The Pride L.A. 11.30.18

11.30 – 12.13.2018 ISSUE NUMBER 03, VOLUME 3

MORE ON PAGE 2

| NOV. 30 – DEC. 13, ‘18

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NEWS

INTERNATIONAL

` ⚫ BY AMY PATTON

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WORD AIDS DAY

WeHo’s Response to World AIDS Day In 2015, men who have sex with men made up 83 percent of HIV diagnoses among men.

N

estled between two largely celebrated holidays, World AIDS Day takes place December 1, reminding everyone that HIV and AIDS is preventible with the right measures.

World AIDS Day is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV and to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness. Founded in 1988, World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day. An

estimated 36.7 million people who have the virus.

Despite the virus only being identified in 1984, more than 35 million people have died of HIV or AIDS, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history. World AIDS Day is important because it reminds the public and government that HIV has not gone away – there is still a vital need to raise money, increase awareness, fight prejudice and improve education.

Over 1 million people in the U.S. alone are living with HIV, and 1 in 7 don’t even know it.

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Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men bear the greatest burden by risk group.

They account for 67 percent (26,570) of all HIV diagnoses in the U.S. and 83 percent of the diagnoses among men. From 2010 to 2015, the estimated number of annual HIV infections in the U.S. declined 8 percent, yet the diagnoses among gay men have remained stable.

With diagnoses still so high among the queer community, the City of West Hollywood is moving forward with its HIV Zero Strategic Plan the City’s Social Services Division is seeking feedback from the community about stigma experienced as a result of HIV status.

Nationwide, Black/African Americand gay and bisexual men accounted for the largest number of HIV diagnoses (10,223), followed

by Hispanic/Latino (7,425) and white (7,390) gay and bisexual men.

Among all gay and bisexual men, trends have varied by race and over time. Among white gay and bisexual men, diagnoses decreased 10 percent; Among Hispanic/Latinx gay and bisexual men, diagnoses increased 14 percent; Among African American gay and bisexual men, diagnoses increased 4 percent.

The City of West Hollywood has launched an online survey, which is available at www.weho.org/ hivzero. Residents and members of the community, regardless of HIV status, are encouraged to provide input, which will be helpful to the City in implementing its HIV Zero plan. This is the third wave of the HIV and stigma survey which is administered as part of the HIV Zero plan implementation process. Community members are

Photo: Getty Images.

encouraged to take part in the survey even if they have completed a survey as part of a previous wave.

A goal of the survey is to understand how stigma impacts access to care and overall health and wellness. Stigma and discrimination are potentially the most difficult aspects of HIV/AIDS to address. For people living with HIV, stigma is related to negative psychosocial, physical and mental health issues such as social isolation, anxiety, and depression. Among HIV-negative gay and bisexual men and transgender women, sexual orientation-based stigma can negatively affect mental health, coping skills and willingness to disclose sexual orientation, which impacts healthcare, access to screenings and preventative medicine.The prejudice and discrimination resulting from HIV stigma can be overt, such as barriers to healthcare coverage or employment termination, or subtle, such as social exclusion. A goal of the HIV Zero Strategic Plan is to build an inclusive community that supports underserved groups and honors the contributions made by people living with HIV. HIV/AIDS has had a significant impact on the City of West Hollywood, and as early as the mid1980s, the City was one of the first government entities to provide social services grants to local HIV/ AIDS organizations.The City of West Hollywood’s HIV Zero Strategic Plan embraces a vision to “Get to Zero” on many fronts: “Zero new infections. Zero progression of HIV to AIDS. Zero discrimination. Zero stigma.”

For additional information about the City’s HIV Zero Strategic Plan, visit www.weho.org/hivzero. For more information on HIV/AIDS overall, visit HIV.org.

Photo: HIV.org.

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DEAR HIV, ’ WE DIDN T GIVE UP. XOXO, SCIENCE There is no cure, but science is still in the battle against HIV. Today’s HIV treatments may help you get to undetectable. That means the amount of virus is so low it can’t be measured in lab tests. Ask your healthcare provider about HIV and treatment options.

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TM

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TRANS RIGHTS

` ⚫ BY HENRY GIARDINA

Trump Tries To Fast-Track Trans Military Ban

Just in time for the Holidays.

Presumably unhappy with the results of the recent election, President Donald Trump is trying to advance his agenda in any way he can. On November 24, news broke that the Trump administration is trying to get the Supreme Court to make a quick and dirty ruling on the matter of transgender individuals in the military.

While the White House has been trying to get this issue ruled on for the past year and a half, it’s been slow going. Not only has there been considerable backlash against the ban, led by (but by no means limited to) liberals, Trump’s latest attempt to erase transgender individuals out of existence by way of a new memo defining sex – and gender as solely – biological demarcations referring to genitalia has caused an uproar in recent months.

According to NPR, the new and improved ban, submitted in February of this year, would expel from the military service people "who require or have undergone gender transition," while “individuals without a history of gender

dysphoria would be required to serve under their biological sex.” This would effectively cause active members who are not yet out to be discharged or continue service while remaining in the closet.

