the pride ISSUE NUMBER 19, VOLUME 2 08.12 — 08.25.2016
WWW.THEPRIDELA.COM
| AUGUST 12 — 25, 2016
LOS ANGELES
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THE LOS ANGELES LGBT NEWSPAPER
CARLOS MORENO of The Wall Las Memorias Project enjoys DTLA Proud see page 18
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LOS ANGELES
08.12 — 08.25.2016
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08.12 — 08.25.2016 LOS ANGELES HEALTH
LOS ANGELES
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MENINGITIS OUTBREAK
⚫ BY MATTHEW BAJKO, TROY MASTERS AND KAREN OCAMB
Landmark status would save The Factory but efforts stall
A state historic commission deadlocked on recognizing a West Hollywood building that housed several gay bars and hosted fundraisers early in the AIDS epidemic. In June, members of the West Hollywood City Council held Mayor Lauren Meister’s Pride reception at The Factory and stressed in their speeches the importance of the building’s place in the area’s LGBT history. Lauren Meister told The Pride LA, “Not knowing the future of the old Factory building, I asked to have the Mayor’s LA Pride Kickoff Party there — at The Robertson (second floor of the old Factory building), because there’s no denying that the Factory has a place in LGBT history and the gay rights movement. I think those who attended truly appreciated being in that space and being able to celebrate Pride as it might have been celebrated in years past. I think it also demonstrates that the site is important to the community, and I hope that whatever happens there next, the community is on board.” The site is the first in California to be considered for listing on the National Register of Historic Places specifically due to its ties to LGBT history. As the Bay Area Reporter has previously reported, all seven of the properties on the National Register purposely listed due to their LGBT historical importance are located on the East Coast. Couple Kate Eggert and Krisy Gosney are seeking similar federal recognition for the Mitchell Camera/ The Factory site, which has a dual address of 665 N. Robertson Boulevard and 652 N. La Peer Drive in the largely LGBT enclave in Los Angeles County. Gay nightclub Studio One opened at the site in 1974, and later, the Factory gay nightclub also operated at the address. Both clubs attracted Hollywood A-listers as clientele and were notable, according to historians, for publicly advertising themselves as gay venues and for raising money for local AIDS nonprofits. But at its July 29 meeting, held in Woodland northwest of Sacramento,
THE FACTORY WAS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR GAY CLUBS IN AMERICA AND BECAME LA’S FIRST UNOFFICIAL COMMUNITY CENTER. DEVELOPERS ARE TARGETING THE LAND FOR A HOTEL DEVELOPMENT.
the State Historical Resources Commission voted 3-3, with one commissioner absent, on its staff’s recommendation to nominate the property for listing on the National Register. It was the only nomination not approved by the panel at the meeting. The tie vote means the commission took no action on the nomination, explained deputy state historic preservation officer Jenan Saunders. “There was a motion to find that the property meets the criteria for eligibility as written in the nomination and to recommend the State Historic Preservation Officer forward the nomination to the Keeper of the National Register, but that motion failed to gain the needed number of votes to pass,” wrote Saunders in an emailed reply to The Pride LA. The result means that the sponsors of the listing can resubmit their application to the panel, which they plan to do. The listing for the building could be re-addressed as soon as the commission’s next meeting October 28 in Redlands. “Definitely, it is on the table to reapply. It could come back as early as their next meeting,” said Gosney, who described the panel’s discussion about the Factory listing as “kind of ridiculous” and “pretty silly” at times. Following the commission meeting, in a Facebook post on the page in support of the listing, the couple expressed their frustration with how the vote went. “The commissioner’s discussion of
the nomination was odd and mostly unrelated to the nomination in front of them. Lots of people came up to us afterward and apologized for what they watched happen. Many said they had never seen anything like this,” stated the posting. “So today, we’re angry at the injustice. But we’re reminded that it took years for Stonewall Inn to become a National Landmark,” referring to the famous gay bar in New York City that President Barack Obama recently declared a national monument for its role in launching the modern LGBT rights movement. In a separate Facebook posting two days later, the women went into further detail about how the debate at the commission veered into a discussion about Studio One having a door policy that discriminated against women and people of color, and therefore, should not be listed. Yet, they pointed out, the commission, on a consent vote with no debate at the July 29 meeting, recommended listing for the Hollywood Palladium, which when it opened was a segregated club that did not hire black musicians. “What we see happening right now is that people in the historic preservation community who are uncomfort-
able with letting LGBT locations into their club are using Studio One’s discrimination issue to deny us a seat at their table, and they are trying to pit us against each other so we have less power (the divide and conquer strategy),” read the post. In the 121-page National Register of Historic Places Registration Form they submitted regarding the Factory building, the women went into some detail about the club’s discriminatory entry practices. They contend that part of the LGBT community’s history should be noted and point out that is not a reason to reject listing the property. “Our history, with its triumphs and tragedies, perfection and imperfection deserves to be recognized (and learned from) just like heterosexual history has been for almost a hundred years now,” the women wrote in the Facebook posting. “And in the eyes of the law, our LGBT historic locations should be held to the very same scrutiny as heterosexual historic locations.” Commissioner’s involvement questioned Questions are also being raised THE FACTORY continued on p. 9
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COMMUNITY WEHO
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08.12 — 08.25.2016
LOS ANGELES
LA PRIDE
⚫ BY HENRY SCOTT for WeHoville
After a controversial year, LA Pride finds itself $395,000 in the red LA Pride organizers spent $30,731 to renovate their small, single room rental space at Pacific Design Center
Members of the LGBT community, representatives of local non-profit groups and people living in the West Hollywood West neighborhood turned out tonight for the first of two public meetings about L.A. Pride. The meeting, organized by the City of West Hollywood, was intended to elicit feedback on the Pride parade and festival in June, with attendees noting what they liked and what they didn’t like about the event. But it quickly turned into criticism of the direction in which the new management of Christopher Street West (CSW) has taken the event and of CSW’s lack of transparency and engagement with the community. CSW is the non-profit group that puts on the annual L.A. Pride. Several of the speakers talked about their disappointment that CSW had decided to change the weekend of events in West Hollywood Park into what it called a “music festival” whose goal was to appeal to Millennials. That involved adding a number of music performances and an initial CSW decision, later partially reversed, to reduce the presence of the transgender, lesbian and leather community events at the festival. One speaker, who identified himself as having been a volunteer with CSW for several years, said that Chris Classen, named CSW’s president last year, told him that he wanted the Pride festival to be the “gay Coachella” and that it wasn’t intended to appeal to every LGBT community. Classen said he didn’t recall saying that. Representatives of several non-profit groups complained about problems communicating with CSW. A representative of the L.A. LGBT Center’s addiction center said he had trouble making
CSW PRESIDENT CHRIS CLASSEN (FOREGROUND) QUESTIONED BY IVY BOTTINI. (PHOTO BY JON VISCOTT)
contact with the right people at CSW to plan the center’s involvement with the festival. Jamie Baker of Being Alive, an HIV service organization, objected to CSW’s decision to segregate non-profit organizations from booths paid for by corporate sponsors. “We should not be placed outside the festival or placed on ‘non-profit’ row,” he said. Baker also said representatives of Being Alive were treated rudely. “We should not be yelled out, threatened with sanctions and in our case being called a bitch.” Classen also was criticized for making important decisions, such as turning the Pride event into a music festival, with a small cadre of fellow board members rather than allowing the full 12-member board to vote on them. While Classen said all major decisions were presented to the board for approval, several speakers said other board members had told them that wasn’t true. Manny Rodriguez, who lives in the
