THE FIGHT L.A.'S LGBT MONTHLY MAGAZINE JUNE 2014 by The Fight Magazine

A single moment can change everything.

A simple ceremony. An approved adoption. A plan for retirement. These personal victories have a huge impact on our collective community. Each step toward equality, every milestone reached, is a big leap forward for all of us. However, we know there is still work to do. That’s why Wells Fargo teams up with HRC, GLSEN, NGLCC and other organizations to provide resources and financial guidance to LGBT communities. And as the first to offer financial advisors with the Accredited Domestic Partnership AdvisorSM designation, we are well versed on current laws to help you develop a solid plan for the future. Together, we move forward. Step by step, with individuals, in communities — we can make what once seemed impossible a reality. wellsfargo.com/lgbt

2014

ABOUT PREZISTA®

PREZISTA® does not cure HIV infection or AIDS and you may continue to experience illnesses associated with HIV-1 infection, including opportunistic infections. You should remain under the care of a doctor when using PREZISTA.® Please read Important Safety Information below, and talk to your healthcare provider to learn if PREZISTA® is right for you.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION What is the most important information I should know about PREZISTA®? • PREZISTA® can interact with other medicines and cause serious side effects. See “Who should not take PREZISTA®?” • PREZISTA® may cause liver problems. Some people taking PREZISTA,® together with Norvir ® (ritonavir), have developed liver problems which may be life-threatening. Your healthcare provider should do blood tests before and during your combination treatment with PREZISTA®. If you have chronic hepatitis B or C infection, your healthcare provider should check your blood tests more often because you have an increased chance of developing liver problems • Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these signs and symptoms of liver problems: dark (tea-colored) urine, yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes, palecolored stools (bowel movements), nausea, vomiting, pain or tenderness on your right side below your ribs, or loss of appetite • PREZISTA® may cause severe or life-threatening skin reactions or rash. Sometimes these skin reactions and skin rashes can become severe and require treatment in a hospital. You should call your healthcare provider immediately if you develop a rash. However, stop taking PREZISTA® and ritonavir combination treatment and call your healthcare provider immediately if you develop any skin changes with these symptoms: fever, tiredness, muscle or joint pain, blisters or skin lesions, mouth sores or ulcers, red or inflamed eyes, like “pink eye.” Rash occurred more often in patients taking PREZISTA® and raltegravir together than with either drug separately, but was generally mild Who should not take PREZISTA®? • Do not take PREZISTA® if you are taking the following medicines: alfuzosin (Uroxatral®), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E.45,® Embolex,® Migranal®), ergotamine (Cafergot,® Ergomar®), methylergonovine, cisapride (Propulsid®), pimozide (Orap®), oral midazolam (Versed®), triazolam (Halcion®), the herbal supplement St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), lovastatin (Mevacor,® Altoprev,® Advicor®), salmeterol (Advair,® Serevent®), simvastatin (Zocor,® Simcor,® Vytorin®), rifampin (Rifadin,® Rifater,® Rifamate,® Rimactane®), sildenafil (Revatio®) when used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension, indinavir (Crixivan®), lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra®), saquinavir (Invirase®), boceprevir (Victrelis®), or telaprevir (Incivek®)

• Before taking PREZISTA®, tell your healthcare provider if you are taking sildenafil (Viagra,® Revatio®), vardenafil (Levitra,® Staxyn®), tadalafil (Cialis,® Adcirca®), atorvastatin (Lipitor®), rosuvastatin (Crestor®), pravastatin (Pravachol®), or colchicine (Colcrys,® Col-Probenecid®). Tell your healthcare provider if you are taking estrogen-based contraceptives (birth control). PREZISTA® might reduce the effectiveness of estrogenbased contraceptives. You must take additional precautions for birth control, such as condoms Serious problems can happen if you or your child takes any of these medicines with PREZISTA®. This is not a complete list of medicines. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you are taking or plan to take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Do not start any new medicines while you are taking PREZISTA® without first talking to your healthcare provider. What should I tell my doctor before I take PREZISTA®? • Before taking PREZISTA®, tell your healthcare provider if you have any medical conditions, including liver problems (including hepatitis B or C), allergy to sulfa medicines, diabetes, or hemophilia • Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding — The effects of PREZISTA® on pregnant women or their unborn babies are not known. You and your healthcare provider will need to decide if taking PREZISTA® is right for you — Do not breastfeed. It is not known if PREZISTA® can be passed to your baby in your breast milk and whether it could harm your baby. Also, mothers with HIV should not breastfeed because HIV can be passed to your baby in the breast milk What are the possible side effects of PREZISTA®? • High blood sugar, diabetes or worsening of diabetes, and increased bleeding in people with hemophilia have been reported in patients taking protease inhibitor medicines, including PREZISTA® • Changes in body fat have been seen in some patients taking HIV medicines, including PREZISTA®. The cause and long-term health effects of these conditions are not known at this time • Changes in your immune system can happen when you start taking HIV medicines. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that have been hidden • The most common side effects related to taking PREZISTA® include diarrhea, nausea, rash, headache, stomach pain, and vomiting. This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. If you experience these or other side effects, talk to your healthcare provider. Do not stop taking PREZISTA® or any other medicines without first talking to your healthcare provider You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Please refer to the ritonavir (Norvir®) Product Information (PI and PPI) for additional information on precautionary measures. Please see accompanying full Product Information for more details.

013729-140415

PREZISTA® (darunavir) is a prescription medicine. It is one treatment option in the class of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) medicines known as protease inhibitors. PREZISTA® is always taken with and at the same time as ritonavir (Norvir®), in combination with other HIV medicines for the treatment of HIV infection in adults. PREZISTA® should also be taken with food.

ily

Once-Da

Once-Daily PREZISTA® (darunavir) taken with ritonavir and in combination with other HIV medications can help lower your viral load and keep your HIV under control. The PREZISTA® Experience isn’t just an HIV treatment. It’s an HIV treatment experience as unique as you.

Call

**PRZ (**779)

on your mobile phone to watch videos of people living the PREZISTA® Experience.

Please read the Important Safety Information and Patient Information on adjacent pages.

Janssen Therapeutics, Division of Janssen Products, LP © Janssen Therapeutics, Division of Janssen Products, LP 2014 05/14 014606-140430

IMPORTANT PATIENT INFORMATION PREZISTA (pre-ZIS-ta) (darunavir) Oral Suspension PREZISTA (pre-ZIS-ta) (darunavir) Tablets Read this Patient Information before you start taking PREZISTA and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about your medical condition or your treatment. Also read the Patient Information leaflet for NORVIR® (ritonavir). What is the most important information I should know about PREZISTA? • PREZISTA can interact with other medicines and cause serious side effects. It is important to know the medicines that should not be taken with PREZISTA. See the section “Who should not take PREZISTA?” • PREZISTA may cause liver problems. Some people taking PREZISTA in combination with NORVIR® (ritonavir) have developed liver problems which may be life-threatening. Your healthcare provider should do blood tests before and during your combination treatment with PREZISTA. If you have chronic hepatitis B or C infection, your healthcare provider should check your blood tests more often because you have an increased chance of developing liver problems. • Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the below signs and symptoms of liver problems. • Dark (tea colored) urine • yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes • pale colored stools (bowel movements) • nausea • vomiting • pain or tenderness on your right side below your ribs • loss of appetite PREZISTA may cause severe or life-threatening skin reactions or rash. Sometimes these skin reactions and skin rashes can become severe and require treatment in a hospital. You should call your healthcare provider immediately if you develop a rash. However, stop taking PREZISTA and ritonavir combination treatment and call your healthcare provider immediately if you develop any skin changes with symptoms below: • fever • tiredness • muscle or joint pain • blisters or skin lesions • mouth sores or ulcers • red or inflamed eyes, like “pink eye” (conjunctivitis) Rash occurred more often in people taking PREZISTA and raltegravir together than with either drug separately, but was generally mild. See “What are the possible side effects of PREZISTA?” for more information about side effects. What is PREZISTA? PREZISTA is a prescription anti-HIV medicine used with ritonavir and other anti-HIV medicines to treat adults with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection. PREZISTA is a type of anti-HIV medicine called a protease inhibitor. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). When used with other HIV medicines, PREZISTA may help to reduce the amount of HIV in your blood (called “viral load”). PREZISTA may also help to increase the number of white blood cells called CD4 (T) cell which help fight off other infections. Reducing the amount of HIV and increasing the CD4 (T) cell count may improve your immune system. This may reduce your risk of death or infections that can happen when your immune system is weak (opportunistic infections). PREZISTA does not cure HIV infection or AIDS and you may continue to experience illnesses associated with HIV-1 infection, including opportunistic infections. You should remain under the care of a doctor when using PREZISTA. Avoid doing things that can spread HIV-1 infection. • Do not share needles or other injection equipment. • Do not share personal items that can have blood or body fluids on them, like toothbrushes and razor blades. • Do not have any kind of sex without protection. Always practice safe sex by using a latex or polyurethane condom to lower the chance of sexual contact with semen, vaginal secretions, or blood. Ask your healthcare provider if you have any questions on how to prevent passing HIV to other people.

Who should not take PREZISTA? Do not take PREZISTA with any of the following medicines: • alfuzosin (Uroxatral®) • ergot-containing medicines: dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45®, Embolex®, Migranal®), ergotamine (Cafergot®, Ergomar®) methylergonovine • cisapride • pimozide (Orap®) • oral midazolam (Versed®), triazolam (Halcion®) • the herbal supplement St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) • the cholesterol lowering medicines lovastatin (Mevacor®, Altoprev®, Advicor®) or simvastatin (Zocor®, Simcor®, Vytorin®) • rifampin (Rifadin®, Rifater®, Rifamate®, Rimactane®) • sildenafil (Revatio®) only when used for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Serious problems can happen if you take any of these medicines with PREZISTA. What should I tell my doctor before I take PREZISTA? PREZISTA may not be right for you. Before taking PREZISTA, tell your healthcare provider if you: • have liver problems, including hepatitis B or hepatitis C • are allergic to sulfa medicines • have high blood sugar (diabetes) • have hemophilia • are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It is not known if PREZISTA will harm your unborn baby. Pregnancy Registry: You and your healthcare provider will need to decide if taking PREZISTA is right for you. If you take PREZISTA while you are pregnant, talk to your healthcare provider about how you can be included in the Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry. The purpose of the registry is follow the health of you and your baby. • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. We do not know if PREZISTA can be passed to your baby in your breast milk and whether it could harm your baby. Also, mothers with HIV-1 should not breastfeed because HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in the breast milk. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Using PREZISTA and certain other medicines may affect each other causing serious side effects. PREZISTA may affect the way other medicines work and other medicines may affect how PREZISTA works. Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take any of the medicines listed below. The generic name is provided, followed by examples of possible brand names for the drug product: • medicine to treat HIV • estrogen-based contraceptives (birth control). PREZISTA might reduce the effectiveness of estrogen-based contraceptives. You must take additional precautions for birth control such as a condom. • medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection such as cyclosporine (Gengraf®, Sandimmune®, Neoral®), tacrolimus (Prograf®), sirolimus (Rapamune®) • amiodarone (Pacerone®, Cardarone®) • artemether/lumefantrine (Coartem®) • atorvastatin (Lipitor®) • bepridil (Bepadin®, Vascor®) • boceprevir (VictrelisTM) • bosentan (Tracleer®) • buprenorphine (Butrans®, Buprenex®, Subutex®) • buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone®, Zubsolv®) • carbamazepine (Carbatrol®, Equetro®, Tegretol®, Epitol®) • clarithromycin (Prevpac®, Biaxin®) • colchicine (Colcrys®, Col-Probenecid®) • desipramine (Norpramin®) • dexamethasone (Ozurdex®) • digoxin (Lanoxin®) • felodipine (Plendil®) • flecainide (Tambocor®) • fluticasone (Advair Diskus®, Veramyst®, Flovent®, Flonase®) • itraconazole (Sporanox®, Onmel®) • ketoconazole (Nizoral®) • lidocaine (Xylocaine Viscous®) • methadone (Methadose®) • metoprolol (Lopressor®, Toprol-XL®) • nicardipine (Cardene®) • nifedipine (Procardia®, Adalat CC®, Afeditab CR®) • paroxetine (Paxil®, Pexeva®) • phenobarbital

IMPORTANT PATIENT INFORMATION • phenytoin (Dilantin , Phenytek ) • pravastatin (Pravachol®) • propafenone (Rythmol®) • quinidine (Nuedexta®) • rifabutin (Mycobutin®) • risperidone (Risperdal®) • rosuvastatin (Crestor®) • salmeterol (Advair®, Serevent®) • sertraline (Zoloft®) • sildenafil ( Viagra®, Revatio®) • tadalafil (Cialis®, Adcirca®) • telaprevir (IncivekTM) • thioridazine (Mellaril®) • timolol (Cosopt®, Betimol®, Timoptic®, Isatolol®, Combigan®) • trazodone (Oleptro®, Desyrel®) • warfarin (Coumadin®, Jantoven®) • vardenafil (Levitra®, Staxyn®) • voriconazole (VFend®) This is not a complete list of medicines that you should tell your healthcare provider that you are taking. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if your medicine is one that is listed above. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your doctor or pharmacist when you get a new medicine. Do not start any new medicines while you are taking PREZISTA without first talking with your healthcare provider. How should I take PREZISTA? • Take PREZISTA every day exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider. • You must take ritonavir (NORVIR®) at the same time as PREZISTA. • Do not change your dose of PREZISTA or stop treatment without talking to your healthcare provider first. • Take PREZISTA and ritonavir (NORVIR®) with food. • Swallow PREZISTA tablets whole with a drink. If you have difficulty swallowing PREZISTA tablets, PREZISTA oral suspension is also available. Your health care provider will help decide whether PREZISTA tablets or oral suspension is right for you. • PREZISTA oral suspension should be given with the supplied oral dosing syringe. Shake the suspension well before each use. See the Instructions for Use that come with PREZISTA oral suspension for information about the right way to prepare and take a dose. • If your prescribed dose of PREZISTA oral suspension is more than 6 mL, you will need to divide the dose. Follow the instructions given to you by your healthcare provider or pharmacist about how to divide the dose. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure. • If you take too much PREZISTA, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away. What should I do if I miss a dose? People who take PREZISTA one time a day: • If you miss a dose of PREZISTA by less than 12 hours, take your missed dose of PREZISTA right away. Then take your next dose of PREZISTA at your regularly scheduled time. • If you miss a dose of PREZISTA by more than 12 hours, wait and then take the next dose of PREZISTA at your regularly scheduled time. People who take PREZISTA two times a day • If you miss a dose of PREZISTA by less than 6 hours, take your missed dose of PREZISTA right away. Then take your next dose of PREZISTA at your regularly scheduled time. • If you miss a dose of PREZISTA by more than 6 hours, wait and then take the next dose of PREZISTA at your regularly scheduled time. If a dose of PREZISTA is skipped, do not double the next dose. Do not take more or less than your prescribed dose of PREZISTA at any one time. What are the possible side effects of PREZISTA? PREZISTA can cause side effects including: • See “What is the most important information I should know about PREZISTA?” • Diabetes and high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). Some people who take protease inhibitors including PREZISTA can get high blood sugar, develop diabetes, or your diabetes can get worse. Tell your healthcare provider if you notice an increase in thirst or urinate often while taking PREZISTA. • Changes in body fat. These changes can happen in people who take antiretroviral therapy. The changes may include an increased amount of fat in the upper back and neck (“buffalo hump”), breast, and around the back, chest, and stomach area. Loss of fat from the legs, arms, and face may also happen. The exact cause and longterm health effects of these conditions are not known. ®

