AUG UST 2018 | TH E F I GH T 1
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THECONTENTS FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
16 PALM SPRINGS LEATHER PRIDE
08 10 14 30 38 42 46 48
THE JUDGES, THE TALLY MASTERS, THE DJ
20 MOVING FORWARD
LGBTQ CALIFORNIA PAVES THE WAY
24 THE MEN OF RACELAND
SCOTT BLOOM’S NEW MOVIE
26 COMMUNITY PRIDE
THE FOLKS BEHIND DTLA PROUD
36 UNTAMED CREATIVITY
ART SHARE L.A. DOWNTOWN
THE TALK JAMIE CLAYTON THE CITY MUGGING IN WEHO THE ROSTOW REPORT LEGAL NEWS THE SHARE LOCAL RECOVERY THE ART ANDREW DANIELSEN THE EPIDEMIC DANGEROUS COMPLACENCY THE EVENT SUMMERTRAMP THE CALENDAR THINGS TO DO
40 MUST SEE TV
“POSE.” A TELEVISION MILESTONE
45 RELIVING CUFFS
RECLAIMING A QUEER SPACE
ON THE COVER
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(L-R) OLIVER APUCHE, REDLINE; GARRETT MCKECHNIE, DUTCH COURAGE CONSULTING; BRIAN MCINTIRE, PRECINCT; SERGIO HERNANDEZ, NEW JALISCO; ROSA MARIA GARCIA, NEW JALISCO; ANDRES RIGAL, SUMMERTRAMP. COVER PHOTO, TOC PHOTO AND MAIN FEATURE PHOTO BY DUSTI CUNNINGHAM
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AUG UST 2018 | TH E F I GH T 5
THEEDITOR
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Stanford Altamirano MANAGING EDITOR Mark Ariel ART DIRECTOR Nadeen Torio MARKETING CONSULTANTS Grey Crouch 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 DTLA Proud. The popular 3-day festival celebrating diversity, inclusiveness, and local talent, takes place this month, August 24-26. The business owners behind the successful venture reveal what it takes to create a true community based experience (“Community Pride,” pages 26-29). For more info on DTLA Proud visit www.dtlaproud.org. Also in this issue—Syd Peterson writes about 10 things happening in LGBTQ California that give him hope (“Moving Forward,” pages 20-23). In the spirit of positive motivation—one of the examples, writes Peterson, is the Anita May Rosenstein campus at the Los Angeles LGBT Center. The revolutionary space, set to open in early 2019, will include 99 units of affordable housing for seniors, 100 beds for homeless youth (double the number the organization currently has), new senior and youth centers, 25 units of supporting housing for young people, a commercial kitchen to feed homeless youth and seniors, ground floor retail space, and 350 subterranean parking
spaces for residents and visitors to The Village. “This new campus is not only going to be a dynamic and vibrant hub and be iconic for our community around the world, it is going to provide much-needed homes to some of the most vulnerable parts of our community,” said Los Angeles LGBT Center CEO Lorri L. Jean. Another example of good things happening in our state is the fact that history and social science students in California public schools will now learn about LGBTQ people and their contributions to California and U.S. history. “Curriculum that includes the contributions of LGBTQ people throughout history helps to create safe and supportive learning environments in which all students can thrive,” said Equality California Executive Director Rick Zbur. “And when LGBTQ students see themselves reflected in lessons and materials, their experiences are validated and their senses of self-worth are reinforced—while all California students gain a deeper understanding of both the adversity we have faced and our resilience as a community.”
CONTRIBUTORS Randy Carmenaty Dusti Cunningham Jeremy Lucido Victor Melamed Paulo Murillo Roxie Perkins Syd Peterson Pickle Ann Rostow Brenden Shucart 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
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
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AUG UST 2018 | TH E F I GH T 7
THETALK > > W H AT T H E Y ’ R E S AY I N G < <
KARAMO BROWN
CATHARTIC MOMENT
VERY WEIRD
ADAM LAMBERT
“Our current political climate is very weird right now and it’s creating a lot of tension and pressure, so ... I think Pride is more important than ever.”
“Making people cry is my favorite thing to do. That was my one goal during Queer Eye. I understand the importance of having a cathartic moment.”
—Adam Lambert on LGBTQ Pride celebrations, to GQ, last month.
—Queer Eye For The Straight Guy’s Karamo Brown, in an interview with The Guardian.
BE PERCEIVED ANGELA PONCE
ENTIRE WORLD
“My goal is to be a spokesperson for a message of inclusion, respect and diversity not only for the LGBTQ+ community, but also for the entire world.”
—Spain’s Miss Universe Angela Ponce, 26, a transgender woman, on Instagram last month. Ponce will compete in the worldwide Miss Universe contest this December.
—Love Simon’s Keiynan Lonsdale on growing up as a closeted bisexual teen to the Daily Mail Australia.
TOM DALEY
REFUSING LABELS
“There’s so much more to LGBTQ people than who they’re having sex with, and seeing people explore their own [sexuality] and refusing labels is really exciting.”
—Olympic diver Tom Daley to Shortlist, last month.
LIKE A PERSON
“I’m married to a woman and I’m very much in love with her but I’m not opposed to a man because to me, I like a person.”
KEIYNAN LONSDALE
“I worked really hard when I was a kid to hide anything about me that could be perceived as not straight... we each have to respect everyone’s timing.”
THE REAL ISSUE
“Actors who are trans never even get to audition for anything other than roles of trans characters… That’s the real issue. We can’t even get in the room.”
BRENDON URIE
—Panic! At the Disco‘s Brendon Urie coming out as pansexual in an interview with Paper Magazine. www.thefightmag.com 8 T H E F I GH T | www.thefi ghtmag.com
—Transgender actress Jamie Clayton in a tweet about Scarlett Johansson’s plans to portray a transgender man in an upcoming film. JAMIE CLAYTON
AUG UST 2018 | TH E F I GH T 9
THECITY >> BY PAULO MURILLO <<
W E S T HO L LY W O O D
GAY COUPLE MUGGED AT GUN POINT
JORGE MUÑOZ, JOHN GAVEGNANO
L OS AN GELE S
TWO DADS STABBED BY ADOPTIVE SON A man stabbed his two adoptive dads after an argument at the family’s home in Sherman Oaks last month. Ken Coll and Tom Boulet landed at a local hospital with stabbing wounds and both underwent surgery. They were attacked with a pocket knife by their 21-year-old son, Matthew Boulet, who they adopted as a child. It is unclear what sparked the violence, but according reports, police are investigating whether mental illness was a factor. Matthew Boulet, was home from college on summer break. He was apprehended by police at the house without incident. He could face attempted murder charges.
S AN DIEGO
FUND ESTABLISHED FOR LGBT GLOBAL REFUGEES The San Diego Center of Survivors of Torture International established a special fund to help LGBT refugees and asylum-seekers in San Diego County. City Commissioner Nicole M. Ramirez and the Imperial Court de San Diego founded “The 1 010T HTEH F T |T www.thefightmag.com EIGH F I GH | www.thefightmag.com
Boyfriends Jorge Muñoz and John Gavegnano, were mugged at gun point in West Hollywood on Saturday, July 21. The incident occurred at the intersection of Huntley and Sherwood, between Santa Monica Boulevard and Melrose Avenue at around 1:45am. The assailants walked away with the couple’s wallets and cellphones, reports WeHo Times. Muñoz described the assailants as “two African American men, both in their late 20s, or early 30s – wearing all black, baggy clothes. A second report was made by individuals who were mugged a few blocks away that night— also at gun point. The case has been assigned to a detective. Anyone with information on the two suspects is encouraged to call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or by visiting the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.
Bruce M. Abrams GLBT Torture Survivors Fund” with a $2,000 grant. Attorney Bruce M. Abrams has been an activist for the Jewish and LGBT community and countless social justice causes for well over thirty years. Currently, Abrams is the Chair of City of San Diego’s International Affairs Board and is formerly a chair of the Human Relations Commission. San Diego has been the destination of many LGBT immigrants seeking safety because in their countries being gay or trans can result in harsh punishments including torture and even death. To donate to the fund call (619) 972-6369.
