our Aquatics Page for a full list of programs.

SPLASH PADS

May 1 - September 30  / Every Day 11AM - 7PM Summer is here and with things to heat up in LA County, our Splash Pads are returning to help you cool off this summer! Swing by one of our several locations for a fun and free activity for the entire family!

JUNIOR LAKE LIFEGUARDS

Session 1:June 12 – Thursday, June 29

Session 2: Monday, July 10 – Thursday, July 27

The Junior Lake Lifeguard Program provides a challenging and exciting open water environment which promotes an active and responsible lifestyle for participants ages 9-17. This 3-week summer program offers 2 sessions (morning or afternoon) daily, Monday through Thursday, and will be held at three LA County Parks locations (Santa Fe Dam, Frank G. Bonelli Lake and Castaic Lake). Plus, this year, we are offering scholarships for the Jr Lifeguard program!

LEARN TO SWIM

Ongoing Registration / Session 1 begins June 12

Our progressive swim lessons teach swimming skills, stroke technique and water safety while encouraging a lifelong love of the water.  The program is designed to give students a positive learning experience while progressing steadily through the skills. Each level includes swimming skills as well as water safety lessons both for pools and open water.  All levels follow the American Red Cross Learn-toSwim program.

ADULT WATER EXERCISE

Dates and Times Vary  / Session 1 begins June 12

Our Adult Water Exercise class can conform to almost any individual needs, abilities or restrictions and can be done no matter what your age, weight or physical fitness level. This program is offered to adults ages 18 and older and is conducted in both deep and shallow water. Participants must be comfortable in the water and have a proper bathing swim attire. Additionally, this program is FREE for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities.

NATURE CENTERS

Visiting an LA County Nature Center is a great way to learn about native flora and fauna, local history, and enjoy informative demonstrations and tours. Our Nature Center and Natural Areas teams are bringing a variety of programs this summer to help you engage with the natural world and bring the great outdoors a little closer to home.

NATURE CENTER DISCOVERY

Locations Vary / Saturdays 10AM & Noon

Join us Saturday mornings for a meet and greet with a Natural Areas Superintendents! Learn more about your nature center, ask questions and find out fun ways to make the most of your visit. You’ll even meet some animal ambassadors along the way!

CONTINUED AT LOSANGELESBLADE.COM

Lawmakers move to amend constitution to protect marriage equality

SACRAMENTO – Marking the beginning of Pride Month, California state lawmakers in the Assembly and the Senate introduced language on Monday to amend the state’s constitution to protect marriage equality for all.

Although marriage equality for same-sex couples has been the law of the land in California since the Supreme Court’s June 2013 ruling in Hollingsworth v. Perry, California’s constitution still contains outdated and discriminatory language from Proposition 8 stating that same-sex couples are not allowed to marry.

“Marriage equality is a fundamental right and voters deserve the opportunity to remove a black mark from the California constitution,” said Assemblymember Evan Low, a member of the California Legislative LGBT Caucus and a co-author of the legislation.

The proposed constitutional amendment, ACA 5, is authored by Low (D-Silicon Valley) and Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) is supported by the Legislative LGBTQ Caucus and dozens of lawmakers in the Assembly and Senate.

The constitutional amendment would amend the California Constitution to protect the fundamental freedom to marry as part of existing rights to enjoy life and liberty, pursue happiness and privacy, and not be denied due process or equal protection. These protections would help to safeguard against any future attempts to restrict marriage rights for same-sex or interracial couples.

“Although, same-sex marriage is legal, it could be temporary. We have to remain vigilant, unwavering in our dedication to equality. Together, we can reinforce the importance of love,

acceptance, and inclusivity. Our journey towards true equality is not over, and this is a foundational step in making progress and change here in the Golden State,” Low noted.

ACA 5 requires two-thirds vote in each chamber of the California Legislature and will then be referred to voters for approval in the November 2024 general election. Notably, 31 Senators and 42 Assemblymembers have already signed on as co-authors of the legislation, including the Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) and the Assembly Speaker Designate Robert Rivas (D-Hollister).

71% of Americans — an all-time high, including majorities of voters across the political spectrum — support the freedom to marry for same-sex couples.

By BRODY LEVESQUE

(Photo Credit: County of Los Angeles)

Biden hosts largest-ever Pride event at White House

More than 1,000 guests welcomed on South Lawn

By CHRISTOPHER KANE | ckane@washblade.com

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden on Saturday welcomed more than 1,000 guests to the largest Pride month celebration ever hosted at the White House.

“Happy Pride Month,” the president said from a stage on the South Lawn. “Happy Pride year,” he added, “happy Pride life.”

The Biden-Harris administration has more openly-LGBTQ people working at every level of government than ever before, Biden noted, and “we’re doing everything we can to advance equality for the LGBTQ community.”

“As commander-in-chief, I was proud to reverse the ban on transgender Americans serving in the United States military. I signed historic executive orders extending civil rights protections for housing, employment, health care, education and the justice system.”

“We’re combatting the dangerous and cruel practice of conversation therapy and launching a new national strategy to end the HIV epidemic by 2030, working with communities to treat and contain the mpox outbreak, and ending the disgraceful practice of banning gay and bisexual men from donating blood.”

Biden said the administration is making LGBTQ equality around the world a top priority, such as by reviewing “our engagement with Uganda following its anti-gay law, the most extreme in the world.”

“Last December, we felt such pride here on the South Lawn when I signed the historic Respect for Marriage Act, which protects the marriages of same-sex and interracial couples.”

Despite this progress, the president said, “real challenges still remain.” For instance, he said, “When a person can be married in the morning and thrown out of the restaurant for being gay in the afternoon, something is still very wrong in America. That’s why the Congress must pass and

send me the Equality Act.”

“Joining us today are survivors of Club Q and Pulse,” Biden said, shootings that highlight the importance of implementing the provisions of the bipartisan gun bill passed last year. He added that work must continue with banning assault weapons.

maybe it’s not you, your kid, your family member going through whatever a transgender child and their family is going through,” Biden said.

