29. THE PRIDE LA October 21, 2016

the pride ISSUE NUMBER 1, VOLUME 3 10.21 — 11.03.2016

WWW.THEPRIDELA.COM PRIDE 2017 ⚫ 3

LA Pride shrinks as Christopher Street West board expands but without changes HIV PREVENTION ⚫ 4

Researchers report second PrEP failure but remain hopeful ELECTION 2017 ⚫ 5

Top 12 U.S. LGBT newspapers endorse Hillary Clinton NEWS ANALYSIS ⚫ 7

A new court case going far beyond marriage equality will soon affect you FEATURES ⚫ 12

Out LGBT seniors find staying out in their golden years isn’t always easy DO IT ⚫ 18

13 ways to scare your queer ass off during the 13 Days of Halloween

| OCT. 21 — NOV. 3, 2016

LOS ANGELES

⚫ 1

THE LOS ANGELES LGBT NEWSPAPER

⚫ 2

LOS ANGELES

10.21 — 11.03.2016

>

10.21 — 11.03.2016 PRIDE 2017

LOS ANGELES

⚫ 3

COMMUNITY

⚫ BY JAMES MILLS

LA Pride shrinks as Christopher Street West board expands

Despite calls for change, 2016’s board leadership remains unchanged as President Chris Classen announces new board members The embattled Christopher Street West (CSW), the nonprofit organization responsible for putting on the annual LA Pride festival held each June in West Hollywood, got some new blood on its board of directors as four new people joined the 15-member board during its monthly meeting on Tuesday night.

Apparently responding to criticism that the makeup of the CSW board did not reflect the diversity of the LGBT community, the board tapped a range of new board members – Ashlee-Marie Preston, an African-American transgender woman; Erica Meyer, a bisexual woman; Will DeSmit, a gay man in his late 20s/early 30s; and Dan Morin, a retired gay man and longtime West Hollywood resident.

The appointment of Morin is especially noteworthy since he and his roommate, renowned lesbian activist Ivy Bottini, were two of the people most vocal in their criticism of CSW’s plan to transform the 2016 Pride festival into a music festival aimed at millennials. Thanks to the intense public outcry, CSW partially reversed its course before the Pride festival in June and restored events aimed at lesbians and transgender people, and also lowered the ticket price from $35 to $25.

Whether the appointment of these four new board members will have a significant impact is yet to be determined as the CSW board leadership remains in place. Board president Chris Classen, secretary Steve Andrews and treasurer Mike Carriere are all beginning the second year of their two-year terms in office.

The October board meeting saw

THE NUMBER OF ATTENDEES AT 2016 LA PRIDE FESTIVITIES ARE REPORTED TO BE 1/3 THAT OF PREVIOUS YEARS.

event producer Jeff Consoletti, who has produced LA Pride since 2010, providing his year-end report. Among the many facts and figures Consoletti offered was that an estimated 150,000 lined Santa Monica Boulevard to watch the Pride parade on Sunday morning. That number is almost two-thirds lower that the 400,000 parade watchers which CSW reported for many years while Rodney Scott was president. Many people repeatedly questioned whether 400,000 people really lined the parade route, but CSW persisted in reporting that figure for years. Then, several years ago, CSW finally admitted that the 400,000 number included its estimate of the people who watched the video of the parade on cable television and online, but still did not give a figure for how many people were physically present to watch the parade.

Thus, Consoletti reporting 150,000 along the parade route was the first time in many years that anyone had offered a believable number of parade watchers. The West Hollywood Sheriff’s department provided that estimation, Consoletti said. The number

seems reasonable to anyone who has actually been on the sidewalks during the parade.

Consoletti also reported that 20,000 people attended the pride festival on Saturday and 23,000 people attended on Sunday. He was confident in those figures because this year, for the first time, they used radio frequency identification (RFID) bracelets to count each person coming in the gate. The RFID bracelet allowed them to keep track of each unique visitor, no matter how many times he/she left the festival and came back in.

“The RFID bracelets helped to maintain an accountability of guests coming to show. We now know how many guests are going out and how many are coming in,” Consoletti said, noting they did not track where people went once they were inside the festival grounds.

RFID bracelets were not used on Friday, the opening night of the festival, because the evening was free, but the sheriff’s station estimated the crowd was 17,000 people. All told, Consoletti said 60,000 people attended the three-day festival. While some of those 60,000 people may have at-

tended on multiple days, CSW board member Craig Bowers reported that the overwhelming majority of tickets sold at the gate were single-day tickets. Thus the 60,000 figure seems fairly accurate.

Consoletti, who produced the 2016 festival for just under $2.1 million, reported that maximum capacity for the festival grounds in West Hollywood Park is 30,000. While in years past, it often “felt” like they were near capacity, especially on Sunday immediately after the parade, Consoletti reported they could not be sure prior to the use of the RFID bracelets. He said this year’s Sunday attendance was likely lower than usual, thanks in large part to security concerns following the mass shooting at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., and reports of a suspected gunman being stopped in Santa Monica, headed to the Pride festival.

Each visitor spent an average of $22 on food or drinks while inside the festival grounds with a total of $775,000 spent on beverages and $182,000 spent on food. Of the beverage sales, 58 percent was for liquor, 34 percent was on beer, six percent on non-alcoholic drinks and two percent was on wine. In years past, CSW used local nonprofit groups to handle food and beverage sales and gave them a share of the revenue in return.

In 2015, CSW began using an outside company to handle the food and beverage concessions. Under that profit sharing arrangement, CSW receives 55 percent of the net profits, after expenses like credit card and merchant fees are taken out.

A medical tent set up like an emergency room triage center with doctors and nurses in attendance was used for the first time this year. Of the 26 people who came to the medical tent, 21 were for alcohol or drug related problems, and four were transported to the ER. In 2015, when they merely had a first-aid tent without any doctors, 34 people used it, and 29 were alcohol/drug related and 14 people LA PRIDE continued on p. 10

⚫ 4

BUSINESS LGBT MEDIA

10.21 — 11.03.2016

LOS ANGELES

CLOSURE OF AN INSTITUTION

⚫ BY NORM KENT

Frontiers Magazine owner battles lender in Chapter 11 Company claims lender it allegedly defrauded has disruputed cutting-edge media operations by forcing it to shut down

The lenders who alleged Frontiers Magazine’s parent company, Multimedia Platforms (MMPW), was a house of frauds have filed a motion in federal court to appoint a Chapter 11 trustee to collect, gather and freeze the use of any funds which were the subject assets of the defaulted loan.

In addition to Frontiers Magazine, Multimedia Platforms operated several publications including Florida Agenda, Next magazine in South Florida and New York, and FunMaps.

None of the publications are now operating.

White Winston Select Asset Funds, the company from which MMPW fraudulently obtained a $1.75 million

line of credit which it then defaulted on, has shifted most of the arguments they made against MMPW in Boston Superior Court to the new case in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District.

The motion explains, “The Debtors and their management are dishonest and have defrauded White Winston, have breached their fiduciary duties to the Debtors and otherwise have continued to act in ways that are destructive of the Debtors’ value and White Winston’s collateral. The Debtors, along with Columbia Funmaps, knowingly and intentionally diverted cash receivables they pledged as collateral to White Winston.”

The motion alleges MMPW crested and concealed a secret account to divert and improperly hold on to funds they had a legal obligation to turn over immediately. After the scammed lenders discovered the purported con, they demanded that diverted cash collections be turned over at once. At that point, all of MMPW’s officers quit and abandoned the business.

The motion continues, “A chapter

11 trustee should be appointed at the earliest available opportunity for all of the Debtors so that a prompt sale process of the Debtors’ business can occur to limit the erosion of value available for creditors. Finally, the Court should prohibit the Debtors from using White Winston’s cash collateral pursuant to 11 U.S.C. section 363(e)….The Debtors have provided White Winston with absolutely no information whatsoever about their business plans and intentions regarding usage of cash collateral.”

In order to remain in Chapter 11, and reorganize its assets or remain open, MMPW must submit a viable plan to the court.

MMPW remains optimistic publishing a press release declaring “The voluntary [Chapter 11] petitions were filed in response to a Temporary Restraining Order entered by a state court in Massachusetts filed by the Company’s principal lender.”

Multimedia Platforms entered into a master credit facility agreement for a principal amount of $1,750,000 provided by White Winston Select

Asset Funds, LLC (White Winston) on July 29.

On Sept. 9, White Winston declared a default related to (a) a failure to pay interest and (b) breaches of unspecified representations and warranties. Multimedia Platforms explains, “As a result of the alleged defaults, White Winston accelerated the Note and demanded assemblage of all collateral.”

