Los Angeles Blade, Volume 07, Issue 48, December 01, 2023 by Los Angeles Blade

Remember and commit

(Blade photo by Michael Key)

Combating stigma key as nation marks 35th World AIDS Day, PAGE 07

DECEMBER 01, 2023 • VOLUME 07 • ISSUE 48 • AMERICA’S LGBTQ NEWS SOURCE • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM

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WeHo Arts unveils new holiday banners by artist Joey Deruy

West Hollywood Banners by Artist Joey Deruy (Photo by Paulo Murillo for WEHO TIMES)

WEST HOLLYWOOD - The City of West Hollywood’s Arts Division unveiled new holiday banners by artist Joey Deruy. Each year, the City of West Hollywood’s Arts Division commissions an artist to create an image to celebrate the holidays, West Hollywood style. These images are printed onto street banners which decorate major streets in the city. Artist Joey Deruy was selected through an open call. He created a series of 8 paintings highlighting iconic West Hollywood buildings and landmarks. His artwork features the following familiar WeHo spaces: • Lloyd Wright House and Studio • Paciﬁc Design Center • Plummer Park Community Center • Sal Guarriello Veterans Memorial

• Schindler House/MAK Center • Sunset Tower • West Hollywood City Hall and Automated Garage • West Hollywood Gateway • West Hollywood Library • West Hollywood Park Aquatic and Recreation Center (ARC) The new banners can be found on street pole banners along Santa Monica Boulevard, Melrose Avenue, La Brea Avenue, Fairfax Avenue, and San Vicente Boulevard. The city is also displaying banners from previous years. Previous artists include Shag (Josh Agle), Steven Rahbany, Mona Tanksley, and Sophie Morro. PAULO MURILLO

Project Angel Food Thanksgiving, a remarkable group of volunteers LOS ANGELES — Project Angel Food saw a remarkable gathering of celebrities and 200 dedicated volunteers coming together to prepare and deliver 2,000 traditional turkey meals to critically ill clients on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023. The initiative culminated in a total of more than 5,000 meals prepared and delivered throughout Thanksgiving week. Thanksgiving Day at Project Angel Food was not just about distributing meals but also about the spirit of giving back while cherishing moments with family and friends. Melissa Rivers, who recently got engaged to lawyer Steve Mitchel on Oct. 13, made a notable appearance — showcasing her stunning 5.6 carat, emerald-cut engagement ring as she volunteered alongside adult son Cooper Endicott. She shared, “Sometime maybe in 2025. It would be my second marriage and his second marriage so if anything, we’ll have a party, and a ceremony might break out. But nobody’s in any rush.” Amanda Kloots, host of “The Talk”, expressed her deep affection for Project Angel Food, stating that she fell in love with the cause while filming a segment for the hit CBS talk show. She returned with Zach Braff and her four-year-old son Elvis, emphasizing, “I think it is so important to show our kids how blessed we are and how we can help one another.” Joining the ranks, Lisa Rinna and her husband Harry Hamlin continued their annual tradition of giving back at Project Angel Food on Thanksgiving. Harry offered, “It goes without saying the people of L.A. need to be fed, and we’re here to do it, especially on Thanksgiving.” Lisa added, “It makes you feel good to give back, always, and we need to do it more.” Actor and model Sam Asghari, marking his first Thanksgiving after his divorce from Britney Spears, refrained from discussing the split but reflected “I think it is important

when you have a platform and a voice, and you have the ability to help others it is important to do.” Unlikely friends Charo and Kat Von D were among the initial celebrity arrivals. Von D explained their unique bond, stating, “We’re Yin and Yang and complement each other. Since she had heard of Project Angel Food through Charo, she wanted to join.” Charo expressed her enthusiasm for volunteering, exclaiming, “I love people. This is my passion!”

A general view of the atmosphere during Thanksgiving at Project Angel Food on November 23, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Project Angel Food)

The event saw the participation of other notable celebrity volunteers, including Amy Yasbeck, singer Em Beihold, Eve Mauro, Jai Rodriguez, Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Laura Pierson, Lauren Tom, Lawrence Zarian, Lisa Foxx, Loni Love, Mary-Margaret Humes, Michael Hitchcock, Peter Porte, Rachel Lindsay, Sandra Lee, Tamara Brown, and Tim Bagley.

Project Angel Food CEO Richard Ayoub expressed heartfelt gratitude stating, “Every day is like Thanksgiving at Project Angel Food. But on this day, we are especially grateful to our celebrity friends and hundreds of volunteers committed to bringing a little light to the thousands of critically ill men, women and children we serve.” The meals were provided through “drive-by” pick-up for volunteers who then delivered them to Project Angel Food clients. The traditional Thanksgiving dinners included roasted turkey, root vegetables, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, and a slice of pumpkin cheesecake. Additionally, vegetarian meals were also provided. The Thanksgiving Day meals were sponsored by The Stanley & Joyce Black Family Foundation, with additional support from Joybird, which furnished the Joybird VIP Love Lounge, allowing volunteers to take a break during the morning of service. Beyond serving meals to 2,000 critically ill individuals, Project Angel Food extended its support by providing Thanksgiving Day meals for 500 people at PATH. PATH works tirelessly to end homelessness by building affordable housing and offering supportive services. Furthermore, actress and director Joely Fisher sponsored Project Angel Food meals, hosting a SAG/AFTRA “Friendsgiving” at Hollywood United Methodist Church for 200+ union members affected by the 118-day SAG/AFTRA strike on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023. Project Angel Food remains dedicated to providing daily meals to 2,500 critically ill individuals and delivering more than 1.5 million medically tailored meals annually across Los Angeles. Their clients often grapple with serious illnesses compounded by challenges such as poverty, aging, and isolation. Established in 1989 by Marianne Williamson, the organization has prepared and delivered more than 17 million meals in its 34-year history. LA BLADE STAFF

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George Michael honored with star dedication on ‘Path of Angels’

S A GE ES Project Angel Food proudly dedicated a star on its esteemed Path of Angels to the late George Michael on Monday, ov. . This dedication ceremony, hosted at Project DAVID ARCHULETA, reﬂecting on Michael’s impact, remarked, “George Angel Food on 9 Michael shattered barriers and ine Street, marked deﬁed stereotypes.” the th anniver(Photo Credit: Rich Cruse/Project Angel Food) sary of Michael s impactful volunteer work and the memorable press conference he held in the organi ation s kitchen the Monday before Thanksgiving in 1998. Recording artist David Archuleta, -EARTH 1 1 s isa Stanley and CE Richard Ayoub, unveiled the star which was seen internationally on Instagram ive. Attendees bore witness to this commemorative occasion, followed by a reception commencing at 1 p.m. n ov. , 1998, the Monday before Thanksgiving, George Michael was actively engaged in preparing white cakes as a volunteer at Project Angel Food. Media attention escalated swiftly as helicopters, television crews and

papara i swarmed the location to catch a glimpse of the Grammy winner who had recently come out as gay. Despite not seeking the media spotlight, George chose to redirect attention towards Project Angel Food s work. His presence drew focus to the organi ation s mission of providing sustenance to individuals living with HI /AIDS. The ongoing support from George Michael s estate continues to significantly contribute to this cause, upholding his legacy of support. Reflecting on George Michael s altruism, Ayoub remarked, “In 199 , during the height of the AIDS crisis, George made his initial donation to Project Angel Food. His consistent support included a substantial annual financial contribution of , and numerous acts of kindness, such as volunteering in the kitchen and donating a Mercedes for auction to raise additional funds. The star dedication pays homage to George Michael s enduring dedication to philanthropy and acknowledges the contributions made by the George Michael fan group ovelies.help, among others, who have generously donated more than , to Project Angel Food in his honor. Archuleta, reflecting on George Michael s impact, remarked, “George Michael shattered barriers and defied stereotypes. His honesty became a beacon of hope for countless members of our community yearning for acceptance in a society that often dictated our identities for us.

