THE FIGHT SOCAL'S LGBTQ MONTHLY MAGAZINE JUNE 2018

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ICONS OF STYLE A C E N T U R Y O F FA S H I O N P H OTO G R A P H Y, 1 9 1 1 - 2 0 1 1

Image: Yohji Yamamoto, Autumn/ Winter 1995, 1995, David Sims. Chromogenic print. Courtesy of David Sims. © David Sims. Text and design © 2018 J. Paul Getty Trust

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June 26–October 21, 2018 at the Getty


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THECONTENTS FEATURES 22 NAVIGATING LA PRIDE

DATES, GATES, HOURS, & MORE

24 ONE CITY ONE PRIDE

HONORING OUR SHARED HISTORY

30 WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? 32

38

45 50

62

LGBTQ CULTURE VERSUS MAINSTREAM OWNING PRIDE TS MADISON, WILLAM BELLI, ALEJANDRO BATAILLE BLACK GAY BRUNCH A FLOURISHING FORCE IN HOLLYWOOD CHIP MART NEW AT THE 12 STEP STORE FORGING NEW TRAILS LGBTQ YOUTH LEADERSHIP SUMMER CAMP OUTFEST LOS ANGELES THE LGBTQ FILM FESTIVAL

DEPARTMENTS 16 THE TALK

KEVIN MCHALE

18 THE NATION

“CONVERSION THERAPY”

20 THE CITY

STORMY DANIELS

26 THE ROSTOW REPORT JUSTICE KENNEDY

36 THE SPREAD ALI ZAREI

40 THE SHARE LOCAL RECOVERY

57 THE EPIDEMIC BACK TO THE FUTURE

60 THE PROFILE TOOL SHED

64 THE ART

MIGUEL ANDRISANI

66 THE EVENT

LONG BEACH PRIDE

68 THE CALENDAR THINGS TO DO

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THEEDITOR

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Stanford Altamirano MANAGING EDITOR Mark Ariel ART DIRECTOR Nadeen Torio MARKETING CONSULTANTS Tom Pardoe Sean Galuszka Jacci Ybarra SOCIAL MEDIA Mark Ariel Sinan Shihabi WEBMASTER Nadeen Torio ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Sinan Shihabi EVENTS MANAGER Joseph Arellano

>> IN THIS ISSUE <<

THE FIGHT is proud to be a media sponsor of the LA Pride Festival and Parade, happening this month on Saturday, June 9th (12pm–1am) and Sunday, June 10th (11am –11pm). The LA Pride Festival takes place in West Hollywood Park, along San Vicente Boulevard (between Santa Monica Boulevard and Melrose Avenue), and in the Pacific Design Center Plaza. See “Navigating LA Pride” on pages 22-23. Also in this issue Syd Peterson examines how far we’ve come and what lies ahead (“Where Do We Go From Here?” pages 30-31). “Like many social justice movements, LGBTQ politics has been defined to a great extent by our shared oppression and our efforts to end it,” writes Peterson. “When you lift out that common thread, our various subcultures are more different than they are similar. The drag balls, motorcycle clubs and lesbian bars of yore weren’t coordinating with each other toward some larger goal. They grew organically out of local queer desires and ideas.”

“We need to continue to question mainstream culture,” states Peterson. “The larger cultural norms and conventions that have developed over human history have been constructed to serve straight people, not us. Just because marriage and monogamy help many straight couples live and grow together doesn’t mean it’s the right path for other combinations of people. Traditional gender roles may serve some cisgender, straight men and women, but they may not fit the wider spectrum of queer lives.” “LGBTQ cultures must continue to be visionary,” says Peterson. “We share a history with legendary geniuses like Leonardo de Vinci, Frida Kahlo and Aristotle, even if the concept of ‘LGBTQ’ or even ‘sexual orientation’ didn’t exist in their worlds. Their sexual otherness helped them find new ways of thinking, solving problems, and creating art. Part of our function as queers in a larger society is to use our unique perspectives on the world to push humanity forward.”

CONTRIBUTORS Dusti Cunningham Orly Lyonne Victor Melamed Paulo Murillo Roxie Perkins Syd Peterson Timothy Ray Ann Rostow Paul V. Vitagliano GET THE FIGHT AT HOME Sent Via First Class Mail 12 Issues: $36 6 Issues: $24 Mail check or money order to: Third Step, LLC 611 S. Catalina St. Suite 307 Los Angeles, CA 90005 PUBLISHER Third Step, LLC DISTRIBUTION Pride In Media The Fight Magazine is published monthly by Third Step, LLC. 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 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.

STANFORD ALTAMIRANO Editor-In-Chief Every month THE FIGHT donates a portion of its proceeds to an LGBTQ community organization. This month’s donation has been sent to The GLBT Historical Society. Founded in 1985, the GLBT Historical Society seeks to document, preserve, and share the stories of LGBTQ people. Learn more at: www.glbthistory.org. www.thefightmag.com 1 4 T H E F IGH T | www.thefi ghtmag.com

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 © 2018 Third Step LLC. 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. TheFightMag.com For Display Advertising, please call (323) 297-4001


JUNE 2018 | THE F I GH T 15


THETALK >> W H AT T H E Y ’ R E S AY I N G <<

KEVIN MCHALE

WHO I LOVE “Here I am. I’m loving, I’m respectful, I’m productive, and I’m a human being who has a right to love who I love.”

GLORIA CARTER

PEOPLE KNEW

“If somebody was a big fan and following everything I was doing [on social media], like the people I interact with on Twitter on a daily basis, I think there was zero surprise. People knew.” —Glee alum Kevin McHale confirming he’s gay in an interview with Marc Malkin during a Facebook Live talk last month.

OUR SUPPORT

—Jay-Z’s mother Gloria Carter at the GLAAD Media Awards last month, in a moving speech where she discussed coming out to her son and falling in love with her partner.

CONSIDER MYSELF

“Being a queer black woman in America… someone who has been in relationships with both men and women—I consider myself to be a free-ass motherfucker.”

JANELLE MONÁE

—Grammy-nominated singer and actress Janelle Monáe ( Hidden Figures, Moonlight ) coming out in an interview with Rolling Stone, last month.

“I am donating 100 percent of my profits from my new FX show Pose towards trans and LGBTQ charitable organizations. These groups do amazing work and need our support.”

TURN OUR ATTENTION

RYAN MURPHY

—Producer Ryan Murphy, co-creator of Pose, a new series with the largest cast of transgender actors as series regulars of any scripted series ever produced, on Twitter, last month.

USE MY PLATFORM

“… After she was murdered, I knew I had to use my platform to help Mia and women like her. I will do anything, go to any event, any parade, talk in any locker room about acceptance.” —Reggie Bullock, small forward for the Detroit Pistons, at the REGGIE GLAAD Media Awards last month, BULLOCK in a speech honoring his trans sister, Mia Henderson, who was killed in 2014.

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“The important thing is that we all now turn our attention to countries that are prosecuting and imprisoning gay people— and even executing gay people.” SIR RICHARD BRANSON

—Sir Richard Branson, in a speech receiving the Special Recognition Award at the 2018 NatWest British LGBT Awards, last month.

MAKES US STRONG

“In Canada and around the world, pride in who we are, how we identify and who we love makes us strong.”

JUSTIN TRUDEAU

—Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau upon receiving the “Media Moment Of The Year” prize at the 2018 NatWest British LGBT Awards, for his formal apology to the LGBT community over Canada’s decades-long campaign against gay civil servants or those in the military.


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THENATION >> POWER TO THE PEOPLE <<

GOVERNOR LARRY HOGAN

“CONVERSION THERAPY” BANNED Maryland has joined the list of states banning harmful “conversion therapy” meant to turn gay people straight. The programs greatly increase chances of suicide and are completely ineffective. Governor Larry Hogan signed the legislation last month, along with another bill that will expand housing and support services to youth experiencing homelessness.

LGBT WEBSITE RESTORED The federal Small Business Administration has restored a website geared toward LGBT entrepreneurs that had been offline for some 16 months. The SBA’s restoration of the site comes about one week after two U.S. House members—New York Representatives Nydia Velazquez and Yvette Clarke— voiced concern that its removal in January 2017 “may have been politically or ideologically motivated.”

NO ADOPTION FOR LGBT

Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer (R) has signed a bill that allows adoption agencies to refuse to place children with LGBTQ families. The bill, which was passed by the legislature earlier last month, would make it legal “for foster care or adoption when the proposed placement of such child would violate such agency’s sincerely held religious beliefs.”

