ISSUE 005 JUNE 2011
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MARGARET CHO • FAITH • BISEXUALITY • TRANSGENDER
The Fight 1
2 The Fight
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JUNE/CONTENTS
COVER STORIES AND FEATURES
'*
16
14 GAY LAPD VICTORY Officer Wins $1 Million
Hidden Toxins
Taking Pride In Pride
16 TAKING PRIDE IN PRIDE Zinnia Jones on “Straight Pride”
20 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARGARET CHO
Everything You Need To Know
22 KEEPING THE FAITH
20
Religion & Spirituality
30 SWIM FAN
Margaret Cho
West Hollywood Aquatics Club
30 Swim Fan
34 THE UPLIFT PROJECT
Personal Trainer Jeremy Manning
36 LOSING THE BEER BELLY
Surgical, Non-Surgical Treatments
40 “WHO YOU CALLIN’ A HAG?” L.A. Based Comediennes On Gay Life
IN EVERY ISSUE 8 12 18 26 28 38 39 42
40 Who You Calling A Hag
Letters to The Editor Headlines Don’t Say Gay in Tennessee Money Gay Donors Fuel Obama’s Bid HIV/AIDS Treatment Reduces Transmission Rostow Report CA Supreme Court’s Detour Sports West Hollywood Soccer Club Pet Care Summer Safety Alert Calendar Los Angeles Pride Events
ISSUE 005 JUNE 2011
LA PRIDE ISSUE
MASTHEAD
Editor-in-Chief Stanford Altamirano Managing Editor Mark Ariel Art Director Michelle Nati
6 The Fight
Marketing Consultants Lisa Radamaker Sash Carl Larry Wood Lora Mae Jaslow
FOR DISPLAY ADVERTISING PLEASE CALL 323-297-4001
Contributing Writers Ann Rostow Rick Wilkinson Nathan Neuman, M.D. Brodie Hubbard Foster
Photography by Austin Young
ON OUR COVER
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO
MARGARET CHO • FAITH • BISEXU ALITY • TRANSG EN DER
The Fight 1
THE FIGHT
letter from the editor
A GAY REVOLUTION FAITH IN PRIDE
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 E-mail info@thefightmag.com The Fight Magazine LEGAL CAVEATS By listing in The Fight Magazine, advertisers acknowledge that they do business in a spirit of cooperation, fairness and service, maintaining a high level of integrity and responsibility. Providers of products or services are fully and solely 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 safekeeping 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 publishers’ discretion. WWW.THEFIGHTMAG.COM
8 The Fight
Most people, at one point or another, question the idea of “gay pride.” What does it really mean? The simple fact of being born this way, the idea that somehow it makes one special or the ability to somehow tolerate those who find one’s “lifestyle” an abomination to God? Pride means so many different things to different people. And, for the most part, most of us don’t even thing of it at all (unless we have to.) Everyone has a unique spin on the idea of gay pride. For me the bottom line is this: lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered people do not always have a lot in common. Often we live our lives in completely different ways. However, what we do have in common is a huge part of what makes us a community – and that is our coming out experience. Coming out to friends, co-workers, family… and, perhaps more importantly, ourselves. Running the risk of losing support and love from those of us around us. Working on our personal journeys to discover who we really are. Finding out what really makes us happy, and making a conscious decision to live a truthful life. THAT’S something to be proud of!
The Fight 9
10 The Fight
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DON’T SAY GAY IN TENNESSEE A bill passed last month by the Tennessee Senate would forbid public school teachers and students in grades kindergarten through eighth grade from discussing the fact that some people are gay. The bill hasn’t made it out of committee in the House and isn’t scheduled to come up for a vote until at least next year. DAN CHOI ARRESTED IN RUSSIA Army veteran and gay activist Dan Choi was among at least 19 people who were mobbed at a gay pride parade in Moscow by police and a group of Neo-Nazis last month. He was released without a charge or fine. MILEY BLASTS SANTORUM, URBAN OUTFITTERS Miley Cyrus took to Twitter last month to blast antigay presidential hopeful Rick Santorum, and contributions that have bolstered his campaign. Cyrus tweeted, “IF WE ALLOW GAY MARRIAGE NEXT THING U KNOW PEOPLE WILL BE MARRYING GOLD FISH’ - Rick Santorum UO contributed $13,000 to this mans campaign.” She was referring to Urban Outfitters, headed up by Richard Hayne, the company’s conservative president, who has been known to give campaign dollars to right-wing politicians and causes. OLD NAVY’S PRIDE SHIRTS Old Navy will sell a line of gay pride t-shirts, with part of the proceeds going to the It Gets Better Project. The shir ts, which will be available for men, women, and babies, will be available in some stores during gay pride month. GAY MARRIAGE MAJORITY SUPPORT A series of recent polls suggesting a majority of Americans support the right of gays to marry may influence the outcome of the legal dispute over California’s ban on same-sex marriages, some legal experts and gay rights advocates predict, reports The Los Angeles Times. SESAME STREET LIBERAL AGENDA Right-wing columnist Ben Shapiro’s new book “Primetime Propaganda,” asserts that shows like Friends, MacGyver, and Sesame Street carry subtle messages that condone liberal beliefs like gun control and gay rights. Shapiro says, “Sesame Street tried to tackle divorce, tackled ‘peaceful conflict resolution’ in the aftermath of 9/11 and had Neil Patrick Harris on the show playing the subtly-named ‘fairy shoeperson.’”
12 The Fight
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The Fight 13
GAY LAPD OFFICER WINS $1 MILLION IN RETALIATION CASE
A
jury awarded $1.1 million last month to a Los Angeles police sergeant and media relations spokesman who said he had been harassed and suffered retaliation after complaining that a supervisor mistreated him because he is gay.
it’s your world
According to a report in The Los Angeles Times, Sgt. Ronald Crump sued the city last year, alleging that his direct supervisor at the Los Angeles Police Department Media Relations Section -- Lt. John Romero -- made derogatory remarks about his homosexuality. Romero, who has since been promoted to captain, allegedly described him as “the new Ruby minus the heels,” in reference to the woman he replaced in the unit.