“But I think we can all agree,” he said, “if it were you, you’d want the space to figure it out with your family and doctor.”

“So today, I want to send a message to the entire community especially to transgender children. You aren’t alone. You are heard. You are understood … your president, my entire administration has your back!”

“Two days ago, I announced a series of new initiatives we’re taking to protect the LGBTQ community,” Biden said. “First, ensuring your physical safety. Whether you’re organizing a Pride parade, running a small business or just trying to focus at school, you shouldn’t have to deal with bomb threats, harassment, and violent attacks.”

“That’s why the Department of Homeland Security with the support of the Department of Justice and Department Health and Human Services is launching a safety partnership that’s gonna provide critical training and support to the community — dedicated resources to better protect festivals, marches, community centers and businesses.”

“With families across the country facing excruciating decisions to relocate to a different state to protect their child from dangerous anti LGBTQ laws, we have to act,” Biden said. “We have to act as a nation. We need to push back against the hundreds of callous and cynical bills and laws introduced in states targeting transgender children, terrifying families and criminalizing doctors and nurses.”

“These bills and laws attack the most basic values we have as Americans that’s not hyperbole,” said the president. “It’s a fact.”

“I recognize that for a lot of folks across the country,

Second, said the president. “We’re addressing how the growing threat that book bans violate civil rights law when they target LGBTQ students or students of color and create hostile classroom environments.”

“Third, we’re investing in the future of LGBTQ kids. Last year we launched a nationwide crisis hotline for LGBTQ youth who are feeling isolated and overwhelmed,” said Biden, who also noted initiatives focused on mental health and combatting homelessness among LGBTQ youth.

“You set the example for the nation and quite frankly for the world,” Biden said. “You know, we all move forward when we’re together with your joy, your pride, lighting the way.”

Pride event marred by trans ‘influencer’ topless stunt

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden hosted the largest Pride month celebration ever held at the White House on Saturday, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to the LGBTQ community, but the behavior of one guest sparked controversy into this week.

“This behavior is inappropriate and disrespectful for any event at the White House,” a White House spokesperson said on Tuesday in response to a video in which trans “influencer” Rose Montoya appeared topless during Saturday’s event on the South Lawn.

“It is not reflective of the event we hosted to celebrate LGBTQI+ families or the other hundreds of guests who were in attendance,” the spokesperson said, adding, “Individuals in the video will not be invited to future events.”

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre echoed those comments during a press briefing Tuesday, telling reporters: “That type of behavior is, as I said, unacceptable. It’s inappropriate, it’s disrespectful. And it really does not reflect the event that we hosted to celebrate the LGBTQ+ families.”

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), appearing on Fox News to discuss the indictment of former President Donald Trump on Tuesday, pivoted to discussing the incident involving Montoya, which he characterized as emblematic of a national “decline” and “cultural hysteria.”

“We had a lady, or man that now claims to be a lady, you know, going topless at the White House two days ago at a Pride celebration thing,” Rubio said.

Montoya defended her video on TikTok, insisting that she did not violate any laws.

“I fully support the movement and freeing the nipple,” she said. “My trans masculine friends were showing off their top surgery scars and living in joy, and I wanted to join them. And because it is perfectly within the law of Washington, D.C. I decided to join them and cover my nipples just to play it safe.”

“I had zero intention of trying to be vulgar or be profane in any way,” Montoya said. “I was simply living my joy, and my truth, and existing in my body.”

The influencer did not respond to requests for com-

ment from the Washington Blade.

CHRISTOPHER KANE

President JOE BIDEN at the White House June 2023 Pride Month reception. (Blade photo by Christopher Kane)

ROSE MONTOYA exposed her breasts on the White House lawn at an event aimed at LGBTQ families.

Gay, bi men have better heart health scores than straight men: study

But lesbians showed poorer results than heterosexual women

By LOU CHIBBARO JR. | lchibbaro@washblade.com

A report published last month in the Journal of the American Heart Association about a study conducted in France of the heart disease risk factors in more than 169,000 adults found that gay and bisexual men had a lower risk for cardiovascular disease than heterosexual men.

The same study, according to the JAHA report, shows that lesbian and bisexual women had a higher risk of cardiovascular disease such as heart attacks and strokes than heterosexual women.

The report says the French study, which included physical examinations and interviews with 90,879 women and 78,555 men in 21 cities, appears to be the first such study to include individuals who self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or who declare other non-heterosexual identities.

It says the study used two methods of measuring cardiac health developed by the American Heart Association. One, called the Life’s Simple 7 Cardiovascular Health Score, assesses seven “modifiable and actionable cardiovascular health metrics” — dietary intake, physical activity, nonsmoking, body mass index, fasting blood glucose level, blood pressure, and total blood cholesterol.

The second method the study used for assessing cardiac health, the report says, is called Life’s Essential 8, which includes the seven factors used in the first method plus an assessment of an individual’s “sleep health.”

Dr. Keith Egan, an internal medicine physician with D.C.’s Kaiser Permanente Pride Medical Center ,which specializes in primary medical care for LGBTQ patients, called the French study an important development in identifying the need for preventive health care for LGBTQ people.

“It puts us on notice that we need to be paying attention to these cardiovascular risk factors and paying special attention for bisexual and lesbian women to make sure that we’re doing everything we can to help that population

optimize their health in each of these aspects to prevent cardiovascular disease down the line,” Egan told the Washington Blade.

The Journal of the American Heart Association report on the French study, which was released on May 17, offers a possible explanation for why lesbians and bi women were shown to have a higher risk for heart disease.

“The current study found that SM [sexual minority] men had higher cardiovascular health scores than their heterosexual counterparts, whereas the opposite was found in women,” the report says.

“This may suggest that: (1) levels of exposure to stressors, such as discrimination, might differ between sexual minority men and sexual minority women compared with heterosexual individuals; and (2) differences in the available coping resources and resilience to buffer against minority stressors might exist in sexual minority women and sexual minority men,” the report states.