In Court-filed documents, Multimedia Platforms notes, “Essentially, White Winston has, in a period of 55 days, shutdown the Debtor’s entire business….The actions of White Winston have caused substantial harm to the Debtor….The Debtor has devoted substantial time, effort and capital towards building its brand and creating a cutting edge media platform. The actions of White Winston will not stop the Debtor’s efforts to continue providing the best in media and technology for the benefit of its shareholders, creditors and the LGBT community.”

The court will evaluate the credibility of each party’s claims.

Researchers report second PrEP failure A second case of HIV infection with resistant virus while on PrEP was reported this week at the HIV Research for Prevention, or HIVR4P, conference in Chicago. But experts stressed that infection while on PrEP is very rare and it remains a highly effective HIV prevention strategy.

The recently infected man was taking daily Truvada as directed and had protective drug levels in his hair and dried blood samples. However, he became infected with an HIV strain that had developed resistance to multiple antiretrovirals, including those in the Truvada combination pill (tenofovir and emtricitabine).

“Fortunately these resistant virus-

es are rare,” said Dr. Howard Grossman from the Cleveland Clinic in West Palm Beach, Florida, who described the case at an HIVR4P press briefing October 18. He estimated that about 100,000 people in the U.S. have taken PrEP. Grossman said that the man had repeatedly tested HIV-negative before starting PrEP in January. But when tested again in May, he showed evidence of being infected, although commonly used tests gave mixed results.

The man had an HIV-positive male partner on antiretroviral therapy with undetectable viral load, which is known to reduce the risk of transmis-

sion to near zero. But genetic testing showed that the newly infected man’s virus was not related to that of his partner. The couple said they’d had threesomes with other men on two occasions, which is thought to be the source of the infection. The newly infected man said he had only had insertive sex during these encounters.

“It is a myth that tops don’t get HIV,” Grossman said.

Grossman explained that the standard HIV testing algorithm did not pick up the new infection. After seeing confusing results, he sent blood samples to other experts for specialty testing and further analysis, including Dr. Robert Grant from the UCSF

Gladstone Institutes. But Grossman acknowledged that community clinics and primary care providers might not have access to these resources.

The newly infected man added two other classes of antiretrovirals to Truvada to build an effective combination regimen, and he was able to reach and maintain an undetectable viral load.

PrEP still highly effective Researchers and advocates at the conference emphasized that the risk of HIV infection while taking PrEP consistently is very low.

The international iPrEx trial showed that daily Truvada reduced the risk of PREP continued on p. 6

⚫ Top 12 U.S. LGBT newspapers endorse Hillary Clinton 10.21 — 11.03.2016

LOS ANGELES

5

⚫ BY STAFF

In this historic election, all 12 of the nation’s longest-serving and most award-winning LGBT newspapers are individually endorsing Democrat Hillary Clinton for president of the United States.

The 12 newspapers are members of the National Gay Media Association (NGMA), a trade association of the nation’s major-market legacy LGBT newspapers. NGMA members have a combined circulation in print and online of more than one million readers per week.

The members of NGMA who are each endorsing Clinton in their own pages are: Bay Area Reporter (San Francisco), Washington Blade, Philadelphia Gay News, Dallas Voice, Windy City Times (Chicago), Between the Lines (Detroit), Bay Windows (Boston), Georgia Voice, SFGN (Ft. Lauderdale), Watermark (Orlando and Tampa Bay), Gay City News (New York), and The Pride LA. This is an unprecedented joint announcement from the newspapers, in part because several of the newspapers have so rarely offered a political

THE MOST IMPORTANT LGBT NEWSPAPERS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

endorsement: 31-year-old Windy City Times has endorsed just once in 16 years, and the Dallas Voice has never endorsed for any race in 32 years.

“This race for president is showing this country a clear choice of moving backward or moving forward on

LGBTQ and other human rights,” said NGMA spokesperson Tracy Baim, publisher of Windy City Times. “We know that the LGBTQ community is made up of diverse political voices. But the homophobia, transphobia, racism, anti-immigrant and sexist nature of

Republican candidate Donald Trump means that we can’t sit on the sidelines this election season.”

Troy Masters, founding publisher of Gay City News in New York and Founder and Editor of The Pride Los Angeles, said “the choice is a serious one and making that choice known is at the heart of what we do as newspapers.

Hillary Clinton will lead us to greater equality. We have a responsibility to follow her.”

In an op-ed for NGMA member paper the Philadelphia Gay News, Hillary Clinton talked about how, as president, she would advance the historic pro-LGBTQ equality agenda she and her runningmate Tim Kaine have embraced.

She is the first major-party candidate for president to write an op-ed for an LGBTQ publication. “If I’m fortunate enough to be elected president, I’ll protect the progress we’ve fought so hard to achieve—and I’ll keep fighting until every American can live free from discrimination and prejudice,” she wrote.

Helping you make room for the things that matter most.

Consider a U.S. Bank Home Equity Line of Credit for your next project. With competitive rates and flexible payment options, lasting home improvements could be within reach.

800.209.BANK (2265) visit a branch usbank.com/dreambig

EQUAL HOUSING

Loan approval is subject to credit approval and program guidelines. Not all loan programs are available in all states for all loan amounts. Interest rates and program terms are subject to change without notice. Visit usbank.com to learn more about U.S. Bank products and services. Mortgage and Home Equity products are offered by U.S. Bank National Association. Deposit products are offered by U.S. Bank National Association. Member FDIC. ©2016 U.S. Bank. 160474 8/16

⚫

LOS ANGELES

6

Kyle Riabko: Bacharach Reimagined

PRESIDENTIAL AIDS

>

10.21 — 11.03.2016

2016 RACE

⚫ BY CHRIS JOHNSON

Wikileaks on Clinton AIDS gaffe panic

A Solo Concert

NOVEMBER 4 – 5, 2016 Featuring his versions of such classics as “Alfie,” “I Say A Little Prayer,” “Walk on By,” “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” and many more!

The November 4th performance is made possible by the generous support of Eunice David.

CONNECT WITH US: 310.746.4000 | TheWallis.org/Bacharach

Michael Feinstein on Grand Avenue October 22, 2016

An intimate concert celebrating film composer David Raksin (Laura, The Bad and the Beautiful)

HILLARY CLINTON PRAISED NANCY REAGAN AND THE CAMPAIGN FLIPPED OUT.

Seating is very limited VIP Package includes private post-concert dinner

Get Your Tickets Now colburnschool.edu/feinstein

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

PREP continued from p. 4

HIV infection by 92 percent among gay and bisexual men with blood drug levels indicating regular use. In an open-label extension of iPrEx and in several PrEP demonstration projects, none of the men who took Truvada at least four times a week became infected.

Only one other well-documented case of PrEP failure due to drug resistant virus has been reported to date.

At the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in February, Dr. David Knox from the Maple Leaf Medical Clinic in Toronto reported that a gay man who had been on Truvada PrEP for two years became infected with a strain of HIV that was resistant to both emtricitabine and tenofovir.

Photo by AJ Mast

Honorary Committee

“Becoming infected with a virus like this one with so much resistance is rare,” Dr. Albert Liu from the San Francisco Department of Public Health told the Bay Area Reporter at the time. “While it’s important to know that these cases can happen, PrEP is still a very powerful tool that can help prevent new infections in our community.”

Based on the latest report, experts do not suggest changing messages about PrEP. “I will continue to say that using PrEP is protective against getting HIV and there are no guarantees,” Grant told Damon Jacobs, who runs the popular PrEP Facts Facebook page, in a report for TheBody. com. “Infection during PrEP use is rare. If infection occurs, it can be treated. In the absence of PrEP, HIV infection is much more common.

The gaffe Hillary Clinton made in March crediting the Reagans with starting a “national conversation” on HIV/AIDS angered many of her LGBT supporters and created stress in the campaign before she issued an apology reflecting on the epidemic, according to campaign emails made public by WikiLeaks over the weekend.

Shortly after Clinton made the remarks in March on MSNBC during Nancy Reagan’s funeral, she issued an apology in which she said she “misspoke” about the Reagans’ record, but Clinton supporters outside the campaign insisted that wasn’t enough.

Richard Socarides, a gay New York-based Democratic activist and Clinton supporter, emailed senior campaign officials to warn them the candidate should address the issue “before this spins out of control.”

“Nancy Reagan in fact helped start a national conversation about HIV and AIDS but as we all know it was far too little and way too late,” Socarides wrote. “When Bill Clinton ran for president in 1992 it was on a platform that was highly critical of the Republican response to the HIV crisis. It had been a record of neglect. As first lady and as senator and as Secretary of State Hillary has been a champion for increased

funding and raising awareness.”

Echoing Socarides’ comments in a subsequent email was Steve Elemendorf, a gay Democratic lobbyist, who said he “cannot overstate how big a problem” the remarks were and called for immediate action from the campaign.

