THE FIGHT CALIFORNIA'S LGBTQ MONTHLY MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2019

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THECONTENTS F E AT U RES

16 JUSTICE FOR GUSTAVO

ANTI-GAY POLICE BRUTALITY

18 TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20

20 BREAKING THE SILENCE

THE HRC/CNN DEMOCRATIC LGBTQ TOWN HALL

22 SENSE OF PURPOSE

FOLSOM’S PATRICK FINGER STEPS DOWN

24 LOVE CONQUERS ALL

PALM SPRINGS PRIDE HEADLINERS ONEUP DUO

28 END OF AN ERA

SCOTTY BOWERS PASSES AWAY

30 FROM KARMA TO DHARMA

GAY AUTHOR JOHNSON CHONG

32 SUBLIME BEAUTY AND PAIN

DORIAN WOOD’S XAVELA LUX AETERNA

DE PA R T MEN T S

36 SAVING THE PLANET

08 THE TALK 10 THE CITY 12 THE BAY 14 THE ROSTOW REPORT 26 THE SHARE 37 THE SPORT 38 THE ART 40 THE EVENT 44 THE CALENDAR

THE BIG GAY BIDET

ON TH E CO V E R & O N TH I S PAGE ONEUP DUO ADAM AND JEROME BELL-BASTIEN

COVER PHOTO, CONTENTS PHOTO & FEATURE PHOTO

BY JOSH DRAKE 4 T H E F I GH T | www.thefightmag.com

NO VEMB ER 2019 | T H E F I GH T 5

THEEDITOR

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Stanford Altamirano MANAGING EDITOR Mark Ariel ART DIRECTOR Nadeen Torio MARKETING CONSULTANTS Grey Crouch Sean Galuszka Shane Ivan Nash Jacci Ybarra SOCIAL MEDIA Mark Ariel Sinan Shihabi WEBMASTER Nadeen Torio ARTS EDITOR Sinan Shihabi

>> IN THIS ISSUE <<

This year, once again, THE FIGHT is proud to be a media sponsor of Palm Springs Pride, taking place November 1-3 (see www.pspride.org).

Palm Springs Pride headliners OneUp Duo—comprised of husbands Adam and Jerome BellBastien—spoke to Mark Ariel about living and working together, pushing each other to be better versions of themselves and love at first sight (“Love Conquers All,” pages 24-25).

The Duo was featured on Season 15 of NBC’s The Voice and made history as the show’s first ever same-sex duo.

Also in this issue Luckie Alexander writes about attending the HRC/CNN Democratic LGBTQ Town Hall that took place last month (“Breaking The Silence,” pages 20-21).

“Initially I thought this was going to be an empowering experience but it wasn’t long before I realized otherwise,” writes Alexander. “As I looked around the theater, observ-

ing the crowd, I had a difficult time seeing myself reflected not only my community of color but also my trans community of color. I expected to see a bit more diversity in the room, instead the majority of the crowd was made up of white gay men.”

“It was what I wasn’t hearing and seeing that frustrated me,” states Alexander. “The candidates acknowledged the murders of our fallen black trans sisters and what they would do to protect them but there were no black trans women that were given the opportunity to ask questions that would speak directly to their narratives.”

“Our community needs to have our space to speak to presidential candidates about the issues in our community because they are unique to us and look very different from LGB issues. We are not going to sit silently waiting to be recognized anymore.”

CONTRIBUTORS Lucky Alexander Dusti Cunningham Sean Galuszka Orly Lyonne Victor Melamed Paulo Murillo Andy Nicastro Ann Rostow Sinan Shihabi Brenden Shucart GET THE FIGHT AT HOME Sent Via First Class Mail 12 Issues: $36 6 Issues: $24 Mail check or money order to: Third Step, LLC 611 S. Catalina St. Suite 307 Los Angeles, CA 90005 PUBLISHER Third Step, LLC DISTRIBUTION Pride In Media The Fight Magazine is published monthly by Third Step, LLC. 611 South Catalina Street, Suite 307 Los Angeles, CA 90005 Telephone (323) 297-4001 Fax (213) 281-9648 Email info@TheFightMag.com THE FIGHT MAGAZINE LEGAL CAVEATS By listing in The Fight Magazine, advertisers acknowledge that they do business in the spirit of cooperation, fairness and service, maintaining a high level of integrity and responsibility. Providers of products or services are fully and solely responsible for providing same as advertised. The Fight Magazine assumes no liability for improper or negligent business practices by advertisers.

Advertisers and their agencies assume responsibility and liability for the content of their advertisements in The Fight Magazine.

STANFORD ALTAMIRANO Editor-In-Chief

Publisher assumes no liability for safe-keeping or return of unsolicited art, manuscripts or other materials. The Fight Magazine reserves the right to edit all material for clarity, length and content. All contents © 2019 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.

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www.thefightmag.com 6 T H E F I GH T | www.thefi ghtmag.com

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

JUST WRONG

MY HOPE

“It is my hope that the facts will win the day.”

“I think it’s just wrong—an established artist shouldn’t kick down a younger artist right at the start of their career.”

—Shepard Smith, Fox News’ only gay anchor, announcing he is leaving the network last month, saying he was looking forward to spending more time with his partner, Giovanni “Gio” Graziano, and their dog Lucia.

SHEPARD SMITH

AN EXCUSE

ELTON JOHN

“The right to religious freedom ends where religion is being used as an excuse to harm other people.”

KICKED OFF

—Out Presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg when asked about how people often use their faith as an excuse for discriminating, at the CNN/HRC LGBTQ Town Hall last month.

PETE BUTTIGIEG

OUR LIVES “Black trans women are dying. Our lives matter.”

BLOSSOM C. BROWN

—Elton John, in his recent memoir Me, on Madonna accusing Lady Gaga of copying her style.

—Activist Blossom C. Brown drawing attention to the erasure of black trans women, at the CNN/HRC LGBTQ Town Hall last month.

DEEPLY SORRY

“Black and Latinx trans women should not have to protest to have voice in spaces created for the LGBTQ community... we are deeply sorry.”

—Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David in a tweet last month, addressing the criticism that the HRC/CNN town hall on LGBTQ issues gave insufficient visibility to black transgender women.

www.thefightmag.com 8 T H E F I GH T | www.thefi ghtmag.com

ALPHONSO DAVID

“Plain and simple: There are surface-level reasons I was kicked off the Stanford swim team, but I can tell you with certainty that it comes down to the fact that I am gay.”

—Two-time NCAA champion Abrahm DeVine accusing his former team at Stanford of homophobia and claiming that he was kicked off the team because he is gay, on Instagram, last month.

ADAM RIPPON

ABRAHM DEVINE

YOUR SUCCESS

“I think if you start with working on feeling comfortable in your own skin, that’s the most important thing.

That’s where all of your success can start from.”

—Adam Rippon on NBC, last month, in honor of the 10th anniversary of Spirit Day, an annual LGBTQ anti-bullying campaign organized by GLAAD.