• Changes in your immune system (Immune Reconstitution Syndrome) can happen when you start taking HIV medicines. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that have been hidden in your body for a long time. Call your healthcare provider right away if you start having new symptoms after starting your HIV medicine. • Increased bleeding for hemophiliacs. Some people with hemophilia have increased bleeding with protease inhibitors including PREZISTA. The most common side effects of PREZISTA include: • diarrhea • headache • nausea • abdominal pain • rash • vomiting Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all of the possible side effects of PREZISTA. For more information, ask your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. How should I store PREZISTA? • Store PREZISTA oral suspension and tablets at room temperature [77°F (25°C)]. • Do not refrigerate or freeze PREZISTA oral suspension. • Keep PREZISTA away from high heat. • PREZISTA oral suspension should be stored in the original container. Keep PREZISTA and all medicines out of the reach of children. General information about PREZISTA Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information leaflet. Do not use PREZISTA for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give PREZISTA to other people even if they have the same condition you have. It may harm them. This leaflet summarizes the most important information about PREZISTA. If you would like more information, talk to your healthcare provider. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about PREZISTA that is written for health professionals. For more information, call 1-800-526-7736. What are the ingredients in PREZISTA? Active ingredient: darunavir Inactive ingredients: PREZISTA Oral Suspension: hydroxypropyl cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, methylparaben sodium, citric acid monohydrate, sucralose, masking flavor, strawberry cream flavor, hydrochloric acid (for pH adjustment), purified water. PREZISTA 75 mg and 150 mg Tablets: colloidal silicon dioxide, crospovidone, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose. The film coating contains: OPADRY® White (polyethylene glycol 3350, polyvinyl alcohol-partially hydrolyzed, talc, titanium dioxide). PREZISTA 600 mg Tablets: colloidal silicon dioxide, crospovidone, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose. The film coating contains: OPADRY® Orange (FD&C Yellow No. 6, polyethylene glycol 3350, polyvinyl alcohol-partially hydrolyzed, talc, titanium dioxide). PREZISTA 800 mg Tablets: colloidal silicon dioxide, crospovidone, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, hypromellose. The film coating contains: OPADRY® Dark Red (iron oxide red, polyethylene glycol 3350, polyvinyl alcohol-partially hydrolyzed, talc, titanium dioxide). This Patient Information has been approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration. Product of Ireland Manufactured by: PREZISTA Oral Suspension PREZISTA Tablets Janssen Pharmaceutica, N.V. Janssen Ortho LLC, Beerse, Belgium Gurabo, PR 00778 Manufactured for: Janssen Therapeutics, Division of Janssen Products, LP, Titusville NJ 08560 Revised: April 2014 NORVIR® is a registered trademark of its respective owner. PREZISTA® is a registered trademark of Janssen Pharmaceuticals © Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2006 014859-140506

THECONTENTS

>> HAPPY PRIDE! <<

COVER STORIES AND FEATURES FESTIVAL 21 OFF-SUNSET Celebrate Silverlake’s diversity

22 GETTING TRANSPARENT

Ian Harvie Joins New TV Series

AND PREJUDICE 26 PRIDE Paulo Murillo’s First Pride MAN WITHIN 32 THE Calpernia Addams Interviews Buck Angel LIFE IN FREEDOM AND TRUTH 36 AKaitlin Riordan On Finding Peace WITH FRIENDS 38 WORDS The “T” Word Controversy TO EXERCISE 40 ADDICTED When Your Passion Is A Problem OUT WITH JONNY MCGOVERN 44 QWEENING The Life Of A “Gay Pimp” TO RECOVERY 46 PATH Morningside Recovery Treatment Center JORDAN 48 HERE’S Stand-Up Comedian Jordan Pease

ON THE COVER COVER MODEL: BUCK ANGEL COVER PHOTO, MAIN TOC PHOTO AND MAIN COVER FEATURE PHOTO BY DUSTI CUNNINGHAM

www.dusticunningham.com

DEPARTMENTS 15 THE LETTERS Personal Choice 16 THE TALK Maya Angelou 19 THE STATE Harvey Milk 20 THE CITY Pride in Los Angeles 24 THE ROSTOW REPORT No Sad Stories 42 THE MONEY Giving And Receiving 52 THE LAW When Talk Isn’t Cheap 53 THE EPIDEMIC Vitamin D 58 THE EVENT Long Beach Pride

60 THE CALENDAR Events

40 8 T H E F I GH T | J UN E 2014

62 THE FINAL FIGHT Rob Smith

Quit smoking: 1-800-NO BUTTS ÂŠ2014 California Department of Public Health

THEEDITOR >> IN THIS ISSUE <<

l This month’s CSW Los Angeles Pride Festival and Parade, spotlighting the transgender community, is aptly titled: The TLBG (Transgender, Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual) Celebration. In keeping with that theme, transgender activist Calpernia Addams conducts an in-depth, no holds barred interview with trans male icon Buck Angel (“The Man Within,” page 34). “Buck credits seeing a female-to-male transsexual in a movie as a life changing moment,” reveals Addams. “He found strength in that onscreen image to learn more about medical transition and set upon the path to become more fully the person he is today.” Angel, writes Addams, created a series of films called “Sexing the Trans Man,”—“docu-porn” which documents trans men’s changes and sexuality during their transition, including some erotic scenes with them. The films highlight different trans men, their bodies and how the journey has affected them sexually. The films especially advocate trans men loving themselves and their bodies. “I really think that it’s so important for our community as trans people to understand that we’ve been ostracized, fought against, kicked, and killed... We need to learn as our own community to start loving each other, and to stop having so much ego involved that we can’t be more loving towards our brothers and sisters,” Angel tells Addams. Also in this issue—Calpernia Addams goes from interviewer to interviewee, talking to Paulo Murillo about her recent language controversy after defending the use of words like “tranny,” and “She-Male” in “RuPaul’s Drag Race” show—even though she admittedly is not a fan of these words (“Words With Friends,” page 38). Addams spoke against language policing and immediately became a target of vicious attacks from trans women in her own community. “I always stand on the side of artists to express themselves and I always stand on the side of people to have the right to choose how they identify,” says Addams. “I said a million times at this point that I don’t particularly like or use the words tranny or she-male outside of a discussion like this, but I don’t think those words should be censored as they have a historical place in a lot of different communities. For people to come along and say that others cannot use these words to self-identify, I think is full of hubris... I find it really funny that I have to engage so deeply and fight so hard for words that I don’t particularly like.” “It’s like the word faggot or dyke,” explains Addams. “I don’t go around calling my gay friends those words, but most of my friends love those words in the right context when they use them amongst themselves. It’s reclaiming and taking the power back.”

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Stanford Altamirano MANAGING EDITOR Mark Ariel ART DIRECTOR Nadeen Torio MARKETING CONSULTANTS Paul Vallejo Timothy Walker Conor Lane Stephen Lewis SOCIAL MEDIA Paulo Murillo WEBMASTER Nadeen Torio

GET THE FIGHT AT HOME Sent Via First Class Mail 12 Issues: $36 6 Issues: $24 Mail check or money order to: Third Step, LLC 611 S. Catalina St. Suite 307 Los Angeles, CA 90005 PUBLISHER Third Step, LLC DISTRIBUTION Pride In Media The Fight Magazine is published monthly by Third Step, LLC. 611 South Catalina Street, Suite 307 Los Angeles, CA 90005 Telephone (323) 297-4001 Fax (213) 281-9648 Email info@TheFightMag.com

THE FIGHT MAGAZINE LEGAL CAVEATS By listing in The Fight Magazine, advertisers acknowledge that they do business in the spirit of cooperation, fairness and service, maintaining a high level of integrity and responsibility. Providers of products or services are fully and solely responsible for providing same as advertised. The Fight Magazine assumes no liability for improper or negligent business practices by advertisers. Advertisers and their agencies assume responsibility and liability for the content of their advertisements in The Fight Magazine. Publisher assumes no liability for safe-keeping or return of unsolicited art, manuscripts or other materials. The Fight Magazine reserves the right to edit all material for clarity, length and content. All contents © 2014 Third Step LLC. All rights reserved. Content may be reproduced with permission. The Fight Magazine assumes no liability for any claims or representations contained anywhere in this magazine and reserves the right to cancel or refuse advertising at publisher’s discretion.

TheFightMag.com STANFORD ALTAMIRANO Editor-In-Chief

1 0 T H E F IGH T | J UN E 2014

For Display Advertising, please call (323) 297-4001

THECONTRIBUTORS

>> OUR WRITERS <<

GRANT GOCHIN Grant Gochin is a Wealth Advisor and Certified Financial Planner professional located in Encino. Grant is married (to a man) and he and his husband have one son. He can be reached at (818) 827-3410 or via email at: grant.gochin@raymondjames.com.

PAULO MURILLO West Hollywood resident Paulo Murillo has been writing for gay media for over twelve years. He got his start writing a bi-weekly column called “Luv Ya, Mean It” for FAB! Newspaper. Visit his website at thehissfit.com, or friend him on Facebook.

CALPERNIA ADDAMS Calpernia Addams is an actress, musician, author and activist. Her activism and participation in the LGBT community began in 1994. She has spoken at Oxford University and her past work includes fundraising for major LGBT organizations such as GLAAD, SLDN, The Task Force (NGLTF) and women’s causes such as VDay and Peace Over Violence (LACAAW). For more visit her website calpernia.com.

ANN ROSTOW Ann Rostow writes news analysis columns for THE FIGHT and other gay publications across the country. For weekly LGBT News updates, visit her blog at: annrostow.blogspot.com. Ann can be reached at: arostow@aol.com.

DAVID HAKIMFAR Los Angeles based Attorney David Hakimfar received his law degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego. While there, he made the Honor Roll and National Dean’s List. Currently David Hakimfar is a Trial Attorney and Senior Partner of Hakimfar Law, PLC. He can be reached at: 1-888-789-PRIDE (7743). ROB SMITH Rob Smith is an author, lecturer, writer, and LGBT activist. His first book “Closets, Combat, and Coming Out: Coming of Age as a Gay Man in the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Army” is in stores now. He can be found at www.robsmithonline.com.

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THELETTERS >> FROM OUR READERS <<

PERSONAL CHOICE Dear Editor, The entire Truvada controversy is really a matter of personal choice. I understand where Michael Weinstein (CEO of AIDS Healthcare Foundation) is coming from (“Weinstein’s Stand,” THE FIGHT, Issue 40)—but everyone needs to make their own decision. Yes, there is a problem with adherence, but people have a problem with adherence with condoms as well. Better Truvada—in my opinion—than nothing at all. —John Wells, via the internet

MATTER OF FACT Dear Editor, Thank you for featuring Van Hansis on your cover and for the great interview with him by Kit Williamson (“Turning Point,” THE FIGHT, Issue 40). I have been a huge fan of Van’s ever since “As The World Turns,” and now I’m looking forward to seeing him on the new season of “Eastsiders.” I think it’s totally awesome that he came out in that interview—in such a matter of fact way. —E. Sheinfeld, Long Beach, CA

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UNLESS, OF COURSE Dear Editor, People come out of the closet in their own time. Even though I think many of us already knew that Van Hansis was gay (“Turning Point,” THE FIGHT, Issue 40) I can understand why he took his time. Especially in Hollywood—where being gay can hurt your chances in getting straight roles. Unless, of course, you’re Neil Patrick Harris. That guy plays straight better than straight actors, lol. —David K. Williams, via the internet

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Dear Editor, In your article on Mr. L.A. Leather 2014 (“The Road To IML, THE FIGHT, Issue 40”) Leather Hall of Fame inductee, Guy Baldwin, made the point that leather is a euphemism. He said: “It doesn’t always literally mean the material. It also refers to a kind of outlaw sexuality as well. And an increasing numbers of young guys are discovering an interest in broader ways to express themselves sexually.” Your writer didn’t challenge that statement—so I sincerely hope that Baldwin was not referring to bareback sex when mentioning “outlaw sexuality.” I think you should have clarified what he meant by that. —Name Withheld, via the internet

> WRITE TO THE EDITOR Email: editor@thefightmag.com Fax: (213) 281-9648. Letters may be shortened due to space requirements.

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WILL KILL THEM Some people go to the West and claim they are gays and that their lives are at risk in the Gambia, in order for them to be YAHYA granted a stay in JAMMEH Europe. If I catch them I will kill them. —Gambian President Yahya Jammeh quoted by the African news service APA. MATT BOMER

DEMANDING EVERYONE [The LGBT community has] turned into a mafia ... demanding everyone apologize for every joke and retract every statement. —Comedian ADAM Adam Carolla CAROLLA in an interview with “Salon” about his just-released book “President Me: The America That’s in My Head.”

I’M A BOY For me, I’m a boy, I love being a boy, and I feel very comfortable as a male. But I really love getting to dress up as Courtney, and obviously the image that I portray is a lot COURTNEY ACT more feminine and realistic than most. And it’s not just a job-it’s definitely part of a lifestyle. Still, I don’t have any desire to live as Courtney or take hormones or alter myself in any way. —“Drag Race” finalist Shane Jenek (aka Courtney Act) in an interview in “Out” magazine. 1 6 T H E F IGH T | J UN E 2014

chaplains and directors of religious education? Infinitely poorer. —The Jesuit James Martin, an editor at “America” magazine, author of “Jesus: A Pilgrimage,” highlighting the problem with the “love the sinner, hate the sin” formula that many Christians use to guide their beliefs regarding homosexuality.

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EMOTIONAL NEEDS I’ve never looked forward to going to work so much in my life. Every day on set, regardless of the difficulty of the emotional needs of any particular scene, it was always something I was really looking forward to getting to do. —Actor Matt Bomer on his emotional role in the HBO film “The Normal Heart,” written by Larry Kramer, based on his own 1985 play of same name, on the rise of the HIV/AIDS crisis in New York City between 1981 and 1984.

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Find another job, people... There’s plenty of places to use your expertise, and it doesn’t have to be that hotel. —Lance Bass addressing the employees of The Beverly Hills Hotel, whose owner, the sultan of Brunei, has implemented draconian policies in his country that would punish homosexuality with stoning.