West Hollywood West neighborhood several blocks from the festival, complained about the festival’s impact on parking in residential areas. “Because of the way it’s going, and the direction that it’s taking away from its original intent, why should we as a neighborhood have that burden?” he asked. “Our residents are unfairly inconvenienced by having to be the parking lot for this music festival.” Rodriguez also criticized the festival’s programming. “The only relevance to the gay liberation movement I think is the parade,” he said. “Everything else is just a show …. Why does it have to corrupt the gay liberation movement by having it be so commercial?” Several speakers brought up the cost of tickets to the festival, which were increased initially by 40% for admission on Saturday and on Sunday (CSW lowered the increase to 17% after complaints by the community). Eric Gonzales of the Los Angeles Volleyball Or-
ganization said that the festival looked impressive with its array of large LCD screens and props and decorations. “But was it really necessary?,” Gonzalez asked. “Could reducing that reduce the cost and the tickets?” Ivy Bottini, a prominent lesbian activist, pressed Classen to explain what she said were efforts to make the festival exclusionary. She cited CSW’s effort to market private cabanas in an area of West Hollywood Park from which regular festival goers would be excluded. “You could rent one for $2,500 a day,” Bottini said. (CSW did attempt to market expensive private cabanas with unobstructed views of the main music stage but dropped the effort for lack of response.) In response to other questions and criticism, Classen said CSW is updating its website, which currently focuses only on the Pride music events and doesn’t list board members, its mission statement or its financials. He also said CSW would soon be releasing its 2015 tax return, which the Internal Revenue Service requires to be made public for non-profits. Asked whether CSW had lost money on this year’s event, Classen said they was likely. He said CSW wouldn’t know for sure until it actually collected the revenue its corporate sponsors had agreed to pay for floats in the parade and booths at the festival. Classen also was pressed on opening up the board of directors to new members. Several current board members who have been excluded from some major CSW decisions say they have been threatened with being booted off the board if they speak publicly about their concerns about CSW’s management. Mayor Lauren Meister, who attended the event along with City Councilmember John D’Amico, has asked for another community meeting on Aug. 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the West Hollywood Park Auditorium, 647 N. San Vicente Blvd. south of Santa Monica. Meister said that event will focus not on problems with the past event but on the next one.
08.12 — 08.25.2016
LOS ANGELES
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HEALTH
CALIFORNIA
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08.12 — 08.25.2016
LOS ANGELES
MENINGITIS
⚫ BY TROY MASTERS
A second death, 2 new cases reported as SoCal Meningitis outbreak continues Southern California is the focus of an outbreak that is disproportionately affecting men. San Diego County health officials have also issued an advisory Three new cases, including one additional death, has been reported in the Southern California Outbreak of Invasive Meningococcal Disease, according to the Orange County Health Care Agency. In it’s press release Orange County immediately urges all gay men to
get vaccinated against the disease, leading some to speculate that the death and or the new cases involved gay men. Orange County officials declined to specify the ethnicity or the sexual orientation of either the person who died or the newly identified cases, citing federal laws on patient confidentiality known as HIPAA. It is not yet know why the current outbreak is so disproportionately impacting the gay male and MSM community. More than half of the 27 cases and 2 deaths reported in the current outbreak have been among gay men, primarily black and latino. The outbreak, which was reported in June by the California Department of Public Health, has been occurring in the last several months in Southern California, particularly in Orange and Los Angeles Counties.
Los Angeles County has reported 15 cases and no deaths as of August 5, 2016. 8 of those cases are among MSM. LA County Health officials were slow to call differentiate the cases as an official outbreak. The Pride is investigating reports of cases in San Diego and in San Francisco that may be related. Meningococcal disease is caused by Neisseria meningitidis bacteria, which are transmitted from person-to-person through respiratory droplets, during face-to-face or prolonged contact, or by sharing utensils, drinks or cigarettes. It is a serious infection that can cause meningitis (brain infection) and/or bacteremia (blood infection), and can lead to death. Initial symptoms can include fever, body
aches, stiff neck and/or headache, and symptoms can progress quickly to confusion and shock. A rash with small, flat, non-itchy red spots can occur. Persons experiencing these symptoms should seek medical attention immediately. Meningococcal disease is treatable if identified early on. The County of Orange Health Care Agency along with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, recently expanded vaccination recommendations for meningococcal disease to include all gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, in addition to all persons with HIV infection. If you haven’t been vaccinated in the last 5 years you are at risk.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation launches Meningitis campaign In the latest step against Southern California’s meningitis outbreak, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation unveiled a billboard campaign today that urges gay and bisexual men to get vaccinated. AHF’s billboard campaign, with the provocative headline “Just a Prick,” features a close-up photo of someone getting a vaccine shot. The URL “www.freeMeningitisVAX.org” appears beneath the headline on the right side of the billboard. Billboards are going up at Vine Street and Santa Monica Boulevard; Sunset Boulevard and Van Ness; Sunset and Cahuenga; and Hollywood Boulevard and Hillhurst Avenue. Michael Weinstein, president of AHF, said when a public health prob-
lem is threatening to spread rapidly in the community, “you’ve got to land on it before it explodes.” “And that’s why we are both having this public awareness campaign as well as asking people to be vaccinated,” he said. Top health officials in the Southland have urged all gay and bisexual men to get vaccinated against meningitis, regardless of their risk profile. Nineteen cases of invasive meningococcal disease have been diagnosed in Los Angeles County this year, including six in Long Beach. Pasadena, which also has its own health department, has not seen any cases this year. Given the total number of cases here and in other jurisdictions, the
state has declared an outbreak. Previously, health officials had recommended vaccination for gay and bisexual men “who regularly have close or intimate contact with multiple partners or who seek partners through digital applications, particularly those who share cigarettes/marijuana or use illegal drugs.” Meningitis vaccinations are also recommended for all HIV-infected people. Free vaccinations are available at public health clinics for those at high risk, regardless of health insurance status. AHF will offer free meningitis vaccines at all four of its Southern California AHF Wellness Centers (Hollywood, Long Beach, San Fernando Valley and
West Adams) as well as at three AHF Pharmacy sites (Long Beach, Sunset Blvd. and West Hollywood). It will also offer the vaccine at the Clinica Bienestar in East Los Angeles. Health officials said people can also help prevent the spread of the disease by not sharing drinks, utensils, food, toothbrushes, cigarettes, cigars or pipes; and not having multiple kissing partners. Meningococcal diseases is a rare, but serious disease. The illness that most people are familiar with is meningitis. It can start with flu-like symptoms, then progress to high fever, headache, stiff neck, confusion and rash. People who experience these symptoms should seek medical care immediately.