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On another occasion, Romero allegedly told him, “I was a religion major at Liberty University. Jerry Falwell would roll over in his grave if he knew I had hired you.”
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Crump’s attorney Gregory Smith said the suit is the latest example of the department’s failure to fairly investigate discrimination and retaliation cases.
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“We offered to settle this case for $100,000 and a transfer for Sgt. Crump to Hollywood Division. The department rejected that offer,” Smith told The Times. “From 2008 through 2009, there were approximately 350 investigations done by the LAPD concerning internal complaints of discrimination and retaliation of officers against officers, only one of which was upheld.” Crump, who worked in the media relations section from December 2008 to July 2009, made several attempts to voice his concerns through official channels -- including meetings with the civilian commander of media relations, Smith said. Crump also filed a written complaint, which was ultimately determined to be unfounded by the LAPD’s Professional Standards Bureau. In the summer of 2009, he was transferred to the skid row area. Crump argued to the jury that the transfer from the prestigious media relations section was punitive and that it cost him future opportunities for promotion. “It was a serious dilemma for me to sue the agency that I admire and respect,” Crump told The Los Angeles Times last month. “But my commanding officer made poor decisions that, unchallenged, would have had a serious effect on me and other employees who are retaliated against.”
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The Fight 15
Taking Pride In Pride ZINNIA JONES ON WHY THERE ISN’T A “STRAIGHT PRIDE” PARADE
P
eople have sometimes asked why there are gay pride events, when there aren’t any sort of corresponding “straight pride” events. Some have even wondered why anyone would take pride in something that they weren’t responsible for. And that’s a good question. But the idea of pride isn’t meant to treat being gay, or straight, as some kind of accomplishment on our part. Instead, taking pride in being gay is a response to the people who would want us to be anything but proud.
are - everyone assumes that they’re straight anyway.
There are some people out there who’d like it if we were ashamed of ourselves. They’d prefer that we keep this a secret for our entire lives, or better yet, that we didn’t exist at all. To them, being gay should be seen as something unmentionable and not suitable for polite conversation. And they certainly don’t want us to be okay with who we are.
The real “straight pride parade” is something that goes on every day. We just don’t often notice it because it’s practically everywhere. You can see it whenever people don’t have that little expression of surprise when they find out someone is straight, and when they don’t start acting differently around straight people once they know about it. You see it when straight people can have access to a marriage license anywhere, without having to engage in a decades-long campaign for their relationships to be legally recognized.
Taking pride in being gay serves as a direct response to the people trying to shame us into silence. It means rejecting the idea that it should be some kind of terrible secret for us to hide. So we don’t hide. We have a massive public celebration of our lives. If people are going to condemn us for who we are, this is our answer to that. It’s not about being proud of the fact that you just so happen to be gay. It’s about being proud of living openly and without shame in a world that stands against you. It’s a spirited declaration that we do exist, we’re okay with being gay, and there’s nothing wrong with that. So why isn’t there a “straight pride” parade? Well, are straight people faced with any kind of adversity on this scale simply due to the fact that they’re straight? Do you see anyone trying to shame straight people for being straight? This just isn’t an actual problem in our world. Straight relationships are accepted by everyone, everywhere, without question. Nobody objects to them just because they’re straight, and nobody tries to take away their equal rights. This has never been something that straight people are faced with, and there isn’t anything like this that they’ve had to overcome. They don’t have to do anything to live openly without hiding who they 16 The Fight
For all of these reasons, the idea of “straight pride” is not so much an equal counterpart to gay pride, but really more of a failure to understand what gay pride means. And because of the sweeping differences in how gay people and straight people are regarded in society, it only serves to trivialize the very real issues that gay pride represents.
You see it when straight teenagers never have to hide it, because they’re universally accepted for who they are, without being told it’s just a “phase” or getting sent to “reparative therapy” to cure them of their sexuality. You see it every time churches celebrate straight people and their relationships instead of reviling them. You see it when straight teachers and coaches and scout leaders aren’t considered a threat to children because of their sexuality. And you can see it when your family doesn’t try to keep it a secret that you’re straight. That is the straight pride parade, and it’s happening all the time. You just have to pay attention. And gay people would really like to be a part of that, because there’s no reason why all this should be the exclusive province of straight people. But until that’s possible, there’s a reason why we have our own parades. Read more commentary by Zinnia Jones at: www.zinniajones.com/blog/
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of our support. And the campaign’s new fundraising apparatus appears designed to capitalize on their enthusiasm: Obama’s finance committee included one gay man in 2008; there are 15 this year, a source said. The Obama campaign finance director, Rufus Gifford, was a top California gay fundraiser; the DNC treasurer, Andrew Tobias, is gay; and the White House social secretary - traditionally a key, if unofficial, fundraising job - is also a gay man, Gifford’s former partner Jeremy Bernard. The spur for the gay community becoming an anchor for Obama’s reelection fundraising is a series of policy shifts in 2010. After a year of rocky relations and suspicion from Obama’s gay supporters that he wasn’t really committed to their issues, the last year saw a surge in activity. Along with the high-profile repeal of the military ban, Obama’s Justice Department recently refused to defend the Defense of Marriage Act. And the administration has taken smaller steps, like gay partner hospital visits and hate crimes legislation, concrete and important gestures that simply weren’t made during the Bush administration.
Gay Donors Fuel Obama’s 2012 Bid President Barack Obama’s reelection campaign is banking on gay donors to make up the cash it’s losing from other groups of wealthy supporters who have been alienated and disappointed by elements of Obama’s first term, report Ben Smith and Maggie Haberman at www.politico.com.