POISON TO YOU Anybody who voluntarily takes an antiviral every day has got to have rocks in their heads... There’s something to me cowardly about taking Truvada inLARRY KRAMER stead of using a condom. You’re taking a drug that is poison to you, and it has lessened your energy to fight, to get involved, to do anything. —Acclaimed author and activist Larry Kramer (“The Normal Heart”) in an interview last month with The New York Times. PHOTO BY DAVID SHANKBONE

To love someone takes a lot of courage—so how much more is one challenged when the love is of the same sex and the laws say, “I forbid you from loving MAYA ANGELOU this person?” —Maya Angelou, in an interview with The New York Times, in 2009. The legendary poet passed away last month, at the age of 86.

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HONORING HARVEY MILK THE FIRST OPENLY LGBT ELECTED OFFICIAL TO BE FEATURED ON A U.S. STAMP. BY VICTOR MELAMED

> Lines formed at the Post Office in San Francisco’s Castro District last month on Harvey Milk Day, as people rushed to purchase the new Harvey Milk stamp, dedicated to the first openly gay San Francisco supervisor, who was murdered during his service. According to eye witness reports gay civil rights activist Cleve Jones and Dustin Lance Black—who wrote the screen play “Milk”—were among those waiting to purchase the new stamp. A birthday celebration honoring Milk was held at Beaux on Market St. in San Francisco. The stamp’s official first-day-ofissue ceremony took place at the White House on Harvey Milk Day, May 22. Milk would have turned 84 this year. Milk was one of the first openly gay politicians in the U.S., and the first to be elected to public office in the state of California when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977, reports www.lgbtqnation.com. Milk and Mayor George Moscone were shot and killed by former Supervisor Dan White at San Francisco City Hall on Nov. 27, 1978. And while Milk served only 11 months in office, he was responsible for passing a stringent gay rights ordinance for the city. The ordinance extended employment protections to gays and lesbians in San Francisco, and became a model for antidiscrimination legislation throughout California and the nation. In 1978, Milk campaigned across the state of California against Proposition 6, also known as the Briggs Initiative. Had it passed, Proposition 6 would have banned gays and lesbians, and possibly anyone who supported gay rights, from working in California’s public schools. The proposition was defeated in the November 1978 election in part because Milk successfully appealed to Californians’ basic sense of fairness. Despite his short career in politics, Milk became an icon in San Francisco and a martyr for gay rights, and has been referred to as “the most famous and most significantly open LGBT official ever elected in the United States.” Legislation designating Milk’s birthday, May 22, as a day of “special significance” in California, was passed in the state legislature in 2009 and signed into law by then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. In 2009, Milk was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama. Later that year, Milk was inducted into the California Hall of Fame. Milk is the first openly LGBT elected official to be featured on a U.S. stamp. n JUNE 2014 | TH E F I GH T 19

THECITY >>

BY PAULO MURILLO

LA PRIDE: THE TLGB CELEBRATION l Actress and singer Demi Lovato is Grand Marshal of 2014 LA PRIDE. This year’s Pride, with a spotlight on the transgender community, has been titled: The TLBG (Transgender, Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual) Celebration. In a press statement, Lovato, who will also perform at NY Pride at the end of the month, said: “It’s such an honor to be a part of both L.A. and NYC Pride celebrations this year. I have been an active advocate of the LGBT community and am wholly committed to supportDEMI ing individuality and being comfortable in one’s own skin. LOVATO I am thrilled to be a part of both events as they are a wonderful celebration of independence and self-confidence.” The LA PRIDE Festival will be held at West Hollywood Park on Saturday June 7, from 12pm to 12am and Sunday June 8, from 11am to 11pm. Enjoy live entertainment on multiple stages, headline performances, all new dance venues, numerous exhibitors, food and drink vendors and witness thousands of members from the TLGB community. The annual LA PRIDE Parade will attract over 400,000 colorful participants, spectators and marchers on Sunday, June 8, starting at 11am. Attendees should plan to arrive early, as Santa Monica Blvd. between Fairfax Ave. and Doheny Dr. will be closed from 6am, until the parade ends, which could be as late as 4pm on Sunday. Visit THE FIGHT booth in “Erotic City” for a chance to win a pair of free Cher Tickets! For more information, visit lapride.org.

WEHO CELEBRATES MARRIAGE EQUALITY l The City of West Hollywood celebrates one year of marriage equality in their 7th annual “One City One Pride” LGBTQ Arts Festival, scheduled to run from May 22 (in honor of Harvey Milk Day) to June 30. This year’s art festival is scheduled to deliver over 30 arts, culture and community events ranging from art exhibits to author panels, to music performances, to stage productions. The theme of the 2014 festival is “I Do” to acknowledge and celebrate how nearly one year ago, hundreds of marriages were performed in the City of West Hollywood following the June 2013 Supreme Court decision that affirmed marriage equality in California. For a complete list of One City One Pride arts festival events, visit weho.org/pride.

#SIZZLE SOBER AT PRIDE l The producers of the New Year’s Eve Sober Party #BOOM have joined forces with CSW and the City of West Hollywood to produce “#Sizzle! A Carnival of Attraction” for Los Angeles Pride 2014. #SIZZLE will put a new spin to the clean and sober section at the pride festival this year. The chain link fence has been removed, so that all feel welcome to enjoy performances, carnival games and free giveaways. Games will include a Velcro Wall, High Striker and Put Your Balls in Putin’s Mouth tossing game to name a few. Contact Robert Gamboa at rgamboa@publicstrategies.org for volunteer opportunities.

MISTERBNB HITS LOS ANGELES AREA l Misterbnb—a gay version of Airbnb—is offering short-term apartment rental services that focuses on gay men throughout the Los Angeles area. The original Airbnb first launched in San Francisco. Misterbnb launched last year in Paris. Matthieu Jost 2 0 T H E F IGH T | J UN E 2014

and Francois de Saint Palais—the men behind the French version of Airbnb—have also created the first gay friendly peer-to-peer business, accessible via an iPhone app. Currently there are over 1,000 listings throughout the Los Angeles area offering “access to warm and welcoming environments in the hearts of international gay cities.” Visit misterbnb.com for local listings.

FLEX SPA IN LA CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE l Frisky men in search of tension release at the FLEX bathhouse will have to go elsewhere—at least for the time being. A sign has been up in front of a currently empty parking lot that reads “Business Closed” as of Monday May 12. People speculated the closing of FLEX came after Hollywood Spa in Hollywood announced it would be going out of business, presumably due to the growing popularity of hookup apps like Grindr and Scruff, but according to flex.com, “FLEX Spas Los Angeles is temporarily closed due to an unexpected city permitting issue.” The disclaimer, adds that “FLEX Los Angeles is working diligently to reopen as quickly as possible.”

PUMP OPENS IN WEST HOLLYWOOD l After months of anticipation, restaurateur and reality TV star Lisa Vanderpump and her husband Todd, opened the gates of PUMP RestaurantBar-Lounge-Garden, located on the corner of Santa Monica Blvd and Robertson Blvd. The Vanderpumps invited their celeb-reality and gaylebrity friends for the grand opening on May 13, which included Real Housewives stars Joyce Giraud, Carlton Gebbia, Lance Bass, Jai Rodriguez, WeHo socialite Bobby Trendy and the Mayor of West Hollywood, John D’Amico. Executive Chef, Penny Davidi, of Food Network’s Celebrity Chef is curating PUMP’s food menu. n

Off Sunset Festival Celebrate Silverlake’s diverse community and history: Sunday, July 6, 2014. BY MARK ARIEL

While it may seem difficult, at times, to escape a world of corporate takeovers, mega-malls and neighborhood gentrification— there are still a few good people out there supporting small businesses, cultural diversity and local artists. In an effort to celebrate and preserve Silverlake’s diverse community, The Eagle LA bar owners Hunter Fox and Charlie Matula, along with the very talented Kim Sharp, formed “The Off-Sunset Association.” The association produces the Off-Sunset Festival, taking place this year on Sunday, July 6, 2014. The Off-Sunset Festival, first held in 2013, is an exciting day of music, culture, art, food and fun, with an expected attendance of 8000 people. The event features live music, DJ-driven dancing, gourmet food trucks,

beer trailers, ice-cold specialty drinks and dozens of hand-picked merchandise, art and novelty vendors, including items of interest to the leather and fetish communities. “It is with great affection for this diverse community that we organized the Off-Sunset Festival,” reveals Hunter Fox, in an interview with THE FIGHT. “We own businesses here. We frequent the local restaurants and bars. We spend time in this incredible section of Los Angeles and are committed to enriching the neighborhoods that have given each and every one of us so very much.” Additionally, says Fox, “with so

many gay bars in our neighborhood closing [“Le Barcito,” “The Other Side,” to name a few] we felt that it was important to celebrate Silverlake’s rich LGBT history.” Part of that history includes “The Black Cat Tavern,” an LGBT bar formerly located at 3909 W. Sunset Blvd. in Silverlake. Two years prior to the Stonewall riots in New York City, on the night of New Year’s 1967, several plain-clothes police officers infiltrated the Black Cat Tavern, arresting and beating several patrons for kissing as they celebrated the occasion, creating a riot in the immediate area. Several days later, this police action incited a civil demonstration to protest the raids. It was from this event that the publication “The Advocate” began as a newspaper for PRIDE (Personal Rights in Defense and Education). n For more info on The Off-Sunset Festival visit: offsunsetfestival.com.

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IAN HARVIE

Getting Transparent Stand-up comedian Ian Harvie adds actor to his resume. “It’s ... exciting to be a trans guy playing a trans guy on TV.” BY VICTOR MELAMED

Trans man comic Ian Harvie has been cast in Amazon’s “Transparent,” a new television series exploring gender issues. The show focuses on a family in Los Angeles dealing with a dramatic admission - which causes everyone’s secrets to spill out. Jeffrey Tambor plays a father who is reconsidering his gender and decides to come out at 68 to his three children. Harvie had initially worked with the show’s creator Jill Soloway, and her writing crew, sharing some of his experiences as a trans guy. Last month Soloway offered him a part in the new series, which will be filmed throughout the summer with a release date of the end of September on Amazon. “I play the role of Dale, a furry-faced, lumberjack kind of trans man and the love interest of Ali (played by Gabby Hoffmann), the youngest daughter in the family,” reveals Harvie in an interview with THE FIGHT. “I am playing a character that I happen to share quite a bit in common with, you might say we have similar souls.” “It’s especially exciting to be a trans guy playing a trans guy on TV,” says Harvie. “That is something that I know I’ve wanted to see more of, trans people in trans roles, and I hope I give Dale justice.” Aside from his new role in “Transparent” Harvie has been performing stand up comedy at theaters, clubs, colleges and in festivals all over the U.S. and in Europe. Additionally, reveals Harvie, “I made a feature-length concert film “Ian Harvie Superhero,” executive produced by Margaret Cho, that screened at over 25 festivals worldwide, including “Outfest” here in Los Angeles and “Frameline” in San Francisco.” “Ian Harvie Superhero” won best of the fest at Palm Springs and Kansas City LGBT Film Festivals and People’s Choice at Ft Lauderdale International Film Festival. n The film is now available for download for $5 on Harvie’s web site: www.ianharvie.com. 2 2 T H E F I GH T | J U N E 2014

JUNE 2014 | T H E F I GH T 15

THEROSTOWREPORT

BY ANN ROSTOW

MICHAEL SAM, WITH BOYFRIEND VITO CAMMISANO

the tapas are tiny and their price tags are absurd. Twenty bucks for one lamb chop with some greens? Fifteen for a couple pieces of cured meat and a dry tartine? We’re paying for a concept, and it no longer adds up in my book. Give me a double gin and tonic and a bowl of free pretzels. I’ll order a regular dinner later if I’m still standing.

LIST OF MARRIAGE EQUALITY STATES GROWING

I think Michael Sam is a great guy but he’s not the gay Jackie Robinson. Jackie Robinson was a star athlete, Sam is not. But he’s gay and he kissed his boyfriend on TV which generated a lot of press. I can’t get that excited for some reason. FORGIVE ME, FOR I HAVE BORED > I just reread my last column for THE FIGHT and found it incredibly tedious. My apologies to all for rambling on about the Ninth Circuit’s possible review of the Gay Juror Case and for all the blather about the composition of the Sixth Circuit. Who cares if these topics are central to our historic fight for justice and equality? Surely we can dabble in lighter fare, a gay news tapas bar if you will, rather than a giant steak. I have to say, before we start, that tapas bars are beginning to annoy me. I love the idea of ordering one or two small, elegant plates of delectable tidbits instead of getting one giant thing. But these days, 2 4 T H E F IGH T | J UN E 2014

> This is a news column, so I have to note that the list of marriage equality states has now grown to 19 with the addition of Oregon (no appeal likely) and Pennsylvania (no appeal at all). Our adversaries are still pursuing an attempt to short circuit the Beaver State in the Ninth Circuit, but they will not succeed, so 19 it is. Plus the District of Columbia of course! I always forget about them. We also added Idaho to the list of states where we’ve won a federal court marriage victory, but where the ruling has been stayed pending appeal. I have much to say on the subject of these postponements, but in keeping with my pledge to skirt the swampy legal undergrowth, I will resist. The Idaho ruling will be reviewed by the Ninth Circuit in September, and it would be kinda nice if the Ninth Circuit also decided to review the Nevada marriage case that they’ve been sitting on for a couple of years while they’re at it. What’s the hold up, guys? Meanwhile, the Fourth Circuit heard arguments in May on the marriage case in Virginia, and our LGBT court analysts are— wait for it—cautiously optimistic. Next up, four dates with the Sixth Circuit for four separate cases. And of course, we’re now waiting for an actual ruling from the Tenth Circuit, where oral arguments on Utah and Oklahoma were held in April.

THE GLORIOUS WORLD OF GAY CIVIL RIGHTS > Oh! I almost forgot about Arkansas! A state court ruling in our favor that was put on hold by the Razorback Supreme Court. Well, the bottom line is that everything is hunky dory in the glorious world of gay civil rights. And even some of our harshest opponents are starting to throw up their hands in frustration and admit defeat. They’re also a little shell shocked, unable to fathom what seems to them to be an inexplicable 180 degree turnaround in public opinion over the last decade. Part of their problem is that, like Mitt Romney’s supporters in 2012, they were convinced that America was on their side, polls or no polls. Many of them remain convinced of this, despite all evidence to the contrary, blaming Machiavellian gay strategists and the liberal media for their setbacks. America, they complain, has been seduced by happy marriage stories, like puppies in a pet shop window, and the solution is to change the narrative. But to push the metaphor, that would be like having all the puppies get heartworm and forcing the country to watch them die in their cages. People? America doesn’t want to see that! The assumption that gays and lesbians are sick perverts, once commonly accepted without question, has been permanently debunked for the majority in this country and it’s not coming back.