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08.12 — 08.25.2016 POLICING
LOS ANGELES
LOS ANGELES
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COMMUNITY
⚫ BY KAREN OCAMB
Rob Saltzman leaving LA Police Commission after nearly a decade of significant service Rob Saltzman may be one of the most important, least known gay men in Los Angeles. A man of strong principle deeply rooted in constitutional law, this week Saltzman is ending his nearly 10 years of service on the Los Angeles Police Commission. It was Saltzman who finally ended the LAPD’s seemingly intractable partnership with the department’s Learning for Life youth program, sponsored by the proudly anti-gay Boy Scouts of America. Saltzman’s gay predecessors Dean Hansell and Shelley Freeman worked hard to sever ties with BSA, pointing out that the Scout’s longtime policies refusing to allow openly gay troop leaders, even Eagle Scouts beloved by their troops, and the organization’s perversion of the founder’s term “morally straight” to keep gay kids out of the organization, violated the city’s own non-discrimination policies. In hearings and reports, they proved that the LAPD could support its own Cadet Program. But while the LAPD and its chiefs steadily moved towards greater “tolerance” and acceptance of the LGBT community after the forced resignation of Chief Daryl Gates in 1992, none seemed willing to cut the ties until Chief Charlie Beck. In fact, the commission voted to sever ties on the same day L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced Beck’s appointment. It was a quietly monumental moment. As was April 12, 2012, the night when the Saltzman, Beck and LA Police Commission President Richard Drooyan helped roll out the first-ever Transgender Guidance for the LAPD at the Chief’s regular LGBTQ Forum. The three-page “Notice to All Department Personnel regarding: POLICE INTERACTIONS WITH TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS” was also a result of years of pressure—this one originally brought by Transgender Menace activist Shirley Bushnell in the early 1990s. The Notice was developed by the City of Los Angeles—the Mayor’s office, the human relations and po-
POLICE COMMISSIONER ROB SALTZMAN, LAPD CHIEF CHARLIE BECK, AND POLICE COMMISSION PRESIDENT RICHARD DROOYAN. PHOTO BY KAREN OCAMB.
lice commissions, the LAPD—and the LAPD Transgender Working Group comprised of longtime transgender advocates. “This is a victory for all of us,” said Karina Samala, director of the LAPD Transgender Working Group. “This is a new LAPD.” But would it have happened without Saltzman’s leadership on the Police Commission? Saltzman is justifiably proud of both achievements. “I do think the Cadet Program (getting rid of the association with the Boy Scouts and their discriminatory policies) and the transgender policies were both significant, particularly for the LGBT community,” Saltzman said by email on Thursday. “But both also helped the LAPD to become more open and understanding of the diverse populations they serve. And, of course, by serving as openly gay, I hope I played a small part in changing people’s attitudes and perceptions of LGBT people.” Small part, indeed. Appointed to the commission by Villaraigosa in 2007, and subsequently the mayor’s only appointee to the L.A. City Ethics Com-
mission, Saltzman had no choice but to be a man for whom “doing the right thing” is an ethical and moral obligation, no matter what it might cost him in gold stars with law enforcement or the city’s political cool kids. A Harvard Law School graduate, Associate Dean of the Gould School of Law and Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Southern California since 1988, he’s been responsible for supporting students and teaching them classes on Legal and Professional Ethics and Responsibilities, Evidence, and Legislation. He’s also an expert on “the importance of affirmative action, and the inherent value of diversity to the quality of legal education diversity,” according to his LAPD/Police Commission biography. In 2011, President Obama appointed him to the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars to advise the White House and Department of Education on promotion of excellence and achievement in education. Saltzman has also served on a slew of boards of directors, including the LA LGBT Center, the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, and the Board of Directors for the Gay and Lesbian Leader-
ship Institute. Saltzman’s service illustrates how exercising professional judgment without fear or favor does not mean an LGBT person needs to deny or leave a significant part of themselves in a closet at home. In Sept. 2008, during the brief exuberant window before the passage of Prop 8 stripped away the constitutional right to marry for same sex couples, Saltzman, then 53, married his longtime love, Edward Joseph Pierce, 56. As reported by the New York Times on Sept. 19, 2008, the two—who met at Harvard Law School— were married “at the home of a friend, Dr. David Sanders, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Another friend, David C. Codell, who became a Universal Life minister for the event, officiated, and a third, David Bohnett, led the ceremony.” Pierce was retired general counsel and vice president for legal affairs of GeoCities, the wildly successful Internet company founded by Bohnett. So when Saltzman watched the various Prop 8 protests from curbside, he was there in the streets not only in his responsible capacity as Police Commissioner, but with a quiet vested interest, as well. As a city officer whose memory extends back to the federal Consent Decree, Saltzman wanted to make sure LAPD officers treated Prop 8 protesters with respect, and make sure protesters and police alike got home safely to their families. Edward J. Pierce died last year, on October 22, 2015, peacefully surrounded by family and friends. He and Saltzman had been together 36 years. “Ed’s skill and expertise are credited with helping GeoCities become one of the most successful internet sites of its era,” says the obituary in the L.A. Times.“Subsequent to his career at GeoCities, Ed continued to devote himself to his husband, Rob, as well as being a major financial and volunteer contributor to a number of orgaPOLICE COMMISSION continued on p. 9
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FLORIDA POLITICS
08.12 — 08.25.2016
LOS ANGELES
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REPUBLICANS
⚫ BY TROY MASTERS
Near Pulse Nightclub Trump Courts antigays Donald Trump and Marco Rubio are seeking votes from people who fundamentally believe LGBT people are not equal On the same day that Donald Trump drew the political spotlight by suggesting ‘Second Amendment folks’ should assassinate Hillary Clinton if she becomes President, it was announced that Trump will join Senator Marco Rubio Thursday August 11 in addressing an Orlando, Florida event hosted by anti-LGBT evangelical leaders. The convention will be attended by 700 religious conservatives and will take place at a convention center only moments away from Pulse Nightclub where an assassin murdered 49 people in the largest mass shooting in American history.Trump is increasingly seeking support from the fringe elements of the GOP base as his poll numbers slip. Through the event, called “Rediscovering God in America,” hosted by the Florida Renewal Project, Trump is courting the antigay evangelical vote. This is the second such meeting Trump has attended in recent weeks. In June, Trump met with more than 900 evangelical leaders in New York. “Little Marco,” as Trump refers to the Senator, cited the deadly attack on a gay nightclub in Orlando as one reason he changed his mind about running for re-election to the U.S. Senate despite never having been an ally of the LGBT community. Rubio, who will deliver the keynote address for the anti-LGBT confab, said “The event I will be speaking at in Orlando is a gathering of local pastors and faith leaders,” Rubio told Bloomberg News. “Leave it to the media and liberal activists to label a gathering of faith leaders as an anti-LGBT
PUBLISHER & EDITOR TROY MASTERS troy@smmirror.com
CONTRIBUTORS
MATTHEW S. BAJKO, ZACK FORD, CYNTHIA LAIRD, HENRY SCOTT, CHARLES KAISER, LISA KEEN, ALAN MILLER, TIM MILLER, MAER ROSHAN, KIT WINTER, BRAD LAMM, DAVID EHRENSTEIN, STEVEN ERICKSON, LILLIAN FADERMAN, ORIOL GUTTIEREZ, SETH HEMMELGARN, THOMAS LEONARD, IAN MILLHISSER, KAREN OCAMB, STEVE WEINSTEIN, CHRIS AZZOPARD, DIANE ANDERSON-MINSHALL, ALLEN ROSKOFF, JOHN PAUL KING
