THE FIGHT LGBT MAGAZINE JANUARY 2012

ISSUE 012 JAN 2012 THEFIGHTMAG.COM

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO

MICHAEL LUCAS ROSIE FIGHTS BACK O’DONNELL ON LETTERMAN

SEED MONEY THE CHUCK HOLMES SAGA

THE LONG ROAD HOME OVERCOMING ADDICTION

MY (POSSIBLY) GAY SON A MOTHER’S STORY

PROP 8 UPDATE THE YEAR AHEAD

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THE

CONTENTS

COVER STORIES AND FEATURES 18

ROSIE FIGHT’S BACK

20

MY (POSSIBLY) GAY 6-YEAR-OLD SON

22

O’Donnell Responds to David Letterman

A Mother’s Story

THE NAKED TRUTH Michael Lucas on LGBT charities, Israel & More

26

FINDING YOUR WAY HOME Gay-Owned La Residenza Villa

30

DECONSTRUCTING RICK SANTORUM

32

BEAUTIFUL LOSERS

34

A Napkin Is Not An Argument

THEFIGHT

ISSUE 012 JAN 2012 THEFIGHTMAG.COM

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO

PROP 8 UPDATE

MICHAEL LUCAS

THE YEAR AHEAD

ROSIE FIGHTS BACK O’DONNELL ON LETTERMAN

SEED MONEY THE CHUCK HOLMES SAGA

Gay Men & The “Ideal Body”

THE LONG ROAD HOME OVERCOMING ADDICTION

MY (POSSIBLY) GAY SON A MOTHER’S STORY

SEED MONEY The Chuck Holme’s Saga

the columns 8 10 12 14 16 28 36 37 38

ON OUR COVER Photography LUCAS ENTERTAINMENT

THE LETTER FROM THE EDITOR THE LETTERS THE ROSTOW REPORT Get Ready To Rumble On DOMA THE STATE LGBT History In Schools THE LAW Prop 8 Update THE FAMILY Surrogacy Programs THE CALENDAR Events, Groups, Resources RAINBOW WARRIOR Dave Davenport THE FINAL FIGHT Accepting Injustice 6

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Editor-in-Chief STANFORD ALTAMIRANO Managing Editor MARK ARIEL Creative Direction POPTHEPIXEL.COM Marketing Consultants LISA RADAMAKER NATHAN LOONEY LARRY WOOD LORA MAE JASLOW Contributing Writers ANN ROSTOW F.E. CORNEJO NATHAN NEUMAN, M.D. BRODIE HUBBARD FOSTER ZINNIA JONES

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THE

EDITOR

Action precedes motivation, not the other way around.

I

f you have started to notice that some of your new year’s resolutions are beginning to slip away - don’t throw in the towel just yet. According to health experts focusing on realistic goals with measurable results is the way to get back on track.

Breaking things down into small manageable steps is the best solution.

For example, instead of trying to lose 50 pounds focus on losing five pounds at a time. And instead of trying to lose five pounds a week, focus on losing a pound a week.

Create bite-sized jobs for yourself that you’ll be able to accomplish, health professionals emphasize. If your goal is too big, you’ll feel defeated before you even get started.

According to HINDA DUBIN, M.D., a psychiatrist at the University of Maryland Medical Center, the key to achieving even your most lofty goals is to get started immediately.

“Action precedes motivation, not the other way around,” said Dubin.

“People often think that they should wait until they are motivated to start doing something good for themselves.

They’ll say, ‘I’ll start that diet or fitness program when I’m really well

THEFIGHT

8

rested and have a lot of energy’. But it doesn’t work that way.”

“Once you initiate an action -- the smallest of actions -- you pick up momentum and you’ll realize ‘hey, this isn’t so bad’ and it will be a lot easier to keep moving forward, and to stay motivated.”

STANFORD ALTOMIRANO Editor-In-Chief

If you would like to offer The Fight at your location, please call 323-297-4001 PUBLISHER Third Step, Inc. DISTRIBUTION Pride in Media The Fight Magazine is published monthly by Third Step, Inc. 611 South Catalina Street, Suite 307 Los Angeles, CA 90005 Telephone 323-297-4001 Fax 213-281-9648 Email info@thefightmag.com

THE FIGHT MAGAZINE LEGAL CAVEATS By listing in The Fight Magazine, advertisers acknowledge that they do business in the spirit of cooperation, fairness and service, maintaining a high level of integrity and responsibility. Providers of products or services are fully and soley responsible for providing same as advertised. The Fight Magazine assumes no liability for improper or negligent business practices by advertisers.

Advertisers and their agencies assume responsibility and liability for the content of their advertisements in The Fight Magazine Publisher assumes no liability for safe-keeping or return of unsolicited art, manuscripts or other materials. The Fight Magazine reserves the right to edit all material for clarity, length and content. All contents ©2011 Third Step, Inc., all rights reserved. Content may be reproduced with permission.

The Fight Magazine assumes no liability for any claims or representations contained anywhere in this magazine, and reserves the right to cancel or refuse advertising at publisher’s discretion. www.thefightmag.com

THE

LETTERS LOVING

2011 ISSUE 011 DEC AG.COM THEFIGHTM

Jeremiah

JEREMIAH

Dear Editor, As embarrassing as it is G to admit this I have a total ICS OF OUy TIN nt orta THE ETH Imp Is k’s Sexualit Why Tim Coo crush on Jeremiah Brent ENCE Angeles G THE SIL BREAKIN in Los estic Violence Same Sex Dom and completely went all URSELF!ywood BYE, BYE, DEFENDrYO schoolgirl crazy when I Murder in Holl Transgende Defense Tips BARNEYn Krav Maga Self saw him on your cover ps Dow Barney Frank Ste (“Jeremiah, By Design,” THE FIGHT, Issue 011). Not only is he one handsome guy - he’s also smart, thoughtful and committed to the community. Truly an awesome guy. THE FIGHT should give him an ongoing column in the magazine about design... I think it would be a great addition to your already cool publication.

BY DESIGN

Br nt miah Bre Zoe’s JJeremi R hel Z Rac r Passion On Finding You

+

Dave Florence, via the internet

THE OTHERS Dear Editor, I just stumbled across your magazine and wanted to let you know that it is really refreshing to read something, well, worth reading, in gay media. My partner and I are raising two boys (his, from a previous marriage) and we rarely get to read articles about gay parenting in the free press. Richard Vaughn’s story (“Father, In Law,” THE FIGHT, Issue 010) was great - it’s good to see the “others” in the LGBTQ community as well.

HAVE DEMONS

Seth Blanco, San Diego, CA

Dear Editor, r I read the interview with Jeremy Manning (“Manning Up,” THE FIGHT, Issue 009). I wanted to say that I admire him for being so open about his past addiction problems. We all have demons we deal with on a daily basis, but few of us chose to face them like that. I have a few friends who are recovering too, and one of my exes from years ago (and now a great friend), went very deep into it as well, and it almost cost him everything. Thanks for putting a focus on this subject.

SALUTE DENNIS

Name Withheld, via the internet

Dear Editor, r Thank you for your feature on prostate cancer (“Group Support,” THE FIGHT, Issue 011). I salute Dennis Bogorad for creating the support group for gay men. I have passed on the magazine to a friend who was recently diagnosed and I think he will be contacting Dennis soon, if he hasn’t already. Thank you again.

Name Withheld, via the internet Send a letter to the editor by emailing: editor@thefightmag.com or faxing: (213) 281-9648. Letters may be shortened for space requirements.

THEFIGHT

10

THE

ROSTOW REPORT LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE ON DOMA

Good news everyone. We’ve finally seen some action in one of our many federal challenges to the Defense of Marriage Act. Last month attorneys went to court in San Francisco to conduct a two-hour argument before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White in the case of federal lawyer Karen Golinski. Golinski has long been trying to win spousal benefits for the woman she married during California’s window of opportunity back in 2008. Now, success may finally be at hand.

Lambda Legal represents Golinski. But she also has another powerful ally in the Obama Justice Department. (You recall that Obama switched over to our side in the fight against DOMA last February.

Thanks Barry!) Representing the U.S. government in Judge White’s courtroom last month was none other than Ass istant Attorney General TONY WEST, head of the Justice Department’s civil division and one of the administration’s biggest legal guns. It’s not quite as dramatic as seeing Eric Holder approach the bench, but it’s close.

