THE FIGHT SOCAL'S LGBTQ MONTHLY MAGAZINE JANUARY 2017

JANUAR Y 2017 | TH E F I GH T 1

YOU’RE F CKING WORTH IT SAFE. AFFORDABLE. EFFECTIVE.

PREPHERE.ORG 2 T H E F I GH T | www.thefightmag.com

5400 Van Nuys Blvd. Van Nuys, Ca. 91401 www.keyesmercedes.com

Everything you didn’t know you wanted. Mercedes-Benz The best or nothing.

DARREN

WALIED

Call us Today at 800-306-5379

@keyesmercedes #keyeseuropean JANUAR Y 2017 | TH E F I GH T 3

THECONTENTS

FEATURES 20 LOSING WILL

GAY PRIDE ACTIVIST SUICIDE

24 TAKING PRIDE

CSW BOARD RESIGNATIONS

26 BEARING UP

MUSICIAN, SONGWRITER TOM GOSS

30 BACK TO THE FUTURE

GETTING THROUGH 2017

34 RAISING HOPE

THE GIFT OF GIVING

36 TEXT YOUR KNOWLEDGE

ANN ROSTOW’S LGBTQ NEWS QUIZ

ON THE COVER TOM GOSS WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/TOMGOSSMUSIC COVER PHOTO, TOC PHOTO AND FEATURE PHOTO BY DUSTI CUNNINGHAM

4 4 TTH HEE FFIIGH GHTT || www.thefightmag.com www.thefightmag.com

42 THE NAKED TRUTH

THE WARWICK ROWERS

43 A TRUE ALLY

HOLLYWOOD ICON DEBBIE REYNOLDS

44 GOODBYE, CARRIE FISHER

THE INSANITY OF OUR OWN FOLLY

D E PA RTME NTS 11 THE TALK SAM SMITH 15 THE LETTERS READERS RESPOND 16 THE STATE NEW LAWS 18 THE CITY MATT REDMAN 22 THE DESERT BEARS AT IBC 28 THE ROSTOW REPORT WHAT AWAITS US 32 THE TRANSACTION ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT 38 THE SHARE JACQUELINE HABHAB 40 THE JOYSTICK STAND BY ME 46 THE EVENT BEST IN GEAR AWARDS 47 THE EPIDEMIC PUMPING PREP 48 THE CALENDAR OUT & ABOUT 50 THE FINAL FIGHT GEORGE MICHAEL

GLENDALE INFINITI OVER 30 YEARS SERVING THE COMMUNITY CALL TODAY (888) 694-5555 812 S BRAND BLVD, GLENDALE, CA 91204 WWW.GLENDALEINFINITI.COM

2017 QX30

LIVE IN YOUR WORLD, DRIVE IN OURS 2 YEAR FREE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE PROGRAM

#1 RETAILER IN THE WEST

BASED ON INFINITI USA RETAIL SALES FROM 2014, 2015 & 2016

JANUAR Y 2017 | TH E F I GH T 5

THEEDITOR

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Stanford Altamirano MANAGING EDITOR Mark Ariel ART DIRECTOR Nadeen Torio MARKETING CONSULTANTS Tom Pardoe Eric Slayton Sean Galuszka SOCIAL MEDIA Paulo Murillo Sinan Shihabi WEBMASTER Nadeen Torio ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Sinan Shihabi >> IN THIS ISSUE <<

“For the LGBTQ communities, the toll of this terrible year seems particularly high,” writes Brenden Shucart (“Back To The Future,” page 30). “David Bowie, Prince, and George Michael together all but defined queerness for many of us—the spirt of being unapologetically different, and unabashedly one’s self—and it’s hard not to feel as though the stars shine a little more dimly now,” writes Shucart. “The awful tragedies of the Pulse Massacre and the Ghost Ship Fire savagely ripped ripped into the heart our communities. And the elevation of a Presidential Cabinet universally opposed to LGBTQ rights feels like a loaded gun pointed at all of us collectively. And I’m worried.” “The relative success and safety of the Obama years have exposed the many fractures of the LGBTQ coalition,” states Shucart. “We splinter along lines of race, and gender, and identity. It feels as though we’ve never been more divided.” “But I resolve to do what I can, where I can, to heal those divides, and to build a queer community that can shelter all of us through the troubled times ahead.”

THE FIGHT promises to do the same. Also in this issue—Mark Ariel talks to Johnny Ontiveros, an inspiring young man who created “Johnny Angel”—an L.A. based, non-profit, socially conscious business—raising funds and awareness for the disenfranchised (“Raising Hope,” page 34). Proving that the gift of giving still exists despite life’s sham, drudgery and broken dreams—Ontiveros, 28, is determined to make this world a better place. Ontiveros’ non-profit—Johnny Angel—is a t-shirt company that employees homeless folks. After production costs and paying workers—all the proceeds are donated to charitable causes—like Brave Trails—a camp for LGBTQ youth. “Every shirt we make is based on a social issue—from being gay to being ‘too skinny,’ ‘too fat,’ suicide and bullying. We help promote a story with everything we do to let people know they’re not alone… we all come with a story that leads to hope,” says Ontiveros. For more info visit www.johnnyangelhope.com.

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 © 2017 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

6 T H E F I GH T | www.thefightmag.com

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

Be Proud of Yourself and the Vehicle you Drive!

We Are Proud To Support Our Community!

www.keyeslexus.com Tel: (866) 906-2355 EDWIN OROZCO

5905 Van Nuys Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91401

NATASHA BEAUBOEUF

“Keyes, Keyes, Keyes, Keyes on Van Nuys… Where it’s fun to buy a car”

JANUAR Y 2017 | TH E F I GH T 7

THECONTRIBUTORS >> WRITERS, PHOTOGRAPHERS <<

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. 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. BRENDEN SHUCART Brenden Shucart is an HIV AIDS-LGBT rights advocate, actor, and writer whose work has been featured in Out There,The Advocate and HIV Plus magazine among others. His essays around HIV-related health issues and stigma have been described as “humanizing and heartbreaking” and “beautiful, honest, and important.” As an actor Shucart has appeared in the short film “Bug Chaser,” James Franco and Travis Mathews’ “Interior. Leather Bar.,” and Mathews’ 2010 short film “I Want Your Love.” DUSTI CUNNINGHAM Los Angeles based photographer Dusti Cunningham grew up in a very clean single-wide trailer

Murillo

Pickle

Rostow

Shucart

Cunningham

Lyonne

Green

home in rural Kansas. His family didn’t own television so they watched tornadoes. None of his dogs were named Toto. Dolly Parton and his mother were his heroes, both wore wigs. His inspirations are gypsies, pirates, circuses, 1970s glamour, and the National Enquirer. www.dusticunningham.com. PICKLE Pickle is a MILF who lost custody of her kids after the fire and is just trying to explore her creative side. She has a lot of opinions and in spite of her limited qualifi-

M elamed

Arellano

cations, she likes to share them. Her career was detailed in her retrospective: Pickle: 30 Years in the Business, and you can catch her as Peg Bundy in Purgatory in the upcoming show “Peg Bundy Has an Existential Crisis.” Pickle lives in Los Angeles where she drives a Prius (for now). Follow her escapades on instagram @itspicklebitch. ROBERT GREEN Robert is a photo journalist and current member of the California B&B Corps uniform club, founding member of the Southern

California Bondage Club and official event photographer for the Los Angeles Leather Coalition (LALC). Branded as Motorboot Photography his photos document and follow the breadth of the leather and fetish community in the LA area. JOSEPH ARELLANO A stage and film actor from Bedford, Indiana, Joe has been involved in community events such as The Friendly House Luncheon, PATH, and LA PRIDE. Joe has appeared in Titus Andronicus, Dark Side of the Moon, and Take Me Out. He also co-starred in the music video Hopeful Romantic, Hallmarks’ Holly’s Holiday, and other various short films. VICTOR MELAMED Victor Melamed began his career in journalism writing for the nowdefunct Israeli gay magazine “Magaim.” He is currently working on a novel based on a true story about a love affair between two men on opposite sites of the Middle East conflict. ORLY LYONNE Orly Lyonne is a freelance journalist, focusing on issues related to LGBT equality, culture and art. Her passions include skydiving, community theater and vegan restaurants. Orly can be reached at orlylyonne@gmail.com.

It’s Time To Join

Are You Passionate About The LGBTQ Community? Become An Advertising Sales Executive for THE FIGHT! If you have outside sales experience and would like to join our team

8 T H E F I GH T | www.thefightmag.com

MAKE THE SMART MOVE Now Selling New Single-Family Homes in Lake Balboa Discover a limited collection of 24 brand new, centrally located single-family detached homes offering a fresh perspective to the LA lifestyle.

2,110 – 2,286 Sq. Ft. 3 Bedrooms + Loft • 2.5 Baths 2-Car Garage • Landscaping Included

From the Mid $600,000s

BALBOA BLVD.

For more information, visit our website www.DRHorton.com/VanowenPlace

405

ANDASOL AVE.

(818) 538-5542

VANOWEN ST.

LOUISE AVE.

17320 Vanowen Street, Los Angeles, CA 91406

SHERMAN WAY WHITE OAK AVE.

Sales Office Open Daily 10am – 5pm

VICTORY BLVD. 101

VENT

N

MAP NOT TO SCALE

URA

BLVD.

Drawings/photos are representational only. Map not to scale. All square footage is approximate. Prices subject to change without notice or obligation. D.R. Horton VEN, Inc. – CalBRE license #1253251; contractor license #765023. © D.R. Horton 2016.

JANUAR Y 2017 | TH E F I GH T 9

2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i CVT HFB-02 S10030/HH486564

2017 Legacy over 30 to choose from! Subaru Legacy 2.5i Premium CVT HAD-11 S10020/H303631

MSRP $25570.00 SELL $23647.00 as low 0% (O.A.C) LEASE for $218 mo for 36/mo 10k/yr $888 due at signing On select models. Zero Security deposit.

MSRP $25630.00 Sell $23786.00 as low as 0% (O.A.C) Lease for $258 mo 36 mo 10k/yr $ZERO due at signing On select models. Zero Security deposit.

2017 Outback over 50 to choose from! Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium CVT HDD-11 S9230/ H3200957

2017 Subaru Crosstrek 2.0i Premium CVT HRC-12 S10126/H8214747

MSRP $29317.00 Sell $27933.00 as low as 0% (O.A.C) Lease for $258 mo 36 mo 10k/yr $888 due at signing On select models. Zero Security deposit.

MSRP $25406.00 Sell $23801.00 as low as 1.49% (O.A.C) Lease for $258 mo 36 mo 10k/yr $888 due at signing On select models. Zero Security deposit.

All leases do not include Tax and license and fees. Subaru, Forester, Outback, Tribeca, Legacy, Impreza, WRX, STI, and SUBARU BOXER are registered trademarks. Purchase or lease any new (previously untitled) Subaru and receive a complimentary factory scheduled maintenance plan for 2 years or 24,000 miles (whichever comes first.) See Subaru Added Security Maintenance Plan for intervals, coverages and limitations. Customer must take delivery before 12-31-2017 and reside within the promotional area. At participating dealers only. See dealer for program details and eligibility.

Puente Hills Subaru 17801-E Gale Ave City of Industry CA 91748

1 0 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com

(888) 418-8043

THETALK >> W H AT T H E Y ’ R E S AY I N G <<

GAY SENSIBILITY

ANNE RICE

“I think I have a gay sensibility and I feel like I’m gay, because I’ve always transcended gender.” —Best-selling author (Interview with the Vampire) Anne Rice to The Daily Beast last month. Her son, author Christopher Rice, is gay.

