THE FIGHT L.A.'S LGBT MONTHLY MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2014

ABOUT 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 provider 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 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 these signs and symptoms of liver problems: dark (tea-colored) urine, yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes, palecolored stools (bowel movements), nausea, vomiting, pain or tenderness on your right side below your ribs, or 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 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®), ergotamine (Cafergot,® Ergomar®), methylergonovine, cisapride (Propulsid®), pimozide (Orap®), oral midazolam (Versed®), triazolam (Halcion®), the herbal supplement St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), lovastatin (Mevacor,® Altoprev,® Advicor®), salmeterol (Advair,® Serevent®), 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 provider 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 provider if you are taking estrogen-based contraceptives (birth control). PREZISTA® might reduce the effectiveness of estrogenbased contraceptives. You must take additional precautions for birth control, such as condoms Serious problems can happen if you or your child takes any of these medicines with PREZISTA®.

This is not a complete list of medicines. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you are taking or plan to take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Do not start any new medicines while you are taking PREZISTA® without first talking to your healthcare provider.

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

• Before taking PREZISTA®, tell your healthcare provider if you have any medical conditions, including liver problems (including hepatitis B or C), allergy to sulfa medicines, diabetes, or hemophilia • Tell your healthcare provider 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 provider 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 provider. Do not stop taking PREZISTA® or any other medicines without first talking to your healthcare provider 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 see accompanying full Product Information for more details.

013729-140415

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

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.

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.

Call

**PRZ (**779)

on your mobile phone to watch videos of people living the PREZISTA® Experience.

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 05/14 014606-140430

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.

• Do 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®) • ergot-containing medicines: dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45®, Embolex®, Migranal®), ergotamine (Cafergot®, Ergomar®) methylergonovine • cisapride • pimozide (Orap®) • oral midazolam (Versed®), 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 any of the medicines listed below. The generic name is provided, followed by examples of possible brand names for the drug product: • 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.

• medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection such as cyclosporine (Gengraf®, Sandimmune®, Neoral®), tacrolimus (Prograf®), sirolimus (Rapamune®) • amiodarone (Pacerone®, Cardarone®) • artemether/lumefantrine (Coartem®) • atorvastatin (Lipitor®) • bepridil (Bepadin®, Vascor®) • boceprevir (VictrelisTM) • bosentan (Tracleer®) • buprenorphine (Butrans®, Buprenex®, Subutex®) • buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone®, Zubsolv®) • carbamazepine (Carbatrol®, Equetro®, Tegretol®, Epitol®) • clarithromycin (Prevpac®, Biaxin®) • colchicine (Colcrys®, Col-Probenecid®) • desipramine (Norpramin®) • dexamethasone (Ozurdex®) • digoxin (Lanoxin®) • felodipine (Plendil®) • flecainide (Tambocor®) • fluticasone (Advair Diskus®, Veramyst®, Flovent®, Flonase®) • itraconazole (Sporanox®, Onmel®) • ketoconazole (Nizoral®) • lidocaine (Xylocaine Viscous®) • methadone (Methadose®) • metoprolol (Lopressor®, Toprol-XL®) • nicardipine (Cardene®) • nifedipine (Procardia®, Adalat CC®, Afeditab CR®) • paroxetine (Paxil®, Pexeva®) • phenobarbital

IMPORTANT PATIENT INFORMATION • phenytoin (Dilantin , Phenytek ) • pravastatin (Pravachol®) • propafenone (Rythmol®) • quinidine (Nuedexta®) • rifabutin (Mycobutin®) • risperidone (Risperdal®) • rosuvastatin (Crestor®) • salmeterol (Advair®, Serevent®) • sertraline (Zoloft®) • sildenafil ( Viagra®, Revatio®) • tadalafil (Cialis®, Adcirca®) • telaprevir (IncivekTM) • thioridazine (Mellaril®) • timolol (Cosopt®, Betimol®, Timoptic®, Isatolol®, Combigan®) • trazodone (Oleptro®, Desyrel®) • warfarin (Coumadin®, Jantoven®) • vardenafil (Levitra®, Staxyn®) • voriconazole (VFend®) 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 doctor or pharmacist when you get a new medicine. Do not start any new medicines while you are taking PREZISTA without first talking with your healthcare provider.

How should I take PREZISTA? • Take PREZISTA every day exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider.

• You must take ritonavir (NORVIR®) at the same time as PREZISTA. • Do not change your dose of PREZISTA or stop treatment without talking to your healthcare provider first.

• Take PREZISTA and ritonavir (NORVIR®) with food.

• Swallow PREZISTA tablets whole with a drink. If you have difficulty 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.

• PREZISTA oral suspension should be given with the supplied oral 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.

• If your prescribed dose of PREZISTA oral suspension is more than 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.

• If you take too much PREZISTA, call your healthcare provider or go 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: • If you miss a dose of PREZISTA by less than 12 hours, take your missed dose of PREZISTA right away. Then take your next dose of PREZISTA at your regularly scheduled time.

• If you miss a dose of PREZISTA by more than 12 hours, wait and then take the next dose of PREZISTA at your regularly scheduled time.

People who take PREZISTA two times a day • If you miss a dose of PREZISTA by less than 6 hours, take your missed dose of PREZISTA right away. Then take your next dose of PREZISTA at your regularly scheduled time.

• If you miss a dose of PREZISTA by more than 6 hours, wait and then take the next dose of PREZISTA at your regularly scheduled time.

If a dose of PREZISTA is skipped, do not double the next dose. Do not take 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: • See “What is the most important information I should know about PREZISTA?” • Diabetes and high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). 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. • Changes in body fat. These changes can happen in people who take antiretroviral therapy. The changes may include an increased amount of fat in the upper back and neck (“buffalo hump”), breast, 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. ®

®

• 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.

• Increased bleeding for hemophiliacs. Some people with hemophilia have increased bleeding with protease inhibitors including PREZISTA. The most common side effects of PREZISTA include: • diarrhea • headache • nausea • abdominal pain • rash • vomiting 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 side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

How should I store PREZISTA? • Store PREZISTA oral suspension and tablets at room temperature [77°F (25°C)].

• Do not refrigerate or freeze PREZISTA oral suspension.

• Keep PREZISTA away from high heat.

• PREZISTA oral suspension should be stored in the original container.

Keep PREZISTA and all medicines out of the reach of children.

General information about PREZISTA Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information leaflet. Do not use PREZISTA for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give PREZISTA to 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.

For more information, call 1-800-526-7736.

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, hydrochloric acid (for pH adjustment), purified water.

PREZISTA 75 mg and 150 mg Tablets: colloidal silicon dioxide, crospovidone, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose. The film coating contains: OPADRY® White (polyethylene glycol 3350, polyvinyl alcohol-partially hydrolyzed, talc, titanium dioxide).

PREZISTA 600 mg Tablets: colloidal silicon dioxide, crospovidone, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose. The film coating contains: OPADRY® Orange (FD&C Yellow No. 6, polyethylene glycol 3350, polyvinyl alcohol-partially hydrolyzed, talc, titanium dioxide).

PREZISTA 800 mg Tablets: colloidal silicon dioxide, crospovidone, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, hypromellose. The film coating contains: OPADRY® Dark Red (iron oxide red, polyethylene glycol 3350, polyvinyl alcohol-partially hydrolyzed, talc, titanium dioxide).

This Patient Information has been approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration.

Product of Ireland Manufactured by: PREZISTA Oral Suspension PREZISTA Tablets Janssen Pharmaceutica, N.V. Janssen Ortho LLC, Beerse, Belgium Gurabo, PR 00778 Manufactured for: Janssen Therapeutics, Division of Janssen Products, LP, Titusville NJ 08560 Revised: April 2014 NORVIR® is a registered trademark of its respective owner.

PREZISTA® is a registered trademark of Janssen Pharmaceuticals © Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2006 014859-140506

THECONTENTS

>> SOBRIETY <<

COVER STORIES AND FEATURES GABRIEL VALLEY PRIDE 20 SAN Party in Pasadena

20

22

28

KILLED RAMON ESTRADA? 22 WHO Possible Hollywood Hate Crime

30 24

BODY BY BROWNING 24 Seth Browning On Sobriety FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS 28 Robert E. Blackmon Wedding Guide AMENDS 30 MAKING Keeping Your Ego In Check UNBROKEN: LIFE IN RECOVERY 32 Addiction And Mental Illness THE STIGMA 36 BREAKING Michael’s House, The Canyon GETS BETTER 40 IT “Love Is All You Need?”

42

THANK YOU FOR SHARING

Local Journeys In Recovery

ON THE COVER COVER MODEL: SETH BROWNING COVER PHOTO, MAIN TOC PHOTO AND COVER FEATURE PHOTO BY: ANTHONY DURAN PHOTO EDITOR: JEFF KING HAIR: SCOTT KING MAKEUP: JEFFREY SCOTT WARDROBE: LASC LOCATION: MANSION FITNESS

DEPARTMENTS 08 THE EDITOR In This Issue 10 THE CONTRIBUTORS Our Writers 12 THE LETTERS All The Noise 14 THE TALK Omar Sharif, Joan Rivers 17 THE STATE Porn Condom Bill 18 THE CITY Safety Sting Operation 26 THE ROSTOW REPORT All About Timing 34 THE LAW Waiting For Justice 40 THE EPIDEMIC Better Testing

32

44 THE CALENDAR Events

36 6 T H E F I GH T | S E P T E MBER 2014

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46 THE FINAL FIGHT Rob Smith

THEEDITOR >> IN THIS ISSUE <<

In recognition of National Recovery Month this issue of THE FIGHT focuses on sobriety.

“I decided to get sober because the way I was living my life wasn’t working and I realized I was out of options and I didn’t want to die,” states certified personal trainer at Body by Browning and senior fitness instructor at The Phoenix Effect in West Hollywood, Seth Browning.

The most challenging aspect regarding sobriety says Browning in a interview with Paulo Murillo (“Body By Browning,” page 24) is “accepting life on life’s terms. If I’m having a hard day, or going through some bullshit, I can’t go slam a vodka soda. I’m forced to confront my problems and sort my shit out and for that I’m totally grateful.”

“Every day sober is a gift,” states Browning. “Every day where I don’t have to lie, cheat or steal... when I can show up to work on time, where I can work hard and earn my worth, every day when I can make someone laugh, or smile—those are the gifts.”

“The word ‘recovery’ can sound threatening to members of the LGBTQ community, as many often experience discrimination and shame for their identities,” writes Joel Edwards, Executive Director of Morningside Recovery, an addiction and mental health treatment center in Orange County that specializes in dualdiagnosis and individualized care (“Unbroken: Life In Recovery,” page 32).

“Accepting yourself is critical to health—no matter who you are,” states Edwards. “Being gay, transgender, or unsure of your sexual or personal identity does not make you broken. Nor does having addiction or mental health issues, or both.”

“One in five American adults has a diagnosable mental health issue and 13.6 million have a serious mood disorder,” reveals Edwards.

“According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and Center for Disease Control, approximately 22.5 million people are current illicit drug users, 1 in 12 adults in the United States abuse alcohol, and there are over 79,000 alcohol related deaths per year. In other words, you’re not alone.”

“The recovery community—much like the LGBTQ community—is vast and active,” writes Edwards. “September (National Recovery Month) is a beautiful month to join it, as is every other month. The lesson here is to not stay in the closet—for any reason. You’ll be happier and healthier for it.”