A TRIBUTE TO OUR HARD FOUGHT VICTORY OVER PREJUDICE > So it’s Pride Month once again. Yay! You have to wonder, though. What’s going to happen to Pride in a decade or so when we will have won the right to marry (maybe next year) and presumably when we will have outlawed

> > B O R E D , M A R R I A G E E Q U A L I T Y, G A Y C I V I L R I G H T S , P R E J U D I C E , H A P P Y P R I D E ! < <

sexual orientation discrimination in no uncertain terms? Do we have to struggle against Shame in order to celebrate Pride? I’m thinking we can keep it up for the foreseeable future. Even after we’re completely assimilated into American life, we can still indulge in gay revelry as a tribute to our hard fought victory over prejudice. Indeed, it might be even more important, as our LGBT identity fades over time, once a year to dust off our rainbow flags, drag our plastic penis cocktail glasses out of the closet, put on our March on Washington 2000 T-shirts and hit the streets. Plus, we’re always going to have gay bars, and we’re always going to be the best partiers. Lately, that’s what Pride has been all about anyway. Hang around. Buy stuff at stands. Sign up for stuff. Check people out. Drink. Listen to music. Watch high school bands, fire trucks, your local LGBT real estate agent, and a politician or two. No one cancelled St. Patrick’s Day just because Ireland got their snakes under control a few centuries ago. So who knows? Maybe June 29 will become a general holiday someday and everyone will wear rainbows.

NO SAD LGBT STORIES THIS MONTH: HAPPY PRIDE! > I was just hunting around for fun LGBT news stories when I saw a headline about an Indian mother who strapped her 11-month-old baby into a parasailing harness and sent the child a hundred feet in the air attached to a speeding truck—alone. The baby was screaming its head off before and after the flight.

You know, I’m a big advocate of not coddling children. I love the idea of letting kids play on their own, take risks, scrape a knee, swing too high. But hello? The woman is apparently a big parasailing buff and she wanted the little one to conquer its fear at an early age. Now, she might face charges. So, I didn’t find anything really good in the LGBT category. A lot of stories on Michael Sam, the seventh round draft pick who has officially become the first openly gay player in the NFL. By the way, I think Sam is a great guy but he’s not the gay Jackie Robinson. Jackie Robinson was a star athlete, Sam is not. But he’s gay and he kissed his boyfriend on TV which generated a lot of press. I can’t get that excited for some reason. It’s like the mystery plane from last month. It was interesting for a week, but then the coverage

just went on and on and on. For God’s sake! It’s a plane crash. Tragic, but these things happen. The main problem is that our complicated legal fight for marriage is sucking all the air out of the any other type of gay news. Further, the sort of thing that used to be news is not necessarily such a big deal anymore. For example, back in the day, if I saw a headline about someone fired for being gay, I assumed that an evil employer was to blame. Now, it’s just as likely to involve a litigious slacker who never showed up for work and is playing the victim. I won’t cover it unless the antigay element is clear. Finally, I can’t cover any sad LGBT stories, because it’s Pride month. It’s a happy season! Plus, I don’t have the space left and I can’t end our time together on a down beat. Ergo, there’s no more news. Nothing to see here, folks. Send in the rainbows. n

JUNE 2014 | T H E F I GH T 25

PRIDE AND

PREJUDICE I’m now clean and sober and I can’t help but look at gay pride with a whole new pair of glasses. It is what it is, but it can also be what you make of it. BY PAULO MURILLO The year was 1992. My scrawny ass wasn’t fully out of the closet when my gay bestie Fernando (I called him Whorenando) and I braved the 212 RTD bus from downtown Inglewood to the West Hollywood Gateway. You best believe all the Inglewood roughness and the threat of ex-communication from our families would not stop us from our very first LA Pride experience. Most of the people who knew I was gay at that time were gay themselves, which meant I had to take every precaution necessary so that my parents didn’t spot me prancing around in a crowd full of homos at a gay parade during the channel 34 Spanish news. I was supposed to be at the beach with my clean-cut friends. Whorenando and I were constantly weary of “bubble trouble,” which was code to run and hide whenever we came near the outing eye of a news camera. Needless to say, photos of my first LA Pride do not exist, which kind of sucks, because I swore I let bitches have it in my tiny white tank top and pin-striped shorts, which was the most naked I had ever been in public during those early years. The early 90s were political times. I had too much internalized homophobia to partake, but almost every queer I knew wore some form of gay paraphernalia—be it a red ribbon, a pink triangle button or rainbow rings around their necks. It was clear that silence equaled death and Queer Nation and ACT-UP didn’t give a fuck. I remember the “I’m proud of my gay son” signage at the gay parade were far and few, but we still came out and if queens complained about LA Pride weekend it was mostly because mainstream media seemed to be hell bent on capturing us in the worst light. My first gay LA Pride was terrifying, exciting, and fun, unlike anything I had ever experienced in my small sheltered Inglewood hood life. I’m pretty sure I didn’t give a shit about the grandeur of the floats (or lack thereof) at the parade, how much it cost to put the event together, or where my $10.00 entry fee to the festival was being spent. This was the most openly gay I had ever been among my fellow gays. The men were beautiful (well, some were, anyway), and they were balls out about their gayness (muscle queens wore kilts with nothing underneath). Back then body hair was a curse that had to be removed, and facial hair was like having a hairy vagina 2 6 T H E F IGH T | J UN E 2014

Every time I get up against pride, I try to think of that wide-eyed fresh-out-of-thecloset newbie who stepped into West Hollywood for his first LA Pride. That little bitch didn’t give a shit about production value. He was simply happy to be invited to the ball and be out among the gay and proud. growing out of your face (times change). The whole day was so loud and crazy and hot, it made my head spin, even though I hadn’t yet learned to drink. I got home that evening with the worst sunburn ever. You know, on account of being at the beach and all. By the time the mid-90s rolled around, my mother had long asked me to go out into the world and find my own way after she found out I was gay. That meant no more hiding from camera crews at LA Pride—in fact—I made it a point to try to stand out. One year I walked out in my underwear. Another year, I wore see-through shorts and maybe I took it too far when I stepped out in a yellow towel with a happy licky face in the front. Next to Halloween, Pride was my favorite time of the year. However, somewhere into the new millennium, pride lost its meaning for me, or better yet, I forgot what Pride meant to that 18-year old Inglewood hood rat who just wanted to spend a day among his own and maybe not feel so alone. I wrote a snarky column in the early to mid2000s that won me the hard earned title as the gay Queen of Mean (uh, this was waayyy before Perez Hilton called himself the Queen of Media thank-you-very-much). I joined the ranks of jaded homos and wrote columns dismissing LA Pride for the over commercialized parade, lame floats and a pride festival that didn’t offer very much meaning. Then somewhere along the fuzzy lines, the drugs really kicked in and pride became a big blur. It didn’t matter if it was in San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, DC, or Vancouver pride—they were all crammed inside a port-a-potty where I did a shit load of blow before I hit the dance floor. Then crystal meth burned my nostrils and everything turned to shit. Complain as I did about gay pride, I’ve only missed one year in my entire gay career. In 2007, my scrawny ass was in rehab during pride season. This was around the same time when a bald Britney went ballistic, Lindsay and Mel Gibson lost their shit, Amy Winehouse said “No, no, no” and poor Anna Nicole Smith passed herself away. Rehab was all the rage. I’m now clean and sober and I can’t help but look at gay pride with a whole new pair of glasses. It is what it is, but it can also be what you make of it. We live in a Grindr world full of scruffy girls. There’s always room for improvement but Pride has turned into a question of what we get and not so much what we put out. We demand better floats. We want big name celebrities. We want free shit. And we stomp our feet and pound our fists, but we do it from the sidelines. What’s up with that shit? Every time I get up against pride, I try to think of that wide-eyed fresh-out-of-the-closet newbie who stepped into West Hollywood for his first LA Pride. That little bitch didn’t give a shit about production value. He was simply happy to be invited to the ball and be out among the gay and proud. n For more Paulo Murillo commentary visit thehissfit.com JUNE 2014 | T H E F I GH T 27

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This safe and effective procedure allows 99% of hemorrhoid sufferers to be treated. The potential complications of pain and bleeding are rare (less than 1%), the recurrence rate is very low (5% at 2 years) and the procedure is covered by most insurance plans. “After my bandings, I am now 100% symptom free for the first time in six years! I am completely back to normal and my quality of life has vastly improved. The procedure itself is painless and I cannot tell you how much this procedure has changed my life. My only regret is that I wish that I had this procedure 6 years ago!” exclaims John C. Dr. Sach received his medical degree from USC School of Medicine. He then completed a three-year residency program in Internal Medicine at the prestigious Cedars Sinai Medical Center. After his residency, he went on to complete 3 years of subspecialty training in Gastroenterology at UCLA. Dr. Sach has been in private practice in Tarzana, CA since 2004 and has won numerous awards and recognitions for his compassionate and outstanding medical care. n For additional information visit Dr. Sach’s website at www.doctorsach. com or simply call 818.217.1114 to book your appointment today!

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The Man

Within

Calpernia Addams interviews transman Buck Angel. Life-changing moments, sex positivity and educating heterosexuals. BY CALPERNIA ADDAMS | PHOTO BY DUSTI CUNNINGHAM

I caught up with trans male icon Buck Angel in Los Angeles amidst his busy travel schedule from Mexico to Los Angeles to Sweden and spoke to him about his breakout Netflix hit documentary “Mr. Angel,” his mark on the media landscape and the recent gender language controversy. While my friends often laugh at the number of photographs of myself I have in my home (they were gifts!), Buck is the only person I know personally who has inspired an artist to sculpt a statue of him. Immortalized in glossy golden bronze metal by controversial artist Marc Quinn, alongside award-winning transsexual adult Entertainer Allanah Starr, he has left equally indelible images on motion pictures, photos and print.

nowadays, it has been over two years since his last onscreen adult video performance. Although he still works as a producer for adult content, his focus is expanding toward expressing the intelligence and heart behind the hunk through other art forms. Combining his experience in the adult industry with his desire to educate, Buck created a series of films called “Sexing the Trans Man,”—“docu-porn” which documents trans men’s changes and sexuality during their transition, including some erotic scenes with them. The films highlight different trans men, their bodies and how the journey has affected them sexually. The films especially advocate trans men loving themselves and their bodies.

SEXING THE TRANSMAN

Buck will be kicking off Trans Pride L.A. on Friday, June 13th of 2014 in “An Evening With Buck Angel,” so I asked him if he thought this year’s celebration might be different in light of the recent controversies surrounding the language around crossing gender boundaries and gender identity. The long-brewing controversy was most recently re-sparked by RuPaul’s use of the words “tranny” and the “shemale” sound-alike joke “she-mail” on LOGO’s hit reality competition “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Vocal critics, mostly younger transsexual women, have asserted that the words are now “hate speech” regardless of their history and should never be used. A mixture of others under the transgender umbrella including drag superstar RuPaul and transsexual women like myself, Andrea James, Justin Vivian Bond and Kate Bornstein express varying degrees of support for transgender people to self-identify with labels of which they feel ownership, including “tranny” as a shortened form of either

Buck credits seeing a female-to-male transsexual in a movie as a life changing moment after a youth spent living socially as male where possible—but marred by emotional suffering and problems with drugs and alcohol. He found strength in that onscreen image to learn more about medical transition and set upon the path to become more fully the person he is today. It’s no surprise that he would eventually choose the mediums of film and television to spearhead his mission to educate, entertain and even arouse people around the world. His groundbreaking work in the adult video industry is often his most cited accomplishment, and watching Buck effortlessly move between the roles of award winning adult performer to educational ambassador on talk shows across the US and the world in the documentary “Mr. Angel,” it’s easy to see the charisma that made him AVN’s Transsexual Performer of the Year. Sex positivity and embracing non-typical identity has always been apparent in his work. But 3 2 T H E F IGH T | J UN E 2014

CROSSING GENDER BOUNDARIES

“transgender”, “transvestite” or “transsexual”. All but missing from the conversation has been the perspective of transsexual and transgender men, who are often left out of the dialog in the larger LGBT political scene. “I have to disagree with the way that a lot of people think that ‘tranny’ is used only for trans women. It is used derogatorily for trans men sometimes as well,” says Buck. But as a self-described “elder” he remembers the word as “something that was embraced inside our community, as far as I remember and me being around it.” Observing the debate, he worries that “people are not going to be engaging with each other on a positive level.

“I never thought in a million years that this documentary [“Mr. Angel”] was going to explode like this. The thing that makes me the most happy is the letters I’ve been getting from cisgender, white, Republican, churchgoing men, the kinds of guys who wanted to kill me before. I’m hearing daily about how my movie touched them, and how they now feel differently about people like us.”

JUNE 2014 | T H E F I GH T 33

>> COVER FEATURE <<

BUCK, AS A CHILD

“... It’s so important for our community as trans people ... to start loving each other, and to stop having so much ego involved that we can’t be more loving towards our brothers and sisters.”

BUCK, BEFORE TRANSITONING

It just seems like people are set in their ways on this and there’s not going to be any give or take.” EMBODYING A MALE IDENTITY Buck and I talked about a shared support of individual rights to self identify, though, and responding to my personal stance of not liking the words myself but defending a trans person’s right to self-identify with them, Buck replied, “Exactly. And my point is this: you cannot police other people’s language and then not invite others to control what words you can use that may offend them. For example, the use of the word ‘queer.’ Why is that word okay to use, when that word has had a derogatory meaning forever? You can’t police language unless you police ALL of the language.” Buck acknowledges that many of the trans men he knows agree with the position that the words are “never okay to use”, but says, “I disagree with that. I’m older... most of the trans male community are very young. They are finding their own political voice. I personally just don’t understand why some words can be reclaimed and empowered, but others can’t. It really makes no sense to me.” Buck has been unapologetic in using jarring language and images in his art, billing himself in the past as the “man with a pussy” in his adult films and patiently explaining to talk show hosts like Tyra Banks and universities including Yale about his desire to keep his genitals as they were at birth while simultaneously embodying a male identity. He plans to springboard the success of “Mr. Angel” into more public speaking and educational opportunities. TRANS MALE REPRESENTATION Unlike the language controversy, which seems to be mostly internal to the LGBT community, Buck’s documentary film, “Mr. Angel” has been reaching a surprisingly large non-trans, heterosexual audience through Netflix. “It’s incredible. I never thought in a million years that this documentary was going to explode like this. The thing that makes me the most happy is the letters I’ve been getting from cisgender, white, 3 4 T H E F IGH T | J UN E 2014

Republican, church-going men, the kinds of guys who wanted to kill me before. I’m hearing daily about how my movie touched them, and how they now feel differently about people like us. They have more compassion for people like me. That is the most powerful thing for me to hear and see in my work: I’ve reached a group of people who hated us before and wanted to kill us, and now they have empathy.” The movie has been available for about two months, and Buck says it is on Netflix’s “Most Popular” section as one of the most downloaded on the site. Buck will be flying to Sweden shortly for their gay pride, where they will be showing the film, and he is eager to take on this bigger role as a speaker and teacher. Trans male representation in recorded history has been sparse, but includes historical figures like philanthropist Reed Erickson, musician Billy Tipton and film portrayals such as award-winning portrayal of Brandon Teena’s life in “Boys Don’t Cry.” When I mentioned to Buck that few if any of the students at one of my recent speaking engagements had heard of any of those examples, he was shocked and saddened. “I think the trans male movement is very new in many ways,

but there is a hell of a lot of representation out there for them to discover,” he says. Buck reports that his materials are used in many gender studies classes, but he sees figures in trans male history’s more distant past as receiving much less attention. FIND THE LOVE FOR EACH OTHER When I asked Buck if he had considered taking on acting roles in mainstream films, perhaps telling the story of someone like Billy Tipton, he laughed. “I’m not an actor, and don’t feel comfortable acting, but I recently took on a role in a short film in Hawaii, and am looking at another role. It was probably one of the most difficult things I’ve done recently. I have such a huge newfound respect for actors... learning lines, understanding what acting was all about.” Buck has come so far, and his energy is palpable as he discusses not only the work he has done, but the work he feels the trans community in particular still has before it: “I really think that it’s so important for our community as trans people to understand that we’ve been ostracized, fought against, kicked, and killed... We need to learn as our own community to start loving each other, and to stop having so much ego involved that we can’t be more loving towards our brothers and sisters. And to stop being so angry with each other. Anger just tears us apart and it’s not going to make our struggle any better. We will get so much further if we can move past that and find the love for each other.” n Read more about Buck Angel at http://www.buckangel.com.

Follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/BuckAngel. Find him on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ OfficialBuckAngel.

Putting A Ring On It Cambria Pines Lodge: a destination wedding facility like no other. BY ORLY LYONNE

The beautifully majestic Cambria Pines Lodge, located in Cambria, ten minutes south of Hearst Castle, midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, has the feel of a mountain lodge, the look of a garden, and a five-minute proximity to the ocean. As a destination wedding facility, the Lodge features beautiful outdoor and indoor event venues of varying sizes to accommodate 15-250 guests. “The wedding pictures we have seen come out of our gardens over the years are awesome—a unique photographic setting is one of the stand-out reasons to choose the Lodge as a wedding venue,” says Becky Evans, Director of Sales and Marketing, in an interview with THE FIGHT. Cambria Pines Lodge hosted its first gay wedding in 2007, recalls Evans. “In those days, it was still called a commitment ceremony... It

was a gorgeous, sunny day in the Gazebo Garden. John and David were happy and smiling the whole afternoon, surrounded by loving friends and family. There was such joy in the air. Everyone was carried along on a tide of love, hope, and optimism. The cake was one-of-a-kind, with sugar sea shells and a cake topper of two scuba divers opening a trunk full of treasure—a perfect metaphor for personal discovery and sharing the adventure of life.” “An LGBTQ couple should prepare to be treated with all the care and consideration which we show to every couple who

chooses to have their wedding at the Lodge,” states Evans. “Our experienced sales and catering staff will take care of room blocks, event set-up, menu, etc., leaving the couple to relax and enjoy the wedding experience fully.” “We have welcomed the LGBTQ community to our property for many years, actively seeking to grow this segment of our market,” says Evans. “Now that marriage equality is becoming a reality in more and more states, we are honored to be part of the celebration!” n For more info on Cambria Pines Lodge visit www.cambriapineslodge.com.

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There is a solution to everything. Alcohol and drugs only exacerbate the situation. We do not have to do this alone. We walk through our fears and get to the other side by cleaning up our mess.

A Life In Freedom And Truth Kaitlin Sine Riordan, transgender author of the book “Bondage of Self,” on recovery, masking the pain and finding peace. BY ORLY LYONNE

As a recovery tech at Desert Palms Treatment Center, Kaitlin Sine Riordan, transgender author of the book “Bondage of Self,” has seen her fair share of ineptitude when it comes to treating a transgender person at recovery facilities. “It is certainly difficult to find a treatment facility that will accommodate a transgendered individual,” reveals Riordan in an interview with THE FIGHT. “My first own personal experience with treatment was calling a facility located in West Virginia and explaining that I was a male to female transgendered person and needed to know if I would be accepted. I was told it would not be a problem... After my fifth day, I was called into the office and told that the counselor wanted to work on being transgendered first and then my drug and alcohol issue second. This group wanted to tell me that I was not a transsexual.” “I left that facility and found one in Palm Springs, right here in California, which did work on my substance abuse issues for 90 days. I identified as a female and was subsequently housed with females and female roommate.” “There is fear of harassment for those in the midst of transitioning, 3 6 T H E F I GH T | J U N E 2 014

especially if gender reassignment has not been performed,” states Riordan. “We worry about housing, ensuring hormones are prescribed, and the overall safety and acceptance from the community. When we reach the point of needing treatment and recovery it is not unusual to bring with us fear, guilt, and shame which is normally escalated by rejection.” “I only know of a handful of treatment centers in the United States that specify that they are transgender friendly,” reveals Riordan. “So we have to search, ask questions, and reveal that we are transitioning.” “The need is great for the transgendered community because among those who do not commit suicide (sadly there is a 40% attempt rate) many will mask the pain with substances. This does not mean that all transsexuals mask the pain but many do when rejected by their families... Most treatment facilities do not have policies or procedures when it comes to handling transgendered individuals. Then it becomes a question of ‘what to do’ with these people.” Desert Palms Treatment Center in Cathedral City, CA, provides a safe environment for transgendered individuals, states Riordan. “I work as a Recover Technician at Desert Palms

Treatment Center and have the opportunity to ensure this safety. Having gone through treatment, six years ago, I have some knowledge to offer patients and the organization.” Riordan’s autobiography “Bondage of Self,” (available at amazon.com) describes her journey in transitioning from male to female. “I discuss the feelings of confusion and rejection by my family. I write about the experience of masking the pain with alcohol and drugs.” In order to undergo gender reassignment surgery, “I had to stop drinking and using. This was my reason for going to rehab,” reveals Riordan in her book. “It worked and I have had the surgery. I never knew how life could be so wonderful with a drink or a drug.” “Ultimately,” states Riordan, “there is a solution to everything. Alcohol and drugs only exacerbate the situation. We do not have to do this alone. We walk through our fears and get to the other side by cleaning up our mess. The feeling of not being loved and rejected takes a long time to overcome but it can be done... I know, I had to do it too... Transgendered individuals can live a very happy life. A life in freedom and truth.” n For more on Desert Palm Treatment Center, visit desertpalms.com.

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What did you think about RuPaul’s refusal to back down and apologize for referring to himself as a tranny?

Words With Friends Calpernia Addams on the “T” word, separate communities fighting the same battles and respecting everybody’s right to self-determination and self-identification. BY PAULO MURILLO | PHOTO BY ERIC SCHWABEL

Actress, musician, author and LGBT activist Calpernia Addams grew up in Nashville, Tennessee and served as a Hospital Corpsman with the Navy and United States Marine Corps. During her last year in the military she came out as a transgender woman. In 1999 Addams began dating PFC Barry Winchell. Word of the relationship spread at Winchell’s Army base where he was harassed by fellow soldiers and ultimately murdered. Winchell’s murder and the subsequent trial resulted in widespread press and a formal review of the U.S. “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) military policy, ordered by President Bill Clinton. The case became a prominent example used to illustrate the failure of DADT to protect LGBT service members. Addams’ and Winchell’s romance and the crimes of their abusers are depicted in the film “Soldier’s Girl,” released in 2003. More recently Addams became embroiled in a language controversy after she defended the use of words like “tranny,” and “SheMale” in “RuPaul’s Drag Race” show, even though she admittedly is not a fan of these words. She spoke against language policing and immediately became a target of vicious attacks from trans women in her own community. In an interview with THE FIGHT, Addams shares her views on the “T” word, its history and proper usage among certain groups in our community and why RuPaul can say it but Kelly Osbourne cannot. 3 8 T H E F I GH T | J U N E 2 014

I always stand on the side of artists to express themselves and I always stand on the side of people to have the right to choose how they identify. I said a million times at this point that I don’t particularly like or use the words tranny or she-male outside of a discussion like this, but I don’t think those words should be censored as they have a historical place in a lot of different communities. For people to come along and say that others cannot use these words to self-identify, I think is full of hubris. I find it really funny that I have to engage so deeply and fight so hard for words that I don’t particularly like. Do you think RuPaul is transphobic? No. No (laughs). The very idea that RuPaul is transphobic is crazy talk. She’s got 30 years of shaping queer culture under her belt. The people who are talking about her being transphobic—if you look at them—are mostly these young privileged white transsexual women—most of whom seem to be lesbian. I don’t know what it is about this demographic, but to see all these young rich white faces oppressing an African American legend of the queer community seems homophobic to me... there may be racism involved. I don’t know, but it’s disgusting to me. What about when someone like Kelly Osbourne uses the “T” word? If Kelly and other outsiders are going to pick and choose from what they hear from the community, I think some people will be super offended. Kelly is not trans. But those of us inside the community--we should be free to use them how we want. It’s like the word faggot or dyke. I don’t go around calling my gay friends those words, but most of my friends love those words in the

I believe that transgender is an umbrella term that encompasses everyone who is crossing gender lines. That’s the literal meaning of trans and gender. I think of course, drag queens belong under that umbrella, along with transvestites and transsexuals. right context when they use them amongst themselves. It’s reclaiming and taking the power back. What was your reaction to drag bar Tranny Shack changing its name to T-Shack? I was sad to see it changed, but only because I hate to see Heklina being forced to bow to the pressures from these extremists, but she’s an artist and a business person. I respect her and I respect her making the decision she thought that she needed to make... In a nutshell: I believe that transgender is an umbrella term that encompasses everyone who is crossing gender lines. That’s the literal meaning of trans and gender. I think of course, drag queens belong under that umbrella, along with transvestites and transsexuals. Like RuPaul said, it’s a small group of people who are trying to control the conversation. Not all transsexual women feel the same. What kind of criticism have you received for defending drag queens like Ru? Oh goodness, everything. One writer called me a drag queen

on the pages of the advocate.com. There are all the endless crazy tweets and Facebook comments making fun of the murder of my boyfriend. The knives are out in full force. Luckily, there’s not many of them, they’re just very loud. Do you think there’s a divide between the trans and gay communities-particularly the gay males—that needs to be addressed? I’ve said in the past before this controversy that gay men often think they understand what it is to be transsexual, but they often really don’t, but I think their hearts have almost always been in the right place, so it’s never been that big of a problem for me. I think some gay men do sort seem to think of transsexual women—as you know—drag queens who have gone that extra mile. When I come across issues like that I try to gently and kindly help them understand that I think of myself as a heterosexual woman who happens to have this aspect in my history, but I think some transwomen aren’t able to react to things like that with the compassion that I have, so you see a lot of anger. Do you think there’s a divide between trans women and trans men? We have always been separate communities. I think we get that we’re fighting the same battles and I’ve always felt the love from the trans men community. I haven’t personally seen a lot of sort of crosspollination between the two communities, but I don’t think it’s out of any animosity. I think that we’re just on these very different paths. I’ve been very fortunate to be close friends with one or two trans men over the span of many years, so I always try to ask questions when I

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don’t understand something. What advice do you have for young trans folks who want to police what people say? I don’t think young people in general are struggling with this as much as some very vocal people on Twitter and Tumbler and Facebook... I suggest that everybody respect everybody’s right to self-determination and self-identification. Are you tired of speaking about this subject? I’ve been talking about this for quite some time... you can go back to at least 15 years on the forum of my website and see me discussing this. It’s not a recent thing. People have been talking about the word tranny for decades. And here we are again, but I feel like it’s important to give my perspective. Why do you do this? Why not just

settle down with a nice man and grow a vegetable garden? I ask myself why I still bother every day. I have a sweet, sexy boyfriend. He’s a straight guy who’s never dated a transwoman before, who’s never been interactive with the gay community at all. I have great friends. I make music and act and perform. I really don’t need any of this political stuff. I don’t even like the words, so the fact that I’m getting involved obviously shows that I think it’s important. Even at the expense of my comfort and my reputation. n Calpernia Addams hosts “The Goddess Show” at Hamburger Mary’s in West Hollywood every Saturday from 8pm to 10pm. Her latest single “Ugly Hearts” addresses the language controversy and is free to download at her website calpernia.com. Buy her music on iTunes and follow her on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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Addicted to Exercise

When your passion become a problem. BY MONIQUE FUNK

Exercise helps to control weight, combat health conditions and diseases, improve mood, boost energy, promote better sleep, and improve your sex life ... as long as it is done in moderation. But when one’s passion for fitness becomes a compulsion or an addiction, a once life enhancing pursuit can become a toxic, destructive force. This is what happened to Justin. Justin, a moderately fit 28-year-old male, decides to get in shape for beach season. He starts going to the gym every morning before work, he gets stronger, has more energy, and begins to experience reduced anxiety. Justin starts waking up earlier so that he can spend even more time at the gym. As his strength increases Justin decides to train for his first Ironman competition. He follows a strict workout routine and records every aspect of his workout and food intake into a logbook. After a great performance in the Ironman competition, Justin decides to keep following his training regimen, gradually increasing in intensity and duration as time progresses. As time goes by, Justin begins to experience insomnia and an elevated morning heart rate. He continues to follow his routine, but starts to experience increasing fatigue, as well as pain in his shoul4 0 T H E F I GH T | J U N E 2 014

der. Justin is so busy and tired from work and working out that he has very little time or energy for his friends. Justin’s doctor recommends that he take two to three weeks off to allow his shoulder to heal. Justin takes a couple days off, but begins to feel irritable, depressed and guilty about missing his workouts. He decides that his doctor is over-reacting and heads to the gym, telling himself that he will take it easy. Within a couple of days Justin is working out at full intensity. Following the “no pain, no gain” mantra, he often workouts until he feels dizzy or nauseated, taking these as signs of a particularly “good workout.” Soon Justin’s doctor tells him that he has a torn rotator cuff that will require surgery.

Compulsive exercise, like many other forms of addictive or disordered behavior, is generally a symptom of a deeper issue. Justin is not alone. Approximately 3% of the general population struggles with exercise addiction. This number is even higher in specific sub-populations, including ultra-marathon runners, sports science students, and eating disorder sufferers (40 to 50% co-occurring exercise addition). “75% or more of my eating disorder clientele struggle with co-occurring compulsive exercise. Whether the person is an athlete or starts up an exercise program for weight-loss, the workouts become attached to an established or newly developing eating disorder,” comments Lauren Anton, MS RD, CPT, Registered Dietitian at A New Journey in Santa Monica, CA. The progression from healthy activity, to a pathological passion can be insidious, and emerge slowly. Below are a few signs of a potential problem with exercise addiction or compulsion.

