The Pride Issue 35, Vol 2, February 9 2018

02.09 – 02.22.2018ISSUE NUMBER 35, VOLUME 2

| FEBRUARY 9 – 22, ‘18

LOS ANGELES

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A FAMILY TORN APART Archaic Laws Threaten to Destroy Brentwood Family

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MORE ON PAGE 2

⚫ NEWS

FAMILY LAW

02.09 – 02.22.2018

LOS ANGELES

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FROM THE COVER

⚫ BY HENRY GIARDINA

In Brentwood, a Family is Torn Asunder by Outdated Laws

In the Dvash-Banks family, an infant child of gay parents has to fight for his right to citizenship.

In mid-January, the human rights group Immigration Equality filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Government on behalf of toddler Ethan Dvash-Banks.

Before Ethan could speak, crawl, or register what the words “family” and “country” meant, the case of his American citizenship was being contested by a government that granted it without a thought to his twin brother Aiden, but not to Ethan himself.

The lawsuit, brought about by Ethan’s parents, Elad and Andrew Dvash-Banks, was a practical measure and a statement. It was filed in order to reunite a family, give two twin brothers equal rights, and create a more inclusive idea of what family means in America in 2018.

Elad and Andrew’s story spans across years, countries, and continents. The two met in Israel, forming a relationship that would lead to their marriage in 2010. The couple wanted to settle in the United States, but the Defense of Marriage Act stood in their way. Instead of compromising, they moved to Canada to begin a life together. In 2016, their twin sons were born through surrogacy. Elad served as Ethan’s biological father, Andrew was Aiden’s. But the family wanted to move back to Andrew’s hometown of L.A. to be closer to his family. Seeking American citizenship for the children, Elad and Aiden visited the American Consulate in Toronto, where they were asked for DNA tests to prove their parentage. As a result, only one twin was allowed citizenship. Ethan, by virtue of being Elad’s biological son, was not. Elad’s Israeli citizenship meant that his son could only live in the U.S. on a tourist visa at the age of 16 months.

The case has created a flurry of outrage and interest from human rights groups around the country, many of which feel that the problem is due to LGBTQ+ discrimination. The family is currently living in Brentwood, preparing to fight the case on a national stage. Immigration Equality, an organization with a 99 percent win rate, has decided to take on the case.

Elad and Andrew Dvash-Banks, with their twin sons Aiden and Ethan, are at the center of a major marriage equality debate.

Immigration Equality’s Executive Director, Aaron C. Morris, will be serving the Dvash-Banks family as their attorney. “[We’re fighting for] the idea that you are born and raised in the United States, and you leave for another country, fall in love, and get married, and children that you have as a product of that marriage are U.S. citizens from birth,” said Morris in a press call. “This has been the law for more than 20 years...if you’re an opposite-sex couple and you walk into an embassy abroad, you have two things. A birth certificate and a marriage license. You literally walk out with that child as a U.S. citizen. What’s happening with same-sex couples is that the U.S. government is creating an additional unconstitutional burden. And that requirement, which is not articulated in the law in any way, is a state department policy that

was created around the same time as the end of the Defense of Marriage Act. That policy is to require a biological link to a United States citizen. Unlike opposite-sex couples, when a same-sex couple walks in with the very same pieces of evidence... they’re required to either establish a DNA relationship, or that they gave birth to the child. This requirement is illegal as a matter of Supreme Court law. It also creates an unconstitutional burden that our couples could not overcome.”

Andrew, whose extended family still lives in L.A., wanted his relatives to be able to see the twins grow up firsthand. When he and Elad received the news from the American Embassy, their plans came crashing down.

“Being a father is everything for me,” said Elad, who despaired of ever being able

Photo: Facebook.

to have children as a young gay man growing up in a society with limited media representation of queer families. “How am I going to explain this to him when he grows up? ‘You’re different from your brother?’ “ At this time in the U.S., with Republicans holding the majority voice in government, issues of immigration and LGBTQ+ rights are coming under fire. With Trump seeking to roll back protections for immigrants and DREAMers alike, children of foreign-born gay parents like Ethan are potentially looking at a hard-fought, upward battle when it comes to securing equal rights.

Immigration Equality plans to fight Elad and Andrew’s battle in court. If you’re interested in finding ways to help, sign the couple’s MoveOn petition at: https://petitions. moveon.org/sign/demand-equal-treatment-1.

02.09 – 02.22.2018

LOS ANGELES

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In adults with HIV on ART who have diarrhea not caused by an infection IMPORTANT PATIENT INFORMATION This is only a summary. See complete Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com or by calling 1-844-722-8256. This does not take the place of talking with your doctor about your medical condition or treatment.

What Is Mytesi?

Mytesi is a prescription medicine used to improve symptoms of noninfectious diarrhea (diarrhea not caused by a bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection) in adults living with HIV/AIDS on ART. Do Not Take Mytesi if you have diarrhea caused by an infection. Before you start Mytesi, your doctor and you should make sure your diarrhea is not caused by an infection (such as bacteria, virus, or parasite).

Possible Side Effects of Mytesi Include:

Tired of planning your life around diarrhea?

Enough is Enough Get relief. Pure and simple. Ask your doctor about Mytesi.

Mytesi (crofelemer): • Is the only medicine FDA-approved to relieve diarrhea in people with HIV • Treats diarrhea differently by normalizing the flow of water in the GI tract • Has the same or fewer side effects as placebo in clinical studies • Comes from a tree sustainably harvested in the Amazon Rainforest What is Mytesi?

Mytesi is a prescription medicine that helps relieve symptoms of diarrhea not caused by an infection (noninfectious) in adults living with HIV/AIDS on antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Important Safety Information Mytesi is not approved to treat infectious diarrhea (diarrhea caused by bacteria, a virus, or a parasite). Before starting you on Mytesi, your healthcare provider will first be sure that you do not have infectious diarrhea. Otherwise, there is a risk you would not receive the right medicine and your infection could get worse. In clinical studies, the most common side effects that occurred more often than with placebo were upper respiratory tract (sinus, nose, and throat) infection (5.7%), bronchitis (3.9%), cough (3.5%), flatulence (3.1%), and increased bilirubin (3.1%).

For Copay Savings Card and Patient Assistance, see Mytesi.com

Should I Take Mytesi If I Am: Pregnant or Planning to Become Pregnant?

• Studies in animals show that Mytesi could harm an unborn baby or affect the ability to become pregnant • There are no studies in pregnant women taking Mytesi • This drug should only be used during pregnancy if clearly needed A Nursing Mother?

• It is not known whether Mytesi is passed through human breast milk • If you are nursing, you should tell your doctor before starting Mytesi • Your doctor will help you to decide whether to stop nursing or to stop taking Mytesi Under 18 or Over 65 Years of Age? • Mytesi has not been studied in children under 18 years of age • Mytesi studies did not include many people over the age of 65. So it is not clear if this age group will respond differently. Talk to your doctor to find out if Mytesi is right for you

What Should I Know About Taking Mytesi With Other Medicines?

If you are taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicine, herbal supplements, or vitamins, tell your doctor before starting Mytesi.

What If I Have More Questions About Mytesi?

For more information, please see the full Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com or speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

To report side effects or make a product complaint or for additional information, call 1-844-722-8256.

Rx Only Manufactured by Patheon, Inc. for Napo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. San Francisco, CA 94105 Copyright © Napo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Mytesi comes from the Croton lechleri tree harvested in South America.

Please see complete Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com.

NP-390-21

• Upper respiratory tract infection (sinus, nose, and throat infection) • Bronchitis (swelling in the tubes that carry air to and from your lungs) • Cough • Flatulence (gas) • Increased bilirubin (a waste product when red blood cells break down) For a full list of side effects, please talk to your doctor. Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.