The singer-songwriter recalled performing “Don t et the Sun Go Down on Me at the seventh season finale of “American Idol as a duet with Sir Elton ohn, with George surprising the audience with a performance. He became emotional as he said, “After I came out, I went back and listened to that song and had it on repeat. Because the meaning took on so much more than when I first heard it as a closeted 1 -year-old on Idol. It holds the combination of feeling the pain life can bring, yet a hope for the future and empowerment that I needed to feel seen, understood and keep going today. I am grateful for the genuine e pression that was always felt in George s voice as he sang. isa Stanley fondly remembered George Michael as “an icon, a musical giant, an inspiration, and a star whose bright light outshines all others, highlighting his permanent place both in the organi ation s Path of Angels and in the hearts of many. Project Angel Food s mission is monumental. Founded in 1989 by Marianne Williamson in the height of the AIDS crisis, the organi ation now provides daily meals to , critically ill individuals facing various medical conditions and delivers more than 1. million meals annually across os Angeles. ur clients confront serious health challenges, often compounded by the difficulties of poverty, aging, and isolation. LA BLADE STAFF

California AG: Unredacted Federal lawsuit against Meta “damning” A A D, Calif. California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Monday announced the public release of a largely unredacted copy of the federal complaint filed by a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general against Meta Platforms, Inc. and affiliates Meta on ctober , . Co-led by Attorney General Bonta, the coalition is alleging that Meta designed and deployed harmful features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children and teens to their mental and physical detriment. As originally filed, however, much of the federal complaint included information conditionally under seal. Based on the company s own documents, the removal of the redactions provides additional conte t for the misconduct that the attorneys general allege against Meta. “Meta knows that what it is doing is bad for kids period. Thanks to our unredacted federal complaint, it is now there in black and white, and it is damning, said Bonta. “We will continue to vigorously prosecute this matter.” CBS ews reported that the state s prosecutors built their

case, in part, using snippets of emails, earnings call transcripts and other internal communications all of which suggest the e treme value of young users personal information and time to company profits. In an emailed statement from ctober when the joint suit was filed, Meta said it was disappointed by the route taken by the attorneys general. Meta is determined to provide teens with “safe, positive e periences online, and have already introduced over tools to support teens and their families, the company said at the time. In a Monday statement, a Meta spokesperson said, “The complaint mischaracteri es our work using selective uotes and cherry-picked documents. Highlights from the newly revealed portions of the complaint include the following Mark Zuckerberg personally vetoed Meta s proposed policy to ban image filters that simulated the effects of plastic surgery, despite internal pushback and an e pert consensus

Support next generation of LGBTQ+ journalists: #GivingTuesday

WASHI GT - The Blade Foundation is e cited to e pand its fellowship program focused on educating and supporting the ne t generation of GBT journalists. The Washington Blade and os Angeles Blade are the leading GBT publications in the country and can provide real life reporting e perience to up-and-coming journalists.

The Blade Foundation has a vision to bring training and journalism to new cities around the world. The support of a fellow can bring GBT journalism to underrepresented communities locally and globally. Currently, hundreds of articles are produced each year by the Blade Foundation and published in both English and Spanish. BRODY LEVESQUE

06 • DECEMBER 01, 2023 • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM

that such ﬁlters harm users mental health, especially for women and girls. Complaint - 8. Despite public statements that Meta does not prioriti e the amount of time users spend on its social media platforms, internal documents show that Meta set e plicit goals of increasing “time spent and meticulously tracked engagement metrics, including among teen users. Complaint 1 -1 . Meta continuously misrepresented that its social media platforms were safe, while internal data revealed that users e perienced harms on its platforms at far higher rates. Complaint 8. Meta knows that its social media platforms are used by millions of children under 1 , including, at one point, around of all 1 1 -year-olds, and unlawfully collects their personal information. Meta does this despite Mark Zuckerberg testifying before Congress in 1 that Meta “kicks oﬀ children under 1 . Complaint -811. LA BLADE STAFF

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National events to mark 35th annual World AIDS Day Advocates say stigma remains key obstacle to ending the epidemic UNAIDS dubbed this year’s World AIDS Day theme as “Let Communities Lead.” This is how conversations around HIV and AIDS should be structured, Duante’ Brown said, who manages two programs at MAC a nonproﬁt dedicated to working to end the AIDS epidemic. People living with HIV need to be considered the subject matter experts, he said. “Bringing those people into the room, showing them that they have a voice and that there’s not just this group of people who are making a decision for them is deﬁnitely the way that you go about this.”

(Blade photo by Michael Key)

Brown manages the ESCALATE program at NMAC, which aims to empower people to address HIV stigma, and the ELEVATE program, which is a training program for people with HIV to be more involved in the planning and delivery of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, which is the largest federal program designed speciﬁcally for people with HI . In the United States, it’s estimated 1.2 million people are living with HI , according to HI .gov. About 1 are unaware they have HIV. HI also continues to disproportionately aﬀect certain populations. Men who have sex with men accounted for 70% of the 32,100 estimated new HIV infections in 2021.

And Black individuals accounted for of the new infections that year, while only comprising 1 of the population of the United States, according to the CDC. In 2023, stigma is a key inhibitor to ending the epidemic, Brown said. When stigma gets out of the way, there could be a day when there are no new cases of HI transmissions, he said. To get around that stigma, people need to have meaningful and productive conversations about AIDS. “ ot treating it as taboo, making sure that we are empowering people living with HI and AIDS to tell their stories and to be empowered to feel that it’s OK,” Brown said. “And that nothing is wrong with you.” And there are events in the locally and nationally to recognize World AIDS Day, many of them aimed at abolishing the stigma that comes with talking about HIV. At a national level, Janet Jackson is set to headline the World AIDS Day concert on Dec. 1 — an annual fundraiser sponsored by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. The concert will be at the NRG Arena in Houston, and will also honor actor and activist Blair Underwood with its lifetime achievement award. “[The concert] really is a way to commemorate World AIDS Day in a way that is both remembrance of those that we ve lost, recogni ing where we re at, but also really celebrating and connecting the work that’s yet to be done. And having folks still leaving uplifted and elevated about what the future could hold,” said Imara Canady, AHF’s national director for communications and community engagement. ackson has long been an outspoken advocate for people living with HIV. Her song, “Together Again,” is a tribute to a friend she lost to AIDS, as well as a dedication to patients around the world. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the largest nonproﬁt HIV/AIDS service organization and advocacy group, has several health care centers in the region and many across the nation and world. AHF also has a free HIV test locater online at freehivtest.net. AIDSWatch, the electronic memorial to people lost to HI and AIDS, will be viewable on www.AIDSWatch.org and on the City of West Hollywood s WeHoT broadcast and

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streaming channels, including Spectrum Channel 1 within West Hollywood, beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1, for 24 hours.

Icon JANET JACKSON headlines the World AIDS Day Concert on Dec. 1 in Houston.

The City of West Hollywood will join ST RIES The AIDS Monument and AP A Health in a World AIDS Day event on Friday, Dec. 1. The evening will begin at p.m. with a reception at the West Hollywood Park A uatic and Recreation Center ARC Respite Deck, located at 8 El Tovar Place. After a short program with refreshments, attendees will descend the grand staircase of the ARC at p.m. in a candlelight procession through West Hollywood Park and along N. Robertson, Santa Monica, and N. San Vicente Boulevards to the City’s Council Chambers/Public Meeting Room, located at . San icente Boulevard. There, the evening will continue with a screening of the award-winning documentary “Commitment to ife. Doors will open at p.m. and the screening will begin promptly at 1 p.m. Events are free to attend and open to the public. Limited validated parking will be available at the West Hollywood Park -Story structure. Advance RSVP is requested by reserving a spot on Eventbrite. KAELA ROEDER

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eet ore o t e st working on Biden’s re-election Tolliver, Flores on importance of diversity in government

(Editor’s note: This is the second in a three-part series profiling senior LGBTQ staff working on President Biden’s re-election campaign. Part one was published last week and Part three will be published next week.) WILMINGTON, Del. — From the team’s headquarters here, the Washington Blade spoke with the Biden-Harris reelection campaign’s director of operations, Teresa Tolliver, and Rubi Flores, special assistant to Campaign Manager Julie Chávez Rodríguez. Tolliver came to the campaign from the Democratic National Committee, having previously worked in the White House Presidential Personnel ffice and then at the .S. Air Force under ndersecretary Gina rti ones, who was nominated by President oe Biden to become the first lesbian and first woman of color to serve in the role. It was at PPO “where I learned more about Gina and then was like, ‘I want to work for that person,’” Tolliver said, adding that while she was always interested in national security, the chance to serve in the Pentagon with the Air Force’s new lesbian undersecretary was too good to pass up. Among other responsibilities at PPO, Tolliver said her work included “helping to place high ranking LGBTQ folks in the administration as well as in special assistant roles; everything up and down within the admin,” which has made history with the number and seniority of LGBTQ appointees serving across the federal government. “Whether we’re looking at people of color, or whether we’re looking at, you know, LGBTQ folks, this is an administration that is now going to be a campaign that we want to look like America, Tolliver said. The approach influences not just hiring practices but also choices over who will be interviewed for which roles and how they will be supported to be as effective as possible. “We used to joke in PPO that it was a very queer team,” she said, with “a lot of LGBTQ folks,” so it was “very special for me to work during that time because I actually came out to my family when I was working.” In 2021 on National Coming Out Day, observed each year on Oct. 11, Vice President Kamala Harris arranged a photo with LGBTQ folks serving in the administration (as she has done in subsequent years). “I ended up being dead-center next to her,” Tolliver said, “and I was like, ‘I should probably tell my parents.’” Tolliver came out as a lesbian to her family, friends, and colleagues just as she began dating her now-fianc e. She said she considers herself lucky, “being able to work in an environment where I just felt open and comfortable and able to be myself so much that I then decided that it was time to come out.” She and her fianc e were engaged in anuary, during which time Tolliver was at the DNC, and the couple decided to get married in August of 2024. While it is guaranteed to be a busy time, Tolliver said they wanted to be wed with Biden in office and in ew ork City, where “we will have a validated marriage” even if same-sex marriage rights are repealed or undermined. “There’s always the possibility