LOW IQ INDIVIDUAL

President Donald Trump doesn’t know the difference between the virus that causes AIDS, HIV, and HPV, the virus that causes anal warts according to Bill Gates. Gates took questions from staff at a recent Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation meeting and revealed that in a meeting with the president Trump asked him if there was a difference between HIV and HPV.

GENDER NEUTRAL RESTROOMS

The governor of Vermont, Phil Scott (R) has signed a bill that would open up access to some public restrooms. The bill requires all single-user public restroom to be labeled gender neutral. It applies to restaurants, schools, stores, and other public buildings and public accommodations. The bill passed the Vermont House with a strong majority and got unanimous support in the Vermont Senate. n 1 8 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com


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THECITY >> BY PAULO MURILLO <<

JAZMINA SAAVEDRA

LOS A NGELES

Congressional Candidate To Face Investigation After Harassing Trans Woman In Bathroom

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law are calling on California’s Attorney General to investigate congressional candidate Jazmina Saavedra. Earlier this month, Saavedra, a candidate for California’s 44th Congressional district, posted a Facebook Live video that showed her harassing a transgender woman in a Denny’s restaurant in Los Angeles. In the video, she complains about protections for trans people under California’s civil rights law. She frequently misgenders the woman and alludes to the fact she had pepper spray and was prepared to use it. The video has since been removed from Facebook. HRC and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law believe this incident potentially constitutes a hate crime. W E S T H O L LYWOOD

STORMY DANIELS RECEIVES KEY TO THE CITY Stormy Daniels, the adult film actress, stripper, screenwriter and director who is widely known for her legal dispute with Donald Trump and his attorney Michael Cohen, was presented with the keys to the city of West Hollywood, by newly sworn-in mayor John Duran, who also declared May 22, Stormy Daniels Day. Daniels also conducted a meet and greet Chi Chi LaRue’s porn shop in West Hollywood, where people lined up for over three hours to take a picture with her. She sold t-shirts from her online store at stormystore.com. She collaborated with her photographer Keith Munyan and his husband J.D. Barrale—two men she refers as her “two gay dads,” to create anti-bullying bracelets, #TeamStormy shirts as well as two other designs that take aim at Trump. L O N G B EACH

THOUSANDS ATTEND LONG BEACH LESBIAN AND GAY PRIDE Thousands gathered for the 35th Annual Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride weekend last month. This year’s theme 2 0 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com

«Remember The Past, Create The Future” brought a collaboration of old and new community partners to make this year a fun and interactive weekend. The event offered a Teen Pride Wonderland, a Family Fun Zone and Senior Fun Zone. Drag queen Jewels Long Beach emceed the parade that ran down Ocean Drive. She introduced hundreds of organizations, businesses, and politicians who participated in the festivities. ORA NGE COUNTY

REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN: IT’S OK TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST GAYS

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) told a group of realtors in Orange County last month that homeowners should be able to refuse to sell their property to gays and lesbians, a statement that cost him the support of a key national Realtor group, reported The Orange County Register. “Every homeowner should be able to make a decision not to sell their home to someone (if) they don’t agree with their lifestyle,” Rohrabacher told an Orange County Association of Realtors delegation at a May 16 meeting in Washington, D.C. The statement ignited a protest by

a Realtor gay-rights group, prompting the National Association of Realtors to withdraw its recommendation that members send campaign contributions to Rohrabacher. PA LM S PR INGS

NEW MURALS CELEBRATING PALM SPRINGS AND THOSE WE HAVE LOST

Artist Juan-Manuel Alonso has created new murals at the LGBT Center of the Desert,l covering two curved walls of the staircases. Between the first and second floor is his depiction of what Palm Springs means to him. There are mountains and a deep blue sky, as well as the bell tower of Desert Regional Medical Center rising above palm trees and buildings, complete with swimming pools. The wall between the second and third floors reveals five lifesize dancers floating in the same deep-blue sky, one for each of the letters L, B, G, T and Q. It’s a reminder that although many loved ones might no longer be in our physical presence, our memories keep them alive, and they are still watching over us. For more information, visit www.alonso-art.com.


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>> LA PRIDE 2018 <<

Everything you need to know. Dates, gates, hours, stages, tickets and more. he 2018 LA Pride Festival takes place this month on Saturday, June 9th (12pm—1am) and Sunday, June 10th (11am—11pm). The LA Pride Festival takes place in West Hollywood Park, along San Vicente Boulevard (between Santa Monica Boulevard and Melrose Avenue), and in the Pacific Design Center Plaza.

The main entrance to the Festival (aka, the “North Gate”) is located at San Vicente and Santa Monica Boulevards. There is a smaller, second entrance (aka, the “South Gate”) located at San Vicente Boulevard and Melrose Avenue. Enter through the “North Gate” to avoid long waits in line.

PROGRAMMING The LA Pride experience is focused on creating a diverse array of events and programming that the entire LGBTQ+ community and our allies can enjoy. This year, in addition to the annual LA Pride Parade and Festival, they will host a series of events all week long (“Pride Week”). Check out www.lapride.org for more information.

TOVE LO

PERFORMERS Kehlani and Tove Lo are among this year’s Festival headliners. Other performers include Icona Pop, Lauren Ruth Ward, Eve, Kim Petras, Leland, Jesse Saint John, Keri Wilson, Laith Ashley, Karisma, Saturn Rising and many others! Check out www.lapride.org for performance times.

MUSIC STAGES The “Plaza Stage,” located in the Pacific Design Center Plaza, will be host to the Latin music program. This is in addition to the “Park Stage” and “Boulevard Stage” programming. The “Boulevard Stage,” located on San Vicente Boulevard next to the West Hollywood Library, will be host to the HipHop music program.

KIM PETRAS

SATURN RISING ICONA POP www.thefightmag.com 2 2 T H E F IGH T | www.thefi ghtmag.com


>> LA PRIDE 2018 <<

This is in addition to the “Park Stage” and “Plaza Stage” programming. For full line-up and schedule check out www.lapride.org.

TICKETS Advance tickets are on sale at www.lapride.org. General admission— single day (Saturday or Sunday) is $25. Full weekend is $35. Backstage Experience tickets are $250 for a single day or $400 for the full weekend. They include: exclusive backstage access to the park stage, two complimentary Skyy vodka cocktails per day and one complimentary afternoon meal per day Discounted tickets ($15) for ADA, Military (active/veteran), and Seniors are on sale all weekend long. These tickets are not available for online purchase. They must be purchased at the Festival Box Office.

TransCanWork—a program promoting trans inclusivity in the workplace that both provides resources to transgender job seekers and trains the businesses that hire them. For more on Mendelsohn visit www.lapride.org.

PARKING The festival does not provide parking. They highly recommend taking public transportation as both traffic and parking in West Hollywood during the LA Pride weekend are more difficult than usual. More specific details around transportation will be shared as the LA Pride weekend approaches. Check out www. lapride.org for more information.

PETS Due to the number of people at the LA Pride Festival,

they can only accommodate service animals.

ALL CHILDREN AGES The LA Pride Festival is an all-ages event. Bring the kids! However, you must be 21+ to consume alcoholic beverages on Festival grounds and 18+ to enter certain exhibitions. Proper identification and a 21+ wristband is required to purchase alcoholic beverages.

DRESS CODE As the 2018 campaign theme— #JUSTBE—suggests, they want you to express your individuality and represent what Pride means to you in your own, unique way! However, because this is an all-ages event, we must draw the line at full nudity. Private parts must be covered up!

FOOD The Festival will have tons delicious food and beverage to choose from, including vegetarian, vegan, and glutenfree options for those with specific dietary requirements.

GRAND MARSHAL The 2018 LA Pride Parade Grand Marshal is transgender activist, entrepreneur, and restauranteur, Michaela Mendelsohn. She is the KEHLANI founder of

JESSE SAINT JOHN

LAITH ASHLEY

KERI HILSON

EVE LELAND JUNE 2018 | THE F I GH T 23


WHEN BETTE MET MAE.

PERFORMER LAUREN PETERSON TELLS HER STORY. were there. Presented with the LA LGBT Center’s Senior Services Department and through a grant from the City of West Hollywood’s Arts Division, New Stages take LGBTQ seniors through a series of workshops culminating in an evening of songs, stories and original writing about the individuals who fought for LGBTQ liberation and whose lives were acts of heroism. Free Admission.

