The Pride LA 7.26.19 by THE PRIDE LOS ANGELES

7.26 – 8.08.2019 SPECIAL ISSUE: Health and Beauty

Feel Good Summer Pages 5 – 12

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LOS ANGELES PLUS INSIDE! 1

Back to School Special Issue

ISSUE NUMBER 17, VOLUME 3 | JULY 26 – AUGUST 8, 2019

35 Years Later... AND STILL WALKING On the 35 anniversary of AIDS Walk Los Angeles th

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7.26 – 8.08.2019

LOS ANGELES

NEWS

ANIVERSARY

` ⚫ BY STAFF WRITER

AIDS WALK LA

Still Walking for AIDS, 35 Years Later

This week 35 years ago in history, actor Rock Hudson publicly announced that he had AIDS. He was one of the first mainstream celebrities to be diagnosed with the disease. Then, three days later on July 28, 1985, Walk Los Angeles held its first event, hoping to raise $100,000.

Money for Private School or College Tuition with zero interest and no monthly payments for 30 years?*

The news of Hudson’s diagnosis shook the HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ+ communities in Los Angeles but also surged a tide of 4,500 walkers to participate in the first AIDS Walk Los Angeles at Paramount Studios in Hollywood. The walk surpassed its goal, raising $673,000 and ignited a movement to eradicate the disease. Yet, today, the need to eradicate HIV/ AIDS is still as prevalent as ever. This year, AIDS Walk Los Angeles will be held on October 20 at Grand Park in Downtown Los Angeles. Individuals and Teams can register at no cost and fundraise on a newly launched website (aidswalkla.org). AIDS Walk Los Angeles is the pioneer fundraising walk that raises vital funds and builds support and awareness of the continuing need to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic. “AIDS Walk Los Angeles is the premiere HIV/AIDS event to organize community, educate, bring awareness and work to end an epidemic,” said Craig Thompson, CEO, APLA Health. “We’ve made major strides in improving the health and quality of life for people living with HIV, but the disease has yet to be Money eradicated and our for workPrivate continues.School Our ask

or College Tuition with zero interest and no monthly payments for 30 years?*

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for this year’s walk is simple:Walk with us, talk with us, and share your experience.” This year’s AIDS Walk Los Angeles is the first to be managed in house by APLA Health, which has been the beneficiary of the walk since its inception. The theme for the 2019

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event is “AIDS Has Met Its March,” which calls upon participants to continue the fight in our efforts to make AIDS history. The walk is approximately four miles and starts and ends at the steps of L.A. City Hall and takes about two hours to complete.The morning kicks off with an aerobic warm-up, followed by opening ceremonies featuring celebrities, musical performances, and HIV/AIDS activists and leaders. A post-walk celebration congratulates walkers, volunteers and supporters. Each year AIDS Walk Los Angeles opens registration during Pride Month – when LGBTQ+ communities and supporters stand together to celebrate and advocate for inclusiveness and civil rights. Since 1985, hundreds of thousands of walkers and supporters have raised over $88 million in the fight against HIV/AIDS.These funds are a vital lifeline that sustains APLA Health as well as other HIV/AIDS health and support organization beneficiaries. “The HIV health services and support programs, HIV prevention programs, and advocacy we offer to the thousands of men, women, and families affected by the disease in Los Angeles County are still as relevant today as they were when we opened our doors to help our first five clients in 1983,” said Thompson. “In 2017, the CDC reported that African-American and Latinx gay or bisexual men accounted for a higher proportion of new HIV diagnosis and people living with HIV compared to other races. In 2018, the CDC reported an uptick in HIV infections in millennials. Because of these statistics, we continue to walk to educate, provide care, and support for all of our communities. Funds raised allow us to offer critical services that include primary medical care, HIV specialty care, dental and behavioral health care, as well as food, housing support and more.” To register for AIDS Walk Los Angeles or for more information, please visit: www.aidswalkla.org

