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THECONTENTS FE ATURE S
18 WE’RE HERE, WE’RE BI, GET USED TO IT
EMBRACING BISEXUALS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY
22 TRANS WORK
TRANSGENDER JOB AND RESOURCES FAIR
24 MODELS OF PRIDE
THE CENTER’S LGBTQ YOUTH CONFERENCE
26 THE MAN IN THE MIRROR
BODY DYSMORPHIC DISORDER
28 BE THE CHANGE
ACTIVIST, MUSICIAN MADAME GANDHI
32 IN LOVING MEMORY
ARTIST, PHOTOGRAPHER ISAURO CAIRO
34 FASHION AS ACTIVISM
A MESSAGE OF DIVERSITY INCLUSION
36 A FOREVER HOME
PHOTOGRAPHER MIKE RUIZ 2019 CALENDAR
RT D E PA
MENT
S
LK
TA 08 THE ITY C 10 THE RANSACTION T E T H T REPOR 14 STOW O R E H 16 T SHARE 30 THE RT A 40 THE USIC M E 42 TH PIDEMIC E 44 THE VENT E 46 THE ALENDAR C 48 THE
O N T H E C O VER MADAME GANDHI COVER PHOTO BY NOLWEN CIFUENTES HAIR AND MAKEUP @LADYSOULFLY TOC PHOTO BY GABRIELA HNIZDO
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The fun starts here. Everyone is welcome. Tour historic and current LGBT hotspots all within walking distance of our Hop-On Hop-Off stops. Arts, Culture, History, Shopping, Dining, Nightlife and more! Go to our website www.citysightseeinglosangeles.com/pages/pride and discover our special LGBT itinerary covering destinations over all routes. Enjoy our special offer with code FIGHT.
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THEEDITOR
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Stanford Altamirano MANAGING EDITOR Mark Ariel ART DIRECTOR Nadeen Torio MARKETING CONSULTANTS Grey Crouch Tom Pardoe Sean Galuszka Jacci Ybarra SOCIAL MEDIA Mark Ariel Sinan Shihabi WEBMASTER Nadeen Torio ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Sinan Shihabi EVENTS MANAGER Joseph Arellano >> IN THIS ISSUE <<
“I think I always understood the principles of femme, inclusive diversity but didn’t necessarily have the tools or the language to explain it until recently,” reveals Palm Springs Pride headliner Madame Ghandi in an interview with Roxie Perkins (“Be The Change,” page 28). “The need to celebrate the femme and elevate the femme has become more apparent because of who’s in the White House and with classic sexism that I see all the time in the music industry,” says Ghandi. “… It has become an intentional choice to address these issues head on with intelligence, education, and peacefulness so that I can be the change that I wish to see in the world.” Also in this issue—Syd Peterson reports on what it’s like to be bisexual here in Southern California (“We’re Here, We’re Bi, Get Used To It,” page 18). “You know way more bi people than you think. They’re just not com-
ing out to you,” Talia Squires, editor in chief at bi.org and a volunteer organizer at AmBi, a network of bi communities, tells Peterson. There are various reasons why bi people might be less likely to come out. One is that it can be harder to “spot” a bisexual when they’re in a long-term relationship. “When a person’s in a relationship, it can be easy to incorrectly assume their sexual orientation,” Alexis P., a legal assistant in Los Angeles, told Peterson. “For example, you might think that a woman who’s dating another woman is a lesbian. You might think a woman who’s dating a man is straight. In actuality, both women might be bisexual. Dating one person doesn’t mean they’re not bi anymore.” “I have the capability to love everyone across all genders,” says Dave Coleman, a software engineer from Ontario. “Why is that so scary? Whatever happened to ‘Love is love?’”
STANFORD ALTAMIRANO Editor-In-Chief
CONTRIBUTORS Dusti Cunningham Sean Galuszka Brent Heinze Victor Melamed Paulo Murillo Roxie Perkins Syd Peterson Ann Rostow Brenden Shucart GET THE FIGHT AT HOME Sent Via First Class Mail 12 Issues: $36 6 Issues: $24 Mail check or money order to: Third Step, LLC 611 S. Catalina St. Suite 307 Los Angeles, CA 90005 PUBLISHER Third Step, LLC DISTRIBUTION Pride In Media The Fight Magazine is published monthly by Third Step, LLC. 611 South Catalina Street, Suite 307 Los Angeles, CA 90005 Telephone (323) 297-4001 Fax (213) 281-9648 Email info@TheFightMag.com THE FIGHT MAGAZINE LEGAL CAVEATS By listing in The Fight Magazine, advertisers acknowledge that they do business in the spirit of cooperation, fairness and service, maintaining a high level of integrity and responsibility. Providers of products or services are fully and solely responsible for providing same as advertised. The Fight Magazine assumes no liability for improper or negligent business practices by advertisers. Advertisers and their agencies assume responsibility and liability for the content of their advertisements in The Fight Magazine. Publisher assumes no liability for safe-keeping or return of unsolicited art, manuscripts or other materials. The Fight Magazine reserves the right to edit all material for clarity, length and content. All contents © 2018 Third Step LLC. All rights reserved. Content may be reproduced with permission. The Fight Magazine assumes no liability for any claims or representations contained anywhere in this magazine and reserves the right to cancel or refuse advertising at publisher’s discretion. TheFightMag.com For Display Advertising, please call (323) 297-4001
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STACHES & LASHES 11.17.18 • THE ROOFTOP • 9PM
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THETALK > > W H AT T H E Y ’ R E S AY I N G < <
DON’T LEAVE
LAID THERE “I laid there and prayed for death.”
“They just don’t leave you, they stay with you; that’s one thing that always keeps you going.”
—Stormy Daniels on having sex with Donald Trump, on Jimmy Kimmel Live in an interview for her new book Full Disclosure, last month.
STORMY DANIELS
—Cher talking about her “pact” with her gay fans, in an interview with PrideSource.
THE FIGHT
“I believe in the fight for LGBTQ rights, and that any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender is WRONG.”
CHER
TAYLOR SWIFT
—Taylor Swift on Instagram last month, saying she was voting for Phil Bredesen a Democrat running for U.S. Senate in Tennessee against the Republican candidate, Marsha Blackburn. ADAM RIPPON
SO SAD “That’s so sad that somebody would still want to do that.”
—Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon revealing he was called a “faggot” while holding hands with his boyfriend in New York City, in an interview with Attitude.
“In a time in this country when it is so divisive, this is such a beautiful thing.”
www.thefightmag.com 8 T H E F I GH T | www.thefi ghtmag.com
“Ladies and gentlemen, I, Luis Sandoval, I am gay, I am happy, I am a full person, respected, I think respectable, and I do not live in the closet, my family knows, my friends know, and I have a partner with whom I am happy.” —Univision personality Luis Sandoval on the morning television show Despierta America, on National Coming Out Day, last month.
FOR DIGNITY
“The LGBTQ rights movement was born in NYC. Today, we’re making history again in the fight for dignity and respect.”
THIS COUNTRY
—The Voice judge Kelly Clarkson responding to an interracial gay couple’s audition on the show. Jerome and Adam—aka “OneUp”—performed an amazing cover of Could It Be I’m Falling in Love.
FULL PERSON
KELLY CLARKSON
—New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio in a tweet after he signed a bill last month that will allow the city’s residents to change their birth certificates to reflect their preferred gender. BILL DE BLASIO
LUIS SANDOVAL
NO VEMB ER 2018 | T H E F I GH T 9
THECITY >> BY PAULO MURILLO <<
MAXINE WATERS
in the Country was dedicated in Cathedral City last month. The ceremony was attended by several military veterans and lawmakers. Assembly member Eduardo Garcia, pushed bill AB 2439 for the dedication back in August of this year. The Assembly voted in overwhelming support of Garcia’s AB 2439, the legislative measure proposing the classification and applauded the City’s longstanding history of recognizing veterans and promoting equality.
