Vanguard Quarterly Spring 2016 by Los Angeles LGBT Center

PRESENTED BY

@LALGBTCENTER

#AEWW

DIAMOND SPONSOR

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

IN-KIND PARTNERS

MORGAN STANLEY • KPL SELECT MORTGAGE

LA PRIDE! • THE ADVOCATE AND PRIDE.COM • FRONTIERS MEDIA • PERRIER

Marketing & Communications Staff Jim Key Chief Marketing Officer

Gil Diaz Communications Manager

Kelly Freter Associate Director

Melantha Hodge Project Manager

Joe Hui Digital Communications Manager

Josiah Pak Creative Services Coordinator

Christopher Price Creative Services Coordinator

Sophia Puglisi Digital Communications Coordinator

Callie Rodgers Creative Services Coordinator

Alex Schmider Communications Coordinator

Kurt Thomas Creative Services Manager

Contributors

SPRING 2016

Lisa Allen Photographer

Lorri L. Jean CEO, Los Angeles LGBT Center

THE DRINK’S ON YOU

RECIPE FOR LOVE

» PG. 21

» PG. 22

CHEERS TO THE CONDOM BAR!

Harvey Levin

COOKING UP A STORM WITH TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAM’S OWN CHEF

Creator and Executive Producer, TMZ

Betsy Martinez Photographer

Michael Lombardo

David J. Bailey

Mercedes Marquez

Board Co-Chair LuAnn Boylan Tad Brown Tyler Cassity Kin Cheng Carolyn A. Dye Susan Feniger Annie Goto

Board Secretary Dean Hansell Marki J. Knox, M.D.

Board Co-chair

Merryll McElwain Carlos Medina Mike Mueller

WE NEED ORDER IN THE (SUPREME) COURT

Board of Directors Tess Ayers

CEO Letter

Coming Full Circle WHY A COUPLE OF HEALTH WORKERS JOINED THE CENTER’S CIRCLE OF LIFE

They’re a Match SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON THE LIFEWORKS MENTORING PROGRAM

New Directions LAUNCHING A WOMEN’S SUPPORT GROUP TO COMBAT SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Brad Ong Loren S. Ostrow Peter Paige

WITH CENTER STAFF MEMBER GINA BIGHAM AND CENTER VOLUNTEER CELSO CARDENAS

The Buzz JOIN OUR CONVERSATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Take Five

Hurray for Holly Wood(lawn)! ANDY WARHOL’S MUSE LEAVES AN ENCORE GIFT FOR TRANSGENDER YOUTH

Center Notes

Center Voices

Photo Finish

Why I Give

BY HARVEY LEVIN

Jayzen Patria Scott Poland

Board Treasurer Frank Pond Eric M. Shore Bruce Vilanch

Subscriptions Vanguard is published quarterly by the Los Angeles LGBT Center, a nonprofit corporation. 1625 N. Schrader Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028, Voice 323-993-7400 • TDD 323-993-7698. Copyright 2016, Vanguard. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA. Publication of the name, quotation or photograph of a person in articles or advertising is not an indication of the sexual orientation or the HIV status of such person. Moving, getting duplicate mailings or wish to be removed from the Vanguard mailing list? Please email mediarelations@lalgbtcenter.org.

Spring 2016

ceo letter

SOMEDAY OUR RIGHTS MAY BE WRONGED

Who Are We To Judge?

CEO Lorri L. Jean

@LorriLJean

Spring 2016

’m not fond of today’s partisan politics. I’m saddened by how some people change once they get elected. I’m disgusted by the pervasive pandering and lack of honesty (regardless of political party). I’m alarmed by the influence of money, especially in the aftermath of Citizens United. But I always pay close attention to the candidates and issues, and I always vote because who gets elected has a dramatic impact on t he r ig ht s of LGBT people and issues I care deeply about. The stakes in the race for president were raised significantly on February 13 when Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died. News of his death had barely broken when some Republican leaders began urging President Obama to ignore his constitutional duty, and threatened to obstruct the process if he refused. The U.S. Constitution provides that the president “shall nominate...judges of the Supreme Court.” It says nothing about the president having discretion in whether or not to make nominations. Nor does it say that the president shall do so only when vacancies occur outside of an election year. But it isn’t up to the president alone. It also says the government’s executive branch has the appointment power only “by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.”

While the framers clearly intended to involve both the executive and legislative branches in the process of selecting Supreme Court justices, they never anticipated the kind of rancorous division that have attended many nominations since 1987 when Robert Bork’s nomination was derailed. And what is happening around the court’s current vacancy makes Bork’s battle look like a cakewalk.

Replacing these three U.S. Supreme Court justices: Kennedy, Ginsburg, and Breyer, who believe in our equality with anti-LGBT justices, would change the balance of the court from a 5-4 majority to a 7-2 minority (assuming Scalia’s replacement is also antiLGBT). But could this really happen? No doubt about it. WHY SHOULD LGBT PEOPLE AND OUR ALLIES CARE ABOUT ALL OF THIS? Scalia was the most vitriolic anti-LGBT justice the Supreme Court has ever known. At every opportunity, he tried to hold LGBT people back. At every opportunity, he insulted and defamed us. In the process, he influenced judges in lower courts all over the country. Thus it would be a big change to replace Scalia

with someone who believes that the Constitution’s guarantee of “equal protection under the law” applies to LGBT people, just as it does to everyone else. But Scalia’s replacement isn’t the only one we have to worry about. Scalia was 79 when he died. As of Election Day in 2016, Justice Kennedy will be 80, Justice Ginsburg will be 83, and Justice Breyer will be nearly 78. Appointed by presidents from both parties, all three have been solidly in support of LGBT rights and dignity, including siding with the majority in last summer’s marriage decision. According to the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy, the average retirement age for a Supreme Court justice is 78.7. If the next president serves eight years, what are the chances that any of these justices will still be serving? I’d say those chances are slim to none. If I’m right, that means the next president will have the opportunity to make three appointments, if not more. Replacing these three justices—who believe in our equality—with anti-LGBT justices would change the balance of the court from a 5-4 majority to a 7-2 minority (assuming Scalia’s replacement is also anti-LGBT). Our only remaining allies would be Justices Kagan and Sotomayor.

BUT COULD THIS REALLY HAPPEN? No doubt about it. Every Republican presidential candidate still running has said very clearly where he stands on this issue. Each has stated on numerous occasions that he would appoint justices in the mold of Scalia and, specifically, justices who would overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, the decision that made our freedom to marry the law of the land. We could actually lose our right to marry and the Defense of Marriage Act could be reinstated, denying same-sex couples access to federal protection and benefits like Social Security.

I’ve voted in 10 presidential elections and, in all of them, potential vacancies on the U.S. Supreme Court were touted as an important issue. But for people who care about civil rights and other progressive issues, the impact of the upcoming election will be unprecedented and far outlast the term of the 45th president. Other freedoms would also be in jeopardy. Sodomy laws could be reinstated, making us criminals wherever such laws are enacted. State governments could be allowed to single out LGBT people for discrimination. Say goodbye to LGBT teachers, soldiers, renters, and government employees, just to name a few. Our quest for full equality under the law would not only be reversed, it could be frustrated for generations. Lest you think I exaggerate, here’s what Scalia wrote about us in his dissent to the U.S.

Supreme Court’s majority opinion that struck down sodomy laws in Lawrence v. Texas: “Many Americans do not want persons who openly engage in homosexual conduct as partners in their business, as scoutmasters for their children, as teachers in their children’s schools or as boarders in their home. They view this as protecting themselves and their families from a lifestyle that they believe to be immoral and destructive.” Imagine six or seven justices who think the same way! Moreover, LGBT rights wouldn’t be the only casualty of such a Supreme Court. Other issues that are critical to individual rights and liberties would be in jeopardy, like reproductive justice, voting rights, healthcare, and so much more. I’ve voted in 10 presidential elections and, in all of them, potential vacancies on the Supreme Court were touted as an important issue. But for people who care about civil rights and other progressive issues, the impact of the upcoming election will be unprecedented and far outlast the term of the 45th president. That’s reason alone to vote in November. So if you aren’t registered, please do so soon (May 23 is the last day to register to vote in California’s primary and October 24 is the last day to register to vote in the general election). And if you care about these issues, please make sure you vote. It’s not only one of our most important rights, it’s a critically important responsibility.

Spring 2016

Each year, the Center’s events offer unique and memorable opportunities to celebrate our shared community while raising funds for the most vulnerable among us. To make 2016 our most successful year ever, we only need one thing: YOU.

Simply diVine

TransPride L.A.

Premier food and wine event

Community celebration of support

360

Out Under the Stars

Health and wellness fair for LBTQ women

Classic movies at Hollywood Forever Cemetery

CineArte

Garden Party

Latina/o queer art and film festival

An elegant and engaging afternoon

Get Centered Luncheon

Models of Pride

Learn more about our vital programs and services

World’s largest free conference for LGBTQ youth

An Evening with Women

47th Anniversary Gala Vanguard Awards

All-star celebration of music and philanthropy

Honoring amazing change-makers

APRIL 9

APRIL 16

APRIL 22–24

APRIL 26

MAY 21

AIDS/LifeCycle JUNE 5–11

545 miles from San Francisco to L.A.