WORDS CAN’T

“Words can’t really describe what it means to me. All you really hope to do, if you’re a performer and if you’re not an asshole, if you’re coming from a really legitimate, sincere place, is to have a positive impact. “ —Actress Megan Mullally on the influence of Will & Grace on generations of LGBT people, to Dallas Voice. MANDY MOORE

“@GeorgeMichael. Words can’t express how much you and your music meant and means to me… Please play his music as loud as you can today… & celebrate one of the most magical, talented, bravest & important figures in music & life as I know it. SAM SMITH Your music & message will live on.” —Singer Sam Smith, on Twitter, honoring George Michael after hearing of his sudden passing on Christmas Day.

GENEROUS SOUL MEGAN MULLALLY

AUTHENTIC SELVES

“My mother left my father for a woman. And both of my two brothers are gay… [All of my family members] are exactly where they should be. Everyone’s so much happier, richer, and more fulfilled, being their authentic selves.” —Singer, songwriter, and actress Mandy Moore in an interview with the beauty site Byrdie.

CLEAR MESSAGE

PLEASE PLAY

“If you know an LGBTQ+ person, if you know a person of color, if you know a woman, if you know anyone who isn’t a straight, white, cisgender, Christian male, TYLER you should be concerned. Trump’s OAKLEY actions speak louder than words, and his appointments send a clear message to minorities: We are not here to protect you.” —YouTube and podcast personality, humorist, author and activist Tyler Oakley in an interview with Paper.

“I am in deep shock… I have lost a beloved friend—the kindest, most generous soul and a brilliant artist. My heart goes out to his family and all of his fans. #RIP.” —Elton John, on the passing of George Michael, on Twitter, last month. ELTON JOHN

ROBERT SEPULVEDA JR.

NO REGRETS

“I do not regret taking control of my life at a time when my life had no control and no security. I chose to do what I thought was best for me, to support myself, to make it and for that I have no regrets.” —Finding Prince Charming star Robert Sepulveda Jr., on his web site, promoting his “Rented” calendar, with recreations of real moments from his rent-a-guy past. The limited edition calendar costs $50 and all proceeds go to the Sex Workers Project. Go to: new.robertsepulvedajr.com/calendar/

JANUAR SEP TEMB ER Y 2017 2016| |TH TH EEF F I GH I GH T T 11 11

What is TRUVADA for PrEP (Pre-exposure Prophylaxis)?

uYou may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or serious liver problems

TRUVADA is a prescription medicine that can be used for PrEP to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection when used together with safer sex practices. This use is only for adults who are at high risk of getting HIV-1 through sex. This includes HIV-negative men who have sex with men and who are at high risk of getting infected with HIV-1 through sex, and malefemale sex partners when one partner has HIV-1 infection and the other does not. Ask your healthcare provider if you have questions about how to prevent getting HIV-1. Always practice safer sex and use condoms to lower the chance of sexual contact with body fluids. Never reuse or share needles or other items that have body fluids on them.

Who should not take TRUVADA for PrEP?

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION What is the most important information I should know about TRUVADA for PrEP?

Before taking TRUVADA for PrEP to reduce your risk of getting HIV-1 infection: uYou must be HIV-negative. You must get tested to make sure that you do not already have HIV-1 infection. Do not take TRUVADA for PrEP to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 unless you are confirmed to be HIV-negative. uMany HIV-1 tests can miss HIV-1 infection in a person who has recently become infected. If you have flu-like symptoms, you could have recently become infected with HIV-1. Tell your healthcare provider if you had a flu-like illness within the last month before starting TRUVADA for PrEP or at any time while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Symptoms of new HIV-1 infection include tiredness, fever, joint or muscle aches, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, night sweats, and/or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or groin. While taking TRUVADA for PrEP to reduce your risk of getting HIV-1 infection: uYou must continue using safer sex practices. Just taking TRUVADA for PrEP may not keep you from getting HIV-1. uYou must stay HIV-negative to keep taking TRUVADA for PrEP. uTo further help reduce your risk of getting HIV-1: • Know your HIV-1 status and the HIV-1 status of your partners. • Get tested for HIV-1 at least every 3 months or when your healthcare provider tells you. • Get tested for other sexually transmitted infections. Other infections make it easier for HIV-1 to infect you. • Get information and support to help reduce risky sexual behavior. • Have fewer sex partners. • Do not miss any doses of TRUVADA. Missing doses may increase your risk of getting HIV-1 infection. • If you think you were exposed to HIV-1, tell your healthcare provider right away. uIf you do become HIV-1 positive, you need more medicine than TRUVADA alone to treat HIV-1. TRUVADA by itself is not a complete treatment for HIV-1. If you have HIV-1 and take only TRUVADA, your HIV-1 may become harder to treat over time. TRUVADA can cause serious side effects: uToo much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious medical emergency. Symptoms of lactic acidosis include weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, nausea, vomiting, stomach-area pain, cold or blue hands and feet, feeling dizzy or lightheaded, and/or fast or abnormal heartbeats. uSerious liver problems. Your liver may become large and tender, and you may develop fat in your liver. Symptoms of liver problems include your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, lightcolored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, and/or stomach-area pain.

if you are female, very overweight (obese), or have been taking TRUVADA for a long time. In some cases, these serious conditions have led to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any symptoms of these conditions. uWorsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. If you also have HBV and take TRUVADA, your hepatitis may become worse if you stop taking TRUVADA. Do not stop taking TRUVADA without first talking to your healthcare provider. If your healthcare provider tells you to stop taking TRUVADA, they will need to watch you closely for several months to monitor your health. TRUVADA is not approved for the treatment of HBV. Do not take TRUVADA for PrEP if you already have HIV-1 infection or if you do not know your HIV-1 status. If you are HIV-1 positive, you need to take other medicines with TRUVADA to treat HIV-1. TRUVADA by itself is not a complete treatment for HIV-1. If you have HIV-1 and take only TRUVADA, your HIV-1 may become harder to treat over time. Do not take TRUVADA for PrEP if you also take lamivudine (Epivir-HBV) or adefovir (HEPSERA).

What are the other possible side effects of TRUVADA for PrEP?

Serious side effects of TRUVADA may also include: uKidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests to check your kidneys before and during treatment with TRUVADA for PrEP. If you develop kidney problems, your healthcare provider may tell you to stop taking TRUVADA for PrEP. uBone problems, including bone pain or bones getting soft or thin, may lead to fractures. Your healthcare provider may do tests to check your bones. uChanges in body fat, which can happen in people taking TRUVADA or medicines like TRUVADA. Common side effects in people taking TRUVADA for PrEP are stomacharea (abdomen) pain, headache, and decreased weight. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you or do not go away.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking TRUVADA for PrEP?

uAll your health problems. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you

have or have had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis virus infection. uIf you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if TRUVADA can harm your unborn baby. If you become pregnant while taking TRUVADA for PrEP, talk to your healthcare provider to decide if you should keep taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Pregnancy Registry: A pregnancy registry collects information about your health and the health of your baby. There is a pregnancy registry for women who take medicines to prevent HIV-1 during pregnancy. For more information about the registry and how it works, talk to your healthcare provider. uIf you are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. The medicines in TRUVADA can pass to your baby in breast milk. If you become HIV-1 positive, HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk. uAll the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. TRUVADA may interact with other medicines. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. uIf you take certain other medicines with TRUVADA for PrEP, your healthcare provider may need to check you more often or change your dose. These medicines include ledipasvir with sofosbuvir (HARVONI). 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 see Important Facts about TRUVADA for PrEP including important warnings on the following page. 1 2 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com

Have you heard about

TRUVADA for PrEP ? TM

The once-daily prescription medicine that can help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 when used with safer sex practices. • TRUVADA for PrEP is only for adults who are at high risk of getting HIV through sex. • You must be HIV-negative before you start taking TRUVADA. Ask your doctor about your risk of getting HIV-1 infection and if TRUVADA for PrEP may be right for you.

visit start.truvada.com JANUAR Y 2017 | TH E F I GH T 13

IMPORTANT FACTS (tru-VAH-dah)

This is only a brief summary of important information about taking TRUVADA for PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection. This does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your medicine.

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT TRUVADA FOR PrEP

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF TRUVADA FOR PrEP

Before starting TRUVADA for PrEP to help reduce your risk of getting HIV-1 infection: • You must be HIV-1 negative. You must get tested to make sure that you do not already have HIV-1 infection. Do not take TRUVADA for PrEP to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 unless you are confirmed to be HIV-1 negative. • Many HIV-1 tests can miss HIV-1 infection in a person who has recently become infected. Symptoms of new HIV-1 infection include flu-like symptoms, tiredness, fever, joint or muscle aches, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, night sweats, and/or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or groin. Tell your healthcare provider if you have had a flu-like illness within the last month before starting TRUVADA for PrEP.

TRUVADA can cause serious side effects, including: • Those in the “Most Important Information About TRUVADA for PrEP" section. • New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure. • Bone problems. • Changes in body fat.

While taking TRUVADA for PrEP to help reduce your risk of getting HIV-1 infection: • You must continue using safer sex practices. Just taking TRUVADA for PrEP may not keep you from getting HIV-1. • You must stay HIV-1 negative to keep taking TRUVADA for PrEP. • Tell your healthcare provider if you have a flu-like illness while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. • If you think you were exposed to HIV-1, tell your healthcare provider right away. • If you do become HIV-1 positive, you need more medicine than TRUVADA alone to treat HIV-1. If you have HIV-1 and take only TRUVADA, your HIV-1 may become harder to treat over time. • See the “How to Further Reduce Your Risk” section for more information. TRUVADA may cause serious side effects, including: • Buildup of lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious medical emergency that can lead to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, nausea, vomiting, stomach-area pain, cold or blue hands and feet, feeling dizzy or lightheaded, and/or fast or abnormal heartbeats. • Severe liver problems, which in some cases can lead to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms: your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, and/or stomach-area pain. • Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. If you have HBV and take TRUVADA, your hepatitis may become worse if you stop taking TRUVADA. Do not stop taking TRUVADA without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months. You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or severe liver problems if you are female, very overweight, or have been taking TRUVADA for a long time.

ABOUT TRUVADA FOR PrEP (PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS) TRUVADA is a prescription medicine used with safer sex practices for PrEP to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection in adults at high risk: • HIV-1 negative men who have sex with men and who are at high risk of getting infected with HIV-1 through sex. • Male-female sex partners when one partner has HIV-1 infection and the other does not. To help determine your risk, talk openly with your doctor about your sexual health. Do NOT take TRUVADA for PrEP if you: • Already have HIV-1 infection or if you do not know your HIV-1 status. • Take lamivudine (Epivir-HBV) or adefovir (HEPSERA). TRUVADA, the TRUVADA Logo, TRUVADA FOR PREP, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, and HEPSERA are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. All other marks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. Version date: April 2016 © 2016 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. TVDC0050 09/16

1 4 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com

Common side effects in people taking TRUVADA for PrEP include stomach-area (abdomen) pain, headache, and decreased weight. These are not all the possible side effects of TRUVADA. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with TRUVADA for PrEP.

BEFORE TAKING TRUVADA FOR PrEP Tell your healthcare provider if you: • Have or have had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis infection. • Have any other medical conditions. • Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. • Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you become HIV-1 positive because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take: • Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist. • Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about medicines that should not be taken with TRUVADA for PrEP.

HOW TO TAKE TRUVADA FOR PrEP • Take 1 tablet once a day, every day, not just when you think you have been exposed to HIV-1. • Do not miss any doses. Missing doses may increase your risk of getting HIV-1 infection. • You must practice safer sex by using condoms and you must stay HIV-1 negative.

HOW TO FURTHER REDUCE YOUR RISK • Know your HIV-1 status and the HIV-1 status of your partners. • Get tested for HIV-1 at least every 3 months or when your healthcare provider tells you. • Get tested for other sexually transmitted infections. Other infections make it easier for HIV-1 to infect you. • Get information and support to help reduce risky sexual behavior. • Have fewer sex partners. • Do not share needles or personal items that can have blood or body fluids on them.