S A N D IEGO
GAY CHURCH WORKER RESIGNS AFTER BEING HARASSED
LO S AN G E LE S
10,000 PARTICIPATE IN AIDS WALK LA The 34th annual AIDS Walk Los Angeles attracted approximately 10,000 participants last month in Downtown Los Angeles. The walk to end AIDS by raising money for AIDS research, is a 6.2-mile fundraising that began and ended at L.A. City Hall in Grand Park. Various celebrities attended the opening ceremony alongside West Hollywood council member John Heilman and Congresswoman Maxine Waters to name a few. The proceeds from the walk benefit APLA Health, a nonprofit, federally qualified health center serving more than 15,000 people annually. APLA Health provides 20 services from 16 locations in Los Angeles County including medical, dental and mental health care; counseling and management for the use of antiviral drugs to prevent HIV/AIDS, commonly known as PrEP; health education and HIV prevention; and screening and treatment for people with sexually transmitted diseases.
WEST HO LLY W O OD
CSW NAMES NEWLY ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS The Board of Directors of Christopher Street West (CSW), the 501(c)3 non-profit that produces the annual LA Pride Festival and Parade, has announced the election of five new volunteer board members who will begin their two-year terms effective immediately. New members joining the CSW Board of Directors this year include: Jake Brooks-Harris, President of MKG West, Experiential Marketing; Candie Davidson-Goldbronn, Associate Senior Vice President, Foundation Operations
for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles; Craig Greiwe, Senior Vice President and Head of Digital for Rogers & Cowan; Tracy Paaso, Director of Membership & Events for the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and Johanna Padilla, Linkage & Retention Coordinator at Trans Wellness Center. A new executive director, Madonna Cacciatore, was appointed earlier this year.
PA L M S PR INGS
LGBT VETERAN MEMORIAL DEDICATED IN CATHEDRAL CITY The first official LGBT Veteran Memorial
San Diego gay pastoral worker Aaron Bianco, of St. John Evangelist Catholic Church in San Diego, resigned after being harassed for being gay. Bianco submitted his resignation to Bishop Robert McElroy stating that he endured physical and emotional violence from groups like Church Militant and LifeSite News for the past year and a half. The harassment included slashed tires, death threats, attacks outside mass, and hundreds of letters, phone calls and emails. He decided to resign his post after personal information was leaked on a conservative Catholic website, which include pictures of his family and his home address. Bishop McElroy emphasized his support for Bianco and called the threats made towards the parishioner reprehensible.
LONG B EA C H
2ND HIGHEST RATE OF CHLAMYDIA AND GONORRHEA Long Beach recently released its 2017 STD report, and health officials are concerned when the city was rated the second highest rate of chlamydia and gonorrhea in California. The number of sexually transmitted diseases increased for the third consecutive year, according to data from the city’s Department of Health and Human Services. Data show that gay men are among those driving the increasing STD rates. Health officials believe that one of the reasons for the increase include attrition at the federal level of funding for STD education and prevention programs. n
F O R D A I LY U P D AT E D L G B T Q N E W S V I S I T: W W W . T H E F I G H T M A G . C O M 1 0 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com
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THENATION >> NEWS BRIEFS <<
MATTHEW SHEPARD LAID TO REST IN DC Matthew Shepard was finally laid to rest last month at the Washington National Cathedral—20 years after being killed by two men because he was gay. “It’s so important that we now have a home for Matt,” his father, Dennis Shepard, said at the start of the service. “A home that others can visit, a home that is safe from haters, a home that he loved dearly from his younger days in Sunday school and as an acolyte in the church MATTHEW back home.” SHEPARD Shepard was a 21-yearold student at the University of Wyoming in October 1998 when he was robbed, beaten and tied to a fence and left for dead by two men he met in a bar.
TRANS WOMAN MURDERED IN CHICAGO
1 2 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com
After a study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine showed that the average American’s penis is one inch shorter than the minimum 6.69 inch length requirement of condom manufacturers, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved smaller condoms, reported LGBTQ Nation. A 2014 study conducted on 1,661 American men from Indiana University found that the average penis length was only 5.57 inches. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only about a third of American men use a condom during sex—and a poor fit, causing slipping, is cited as one of the number one reasons for the lack of use.
JUDGE DISMISSES CHARGES IN GAY SEX STING
CIARA MINAJ CARTER
Ciara Minaj Carter, 32; a black transgender woman was found murdered last month in the Garfield Park area of Chicago. Her naked body was found with multiple stab wounds and her genitalia had been severed from her body. A few weeks after the gruesome murder The New York Times reported on the Trump administration’s plan to adopt a new definition of gender that would effectively deny federal recognition and civil rights protections to transgender Americans. 22 innocent trans people have been murdered in 2018 alone. Perpetrators are rarely held accountable. A Trans Unity Rally, organized by Shane Nash, will take place at West Hollywood Park on November 9 at 7pm.
FDA APPROVES SMALLER CONDOMS
SYNAGOGUE SHOOTING HAPPENED DURING GAY KIDS’ CEREMONY An LGBTQ organization said that last month’s horrific shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue, leaving 11 dead, happened during a ceremony for a gay couple’s children. The Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh posted on Facebook, “We were just informed that this morning’s tragedy was happening during a bris for a set of twins adopted by a gay couple.” “We have witnessed the worst of America this morning in our town Pittsburgh,” the post continued. “More than ever we must come together as people and change the temperament of our country.”
A judge has dismissed charges against a man who arrested as part of a sting of an adult store, reports LGBTQ Nation. In July, two police officers in Hollywood, Florida, working undercover, went to the Pleasure Emporium, paid $25 each to enter the backroom, walked under a giant neon sign that read “PRIVATE VIEWING,” watched gay men having sex in a room and then arrested 13 of them. The men were prosecuted for indecent exposure in a public place, but Broward County Judge Ginger Lerner-Wren ruled that the backroom of the Pleasure Emporium is not a public place. “The patrons who access the private viewing theaters where consensual activity occurs in the presence of other consenting adults objectively and subjectively possess a reasonable expectation of privacy,” she wrote. n
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THETRANSACTION >> SHANE NASH <<
SHANE NASH
TRANS IS BEAUTIFUL
A Trans Unity Rally, organized by Shane Nash, will take place at West Hollywood Park on November 9 at 7pm.
H
undreds of transgender-rights activists gathered in Downtown Los Angeles last month to rail against the Trump Administration’s potential rollback of a proposal that protects trans rights. The protest followed a New York Times article which found that the Department of Health and Human Services is planning to propose a legal definition of gender according to “a biological basis.” Similar rallies were also held last month in other parts of the country, including outside the White House. A Trans Unity Rally, organized by Shane Nash, will take place at West Hollywood Park on November 9 at 7pm. “This rally is to focus on cultivating stronger allyships between our straight & LGB brothers & sisters as well as the Transgender
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community itself,” said Nash in a statement. “This is call to action to all communities we need to make a statement that we are here for our Trans Brothers & Sisters!!
Our community grows more fearful everyday under this administration & it’s time we let them know we are here, we love you and they #WontBeErased because we won’t let it happen!!” n
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THEROSTOWREPORT >> BY ANN ROSTOW <<
BUCKING THE TREND You know dear Readers, I’ve been writing columns like this for over twenty years, and over that time, life has improved a thousand-fold for LGBT Americans. It’s improved so much that not even Mr. Trump and his hateful minions can possibly take us back to the bad old 20th Century. But there is something worse than the pervasive, intuitive disgust that the majority felt for us back then. I’m talking about what happens when we reach many of our civil rights goals, and come close to equality, only to have them taken back. For so long as we’ve been forging ahead, Americans have been revising their opinions, accepting the fact that we are their neighbors and friends (etc, etc, etc). Now, they are being given the chance to say, “You know what? We’ve gone far enough. Those gay and trans people aren’t that great. In fact, they’re sort of full of themselves. Let’s take them down a peg.” The soundbites of activism don’t resonate when the situation gets complicated. And let’s face it. For many of our compatriots, their worst instincts are being allowed to flourish. That’s not good for us. You may have read that the Trump administration is hoping to impose rigid gender definitions on dictates from the federal government. The news stems from a months-old old memo out of the Department of Health and Human Services that basically just reflects Trumpite distain for the whole LGBT community. No one can rewrite some bureaucratic policy to “erase” transgender men and women. No one can “rule” that transgender men and women don’t exist. But the various cabinet agencies can indeed make life harder for us. For years
WE WENT TWO STEPS FORWARD AND THEN GOT BEAMED INTO THE MIRROR UNIVERSE. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT STAR TREK FANS, THAT’S NOT A GREAT PLACE TO BE. now, many federal courts have interpreted laws against sex discrimination to cover some cases of transgender and gay discrimination as well. The Trump administration can’t change that, but it can empower conservative courts to buck the trend. It can employ conservatives at federal agencies to rewrite Obama’s LGBT-friendly guidelines. It can appoint far right judges to the appellate courts (and it has). And it can rush cases to the High Court, which is now poised to reverse or stall many of our legal gains. If transgender people or gays are not covered by existing federal laws, we will have to wait for Congress to pass civil rights laws on behalf of our commu-
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nity. That’s a long wait. Indeed, since LGBTs are not yet definitively covered by current law, the scope of current law must eventually be determined by the Supreme Court. So...um, well.