Honoring our shared history, and the people and events that paved the way for the rights we hold dear today.

T

he City of West Hollywood’s One City One Pride LGBTQ Arts Festival celebrates pride in 2018 with the festival theme “I Remember”—honoring our shared history, and the people and events that paved the way for the rights we hold dear today. One City One Pride consists of art events and exhibits—mostly free through June 30. Some highlights of One City One Pride 2018 are listed below. For a complete listing visit: www.weho.org/pride. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 2018

WHEN BETTE MET MAE City Council Chambers, 625 North San Vicente Boulevard West Hollywood, CA, 90069. 7pm-8:30pm. The first meeting of West Hollywood resident Bette Davis and screen icon Mae West took place in 1972 at the home of Charles Pollock on Orlando Avenue. It was a cocktail and dinner gathering of only seven people. Bette and Mae discussed www.thefightmag.com 2 4 T H E F IGH T | www.thefi ghtmag.com

their careers, loves, families, hopes and thoughts on work in film, their successes, men, and each other. It revealed a rare and personal glimpse of these strong women. The evening’s conversation was captured on cassette tape and 40 years later that tape was used to dub in the audio portion of a recreation of that evening using actors chosen to visually bring the guests to life while hearing the actual taped words of Bette Davis and Mae West. This screening of the 65-minute documentary will be followed by a brief discussion/Q&A with Wes Wheadon, the Writer/Director of the film and a panel of people involved in the film. Free Admission. SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2018

HEROIC LIVES

City Council Chambers, 625 North San Vicente Boulevard West Hollywood, CA, 90069. 7pm-9pm. “Heroic Lives” is about the people who changed our world, told by the people who

MARIACHI ARCOIRIS DE LOS ANGELES SUNDAY, JUNE 24, 2018

MARIACHI ARCOIRIS DE LOS ANGELES Plummer Park, 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard West Hollywood, CA, 90046. 5pm-6:30pm. Join the City of West Hollywood’s Summer Sounds series for a free outdoor concert with Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles, the first and only LGBTQ mariachi group in the world. Led by director Carlos Samaniego, Mariachi Arcoiris also features Natalia Melendez, first transgender female in the history of mariachi, as one of its members. Presented by the City of West Hollywood’s Arts Division as part of One City One Pride and Summer Sounds. Free Admission. For a complete listing of One City One Pride events visit: www.weho.org/pride.

BETTE AND MAE PHOTO: WES WHEADON. PETERSON PHOTO: SASHI PETERSON

>> LGBTQ ARTS FESTIVAL <<


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JUNE 2018 | THE F I GH T 25


THEROSTOWREPORT >> BY ANN ROSTOW <<

WE’LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS

CAKESHOP IS COMING!

Hello dear FIGHT readers. Doesn’t it seem as if the year is zipping by at top velocity? This is the June issue. Normally I’d be anxious about such a phenomenon, but this year my attitude is full speed ahead. We are in a race against time and history to reach the midterms, to reach 2020, to flip the House, the Senate, the White House. We’ve survived 2017, we’re getting through 2018. Can we make it? Can we reach the moment when “Hail to the Chief” will be played for someone who is not Trump, and hopefully not Pence? Can we make it to a time when we can listen to the President of the United States on TV without reaching for the mute button while incoherently screaming: “Get it off! Get it off!”? As the President would say, we’ll see what happens. In truth, that’s one of my own pat phrases, which sends a little frisson down my spine.

MORE FRIES FOR TABLE 15

By the way, I am watching TV with the sound off and I just saw that McDonald’s commercial with the guy who gets into college for the thousandth time. You know the one. The manager yells: “More fries for Table 15!” The shy employee hands him an envelope—and not a very thick one—and the manager yells: “Guys, two seconds!” assembling the entire staff in a circle. He rips open the letter and reads in a mumble until he realizes that the employee has been accepted at which point everyone claps and I wonder, what would have happened if the guy had been rejected? “Um, Dear Eric, I regret to inform you...” the manager’s voice drifts off and he looks down at the floor. “Damn it!” the employee snatches the

JUSTICE ANTHONY KENNEDY

SURELY JUSTICE KENNEDY WON’T FAIL US NOW, WILL HE? OR WILL OUR CHAMPION DECIDE THAT HE’S DONE ENOUGH TO HELP SAME-SEX COUPLES AND IT’S TIME FOR THE PENDULUM TO SWING BACK A BIT TOWARDS THE FAR RIGHT RELIGIOUS CONSERVATIVES? letter out of the manager’s hand and throws it angrily in the trash. The other staff disperse with a pat on the back, a word of encouragement. There’s a new anger in the manager’s

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voice: “I said more fries for Table 15!” I mean, the manager didn’t know what was in the letter! Why wouldn’t he read it before getting everyone together?

So, another month has gone by with no word from the Supreme Court on the Masterpiece Cakeshop case, which was argued in early December. I vacillate from confident optimism to abject fear because our legal position seems to be a winner, yet a bad ruling in this case could do us tremendous damage. It’s as if we are walking across a very sturdy and pretty wide bridge, a bridge that seems easy to traverse, not likely to fail us. And we ourselves are fit, in good shape, not likely to wander to the side or get dizzy. So everything is fine, right? Well, yes. Except for the fact that the bridge spans a thousand foot drop into a deep abyss. Just stepping onto the thing is terrifying. Surely Justice Kennedy won’t fail us now, will he? Or will our champion decide that he’s done enough to help same-sex couples and it’s time for the pendulum to swing back a bit towards the far right religious conservatives? Surely not. We worry about Kennedy because there is no doubt that four of the nine justices fully understand that you can’t allow citizens to ignore state civil rights laws based on prejudice, even (and especially) when that bias is disguised as a religious mandate. More importantly in this case, there is no doubt that four justices agree that being forced to sell a wedding cake to a gay couple does not constitute being forced to take a political stance in favor of gay rights. If the baker is being ramrodded into a political statement, then so is the limo driver, the florist, the caterer, even the assistant who made the little quiche appetizers. If making a cake for a gay wedding is “compelled speech,” a constitutional violation, then


> > W E ’ L L S E E W H AT H A P P E N S • M O R E F R I E S F O R TA B L E 1 5 • C A K E S H O P I S C O M I N G ! • A G R E AT E S C A P E • G R I M M N E W S A L L G O O D < <

so is providing the chairs, so is setting them up, so is mowing the grass, decorating the garden, dry cleaning the tuxedos. The premise is untenable, period. So why am I worried about our fifth vote?

A GREAT ESCAPE

Speaking of weddings, Mel and I could not resist stepping into the Royal Wedding like a warm bath and letting the sheer sweetness of the whole occasion wash over us until Trump was just a dim sickness somewhere in the back of our minds. The adorable children. The glamorous guests. The stately aristocrats. The horses and carriages and cars. The uniforms. I think I’ve already written that I wouldn’t mind reversing the American Revolution right about now, getting rid of the President and subjugating

myself to the Queen. Hell, I’d even pay taxes without representation. Actually, it might be a bit of a difficult transition, so I propose that Elizabeth II assign someone to serve as President of the United States, and we leave the rest of the American democracy intact. Prince William is too close to the line of succession, so I think Harry and Meghan would be preferable.

GRIMM NEWS ALL GOOD

Did you have a double take when you read that a federal judge just handed down a ruling in favor of transman Gavin Grimm, who had sought to use the male facilities at his high school in Gloucester County, Virginia? I think I heard you saying to yourself, hmm, didn’t I read about this case

years ago? How old is this Grimm guy anyway? Yes you did! This is one of those cases that has taken some twisty turns through the court system, even up to the Supreme Court, where it was accepted for review and then sent back to square one after the Trumpsters withdrew the U.S. government’s transfriendly policies. Since the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit relied heavily on those policies in their own trans-friendly ruling, the High Court gave the bad guys a do-over. Meanwhile, Gavin had long since left high school but maintained his lawsuit from the standpoint of an alumnus, who might want to use the mens’ room on visits to his old school. Whatever works. Now, as I just mentioned, Gavin’s case is going back through the courts on the merits alone.

