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THECONTENTS
>> MORE TO COME <<
COVER STORIES AND FEATURES MODELS OF PRIDE
18 LGBTQ Youth Conference at USC 18
20
27
A DIFFERENCE 20 MAKE Becoming A Foster Parent
28 24
GONE WILD 24 GIRL Rupaul’s Alaska On Sobriety TRUTHS 27 HIDDEN Matthew Shepard: New Details WEHO 28 SAVING Mike Gerle Runs For City Council FLASHBACK 30 FREAKSHOW Halloween Back In The Day SPRINGS PRIDE 32 PALM Everything You Need To Know AND A CURSE 34 AOneBLESSING Bisexual Man’s Journey NUNWAY 41 PROJECT Charity Fashion Event
ON THE COVER COVER MODEL: ALASKA
COVER PHOTO BY:
JOSE GUZMAN COLON MAIN TOC PHOTO AND COVER FEATURE PHOTO BY: BELLA PEYSER
DEPARTMENTS 11 THE LETTERS You Guys 12 THE TALK All Joan Rivers 15 THE STATE Ventura School 16 THE CITY More Menningitis 22 THE ROSTOW REPORT Next Big Move 26 THE LAW Medical Malpractice 36 THE BOOK Male Sex Workers 39 THE EPIDEMIC Young Gay Men 40 THE EVENT Local Sobriety
30
44 THE CALENDAR Events
32 4 T H E F I GH T | O CT O B ER 2014
34
41
46 THE FINAL FIGHT Rob Smith
THEEDITOR >> IN THIS ISSUE <<
“I was a weirdo. I looked weird, I acted weird, and I felt like it was bad for a very long time,” reveals RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 5 contestant, recording artist and drag performer Alaska Thunderfuck in an interview with Paulo Murillo (“Girl Gone Wild,” page 24). “As I got older,” says Alaska, “I was really lucky to see that the weirdness is what made me special, so when I started embracing my weirdness it really put me on a path of fulfillment, self-discovery and it opened me up to love.” While Alaska is sober—she is “not like dogmatically against drinking. I don’t think everybody should quit drinking because it works for some people, but I can honestly say that it wasn’t making me happy, so I just stopped. Now I’m way nicer. I think. And it’s way easier for me to do my job.” “I was just done,” says Alaska regarding her sobriety. “I was really sick and thinking why isn’t this cold going away? And then I thought, oh maybe it’s because I’ve been binge drinking every single night. My relationship was ending and I was moving across the country, so I decided I was going to take a break from drinking. I wanted to make some decisions with a clear head and I felt such a positive change, that I thought, I’m going to stay like this. I like it.” Also in this issue James Mills interviews former International Mr. Leather Mike Gerle—who recently announced his candidacy for West Hollywood City Council in the March 2015 election (“Saving WeHo,” page 28). Gerle knows the city well, having lived here since 1991. And he knows City Hall extremely well, having worked there since 1996 in a variety of capacities, writes Mills. “West Hollywood is a city that was founded on renters’ rights, LGBT rights and seniors’ rights,” states Gerle. “Not many cities can say they’re going to create themselves on those ideas, but we did and it worked. We have core values—idealism, creativity and innovation -that we’re getting away from. I feel like we’re taking the easy way out more and more—we’re afraid to be innovative, we’re afraid to be courageous . . . We should be measuring what we are doing now and in the future on those same core values we started with.” Gerle worries the city is losing what makes it unique and becoming too much like any other city in Southern California. “Becoming more and more like Orange County (CA) is not progress in my book,” he says. “West Hollywood has always set a higher standard for itself. We don’t need to sell out because we can get more money.”
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Stanford Altamirano MANAGING EDITOR Mark Ariel ART DIRECTOR Nadeen Torio MARKETING CONSULTANTS Camilo Fernandez Negar Riazi John Michael Gamban Sue Ho SOCIAL MEDIA Paulo Murillo WEBMASTER Nadeen Torio 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. 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 © 2014 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 STANFORD ALTAMIRANO Editor-In-Chief
6 T H E F I GH T | O CT O B ER 2014
For Display Advertising, please call (323) 297-4001
THECONTRIBUTORS PAULO MURILLO West Hollywood resident Paulo Murillo has been writing for gay media for over twelve years. He got his start writing a biweekly column called “Luv Ya, Mean It” for FAB! Newspaper. Visit his website at thehissfit.com, or friend him on Facebook. ANN ROSTOW Ann Rostow writes news analysis columns for THE FIGHT and other gay publications across the country. For weekly LGBT News updates, visit her blog at: annrostow.blogspot.com. Ann can be reached at: arostow@aol.com.
8 T H E F I GH T | O CT O B ER 2014
DAVID HAKIMFAR Los Angeles based Attorney David Hakimfar received his law degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego. While there, he made the Honor Roll and National Dean’s List. Currently David Hakimfar is a Trial Attorney and Senior Partner of Hakimfar Law, PLC. He can be reached at: 1-888-789-PRIDE (7743). ROB SMITH Rob Smith is an author, lecturer, writer, and LGBT activist. His first book “Closets, Combat, and Coming Out: Coming of Age as a Gay Man in the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Army” is in stores now. He can be found at www.robsmithonline.com.
>> OUR WRITERS <<
ORLY LYONNE Orly Lyonne is a freelance journalist, focusing on issues related to LGBT equality, culture and art. Her passions include skydiving, community theater and vegan restaurants. Orly can be reached at orlylyonne@gmail.com. JAMES F. MILLS James F. Mills has been reporting on West Hollywood and its city politics since 2006. An awardwinning journalist, he finds the city enthralling and is continually astounded by how much news can come out of a city of just 35,000 people. James can be reached at jfmills777@gmail.com
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THELETTERS
>> FROM OUR READERS <<
HE RAGED Dear Editor, Paulo Murillo has more than his friends to apologize to (“Making Amends,” THE FIGHT Issue 44). Week after week in his [now defunct] FAB! newspaper column he insulted gay male readers over 30 with his meth— fueled rants. He raged against older men, or men less pretty than he while glorifying the circuit party scene. Or has he forgotten all this? No, you are not so easily forgiven, buster. On another note—I enjoy reading your political and newsworthy articles—keep them coming! —Joel Peel, via the internet
SO PERSONAL Dear Editor, Kudos to Paulo Murillo about writing so candidly about something so personal (“Making Amends,” THE FIGHT Issue 44). It’s not that easy to forgive someone you feel wronged you. But—you don’t forgive someone for his or her sake—you forgive them for your sake. —J. Alvarez, Los Angeles, CA
KNOW A HUMAN Dear Editor, Is Seth Browning real (“Body By Browning,” THE FIGHT Issue 44)? I didn’t know a human being could be that beautiful. —Jerry Jerome, Palm Springs, CA
YOU GUYS Dear Editor, I have been reading THE FIGHT for almost a year now and I finally decided it was time to write you guys a letter. I want you to know that you are the only local LGBT magazine I read. Here are my three reasons why. 1) You don’t insult my intelligence with silly, frivolous nonsense. 2) You have a lot of diversity within your pages—your writers as well as your interviews and articles. 3) You don’t have any escort or bathhouse type ads—so I can leave your magazine out on my coffee table and have my straight friends see it and not feel embarrassed. Actually there is a fourth reason as well—I like the quality of the paper your magazine is printed on. Thank you. —Jonathan Mizrahi, Long Beach, CA
> WRITE TO THE EDITOR Email: editor@thefightmag.com Fax: (213) 281-9648. Letters may be shortened due to space requirements. O CTO B ER 2014 | T H E F I GH T 11
THETALK THE MILIT A “If you don RY ’t want gay s in the milita ry the uniform , make s ugly.”
WILL COST
“GAY MARRIAGE - I AM SO AGAINST IT BECAUSE ALL MY GAY FRIENDS ARE OUT. AND IF THEY GET MARRIED, IT WILL COST ME A FORTUNE IN GIFTS.”
DOOR FASTER
“I hate Tom Cruis e... In TV interview s Tom laughs inappropr iately and much to o vociferously at no n-humorous decla rative statements, which is ironic because in real life he can’t take a fucking joke at all. All you have to do is make one simple, little, harmless, innocuous as ide like, ‘The Scien tology spaceship was lat e today; it had to stop by Fire Island to pick up Tom Cruise,’ an d he has a pack of law yers at your door fas ter than Katie Holmes can say, ‘No, rea lly, he loves me in that wa y, I swear.’”
LEAST HALFWAY “Maybe I’m old-fashioned, but I believe when a woman enters a room, men should stand up— and gay men should stand up at least halfway.”
MY GAYS I like is Rue Honore de Balzac,
y “The only street y, and I love m c’ sound so ga za al ed ‘B m e na us ey ca be e if th e Parisians mor za Li e Ru gays. I might lik e lik ly for gay icons, their streets on , my favorite, or r le id M tte e Be Minnelli or Ru n.” ha na la cC M e Ru
KEY TO HAP P
INESS “People say th at money is no t the key to happiness, but I always fig ured if you have enough money, you ca n have a key made.” 1 2 T H E F IGH T | O CT O B ER 2014
YOU ARE ME
ink know I don’t th “I want them to are. ey th an or better th I’m wonderful, u yo am ‘I g: y is sayin Part of comed el l fe ing e, and we’re al and you are m g.’” the same thin
>> ALL JOAN RIVERS <<
FRILLY LITTLE
“I’ve always hated child stars, start ing from way back when, when I was a child. The first child star I saw was Shirley Temple. She was six years old, two foot six and the biggest star in Hollywood. She wore ribbons in her hair, and frilly little pinafores and shiny patent-leather tap shoes - just like the boys in Glee do.”
GETHER CHILDREN TO sbian par“I love gay and le need a we ents. But I think ians and law that says lesb ise their ra gay men have to This way, . er th children toge t only the kids would no bookld know how to bui also ’d ey th ut shelves, b how to ow kn instinctively decorate them.”
LONG SINCE “IT’S SO LONG SINCE I’VE HAD SEX I’VE FORGOTTEN WHO TIES UP WHO.”
BEST FRIENDS “SHE’S SO FAT, SHE’S MY TWO BEST FRIENDS.”
YOU’RE ALIVE
“He
“I ENJOY LIFE WHEN THINGS ARE HAPPENING. I DON’T CARE IF IT’S GOOD THINGS OR BAD THINGS. THAT MEANS YOU’RE ALIVE.”
MAKE A DOOR
ION MY OWN VERS I HAVE BECOME E IT AK T. IF I CAN’T M OF AN OPTIMIS ROUGH TH GO DOOR, I’LL THROUGH ONE A ...OR I’LL MAKE ANOTHER DOOR ILL COME W IC IF RR TE NG DOOR. SOMETHI ESENT. W DARK THE PR HO R TE AT M NO
GUESS WHAT
“If you’re going to be a romantic idol and try to get every teenage girl to love you, then you’d be an ass to come out and say you’re gay. Ricky Martin was so smart. He did what he did, made his millions and then he said, Guess what, every body? I’m gay... It didn’t matter anymore because he didn’t have to bring in 16-year-old girls.”
BEEN NICE
IE HOLMES HAD “TOM CRUISE AND KAT E FOR THE ER TH S THE BABY. HE WA EN NICE IF HE BE E D’V UL WO IT . TH BIR CONCEPTION.” WAS THERE FOR THE
COW GOES “Grandchildren can be fucking annoying. How many times can you go ‘And the cow goes moo and the pig goes oink’? It’s like talking to a supe rmodel.”
EN ANOTHER QUE l al is e “Boy Georg other an England needs— ress.” d t queen who can’
S WHwhOo limLpIsMis Pstill walking.”