By CHRISTOPHER KANE | ckane@washblade.com

From left: TERESA TOLLIVER, director of operations for the Biden-Harris campaign; and RUBI FLORES, special assistant to campaign manager Julie Chávez Rodríguez. (Photos courtesy of Tolliver and Flores)

that we do not win an election,” Tolliver noted. The fight is personal. “We all have these very deeply personal reasons to be here and working here,” she said, “whether you re here because you re fighting for GBT rights, or because, you know, abortion is something that you care deeply about, or immigration, or whatever the case may be.” Tolliver contrasted her experiences working for Team Biden — “I feel like half of our wedding is people who I worked with on 2020,” as “campaigns give you these lifelong friendships” — with the casual homophobia she encountered at a bridal shop where she worked while in college. “I remember not being out and my boss saying, ‘Oh, never hire a lesbian,’ or, ‘I could never hire a gay person because [they’re] gonna see women changing and everything in their bridal gowns,’ and I just remember kind of sinking back into the closet after that,” Tolliver said. Flores, likewise, has encountered prejudice in previous workplaces and found a supportive home on the Biden campaign, as well as a mentor in Chávez Rodríguez who, like ones, had broken barriers as the “first atina campaign manager for a major presidential campaign.” At the same time, “I don’t talk about my trans identity,” Flores said, “because it’s just too hard,” and instead “the way that I cope, in my life, is to just be exceptional in every other way I can.” “Being Brown and an immigrant and being a trans woman present so many challenges in my life,” said Flores, who moved to conservative South Te as from Me ico City at age 10. “I’ve struggled a lot, being who I am, and especially when you’re a kid, you know, it’s just impossible.” In the current political environment, where conservatives have fear mongered about the trans community and passed laws restricting their rights, Flores said the challenges are deeper than, for example, ensuring that youth can maintain access to medically necessary gender affirming healthcare — “it’s having the space to even imagine

08 • DECEMBER 01, 2023 • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM

oneself as that.” “When a child has no opportunity to imagine themselves as who they really are,” Flores said, “that just breaks my heart and and it’s unacceptable.” Like many trans women, Flores said she has encountered employment discrimination in the past. “One of the things that, you know, growing up and making the decision, if you can call it that, to transition, is the reality that trans women can’t get jobs,” she said, adding, “it’s something that’s just absolutely real.” Flores was on the policy research team at FWD.us, an immigration advocacy organization, when she was approached by the Biden campaign. “I knew it would be a tremendously difficult job, but the primary draw was that “I had the opportunity to contribute to those things getting better and most importantly, in the context that we are in, to not make them worse.” “The kinds of laws and policies that are being implemented by Republican administrations at the state level and that could potentially come into place at the national level if our opponents win absolutely terrify me,” Flores said. “They could upend my life.” She continued, “If I was living in some of the states where some of these policies passed, I would have trouble securing care for myself.” The work, therefore, is “being part of an administration and trying to reelect a president that is fighting to protect those rights – it’s not only an honor, but it’s a responsibility.” In terms of her decision to join the campaign, Flores said, “It’s not even tangential or something that comes to mind, it’s central to why I chose to work here.” In separate interviews, Flores’s colleagues agreed with her that the hours are “incredibly long,” but “there’s a great culture that we have here and just the fact that we’re all in it together is huge.” Several also echoed Flores s statement that “there s power in the fact that other people can see LGBTQ folks in our presidential campaign” to reelect a candidate who is working to protect and defend the community’s rights. However, while these spaces have often been restricted for LGBTQ people in general, trans folks have often been wholly excluded from them. “I’m just generally apprehensive to sound like, ‘oh, everything’s gonna get better,’ when there’s just so much work left to be done, specifically in trans issues and trans representation,” Flores said. “I just could have very easily not be here. Not have the job. Not be alive. That’s just a possibility for many of us,” she said. Flores also noted the unprecedented level of hostility directed at the trans community recently. “As hard as it was for me to be who I am and look how I look, there wasn’t this — I mean, there’s always been transphobia, but there wasn’t this sort of pervasive thing that automatically categorize[s] a trans identity as everything that’s horrible with the world,” she said.

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A E MAR , Fla. - A staff writer for Florida-based far-right anti-LGBTQ+ Charisma Media’s blog Charisma News, alleges that Satan aka The Devil, Lucifer, or the Prince of Darkness, Beelzebub, Mephistopheles, Baphomet, Lord of the Flies, the Antichrist, Old Scratch, Father of Lies and Moloch is in charge of Minneapolis-based Target Corporation s Christmas offerings. According to ames asher, Satan and Target teamed up to offer shoppers GBT themed Christmas decorations. ne in particular, an GBT affirming nutcracker drew scrutiny. Lasher writes: “The year is not over yet, and the retail giant thought it would be a good idea to ring in the Christmas season with another ‘Pride’ campaign where they deck the halls in transgender flag colors. He then goes on to note “When shoppers enter the seasonal aisles, they are greeted by pride flag waving Santa s and transgender-themed nutcrackers who come in white and black and feature purple bears and a pride flag, the higher tier model costing . and comes with a staff with a heart on it saying “ ove is ove. Lasher summarizes the Target Christmas holiday shopping experience as: “The goal of Satan is to move our ever-increasingly secular society away from any references of esus Christ.

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And he has succeeded mightily in accomplishing that goal in America. This entire charade of dedicating the month of une to pride is merely cover for the real goal of saturating American culture in this pagan ideology 24/7, and what more proof do you need than the attempt at making Christmas ‘Pride’ now?" The Christian extremist writer then cites biblical references as to why Target is marketing-in-sin and then writes: “The Christian church is battling this takeover itself, with apostate congregations taking down crosses and replacing them with pride ﬂags. o longer do they pray to esus and read the Bible, but instead they pray to drag queens and read the works of radical activists.” In May of this year, outrage over LGBTQ+ Pride related merchandise being sold, especially in the company’s southern regional stores, by far-right activists caused Target Corporation to conﬁrm that in some of its locations in semi-rural areas of rural Georgia, South Carolina, and Arkansas have moved Pride merchandise from the front of the stores to backroom areas or deeper into the stores after confrontations and backlash from shoppers. Target’s Pride Collection, which was displayed for sale start-

ing on May 1, is comprised of more than 2,000 products, including clothing, books, music and home furnishings. Items include “gender ﬂuid” mugs, “queer all year” calendars and books for children aged 2-8 titled “Bye Bye, Binary,” “Pride 1,2,3” and “I’m not a girl.” Speaking for the Minneapolis-based retail giant, spokesperson Kayla Castaneda noted: “Since introducing this year’s collection, we’ve experienced threats impacting our team members’ sense of safety and wellbeing while at work. Given these volatile circumstances, we are making adjustments to our plans, including removing items that have been at the center of the most signiﬁcant confrontational behavior. Castaneda related that the company has been celebrating LGBTQ Pride Month for over ten years, but this year the increased opposition and hostility gave the company pause and led to a decision to pull some of the Pride merchandise. In an email to the Blade in une, Castaneda said, “ ur focus now is on moving forward with our continuing commitment to the LGBTQIA community and standing with them as we celebrate Pride month and throughout the year.” BRODY LEVESQUE