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Stanford Altamirano MANAGING EDITOR Mark Ariel ART DIRECTOR Nadeen Torio MARKETING CONSULTANTS Paul Vallejo John Michael Gamban Sue Ho SOCIAL MEDIA Paulo Murillo WEBMASTER Nadeen Torio GET THE FIGHT AT HOME Sent Via First Class Mail 12 Issues: $36 6 Issues: $24 Mail check or money order to: Third Step, LLC 611 S. Catalina St. Suite 307 Los Angeles, CA 90005 PUBLISHER Third Step, LLC DISTRIBUTION Pride In Media The Fight Magazine is published monthly by Third Step, LLC. 611 South Catalina Street, Suite 307 Los Angeles, CA 90005 Telephone (323) 297-4001 Fax (213) 281-9648 Email info@TheFightMag.com THE FIGHT MAGAZINE LEGAL CAVEATS By listing in The Fight Magazine, advertisers acknowledge that they do business in the spirit of cooperation, fairness and service, maintaining a high level of integrity and responsibility. Providers of products or services are fully and solely responsible for providing same as advertised. The Fight Magazine assumes no liability for improper or negligent business practices by advertisers.

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

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

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

TheFightMag.com STANFORD ALTAMIRANO Editor-In-Chief

8 T H E F I GH T | S E P T E MBER 2014

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

THECONTRIBUTORS PAULO MURILLO West Hollywood resident Paulo Murillo has been writing for gay media for over twelve years. He got his start writing a biweekly column called “Luv Ya, Mean It” for FAB! Newspaper. Visit his website at thehissfit.com, or friend him on Facebook.

ANN ROSTOW Ann Rostow writes news analysis columns for THE FIGHT and other gay publications across the country.

For weekly LGBT News updates, visit her blog at: annrostow.blogspot.com. Ann can be reached at: arostow@aol.com.

10 THE FIGHT | SEPTEMBER 2014

>> OUR WRITERS <<

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).

JOEL EDWARDS Joel Edwards is the Executive Director of Morningside Recovery, an addiction and mental health treatment center in Orange County, CA, that specializes in dualdiagnosis and individualized care. For more information about Morningside Recovery and their LGBTQfriendly programming, call (866) 384-5444 or visit www.MorningsideRecovery.com.

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

JAMES F. MILLS James F. Mills has been reporting on West Hollywood and its city politics since 2006. An award-winning journalist, he finds the city enthralling and is continually astounded by how much news can come out of a city of just 35,000 people. James can be reached at jfmills777@gmail.com

Proudly Serving the LGBT Community

2014 RAV 4

2014 PRIUS

HAN

ANNA NAT

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As Proud Participants In The OFF-SUNSET FAIR FESTIVAL, Anna and Bill would like to warmly thank all the attendees who approached our booth and inquired about our services.

Please call and ask for one of us for more information on our Special Pride Offers!

TOYOTA BOARD OF GOVERNOR'S AWARD Toyota of Glendale is one of only 60 locations in the country to win this prestigious award given for demonstrating outstanding customer service and sales.

Toyota of Glendale CALL: (888) 202-6174 1260 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91204 www.ToyotaOfGlendale.com SEP TEMB ER 2014 | T H E F I GH T 11

Michaelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s House Outpatient Center provides integrated treatment for individuals suffering from substance abuse and mental health conditions.

We offer morning, afternoon and evening programs to fit your lifestyle.

Contact us today to schedule a free assessment.

THELETTERS

>> FROM OUR READERS <<

ALL THE NOISE Dear Editor, Kudos to Eagle Mr. LA Leather Eric Paul Leue for researching and sharing concise information on Truvada (“PrEP School,” THE FIGHT Issue 43).

With all the noise out there regarding this controversial drug it is nice to see some did their homework and can present the facts in an understandable way. The knee-jerk reaction against this drug by a certain AIDS organization seems to be unwarranted—when considering all the aspects surrounding safer sex. Ultimately it’s a personal decision.

It doesn’t make sense to demonize the drug—or those who choose to take it.

—Anthony Castillo, via the internet

AND SADDENED Dear Editor, According to Eric Paul Leue—the following side effects from Truvada—nausea, diarrhea, night sweats—are “mild...” (“PrEP School,” THE FIGHT Issue 43). Other side effects, explains Leue, include bone density loss, and “effects on liver and kidneys.”

And—“none of the side effects are irreversible after the prevention regime is discontinued!”

As if to make it sound more palatable Leue says that the side effects “don’t appear as often in HIV- people as in HIV+ people.”

So? News flash—you don’t have to deal with any of those potential side effects if you use a condom and practice safer sex.

At the end of the interview Leue proclaims that “if we had had this 30 years ago we would have all been on it.” Speak for yourself buddy.

In general—this interview seemed rather slanted towards only one point of view. I’m surprised—and saddened—that THE FIGHT didn’t include additional points of view on this topic.

—Robert Galinson, via the internet

BLESSINGS ON Dear Editor, I received word this morning that radical faerie activist, Bryan Higgins, was removed from life support after he was beaten and left for dead in the Castro district of San Francisco (see “The State,” in this issue, page 17).

Blessings on the life and soul of Bryan Higgins—A beautiful faerie prince.

—Donald Kilhefner, Ph.D., Los Angeles

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

SEP TEMB ER 2014 | T H E F I GH T 13

THETALK

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

FEAR KEEPS

“I believe I am the only Arabic public figure to come out as gay. Fear keeps others from coming out—fear of not being accepted by their families OMAR SHARIF JR. and fear of being rejected by society.”

—Omar Sharif Jr., 30, in an interview with The Advocate.

HUGE SENSE “I feel certain God loves me just the way I am and I have a huge sense of calling to communicate that VICKY to young BEECHING people.”

—British-born out Christian rock singer and religious commentator Vicky Beeching in an interview with the U.K.’s Independent.

COMPLETELY FLIP “If you tell people from Alabama, Mississippi or Georgia, ‘You know what, guys, we’ve been wrong, and we’re gonna be the progay-marriage RAND party,’ they’re PAUL either gonna stay home or—I mean, many of these people joined the Republican Party because of these social issues. So I don’t think we can completely flip.”

—Kentucky Republican Rand Paul, to The New York Times magazine.

1 4 T H E F IGH T | S E P T EM BER 2014

DOESN’T HELP

“Marriage equality is great, but it doesn’t help a lot of people, especially young people who are in JOSH school... dealHUTCHERSON ing with bullying—and at such a formidable age well.”

—“Hunger Games” star Josh Hutcherson last month at the third annual “Celebrity Basketball Game” benefiting “Straight But Not Narrow”—the organization that prepares and trains young adults on how to become LGBT allies, at Nokia Plaza L.A. LIVE.

BIGGEST CHANGE “So many times people in minority groups have to advocate for themselves, and it’s not the deepest or best tradition CLARK GREGG in this country... It’s when people from other groups, and other preferences, advocate on their behalf that we see the biggest change.”

—“Avengers” and “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” star Clark Gregg at the third annual “Celebrity Basketball” Game benefiting “Straight But Not Narrow.”

LAZY LIFESTYLE “I remember [my father] saying to me, ‘I cannot support this lazy lifestyle choice,’ ... I’m like, ‘You’re the smartest SAM guy I know. You CHAMPION sound so incredibly dumb right now. You knew I was different from the time I was a kid. I was just different. I would not choose this. I would not!’”

—Out veteran TV weatherman Sam Champion to Oprah Winfrey on her network’s program “Where Are They Now?”

JOAN RIVERS

NO CLOSETS Gay men have better bodies, on the whole.

That’s number one, and number two: They care more about what they look like. Very seldom will you find a gay schlep. Am I right?

Very few homeless. This is why there are no gay protestors in Zuccotti Park. Because there’s no place to change, and no closets.”

—Joan Rivers to New York Magazine in 2011 on why gay men dress so well and why you won’t find them at Occupy Wall Street.

STRIVE TO BE “I know some of you come from places that require courage and defiance to come out, sometimes at great personal risk... You should know the United PRESIDENT States BARACK OBAMA stands with you and for your human rights... the very idea of America is that no matter who you are, what you look like, where you come from, or who you love, you can make it if you try. That’s who we are, and that’s who we continually strive to be.”

—President Barack Obama in a video message welcoming the thousands of fans, volunteers, and competitors at “Gay Games 9,” which took place last month in Cleveland.

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SEP TEMB ER TOO The Fight Magazine- 1/2 Page Horizontal 072214

2014 | T H E F I GH T 19

AIDS Walk Los Angeles is coming up!

Sunday, Oct. 12 West Hollywood SIGN UP TODAY! aidswalk.net 213.201.WALK Download our free mobile app!

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AIDS WALK

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Thank You to THE FIGHT AIDSWalkLA

Created and produced by MZA Events.

AIDS Walk Founder/Senior Organizer: Craig R. Miller. © MZA Events, 2014

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THESTATE

>> IN CALIFORNIA <<

BRYAN HIGGINS

ALLEGED HATE CRIME DEATH IN SF

Bryan Higgins, 31, a gay San Francisco man known as Feather Lynn, was taken off life support last month, after being found unconscious in San Francisco’s Duboce Triangle neighborhood on Aug. 10. Higgins was severely beaten in an alleged hate crime. Authorities are searching for a man in his early 20s or 30s, wearing a gray hoodie. “Our priority at this point is finding the suspect and the motive for the attack,” said Officer Albie Esparza, a San Francisco police spokesman.

Higgins was a member of the gay men’s counterculture movement Radical Faeries. A vigil organized by Higgins’ husband, Brian Haggerty, and his family was held at Duboce Triangle at 3:33 pm, on Aug. 13, the exact moment when he was taken off of life support. A tribute and memorial was also held at Bronson Park in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where Higgins’ was from originally.

MODERNIZING BIRTH CERTIFICATES The California legislature approved a bill last month that would modernize birth certificates to more accurately reflect families in which parents are of the same gender. The bill, AB 1951, now goes to Democratic Governor Jerry Brown, and if signed, would allow parents to identify themselves as father, mother or parent when a child is born, a change from the current birth certificate that supporters say is more reflective of growing rights and acceptance for same-sex couples.

PORN CONDOM BILL SHELVED A bill that would have mandated the use of condoms by all adult film performers in California, died in an Assembly committee last month. Assemblyman Isadore Hall III, D-Los Angeles, who authored AB 1576, claimed that the bill was simply designed to protect the performers. Diane Duke, executive director of the Free Speech Coalition, said that AB 1576 would have undermined the industry and that it was unnecessary, because the industry already administers their own regular testing for sexually transmitted diseases. n SEP TEMB ER 2014 | T H E F I GH T 17

THECITY HUGE TURNOUT FOR OC LGBT PRIDE

>> BY

PAULO MURILLO <<

BONNIE MCKEE

Thousands turned up to for Orange County Pride 2014— some say the largest turnout to date, which took place last month in Downtown Santa Ana. The festival offered plenty of booths that featured youth activists, Orange County chapters of the Democratic Party and Log Cabin Republicans, the county’s Health Care and Social Services agencies and religious groups like the Episcopal Church. The festival also offered live performances and a diverse blend of live music. Live acts included Bonnie McKee, known for her lead single “American Girl” and for her collaboration with Katy Perry with co-writing credits to hits “California Gurls,” “Teenage Dream,” “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.),” “Part of Me,” “Wide Awake” and “Roar.”

SAN DIEGO GAY MEN’S CHORUS OPEN AUDITIONS

THE SAN DIEGO GAY MEN’S CHORUS

The San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus (SDGMC) is seeking singers, dancers and back stage volunteers for their Holiday Spectacular. SDGMC is one of the largest with 200 members, and oldest gay choruses in the world, having entertained audiences for nearly 30 years. Their mission is to create a positive musical experience through exciting performances that engage audiences, build community support and provide a dynamic force for social change. Auditions will be held Auditions will be held on Saturday, Sept. 6 from 1-5 pm and Sunday, Sept. 7 from 2-5 pm at the University Christian Church (UCC), 3900 Cleveland Ave., in Hillcrest.