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baseball cap, tan long-sleeved shirt and dark pants. Police said anyone who witnessed the fight can contact Detective Edman Escallada at (760) 323-8129.

A NA H EIM

GAY DAYS ANAHEIM TAKES OVER DISNEYLAND

LOS AN G E LE S

35TH AIDS WALK LOS ANGELES RAISES NEARLY $1.6 MILLION AIDS Walk Los Angeles held its 35th annual walk last month raising vital funds that help to build support and awareness of the continuing need to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Ten thousand participants, volunteers and sponsors raised nearly $1.6 million. Individuals are able to increase that amount by donating before November 15, 2019.

This year’s AIDS Walk Los Angeles was the first to be managed in-house by APLA Health, which has been the beneficiary of the walk since its inception. The theme for 2019 is “AIDS Has Met Its March,” which calls upon participants to continue the fight in its efforts to make AIDS history.

For more information, visit www.aidswalkLA.org.

WEST HO LLY W O OD

PA L M S PR INGS

CITY COUNCIL VOTES IN SUPPORT OF TRUMP IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY

POLICE SUSPECT FIGHT AT WANG’S A HATE CRIME

West Hollywood City Council members unanimously adopted a Resolution in support of the impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump. The City of West Hollywood sent copies of its resolution to President Trump; U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris; House Speaker Nancy Pelosi; Congress member Adam Schiff; leadership of both parties; and others, as appropriate.

1 0 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com

A fight broke out early last month at Wang’s in the Desert, a popular gay-friendly pan Asian restaurant in Downtown Palm Springs. Police suspect the fight may be a hate crime after three people had a physical altercation. One of the three individuals is believed to be the primary suspect in the fight. The man sought by police is described as white or Latino, in his late 20s or early 30s, with dark short hair. He wore a light colored

Disneyland and Disney California Adventure were filled with LGBTQ+ people and their allies wearing red shirts during Gay Days Anaheim last month, the unofficial annual event celebrating LGBT pride at the Happiest Place on Earth. The unofficial Gay Days Anaheim mix-in hosted pool parties, mixers, dance parties, theme park meet-ups, trivia games, scavenger hunts and more. This year’s official red Gay Days Anaheim t-shirts feature a Star Wars theme with a stormtrooper on the front and the slogan “May the Fierce Be With You.” The first Gay Days Anaheim attracted about 2,500 people in 1998. Today, the independently-organized annual event brings more than 30,000 Gay Days attendees to Anaheim’s Disney parks during the three-day event.

S A N D IEGO

RICH‘S CELEBRATES 28-YEAR ANNIVERSARY Rich’s San Diego, one of the most popular gay dance clubs in the gay Hillcrest area of San Diego, celebrated their 28-year Anniversary last month.

The night club threw a massive dance party featuring a special performance by dance diva Pepper MaShay. The party featured local DJs. Musical talents included DJ Hek Tik in the Front Room, and EDM played by DJ Taj on the Main Floor and BUR played to an Afterhours crowd. Rich’s San Diego is known for its all-night dance parties, signature drag show and drink specials. It‘s located in the heart of Hillcrest on the main drag at 1051, University Avenue, across from the Uptown Shopping Center. The 28Year Anniversary dance party started at 10pm and ended at 4am. n

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administrators, reported NBC Los Angeles.

Reports of the incident were posted on Change.org, saying football players chanted homophobic slurs at a male member of the cheerleading squad. They called him gay for cheering for the team.

The district released a statement, saying: “At Santa Clara Unified School District, we proactively work to create an environment that embraces diversity, and we do not tolerate harassment or bullying of any kind.”

HISTORICAL SOCIETY ANNOUNCES |CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

IMPEACH TRUMP BILLBOARD IN SAN FRANCISCO

A billboard with the word “impeach” in all capital letters next to a picture of President Trump went up in the Fisherman’s Wharf area of San Francisco.

The billboard, which was paid for by the Courage Campaign, was on display through Oct. 21.

The billboard features a link to www.CouragetoImpeach.com, which features a petition for people to sign indicating they support impeaching Trump.

The billboard calling for impeachment comes as House Democrats have launched an impeachment inquiry into Trump focused in part on his phone call with Ukraine’s leader, pressuring him to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, a leading 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, and his son. No evidence of criminal wrongdoing by the Bidens has emerged.

TASK FORCE PRODUCES PLAN TO TACKLE METH It’s no secret that there’s a crystal meth crisis in San Francisco which is devastating our streets and eating away at the heart of the Gay community. But with the issuance last month of the Meth Task Force’s Final Report, the City finally has a plan to address it.

Co-chaired by District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman (representing the Castro, Noe Valley, Glenn Park) and Dr. Grant Colifax of the Department of Public Health, the panel of 22 experts, stakeholders, and community leaders has produced 17 recommendations to help reduce harm, improve access to treatment, and strengthen coordination among city services and systems. Central to the plan 12 2 TTH HEE FFIGH IGHTT || www.thefightmag.com www.thefightmag.com 1

is the creation of a number of “sobering sites” with integrated harm reduction services as a place to take those in the grip of “Tina” as an alternative to emergency rooms and jail cells.

Mayor London Breed has promised to open the first of these sobering sites within the next six months.

MALE CHEERLEADER BULLYING AT SANTA CLARA SCHOOL Santa Clara police showed up at Wilcox High School last month to investigate allegations that football players bullied a gay male cheerleader using homophobic slurs, according to school

October is “gala season” in San Francisco, with all of the City’s nonprofits put out the proverbial red carpet, present the worthy with awards, and do their darnedest to coax donations into their very deserving coffers. One of this year’s standouts was the GLBT historical Society’s annual fete, that took place on the very top floor of salesforce Tower a space with commanding 360° views of the entire City. Juanita MORE! curated the entertainment, and GLBTHS executive director Terry Beswick announced the launch of a capital campaign for a permanent LGBTQ History Museum for which Mayor Breed was on hand to pledge support.

CITY HALL PROGRAM SAVES LGBTQ BAR EL RIO

The era of Big Tech has been decidedly deadly For LGBTQ owned businesses in San Francisco. Gay bars in particular have become an endangered species, with the last ten years seeing the loss of the City’s oldest gay bar (the Gangway), our only Lesbian bar (the Lexington Club), and only bar serving the LGBTQ Latinx community (Esta Noche). But we’re happy to report that at least one popular Queer watering hole has been saved from extinction—El Rio. Originally opened in ‘79 as a “Brazilian Leather bar” (no joke), El Rio is one of the Mission’s most beloved community spaces. The City quietly purchased the space and the eight rent-controlled units above through its Small Sites Acquisition Program. n

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THEROSTOWREPORT >> BY ANN ROSTOW <<

THE FACTS OF LIFE AND SILVER LININGS Proctor & Gamble subsidiary, Always, will change its packaging on feminine hygiene products to embrace those transmen and nonbinary people who menstruate and might use their pads and tampons. This means they will remove the Venus female sign, the circle with a plus sign at the bottom, that recognizes that Always’ main customers are women.