In order for the ban to skip over the lower courts and receive the fast-track treatment from the Supreme Court, it has to, by law, be of "imperative public importance.” The fact that this definition is as vague as can be doesn’t help much. However, most lawmakers will probably be able to see that Trump’s efforts to turn the trans ban into a matter of urgent concern is a thinly-disguised attempt to get it past the jurisdiction of the now-majority liberal House, if not the majority-conservative Senate. Still, as the year has progressed, it’s been feeling more and more like anti-trans laws are becoming, along with anti-immigration, the Trump administration’s core issue. While the administration insists that transgender service people send health costs through the roof, the evidence isn’t there.

"This is simply one more attempt by a reckless Trump administration to push through a discriminatory policy," Jennifer Levi, the Transgender Rights Project Director at GLAAD,

Photo: Flickr.

Despite widespread protest from Democrats and Republicans alike, the trans military ban may be decided on by early next year.

said in a statement. "The policy flies in the face of military research and dozens of top military experts."

"It seems the Trump administration can't wait to discriminate," Peter Renn, Legal Counsel of Lambda Legal, also said in a statement.

"There is no valid reason to jump the line now and seek U.S. Supreme Court review before the appellate courts have even ruled on the preliminary issues before them."

Trump’s anti-DACA initiative is also on the list for fast-track treatment.

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A LOSS IN TAIWAN

` ⚫ BY STAFF WRITER

Taiwanese Voters Reject Same-Sex Marriage

Voters in Taiwan have rejected same-sex marriage in a referendum this past week.

This is seen as a big setback to LGBTQ+ couples hoping their island would be the first country in Asia to let same-sex couples share child custody and insurance benefits.

The vote was organized by Christian groups that make up about 5 percent of Taiwan’s population and advocates of the traditional Chinese family structure. The results directly contradicts a May 2017 constitutional court ruling in which Justices told legislators to make same-sex marriage legal within two years. This would be a first for Asia, where religion and conservative governments normally keep same-sex marriage bans in place.

Although the ballot from last week is advisory only, it is expected to frustrate lawmakers mindful of public opinion since they face the court deadline next year; Many legislators will stand for re-election in 2020.

“The legislature has lots of choices on how to make this court order take effect,” referendum proponent Chen Ke, a Catholic pastor in Taiwan and an opponent of same-

sex marriage, said.

Ruling party lawmakers backed by president Tsai Ing-wen had proposed legalizing same-sex marriage in late 2016, but put aside their ideas to await the court hearing.

Opposition to same-sex marriage came to a head after the court ruling. Opponents have held rallies and mobilized votes online.

Courts will still consider local marriage-licensing offices in violation of the law if they refuse same-sex couples until May 2019, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson said last week.

“The referendum is a general survey, it doesn’t have very strong legal implications,” Shiau Hong-chi, a professor of gender studies and communications management at Shih-Hsin University in Taiwan, said. “One way or another it has to go back to the court.”

Voters approved a separate measure on Saturday calling for a “different process” to protect same-sex unions. It is viewed as an alternative to using the civil code. A third initiative, also approved, asked that schools avoid teaching LGBTQ+ “education.”

Amnesty International told the govern-

Crowds of LGBTQ+ members and allies celebrating Tawain Gay Pride in 2017.

ment it needed to “deliver equality and dignity.”

“This result is a bitter blow and a step backwards for human rights in Taiwan,” Am-

Photo: Courtesy.

nesty’s Taiwan-based acting director Annie Huang, said. “However, despite this setback, we remain confident that love and equality will ultimately prevail.”

Nov. 30

Indio High School Choir*

Dec. 1

Desert Ridge Academy Concert Choir*

Dec. 2

Tree Lighting with HGTV’s Eric and Lindsey Bennett and the Palm Springs High School Madrigals & String Quartet (5:30 p.m.)

Dec. 7

Jurupa Valley High School Chamber Singers*

Dec. 8

Martin Luther King High School Chamber Singers*

Dec. 9

Encore High School for the Arts Madrigals*

Dec. 14

The Lion’s Pride Chamber Singers*

Dec. 15

Santa Visit (11 a.m. – 3 p.m.)

Dec. 16

Brunch with Santa (10:30 a.m.)

Dec. 25

Special holiday dining at Peaks Restaurant and Pines Café

Jan. 1

Special holiday dining at Peaks Restaurant and Pines Café

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT pstramway.com

All events held at the Mountain Station *Choir Performances at 5 p.m. & 7 p.m.

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COMMUNITY

WEST HOLLYWOOD

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TRANS DAY OF REMEMBRANCE

` ⚫ BY CHRISTIAN BALDERAS

WeHo Shabbat Honors Trans Community

DRINKS AND DREIDELS!

A Chanukah Soirée

The WeHo Congregation Kol Ami will be hosting its annual Chanukah event for the community on Thursday, Dec. 6 from 7:30-10:30 p.m.

• Open craft cocktail bar (21+) • Live guitarist, Chanukah delicacies • live pasta station • community Menorah lighting.

A "can't miss" showcase event!

“The story of coming out…it’s a journey of degradation and of pain,” Rabbi Denise Eger, the first openly LGBTQ+ person to be the Immediate Past President of The Central Conference of American Rabbis, said.

“That is like the journey of The Exodus.”

The words justice, compassion, joy, love and understanding decorated the walls of the synagogue. At the front of the room, the Star of David was proudly displayed above the blue and pink colors of the transgender flag. This is the Congregation Kol Ami in West Hollywood, whose Shabbat on the night of Friday, Nov. 16 was dedicated as a Transgender Day of Remembrance, coinciding with Transgender Awareness Week happening between November 12–19.