“It’s ironic - a year ago there was no constituency more unhappy. There was a sea change,” said David Mixner, veteran New York gay activist, who said that White House actions during the past year had swayed restive gay donors. “You not only will see a united community that will contribute to Obama, but they will work their asses off.”
Pleased by an all-out White House push to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell,” gay donors have surprised campaign officials with the extent
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The Gospel According To
Margaret Cho
THE WONDERFUL, ICONIC, FEARLESS MARGARET CHO ON OBAMA, MARRIAGE, RELIGION AND THE SILENT “T” IN THE LGBT COMMUNITY BY MARK ARIEL 20 The Fight
C
omedienne, actress, gay rights activist Margaret Cho defies traditional categorization. Cho, this year’s L.A. Pride’s recipient of the Morris Kight Lifetime Achievement Award, says that even though she is married to a man (she married straight artist Al Ridenour in 2003) she refers to herself as gay (“I’ve had relationships with women, but my politics are more queer than my lifestyle.”) “It’s not a traditional situation,” explains Cho. “It’s not a committed marriage. We’re just friends who share space. My parents don’t understand it. They just send us Yahoo E-cards wishing us well.” Cho grew up in San Francisco in the ‘70s and ‘80s and credits the gay men and drag queens she knew there for teaching her how to be herself and be brave. “If it were not for gay men, I would not talk to men at all...I am heterophobic,” she said in her comedy special “I’m The One That I Want.” As a self described fag hag Cho wrote and starred an independent film in 2005 about a gay man and his best friend that premiered at the Toronto Film Festival. She also participated in the Funny Or Die video criticizing Prop 8 supporters, and starred in the TV show “Rick & Steve the Happiest Gay Couple in All the World.” When gay marriage was legalized in California, Cho was deputized by the city of San Francisco to perform gay marriages there. Currently living in Atlanta while filming Season 3 of Drop Dead Diva (Premiers June 19 on Lifetime), Cho spoke to THE FIGHT about religion, spirituality and the silent “T” in the LGBT community.
RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY I grew up in a very religious family. I consider myself a spiritual person, but I do not adhere to a particular organized religion. I have a huge problem when certain religious groups do not admit gays and lesbians - to exclude us from anything is terrible. Christianity is - and should be - inclusive. I want Jesus to come back and say “THAT’S NOT WHAT I MEANT.”
the DOMA issue, President Obama definitely needs to work more towards gay rights. I actually know the Obamas - and I do know that it’s never about what they truly feel - it’s all about the weird middle of the road place the President has to be in. I think that’s wrong - I understand it’s an issue of politics - but I think he should be who he is.
THE “B” & THE “T” There is some ambiguity in the way our community treats bisexuals and trans folk, it’s a weird kind of thing to have to fight for your place within the queer community. I feel we are not taken as seriously as the LG part and that is not right. We should be counted alongside everybody else.
“There is some ambiguity in the way our community treats bisexuals and trans folk, it’s a weird kind of thing to have to fight for your place within the queer community”
CLASSIC CHO Beauty “Just because you are blind, and unable to see my beauty doesn’t mean it does not exist.”
Sexuality “I was like, Am I gay? Am I straight? And I realized...I’m just slutty. Where’s my parade?
THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY
Minorities
I’ve always had a deep connection to the trans community but over the past few years it has become more intense. I have lot of trans children I am close to - they actually call me Tranma... It is important for our community to reach out to transgender kids because they are on the receiving end of the brunt of homophobia. They have so much to deal with the outside world. I feel there needs to be more of a connection and outreach, more parenting. The older generation needs to reach out to the younger generation and provide support. It’s our responsibility to care for and mentor kids and we should place more of a focus on trans people.
“If you are a woman, if you are a person of color, if you are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, if you are a person of size, if you are person of intelligence, if you are a person of integrity, then you are considered a minority in this world.”
PREJUDICE AND BULLYING
Generosity
While mindsets are changing and we have more support from the straight community - there is still a very casual attitude towards homophobia. It’s a real problem. Social conservatives are trying to take the word gay out of hate crimes and anti-gay bullying in schools continues. This is another reason why the older generation has to be there for the younger generation. We have to learn how to parent them.
“Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways it can change someone’s life forever.”
Love “I urge you all today, especially today during these times of chaos and war, to love yourself without reservations and to love each other without restraint. Unless you’re into leather.”
OBAMA’S RECORD While I’m happy with what he has achieved, repealing DADT and The Fight 21
KEEPING THE OLLYOOD H T S L A WE I T FAITH N E D I NF CO
CHRISTIANITY ISN’T THE ONLY RELIGION COMPRISED OF A FEW PREDOMINATELY LGBT CONGREGATIONS. THERE ARE MANY CHOICES FOR OTHER THE REAL FRIENDS OF DOROTHY, THE AFFORDABLE FAITHS, INCLUDING SYNAGOGUES, HOUSING TRUST FUND AND THE PESKY SMOKING BUDDHIST FELLOWSHIPS AND OTHERS
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22 The Fight
T
he straight world’s view of the LGBT community has had no greater influence than religion.
There are varying opinions even within the three Abrahamic religions. The Torah speaks of the destruction of the cities of Sedom and Amorrah, known in the Bible and the Qur’an as Sodom and Gomorrah, with arguments coming from each of those religions interpreting the destruction as punishment for same-sex orgies. Midrashic literature, made up of expanded interpretations of texts as explained by ancient rabbis, attributes the wiping out of humanity by Noah’s flood as caused, in part, by samesex marriages of that time. But while Orthodox Judaism sees homosexuality as forbidden, and Conservative Judaism still wrestles with the issue, Reform and Reconstructionist Judaism has welcomed gays and even gay clergy into synagogues. Both ancient and modern Islam has been clear in prohibiting homosexuality, declaring it worthy of punishment by death. There has been a history of Homosexuals in Islamic culture, some seeing tops as being less reprehensible than bottoms, and those with power and wealth were better able to engage in activities with young boys and even women dressed as men, collected by the eunuchs in their court. There is a gay movement within the Muslim community, though it operates very discreetly, especially since the 2001 fatwa declared on the Al-Fatiha Foundation, a Muslim LGBT organization.