Yes, cisgender male readers of THE FIGHT, I have decided to lead this column with a few words on menstruation, your favorite subject. In a CBS report, one doctor also observed that “cis women who can’t menstruate and trans women are harmed by the assumption that menstruation defines femininity. Less ink for printing, better for planet. This is a win all around.”

Oh my God people!

Menstruating is horrible and everyone hates it. I remember learning about it in a “facts of life” talk with my mother but for some reason coming to the conclusion that it would only last a few days. Later, I was informed that it would occur every month for many decades; one of the most appalling revelations of my young life. I mean WTF? These products should be packaged in black with a warning. Who cares about trans-inclusivity in this context, let alone cis women who might be offended by the tie-in between gender and this profoundly annoying biological process?

The only silver lining, so to speak, was the side effect that you could always suddenly walk out of class or out of a meeting with a look and a vague remark, and all the men would avoid your eyes and nod and forego any questions.

“I’m sorry Mr. Turner. Will

RED BUBBLE

A STRAIGHT TRUMP SUPPORTER ACCIDENTALLY SPAWNED A GAY MEME. you excuse me?”

“Oh, Ann. Yes, of course.

Please. It’s fine. Um, go ahead and um... Yes, fine.”

Plenty of time for a cigarette, or even an hour in the bar.

JUDICIAL MODESTY AND DRASTIC CHANGES

The big news last month, of course, concerned the two hours of oral argument before the Supreme Court on two questions relating to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the federal law that

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outlaws workplace discrimination on the basis of sex and other factors. Question one asked whether gays and lesbians were protected on this basis; question two asked the same about transgender men and women.

I listened to the proceedings, and indeed, if you’re interested you can find the October 8 audio on SCOTUS blog. I suppose there’s a chance we might prevail, but I’m sad to say I think the odds are against us. Much was made of the fact that Justice Gorsuch seemed sympathetic to the argument that the

text of the law weighs in our favor, since sexual orientation and/or transgender status are inherently subsets of “sex” itself.

That said, Gorsuch also mused that “judicial modesty” might require the Court to take into account the “massive social upheaval” that such a “drastic change” would provoke. In fact, many courts, if not most courts, already believe that GLBT people are protected under Title VII, while the vast majority of major corporations voluntarily ban GLBT discrimination as do a couple dozen states. So what’s Gorsuch talking about? Whatever it is, it does not bode well for us. His buddies, Thomas and Alito are certainly votes for the other side. Justice Kavanaugh said virtually nothing, while Roberts worried about religious freedom.

We’ll see. A ruling is expected next spring. Lucky for you, I’ve written a lot about this subject lately and now find it a tedious topic. I can add that a Marquette Law School poll of 1,423 Americans just found that 61 percent believe we should indeed be protected under federal workplace standards, while 30 percent disagreed. So much for drastic social upheaval.

IT’S A GAY BAR, PAM I love the social media meme that arose after Trump’s Minneapolis rally last month.

I guess the Trump Baby blimp was secured to the roof of the Saloon, a gay bar known for drag shows and the weekly “shower contest.”

After the Trump Baby news was linked to Facebook, a grey-haired woman from Olivia, Minnesota (population 2,500) named Pam Ogletree, texted: “The Saloon lost my business.”

>> THE FACTS OF LIFE AND SILVER LININGS • JUDICIAL MODESTY AND DRASTIC CHANGES • IT’S A GAY BAR, PAM • THEY’LL ALWAYS HAVE PARIS • SEX, LIES, AND POLITICS <<

One of the first replies to Pam’s announcement was: “It’s a gay bar, Pam.” A screen shot of that exchange went viral, leading to amusing memes and even a T-shirt with those words.

If I were Pam, and had the slightest sense of humor, I would grab fifteen minutes of fame by admitting some second thoughts and announcing that I would indeed drop by the Saloon for a drink on Saturday night. Perhaps Pam could take the stage after one of the drag shows and raise a glass to the assembled crowd.

In my experience, the gang at a place like the Saloon would give her a rousing welcome under those circumstances.

THEY’LL ALWAYS HAVE PARIS Speaking of non-binary

people, I was reading about an enigmatic entity called the “blob,” a large singlecelled slime mass that just arrived at the Paris zoo. The yellow organism has almost 720 sexes, Reuters tells us, can heal itself and seems to manifest intelligence. It can digest food even with no stomach, and it can figure out how to go through a maze.

When separated it can merge back, and when connected to a different blob, the merged result will have the knowledge of both original blobs. (Question, wouldn’t the new blob be two-celled?

If so, could you not create larger and larger multi-celled blobs?”)

“The blob is a living being which belongs to one of nature’s mysteries”, said Bruno David, director of the Paris Museum of Natural History.

To many of us, the creature

brings to mind the Orville’s assistant chief engineer, Yaphit.

I just checked, Orville fans, and season three is going to be on Hulu next year.

Apparently, Seth McFarland needed more leeway and a bigger budget, so it sounds like it will be worth the wait.

That said, how many extra streaming subscriptions are we in for at this rate? Netflix, Britbox, Acorn, CBS all access, and now Hulu? It’s too much.

SEX, LIES, AND POLITICS Finally, what’s the story with Congresswoman Katie Hill? The bisexual representative from Agua Dulce is involved in a messy divorce and has been hit with sexy same-sex online photos and texts. She is alleged to have had a three-way affair with a female staffer and the afore-

mentioned husband, who presumably is to blame for the embarrassing postings.

Hill, 32, is also accused of having an affair with her legislative director, Graham Kelly. She denies this, although she admits the story about the campaign staffer is true.

“During the final tumultuous years of my abusive marriage, I became involved in a relationship with someone on my campaign,” she told constituents in a letter. “I know that even a consensual relationship with a subordinate is inappropriate, but I still allowed it to happen despite my better judgment.

For that I apologize.”

Hill is now the subject of a House ethics inquiry—I think because of the Graham Kelly allegations. n arostow@aol.com

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>> LUCKIE ALEXANDER <<

JUSTICE FOR GUSTAVO

CA Police Officer Who Beat, Mocked Gay Man Gets $100K A Year

A

California police officer was put on leave earlier this year after he was recorded hitting and berating a gay man. Now, he’s retired and receiving a pension of over a hundred thousand dollars a year, reports LGBTQ Nation.

Gustavo Alvarez filed a federal lawsuit against the Palo Alto Police Department this past April, alleging that several officers—including Sgt. Wayne Benitez— used excessive force when he was pulled over and arrested in February 2018.

The incident happened when Alvarez was being arrested for allegedly driving with a suspended license. Benitez and several other officers broke his door, arrested him, slammed him against a car and made him bleed. Benitez even threatened to make him bleed more if he continued to complain. He believes this happened partly because he is gay, as the officers made several homophobic comments about him during his arrest, reports LGBTQ Nation.