The observance took on a new meaning in the wake of an October New York Times article that reported, “The Trump administration is considering narrowly defining gender as a biological, immutable condition determined by genitalia at birth, the most drastic move yet in a governmentwide effort to roll back recognition and protections of transgender people under federal civil rights law.”

PRODUCTION MANAGER AMY PATTON

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Sam Catanzaro

Tuesday, November 20 was National Transgender Day of Remembrance.

In addition to the regular service, The Trans Chorus of Los Angeles performed songs such as “You Have More Friends Than You Know” and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” and featured guest speakers L.A. Police Dept. Chief Beatrice Grimal and City of Hope Director of Strategic Research Elias Mendelson.

Following the performance by The Trans Chorus of Los Angeles, Beatrice Grimal took center stage acknowledging issues of injustice and police brutality experienced by the transgender community.

“I worry about the hate that still permeates for no reason on earth,” Grimal said. “I ask for a moment of silence for the 22 transgender women and men who lost their lives to violence.” Viccky Gutierrez,

a young transgender Latina woman from Honduras is one of the 22 transgender people that have been murdered thus far in 2018. On Jan. 10, Gutierrez was stabbed and her body set ablaze in her Los Angeles home approximately five miles from the synagogue.

Following Grimal’s passionate speech, Elias Mendelson, a member of the trans-Jewish community, took the stage to share his story of self-discovery.

At the end of the service, Mendelson reminds those questioning their gender identity with the following words: “It’s going to get better. Go and find your community.

Go online. Find chat groups and find other transgender people. You are not alone. Be patient — it’ll get better.”

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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., 2116 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA. 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 (c) 2017 The Pride L.A. redistributed. All contents THE PRIDE L.A. is a registered trademark of MIRROR MEDIA GROUP. T.J. MONTEMER, CEO 310.310.2637 x7

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‘TIS THE SEASON

` ⚫ BY JORGE PANIAGUA

L.A. Holidays with Your Chosen Queer Family A Look at Transgiving Celebration in Los Angeles.

When Mariana Marroquin, the current program manager of the Trans Wellness Center in Los Angeles, immigrated to the United States from Guatemala approximately 20 years ago, she was looking for refuge.

The harsh, anti-transgender environment that Marroquin was constantly subjected to in the Central American country was rampant.

According to a report detailing the constancy of human rights violations against transgender women in Guatemala, made by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, “the high number of murders and other violent attacks against transgender individuals is stark evidence of the very hostile and violent environment for the transgender population that persists in Guatemala.”

Marroquin said that she was not a part of a close-knit transgender community while in Guatemala because, according to her, there wasn’t one.

“I didn’t know any community then,” Marroquin said in regards to her time living in Guatemala. “And then I came to this country looking for safety and I find my community, but my community was struggling.”

Although she is aware that the transgender community has made noteworthy progress in the past 20 years, Marroquin knows that there is still “a long way to go.” Yet, not only is Marroquin optimistic about the future of her community, but the program manager remains in gratitude as well.

Last week, the Trans Wellness Center and The Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Center, in association with the Unique Women’s Coalition, hosted the annual Transgiving Dinner Party, an event which successfully embodied Marroquin’s two aforementioned sentiments — optimism and gratefulness. The event featured a

free dinner, inclusive festivities and an overall vibrant celebration of the diversity within the transgender and gender non-conforming communities.

“A lot of transgender and [gender non-conforming] people have experienced rejection from families, from work, from schools,” Marroquin said. “So we need safe spaces to celebrate who we are. I think this is a call for our community.”

Approximately 200 guests were present at the event, which was funded in-part by the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.The event welcomed all transgender and gender non-conforming people of any background, including homeless folks.

“A lot of people that we are feeding here tonight are homeless, jobless and it’s sad because it is part of the trans-narrative,” Abdullah Hall, Artistic Director for Trans Chorus of Los Angeles, said.“We forget that a lot of them out there have no homes, no jobs but most of them have college degrees — most. So, it’s just living your life as a second or third class citizen. So, walking away from here, I would love people to feel that love and that thankfulness of the thanksgiving season.”

Hall, who identifies as gender non-conforming, humorously remarked that he used to describe himself as a “gay black man with a lot of sugar in her tank.” However, after working closely with the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles, Hall came to find that he suppressed his own “duality” throughout his life.

“I always suppressed being gender non-conforming, gender non-binary and felt that suppression a lot in the gay community,” Hall said.

“Because I was never being my true, authentic self. Even among my gay brothers, it was always ‘you’re too fem,’ ‘you’re too this,’ ‘you’re too that.’ In the trans-narrative spectrum, I found that wholeness – that completeness – right there, which I am so grateful for finding.”

The Trans Chorus of Los Angeles, which currently has 38 members who identify as either transgender or gender non-binary, per-

Photos: Jorge Paniagua.

Two friends, Felisha Farres and Alejandra Sanchez, who both operate a business together in the San Fernando Valley, pose for a picture at the LA LGBTQ Center’s Transgiving Celebration.

formed four songs at the Transgiving Dinner Party. One song, “I shall miss loving you,” was dedicated to all of the transgender lives lost to prejudice and hate. The event came a day after Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day to memorialize those have been murdered as a result of transphobia.