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.

RELIEF, PURE AND SIMPLE

⚫ NEWS

CRIME

02.09 – 02.22.2018

LOS ANGELES

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HATE CRIME IN ORANGE COUNTY

⚫ BY SAMUEL BRASLOW

Gay Murder Sees Punishment Push Blaze Bernstein’s brutal murder has caused officials to rethink the way they deal with LGBTQ+-motivated violence.

Following the murder of Blaze Bernstein, a gay University of Pennsylvania student from Orange County, the California state senator from his district has proposed legislation to increase the penalty for capital crimes motivated by gender or sexual orientation.

As it stands now, murdering someone because of their gender or sexual orientation does not carry additional penalties.

This did not sit right with State Senator Janet Nguyen (R-Garden Grove.)

"This means that under current law, committing a crime against someone who is gay could be called a hate crime, which carries its own lower penalties, but murdering someone specifically because they are gay does not constitute a special circumstance, thus eliminating a more just punishment," Nguyen was reported as saying.

Spurred by Bernstein's murder, which was allegedly motivated by his sexuality, Nguyen drafted Senate Bill 971, which would expand the sentencing enhancements for murder convictions to include gender and sexual orientation.

“Details of this case have come to light

⚫ BY STAFF WRITER

Blaze Bernstein was a college sophomore and Orange County native.

that have further underscored the senselessness of this act, as it has not been ruled out that Blaze’s sexual orientation could have been the reason for his murder,” Nguyen said. “This is a sad and heartbreaking prospect for all.”

Currently, someone convicted of murder faces a sentence of 25 years to life in prison.

Photo: Facebook.

But if prosecutors file special-circumstance allegations, convicted murderers can face life without parole or the death penalty.

But these special-circumstance allegations for hate crimes only include “race, color, religion, nationality or country of origin” – not sexual orientation. If the bill passes, it would not impact Bernstein’s case.

Prosecutors have charged Samuel Lincoln Woodward, a 20-year-old high school classmate of Bernstein, with the murder.

According to the case against him, investigators found DNA evidence at the crime scene that tied him to the killing. Bernstein’s body was found in Lake Forest Park last month with more than 20 stab wounds. Woodward has pled not guilty to the charges.

In an affidavit to authorities, Woodward claimed that he met Bernstein on the night of the murder to “catch up.” While the two sat in the car together, according to Woodward, Bernstein kissed him on the lips. Woodward claims that Bernstein left the car and walked into the park by himself.

According to news reports, Woodward is allegedly connected to a neo-Nazi group called Atomwaffen Division, which espouses a neo-Nazi, anti-Semitic, and anti-government ideology.

Bernstein’s mother was heartened by news of the proposed legislation.

“Of course, we take comfort that should this bill pass, we will be one step closer to providing a safer California for LGBTQ members to live and thrive,” Jeanne Pepper Bernstein said.

But for her, the comfort comes too late.

“I am crying because there is nothing that can bring my son home to me,” she said. “There is nothing that can bring back any of the innocent beautiful souls that have been lost to us because of ignorance and hate.”

Gay Cruise Celebrity Death Discovery Channel fixture Joel Taylor was pronounced dead of an overdose while onboard a Caribbean cruise.

Photo: Facebook.

Joel Taylor, star of “Storm Chasers,” died at 38 in late January, of a possible drug overdose.

On January 22, Joel Taylor, a star of Discovery Channel’s “Storm Chasers,” was found dead aboard a cruise line en route to the Caribbean.

Taylor, who was 38, was found to have had an excess of the party drug GHB in his system. The fallout from Taylor’s death has

shone an unwanted spotlight onto Atlantis Events, the West Hollywood-based events company that claims to be the largest gay cruise hub worldwide.

Although Atlantis has been accused of negligence when it comes to drug use onboard their gay cruise ships before now, the investigation into the circumstances of Taylor’s death shows that the proliferation of party drugs like cocaine, Ecstasy and GHB on Atlantis cruises seems to be something of an open secret.

In 2011, a West Hollywood resident was arrested for dealing onboard a Caribbean cruise. Even earlier, in 2009, a GLAAD chair

member died onboard as the potential result of an overdose. Taylor’s death is creating a new set of questions about the event company’s culpability when it comes to the sale of illegal drugs onboard. When TMZ announced Taylor’s death on January 25, the source reported that “huge quantities of party drugs on board the ship, including cocaine, Ecstasy and GHB,” were found onboard the ship “Harmony of the Seas,” which departed from Fort Lauderdale days before, after several potentially drug-related arrests were performed at the dock.

The FBI is currently looking into the circumstances of Taylor’s death.

02.09 – 02.22.2018

LOS ANGELES

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NEWS

EDUCATION

⚫ BY HENRY GIARDINA

02.09 – 02.22.2018

LOS ANGELES

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ON CAMPUS

TRUMP TARGETS LGBTQ+ STUDENTS If passed, a new law would make it impossible for the government to punish discriminatory colleges by revoking funding.

A new 590-page bill is the latest installment in the Republican plan to prioritize religious freedoms over the rights of LGBTQ+ Americans.

The higher education bill, which is soon to come under Congressional review, places First Amendment rights at the forefront, claiming that, in the current higher ed atmosphere, such rights are in danger of being “trampled,” as the New York Times reports.

The bill is another in a long line of recent moves by the Trump administration to put religious freedom at the center of conversations about discrimination. After last year’s passage of Mississippi’s notorious “License to Discriminate” law, which allows businesses to turn away LGBTQ+ clients due to religious justifications, the idea of protecting the rights of the religious to discriminate has taken force in higher government, most notably

Photo: Thinkstock.

A new higher education bill would allow colleges to discriminate against LGBTQ+ students, groups, and behavior, with little to no governmental penalties.

when it comes to healthcare. In addition to seeking to ban transgender service members from the military last year, Trump created new protections just a few weeks ago to allow doctors and other medical professionals the right to refuse treatment to patients – primarily gender confirmation surgery and

abortion – on the basis of religious rights.

The news of a higher education bill that uses the justification of religious rights to limit the government’s ability to penalize colleges that choose to discriminate on these grounds – such as by denying funding or denying them a tax-exempt status – doesn’t come as a sur-

prise after recent events. Since the Masterpiece Cakeshop trial that began during the Obama administration, the question of how to separate religious freedom from implicit bias has been on Republican lawmakers’ minds.

With Trump in the White House, we’ve seen lawmakers find new reasons to push this agenda to the forefront.

The new bill, which already passed an education committee vote, could make it harder for certain colleges with discriminatory stance toward same-sex relationships on campus or even behavior described as being inconsistent with “scriptural expectations,” to lose their accreditation. Without this threat, many colleges, religious or not, may become less vigilant about working toward on-campus equality and inclusion. The bill would also make it more difficult for colleges to issue ground rules to incendiary visiting speakers such as Milo Yiannopoulos, whose gig at Berkeley last year was met by forceful protests.

David Stacy, the government affairs director for the Human Rights Campaign, spoke to the New York Times about the far-reaching implications of the passage of such a bill: “You’re not just talking about a little Bible college,” he said. “When you think about Catholic universities, there are a lot of those, and quite a few of these universities would discriminate against same-sex student relationships.”

⚫ BY KELLY HARTOG

BHUSD Files Another Lawsuit Against FTA and Metro The Beverly Hills Unified School District is seeking an injunction against the FTA and Metro over Purple Line extension.

In its ongoing battle over the Purple Line running under Beverly Hills High School, The Beverly Hills Unified School District (BHUSD) filed a new lawsuit against the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Metro on Jan. 26.

Over the years BHUSD has filed numerous suits against the FTA and Metro over tunneling under Beverly Hills High School for the purple line extension into Century City and Westwood.