7.26 – 8.08.2019

LOS ANGELES

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COMMUNITY

HOMELESSNESS

` ⚫ BY AMY PATTON

7.26 – 8.08.2019

LOS ANGELES

HELPING OUR COMMUNITY

Young Trans Woman Fights Homelessness After Father’s Death

For Christine Coleman, troubling news has unfortunately been a constant since childhood. But not even experiences with foster care and ugly custody battles as a kid, or living in homeless shelters as a young trans Latinx woman could have prepared her for the worst news in her life: her father has passed away. For the past five years, Christine devoted herself to being her father, Craig’s state-registered caretaker. She finally found her peace, her purpose. After a rocky battle with his health, Craig was finally well enough to be admitted to the hospital for a “routine hip

replacement,” as Christine described it. “He used to say that 80-year-old grandmas survive hip surgery,” Christine explained. “So I thought he would, too.” After three long months in ICU, Craig passed away from complications of the surgery in June. Since Christine turned 25 shortly after his passing, she no longer qualified for various services for homeless LGBTQ+ youth, since the cutoff is 24. A recent homeless count in Los Angeles reported 9,000 people under the age of 24 experiencing homelessness, with a staggering 40 percent of identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning, according to the Los Angeles LGBT Center. Homelessness as a whole in LA County increased by12 percent over the past year. To worsen the situation for Christine – even in the with the threat of homelessness and the mourning process still looming – she faces pressure from unsupportive relatives to clear out her father’s storage and home. Christine says that once the lease is up in September, her relatives who own the house do not intend to let her stay. So, in one agonizing summer, Christine

finds herself fatherless, jobless and nearly homeless. Still, she fights on, hoping her story will resonate with someone. “I can’t even properly grieve his passing,” Christine says. “My family keeps getting on me to empty his storage so they don’t have to pay for it anymore.” Christine says that her father was a collector of WWII memorabilia. She says that she simply does not have the time she wants to sort through it all. “It’s just me all by myself taking care of everything,” Christine said. “I hate to think that all this stuff that has both sentimental and monetary value is being thrown out. Just like that, my dad’s legacy is trashed.” Growing up, Christine’s father fought hard to keep her and her seven siblings out of foster care, and then to get them back once they were placed in a group home. She also says that her father always supported her trans identity. “It’s just always been a part of who I am,” Christine said. “Even when he was sick and incoherent in the hospital, when the nurse asked, he always knew he had four daughters, including me in that number.” Though she had her father’s full support, Christine still finds it difficult navigating the world in his passing, specifically job hunting. She says that hiring managers are confused by the discrepancy between her resume/interviews versus the birth name that shows up on all her paperwork. “They don’t understand, and they don’t take the time to,” Christine said. “Everything goes well during the interviews, but I have trouble advancing farther than that.”

Photos: Courtesy Chritine Coleman.

After her father’s death, Christine Coleman finds herself warding off homelessness and pressures from unsupportive relatives.

Transgender & gender nonconforming people experience double the rate of unemployment and are more likely to experience “debilitating negative outcomes” from such unemployment, according to a survey conducted by the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force and National Center For Transgender Equality entitled “Injustice At Every Turn.” In the wake of her father’s death, Christine create a GoFundMe page to raise some money to help her get a new start. She says that she wants to use the money to find legal justice for her father’s death, make repairs to her current home before being evicted and, finally, move away for a fresh start on life. “I’m ready to get away from this all, to be free.” For more information, visit Christine’s GoFundMe page at gofundme.com/f/craigandchris

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7.26 – 8.08.2019

Health & Beauty

LOS ANGELES

Feel Good Summer INSIDE:

• The Link Between Hearing Loss and Dementia •DEAR AIDAN: Disclosing HIV+ Status? • Bisexuals Suffer from Identity Denial, Depression • MORE!

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7.26 – 8.08.2019 LOS ANGELES SPECIAL ISSUE: Health and Beauty | Feel Good Summer Pages 5–12

The Link Between Hearing Loss and Dementia Dr. Melissa Alexander helping patients minimize effects of hearing loss By Keldine Hull The ability to hear can have a significant impact on all aspects of life, from someone’s emotional and physical well-being to their professional career and activities they enjoy outside of work. Despite research proving the link between untreated hearing loss and increased risks of falls, depression, anxiety, hospitalization and dementia, millions of people let their hearing loss go untreated. According to Dr. Melissa Alexander, an audiologist based in Santa Monica, “Twenty-five years ago a case-control study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association first reported that hearing impairment in older adults was strongly and independently associated with the likelihood of having dementia- raising the intriguing hypothesis that age-related hearing impairment may contribute to dementia risk.” Alexander added that over the last four years, growing epidemiologic and clinical research studies have bolstered that theory. “Longitudinal studies of community-dwelling older adults have demonstrated that hearing impairment is independently associated with a 30-40% rate of accelerated cognitive decline,” Alexander explained. Compared to individuals with normal hearing, individuals with varying levels of hearing impairment had an increased risk of incident in dementia over 10 years of follow-up. Alexander continued, “Neuroimaging studies have also demonstrated that individuals with untreated hearing loss have reduced neuron volumes in the auditory cortex, responsible for speech processing and understanding, and accelerated rates of whole brain atrophy.” According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association

Photos: Courtesy.