Kristina Schake, a deputy communications director for the Clinton campaign, wrote in another email that Clinton ally and Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin was receiving complaints about Clinton’s remarks and his response, which condemned the remarks but didn’t reference the candidate herself.

“I stayed with Chad last night who was receiving lots of angry calls and notes from people that he didn’t call her out by name,” Schake wrote.

“He wouldn’t do that to her and kept stressing she just made a mistake, but suggested we need to do something more today to protect her. She has a great record and we lost a lot of ground messaging-wise.”

Dominic Lowell, the Clinton’s campaign LGBT liasion, distributed an email to coordinate the response, saying “most people are expressing palpable anger and hurt over the CLINTON LEAKS continued on p. 17

FEDERAL LAW DISCRIMINATION

LOS ANGELES

“ Talks of the Town!

COURTS

— Los Angeles Times

⚫ 7

t!

Almost Sold Ou

⚫ BY IAN MILLHISER

Case goes far beyond marriage equality

Order Today!

Perfect Date Night!

Steve Martin

Gen. David Petraeus

Diana Nyad

A Fun Evening Out With Friends!

Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Capt.

Scott Kelly

Take Your Folks!

KIMBERLY HIVELY

Americans enjoy a fundamental right to marry, regardless of whether they are straight, bisexual, or gay. Yet, in more than half of the states, “a person can be married on Saturday and then fired on Monday for just that act,” as one federal court explained in a recent opinion.

There is no federal law that explicitly protects workers from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Moreover, while there are very strong arguments that existing protections against gender discrimination are broad enough to protect sexual minorities in the workplace, the courts have largely rejected these arguments. As a result, if you live in one of the 28 states that does not forbid discrimination against gay and bisexual workers, you can be fired because of the person you love.

A federal appeals court appears poised to change that, however, at least in the three states overseen by that court. And should the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit hold, in a case known as Hively v.

Ivy Tech Community College, that current law already protects workers who are attracted to members of the same sex, the case would likely be on the fast track to the Supreme Court.

Hively, or a similar case, could transform the nation’s LGBT rights landscape no less than the Court’s marriage equality decision in Obergefell v. Hodges. And there are strong signs that the

“

>

10.21 — 11.03.2016

Seventh Circuit is prepared to rule in favor of workplace equality.

The courts’ incoherent approach to discrimination To understand the issues at stake in Hively, you first need to understand a strange distinction that courts have drawn between discrimination against gay employees and discrimination against employees who do not comply with traditional gender roles.

Federal law prohibits discrimination “because of” a worker’s “race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.” This is very broad language. As Justice William Brennan explained in a seminal case, in passing this law “Congress made the simple but momentous announcement that sex, race, religion, and national origin are not relevant to the selection, evaluation, or compensation of employees.”

It’s also language that’s broad enough to encompass discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. As Chief Justice John Roberts, of all people, asked during oral arguments in Obergefell, “if Sue loves Joe and Tom loves Joe, Sue can marry him and Tom can’t. And the difference is based upon their different sex. Why isn’t that a straightforward question of sexual discrimination?” An employer who permits male employees to be attracted to women but doesn’t HIVELY continued on p. 15

Entertain Clients!

Vin Scully

SERIES OF THE WESTSIDE Spend Sundays at the SABAN Theatre in Beverly Hills!

GEN. DAVID PETRAEUS Oct. 23, 2016 DIANA NYAD Nov. 6, 2016 STEVE MARTIN Jan. 8, 2017 AYAAN HIRSI ALI Feb. 19, 2017 VIN SCULLY March 19, 2017 CAPT. SCOTT KELLY May 7, 2017

Order Today!

www.speakersla.com 310-546-6222

⚫ 8

PROPOSITIONS PRIDE GUIDE

>

10.21 — 11.03.2016

LOS ANGELES

YOUR EDUCATED VOTE MATTERS

⚫ BY STAFF OF THE PRIDE AND BAY AREA REPORTER

Our Recommendations for CA ballot props

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

PHOTOGRAPHY

BOB KRASNER, JON VISCOTT

CREATIVE DIRECTOR (SPECIAL PROJECTS) GARETT YOSHIDA

There are 17 state propositions on the November ballot. Below are our recommendations.

Proposition 51: School Facility Bonds. Yes. Prop 51 is a $9 billion general obligation bond to fund improvement and construction of public school facilities for K-12 schools and community colleges. There has not been a state public school bond on the ballot in over a decade. K-12 facilities are crumbling. This will provide funding to renovate aging classrooms and build new schools reflecting changing demographic trends.

Included are $2 billion for acquiring, constructing, renovating, and equipping community colleges, a backbone to California’s goal to provide quality state secondary education to all our people. Vote Yes on 51.

Proposition 52: Voter approval to divert Hospital Fee revenue dedicated to Medi-Cal. Yes. The federal Medicaid program in California is Medi-Cal. Since 2009, hospitals have been required to pay a fee to help the state obtain available Medicaid funding.

The state, however, has diverted some of those funds to its general fund rather than for the intended public health purposes. This proposition is intended to prevent that diversion.

Vote Yes on 52.

Proposition 53: Statewide voter approval for revenue bonds. No. This requires a statewide vote for any state revenue bond exceeding $2 billion even if the funds tapped are used for local projects such as an airport or port expansion. Sponsored by a single wealthy farmer from Stockton, the real goal is to gut some of Governor Jerry Brown’s high priority projects such as high-speed rail. The language of the proposition is so convoluted the state budget analyst cannot even guess on its potential effects on state and local governments. Proposals for state revenue bonds normally go through a rigorous analysis before legislators and state officials. This was put together by one person with no substantive input and could lead to unanticipated consequences. And its faults can only be corrected by another statewide vote. This is bad policy. Vote No on 53.

PUBLISHER & EDITOR TROY MASTERS

GRAPHICS GAIL HODGE

ARTURO JIMENEZ | artkex@yahoo.com

VIDEOGRAPHER JOHN BOATNER

VP OF ADVERTISING

JUDY SWARZ | judy@smmirror.com

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

SHAWN MONSHAUGEN | SHAWN@SMMIRROR.COM

Please call (310) 310-2637 for advertising rates and availability.

BUSINESS MANAGER MAX MONTEMER

max@smmirror.com

NATIONAL DISPLAY ADVERTISING Rivendell Media / 212.242.6863

PROPOSITION 60 REQUIRES CONDOM USE DURING THE FILMING OF PORN SEX SCENES BUT IT ALSO INVITES OTHER PROBLEMS.

Proposition 54: Constitutional Amendment on Notice and Recording of State Legislative Proceedings. Yes. This initiative constitutional amendment would prohibit the Legislature from enacting any legislation unless it had been in print and published on line 72 hours in advance except in cases of public emergency. It also requires legislative proceedings except closed sessions be video recorded and published online. This is a good government measure to promote transparency and prevent last minute shenanigans by legislators. Vote Yes on 54.

Proposition 55: Extension of income tax on high earners to fund public schools and community colleges. Yes. This extends for 12 years the income tax increase adopted by the voters in 2012 on earners of more than $250,000 ($500,000 for couples) annually. Eighty-nine percent of the revenues raised will go for the benefit of K-12 school construction or maintenance and 11 percent to state community colleges. Like Prop 51, this is a funding measure intended to restore the quality state education that for decades was the pride of California. Vote Yes on 55.

Proposition 56: Tobacco Tax increase. Yes. This proposition would increase taxes on a pack of cigarettes by $2. Smoking is not only harmful to the individual smoker’s health, it creates a terrible public burden. In California, taxpayers spend about $3.5 billion per year in treating cancer, emphysema, and other tobacco-related diseases through Medi-Cal. This tax will generate over $1 billion per year that will be allocated in great part to cover taxpayer-incurred costs from smoking. It will also help fund prevention programs. Vote Yes on 56.

Proposition 57: Non-violent adult and juvenile criminal justice reform.

Yes. Prop 57 mandates the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to implement a system of credits for non-violent inmates who successfully complete education, drug rehabilitation and other rehabilitation programs that may result in an earlier release from custody. It also gives the decision whether to try a juvenile as an adult or a juvenile to a judge; currently the prosecutor makes that decision. This is strongly supported

by Governor Jerry Brown, and we support it too. Vote Yes on 57.

THE PRIDE L.A., The Newspaper Serving Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender L.A., is published by MIRROR MEDIA GROUP. Send all inquiries to: THE PRIDE L.A., 3435 Ocean Park Blvd. #210. Phone: 310.310.2637 Written permission of the publisher must be obtained before any of the contents of this paper, in part or whole, can be reproduced or redistributed. All contents (c) 2016 The Pride L.A..

THE PRIDE L.A. is a registered trademark of MIRROR MEDIA GROUP. T.J. MONTEMER, CEO 310.310.2637 x104; E-mail: troy@smmirror.com Cell: 917-406-1619

© 2016 The Pride L.A. All rights reserved.