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“AS YOUR PRESIDENT I WILL DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO PROTECT LGBTQ CITIZENS.” event. It is nothing of the sort. It is a said during his Republican National Convention acceptance speech celebration of faith.” Rubio said conservatives have a in July. “As your president I will do right to fight for “traditional marriag- everything in my power to protect es” because “marriage is regulated by LGBTQ citizens.” DNC Chair Donna Brazile said the individual states.” David Lane, founder of the Ameri- “Instead of honoring the memory of can Renewal Project, told Bloomberg those we lost at Pulse two months News that “homosexual totalitarian- ago, Donald Trump and Marco Rubio ism is out of the closet, the militants have come to Orlando to headline a gathering of some of the nation’s most are trying to herd Christians there.” “But what about the religious liber- incendiary anti-gay bigots. We at the ty of Christian photographers, Chris- DNC join all people of good conscience tian bakers, Christian retreat centers, in expressing our solidarity with the and pastors who believe same-sex in- Orlando LGBT community as they tercourse and marriage is sin?” Lane continue to grieve the deadliest shootasked. “These Christians were simply ing in American history. We suggest living out their deeply held convictions Trump and Rubio disavow these anof their Christian faith when they po- ti-gay extremists who have likened litely refused to provide services for a gay people to Nazis and characterized same-sex wedding. Doesn’t the First HIV/AIDS as divine ‘penalties’ for beAmendment give us all a right to our ing gay. Failing to do so will be yet another example of the utter lack of beliefs?” judgment that makes Trump unfit to Enter Trump. “Only weeks ago in Orlando, Flori- serve.” The event will put Trump and Rubio da, 49 wonderful Americans were savagely murdered by terrorists,” Trump EVANGELICAL continued on p. 11
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08.12 — 08.25.2016 POLICE COMMISSION continued from p. 7
nizations, in particular, GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network….Ed leaves this world a better place, and he leaves behind a wide circle of family and friends who are inspired to honor his memory and his heroic struggle.” “I miss him terribly, but I am so lucky to have had such a great relationship for so many years--and then finally to have been able to marry legally,” he says. Saltzman, too, has exhibited a kind of quiet heroism in insisting that he fulfill the mandate of his job as Police Commissioner, even as others disagreed. Perhaps as a result, Saltzman was the only commissioner held over by Eric Garcetti after he became mayor. Saltzman is now ending his second term and, as the L.A. Times points out, he’s had his share of instances standing alone on principle. “It was 2014, and [LAPD Chief Charlie] Beck had proved himself a popular leader. But Saltzman was concerned by some of the chief’s recent actions, including a decision to only suspend a well-connected officer caught uttering a racial slur and a failure to promptly alert commissioners about officers who had tampered with recording equipment on their patrol cars,” The Times THE FACTORY continued from p. 3
about why Commissioner David Phoenix did not recuse himself from the vote on the Mitchell Camera/The Factory listing. The gay Los Angeles resident owns an eponymously named interior design firm that has conducted business with furnishings company Phyllis Morris, according to its website. The family-owned business has its flagship showroom in West Hollywood and is now run by its late founder’s daughter Jamie Adler, whose father is attorney Nathan Goller. He in turn is a general partner of Robertson Court, a California General Partnership that holds a 90 percent ownership stake in the Mitchell Camera/The Factory property. Goller had sent the state historic commission a seven-page letter in opposition to seeing the Factory building be listed on the National Register. In addition to questioning the significance of the gay clubs that called the property home, he noted that Studio One was “well-known” for excluding women and people of color. The letter also contended the property had been altered over the years, and thus, its integrity had been comprised, making it unworthy for National Register listing. It was a point Phoenix also raised, according to people in attendance at the meeting. Phoenix’s participation in the meeting last month also raised eyebrows considering he has missed 13 of the
LOS ANGELES wrote. “Days later, Saltzman was the only police commissioner to vote against re-appointing Beck.” Saltzman praised Beck when warranted, as well. Saltzman ruffled the feathers of powerful people, but, The Times notes, “current and former colleagues as well as police outsiders credited him with asking tough questions intended to make the LAPD better.” “A commission that doesn’t ask questions, that doesn’t press the department, that doesn’t occasionally disagree and ask for further changes in policy, isn’t doing the job of civilian oversight,” Peter Bibring, a senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, told The Times. “It’s just a rubber stamp. And Commissioner Saltzman wasn’t that.” Saltzman says he is proud of his service, especially “focusing on biased policing (racial profiling and also bias based on other factors (for example, appearance, perceived gender identity, sexual orientation).) The Department still has not concluded that any allegations of biased policing are ‘founded.’ In other words, every biased policing complaint so far has been determined by the Department to be lacking merit (or simply cannot be proved). Clearly the LAPD must do a better job in this area. The vast panel’s meetings since 2012; it meets quarterly. During the last four years he has attended six meetings, the most recent prior to the July 29 meeting being in January 2015, according to the meeting minutes posted to the commission’s website. A woman who answered the phone at his design firm Friday said Phoenix was unavailable. He has yet to respond to emailed questions about why he did not recuse himself from voting on the Mitchell Camera/The Factory listing request. Saunders also did not respond to the The Pride LA‘s emailed questions on if Phoenix had sought advice regarding whether he should recuse himself from the vote. Even if the commission had voted in support of the listing, the building likely would not be listed on the National Register because, under federal rules, the property owner’s permission is required. But it can be listed on the California Register of Historical Resources, despite the opposition of the property owner, thus requiring greater scrutiny for any development plans that would alter or demolish the existing structure. According to a story in the Los Angeles Times last July, local developer Faring Capital wants to demolish the Mitchell Camera/The Factory building and replace it with a hotel, meeting spaces for people visiting West Hollywood’s design district, and a “park-like walkway” connecting four streets in the area.
majority of cops do a great job, but it simply is not true that there are no instances of biased policing.” And while he may have upset some of the rank and file, Saltzman focused intently and very carefully on each serious use of force by the LAPD. “ I believe we have made good progress in reducing the uses of force and in appropriately evaluating those uses of force that occur,” he says. “But there are still too many uses of force and too many officer involved shootings. I am proud that we increased and improved training on issues related to de-escalation and appropriate uses of force.” And as a gay man who witnessed the arc of history from anti-gay Gates to a more pro-LGBT LAPD and a Police Commission full of LGBT allies, Saltzman is also proud of addressing new officers graduating from the LAPD Academy. “My message to them was twofold: (1) even if we are different from you, that should not make us suspicious. The officer needs to appreciate who the citizen is so the citizen can understand what the officer would like the citizen to do. It starts with treating everyone respectfully. (2) When we say “protect and serve,” we mean not only to protect us from criminals, but also to protect our constitutional rights (for example to protest lawfully, including protests
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against the police),” Saltzman says. He is aware that his departure means there is no openly LGBT person now sitting on the L.A. Police Commission—once a significant demand of the LGBT community. Attorney Cynthia McClain-Hill has been named as his replacement. “There is no question but that our being at the table has a significant positive impact on policy decisions. It is crucial that we continue to have such representation,” Saltzman says. “Having said that, I do think the current make up of the Police Commission is very supportive on LGBT issues. President Matt Johnson in particular has reached out to the community, and I know he is serious about keeping a focus on issues of concern to our community. The other commissioners are also all very positive on LGBT issues.” But is that the same as having an LGBT person of the quality, conscience and commitment of a Rob Saltzman serving the greater community? “Angelenos owe commissioner Rob Saltzman an enormous debt,” former Police Commissioner Shelley Freeman, Saltzman’s immediate gay predecessor, said in an email. “In nearly a decade of service, he’s been a fierce POLICE COMMISSION continued on p. 11
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TALKING POINT SACRAMENTO
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08.12 — 08.25.2016
LOS ANGELES
HISTORY AND LEGACY