JOAN RIVERS
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1 6 T H E F IGH T | A UGU S T 2014
THESTATE
>> CHICK-FIL-A <<
TRUDY TUTTLE ARRIAGA
VENTURA SCHOOL REJECTS CHICK-FIL-A UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT REJECTS CHICK-FIL-A DONATION DUE TO ANTIGAY STANCE. BY ORLY LYONNE Students at Ventura High School in California won’t be eating “mor chikin” anytime soon, as the school’s principal banned fast-food chain Chick-fil-A from the campus over the company’s connection to antigay causes, reports The Advocate at www.advocate.com. A Ventura location of the Atlanta-based chain had planned to donate some 200 sandwiches and wraps to Ventura High’s football booster club for a back-to-school fundraiser the group held Wednesday, but principal Val Wyatt said the company’s donations to antigay causes could offend parents and students, according to Los Angeles TV station KCAL. “With their political stance on gay rights and because the students of Ventura High School and their parents would be at the event, I didn’t want them on campus,” Wyatt told the Ventura County Star. KCAL notes that school principals have the discretion to determine what groups and businesses are allowed on their campuses. And while some parents were upset by the decision, the school district’s superintendent stood by Wyatt’s call. “We value inclusivity and diversity on our campus and all of our events and activities are going to adhere to our mission,” Ventura Unified School District superintendent Trudy Tuttle Arriaga told KCAL. Chick-fil-A became a flashpoint in the national debate on marriage equality after it was revealed that the company, through its affiliated nonprofit the WinShape Foundation, has donated millions of dollars to antigay causes and candidates over the past several years. The owner of the local Chick-fil-A said his business was not involved in advocating for or against LGBT equality and noted that his location has donated more than $20,000 worth of goods to local schools in the past year. “Anybody who comes through our doors, whether they’re gay or straight, they’re going to receive remarkable service,” Ventura owner Robert Shaffer told KCAL. n O CTO B ER 2014 | T H E F I GH T 15
THECITY
>> BY
PAULO MURILLO <<
TRACKING MENINGITIS IN LOS ANGELES
The Los Angeles LGBT Center's medical director, Dr. Robert Bolan has urged the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to determine why gay/bisexual men seem to be at greater risk of exposure to, and transmission of, invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) than the general population. This past August the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health documented a new case of invasive meningococcal disease in Los Angeles County. The patient is an adult gay male resident of the Hollywood-Wilshire area and is currently recovering from his illness. "We've got to learn why gay and bisexual men seem to be at greater risk of IMD, what correlation there may be to someone's HIV status and what should be done about it, including potential updates to the CDC's vaccine recommendations," said Dr. Bolan. "I'm pleased that the CDC has responded quickly to our letter and has contacted me to discuss next steps."
TRANSGENDER ACTIVIST FIGHTS FOR ONE-STOP HEALTHCARE Bamby Salcedo, the founder and president of the TransLatina Coalition—a group of trans Latina leaders dealing with the needs of trans Latina women in the USA—is advocating for a "one-stop" healthcare option in Los Angeles, with the hopes of "helping transgender people see a doctor in a dignified and convenient way." Salcedo approached Sheila Kuehl, former state lawmaker and candidate for Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, at a recent town hall meeting to promote the idea of a one-stop transgender health center in Los Angeles. According to Kuehl's campaign manager, the candidate is "strongly supportive" of a one-stop health center concept for transgender people. For more infor– BAMBY mation, visit SALCEDO translatinacoalition.org 0 01 6T HTEH E F I GH T |T M TH F IGH | O ON CT O B2014 ER 2014
GEORGE TAKEI
MARVEL, TAKEI, YAROSLAVSKY VANGUARD AWARD HONOREES The Los Angeles LGBT Center will honor Marvel Entertainment, activists George Takei and Brad Altman and Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky with Vanguard Awards at a ceremony taking place at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza November 8. Marvel is being honored for its LGBT characters and story lines and for their efforts to bring more diversity to their comics, which some feel parallel the struggle of LGBTQ people. Actor George Takei and his husband Brad Altman have been prominent spokesperson for LGBT rights, since publicly coming out in 2005. Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky will also be honored with a Vanguard Award at the ceremony, which celebrates efforts to promote tolerance and understanding of LGBT people. For more information, visit lgbtvanguardawards.org.
WEHO, ISRAEL IN HIV/AIDS TASK FORCE The Israeli Consulate in Los Angeles and the City of West Hollywood launched the Israel-West Hollywood HIV/AIDS Task Force at an inaugural event that took place at Congregation Kol Ami last month. The Israel-West Hollywood Task Force will connect clinicians and researchers in West Hollywood and Israel to share clinical data and support HIV/AIDS related cooperation between West Hollywood and Israeli educational institutions.
AIDS WALKS, RIDES THROUGHOUT SOCAL The 30th annual AIDS Walk Los Angeles takes place on Sunday, October 12. The Walk begins and ends in West Hollywood Park, and usually takes about 2.5 hours to complete. For more info visit: aidswalk.net. Desert AIDS Walk—a 2.5 mile loop that starts and ends in Ruth Hardy Park in Palm Springs—takes place on October 18. For more info visit: www.desertaidswalk.org. The Orange County Ride for AIDS takes place on Saturday, October 25 at the William R, Mason Regional Park in Irvine. For more info visit: www.ocasf.org.
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Together We Are Common Ground O CTO B ER 2014 | TH E F I GH T 17
HEIDI HUERTA
NATALIA LOYA
ALEX NEWELL
MICHAEL WILLETT
MODELS OF PRiDE
Alex Newell (“Glee”), Michael Willett (MTV’s “Faking It,”) and Natalia Loya (Telemundo’s “La Voz Kids”) scheduled to perform at LGBTQ youth conference at USC. BY ORLY LYONNE More than 1,200 LGBTQ youth from 100 Southern California cities and more than 75 schools are expected to attend the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s 22nd annual Models of Pride conference at the University of Southern California (USC) campus on Saturday, October 11. As the nation’s largest free conference of its kind, Models of Pride offers a full day of life-enriching programming designed to help young people build confidence and self-esteem and develop valuable life skills. Hosted by the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s LifeWorks youth development and mentoring program, Models of Pride includes workshops/ 1 8 T H E F I GH T | O CT O BER 2014
presentations, lunch/dinner, live entertainment and a dance for all youth up to the age of 24. With “What’s Next?” as this year’s theme, participants will discuss what the next crucial issues are to be addressed within the LGBT community and among themselves.
MAJOR VICTORIES “From the passage of marriage equality laws to the creation of LGBT characters in media, this generation of youth has witnessed major victories for the LGBT community,” says Michael Ferrera, LifeWorks’ Director. “To continue this momentum, we must support these youth to feel
empowered to decide what’s next in the fight for inclusivity and diversity. They are the next generation of LGBT leaders.” Alex Newell (who portrays transgender student, Unique, in the FOX show Glee) Natalia Loya (a finalist on Telemundo’s hit music competition reality show, La Voz Kids) and Michael Willett (star of MTV’s Faking It) are also scheduled to perform at the conference.
youth-serving professionals will attend workshops tailored to their concerns and interests. Known as the Parents and Professionals Institute, this full-day program for adults is free. For the first time in Models of Pride’s history, the conference will be streamed live online at http://modelsofpride.org/worldwide for the benefit of youth and adult allies who physically cannot attend the event.
PARENTS WORKSHOP
Models of Pride takes place on Saturday, October 11, 7:30am 8:30pm, at the University of Southern California, Exposition Boulevard & S. Figueroa St. in Los Angeles. For more information and to register for Models of Pride, visit modelsofpride.org.
In addition to the youth portion of the conference, more than 200 parents, educators, social service providers and other
O CTO B ER 2014 | TH E F I GH T 19
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Become a foster parent or an adoptive family for a child who needs to be loved and deserves the opportunity to thrive. BY ORLY LYONNE
“There are 20,000 children in LA County that need our help,” states Chanel Boutakidis, Executive Director of Five Acres, a non-profit organization that has been serving families and children in the surrounding communities of Los Angeles since 1888. “There are sibling sets, babies, toddlers, tweens and teenagers; each with their own unique personalities and in desperate need of a safe, loving and forever family,” reveals Boutakidis. “You can help by either taking the steps to become a foster family to give these children temporary respite while they are in waiting or by becoming an adoptive parent.” “Making the step towards fostering and adoption is a big commitment... I want the LGBT community to know you can help in many ways based on your current ability,” states Boutakidis. “If you have an hour a week you can come to Five Acres and volunteer as “a special friend/mentor” to a child. If you have a month come and commit to a project. If you have a year, think about becoming a foster parent or respite parent for a child waiting for permanency. And if you do have a lifetime, become an adoptive family for a child who needs to be loved and deserves the opportunity to thrive.” To learn more about these life changing opportunities visit www.fiveacres.org.
BOY 5A As a means of educating the public about the need for permanent placement of the 20,000 children in foster care in Los Angeles, Five Acres is hosting an event on Wednesday, November 5 to announce their permanency campaign tied to National Adoption Awareness month in November and unveil a unique artistic project, dubbed, Boy 5A. Boy 5A is a four foot rendition of a four year old boy, commissioned by Five Acres and constructed by a local Pasadena sculptor. He will be revealed at the event and then installed in seven different lobbies, courtyards, main office buildings and “fostered”(sponsored) by Five Acres corporate partners. Boy 5A will be on public view until the last week of December until he is “adopted” and thus culminating their annual permanency campaign. The event’s purpose is to bring awareness to the foster care crisis and to bring corporate partners, supporters, donors and community leaders together. For more information or to get involved call 626-773-3809. 2 0 T H E F IGH T | O CT O B ER 2014
Five Acres and The Fight Magazine cordially invite you to attend our launch event supporting our campaign for National Adoption Awareness month. Thursday, November 6, 2014
Enjoy cocktails and heavy appetizers, mingle and meet Five Acres corporate partners, sponsors, supporters and friends. Celebrate with us the unveiling of our 4-foot sculpture, Boy 5A and help kick off our adoption awareness campaign!
Armory Center for the Arts 145 North Raymond Ave, Pasadena 6:30PM-9:00PM RSVP By October 25th to RHaussling@5acres.org Or call 626-773-3809 Space is limited! For more information about Five Acres adoption services, please go to www.fiveacres.org
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MARY BONAUTO
BY
ALISON BECHDEL
ANN
PHOTO BY ELENA SEIBERT.
THEROSTOWREPORT
Alison Bechdel and Mary Bonauto just won MacArthur Grants. Bechdel is the brilliant creator of “Dykes to Watch Out For” and the author of the graphic memoir “Fun Home.” Bonauto is the remarkable lawyer who won marriage rights across New England with the Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders. THE NEXT BIG MOVE: WAITING FOR SCOTUS
Normally, I’d start this column with a review of federal marriage litigation. After all, over the last month we’ve seen a unanimous victory for marriage equality from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, we’ve gone through oral arguments before a friendly panel at the Ninth Circuit, we’ve won lower court rulings in Louisiana and Arizona, we’ve seen briefing scheduled before the Fifth and the Eleventh Circuits, and well, there’s generally been a lot to talk about. But you know what? The only thing that matters at this point is the next move by the nine men and women of the Supreme Court. The justices are scheduled to debate marriage cases out of the Tenth, Fourth and Seventh Circuits at their upcoming conference. Which case or cases will they take? When will they tell us? When will oral arguments be scheduled? Inquiring minds are anxious to know.