OR AN G E C O U N T Y
OC LGBT RIGHTS ACTIVIST JANET AVERY DIES LGBT activist Janet Avery passed away last month. According to a Facebook message posted by her friend Cindy Elliott, Avery died peacefully. The cause of her death is not yet known. Avery was the president of Orange County Cultural Pride—the OC’s first gay pride festival and parade. With lawyer John Duran (the current mayor of West Hollywood), Avery fought Santa Ana city hall for a pride parade permit. She sparred with
anti-gay right winger Rev. Lou Sheldon and white supremacists in the mostly conservative area of Orange County during their efforts to try to revoke the pride permit. The first Orange County Gay Pride Festival was held in Santa Ana in 1989.
L O N G B E AC H
FIRST EVER LGBTQ ARTS FESTIVAL “OUT LOUD: A Cultural Revolution,” LGBTQ Arts Festival made its debut in the city of Long Beach, early last month, featuring 20-plus speakers and artists of the LGBTQ community, including poets, visual artists and performers. Dave Russo, the event’s founder, kicked off the event. Some of the queer festival performances included poet Clifton Snider, who read a poem dedicated to the victims of the Pulse nightclub mass shooting in Orlando two years ago and author Andrew Turner read from his book Heart, Mind, Blood, Skin. Singer-songwriter Lara Etzen, who is chronically ill took the stage just moments after being released by the hospital to perform her quick, rhyming lyrics. The first ever Lorde-Whitman Award, was awarded to Dr. Clifton Snider for his contribution and activism for the LGBTQ community.
In adults with HIV on ART who have diarrhea not caused by an infection
IMPORTANT PATIENT INFORMATION This is only a summary. See complete Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com or by calling 1-844-722-8256. This does not take the place of talking with your doctor about your medical condition or treatment.
What Is Mytesi? Mytesi is a prescription medicine used to improve symptoms of noninfectious diarrhea (diarrhea not caused by a bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection) in adults living with HIV/AIDS on ART. Do Not Take Mytesi if you have diarrhea caused by an infection. Before you start Mytesi, your doctor and you should make sure your diarrhea is not caused by an infection (such as bacteria, virus, or parasite).
Possible Side Effects of Mytesi Include:
Tired of planning your life around diarrhea?
Enough is Enough Get relief. Pure and simple. Ask your doctor about Mytesi. Mytesi (crofelemer): • Is the only medicine FDA-approved to relieve diarrhea in people with HIV • Treats diarrhea differently by normalizing the flow of water in the GI tract • Has the same or fewer side effects as placebo in clinical studies • Comes from a tree sustainably harvested in the Amazon Rainforest What is Mytesi? Mytesi is a prescription medicine that helps relieve symptoms of diarrhea not caused by an infection (noninfectious) in adults living with HIV/AIDS on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Important Safety Information Mytesi is not approved to treat infectious diarrhea (diarrhea caused by bacteria, a virus, or a parasite). Before starting you on Mytesi, your healthcare provider will first be sure that you do not have infectious diarrhea. Otherwise, there is a risk you would not receive the right medicine and your infection could get worse. In clinical studies, the most common side effects that occurred more often than with placebo were upper respiratory tract (sinus, nose, and throat) infection (5.7%), bronchitis (3.9%), cough (3.5%), flatulence (3.1%), and increased bilirubin (3.1%). For Copay Savings Card and Patient Assistance, see Mytesi.com
Please see complete Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com. NP-390-12
RELIEF, PURE AND SIMPLE
• Upper respiratory tract infection (sinus, nose, and throat infection) • Bronchitis (swelling in the tubes that carry air to and from your lungs) • Cough • Flatulence (gas) • Increased bilirubin (a waste product when red blood cells break down) For a full list of side effects, please talk to your doctor. Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Should I Take Mytesi If I Am:
Pregnant or Planning to Become Pregnant? • Studies in animals show that Mytesi could harm an unborn baby or affect the ability to become pregnant • There are no studies in pregnant women taking Mytesi • This drug should only be used during pregnancy if clearly needed A Nursing Mother? • It is not known whether Mytesi is passed through human breast milk • If you are nursing, you should tell your doctor before starting Mytesi • Your doctor will help you to decide whether to stop nursing or to stop taking Mytesi Under 18 or Over 65 Years of Age? • Mytesi has not been studied in children under 18 years of age • Mytesi studies did not include many people over the age of 65. So it is not clear if this age group will respond differently. Talk to your doctor to find out if Mytesi is right for you
What Should I Know About Taking Mytesi With Other Medicines? If you are taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicine, herbal supplements, or vitamins, tell your doctor before starting Mytesi.
What If I Have More Questions About Mytesi? For more information, please see the full Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com or speak to your doctor or pharmacist. To report side effects or make a product complaint or for additional information, call 1-844-722-8256.
Rx Only Manufactured by Patheon, Inc. for Napo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. San Francisco, CA 94105 Copyright © Napo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Mytesi comes from the Croton lechleri tree harvested in South America.
AUG UST 2018 | THE F I GH T 11
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THEROSTOWREPORT >> BY ANN ROSTOW <<
MAKE IT A DOUBLE I confess I did not expect Anthony Kennedy to resign out of the blue last month. And then he walks into the dining room at Downton Abbey, lifts his gold-tipped walking stick and sweeps the table clean in one dramatic act. Why? The man was only 81! Plenty of sessions left in Justice Kennedy and yet he abandons the High Court to Donald Trump and his minions at the Heritage Foundation. I should stop because I can feel another wave of outrage building in my fingertips, but I will just leave you with one thought: We are doomed. I tried the Downton Abbey metaphor to tamp down my ire somewhat. It sort of works. But really. We have had a gay rights majority on the High Court for over 20 years; the 1996 Romer Court was 6-3 in our favor. The same six justices ruled for us in Lawrence v Texas. Even after Alito replaced O’Connor, we’ve had a 5-4 edge for another 13 years and it should have continued for a few more. Instead, we will shortly switch to a 5-4 antigay majority which will likely send us back to square two or three just as we were about to win the long war for LGBT civil rights. Where’s the bartender?
DEFCON ONE Writing about our pending lawsuits used to be a satisfying, sometimes gleeful activity. Now it’s going to become a tedious chore. Now, a victory at one of the twelve federal appellate courts is no longer a step closer to some profound High Court gay rights precedent. Now it’s a prelude to a nasty anti-gay opinion that will
“WE WILL SHORTLY SWITCH TO A 5-4 ANTIGAY MAJORITY WHICH WILL LIKELY SEND US BACK TO SQUARE TWO OR THREE JUST AS WE WERE ABOUT TO WIN THE LONG WAR FOR LGBT CIVIL RIGHTS. WHERE’S THE BARTENDER?” no doubt stretch its tentacles into conservative lower court decisions for years to come. While Justice Kennedy made sure to lard his vague gay rights opinions with waffle and wiffle, I assume the next round of gay rulings will use clear language to make unmistakable legal pronouncements at our expense. What will they be? Well, there are now three petitions asking the Court to decide whether or not Title VII, the existing federal ban on sex discrimination in the workplace, inherently include gay and/or trans bias within
I GHTT || www.thefightmag.com www.thefightmag.com 1144 TTHHEE FFIGH
its ambit. Thanks to a recent transgender victory at the Third Circuit, I’m assuming another petition will soon ask whether trans-discrimination is covered by Title IX’s ban on sex bias in education. There are two or three appellate courts now holding back Trump’s attempt to remove transgender troops from the military for no reason. So far, Trump has not challenged these legal blockades. He was just stayed again by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Will he ask the 4-4 Court to review? Maybe, maybe not. But I assume that
the incoming Court’s view of the powers of the presidency will be more magnanimous. And how about the notion that antigay speech or faith should triumph over anti-discrimination law? After that muddle we got for the Colorado baker in Masterpiece Cakeshop, the Court then send a similar case back to the Washington Supreme Court for a do-over. The Supremes actually vacated the ruling in favor of gay rights law, and told the state to give Arlene’s Flowers another chance to make a case for refusing gay clients. If the wording of the main Masterpiece ruling reinforced gay rights laws, as analysts believed, why would Arlene’s Flowers get a new lease on life? It’s ominous. And even if Washington’s top court once again rules against the florist, what if the case rises back to the High Court like a corpse suffused with horrible gasses? Gay rights laws would no longer be worth a tinker’s dam.