GET MORE INFORMATION • This is only a brief summary of important information about TRUVADA for PrEP to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more, including how to prevent HIV-1 infection. • Go to start.truvada.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5 • If you need help paying for your medicine, visit start.truvada.com for program information.

THELETTERS >> FROM OUR READERS <<

BAND OF BROTHERS Dear Editor, Loved the holiday cover with the dysfunctional family, especially the mean grandma! (THE FIGHT, Issue #71). Keeping with your family theme—in times like these we must band together—as a band of brothers—to push back against whatever this new right wing conservative leadership tries to do to strip us of the advancements we have made in the past few years. Be vigilant, my friends. —Rodney Romano, via the internet

FERRETED OUT Dear Editor, While I agree with most of what Eric Charles wrote in his letter in your current issue (“The Letters,” THE FIGHT, Issue #71) I think it may be too early to predict how this new administration will move forward regarding the gay community. This past week it was reported that homophobic Family Research Council put out a statement urging Trump to make clear that the incoming administration will reverse the liberal policies initiated by Obama and that the gay “activists” within the State Department promoting them will “be ferreted out and will be replaced by conservatives.” The dark, McCarthyist sentiment was quickly rebuffed by Trump’s transition team—they released the following statement expressing opposition to the Family Research Council’s appeal: “President-elect Trump campaigned on a message of unity in order to bring all Americans together. To think that discrimination of any kind will be condoned or tolerated in a Trump Administration is simply absurd.” As Trump has been far more moderate on LGBT rights than many Republicans—he is a New Yorker with a cosmopolitan, socially liberal upbringing—it may be too early to predict how his administration will behave regarding the gay community. He did, during his campaign, criticize Hillary Clinton for not standing up further to countries that didn’t have strong records on LGBT rights. So, perhaps, there is hope. —David Simmons, via the internet

> WRITE TO THE EDITOR

Email: editor@thefightmag.com Fax: (213) 281-9648. Letters may be shortened due to space requirements. JANUAR Y 2017 | TH E F I GH T 15

THESTATE >> L G B T S U P P O R T I V E B I L L S <<

EVAN LOW

NEW CA LAWS

A summary of LGBT-supportive bills taking effect this month. BY ORLY LYONNE

C

alifornia Governor Jerry Brown signed into law several LGBT-supportive bills this fall that have taken effect in 2017, including a bill aimed to combat discrimination at universities and legislation designed to prevent youth suicides, reports The Bay Area Reporter. Senate Bill 1146, authored by gay state Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens), requires that private universities that receive public funds publicly disclose whether they discriminate against students based on gender expression, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Protecting the lives of school students is the aim of Assembly Bill 2246, authored by Assemblyman Patrick O’Donnell (D-Long Beach). The bill requires the state’s public schools implement suicide prevention policies that specifically address LGBTQ youths’ needs. Brown also signed into law two bills that address HIV prevention. AB 2640, authored by Assemblyman Mike A. Gipson (D-Carson) aims to stop the spread of HIV and save the lives of people who are at high risk of being exposed by providing information about PrEP and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) to high-risk patients when HIV test results are negative. AB 2439, authored by Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian (D-Sherman Oaks), creates a pilot project that will be administered by the state health department that will assess and make recommendations about the effectiveness of routinely offering an HIV test in a hospital emergency room. AB 1887, legislation authored by gay Assemblyman Evan Low (D-Campbell), prohibits state agencies and the state legislature from ever requiring any of its employees to ever travel to a state that discriminates against LGBT people. It took effect January 1. n

1 6 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com

PrEP STUDY DISCOVER is a new clinical study for men who have sex with men and trans women who have sex with men. This study is to evaluate if a once-daily investigational medicine can help reduce the risk of getting HIV infection from sex (“PrEP”, or Pre-exposure Prophylaxis).

TO BE ELIGIBLE: • You must be at least 18 years of age • You must be HIV negative If you are accepted into the DISCOVER Study, you will receive study-related exams, lab tests, and study medicine at no cost. For more information, please contact: Evan Fuller, Study Coordinator (310) 967-3620 or efuller@pacificoaks.com

Or go to www.clinicaltrials.gov and search NCT number 02842086

JANUAR Y 2017 | TH E F I GH T 17

THECITY NEON TREES >> BY PAULO MURILLO <<

CENTER JOINS CALL FOR SANCTUARY CAMPUSES

Together with more than 120 community, education, health, faith, labor, student, and parent organizations in California, the Los Angeles LGBT Center has released an open letter calling on California’s educational leaders to address the growing fear around deportation and the troubling spike in hate crimes, incidents, and bullying in K-12 schools and on college campuses since the election of Donald Trump. The letter calls for safe, inclusive, and equitable learning environments for California students, especially those who are most vulnerable. “California has an obligation to be a beacon of hope for LGBT immigrants. We hold our educational institutions to a higher standard because this is a critical chapter in our legacy of equity,” said Joey Hernández, Center education policy and programs manager.

APLA CO-FOUNDER MATT REDMAN PASSES AWAY

MATT REDMAN

APLA Health mourns the death of Matt Redman, one of the cofounders of AIDS Project Los Angeles. Redman, was instrumental in spurring the Los Angeles community to action during the early days of the AIDS epidemic and continuing the fight against HIV over the last 34 years. He was a committed activist, known for his strong personality, biting wit, and passion for details. He passed away on December 27, 2016, at age 66. “Matt was one of the courageous few in Los Angeles who stepped up in the midst of the total devastation of the early days of the AIDS epidemic and demanded that we all do something,” APLA Health CEO Craig E. Thompson said. “Matt was one of a kind, a dear friend, a tireless advocate, and our champion. To say he’ll be missed is an understatement.”

OLSON SACKED AFTER HOMOPHOBIC RANT

LA Talk Radio severed ties with Brady Bunch star Susan Olson (Cindy Brady) after she got SUSAN into an online war of words with gay actor Leon OLSON Acord-Whiting. The actor criticized the co-host after he was a guest on “Two Chicks Talkin’ Politics.” She responded with an offensive email, where she dropped the word “fag” several times. Acord-Whiting posted a screen-capture of her rant on his Facebook page. LA Talk Radio announced it does not tolerate hateful speech shortly after firing her. Olsen’s bio and radio show clips were then removed from the Talk Radio site. 1 8 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com

MORE TRUMP PROTESTS LOS ANGELES Activists hit the streets of downtown Los Angeles again last month to protest against some of the labor and immigration policies proposed by President-elect Donald Trump, a day before he was officially elected as the nation’s next president. Hundreds marched the streets of downtown L.A. and shouted support for the rights of Muslims, Jews, immigrants and the LGBT community on International Migrants Day on December 18, which is recognized by the United Nations. The march stopped at Grand Central Market, where Father Greg Boyle stood on the back of a truck and promised immigrants safety in the United States. California state Senate leader Kevin de León, also vowed to protect the rights of immigrants.

SAN DIEGO PRIDE DONATES $80,000 San Diego LGBT Pride donated $80,000 of their proceeds to LGBT-serving organizations due to the success of this year’s Pride event. Each year, San Diego Pride returns profits from the annual pride weekend to the community. Over the years, San Diego Pride’s community contributions have exceeded $2 million, which have been distributed to dozens of organizations through Pride Community Grants, sponsorships, and event support. The grants serve the community and help fund HIV testing, LGBT youth programs, sobriety services, programs that support our transgender community, LGBTQ arts and culture, QPOC programs, and a variety of other LGBTQ health and human services.

WEHO’S 2017 RAINBOW KEY AWARDS

The City of West Hollywood is seeking to recognize people who have made outstanding contributions to the LGBT community at the city’s 2017 Rainbow Key Awards, which usually takes place in the month of June. The city is soliciting nominations that will be reviewed by the city’s Lesbian and Gay Advisory Board. The actual awards will be determined by the West Hollywood City Council. For more information, visit weho.org.

4.729 in.

• Residential and Commercial • Full Residential Moves • One-Room Moves • State Moves & Interstate Moves • Storage Moves • Pianos & Safes

• Long Beach and Los Angeles (35 mile radius)

• Local & Long Distance • Expert Packers (minimal, intermediate, full)

• Licensed & Insured

7.375 in.

818 VIKINGS (818 845 4647) viking@vikingmovingandrelocation.com moveviking.com

See our reviews on Yelp

BEING COVERED IS THE BEST PLAN

Insurance companies vary by region.

The health needs of Californians are as unique as we are. That’s why Covered California offers a choice of health insurance plans from brand-name companies. Our experts are available to help you select the right plan for you and find out if you qualify for health insurance at a lower cost. Don’t miss your chance to get covered. Open enrollment ends January 31.

CoveredCA.com JANUAR Y 2017 | TH E F I GH T 19

> > W I L L WA LT E R S < <

WILL WALTERS

LOSING WILL

San Diego activist who lost gay pride lawsuit found dead from apparent suicide.

W

BY PA U LO MU RILLO

ill Walters, the man who sued San Diego Police after he was allegedly manhandled and arrested for wearing a revealing leather gladiator kilt to the San Diego Pride festival in 2011, received a devastating blow last month. After two hours of deliberation, a jury rejected his claim that five San Diego police officers violated his civil rights. Two weeks after the verdict, he was found dead at his Hillcrest apartment from an apparent suicide. According to reports, San Diego police were called to his home by a neighbor late Wednesday, December 28. His time of death is not yet known. The county Medical Examiner’s Office is still investigating his death. The verdict ended the five-year legal battle where Walters claimed the city violated his right to equal protection of the laws under the U.S. Constitution. He argued that the outfit he wore to the 2011 Pride event was no more revealing than the skimpy swimsuits one encounters at the public San Diego beaches. He claimed that the city had one set of rules for heterosexuals at venues like Comic-Con and the Mardi Gras block party, and a different set for gay men at Pride events. In an interview with THE FIGHT last September, Walters alleged that he had been cited, manhandled, detained, humiliated, and arrested for public nudity inside the San Diego Pride festival grounds for wearing what San Diego Police Department deemed obscene public nudity.

2 0 TTHHEE FFIIGH www.thefightmag.com 20 GH TT || www.thefightmag.com

“I knew right away that my rights had been violated,” he said. “I knew it when I was put in jail, when I was made to stand in front of people like a circus animal, but I didn’t know to what extent.” He was looking forward to having his day in court and said he was very optimistic that the jury would rule in his favor. “There is a part of me that’s really angry that this tragedy happened,” said journalist Thom Senzee in an interview with THE FIGHT. “He did not ask the city for a chunk of money. He only asked them for an apology and a promise to enforce the same standards at the beach on straight people that they do to gay people at Pride, and they couldn’t do that. When a jury agrees that the city doesn’t have to apologize or treat people equally, it was too much for him to bear. There is this misinformation that Will might have killed himself because he owed a million dollars in legal fees. That’s untrue. The legal bill was paid and the person who paid the bill was not asking for the money back.” Walters considered himself an unwilling activist during the last five years of his life. He marched with a youth group at Michael Brown’s funeral in Ferguson, he’s conducted speaking engagements, and he founded Free Will USA (freewillusa.com), a gay organization with a mission to educate all Americans about our constitutional rights, regardless of sex, age, race, creed, sexual orientation, or gender identity. “Too few people understand that Will Walters was fighting—not only for his right for equal protection as guaranteed by the 14th Amendment, but also everyone’s rights under the U.S. Constitution,” Senzee said. “He openly gave his life for a flawed verdict. He may not have won his court case, but he won the hearts of everyone who knew him. My personal feeling is that he felt he had let down his entire community by not winning that case.” “The arrest never should have happened,” Alexi De Bram, a longtime friend of Walters, told THE FIGHT. “That’s what’s most tragic. He was never indecent. The arrest was an injustice. And now this man is dead.” De Bram organized a public candle and flower vigil in memory of Will Walters under the pride flag located at the corner of University Avenue and Normal Street in the heart of San Diego’s historic LGBTQ Hillcrest neighborhood. If you, or someone you know is considering suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255.

