12.15 – 12..2017
ISSUE NUMBER 31, VOLUME 2 | DEC. 15 – DEC. 28, ‘17
LOS ANGELES
⚫ 1
A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR LGBTQ+ SENIORS With a budget of $4.9 million just approved for the L.A. LGBT Center’s Anita May Rosenstein Campus, affordable housing for seniors is just around the corner.
MORE ON PAGE 6
⚫
12.15 – 12.28.2017
LOS ANGELES
2
WHAT IS GENVOYA®? GENVOYA is a 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in people 12 years and older who weigh at least 77 pounds. It can either be used in people who are starting HIV-1 treatment and have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements. These include having an undetectable viral load (less than 50 copies/mL) for 6 months or more on their current HIV-1 treatment. GENVOYA combines 4 medicines into 1 pill taken once a day with food. GENVOYA is a complete HIV-1 treatment and should not be used with other HIV-1 medicines. GENVOYA does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. To control HIV-1 infection and decrease HIV-related illnesses, you must keep taking GENVOYA. Ask your healthcare provider if you have questions about how to reduce the risk of passing HIV-1 to others. Always practice safer sex and use condoms to lower the chance of sexual contact with body fluids. Never reuse or share needles or other items that have body fluids on them.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
What is the most important information I should know about GENVOYA?
GENVOYA may cause serious side effects: • Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. GENVOYA is not approved to treat HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV and stop taking GENVOYA, your HBV may suddenly get worse. Do not stop taking GENVOYA without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to monitor your health.
Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking GENVOYA. • Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat. • Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain. The most common side effect of GENVOYA is nausea. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you or don’t go away. •
What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking GENVOYA? •
•
Who should not take GENVOYA?
Do not take GENVOYA if you take: • Certain prescription medicines for other conditions. It is important to ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about medicines that should not be taken with GENVOYA. Do not start a new medicine without telling your healthcare provider. • The herbal supplement St. John’s wort. • Any other medicines to treat HIV-1 infection. What are the other possible side effects of GENVOYA?
Serious side effects of GENVOYA may also include: • Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking GENVOYA.
•
•
•
All your health problems. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you have or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis virus infection. All the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Other medicines may affect how GENVOYA works. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist. Ask your healthcare provider if it is safe to take GENVOYA with all of your other medicines. If you take antacids. Take antacids at least 2 hours before or after you take GENVOYA. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if GENVOYA can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking GENVOYA. If you are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Please see Important Facts about GENVOYA, including important warnings, on the following page.
Ask your healthcare provider if GENVOYA is right for you. GENVOYA.com
GENC0177_B_10x11-7_ThePrideLA_Skylar_r2v1jl.indd 1-2
P
12.15 – 12..2017
LOS ANGELES
⚫ 3
GENVOYA does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.
t
,
n
SHOW YOUR
POWER
Take care of what matters most—you. GENVOYA is a 1-pill, once-a-day complete HIV-1 treatment for people who are either new to treatment or people whose healthcare provider determines they can replace their current HIV-1 medicines with GENVOYA.
12/4/17 11:33 AM
⚫
12.15 – 12.28.2017
LOS ANGELES
4
IMPORTANT FACTS This is only a brief summary of important information about GENVOYA® and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.
(jen-VOY-uh) MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT GENVOYA
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF GENVOYA
GENVOYA may cause serious side effects, including: • Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. GENVOYA is not approved to treat HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking GENVOYA. Do not stop taking GENVOYA without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months.
GENVOYA can cause serious side effects, including: • Those in the “Most Important Information About GENVOYA” section. • Changes in your immune system. • New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure. • Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat. • Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain. The most common side effect of GENVOYA is nausea. These are not all the possible side effects of GENVOYA. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking GENVOYA. Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with GENVOYA.
ABOUT GENVOYA GENVOYA is a prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in people 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 77 pounds and have never taken HIV-1 medicines before. GENVOYA can also be used to replace current HIV-1 medicines for some people who have an undetectable viral load (less than 50 copies/mL of virus in their blood), and have been on the same HIV-1 medicines for at least 6 months and have never failed HIV-1 treatment, and whose healthcare provider determines that they meet certain other requirements. • GENVOYA does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. Ask your healthcare provider about how to prevent passing HIV-1 to others. Do NOT take GENVOYA if you: • Take a medicine that contains: alfuzosin (Uroxatral®), carbamazepine (Carbatrol®, Carnexiv®, Epitol®, Equetro®, Tegretol®, Tegretol-XR®, Teril®), cisapride (Propulsid®, Propulsid Quicksolv®), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45®, Migranal®), ergotamine (Cafergot®, Migergot®, Ergostat®, Medihaler Ergotamine®, Wigraine®, Wigrettes®), lovastatin (Altoprev®, Mevacor®), lurasidone (Latuda®), methylergonovine (Methergine®), midazolam (when taken by mouth), phenobarbital (Luminal®), phenytoin (Dilantin®, Dilantin-125®, Phenytek®), pimozide (Orap®), rifampin (Rifadin®, Rifamate®, Rifater®, Rimactane®), sildenafil when used for lung problems (Revatio®), simvastatin (Vytorin®, Zocor®), or triazolam (Halcion®). • Take the herbal supplement St. John’s wort. • Take any other HIV-1 medicines at the same time. •
GET MORE INFORMATION • • •
This is only a brief summary of important information about GENVOYA. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more. Go to GENVOYA.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5 If you need help paying for your medicine, visit GENVOYA.com for program information.
BEFORE TAKING GENVOYA Tell your healthcare provider if you: • Have or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis infection. • Have any other medical condition. • Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. • Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take: • Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist. • Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about medicines that should not be taken with GENVOYA.
HOW TO TAKE GENVOYA • •
GENVOYA is a complete one pill, once a day HIV-1 medicine. Take GENVOYA with food.
GENVOYA, the GENVOYA Logo, LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE, SHOW YOUR POWER, GILEAD, and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. All other marks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. Version date: September 2017 © 2017 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. GENC0177 11/17
GENC0177_B_10x11-7_ThePrideLA_Skylar_r2v1jl.indd 3
12/4/17 11:33 AM
12.15 – 12..2017 NEWS
NATIONAL
>
LOS ANGELES
⚫ 5
CIVIL RIGHTS FOR THE WRONGED
⚫ BY SANUEL BRASLOW
In the Intersection of Civil Rights, LGBTQ Community Stands With DREAMers On Monday, the LGBTQ+ community took a stand for the rights of the embattled undocumented Americans known as DREAMers, an acronym for immigrants who were brought to the country illegally as minors. At a press conference held at the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Mi Centro location in Boyle Heights, multiple undocumented LGBT people shared their fears and concerns about deportation, and pressed for Congress to pass legislation to allow them to stay in the United States. The DREAM Act (which stands for Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act) would provide qualified applicants a path to permanent residency in the U.S. The bipartisan legislation was first introduced in 2001 and was subsequently reintroduced four times. Each time the bill failed to pass. For undocumented LGBT immigrants, deportation carries extra risks. In many cases, their countries of origin have harsh, discriminatory policies and homophobic and transphobic cultures that would threaten their health and safety.