LOOK AT THE RICE
What else can we talk about! How about the weird images that I keep seeing at the end of articles down at the bottom of the screen? Close ups of onions or grains of rice that look obscene at a glance but innocuous under examination. A fry pan full of sliced bananas in water. Is it just me? For all I know it’s all the result of an algorithm. Hey advertisers! Want to catch the eye of a middleaged lesbian home owner who likes small animals, alcohol and has no idea how to fix
> > M A K E I T A D O U B L E • D E F C O N O N E • L O O K AT T H E R I C E . • W E ’ V E B E E N H A D < <
electrical systems? Try this image of bananas on the stove. Or rice! Try grains of rice. I have other news of course. The Supreme Court of India is considering repealing the nation’s law against consensual gay sex. That’s nice since this is the same court that reinstated this law in 2013 after a lower court repealed it in 2009. In Israel, the gay community erupted under the relentless right wing pressure of the Netanyahu government and the Knesset, filling the streets with protestors July 22 after Netanyahu went back on a pledge and helped pass a bill allowing single women only to make use of surrogacy. The original plan included samesex couples and single men, so although a lesbian couple might get around the red tape, the new legislation basically forced Israel’s gay male couples to leave the country or
pay thousands if they wish to have a family. In Glasgow, the organizers of Pride screwed up royally, issuing too many paid tickets by email and then not staffing the booths where people were supposed to get their physical passes. Chaos ensued. Paid tickets? That’s a little odd, not to mention the fact that the event was oversold. Must have been the free haggis. I think marriage or couples rights have advanced in some out-of-the way countries since we last communicated dear Readers, but I don’t care. I’m too depressed about the High Court. Did I mention as well that Trump has been nominating appellate judges at a faster pace than anyone thought possible, and the Senate has been confirming them with few exceptions? They’re all as conservative as they can be, so there’s that also.
WE’VE BEEN HAD! Finally, I don’t know where to begin with the People magazine headline: “Donald Trump’s Pro-LGBTQ Statement at Republican Convention Was a Sham, Sean Spicer Book Reveals.” Is this supposed to be a surprise bombshell, “revealed” by the investigative journalist that is Sean Spicer? Do any of you even remember the “pro-LGBTQ” convention statement being referenced here? Hint: it was a message of condolence for the victims of the Orlando gay nightclub attack. Is there anyone out there who thought for a minute that Donald Trump supported our community? Of those few, have any of them maintained this fantasy over the last year and a half as Trump’s administration has
proved itself to be the most antigay governing cohort in modern history? Normally, I would have been writing about the many miseries we have suffered as a community, but considering we find ourselves in the same boat with the vast majority of our fellow Americans in the larger scheme of things, it seems self-centered to complain about the gay stuff. Our national parks are shrinking, environmental standards going up in smoke, health insurance systems undermined, protected species left to their own devices, tax revenues redistributed to the very rich, unions decimated, voting rights vandalized, the free press berated every day by a grotesque Orwellian monstress named Sarah, and then there’s the gay stuff! n arostow@aol.com
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DIEGO GAL
BRENT HEINZE
>> SCOTT BLOOM <<
P
alm Springs Leather Pride is proud to announce this year’s panel of esteemed judges for the Mr. Palm Springs Leather 2019 contest at the Palm Springs Air Museum on Oct 27, 2018. The panel includes International Leather Mr. Leather 2019; James Lee from the state of Kentucky won the coveted title of IML 40 among a class of 71 competitors. He aspires to follow three rules; have fun, be respectful and never give up. Steven Dwyer, Mr. Hoist Leather 2008 from London, England. Steven is a longtime member of BLUF and aficionado of cigars and uniforms. Tobin Britton from Portland, Oregon, who has held the title of American Leatherwoman as well as produced several state and national titleholders. He currently heads up IML Event Security and is president of The Rainbow Pistols PDX, a Queer social self-defense, and safety club. Jeff Wilcox, Mr. LA Leather 2017 from Los Angeles, CA is a self-proclaimed and proud nerd. He enjoys anything that deals with sci-fi, fantasy, anime, and/or comic books/ Manga. Diego Gal from Los Angeles, CA is true to from cigar and uniform fetish player. Diego has been a member of the Regiment of Black and Tans for over a decade and an Emmy award-winning special effects artist. Brent Heinze, Mr. Leather Colorado 2010, formerly from Colorado now resides in Palm Springs, CA. He is a licensed professional counselor, owning a psychotherapy practice specializing in working primarily gay men and kinky families. He was the recipient of the Pantheon of Leather Rocky Mountain Regional Award in 2015 and the 2011 Community
JEFF WILCOX
JAX KELLY
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GHISLAIN ROUSSEAU
JACK CHANG
STEVEN DWYER
STEVEN CARLISLE
JAMES LEE TOBIN BRITTON
PALM SPRINGS LEATHER PRIDE
The judges, the tally masters, the DJ and so much more. Coming this October. BY RA N D Y CA RMENATY, PALM SPRI NGS LEATHER PRI DE CHAI RMAN
Service and Leadership Award from National Leather Association—Colorado. Jax Kelly, Mr. Palm Springs Leather 2018, from Palm Springs, CA. During his title year, Jax raised funds to finance the website and 501c(3) certificate for Let’s Kick ASS—Palm Springs chapter and supported other HIV/AIDS organizations in Southern California. He proudly represented Mr. Palm Springs Leather at events around the world and throughout the U.S. The official Tally Master is M. Cuir Montreal 2010, Ghislain Rousseau one of the former owners of Montreal’s Fétiche Armada and host of BlacKKnight and Pride Montreal along with American Leatherboy 2016, Steven Carlisle as official coordinator to the tally master and judges. Joining them for COCKPIT is none other than international fetish DJ Jack Chang (Folsom St, Bay of PIGS, Folsom Europe, FUR-Ball, IML, Berlin). This year’s Palm Springs Leather Pride Weekend has grown even bolder than ever before to include three pool play parties welcoming back by overwhelming demand Esteban Bartolo’s Wild Safari Pool Play Party and introducing P.I.G.S.: Perverted Interracial Guys Swine and Swim Pool Play Party, INFERNAL a 2-day cruise/street fair, COCKPIT with international fetish DJ Jack Chang at the Palm Springs Air Museum and of course the Mr. Palm Springs Leather 2019 contest at the Palm Springs Air Museum which the year will also be the venue for our legendary Leather Formal Dinner and Cocktails. All 2018-19 leather titleholders are welcomed with a complimentary Renegade package. Additional information available at palmspringsleatherpride.org.
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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.
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AUG UST 2018 |ADA THEcompliant F I GH T 19 @starlinetours
“LET ME SHOW YOU SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL.” MODEL: DEVIN GUTIERREZ. PHOTO: KIMBERLEE ACQUARO. SEE #1
BY SYD PETERSON
MOVING FORWARD
10 things happening in LGBTQ California that give me hope. 2 0 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com
ARTIST RENDERING OF THE UNDER-CONSTRUCTION ROSENSTEIN CAMPUS. SEE #2 >> BEN CORY JONES <<
M
y fellow LGBTQ Californians, I’ve gotta be honest with you. I’m sad and fearful about what’s happening in our nation politically. I’ve been on edge for a long while, but this Brett Kavenaugh guy and the prospect of a Supreme Court loaded with five conservative judges? It was the straw that broke this gay guy’s back. How can I not feel bleak when decades of our work for sexual liberation are gravely threatened? I felt hopeless. Like it was hard to move forward. Like maybe all our work has been in vain. But then I went to a photo exhibit (described below) and my perspective changed. Hearing about people in our communities doing great work made me feel better. It cut through my despair. It gave me hope. I started thinking about hope: what does it mean? What does it look like? Is it important? I reached out to Dr. Becky Reichard, an associate professor at Claremont Graduate University, because she studies the idea of hope and its effect on people. “Hope is important because it provides a positive motivational state that drives performance and action. That’s a fancy way of saying that hope helps keep us moving forward,” she told me. “Hope is exactly what we need in the LGBTQ community. We need to identify the specific long and short-term goals that we want to achieve and develop multiple pathways to achieve those goals. Imagining barriers and developing contingencies will increase our hope and chance of success toward respect, equality, and representation.” So, in the spirit of positive motivation, here are 10 examples of things happening in LGBTQ California that give me a lot of hope. Maybe they’ll give you some, too!