“Overall this [event] is all about unity and empowerment,” Ambassador for the Unique Women’s Coalition, Kyler O’Neil, said. “This event is a wonderful tool to bring all of us together so that we can know that we are not alone. It’s difficult to find a heavy transgender presence, it’s a lot easier to find a cisgender heterosexual world, or a gay world, but as far as trans – it’s a little difficult to find us. It’s far and few in between.”

Aside from a banquet-style dinner and live

performances, the event included appearances and short speeches by transgender advocate and therapist Valerie Spencer, as well as Cassandra James, the first transgender actress to star in a daytime soap-opera, “General Hospital.”

The 18th Annual Transgiving Dinner Party served as a welcoming and inclusive environment for transgender and gender non-conforming people to unite and congregate over dinner, music and merrymaking.

The Trans Wellness Center, located at 3055 Wilshire Blvd. #360 in Los Angeles, has been operating since late April 2018. The center provides comprehensive resources and services for transgender and non-binary people. To find out more, visit mytranswellness.org.

ABOVE – The city of Los Angeles has recognized November 21 as official “Transgiving Day.” LEFT – The Trans Chorus of Los Angeles ended their set at the Transgiving Celebration with the song, “You have more friends than you know.”

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11.30 – 12.13.2018 NEWS

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MAKING PROGRESS?

` ⚫ BY AMY PATTON

40 Years After Harvey Milk's Death: Where Are We Now? About 41 years ago, first openly gay elected official Harvey Milk made history after winning a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, and 40 years ago this past Tuesday – he was murdered.

“It’s not my victory, it’s yours and yours and yours,” Milk said after winning. “If a gay can win, it means there is hope that the system can work for all minorities if we fight. We’ve given them hope.”

Milk and the Mayor of San Francisco at the time were gunned down at San Francisco City Hall the following year on November 27 by fellow board supervisor Dan White. Nearly half a century later, Milk is an LGBTQ idol, with a butterfly effect legacy, rippling into the current politics of today.

During his short time in office, he helped pass the country’s first gay rights ordinance, sparking the beginning of the Gay Rights Movement on the west coast. He also lead the front against Proposition 6 – a bill that would ban gay and lesbian identifying individuals from teaching in public schools. Milk is also greatly attributed to widespread representation of LGBTQ+ members in politics. The Rainbow Wave of this year’s midterms exemplifies this. The most recent elections not only say a record breaking number of queer people running for office, but won those positions as well.

Voter turn out in the LGBTQ+ community was at a record high as well.

Not only did Milk lead the way for LGBTQ+ representation in politics, but he was a dynamic politician with a multi-issue platform. Milk represented the underdog; those displaced by gentrification, racial and economic minorities, the hippies.

His killer, White, represented the traditional working class Catholic families that felt threatened by the fringe groups gaining political traction.

“Dan White ran talking to people in his district about how he would work to rid San Francisco of social deviants,” Historian and author of “Harvey Milk: His Lives and Death” Lillian Faderman said, as reported

by NBC News.

Milk expected such punitive reactions after his push for equal rights, though. After his death 40 years ago, a tape recording of Milk was released. He had created it before his death, with the instructions that it “be played only in the event of my death by assassination.”

“I fully realize that a person who stands for what I stand for, an activist, gay activist, becomes a target or the potential target for somebody who is insecure, terrified, afraid, or very disturbed themselves," Milk said on his final tape. “Knowing that I could be assassinated at any moment or any time, I feel it’s important that some people know my thoughts.

Photo: Courtesy.

41 years ago, Harvey Milk made history by being the first openly gay elected official. One year later he made headlines when he was gunned down and murdered at San Francisco City Hall.

“I would like to see every gay doctor come out, every gay lawyer, every gay architect come out, stand up and let that world know," Milk said. "That would do more to end prejudice overnight than anybody would imagine. I urge them to do that, urge them to come out. Only that way will we start to achieve our rights.

"If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door in the country," Milk said on the tape recording.

Milk felt that the act of coming out – of telling one’s own truth – was so powerful because it eliminated fear.

“Harvey understood that the single most important political act anyone could take was simply to come out — to reveal their true nature to their friends, families and

coworkers,” Milk’s former intern Cleve Jones said. “Harvey understood that that was important, because he understood that hatred of us was grounded in fear, and

that that fear would evaporate once people could understand that in fact they had gay people in their families and in their congregations and in their neighborhoods.”

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OPINION FASHION

` ⚫ BY AMY PATTON

11.30 – 12.13.2018

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MORE THAN JUST UNDERWEAR

Victoria’s Secret Trans Backlash Matters In case you live under a rock – or have something better to do than follow the politics of underwear – the Chief Marketing Officer of L Brands Ed Razek and Executive Vice President of Public Relations at Victoria’s Secret Monica Mitro have axed inclusivity and dreams of transgender models in one swift interview.

In preparation for the December 2 Victoria’s Secret annual runsway show, Vogue spoke with Razek and Mitro about the future of the lingerie company.

“Shouldn’t you have transsexuals [sic.] in the show?” Razek asked hypothetically. “No. No, I don’t think we should. Well, why not?

Because the show is a fantasy.”

There’s a slew of reasons why this hit home hard. First of all,“transsexuals”– really? It is 2018 and we are all out of excuses for the vernacularly-challenged straight cis male. Many pointed out on Twitter that this empire is owned by an 80-year-old man and ran by a 70-year-old man.

It is comments like this that shows the lack of diversity and un-adapted marketing strategies.