JUNE 17–18

JUNE 24 AND AUGUST TBD

SUMMER/FALL TBD

OCTOBER 15

FALL TBD

BE HERE IN 2016 LALGBTCENTER.ORG

Buzz Worthy

Get Social

LOS ANGELES LGBT CENTER’S SOCIAL MEDIA

JENNER-OUS DONATIONS FOR LGBT YOUTH We tweeted our thanks to celebrity Kylie Jenner for her clothes donation to our Youth Center.

Here’s a few of the many Jenner-ous gifts donated to our Youth Center today. Thank you, @KylieJenner!  @LALGBTCenter 2

SARA RAMIREZ WISHES US A HAPPY MONDAY Actress Sara Ramirez tweeted props for the Center’s new Holly Woodlawn Memorial Fund for Transgender Youth.

#HappyMonday! Love the @LALGBTCenter! #LGBTQ #Trans #HollyWoodlawn  @SaraRamirez

BIG BLOCK OF CHEESE DAY

#NATIONALHUGDAY

The White House held a day-long event on social media inspired by President Andrew Jackson’s 1837 open house featuring a 1,400-pound block of cheese. The Center’s tweet got a response from U.S. Chief Technology Officer Megan Smith.

Trailblazing performance artist-theorist-activist Kate Bornstein inspired us on National Hug Day.

Does better #LGBT representation in #STEM education improve employment opportunities? @USCTO #BigBlockOfCheeseDay #AskMeganSmith  @LALGBTCenter

Definitely. Visibility matters. It’s hard to be what you can’t see @GDIGM FYI Tech thrives in #LGBT friendly cities.  @USCTO Megan Smith

Looking through our archives for #NationalHugDay and found this great pic of performer/ activist @katebornstein #TBT  @LALGBTCenter

Awwwwww... #NationalHugDay. Thanks, @LALGBTCenter.  @KateBornstein

SUSAN FENIGER IN THE TLP KITCHEN Celebrity chef and Center Board Member Susan Feniger had a blast sharing our Transitional Living Program (TLP) kitchen with the Rhodes Bros from YouTube and Center Dietary Coordinator Arlita Miller.

Such a blast! w/ @austinrhodes_ @aaronrhodes_ & Arlita, chef for the transitional living program @lalgbtcenter...  @SusanFeniger

JOIN the CONVO For even more Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram interactions like these, plus all the latest LGBT community news, local highlights, and original content, find us on social media at:  @LALGBTCENTER

We’d love to hear from you.

Spring 2016

SINCE 2005, the Center’s LifeWorks youth development program has helmed a one-on-one mentoring program to help LGBT youth (ages 24 and younger) realize their aspirations and dreams with the support of positive, affirming role models. More than 500 youth have been matched with mentors.

Here are four of their stories.

Emma & Sabrina

MMA ISN’T MUCH OF a talker—

on the phone, that is. Just like any other 17 year old, she prefers to text, which amuses her LifeWorks mentor, Sabrina. “One of the questions we’re asked by LifeWorks staff, after we’ve been paired with a young person for awhile, is: ‘What is the primary mode of communication with your youth: phone, in person, or email?’ I always write in ‘texting,’” said Sabrina, with a hearty laugh. When the two women finally get together in person, whether it’s hanging out at coffee shops or biking along the beaches, they catch up on each others’ lives. Emma considers Sabrina, who is 10 years older, like a big sister since Emma has no sisters in her family.

Spring 2016

They’ve been part of the mentorship program for almost a year. “It’s comforting to be able to talk to Sabrina about being a queer woman, especially a queer woman of color. Before connecting with Sabrina, I was struggling to understand what life would be like as a queer adult,” said Emma. “Now I realize I can have a normal life like anybody else, and I want to be successful, independent, and confident—just like Sabrina.” The pair’s mentorship match came at the right time in both of their lives. Sabrina, who works

• S abrina (left) and Emma

(right) snapping selfies at The Confection Co-op in Hollywood.

as a commercial director for Sandwich Video, was looking for a way to give back to the LGBT community, while Emma was seeking stability. Two years ago, the high school student moved with her family back to Los Angeles from Melbourne, Australia, where she’d been living for three years. Although Emma had been raised in Los Angeles for the first 12 years of her life, she was the new kid at her Redondo Beach high school and felt lost there. “Having a mentor helped me become upbeat because Sabrina

was someone whom I could talk to, who understands me, and that wasn’t caught up in life’s dramas like I was,” said Emma, who discovered the mentorship program on the Center’s website as I WAS she and her mother STRUGGLING searched for programs and services TO UNDERfor local LGBT youth. STAND WHAT “So much has LIFE WOULD changed since I BE LIKE AS A was Emma’s age. I QUEER ADULT. didn’t know anyone in high school who was queer, and I wish I had someone to talk to and look up to when I was Emma’s age,” said Sabrina. “It’s also amazing that Emma and her peers can learn

about LGBT history and important figures like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, who participated in the Stonewall Riots, simply through the Internet.” Their bond continues to grow stronger, especially as Emma prepares to apply to colleges and seeks advice from Sabrina regarding college life—which is a whole new ball game, according to Sabrina. No matter which college Emma ends up at in the fall, the two pledge to stay in touch. Initially through texts, of course.

Ashleah & Michelle SHLEAH FELT LIKE HER WORLD was crumbling after telling her family she was transitioning to a woman and simultaneously learning they were all on the verge of being evicted from their South Los Angeles home. The stress became too much for the 21-year-old aspiring cosmetologist to endure. That’s until Michelle entered Ashleah’s life as her mentor. “Michelle really listened to my problems and gave me great advice,” said Ashleah. “She reassured me that my parents will love me no matter what, and she was right! I explained to my parents that I was tired of having to hide who I really am. Having their love and support will help me to stop living a double life.” Michelle is very familiar with the LGBT community and its struggles. Raised in a traditional Vietnamese family, her best friend and her brother are both gay. She also has a transgender uncle, and, tragically, her gay cousin committed suicide at a young age. “Wanting to make a difference in someone’s life has led me to help empower LGBT youth,” said Michelle, who is a vice president with wealth management firm First Foundation Advisors. “I’ve had amazing mentors in my life that shaped the person I am today and feel an obli-

I’VE HAD AMAZING MENTORS IN MY LIFE THAT SHAPED THE PERSON I AM TODAY AND FEEL AN OBLIGATION TO PAY IT FORWARD.

• A shleah (left) and Michelle

(right) kicking up their heels at Tanya Heath – Los Angeles.

Spring 2016

gation to pay it forward. At first, I was afraid Ashleah would be a little timid when we met, but she was very comfortable talking with me about her struggles.” Professionally, Michelle’s expertise is in advising high net worth LGBT individuals and families on their investments as well as planning for their financial futures. Her understanding of the unique needs of LGBT individuals and families has made her practice a success. “When I first met Michelle,” said Ashleah, “I felt as though I found my new best friend. She has given me plenty of great advice on life goals and an extra push to get on my feet. I want to be just like her in ten years: phenomenal, caring, and confident. My ‘inner Michelle’ is ready to come out!”

• Ian (left) and

Matthew (right) bring the fun to the film industry.

Matthew & Ian HEN IAN GOT MARRIED five years ago, there was no doubt in his mind who he wanted to walk him down the aisle: his long-time mentor, Richard. They met through the mentoring program offered at Metropolitan Community Church in Dallas, primarily comprised of LGBT congregants. “I attempted suicide when I was a teenager and thought about suicide a lot when I was a kid because I was depressed,” said Ian. “But Richard’s support and mentorship saved me. He pulled me back from the brink many times and helped me get through some really, really tough experiences.” Now 36, Ian is paying it forward and hoping I KNOW I to transform the life of a young gay man named Matthew, who came out to his family last year. CAN TURN “I grew up in a small, conservative city TO HIM WITH where religion plays an important role, and I ANYTHING. have a big, Catholic Italian family,” explained Matthew, 22, who grew up in Temecula, southeast of Los Angeles. “I really feared how they would react and treat me once they learned I was gay, but they completely surprised me! I’ve been very fortunate to have such a supportive family.” Despite his family’s support, Matthew still had no one to talk to regarding life as a young, single gay man living in Los Angeles, where he moved to attend college. “I had these preconceived notions of what it meant to be a gay man living in Los Angeles and presumed I had to fit a certain mold,” said

Matthew. “I developed what I now consider to be a dangerous form of body dysphoria. Ian really helped me address my insecurities and to become my authentic self.” Since being paired a year ago, both men knew they had a special connection. Matthew is a graduate of LifeWorks’ OutSet program, a filmmaking class in collaboration with the Outfest LGBT film festival in which 15 participants are chosen each year to receive hands-on training by working professionals in the film and television industries. Ian works as a production supervisor at DreamWorks Animation. “Ian has accomplished exactly what I want,” said Matthew. “By being married and having a dream job in the film industry, he’s shown me what my life could be like. And he’s one of

the smartest men I know. I know I can turn to him with anything.” Ian had volunteered for many organizations in his lifetime, but his desire to make a positive impact in the LGBT community continued to grow. “It’s really awesome when Matthew feels comfortable enough to ask me questions about anything—ranging from dating to being out at work,” said Ian. “Although he’s just in the beginning stages of his learning curve as an out gay man, he gives me hope for the next generation of LGBT youth,” he said. The feeling is mutual. “I honestly can’t imagine my life without him,” reflected Matthew, who quickly turned to Ian sitting beside him. “You better come to my wedding.”