As for the opposition, the House of Representatives has stepped into the void to defend the indefensible DOMA, and hired former solicitor general and renowned appellate lawyer Paul Clement to champion the antigay marriage law. But Clement sent an associate to Judge White’s courtroom, and in fact, you have to wonder how much time he’ll be spending on these loser DOMA cases considering Clement is also the lead attorney fighting Obama’s health care law before the U.S. Supreme Court.

COLLIDE WITH ME In totally unrelated news, did you read that the boffins in Geneva have gotten a “glimpse” of the Higgs Boson? Yay! No, I don’t know what it is either. But I know enough to want them to find it. I gather they’ve found some evidence that might point to the decay of one of these sub-sub-atomic “God particles,” so that’s something.

At any rate, even though this is a GLBT news column, I think the discovery of universal truths should take precedence over our own petty political concerns, don’t you? Also, while I was reading about the Higgs Boson, I noticed a link to a story about some people from Saginaw, Michigan, who tried to check 150 pounds of marijuana in their airport luggage.

Say what? Of course I’ve never personally flown with contraband. But perhaps part of the reason for that is the fact that I don’t think carrying drugs through federal security screening systems is a particularly smart idea. I do have a few crafty acquaintances who have come up with smuggling schemes. But packing large amounts of cannabis under a couple of sweaters in a checked suitcase does not rise to the definition of “scheme.”

THEFIGHT

12

LESBIAN SURVIVORS GET SPOUSAL TREATMENT IN INDIANA Do you remember the tragic collapse of reviewing stands at an Indiana concert last August? Two lesbians were killed in that accident, and their partners were both recognized by the state in a settlement deal announced late December. It’s noteworthy that the Hoosier powers that be decided to treat the women as spouses even though a 2004 Indiana statute says that only a marriage between a man and a women can be recognized.

Thus far, Indiana is one of the few reddish states to avoid passing a constitutional amendment against marriage, but still. The decision to include these partners as survivors without a court fight is significant. One of the couples had an Illinois civil union. The other had a Hawaii domestic partnership. Both survivors will receive the same amount as the heterosexual spouses, $300,000.

ABBY’S GOT SOMETHING So, I just read that Abby of NCIS, or PAULEY PERRETTE if you insist, says she won’t marry her finance, Thomas Arkle, until Prop 8 is struck down. Thank you, Abby! We owe you a CafPow. And here’s an exciting tidbit featuring a conservative Christian politician who once ran unsuccessfully for governor of Alabama in 2009.

Bill Johnson has reportedly spent most of this year helping with earthquake recovery in New Zealand as an employee of an American disaster relief company while his wife Kathy remained in the U.S. In his spare time, Johnson has also been donating sperm to various lesbians through online registries, where he goes by the name of “chchbill.” According to a lengthy article by David Fisher, Johnson has offered to lend a hand to nine women, and impregnated three. Until his activities became public, wife Kathy was not aware of his efforts, let alone his pending fatherhood Somehow, Johnson drew the attention of local authorities, who have pesky rules and regulations for sperm donations and other fertility matters. Among other things, a donor has a limit of four contacts.

Johnson said he hoped the pregnant women would allow him to have a parental role in the children’s lives, a dubious fantasy unless these women are headed for the reality show circuit. It’s not clear whether any of the pregnant lesbians know, or knew, about the others. Nor is there any reason to think the couples were prepared to deal with half brothers or half sisters for their new children, let alone an egomaniac conservative father figure.

Good luck with that, ladies!

THUMBS DOWN FOR GEORGIA COUNSELING STUDENT You may remember the Christian gal who was getting her counseling degree from Augusta State University in Georgia.

Jennifer Keeton made it clear that if faced with a gay client, she’d recommend reparative therapy. Keeton insisted that sexual orientation was a deliberate decision that could, and should, be reversed.

The school ordered Keeton to take a remediation course designed to help her comply with professional standards that forbid licensed counselors from bringing their own sick faith-based perversions into the therapy room. When Keeton refused, she was dropped from the program and she then sued the school on religious freedom grounds.

Last month, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit ruled in favor of Augusta State, noting that that school has every right to hold students to general standards of professional behavior. And here’s the interesting thing.

One of the three judges was William Pryor, who wrote a concurring opinion.

Well, it’s interesting to me! William Pryor is the conservative former Alabama Attorney General who we all hated back in the day when he was nominated to the bench by George W. Bush. We were convinced Pryor was the most dangerous judicial nominee to pop out of the Bushes, and yet a month ago he joined a unanimous opinion in favor of a transwoman who was fired from her state job. Now, here he is, once again on the side of the angels.

NIXON AND REBOZO SITTING IN A TREE A new book suggests that the RICHARD NIXON had a thing goin’ on with none other than mobster banker Bebe Rebozo. According to “Nixon’s Darkest Secrets; The inside story of America’s most troubled president,” Dick had a platonic relationship with wife Pat and was even given kissing lessons by aides in order to convincingly display spousal affection in public. Meanwhile, author Don Folsum says a Time magazine reporter picked up a fork at a Washington dinner and caught Nixon and Rebozo holding hands under the table. Suspicions were also aroused by the two men’s numerous Florida vacations, Rebozo’s White House bedroom, as well as another incident when Nixon put his arm around Bebe in a manner that one journalist called “fishy.”

So there you have it. And I must say a less attractive pair of lovebirds can hardly be conceived. Folsum also reports that Nixon was an alcoholic and a wife beater. The book won’t be released until late January, but personally I feel as if I’ve already discovered all I want to know about the man.

ANN ROSTOW writes news analysis columns for THE FIGHT and other gay publications across the country. Rostow can be reached at: arostow@aol.com

THEFIGHT

13

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A man caring for his same-sex partner in San Francisco will not face the threat of deportation for at least the next two years.

The Department of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services told Anthony John Makk that it was deferring action on his deportation case for two years. The deferral is renewable after that.

The 49-year-old Makk is a citizen of Australia. He is the primary caregiver for his partner, 56-year-old Bradford Wells, who suffers from severe AIDS-related illnesses. Wells is a U.S. citizen, and he and Makk are married. But federal law prevents Makk from being considered for a green card. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi had intervened in their case with the help of Sen. Dianne Feinstein and state Sen. Mark Leno.

MEN ATTACKED FOR BEING PRESUMED GAY Police say two men leaving a downtown Santa Barbara bar were beaten by three men with shaved heads who apparently thought the victims were gay.Sgt. Lorenzo Duarte says one of the attackers made an anti-gay comment before the trio attacked the men on Jan. 4.There’s video of the attack, which is being handled as a hate crime.

One victim suffered a broken jaw and head wound requiring staples to close. The other man had minor injuries. Duarte told the Santa Barbara News-Press that investigators are asking for public help in finding the suspects, who are white male adults in their 20s with shaved heads.

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THE

LAW

8 PROP UPDATE

It looks as if the Ninth Circuit is making up for lost time and perhaps has already drafted most of its main opinion.

T

he breathless countdown for the next Prop 8 ruling will begin in earnest with the new year. Last month the Prop 8 panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit heard arguments on a couple of side motions that won’t have any impact on the main case. Still, with nothing else to talk about, gay commentators rehashed the proceedings like high school girls at prom time. Hey, I’m not criticizing. I did the same.

Motion one was the battle over the video of the Prop 8 trial. Our side wants the video made public. Their side wants to bury the unflattering tapes for all of time.

The lower court gave us the green light, but as usual, that ruling was shelved while the Ninth Circuit considered the matter.

Motion two was the absurd notion that Judge Vaughn Walker should have recused himself from presiding over the Prop 8 trial in district court because he himself is gay and might have been biased. Puleeze.

As you may have read elsewhere by now, the trio of judges at the Ninth Circuit seemed inclined to release the videos, and did not appear to be impressed with the arguments against Judge Walker. Indeed, no one has taken this idea seriously, and

THEFIGHT

16

BY ANN ROSTOW

it doesn’t sound as if the Ninth Circuit panel will be an exception to the rule.

By this logic, no woman could rule on a gender-based claim and no minority judge could handle a race-based suit.