“Deportation is comparable to a death sentence for LGBTQ people in many parts of the world,” said Los Angeles LGBT Center Director of Policy and Community Building Dave Garcia. “Same-sex relationships are criminalized in nearly 80 countries worldwide. Rescinding DACA would put thousands of these young people at risk by forcing them to return to countries where human rights for LGBTQ people are nonexistent.” According to a report from the UCLAWilliams Institute, there are over 75,000 LGBT DREAMers in the U.S. and over 36,000 enrolled in Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), the vast majority of whom live in California, Texas, Illinois, New York, and Florida. In 2012, following the most recent failure to pass the DREAM Act, President Barack Obama issued an executive order that substituted as a watered-down version of the DREAM Act. The order, known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), was later rescinded by President Donald Trump, casting the 800,000 enrollees into a state of legal uncertainty. Multiple lawsuits
currently exist that challenge the repeal. The event brought together a coalition of immigrant and LGBTQ advocacy groups, including the Los Angeles LGBT Center, Equality California, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), CenterLink, Latino Equality Alliance (LEA), UCLA Dream Resource Center, and LGBT Center OC. The debate surrounding the DREAM Act has gained new relevance with the upcoming budget negotiations in the House of Representatives. Despite having a majority of the seats, Republicans are unable to pass a budget to fund the government. In order to avoid a government shutdown, they must rely on the Democrats, who have a long list of demands in exchange for their votes – chief among them, protections for DREAMers. The deadline for a funding bill is December 22. More than 80 LGBTQ community centers and 26 statewide LGBTQ organizations from across the country signed letters to leadership in the United States Senate and House of Representa-
Photo: Thinkstock.
For undocumented LGBTQ+ immigrants, deportation carries extra risks.
tives urging Congress to pass the DREAM Act. “Brought to our country as children, many of these individuals do not even remember the country they came from and consider America to be their only home,” the letter states. “Congress must pass the DREAM Act to protect 800,000 immigrant youth – including LGBT youth – from deportation.This is a moral imperative.”
HERE’S TO OPEN HEARTS, OPEN MINDS AND OPEN ROADS. FIAT 500x
FIAT 124 SPIDER
2017 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK
BEST NEW CONVERTIBLE OF 2017
®
®
WITH OPTIONAL FRONT CRASH PREVENTION*
BY
CARS.COM
m o c . a s u t a fi *AWARDED TO THE 2017 MODEL YEAR. VISIT WWW.IIHS.ORG. ©2017 FCA US LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. FIAT IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF FCA GROUP MARKETING S.P.A., USED UNDER LICENSE BY FCA US LLC.
JOB: 119231_CBC_Fiat LGBT_A
SPECS: 4C – CMYK
DATE: 08/11/2017
⚫ 6
12.15 – 12.28.2017
LOS ANGELES
> For L.A.’s LGBTQ+ Seniors, the Future Looks Bright NEWS
COMMUNITY
FROM THE COVER
⚫ BY ANNETTE SEMERDJIAN
Photo: L.A. LGBT Center.
Sketches for the new Anita May Rosenstein Campus show stylish and affordable living spaces for LGBTQ+ seniors.
With a budget of $4.9 million just approved for the L.A. LGBT Center’s Anita May Rosenstein Campus, affordable housing for seniors is just around the corner. Anyone who knows their history knows that we didn’t get our rights without a fight. That fight was long, it was hard, it spanned decades (centuries, in fact) and it was led by the part of our community that’s now reaching old age. We have the pioneers of the 50s, 60s and 70s to thank for our current resources in L.A., including the L.A. LGBT Center (formerly the Gay Community Services Center), the ONE Archives at USC, and so much more. But what happens to that community in Trump’s America? With the recent withdrawal of a rule that would have ensured that same-sex spouses get treated the same as opposite-sex spouses in long-term care facilities across the country, along with a barrage of other proposed healthcare cuts affecting LGBTQ+ seniors, the queer com-
munity has a new call to action. But with the focus increasingly turned toward getting the proper healthcare and emotional support for LGBTQ+ youth, how can we make sure we’re not leaving our senior community behind? Thankfully, L.A.’s LGBT Center is moving full steam ahead on plans to create a spacious new facility for LGBTQ+ seniors in need of shelter, support, and affordable healthcare. The Los Angeles LGBT Center has had plans for expansion for a while now. Their focus is on getting more housing for the growing homeless population, knowing that a large number of those people forced to be living on the streets are a part of the LGBTQ community, as well as building affordable housing. Thanks to the support of Councilman David Ryu, among others, the Los Angeles City Council approved $4.9 million in Community Development Block Grant for affordable senior living at the LA LGBT Center’s Anita May Rosenstein Campus on North McCadden Place. Affordable housing is a major issue in the area of Hollywood, which seems to have a new condo development sprouting in an historic and formerly affordable part of town a couple times each year. The LA City’s funding of this new 100-unit devel-
opment for LGBTQ+ senior housing underway and set to be available for living in 2019 has provided not only a major source for the LGBTQ+ community but also a means to fight back against gentrification. The housing crisis the city of Los Angeles is
facing puts many people, especially minorities like LGBT seniors, at risk of homelessness. This affordable housing project will provide the LGBT seniors of LA a chance
SENIORS, see page 8
Photos: Fenway Health.
Trump just killed a ruling that would have protected same-sex couple’s benefits in long-term care.With the White House ignoring the needs of LGBTQ+ seniors, it’s up to local governments to help.
12.15 – 12..2017
LOS ANGELES
⚫
With the perfect partnership, you can bank from anywhere. At U.S. Bank, we think banking should be secure and easy. Now you can open a U.S. Bank checking account1 with mobile banking and take control of your finances at any time.
Visit your local branch, call 800.720.BANK (2265) or visit usbank.com/checking to open an account today and
choose the new U.S. Bank Visa® Debit Card Pride Design.
1. All regular account opening procedures apply. $25 minimum deposit required to open a U.S. Bank checking account. The U.S. Bank Visa Debit Card is issued by U.S. Bank National Association, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Deposit products offered by U.S. Bank National Association. Member FDIC. ©2017 U.S. Bank. 171651C 11/17
7
⚫
12.15 – 12.28.2017
LOS ANGELES
8
NEWS
POLITICS
⚫ BY GENNA RIVIECCIO
>
TRANS RIGHTS
The ‘Alliance Defending Freedom’ Calls for Trans Sterilization, Discrimination Photo: Thinkstock.
The ADF has put its weight behind some of the most nefarious anti-gay causes including the Masterpiece Cakeshop trial.
WEST HOLLYWOOD SINGLE FAMILY HOMES SEPTEMBER SALES
720 N Orange Grove Ave. 9009 Lloyd Place 1224 N Ogden Dr. 7366 Waring Avenue 1202 N Poinsettia Pl. 8970Clinton Cynthia Street 8009 St. 7320 Clinton Street 729 N Spaulding Ave. 8987 Norma Pl. 8164 Willoughby Avenue 622 Ave. Place 717NNLaurel Poinsettia 939 N Wetherly Dr. 634Huntley N Orlando Avenue 656 Dr. 9040 Dicks Street 942 N Crescent Heights Blvd. 839 N Gardner St. 139 N La Peer Drive 740 N Stanley Ave. 9030 Phyllis Avenue 366 Huntley Dr. 518NHuntley 935 La JollaDrive Ave. 741NNOrlando Fuller Avenue 829 Ave.