THE NAME GAME: ADDING INSULT TO INJURY
As a reader of THE FIGHT—you most likely live in California and you already enjoy both state and federal marriage rights. But those of us who live in Texas are plagued by entrenched antigay policies that won’t be lifted until the High Court slams the hammer down. Here’s an example. A woman who married in California and changed her name moved to Houston and applied for a driver’s license. What happened? The mandarins at the Lone Star department of public safety refused to issue a license unless the woman reverted to her maiden name. This despite the fact that Connie Wilson had
2 2 T H E F IGH T | O CT O B ER 2014
ROST OW
changed her name on her California license and her social security card. Adding insult to injury, without the license, Wilson won’t be able to vote! In Texas, you need a license, a passport, a Texas ID or a gun permit in order to prove you’re not pretending to be someone you’re not. (I am not kidding about the gun permit.) Wilson’s only option, aside from going back to her old name, is to get a Texas court order. Ka ching, ka ching. That costs about $400. Life’s a lot better if you live in Austin, the little blue county in the middle of our big red state. But then you have to deal with the sad sacks on the Longhorn football team, who started the season with losses to Brigham Young and UCLA. Are you laughing at me, THE FIGHT readers? Oh, to Hell with you. Part of our problem is that our new coach at the University of Texas has a series of tough rules and regulations. You have to go to class, avoid drugs and treat women with respect. These absurd standards have decimated our starting lines.
NAUGHTY SISTERS, ORAL SEX AND SAPPHIC RITUALS
My wife Mel is always on the lookout on my behalf for important LGBT legal and political developments. The other day she informed me that Miss America used to make her sorority sisters take off their underwear, sit on newspapers and watch lesbian porn. Anyone who betrayed, um, particular interest, was ridiculed and thrown out. Then the others were forced to give their older sisters oral sex. Say what? After further research, it turns out that this intriguing prank was allegedly used as a hazing
tactic by another, unnamed sorority at the same university (Hofstra), according to an unnamed “recent graduate.” Miss America, Kira Kazantsev, was reportedly kicked out of Alpha Phi last year for unspecified violations of hazing rules, but there’s no evidence that Kazantsev’s bullying involved Sapphic rituals of any sort. That said, we don’t know exactly what young Kira was accused of, so, well, maybe. The Miss America Foundation said Kazantsev had told them about her expulsion, but that the incident was (apparently) of no consequence. “Kira is an exceptional ambassador for the Miss America Organization and we are excited to be part of her journey as a force for good across our nation, promoting education and service and working to empower young women.” Okay then!
MASS HYSTERIA, DICTATORIAL TYRANNY AND OPPORTUNISTIC ERRAND BOYS
It’s hard to be a devout gay Catholic these days. In Minnesota, Jamie Moore was dumped from his job as music director of St. Victoria Catholic Church for the crime of marrying his partner. In St. Louis, two lesbian teachers were fired from a Catholic girls school after authorities learned they had applied for a joint mortgage. At another girls school in Detroit, lesbian teacher Barb Webb was asked to leave after she became pregnant “outside the Catholic way.” And in Montana, two elderly men were told they could no longer take communion at their long standing church because they had married in Seattle in 2013. The men, partners of over thirty years, were told they could
>> SCOTUS, THE NAME GAME, SEX & SAPPHIC RITUALS, MASS HYSTERIA, MEAN GIRL <<
regain their privileges if they divorced, moved to separate housing, and apologized. These are just the latest examples of rigid, let’s say crazy, dictatorial tyranny from leaders of Catholic institutions. So much for the Pope’s efforts to focus on poverty and faith rather than moral policing. Oh, speaking of moral policing, I read that the French cops discovered about nine pounds of cocaine in a car that belonged to Argentinean Cardinal Jorge Maria Mejia. The Cardinal is over 90 and presumably was not involved in the coke caper, but the car was using diplomatic Vatican plates. According to the Telegraph, an official gave the car to two men to have it serviced. Instead, the opportunistic errand boys drove to Spain, picked up the party favors, and were en route back to Rome when they were caught near the alpine town of Chambery. Does that story make sense to you?
MEAN GIRL CHARGED WITH ASSAULT DAUGHTER OF A LOCAL POLICE CHIEF
Have you read about the preppy gay bashers who were arrested in Philadelphia after twitter users tracked down their identities? The well dressed assailants (recent graduates of Archbishop Wood High School, a Catholic institution) were part of a larger group that yelled slurs as they attacked two men on the evening of September 11, breaking one man’s eye socket and jaw. Two guys and one young woman turned themselves in after videotape of the assault went viral. The woman, Kathryn Knott, is the
daughter of a local police chief. If it’s possible to dislike some gay bashers more than others, I will put Ms. Knott in the most offensive category. Since her arrest, we’ve discovered from her irritating twitter history that she is obnoxious, arrogant, entitled, homophobic, and clueless. She also just lost her job as a hospital aide, although it’s not clear whether or not her arrest was the cause. I say it’s not clear, because she also tweeted pics of a patient’s severed fingers and made fun of various people who wound up in the ER during her shifts. Her lawyer insists that Kathryn is a nice girl who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Oh yeah? If that’s so, why was she one of the three individuals charged with a crime? Here’s
hoping this immature moron pulls a jail sentence of some sort. At least six months in a jumpsuit surrounded by unfriendly inmates who put used tampons in her food (as seen on Netflix). Finally, in unrelated news, did you see that Alison Bechdel and Mary Bonauto just won MacArthur Grants? Bechdel is the brilliant creator of “Dykes to Watch Out For” and the author of the graphic memoir “Fun Home.” Bonauto is the remarkable lawyer who won marriage rights across New England with the Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders. The MacArthur “genius” awards are piles of cash given with no strings attached to very cool people every year. This year, each award is worth $625,000, and I can’t think of two more worthy recipients.
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“I was a weirdo... and I felt like it was bad for a very long time, but as I got older, I was really lucky to see that the weirdness is what made me special, so when I started embracing my weirdness it really put me on a path of fulfillment, self-discovery and it opened me up to love.”
GIRL GONE WiLD BY PAULO MURILLO | PHOTO BY BELLA PEYSER
The self-proclaimed alien from the planet Glamtron—Alaska Thunderfuck—on the meaning of drag, the perks of being sober and attention seeking fame whores. 2 4 T H E F IGH T | O CT O B ER 2014
RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 5 contestant, recording artist and drag performer Alaska Thunderfuck is desperately seeking a Redbull. Her phone interview with THE FIGHT is taking place at an airport hotel in Michigan, where she is prepping to serve her non-traditional drag performance at Nectar Nightclub. “This is terrrrrible,” she moans in long drawn out syllables. “My hotel is attached to the airport and they don’t have Redbull anywhere,” she complains dramatically. “It’s what fuels Alaska. It’s how I make my transformation.”
The self-proclaimed alien from the planet Glamtron (aka Justin Andrew Honard) finally settles for an Amp energy drink and gets down to business for an intimate discussion about the meaning of drag, the perks of being sober, stepping out of the shadow of Drag Race Season 4 winner and partner of four years, Sharon Needles, and how queens need to be creators, not haters. Is October a busy month for you? Yeah, I’m really busy right now, which is good, but it’s not that different than the rest of the year. I like to take as many opportunities as I can to tour. It is very exhausting, but at the end of the day, it is very rewarding. What did you do for Halloween last year after being a runner up to Jinkx Monsoon for the crown as America’s Next Drag Superstar? It was pretty crazy. I was in drag every day leading up to Halloween, so I didn’t get to dress up like Elvis, which is all I really wanted to do. What are you wearing right now? Oh my goodness, how intimate. I’m wearing black pants and like a floral button down shirt. I try to look normal when I’m in airport mode. I let Alaska be the attention seeking fame whore. You and Sharon Needles were known as the royal drag couple, how did you manage to step out of Sharon’s shadow? I think you get out of this business what you’re willing to put into it. You have to be ready to work hard and have all the machinery in place once Drag Race happens for you. I was just really lucky that I was able to have stuff ready. I also have a really good manager and a really good support system. It’s a factor of luck and hard work. And yeah, Sharon comes up all the time. He’s still a part of my life in a sense, because the TV show is still airing, so in the world of RuPaul’s Drag Race, we’re still together. Did people have a morbid curiosity with you two being drag queens and in a romantic relationship? Yes, but you’d be surprised, it happens a lot more often than you think. When you think about it, you want to date someone who understands what you do, what your life
is like, and understands your time schedule. These things are very important. And you also get to double your wardrobe. Are you still sober? I am, yes. I’m not like in AA or anything like that. I just don’t drink, because it wasn’t working for me. And I’m not like dogmatically against drinking. I don’t think everybody should quit drinking because it works for some people, but I can honestly say that it wasn’t making me happy, so I just stopped. Now I’m way nicer. I think. And it’s way easier for me to do my job. Was it a struggle to lay off the booze in the beginning? I was just done. I was really sick and thinking why isn’t this cold going away? And then I thought, oh maybe it’s because I’ve been binge drinking every single night. My relationship was ending and I was moving across the country, so I decided I was going to take a break from drinking. I wanted to make some decisions with a clear head and I felt such a positive change, that I thought, I’m going to stay like this. I like it. Are you dating anyone at the moment? Right now I’m dating this crazy girl named Alaska and she’s time consuming and high maintenance. She demands her Redbull. I’m really focused on her in a big way right now. What were you like as a kid? I was a weirdo. I looked weird, I acted weird, and I felt like it was bad for a very long time, but as I got older I was really lucky to see that the weirdness is what made me special, so when I started embracing my weirdness it really put me on a path of fulfillment, self-discovery and it opened me up to love. What do you like the most about being Alaska? I check my Facebook messages myself, which is really nice, because I get to read people’s stories. I never started doing drag as a way to help people. I wanted attention. I wanted my pictures on Myspace to look really cool, but drag really does touch people’s lives. I get to hear from people who have gone through some really hard stuff and our community really touches people in a meaningful and positive way. It’s very rewarding.
What inspires songs like “Ru Girl” and the recent “Your Makeup Is Terrible” single? I guess my inspiration comes from all things super gay. My next song is called “Nails.” If you’re not wearing nails, you’re not doing drag. It’s a celebration of the really vapid, really shallow stuff, but once you indulge in that, I think you can find something deeper if you want. Is there a deeper meaning to the drag you do? Yes. It’s my life’s work. Drag has all the trappings of excess and glamour, where you glue acrylic nails, eyelashes, and hair extensions on your head. It may seem superficial, but once you put all those things together, I think that it creates a product that is art and a form of magic. There is something really special going on there. I think people are recognizing that in this time period we’re living in right now, and I think that’s really cool. In the song “Ru Girl” you let Alaska haters have it. Are haters gonna hate? They do exist. Anyone who is willing to put themselves out there-no matter what they do-is opening themselves up to a lot of criticism. It’s important to remember to not be a hater, but to be a creator. It’s a great deal braver, more truthful and there is more love when you create something and put it out there for the world-especially if it comes from your heart. A lot of people hate, because it is easy and instantaneously gratifying to make a person feel less. What’s in store for Alaska fans in the near future? [Former Drag Race contestants] Willam Belli, Courtney Act and myself were asked to do a t-shirt campaign for American Apparel, so of course, we said yes. The shirts are available online and at the stores and they’re really pretty. I can’t wait to get one for my mom. I have a music video coming out for the song “Nails.” The song will be available on iTunes and on Youtube. And I’m doing a lot of shows. I think I’m in and around New York City for Halloween this year. It’s gonna be turned up. Alaska Thunderfuck is reachable via Facebook, tweeter and she’s on Instagram under @theonlyalaska5000. For more, visit alaskathunderfuck.com. O CTO B ER 2014 | TH E F I GH T 25
THELAW
>> PROP 46 <<
“DOCTOR SHOPPING” If passed, the $250,000 cap on pain and suffering damages, which has remained unchanged since 1975, would increase to where inflation is taken into account and, further, allows the cap to climb each year with the rising cost of living. Further, Prop. 46 would keep patients from “doctor shopping” for multiple prescriptions. The measure calls on health care providers to consult a statewide database of prescription-drug history before prescribing painkillers and certain other controlled substances. Opponents argue that the statewide database is not ready. If true, in the meantime, the requirement to check an incomplete and sometimes unresponsive system would expose medical professionals to liability.