1
Let Me Show You Something Beautiful is a photo exhibit at the Los Angeles LGBT Center by Kimberlee Acquaro, an Emmy-award
KIMBERLEE ACQUARO: “THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S DISCRIMINATORY POLICIES PROVOKED ME TO TAKE A STAND WITH THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY.” winning, Oscar-nominated photojournalist. Acquaro worked with more than 80 transgender, gender-nonconforming, gender neutral and gender fluid people to create portraits that they felt truly represented their authentic selves. “The Trump Administration’s discriminatory policies provoked me to take a stand with the transgender community,” said Acquaro. “The empowerment of being authentic, visible and seen comes at a cost. But by seeing and showing our faces and our bodies, by standing together, raising our voices for ourselves and for one another, I believe we are changing the world.” Monique Beltrán was one of the exhibit’s participants. “As a trans, gender-nonconforming person, it’s a rarity to feel safe,” Beltrán told me. “Being a part of any project about trans visibility enables me to feel a little safer in the world. Being a part of something that may enable others to feel safe is a deep honor.”
youth (double the number the organization currently has), new senior and youth centers, 25 units of supporting housing for young people, a commercial kitchen to feed homeless youth and seniors, ground floor retail space, and 350 subterranean parking spaces for residents and visitors to The Village. “This new campus is not only going to be a dynamic and vibrant hub and be iconic for our community around the world, it is going to provide much-needed homes to some of the most vulnerable parts of our community,” said Los Angeles LGBT Center CEO Lorri L. Jean.
3
In June, the SF Band of Brothers (a fraternal organization of leather titleholders) inducted four new members and two honorary members. Veteran community activist Daddy Ray Tilton and Vice Chair Gerald Borjas ran the ceremony. “Gerald is a beacon of what the future can be,” Tilton told me later. “When I was his age, during the AIDS crisis, we didn’t know there was going to be a future for gay men. Gerald’s energy and commitment to our community is strong. I love to see the fearlessness in these young people’s eyes.” “The SFBOB gives me hope for the community,” said Borjas. “It’s a group where we can freely discuss ANYTHING. Wise or rambunctious, we all can come together to encourage and show our individual and collective potential.” THE SF BAND OF BROTHERS. SEE #3
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Construction is underway on the Anita May Rosenstein campus at the Los Angeles LGBT Center. The revolutionary space, set to open in early 2019, will include 99 units of affordable housing for seniors, 100 beds for homeless AUG UST 2018 | THE F I GH T 21
SEE #5 >> BEN CORY JONES <<
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History and social science students in California public schools will now learn about LGBTQ people and their contributions to California and U.S. history. “Curriculum that includes the contributions of LGBTQ people throughout history helps to create safe and supportive learning environments in which all students can thrive,” said Equality California Executive Director Rick Zbur. “And when LGBTQ students see themselves reflected in lessons and materials, their experiences are validated and their senses of self-worth are reinforced—while all California students gain a deeper understanding of both the adversity we have faced and our resilience as a community. Equality California is proud to have sponsored the Golden State’s first-in-thenation LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum law.”
5
“California is a leader in ending conversion therapy—a practice that attempts to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, “ said Christy Mallory, the State & Local Policy Director at the Williams Institute, a think tank at UCLA dedicated to research on www.thefightmag.com 2 2 T H E F IGH T | www.thefi ghtmag.com
CALIFORNIA BECAME THE FIRST STATE TO BAN LICENSED HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS FROM USING CONVERSION THERAPY ON YOUTH IN 2012. SINCE THEN, 14 OTHER STATES AND DC HAVE ENACTED SIMILAR BANS. sexual orientation and gender identity law and public policy. In January, the Williams Institute produced the first-ever estimates of the number of LGBT youth who have undergone conversion therapy in the U.S.: 700,000 LGBT adults, including 350,000
who received the treatment as adolescents. “Many prominent health organizations oppose conversion therapy because it is harmful and ineffective,” continued Mallory. “California became the first state to ban licensed health care professionals from using conversion therapy on youth in 2012. Since then, 14 other states and DC have enacted similar bans. California is now leading the way again, as the legislature considers a broader law that bans the use of conversion therapy on adults in exchange for payment. If this bill passes, California will have the most comprehensive laws banning conversion therapy in the country.”
6
This spring, the state of California became the 5th largest economy in the world with a gross domestic product of over $2.7 trillion. Our state’s economic output surpassed by only the total GDP of the United States, China, Japan and Germany. While there are many components to California’s success, our support of LGBTQ workers is part of it. “Lots of research shows that positive LGBT work-related policies are good for
DAVID GALES AND RUTH BORENSTEIN SPEAK WITH GUN SHOW ATTENDEES. PHOTO: KAREN L. STRAUSS. SEE #10
>> BEN CORY JONES <<
SHAY FRANCOCLAUSEN. SEE #7
businesses,” said Dr. Lee Badgett, Professor of Economics at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and and longtime researcher of LGBTQ economic matters. “Good workplaces for LGBT people make them less likely to leave for new jobs and more likely to be creative and productive. So California’s economy benefits from having some of the most LGBT-friendly industries, like entertainment and tech.”
7
The 2016 election inspired a lot of women to run for office, and Shay Franco-Clausen was one of them. She’s the first lesbian to run for office in San Jose and the first Afro-Latina to run for city council there. She says that the recent surge in women candidates for elected positions gives her hope. “I’m a native San Josean and I’ve served this community in various capacities for 22 years,” she said. “Many women have an innate ability to nurture people. We play the long game in politics, just like we do with our families. LGBTQ and POC officials are prepared to make policy that impacts the entire community, not just a select few.” Franco-Clausen, who raised more than $90,000 for her unsuccessful run, plans to run for the seat again in three years.
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The Los Angeles Leather Coalition is adding an LA Bootblack Contest to Los Angeles Leather Pride Week 2019. “A Bootblack is a person who enjoys serving their community by caring for boots and other leather apparel and accessories. They always make sure those of us in the leather community look our best in all we do.” stated Gus Norris, the 2019 LA Leather Pride Executive Producer. “Los Angeles has one of the largest and most diverse leather communities in the world and has had a long and amazing tradition
of titleholders,” explained Scarlett Sin, Owner and Producer of Ms. LA Leather. “We at Ms LA Leather felt it long overdue to provide pathways for Bootblacks to enter, grow, and be recognized with a title by our communities for the skills and service they tirelessly provide us.”
9
In the predominantly Latinx neighborhood of Boyle Heights in Los Angeles, a group of parents and their LGBTQ youth have been congregating each month for nearly two years to participate in a peer support group conducted entirely in Spanish. Held at Mi Centro (the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s partnership location with Latino Equality Alliance), the group encourages families to discuss sensitive topics affecting LGBTQ youth, such as coming out, bullying, and HIV/AIDS. “What initially began as a safe space solely for LGBTQ youth to socialize has blossomed into a community workshop for all of their families,” said the Center’s Youth & Family Connection Manager JoAnn Cerda. “Especially in the machismo Latino culture, there is stigma surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity. Our peer support group aims to break down those barriers that prevent families from having meaningful discussions.”
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“I’m really inspired by the young people who are stepping up in a very inclusive way to oppose gun violence,” said Ruth Borenstein, a lesbian and self-described largely retired attorney and increasingly active activist in San Francisco
MI CENTRO. SEE #9
“Although not strictly an LGBTQ issue, our community is disproportionately affected by gun violence and this youth-led movement gives me hope that a new wave of activism will carry the day. These young leaders have great energy (which is contagious), they are media savvy, they seem to be fearless, and they are not locked in to politics as usual.” Being hopeful doesn’t mean we get to “forget” that bad stuff happens or that sometimes we face uphill battles. Finding hope in other people’s actions doesn’t exempt us from taking our own actions. As Dr. Reichard told me, hope is about “positive motivational states,” and finding inspirations that propel us forward in action. It’s about identifying our goals, whether that’s ending gun violence or protecting kids from anti-gay torture. And it’s about developing multiple pathways to success, like bringing families together to understand their LGBTQ members or lifting up younger leaders to ensure our future. So, LGBTQ California, if you’re feeling hopeless, look around for some other queers. Chances are, they’re doing something that will help you bounce back. And if you’re doing something inspiring, tell some other queers about it. We can’t afford to be stingy with hope right now. AUG UST 2018 | THE F I GH T 23
>> SCOTT BLOOM <<
“THE ROAD THESE MEN TRAVEL, NAVIGATING THESE UNFAMILIAR FEELINGS IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, IS A FASCINATING JOURNEY.” GARRETT PREJEAN (L), BRYAN BATT. “RACELAND.”