SAME SEX SAMURAI Other Eastern religions appear just as opposed to homosexuality, despite its undeniable presence in Eastern culture. There were bisexual Chinese emperors and, much like in the history of Islamic culture, homoerotic Chinese literature. However, traditional Chinese religions, from Confucianism to Taoism, see same-sex relationships as an obstacle to both procreation and the concept of male-female balance, valued as more important. Same-sex marriage is not recognized in China, Hong Kong, Macau, or Tibet. Buddhist monks are prohibited from any sex, and the third of five precepts of Buddhism, which discusses sexual “misconduct,” is sometimes interpreted as prohibiting homosexual acts. Buddhist texts recognize four genders, the additional two called “ubhatovyanjanaka” and “pandaka,” members of which are prohibited from Buddhist practices and ordination. These two groups are interpreted by some as representing the LGBT community. Yet Japanese Buddhism is very permissive of homosexuality, even historically within monasteries. Shinto monasteries also housed homosexual relationships, and Shinto has no edict against homosexuality. Samurai under the Tokugawa shogunate also enjoyed relationships with young men, much like the Spartan warriors, within a system known in the Edo period as “shudo.” However, modern day Japan, where there is still not same-sex marriage, has sometaboos about homosexuality, with gays and lesbians staying in the closet and entering marriages with the opposite sex. Hindu is a complex and diverse religion with many deities,
denominations, and texts. There are “third-gender” sects, including the Hijira, comprised of homosexual prostitutes and transgender people. There are portrayals of homosexual acts in sculptures at medieval temples, gay men referred to as “kumbhika” and “asekya” in the Sushruta Samhita, and lesbians referred to as “svairini” in the Kama Sutra. Of course, even with gods that change gender and pairings of gods in same-sex couples, there are also Hindu texts that assign punishments for homosexual behavior, and contemporary swamis against same-sex marriage. Sexuality is not as open a topic in India as in American dialogue, though much like in the U.S., there is still a debate over LGBT rights within India with progressive activists on one side and religious fundamentalists on the other. The Baha’i Faith, Sikhism, and Jainism are open to gays and lesbians, but not to their homosexuality or, for that matter, any lust or extramarital sex, though matching the “hate the sin, not the sinner” call of many modern day Christians.
Whether Catholic or Protestant affiliated or non-denominational, it is Christianity that has shaped views of homosexuality in the U.S. the most, from gay bashing straights to selfhating gays. SILENT SCIENTOLOGY Scientology prefers to remain silent on the issue these days, especially regarding rumors about certain celebrities involved in the church being closeted. Before later declaring that he had no interest in dictating rules about sexuality, L. Ron Hubbard, whose son Quentin was gay and committed suicide in 1976, had written at length about homosexuality being a “perversion.” The Church of Scientology in San Diego made donations to the campaign for Proposition 8. There are, however, openly gay Scientologists working within the church to improve relations between the church and the LGBT community. Despite their own history of other definitions for marriage besides “one man, one woman,” and their policy of welcoming gays and lesbians into their congregation, The Church of LatterDay Saints discourages homosexual acts and was one of the largest groups of donors and biggest campaigners for Prop 8. Mormonism sees homosexual feelings as a temptation to be resisted and overcome, and has included proponents for conversion therapy, but the church discourages the strategy of gays and lesbians entering mixed-orientation marriages with heterosexual members of the opposite sex. The other big player for Prop 8 was the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organization. Whether Catholic or Protestant, affiliated or non-denominational, it is Christianity that has shaped views of homosexuality in the U.S. the most, from gaybashing straights to self-hating gays. The Fight 23
“GOD HATES FAGS”
it’s time to understand “God’s word” in a new light.
Christian leaders have condemned homosexuality as far back as ancient Greece and the era of the Roman Empire, when citizens were involved in same-sex relations with slaves and pederastic relationships that were understood to be separate and apart from what was expected in heterosexual marriages. Like in Islam, submissive acts and gay sex between citizens were looked down upon. Christian emperors, just like today’s televangelists, were known to blame diseases and natural disasters on homosexuality, and Christian writers denounced homosexuality as worse than murder. Through the Middle Ages and the Protestant Reformation, Christian leaders eased up on homosexuality a little - by then, they thought bestiality was maybe at least a little worse.