A judge later dropped the charges due to a lack of evidence, and after initially declining to release the video of the attack, Alvarez’s lawyers were able to release it in July of this year.

The arrest was caught on a disturbing video from a camera that Alvarez had set up 1 6 TTHHEE FFIIGH www.thefightmag.com 16 GH TT || www.thefightmag.com

SGT. WAYNE BENITEZ AND SEVERAL OTHER OFFICERS BROKE HIS DOOR, ARRESTED HIM, SLAMMED HIM AGAINST A CAR AND MADE HIM BLEED, WHILE MAKING SEVERAL HOMOPHOBIC COMMENTS. in front of his house. This serves as the only video recording of the incident, as the officers had removed their body cameras and parked their cars facing away from his house to prevent being on tape from their dash cameras.

They still had on mics however, which recorded their homophobic comments,

reports LGBTQ Nation.

Sgt. Benitez was placed on administrative leave by the department, but was still allowed to officially retire after 19 years on the force. He is now receiving a $9,866 monthly pension payout, part of his $118,600 a year retirement package, according to the California Public Employees’ Retirement System.

“Obviously the police department and the city of Palo Alto thus far have failed to step up and condemn the actions of these officers,” Alvarez’s attorney Cody Salfen told Mercury News. “To think that taxpayers are still rewarding him is incomprehensible at this point in time and history.”

“This speaks volumes to our claims that the agency suffers from a culture of violence, a culture of covering things up, a culture of failing to adhere to their constitutional duties as police officers to the point that they are breaking their own policies and therefore, the law,” Salfen said.

Alvarez’s suit also says that Benitez did not file a use of force report, even though he hit and slammed Alvarez against the car windshield.

“It’s disgusting and symptomatic of a department that tolerates its employees breaking the law,” he added.

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>> TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE <<

TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE

Wednesday, November 20. Honoring the memory of people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence.

T

ransgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), is an annual observance on November 20 that honors the memory of the transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence that year.

The observance was founded by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to honor her memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998. The vigil commemorated all the transgender people lost to violence that year and began an important memorial that has become the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Participate in TDOR by attending or organizing a vigil on November 20 to honor all those

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whose lives were lost to anti-transgender violence that year. Vigils are typically hosted by local transgender advocates or LGBTQ organizations, and held at community centers, parks, places of worship and other venues. The vigil often involves reading a list of the names of those who died that year.

This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s TDOR program will take place on Wednesday, November 20 at the Center for Early Education in West Hollywood (563 N. Alfred St. West Hollywood, CA 90048.) There will be a pre-program reception at 6pm with the program starting at 6:30pm.

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BREAKIN THE SILENCE

>> LUCKIE ALEXANDER <<

The HRC/CNN Democratic LGBTQ Town Hall: What I wasn’t hearing

BY LUCKIE ALEXANDER

I

was in attendance last month at the HRC/CNN Democratic LGBTQ Town hall and it was beyond an interesting experience. First I applaud the candidates for agreeing being present in the space.

Initially I thought this was going to be an empowering experience but it wasn’t long before I realized otherwise. As I looked around the theater observing the crowd I had a difficult time seeing myself reflected not only my community of color but also my trans community of color. I expected to see a bit more diversity in the room, instead the majority of the crowd was made up of white gay men. As the program began we were given instructions from the stage manager and the program started.

Sometime during the first couple of candidates, Bamby Salcedo and Maria Roman stormed to the front of the stage with a trans flag shouting “stop killing our girls” and were immediately removed by security.

The way security physically handled them upset quite of few of our trans community members, they began shouting “let go of our elders.” The situation was over quickly. As the program continued on, candidates began

www.thefightmag.com 2 0 T H E F IGH T | www.thefi ghtmag.com

>> LUCKIE ALEXANDER <<

AS A BLACK TRANS MAN I DO MY BEST TO PROTECT AND STAND IN SOLIDARITY FOR AND WITH MY TRANS SISTERS BUT ALL TOO OFTEN WE ARE NOT GIVEN SPACE OR A SEAT AT THE TABLE TO SPEAK. to answer the questions given by audience members I was encouraged by what I heard from them regarding changes in policy and whatnot. I quickly noticed most of the questions were being posed by HRC members, who were family of LGBTQ community members. This really made me pay more attention to what was happening.

It was what I wasn’t hearing and seeing that frustrated me.

The candidates acknowledged the murders of our fallen black trans sisters and what they would do to protect them but there were no black trans women that were given the opportunity to ask questions that would speak directly to their narratives.

While candidate Beto O’Rourke was given a question from a mother of a trans child but before she asked her question she acknowledged and affirmed Bamby and Maria for their actions earlier in the program. At that moment, my trans sister Blossom C. Brown, had the courage to stand and grab a mic to up for our black trans community, not only our black trans sisters but also our trans brothers and our non binary & GNC siblings.

As a black trans man I do my best to protect and stand in solidarity for and with my trans sisters but all too often we are not given space or a seat at the table to speak. I appreciate her courage to take that stand and not forgetting all of us. She said all the things I and probably others were thinking “Black trans women are being killed in this country and CNN, you have erased Black trans women for the last time!”

The moderator Don Lemon had a quick back and forth with her saying “this is exactly why we are here to validate people like you.”

Blossom was not going to just allow him to pacify her so eventually Lemon just allowed her to speak after Beto O’Rourke gave security a signal to back up. Blossom called out CNN saying “Baby, your actions have to speak louder than words, because guess what? Not one Black trans woman has taken the mic tonight. Not one Black trans man has taken the mic tonight!”

She left the theater and returned shortly. After that I was triggered in a way that angered me to leave. She was right—the systematic erasure of the black trans community is very real and even more so for black transmen.

Our community needs to have our space to speak to presidential candidates about the issues in our community because they are unique to us and look very different from LGB issues. We are not going to sit silently waiting to be recognized anymore.

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“IT IS MY SINCERE HOPE THAT THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUES WELL INTO THE FUTURE, PROMOTING ITS CORE VALUES OF SEXUAL FREEDOM, DIVERSITY, AND COMMUNITY.”

PATRICK FINGER

SENSE PURPOSE

Folsom Street Events® Announces Departure Of Executive Director, Patrick Finger

F

BY VICTOR MELAMED

olsom Street Events® (FSE) announced last month the resignation of its Executive Director, Patrick Finger, effective October 2, 2019.

According to Jennifer Schuster, FSE Board President, “Earlier this year, Patrick shared his plans to step down as Executive Director of Folsom Street Events after the conclusion of the 2019 Folsom Street Fair. We are grateful for Patrick’s commitment to serving the organization through our fair season and appreciate the dedication, leadership, and hard work he has contributed over the past decade.” Schuster added, “Patrick will be greatly missed by our Board of Directors, Associates, staff, and volunteers. We want to thank him for his service and wish him the best in his new endeavors.”