Hell, why should a straight judge be allowed to rule on a gay issue, since he or she might be “biased” in favor of the anti-gay cause? In other words, this motion is nonsensical.

The best thing about these Prop 8 hearings was the timing. They were briefed and argued on a very fast schedule, indicating to most observers that the Ninth Circuit intends to rule quickly on the main question-whether or not Prop 8 is constitutional under federal law. After nearly a year’s delay over the procedural question of standing, it’s a relief that the court will not devote additional time to more arguments or more briefs or, God help us, take up another side issue.

Instead, it looks as if the Ninth Circuit is making up for lost time and perhaps has already drafted most of its main opinion. I mean, why not? Surely they didn’t sit around on their hands for all these months, knowing full well that they would very likely have to rule on the merits of California’s marriage ban.

Assuming that some, if not most, of the work has been done, we could expect a

decision basically at any time. After that, the fun begins!

I’m guessing the Ninth Circuit will grant standing to the proponents of Prop 8 to continue their appeal. I’m hoping they uphold our lower court victory, but even so, they are unfortunately likely to keep in place the stay that continues to block California marriage during the litigation.

Once a ruling is announced, maybe this month or next, we’ll see whether the other side appeals to the full Ninth Circuit, or directly to the Supreme Court.

If I were in their shoes, I’d want to skip the full Ninth Circuit and proceed to the High Court. Considering the nation’s growing approval of marriage equality, I’d be worried that further delay would favor same-sex couples. Then again, if I thought Republicans would win the 2012 election, I might try to stall and hope for another rightward shift on the High Court.

Keep in mind as well that neither the full Ninth Circuit nor the Supreme Court is required to accept review of this case. I know everyone assumes Prop 8 is too important to reject. But there may be strategic reasons for either court to step aside. If both courts deny review, the three-judge Ninth Circuit panel’s opinion would be final.

8

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ROSIE FIGHTS BACK ROSIE O’DONNELL, BACK WITH HER NEW TALK SHOW ON OWN, EXPLAINS WHY DAVID LETTERMAN’S “DYKE JOKES” ARE HURTFUL AND WHY, INITIALLY, SHE DIDN’T TALK ABOUT HER UPCOMING WEDDING ON THE AIR PHOTO BY ROBERT TRACHTENBERG AND COURTESY OF OWN: OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK

n an interview with Michelangelo Signorile last month on Huffington Post’s “Gay Voices” Rosie O’Donnell talked about, among other issues, getting engaged, turning 50 and her problem with David Letterman. O’Donnell tackled the above mentioned topics in her answer to Signorile’s question about a joke Letterman made at her expense. Here are a few excerpts from the interview.

“The whole story [is about] getting engaged and being almost 50. We did a show that will be airing in January. There was a mother in the audience. During the break she raised her hand and said, ‘You know, I have a son,’ and she started to cry.

‘He’s ten years old and he loves costume design and his favorite show is RuPaul’s Drag Race and he is really good at it and he makes stuff and he has a sewing machine and he’s constantly teased at school and I’m afraid. What can I do for him?’ I said, ‘You tell him you love him, you tell him he’s a great guy.’ I gave her my email, so she wrote me and I said, ‘Ask him if he wants to come to the show and we’ll bring RuPaul here and we’ll surprise him. And we’ll just talk to him about how it was for us when we were little.’”

I THEFIGHT

18

WITHOUT FEAR OR SHAME “So Ru came and the kid was delightful and he was totally happy. And at the break, Ru and I were talking and he said to me, ‘Did you imagine that when we were our age, in our 50s, that we would be able to marry the person we love, to walk down the street holding hands?’ And I said, ‘Without fear or shame.’ And he said, ‘I hear you have a new relationship.’ I said ‘Yes, by the time this airs we’ll be married.’ I explained it feels pretty amazing to be engaged. When I shared it with the audience in a break, somebody tweeted it, and then it was over in 15 minutes. But what I didn’t expect was the response from strangers. Every person came up to me -- 85 year olds to 8 year olds -- said, ‘Congratulations on being engaged. I’m so happy for you.’ I was stunned. I was kind of overwhelmed by it. I had never had that kind of courage before.

And even when we were first engaged [months ago] Michelle said, ‘Why aren’t you talking ab out it on the show?’ And I said, ‘I don’t know how.’ I didn’t know how to bring it up. My whole career, I did my personal life as not part of my act. I did it as a mommy, but never as a grown woman with a sexual identity as prominent and presented. I didn’t know how to bring it up. So in a way it was a gift to me to say it in a commercial break, with this boy and RuPaul. It was a gift that kind of pushed me into the pool. Now I know how to talk about it. Now [when people look at me] I know that people think of me as a sexual woman in love with another woman. And that’s okay. It took me 49 years to get here.”

HOMOPHOBIC UNDERTONES “So here I was getting nothing but support and love from the general public and then I go into work and the writers said, ‘Did you see the Letterman thing?’ They played the clip for me and I was kind of shocked.

Now, do I think David Letterman is a homophobic guy? No. Do I think those jokes had homophobic undertones? Yes, I do.

Because that is just a way to mask the word ‘dyke.’

‘Rosie pulled up with a tow truck’ and ‘She’s also now the defensive coach of the Brooklyn Sabers,’ a hockey team I guess.

What are those jokes about? Rosie’s a dyke. Rosie’s a dyke. Now, did I think Dave would ever say, ‘Rosie’s a dyke?’ No. But that is that what that joke is about, yes, it is.

When I got the crazy haircut [back in 2002] and was in the news with all the ‘Rosie’s insanity,’ ‘She’s having a breakdown,’ ‘She’s crazy,’ -- he did a lot of stuff about me. He had Bruce Willis come out with a short wig like my hair. He did a lot of jokes about me. But I was always like, ‘OK, whatever.’ But in the wake of feeling so unbelievably supported and loved and freed by my own personal change, it felt like a slap. Every week the Letterman people call and say, “We want you on the show.” So [on my show] we rolled the clip [of Letterman joking about me] and I came back and said, “Why? I’ll tell you why [I won’t come on the show], Dave.”

And then I listed the top five reasons. They were funny jokes that I did, but what I was really saying was, “It’s not OK for you to do that. It’s not OK for you to say unfunny jokes where the bottom line is, ‘Isn’t Rosie a dyke?’”

EVERY KID STRUGGLING “When Dave had all of his issues of his heterosexual acting out, of his heterosexual union with his wife, when he had sex with interns on his show, I did not do jokes about that. I know where the line is. I’d never say to Dave, ‘You know you’re not really a manly man. You’re a skinny, gap-toothed, unappealing man. There are men much more manly than you.’ I don’t do that. I wouldn’t do that. But he feels it’s okay to basically say, ‘Isn’t she so dykey?’...

Do I think Dave innately hates gay people? No, I do not. Do I think it was a thoughtless and offensive, not just to me, but to every gay person in the country and to every kid struggling with their sexuality, who hears presidential candidates saying we are not worthy, not equal to, that we are less than? Do I think that it’s damaging to them? I do. And I’m going to stand up for myself and for them when I feel that it’s necessary.”

“When Dave [Letterman] had all of his issues of his heterosexual acting out, of his heterosexual union with his wife, when he had sex with interns on his show, I did not do jokes about that.

I know where the line is.”

Read more of Michelangelo Signorile’s interview with Rosie O’Donnell at: huffingtonpost.com Rosie O’Donnell can be seen nightly on The Rosie Show on OWN, Oprah Winfrey Network: oprah.com/rosie

THEFIGHT

19

MY (POSSIBLY) GAY

6-YEAR-OLD SON THE IDEA OF HAVING A GAY SON ISN’T SOMETHING THAT BOTHERS EITHER OF US. OUR SON IS GOING TO BE WHO HE IS, AND IT IS OUR JOB TO LOVE HIM. END OF STORY.

BY AMELIA [Editor’s note: “AMELIA” is a pseudonym chosen by the author in order to keep her family’s identity anonymous.]

“M

DARREN CRISS, (Blaine), Glee AMELIA writes for the Huffington Post Gay Voices about raising her kids and her family and friends. “My kids,” says Amelia, “are often better teachers, and I am just trying to be a good student.” Twitter: Amelia_blogger, Email: amelia.blogs@gmail.com

THEFIGHT

20

ommy, they are just like me.”