$1,125,000 $750,000 $1,285,000 $965,000 $1,335,000 $1,156,000 $1,351,000 $1,165,000 $1,418,000 $1,605,000 $1,215,000 $1,725,000 $1,386,500 $1,935,000 $1,500,000 $1,975,000 $1,583,000 $2,700,000 $3,395,000 $1,780,000 $3,670,000 $2,245,000 $3,675,000 $3,250,000 $3,685,000 $3,675,000 $4,900,000
While it might be difficult to imagine something as seemingly inoffensive as cake stirring up controversy, it turns out it can when sexuality is involved, especially when a time-honored hate group is putting its full weight behind the cause. This is precisely what one Colorado baker’s now-infamous decision not to serve a gay couple cake has done in recent years. But the offense this decision caused wasn’t just stirred up by Jack Phillips, the owner of “Masterpiece” Cakeshop, who denied a gay couple their wedding cake. Enter the Alliance Defending Freedom, a far-right legal organization that has decided to intervene on Phillips’ behalf. Where activism is concerned, the ADF is no stranger to a history of stepping in to throw their support behind individuals like Phillips who use religious freedom as cause for discrimination and denial of service. Originally founded in 1993 by Christian rightists James Dobson, Alan Sears, and D. James Kennedy, the ADF has been through the ringer more than a few times for its discriminatory views, and is deemed a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. It’s also officially known as a hate group in Colorado, which eventually passed a pro-gay ruling in 1996, creating a law that explicitly prohibits discrimination predicated on gender identity and/or sexual orientation. But this hasn’t stopped the sort of
group responsible (Alan Sears primarily) for the publishing of a book called The Homosexual Agenda: Exposing the Principal Threat to Religious Freedom Today from continuing down the path of its various crusades. Defending the rights of wedding cake denial for gay weddings isn’t where the ADF stops. They’ve also been busy at work on attempting to obstruct the rights of transgender soldiers, too. Working on legislation that sought to revoke payments for transgender soldiers’ healthcare related to medicine needed to sustain their transition, the bill was only narrowly rejected just before Trump’s own take on the matter. The ADF’s most recent move has been to serve as co-counsel in the defense of Mississippi’s HB1523 or “License to Discriminate” bill, which uses religious freedom rights as a way for businesses to deny equal service to patrons. The influence of the ADF has also been felt abroad, in countries like Spain and Romania, where their lobbying against anti-discrimination bills tailored to LGBTQ+ individuals has held enough influence to make an impact. The ADF has even offered support to pass laws in certain countries that would call for mandatory sterilization of transgender individuals. Thankfully, none of these efforts were successful.
16 UP 23.08% $1,955,000 UP 26.54% $2,596,625 UP 45.97%
SENIORS,
from page 6 to not only stay housed but safe and nurtured with their community. Councilman David Ryu of the 4th District of LA released a statement last week on behalf of gaining the funding for this project, “Today, we’ve crossed a major threshold making this affordable housing project a reality. Los Angeles is facing an unprecedented housing and homelessness crisis. I’m proud to see City Council invest this money in a solution – and bring this project that much closer to providing homes and changing lives.” This major break into getting a step closer to solving the housing crisis came after Councilman Ryu’s motion to fund $8.6 million to youth housing at the LA LGBT Center went through this year as well. The LA LGBT Center’s Anita May Ro-
Photo: L.A. LGBT Center.
Sketches for the new Anita May Rosenstein Campus show stylish and affordable living spaces for LGBTQ+ seniors.
senstein Campus, which was also funded by philanthropist Anita May Rosenstein, will not only include senior housing but also 100 beds for homeless youth, a commercial kitchen and more to benefit Los Angeles’ LGBTQ community and the city’s growing housing crisis. The new campus is set to be completed by early 2019 as the Center marks its 50th anniversary.
5.75 in.
12.15 – 12..2017 COMMUNITY OBITUARY
⚫ BY GENNA RIVIECCIO
>
LOS ANGELES
⚫ 9
IN MEMORIAM
Drag Innovator Flawless Sabrina Bows Out of this Life Before there was RuPaul and her many acolytes – including the likes of Sharon Needles, Alaska Thunderfuck, Latrice Royale and Sasha Velour – there was Flawless Sabrina, known to some as Jack Doroshow. Somewhat poetically, Sabrina’s cause of death, as described by her family, was a failure to thrive. And, in many ways, Doroshow did fail at thriving (as much as others do now) in an industry that was practically nonexistent upon her first organized show in 1959. As a trailblazer, Sabrina helped many queens and young people find their voice. Notoriously “not picky” about pronouns, she also inhabited a space that was seen as confusing and polarizing in the years before the terms ‘genderfluid’ and ‘nonbinary’ came to prominence. Contending with oppressors ranging from the “morally upright” to the fuzz, Flawless Sabrina put on many a ragtag revue in avoidance of condemnation and arrest. One of the major drag shows – in those early days called “pageants” – she spearheaded in 1967 at Town Hall in New York City served as the material that would become The Queen (sorry, Stephen Frears,) selected to participate in the 1968 Cannes Film Festival, and became a major trailblazing force in publicizing the LGBTQ+ community.
Tracing Philadelphia native Sabrina’s initial exposure to the culture of drag begins at the Sloane House YMCA, where two queens from Pittsburgh also staying there invited her and her friends to check out their show. And with that five-dollar purchase for the price of admission, Doroshow’s fate as Flawless Sabrina would soon become clear. More than her passion for the art and fanfare was the sudden realization, looking around herself at a room full of people who had paid five dollars to get in, that this was an untapped business market, and she just might have a shot at being one of the first to cash in on it. Diana Tourjée, a writer for VICE who was helping Sabrina assemble her archive at the time of her death, commented of Sabrina’s polarizing presence in the world of drag, “What he always told me was that although he did well during the first pageant, the queens didn’t really like him because he was an outsider; he was a man in a suit who was just coming in and profiting off them.” Hence, the performer Jack Doroshow had to become one of them as Flawless Sabrina in order to prove his adage, “You have to commit 10.0 before in. to yourself other people will commit to you.” And though Sabrina’s last “pageant” was in
Flawless Sabrina was a mentor to many LGBTQ+ youths throughout her life.
1969 on Fire Island, Doroshow remained forever a force for positivity among the court of queens – even if the light was dark on his stage presence. Perhaps it was as he said, “If it doesn’t make you nervous, it ain’t worth doing” – ergo
Photo: Zachary Drucker.
that final decision to go into an early retirement that RuPaul would never dream of. Upon her death at seventy-eight, Flawless Sabrina remains the true grandfather and grandmother of pageantry.
Being covered is the best plan.
Insurance companies vary by region.
Life can change in an instant, and Covered California wants you to have coverage when it does. But, we’re not only here to help you get health insurance. We’re here to help you get it at a lower cost. Our experts can help you find a brand-name health plan for you and your budget. And 9 out of 10 enrollees even qualified for financial help paying for their plan, so it pays to check for yourself.
CoveredCA.com
Don’t miss your chance to get covered. Open Enrollment ends January 31.
⚫
12.15 – 12.28.2017
LOS ANGELES
10
> Making the Yuletide Gay GAY L.A.