CLIMATE CHANGE Our situation doesn’t look good. And as I was trying to say, it’s not a question of two steps forward, one step back. We went two steps forward and then got beamed into the mirror universe. For those of you who are not Star Trek fans, that’s not a great place to be. You know, speaking of Star Trek, I just saw an episode that
reminded me of one of my pet peeves on television, which I may have mentioned before. It’s when the characters go into a bar, order a drink, someone calls and they leave the entire drink untouched. It’s not an emergency. It’s more like the detective sergeant calling them back to the office, or senior staff called to the bridge. There’s plenty of time to chug the drink, or at the very least take a sip. But no. They’re like, “I have to leave,” and up they go. Who does that? Moving on, I mentioned earlier that the Trump administration is rushing conservative cases to the High Court. Plus, now that the Court is officially a hard right group, we are starting to see creepy things come out of the woodwork including a new antigay bakery case out of Oregon, from whence you may remember Sweet Melissa and her hubby from ages ago. Indeed, we thought that one was over and done with after the treacly Christian refuseniks were ordered to pay $135,000 in 2015 for violating state antidiscrimination law years earlier. Now, they have asked the High Court to reverse the fine. We also expect the antigay florist case in Washington state to rise back to High Court level so it’s pretty clear that the justices will have a chance to “clarify” Justice Kennedy’s turbid opinion in the Masterpiece Cakeshop case. The infuriating thing about these gay wedding cases is that they are presented as if some nitpicking gay people are trying to force nice Christians to go against their deeply held faith rather than just go down the street and find another bakery or florist! But that’s not what they’re about. They are about business owners who insist that they do not have to abide by state anti discrimination law. They don’t need an explanation other than “faith,” but what if one’s “faith” suggests
> > B U C K I N G T H E T R E N D • C L I M AT E C H A N G E • B A D N E W S B E A R S • T H O S E W E R E T H E D AY S < <
blacks are inferior? Settled law says race-based civil rights laws outweigh religious exemptions, which brings us to the real question: Why are gay civil rights laws less enforceable than racial civil rights laws? They shouldn’t be. And if gay rights laws are toothless, that means we have no means of protecting our civil rights within the political process. Why struggle to pass a gay rights law if the public can ignore it at will with a religious shrug of the shoulders.
BAD NEWS BEARS There are many other legal issues of interest to us that are now headed to the nine justices during this antigay window of conservatism. There’s the aforementioned question of whether existing civil rights laws that protect on the basis of sex apply
to our community. Those include Title VII (workplace protections), Title IX (education protections) and language in the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act and elsewhere. Can a transgender male student be forced into the girls room, or a faculty bathroom, or is that unfair discrimination? Can an effeminate gay man be relentlessly harassed without recourse on the job? What about a regular old gay man or lesbian? Let’s ask Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch! There are also three or four cases challenging Trump’s attempt to ban transgender military personnel now pending in the federal system, several of which have already gone up to the appellate courts for interim rulings. So far, we have won everything. After all, Trump claimed that he acted on the basis of military advice, which was proven false, and also
said transgender troops were too expensive, another easily disproved motive. Left with nothing, the only way Trump will win is to reach the High Court and let his buddies issue a craven decision in his favor. We’ll see. For the first time in this century, however, our strategy is to keep important issues away from the High Court docket, not to push ahead. Sad.
THOSE WERE THE DAYS What a downer of a column! It’s a cold wet day in Austin, Texas, as I write, and we have been told to boil water temporarily since flood waters have screwed up our water treatment plant. I’m okay with it. (Think of many other parts of the world!) But some of my fellow Austinites have barged into stores and insanely bought cases and cases of water.
What is wrong with people? Who needs thirty gallons of water for a couple of days? Meanwhile, everything I see is negative. Maybe our midterm blue wave is only a ripple. (No!!!) Here are five signs that you’re about to die of a heart attack. (I didn’t look). Bombs are being sent to Democrats. Trump is still in office. Oh, I love this— I have seen several email headlines warning me about the hazards of winning a billion dollars in the lottery. And life goes on. A while back, I would have cheered myself up with the three Cs: Cocaine, cigarettes and Champagne, aka the breakfast of champions. But those days are long gone. But hey, as long as we’re backtracking... I’ll start with a pack of Winston Lights and a bottle of Bollinger. n arostow@aol.com
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WE’RE WE’RE HERE, HERE, WE’RE WE’RE BI, BI, GET GET USED USED TO TO IT IT
Whether it’s pausing before making an assumption, accepting bi people’s identities as they describe them, or holding a broader view of what it means to be queer, embracing bisexuals and their place in the LGBTQ world will only make our community stronger. BY SYD PETERSON | PHOTOS BY JON VISCOTT, COURTESY OF THE CITY OF WEST HOLLYWOOD
E
mbracing fluidity and complexity. Feeling misunderstood by their fellow queers. The importance of taking people at their word about their own identities. These sentiments and more came to the surface when I spoke with people to learn more about what it’s like to be bisexual here in Southern California. “You know way more bi people than you think. They’re just not coming out to you,” said Talia Squires, editor in chief at bi.org and a volunteer organizer at AmBi, a network of bi communities. It’s true: the number of bisexuals in America easily outnumbers lesbians and gay men. A 2011 report by the Williams Institute at UCLA found that, of the 10 million American adults who identify as LGBT, more than 5.1 million identify as bisexual, which exceeds the combination of lesbians and gay men, who together total only 4.8 million. And yet, despite their greater numbers, bisexual people are far less likely to be out about their sexual orientation than lesbians and gay men. According to a 2015 Pew Research Center study, only 28% of bisexuals say all or most of the important people in their life know they are bisexual, whereas 77% of gay men and 71% of lesbians 1 8 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com
say the important people in their life know about their sexual orientation.
GAY PREJUDICE There are various reasons why bi people might be less likely to come out. One is that it can be harder to “spot” a bisexual when they’re in a long-term relationship. “When a person’s in a relationship, it can be easy to incorrectly assume their sexual orientation,” said Alexis P., a legal assistant in Los Angeles. “For example, you might think that a woman who’s dating another woman is a lesbian. You might think a woman who’s dating a man is straight. In actuality, both women might be bisexual. Dating one person doesn’t mean they’re not bi anymore.” Another reason some bi people hesitate to come out is prejudice from lesbians and gay men. Nancy Marcus, a lawyer from Los Angeles and co-founder of BiLaw, a national group of bisexual-identified and bi-allied attorneys, academics, and law students, told me that this bias sometimes seems to be about an exclusive idea of queerness. “Some gay men and lesbians have told me that, as a bi woman, I can’t truly understand what it means to be queer,” she said. “It boils my blood. A bi person shouldn’t have to prove that they
“I HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO LOVE EVERYONE ACROSS ALL GENDERS. WHY IS THAT SO SCARY? WHATEVER HAPPENED TO ‘LOVE IS LOVE?’”
WEST HOLLYWOOD BISEXUAL PRIDE CELEBRATION, SEPTEMBER 2018
> > W H AT I T M E A N S T O B E Q U E E R < <
NO VEMB ER 2018 | THE F I GH T 19
>> BI PRIDE <<
are validly queer any more than lesbian and gay members of the LGBT community do. The fact I currently have a boyfriend (who is also bi) does not make me less queer.”