Gavin’s lawyers can no longer toss the Obama Department of Education civil rights language into the mix, but they still have the underlying principles to rely on. Namely, that discrimination against transgender men and women, or boys and girls, is a form of sex discrimination, outlawed under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Gavin Grimm is not alone in his fight for transgender student civil rights. A few months back, a Wisconsin school district paid $800,000 to settle a trans discrimination case that was pending before the High Court after a trans victory in the Seventh Circuit. Other cases have gone our way even as the Trump administration doubles down on its transphobic policies for reasons we can only imagine. n arostow@aol.com

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>> COVER INTERVIEW <<

We must make a distinction between the parts of LGBTQ culture that the mainstream has adopted versus the parts that are still our own.

L

esbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people are extraordinary. We have overcome great adversity by being tenacious and joyful, fierce and loving, smart and revolutionary. While our fight for equality is far from over, we have to remember that politics is the strategy www.thefightmag.com 3 0 T H E F IGH T | www.thefi ghtmag.com

BY SYD PETERSON

and culture is the goal. We’ve gained a lot from our civil rights battles, but we can’t forget what we’ve been fighting for. Being LGBTQ in the 20th century was rough. Violence against us was commonplace and socially acceptable. Laws prohibited us from having sex, regulated how

we expressed gender, and failed to respect our relationships. However, some queers experienced freedom and community in underground collectives. Drag shows, motorcycle clubs, and the butch/femme scene are examples of queer-created cultural institutions that supported and inspired LGBTQ


> > L G B T Q C U LT U R E < <

WHAT WOULD THE PIONEERING BEARS OF THE 1990S SAY IF WE TOLD THEM THAT THE MUSCLE BEARS THINK THEY’RE BETTER THAN THE CHUBBY BEARS? HOW DO TRANSGENDER BEARS FEEL WHEN A WEBSITE OR EVENT’S TAGLINE IS SOME VERSION OF “BEARS = REAL MEN”?

people. Freedom rang in these private spaces, hidden from the public gaze. The intense entwinement of LGBTQ culture and politics began in the late 1960s, when riots at the Black Cat Tavern in LA and at the Stonewall Inn in NYC gave birth to new activist groups and the first gay pride marches. From then until the 2010s, the LGBTQ political movement gained ground at a rate not previously seen by other civil rights movements. We forced America to deal with the AIDS epidemic. We legalized gay sex. We made family law inclusive of diverse families. We opened up the military. We made marriage equality the law of the land.

MICRO-COMMUNITIES So where do we go from here? Like

our mainstream world, LGBTQ culture continues to split and re-split into microcommunities. This is assisted in part by technology: never before has it been so easy to self-curate, to identify a narrow swath of interests or kinks or aspirations and dive in. As my friend Ian likes to say, “There’s a Tumblr for everything.” It might feel scary to see these divisions thrive, but don’t forget: there are a lot more of us now than there were in 1950. But technology isn’t the only reason. Like many social justice movements, LGBTQ politics has been defined to a great extent by our shared oppression and our efforts to end it. When you lift out that common thread, our various subcultures are more different than they are similar. The drag balls, motorcycle clubs and lesbian bars of yore weren’t coordinating with each other toward some larger goal. They grew organically out of local queer desires and ideas.

CULTURAL NORMS We must make a distinction between the parts of LGBTQ culture that the mainstream has adopted versus the parts that are still our own. The success of RuPaul’s Drag Race is undoubtedly a win for queer culture. It demystifies drag queens and celebrates the “charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent” they personify. But the fact that a zillion people can quote every zinger from every queen on TV doesn’t

mean they have a deep knowledge of drag culture, or that they know much about the fore-mothers of drag beyond RuPaul, or that they understand why queers do drag. We need to continue to question mainstream culture. The larger cultural norms and conventions that have developed over human history have been constructed to serve straight people, not us. Just because marriage and monogamy help many straight couples live and grow together doesn’t mean it’s the right path for other combinations of people. Traditional gender roles may serve some cisgender, straight men and women, but they may not fit the wider spectrum of queer lives. We’ve also got to continue to question ourselves. For example, we’re a good 15 years into the bear movement now. This means that fewer gay men grow up thinking they’ll only be accepted in our world if they’re thin and smooth. But it also has meant that the same hierarchies that plague mainstream culture have crept into bear culture. What would the pioneering bears of the 1990s say if we told them that the muscle bears think they’re better than the chubby bears? How do transgender bears feel when a website or event’s tagline is some version of “Bears = Real Men”?

LEGENDARY GENIUSES LGBTQ cultures must continue to be visionary. We share a history with legendary geniuses like Leonardo de Vinci, Frida Kahlo and Aristotle, even if the concept of “LGBTQ” or even “sexual orientation” didn’t exist in their worlds. Their sexual otherness helped them find new ways of thinking, solving problems, and creating art. Part of our function as queers in a larger society is to use our unique perspectives on the world to push humanity forward. Most importantly, we can’t forget to have fun. LGBTQ politics has been an incredible tool for us to protect ourselves and to gain power. But elections and courts and optics and messaging can easily suck all the fun out of being queer. We don’t exist to prove ourselves to the larger world: rather, we’re here to squeeze every last delicious drop of gaiety out of our short lives. Don’t forget: LGBTQ politics is the means to an end. That end is the preservation and development of a constantly expanding, wild and wooly, beautifully chaotic collection of cultures. Politics is merely the work we put in so we can enjoy our authentic selves. Now go out there and have the best Pride Month of your life! JUNE 2018 | THE F I GH T 31


>> COVER INTERVIEW <<

OwningPRIDE An advocate for social justice, viral sensation TS Madison on racial and sexual discrimination, staying visible as a trans woman and personal, spiritual transitions. BY PICKLE | PHOTO BY DUSTI CUNNI NGHAM

S

ocial commentator and superstar performer TS Madison knows her priorities. Answering the phone, she huffed, “Well I’m on my way to check the mailbox to see if the good Lord done sent me a check!” “I know that walk,” I laughed. TS Madison has found a well-deserved place in the queer community as an advocate for social justice, an entertainer, and a queer trans woman with a voice of pride, strength, and progress. Not to mention she’s from Florida, so she’ll tear some shit up if she needs to! So what are you up to now, what’s on the agenda? Well, I’m always going to be an entertainer, and that’s where I got my start. I’m always going to do something on the internet. Social media is the wave of things going on in the world so we have to be in tune to that. And I’m working on things to entertain people and make them laugh! Have you always enjoyed making people laugh? Yes! I think that’s a gift that was naturally given to me. I love it—I think it’s therapeutic to make people laugh and I believe it’s part of my purpose on this earth! To make people laugh and smile and most importantly to make them happy! What do you think about that’s going on in the world? There’s so much inequality to do with racial and sexual discrimination and I feel that we are divided. I personally think that it’s important that we put a lot of

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“BEFORE I AM ANYTHING, I AM BLACK. I DO HAVE TO SAY THAT. I KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON IN AMERICA. I IDENTIFY AS BLACK FIRST, BUT SECOND I AM A QUEER TRANS.” things out on social media—people are getting their education from social media. This stuff isn’t new, it’s just that social media has brought it to the forefront. It is imperative that we stay social, that we stay current. It’s extremely important that as a trans woman I stay visible, for people who may not want to have a conversation with a trans person, but they come across a video of me and it makes them laugh or piques their interest, and maybe they’ll want to learn more about us! Is there anything that you identify as first before all others? Before I am anything, I am black. I do have to say that. I know what’s going on in America. I identify as black first, but second I am a queer trans. And I learned that when I was working in Australia with

Willam [Belli] and Aja the Queen. We got to know each other on a personal level and through our conversations on the back of the bus, on the way to the gig, I was like “Oh, so that’s what I am! I’m a queer trans!” I hope they know when I hug them it’s genuine, because we were all people from different backgrounds but when we talked it helped me understand something about myself, at 40 years old! Speaking of Drag Race Queens, what are your thoughts on season two winner Tyra Sanchez being banned from Drag Con and then warning attendees not to come? I love Tyra, and she’s young and she will learn. I think what happens and where the trouble comes from is with the fans. When I talked to her she was frustrated, and I understand that. This is America, baby, and you can’t dance around it—it is race. They only let a few of us queens through. Do I think the black queens on Drag Race are treated differently from the other girls? Yes. I am a part of that, I am a part of the WOW family and even though WOW does wonderful things for TS Madison with web shows and their support and love, and my personal relationship with them, sometimes we’re angry because we get tired of getting the short end of the stick or being on the back burner. How are you going to skip me when I’m a better queen? Is it because I’m not marketable? Is it because you can’t sell me? What is it? I get the frustration with Tyra. I get it. She’s a Florida queen like me and we do not play. Bitch, we’re used to Hurricanes; category 6 was discovered through that bitch and we will fuck some shit up!