Married and your spouse needs a green card? Deportation a problem in your life? Citizenship with personal twists? Transgender issues?

HAPPY HOUR M-F 3-6pm SUPER TUESDAYS: HAPPY HOUR END AT CLOSE

We are the best at solving difficult cases!

Utopiarestaurant.net

CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT FREE CONSULTATION FOR ALL YOUR IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS

Checkout Our Discounted Anniversary & Birthday Packages! Utopia 445 E First St, Long Beach, CA 90802 | 562-432-6888 M-F 12 - 9 pm | Sat. 5 -10 pm | Sunday Closed

3250 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD, SUITE 1918 | Los Angeles, CA 90010 Tel: (213) 383-3222 | Fax: (213) 365-9922 E-mail: psg@immigrationguru.com | www.ImmigrationGuru.com

Why Wait In Line At Your Pharmacy? There Is No Waiting In Line Ever! We offer free confidential delivery worldwide! Refill Reminder Services Avoid running out of medication, our specialist will call you routinely or ship your medications automatically (informed prior consent)

We’re PrEPard, are you? Contact us @ (310)360-9969 7360 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 101, West Hollywood, CA 90046

Medication Synchronization Avoid multiple trips to the pharmacy or deliveries throughout the month.We will tailor your prescriptions to be refilled at the same time each month. Most Insurance Plans Accepted No insurance? No problem. We offer the lowest prices on brands and generics. guranteed! Open Monday–Friday from 9am-6pm 24-Hour Emergency Paging Service is Available

Co-Pay Assistance Programs Available For Those Who Qualify Contracted Network Provider For Serostim JANUAR Y 2017 | TH E F I GH T 21

THEDESERT >> PALM SPRINGS <<

HELPING LGBT YOUTH OUT OF FOSTER CARE

INTERNATIONAL BEAR CONVERGENCE 2017

Bears are coming out of hibernation and are heading to the International Bear Convergence (IBC) ,the premier winter event for Bears & admirers in Palm Springs, that will take place on February 9-13, 2017. This desert oasis opens its arms and welcomes you back to the hip Hard Rock Hotel Palm Springs to thousands of frisky, furry bears, their friends and their fans. The four-day event will come to life with DJs, live entertainment and thousands of Bears from around the globe. The last three years were hugely successful and the promoters expect more of the same in 2017 with record-breaking attendance. Performers include recording artist and Glee superstar Alex Newell, performing at Saturday’s main dance event, Disco Inferno. IBC’s pool parties & dance events will highlight top DJs including: DJ Mary Alice from Provincetown, Doug Jackson from Fort Lauderdale, DJ Callahan of Los Angeles, Mateo Segade of San Diego and DJ Chub Jim of Palm Springs. Go to www.ibc-ps.com for more information.

GUS VAN SANT AT PALM SPRINGS FILM FESTIVAL The 2017 Palm Springs International Film Festival will screen the first two episodes of the ABC miniseries “When We Rise,” from director Gus Van Sant on January 12 at Palm Springs High School. The seven-part docudrama was scripted by Dustin Lance Black, who won an Oscar for the movie “Milk.” The powerful series chronicles the gay rights movement that began with the 1969 Stonewall riots. Guests in attendance at the screening will include Dustin Lance Black, Gus Van Sant, Guy Pearce, Rachel Griffiths, and Ivory Aquino. The 28th annual Palm Springs Intl. Film Festival is scheduled to run from Jan. 2-16. More than 185 films will screen, including 43 of the 85 foreignlanguage Oscar entries. To purchase tickets, visit: psfilmfest.org. 2 2 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com

FROM THE ABC MINISERIES “WHEN WE RISE”

Sanctuary Palm Springs—a foster care transitional home for young LGBTQ adults—is in the works to provide a home and other services to youth between the ages of 18 and 21, who grow out of the foster-care system and face a difficult time transitioning into the real world and living on their own. David Rothmiller and LD Thompson, the founders of Sanctuary, decided to open a home for LGBT foster kids who were entering adulthood. Their goal was to help LGBT youth navigate life’s challenges after they are kicked out of the foster-care system. Sanctuary Palm Springs is now accepting resident applications. For more information, visit sanctuarypalmsprings.org.

PS GAY MEN‘S CHORUS HONORS DAVID MURDOCK

The Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus (PSGMC ) took the stage to perform their two performances of their Hollywood Holiday Christmas at the Movies DAVID MURDOCK concerts, with a special dedication to one of their most prominent and beloved colleagues— David Murdock—a singer who died suddenly this past October. Murdock had done everything from sound to public relations for the chorus over the last half-decade. He was also an active member of the Palm Springs Leather Order of the Desert, and was a key organizer of Palm Springs Leather Pride. He’d spent much of his life working in the entertainment and technology industries. For more on the Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus, visit psgmc.com.

ZSA ZSA GABOR’S HOME UP FOR SALE The former Palm Springs home of the legendary Zsa Zsa Gabor was put on market on December 8, only days before the HungarianAmerican actress died at age 99. The house was built in 1958. It has been listed by TTK Represents for $969,000. Its current owners were thinking about listing the home for six months before it ZSA ZSA was put on the market. The 1,784-sq. foot midGABOR century hideaway features two bedrooms and two bathrooms, along with the obligatory pool. There’s a main house plus a detached “casita” that would be perfect for guests.

Very Proudly Serving The Community, Gay Owned And Operated. Tax Preparation for Individuals Tax Preparation for Businesses

(LLC, Partnerships, Corporations, Non-Profits, Trusts)

Audit Representation Tax Resolution when you owe over $10,000 or more IRS Payment Plans Innocent Spouse Declaration Financial and Estate Planning Business Start Ups Real Estate / Pre qualification, Mortgage Refinancing Marriages - Divorces - Immigration Contact us: Office (424) 228-4547 Direct (818) 448-9622 Enrique Otarola IRS Enrolled Agent

OREMAT@OUTLOOK.COM WWW.OREMATSOCAL.COM 12331 W WASHINGTON BLVD, LOS ANGELES, CA 90066

JANUAR Y 2017 | TH E F I GH T 23

>> COMMUNITY LEADERS <<

MARLON MORALES

MARLON MORALES

STEVE GANZELL

KARINA SAMALA

ANDY SACHER

TAKING PRIDE

Four community leaders resign from Christopher Street West. BY PA U LO MU RILLO

T

urmoil from within continues to plague Christopher Street West (CSW), the non-profit organization responsible for organizing LA Pride in West Hollywood, as it now faces the New Year sans four valuable community leaders who jointly resigned as CSW board members in late December. Community leaders Marlon Morales, Karina Samala, Andy Sacher, and Steve Ganzell made what they say was a difficult decision to resign as CSW board members after problems and disagreements persisted in the way the board is currently being led. The organization has had much publicized bickering between board members and CSW leadership—especially with a lot

24 4 TTH HEE FFIGH IGHTT || www.thefightmag.com www.thefightmag.com 2

of the changes that were implemented at last year’s LA Pride, with the commercialization of the event—initially branded a music festival to cater to millennials. There was also malcontentedness with the higher ticket price at the festival gate, and the return of the VIP section that was exclusive to those with greater financial ability, instead of being inclusive to everyone. And that’s just scratching the surface. The final straw—it seems—for some board members was in late December when the CSW leadership produced code of conduct documentation that included a confidentiality agreement. The four board members refused to sign it and resigned shortly after.

Marlon Morales, the chairman of LA Leather Pride, the Los Angeles Leather Coalition and a representative to the hispanic community referred to the confidentiality agreement as a gag order. “The board leadership wants to mask to the outside community from the internal bickering by having all of us sign gag orders,” he told THE FIGHT. “Essentially, that’s what it is. They brought in some attorneys to craft language that would have prevented us from being responsive to the community that we represent. That’s unacceptable. We have a judiciary responsibility to help produce an event that speaks to the community. It’s out of the ordinary for a board to go out of its way to create legal restrictions on what board members can say when we are on that board to represent our community and its interests… It was a hard decision to make, but we weren’t being heard, so it makes no difference.”

KARINA SAMALA Karina Samala, the lead transgender representative, who joined the CSW board in 2009 left the board feeling disheartened by the CSW leadership. ”For the past year myself and other board members had made every attempt to work with the current President and Leadership of Christopher Street West/LA Pride to address issue’s of inclusion, transparency, board engagement and the elimination of our rich LGBT history from the Pride Celebration,” she said. “Until last year, CSW had been extremely accommodating and supportive of the Transgender community and Transgender Pride events. Now, with this new leadership, I feel that vital support has eroded. “

ANDY SACHER Andy Sacher, the founder / director of The Lavender Effect (thelavendereffect. org) a nonprofit project of “Community Partners Advancing the Future of LGBTQ Heritage and Culture,” also didn’t feel like he was being heard or respected. “I felt that I would be more effective as an activist and as someone who believes in our heritage and our culture through my own non-profit outside of CSW. There have been major sensibility shifts in the way things are done. I didn’t find much hope in having an impact within the organization. I personally didn’t feel respected or heard… I didn’t think they were as trans-

>> CSW TURMOIL <<

parent as an organization should be. If we can’t have a difference of opinion and if we can’t express it in a public forum then I think we are doing a disservice to our diverse community.”

STEVE GANZELL Former board president Steve Ganzell has been a CSW board member for over ten years. He said it has been an ongoing process that finally led to his resignation. “The current leadership is taking the organization in a direction that most of us who have been there for a while don’t feel comfortable with,” he said. “A 401c3 organization is a public trust. It’s not our money. It’s the public’s money. That’s why it’s not taxable. We have a mission and an agenda that is a stewardship and when you’re talking about a 45 year old organization, that’s a hefty burden. The public deserves to know that when a decision is made, and that there is not always unanimity amongst the board members, that there was a discussion and disagreements. If the people in charge of something have unanimously agreed to do something, then you don’t think there’s anybody that’s going to listen to you. It is important for people to know that while a decision may have been made, there were people who disagreed… I remember being told many years ago by my Mormon friends that we had to stay in the church because we couldn’t change the direction of the bus, if we weren’t on the bus. And my argument was, it’s not a bus, it’s a car, and we’re locked in the trunk and it’s being driven over a cliff, and if you think you can change the direction of it, you’re nuts.”

CSW RESPONDS “We had a challenging year, both internally and externally,” LA Pride president Chris Classen said in response to the resignations. “Part of the challenge last year is that we had a few internal email leaks to the press that were confidential information. That was harmful to the organization and it came directly from one of our board members. CSW has had a [non-disclosure CHRIS CLASSEN agreement] for years—in fact, all four of these members signed a NDA in October 2015. It’s not a gag order. It’s standard practice in any job or organization that is basically a mutual agreement that we’re not going to say bad things against each other.” “As far as leadership is concerned, I am the president, but I don’t rule. There is a majority rule. There are 15 board members—now 11. Any idea, suggestion, initiative is a simple majority vote. I’m just one vote in that process.” “I think it is unfortunate that we lost four members. I think they are valuable to the organization. I wasn’t given a reason. I tried to engage with them on the day they resigned to see if I could change their minds, but I was not able to.”

JANUAR Y 2017 | TH E F I GH T 25

> > C O V E R F E AT U R E < <

BEARING

UP

Tom Goss on intimacy, training to become a priest, and how his musical career became an “unstoppable snowball tumbling down a hill.”