GREAT PRESSURE Anti-bi prejudice can also be more personal. “I’ve been rejected by lesbians when they find out I’m bi,” continued Marcus. “For some, there seems to be an ‘ick factor.’ Like they don’t want to sleep with someone who also sleeps with men. Others seem to worry that men have something they don’t, or that my bisexuality will mean I’ll cheat on them.” Marcus says that, during periods of life when she’s dated mostly women, she often felt great pressure to identify as a lesbian. She proudly identifies as bi, though, “…to honor the men that I’ve loved.” Dave Coleman, a software engineer from Ontario, had a similar experience with anti-bi prejudice. “Sometimes it seems like straight women think all bi men are whores and gay men think we all have internalized homophobia,” he said. “I tried an experiment on OKCupid. I found that when I identify in my profile as straight, women message me and respond to my messages. And when I identify as gay, men message me and respond to my messages. But when I identify as bisexual, nobody messages me nor responds to my messages. So I stopped using dating sites. I have the capability to love everyone across all genders. Why is that so scary? Whatever happened to ‘Love is love?’”
HUGE THREAT Squires says that some people view bisexuality as a phase rather than as an integral part of a person’s identity. “Many gay men and lesbians think of coming out as a process with a definitive ending,” she said. “They might look at a bisexual person and think, ‘oh, she hasn’t made it as far as me,’ or ‘he must be emotionally stunted, or indecisive.’” David Meadow, a legal assistant in Los Angeles and a progressive activist with a focus on bi+ issues, says this dovetails with his experience. “I encounter a lot of judgment from gay men when I come out to them as bi,” he said. “They say things like, ‘You’ll change, honey…’ My god, I hate that special kind of smugness that people exude when they don’t know what they don’t know. We should take people at their word about their own identity.” “The whole bi reality is a huge threat to people,” continued Meadow. “I think it’s 2 0 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com
related to the inherent fluidity of bisexuality. Just as LGBTQ+ people in general are less likely to take the rules of love and sex for granted than the straight majority, bi+ people are less likely to take the trajectories of our love and sex lives for granted than gay people. There are simply more possible things that could happen. But not everyone welcomes multiple possibilities. Some people feel threatened by them. Even some bi+ people.”
PROBLEMATIC LABELS For some queers, labels like “gay” and “lesbian” can be empowering. It helps us feel like a part of something larger. However, many of the bi people with
“A BI PERSON SHOULDN’T HAVE TO PROVE THAT THEY ARE VALIDLY QUEER ANY MORE THAN LESBIAN AND GAY MEMBERS OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY DO.” whom I spoke said they also found labels to be problematic. “My bi experience has taught me a lot about labels,” said Jozi McKiernan, a project manager at City of Hope. “I learned that people are always more complicated than the labels they give themselves. At the same time, the best way to honor the complexity behind those labels is simply to use the labels for others that they ask you to use. And don’t assume that once you know a label you know someone’s full story.” This connection to and comfort with fluidity and complexity may be one reason for the overlap and kinship between people who identify as bisexual, those who identify as transgender, and those who are both. “My sexual orientation definitely changed over time,” said Alexis P, who first came out as gay, then as non-binary, and then as a transgender woman. “Coming out as bi was my most recent coming out. It took a while for me to sort out on the mixed-up feelings I had. I only recognized my attraction to women after understanding my gender. Being able to love myself through all those changes helped me understand that part of myself,” she said.
Coleman says that his experience being bi helped him be a better father to his transgender son. “Trans and bi people are both misunderstood by gay people and by straight people,” he said. “We’re ostracized, seen as different. It gives me empathy. My LGBTQ+ experience has made me aware of the issues that trans people face. I know the suicide rates of trans teens. I’d never want my son to feel that low and misunderstood. When I use his preferred pronouns I’m saying, ‘I love you. I respect you. You are important to me.’”
BI COMMUNITIES Bisexuals looking to connect with bi communities in Los Angeles have some terrific options. “There’s a lot of great communities online for bi people, including bi.org and our corresponding Facebook group that has 1.2 million likes,” said Squires. “AmBi wanted to create an offline community, too. The offices of the American Institute of Bisexuality are in a loft in downtown LA, and they let us use it for parties and other gatherings. Having this space means we have a physical place to be social together. And it’s a place where people don’t assume things about you, like what gender you’re attracted to.” Likewise, McKiernan suggested people visit Cuties, an LGBTQ coffee shop in east Hollywood. “I feel comfortable being openly bi at Cuties,” she said. “Unlike other places, I don’t feel like I have to perform only one side of my attraction there. The shop even hosts a ‘Queer Enough Brunch’ event, designed for people who hesitate to enter queer space because they don’t feel queer enough to be included,” (As of press time, the future of Cuties was uncertain. A fundraiser to support their work was scheduled for October 27.) Coleman reports having a positive experience performing with Planet Queer, an LGBT experimental performance event. He encourages everyone to attend their performances on the 3rd Monday of the month at Akbar in Silver Lake. Gay men and lesbians often encounter prejudice and discrimination because the way we love differs from mainstream culture. Since we know how bad that feels, we have a duty to treat bi people with respect. Whether it’s pausing before making an assumption, accepting bi people’s identities as they describe them, or holding a broader view of what it means to be queer, embracing bisexuals and their place in the LGBTQ world will only make our community stronger.
Looking for volunteers! OBESITY AND HEALTHY THINKING STUDY What is the study about? This study is being done to learn if Egrifta may improve brain function in HIV positive people with abdominal obesity, which increases the risk for impaired thinking.
What will be done? + You will be assigned to immediate versus deferred treatment with tesamorelin (Egrifta) for 6 months. There is no placebo. + Your memory and ability to solve problems will be tested. + You will have special MRI images of your abdomen and brain before and at the completion of the 6 months period.
Is there compensation? YES, for study visits and MRI testing.
Who may be eligible? + HIV positive people who are at least 40 years of age; and + Have a waist circumference of 38 inches or greater To learn more and whether you might want to be screened for this study, call: Rod Hagan at 760.507.3321 or email at rhagan@borregohealth.org. (IRB#151568)
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> > TRANSGENDER JOB AND RESOURCES FIAR < <
TRANS
WORK
Los Angeles LGBT Center hosts 10th Annual Transgender Job and Resources Fair on Nov. 8 in West Hollywood.
A
s transgender people face an unemployment rate three times higher than the average rate in the United States, the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Transgender Economic Empowerment Project (TEEP), along with the project’s community partner City of West Hollywood, is hosting the 10th annual job and resources fair specifically tailored for trans and non-binary people on Thursday, November 8. The free fair will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the West Hollywood Park Auditorium, 647 N. San Vicente Blvd. “Many transgender and non-binary people remain unemployed because employers are judging them by their gender identities or expressions—and not by their qualifica-
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tions and skills,” said the Center’s TEEP Program Manager Eden Anaï Luna. “They hold college degrees, and they are ready to bring their professional and life experiences to the table. I encourage all companies to become a champion of trans and non-binary people by committing to hiring them.” Since the fair began in 2008, hundreds of trans people have obtained a job because of the fair, and companies have met with more than 1,000 potential candidates from the trans and non-binary communities. More than 50 companies and organizations are anticipated at this year’s fair. Job seekers will be provided with résumé reviews and tips, a mock interview clinic, and a photo booth for professional headshots. Participants will then be able to keep their photos with them on USB flash drives donated by ICM Partners. Guest speakers this year include TransCanWork founder Michaela Mendelsohn. According to the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey, nearly one-third of trans people are living in poverty, compounded by the statistic that they experience a 15% unemployment rate which is three times higher than the unemployment rate in the U.S. population (5%). The unemployment rate among trans people of color is worse—four times higher than the nation’s unemployment rate. Exhibit tables for potential employers are limited and will be given on a first-come, firstserved basis. To apply for a table, visit www. lalgbtcenter.org/tjf18.