Dance auditions are set for Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 7 pm.

For more information, visit: sdgmc.org.

MAYOR JOHN D’AMICO: DOG DAYS West Hollywood mayor John D’Amico made headlines recently by calling the current state of WeHo’s parks a “sort of institutional fetishization of kids,” where there are three play areas for children, but nowhere for dogs to run free. “We love our children here,” he said. “But ... this is an adult city,” reported the LA Times.

WeHo City Council has agreed JOHN D’AMICO to add $5.8 million to the $80 million budgeted for the redevelopment of the West Hollywood park. Designers working on the project will investigate options that will allow dogs to roam freely off leash.

WEHO PEDESTRIAN SAFETY STING OPERATION MAN KILLED IN CROSSWALK ACCIDENT IGNITES OUTRAGE Clinton Bounds, 62, a longtime resident of West Hollywood died after being hit by a car last month in the 8700 block of Santa Monica Boulevard near Hancock Ave. Bounds was well known in the community. His death drew a crowd of protesters that gathered on the crosswalk where he was hit and killed.

Demonstrators held up traffic as they crossed the crosswalk back and forth holding signage that read “Not Safe,” “R.I.P. Clinton,” and “Do Something West Hollywood.”

Traffic Services officers in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are investigating the accident.

0 01 8T HTEH E F I GH T |T M TH 2014 F IGH | O SN EP T EM BER 2014

Pedestrian and crosswalk safety efforts came with a hefty price for 50 or so individuals who happened to be on Santa Monica in the heart of West Hollywood last month. A sheriff’s department team issued over 50 citations during a pedestrian safety operation.

WEHOville.com reports that about 40 citations were issued to drivers and 17 citations were issued to pedestrians. The vehicle violations were issued to those who failed to yield to pedestrians and to distracted drivers who were texting while driving. Pedestrian citations were issued to those who were either jaywalking or crossing at a red light.

“I think it’s totally bogus,” Kevin Chase told THE FIGHT after he was issued a jaywalking ticket for stepping into the street a few seconds before the light turned green. “It had little or nothing to do with public safety, and everything to do with gotcha policing.” n

SEP TEMB ER 2014 | T H E F I GH T 19

San Gabriel Valley Pride Save the date: Saturday, September 20th from 11am to 6pm in Memorial Park and the Levitt Pavilion in Pasadena. Entertainers include Abi Ann, Dario and The South Pasadena Transit Authority. Free admission!

BY VICTOR MELAMED

DARIO

The Board of Directors of San Gabriel Valley Pride is pleased to present “Reflections of Pride!” on Saturday, September 20th from 11am to 6pm in Memorial Park and the Levitt Pavilion in Pasadena.

The LGBT Pride festival is free to the public.

The celebration will feature entertainment in the Levitt Pavilion, the always-popular Classic Car Show sponsored by Great Autos of Yesteryear; an Authors’ Forum with area LGBT authors;

ABI ANN

the Big Draw LA, a community draw experience where you can create a “road tile” for the “Road to Equality;” a Health Fair for everyone; a HERitage & HIStory area, free Drag Queen Bingo with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and a fundraising wine tasting featuring Barefoot Wines.

There will also be an array of community exhibitors and vendors, including tasty treats and refreshments available for purchase.

For the first time, entertainment will be featured in the Levitt

Pavilion. The line-up will include performers “Abi Ann and One Country,” “Dario,” “The Podunk Poets,” “Redd Carter,” “Deanna Dela Cioppa,” and “The South Pasadena Transit Authority.”

The Classic Car & Motorcycle Show sponsored by Great Autos of Yesteryear will feature up to two dozen pre-1979 classic cars.

The Authors’ Forum features LGBT authors and their reading/ signing their books.

The Pride festival will again participate in the Big Draw LA with the assistance of The Armory.

Festival-goers of all ages are invited to create a road tile with an image (materials provided) of what Pride means to them. the road tiles will be added to the “Road to Equality” which will be on display at the event.

For more information visit: www.sgvpride.org.

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AUG UST 2014 | T H E F I GH T 21

Who Killed Ramon Estrada?

The LAPD is offering a $50,000 reward for information on the gruesome fatal beating of Ramon Estrada.

BY JAMES MILLS In the early morning hours of July 7, Ramon Estrada phoned his boyfriend of 13 years, Michael Shutt, saying he’d just left the Gold Coast, a bar in West Hollywood where he was a regular, that he would be home soon and to leave the door unlocked because he had forgotten his keys.

But the 36-year-old Inglewood native never made it home. Estrada was found beaten and lying unconscious, his wallet and phone missing, between two cars parked on Santa Monica Boulevard, near Mansfield Avenue, just two blocks from his apartment at Lexington and Citrus avenues.

Estrada was taken to Cedars Sinai Medical Center where he was a coma for almost a month before dying on August 5.

“I’d give anything to know what happened between 1:45 (when Estrada called Shutt) and 2:02 (when he was found),” says the grieving Shutt. “Those mysterious seventeen minutes.”

POSSIBLE HATE CRIME

The Los Angeles Police Department wants to know too. They have deemed Estrada’s death a homicide and are offering a $50,000 reward for information about Estrada’s attacker(s).

According to Det. Scott Masterson of the LAPD’s West Bureau homicide division, they are looking for a light-colored car, possibly silver or beige, likely a small SUV or a car with a hatchback. They think the car in question was a Lexus SUV RX-350.

They are also looking for three black men, around ages 18 to 25, who were seen running from the area. It is not known whether they were involved in the attack or were witnesses who were fleeing.

“We will follow every lead to the fullest,” promises Masterson, adding that people should call 213-382-9470 if they have information about the crime.

The police have not yet determined whether his attack was a mugging or a hate crime. “The hate crime aspect doesn’t come into play until we’re meeting with the 2 2 T H E F IGH T | S E P T EM BER 2014

With no identification and his hands too bruised and swollen to get clear finger prints, Estrada was admitted to Cedars as a “John Doe.” district attorney,” explains Masterson. “A hate crime is determined by the evidence. It’s what we can prove, not what we think.”

LIFE SUPPORT

Shutt says his life has been a nightmare since July 7. With no identification and his hands too bruised and swollen to get clear finger prints, Estrada was admitted to Cedars as a “John Doe.” Meanwhile, Shutt began searching for Estrada and filed a missing persons report. A week later, when Shutt and a friend stopped by the LAPD’s Hollywood division to ask about updates and to leave a missing person flier, they accidentally learned where Estrada was.

By chance, the officer they were talking to said the photo of Estrada looked a lot like a man at Cedars he had tried to fingerprint. They rushed to Cedars where they identified the comatose man as Estrada.

“We couldn’t get there fast enough. We were screaming and crying. We wished we had a helicopter,” recalls Shutt. “It was a relief to have found him, but a nightmare seeing what had happened to him.”

Estrada never regained consciousness. In addition to head trauma from the beating, Estrada developed pneumonia and his lungs collapsed on Aug. 2. The family kept him on life support until Aug. 5.

“When his lungs collapsed, that’s really when he died,” reports Shutt. “Even though there was no chance of him recovering, pulling the plug was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”

GETTING MARRIED

Estrada and Shutt met at Ozz, a now-defunct gay bar in Buena Park, in Sept. 2001. Shutt, who grew up outside of Durango, Colorado, says that Estrada “instantly grabbed my heart.” By December, they were officially a couple and by May 2002, they were living together in Shutt’s West Covina apartment.

After moving to Las Vegas for a few years, the two came to Hollywood in 2005, where Estrada worked as a banquet server at the Renaissance Hotel (now the Loew’s Hollywood Hotel) at the Hollywood and Highland complex. Their life together was happy; they even adopted a small terrier dog named Tiko.

The couple was registered as domestic partners and was talking about getting married.

“There wasn’t any rush to get married. We knew we’d do it eventually,” says Shutt who works as an account manager for a limousine service. “I’d sure rather be planning a wedding than a funeral.”

BIG BROTHER

Friends describe Estrada as “always smiling,” “protective,” and “warm hearted.” Wendy Mairena, who went to high school with Estrada, thought of him as a “big brother.” “He was always looking out for me,” says Mairena. “He was so happy go lucky, but he always wanted to know how I was, always doing things for me.”

Kenslea Sohl, a flight attendant who lived near Estrada and Shutt, says she’d frequently ask him to check on her teenage daughter while she was away.

“I always trusted him, “Sohl says. “I always knew he’d take care of things if there was a problem.”

Friends at the Gold Coast also described him as “easy going” and “well liked.” “There wasn’t anyone here [of the regulars] who wouldn’t sit beside him,” says Matthew Lynch, a Gold Coast regular. “He was always happy and relaxed.”

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REMAIN VIGILANT

Cleve Jones, a longtime gay rights activist based in San Francisco, was among the people who attended Estrada’s memorial service held on Aug. 26.

Jones, who is involved with the hospitality workers union of which Estrada was also a member, called his death a “tragedy.” However, he warned the LGBT people must remain vigilant.

“The sad reality is that everywhere we go, even in West Hollywood or the Castro, there remains the distinct possibility that we will be attacked, assaulted or even murdered solely because of our sexual orientation,” says Jones.

“It underscores the importance of confronting the haters and the religious bigots who put out these hateful messages masquerading as religion.”

Shutt is taking that message to heart. “Always forgive, never hold grudges, Ramon taught me that,” says Shutt. “But I’m going to fight for the rest of my life to make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else. No one should ever go through what I’m going through.” n If you have any information about this crime, call Det. Scott Masterson at 213-382-9470.

SEP TEMB ER 2014 | T H E F I GH T 23

Body By Browning The Phoenix Effect’s Seth Browning on current trends in the world of fitness, getting sober and meeting Britney Spears.

BY PAULO MURILLO | PHOTO BY ANTHONY DURAN

A certified personal trainer

at Body by Browning and senior fitness instructor at The Phoenix Effect in West Hollywood, Seth Browning took a leap of faith when he moved to Los Angeles earlier this year. “I left a failing business in the OC and took a gamble at training in the bright lights of LA,” he reveals. “I had $300 in my pocket, self-determination and a lot of faith that everything would be okay.”

Things are more than just okay for Browning today. He has a list of loyal clients who follow his lead at his boot camp classes, he trains people one-on-one at Mansion Gym, he’s done some runway modeling, and his handsome face is currently up on a billboard in West Hollywood. However, he says none of his current success would be possible if it weren’t for his five years of

2 4 T H E F IGH T | S E P T EM BER 2014

continuous sobriety.

In an interview with THE FIGHT Browning, born and bred in Orange County, talks about the world of fitness, getting sober and how losing his fitness mentor trainer Jovin Raethz to an overdose of GHB made him determined to carry on with his legacy.

When and how did you get into the fitness field?

I had my first gym membership when I was 15 years old. I’m 33 now, so I’ve been working out for 18 years, which is a good selling point for my clients. I decided I wanted to be a personal trainer when I was 20. I got certified, but then I went to college, so I didn’t do anything with it. Two years ago, I decided to go for it and I got certified through 24-Hour Fitness.

What are some current trends in the world of fitness?

I’ve seen so much change in the fitness field, it’s crazy. I see people use more body weight like TRX. People want to look longer and leaner, more holistically inclined, rather than look big and bulky. I see people taking care of the whole package more.

What are the benefits of boot camps, versus one-on-one training?

The Phoenix Effect is designed to burn a lot of calories and put on lean muscle while having fun, but when people want to take their body to the next level, they usually train privately with me. Most people who see the best results are the people that take boot camp twice a week and train with a trainer twice a week. The combination of that is a really

I decided to get sober because the way I was living my life wasn’t working and I realized I was out of options.

