THE FIGHT LA'S LGBT MONTHLY MAGAZINE MARCH 2014

ABOUT PREZISTA

®

PREZISTA® is always taken with and at the same time as ritonavir (Norvir ®), in combination with other HIV medicines for the treatment of HIV infection in adults. PREZISTA® should also be taken with food.

• The use of other medicines active against HIV in combination with PREZISTA®/ritonavir (Norvir ®) may increase your ability to fight HIV. Your healthcare professional will work with you to find the right combination of HIV medicines • It is important that you remain under the care of your healthcare professional during treatment with PREZISTA® PREZISTA® does not cure HIV infection or AIDS and you may continue to experience illnesses associated with HIV-1 infection, including opportunistic infections. You should remain under the care of a doctor when using PREZISTA.® Please read Important Safety Information below, and talk to your healthcare professional to learn if PREZISTA® is right for you.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION What is the most important information I should know about PREZISTA®?

• PREZISTA® can interact with other medicines and cause serious side effects. See “Who should not take PREZISTA®?”

• PREZISTA® may cause liver problems. Some people taking PREZISTA,® together with Norvir ® (ritonavir), have developed liver problems which may be life-threatening. Your healthcare professional should do blood tests before and during your combination treatment with PREZISTA.® If you have chronic hepatitis B or C infection, your healthcare professional should check your blood tests more often because you have an increased chance of developing liver problems • Tell your healthcare professional if you have any of these signs and symptoms of liver problems: dark (tea-colored) urine, yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes, pale-colored stools (bowel movements), nausea, vomiting, pain or tenderness on your right side below your ribs, or loss of appetite • PREZISTA® may cause a severe or life-threatening skin reaction or rash. Sometimes these skin reactions and skin rashes can become severe and require treatment in a hospital. You should call your healthcare professional immediately if you develop a rash.

However, stop taking PREZISTA® and ritonavir combination treatment and call your healthcare professional immediately if you develop any skin changes with these symptoms: fever, tiredness, muscle or joint pain, blisters or skin lesions, mouth sores or ulcers, red or inflamed eyes, like “pink eye.” Rash occurred more often in patients taking PREZISTA® and raltegravir together than with either drug separately, but was generally mild Who should not take PREZISTA®?

• Do not take PREZISTA® if you are taking the following medicines: alfuzosin (Uroxatral®), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E.45,® Embolex,® Migranal®), ergonovine, ergotamine (Cafergot,® Ergomar ®), methylergonovine, cisapride (Propulsid®), pimozide (Orap®), oral midazolam, triazolam (Halcion®), the herbal supplement St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), lovastatin (Mevacor,® Altoprev,® Advicor ®), simvastatin (Zocor,® Simcor,® Vytorin®), rifampin (Rifadin,® Rifater,®

Rifamate,® Rimactane®), sildenafil (Revatio®) when used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension, indinavir (Crixivan®), lopinavir/ ritonavir (Kaletra®), saquinavir (Invirase®), boceprevir (Victrelis™), or telaprevir (Incivek™) • Before taking PREZISTA,® tell your healthcare professional if you are taking sildenafil (Viagra,® Revatio®), vardenafil (Levitra,® Staxyn®), tadalafil (Cialis,® Adcirca®), atorvastatin (Lipitor ®), rosuvastatin (Crestor ®), pravastatin (Pravachol®), or colchicine (Colcrys,® Col-Probenecid®). Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking estrogen-based contraceptives (birth control). PREZISTA® might reduce the effectiveness of estrogen-based contraceptives. You must take additional precautions for birth control, such as condoms This is not a complete list of medicines. Be sure to tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you are taking or plan to take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

What should I tell my doctor before I take PREZISTA®?

• Before taking PREZISTA,® tell your healthcare professional if you have any medical conditions, including liver problems (including hepatitis B or C), allergy to sulfa medicines, diabetes, or hemophilia • Tell your healthcare professional if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding — The effects of PREZISTA® on pregnant women or their unborn babies are not known. You and your healthcare professional will need to decide if taking PREZISTA® is right for you — Do not breastfeed. It is not known if PREZISTA® can be passed to your baby in your breast milk and whether it could harm your baby. Also, mothers with HIV should not breastfeed because HIV can be passed to your baby in the breast milk What are the possible side effects of PREZISTA®?

• High blood sugar, diabetes or worsening of diabetes, and increased bleeding in people with hemophilia have been reported in patients taking protease inhibitor medicines, including PREZISTA® • Changes in body fat have been seen in some patients taking HIV medicines, including PREZISTA.® The cause and long-term health effects of these conditions are not known at this time • Changes in your immune system can happen when you start taking HIV medicines. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that have been hidden • The most common side effects related to taking PREZISTA® include diarrhea, nausea, rash, headache, stomach pain, and vomiting. This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. If you experience these or other side effects, talk to your healthcare professional. Do not stop taking PREZISTA® or any other medicines without first talking to your healthcare professional You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please refer to the ritonavir (Norvir ®) Product Information (PI and PPI) for additional information on precautionary measures.

Please read accompanying Patient Information for PREZISTA® and discuss any questions you have with your doctor.

28PRZDTC0288R8

PREZISTA® (darunavir) is a prescription medicine. It is one treatment option in the class of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) medicines known as protease inhibitors.

ily Once-Da

Once-Daily PREZISTA® (darunavir) taken with ritonavir and in combination with other HIV medications can help lower your viral load and keep your HIV under control.

The PREZISTA® Experience isn’t just an HIV treatment.

It’s an HIV treatment experience as unique as you.

Find out if the PREZISTA® Experience is right for you.

Ask your healthcare professional and learn more at PREZISTA.com

Snap a quick pic of our logo to show your doctor and get the conversation started.

Please read the Important Safety Information and Patient Information on adjacent pages.

Janssen Therapeutics, Division of Janssen Products, LP © Janssen Therapeutics, Division of Janssen Products, LP 2014 01/14 006960-131202

IMPORTANT PATIENT INFORMATION PREZISTA (pre-ZIS-ta) (darunavir) Oral Suspension PREZISTA (pre-ZIS-ta) (darunavir) Tablets Read this Patient Information before you start taking PREZISTA and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about your medical condition or your treatment.

Also read the Patient Information leaflet for NORVIR® (ritonavir).

What is the most important information I should know about PREZISTA? • PREZISTA can interact with other medicines and cause serious side effects. It is important to know the medicines that should not be taken with PREZISTA. See the section “Who should not take PREZISTA?” • PREZISTA may cause liver problems. Some people taking PREZISTA in combination with NORVIR® (ritonavir) have developed liver problems which may be life-threatening. Your healthcare provider should do blood tests before and during your combination treatment with PREZISTA. If you have chronic hepatitis B or C infection, your healthcare provider should check your blood tests more often because you have an increased chance of developing liver problems.

• Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the below signs and symptoms of liver problems.

• Dark (tea colored) urine • yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes • pale colored stools (bowel movements) • nausea • vomiting • pain or tenderness on your right side below your ribs • loss of appetite PREZISTA may cause severe or life-threatening skin reactions or rash.

Sometimes these skin reactions and skin rashes can become severe and require treatment in a hospital. You should call your healthcare provider immediately if you develop a rash. However, stop taking PREZISTA and ritonavir combination treatment and call your healthcare provider immediately if you develop any skin changes with symptoms below: • fever • tiredness • muscle or joint pain • blisters or skin lesions • mouth sores or ulcers • red or inflamed eyes, like “pink eye” (conjunctivitis) Rash occurred more often in people taking PREZISTA and raltegravir together than with either drug separately, but was generally mild.

See “What are the possible side effects of PREZISTA?” for more information about side effects.

What is PREZISTA? PREZISTA is a prescription anti-HIV medicine used with ritonavir and other anti-HIV medicines to treat adults with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection. PREZISTA is a type of anti-HIV medicine called a protease inhibitor. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).

When used with other HIV medicines, PREZISTA may help to reduce the amount of HIV in your blood (called “viral load”). PREZISTA may also help to increase the number of white blood cells called CD4 (T) cell which help fight off other infections. Reducing the amount of HIV and increasing the CD4 (T) cell count may improve your immune system.

This may reduce your risk of death or infections that can happen when your immune system is weak (opportunistic infections).

PREZISTA does not cure HIV infection or AIDS and you may continue to experience illnesses associated with HIV-1 infection, including opportunistic infections. You should remain under the care of a doctor when using PREZISTA. Avoid doing things that can spread HIV-1 infection.

• Do not share needles or other injection equipment.

• Do not share personal items that can have blood or body fluids on them, like toothbrushes and razor blades.

• D o not have any kind of sex without protection. Always practice safe sex by using a latex or polyurethane condom to lower the chance of sexual contact with semen, vaginal secretions, or blood.

Ask your healthcare provider if you have any questions on how to prevent passing HIV to other people.

Who should not take PREZISTA? Do not take PREZISTA with any of the following medicines: • alfuzosin (Uroxatral®) • dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45®, Embolex®, Migranal®), ergonovine, ergotamine (Cafergot®, Ergomar®) methylergonovine • cisapride • pimozide (Orap®) • oral midazolam, triazolam (Halcion®) • the herbal supplement St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) • the cholesterol lowering medicines lovastatin (Mevacor®, Altoprev®, Advicor®) or simvastatin (Zocor®, Simcor®, Vytorin®) • rifampin (Rifadin®, Rifater®, Rifamate®, Rimactane®) • sildenafil (Revatio®) only when used for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Serious problems can happen if you take any of these medicines with PREZISTA. What should I tell my doctor before I take PREZISTA? PREZISTA may not be right for you. Before taking PREZISTA, tell your healthcare provider if you: • have liver problems, including hepatitis B or hepatitis C • are allergic to sulfa medicines • have high blood sugar (diabetes) • have hemophilia • are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It is not known if PREZISTA will harm your unborn baby.

Pregnancy Registry: You and your healthcare provider will need to decide if taking PREZISTA is right for you. If you take PREZISTA while you are pregnant, talk to your healthcare provider about how you can be included in the Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry. The purpose of the registry is follow the health of you and your baby.

• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. We do not know if PREZISTA can be passed to your baby in your breast milk and whether it could harm your baby. Also, mothers with HIV-1 should not breastfeed because HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in the breast milk.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Using PREZISTA and certain other medicines may affect each other causing serious side effects. PREZISTA may affect the way other medicines work and other medicines may affect how PREZISTA works.

Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take: • other medicine to treat HIV • estrogen-based contraceptives (birth control). PREZISTA might reduce the effectiveness of estrogen-based contraceptives. You must take additional precautions for birth control such as a condom.

• medicine for your heart such as bepridil, lidocaine (Xylocaine Viscous®), quinidine (Nuedexta®), amiodarone (Pacerone®, Cardarone®), digoxin (Lanoxin®), flecainide (Tambocor®), propafenone (Rythmol®) • warfarin (Coumadin®, Jantoven®) • medicine for seizures such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol®, Equetro®, Tegretol®, Epitol®), phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin®, Phenytek®) • medicine for depression such as trazadone and desipramine (Norpramin®) • clarithromycin (Prevpac®, Biaxin®) • medicine for fungal infections such as ketoconazole (Nizoral®), itraconazole (Sporanox®, Onmel®), voriconazole (VFend®) • colchicine (Colcrys®, Col-Probenecid®) • rifabutin (Mycobutin®) • medicine used to treat blood pressure, a heart attack, heart failure, or to lower pressure in the eye such as metoprolol (Lopressor®, Toprol-XL®), timolol (Cosopt®, Betimol®, Timoptic®, Isatolol®, Combigan®) • midazolam administered by injection • medicine for heart disease such as felodipine (Plendil®), nifedipine (Procardia®, Adalat CC®, Afeditab CR®), nicardipine (Cardene®) • steroids such as dexamethasone, fluticasone (Advair Diskus®, Veramyst®, Flovent®, Flonase®) • bosentan (Tracleer®) • medicine to treat chronic hepatitis C such as boceprevir (VictrelisTM), telaprevir (IncivekTM)

IMPORTANT PATIENT INFORMATION t N FEJDJOF GPS DIPMFTUFSPM TVDI BT QSBWBTUBUJO 1SBWBDIPMÂŽ), atorvastatin (LipitorÂŽ), rosuvastatin (CrestorÂŽ) t NFEJDJOF UP QSFWFOU PSHBO USBOTQMBOU GBJMVSF TVDI BT DZDMPTQPSJOF (GengrafÂŽ, SandimmuneÂŽ, NeoralÂŽ), tacrolimus (PrografÂŽ), sirolimus (RapamuneÂŽ) t TBMNFUFSPM "EWBJSÂŽ, SereventÂŽ) t NFEJDJOF GPS OBSDPUJD XJUIESBXBM TVDI BT NFUIBEPOF .FUIBEPTFÂŽ, %PMPQIJOF )ZESPDIMPSJEF CVQSFOPSQIJOF #VUSBOTÂŽ, BuprenexÂŽ, SubutexÂŽ), buprenorphine/naloxone (SuboxoneÂŽ) t NFEJDJOF UP USFBU TDIJ[PQISFOJB TVDI BT SJTQFSJEPOF 3JTQFSEBMÂŽ), thioridazine t NFEJDJOF UP USFBU FSFDUJMF EZTGVODUJPO PS QVMNPOBSZ IZQFSUFOTJPO such as sildenafil (ViagraÂŽ, RevatioÂŽ), vardenafil (LevitraÂŽ, StaxynÂŽ), tadalafil (CialisÂŽ, AdcircaÂŽ) t NFEJDJOF UP USFBU BOYJFUZ EFQSFTTJPO PS QBOJD EJTPSEFS TVDI BT sertraline (ZoloftÂŽ), paroxetine (PaxilÂŽ, PexevaÂŽ) t medicine to treat malaria such as artemether/lumefantrine (CoartemÂŽ) This is not a complete list of medicines that you should tell your healthcare provider that you are taking. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if your medicine is one that is listed above. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your EPDUPS PS QIBSNBDJTU XIFO ZPV HFU B OFX NFEJDJOF %P OPU TUBSU BOZ new medicines while you are taking PREZISTA without first talking with your healthcare provider.