Proposition 58: Repealing English Only in Public Schools Initiative. Yes. As part of the Republican led backlash against Hispanic immigrants, California voters approved the English Only in Public Schools Act. Bilingual classes were not allowed, even for students with little or no English comprehension. This was a racist PROPOSITIONS continued on p. 11

10.21 — 11.03.2016

LOS ANGELES

⚫ 9

“How much will new replacement windows & doors cost me?”

Renewal by Andersen has a phone line dedicated to that question.

Call our 48 Hour Price Quote line at 1-800-399-9292, and we’ll provide a quote within 48 hours of your call. Most other companies take weeks to produce their estimate.

Within 48 hours, a Renewal by Andersen Project Manager will precisely measure your home’s windows and doors, help you choose your styles, colors, grilles and hardware, and then we’ll provide a down-to-the-penny price quote that will be good for one full year. No hidden charges and no more wondering, “How much will new windows and doors cost?”

Offer expire s November 10 th!

Get a FREE price quote within 48 Hours!

Call

1-800-399-9292

to schedule your FREE in-home visit

SAVE 20% O N WINDOW S AND PATIO DOO RS!1 Installation is

NO NO N O PLUS

MONEY DO WN

We are the replacement window division of Andersen Corporation, so everything we build, install, and warrant is held to the same standard of excellence that Andersen has lived by for 113 years. Our windows are made of our own material called Fibrex®; it’s stronger than vinyl, and, unlike wood, requires virtually no maintenance.*

included

PAYMENTS

FOR 1 YE AR

INTEREST

Financing pr to credit requovided by third parties an promotiona irements. Interest accr d is subject l period but ues during the purchase am all interest is ou Offer availa nt is paid in full with waived if the ble with ou in 12 month r Instant s. with purcha se at time of Product Rewards initial visit.

1

Call our 48 Hour Price Quote line:

SELL

BUILD

INSTALL

WARRANTY

1-800-399-9292

Cannot be combined with prior purchases, other offers, or coupons. Offer not available in all areas, 20% discount applied by retailer representative at time of contract execution as part of Instant Rewards Plan which requires purchase during initial visit to qualify. No payments and deferred interest for 12 months available, subject to qualifying credit approval. Not all customers may qualify. Higher rates apply for customer with lower credit ratings. Interest accrues but is waived if the purchase amount is paid in full within 12 months. Financing not valid with other offers or prior purchases. Renewal by Andersen retailers are independently owned and operated retailers, and are neither brokers nor lenders. All financing is provided by third-party lenders unaffiliated with Renewal by Andersen retailers, under terms and conditions arranged directly between the customer and such lender, which are subject to credit requirements.

Renewal by Andersen retailers do not assist with, counsel or negotiate financing, other than providing customers an introduction to lenders interested in financing. OC License # 990416. LA License # 992285. “Renewal by Andersen” and all other marks where denoted are marks of Andersen Corporation. ©2016 Andersen Corporation. All rights reserved. ©2016 Lead Surge LLC. All rights reserved. *See the Renewal by Andersen 20/2/10 limited warranty for details.

1

⚫ 10

LOS ANGELES

>

WEST HOLLYWOOD NEWS

10.21 — 11.03.2016

EQUALITY

⚫ BY TROY MASTERS

SoCal ranks high on LGBT index Los Angeles, Long Beach and West Hollywood were among the California cities receiving high marks Monday in a study of the governments’ attentiveness to LGBT issues.

The cities each earned perfect scores of 100 in the Municipal Equality Index released by the Human Rights Campaign.

The average of California cities surveyed was 73, and the national average was 55.

“This year, dozens of cities across the nation showed they are willing to stand up for LGBTQ people in their communities even when some state governments are not,” said HRC President Chad Griffin.

“This builds on a trend we have long observed -- that local governments are at the forefront of our fight for equality,” Griffin said. “Unfortunately, our opponents have witnessed this progress too, and in recent years, anti-LGBTQ lawmakers have pushed spiteful legislation aimed at preempting local protections.”

The survey rates cities on 41 cri-

teria, including passage of non- discrimination laws, employment and contracting policies, transgender benefits, inclusiveness of city services, law enforcement and representation

by LGBT leaders.

Eleven cities in California received perfect scores, compared to eight last year. Along with Los Angeles, Long Beach and West Hollywood, they were San Diego, Cathedral City, Guerneville, Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Sacramento, San Francisco and San Jose.

The number of U.S. cities that scored 100 in this year’s survey was 60, up from 47 last year and 38 the year before.

For the first time this year, the index deducted points from the scores of cities that have non-discrimination protections that prohibit people from using public facilities consistent with their gender identity.

Also, a new category of points was created to recognize cities that are offering transgender-specific city services.

Pride redux PRIDE continued from p. 3

were taken to the hospital.

Metal detectors were used for the first time this year. Scanning people as they entered the grounds created long delays at the gate, but Consoletti said people seemed to understand they were for everyone’s security.

Consoletti noted that metal detectors are becoming standard at large gatherings, including concerts like the Lollapalooza Festival and the Coachella Music Festival.

Consoletti also reported that the federal Department of Homeland Se-

curity was apprised throughout the planning of the event, even before the Orlando shootings. While this raised some eyebrows, Consoletti explained that Homeland Security is involved with any large gathering of people, even an LA Dodgers baseball game.

“Homeland Security has a pulse on what’s going on,” Consoletti said.

“Homeland Security has not been something that we’ve been foreign to for this event, just based on the amount of the crowds coming to West Hollywood over the course of production straight on through.”

10.21 — 11.03.2016 PROPOSITIONS continued from p. 8

measure and was harmful to the education of California’s children. We support the repeal. Vote Yes on 58.

Proposition 59: California Overturn Citizens United Act Advisory Question.

Yes. We do not generally favor asking voters to express advisory opinions where there is no force of law behind them. But the U.S. Supreme Court’s opinion in the Citizens United case unleashed unlimited amounts of cash into the political system, corrupting it thoroughly, compels us to make an exception. Everyone should express his/ her revulsion and disgust at this horrendous decision that corrupts everyone it touches. Vote Yes on 59.

Proposition 60: We are mixed on this one. Condoms for Porn Actors. dictated by a government that should not be telling people what to do with their own bodies, whether a woman seeking an abortion or a man who choses to work in the porn industry. And voters should not be in the business of regulating health issues and workplace safety at the ballot box since it will be later modified by another statewide vote. Regulation is best done by experts in and out of government such as the Division of Occupational Safety and Health but HIV transmission is not top of mind in those agencies. Disturbingly this proposition creates a private right of action whereby any individual can sue to enforce the provisions against the producers or an individual actor creating serious invasion of privacy issues and likely leading to bounty hunting, inviting a million Gladys Kravits to sue their favorite porn stars.

Think carefully before voting No on 60.

Proposition 61: State Prescription Drug Purchases and Price Standards.

No Endorsement. This ballot initiative would limit the amount state agencies pay for prescription drugs, tying it to the prices paid by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Proponents argue that this will reduce prescription drug prices for state agencies (it does not apply to individuals) as the VA pays less for drugs than state agencies. Opponents argue that artificially limiting drug prices will reduce incentives for pharmaceutical companies to do necessary research and development on new drugs. They further argue that this may result in the pharmaceutical companies just raising their prices to the VA and hence not accomplishing its purpose. While we agree that some drug pricing has breached the line between incentive and greed, we also are not convinced that this proposition is the solution and fear unintended consequences.

Propositions 62 and 66: Death Penalty Reform. Yes on 62; No on 66.

There are 750 inmates on California’s death row currently. Thirteen inmates have been executed since 1993, none in recent years. The process to execute

LOS ANGELES an inmate is extremely expensive, not efficient and certainly does not accomplish its stated purposes: deterrence and justice. Proposition 62 is a practical, humane, and fiscally prudent proposition: abolish the death penalty and replace it with a punishment of life without the possibility of parole. It is estimated by the state’s budget analyst that eliminating the death penalty would save the state some $150 million per year. Prop 66, on the other hand, claims to streamline the process with the goal of executing condemned inmates quicker. The streamlining process suggested is highly complex, likely very expensive and legally and constitutionally questionable. This is 2016.

It is time to abolish the death penalty.

Vote Yes on 62 and No on 66.

Proposition 63: Background checks for ammunition and large magazine purchases. Yes. This is a reasonable gun control regulation that requires a background check by the state Department of Justice for the purchase of ammunition. It prohibits the possession of large capacity ammunition magazines. Prop. 63 has been passionately supported by Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, and we support it too. Vote Yes on 63.