Finger previously held the positions of Marketing & Projects Manager and Managing Director before being promoted to Executive Director in early 2018. During his tenure at FSE, Finger secured many strategic sponsorships to support FSE’s events and non-profit fundraising efforts. Finger established promotional relationships with icons Joan Rivers and Clive Barker, and created the organization’s first social media advertising campaign. Finger was the creative mind behind many of the Folsom Street Fair’s most famous promotional 2 2 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com

posters, including the Last Supper-inspired poster. He also relaunched the design and sale of FSE merchandise, turning it into a profit-center for FSE. Notably, Finger also sourced a new, affordable office location for the organization in the increasingly difficult SOMA rental market.

Patrick Finger, outgoing Executive Director, said, “I am proud of the work I have done for the organization over the past ten years. In return, Folsom Street Events has given a great deal back to me—a career, a family, and a strong sense of purpose. It is my sincere hope that the organization continues well into the future, promoting its core values of sexual freedom, diversity, and community.”

The FSE Board of Directors met earlier this summer to address the planned departure and develop a search plan for a new Executive Director, which will begin immediately. Current FSE staff will ensure that the organization’s operations are managed until a new leader is selected. A full job description for the Executive Director role is posted online through www.idealist.org.

The window for submissions will remain open until November 4, 2019, although applicants are encouraged to submit early.

Folsom Street Events® (FSE) is a 501c3 non-profit agency. Its mission is to create world-class leather and fetish events that unite the adult alternative lifestyle communities with safe venues for self-expression.

Through its events, FSE raises critical funds for Bay Area and national charities. In 2018, FSE marked its 35th events season by donating over $250,000 to charity.

For more information, visit www.folsomstreetevents.org.

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LOVECONQUERSALL Palm Springs Pride headliners OneUp Duo on living and working together, pushing each other to be better versions of themselves and love at first sight.

O

neUp Duo is a pop/soul vocal combo comprised of husbands Adam and Jerome Bell-Bastien. The Duo was featured on Season 15 of NBC’s The Voice and made history as the show’s first ever same-sex duo.

Since performing on The Voice, OneUp Duo has traveled extensively across America and headlined various Pride Festivals, sang the National Anthem for the Brooklyn Nets and NY Yankees, and lit up stages as lead singers for “The Disco Nights,” NYC’s premiere disco experience.

OneUp Duo will perform at this month’s Palm Springs Pride Festival on November 3.

In an interview with THE FIGHT the Duo talk about living and working together, pushing each other to be better versions of themselves and love at first sight.

Were you both singers/entertainers before you met?

Adam: We both had full-time careers in music before we met each other. Jerome has been a professional singer since his teens and began his career at the age of 17 as an opening act for Destiny’s Child. I had been singing full-time since 2009—I got my start as a lead vocalist aboard cruise ships.

When, where and how did you meet?

Jerome: We met on September 24, 2017 in Minneapolis, MN. At the time, Adam was singing with a MN-based vocal group and I was cast to be Adam’s love interest in the group’s video for Toxic by Britney Spears. We were residents of NYC at that time which made it seem even more incredible that we met in the middle of the country!

When did you realize you wanted to be together?

Adam: We knew we wanted to be together the instant we met. You know that whole “love at first sight” thing? Well, its very real!

2 4 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com

BY MARK ARIEL | PHOTO BY JOSH DRAKE

“OUR UPCOMING MUSIC VIDEO RELEASE LET ME COME HOME IS AN ATYPICAL HOLIDAY SONG THAT SPEAKS TO THE STRAINED FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS MANY LGBTQ+ PEOPLE EXPERIENCE DURING THE HOLIDAYS.” You live and work together. How has coupledom been for you?

Jerome: It has been inspiring, challenging, beautiful, and rewarding. We constantly push each other to be better versions of ourselves, not only for each other, but for the world around us.

How did the idea for OneUp come about?

Jerome: Our first winter together was spent mostly hibernating in our apartment, playing a LOT of Super Mario Brothers!

When we were thinking of what to name our duo before auditioning for The Voice, “1up” (a free life in Mario Bros.) was ringing loud in our heads. We liked the sound of it and quickly thought of a couple ways to justify the name....Just like getting a free life in the video game, we felt as though we each gained a free new life when we met each other. Sappy?? ...we know lol…

The other thing we like to say is that our voices one-up each other in a positive way.

Our individual ranges, tones, and skills come together to support one another in ways we could have never imagined.

How was your experience on The Voice?

Jerome: It was truly a beautiful experi-

ence. The casting process was a lot of fun and began with a member of the casting team seeing a video we posted on Instagram. One thing led to another and we found ourselves singing together on a stage for the very first time in front of a studio audience, cameras, and four superstars with their backs turned to us!

Even though our time on the show was short, we felt that we gave it our all and that we are still winning in life. The show was a great way for us to be seen, heard, and to share our non-traditional love with America. It also opened doors to amazing performance opportunities which are still unfolding and surprising us!

You are performing at Palm Springs Pride this year—how did that come about?

Jerome: Performing at Palm Springs Pride is a direct result of being contestants on The Voice! We now have an awesome booking agent named Stephen Ford (divasanddjs@gmail.com) who has been booking us at Pride Festivals throughout the country, as well as HRC events. We feel so fortunate to have someone like Stephen who believes in our talent and message of love and positivity.

What are your plans for the future?

Adam: We have so many plans for the future, but the most pertinent plan is our upcoming music video release for our original holiday song. Let Me Come Home is an atypical holiday song that speaks to the strained family relationships many LGBTQ+ people experience and the hurt we feel during the holidays when we desire closeness with family the most.

The song is currently available on all digital platforms, but the video will be released on November 29 and really enhances the hopeful message of the song. We believe that its time for the holiday music genre to embrace real stories about how difficult this time of year can be.

For more on OneUp Duo visit: www.oneupduo.com.

> > C O V E R F E AT U R E < <

NO VEMB ER 2019 | THE F I GH T 25

THESHARE

THIS PAGE IS SPONSORED BY

>> BY PAULO MURILLO <<

ATTITUDE OFGRATITUDE

Three individuals with various lengths of sobriety on why gratitude is important in their recovery.

THE CURE

ROBBY MASON

and reflect on gratitude. My mom was in hospice and I got to be next to her on her death bed. I was able to connect with my creator. I felt power in the room and it’s the same power that I feel today that keeps me sober. If I didn’t have gratitude, I would not have been able to access that power. I’m very grateful for that.”

—Savun Sean, sober since December 18, 2018.

“Addiction is a disease of forgetfulness. If I forget that I had nothing and I was living on the street, then I forget to be grateful for having a home and a bed to sleep in. I try to remain grateful.

For example, I applied for a job that I didn’t get, they hired someone else and I felt funky for weeks. Then I got grateful I have a job.

For the most part, I enjoy my job. Gratitude is important because it brings me back to a centered place.