UNITARIANS FOR AFFIRMATION
In modern mainstream Christianity, especially in America, the conversation has become much more complicated, with liberal theologians and gay and lesbian ministers citing a gospel of love, tolerance, and inclusion, and progressive denominations and progressive movements within historically conservative denominations working to shift the paradigm. For many believers, the Westboro Baptist Church and its “God Hates Fags” message is an embarrassing, extremist anomaly, no more representative of their views on sexuality than the Ku Klux Klan is representative of their views on race. But Christianity has by no means embraced homosexuality across the board. There is still a discussion whether or not to welcome the gay community into congregations, and then from there, whether or not to condemn their orientation. Some Christians aren’t sure whether it’s homosexual lust, or homosexual love and samesex relationships altogether, that are immoral. Some have even offered services attempting to train homosexuals away from same-sex attraction into becoming heterosexual, although the practice is on the decline. DIFFERENT BIBLE INTERPRETATIONS While Catholicism has maintained their stance that homosexuality is a “disorder,” there are Lutheran, Methodist, and Presbyterian churches, much like Anglican and Christian Reformed churches in Europe, still debating a spectrum of opinions. Some forgive homosexual desire as long as it’s not acted upon, some regard active homosexuality as incompatible with Christian living, some accept it as totally natural, and some are still considering whether or not non-celibate or even celibate homosexuals can serve as clergy. The debate hinges on different interpretations of bible verses, particularly Romans 1, 1 Corinthians 6, and Leviticus 18 and 20. Yet there are events in biblical narratives, such as the relationships between Ruth and Naomi and between David and Jonathan, which are interpreted by some as endorsement of gay and lesbian relationships. Some interpret verses seemingly against homosexuality as being specific to a historical and geographical context, with the Greek words “arsenokoitai” and “malaokois” that have been translated to “homosexual” perhaps actually referring only to male prostitutes and their customers. They also point out that the same Bible cited as against homosexuality also requires a childless widow to attempt procreation with all her dead husband’s brothers until a child is conceived, so maybe 24 The Fight
There were scattered gay-affirming Christian movements across the country as far back as 1946, when Archbishop George Hyde of the Eucharistic Catholic Church held a mass for gay men in Atlanta. The Episcopalian Church has spoken out in support of gay and lesbian civil rights since the seventies. The nineties and early aughts saw disagreement within the denomination, but over the last five years, they have recognized gays and lesbians as equal members of the congregation and worthy of ordainment. The Unitarians came out for affirmation of the LGBT community even earlier, ordaining gays and lesbians as early as 1984 and advocating same-sex marriage since 1996. There are a number of Christian ministries across the country geared specifically for the LGBT community, embracing their sexuality and being led by gay and lesbian pastors and priests. The biggest LGBT church is the Cathedral of Hope, a United Church of Christ congregation in Dallas, Texas, started in 1970. Christianity isn’t the only religion comprised of a few predominately LGBT congregations. There are many choices for other faiths, including the Beth Chayim Chadashim synagogue formed in Los Angeles in 1972 for the gay and lesbian Jewish community, and the Gay Buddhist Fellowship in San Francisco, which holds an annual retreat now in its 20th year. SPIRITUAL, NOT RELIGIOUS For those not afraid to be criticized as dabbling in the dark arts, there is Wicca and other pagan religions that are very welcoming of the LGBT community, an LGBT history in Haitian Voodoo, and acceptance by the Church of Satan, which is open to anything as long as it is between consenting human adults. For those who consider themselves “spiritual, not religious,” there are numerous gurus and temples that don’t adhere to any organized religion, and that welcome gays and lesbians. And for those ready to ditch theism altogether, there are numerous support groups for gay atheists, non-theists, agnostics, and secular humanists. Religious tolerance has been held up as just as important an ideal as anti-racism and feminism, but homophobes have hid behind religion and even claimed that acknowledging LGBT equality is somehow bigotry towards the religious. Gays and lesbians with religious leanings, and increasingly more of their straight allies, regard such ideas as blasphemous. While some of us are perfectly happy, ethical, and moral people without religion, there are also people who feel a deep connection to something greater than themselves. Though there is a long history of persecution and bloodshed over religion, we now live in a time where gays and lesbians can practice their faith, whatever it may be, without denying who they are or how they believe their god made them.
GAY / GAY FRIENDLY PLACES OF WORSHIP A partial list of LGBT friendly places of worship in Los Angeles and West Hollywood. For more information visit their web sites. Metropolitan Community Church mccla.org 4953 Franklin Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90027
Immanuel Presbyterian Church immanuelpres.org 3300 Wilshire Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90010
Beth Chayim Chadashim Synagogue bcc-la.org 6090 West Pico Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90035
St. Matthewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lutheran Church stmatthewsnoho.org 11031 Camarillo St. North Hollywood, CA 91602
Kol Ami Reform Synagogue kol-ami.org 1200 North La Brea Avenue West Hollywood, CA 90038
Christ Chapel of the Valley christchapel.com 11050 Hartsook Street North Hollywood, CA 91601
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 Dignity Center dignitylosangeles.org 126 South Avenue 64 Los Angeles, CA 90042 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
St. Paulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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. Victorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Catholic Church saintvictor.org 8634 Holloway Drive West Hollywood, CA 90069 St. Luke Lutheran stlukelutheran.com 5312 Comercio Way Woodland Hills, CA 91364 United University Church uniteduniversitychurch.org 817 West 34th St Los Angeles, CA 90089 Hope Lutheran ChurchHollywood hopelutheranchurch.net 6720 Melrose Ave Los Angeles, CA 90038
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hiv & aids
Early Treatment Reduces Transmission
M
en and women infected with the AIDS virus who take antiretroviral drugs immediately rather than waiting to become more ill dramatically cut the risk of infecting a sexual partner, researchers said last month.
“This is a crucial development, because we know that sexual transmission accounts for about 80 percent of all new infections,” Dr. Margaret Chan, director-general of the U.N. World Health Organization, said in a statement.
The findings in the study conducted in nine countries are expected to energize global efforts to slow the AIDS virus. The study showed that taking these drugs does not only slow the virus in people already infected, but makes these people far less infectious and far less likely to spread HIV to others.
“This breakthrough is a serious game changer and will drive the prevention revolution forward. It makes HIV treatment a new priority prevention option,” added Michel Sidibe, executive director of the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS.
The landmark study, mostly involving heterosexual couples, found a 96 percent reduction in HIV transmission to an uninfected sexual partner when antiretroviral drug treatment began early, before a person’s immune system begins to weaken under the onslaught of the virus. “The findings of this study strongly indicate that treating an individual with antiretroviral drugs sooner rather than later can have a significant impact on reducing the risk of transmitting HIV to their sexual partner,” Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told reporters in a telephone briefing. 26 The Fight
“Now we need to make sure that couples have the option to choose treatment for prevention and have access to it.” Dr. Myron Cohen of the University of North Carolina, who led the study, said it was the first randomized clinical trial to definitively indicate that an HIV-infected individual can reduce sexual transmission of HIV to an uninfected partner by beginning antiretroviral therapy sooner.