ENTERTAINMENT HOLIDAYS
` ⚫ BY HENRY GIARDINA
Celebrating the Holidays among chosen family is a time-honored tradition for L.A.’s LGBTQ+ community.
In the late ‘70s, being gay in L.A. wasn’t all peaches and cream. Not just because of the usual problems of L.A. transplants who would arrive in the city only to end up broke and alone. LGBTQ+ hopefuls who came to the city of angels anytime between the end of the war until the mid-80s were likely, in the words of Liberation House creator Jon Platania as quoted in a recent KCET article, to go: “from disappointment, to drugs, to a lack of funds, to prostitution or to temporary employment in the city’s thriving pornographic industry…” landing finally in “jail, the hospital, probation, suicide or into a series of exploitative relationships.” Although the Gay Community Services Center (what we know today as the LGBT Center) was established in 1969, disenfranchised gays didn’t have a whole lot of options when it came to finding shelter, food, and community if their big L.A. dreams didn’t pan out. That’s where housing projects like Platania’s Liberation Houses and filmmaker
Love is Love is Love is Love
Experience the very best of Santa Monica on your wedding day at Fairmont
Miramar Hotel & Bungalows with bungalows designed by Michael Berman, seasonal cuisine at FIG Restaurant, The Bungalow by Brent Bolthouse and
fitness by exhale mind body spa. Just steps away from the beach, the pier and the
promenade, Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows is Southern California’s ideal destination to tie the knot.
fairmont.com/santamonica | @FairmontMiramar 101 Wilshire Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90401
Pat Rocco’s Hudson House came in. When LGBTQ+ folks had nowhere else to go, when they were just getting out of jail on a trumped-up charge due to queer baiting or discriminatory targeting by the LAPD, when they had just come out to their families and had gotten kicked out as a result, they had a home waiting for them, along with a family of peers in the same situation. The GCSC had opened six “Liberation House” locations by the mid-70s, one of which was located in media mogul Jack Warner’s old home in Hollywood. These houses were a combination of halfway houses for young people escaping the porn industry, folks looking for a place to rehabilitate, and affordable housing units for LGBTQ+ citizens who were denied places to live by intolerant landlords. The need for such housing units was such that demand that many homeless LGBTQ+ folks would end up sleeping out in front of GCSC headquarters to try and get a spot in a Liberation House. Since the 1960s, filmmaker Pat Rocco had been creating erotic short subject films featuring gay models and characters, giving queer people, according to Jim Kepner, “our first glimpse of Gay romantic films.” Rocco’s influence was so great that a special group, The Society of Pat Rocco Enlightened Enthusiasts, or SPREE, sprang up in 1968 to honor his work. Rocco’s contribution to queer culture didn’t begin and end with his films. Rocco’s Hudson house went a step further than the Liberation Houses in the 1980s, when the AIDS crisis was creating a threat to queer ways of life across the United States. Hudson House was “emergency housing for gay men and lesbians in the gay and lesbian community in Los Angeles.” Rocco said in a 1983 interview for Jim Kepner of the ONE Archives. “No one is turned away. Jobs are supplied through the United States Mission, which is the founder of Hudson House, and
Photos: ONE Archives at the USC Libraries.
a comfortable place is provided, a residential house that’s fully furnished, nicely furnished, and right now we have four houses, and a dormitory, and someone in an emergency situation can call Hudson House and we’ll help. We’re here for that purpose. It’s a great need in the community that has been ongoing for a long time, and I’m really proud of the growth that it’s had…more than four thousand in the years that we’ve been working, that Hudson House has in its way helped. Proud of that. So that’s what’s going to be happening, and I’m making a major change.” Rocco went further, describing how crucial it was (and still is) for LGBTQ+ Angelenos to find their chosen family at Hudson House. “[W]hen they come to Hudson House, they usually don’t feel too good about themselves. They come from difficult situations. They’ve been thrown out by their parents, who says “we don’t want a gay person or a lesbian” ... There are so many reasons why a person comes to Hudson House. I could tell you stories of people, how they’ve come in, many people with the only thing they have is what they’re wearing.” Programs like Hudson House and the Liberation Houses of the 1970s and 80s helped created safe spaces for queer L.A. citizens while offering a place for a movement to mobilize. If not for these ports in a storm, who knows what would have become of the queer culture that will continue to help shape the city for decades to come.
12.15 – 12..2017 ENTERTAINMENT THEATRE
` ⚫ BY HENRY GIARDINA
>
LOS ANGELES
⚫ 11
SOND OF MUSIC
In Sondheim Documentaries, Fact and Fiction Intertwine
Is there anyone who has done more for the American musical than Stephen Sondheim? Most people would probably say ‘no.’ Sondheim himself, humble as ever, would probably say, “are you kidding? Of course!” and rattle off a list of names, starting with his first and most important mentor Oscar Hammerstein and ending with Jerome Kern. Why is this important? Because it’s a little unbelievable. In an age where male icons are being cut down by the instant (rightly so!) it’s a little odd that the brilliant Sondheim himself should come off, in two separate documentaries, as so completely sweet and pure. Could it be that the man who wrote all this incredible music, these cutting and soulful lyrics, these hopeless and wonderful characters, could be just as wonderful himself? Small mercies: Yes. For those of us who live on Sondheim lyrics, both the recent documentary “Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened,” and HBO’s “Six by Sondheim” are heartfelt revelations that barely even have to dip into sentimentality to bring a tear to the eye. While “Best Worst Thing” focuses on the short run of one of Sondheim’s few failures, the 1981 Broadway show “Merrily We Roll Along,” “Six,” an HBO documentary from some years ago, fills in a few holes by offering something of a Sondheim biography. But rather than going in a strictly linear fashion, “Six” puts the art first, looking at the life through the lens of the music rather than the other way around. Was this because Sondheim preferred it? Perhaps. Could it be because the work is too good to be tied to any kind of a traditional biographical context? Probably. With some artists, we need to lean on the story of the life to make the work more interesting. In Sondheim’s case, knowing that his mother wished he hadn’t been born might help us see how someone could write: “Could I bury my rage with a boy half your age in the grass?/
Bet your ass/ But I’ve done that already, or didn’t you know love/ Darling how could I leave/ When I left long ago, love/”
But it’s not strictly necessary. The beauty, the pleasure, and the pain of the work stands on its own without much need of a backstory. In the case of “Best Worst Thing that Ever Could Have Happened,” of course, the backstory is the story. In the long, confusing life of “Merrily,” from its original much-criticized production to its original cast revival in 2001 to its continued, beloved life in repertory theater, the outside world has changed enough to create a cult favorite out of the play that ended Sondheim’s partnership with famed producer Hal Prince. We’ve grown as a culture since 1981, and perhaps have come to understand how important the work actually is since, in the words of Leonard Bernstein, no one has really come forward to do with the musical what he has done in the past 50 years. Because of this,“Best Worst Thing” isn’t just the story of a failed production whose extra-high hopes made that failure more crushing on the part of the youthful cast (everyone well under 40) and crew.The documentary, using clips of original cast members, starry-eyed and youthful, against interviews with those cast members now, draws a clear line from the story of the play (the dreams of youth will be crushed and give way to age) to the reality of life as Sondheim and Prince knew it in 1981, and as we know it now. It’s this element that makes “Best Worst Thing” heartbreaking and beautiful, and, in the way of all the greatest Sondheim creations from “A Little Night Music” to “Follies” to “Gypsy,” it’s the thing that makes us remember why we love the work in the first place. The absolute, pure honesty of everything, the way it seems to predict what we do before we do it, the foresight that makes Sondheim’s worldview not depressing, but somehow idealistic, clear-eyed, hopeful, and new.