Sales have been declining for this 23-year-old company since 2016, and its inability to keep up with the radically evolving marketplace is reflected in its traditions.

Furthermore, not only does this sentiment imply that transgender models are lesser than, or less valued in an already cut-throat industry, but it says the they are not a fantasy. As if they will never be what anyone wants, let alone the multi-billion dollar industry.

Many on Twitter simply suggested boycotting the company. It’s easy; don’t buy from a company if you don’t support its ethics. Well, sure. Metaphorically burning our Victoria’s Secret bras and spending out pink dollars somewhere besides Pink will make a dent in the company’s revenue, but is it enough for actual change? No. After the Vogue article was published, Razek issued an apology via Twitter: “My remarks regarding the inclusion of transgender models in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show came across as insensitive,” Razek said via Twitter. “I apologize. To be clear, we absolutely would cast a transgender model for the show. We’ve has transgender models come to castings … And like many others, they didn’t made it … But it was never about gender. I admire and respect their journey to embrace who they really are.”

This only adds feul to the flame. You can not

say that a trans woman does not fit your narrow fantasy and then turn around to say their failure to make casting cuts had nothing to do with gender. You’re blaming the system instead of taking the responsibility. It is a cop-out.

It seems as though just when we are making social progress as a nation, something come out of left field, denouncing queer equality.

In a country where transgender individuals are being banned from serving in the military, are being threatened by the National Health Service to be defined out of existence and are murdered daily in the streets, bras don’t seem all that important. Find someone else to cup your boobs, right? Wrong. This type of passive behavior exemplifies the systemic prejudices that snowball into hate speech, hate crimes. It is moments in history like these in which we have a civic duty to our queer brothers and sisters to stand up and let society know that this isn’t ok.

11.30 – 12.13.2018 ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION

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LOS ANGELES

GIVE IT A WATCH

Photos: Courtesy Hulu.

Hulu’s Fresh Take on Bisexuality

With a title as blunt as “The Bisexual,” one can’t help but assume that Hulu’s latest queer 6-episode series will be negging for shock factor and ultimately a flat piece of work.

However, five minutes into the first episode viewed will find that that preconceived review is far from the truth. “The Bisexual” explores the grey and confusing parts of sexuality that most prefer to ignore in a refreshing and realistic perspective. It is a real and raw representation of navigating the struggles and stigma of bisexuality in a politically charged and opinionated society.

“I’m pretty sure bisexuality is a myth,” main character Leila tells her group of lesbian friends as they’re sitting around a table at a busy gay club in London.

The series, written and produced by the creator of “The Miseducation of Cameron Post” Desiree Akhavan, follows the budding bisexual (performed by Akhavan herself) as she breaks up

with long term girlfriend and business partner to explore the “different” feeling she has internally.

This is no wast task for Leila. Bisexuality often comes a large stigma in both the LGBTQ+ and straight communities alike.

“When I hear ‘bisexual’ I think lame slut,” she tells her new straight roommate Gabe (performed by Brian Gleeson). “It makes you seem disingenuous, like your genitals have no allegiance.”

The classic concept presented is of gay men hiding behind bisexuality and bisexual women who are merely “sexual tourists,” as Leila’s lesbian friends call it, exploring female relationships for fun. This is joked about online, amongst lesbians and gays and on mainstream television/ movies.“The Bisexual” flips this archetype on its head, examining the taboo of liking both sexes from a resistant, fearful and previously identifying homosexual.

(323) 244-7500 CALL TODAY!

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ENTERTAINMENT MUSIC

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A GENIUS IDEA

Photos: Courtesy W Records.

Music for LGBTQ+ International Rights

The great queer music artist Perfume Genius (Mike Hadreas) has joined forces with W Records to release two exclusive tracks for which all proceeds will go to Immigration Equality to further the the rights of LGBTQ immigrants. Immigration Equality is the nation’s leading LGBTQ immigrant rights organization.

W Records is supporting the LGBTQ+ community in other ways, too. Perhaps the first to note is the regular QUEER ME OUT panels as well as a series of destination guides in partnership with them. that explore locations that aren’t always the first that come to mind for queer travelers.

The Pride L.A. spoke with Anthony Ingham, Global Brand Leader for W Records about partnering with Perfume Genius and advancing LGBTQ+ rights.

Tell me a little bit about W Records.

Why would a hotel empire launch a recording label?

W Records is a natural next step for the W brand. Just this year we kicked off our global music festival series,WAKE UP CALL at W Hollywood, W Barcelona, W Bali and soon we’ll be taking the multi-day, multi-stage performance to W Dubai – The Palm. Music has always been a passion for us, which is why we brought on Global Music Directors to curate the music experience at all of our global hotels from background music to on-site performances.

Back in 2016 we started exploring how we could support artists beyond our Living Room

performances which each W hotel hosts with local talent.We created W Sound Suites, in-hotel recording studios, to support the creative process that is essential to the music we love.When we saw how impactful our partnerships with musicians like St.Vincent were for our guests, we wanted to build bigger and bigger platforms to highlight the new/next talent we love. Once we had thrown an international music festival, the question became what can we create that reaches an audience beyond the scene at our hotels?

W Records was the answer. Now we can not only help foster creative expression but also help get the word out alongside artists we believe in.

Why sign with or partner with Perfume Genius? What does his influence have on the LGBTQ+ community that W Records likes?