Located in the hear of Santa Monica, Melissa Alexander’s Alexander Audiology offers worldclass hearing care for Westside patients.

(JAMA), failing to treat hearing loss can also have a financial impact. Alexander explained, “The University of California San Francisco, Johns Hopkins with AARP, and Optum Labs also ran this study. They looked at data from 77,000 to 150,000 patients over the age of 50 who had untreated hearing loss. People with normal hearing created 26 percent less health care costs compared to people who were recently diagnosed with hearing loss.” Alexander continued, “That number continues to increase over time. After a decade, healthcare expenses increase by 46 percent. Those numbers, when broken down, average $22,434 per person.” Factors associated with the increase include dementia, decline of cognitive ability, depression, lower quality of life, and falls. Alexander also added that a second companion study done by Bloomberg School suggests a link between untreated hearing loss and higher morbidity. Through the study, it was revealed that people with untreated hearing loss had 3.2 more diagnoses of dementia per 100 over the course of 10 years, 6.9 more diagnoses of depression, and 3.6 more falls. And hearing loss continues to rise. According to the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, hearing loss is prevalent in 55 to 64 year olds at a rate of 8.5 percent and approximately 2 percent of individuals 45 to 54 are significantly deaf. Alexander continued, “The number rises to 25 percent for individuals aged 65 to 74 and 50 percent for anybody above the age of 74. Those numbers are predicted to rise in the future. As many as 38

million people in this country could have hearing loss by the year 2060.” Even younger demographics experience hearing loss. About 15 percent of 18-year-olds have a hard time hearing and 2 to 3 out of 1,000 children have hearing loss. “I am now seeing younger and younger patients coming in for hearing testing, many reporting tinnitus. Noise exposure is a major problem and it is causing younger people to experience hearing loss in their teens and twenties,” Alexander explained. Using hearing aids can change these figures and help with some of the health issues connected with hearing loss. Alexander continued, “When I diagnose a patient with a hearing loss, I discuss with the patient how their hearing impairment affects their life. I routinely request a significant other be present to take part in the consultation, not only to obtain their feedback, but to inform them of the detrimental effects of untreated hearing loss.” Alexander continued, “Because hearing loss

is typically insidious, it isn’t always evident to the patient how much they struggle to hear. And because hearing loss is essentially an invisible disability, it’s important that I share with the patient’s loved ones how to effectively communicate, why it’s necessary to wear hearing aids consistently and what they can realistically expect the patient to hear with their hearing aids on.” It’s important that hearing tests occur as early as possible to provide a baseline of hearing. Alexander continued, “Because the ramifications of hearing loss are so detrimental, hearing testing should be taken seriously and performed on an annual basis. Hearing protection, such as custom earplugs, ear muffs or over the counter hearing protection should be a routine staple of every household. For even younger children, parents should make sure headphones have a limiter so that even if their child turns up the volume, the sound cannot cause damage to the ears.”

7.26 – 8.08.2019

SPECIAL ISSUE: Health and Beauty |

LOS5–12 ANGELES Feel Good Summer Pages

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DEAR AIDAN: Disclosing HIV Positive Status? Dear Aidan:

I am HIV Positive and am jumping into the dating world. I know that there is a stigma and judgmental gay guys will look as me as a “slut” and also am concerned that no one will want to date me because of my status. How do you maneuver this in the Gay dating world? Dear Positvely Charged! Okay. There is nothing holding you back, except for your own thinking on this issue. There are a lot of assumptions and beliefs in that question that are totally not serving you so we are gonna address that. "I know that there is a stigma out there" Is this statement absolute truth?! Really, let’s think logically for a second about this statment. That's like saying "I know the world is racist.” Yes, some people in the world are racist... but to color the whole world as a racist is not an accurate assessment of the world. It is also an assessment that is not serving you whatsoever. It's just creating more fear in your heart, which works against what you ultimately want – which is a connection with someone who will love you completely for who you are. To think pro-