TELLTALE SIGNS

Increased Tolerance • Increase the duration and/ or intensity of exercise to get the desired “buzz” or sense of accomplishment, which over time may lead to a pursuit of increasingly extreme physical stimulation from exercise. Withdrawal Symptoms • Feeling anxious, irritable, restless, or unable to sleep if one doesn’t exercise at one’s expected duration, intensity level or frequency. Loss of Control • Unable to reduce or manage exercise duration, level or

frequency despite medical advice or intentions to do so. Loss of Time • Increasingly large amounts of time invested in thinking about, preparing for, engaging in or recovering from exercise. Interference with Activities & Relationships • As a direct result of time and energy expenditures invested in exercise, one pulls away from previously important social, professional, educational and recreational activities. Continuing at All Costs • Continuing to engage in exercise or a specific physical activity even when the activity is causing or exacerbating physical, psychological and/or interpersonal problems.

CO-OCCURRING EATING DISORDERS

Compulsive exercise is often accompanied by calorie restriction and co-occurring eating disorders. Lauren Anton, MS RD, CPT, Registered Dietitian at A New Journey in Santa Monica, explains that, while “running, triathlons, marathons, ultra-marathons, cycling, and body building are some sports that are highly correlated with eating disorders,” any athlete or every-day exercise enthusiast can develop an unhealthy obsession with food. These obsessions include: Regimented Eating • Becoming very rigid about what, when, where and how food is eaten. Obsession with Measurements • Counting every calorie, gram of macronutrient, and drop of hydration. Food Becomes Work • Seeing food as fuel to be managed and manipulated for optimal

results or performance, and losing all enjoyment of food. “While fueling for sports is important, when someone obsesses over each calorie and operates from a belief that each molecule of food ingested must be for the augmentation of heath, this can lead to a full blown eating disorder, or at least a stressed, unhappy relationship with food,” warns Anton, who says that athletes, weekend warriors and every day exercisers should be cautious of diet fads, and encourages people to ask the following question when receiving nutrition advice, “Does this person have the credentials to hand out nutrition advice?” The people most qualified to give nutrition advice are your doctor and a registered dietitian. Be careful, warns Anton, about following nutrition advice from personal trainers, sports coaches, diet coaches, and other individuals who may not have the adequate training and

education to offer such advice.

GETTING HELP

Compulsive exercise, like many other forms of addictive or disordered behavior, is generally a symptom of a deeper issue. If you suspect that your passion for fitness has become an unhealthy obsession it is important to seek professional help. A trained counselor can help you identify any feelings that you may be trying to avoid, and assist you in developing the coping skills necessary to work through these feelings. n In addition to seeking professional help you can also try some of the prevention tips offered by Lauren Anton of A New Journey, by scanning the QR code on this page or going to www. anewjourney.net.

JUNE 2014 T HFEI GH F I GH T 41 MAR CH 2014 | T|H E T 41

THEMONEY

>> CHARITABLE GIVING <<

Many of us receive gifts from our aging parents, but what is the current value of that gift versus what its value would be if they left it to us in their will? If we gave that share of Google to the charity instead of cash, the charity would still receive the same $550 value, the donor would still receive a tax deduction of the same $550, but the donated share would in fact only be worth $370 to the donor! What a win! Donating can in fact be quite profitable at times, and for those with philanthropic intentions, why not do good for yourself while doing good for others? Charitable giving is as much a part of financial planning as planning for retirement is. Seek advice before donating!

GIVING AND RECEIVING CHARITABLE GIVING IS AS MUCH A PART OF FINANCIAL PLANNING AS PLANNING FOR RETIREMENT IS. BY GRANT GOCHIN l The LGBTQ community has long been held to unequal standards by society; we have felt the yoke of oppression and know what it means to be a minority. As such, we are likely more sensitized to the needs of others, to deprivation and discrimination, and it’s likely that there is more philanthropic activity from the GLBTQ community than from many other communities. Philanthropy involves volunteering and giving — often monetary giving. But is the gifting of cash the same as the gifting of something of similar value? The answer is, as usual, “it depends.”

STOCK VERSUS CASH Assume that someone in the highest tax bracket in California purchased a share of Google stock on the first date it was issued. He or she would have paid $50 per share, and it is now worth about $550 per share. Assume that they give $550 in cash to a charity. It would cost them $550, but what if they give that share of Google instead? After accounting for the 35% in capital gains tax, Medicare and state taxes, and, assuming, $5 in transaction costs, the net value of the Google share for the owner would only be $370. 4 2 T H E F IGH T | J UN E 2014

LEARNING OPPORTUNITY Similarly, we often give gifts to one another. But what should we give, and to whom? That same Google stock example, where one share is worth $550 in the market but only worth $370 to us, can be used when giving a gift to, say, a niece or nephew. Instead of writing a check, you can give them a gift of stock. It’s likely that the child is in a low tax bracket, so a $370 net cost for you could be a higher value gift to them, and what a learning opportunity at the same time! What a great way for you to increase the value of your gifts. Therefore, gift giving is often a process of financial planning as well. We would, however, have to check what their “kiddie tax” rate might be in order to be sure of the actual value of our gift.

DEFERRED PLEASURE Many of us receive gifts from our aging parents, but what is the current value of that gift versus what its value would be if they left it to us in their will?

Deferred pleasure can sometimes sweeten the experience. If your parents give you that share of Google, you would still have to pay taxes on those gains, but if they leave it to you in their will, you would likely receive it at its value of $550. The timing of the gift is crucial. At every point in time, we give gifts, receive gifts, and make charitable donations. These are good things, but by looking at the gifts in the context of our broader financial picture, we are able to increase the value and magnitude of our gifts, and increase the pleasure we derive from doing the right thing. n Grant Gochin is a Wealth Advisor and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional at 16200 Ventura Blvd # 415, Encino, CA 91436 Ph: (818) 827-3410. Grant is married (to a man) and he and his husband have one son. Questions and suggestions for future articles should be sent to him at grant.gochin@ raymondjames.com. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/ SIPC The Fight Magazine is not affiliated with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. RJFS does not provide tax advice or tax preparation. You should discuss any tax or legal matters with a qualified professional. Any opinions are those of the author and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James. The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the forgoing material is accurate or complete.

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JUNE 2014 | T H E F I GH T 43

Qweening

Out With Jonny McGovern FROM L TO R: MILES DAVIS MOODY, TODD MASTERSON, RUPAUL, JONNY MCGOVERN, GREG MCKEON, LADY RED COUTURE, WALTER DELMAR

Queens, haters, the struggle to pump out new content and the life of a “gay pimp.” BY PAULO MURILLO

had the energy and the focus. Why did you name the show “Hey Qween?”

Nobody said the life of a gay pimp was easy. Jonny McGovern has been busy. He recently released a DVD compilation called “The Gayest Video Special of All Time”—a collection of music videos from his album “Gayest of All Time” that includes comedy sketches and naughty behind-the-scenes footage. He also recently launched his web talk show series called “Hey Qween,” the gayest talk show of all time, via thestream.tv, where gaylebrity guests like RuPaul, Calpernia Addams, Alec Mapa, Frank DeCaro, Miles Davis Moody and Detox Icunt kiki about current LGBT issues. “I wanted a place where we were able to really speak freely,” McGovern said in an interview with THE FIGHT. “You know, kitchen table talk, because LGBT people know how to keep it very real about what’s going on and what we’re feeling.” McGovern dishes about queens, haters, the struggle to pump out new content, and the life of a gay pimp.

For years, queen has been a term of affection between my friends, “Hey qween! How you doin’?” It’s about knocking ourselves down a notch and not taking ourselves so seriously. As gay guys we’re all so obsessed with being butch or getting laid, so “hey qween” is able to cut through all that and use that as a term of affection.

Why are you doing a talk show?

Oh well, I certainly use it to my greatest advantage whenever I can (laughs). I’m big and hairy on the outside, but I’m real gay and shiny on the inside.

I knew I wanted to do something where I sat down and talked to people and I called everyone “qween.” That was the original thought. I ended up mixing in one of favorite drag queens in West Hollywood, Lady Red Couture, she’s a 6’7” big black beauty. I knew I needed somebody who 4 4 T H E F IGH T | J UN E 2014

You’re not very queeny. Is your deep voice a big panty dropper?

What kind of feedback is the show getting so far? The response to the show has been overwhelmingly positive. I think people are looking for a safe place where gay people can make fun of each other and talk about stuff and keep it real. What do you hope to get from this show? On television. I think I’ve done a lot of stuff that’s full of sexy content. It’s part of my “Gay Pimp” brand. I’ve always kept things titillating and fun. And while this is still titillating and fun, this is probably the most possible jump into the mainstream, whether it is a network like Logo or if it’s on a quirky new network like IFC. Wherever they have a broadcast signal, we’ll go. How do you pump out so much original content?

For years, queen has been a term of affection between my friends, “Hey qween! How you doin’?” It’s about knocking ourselves down a notch and not taking ourselves so seriously. RuPaul said in our interview when he was talking about his own career that you have to carve out your own way. In this internet fast world, you have to continually have new content. I’m hoping to carve out my own path. As a gay artist who is super out and super real, it’s not always easy, so you have to create your own opportunities and create your own work and do it consistently or else the audience moves on. Does the Gay Pimp have haters? I never pay them too much mind, but you have to be ready for people and their comments. People get vicious and crazy. They don’t have to see your face or talk to you, so they get super snarks. Any negative comments that made you go ouch? Oh yeah, “go kill yourself.” I was like, really (laughs)? Because I made a light hearted fun video about sexy nerds, “go kill yourself?” I’ve become immune to it after so many years, but there were certain times in my life where I was like, “How can you say that? I’ve put my heart and soul into this.” Now I’m like, “Bitch please, move along.” What are some of the biggest challenges in the work you do? I think being able to find the resources to keep giving stuff on the level to which they expect from me. Even my very first piece, [the video] “Soccer Practice” was high quality and had a great big look and I’ve had different benefactors and producers who have invested in me, but you know, with a long career comes a lot of different changes. For a period of time, I had to turn to my fans to raise money. What do you find most rewarding? I love performing live, doing stand up and songs on stage is probably my favorite place to be and that’s one of the reasons why I wanted to do “Hey Qween.” I wanted to find a place on a national level to be able to put it out there. If you’re watching “Hey Qween” you’re seeing what I’m really like and you get to hear me talk to my friends who happen to be glamorous gay celebrities, but it’s probably the most authentic version of me. I also like it when guys tell me that they jerked off to one of my music videos. It’s not a compliment to me, it’s probably to my dancers, but I’ll accept it. n Jonny McGovern is available for live gigs around the nation. His podcast is available on iTunes. He hosts a Saturday night Slut-a-thon at FuBar and he pens a blog at gayestofalltime.com. “The Gayest Video Special of All Time” is available at createspace.com/367498. “Hey Qween” will be shoot through the summer via thestream.tv. JUNE 2014 | T H E F I GH T 45

Path To Recovery Morningside Recovery Treatment Center’s open, non-lockdown treatment model integrates care in a real-world setting. BY JOEL EDWARDS

Morningside Recovery is an LGBTQ-friendly treatment center in beautiful Orange County, CA, that specializes in dual-diagnosis treatment, with focus on the psychological issues that often go hand-in-hand with addiction. Our open, non-lockdown treatment model differs from many traditional programs by integrating care in a real-world setting and customizing programming for each individual’s unique needs. We offer an array of programs and encourage constructive exposure to the community so clients learn the emotional and practical skills necessary to continue their lives of sustainable recovery long after treatment. Morningside Recovery specializes in the treatment of psychological issues that often accompany addiction—grief, loss, trauma, low selfesteem, depression, and anxiety among them. In fact, 90% of addicts have suffered some form of trauma in their lifetime. Often, there are underlying mental health issues that drive addiction, which is referred to as dual-diagnosis or co-occurring disorders.

CORE EMOTIONS For those in the LGBTQ community in particular, experiences of neglect, discrimination, misunderstanding, and abuse are common. Core emotions surrounding such powerful memories can drive some individuals to self soothe or medicate through drugs, alcohol, or certain process addictions like compulsive spending. We’re here to help! Individualized treatment plans may include CBT, DBT, EMDR, and various group and alternative therapies to help resolve emotional symptoms of former traumas and confront addiction in a safe, confidential environment of understanding peers. Addressing trauma this way allows clients to heal the mind as well as the body, as nutritional guidance and daily trips to the gym greatly 4 6 T H E F I GH T | J U N E 2 014

improve clients’ physical health. Through our diversified and dynamic therapy programs, clients may choose to remain active and participate in holistic activities including yoga, acupuncture, psychodrama, tai chi, BioSound healing, and sweat lodge experiences. We also provide flexible family programming and fully support clients bringing their pet with them to treatment.

CUSTOM TAILOR TREATMENT Our highly credentialed clinical team is comprised of multiple Doctorate level therapists and psychologists, Master’s level LMFTs and alternative therapy instructors, as well as a psychiatrist and professional nutritionist. Through this comprehensive guidance, we custom tailor treatment for each client through a broad selection of programs, ranging from traditional therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and the 12 Steps, to more advanced therapies like Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), in addition to an extensive array of experiential therapies. Clients also have the opportunity to try other evidence and science-based treatment tracks including Smart Recovery and Seeking Safety. Among our specialty programs is the Morningside Adventure Program (MAP), an action-driven experiential program for those who seek renewed confidence and reflection

With Morningside Recovery’s constant therapeutic support and supervision, clients may also attend classes at a local college, work parttime, bike with housemates to the beach, have their cell phone, and be visited by family whenever they’d like. in the outdoors through relationship-building activities. We also provide special school and vocational guidance through Morningside Academic Institute (MAI) and Launchpad. MAI assists clients in every way possible as they strive to achieve their academic goals; Launchpad similarly guides clients through all aspects of job preparedness and employment during treatment. With Morningside Recovery’s constant therapeutic support and supervision, clients may also attend classes at a local college, work part-time, bike with housemates to the beach, have their cell phone, and be visited by family whenever they’d like. In other words, they are as close to real life as they can get. Support in this real-world context allows for a smooth transition into self-sufficient, sustainable recovery. Joel Edwards is the Executive Director of Morningside Recovery, an addiction and mental health treatment center in Orange County, CA, that specializes in dual-diagnosis and individualized care. For more information about Morningside Recovery and their LGBTQ-friendly programming, call (866) 384-5444 or visit www.MorningsideRecovery.com.

“Being a member of ‘The Spice Girls’ was always my honest goal, but they split up, so standup comedy was the next best thing.”