How should I take PREZISTA? t 5BLF 13&;*45" FWFSZ EBZ FYBDUMZ BT QSFTDSJCFE CZ ZPVS IFBMUIDBSF provider. t :PV NVTU UBLF SJUPOBWJS /037*3ÂŽ) at the same time as PREZISTA. t %P OPU DIBOHF ZPVS EPTF PG 13&;*45" PS TUPQ USFBUNFOU XJUIPVU talking to your healthcare provider first. t 5BLF 13&;*45" BOE SJUPOBWJS /037*3ÂŽ) with food. t 4XBMMPX 13&;*45" UBCMFUT XIPMF XJUI B ESJOL *G ZPV IBWF EJGGJDVMUZ swallowing PREZISTA tablets, PREZISTA oral suspension is also available. Your health care provider will help decide whether PREZISTA tablets or oral suspension is right for you. t 13&;*45" PSBM TVTQFOTJPO TIPVME CF HJWFO XJUI UIF TVQQMJFE PSBM dosing syringe. Shake the suspension well before each use. See the Instructions for Use that come with PREZISTA oral suspension for information about the right way to prepare and take a dose. t *G ZPVS QSFTDSJCFE EPTF PG 13&;*45" PSBM TVTQFOTJPO JT NPSF UIBO 6 mL, you will need to divide the dose. Follow the instructions given to you by your healthcare provider or pharmacist about how to divide the dose. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure. t *G ZPV UBLF UPP NVDI 13&;*45" DBMM ZPVS IFBMUIDBSF QSPWJEFS PS HP to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

People who take PREZISTA one time a day: t *G ZPV NJTT B EPTF PG 13&;*45" CZ MFTT UIBO IPVST UBLF ZPVS missed dose of PREZISTA right away. Then take your next dose of PREZISTA at your regularly scheduled time. t *G ZPV NJTT B EPTF PG 13&;*45" CZ NPSF UIBO IPVST XBJU BOE UIFO take the next dose of PREZISTA at your regularly scheduled time.

People who take PREZISTA two times a day t *G ZPV NJTT B EPTF PG 13&;*45" CZ MFTT UIBO IPVST UBLF ZPVS missed dose of PREZISTA right away. Then take your next dose of PREZISTA at your regularly scheduled time. t *G ZPV NJTT B EPTF PG 13&;*45" CZ NPSF UIBO IPVST XBJU BOE UIFO take the next dose of PREZISTA at your regularly scheduled time. *G B EPTF PG 13&;*45" JT TLJQQFE EP OPU EPVCMF UIF OFYU EPTF %P OPU UBLF more or less than your prescribed dose of PREZISTA at any one time.

What are the possible side effects of PREZISTA? PREZISTA can cause side effects including: t 4FF “What is the most important information I should know about PREZISTA?� t %JBCFUFT BOE IJHI CMPPE TVHBS IZQFSHMZDFNJB Some people who take protease inhibitors including PREZISTA can get high blood sugar, develop diabetes, or your diabetes can get worse. Tell your healthcare provider if you notice an increase in thirst or urinate often while taking PREZISTA. t Changes in body fat. These changes can happen in people who take antiretroviral therapy. The changes may include an increased BNPVOU PG GBU JO UIF VQQFS CBDL BOE OFDL iCVGGBMP IVNQw CSFBTU and around the back, chest, and stomach area. Loss of fat from the legs, arms, and face may also happen. The exact cause and longterm health effects of these conditions are not known.

t Changes in your immune system (Immune Reconstitution Syndrome) can happen when you start taking HIV medicines. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that have been hidden in your body for a long time. Call your healthcare provider right away if you start having new symptoms after starting your HIV medicine. t Increased bleeding for hemophiliacs. Some people with hemophilia have increased bleeding with protease inhibitors including PREZISTA. The most common side effects of PREZISTA include: t EJBSSIFB t IFBEBDIF t OBVTFB t BCEPNJOBM QBJO t SBTI t WPNJUJOH Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all of the possible side effects of PREZISTA. For more information, ask your health care provider.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report TJEF FGGFDUT UP UIF '%" BU '%" How should I store PREZISTA? t 4UPSF 13&;*45" PSBM TVTQFOTJPO BOE UBCMFUT BU SPPN UFNQFSBUVSF < ÂĄ' ÂĄ$ > t %P OPU SFGSJHFSBUF PS GSFF[F 13&;*45" PSBM TVTQFOTJPO t ,FFQ 13&;*45" BXBZ GSPN IJHI IFBU t 13&;*45" PSBM TVTQFOTJPO TIPVME CF TUPSFE JO UIF PSJHJOBM DPOUBJOFS Keep PREZISTA and all medicines out of the reach of children.

General information about PREZISTA Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those MJTUFE JO B 1BUJFOU *OGPSNBUJPO MFBGMFU %P OPU VTF 13&;*45" GPS B DPOEJUJPO GPS XIJDI JU XBT OPU QSFTDSJCFE %P OPU HJWF 13&;*45" UP other people even if they have the same condition you have. It may harm them.

This leaflet summarizes the most important information about PREZISTA. If you would like more information, talk to your healthcare provider. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about PREZISTA that is written for health professionals.

'PS NPSF JOGPSNBUJPO DBMM What are the ingredients in PREZISTA? Active ingredient: darunavir Inactive ingredients: PREZISTA Oral Suspension: hydroxypropyl cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, methylparaben sodium, citric acid monohydrate, sucralose, masking flavor, strawberry cream flavor, IZESPDIMPSJD BDJE GPS Q) BEKVTUNFOU QVSJGJFE XBUFS PREZISTA 75 mg and 150 mg Tablets: colloidal silicon dioxide, crospovidone, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose. The film DPBUJOH DPOUBJOT 01"%3:ÂŽ 8IJUF QPMZFUIZMFOF HMZDPM QPMZWJOZM alcohol-partially hydrolyzed, talc, titanium dioxide).

PREZISTA 400 mg and 600 mg Tablets: colloidal silicon dioxide, crospovidone, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose. The film DPBUJOH DPOUBJOT 01"%3:Ž 0SBOHF '% $ :FMMPX /P ø QPMZFUIZMFOF HMZDPM QPMZWJOZM BMDPIPM QBSUJBMMZ IZESPMZ[FE UBMD UJUBOJVN EJPYJEF

PREZISTA 800 mg Tablets: colloidal silicon dioxide, crospovidone, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, hypromellose. The film DPBUJOH DPOUBJOT 01"%3:ÂŽ %BSL 3FE JSPO PYJEF SFE QPMZFUIZMFOF HMZDPM QPMZWJOZM BMDPIPM QBSUJBMMZ IZESPMZ[FE UBMD UJUBOJVN EJPYJEF

5IJT 1BUJFOU *OGPSNBUJPO IBT CFFO BQQSPWFE CZ UIF 6 4 'PPE BOE %SVH Administration.

Product of Ireland Manufactured by: PREZISTA Oral Suspension PREZISTA Tablets Janssen Pharmaceutica, N.V. Janssen Ortho LLC, #FFSTF #FMHJVN (VSBCP 13 Manufactured for: +BOTTFO 5IFSBQFVUJDT %JWJTJPO PG +BOTTFO 1SPEVDUT -1 5JUVTWJMMF /+ 3FWJTFE %FDFNCFS NORVIRÂŽ is a registered trademark of its respective owner.

PREZISTAÂŽ is a registered trademark of Janssen Pharmaceuticals ÂŞ +BOTTFO 1IBSNBDFVUJDBMT *OD

THECONTENTS

> > L E AT H E R P R I D E < <

COVER STORIES AND FEATURES OF BROTHERHOOD 19 BONDS LA Leather Pride

19

20

28

NEW APARTHEID 20 AFRICA’S Uganda, Nigeria: LGBT Lives In Danger

30 24

LAST STAND 24 JUSTIN’S The Outgoing Mr. LA Leather OF THE BLACK AND TANS 28 REGIMENT Celebrating 40 Years Of Service FREEDOM 30 SEXUAL Redefining Sexual Norms EDUCATION OF ANDY CROSS 32 THE Journey Of An IML Winner LIKE ME 34 BLACK Battling Stereotypes in WeHo IN LEATHER 36 PEDIGREE Interview With Dr. Tony Mills

40 THE RALPH LAUREN OF LEATHER David McGrath, “Twisted DNA 46 XY”

ON THE COVER COVER MODEL: JUSTIN EMERICK. COVER PHOTO, MAIN TOC PHOTO AND FEATURE PHOTOS BY: ANTHONY DURAN. PHOTO EDITOR: JEFF KING. LOCATION: TOM OF FINLAND FOUNDATION tomoffinland foundation.org.

DEPARTMENTS 10 THE CONTRIBUTORS Our Writers 13 THE LETTERS The Same Cloth 14 THE TALK Michael Sam, Ellen Page 17 THE STATE Judges & Boy Scouts 18 THE CITY Rally In West Hollywood 22 THE ROSTOW REPORT Domino Theory 38 THE LAW Consent And BDSM 42 THE EVENT Desert AIDS, IBC 44 THE CALENDAR Events

32

45 THE RESOURCES Workshops, Groups

34 6 T H E F I GH T | M A R CH 2014

36

40

46 THE FINAL FIGHT Rob Smith

THEEDITOR l This month THE FIGHT is proudly sponsoring “Los Angeles Leather Pride,” taking place at various venues throughout the city.

The Los Angeles Leather Coalition has announced that this year, for the second year in a row, proceeds in excess of operating costs and reserves will go to three deserving local charities: Project Angel Food, One National Gay and Lesbian Archives and the Tom of Finland Foundation.

“Being Mr. LA Leather has been hectic,” reveals Justin Emerick, the outgoing Mr. LA Leather (“Justin’s Last Stand,” page 24). “I don’t think I had a clue how big our community is and all the events that go on throughout the year. It has been fun getting a taste of the different clubs, bars and organizations that are part of the Los Angeles community, and across the country.”

“The moments that stood out for me this past year,” says Emerick, “were conversations with folks in the gay community about leather. Some people seem uneasy, at first, about their attraction. However, as these conversations progress, many suddenly realize how much it turns them on... It’s amazing to see people go through that, and witness it as it happens.”

Also in this issue, International Mr. Leather, California native Andy Cross, tells Mark Ariel that he decided, after he won, that he would try to travel as much as possible.

“When else in my life will I get this chance? Not only is it great to see different places and meet such great people but, as corny as it might sound, I believe it helps bring the leather community closer together and it also makes me feel satisfied. If I can help solve a problem someplace by telling what another community did in a similar situation or talk about my leather journey to queer teens in Alaska, I feel great about it.”

Read the entire interview “The Education of Andy Cross,” on page 32.

In a fascinating article on sexual norms, Dr. Omar Minwalla reveals that most mental health professionals are relatively uninformed about the spectrum of human sexuality (“Sexual Freedom,” page 30).

“With cultural exposure to new and wide—ranging forms of sexual content there is a dire need for a renewed understanding of human sexuality,” states Minwalla.

“The omission of sex education in psychology training programs is an unhealthy and unethical collusion with the stigmatization and marginalization of erotic minorities — which actually violates the ethical principles in the profession of psychology. The reality is that all people deserve both their human worth validated and respected, and their clinical needs met by the profession, including their human sexuality. The profession needs to re—evaluate its stance towards human sexuality and permit students the education and clinical training they desperately require in order to meet the needs of our ever changing sexual and relational world.”