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE WHY I WILL VOTE YES ON PROP. 46 ON NOVEMBER 4.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE TESTING
BY DAV I D H AK I M FA R Does limiting the liability for negligent or impaired doctors help or hurt victimized patients? That is what you will answering on November 4th when voting on Proposition 46. Voting Yes on Prop. 46 could cause three major changes in the laws related to the practice of medicine in California. (1) It would increase California’s limits on pain and suffering awards in medical malpractice lawsuits, (2) force pharmacists to consult an existing state prescription database before prescribing or distributing certain medications to a patient for the first time, and (3) require drug testing of physicians.
Lastly, Prop. 46 would require substance abuse testing on hospital physicians to get tested within 12 hours of an adverse event. Doctors who test positive or who fail the test would be immediately suspended. Think about it... if it’s required of firefighters, pilots and truck drivers ... why not doctors? Sure, Prop. 46 calls for major changes, which drew fierce opposition from parts of the healthcare industry.
Yet, it is hard enough for victims of medical malpractice because they, almost invariably, require an attorney to work their case on contingency. Medical malpractice attorneys are hesitant enough to take on medical malpractice cases because they usually require intense self-education of medicine, costly medical experts, and the existing cap on damages for pain and suffering. Lawyers are limited to 40% of the first $50,000, 33 1/3% of the next $50,000, 25% of the next $500,000, and 15% of any amount that exceeds $600,000.
BETTER SCRUTINIZING
Think about it like this: California law requires doctors to “use the level of skill, knowledge, and care in diagnosis and treatment that other reasonably careful doctors would use in similar circumstances.” Prop. 46 not only enables victims to receive damages that make them wholly better, it will prevent cases of medical malpractice by better scrutinizing doctors serving the public. Therefore, on November 4, I will vote YES on Prop. 46. David Hakimfar is a trial attorney and senior partner of Hakimfar Law, PLC, and a member attorney of Pride Legal. He can be reached at 310-730-1250.
It’s Time To Join
Are You Passionate About The LGBTQ Community? Become An Advertising Sales Executive for THE FIGHT! If you have outside sales experience and would like to join our team email your resume and cover letter to: mark@thefightmag.com 2 6 T H E F IGH T | O CT O B ER 2014
A doorman at the bar Shepard had visited before he was attacked talks about the slain young man’s immersion in the underworld of methamphetamine, including his personal relationship with his killer, Aaron McKinney.
MATTHEW SHEPARD
Hidden Truths New sources emerge regarding the murder of Matthew Shepard, reveals investigative journalist Stephen Jimenez. Drugs, money, sex and death threats. BY MARK ARIEL October 6, 2014 marks the 16th anniversary of the attack on Matthew Shepard, one of the most notorious homicides in contemporary American history. Found savagely beaten, unconscious, and tied to a fence, he died on October 12, 1998. Last year, a new book, “The Book Of Matt: Hidden Truths about the Murder of Matthew Shepard” by award-winning investigative journalist Stephen Jimenez, unraveled a tragic story involving one of the most serious problems that has faced the American heartland— the scourge of methamphetamine. After a 38-city book tour featuring meaningful conversations everywhere he visited, Jimenez recounts his experience in the paperback’s new 7,500-word afterword—the smears he has endured, the support of independent booksellers nationwide and the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, and new named sources who have emerged to corroborate his reporting. “In the face of numerous threats to disrupt my bookstore appearances, absolutely no one cancelled,” said Jimenez recently. “Journalists and reviewers on both the left and right stuck their
necks out to support me and my search for the truth. I can’t tell you what the backing of those fearless writers and booksellers means to me.” Equally fearless are the sources who stepped out of the shadows to talk about Matthew Shepard and the dangerous drug culture in Wyoming and Colorado. In the afterword, Jimenez writes of two former acquaintances of Matthew’s who have come forward for the first time to corroborate his reporting. One is James Farris, a doorman at the Tornado Club in Fort Collins, Colorado—the bar Shepard had visited on the Friday night before he was attacked. Like others, Farris talks about the slain young man’s immersion in the underworld of methamphetamine, including his personal relationship with his killer, Aaron McKinney. Although he had spoken with the media openly after the murder, Farris dropped out of sight due to threats on his life, probably from members of that same underworld. “The truth was that [Matthew’s murder] was all about drugs, money, sex, and booze,” wrote another new source, Kathleen Johnson, on Facebook. “It’s all true, I can vouch for page after page.” Last month the Wyoming State Historical Society recognized The Book of Matt with an award as one of the year’s best works of nonfiction. In November, which marks the 15th anniversary of the end of the Shepard trials, the author Stephen Jimenez plans to donate his research papers from the Matthew Shepard murder case to the American Heritage Center at the University of
Wyoming in Laramie. The center sought out and requested this donation from the author. The archive includes extensive interviews conducted for an award-winning ABC News 20/20 report that the author co-produced in 2004. For his reporting on the Shepard case, Jimenez was honored with the Writers Guild of America Award and the Mongerson Award for Investigative Reporting bestowed by Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. “I can’t imagine a more distinguished and more appropriate home for my research archive than the American Heritage Center,” said Jimenez. “Matthew attended the University of Wyoming and his horrific murder occurred nearby. When the Center approached me about this donation, I felt honored and thrilled. My hope is that future researchers will expand upon and deepen our understanding of the Shepard tragedy.” “The Book Of Matt: Hidden Truths about the Murder of Matthew Shepard” is now available in paperback with a new Afterword by the author. STEPHEN JIMENEZ
O CTO JUNE B ER 2014 2014 || TTH HEE FFIIGH GHTT 27 28
“Becoming more and more like Orange County is not progress in my book… West Hollywood has always set a higher standard for itself. We don’t need to sell out because we can get more money.”
Saving WeHo Former International Mr. Leather Mike Gerle has announced his candidacy for West Hollywood City Council in the March 2015 election. Core values, the Mormon Church and taking leadership in the fight against AIDS.
BY JAMES MILLS
West Hollywood City Hall
employee Mike Gerle, former International Mr. Leather, is running for a seat on the West Hollywood City Council in the March 2015 election. Gerle knows the city well, having lived here since 1991. And he knows City Hall
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extremely well, having worked there since 1996 in a variety of capacities. “Legacy, experience and vision; that’s what I want to build on,” says the 49-year old Gerle (pronounced “girly”) in an interview with THE FIGHT. “West Hollywood is a city that was founded on renters’ rights, LGBT rights and seniors’ rights. Not many cities can say they’re going
to create themselves on those ideas, but we did and it worked. We have core values—idealism, creativity and innovation -that we’re getting away from. I feel like we’re taking the easy way out more and more—we’re afraid to be innovative, we’re afraid to be courageous . . . We should be measuring what we are doing now and in the future on those same core values we started with.”
Gerle worries the city is losing what makes it unique and becoming too much like any other city in Southern California. “Becoming more and more like Orange County (CA) is not progress in my book,” he says. “West Hollywood has always set a higher standard for itself. We don’t need to sell out because we can get more money.”
RAISED MORMON Those core values and the freedom to be gay are what influenced Gerle to relocate to WeHo. “Individuality is the standard here in West Hollywood,” Gerle says, “but it certainly wasn’t where I was growing up.” With his father working for the Union Pacific Railroad, Gerle lived in Nebraska, Wyoming and Idaho as a child, where his goal was just to fit in. His family joined the Mormon Church when he was 11. At first, he enjoyed the church and the structure it brought to his life. But once he hit puberty and recognized his attraction to boys, his love affair with the church was over. “I loved the church and the idea of God that we had back then,” reveals Gerle. “But then I was told that homosexuality was even worse than murder in the eyes of the Mormon Church. With murder you kill a person, but by not having kids, you’re preventing all these other lives from being born. So, I had to completely reinvent my paradigm of the world.” He had dreams of being a professional ballet dancer and even got a scholarship to study ballet in San Diego. However, an AIDS diagnosis and drug addiction derailed those plans. Moving to West Hollywood, getting sober and hitting the gym changed his life.
HIV AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Gerle praises West Hollwood’s early action on dealing with AIDS at a time when the federal government was doing little, saying “we were on the cutting edge of compassion, conversation and care for those infected and affected by the disease.” However, now he feels the city needs to again take leadership in the fight against AIDS and “modernize” its relationship to the disease. Approximately 2,400 people living in West Hollywood have HIV/AIDS according to a recent survey.
“We need to be having conversations about what ‘undetectable’ means, what PrEP can do, treatment as prevention, and the grey areas of sexual activities so that people can make more informed choices regarding their sex lives,” says Gerle, who married his partner, Garrett McClure, a vice president at a digital media company, in March 2014 (the two met three years ago on an AIDS LifeCycle training ride). “I strongly believe that if we retool our efforts, this can be the last HIV generation.” When it comes to sobriety, he also praises the city’s commitment to 12-step recovery programs like Alcoholic Anonymous by proving meeting space in the Werle Building, adjacent to West Hollywood Park. But he wants to see that commitment made permanent. “Rather than make ad hoc decisions that lurch from year to year, I would like the city to recognize that the recovery culture is just as much a part of West Hollywood as the night club culture,” says Gerle, who has 22 years of sobriety.
LEATHER COMMUNITY The International Mr. Leather 2007 title came about as a fluke, reveals Gerle. He had been a regular at Oil Can Harry’s bar in Studio City and wanted to get more involved with the leather community, but had never participated in a leather contest before. “I wanted to dive deeper into the leather scene, but didn’t know how to get into it. I’d sort of been on the sidelines, but I thought if I entered that contest and got some notoriety, I would get noticed,” he recalls. Gerle won the Oil Can Harry’s Leather competition—and went on to win the title of Mr. L.A. Leather—and then won the top honor and became International Mr. Leather 2007. Gerle believes his experiences in the leather community will be helpful for dealing with issues of diversity and inclusion in West Hollywood. “The leather community isn’t all gay; it has straight people in it too. It’s also got a high visibility of transgender people. It’s just incredibly diverse,” he says. “The issue is how to embrace diversity—but not let it destroy us. I think that fits really well into West Hollywood politics… At the end of my winning speech [at International Mr. Leather], I said, “We don’t have to like each other, we just have to love each other. And if you think about it, you probably already do.”
TRIBE FOUNDER
One of Gerle’s primary goals will be creating more programming for the gay community, noting that the city’s gay population is steadily getting older. He’s already got a good start on that, serving as the facilitator for the city’s monthly gay men’s discussion group, TRIBE, which he founded in 2011. “There wasn’t a single West Hollywood facility being used for gay men’s programming on a regular basis,” he recalls. “We outsourced that. We give a lot of money to the LA Gay and Lesbian Center and stuff happens just outside the West Hollywood borders that we pay for. But inside the borders, there wasn’t anything happening. I asked [Councilmember John] D’Amico about it and said at the least we could have a discussion group. Three years later, TRIBE is still going strong, getting anywhere from 25 to 50 men each month.”