In recovery we strive to be happy joyous and free.

When I’m constricted by my anger, my resentment and self-loathing, there’s a cure for that. The cure is to be grateful.”

—Robby Mason, sober since August 9, 1999.

ARTURO ORTEGA

SOUL SICKNESS “Gratitude changes the way I feel, the way I think. It acknowledges my Higher Power. When my mom was diagnosed with cancer in 2012, I had very little gratitude. I suffered from soul sickness.

When I had ten days of sobriety, my sponsor told me to go to meetings for 90 days and check in with him every day, and when I woke up, I was to thank my Higher Power for my sobriety. I was to sit and meditate

www.thefightmag.com 2 6 T H E F IGH T | www.thefi ghtmag.com

THAT SPACE

SAVUN SEAN

“Gratitude is one of the main characteristics of my sobriety. I live in gratitude today. I’m grateful for my life, the people around me, my family and being alive. It’s not just about feeling gratitude, but sharing it as well, because you can inspire others to live in gratitude. When I’m not in gratitude, I feel stuck. I’m in another planet. I have my moments. I have many emotions and feelings. I could be depressed, feel alone, or feel resentful, but I know what I need to do to get out of that space and that is to remember to always be grateful.”

—Arturo Ortega, sober since May 15, 2006.

NO VEMB ER 2019 | THE F I GH T 27

>> SCOTTY BOWERS <<

“HIS STORY … FORMS AN ASTONISHING COUNTERNARRATIVE OF HOLLYWOOD AND EXPOSES THE MORES OF THE MOVIE CAPITAL IN A TIME WHEN GAY MEN AND WOMEN WERE FORCED TO BE SEXUAL OUTLAWS.”

SCOTTY BOWERS

ENDOF AN ERA

Scotty Bowers, “Male Madame” to the stars, dies at 96. RIP

S

BY VICTOR MELAMED

cotty Bowers, whose explicit, best-selling 2012 memoir revealed a covert realm of Golden Age Hollywood sexuality, died last month of natural causes at his home in Laurel Canyon, documentary director Matt Tyrnauer told The Hollywood Reporter. He was 96.

The former U.S. Marine and gas station attendant turned erotic fixer to the stars (including, he said, Katharine Hepburn and Rock Hudson) was the subject of an acclaimed 2017 documentary, Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood.

Bowers helped keep the (often queer) secrets of contract players who were bound by morality clauses during the heyday of the studio system. His life as a sex worker, servicing the entertainment industry in the post-World War II period, challenged Hollywood’s baseline-heterosexual conception of itself, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

“His story, which he waited to tell until he was in his late 80s—and for years refused to tell at all—forms an astonishing counter-narrative of Hollywood and exposes the mores of the movie capital in a time when gay men and women were forced to be sexual outlaws 28 8 TTH HEE FFIGH IGHTT || www.thefi www.thefightmag.com 2 ghtmag.com

and were publicly shunned and often persecuted, or at least forced to live double lives,” Tyrnauer, Scotty’s helmer, told The Hollywood Reporter.

“Scotty was a central figure in the gay underground of Hollywood and served as a trusted protector of his friends and associates lives when they had no alternative but to live in the shadows.”

During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter at the time of his documentary’s release, Tyrnauer noted that Bowers’ business was so widespread, he was known, in many ways, as “the mayor of the sexual underground of the city” for decades, a title that he knew was controversial. “It’s interesting and alarming that people have an adverse reaction to hearing about the true lives of people who are important and iconic historic figures in our culture,” he said. “If you straight-wash the biography of Cary Grant, I don’t think you’re doing anyone a service.”

In July 2018, Bowers received a citation from the City of West Hollywood for his role in local LGBTQ history. “It’s been said with a wink that Scotty Bowers helped put the ‘wood’ in Hollywood from the 1940s to the 1980s,” Mayor Pro Tempore John D’Amico, who presented Bowers with the proclamation, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Bowers’ wife died last year. He is survived by his sister, Phyliss. Details regarding a memorial service have yet to be announced.

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>> JOHNSON CHONG <<

Gay author Johnson Chong on how to feel a little more love in the Trump era

M

any in the LGBTQ community have been traumatized by the current political climate, which feels inescapable. International yogi, meditation teacher, and author of the frank and funny new coming out autobiography Sage Sapien: From Karma to Dharma, gay author Johnson Chong offers five things that even a meditation newbie can do to calm the panic feel a little more hope and love on a daily basis.

“Sometimes it can be extremely difficult to understand what is going on in the bigger picture, especially when it seems like the world is falling apart,” says Chong.

“We have the choice to either let our external environment bring us down or to accept it as it is, for better, or for worse.

By ‘accept,’ I don’t mean by succumbing to complacency. Complacency would be resigning to indifference, while acceptance means taking charge of our anger, and turning it into passionate/compassionate action.

Activism and taking a stand is a whole other subject here, but on a more personal level, herewith are my five tips for self-care when dealing with a sense of panic.”

My first piece of advice is to give yourself full permission to feel everything that you are feeling.

Without honoring the truth of our how emotional or not emotional we are, we create a fracture in ourselves, and perpetuate the okay-ness of not feeling whole.

Panic is an intense mutation of fear where our heart might race, we may shake and tremble, sweat and even feel like we are losing our minds. We need to have a dialogue with our emotions, like we need to dialogue with an angry child who is throwing a temper tantrum. Fear and anger happen when we there are two conflicting

3 0 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com

BY ANDY REYNOLDS | PHOTO BY CHAD WAGNER

needs that are having trouble getting met.

So in the same way, when an angry child will simmer down after he accepts that he will not get a popsicle for lunch, our fear can dial down so we can meet that fear halfway and understand why we fear what we fear. Understanding is key to softening out of heightened states of emotion, and that cannot happen if we don’t give ourselves permission to feel our rawness.

Take your feelings and turn them into conscious art.

Whether you want to dance it away, write it away, bake, body build or create a performance art piece, it is all up to you. Fear is an emotion.

Animals experience fear, and then choose fight or flight. The same physiological responses happen in human bodies. If fear doesn’t go down the path of fight or flight, then it crashes our entire system. Think of

it as purposefully repurposing your pain.

Download Insight Timer, and try their free meditations.

There are also many amazing teachers who have also put up free meditations for download. You can search by type, length, and even themes that resonate with you your current mental/ emotional state. Even if you’re extremely busy, download the meditation and play it while you’re on the subway.

Get a slow deep relaxing massage.

A monthly massage, if not bi-weekly, is a great self-care routine to take care of your muscles, calm the nervous system, and to soothe the emotions.

Take the weekend off and go on retreat.

Whether it’s yoga, meditation or writing, retreats are designed so that you can take the time out to pause and recalibrate. You get a moment to breathe and connect to nature, and reflect on what it is you really want, instead of worrying about the things that you cannot control. If you don’t have the means to get to a retreat, go to your state park with a bunch of friends, leave the phones in the car, take a long walk, and have deep, meaningful conversations over a campfire or picnic. Or just find a comfortable spot in your city park, unplug and watch the clouds or stare at the fountain. It’s all about removing yourself from the daily grind, and remembering what is truly important in life.