In 2016, a Federal judge ordered Metro to do a Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIR), which the FTA and Metro com-

pleted at the end of 2017. However, apparently BHUSD has found fault with the SEIR, which has now become the basis for this latest suit.

BHUSD is once again relitigating its contentions from 2016 that FTA and Metro have not taken into account the environmental risks involved in tunneling under the school.

BHUSD released a statement on Jan. 29 that read in part, “The School District alleges that the FTA and Metro violated federal law by conducting a faulty and biased supplemental environmental analysis of the impacts of Metro’s Westside Purple Line Subway Extension Project (the “Project”), which is currently planned to run under the heart of Beverly Hills High School. The School District seeks an injunction requiring the agencies to conduct a proper environmental analysis, evaluate the serious health effects the Project and associated construction next to campus will have on the students, and prohibit the FTA from obligating federal funds to the Project until the agencies have fully complied with

Photo:Metro.

federal law.”

Metro spokesperson Dave Sotero issued a statement that read, in part, “Metro is confident that the supplemental environmental work for the tunnel alignment in Beverly Hills and the Century City/Constellation station meets all legal requirements. Metro is already

conducting design and pre-construction work for Section 2 through Beverly Hills and Century City. We anticipate breaking ground this spring. Metro is working cooperatively with the City of Beverly Hills on a weekly basis to deliver this critically important transit project to all taxpayers of Los Angeles County.”

02.09 – 02.22.2018

LOS ANGELES

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02.09 – 02.22.2018

LOS ANGELES

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ENTERTAINMENT HISTORY

⚫ BY HENRY GIARDINA

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GAY L.A.

Would You Spend a Night at “The Hanged Man?” Take a stroll through some of L.A.’s shuttered vintage gay bars.

Picture this: You’re a gay man in 1970s Los Angeles, strolling down Sunset in the early evening, trying to plan out your itinerary for the night. Where should you begin? At The Detour for a bit of S&M? A few drinks at Hardware? What about The Male Box on Manzanita? Or perhaps you’ll just want to turn the corner and head to the Bunkhouse on Santa Monica, which promises “a western look...with a leather taste.”

Whatever adventure you choose, your needs are likely to be well-serviced at any number of classic, campy joints lining the streets from West Hollywood to the far reaches of Santa Monica. Here we present only a few of the classic L.A. bars that are no more.Whether they bit the dust because of gentrification, ownership trouble, or law enforcement, we don’t know.

We only know that what remains of these bars is the image they projected: An image created to bring L.A. gays together under one roof, for hot sex, leather love, or just a bit of company.

Photos: Queerty.

TOP – At Chick’s in Long Beach,“your host Leslie” is guaranteed to show you a good time.

ABOVE – Goliath’s is now, tragically, a Hot Wings joint.

RIGHT – Burbank Blvd’s The Hanged Man made way for Bullet, a North Hollywood gay bar that carries on the proud tradition on boys, booze, and buttocks (we hope!)

BOTTOM RIGHT – Whatever you do, DON’T miss coffee hours at the Male Box.

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02.09 – 02.22.2018 NATIONAL HEALTH

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LOS ANGELES

WORKPLACE RIGHTS

⚫ BY SAMUELBRASLOW

Southern Grocery Chain Denies PrEP to Employees The Southeast grocery chain Publix is drawing criticism for reports that it will not cover HIV prevention medication under its employee insurance program, according to the HIV-related news site, The Body.

The HIV-prevention strategy known as Pre-exposure Prophylaxis, or PrEP, has existed since 2012. In its current form, it involves taking a combination of two HIV medications (tenofovir and emtricitabine) which are sold together as Truvada. Studies have shown PrEP to reduce the chance of contracting HIV/AIDS by more than 90 percent, according to the Center for Disease Control.

David Holland, M.D., M.H.S., an assistant professor of medicine at Emory University and director of the Fulton County PrEP clinic in Atlanta, was baffled when insurance would not cover PrEP for a Publix employee.“We've started 255 people on PrEP at our clinic alone, and this is the only person that we weren't able to get PrEP for,” Holland told The Body.

But despite repeated questions, Publix representatives played it off as a standard denial of coverage. “Annually, we evaluate benefits covered under our health plans,” Publix spokesperson Brenda Reid wrote in a statement to The Body. “There are numerous medications covered by the plan used in the treatment of HIV.” “There are some medications that have coverage limitations or require prior authorization,” Reid added. “Any Publix associate with questions regarding his or her coverage can

contact our benefits department directly.”

After two more unsuccessful appeals for the medication, Holland concluded that the problem went beyond cost. “What we found out from the insurance company was that it came, ultimately, from the employer,” he said.

“It wasn't just an insurance issue; it was [that] the employer did not want it covered in the insurance.”

Critics have noted that as a company that operates in Southeastern states like North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, Publix is denying PrEP to employees in the states with the highest HIV rates.

These revelations come at a time of increasing conflict between advocates of religious freedom and public health. In 2014, a similarly conservative company, Hobby Lobby, challenged a provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that required employers to cover contraception in employee insurance programs because it conflicted with the religious beliefs of the institution. The case made it all the way to the Supreme Court, which sided with Hobby Lobby in a highly controversial five-four ruling.

Publix has aligned itself closely with conservative causes in the past. The privately held company is partially owned by current and past employees, but the majority of the company is controlled by the descendants of the founder George Jenkins. Publix has scored a zero with the Human Rights Watch for discrimination of LGBTQ+ people.

Publix pharmacies have been finding ways to deny clients access to PrEP. By Samuel Braslow.

Photo: Twitter.

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02.09 – 02.22.2018

LOS ANGELES

10

SPORTS

OLYMPICS

⚫ BY STAFF WRITER

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Photos:Don Liebig, UCLA Photography.

UCLA and Oklahoma gymnasts came together at Pauley Pavilion for the “Together We Rise” theme recognizing victims of sexual abuse.

UCLA Gymnastics Tribute to Sexual Abuse Survivors

The tribute also honored a number of women who recently came forward against former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar, several of whom were UCLA gymnasts.

The UCLA and Oklahoma gymnastics teams came together on Sun, Feb. 4 for not only a competition between two of the top teams in the nation, but to pay tribute to survivors of sexual abuse, including five in the Bruin and Sooner family.

Following a competition that saw six perfect 10s - three from each school - and an outcome that went down to the wire and in Oklahoma’s favor by one-tenth of a point (198.050-197.950), the teams came together in a powerful display of unity and strength. UCLA Head Coach Valorie Kondos, and Field and Oklahoma Head Coach K.J. Kindler introduced a video that featured gymnasts from both schools thanking the survivors for speaking out and for bringing about change.

Five of the survivors featured in the video UCLA alumnae Jamie Dantzscher, Jeanette Antolin and Mattie Larson, Oklahoma gymnast Maggie Nichols and UCLA volunteer assistant coach Jordyn Wieber, were then introduced and given a lengthy standing ovation. They joined the two teams to form one big circle around the floor exercise mat to symbolize the meet’s theme of “Together We Rise”.

During the meet, gymnasts from both teams wore teal ribbons in their hair, and coaches pinned teal ribbons on their clothing. The crowd of over 9,500 fans in Pauley Pavilion waved teal pom poms during the meet.

WINTER GAMES 2018 ⚫ BY HENRY GIARDINA

L.A.’s Adam Rippon Hits Olympic Ice The Mike Pencehating, L.A. figureskating superstar is ready to win big at Pyeongchang.

If you’ve been following Adam Rippon’s Twitter for the past few months, you’ll already have a sense of the rising figure skating superstar as a man who keeps receipts.