THE MEN OF
RACELAND
Childhood friends from the bayou develop a deep affection for one another. A film by Scott Bloom, currently in post production. BY MA RK A RIEL
A
fter working as a freelance editor for the past 25 years on hundreds of feature documentaries, sitcoms, film trailers and reality television episodes, Scott Bloom left the edit suite in 2005 and stepped behind the camera as producer and director. Among other ventures, Bloom created the award winning documentaries, Original Pride: The Satyrs Motorcycle Club (a series of oral histories commemorating the club’s 50th anniversary), Call Me Troy (on Rev. Troy Perry) and Out for the Long Run (about openly gay high school athletes). Bloom also wrote Southern Knights, a script inspired by the events of the Upstairs Lounge fire in New Orleans. “The script has won some awards and has gotten great reviews, but in Hollywood the machine takes forever,” confides Bloom in an interview with THE FIGHT. “So while we were shopping Southern Knights around town, I needed to put my creative juices back to work and thought that a short film might be a project that I could shoot on my own without having to wait for Hollywood.” That short film—Raceland—is currently in post production. “The inspiration for Raceland came from something my mother told me not so long ago,” reveals Bloom. “When I was 9 years old, my parents were having marital problems. One evening they were fighting. My mom was yelling and my father infuriated her more by not engaging—until finally my mother yelled, “Are you gay?” My father’s response was simply, “I don’t know.” To this day I’m not sure if he was truly questioning or if he was just deflecting so he didn’t have to fight, but this answer caused me to think about straight men in a very different way.” “The men of Raceland are childhood friends from the bayou that develop a deep affection for one another, emotional love—if you will,” explains Bloom. “The road these men travel, navigating these unfamiliar feelings in this environment, is a fascinating journey. I’ve come to find out their story is more common than one might think. It’s just not
2 4 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com
spoken of, because ‘men don’t talk about that.’ Hopefully Raceland will begin a dialog where it’ll become okay for straight men to share their affection with their friends without fear or judgment.” “Being on location in the bayous of Louisiana was an amazing treat,” says Bloom. “I’m from Louisiana myself, and despite what you might have heard, there is a welcoming gentility about the people there. We were shooting at a truck stop in Raceland during the weekend of New Orleans Pride. The truck stop is owned by a local family and at one point, one of the boys asked us if we would be going to Pride because ‘it’s a great time and it’s really cool.’ I think my fellow Angelenos were really quite surprised, perhaps bursting a preconceived notion about southerners and homophobia. This is the south I’d like to bring to people more often.” “We launched an Indiegogo campaign for our production costs that netted us a nice chunk of change—the emotional impact of that many people supporting your vision can’t be underestimated,” confides Bloom. “I also took on extra editing work for about a year in order to make sure we had all the money we needed to get Raceland in the can.” Presently, says Bloom, “we’re tasked with finding another $20,000 to pay for our editing, coloring, sound and original music. To that end, we’re launching another Indiegogo campaign as well as to make sure this film is done properly. Hopefully if we can get the same support for our post completion fund that we did for the production drive, we should be able to bring folks a really great film.” Check out their campaign at: www.igg.me/at/Raceland-post.
AUG UST 2018 | THE F I GH T 25
(L-R) SERGIO HERNANDEZ, NEW JALISCO; ROSA MARIA GARCIA, NEW JALISCO; ANDRES RIGAL, SUMMERTRAMP; BRIAN MCINTIRE, PRECINCT; OLIVER APUCHE, REDLINE; GARRETT MCKECHNIE, DUTCH COURAGE CONSULTING. www.thefightmag.com 2 6 T H E F IGH T | www.thefi ghtmag.com
Community Pride >> BEN CORY JONES <<
DTLA Proud, the popular 3-day festival celebrating diversity, inclusiveness, and local talent, takes place this month, August 24-26. The business owners behind the successful venture reveal what it takes to create a true community based experience. BY PICKLE | PHOTO BY DUSTI CUN N IN GHAM
AUG UST 2018 | THE F I GH T 27
>> COMMUNITY PRIDE <<
D
TLA Proud, “by the community, for the community,” the ambitious dream of LGBTQ businessowners trying to highlight the vibrant queer community in Downtown Los Angeles, has bloomed into a three-day festival celebrating diversity, inclusiveness, and local talent. The festival is a powerhouse of fun, information, and small businesses. Local talent takes the stage while LGBTQ+ personalities such as Andres Rigal, the creator of Summertramp, provide parties and curates atmosphere. Garrett McKechnie of Dutch Courage Consulting brings a frolicking faerie oasis. Altogether a highly queer affair. Thank goodness. I spoke with Oliver Alpuche, founder and president of DTLA Proud (a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization), about his personal connection to Downtown, the festival, and the venture of his own LGBTQ bar, Redline, which Apuche owns. What is your history with DTLA, on a personal level? Apuche: I used to come to DTLA as a little boy with my mom. She would buy jewelry down here to send to her family in Belize so we would come with her when I was like 5. And I always remember coming downtown and being mesmerized by the architecture and the hustle and bustle and even growing up in LA downtown was always the center-in high school we would come to the downtown library and do research for papers. Oliver opening up a Gay Bar in Downtown. What’s that story? I’d always been fascinated with Downtown and finally moved here in 2008. 2 8 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com
Just living down here and watching how free it is and how comfortable everyone was with lifestyle choices and seeing guys holding guys hands and girls holding girls hands, but where do you meet other people who are a part of the LGBT community? So finally I was like, well if no one else is going to open up a gay bar, I guess I’ll do it!
“WE WANT TO GIVE A PLATFORM FOR LOCAL MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY TO SHOWCASE THEIR TALENT. IT’S 100% VOLUNTEER BORN, WE DON’T HAVE ANY PAID POSITIONS.” Has that always been the dream? I never thought in my past that I would be a gay bar owner. What really fueled the decision was that I grew up in retail and ended up running a store for Nike. A lot of what I did was engage with the community, the running community. And building community there, building free half-marathons and starting a run club at the homeless youth center on highland and hollywood-I found my passion in that community-building setting. So when I opened a gay bar it was really about opening a community meeting place, whether it’s with non-profit events or things like that.
Was opening the same year as Precinct a coincidence? We signed a lease in March and found out about Precinct the first week of April. We had no idea, but as soon as we found out we had dinner and it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. We were able to rely on each other and ask each other questions to really help each other. DTLA Proud: Who’s head did that pop into? It truly was a snowball effect. When we were opening up Redline, we wanted to do a block party but with opening things got chaotic. Then a few months went by, and being already connected to businesses downtown, we went to a marketing meeting and pitched the idea of a block party and they were in and it snowballed from there. It was a community effort because nothing was set in stone. We wanted to showcase the LGBT community downtown and it really gained momentum and we knew that downtown was special; no matter where you live, a downtown center plays a role in your life. We wanted to be as inclusive as possible so we held a community forum and invited the non-profits to get involved. With everyone’s input it transformed from a little block party into a community festival that is trying to represent an inclusive community. Every year we try to add something new to improve on that. How do you manage the growth of a festival like this while maintaining grassroots values? It’s in the bylaws to preserve the main stage for local community talent.
>> COMMUNITY PRIDE <<
There’s a cap on what we can pay artists so that even if we move on from this, it stays community oriented, because it’s a community event. We want to give a platform for local members of the LGBTQ community to showcase their talent. It’s 100% volunteer born, we don’t have any paid positions. We don’t give corporate sponsors the option to banner everything. If they want to support us they can, but this is not a platform for their agenda.