Proposition 64: Legalization of recreational marijuana for adults. Yes. A similar proposition was correctly defeated six years ago as a slipshod and poorly regulated measure. This time, due to the leadership of Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom and a blue ribbon committee that he established, Prop 64 is a carefully thought out cannabis measure that establishes strict regulation and establishes a state excise tax on retail sales and cultivation that will provide revenues of up to $1 billion annually to be spent on specific programs such as youth programs, environmental protection, and law enforcement. Vote Yes on 64.

Proposition 65: Redirecting Revenues from Carryout bags. No. This is a smokescreen measure promoted by out of state bag makers to further confuse their objective, which is to overturn the state ban on single use plastic bags (see Prop 67 below). This purports to direct revenues from paper and carryout bag sales to environmental causes, but environmentalists don’t support it. Let the retailers keep the 10-cent charge to cover their own overhead. Vote No on 65.

Proposition 67: Referendum to Overturn Ban on Single-Use Plastic bags. Yes. This proposition is confusingly written so a yes vote maintains the ban and a no vote overturns it.

Current state law bans single use plastic bags for good reason. They are an environmental disaster, often ending up on beaches or parks, choking fish and wildlife. We have gotten used to sustainable alternatives and California should continue to lead on environmental matters. Vote Yes to maintain the ban on plastic.

l aw o f f i c e o f

⚫

Bassma Zebib immigration criminal personal injury

Handling all immigration matters including LGBT Asylum Claims Expert asylum consultation with attorney Nusrat Ventimiglia, former asylum officer admitted to the State Bar of Michigan and licensed to practice immigration law in all 50 states Consultation on criminal, civil and immigration matters with seasoned attorney Bassma Zebib

downtown los angeles 811 Wilshire Blvd., Suite #1708 Los Angeles, CA 90017

11

⚫ 12

SENIORS

>

10.21 — 11.03.2016

LOS ANGELES

LGBTQ AND FAMILY

DIVERSITY AND FAMILY

⚫ BY ANNA GORMAN

Out LGBT seniors find staying out in the golden years isn’t always easy Patrick Mizelle and Edwin Fisher, who have been together for 37 years, were planning to grow old in their home state of Georgia.

But visits to senior living communities left them worried that after decades of living openly, marching in pride parades and raising money for gay causes, they wouldn’t feel as free in their later years. Fisher said the places all seemed very “churchy,” and the couple worried about evangelical people leaving Bibles on their doorstep or not accepting them.

“I thought, ‘Have I come this far only

to have to go back in the closet and pretend we are brothers?” said Mizelle.

“We have always been out and we didn’t want to be stuck in a place where we couldn’t be.”

So three years ago, they moved across the country to Rose Villa, a hillside senior living complex just outside of Portland that actively reaches out to gay, lesbian and transgender seniors.

As openly gay and lesbian people age, they will increasingly rely on caregivers and move into assisted living communities and nursing homes. And while many rely on friends and part-

ners, more are likely to be single and without adult children, according to research published by the National Institutes of Health.

But long-term care facilities frequently lack trained staff and policies to discourage discrimination, advocates and doctors said. That can lead to painful decisions for seniors about whether to hide their sexual orientation or face possible harassment by fellow elderly residents or caregivers with traditional views on sexuality and marriage.

“It is a very serious challenge for many LGBT older people,” said Michael Adams, chief executive officer of SAGE, or Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Elders. “[They] really fought to create a world where people could be out and proud. … Now our LGBT pioneers are sharing residences with those who harbor the most bias against them.”

There are an estimated 1.5 million gay, lesbian and bisexual people over 65 living in the U.S. currently, and that number is expected to double by 2030, according to the organization, which runs a national resource center on LGBT aging.

Nationwide, advocacy groups are pushing to improve conditions and expand options for gay and lesbian seniors. Facilities for LGBT seniors have opened in Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco and elsewhere.

SAGE staff are also training providers at nursing homes and elsewhere to provide a more supportive environment for elderly gays and lesbians. That may mean asking different questions at intake, such as whether they have a partner rather than if they are married (even though they can get married, not all older couples have). Or it could be a matter of educating other residents and offering activities specific to the LGBT community like gay-friendly movies or lectures.

Mizelle, 64, and Fisher, 86, said they found the support they hoped for at Rose Villa, where they live in a ground-floor cottage near the community garden and spend their time so-

cializing with other residents, both gay and straight. They both exercise in the on-site gym and pool. Fisher bakes for a farmer’s market and Mizelle is participating in art classes. Fisher, who recently had a few small strokes, said they liked Rose Villa for another reason too: It provides in-home caregivers and has a nursing facility on site.

But many aging gays and lesbians — the generation that protested for gay rights at Stonewall, in state capitols and on the steps of the Supreme Court — may not be living in such welcoming environments. Only 20 percent of LGBT seniors in long-term care facilities said they were comfortable being open about their sexual orientation, according to a recent report by Justice in Aging, a national nonprofit legal advocacy organization.

This summer, Lambda Legal, a gay advocacy group, filed a lawsuit against the Glen Saint Andrew Living Community, a senior residential facility in Niles, Illinois, for failing to protect a disabled lesbian woman from harassment, discrimination and violence. The resident, 68-year-old Marsha Wetzel, moved into the complex in 2014 after her partner of 30 years had died of cancer. Soon after, residents called her names and even physically assaulted her, according to the lawsuit.

“I don’t feel safe in my own home,” Wetzel said in a phone interview. “I am scared constantly. … What I am doing is about getting justice. I don’t want other LGBT seniors to go through what I’ve gone through.”

Karen Loewy, Wetzel’s attorney at Lambda Legal, said senior living facilities are “totally ill-prepared” for this population of openly gay elders. She said she hopes the case will not only stop the discrimination against Wetzel but will start a national conversation.

“LGBT seniors have the right to age with dignity and free from discrimination, and we want senior living facilities to know … that they have an obligation to protect it,” Loewy said.

SENIOR LGBT continued on p. 13

10.21 — 11.03.2016 SENIOR LGBT continued from p. 12

Spencer Maus, spokesman for Glen Saint Andrew, declined to comment specifically on the lawsuit but said in an email that the community “does not tolerate discrimination of any kind or under any circumstances.”

Many elderly gay and lesbian people have difficulty finding housing at all,

LOS ANGELES according to a 2010 report by several advocacy organizations in partnership with the federal American Society on Aging. Another report in 2014 by the Equal Rights Center, a national nonprofit civil rights organization, revealed that the application process was more difficult and housing more expensive for gay and lesbian seniors.

Recognizing the need for more af-

ED DEHAG, 70, AT THE TRIANGLE SQUARE APARTMENTS IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, IN AUGUST 2016. THE RETIRED FLORAL DESIGNER MOVED INTO THE BUILDING WHEN HIS PARTNER PASSED AWAY AND HE COULDN’T AFFORD THE RENT ON HIS OLD APARTMENT

BY HIMSELF. (HEIDI DE MARCO/KHN)

fordable housing, the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Elder Housing organization opened Triangle Square Apartments in 2007. In the building, the first of its kind, residents can get health and social services through the Los Angeles LGBT Center. The wait for apartments with the biggest subsidies is about five years.

Residents display rainbow flags out-

⚫ 13

side their doors throughout the building. On a recent morning, fliers about falls, mental health, movie nights and meningitis vaccines were posted on a bulletin board near the elevator.

Ed Dehay, 80, moved into one of the apartments when they first opened.

His partner had recently passed away SENIOR LGBT continued on p. 14

LEE MARQUARDT, 74, AT THE TRIANGLE SQUARE APARTMENTS IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, IN AUGUST 2016. MARQUARDT MOVED INTO THE APARTMENT BUILDING TWO YEARS AGO. SHE SAID SHE DIDN’T WANT TO SPEND HER ELDER YEARS HIDING HER TRUE SELF AS SHE HAD AS A YOUNGER WOMAN. (HEIDI DE MARCO/KHN)

⚫ 14

10.21 — 11.03.2016

LOS ANGELES

DENY, DENY continued from p. 13

and he couldn’t afford the rent on his old apartment by himself. “This was a godsend for me,” said Dehay, a retired floral designer who has covered every wall of his apartment with framed art.

His neighbor, 74-year-old Lee Marquardt, said she came out after raising three children, and didn’t want to spend her elder years hiding her true self as she had as a younger woman.

Marquardt, a former truck driver who has high blood pressure and kidney disease, said she found a new family as soon as she moved into the apartment building two years ago.

“I was dishonest all the time before,” she said. “Now I am who I am and I don’t have to be quiet about it.”

Tanya Witt, resident services coordinator for the Los Angeles LGBT Center, said some of the Triangle Square residents are reluctant to have in-home caregivers — even in their current housing — because they worry they won’t be gay-friendly. Others say they won’t ever go into a nursing home, even if they have serious health needs.