After coming out in 2015, four years after queer figure skating trailblazer Johnny Weir announced what the world already well knew, Rippon started gaining the attention of mainstream gay media as one of the first out gay competitive skaters in line for an Olympic win. The 28-year old Pennsylvania-born L.A. transplant caught everyone’s attention on the ice, where his graceful moves and elegant costumes distinguished him from the competition in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships earlier this year. When we learned that he

was the first out gay athlete to qualify for the 2018 Winter Olympics, we wanted to know more.

And then, he started showing us who he was, 140 characters at a time.

A brief perusal of Rippon’s Twitter page show GIFs of him shoulder-dancing in a sparkly unitard (#FridayMood,) pics of him posed saucily in a shower, naked from the waist down, and a couple of selfies with renowned drag queens who he credits as his inspiration, in part. And those are just the images. When it comes to sick burns, you can’t get much sassier than Rippon when he’s on a rip: “I was recently asked in an interview what its [sic] like to be a gay athlete in sports. I said that it’s exactly like being a straight athlete. Lots of hard work but usually done with better eyebrows.”

“I described myself as “a little trashy and a little fun” to the Associated Press. I bet my mom is proud.”

And of course, there’s his reading of Mike Pence, which is, to be sure, epic.

When Rippon announced that he would decline an invitation to Trump’s White House if invited, he stood by his convictions, citing reasons why Trump and Pence’s administration stands directly in the way of his own progress as a queer American, athlete, and a human being.

When Rippon quoted Pence suggesting to Congress that it oppose protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, the skater gained

Adam Rippon will compete in the 2018 Winter Olympics at Pyeongchang.

queer icon status overnight.

“I personally have nothing to say to Mike Pence. Given the chance to talk after the Olympics, I would want to bring with me people who’s [sic] lives have been hurt by legislation he has championed.” Rippon tweeted on January 20. “The VP has had little effect on my own life. I didn’t speak up for myself, I spoke up because it’s important to give a voice to those who feel they don’t have one.”

Even if his eyebrows hadn’t won our hearts before, his words alone are enough to launch him toward divinity.

Photos: Instagram.

02.09 – 02.22.2018

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ENTERTAINMENT ACTING

⚫ BY GUY CAMILLERI

LOS ANGELES

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WHAT’S MY LINE

Attention Actors: What’s your problem?

If you are reading this from an actor, writer or director’s point of view (POV), more than likely you are familiar with these terms: Objective, Action, Obstacle, Intention, Need or Problem.

As a non-actor, I imagine you can relate to the times in your personal and professional life as well when you have heard or used these words.

Today, I want to highlight the word problem, as it’s one of my favorite words to use in the studio because ‘without a problem, there is no conflict and without conflict, there is no scene, period.’ In every scene, our main character (Hero) is either moving closer to their goal or has moved away from their goal.

As an actor, the work is to identify the problem within the scene and then start exploring various tactics to solve it in spite of the literal and emotional obstacles preventing us from getting one step closer to the finish line.

In our daily lives, we are faced with prob-

lems all the time. And, like the hero in a scene in a movie, we can be our own best HERO and find tactics to solve the problem. Joseph Campbell talks about this in The Hero’s Journey, referring to it as "answering the call.”

How many times have you been faced with a problem and decided to either ignore it or walk away from it?

What separates life (off-stage) and life onstage is that what’s happening on stage is a heightened reality It’s not just reality; it’s heightened reality because the stakes are life or death (emotionally or literally) and as we’ve seen in the best stories told, these two can happen simultaneously!

Off-stage, we have the option to either deal with the problem, solve it or just walk away from it. But on the stage, there is another actor opposite us, and we can’t just abandon our fellow actor... well, unless the scene calls for it. But if it doesn’t call for that, then that means the actor has to dig deeper and find another tactic to solve the

given problem (provided to us by the writer-director).

As an actor and as an acting coach, I like to approach each scene as a two-headed coin. On one side of the coin, you (the actor) have to address what is literally occurring in the scene and also what is happening to you on an emotional level (your feelings, interpretations, judgments, etc.) as a result of these words on a page. Then, you need to get down to business, honor the problem and start solving it on a moment-to-moment basis.

On the other side of the coin, you (the artist) have the opportunity to acknowledge what is literally and emotionally happening to you at the moment. Then, you need to decide if you are going to answer the call and honor your artistic integrity or will you deny it, dance around it or in some cases, walk away from it.

Are you putting your unique stamp on a scene or are you going to be a good soldier and do only that which you are told to do?

Honoring your artistic integrity (imagination, interpretation, point of view, feelings, choices, etc.) is the single most important thing you can do as an actor-artist for yourself and your colleagues, not to mention it’s a great to avoid a performance that is another cliché of a cliché.

Keep flipping that coin!

Guy Camilleri is a Venice-based actor, acting coach, and poet. He teaches regular classes on Monday and Wednesday evenings at the Electric Lodge, in Venice. His private coaching specializes in audition preparation, self-taped auditions, original reels and career consultation. To audit, enroll in a class or book a coaching session, go to www.guycamilleri.com. Follow Guy on Instagram @guycamilleri and Facebook.

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⚫ 12

ENTERTAINMENT EDITORIAL

` ⚫ BY HENRY GIARDINA

02.09 – 02.22.2018

LOS ANGELES

>

SPILLING TEA AND THROWING SHADE

“Hey Qween,” L.A.’s Campiest Talk Show, Goes International for 6th Season We sat down with the show’s host Jonny McGovern to talk about the show’s meteoric ascent to fame...and lap dances.

On a Saturday in West Hollywood, I found myself entering the pink-and-purple sequined glory hole that is the “Hey Qween” soundstage. On a set described as “‘The Wiz’ meets the “Facts of Life” gift shop” by the show’s creator and host, Jonny McGovern, I found no shortage of signposts to show me that I was in blazingly queer territory. Exhibit A: A needlepoint sign on McGovern’s desk – in between a ceramic head of the Queen and a pair of lorgnettes – reading “Every Boner is a Blessing,” a collection of G-Strings on the coffee table in the waiting area, and a go-go boy ready to give the show’s next dragtastic guest a lap dance. Needless to say, it was thrilling, life-affirming, and serves as the setting for McGovern’s talk show-cumbitchfest where drag queens and performers spill tea, throw shade, and talk about artistry.

I spoke with McGovern about the evolution of “Hey Qween” from YouTube channel to international sensation on the eve of the show’s 6th season premiere on StreamTV. The Pride: Let’s talk about your journey from being a DIY operation to entering the 6th season in style.

Jonny McGovern: It’s been a journey of persistence, of stick-to-itivness. The show started because I had a podcast for going on 11 years. So part of what I love to do, along with comedy and music videos, is trying to talk to other artists and hear their stories. So I really wanted to do a show where I sat down and did that. The original show was a Charlie Rose-style format (without the harassment) where it was just a table and we’d both say “Hey Qween!” and have a chat. But then when I thought about what I wanted the show to be, I knew if my co-host Lady Red Couture, aka the largest drag queen in captivity, was involved, we could have fun and the guests wouldn’t throw me any shade be-

Jonny McGovern is the host of “Hey Qween!”, filmed in West Hollywood.

cause she’s mean and tough. So we did it that way, and the show was very simple to begin with. A desk and a futon with some sparkles. But then, when the show came out, RuPaul ended up being our first guest.

So suddenly what seemed like an experiment about me talking to gay artists for six or seven episodes took on a life of its own.

People started wanting to be on it, and it got bigger and bigger.

And now you’re going international.

Yeah, now we’re airing on broadcast TV in Canada, which is really exciting. But it’s mostly about the same things. The show hasn’t changed, the accoutrements have gotten bigger. But hearing gay artists’ stories is what we’ve been about from the beginning.

Do you have any dream guests that you’re hoping to get on the show?