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Models Of
PRIDE The world’s largest free conference of its kind, the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s “Models of Pride” offered a full day of life-enriching programming. BY VICTOR MELAMED
Held
for the first time at the California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA) campus, more than 1,500 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth (LGBTQ) and their allies from 150 cities and more than 200 schools nationwide attended the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s 26th annual Models of Pride conference last month. This year’s theme was “Our Time Is Now!” As the world’s largest free conference of its kind, Models of Pride offered a full day of lifeenriching programming designed to help young people build confidence and self-esteem and develop valuable life skills. Organized through the Center’s LifeWorks youth development and mentoring program, the day included more than 100 workshops and presentations, lunch and dinner, an outdoor dance party, and live entertainment for all youth ages 24 and under. This year’s conference included performances by VINCINT, Gizzle, DJ InfaRed, DJ OAK-E, and dance groups MarInspired and Dance LA Entertainment. Photographer and activist Maxwell Poth hosted the Entertainment Hour. “In the midst of the daunting and scary political times we are living, now more than ever is the time for us to unite and rise in our celebration of our diversity. We are strong, powerful, and resilient,” said Center Associate Director of Education and Youth Development Kevin McCloskey. “Our young communities have overcome tremendous challenges and—no matter what the obstacles—our time to stand up, be heard, and speak up is NOW.” www.thefightmag.com 2 4 T H E F IGH T | www.thefi ghtmag.com
In addition to the youth portion of the conference, more than 400 parents, educators, social service providers, and other youth-serving professionals attended workshops tailored to their concerns and interests involving LGBTQ youth. After the three workshop sessions and complimentary lunch and dinner, the evening programming included a screening of the documentary Raising Zoey which chronicles the trials and tribulations of a transgender teen whose family, with help from the ACLU, fought school officials for her right to self-identify in school. A Q&A with Zoey, her mother, and director Dante Alencastre followed the screening. The Presenting Sponsor of this year’s Models of Pride was Toyota Financial Services. Senior Sponsor was Comcast NBCUniversal. Junior sponsors were American Airlines; Gender Odyssey; Edison International; and Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and the Hawaiian Islands. Sophomore sponsors were Arup; Bank of the West; Central Hollywood Neighborhood Council; Gilead Sciences; JPMorgan Chase & Co.; Mattel; and U.S. Bank. Freshman sponsors were The Aerospace Corporation; Bloomingdale’s, and Central Intelligence Agency. In-Kind sponsor was Jersey Mike’s.
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> > J A M E S G U AY, L M F T < <
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> > BODY DYSMORPHIC DISORDER < <
THE MAN IN THE MIRROR Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)—struggling with body image issues—can be a life-long challenge. BY BRENT HEINZE
O
ne of the aspects of queer life is how we relate to our bodies. Some of us may feel we’re too chubby or too skinny, or that we do not have enough muscle, lacking the beach-ready body sculpted from hours at the gym. These feelings can have some significant negative impacts on our lives and may lead us into some dark places. Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)—struggling with body image issues—can be a life-long challenge. Often people avoid looking at their own reflections or limit social activities based on how they feel about their appearance. When taken to extremes, eating disorders or obsessions with working out can develop. Most of us are familiar with anorexia or bulimia where calories are restricted, cardiovascular exercise increases, and binging on food can be rapidly followed by getting it out of the body as quickly as possible. Body dysmorphia is a common phenomenon in our society where a person’s perception of their own physical image is significantly flawed. What they see in the mirror or in pictures can depress or horrify themselves and individuals can spend in exorbitant amount of time, energy, and money trying to make their outside appearance more acceptable. Unfortunately, these efforts are rarely successful enough. It doesn’t seem to matter if you grew up heavy or scrawny. Once you develop a discomfort or distain for your own body, it can follow you throughout your life regardless of how your body changes over time. The effects of body dysmorphia can reach far beyond simply not liking how you look. Most often a person’s body image is highly inaccurate and that hateful perception of their own body can lead into emotional pain causing depression or anxiety while limiting social opportunities to connect with others. People may develop concerning
feelings including shame, loneliness, isolation, or despair. Jordan Deifik, who holds a master’s degree in medical sciences, identifies the importance of working to address these perceived imperfections. He feels that “although it is difficult to change how we see the image of our body, we can modify what we may tell ourselves about that reflection.” It is important to continue working to improve our lives in many ways, not just physically. We can also remind ourselves that we are attractive, important, and deserve good people in our lives. There can also be a healthy dose of tough love delivered to that vile internal voice that tells us negative things about ourselves. With enough practice and perseverance, we can become less susceptible to the negative perception of ourselves. It doesn’t matter if we have ripped abs or a gorgeous bubble butt. We need to work on not allowing these types of issues to stop us from creating the relationships that make life wonderful and engaging in activities we enjoy. Instead of busting our asses to achieve some unattainable goal of perfection, we need to focus on loving and accepting ourselves so we can create a life we love living. These efforts will not guarantee that people like us more, but having confidence that our charisma, confidence, and a warm smile can get us farther than having a perfect body. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with striving to create an image of ourselves that we want. Just don’t let it get in the way of living your life.
“Although it is difficult to change how we see the image of our body, we can modify what we may tell ourselves about that reflection.”
Brent Heinze has a master’s degree in clinical psychology and works as a life coach in Southern California (Brent@BeginTheShift.org). NO VEMB ER 2018 | THE F I GH T 27
BETHECHANGE
Queer, feminist, activist, musician Madame Gandhi on misogynist rappers, inclusive diversity and inducing the vibration of your own humanity. BY ROXIE PERKINS | PHOTO BY WENDY FIGUEROA
Madame Gandhi,
headline performer at this month’s Palm Springs Pride festival, is the music and activism project helmed by drummer and Harvard graduate, Kiran Gandhi. Gandhi rose to fame as a drummer for M.I.A. and also as the radical activist who free bled during the London Marathon in 2015 to bring attention to the global stigma surrounding menstruation. In 2016 she released Madame Gandhi’s debut EP, Voices to great acclaim. In an interview with THE FIGHT Ghandi talks about misogynist rappers, inclusive diversity and inducing the vibration of your own humanity. Your music has such a strong social justice core to it—do you consider your music an essential part of your practice as an activist? Or, do you you see them as two distinct aspects of your work? I often say music is the medium through which I chose to convey my message. And, unlike other artists, my activism really came [before my music] in the sense that I ran the London marathon in 2015 bleeding freely on my cycle and that story went viral. I ran to combat the global stigma that women face when they are on their periods and when the story went viral I was asked to speak at a couple different events, and universities, and conferences. At these events some of the hosts would say: “you’re a musician— why don’t you play us a couple songs after you give your talk?” But I was like, I’ve only ever drummed for other people. I had never made my own music. So then a lot of folks who I cherish dearly in my life were like: well, you better start. Because I did have a message and I did have something to say, music was the most sort of obvious way for me to put my body of work in one cohesive location. So that’s really what happened. I would say that my music and my activism are certainly intertwined. In horrific political times like we once again find ourselves in—how does your practice as an artist reflect the state of politics? Is your work the space you are able to pro28 2 8 THE T H E FIGH F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com
cess and work through the events of the news? Or, do you find that music is the place where you can go to escape the weight of the world? That’s a good question. As a consumer of music I definitely use music as a place to escape and less as a place to participate, which is ironic because I don’t make music that is about escaping. I definitely make music that is about confronting the world head on. I think the artists that have inspired me the most are the ones who sort of allow me to empathize with an experience I would not otherwise have. [For example] I grew up listening to Eminem—who is one of the most violently misogynist rappers there are. But, the difference with him is that he also raps about how his mother abandoned and abused him. There’s something powerful about [that dichotomy which creates] some understanding as to where a part of his misogyny and mistrust of women comes from—especially as opposed to the kind of redundant misogyny that we hear on the airwaves today that doesn’t really have any grounding beyond cultural sexism. In the same way, I want to make music that has empathy and love energy—but also is critical of things that are problematic in society. I want someone who might have a different upbringing than I do, or someone who doesn’t support or understand feminism to be able to listen to my music and come away with a little bit more of a perspective into a femme or female experience. Your music focuses on inclusive, femme diversity—was that always a key tenant to your practice or has that developed as a reaction to working in the music industry? It’s a mixture. I think I always understood the principles of femme, inclusive diversity but didn’t necessarily have the tools or the language to explain it until recently. The need to celebrate the femme and elevate the femme has become more apparent because of who’s in the White House and with classic sexism that I see all the time in the music industry. So yes, it has become an intentional choice to address these issues head on with intelligence, education, and peacefulness so that I can be the change that I wish to see in the world. Growing up in New York and travel-
ing extensively on tour—what about LA made you want to set roots here? LA inspires me. Not every crack, crevice, and corner is filled in with graffiti, art, or advertisements. When I grew up in New York city I felt like every last building had somebody else’s art on it. There was no room for my brain to create. When I drive around LA, especially the industrial part of downtown that I live in, there’s so much space for my brain to be massaged and stimulated. I always feel like I’m creating. I’m not thinking about what a billboard or advertisement wants me to see, instead I’m able to think clearly and introspectively. I often find myself pulling my iPhone out and recording lyrics when I’m here. I also like living in LA because I feel like the city has a strong connection to wellness. I think people here understand the value of a good eight hours of sleep, not drinking super heavily, going on hikes, and doing meditation LA allows me to be a more healthy version of myself. Your work focuses on intersectional feminism and puts particular spotlight on mindfulness as a form of self care. Do you have any tips for self care that you wish you’d known when you were younger? I’d recommend incorporating a twice daily meditation practice that my mom taught me. It’s a mixture of hip opening exercises, breathing exercise, and a loving kindness meditation where I imagine two people in my life joyfully laughing and I send them positivity for their day. Then I think about three things that would be great if they happened that day, like a to do list, and I visualize myself actually doing those things. And then I close the meditation by chanting a hindu prayer of “om shanti.” Meditation and chanting is literally a bath for your cells. You’re literally inducing the vibration of your own humanity, and your own flesh, and your own chest cavity—just like singing does. It’s really powerful. Doing something loving for myself everyday builds my self-confidence and self-trust, and allows me to have a clear focus and gratitude for the day. Madame Gandhi’s follow up EP is expected to be released in the next year. For more information visit her website: www.madamegandhi.com.