⚫ BY KAREN OCAMB
CA Legislative Caucus Honors LGBT pioneers at Capitol Pride ceremony The arc of LGBT history is not one swift upward arc; we have fought mightily over the years and still have much to do. A gust of memories swept over me as I exited the taxicab in front of the State Capitol in Sacramento Mondaymorning to participate in the 2016 LGBT Legislative Caucus Pride cer emony. Suddenly it was the fall of 1991 again, and everywhere I saw activists with ACT UP tee shirts and signs excoriating Gov. Pete Wilson for vetoing AB 101, the gay civil rights bill. Face after face of sources who became friends over the short, intense time before they died. How many people in that august building today remember the anguish and the excitement of LGBT people struggling for recognition and rights as firstclass citizens—indeed, struggling for their very right to exist? Then, as I turned my gaze to the right, I see lanky Stan Hadden leaning against a tall tree, waiting for me to take his picture. Stan had been instrumental in getting HIV/AIDS policies passed in the city and the state in the early 1980s as the senior aide to powerful State Senate President Pro Tem David Roberti. He died in Dec. 1991 at age 35. People flew in from around the state for his funer al, including me and young attorney John Duran, President of the Board of LIFE AIDS Lobby. In a gestur e unheard of for the suits of Sacramento, a huge rainbow flag was unfurled
ABOVE: VETERAN LGBT JOURNALIST KAREN OCAMB HONORED BY LGBT LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS DURING PRIDE CELEBRATIONS IN SACRAMENTO. BELOW: JOHN PEREZ, STONEWALL DEMOCRATIC CLUB MAINSTAY, LABOR EXPERT AND THE FIRST OPENLY GAY MAN OF COLOR ELECTED TO THE LEGISLATURE
and solemnly marched down the street to the Capitol. Stan Hadden and Republican Marty Keller were out in Sacramento but there were scores and scores of administrative and political aides to California legislators who were deeply in the closet, fearing exposure might end their professional careers. And there were closeted elected officials
and potential candidates silenced by the very r eal fear of ruination from society and religious hatred for homosexuals, pockmarked with the terror of AIDS. It wasn’t until 1994 with the election of out for mer actr ess Sheila James Kuehl to the California Assembly that the rainbow roof to statewide political ambition was shattered. Her election seemed a miracle, given the ugly conservative climate of the times—including the backlash to President Bill Clinton that generated the Newt Gingrich Republican revolution and the GOP takeover in the House of Representatives for the first time in 40 years. If 1992 had been the “Year of the Woman,” where more than 60 million women voted and 24
women were elected to the House and five to the Senate, 1994 was the “Year of the Angry White Man.” But underneath the dark pall of anti-gay GOP politics were flashes of light suggesting that all was not lost. Sheila tells a story about how, during her campaign, an older white man approached her in a Los Angeles restaurant and asked if she was the Sheila Kuehl running for office. Sheila prepared herself for a blast of heated conservative rhetoric but instead the man coolly said he was voting for her. Thanking him, she asked why. The man said that he thought most politicians wer e liars but “you’ve already told us the worst thing about yourself. So why would you lie about anything else?” He considered coming out as a courageous act of appreciated authenticity. But the knuckle-dragging conser vative troglodytes didn’t care about anything so highfalutin as “authenticity.” The Bible said homosexuality was an evil perversion so Sheila Kuehl was possessed by Satan—and they let her know it. The vile vitriol spat from the mouths of these proudly ignorant legislators on the floor of the Assembly—in the name of Christianity—was enough to foul any proceeding. But there Sheila stood, a lesbian alone in the chamber, small of stature but towering in moral fortitude, her brilliance and sense of humor a velvet glove winning converts to her s ide . So me —like L.A. As s e mblymember Antonio Villaraigosa—didn’t need persuasion. He rushed to her LGBT CAUCUS HONORS continued on p. 13
08.12 — 08.25.2016 EVANGELICAL continued from p. 8
in the company of some of the most extreme anti-gay activists in the country: David Lane, whose organization is hosting the event, believes that gay rights will lead to the “utter destruction” of the U.S. and “car bombs in Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and Des Moines, Iowa.” (Learn more about David Lane here). Mat Staver, whose Liberty Counsel Action sent out the invitation to the event and who is scheduled to speak, has gained a national reputation by representing Davis and Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore through the affiliated Liberty Counsel. Last month, Staver denounced memorial gatherings for the victims of the Orlando nightclub attack as “homosexual love fests.” Staver has claimed that gay people are “demonic,” seek to abuse children and are similar to terrorists, and has warned that gay rights victories could lead to “forced homosexuality” and “another civil war.” At the same time, he has praised countries that outlaw same-sex relationships. (Learn more about Mat Staver here). David Barton, a Republican Party activist who styles himself as a historian, thinks that God is justly preventing a cure for HIV/AIDS because it is a divine “penalty” for homosexuality, and has lamented that public schools try to “force” students “to be homosexual” when homosexuality really should be regulated by the government. (Learn more about David Barton here). Maine pastor Ken Graves preaches against “militant homofascism” that he says “seeks to take over our land and make it Sodom” and argues that gay people cannot build happy families because they are “depressed.” Bill Federer, a Religious Right activist and conspiracy theorist, believes that gay rights are bringing about the Islamist takeover of America. From the Human Rights Campaign: Just when you think Donald Trump and Marco Rubio couldn’t go any lower, they announce plans to court anti-LGBTQ activists in Orlando. On POLICE COMMISSION continued from p. 9
advocate for all of our communities and in particular our LGBTQ community. He has stood out as an independent, principled and courageous voice, willing to take on the issues even when standing alone. He knows that good public safety isn’t just about crime statistics--it’s about the relationships between police officers and our communities.” His friend, gay philanthropist David Bohnett, concurs. “Rob Saltzman served with grace and guts and dis-
Thursday, Donald Trump and Marco Rubio are going to seek votes from people who fundamentally believe we are not equal, who support dangerous and harmful conversion therapy and who have worked to export anti-LGBTQ hate abroad,” said HRC Senior Vice President of Policy and Political Affairs JoDee Winterhof. “Donald Trump would put at risk all the progress the LGBTQ community has made over the last eight years. And we know all too well that Marco Rubio -- who has refused to stand up for LGBTQ Floridians time and again -- would be his loyal accomplice. Because of elected officials like Marco Rubio, LGBTQ Floridians remain at risk of being fired or denied a job because of who they are or whom they love.” Michael Keegan, president of People For the American Way, said “the GOP standard bearer is choosing to rub shoulders with some of the most extreme anti-gay voices in the country speaks volumes about the Republican party today. “These are people who revile gay people, calling them ‘demonic,’ and who claim that LGBT rights will lead to the ‘utter destruction’ of our country. But the GOP presidential candidate seemingly has no qualms about casting his lot with these dangerous anti-gay voices,” said Keegan, whose group was the first to report that Rubio would speak at the Orlando event. Hannah Willard, spokesperson for Equality Florida told The Pride LA the group will be picketing the event. “We are outraged at the audacity of Trump and Rubio to appear at this radical far-right event on the twomonth anniversary of the Pulse Massacre. Senator Marco Rubio continues to insult the lives of the 49 victims by voting down common sense gun safety measures and relentlessly opposing basic human rights for LGBTQ people throughout his political career. Mr. Trump’s pandering to religious extremists is unacceptable - their hate speech causes real harm to LGBTQ people. Together we will make it absolutely clear that hatred and bigotry will never go unchallenged, especially here in Orlando.” tinction during his nine year tenure on the Los Angeles Police Commission,” Bohnett said in an email. “Commissioner Saltzman made it a hallmark of his tenure to increase the transparency and accountability of the use of force cases that came before the Commission. The citizens of Los Angeles and particularly those in minority communities are better served by the LAPD due to Rob Saltzman’s long and committed tenure on the Commission.” Hopefully, Saltzman can now absorb the appreciation of a grateful LGBT community.