To talk about the circumstances of his death was really hard, because it wasn’t congruent with his life. Jovin loved my sobriety. He respected it. He honored it.

And the sober people loved him in his boot camp classes. He brought this light and life and health and he was inspiring, so it’s just tough on so many levels for me. I’m not going to sit here and lie. GHB will kill you.

You take too much of that stuff and it will kill you. You may not have a problem. It could be your first time, but you better know what you’re getting into. That person was taken from me and I feel very strongly about that.

I miss Jovin very much.

What made you decide to get sober?

That’s a heavy duty question... I decided to get sober because the way I was living my life wasn’t working and I realized I was out of options and I didn’t want to die.

It must’ve been horrible to lose [fitness trainer and friend] Jovin to a GHB overdose earlier this year, when you yourself are sober.

It was heartbreaking. We were close. It was one of the hardest weeks of my life, because I had to pick up where he left off and take over his classes. I was crying on a daily basis and then having to show up to boot camp with a smile on my face. It was very hard. I had to win these people over again and get them to smile, so it was a remarkable experience and a testament to the human spirit. And those boot campers stood by me just as much as I stood by them and now his legacy continues through me.

Were people morbidly curious about the way he died?

What are some gifts you received in sobriety?

Every day sober is a gift. Every day where I don’t have to lie, cheat or steal... when I can show up to work on time, where I can work hard and earn my worth, every day when I can make someone laugh, or smile—those are the gifts.

Some other gifts of sobriety are topical.

I’m accomplishing my dreams. I’m on a billboard in West Hollywood. I teach a great boot camp and I have a solid following of people I love. I have an amazing group of friends. I have a very functional relationship with my family. I’m healthy. I have six abs that show—I never had that in my 20s. And I met Britney Spears.

What does being sober have to do with meeting Britney Spears?

Accepting life on life’s terms. If I’m having a hard day, or going through some bullshit, I can’t go slam a vodka soda. I’m forced to confront my problems and sort my shit out and for that I’m totally grateful, but it’s hard. Sometimes I wish I could just escape, but I can’t.

I was in Vegas for a sober event. The plan was to go see Britney—I’m a die-hard fan. I know one of her dancers in her show.

Fifteen minutes before the show, he texts me to ask me where I was sitting. He had a scary looking security guard take me backstage to do Freak Show—the song where Britney serenades you. For a second I was too terrified to get in front of whole stadium, but I decided I was going to have courage and live in the moment. So this scary security guy interrogated me and one of the questions he asked was, had I been drinking? I told him, I don’t drink. He didn’t believe me at first. The next thing I know, I’m strapped into a harness and being spanked by Britney Spears. She walked me across the stage like a dog and introduced me to the crowd. We looked into each other’s eyes and she serenaded me. I’ll never forget it. It wouldn’t have happened if I had been drinking that night. That was a real gift of sobriety.

Do you think it’s possible to get addicted to working out?

For more on Seth Browning visit bodybybrowning.com or find him on Facebook and Instagram under insta handle sethenator.

How has your life changed since you got sober?

badass way of keeping you lean and ripped.

I think people can develop an unhealthy relationship with fitness... a lot of times people in recovery will become addicted to working out, because our addiction doesn’t necessarily go anywhere, it’s like water seeking release, whether it’s food, sex or the gym. The rush, those endorphins, that clarity, that feeling of power that comes from working out can be addictive, so I say take a day off and just chill.

Oh, how has it not changed? When I got sober, they would tell me everything changes or nothing changes and the only thing that has to change is everything. I was willing to do anything, so everything changed. I lost like 45 pounds. My skin got better. I looked younger. My quality of friends is better. I’m a better employee. I’m happier. Everything has changed for the better in every single aspect of my life.

What would you say is the most challenging thing about sobriety?

SEP TEMB ER 2014 | T H E F I GH T 25

THEROSTOWREPORT

BY

ANN

I haven’t seen the new flick “Love is Strange,” but according to reports, the film is absolutely clean. No sex, no nothing, just gay romance. So why did the Motion Picture Association of America give it an R rating?

The only answer seems to be that the movie features two men in love.

A BREAK FROM TRADITION; PLAYING DEVIL’S ADVOCATE

Good news everyone! We dodged a bullet in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, a federal appellate court out of the Midwest that features a two-to-one ratio of GOP versus Democratic appointments. One report likened our lucky break to hitting a legal jackpot as the three-judge panel was announced for the appeal of marriage victories in Wisconsin and Indiana.

What happened? We ended up with a Clinton pick, an Obama pick, and the veteran iconoclast, Richard Posner, appointed by Ronald Reagan but definitely on our side. In oral arguments at the end of last month, these three eviscerated the hapless lawyers who attempted to defend marriage discrimination, leading commentators to break from tradition by predicting a sweep in favor of marriage equality.

I say “break with tradition” because no one likes to jump to conclusions after oral arguments. A judge who asks a tough question might be playing devil’s advocate, or giving a lawyer a chance to shine. Plus, most rulings are based on the written briefs anyway. That said, this hearing seemed to be an exception to the rule, with comments from the bench so scathing that attorneys trying to argue for the status quo were left muttering and sputtering. Bottom line: an appeal that we could have easily lost seems to be headed for the win column.

Meanwhile, the opposite is true for the Sixth Circuit, where arguments were held earlier in August for cases out of Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee. There, we seemed to have one judge on our side, another one against us, and a third who also leans towards state’s rights. Now, however, some are wondering if the Sixth Circuit panel

2 6 T H E F IGH T | S E P T EM BER 2014

ROST OW

might be wary of becoming the first federal appellate court to rule against gay couples. After all, they watched the Tenth Circuit rule in our favor. They watched the Fourth Circuit rule in our favor. They see that the Seventh is heading our way. And, for reasons I won’t repeat, they know the Ninth Circuit is going to back marriage equality as well.

With the Fifth Circuit stalling on the Texas case, do they want to be the only appellate court to come out in favor of continued discrimination?

Maybe so. Or maybe they’ll stall. Or maybe, just maybe, they’ll find a way to rule without condemning gay couples to second-class citizenship.

ALL ABOUT TIMING AND PROMPT RESOLUTIONS

At any rate, as you know, the Supreme Court will be asked to take the cases out of the Tenth Circuit and the Fourth Circuit. Assuming the justices take one or all of these appeals, the whole issue of marriage equality will head to the High Court in the upcoming session.

Presumably, the results of the other appellate court rulings on marriage will combine with these cases, or await the decision of the justices next June.

Could this scenario be wrong? It’s hard to see how. The Supreme Court has put a hold on marriages in Utah, Oklahoma and Virginia, and those holds will expire if the justices decide not to review those cases. Why would they hold off on these marriages, only to let them take place after a few months delay?

Keep in mind that should the stays expire, marriage equality would quickly become law throughout the Tenth and Fourth Circuits, bringing the Carolinas, West Virginia, Colorado, Wyoming and Kansas into the equality column.

As for the timing, the Supreme Court issues rulings through late June, and sometimes the first few days of July.

So, with very few exceptions, any case it takes is resolved by mid-year. In the case of Brown v. Board, the Court requested additional briefs and managed to delay its segregation ruling for a year, so there is some precedent for stretching things out. In this instance, however, the Court has to realize that a prompt resolution is in the country’s best interest.

STERLING, STIVIANO AND THE PORTRAIT OF DORIAN GREY

Enough marriage news. I just read that ex Clippers owner Donald Sterling is reportedly gay. So says his paramour, V. Stiviano, in legal filings. Stiviano said Sterling used her to draw attention away from his closet door, and I think I speak for all of my gay male readers when I wonder just what kind of healthy and sane man would have sex with Donald Sterling? The guy looks like the portrait of Dorian Grey.

Toss in a little racism, a little narcissism, and a dollop of pure crazy and you’ve got an extremely repellent package.

I was just imagining Donald Sterling on Grindr, which reminded me that Grindr reportedly can pinpoint your location down to 100 feet. Not only that, but a person could discover your profile along with your exact position, fine for the cute guy you’re trying to meet, but not so fine for the troll who’s stalking you.

Someone in a rural area would be identified for sure, a danger if there’s a gay basher looking for action in the countryside.

Grindr explains that a user can simply turn off the locator, but (pardon my ignorance) doesn’t that kind of miss the

> > D E V I L’ S A D V O C AT E , R E S O L U T I O N S , D O R I A N G R E Y, G A Y R O M A N C E , C H R I S T M A S S H O P P I N G < <

point of Grindr? I also can’t help wondering why such a significant problem has gone unreported all these years.

GAY ROMANCE & THE MOTION PICTURE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

So, how about the former governor of Virginia and the bitchy ex FLOVA, an antigay sleazebag married to a money grubbing harridan both in pursuit of a con artist? I have been enjoying their public humiliation, although I’m not proud of myself for that. But really.

If you’re going to compromise your life, career and reputation, you would think that you’d get more out of it than a shopping spree and a few rounds of golf. They’re not only corrupt, they lack imagination.

I also saw that ESPN apologized for a gratuitous report about gay NFLer Michael Sam. The sportsters informed us that Sam makes a point of waiting until his teammates are done with the showers before using them himself, a revelation that may or may not be true and that implies that shower habits are indeed a critical factor in how openly gay athletes may participate in team sports. As Chris Long, one of Sam’s fellow Rams, tweeted to ESPN: “Everyone is over it except you.”

Finally, how annoying is the Motion Picture Association of America, the group that among other things hands out movie ratings? I haven’t seen the new flick “Love is Strange,” but according to reports, the film is absolutely clean. No sex, no nothing, just gay romance. So why did the MPAA give it an R rating?

The only answer seems to be that the movie features two men

in love. But is that grounds for banning anyone under 17 from the audience? Even with parental approval? If so, the MPAA has some ‘splainin to do. Oh, and keep in mind that an R rating automatically cuts into box office receipts, so the MPAA is not only discriminating, it’s screwing the producers.

YOUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING MADE EASY

Finally, you LA sophisticates probably know all about the proposed coffee table book titled: “Gay Men Draw Vaginas,” a compilation of artistic efforts in this regard assembled in the Bay Area over the last year or so. If you don’t, you should. And if the publishers haven’t reached their $37,000 goal on kickstarter by

now, we all should throw in a few more bucks.

Because we need this book to come out in time for Christmas!

The project began when Shannon O’Malley asked her gay buddy Keith Wilson to draw a vagina on the table at a restaurant with a crayon. Wilson’s attempt inspired the other men at the party to try their hand, and the idea was born. Wilson and O’Malley subsequently set up drawing stands at gay events, eventually collecting what sounds like a provocative array of images. And yes, I imagine some of my sisters will soon be contributing to an edition of “Lesbians Draw Penises.”

I’d be embarrassed to try, but I’m not sure many of us could do a vagina either. We usually have our eyes closed.

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SEP TEMB ER 2014 | T H E F I GH T 27

For Whom The Bell Tolls Contributing writer Robert E. Blackmon on his new book, “The Gay Groom’s Guide to Planning Your Perfect Wedding.”

BY VICTOR MELAMED In an interview with THE FIGHT Robert E. Blackmon, a fixture in the Los Angeles gay leather community, reveals the inspiration for his new book on gay weddings, getting married in Canada and the importance of having a Plan B. What motivated you to write about wedding planning for gay men?

My then boyfriend Martin purposed to me on a trip to the Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco in 2008. Once the shock wore off, I quickly started the planning process. We hadn’t even decided how many guests we were going to have, but I knew that lots of things would need to be ordered in advance. Much to my surprise, I had a very difficult time finding the simplest of wedding items for two men. My frustration led to the realization that if I was having this problem other men must be too.