Spring 2016

Damian & Lawrence HEN HER 14-YEAR-OLD son Damian told her he was gay, Keila Topete reassured him she was completely okay with the news. “I hugged him and told him that the people who matter in his life love him no matter what,” said Keila. “I will defend Damian, and I will fiercely protect him because my number one priority is for him to be happy and live as his authentic self.” Despite her unwavering support, Keila knew there was a void I FEEL MORE OPEN TALKING in Damian’s life that she could not fill. She wanted Damian, her oldTO A GUY est child, to have a positive gay WHO’S JUST role model. Determined to get the LIKE ME. support her son needed, Keila surfed the internet for programs and activities for LGBT youth and discovered the Center’s LifeWorks program—a program that seemed perfect for her usually introverted son.

“When I first met the mentor they matched me with, I could tell he was truly a good person with a positive perspective on life,” said Damian. “I’m lucky to have Lawrence in my life because he’s someone I can talk to about things that I’m too embarrassed to talk about with my mom.” The two first met in October and bonded instantly over their fondness for writing (Lawrence, 30, has written several children’s books). Nowadays, they’re busy crossing items off of their list of lifelong goals, such as learning a foreign language and ice skating. “It’s phenomenal that someone as young as Damian can be

so confident about his identity,” said Lawrence, a native of Missouri who came out to his family at age 20. “If only I had his courage and strength when I was his age. Damian is wise beyond his years.” While working at his parttime gig at The Abbey in West Hollywood, Lawrence was introduced to LifeWorks Director Michael Ferrera, who proceeded to tell him about the mentorship program. Since moving to Los Angeles four years ago, Lawrence had wanted to make a lasting impact on an LGBT youth—joining the program as a mentor was his chance. “We use the word ‘commu-

So You Want to be a LifeWorks Mentor (or Mentee)

LifeWorks is the Center’s youth development and mentoring program for LGBTQ youth 24 and younger. The goal is to help them to realize their goals and dreams within a safe space, and with positive and affirming role models, workshops, and activities that are fun and educational. In addition to mentoring, LifeWorks offers youth leadership programs and specialty programs, such as the OutSet film program, Trans* Youth Speak, SparQ Theatre Program, Community Action Network, and Pen Pushers writing workshop. Being a mentor to an LGBTQ youth takes a special commitment. As a mentor, you are

At least 26 years old Currently employed, financially stable, accomplished, and able to lend significant life experience to a youth

Friendly, approachable, and eager to assist a young person with becoming more fully developed and independent

Skilled at listening and communicating Committed to being matched with one youth for a full calendar year and having contact with your mentee at least once per week and face-to-face meetings at least twice per month

Able to help your mentee develop a LifePlan: a series of goals regarding home, health, education, career, and personal development in order to help your mentee acquire skills to live independently and productively

Required to attend an 8-hour mentor training nity’ so often, and within that word, we have ‘unity,’” explained Lawrence. “I wanted to be a mentor because it helps to have a village— me, Keila, and Damian’s family— to raise a child.” To no one’s surprise, Damian wants to be just like Lawrence when he grows up: successful, employed, and happy. And, although Lawrence was initially concerned that his very first mentee would be in his early teens, all he ever wants now is to always be there for Damian, especially during the impressionable years when Damian himself is becoming a man.

If you are an LGBTQ youth, you may benefit from having a mentor. As a mentee, you are

24 years old or younger Required to communicate with your mentor at least once a week and meet in person at least twice a month

Willing to develop your LifePlan with your mentor’s guidance A LifeWorks Mentor application can be found online at lifeworksla.org/mentor A LifeWorks Mentee application can be found online at lifeworksla.org/mentee • D amian (left) and Lawrence

(right) working on the perfect Windsor knot.

For more information about LifeWorks, visit lifeworksla.org

SAVE THE DATE

ANOTA LA FECHA

APRIL 22 – 24

22 – 24 DE ABRIL

Join us for a celebration of community and culture, featuring documentaries, U.S. and international shorts, a feature length film, art installations, entertainment, and more! CineArte is dedicated to showcasing the stories of LGBTQ two-spirited, Latin@, Chican@, Indigeneous identities through film and visual arts.

Únase con nosotros para una celebración de la comunidad y cultura donde se presentaran documentales, cortometrajes y largometrajes de EE.UU é internacionales, exposiciones de arte, entretenimiento y mucho más! CineArte se dedica en presentar las historias de personas LGBTQ, Latin@, Chican@ é Indigen@ en el cine y las artes visuales.

The Village at Ed Gould Plaza 1125 N. McCadden Place, Los Angeles

TICKETS lalgbtcenter.org/cinearte 323-860-7300

eir e

WE’RE ALL FAMILY HERE! Join other LGBTQ parents and their children every third Saturday of the month for fun and community. lalgbtcenter.org/family_services

Spring 2016

•

323-993-7430 • familyservices@lalgbtcenter.org

Take Five volunteer ››

Celso Cardenas WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO VOLUNTEER AT THE CENTER? Before moving here about five months ago, I’d been involved in Chicago’s LGBT community. Because my LGBT identity is very important to me, I went online to find a way to get connected here in Los Angeles. After learning about a volunteer orientation program at the Center, I showed up and learned about all the great things we do for the community.

WHAT DO YOU DO OUTSIDE OF THE CENTER? I am the Dean of Students for the Harvard-Westlake School, a private school in Studio City for grades 7-12. I’ve only been

there for a few months, but the changes I’m seeing are great. It’s empowering to hear my students advocate for issues such as gender-neutral school bathrooms and proper pronoun usage, especially for a school that’s been based on traditions. We’ve been trying to do away with some of the traditions that reinforce the gender binary. Students are increasingly feeling comfortable dealing with broad issues of race, gender, and socioeconomic status, but it’s not the same everywhere. When I was a student in the Chicago Public Schools system, I didn’t feel comfortable being out until I had graduated from college. To see young students—14 to 15 years old—who feel empowered and self-assured about themselves is really a beautiful thing. It is unfortunate, in this day and age, we still must worry about homophobia. But the truth is that not all communities are supportive.

PRONOUNS:

VOLUNTEER POSITION:

He/Him

Lobby Desk Volunteer and Social Networking Group Facilitator

HOMETOWN:

Chicago, IL

Take 5 Minutes

GET TO KNOW CENTER STAFF MEMBERS & VOLUNTEERS staff member ››

Gina Bigham WHY DID YOU WANT TO WORK FOR THE CENTER?

PRONOUNS:

STAFF POSITION:

She/Her

Program Coordinator for Cultural Arts & Education; Curator of the Trans* Lounge Program; Lead Coordinator for Trans Pride L.A.; Volunteer Facilitator for the Trans* Perceptions social networking group

HOMETOWN:

San Francisco, CA

The Center helped me so much when I was coming out in 2011. A friend and I were crossing a closed street and a police officer hit his siren and ordered us to come over. He looked at our IDs and kept calling us sir. “We’re trans women,” I said, “if you could respectfully address us as such.” “Well, I just go by what I see,” he responded and gave us jaywalking tickets. I realized we were targeted because we’re trans. We called the Center and the Legal Services department helped us go to the police station to file a complaint. We went to court to fight the tickets, and we won! It was quite a ride, but the Center had our backs the entire time and I was overwhelmed

with how amazing this organization is. I was at the early stages of my transition and this was my first exposure to what the Center could do to help. What I’ve been given through the Center I want to give back and make someone else’s journey a little easier.

OUTSIDE OF THE CENTER, WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING? For the past 10 years, I have been coordinating a Las Vegas trip for a group of trans women known as Wild Side. What started like a sorority with seven people has grown to 400 people. It’s a fun trip but also an empowerment trip. It’s a chance for people who are not out, or maybe live in small towns where they don’t have any resources or connection with like-minded others, to be themselves for a whole week without fear of getting clocked at home, and to have the support of 400 people from all over the world. I want to make another trans person’s journey a little easier, just like the Center has done for me!

Spring 2016

thank you

The Los Angeles LGBT Center is extremely grateful for the support of the following new Sustaining Donors and Circle of Life members.