Photo: Atlas Media.
In “Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened,” original cast members look back on the failure of Sondheim’s “Merrily We Roll Along” in 1981.
Sondheim in the ‘80s.
Photo: Martha Swope.
⚫ 12
ENTERTAINMENT THEATRE
12.15 – 12.28.2017
LOS ANGELES
>
NO SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY FOR THE LGBTQ+
“Something Rotten!” A Musical Comedy Ripe With Laughter at the Ahmanson With Beverly Cohn, Editor-At-Large
As you might imagine from the title - “Something Rotten!” - this is a rollicking, no-holds barred, irreverent two-act musical written by the brothers Kirkpatrick, Wayne and Karey, with the book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell, which is filled with irreverent wise cracks, double entendres, with no sacred subject escaping their sharp wit. This delicious confection, nominated for 10 Tony Awards, is brilliantly directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw. Thanks to the award-winning design team, you will be treated to a fairy tale set by Scott Pask, candy-colored costumes design by Gregg Barnes, with Jeff Croiter’s lighting drenching the stage in 21 flavors of sparkling colors. This production features three principal cast members from the Broadway production: Rob McClure as Nick Bottom, Josh Grisetti as Nigel Bottom, and Adam Pascal as Shakespeare. The show kicks off with a rousing opening number, “Welcome to the Renaissance” belted out by Minstrel (Nick Rashad Burroughs) and an outstanding ensemble.The storyline revolves around the Bottom brothers – Nick, the more aggressive of the two, fabulously played by a multi-talented Rob McClure, and Nigel, more the poet and playwright, sweetly brought to life by Josh Grisetti. Their nemesis is Shakespeare, played by Adam Pascal, whose characterization is that of a rock star. Nigel can’t seem to come up with a play, while Shakespeare is spitting them out. In reading some of the Bard’s lines, Nick exclaims,“Who talks like this?” The brothers are under pressure and everything that Nigel writes seems to have a distinct Shakespearean bent. (Who’s stealing from whom?) Hence, another showstopper –“God, I Hate Shakespeare,” sung and danced by Nick, Nigel, and the
(Center) Nick Rashad Burroughs with the talented Broadway-caliber ensemble.
cast. Not only is Nick under work pressure, he’s also under pressure from his wife Bea (Maggie Lakis) who wants to work outside the home, but Nick is fearful that everyone will think he’s a failure. Bea, a budding feminist, reminds him, “This is the ‘90s (1890s) and we’ve got a woman on the throne.” (Queen Victoria.) Desperate, Nick goes to soothsayer, Thom-
as Nostradamus, played by a zany Blake Hammond, who tells him, “I’ve been closed for business due to unforeseen circumstances.” However, wanting to help this struggling theatre person, he goes through a comic trance ritual, hits his forehead a few times and sputters out words like “Cats,” “I see cats,” making hilarious references to other musicals such as “Westside Story and “Les Misérables.” He finally spits out the word “musical,” and encourages Nick to do a play that encompasses singing, dancing, and acting. This is unheard of in 1890s England but Nostradamus assures him that is the direction in which theatre is headed. In one final sputter, he utters the word “eggs” and hence the world’s first musical, “Omelette,” is born where upon their benefactor immediately backs out creating a financial challenge. So while Nigel is penning the text, Nick goes to see Shylock, (well, of course) played by Jeff Brooks. Financing is secured and rehearsals begin with “It’s Eggs!” – a hilarious production number performed by Nick and the ensemble. In the meantime, Shakespeare gets wind of something amiss and disguising himself as one of the actors, scoops up pages of scenes, offering to help by taking them home to critique. What would cross-referencing be without a character named Por-
Photos: Jeremy Daniel.
tia (Autumn Hurlbert.) She is the daughter of Brother Jeremiah, the slightly effete Puritan, ably played by Scott Cote. Portia is smitten with Nigel, which her father forbids. The Bard does a “Shakespeare in the park” number singing the rocking “Will Power,” reminiscent of The Who’s “Tommy.” You will also witness the transition of “Omelette” to “Hamlet” and will be entertained with 19 toe-tapping, spirited production numbers. Other members of the technical production team are, Peter Hylenski (sound design), Phil Reno (music direction/conductor), Glen Kelly (arrangements), Larry Hochman (orchestrations), and John Miller, music coordinator. I’m not giving too much away by saying, “All’s Well That Ends Well,” in this delightful romp through the Renaissance period, which will have you leaving the theatre with a big smile. “Something Rotten!”; Ahmanson Theatre: 135 N. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012; Run:Tuesday – Friday: 8 p.m. Saturday: 2 p.m. & 8 p.m. Sunday: 1 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. Added Performances:Wednesday & Thursday 2 p.m., December 27 & 28; Tickets: $30-$140; 213.972.4400 or www.CenterTheatreGroup.org; Closing: December 31, 2017
12.15 – 12..2017 ENTERTAINMENT DRAG
` ⚫ BY HENRY GIARDINA
>
LOS ANGELES
⚫ 13
DECK THE HALLS
WOWie Awards Honor Culture, Pop, and “Oh No She Didn’t!”
Armed with Andy Warhol-style Campbell’s Soup Cans, the winners of World of Wonder’s 13th WOWie awards strutted down the red carpet in style on December 7. At any World of Wonder event (they’re the folks that brought you “Drag Race,” remember?) a spectator is bound to see a kaleidoscopic celebration of all things queer, crude, coarse, and campy. And wigs. You’re going to see a lot of wigs. This year’s WOWie awards were no exception to the rule, hosting a fierce parade of honorees from YouTube legend Chris Crocker (of “Leave Britney Alone” fame) to drag diva Trixie Mattel. But the event wasn’t all about the winners. Some truly legendary
“Drag Race” alumni Alaska Thunderfuck carries her award with pride.
Drag sensation Trixie Mattel struts her stuff on the red carpet.
Photos: World of Wonder.
YouTube Star Chris Crocker takes home his award.
icons were also in attendance at World of Wonders “WoW Presents” space in Hollywood, like famed club kid James St. James and Gia Gunn. The WOWie award shows have set themselves apart from more standard fare by presenting the types of awards that we actually want to see bestowed upon our favorite cultural movers and shakers of the year, such as Best Meme/GIF AKA the 'I Gotta Send This To Everyone' Award (it was Viola Davis leaving with her purse in “How to Get Away with Murder,” and you’ve definitely seen it around. The WOWie “worst of” categories were also truly choice this year, with much-despised newscaster Tomi Lahren shar-
ing the title for “WORST Twitter Award aka WORST Use of 140/280 Characters” with Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., and Ivanka Trump. Other notable winners of the evening included “Resistor of the Year AKA the Power
to The People Award,” which went to 49ers player Colin Kaepernick, “Best Lips AKA the Pucker Up Award,” given to Raven, and Surprising Political Voices AKA the Look Who's Political Now Award which went to...who else? Queen RuPaul herself.