I’m ready for them all right now. They’re not always ready for us. I have had some of my childhood favorites on the show, obviously RuPaul being the first. Jackée Harry from “Sister Sister” was a part of a lot of our childhoods, so that was amazing. Dita von Teese came on and afterward hired me to be the host of her tour. So I think we’re ready for the biggest stars of them

all. Lady Gaga, I’m talking to you! Madonna, I’m talking to you!

Have things changed for the show since the start of the Trump administration?

We all know that everybody who comes on the show is on the right side, so we don’t address it so much, but we do address the audience on one of our other shows called “Hot T,” which is about hot topics. We spend a lot of time talking about Trump on that, and about the power to make change is really in the hands of the people who watch the show. We have to take back the power. We try to slip it in there. Even though the show’s about fun and escapism, we know where we’re coming from.

What, to you, is the difference between gay and queer?

I think ‘queer’ is something that can just encompass all of us in that rainbow. Sometimes people, just because of their own baggage, are like ‘oh, I don’t know if I want to be gay,” which somehow means in their minds that you have to go to this disco and wear a tanktop. Sometimes people find gay limiting, because of their own experience of what ‘gay’ has been portrayed as in pop culture. And I certainly love all those things.

I love glitter, I love rainbows, I love crowns

Photos: The Pride L.A.

and bright colors, that’s what I’m all about.

But I think we’re in a universe where people are writing things like ‘masc 4 masc’ on their Grindr profile. Everyone’s dealing with internalized homophobia. But I think there’s something about ‘queer’ that’s a little more generous. I think especially today when people are not wanting to be labeled one thing, ‘queer’ has a little rock n’ roll behind it. I think ‘queer’ is something we can all hold onto, and it’s more of a spirit.

What should we be looking forward to in the upcoming season?

Obviously the show looks better than ever. Really, if you cut to clips of the old show it’s come from a bare-bones situation into something that looks like it did in my fantasy. In terms of the upcoming season, we’re giving you the best queens, the best stories. People know that when they come here they’re in a space where they can speak their truth, where they can spill tea, settle scores. Our guests come to play, and they very rarely bullshit me at all.

And most of them are young, so they’ve been seeing what I’ve been doing since they were in Junior High. It’s going to be an incredible season, and I can’t wait for people to see it.

Catch the new season of Hey Qween on StreamTV or at HeyQweenTV.com.

02.09 – 02.22.2018 ENTERTAINMENT MIXOLOGY

` ⚫ BY STAFF WRITER

>

LOS ANGELES

⚫ 13

VALENTINE’S GAY CELEBRATION

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Sassy Cocktails

Valentine’s Day: Love it or hate it, it’s here to stay. And whether or not your believe V day is a Hallmark-created holiday that gives us a break between the long bleak stretch of January and the longer, bleaker stretch of March, if you’ve got an So, you’re going to have to shell out. Candy, flowers, and let’s not forget: Alcohol.

So allow us to present you with a bit of inspiration this Valentine’s Day in the way of little red cocktails with an unexpected punch. Even if you’re going sober this V day, on this list you can find some mocktail inspiration to make the holiday pass just a bit more painlessly this year.

Chocolate Cherry Cha-Cha Girl, did someone say Cha Cha? This drink comes with a sweet powerful combo of chocolate and maraschino cherry flavors guaranteed to give you a syrupy-sweet high. It’s kind of like biting into a Christopher’s Big Cherry and getting an alcoholic surprise. Go on girl, pop that thing!

1 ounce cherry liqueur 1 1/2 ounces Malibu Coconut Rum 1/2 ounce chocolate vodka 1/2 ounce club soda or sparkling water Pour out the cherry first, combine the rest, and serve in a martini glass.

Garish with a cherry if desired.

The Liz Taylor Last year, WeHo mainstay The Chapel (part of the Abbey) was serving this delectable concoction and offering $1 from each drink toward the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. We can only hope they’ll be doing the same this year! Booze with a side of philanthropy? Girl, yes!

Belvedere Mixed Berry Vodka, Muddled mixed berries, Wild berry liqueur Sweet and sour Curaçao Mix and float that curaçao on top with a berry garnish. Serve in a martini glass.

Beet Down For folks who are going sober this

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2 tbsp. beet purée 3⁄4 oz. triple sec 1⁄2 oz. jalapeño-infused tequila (such as Dulce Vida) 1⁄4 oz. lime juice Combine in a cocktail shaker and strain into a coupe glass.

The Pink Baby For the pink baby (or pink giant) in your life.

6 oz. vodka 2 oz. Monin Grapefruit Syrup or Campari 2 oz. fresh grapefruit juice 2 oz. fresh lime juice 2 oz. simple syrup 1⁄2 tsp. yerba maté powder Maraschino cherries, for garnish Blend and serve, with a cherry on top.

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1

⚫

02.09 – 02.22.2018

LOS ANGELES

14

ENTERTAINMENT COMEDY

` ⚫ BY GENNA RIVIECCIO

>

DIVERSIFY WRITERS

Sam Jay is the Queer POC Writer SNL Needs

For a show that has always been at the forefront of mocking the conservative and prudish, it’s taken “Saturday Night Live (SNL)” a long time to catch up to itself in terms of filling its writers’ room with varying voices. But now, at last, Sam Jay is here to help fill the void.

As loyal watchers of SNL already know, the absence of LGBTQ+ writers of color on the show for many decades has resulted in the sort of over-the-top caricatures that, with each passing year, come across as increasingly offensive as the culture at large theoretically becomes less prone to accepting heteronormativity as the norm.

One such illustrious example is Stefon, played by Bill Hader. The hungry-for-afreshly-born-club critiquer of the New York dance underworld is humorous, to be sure, but not exactly a divergent representation of how the average American views a gay man.

In spite of SNL’s somewhat storied history of having gay and lesbian cast members, Jay will mark the first openly out Black female writer. While Season 11 of the show brought us Danitra Vance, she never came

out in her lifetime (having died of breast cancer in 1994,) even though her sketches remain a standout part of that season, with such regular spoofs of what black women must endure in the entertainment industry as “That Black Girl” and “I Play the Maids.”

Ultimately, however, Vance left the show out of creative frustration, possibly feeling she was being laughed at instead of with, and not being able to fully influence most of her own narratives.

What’s more, the fact that one of SNL’s most recent current head writers, Chris Kelly, is gay, speaks to how much things have changed since the era of Chris Farley and Adam Sandler parodying gay men in the commercial for Schmitts Gay or the highly offensive Cheri Oteri sketch, “Mickey the Dyke.” And let’s not forget about the animated Ambiguously Gay Duo segment either, voiced, incidentally, by Steve Carell and Stephen Colbert.

In the wake of Kelly’s departure, co-supervising writer Michael Che was the one to bring in Boston-area comic Jay. Known for her standup routine, Jay has been most apprehensive about working among writers

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Sam Jay is SNL’s newest comedy writer.

who primarily originate from the world of improv. But regardless of where she honed her comedy chops, Jay represents the type of objectivity SNL needs to better understand how to portray the LGBTQ+ commu-

Photo: Twitter.

nity in a manner that’s not as tone deaf as attempts of the show’s past. So yes, rejoice: long gone are the days of laughs being “easily generated” purely from showing two gay people being physical with one another.

02.09 – 02.22.2018 CULTURE FILM

` ⚫ BY GENNA RIVIECCIO

>

LOS ANGELES

⚫ 15

CANONICAL CONTROVERSY

Dumbledore’s Gayness Gets Glossed Over

The sexuality of “Harry Potter” fandom favorite Albus Dumbledore has long been out in the open, with J.K. Rowling confirming ten years ago that the Order of the Phoenix founder is, in fact, gay. Unfortunately, with his busy schedule of protecting Hogwarts from Voldemort, it seems not much time was able to be given to the facet of his life that might permit readers and viewers to catch a glimpse of his love interest.