LEADERS H I P CI RCLE

S I LVER CI RCLE

$50,000-$99,999

$1,500-$1,799

Anthony Watson

Fred Abdelnour Marc & Kathleen Berton Stephen Burr & Sandra Patterson James Campbell Robert Conley Wilson Constantine Kim Culmone Andrew Dorado Andres Hurwitz Eric Jacobson & Roy Luthringer Nahnatchka Khan & Julia Bicknell Michael Kosiba David Larsen David Landau Michael Lovitz & Lawrence Martinez Roy Luthringer & Eric Jacobson* Mercedes Marquez & Mirta Ocana John Martineau Naoya Matsuda Neal Murphy Lisa Nevins Trong Nguyen Christopher Pettis Jaclyn Pink-Kikkert Stephanie Potter & Stephanie Lewis David Rose Elizabeth Rosenblatt & Christine King Natasha Jo Rubin Peter Sadowski Charles Scherer Catharine Soros Andrew Tagliabue Elizabeth Tepper & Carrie Anderson Park Wayne Wagers, M.D. Deric Walters

DI AM OND CI RCLE $18,000-$49,999 Michael Bourret & Miguel Camnitzer John & Zachary Cambouris* Barry & Janet Lang

PLATI NUM CI RCLE $12,000-$17,999 The Calamus Foundation Christopher Murphy & Dan Kagan*

GOLD CI RCLE $6,000-$11,999 Kevin Berg* Robert Bolan, M.D.* Edgar Clark Christine Dean & Rose Veniegas, Ph.D.* Anne Hathaway & Adam Shulman T. Peter Pierce & Mark Bertrand* Brad Seiling* Dennis Strum*

S TERLI NG CI RCLE $3,600-$5,999 Lawrence Angrisani* Barry & Martin America, Inc. Clint Birdsong & Ryan Booms* Kevin Callahan* Ann Herring* Dennis Herzig & Ernie Torres* Peter Johnson* Evan Lessler Caren & Jordan Libit Fred Silberberg, Esq. & Douglas Levy* Timothy McNeal* Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet Gil Tabachnik* Norm Wogan

S I LVER CI RCLE $2,400-$3,599 Maria Beckman* Adriene Bowles Ryan Forbes* Adam Lisagor* Bruce McCarthy Alison Smith* James Stovitz & James Brenner*

S I LVER CI RCLE $1,800-$2,399 Randy Barbato & Fenton Bailey Steve Boettcher* Lissa Buzzelli & Martha Jimenez Ariadne Getty* Shelli Goodman Eugene Hawkins Leonora Horwin Aderyn Lonigan Vanessa McCoy-Peterson & Jack Peterson John Ritchie & Mark Linvill Benson Russell Ed Traynor

Spring 2016

CI RCLE OF LI F E Jane Anderson and Tess Ayers Hollie and Sophie Hanson Brad Seiling

For information about Planned Giving or becoming a Sustaining Donor, please contact:

Jennifer Dawson Director of Major Gifts jdawson@lalgbtcenter.org 323-993-8932

Dave Dell Major Gifts Associate ddell@lalgbtcenter.org 323-993-8903

Tim Lee Major Gifts Associate tlee@lalgbtcenter.org 323-993-8945

Allan Carp Director of Planned Giving acarp@lalgbtcenter.org 323-993-8963

Donor list as of February 26, 2016 *Indicates an increase in membership level

Planned

Giving

Planned Giving is a set of methods by which a donor can leave financial assets to a nonprofit at his or her death, or methods to invest money so that the donor receives benefits during his or her lifetime and bequeaths the remaining funds to the nonprofit. There are several planned giving vehicles that are easy to establish.

B EQ U ES T S The Center can be a beneficiary of your will or trust. Here is sample bequest language that you can take to your attorney: I bequeath $__________ (or description of property or percentage of your estate) to the Los Angeles LGBT Center, Tax I.D. 95-3567895 to be used in support of the Center’s work (or a specific program that you would like to support at the Center). The Center accepts gifts of tangible property, securities, and real estate, as well as cash.

C HA R ITA B LE G IFT A NNU IT Y Through a simple contract, you agree to make a donation of cash, stocks, or other assets to the Los Angeles LGBT Center. In return, we agree to pay you (and someone else, if you choose) a fixed amount each year for the rest of your life. Payments can be scheduled monthly and quarterly. Your initial gift is partially income tax-deductible. Your gift annuity payments are partially income tax-free throughout your estimated life expectancy. A charitable gift annuity can be established with a gift of $10,000 or any amount over $10,000 that you wish to gift. = 10 people

1,000 STRONG

In the last five years, membership in the Circle of Life has more than doubled to over 650 people. Now the Center is embarking on an ambitious goal to increase the size of the group to 1,000 people who include the Center in their estate plan or make another type of planned gift. Making the Center part of your legacy in your will is the most important contribution you can make to the organization. It ensures the future of a strong and vibrant Center building a world where LGBT people thrive as healthy, equal, and complete members of society.

C HA R ITA B LE R EM A IND ER T R U S T S With a charitable remainder trust, you can receive income each year for the rest of your life from assets you give to the trust you create. Your income can be either variable (charitable remainder unitrust) or a fixed amount (charitable annuity trust). After your lifetime, a portion or the balance of your trust goes to the charities you choose. One of the benefits of a charitable remainder trust is that you receive a partial income tax deduction.

INFOR M AT ION For more information or to request a copy of our “Charting The Course” Life Planning Brochure for LGBT people, please contact Allan Carp at acarp@lalgbtcenter.org or call 323-993-8963.

Spring 2016

Circle of Life

In Sickness & In Health HOW TWO HEALTH WORKERS AND HUSBANDS ARE LEAVING A LASTING GIFT TO THE CENTER

• B ruce Matsen (left) and Dr. Ron Wing (right) at their Glendale home

henever Dr. Ron Wing opens his wallet, a worn piece of paper stashed inside it reminds him of an era filled with sadness. “I’ve kept a list of my close friends and ex-boyfriends who died from AIDS during the 1980s because I’m very sentimental,” said Wing, 70, now retired. “I have about 50 names on that list, and I keep it in my wallet to this day. I never want them to be forgotten.” More than three decades ago—at the height of the AIDS crisis—25 percent of Wing’s patients at a Sherman Oaks hospital where he worked were HIV-positive. He also volunteered at what was then known as the Center’s STD Clinic. His husband, Bruce Matsen, worked as a social worker in the HIV/ AIDS care unit of the Hollywood Community Hospital, where he still works today. “Ron and I had AIDS patients in common,” said Matsen, 61. “It was devastating.” As they reflect on how far they—and the rest of the LGBT community—have progressed over the past four decades, their

Spring 2016

feelings about the journey become bittersweet. Five years ago, both men became Sustaining Donors of the Center. Then another couple they knew in their Glendale neighborhood brought up the Center’s Circle of Life, in which donors include the Center in their estate plan.

Leaving their legacy with the LGBT community–a community still finding a cure for HIV–is what brings them gratification. “Shirley Ann [Hill] and Joyce [Briscoe] invited us to a Circle of Life luncheon where we learned more about planned giving. We were impressed by all of the Center’s programs and services that could benefit from our gift,” said Matsen. “After we die, Ron and I want our money to be invested in Center programs that support people who need help, particularly LGBT youth and people who suffer from substance abuse.”

Their life-enriching decision to help others in need, even after they’ve passed, reflects their strong religious faith. Since the 1990s, they have been active members of a Catholic church located in the Crescenta Valley. In 1991, they invited a priest to bless their home. If they could, they most likely would ask another priest to marry them following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on marriage equality, but they already tied the knot in Canada eight years prior—ending a 17-year engagement. Continuing a rewarding life together is what brings them fulfillment. Leaving their legacy with the LGBT community—a community still finding a cure for HIV—is what brings them gratification. “We made a vital commitment, and it will come back to us tenfold,” said Matsen. “The impact we make will only further our cause.” For information about the benefits of being a member of the Center’s Circle of Life, visit lalgbtcenter.org/planned_giving_info.

women’s recovery

How Vulnerable Are LBT Women to Substance Use? A considerable body of evidence suggests it is important to address gender in substance use prevention and treatment and, yet, data on the topic is alarmingly sparse. Resources that take into consideration gender and sexual orientation are even fewer, and often out of date. The few studies that have evaluated substance use in LGBT populations have rarely included sufficient consideration of racial/ ethnic minorities. Given the scarcity of information, searching for comprehensive data on LBT women’s healthcare feels like searching for the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. By recognizing that women (and particularly women of color) in the LGBT community have substantially fewer options for substance use recovery, this can change. Groups like Pathways to Women’s Recovery are one important step in the right direction.

Pathways to Progress

athways to Women’s Recovery is the Center’s new weekly recovery group for lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women healing from substance use. Intimate in size and mindful in approach, the program offers a judgment-free space for women to process issues and stressors contributing to their substance use. As an LGBT organization, why offer a group just for women? To put it simply: all mental health service providers have a responsibility to address the enduring absence of safe spaces for women in recovery. Or as a recent National Institutes of Health study describes, “Most substance abuse treatment models have been designed for men and based predominantly on male norms.” Center Manager of Addiction Recovery Services Mike Rizzo knows sexual health concerns are an obstacle in co-ed recovery groups: “In cases where the majority of participants are men looking to address a component of sexual health, women can be left out of the discussion. Pathways to Women’s Recovery offers a space purposefully created for women.”