Here’s

JORDAN “Growing up—I leaned on comedy for everything,” says stand-up comedian and author Jordan Pease. “It got me through my parent’s divorce, my father’s death, drug addiction— it’s a cure all.” BY MARK ARIEL

Born and raised in New Jersey into an Italian-American family that has embraced his adult identity (“When I came out to my grandparents, their only comment was that they hoped I married an Italian man”), stand-up comedian and author Jordan Pease mines the sometimes painful and more difficult avenues of life in order to fashion self-deprecating jokes that render him equal parts endearing and outrageous. 4 8 T H E F I GH T | A P R I L 2014

The same tone can be found in his memoir, “Accidentally Okay,” which recalls his extended stay in Verona, Italy, with an acute sense of observation and self-awareness. Pease has also contributed columns to Huffington Post and maintains an active presences on his website, thejordanpease.com. Citing Chelsea Handler and David Sedaris as two of his role models, Pease has found great success even though he’s been doing stand-up professionally for less than three years; he’s already been named “Funniest New Comic in LA” and appears regularly at the Comedy Store and the Laugh Factory, sometimes sharing stage time with idols like Sarah Silverman and Steve Trevino. “Standup comedy was always a major thought in my mind,” reveals Pease in an interview with THE FIGHT. “While living in San Francisco I dabbled upon a few open mics, but never took

it seriously until moving to Los Angeles in 2011. Growing up I leaned on comedy for everything. It got me through my parent’s divorce, my father’s death, drug addiction—it’s a cure all. I strive on taking nothing seriously... Being a member of ‘The Spice Girls’ was always my honest goal, but they split up, so standup comedy was the next best thing.” In some ways, says Pease, opening yourself up to an audience can be theraputic. “Standup comedy makes you step outside yourself often, and sort of take a walk in other people’s shoes. I don’t know if I would say it helped me ‘come out,’ but it totally helped me cut all the bullshit out of my life. It’s made become a more positive, carefree—yet driven person. Although, since moving from New Jersey 5 years ago I have become hands-down 2000 times gayer.” Depending on the audience, says Pease, “about 1/4 of my material includes gay puns, making fun of myself for being gay, how ridiculous our community can be, and making a straight older man feel uncomfortable by sitting on his lap.” “My big secret is that I picture everyone in the audience as my friends,” Pease reveals. “Before the show, after the show, I treat them like my friends...I make eye contact, and I figure, my friends are going to laugh at the same things I do.” For more about Jordan Pease, and upcoming tour dates, visit: Thejordanpease.com. n

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JUNE 2014 | T H E F I GH T 49

I get a healing energy from my Reiki sessions. Ron, D.A.P. client

Pasadena Certified Farmers’ Market Bringing quality produce to the community. BY ORLY LYONNE

If you have never been

D.A.P. treats and supports the whole person Treating my HIV takes enough medication already— I didn’t want to take even more meds for the stomach upset I was feeling. So I tried Reiki as an alternative. With each session, I feel my body healing in a new way. The Reiki master’s hands rarely touch me, even lightly. But he seems to channel this amazing power into my organs. He says it’s the universe, not him. Whatever it is, I feel like each session is an important step toward being an even healthier person.

This and more...all under one roof

Thanks to your generous support, Desert AIDS Project has been saving lives for 30 years. Please continue to help by donating at desertAIDSproject.org, joining one of our annual giving programs, or by saving the date for one of our upcoming fundraising events.

Summer Mixer & Dance Party | July 24, 2014 Desert AIDS Walk | October 18, 2014 Dancing With The Desert Stars | November 15, 2014 World AIDS Day | December 1, 2014

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5 6 T H E F IGH T | J UN E 2014

to the Pasadena Certified Farmers’ Market, you are in for a real treat. You’ll love the experience of buying directly from the farmer that grows the food. What you’ll love even more is the fresh, delicious taste of locally grown, nutritious fruits, vegetables and farm products. The market also has other vendors offering jams, jellies, fish, and more. You truly can’t beat the great flavor when you buy fresh, nutritious fruits and vegetables direct from the farmer at the Pasadena Certified Farmers’ Market in Pasadena. Their certified vendors only sell what they grow—in other words, they won’t sell you anything that they did not grow. You know where your food came from, and who grew it for you! “Before 1978 farmers were not allowed to sell their produce directly off their farms if it did not meet ‘size, grade and packaging’ requirements of USDA standards,” reveals Gretchen Sterling, Manager of Pasadena Certified Farmers’ Markets. “Then Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation to allow these sales off property by direct sales with exemptions for size, grade, and packaging.” “Pasadena, as well as a handful of other communities, were helped by the State Of California Dept. of Food and Agriculture and the InterFaith Hunger Coalition to start markets that would allow farmers to sell directly to customers,” explains Sterling. “Our goal,” states Sterling, “is to bring quality produce to the community.” Pasadena’s Victory Park market is the largest in the San Gabriel Valley. With specialty items of grass-fed beef, fresh fish, local honey, flowers, and farmers from San Diego to Fresno as well as up the coast to San Luis Obispo and to the desert area of Salton Sea. The market is cash only, and is open rain or shine. n To find out more about Pasadena Certified Farmers’ Market, visit www.pasadenafarmersmarket.org.

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EBT ACCEPTED at all markets! | www.pasadenafarmersmarket.org JUNE 2014 | TH E F I GH T 51

THELAW > > R E C O R D I N G P R I VAT E C O N V E R S AT I O N S < <

California Penal Code Section 632(a) prohibits the recording of confidential communications without the consent of all parties. Evidence obtained in violation of this section may not be used in any judicial proceeding. Communication made in a public place or in any legislative, judicial or other administrative proceeding is exempt as there is not a reasonable expectation of privacy in such places.

TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS

WHEN TALK ISN’T SO CHEAP THE DONALD STERLING TAPES: THE LEGALITY OF RECORDING PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS. BY DAVID HAKIMFAR l Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling has certainly landed himself in a lot of trouble. In late April, a recorded conversation he had with his alleged mistress, V. Stiviano, was leaked to the gossip site TMZ.com. On the recording Sterling is heard making racist comments in which he forbids the woman from bringing black people to Clippers games. The fallout and public relations nightmare worsened for the billionaire when he instructed Siviano to say she had altered the tape in order to make him look bad, according to an investigator for the National Basketball Association. The controversy prompted NBA commissioner Adam Silver to sanction Sterling with a $2.5 million fine and to ban him from the association for life. While all of this drama makes for sensational fodder for the gossip rags and other media channels, the story brings up some good questions about the legality of recording private conversations. The answer to this question depends upon the type of conversation, where it takes place and who was a party to the conversation.

EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY l If you record phone or in-person conversations, there are federal and state laws that limit your right to do so. Violating these laws can open you up to potential criminal charges and civil liability. A good rule of thumb is that it is almost always illegal to record a phone call or conversation that you are not a party to, have consent of the parties involved, or could normally overhear with or without eavesdropping. 5 2 T H E F IGH T | J UN E 2014

l “One party consent” is required in all 50 states in order to legally record a phone conversation. What this means is that one party to the conversation must give permission for the recording to take place. In many states, the law is more stringent. California law requires all parties to agree to being recorded, except in cases in which one party is involved in criminal activity that includes blackmail or extortion. Under these circumstances, there is no legal protection. Otherwise, it may be a violation of state law and federal wiretapping law. The FCC (Federal Communication Commission) further states that verbal notification must be given before the recording.

BUSINESS RECORDINGS l Businesses are allowed by federal law to monitor and record calls when it is a part of the normal course of conducting business, such as a customer service line. Businesses must always advise callers of the potential or actual recording as well. The monitoring must stop if the content of the call is of a personal nature, except in two party consent states.

INTERSTATE CALLS l Calls that cross state lines can create complicated legal issues. Although federal law applies, one

state may be a two party consent state and the other is a one party consent state. The assumption can be made that the more stringent law would apply in such cases, but the law is not clear on the issue.

WIRELESS COMMUNICATION l Cell phone calls and other forms of wireless communication once fell into an unregulated gray area, but federal law now makes it illegal to record wireless and cell phone conversations outside of one party consent.

RECORDING POLICE AND OTHER PUBLIC OFFICIALS l First Amendment considerations come up when you openly record the activities of police officers or other public officials carrying out their duties in public places. A number of U.S. Courts of Appeals have held that the First Amendment protects the right to record audio and video regardless of whether the police/officials consent. This overrides any state or federal laws that otherwise prohibit recording.

RECENT CHANGES IN COURT OPINION l While these rules may seem fairly straight ahead, federal court opinions seem to be changing. In a 2010 case, the Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that secretly recording a conversation is not a violation of the wiretap act if done for legitimate reasons. In the opinion, the Court said “The defendant must have the intent to use the illicit recording to commit a tort of crime beyond the act of recording itself.” Happy Recording! n David Hakimfar is a trial attorney and senior partner of Hakimfar Law, PLC, and a member attorney of Pride Legal. He can be reached at 310-730-1250.

THEEPIDEMIC >> VITAMIN D <<

MORE VITAMIN D HOW ONE LITTLE NUTRIENT CAN LITERALLY SAVE YOUR LIFE. BY VICTOR MELAMED

> As more and more studies show that vitamin D is perhaps the most important nutrient in your diet (it is linked with bone health, cancer prevention, and lowered risks of heart disease, diabetes, and osteoarthritis), it’s also becoming clearer that most Americans are not getting enough of this key nutrient, reports HIVplusMag.com “Vitamin D is a key component in helping the body respond to many different kinds of assaults and stimuli,” Robert Heaney, Ph.D., a professor of medicine at Creighton University, told “Cooking Light” magazine. “In the absence of it, you’re asking the body to defend itself with one hand tied behind its back.” Almost a third of HIV-positive patients have vitamin D deficiency, researchers recently reported. Dark skin color was the most important risk factor for this disorder. Amongst patients with lighter skin, more patients taking NNRTI-based HIV treatment had vitamin D deficiency than did patients taking antiretroviral therapy based on a protease inhibitor. Vitamin D deficiencies have been associated with low CD4 cell counts, an activated immune system and HIV disease progression. The vitamin can be obtained from diet and is also produced by the skin when exposed to sunlight. Researchers recommend these three key sources for vitamin D: 1) Sunlight. Every time sun warms your skin, your body produces vitamin D. But be careful to limit exposure to avoid skin-cancer risks. 2) Food, particularly seafood rich in omega-3 fats, fortified foods, and some dairy products. 3) Supplements. Most multivitamins provide 400 IU of vitamin D. Be sure to select those containing it in the form of vitamin D3, also called cholecalciferol. How much do you need? That may depend on your age, according to health experts. Although the Institute of Medicine currently recommends 200 IU for adults under age 50, 400 IU for those age 51-70, and 600 IU for those 71 and above, a recent editorial in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition recommends a daily dose of 1,000 IU for people of all ages. n JUNE 2014 | T H E F I GH T 53

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Dancing With The Stars Arthur Murray Dance Centers of Pasadena launches Same-Sex/LGBT ballroom dance classes. BY VICTOR MELAMED

While the dance community has always been a known

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supporter of the LGBT community, there have been few opportunities of direct interaction between the two. However, over the past few months, these communities have grown closer together—all because of George Estrada, a current franchisee of the Arthur Murray Dance Center of Pasadena. As a strong supporter of the LGBT community, Estrada, who has been with The Arthur Murray family for over 10 years, decided the time has come to open his doors to all. Since April this year—Arthur Murray Dance Center in Pasadena has dedicated every first and third Saturday of every month to Same-Sex/LGBT Ballroom Dance classes. Arthur Murray Dance Centers are known for teaching students how to ballroom dance in such a way that leaves no room for confusion—in a fast, fun and easy manner. The company is known worldwide with studios in over 280 locations. Ballroom dance is considered partnership dancing. For the past 100 years of Arthur Murray Dance Centers’ existence—partner dancing has always been a standard of a man as the leader and a woman as the follower. Now, says Estrada, it is the time to break the mold and show the world that the possibilities are endless. “Having a safe and friendly space for the LGBT community is extremely important to me,” says Estrada, adding that, “it’s an exciting time—knowing that we now have the potential to make history in the world of dance.” Spread the word and join Estrada and his team at the Arthur Murray Dance Centers of Pasadena, located at 100 N. Lake Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101. n For more info call (626) 793-1030 or visit danceinpasadena.com.

OFF SUNSET ASSOCIATION

THEEVENT

>> LONG BEACH GAY PRIDE <<

PHOTOS BY BELMONT PRODUCTIONS

LONG BEACH GAY PRIDE

> The Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride Celebration, “Reflections of Pride,” the 3rd largest in the nation, attracted over 80,000 participants over the two-day celebration last month. More than 200 marching groups and floats comprised the parade entries, representing various religious, human service, governmental and social organizations. Performers this year included Kelly Rowland, CeCe Peniston and Cazwell.

5 8 T H E F I GH T | J U N E 2014

JUNE 2014 | T H E F I GH T 59

THECALENDAR >> THINGS TO DO << SUNDAY JUNE 8

2014 LOS ANGELES PRIDE PARADE Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, 11am. For more info: lapride.org. Over 400,000 participants, spectators and marchers, this emotionally charged experience, gathers together a colorful and diverse look at our creative community. CHE’S 6TH ANNUAL PRIDE AT PALIHOUSE Palihouse, 8465 Holloway Drive, West Hollywood 11am-4pm. For more info: chadhudsonevents.com. Pride Viewing Party, from the newly redesigned Paulihouse rooftop featuring DJ Ryan Kenney. TUESDAY, JUNE 10

ONE CITY ONE PRIDE West Hollywood Library, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd, 8pm. Special screening of “Big Joy: The Adventures of James Broughton,” presented by the city of West Hollywood, One City One Pride LGBTQ Arts Festival and West Hollywood City Council.

MARY LAMBERT, SEE FRIDAY JUNE 6 FRIDAY JUNE 6

LA PRIDE’S OFFICIAL LAVENDER MENACE West Hollywood Park, 5pm—12am, free. For more info: lapride.org. Celebrating women, featuring headliners Mary Lambert, Betty Who and others. Sponsored by Showtime. Come out and get your GIRL on. BEARRACUDA LA—PRIDE 2014! Dragonfly, 6510 Santa Monica Blvd, 9pm-2am. For more info: bearraduca.com. Chunky visuals, giveaways, tasty snacks, gogo bears and more. BRICK HEARTS ALEX (ALEXANDER SIMAI TRUNK SHOW) Brick & Mortar, 8713 Santa Monica Blvd, 7pm10pm. Kick off Pride weekend with a swimwear fashion show. SATURDAY JUNE 7

CSW LA PRIDE FESTIVAL: A TLGB CELEBRATION West Hollywood Park, Sat-Sun, June 7-8. For more info: lapride.org. Live entertainment on multiple stages, headline performances, all new dance venues, exhibitors, vendors and so much more! New this year: Exclusive VIP Experience tickets. Details at lapride.org. WONDERLAND WEEKEND 2014: SPLASH ROOFTOP POOL PARTY Andaz West Hollywood, 8401 Sunset Blvd, 12pm-6pm. One of LA’s biggest pool party moves to the top of WeHo, at the tallest pool in the city at the Andaz Hotel. UNIVERSAL STUDIOS GAY DAY & NIGHT Universal Studios Hollywood, 3pm-1am. For more info: outatuniversal.com Shows, concessions and rides. At 9pm, stay in the park as it closes to the general public and becomes exclusively gay—with rides open till 1am.