Sage Sapien: From Karma to Dharma, by Johnson Chong is available now from Koehler Books on Amazon. For more about Johnson Chong please visit www.johnsonchong.com.

> > C O V E R F E AT U R E < <

NO VEMB ER 2019 | THE F I GH T 31

>> DORIAN WOOD <<

SUBLIME BEAUTY and PAIN

DORIAN WOOD

Dorian Wood’s Xavela Lux Aeterna, a riveting personal tribute with songs made popular by Chavela Vargas.

C

oinciding with the centenary of Chavela Vargas, the unforgettable voice of La Llorona, Los Angeles-based artist Dorian Wood honors Chavela with Xavela Lux Aeterna, a riveting personal tribute with songs made popular by Chavela, original compositions and folk music from Costa Rica.

Accompanied by an exquisite string quartet under the direction of Spanish artist Alberto Montero, Xavela Lux Aeterna is both a tribute and a dialogue between two creative souls passing through one body.

With Xavela Lux Aeterna, Wood’s distinctly powerful voice explores Chavela’s “whys” with great respect and reverence, and they invite the audience at REDCAT to join them

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XAVELA LUX AETERNA MUSIC U.S. PREMIERE

Coinciding with the centenary of Chavela Vargas, the unforgettable voice of La Llorona, Los Angelesbased artist Dorian Wood honors Chavela with a riveting personal tribute of songs made popular

by Chavela, original compositions and folk music from Costa Rica.

REDCAT.org 213.237.2800

32 2 TTH HEE FFIGH IGHTT || www.thefightmag.com www.thefightmag.com 3

Tickets can be purchased at www.REDCAT.org—or by calling the REDCAT box office at 213-237-2800.

“Armed with a vocal charisma that would befit a preacher and an experimental streak that would make avant-gardists swoon.”

— W N YC

TICKETS: $18 – $22

in this exploration. Xavela Lux Aeterna is a deeply personal project and a unique tribute to a legend, by one of today’s most important artists.

According to the Los Angeles Times Wood is a “performer, who bends genres as much as [they] bend gender, in performances that are a little bit torch song and a lot avant-garde, delivers vocals that offer sublime beauty and pain.”

Xavela Lux Aeterna premieres at the REDCAT, CalArts’ downtown Los Angeles center for innovative visual, media and performing arts, on Nov. 22-23, at 8:30pm.

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“TOILET PAPER DESTROYS 27,000 TREES EVERY DAY.

BY REPLACING PAPER WITH A BIDET, WE’RE CUTTING THIS NUMBER DOWN AND KEEPING MORE TREES IN THE GROUND.”

SAVING PLANET

Never leave home without it. Big Gay Bidet Introduces the Portable Bidet.

B

BY ORLY LYONNE

ig Gay Bidet is introducing the latest gadget craze: the portable travel bidet. The Bio Bidet TP-200 Portable Travel Bidet is the must-have travel accessory to keep fresh and clean while on the go.

It does not require batteries and is instead chargeable through a USB cable that plugs into any computer, wall outlet; even a car! A convenient carrying case is also included. Not only is the portable travel bidet more efficient and hygienic than tissue paper, it is also more environmentally friendly.

“There’s so much waste in our waste,” says company co-founder Lars Kleinstein. “Toilet paper destroys 27,000 trees every day. By replacing paper with a bidet, we’re cutting this number down and keeping more trees in the ground.” The Bio Bidet TP-200 Portable Travel Bidet is available now, along with a large collection of standard home models, at biggaybidet.com.

The idea for Big Gay Bidet was launched earlier this year when Kleinstein and business partner Rick Tiner were turned on to the positive environmental aspects and health benefits 36 6 TTH HEE FFIGH IGHTT || www.thefightmag.com www.thefightmag.com 3

associated with a bidet. Neither had a background in the toilet industry. Rick Tiner has spent most of his career in customer service and IT related jobs; Lars Kleinstein is a wardrobe dresser on Broadway. Both were drawn to the comedy behind owning a toilet shop, as well as the opportunity the store offered to work with products that promoted sustainability and helped save the planet.

It was Kleinstein’s decision to name the company Big Gay Bidet because he is betting the LGBTQ community in America will be among the first to jump on the bidet bandwagon. “Bidets contribute to the happier and healthier lifestyle the LGBTQ community seeks,” he says.

Long in use in Europe and Japan, bidets are becoming more popular in American homes, but what exactly do they do? Bidets wash the anus and/or genitals by spraying water to remove unwanted waste. Think of it this way: a toilet is used to capture waste.

A bidet is used to help remove feces after elimination or in aiding hygiene.

Today’s home bidets are built-in to a toilet or toilet seat, and some models even warm the body, dry afterward, and perform other functions. They can be a substantial investment but most bidet owners agree it’s a worthy one.

“That’s what makes the portable bidet the perfect gift,” exclaims Kleinstein. “It’s much lower in cost yet offers many of the important benefits of the full-sized home model.

“We love the portables because they have made converts of tissue paper users and convinced many to upgrade to the fullsized home model,” he adds.

For more information visit www.biggaybidet.com.

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WWE SIGNS JAKE ATLAS World Wrestling Entertainment gets its first openly gay wrestler.

O

ne of the most prolific out gay pro wrestlers going today, Jake Atlas, appears to be ready for the big time, reports outsports.com.

According to multiple reports, the purveyor of the LGB-DDT has signed a developmental contract with WWE. Last Word On Pro Wrestling issued the initial report, with So Cal Uncensored further reporting that Atlas is scheduled to join the global wrestling juggernautâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance center in January 2020.

Atlasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; signing comes after a relatively short but impactful career on the U.S. independent scene, reports outsports.com.

He spun his 2017 Southern California Rookie of the Year award into multiple championships and stellar performances for high profile indie promotions like Pro Wrestling Guerilla and Defy Wrestling.

That award is also closely tied to his status within the LGBTQ pro wrestling community. Atlas came out as gay shortly after winning the award, beginning his role as a LGBTQ role model and ambassador for inclusion within the industry. He wrestled matches for the LGBTQ-focused promotion A Matter Of Pride and LGBTQ-friendly RISE. n

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THEART >>

LGBTQ ARTISTS

<<

CRYSTAL VIELULA

A

queer San Francisco based artist and art educator Crystal Vielula as selected as a MUNI artist in 2019. Vielula has been involved as a muralist with Clarion Alley Mural Project for over 10 years and her current LGBTQ Pride mural is one of the most photographed in the city. Recently her work has been profiled in the San Francisco Chronicle and on KQED Arts and Broke Ass Stewart. She works with a variety of mediums including but not limited to collage, painting, pen and ink, acrylic, textiles and is presently diving into the world of experimental film and performance. n Instagram @crystalvielula Website: www.crystalvielula.com.