In addition to facing common health problems as they age, gay and lesbian seniors also may be dealing with additional stressors, isolation or depression, said Alexia Torke, an associate professor of medicine at Indiana University.

THE LOS ANGELES GAY AND LESBIAN ELDER HOUSING ORGANIZATION OPENED TRIANGLE SQUARE APARTMENTS IN 2007. IN THE FIRST OF ITS KIND BUILDING, RESIDENTS CAN GET HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES THROUGH THE LOS ANGELES LGBT CENTER.

“LGBT older adults have specific needs in their health care,” she said.

And caregivers “need to be aware.”

Lesbian, gay and bisexual elders are at higher risk of mental health problems and disabilities and have higher rates of smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. They are also more likely to delay health care, according to a report by The Williams Institute at UCLA

School of Law. In addition, older gay men are disproportionately affected by some chronic diseases, including hypertension, according to research out of UCLA. Torke said LGBT seniors are not strangers to nursing homes. The difference now is that there is a growing recognition of the need to make the homes safe and welcoming for them, she said.

At Rose Villa, CEO Vassar Byrd said she began working nearly a decade ago to make the community more open to gays after a lesbian couple told her that another facility had suggested they would be more welcome if they posed as sisters. Today, several gay, lesbian and transgender people — individually and in couples — are living there, Byrd said. Her staff has undergone training to help them better care for that population, and Byrd said she has spoken to other senior care providers around the nation about the issue.

Bill Cunitz and Lee Nolet, who began dating in 1976, didn’t come out as a couple until they moved to Rose Villa last year. Cunitz is an ordained minister and former head of a senior living community in Southern California. He said he didn’t want to be known as the “gay CEO.” Nolet, a retired nurse and county health official, said it’s been “absolutely amazing” to find a place where they can be open— and where they know they will have accepting people who can take care of them if they get sick.

“After 40 years of being in the shadows … we introduce each other as partner,” Nolet said. “Everyone here knows we’re together.”

This article is special to The Pride LA from Kaiser Health Network and is funded in part by Blue Shield of California Foundation.

BEAUTIFUL HOME IN THE BIRD STREETS NEIGHBORHOOD

Listing Price $2,800,000 MLS# SR16189524 1369 Bobolink Place, Los Angeles, CA 90069 3 Bedroom • 3 Bathroom • 3,000 SQFT Living Space • Separate Soundproof Office/Studio Perched in a quiet cul-de-sac, in the heart of the famous and coveted Bird Streets of Hollywood Hills, this single-story mid-century spectacular home immediately invites you inside. Designed with exquisite detail, sprawling and open, exposed wood beams, custom stained concrete flooring, and a chef's kitchen furnished with all top of the line appliances. The living room is designed with custom maple walls and bookcases, stained wood floors, dual fireplace and multiple skylights that beam with natural light. A sunken master suite boasts privacy, another fireplace, a magnificent tub and a glass steam shower that looks onto the garden atrium. French doors open up from both the master and the living room onto a unique and charming patio garden with a large black bottom spa. The backyard is surrounded by a blooming hillside and steps lead you on the path to two wooden decks. Don’t miss the soundproof studio/office with separate entrance. In the evening, this hillside becomes an enchanted constellation of lights that transforms the entire backyard into the perfect environment for entertaining, outdoor dining and relaxing. The home is walking distance to Sunset Boulevard nightlife, restaurants, and historic landmarks.

OPEN HOUSE: SATURDAY OCT. 22ND 2016 12PM - 5PM SUNDAY OCT. 23RD 2016 12PM - 5PM TUESDAY OCT. 25TH 2016 12PM - 5PM

TO SCHEDULE A PRIVATE SHOWING PLEASE CONTACT US: 16200 Ventura Boulevard Suite 101, Encino, CA 91436 Phone: +1-818-370-9301 Email: ShermanOaks@evusa.com Website: ShermanOaks.evusa.com BRE# 01214034

©2016 Engel & Völkers. All rights reserved. Each brokerage independently owned and operated. All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. If your property is currently represented by a real estate broker, this is not an attempt to solicit your listing. Engel & Völkers and its independent License Partners are Equal Opportunity Employers and fully support the principles of the Fair Housing Act

10.21 — 11.03.2016 DENY, DENY continued from p. 7

permit female employees to be attracted to women engages in sex discrimination, plain and simple.

For the most part, however, the courts have not given the federal ban on discrimination “because of . . . sex” its full meaning, instead insisting that Congress must explicitly extend federal anti-discrimination law to cover discrimination based on “sexual orientation” before such a ban will be enforced. As one federal appeals court concluded, “harassment on the basis of sexual orientation has no place in our society. Congress has not yet seen fit, however, to provide protection against such harassment.”

Yet, while the courts have largely refused to protect against this one form of discrimination, the Supreme Court has read the law broadly to shield against another form of gender discrimination.

In Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins, a major accounting firm refused to make one of its women employees a partner, at least in part because many of the existing partners viewed her as too manly. One said she was “macho.” Another said she should take “a course at charm school.”

A third advised her to “walk more femininely, talk more femininely, dress more femininely, wear make-up, have her hair styled, and wear jewelry.”

A male employee can be fired for being gay, but only if they aren’t into fash-

LOS ANGELES ion.

Price Waterhouse held that this kind of gender stereotyping is not allowed. As Justice Brennan explained, “we are beyond the day when an employer could evaluate employees by assuming or insisting that they matched the stereotype associated with their group, for ‘[i] n forbidding employers to discriminate against individuals because of their sex, Congress intended to strike at the entire spectrum of disparate treatment of men and women resulting from sex stereotypes.’”

This holding is very much at odds with the various court decisions holding that discrimination against gay and bisexual employees is not forbidden.

As Judge Ilana Rovner explained in the Seventh Circuit panel’s decision in Hively, Discrimination against gay, lesbian, and bisexual employees comes about because their behavior is seen as failing to comply with the quintessential gender stereotype about what men and women ought to do — for example, that men should have romantic and sexual relationships only with women, and women should have romantic and sexual relationships only with men.

Anti-gay discrimination, in other words, is a form of sex stereotyping. It makes assumptions about who men or women should form partnerships with.

And it should be forbidden by Price Waterhouse.

A legal regime where butch lesbians have more rights than femmes Yet, as Judge Rovner explained in her Hively opinion, the courts have not seen things this way, and Rovner felt bound by those prior decisions. Maintaining this fiction that discrimination based on sexual orientation is not a form of sex stereotyping, however, has led to absurd results.

Some courts have held that federal civil rights law may not be used at all to protect victims of anti-gay discrimination, leading to “the absurd conclusion . . . that the law protects effeminate men from employment discrimination, but only if they are (or are believed to be) heterosexuals.” Others have reached less drastic, but still quite odd results.

As Rovner lays out: our understanding of Title VII leaves us with a somewhat odd body of case law that protects a lesbian who faces discrimination because she fails to meet some superficial gender norms — wearing pants instead of dresses, having short hair, not wearing make up — but not a lesbian who meets cosmetic gender norms, but violates the most essential of gender stereotypes by marrying another woman.

The law, as it exists in many courts, “protects ‘flamboyant’ gay men and ‘butch’ lesbians but not the lesbian or gay employee who act and appear straight.” A male employee can be fired for being gay, but only if they aren’t into

⚫ 15

fashion.

There is a strong early sign, however, that the Seventh Circuit wants to eliminate this anomaly. Judge Rovner wrote her opinion in Hively on behalf of a three-judge panel — most court of appeals decisions are disposed of this way.

Last Tuesday, however, the full Seventh Circuit announced that it would rehear the case using an unusual procedure known as en banc review.

En banc hearings are rarely granted, and when they are granted in a case where existing appeals court precedents clearly require the outcome reached by the three-judge panel, that is often a sign that the full court wishes to overrule those precedents. The fact that Judge Rovner spent much of her Hively opinion criticizing these precedents also suggests that they won’t be around very long.

If the full Seventh Circuit does hold that current federal law prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation, that will place the Seventh Circuit at odds with several other courts of appeals — and the Supreme Court typically steps in to resolve these conflicts.

Add into the mix the fact that the Supreme Court is likely to be more liberal in a year than it has ever been at any point in the Court’s history, and that opens up the very real possibility that workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation will be illegal throughout the entire nation.

⚫

>

10.21 — 11.03.2016

LOS ANGELES

16

HISTORY

NAZI ERA FILM

⚫ BY CASEY BOHN

FIRST LGBT FILM

The film Nazis tried to destroy With silvery streaks and speckles dancing across the black-and-white frame, piano soundtracks worthy of a school dance recital, and dialogue rendered in text, perhaps nothing could seem more old-fashioned than a silent movie. You might expect the story of such a film to be as outdated as its accompanying technology. But in the case of 1919’s Different From the Others, you couldn’t be more mistaken. Anders als die Andern, as it was originally known in Germany, was so far ahead of its time that it was banned from public exhibition after a year, and in the decades following, almost every copy was destroyed. Almost.