My oldest son is six years old and in love for the first time. He is in love with Blaine from Glee.

For those who don’t know Blaine is a boy...a gay boy, the boyfriend of

one of the main characters, Kurt.

This isn’t a “he thinks Blaine is really cool” kind of love. It is a mooning at a picture of Blaine’s face for a half hour followed by a wistful “He’s so pretty” kind of love.

He loves the episode where two boys kiss. My son will call people in from other parts of the house to make sure they don’t miss his “favorite part.” He’s been known to rewind it and watch it over again... and force others to, as well, if he doesn’t think people have been paying enough attention.

This infatuation doesn’t bother me, or his father. We live in a very hip-liberal neighborhood, many of our friends are gay, and the idea of having a gay son isn’t something that bothers either of us. Our son is going to be who he is, and it is our job to love him. End of story.

He is also six. Six year olds get obsessed with all azall. We always joke that he’s either gay, or we have the best blackmail material in the history of mankind when he’s a 16 year old straight boy. (Take that naked bath time pictures!)

Then the other day we were traveling across the state listening to the Warblers album (of course), and in the middle of Candles, my son pipes up from the back seat.

“Mommy, Kurt and Blaine are boyfriends.”

“Yes, they are,” I affirm.

“They don’t like kissing girls. They just kiss boys.”

“That’s true.”

“Mommy, they are just like me.”

“That’s great, baby. You know I love you no matter what?”

“I know...” I could hear him rolling his eyes at me.

When we got home I recapped this conversation to his Dad, and we stood simply looking into each other’s eyes for a moment. Then we smiled.

“So if at 16 he wants to make a big announcement at the dinner table, we can say ‘You told us when you were six. Pass the carrots’ and he’ll be disappointed we stole his big dramatic moment,” my husband says with a laugh and hugs me.

Only time will tell if my son is gay, but if he is I am glad he’s mine. I am glad he has been born into our family. A family full of people who will love and accept him. People who will never want him to change. With parents who will look forward to dancing at his wedding.

And I have to admit, Blaine would be a really cute son-in-law.

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THE NAKED TRUTH MICHAEL LUCAS ON COMING OUT, LGBT CHARITIES, THE ADULT ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY AND WHY HE FEELS ISRAEL DOES NOT RECEIVE THE CREDIT IT DESERVES REGARDING GAY RIGHTS.

BY MARK ARIEL PHOTOS COURTESY OF LUCAS ENTERTAINMENT THEFIGHT

22

“Positive representations of gays in the media is good and all, but do we really need a national organization [GLAAD] that does little else besides host a painfully boring awards show, and fire off a few angry press releases? They’ll pretty much give an award to any celebrity who agrees to show at their event and walk the red carpet.”

W

hile it may be tempting to view those working in the adult entertainment field as beautiful on the outside with not much on the inside, real life, it seems, tends to shun stereotypical categorizations.

With op-ed columns on Huffington Post and in The Advocate, and a degree in law from the Moscow State Law Academy, Michael Lucas, the CEO and founder of Lucas Entertainment, has been cited as “the most mainstreamed, provocative, and controversial figure in gay adult entertainment today.”

Over the past few years Lucas has attracted just as much attention for his views on politics and culture as he has for his adult entertainment films.

A vocal opponent of drug use and an advocate for safe sex, Lucas fearlessly speaks out on a variety of issues, some more controversial than others. In a recent op-ed in The Advocate, for example, Lucas urged his readers not to “waste your money on money-wasters,” referring to, among others, HRC and GLAAD. On The Human Rights Campaign, Lucas opined: “They’re total pros when it comes to getting gays to feel proud of themselves for putting on a tux for one of their gala dinners. The one in New York each year is thrown at the Waldorf Astoria.

Whatever money is left over from their dog-and-pony show goes into promoting themselves, and maintaining a mammoth D.C. headquarters building. Joe Salmonella, I mean Solmonese, their executive director, is too afraid to lose his invitation to the

White House Christmas party to ever actually ask anything of the president. Repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ was achieved despite Solmonese giving the White House a pass on the issue. It was thanks to other groups raising hell and forcing Barack Obama to keep his campaign promise that this law got passed... This organization is a rip off that benefits no one except Solmonese and his cronies.”

GLAAD (The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) doesn’t escape Lucas’ wrath.

“Positive representations of gays in the media is good and all, but do we really need a national organization that does little else besides host a painfully boring awards show, and fire off a few angry press releases?” writes Lucas. “They’ll pretty much give an award to any celebrity who agrees to show at their event and walk the red carpet. Jennifer Aniston got some inexplicable, phony award last year.”

“It’s a shame these organizations are still in business,” opines Lucas, suggesting that “the money that goes to them could be much better spent by groups like Lambda Legal, The Trevor Project, and GMHC, just to name a few. Lambda Legal employees talented lawyers who take cases on pro bono to help gay people who are victims of discrimination, and to create positive legal precedents.”

Born of Jewish heritage in 1972, Lucas has come a long way since struggling with his sexuality as a young teen growing up in Russia. In an interview with THE FIGHT Lucas talks about coming out, the adult entertainment industry, the American dream and why he feels Israel does not receive the credit it deserves regarding gay rights.

THEFIGHT

23

COMING OUT IN RUSSIA “It was difficult to come to terms with my sexuality. Everyone around me, and everything I saw and heard in the media and on the streets, was heterosexual. I understood that I was different from others because I was not a man’s man and had different interests than the other guys. Somewhere around age 13, I realized that I wasn’t interested in girls, but in guys, and I found out that this attraction was called homosexuality, which was a perversion that could result in years of jail time. I thought that I was a freak and so I didn’t act on my desires, remaining chaste until the age of 18. It was a total nightmare to feel this way about myself with no one to talk about it with. I was relieved when I read in a Soviet newspaper that the West is destroying itself, in part, because of its embrace of homosexuality. This was a gross exaggeration, but it finally showed me that I was not alone. I embraced my sexual orientation at that point and psychologically everything became so much easier. It was difficult for my family and friends, but they were more supportive than many. I was lucky. I took it as a given at the time, but after hearing horror stories from others, I feel very fortunate that they made me feel so loved.”

GETTING INTO ADULT ENTERTAINMENT “I obtained a degree in law from Moscow State Law Academy in 1994, and I left for Germany a year later. I didn’t know the language, didn’t have legal papers and didn’t have the money to pursue my education, since I would have had to start over again at square one. Russian law and Western law are very different. I had to make a living, become legalized and support my family in Russia. My father had just lost his job, my mother was not employed and my brother was too young to work, so I became the sole source of income.

I decided to enter adult entertainment. I was a tourist on a tourist visa and I couldn’t really work anywhere legally - particularly in a strict country like Germany where you can’t do anything without papers. The adult industry is different. All I had to do was show my Russian passport to prove that I was over 18 and I could get paid. I was very lucky because my family didn’t give me problems about my decision. I’m sure they were not happy about the realities of the profession, but they were good enough not to make it difficult for me.”

company and I never wanted to work for anybody else again. I am creative, I’m a good businessman and I enjoy living the American dream.”

MEN OF ISRAEL “I travel to Israel a lot and I am always amazed at how beautiful and sexual the men there are. I was also always impressed by how open-minded Israelis are, which is something that the majority of people do not know. There had never been an adult movie made there, so I decided to make ‘Men of Israel.’

I got the models mostly from photographers I knew and from an ad I placed on Atraf, which is their equivalent to America’s Manhunt. It was very easy to film there. We had no problems with locals, even though most of the shoots were outdoors. We had such a good time that we went back and shot “Inside Israel,” where we brought guys from different countries to the country, making for quite an international film. This was the first adult film made in Israel, so major newspapers, media and blogs covered us. Israel has a very vibrant and active gay community. This past summer I filmed a documentary about gay life in Israel today around Tel Aviv gay pride, which attracted hundreds of thousands of people.

It may come as a surprise, but Israel extends more rights to gay people than America does, including adoption rights. They have also always welcomed gays into their military.”

“Israel is the only country in the Middle East that supports gay rights, while its enemies round up, torture, and condemn gay people to death - often by publicly hanging or stoning them to death. If the LGBT Center [in New York] wants to host a fundraising and awareness party for anti-Semites, they might as well go all the way and host a tea dance for Fred Phelps.”