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THEEVENT >> DAVID CONTRERAS, PRIMALE PHOTOGRAPHY <<

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>> ONYX SOUTHWEST <<

The Men of ONYX and Pearls celebrated Blackout 24, the Men of ONYX’s twenty-fouryear anniversary leather run from October 10–13 at the Hilton Glendale. ONYX men and women from all nine chapters (Chicago, Atlanta, New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Cleveland/Detroit, San Francisco, Dallas and Fort Lauderdale) were in attendance for this national event hosted by ONYX Southwest. The weekend included a bar crawl with stops at Eagle LA and Bullet Bar, a dance at the legendary Jewel’s Catch One, education sessions at the Hilton, a play party at Sanctuary Studios LAX, an Annual General Meeting/Brotherhood Fellowship brunch at Legacy Ballroom and so much more. The culmination of the four days ended with a beer bust hosted by ONYX Southwest at their home bar Eagle LA. For more information about ONYX Southwest visit www.onyxsw.com or the Men of ONYX at www.onyxmen.com.

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THEEVENT >> PHOTOS BY BENNO, MIGUEL ANGEL REYES & ROBERT GREEN <<

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>> TOM OF FINLAND <<

The 24th annual Tom Of Finland Art And Culture Festival took place last month at the TOM House in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. Nearly 700 people came through the gates to view the works of over 40 artists throughout the weekend. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s theme was OUR Community Standards, focusing on the rash of censorship that has been being experienced by artists, especially Queer artists. For more information about the work of Tom of Finland Foundation visit www.tomoffinlandfoundation.org.

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THECALENDAR >> THINGS TO DO << MR. SISTER LEATHER CUMS AGAIN CONTEST 9PM–2AM

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1

PALM SPRINGS PRIDE

Eagle LA, 4219 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA. The Mr. Sister Leather 2020 Contest. Hosted by Saint Bernard and Sister Unity. $8 Suggested donation benefiting Sisters Charities and a silent auction with items of unspeakable values.

Arenas Rd and Palm Canyon Drive, Though Sunday, November 3.

The wildly popular festival returns with a multitude of performers and events. For more info visit: www.pspride.org.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4

QUEER BOOK CLUB WITH CB LEE 7:30PM–9PM

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22

TRANS*SPECTRUM-A SPACE FOR NEURODIVERSE TRANS/ GNC/ENBY FOLKS 7PM–8:30PM

DORIAN WOOD IN XAVELA LUX AETERNA 8:30PM

QUEER CRUSH 7PM–9PM

The Last Bookstore, 453 S Springs St, Los Angeles, CA. Led by Lambda finalist CB Lee, read & discuss Queer authors, books and topics across genres (mostly fiction). If you’re tired of book clubs that don’t actually talk about the book, then you just found what you’re looking for.

LA Boulders, 1375 E 6th St, Ste 8, Los Angeles, CA. Join QUEER CRUSH and meet incredible LGBTQ+ folx in the Touchstone Community. The goal is to create a safe space in which queer, trans, genderfluid and nonbinary climbers can crush climb and make friends.

REDCAT, Walt Disney Concert Hall, 631 W 2nd St, Los Angeles. Runs through Saturday, November 23.

Dorian Wood’s riveting personal tribute with songs made popular

by Chavela Vargas. Tickets can be purchased at www.REDCAT.org—or by calling the REDCAT box office at 213-237-2800.

Los Angeles LGBT Center, 1125 N McCadden Pl, Los Angeles, CA. The Trans*Lounge would like to invite all those who identify as Trans/GNC/ENBY and also as neurodiverse to a unique new MONTHLY (1st Tuesday of each month) discussion group specifically for those on the spectrum.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26

11TH ANNUAL JOB FAIR FOR TRANS, NON-BINARY, AND INTERSEX PEOPLE 9AM–3PM

Transgender Economic Empowerment Project, 1220 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA. Local community partners, Trans Can Work, SoCal JVC-WeHo Works and HRC will be joining the Transgender Economic Empowerment Project in the movement to brining our communities to the doors of economic equity.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9

BEARRACUDA LA: GLOW UP 9PM-2AM

TRUEVOICE (TRANS* FEMININE EDITION)—USING MUSICAL TECHNIQUE TO ATTAIN YOUR TRUE VOCAL RANGE 12PM–4PM Los Angeles LGBT Center, 1125 N McCadden Pl, Los Angeles, CA. Free and cultivate your feminine voice, without strain of affectation.

Join vocal coach Ryland Shelton for this an in-depth, two-day workshop.

DISCO DADDY DOES LA 9PM

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10

MR & MRS PRECINCT LEATHER 2020 3PM–9PM

Precinct DTLA, 367 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA. Jeremy Lucido Events Pressents: the Mr & Mrs Precinct Leather Contest 2020. Music by DJ Foxyelectro.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16

Akbar, 4356 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA. With DJ bus Station John (The Tubesteak Connection/SF) and special floor warmer Mike ETC. Hosted by Marc Sanchez/Door:Polly Schumacher. $7 all night.

DILF “DO ME HARDER” LOS ANGELES 10PM

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.

Precinct DTLA, 2357 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA. Get on your UV, neon and glow in the dark clothes and GLOW UP with Bearracuda. Music by DJ Mateo Segade, Hosted by Matt Bearracuda and Glen Allen.

The Resources

LAMBDA LIT BOOK CLUB 7PM

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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Los Globos, 3040 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA. Dudes, Daddies, Discreet, Don’t Know…DILF is for ALL MEN. Presented by Joe Whitaker.

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.

West Hollywood Library, 625 N San Vicente Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069.

The Lambda Literary Book Club meets the last Tuesday of each month (except December) in the Community Meeting Room at West Hollywood Library and highlights a heady mix of LGBT classics, unheralded gems, and new releases. November’s selection is Less: A Memoir

by Andrew Sean Green, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (2018).

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30

GRUNT FT. HONEY SOUNDSYSTEM 9PM

Eagle LA, 4219 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA. Justin David Presents: GRUNT. Featuring the sweet cosmic sounds of Chris Bowen (Bears in Space) and Bezier (Honey Soundsystem). 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.

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LENNIE ROMAN GENERAL MANAGER

“As the new general manager of NEW CENTURY HONDA GLENDALE, I would like to extend a very warm welcome to my brothers and sisters in the LGBTQ community. If you’re in the market for a new car but dread the hassle of the typical macho “hard sell” sales approach—please consider us.

We will help you find the car of your dreams within your budget.”

—Lennie Roman, GM, New Century Honda Glendale

JOSE NAVARRO INTERNET SALES

TONY LOPEZ GENERAL SALES MANAGER

Call: 833-707-2506 NEW CENTURY HONDA GLENDALE 1235 S Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91204 www.newcenturyhonda.com 4 8 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com