Perfume Genius (Mike Hadreas) stood out to us for a lot of the obvious reasons; his overwhelming skill and artistry as a musician and producer among them. However, like W, he is vocal about his support of the LGBTQ community.We want to support him first and foremost as an artist in partnership with him and Matador (his label), but also beyond the performance. Each artist that works with W Records is given the opportunity to choose a charity. All W proceeds from the streaming of the two exclusive tracks released with each artist are donated to that chosen charity. In this case, Perfume Genius chose Immigration Equality and we are honored to be a part of supporting their vitally important work.

Can you tell me a little bit about the success of the QUEER ME OUT

speaking panels?

Since day one,W Hotels has been dedicated to inclusivity and equality and it continues to be core to the brand experience. Each QUEER ME OUT event offers passionate panel discussions that dive into hot button issues as well as the work and play of experts and icons. We launched QUEER ME OUT in 2017 to continue the conversations that are essential to progress with incredible individuals like Mickey Boardman (Editorial Director for PAPER Magazine), Abiezer Benitez and Thomas Jackson (Editors of GAYLETTER Magazine) and Levi Jackman Foster (Photographer) among many others. Last year we hosted these discussions in North America at W Washington DC (June 2017), W Fort Lauderdale (July 2017) and W Montreal (August 2017).

For 2018 we took the QUEER ME OUT series global.As an international company, we want to push the conversation forward everywhere, not only in North America. So far this year, we’ve hosted QUEER ME OUT discussions at W Barcelona (June 27), W London – Leicester Square (July 7) and W Amsterdam (August 4).

Can you tell me more about Marriott’s corporate social responsibility Platform (SERVE 360) and how it correlates to the LGBTQ+ community?

SERVE 360 is a multifaceted initiative from Marriott International that aims to nurture, sustain, empower and welcome guests and global causes. Through partnering and supporting charitable causes, nonprofits, creating and implementing training, advocacy and supplier account-

ability, including those that are focused on the LGBTQ+ community, Marriott embraces travel as one of the most powerful tools for promoting peace and cultural understanding.

Can you comment on the overall social responsibility (especially with the LGBTQ+ community) of other big businesses?

I can’t speak to the motivations and actions of all corporations. As a global organization rooted in an industry that encourages cultural exploration and appreciation, I feel we as a brand have a responsibility to set an example. We can’t shy away from the difficult conversations that push us forward. We as individuals and businesses have to create the space, time and environment to talk about the real issues. Equality is non-negotiable and there is still work to be done.There was a time when a person, never mind a company, would have been shunned for speaking up for LGBTQ+ rights.We are proud to be supporting a cause we believe in. Supporting LGBTQ+ rights across all our initiatives is a privilege we have not and will not take for granted.

11.30 – 12.13.2018 CULTURE THEATRE

` ⚫ BY STAFF WRITER

>

LOS ANGELES

⚫ 13

THESBIAN LESBIAN

PREVIEW: “Welcome to Illyria!”

Four Clowns Troupe reimagines William Shakespeare’s “The Twelth Night” just in time for the Holidays!

Start your holiday off right, with laughs, giggles and general merriment! Los Angeles’ mostknown clown troupe Four Clowns is teaming up with the Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles for an all-new holiday take on one of William Shakespeare’s most popular works “Twelfth Night or What You Will.” Four Clowns presents “Welcome to Illyria! or An Exceedingly Silly Retelling of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night,” which will run for – of course – twelve performances only.

It’s a classic love story! Girl meets boy. Boy disguises girl as boy. Boy meets man. Man loves woman. But woman loves boy. And boy loves man.

“Some are born great, some achieve greatness and others have greatness thrust upon

them.” At Holiday time? With clowns? Four Clowns usher in the holiday magic with a “laugh-a-minute” show of love, cross-dressing and general buffoonery as this raucous chorus of characters explores the silliness of love. Set during the holidays, this highly physical production slips and slides through the pages of Shakespeare, as the clowns hash out the meaning of “If music be the food of love, play on.”

Four Clowns has been expanding its ensemble of extremely talented actors over the past two years and this will be the first time several of the company’s new members will be featured. The cast of nine will be working with long-time company member and director Joe DeSoto and the new artistic director of Four Clowns. DeSoto has worked with clown troupes all over the U.S. including the final tour of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

“I’ve wanted to do this show for six years,” DeSoto said.“Twelfth Night has always been my favorite Shakespearean comedy. Unfortunately, I didn’t know as many talented physical comedians back then as I do now. ‘Welcome to Illyria!’ is everything I want to create as a theatre artist.

It’s light-hearted, fun, outrageous, engaging, ex-

Photo: Courtesy Four Clowns.

citing… As simple as it may sound, I really just want our audiences to have a blast and to leave the theatre feeling energized. And maybe also a tad exhausted (from laughing).”

“Welcome to Illyria! or An Exceedingly Silly Retelling of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night” runs Fridays,

Saturdays and Sundays from now until December 16, 2018 at 8 p.m., with an additional matinee viewing at 2 p.m. on Sundays. Catch The Pride L.A.’s review online Monday or in our next print issue on 12.15.18. For tickets and more information, visit www.fourclowns.org.

⚫ 14

11.30 – 12.13.2018

LOS ANGELES

WHAT’S HAPPENING?

The best goings-on around and about L.A., period.