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THESHARE
THIS PAGE IS SPONSORED BY
>> BY PAULO MURILLO <<
ANOTHER YEAR SOBER
We asked these three clean and sober individuals what it is like for them to recently be celebrating another year of sobriety.
NAVIGATE MY LIFE
PAULO ANTHONY GRAYSON
“Drugs and alcohol gave me wings, but took away the sky. Celebrating three years is a miracle. I’m still in the process of cleaning up the wreckage of my past. I have learned in sobriety to respond instead of react. I’m definitely not perfect at it, however I use the basics of the program to navigate my life. I say the serenity prayer daily. I have a relationship with my family that is better than I could have ever imagined. I’m a son, brother, uncle, and a partner. I have an amazing sponsor who I have zero secrets from, and I have sober brothers and sisters who keep me accountable. I try to have honesty, integrity, and love in all of my actions. I’m a completely different person today. A person I can look at in the mirror and be okay with.” —Paulo Anthony Grayson, sober since October 7, 2015.
REPAIRED AND DEEPENED “Before I got sober, the light in my soul was dim. I felt lonely, afraid and ashamed. I would try to get sober on my own, and would end up drinking and using again. I eventually asked for help and was introduced to a variety of tools to help me live a sober life. Asking for help was the most courageous
PHILLIP ALEMAN
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thing I could have done. It helped save my life. Today, I have repaired and deepened my relationships with my family and friends by being accountable and showing up. They trust me and love me unconditionally. Things in life that used to baffle me, no longer do. I’ve learned that drugs and alcohol are no longer a solution for when I am in fear or feel inadequate. I have a sober network and community I can go to when I need to. Most days, I feel happy, joyous and free as I always try to find the gratitude and love in the simplest things. Life is in session and I am proud to show up for it. The light in my soul I once lost is shining as bright as ever!” —Phillip Aleman, sober since October 10, 2011.
CESAR GARCIA
MY OWN SKIN
“It feels great to turn six years. The longest I had before was 22 months. Three years ago, I had a spiritual awakening. It only lasted a few hours, but it was enough to convince me that this program works and that my Higher Power is looking out for me. It was a rainy night. I was walking under the rain and I had an incredible feeling that I cannot describe. I felt joy and peace and happiness. That feeling kept me going to meetings and being of service and working with others. Today, I have a sense of accomplishment. I don’t have the cash and prizes that people get, but the promises have come true for me. I have serenity, I have peace of mind. I’m not afraid of anybody. I feel good in my own skin.” —Cesar Garcia, sober since October 20, 2012.
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>> ISAURO CAIRO <<
3 2 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com
>> ARTIST & PHOTOGRAPHER <<
ISAURO CAIRO
IN LOVING MEMORY
Beloved artist and photographer Isauro Cairo passed away last month. Cairo had been paralyzed from a fall less than two years ago, and faced a new life in a wheelchair and a new home in Phoenix away from his beloved NYC. His strength in the face of disability served as the ultimate inspiration to so many who watched and prayed for him as he faced his new challenges. RIP.
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FASHION AS ACTIVISM Featuring non traditional models, a powerfully clear message of diversity inclusion. BY SEAN GALUSZKA
History
was made last month when queer designer Nik Kacy brought the first ever LGBTQ+focused, Equality Fashion Week to Los Angeles. Kicking off with a Rooftop Runway Show (Carmen Carrera hosted) at the trendy and beautifully, newly renovated Montrose Hotel, cutting edge designers Sharpe Suiting, Hologram City, Nik Kacy Footwear, Fem/Haus, Lior Boroda, Dapper Boi, and Stuzo Clothing sashayed their trendy collections down the runway. Featuring non traditional models of every body type, shape, and size including trans, non-binary and people of color, the event sent a powerfully clear message of diversity inclusion. LGBTQ+ fashionistas continued to serve dazzling platters of color, pattern, print, and style over the next week of pop-up meet-n-greets and fashion displays. NiK Kacy, founder and president of NiK Kacy Footwear, a gender-equal and genderfree footwear and accessories brand, is a transmasculine individual who also identifies as gender nonbinary. Kacyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s designs are inspired by personal identity, style, and employing fashion as activism. This ground breaking event not only served to champion local LGBTQ+ designers, but also as a gorgeous, visceral, conscious raising platform expressing we must not only acknowledge all the diverse members of our ever growing LGBTQ+ family, we must celebrate them. n
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A Forever Home
Celebrity photographer Mike Ruiz presents the Bullies And Biceps 2019 calendar. Benefitting New York Bully Crew Pet Rescue.
Everyone
BY VICTOR MELAMED
loves photos of adorable pit bull pups. So what happens when you pair the cutest pooches on earth—who just happen to be in need of forever homes—with beautiful, hunky men? The year’s most buzzed-about calendar. Photographer Mike Ruiz’s 2019 calendar, Bullies and Biceps, is fourteen months of perfection (2 bonus months in 2020) that will put a smile on your face every day of the new year. Mike Ruiz is a celebrity photographer whose clients include Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj and countless others. In addition to his work in Hollywood, Ruiz is known for shooting top male fitness models. “I admire men who have sculpted their bodies into works of art,” he says. “It takes incredible skill and knowledge to form human tissue to near perfection. Photographing their work is quite gratifying to me.” The men featured in Bullies and Biceps are some of the biggest male fitness models working today including Bryan Richards, Michael Dean, Nick Topel and cover-model Casey Christopher. Collectively, they have hundreds of thousands of followers on social media. They also are all passionate about animal rescue. Mike Ruiz, too, is a pit bull rescuer and this year’s calendar is in special tribute to Oliver, his beloved canine, who passed away last month. Mike and Oliver shared six wonderful years together. It was Oliver who inspired Mike to fuse his two passions—photography and pit bulls—together into a calendar that would benefit dogs in need of rescue. The pit bulls that appear in the calendar were chosen at random and represent only a fraction of those in need. “This is a very sad time to be in rescue,” explains Carla Mohan of the New York Bully Crew. “People are giving up their dogs without remorse. Pit bull type dogs are especially vulnerable because most rescues shy away from saving them due to lack of experience,
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knowledge and the negative media coverage the beautiful creatures have received.” Founded by Craig Fields in 2010, New York Bully Crew specializes in the rescue, rehabbing and rehoming of pit bull type dogs. They partner with city shelters around the country to help local animals and have also begun outreach in Puerto Rico, Honduras, Peru, and South Korea. “Pit bulls are the most loyal and loving dogs,” Carla continues. “They are soulful creatures that can be the silliest best friend ever. I have had many different breeds of dogs in my life, but none compare to pit bulls.” She hopes the calendar will open people’s eyes and hearts and change misconceptions about this goofy and jolly breed. While shooting the calendar, the pit bulls on set stole the hearts of the super gorgeous male models. “I wanted to take them all home with me,” laughs Casey Christopher. Every dollar made from the sale of the “Bullies and Biceps” 2019 calendar will go directly to New York Bully Crew for various services benefitting the health and welfare of the dogs. “The calendar makes the perfect holiday gift and also brings awareness to these special animals,” says Mike Ruiz. “Every pit bull deserves a forever home.” Mike Ruiz’s 2019 calendar, “Bullies and Biceps” is available for only $24.99 at www.nybullycrew.org.
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THEART >>
LGBTQ ARTISTS
<<
WILLIAM SCHULTZ
A
painter and illustrator currently living in Los Angeles, William Schultz studied painting in San Francisco and specializes in watercolor and colored pencil illustrations. n Contact info: Instagram: williamfschultz. Etsy: etsy.com/shop/willfschultz
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AvdH
A three-part marathon event by one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s foremost choreographers
ON iTUNES, SPOTIFY, OR WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO MUSIC. WITH HIT SINGLES
NATURE BOY OCELOT AND
DEAD WITHOUT DANCING
BILL T. JONES/ ARNIE ZANE COMPANY Analogy Trilogy
Sat, Nov 3 & Sun, Nov 4 at 2pm | Royce Hall
LEAP INTO YOUR SEAT >>
cap.ucla.edu 310 825 2101
WWW.iiTUNES.APPLE.COM/US/ARTIST/AVDH/1357955831 WWW.
We have expanded our food pantry to the entire LGBTQ+ community. This new program will provide supplemental pantry services to members of the LGBTQ+ community who meet our financial criteria and have a severe or disabling medical diagnosis. To find out if you qualify and to set up an appointment with our Health & Wellness Pantry Coordinator, call (949) 809-8773.
To get help call (949) 809-8773 or visit www.radianthealthcenters.org.
Health & Wellness Food Pantry We Are Here For You! 17982 Sky Park Circle, Suite J, Irvine, CA 92614
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THEMUSIC >>
JOHN GRANT
<<
“AS A RECOVERING ADDICT AND AN OPENLY HIV POSITIVE ARTIST, GRANT HAS QUITE A WELL TO DRAW FROM…”
THAT
GLORIOUS VOICE
Singer-songwriter John Grant’s fourth album Love Is Magic : dipping his toes much more in the kaleidoscopic synth pool.
T
BY PAUL V. VITAGLIANO
he first time I heard John Grant’s voice on a song called Marz on his debut album back in 2010, I literally had goosebumps and a warm tingle enveloping my entire body. I was floored by how painfully gorgeous the song was, and how much Grant’s deep but delicate voice connected with me. I soon learned he was an openly gay man (and a big, strapping handsome bear to boot), and I’ve been a fanboy ever since. Through three albums, he’s always toyed with blending grand, romantic melodies and acoustic
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sounds with subtle electronics. For his fourth effort, he’s dipping his toes much more in the kaleidoscopic synth pool, finding equal inspiration in quirky vintage legends like Kraftwerk, Devo, and Pink Floyd. And I have to say: many of his lyrics here are just as crazy as the image he chose for the cover art. As a recovering addict and an openly HIV positive artist as well, Grant has quite a well to draw from: despair, recondite and sardonic wit, sly gay self-expression, and even a condemnation of vacuous exlovers on the robosexual Diet Gum. I won’t tell you who the scathing Smug C*nt is about, but let’s just say he has orange skin, hideous hair, and tiny pussy-grabbing hands. Even as he hurl obscenities, he still keeps his diatribes clever. Grant might appear to be a bizarre, enigmatic and possibly absurd artist to any new listener; for my ears though, those three adjectives—and yes, that glorious voice—are what always keep me hooked. n
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THEEPIDEMIC >> TESAMORELIN <<
SEEKING VOLUNTEERS
Dr. Steven Ganzell, Ph.D. Clinical Psychologist Over 25 years of experience in the clinical practice of psychotherapy. Specializing in depth psychology and neuropsychology. Flexible scheduling and free initial consultations available. (323) 717 0002 6115 Selma Ave, Suite 200 Hollywood, CA 90028 (CA PSY 12321)
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Study: treatment of abdominal obesity with daily injections of tesamorelin for six months to improve cognition in HIV+ individuals. BY VICTOR MELAMED
B
orrego Health has two Specialty Care clinics offering a number of primary services targeted toward those in the LGBTQ+ community, as well as those in treatment for HIV/ AIDS, Hepatitis C, PrEP & PEP, and the transgender community. We offer a variety of health services, including an in-house lab and in-house pharmacy. 100% of the profit generated in our pharmacy is put back into patient care and all services are offered in a confidential, supportive and non-judgmental environment. The Research Department at Borrego Health is involved in multiple research studies investigating new treatment protocols and advancements leading to improved health outcomes for our patients. All research activities, regardless of the source of support, are guided by the statement of ethical principles set forth by the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects: respect for persons, beneficence, and justice. They are currently enrolling volunteer participants in an OBESITY AND HEALTHY THINKING STUDY. This study proposes that treatment of abdominal obesity and related inflammation with daily injections of tesamorelin for six months will improve cognition in HIV+ individuals. n To make an appointment with a Provider or to see if you are eligible to participate in one of their clinical studies, call the Stonewall Clinic today at (760) 676.5800.
“Illuminating, Celebratory, a MUST OWN for the Owner and the Owned!”
A slave for three decades, Author Norman McClelland offers the Ultimate Master/Slave Manual from the unique perspective of the slave. Available NOW at www.slavescripture.com
PARAPHILIA Handmade Gear Of Exceptional Quality And Design Combining traditional wood and leather crafting techniques to create toys of superb quality and engaging class. Providing our worldwide community with BDSM tools beautiful enough to lust over—this is Paraphilia. www.paraphiliatoys.com NO VEMB ER 2018 | THE F I GH T 45
THEEVENT >> PHOTOS BY GREY CROUCH <<
HARMONIA!
A QUEER
HARVEST
BASH The Faultline graciously hosted a fundraiser—Harmonia—A Harvest Party to Save Cuties Coffee—last month. Sponsors included Ostbahnhof, Femme Domme Fatale, THE FIGHT, Goodbye and Sex Workers Outreach Project LA. Please support Cuties, LA’s only LGBTQIA+ coffee shop.
Visit: www.patreon.com/cutiescoffee
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>> PHOTOS BY DUSTI CUNNINGHAM <<
EVITA: PLEASURE PALACE
Back at a new venue, the Nightingale Plaza on La Cienega, Evita: Pleasure Palace returned last month. Presented by Olly Wood and Andres Rigal. With a special performance by John Duff, MERLOT, stage show by Naomi Smalls and tunes by David Oh.
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THECALENDAR >> THINGS TO DO << FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2
The Southern California community gets their new representative in the definitive puppy titleholder contest in our region, LOS ANGELES PUP. This event is 18+.
MEN OF STEEL 4TH ANNIVERSARY 9PM Casita Del Campo, 1920 Hyperion Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027. The Bearded Ladies Theater Troupe & Coffee Klatsch Presents. With Will Bethencourt, Nathan Carden, Mario Diaz, Aaron Elvis James, Chris Puckett, Ron Robbins and Chad Sanders.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11
SCRAMBLES SUNDAY BRUNCH 12PM–4PM Redline Gay Bar, 131 E 6th St, Los Angeles, 90014. Join us every Sunday for Scrambles Brunch! $15 Bottomless Mimosas, $6 Bloody Mary’s.