ARTWORK BY STEVEN H. GARCIA, WWW.STEVENHGARCIA.COM

>> IN THIS ISSUE <<

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Stanford Altamirano MANAGING EDITOR Mark Ariel ART DIRECTOR Nadeen Torio MARKETING CONSULTANTS Paul Vallejo Timothy Walker SOCIAL MEDIA Paulo Murillo WEBMASTER Nadeen Torio

GET THE FIGHT AT HOME Sent Via First Class Mail 12 Issues: $36 6 Issues: $24 Mail check or money order to: Third Step, LLC 611 S. Catalina St. Suite 307 Los Angeles, CA 90005 PUBLISHER Third Step, LLC DISTRIBUTION Pride In Media The Fight Magazine is published monthly by Third Step, LLC. 611 South Catalina Street, Suite 307 Los Angeles, CA 90005 Telephone (323) 297-4001 Fax (213) 281-9648 Email info@TheFightMag.com

THE FIGHT MAGAZINE LEGAL CAVEATS By listing in The Fight Magazine, advertisers acknowledge that they do business in the spirit of cooperation, fairness and service, maintaining a high level of integrity and responsibility. Providers of products or services are fully and solely responsible for providing same as advertised. The Fight Magazine assumes no liability for improper or negligent business practices by advertisers.

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

Publisher assumes no liability for safe-keeping or return of unsolicited art, manuscripts or other materials. The Fight Magazine reserves the right to edit all material for clarity, length and content. All contents © 2014 Third Step LLC. All rights reserved. Content may be reproduced with permission.

The Fight Magazine assumes no liability for any claims or representations contained anywhere in this magazine and reserves the right to cancel or refuse advertising at publisher’s discretion.

TheFightMag.com STANFORD ALTAMIRANO Editor-In-Chief

8 T H E F I GH T | M A R CH 2014

For Display Advertising, please call (323) 297-4001

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MAR CH 2014 | T H E F I GH T 9

THECONTRIBUTORS ROBERT E. BLACKMON In 2001, writer and on-air talent Robert E. Blackmon, became the first leather man to hold the title “Mr. Sister Leather,” sponsored by the International fundraising organization the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

Later that year he competed at Los Angeles Mr. Leather where he placed 2nd Runner up. Blackmon has served as secretary, vice chair and co-producer of Los Angeles Leather Pride, since its inception.

DR. OMAR MINWALLA Dr. Omar Minwalla is a Licensed Psychologist and Sexologist and the Clinical Director of The Institute for Sexual Health in Beverly Hills. His specializations include psychosexual evaluation, sexual addiction compulsivity, sexual dysfunctions, transgender dynamics and more. For more info visit: theinstituteforsexualhealth.com.

1 0 T H E F IGH T | M A R C H 2014

>> OUR WRITERS <<

PAULO MURILLO West Hollywood resident Paulo Murillo has been writing for gay media for over twelve years.

He got his start writing a bi-weekly column called “Luv Ya, Mean It” for FAB! Newspaper. Visit his website at thehissfit. com, or friend him on Facebook.

ANN ROSTOW Ann Rostow writes news analysis columns for THE FIGHT and other gay publications across the country. For weekly LGBT News updates, visit her blog at: annrostow.blogspot.com. Ann can be reached at: arostow@aol.com.

DAVID HAKIMFAR Los Angeles based Attorney David Hakimfar received his law degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego.

While there, he made the Honor Roll and National Dean’s List. Currently David Hakimfar is a Trial Attorney and Senior Partner of Hakimfar Law, PLC. He can be reached at: 1-888-789-PRIDE (7743).

ROB SMITH Rob Smith is an author, lecturer, writer, and LGBT activist. His first book “Closets, Combat, and Coming Out: Coming of Age as a Gay Man in the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Army” will be released in February. He can be found at www.robsmithonline.com.

THELETTERS >> FROM OUR READERS <<

THE SAME CLOTH Dear Editor, Wait. How is this possible? A mainstream gay magazine has a bear on its cover (THE FIGHT, Issue 37)? What — no smooth, muscled twink? Shame on you! Joking, of course. Thanks, guys, for remembering that we’re all not cut from the same cloth.

—Benjamin D. Bowens, via the internet

SINGLE, LOL Dear Editor, I loved, loved, loved the interview Rick Copp did with Chad Sanders (“Bear In Mind,” THE FIGHT, Issue 37). He is very sweet, and I love his work in “Where The Bears Are.” Like Chad, I also “believe in chemistry and if you are kind, smart, witty and turn me on then it doesn’t matter what you look like.” What an awesome guy! It’s good to know that he is single... lol.

—Name Withheld, via the internet

PERSONAL TOUCHES Dear Editor, This is just a quick email to let you know that I always read your magazine from cover to cover. I particularly enjoy reading Ann Rostow (The Rostow Report). She is one of the few writers I have encountered that can make (sometimes) boring political news interesting, by adding personal touches about her life.

—Glen Meyers, via the internet

ARDENTLY COMMITTED Dear Editor, Any cursory search of the Bible regarding homosexuality reveal it is wrong, not only Biblically, but physiologically, sociologically, and even violates secular Natural Law (biologically).

The Biblical warning refers to the obvious natural indicators to deter mankind from indulging in such behavior. Leviticus 18:22 clearly warns against men indulging in sexual relationships with other men, and what God thinks about it.

The Apostle Paul writing in his letter to the Romans is even clearer, for he not only warns men and women about the practice of homosexuality and lesbianism, but he points out it is against nature, and that there would be terrible consequences for those ardently committed to this lifestyle.

AIDS, anyone?

—Name Withheld, via the internet

> WRITE TO THE EDITOR Email: editor@thefightmag.com Fax: (213) 281-9648. Letters may be shortened due to space requirements.

JANUAR MAR Y 2014 CH 2014 | TH | ET H FE I GH F ITGH13 T 13

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

MICHAEL SAM

ELLEN PAGE

PROUD GAY MAN “I am an openly, proud gay man.”

—All-American defensive lineman, NFL prospect, Michael Sam coming out last month in interviews with ESPN and The New York Times.

TIRED OF LYING “I am tired of hiding and I am tired of lying by omission. I suffered for years, because I was scared to be out.”

—Actress Ellen Page, who was nominated for an Oscar for her role in “Juno,” coming out last month at a Las Vegas conference for gay teens, “Time to Thrive,” sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign.

FINN JONES

ARI-PEKKA LIUKKONEN

A BROADER DISCUSSION “Finally I can be myself... I wanted to start a broader discussion in connection with Sochi, because it’s sad that the legislation in Russia restricts the human rights of young people and others.”

—Finnish Olympic swimmer Ari-Pekka Liukkonen coming out as gay last month to “help raise awareness” of Russia’s controversial anti-gay “propaganda” law. The Russian law prohibits the “promotion of non-traditional relationships” as either normal or equal to that of heterosexual relationships.

TO BE BI “So proud to be Bi and excited about this movement during the Olympics.”

—“Chicago Fire” star Monica Raymund confirming she is bisexual on Twitter, when she tweeted an article about MONICA a Norwegian RAYMUND artist’s protest against Russia’s gay propaganda law.

A LOT OF MEN

“I feel like there’s a lot of men all the time, but I just personally don’t have the time.”

—The fashion forward son of basketball EJ legend Magic JOHNSON Johnson and star of E!’s “Rich Kids of Beverly Hills”, EJ Johnson, in an interview on The Wendy Williams Show. Johnson says he’s focused on his education in hospitality at NYU and career on TV and doesn’t have time for a boyfriend.

TO MY TRUTH “[Being outed] started me in getting to my truth, which was huge, so it does, in the end, set you free.”

BILLIE JEAN KING —Tennis legend Billie Jean King in an interview last month with “Meet the Press.”

1 4 T H E F IGH T | M A R C H 2014

A SLIGHT FLIRTATION “[HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones’ doesn’t have] enough hot gay sex for Loras this season... I have like a slight flirtation with one of the new characters, but I can’t say anything else.”

—Actor Finn Jones on his character, Loras Tyrell on HBO’s epic fantasy television series, “Game of Thrones.” Season 2 featured a tryst between Tyrell and Renly Baratheon.

IREEN WÜST

SEVENTEEN MILLION DUTCH “Seventeen million Dutch wanted me to win... Now the extreme pressure is off, and I can win more.”

—Speed skater Ireen Wüst, the first openly LGBT athlete to win a gold medal at the Sochi Olympic Games last month, to CBS News.

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for an attack on a woman during the city’s gay pride festivities that was caught on surveillance video, reports LGNTQ Nation.

The district attorney’s office told the San Francisco Chronicle that 23-year-old Christopher Porter-Bailey of Oakland was convicted of robbery, assault and battery last month. He could get eight years in prison at sentencing.

Police said surveillance video of the June 30 attack showed Porter-Bailey kick the woman in the face while she is on the ground, seemingly for no reason. The woman had been robbed of her purse and cellphone by a group of suspects, and the kick to the head knocked her unconscious. n

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PHOTO BY BERNIE KELLEY

> California’s judicial branch is seeking public comment on a proposed rule that would prohibit judges from belonging to the Boy Scouts of America on grounds that the group discriminates against gays, reports The Associated Press.

In 1996 the state Supreme Court banned judges from belonging to groups that discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, but made an exception for nonprofit youth organizations. The decision was made to accommodate judges who serve as leaders for their sons’ Scout troops, according to the Los Angeles Times.

An ethics advisory committee to the high court said last month that eliminating the exception would “promote the integrity of the judiciary” and “enhance public confidence in the impartiality of the judiciary.” The committee is composed of judges and a lawyer for the chief justice.

The Boy Scouts decided last year to permit for the first time the participation of openly gay boys but to continue prohibiting gay and lesbian adults from serving as leaders.

The deadline for submitting comments is April 15.

Following public comment, the California Supreme Court will decide whether to approve the prohibition, proposed to take effect in August, the Times said.

Of 47 states that ban judges from joining discriminatory groups, 22 states, including California, include a bar on groups that show bias on the basis of sexual orientation. California is the only one of these that makes exceptions for youth groups, the ethics committee said.

210

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THECITY >>

BY PAULO MURILLO

CENTER RESPONDS TO FAILED ATTEMPT TO REPEAL TRANS RIGHTS BILL

<<

l The California’s Secretary of State reported last month that her office has finalized an exhaustive validation of signatures that were submitted to qualify a referendum to repeal AB 1266.

She reports that proponents of the attempt to roll-back protections for transgender students have failed because they did not have the 504,760 valid signatures that were needed.

“I’m certain this won’t be the last attempt by anti-LGBT extremists to roll back advances in equality for LGBT people, but I’m relieved this attempt has clearly failed,” said L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center CEO Lorri L. Jean, in a press release.

FRANK MUGISHA

LGBT RIGHTS RALLY IN WEST HOLLYWOOD

l West Hollywood Mayor Abbe Land and City councilmember John Heilman joined award winning screen writer Dustin Lance Black and Ugandan LGBT activist Frank Mugisha for a demonstration held in West Hollywood last month. The rally was timed to coincide with the ending of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, which has drawn worldwide attention for the country’s anti-gay propaganda laws, which have sparked violence against LGBT in that country. The Rally featured a torch-lighting ceremony at West Hollywood Park in support of Russian LGBT rights and speeches were made by Black and Mugisha.

TRANS TEEN TO PLAY ON AZUSA HIGH’S GIRLS’ SOFTBALL TEAM l Azusa High School transgender senior student Pat Cordova-Goff, 17, has been welcomed to join the girls’ softball team, making her the first transgender student-athlete to do so.

“We feel really confident about her ability,” Azusa Unified Superintendent Linda Kaminski told The San Gabriel Valley Tribune. “As a district, we want to ensure access to everyone, but we’re also committed to placing students on the team on their merits.

Based on her skills, Pat did make the team.” The 5-foot-8 Cordova-Goff has identified as a transgender female for several years.

1 8 T H E F IGH T | M A R C H 2014

LIZA MINNELLI

LORRI L. JEAN

LIZA MINNELLI AT THE RENBERG THEATRE l For the eighth installment of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center’s ongoing series, “Conversations With Coco”—Miss Coco Peru’s series of live, unscripted interviews with celebrated performing artists—the L.A. drag legend welcomes the legendary, quadruple-threat entertainer Miss Liza Minnelli to the Center’s Renberg Theatre. The event takes place on Thursday, March 20, at 8pm at L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center’s Renberg Theatre, The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N. McCadden Place, in Hollywood. For ticket info call 323-860-7300.

SMOKE AND THE CITY l According to the 2014 “State of Tobacco Control” report, The American Lung Association has given the city of West Hollywood a “D” in its assessment of steps that states, counties and cities across the country have taken to protect residents from the dangers of smoking. Smoking is still popular in West Hollywood where 40 percent of the residents are gay. The City of Los Angeles, Beverly Hills and Culver City got a “C.” Santa Monica, Burbank and Pasadena received an “A” grade. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reports that LGBT people smoke at a rate 50 percent higher than heterosexuals.

RED DRESS/DRESS RED PARTY IN PALM SPRINGS

PAT CORDOVA-GOFF

l Tickets are currently on sale for the 3rd Annual Red Dress/Dress Red Party, the hottest dance party of the season, to benefit The LGBT Community Center of the Desert in Palm Springs.

