The Standard Magazine

Idol Chat

INTERVIEW WITH AMERICAN IDOL DAVID HERNANDEZ

BEST FOOT FORWARD FASHION TRENDS

SEPTEMBER, 2015 VOLUME 3 ISSUE 9 THESTANDARDPS.COM

CONTENTS VOLUME 3, ISSUE 9

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ART VIEW

TIM SHOCKLEY PAGE 42 - 43

Volume 3 Issue 9 COVER IDOL CHAT / INTERVIEW WITH AMERICAN IDOL DAVID HERNANDEZ TAKE FIVE CUSTOM CLOTHIER ARLENE ROSENTHAL FEATURE FASHION TRENDS 2015/2016 CAPTIVATING SCENTS YOUR NOSE KNOWS BEAT BOX FALLS HOTTEST DANCE BEATS Tim Shockley / Loose Ties series / “Gold Standard” Cast bronze with 24 karat gold plating 1 / 1 2015

SEPTEMBER 2015 3

COMMENTARY

The Standard Magazine 1111 Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs CA 92262 760-831-4869 Nino Eilets Publisher Luciano McNulty Editor Maya Kalabic Art Director Photographer David A. Lee Contributors Shilpa Ahuja, Chris Astrala, Jennifer Pike Bailey, Stefano Braga, William Cooke, Barry Dayton, Chris Heritage, Lee Lynch, Dennis Mason, Jimmy Newsum, Terri Schlichenmeyer, Ken Toth & Rick Zbur www.thestandardps.com Editorial Credits : BrandPoint, Huffington Post, LGBTQ Nation & Project Publicity The Standard Magazine is published monthly. Opinions expressed are not necessarily the opinions of the Standard or its staff, advertisers or readers with exception of editorials.

Publication of the name or photograph of any person, business or organization in articles or advertising in the Standard is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of such person, business or organization. The Standard disclaims any responsibility for claims made by advertisers. Advertising rates are subject to change without notice. The Standard reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to reject any advertisement for any reason including, but not limited to poor taste. It is the policy of The Standard that we only publish letters to the editor that are signed by the author and verifiable by phone number. We can reserve the right of anonymity upon request. The letters need to be original, in good taste and free of libel as well as edited for clarity and grammar. Letters are subject to editing by The Standard that also reserves the right to decline print. Please forward your letters to: info@thestandardps.com The views expressed is not necessarily those of The Standard. Copyright 2013. All rights reserved. No portion of the publication may

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COVER

IDOL CHAT

AN INTERVIEW WITH DAVID HERNANDEZ

BY CHRIS ASTRALA

David Hernandez gained national attention with his powerful voice and affable personality as an American Idol finalist on season 7 of the popular talent show.

He began acting and singing at age six, starring in musicals and performing with various theatre companies throughout Arizona.

As a teenager David began writing original music and recording his material. A Phoenix native, Hernandez recently moved to Hollywood where he is writing new songs, working in the recording studio producing his newest music, and pursuing his passion for acting. He has already completed his first feature film as the lead in the movie Synthetic Truth.

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In addition to American Idol, David has showcased his talents on The Ellen Show, The Today Show, MTV’s TRL, EXTRA, Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, Teen Choice Awards, TV Guides’ Sexiest Stars 2008, Idol Tonight, Idol Gives Back and FOX-TV. A once-in-a-lifetime invitation came to David when he was asked to sing at the Inaugural Kick-Off Celebration ball for President Barack Obama. He was honored to share the stage with Jamie Foxx, John Legend and Maroon 5, along with event hosts Jessica Alba and legendary TV producer, Norman Lear.

David also starred in the national & international-tour of

Ballroom With A Twist, which is a spinoff of TV’s hit show Dancing with the Stars. It’s directed and choreographed by Dancing with the Stars’ own Louis van Amstel. This show was a non-stop music and dance extravaganza. And if that wasn’t enough to keep David busy, he also performed in Motown Memories, Jersey Rocks and the Celebrate Motown tour.

David is currently putting the finishing touches on the first single called “What You Do” aka “WTF” (Produced by the Printz Board of the Black Eyed Peas) for David’s forthcoming self written Cd. The Standard Magazine recently had a chance to talk to this very busy and multi-faceted entertainer who will be appearing one night only at Copa Palm Springs on September 12. Here’s what he had to say.

You started singing at a very early age when did you know that was going to be more than just a hobby for you?

I started when I was 6 and at the time it was just something that I loved to do. I didn’t know a thing about the entertainment industry and what it was to be famous. I just knew I was good at singing and acting. When I was 17 I decided to start writing and recording my own music. It all started with me singing hooks for rappers actually in basements and home studios. I think at that time I realized I actually had something to offer as a singer/songwriter. So I kept going with it and by 21 I was signed and recording my first album.

Without the standard answer, “A springboard to my career”, what was the American Idol experience really like?

Honestly, it was one of the best experiences of my life. It taught me a lot of discipline and also a lot of courage. It is not easy being vulnerable in front of 35 million people. I had never experienced anything like that before. Naturally, there were so many conflicting emotions at the time. Will they like me? Will I crack on the mic? Is this the right song selection? Just a million different questions going on in my head and at 24, that is a lot to deal with alone. But it was a sink or swim type of experience and I swam! To sum it up, it taught me that I needed to be responsible and take care of my voice if I wanted to have a career in music.

Have you watched subsequent seasons of American Idol and if so what do you think of it now compared to when you were part of it?

If I am being honest, I kept watching the show for about 4 years after but touring and recording has me so busy lately that I have to catch up with the contestants on YouTube. I love the fact that I had the original judges because I had always watched the show before and sort of idolized (no pun intended) Simon, Paula and Randy. I do

think it is cool how they switched it up in the subsequent seasons. The show has been running for so long that people needed a fresh panel.

I do think it was more popular when I was on it but that could be a biased opinion. lol!

What would you say is your musical style?

Pop/R&B. These days musical styles blend so much that it is hard to put things in a category sometimes.

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COVER

On you new album you collaborated with Grammy Award winning musician and producer and music director for The Black Eyed Peas, Printz Board; how was that experience?

Printz is an amazingly talented producer/singer/songwriter.

Working with him has certainly been another highlight of my career.

We met a few years back at an after party for an event and my friend started playing my music for him. I guess it caught his attention because we were in the studio non- stop for 3 years after that. We seem to vibe well musically and share the same visions. That is hard to come by most of the time. I definitely look up to him in many ways and his advice means a lot.

Who are your musical influences and who would you love to collaborate with?

Whitney, Stevie, Mariah, Michael Jackson, Peabo Bryson, Brian McKnight, Nina Simone, Oleta Adams. And just people with soul and conviction when they sing or write. I would love to collaborate with Ed Sheeran or India Arie.

In addition to a very full concert schedule, I see that you also do a lot of work with HRC (Human Rights Campaign) as well as EQCA (Equality California) what does working closely with these organizations mean to you?

I think it’s important that people realize we are at a very

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pivotal point in history. While the world is closer to equality, the fight is not over. The HRC is an organization that fights tirelessly for families and individuals on a daily basis and I am honored to be able to help them.

If you weren’t a singer, what would you be and why?

Well I went to school for Broadcast Journalism. I wanted to be a TV anchor a LONG time ago. lol. So that is probably what I would be doing right now if it weren’t for music.

Final question: Can you tell us five things about David that our readers might not know?

1. I have a new single out on iTunes right now called “WTF”…go get it!

2. I write my own music.

3. I sang at President Barack Obama’s inauguration.

4. I was a gymnast from 7-10 years old.

5. I have been on 3 National Tours.

IF YOU GO David Hernandez September 12 / 8pm / Copa Night Club Palm Springs Tickets: www.reactionshows.com Please visit David’s website for more info www.DavidHernandezOfficial.com

STYLE

FASHIONABLE KIT

EASTSIDERS STAR SETS THE STYLE IN SHOW’S SECOND SEASON

BY WILLIAM COOKE

The critically acclaimed dark comedy starring Kit Williamson and Van Hansis as Cal and Thom, an adorable couple trying to stay together in the aftermath of infidelity, returns for its second season this fall, exclusively on Vimeo On Demand.

The first season of EastSiders was named Best Web Drama from LA Weekly and brought home the Indie Series Award for Best Ensemble. It also received a Satellite Award nomination from the International Press Academy.

Critics and fans couldn’t get enough of the drunken outbursts and double standards of the twenty-somethings living and loving in Silverlake, CA. Well, hold tight! Things heat up even more in season two, especially in Cal and Thom’s relationship, as they explore opening things up sexually. The season tackles some pretty intense topics, from heartbreak to faithlessness to STDS… but in a stylish nevertrashy-always-classy way.

Creator and star Kit Williamson explains more.

Do you consider yourself a stylish guy?

I like to have fun with clothes, but I don’t take myself too seriously. There’s a photo of me out there at ten years old with a mullet, wearing oversized glasses, a tie-dye t-shirt and umbros, reading a fantasy novel and holding a personal fan. From there I went through a lot of fashion phases, particularly in the Myspace Era, where I had bangs down to my chin. I’m sure I’ll look back on myself in a couple of years and think I look ridiculous.

How would you describe your style?

Lately I’m gearing towards a classic, retro look. I wear glasses and like looking a little nerdy. I’m very into suspenders but I constantly worry I can’t pull them off. I feel most comfortable in a suit, which is a shame because I rarely get to wear one. My whole family is in law, so I really messed up my life choices!

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What influences your style?

My biggest influence has always been the desire to feel like a grown up. What you wear can have a profound impact on how you see yourself.

Fashion played a huge role in Mad Men, where you played Ed. How did you feel about Ed’s style?

Ed definitely had his moments. Those blue pants! But largely he was a bit of a square. His shirts were way too large and he never got to wear cool prints or tie-clips like Mathis. I’d go into the costume fittings and try on amazing vintage plaid suit after amazing plaid suit, but they never made the cut. I love how he was a little fashion clueless on such a fashionable show.

What can modern men learn from the men of the 60s?

It’s not a bad thing to take care of your appearance. It’s great to be comfortable, too, but there’s a balance.

How important is fashion to the Silverlake hipsters in EastSiders?

I think they’re the genuine sort that wear things because they like them, not because they’re obsessed with projecting an image of coolness. It’s pretty easy to sniff out people that are trying to hard.

What do you think of Cal’s style?

Cal’s style is pretty much my style.

So you would wear what he wears?

(Laughing) I actually do wear what he wears because those are all my clothes! For the most part, the actors all supplied their own wardrobe. That’s indie filmmaking!

Does his dress change in season 2 to reflect his relationship status?

Yes, Cal is trying to reinvent himself; the way people often do after a breakup. He’s shaved off a bunch of his hair and hit the gym and is maybe subconsciously trying to send Thom a message that he’s an independent woman.

Where are Cal and Thom in season 2?

They’re brokeback, they don’t know how to quit each other.

Cal’s moved out of their apartment, but they’ve started dating again. They’re sharing custody of the cat, but they’re not sure where things stand.

Are things any better for Ian and Kathy’s relationship?

Kathy’s still Kathy and Ian’s still Ian, so things are still on a pendulum swing.

Kathy lying to Ian about getting an abortion was a big deal for them in season 1.

Yes but not because Ian wouldn’t have been supportive, but because he didn’t get the chance to be. There’s still a lot of tension between them, and Kathy has a hard time not pushing him away.

Ian, of course, is played by your real life stylish fiancé, John Halbach. Do you have any style advice for John?

Never wear the same shirt that I’m wearing. We don’t want to end up on that Tumblr that features boyfriends that look like twins.

The second season of EastSiders begins in September exclusively on Vimeo On Demand. Follow the show on Twitter and Instagram at @EastSidersTV and “Like” the show on Facebook at www.Facebook. com/EastSidersTheSeries.

SEPTEMBER 2015 11

TAKE FIVE

ARLENE ROSENTHAL CUSTOM-CLOTHIER When did you realize you wanted to be a clothing designer and how did you get your start?

It would be unfair to characterize myself as a “clothing designer”.

That designation is best given to artists such as Versace, Ungaro, Armani, and more. I am a customclothier, which does encompass a wide range of abilities. I am the one to see color, design, shapes, styles, and know show to make those work to create wardrobes for my clients, men and women. I know what will make a person look good, and have the knowledge for fit that will also make them feel good. I realized I wanted to do this in 1989, the year I left my profession as teacher. I got some training from someone already in the business and learned from the ground up, and, am still learning, some 25 plus years later.

Which designers, past or present have influenced you the most and why?

The designers that I have been impressed with are mostly Italian.

For the men it would be Giorgio Armani, Salvatore Ferragamo, Gianni Versace: those who, even though keeping modern, have always kept the classic as their basic model of class and style. For the women hands down: Ungaro & Valentino. All of those I have listed stay classic but also offer tasteful and unique styling as well.

What is your concept for creating great clothing?

I take from the best designers and their styles to create clothing for men. I may suggest something unusual for a man who likes to dress “out of the box”, but, for the most part it is using time proven styling that is classic that is what is most fruitful. That, combined

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with an individual fit, and the best of fabrics is what makes a man a successful dresser. I have created some pretty wild outfits too, but those are always individual, and I do not repeat those types of outfits except for the individual. I want my clients to look unique.

My clothing is recognizable, but mostly because of the fit that the person sports.

In addition to designing you seem to have a passion for being involved with several charitable organizations. Tell us a bit about them and how do find the time to do it all?

My parents introduced me to a world of “doing for others” when I was a little girl. I never changed and that thread has been a part of my life all these years later. I think my years of philanthropy have the same message as I have in my business. I want people to feel good about themselves and to have a sense of dignity I believe we are all entitled to. Each person is so unique and so very special.

The Well in the Desert is an organization that makes people feel good by providing hot meals and needed food, and social services, and the support of a family. OperaArts is an organization that makes people feel glorious through beautiful music. What I do in my business is to make sure people feel good about how they look when they are out in the world. It is all part of the same thread; caring about people and wanted them to feel like “mensches”.

Where do you see the future of fashion going? What are you most excited about and least excited about?

As I said before, I am not a designer, but a custom-clothier. I do see fashion though and think it will always take some unusual twists and turns with styles that will go out in a year, or will go out, and where quirky things will be the rage for awhile, or where colors will reflect what the world is going through in any one year; but I always know that classic style will always be there, and will last beyond me and my time. That, in and of itself, is a very comforting thought.

If you would like to know more about Arlene and get something fabulous made just for you visit www.rosenthalofpalmsprings.com

FASHION TRENDS

TRENDS FOR FALL/WINTER 2015-2016

BY SHILPA AHUJA

Here are the latest men’s fashion trends for Fall Winter 20152016 straight from the runways as designed by Dior, Armani, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, D&G, etc. I know you care about looking great, and feeling confident, and I know sometimes it can get hard to make sense of the trends on fashion shows and the catwalk. So I’ve decided to make it simpler, and provide simple tips on latest men’s fashion trends! And this year, they range from un-wearable to hot! That’s why I’ve collected for you the most wearable latest men’s fashion trends.

Let’s first start with the latest men’s fashion trends that you are going to want to wear next season: Fall/ Winter 2015-2016. I’ve checked out the best of designer fashion for you, done my homework and compiled a list of the best trends:

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LATEST MEN’S FASHION TRENDS: FALL WINTER 2015-2016 PATTERNED SHIRTS This season, experiment with more unusual patterns like small and bold geometric prints, nature-inspired, organic or architectural patterns on your shirts.

ABOVE THE ANKLE FOLDED PANTS Cropped pants are going to be very in this season. Not too short, just at or above your ankles.

SHORT/ CROPPED JACKETS Short jackets and shirt-like jackets tucked into your trousers is the latest fad. Again, not too short – your jackets should hit right above your hips and below your navel.

SLIM PANTS Slim, tailored pants are very in this season. This is one of the few old things that made its way into this year’s latest men’s fashion trends.

You don’t want them to be too tight. It should just be lose enough for you to move and walk comfortably, and sit without ripping them!

MIXED PATTERNS Of course, you can play it safe by matching solids with solids, or solids with patterns. But this season; if you’re bold enough, try to mix patterns with patterns. On the runway, we saw stripes matched with checks, or organic matched with geometric, even bold stripes paired with pinstripes

SLIM TIES Like everything else, slim ties are in fashion, again! The key to styling them is to never pair them with broad lapel coats and jackets.

And also be sure to tie the knot correctly for them to look flawless!

MILITARY PRINT SHOW OFF SEAMS Military or camouflage print is back in fashion. This year, it’s not going to be limited to street-wear for jackets or cargo pants. This season, be creative and use them in your backpacks, jogging pants, and even in your formal-wear – like in shirts or vests or sweaters.

This season, the seams or hemlines are very visible, and very trendy! Pick out a shirt or jacket with highlighted seams, maybe in a contrasting color.

SEPTEMBER 2015 15

October 17 Ruth Hardy Park Registration begins at 7:30 am Health & Wellness Village opens at 8:00 am Walk steps off at 9:30 am Register at desertAIDSwalk.org or call 760.992.0442

Presented by

SEPTEMBER 2015 17

COLOGNE

CAPTIVATING SCENTS

BY STEFANO BRAGA

Stepping up to the cologne counter can be a harrowing task, with salespeople spritzing you with the latest aromas from here and there.

Unless you have a very clear idea of what you’re looking for, you’ll likely end up on a wild goose chase through some very questionable aromas before settling on something you choose because mainly you liked the bottle design or because it made the salesperson leave you alone. To give you some aroma ammunition for the next time you venture into your local perfumery, here is a list of colognes that are worth a second sniff.

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BVLGARI MAN With woody, amber and musk notes, Bvlgari Man is a very good choice for the cold season. Top notes are lotus, bergamot, and pear, specialists observe some middle notes of vetyver, woodsy notes, sandalwood, amber, cashmere wood and cypriol oil or nagarmotha, base notes are benzoin, and tonka.

PACO RABANNE 1 MILLION

ACQUA DI GIO (EAU DE TOILETTE) As revolutionary as it was at launch, Acqua di Gio’s balance of light and airy aromas with woodier components has been copied by nearly every entry-level brand in the market, and as such might smell a little too familiar to those more discerning consumers in search of something more distinctive. A great addition to any collection but maybe not an ideal “signature” scent.

This is a perfume that, from its launching until now, maintains itself within the first places on all tops. As the bottle suggests it, this is a luxury fragrance, for the winners. But, of course, it is not only about marketing here because Paco Rabanne created with this perfume a spectacular aroma with cinnamon, lemon, woody and mint notes.

VALENTINO UOMO Valentino Uomo is the latest fragrance of the Valentino house.

Valentino Uomo a revolutionary fragrance, seductive and full of mystery. Its amazing scent opens with a strong note of bergamot, then, the amazing coffee, leather and cedar notes are blowing your mind. Is it a head turning perfume? Oh, yes, for sure it is.

KIEHL’S MUSK (EAU DE TOILETTE) This one is a quiet killer. An initially fresh scent gives way to a floral bouquet with hits of Rose and Lily, until that dries off into the scent everyone traditionally associates with the word “musk” i.e. a patchouliheavy, oriental vision of outdoorsman’s masculinity.

COMMES DES GARÇONS X MONOCLE SCENT ONE: HINOKI (EAU DE TOILETTE) This is a warm, distinct and sophisticated scent. Drawing inspiration from British tome of expensive taste Monocle’s love for all things Japanese, it features top notes indicative of the white cedar that hinoki are traditionally fashioned from.

L’EAU D’ISSEY BY ISSEY MIYAKE FOR MEN A stylish perfume, extremely fresh, for perfect summer evenings. It is a fragrance created long time ago, in 1994, aquatic woody fragrance, but attention to middle note which is a little spicy. The scent is kind of unique, and, as someone said it smells “expensive”. For many men is their fragrance since the 90’s, stood the test of time for a very good reason.

Clearly your success will be guaranteed if you will choose it.

JOHN VARVATOS ARTISAN John Varvatos Artisan is a very special fragrance, less known, I dare say. It has a special aroma of citrus orange essence combined with wood, well yes, a very interesting combination and fresh.

TOM FORD TUSCAN LEATHER Tuscan Leather is an exclusive perfume. It has lovely and sumptuous overtones. It has amazing musk and woody notes (specifically in cold seasons).

The fragrance market is a hugely overcrowded place – one where quality and price by no means walk hand-in-hand. So choose the one that is right for you and own it.

SEPTEMBER 2015 19

BEAT BOX

FALL’S HOTTEST DANCE BEATS

BY JIMMY NEWSUM

Another summer has passed and with it, the scorching temps (except in Palm Springs). But one place that shows no signs of cooling down are gay dance floors. DJs are working overtime to keep the dark confines and pulsing rhythms of their rooms hot and sweaty.

Here are the top tracks heating up clubs this month.

“I Like It” Cherie Lily Clubland’s sweetest missy returns with one heck of a manically pumped up song. Written by Lily and produced by legendary ballroom DJ Vjuan Allure, the explosive track features a hypnotic descending bass line with a snare-lead, snappy, syncopated beat.

The song takes the energy and playfulness of Cherie Lily’s previous hits, “Body” and “Kiss My Lips”, and turns it up a notch.

“Synergy” Crystal Waters Crystal Waters brings down the house with one of the best songs she’s ever written. Expertly produced by Sted-E and Hybrid Heights, “Synergy” is classic Crystal – on par with “Gypsy Woman” and “100% Pure Love”. To top it off, she enlists some her DJ friends - prolific house music producer Robbie Riviera and Grammy nominated DJ/Producer StoneBridge – for some slamming remixes.

DJ Bojan (formerly of WaWa) adds a spectacular nu house mix to the package.

“Ice Cream” Manila Luzon featuring Andre Xcellence

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The fan favorite of Drag Race teams up with rapper Andre Xcellence on the season’s most delicious single. Produced by The Prodigal, “Ice Cream” is a high-energy, sex-driven, urban pop banger that turns a favorite children’s rhyme on its sticky ear. It’s reminiscent of Rihanna’s “Birthday Cake”, with slick beats, glossy vocals and plenty of playful double entendre and hilarious sexual innuendo.

“What Are We Waiting For” Wil The pop crooner makes a triumphant move to the dance floor with his first EDM track produced by American Idols’ Randy Jackson. Written by Wil, along with Steve Dresser and Jeff Blue, the empowering track is Sia meets Enrique Iglesias meets Adele; all set against a kinetic David Guetta beat. Jose Nunez provides some stellar remixes.

“I…Amanda Lepore: Make Over Sessions” Amanda Lepore Fans have waited a long time for Amanda’s first remix album.

Happily, the wait was worth it! Some tracks, like “Doin’ It My Way”, have been completely overhauled. A few, like “My Pussy” and “Turn Me Over”, have fresh extensions and are more DJ friendly.

Others, like B Ames’ legendary vogue ball mix of “My Hair Looks Fierce”, were previously available only as bootleg. The album is fun, flirty, funky, a little house-y and very sexy. There’s also a delightful reworking of Marilyn Monroe’s “I Wanna Be Loved By You”, a song that has become a staple of Amanda’s live shows.

WHAT WE DO: • Daily hot nutritious meal to over 135 people a day, 6 days a week.

• Sack lunches daily –over 1200 a week served.

• Phone and mail service.

• Morning coffee, rolls and fruit.

• Showers daily.

• Furniture for people in need.

• Clothing for job interviews and those who need them.

• Assistance with food stamps, MISP, id’s and more.

• Utility assistance.

• Rental assistance.

• Free notary service.

• Resume writing assistance.

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• One way tickets home.

• Saturday food distribution of healthy foods to working families, seniors, veterans, the disabled, families with children.

• Emergency food boxes.

• Some transportation to medical and social service appointments.

• Van transportation to hot lunch sites.

• Home deliveries to seniors who are homebound or frail.

• “Well Assist” program to downtown merchants and other business owners.

• Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations for all in need. Christmas presents for all the children.

• Well houses available for long-term group family living, and emergenies.

• A family-friendly environment where all can feel welcome, cared about, and respected.

BOOK REVIEW

ALWAYS OVERBOOKED…

BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER

Your favorite hangout isn’t all that fancy.

It’s comfortable, though: you’ve got places to sit, flat surfaces for your stuff, and your friends are always around. Best of all, nobody says you can’t be there; everybody’s welcome all the time. It wasn’t always that way, though, as you’ll see in “Stonewall: Breaking Out in the Fight for Gay Rights” by Ann Bausum.

There was a full moon that night, and it was hot.

Not hot like you’d describe a person but “beastly hot,” weatherwise - and it was hotter inside New York’s Stonewall Inn. For years, it’d been illegal in many cities to dance with someone of the same sex. With a few rare exceptions, being gay could get you fired from work, rejected by family, and generally ostracized; if you were a man wearing women’s clothing, you could be arrested immediately. But the Stonewall allowed dancing, drinking, crossdressing, and the police looked the other way because, says Bausum, the Mafia had ties to the Stonewall and bribes kept things running.

By June 1969, this covert freedom started causing problems: “closeted homosexuals” involved in an international bond scandal were spotted at the Stonewall by “organized crime operatives” with blackmail on their minds. The New York police department was ordered to close down the Stonewall. In the hot early morning hours of June 28, they raided the packed bar. It didn’t go well.

As partiers and staff were arrested, a crowd began to form to taunt police – and it grew as people ran to pay phones to call friends. Some of those arrested were freed; others were roughly handled. Bausum says that one of the latter, a lesbian, asked the crowd if they were going to do anything about it – and they did.

At first, pocket change rained down on the police, then pebbles, stones, bottles, and burning containers. Some of the officers took refuge inside the bar, awaiting back up that didn’t arrive for nearly an hour as two thousand people raged on the streets. Riot crews eventually showed up, and were mocked.

The unrest, says Bausum, lasted several nights - but what lasted longer was that lesbians and gay men suddenly knew that they weren’t alone.

Although it can become somewhat florid for the sake of drama, “Stonewall” is a nicely surprising book filled with history that few younger people may know.

The surprise comes in what author Ann Bausum shares, which seems

tame by today’s news, perhaps even quaint: nobody was seriously hurt, and the single death was accidental and barely related. That almost made me afraid readers might forget that the riot marked the coalescence of activism for gay rights, but Bausum anecdotally reminds us repeatedly of Stonewall’s importance. She then goes on to look at activism at other times in LGBT history.

This book is meant for teen readers ages 12 and up, but it might be a challenge for those on the younger end and it certainly can be enjoyed by adults unfamiliar with this event. If that’s you, then “Stonewall” is rock-solid.

“Stonewall: Breaking Out in the Fight for Gay Rights”

by Ann Bausum c.2015, Viking $16.99 / $19.99 Canada 120 pages

SEPTEMBER 2015 23

PSP FOCUS PALM SPRINGS ART MUSEUM PRESENTS THE ACCLAIMED EXHIBITION KILLER HEELS

THE ART OF THE HIGH-HEELED SHOE Palm Springs Art Museum will open the highly anticipated exhibition Killer Heels: The Art of the High-Heeled Shoe on September 5, which will be on view through December 13, 2015. The exhibition merges fashion, film, and material culture, while exploring the fashion world’s most coveted object, its rich cultural history, and its complex relationships to fantasy, functionality, identity and power.

Organized thematically, Killer Heels features more than 110 contemporary high heels and 50 historical designs drawn from designer archives, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s renowned costume collections. Beyond the archetypal forms – stiletto, wedge, and platform – the emphasis is on designs that play with the sculptural, architectural, and artistic possibilities of the high heel using innovative or unexpected materials or techniques; and that push the limits of functionality,

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wearability, and even conventional beauty, through surprising structure, shape, or height.

Presented in arched pedestals the heels will be exhibited in six themes throughout open

pathways of the gallery housing the exhibition.

The themes are “Revival and Reinterpretation,” “Rising in the East,” “Glamour and Fetish,” “Architecture,” “Metamorphosis,” and “Space Walk.” Spanning the 17th century to the

PSP FOCUS

present, each of the themes reflects the design of the shoes, shifting fashion trends, social preferences, and surprising formal similarities across cultures and time.

The exhibition includes a selection of extraordinary high heels by more than 50 contemporary designers, including CĂŠline, Chanel, Christian Louboutin, Alexander McQueen, Prada, and United Nude. These shoes are presented in compelling visual dialogues with historical high heels. Examples include exquisite 18th century court heels, tiny 19th century Chinese slippers for bound feet, and iconic 20th century heel designs by Salvatore Ferragamo, Delman, and Roger Vivier for Christian Dior.

In addition, Killer Heels features six original short films that take the high heel as a central motif. Commissioned for the exhibition, the films explore a range of provocative cultural, social,

sexual, ideological and political themes, demonstrating the enormous power of the high heel in the collective imagination. Artists include Ghada Amer and Reza Farknondeh, Steven Klein, Zach Gold, Nick Knight, Marilyn Minter, and Rashaad Newsome.

A fully illustrated catalogue available for purchase in the Museum Store and Bradford W. Bates Vault accompanies the exhibition.

Killer Heels: The Art of the High-Heeled Shoe is organized by the Brooklyn Museum.

The Palm Springs Art Museum showing is funded in part by Kimberly and Roger Swanson, and Ann Sheffer and Bill Scheffler.

Palm Springs Art Museum is located at 101 Museum Drive in downtown Palm Springs.

For more information visit www.psmuseum.org or call (760) 322-4800.

SEPTEMBER 2015 25

26 THESTANDARDPS.COM

T H E 2 0 1 5 PA L M S P R I N G S

SATURDAY OCTOBER 10 2015 THE RIVIERA PALM SPRINGS

VANGUARD LEADERSHIP AWARD

GEOFF KORS LEADERSHIP AWARD

STATE FARM GOOD NEIGHBOR AWARD

ALLY LEADERSHIP AWARD

Dolores Huerta

Geoff Kors

Darrell Tucci

Lisa Vanderpump

EQCAAWARDS.ORG/PALMSPRINGS

The 16th Annual Palm Springs Garden Party November 7, 2015 Please join us as we celebrate your support and the work of the Human Rights Campaign.

The afternoon will include a silent auction, heavy appetizers, open bar and remarks from local and celebrity honorees!

Dr. Ossie Saguil and Dr. Kimberley Yang return as Co-Chairs Venue to be disclosed at a future date.

For Sponsorship Opportunities and ticket info Contact hrcpalmsprings@gmail.com

28 THESTANDARDPS.COM

DAP NEWS

NATIONAL HIV/AIDS STRATEGY UPDATE: UPDATED TO 2020

BY BARRY DAYTON

On July 30, President Obama signed an Executive Order releasing the “National HIV/AIDS Strategy: Updated to 2020” which detailed principles and priorities to guide our collective national work to address HIV in the United States over the next five years.

This “Update to 2020” has four goals: 1) Reduce new infections, 2) Increase access to care and improve health outcomes for people living with HIV, 3) Reduce HIV-related disparities and health inequities, and 4) Achieve a more coordinated national response to the HIV epidemic.

The vision of Update to 2020 is for the U.S. to become a place where new HIV infections are rare. Further, when those infections do occur, every person, regardless of age, gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, or socio-economic circumstances should have unfettered access to high-quality, life-extending care, free from stigma and discrimination.

But how do we bring that vision to reality?

“Think globally, act locally” Since 1984, this has been more than a bumper sticker slogan for Desert AIDS Project. We believe that if every community deals with HIV prevention and care in their own backyards, we’ll see that much-discussed “AIDS-free generation” very soon.

And we’ve pinned D.A.P.’s vision for helping to get there to the three words in our logo that summarize our mission: Care, Prevention, Advocacy.

Primary, as well as HIV-specialty, care.

Today, D.A.P. is a “medical home” to more than 2,000 patients and clients living with HIV or AIDS. When we became an FQHC Lookalike in 2012, extending our purview beyond AIDS service organization alone to “delivery of comprehensive primary health care services in the communities that need them the most,” it meant we could welcome all members of the community in need of services, regardless of HIV status. HIV-sero-discordant partners could now both receive their healthcare services at D.A.P. In August 2015, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services elevated D.A.P. to fullstatus FQHC – Federally Qualified Health Center – which will allow us to now serve even more of those who come to us.

Even though the LGBT population will always be primary among those D.A.P. serves, we knew FQHC status meant we could begin to also more effectively target and service other population

segments. Those include many called out by the Update to 2020: black and Latino men and women, those who inject drugs, youth, and transgender women. Since we know that many people – in these population segments – are unaware of their HIV status.

Get Tested Coachella Valley!!

D.A.P. officially launched this first-ever, region-wide HIV testing initiative on January 1, 2014 as a three-year effort to dramatically reduce the spread of HIV by testing more adolescents and adults.

When the program reached its midpoint on July 1, 2015 it was showing great success in helping those testing HIV-positive become connected to care. And we know that linking new positives to care as soon as possible is not only critical for their own healthy future but that the appropriate medications make them 96% less likely to spread the virus to others.

Among the other accomplishments noted in the Midpoint Update for Get Tested Coachella Valley, one of the most exciting is that the 70+ Community Partners have linked to care 89.9% of those testing positive. That exceeds the California average of 54%, the U.S. average of 66%, and the CDC’s target of 80%!

Advocating for a better future for those living with HIV and AIDS – and others.

While aiming to prevent new HIV infections among ALL population segments while linking ALL to HIV care who need it, Desert AIDS Project is as committed as ever to continuing to serve ALL along the spectrum of sexual orientation/identity for their healthcare needs. It’s a great necessity as addressed in the 2014 Riverside County LGBT Health and Wellness Profile, which was announced at a press conference at D.A.P. The forward of the Profile noted “Complicated by a lack of hard data and unique social concerns, a full and objective assessment of this community’s health concerns and disparities is desperately needed … in Riverside County, where our LGBT community in the eastern county is the third largest by size in the United States, the issue is even more critical … it is our hope that this document will provide a useful basis for further exploration.”

We applaud President Obama’s HIV/AIDS Update and look forward to helping make it a reality for all.

SEPTEMBER 2015 29

LEGALLY SPEAKING

AN ASSORTMENT OF FACTS AND FIGURES

BY CHRISTOPHER HERITAGE

In my practice, I collect lots of facts and bits of information that may be interesting or helpful to people. Here are a few that I’d like to pass along to you.

HOA and Time-share Woes - Joint ventures like membership in a homeowner’s association or a time-share property can be distressing if everything doesn’t go smoothly. California laws strictly regulate HOA’s, but sometimes boards of directors and individual homeowners choose not to follow the rules. You can bring the boards back to reality – by voting them out at the next election, or by filing a lawsuit, if necessary. And errant homeowners can be hit where it hurts – in the pocketbook – through fines or putting liens on their property to recover unpaid dues and other fees.

Sadly, some members violate rules not through choice, but because of serious financial problems. If you own a house in foreclosure or pending a short sale, you must continue to pay the homeowner assessments until the lender or new buyer actually takes possession of the property. Even if you have filed bankruptcy, the dues must be paid, and you must fully maintain the property (lighting, irrigation, yard maintenance, insurance) until you no longer officially own it.

Time-shares are awfully attractive when you first meet them, but often become dead weight after a few years of ownership. They look like a good deal going in, but can cost a bundle to get out of. It is really hard to find buyers for many time-shares, and the alternative that some folks suggest – just stop paying for it - can get you into a lot of trouble. Even if you have fully paid for the unit, the maintenance fees and penalties will continue to stack up, and you are likely to face a court order to pay, which will take a big bite out of your budget and your credit score.

Those Pesky Robocalls - In spite of stricter laws, telemarketers and scammers continue to increase their assault on our telephones.

What can you do to protect yourself? The Do Not Call registry is still the basic barrier to most legitimate telemarketers. Call 888-3821222 from the phone you want to register; or go to donotcall.gov and register your number(s).

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What about telemarketers who don’t follow the rules? Be smart.

Hang up immediately on all robocalls. They are illegal unless you have specifically given your written consent to receive them. Don’t listen to the message, and don’t press any numbers. Although scammers can call from anywhere in the world, and often use fake caller ID, it is important to report robocallers’ numbers to the FCC. Contact the Do Not Call registry and put the numbers into their database.

The FCC has given approval to several robocall-blocking technologies. Contact your phone company and ask them to offer these to their customers.

Married (or Not) With Children - In the most recent Census Bureau report (2013 American Community Survey), there were 115,731,304 total households in the United States. Of these, 726,600 were same-sex households. About 35% of these couples were married or in civil unions.

22% of female couples, married or not, had their own children in the household, compared to 10% of male couples. The overall percentage of same-sex households with children is 16%. What happens to the children of married spouses in these households if the couples divorce?

As in opposite sex divorces, there will be custody and support decisions to be made, but they are likely to be more complicated because of legal parentage issues and the need to determine the length of the relationship. Since same-sex marriage has only recently been possible in most states, there are thousands of couples who had long-term relationships prior to marrying. In some cases, both spouses are legal parents of the children. For many others, there is only one legal parent, and the other spouse may have few or no rights regarding the children. It may be difficult to work out an arrangement that both spouses agree on.

Figuring out how and when assets and debts were accumulated before and after marriage is likely to be a serious challenge. When spouses simply can’t agree about custody, support and division of property, mediation is the next step to take. Arguing back and forth in court rarely solves issues to anyone’s satisfaction, and the court is likely to order mediation anyway.

They Forgot to Do Their Homework - I talked a lot about Wills in a recent article, and made the point that everyone should have a Will and keep it updated, or there is likely to be a big mess when you die. Well, it appears that noted figures and celebrities are just as likely to ignore estate planning as the rest of us. Here are some of the many who caused lengthy and costly court battles, and should have known better: Robert Burns, Bob Marley, Abraham Lincoln (and he was a lawyer!), Barry White Pablo Picasso, Howard Hughes, Heath Ledger, The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Sonny Bono, Billie Holiday, John Denver, Jimi Hendrix, Amy Winehouse, Tupac Shakur.

You may not be as rich or famous as they were, but you can oneup these notables. Create a Will and a Trust, and set your family and friends free from untangling your estate when you pass on.

This article is part of an ongoing series of articles pertaining to legal issues relevant to the LGBT community, and is intended for general information purposes only – not legal advice. Christopher Heritage is an attorney in Palm Springs and San Diego, who focuses on LGBT estate planning, domestic partnerships, same-sex marriage, probate, trust administration, and bankruptcy. He welcomes questions and comments and can be contacted at 760-325-2020 or at chris@heritagelegal.com

SEPTEMBER 2015 31

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FITNESS

DROP BODY FAT WISELY

BY DENNIS MASON, B.F.A., C.P.T. Just about every time you turn around these days, there is a “revolutionary” new scientific or medical development that will help you lose weight, gain weight, or simply and easily give you the body of a God or Goddess. Recently, I read a report on a pill that you can actually use in place of exercise. WOW. That’s amazing…or is it?

The simple truth is that most of what you see or hear as being too good to be true really is just that. Besides advertisements in the media, there are also many half or untruths passed down from person to person over the years, like wives tales. Many are propagated through hearsay and sadly, even by fitness trainers who fail to keep up with their continuing fitness education.

The majority of misinformation revolves around fat loss and developing a toned and tight mid-section of the body. Indeed, there is such an abundance of misinformation by exaggerated product claims, faulty or misleading research studies and marketing exuberance, that it creates an elevated level of confusion among consumers as to what works and what does not. To help you along your fitness journey, I have selected a popular myth and correct method for handling it.

Until a few years ago, there was never any talk of something called “belly fat”. Now, we hear it used all the time, as though it were a specific kind of fat that was different from other forms of body fat. By connecting it to a particular part of the body, the myth was formed that you could actually reduce it, as you would scrub out a spot on an article of clothing. Hence, “spot reduction” entered into fitness terminology. Many doctors and other members of the medical profession have even added it to their vocabulary. The truth is, you cannot spot reduce belly fat or any other kind of body fat; that’s not how the body works.

If you want to drop body fat, you must do two things. First, you must execute an exercise program designed to burn body fat and second, you must adjust your meals to take in a few less calories than you burn. DO NOT drastically lower your daily caloric intakes, as your body will perceive that as “starvation” and therefore will put a halt to the burning of body fat so that your body will store energy (body fat) to use for fuel. The reason that happens is that stored body fat holds twice the calories as carbs or proteins and is therefore part of your “survival mechanism” for emergencies. Generally speaking, that’s the reason endless streams of diets don’t work. Instead, use your favorite form of weight training to burn off the stored body fat while feeding the body a few less calories via controlled portions, on a regular basis.

The bonus is, you build some added muscle, which in turn burns body fat 24/7, even while you’re sleeping. Got questions or need help?

Please contact me from my information below.

Body fat and your body have a very unique relationship. Your genetic make-up will determine when, where and how much body fat you will develop. It will also dictate the manner in which you will drop the fat. In over forty years of experience, I can safely say that the first place body fat comes on, will be the last place it comes off.

Imagine body fat as helium in a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade animal character balloon. The analogy is that the first area that is filled with helium (the midsection) is the last place it will exit when deflated. Body fat addition and reduction is exactly the same.

Dennis is a certified Personal Trainer and Master Fitness Coach with over 40 years’ experience. NPC bodybuilding competitor, charity cyclist, health and fitness motivational speaker and author.

Body Sculpting - Nutritional Guidance - Aquatics & Post Rehab Conditioning www.dennismasonfitness.com or dennis@dennismasonfitness. com Phone: 760-219-5877 Home Base: WORLD GYM PALM SPRINGS Join Dennis on his internet radio program, FITNESS & MORE, on at: www.BlogTalkRadio.com/FitnessAndMore.

Also on Facebook and Twitter as fitnessradio.

SEPTEMBER 2015 33

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WELLNESS

MANY PEOPLE CREATE THEIR OWN DISEASES!

BY DR. KENNETH TOTH, MAT, DC, RN, CPT Yes, that’s absolutely right! Many people do create much of their own disease pathologies! They work at it diligently for perhaps a lifetime to create diseases within their bodies due to their ignorance, stubbornness, and high level of gullibility and ego. In other words, to put it shortly, they do it to themselves and have no one else to blame but themselves. But, but…. what about genetics? Can’t we just blame all our health misfortunes on genetics? No. Most of the time, “genetics” is merely a lurking potential for the development of a particular disease. As long as it stays in the genetic background, and is not expressed due to a promoter or complex of synergistic promoters, so what! No problem. Just because you are genetically predisposed to this or that does not necessarily mean it will be expressed.

So what are so-called promoters? Simply put, they are factors that, when applied to the biological makeup of the individual, promote disease processes over time. A common example that immediately pops up in my mind is diabetes, which is, incidentally, on the continued rise in this country like a charging elephant. In my opinion, many people have to actually work at becoming and staying diabetic. Just because grandma died of renal failure due to diabetes does not mean that everyone in the genetic line is probably going to develop diabetes. However, it is an easy out or excuse for a nutritionally irresponsible person to blame genetics for developing the disease.

This type of thinking is even sometimes unwittingly promoted by those wearing white coats by not adequately teaching the absolute importance of nutritional modifications to their clients. In fact, nutrition is not even taught/included in the curriculum of most medical schools.

Not even one contact hour! Yet, pretty much everyone knows there is a very strong correlation between what you eat/drink and the development or management of diabetes. There is a plethora of evidence-based, peer-reviewed science that backs this up.

And how about exercise? What does that have to do with this conversation? Walking around the block is not going to do a whole lot for a pre-diabetic, or a type I or II diabetic, but working out in the gym (in addition to the walking) on a very regular and appropriately frequent basis under a scientifically knowledgeable personal trainer is!

In my experience, I have come to the conclusion that too many people who think they are dealing with diabetes are not really dealing with it at all. In short, they are more or less medically noncompliant about what they put in their mouths and how they take

their prescribed medication(s), and do not exercise properly or adequately to make much positive difference if any. They simply see their life-saving Metformin or insulin as a crutch that enables them to survive for now without making much of a significant change (if any) to their nutritional intake or to their exercise program if it even exists at all. As an RN, I’ve had diabetic patients in the hospital that would have their spouses or friends bring in their accustomed big bag of “comfort food” from their favorite fast food joint (with hospital approval), while knowing full well that their next glucose reading would be sky high and necessitate additional medication.

When it comes to excellent health, you must take a great deal of personal responsibility! Your medical practitioner cannot follow you around 24/7 and coach you. Stop expecting that! Start researching on your own. Start reading the science! Demonstrate to your medical provider that you are taking an active role by asking pertinent questions. Learn as much as possible from her/him. Make a conscious decision that you are going to become as well informed as possible regarding any disease process you may be dealing with. Do your part. Your superior health will thank you for it!

Dr. Kenneth Toth, BA, MAT, DC, RN, CPT holds multiple degrees and credentials as a Science Educator, Chiropractor, Registered Nurse, and Personal Trainer.

He is currently limiting his professional activities to PERSONAL TRAINING / Nutritional Coaching, and is accepting new clients exclusively at WORLD GYM PALM SPRINGS. You may contact Dr. Ken at 949-235-9408 or ken@kentothfitness.com For more information on Dr. Ken’s results-producing approach to personal training, please visit his website at KenTothFitness.com.

SEPTEMBER 2015 35

Great HIV care is just a part of what you’ll find at D.A.P.

Photo by Gregg Felsen

Our passion is Your Wellness We offer a newly remodeled HIV-specialty and primary care clinic, dental clinic, sexual health services at The Dock, cancer screenings and treatment through our Annette Bloch Cancer Care Center, a full range of mental health and addiction recovery services, and so much more – creating a “medical home” for our patients.

Desert AIDS Project accepts IEHP, Desert Oasis HMOs and PPOs, various Covered California plans, Medicare, and private pay insurance plans. If you have another PPO or HMO, please check with your plan administrator.

And it all happens under one roof! That’s what makes D.A.P. a national model for holistic-care-done-right.

To schedule an appointment, call 760.323.2118

D.A.P. has been designated as a Top 20 HIV/AIDS Charity for two consecutive years and received Four Star Status for four consecutive years from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator – a distinction achieved by only 7% of all nonprofits they rank.

desertAIDSproject.org

THE AMAZON TRAIL

DYKEY DOROTHY AND FRIENDS

BY LEE LYNCH

Near where I live, closeted lesbians built and installed a bench on a mostly hidden concrete path between grassy sand dunes, out of sight of any casual observer. The bench was created in the mid 1990s to pay respect to members of the group who had died.

These women did not dare to name their dead. Even the full name of their sisterhood—a name that included the word lesbian— was too terrifying to engrave. Yet, I can guarantee that every group member read Rubyfruit Jungle and for the hours they spent with it they were unafraid. Because of such books, they dared to gather.

They learned to value, in a way society did not, lesbian lives.

Where did this book come from? Was it pulp fiction? Was it some straight guy’s fantasy? No. It was a crossover book before there were lesbian crossover books, a lesbian classic before such a concept existed, and it was written by a radical lesbian feminist who was one of the founders, in 1971, of The Furies Collective of Washington, D.C., and who wrote for that newsletter and for “The Ladder.”

Rubyfruit Jungle helped us to rise from the primordial patriarchal ooze of fear, humiliation and silence. Audre Lorde might have been speaking of this author with her oft-quoted words, “Your silence will not protect you.”

This year, I had the honor of presenting the Golden Crown Literary Society (GCLS) Lee Lynch Classic Award to Rita Mae Brown for her 1973 novel Rubyfruit Jungle.

Published initially in 1973 by the early feminist press, Daughters Inc., which was founded by novelists June Arnold and Bertha Harris and by feminist political theorist Charlotte Bunch, this was a novel of its time, a slap in the face of the heterosexist world and a daring gift to lesbians. It, along with Desert of the Heart (1964), and Patience and Sarah (1969), was a voice of lesbian liberation, parting the curtains we hid behind with humor and insight. From it, lesbians learned they might be alone, but they weren’t the only lesbians on earth. Readers felt buoyed, felt human for a few hours or days. It changed lives and, still very much in print, continues to do so to this day.

Author JD Glass, in “AfterEllen,” quoted from Rita Mae Brown’s acceptance speech: “You’re alive—you fight. You keep fighting.”

Glass reported that Brown, “...reminded us all to continue to speak our truths, to tell our stories and that if we are ‘defined by our oppression,’ then we are still oppressed.”

The award was presented on a historic night for lesbian fiction. As advocate.com editors wrote, “The Golden Crown Literary Society’s 11th annual literary awards in New Orleans brought together lesbian fiction pioneers Rita Mae Brown, Lee Lynch, and Dorothy Allison, all sharing a stage for the first time.”

LEE LYNCH BY SUE HARDESTY

Author Karin Kallmaker presented Joan Nestle, in absentia, with the GCLS Trailblazer award, in recognition of her writings including Restricted Country and Persistent Desire and her activism for lesbians.

Dorothy Allison, best-selling author of Trash, and Bastard Out of Carolina, gave an impassioned and profoundly moving keynote address. She said, of a visit to the original Lesbian Herstory Archives, which originated in Joan Nestle and Deb Edel’s NYC apartment, “Oh children, I wish you could have seen that living room.” Her words brought the audience to tears.

The Golden Crown Literary Society (goldencrown.org), founded in 2004, is a 501(c)3 non-profit, all-volunteer organization whose mission are education, promotion and recognition of lesbian literature. Known for its well-attended annual conference and its programs, including The Academy (for emerging lesbian writers), the Cate Culpepper Mentoring Program, and its awards—The Goldies—the GCLS brings authors, readers and publishers together for the betterment of lesbian literature.

Seeing the other writers and readers is like going to a huge family reunion. There is never enough time to spend with the women we want to see and want to meet. My sweetheart and I bumped into author Catherine Friend the first morning we were there and we took off on the typical NOLA adventure: Cafe du Monde beignets, a trolley ride and the French Market for Loretta’s Pralines.

One evening we happened across Donna McBride, co-founder of Naiad Press, who I hadn’t seen in many years. We strolled through the underground mall to the Mississippi River, catching up. Sandy Thornton, organizer of the Jewel Book Club, a large lesbian readers group in Dallas, Texas, invited us to accompany her while she picked up Dorothy Allison at the airport. I’ll always remember a smiling dykey Dorothy slowly descending that escalator. Lesbian royalty.

SEPTEMBER 2015 37

EPICUREAN

SUPERFOOD

NOT SUPERSIZE YOUR SNACKING

America is a nation of snackers, consuming an ever-increasing array of larger-sized food. You’ve probably heard of the trend “supersizing.” The challenge is that as our snacks have increased in size, so too have the number of empty calories we consume. Instead of supersizing our snacks; dietician Ashley Koff says now is the time to superfood our snacks instead. What does that mean? Supersizing is simply increasing the amount of food we are eating, while superfooding is packing those snacks with as many nutrients and health benefits as possible. “Snacking - what I call nutrition ‘pit stops’ - is a great way to keep your energy up and your appetite at bay,” says Koff. “Instead of reaching for a bag of highly processed chips or cookies, grab superfoods that fill you up with the right balance of quality nutrients (carbs, proteins, fats) as well as delivering the antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that are critical for good health.”

What exactly are superfoods? They are a group of foods that are rich in nutrients the body needs to function optimally. And while superfoods have powerful nutritional benefits, as with all foods, Koff says to be mindful of portion size, even when choosing better-foryou snacks. She recommends including these amazing ingredients in smoothies, salads, trail mixes or on the go bars to pack not only fun into your summer snacking, but a lot of key nutrients as well.

CH-CHI-CHIA Chia seeds pack 10 grams of fiber in every ounce (just under

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three tablespoons) along with an abundance of omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. Plus, they can absorb up to 10 times their weight in water, which keeps you feeling fuller longer.

HEMP: NOT JUST FOR HIPPIES Hemp is definitely having its moment and for good reason.

These powerfully healthy seeds are packed with omega-3 and 6 fatty acids (including the elusive but potent GLA, a fatty acid that supports healthy hair, skin and nails as well as hormones).

GO COCONUTS Coconuts are high in fiber, rich in vitamins and loaded with minerals and amino acids. They have tons of calcium, potassium and magnesium. Whether you eat coconut meat, shredded coconut, coconut flour or coconut oil, you’ll be getting lots of healthy fats.

ACAI FOR ME Acai palm trees in South America produce a berry that is widely touted for its many health benefits. Loaded with antioxidants, fiber and healthy fats, the berry is also known for containing key vitamins like vitamin A, iron, and calcium.

TAKE A BAOBAB Impress your friends by sharing knowledge of an up and coming

superfood: Baobab. The fruit is dried and made into a fruit-flavored powder and features many health benefits. It is rich in vitamin C, calcium, potassium, fiber and antioxidants, and many consider it to be one of the most supercharged of the superfoods.

CACAO We’ve always hoped there was a reason to eat more chocolate.

If you are eating true cacao, then that wish has come true. Rich in antioxidants, cacao nibs are the “seeds” of the cacao fruit. They deliver a stimulant and emotional boost as well as being a rich source of magnesium.

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF SUPERFOODS So how do you enhance your summer snacking with these tasty, nutrient-packed superfoods? Koff suggests the following easy-tomake recipes and one superfood snack bar to make for a healthy and delicious alternative to your regular snacks.

Smoothies 2.0: Superfoods take smoothies to new heights of healthiness and are a great way to make a nutrient-dense meal or snack on the run. For a tropical escape, try combining hemp, mango or pineapple and coconut water.

A super banana: This summer take the frozen banana on a stick to a new level by dipping bananas into melted dark chocolate and then rolling them in coconut shavings and a mix of chia, buckwheat and hemp. Wrap and freeze.

Trail mixing: Make your own trail mix this summer and superfood it by adding nuts, dried fruit like coconut and blueberries and cacao nibs for great fuel and taste.

A BAR RAISED If you’re heading to the beach for the day, going hiking or even running to the office, summer is the perfect time to reach for a snack bar that is full of superfoods and as nutritious as it is delicious, such as Nature’s Path Qi’a Superfood Snack Bars. These incredibly greattasting bars are available in five flavors, including Dark Chocolate Cranberry Almond and Blueberry Cashew Pumpkin Seed. They are packed with chia, coconut and hemp to fill you up and keep you going. The bars are also certified organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, certified gluten-free and vegan. They provide lasting energy, protein and lower sugar than most energy bars.

Buy raffle tickets to win this 1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera Convertible!

October 24, 2015, 10 AM to 3 PM Desert Princess Country Club 28-555 Landau Blvd., Cathedral City

ADMISSION $10 Benefiting Mizell Senior Center and Angel View, serving people with disabilities Contact greatautospsarea@gmail.com or visit greatautos.org for more information

Koff says while snacking can be a healthy and wonderful way to stave off hunger and garner more energy, just make sure you are reaching for foods that are healthy and nutritious. By reaching for superfoods snacks, you can pack in vital nutrients, not the pounds.

SEPTEMBER 2015 39

EQCA UPDATE

THE EQUALITY AWARDS

BY RICK ZBUR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF EQUALITY CALIFORNIA

Summer is winding down – for us, that means preparing for our annual Palm Springs Equality Awards on October 10.

This year, Equality California will honor our former executive director Geoff Kors with the first-ever award in his name. The Geoff Kors Leadership Award, which will be given periodically in the future to an LGBT Californian whose work has significantly advanced LGBT civil rights or social justice on a national level. We’re also excited to honor the lifetime achievements of civil rights leader Dolores Huerta, who has made equality and social justice for all communities her life’s work. Businesswoman Lisa Vanderpump will be honored for her years of being an extraordinary ally to the LGBT community.

In addition, Desert AIDS Project Chief Development Officer Darrell Tucci will receive an award for his years of work on behalf of LGBT people and all Californians.

Huerta is the recipient of this year’s Vanguard Leadership Award. After graduating from college, She initially became a teacher, but soon realized the best way to help her students – many of them children of migrant farmworkers – was to improve living conditions for their parents. Together with César Chávez, Huerta founded the National Farm Workers Association, which later merged with other organizations to become United Farm Workers. Today, at 83, Huerta is still a tireless advocate for the civil rights of all Californians, and has made the LGBT community a key part of the mission of the Dolores Huerta Foundation. She also serves on the board of Equality California, as well as People for the American Way, the Feminist Majority Federation and other organizations.

Geoff Kors helmed Equality California from 2002 until 2011, making it a major force behind everything from electing pro-equality candidates, to policies protecting LGBT Californians on the job and in their homes, to the 2008 California Supreme Court decision legalizing marriage for same-sex couples. Under his leadership, Equality California went from being a small, relatively unknown non-profit to the largest statewide LGBT advocacy organization in the country. He contributed to the passage of more than 70 laws protecting the LGBT community. Kors currently is government policy director with the National Center for Lesbian Rights and continues to give his time to many other organizations.

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Ally Leadership Award recipient Lisa Vanderpump is one of the Southern California LGBT community’s strongest advocates, giving back an enormous amount of time and energy. She has used her role as a businesswoman and celebrity to put the LGBT community at the center of her philanthropic work. Vanderpump has volunteered extensive time to LGBT causes, serving as a national spokesperson for GLAAD, working with the Desert AIDS Project and the Trevor Project, and this year was recognized as a “woman of the year” by the California Legislature.

Darrell Tucci will receive this year’s State Farm Good Neighbor Award. Tucci hasn’t turned 40 yet, but is an energetic leader on HIV, youth and other LGBT issues in the Desert area. He is one of Palm Springs’ key LGBT leaders and has dedicated time and significant talent to bettering the lives of the LGBT and HIV communities in the Desert. He is currently chief development officer for Desert AIDS Project and has served on the board of Buddies of New Jersey, his home state; the National Leadership Council of the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network; and is on the national board of Bolder Giving.

Each year, Equality California recognizes individuals and organizations who have made an impact on the movement to secure full and lasting equality for LGBT people at its annual Equality Awards — a series of formal events held in San Francisco, San Diego, Palm Springs, Los Angeles, and Sacramento. For more information, or to buy tickets, give us a call at (323)848-9801.

HRC NEWS

HRC SPEARHEADS FIGHT FOR CRUCIAL FEDERAL BILL

BY JENNIFER PIKE BAILEY

But the tide is changing, he says, even in a gridlocked Congress that consistently lags behind public opinion. There is overwhelming support for a federal non-discrimination law, according to polling data released by HRC. Voters across party lines approve it.

Republicans support it 51 to 43 percent; Independents, 72 to 23 percent; Democrats, 80 to 18 percent, the polling found. The national survey was of 1,000 likely voters in 2015 in early spring, and conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner for HRC. Sens. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I introduced a historic federal comprehensive LGBT nondiscrimination bill, called the Equality Act, in July. If passed, it would go down in history alongside other landmark legislation such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Even with the U.S. Supreme Court’s marriage equality ruling, a lack of fundamental federal protections will continue to leave LGBT people vulnerable across the country. Currently, dozens of states provide few, if any, protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, public places, housing, education and more.

Despite the high court’s decision, LGBT people will still face discrimination in their day-to-day lives. An employee still risks being fired after being outed by a co-worker. Transgender women can still be refused service in public stores. Landlords may still reject housing applications from same-sex couples. LGBT youth will still fear harassment from students and faculty alike. “Building solid bipartisan support for the bill will be key,” according to JoDee Winterhof, the Human Rights Campaign’s vice president for policy and political affairs. HRC — which is leading the charge to pass the Equality Act — has already begun to build a diverse coalition of legislators, civil rights groups, businesses and faith leaders.

In addition to leading the charge on Capitol Hill, HRC will be working to galvanize its members countrywide to press their representatives to pass the Equality Act, which also covers the areas of credit, federally funded programs and jury service. “It won’t be an easy path to success,” cautions David Stacy, HRC’s government affairs director, particularly because anti-equality leaders control both chambers of Congress.

Additionally, voters are prepared to hold opponents of the bill accountable. Nearly 65% of likely voters said they would be less likely to support their member of Congress if he or she opposed the bill. Further, intensity of supporters was high as well; more than 40 percent said they would be “much less likely” to support their member of Congress if he or she opposed the bill.

The incredible progress made on marriage equality over the last few years has overshadowed the fact that a huge percentage of LGBT Americans — nearly two-thirds — have experienced discrimination, according to a separate survey of 1,000 LGBT Americans by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner for HRC. Sixty-three percent of the respondents reported experiencing discrimination in their personal lives. And 47 percent of that number reported experiencing discrimination in the workplace while 19 percent reported discrimination in housing. And 8 percent reported discrimination while in the education system.

Of these LGBT Americans, 74 percent believed a federal nondiscrimination bill should be the “top priority” or “top two or three” priorities for the country’s LGBT community. Only marriage scored higher. “Mobilizing all of HRC’s forces to pass the Equality Act is crucial,” stressed HRC President Chad Griffin, noting such protections already exist on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, disability and sex.

“It’s time that the LGBT community is fully protected as well,” Griffin says. “This is a battle we must win.”

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! The 16th Annual HRC Federal Club Palm Springs Garden Party will be held on Saturday, November 7th 1:30pm - 4:30pm! Silver Co-Host ($275 per couple) and Gold Co-Host ($500 per couple) opportunities are available as well as Sponsorship opportunities at $1500, $2500, $5000 and $10,000.

See...www.hrc.org/psgardenparty for more information.

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ART VIEW

TIM SHOCKLEY California-based Tim Shockley is a conceptual artist whose works reflect both a sincere devotion and respect towards his signature material, bronze, as well as the memorializing of time in its fleeting impermanence and perpetual relevance to our lives. Each new piece or series comes to life through a process combining the creative spark with meticulous forethought, and following through to the final completion of material and individual voice, resulting in sculptures, assemblages, and installations whereupon one perceives a glimpse of a fleeting moment in time, forever captured and made monumental through its presence as a work of art.

“I have always considered myself as someone that thinks outside the box. I believe this is most apparent when it comes to creating my artwork. I find inspiration for my work in places and at times when I least expect it. I have always been inspired by the Dada movement; which I think is portrayed in some of my work. As a teenager, viewing Picasso’s Bull’s Head, which consisted of a banana-style bicycle seat and handlebars mounted to a wall, made a strong impact on my creative outlook, motivating me to see things in a different light. This experience ignited my drive towards an unconventional presentation of my artwork. While spending time in Los Angeles; I found a discarded antique 7-up crate; I turned it over and put 3 caste bronze turtle shells on top to create one of my most popular series, The Shell Game.

Another example is a piece called, “Go West Young Man”. This piece was created from objects found while exploring the California desert.

“Go West Young Man” represents courage, determination and drive.

It’s about taking chances and throwing caution to the wind with the hope of a more fulfilling life. Three galvanized waste cans formed by time and repetition are mounted on a backdrop of floating straw.

Floating in each can is a rustic pitchfork which represents hard physical labor that pushed individuals to search for something more. The interior is illuminated in a rich red patina representing the west coast’s dramatic sunsets. In my latest work, called “Taming The Wild West”, I create mixed media assemblages , transforming barbed wire into tumbleweeds, that are symbolic of the changing landscape of the West and the ongoing disharmony between man and nature. Viewing the organic form of the tumbleweed trapped inside a steel cage, creates a visual piece with tension.” - Tim Shockley www.shockleysculpture.com shockleysculpture@gmail.com

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the3D’s RESTAURANTS WANG’S IN THE DESERT 424 S Indian Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA 92262 Phone: (760) 325-WANG (9264) www.wangsinthedesert.com NATURE’S HEALTH FOOD & CAFE 555 S Sunrise Way Suite 301 Palm Springs, CA Phone: (760) 323-9487 www.natureshealthfoodcafe.com SHERMAN’S DELI & BAKERY 401 E Tahquitz Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA Phone: (760) 325-1199 www.shermansdeli.com HACIENDA CANTINA & BEACH CLUB 1555 S. Palm Canyon Dr. PS 760-778-8954 www.haciendacantina.com AZUL RESTAURANT 369 N Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA Phone: (760) 325-5533 www.azultapaslounge.com TINTO 1800 E. Palm Canyon Dr. PS 760-323-1711 palmsprings.tintorestaurant.com COPLEY’S ON PALM CANYON 621 N Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA Phone: (760) 327-9555 www.copleyspalmsprings.com

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DINE | DRINK | DANCE { Coachella Valley } WORKSHOP KITCHEN & BAR 800 N. Palm Canyon Dr. PS 760-459-3451 www.workshoppalmsprings.com LULU CALIFORNIA BISTRO 200 S Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA Phone: (760) 327-5858 www.lulupalmsprings.com POMME FRITE 256 S Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA Phone: (760) 778-3727 www.pomme-frite.com DISH 1107 N. Palm Canyon Dr. PS 760-322-7171 www.dishcreativecuisine.com THAI SMILE PALM SPRINGS 100 South Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262 Phone: (760) 320-5503 www.thaismilepalmsprings.com TRIO RESTAURANT 707 N Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA Phone: (760) 864-8746 www.triopalmsprings.com THE TROPICALE 330 E Amado Road Palm Springs, CA Phone: (760) 866-1952 www.thetropicale.com

BARS AND NIGHT CLUBS

ZIN AMERICAN BISTRO 198 S Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA Phone: (760) 322-6300 www.pszin.com

HUNTERS NIGHTCLUB 302 East Arenas Road, Palm Springs, CA 92262 760-323-0700 www.huntersnightclubs.com

BIRBA 622 N Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA Phone: (760) 327-5678 www.birbaps.com

TOUCAN’S TIKI LOUNGE 2100 North Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA 92262 760-416-7584 www.toucanstikilounge.com

CHEEKYS 622 N Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA Phone: (760) 327-7595 www.cheekysps.com

PURPLE ROOM 1900 E. Palm Canyon Dr. PS 760-322-4422 www.purpleroompalmsprings.com

EL MIRASOL 140 E Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA Phone: (760) 323-0721 www.elmirasolrestaurants.com RICK’S RESTAURANT 1973 N Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA Phone: (760) 416-0090 www.ricksrestaurant.biz PINOCCHIO IN THE DESERT 134 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, CA 92262 760-322-3776 www.pinocchiops.com

CHILL BAR 217 E. Arenas Road PS 760-327-1079 STREETBAR 224 E. Arenas Road PS 760-320-1266 www.psstreetbar.com THE TOOL SHED 600 E. Sunny Dunes Road, Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.320.3299 www.toolshed-ps.com SPURLINE VIDEO LOUNGE 200 Indian Canyon Drive Palm Springs CA 92262 760-778-4326 www.spurline.com

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COMING UP NEXT MONTH PALM SPRINGS PRIDE EQCA EQUALITY AWARDS SEPTEMBER 2015 47

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EVENTS CALENDAR SEPT 17- 22 JUST CAUSE WEEK. DESTINATION PSP PALM SPRINGS Destination PSP announces an exciting new initiative to benefit more than ten local charities. ‘Just Cause Week’ will take place at Destination PSP’s flagship store in Palm Springs’ historic Town & Country Center September 17 through 22, 2015.

‘Just Cause Week’ is an initiative during which customers may make purchases in the store, and select one of Destination PSP’s partner organizations to receive an additional 10% of the purchase price. Each of the store’s charity partners already benefits from the sale of their own merchandise at Destination PSP. Non-profit organizations participating in this philanthropic event include: AIDS Assistance Program, Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre, Coyote StageWorks, Desert AIDS Project, The LGBT Community Center of the Desert just to name a few. For more info and a complete list of organizations benefitting from this great event visit www.destinationpsp.com

OCT 5 BOOTS IN SQUARES PALM SPRINGS Boots In Squares Palm Springs presents LGBT Square Dancing with new beginning classes starting Monday October 5 at 6pm at the Cathedral City Community Center.

Meet great people, get some easy exercise and most of all have fun. Everybody welcome! For info or to register contact Paul Zak 760-898-4581 or bootsinsquares@ icloud.com. www.bootsinsquares.com

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SEPT 8 Mixer 6:00pm – 8:00pm Hosted by Gay Desert Guide Location: Bardot Night Club at the Hard Rock Hotel Palm Springs SEPT 21 Mixer 6:00pm – 8:00pm Desert Winds Freedom Band & Temple Isaiah 332 W Alejo Rd Palm Springs www.desertbusinessassociation.org ONGOING >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

CHILL BAR PALM SPRINGS A warm and fabulous twenty first century modern venue located on Arenas, suited with multi faceted rooms for any celebration. The gorgeous island bar is surrounded by hi-definition video entertainment and a comfortable designer lounge. Chill on the patio enjoying music and refreshing beverages with friends after a game of pool, or come by and say hello to our friendly staff. Open for business seven days a week. Get out of the heat, and come join us! Happy Hour (From Open to 7pm) and Late Happy Hour (From Midnight to Last Call) $4 Well Drinks, $2.75 Bud Light & $1.50 Chill Lager. www.chillbarpalmsprings.com

THE SUNDAY BAND W/ SPECIAL GUESTS. PAPPY & HARRIET’S PIONEERTOWN The Sunday Rock + Roll Service is a Pappy and Harriet’s institution celebrating the healing powers of music and community!

Every weekend the club’s favorite singers and players get together and trade songs.

Come join us to see Victoria Williams, Gar Robertson, Carol Ann Crandall, Damian Lester, Bob Furgo, Rachel Dean, Ryan Norman, Caleb Winn, Danny Frankel and other talented locals performing for your drinking and dancing pleasure. With a come-as-you-are vibe, Sundays have seen great special guests like Robert Plant, Lucinda Williams, The Jayhawks, Rickie Lee Jones to name a few. www.pappyandharriets.com

CARNIVAL CABARET. OSCAR’S CAFÉ & BAR. PALM SPRINGS Carnival Cabaret is a high-end female impersonator revue. This production has traveled throughout the country with performances in casinos, theaters and for corporate events.

Carnival Cabaret features the world’s most amazing cast of men who perform as famous women. You will not believe your eyes! Veteran TV and film actor James

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EVENTS CALENDAR

Gypsy Haake, who holds the record for the oldest working female impersonator in the world, hosts the show. Haake is 83 years old and has been seen in films and television since the 1980s. Shows run every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Dinner show seating begins at 6:30pm. Show only seating begins at 7:30pm. Showtime is 8pm. Tickets start at $29.95.

Tickets: carnivalcabaret.ticketleap.com

COPA In a throwback to old Palm Springs’ nightclubs, the Copa is fashioned around an elevated performing stage and a stunning u-shaped bar lined with leather barstools, upholstered booths, and gilded cocktail tables. Sink into the sexy lounge, sip a cocktail, and enjoy the lineup of local and guest entertainers. For weekly schedule visit www.coparoomps.com

THE PURPLE ROOM Supper club, drinks and live music. It’s where Palm Springs plays. Great entertainment nightly and dinner specials. You never know whom you might see at The Purple Room.

For monthly schedule and info visit www.thepurpleroompalmsprings.com

OSCAR’S CAFÉ & BAR Located in the heart of downtown Palm Springs on the corner of Tahquitz Canyon Way and Indian Canyon, Oscar’s has a huge outdoor patio with lots of umbrellas for shade and misters to keep you cool, too.

You can beat the heat any time of year and enjoy the views of Palm Springs. On Saturday and Sunday from 8am – 2pm, enjoy a $9 Bottomless Mimosas (juice included), a single $2 mimosa or a $5 Bloody Mary with brunch, during which both our full breakfast and lunch menus are available. Also join us for Sunday Funday Weekly Tea Dance 4pm-Close! Live entertainment weekly visit our website for details. www.oscarspalmsprings.com

LIPSTICK AT COPA Thursday nights at Copa just got a little hotter with a new show at the new showroom inside Copa. The Hot New Lipstick show is a raucous affair where the audience is encouraged to participate in singing, clapping, dancing, partying and celebrating special events. Featuring performances by Charles Herrera, Pinkie Meringue Shimmer, Marina Mac, Sassy Ross, Dion Khan, and Cherilyn, and emceed by the fabulous Bella Da Ball, this show will not disappoint. For ticket info and schedule of performers visit www.coparoomps.com

HUNTERS NIGHTCLUBS® Palm Springs, Palm Springs’ go-to gay bar and dance club, has been leading the way in fullout fun for 16 years now! And we keep it pumping, making it better for you all the time with our unparalleled event line-up.

We enjoy having the desert’s most soughtafter and friendly DJs, full-on themed events, and a staff that has it all without the attitude. And of course, we are proud to hold the longest happy hour in the entire Valley. Remember: Size Matters. Come by for our happy hour from 10am – 7pm.

Yes, that’s right: 9 hours long! For a list of all events and specials visit www.huntersnightclubs.com

SUNDAYS “The Playgirls” at Toucans Tiki Lounge featuring Tommi Rose. Performances at 8 & 10pm.These darling Divas of drag really deliver with their very own brand of entertainment to packed houses. Special guests appear weekly. DJ in the sound booth.

Every Sunday Complete list of events www.toucanstikilounge.com FOR A COMPLETE CALENDAR OF EVENTS VISIT OUR MEDIA PARTNER, GAY DESERT GUIDE. CLICK ON LOGO

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EVENTS CALENDAR

SEP 10 - 20

PLAY PRIDE LGBT FESTIVAL. DALLAS, TEXAS Join us for an engaging, intimate evening of new plays and experience groundbreaking new work. Six playwrights will compete for a chance to win $500 for their favorite LGBT charity. The winning play will be selected by audience vote. Each night audience members will receive a ballot to vote for their favorite performance. On closing night, we tally the votes, announce the winning selection and toast the next celebrated playwright in American theatre. www.tecotheater.org

SEP 4 - OCT 3 SEP 25 - 27

FOLSOM STREET FAIR SAN FRANCISCO, CA Bigger is Better at this “Only in San Francisco” event. With over 40,000 fetish enthusiasts spread out over 13 blocks, so mark your calendars. Located on historic Folsom Street, leather and fetish players from around the world converge. With over 200 exhibitor booths showcasing fetish gear and toys. With two massive live stages, two huge dance areas, music, and art, play stations and more, there’s bound to be something for everyone. www.folsomstreetfair.com

ORGULLO FESTIVAL MIAMI, FL A month of Hispanic LGBT Pride, Music, Food, Culture & Fun. Celebrate ORGULLO is a festival of Hispanic LGBT Pride, the first event of its kind in South Florida. Generating thousands of visitors to South Florida each year, the Celebrate ORGULLO Festival has grown to incorporate art, film, music, theatre & education; all while promoting and showcasing the great talent and resources the community has to offer.

Go to www.celebrateorgullo.com

SEP 18

OUT ON THE MOUNTAIN. SIX FLAGS MAGIC MOUNTAIN, VALENCIA, CA Six Flags Magic Mountain’s annual “Out on the Mountain” Gay Night returns this year on Friday, September 18, 2015. The entire park goes gay for the night, which provides a safe and inclusive environment of fun for the LGBTQ community, with rides, dance party, and performers. Over 6,000 people are expected to attended this seventh annual Southern California event of thrill rides and private gay party, while raising funds for local gay charities and organizations. The entire park is closed to the general public for this private party from 6pm-1am.

Info at www.outonthemountain.com

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SEP 22 - 27

ORLANDO BEAR BASH ORLANDO FL Orlando Bear Bash takes place in sunny Orlando, Florida from September 22-27, 2014. Orlando is arguably the biggest tourist destination in the USA and is also regularly hailed as one of The Advocate ranked gayest cities in the USA. Much like Orlando, Orlando Bear Bash proudly features non-stop parties, an unparalleled host resort, and top-notch entertainment. www.orlandobearbash.com

OCT 1 - 8

OUT ON FILM ATLANTA, GEORGIA One of the oldest LGBT film festivals in the country, Atlanta’s Out On Film is dedicated to supporting the exhibition of LGBT film and video art forms Out On Film is an eight-day cinematic journey of our lives, culture and identity.

Our stories of how we live, love, laugh, and grieve. Stories chronicling our history, struggles, present, and how we fight today. www.outonfilm.org

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EVENTS CALENDAR

SEP 18 - 26 SEPT 7 - 13

BENIDORM GAY PRIDE BENIDORM, SPAIN Benidorm showcases the biggest community led gay event of the year. The gay friendly resort has seen a total transformation and change in perception in recent years from the cheap booze style holiday into (and you heard it here first) the cool and trendy resort it is today. Oh yes it is! Benidorm and in particular the old town where the gay village is located offers the perfect Mediterranean backdrop for one of the newest noncommercial pride events in Europe. www.benidormpride.com

SEPT 12 - 14

FOLSOM EUROPE BERLIN, GERMANY The European edition of the infamous Folsom street party. Thousands and thousands in fetish gear will be flocking the streets in the Berlin-Schöneberg district for the 12th edition of Folsom Europe. There’s a lot to discover from the traditional leather bars in the district Schöneberg to the alternative scene in Kreuzberg. The number of countries represented at Folsom Europe is unmatched.

Meet the world at Folsom Europe and the world meets you! Enjoy Berlin, enjoy Folsom, live your fetish! www.folsomeurope.co

QUEER LISBOA / LISBON GAY AND LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL LISBON, PORTUGAL The Oldest Film Festival in Lisbon. Queer Lisboa is the sole Portuguese Film Festival dedicated exclusively to screening gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and transsexual themed films, a genre known as Queer Cinema. It is our purpose that of programming the most aesthetically and narrative wise relevant titles in the international panorama, so that our audience has access to a number of films whose visibility in the film circuit is very restricted. www.queerlisboa.com

SEPT 10 - 13

BOLDFEST VANCOUVER BC, CANADA The 11th Annual North American Conference & Gathering of older lesbians 50+) and younger friends and lovers. Featured performer; Lisa Koch, irreverent lesbian comic/singer-songwriter. Workshops, Socials, outdoor activities, metopes of new and old friends. www.boldfest.com

OCT 1 - 11

TROPICAL MARDI GRAS CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA Tropical Mardi Gras, Cairns, invites you to come and show your love in paradise! Every October, Cairns Tropical Pride welcomes visitors from around the world to join us for ten days of play in the gorgeous environment that is Tropical North Queensland. From dance parties to dive trips, from fine dining and fashion shows to beaches and rainforests, culminating in our Fair Day at the superb Tanks Arts Centre, Tropical Mardi Gras has something for everyone in our rainbow family. www.tropicalmardigras.org

Our international media partner, FNQ Magazine, www.fnqmagazine.com Cairns gay lifestyle and travel publication that gives Australia and the world a taste of gay life in the tropics, sponsors the International Calendar. www.go2gaycairns.com

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PHOTO REWIND JOHN, RYAN & CAMERON’S BIRTHDAY BASH PHOTOS COURTESY OF TERRY HASTINGS

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PHOTO REWIND JAMES ‘GYPSY’ HAAKE ROAST PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID A. LEE

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PHOTO REWIND DESTINATION PSP SWIMWEAR PARTY PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID A. LEE

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PHOTO REWIND LEO LUAU PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID A. LEE

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