PRECINCT, NEW JALISCO Brian McIntire, owner of Precinct (which he started with his late husband, Thor Stephens, in 2015) and Sergio Hernandez, manager of New Jalisco (owned by his wife, Rosa Maria Garcia), offered their experience running LGBTQ bars in DTLA as well as their contributions to DTLA Proud. What are the biggest challenges of having an LGBTQ bar in DTLA? What are the biggest rewards? Hernandez: The biggest challenge every day is make every customer happy. You know, with service, music, and the Drag show. With every single thing! And that is our reward—when people leave our venue saying “wow! this is a nice place. I love it.” McIntire: In the beginning, the biggest challenge was programming against the great unknown of who would actually trek downtown to go out. There were plenty of existing and reliable options in every direction of where we were, so a lot of risks taken in those first months, Many of these gambles paid off unbelievably well and we formed really strong
relationships with some of the best promoters in Los Angeles. But when I scroll through our old Facebook photos and see the graveyard of parties/events that no longer exist, there is regret there. Some parties were amazingly wonderful, but just couldn’t hold onto a sustainable audience. Of course, there are a few that just make me shake my head and laugh, wondering how we ever imagined we could pull them off. How have you seen DTLA Proud evolve since the first year? What do you hope of it in the future? McIntire: The growing excitement and support from the city and the gay community has been the most exciting aspect of the evolution of DTLA Proud. Again, there was so much uncertainty in the beginning. The people that live and work down here were very excited for it, but we really had no idea how the rest of Los Angeles would react to it. It has been a thrilling response, and I can only hope it continues to grow. Hernandez: Every year the event gets bigger and better and we are very honored to be a part of it. Tell me one memorable story since your business opened that you feel captures the essence of Precinct. McIntire: When Thor Stephens passed away this February, we decided the most fitting tribute to him would be to do something for him here, rather than making people get together at a church or banquet hall (which he would have HATED). The outpouring of love from so many people still gets to me. He would have alternately been embarrassed,
uncomfortable and loved every second of it. It is the moment when the people that work at Precinct, as well as everyone who comes here to enjoy themselves and each other, felt the most like family to me, and I will always cherish it. What was a night from New Jalisco that made you feel special? Hernandez: There was one Sunday night when they held the Emmy Awards across the street and a bunch of celebrities showed up with their awards! What has been the highlight of your year? What has been the darkest moment? McIntire: Thor’s death has really sort of eclipsed everything for me this year. We’ve had some very successful nights, there are a bunch of new parties happening that I am very excited for and I’ve met and befriended a lot of new folks, but without him, it all feels very incomplete. What do you both bring to DTLA Proud that only you can provide? McIntire: Unreliable air conditioning (my God, we really need at least two more AC units for the dance floor), but a patio that usually gets a decent breeze. And a really damned good steak! Hernandez: We are going to bring a beer stand, and the best drag show ever. You’ll see! DON’T MISS OUT! DTLA Proud 2018 will take place in Pershing Square on August 24th, 25th, and 26th. August 24th will be all ages and feature family friendly programming (including Drag Queen Story Hour!) August 25th and 26th is ages 21+. Tickets are available from the website at www.dtlaproud.org. AUG UST 2018 | THE F I GH T 29
THIS PAGE IS SPONSORED BY
THESHARE >> BY PAULO MURILLO <<
HELPING OTHERS
We asked a few local clean and sober folks how helping others through service helps them stay sober.
SIMPLE COMMITMENTS “Service for me is based on action. Service also keeps me accountable. During my addiction I used to think about being of service and think about helping other people. It was a fantasy. It was a person I wanted to be, but it was just a thought. Being in action is part of my service now. I take it as an opportunity to connect with people. Connection is a big thing for me. It’s something that’s very difficult, I feel. When I’m of service, I allow others to recognize me and hear my truth. It’s about doing things together. The way I’m of service is I do simple commitments at meetings. I pick up the phone when I really don’t want to, or have conversations I really don’t want to have, but I know it will be helpful to be honest, and open. I’m part of sponsorship. I help the alumni at La Fuente Hollywood Treatment Center. If I didn’t do the service and just went to meetings, I think it would allow me to take steps away from my program. For years, I thought I was just a good person without doing anything for anybody else, other than for myself. Being of service helps me be a better human being and I feel a lot better about myself.” —Arthur Khyata, sober since October 25, 2015.
STAY GROUNDED
CHRISTINA SIMOS
“Service for me is how I stay grounded, how I stay connected, and also how I give back what was given to me. I believe deeply in getting out of my own way and service is one of the ways in which I do that. I’m literally an example to others. People get to know you and you get to know people. It really can deepen connections.
www.thefightmag.com 3 0 T H E F IGH T | www.thefi ghtmag.com
ARTHUR KHYATA
Service is one of the main vehicles. I want to be connected to my Higher Power. I want to be connected to people. I find that through service, I’m able to do that. Sometimes service can be extraordinarily inconvenient, but at the end of the day, every time I do something where I am of service, I feel better. I was of service before I got sober, but I always wanted something in return, but now that I’m sober, it’s just a different story. Service is one of the keys and one of the reasons why I’m still sober and my quality of life is really, really fucking good.” —Christina Simos, sober since June, 11, 2005.
DEEP BONDS “Being of service helps me stay connected to everyone in recovery and it helps me stay in the center, so it’s harder for me to isolate. It helps me in the sense that EDWIN it gives me selfSANCHEZ worth when I do something selfless and help others. Being part of something bigger than myself builds my self-esteem. Before, I didn’t have any. I was super insecure. I didn’t feel I had anything to offer, so service really started to propel me to my self-esteem. I go to two meetings a week, when I should go to four, so what really keeps me connected is service. I’m involved with service at work and in my fellowship. I have commitments. I’m the vice chair for the recovery convention. My service helps me build deep bonds with people. All that stuff helps me stay in the middle and not fall of the wagon.” —Edwin Sanchez, sober since October 14, 2015.
Depression-Anxiety-Trauma-Addiction-Grief-Life Challenges
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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. AUG UST 2018 | THE F I GH T 31
DIVERSITY COLLECTIVE VENTURA COUNTY PRESENTS
E D I S H EAC /diversity_collective
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3 2 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com
Fifteenth Statewide Conference Integrating Substance Use, Mental Health, and Primary Care Services:
Disruptive Innovations and sustaining change Featured Track:
Proposed Presentations: Increasing Cultural Humility: Working with Transgender Clients Role of Family Support for LGBTQ Transitional Age Youth Meeting the Unique Legal Needs of LGBTQ Seniors
Hilton Universal City Hotel at Universal City October 24-25, 2018 Register at: www.uclaisap.org/COD AUG UST 2018 | THE F I GH T 33
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AUG UST 2018 | THE F I GH T 35
>> ART SHARE L.A. <<
Tell us about some of the queer programming that ArtShare has done. Our stage has seen a couple of great shows that feature the queer community. Gay DD for one has been phenomenal at putting some amazing acts and talent on our stage. We have also have gay belly dancers showcases and classes in the past. One of my favorite events that came through two years ago was a private event for transgender youth—Trans Prom. I was so happy to see all the beautiful people, dressed to the 9s, running around Art Share in a safe, accepting space. It was inspiring.
Untamed CREATIVITY
Art Share L.A., a multidisciplinary, non-profit art space downtown offers artists from diverse backgrounds a space to share their vision with the world. BY RO XIE PERKIN S
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heyanne Sauter, the Executive Director of Art Share L.A., talks to THE FIGHT about local outreach, queer programming and reflecting the community.