Arkansas governor puts Christian nationalist on state library board LTTLE ROCK, Ark. This past Monday Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders appointed ason Rapert, a Christian nationalist, anti-LGBTQ+ activist and former state senator to the state library board. The Arkansas State Library is both an information resource center for Former Ark. state senator JASON state government and a RAPERT (L) with Christian evangelist ANDREW WOMMACK. support system for local (Screenshot/YouTube Truth & Liberty - Wommack) public libraries, according to its website. The state library board oversees the distribution of state and federal funds to public libraries. Rapert, a former Arkansas state senator and the founder & president of the National Association of Christian Lawmakers, has a lengthy record of anti-LGBTQ public statements including earlier this month when he posted a lengthy rant railing against Democrats and the LGBTQ community on X-Twitter: “The Devil may have won a few political battles in #America on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, but evil will soon be overcome by righteousness when more #Pastors become accountable for leading the congregations they serve to remember faith without works is dead. Across the country in elections yesterday, the Leftists in our nation through the #DemocratParty outworked the good people in America who work hard, run businesses, and keep America strong. I predict that the voter turnout among church people was abysmally low in areas where abortion butchery won on the ballot, recreational marijuana was passed, and a transgender candidate was elected to a state senate seat. Pastors must do more to preach the truth of the Bible and urge their congregations to vote according to a Biblical worldview. The future of #America is on the line and Christians are the only block

of voters left to #SaveTheNation from the current march to the bottom of the pit of hell being led by the Democrat Party in our nation. The Democrat Party is behind the antisemitic riots we saw in Washington, D.C. recently. Democrat activists in Congress have openly supported #Hamas terrorists that slaughtered Jewish babies and families on October 7, 2023. The Democrat Party is behind the bloodthirsty #abortion demands stirring people with lies and deception. They support #KILLING babies up until the time of birth. The Democrat Party is behind the radical homosexual movement in our nation that sought the dilution of marriage between one man and one woman. The Democrat Party is behind the radial LGBTQ insanity attacking our children through public libraries and activist teachers that are pushing homosexual pornography on minor children. The emocrat Part LGBTQ acti ists are behind the efforts to takeover church denominations and tear them apart as they have done with the Methodist Church, Episcopal Church, and other mainline traditional churches that have been hijacked by homosexuals. They have turned many once faithful houses of worship into apostate churches. The Democrat Party through Obama and his army of leftist revolutionaries are behind election rigging in urban areas. Many have reported oting irregularities and some ha e been erified with convictions though many election tampering incidents are covered up by local politicians, prosecutors and judges who are complicit in the fraud. The Democrat Party is behind the rise in atheists and satanism in our country. Statistics prove this. You cannot be a sincere Bible believing Christian and vote for candidates who advocate the Democrat Party beliefs and policies. So who is responsible for telling Christians the truth? Who is responsible for the decline of our society? Who is best positioned to inspire Christians to take action and help #SaveTheNation? I submit to all the Christians in America that pastors leading our churches are supposed to be the shepherds o their ock. The Bible teaches this. If you attend a church and your pastor fails to encourage ou to ulfill our dut to ote or ails to educate and in orm

10 • DECEMBER 01, 2023 • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM

you about the decline of faith in America, the sin of abortion, the sin of homosexuality, the reality of heaven and hell, the dangers of radical Islam, the sin of adultery, the danger of Marxist ideology which is joined at the hip with atheism, salvation through grace and faith in Jesus Christ, and the overall truth of the Bible - replace the pastor or get out! We are at a crossroads in America. There is no more time to waste. We need a modern day #AppealToHeaven to save our once great nation. If we continue to slaughter babies, idolize the profane, promote sinful homosexual lifestyles, abandon our support for Israel, and reject God - America will fail and cease to exist as we have known it.” Rapert served in the state Senate from 11 to anuary of this year. He did not run for reelection in 2022 and instead unsuccessfully sought the GOP nomination for lieutenant governor but was defeated in the primary. Rapert credits his National Association of Christian Lawmakers for pushing an extremist measure that prohibits trans Arkansans from using a bathroom matching their gender identity in the state’s K-12 public school facilities. Governor Sanders signed the bill into law last March. After Sanders signed the measure Rapert said: “We are fighting for the lives of little babies. We are fighting against the people that are putting the queer books into your school libraries and trying to groom these children into homose uality. We’re standing up. We’re pursuing school board policies to save the nation. We are standing up and have our members running bills in the halls of the state legislatures to stand up against this woke ideology, to push back against the things of the devil in our country.” AR, the PR local affiliate in ittle Rock, reported Rapert is joining the seven-member board while the state is being sued over a law that would alter Arkansas libraries’ processes for reconsidering material and create criminal liability for librarians who distribute content that some consider “obscene” or “harmful to minors. A federal judge temporarily blocked portions of Act 372 of 2023 in uly before it went into effect. LA BLADE STAFF

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LOSANGELESBLADE.COM • DECEMBER 01, 2023 • 11

INTERNATIONAL

Out in the World: LGBTQ+ news from Europe & Asia

IRELAND

DUBLIN, Ireland - A 13-year-old trans teen from the east of Ireland, from the city of Wicklow located south of Dublin on the Irish Sea, was a keynote speaker at the 2023 Child Talks conference. Bee Fennell, was one of six youth speakers at the Child Talks conference held at Dublin’s Helix Centre for the Performing Arts, addressing the need for further education programs regarding to transgender issues facing Irish youth.

BEE FENNELL, a 13-year-old trans teen from Wicklow, took the stage at the 2023 Child Talks conference to discuss the need for further education programs regarding to transgender issues facing Irish youth. (Screenshot/YouTube CTA)

GCN, Ireland’s largest LGBTQ+ Media outlet reported: Amongst other issues discussed at the event, including STEM programs for girls and vaping, LGBTQ+ issues emerged as a serious concern for school-aged children through the country. Bee Fennell used their time on stage at the Child Talks conference to discuss their experience coming out as a transgender teen and the lack of resources available for trans youth in Wicklow. “I wanted to take part in Child Talks 2023 because I wanted to share my story and hopefully encourage others to get the education to be a true ally to the community and to understand what it is like to be transgender, said Fennell. During their time on stage, Fennell described how they came out to their family and their school: “I was 1 when I oﬃcially came out to my parents and only a few months later, to the primary school that I was attending. “Coming out to my school was the biggest step, because it meant everyone knew, it wasn’t just in the house anymore. I remember that night so clearly, mam and I, sitting on the couch, typing an email that was going to change my life. “I talked about my name and gender

change and explained what it meant. That email was sent around 7PM, outside school hours. We received a response 3.5 hours later, at 10:30 that night.” Fennell, who uses they/them pronouns, went on to explain how their school set up a meeting to help the then 12-year-old come out to their classmates: “After a terrifying but amazing meeting with my school to discuss next steps, the day came when the teacher would tell the class about who I really was. “Me and two friends I had already come out to went to a separate room to avoid any negative reactions. After the most anxiety-filled half-hour of my life, I was walking up the steps to where my class awaited my arrival. A few friends immediately hugged and congratulated me.” Unfortunately, as Fennell noted, not everyone’s reaction was so kind. “Some others just stared. Shocked, confused, some even with disgusted impressions, they said. Thankfully, however, the vast majority of Fennell’s classmates were accepting and welcoming, leading the trans teen to report that “At that moment…I was more comfortable in my identity than I have ever been before. I was officially Bee, officially me. Bee went on to explain how the LGBTQ+ organi ation, BelongTo youth services, helped them discover the community that they’ve always been looking for. “I had been alone in that fight until I walked into that [BelongTo] youth group. I always knew there was community, sure, it’s in the name. But I didn’t have anyone in my position, having gone through it. I didn’t have anyone who didn’t get confused when I simply introduced myself until I walked into that group,” Fennell concluded.