The cause for controversy is that Different From the Others portrays gay men as victims of vicious and totally unnecessary discrimination. There could be no mistaking the film’s intent, since it was co-written by Dr. Magnus

DR. HIRSCHFELD (RIGHT) PLAYS HIMSELF ADVISING THE PROTAGONIST TO ACCEPT HIS ORIENTATION. VIA YOUTUBE

Hirschfeld—a gay man and one of Europe’s first LGBTQIA activists—and funded by his organization, the Institute for Sexual Science. Shameless in its activism, the film repeatedly references Paragraph 175, the German law against homosexuality the film was part of a campaign against. (“Para-

graph 175” was even the film’s original subtitle.) Dr. Hirschfeld plays himself in multiple scenes to explain to various characters (and by extension, the audience) that LGBTQIA people suffer “not from their condition,” but from prejudice. Despite its heavy-handed messages, though, Different From the Others is more than a progressive propaganda piece. It is a melodrama in the best tradition of silent film, where romantics who ache with desire are plunged into misery by accidents of fate.

The story of Different From the Others concerns Paul Körner, a gay violinist whose passion for music and search for love is assaulted on all sides by ignorance and hatred. The film challenges stereotypes at every turn. Paul is not a predator but prey: throughout the film he is stalked by Franz, a sinister figure who demands payment to keep Paul’s orientation a secret. The heter-

onormative expectations Paul is held to by others are savagely portrayed. He is expelled from boarding school for his close friendship with another boy. At university, Paul’s classmates physically drag him away from his studies to “see the girls”—girls who are shocked and offended when Paul does not appreciate the kisses they force upon him.

Perhaps most importantly of all, Different From the Others portrays LGBTQIA suicides not as tragic mysteries, but reactions to real mistreatment.

At the funeral of a gay man who killed himself, one of the mourners confronts the victim’s unsupportive family: “You and the rest of society have his death on your conscience!” In the final scene, Magnus Hirschfeld’s character advises the gay lover of the deceased: “If you SEE THPRIDELA.COM KEYWORD “OTHERS”

1 SEARCH SITE for homes in Silicon Beach!

#

Danielle

BRE# 02007023

SiliconBeachHomes.com

Maison International LA Exclusive | Specialized | International

Office BRE# 01907551

Give us a call today to see why we offer a fresh approach to Real Estate.

424-272-0916

10.21 — 11.03.2016 CLINTON LEAKS continued from p. 6

comments” in the last 24 hours over the remarks.

“If I had to break things down, I’d put people into three categories: 1) supporters who were horrified at the comment but accept the apology; 2) supporters who are angry and can only be mollified with a longer statement, tv appearance, roundtable, or something else big that shows she ‘gets it,’” Lowell wrote. “They will continue to make hay in the meantime; and 3) Bernie folks who are happy to have a new line of attack.”

(Indeed, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Clinton’s opponent in the Democratic primary, in the aftermath of Clinton crediting the Reagans for their efforts on HIV/AIDS said on CNN’s “State of the Union” he doesn’t “know what she was talking about.”)

Lowell expressed concern about the second group whom he identified, which he said consist of “Queer Nation, ACT UP, and other activists who are out, loud, and not afraid of direct action or aggressive confrontation,” adding he didn’t “want this to fester.”

Possibilities Lowell raised as a response included bumping up the HIV/ AIDS policy roll out or putting together a roundtable. Lowell said Robbie Kaplan, a Clinton supporter and the attorney who successfully argued against the Defense of Marriage Act, had volunteered the New York-based Gay Men’s Health Crisis to assist with the effort.

LOS ANGELES (The exchange reveals the idea of a roundtable with HIV/AIDS activists, which was publicly requested after the remarks and occurred months later, was under consideration at this time.)

Teddy Goff, a technology strategist for Clinton, writes the problem with the candidate is supporters don’t understand “on a fact level, what happened and how she could have gotten so mixed up.”

“And in the absence of any explanatory information, they assume the worst — like that this was some cynical political strategy of ours,” Goff wrote. “(Which, I would note, makes no sense — why would our strategy be to piss everyone off? — but regardless.)”

Jessica Morales Rocketto, digital organizing director for the Clinton campaign, raised the possibility of responding in the “Out for Hillary” Facebook group, which she said had 14,000 members and “the largest LGBT community of Hillary’s supporters I know.”

“These are friendlies, they are already carrying water for us making sure the apology is out there, and they firmly sit in groups 1 and 2 that Dom identified,” Rocketto said.

Rocketto added sending talking points out to supporters “really worked” because “they are popping up everywhere on the supporter Facebook groups.”

Recognizing a distinction between younger and older Clinton supporters, Dennis Cheng, national finance director for the Clinton campaign, said using the groups would be helpful, but

not enough because “a lot of our people (esp those who are older who lived through the 80s) want to see and hear her address it directly, given that they saw and heard her Reagan remarks on TV.” After Robbie Mook, who’s gay and Clinton’s campaign manager, wrote in a subsequent email a Medium post would be a good opportunity for Clinton to express herself, the campaign settled on that course of action.

“She could open it by saying she misspoke and apologizes for that and wanted to make sure people understand what she will do,” Mook wrote.

Megan Rooney, speechwriter for Hillary Clinton, issued the first draft of the Medium post. In the initial draft, Clinton was to say she was wrong about the Reagans and “said so right away,” but those words were omitted after Goff wrote he didn’t think “that gets us any extra credit” and sounded “a hair defensive.”

Schake followed up with edits from Griffin, who changed the draft to more clearly state Clinton was sorry “for the pain my comments caused” and the persistence of HIV/AIDS among gay and bisexual men, transgender people and communities of color. Rooney said the chances of Clinton “OK-ing this statement with that top are slim” and the campaign would walk that back, although the phrase “made a mistake” remained in the final writing.

As Xochitl Hinojosa, the Clinton campaign’s LGBT media spokesperson, raised concern about upcoming stories in the LGBT media intending quote Clinton supporters who say the apology isn’t enough, the campaign scrambled to get approval and put the statement online.

“I think we really should do everything we can to get this up today, if at all possible (fingers crossed),” wrote Clinton campaign director of content and creative Lauren Peterson. “Does not seem to be dying down online, either.”

After approval by Clinton — and a few additional tweeks, including the removal of a reference to increase funding for PEPFAR in favor of a more general plan for “global funding” — publication was initially set to go, then halted for additional tweeks. A reference to “brave men and women” who fought HIV/AIDS was changed to “brave lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, along with straight allies.”

The final Medium post has Clinton asserting she was wrong about the Reagans and touting her record in speaking out in favor of efforts to combat HIV/AIDS at the domestic and international levels and mentioned her plan to achieve an “AIDS-free generation.” Among the proposals in the draft were extending Medicaid, reforming HIV criminalization laws, capping outof-pocket drug expenses for HIV/AIDS medications and expanding access to PrEP.

⚫ 17

“We’ve come a long way,” Clinton says in the post. “But we still have work to do to eradicate this disease for good and to erase the stigma that is an echo of a shameful and painful period in our country’s history.”

When the statement when online, staffers responded with jubilation.

Jennifer Palmieri, the Clinton campaign’s director of communications, wrote, “Praise, Jesus!” Clinton campaign spokesperson Dan Schwerin commended his colleagues for the post and called it “amazing actually.”

Praise also came from outside the campaign. Jenna Lowenstein, digital director for the Clinton campaign wrote on Medium “the top comments are overwhelmingly positive (and some are quite moving).” Lowell passed around a statement from former Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese, who said the post “literally brought [a] tear to my eyes,” and from another statement from AIDS activist Larry Kramer, who was angered with Clinton’s remarks, but satisfied with the Medium post.

Ann O’Leary, senior policy adviser for the Clinton campaign, shared a message she said came from a couple, Viki and Jen, who were among the couples to marry in San Francisco by then-Mayor Gavin Newsom in 2004.

“Jen and I wanted to tell you how incredibly impressed we were with HRC when she was able to apologize for what she said about the Reagans etc. in such a remarkably humble and authentic way,” the message reads. “She showed true leadership, something we are not seeing a lot of these days. We are so proud of her and moved by her courage to open herself up publicly in this manner. Definitely presidential material!!”

Even though Clinton twice apologized for the remarks and recommitted herself to fight HIV/AIDS in the aftermath, it remains unclear why she made the remarks in the first place. Some have speculated she confused Nancy Reagan’s work on Alzheimer’s disease with HIV/AIDS; others claims the remarks were an effort to curry favor with Reagan Democrats.