ductively, we must ask, can we soften this statement at all? Maybe... "Some people may be judgemental but there are also lots of compassionate people who are open-minded and educated about the optic of HIV Status who would be open to dating me!” This is just a true of a statement that actually reinforces your strength in moving in the direction of what you ultimately want. Sure, both statements you can argue to be true. But which one will you advocate for? Anytime you are given a choice to line up with a truth, one should always assess which truth is more empowering and line up with the belief that will give you the most amount of forward movement toward the future that you want, not the one that holds you back from achieving. Make sense? Here is another belief that is not serving you: "Many gays will look at me as a "slut" OKAY, fair. Some might. But now, we have got to consider you in all of this. You are so concerned with what they think of you... what about what you want in your friends and partners? First of all the sentence above is not even verifiable... maybe some might judge you, but here you are holding the opinion of the others more important than your own opinion of them! Do you really want to be friends with people who are going to call you a "slut" based on your status? Really? you want to impress those guys? WHY? It's like

being afraid that a drug-addicted cocaine dealer will tell you you are undatable. WHO CARES? Anyone who will think that is not someone you ultimately want whether you are positive or negative, or whatever! As far as judgmental people go, what I have discovered is that JUDGMENTAL PEOPLE JUDGE. They will find any excuse to Judge. They will say this one is too tall, that one is too short, that one is a slut, that one watches too much tv, that one is positive or negative or weird or dumb pr blah blah blah... on and on and an on and your status is JUST AN EXCUSE for them to maintain their position of judgement, which they are looking for excuses to do all day long. SO WHO CARES. More helpful thought (which is probably more true) would be: "There are LOTS of educated men out there who understand that even though I am positive I'm healthy and taking care of myself, and also know that it is less risky to date someone who is positive and taking care of themselves, rather than someone who is negative who doesn't know this stuff. I deserve someone who will appreciate my honesty, upfrontness and sees all that I have to offer, and will see me beyond my status." So - this is really not a world problem. It's a thought problem. Feed the thought that will get you moving in the direction you want to go. Hold your own opinion

Follow Aidan on Insta/Facebook/Twitter @Aidanparkshow Check out Aidan’s funny advice podcast @WhatToDoShow and his tour dates and more at aidanpark.com.

more important than the opinion of others. DO NOT buy into other people's narrative of the world, which they are just using as an excuse for why they are unsuccessful in accomplishing what they want. Breathe. You got this.

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7.26 – 8.08.2019 LOS ANGELES SPECIAL ISSUE: Health and Beauty | Feel Good Summer Pages 5–12

Bisexuals Suffer from Identity Denial, Depression Rutgers researchers find that bisexuals can experience discrimination that may lead to mental health issues. By Staff Writer Bisexual individuals may feel discriminated against and have high rates of stress and depression because they believe that their sexual

identity is often questioned or denied by others, according to a Rutgers study. “Our findings suggest that the unique experiences of discrimination that bisexual individuals deal with on a regular basis may negatively impact their own feelings of acceptance in the world and their mental health,” said Melanie Maimon, lead researcher and a graduate student of social psychology at Rutgers. The study, which appears in the journal Self and Identity, is among the first to examine and find that concerns about belonging are associated with depressive symptoms for bisexual people. The researchers found that bisexual individ-

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uals experienced identity denial, which made them feel less accepted and open to greater depressive symptoms, according to the study. Across two samples, 445 bisexual individuals were recruited and participated in an online questionnaire. The participants responded to inquires about their experiences with identity denial, how much they thought others endorsed negative stereotypes about bisexuality, their thoughts on societal beliefs that bisexuality is not a legitimate identity and their concerns about their belonging. Participants were also asked to indicate any depressive symptoms that arose after they realized their sexual orientation. The study asked questions such as, “When your sexuality comes up in conversation, how frequently have others said or implied that you’re just confused about your sexuality?” and “To what extent do you think that other people believe that people who identify as bisexual are cheaters?” Rutgers researchers found that bisexual individuals who experience identity denial are more likely to believe that society endorses negative stereotypes about them, such as the belief that bisexuality is not a real sexual orientation and that bisexuals are actually heterosexual, gay or lesbian. Past work has found that bisexual individuals tend to have higher rates of mood disorders than do heterosexuals, gay individuals and lesbians. These findings may help explain why this difference in mental health

Photo: Getty Images.