Continuing the tradition of having a fashion-busting good time at a fabulous location, this year’s event will be held on Saturday, March 8th, from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. at the Commune of the ACE Hotel, 701 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs. “Funds raised through the event will be used to support direct services to the community, including lowcost counseling, a weekly food bank, and over 40 educational and enrichment programs,” said Randy Lowe, Board Chairman. For more info visit www.thecenterps.org. n

BUILDING THE BONDS OF BROTHERHOOD

THIS YEAR’S LA LEATHER PRIDE THEME IS DEDICATED TO THE “ONLY IN LA” ASPIRATIONS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE LA BAND OF BROTHERS.

BY VICTOR MELAMED LA LEATHER PRIDE 2014, (with events taking place this month, March 23-30), will be a full week crammed with bigger, wilder, and hotter events than ever.

The theme this year: “Building the Bonds of Brotherhood” - is dedicated to the “only in LA” aspirations and accomplishments of the LA Band of Brothers, an incredible group of men who represent all of the winners of all of the feeder contests over the last 14 years leading up to the Mr. LA Leather title.

The Los Angeles Leather Coalition is proud to announce that in 2014, for the second year in a row, proceeds in excess of operat-

ing costs and reserves will go to three deserving local charities: Project Angel Food, One National Gay and Lesbian Archives and the Tom of Finland Foundation.

Events throughout the week include: Chariots of Fire- Leather Ride II” motorcycle run through the streets of LA sponsored by Payasos and the Satyrs; the Road to Mr LA Leather” kickoff party and number draw at the Bullet Bar to introduce the contestants; a classy VIP reception at the Tom of Finland House for Olympus level packet holders; “Hell on Wheels” leather/fetish roller skating party sponsored by Payasos; “Prowl and Growl” (meet and greet) party sponsored by Bears LA; “The Assembly,” the largest gathering of uniform devotees on the

West Coast jointly sponsored by California B & B, the Regiment of the Black & Tans and BLUF at Rough Trade in Silver Lake; the Cigar Social at the Eagle LA, and of course, the selection of Mr. Los Angeles Leather 2014. n For locations, dates and times of events go to THE CALENDAR in this issue, page 44 - or visit laleatherpride.com for schedule updates and more information.

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AFRICA’S NEW APARTHEID

ANTI-HOMOSEXUALITY BILL IN UGANDA; NIGERIAN HOMES RAIDED TO “CLEANSE” NEIGHBORHOOD OF GAYS. CRY THE BELOVED COUNTRY.

BY VICTOR MELAMED

YOWERI MUSEVENI, the president of Uganda has decided to sign the highly-controversial Anti-Homosexuality Bill (AHB) into law, reports David Badash in The New Civil Rights Movement (thenewcivilrightsmovement.com).

The bill is largely the result of America’s Christian Evangelicals working in Uganda and other underdeveloped countries around the world, especially in Africa.

The Anti-Homosexuality bill provides for life in prison for “aggravated homosexuality.” The bill also demands that any person who knows of someone who is gay must report them to law enforcement or face jail themselves, and provides for stiff penalties for any person, company, corporation, media outlet or other entity that knows or supports LGBT people or LGBT civil rights.

In related news—a mob in Nigeria’s capital Abuja raided multiple

20 T H E F I GH T | M A R C H 2014

homes and dragged 14 men out of their beds in the middle of the night last month to beat them with the goal of “cleansing” their neighborhood of gay people, the Associated Press reports.

Nigeria’s “Jail The Gays” law punishes those who are in samesex marriages with time in jail. It also criminalizes meetings where anyone advocates for LGBT people.

President Barack Obama issued a statement last month condemning President Yoweri Museveni’s imminent signing of Uganda’s

Anti-Homosexuality Bill, and took the opportunity to slam both Russia and Nigeria for their countries’ poor record on LGBT civil rights.

Calling it “a step backward for all Ugandans,” and “an affront and a danger to the gay community in Uganda,” President Obama stated he is “so deeply disappointed that Uganda will shortly enact legislation that would criminalize homosexuality.”

President Obama added that his administration has “conveyed to President Museveni, enacting this legislation will complicate our valued relationship with Uganda. At a time when, tragically, we are seeing an increase in reports of violence and harassment targeting members of the LGBT community from Russia to Nigeria, I salute all those in Uganda and around the world who remain committed to respecting the human rights and fundamental human dignity of all persons.” n

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MAR CH 2014 | T H E F I GH T 21

THEROSTOWREPORT

BY ANN ROSTOW

THE DOMINO THEORY: MARRIAGE, THE ROAD TO VICTORY

PATRICK STEWART AS CAPTAIN JEAN LUC PICARD

> Progress on marriage equality is now so fast and furious that even an excellent monthly magazine like THE FIGHT has trouble keeping up.

Since our last communique, for example, the state of Nevada has abandoned its defense of its antigay amendment in the Ninth Circuit.

A federal judge in Virginia has struck the ban on marriage in the Lovers’ State, a decision that now goes to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. And another federal judge has told Kentucky to recognize marriages from outside its borders.

Meanwhile, the marriage cases in Utah and Oklahoma continue on a fast track through the Tenth Circuit, where oral arguments are set for April, and a decision could follow in relatively short order. We also expect quick action in the Sixth Circuit, where Ohio and Kentucky will attempt to defend their laws against marriage recognition. That’s no easy task with the Supreme Court now on record requiring the federal government to treat married couples equally.

Frankly, it looks like the domino theory in action. Is there anything that can keep us from victory, or delay our final triumph? To push the metaphor, is there a giant concrete domino out there? An indomitable domino if you will?

The short answer is no. We know that the Supreme Court has been reluctant to go too far too fast. But when faced with an up or down vote on national marriage rights, they will find themselves between a rock and an iceberg. We’re the rock, and the ice is melting.

The High Court cannot roll back marriage rights that are now in place in 17 states and approaching fast in a half dozen others. They cannot unmarry tens of thousands of people. They cannot rule that sexual orientation discrimination is fundamentally legal. A few years ago they had far more options, which is why gay advocates avoided federal courts. No longer.

But what about delay? Is there anything to slow down what seems to be a marriage case on a bullet to the High Court’s 2014/2015 docket? The only thing I can think of is the prospect that every appellate court ruling would be accepted for review by the full appellate court. That would require majority votes by the Ninth Circuit (which refused to review the Prop 8 case), the Tenth Circuit, the Fourth Circuit, the Sixth Circuit, and maybe others.

Second, I suppose it’s possible that the High Court could follow Windsor by ruling that while states may decide whether or not to contract a same-sex marriage, they may not refuse to recognize a legal marriage from elsewhere. Such a ruling would fall short of total victory, but for all practical purposes would end the long battle for equality and leave us with mop up duty.

CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIANS GRASPING AT STRAWS

> Under the circumstances, what’s the play for conservative Christians? Apparently, their game plan calls for legislating draconian state statutes that would allow anyone and everyone to refuse business with gay couples and/or gay men and women in general, under the guise of—you guessed it—religious freedom.

We’ve been over this ground repeatedly in the last year, mostly due to homophobic bakers and florists who defied state antidiscrimination laws in order to shun their gay and lesbian would-be customers. All of them whined about religious freedom, but so far, none of them have won in court. If you have a business, you are obliged to follow state laws of general application, period.

2 2 T H E F IGH T | M A R C H 2014

I still haven’t reconciled myself to the fact that Captain Picard is now doing voice overs for National Rent-a-Car, and ridiculous ones at that. Make it not so.

But what about states that don’t have gay rights protections? Can they enshrine the right to refuse service to a class of people in state law? Not really, which is why most of these recent proposals claim to “protect religious freedom.”

Since religious freedom is already protected in the Constitution, the pretense is suspect from the start. Yet this is the only card our adversaries have left to play.

So far, at least six states have proposed this kind of legislation,

but the measures have advanced in just one, Arizona. As we go to press, Governor Jan Brewer is considering whether to veto the antigay bill, to approve it, or to let it take effect without her signature. By the time you read this issue, she will have taken a stand.

The good news, sort of, is that these proposals have been turned aside by Republicans in Kansas, Idaho and elsewhere who believe they go too far. At least one of the drafts included a provision that would have forced

> > T H E D O M I N O T H E O R Y, C O N S E R V AT I V E C H R I S T I A N S , E L L E N P A G E A N D M I C H A E L S A M < <

a gay client who tried to sue a business to pay everyone’s legal bills if he or she lost. Seriously?

I suppose any one of these bills, if enacted, would be struck by a federal court, but the very concept is beyond appalling.

ELLEN PAGE’S BIG REVEAL & ELEVEN FOODS NEVER TO FEED YOUR PET

> Don’t you hate it when you’re browsing around and you click on a provocative news link only to wind up on a page with a gigantic headline, and one or two sentences of text, if that? Ellen Page came out of the closet, for any of you who missed it.

And how about the lists of: “Ten Things Your Doctor Won’t Tell You,” or: “Eleven Foods Never to Feed Your Pet?” When you get to the story, you have to click on each numbered item and go to a separate page for each new revelation. It takes forever. Plus, it’s always stuff you know anyway, like “don’t give your dog chocolate,” or “you really shouldn’t drink so much.” But I plow through the entire presentation every time despite myself. Why? Why don’t I ever learn?

I mention this because I just went through the former frustrating experience in an attempt to learn about Patrick Stewart (he shrugged off mistakenly being called gay) and the writers of HBO’s “Looking” (who insist the show’s not boring). I have decided I like “Looking.” It’s not great, but it’s not so bad. As for Stewart, I still haven’t reconciled myself to the fact that Captain Picard is now doing voice overs for National Rent-a-Car, and ridiculous ones at that. Make it not so.

SAM’S CLUB & DINNER AT DOWNTON ABBEY

> Finally, the other big news of recent note was the decision by ex-Missouri Tiger Michael Sam to come out as gay on the verge of his NFL career. Here in our household, we do not care for Missouri, or anyone connected to Missouri.

I married into a Jayhawk family, which includes some members who will drive across the Kansas City border in order to avoid paying sales tax to Missouri. No lie.

Without going into the history of the pre-Civil War conflict, let’s just say that we still call people from Missouri “slavers.”

So imagine my surprise when my wife looked up from her iPad and remarked “good for Missouri.” Honestly, it was as if she announced that “Ted Cruz has a point,” or suggested a long weekend in Lubbock. It turned

out that on the heels of Sam’s announcement, Fred Phelps dragged the remains of his Westboro Baptist Church family to Mizzou and took possession of street corner, where he and his gang held up their usual signs. In response, thousands of Missouri students took to the opposite side of the street in protest. The lines went on forever.

Sam’s decision was courageous, but it was also pragmatic.

He was openly gay, and any future employer would know his status.

But nonetheless, he came out with style, and we will finally see what happens when you let a gay man into a football locker room.

Considering what we’ve learned about what passes for camaraderie in the NFL, I’d say being gay is the least of his worries. Some of those Miami Dolphin sideshows make a frat party look like dinner at Downton Abbey. n

MAR CH 2014 | TH E F I GH T 23

HELMET COURTESY OF THE COSTUME HOUSE

founder of one of the first LGBT student groups on the church of Christ affiliated campus.

During his college years, he spent a year abroad in Buenos Aires, studying Spanish and Latin American history. He began his career with the Peace Corps where he served in Paraguay as a Rural Health Volunteer in a small farming community near the Brazilian border. The highlight of his experience was mentoring youth in selfesteem and sex education.

After his service, he was hired as an investigator in law enforcement for the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Dept. of Labor. The mission of the agency is to protect and enhance the welfare of the nation’s workforce.

Currently, Emerick serves as the Los Angeles District Office’s Community Outreach Coordinator, working with employee advocacy groups, unions and business associations for the strategic planning of department’s many goals and initiatives.

“Being Mr. LA Leather has been hectic,” reveals Emerick in an interview with THE FIGHT. “I don’t think I had a clue how big our community is and all the events that go on throughout the year. It has been fun getting a taste of the different clubs, bars and organizations that are part of the Los Angeles community, and across the country.”

JUSTIN’S LAST STAND JUSTIN EMERICK, THE OUTGOING MR. LA LEATHER, ON EXPLORING KINKS, THE FRATERNITY OF BROTHERHOOD AND PASSING THE TORCH.

BY MARK ARIEL | PHOTO BY ANTHONY DURAN IN THE “THINGS-AREN’T-ALWAYS-WHAT-THEY-SEEM” CATEGORY this past year’s Mr. LA Leather would most likely be a strong contender for first place.

Mild-mannered, affable, soft-spoken and surprisingly unassuming, Justin Emerick is not, at first glance, the obvious choice for a local leather god.

2 4 T H E F IGH T | M A R C H 2014

However—the moment he dons his leather gear and sash and stares deeply into your eyes— the transformation from ordinary Joe to leather royalty suddenly becomes a titillating reality.

Emerick, Mr. LA Leather 2013, a magna cum laude graduate of Pepperdine University with degrees in International Studies and Spanish, is the

“The moments that stood out for me this past year,” says Emerick, “were conversations with folks in the gay community about leather. Some people seem uneasy, at first, about their attraction.

However, as these conversations progress, many suddenly realize how much it turns them on... It’s amazing to see people go through that, and witness it as it happens.”