6 0 T H E F IGH T | J UN E 2014

FRIDAY, JUNE 13

TRANS PRIDE L.A. 2014 The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N. McCadden Place, Hollywood, free. For more info: www.facebook.com/TransPrideLA A two day event celebrating the vibrancy and uniqueness of Los Angeles’ trans and genderqueer community. BIG QUEER CONVO: BUCK ANGEL The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, Renberg Theatre—7:30pm-9pm. For more info: www.facebook.com/TransPrideLA With trans actor Buck Angel—a true LGBT icon as well as a controversial and eye-opening trans-activist. SATURDAY JUNE 14

6TH ANNUAL JOSHUA TREE GAY PRIDE FESTIVAL Coyote Corner HWY 62/Park Ave, Joshua Tree, CA, 11am-11pm. An Arts & Music Festival for the whole family. THIS IS THE LAST SHOW I DO BEFORE I GO ON MEDICATION The Pantages Theater, for more info: nicolneedsmeds.brownpapertickets.com Late Blooming Bisexual Comedy presents this live double decker comedy tour of all the mistakes comedian Nicol Paone made in the City of Angels. SATURDAY JUNE 21

STUDIO 54 WEST Circus Disco, 6655 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, 8pm. The return of original NYC Studio 54 DJ Robbie Leslie, together with 54 West resident DJ’s John Torres, George Flashback & DJ Wuakeen. Be transported back to the 70’s for an evening of classic 70’s Studio 54 Disco. THURSDAY, JUNE 26

FREDDIE MERCURY BURLESQUE TRIBUTE Rockwell, 1714 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles,8pm, for more info call (323) 661-6163 ext. 20. The Hollywood Jane Revue is back and they’re paying tribute to Freddie Mercury. This time they’re taking it all off for a cause and donating proceeds from this event to AIDS Project Los Angeles.

GROUPS

ASIAN/PACIFIC GAYS AND FRIENDS www.apgf.org GAY ASIAN PACIFIC SUPPORT NETWORK www.gapsn.org LOS ANGELES GAY AVIATION CLUB Pilots, Flights Attendants, Mechanics. www.unusualattitudes.info CLUB NUR Gay Middle Eastern. www.clubnur.com GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF LOS ANGELES www.gmcla.org THANK GAYS IT’S FRIDAY STANDUP COMEDY Every Friday, 8:30 p.m. MJ’s Bar, 2810 Hyperion Avenue, Los Angeles. (323) 650-1503 GAY & LESBIAN SALSA Every Monday, 8 p.m. Little Temple Bar, 4519 Santa Monica Blvd., Silverlake, 90029. gaysalsanight@yahoo. com or www.facebook.com/gaysalsanight GAY TRAFFIC SCHOOL Third Tuesday and Wednesday of every month, 6-10 p.m. The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N. McCadden Place, Los Angeles 90038. 1-800-Gay-4-You or www.laglc.org POP LUCK CLUB Second Sunday of every month, 11 a.m. Locations vary. Los Angeles based organization for Gay Dads, Prospective Dads, and their families. www.popluckclub.org PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month, at the Gay & Lesbian Center. RSVP to Dennis@malecare.org or call (323) 860-7340. GREAT AUTOS OF YESTERYEAR The largest LGBT classic car club on the West Coast. www.greatautos.org LOS ANGELES PRIME TIMERS Social group for older mature gay men and admirers. www.laprimetimers.org LOS ANGELES GAY BRIDGE CLUB www.communityvisions.org/IAGLBC LOS ANGELES GAY/LESBIAN SCIENTISTS www.lagls.org LOS ANGELES GAY FOR GOOD Gays making a commitment to volunteer for social welfare and environmental service projects. www.gayforgood.org LOS ANGELES GAY NATURISM California Men Enjoying Naturism. cmen.info BI-OSPHERE P.O.V. Every 2nd Wednesday, 8-9:30 p.m., The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N McCadden Place, Los Angeles. For more information, call (323) 860-7302. M-F between 6-9 p.m. Topic-driven discussion for women and men who identify as, or are exploring bisexuality. MEN’S SPEAKEASY Every Tuesday at 8 p.m. The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N McCadden Place, Los Angeles. For more information, call (323) 860-7302. Fun, alternative space for gay and bisexual men to meet and make new friends. LGBT BOOK CLUB First Wednesday of each month, 7:30-9:30 p.m. The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N McCadden Place, Los Angeles. For more information, call (323) 860-7302, M-F between 6-9 p.m. USC LAMBDA LGBT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION alumnigroups.usc.edu/lambda/ LOS ANGELES BLACK PRIDE www.myblackpridela.com GREATER PASADENA AID FUND www.greaterpasadenaaidfund.org POSITIVE IMAGES WORKSHOP Every Monday, from 7-9 p.m. The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N McCadden Place, Los

> EMAIL YOUR EVENT OR GROUP TO Angeles. If you’re looking for ways to deal with HIV, the Live Life Better Workshop can help you learn coping skills, build a support system, and work toward your health goals. An RSVP is required. For more information or to reserve your place, call (323) 860-7321. The e-mail contact is positiveimages@lagaycenter.org. TRANSGENDER PERCEPTIONS Every Friday, 8 p.m. The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N McCadden Place, Los Angeles. For more information, call (323) 860-7302. M-F between 6-9 p.m. Social networking group offers a safe and welcoming opportunity for people of any age and gender identity to learn from others and to share experiences. GET CENTERED Meditation Class. Every Saturday, 10-11 a.m., $10. Gay & Lesbian Center, 1625 N Schrader Blvd. Los Angeles. For more information, call (323) 860-7300. SENIORS SERVICES Ongoing, The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N McCadden Place, Los Angeles. For more information, call (323) 860-7359. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUPPORT Ongoing, L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, 1625 N Schrader Blvd., Los Angeles. For more information, call (323) 860-5806. MPOWERMENT WEEKLY WORKSHOPS Tuesdays and fridays, 6 p.m. APLA, 3550 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 300, Los Angeles. More info: Donta Morrison, tel: (213) 201-1561. For young gay men of color—ages 18 thru 24—looking for a safe place to hang out. “Each week offers a great opportunity to vent, laugh, make friends, and simply celebrate who you are.” TRAVEL

FRIENDS TRAVEL www.FriendsTravel.com Gay Owned & Operated, Since 1985. 12 STEP GROUPS

editor@thefightmag.com CRYSTAL METH ANONYMOUS Saturdays, 9:10-10:10 a.m. DEBTORS ANONYMOUS Tuesdays, 8-9 p.m. MARIJUANA ANONYMOUS Wednesdays, 8:15-9:45 p.m. Saturdays, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS Wednesdays, 7-8 p.m. SEXUAL COMPULSIVES ANONYMOUS Mondays, 8-9 p.m. Tuesdays, 8-9 p.m. Wednesdays, 8-9 p.m. Thursdays, 8:15-9:15 p.m. Saturdays, 12:15-1:45 p.m. WOMEN’S NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS Saturdays, Noon-1 p.m. SPORTS

LOS ANGELES LESBIAN SOFTBALL www.lagaysoftball.com LOS ANGELES LESBIAN TACKLE FOOTBALL www.californiaquakefootball.com LOS ANGELES LESBIAN RUGBY www.eaglerockrugby.com WOMEN’S SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GOLF www.womensgolf.org/wscga LOS ANGELES LESBIAN POKER www.lalpg.com LOS ANGELES WOMEN ON A ROLL Luncheons, Comedy Nights, and Conversation Groups. www.womenonaroll.com

>> LISTINGS << www.sagala.org V.O.I.L.A. Volleyball. www.lagayvolleyball.com GREAT OUTDOORS The largest gay outdoor recreational organization in Southern California. www. greatoutdoorsla.org GAY AND LESBIAN SIERRANS Camping, Outdoors, Hiking Angeles. www.sierraclub.org CHEER LA Cheerleading. www.cheerla.org

HOLLYWOOD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH hollywoodumc.org, 6817 Franklin Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90028 HOLY SPIRIT holyspirit-la.org, 4201 West Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90029 UNITED UNIVERSITY CHURCH uniteduniversitychurch.org, 817 West 34th St., Los Angeles, CA 90089

LA ROWING www.larowing.org

DIGNITY CENTER dignitylosangeles.org, 126 South Avenue 64, Los Angeles, CA 90042

DIFFERENT SPOKES Cycling www.differentspokes.com Rides start in various locations in the greater Los Angeles area.

HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH-HLYWD hopelutheranchurch.net, 6720 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BLADES Ice Hockey. www.bladeshockey.com LOS ANGELES FRONTRUNNERS Running and walking club. www.lafrontrunners.com WEST HOLLYWOOD SOCCER CLUB Comfortable, supportive environment for learning and playing the world’s most popular game. www.gaysoccer.com LOS ANGELES GAY SCUBA CLUB www.barnaclebusters.org LOS ANGELES GAY ROCK CLIMBING www.lalgbtclimbing.com WEST HOLLYWOOD AQUATICS Swim and Water Polo Teams. www.wh2o.org

LOS ANGELES GAY RODEO CLUB www.gsgra.org

WORSHIP

LOS ANGELES GAY FLAG FOOTBALL www.laflagfootball.com There’s also lesbian tackle football.

METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH mccla.org, 4953 Franklin Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027

WEST HOLLYWOOD GAY RUGBY www.larebellion.org

BETH CHAYIM CHADASHIM SYNAGOGUE bcc-la.org, 6090 West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90035

LOS ANGELES POOL LEAGUE Friendly Billiard teams. www.lapl8ball.com

fccla.org 540, South Commonwealth Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90020

All groups meet at The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N McCadden Place, Los Angeles. For more information, call (323) 860-7302 M-F between 6-9 p.m.

GAY & LESBIAN BOWLING LEAGUE www.tavernguildleague.com

KOL AMI REFORM SYNAGOGUE kol-ami.org, 1200 North La Brea Ave., West Hollywood, CA 90038

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS Mondays, 6:10-7:10 p.m.

SAGA LA Gay Ski & Snowboard Club.

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF LOS ANGELES

WEST HOLLYWOOD PRESBYTERIAN wehopres.org, 7350 W Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046 MOUNT HOLLYWOOD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH mthollywood.org, 4607 Prospect Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027 IMMANUEL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH immanuelpres.org, 3300 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010 ST. MATTHEW’S LUTHERAN CHURCH stmatthewsnoho.org, 11031 Camarillo St., North Hollywood, CA 91602 CHRIST CHAPEL OF THE VALLEY christchapel.com, 11050 Hartsook St., North Hollywood, CA 91601 ST. PAUL’S LUTHERAN CHURCH stpaulssm.org, 958 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90403 ST. MONICA CATHOLIC COMMUNITY stmonica.net, 725 California Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90403 WEHO CHURCH wehochurch.com, 916 N. Formosa Ave., West Hollywood, CA 90046 ST. VICTOR’S CATHOLIC CHURCH saintvictor.org, 8634 Holloway Dr. West Hollywood, CA 90069 ST. LUKE LUTHERAN stlukelutheran.com, 5312 Comercio Way, Woodland Hills, CA 91364

For Breaking Daily LGBT News Visit

www.thefightmag.com

JUNE 2014 | T H E F I GH T 61

THEFINALFIGHT

>> BE YOURSELF <<

IN AND OUT AT WHAT POINT ARE WE ALLOWED TO STOP COMING OUT AND JUST BE OURSELVES? BY ROB SMITH

> Like many gay men of this health-conscious and perpetually fit generation, I hit the gym on a regular and damn near religious basis, though I never really thought it would be a place where I’d have to come out of the closet... until I did. The thing about my gym is that it is neither a hotbed of man on man activity, nor is it a lunk fest with homophobic meatheads that you’d be afraid would throw a weight at you if you were caught staring just a bit too long. In short, it’s filled with regular guys of varying fitness levels that see each other on a regular enough basis to be friendly and have a couple of chuckles in between sets. That’s not to say that there are no gay men at my gym. Trust me, gay knows gay, and there has been more than one that passes through the ranks. It is a space that is soaked in testosterone and maleness, but not in the overtly sexual way that can easily happen when same-sex orientation comes into play. I notice men noticing me, yes, but most of those men are so obviously, hopelessly straight that their admiration of my muscles is strictly aspirational. My arms are more of a feature that they’d want on their bodies than wrapped around them. Besides, I’m not really sure if they know that I’m gay. Since gayness is (still) so heavily associated with whiteness, I’ve found that in many different ways my dark chocolate skin combines with my thick and beefy musculature to act as a camouflage of sorts when it comes to my sexuality. I am about as out as out can be in my personal and professional lives, but the gym is a different thing entirely. It’s not that I’m closeted in the gym, it’s just that the subject of my sexuality never really comes up. Or at least, it didn’t for quite some time until it did in the most innocuous way. If you’re using the same gym at the same time of day for an extended period of time (and aren’t intimidated by straight men), you’ll start to make workout buds. These are people who you will never see outside of the gym, really, but will engage in a regular basis about supplements, workouts and fitness related issues. Every once in a while, they’ll start talking about personal life stuff, and one day my workout bud “Dean” started to do so. Dean is a 6’3 caramel-skinned stud that would occupy every second of my fantasies if I were not at least a decade beyond having anything more than a passing thought about a straight guy. Unsurprisingly, Dean has no problems getting women. Every so often, he’d regale me with stories of his various women issues without ever really wanting feedback until one day, he added a “you know what I mean, man?” to the end of his story. Well...no, I didn’t. I stood dumbly holding the weight in my hand, unsure of how to proceed. I can recite story after story about the nutty homosexuals of NYC that I’ve dated for hours, but my experience with the opposite sex is fairly limited. “Hmmm,” I said. “Nope, I don’t know because I date guys.” At this, he crinkled his nose a bit, answered with a simple “Oh,” and finished his story about how crazy the latest girl was. For the hundredth or so time in my life, I’d just come out, but this time around it didn’t feel like a big statement so much as a fact of life. 6 2 T H E F I GH T | J U N E 2014

Since gayness is (still) so heavily associated with whiteness, I’ve found that in many different ways my dark chocolate skin combines with my thick and beefy musculature to act as a camouflage of sorts when it comes to my sexuality. Nothing really changed between Dean and I, nor did I expect it to. Our relationship stayed pretty much the same and we continued to exchange workout tips and brief talk, though I did notice that the girlfriend talk stopped. Maybe it was because he knew I couldn’t really relate. Or maybe it was because he wasn’t quite ready for me to reciprocate by sharing my own crazy guy stories. We gain an immeasurable amount by coming out and living our lives openly, but I’d wager to say that, yes, we give something up as well. I’m not talking about perceived heterosexual privilege, I’m talking about the ability to just be without the mental gymnastics that go into making a revelation about

yourself in between 200lb deadlifts. The privilege of having people assume that you’re straight comes with the burden of having to come out more often, and I wonder sometimes if it’s worth it. I wonder sometimes if my life would be easier if I just took accepted that perceived heterosexuality and saved myself those awkward beats that happen whenever I come out in a situation like the one with Dean. Since that life is one I’ll never know, I just keep going and keep coming out over and over again from the endless closet door which is like looking into a mirror that infinitely reflects the same image. I’ll just continue to wonder when, if n ever, the coming out ends.