This acknowledgment—that matters of sexual health differ for men and women in the LGBT community—is central to supporting women who come to the Center to improve their mental, physical, and overall health. To create this space for Center clients, Rizzo and group facilitator Grazel Garcia developed a substance-free program that encourages participants to share in other women’s unique experiences, explore emotions, increase self-worth, and help break self-destructive behaviors. To accomplish this, the group integrates a formal substance use recovery education with a meditative approach called “mindfulness.” “Mindfulness is about helping clients identify feelings by sensation, develop a relationship with those feelings, and move away from avoiding feelings through the use of a substance,” said Garcia. “The mindful approach to substance use recovery focuses on cultivating attitudes to break self-destructive behaviors that may pose as barriers to maintaining abstinence from substances.” For more information about Pathways to Women’s Recovery, call 323-993-7448.

BY THE NUMBERS

28%-35% Several studies estimate that substance use affects 28%-35% of the LGBT population, according to the Journal of Gay & Lesbian Psychotherapy.

19%

More than 19% of California’s state budget funds addiction, substance use and abuse programs. Only two cents per dollar pays for prevention and treatment. The remaining 98 cents is spent on the consequences.

60%/40% According to The Sentencing Project, 60% of women in state prison and more than 40% of women in federal prisons have a history of drug dependence.

70’s & 80’s Studies in the 1970s and 1980s revealed high rates of alcohol use and abuse among lesbians, yet most of those surveys were conducted at bars. Current data suggests these methodological challenges remain relevant today.

Spring 2016

Profile

Photos courtesy of Sharon Graphics

Hollywood Giving LEGENDARY TRANSGENDER ACTRESS AND ACTIVIST LEAVES A LEGACY FOR TRANS YOUTH AT THE CENTER

hether you remember her best as Andy Warhol’s muse, a reference in Lou Reed’s hit song Walk on the Wild Side, or as filmmaker Paul Morrissey’s sought-after screen actress during the 1970s, Holly Woodlawn was an inspiration all by herself. From her participation in the Stonewall Riots and through her bold career of four decades, she exemplified what it means to “create” and be the person you’re meant to be. After falling ill last year, she asked close friend Robert Starr to draft a will that would leave $25,000 to the Center as seed money for a memorial fund to support services specifically for transgender youth. After her death last December, the estate of the iconic artist/ activist founded the Holly Woodlawn Memorial Fund for Transgender Youth, benefiting programs and services that include the Center’s Trans Pride L.A., Trans*Lounge, the Transgender Economic Empowerment Project, and Transgender Health Program. “Holly was one of our earliest warriors for trans rights and she wanted to leave everything she had to help trans youth be stronger and love themselves,” said NCIS actress Pauley Perrette, a close friend of Woodlawn. Born in 1946, Woodlawn was a bona fide artist from the very beginning who survived by ad-libbing through life, exercising creative expression, and denying strict adherence to any script not her own. After coming out as transgender as a teenager, Woodlawn hitchhiked from her family’s home in Miami Beach to New York City, where she briefly experienced homelessness, as recounted in her 1991 memoir A Low Life in Heels: The Holly Woodlawn Story. “When most kids were cramming for trigonometry exams, I was turning tricks, living off the streets and wondering when my next meal was coming,” she wrote. Woodlawn’s reality never deterred her from living daringly as herself, whether pursuing her passions to create and perform or standing up for what she thought was right. In 1969, when police officers infamously raided the Stonewall Inn, Woodlawn was there, at one of the flashpoints that sparked the modern LGBT movement. For the remainder of her incredible life she was a major force and advocate for transgender rights.

Holly was an artist, her medium being life itself.

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“She is one of the trans* communities’ unsung heroes and someone who challenged gender norms at a time when the word ‘trans’ didn’t even exist,” said Drian Juarez, program manager of the Center’s Transgender Economic Empowerment Project. “To have one of our own establish a fund like this is a game changer for the trans community.” Woodlawn knew that the harsh realities she faced were not any different from the experiences of at-risk trans youth today who find themselves without homes, means of employment, and steady streams of income. Beyond supporting the basic needs of trans youth, Woodlawn insisted that creative arts be central to the fund’s mission to inspire, embolden, and enable gender-expansive youth. By helping transgender young people creatively express themselves and share their stories, she knew it would help change the world. Zackary Drucker, producer and consultant on Amazon Studios’ Transparent, calls Woodlawn her chosen aunt, crediting

the progress of today’s trans movement to her. “We have her to thank for blazing a path into the future,” she said. “The opportunities I’ve been afforded are a direct result of what Holly did. She always told me I was her future. I’d respond by saying she was my future because it goes both ways.” Woodlawn was a light in the dark for the transgender community, a torch that illuminated the way for future generations of trans people. “It’s crazy to think that once upon a time, a fifteen-year-old boy ran away to New York and lived life as a woman,” wrote Woodlawn, in her book’s epilogue. “Some would have deemed it impossible. Others would have damned me to hell. But regardless, I did it and I was fulfilled. Honey, after pulling a stunt like that, there’s nothing I can’t do! The way I see it, the dreams of today are the realities of tomorrow. And of course, I always dream in Technicolor.”

To donate to the Holly Woodlawn Memorial Fund for Transgender Youth, visit lalgbtcenter.org/holly. For more information about planned estate giving, contact Director of Planned Giving Allan Carp at acarp@lalgbtcenter.org or 323-993-8963.

sexual health

Bottoms Up HOW THE CENTER IS MAKING CONDOMS APPEALING TO YOUNG BLACK AND LATINO GAY/BISEXUAL MEN

t’s Saturday night and a group of young men are huddled around the bar in one of West Hollywood’s nightclubs, checking out a menu that offers treats such as “Safer Sex on the Beach,” “Fuzzy in My Navel,” and “Blue Balls.” One of the bartenders asks: “Would you like a ‘Screw Me Driver’?” The men order and within seconds the bartender returns to the counter with their choices served in goblets. The club-goers reach for their “drinks,” stuff them conveniently in their back pockets, and make a beeline back to the dance floor. Welcome to the Condom Bar. Developed by the Center’s Color in Common (CIC), a social and empowerment group comprised primarily of young black and Latino gay/bisexual men, the Condom Bar is a portable “bar” with attention-getting graphics that’s creating a sensation in the nightclub scene and at LGBT events. At Long Beach Pride, for instance, the volunteer Condom Bar “bartenders” distributed more than 600 condoms in two days. “Placing condoms in a glass bowl on a countertop and hoping that club-goers will grab them is too passive of an outreach effort to make an impact,” explained CIC Program Coordinator Dale Madison. “The Condom Bar and our menu, with sexually provocative names for each type of free condom, attracts people to us, offering our bartenders the opportunity to engage patrons in conversations.” According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, gay and bisexual men represent approximately two percent of the U.S. population, yet gay and bisexual black men are the most affected. Alarmingly, they accounted for the highest number of HIV diagnoses in 2014 at 38 percent. The Condom Bar offers 10 varieties of

condoms, including ultra-sensitive, ribbed, latex and non-latex, and magnum-sized. Closeup images of the different condom wrappers are depicted in a six-foot-tall menu hoisted behind the makeshift bar. And in true bar lin-

Department to collaborate on a Condom Bar exhibit at the National HIV Prevention Conference. The health department provided the condoms; APLA sponsored one of two CIC youth members to attend the conference and serve as a bartender. And early this year the Center had been invited to showcase the Condom Bar to the attendees of 7th Annual Southern California Sexual Health Summit in downtown Los Angeles. Fortunately, the future of the Condom Bar is looking sweet. Another version of it has been designed to emulate a candy shop and a cookie store–with condom products creatively named after confections–in order to appeal to even younger people (middle and high school-aged students) who are at-risk of HIV and other STDs.

The Condom Bar has not only helped get our members to think about condoms in a different and sexy way, it’s provided an opportunity for them to engage their peers in discussions about condom use, consistent with the Center’s sex-positive approach to health. go, the condoms are labeled as the “specials.” The lubricants—water-based, silicone-based, and flavored—are called the “mixers.” Members of CIC serve as the bartenders. “STD infections are on the rise in our community and among young gay/bi men of color, so is the HIV infection rate,” says CIC Program Coordinator Cesar Tinoco. “The Condom Bar has not only helped get our members to think about condoms in a different and sexy way, it’s provided an opportunity for them to engage their peers in discussions about condom use, consistent with the Center’s sex-positive approach to health.” Club patrons aren’t the only ones who appreciate the Condom Bar. After a Condom Bar presentation last fall at a major national AIDS conference, AIDS Project L.A. (APLA) connected CIC with the New York City Health

Spring 2016

CENTER DIETARY COORDINATOR ARLITA MILLER’S SUPPORT FOR LGBT YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS STARTS IN ONE PLACE: THE KITCHEN.