“It is noteworthy that gay or bisexual men had higher LE8 and LS7 scores than heterosexual men, despite their observed psychosocial and socioeconomic disadvantages,” the report continues.

“As the study was conducted in France, universal health care access to most residents may have buffered against the detrimental effects of low socioeconomic status on cardiovascular health access and cardiovascular disease prevention in sexual minority individuals,” the report says.

However, the report says the study found that gay and bisexual men living in rural areas had lower cardiovascular health scores compared to heterosexual men.

The report also points out that while gay and bisexual men had higher heart health scores than heterosexual men and lesbian and bi women had lower scores than their straight counterparts, it also confirmed findings in previous

studies that overall, women consistently have higher cardiac health scores and less risk for heart disease than men regardless of sexual orientation.

Egan, the Pride Medical Center physician, said among the important issues the French study raises that can be found in the United States is the potential disparities faced by LGBTQ people based on discrimination.

“A lot of that is tied back to the overall LGBTQ+ population being less likely to have a primary care provider and less likely to go for a routine screening,” he said. “We see those disparities in other areas like in rates of HIV and rates of STI [sexually transmitted infections] in gay and bisexual men,” Egan said.

“In general, though, if you look at the study, men – both heterosexual and gay men – have lower cardiovascular scores,” he said. “There is an overall higher risk for men in general” regarding cardiovascular disease,” Egan stressed.

“So, what I always say regarding the LGBTQ+ population is that it’s really important to seek out and find a primary care provider who is knowledgeable and experienced and open and welcoming to our community, so that you have a relationship with a primary care provider where you can truly be open and tell them all aspects of your life so the provider can then provide help, advice and do proper screening and help reduce these disparities,” Egan said.

The full Journal of the American Heart Association report can be accessed at ahajournals.org.

Homophobe Pat Robertson dies at 93

Anti-LGBTQ Christian-media mogul, televangelist, conservative political activist, and evangelical Southern Baptist minister Pat Robertson died at 93, representatives from his Christian Broadcasting Network confirmed last week.

A public figure who was active in American politics since the 1960s, Robertson became as known for making Christianity central to the Republican Party as he was for his outrageously offensive comments targeting LGBTQ people as well as Haitians, Black people, Muslims, Jewish people, Buddhists, and many others.

When fellow anti-LGBTQ evangelical televangelist and erstwhile rival Jerry Falwell appeared on his flagship television program The 700 Club on the week of September 11, 2001, Robertson replied “I totally concur” when Falwell laid blame for the terror attacks on “the ACLU” along with “the pagans and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays, and the lesbians.”

After the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which established the constitutional right to same-sex marriage, Robertson warned Christian busi-

ness that gay customers will “make you conform to them”: “You’re gonna say that you like anal sex, you like oral sex, you like bestiality,” he said. “Sooner or later, you’re going to have to conform your religious beliefs to the group of some abhorrent thing. It won’t stop at homosexuality.”

Likely one of the ugliest hate-mongering statements he made, and which special condemnation was leveled at him, occurred in the aftermath of the June 12, 2016, massacre when 49 LGBTQ people were killed at Pulse, an LGBTQ nightclub in Orlando, Fla., by a shooter who’d pledged allegiance to a radical form of Islam.

Robertson told viewers on his religious 700 Club broadcast the following day that Americans should just let LGBTQ people and Muslims kill each other:

“The left is having a dilemma of major proportions, and I think for those of us who disagree with some of their policies, the best thing to do is to sit on the sidelines and let them kill themselves,” he said.

CHRISTOPHER KANE

A new study finds that lesbian and bi women have lower heart health scores than straight women.

PAT ROBERTSON died last week at 93. (Screen capture via Youtube)

LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT

Trump pleads not guilty in document theft case

Arraigned in a federal court in Miami on Tuesday, former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to criminal charges that he jeopardized the security of national secrets and obstructed the government’s efforts to recover classified documents in his possession.

Trump appeared at the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse in downtown Miami, where a jury will adjudicate the 37 criminal counts brought against the former president,

who remains the frontrunner for the Republican 2024 presidential nomination.

Demonstrators gathered outside voiced their support for Trump, while others vocalized their support for the indictment, brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith.

The scene reflects the extent to which the prosecution is politically fraught — an unprecedented legal gambit for a former president, brought by the U.S. Department of Justice under the administration of his presumptive rival for the White House in next year’s presidential race.

At the same time, the documents case is not the only area in which Trump faces potential legal jeopardy.

Author E. Jean Carroll is suing Trump for defamation and rape, while New York Attorney General Letitia James has

brought a fraud case against the former president along with three of his children.

A grand jury indicted Trump in March — marking the first time criminal charges were brought against a former president — for an alleged hush money payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels.

Fulton County, Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis is expected to announce possible criminal indictments this summer over Trump’s alleged election tampering in the state.

Meanwhile, the Justice Department is also probing Trump’s activities around the Jan. 6 insurrection and the aftermath of the 2020 election, including a scheme to send fake electors to Congress to overturn the results.

CHRISTOPHER KANE

Pocan condemns House GOP’s anti-LGBTQ markup of military bill

U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) condemned his Republican colleagues’ inclusion of anti-LGBTQ provisions in a markup on Tuesday of the Fiscal Year 2024 Military Construction and Veterans’ Affairs appropriations bill.

The congressman, who chairs the Congressional Equality Caucus and serves on the House Appropriations Committee, told the Washington Blade in a written statement, “Republicans are hell-bent on attacking the LGBTQ+ community,” adding that Tuesday’s markup was “no different.”

“Republicans adopted an amendment to deny access to medically necessary care to transgender veterans, prohibit pride flags from being flown at VA facilities, and even allow discrimination against LGBTQ+ people,” Pocan said.

“Everyone, especially our veterans who fought and served this country, should have the freedom to access the care and services they need—free from discrimination,” he said.

“There are 1 million gay and lesbian veterans and more than 130,000 transgender veterans. LGBTQ+ veterans have

served our country with honor, but today, Republicans demonstrated they have no interest in honoring LGBTQ+ veterans’ service,” Pocan said.