LGBTQ Public Charge Comment Party When: Friday, Nov. 30 from 6–7:30 p.m.

Where: Trans Wellness Center, 3055 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles What: This event will provide an opportunity to learn about how the proposed Public Charge Rule directly affects our communities and how you can join other LGBTQ advocates in fighting back.

Why: The Trump Administration proposed a change to the Public Charge rule that would put the health and well-being of immigrant communities at risk, including LGBTQ immigrants.This proposal seeks to instill fear and discourage immigrant communities from seeking programs that support their basic needs.

“A NIGHT OF REMEMBRANCE” for World AIDS Day When: Friday, Nov. 30 from 6 – 10 p.m.

Where: AltaMed Youth and Senior Care Management, Los Angeles What: To commemorate the 30th annual World AIDS Day, AltaMed Health Services, one of Southern California’s largest providers of HIV/AIDS services, will host “A Night of Remembrance,” a free event to celebrate the lives of those who lost the battle to AIDS and improve awareness for HIV prevention.

Why: For nearly 30 years, AltaMed regularly hosts outreach events to improve education on safe sex practices to reduce HIV infection in Los Angeles and Orange Counties.

PokemonGo: Gay Long Beach When: Saturday, Dec. 1 from 10:45 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Archibalds, 4600 E. 2nd Street, Long Beach What: PokemonGo meet up for gays of Long Beach Why: Hobbies besides drinking with your queer friends are nice too.

Wellness and serenity for the body, mind, and spirit.

Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade When: Saturday, Dec. 1 from 5:45-7:30 p.m.

Where: Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs What: Join the Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus as they guide the largest balloon in the Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade Why: What better way to enjoy a light festival than with your friends at the Gay Men’s Chorus?

Queers, Coffee & Donuts Happy Holi-gays!

When: Sunday, Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Cuties Coffee, 710 N. Heliotrope Dr., Los Angeles What: Fill up on time with your QT frens and fam just in time for the Holi-gays with holiday-themed crafts, warming beverages and your favorite delicious donuts.

Why: cuties is all about you making connections whether that’s with new friends, lovers, collaborators, roommates, bike riding buddies… so many possibilities!

It’s a Drag to Give When: Friday, Dec. 7 from 7 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

Where: Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center What: This special, one-night performance brings together the community for an unforgettable night of drag to support the important work of four local Long Beach, CA nonprofits Why: All proceeds go directly to Beacon for Him,The LGBTQ Center of Long Beach, Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition, and WomenShelter of Long Beach

To submit a calendar event entry, please email The Pride L.A. at amy@thepridela.com

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11.30 – 12.13.2018

LOS ANGELES

NY TIMES CROSSWORD PUZZLE

RHYMES, SCHMYMES

BY WILL NEDIGER / EDITED BY WILL SHORTZ

ACROSS

1 Picnic annoyance 8 Cold quarters 13 Racetrack informant 20 Like okapis and giraffes 21 Sit pensively 22 Cry from a survivor 23 Conversation over a few whiskeys?

25 Wear 26 Pose 27 Mario Vargas Llosa’s country 28 Strummed instrument, for short 29 Where butter and cheese are produced 30 ____ buddies 31 Moreover 32 Org. for drivers 33 Return to base 36 2015 Verizon purchase 38 Filth covering pecans and such?

45 Borodin opera prince 46 Fasten, in a way, with “in” 48 Asian holiday 49 Tush 50 Venison spread?

53 Relics, to Brits 55 “You betcha!”

56 Very beginning?

58 Give a leg up … or a hand 59 Lose one’s coat 60 Casting need 61 Notwithstanding 63 Brings on 64 Sprayed in the face 67 Hardly a dolt?

68 Powerful scents 69 Made up 70 Virus fighters 71 Director Wenders 72 Unnamed character in Camus’s “The Stranger” 73 Ground cover?

74 Connections 75 Buds come in them 80 Office’s counterpart 83 Avoid a jerk?

85 Mozart’s Don Alfonso and Leporello 86 Shout with an accent 88 Gathered intelligence (on)

89 It has lots on the internet 90 Break up with an “unbreakable” Ellie Kemper character?

93 “Black-ish” network 94 Part of a kit 95 It may be found next to a spade 96 Sashimi option 98 Ready for battle 100 DNA building block 105 Restroom sign 106 “What’s Going On” singer, 1971 107 Tampa Bay N.F.L.’er 110 Beats in the race 111 Puts a stop to sentimentality?

114 Term for a word that isn’t the dictionary but maybe should be 115 Subject of una serenata 116 Subject of the 2006 documentary “When the Levees Broke” 117 Promenades 118 Rehab program 119 Plug DOWN

1 Cake with rum 2 Hovering craft 3 Understand 4 Industry, for short 5 Treat on a stick 6 Stuns, in a way 7 Intruded (on) 8 Watson’s company 9 Cavity filler 10 Be a witness 11 Exude 12 Loving verse?