Spring 2016

“E

verything happens in the kitchen,” Arlita Miller said. “Cooking is so important for creating a sense of family. We cook, sit down together, and have a meal. All the while, we’re talking and bonding. It brings a sense of closeness.” For 14 years, much of Miller’s time has been spent in the kitchen at the Center’s 24-bed Transitional Living Program (TLP), a one-of-a-kind transitional residence for LGBT youth who don’t have homes of their own and have been turned away by their families. Youth can stay for up to 18 months while they develop skills, resources, and experience to live independently. Miller helps TLP residents learn about food budgeting, proper nutrition, food handling and safety, and, of course, cooking. “Some clients come in and don’t know how to turn on the stove because nobody ever showed them how to do it,” said Miller. “I’ve learned how to meet them where they are, emotionally and mentally, at the time they come here. They are learning skills every day that many of us take for granted.” Miller is responsible for budgeting and preparing meals for youth living at TLP as well as for homeless young people who dropin at the Center’s Youth Center on Highland. Last year, more than 81,000 meals were provided there. While Miller is in charge of the cooking, the youth often help out. “Some youth are learning as they go, others love to cook already, so I just assist,” said Miller. “I always have a back up plan, just in case. But they really can do anything. They are so talented.” Miller’s job at the Center is a perfect fit. After working as a waitress and in the restaurant business for 20 years, she wanted to do something more meaningful that helped youth. She started at the Center as a youth advocate until one day when the Center’s cook was out sick. Miller filled in and eventually transitioned to dietary coordinator full time.

• A rlita Miller shares her culinary skills with Center Board Member and celebrity chef Susan Feniger and Scream Queens cast members Austin and Aaron Rhodes.

“Some people are born to do this kind of work. I know that’s why I’m here,” she said. “Now each day I think about when I leave and get into my car, I get to go home. And they don’t. I try to remember that and do what I can to help them build better lives.” Like in most kitchens, eating is the best part.

Cooking is so important for creating a sense of family. We cook, sit down together, and have a meal. All the while, we’re talking and bonding. It brings a sense of closeness. “I know it’s good when I don’t hear anything but the clicking of forks on the plate,” said Miller. “Because with food, it’s not about the seasoning. It’s not the flavor. It’s the love that goes into it. You can taste the love.” Miller works to fit in food options that expose youth to meals beyond what you might expect at a typical homeless shelter. “We do cultural cuisine nights where clients get to cook their favorite meals from different cultures. We’ve done Chinese and Spanish food. Jambalaya is a favorite. Whenever

I make that, there’s none left. I work hard to give them that special meal,” said Miller. It was a cultural cuisine night recipe that sparked Miller’s next project: a cookbook. Miller helped a client make fish soup. They took a photo of it and she asked him to write up his recipe. Isiah’s Amazing Fish Soup became the first cookbook entry. Now Miller has collected more than 100 recipes, each named for the client who helped create them. The cookbook includes photos and stories about the origins of the finished recipes. Vegan and vegetarian sections are also in the works. Clients will be able to take a copy of the cookbook with them as they start their new lives after their time in TLP. Another story Miller shared shows how youth leaving the Center take much more than a cookbook with them. One client was turning 18 during her time at the TLP and had never had a birthday celebration. The other residents wanted to bake her a cake. “They made her a cake of her favorite colors: pink and turquoise. And they wanted to do it all. I was just there to make sure it was safe,” said Miller. “It was her first birthday that anybody had ever celebrated with her. When she came in and saw the cake, her face said it all. That moment, that appreciation, reminds me what I’m doing here.”

Spring 2016

center notes

News and notes from the Center’s life-changing and life-saving programs and services YOUTH SERVICES

SPEAKING OUT FOR LGBT YOUTH Following his visit to the Youth Center on Highland, actor Eddie Redmayne (The Danish Girl) filmed a public service announcement asking for support of the Center’s services for LGBT youth. He emphasized a staggering statistic: nearly 40-percent of youth experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles identify as LGBT or questioning. During the tour, Redmayne spoke with 70 youth who are currently experiencing homelessness and joined them for a buffet breakfast, courtesy of Focus Features. Watch the PSA on the Center’s channel on YouTube!

CULTURAL ARTS

A HIT WITH THE CRITICS Ike Holter’s adaptation of the Stonewall Riots, Hit the Wall, which played at the Center’s Davidson/Valentini Theatre, received seven Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle nominations, including Best Production, Best Director, and Best Ensemble Performance. Produced by the Center and Sixth Avenue, the acclaimed musical is set inside New York City’s underground LGBT nightspot The Stonewall Inn. A routine police raid erupts into a full-scale riot, igniting the modern LGBT rights movement. Original music by Anna Waronker (of That Dog) and Charlotte Coffey (formerly of The GoGo’s) was nominated for Best Musical Score.

Spring 2016

HEALTH SERVICES

AIDS/LIFECYCLE

A MIGHTY WARRIOR AMONG US

HONORED IN THE FIGHT TO END HIV/AIDS

The City of West Hollywood honored the Center’s Sexual Health Program Manager Jeffrey Rodriguez with the Paul Starke Warrior Award in recognition of his contributions to the fight against HIV/AIDS and for providing assistance to those affected by the virus.

AIDS/LifeCycle was honored by Compete—the world’s first and only sports diversity magazine—with the Petey Award as 2015 Outstanding Community Organization for its fight against HIV/AIDS. Last year the nearly 3,000 AIDS/ LifeCycle participants who made the 545-mile journey from San Francisco to Los Angeles raised a record-breaking $16.6 million, benefiting San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the HIV/AIDS-related services of the Center.

Rodriguez manages the Center-WeHo, the 2,600-squarefoot facility in West Hollywood that provides free HIV testing, STD testing and treatment, HIV prevention medications PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis), vaccinations for hepatitis A/B and HPV, partner notification services, and condoms. For more information about Center-WeHo, visit lalgbtcenter.org/WeHo.

Follow this year’s ride, June 5-11, at aidslifecycle.org.

YOUTH SERVICES

‘X’ MARKS THE SPOT

In February more than 100 youth attended the Center’s inaugural MoPx conference at The Village at Ed Gould Plaza. Hosted by the Center’s LifeWorks youth development and mentoring program, MOPx was a trimmed-down version of the annual Models of Pride LGBTQ youth conference. Focused on the concerns and interests of LGBTQ youth and their allies under age 25, the theme of the free event was “Healthy Lives, Healthy Relationships, Healthy Selves.”

center voices

Analysis and insight from the Center’s staff on current issues and events facing our community

DAVE GARCIA

SHARON BROWN

Director of Policy and Community Building

Director of Human Resources

CHRISTOPHER BROWN

DR. WARD CARPENTER

Director of Health and Mental Health Services

Director of Primary Care

As part of our Center Voices video series celebrating Black History Month, Center Director of Human Resources Sharon Brown shared personal reflections on how black history informs the past, present, and future of the LGBT community.

In response to actor Charlie Sheen’s disclosure that he is HIV-positive, Brown advocated for the end of shaming people who have the virus, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

As a guest on KPFK’s The Out Agenda, Carpenter discussed the Center’s Transgender Health Program. In the interview, he spotlighted the Center’s informed consent model of hormone care which provides trans people with the information and support required to make their own decisions about their healthcare.

In response to professional boxer Manny Pacquiao’s comments in which he described LGBT couples as “worse than animals,” Garcia reprimanded the pugilist, as published in LA Weekly. Excerpt: “Manny Pacquiao’s comments are uneducated, abhorrent, and insulting not only to the LGBT community but also to humanity. It is outrageous to compare the love and attraction of samesex couples to animals. “Pacquiao’s religious reasoning for such ignorance reminds us all that in a fair and equal society we need both the freedom of—and the freedom from—religion. “While we appreciate Manny’s apology, only time will tell if he is capable of changing his homophobic views. In the meantime, we hope his many endorsement deals by multinational corporations be under intense scrutiny. His current homophobic views have no place on the world stage.”

Excerpt: “I identify as a woman who happens to be black, who happens to be born with male genitalia, who happens to be raised a boy to be a proud, black man. And I decided to change that and live it as I should. You have to continue to believe in yourself and that you will be able to achieve. There are others out there who’ve done it. You just have to continually seek out that right role model.”

Watch the full series at

vanguardnow.org

Excerpt: “To help reduce stigma, we need to talk about HIV and we need to get educated, but as a society, we don’t do that very much. Here at the Center, we continue to hear horror stories from HIV-positive clients who face rejection and shaming from people who learn their status. Much of the reaction and media reports before and after Sheen’s announcement reveal how much people still have to learn about HIV. “One of the most serious side effects of HIV stigma is that it deters people from wanting to learn their status, robbing them of the opportunity to get the treatment that’s so important to protecting their health and the health of their sexual partners. Alarmingly, one out of seven people who are HIV-positive today doesn’t know it.”

Excerpt: “Adults with decision making capacity can make decisions for themselves if they’re given the right information. That’s a relatively new model in trans care. We consider our job to help clients make decisions for themselves. So we talk about all the risks of hormones and other treatments and work with them to develop and fine tune their own plans for transitioning because we want them to flourish.”

Spring 2016

It’s a new era of sex. Whatever you’re into, caring for your sexual health is our top priority at the new Los Angeles LGBT Center-WeHo.

whatRUinto.org #whatRUinto

Center classes

Life Drawing Lounge Tuesdays, 7–9:30 p.m. Perfect for anyone who wants to master the art of drawing the human body. Beginners and experienced artists are welcome to join us for this fun, artistic weekly event focused on developing and honing your artistic abilities with different nude models each week. Paid minors must be accompanied by a paid adult. Tickets: $18 (available online and at the door) Tickets do not expire and may be used any time. Save more by purchasing multi-tickets. To purchase tickets, visit

learningcurvela.org/lifedrawinglounge

Become a member of the Center’s education and empowerment workshops, social events, and groups exclusively for the trans* community. How does Trans* Lounge work?