That’s how it all started. I wanted to spare other grooms the drama I faced planning my own wedding.

How did you go about writing the book?

It was exciting. The actual writing of the book evolved from my wedding scrapbook at first. I didn’t begin writing the book until we came back from our honeymoon. So it was an entire year before I began writing. It was more difficult finding the materials to write about. I would go to newsstands and bookstores buying every bridal book available. Not really expecting to find much in the way of items for the groom, I was merely using them for inspiration.

This usually pissed me off more than it helped. As I would look for items I would come up against dead end after dead end.

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You and your husband Martin got married in Canada. Why? Because it’s legal there! Martin is a dual Canadian/ American citizen and I had already partially moved there to be with him. The original plan was to have a small ceremony with family and close friends in Canada and then a huge party here in Los Angeles with the rest of our friends at our house (here). Thanks to Prop 8, we decided to focus on the Canadian ceremony.

Had you always wanted to get married and have a wedding?

The more Martin and I discussed having a real legal wedding, the more it became important to me. I realized I wanted to wear white (yes I wore white). I wanted the pomp and circumstance that every other straight person takes for granted. I’ve learned and grown. As a proud black, gay father and now husband, I understand that it is important that my children see me be proud of my accomplishments and myself. Having my parents in full support of me was the most amazing part of it as well.

But THAT is a completely different book!

How involved was your husband in the writing of this book?

Well the book is entitled, “The Gay Groom’s Guide To Planning Your Perfect Wedding”—I wouldn’t have been able to write it without the other groom (nor should you).

Since I had planned to write it from the inception of the wedding process, he was incredibly insightful about things we needed to mindful of. Martin has an ex-wife. He’s been through the big family wedding process before. He informed me of aspects that needed to be addressed... He was vital to the process for sure.

If you could give one key piece of advice about planning your own wedding—what would it be?

Have a Plan B. It’s wonderful to dream big, but you can’t count on everything to go as smoothly as you’d like. If it does, great! But have a backup for those really important things. The last thing you want on your wedding day is to be so obsessed about what went wrong that you can’t enjoy everything that is going right.

Catch Robert’s radio interview with N’SYNC’s own Lance Bass on “Dirty Pop with Lance Bass” on October 2, 2014 at 3:30pm, followed by his book launch in West Hollywood.

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SEP TEMB ER 2014 | T H E F I GH T 29

MAKING AMENDS

Amending my past behavior has been hard.

Getting an amends from someone I hated for so many years was not much easier.

BY PAULO MURILLO | PHOTO BY RICK GALIHER

I was up against it that spring of 2010, and going through it, after what has to be the very worst breakup of my entire gay career and the most painful experience in my seven-plus years of sobriety.

The breakup wasn’t so bad initially. After two years, we knew it was over. We both had three years of sobriety, so I figured our recovery would keep things civil---however, all that changed after I learned that my new ex had himself a new boyfriend the very next day after we broke up. And of course, it was with the same guy who had been the subject of suspicions and fights for many months before the bitter end. My sadness turned to shame and shame always turns to anger where my discomfort is concerned- “How can you have a new boyfriend?” I demanded to know. “We’re still wearing each other’s underwear!”

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To forgive is divine, but one look at that pretty face and I’d grit my teeth.

Ego. Pride. Shame. Anger. Repeat.

EGO AND PRIDE

Trust me-I’m no St. Paulo. This wasn’t the first time I had been dumped by any means, but it was the first time I had been dumped for another man--a younger man. Some may say a more attractive man. I get that people meet, people fall in love, and sometimes other people involved get hurt, but the other guy was also sober, and the whole mess was very public in the small bubble that is gay sobriety. My ego and pride could not wrap itself around being so humiliated. It sucked. I had always fancied myself an Angelina Jolie where other guys were concerned, yet those two put my ass on blast as a Jennifer Aniston, and nobody wants to be the Jen in that situation (no offense). And so began my suffering. I had to buckle down and go through the motions completely clean and sober.

However, my suffering lasted for the length of their relationship, which was for a few—very long -months.

The ex and I got into some pretty vicious fights after their breakup. He eventually made his amends to me in his own way. In recovery we say there are no victims, just volunteers, so I had to own my own shit. We worked it out.

The other guy was a whole different story. I had a lot of hatred in my heart for that guy, even though he was only partly to blame. He’s a good looking guy in a Keanu Reeves sort of way, so he was easy to hate. Every time I saw him, I wanted to punch his face in. I understood that my hatred towards him did him no harm and that it only harmed those close to me who took the brunt of my resentment.

I also understood that hating him was like drinking the poison and expecting him to die. To forgive is divine, but one look at that pretty face and I’d grit my teeth. Ego. Pride. Shame. Anger. Repeat.

THE MORAL RUINS

Four years went by. Then one evening, we were forced to sit a few bodies away from each at a lecture of sorts. All three parties had moved on and found love elsewhere, yet this guy still put my teeth on edge. It was so uncomfortable being around him.

About a week after that meeting, I received a text from me exboyfriend, telling me that that the guy he dumped me for wanted my phone number. The other guy clearly wanted to make an amends to me. The question was, did I want to hear it? Then I thought about all that discomfort. I was tired of my silent rage, so like yeah, I had to hear this guy out. I would want to be heard.

I repeat: I’m no angel. Needless to say my amends list is long.

Making amends wherever possible is tough. I remember being told that I needed to face the realities of my negative impact on others and I was like, “But I’m not sorry! A wise woman told me that it’s human nature.” However, making an amends is more than saying you’re sorry; it’s about a reparation or compensation for damage or injury of any kind. I swore the people I had wronged had it coming, but that was my way of dodging any remorse, guilt and (here we go again) shame from the moral ruins of my addiction and the trail of shattered relationships I littered along the way. Amending my past behavior has been hard. Getting an amends from someone I hated for so many years was not much easier.

STAY THE COURSE

We met at the WeHo library. On my way there, I realized the only words I have ever spoken to this person were, “nice to meet you.”

That’s it. Yet the fights and conversations I’ve had about him, as well as the back and forth he and I have had...inside my head, have been endless.

I’m not going to get into his amends process and I didn’t dare use the word “forgive” after he was done, for what am I not...an angel.

I did tell him not to worry about me. I told him, I didn’t want to hate him anymore—hatred didn’t serve me too well. I wanted to remove any discomfort he and I felt when we were in the same room and I acknowledged that a lot of the pain I went through was self-inflicted and ego-based. And this was a little more mature than I care to be, but we actually hugged it out in the end—all in the spirit of fellowship, one alcoholic to another, trying to stay the course.

I also hate to admit how relieved I felt after it was over. It took four years, but I finally dropped the rock. It was really over.

I walked away from that meeting thinking how Jennifer Anniston has done alright for herself despite her being the Jen. And then I got to thinking that I should’ve made that bitch grovel for a little longer.

Just kidding. n For more Paulo Murillo commentary, visit thehissfit.com.

SEP TEMB ER 2014 | T H E F I GH T 31

At the center of mental health and addiction are powerful emotions that require unpacking. Real control, real courage, is being both self-aware and proactive enough to make a change for the better.

UNBROKEN:

site direction; people with mental health issues often become chemically addicted in an effort to self-treat their symptoms. This can happen with street drugs or medications prescribed by a doctor. Thus, LGBTQ individuals who leave their addiction or mental health issues unaddressed (or are simply unaware) easily fall down a path of dangerous and unhealthy behavior. Excessive partying, shopping, organizing, or any other behavior can become an addiction as you attempt to soothe old wounds through a high or distorted sense of control.

At the center of mental health and addiction are powerful

LIFE IN RECOVERY The notion of being “abnormal” through addiction and mental illness (what professionals call “dual-diagnosis”) can arouse a false sense of being broken.

BY JOEL EDWARDS The word “recovery” can sound threatening to members of the LGBTQ community, as many often experience discrimination and shame for their identities. Even for LGBTQ individuals who have found peace and happiness in their gender and sexuality, the notion of being “abnormal” through addiction and mental illness (what professionals call “dual-diagnosis”) can arouse a false sense of being broken.

In the LGBTQ community experiences of neglect, misunderstanding, and abuse are common sources of trauma, poor self-esteem, and certain mental health issues.

There is also a heritable component to mental health, meaning diseases like depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia can run in families. In other words, many people—LGBTQ or otherwise—are born with it.

That being said, not every child of a schizophrenic mother can or will develop schizophrenia themselves.

Drugs and alcohol can play a role in triggering mental health issues, whether their use is healthy or abusive. The same is true in the oppo32 T H E F I GH T | S E P T EM BER 2014

emotions that require unpacking.

Real control, real courage, is being both self-aware and proactive enough to make a change for the better.

So now what? The good news is that there are treatment programs across the country that not only cater to the needs of people with dual-diagnosis, but are LGBTQ friendly. There are some that even let you bring your pet with you to treatment.

Do your research and educate yourself as much as possible so you find high quality care that fits you and your personal needs.

There are other issues to address too, like choosing good doctors, therapists, or support groups to work with after treatment. The thing about recovery is it’s a lifelong process. With the help of experts, you can improve your life in so many more ways than just getting sober or a

proper mental health diagnosis.

The transition to a new, happier life will be much easier with professional guidance. A major social adjustment necessary for recovery is learning to ask for help. There is absolutely no shame in having dual-diagnosis the same way there is absolutely no shame in being LGBTQ. Accepting yourself is critical to health—no matter who you are. Being gay, transgender, or unsure of your sexual or personal identity does not make you broken. Nor does having addiction or mental health issues, or both. One in five American adults has a diagnosable mental health issue and 13.6 million have a serious mood disorder. According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and Center for Disease Control, approximately 22.5 million people are current illicit drug users, 1 in 12 adults in the United States abuse alcohol, and there are over 79,000 alcohol related deaths per year. In other words, you’re not alone.

The recovery community— much like the LGBTQ community—is vast and active. September (National Recovery Month) is a beautiful month to join it, as is every other month. The lesson here is to not stay in the closet—for any reason. You’ll be happier and healthier for it. Guaranteed.

Joel Edwards is the Executive Director of Morningside Recovery, an addiction and mental health treatment center in Orange County, CA, that specializes in dual-diagnosis and individualized care. For more information about Morningside Recovery and their LGBTQ-friendly programming, call (866) 384-5444 or visit www.MorningsideRecovery.com

THELAW >> JUSTICE <<

WAITING FOR JUSTICE THE VAST MAJORITY OF INDIVIDUALS, WHO ARE NOT MEMBERS OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION, ARE NOT AWARE OF THE INCREASING LEVEL OF INJUSTICE THAT HAS EMPTIED FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA’S CIVIL JUDICIARY SYSTEM.

BY DAV I D H AK I M FA R In California, a most disturbing and far-reaching form of tort reform has taken effect. According to an official, the judiciary’s general fund support has been slashed by more than 65% since 2008. And all of this occurred without a single up-or-down vote from any Californian. It occurred with a swipe of Governor Jerry Brown’s pen along with the insulting, yet fulfilled, prediction that there would be a meager and manageable public outcry. All this, while legislators from both sides of the aisle have called on Gov. Brown to increase funding from the inappropriate level we have sunken to.

Imagine being victimized. It doesn’t matter how: (1) A person you do business with doesn’t pay you your money; (2) you’ve been injured in an accident caused by another; or (3) your insurance company refuses to pay out on a claim that should be covered. The examples are countless. Yet, the common thread of each victim is they would likely seek their money and justice in State Court.

3 4 T H E F IGH T | S E P T EM BER 2014

When I began my law practice years ago, a civil trial was routinely set and conducted, if necessary, within one year of filing of the initial complaint. Nowadays, due to Gov. Brown’s budget cuts, a victim in Los Angeles would be lucky to see a trial within two years. Last week, the law and motion department of the Los Angeles Superior Court gave me a March date, for a simple motion hearing, 6-months from now.