In Committee, Pocan took aim at his Republican col-

leagues.

“Most of the other provisions in this amendment have very little to do with a MilCon bill,” such as the Republican members’ language “about abortion and gender affirming care, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and apparently, the fear of some cloth — banning pride flags at our veterans facilities across the country,” the congressman said.

“At some point anti-woke is also anti-sane, and we look ridiculous,” Pocan said. “There is an article in Newsweek magazine in the last 48 hours talking about how all of this anti LGBTQI+ stuff that is going on is exactly out of Vladimir Putin’s playbook.”

“What we need to remember is there are 65,000 Active Duty people in the military right now who identify as LGBTQI+, a million veterans who have served our country who identify as that,” the congressman said, adding that “we should be saying ‘thank you.’”

CHRISTOPHER KANE

Rep. Titus seeks to require U.S. to promote LGBTQ rights abroad

U.S. Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.) last week introduced a bill that would require the U.S. to promote LGBTQ and intersex rights abroad through its foreign policy.

The Human Rights Campaign, the Council for Global Equality, the National Center for Transgender Equality, ORAM (Organization for Refuge, Asylum and Migration), Outright International, Rainbow Railroad and the Trevor Project are among the organizations that support the Greater Leadership Overseas for the Benefit of Equality (GLOBE) Act. U.S. Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) will introduce the bill in the U.S. Senate.

Titus on Tuesday told the Washington Blade during an exclusive interview the bill, among other things, would endorse the selective use of existing sanctions to punish those responsible for murders and other human rights abuses against LGBTQ and intersex people. She also said the measure would require the State Department to allow LGBTQ and intersex people to choose their gender marker on passports and other travel documents.

“It’s a way of putting into action our attempts to be a

leader in the area of LGBTQ+ rights and to be a leader, not just at home, but around the world,” said Titus.

President Joe Biden in 2021 signed a memorandum that committed the U.S. to promoting LGBTQ and intersex rights abroad as part of the Biden-Harris administration’s overall foreign policy.

Jessica Stern has been the special U.S. envoy for the promotion of LGBTQ and intersex rights since 2021. She told the Blade in a previous interview the White House’s continued support of LGBTQ and intersex rights includes marriage equality in countries where activists say such a thing is possible through legislation or the judicial process.

The State Department last year began to offer passports with an “X” gender marker. The U.S. Agency for International Development and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief has delivered millions of doses of antiretroviral drugs for Ukrainians with HIV/AIDS.

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield in March chaired a U.N. meeting that focused on the integration of LGBTQ and intersex rights into the U.N. Security

Council’s work.

Biden, along with U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) others, have condemned the signing of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act that contains a death penalty provision for “aggravated homosexuality.” The National Security Council has said it will “evaluate” the law’s implications in terms of U.S. aid to the country.

Titus is among the lawmakers who have previously introduced bills that are similar to the GLOBE Act.

She noted the Anti-Homosexuality Act when she spoke with the Blade. Titus also discussed Republican-led efforts to curtail LGBTQ rights in Florida and other states.

“It’s harder, certainly, to get Republicans on board, but I’m optimistic,” she said when asked if she expects any Republicans will co-sponsor his bill. “The more they hear from their constituents and the more they see the backlash to what some state legislatures are doing and the more they hear from members of their own families, I think that we may get some to join us in this.”

MICHAEL K. LAVERS

Former President DONALD TRUMP now faces federal criminal charges after his arraignment on Tuesday.

Rep. MARK POCAN (Blade photo by Michael Key)

Get to know SCAN.

At SCAN Health Plan®, we recognize that our LGBTQ+ members have unique health needs, and we know it’s not always easy to find affirming care you deserve.

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is a Florida-based student organizer & activist for LGBTQ+ rights, and a part-time Field & Advocacy Fellow for Equality Florida, the largest LGBTQ+ rights organization in Florida.

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FLAGLER BEACH, Fla. - The highly anticipated announcement of Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign has not gone as expected. For the past few months, political observers and operatives alike expected DeSantis to give former President Trump a serious challenge to the Republican Nomination.

This speculation was supported by polling which purported that the increasingly besieged former president was losing his grip on the GOP base, which was seemingly gravitating towards the equally conservative, patently MAGA-aligned, yet demonstrably less scandal-ridden governor of Florida.

But in spite of his obvious momentum leading into primary season, DeSantis’ prospects have certainly waned as of late. His campaign got off to a rocky — if not horrendous — start following a glitchy, awkward Twitter Spaces debut. Moreover, Trump has opened up a significant lead on DeSantis in nearly all recent of the Republican primary polls. DeSantis’ early campaign appearances have failed to mitigate public ridicule, and instead have added to it as substantial attention has been focused on his evidently uncharismatic and unpleasant attempts at retail politics.

Perhaps most daunting is his failure to capture the anti-Trump lane early, as he will have to contend with competition from South Carolina U.S. Senator Tim Scott, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, and recently former Vice President Mike Pence, all of whom are vying for the admittedly small but key voting block that is crucial to toppling Trump’s grip.

The sad state of DeSantis’ nascent Presidential campaign has inspired much relief and joy for his opponents, who have joined supporters of Donald Trump in a rare instance of political alignment to make fun of the governor.

Personally, as a gay student activist that has been at the forefront of the fight against DeSantis’ administration in Florida, I am inclined to join the rest of the left in gleefully casting DeSantis as an unserious politician doomed to a humiliating, likely career-debilitating defeat at the hands of Trump, who seems poised to easily dispatch someone the media presented as his gravest threat while simultaneously fending off federal criminal charges (something unprecedented for a former president.)

However, I fear that the narrative surrounding DeSantis’ misfortune is contributing to a sense of complacency regarding his horrifying impact on not only the state of Florida but on the whole nation as well.  DeSantis arguably has single-handedly pushed the GOP even further to the extreme right. Thanks to my governor, the fraught concept

of “wokeism” has pervaded the minds of millions of conservative voters, causing them to embrace a degree of unfettered queerphobia previously thought to have been extinct in modern American politics.