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

“THE MOMENTS THAT STOOD OUT FOR ME THIS PAST YEAR WERE CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS IN THE GAY COMMUNITY ABOUT LEATHER. SOME PEOPLE SEEM UNEASY, AT FIRST, ABOUT THEIR ATTRACTION. HOWEVER, AS THESE CONVERSATIONS PROGRESS, MANY SUDDENLY REALIZE HOW MUCH IT TURNS THEM ON...”

“Actually,” reveals Emerick, “it took me step by step to get my toes wet because I think I was hesitant about defining myself as a leatherman, as well. I think for some reason in my head I thought I had to know everything about every kink and tradition to be a leatherman. But for me, being a part of the community is special because it is a fraternity of brotherhood. I love the leather. I love the men. I love to explore my kinks, but also know that we are here to support and trust one another in the community.”

When asked if his perspective on the leather community has changed after his year as Mr. LA Leather 2013, Emerick says the experience has “made me reflect on my genuine interests in leather. Who knew I would fall in love with all these pups (fetish of acting/behaving like a puppy) running around!”

In general, says Emerick, the leather title is ultimately what you

make of it. “You are not given a manual when you win. It really is a year to create anything you want.”

“Over the summer I marched in quite a few pride parades, hosted a leather pool parties, and have been to more fundraisers than I can count,” reveals Emerick. “I think my favorite was going to our klownf*cker party that Payasos (Latino clown fetish group) co-hosted with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.”

“As the year draws to a close,” reminisces Emerick, “it is a pleasure watching the new crop of titleholders win their titles. It is very cathartic to watch their experiences and realize the fun I have had over the year and more. Running for a title—whether or not you win one—gives you the opportunity to taste and experience all that the leather fetish community has to offer. Then, you really get to choose where your interests lie and go from there.” n

MAR CH 2014 | T H E F I GH T 25

LA Leather Pride Presents

MR. Los Angeles Leather

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DJ PAulo

BLACK & TANS, 2014 BLACK & TANS, 1974

THE REGIMENT OF THE BLACK AND TANS CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF SERVICE IN UNIFORM.

BY ROBERT BLACKMON IN JUNE 1974 a group of men decided to band together and make their mark on the local Los Angeles uniform community.

Little did they know that forty years later they would leave a footprint that would forever change the way service, leadership and brotherhood would be viewed amongst men in Los Angeles.

Gary Alexander, Ken Balder, Armin Hoffman, Gary Howell and Joseph Sager went to a retreat hosted by the Oedipus Motorcycle club—The Grecian Games at Wrightwood. The theme was storybook fairytales. About eighteen different social clubs attended this event.

Gary and the guys didn’t have a uniform, so they all decided to wear tan shirts with their leather motorcycle pants. Peter Bromilow, an Englishman, walked passed the group and said, “Look who’s here. It’s the Black and Tans!” The B&T were known as an old Irish rebel group.

The guys looked at each and liked what they heard. A year later they formally changed the name to The Regiment of the Black and Tans.

Since then the Black and Tans have been visible and instrumental in the evolution of the local uniform, leather fetish community.

It’s purpose and objectives are to “foster brotherhood and be of service to the community.”

“MORE THAN JUST A UNIFORM CLUB, THE REGIMENT OF THE BLACK AND TANS IS A PART OF THE FABRIC OF OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. IT ENCOURAGES BROTHERHOOD AND DESIRE TO EMBRACE YOUR FETISH... WHATEVER IT MAY BE.” 2 8 T H E F IGH T | M A R C H 2014

While many people see the guys out and about in their uniform—resembling a version of a CHP officer—they assume that it’s a group of leathermen.

This is not true. The club is made up of men who are uniform aficionados. That is to say—men who enjoy the collecting of and wearing of uniforms.

While many of them are also leathermen their primary focus is the uniform.

In this exclusive club (never more than 18 members as per its bylaws) many are former and active civil servants. Firefighters, reservists, and military men make up a large number of it’s membership.

Over the years the club has been know for it’s over the top functions, dinner parties, and fundraisers. For decades “Spring Maneuvers” was the must have ticket—as this covert operation play party was always at a secret location. One had to drive to a designated spot to obtain directions to this private location.

Every summer The Black and Tans and friends having some good clean fun at the Wet Boxers Contest at Pistons bar in Long Beach. The proceeds of this event goes to a local Long

Beach charity, usually one of the AIDS Food Banks. In recent years Grunt combined the Mr. Regiment contest with a play party and offered something for everyone who attended.

The club also proudly sponsors the Mr. Regiment Contest.

The past FOUR CONSECUTIVE Mr. Regiment’s have won the title Mr. Los Angeles Leather!

But the perennial favorite that everyone talks about is Change of Command Dinner. This is the summer gala in which the new officers for the upcoming year are sworn into office. It is a by invitation only affair that never disappoints.

This year in it’s 40th year the Change of Command’s theme is 40 Years of Service in Uniform.

The club has some very special plans for this “Ruby” anniversary. Speaking as it’s current Commander all I can say is you won’t want to miss it!

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that in 40 years there is still one member who has remained since day one, or as he says, day five.

This amazing man is Riley Black.

While the club was formed in June he joined in September and has been a faithful member ever since!

The Regiment of the Black and Tans is more than just a uniform club. It is a part of the fabric of our local community. It encourages brotherhood and desire to embrace your fetish... whatever it may be. n For more info visit: blackandtans.org.

SEXUAL

FREEDOM

WITH CULTURAL EXPOSURE TO NEW AND WIDE-RANGING FORMS OF SEXUAL CONTENT THERE IS A DIRE NEED FOR A RENEWED UNDERSTANDING OF HUMAN SEXUALITY. DR. OMAR MINWALLA ONE WOULD EXPECT PSYCHOTHERAPISTS, psychologists and mental health professionals to be relatively informed about the spectrum of human sexuality and how to help people discuss and integrate sexuality in a healthy manner.

The harsh reality here, and one the public needs to understand, is that there is almost no education in human sexuality in graduate programs in psychology, and if there is, it will be basic education on the most traditional outdated sex therapy models. This is still the norm. If there is a course, it will likely be a single “diversity course” about LGBT concerns.

Which is important. However, there is a lot more to human sexuality and being a therapist then just being “gay-friendly.”

FEAR OF SEXUALITY The profession of psychology has a long history of being a few steps behind societal norms when it comes to understanding and being comfortable with human sexuality. Sadly, a field based on understanding human beings, behavior and motivation, lacks professionals who are educated or trained in even the basics in human sexuality. For the most part, professional training programs perpetuate avoidance and fear of sexuality, rendering it as unimportant and negligible, rather then primary and central.

Furthermore, the field of psychology also has a long history of persecution of sexual and gender minorities. Homosexuality was a well-established mental disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders with no scientific basis for it’s inclusion, or it’s removal in 1973, for that matter.

Transgender people have been and are still persecuted by the field, many therapists still making children play with gendered toys as “therapy” for “gender disorders.”

MISTAKEN ASSUMPTION People with arousal templates, sexualities, gender experiences or who have sex with others that do not fit the notion of “traditional and normal in the most outdated Pollyanna sense” have always and still are routinely stigmatized and misunderstood by mental health professionals.

The norm in the profession is “vanilla is sexual health and kinky is unhealthy and a disease.” This mistaken assumption, along with the profound lack of any serious education given to psychology students on human sexuality, leaves a serious void of educated professionals who 3 0 T H E F IGH T | M A R C H 2014

can meet criteria of being competent to treat people.

Most mental health professionals are like deer in the headlights when it comes to human sexuality, particularly when confronted with kinky sexuality, BDSM, fetishes, orientation variance, transgender dynamics or even contemporary dynamics such as sexual subcultures, online sexuality, the new norms regarding pornography, etc.

A SERIOUS CRISIS The profession and field of psychology and mental health professionals have been significant perpetrators of human sexuality and have demonstrated a lack of internal consistency with the

ethics and ideals of the profession itself. The field’s tradition of not teaching students rigorously about human sexuality and not standing up for our sexuality as a legitimate part of being human, worthy of academic attention, has been allowed to pass and go unchallenged for decades.

However, with the advent of the Internet and the profound cultural exposure to new and wide-ranging forms of sexual content, arousal and expression, there is a dire need for a renewed understanding of human sexuality and how to clinically treat and help people understand their sexuality and relationships today. The reality is that the field’s stance towards sexuality is now a serious crisis in the field.

We are now faced with a society in

“MOST MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ARE LIKE DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS WHEN IT COMES TO HUMAN SEXUALITY, PARTICULARLY WHEN CONFRONTED WITH KINKY SEXUALITY, BDSM, FETISHES, ORIENTATION VARIANCE, TRANSGENDER DYNAMICS OR EVEN CONTEMPORARY DYNAMICS SUCH AS SEXUAL SUBCULTURES...” the midst of a cyber-sexual evolution, and we have a squeamish, moralistic, and uneducated profession of psychology.

CONTEMPORARY CHANGES Most psychologists-to-be receive no clinical training in graduate school in even how to speak about sex with client or patient or do a single role play. Most psychologists-to-be will never learn about kinky people, BDSM, alternate lifestyles, sexual subcultures, or transgender people. Most therapists know little about leather spaces, or what flogging may entail or how to help the lesbian couple for instance who are in a Daddy/boy relationship. If a couple is in a master-slave relationship, they will have a difficult time being understood by most therapists.

Many of today’s adolescents are finding sexual and intimacy expression in animal identities, including erotic characters born out of online

gaming and sexuality. “ People need help metabolizing these contemporary changes and dynamics and the profession is seriously ill prepared.

This means that people in pain or who seek to deepen their understanding of their lives and turn to psychologists and therapists for help -are at a loss and being prevented from quality psychological care. This perpetuates the idea that sex is not important and that these human beings and their experiences are not important either. It is human neglect. We devalue our sexuality and render it worthy of silence and fear versus professional attention, academic curiosity and clinical development. Instead of empowering our students, we cripple them.

ETHICAL PRINCIPLES The omission of sex education

in psychology training programs is an unhealthy and unethical collusion with the stigmatization and marginalization of erotic minorities—which actually violates the ethical principles in the profession of psychology. The reality is that all people deserve both their human worth validated and respected, and their clinical needs met by the profession, including their human sexuality. The profession needs to re-evaluate its stance towards human sexuality and permit students the education and clinical training they desperately require in order to meet the needs of our ever changing sexual and relational world. n Dr. Omar Minwalla is a Licensed Psychologist, Clinical Sexologist and Clinical Director of The Institute for Sexual Health (ISH) in Beverly Hills. For more info visit: theinstituteforsexualhealth.com.

MAR CH 2014 | T H E F I GH T 31

THE EDUCATION OF ANDY CROSS

ER, L MR. LEATH A N IO T A N R INTE ON S, ON COMM S O R C Y D N A S QUEER TEEN , S N IO T P E MISCONC THE LEATHER G IN G IN R B D N IN ALASKA A .

R TOGETHER E S O L C Y IT COMMUN

3 2 T H E F IGH T | M A R C H 2014

BY MARK ARIEL | PHOTO BY SYDNEY ERTHAL INTERNATIONAL MISTER LEATHER (IML) is an international conference and contest of leathermen held annually since 1979.

Andy Cross, Mr. San Francisco Leather 2013, was named International Mr. Leather 2013 at the 35th annual IML Competition in Chicago last May. In an interview with THE FIGHT the California native talks about coming out, getting into leather and finding family at the Powerhouse in San Francisco.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE GROWING UP AS A GAY KID IN SANTA MARIA? Well, it wasn’t exactly the best place to grow up as a young gay guy looking for some action. Not that it was exactly the worst place by any means though. There was no outward persecution of gay people, no horrible acts of intolerance or any of that. It was just a small, boring town. The worst thing was the feeling that I had nothing in common with the rest of the people there. A lot of my friends were interested in raising cows for the county fair while I was much more interested in the cowboys. I knew of no other gay person, no role model or friend that could really understand. I remember just feeling suffocated.

WHEN DID YOU COME OUT TO YOURSELF, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FRIENDS? WHAT WERE THEIR REACTIONS? Like a lot of people, I suppose I always knew I was gay. I admitted it to myself around the time I graduated high school. I was dating a girl, and we messed around but I had no interest in “going all the way.” By this time I met a friend who I could confide most of my feelings to and she asked me my why I was dating this girl... and I said the first thing that popped into my head. “Because she looks like Britney Spears!” I blurted. We laugh about it to this day.

I have a pretty remarkable family and coming out to them was fairly painless. After I left Santa Maria I only really went back for big events or holidays. I had myself prepared for a big dramatic coming out with the possibility of having to leave. After I told my mother she very matter of factly said that she doesn’t care about that and never will and she loves me no matter what. I found out from a cousin later that everyone had pretty much known for quite a while and had placed bets on which holiday “it” would happen.

WHEN DID YOU REALIZE THAT YOU WERE INTO LEATHER? My uncle came to visit us one time while I was a young boy. He rode his motorcycle and wore a black leather jacket. It was the hottest thing.

That picture always stuck in my head. When I was older I discovered images by Tom of Finland and a whole world opened up. Leather to me has always been extremely masculine and sexy, and still is.

WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS GAY FOLKS HAVE ABOUT THE LEATHER COMMUNITY? I’ve been told that “leather” can be intimidating, and it definitely can be! I know! I was extremely intimidated when I first started with the leather community. Walking into a bar of large leather clad men can be a little scary for the first time. I wasn’t sure if I was dressed correctly or doing things properly or acting like an idiot. The thing that shook me out of it was overhearing a conversation between two VERY hot men about who they thought should win American Idol that year. I dawned on me that everyone there was just as gay as I was and that I was

over-thinking this whole thing.

Another thing that I get a lot is that because I like leather I must also like pain. It is true that some leather folk get off on being tied up or whipped or stomped on or any other sort of painful activity, but most don’t. Let’s be honest— a little pain can be pretty erotic, but I don’t get off on causing or receiving pain. I totally understand how it can be for some, but it’s not sexy to me.

YOUR JOURNEY TO BECOMING INTERNATIONAL MR. LEATHER 2013 STARTED AT THE POWERHOUSE IN SAN FRANCISCO. CAN YOU GIVE US A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO WINNING THE TITLE. I first stepped foot in the Powerhouse bar in SF because I read a sex story about it when I was younger. I figured it would be everything I had imagined.

Well, it wasn’t. I went in on an off night where there was probably 5 people in the whole place. The bartender told me to return on Saturday for more of a crowd, which there was. It became my hangout and was soon asked it I wanted to go-go dance. That was about 8 years ago, and I still do it.

The Powerhouse is also home of the “Bare Chest Calendar,” a fundraising calendar for “AIDS Emergency Fund.” I had seen Calendar Men at various events and always thought it would be a fun, sexy thing to do. I mean, if you’re going to volunteer you might as well do it with shirtless guys, right? That was my thought anyway. I decided to try out for the calendar and had the pleasure of being Mr. May 2012.

Because of my history with the Powerhouse and the calendar—I was encouraged to run for the Mr. Powerhouse Leather title— which feeds into the Mr. San Francisco Leather title. I ended up winning both and progressed

to International Mr. Leather that takes place in Chicago. I ultimately ended up with that title as well...

The Powerhouse is definitely a family. In fact the first person to hug me backstage after I won the title was Scott, the manager of the bar and the one who first asked me to go-go dance.

WHAT ARE YOUR DUTIES AS INTERNATIONAL MR. LEATHER? HOW HAS THE EXPERIENCE BEEN FOR YOU? WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THE UPCOMING WINNER? The only official duty as International Mr. Leather is to judge the next year’s contest.

That’s it. Everything else is completely up to you. I decided after I won that I would try to travel as much as I could. When else in my life will I get this chance? Not only is it great to see different places and meet such great people but, as corny as it might sound, I believe it helps bring the leather community closer together and it also makes me feel satisfied. If I can help solve a problem someplace by telling what another community did in a similar situation or talk about my leather journey to queer teens in Alaska, I feel great about it. I’ve also been to places where no IML has ever been and seen them pull out the red carpet, literally, and essentially show off about how proud they are. Not that I think it’s all about me by any means mind you.

A mentor of mine, Patrick Mulcahey, once said in a speech that “It doesn’t matter what we come together for. It matters that we come together.” If I can somehow help facilitate that meeting by visiting places or judging contests or giving interviews I am happy to do so.

My advice for the next IML would be to brace yourself.

Whether you believe it or not, you’re in for the most eventful year of your life. n MAR CH 2014 | T H E F I GH T 33

WE HAVE EMBRACED EVERYTHING FROM SAVING THE RAIN FOREST TO WORRYING ABOUT WHAT KIND OF FOOD OUR GREAT GRANDCHILDREN WILL EAT ... YET WE CAN’T HELP CONFRONT THE PROVERBIAL ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.

BY ROBERT BLACKMON

I AM A BIT NERVOUS about writing this article for it is twenty-four years in the making. To some it might seem silly that I even care about this at all, but I feel that it is important that I say this out loud. “I’m a black gay man in Los Angeles and I’m hot, damn it!”

I think it would be easier to explore this topic if I form it in a question the way the fictional “Sex and the City” character Carrie Bradshaw would ask... “When will Black be “The New Black?”

It is an important question in our community given the politically correct, soy latte, kale eating, no peanut ingesting society that we’ve become. We have embraced everything from saving the rain forest to worrying about what kind of food our great grandchildren will eat ... yet we can’t help confront the proverbial elephant in the room.

FANTASIZE, OBJECTIFY How can we—as a gay society—ignore the fact that we romanticize, 3 4 T H E F IGH T | M A R C H 2014

fantasize and objectify black guys in our community?

Think about those erotic Tom of Finland drawings. The black guys always have a huge cock and big bubble butt. Sure, you might think to yourself, “That’s just a stereotype, that doesn’t mean I’m objectifying black guys.” But it does.

When you see a black and white guy together you automatically assume that the black guy is the top. You presume he has a big cock.

These are objectifications that we—as a society—have made based upon assumptions that have been made over time.

Fried chicken and watermelon anyone? Don’t get me wrong—the same arguments can be made about other races and their stereotypes, but this article is specific to this issue.

TOM OF FINLAND © 1990 TOM OF FINLAND FOUNDATION

BLACK LIKE ME

BLONDE PONY TAILS When I moved to WeHo in 1989 all the guys wanted to look and dress like George Michael. You know, faded denim jeans with a giant hole ripped at just the right spot in the knee, pointed toe Zodiac boots, oversized denim or leather jacket and that ever prominent pony tail...usually blonde sticking out of the back of a baseball cap with the metal “BOY” plate across the front.

This is what I walked into.

This is the community that I was enamored with after leaving my very conservative neighborhood in Detroit. Looking around I didn’t see anybody that looked like me. So I did what anybody who wanted to fit in would do, I attempted to blend in. I ripped my faded denim jeans at just the right spot in the knee, got some pointed toe Zodiac boots (with the silver tip), put on my oversized denim jacket, slicked back my Jheri curl (YES I had one) into a pony tail under my baseball cap and proceeded down to the Rage with all the other young guys. Even though I was dressed the same as them—I looked as much like they

did as Wanda Sykes looks like Angelina Jolie. But I wanted to belong...

I looked ridiculous!! Not because of what I was wearing, but because I thought that if I wore what the white guys wore then I wouldn’t stand out.

BLACK IN WEHO If you are the only ketchup packet in a bowl filled with nothing but mustard you’re gonna stand out. Back then when you went into a restaurant on Santa Monica Boulevard there weren’t any hot young Asian guys around and the only Latinos you saw were the cooks and the dishwashers... not servers, not bus boys. The friends I made didn’t care whether or not I dressed like them, but you could tell that if you didn’t look the part— you would not be accepted or included in the same way. You can call it being 22, but that’s just the way life was and STILL is.

It wasn’t very long until I met three other black guys in WeHo. So there we were. If the census bureau went to Mickey’s on a Saturday afternoon they could take to census of how many black guys lived in West Hollywood in one fell swoop...FOUR. I know it sounds funny and I’m sure there were others, but you never saw more than the odd sprinkle of color around.

A NUMBERS GAME Around 1992 hot Latino boys started invading the clubs. It was wonderful to see brown skin! Several moved to WeHo, but many lived at home with their family in East L.A., Echo Park or Hollywood. The difference was there were not just three or four of them—there were ten to twenty. You could see a definite visibility of brown skin boys. And slowly but surely as the months went by you would see those same boys partner off with one hot muscle

blonde guy after the next. Soon the word got around that it was ‘chic’ to have a Latino boyfriend. About a year went by and the Asian boys started to surface. The same thing started to happen...

I was patient. I knew that the black guys would soon get their turn to be the flavor of the month.

Yes, I realize that I was actually waiting to be subjected to this ridiculous selection process. But I wanted my turn. And more than that it was the fact that IF I wanted to have a white boyfriend—I could.

It was more of a numbers game. There were probably 25 white boys for every “brown skin.”

And strangely enough it was a very quiet, unspoken thing that all the brown skins were competing for the same prize. Weird huh?

SELF-ACCEPTANCE Since those days, back in the 90s, I’ve become an active part

of the leather community. Today—I know who I am. There is, however, still a part of me that occasionally reacts to certain situations because of those early days. It is hard to shake those feelings when you see things that scream a repeat of history...

Moving on, over the past few years, I have been overjoyed at the sight of many brown skin guys stepping up and being recognized as community leaders both in the general gay community and specifically our leather community.

In this 2014 leather class of title holders there are not one but two hot sexy black men who are taking their place amongst those most desirable!

I still feel like we have a long way to go and I don’t think that we, as a community, have fully addressed the issues. But the one thing I do know is my black ass will continue to be right there... front and center, being me. n

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MAR CH 2014 | TH E F I GH T 35

DR. TONY MILLS

“LEATHER MEN AND LEATHER WOMEN ARE VERY CREATIVE. FOR US, IT’S ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT MORE THAN JUST THE SEXUAL ACT ITSELF... IN SOME WAYS THE LEATHER COMMUNITY WAS REALLY ON THE FOREFRONT OF SAFE SEX.” are the people you know and who do you have a relationship with and who’s helped you to learn and to become the person that you are.

IS IT LIKE A BEAUTY PAGEANT?

PEDIGREE IN LEATHER

It’s a contest. Looking over the roster of winners, certainly beauty wasn’t always the number one criteria. It’s really more about being comfortable in your own skin.

DR. TONY MILLS, INTERNATIONAL MR. LEATHER 1998, ON HIV, SEX IN THE LEATHER COMMUNITY AND WINNING THE IML COMPETITION.

BY PAULO MURILLO TONY MILLS MD has had a medical practice devoted to holistic healthcare, focusing on nutrition, exercise and the wellness of gay men, since 1999.

With over 5,000 men under his care—half of whom are HIV positive—Dr. Mills has developed one of the largest clinical research centers in Southern California for HIV and hepatitis. He has also developed a line of natural products—beneficial to overall wellbeing.

However, despite his many accomplishments in the medical field, to many in the gay leather community, Dr. Mills will always be International Mr. Leather (IML) 1998.

In an interview with THE FIGHT Dr. Mills discussed what it means to be a leather man, HIV, safe sex in the leather community and winning the IML competition.

DID YOU THINK YOU WERE OF A CERTAIN PEDIGREE TO COMPETE AT IML? That’s funny. I guess in retrospect I had a pedigree. I didn’t realize it at the time. In our community it’s really about your influences. Who 3 6 T H E F IGH T | M A R C H 2014

WERE YOU OPEN ABOUT YOUR HIV POSITIVE STATUS WHEN YOU COMPETED FOR IML? Yes, I was. I was diagnosed back in ‘87. I was in good health until about 1996 when I woke up in the middle of the night and the bed was soaked. I had a high fever and I thought, oh yeah, HIV, I forgot. I was very fortunate that it happened at a time we had just figured out triple combination therapy.

HOW DID THE LEATHER COMMUNITY RESPOND TO YOUR BEING HIV POSITIVE? People were overall very positive about it. I think it was at a particular moment where... after having gone through this incredibly dark period really for almost two decades when HIV was uniformly fatal and to suddenly be at the crest of an era where there was hope. I think that’s why I really wanted to be so open about it.

IS THERE A DIVIDE BETWEEN HIV POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE GUYS IN THE LEATHER COMMUNITY? I think maybe less in the leather community than in the general gay community because the leather community is always based on acceptance. There may still be some preferences as far as serosorting and wanting to have sexual contact with people who are of the same serostatus.

I think people have learned to not judge and to accept.

IN YOUR EXPERIENCE, HOW DO LEATHER GUYS APPROACH SAFE SEX? Leather men and leather women are very creative. For us, it’s always been about more than just the sexual act itself. I think for people who are positive-even during that time when there was still a fair amount of fear, there were a lot of things that you could do in the leather community that were erotic and exciting and fun and new and bonding with your partner that didn’t put you at risk of HIV transmission, so I think in some ways the leather community was really on the forefront of safe sex.

WHAT SHOULD SOMEONE EXPECT AT AN IML COMPETITION? The thing that I love about leather events is the camaraderie. A lot of it has to do with their own inner personal acceptance with who they are and their commitment to the leather community. How do you show your commitment?

How do you reach out to help other young gay men who are struggling with their sexuality? I think that’s what really makes a leather man. n For more about Dr. Tony Mills and his medical practice visit: www.tonymillsmd.com.

THELAW >> BDSM <<

Use common sense.

Make sure that you play with people that you know and trust. construe as unlawful. In other scenarios, video or pictures of BDSM activity may be turned into police, or discovered online by law enforcement officials.

THE LAW

CONSENT AND BDSM CERTAIN SEXUAL PRACTICES CAN BE PROSECUTED UNDER STATE CRIMINAL LAWS. THIS IS TRUE EVEN WHEN THERE IS CLEAR CONSENT.