Some programs include:

• Sign-up online for free.

• • • • • •

• Review and rate our library of workshops, groups, labs, and events. • Your feedback determines our schedule. • RSVP first for the programs you rated highest.

All About Hormones Hair & Make-up Workshops Trans* Coming Out Labs HIV+Trans* Support Group Networking & Social Mixers Everything About Trans*-Related Surgeries • Dressing for Your Body Type

• Journaling and Biography Writing Labs • Photography Labs • Skin Care Workshops • Embracing Body Image • Knowing Your Rights and Understanding the Law • And many more…

Sign-up at

Spring 2016

mi centro Classes A series of free adult education, empowerment, and social programs are now offered at the Center’s Mi Centro in Boyle Heights, designed especially for Southern California’s Spanish-speaking LGBT community. Register for these Spanish and bilingual programs at lalgbtcenter.org/MiCentro.

Educación gratis para adultos, empoderamiento, y programas sociales diseñado para la comunidad LGBT son ofrecidos en nuestro Mi Centro que queda en Boyle Heights. Regístrate para estos programas en español y bilingües en la página lalgbtcenter.org/MiCentro.

BARRIO WRITERS Exploring Culture, Style, Imagination, and Art Explore the power of oral tradition, multilingual poetry, musical influence, unconventional writing techniques, barrio playwrights, and other artistic representations. Students will produce written pieces culminating with a writer’s showcase open to the public.

EMPOWER ME Finding Empowerment in the Latino Soul This fun, eye-opening workshop presents a mixture of confidencebuilding, goal-setting, and “brainhacking” principles that will help you reach your highest ambitions. Psychology, spirituality, metaphysics, and business practice techniques will all be shared.

ESCRITORES DEL BARRIO Explorando cultura, estilo, imaginación, y arte Explora el poder de la tradición oral, poesía plurilingüe, influencia musical, métodos de escribir poco convencional, escritura de obras de barrio, u otras representaciones artísticas. Culmina con una exposición pública de escritores.

Instructor: Dr. Giovanni Hortua Vargas

Instructor: Jay A. Cortez

6-Part Course Saturdays, April 16 – May 21 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

4-Class Sessions Mondays, April 25 – May 16 7 – 9 p.m. (Enrollment closes at noon on April 24)

(Enrollment closes at noon on April 15)

FORBIDDEN SALSA Beginning Salsa Dancing for Everyone No style of dance communicates love, passion, and heat like salsa. Learn the fundamentals, starting with solo footwork, moving into patterns with a partner. Master the art of how to lead and follow in this fun, energizing class. Instructor: Louie Angon 4-Class Sessions Saturdays, April 23 – May 14 6 – 7:30 p.m. (Enrollment closes at noon on April 22)

COMING OUT WORKSHOP en Español Accept and embrace your true sexual identity through this unique, groundbreaking coming out workshops. Led by amazing bilingual facilitators who are ready to help change your life. For more information, call 877-688-4543. ComingOutLA.org

ELLA Latin Women’s Empowerment Social Group A space for Latinas of all ages to unite and build community while sharing their truths, experiences, and unique and powerful views about the world. Beginning as a social networking and discussion group, participants will determine the group’s direction.

Instructor: Dr. Giovanni Hortua Vargas Curso de 6 sesiones Sábados, 16 de abril – 21 de mayo 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. (Inscripción cierra al mediodía el 15 de abril)

SALSA PROHIBIDA Salsa para principiantes y para todos Ningún estilo de baile comunica amor, passion, y calor como la salsa. Aprenda los fundamentos, empezando con pasos individuales, y después movimientos para parejas. Especialícese en el arte de dirigir y seguir en esta clase divertida y energética. Instructor: Louie Angón Curso de 4 sesiones Sábados, 23 de abril – 14 de mayo 6 – 7:30 p.m. (Inscripción cierra al mediodía el 22 de abril)

REGÍSTRATE AHORA!

•A LL PROGRAMS REQUIRE PRE-REGISTRATION

lalgbtcenter.org/MiCentro

Spring 2016

APODERAME Encontrando apoderamiento en el alma Latina Este divertido, revelador taller presenta una mezcla de construyendo confianza, estableciendo metas, y principios de “hackear cerebro” que te ayudaría llegar a tus ambiciones mas altas usando sicología, espiritualidad, la metafísica, y métodos de negocio. Instructor: Jay A. Cortez Curso de 4 sesiones Lunes, 25 de abril – 16 de mayo 7 – 9 p.m. (Inscripción cierra al mediodía el 24 de abril)

TALLER de SALIENDO DEL CLOSET EN ESPAÑOL Acepte su identidad sexual verdadera atravez de este taller único con facilitadores bilingües quien te ayudarán a cambiar tu vida. Para mas información, llame 877-688-4543. ComingOutLA.org

ELLA Grupo social de apoderamiento de mujeres latinas Un espacio para latinas de todas edades para unir y construir comunidad mientras compartiendo sus verdades, experiencias, y puntos de vistas globales y únicos. Participantes determinan la dirección de discurso del grupo social.

•T ODAS LAS PROGRAMAS SE REQUIEREN PRE-REGISTRO.

lalgbtcenter.org/MiCentro

Peer-Led Groups

v AA Happy Hour Tues.–Fri., 6:15–7:15 p.m. Canceled March 31

v Village Readers An LGBT reading and discussion group Every 1st Wed., 7:30–9 p.m.

v Al-Anon Gay Focus Thurs., 7–8 p.m. Canceled March 31 v Alcoholics Anonymous It’s Come to This Mon., 6:15–7:15 p.m. Canceled May 30

Crystal Meth Anonymous Sat., 9:10–10:10 a.m. v

v Gay & Lesbian CODA Tues., 8–9 p.m.

30+ Lesbian Chat Meet women outside of the bars Every 1st & 3rd Fri., 7:30–9 p.m.

HIV+Trans* Empathy and community for trans* individuals with HIV/AIDS. Trans* Lounge free membership required. More info at TransLounge.org

v Bears L.A. 3rd Wed., 7–10 p.m.

NA: Heartbeat of Recovery Mon., 7–8 p.m. Canceled May 30 v

v Generation Y Tues., 6–8 p.m. Meet other young men (16-24) to talk about dating, relationships, and living with HIV. Call 323-860-7321

v OA Thurs., 7–8 p.m. Canceled March 31

L.A. Leather Coalition 1st Thurs., 7–9 p.m. v

v One Page at a Time Thurs., 8:10–9:10 p.m. Canceled March 31

Let’s Talk About Health Every Thurs., 6–8 p.m. Canceled March 31 If you’re living with HIV, learn how to maintain the highest quality of life. Call 323-860-7321 v

v Sex & Love Addicts Anonymous Thurs., 6:30–7:30 p.m. Canceled March 31

Sexual Compulsives Anonymous Mon., Wed., 8–9 p.m. Sat., Noon–1:15 p.m. Canceled May 30 v

Positive Images HIV+ Men’s Forum m Every Mon., 1–3 p.m. v Every Wed., 7–9 p.m. v Every Thurs., 6–8 p.m. Canceled March 31 & May 30 Call 323-860-7321 to RSVP

v UA: Artist in Prosperity Tues., 7–8 p.m. v Women’s AA Wed., 8–9 p.m.

v Gay Men’s Prostate Cancer Support Group Every 1st & 3rd Tues., 7–9 p.m. Sponsored by Cancer Support Community Benjamin Center. Call 310-314-2555 or visit CancerSupportCommunityBenjaminCenter.org

Coming Out Coming Out Workshops for Women Coming Out Workshops for Men Safe, nurturing workshops for anyone who is facing their own coming out process. Call 877-OUT-4-LIFE for recorded information and instructions for enrollment. More information at ComingOutLA.org.

v Rated M Last Tues., 6 p.m. Meet other young guys (18-24) to talk about dating, relationships, and healthy, erotic sex. To RSVP or for more information, contact 323860-7353 or colorincommon@lalgbtcenter.org

Trans* Coming Out Labs Whether you need to embrace your true gender identity or share it with loved ones, these labs can help. Trans* Lounge free membership required. More info at TransLounge.org

The Village

1125 N. McCadden Place

McDonald/Wright 1625 N. Schrader Blvd.

v Bi-osphere* Explore and discuss the many shades of today’s diverse bisexual community Every 2nd & 4th Mon., 8–9:30 p.m. v HERstories* A gathering place for all LGBT women who want strong community and great conversation Every Mon., 8–9:30 p.m. Canceled May 30

Community Groups

v Marijuana Anonymous Wed., 8:15–9:15 p.m.

Social Networking Groups

April 6: Chelsea Girls by Eileen Myles May 4: The Days of Anna Madrigal by Armistead Maupin June 1: My Brother My Sister: Story of a Transformation by Molly Haskell July 6: I Am Not Myself These Days by Josh Kilmer-Purcell v

v Debtors Anonymous Tues., 8–9 p.m.