As foreshadowed in the emails, Clinton would take part in a meeting with HIV/AIDS activists and recommitted herself to fighting the epidemic. Sanders scheduled a meeting with HIV/ AIDS activists at the same time as Clinton, but later cancelled the meeting on short notice, then rescheduled in California before the primary in that state.

The Washington Blade has placed a call to the Clinton campaign seeking comment on the leaked emails. The Clinton campaign hasn’t publicly acknowledged, nor denied, the veracity of the messages in the WikiLeaks dump.

— Special to The Pride Los Angeles from the National Gay Media Association and The Washington Blade

⚫ 18

>

10.21 — 11.03.2016

LOS ANGELES

SPOOKY QUEENS

WHERE TO GET FREAKED OUT

⚫ BY ORIOL R. GUTIERREZ, JR.

HALLOWEEN

13 Days of Halloween

The ancient pagans believed that during Halloween the delineation between the physical and spiritual realms faded, allowing supernatural entities to frolic among mere mortals. Similarly, during Halloween in LA, the delineation between the queer and heteronormative realms fade, allowing men and woman of all integers on the Kinsey scale to strip half naked and folic across the gayborhood of West Hollywood. But, Angelenos know there is plenty of fun to be had before October 31st. So slip on your animal ears/underpants combo ensemble, because, to paraphrase a song for another holiday, “On the thirteenth day of Halloween, by Grindr trick gave to me…”

Pride’s October event rips the horrific hunks off the pages of the Year of Fear 2017 calendar and serves them up on the go-go boxes of Precinct.

Some have killer abs, some are just killers.

Year of Fear: DTLA Halloween Party, Oct 27th Precinct, 357 S Broadway, DTLA 5 Gays Who Sing Gay power couple Fred & Jason return with 11th annual Halloweenie. This Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles charity tradition features the DJ talents of David Aude, Dawna Montell, and Jermey Blacklow, plus a cavalcade of SoCal’s hottest queers flaunting fierce costume game.

Halloweenie, Oct 28th California Science Center, 700 Exposition Blvd, DTLA

13 CREEPS A’CREEPING Out director Justin Fix brings back Creep LA for its second installment, ENTRY, filling 12,000 square foot space with 28 thespians to create 45 mins of interactive eeriness. Its like if Speak No More were directed by David Lynch.

Creep LA: Now-Oct 31 2316 N. San Fernando Rd, Los Angeles 12 WHORES A’ WHORING Dance with the D’Vils in the pale moonlight, as werewolf king Stefano Rosso’s Whore Haus descends upon Hot Rod for Halloween-themed festivities with your hosts Saint Peter D’Vil, Notorious Ali Doom, Dakota D’Vil, and DJ Mateo Segade.

Whore Haus Halloween Edition, Oct 12th Mickey’s, WeHo 11 Twistys a’Clowning Universal Studios Hollywood invokes Ryan Murphy’s unique brand of thrilling homoeroticism with this year’s Halloween Horror Nights: American Horror Story. Based on the FX anthology series, HHN devotes an entire maze to Season 1’s Murder House, Season 4’s Freak Show, and Season 5’s Hotel Cortez. But be warned, Twisty the Clown could be lurking behind any corner.

Halloween Horror Nights: American Horror Story, Oct 13th- Nov 5th Universal Studios, Universal City 10 Freddys Slashing A cemetery is the perfect venue to screen the slasher flick that gave an entire generation insomnia. Costumes are encouraged, so assemble your squad, stretch out on a blanket, and uncork a bottle of 2-buck chuck. Just don’t drink too much and fall asleep, because you know who is waiting to stalk your dreams.

Nightmare on Elm Street Screening w/ Costume Contest, Oct 22nd Cinespia at Hollywood Forever Cemetery 6000 Santa Monica Blvd, Hollywood 9 Balls a’Bouncing Get your jock on while donating to a admirable cause. 100% of the proceeds benefit the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research. The only caveat is costumes are mandatory. But, if

4 Cosplay Nerds The gay geeks of LA embrace the dark side of the cosplay force for Hard Villains 5th annual erotic costume contest. Rub elbows, and other anatomical parts, with Darth Vader, Lex Luthor, Magneto for a chance to score a cash prize. Plus, who can resist that bad boy charm?

Hard Villains, Oct 29th Eagle LA, 4219 Santa Monica Blvd, Silver Lake

THE SCARIEST PLACE IN LOS ANGELES ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT IS NORMS ON LA CIENEGA. YOU’LL DIE. GO.. IT’S A HOOT. THE LADY PICTURED ABOVE FROM 2015 WAS DECKED OUT AS A GRANDMA CLOWN .

you ever met a WeHo Dodgeball player, you know getting them into a costume isn’t much of a challenge.

WeHo’s Dodgeball’s 3rd Annual Charity Halloween, Oct 22 Pan Pacific Auditorium 7600 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles 8 Singles Mingling The only thing scarier than ghouls and goblins is the thought of having to spend a holiday alone.

That’s why The Gay Matchmaking Club is hosting this casual mixer for those looking for friends, professional contacts, and possibly some arm candy for Halloween.

Halloween Mix n Mingle, Oct 22 Pitfire Pizza, 801 N Fairfax Ave, WeHo 7 Queens a’Slaying Its the bloodiest prom this side of Carrie. Local performance artist Ian McKinnon hosts this 4th wall breaking murder mystery where everyone competes to be this year’s queen. Who will take the tiara? And who will just take a dirt nap?

Planet Queer: Killer Prom, Oct 24th Akbar, 4356 W Sunset Blvd, Silver Lake 6 Killers Twerking Dubbed “Best Geek Party” by LA Weekly, Geek

3 Drag Twins The gruesome twosome that is The Boulet Brothers once again unleash their horde of hairy go-gos and man-eating drag queens upon downtown Los Angeles as they transmogrify the the historic Globe Theater into a massive haunted mansion.

Expect mind blowing DJ sets, live performances, interactive horror zones, and all the other sinful pleasures you expect from the Boulets.

Boulet Brother’s 16th Annual Halloween Ball, Oct 29th Globe Theater, 740 S Broadway, DTLA 2 Dee-Jays The night is dark and full of terrors. Good thing DJs Paulo & Alexander offer a nocturnal sanctuary until the sun comes back up. Hosted by Jenna Marx, this annual after hours event keeps the party going until the break of dawn.

Reload After Hours, Oct 30th Couture Night Club, 1640 N Cahuenga Blvd, Hollywood And a Parade on a Queer Street Everything before this was a mere amuse bouche; this is the filet mignon. Serving as the epicenter of Halloween debauchery, the Santa Monica Strip morphs into a veritable street party showcasing the costumes of Los Angeles’ diverse populace, no matter their age, race, gender, or sexuality. It’s the cities most jubilant shindig this side of the LA Pride Parade.

Conduit: West Hollywood Halloween Carnival, Oct 31 Santa Monica Blvd between La Cienega and Doheney,WeHo

10.21 — 11.03.2016

LOS ANGELES

⚫

OPEN SUN 2 – 5PM

848 Bienveneda

Fabulous Architectural designed by A. Quincy Jones. Classic mid-century details include floor-to-ceiling windows, cinder-block walls and vaulted ceilings. Open liv-

ing, dining and family room – all with a beautiful in/out feeling. Original house has 3 bedrooms with high, wood-beam ceil-

Offered at $1,850,000

4

3

ings. Garage was converted to large master suite. Two side patios, plus a spacious detached studio complete with plumbing and electricity. Located minutes from the beach, hiking and the Village.

MODERN WITH VIEWS

Offered at $3,795,000

5 4.5

BUILD YOUR OWN

Offered at $2,995,000

5 5.5

HIGHLANDS TOWNHOME

Offered at $925,000

2 2.5

PRIME S.M. LEASE

Offered at $4,500/month

Gorgeous Architectural design

Plans for a new Cal-Traditional home

Convenient proximity to the pool & guest parking

Steps to the beach and Main Street

Breathtaking ocean & hillside/vineyard views

Over 7,000 sq ft lot in El Medio Bluffs

Hardwood floors plus tremendous natural light

Spacious unit in desirable Sea Colony

High-quality materials and finishes

Immediate buildability with coastal & permits

Large living room + family room off eat-in kitchen

Large living/dining + eat-in kitchen

Retracting doors that open to large pat

Existing house is 5 bedrooms, 3 baths

Just steps to the pool, spa and gym/sauna

SxS parking, pool, gym, extra storage

CalBRE# 00902158

310.230.7373

©2013 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage office is owned by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker® and the Coldwell Banker Logo, Coldwell Banker Previews International® and the Coldwell Banker Previews International Logo, are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. If your Property is currently listed for sale this is not intended as a solicitation of that listing.

2 2

19

⚫ 20

LOS ANGELES

10.21 — 11.03.2016