⚫ 14
LOS ANGELES
12.15 – 12.28.2017
12.15 – 12..2017 COMMUNITY HEALTH
` ⚫ BY HENRY GIARDINA
>
LOS ANGELES
⚫ 15
EYE OF THE BEARHOLDER
“RIOT BEAR” IS TAKING BODY POSITIVITY TO NEW HEIGHTS James Anthony created his magazine “Riot Bear” as a love letter to bear culture.
nothing new...but what we do differently is in our casting. We prefer real male body types. Not once in awhile for novelties sake, but all the time. It's how we see beauty in the world. How do you think the concept of body positivity translates in the queer masculine community? It is influential and transformative. The Bear
The body positivity movement has done a huge amount of good in the past few years when it comes to showing the world that there are as many different standards of beauty as there are people on this earth. However, with the focus staying mainly on women and female-bodied folks, what happens to the part of the male queer community that longs to see its own bodies embraced by the world at large? Enter Riot Bear, Editor-in-Chief James Anthony’s love letter to bears and bear culture. By framing queer, hairy, big, diverse male bodies as beautifully and sumptuously as they should be framed through lush photography, Anthony is fighting back against the part of gay culture that tends to focus only on one highly limiting beauty standard.We caught up with Anthony to ask him a bit about Riot Bear’s influence on the culture at large, and its place in the body positivity movement. Did you have a sense of what you wanted Riot Bear to point out or change? We are a fashion and lifestyle magazine.That's
Scott Wayne by Paul Lowe.
Photos: Riot Bear.
and Body Positive movement has changed the queer male community at large. Plenty of guys once considered Chelsea boys have stopped waxing their bodies and shaving their faces. I think that's a good thing and hopefully plenty of them have breathed a sigh of relief and realized that it's sexy to pinch more than an inch on their waist.
Anthony Tulve by Paul Lowe.
Ryan MacFarland by Tyler Dean King
Manulani by Paul Lowe.
What do you think the queer community could be doing to help embrace male vulnerability? Talking about real issues. Deeper issues. Mental health. Body pride is fabulous. Sexual liberation is fabulous. But we can't all rely on the physical. There is too much despair inside so
BEAR, see page 17
⚫ ENTERTAINMENT FILM
12.15 – 12.28.2017
LOS ANGELES
16
>
QUEER ON SILVER SCREEN
⚫ BY HENRY GIARDINA
In “Women Who Kill,” Death is Stronger Than Love... Slightly
Queer filmmaker Ingrid Jungermann hits it out of the park with her feature film debut.
If you’ve ever been a member of or visitor to the Park Slope Co-Op in Brooklyn, you were probably able to sense what unspeakable dangers lurked beneath the cheery, somewhat worn facade of the happy shift workers and bright green produce. Even as happy co-opers frolic among the aisles, delighted with their atcost faux gras and cashew cheese, something seems to be just a bit...off. The other shoe has to drop: It’s only a matter of time. Those of you who are already familiar with filmmaker Ingrid Jungermann’s work via her two web series “The Slope” (which she created with Desiree Akhavan) and “F to 7th,” will find this hippie-crunchy ominousness a familiar theme. The questions Jungermann has been asking through her output of roughly the past decade all circle around the idea of a bourgeois lesbian culture – equal parts sinister and absurd – with something to hide. It’s not just the terse rejection of the gift of a ‘realistic’ dildo at a wedding shower or the tight-lipped insistence on the sanctity and superiority of co-op produce that becomes utterly comical in Jungermann’s hands. It’s the very idea of mating, trusting, and co-existing that falls under comic speculation in her first feature-length film, “Women Who Kill.”
Photos: Women Who Kill.
In “Women Who Kill,” Morgan (Ingrid Jungermann) becomes swept up in a romance with Simone (Sheila Vand) who may be a slight murderer.
Jungermann’s film debut isn’t a far departure from her past work in terms of setting and characters. Like “The Slope” and “F to 7th,” “Women Who Kill” features a lovable cast of mumble-
Ingrid Jungermann’s first feature film has shades of her web series’ “The Slope” and “F to 7th.”
core lesbians and Park Slopers alike who talk shit, look out for each other, and shout encouragements like “pound that pussy!” from the dugout at softball games. Unlike Jungermann’s previous work, which were strictly comedies of manners,“Women Who Kill” revolves around a tantalizing murder plot. Well, not exactly tantalizing, and not exactly murderous. It’s more the suggestion of murder that gets under the skin of our hero Morgan, played by Jungermann herself, who has to decide whether finding out her girlfriend is a serial killer is more of a dealbreaker than realizing that the relationship actually requires her to open up and need something from someone else. Together with her ex-girlfriend Jean, Morgan runs a podcast called “Women Who Kill,” which explores female serial killers and true crime. Though the two exes still live together and produce work together, they ended things on a rather sour note, mainly due to the fact that Morgan can’t handle vulnerability in herself or in others. This doesn’t stop her, of course, from entering into a new relationship with Simone, the new girl at her co-op whose air of mystery provides a perfect cover for her tantalizing lack of backstory.
Jean, however, thinks that Simone might be killing people in the Slope (Fort Greene, too.) When she calls Morgan out on it, she receives the swift rejoinder: “I’m not in danger, I’m just in love.” And here we find our main motif. Is love more dangerous than murder? In the world of “Women Who Kill,” possibly. The delicacy of this theme, and how Jungermann paints relationships as these perilous, life and death entrapments, is what gives beauty to the abnormally slow pace of the film which, for a murder mystery (and even for a comedy) is set at a speed that might feel dead and lagging for any other feature. In “Women Who Kill,” it’s a brilliant way to get us to stop and think, to see how quickly relationships are fallen into and how much more quickly love can be fallen out of. More importantly, it situates the world of “Women” firmly within the viewpoint of its complex main character, a woman enticed by the idea of love but terrified by its reality. For a someone reaching out into the void with the expectation of being greeted by a happy, uncomplicated love, the most bone-chilling eventuality is to feel someone else, a real person full of needs and fears, reaching back.
12.15 – 12..2017
COMMUNITY FASHION
>
LOS ANGELES from page 15
⚫ BY HENRY GIARDINA
L.A.-based Sharpe Suiting Offers Gender-Neutral Apparel Since Leon Wu started his gender neutral formal wear company, demand has been off the charts. So how did it take so long for the idea to take root?
Photo: Instagram.
Sharpe Suiting is offering fine formal wear to folks of all genders.
17
BEAR,
SUIT UP!