THE AMERICAN DREAM “I visited New York City in 1997 and met a guy who had just gotten a doctorate in philosophy from NYU and I fell in love with him. It actually worked out and we were together for three-and-ahalf years. So while I basically moved for him - New York was the most wonderful thing to come out of the relationship. The love I had for him carried over into my love for New York City, which is still going strong.

I began working as a model for Falcon Studios - and started the US legalization process from scratch, getting my work permit, green card and finally becoming an American citizen. After a year working as a Falcon exclusive, I opened my own adult film company, Lucas Entertainment, out of my West Village studio apartment.

I worked for adult companies in both Europe and America.

I decided that I knew the industry well enough to start my own

THEFIGHT

24

ANTI-SEMITIC HATE GROUPS “In February of 2011, I found out that the LGBT Community Center in New York City was planning to host a fundraising event in conjunction with ‘Israeli Apartheid Week.’ It was an inexcusable decision on the Center’s part. At first I thought this was a joke. Israel is the only country in the Middle East that supports gay rights, while its enemies round up, torture, and condemn gay people to death - often by publicly hanging or stoning them to death. If the LGBT Center wants to host a fundraising and awareness party for anti-Semites, they might as well go all the way and host a tea dance for Fred Phelps. I rallied people together who disagreed with these groups and we confronted the leaders of the Center to have them thrown out.

In the end, the event and all future events by the group were canceled. According to an email I received from the executive director of New York’s LGBT Center, it has been determined that ‘this event is not appropriate to be held at our LGBT Community Center.’ It is unfortunate that it took the effort of so many of us in order to obtain this decision. The gay center should know who they permit to use their facilities and should not have allowed this group access to the Center’s facilities and not have the need for our intervention.”

For more info on Michael Lucas and Lucas Entertainment visit: www.michaellucas.com

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YOUR WAY HOME GAY-OWNED LA RESIDENZA VILLA IN CARLSBAD PROVIDES A SAFE AND BEAUTIFUL ENVIRONMENT FOR THOSE IN RECOVERY FROM ADDICTION, WHETHER IT BE ALCOHOL, DRUGS, SEX, OR FOOD

BY MARK ARIEL

S

ome people are fortunate enough to find true passion in their life’s work.

Dr. Paul Turro, founder and Executive Director of La Residenza Villa, a Transitional Beachfront Sober Living Residence in Carlsbad, seems to be one of those people.

Actively involved in the LGBT Community, Turro is a former member of the Board of Directors of the San Diego LGBT Center. In an interview with THE FIGHT Turro says he created La Residenza Villa to provide “a safe, beautiful atmosphere where the LGBT community can strengthen their recovery from addiction, whether it be alcohol, drugs, sex, or food.”

“It was important for me,” says Turro, “to create an environment where we can feel comfortable to be open and honest and where the professional staff have a personal experience and extensive knowledge with regards to the aspects and issues of the gay community.”

Born in Brooklyn, New York Turro moved to San Francisco in 1975 as an Intern/Resident with the United States Public Health Hospital. Trained as a hospital dentist with a focus on Public Health, Turro relocated to Southern California in 1976 to work at the United States Public Health Clinic in San Diego. For the last 20 years he has lectured around the world to tens of thousands of individuals on personal growth and development, contribution and relationships.

“I grew up in a poor Italian Catholic family,” reveals Turro.

“My family used alcohol to meet many of the challenges of their lives. When I told my family I was gay in my early 20s, they responded by going to church, lighting candles daily to the saints, and saying community prayers (rosaries), for my ‘conversion.’

My brothers refused to talk to me, my father became silent and my mother blamed herself.”

“I retreated to the alcohol/drug/disco culture,” says Turro.

“This was my way of dealing with my homophobic family and my new sense of awkwardness, mixed with a little shame. At the time I thought I was having a blast, with a drink/joint/pill in my hand and a room of hot gay men dancing and drinking to the wee hours of the night. As time went by, however, I had

THEFIGHT

26

difficulty remembering the night before and, at times, I was shocked at the things I had engaged in the previous night.”

It all came to a hilt when Turro’s “best friend, and sometime lover, died from a conscious drug/alcohol overdose, leaving me to find his corpse with his ‘goodbye note.’ My world was instantly changed and I vowed that I would do whatever I could do so that something like this to never happen again to a troubled soul.”

“I founded La Residenza Villa,” says Turro, “to provide a safe, exquisite environment, free of judgment, prejudice and other forms of discrimination, where all people, especially the LGBT comDR. PAUL TURRO munity, can create and manifest a happy and fulfilled life... full of freedom, self expression and contribution.”

“The most important aspect of any treatment,” reveals Turro, “is that people feel safe and comfortable in their environment, allowing them to be open and honest with their thoughts, feelings and experiences.”

While La Residenza Villa is open to everyone, “we have a direct focus on our LGBT community,” says Turro. “As a Gay-Owned facility, we have a ZERO tolerance for any form of homophobia.

Our Villa provides a safe, private, luxurious, beachfront atmosphere where LGBT individuals are able to make life-long friends and contacts with other gay and lesbians. We have the possibility here to create a peer support group of lasting friends, who fully understand us and our desire to lead a healthy life, free of the constraints of addiction. We really are a function of the people we hang around!”

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RICK SANTORUM

THEFIGHT

30

DECONSTRUCTING

RICK SANTORUM OVER THE PAST MONTH, THE FORMER SENATOR HAS DEPLOYED AN INCREASINGLY BIZARRE SERIES OF ANALOGIES IN AN ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN WHY MARRIAGE SHOULD BE RESERVED FOR HETEROSEXUAL COUPLES.

BY ZINNIA JONES really hate it when I have to make someone’s own argument for them. Simply being wrong is one thing - at least this can be handled directly. But if you’re so unintelligible that we all have to try and reconstruct what you meant before we can reply, that’s just laziness. Yes, I’m looking at you, Rick Santorum.

Over the past month, the former senator has deployed an increasingly bizarre series of analogies in an attempt to explain why marriage should be reserved for heterosexual couples. The typical structure of his argument involves claiming that a certain thing is not another different thing, and that this thing will remain what it is regardless of what anyone calls it. To illustrate this, he’s pointed out at various times that a napkin is not a paper towel, a glass of water is not a glass of beer, a tree is not a car, and a cup of tea is not a basketball.

What are the implications of this? Santorum insists that the essence of marriage is not something that can be changed, indicating that he seems to envision marriage as some kind of untouchable abstract concept that exists independently of humans and their opinions. In other words, marriage is something that’s between a man and a woman, regardless of how we choose to define it. As an argument in favor of his position, this is almost entirely devoid of substance. If the question is why marriage should consist of a man and a woman, his answer is only a restatement of this claim: that marriage consists of a man and a woman. All the talk about napkins and beer is just an attempt to make such a simple assertion seem more meaningful than it really is.

Even if marriage did exist as some concrete and unchanging entity in the space of abstract ideas, this still doesn’t make that particular definition binding on us in terms of how we treat marriage in a legal, social, and practical sense. In reality, marriage is a complex and detailed phenomenon, and we’re in charge of how we choose to manage this regardless of any static metaphysical definitions of what marriage is. In practice, marriage is whatever we designate as marriage. And if we were beholden to this supposed Platonic form of straight-only marriage, what’s to stop us from simply developing some kind of inclusive supermarriage that encompasses a variety of marital relationships?

Marriage could remain as whatever Santorum claims it is, but that doesn’t mean we have to incorporate this particular concept into how we regard people’s intimate relationships.

I

Of course, this is not the only component of his argument.

As he sees it, marriage must be between a man and a woman because it provides a benefit to both partners, serves the purpose of raising children, offers stability to the family, and contributes to society as a whole. While this is at least more informative than merely claiming that marriage is inherently heterosexual, none of these elements of marriage are exclusive to straight people. It makes no sense to say that only heterosexual couples could possibly benefit from marriage, or have children to take care of, or require stability, or contribute to their community. If gay couples serve the very same role as straight couples, why wouldn’t they be included under this definition of marriage? A napkin may not be a paper towel, but the corollary to this is that a napkin is indeed a napkin.