However, with the release of the “Fantastic Beasts” franchise, we’re at last presented with an opportunity to get to know the Dumbledore that came before his life as a hyper-busy wizard/headmaster responsible for dispensing his wisdom upon the future students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. But don’t get too excited about the possibility of seeing a steamy, magic-tinged sex scene between Jude Law (playing a younger Dumbledore) and Johnny Depp (playing precursor to Voldemort, Gellert Grindelwald).

Much to the dismay of the sect of the “Harry Potter” following that has taken great pleasure in learning of Dumbledore’s sexuality, director David Yates, no stranger to the universe of “Harry Potter,” has (somewhat) plainly stated that Dumbledore will be portrayed as “not explicitly” homosexual. Rowling, who penned the script, as usual, has done her best to assuage the obsessive following that, often, seems to relish taking to the internet to rage against any perceived slights. Her gentle assurance? “I can’t tell you everything I would like to say because this is obviously a five-part story and there’s lots to unpack in that relationship.” Translation: with three more installments already slated to come out by 2024 (if, you know, whatever President gets nominated in 2020 has a nation left to govern,) she’s telling us there’s plenty more time to delve into Dumbledore’s complicated (read: lusty) rapport with Grindelwald.

Yates’ own assessment, on the other hand,

Photo: Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.

Fans of J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series are up in arms about a new film portrayal of gay character Albus Dumbledore.

would appear to contradict Rowling’s diplomatic answer, his own explanation about not going full-tilt “Brokeback Mountain” being, “I think all the fans are aware... He had a very intense relationship with Grindelwald when they were young men. They fell in love with each other’s ideas, and ideology and each other.” That being said, evidently, in Yates’ mind, there’s no need to filmically address the physicality of the relationship. Especially when there are millions of dollars at stake coming from the pockets of conservative parents who just want their children to live in a black and white world. None of those unpleasant in-between colors of the rainbow.

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⚫

02.09 – 02.22.2018

LOS ANGELES

16

>

CULTURE FILM

FILM FESTIVAL

⚫ BY HENRY GIARDINA

The QueerFrom lesbian dramas to a Colette biopic, the year’s biggest film festival just screened a ton of instant LGBTQ+ classics.

Each year, for a few days in mid-January, the Sundance Film Festival takes over the small town of Park City, Utah, to screen some of the most prestigious new works from seasoned and emerging filmmakers from around the world. Many of them go on to get wide releases, win prizes, and set the tone for the rest of the cinematic year to come. Some are just fantastically, amazingly gay. And some, like last year’s now-Oscar contender “Call Me By Your Name,” are

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proudly both. The 2018 Sundance Festival has given us a number of amazing queerthemed and queer-directed films to watch out for in the coming year. Here are just a few of our favorites from a long, long list.

Lizzie, dir. Craig William Macneill In this fictionalized retelling of the Lizzie Borden story, the famous turn-of-the-century killer who “gave her mother 40 whacks” with an ax is also a lesbian. And played by none other than Chloe Sevigny. Kristen Stewart co-stars. So, yeah, we’re sold.

Colette, dir. Wash Westmoreland It’s another lesbian biopic! This time about the famous late-19th-century French writer Colette, whose husband locked her in a room (yikes!) until she produced best-selling novels. She later left the marriage and went onto have many steamy affairs with girls and guys. Though the casting of Keira Knightley as the titular character is questionable at best, the rest of the cast (including Fiona Shaw and Dominic West) give it a fair shot at being great.

The Miseducation of Cameron Post, dir. Desiree Akhavan Yes, it’s the lesbian-directed lesbian-YA novel adaptation we’ve all been waiting for since roughly 2016, when the project was first announced. This harrowing tale of gay conversion therapy stars Chloe Grace Moretz and Sasha Lane as troubled teen lovers.

We the Animals, dir. Jeremiah Zagar Adapted from gay author Justin Torres’ 2011 book of the same name, “Animals” tells the story of three brothers (the youngest of whom is gay) trying to escape their parents’ fate.

Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot, dir. Gus Van Sant If your idea of a good time is Joaquin Phoenix and Jonah Hill co-starring in a dark comedy penned by Gus Van Sant, well... it’s mine too. Welcome to the club. Throw in performances by Beth Ditto, Jack Black,

and Carrie Brownstein, and we’re easily in heaven.

The Happy Prince, dir. Rupert Everett This biopic, written and directed by Wilde scholar Rupert Everett, borrows the title of one of Oscar Wilde’s fairy tales to tell the author’s story in detail. During Wilde’s last days, post-imprisonment and public disgrace, the writer reflects on his life during his last days in Paris.

A Kid Like Jake, dir. Silas Howard “Transparent” director Silas Howard enlisted the talents of Jim Parsons, Claire Danes, and Priyanka Chopra to tell the story of Jake, an assigned-male child trying to understand her trans female identity.

Studio 54, dir. Matt Tyrnauer The story of the gayest, hottest, most epic club of all time comes to life in Matt Tyrnauer’s new documentary about the ‘70s hotspot. Tyrnauer recently made waves with his 2017 documentary “Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood,” about a gay male pimp living in ‘50s L.A.

Photo: Lizzie.

TOP – Chloe Sevigny plays the famous 19th-century killer in a new biopic.

Photo: The Happy Prince.

ABOVE – In Rupert Everett’s film, Oscar Wilde’s final days come to life.

Photo: Studio 54.

BELOW – In a new documentary, viewers get an inside look at the wild never-ending party that was Studio 54.

02.09 – 02.22.2018 ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION

>

LOS ANGELES

⚫ 17

GIVE IT A WATCH

⚫ BY HENRY GIARDINA

In “The Alienist,” a Gay Prostitution Ring Creates Scandal in Turn-of-the-Century New York Adapted from Caleb Carr’s novel, “The Alienist” takes a gruesome look at early psychiatry.

1890s New York – much like 1980s New York – was a time of high superstition, sexual panic, and extreme violence. It stunk of rats and bloated corpses, and was filled with corrupt cops, and city officials displaying a proud fondness for graft and ethnic stereotypes. Oh, and did we mention that women basically weren’t encouraged to go outdoors, ever?

And yet, even keeping all of this in mind, the idea of Old New York, with drunks strewn along the Bowery and newsboys shouting the latest gruesome headlines in the street, has its charms. Aside from the fact that the city was still trying to create an identity as a non-European, strictly American urban capital, New York in the late 1800s was a locale that replaced whatever it was lacking in national identity with a distinct visceral imprint created by sounds, smells, and shock. It was a time of courtly manners mixed with the repression of base inner urges that lead to quite a bit of lascivious crime and punishment. Which is why it’s a natural to want to make a TV show about a Victorian American society set in this dreamy locale: A society just on the brink of discovering something crucial about itself.

“The Alienist,” adapted from Caleb Carr’s 1994 novel of the same name, charts the movements of Dr. Kriezler and his companions as he tries to solve a vicious string of murders without the help of the corrupt local government. Kriezler’s occupation as the alienist of the title is a precursor to what we think of now as psychiatry. The difference is that, in the pre-Freudian atmosphere of 1896, mental health issues were still being linked to religious or moral failings rather than scientific aberration.

Dr. Kriezler, however, is very forgiving in his view of human nature. That’s why, when faced with the gruesome spectacle of a disemboweled, disembodied young male corpse in a girl’s dress, eyes plucked out and throat cut “to the bone,” Kriezler is less concerned with what appears to everyone else to be the boy’s contradictory gender display. He wants to know who’s behind the crime. He knows the killer has killed before and will kill again – always

young boys linked to a male prostitution ring. He knows that sexual violence is the killer’s calling card. Thus, enlisting the help of a young Theodore Roosevelt (then police commissioner,) his secretary, and a newspaper illustrator, he sets out to find the killer terrorizing lower Manhattan, even if it should lead him “into the depths of hell.”