The Fight 27
rostow report
RAISE THE RAINBOW! Is it Pride Month again? So soon? Sing with me! June is bustin’ out all over! All over the meadow and the hill! Here’s a fun fact to know and tell. I was just checking the second line of “June is bustin’ out all over” and discovered an error in the verse that goes: June is bustin’ out all over! The sheep aren’t sleepin’ anymore! All the rams that chase the ewe-sheep, all determined there’ll be new sheep, and the ewe-sheep aren’t even keepin’ score! But actually, as I learned, sheep mate in the winter, not in June. According to Wikapedia, Oscar Hammerstein explained that 1873 was a special year for sheep reproductive habits. Do you want to hear the GLBT news of the last few weeks? Or shall we parse musical comedy lyrics instead? Oh, for God’s sake, where are your civic priorities? Since the question was rhetorical, I’ll ignore that answer.
BACK TO THE FUTURE? So, I’ve been reading about Equality California’s dog and pony show, a series of community meetings to assess our willingness to put a Prop 8 repeal measure on the 2012 ballot. There was a time of course, when everyone thought the Prop 8 lawsuit would be successfully concluded well before November of next year. But since the federal litigation has taken what looks to be a year-long detour through the California Supreme Court, it’s possible that Prop 8 could be with us for several years to come.
Ann Rostow
Does that mean we should try to vote it away next year? After all, another campaign requires a great deal of community time, money and energy; resources that to some extent will be lost to other goals.
28 The Fight
But here’s an idea. Let’s get the signatures and put a repeal on the ballot. Then, we’ll do next to nothing but make a big stink in the press and force all the Mormons to spend tens of millions of dollars bashing us. With luck, we’ll win just on demographic changes. If not, we can just repeat the process every year until we win. As long as we don’t spend money or exhaust ourselves campaigning we have nothing to lose, and we can drain the opposition in the process.
LET NEWT PAY DOMA’S LEGAL BILLS? Meanwhile, here’s an interesting marriage development I read on Lisa Keen’s news service. Turns out you have to have Congressional approval to spend taxpayer funds on things like, um, outside legal counsel. As you know, the House Republicans have signed appellate lawyer Paul Clement to a $500,000 contract to champion the Defense of Marriage Act on their behalf. Speaker Boehner arranged this by nominating a “bi-partisan” five-member committee, which promptly took a 3-2 “bipartisan” vote in favor of hiring outside counsel. No other member of Congress was obliged to weigh in on the sticky question of whetherto spend money on this antigay crusade, and apparently that means the funds are not authorized and cannot legally be used for this nefarious purpose. I would love to see the House Republicans
at all. Would Congress then have to take another embarrassing vote on the extra funds? It’s noteworthy as well that the DOMA defense, at least in its early stage, costs the same as Newt Gingrich’s Tiffany bills. LET’S NOT BE SCHMUCKS So, did any of you read the New York Times op-ed by a gay writer who pompously announced that he would no longer attend his straight friends’ weddings and urged us all to follow suit? Rich Benjamin implied (with no evidence whatsoever) that straight couples are oblivious to our love and see our fight for marriage as a play for political and financial advancement. Then, bizarrely, he compared attending a straight wedding to a “vegan going to a summer pig roast” or an evangelical “crashing a couple-swapping party.” Say what? Since when are our goals antithetical to those of our straight friends? Since when are our allies our enemies? I don’t mind pledging not to go to the weddings of straight people who hate gays and oppose marriage equality. But that’s not what Benjamin suggests. He’s dissing his college roommate! Petulant snipe. GROTESQUE ATTACK KILLS GAY MAN’S HORSES I can hardly bear to tell you about the arsonist who set a barn on fire in rural Ohio a month or so ago, killing eight beloved horses including a pregnant mare and a one-week old colt. The barn’s ruins
• On pompous gay writers and petulant snipes • On CA Supreme Court’s year-long detour • On the 10 most pointless salad ingredients
forced into a high profile vote on whether or not to pay Clement’s fees. Plus, consider that the $500,000 is an initial limit, which can be increased under the contract. Given that there are up to a zillion DOMA cases of one sort or another, Clement and company are sure to hit the DOMA ceiling in no time
Isn’t that excruciatingly sad? I usually avoid the truly depressing GLBT news, but this was the epitome of a hate crime. When I read about this horse murderer, as is the case with any effective hate crime, I felt a physical blow. I felt as if those were my horses, or maybe my two pugs, because I’m just as gay as that guy in Ohio and there are people out there, sane or not, who hate me just as much. FAIT TRISTE BOUCHE You probably already know that Minnesota put an anti-marriage amendment on its 2012 ballot. And Tennessee just enacted a law that bans cities and counties from passing protections against GLBT discrimination, a move that sounds suspiciously unconstitutional under Romer v Evans. But enough of politics and hate crimes. I was just trying to access a web link titled “The Ten Most Pointless Salad Ingredients,” but my computer froze while I was trying to bring up the story. I don’t like weird unidentified little pellets in my salad. I also don’t like giant cubes of toast, or random items that get tossed in for no real reason like crunchy pea things. So you can see why my attention was drawn to this provocative headline. Eventually, I googled “ten most pointless salad ingredients” and found the list: cucumbers, croutons, iceberg lettuce, onions, cheese, green beans, alfalfa sprouts, chow mein noodles, corn and bacon bits. Pointless? What’s “pointless” about bacon bits, onions or cucumbers? Or iceberg lettuce? The list reflects only the author’s taste, and I felt tricked into reading it. Ann Rostow writes news analysis columns for THE FIGHT and other gay publications across the country. Rostow can be reached at: arostow@aol.com
were defaced by anti-gay slurs directed at the man who owed the farm, who was devastated. The man had rushed out and tried to save his horses, but the fire-which melted a tractor-was too hot. He could hear them trying to escape, but could do nothing. The Fight 29
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The first fundraiser and kick-off party took place last month at Isla Cantina and raised over $900 and hosted more than 120 guests throughout the night. For more information on the Uplift Project - visit www.upliftprojectla.com.