Santorum contends that any departure from a heterosexual ideal of marriage would then legitimize marriages that are polygamous or incestuous in nature. But this is equally applicable to his own argument. If this limited definition of marriage is supposed to preclude the possibility of any other such marriages being recognized, why would another limited definition that includes gay couples be unable to do the same? And if another exclusive definition that goes no further than encompassing gay and straight couples would somehow open the door to incest and polygamy, how is his own definition any more capable of preventing this?

Marriages of an incestuous or polygamous nature have taken place throughout history, and these marriages still happened regardless of his Platonic marital ideal. Clearly, they were also not the result of same-sex marriage being recognized. Widespread disapproval of homosexuality did nothing to stop people from committing incest and polygamy. As Rick Santorum would say, if two people can get married, then why not three people, or 10 people?

In light of this, it’s plain to see that his heterosexual definition of marriage does not occupy some privileged position in terms of its ability to prevent any such additional unions. So what grounds does he have to demand this from a standard of marriage that includes gay couples? If incest and polygamy are what he objects to, then he can make an argument against incest and polygamy.

But an argument against incest and polygamy is not an argument against gay marriage. And it’s also not a napkin.

Read more commentary by Zinnia Jones at : www.zinniajones.com/blog

An argument against incest and polygamy is not an argument against gay marriage.

THEFIGHT

31

BEAUTIFUL

LOSERS HALF OF GAY MEN SURVEYED WOULD GIVE UP A YEAR OR MORE OF THEIR LIVES FOR THE PERFECT BODY

A

study released last month in the UK says 48% of gay men would sacrifice a year or more of their lives in exchange for a perfect body.

The research also said 10% of gay men would agree to die more than 11 years earlier if they could have their ideal body now, reports Britain’s “Pink News” at www. pinknews.co.uk. Nine in ten gay men admit they enforce “unrealistic” images of lean and muscular men in conversation.

In comparison, only a third of straight men said they would give a year or more for an ideal body shape, and 77% admitted buying into the body image ideal.

Gay respondents were consistently more affected by body concerns and more likely to make body comparisons than straight men, reports Pink News. They were also significantly more likely to use what the study authors called “body talk:” speech that implicitly or explicitly reinforces or endorses the traditional western standard of male attractiveness: tall, lean, muscular, toned body with clear skin and a full head of hair.

91.2% of gays said they make statements which reinforce this image, compared with the 77.4% of straight men. Nearly twice as many gay men as straight, 59% to 32%, said they compare themselves to better-looking men.

A third of gay men said they compared themselves with men they thought were less attractive, compared with 20% of straight men.

Rosi Prescott, CEO of Central YMCA, who, in part, commissioned the study, told PinkNews.co.uk: “This research shows that body image anxiety is sadly much more of an issue for gay men.

“Today gay men are under enormous pressure about their bodies, and we believe that a lack of body diversity in the media, including the gay press, and a relentless focus which values people based on appearance, may in part explain why gay men are particularly susceptible to this issue.

“This is of concern when we know that record numbers of men are taking steroids or having unnecessary cosmetic surgery to achieve what is often an unattainable or unrealistic body image ideal. Central YMCA is campaigning to promote greater body diversity in the media, and for young people to be given an opportunity to learn more about body image in schools.”

Straight men came out narrowly ahead of gays when rating how they important they thought their body was to their partner.

51.4% of straight men said what their partner thought of their shape and weight was “very or extremely important” to them, compared with 49.4% of men. But only 20% of straight men said their friends’ opinions were that important, versus 35% of gay men.

Dr Phillippa Diedrichs, who conducted the study at UWE Bristol, said, “This research really demonstrates that body image is an issue for everyone, and that we need to take a collaborative approach towards promoting an environment that values diversity in appearance and promotes healthy body image.”

394 men were questioned for the study in November and December 2011.

THEFIGHT

32

“... GAY MEN ARE UNDER ENORMOUS PRESSURE ABOUT THEIR BODIES, AND WE BELIEVE THAT A LACK OF BODY DIVERSITY IN THE MEDIA, INCLUDING THE GAY PRESS ...

MAY IN PART EXPLAIN WHY GAY MEN ARE PARTICULARLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS ISSUE”

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SEED

MONEY NEW DOCUMENTARY ON CHUCK HOLMES, FOUNDER OF FALCON STUDIOS

BY F. E. CORNEJO PHOTOS COURTESY OF FALCON STUDIOS

O

ver forty years ago, Falcon Entertainment (aka Falcon Studios) was founded by Chuck Holmes, a man who would revolutionize the gay porn industry. Holmes helped, offended, influenced and tantalized many people with his gay pornography empire and philanthropic efforts. Yet, his legacy is shockingly unknown to the gay community.

“Most men don’t know the name, and [they] don’t really think about the role that gay porn played in helping organize and politicize the gay community,” says documentary filmmaker Michael Stabile.

“The gay porn industry is just gay culture in sharper relief,” says Stabile. “The vanity, the insecurity, the vices are all magnified,” he says, “but so is the pride, the celebration of sexuality and that radical freedom that comes from ruining your reputation in polite society.”

Stabile and partners Ben Leon and Jack Shamama began filming the documentary “Seed Money: The Chuck Holmes Story,” in 2009.

The film will feature interviews with Falcon stars Jim Bentley, Matthew Rush, Tom Chase, and long-time Falcon fan, John Waters.

Falcon films depicted financial and sexual fantasies, “but it was also Chuck’s lifestyle,” Stabile says, “and the lifestyle of Chuck’s friends, and it was a way that Falcon differentiated itself from other studios.

Chuck had the jets and the Bentleys and the yachts to pull off both the financial and sexual aspiration that you find in Falcon.”

Holmes believed in assimilation. “He was not into hippies or drag queens or Tom of Finland fetish queens,” says Stabile. “He thought they set back the gay movement, and his desire to create an aesthetic that was acceptable in straight society.” His vision of male beauty and sex appeal was the blond, blue-eyed, boy next door type. He glorified that aesthetic in his films and it carried over into the mainstream, most notably Abercrombie & Fitch ads.

While Holmes was a powerful philanthropist (he was a founding member of the Human Rights Campaign, Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, and many other LGBT focused charities) there was no room in Holmes’ world for any reality that did not conform to his business model. Holmes was HIV positive, but he was still a businessman and “during the AIDS crisis, porn was a fantasy world where disease didn’t exist and your friends weren’t all dead and people still had the fearless sex of the 70s,” Stabile says. That meant no condoms and no recognition of the disease.

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“Holmes fought against condoms for the longest time -- ‘til the very late 80s, Falcon didn’t use condoms in the movies. He believed that nonoxynol-9 alone would protect the guys. But it was also certainly a business decision,” says Stabile.

“No one in the industry wanted to move to condoms before anyone else, because it would give that studio a market advantage. So in the end it was a general agreement between studio heads and distributors to move en masse toward condoms. As Falcon

went, so went the industry.”

Holmes died in Sept. 2000, at the age o of 55, as a result of liver failure from AIDS complications. (More than 30 years after the on-set of the AIDS epidemic, the battle e over the use of condoms in adult films continues. Last month the City of Los A Angeles certified the ‘City of Los Angeless Safer Sex In The Adult Film Industry Act” as ballot initiative for the June 2012 electiion. If passed, the ordinance would requiire anyone involved in the production adultt films, that is issued a permit by the City o of Los Angeles, must use condoms.)

“Chuck was not perfect by any means.

But for better or worse, he was an integral force in the development of a gay male identity, and it’s a crucial story to our history,” Stabile says. He left behind a legacy greater than his fortune or the scandal that surrounded his life.”

“Gay porn was the original ‘It Gets Better’ video,” Stabile says, “and Falcon films, which were filled with fast cars, and polo shirts and tennis courts as well as unabashed sexuality, led the pack.”

For more info please visit: kickstarter.com

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T THE

CALENDAR

COMPILED BY F.E. CORNEJO

SUNDAY, JANUARY 15 JACKIE HOFFMAN & LAGLC PRESENT: JACKIE FIVE-OH! LAGLC’s Renberg Theatre, 1125 N. McCadden Place, Hollywood. Jan. 15 - Jan 22. Fridays/ Saturdays 8 p.m., Sundays 7 p.m. More info: 323-860-7300 or www.lagaycenter.org. $25.