All of which is great and fascinating, but a little murky. Like most ambitious, beautifully drawn (but less beautifully developed) period pieces, “The Alienist” throws its weight around in the obvious ways, creating extraordinary backdrops for the imagined atmosphere of 1890s New York, spending time lovingly trotting through the city in horse-drawn carriages, from which characters descend only to be enveloped in a hazy industrial fog. Like “Boardwalk Empire” before it, the visual worldbuilding takes us places that the plot, sadly, does not.

We follow characters into their boudoirs, on trips to brothels, up the winding staircases of East Side tenement buildings, but we don’t – as of yet – follow them into the protected realm of emotion and desire. At least, not as of yet. With two episodes released, “The Alienist” is still finding its feet.

And while the show is beautiful to look at, it would still be nice for a show that promises to be about the internal struggles

of its characters – struggles with morality, violence, and sexual desire – to follow through on that promise at least in the first few episodes. Still, if you’re looking to be enveloped in a pleasant, yet gritty fantasy of Old New York, “The Alienist” has you covered, from the Bowery to Miracle Mile.

Photos: TNT.

Dakota Fanning, Luke Evans, and Daniel Bruhl star in “The Alienist.”

Luke Evans as John Moore follows a young boy into the center of a gay prostitution ring.

⚫ 18

02.09 – 02.22.2018

LOS ANGELES

WHAT’S HAPPENING? A Feminist Future?

WHEN: February 9, 7:30 P.M. WHERE: The Last Bookstore WHAT: Laurie Penny reads from her new book, “Everything Belongs to the Future.”

WHY: If you’re curious about what feminism will look like 50 years from now.

Going Viral: Zombies, Viruses, and the End of the World WHEN: February 10, 5 P.M. WHERE: Skylight Books WHAT: Dahlia Schweitzer discusses her new book, an exploration of outbreak narratives and zombie films.

WHY: Love “The Walking Dead?” How about “28 Days Later?” This is for you.

Jasper Johns: Something Resembling Truth WHEN: February 10- May 13 WHERE: The Broad

WHAT: Six decades of work by legendary American (gay) artist Jasper Johns WHY: If you love paintings of deconstructed American flags.

51st Annual California International Antiquarian Book Fair WHEN: February 9- 11 WHERE: Pasadena Convention Center WHAT: Enjoy rare books at prices you definitely can’t beat on Amazon.

WHY: Celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the Publication of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein!”

Roxane Gay at the Hammer Museum WHEN: February 12, 7:30 P.M. WHERE: The Hammer Museum WHAT: Everyone’s favorite Bad Feminist discusses her new book, “Hunger.”

WHY: Get your copy of “An Untamed State” signed at last.

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

Chef to Chef with Dominique Ansel WHEN: February 15, 6 P.M. - 8 P.M. WHERE: The L.A. Kitchen WHAT: A talk with the man who brought you the Cronut, and all its imitators.

WHY: There will be snacks.

Casablanca in 35mm WHEN: February 16, 11:59 P.M. WHERE:Vista Theater WHAT: Who says you have to stop celebrating Valentine’s Day on the 14th?

Enjoy one of the most romantic films of all time in a stunning 35 millimeter print.

WHY: “Of all the juke joints in all the world…”

Chocolate and Art Show WHEN: February 16- 18 WHERE: The Vortex WHAT: What’s better than an art

show? A CHOCOLATE and art show, for all those romantics out there!

WHY: It’s the tastiest cultural event of all.

2018 Chinese New Year Celebration WHEN: February 17, 12 P.M.- 8 P.M. WHERE: Chinatown Central Plaza WHAT: Celebrate the Chinese New Year in DTLA’s Chinatown with food, drinks, and live entertainment.

WHY: It’s the year of the dog!

The Future is Black WHEN: February 17, 12 P.M. - 6 P.M. WHERE: The Los Angeles LGBT Center, McDonald/Wright Building WHAT: Celebrate Black History Month with some intersectional queer workshops and talks.

WHY: Activist Sharon-Franklin Brown will give the keynote speech.

⚫ BY MARIA LIBONATE, RVT

Smile, it’s National Pet Dental Health Month February is National Pet Dental Health month so why not take an active role in your pet’s teeth?

Many veterinary hospitals across the country are promoting dental health this month by offering a discount on teeth cleaning or dental products, as well as providing information and tips on teeth brushing and even giving away sample kits, including toothbrushes and dental treats. Check with your veterinarian to see what they are offering.

At home there are many things you can do to help keep your pet’s teeth healthy like; brushing their teeth, offering them healthy dental treats and chews, feeding them a special dental diet, and even adding a water additive.

So why is it so important to keep your pet’s teeth clean and healthy? Dental disease can lead to other issues, such as infections. These infections, if left untreated for long enough, can enter the bloodstream and affect the internal organs, such as the kidneys and liver. This is why it’s so important to keep your pet’s smile healthy and clean.

Your veterinarian will recommend brushing the teeth daily, and a technician can show you how to brush properly. We know that not all

animals are cooperative, though, so brushing may not be an option for your pet.

The next best thing would be to offer dental treats or chews that have added enzymes to help clean teeth, as well as allowing the pet to use the chewing action as a way to “brush” their teeth. This is also something that can be done with special dental diets that you can either feed as meals or offer as treats.

The last option if your pet is not a chewer or food motivated, is to use a water additive that may help to fight bacteria in your animal’s mouth. This last option is not the best, but it’s better than nothing!

Professional dental cleanings are also an excellent way to keep your pet’s teeth healthy.

These are done under anesthesia so that the doctor or technician doing the cleaning can get under the gum line and perform a deep cleaning with scaling, polishing, and a fluoride treatment.

Dental x-rays are also taken while the pet is under completing a full assessment of the pet’s teeth.

Teeth are like icebergs, where a large portion of the tooth (the roots) lie hidden beneath the surface. This is why x-rays are so necessary, because a tooth may look normal on the outside, but maybe hiding signs of disease under the gum line and this can only be seen with x-rays.

Due to this fact, most veterinarians will not recommend anesthetic-free dental cleanings as they do not provide a thorough enough clean.

With a pet awake and alert, it can be close to impossible to get under the gum line to clean

Photo: Thinkstock.

and obviously not possible to do dental x-rays.

The teeth may look clean afterward, but there could be underlying disease that may eventually lead to a serious infection.

If you notice a bad odor from your pet’s mouth or any swelling of the face, or if they seem to be having trouble chewing or eating, it may be time to have their mouth examined.

The next time you visit your veterinarian, have them check your pet’s teeth and ask for a tooth brushing demonstration. The doctor will be able to tell you as well as show you if any of the

teeth look diseased, if there is any gingivitis, and if your pet is in need of a dental cleaning.

Keeping your pet’s teeth healthy and clean will allow them to live a happy and healthy life overall. There’s nothing better than a nice clean smile!

Maria Libonate is a Registered Veterinary Technician. She works at the VCA Venice Boulevard Animal Hospital at 12108 Venice Boulevard in Mar Vista. Ph: 310.313.9118. There is also a VCA clinic at 2506 Lincoln Blvd. Venice.

Ph: 310.306.8707.

02.09 – 02.22.2018

25 Father of Paris, in myth 26 Apple buy-product?

28 Relax, with “out” 29 Assessed 30 Cabby saves prostitute …

WITH HIS BLATHERING!

33 Labatt, for one 34 Composer known for mood music 35 Relinquish 36 Something coming off the shelf?

38 Tropicana products, for short 41 Floor 43 Guy makes a new best friend … WHO TURNS OUT TO BE A COMMUNIST!

50 Beverage called a “tonic” in Boston 51 Inclines 54 Enya’s land 55 Appropriate 56 Retired pool shark returns …

TO WIN FRENCH IMPRESSIONIST PAINTING!