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POLITICS COMMUNITY
>
08.12 — 08.25.2016
LOS ANGELES
HEALTHCARE
⚫ BY KAREN OCAMB
Clinton’s plan to end HIV/ AIDS, fix criminilization law The history books will record that the 2016 presidential race produced the first woman and the first Reality TV star as nominees from the two major political parties. But while the world stares agog at the American political process following the Republican and Democratic conventions last month, a critical national issue is being depressingly overlooked—the dire impact of HIV on young gay and bisexual men of color. In keeping with the spirit of her meeting with HIV/AIDS activists last May, Hillary Clinton’s campaign
included Georgia HIV/AIDS activist Daniel Driffin on the roster of speakers at the DNC convention on Wednesday, July 27. “Together with more than 1 million Americans, I’m living with HIV,” said Driffin, 30, the first HIV-positive speaker at the DNC since 2004. “Who is most at risk? Young, gay black men. Men like me. In fact, one in two black gay men will be diagnosed in their lifetime if the current rates continue. And if we had enough data, I’m sure black transgender women are more at risk, too.”
Stop. Think about that: “one in two black gay men will be diagnosed in their lifetime if the current rates continue.” Driffin did not speak in primetime so it is unclear how many were moved by his words. But his was not a slap-dash rhetorical comment crafted for effect. These are statistics from the Centers for Disease Control. Last February, the CDC reported: “If current HIV diagnoses rates persist, about 1 in 2 black men who have sex with men (MSM) and 1 in 4 Latino MSM in the United States will be diagnosed with HIV during their
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lifetime.” In fact, evidence presented at the 2016 International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa July 18-22 (during the Republican Convention) suggests that HIV is becoming a young person’s disease—worldwide. “While all other demographics are in decline, more and more young people are being diagnosed with the disease. Globally, 11.8 million people ages 15-24 are currently living with HIV/AIDS, with this demographic also CLINTON PULSE continued on p. 13
08.12 — 08.25.2016
side the minute she arrived, suggesting the two start the first LGBT Caucus. And under Cruz Bustamante’s Speakership during the 1997-1998 session, Sheila made history as the first woman and first LGBT person to serve as Speaker Prop Tem. When Villaraigosa became Speaker, he put his power and prestige on the line to help pass Sheila’s significant Dignity for All Students bill. It failed by one vote but was later passed as AB 537, the California Student Safety & Violence Prevention Act of 2000 with the help of Villaraigosa’s successor, Speaker Bob Hertzberg, and signed into law by Gov. Gray Davis. In 2000, Jackie Goldberg from L.A. and Chris Kehoe from San Diego CLINTON PULSE continued from p. 12
accounting for more than half of new infections. In the U.S., young Black, gay and bisexual men make up the largest population of people who are infected, and young women of color bear the largest burden of the disease among women in the U.S. Globally, adolescent and young women are fast becoming the most at risk: in Sub Saharan Africa, women ages 15 to 19 make up two thirds of the population of infected adolescents,” reports Kali Villarosa for The Black AIDS Institute. Stigma is the key to the ongoing infections. “Even among young gay and bisexual men, who initially bore the brunt of the disease and its associated deaths, discussion remains unsophisticated and un-textured. My friend Wen, an openly gay 20-year -old from Brooklyn, told me: ‘The disease is seen as a joke, but those diagnosed are shamed. There still remains a lot of stigma around the disease and people are scared to get tested,’” Villarosa wrote. “But this stigma often perpetuates the risk of these already vulnerable communities,” she continued. “A study of over 15,000 high school boys released [at the IAC] by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this week found that gay and bisexual teen males were no more likely than their straight peers to engage in risky sexual behavior, but still had a higher chance of contracting HIV. It was actually homophobia, bullying and violence that spread the disease—not promiscuity, alcohol and drugs and avoiding condom use.” That CDC report also reveal what many suspected but could not ver ify—the invisible gay/bi drug crisis
were elected, joining Sheila and feisty San Franciscan Carole Migden, who was elected in 1996. The four lesbians were doing just fine (see the new documentary Political Animals) but when John Laird from Santa Cruz and Mark Leno from San Francisco became the first openly gay men elected to the California Legislature in 2002, the politicos realized they should organize and petition for caucus status, which brought with it a stipend for staff. The founding members of the new LGBT Legislative Caucus subsequently hired Eric Astacaan as their first consultant. Eric had been the Legislative Director for CAPE (the California Alliance for Pride and Equality), the successor to LIFE Lobby and predecessor of the current statewide LGBT lobbying organiza-
tion, Equality California.
and its connection to HIV infection. “Overall, MSM – including those who inject drugs – account for 60 percent of the 1.2 million people living with HIV in the United States. In 2014, 13- to 24-year-olds accounted for more than one in five (22 percent) HIV diagnoses. Among the 13- to 24-year -olds diagnosed with HIV in 2014, 80 percent were gay and bisexual males.”
Gasps, anyone? Having a long history of involvement with both young people and the AIDS crisis— including losing friends to AIDS such as Los Angeles-based Bob Hattoy who spoke at Bill Clinton’s nominating convention in 1992—Hillary Clinton may be starting to feel like an AIDS Movement mother herself after hearing Driffin and learning of
Over the years, the LGBT Caucus has expanded and contracted as out politicians move from the Assembly to the State Senate or retire or lose their elections. Caucus members have also included San Francisco’s popular former teacher, comedian and friend of Harvey Milk, Tom Ammiano, whose student access bill advanced transgender rights, and John Perez, Stonewall Democratic Club mainstay, labor expert and the first openly gay man of color elected to the Legislature and the first gay man elected by his peers to be Speaker of the Assembly on March 1, 2010. When he left of fice in 2014, L.A. T imes columnist Jim Newton said Perez “deserves a large dollop of the credit” for taming the massive Cali-
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fornia budget under Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democrat Jerry Brown. Then, in a jaw-dropping juxtaposition to the agony endured by Sheila Kuehl, in May 2014, Perez was succeeded by San Diegan Toni Atkins, Califor nia’s first lesbian Speaker, who walked down the Assembly aisle holding the hand of her spouse, Jennifer LeSar. On Monday, Atkins escorted her former boss, mentor and friend Chris Kehoe down the Assembly aisle as the LGBT Caucus honored its founding pioneers. The Caucus also honored Asatcaan, Ken McNeely, President of AT&T Califor nia, which has one of the oldest LGBT employee resources groups in the nation, and me, as a veteran LGBT journalist... MORE at thepridela.com/ocamb
the new International AIDS statistics. Clinton’s Republican opponent Donald Trump, meanwhile, had an early history with AIDS, attending fundraisers thrown by his beloved socialite sister -in-law Blaine Trump, actively on the board of New York City’s “God’s Love We Deliver.”... MORE at thepridela.com/ocamb
Michael Feinstein on Grand Avenue October 22, 2016
An intimate concert celebrating film composer David Raksin (Laura, The Bad and the Beautiful) Seating is very limited VIP Package includes private post-concert dinner
Get Your Tickets Now colburnschool.edu/feinstein Honorary Committee Diahann Carroll Kristin Chenoweth Marc Cherry Michele Lee
Ginny Mancini Barry Manilow Liza Minnelli Johnny Mathis
Maria Ferrer Murdock Judge Judy Sheindlin Jean-Yves Thibaudet Betty White
Photo by AJ Mast
LGBT CAUCUS HONORS continued from p. 10
LOS ANGELES
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SPORTS EQUALITY
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08.12 — 08.25.2016
LOS ANGELES
OLYMPIC HISTORY
⚫ BY NEHA THIRANI BAGRI