The New York Times : “The osten nsible aim of this latest act is to celebrate her first 50th birthday by reflecting on a life that she will never call a journey (‘gurney, yes’) and a career of bitt parts… Ms. Hofff man’s acid-dipped acts are alway ys a gurney worth taking.”

SHE WRIGHTS: ONE-ACT PLAYS

BY WOMEN PLAYWRIGHTS Secret Rose Theatre, 11246 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood. Jan. 15 - Jan. 29. Fridays/ Saturdays 8 p.m., Sunday Matinees p.m.

More info: www.secretrose.com. $15 The Secret Rose Theatre presentts five one-act plays by five women writers including “Happy and Gay” and “Let’s Have a Baby.”

STEEL MAGNOLIAS Knightsbridge Theatre, 1944 Riverside Dr., Los Angeles. Jan. 15 – Jan. 29. Fridays/Saturdays 8 p.m., Sunday 6 p.m. More info: 323667-0955. $20 Adults, $18 Students/Seniors.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11

GROUPS

FAMILY EQUALITY COUNCIL 2012 LA AWARDS DINNER Globe Theatre, Universal Studios Hollywood, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City. 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. More info: 617502-8700 x228 or www.familyequality.org/ site/PageServer?pagename=events_la

ASIAN/PACIFIC GAYS AND FRIENDS www.apgf.org GAY ASIAN PACIFIC SUPPORT NETWORKwww.gapsn.org LOS ANGELES GAY AVIATION CLUB Pilots, Flights Attendants, Mechanics. www.unusualattitudes.info

Now in its 8th year, the event is aimed at connecting the growing Los Angeles community of LGBT families and supporters as well as advancing efforts to create equality for the one million lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents in this country and the two million children they are raising. Honorees will include award-winning children’s author Todd Parr as well as Chad Griff fin, activist and co-founder of American Foundation for Equal Rights, the group behind the effort to overturn California’s Proposition 8.

THANK GAYS IT’S FRIDAY STANDUP COMEDY Every Friday, 8:30pm. MJ’s Bar, 2810 Hyperion Avenue, Los Angeles. 323-650-1503

GPAF’S LOVE & LEATHER VALENTINE PARTY American Legion, 179 North Vinedo Ave., Pasadena. More info: gzaldivar1@gmail. com or Greater Pasadena Aid Fund Facebook page. $5 presale, $10 at the door.

Greater Pasadena Aid Fund’s Leather and Fetish themed Valentine’s fundraiser will benefit LGBT people and their allies who have been diagnosed as having a life-threatening illness.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 28 GALAS ANNUAL CABIN TRIP Location to be announced. More info: www.galasla.org

Robert Harling’s “Steel Magnolia as” was written after the death of his sister as a way of working through his grief. Director R. Benito Carde enas leads an allKnightsbridge Company membe er production of this popular LGBT favorite updated to o be relevant for today’s audience.

The Gay and Lesbian Armenian Society’s work to build a stronger presence and acceptance of LGBT Armenians continues with a mountain getaway weekend.

MONDAY, JANUARY 16

LOVED! Location to be announced. More info: www.impulsegrp.org

MLK JR. KINGDOM DAY PAR RADE WITH PRIDE & PROMOTE South Los Angeles at the corner of Crenshaw and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvds. More info: www.myblackpridela.com/home/mlkparade2012 The largest parade in the country y honoring the late civil rights leader. More than 150 0 floats, drill teams, dancers, and celebrities including g KTLA’s Michaela Pereira will ride along Crenshaw w and King’s namesake boulevard.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17 CRYSTAL BALL PRESENTED BY THE PRINCES OF PASADENA Vertical Wine Bar, 70 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. Tuesday, Jan. 17. 7 p.m. No Cover.

More info: ThePrincesOfPasadena@gmail.com or The Princes of Pasadena Facebook Page.

Fundraiser and celebration of the e new year and the potential of the LGBT commu unity in the San Gabriel Valley. Proceeds will benefit AIDS Project Los Angeles.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10

AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s IMPULSE GROUP hosts their 2012 kick off, promoting responsible sexual encounters in the month of love.

CLUB NUR Gay Middle Eastern clubnur.com GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF LOS ANGELES www.gmcla.org

GAY & LESBIAN SALSA Every Monday, 8pm. Little Temple Bar, 4519 Santa Monica Blvd., Silverlake, 90029. gaysalsanight@yahoo.com or www.facebook.com/ gaysalsanight GAY TRAFFIC SCHOOL Third Tuesday and Wednesday of everymonth,6-10pm The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N. McCadden Place, Los Angeles 90038.

1-800-Gay-4-You or www.laglc.org POP LUCK CLUB Second Sunday of every month, 11am. Locations vary.

Los Angeles based organization for Gay Dads, Prospective Dads, and their families. www.popluckclub.org.

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month, at the Gay & Lesbian Center.

RSVP to Dennis@malecare.org or call 323-860-7340 GREAT AUTOS OF YESTERYEAR The largest LGBT classic car club on the West Coast. www.greatautos.org LOS ANGELES PRIME TIMERS Social group for older mature gay men and admirers www.laprimetimers.org LOS ANGELES GAY BRIDGE CLUB http://www.communityvisions.org/IAGLBC LOS ANGELES GAY/LESBIAN SCIENTISTS www.lagls.org LOS ANGELES GAY FOR GOOD Gays making a commitment to volunteer for social welfare and environmental service projects. www.gayforgood.org LOS ANGELES GAY NATURISM California Men Enjoying Naturism cmen.info BI-OSPHERE P.O.V. Every 2nd Wednesday, 8-9:30pm. The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N McCadden Place, Los Angeles. For more information, call 323-860-7302 M-F between 6-9pm. Topicdriven discussion for women and men who identify as, or are exploring bisexuality.

MEN’S SPEAKEASY Every Tuesday at 8pm. The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N McCadden Place, Los Angeles. For more information, call 323-860-7302.

Fun, alternative space for gay and bisexual men to meet and make new friends.

LGBT BOOK CLUB First Wednesday of each month, 7:30-9:30 p.m. The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N McCadden Place, Los Angeles. For more information, call 323-860-7302, M-F between 6-9pm USC LAMBDA LGBT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION alumnigroups.usc.edu/lambda/ LOS ANGELES BLACK PRIDE www.myblackpridela.com GREATER PASADENA AID FUND www.greaterpasadenaaidfund.org POSITIVE IMAGES WORKSHOP Every Monday, from 7-9pm. The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N McCadden Place, Los Angeles.

If you’re looking for ways to deal with HIV, the Live Life

Better Workshop can help you learn coping skills, build a support system, and work toward your health goals. An RSVP is required. For more information or to reserve your place, call 323-860-7321.

The e-mail contact is positiveimages@ lagaycenter.org.

TRANSGENDER PERCEPTIONS Every Friday, 8pm. The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N McCadden Place, Los Angeles. For more information, call 323860-7302 M-F between 6-9pm.

Social networking group offers a safe and welcoming opportunity for people of any age and gender identity to learn from others and to share experiences.

GET CENTERED Meditation Class, Every Saturday, 1011am, $10. Gay & Lesbian Center, 1625 N Schrader Blvd. Los Angeles. For more information, call 323-860-7300 SENIORS SERVICES Ongoing, The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N McCadden Place, Los Angeles.

For more information, call 323-860-7359.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUPPORT Ongoing, L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, 1625 N Schrader Blvd. Los Angeles. For more information, call 323-860-5806.

MPOWERMENT WEEKLY WORKSHOPS Tuesdays and fridays, 6pm. Apla, 3550 wilshire blvd, suite 300, los angeles. More info: donta morrison, tel: 213.201.1561 For young gay men of color -- ages 18 thru 24 -- looking for a safe place to hang out. “Each week offers a great opportunity to vent, laugh, make friends, and simply celebrate who you are.”

SUPPORT FOR HIV-POSITIVE WOMEN Second and fourth wednesdays, 7pm. The david geffen center, 611 south kingsley drive, los angeles. More info: call women at risk at 310-204-1046.