CHEYANNE SAUTER
Tell us about Art Share and the type of work you create. Art Share L.A. believes that artists create when they have access to space, resources, and support. We understand how difficult it may be for artists, especially emerging artists, to access the resources they need. We provide a creative environment for artists to reside, develop, perform, and exhibit. We inspire artists and provide connections to the community for shared benefits in our 28,000-square-foot facility. On our top floor, we offer 30 affordable live/work lofts for artists, and on our bottom floor, we have a community-programmed facility that is home to a theater, art galleries, art and ceramic studios, classrooms, and an office. We are proud to call ourselves a space of untamed creativity. ArtShare is known for its very diverse and inclusive programming—how do you go about your outreach to the local community? We are a first-come first-served model, so those in the community that are advocates for themselves tend to be on our stage the most. And in the coming year, we are looking for new ways to be more inclusive and diverse. We created a Theater Committee built of performers and musicians who will assist with bringing marginalized communities to the stage and giving voice to impactful social issues. 3 6 TTHHEE FFIIGH www.thefightmag.com 36 GH TT || www.thefi ghtmag.com
How did ArtShare get started? In 1997 [...] Art Share L.A. flourished as an after-school arts center for youth aged 12-18 and as an affordable housing complex at a time when inner-city arts programming was nonexistent and artists were experiencing high displacement rates. Following the 2008 recession, the nonprofit landscape and neighborhood demographics had changed dramatically, and we found ourselves in dire need of programmatic reassessment and building repair. Five years later, change happened. The Arts District was rapidly re-gentrifying with promises of new developments and higher rents. As artists deserted the neighborhood, Art Share L.A. needed to respond to the needs of displaced artists in the Arts District and throughout Los Angeles. Art Share L.A. underwent a strategic rebranding and reassessment, gained a new Board of Directors, and hired new staff. We reopened our doors with new programming aimed at supporting artists in Los Angeles. International Street Artist, INSA, gave our building a fresh new façade, transforming us into a vibrant downtown landmark. What advice would you give to other arts organizations that want to start programming more diversely and inclusively? Stop telling artists what to make and they will be diverse and inclusive by nature. Artists are one of the most accepting, liberal groups, let them enjoy each other. If you are missing inclusion in your programming, then you can be specific - you can make sure that your leadership, your staff, and your selection committees come from diverse backgrounds. They will bring in their networks as well as help to select acts/performances that reflect the community. More information on Art Share and their upcoming community and arts programming can be found at their website: www.artsharela.org.
LAW OFFICE OF REGINA RATNER WWW.RRATNERLAW.COM CALL: 213-674-7211 FAMILY LAW PRACTICE COLLABORATIVE DIVORCE DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE/DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS PROPERTY DIVISION SPOUSAL SUPPORT CHILD CUSTODY/SUPPORT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PRE & POST NUPTIAL AGREEMENTS ADOPTION & ART CONTRACTS ESTATE PLANNING MEDIATION REGINA RATNER (L), ALANA YAKOVLEV, ESQ.
WALK FREE LAW
ALANA YAKOVLEV, ESQ. WWW.WALKFREELAW.COM CALL: 213-674-7323 FEDERAL AND STATE CRIMINAL DEFENSE CIVIL HARASSMENT RESTRAINING ORDERS CIVIL RIGHTS 1983 ACTIONS— POLICE MISCONDUCT, DISCRIMINATION, FAIR HOUSING CONTRACT DRAFTING AND BUSINESS LITIGATION IMMIGRATION CANNABIS LAW/BUSINESS SET-UP/LICENSING EMPLOYEE BENEFITS FOR SAME SEX COUPLES SEXUAL ASYLUM WORKPLACE PETITIONS RESPECT IN THE WORKPLACE— HARASSMENT AND DISCRIMINATION CONSUMER RIGHTS ADVOCACY
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THEART >>
LGBTQ ARTISTS
<<
“
ANDREW DANIELSEN
S
elf-taught with a variety of skills—including mural painting, illustration, sculpture, and landscape design—Danielsen grew up in rural south east Pennsylvania, where the wild lands fueled his desire to create more art. His love of nature led to new art and eventually to college where he studied Environmental Studies, at The University of Vermont. Since college Danielsen moved out to California where he elevated his love for art and the environment to new heights as a professional fine arts painter, commission painter, muralist and a Landscape Designer. He has been featured in a variety of galleries around the nation. n For more info visit: andrewdanielsen.com.
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10 SF BAY AREA LOCATIONS AND 2 LA LOCATIONS
EXPLORE YOUR
FLEXUALITY Bring this in or visit Crunch.com/fight to redeem your FREE 3-DAY GUEST PASS! Expires 9/30/2018. Pass valid for 3 consecutive days at Crunch Signature locations. Must be first time guest, 18 years or older, or accompanied by an adult. Other restrictions may apply. Cannot be combined with other offers. ©2018 Crunch IP Holdings, LLC.
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>> POSE <<
INDYA MOORE
MUST SEE TV Pose eloquently explores key issues of transgender people’s lives
I
BY SYD PETERSO N
t’s been a long time since a TV show has affected DYLLON me as deeply and powerfully as Pose. (Spoiler BURNSIDE alert for the first season.) Set in New York City in 1987, Pose knits together three noteworthy aspects of 1980s NYC: the underground drag ball scene, the escalating AIDS crisis, and the hypercapitalistic 80s economic climate. The FX series follows the lives of trans, gay and queer people as they struggle to survive in a rough metropolis, to hold on to love in a time of death, and to find purpose in world that largely dismisses them. Pose features the largest cast of transgender series regulars on a cable TV show. Some of the standout performances in include MJ Rodriguez as Blanca Rodriguez-Evangelista, Dominique Jackson as Elektra Abundance, and Indya Moore as Angel Evangelista. The cast as a whole is predominantly actors of color, including standout performances by Tony-award-winning Billy Porter and newcomer Ryan Jamaal Swain. Pose’s trans representation doesn’t end with its cast. Transgender trailblazer Janet Mock is on the writing staff and directs Episode 6 (“Love is the Message”), which happens to be the first piece of American television ever directed by a trans person of color. Transgender filmmaker Silas Howard directs Episode 5 (Mother’s Day.) Our Lady J, a trans leader previously known for her work on Transparent, is also a writer/producer. Pose serves beautiful realness at every turn. Dazzling ball scenes are resplendent with outrageous fashion, choice 80s tracks, and Pray Tell’s (Porter) commanding commentary. “House” family structures give new meaning to the concept of “chosen family.” Stan’s (Evan Peters) struggle to understand his attraction to trans women is raw and authentic. Damon’s dance school training feels like an updated version of several storylines from another NYC television classic, Fame. Pose even has a museum heist scene complete with true 1987 getaway fashion and an astonishing payoff on the runway. Pose eloquently explores key issues of transgender people’s lives. Elektra undergoes gender confirmation surgery. Angel talks to Stan about the effects of her hormones. Candy braves the dangerous world of black market plastic surgery. The most poignant example may be when Stan’s wife Patty (Kate Mara) literally asks Angel to prove she’s
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THE SHOW HAS BEEN RENEWED FOR A SECOND SEASON, SET TO PREMIERE IN 2019. THE CREATORS HAVE ANNOUNCED THEY’RE DONATING POSE ’S PROFITS TO LGBT ORGANIZATIONS. transgender by whipping out her cock. Angel replies with perhaps the most authentic and accurate response possible: “I’m sorry for what I did to you, and I’m here to talk, but I got boundaries. I’m not bothered about any part of who I am except that. Everything I can’t have in this world is because of that thing down there. If you wanna see who I am, that’s the last place you should look.” When high schooler Damon (Swain) comes out to his father, his parents beat him, tell him he’s a sinner and that God will give him “that disease,” kick him out of their home, and disown him. The scene is absolutely brutal and it took me three attempts to watch it completely. When Damon, alone in his front yard, cries out in utter pain, he is truly every queer kid whose parents rejected them. The scene could have been set in any American household over the past 100 years. Every parent and parent-to-be should be required to watch it. Pose has been renewed for a second season, set to premiere in 2019. Cocreators Bard Murphy and Ryan Falcuk have announced they’re donating Pose’s profits to LGBTQ organizations. All this makes me remember a scene where Elektra asks Blanca why she came to the ball for the first time. “I wanted to be seen,” says Blanca, “to belong, I guess.” Her rumination reflects Pose’s dual significance. In our larger world, trans people deserve to be seen, equally for the injustices they resiliently endure and for the talents they bestow. And in our smaller LGBTQ world, trans people have a lot to say about the experience of those of us queers who aren’t trans.
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THEEPIDEMIC >> GLOBAL FIGHT AGAINST HIV <<
DANGEROUS COMPLACENCY
Urgent change in approach is needed, researchers warn.