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Losing The “Beer Belly” HORMONAL IMBALANCE, INSULIN RESISTANCE, NON-SURGICAL TREATMENTS LIPOSUCTION, TUMMY TUCK BY DR. NATHAN NEWMAN
M
en find it hard to los e the ir “Be e r Be lly” de s pite die ting a nd re gular e xe rcis e . Many fa ct o r s contribute to having the e xtra “ po o ch ” , “be e r be lly”, “love handle s ” a n d lo o s e s aggy s kin that j us t w on’t g o a wa y . Be low I w ill re vie w s om e of t h e ca us e s for this and the tre atm e nt o pt i o n s available to he lp you achie ve y o ur d e s i re d phys ique .
• D ie tary m odification s to redu ce ins ulin re s is tance
HO RM O N A L CA U S ES OF A BD OMI NA L BULGING
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L i fe s t y le and habits , w hich de te rm ine y o ur e a t i ng and e xe rcis e routine s are t h e fi r s t things to addre s s , how e ve r h o r m o n a l factors are ofte n ove rlooke d i n t h e t r e atm e nt of e xce s s abdom inal g i r t h . C entral adipos ity, als o re fe rre d t o a s t h e apple s hape d body or be e r b elly , i s due to intra- abdom inal fat d e po s i t i o n, w hich is clos e ly as s ociate d wi t h h e a rt dis e as e , diabe te s and othe r m ed i ca l conditions re late d to the I n s uli n R e s is tance S yndrom e . I ns ulin Re s i s t a n ce S yndrom e , als o know n as S y n d r o m e X , or Me tabolic S yndrom e is a n i m b a la nce in horm onal control. INSULIN ( I RS )
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T h e s y n d rom e is m ade up of a group of m ed i ca l c onditions that m ay include o b e s i t y , hype rte ns ion, high chole s te rol, h i g h t r i g lyce ride s , type 2 D iabe te s , and h i g h i n s ulin blood le ve ls . A lthough the d i s ea s e proce s s can re m ain e ffe ctive ly h i d d en for ye ars , s om e clue s of this syndrome may be seen as abdominal obesity, fatigue, poor mental concentration, and intense craving for sw e e ts . Mos t of the as s ociate d m ed i ca l conditions w ith I ns ulin Re s i s t a n ce S yndrom e are s ile nt until t h e y h a ve caus e d s ignificant dam age t o t h e b ody, at w hich tim e the y m ay m a n i fes t a s a he art attack or a s troke . N O N -S U R G I CA L TR EA TMENTS I n s uli n Res is tance m ay be re ve rs e d w ith t h e co m b ination of life s tyle change s a n d m ed i cal tre atm e nts as indicate d to r e s t o r e h orm onal balance to the body a n d i m pr ove your ove rall he alth. S om e o f t h e t r e atm e nt options m ay include : 36 The Fight
• Be ing phys ically act i v e on a rou ti n e bas is • A lte rnative /hom e op a th i c/ea stern m e dicine and pre s c ri pti on m e dications us e d in di a b etes tre atm e nt
S U R G I CA L S OL U TI ONS S urgical options are n ot a b l e to dire ctly tre at the hormon a l i mb a l a n ce and re m ove the ins u l i n resi sta n t f a t caus ing the be e r bel l y. Li posu cti on re m ove s the e xce s s f a t f ou n d i n be tw e e n the s kin and the mu scl e a n d abdom inoplas ty (tummy tu ck ) remov es e xce s s s kin and tighten s th e a b domi n a l w alls . The re fore , the se procedu res wi l l not addre s s the I ns ul i n Resi sta n ce f a t found be low the abdomi n a l mu scl es. I n obe s e patie nts , lip osu cti on , tu mmy tuck, and bariatric s u rgery su ch a s th e L ap- Band® proce dure ma y b e n eeded to atte nd to he alth ri sk s posed b y the as s ociate d m e dical ai l men ts. S U MMA R Y The be e r be lly m ay b e a si gn of si l en t he alth ris ks that ma y b e ma n a ged by prope r diagnos is a n d trea tmen t. L os ing the be e r be ll y wi l l n ot on l y im prove your look it wi l l b en ef i t you r life . Tre atm e nt m us t b e i n di v i du a l i zed to achie ve the be s t resu l ts. Dr Nathan Newman is a world renowned cosmetic surgeon in Beverly Hills. To learn more about Dr. Newman and his advanced cosmetic surgery procedures please visit NathanNewmanMD.com or Stem-Cell-Lift.com. To schedule a private consultation with Dr. Newman, please call 310-273-3344.