ONE CALL TO CITY HALL Gerle also wants to make City Hall more responsive to the residents. He wants to see the city set up a method for residents to make comments on matters before the City Council and its various commissions via mobile phones. He also dreams of creating a “One Call to City Hall” system where the person who answers the phone also answers your question, rather than transferring you to various departments. “Everyone should only have to know one number to call city hall—311,” says Gerle, who currently works as a special events coordinator, but previously worked in the finance and information technology departments, as well as six years as an assistant to city manager Paul Arevalo. “When that happens—the call volume goes up—residents will know that if they call, people will answer. If we have a leaf blower problem, it can be dealt with quickly. If there is a public safety issue, it would be addressed immediately.” Ironically, if Gerle wins the election, he’ll be out of a job. City regulations prohibit him from being a city employee and also serving on the City Council. “My husband and I discussed [losing his job] while deciding to run. We can certainly get by with only one income, but when that time comes, I will see what options are available.” O CTO B ER 2014 | T H E F I GH T 29
FREAKSHOW FLASHBACK
Another West Hollywood Halloween Carnival approaches. Owning the night, masters of disguises and compensating for your manhood. BY PAULO MURILLO
Halloween has been in the air since early September this year, and I can’t help but reflect to some crazy times and remember some elaborate costumes that date back to when I first started attending West Hollywood’s Halloween Carnival during my twink years in 1991. This was back in the early stages of what would become one the largest Halloween Carnivals in the world. The WeHo Halloween Carnival started in 1987, but the carnival in the early 90s, when I started attending, was nothing like the large scale block party that one experiences today with street closures, open dance floors, live concert performances, corn on the cob vending trucks, and port-a-potties lining the streets to accommodate the migration of thousands of straight, gay, male, female, young and old from all nationalities—all smashed together, shoulder-to-shoulder in the mosh pit of WeHo’s Boystown on Halloween night. But make no mistake darrrlinks; we gays owned Halloween night in West Hollywood...umm, back in the day. We’ve always been natural masters of disguises. The way I remember it, it was a full-blown gay affair. Drag queens took a break from turning tricks to walk up and down Santa Monica Boulevard from San Vicente to Robertson, with no real purpose other than to seek attention and disrupt the moving traffic. It was common to catch the flash of sparkly sequins and a wig fly by, because some 30 T H E F IGH T | O CT O B ER 2014
of these brave girls side-saddled on the hoods of moving vehicles and went for a short ride like they were on a royal coach in a parade. Sometimes you would see a limp clump of synthetic hair get tossed into the night sky after a drag queen fell and ate shit on the side of the road. It was a freak show, but it was our freak show, no differently than the Halloween carnivals that sprouted in gay ghettos all over the nation—be it at the Castro in San Francisco, South Beach in Miami, or the giant Halloween Carnival they have today at the West Village in New York. And speaking of eating shit... I actually did drag for the first time at my first Halloween in WeHo,
which was the bravest thing a gay guy could do back then, at the risk of getting your head bashed in. Drag was mandatory in my circle of friends during those twink years. It was a trying test of my internalized homophobia when my friends and I tried to find decent women’s shoes that fit at a Payless Shoe Source. We drove deep down to South Bay, where no one would recognize us, to find Lee Press-On Nails, clip-on earrings and layers upon layers of nylons that never matched our skin tones. This was ‘91, so needless to say, I channeled Madonna’s Vogue video with a pair of giant boobs under a lacy black top and I took my sister’s black mini skirt without asking. Unfortunately, I still lived at home, so the eyebrows could not get plucked, the legs could not be waxed, which didn’t work too well for me as a girl. I thought I looked okay when we stepped onto Santa Monica Boulevard that night. A guy called me Pretty Woman when he passed me. Another guy felt my booty, he was nasty. And then a snarky bitch said I looked like Sandra Bernhard, and I was
I actually did drag for the first time at my first Halloween in WeHo, which was the bravest thing a gay guy could do back then, at the risk of getting your head bashed in. wrecked, but only because I knew he was speaking some truth. I would try to compensate for my manhood after doing drag a few times in those early years, by sexing it up manly-style for many years after. I’ve been a sexy angel, a sexy cowboy baby, a sexy merman, a sexy Indian (the feathery kind), a sexy boxer, a sexy Tarzan, a sexy Hawaiian hula guy, a sexy Pan, a sexy Roman warrior, and last year I dressed up as a sexy Ninja—and by sexy, I mean shirtless and slutty, so in that sense, I reckon we’re not that different from women when it comes to our slutty Halloween getups. I remember the first time they blocked Santa Monica Boulevard from moving traffic in the mid-90s to allow the costumes to spill onto the street. I remember the first time I was called a faggot by some guy who didn’t like the sight of me in a fish tail. I remember the first time I looked down and saw a baby stroller and looked up and saw a child riding over his dad’s shoulders. I remember the first time I thought I was going to die in a human crowd disaster when the bodies were neck to neck. I remember the show went on shortly after 9/11. I also remember the first time I witnessed a chola street fight in the heart of WeHo. And how can we forget last year, when a man
died a fiery death while people in the crowd took pictures and cheered him on? I also remember a lot of good times. I have friends that I only see on Halloween, for Halloween. I remember laughing at the guy who dressed up as a piñata that threw candy up in the air whenever his friend whacked him with a stick. I remember the parade of half-naked sexy men and we can always look forward to a long list of creative, over-the-top and super fabulous costumes. They said throw a block party and they will come. And people came. The more elaborate costumes we churned out year after year, the more Japanese men packed their expensive camera equipment to take photos of the gays at their creative best. In 2001, the crowds reached 350,000 people in size. Today we can expect up to 500,000 people in West Hollywood on Hallows Eve. So here we have yet another
West Hollywood Halloween Carnival upon us. I don’t know if I’m dressing up this year. My partner tells me they revoke your Halloween card when you reach 40. I’ve been operating on an expired license these past two years, so what’s one more year of doing something sexy, right? Half a million people are expected in WeHo on October 31. It’s great having gay, straight, black, brown, white, men, women, tops, bottoms, all in one place, looking for a good time. We have proven that we really can get along, at least for one night. A part of me misses the smaller gathering of a gay fabulous freak show in the heart of a gay city when everyone was gay, gay, gay, but regardless of its massive size and annoying crowds, I will always, always love the West Hollywood Halloween Carnival. For more Paulo Murillo commentary, visit thehissfit.com
O CTO B ER 2014 | T H E F I GH T 31
AIDEN JAMES
JEREMIAH CLARK
PALM SPRINGS PRIDE The Greater Palm Springs Pride Celebration marks its 28th Anniversary, November 7–9, 2014, with block parties, musical performances, a free two-day festival and parade. BY VICTOR MELAMED “I am Pride: Stonewall 45” will be the theme for the annual Palm Springs Pride Celebration scheduled for next month, November 7-9. The two-prong theme was selected to observe the 45th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots and reflect on the impact the fight for equality is having on the LGBT community around the world. The Stonewall Riots in New York’s Greenwich Village on June 28, 1969 set off the LGBT civil rights movement. “I am Pride,” state the event organizers, is an affirmation of an individual’s stance against discrimination and support of equal rights, sexual diversity and gender variance.
NEW LOCATION This year’s the annual Palm Springs Pride celebration takes place at a new downtown location. The Festival is held on Palm Canyon Dr. between Amado and Baristo Rd and on Arenas Rd from S. Calle Encilia to Balardo. Palm Canyon Dr. will be closed to traffic and transformed into a vibrant, pedestrian friendly Pride Festival, unique to 3 2 T H E F IGH T | O CT O B ER 2014
Southern California. Enjoy a diverse array of artists, entertainers, multiple beverage gardens and purveyors of all sorts including, jewelry, snacks and sweets. Add all that to great shopping restaurants, clubs and entertainment venues located along world-famous Palm Canyon Dr. and the result is like no place else—Palm Springs Pride.
STONEWALL EQUALITY CONCERT Pride weekend starts with Stonewall Equality Concert on Friday, November 7, 6:30pm10pm. The outdoor concert, free to the public, takes place at the US Bank Stage, on Arenas between Indian Canyon Dr. and S. Calle Encilia. The free concert, featuring Jeremiah Clark and Story of the Running Wolf, is an opportunity to honor those who work to preserve gains and meet equal rights challenges facing the LGBT community.
THE ENTERTAINMENT The two-day festival lineup—Saturday, November 8— Sunday, November 9—includes live performances by pop sensation Amanda Lepore, hip hop lesbian Irawniq, Icelandic musical group Steed Lord, out singer-songwriter Aiden James, and New Jersey’s out rock musician Josh Zuckerman. Special appearances include pop artist Lisa D’Amato, who won the allstar cycle of America’s Next Top Model in 2011, and Quatrele Da’an, X Factor season 2’s gender bending revolutionary pop stand out. Festival Emcees include Fiona St. James from New York, LA’s Pauly and Monks and the desert’s very own hostess, social ambassador and Walk of Stars recipient Bella da Ball.
THE PARADE The most scenic pride parade in the world takes place on Sunday November 9 at 10am. The new parade route travels south along Palm Canyon Drive from uptown to downtown Palm Springs. Step off is at 10am at Tachevah and Palm Canyon Dr. The parade ends around 12:30pm. The parade route travels directly to the opening gates of the Pride Festival.
QUATRELE DA’AN
For more info please visit: www.pspride.org.
Bisexuality is too confusing and too unsettling to deal with for most people. They just want you to pick one or the other—and no one gets hurt—we can all go home happy.
A Blessing And A Curse Not just a “layover on the way to Gaytown”—one bisexual man’s journey through life. Preconceived notions, the need for things to be easily defined and shades of grey. BY MARK ARIEL
3 4 T H E F IGH T | O CT O B ER 2014
According to a recent survey
participants who identified as gay or lesbian responded significantly less positively toward bisexuality than those identifying as bisexual, indicating that even within the sexual minority community, bisexuals face profound stigma. The survey, presented at the American Public Health Association’s annual meeting in Boston, also found that male bisexuals likely suffer more stigma than female bisexuals. Robert, 48, a bisexual man, has lived with his significant other, a bisexual woman, for the past five years, in a suburb of Los Angeles. “We are both not ‘out’ to the world—as we are both aware that the bisexual label could hurt our careers—which is funny because we have gay guys in my company who are totally accepted,” reveals Robert. In an interview with THE FIGHT Robert talks about sexual fluidity, preconceived notions and feeling alone in the wilderness.
HOW-TO GUIDE
There comes a devastating, gut wrenching, lump-in-throat time in life when you suddenly realize that just because 99 percent of people in the world believe in something to be true—does not necessarily make it true. It’s not a joyful moment. It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah. It’s that moment in time when you reach the inevitable conclusion that from here on in—you’re on your own kid. No how-to guide, no coloring by numbers, no “we’re here, we’re queer, get used to it” rally, no light at the end of this tunnel, sorry folks. Welcome to “figure it out on your own,” good luck, namaste, God bless.
FREAK OF NATURE
I liked a girl. I liked a boy. I was 12 and life was filled with confusing, scary, don’t ask don’t tell emotions. I played doctor with Paul, I played house with Debbie, I played the thought over and over in my mind thousands of times, gay, not gay, boys, girls, who am I—for cryin’ out loud? I wasn’t about to actually ask anyone because I knew it wasn’t a good thing. I was an abomination, a freak of nature, a pervert. One day I looked up “homosexuality” in a book my mother had accidentally left out on the coffee table—“Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask).” It was the bestseller of its time—in the seventies. The chapter on homosexuality was just 3 pages—and it was a doozy.
Without getting into major detail—the gist was that homos were incapable of true love and the only way they can satisfy their perverse urges is to meet men in public toilets, do their nasties, and slink back home in shame. I quickly closed the book, went to the encyclopedia my dad kept in his home office, and looked up the word “suicide” to find the most painless way to end it all... but I chickened out and simply forced myself to come to terms that I was a horrible, disgusting person for even thinking about boys. So right there and then I shoved those gay thoughts out of my mind and focused on girls. I liked girls as well, so really, my life didn’t have to be a disaster—or so I thought.