A

self-taught musician and songwriter, Tom Goss has performed to tens of thousands in the United States and Europe, and has been heard on ABC, HBO and several independent films. A dynamic performer, Goss has performed over 1,000 shows, in 100 cities and 5 countries. His recent single and music video, “Son of a Preacher Man,” garnered world-wide attention, generating over one million views on youtube since its release. In an interview with THE FIGHT Goss talks about training to become a priest, his attraction to bears and how his music career became an “unstoppable snowball tumbling down a hill.” Growing up in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Goss had a fairly uneventful childhood up until the age of 10—when his parents went through a nasty divorce. “There was (and still is) a lot of fallout from that,” reveals Goss. “I became a very angry teenager, got expelled from 9th grade and was arrested a handful of times before I was 14. I grew up pretty fast after that and focused my energy primarily on wrestling, which was a great outlet for my anger and physicality. I left Kenosha at 18 on a wrestling scholarship and haven’t lived there since.” Goss’ coming out process started after college, while he was in Catholic Seminary, training to become a priest at the time. “I was very late in understanding my sexuality. I think a big part of me shut off any interest in intimacy after my parent’s divorce. It also didn’t help that I was attracted to bears. I remember being in college and not really understanding where everyone’s sexual drive was coming from. I knew I wasn’t attracted to women but I also spent the majority of my time roughhousing with my wrestling teammates. We hung out together, practiced together and showered together. 2 6 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com

BY MA RK ARI EL | PHOTO BY DUSTI CUNNI NGHAM

These were 18 – 22 year old men, beautiful and with bodies to die for, I didn’t find them attractive either. As a result I just assumed I was asexual.” “I honestly never thought ‘maybe I should direct my sexual energy to husky men, maybe that’ll work?’ It’s so outside the norm, I just never considered it. When I entered seminary I had a classmate that

“I WAS VERY LATE IN UNDERSTANDING MY SEXUALITY. IT … DIDN’T HELP THAT I WAS ATTRACTED TO BEARS… I HONESTLY NEVER THOUGHT ‘MAYBE I SHOULD DIRECT MY SEXUAL ENERGY TO HUSKY MEN, MAYBE THAT’LL WORK?’ IT’S SO OUTSIDE THE NORM, I JUST NEVER CONSIDERED IT.” fit the mold. We became close friends and it was then that I realized that I was also physically attracted to him. Hooray! It was quite a sigh of relief, I wasn’t asexual at all, I just found bears attractive!” After leaving the seminary Goss was “pretty distraught. I had lost my home, my friends and my faith, it was a dark place. As a result, I wanted to do something that wasn’t so intense, I wanted to not think so

hard, or work so hard. I’d always wanted to make a record so I decided that’s what I’d do. I assumed I’d make a record and then get on with whatever it was I was supposed to do with my life. I got a job as a barista and started working on my first record, 2006’s ‘Naked Without.’” Goss’s musical career took off after that first record. “I decided I should be performing the record. When I started performing I almost immediately realized I could write better songs and make better records, so I started trying to do that. Then I decided I wanted to make a video so I started doing that. Performing in DC evolved to performing regionally and nationally and every time I made a record or a video I was convinced I could make one even better. I spent the next seven years frantically touring, recording and producing videos, it became an unstoppable snowball tumbling down a hill.” “I’ve had so many amazing experiences in the past decade,” says Goss. “I’m probably most proud of the music videos I’ve created. I love videos because they combine multiple artistic expressions. Making ‘Bears’ was pretty phenomenal, when I showed up at ‘Town’ to shoot the party scene and there was already a line around the block (at 5:30pm on a Thursday). I knew we were tapping into something special…” “I feel most at home when performing,” reveals Goss. “I had a show a couple months ago in Washington DC (where I lived for 10 years) and so many of my friends hopped on stage to sing or play with me. Two of my old bandmates, who had gotten married the night before, even showed up. Of course I dragged them on stage and they crushed it. I never wanted that night to end!” Goss’ s new video “More Than Temporary,” highlighting the beauty of LGBT seniors, will release just before Valentine’s Day. Go to www.youtube.com/ tomgossmusic to check out that and other videos!

> > AARON VALENZUELA < <

JANUAR Y 2017 | TH E F I GH T 27

THEROSTOWREPORT >> BY ANN ROSTOW <<

WHAT AWAITS US If it wasn’t clear on November 9, it’s clear now that the Trump presidency will be a disaster for our community. The only question is, to what extent?

I

’ve been casting around this afternoon for some upbeat news and notions in order to start our journey through 2017 on a good note. A fun note. Dare I say it? A gay note! The results? Sorry everyone. I did find a listicle about a dog born with a cleft palate who was going to be put down before some nice woman saved him. But no sooner had I enjoyed this small sweet moment than I stumbled upon a story about people beating bears to death for kicks. Indeed this is a metaphor for our political world these days. We grasp onto a glimmer of something vaguely okay (General Mattis is not really crazy!) and then Rick Perry is named Energy Secretary and Andrew Puzder is picked for Labor. What the hell? As dismayed as I felt the day after the election, I could not have imagined the horror to come in November and December as this vainglorious madman barrels his way through the transition like the proverbial bull

THE FACT THAT TRUMP IS INDIFFERENT TO LGBT RIGHTS SIMPLY MEANS THAT WHILE HE MIGHT NOT INITIATE SOMETHING HORRIBLE, HE ALSO WON’T STEP IN TO PREVENT ANTIGAY POLICIES AND BACKLASHES FROM BECOMING LAW OR PRECEDENT. in the china store, upending foreign policy and appointing a string of self-serving know nothings to positions of power. And we have to wonder, as bad as this has been, what awaits us when we drop the “elect” off his title come January 20? It seems selfish of us to think about Trump’s impact on

2 8 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com

the LGBT community when the man is poised to rend the very fabric of American society before our eyes and possibly escalate the threat of nuclear war to 1960s levels. But let me make one point. It has appeared at times that Trump is not a direct threat to gay rights. He scoffed at North Carolina’s HB2 last

spring, telling the press that Caitlin Jenner can use any bathroom she wants at Trump tower. He’s a Manhattanite for God’s sake. And he’s made odd quasi-supportive remarks about LGBTs in the past, pledging for example, to save us all from ISIS. He certainly has never campaigned on an anti-gay platform, but just because he’s not a direct threat does not mean he can’t be an indirect threat; the offshore earthquake might not kill you, but the tsunami will. Trump is surrounded by homophobes, including Mike Pence who is a far right conservative. He is about to put a Neanderthal in charge of the Justice Department, where we have enjoyed strong pro-LGBT leadership for the last eight years. Does anyone think Jeff Sessions, an ardent foe of marriage equality, will maintain the pro-gay policies of the current Equal Employment Opportunity Commission? He will not. Could marriage equality be reversed by a Trump High Court? The answer is not yet. Even with a conservative replacement for Scalia, we still have our 5-4 majority. But replace one of our five with an anti-gay conservative and who knows what could happen? No, we probably would not lose marriage rights. But they could be compromised, and gay rights could be severely undermined in a million ways. The fact that Trump is indifferent to LGBT rights simply means that while he might not initiate something horrible, he also won’t step in to prevent antigay policies and backlashes from becoming law or precedent. If it wasn’t clear on November 9, it’s clear now that the Trump presidency will be a disaster for our community. The only question is, to what extent? n

WESTWIND Recovery Residences At Westwind R ecovery R esidences, we truly value the individual, and strive to provide each resident with the structure, clinical services, and living conveniences t h a t a r e n e c e s s a r y t o h e a l t h y living and recovery. Unlike other sober living environments, we proudly employ a 24/7 team of professionals in recovery that are solely dedicated to tending to our resident’s clinical and daily living needs.

“ We believe in innovative, and affordable sober living environments. Our costs are up to three times less expensive than most Los Angeles based sober living homes, while providing care and services unmatched by others.”

800.223.5759 | westwindrecovery.com

JANUAR Y 2017 | TH E F I GH T 29

>> NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION <<

TO THE

FUTURE

The only way we’re all going to get through 2017 is if we do it together. BY BRENDEN SHUCART

I

’ve never been a big fan of New Year’s Resolutions. When I was a kid they always seemed like an exercise in narcissistic time-wasting: making a big deal about an arbitrary promise (“I’m gonna get to the gym more this year!”) you’ll almost inevitably fail to follow through on. But resolutions are one of those North American traditions which—like cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving—I’ve grown to appreciate as I’ve grown older. Taking some time to think about the previous year—and your place in it—and making a promise to yourself to do a little bit better than you’ve done before seems all to the good. The near universal consensus is that 2016 was a major dumpster fire of a year. The nation and the world seemed to stagger from one outrageous tragedy to the next. The brutal civil/proxy war in Syria; terrorism at home and abroad; the deaths of beloved artists, heroes, and cultural figures; and the rising tide of White Nationalism and Far Right Populism across the globe have left many of us with the nagging sense that we stand on the precipice of a world far less safe and predictable than the one most of us have known our whole lives. For the LGBTQ communities, the toll of this terrible year seems particularly high. David Bowie, Prince, and George 3 0 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com

Michael together all but defined queerness for many of us—the spirt of being unapologetically different, and unabashedly one’s self—and it’s hard not to feel as though the stars shine a little more dimly now. The awful tragedies

I RESOLVE TO DO WHAT I CAN, WHERE I CAN… TO BUILD A QUEER COMMUNITY THAT CAN SHELTER ALL OF US THROUGH THE TROUBLED TIMES AHEAD. of the Pulse Massacre and the Ghost Ship Fire savagely ripped ripped into the heart our communities. And the elevation of a Presidential Cabinet universally opposed to LGBTQ rights feels like a loaded gun pointed at all of us collectively. And I’m worried. The relative success and safety of the Obama years have exposed the many fractures of the LGBTQ coalition. We splinter along lines of race, and gender, and identity. It feels as though we’ve never been more divided.

But I resolve to do what I can, where I can, to heal those divides, and to build a queer community that can shelter all of us through the troubled times ahead. I resolve to be a bridge to my cousins in Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender communities. I promise to try and remember that they come from Queer traditions different from my own, and to not only be patient with and respectful of those differences, but to celebrate them. I resolve to stand in solidarity with my Gay brothers of color. To make space for them, and to stand by them. Not out of a sense of guilt, or the notion that I am any kind of savior, but because I recognize how much we need one another, how much stronger we are when we stand united. I resolve to be involved, to bring to bear my energy and my talents (such as they are) against the crises of HIV and youth homelessness, because these problems impact all of us, and make all of us weaker. I resolve to be the adult my faggot family needs me to be. And that doesn’t mean I have to stop dancing all night and having fun. It does mean that I will encourage the gifts of the youth, be a mentor to young fag-

>> 2017 <<

gots where I can, and look after the welfare of my tribe. And I resolve to take care of myself. To eat well, work out, get plenty of rest, and be sure not to over-indulge in anything. To take care of my body now that I’m in my midthirties—just like I’ve been promising to since I was in my mid-twenties—because I am going to need to be strong and focused to weather the storms on the horizon. 2016 was among the hardest (if not the hardest) years of my life, and we don’t have any real reason to believe the next year is going to be any easier. Our idols are dead and our enemies are in power, and for the first time since perhaps September 11, I feel less secure at the end of a year than I did at its beginning. All we can do is be there for each other, take care of one another, be just a little bit better than we were before. The only way we’re all going to get through 2017 is if we do it together.

JANUAR Y 2017 | TH E F I GH T 31

THETRANSACTION >> ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT PROJECT <<

TRANSGENDER EMPOWERMENT

Empowering transgender individuals to secure jobs and become financially stable.

T

he Los Angeles LGBT Center, with support from Citi Community Development, has announced the expansion of its Transgender Economic Empowerment Project (TEEP), which empowers transgender individuals to secure jobs and become financially stable. With Citi’s support, the Los Angeles LGBT Center will provide approximately 150 members of the transgender community with robust financial capability training, employment counseling, and career development resources. The program expansion will also include development of inclusive workplace trainings for employers, which covers essential topics such as legal protection of gender identity and expression, making the workplace an inclusive environment that is safer and more welcoming for transgender people, and providing culturally competent services to the transgender community. In addition to financial capability and employment services, TEEP provides an array of support services to transgender clients, including

one-on-one sessions with a client advocate and case manager; peer mentoring and goal setting; job referrals to transgender-friendly employers; and name and gender change and other legal assistance. “This relationship with Citi will enable the Center to expand vital services for the transgender community, who experience unemployment at twice the national rate—and that rate increases to four times the national rate for trans people of color,” said Center CEO Lorri L. Jean. “Even in a relatively progressive city like Los Angeles, discrimination and violence against trans people is ter-

THE REJUVENIZER Phyllis Light, Ph.D & Telepathic Healer

rifyingly common. This must end, and we are proud to work with Citi to build a world where every member of the LGBT community can thrive as healthy, equal, and complete members of society.” n Learn more at lalgbtcenter.org.