Group Meetings

12-Step Groups

v Men’s Speakeasy* Great conversation for gay and bisexual men Every Tues., 8–9:30 p.m. v Transgender Perceptions* Conversation & community-building for transgender people Every Fri., 8–9:30 p.m. Canceled June 17

Senior Groups For more information about Senior Services classes, please call 323-860-7322 or visit facebook.com/50pluslgbt. To RSVP, email seniors@lalgbtcenter.org or call 323-860-5830 v Art Lab Call 323-860-5830 for date and time v Chair Yoga with Master Lakshmi Call 323-860-5830 for date and time v HIV+ 50+ Men’s Drop-In Support Group Thurs., 1–3 p.m. Canceled March 31 v Larry’s Computer Club Wed., 1:30–3:30 p.m. v Lunch for Everyone Call 323-860-5830 for date and time v Men’s Drop-In Support Group Wed., 10 a.m.–Noon v Movies for Everyone Call 323-860-5830 for date and time v Stretch & Balance with Bobby Wed., 11 a.m.

Highland

1220 N. Highland Ave.

Empty= Offsite

Valley Social and Networking Group Thurs., 12:30–2 p.m. Canceled March 31 Metropolitan Community Church 5730 Cahuenga Blvd., North Hollywood Call 323-860-5830

*Groups may not welcome late arrivals.

Spring 2016

Photo Finish

Volunteer Appreciation (1) The Center’s volunteers and interns received special recognition for their hard work and dedication, including (2, right) Stephanie Blanco, with Center Youth Education Coordinator Carlton Rucker. For more info on how to become a volunteer, visit lalgbtcenter.org/volunteer.

Femme Fatale At the 4th annual Femme Fatale, (3, left) emcee Freeda Slave helped honor (3, right) Tangerine actress Mya Taylor for her involvement with the Center’s social and empowerment group Color in Common (CIC), while (4) some of SoCal’s talented drag queens and gender illusionists battled it out onstage. For more information about CIC, visit lalgbtcenter.org/color_in_common.

A Pair of Fond Farewells The Center said goodbye to two of our longtime staff members. (6, left) Center supporter Lily Tomlin helped us celebrate (6, right) Chief Administrative Officer Kathy Ketchum, who retired in January after 21 years at the Center. (7, right) Director of Facilities Hilary Hanft pictured with Director of Nursing Byron Patel, retired in March after 20 years. During their tenures, both women served as part of the Center’s management team and helped us become the world’s largest LGBT organization.

Gavin MacIntosh Visits the Center (5) The Fosters cast member stopped by the Youth Center on Highland to donate clothing and money benefiting youth programs and services. Learn how you can help at lalgbtcenter.org/donate. 30

Spring 2016

Photo Finish

Trans Day of Remembrance (8) Hundreds of guests at the West Hollywood Library honored the lives lost to anti-transgender violence last year. It included performances by (9) Transparent star Alexandra Billings and the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles; (10, l-r) remarks from West Hollywood Mayor Pro Tempore Lauren Meister and West Hollywood Mayor Lindsey P. Horvath; and (11-12) a rally/ march along Santa Monica Boulevard.

Changing Hearts and Minds (13) Volunteers joined the Center’s Leadership LAB in Inglewood as part of a new voter canvassing initiative to reduce prejudice and bias against the transgender community.

Emerging Leaders Program Participants in the Center’s Emerging Leaders Program, including (14, l-r) Ryan Law, Eros Lee, Beibei Ye, Echo Zhang, and AJ Song, focused on fundraising skills during their time at the Center this spring. Pictured with Center Board Member Kin W. Cheng (fourth from left) and Center sponsor American Airlines’ Donna M. Estacio (third from right).

Ambassador-at-Large Deborah L. Birx, M.D. (17, right) Birx, who serves as the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and U.S. Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy, visited Center CEO Lorri L. Jean to discuss strategies in the global fight against HIV/AIDS.

Twenty Years of Perpetual Indulgence

(15) Members of the Los Angeles Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence blessed the opening of the art exhibit at the Center’s Advocate & Gochis Galleries, celebrating the drag creativity and history of drag in Los Angeles and West Hollywood, with (16, far left) Zachery Scott and Bill Brown (16, far right).

Spring 2016

Photo Finish

3rd Annual AIDS/LifeCycle Expo

(18) Coney, the official safety mascot of AIDS/LifeCycle, made a special appearance to support the ride’s annual expo as (19-22) some of this year’s participants learned everything they need to know about cycling, fundraising, and making a difference in the fight against HIV/ AIDS. (23) One lucky participant won a free bicycle in a raffle drawing! For more information about AIDS/LifeCycle—the world’s largest annual AIDS fundraiser—visit aidslifecycle.org.

Threads of Change (24) Held at Flaming Saddles in West Hollywood, the annual donation party, sponsored by the Center’s Young Professionals Council, asked guests, among them (25, l-r) Laurie Wolff and Jaclynne Gentry, to donate a bag of gently used clothes for the Center’s clothes closet for homeless youth and/or a bag of canned, non-perishable food items for the Center’s Senior Services clients.

Commissioner Rafael J. Lopez

Spring 2016

(26, far right) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Rafael J. Lopez spoke with staff members of the Center’s federally funded RISE initiative, including Youth Specialist Cat Jones (26, far left) and Clinical Director Lisa Phillips (26, middle). RISE focuses on helping the disproportionate percentage of LGBT youth in the foster system.

Photo Finish

Simply diVine Kickoff Party Held at PUMP Restaurant, guests reveled in the excitement leading up to the Center’s annual wine and tasting event, among them (27, l-r) American Airlines’ Nashir Hirjee, FOX Searchlight Films’ Loren Schneider, and Center Board Member and Simply diVine co-host Susan Feniger; (28, l-r) Tommy Johnson, Jay Ward, and Joe Lorenzo; (29, l-r) Pat Branch, Amanda Cunningham, and Erika Willhite; (30, l-r) Michelle Nguyen and Ray Roth; (31, l-r) Jared Jamin, Simply diVine co-host Laurie Deddens, and Carlo Capomazza. Simply diVine will be held on April 9. Buy your tickets at simplydivinela.org before it sells out!

(far left) An unidentified— yet eager—volunteer raises funds in the Center’s early days during the Pride Festival.

(right) A community gathering at the Center, then known as the Gay Community Services Center and located on Highland Avenue, for International Gay Solidarity Day in 1975.

Images courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives Spring 2016

why i give

Why I Give

Harvey Levin T

he reason I give to the Los Angeles LGBT Center is very personal and relates to a story that resonates with me today as much as it did many decades ago. When I was a teenager, I found myself in a profound internal struggle—what I perceived as a mandate to live a “straight” life, despite contrary feelings that were welling to the surface. I thought I did a pretty good job sublimating those feelings, but someone close to me had a good sense of what was really going on. That person went on with what felt like a homophobic campaign, denigrating LGBT people with epithets and snide comments— without ever confronting me directly. That was my first encounter with anyone who suspected I was gay, and it scarred me for many, many years. I tried harder than ever to lead a “straight” life. When I finally began to experiment, I felt such shame. If I went to a gay bar, I would wait—sometimes for half an hour—just to make sure cars weren’t passing by the front

Spring 2016

door for fear a driver might see me enter. When I met someone, I would often use an alias so I could easily cut ties. It actually makes no sense, but that’s what I did. Short story, I was a mess. This all happened soon after the Center opened. I never used its services, because I was afraid to be seen, but I knew people who did, and I was amazed at how the Center’s health and men-

The Center has been the mortar in the LGBT community, often quietly providing a lifeline for people with great value, but who have no support.

tal health counselors compassionately handled people with experiences similar to—or much worse than—mine. We’ve come a long way since then. However, tolerance is measured not by national polls but by individual families, many of which have little tolerance for those whose sexual orientation or gender identity differ from theirs. The Center has been a place of comfort for so many kids and adults who have been rejected or fear rejection by their families. The Center has been the mortar in the LGBT community, often quietly providing a lifeline for people with great value, but who have no support. During the 1980s the Center provided care and comfort to our community as AIDS ravaged thousands. The people who provided these services truly are angels, and the Center deserves profound respect and support in our community. And that is why I give. Levin is creator and executive producer of TMZ

Join us for a life-changing day of information and education, community and connection. Featuring interactive workshops, panel discussions, guest speakers, and a community wellness fair.

with special guest

Tig Notaro

Saturday, April 16 10 a.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 5 p.m. Los Angeles LGBT Center The Village at Ed Gould Plaza

Free event. RSVP and up-to-date information at lalgbtcenter.org/360

Sponsors:

McDonald/Wright Building 1625 N. Schrader Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028

SATURDAY, APRIL 9 CLUB VIP 5–6:30 P.M. | GENERAL 6–9 P.M.

11TH ANNUAL

LOS ANGELES LGBT CENTER THE VILLAGE AT ED GOULD PLAZA AND McCADDEN PLACE

FOR TICKETS AND INFORMATION VISIT:

SIMPLYDIVINELA.ORG IN-KIND PARTNERS CHIPOTLE • FRONTIERS MEDIA • JENN-AIR • LA PRIDE! LOS ANGELES MAGAZINE • STOLI • YELP