DeSantis’ signature anti-LGBTQ+ bills, such as “Don’t Say Gay” and “Stop Woke’’ have metastasized to several Republican-controlled states that are considering or have already enacted pieces of copycat legislation. In this way, DeSantis’ authoritarian reach has extended well outside Florida.

Obviously, the worst of DeSantis has been felt in Florida, where his consolidation of power has awarded him with an iron grip, and one he is keen to exercise against any and all political opponents. Aside from his well-publicized war on LGBTQ+ rights that has left many with no choice but to flee the state, The Governor has also implemented a strict abortion ban, prohibited investment in sustainable energy, gutted representation of minority voters and sanctioned trafficking of undocumented people.

Of course, that is only the short list. DeSantis’ all-encompassing ultra right-wing administration will undoubtedly continue to influence all aspects of life in Florida for the foreseeable future.

Even if DeSantis is unable to ascend to the highest office in the United States (thankfully), his brand of politics has already become embedded within the political lexicon of the right-wing, and to the detriment of marginalized groups, throughout the country. DeSantis-ism, as opposed to MAGA-ism, is more than just a cult of personality around a single man. It is a blueprint for the emboldened far-right to systematically destroy democratic traditions while legislating bigoted vitriol in their place.

Therefore, being content with Republican voters’ bewildering preference for an indicted, unhinged and defeated former president over DeSantis is simply not enough. Those of us fighting for a truly free and just society must commit to nothing short of total victory over his agenda.

That means lending support to the people and organizations on the front lines, composed largely of the most-effected, such as BIPOC folks belonging to the LGBTQ+ community. It also means demanding federal intervention against DeSantis’ most inarguably authoritarian measures, in addition to those of the other Republican governors following his lead.

Otherwise, Ron DeSantis’ legacy as Governor of Florida could very well outlive his political lifespan, and in-turn match the damage caused by a now increasingly unlikely DeSantis presidency. Thus, the governor’s floundering campaign should be a rallying call to continue confronting him directly.

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Florida Republican Governor & GOP hopeful RON DESANTIS speaking to voters in New Hampshire, June 2023.

(Photo Credit: DeSantis campaign)

Desantis’ campaign flopping, but he still poses a serious threat

“Those of us fighting for a truly free and just society must commit to nothing short of total victory over his agenda”

Ted Cruz, the junior senator from Texas, is a weasel, an ever-chirping Republican weasel. He says and does only things that serve his ambitions. His recent statement denouncing Uganda’s latest attack on LGBTQ people is no exception and should be judged in that context.

Though a weasel, Cruz is no idiot. The Texas electorate is constantly changing, with a thousand people arriving in the Lone Star State each day. Four of its cities now rank among America’s 10 largest. And while those cities are reliably Democratic, the weasel knows the suburbs are critical to his efforts to keep his office when he faces re-election next year.

So, amid the onslaught against LGBTQ people coming from Republicans in Austin, Cruz has used the plight of LGBTQ people abroad to make the claim that we should be protected against the actions of a hostile government.

He tweeted, “This Uganda law is horrific & wrong. Any law criminalizing homosexuality or imposing the death penalty for ‘aggravated homosexuality’ is grotesque & an abomination. ALL civilized nations should join together in condemning this human rights abuse.”

For a statement on our basic human dignity, it could have been worse, and reasonable people should agree with this sentiment. But once it’s recognized to be the very thing a weasel would say to make himself appear enlightened to

BRIAN GAITHER

is a gay writer and activist living in suburban Houston. He is on Twitter @briangaither.

Texas suburbanites without being excessively “woke,” it’s both piddling and pathetic.

Cruz has consistently sought to limit our ability to live visibly and peacefully in American society. While criticizing the government of Uganda, he has nonetheless advocated positions before our own government that are fully aligned with the explicitly anti-LGBTQ platform and agenda of the Republican Party of Texas. He has used his power to work against same-sex marriage. He has opposed passage of the Equality Act. And he espouses notions of “religious freedom” as justification for overt discrimination.

For the junior senator from Texas, there is only one acceptable way for LGBTQ people to exist  — as “consenting adults who engage in gay sex…in their own bedrooms.”

This is reductive. Cruz and his ilk are pedantic in their obsession over what we do with (specific parts of) our bodies, how we do it, and how much we’re allowed to express ourselves in public before we make them uncomfy. Texas Republicans, Cruz included, make no distinctions among gay cowboys, drag queens, and trans athletes. To them we’re all the same, and everything about us is inherently “sexualized” because that’s how they need us to be perceived. Lacking the capacity to consider us as fully formed human beings who transcend our sexuality, they will always resort to labeling us as “perverts,” and “groomers”

Don’t be fooled by the weasel. Cruz wants us confined to our bedrooms. He’s OK to affirm the right of gay men to bugger each other there so long as we don’t hold hands in a restaurant and don’t publicly exchange vows of commitment to one another and don’t ask someone to bake us a cake for the occasion. Defining our entire lives by “what we do in our bedrooms” is a deliberate effort to justify panic, bigotry, harassment, and violence against us.

Cruz is a greater threat to LGBTQ people than are Uganda’s barbaric laws. He’s an instigator of the homophobia that threatens us each day in this country, and most especially in the state he represents in the U.S. Senate. His myopic and prurient view of queer life means medical practitioners who provide trans-related care are leaving Texas and families with trans kids are being forced to relocate as well. It means books are being banned from local libraries while armed protesters turn out to intimidate the patrons of businesses hosting drag shows. It means his principles are empty and even a reasonable statement of support for LGBTQ people (in Uganda) rings hollow.

Ted Cruz is a weasel and his chirping about Uganda is not serious political discourse. It is, instead, an opportunistic ploy to soften his image for a percentage of suburban voters in Texas, recently arrived, who don’t already know the sort of weasel he is. He cares about their votes, and nothing else.