JUNE 2018 | THE F I GH T 33


> > TS MADISON < <

You’ve said that life is a continual transition. I love that. What transition are you going through now? I am going through a personal, spiritual transition right now. I’m learning how to lose gracefully. How to accept things that I cannot change gracefully. Like I said, I’m from Florida and we will fuck some shit up, but I can’t retaliate to things the way I used to. I’m transitioning into a figure in my community. I’m in a spiritual place and a learning place. I’m learning self and having conversations with myself. Like I never knew I was a Queer Trans! I’m not concerned with labels but at 40 I can still learn about who I am and what I’m all about.

“TO THE PEOPLE OUT THERE: NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU FALL DOWN—BABY GET UP. GET UP, HONEY. THAT’S WHAT I WOULD REALLY LIKE PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND. NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU FALL DOWN, BITCH, GET UP! GET UP AND KEEP MOVING !” At the end of your song, Step Ya Pussy Up, you say “Be sure to read good books and bad people.” Can you give us an example of a good book and an example of a bad person? All of E Lynn Harris’ books. Those are all good books. I discovered myself through E Lynn Harris. Bad people are people like Donald Trump. This is a Pride Issue so I wanted to ask you: What are you especially proud of yourself for? I’m proud that after over 20 years of being trans, I am still able to discover who I am, and I am proud of myself for being open to learning about myself, and learning about my community and learning about the world and not shutting people out from teaching me. You’re THE FIGHT covergirl this month! Have you always known you were a covergirl? Oh yes honey! Put the bass in your walk! Covergirl, make your whole body talk. Yes, I have always known that. It was a pleasure talking with you! Anything you’d like to add? To the people out there: no matter how many times you fall down—baby get up. Get up, honey. That’s what I would really like people to understand. No matter how many times you fall down, bitch, get up! Get up and keep moving ! 3 4 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com

OwningPRIDE WILLAM BELLI “After being disqualified from a crossdresser game show (RuPaul’s Drag Race), Willam found success as a whorespondent anchoringshows for MTV, Logo & AOL while appearing as an American Apparel Ad girl, Sephora model for OCC Makeup and Magnum Ice Cream lady. He’s performed sh*ts (RuPaulogize) & hits (Boy Is A Bottom ) from his #1 Billboard charting comedy album on six continents, spent a few nights in jail and enjoys writing in the third person while rewatching old episodes of Nip/Tuck he was on. His first book SUCK LESS: Where There’s a Willam, There’s a Way missed the NY Times list by less than 100 copies so just go shoplift it or something. IDGAF. He’s been on Comedy Central more times than he can count and won the internet on Chris Hardwick’s @Midnight . You might have also seen Willam on YouTube cuz, who knows, maybe you’re one of the 172,000,000 views? Willam can be found on twitter/instagram/ facebook @willam and the upcoming film A Star Is Born opposite Lady Gaga.”

R. ALEJANDRO BATAILLE “Just think Sofia Vergara minus the long hair... keep the heels though. I can be perceived as a pretty stereotypical latin guy with the accent and the bold feelings, but what most people don’t know is that even though I was born and raised in Venezuela I have a French-Lebanese heritage, hence my last name “Bataille” and my deep love for knafeh which is a typical Lebanese dessert. I have been in the U.S. for about eleven years now, and I could tell you it has definitely been a rollercoaster of experiences. One military enlistment, three relationships (of course I’m only counting the ones where we lived together) and a college degree, makes me feel like I have done a lot of great things. Also add dancing on the weekends for bear events and leather bars! You can usually catch me at your local Eagle or a few circuit parties here and there. So if you ever see me out don’t hesitate to say hello, I’m pretty friendly (Unless I’m doing squads at the gym, I can be bitchy when I’m focused on ma fitness, It’s ma weakness).” Instagram: alejandro.bataille.


JUNE 2018 | THE F I GH T 35


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THESPREAD

CONTACT INFO: Facebook: Ali Amirali Zarei, instagram: amveg89.

SOMETHING NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT YOU: I was engaged to a girl six ears ago.

YOUR BEST AND WORST QUALITY: My best quality is being honest, my worst quality is being lazy.

HOBBIES: Cooking , traveling, Grindr (lol).

PET PEEVE: Dishonesty and inequality.

RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Single.

CHILDHOOD CRUSH: Ricky Martin.

CURRENT AND PAST OCCUPATIONS: Server, go-go dancer.

SELF IDENTIFY AS: Gay.

HOMETOWN: Shiraz ,Iran.

AGE: 28


PHOTO BY DUSTI CUNNINGHAM JUNE 2018 | THE F I GH T 37


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“UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF BLACK GAY MEN WHO WORK IN ENTERTAINMENT STILL STRUGGLE WITH COMING OUT. SO I’M JUST REALLY PROUD THAT THERE’S A PLACE WHERE OTHER MEN LIKE ME, WHO ARE OPENLY GAY, WHO ARE PROUD TO BE GAY, WHO ARE TRYING TO CHANGE THE INDUSTRY, ARE ABLE TO MAKE THEIR MARK.”

>> FOLSOM STREET FAIR <<


> > G AY M E N O F C O L O R I N T I N S E LT O W N < <

Not just a meal but a flourishing force in Hollywood. service every six weeks. “Unfortunately, a lot of Black gay men who work in entertainment still struggle with coming out. So I’m just really proud that there’s a place where other men like me, who are openly gay, who are proud to be gay, who are trying to change the industry, are able to make their mark,” Jones stated, who is a producer on season three of HBO’s successful series Insecure, and Netflix’s Step Sisters. BGB’s director Cameron Johnson describes the group as a collective force that bolsters its resources to help members either land roles, job opportunities or even create jobs. Seasoned members provide script critiques and mentorship to aspiring artists. “Together we can have an influence on entertainment,” Johnson said. “We can help grow each other’s careers.” Caldwell’s career grew immediately. Through his BGB network, he was introduced to several writers and producers, RANARD CALDWELL including award-winning screenwriter, Lena Waithe, who made history last year for her Emmy win with Netflix’s Master Jones to attend BGB. of None. Caldwell became one of her execu“Once I connected with that group, I was tive mentees. able to get the guidance I needed. BGB Today, the aspiring producer is working was a perfect opportunity to fully embrace full time as an assistant to two-time Emmymyself and understand how to navigate the nominated veteran producer Debra Martin industry as my full self. And understand the Chase of Martin Chase Productions (Princess power of men who are similar to you.” Diaries, The Cheetah Girls, Sparkle, Rodgers In June 2013, Jones, the founder of & Hammerstein’s Cinderella). BGB, strategically set out to break new ter“I know there is no way I could have ritory in Hollywood and create a social netsealed that deal without BGB,” said work for Black gay men in various parts of Caldwell. “I think there’s something attracthe entertainment. For the inaugural event, tive about coming into yourself, and I think he invited 12 men to meet and break bread that’s one of the base tenants of BGB is to at the Rockwell on North Vermont Ave. help individuals to come into themselves.” The brunch was a success. Five years later, A brunch that reinforces a culture of Jones says BGB is a full-fledged organizareaching back while creating an atmotion with 80 members that hosts speaker sphere of pride in one’s identity and comseries, expert power panels, networking munity. Sounds like a recipe for success. events and opportunities for community JUNE 2018 | THE F I GH T 39

PHOTO BY JESSICA BOYD

C

offee dates will get you far in Hollywood. Those connections elevate who you know and who knows you. For gay men of color in Tinseltown there’s a specific appointment you do not miss: Black Gay Brunch (BGB). BGB is an exclusive social circle serving up more than just eggs, bacon and mimosas, but rather empowerment, brotherhood and opportunity. Ranard Caldwell, 35, knows the power of BGB first hand. “Being an individual who was new to LA and new to professional spaces of entertainment, BGB allowed me to access and foster relationships.” Three years ago before moving to Los Angeles, Caldwell was working in New York as an executive consultant for large firms and corporations— making more than $150,000 a year. But his work left him unfulfilled. Through advice from his Morehouse college buddy, producer Ben Cory Jones, Caldwell took a leap of faith to explore his creative interests—pursuing a career in television and film. “To walk away from consulting took a lot of courage.” Raised in Toledo, Ohio by a traditional middle class family, that courage to break free meant Caldwell had to confront his sexual identity, as well as, abandon the façade of his serious, guarded and conservative image. “I wanted to be my full self personally, but also professionally. “I said to myself why are you fighting this?” Once in LA, in an effort to pursue his passions, Caldwell still struggled to move past the imaginary walls he’d built around his persona—causing him to feel deeply broken, vulnerable, and insecure. “I was in a dark place.” But part of his breakthrough from it all came after a personal invitation from

BY TIMOTHY RAY I G: @FREEMAN. JASPER


THIS PAGE IS SPONSORED BY

THESHARE >> BY PAULO MURILLO <<

EARLY RECOVERY

We asked three men in early recovery what they find the most challenging about being new in sobriety and what they do to overcome these challenges.