Thus, as a victim’s rights lawyer, my initial investigation used to focus on whether I could prove the victim’s case in Court. Now, I am forced to ask victims “can you afford to wait for justice?” I even have to ask myself sometimes “can I afford to wait for justice?”

Second to this travesty, is the fact that persons and entities, much of whom are represented by insurance companies, are well aware of this new calculus for victim’s rights lawyers taking on new cases. It’s as if, or if I may I claim that it is actually true, that insurance companies have scored the ultimate tort reform in California without a single vote from a citizen or a single law being passed.

For decades, insurance companies have lobbied government for “tort reform.” The kind of tort reform they seek is invariably dressed up in language that implies an overall public benefit.

Yet, also invariably, such legislation crafted and designed to limit, stifle, and/or outright prevent victims from obtaining justice. Sadly, we have been bred to accept such behavior from insurance companies.

The whole situation eerily reminds me us of what Muhammad Ali famously pronounced: “It isn’t the mountains to climb that wear you out; it’s the pebble in your shoe.”

According to Salar Hendizadeh, a Los Angeles attorney taking on the fight against California insurance companies, “they are at the forefront of a

national strategy aimed at placing significant obstacles for a victim’s ability to receive just compensation for injuries suffered in a reasonable amount of time. We must confront the insurance industries tacit support for the reduction of financing to the California courts. This is effectuated by dissuading citizens from attempting to get what they are clearly entitled to under the law.”

Even judges are aghast.

According to California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, the courts need an additional $266 million “just to tread water” in the coming fiscal year, $612 million to be fully functional, and $1.2 billion over three years to make up for past cuts.

Perhaps it was best said by Presiding Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David S. Wesley: “It’s the biggest change in the way law has been practiced in Los Angeles County in the history of the court... We are a place of last resort for people in distress, and it doesn’t matter if they’re rich people or poor people. So when I cut those services, everybody’s going to suffer.”

Retired Judge Stephen Jahr believes that things may get even worse than the status quo. Unless more money isn’t injected into the civil court system, cases “being filed today will not get to trial until five years.”

This article will end with a stunning belief, followed by the provocative question we should each ponder: “I don’t believe we are becoming a more law-abiding, rule-following society... [We] have closed more than 50 courthouses and eliminated 3,900 full-time positions. So are people finally getting the message they shouldn’t bother to come to court?”

—Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye. 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 310-730-1250.

HEIDI HUERTA

JEFF SKILLEN

Breaking

The Stigma While 23 million people in the US need help with addiction and mental illness, only 3 million are getting help. Outreach, social challenges and programs geared towards the LGBT population.

BY MARK ARIEL Heroes in Recovery is a movement ignited by Foundations Recovery Network and the widespread community of those who are in recovery from addiction and co-occurring disorders.

In an interview with THE FIGHT Heroes in Recovery community manager Heidi Huerta and media consultant Jeff Skillen talk about the movement’s goals, intervention and programs specifically geared towards the LGBT population.

What motivated Foundations Recovery Network to create the Heroes in Recovery movement?

What ignited the Heroes in Recovery movement was the fact that of the 23 million people in the US needing help with addiction and mental illness, only 3 million were getting help.

How can those 20 million be reached? The stigma associated with addiction and mental health issues continues to deter people from seeking help. However Heroes in Recovery serves as an integral part for closing that gap.

What were the initial goals of the Heroes in Recovery movement?

The initial goals included basically starting the conversation and demonstrating how sharing stories of recovery takes courage, to help others connect and find the courage to reach out for help.

The initial platform we chose was a website where “Heroes” could share their own stories and provide inspiration to others. That led to our nationwide Heroes in Recovery 6k run/walk events that are happening in cities across the country. What better way to celebrate recovery, healthy living and going the extra distance, literally and figuratively?

3 6 T H E F IGH T | S E P T EM BER 2014

In your experience—do folks in the LGBT community have more difficulty “breaking the stigma?

I don’t know that it necessarily more difficult, but this community has unique circumstances that need to be addressed in a particular way.

The fact that the LGBT community may be marginalized or treated poorly by other members of society means that it can be difficult to get help in a mixed program. They might be concerned about discussing their impulses and behavior openly, and if they do so, they might face yet more discrimination. The social challenges and internalized feelings in the community add another layer of complexity that must be addressed when working towards long-term recovery.

In most cases LGBT people grow up feeling like outsiders. Do you think this explains the relatively high numbers in our community dealing with addiction?

While we don’t want to over-generalize, there has been some research to indicate these challenges. For example, a recent report from The Center for American Progress, an estimated 20 to 30 percent of LGBT people suffer from drug addiction, while only an estimated nine percent of the general population does.

Obviously, it’s a major disparity that is best addressed through treatment in the short term and increased outreach and education in the long term.

How can friends and family help a person dealing with addiction? Is “intervention” the only solution?

While the term “intervention” is what comes to mind for a lot of people, there are lots of things that you can do to help someone who may be struggling.

Educating yourself on symptoms and potential treatment options is a great first step. Getting an assessment from a treatment professional can be great next step towards getting a referral to a quality program that fits your needs. This professional could also put you in touch with resources in your area (including interventionists) that may be able to better address your specific situation.

You can call 1-888-312-4220 for such an assessment.

What makes Foundation Recovery centers in SoCal unique?

All of our treatment facilities offer great quality care, but our facilities in Southern California really take advantage of the features that make your part of the country unique. The Canyon, located in Malibu, really typifies that region and exceeds the high expectations of those who visit.

Michaels House offers a desert oasis located in Palm Springs, which many people already envision as a destination for renewal and restoration.

Do you have programs specifically geared to the LGBT population?

Yes, we do. At our Michael’s House facility, located in Palm Springs, we provide an LGBT therapeutic track with specialized resources and individualized support. It’s not about tolerance.

It’s about understanding and acceptance as well as having the experience necessary to address issues unique to sexual and gender identity.

For more info visit: www.heroesinrecovery.com, www.michaelshouse.com, www.thecanyonmalibu.com.

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I fought my way back from addiction. Carl, D.A.P. client

THEEPIDEMIC

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JONATHAN MERMIN, MD

D.A.P. treats and supports the whole person Like everyone, I’ve made lots of mistakes in my life.

One of the biggest was letting alcohol and crystal meth consume me for a time. It led me into unsuccessful relationships, homelessness, and even ignoring my HIV medication therapy, causing me to lose one of my eyes. With the help of a counselor at Desert AIDS Project, I’m in recovery and am proud of my accomplishments at College of the Desert.

I may have lost an eye...but I’ve never seen more clearly than I do today.

This and more...all under one roof Thanks to your generous support, Desert AIDS Project has been saving lives for 30 years.

Please continue to help by donating at desertAIDSproject.org, joining one of our annual giving programs, or by saving the date for one of our upcoming fundraising events.

Desert AIDS Walk | October 18, 2014 Dancing With The Desert Stars | November 15, 2014 World AIDS Day | December 1, 2014

760.323.2118 desertAIDSproject.org

40 T H E F I GH T | S E P T EM BER 2014

DETECTING THE VIRUS SOONER NEW HIV TESTING GUIDELINES FOR LABORATORIES COULD DETECT HIV WEEKS EARLIER THAN BEFORE.

BY VICTOR MELAMED Roughly half of the 50,000 new HIV infections each year are transmitted by those who don't know they are carrying the virus, so testing continues to be a key strategy in controlling the spread of the epidemic. And now, reports Mark S. King at hivplusmag.com, a combination HIV test is being recommended that detects both the virus itself as well as antibodies in the body that indicate how the body is responding to infection.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is encouraging testing laboratories to adopt both testing modules, which could identify the presence of HIV “weeks earlier” than previously possible, according to Jonathan Mermin, MD, MPH, director of the CDC's National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention.

Identifying HIV as early as possible is crucial, because those with early, acute HIV infection are often the most infectious.

Extremely high levels of infectious virus can persist for 10 to 12 weeks during the acute phase.

“Identifying acute infections has long been one of our nation's biggest HIV prevention challenges, since these infections eluded traditional testing technologies. But with consistent and widespread use of this new testing method, we can diagnose people several weeks earlier than before. CDC is supporting laboratories to adopt this new approach as quickly as possible,” Dr. Mermin said in a CDC statement.

An estimated 1 in 6 people living with HIV do not know they have the virus, reports hivplusmag.com. Considering this same group is very likely the cause of nearly half of new HIV infections, the value of HIV testing is more than knowing your status. It can mean stopping the spread of HIV to someone else. n

It Gets Better The short film “Love Is All You Need?” about a girl who is bullied because she is straight in a world where everyone is gay—is being developed into a feature length project—to bring bullying and social justice to light for a mainstream audience.

BY ORLY LYONNE Kim “Rocco” Shields started her career as an editor at 21 years old and edited numerous theatrical and commercial projects before discovering her love for filmmaking expanded beyond the editing room.

With years of experience under her belt, Shields began to direct her own projects and formed WingSpan Pictures, one of the few production companies creating high quality educational content for major universities across the nation.

While WingSpan Pictures was thriving, Shields came to terms that there were others in this world not as fortunate. Bombarded by stories of bullying and teasing, Shields wanted to use her talent and resources as a filmmaker in sending a message to our youth. She woke up one morning with the thought: “What if the shoe was on the other foot?”

FROM “LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED?”

From there, Shields was inspired to make her first festival-bound short film “Love Is All You Need?” in 2011. Written and directed by Shields, the film follows the life of an ordinary girl who is bullied because she is straight in a world where everyone is gay.

The film did remarkably well in the festival circuit, screening at over twenty film festivals worldwide and winning several awards, including ones for “Best Short Film” and “Best Director.” And,

it became a viral video sensation having been viewed by over 30 million views to date.

Now the short film is being developed into a feature length project, using multiple story lines to bring bullying and social justice to light for a mainstream audience.

Camilla Belle and Kellan Lutz are just two of the many stars attached to bring this film to life. n For more info on this project visit www.roccoshields.com.

PNP 2NITE? If you’re a gay or bisexual man who uses meth, and you are between 18-65 years old, you may be eligible to participate in an 8-week text-messaging research study.

Participants will be randomized to 1 of 3 study conditions.

Participation also includes an initial assessment, brief monthly updates, and 4 follow-up assessments all at the study site in Hollywood. You may earn up to $310 in gift cards. For more information call or text 323-793-4174.

www.projecttechsupport.org

Friends Community Center • 1419 N. La Brea • Los Angeles 90028 A project of Friends Research Institute in collaboration with UCLA Center for HIV Identification, Prevention and Treatment Services.

Funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

SEP TEMB ER 2014 | T H E F I GH T 41

Thank You For Sharing September is National Recovery Month. A few local clean and sober folks, from different walks of life, with different lengths of sobriety, share what they love most about their journey in recovery.

of accomplishment and satisfaction when I am able to be a role model and inspiration to those who are struggling with addiction. I want them to know that if someone like me can create a new life without mind-altering substances, so can they. There is hope. Live your life. One day a time.”

—Jonathan Chang, sober since July 11, 2010.

ROBERT GAMBOA

BY PAULO MURILLO

SENSE OF BELONGING

“There are so many things I love I about sobriety. I love that I get to be service to others. I dealt drugs for 14 years, so being of service is a way of giving back and paying it forward in recovery. I am of service any way I can be. I am the chair of a 12-step program that deals with meth this year. I have six men I mentor in their journey of recovery. I’m grateful for the remarkable men who have gone before me. They helped pave the way and sometimes my best teachers are the men who are new in sobriety with a few hours or a few days. Being of service gives me a sense of belonging. I felt alone inside for so many years. I don’t feel like that anymore. I love being sober.”