If you’re a queer, non-binary, or gender-neutral person who’s ever had to enter a formal environment, you’ll most likely be familiar with this struggle: You want to appear professional and respectful, and you want to be taken seriously. But you also don’t want to have to compromise your identity and sense of well-being just for the sake of some clothes. And you certainly don’t want to have to feel like you’re in “work drag” or even “wedding drag” all the time. For those of us who already feel like we’ve spent a good deal of our lives wearing clothes that simply didn’t fit who we were, having to go back into that headspace can be triggering. So why aren’t there more companies that cater to those of us who want to step out in style without putting on drag? A few years ago, a big deal was made out of Rae Tutera’s Bindle & Keep, a bespoke tailor-
⚫
many people in our community that we must create space to get serious when we need too. Listen to each other and hold out a hand in help when needed. What is the most powerful image you've ever seen? Honestly, anytime a big guy is not afraid to show some skin it's powerful. Showing your belly with pride is far more radical than showing your dick. To answer your question more specifically all the promo photos for Matty Matheson's new show It's Suppertime are really amazing. What do you hope people will take away from Riot Bear in the next few years? Inspiration. Aspiration. New concepts in style and empowerment for big guys. I also want to help make men of size a norm in fashion. What other projects do you have coming up? We are planning shoots with actors, chefs and writers we love. Working with higher profile people who totally get what we're doing is really encouraging. We're also going to start playing with video. Stay tuned! For more info, visit RiotBear.com.
EDITOR
Henry Giardina Today, L.A.’s professional non-binary folks have way more options for suiting.
Photo: Facebook.
CREATIVE DIRECTOR AMY PATTON
VP OF ADVERTISING
JUDY SWARZ | judy@smmirror.com
ing company based out of New York City specializing in gender-neutral styles and meeting an unexpectedly high demand. The West Coast equivalent of Tutera’s business model is L.A.’s own Sharpe Suiting, an outfit (pardon the pun) created and run by Leon Wu, whose approach to suiting is nothing short of revolutionary. Since opening in 2013, Sharpe has collected “4000+ body metrics from over 250 clients, both women and men” and has “developed a revolutionary new gender-neutral sizing standard,” as Sharpe told Autostraddle in an interview. Not only does Sharpe believe that fashion has a lot to do with a person’s identity, he feels that clothing doesn’t essentially need to be broken down into the traditional binary of male and female. Instead, Sharpe uses his own system of measurement that’s fine-tuned and highly customizable to reflect the customer’s personality and taste, not their gender. “For hundreds of years,” Sharpe Suiting’s website explains, “tailors around the world have used Anthropometrics, the study of human measurement, to design clothing for men and women, clearly delineating the two. At Sharpe, we developed Andropo-
metrics — our patented way of measuring the body to create a more masculine or feminine silhouette, reflecting your style and identity. Based directly on real measurements from our many clients, we know how to suit you.” Andropometrics is about personal style and body movement. It also puts the control into the hands of the customer rather than working from an arbitrary gender standard. “Bridging the gap between menswear and womenswear is going to have a large social impact in that it defines the acceptance of queer identities, as well as advancing gender equality in the larger straight community,” Wu told the Huffington Post in an interview. His point is already being proven daily in the news with talk of gender discrimination and harassment exposing the huge inequalities in the American workplace. The importance of fashion seems to grow stronger in our culture every day. We’re already told from a young age that “clothes make the man.” But what if the man, or woman, or non-binary individual, had a bit more control over what they wanted their clothes to say?
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
Century City/ Westwood
NEWS
CenturyCity-WestwoodNews.com
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 (c) 2017 The Pride L.A. or whole, can be reproduced or redistributed. All contents THE PRIDE L.A. is a registered trademark of MIRROR MEDIA GROUP. T.J. MONTEMER, CEO 310.310.2637 x7
© 2017 The Pride L.A. All rights reserved.
⚫ 18
12.15 – 12.28.2017
LOS ANGELES
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
The best goings-on around and about L.A., period. NIGHT AND THE CITY IN 35MM
WHEN: December 16, 7:30 P.M. WHERE: UCLA Film and Television Archive WHAT: See Jules Dassin’s classic film noir in nitrate. WHY: Gritty intrigue in jolly old England? Color us in the mood.
DEPECHE MODE NITE
WHEN: December 17, 10 P.M. WHERE: The Echo WHAT: A club night honoring all things synthpop and sublime. WHY: Channel your inner Dave Gahan.
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE IN 35MM
WHEN: December 22 and 23, 6:30 P.M. WHERE: New Beverly Cinema WHAT: James Stewart saves his family and his small town from the brink of corporate corruption in the Christmas classic. WHY: It’s being shown as part of a double bill with “A Christmas Story.”
WHITE CHRISTMAS SING-ALONG
WHEN: December 23, 8 P.M. WHERE: Walt Disney Concert Hall WHAT: A big screen version of the beloved Bing Crosby classic (in gorgeous Technicolor!) WHY: Don’t miss the chance to sing “Sisters” with a bunch of strangers.
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF SING-ALONG
WHEN: December 24, 7:30 P.M. WHERE: The Royal and Playhouse 7 Theater WHAT: A rousing Hanukkah tradition with Tevye and the gang! WHY: If I were a rich man...
CANDIDE
WHEN: January 27- February 18, 2018 WHERE: L.A. Opera, 125 N. Grand Ave. WHAT: A new production of the Leonard Bernstein classic featuring Kelsey Grammer as Pangloss. WHY: If you haven’t seen “Candide” live before, don’t miss your chance to get tickets before the opening!
X: FORTY YEARS OF PUNK IN LOS ANGELES
WHEN: Every Monday- Sunday until March 2018. WHERE: The Grammy Museum WHAT: An exhibit honoring L.A.’s legendary punk scene. WHY: Take a deep dive into the history of the city’s original punk icons.
⚫
12.15 – 12..2017 POWER BALLADS
BY ERIK AGARD AND ALEX BRIÑAS / EDITED BY WILL SHORTZ
ACROSS
1 Agcy. for Kennedy and Reagan 4 Push 9 Positive quality 14 Provider of directions, for short 17 Penne ____ vodka 19 Around 20 Claw 22 “Intriguing!” 23 Aquaman’s favorite singer? 25 The Human Torch’s favorite band? 27 ____ Edberg, two-time U.S. Open tennis champion 28 With child, informally 30 Nicely muscled 31 Canine warning 32 Feminine-hygiene product 33 Seashore feature 34 Oriental, e.g. 35 The Hulk’s favorite band? 38 Does 110, say 40 Sculptor/collagist Jean 41 Staff 42 Number between cinque and sette 43 Mama ____ Elliot 44 Iceman’s favorite band? 48 Bermuda, e.g. 50 Sweetly sing 52 14-pound unit 54 Australian friend 55 The Flash’s favorite singer? 58 Adamant refusal 60 Animator’s frame 61 “Your” of yore 62 Bit of progress 64 “Seriously?” 66 Front of a vessel 68 Magneto’s favorite band? 70 Quaint agreement 71 Comment advising you to set your sights a little lower? 73 Low tie 74 Response to “You have something on your face,” maybe 75 List-ending abbr. 76 Gobbles (down) 78 Spider-Man’s favorite band? 83 Smell ____ (sense something fishy) 85 Like Hägar the Horrible 87 ____ Martin 88 “Enough already!”