NEW FEELINGS “My biggest struggle in recovery right now is definitely learning how to deal with all my new feelings and how to cope with my feelings in a sober, healthy, positive way. This struggle comes up with new situations. It comes up at work. It comes up with my family. It comes up when I’m making amends with my friends and dealing with my past. Now that I’m sober, I don’t have any liquor or drugs to fall back on. Before I got sober I tried to avoid them as much as possible. I would always come across as very cold and distant. Then I would I would go from cold to very angry or on edge and volatile. I had to learn how to ground myself and find a middle ground. Today I use my tools. I breathe. I remind myself that not all conversations have to be a confrontation--that communication can be positive. What I bring to the table today is understanding, and try to be open and willing as possible and with lots of love. I have SEAN BROWN learned that I get what I give.” —Manuel Gonzalez, sober since June 1, 2017.

BIT OF EGO “The most challenging thing for me in early sobriety is coping with feeling euphoric recalls and learning to navigate that. Something else that his been difficult is wanting to have results, but being where I am. I only have

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a couple of weeks, but I want to be further down the path. I want to be at two years. It’s difficult to stay in the here and now. Sometimes it’s hard when people talk about how they have 10 years, or 20 years. I know time is important, but sometimes I don’t like to look at it. I know there is a little bit of ego, but this time that I came back, I didn’t want to talk about my time. I was more just happy that I was sober. I overcome this challenge by knowing that my journey is my own and not comparing myself to other people and their recovery. I need to be in acceptance with my story. I can’t worry about what other people are doing, or any TOMAS judgements they have about my EZ RODRIGU sobriety. That has helped me stay sober today.” —Sean Brown, sober since May 10, 2018.

MANUEL GONZALEZ

THE NEXT STIMULATION “The most challenging part about recovery is standing still and not wanting to constantly be stimulated. I was always looking for stimulation whether it was through art, or music, or being out there meeting people and things like that. For years I kept myself stimulated when I was doing drugs. I overcome this struggle by learning contrary action and by learning to meditate. Ironically, it’s what my soul is telling me I need to do— meditate and take life on life’s terms and to sit still and to work hard. It keeps me grateful. Before, I was so wrapped up in my ego and I was so wrapped up in what the next stimulation was going to be. That is what is working for me right now.” —Tomas Rodriguez, sober since September 21, 2017.


Lotus Place Recovery is a gender diverse conscious organization whose goal is to help clients grow into their authentic selves as they work towards self-acceptance and sobriety. Utilizing our team of experienced professionals, we provide a vast array of therapeutic modalities unique to each client’s journey towards healing. Clients explore multiple components of Self and Safety in Gender Expression, Emotional Intelligence, Self-Acceptance, Grief and Loss, Deconstruction of the Critical/Negative Self and the Impact of Trauma on the Self Experience while learning to live a substance-free lifestyle. Lotus Place Recovery’s core foundation is the SelfAcceptance ProgramÓ uniquely designed by Heidi Wells, Clinical Director and Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, whose extensive background in diversity and trauma recovery contributed to the formulation of a program tailored to address the needs of the LGBTQIA? Community. The SelfAcceptance Program seeks to increase client awareness of the Self (strengths and challenges) while decreasing negative belief systems that mediate the daily functioning experience and contribute to chronic relapse and selfdestructive behaviors. This is accomplished by facilitating trauma resolution; deconstructing negative self-concepts and helping clients discover their unique journey to healing the Self while maintaining long-term sobriety.

For more information about Lotus Place Recovery in Orange County, California please contact our staff 24/7 at (888) 735-3832. JUNE 2018 | THE F I GH T 41


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FILM BRINGS US TOGETHER

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hip Mart--a division of the My 12 store, the recovery gift store located at 8730 Santa Monica Boulevard, is coming up on one year of providing inspirational custom chips for all 12-step programs of recovery. Chip Mart specializes in chips that come in a variety of colors and styles, including seasonal, holidays, and specialty chips that can be used as symbols that commemorate various milestones in the journey of recovery. The latest additions to Chip Mart are the #killmeth chip which is in collaboration with the #killmeth campaign. Also new to the collection are the HOPE chip and the Anytime chip, with words on the flip side like “welcome” and inspirational quotes like “my heart’s in recovery.” “Our base in Los Angeles that made custom chips did not have chips available for all recovery programs and the colors were limited,” My 12 Step Store founder RJ Holguin told THE FIGHT. “We wanted to offer custom made chips for any and all 12 step programs. We wanted to offer a variety of colors that were not available before, and we wanted to make the traditional recovery chip fun and offer something different and inspirational.” Currently, recovery programs utilize chips to mark important milestones during their path of sober living. Their significance often helps to strengthen a person’s commitment and connection to the 12 step recovery process. ■

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Pride Recovery LA is an LGBTQ focused program that is located in West Hollywood, CA. We offer quality care for our clients, ages 18 – 60, to help them lead healthy lifestyles and commit to lifelong positive change. Each facility is staffed with highly trained clinicians and educators who utilize a full array of treatment methodologies to help adults carve out a meaningful place in the community.

Our clients have the opportunity to live in a sober home while attending treatment and maintaining their sobriety. Each residence provides bedroom amenities, fully stocked kitchens, food for all meals, utilities, washer and dryers, and access to Wi-Fi, smart TVs, and computers. Sober homes also provide transportation to 12-step meetings, planned outdoor activities, beach days, and volunteer opportunities. For More Info Please Contact:

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>> FOLSOM STREET FAIR <<

Brave Trails, an LGBTQ Youth Leadership Summer Camp, creates a safe, inclusive space for queer youth from all over the world. BY ROXI E PERKI NS

J

essica Weissbuch is the CoFounder and Executive Director of Brave Trails - a LGBTQ, non-profit Leadership Summer Camp for Youth based out of LA and Maryland. Brave Trails creates a safe, inclusive space for queer youth from all over the world to experience the joys of summer camp with like-minded peers while learning leadership skills that can help them become activists in their own communities. More information on Brave Trails and how to donate can be found at their website: www.bravetrails.org.

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In an interview with THE FIGHT Weissbuch talks about building queer kids’ confidence, the importance of positive role models and just having fun. How did Brave Trails get started? I have my Masters in child psychology and I’m a licensed Marriage/Family therapist. I always knew I wanted to work with queer youth as part of my life mission. That interest really stemmed from a youth group I was involved in in highschool called “Operation Snowball.” “Operation Snowball” was a drug and alcohol prevention program that led

workshops and retreats… It really formed who I am today and it always stuck with me what a weekend retreat among likeminded peers can really do for a young person. My wife grew up going to summer camp. She was raised by a single mom without a lot of money and was lucky enough to get to go to a camp that was specifically for underprivileged youth. It was a really formative experience for her. We would always joke about starting a camp but we were just like, “oh, that’s a pipe dream.”. Then one day we were just toying with


>> BRAVE TRAILS <<

the idea. Like, I’ve always worked with queer youth leadership and she has all this summer camp experience. So we were, like: what if we just combined our experiences and made a queer leadership summer camp? Then we got serious and put together a team that helped us get to where we are today… We’ve had amazing support from the queer community in LA. It’s been quite an amazing experience. How specifically does the camp differ from “traditional” summer camps? We are a LGBTQ leadership summer camp. What that means is that we are part traditional summer camp where we have hiking and archery and fun stuff like that - and we also have a leadership institute where we bring in leaders from the queer community to hold workshops teaching leadership and activist skills. Our workshop topics are really diverse. They range from how to build up your confidence and deal with anxiety, to college essay writing and public speaking skills, to knowing your rights at school as a queer student.