Married Lesbian couple compete in Olympics Helen and Kate Richardson-Walsh are competing in Rio, making Olympic history as the first same sex married This summer will mark the fourth time British hockey players Kate Richardson-Walsh and Helen Richardson-Walsh will be competing in the Olympics. The long-time teammates made history in London in 2012 when they won Great Britain’s first Olympic hockey medal in two decades. In Rio, they’re gunning for gold, but before their first match, they’ve already made their mark. This time, as the first same-sex married couple ever to compete in the Olympic games. This year’s Summer Olympics will feature a record number of publicly out LGBT athletes—44 according to an estimate by Outsports magazine, nearly double the number of the London 2012 Olympics. But casting a shadow over this historic moment is the fact that members of the LGBT community are frequently a target of horrific violence in Brazil. Kate and Helen’s journey is something of an Olympic love story. They’ve known each other since they were children, played on teams together for over a decade, and made their Olympic debut together in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. They began to date in 2008 after the Beijing Olympics, after Kate broke off her engagement to Brett Garrard, the for mer captain of Great Britain men’s hockey team. In 2013, they got married in Oxfordshire, combining their last names, and invited the entire team to celebrate. For the most part, the couple tries to keep their personal and professional lives separate, but when Helen was left out of hockey World
OLYMPIANS: HELEN AND KATE RICHARDSON-WALSH
Cup in 2014 because of an injury, Kate admitted inan interview with The Telegraph that she had to take her “captain’s hat off” and support her wife. “We’re a couple, we love each other, and we happen to be playing in the same team,” said Kate, in an inter view with BBC. “I think because our teammates and our friends and family have all been so supportive and understanding of that we also don’t see anything strange or different.” Sporting Diplomacy The Olympics brings together athletes from countries with vastly different attitudes and laws for LGBT people. The event has in recent years become a site for diplomacy around global LGBT rights. The increasing number of athletes who are comfortable publicly discussing their sexuality is an indication of how successful that campaign has been. But while some teams and communities can be very welcoming of LGBT
players, there are still several countries participating in the games in which a person can be fined, arrested, or put to death for being LGBT. When countries come together for inter national sporting competitions, this schism becomes ever more apparent. “There are closeted Olympians who compete in every single athletic competition,” said Hudson Taylor, founder of Athlete Ally, a nonprofit organization that is looking to end antiLGBT sentiment in sports. “There is still something about sports culture that is less inclusive than it can and should be.” LGBT rights took on even mor e prominence inter nationally in the months leading up to the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014, when Russia banned the dissemination of “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations” around children, ef fectively prohibiting any public discussion of gay rights. When asked what this meant for visitors to the games,Pres-
ident Vladimir Putin said, “One can feel calm and at ease. Just leave kids alone, please.” Gay rights activists protested the Inter national Olympic Committee (IOC) for its inaction, given that the principle of non-discrimination is enshrined in the Olympic charter. Later that year, the IOC introduced an anti-discrimination clause to its host city contract, ahead of bidding for the 2022 Winter Olympics. In some cases, the desire to host the games can impact national policy. Last year, Kazakhstan, one of the finalists for the 2022 Winter Olympics, approved anti-gay propaganda legislation. Athlete Ally sent an open letter to the IOC president Thomas Bach saying that a country that wished to host the Olympics could not have discriminatory laws. Taylor believes this pressure led Kazakhstan to subsequently kill the legislaOLYMPIANS continued on p. 15
08.12 — 08.25.2016 OLYMPIANS continued from p. 14
tion. “Sport can and should play an integral role in shaping and reforming LGBT policies worldwide,” Taylor said. With the Olympics coming to Tokyo in 2020, Hiroshi Hase, Japan’s minister responsible for education and sport who chaired the bid for the Olympics, told Buzzfeed recently that they hope to build public awareness of LGBT rights. “As an out athlete, I found myself feeling grateful that I am not a winter Olympic athlete because I would have been very nervous to travel to Sochi,” Ashley Nee, an openly gay American kayaker who will be competing in Rio, said in an interview with Athlete Ally. “Debating whether or not to attend an Olympic games because of a fear of personal safety because of your sexuality is not a part of the Olympic dreams I had envisioned as a young girl but that is the position the IOC put many athletes in these past winter games.” Growing violence In Brazil, a spate of brutal mur ders of gay and transgender people in recent years have made international headlines. “It is not easy to be gay,
LOS ANGELES transsexual, or transvestite in Brazil because you face discrimination at home, in the schools, in church, at work, in the streets, by the government,” said Luiz Mott, founder of the Grupo Gay da Bahia, the oldest LGBT rights group in Brazil. The organization tracks violence against the LGBT population in Brazil based on press accounts. It estimates that nearly 1,600 people have died in anti-LGBT violence in the past four -and-a-half years, and that a gay or trans person is murdered in Brazil nearly every day. The violence is at odds with the more progressive and tolerant elements of Brazilian society. São Paulo hosts the world’s largest gay pride parade, while gay characters are common in Brazilian television. Brazil’s gover nment has introduced sever al progressive laws and policies, and same-sex marriage has been legal since 2013. Activists argue that the anti-gay sentiment in Brazil stems from the influence of the country’s power ful Catholic and evangelical churches, whose leaders have stymied legislation that would toughen penalties for hate crimes. Brazil isn’t the only country these types of conflicting views. South Africa, one of the
first countries to legalize gay mar riage in 2006, still suffers from a high rate of LGBT violence, particularly towards lesbians. Social media is increasingly enabling citizens to document atrocities in the absence of official government data. Tem Local, for example, was launched in May last year as a platform for citizens to report attacks along with their location. “In Brazil the prejudice is veiled and cowardly. You can be lesbian, gay or transgender as long you don’t leave the house,” said Antonio Kvalo, one of the site’s founders. “With this data we can give visibility to the aggression and press society to take action against LGBT -phobia.” At risk The reports of violence could understandably make some LGBT athletes nervous about visiting Rio. Sean Williams, an analyst at Integrated Risk Management, suggests that LGBT travelers stick to areas with a high concentration of LGBT venues and mid-to-upper -class neighbor hoods. Those who venture to away, he said, should “maintain a low profile”. Robbie Mason, a publicly gay Olympic rower for New Zealand, will be
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taking some precautions while at the games in Rio. “I have full trust that inside the ‘Olympic bubble’ it will be very safe,” he said. “I will be vigilant if or when I go outside the bubble, which won’t be until at least after I’ve finished competing.” LGBT athletes can find a welcoming space in Rio at Pride House, which is modeled after Olympic venues hosted by countries for players to mingle. The first Pride House was organized at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler, and subsequent ones have been held in Warsaw, London, Glasgow and Toronto, during major sporting events (Russian officials rejected an application for a Pride House at the Olympic village in Sochi.) “It is a place where LGBT visitors can expect to get advice and support on keeping themselves safe in the area, as well as what to do if they experience hate crimes or violence,” said Keph Senett, a coalition member of the house. Thanks to heavy security pr esence in Rio during the games, there’s a high likelihood that LGBT athletes and fans will be safer during the two weeks of the Olympics than most LGBT Brazilians have been in a while.