INDIA UJJAIN, India - The suicide death of a queer teenager in this ancient city beside the Kshipra River in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh has LGBTQ+ advocacy groups calling on social media giant Meta to address what one group, Yes, We Exist, to label as “mass bullying on Instagram. According to the local media outlet Ujjain News, Pranshu Yadav, 16, whose Instagram account has 14,000 followers and more than 300 posts was found hanging in their bedroom on Nov. 21 by their mother who rushed the adolescent to hospital where they later died. Local police are now investigating. Yes, We Exist highlighted how Yadav,

12 • DECEMBER 01, 2023 • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM

THAILAND

BANGKOK, Thailand - The Thailand Cabinet approved an amendment to the country’s civil code to allow same-sex marriage, with an expectation for the draft to be submitted to the National Assembly of Thailand Parliament in December, the Associated Press reported.

who was attempting to build a career as a professional makeup artist, received more than 4,000 comments on a current Insta reel, many of which were homophobic. In the reel they were attacked for wearing a saree in a reel they posted celebrating Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights earlier this month. A saree also spelled Sari is an outer garment, mainly worn by women from the Indian subcontinent, that is made of about si yards long fabric. A saree, worn with a blouse or choli, is wrapped around the waist over a petticoat with the left end made to hang over the head or shoulder. A saree comes in various types of fabric, color, design and styles. In India s culture of to ic masculinity where LGBTQ+ people are still ill regarded and full equality is years away, the reaction to the queer teen’s Insta post was almost predictable an India activist told the Blade via a Telegram exchange. Yes, We Exist now calling on Instagram, which is owned by Meta, to invest in its non-English languages and ensure cyber bullying is tackled. “We have ourselves reported queerphobic content several times and most often no action is taken. On the contrary, when people call out bullies, they get penalised by Meta,” Jeet, the founder of Yes, We Exist, told Pink ews . Jeet added that the “tragic loss” Pranshu it is a “devastating reminder of the real-world consequences of online bullying.” “The LGBTQIA+ community in India mourns not only the individual but also the systemic challenges we routinely face. “The call for greater accountability from platforms like Instagram and from Indian lawmakers who have not prioriti ed ofﬂine and online safety of our community, is urgent to ensure the well-being of young queer individuals like Pranshu.”

Gay couple in Bangkok headed to Pride 2023. (Photo Credit: Bangkok Pride/Facebook)

Deputy government spokesman Karom Polpornklang said the amendment bill proposed by the Justice Ministry seeks to allow same-sex marriage with full legal rights. It will also allow members of the LGBTQ+ community to build families and ensure both spouses have equal rights. Karom said the bill’s main principle is to remove the terms “men,” “women,” “wives” and “husbands” from the civil code. The terms will be changed to “persons,” “ﬁanc es, “engaged couples and “married couples,” so men can marry men and women can marry women and have the same rights as male-female unions. The deputy spokesman said the Cabinet has also called on the Council of State to amend other laws accordingly, so the surviving spouse in a same-sex marriage is entitled to receive the inheritance left behind by their partner. The Council of State has also been tasked with scrutinising the same-sex marriage bill, and once that is done it will be submitted to the House, Karom said. Thai Government spokesman Chai Wacharonke said the amendment bill would be diﬀerent from the ife Partnership Act that was enacted by the last government. He said this act simply endorses the rights for same-sex couples to spend their lives together but does not provide full legal marital rights. BRODY LEVESQUE

KARA JAMES

is a Nurse Practitioner with Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, and has provided direct clinical care to patients since 2014. As an evidenced-based clinician and activist, Kara’s work is framed through racial equity and anti-racism. She also played a vital role in creating the Black Health Initiative in 2020 to promote holistic well-being and health in Los Angeles’ Black communities.

World AIDS Day: Mobilizing Los Angeles with PrEP and PEP Against HIV As we observe the 35th World AIDS Day on December 1, it is an opportunity to reflect on the progress made since the early days of the epidemic and the work that remains. Significant advances in HI therapy have made it possible for people to live and enjoy full lives despite their HI diagnosis. However, stigma still surrounds the virus, leaving major obstacles to people receiving the care and prevention strategies they deserve. As a Planned Parenthood Nurse Practitioner who interacts with patients navigating the comple ities of HI , I e perience firsthand the deep-seated an iety that lingers despite how far we have come. Several interrelated aspects must be considered to comprehend the fear and anxiety my patients feel. Persistent prejudice against those who live with HIV and misconceptions about the virus continue to perpetuate discriminatory attitudes despite decades of educational initiatives. There is also still a lot of stigma around HIV since many people equate it with immorality, promiscuity and judgments about one s lifestyle. But perhaps most importantly, the past, in which an HI diagnosis meant a virtual death sentence, casts a long shadow over the present. These factors can make talking about the virus challenging, even with health care providers, leaving tangible conse uences. Just recently, the os Angeles County Annual HI Surveillance Report shared that os Angeles County is set to fall short of its goals in the Ending the HI Epidemic EHE , a federal plan launched in 2020 that aims to reduce new HI infections in the .S. To achieve the EHE s goals, os Angeles County must reduce new HI diagnoses to by . The County s monitoring found that 1, 18 people received a new diagnosis of HI in 1, more than three times the number of diagnoses for the goal. Against these numbers, I want to highlight two of the most important tools we have to help protect people from HI , empowering them to not only survive but thrive and live life as they choose without fear or an iety. PrEP Pre-e posure prophyla is is a proactive method of avoiding the spread of HI because it

allows people to manage their own se ual health. It s encouraging to see people taking responsibility for their health by choosing to use a technology that cuts their HI risk by 99 . Conversely, PEP is an interim measure for potential viral e posure. PEP, if given in time, can prevent HI infection from taking hold, turning a potential crisis into an opening for action. A comprehensive plan to stop the spread of HIV must include these drugs. ot only are these medications effective, but they are accessible and affordable. PrEP and PEP are covered by most insurance plans, including Medi-Cal, Medicare, and private employer plans. For those without insurance, financial assistance may be available to those who ualify. Planned Parenthood os Angeles health centers offer both PrEP and PEP, HI testing, and counseling about treatment options in a confidential and supportive setting. PP A s dedicated team is ready to be a health care partner, answering uestions without judgment while guiding people toward the patient-centered care they need including PrEP and PEP. PEP and PrEP have been a revolution in HIV prevention for my patients, as well as in the reassurance and comfort I provide to them. My goal as a urse Practitioner goes beyond simply dispensing pills I want to foster an atmosphere where patients feel at ease opening up about their thoughts and feelings. By providing people with the facts about HIV and how to prevent it, education is a valuable tool in combating stigma and misunderstanding, allowing us to make necessary advancements in stopping this virus. I encourage anyone at risk of HI e posure to engage in a discussion with their healthcare provider about PrEP or PEP. On this World AIDS Day, let s commit to becoming informed advocates for our own health and the health of our communities. Together, we can turn the tide against HI in os Angeles. To find an appointment at a Planned Parenthood health center, please visit https //www.plannedparenthood.org/health-center.

V O L U ME 07 I S S U E 48 ADDRESS 8237 Blackburn Avenue Ste. 201, Los Angeles, CA 90048 PHONE 310-230-5266 E-MAIL tmasters@losangelesblade.com INTERNET losangelesblade.com PUBLISHED BY Los Angeles Blade, LLC PUBLISHER TROY MASTERS tmasters@losangelesblade.com, 310-230-5266 x 8080 SALES & ADMINISTRATION SALES EXECUTIVE SHANA WONG SOLARES swong@losangelesblade.com, 808-386-0872 SALES/EVENT MARKETING EXECUTIVE ANDREW BEAVER abeaver@losangelesblade.com, 646-907-4482 NATIONAL ADVERTISING RIVENDELL MEDIA sales@rivendellmedia.com, 212-242-6863 MARKETING DIRECTOR STEPHEN RUTGERS srutgers@washblade.com, 202-747-2077 x 8077 EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTING WRITER KAREN OCAMB karenocamb@losangelesblade.com NATIONAL EDITOR KEVIN NAFF knaff@washblade.com, 202-747-2077 x 8088 EDITOR BRODY LEVESQUE California CONTRIBUTORS

MICHAEL K. LAVERS, TINASHE CHINGARANDE, ERNESTO VALLE, YARIEL VALDÉS GONZALEZ, PARKER PURIFOY, CHRISTOPHER KANE, AUSTIN MENDOZA, JOHN PAUL KING, JOEY DIGUGLIELMO, CHRIS JOHNSON, LOU CHIBBARO JR., REBEKAH SAGER, JON DAVIDSON, SUSAN HORNIK, CHANNING SARGENT, SAMSON AMORE, CHRISTOPHER CAPPIELLO, MICHAEL JORTNER, DAN ALLEN, SEAN SHEALY, SCOTT STIFFLER, RHEA LITRÉ