T
he HIV pandemic is not on track to end by 2030 and current approaches to HIV control are not enough to control it, according to a new Lancet Commission led by the International AIDS Society, reports Science Daily. Changes to the HIV response are needed to win the global fight against HIV, and the authors propose that HIV researchers and health care professionals need to work more closely with their counterparts in global health, HIV services need to be included into wider health services, and global health policies need to incorporate HIV. The report combines the expertise of more than 40 international experts who make recommendations for how HIV and global health can work together to advance global health and improve the HIV response. The report also models the impact of combining HIV within other health services in five countries, and is being presented at the AIDS 2018 conference in Amsterdam. The authors call on HIV and global health researchers, health care professionals and policy makers to work together to improve the HIV response, arguing that this may be essential to achieve ambitious global HIV targets to end HIV by 2030, maintain treatment access, and more effectively fund the HIV response to also benefit broader health outcomes. The authors call for immediate increased funding to avert another epidemic, and while they recognize that the â&#x20AC;&#x153;exceptionalistâ&#x20AC;? approach of the HIV response (where specific funding and health services have been provided for HIV alone) has been highly effective, they note that the approach may not be sustainable in the future. n
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> > J AY Z A LT Z M A N < <
RELIVING CUFFS
For one night only, Dirty Looks reclaimed a queer space that helped define Silverlake. BY VICTO R MELA MED
A
s part of Dirty Looks: On Location 2018 and curated by Bradford Nordeen, 7|07 Cuffs, a collaboration of Jonesy, Chris Cruse and Mr. Drummer ‘79—took place last month at Hyperion Tavern, the space that once was the gay leather bar, CUFFS. Cuffs opened in 1981 at the height of the Silverlake leather scene and stayed open until the early Aughts. Situated along the Hyperion Avenue strip among fellow institutions like Basic Plumbing and Pure Trash, the small beer bar had a reputation for being dark and crowded in a manner that fostered a certain degree of camaraderie among its patrons. As the AIDS crisis unfolded and more overtly sexual spaces closed, Cuffs persisted as a laid-back, sleazy hangout. The space was stripped down, with black walls, red lighting and minimal decor. The music was similarly dark and punk/industrial. Sex hung in Cuffs’ gloom with it reportedly so dark that whoever entered from outside was blind for a moment before their eyes could adjust. This feature enabled patrons to size-up recent arrivals and zip-up if they appeared to be the vice squad. For one night only, Dirty Looks reclaimed a queer space that helped to define Silverlake as a proving ground for alternative sexuality over three decades. Cuffs was one of dozens of long-lost spaces in the neighborhood that fostered a rebellious, leathery attitude. n To find out more about Dirty Looks: On Location 2018 visit www.dirtylooksla.org/
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THEEVENT >> PHOTOS BY JEREMY LUCIDO <<
SUMMERTRAMP
AT THE ESCONDITE (DTLA)
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Last month in Downtown Los Angeles. Legendary poolside action, celebrity guests, special performances and so much more. Check out their upcoming events at facebook.com/SUMMERTRAMP.
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THECALENDAR >> THINGS TO DO << LA to heat up things in August even more. DJ’s Perry Twins of LA.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8
NO NONSENSE, 10PM–2AM Precinct DTLA, 357 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013. Sindri Galvan, Mike ETC and Stacy Christine welcome you to August’s installment of No Nonsense. Expect all the same great sounds in a bigger space with a bigger bar and smoking patio.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 19
SMOOTH SUMMER JAZZ, 6PM Agape LGBT Ministry at Hollywood Bowl, 2301 Highland Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90068. Boney James leads an all-star lineup for this fantastic evening under the stars. Special guests include: Third World, Norman Brown & Bobby Caldwell—Love & Soul, Pieces of a Dream and Avery*Sunshine.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 10
LOS ANGELES LGBT CENTER OUT UNDER THE STARS PRESENTS: SELENA, 6:30PM Hollywood Forever, 6000 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA. This instant classic celebrates the life of Selena Quintanilla-Pérez and the people who still love her today. Benefiting the Center’s programs and services. Come early to relax and picnic while you enjoy a live DJ, free swag, and undoubtedly a few surprises!
MONDAY, AUGUST 20
DTLA PROUD GALA 7PM–9PM Otium, 222 S Hope, Los Angeles, CA 90012. DTLA PROUD invites you to the PROUD GALA, honoring our DTLA PROUD supporters, community leaders, elected officials, and sponsors. All proceeds go directly toward the benefit of the DTLA LGBTQ+ community.
CHUNK, 9:00PM-2:00AM
Faultline, 4216 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90029. Bear & Cub Social: Night Of A 1000 Bubbas Toronto, SF, NYC, Tokyo, and now introducing Los Angeles. Dj’s: Sindri (LA), Matthew Pernicano (LA), Cake By The Pound (Tor) And Dj Mike Rinder (LA). Show By Pinche Queen.
GLOW ME: GAYMER PRIDE. 9PM–2AM
Bullet Bar, 10522 Burbank Blvd, North Hollywood, 91601. This is the Valley Pride night for Gaymers. $6 Cover SATURDAY, AUGUST 11
FOX HOLE—POOL PARTY, 9PM–2AM
Bullet Bar, 10522 Burbank Blvd, North Hollywood, 91601. Green Mirror Entertainment and Bullet Bar present: a sexy all male night pool party to socialize and celebrate male bonding the way we all like. $25 admission. Music, play, open bar included large play area Location of the event will be provided the day of the event. The party will be held at a private house in North Hollywood.
LIFEWORKS 6TH ANNUAL UNIQUE CARNIVAL
Los Angeles LGBT Center, 1220 N Highland Ave, Los
FRIDAY, AUGUST 24
GAUNTLET II, 9PM–2AM
Eagle LA, 4219 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA Mr. Drummer ’79 continuing his celebration of the leather scene of years gone by, this time is to honor what was once Gauntlet II, The Eagle’s former life. Angeles, CA 90038. A Rainbow Summer Festival Finale Event. This is a substance free event. Resource fair, game booths, prizes, talent show, food FREE. Open to anyone 24 and younger.
ONYX: LEATHER LEVI, 4PM–8PM
VALLEY PRIDE OFFICIAL KICK OFF PARTY, 9PM–2AM
VENTURA BEACHSIDE PRIDE, 11AM–6PM
Bullet Bar, 10522 Burbank Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601. Kick off Valley Pride Street Festival on the right foot. Come join Rupauls Drag star April Carrión & LA sister Bearonce Knows as we celebrate a night of diversity & love. SUNDAY, AUGUST 12
VALLEY PRIDE STREET FESTIVAL, 11AM–8PM
The Bullet Bar, 10522 Burbank Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601. A time for every single person in our community to come out and celebrate! Hosted By: Candis Cayne, Don Mike, Misty Violet.
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Eagle LA, 4219 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029. Come party with the men of ONYX SoCal-Southwest. SATURDAY, AUGUST 18
Promenade Park, Ventura. More info at: www.diversitycollectivevc.org. This year’s festival will include beachside entertainment all day with Drag Legends Jackie Beat and Sherry Vine as the main headliners and also featuring Lauren Ruth Ward and Echo V, over 60 vendors, food trucks, beer and wine, VIPride area, and so much more.
DILF LOS ANGELES JOCK/UNDERWEAR, 9:00PM-3:00AM
Los Globos, 3040 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90026. The hottest jock party in the country is coming back to
SATURDAY, AUGUST 25
ANNUAL GAY BEACH DAY #8 12PM–10PM
Doheny State Beach, 25300 Harbor Drive, Dana Point, CA 92629. Another awesome gay day at the beach—a fun event without red solo cups.
HARDER—THRESHOLD LA, 9PM–2AM
Threshold LA, 11300 Hartland St, North Hollywood, CA 91605. Men’s only Dungeon and play party. SATURDAY, AUGUST 25
DTLA PROUD FESTIVAL 2018
Pershing Square, 530 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA. Celebrating the culture, history, and diversity of the growing LGBTQ+ community in Downtown Los Angeles and beyond. Through Sunday, August 26. More info at: www.dtlaproud.org.
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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ONLINE NOW!
Prty SEXY
Looking for a good time, but it’s harder to find…
New to the scene, and the site. I’m a weekend warrior, but PNP anytime. HIV STATUS: ASK ME
CALL: 323-463-7001
VISIT: friendsgettingoff.org
Friends Getting Off provides free drug counseling for gay and bisexual men who use methamphetamine. The program combines group counseling with an intervention that gives rewards for negative urine samples. Participation is 8 weeks followed by a 16 week support group and one follow-up assessment.
1419 North La Brea Avenue, Hollywood, CA 90028 A clinic of Friends Community Center, a division of Friends Research Institute, Inc. This project is supported by funds received from the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health, Division of HIV and STD Programs and the City of West Hollywood.
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A10-17-0000039
Nurse