Ted Cruz is a weasel, Uganda notwithstanding Senator is a greater threat to LGBTQ people than any country’s barbaric laws

David Archuleta may have lost masked singer

By ROB WATSON

HOLLYWOOD - David Archuleta is easily the sweetest of crooners. His warm romantic sweet voice has charmed a breadth of audiences for over a decade, fi rst as a top contender on American Idol, and most recently with his boyish face completely hidden on the Masked Singer. In both competitions, he beat out dozens of massively talented singers to land in the #2 slot.

When he came in second on Idol, he got lost within the sea of confetti heralding David Cook as the winner. On the Masked Singer, when he lost to Bishop Briggs, he was all anyone was talking about, including by the winner herself.

When he was revealed as The Macaw, usually comedic judge Ken Jeong was brought to tears. David Archuleta’s voice was personal to Ken. His American Idol rendition of Imagine had gotten the Jeong family through tough times. Reminding the world that David’s was the voice of an “angel” Ken told him, “ You are a ray of light to me, my wife and to my kids– thank God for you!”   In response, David shared his walk back from suicidal thoughts to coming out as queer. Then the rest of the audience, and winner Bishop Briggs, were also brought to tears. The Macaw may not have won the night, but David did.

David has always had his eye on love and compassion for all, even when he could not extend that courtesy to himself. His consideration came into play in his choices on how to present Imagine lo those many years ago. He had to decide which of the three verses of the song to perform.

He told me why he chose the third verse. “If I was only going to have one verse, and it was my last time being in front of an audience of that magnitude, I thought the song’s message was a lot bigger in that verse, avoiding lyrics where people usually get stuck on the words. I didn’t want them focusing on what the words were saying, I wanted them to see that the song talks about looking past diff erences, and just being one. Imagine a world of peace where there wasn’t fi ghting, there weren’t differences, there wasn’t division. That’s what I wanted to emphasize, and I felt the third verse did the best with that message, and was not going to turn people away, turn people’s hearts off , hearing trigger words like ‘Imagine there’s no Heaven’ it’s easy if you try.”

David is not about “no Heaven,” he is about bringing it to everyone.

David may have come in second in the highest profi le singing contests on the planet, but he refuses to come in second in his own life now. There, he is and will be, the hands-down winner. He makes that clear in his newest song release Up . Rising back into popular view from his period of darkness, the song declares that he is headed “Up, up, up up.”

David talked to me on a recent episode of Rated LGBT Radio.  We discussed the religious and mental health crisis from which he has emerged. He told me, “Religion

gives you a very structured view of life and of purpose… why you are here, and where you are going to go, who God is, and what God expects of you. Being raised and being told ‘what God thinks of homosexuality and gay people’ and that if you succumb to it, you are distancing yourself from Him. I tried so hard to do what I was told I needed to do and growing up a Mormon, I was told to call it ‘same sex attraction’ acknowledging that I had a ‘weakness’ or ‘challenge’ that I needed to overcome, and if I did not give into it, I would be OK.

tried dating a woman, I went to church and fasted, never looked at pornography, and despite that, I realized it was just my nature. It was not even that I was trying to have sex with anyone, I just felt a bond and attraction to other guys—falling love or having a crush on someone. It led me to wanting to terminate my life. That ideology came from the way I was raised, from my religion, my spirituality as I saw it at that time. “

During his time of struggle, he even hid himself musically – he put out several outstanding Christmas albums. He released an album called Therapy Sessions , which highlighted, albeit veiled, his thoughts and struggles trying to suppress his sexuality.

He fi nally ended up throwing himself to God in a fi nal prayer of desperation.

He recounted the experience, “When I tuned into that Higher Connection, I heard God say, “David, you need to stop asking me this, because you’ve been asking me this for over half your life and you can see, it’s not changing. You need to understand, I do not intend it to change. This is what I meant for you. You are supposed to be this way. You are meant to be happy the way you are. You are meant to connect with the people I designed you to connect with. It is not an error despite what well meaning religious people say, and understand.”

David realized once and for all that he was not evil, that gay people were not evil. “There was an absolute clarity and assurance, absolute confi dence, so loving support from a Higher Power greater than me, that showed me how to love greater. It taught me to love myself and allow myself to be loved.  It was pure, it was healing.”

The revelation gave him the confi dence to confront Church leaders, to see through their “suggestions” and stand alone as his true authentic queer self.

While cloaked in the Macaw, he could demonstrate to himself that the talent that he was, he still is. He walked the stage clearer and truer than ever, and at the unmasking, the world was seeing not just David Archuleta, but a David Archuleta it had not known before.

Now he is singing a new song, literally. The song is an anthem that can speak to every trans, LGBTQ+ kid or adult in the community.

More, it is a declaration of who David Archuleta is, and what we can expect from him.

The only place I’m goin’ is up

Only make room for love

When I realized that I was never going to ‘overcome this challenge of same sex attraction’ I looked at myself as not just inauthentic, but as a failure. Clearly, I thought if I was truly a righteous person, I would be able to change myself from this ‘wicked’ state. When I realized I couldn’t, I thought ‘I’m wicked’, and there was nothing I could do about that. It made me afraid of myself, and I did not want to be a ‘wicked’ person walking the earth. No matter how many times I tried, no matter how many times I

‘Cause my story’s far from over

It’s only begun

I’ma throw it all away

Every last piece of your hate

And though my story’s far from over

I’ve already won

I’m goin’ up, up, up, up, up, up, up

Yes. Archuleta is back, winning, and this time, he is taking us with him.

but he’s winning life

Singer on why he refuses to come in second in his own life now

DAVID ARCHULETA (Photo by Zach Schmitt)

PERFORMED BY

GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF LOS ANGELES

DISNEY’S BELOVED SONGS are reimagined in a celebration of Pride at Walt Disney Concert Hall! Accompanied by a 25-piece orchestra and stunning video projections, GMCLA performs the music of iconic films like The Little Mermaid, The Lion King and Mary Poppins, as well as modern classics like Coco, Zootopia, Wreck-It Ralph and many more. The magical music of Disney Parks will round out this multimedia extravaganza. Solos and personal stories add connection to Disney’s timeless and universal stories, making this a truly magical experience.

WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL | JUNE 24 & 25 | GMCLA.ORG

‘Blue Jean’ explores impact of legislated homophobia on personal freedom

Tour-de-force is the timeliest film out there this Pride month

By JOHN PAUL KING

Pride is a celebration, but even in a Pride month filled with tangible triumph on the political front, it’s important to remember that hate and homophobia that seem to be ever-percolating under the surface of society, ready to bubble over as soon as things get hot enough – which is why UK filmmaker Georgia Oakley’s “Blue Jean” might just be timeliest piece of cinema out there this June, despite the fact that it takes place three-and-a-half decades in the past.

Set in the northern UK city of Newcastle in 1988, as Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government is on the brink of passing “Section 28” (a series of laws prohibiting the “promotion of homosexuality”), it takes its title from the name of its lead character, Jean (Rosy McEwen), who works as a gym teacher at a secondary school. Divorced and closeted, her sexuality is known only to her “safe” community of friends – but the new legislation, with its potential impact on her career and livelihood were she to be exposed, causes her increasing anxiety about keeping her queer life secret.

When a new student named Lois (Lucy Halliday) turns up in class – and then later at the gay bar where Jean is hanging out with her lesbian crew, including her girlfriend Viv (Kerrie Hayes) – things reach a critical breaking point for Jean. Though a connection forms with Lois, who is desperately in need of a mentor to help her through her queer growing pains, she tries to keep her distance – all the while lying to her family and her work friends to avoid socializing with them, terrified of any accidental revelations.

It’s an untenable situation, and things begin to fall apart in her personal life with the defiantly out-and-proud Viv. Finally, an incident between Lois and a classmate named Siobhan (Lydia Page) forces Jean to make a choice: either stand up for the truth and risk exposure or go along with the “official” narrative to preserve her own safety at the expense of a student – and fellow queer person – who trusts her.

Borrowing a page from Britain’s gritty New Wave of the early 1960s, by way of the aloof, observational style of later UK filmmakers like Terence Davies and Andrew Haigh, “Blue Jean” takes aim at the impact of homophobic oppression by focusing on the effect it has upon a single individual. Jean is not a person who still grapples with her sexual identity, but the very real possibility of having her life destroyed for it causes her to act against her own better nature. As presented by Oakley, it’s a character study that illuminates the dilemma created when we are forced to camouflage our authentic selves for the sake of self-preservation; it boils down to a conflict between our survival instinct and our need for self-actualization, fear for our own safety pitted against solidarity with our own community and compassion for others who fall into the crosshairs of bigotry. It’s not pretty – yet at the same time, our empathy cannot help but hold space for Jean, even when her choices are at their most cowardly. After all, when pitted against each other in a fight to merely survive, how many of us can say we wouldn’t act out of the same self-serving motivations. Does her status as a victim of political and social oppression excuse her for her reluctance to be visible, when others around her – including her own partner and a student half her age – choose a more defiant path? That’s a matter of subjective opinion, and it’s

scarcely the point. What matters is that her choices come not from an internal desire to adhere to the status quo but from a not-unfounded fear of having a life she’s worked hard to build for herself be torn down for reasons over which she has no control. In a world that accepted her for who she is, there would be no reason to even consider pretending to be something else. The fault lies not in some weakness of character, but in the closed-minded stigmatization imposed by a culture designed precisely to make her conform to the social “norm”.

Even so, many audiences might find “Blue Jean” a frustrating affair because of its lead character’s reticence to “do the right thing” not just by her community but by her girlfriend and and stand with those around her who are willing to challenge the prevailing pressure by being out. That’s an easy perspective to take in a time and place where acceptance is the prevailing attitude – even if location is a deciding factor in deciding where to spend that summer “gay-cation” in large swaths of the country and the globe – but Jean’s quandary is undoubtedly much more relatable for those who live outside the urban centers where queer havens are common enough to be taken for granted. Besides, a haven is all well and good, but a paycheck places arguably higher on the hierarchy of needs, and in Jean’s reality, that’s the overriding weak spot that curtails any effort she might wish to make toward living a more authentic – and ethical – life.

Going a long way toward making Oakley’s movie – which is, by the way, her feature film directorial debut – achieve its big-hearted goal of invoking empathy for those still trapped by personal circumstance in a closeted existence, McEwen gives a devastating, savvy, and deeply genuine performance in the central role; her Jean is relatable, sympathetic, and understandable throughout, no matter how much we might wish for her to step up to the plate. It’s a tour-de-force, and a window into a mindset that, while it might not hold quite so much real power in the world of today than it might have done in 1988 Britain, continues to throw obstacles in our path every step of the way. If not for the single-minded purpose that comes through in Oakley’s screenplay and directorial clarity, “Blue Jean” would belong completely to her; as it is, her performance is still a riveting and deeply insightful portrait of someone trying to act as if everything is “fine” while the house around her is being burned to the ground by people who want to legislate her and her kind out of existence. Let’s face it, we can all find some semblance of commonality in that.

As to how it all turns out, we’re obviously not going to spoil any of that – though we will mention that the movie doesn’t end with the same angry-but-hopeless resignation left by so many like-minded films. Beyond that, all we can say is that “Blue Jean” never succumbs to the temptation of judging the past by the standards of the present – and since it doesn’t take much imagination to recognize the similarity between Thatcher’s “Section 28” and Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law, it also doesn’t take much to see how Oakley’s movie – which won the People’s Choice Award at the Venice Film Festival and was nominated for a BAFTA as Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer – strikes a chillingly apropos note in America today.

ROSY MCEWEN in ‘Blue Jean.’

Celebrate Pride month with these new books

Travel, youth, pop culture and more

By TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER

The rainbow flags, the parades and confetti, this time of year makes you want to celebrate Pride month in any way you can. So why not grab one (or all!) of these great books about LGBTQ history and life?

First of all, if you’re heading out – out of state, out of town, out on the town, grab “The Pride Atlas” by Maartje Hensen (Chronicle Books, $30). This big, gorgeous book offers 500 unique, special, exciting ideas for travel this month and for the rest of the year.