ALL THE QUIRKS
Whether you realize it or not—you’re probably a control freak. Life is tough—we need things to be easily defined, understood and categorized. You’re right or left, Democrat or Republican, conservative or liberal, religious or secular, straight or gay. Navigating all the quirks, the shades of grey, the exceptions to the rule, is too tedious, too tiresome and sometimes too frightening. For me—the eventual realization that I was bisexual—forced me to abandon all the preconceptions that I grew up with, that society bestowed upon me—and let me tell you—it was a very alone in the wilderness time—and still is, to a certain degree.
THE SAD TRUTH
In college I met a girl and fell in love. It was all very romantic and exciting. She was sweet, kind, smart and beautiful. We were together for 2 years—and I thought I had finally put those pesky bisexual thoughts behind me. Then one day I met a guy on campus and my true self caught up with me. I was smitten—I couldn’t get him out of my head. I was hopelessly attracted to him. Yes, hopelessly. I got tongue tied and weak in the knees whenever I saw him. I was a mess. I couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep and fell into a major depression. I finally told my girlfriend, and let’s just say— it didn’t go well. She eventually understood the concept of bisexuality—but she had plans of marriage—and just couldn’t be with someone like me. So we broke up—and I never approached the guy I was infatuated with—I’m pretty sure he was straight—and I more or less resigned myself to the sad truth that I would be loveless and alone for the rest of my days. It was the worst time of my life.
MY GAY CAP
As time went by I wondered if I just wasn’t plain ol’ garden variety gay. Maybe my attraction to women was something I had convinced myself of—to stay out of the gay. It seemed plausible enough. So I decided to put on my gay cap and wonder into bars and clubs and see what happens. I met a few people, made a few good friends, and found a boyfriend. After a few months I told him I used to think I was bisexual—he laughed and said lots of gay guys think that in the beginning. I laughed—but deep down inside I wasn’t sure that I was 100 percent gay. There’s a line from “Sex In The City,” an episode where Carrie finds out the guy she is dating is bi. She is having a rough time of it, and says “I’m not even sure bisexuality exists; I think it’s just a layover on the way to Gaytown.” Samantha says she thinks it’s hot—and Miranda replies: “It’s not hot, it’s greedy. He’s double dipping.” In my experience that’s what most people think. That bisexuals have a voracious sexual appetite—man, woman, coca cola bottle, anything to get off. That is so untrue. I don’t even like Coke.
EASY WAY OUT
It’s a blessing and a curse. Personally I feel that my life is richer than those who are just one thing—I am, however, aware that the reality of the situation is that bisexuals do not have the same social and political support that the gay community has acquired over the years. Sure, we are the “B” in LGBT but most gay guys I meet are uncomfortable around bisexuals. Deep down inside they think that you’re a gay man afraid to fully come out of the closet. Bisexuality is too confusing and too unsettling to deal with for most people. They just want you to pick one or the other—and no one gets hurt—we can all go home happy. It’s not that simple. But I understand the sentiment. Honestly, I think bisexuality is more common than we think—both among those who define themselves as straight or gay. But most people are afraid to go there. Questioning your sexuality, especially after you think you know who you are, can create too much havoc in a world that desperately seeks the easy way out of dealing with life’s true complexities. O CTO B ER 2014 | TH E F I GH T 35
THEBOOK
> > W H AT T H E Y ’ R E R E A D I N G < <
Rome had a national holiday celebrating male sex workers. culturally acceptable to keep a “concubinus”—a slave to service them sexually before marriage.
BAD EMPEROR In 390 AD, following an edict issued by Emperor Theodosius, male brothels in Rome were raided and prostitutes were burnt alive in the streets as throngs of onlookers cheered.
THE PARENTS In fifteenth-century Florence, it was not uncommon for young men (12 to 20 years old) to engage in long-term sexual relationships with rich benefactors, many of whom were surprisingly young, often in their 20s. And the parents approved!
SAMURAI WARRIORS
WORKING MEN THE WORLD’S OLDEST PROFESSION— FROM A RICH ARRAY OF PERSPECTIVES AND DISCIPLINES THROUGHOUT HISTORY. BY VI C T OR M E LA M E D Beautifully designed and filled with surprising statistics, historic photos, and artfully shot man-candy, “Male Sex Work and Society” is an interesting and insightful read. The book explores the world’s oldest profession from a rich array of perspectives and disciplines throughout history. Here are a few enlightening tidbits.
citizens: foreigners and slaves. An Athenian man could choose to be a prostitute, but in doing so he forfeited his civil rights. Prostitutes were not only taxed and registered in the city’s prostitute logbook but also protected by law—though at the same time scorned and taunted as sluts. Rome had a national holiday celebrating male sex workers.
NATIONAL HOLIDAY
CAESAR AND NERO
In fifth-century BC Athens and first-century AD Rome, male prostitutes were typically non-
Roman Emperors Caesar and Nero were bottoms. For rich and titled Roman men, it was
3 6 T H E F IGH T | O CT O BER 2014
In mid-1600s Japan, “kabuki wakashu” male actors were often prostitutes, much sought after by male and female patrons for their beauty. It was common for Buddhist and samurai warriors to have sex with their young male apprentices, in much the same way that Greek noblemen were permitted to have a sex with the youths they were mentoring-as long as the relationship was educational, not purely sexual.
JAMESTOWN, VIRGINIA Under dire conditions in 1607 Jamestown, Virginia, sailors from British ships sold biscuits known as hardtack (made from flour, water, and sometimes salt) to starving local men in exchange for sex (among other things).
BRITISH SOLDIERS Beginning in the early nine-
teenth century, it was common for British soldiers to supplement their meager pay by hustling, often earning as much as a week’s pay in half an hour. In addition to being attractive to those seeking straight trade, soldiers were thought to be trust-worthier and less likely to blackmail their clients than typical street hustlers.
THEIR LAPELS In Queen Victoria’s London, hustlers were found in Piccadilly Circus, where men advertised their services by fingering their lapels. In earlier days, male prostitutes were often bottoms to customer tops. In the mid-to-late 1800s, the positions were flipped, with the working-class men generally topping their upper-class customers.
FEASTING WITH PANTHERS Oscar Wilde referred to sex with the young working-class male prostitutes (ages 16 - 20) he favored as “feasting with panthers” because “their passion was all body and no soul.”
AND MORE Additionally the book covers a variety of topics from male sex work in film (from “Sunset Boulevard” to “Private Idaho”), to marketing, clients, laws and regulations, mental health, public health and HIV, social services, and male sex work in Africa, China, Russia, Latin America, and Europe. Male Sex Work and Society,” edited by Victor Minichiello and John Scott, is available now via Amazon and Harrington Park Press (distributed by Columbia University Press) at: www. harringtonparkpress.com
THEEPIDEMIC
>> HIV GUIDELINES <<
I’m a good cook but sometimes my pantry is bare. Kathy, D.A.P. client
YOUNG MEN AT HIGHER RISK HALF OF HIV-POSITIVE GAY MEN IN U.S. AREN'T GETTING PROPER TREATMENT. BY ORLY LYONNE Even though gay and bisexual men make up the majority of Americans infected with HIV, half aren't receiving ongoing care or getting the virus-suppressing drugs they need to stay healthy, a new report finds, reports MedicineNet.com The CDC study looked at 2010 data on more than 400,000 male gay and bisexual Americans who were infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The research shows that while 77.5 percent did initially get HIV medical care within three months of their diagnosis, only about 51 percent continued getting care on an ongoing basis. Experts note that HIV infection can be manageable if powerful antiviral drugs are taken on a regular basis. But the CDC report finds that less than half of HIV-positive gay or bisexual men were prescribed such drugs, and only 42 percent achieved healthy “viral suppression.” Why are so many infected men not getting proper treatment? The CDC researchers said many factors could be at play. “Lack of health insurance, stigma and discrimination might influence whether [gay and bisexual men] access medical care,” they wrote. Gaining access to care soon after diagnosis is crucial to whether or not a patient continues to get virus-suppressing medications, the team added. Younger men and minority males appear to be at highest risk of not getting the HIV-related treatment they need, researchers said. While 84 percent of men aged 45 to 54 who were newly diagnosed with HIV got linked to medical care, that proportion dropped to 71 percent for males ages 13 to 24. A similar “age gap” was seen in statistics relating to ongoing retention in HIV medical care, the CDC study found. The findings from the new report "highlight the need for continued expansion of prevention, care and treatment efforts," particularly for younger and minority gay and bisexual men, the authors said. n
D.A.P. treats and supports the whole person My case manager says that “food is medicine” because a healthy diet...along with medication and my doctor visits...is an important part of keeping my HIV in-check. Since I can’t work anymore, it’s been a life-saver to live right across the parking lot from D.A.P., in a comfy apartment with my own kitchen. Their monthly food voucher helps fill my cabinets... and my refrigerator loves the fruits and vegetables from their Farmer’s Market.
This and more...all under one roof Thanks to your generous support, Desert AIDS Project has been saving lives for 30 years. Please continue to help by donating at desertAIDSproject.org, joining one of our annual giving programs, or by saving the date for one of our upcoming fundraising events. Desert AIDS Walk | October 18, 2014 Dancing With The Desert Stars | November 14, 2014 World AIDS Day | December 1, 2014 - Pathways to Health & Well-Being HIV Conference - Everyday Heroes
760.323.2118 desertAIDSproject.org
O CTO B ER 2014 | T H E F I GH T 39
THESHARE
>> CHALLENGE ME, WORD BLAME, REMAIN HUMBLE,
TRUDGE THE ROAD OF HAPPY DESTINY INDIVIDUALS WITH DIFFERENT LENGTHS OF CONTINUOUS SOBRIETY SHARE SOME WORDS OF WISDOM.
BY PA U L O M U R I L L O This new column in THE FIGHT is dedicated to local individuals in recovery. There are many ways to obtain sobriety. THE FIGHT does not favor, promote, or condone one method of getting sober over another. We approach sobriety openly and ask that people share in a general way. We asked individuals with different lengths of continuous sobriety to share some words of wisdom, which helps them stay on their sober path as they trudge the road of happy destiny. We thank you for sharing.
CHALLENGE ME “I remember a man over 30 years sober would always say, ‘If anybody is going to drink tonight, it’s better you than me. Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.’ Every time he said that, it pissed me off, but what that man’s comment did for me was challenge me to stay sober and that’s helped me throughout my recovery. No matter how much time I have, I’ve always JOSEPH met my challenges head on, AUGUSTINE whether it’s a challenge with my character defects, an individual, a family member, or making an amends...these challenges keep me sharp and remind me that I can be close to that first drink.” Challenges keep me constantly reaching for my tools. —Joseph Augustine, sober since October, 2009 4 0 T H E F IGH T | O CT O B ER 2014
DON NORMAN
WORD BLAME “What comes to my mind is the word responsibility. We are responsible for our own actions and our own happiness. No one is to blame for the things that come upon me. They are all of my own making. We have to drop the word blame from our vocabulary. I think that is one of the most profound things in the world. I think people struggle the most with surrender. You have to surrender to the idea that this is what’s happening and not blame everyone. Everyone has had a hard life. It’s no reason to drink.” —Don Norman, sober since August, 1979. JEREMY MANNING
BREAK THINGS DOWN “Getting sober has always been the easier part. It’s the staying sober part that I struggle with. What helps me through it is the most basic
component of recovery, taking things one day at a time. Of course, tomorrow always comes and we have to plan our weeks but when it comes to taking on tasks and managing my addiction, I break things down into smaller, edible bits. I do that with most things in life now. That’s what keeps me sober.” —Jeremy Manning, sober since April, 2014. CHRIS MURILLO
REMAIN HUMBLE “Being clean and in recovery are two different things to me. Clean means I put the drugs and alcohol down, recovery means that I am actively working on my character defects and learning how to live without the use of drugs. Today I am trustworthy and people consider me a good person with good intentions. This hasn’t come easy. To do this, I need to remain humble and willing to take the advice of those who came before me. I need to be honest, open-minded and willing to do whatever it takes it to stay clean. The rewards are well worth the effort, because every day I don’t use, I become that person I have always hoped to be.” —Chris Murillo, sober since July, 2006.