BY DAVID HAKIMFAR l One of extraordinary qualities of the gay community is its acceptance and celebration of sexual expression within the many subgroups that make up the community as a whole. This includes the leather, BDSM and other fetish groups whose activities are often misunderstood and looked down upon by society at large. However, certain practices that are seen as commonplace within the gay community, including bondage, sadomasochism, domination and other types of fetish play, can land the participants in serious legal trouble.

You read that right. Certain BDSM sexual practices can be and sometimes are prosecuted under state criminal laws dealing with assault, aggravated assault, sexual assault or sexual abuse. This is true even when there is clear consent.

Criminal prosecution can arise in various circumstances, including situations in which one participant is injured requiring medical treatment and the injury is brought to the attention of the police by hospital staff, doctors or a family member.

In other cases, the BDSM encounter is more extreme than one participant expected, and the injured person contacts the police.

Sometimes a person may feel guilt or shame for their participation in the experience after the fact. Or the relationship may have soured and they want to get revenge against the other person. Conversely, police may raid a BDSM event and witness conduct that they 3 8 T H E F IGH T | M A R C H 2014

Technically speaking, any type of “impact play” is illegal.

One person cannot legally give their consent to being physically assaulted. As far as the law and courts are concerned the issue becomes one of violence, not sex.

The criminal offense is that one person is causing another person physical harm. To contrast, the issue of consent is different for BDSM cases than it is for a rape case, for example.

In a rape case, the sex act is not considered criminal unless it can be shown that one party did not consent. In a BDSM case, however, the causing of physical harm is in and of itself criminal.

The question then becomes the extent to which the courts will allow such criminal conduct to be excused by one person’s consent.

The definitions of assault, abuse and other such crimes involving infliction of physical harm vary from state to state. There are no federal statues in this area.

Most state laws covering assault do not cite consent as a defense.

Under California law, the crime of “assault” takes place when someone performs an act that is likely to result in the application of force to another person. There is no actual requirement that an assault result in a violent or forceful act upon another. It is only necessary that a person attempted to commit such an act, and had the ability to do so.

Unchanged since being enacted in 1872, California Penal Code 240 PC is a misdemeanor.

Prosecutors typically charge this

simple assault crime when the alleged victim doesn’t suffer a significant injury. But if a weapon or serious injury does occur, then a more serious charge can be applied. Keep in mind that prosecutors could view certain “play items” such as whips, chains, vibrators or other sexual toys as weapons depending on how these objects are used.

While BDSM practices are kept in the same category as criminal assault, it should come as no shock that the justice system and lawmakers are hesitant to allow consent as a defense to sexual practices that result in injury.

There is a long history of case law that regards BDSM as aberrant or depraved behavior, despite the fact that the American Psychiatric Association (APA) declassified BDSM, along with cross-dressing and other fetishism, as a form of mental illness twenty years ago.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF Use common sense. Make sure that you “play” with people that you know and trust. Establish clear boundaries and avoid behavior that can inflict serious injury upon another person. Use “safe words” that can enlisted be when things are about to cross the line.

Avoid the taking of pictures or video or other forms of recording that could be used against you as evidence at a later date.

If the police do become involved, remember that you do not need to allow them into your home without a search warrant unless they believe someone is in immediate danger. If you are arrested, invoke your right to not make a statement and immediately ask for a lawyer. You are not under any obligation to make a statement without an attorney present. n David Hakimfar is a trial attorney and senior partner of Hakimfar Law, PLC, and a member attorney of Pride Legal.

He can be reached at 310-770-1250.

MAR CH 2014 | T H E F I GH T 39

THE RALPH LAUREN OF LEATHER

DAVID MCGRATH, PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF “TWISTED DNA 46 XY” ON BEING SOBER, THE LEATHER FETISH SCENE AND LIVING EVERY DAY TO THE FULLEST, WITH INTEGRITY.

BY PAULO MURILLO | PHOTO BY ANTHONY DURAN

IF YOU HAD THE CHOICE TO START THE BUSINESS OF YOUR DREAM, what would that business be? David McGrath, the president and founder of “Twisted DNA 46 XY,” got his answer while shopping for a friend at the 665 Leather and Fetish retail store in WeHo. He saw the need for luxurious gifts and home accessories geared towards leather and fetish. He wanted to be able buy a gift for a friend 40 T H E F I GH T | M A R CH 2014

that didn’t require to be stuck into or strapped onto a person.

That is how “Twisted DNA 46 XY” was conceived in 2011. The company offers high quality of full grain Italian leather goods that use edgy leather man elements such as armbands, harnesses and bandannas to accessorize throw pillows, duvet and apparel, mixing Tom of Finland elements with the Ralph Lauren Home Collection.

McGrath knows his leather and fetish. He was first introduced to the leather scene at age 17 in the early 80s at a time when he says New York City was grungy and fun. “I went to discos like Studio 54, the Ice Palace, the Mud Club, Paradise Garage and I’d always end up at the Anvil,” he says.

“At 17 I was introduced to the Mineshaft, which was the pinnacle of the whole leather fetish scene.”

“Sex was new to me,” he says of those early New York days. “I was fascinated by the freedom the leather community had in expressing their sexuality, which was very refreshing as opposed to the stand and pose bars, where you had no idea what guys were about. In the leather community, it’s kind of put right out in front of you. There was this honesty that I found refreshing.”

Unfortunately, like a lot of young gay men during that time, his HIV positive diagnosis would end the party. “I was diagnosed HIV positive on February 2, 1987 at 10 o’clock in the morning. They said, ‘We expect six months to a year, so get your affairs in order.’”

On July 1, 1987, McGrath started working a program of recovery during a time when a lot of gay men were dying of AIDS. “It was scary back then” he said.

“When I first got sober, some people didn’t have the luxury of a year. Some people got to 20 days, and died.”

He would stay sober for ten years. Unfortunately, a decision to leave New York and move to Palm Springs would lead to a

relapse that would keep him out for a good five years. But a move to Denver to care for his partner’s mother would get him sober again, this time for good.

It was during his Denver days that he was diagnosed with AIDS in 2005. “I got very sick,” he said.

“My body rejected all the medications. I went in the hospital with 24 t-cells, and 105-fever. I had pneumocystis, so I was confined to the house for almost a year.”

Los Angeles was chosen as his new home after the passing of his mother-in-law. A healthy McGrath wasted no time getting involved and supporting the leather community that helped shape who he is today.

“The fetish community has evolved in tremendous ways,” He said. It’s become broader, much more socially acceptable with books like ‘50 Shades of Grey,’ where Midwest housewives are reading about being tied up or blindfolded.

It’s almost become mainstream.”

McGrath’s journey would all lead to “Twisted DNA 46 XY.” “I wouldn’t be able to run this business if I wasn’t sober,” he said. “If I would have started this company drinking, I would have gotten bored with it, gotten frustrated and thrown it away.

Looking at things through sober eyes, I’m much more proactive.”

Today, with new treatments and medications, McGrath is the healthiest he’s ever been, which is not bad for a kid who was told he’d never live to see 30. He lives with his partner of 15 years who he married 10 years ago. “I’ve come a long way. I’ve had a great life.

I try to live every day to the fullest and with integrity and although I have many character flaws, I do the best I can and that’s all I can ask of myself. Life is too short.”

David McGrath will celebrate 9 years of clean and sober time on May 1, 2014. n To get a full scope of everything that “Twisted DNA 46XY” has to offer, visit twisteddna46xy.com.

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MAR CH 2014 | T H E F I GH T 41

THEEVENT

>> 20TH ANNUAL STEVE CHASE HUMANITARIAN AWARDS <<

PHOTOS BY GREGG FELSON

20TH ANNUAL STEVE CHASE HUMANITARIAN AWARDS

> It was a dual anniversary when Desert AIDS Project marked 30 years of service at the 20th Annual Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards last month in Palm Springs. The Awards honored several members of the organization for their commitment to the cause. Celebrities at the event included Suzanne Somers, Alan Hamel and Jane Krakowski. The organizers presented Arts and Activism Awards to the makers of four films that have brought the heartbreak of AIDS to a mass audience. The ceremony, produced by Richard DeSantis, also included musical numbers and interpretive dancing by members of “So You Think You Can Dance” with honors to activists and tributes to donors.

4 2 T H E F IGH T | M A R C H 2014

> > I N T E R N AT I O N A L B E A R C O N V E R G E N C E < <

PHOTOS BY JAMES GOSNELL

INTERNATIONAL BEAR CONVERGENCE > The first International Bear

Convergence (IBC) took place last month at the Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel. The hugely successful event, catering to bears and their admirers, included four themed pool parties, live entertainment and thousands of bears from around the globe. The main dance event, Furrageous, featured a live performance by Erasureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Andy Bell.

MAR CH 2014 | TH E F I GH T 43

THECALENDAR >> THINGS TO DO << TUESDAY, MARCH 25

JUSTIN EMERICK ROAST Oil Can Harry’s, 11502 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, 9pm—11:30pm. For more info visit: laleatherpride.com.

The Leather Gods’ roast of the outgoing Mr. LA Leather.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26

LEATHER PRIDE VIP RECEPTION AT TOM HOUSE The Tom of Finland Foundation, 1421 Laveta Terrace, Los Angeles. For more info visit: laleatherpride.com.

Meet at TOM House to celebrate LA Leather Pride week with cocktails & hors d’oeuvres.

HADES ON WHEELS—LEATHER ROLLER SKATING Moonlight Rollerway, 5110 San Fernando Rd, Glendale, 7:30pm —11pm. For more info visit: laleatherpride.com.

Annual fetish roller skating event sponsored by Payasos LA. THURSDAY, MARCH 27

SATURDAY, MARCH 8

A GOLDEN GIRLS EXTRAVAGANZA! Mickys 8857 Santa Monica Boulevard. West Hollywood, 4pm—8pm.

The LA Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Present: #ThankU4BeingAFriend: A Golden Girls EXTRAVAGANZA, benefiting NKLA.org.

DRAGGLE ROCK Gym Sportsbar, 8737 Santa Monica Blvd., WeHo, 8pm—11pm.

A charity event for the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center.

AN EVENING WITH BRAHMS Long Beach Performing Arts Center, Terrace Theater, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, 8pm. For more info visit: lbso.org.

SATURDAY, MARCH 15

A ST. PATRICK’S CELEBRATION Long Beach Performing Arts Center, Terrace Theater, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, 8pm. For more info visit: lbso.org.

Long Beach Symphony Orchestra POPS! presents A St. Patrick’s Celebration.

SATURDAY, MARCH 22

HRC LOS ANGELES GALA DINNER 2014 JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE, 900 West Olympic Blvd., 5:30pm. For more info visit hrc.org SUNDAY, MARCH 23

CHARIOTS OF FIRE — LEATHER PRIDE RIDE II ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, 909 West Adams Blvd., 11am—3 pm. For more info visit: laleatherpride.com.

Join the Satyrs MC & the Payasos LA on a motorcycle ride through the streets of LA. ODYSSEY: THE ROAD TO MR. LA LEATHER The Bullet Bar, 10522 Burbank Blvd, 3pm—7pm. For more info visit: laleatherpride.com.

The riders in the Chariots of Fire Leather Pride Ride will end their ride here for the official start of LA Leather Pride 2014.

4 4 T H E F IGH T | M A R C H 2014

PROWL & GROWL Mickys 8857 Santa Monica Boulevard. West Hollywood, 8pm—10:30pm. For more info visit: laleatherpride.com.

Join the men of Bears LA, and Leathermen, as they host the official contestant meet & greet event.

FRIDAY, MARCH 28

THE ASSEMBLY Rough Trade Gear, 3915 W Sunset Blvd., Silverlake, 7:30pm. For more info visit: laleatherpride.com.

Uniform event at this fetish friendly retail store with a huge selection of sex toys, clothes and accessories.

Dress Code is full leather, BLUF or uniform.

TRIBAL RITES Sanctuary LAX, 10914 S. La Cienega Blvd., Inglewood, 10pm—2am. For more info visit: laleatherpride.com.

Join the Men of Avatar as THE party returns to the largest dungeon in California!

CIGAR SOCIAL HOSTED BY MAXIMUS Eagle LA, 4219 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles, 9pm. For more info visit: laleatherpride.com.

Come join the men of the “Eagle LA” for a night of smoke and sexuality.

SATURDAY, MARCH 29

PSLOD: TURNING UP THE HEAT Bullet Bar, 10522 Burbank Blvd, North Hollywood, 1pm—5pm. For more info visit: laleatherpride.com.

Join the men of Palm Springs Leather Order of the Desert as they host an afternoon cigar social— pre contest—for your enjoyment!