The bisexual flag, above, was designed by Michael Page in 1998 in order to give the bisexual community its own symbol.

may occur, Maimon said. “With a better understanding of the relationships between depressive symptoms, identity denial, uncertainty about belonging and beliefs that society has negative views of bisexuality, we can attempt to reduce the negative experiences that seem to be harming bisexuals and their mental health,” said Diana Sanchez, coauthor and professor of psychology at Rutgers–New Brunswick’s School of Arts and Sciences. The researchers recommended the general public be open-minded when interacting with people who are bisexual, learn more about bisexuality and respect how bisexual individuals choose to identify. The study’s coauthors include Analia Albjua and Kristina Howansky, graduate students of social psychology at Rutgers.

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SPECIAL ISSUE: Health and Beauty |

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Helping Vaccine Sensitive Patients at Ananda Integrative Medicine Vaccinating children who’ve had adverse reactions to shots. By Sam Catanzaro While kids are still in summer mode, parents have begun preparing for the new school year already. Part of this preparation includes making sure their children are vaccinated, but for parents of kids who have adverse reactions to certain vaccinations, this can be a difficult time. A health center located on the Westside, however, offers patients with severe reactions to vaccines an alternative approach. Reshma Patel, PA-C, MMS, CEO & Founder of Ananda Integrative Medicine located in Brentwood describes a 12-year-old male patient of hers who had a severe reaction at the injection site to the thigh at age two from the DTap vaccine and has had no vaccine since. “The patient has had hives to eggs, nuts, soy, wheat, sesame, and the mom decided to hold off on vaccinating,” Patel said, saying the family has have seen every specialist at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. In one year, their medical exemption from vaccines will expire, and given the child’s previous adverse reaction to the DTap vaccine, they have come to Ananda Integrative Medicine to get help spacing out vaccinations and getting to the root cause of why the child had an adverse reaction to vaccines in the first place. “We are removing barriers to healing such as toxins, inflammation and infectons and repleting mineral/vitamin deficiencies, supporting detoxification pathways and decreasing oxidative stress,” Patel said of her approach with the 12-year-old patient. In addition, Patel is using Nutrition Genomics to test for genes that related to methylation, inflammation, immunity. According to Patel, the term methylation describes a biochemical process that is utilized in the body for transport of nutrients, energy production and in gene modulation. In patients with decreased methylation activity (i.e. methylation deficiency), there are significant shortcomings in the ability to execute a variety of critical chemical functions in the body. These shortcomings can leave the body unprotected

from the everyday assault of environmental and infectious agents, sluggish in neurotransmitter production and slow to recover from inflammatory damage. Appropriate supplementation with the proper methylated vitamins and nutrients will bypass the genetic and acquired deficits and restore the appropriate function of the pathway resulting in improvement in these complicated syndromes, says Patel. “Nutrition has an ‘epigenetic’ effect on our DNA. In other words, nutrition is one of the major ways we can change the destiny of our genetic healthy history and reverse disease statistics,” Patel said. “Genetics and biochemistry help us discover how we are different, and what we can do to potentially overcome disease susceptibilities through the understanding of epigenetics by applying it to our diet, lifestyle and your environment.” Patel says that people who have conditions such as asthma, allergies, chronic infections

eczema, any auto-immune disease, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Sjogren’s, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic dry eyes, Hashimoto’s, chronic fatigue and immune weakness stand to benefit from such treatment at Ananda Integrative Medicine. “The patients that can benefit from treatments like these are ones who have seen many practitioners and have not been able to get answers to multiple allergies, sensitivities to too many vaccines all at once, auto-immune disease, gut issues (bloating, diarrhea),” Patel said. “Understanding a person’s predispositions and what you can do about them can be a valuable tool in both prevention and treatment. Nutrition is an essential part of any health program.” According to Patel, 15 years ago such personalized care was not available to patients, but rapid advances in science have made nutritional genomics something anybody can utilize to lead a healthier life. The Human Genome Project was completed in 2003 at the cost of $2.3 billion. This opened the world to understanding what makes us unique. In 2006 it cost $300,000 to sequence one human genome. By 2016 the cost was under $5,000. Today you can get your whole genome sequenced for $1,000. And nutritional genomics is just one of many ways Ananda Integrative Medicine help patients develop personalized health plans, including infrared sauna treatments

and vitamin injections, both of which provide patients a wide range of health benefits. “Infrared saunas are an effective tool for natural healing and prevention. Benefits include: relaxation, detoxification, pain relief, blood pressure reduction, improved circulation, skin purification, anti-aging, wound healing, cell health muscle recovery and immunity,” Patel said. “Vitamin injections are great for boosting energy, metabolism, promoting better mood, immune support and thyroid support.” For more information about Ananda Integrative Medicine’s services, visit AnandaIntegrativeMedicine.com/Services, call (424) 259-2089 or follow on Facebook @AnandaIntegrativeMedicine and Instagram @ anada_integrative_medicine.