NY TIMES CROSSWORD PUZZLE
89 Batman’s favorite rapper? 91 Revivalists, for short 93 Not only that but also 95 Singer Sumac 96 The Avalanche, on sports tickers 97 Make do with a lesser option 99 Thor’s favorite rapper? 101 Actress Thurman 102 32° Fahrenheit, in Celsius 103 Parisian street 104 ____ volente (God willing) 105 Old-fashioned provider of directions 107 Completely set 109 Sir and madam 112 Electro’s favorite singer? 114 What the musical artists in this puzzle would form if they all performed together? 116 Decompose 117 Let breathe, as stinky shoes 118 Tangent line? 119 Princess Fiona, after sunset 120 One begins, “Thou still unravish’d bride of quietness” 121_ ___-turvy 122 Chocolate cup inventor H. B. ____ 123 Pained cry
1
DOWN
24 Things sailors spin 26 Late afternoon hour 29 Some economic figs. 32 Tournament bridge players, typically 35 Stick-to-it-iveness 36 Santa ____, Calif. 37 Speak out against 38 City by the Bay, informally 39 “Why, you little …” 43 Several quarter turns? 45 Jay with jokes 46 Starting squad 47 Speak up, and then some 49 ____ Brand, two-time N.B.A. All-Star 51 Boo-boo 53 Good trait in a housemate 56 “Jeez, wasn’t expecting that!” 57 For rent 59 Test for fit
1 Things the police may keep on suspects 2 Narrow cut 3 [legally covering our butts here] 4 Clickable item 5 Boom ____ 6 Remit in advance 7 Digital greeting 8 “Stay in your ____!” 9 Approximately 10 Untroubled 11 Divine bovine? 12 Timeline sections 13 Wee bit 14 Destined for greatness 15 Opening in cosmetology? 16 Molt 18 Woodard with four Emmys 21 Covalent bonds of a carbon atom, e.g.
2
3
17
4 18
23
5
37
55
50
33
34 39
84
52
53 58 64
101
82
110
111
65
79
80
87
88
92
93
98
94
99
102
104
108
113
109
114
117
115
118 121
95 100
103
107
112
81
60
70
78 86
97
47
74
91
106
59
73 77
96
46 54
69
90
16
22
45
63
85
15
40
44
68
76
89
30
62
72
83
14
26
57
67
75
13
29
51
61
71
12
21
43
56
66
11
38
42 49
10
25
32
36
48
120
9 20
28
41
116
8
24
31
105
7
19
27
35
6
By Electra V. Loveridge
119
122
123
63 Song with the lyric “A loko e hana nei” 65 Things equestrians have on hand? 66 ____ dish 67 What 14-Across will do if you miss a turn 68 Fruit-salad ingredients 69 “____ bon” 71 Pup grown up 72 Uptown 74 “____, won’t you blow your horn?” (old lyric) 77 Cold summer treat 79 Puerto Rican city that shares its name with an explorer 80 System of roots? 81 Part of a so-called “grand tour” 82 Trade barbs or blows 84 Like some saws and bobsleds
86 Supplication 90 “What did Delaware?” “I don’t know, but ____” (classic joke) 92 University in North Carolina 94 “Feel me?” 98 “____ fugit” 99 Gooey chocolate treat 100 Public transit system 103 Be economical with 105 Lead-in to -centric 106 Stepped 107 Italian dear 108 Victim of a revolution 109 What the upright yoga pose vrikshasana simulates 110 It’s worth a little more than a dollar 111 Violently send out 113 Stridex target, informally 115 Mag personnel
Sudoku Puzzle T R O D
A F R O
P E T R I
S E A L G R I T T A B S
R E C A L C U L A T E
T W O M A N
S A L L A I L L T E F G R R E E O D S L E A Y L T O N
I M P E L C I R C A Y O C E A N A N P R E G R P A D D N D A Y S P S E I C A S C R O O N O R S W I F T H Y I N R O W M E T A L O T E O N E W O L F S T N O R S E A Y N E N E L S E T T L A Z E R O S C E M E N K Z A P P A A I R O U T T O P S Y
T S A R A L O H A O E
R E U S E
A S T E A R G E U N E E S S T I D I N E S S
M U D P I E C E S T S A C R E D C O W
E T R A T A D E S T R S A O L D N E O N T F O R A Y D O P I N O N N A Y C H A E D T I E R G D E S E
G O F I O N U G R P P L M A C R E E S I N E S T Y M O L O G Y
M E T R O
E U R O
S P E W S P A R
R O M E
Y E L L
A T E A M P O R E
S H E D
LOS ANGELES 19 STAR GAZING
ARIES (March 21-April 19) The planets are in a position that encourages you to focus on mental health. Stretch your mind in a productive way. Don’t forget the importance of eating right for maintaining healthy emotional footings. Today is a five out of 10. Color gold plays a role. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Pay attention to your family, Taurus. You play bigger roles in their lives than you realize. Today might be a windy day where you are, but you can be someone’s steady oak tree. In the evening, especially, look to reconnect with someone you thought was lost. GEMINI (May 21-June 21) Gemini is feeling Mars in particular today. Wake up feeling refreshed and empowered. Today you have the heart of a lion if you're willing to roar. Overcome that mental obstacle that’s been holding you back lately. Something scandalous is around the corner at work; don't get pulled into the drama. CANCER (June 22-July 22) Cancers are feeling the chill of an icy relationship lately. How might you turn up the heat? Look to connect on a deeper level, and don’t be afraid to reveal your true feelings. Planetary transits are beneficial to you today, so accept the kindness of a stranger. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) There are some challenges awaiting you today, Leo, but if you stick it through, the day ends on an upswing. End your evening with self-affirmation. Your power spice today is celery seed, so try out a new recipe that uses it. Today is a six out of 10. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Virgo, you are living through an intense period of change right now. Health and beauty concerns are possibly creating a great upheaval in your mind lately. They might even be interfering with your sleep. Black and Gold are your power colors today. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Libras will benefit from finding someone to talk to today. Commit to making the best choices for your emotional well-being. A special movie might play a role in how the day progresses. Stand for something as opposed to falling for someone today. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21) How have you been feeling, Scorpio? Be honest when you answer. You can use some changes right now, and the position of Mars is a great inspiration for those changes. Reach a new height in personal development. Find a book that challenges you. This is a great day to start a new fitness routine, and maybe find a friend along the way. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Today is a nicely harmonious day for you, Sagittarius. Things are aligning well. Some of the stars’ positions point to the completion of tasks that have troubled you for a while. Enter into a new phase with your relationship, or seek to change the status of an old one. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Capricorns can expect a run of good luck in the near future. Don’t take it for granted or blow all the profits on some gaudy extravagance. Always set something aside for when the luck begins to fade. Today is a nine out of 10. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Aquarius, today is all yellow for you. Yellow is your power color, and lemons are a source of strength. Take strength in cheerfulness and humor. Offer it as much as you can. It’s a great day to do a kindness for a stranger! PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) Keep protecting the people you love, Pisces. You’re doing a fantastic job of being a positive influence on the people around you. Seek opportunity to be around the color white today, because it's a source of strength and power.
20
LOS ANGELES
B:10 in
12.15 – 12.28.2017
T:10 in S:10 in
© 2017 Cedars-Sinai
⚫
Sometimes I underestimate. Sometimes I search it. Sometimes I put it off. Sometimes I freak out. But, I trust my Cedars-Sinai doctor every time.
cedars-sinai.edu 1-800-CEDARS-1
T:11.7 in
Sometimes I overreact.
B:11.7 in
Sometimes I just ignore it.
S:11.7 in
Sometimes I self-diagnose.