GROUPS

ASIAN/PACIFIC GAYS AND FRIENDS www.apgf.org GAY ASIAN PACIFIC SUPPORT NETWORK www.gapsn.org LOS ANGELES GAY AVIATION CLUB Pilots, Flights Attendants, Mechanics. www.unusualattitudes.info CLUB NUR Gay Middle Eastern. www.clubnur.com GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF LOS ANGELES www.gmcla.org THANK GAYS IT’S FRIDAY STANDUP COMEDY Every Friday, 8:30 p.m. MJ’s Bar, 2810 Hyperion Avenue, Los Angeles. (323) 650-1503 GAY & LESBIAN SALSA Every Monday, 8 p.m. Little Temple Bar, 4519 Santa Monica Blvd., Silverlake, 90029. gaysalsanight@yahoo. com or www.facebook.com/gaysalsanight GAY TRAFFIC SCHOOL Third Tuesday and Wednesday of every month, 6-10 p.m. The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N. McCadden Place, Los Angeles 90038. 1-800-Gay-4-You or www.laglc.org POP LUCK CLUB Second Sunday of every month, 11 a.m. Locations vary. Los Angeles based organization for Gay Dads, Prospective Dads, and their families. www.popluckclub.org PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month, at the Gay & Lesbian Center. RSVP to Dennis@malecare.org or call (323) 860-7340.

GREAT AUTOS OF YESTERYEAR The largest LGBT classic car club on the West Coast. www.greatautos.org LOS ANGELES PRIME TIMERS Social group for older mature gay men and admirers. www.laprimetimers.org LOS ANGELES GAY BRIDGE CLUB www.communityvisions.org/IAGLBC LOS ANGELES GAY/LESBIAN SCIENTISTS www.lagls.org LOS ANGELES GAY FOR GOOD Gays making a commitment to volunteer for social welfare and environmental service projects. www.gayforgood.org LOS ANGELES GAY NATURISM California Men Enjoying Naturism. cmen.info BI-OSPHERE P.O.V. Every 2nd Wednesday, 8-9:30 p.m., The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N McCadden Place, Los Angeles. For more information, call (323) 860-7302. M-F between 6-9 p.m. Topic-driven discussion for women and men who identify as, or are exploring bisexuality.

MEN’S SPEAKEASY Every Tuesday at 8 p.m. The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N McCadden Place, Los Angeles. For more information, call (323) 860-7302. Fun, alternative space for gay and bisexual men to meet and make new friends.

15TH ANNUAL MR. LA LEATHER CONTEST & LEGION DANCE Location TBA, 7pm—10pm. For final location details visit: laleatherpride.com.

LGBT BOOK CLUB First Wednesday of each month, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N McCadden Place, Los Angeles. For more information, call (323) 860-7302, M-F between 6-9 p.m.

SUNDAY, MARCH 30

USC LAMBDA LGBT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION alumnigroups.usc.edu/lambda/

VICTORY BRUNCH & 11TH ANNUAL SOUTHLAND HONORS AWARDS Pistons Bar, 2020 E Artesia Blvd, Long Beach, 11:30am. For more info visit: laleatherpride.com.

Honoring the brave Centurion who has ascended to become Mr. Los Angeles Leather 2014!

LOS ANGELES BLACK PRIDE www.myblackpridela.com GREATER PASADENA AID FUND www.greaterpasadenaaidfund.org POSITIVE IMAGES WORKSHOP Every Monday, from 7-9 p.m. The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N McCadden Place, Los

> EMAIL YOUR EVENT OR GROUP TO Angeles. If you’re looking for ways to deal with HIV, the Live Life Better Workshop can help you learn coping skills, build a support system, and work toward your health goals. An RSVP is required. For more information or to reserve your place, call (323) 860-7321. The e-mail contact is positiveimages@lagaycenter.org.

TRANSGENDER PERCEPTIONS Every Friday, 8 p.m. The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N McCadden Place, Los Angeles. For more information, call (323) 860-7302. M-F between 6-9 p.m. Social networking group offers a safe and welcoming opportunity for people of any age and gender identity to learn from others and to share experiences.

GET CENTERED Meditation Class. Every Saturday, 10-11 a.m., $10. Gay & Lesbian Center, 1625 N Schrader Blvd. Los Angeles. For more information, call (323) 860-7300.

SENIORS SERVICES Ongoing, The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N McCadden Place, Los Angeles.

For more information, call (323) 860-7359.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUPPORT Ongoing, L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, 1625 N Schrader Blvd., Los Angeles. For more information, call (323) 860-5806.

MPOWERMENT WEEKLY WORKSHOPS Tuesdays and fridays, 6 p.m. APLA, 3550 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 300, Los Angeles. More info: Donta Morrison, tel: (213) 201-1561. For young gay men of color—ages 18 thru 24—looking for a safe place to hang out. “Each week offers a great opportunity to vent, laugh, make friends, and simply celebrate who you are.”

TRAVEL

FRIENDS TRAVEL www.FriendsTravel.com Gay Owned & Operated, Since 1985.

12 STEP GROUPS

editor@thefightmag.com CRYSTAL METH ANONYMOUS Saturdays, 9:10-10:10 a.m.

DEBTORS ANONYMOUS Tuesdays, 8-9 p.m.

MARIJUANA ANONYMOUS Wednesdays, 8:15-9:45 p.m.

Saturdays, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS Wednesdays, 7-8 p.m.

SEXUAL COMPULSIVES ANONYMOUS Mondays, 8-9 p.m.

Tuesdays, 8-9 p.m.

Wednesdays, 8-9 p.m.

Thursdays, 8:15-9:15 p.m.

Saturdays, 12:15-1:45 p.m.

WOMEN’S NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS Saturdays, Noon-1 p.m.

SPORTS

LOS ANGELES LESBIAN SOFTBALL www.lagaysoftball.com LOS ANGELES LESBIAN TACKLE FOOTBALL www.californiaquakefootball.com LOS ANGELES LESBIAN RUGBY www.eaglerockrugby.com WOMEN’S SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GOLF www.womensgolf.org/wscga LOS ANGELES LESBIAN POKER www.lalpg.com LOS ANGELES WOMEN ON A ROLL Luncheons, Comedy Nights, and Conversation Groups. www.womenonaroll.com

>> LISTINGS << www.sagala.org V.O.I.L.A. Volleyball. www.lagayvolleyball.com GREAT OUTDOORS The largest gay outdoor recreational organization in Southern California. www. greatoutdoorsla.org GAY AND LESBIAN SIERRANS Camping, Outdoors, Hiking Angeles. www.sierraclub.org CHEER LA Cheerleading. www.cheerla.org

HOLLYWOOD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH hollywoodumc.org, 6817 Franklin Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90028 HOLY SPIRIT holyspirit-la.org, 4201 West Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90029 UNITED UNIVERSITY CHURCH uniteduniversitychurch.org, 817 West 34th St., Los Angeles, CA 90089

LA ROWING www.larowing.org

DIGNITY CENTER dignitylosangeles.org, 126 South Avenue 64, Los Angeles, CA 90042

DIFFERENT SPOKES Cycling www.differentspokes.com Rides start in various locations in the greater Los Angeles area.

HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH-HLYWD hopelutheranchurch.net, 6720 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BLADES Ice Hockey. www.bladeshockey.com LOS ANGELES FRONTRUNNERS Running and walking club. www.lafrontrunners.com WEST HOLLYWOOD SOCCER CLUB Comfortable, supportive environment for learning and playing the world’s most popular game. www.gaysoccer.com LOS ANGELES GAY SCUBA CLUB www.barnaclebusters.org LOS ANGELES GAY ROCK CLIMBING www.lalgbtclimbing.com WEST HOLLYWOOD AQUATICS Swim and Water Polo Teams. www.wh2o.org

LOS ANGELES GAY RODEO CLUB www.gsgra.org

WORSHIP

LOS ANGELES GAY FLAG FOOTBALL www.laflagfootball.com There’s also lesbian tackle football.

METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH mccla.org, 4953 Franklin Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027

WEST HOLLYWOOD GAY RUGBY www.larebellion.org

BETH CHAYIM CHADASHIM SYNAGOGUE bcc-la.org, 6090 West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90035

LOS ANGELES POOL LEAGUE Friendly Billiard teams. www.lapl8ball.com

fccla.org 540, South Commonwealth Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90020

All groups meet at The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N McCadden Place, Los Angeles. For more information, call (323) 860-7302 M-F between 6-9 p.m.

GAY & LESBIAN BOWLING LEAGUE www.tavernguildleague.com

KOL AMI REFORM SYNAGOGUE kol-ami.org, 1200 North La Brea Ave., West Hollywood, CA 90038

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS Mondays, 6:10-7:10 p.m.

SAGA LA Gay Ski & Snowboard Club.

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF LOS ANGELES

WEST HOLLYWOOD PRESBYTERIAN wehopres.org, 7350 W Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046 MOUNT HOLLYWOOD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH mthollywood.org, 4607 Prospect Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027 IMMANUEL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH immanuelpres.org, 3300 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010 ST. MATTHEW’S LUTHERAN CHURCH stmatthewsnoho.org, 11031 Camarillo St., North Hollywood, CA 91602 CHRIST CHAPEL OF THE VALLEY christchapel.com, 11050 Hartsook St., North Hollywood, CA 91601 ST. PAUL’S LUTHERAN CHURCH stpaulssm.org, 958 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90403 ST. MONICA CATHOLIC COMMUNITY stmonica.net, 725 California Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90403 WEHO CHURCH wehochurch.com, 916 N. Formosa Ave., West Hollywood, CA 90046 ST. VICTOR’S CATHOLIC CHURCH saintvictor.org, 8634 Holloway Dr. West Hollywood, CA 90069 ST. LUKE LUTHERAN stlukelutheran.com, 5312 Comercio Way, Woodland Hills, CA 91364

For Breaking Daily LGBT News Visit

www.thefightmag.com

MAR CH 2014 | T H E F I GH T 45

THEFINALFIGHT

>> YOUNG GAY MEN <<

THE SILENT “G” WHO’S LOOKING OUT FOR OUR YOUNG GAY MEN?

BY ROB SMITH

> A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of being one of five keynote speakers at the 2014 Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender and Ally College Conference in Kansas City, MO. Speaking for those 2,500 LGBT college students that were gathered for the conference was one of the best moments of my life, and when they leapt to a standing ovation at the end of my speech, I felt gratified. However, it was an experience right beforehand that brought about a nagging issue I can’t get out of my mind.

Earlier that morning, I facilitated a discussion on military issues for LGBT people. As a gay veteran and one of the more visible advocates in the DADT repeal movement, the conference chairs thought that I could provide a space for students attending the conference who had a connection to the military.

The discussion group consisted of two gay men, seven women, and two transgender women. When facilitating the discussion I noticed that the women and transgender participants of the group more or less dominated the conversation. Though there was one bright eyed and excited male Navy veteran who jumped in, he seemed more or less silenced when the conversation between the two transgender women turned into a very complicated discussion about medical and name changing issues they were having with one another while the rest of us observed, unsure of what to bring to the topic.

In the corner of my eye, I noticed that bright—eyed active duty Navy soldier staring forward with a blank look in his eye. The other young man never really spoke a word during the entire session.

Eventually we wrapped up and I moved on to give my keynote, but I found myself thinking back to both of their reactions and eventually realizing that it was a reaction I’d had myself more than once.

When your life is pretty much dedicated to writing and speaking and doing LGBT activism, you will notice that what is “hot” in the LGBT movement or the “fight,” so to speak, is cyclical. Looking back at the fight for DADT repeal and the rights of LGBT soldiers and veterans, I see that it was a movement that was very male and almost hyper—masculine. The voices of women and transgender people (as well as people of color) for the most part took a back seat to that idealized image of the masculine white male soldier.

Over the past few years, transgender women have become more visible than ever before in LGBT and mainstream media. Thanks to strong, talented, and aspirational advocates like Janet Mock and Laverne Cox, transgender women have people to look up to. They have a voice. Most importantly, they have women just like them who are unafraid to speak of the problems that people in their group face. However, their prominence alerts me to a glaring void in advocacy right now.

It is inarguable that gay men (especially white gay men) are the most “privileged” members of the LGBT community, but that knowledge is stifling to our progress. By believing that gay men have it “easy” within the LGBT community and mainstream society, we’re failing our young gay men who are entering into their late teens and twenties and dealing with a whole host of issues that are very 4 6 T H E F IGH T | M A R C H 2014

By presenting gay manhood as some kind of six—pack utopia where there are no worries on the way to the induction into the Velvet Mafia, we are failing them. specific to them.

A study was just released that revealed that young gay and bisexual men were nearly six times more likely to use steroids than their heterosexual counterparts. HIV rates are going up among young gay men due to the rise in barebacking culture. Drug use is rampant. However in our community, the images of gay men presented to be aspirational are not that of thought leaders or powerful advocates, they are of ripped models, porn stars, and the “OMG— I—WISH—HE— WERE—GAY” straight guys that peddle their flesh to be drooled over by gay guys in exchange for Instagram and Twitter followers.

There are hundreds of thousands of young gay men just like

the two men I saw in that room who feel silenced and insecure about how they fit in to the modern LGBT community because their images and role models are so limited. We are not giving them the real story about what it is to be a gay man in 2014. We are not telling them how hard it can be. We are not telling them how much pressure there is to have the perfect body, or how easy it is to slip into bad sexual habits, or how many people are using recreational drugs. By presenting gay manhood as some kind of six—pack utopia where there are no worries on the way to the induction into the Velvet Mafia, we are failing them. We have to do better. It is possible to be out front and yet still left behind. n

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