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7.26 – 8.08.2019 LOS ANGELES SPECIAL ISSUE: Health and Beauty | Feel Good Summer Pages 5–12

Take a Holistic Approach to Self-Care By Staff Writer

While you aim to live a full, happy life, achieving it starts with protecting your most valuable asset: your health. Though the pace of life and other external variables can hinder you from putting your health first, self-care should not be ignored. Proactively taking care of your physical and mental health is one of the best ways to ensure a longer, healthier life. Take charge of your overall well-being and make your health a priority through preventative measures that focus on both your body and mind. Practice relaxation techniques. Certain levels of stress in everyday life are normal, but high levels of stress over an extended period of time can take a toll on your physical and mental well-being, impacting your health and overall mood. There's no onesize-fits-all solution to managing stress, but finding an activity that promotes relaxation and allows you to free your mind is a good place to start. Activities to consider include yoga, meditation, journaling or reading. Stay up-to-date on prescriptions. For many adults, prescription medication is a part of everyday life. Not only is it vital to remember to take your medication as prescribed each day, it's also important to monitor your prescriptions and get refills in a timely manner so you don't find yourself without a dose on any given day. If

Photo: Getty Images

“Certain levels of stress in everyday life are normal, but high levels of stress over an extended period of time can take a toll on your physical and mental well-being, impacting your health and overall mood.”

you're beginning to find that refills are taking a toll on your wallet, look into discount programs in addition to prescription insurance, such as AARP Prescription Discounts provided by OptumRx, which let members save an average of 61% on approved prescriptions not covered by their current insurance.

Eat well. Even if you consistently maintain a healthy weight, it's good to pair it with a well-balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables to ensure your body is receiving an ample supply of vitamins and nutrients. Try balancing each meal by including moderately portioned foods from each food group. Don't

forget to keep tabs on your water consumption as staying hydrated has numerous health benefits for your body, including keeping your skin moisturized and aiding in proper digestion. Remember annual check-ups. It may be tempting to skip out on a routine check-up if you're feeling well, but regular appointments with your health care providers can ensure consistent health and even help catch potential concerns in the early stages before they become bigger issues. Regular check-ins with your primary care physicians can help keep a consistent tracker on your health, allowing them to better provide for you and your health care needs. Standard insurance sometimes doesn't include dental or vision care, so read about programs designed for your specific needs like the AARP MyVision Care provided through EyeMed, which includes coverage for services like diabetic vision exams every six months and loss of sight benefits. Don't forget to treat yourself. A life welllived deserves a bit of a reward now and again. Whether you need a bit of a pick-meup or a "just because" incentive, add a touch of joy to your life by treating yourself to small things such as flowers or a special meal. You can make your money go further with various discounts and coupons for items like flowers, gifts and more. Find more tips and resources for making your health a priority at AARP.org/benefits.

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SPECIAL ISSUE: Health and Beauty |

LOS5–12 ANGELES Feel Good Summer Pages

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Wide-Ranging Benefits of Oxygen Therapy

By Staff Writer

Just because you breathe in enough oxygen to survive, your brain and other organs may not be receiving enough oxygen to function properly. OxygenWELL, a hyperbaric oxygen therapy center in Brentwood, however, delivers oxygen to where you need it the most, allowing Westside residents to live life to the fullest. From world-class athletes, weekend warriors and celebrities, to children on the autism spectrum, adults in need of brain health support and even lovers, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can benefit patients from all walks of life. Patients at OxygenWELL relax in a high-pressure, oxygen-rich chamber for this FDA-approved therapy that can transform a person's health. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy bathes cells in the body with oxygen, regrowing and healing damaged cells and blood vessels. "Our patients breathe in 100 percent medical grade oxygen while relaxing in our pressurized hyperbaric oxygen chambers. The pressure is the key to liquefying the oxygen into the plasma so it can reach areas where oxygen in its normal state is often limited to reach because of inflammation or damaged blood vessels," said Beth Meneley, Functional Medicine Practioner and Licensed Acupuncturist and owner of OxygenWELL. Here are some examples of the myriad of ways OxygenWELL can enhance the lives of Westside residents. Love While Valentine's Day may have already

Photo: Courtesy.