DESERT HEAT PALM SPRINGS PRIDE WEEKEND The Saguaro Palm Springs, 1800 E Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, 92264. Paul Nicholls & Justin David present The Biggest Parties of Palm Springs Pride! #feeltheheat
MR PRECINCT LEATHER 2019 CONTEST— BEAR BUST 3PM–9PM Precinct, 357 South Broadway, Los Angeles, CA. HOSTED BY: Sister Bearonce Knows. Contestant Meet and Greet (3-5pm). Mr. Precinct Leather Contest (6pm).
PRIDE FESTIVAL PALM SPRINGS 2018 Palm Springs—Downtown and Uptown, 268 N Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, 92262. Info: www. pspride.org. A weekend packed full of parties, festivals and live music.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15
JAKE SHEARS 9:00PM El Rey Theatre, 5515 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, California 90036. Goldenvoice + Mixed Feelings present: Jake Shears (of Scissor Sisters) with Ssion & Sammy Jo.
LATIN FRIDAYS 9:30PM—2AM Hamburger Mary’s, 8288 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, 90046. DJ Rafael con su Latín Mix, Cover $8. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3
DILF PALM SPRINGS PRIDE “OUT & PROUD” 8PM—2AM The Barracks, 67625 E Palm Canyon Dr, Ste C7, Cathedral City, 92234. Joe Whitaker & the DILF party Present… Join them for a night of HOT MUSIC, HOT MEN & HOT FUN in your JOCK! SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4
PALM SPRINGS PRIDE PARADE—DOWNTOWN PALM SPRINGS 10AM–12PM Downtown Palm Springs, 268 N. Palm Canyon Drive (office), Palm Springs, 92262. Info: www. pspride.org. Free Event. Steps off in the Uptown Design District at Tachevah and Palm Canyon Dr. and travels south through downtown ending at the entrance to the Pride Festival at Museum Way.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9
DOG POUND: MEET & MOSH 9PM–2AM Bullet Bar, 10522 Burbank Blvd, North Hollywood, 91601. The largest Dog Pound event of every year, this is the meet and greet for Los Angeles Pup 2018. SUPER SCOOTER RUSH ROAST 11:59PM–12:30AM Bullet Bar, 10522 Burbank Blvd, North Hollywood, 91601. LA PUP 2018, Rush is a scooter. As he scoots along the end of his rainbow trail of Los Angeles Pup, we will revere and trash this honoured faux animal role playing deviant. This event is at midnight at the Bullet Bar during Dog Pound, the meet and mosh for Los Angeles Puppy Pride.
Matt Bearracuda’s BIRTHDAY STUFFING!. Music by DJ PURE NOISE. Hosted by: GUILLERMO DIAZ, BIG DIPPER, TONY DESANTIAGO and MATT BEARRACUDA PRIDE YOUTH LEADERSHIP ACADEMY—SAN DIEGO HISTORY CENTER 8:30AM–5:15PM San Diego History Center, 1649 El Prado, Suite #3, San Diego, CA 92101. Apply: To apply please visit www.sdpride.org/yla. The San Diego Pride Youth Leadership Academy will immerse you in LGBT history, youth advocacy, resources, and network building. With these tools, you will learn new skills to engage your own communities and use your voice to inspire others to action.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10
LUNCH BUNCH—SAN DIEGO PRIDE 11AM–2PM San Diego Pride, 3620 30th St, San Diego, CA 92104. Every second Saturday of the month. Lunch Bunch is produced by San Diego Pride and our partners: The Trevor Project. Doors will open at 11am. FREE lunch and activities begin at 11am.
BEARRACUDA LA: MATT BEARRACUDA‘S BIRTHDAY 9PM–2AM PrecinctDTLA, 357 South Broadway, Los Angeles, CA.
LOS ANGELES PUP CONTEST 2018 8PM–11:30PM Bullet Bar, 10522 Burbank Blvd, North Hollywood, 91601.
AIDS PROJECT LOS ANGELES 611 S. Kingsley Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90010. www.apla.org. (213) 201-1600.
91411. www.childrenofthenight. org. 800) 551-1300 . Shelter for sexually exploited LGBT youth ages up to 17 yrs old.
ASIAN PACIFIC AIDS INTERVENTION TEAM 605 West Olympic Boulevard Suite 610, Los Angeles, CA 90025. www. apaitonline.org. (213) 553-1830. Provides services to all Asian and Pacific Islanders.
COVENANT HOUSE 1325 North Western Avenue, Hollywood, CA 90027. www.covenanthousecalifornia.org. (323) 461-3131. Shelter for youth ages 14-24 yrs old, HIV support, employment assistance, counseling.
GAY AND LESBIAN CENTER OF LOS ANGELES 1625 Schrader Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90028. www.laglc.org. Supports groups, legal help, counseling, HIV+ services, substance abuse treatment and more.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7
WEDNESDAY TEA SALON 5PM–7PM Tom of Finland Foundation, 1421 Laveta Ter, Los Angeles, 90026. Wednesday Evenings 5PM, $10 COVER. Hand-blended Tea, Cakes and Sweets, Relax and have a nice cuppa tea, view kinky/sexy art, Remove yourself from reality and chill ALTARGIRL AT THE CHAPEL—GIRLBAR LA 9PM–2AM Girlbar LA, 692 N Robertson Blvd,
The Resources
West Hollywood, 90069. DJ Brynn Taylor “Lizzie” Giveaways—DJ Brynn Taylor spins all your favorite dance /hip hop &pop music..Movie ticket giveaways for “Lizzie” starring Kristen Stewart & Chloe Svigney...for the Arclight!!
BIENESTAR AIDS PROJECT 4955 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027. www.bienestar.org. CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT 14530 Sylvan Street, Van Nuys, CA
GAY AND LESBIAN CENTER OF LONG BEACH 2017 East 4th Street, Long Beach, CA 90814. www.centerlb.org.
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GENDER WELLNESS OF LOS ANGELES 116 North Robertson Boulevard, Suite 702, Los Angeles, CA 90048. www.genwell.org Counseling for individuals, couples, families coping with gender identity issues. JEFFREY GRIFFITH YOUTH CENTER 7051 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90038.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16
MR. REGIMENT 2019 LEATHER CONTEST WEEKEND 9PM–11:30PM Eagle LA, 4219 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029. Join the Regiment of the Black and Tans on the search of the next Mr Regiment... SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17
GPS: DIVAS WITH ABEL 10PM—4AM 740 S Broadway, Los Angeles, 90014. Past to Present w/ABEL All Night Long! By Paul Nicholls & Justin David. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23
CMG: THE FALL GATHERING—PATHFINDER RANCH Pathfinder Ranch, 35510 Pathfinder Rd, Mountain Center, 92561. After you’ve finished your Thursday festivities with friends and family, join your CMG family for the rest of that weekend that you can be truly thankful for! With the stress of the holidays about to come after a busy fall, you deserve some playtime first! ONYX SOCAL-SOUTHWEST: COME TOGETHER 9PM–2AM EAGLE LA, 4219 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029. Party with the men of ONYX SoCal-Southwest. www.laglc.org. (323) 461-8163. Drop-in services, support for at risk, homeless trans youth. LOS ANGELES FREE CLINIC 8405 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048. www.sabancommunityclinic.org. (323) 653-1990. LOS ANGELES GENDER CENTER 1923 1/2 Westwood Boulevard #2, Westwood, CA 90025. www.lagendercenter.com. (310) 475-8880. Sliding scale clinic. ORANGE COUNTY THE CENTER 12832 Garden Grove Boulevard, Suite A, Garden Grove, CA 92843. www.thecenteroc.org.
YOUR SEXIEST BODY PART IS YOUR MIND. Free weekly workshops to boost your pleasure IQ from BJâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and Beyond to Sober Sex and Queering Your Kink. VISIT PLEASURECHEST.COM/EVENTS FOR FULL LISTINGS. ALL WORKSHOP ATTENDEES ENJOY 15% OFF THEIR PURCHASE!
Stock up on something sexy!
15% off with code FIGHT
7733 Santa Monica Blvd 323.650.1022 Free Parking!
through Nov. 30th.
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New year. New hair. New you.
Actual NHI Medical Patients
Mention discount code: NHIM3 to receive a $300 discount on your hair replacement procedure at NHI Medical. *Discount cannot be combined with other offers/discounts.
Where compassionate care meets innovative technology. 5 2 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com