—Mike Cativo, sober since May 10, 2009.

JAMES VITUSCKA

MIKE CATIVO

FULL OF LOVE

“I have no regrets. I don’t like all that I did in my addiction and the people I hurt along the way. But I learned from it and have become the better man I am today. Sobriety, for me, has become a new design for living—a second chance to embrace the world that was promised to me as a child; to right my wrongs, face my fears, and start living for others instead of for me. Today, I have a future full of love, hope and promise. Today, I have a life I never imagined would come true. And it’s only the beginning.”

TO BE FREE

“Sobriety gives me the freedom to be my authentic self.

I am free to be gay and a recovering alcoholic in a city that accepts both. I am not a drug user trapped in the cage of mental obsession. Being sober allows me a connection to a spirituality that I had never experienced before. It’s great to be happy and joyous again. But it is amazing to be free.”

—James Vituscka, sober since April 7, 2013

—Robert Gamboa, sober since November 28, 2009

PEACE AND CLARITY

“Numbing and escaping arrived to its void and tireless fail and I now enjoy the peace and clarity that replaced the chaotic threshold I was once conditioned to. Sobriety to me is about the completeness and wholeness of self-care, self-love and overall responsibility that in turn teaches the gift of values life holds dear.”

—Shaene Fanton, sober since June 6, 2004.

JONATHAN CHANG

THERE IS HOPE

NOLAN WILLIS

SHAENE FANTON

“I’ve lived in the middle of the party scene and I’ve lived on the outside looking in, and I can tell you that I prefer being level-headed and clear-minded. I was able to retire from a lucrative career in insurance administration and litigation and am now able to work with people in recovery. I get a huge sense

4 2 T H E F IGH T | S E P T EM BER 2014

A REALITY I SHARE

“My longing for intimacy, peace of mind and understanding lead me to my addictions. At first, drugs and alcohol seemed to work, but they only ever bring the opposite of my longings. Sobriety gives me the chance of finding them in a reality I share with other sober men and women and not in the illusions of a substance or behavior.”

—Nolan Willis, sober since August 8, 2014.

SOBER RESOURCES IN WEHO A VARIETY OF FACILITIES CATERING TO THE RECOVERING COMMUNITY. DAVID MINICUCCI

MY LIFE BACK

“I love that it’s given me my life back. It’s changed my perspective on everything. When I look at my life when I first got sober and my life today, and it’s like night and day. Everything has changed. When I started this journey, I worked at a high-end furniture store as a show room manager and now I’m a certified Pilates instructor and I have several certifications in personal training. I love being of service. I love helping people reach their fitness goals. That was not my life over five years ago. I feel like I can do anything in sobriety.”

—David Minicucci, sober since November 14, 2009.

JEREMY MOON BEAM PACE

ACCEPT THE CHALLENGES

“After my HIV positive diagnosis, I didn’t trust myself to do the work it would take to live my life until I was happy again. But a thought occurred to me: what else was I doing that was so much more important than living? It was then that I decided to accept the challenges of life instead of try and escape them.

And what I love about being sober now is that I get to experience all of my life as it is, truly.

Nothing can take away how I really feel, even if it is bad, because it’s my life and I do not welcome that retreat from myself anymore. I am lucky to be alive, and if my life was cut short? I know I would miss the bad days, too.”

—Jeremy Moon Beam Pace, sober since October 30, 2011.

TWIN TOWN TREATMENT CENTERS

Most people walk by Twin Town Treatment Center and don’t even know it. Located on the Corner of Santa Monica Blvd and Hancock Ave, next to Gym Bar, Twin Town has been operating in West Hollywood since 2006, but this outpatient treatment center has been servicing the recovery community in Southern California for over 28 years.

The clients at Twin Town practice concepts and are taught techniques during the course of their treatment, while living in their natural environment, allowing the treatment to be translated immediately into the client’s everyday life. Their program focuses on physical chemical dependency; drug addiction related thinking and behavior, strained and alienated relationships, and the spiritual sense of remorse, hopelessness and loneliness.

For more information, visit drugalcoholaddictionlosangeles.com or call (310)299-8061.

MY 12 STEP STORE

Across the street from Twin Town Treatment Center is the My 12 Step Store recovery bookstore and gift store. Located on 8730 Santa Monica Blvd—on the corner of Santa Monica and Huntly Dr., this sober shop is considered a Los Angeles curiosity, specializing in all forms of recovery, be it addiction to sex, food, gambling, narcotics, co-dependence, and there’s even a section for Emotions Anonymous. Home of their signature Speaker Water, the store also sells medallions marking several milestones in recovery, books, apparel, candles and they recently added a new high-end jewelry line called Surrender Jewelry. The store will celebrate 11 years of love in service during Recovery Month in September.

For more information, visit their online store at my12stepstore.com.

THE WEST HOLLYWOOD RECOVERY CENTER (WHRC)

Located at 626 North Robertson Boulevard, only walking distance from The Abbey Bar, the WHRC is a space for positive social exposure and provides meeting places for any officially recognized 12-step group. It also provides assistance with recovery to addictions, prevention, and education to those in need. Their goal is to act as trusted servants, to hold 12-step meetings and related social activities within this environment, and to foster 12-step programs and the 12 traditions associated with these programs as a way of life.

For a schedule meetings held at WHRC, visit thewhrc.org

KLEAN TREATMENT CENTER

Another treatment center in the heart of WeHo, KLEAN Treatment Center is located at 850 Hilldale Ave. Those familiar with the San Vicente Inn will recognize the location, since a good portion of the San Vicente Inn, which was notoriously known as a den for hustlers and tweakers,

is now part of Klean Treatment Center. The 28-bed luxurious treatment facility offers many different treatment services for anyone suffering from addiction, alcoholism or a dual diagnosis.

Treatments include detox and stabilization, residential and outpatient treatment (morning and evenings) and aftercare services. Every Sunday, KLEAN hosts alumni barbecues and meetings, and organizes sober activities such as bowling.

For more information, visit: kleantreatmentcenters.com, or call (888) 601-6040.

CRESCENT HEIGHTS HOUSE

Part of the Karuna Recovery Residences, the Crescent Heights House sober living is a luxurious space for recovery, located on 428 N. Crescent Heights. The house was formerly an artist’s West Hollywood refuge. It offers sweeping balconies, rich hardwood floors, and a rolling backyard. It can accommodate up to 10 residents at a time, including a house manager and an assistant house manager. The location is all within walking distance of the best WeHo has to offer from restaurants, grocery and drug stores, recovery meetings, a gym, and public transportation.

For more, visit karunarecovery.com, or call (800) 563-1215.

STANLEY HOUSE

Located at 725 N Stanley Avenue, the Stanley House sober living home is another luxurious, yet affordable West Hollywood sober living home for men only. Shared and single rooms are available. The house provides transportation to 12-step meetings, flat screen TVs in every room, onsite laundry, heated pool/Jacuzzi, free parking and more. For those who need a little extra help, extra services are provided for an additional cost, such as one-on-one counseling, group therapy sessions, yoga, daily life skills workshop, sober escorts, detox, personal trainers, massage therapy, and more.

Visit stanleysoberliving.com, for more information, or call (323) 839-4889.

TWEAKERS PROJECT

The Tweakers Project is sponsored by the City of West Hollywood. It is a volunteer not-for-profit organization that serves as a great resource for providing information and alternatives to the addicted person and their families and loved ones through film, print, and the web. The organization has helped create sober events such as the sober New Year’s Eve party #BOOM and they successfully organized the sober carnival event #SIZZLE at this past CSW Pride festival. The organization has an interactive Facebook page with thousands of members who share their experience, strength and hope via daily posts.

For more visit tweakersproject.org, or join the FB group at facebook.com/groups/ thetweakersproject/

SEP TEMB ER 2014 | T H E F I GH T 43

THECALENDAR

>> THINGS TO DO << BINGO AFTER DARK

GYM Sports Bar West Hollywood, 8737 Santa Monica Blvd, 8:30pm.

Drink specials, complimentary shot with admission and a ton of fun adult prizes.

A STAR IS BORN. SEE SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20.

PLANET SQURRRL LA

Akbar, 4356 W Sunset Blvd, 9pm-2am. For more info: squrrrl.com Resident DJs Trevor Sigler, Joe Pickett, Jake Brower, Ryan Jones, Ambrosia Salad will spin the tunes. Photos by Dusti Cunningham.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16

LAWN MEMBERSHIP APPRECIATION AND THE GOOD NEIGHBOR AWARD

The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N. Mcadden Place, 7pm-10pm. For more info: lawnmembershipappreciation.eventbrite.com State Farm honors a woman in our community for her service and dedication to the LGBT movement. Free with open bar and DJ!

PHOTO BY NEW BERLIN

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

OUT ON THE MOUNTAIN

Six Flags Magic Mountain, 6pm-1am. For more info: OutontheMountain.com/fight.

A private LGBT party. Special performance

by Alyssa Edwards, with Dance Party DJ Ray Rhodes.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6

MAN MACHINE

Faultline Bar, 4216 Melrose Ave, 9pm to 2am.

For more info: faultlinebar.com/html/machine DJs Paul V. & Tommy Rocker for a night of non-stop elektropop, future / retro synthetics and visuals.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12

GAY MEN’S CHORUS LOS ANGELES

Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave, 7:30pm - 9:30pm. For more info: hollywoodbowl.com A performance celebrating the Simpsons at the Hollywood Bowl with Conan O’Brien, Beverly D’Angelo, “Weird Al” Yankovic and Jon Lovitz.

Also joining the event are Simpson legends Hank Azaria, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith and Matt Groening.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13

VOICES ON POINT GALA

Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, 2025 Avenue of the Stars, 6pm-9:30pm. For more info: pointfoundation.org Point Foundation’s third annual fundraising dinner and concert, featuring Point Scholars sharing their stories of perseverance and acclaimed recording artists raising their voices in song to help LGBTQ students pursue their dreams of higher education.

THE ADONIS PROJECT

Human Resources, 410 Cottage Home St, 8pm1am. For more info: adonisproject.bpt.me The legendary gay adult movie house that closed under homophobic pressure will reappear creatively re-imagined as a modern Brigadoon for one night only.

THE SISTER TEAM POOL PARTY

Private home in Van Nuys, 2pm. For more info: ticketriver.com/event/12045 Fundraiser benefiting The AIDS Lifecycle “Team Sisters.”

4 4 T H E F IGH T | S E P T EM BER 2014

SGV VALLEY PRIDE

Memorial Park, Levitt Pavilion and Holly Street, Pasadena, 11am-6pm. For more info: sgvpride.org.

Top-notch entertainment will cover the breadth of the LGBT experience in music, song and dance. Free Drag Queen Bingo from the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Classic Car & Motorcycle Show and more!

SUNSET STRIP MUSIC FESTIVAL

Sunset Boulevard and San Vicente (gates located behind the Whisky A Go-Go), WeHo. For more info: SSMF.com.

Saturday, September 20 and Sunday, September 21. This year’s legendary line-up include the alternative rock band Jane’s Addiction and popular Australian electronic music duo Empire of the Sun. HRC FOUNDATION INCLUSIVE BLOOD DRIVE

West Hollywood Park, 647 N San Vicente Blvd, 10am-4:30pm.

HRC with other leading organizations to present “Include Inform Inspire - An Inclusive Blood Drive,” to draw attention to a longstanding federal policy that bans sexually active gay men from donating blood.

A STAR IS BORN 60th ANNIVERSARY SCREENING

Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, 6:30pm. For more info: facebook.com/judyonjudy Randy L. Schmidt will sign copies of “Judy Garland on Judy Garland: Interviews and Encounters,” and introduce a special 60th Anniversary screening of Garland’s 1954 masterpiece “A Star Is Born.”