13 Some pageant wear 14 Brought charges against 15 Daddy 16 Criticize severely 17 Part of a makeshift swing 18 ____ after 19 Depend 24 “Just pretend I’m right” 29 Singer of high notes 30 Scottish accents 33 Dusted off, say

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

20

9

34

35

36

45

28

29

31

32

37

38

46

50

47

51

48

56 60 65

39

52

55

64

57

82 87

91

103

96

104

93 97

A G E E

B A R B Q

M O R E A U

B O S S

A U N T

98

117

118

119

M Y H A T

108

109

106

116

M I X C D

107

99

112

62 Uses Gchat, e.g.

63 Scornful sound 64 H. G. Wells villain 65 Four-time Australian Open winner 66 Picasso, e.g.

67 Recent arrival 68 Personalized music gift 69 Backyard shindig, informally 70 Perfect score, or half of a score 71 Smart remarks 73 Zooey of Fox’s “New Girl” 75 Long, narrow pieces of luggage 76 Modify 77 Where Hemingway wrote “The Old Man and the Sea” 78 Old Chrysler 79 ____ terrier 81 Parties 82 Pastor role in “There Will Be Blood”

Answers

T I D Y

79

94

115

I M P E A C H E D

78

89

114

T I A C R A A T S S E T A R T A I I T E M O S W S I C K S P I E A B C A R G A S S C E K X S

77

88

105

O D E

44

76

111

I G L O B R O O H M O O Z U U K E M T O O O L N U R E W T M E A R E V E E D E S P N O S C H E C H I E W I N S C E D U O L E S M I D T E A H I R M E N H A L T A M O R D E T O

43

63

110

G B I T E R I C A N O Z E S C K P E R B O S O G U P A O R S C E R S C H S S I R E R O D A C E D G U S T A B D E S I D E N S S O S I T S C H H O S E P A I T R U N S I G L E T R O L L S

42

84

92

95 102

41

75 83

86

101

40

71

81

90

19

68

74

85

18

59

62

73

80

17

58

70

72

16

54

67

69

15

49 53

61

66

14

25

30

This Week’s Sudoku Puzzle U F O S

13 22

27

34 James who won a posthumous Pulitzer 35 Says, informally 37 “When the Levees Broke” director 39 High ____ 40 Publisher in a robe, familiarly 41 Algonquian Indians 42 Open, as a bottle 43 Prince and others 44 Some drink garnishes 46 Fish whose name sounds like the past tense of 46-Across?

47 Greets silently 51 Begets 52 Take back 54 3-3, e.g.

57 Site of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World 61 Professional fixer, for short

B A B A

12

24

26

100

11

21

23

33

10

P A P A

S L A M

T I R E

E V E R

R E L Y

H M U T E I N I F A C T M O L H I R E U S K S M P A C K H M U C E B A S N A R E D E B U M A L T T R I N O P P E

Z E S T S S K Y E C Z A R

113

84 Keeper of the books, for short 87 Japanese appetizer 91 Lifts 92 Everything 94 Appear that way 97 101 course 99 “… I’ll eat ____!”

100 Order (around) 101 May or Bee 102 Prevent from clumping, say 103 In conclusion 104 Sway 107 Random data point 108 ____ Reader 109 Powerful politico 111 & 112 Coupled 113 “Collage With Squares Arranged According to the Laws of Chance” artist

⚫ 15

STAR GAZING

By Samuel Prince

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Aries today will experience attacks of jealousy. Paradoxically, it will not involve your marriage partner, but one of your new colleagues at work. You will be offended to see how this young man (or young lady) actively flirts with someone.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Taurus today will not have to find a suitable excuse to spend the evening outside the walls of their cozy home.

Your household will leave, wherever, and each of you will spend Friday on your own personal plan.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) To Geminis, this day will deliver the most pleasant and joyful emotions. At work, you will be recognized for a recent project, and you will receive a pretty decent amount in hand. You decide to spend it on a present for your beloved one.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) Cancers are recommended to spend this day away from the noisy city. After work, go to the gym, to your personal garden, or to visit relatives living in the countryside. The fresh air will refill the reserves of your strength, and indiscriminate labor in the earth will call you to prolonged philosophizing.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) This Friday will give Leos an inexpressible positive mood. In the evening, you will meet with a school friend (one of your college friends). The exchange of news will take place in a bar or cafe, and your lively couple attracts a lot of attention.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) A fateful meeting will take place today. They are waiting for you in a public place, where you will find yourself in the evening after work. You are unlikely to confuse this signal with anything, since it will have quite specific forms.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Libras today will not be left out of the planning of a family weekend.

Relatives will not budge without you, saying right now you must go to the country together to spend the whole weekend there. “And what about my leisure time?” You try to object, but nobody will hear your objections.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21) Scorpios today are not recommended to give out smiles and compliments to everyone they meet. All your stock of femininity or chivalry should be intended only for them - the very person you dream of calling your husband or wife.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Sagittarians will tend to doubt themselves and their professionalism. These fears will prove to be unfounded, unless you do not competently execute your current project. It requires careful analysis and elaboration, which means you cannot spend precious time on doubts about your own abilities and other unnecessary things.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Capricorns today are threatened by a most unpleasant migraine. Talk about pain! Even after taking appropriate medications it is not eliminated. you can only get rid of this pain after you consult with a familiar medical specialist.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Aquarius find out the cause of their recent problems at work. This reason will have a specific name. Having found out that the person whom you sincerely trusted is guilty for your troubles, you will experience shock and great frustration.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) The mood of Pisces today will fluctuate from extreme to extreme. In the morning you will smile from the bottom of your heart, but then you will suddenly not be able to laugh or smile. You cannot explain why this dramatic emotional jump occurred.

⚫ 16

LOS ANGELES

11.30 – 12.13.2018