Y E S T E R D AY ’ S S H O W E R , PA U S E W H E N A G I TAT E D < <
THE FIGHT does not favor, promote, or condone one method of getting sober over another. We approach sobriety openly and ask that people share in a general way.
BRUCE HELLER
YESTERDAY’S SHOWER “The first thing that comes to mind is the phrase that says, you can’t think your way into right action, but you can act your way into right thinking. That’s a big one that I often forget. Without getting to into the catch phrases and daily reprieves, another thing I have to remind myself is recovery is not a quick fix. It’s a process. Every morning, I start from square one as if I’m in my first day of sobriety. As the say, yesterday’s shower isn’t going to keep you clean today.” —Bruce Heller, sober since February, 2012.
PAUSE WHEN AGITATED “What I’ve learned in recovery that helps me maintain some serenity in my life is to pause when agitated. I learned not to react on the spot. Today I have the ability to take 10 seconds before responding to a problem. Sometimes MICHAEL I need more than 10 secHEN EHAN onds. Taking that moment makes a huge difference in dealing with life on life’s terms and the end result always leads to me having some peace of mind.” —Michael Henehan, sober since October, 2001.
JUDD MINTER
TO BE HAPPY “I have to be sober to have a decent life. Today my quest is to find my bliss and that’s what keeps me sober. The whole point to being sober is to be happy. The more joyous I am, the more wellbeing flows to me. I’ve proven that to myself time and time again. I needed to be sober to save my life. Now I just want to be happy.” —Judd Minter, sober since November, 2005.
Project Nunway Charity fashion event with The Los Angeles Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. BY VICTOR MELAMED
The Los Angeles Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are hosting an extraordinary fashion experience of the wildest imagination. A blasphemous queer fashion show like no other, this annual event invites designers and creative artists to stretch the absolute limits of creativity, beauty and concept. In 2013 the LA Sisters hosted this acclaimed event to great fanfare. Project NunwayLA was an instant hit, generating over $10,000 for charity. The LA Sisters are at it again in 2014 with this year’s theme—DREAMSCAPE: Surrealism in Fashion. In the tradition of Project Nunway, the sisters challenge participants to create outrageous fashion that embodies surrealism, avant-garde creativity, and over-the-top fashionable art. Designers are encouraged to create outfits with little to no cash, while stretching the creative mind beyond the fringes. Fashion designers vie for the Top Designer Award, a prize of $500 to be donated to the charity of their choice and bragging rights as top designer! And who better to walk the runway of this fashion show other than the always-outrageous Los Angeles Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Sister models will be draped in original designer creations and take to the fashion runway in a show that celebrates extravagant, outrageous, thought provoking imagination and visionary prowess. This year’s panel of judges include: Jai Rodriguez, Emmy award-winning host of “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” and ChiChi LaRue—Hall of Fame Director, DJ and Drag Celebrity. Project NunwayLA also features an Exclusive VIP Private Party sponsored by The Abbey West Hollywood and Mickys West Hollywood—with Leigh Hetherington—LA Ovation Nominated Actress and RENT alumni. The event takes place Saturday, November 8 at West Hollywood Park Auditorium, 647 N San Vicente Blvd from 5pm to 12 midnight. For more info: www.projectnunwayla.com. O OCTO CTOB BER ER 2014 2014 || TH T HEE FFIIGH GHTT 41 41
THEEVENT
>> SAN GABRIEL VALLEY PRIDE <<
San Gabriel Valley Pride
“Reflections of Pride,” the 13th annual LGBT Pride Festival took place last month in Pasadena’s Memorial Park, Levitt Pavilion and Holly Street. Mayor of Pasadena, Bill Bogaard and former area Assembly member Anthony Portantino both continued long-standing support of the festival. These community leaders spoke to the value of Pride celebrations and the importance of communities celebrating the diversity of their neighbors. Entertainment rocked the Levitt Pavilion this year. Abi Ann and One Country, Dario, Redd Carter, the Podunk Poets, Deanna D. and the South Pasadena Transit Authority were among the artists who appeared at the festival. For more info visit www.sgvpride.org.
4 2 T H E F IGH T | O CT O B ER 2014
>> VOICES ON POINT <<
PHOTOS BY PAULO MURILLO
Voices On Point
Celebrities from TV, film, music, and sports braved the Los Angeles heat to attend Point Foundation’s “Voices on Point” gala at the Century City Hyatt Regency last month to show their support of Point Foundation, the nation’s largest scholarship organization for LGBTQ students of merit. Celebrity guests included A.J. McLean of Backstreet Boys, Judith Light, Heather McDonald, Heather Dubrow, George Takei, Dan Bucatinsky, Alexis Arquette and openly out basketball player Jason Collins. This year Point Foundation honored songwriter Diane Warren with their “Leadership Award” for her support of the LGBTQ community.
O CTO B ER 2014 | T H E F I GH T 43
THECALENDAR
>> THINGS TO DO <<
info: zombiefashionshow.com. Over 50 Hollywood makeup artists transform some of the hottest models into the goriest of zombies. Live performances, DJ sets, Creature Art Exhibit and more. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12
HARD VILLAINS 4 Eagle LA, 4219 Santa Monica Blvd (at Myra Ave.) LA, 3pm to 9pm. 4th annual Wicked Villain Halloween Costume Party, hosted by Staying Alive.
GLORIA TREVI. SEE SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19
BIG GAY FRISBEE (BGF) FALL LEAGUE Pan Pacific Park, 7600 Beverly Blvd, 10am12pm. For more info: BGFultimate.com. All skill levels welcome! Fall SoCal Tournament will run from Oct. 12 to Nov. 16.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15
BEST IN DRAG SHOW Orpheum Theatre, 842 South Broadway, LA, 7pm. For more info: www.bestindragshow.org Fundraiser for Aid for AIDS. Celebrity guests, musical performances and drag queens battle it out Best in Drag Tiara.
TRIBE - GAY MEN’S DISCUSSION GROUP West Hollywood Public Library, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd, 7:30pm-9:30pm. For more info: weho.org/tribe. Topics range from health and body image to the male sex drive. Admission is free.
THE 9TH ANNUAL LA FIREHOUSE CHILI COOK-OFF Eagle LA, 4219 Santa Monica Blvd, LA, 3pm-8pm. For more info: facebook.com/ events/370880716399276 Presented by The Regiment of the Black and Tans. APLA HAMBURGER MARY’S WEHO LEGENDARY BINGO! Hamburger Mary’s West Hollywood, 8288 Santa Monica Blvd (Sweetzer), 6pm-8pm. For reservations call 323-654-3800. Have a crazy good time with celebrity guests, fabulous prize packages, benefiting APLA’s AIDS Walk Los Angeles. ELTON JOHN @ STAPLES CENTER 1111 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, 8pm-11pm. Tickets: http://bnds.in/1kIGLSr The bitch is BACK. Sir Elton performs his hits that date back to 1970. MONDAY, OCTOBER 6
CUB SCOUT The Eagle, 4219 Santa Monica Blvd, LA, 8pm2am. For more info call: (323)669-9472. The bears and cubs come together, with DJs Chris Bowen and Victor Rodriguez. L.A. QUEER HISTORY FUNDRAISER Akbar, 4356 W Sunset Blvd (Fountain Avenue), LA, 6:30pm-9:30pm. For more info: kickstarter. com/projects/mjn/la-a-queer-history. Artists’ presentations, panel discussion, raffle giveaways. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10
BEARRACUDA LA - 80’S NIGHT! The Dragonfly, 6510 Santa Monica Blvd, LA, 9pm. For more info: bearraduca.com/la. Socializing and dancing all night long. Check out the chunky visuals, giveaways, tasty snacks, go-go bears and friendly guys. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11
ZOMBIE FASHION SHOW & CREATURE ART EXHIBIT LOT 613, 613 Imperial St, LA, 8pm. For more 4 4 T H E F IGH T | O CT O B ER 2014
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19
EL FESTIVAL GAY LATINO 2014 Pico Rivera Sports Arena, 11003 Rooks Rd, LA, 1pm. For more info: facebook.com/ events/851708044863106 Spanish singing sensation Gloria Trevi headlines. Hosted by Latin LGBT community godmother Chiquis Rivera. MONDAY, OCTOBER 20
PLANET QUEER: HAUNTED SPACESHIP Akbar, 4356 W Sunset Blvd, LA, 8pm-11pm. For more info: facebook.com/planetqakbar Haunted queer performance by gay centered performance activist Ian Mackinnon. Other performers include: Queererlla Diville, Miss Wiggy, Princess Poodlepoo and Jason Jenn. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24
TRANNYSHACK LA The Dragonfly, 6510 Santa Monica Blvd, LA, 9pm. For more info: ticketfly.com/event/680537. Performers include: Heklina, Boulet Brothers, Lil Miss Hot Mess, Devan M, Ambrosia Salad, Cupcake Canne, Toxic Waist, Ursula Major, Roxy-Cotton Candy, Dulce DeLeche and others. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25
FRED & JASON’S 9TH ANNUAL HALLOWEENIE Los Angeles Theatre, 615 S Broadway, LA, 9pm2am. For more info: gmcla.org/halloweenie. A costume-required event featuring open bars, world-renowned DJ’s, feverish dancing, celebs, killer photo opps, VIP areas, private cabanas and more. Benefits GMCLA’s programmatic work, including: Alive Music Project, It Gets Better, and Outside Voices. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 31
WEST HOLLYWOOD HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL City of West Hollywood, Santa Monica Boulevard, 6pm-11pm. For more info call: (323) 848-6503. Close to 500,000 people take to the streets of WeHo to enjoy some of the most creative and eclectic entertainment and costume creations around. Takes place on Santa Monica Boulevard from Doheny Drive to La Cienega Boulevard. Admission is free.