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MOVIES LOOKING
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08.12 — 08.25.2016
LOS ANGELES
MOVIE KING
⚫ BY JOHN PAUL KING
“Looking” finds itself through film finalé
“It’s not the closure that simply involves finding out what happens to each of the characters or who they end up with; rather, it’s a more resonant variety…” When HBO debuted “Looking” at the beginning of 2014, it was greeted with much anticipation. It was the first mainstream TV series in over a decade (and one of the few ever) to focus specifically on gay characters, and with such talent involved as Jonathan Groff (from Broadway’s “Spring Awakening” and the much-beloved “Glee”) and Andrew Haigh (writer/director of 2011’s acclaimed “Weekend”), excitement was running high. Unfortunately, as is frequently the case, such steep expectations resulted in disappointment for a significant portion of the show’s target audience. Though critics heralded “Looking” as an intelligent exploration of contemporary gay life, many members of the LGBT community were not so impressed. Strong objections were voiced over several elements: the central trio of characters, whose lives (and behavior) were all very messy, were not seen as positive gay role models; there was concern that the depiction of promiscuity and drug use reinforced a negative impression of the gay lifestyle; there were complaints that the show did not feature enough diversity and left many non-white, trans, and older members of the community feeling disenfranchised. These, among several other issues, caused viewership of the series to dwindle significantly after the first few episodes, eventually leading to its cancellation after two seasons. Despite the criticisms listed above,
AFTER LIVING IN DENVER FOR NEARLY A YEAR, PATRICK MURRAY (JONATHAN GROFF) RETURNS TO SAN FRANCISCO TO CELEBRATE THE WEDDING OF OLD FRIENDS.
however, “Looking” retained a sizable following of fans who continued to tune in during its entire run. These viewers responded to the show’s realistic, slice-of-life approach which eschewed the socio-political agenda some might have wished in favor of character exploration. Fortunately for these fans, HBO gave the green light for a final installment, a movie which would tie up the loose threads left dangling after the series’ abrupt ending. The result not only provides the closure desired by loyal fans, it validates and redeems the show’s entire run. Directed by Haigh, who also wrote the screenplay with series creator Michael Lannan, “Looking: The Movie” picks up nine months after the events of the final episode, as Patrick (Groff)who moved to Denver in the wake of his breakup with Kevin (Russell Tovey)- returns to San Francisco to join Dom (Murray Bartlett) in witnessing the wedding of Agustin (Frankie J. Alvarez) to Eddie (Daniel Franzese). During the course of his visit, as Patrick finds himself coaxing Agustin through his pre-wedding jitters and prodding Dom to stop using his now-successful restaurant as an excuse to avoid relationships, he begins to recognize the need to face the mistakes of his own past- both with Kevin,
and with Richie (Raúl Castillo), his other former flame for whom he still has powerful feelings. As with the series itself, the plot matters far less than the personal discoveries made within it, and those discoveries don’t happen quickly. That’s not a negative criticism; “Looking” was always at its best when a gradual buildup suddenly yielded a revelatory moment of emotional truth- aided by the excellent and honest work of its cast. This careful and painstaking method continues with the film, which builds, both within itself and upon foundations laid in the series, towards the climax of the entire saga- a scene in which Patrick and Kevin sit down for an uncomfortable post-mortem of their failed relationship. It’s a superbly written and acted scene: Tovey, whose only appearance in the film is here, gives an unexpectedly heartbreaking performance- and it is the point at which “Looking” delivers its real closure. It’s not the closure that simply involves finding out what happens to each of the characters or who they end up with; rather, it’s a more resonant variety, in which Patrick, whose personal journey has always been at the heart of the show, finally begins to see the truth about himself. It takes you by surprise, and it’s very satisfying.
Of course, none of the show’s detractors are likely to be swayed by any of the final chapter’s strengths. Ultimately, it’s more of the same, presented in a longer format and designed to finish telling the story it started three years ago. But “Looking” never wanted to be the perfect “gay” show; it was never intended to present an ideal blueprint for gay life, nor to provide definitive attitudes or answers for any of the issues faced by the gay community- though it frequently, and eloquently, touched on many of those themes. If it had tried to do any of those things, it would have failed anyway. What the series intended to do was present imperfect people, who happened to be gay, struggling to find themselves within the complexities of 21st century life- the title was “Looking,” after all. Thanks to this much-needed, they were able to find what they were looking for- and just maybe, to help the rest of us on our way to doing the same.
LOOKING DIRECTOR: ANDREW HAIGH CINEMATOGRAPHY: XAVIER PÉREZ GROBET COSTUME DESIGN: DANNY GLICKER SCREENPLAY: ANDREW HAIGH, MICHAEL LANNAN AVAILABLE ON HBO
08.12 — 08.25.2016
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It was so gay Downtown Los Angeles, even the palm trees were sashaying and shantaying in Pershing Square for Downtown LA’s first Proud Festival, August 7, 2016. Nearly 4,000 people attended Los Angeles’ first festival to showcase DTLA and the areas growing LGBT community. Notably, WeHo peeps were everywhere. Graham Kirkland was one of the attendees. He said he just moved to Los Angeles from London and had heard all about the controversies surrounding LA Pride 2016. “This is so much more community oriented than I had expected. Everything in this city is so choreographed and commercial. I had expected much more exploitive corporate presence, but it’s virtually absent.” “We were submerged, soaked and saturated in blessed white light. Our presence was powerful.” said Jazzmun Nichcala Crayton.
There was a sense of history making, said some. “I love our community. We bounce back and make gold out of air. LA Pride dropped the ball or this fabulous event would not be happening. This is history and legacy in the making,” said a prominent critic of LA Pride who asked to remain anonymous. It was gay magic beneath the suspended sea of delicate silver strands rippling over Pershing Square, undulating moving shadows over the rainbow crowd. The “Liquid Shard” art installation, created by artist Patrick Shearn, was made from holographic mylar, stretching across the park, rising and falling like a cloud of silver, shimmering with the gentle wind. It was the perfect beginning to what is sure to become a major highlight of Downtown Los Angeles’ summer calendar.
ABOVE: TRANS HOUR OF POWER. BELOW LEFT: JUSTIN PRESSMAN AND FRIENDS. BELOW RIGHT: WENZEL JONES WITH MJ BROWN, PHOTOGRAPHED BY STEVE PRIDE
08.12 — 08.25.2016
LOS ANGELES
⚫ 19
ABOVE: HELEN BACK, JAY HARRIS, JOHNNY GLASSER, WILLIAM SMITH, MICHAEL CALDERON AND DAVID ALFRED LERMA JR. BELOW LEFT: FRANKIE BARCENAS AND ROBERT GAMBOA. BELOW RIGHT: PHOTO BY JUSTIN PRESSMAN
Activity #: 660901R0
⚫ 20
T:10”
08.12 — 08.25.2016
LOS ANGELES
LIVING
WITH HIV? FEDUCATIONAL REE
JOIN US ON
SEPTEMBER
HIV EVENT
1 AT
MAGGIANO’S LITTLE ITALY THE GROVE, BALLROOM
STARTING AT
7:00 PM
189 THE GROVE DRIVE, LOS ANGELES, CA 90036
❚ Hear inspiring stories
❚ Learn about a treatment option
❚ Ask questions and join the conversation
❚ Connect with local organizations
CALL: 1-844-524-9040 T O R E S E R V E YO U R S E AT Registration begins at: 6:30 PM Friends and family are welcome Food will be available
©2016 ViiV Healthcare group of companies. All rights reserved. Printed in USA. 660901R0 April 2016
This event is funded and developed by: