Tucson Weekly July 9, 2020

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DANEHY: Here’s a Statue To Tear Down CHOW: A New 17th Street Market SAVAGE LOVE: Lesbian Cucks

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JULY 9, 2020

Southern Arizona

COVID-19

THE LOCAL NUMBERS: The number of confirmed novel coronavirus cases in Arizona continued to skyrocket, topping 105,000 as of Tuesday, July 7, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County topped the 10,000 threshhold, with 10,184 of the state’s 105,094 confirmed cases. A total of 1,927 Arizonans had died after contracting COVID-19, according to the July 7 report. Arizona hospitals continued to see a rise in the number of people hospitalized with COVID symptoms, as well as more people visiting emergency rooms. ADHS reported that as of July 6, a record number of 3,356 Arizonans were hospitalized with COVID symptoms and a record number of 869 COVID patients were in ICU units.

The report shows 1,385 people arrived at emergency rooms with COVID-like symptoms on July 6.

THE NATIONAL NUMBERS: Nationwide, more than 2.9 million people had tested positive for the novel coronavirus, which had killed more than 130,000 people in the United States as of Monday, June 29, according to tracking by Johns Hopkins University.

UNHEALTHY SURGE: The Department of Health has activated its “crisis standards of care” and asked hospitals to cancel non-emergency surgeries as more COVID patients fill hospitals, ICU beds, and emergency rooms. In a visit to Arizona last week, Vice President Mike Pence said the federal government would be sending up to 500 healthcare workers to Arizona to support Arizona’s overstretched nurses and doctors.

Pence’s trip was delayed by a day after several members of his Secret Service detail tested positive for COVID-19.

Some of them were quarantined in a Phoenix hotel with medical supervision, according to CNN. PANDEMIC LEARNING CURVES: With the spread of COVID increasingly out of control in Arizona, Tucson Unified School District and Sunnyside School District announced that they will only offer “distance learning” or online instruction when school starts next month. Unlike in spring, when

Roundup

PRESHIT AMBADE

After more than a month of burning, the Bighorn Fire is mostly contained.

schools moved online following spring break, districts are planning stricter instructional time designed to mirror traditional in-person classes. Other local school districts were still planning on a mix of in-person and distance learning.

See details on Page 4.

UNDOCUMENTED ENTRY TO U.S. NOW PUNISHABLE BY DEATH: Four Democratic members of Congress from Arizona—Raul Grijalva, Ann Kirkpatrick, Ruben Gallego, and Greg Stanton—were among 80 members of Congress who called on Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf and Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Matthew T. Albence to “safely and swiftly” release children and adults held in immigration detention centers due to the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. The group sent the letter

following an order from a federal judge on June 26 saying that all children who have been detained for more than 20 days at three facilities should be released.

“Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Members of Congress, advocates, attorneys, and doctors have continuously urged ICE to use its authority to release detained families,” a letter to the Trump administration officials reads. “Instead of releasing families, ICE has used the pandemic to implement cruel and inhumane policies toward immigrants. For example, in May, following another order from Judge Gee that required ICE conduct individualized release assessments for children in detention-the agency asked detained parents to sign documents without counsel present, leading those parents to believe they were forced to choose between indefinite detention with their children, and the release of their children alone, without them.”

A BIT OF GOOD NEWS: In non-COVID news, firefighters have mostly contained the Bighorn Fire, which has consumed more than 119,000 acres of the Santa Catalina Mountains since a bolt of lightning set the blaze off on the night of Friday, June 5. The fire is 75 percent contained. According to fire crews, the Bighorn Fire is almost completely out.

Despite the scale of the fire, firefighters were able to protect the Mount Lemmon community of Summerhaven, which was evacuated on June 16. ■ —By Jim Nintzel with additional reporting from Kathleen B. Kunz, Austin Counts, Jeff Gardner and Tara Foulkrod

RANDOM SHOTS By Rand Carlson

Cover photo by Hector Acuna, cover design by Ryan Dyson

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JULY 9, 2020 | VOL. 35, NO. 28 The Tucson Weekly is available free of charge in Pima County, limited to one copy per reader. Additional copies of the current issue of the Tucson Weekly may be purchased for $1, payable at the Tucson Weekly office in advance. To find out where you can pick up a free copy of the Tucson Weekly, please visit TucsonWeekly.com

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protocols and mandatory use of face masks.

Extracurricular activities and high school athletics will still be available, with new safety precautions in place.

Remote learning will include video classes with students and teachers all together, as well as one-on-one Zoom meetings. All schedules will be “clearly articulated” to families and online students will be able to participate virtually in programs, assemblies and special events at their schools.

A special education team will work directly with families to accommodate Individualized Education Plans, and all technology and technical support will be provided.

Trujillo said the safety and well-being of the district’s students and staff are a top priority when they make decisions for how to move forward. They are expected to provide updates in the coming weeks before the new school year begins.

JIM NINTZEL Jessica Solomakha has a son entering Local school districts have various plans on how, or if, to reopen for the new year. second grade in TUSD. She works full-time so it would be ideal if her children could go back to school, but she is “extremely nervous” about doing that.

“I feel with the precautions TUSD is taking it’s not quite enough and virtual Amid rising COVID-19 cases, school districts move toward distance learning learning is the safest option and most likely to start the school year the route I will take, but I’d much rather send him back to school where he can interact with children his age and where he can get transition to that once it’s safe to do so.

By Kathleen B. Kunz his teacher to better explain something to “Although starting this school year kathleen@tucsonlocalmedia.com him that he doesn’t understand, and it’s remotely is not ideal, we are committed to easier to do that in person,” Solomakha said. offering every child quality and rigorous PARENTS WILL NEED TO PREPARE “I unfortunately don’t know how to teach curriculum, five days a week, from our high- my kids the way teachers do and I’m scared themselves for having kids around the ly qualified teachers,” Trujillo wrote. house when the school year starts next my kid is going to fall behind in learning Using Zoom and recorded lessons, month after two major Tucson school because of all of this.” approved learning programs and offline districts announced that they will only be She hoped that TUSD would consider providing online instruction until it’s safe to homework, TUSD’s teachers are aiming to doing rotational shifts where small groups provide as comprehensive a learning expe- of students would come to school for a few return to the traditional classroom. rience as possible in the age of COVID-19.

Last week, in response to Arizona’s outhours and then go home. That would make The district is asking parents to register of-control spread of the coronavirus, Gov. her feel safer about having her son in a Doug Ducey delayed the start of the school online for each child indicating their choice classroom setting, where she says he does for either remote learning or on-campus year by two weeks, to Monday, Aug. 17. But much better than learning on an iPad. two districts, Tucson Unified School District instruction when it’s available. This will help A full comparison of the two learning them plan for the best way to reopen schools options can be found at www.tusd1.org/ and Sunnyside Unified School District, in the future. announced over the holiday weekend that NextSteps2020.

Parents can submit and change their they would begin the school year with an Sunnyside School District Superintendent preferences until Saturday, Aug. 1. But once Steve Holmes told parents that Ducey’s Aug. online-only program.

As of the Weekly’s deadline, other districts the school year begins, TUSD will create de- 17 return date is an “aspirational hope” and were still moving forward with plans to pro- fined intervals when parents can transition that the district will begin all classes remotetheir children from one option to another. vide either in-class instruction or distance ly on Wednesday, Aug. 5.

TUSD’s Next Steps 2020, which the learning, but that could change as cases of “While starting school completely online district is calling “A New Era for Education,” is not ideal, I am confident that we are COVID-19 continue to climb. lays out the details for both on-campus and prepared for a remote learning environment In a message to parents, TUSD Superintendent Gabriel Trujillo said that because of at-home learning for all grades K-12. given our track record of using technology In-person instruction will include “blend- as an essential instructional tool for the past the uncertainty about returning to in-pered learning” to ensure that students can son instruction, all students will begin the 10 years,” Holmes said. “Our teachers and switch to remote learning quickly if needed, curriculum staff have been working all sumschool year via remote learning on Monand each school will be expected to pracday, Aug. 10. The families who want their mer to ensure that we can remotely deliver children to return to in-person learning can tice social distancing, enhanced sanitary

CURRENTS

CLASS STRUGGLE

the same rigorous curriculum that would have been offered in person.”

Sunnyside is a one-to-one district, meaning they have the capability to provide every student with a laptop that they can take home and use for schoolwork. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Sunnyside only gave their Chromebooks out to students in grades 4 through 12, but they are now working to supply children in grades K through 3 with a device as well.

Much like TUSD, Sunnyside students will attend class sessions with their teachers and peers through video calls and will complete offline assignments. Sunnyside teachers will be teaching the online curriculum and ensuring that it is the “same rigorous curriculum that would have been offered in person.” Individualized student support and accommodations will be provided, and social and emotional learning will be prioritized.

It is unclear whether Sunnyside will still hold extracurricular activities for students, but all updates will be posted on their district website, susd12.org.

“As a parent of two school-aged children myself, I hear your concerns and share the stress of this ever-changing situation with you,” Holmes said in his message to parents.

“I am confident that together we will emerge from this stronger and better.”

Catalina Foothills Superintendent Mary Kamerzell said their district is “working 24/7” to create two reopening options for families: full-time in-person learning and full-time remote learning.

“While we adapt to new guidance from the State of Arizona, our priority is to design plans for school re-entry that continue our tradition of academic excellence and create a safe environment for students and staff,” Kamerzell said in a message to parents.

“Our primary sources for guidance are the CDC’s Considerations for Schools and the American Academy of Pediatrics’ COVID-19 Planning Considerations.”

If the governor’s start date gets pushed back again, Kamerzell said the district will be 100 percent ready to begin remote learning for all students on Aug. 17.

The district plans to launch a website with more details about their reopening plans on Monday, July 13. More information will be sent out to families in the coming weeks.

Most school districts have created a task force to develop individualized plans for how to return to learning next month.

The Amphi School District and Marana Unified School District are preparing for both in-person and remote learning options as of the Weekly’s deadline. ■

JULY 9, 2020

Matter movement.” The mayor said she was made aware of the permit request after a city employee with the transportation and mobility department “pushed it up to her office” after they discovered Cesolini’s previous shared posts.

“The employee pushed it up to my office and was very concerned that the city manager’s office had requested this group and individual be helped with a street mural,” Romero said. “The employee found out the requestor, Tim Cesolini, had posted racist and white supremacist content on his Facebook profile he made public himself. He was practicing his First Amendment rights.”

Romero said she felt the request wasn’t made in support of TPD officers, but to COURTESY PHOTO support the message that Black Lives “For me, it was more about the Matter is a “symbol of hate,” a viewpoint request being submitted at a time she believes is expressed by President when Donald Trump is attempting to Donald Trump throughout his term. claim Black Lives Matter is a symbol “For me, it was more about the request of hate,” said Tucson Mayor being submitted at a time when Donald Regina Romero.

Trump is attempting to claim Black Lives Matter is a symbol of hate,” Romero said.

“This was about taking a stand against this happening in our city. This has nothing to do with my support of TPD officers, but I don’t think they want a person like Mr. Cesolini representing them.”

Cesolini declined to comment on the The revocation of a request to paint a single matter now on the advice of his attorney. thin blue line in front of the Tucson Police Ward 6 Councilmember Steve KozachDepartment’s Main Headquarters has caused ik believes the city could be facing a pair of lawsuits over the mayor’s comments an uproar over First Amendment rights and might present future legal trouble for the city about Cesolini and revoking Tucson Back the Blue’s request.

“Regina calling this guy a white

By Austin Counts supremacist,” Kozachik said. “She better have proof because that is slander. To austin@tucsonlocalmedia.com show a picture of something that’s on this guy’s Facebook page is probably not LAST THURSDAY, MAYOR REGINA going to be evidence that holds up in Romero alerted Tucsonans via Twitter court proving this guy belongs to a white she was urging City Manager Mike supremacy organization.”

Ortega to revoke a permit he previously Kozachik points out Tucson Back The approved for pro-law enforcement group, Tucson Back the Blue, to paint in front of Blue has been involved with numerous fundraisers that have supported TPD in TPD’s main headquarters.

Romero cited two homophobic and rac- the past. Most recently, the group raised money to purchase PPE for local officers ist posts shared on the Facebook profile out in the field and have raised money for of Timothy Cesolini, the man who filed the families of fallen officers. However, for the request, more than three to five he said the group might want to rethink years ago as the reason for the permit’s who is representing them. revocation.

“Tucson Back The Blue has been doing While not naming Cesolini directly, she referred to him as “an individual with good work in the community,” Kozachik said. “But they might want to consider known ties to white supremacist ideology” in her Twitter statement and said his finding another posterchild instead of some guy who has a fucking confederate group’s permit requests an “effort that flag on his Facebook page. Especially if services to incite and divide our comthey’re asking for community support.” munity, and minimizes the Black Lives

CROSSING THE LINE

Regardless of who the group’s spokesperson is, Kozachik thinks Tucson Back The Blue may have a legal argument their First Amendment rights were infringed upon and the city might find themselves in a lawsuit soon.

“We have a rainbow crosswalk on Fourth Avenue. We have Black Lives Matter on Stone (Avenue) and for us to say no at this point screams to be a First Amendment issue,” Kozachik said. “What basis are we saying no if it’s not about content? Because this is certainly not policy. Our policy says we issue permits for these things.”

Kozachik also notes the city issued a special permit to paint the Black Lives Matter street mural amid the current pandemic when none are supposed to be issued during this time.

“We issued a special permit for the Black Lives Matter one at the same time we’re saying because of COVID-19 we aren’t issuing any special permits,” Kozachik said. “We sometimes bend over backward to make these things work, but this time I think we bent a little too far in the wrong direction.”

JEN SORENSEN

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City Attorney Mike Rankin couldn’t be reached for comment.

Kozachik said he is upset about the vitriol Ward 4 Nikki Lee received on social media over forwarding Tucson Back The Blue’s request to City Manager Mike Ortega. Lee was just doing the job her constituents voted her into office to do, the Ward 6 councilmember said.

“Nikki was doing her job and for her to be pummeled for it is over-the-top wrong,” Kozachik said. “I feel bad for her and her family because this is just totally out of control.”

Lee said she wasn’t familiar with the group before Cesolini made the request.

A member of her staff had forwarded Cesolini’s question on how to apply for a permit, which she then forwarded to the city manager, she said. Lee stands by her decision because she is trying to provide “the best service” to her constituents.

“I support that decision,” Lee said.

“Providing the best service to our constituents is important to me and I want to make sure the community knows if they contact the Ward 4 Council Office, they will receive a response.” ■

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DANEHY

IT’S PAST TIME TO TAKE DOWN TUCSON’S PANCHO VILLA STATUE

By Tom Danehy, tucsonweekly@tucsonlocalmedia.com TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, despite the fact that there are millions of Americans with Italian heritage (myself included), there aren’t any statues of Benito Mussolini anywhere in the United States.

Likewise, there aren’t statues of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto or Herman Goehring or Osama Bin Laden, even though there are millions of Americans who can trace their roots to Japan or Germany or the Middle East. The reason that we’re never going to have statues of these people in the United States is that each of these people directed operations that killed Americans.

Why, then, is there a statue of Pancho Villa smack dab at the entrance to Downtown Tucson…Arizona…USA? Why does this vile swine, who deserves only a gravesite to be pissed upon, instead get a statue? He doesn’t deserve one in his own country, let alone in ours. He killed dozens of Americans, calmly and coldly, on more than one occasion. And yet, there it stands, after all these years.

If you asked 100 Tucsonans who (and what) Pancho Villa was, those who would claim that he was somehow a “revolutionary” are prone to defining things so broadly that they probably believe that a phallic symbol is anything that’s longer

CLAYTOONZ By Clay Jones

than it is wide.

War is ugly and revolution can be extra ugly. Those who have studied the Mexican Revolution of the early 20th century will probably agree that it was less of a politically driven upheaval and more like a Demolition Derby, last man standing.

The Mexican Revolution was understandably messy, with constantly shifting loyalties and former allies squaring off and fighting to the death. Several of the key players were eventually assassinated, including one-time Presidents Francisco Madero, Venustiano Carranza and Alvaro Obregon, as well as Emiliano Zapata and Villa himself. But all that mess was just power-hungry guys being power-hungry guys. What Villa did at other times is completely indefensible.

In Mexico, he is most reviled for his attacks of the villages of San Pedro de la Cueva and Namiquipa. After suffering a humiliating defeat to Carranza’s forces in The Battle of Agua Prieta (across the border from Douglas, Arizona), Villa retreated. What was left of his army entered San Pedro de la Cueva, where Villa personally killed the village priest and then ordered his men to kill 74 male villagers of fighting age.

Namiquipa had long been a Villa stronghold in the state of Chihuahua, but then Villa’s band attacked the town, killed many of the men and herded the town’s women into animal pens, where they were gangraped by Villa’s men. This probably didn’t bother Villa a whole lot, as he was known to rape young teenage girls throughout his reign of terror.

And then there’s his killing of Americans. After suffering that ass-whuppin’ at Agua Prieta, Villa’s men attacked a train near Santa Isabel, Chihuahua. They slaughtered 17 Americans, including 15 who worked for the American Smelting and Refining Company. (Villa admitted to having ordered the attack.) In 1916, Villa attacked the town of Columbus, New Mexico.

Eighteen Americans died in the raid, which was carried out for no reason other than the fact that Villa was a pissy little bitch.

I’ve hated that statue for nearly 40 years.

I hated the fact that Bruce Babbitt, who saw himself as a rising star in the Democratic Party until he unleashed the military on striking mine workers in Graham County, showed no testicular capacity whatsoever by allowing the statue to be erected. Even laid-back Tucson Mayor Lew Murphy had enough sense to boycott the unveiling, telling the City Council members “if you’re smart, you won’t attend either.”

Over the years, there have been movements to take down (or destroy) the monstrosity, but it still stands as a screw you to all Americans. I’ve had discussions with academics and community activists who,

at best, can only offer tepid arguments in favor of the murderous tyrant. Stuff like, “Well, it’s complicated.” No, it isn’t; he killed Americans. Or “things happen in the fog of war.” War is war, but mass rape is rape.

Suddenly, the time may be right. All across the country, statues of men who waged war against the United States are being toppled. Statues of the traitorous Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis are coming down, as are those of their henchmen, Stonewall Jackson and J.E.B. Stuart.

I once said that it would be OK for those statues to remain as long as the truth was attached to them: “Robert E. Lee probably could have prevented the deaths of 600,000 Americans simply by upholding his sworn duty to defend the Constitution of the United States. Instead, he chose treason. He also owned human beings.

President Lincoln punked him by seizing Lee’s plantation, Arlington, and turning it into the national cemetery.” Yeah, that would work.

(Of course, Donald Trump, who will forever be remembered as having been on the wrong side of history, defends the Confederate statues, using words like “heritage” and “legacy” while doing so. What happened to his categorization of people as winners or losers? Every single Confederate traitor ended up a loser.)

It is long past time to add the statue of the murderous rapist Villa to the trash heap of history. That statue is coming down, sooner or later, one way or another. Might as well do it now. ■

JULY 9, 2020

CHOW

COURTESY PHOTO

Tom Kusian is reopening a local favorite with room for vendors, live music and crafts.

MARKET FORCES

When Tucson’s beloved 17th Street Market (quietly) reopens on Saturday, July 11, it’s expected to be unlike anything the Old Pueblo has seen before

By Austin Counts austin@tucsonlocalmedia.com

IMAGINE, IF YOU WILL, AN international farmers market you would likely see in Seattle, San Francisco, or Los Angeles—but located in downtown Tucson.

“Basically, (the 17th Street Market) is opening in a different form. It will be more along the lines of Pike Place Market in Seattle with multiple vendors,” owner Tom Kusian said. “It just seems that Tucson is ripe for it.”

The new 17th Street Market, located in the former Tucson Food Service building, will feature three air-conditioned areas—the farm, the square and the street—that can house up to 15 vendors, host live music and sell local artisanal crafts. When it comes to provisions and vittles, Kusian said the market’s mission is to sell international grocery goods alongside rare and seasonal produce as well as prepared specialty foods from all over the world. They’re currently looking for vendors who can fill that need.

“I think with COVID and everything, people are looking for small and large opportunities to sell goods, so I think the timing makes sense,” Kusian said. “This is going to be a lot of fun. I’m very excited to be doing this.”

The new market will also feature a walk-in produce cooler—like the previous market—for those hard to find fresh items.

Kusian said he has plans to bring back their famed fish market in time, which is great news since Rincon Market recently closed its doors.

“I’m having a discussion with the possible person who would take on that side of the market. We’ll just have to see where that leads,” Kusian said. “Hopefully, we’ll have a large selection of fish.”

Kusian said he understands the concern of opening amid a pandemic, but with the market now located in the 64,000 squarefoot space, he believes social distancing should be achievable since they plan on starting out with limited vendors.

“There’s definitely concerns with opening during the pandemic, but it’s an essential business and will operate like a grocery store,” Kusian said. “Keeping that in mind, we’re going to have a lot of space for social distancing. We’ll be keeping people safe by following the mandated guidelines.”

At the moment, Kusian said the market will only be open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and potential vendors would rent out space by the day. He said he would like to expand his operating hours and allow vendors to rent stalls by the month if the

demand is there.

“Potential vendors will rent out tables by the day and our price is competitive with what other outdoor markets charge. But a few nice benefits are we’re air-conditioned, you don’t have to bring tables or a tent,” Kusian said. “Once we get to a point where we’re bringing on vendors who want to have more of a presence, we’ll start opening more than one day a week.”

The owner said inspiration struck after visiting Seattle’s Pike Place Market while his daughter was attending the University of Washington.

“My daughter, Julie, went to UW and I stopped by the Pike Place Market and thought, ‘Boy, this is really a cool concept,’ and it always stuck in my mind,” Kusian said. “Even when we had the store before, people would tell me it reminded them of the Pike Place Market.”

Kusian originally started the 17th Street Market in 1993 after receiving a load of organic Rainier cherries from a Willcox farmer who had trouble selling the sweet treats to regional chain grocers. The entrepreneur decided to help the farmer by hosting a “dock sale” at his 17th Street warehouse.

The advertising campaign consisted of posting homemade signs along 22nd Street and Broadway Boulevard—Rainier Cherries,

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3 pounds for a $1.

“We agreed to take (the cherries) and help sell the load for him. I thought we should have a dock sale, so we put several pallets of the cherries right at the entrance and sold them for three pounds for a buck,” Kusian said. “We had swarms of people that day and it eventually evolved into a 2,000-square-foot store.”

While the original 17th Street Market had a devoted following, the store closed in March 2013 due to declining sales and new competitors, said Kusian.

“We ran that store for 20 years and when different competitors came to town, I thought we should try something different rather than carry it on anymore,” Kusian said.

The new 17th Street Market is connected to the old building but located just to the west at 870 E. 17th Street, near Park Avenue.

The market’s hours of operation are every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. starting on Saturday, July 11.

“I started the original market with just a little dock sale and it took off pretty rapidly,” Kusian said. “Hopefully, the response is favorable and will keep the snowball rolling.”

For more information, check out 17thstmarket.com. ■

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710 BURN NOTICE

to change the law.

“Due to Arizona law, if something gets passed at the ballot box it’s nearly imRecreational marijuana is poised to make the November ballot, but challenges to kick the possible to undo or amend,” Taylor said.

“If legislation results in an unintended initiative off the 2020 slate are expected consequence that was not contemplated by the proponents, then Arizona can find itself in a very serious and concerning Pearson also said she is confident

By Austin Counts situation.”

Smart and Safe Arizona will pass due to austin@tucsonlocalmedia.com Pearson said the authors of Smart and the public support they’ve seen—even Safe have done their due diligence when during a pandemic—and the number of SMART AND SAFE ARIZONA crafting the initiative. In fact, it’s very simsignatures they were able to collect is the filed 420,000 signatures with the Arizona ilar to other legal recreational marijuana Secretary of State’s Office on July 1 in an proof. laws passed by numerous states.

“The prospect of it passing is inevitaeffort to give voters a chance to legalize “Other states who have legalized before ble,” Pearson said. “(Smart and Safe) will recreational marijuana in November.

Arizona have worked out the qualify for the ballot and it will However, initiative backers expect a kinks and pitfalls for us. We win. Arizona has turned the legal challenge from opponents before saw the issues that arose corner on this issue and the prop is cleared for the ballot. in Colorado, in Alaska, “It’s great to be done,” said Stacey Pear- our polling shows it. We in California, Washingcan feel it in our guts. son, senior vice president of Strategies ton and all the other 360 Arizona, the PR firm handling the ini- the signatures prove states that have gone tiative. “I anticipate someone to challenge it and we’re going to before us,” Pearson get there.” but given the size of our margin, they said. “We have enTwo groups who would not be successful.” sured their mistakes oppose legalizing The initiative collected 180,000 signaare not repeated.” marijuana—The tures more than the 237,467 signatures Lisa James, chairneeded to qualify for the November ballot Arizona Chamber of woman for Arizonans for Commerce and Arizoand filed them a day before the state’s Responsible Drug Policy, is nans for Responsible Drug July 2 deadline. a part of the opposition comPearson said they wanted to collect and Policy—both said they plan on mittee trying to get Smart and Safe challenging Smart and Safe Arizona. file the symbolic number of signatures kicked off the November ballot. She said Garrick Taylor, senior vice president because it was appropriate to the cause in addition to challenging the validity and to illustrate Arizona’s desire to legal- of government relations and commuof signatures turned in, the group is also nications for the Arizona Chamber of ize recreational marijuana. looking for other legal arguments that Commerce and Industry, notes plenty “It seemed fitting,” Pearson said. “ We might disqualify Smart and Safe. of initiatives in the past have submitted knew we were going to have over 420,000 “We are definitely looking at all our more than the needed number of signasignatures and the number seemed aptures, only to get thrown off the ballot due options and receiving every course of acpropriate to file.” tion we can take,” James said. “It’s going to the validity of those signatures.

Pearson said signature collection ef“We’ll challenge to determine whether to take a while for the Secretary of State’s forts were going “exceedingly well” before Office to scan all the signatures and make the pandemic—they had already collected they got the signatures in the quantity the information available to us.” and quality to qualify for the ballot,” 300,000 by the time COVID-19 hit the This isn’t James’ first time taking a state—but to reach their symbolic goal of Taylor said. “I’ll acknowledge (Smart stance against recreational legalization. and Safe Arizona) has lots of signatures, 420,000 signatures, Pearson said they had In 2016, she was a part of another anti-recbut we’ll know soon if they’ll hit the to get creative to continue collecting. reational marijuana group called Vote No “It was going exceedingly well and then threshold.”

Arizona that opposed Prop 205. James In 2016, the chamber also unsuccessthe world changed in March,” Pearson said she opposes recreational use because said. “We had to figure out a way to close fully challenged Prop 205, the previous she doesn’t believe legalizing marijuana the gap between 300,000 and 420,000 sig- marijuana legalization proposal. While Prop 205 did make the ballot that year, the will be a benefit for Arizona. natures. So we set up drive-thru democ“To paraphrase our governor, I think he proposition was rejected by voters. Taylor racy events where folks didn’t even have said it best when he said he hasn’t seen said the chamber’s opposition to legalizto get out of their cars. We also delivered door to door. When we realized you could ing recreational marijuana is largely over a state do any better after marijuana has order French fries to your door, certainly a the fact that once voters pass something, been legalized,” James said. “That’s my lawmakers are limited in what they can do personal position too.” petition could be delivered to you.”

One of the biggest snags other states have experienced after legalizing recreational marijuana: edibles being mistaken for candy—or a non-cannabis laced product—by unsuspecting adults and minors.

Smart and Safe bars companies from producing cannabis products that “imitate brands marketed to children or look like humans, animals, insects, fruits, toys or cartoons.” Furthermore, the initiative caps an edible’s dosage to 10mg a piece and 100mg per pack.

Smart and Safe also allows adults over the age of 21 to legally possess up to one ounce of marijuana and/or five grams of marijuana concentrates. If caught with more than an ounce but less than 2.5 ounces, the penalty decreases from a felony to a petty offense. Minors possessing less than one ounce would receive up to a $100 fine and four hours of drug counseling for a first offense. A second offense would be up to a $100 fine and eight hours of drug counseling. Should a minor receive a third offense, the penalty would be a Class 1 misdemeanor, according to the initiative.

In addition, Smart and Safe provides a path to expunge a person’s previous marijuana convictions—if they were busted with less than one ounce of cannabis—so it won’t hinder their personal record, said Pearson.

“We offer a path to expungement so people with a prior conviction over what we’re trying to legalize are not left behind,” Pearson said. “Felony convictions can haunt someone their entire life. It can affect their access to housing, a job, education or serving in the military.”

However, the penalty for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of marijuana would result in a costly DUI. Also, smoking marijuana in public places will be considered a petty offense and employers still have the right to maintain a drug-free and alcohol-free workplace under the initiative.

“We live in this community. This initiative was developed by Arizonans and Arizona business owners,” Pearson said.

“This is where we live and our families live. We want our roads to be safe and they will continue to be under Smart and Safe.” ■

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HIGH EXPECTATIONS

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Some of the finer medicine you’ll find at your local dispensaries

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CANNABLISS 420 HOT SAUCE Just in case there was a spot in your fridge or recipe yearning to be filled by a weed-infused hot sauce, look no further than the 420 Hot Sauce offered by Cannbliss Arizona. If you were asking yourself, “Why infuse hot sauce with cannabis?”

Our respectful response would be: Why not? Thinking along those lines, Cannabliss’ vinegar-based product isn’t shy with the aroma and taste of its sticky-icky origins, while delivering an immediate reminder that—yes, you are getting high while you eat. Just a few drops will spice up a bowl of chili or use the whole bottle to coat a batch of chicken wings. After the quick hit of cannabis flavor, the vinegar, cayenne pepper and tomato mix take over, and the overall experience is akin to any southern-style hot sauce you would find on your local grocery store shelf — think Louisiana Hot Sauce. Except, as we mentioned before, this one gets you high.

Your hot chicken sandwich will never be the same. We tried out a sativa-hybrid version of the product, and the crew was feeling the effects within minutes. For

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some of us, even before we finished our meal. Once the hot sauce’s sting finishes lingering, the buzz begins. Talk about tableside service. At 200 mg a bottle, we suggest you take things slowly. Don’t expect to go through the whole thing in one meal, unless you’re prepared to feel really motivated and chatty for a couple hours.

Maybe that’s your thing, we’re not going to stop you. Enjoy the barbecue!

DUTCHIES PACK The Dutchie pre-roll pack is a classic for any self-respecting, card-carrying MMJ patient. We compared a generic pre-roll from a dispensary here in town with a Dutchie recently and the Dutchie came out way ahead. While the generic pre-roll had an uneven burn (creating a canoe effect) and a challenging draw, the Dutchie burned evenly and delivered a solid dose with each puff. While the simplicity of the joint is a draw, so is the quality of the flower inside. It’s a potent and consistent product. Plus, the quantity and quality of medicine within means

the Dutchie cigarette can be good for multiple uses before you’re through with it. Just pop it into a plastic cylinder and it’s ready to go the next time you need to medicate. It’s a good time, every time. As if the term “ol’ reliable” is anything but positive! The Dutchie knows how to roll one, as you’re sure to find out.

WANA GUMMIES Wana gummies are a fine addition to various gummies that are available around town. Even our reviewer who finds that medicated gummies have an overpowering aftertaste said that these treats are for someone like him. They have the consistency and resemblance as prickly-pear cactus gummies you might have enjoyed as a kid at Colossal Cave, with none of the marijuana aftertaste you get with some confections. These gummies are not too sweet and not too sour. They also come in a range of doses for those who might want either a lower or a higher dose. You can go low with just a few milligrams of THC and a higher dose of CBD

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or as much as 30 mg of THC. Each craft batch of Wana Sour Gummies is infused with premium extract and is made with all-natural flavors and colors. They are also vegan and gluten-free so there’s no worry of harming animals or aggravating your celiac condition. If you’re looking for an edible that tastes good and packs a quality—yet light dosage—look no further than Wana Sour Gummies.

LOVE CARISSA CHOCOLATES We’ve sung the praises of Love Carissa products in the past. With its signature heart shape, these are some of finest quality chocolate edibles you’re likely to find.

The chocolate flavor pairs well with the keef-enhanced butter to provide a rich treat that you might share with someone you love. At 25mg per chocolate, it’s a high dose, so be sure to be careful if you’re not experienced with edibles or you could end up taking quite a trip.

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print while you smoke that green (or in this case, white). Perfect for a bit of yoga, a walk in the park or some video games.

Pro tip: Beware large dabs—they can sometimes result in anxiety.

“raid the refrigerator like a rabid racoon, watch all four seasons of Rick and Morty in a slightly catatonic state, and then hibernate like a bear in winter” kind of stoniness. IO Extracts batter resembles lemon curd and comes in a small glass jar with a child-proof cap. The taste when smoked isn’t overwhelming but definitely affects the flavor of your flower (if that’s your thing). Batter can also be smoked or vaporized straight, however, you’ll want to follow Brylcreem’s advice—A little dab’ll do ya! Available at Nature Med Dispensary.

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LUMEN CRUMBLE FROM DOWNTOWN DISPENSARY If we were to review the Jenny Kush Crumble with one word, it would simply be “uplifting.” That’s how the Weekly crew felt after even a sample-size dab of this high quality crumble, part of the iLava Lumen line. What looks like tiny pieces of Swiss cheese and smells like lemons and a little pine is actually rocket fuel that packs more than enough punch to improve your mood and set you on the course to stoney productivity. The sativa-dominant strain we tried brought us euphoria along with that uplifting sensation we love so much.

Like other products in the Lumen line, proprietary to Downtown Dispensary, this concentrate comes in a recyclable glass jar and sustainably sourced lid—so you’ll feel better about your green foot-

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IO EXTRACTS BATTER Need to take the edge off? Want to experience the kind of relaxation thought to be only achieved through cryogenic suspension? IO Extracts batter will do the trick. Whether you are adding a touch to your joint or a little dab on top of your flower, this stuff will take your high to the next level. Literally. IO Extratcts batter is like a first-time-youever-got-high kind of high. We’re not talking the first time you ever smoked weed and weren’t sure if you actually got stoned or not. We’re talking full-on,

CANNA CONFECTIONS DAILY DOSE HONEY BUZZERS These pleasant, slightly cannabis-spicy little candies are like a ray of golden sunshine and can make a day doing household chores seem like not doing chores at all. Buzzers come in two-packs, weighing in at 15 mgs apiece in an indica blend that won’t make you forget where you left the keys to the tool shed. They are not cloyingly sweet like some candies and include such tasty elements as chamomile tea and lemongrass oil along with the oils of several other herbs and natural flavors. They are gluten free and utilize cane sugar, so anyone with an aversion to corn syrup can dose up without worry. Take one with coffee in the morning and in about 45 minute or so, enjoy a few hours with a mellow buzz that leaves the mind sharp and the body vigorous for any house-

hold chore or outdoor activity. Or, take two and blow off the activities for a good book and more coffee.

RELEAF BRAND LOTIONS With all this hand-washing we are doing—you are washing your hands frequently, right?—our skin is starting to feel cracked and achy. If you’re seeking a solution, look no further than the line of Releaf Brand topicals at Desert Bloom.

This house brand combines THC with a variety of lotions and salves that to create massage butter, muscle jelly, body balm, lavender lotion and even mineral sunscreen. It will heal your damaged skin and even ease aches and pains. And if you’re really feeling adventurous, you can even try their suppository, which will definitely let you explore the dark side of the moon. ■

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CANNABIS AND CORONAVIRUS Two studies show some promise in treating COVID-19 with CBD, but it’s a long way from definitive

By David Abbott david@tucsonlocalmedia.com YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE to run to the local MMJ outlet to buy a cure-all for COVID-19, but cannabis is still on the menu, with at least two clinical studies underway evaluating CBDs for prevention and treatment of the novel coronavirus.

Even if it is not the panacea the world is looking for, use of MMJ is probably a lot safer than injecting disinfectant into your veins.

While studies for coronavirus therapies are in the infancy stages, some have shown promise blocking the virus, and as an anti-inflammatory agent for those afflicted with the disease. Two such studies, originating in Canada and Israel, have recently caught the attention of medicinal cannabis advocates hoping to further legitimize the herb as mainstream medicine.

The studies are not for an anti-virus

vaccine, but as therapies that could enhance primary treatment and “prevention strategies” to deny the virus entry into the body or as an anti-inflammatory treatment that may help prevent acute respiratory distress for those afflicted with the disease.

The Canadian study is a collaboration between the University of Lethbridge, Pathway Rx, a Canadian pharmaceutical research company that develops cannabis therapies and Swysh, Inc., a cannabinoid-based oral health company.

In April, the group released a preclinical study for peer review titled, “In Search of Preventative Strategies: Novel Anti-Inflammatory High-CBD Cannabis Sativa Extracts Modulate ACE2 Expression in COVID-19 Gateway Tissues.”

The study looked at hundreds of strains of cannabis and their effect on artificial lung, oral/nasal and intestinal tissue and their ability to modulate angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2).

According to researchers involved in the

BIGSTOCK/DAVID ABBOTT

study, ACE2 is a receptor required for COVID to enter the cells.

“ACE2 may be the way COVID enters the cell,” Heather Moroso, NMD said. “If

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enter. If you make less or block ACE2, then potentially that’s fewer doors for the virus to enter.”

If the research proves successful, the resulting medications could be administered in the form of mouthwash, gargle, inhalants or gel caps, according to those involved with the study. Smoking cannabis, on the other hand, might exacerbate lung problems brought on by the virus.

“There is some evidence that smoking in general may make one more vulnerable to COVID,” Moroso said.

Researchers say a fraction of the strains that have been tested have shown success in reducing virus receptors by as much as 73 percent.

Studies may have hit roadblocks though, as a lack of clinical trials and insufficient funding has kept the work in its infancy phase.

The Israeli study, a collaboration between InnoCan Pharma of Israel and Tel Aviv University, focuses on products using CBD-loaded exosomes to treat lung inflammation.

The exosomes could be safely administered without adverse reactions, creating a potentially safe delivery system via inhalation for a variety of lung infections in COVID patients. The study focused on CBDs in order to reduce patient impairment that may be caused by higher levels of THC in other forms of the drug.

While the studies represent something of a boon for cannabis advocates, locally, response to the reports is that it’s “not ready for prime time.”

To begin with, the Canadian study utilized artificial tissue models, so it is not clear if the results would be the same if conducted on living humans.

“The [Lethbridge] paper utilizes tissue models which are very far removed from human, or animal, organs in-situ and hence any conclusions must be taken with great caution,” said a retired Tucson neuroscientist who declined to be identified for this report. “In my opinion, the results are extremely preliminary and may not have any relevance to the question at hand: adjunct therapies to combat COVID-19 infection.”

There is also a problem of “confirmation bias,” which means there may be a subconscious desire for a cannabis “miracle cure” that may lead to a loss of objectivity in processing the results of studies on the drug.

“Everybody wants cannabis to be a cure-all miracle drug,” Moroso said, adding that while the state of Arizona does not recognize sleep issues as qualifying conditions, sleep can be an important aspect to stress reduction.

Additionally, during the current state of the pandemic, MMJ can have positive effects on patients experiencing anxiety over their lives and futures, as the economic and health impacts of a global pandemic make the future murky, at best.

“Cannabis can help people suffering from anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder,” Moroso said. “The stress and anxiety of being in isolation; unknown job and family situations; domestic abuse and isolation? I’m not a rocket scientist, but sensible use of the drug can help reduce the anxiety.” ■

During times of crisis, independent journalism is more important than ever.

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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

By Rob Brezsny. Go to RealAstrology.com to check out Rob Brezsny’s EXPANDED WEEKLY HOROSCOPE 1-877-873-4888 or 1-900-950-7700 $1.99 per minute. 18 and over. Touchtone phone required.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): “As beautiful as simplicity is, it can become a tradition that stands in the way of exploration,” said singer Laura Nyro.

This is practical advice for you to heed in the coming weeks. According to my analysis, you’re scheduled to enjoy an extended engagement with rich, fertile complexity. The best teachings won’t be reducible to a few basic lessons; rather, they’ll be rife with soulful nuances. The same is true about the splendid dilemmas that bring you stimulating amusements: They can’t and shouldn’t be forced into pigeonholes. As a general rule, anything that seems easy and smooth and straightforward will probably not be useful. Your power will come from what’s crooked, dense, and labyrinthine.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You may think that playing heavy metal music and knitting with yarn don’t have much in common. And yet there is an annual contest in Joensuu, Finland where people with expertise in needlework join heavy metal musicians on stage, plying their craft in rhythm to the beat. The next Heavy Metal Knitting World Championship will be July 15-16, 2021. This year’s event was canceled due to the pandemic. If it had been staged, I bet multiple Tauruses would have been among the top ten competitors. Why? Because you Bulls are at the peak of your ability to combine things that aren’t often combined. You have the potential to excel at making unexpected connections, linking influences that haven’t been linked before, and being successful at comparing apples and oranges.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In 1848, Danish King Frederick VII agreed, under pressure from liberal agitators, to relinquish some of his absolute power.

Thereafter, he shared his decision-making with a newly formed parliament. He was pleased with this big change because it lightened his workload.

“That was nice,” he remarked after signing the new constitution. “Now I can sleep in every morning.”

I recommend him to you as an inspirational role

model in the coming weeks. What so-called advantages in your life are more boring or burdensome than fun and interesting? Consider the possibility of shedding dubious “privileges” and status symbols.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Cancerian author Mary McCarthy provides you with a challenge you’ll be wise to relish during the rest of 2020. She writes, “Everyone continues to be interested in the quest for the self, but what you feel when you’re older is that you really must make the self.” McCarthy implies that this epic reorientation isn’t likely until you’ve been on earth for at least four decades. But judging from the astrological omens, I think you’re ready for it now—no matter what your age is. To drive home the point, I’ll say it in different words.

Your task isn’t to find yourself, but rather to create yourself. Don’t wait around passively for life to show you who you are. Show life who you are.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Some night soon, I predict you’ll have an agitated dream while you’re asleep: a nightmare that symbolizes an unresolved conflict you’re wrestling with in your waking life. Here’s a possible example: A repulsive politician you dislike may threaten to break a toy you loved when you were a kid. But surprise! There’ll be a happy ending. A good monster will appear in your dream and fix the problem; in my example, the benevolent beast will scare away the politician who’s about to break your beloved toy. Now here’s the great news: In the days after your dream, you’ll solve the conflict you’ve been wrestling with in your waking life.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): “Love is the best school, but the tuition is high and the homework can be painful,” writes author Diane Ackerman. I’m guessing that in recent months, her description has been partially true for you Virgos. From what I can tell, love has indeed been a rigorous school. And the tuition has been rather high. But on the other hand, the homework has been at least as pleasurable as it

SAVAGE LOVE CUCKING DYKES

By Dan Savage, mail@savagelove.net

I’m a lesbian in a long-term relationship.

After much conversation with my partner we’ve decided to explore cuckolding roleplay together. I’m not comfortable bringing another person into the relationship—especially right now—but I am willing to explore this as a fantasy. The thing is, I’m having a hard time figuring out how to do it. There’s not a lot of info out there on how to engage in cuck role-play, especially between two women. Could you point me in the right direction here so we can have some fun while remaining monogamous?

—Couldn’t Undergo Cuckolding Kink’s Glories In Real Life

“You can definitely introduce cuckolding themes and even a cuck identity into your relationship while remaining monogamous,” said Thomas, a married gay man and former cuck blogger whose husband has cucked him many times IRL. “In fact, many cuckold relationships are monogamous and cucking remains in the fantasy realm.”

Thomas even sees his relationship as monogamous—at least on his side. “The definition of monogamy varies greatly for each couple,” said Thomas, “and I do consider myself monogamous because I’m the cuck and so I don’t technically

has been painful. I expect these trends to continue for the foreseeable future. What teachings about intimacy, communion, tenderness, and compassion would you like to study next?

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “A single feat of daring can alter the whole conception of what is possible,” wrote Libran novelist Graham Greene. His words can serve as a stirring motto for you in the coming weeks. I sense you’re close to summoning a burst of courage—a bigger supply of audacity than you’ve had access to in a while. I hope you’ll harness this raw power to fuel a daring feat that will expand your conception of what is possible.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “It’s not always easy to tell the difference between thinking and looking out of the window,” wrote poet Wallace Stevens.

That’s a problem you won’t have to worry about anytime soon. The coming weeks will be a favorable phase for you to both think and gaze out the window—as well as to explore all the states in-between. In other words, you’ll have the right and the need to indulge in a leisurely series of dreamy ruminations and meandering fantasies and playful explorations of your deepest depths and your highest heights. Don’t rush the process. Allow yourself to linger in the gray areas and the vast stretches of inner wildness.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The coming weeks will be a favorable time to undertake a transformative vision quest, even if the exigencies of the pandemic require your quest to unfold primarily in your inner realms. The near future will also bring you good fortune if you focus on creating more sacredness in your rhythm and if you make a focused effort to seek out songs, texts, inspirations, natural places, and teachers that infuse you with a reverence for life. I’m trying to help you to see, Sagittarius, that you’re in a phase when you can attract healing synchronicities into your world by deepening your sense of awe and communing with experiences that galvanize you to feel worshipful.

have sex with other guys. My husband does. I just get to watch sometimes.”

Let me quickly define terms for readers who somehow missed the three hundred other columns I’ve written about cuckolding over the years: A cuckold relationship is a one-sided open relationship where one partner is free to have sex with other people while the other partner remains faithful. What distinguishes a cuckold relationship from your standard open relationship where one person doesn’t care to sleep around is the element of humiliation. In most cuckold relationships, GUCKGIRL, the cuck—the person who remains faithful— enjoys being teased or mocked by their “unfaithful” partner; sometimes the “unfaithful” partner’s lover or lovers, usually

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “To love well is the task in all meaningful relationships, not just romantic bonds.” The author and activist bell hooks wrote that. (She doesn’t capitalize her name.)

In accordance with the highest astrological potentials, I’m inviting you Capricorns to be inspired by her wisdom as you upgrade your meaningful relationships during the next six weeks. I think it’s in your self-interest to give them even more focus and respect and appreciation than you already do.

Be ingenious as you boost the generosity of spirit you bestow on your allies. Be resourceful as you do this impeccable work in the midst of a pandemic!

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “One-half of knowing what you want is knowing what you must give up before you get it,” wrote author Sydney Howard.

Now would be a perfect time to act on that excellent advice. Is there any obstacle standing in the way of your ability to achieve a beloved dream?

Is there a pretty good thing that’s distracting you from devoting yourself wholeheartedly to a really great thing? I invite you to be a bit ruthless as you clear the way to pursue your heart’s desire.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Author Ellen Goodman writes, “The truth is that we can overhaul our surroundings, renovate our environment, talk a new game, join a new club, far more easily than we can change the way we respond emotionally. It is easier to change behavior than feelings about that behavior.” I think she’s correct in her assessment.

But I also suspect that you’re in a prime position to be an exception to the rule. In the coming weeks, you will have exceptional power to transform the way you feel—especially if those feelings have previously been based on a misunderstanding of reality and especially if those feelings have been detrimental to your mental and physical health. ■ Homework: Is there a so-called weakness or liability you might be able to turn into an asset?

FreeWillAstrology.com

referred to as “bulls,” participates in the erotic humiliation of the cuck partner.

Thomas created a popular Tumblr blog about gay male cuckold relationships back when there was very little information about gay cuckolds online, CUCKGIRL, much less gay cuckold porn or other resources. In fact, there was once so little info online or anywhere else about gay cuckolds that many people—myself included—weren’t convinced that gay cuckolding was actually a thing.

Cuckolding wasn’t a thing in Thomas’s marriage at the start. “Total monogamy had always been the plan,” said Thomas. “But I got interested after seeing some straight cuckold porn. I immediately identified with the cuck but I

JULY 9, 2020

was too embarrassed to bring it up with my husband because it went against our vision of our marriage but also because I only ever saw cuckolding represented in straight porn.” Raising awareness of gay cuckolds—and representing gay cuckold relationships—motivated Thomas to start his blog. So if you’re not finding anything out there about lesbian cuckolding, CUCKGIRL, perhaps you could borrow a page from Thomas’s playbook and create the content and resources you would like to see.

Sadly, Thomas’s gay cuckolding blog is no more. His was just one of the many sex blogs—deeply personal passion projects, one and all—that were lost forever after the geniuses who ran Tumblr decided to purge adult content from their platform. In a matter of days Tumblr saw its traffic fall by one-third and its value crater. Yahoo paid $1.1 billion to acquire Tumblr back 2013 but six years and one porn purge later the site sold for just $20 million—less than 2% of what Tumblr was worth when it still hosted Thomas’s gay cuckolding blog. (The moral of this story: Don’t fuck with gay cuckolds.)

Thomas thinks it’s entirely possible for you and your partner to enjoy lesbian cuckolding fantasies while keeping your relationship monogamous on both sides.

Indeed, that’s what Thomas and his husband did for many years. “My husband and I started playing around with cuckold fantasies several years into our marriage and it remained a hot role-play fantasy for a long time,” said Thomas. “It was fun, it was sexy, and it improved our ability to communicate with each other about sex in general.” They kept their fantasy play simple at first—for example, his husband would talk about a guy he found hot while Thomas blew him or Thomas would tease his husband about a sexy new coworker of his that he knew his husband had a crush on. They would use insertion toys and pretend they were other guys’ dicks and only gradually did they introduce some humiliating dirty talk into their cuckold role-play talk, and then only as Thomas’s husband become more comfortable with the idea of humiliating him. “Making use of cam sites is also a great way to explore if you’re comfortable with that level of monogamish,” said Thomas. “If you’re a cuck like me, watching your partner perform for someone else is incredibly erotic.”

A more monogamous way to explore cuckolding without opening the relationship—not even a crack—is simply to

ask your partner to tell you about her past sexual encounters. Listening to your partner talk about hot experiences she had with other women while you masturbate or while you two fuck is a great way to explore cuckolding without actually opening up your relationship.

You’ll be bringing people up, CUCKGIRL, not bringing them in.

“But just as a gay cuckold couple’s fantasies aren’t identical to a straight couple’s cuckold fantasies, a lesbian couple’s fantasies aren’t going to be the same either,” said Thomas. “CUCKGIRL and her partner just have to find their own way. But the most important thing is to keep communicating. Always communicate! If a particular form of roleplay isn’t working, tell your partner. And give each other veto powers and go easy on yourself. Cuckolding is a fantasy that plays with your fears around monogamy and infidelity—it can be very hot but it can be scary too. So take it slow.”

Like a lot of sex bloggers who were kicked off Tumblr, Thomas migrated over to Twitter, where he currently has more than 13,000 followers. His handle on Twitter is @gaycuckoldhubby.

I’m a straight lady in my mid-30s and I just found out my husband of six years and partner for 10 has been cheating on me for the last five years. As far as I knew, we had a perfect marriage—probably the best relationship, sexual or otherwise, I’d ever

TUCSONWEEKLY.COM 17

been in. If this was a one-off affair, I think I could work past this—counseling, open marriage, some sort of solution. But the fact that he’s lied to me for the five years and that the sex was unsafe (I saw video) disturbs me. My heart doesn’t want this to end—he’s been my best friend, lover, and support system for ten years—but my brain is telling me that even if we renegotiated the terms of our marriage, he’d deceive me again. I’m working with a therapist, but what’s your take? Once a cheater, always a cheater? I don’t expect an all-knowing answer. But a little perspective would be helpful.

his cheating, it wasn’t all a lie, but it was a lot less perfect that I thought.” That’s where you’ll need to get if you want to stay in this marriage—and that may be the biggest “if” you’ll ever confront in your life. And while there are no studies that “once a cheater, always a cheater,” studies have shown that someone who has cheated is more likely to cheat again. Not certain to cheat again, but more likely to cheat than someone who’s never cheated. I’m so sorry you’re going through this, particularly now.

—Duped Wife

I often masturbate thinking about the straight boy who wakes up in female underwear, tied up, gagged, and pegged by a female. Is there a name for this fantasy?

For most of your marriage—for most of a marriage you describe as perfect—your husband was cheating on you. My perspective/two cents: Instead of regarding everything that worked about your marriage as a lie, instead of seeing every loving moment as just some part of your husband’s long and very selfish con, you might want to see what was good about your marriage and what was bad about your husband as two things that existed side-by-side. So instead of telling yourself, “This was a lousy marriage, it was all a lie, I just didn’t know it,” tell yourself, “It was a good marriage despite

The

—Good And Simple Pervert

I can’t give you a name—a name for this sequence of events and mélange of kinks—but I know plenty of professional female dominants that would be happy to give you an estimate. ■ Do not miss the Planned Parenthood show! savagelovecast.com mail@savagelove.net Follow Dan on Twitter @FakeDanSavage savagelovecast.com

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