GROUPS
ASIAN/PACIFIC GAYS AND FRIENDS www.apgf.org GAY ASIAN PACIFIC SUPPORT NETWORK www.gapsn.org LOS ANGELES GAY AVIATION CLUB Pilots, Flights Attendants, Mechanics. www.unusualattitudes.info CLUB NUR Gay Middle Eastern. www.clubnur.com GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF LOS ANGELES www.gmcla.org GAY & LESBIAN SALSA Every Monday, 8 p.m. Little Temple Bar, 4519 Santa Monica Blvd., Silverlake, 90029. gaysalsanight@yahoo. com or www.facebook.com/gaysalsanight GAY TRAFFIC SCHOOL Third Tuesday and Wednesday of every month, 6-10 p.m. The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N. McCadden Place, Los Angeles 90038. 1-800-Gay-4-You or www.laglc.org HIV MEDICAL & CASE MANAGEMENT Valley Community Clinic in North Hollywood offers HIV Testing and Medical Services including counseling and medical treatment. For more info: www.valleycommunityclinic.org POP LUCK CLUB Second Sunday of every month, 11 a.m. Locations vary. Los Angeles based organization for Gay Dads, Prospective Dads, and their families. www.popluckclub.org PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month, at the Gay & Lesbian Center. RSVP to Dennis@malecare.org or call (323) 860-7340. GREAT AUTOS OF YESTERYEAR The largest LGBT classic car club on the West Coast. www.greatautos.org LOS ANGELES PRIME TIMERS Social group for older mature gay men and admirers. www.laprimetimers.org LOS ANGELES GAY BRIDGE CLUB www.communityvisions.org/IAGLBC LOS ANGELES GAY/LESBIAN SCIENTISTS www.lagls.org LOS ANGELES GAY FOR GOOD Gays making a commitment to volunteer for social welfare and environmental service projects. www.gayforgood.org LOS ANGELES GAY NATURISM California Men Enjoying Naturism. cmen.info BI-OSPHERE P.O.V. Every 2nd Wednesday, 8-9:30 p.m., The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N McCadden Place, Los Angeles. For more information, call (323) 860-7302. M-F between 6-9 p.m. Topic-driven discussion for women and men who identify as, or are exploring bisexuality. MEN’S SPEAKEASY Every Tuesday at 8 p.m. The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N McCadden Place, Los Angeles. For more information, call (323) 860-7302. Fun, alternative space for gay and bisexual men to meet and make new friends. LGBT BOOK CLUB First Wednesday of each month, 7:30-9:30 p.m. The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N McCadden Place, Los Angeles. For more information, call (323) 860-7302, M-F between 6-9 p.m. USC LAMBDA LGBT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION alumnigroups.usc.edu/lambda/ LOS ANGELES BLACK PRIDE www.myblackpridela.com GREATER PASADENA AID FUND www.greaterpasadenaaidfund.org POSITIVE IMAGES WORKSHOP Every Monday, from 7-9 p.m. The Village at Ed
> EMAIL YOUR EVENT OR GROUP TO Gould Plaza, 1125 N McCadden Place, Los Angeles. If you’re looking for ways to deal with HIV, the Live Life Better Workshop can help you learn coping skills, build a support system, and work toward your health goals. An RSVP is required. For more information or to reserve your place, call (323) 860-7321. The e-mail contact is positiveimages@lagaycenter.org. TRANSGENDER PERCEPTIONS Every Friday, 8 p.m. The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N McCadden Place, Los Angeles. For more information, call (323) 860-7302. M-F between 6-9 p.m. Social networking group offers a safe and welcoming opportunity for people of any age and gender identity to learn from others and to share experiences. GET CENTERED Meditation Class. Every Saturday, 10-11 a.m., $10. Gay & Lesbian Center, 1625 N Schrader Blvd. Los Angeles. For more information, call (323) 860-7300. SENIORS SERVICES Ongoing, The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N McCadden Place, Los Angeles. For more information, call (323) 860-7359. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUPPORT Ongoing, L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, 1625 N Schrader Blvd., Los Angeles. For more information, call (323) 860-5806. MPOWERMENT WEEKLY WORKSHOPS Tuesdays and fridays, 6 p.m. APLA, 3550 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 300, Los Angeles. More info: Donta Morrison, tel: (213) 201-1561. For young gay men of color—ages 18 thru 24—looking for a safe place to hang out. TRAVEL
FRIENDS TRAVEL www.FriendsTravel.com Gay Owned & Operated, Since 1985. 12 STEP GROUPS
All groups meet at The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N McCadden Place, Los Angeles. For more information, call (323) 860-7302 M-F between 6-9 p.m. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS Mondays, 6:10-7:10 p.m.
>> LISTINGS <<
editor@thefightmag.com CRYSTAL METH ANONYMOUS Saturdays, 9:10-10:10 a.m. DEBTORS ANONYMOUS Tuesdays, 8-9 p.m. MARIJUANA ANONYMOUS Wednesdays, 8:15-9:45 p.m. Saturdays, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS Wednesdays, 7-8 p.m. SEXUAL COMPULSIVES ANONYMOUS Mondays, 8-9 p.m. Tuesdays, 8-9 p.m. Wednesdays, 8-9 p.m. Thursdays, 8:15-9:15 p.m. Saturdays, 12:15-1:45 p.m. WOMEN’S NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS Saturdays, Noon-1 p.m. SPORTS
LOS ANGELES LESBIAN SOFTBALL www.lagaysoftball.com LOS ANGELES LESBIAN TACKLE FOOTBALL www.californiaquakefootball.com LOS ANGELES LESBIAN RUGBY www.eaglerockrugby.com WOMEN’S SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GOLF www.womensgolf.org/wscga LOS ANGELES LESBIAN POKER www.lalpg.com LOS ANGELES WOMEN ON A ROLL Luncheons, Comedy Nights, and Conversation Groups. www.womenonaroll.com LOS ANGELES GAY RODEO CLUB www.gsgra.org LOS ANGELES GAY FLAG FOOTBALL www.laflagfootball.com There’s also lesbian tackle football. WEST HOLLYWOOD GAY RUGBY www.larebellion.org
SAGA LA Gay Ski & Snowboard Club. www.sagala.org V.O.I.L.A. Volleyball. www.lagayvolleyball.com GREAT OUTDOORS The largest gay outdoor recreational organization in Southern California. www.greatoutdoorsla.org GAY AND LESBIAN SIERRANS Camping, Outdoors, Hiking Angeles. www.sierraclub.org CHEER LA Cheerleading. www.cheerla.org LA ROWING www.larowing.org DIFFERENT SPOKES Cycling www.differentspokes.com Rides start in various locations in the greater Los Angeles area. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BLADES Ice Hockey. www.bladeshockey.com LOS ANGELES FRONTRUNNERS Running and walking club. www.lafrontrunners.com WEST HOLLYWOOD SOCCER CLUB Comfortable, supportive environment for learning and playing the world’s most popular game. www.gaysoccer.com LOS ANGELES GAY SCUBA CLUB www.barnaclebusters.org LOS ANGELES GAY ROCK CLIMBING www.lalgbtclimbing.com WEST HOLLYWOOD AQUATICS Swim and Water Polo Teams. www.wh2o.org WORSHIP
METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH mccla.org, 4953 Franklin Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027
LOS ANGELES POOL LEAGUE Friendly Billiard teams. www.lapl8ball.com
BETH CHAYIM CHADASHIM SYNAGOGUE bcc-la.org, 6090 West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90035
GAY & LESBIAN BOWLING LEAGUE www.tavernguildleague.com
KOL AMI REFORM SYNAGOGUE kol-ami.org, 1200 North La Brea Ave., West Hollywood, CA 90038
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF LOS ANGELES fccla.org 540, South Commonwealth Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90020 HOLLYWOOD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH hollywoodumc.org, 6817 Franklin Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90028 HOLY SPIRIT holyspirit-la.org, 4201 West Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90029 UNITED UNIVERSITY CHURCH uniteduniversitychurch.org, 817 West 34th St., Los Angeles, CA 90089 DIGNITY CENTER dignitylosangeles.org, 126 South Avenue 64, Los Angeles, CA 90042 HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH-HLYWD hopelutheranchurch.net, 6720 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038 WEST HOLLYWOOD PRESBYTERIAN wehopres.org, 7350 W Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046 MOUNT HOLLYWOOD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH mthollywood.org, 4607 Prospect Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027 IMMANUEL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH immanuelpres.org, 3300 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010 ST. MATTHEW’S LUTHERAN CHURCH stmatthewsnoho.org, 11031 Camarillo St., North Hollywood, CA 91602 CHRIST CHAPEL OF THE VALLEY christchapel.com, 11050 Hartsook St., North Hollywood, CA 91601 ST. PAUL’S LUTHERAN CHURCH stpaulssm.org, 958 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90403 ST. MONICA CATHOLIC COMMUNITY stmonica.net, 725 California Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90403 WEHO CHURCH wehochurch.com, 916 N. Formosa Ave., West Hollywood, CA 90046 ST. VICTOR’S CATHOLIC CHURCH saintvictor.org, 8634 Holloway Dr. West Hollywood, CA 90069 ST. LUKE LUTHERAN stlukelutheran.com, 5312 Comercio Way, Woodland Hills, CA 91364
For Breaking Daily LGBT News Visit
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O CTO B ER 2014 | TH E F I GH T 45
THEFINALFIGHT
>> MONOGAMY <<
MONOGAMY: THE FINAL FRONTIER? HOW CAN GAY MEN EVER BUILD MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS WITH OUR HEARTS AND MINDS WHEN OUR CULTURE IS SO COMPLETELY OBSESSED WITH SEX? BY ROB SMITH When you're a gay male who happens to be at least somewhat aesthetically pleasing, sex is pretty easy to come by. It becomes easier to read the signs that another man is interested in you, be it the too-long glance or the ever so discreet readjusting of the crotch. However, after years of taking the bait and wanting more, we start to realize that it's the other things that come a bit harder. You know, like love, intimacy, and having someone who's gonna stick around long after the cumrag is thrown into the bag with the rest of the dirty laundry. My beach read over the past summer was the great Larry Kramer's classic book "Faggots," which puts forth a simple hypothesis: how can gay men ever build meaningful connections with our hearts and minds when our culture is so completely obsessed with sex? It's a question that I asked myself for years and one that I've become very preoccupied with figuring out the answer to.
"SEX POSITIVITY" When you ask the typical gay male about monogamy, you'll probably get a polite and knowing smile or maybe even a snort. The prevalent idea among gay men seems to be that we're by nature promiscuous creatures, and most of us strain to cloak the sexual obsession within the LGBT community with a term like "sex positivity" to keep our sexual freedoms normative and accepted among us. But, are we really free? It depends on who you ask. A friend of mine desperately wants his boyfriend of two years to commit to an exclusive relationship, but said boyfriend is perfectly content with hooking up with buddies and people that he meets on various apps in his free time. Another friend, a very hot daddy type who a great deal of people reading this would scoop up in a New York minute, is perpetually single, and I'm starting to think that the many, many, many stories of his sexual history that would make a porn star blush could be a root of the issue.
SOMEHOW MORE EVOLVED Strangely, there seems to be this idea out there that we— as LGBT people—are some sort of highly evolved beings with preternatural senses of how to renegotiate and reform typical couple behavior to fit the rules that we've set for ourselves. While we've just celebrated 45 years since the Stonewall revolution—which pretty much means we're celebrating 45 years of being able to be ourselves in public without being criminalized—there's still much more to achieve. 4 6 T H E F IGH T | O CT O B ER 2014
I wonder what our relationships with ourselves and each other would look like if we took the time to try to be monogamous instead of settling for monagamish. We still don't have marriage equality. As the horrific gay bashings recently in California and Philadelphia have shown, we still live in very real danger of being attacked for who we are. The idea that we're somehow more evolved than heteros who've had their love and existence affirmed for centuries is laughable—when we're still trying to achieve basic human rights.
EMOTIONAL ASPECTS
The 50% divorce rate will tell you that the heteros aren't perfect, but I wonder sometimes what our relationships would look like if it was more socially acceptable to put the emotional aspects of getting to know someone before the physical part.
I wonder what our relationships would look like if we taught our LGBT youth that their bodies are something to be valued and saved for the one that they loved instead of commodities to be traded upon to gain social acceptance and currency through sex. I wonder whether if I had come of age with these messages being instilled upon me, it would be just a little bit easier for me to correlate sex with emotion and to undo the years I spent doing the exact opposite. I wonder what our relationships with ourselves and each other would look like if we took the time to try to be monogamous instead of settling for monagamish. I'm not sure, but seeing as how it's about the only thing in gay life that I haven't done, perhaps it's time for me to figure it out. n
FOUR DAYS OF POOL PARTIES, DANCE EVENTS AND WOOFY MEN!
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