®

A LIFETIME OF HEALING AND PROTECTION

• Protects from EMFs and other damaging frequencies (from computers, cell phones, microwaves, TVs, satellites, wireless internet etc.)

• Helps combat fatigue, headaches, and eyestrain • Helps strengthen the immune system • Enhances intuition and spiritual awareness • Protects you from other people’s negative energy “Since getting the Personal Rejuvenizer, I’m much more mellow and can deal with life much better. I’m probably the happiest I’ve been in the longest time I can remember.” — C.W., Customer Service Ann Arbor , Michigan, USA

Light Unlimited 3 2 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com

(512) 301-2999

www.lighthealing.com

PLEASE CONTACT ME DIRECTLY FOR AN APPOINTMENT

MICHAEL SHAYA

(310) 908-1008 MICHAEL@CULVERCITYVOLVO.COM

2016 WORLD CAR OF THE YEAR

WELCOME TO THE ALL-NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART CULVER CITY MAZDA 11215 WASHINGTON BLVD. CULVER CITY, CA 90230

(310) 341-0397

2016 SUV OF THE YEAR

#1 VOLUME VOLVO DEALER IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES 6 YEARS IN A ROW 11201 WASHINGTON BLVD., CULVER CITY, CA 90230

(310) 391-0445

JANUAR Y 2017 | TH E F I GH T 33

>> JOHNNY ONTIVEROS <<

RAISING HOPE

Johnny Ontiveros creates “Johnny Angel”—an L.A. based, non-profit, socially conscious business—raising funds and awareness for the disenfranchised.

P

BY MA RK A RIEL | PH O TO BY D U STI CUNNI NGHAM

roving that the gift of giving still exists despite life’s sham, drudgery and broken dreams—L.A. based Johnny Ontiveros, 28, is determined to make this world a better place. Ontiveros recently created a non-profit—Johnny Angel—a socially conscious t-shirt company that employees homeless folks. After production costs and paying workers—all the proceeds are donated to charitable causes—like Brave Trails—a camp for LGBTQ youth. “Every shirt we make is based on a social issue—from being gay to being ‘too skinny,’ ‘too fat,’ suicide and bullying. We help promote a story with everything we do to let people know they’re not alone… we all come with a story that leads to hope,” says Ontiveros in an interview with THE FIGHT. “We also sell bracelets that allow people to take a pledge not to bully any one in person or online and they get added to our pledge page online,” adds Ontiveros. Ontiveros’s conviction to help those in need seems to stem from a difficult childhood and upbringing. “Growing up in Texas my family and I did not seem have luck on our side,” reveals Ontiveros. “From as far back as I can remember I would see my mom stress every day about money—trying to pinch every penny to stay afloat. My father resorted to drinking heavily and did any drug you could think of… My mother got the worst part of it being treated like an opponent in a boxing ring… As the drug use became more frequent —so did the abuse. I recall waking up very late one night to the screams of my mom. I ran into the room and saw blood stains on the blanket—my mom huddled up in a corner and my dad standing

3 4 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com

over her with a pocket knife in his hand. I ran to her and he yanked me away—his knife slicing my arm.” “At one point we were so poor— we were living out of a blue station wagon. I always hated the first couple days of every school year because everyone would come in with brand new backpacks and shoes, and new clothes to start the year… it was easier for me to blend in after a few months when I felt more comfortable with my faded clothes…” “When I was 15 my father was put in prison for attempted murder. My mom got a job as a server and things slowly started to look up. My mother met someone else—a man who treats her with respect and loves her. I was happy for her…” A year later Ontiveros came to the realization that he was gay. Unfortunately that did not go over very well with his mother. “She cursed at me, threatened to kick me out, shouting at me I was going to get AIDS. I freaked and told her it was a phase. I try my hardest to not be this ‘thing.’ I started to hate myself and prayed for me to not be gay. I resorted to cutting and became hidden from the world.” “At 17 I slowly started to accept who and what I was. I told myself I wanted to do something to help others that go through this realization. At school I joined PALS—a Peer Assistance And Leadership program—where we acted as counselors for our fellow peers. That’s when I decided that’s what I wanted to do. I want to be proud of who I am and I want to let others know it’s okay to be who they are. On the day of his 18th birthday Ontiveros “packed a bag and told my mom ‘I’m gay. I’m sorry if you can’t accept that. I’m not changing. I love you. Goodbye.’” Ontiveros worked at various odd jobs to stay afloat and eventually moved to Los Angeles. “After moving to LA I decided I wanted to do something that would made a difference in other people’s lives. So I picked up a second full-time job and then a side job. With that money I created ‘Johnny Angel,’ a non-profit socially conscious business…” “Everyday someone is bullied or is suffering. We may not be able to change that but we can make people aware. I sell products that make a difference. Hope is still alive.” For more info visit www.johnnyangelhope.com.

JANUAR Y 2017 | TH E F I GH T 35

>> LEATHERMEN <<

Q3. The biggest threat to the LGBT community from the election of Trump is: a The possibility of antigay Mike Pence pulling the strings or becoming president b The possibility of a conservative majority on the High Court c The reversal of pro-gay attitudes in cabinet departments and federal agencies d The destruction of the known universe

TEXT YOUR KNOWLEDGE Ann Rostow’s long awaited, highly anticipated, often imitated, never duplicated annual LGBTQ news quiz. BY A N N RO STO W

I

t’s hard to believe another year has come and gone, and even harder to believe the shocking turns of events that befell us, and continue to befall us, in its waning weeks. I was just trying to offer an optimistic silver lining, but I can’t seem to come up with anything. “It’s only four years” doesn’t really cheer us up, now does it? I suppose we can look forward to the mid-terms. Maybe. Look. Previous generations of Americans have survived revolution, crossed the wilderness and fought a civil war, plus two world wars abroad. Surely we can survive a few years of Trump. Meanwhile, it’s the holiday season! Football, airports, candy, shopping malls, good movies, Cognac and our yearly news quiz: Q1. Jack Phillips, Barronelle Stutzman and Melissa Klein won headlines for: a Winning state legislative races as openly gay candidates b Litigating their right to refuse to bake cakes for gay couples 3 6 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com

c Refusing to use the restroom of their birth gender in North Carolina d Contesting custody of a child born to Klein and Stutzman using Phillips’ sperm donation e Gay bashing a couple of men in downtown Philadelphia Answer: b) Phillips has petitioned the High Court. Stutzman is waiting for a ruling from the Washington Supreme Court. Klein is (reportedly) broke.

Q2. Transgender job bias plaintiffs technically have a better legal position than gays under federal law because: a They may be heterosexual b Sexual stereotyping has already been outlawed by the High Court c Being gay is a behavior, while being trans is an identity d There are many more anti-gay precedents than anti-trans precedents Answer: b) The High Court’s 1989 ruling in Price Waterhouse v Hopkins made it illegal to discriminate based on gender norms. Courts have started to put the precedent to work in the last decade or so.

Answer: c) All of the above are threats, but the biggest threat is behind the scenes in the attitudes of the Justice Department, the Department of Education and their respective agencies, moving from strongly pro-equality to strongly antigay. The implications will be insidious. d) is hyperbole. Honestly.

Q4. One Million Moms got their knickers in a twist over: a Proctor & Gambles’ announcement that Mr. Clean “might” be gay b A civic award bestowed on gay pandas, Micky and Silver, by the city of Richmond, Virginia c A jewelry commercial that included two lesbians getting married d A rainbow chip pride packaging promotion by Frito-Lay Answer: c) It was Zales. For the record, P&G says Mr. Clean is not gay. He was found on a farm as a baby, and as he grew “so did his love of cleaning.” The rainbow chips were in 2015.

Q5. Trump said the anti-trans North Carolina law, HB2: a Was a “self-inflicted wound” b Did not go far enough c Was nothing more than “common sense” d Was a matter of state policy and should be left alone e Was “no big deal” Answer: d) First he said a) but then he flip flopped to d).

Q6. Gavin Grimm is: a A transgender teen fighting for bathroom access in his Virginia high school b An Indiana teacher arguing a workplace bias case before the full 7th Circuit c An intersex Lambda Legal client trying to obtain a passport without selecting male or female on the application d A high school football player charged with 69 misdemeanors for exposing his genitals in the Yearbook’s team photo. (From a back row)

>> ANN ROSTOW’S LGBT NEWS QUIZ <<

Answer: a) Grimm’s case, which he won at the Fourth Circuit, has been accepted by the Supreme Court for review this session. The Indiana teacher is Kim Hively.

Q7. In Australia: a The parliament voted for a marriage equality referendum which will take place in early 2017 b The parliament voted against a referendum but planned a free vote on marriage equality in early 2017 c The parliament voted for both a referendum and planned a free vote on marriage equality d The parliament delayed marriage votes of all sorts e The parliament voted against a referendum but has not scheduled a free vote f No one cares what the these guys do because it’s too confusing and they can’t manage to pass equality even though majorities are in support and the country remains a decade or two behind the rest of the world Answer: e) and f).

Q8. The Michigan legislature reinstated its sodomy law because: a Lawmakers wanted to make a symbolic antigay statement b It was the only practical way to ban bestiality c The legislative clerk made a typing error in the official record d State officials were planning a test case against Lawrence v Texas Answer: b) If they had tried to remove the nowmoot sodomy ban from the text of their animal rights amendment, they would have triggered an antigay sideshow

Q9. Which of these events did not happen in 2016: a Clinton said she would release government files on extraterrestrial aliens if elected b Scientists said men might someday be able to give birth without women

Collider in Cern were subjected to antigay emails and bullying at work e The Republican governor of South Dakota vetoed an anti-trans law after meeting with transgender men and women f Two lesbian women crashed their cars on a deserted highway in Nevada and realized while exchanging information that they had both had affairs with exlovers of the same person Answer: f) That could never happen!

Q10. Our country has reason for optimism because: a The arc of the moral universe bends towards justice b We are hitting rock bottom and have only one way to go from here c The non-Trump majority will grow as it faces adversity d We have alcohol

c High school kids started drinking hand sanitizer to get high

e Our national institutions are strong and will survive a few years of chaos

d GLBT physicists at the Large Hadron

Answer: d)

JANUAR Y 2017 | TH E F I GH T 37

THIS PAGE IS SPONSORED BY

THESHARE >> BY PAULO MURILLO <<

KEEP COMING BACK

Jacqueline Habhab on being newly sober again, life as a transgender woman and what’s it like coming out (twice) to a Muslim family from Des Moines, Iowa.

C

oming back and getting sober again is overwhelming. I now identify as transgender. Coming from a family that’s Muslim in Des Moines, Iowa, you can only imagine the difficulties that I faced. It was hard coming out as a gay male in the early 90s, but coming out as transgender was completely different and my family is not accepting. They got over the gay thing, but not the transgender thing. They literally do not talk to me. It’s been difficult.” “Before, I was this little Arab gay boy who kind of rested on my laurels of being cute and I was never fulfilled, so like my life was basically a lie. I always had a motive. I would meet all of these beautiful men who I thought wanted nothing to do with me, when in reality, I was a woman and I just never focused on that. I was always outwardly focusing on myself and what I could get. I would do drugs and drink and I never faced the fact that I am transgender…”

JACQUELINE HABHAB

“

“I WAS THIS LITTLE ARAB GAY BOY WHO KIND OF RESTED ON MY LAURELS OF BEING CUTE AND I WAS NEVER FULFILLED, SO LIKE MY LIFE WAS BASICALLY A LIE.” BECOMING ME “I lost my job in Iowa when I came out as transgender. I started using drugs shortly after that. I had been sober for almost a year. I was becoming this new person and I had no idea how to deal with it. I wasn’t asking for help. I was only talking to my doctor and telling my therapist what I thought she needed to hear, so I could get 3 8 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com

my hormones. Along the way I realized that just because I was becoming a woman and becoming myself and I’m seemingly happy on a cellular level, I don’t get to be that same person. Everything has to be different.”