Beth Meneley, owner of OxygenWELL, provides anti-aging therapy through healing and regrowth of damaged cells.

passed, with spring around the corner, love is still in the air. So how can oxygen therapy help play the role of Cupid? Beth Meneley explains. "Sex drive and the ability to perform is significantly compromised by a lack of oxygen and blood supply," Meneley said. "This can easily be reversed by allowing greater levels of oxygen to enter the body and give your libido a true boost." Perform With year-round sunshine, Westsiders tend to lead a very active lifestyle. Whether you are a professional athlete or a recreational runner

or tennis player, OxygenWELL's therapy will boost your performance. "Oxygen plays a critical role in the body's ability to perform at its optimal performance capacity," Meneley said. "Activities requiring top speed mental and physical performance can benefit from the extra energy." Focus Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is not just beneficial for boosting physical performance, it can also boost mental performance as well. "The brain is the highest consumer of ox-

ygen inside the body and uses 25 percent of all the oxygen that you breathe. Getting more oxygen allows for better attention and focus, sharper memory, faster reaction time, clearer thoughts and overall better cognitive functioning," Meneley said. Aging Most of us notice the aging of our skin, but internally our cells are aging too. OxygenWELL's anti-aging therapy, however, can turn the clock back from the inside out. "The process of aging causes a general lack of energy that transforms to all parts of the body and is generally seen as 'slowing down'," Meneley said. "Oxygen is the critical nutrient that can provide you with that energy to get back and play." In addition, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can reverse the aging effects that are seen with sagging skin by stimulating collagen and stem cell production On top of these traditional therapy sessions, OxygenWELL now offers 30 and 60-minute sessions with targeted Red Light therapy inside a mild hyperbaric chamber for an energizing experience, called The Energizer. "It's perfect for before or after exercising, a yoga class, for a quick pick me up, hangover or immune boost," Meneley said. "Patients can bring in their iPad or phone inside this chamber, listen to music, read or relax." For more information, visit oxygenwell.com or call (818) 661-0939.

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ANGELES SPECIALLOS ISSUE: Health and Beauty |

7.26 – 8.08.2019

Feel Good Summer Pages 5–12

7.26 – 8.08.2019 CULTURE BOOKS

` ⚫ BY HENRY GIARDINA

LOS ANGELES

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GAY LA

New Doc on Circus of Books’ Queer Legacy

The Sunset Boulevard store was the first to go, back in 2016. Last year, the West Hollywood flagship Circus of Books, an old-school store specializing in porn mags, books, and videos, shuttered to the dismay and sadness of many. But let’s save our tears: the gay legacy left by Circus of Books isn’t quite dead. Not yet, anyway, thanks to filmmaker Rachel Mason, whose parents Karen and Barry were responsible for taking over the legendary porn store in the 1980s. According to a recent L.A. Magazine article, Mason’s parents entered the brick-andmortar porn industry by accident. The two met at a party for Jewish singles in 1960s Woodland Hills, fell in love, and start investing their time and energy into stocking up the latest issues of Honcho, Mandate, and Blueboy. Not all at once, of course. Before they got involved with the Circus, Barry worked in the industry (no, the other one) doing special effects work for films like “Airplane,” while Karen worked as a reporter. After they found out that the owner of Circus of Books was failing to pay rent in the early ‘80s, they took over, quickly launching their own production company based on sales from the store. Business was bumping, but not for too long. The AIDS crisis took care of that. “People might find it shocking,” Rachel Mason told L.A. Magazine, “But my parents saw all these young men dying. They understand what a challenge it is to be a gay man. Her concern came from a place of conservative religious values, which is crazy and in direct conflict with the store.” After AIDS came the ‘90s, the early 2000s and the slow death of paper porn alongside

Photo: Facebook.

Filmmaker Rachel Mason with her father and founder of Circus of Books, Barry.

the emergence of the internet. Circus of Books held on as long as it could, but in the end, it went the way of the Dodo. Mason, who is queer, decided to tell her parents’ story by creating a documentary, executive produced by Ryan Murphy in partnership with Netflix, about the store’s legacy. The film recently screened for the first time at Outfest. By interviewing famous and infamous patrons of the Circus, from Alaska Thunderfuck to Larry Flynt himself, Mason gets at something real. For many, Circus wasn’t just a porn store. In a long ago time and a faraway land (WeHo before the rainbow crosswalk), it was a place where queer folks could find each other, and themselves.

Photo: Courtesy.