JESSICA WEISSBUCH

Are all the camps based in LA? How many campers attend and how long is the camp for? Our base is in LA but we’ve had the honor and privilege to start expanding and offering one week camps in Maryland. We had our first camp in 2015 - we were just hoping to get 15 campers. That first year we ended up with 40 campers… This past year we’re up to 120 campers so it just keeps on growing! We’re really fortunate to have been able to expand and offer our camp for six whole weeks now. For five weeks the camp is based in LA, and then one week at our satellite location in Maryland.

“WE ARE PART TRADITIONAL SUMMER CAMP— WHERE WE HAVE HIKING AND ARCHERY AND FUN STUFF LIKE THAT— AND WE ALSO HAVE A LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE WHERE WE BRING IN LEADERS FROM THE QUEER COMMUNITY TO HOLD WORKSHOPS TEACHING LEADERSHIP AND ACTIVIST SKILLS.”

Who is the staff at the camp? I imagine it’s not as simple as just hiring other teenagers as “traditional” summer camps do.

It’s true our counselors are very different than a “traditional” camps’ staff. Our staff are role models to the campers so it’s very important for us to bring in folks that

Who are the campers? What is the age range? Our campers are 12-18 and we also have an extra leadership program built into camp for 19-20 year olds where they get to be camp counselors in training. This year we also just expanded to have our first family camp for LGBTQ parents and their families.

are walking the walk and are actually successful, queer adults. We need people with experience in the world, who are professionals in their field and want to give back and offer their experience to queer youth. Even our campers who come from LA don’t always have the opportunity to be able to see successful, professional adults that are queer so it’s really important to us to give them those role models to look up to. In today’s climate where the world is slowly becoming more accepting why is it important to have a place like Brave Trails that is specifically dedicated to being a space for queer youth? Though the camp is based in SoCal our campers are from not only all over the country, but from all over the world. We have campers that come from other countries that are still very challenging environments to be queer in. Camp gives them a safe space to come be themselves. Even in the US where you would think that there is a better climate growing there’s still a lot of struggle. Our campers need parental consent to be able to attend so they all come from somewhat supportive families- but we still get campers where they have divorced parents and one parent is not in support of their child’s “lifestyle.” The “camp” aspect is also especially important because, though there are safe spaces for queer kids to receive therapy and mental health support, there are very few safe places where queer youth can go and be around like-minded kids and just... have fun. What is next for Brave Trails? One of our goals is to get our mentorship programming going where campers are paired with a counselor that acts as their mentor for a year. Beyond summer camp we also have year round programming that we want to expand like all ages drag workshops, improv comedy, and dance classes. Eventually, 5-10 years down road, I know we want to open more satellite locations in the Midwest and in the South where we know we have potential campers that really want to come but can’t afford to because we are so far away. For more information visit: www.bravetrails.org. JUNE 2018 | THE F I GH T 51


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PRIDE CELEBRATION + RALLY civic center plaza, san francisco

saturday, june 23 noon to 6:00 pm sunday, june 24 11:00 am to 6:00 pm

over 20 locally-produced community stages and gathering spaces free to the community $1 to $5 contribution earns $1 off drinks from official beverage vendors

SAN FRANCISCO PRIDE MAIN STAGE the steps of majestic city hall

the best in bay area talent, speakers, music, and dance featuring Yaeji, Le1f, Shopping, Alphabet Rockers, Evelyn “Champagne” King, Hector Fonseca with Natascha Bessez, and a performance from celebrity grand marshal Our Lady J (POSE, Transparent) visit SFPRIDE.ORG for the full lineup

48TH ANNUAL SF PRIDE PARADE + MARCH market street [ from beale to 8th ]

begins at 10:30 am • over 250 floats, groups, and supporters will march down market street in sunday, june 24

a spectacular display of solidarity, celebration, and acceptance

THE OFFICIAL SAN FRANCISCO PRIDE VIP PARTY under the rotunda at san francisco city hall

2:00 to 5:00 pm • featuring a hosted bar, delicious bites, and three rooms of non-stop entertainment sunday, june 24

SF PRIDE FREE COMMUNITY CALENDAR visit our website for a glimpse into the many events and opportunities in the city for Pride month

for more information and to purchase event tickets visit

JUNE 2018 | THE F I GH T 53


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Beverly Hills Medical Plaza PHARMACY

WE GOT YOU COVERED! ✔ All Your HIV Meds ✔ Truvada© ✔ Co-Pay Assistance ✔ Free Same Day Delivery ✔ Almost All Insurance Accepted ✔ Pre-Authorizations ✔ Human Growth Hormone ✔ Cialis / Viagra ✔ Tamiflu ✔ And So Much More! Founder, Rohini Goldstein: As A Cancer Survivor, I Know The Importance Of Getting Your Prescription Filled Quickly And Easily. I Want My Customers To Know That We Are Not Only Advocates In Health But Also Part Of Their Support System To Ensure Their Well-Being. 5 6 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com

Beverly Hills Medical Plaza Pharmacy Tel: 310-657-5551 150 N Robertson Blvd Ste 104 Beverly Hills, CA 90211


THEEPIDEMIC >> HTLV-1 VIRUS <<

DR. ROBERT GALLO

BACK TO THE FUTURE? Doctors issue warning about HTLV-1 virus, an ancient cousin of HIV: “Prevalence is off the charts.”

A

doctor is sounding the alarm over the spread of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1, or HTLV-1, a cousin of the far better known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HLTV-1 infections are surpassing 40% in some remote parts of Australia, reports LGBTQ Nation. “The prevalence is off the charts,” said Dr. Robert Gallo in a CNN report. Dr. Gallo discovered HTLV-1 in 1979 at the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. HTLV-1 is hitting Australia’s Northern Territory hard, particularly amongst indigenous peoples. HLTV-1 is not contained to Australia— it is present around the world, including South America, the Middle East, southwestern Japan, and a portion of the Caribbean—with an estimated 20 million people worldwide infected. HLTV-1 can be sexually transmitted and can lead to a number of illnesses, from lymphoma and leukemia, to the lung illness bronchiectasis. In spite of the prevalence of HLTV-1, there have been very little efforts explore treatments. “There’s little to almost no vaccine efforts, outside of some Japanese research, so prevention by vaccine is wide open for research,” said Dr. Gallo. Last month an abbreviated version of an open letter—signed by 60 physicians, scientists and HTLV-1 advocates from around the world—was published in the journal The Lancet, calling for the World Health Organization to implement five strategies to help prevent the spread of the debilitating and deadly virus. n JUNE 2018 | THE TH E F I GH T 57


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THEPROFILE >> ROB COLE <<

TOOL SHED

“A more accepting bar, appealing to a more diverse clientele,” says new owner Rob Cole. BY VICTO R MELA MED

R

ob Cole, the new owner of Tool Shed in Palm Springs, says what initially attracted him to the bar was the “neighborhood feel, a place where you could have a drink, hang out with people you felt comfortable with, and meet a new friend for additional activities.” Since taking ownership, six months ago, Rob has “added more activities to increase the fun sexy vibe and appeal to a larger customer base while updating the industrial look. I also to partnered with more organizations to have Tool Shed as their home bar.” What makes Tool Shed unique, says Rob, is the fact that “we are a more accepting bar and appeal to a more diverse clientele. Our unpretentious atmosphere, friendly staff, and nightly activities show are doing everything we can to create a fun comfortable neighborhood bar. We have a free clothes check and have underwear, jock, and bare chest nights. I am on the floor every

day making sure things run smoothly and people have fun. It is crowded, people are happy, the music is great, the dancers hot, and its time come to the Tool Shed.“

The Tool Shed is located at 600 E Sunny Dunes Rd, Palm Springs, CA 92264. For more info visit: www.toolshedps.com.

“Last year, [Mac] surveyed the past 240 years of American music in a 24-hour marathon that was immediately hailed as a historymaking event… This year, [Mac] sleighs it with Christmas songs.” —Time Out New York

TAYLOR MAC HOLIDAY SAUCE

returns to L.A. with a sassy dose of

Dec 14 & 15 @ Royce Hall, UCLA 6 0 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com

Tickets on sale now!


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Starline Tours CitySightseeing Los Angeles celebrates Pride Season in Southern California! Tour historic and current LGBT hotspots all within walking distance of our Hop-On Hop-Off stops. Arts, Culture, History, Shopping, Dining, Nightlife and more! Go to our website www.citysightseeingla.com and discover our special LGBT itinerary covering destinations over all routes. Enjoy our special offer with code FIGHT. 6 TH E F I GH T | www.thefi ghtmag.com

The fun starts here. Everyone is welcome.