ADMINISTRATION PHILLIP G. ROCKSTROH prockstroh@washblade.com, 202-747-2077 x 8092 CREATIVE DESIGN/PRODUCTION AZERCREATIVE.COM DISTRIBUTION CHRISTOPHER JACKSON, 562-826-6602 All material in the Los Angeles Blade is protected by federal copyright law and may not be reproduced without the written consent of the Los Angeles Blade. The sexual orientation of advertisers, photographers, writers and cartoonists published herein is neither inferred nor implied. The appearance of names or pictorial representation does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of that person or persons. Although the Los Angeles Blade is supported by many fine advertisers, we cannot accept responsibility for claims made by advertisers. Unsolicited editorial material is accepted by the Los Angeles Blade, but the paper cannot take responsibility for its return. The editors reserve the right to accept, reject or edit any submission. A single copy of the Los Angeles Blade is available from authorized distribution points, to any individual within a 50-mile radius of Los Angeles, CA. Multiple copies are available from the Los Angeles Blade office only. Call for rates. If you are unable to get to a convenient free distribution point, you may receive a 52-week mailed subscription for $195 per year or $5.00 per single issue. Checks or credit card orders can be sent to Phil Rockstroh at prockstroh@washblade.com. Postmaster: Send address changes to the Los Angeles Blade, PO BOX 53352 Washington, DC 20009. The Los Angeles Blade is published weekly, on Friday, by Los Angeles Blade, LLC. Rates for businesses/ institutions are $450 per year. Periodical postage paid at Los Angeles, CA., and additional mailing offices. Editorial positions of the Los Angeles Blade are expressed in editorials and in editors’ notes as determined by the paper’s editors. Other opinions are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Los Angeles Blade or its staff. To submit a letter or commentary: Letters should be fewer than 400 words; commentaries should be fewer than 750 words. Submissions may be edited for content and length, and must include a name, address and phone number for verification. Send submissions by e-mail to tmasters@losangelesblade.com.

2023 GLAAD Media Awards

14 • DECEMBER 01, 2023 • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM

In her own words: Somali singer IDMAN on queerness & family Toronto native and musical artist, IDMAN, creates a sonic tableau of hybrid R&B that explores the highs and lows of navigating relationships and life. Shaped by her Somali heritage and a deep interest in social activism, IDMAN is a burgeoning singer/songwriter who began honing her skill set in childhood, immersing herself in American pop culture, learning English as a result. Her signature sound is credited to blending both North-American and Somali culture and music, alongside the support of her music collective, Golly Geng, Now, in a personal essay is sharing a different kind o tune: her truth. LOS ANGELES - Imagine that I was a stranger who knocked on your door on a random afternoon and asked: “Who are you when no one’s watching?” What would you say? Would I even deserve an answer? This question will make sense by the end of this letter, but first, I want to tell you a story. In 2015, I went on a road trip to Miami for the National LGBTQ Task Force’s Trans Justice Miami Power Summit with some close friends and organi er homies. Two of us were hijabis who’d signed up to support our queer/trans family as allies Talk alentina . A few years before, I was involved in activism where I made some friends while volunteering for a couple of marriage campaigns that ultimately won Mainers the right to same-se marriage. Only a select few people knew what I was working on, a family member of mine, her friends, and her father. It was then that my eyes were opened. Her father was really supportive and truly understood M s words Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Her father saw me and I respected him dearly for it. He will never know how the nuance and compassion he showed me every time we spoke did so much to counter the narratives I’d been taught about who was or could be tolerant. The first ueer person in my life was my mom s cousin. I called her Auntie Guruhbadan, which means beautiful (it was a name I gave her not only to protect her identity but because I couldn t pronounce her actual name as a fiveyear-old . I mention her because she made flyers for her wedding and it was the first instance where my father and I had explicitly talked about ueerness. It was awkward and a bit clumsy but I understood two things: my father was trying to come from a place of respect and was talking from his heart. A good sign. The second queer person I knew and loved

was my cousin, a trans woman. She lived in the same building as my grandparents and would come over for meals. She presented as femme and wore traditional Somali dresses, hair coverings, and people honored TF outta her pronouns. They rationalized the use of her pronouns and transition as the result of a head injury from an accident that would make her ﬁght you if you didn t use the right pronouns. eah mmmkay. She had them spooked and it was marvelous. It never felt confusing or out of the ordinary. They were some of the only adults I truly felt safe around as a kid. It went against everything I’d heard in the West about back home with issues around queerness and gender.

IDMAN (Photo by Tyler Borchhardt/GLAAD)

ater that year, I attended my first Pride as an ally. It was during a speech when a close friend of mine, a Black Muslim woman, came out and referenced Surah Ar Rahman. She related it to our friendship and our presence there together. And it was at that moment that I truly felt the power of the queer community and the importance of family. “Queer community and family is something different. It is a favor from God that I cannot deny, she said. To my friends Rana, Edric, Benn, Del Mar, and Samaa, I thank you for being the exact right people at the right time, with open hearts enough to care and say something. Their presence in my life has allowed me to embrace my true self without reservation – a great gift that I came to know. It s led me to a life full of so much pride and honor that has revealed a rich history and legacy. Growing up I’d been led to believe that hiding your true self from people not equipped to hold or honor you, meant you were ashamed or embarrassed. Out-culture has always been something I ve felt like I ve had to contend with. I know there are folks out there who feel that silent, personal protest the rainbow flag in their bag/under their bed) is sometimes the only safe way to feel connected or affirmed.

I feel as though out-culture has set up a dynamic that pressures young people to choose between access to resources like housing, food, security, and feeling valid or authentic to their identity. I hate the parts of out-culture that tugs at the integrity of those already at the bottom of the totem pole. It has always felt wack to me honestly. I believe that everyone has the right to choose how and when to disclose their personal identity. No one should feel pressured to explain their desires or preferences. It s essential to nurture a culture of respect and care, focusing on things that truly matter, such as providing resources, safety, and community support. I wish we told ueer and trans youth more often that there is no standard within which to measure the authenticity of one’s identity, and that they’re valid whether they decide to come out or not. That the world s reactions to their truths are not their fault, and that they are no less valid in their identities for deciding to withhold it from those they believe cannot honor them. Statistics show that LGBTQ+ youth, especially those of color, are disproportionately affected by homelessness. Out-culture has often perpetuated anti-black, xenophobic, and Islamophobic attitudes. It s crucial to challenge the idea that queer and trans people owe intimate details of their lives to others. Ultimately, it’s up to individuals to decide whom they trust with their identities. It s okay if someone doesn’t get to know all aspects of who we are. We must prioriti e personal boundaries and respect for one another. I believe in the agency to decide who we share what with, and my circles feel warm and they see me wholly. They get the benefit and gift of getting to experience all of me unabashedly and fully disarmed in some cases because they have demonstrated the ability to see and accept my agency. It’s a shame, it’s a stain and it should be the regret of a lifetime for someone to deny themselves the love of a queer or trans person because they can’t see beyond their own projection. What a flop. It is always their loss. I promise. I wrote this letter today not out of a need to validate who I am. I’m not more legit in my queerness for writing this letter. I’m here to say that you are no less valid for choosing not to deal with all that may come with these choices. It is just that a choice. I’ve been me, and I’ve been galavanting in

my truth for years. It s just always been with and around those who could honor that much. And if this letter is vague, I’m sorry that I couldn t be more unapologetic. I hope everyone who hears me loud and clear knows this much I love you, I love us. There are no comments, no DMs, no culturally enforced shame, and nothing that could deter me from being able to say that much. I wrote this because I could, and I felt safe enough to.. My folks understood me and I believe in my family enough to love them enough to give them the gift and honor of learning to love me as I am in this lifetime. I think they got it. And I know I’ve got the necessary after-care in place if they don t. I ve got a community of support to lean on, a career that offers the financial independence to be okay without the support of family and pathways to medical resources to support mental health help and gender affirming care. Because of this access, not only do I feel safer in coming out, I also feel a responsibility to amplify our voices and affirm the many of us who can t or might not be able to. It feels that much more important to affirm the validity of those who have been made to feel otherwise. Because I know queerness is universal (it should go without saying) and I know our liberation is bound together. From Palestine to Ferguson, Tigray to Toronto we exist as we always have and our freedom is tied together. Truthfully, this all started with a friend, a pronoun, and the first line of a song, and it felt necessary to tell the story I want to tell artistically with the proper conte t. By the time my work is done, it ll all be there. I hope it makes sense to you then. I hope you understand that I’ll probably never address questions about what I like, who I like, or why I like whatever it is that I do like. Personally, I don’t know you like that and it s rude, tuh. I think the world would be a better place if we cared less about surveillance and policing one another and more about the things that matter – if folks are eating, if they feel safe, if they’ve got a roof over their head or solid community and real friendship around them. Imagine. So again, when it’s the middle of the night and someone randomly comes knocking at the doors of your boundaries with questions, remember you actually don’t have to answer them and that this is your house!!! May our hearts remain inaccessible to the untrained or unopened heart, I love you