60 “____ Revere, Engineer” (bestselling 2013 children’s book) 61 Facial expression often accompanied by “Heh, heh, heh” 62 Big dipper 63 Pink-slip 64 ____ Equis (Mexican beer) 65 Chap gets life lessons from kid … WHO’S REALLY AN ANDROID! 70 One side in college football’s “Big Game” 72 Blue 74 Bitcoin, e.g.

75 Utopias 78 Shoves (in) 81 West Coast officers track wisecracking detective … TO A BOVINE!

86 One with a role to play 87 Bullets, in cards 88 First “America’s Funniest Home Videos” host

93 “Bali ____” 94 Lively tune 95 Symbolic bird in “On Golden Pond” 96 Recipe amts.

100 “Angel dust” 102 Kind of knot 107 Bog monster emerges …

22

2

3

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5

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18

ENORMOUS STEW!

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26 30

39

40

43 53

44

45

54

55

46

66

104

105

82

83

67

68

69

84

70

95

96

106 112

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119 124

126

127

93 97

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94 100

101

108

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115 120

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116 121

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125 128

32 Gift on a string 33 Spiner of “Star Trek: T.N.G.” 36 Destined (to be) 37 Singer Sands 38 Goes (for) 39 In song, Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt’s first name 40 Mix and match?

42 ____ Gay (W.W. II plane) 44 Fifth sign 45 “____ Gang” 46 Grp. with the motto “Until every one comes home” 47 Gran Torino, e.g.

48 Part of a score, maybe 49 Dentist’s directive 52 Lacking pizazz 53 “____ I” (“Same here”) 57 Position sought by some M.B.A.s 58 Kind of shot

This Week’s Sudoku Puzzle

77

89

107

123

76

71

88 92

118

49

85

91

111

48

75

87

103

47

60

74 81

17

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73 80

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37

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15

33

62

90

1 Goldfish, e.g.

2 Sidestep 3 Balkan capital 4 Mountaineer’s tool 5 Skynet’s T-800’s, e.g.

6 One who’s passed the bar: Abbr.

7 Parent’s scolding 8 Praised 9 “____ Poetica” 10 Letters on a video surveillance screen 11 Trendy smoothie ingredient 12 Force on earth, in brief 13 Bussing on a bus, for short?

14 Two plus two equaling five, e.g.

15 High mark in Spanish class?

16 “Mon ____” (words of endearment) 17 Energetic 19 “Bon” time 21 Some 24 Color changer 27 Flick 31 Carpentry rod

14

29

36

58

86

DOWN

28

57

78

102

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52

64

121 Out early 123 Playing ____ 124 “Spamalot” writer 125 Drained 126 Object of veneration by ancient Egyptians 127 Casualty of a crash?

128 One side of a ledger

13

24

42

61

72

12

21

35

51

56

LANDS A JOB AS A SCOTTISH TAILOR!

11

32

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50

111 Shakespearean king 112 Auto safety feature to prevent skidding, for short 115 Man, for one 116 Greeting on Maui 118 007 gets fired … AND

10

20

31 34

WITH A NEW LINE OF SNACK CRACKERS!

9

23

25

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8

59 Olympics unit 66 Concern of an orthopedic M.D. 67 Howls 68 Org. that’s found by accident?

69 Piece of chicken 70 Symbols on Irish euro coins 71 Video intrusions 72 Tracker’s clue 73 Sole part 76 Astronomical event 77 Goodies in a goody bag 79 Swarm 80 Hindu honorific 81 Burger topper 82 Backtalk?

83 Miner’s find 84 Immigrant’s class, in brief 85 Bounded 91 Sneaked a peek 92 Part of T.G.I.F.

Answers C A S I T A A V O C E T S R E F E R T O P R I A M I T A X I D R E N O O J S A W E P O P T E N T H E C O L O S N E E R L D O S A S A D C R A M S B A C T O R A T H E B I G C L O D I A N R O N E N C E D E R D A

AN EPIC FAIL!

1

R E C A P

1 Small house in the Southwest 7 Covert missions 15 Select 18 Wading birds 20 Light, catchy tunes 21 “Je t’____” 22 Cite 23 Pimp launches career in rap … BUT HAS

89 Glamorous Gardner 90 Friends gather for a funeral … AND COOK UP AN

O B I E S

ACROSS

NY TIMES CROSSWORD PUZZLE

G O L D A

SURPRISE ENDINGS

BY PRISCILLA CLARK AND JEFF CHEN / EDITED BY WILL SHORTZ

LOS ANGELES

97 Slops 98 Wallops 99 T-shirt choices, briefly 101 What drones lack 102 2008 Israeli political biography 103 Relatives of Tonys 104 Sum up 105 ____ Scott 106 “Positively Entertaining” cable network 108 Le Pew of Looney Tunes 109 “That’s the truth!”

110 Makeshift ghost costume 112 Warring 113 Florida city, informally 114 Brand of tools 117 Says further 119 Great time 120 Sworn statement 122 G.P.’s grp.

117

⚫ 19

STAR GAZING

By Samuel Prince

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Aries should not leave open a conflict with one of their relatives.

You and this person will never reconcile if you delay dealing with today’s dispute. Instead of shouting loudly, accusing your opponent of all the sins of humanity, try to understand his personal position.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Taurus on this day will be slow getting to matters related to planning their Friday’s leisure. It is likely that you need to take this question to someone close to you. If you don't, do not start grumbling if this evening disappoints you completely.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) Gemini on Friday will experience a lot of pleasant excitement. In the morning you will be invited on a date by a person you can only look at with awe. Preparation for the meeting will seem to you to be a very important matter.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) Cancers will become generators of fresh ideas about their close environment. During the day, while you are at work, it is your ideas that will create enthusiasm in each of your colleagues and will form the basis of a collective project.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Leos today are not recommended to overload themselves with an excess of intense or exciting experiences. This will lead you to need to take a sedative. It will be much better if you give up your natural sentimentality when watching a sad film or listening to a best friend’s story.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Virgos today can significantly expand their horizons, thanks to a sudden trip. This spontaneous event will be held at the request of a close family member, and at first you will react to this idea without much enthusiasm.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Libra on this day will be very pleasant and courteous companions. It is a pity only that you forget about the politeness and courtesy in communicating with your soul-mate. You will respond with an angry tirade to one of her questions.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21) Scorpions on this day should avoid aggressive encounters.

It’s not that somebody will succeed in offending you. You will get infected by such people with a bad mood, and Friday will end for you not as you originally planned.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Sagittarians on this day will take care of planning their next purchases. Do not forget to include in this list a gift for the elder members of your family, a pair of whom are coming up on an important date.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Capricorns will enjoy today in a beautiful mood. At work, without hassle, you finish a very complex project, over which you and your partner fought for several months. Having decided to celebrate this event, you and your colleague will go to the bar, where you will spend this Friday night.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Aquarians today can safely spend a little more than their budget allows. You will receive a major award (not now, but at the beginning of the coming week). However, you should take care that money is not wasted.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) Pisces today cannot refrain from judgment toward their new colleagues. You will find these people to be nearly simpletons, who quite by chance turn out to be part of your work team. This you make clear to them with just a short commu-

B O C A

A T I T

V E I N

E C H O

S O D O

D R A B

B E H P A I V C E

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

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

S H E E T

A D D S S W A G

N O V A

O P E N

A R I A

P E P P Y

A M O U R

⚫ 20

02.09 – 02.22.2018

LOS ANGELES HEALTH

AND

SEX BELONG TOGETHER

Healthysexuals

CONNECT Know your status. And be ready for what’s ahead.

VISIT AND TALK TO A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER

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