COUNTING DAYS AGAIN “Counting days again—that part doesn’t bother me. I feel more accepted. Surprisingly, I don’t feel judged. It’s so different not presenting myself as Jeremy and not wanting to basically have sex with everybody. All I knew how to do was to present my sex body to a gay man. So not having that motive has completely freed up a lot of shit, but at the same time there’s this big mess to deal with now. It’s very uncomfortable.” “The change has been slow physically. I’m starting to see more effects after the hormones. Smoking meth and drinking has served me no purpose at all. My ultimate goal to become me is, I need to be diligent. I need to shit or get off the pot. I can’t say this is what I want to be and then drink and use. I can’t be high, homeless, prostituting, and trying to find housing—they said if you’re positive and transgender, they could get me housing, so I tested, figuring I have to be positive, because I have slept with every Tom, Dick, and Harry while high as a kite, but I’m negative. Then I was mad that I was negative and I think how disparaging is that? Life is funny.”

HAVING HOPE “Right now I’m in a shelter in Pasadena. I was in the hospital for two days because I couldn’t stay on the street. The first two nights I slept on a bus on a train and I couldn’t shave. It’s been hard, but emotionally, I’m happy today. I’m on the waiting list at the Van Ness Recovery House. I turned in a bottle of vodka and a bottle of Percocet and then two hours later of course, I was pissed off that I did that. But I made it through today. I have hope. I think I’m going to be okay.” —Jacqueline Habhab, sober since December 20, 2016

PHOTO BY CASSANDRA CASS

FACING FACTS

Because you care,

we care.

We treat the whole person

- mind, body, and spirit not just the addiction.

A residential facility located in the heart of Sonoma County and surrounded by a serene landscape.

11207 Valley Ford Road Petaluma, CA 94952 888-795-1965 www.olympiahouserehab.com

WE GOT OUR Life BACK. When addiction and mental health conditions cloud your path, we can help you find your way back to your authentic self.

We offer both residential and outpatient treatment in Palm Springs. MichaelsHouse.com | 855-316-6080

JANUAR Y 2017 | TH E F I GH T 39

THEJOYSTICK

THIS PAGE IS SPONSORED BY

>> VIDEO GAMES <<

STAND BY ME

Final Fantasy XV: When the night has come and the land is dark and the moon is the only light we’ll see. BY JO SEPH A RELLA N O

W

hen you play Final Fantasy XV there is no hand holding. There is no explanation of the relationships prior to the beginning of the game unless you watch Kingsglaive. Even then, you have your four friends/bodyguards comforting you, joking with you, fighting beside you, and more importantly growing with you. Sure, it has its awkward moments, some cheesy voice acting, couple of graphical hiccups here and there. But the one thing that is constant throughout the game, is the sense of wonder and quirkiness that IS Final Fantasy. FFXV has been in development hell for the past 10 years. Switching directors, designers, crews, etc. many people believed that such a title would never see the light of day. Tesuya Nomura remained at the forefront and guided the teams whenever he had a chance but it was still a long painstaking process. However, the wait and changing titles and dates have been worth it. Oh so so worth it. The music that you play on the stereo are classic Final Fantasy tunes from the entire series. You can rent and customize or race your chocobos. You have four friends, warriors of light that are fighting to reclaim their throne or the divine crystal that protects the lands from shadows and dark forces. But the most phenomenal thing about the game is the battle system and characters who stand by your side. A testament to it’s fans who have stood by through Square Enix’s growing pains with FFXIII and FFXIV online before it was tweaked and remade. The battle system causes you to think quickly and to manage your MP to prevent stasis.

4 0 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com

You can do combo attacks with any of the four characters. You can warp by hitting the triangle button to higher grounds to avoid sweeping majestic attacks from giant monsters. But the coolest aspect of the battle system is the fluidity of bond and movement when the characters interact with one another. They get tired, they get frustrated, they get hungry and need provisions and amities. They open up about small details as you travel the diverse world together. For a game built on story and character driven prowess, this is where Final Fantasy XV shows why it is relevant and a genius in its own class. The summons. Omg. The summons are awe-inspiring, wonderful, and epic. It feels as if you are seeing an actual ethereal being fighting by your side. Almost like a miracle that only you have seen. The sad thing is that the summons happen rarely. Whenever your character is down and low on hp does he use his last trump card to end the fight and annihilate the enemy and all surrounding areas. Either way, it makes it worth it when it happens. And there are some throwbacks and clever reimagining of classic guardian forces. I won’t say what they are. But you will see a winter woman filled ice destroy in style. One of the coolest moments while playing the title is a heartfelt scene with Noctis and Prompto. I won’t say what it is, but it is a endearing and human scene that unravels with these two characters and shows that square really knows how to play with your heart. This but a taste of many more moments with the boys. You begin to notice details like Ignis who wears his glasses but his eyesight isn’t that bad. Gladiolus loves to read in the car while traveling. Prompto loves selfies and tries to photo log every damn thing he sees. Such charms and personality traits really shine in these unsaid moments and allows for you to love these characters even more and have a wantingness to spend more time with them I can’t help but think of the similarities of what has happened with the recent election. Many people felt defeated and devastated. How would we ever stand against the ugliness that reared its ugly head within our own country. To reclaim the values and variety that make America, you are reclaiming your rightful place in society. Just like Noctis and company, you are reclaiming your throne. n

THEHISTORY >> G AY R I G H T S O R G A N I Z AT I O N S <<

MATTACHINE SOCIETY One of the earliest gay rights organizations in the United States, headquartered first in Los Angeles.

T

BY O RLY LYO N N E

he Mattachine Society, founded in 1950, was one of the earliest gay rights organizations in the United States. Harry Hay and a group of Los Angeles male friends formed the group to protect and improve the rights of gay men. The Mattachine Society existed as a single national organization headquartered first in Los Angeles and then, beginning around 1956, in San Francisco. Outside of Los Angeles and San Francisco, chapters were established in New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and other locales. Due to internal disagreements, the national organization disbanded in 1961. The primary goals of the society were to: “Unify homosexuals isolated from their own kind;” “Educate homosexuals and heterosexuals toward an ethical homosexual culture paralleling the cultures of the Negro, Mexican and Jewish peoples;” “Lead the more socially conscious homosexual to provide leadership to the whole mass of social variants;” and “Assist gays who are victimized daily as a result of oppression.” The Mattachine Society founder, Harry Hay, took a stand against the assimilationism advocated by the majority of gay rights campaigners at the time. He subsequently became a cofounder of the Los Angeles chapter of the Gay Liberation Front in 1969, although in 1970 moved to New Mexico with his longtime partner John Burnside. Hay’s ongoing interest in Native American spirituality led the couple to co-found the Radical Faeries in 1979 with Don Kilhefner and Mitchell L. Walker. Returning to Los Angeles, Hay remained involved in an array of activist causes throughout his life, and became a well-known elder statesman within the country’s gay community. Hay has been described as “the father of gay liberation.” n JANUAR Y 2017 | TH E F I GH T 41 THE

>> MIKE PENCE <<

THE NAKED TRUTH

The Warwick Rowers have a special message for Donald Trump. BY VICTO R MELA MED

T

he Warwick Rowers—the men’s rowing team at the University of Warwick in Coventry, England, have tackled homophobia both on and off the fields since 2009, achieving instant recognition as a fundraising initiative that has reached over 140 countries, as well as the world’s top politicians, reports David Artavia at The Advocate. As a result of their work, their self-funded charity Sport Allies has since become a registered charity. According to recent reports there has been a 147 percent increase in homophobic attacks in the United Kingdom since the Brexit vote—and the men’s Warwick rowing team worries the recent Trump victory will amplify this globally. So, three of its players stripped naked and sent a Christmas message to Trump and Pence last month. Lucas, Tom, and Cian (all members of the team) stripped in front of Westminster, the seat of British government and spoke directly to world leaders, urging them to speak against the growing resentment of minority, women’s and LGBT rights across the globe. “We are here because we have a message for the new leadership team in the United States and for all leaders around the world,” Lucas said. “As straight allies,” Tom chimed in. “We believe that everyone should have the same human rights, regardless of gender or sexual identity. “And as athletes,” added Cian, “we believe that sport can play a vital role in creating an inclusive, healthy and happy world for everyone.”

4 2 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com

“This year, as every year,” said Lucas, “we have shed our clothes as a symbol of breaking down barriers, a demonstration of the contribution that sport can make to health and wellbeing [one or more guys flexes their guns, tenses their abs, etc.], and as a reminder that we are all equals in this challenging journey called life.” “So, President Elect Trump and Vice President Elect Pence,” Tom pronounced, “We’re sending you our world famous calendar. In it, as here, we stand naked in front of the world to do what we can to make a difference.” Watch the video at warwickrowers.org.

IMRAN YOUSUF

A TRUE ALLY

Debbie Reynolds headlined an AIDS benefit concert at the Hollywood Bowl in 1983, when the disease was still highly stigmatized. BY VICTO R MELA MED

H

ollywood icon Debbie Reynolds passed away last month, just one day after her daughter, fellow Hollywood icon, Carrie Fisher, died of complications from a heart attack. In the days following the late actress’s death, people have taken to Twitter to praise Debbie Reynolds’ advocacy for LGBT rights—especially during an era when Hollywood was largely silent on the issue, reports hellogiggles.com. For example, Reynolds headlined an AIDS benefit concert at the Hollywood Bowl in 1983, when the disease was still highly stigmatized. President Ronald Reagan didn’t address the disease publicly until 1985. Among her many legendary performances was a long stint on hit TV show Will & Grace, a show which worked to normalize LGBT identities. Reynolds also admitted in 2014 that she would fake relationships with closeted actors during her Hollywood heyday to protect them from a scrutinizing press. The actress spoke with a Chicago newspaper in 2012, discussing her relationships with gay fans and colleagues: “Over the years many of the boys that have worked for me as dancers have been gay. The creative people were all gay people, from producers to writers. To me, they were just family.” Debbie Reynolds was an LGBT ally when it wasn’t cool to do so. We must make sure icons and trailblazers like her are not forgotten. n JANUAR Y 2017 | TH E F I GH T 43 THE

>> CARRIE FISHER <<

GOODBYE, CARRIE FISHER

She invited us to look at ourselves outside of ourselves using her own life as an example, and saw that in that moment, we’re able to laugh at the insanity of our own folly. BY PICKLE

W

hen I was seven years old I sprawled out on the living room couch and lay in silence for a moment. Pretending to hear the noise of an electronic door whoosh open, I lifted my head wearily and placed my elbow on my hip. “Aren’t you a little short for a storm trooper?” I said to no one in particular. Later I would watch Carrie Fisher in real life, “like real life is this other thing, and we’re always trying to determine what’s going on in this distant, incomprehensible place” (Wishful Drinking), cracking jokes about addiction and growing up in a Hollywood maelstrom. I once procrastinated a term paper in college watching Wishful Drinking over and over again, a pirated version of the HBO Special with Spanish subtitles. I drank it up like medicine because when you live in a world of dysfunction (and last time I checked, we all do) perspective is the only thing that can save you. And with perspective, “…time passes and you go to the funny slant, and now that same thing can no longer do you any harm” (Wishful Drinking). I love the sound of Carrie Fisher’s voice because I know, when I hear it, I’m going to laugh. That, or I’m watching Star Wars and who could possibly feel sad doing that? Carrie Fisher invited us to look at ourselves outside of ourselves using her own life as an example, and saw that in that moment, we’re able to laugh at the insanity of our own folly, no matter how tragic the circumstances. A common theme in her work is referring to herself