RIGHT – For decades, Circus of Books has been a stalwart mini-chain for old school porn and magazines. Now, a new documentary shines a light on its importance to the queer community.

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LOS ANGELES

7.26 – 8.08.2019

7.26 – 8.08.2019 COLUMN DATING

` ⚫ BY DAVID CUSICK

LOS ANGELES

Across the US, the LGBTQ+ community is becoming more widely accepted each day and each year. Still, not all places are equal - some cities are more welcoming to the community than others. If you’ve traveled around the nation, you may have experienced this first hand.There’s a reason it feels easier to find like-minded people in one city compared to another. Dating within the LGBTQ+ community depends on more than biases and discrimination of the people that live within that area. People will have their own individual opinions wherever you go, but dating is much more complicated than that. There are a variety of measurable factors that contribute to how easy or challenging it is to get a date in a given geographic location. With this, the team at Bespoke Surgical set out to determine the best city for gay dating in the US. They looked at factors like percentage of married people, prevalence of the LGBTQ+ population, cost of a drink, and more to pinpoint the city in America with the best opportunity for gay dating. So how does Los Angeles perform against the top 50 cities? Out of a total possible score of 50, LA earned a 30.2. While it seems like there’s room for im-

IN MY OPINION ...

Ranking American Cities for LGBTQ+ Dating How Does LA Compare?

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provement, the highest scoring city, New Orleans, received a 34.4. Los Angeles is titled the 12th best city in America for gay dating and the best city in California. Los Angeles notably earned a perfect score on the HRC Municipal Equality Index. California strictly prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. While this may seem like a standard, only 21 states meet this threshold. The state provides support for discrimination in various aspects, including housing, employment, public accomodations, education, healthcare and more. One area Los Angeles falls short in is the overall dating environment. The costly drink prices and few bars in relation to the large population density pose challenges to local singles. These challenges are ones that aren’t necessarily specific to the LGBTQ+ community. Despite sexuality, all singles share the struggle of accessing and affording alcohol. All things considered, this isn’t the worst thing to have a less than perfect performance on.While it would be convenient for cheaper drinks to be on the menu, bars are not the only way to meet people. Alcohol can take the edge off first date jitters, but sober dates can be more serious and mean-

PRODUCTION MANAGER AMY PATTON

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Sam Catanzaro

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David Cusick

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Frankie Morales | frankie@thePrideLA.com

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

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ingful. Opting for an alternative date idea can also save some cash without having to worry about buying your partner drinks to show your interest. Each city offers different strengths and weaknesses for the single LGTBQ+ population.There’s no one perfect city that is ideal for gay dating in every category. However, these scores are much higher than they would have been if analyzed a few years back, and they’re sure to keep rising as society modernizes.

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.

WEST HOLLYWOOD VICINITY MAY 2019 SALES

GAY IN L.A.? OVER 55? MEET NEW FRIENDS!

PROJECT RAINBOW is a social organization that meets every Wednesday, 12:00 PM at Plummer Park in West Hollywood. Lots of good conversation with a friendly group of seniors. We welcome any newbies interested in joining this jovial group. Make new buddies! Call Pete Englander at 818-244-8567 for further details.

8116 Romaine St. 842 N Crescent Heights Blvd. 7366 Waring Ave. 7715 Lexington Ave. 745 N Alta Vista Blvd. 823 Westbourne Dr. 9027 Elevado St. 745 N Spaulding Ave. 8834 Dorrington Ave. 851 N Vista St. 8853 Ashcroft Ave. 721 N Poinsettia Place 734 N Laurel Ave. 9047 Norma Place 09 N Crescent Heights Blvd. 9028 Dicks St. 613 N Laurel Ave.

$1,080,000 $1,225,000 $1,235,000 $1,500,000 $1,650,000 $1,750,000 $1,775,000 $1,795,000 $1,800,000 $1,825,000 $1,840,000 $1,900,000 $2,050,000 $2,100,000 $2,125,000 $2,125,000 $2,460,000

2019 vs. 2018 NUMBER SOLD: 17 NO CHANGE MEDIAN PRICE: $1,800,000 UP 10.23% AVERAGE PRICE: $1,778,529 DOWN 4.33%

The above figures were derived from properties listed in the Multiple Listing System as well as those that were not listed in the MLS. All figures were verified by Public Record. Data compiled by Murray Weisberg, Sotheby’s International Realty, Brentwood.

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LOS ANGELES

7.26 – 8.08.2019

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