LOSANGELESBLADE.COM • DECEMBER 01, 2023 • 15

The ultimate guide to queer gift giving Perfect presents for everyone from roommates to soulmates

By MIKEY ROX Searching for special deliveries for that special someone? Consider these elf-approved, consciously curated presents perfect for everyone from roommates to soulmates.

honey, cardamon chestnut, charred ﬁg, and ﬁrewood with a combined 90-hour burn time), and packaged in a nostalgically illustrated gift box accentuated by festive gold detailing. ApothekeCo.com, $64

Star Wars Home Collection Movie nights in bed get a comfort upgrade from the Force – for those who uphold Jedi code in the streets but embrace the Dark Side in the sheets – with Sobel Westex’s Star Wars Home Collection, ﬁve- to seven-piece twin, queen and king sets suitable for either alliance. Cop a bootleg of the infamous “Star Wars Holiday Special” (legal copies don’t exist, nor has it been rebroadcast since its one-and-only airing in 1978) and settle in for a snacky screening with premade Johnson’s Popcorn (a Jersey Shore staple) or Pop ’N Dulge’s DIY gourmet kits. SobelAtHome.com, $350-$390; JohnsonsPopcorn.com, $27+; PopNDulge.com, $23

Polaris General 1000 Sport Resort communities across the country have adopted golf carts as a preferred mode of transportation, and you can establish yourself as a local baddie in Polaris’ General 1000 Sport – in ethereal colorways like ghost gray – equipped with a four-stroke DOHC twin-cylinder engine, 100 horsepower, 1,500-pound hitch-towing capacity, and enough street cred for Boomers to shake their ﬁsts at. Polaris.com, $17,500+

Bird Buddy Smart Feeder Avian enthusiasts get up close and semi-personal with feathered friends thanks to the Bird Buddy smart feeder that allows safe viewing via a solar-powered, app-enabled camera, along with adorable add-ons like a suet ball holder and three-in-one nutrition set to keep the neighborhood’s population happy and healthy. MyBirdBuddy.com, $299-$415

Link x Lou Permanent Jewelry Pop-Ups Jewelry – but make it an experience. That’s the premise behind Link x Lou, a uick-ﬁtting accessory service providing recipients with in-person appointments for custom-linked, clasp-less 14-karat white- and yellow-gold necklaces, bracelets, anklets, and rings that wear until they’re worn out. Money’s on ’em lasting longer than the situationship you’ve got goin’, but may the odds be ever in your favor. LinkxLou.com, $55-$500

Orttu Shelton Puﬀer Guess who’s coming to dinner? It’s you as an alt-timeline Tom of Finland in Orttu’s fully quilted, oversized Shelton Puﬀer comprised of double-layered high-sheen fabric and press-stud fastening that results in a slick style statement vers-er than you are. Orttu.com, $203

Winter Discovery Mini Scented Candle Set Apotheke takes the guesswork out of choosing just the right ambiance-inducing aroma with its Winter Discovery Mini Scented Candle Set, featuring six fragrant two-ounce tins in seasonal smells that include birchwood apple, black cypress, blackberry

‘Arquivistas’ Crystal Book Brazilian crystal devotee Tatiana Dorow has curated an impressive collection of more than 1,000 rare and exquisite minerals – ranging from one ounce to over 5,000 pounds – the comprehensive record of which is now compiled in the si able coﬀee-table tome “Arquivistas” (Portuguese for archivist) that’s sure to satisfy, delight, and provide endless holiday-party talking points to the New Agers in your life. (You know they will.) ArtAndAnthropologyPress.com, $350

Bovem Globe Trimmer 2.0 There are plenty of manscaping tools on the market, but perhaps none are designed with your delicate bits in mind like the handsome second-gen Bovem Globe body and groin trimmer with its ergonomic textured grip, powerful 6500 RPM with low vibration, varying guards, and replaceable TrimSafe blades that tidy you up without cutting skin or pulling rough hair. Deck the halls! – no more bloody Christmas balls. Bovem.co, $60-$87

Lexington Glassworks Decanter Set Pour one out from Lexington Glassworks’ hand-blown whiskey decanter, each one individually crafted in the company’s Asheville, N.C., studio and detailed with an elegant crackle ﬁnish that lends an air of sophistication to any home bar cart. Pair with a set of LG’s complementary rocks glasses, in the same distinguished style, for a cherished gift. LexingtonGlassworks.com, $280

Joule Turbo Sous Vide Your fave chefs’ autopilot cooking technique hits home countertops in Breville’s sleek Joule Turbo Sous Vide stick, which cooks seasoned-and-bagged meats and veggies to a fast-

16 • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM • DECEMBER 01, 2023

kitchen. Breville.com, $250

er-than-ever optimal internal temperature (unattended, no less) before a lickety-split sear and serve results in restaurant-quality dishes deserving of at least a couple Michelin stars for your minimal-mess

Outlines Shower Liner System Holiday hosts can practice responsible replenishment amid our planetary plastic-waste crisis when you gift Outlines’ thoughtfully designed Shower Liner System that provides users with a machine-washable cotton top piece and fully recyclable bottom to replace when it’s time to ditch the grime. Set it and forget it with three-, six- or nine-month auto-deliveries. LivingOutlines. com, $50

Barbie Perfume Fight the patriarchy doused in Barbie’s sweet-and-fresh fragrance that, from top to bottom, features notes of strawberry nectar and red cherry, peony and pink magnolia, and sandalwood and soft musk for an extraordinary scent that’s more than Kenough. DeﬁneMeCreativeStudio.com, $65,

AiRROBO Pet Grooming Vacuum Posh pets enjoy salon-style luxury in the comfort of their homes when treated to a grooming session by the AiRROBO vacuum (think Flowbee for cats and dogs , a ﬁve-tool, onestop solution for keeping furbabies’ hair, dander, allergens and mites to a minimum. The portable pamperer includes an electric clipper, crevice and de-shedding tools, and grooming and cleaning brushes housed in a space-saving, HEPA-ﬁltered capsule. US.Air-Robo. com, $110

Aura Smart Sleep Mask What does the future of total relaxation and deep sleep look like? Blackout darkness and complete serenity in a dream-state sanctuary when you spend your nights in the Aura Smart Sleep Mask with built-in speakers for guided meditation and snooze-inducing ASMR, zero-pressure eye cushioning, and light and sunrise therapy to help you wake rested and refreshed at home and (especially) away. Indiegogo.com, $190 (Mikey Rox is an award-winning journalist and LGBTQ lifestyle expert whose work has been published in more than 100 outlets across the world. Connect with Mikey on Instagram @mikeyroxtravels.)

FI M

Gnarly ‘Saltburn’ takes us on a sexy, savage ride Bu ed-about ﬁlm manages to shock even when we e pect the jolt