So you love dancing on sand, in a club, or on the street? Fine dining is your thing, and browsing small shops sounds like your idea of a dream. Then this book will open your eyes to places to do all of the above, and more – best of all, many of these fabulous spots are almost right outside your door. If you’re making travel plans at all in 2023, this is the book to take with you.

So what’s up with the next generation of LGBTQ kids? In “Young Queer America: Real Stories and Faces of LGBTQ+ Youth” by Maxwell Poth, foreword by Isis King (Chronicle Books, $24.95), it’s almost like seeing the future.

Or how about this: You can think of this book as a series of mini-biographies, full of advice and positivity but also pain and struggle and lots of open, honest peeks at what it’s like to be a gay, lesbian, or trans kid (pre-teen to young adult) in today’s world. You’ll see their journey (so far) and their hopes, which, in a way, makes this book a compass for tomorrow, and don’t we all want that now?

Sometimes a little steam is all you want for your Pride month, and “Dykette” by Jenny Fran Davis (Holt, $26.99) will be what you want. When 20-somethings Sasha and Jesse are invited on a mini-vacation with a wealthy lesbian couple in a remote, private area, the plan for the getaway is obvious – made even more so by the presence of a third couple of women, known to the younger pair.

It doesn’t go well.

Part romance, part steam, this may be the beach read you want this Pride month.

And finally, you can’t have Pride without paying homage to the gay icons who’ve gone before you, and in  “Game Show Confidential” by Boze Hadleigh (Lyons Press, $21.95), you’ll read about game show hosts and history, scandals and salesmanship, gaffes and greats including the irrepressible Paul Lynde, who Hadleigh calls “The King of the Zingers.” There’s a wealth of information inside this book, and plenty of nostalgia, making it great enjoyment for anyone who spent summers in front of a rotating fan and a television, playing along in your grandma’s living room.

And, of course, if you still need more books for Pride, your favorite librarian or bookseller is the person to ask. They’ll know what you need to read to stay informed, stay entertained, and have the best Pride you can have, so flag these books now.

A selection of titles available for Pride month.

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‘Being Mary Tyler Moore’

It’s fun to see clips of Moore singing and dancing with Dick Van Dyke. If you grew up watching “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” the documentary’s clips from the show will bring back fond memories. Those who’ve never watched MTM will come away with an appreciation of why their moms and grandmas loved the series. Watching Moore toss her beret in the air in the clip from “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” credits, I recalled what a lifeline Mary Richards was for second wave feminists.

Though a loving portrait, the documentary doesn’t leave out Moore’s struggles with alcoholism or how dysfunctional her family was when she was a child.

Moore married Dr. Robert Levine in 1983. Levine, who was her husband until her death, was a producer of the documentary. Because of this, the documentary has charming home movies of Moore with her dogs and at her bridal shower (where Betty White takes part in roasting the bride to be).

By KATHI WOLFE

“Being Mary Tyler Moore,” a new, 1 hour-59 minute, documentary, directed by James Adolphus, airing on HBO platforms, is a valentine to Moore. It’s impossible to resist its charms, and there’s some saltiness in the midst of its sweetness. Seeing and hearing (if only in brief clips) Valerie Harper, Cloris Leachman, Betty White and other queer icons talk about, hang out with and act with Moore is well worth the watch. As are the moments when Moore forthrightly says what’s she’s thinking. Such as when she takes down David Susskind, a 1960s TV talk show host.

Moore, who died at 80 in 2017, starred in “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” two of the greatest TV sitcoms. She received a special Tony for her role in the Broadway play “Whose Life Is It Anyway?” and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress for her work in “Ordinary People.”

To many women and queers, Moore was a feminist and/ or a queer icon.

The documentary opens with Moore’s take-down of Susskind. In a clip from a 1966 interview, Susskind asks Moore blatantly sexist questions. He bemoans the fact that, in his view, married women don’t listen to their husbands. After putting up with his condescension, Moore speaks up. Betty Friedan, author of “The Feminist Mystique” has it right, she

tells Susskind. Women, Moore says, should be “a human first, a woman second, and wives and mothers third.”

There isn’t a narrator for “Being Mary Tyler Moore.” This is, at first, disconcerting. But, though the documentary might have benefitted from having a narrator, it doesn’t lack coherence. Through archival footage of televised interviews of Moore (with Rona Barrett and Dinah Shore) and audio, along with a few video clips of colleagues, friends and family talking about and interacting with Moore, we’re given a window into Moore’s life and career.

The documentary notes Moore’s superb portrayal in “Ordinary People” of a cold, angry and grieving mother, and of a paralyzed woman in “Whose Life Is It Any Way.”

Going from the sublime to the campy, there’s a clip of Moore with Elvis Presley in the 1969 movie “Change of Habit.”

“Being Mary Tyler Moore” is insightful about the impact of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” on women. It’s disappointing that it includes little on the impact the series had on queers. Airing in the decade after Stonewall when TV portrayed LGBTQ+ people as criminals, “sick” or sissies, the series was one of the first on TV to depict being gay in a positive light. The documentary has no clip of the episode “My Brother’s Keeper.”

In that episode, broadcast when being queer was illegal in most states, Phyllis’s brother Ben visits her. Phyllis says, “I’m so relieved,” when she learns Ben won’t marry Rhoda, her nemesis, because he’s gay.

“What is a family?” asks Moore (as Mary Richards) in a clip featured in the documentary, “but people who care about you?” This line has spoken to generations of queers.

Despite my quibble with its queer quotient, this documentary is a keeper. At a time of backlash against women’s reproductive freedom and LGBTQ rights, “Being Mary Tyler Moore” is both relevant and entertaining.

a relevant, entertaining look at beloved icon

Despite lacking queer content, new doc is a fun walk down memory lane

(detail), 2018, Tim Walker. Model: Jeenu Mahadevan. Fashion: Balenciaga. Pershore, Worcestershire. © Tim Walker Studio. Text and design © 2023