SOCAL SOCIAL CLUB: For more info: www.Socalsocialclub.Com Southern california’s social & business network for lgbt professionals

12 STEP GROUPS All groups meet at The Village at Ed Gould Plaza 1125 N McCadden Place, Los Angeles. For more information, call 323860-7302 M-F between 6-9pm.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS Mondays, 6:10-7:10 p.m.

CRYSTAL METH ANONYMOUS Saturdays, 9:10-10:10 a.m.

DEBTORS ANONYMOUS Tuesdays, 8-9 p.m.

MARIJUANA ANONYMOUS Wednesdays, 8:15-9:45 p.m.

Saturdays, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS Wednesdays, 7-8 p.m.

SEXUAL COMPULSIVES ANONYMOUS Mondays, 8-9 p.m.

Tuesdays, 8-9 p.m.

Wednesdays, 8-9 p.m.

Thursdays, 8:15-9:15 p.m.

Saturdays, 12:15-1:45 p.m.

WOMEN’S NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS Saturdays, Noon-1 p.m.

SPORTS LOS ANGELES LESBIAN SOFTBALL www.lagaysoftball.com LOS ANGELES LESBIAN TACKLE FOOTBALL www.californiaquakefootball.com LOS ANGELES LESBIAN RUGBY http://www.eaglerockrugby.com WOMEN’S SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GOLF www.womensgolf.org/wscga LOS ANGELES LESBIAN POKER http://www.lalpg.com LOS ANGELES WOMEN ON A ROLL Luncheons, Comedy Nights, and Conversation Groups. www.womenonaroll.com LOS ANGELES GAY RODEO CLUB www.gsgra.org LOS ANGELES GAY FLAG FOOTBALL http://www.laflagfootball.com There’s also lesbian tackle football.

WEST HOLLYWOOD GAY RUGBY www.larebellion.org LOS ANGELES POOL LEAGUE Friendly Billiard teams www.lapl8ball.com GAY & LESBIAN BOWLING LEAGUE www.tavernguildleague.com SAGA LA Gay Ski & Snowboard Club www.sagala.org V.O.I.L.A. Volleyball www.lagayvolleyball.com GREAT OUTDOORS The largest gay outdoor recreational organization in Southern California. www.greatoutdoorsla.org GAY AND LESBIAN SIERRANS

Camping, Outdoors, Hiking angeles.sierraclub.org CHEER LA Cheerleading www.cheerla.org LA ROWING www.larowing.org DIFFERENT SPOKES Cycling www.differentspokes.com Rides start in various locations in the greater Los Angeles area.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BLADES Ice Hockey www.bladeshockey.com LOS ANGELES FRONTRUNNERS Running and walking club www.lafrontrunners.com WEST HOLLYWOOD SOCCER CLUB www.gaysoccer.com Comfortable, supportive environment for learning and playing the world’s most popular game.

LOS ANGELES GAY SCUBA CLUB www.barnaclebusters.org LOS ANGELES GAY ROCK CLIMBING www.lalgbtclimbing.com WEST HOLLYWOOD AQUATICS Swim and Water Polo Teams www.wh2o.org

WORSHIP METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH mccla.org 4953 Franklin Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90027 BETH CHAYIM CHADASHIM SYNAGOGUE bcc-la.org 6090 West Pico Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90035 KOL AMI REFORM SYNAGOGUE kol-ami.org 1200 North La Brea Avenue West Hollywood, CA 90038 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF LOS ANGELES fccla.org 540 South Commonwealth Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90020 HOLLYWOOD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH hollywoodumc.org 6817 Franklin Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90028 HOLY SPIRIT holyspirit-la.org 4201 West Sunset Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90029 UNITED UNIVERSITY CHURCH uniteduniversitychurch.org 817 West 34th St Los Angeles, CA 90089 DIGNITY CENTER dignitylosangeles.org 126 South Avenue 64 Los Angeles, CA 90042 HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH-HLYWD hopelutheranchurch.net 6720 Melrose Ave Los Angeles, CA 90038 WEST HOLLYWOOD PRESBYTERIAN wehopres.org 7350 W Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90046 MOUNT HOLLYWOOD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH mthollywood.org 4607 Prospect Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90027 IMMANUEL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH immanuelpres.org 3300 Wilshire Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90010 ST. MATTHEW’S LUTHERAN CHURCH stmatthewsnoho.org 11031 Camarillo St. North Hollywood, CA 91602 CHRIST CHAPEL OF THE VALLEY christchapel.com 11050 Hartsook Street North Hollywood, CA 91601 ST. PAUL’S LUTHERAN CHURCH stpaulssm.org 958 Lincoln Boulevard Santa Monica, CA 90403 ST. MONICA CATHOLIC COMMUNITY stmonica.net 725 California Avenue Santa Monica, CA 90403 WEHO CHURCH wehochurch.com 916 N. Formosa Ave. West Hollywood, CA 90046 ST. VICTOR’S CATHOLIC CHURCH saintvictor.org 8634 Holloway Drive West Hollywood, California 90069 ST. LUKE LUTHERAN stlukelutheran.com 5312 Comercio Way Woodland Hills, CA 91364

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THE

FINAL FIGHT ACCEPTING

INJUSTICE

T

Some people seem to think that all they have to do is refrain from lynching and enslaving us, and anything beyond that would be doing us a favor

he “Overton window” is a political concept that refers to the range of policy opinions which are considered acceptable by the mainstream.

The window encompasses views that are seen as relatively uncontroversial, while excluding ideas that are so far out of the norm as to be politically suicidal.

A key feature of the window is that it shifts over time with public opinion, and people may sometimes attempt to move the window in a certain direction. For instance, the emergence of an unthinkably outrageous proposal can make merely terrible ideas seem more palatable in comparison. In this way, what constitutes the perceived moderate center can be pulled closer to an idea that someone seeks to legitimize. By essentially lowering the bottom of the barrel, previously controversial positions might start to look like they’re not so bad.

I’ve often noticed that people appear to follow a similar model when forming their views on how much injustice is acceptable to inflict upon minorities: extreme acts of bigotry are cited in order to minimize and ignore any lesser bigotry. For example, people may dismiss the importance of gay civil rights by pointing out that black people endured slavery, lynching, segregation, disenfranchisement, systemic social inequality, and the most horrible forms of abuse. Some even go so far as to reject the notion that the pursuit of gay equality could qualify as a civil rights movement, as though the very concept of a movement for civil rights was strictly limited to black Americans.

But arguing over who’s worse off is only a distraction here, because it has no bearing on the relevant issue: the unavoidable significance of fully equal rights for everyone.

People seem to be under the impression that the degree to which a group has suffered defines how important their civil rights are. By this standard, the rights of gay people are far less valid, worthy, and urgent because they were never subjected to the horrors of slavery. Any other legal and social injustices we might experience just aren’t that much of a concern, because at least we’re not being segregated and disenfranchised.

The Overton window of equality has been pulled so far downward that full and equal participation in society is no longer considered to be everyone’s birthright. Instead, people seem to think that all they have to do is refrain from lynching and enslaving us, and anything beyond that would be doing us a favor.

This is an impressive display of heartlessness, with utterly repugnant implications.

After all, if not enslaving people means that we can eliminate their rights at will, would

Everyone deserves their equal rights, regardless of whether or not they’ve suffered “enough” to satisfy the ridiculous demands of a majority.

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BY ZINNIA JONES disenfranchising black people be any more acceptable if they had never been subject to slavery and segregation?

Of course not. Likewise, could straight white men now be treated as property simply because they’ve never experienced any such institutional abuse?

Surely no one would agree with that.

Everyone deserves their equal rights, regardless of whether or not they’ve suffered “enough” to satisfy the ridiculous demands of a majority.

If you’re going to protest that gay people haven’t been subject to the most extreme brand of injustice, then why would you be in favor of forcing them to endure any degree of injustice? This shouldn’t be an excuse to preserve the inequality that remains. It should be a reason to eradicate it. What kind of person would force people to experience the evils of slavery and lynching and segregation before recognizing their rights, when they could have simply chosen to abolish this inequality because it’s the right thing to do? In case you’ve forgotten, you’re not supposed to enslave people. You’re not supposed to lynch people. And you’re not supposed to deprive people of their civil rights.

Shouldn’t you be glad that we’ve come this far already? So why stop now?

Read more commentary by Zinnia Jones at: www.zinniajones.com/blog

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