By JOHN PAUL KING by playing not just on our expectations, but on our hopes. While we may expect to be When a movie comes with as much buzz behind it as “Saltburn,” one can’t help but have shocked, we also hope for a certain outcome more than that, we become so attached expectations. to that hope that it can blind us to reality, so that when it finally hits us, it feels like we This is especially true when the buzz is fueled by rising talent, both in front of the camera never saw it coming even though it was in plain view all along. That’s the best we can do in this case, scar-nominee Barry eoghan in his first leading role, alongside “Euphoria in e plaining how Fennell s wickedly subversive, deeply disturbing mindfuck of a movie sensation acob Elordi and behind it scar-winning writer/director Emerald Fennell, folmanages to shock us even when we e pect the jolt. lowing up her debut feature, “Promising oung Woman . When you add a deliberately f course, it also delivers plenty of other shocks drugs, se , homoeroticism, lots of vague, shamelessly provocative publicity campaign, which offers little more than a suggesfull-frontal nudity before it gets there, and uite a few more dis uieting, transgressive tion of the film s premise while luring us in with imagery that implies a dark but se y wild moments in which we see things that jar our understanding of what we are seeing or ride through the world of the decadent upper class, it s almost impossible not to walk into simply can’t believe what we’re seeing. the theater without feeling like you re When the gravesite scene comes up, in for a thrill. you ll know that s one of the moments That, of course, is e actly what Fenwe re talking about. nell and company want you to feel. Still, it takes more than shock value “Saltburn,” which opened in wide reto make a movie worth watching, and lease the day before Thanksgiving, is “Saltburn” doesn’t rest its laurels on a a movie that counts on both your exbag of manipulative tricks, no matter pectations and your ignorance; it needs how skillfully they re e ecuted. Fenyou to be prepared for anything while nell’s movie delves deep into the ecoknowing ne t to nothing, and it relies nomic class divide – a worldwide pheon your imagination to make assumpnomenon – through the microcosm tions and draw conclusions as you go. portrait of the Catton family, whose It s the story of liver uick eoghan , benign and polite demeanor barely a first-year student attending ford conceal the casual cruelty and shallow University on scholarship in the midbanality of their lifestyle. Even Feli , s. Relegated at first to outsider who as superbly played by Elordi status among his privileged peers, he seems genuinely kind and much more becomes infatuated with wealthy Feli grounded than the rest of his clan, is Catton Elordi , a handsome and popultimately a spoiled “golden child” used ular classmate, and gains his attention to getting what he wants. More than through a chance encounter. The two that, it plays with the uncomfortable become close companions, and when notion that there’s a part in all of us, no the school term ends he is invited to matter how much we may deplore the spend the summer with Feli at Saltperceived excesses of the one percent burn – his family’s sprawling country that would be willing to do anything to ALISON OLIVER, JACOB ELORDI, and BARRY KEOGHAN in ‘Saltburn.’ estate. live in that world. Indeed, it’s this conIt’s there the movie begins to follow a flicted idea that gives Fennell s movie its teeth, made even sharper by the fact that, no more gnarly path. Immersed in the idyllic, dilapidated lu ury of Saltburn, liver finds himmatter how ridiculous or deplorable her characters may be, she makes us feel for and self entangled in the dysfunctional dynamic of the household; he easily wins the approval even like all of them. of Feli s father and mother, Sir ames and ady Elspeth Richard E. Grant, Rosamund Pike , f course, she s also an e tremely literate Englishwoman, and she peppers her movie but jealous sister enetia Alison liver , and scheming cousin Farleigh Archie Madekwe , with references and themes from Shakespeare to Dickens to Agatha Christie, while paya “poor relation” who sees him as a threat to his own tenuous position in the family, are a ing ironic homage to the entire “country house genre of British fiction. Her film craft is different matter, and he must learn to navigate the behind-the-scenes politics re uired to bold and distinctive, delivering with the help of cinematographer inus Sandgren pastoral keep them at bay. pleasures and Fellini-es ue Bacchanales with e ually arresting style. She deploys the talIt’s impossible, really, to say much more about the events that unfold beyond that point, ent of composer Anthony Willis to provide a genteel-yet-gothic musical score that thrums other than to say that it’s a far cry from the nostalgic, semi-sweet gay coming-of-age story with a low hum of menace, keeping us on edge throughout. And she has the good sense to it might seem to be in the beginning, if the occasional ominous chord in the soundtrack assemble a superb cast with the dryly hilarious Pike and the uietly heartbreaking liver and display of ugly human behavior didn’t suggest otherwise. “Saltburn” is one of those as standouts, alongside Elordi to make it all work. movies that demands to be seen knowing as little as possible about its plot if one is to get It s eoghan, though, who is ultimately the glue holding “Saltburn together. His lithe full experience, and we won’t be revealing anything here that would ruin that – not ver uick is a character destined to become iconic, a one-of-a-kind portrait of enigmatic even whether the “will-they-or-won t-they steaminess of liver and Feli s bromance ever humanity that bestows movie star status upon him after a steadily impressive roster of comes to fruition. high-profile supporting roles. When the film is over, you will either love him or hate him, What we will tell you is that Fennell whose first film included a devastating twist ending but you will never forget him. that electrified audiences knows how to play an audience. She sets up “Saltburn as a In fact, the same can be said about “Saltburn” itself, which has had its share of negative flashback we know from the beginning that something big and presumably bad has hapreviews from critics put off by its over-the-top style and manipulatively orchestrated stopened, and its protagonist is a likable misfit who proceeds to narrate how it came to pass. rytelling. We’d have to respectfully disagree; it’s an outrageous movie, but purposefully so, From the film s first moments, we are anticipating the twist which begs the uestion of and as for the storytelling, it’s the manipulation that turns what might otherwise be just how a twist can be a twist if we already know it s coming. another mindless, lurid thriller into a movie you’ll want to see again and again. “Saltburn addresses that uestion, though some viewers might not like the answer,

18 • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM • DECEMBER 01, 2023

BOOKS

Cunningham’s ‘Day’ is one of the best books of the year Characters are resilient, even hopeful, in the midst of disease, death

By KATHI WOLFE “She always had the feeling that it was very, very dangerous to live even one day,” Virginia Woolf, the groundbreaking, queer, gender-bending, feminist, novelist and essayist, writes in “Mrs. Dalloway” of Clarissa, a society woman, wife of a Parliament member and mother, who’s giving a party on a June day in 1920s London. Since the pandemic, at the height of the AIDS epidemic, during the Lavender Scare, going back to the dawn of time, who, especially if they’re queer, hasn’t often felt like Clarissa? Even on lovely June days. “Day,” a new novel by Michael Cunningham, his first novel since “The Snow ueen in 1 , beautifully and eerily reflects this feeling. Its characters are fearful and fragile, yet, resilient, even hopeful, in the midst of disease and death. Like “Mrs. Dalloway,” “Day,” takes place during one day – April 5. Only, the day is spread over three years. The morning of the day is in April 19 before the pandemic. When no one’s talking about, let alone heard of, COVID. The afternoon of the day is in April – at the height of the pandemic. Before the COVID vaccines have been developed. When everyone (except low-income, essential workers) is locked down by themselves or with their loved ones. The evening of the day is in April 1 when people, wondering what to make of the “new normal,” are beginning to emerge from the pandemic. As it is in several of Cunningham’s novels, the main characters of “Day,” are a family (along, with a few friends and relations, who are supporting characters). As with “Mrs. Dalloway,” and with Cunningham s luminous “The Hours, in “Day, the city, New York, and the passing of time, itself, are characters. “A man pulls up the metal shutter of his shoe repair shop,” Cunningham writes in “Day,” “A young woman, ponytailed, jogs past a middle-aged man who, wearing a little black dress and combat boots, is finally returning home.” Dan, his wife Isabel, and their two children five-year-old iolet and 1 -year-old Nathan — live in a brownstone in Brooklyn. Dan is a musician. He s had his struggles with cocaine and has performed in a rock band. Now, he does a lot of house husband/child care tasks as Isabel, a photo editor, works hard to keep her magazine from dying.

Isabel’s charming younger gay brother lives in their attic loft. It’s a New York City real estate/break up thing. Robbie, a sixth grade school teacher, has just broken up with his boyfriend. He can t afford to live on his own. He uestions why, 1 years ago, he decided against going to medical school. Dan and Isabel decide that Robbie has to move out and find a place of his own because their kids are too old to share a bedroom. Though, “Day references George Eliot, it s a 21st-century narrative. When Robbie, after the virus (never explicitly called COVID) enters the world, gets stuck in Iceland, he develops Wolfe, an idealized version of himself on Instagram. You never see the word “COVID” or “pandemic” in “Day.” Yet it’s clear that a virus (likely COVID) has entered the characters’ world. Their world, as with real life at the time, has reminders of AIDS. Rob develops a cough that’s reminiscent of a symptom at the height of the AIDS epidemic. Dan and Isabel’s marriage is becoming strained. They are both in love with Robbie. Thankfully, it s not what you think It s not a lust thing. Robbie represents something ideal to them. Few have more evocatively channeled the sensibility and style of Woolf than Cunningham. Woolf – her awareness that a novel about a day featuring nothing more than a woman giving a party; a man, at a street corner, taking off his hat to greet a woman he knows or a wife trying to calm her husband, a “shellshocked” World War I vet; can be as interesting as murder-and-battle-filled fiction is as tightly etched in Cunningham’s DNA as a pair of skinny jeans. As a teenager in Pasadena, Calif., he devoured Virginia Woolf’s novels as avidly as his friends turned on to imi Hendri and anis Joplin, Cunningham told me when I interviewed him for the Blade before the release of “The Hours, the movie of his Pulit er Prize-winning novel of the same name. “The Hours was adapted into an opera with the same name in 2022.) But Cunningham, who is married to psychotherapist Ken Corbett and Professor of the Practice in Creative Writing at Yale University, is no mere imitator of Woolf. The alchemy of Cunningham s talent is his own. “Day” was well worth waiting almost a decade for. It’s one of the best books of this or any year.

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LOSANGELESBLADE.COM • DECEMBER 01, 2023 • 19