1-855-4LAHOPON (1-855-452-4676) www.citysightseeingla.com

@hoponhopoffla

JUNE 2018ADA | THE F I GH T 61 @starlinetours compliant


>> LGBTQ FILM FESTIVAL <<

O THE MISEDUCATION OF CAMERON POST

OUTFEST REINVENTING MARVIN

LOS ANGELES

WHEN THE BEAT DROPS

The LGBTQ Film Festival screens more than 150 feature and short films at state-of-the-art venues around the city of Los Angeles. Next month, July 12–22. 6 2 TTHHEE FFIIGH www.thefightmag.com 62 GH TT || www.thefi ghtmag.com

utfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival is eleven days of not to be missed world-class films, panels, and parties. Taking place next month, July 12–22, Outfest Los Angeles screens more than 150 feature and short films to an audience of more than 40,000 people. The oldest film festival in Los Angeles, Outfest Los Angeles is considered the preeminent LGBTQ film festival in the world. The annual festival will open with Matt Tyrnauer’s vibrantly nostalgic documentary, Studio 54, featuring interviews with many of the legendary nightclub’s famous patrons, as well as those who worked behind the scenes during its heyday. The Achievement Award Ceremony will take place at the Opening Night Gala at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles on July 12, followed by the screening of Studio 54. Additional gala screenings include: Sundance NEXT Innovator Award winner We the Animals (U.S. Centerpiece), written and directed by Jeremiah Zagar the sweeping French drama Reinventing Marvin (International Centerpiece), from filmmaker Anne Fontaine; famed choreographer and filmmaker Jamal Sims’ feature debut When the Beat Drops (Documentary Centerpiece) on the Deep South underground dance phenomenon known as “bucking”; and Our Future Ends (Platinum Centerpiece), a multimedia and multidisciplinary satire about near-extinct lemurs living on longlost Lemuria. The 2018 Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival will close on July 22 at The Theatre at the Ace Hotel with Desiree Akhavan’s Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner, The Miseducation of Cameron Post, an unapologetically bold take on the topic of conversion therapy, starring Chloë Grace Moretz, Jennifer Ehle, Sasha Lane, John Gallagher Jr., and Forrest Goodluck. Outfest Los Angeles screens at stateof-the-art venues around the city of Los Angeles, taking advantage of historic venues and industry exclusive theaters along with the newly remodeled, outdoor Ford Theater and REDCAT: Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater.

For a compete list of screenings and locations visit: www.outfest.org.


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THEART >>

LGBTQ ARTISTS

<<

MIGUEL ANDRISANI

I

’m a true Pisces—a merboy out of water, Compassionate, a genuine friend, imaginative, and very emotional—so don’t make me cry. I am Californian raised here, in Los Angeles and Argentina, by a crazy Italian family. My goals and dreams for the future are all over the place, (I guess that suits my personality) which allows me to not only daydream, but swim. My artistry ranges across the spectrum of creativity. Professionally I am a makeup artist & artist. Currently, I have been exploring the digital medium of illustration, allowing my passions for the sea, mermaids, and adventurous storytelling come alive. All of my pieces originate with a concept; I sketch it on paper, digitally render the images , explore colors, play with hues and shading to create the cohesive piece fished out of my imagination.” ■ Website: https://www.migsart.net/about. Instagram: @Migs.Art. Facebook: @ArtsbyMigs.

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THEEVENT >> PHOTOS BY TOM PARDOE <<

LONG BEACH

GAY PRIDE Thousands celebrated at the 35th Annual Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride weekend that took place last month. THE FIGHT booth welcomed guests, performers and local celebrities. Thanks to everyone who dropped by to say hello. Be sure to visit us in August at Valley Pride and DTLA Proud!

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THECALENDAR >> THINGS TO DO << GMCLA’s summer concert event, The Pink Carpet, will highlight many of the iconic films that have depicted LGBTQ culture. They’ll be joined by Emmy Award-winner actor, comedian, and LGBTQ activist Leslie Jordan for an unforgettable experience.

SATURDAY, JUNE 9

LA PRIDE

West Hollywood Park, 647 N San Vicente Blvd, West Hollywood, CA. Info: www.lapride.org. The annual LA Pride Festival makes its return to West Hollywood Park.

SPLAASH 2018: LOS ANGELES PRIDE POOL PARTY

15TH ANNUAL SOUTHLAND HONORS

Taix French Restaurant, 1911 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, 90026. 6pm-9pm. Formal Leather Dinner, hosted by Lady Scarlett Sin. The Southland Honors awards were created to nurture an attitude of integrity and community pride, preserve leather community tradition, and to recognize community service.

Hotel Indigo Los Angeles Downtown, 899 Francisco St, Los Angeles, CA. 12pm-6pm. Downtown at the rooftop pool at the all-new luxury Hotel Indigo -boys, beats, BBQ and fun!

MASTERBEAT TOY FACTORY

The Mayan, 1038 S Hill St, Los Angeles, CA. 9pm-6am. Superstar DJ/Producer Ralphi Rosario returns to take you through the night.

THURSDAY, JUNE 28

2018 PURPLE LILY AWARDS

A flashback and flash forward variety show, featuring the Angels performing sketches, beloved musical numbers and of course their HIT single “You Don’t Know My Life.”

La Plaza de Cultura y Artes Museum, 501 N Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90012. 6pm-10pm. Latino Equality Alliance presents: The third annual Purple Lily Awards in Downtown Los Angeles. A celebration of the Latinx LGBTQ community and pride month. Food, drinks, and entertainment.

SATURDAY, JUNE 16

FRIDAY, JUNE 29

DRAGBALL 2018

Poinsettia Park, 7341 Willoughby Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046. 1pm-3pm. Two Teams. Two Charities. One Game of Kickball. Photo Ops for Days!

GLOW ME: SPACE MADNESS

Bullet Bar, 10522 Burbank Blvd, North Hollywood, 91601. 9pm-2am. Glow Me is back! SUNDAY, JUNE 10

RISE: AFTERHOURS AT THE FACTORY

VARSITY GAY LEAGUE SUMMER SOCCER 2018 TOTALLY GAY 80’S DANCE PARTY

Exchange LA, 618 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA. 4am-11am. Immediately following Masterbeat Toy Factory a special Pride after hours party with music by the legendary Morabito.

Poinsettia Park, 7341 Willoughby Ave, West Hollywood, 90046. 11am-2pm. Up to 12 teams compete for champion of the park.

BEARS IN SPACE 9 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

BOOTIE LA

Akbar, 4356 W Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA. 2pm-2am. Critter Control Chris Bowen & Victor Rodriguez bring New Orleans’s TRAX ONLY and Mexico City’s POR DETROIT together to celebrate.

FRIDAY, JUNE 22

The Echoplex, 1154 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026. 10:00pm - 2:00am. Paying tribute to the last decade in full mashup style with ‘00s Mashup Night! Resident DJs Shyboy and Nubar take your favorite songs from the turn of the millennium.

TUESDAY, JUNE 12

SATURDAY JUNE 23

CHICO’S ANGELS

THE PINK CARPET: LGBTQ & THE SILVER SCREEN

Oscar’s Cafe & Bar, 125 E Tahquitz Canyon Way #108, Palm Springs, CA 92262. 8pm9:30pm.

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Alex Theatre, 216 N Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA. 2pm-4pm.

Akbar, 4356 W. Sunset Blvd. Info: AkbarSilverlake.com End Gay Pride month with a bang as DJ Paul V. presents the “Totally Gay 80’s Dance Party” at Akbar in Silver Lake, celebrating with a night of ALL LGBTQ icons like The B-52’s, Culture Club, Erasure, Joan Jett, Wham!, Dead Or Alive, Soft Cell, Bronski Beat, Divine and tons more. Totally free. SATURDAY, JUNE 30

GENDER FLUID CONSCIOUSNESS RAISING

Community Meeting Room, West Hollywood Library, 625 North San Vicente Boulevard, West Hollywood, 90069. 7pm-9pm. Tickets & Info: https://fluid.bpt.me/ The 1st interactive Gender Fluid Consciousness Raising Event.


FOLSOM STREETEVEN TS.ORG

S U N DAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2018 11AM - 6PM FOLSOM STREET BETWEEN 8TH & 13TH SAN FRANCISCO, CA

PRESENTING:

PREMIER:

C H A RT E R :

S U P P O RT I N G :

MEDIA:

@FolsomStEvents @FolsomStreetEvents @FolsomStreetEvents

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