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

LATINO GAY FEST

AltaMed Health Services, 512 S. Indiana St, Los Angeles, 6pm-10pm. For more info contact Tony at 323-307-0110.

Free HIV testing. Drag show hosted by Lola.

Free food, refreshments and raffle prizes.

GROUPS

ASIAN/PACIFIC GAYS AND FRIENDS www.apgf.org GAY ASIAN PACIFIC SUPPORT NETWORK www.gapsn.org LOS ANGELES GAY AVIATION CLUB Pilots, Flights Attendants, Mechanics. www.unusualattitudes.info CLUB NUR Gay Middle Eastern. www.clubnur.com GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF LOS ANGELES www.gmcla.org GAY & LESBIAN SALSA Every Monday, 8 p.m. Little Temple Bar, 4519 Santa Monica Blvd., Silverlake, 90029. gaysalsanight@yahoo. com or www.facebook.com/gaysalsanight GAY TRAFFIC SCHOOL Third Tuesday and Wednesday of every month, 6-10 p.m. The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N. McCadden Place, Los Angeles 90038. 1-800-Gay-4-You or www.laglc.org HIV MEDICAL & CASE MANAGEMENT Valley Community Clinic in North Hollywood offers HIV Testing and Medical Services including counseling and medical treatment. For more info: www.valleycommunityclinic.org POP LUCK CLUB Second Sunday of every month, 11 a.m. Locations vary.

Los Angeles based organization for Gay Dads, Prospective Dads, and their families. www.popluckclub.org PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month, at the Gay & Lesbian Center. RSVP to Dennis@malecare.org or call (323) 860-7340.

GREAT AUTOS OF YESTERYEAR The largest LGBT classic car club on the West Coast. www.greatautos.org LOS ANGELES PRIME TIMERS Social group for older mature gay men and admirers. www.laprimetimers.org LOS ANGELES GAY BRIDGE CLUB www.communityvisions.org/IAGLBC LOS ANGELES GAY/LESBIAN SCIENTISTS www.lagls.org LOS ANGELES GAY FOR GOOD Gays making a commitment to volunteer for social welfare and environmental service projects. www.gayforgood.org LOS ANGELES GAY NATURISM California Men Enjoying Naturism. cmen.info BI-OSPHERE P.O.V. Every 2nd Wednesday, 8-9:30 p.m., The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N McCadden Place, Los Angeles.

For more information, call (323) 860-7302. M-F between 6-9 p.m. Topic-driven discussion for women and men who identify as, or are exploring bisexuality.

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

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

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

USC LAMBDA LGBT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION alumnigroups.usc.edu/lambda/ LOS ANGELES BLACK PRIDE www.myblackpridela.com GREATER PASADENA AID FUND www.greaterpasadenaaidfund.org POSITIVE IMAGES WORKSHOP Every Monday, from 7-9 p.m. The Village at Ed

> EMAIL YOUR EVENT OR GROUP TO Gould Plaza, 1125 N McCadden Place, Los Angeles. If you’re looking for ways to deal with HIV, the Live Life Better Workshop can help you learn coping skills, build a support system, and work toward your health goals. An RSVP is required. For more information or to reserve your place, call (323) 860-7321. The e-mail contact is positiveimages@lagaycenter.org.

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

GET CENTERED Meditation Class. Every Saturday, 10-11 a.m., $10. Gay & Lesbian Center, 1625 N Schrader Blvd.

Los Angeles. For more information, call (323) 860-7300.

SENIORS SERVICES Ongoing, The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N McCadden Place, Los Angeles. For more information, call (323) 860-7359.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUPPORT Ongoing, L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, 1625 N Schrader Blvd., Los Angeles.

For more information, call (323) 860-5806.

MPOWERMENT WEEKLY WORKSHOPS Tuesdays and fridays, 6 p.m. APLA, 3550 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 300, Los Angeles. More info: Donta Morrison, tel: (213) 201-1561. For young gay men of color—ages 18 thru 24—looking for a safe place to hang out.

TRAVEL

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

12 STEP GROUPS

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

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

>> LISTINGS <<

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

DEBTORS ANONYMOUS Tuesdays, 8-9 p.m.

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

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

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS Wednesdays, 7-8 p.m.

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

Tuesdays, 8-9 p.m.

Wednesdays, 8-9 p.m.

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

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

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

SPORTS

LOS ANGELES LESBIAN SOFTBALL www.lagaysoftball.com LOS ANGELES LESBIAN TACKLE FOOTBALL www.californiaquakefootball.com LOS ANGELES LESBIAN RUGBY www.eaglerockrugby.com WOMEN’S SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GOLF www.womensgolf.org/wscga LOS ANGELES LESBIAN POKER www.lalpg.com LOS ANGELES WOMEN ON A ROLL Luncheons, Comedy Nights, and Conversation Groups. www.womenonaroll.com LOS ANGELES GAY RODEO CLUB www.gsgra.org LOS ANGELES GAY FLAG FOOTBALL www.laflagfootball.com There’s also lesbian tackle football.

WEST HOLLYWOOD GAY RUGBY www.larebellion.org

SAGA LA Gay Ski & Snowboard Club. www.sagala.org V.O.I.L.A. Volleyball. www.lagayvolleyball.com GREAT OUTDOORS The largest gay outdoor recreational organization in Southern California. www.greatoutdoorsla.org GAY AND LESBIAN SIERRANS Camping, Outdoors, Hiking Angeles. www.sierraclub.org CHEER LA Cheerleading. www.cheerla.org LA ROWING www.larowing.org DIFFERENT SPOKES Cycling www.differentspokes.com Rides start in various locations in the greater Los Angeles area.

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

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

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

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

GAY & LESBIAN BOWLING LEAGUE www.tavernguildleague.com

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

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF LOS ANGELES fccla.org 540, South Commonwealth Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90020 HOLLYWOOD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH hollywoodumc.org, 6817 Franklin Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90028 HOLY SPIRIT holyspirit-la.org, 4201 West Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90029 UNITED UNIVERSITY CHURCH uniteduniversitychurch.org, 817 West 34th St., Los Angeles, CA 90089 DIGNITY CENTER dignitylosangeles.org, 126 South Avenue 64, Los Angeles, CA 90042 HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH-HLYWD hopelutheranchurch.net, 6720 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038 WEST HOLLYWOOD PRESBYTERIAN wehopres.org, 7350 W Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046 MOUNT HOLLYWOOD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH mthollywood.org, 4607 Prospect Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027 IMMANUEL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH immanuelpres.org, 3300 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010 ST. MATTHEW’S LUTHERAN CHURCH stmatthewsnoho.org, 11031 Camarillo St., North Hollywood, CA 91602 CHRIST CHAPEL OF THE VALLEY christchapel.com, 11050 Hartsook St., North Hollywood, CA 91601 ST. PAUL’S LUTHERAN CHURCH stpaulssm.org, 958 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90403 ST. MONICA CATHOLIC COMMUNITY stmonica.net, 725 California Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90403 WEHO CHURCH wehochurch.com, 916 N. Formosa Ave., West Hollywood, CA 90046 ST. VICTOR’S CATHOLIC CHURCH saintvictor.org, 8634 Holloway Dr. West Hollywood, CA 90069 ST. LUKE LUTHERAN stlukelutheran.com, 5312 Comercio Way, Woodland Hills, CA 91364

For Breaking Daily LGBT News Visit

www.thefightmag.com

SEP TEMB ER 2014 | T H E F I GH T 45

THEFINALFIGHT

>> PrEP <<

TO PrEP OR NOT TO PrEP? AS SOMEONE WHO IS BOTH BLACK AND GAY, I’M IN ONE OF THE HIGHEST-RISK CATEGORIES FOR HIV INFECTION... SO WHY AM I SO WARY ABOUT PREP?

BY R OB S M I T H The specter of HIV infection has been a part of my sex life since sex became a part of my life, so in theory, I should be happy about the existence of PrEP. I should be exalting its praises from the rooftops, talking about it to everyone, and practically begging my doctor to put me on the little blue pill that is supposed to protect me from HIV and free me from the fear of slipping up and becoming “just another statistic.”

As someone who is both black and gay, I’m in one of the highest-risk categories for HIV infection. I should be running to the pharmaceutical industry to protect me from HIV since the percentages and numbers so clearly indicate that a great deal of people in my group are having problems doing it for themselves, so why am I so wary about PrEP? I’m wary about PrEP because the amazing efficacy rates that are being touted come from small sample sizes of people who were doing PrEP in conjunction with steady condom use.

I’m wary about PrEP because I have a sneaking suspicion that introducing a very powerful drug used to fight HIV into my HIV negative body isn’t going to be consequence free.

I’m wary about PrEP because I don’t have a huge problem with wearing condoms. They’re actually a badge of honor.

One of the very first gay people I was ever exposed to was the great HIV/AIDS activist Pedro Zamora on the (first) San Francisco season of The Real World, and my 11 year old burgeoning gay self made the powerful and tragic connection between being gay, having sex, and facing death.

Then, safe sex was all the rage, and although I had only the slightest idea what any kind of sex was, I knew I’d be having it with a condom. Condoms were cool. Condoms were safe. Condoms were what mature adults who were sexually confident used.

Condom use meant that you cared about yourself and you cared about your partner, no matter what kind of an encounter you had.

PrEP scares me. The cavalier way that people talk about it scares me. The fact that we don’t know the long-term effects of the drug on the bodies of HIV negative people scares me. The fact that so many gay guys have online profiles that indicate that they’re “negative and on PrEP,”—a none too subtle invitation for bareback sex—scares me.

The fact that there seems to be a very subtle marketing campaign supporting it gives me the creeps.

If PrEP truly is the silver bullet that kills the monster that is HIV infection and this battle is won not because our community stood up and decided to protect ourselves and one another, but because pharmaceutical company research found a way to put an entire community on a lifetime regimen of powerful drugs, it would be a sorry state of affairs.

4 6 T H E F IGH T | S E P T EM BER 2014

I have a sneaking suspicion that introducing a very powerful drug used to fight HIV into my HIV negative body isn’t going to be consequence free.

There was a very controversial (and very good) article in a recent edition of New York Magazine where a young gay man on PrEP was quoted as saying “I deserve this,” in reference to the freedom to have unprotected sex.

Pardon me if I’m wrong, but the right to have unprotected sex is far down on the list of things that I feel entitled to as a gay man.

I feel entitled to equal rights.

I feel entitled to protection from employment discrimination. I feel entitled to walk down the street holding my date’s hand freely without the fear of being a target of physical violence. I don’t feel entitled to unprotected sex.

Have I had it? Of course. I’m as human as anyone else, and humans sometimes fall short of high expectations that we set for

ourselves. But whenever it happened outside of the confines of a relationship, I felt a sense of loss of the empowerment that condom use gives me.

I still believe that condom use is key. I still believe that using them protects both me and my partners regardless of our status.

I don’t see condoms as a barrier to closeness with my partners.

In fact, I see them as quite the opposite. Condoms bring me closer to my partners, and the simple act of using them is a nod to the countless lives that have been lost to the HIV epidemic. It is still too soon to forget all the lives that were lost, and it is still just too soon for me to take PrEP. I’m making the decision not to PrEP, and it’s ultimately the decision that is right for me. n

FOUR DAYS OF POOL PARTIES, DANCE EVENTS AND WOOFY MEN!

Hosted at the Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 14

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 15

MONDAY FEBRUARY 16

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 14

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 14

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 15

Weekend Passes & Hotel Reservations at www.ibc-ps.com

~Benefiting AIDS Assistance Program~

TM