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Who You Calling A Hag? FOUR L.A. BASED COMEDIENNES ON GAY MAGICIANS, MATCHING GENITALIA AND THEATRE CAMP
Sharon Houston
Amy Witry
EMBRACING THE STRENGTH
THEIR CHISELED BICEPS
I love hanging out with a bunch of women who love sports, enjoy acoustic music, and don’t want to fuck my boyfriend. Yes, that’s a sweeping generalization of lesbians. They don’t all love sports, they don’t all enjoy acoustic music, and some of them actually want to have sex with the guys I’m having sex with or at least hear about it. I’m convinced that the only reason my friend Stamie schedules lunch dates with me is so she can hear about who I’m having sex with and that bitch wants details! For me, I find the confidence and the strength that my gay girlfriends have is a little bit different from the confidence my straight girlfriends have. I actually feel it’s more powerful. Some say, “Oh, it’s because they have more masculine energy.” I don’t believe that to be true. They embrace the strength and power of their femininity more than I do. They don’t acknowledge gender roles the way I do. They’re aware of them but they don’t let society dictate what they can and can’t do. They don’t make excuses for being who they are. They stand in their power, saying to the world, “Yeah, I’m at a fine dining establishment and I’m wearing a pair of Crocs! This is me! Get used to it!” I’m kidding. My friend Carmen only wears her Crocs to Larchmont, to work, and everywhere else but she’d never wear them in a fine dining establishment. That’s another joke. She totally would. And I love her for that because in her pale green rubber shoes, she’s saying, “I’m not going to conform to what you think I should be.” That’s a lady I want to share a table with. www.facebook.com/sharonhouston
Behind every happy straight girl is probably a team of gay men... It’s ludicrous to try and survive without them. They play many roles in my life and they are often my muses. They provide me with so much comedic material without even trying. I was invited to a birthday party for a dog at a ‘canine social club’. And the fact that the dog birthday party was on a Valentine’s Day weekend and I was available is not even a big deal. My life is fulfilled with gay men and all their magic. And yes I know a gay magician. I also know an animator, a sportswriter, a Marine, a firefighter, a clown and of course like 50 fitness instructors.
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My gay posse provides much needed balance to my life. They support me with their chiseled biceps and unwavering support. Gay men have been there for me for every major step of my life-from my high school prom (but who knew then?) to my wedding day. I mean I’m sure they will be there. I just need to find the groom. The gay men in my life have raised the bar so high that my future husband will have to be perfect adjacent. www.facebook.com/amywitry
Shelby Stockton
Amy Claire
ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE
SUSPENDING YOUR DISBELIEF
If there is one thing that I find to be sexy and charming, it’s manners. I covet good manners and try my hardest to be a wellmannered lady, even when my ex boyfriend knocked up his ex girlfriend when we were still dating. Yes. That happened. But I will flip a god-damned table if I hear one more religious fanatic, or repressed gay man, say that marriage is ONLY between a man and a woman. And don’t even start in with, “According to the Bible...”
I remember my first male gay friend. I was 7 so I don’t know that I was aware of his sexual orientation, but I was certain he was my most favorite person at theatre camp. I know it’s weird that there was a gay man at theatre camp but try to suspend your disbelief. He was unabashedly loud and glorious and I wanted to be just like him. Now I’m all grown up, in my 30s, single and living in West Hollywood. I have a divine selection of wonderful male friends who also happen to be gay. I rely on them for non-creepy malefemale affection and sound advice on things like fresh jalapeño margaritas and renter’s insurance. That’s why we ladies love our “gays.” They are incredibly loving and they do not judge me for giving that guy a blow-job last night despite my not knowing his last name. And only being sort of sure his first name is Mark. They think it’s funny that I fucked two guys in the same band. And I can talk to them about my psychopathic mother till the cows come home, where they will, at the very least, feign caring concern. No judgments. Which is why I hate that we have to make a thing about me being a single woman and them being a gay man. Let’s go back to theatre camp, shall we? How about my gay friends just be my friends. My most favorite people at camp. Who also happen to suck a lot of dick. www.missamyclaire.com
According to the Bible it’s a sin to eat anything that has been strangled. And everyone knows that a well-seasoned strangled goose is too delicious to be a sin. I also get a kick out of, “If we let them get married, then what’s next? People marrying animals?” Yes, that seems like the next logical step. If a goat can say “I do” I don’t see a huge problem there. But that’s a battle for another day. The truth is this: The definition of marriage has changed with society. It’s time to do it again. Unfortunately, our government allows themselves to be bullied by bigots who say it’s “unnatural” to let two people, who love each other, enjoy the same rights as others, just because their genitalia match. You know what, let’s just keep this pure, like medieval times. Marry only family members, to keep the bloodline intact. That way, we can sit at our dinner tables, riddled with recessive genes, scurvy, and deformities galore. But at least there’s a clear and concise definition of marriage. www.shelbystockton.com
Photography: Larry Wood
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calendar
WEHO PRIDE EVENTS PURPLE PARTY: A CELEBRATION OF WOMEN Friday, June 10, 5pm. PRIDE Festival Fairgrounds, Santa Monica Boulevard @ San Vicente Boulevard, West Hollywood. For more info visit: www.lapride.org. With a special performance by Macy Gray, this party celebrates all the courageous and daring women that have contributed the LGBT community’s proud history.
CHRISTOPHER STREET WEST ANNUAL PRIDE FESTIVAL Saturday, June 11 through Sunday, June 12. West Hollywood Park, 647 N. San Vicente Boulevard, West Hollywood. For more information visit www.lapride.org.
DYKE MARCH
“PRIDE 365: Power. Passion. Purpose” is the theme of this year’s Pride Festival. The Festival offers an opportunity for all to gather and be celebrated, entertained, educated and encouraged in finding new ways of generating Pride values for greater equality and social acceptance.
Friday, June 10, 7:30pm. PRIDE Festival Fairgrounds, Santa Monica Boulevard @ San Vicente Boulevard, West Hollywood. For more info call 323-848-6510.
CHRISTOPHER STREET WEST ANNUAL PRIDE PARADE
The historic kick-off the Pride weekend, the Dyke March serves as a platform to raise awareness about issues affecting the lesbian community.
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Sunday, June 12, 11am. Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood. For more information visit www.lapride.org. One of the largest PRIDE parades in the country regularly attended by over 400,000 people and featuring some of the best bands, advocacy groups, entertainers, floats and supporters of LGBT PRIDE. The Parade steps-off at Crescent Heights and travels westbound along Santa Monica Blvd. to the main entrance of the LA PRIDE Festival at San Vicente Blvd.
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