4 4 TTHHEE FFIIGH www.thefightmag.com 44 GH TT || www.thefightmag.com

as Carrie Fisher the character versus “Carrie.” She says, “What you’re watching right now is me talk about myself behind my back. Now if Carrie ever found out that Carrie Fisher is doing a solipsistic, people pleasing show like this, she would be so humiliated!” (Wishful Drinking). Susanne Vale, the largely autobiographical character in Postcards From the Edge and The Best Awful does this frequently as well. En route to a fancy showbiz dinner party in Postcards From the Edge, she examines her own selfpunishing nature; “Sometimes when she looked in the mirror she thought, ‘Sure, that girl is attractive. She looks good.’ As soon as she walked away from her reflection, though, she added ‘But I’m not.’” (Postcards From the Edge). This fear that we are just watching ourselves walk through life, that we have nothing to do with our own best qualities and accomplishments, the base of which is the fear that we never truly know ourselves, Fisher captures so astutely. But she doesn’t just point to the problem, she offers the solution. If she’s able to be honest about her past, confront her present and move forward to the sound of roaring laughter, can’t I? In spite of the cynicism, or perhaps not in spite of but rather in synergy with, there is a powerful optimism that persists through Fisher’s somehow uplifting anecdotes. It has, for lack of a better word, carried me through my young adult life, my own struggles with addiction, my own lack of conviction that there is any right way to experience the complicated world that seems to just clumsily roll on whether we want it to or not. I never met Carrie Fisher, but I’m deeply saddened by her passing. She has shaped my life for the better, which I can only assume means she’s done the same for many, and I am still mourning the departure of a spirit so powerful, so deeply meaningful and intelligent. When I was seven, Princess Leia saved me from the Imperial forces. When I was twenty, Carrie Fisher saved me from myself. I will continue to cherish everything her work has taught me as we march on from the insatiable hellfire that has been this last year into a future daunting and uncertain. Carrie Fisher reluctantly accepted that she was a “survivor” (“and who here over forty isn’t?”). I will do my best to honor her memory by surviving and emerging from the dark times in life with a sense of humor because, after all, as Fisher recounts her mother saying: “Well dear, what are the choices? Not surviving?”

®

BUY TODAY! Every Show—Every Night—$25 Tickets!

Feb 21 – Apr 1, 2017 | AhmansonTheatre.org | DTLA | 213.972.4400 |

JANUAR Y 2017 | TH E F I GH T 45

THEEVENT >> PHOTOS BY ROBERT GREEN. MOTORBOOT PHOTOGRAPHY <<

BESTINGEAR AWARDS

Payasos LA and Mr Regiment 2017 Marco Valadez presented the 2nd Nutcracker Best In Gear Awards last month at Eagle LA to honor the individuals who proudly represent and support our communities. Payasos L.A. is a brotherhood of gay/bi Latino men who are committed to supporting and enhancing the quality of life for our communities and for future generations.

4 6 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com

THEEPIDEMIC >> PrEP <<

PUMPING PrEP

Coming soon: a tiny drug pump implanted underneath the skin to prevent HIV infections. BY VICTO R MELA MED

A

s the world celebrates a brand new year and a bevy of medical breakthroughs in 2016, the international scientific community could be one step closer toward discovering a cure for HIV and AIDS—in part thanks to billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates, reports International Business Times. The Microsoft founder has been steadily backing medical research for years with his and his wife’s Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, a global organization supporting worldwide activism and access to healthcare and education. Gates’ latest investment in a biopharmaceutical tech company based in Boston could yield one of the largest revelations in HIV research yet—with a single, tiny drug pump that can be implanted underneath the skin. Gates reportedly invested $140 million in Intarcia Therapeutics, the company behind the pump initially devised to continuously deliver medicine throughout the body for patients with type-two diabetes. Researchers believe the drug pump could be similarly used to prevent HIV infections in healthy patients by administering continuous dosages of preventative medicine like PrEP, a daily drug critical in preventing HIV in sexually-active adults. While the drug-delivery pump wouldn’t provide a cure for those already infected with HIV, it was yet another leap forward in the fight against a global epidemic that has taken nearly 35 million lives. Intarcia Therapeutics could also be planning to create its own HIVpreventative drug along with the device that could allow users to forego using pills or other drugs. That pump is reportedly capable of administering drugs throughout the body for as long as 12 months, and could be easily filled by a clinician annually or bi-annually. n JANUAR 2017| |TH TH I GH 47 Y Y2017 JANUAR EEF F I GH T T 47

THECALENDAR >> THINGS TO DO <<

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11

BUTT SEX BASICS WITH CHRIS AND ALEX The Pleasure Chest, 7733 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90046. 8pm-10pm. Info: www.thepleasurechest.com/pc/ workshops/butt-sex-basics-2/ Learn why a warm-up is important before anal exercise, why lube is your butt’s BFF, and how building comfort and trust with your partner can dispel common concerns such as pain or cleanliness. They’ll show you their favorite toys, how to use them solo or with a partner, cover the perks of having a prostate, anal g-spot stimulation, and toy and partner safety. SATURDAY, JANUARY 14

EAGLE LA MR. LEATHER 2017 CONTEST Eagle LA, 4219 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029. 8pm-2am. Info: www.EagleLA.com. THE OTHER SIDE: A QUEER HISTORY’S LAST CALL Los Angeles Public Library, 630 W 5th St, Los Angeles, California 90071. 2pm-4pm. Free screening and panel discussion at the Mark Taper Auditorium at the Los Angeles Central Public Library. Following the film is a panel discussion. Speakers include ONE Institute’s Curator David Evans Frantz, famed AKBAR owners Peter Alexander and Scott Craig and Richard Little, one of the men featured in the film that was entrapped by the LAPD in gay bars in the 60s and 70s.

THE MISMATCH GAME RETURNS TO THE LGBT CENTER

A

new edition of Dennis Hensley’s The Mismatch Game returns to the LA LGBT Center for two nights on Friday, January 20 and Saturday, January 21 at the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Renberg Theater. The show is a parody of the popular 70’s show. Creator, producer, and host Dennis “Gene Rayburn” Hensley will be joined onstage by a panel of fractured celebrity impersonations that have included the likes of Zooey Deschanel, Bea Arthur, Harvey Fierstein, Cher, Ricardo Montalbán, Rosie O’Donnell, Miss Piggy, and Tim Gunn. The cast for the upcoming show is to be announced. Hensley and company are donating the proceeds to benefit the Center’s services. Since its debut in 2004, The MisMatch Game has raised well over $100,000. General admission tickets are $15 and may be purchased online at lalgbtcenter.org/theatre, or by phone at (323) 860-7300. n SUNDAY, JANUARY 15

MR. SOCAL LEATHER 2017 CONTEST Eagle LA, 4219 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029. Info: www.EagleLA.com. Discover Your Destiny. A Brotherhood Awaits You. $7 Admission.

instruction of a basic pattern, followed by hands on tying. Each class explores a different pattern, with an emphasis on experimentation and exploring how each tie can be used in multiple ways. Beginners always welcome. Cost: $10 at the door. SATURDAY JANUARY 21

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17

LA ROPE: ROPE PLAY LA Rope, 4406 W 2nd St, Los Angeles, California 90004. 8pm-10pm. Held the third Tuesday of the month from 8 to 10 at the LA Rope Dojo. The class begins with

4 8 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com

MR. L.A. LEATHER BEAR 2017 CONTEST Eagle LA, 4219 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029. 9pm-2am. Info: www.EagleLA.com. Join BEARS LA as they call out for the Next Mr. LA Leather Bear

2017 and celebrate the amazing title year of Mr. L.A. Leather Bear 2016. Raffles, Entertainment, Hot Bear Studs Strutting the Stage and More! SUNDAY, JANUARY 22

MR. L.A. LEATHER BEAR 2017 VICTORY BEER BUST & BBQ Bullet Bar, 10522 Burbank Blvd, North Hollywood, California 91601. 3pm-8pm. Info: www.BulletBarLa.com. THURSDAY, JANUARY 26

MR & MS OIL CAN HARRY’S LEATHER 2017 Oil Can Harry’s, 11502 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604. Runs through Saturday, Jan. 28. Info: www.oilcanharrysla.com. A full weekend of Oil Can Harry’s! Start off on Thursday—Ms Meet n Greet—continue on Friday with the FIRST EVER Ms Oil Can Harry’s contest. That night will also be the Mr. Meet n Greet. The weekend will then wrap up on Saturday with the Mister contest from 6-8 pm. Followed by a Dirty Disco Victory party held at the bar during Disco Night. SATURDAY, JANUARY 28

VALLEY SQURRRL Akbar, 4356 W Sunset Blvd (Fountain Ave), Los Angeles, CA 90029. Info: www.akbarsilverlake.com. Tamale Ringwald’s Birthday. The theme is Valley SQURRRL so please get that side ponytail ready, don your best Flash Dance workout gear or glam it up with fluorescent everything and come out and join them for a radical night of kick-ass music.

JANUAR Y 2017 | TH E F I GH T 49

THEFINALFIGHT >> GEORGE MICHAEL <<

I WANT YOUR SEX

Excerpts from The Huffington Post ’s Noah Michelson’s excellent opinion piece: “George Michael Was A ‘Filthy’ Gay ‘F***er’ And We Should Honor Him For That.”

…

A

fter word spread that pop star George Michael died at the age of 53, I sent out several tweets honoring the man who meant a lot to me as a queer young man who came out in the late ‘90s. My first tweet instructed those unfamiliar with Michael (and the brilliance of what he created) to seek out his music. This was my second tweet: “I suggest we all find a public bathroom wherever we are and go and have sex in it with a stranger tonight to properly honor George Michael.” I was referencing Michael’s well-publicized history with cruising for sex in public places (he was arrested by an undercover policeman in a Beverly Hills men’s room in 1998 and again 10 years later in London). While I was being cheeky in a way that I thought he would appreciate in the big Wembley Stadium in the sky, I also meant it. It was my way of paying tribute to how open, outspoken and unapologetic he was about who he was (once he came out in 1998), his sexuality and looking for gay sex in what could be referred to as non-traditional locales. But shit soon hit the fan. People who thought I was being “disrespectful” and “tacky” and “tasteless” flooded my Twitter mentions… … I tried to explain that as a queer, sex-positive man, this part of Michael’s life ― these moments of queer sexuality and his sex life that were made very public ― helped to reorganize and shape how I saw and embraced my own sexuality, which was nothing short of a miracle considering the homophobic and sex-negative culture we live in. My tweet wasn’t a joke and it wasn’t rude or disrespectful. If you read it that way you’re implying that gay sex ― public or otherwise ― is shameful. I don’t and neither did Michael. In fact, after the pop star was caught in 1998, he turned the incident into a celebratory song (accompanied by a splendidly self-conscious video featuring a public restroom that turns into a disco and Michael dressed as a cop) about the joys of having sex outside… … So why all of the frantic pearl clutching? Why the attempts to bleach this part of his 5 0 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com

life from his legacy? Because we like our heroes wearing halos and because gay sex ― public or otherwise ― is still an absolutely terrifying concept for too many people (including some who may support queer rights). It’s seen as disgusting. It’s seen as unnatural. It’s seen as contributing to the downfall of modern civilization. In fact, William Pryor, a man that Donald Trump is considering as a nominee for the United States Supreme Court, believes that consensual gay sex should be illegal ― even in the privacy of one’s own home. But let’s not forget that the sex acts that gay men engage in aren’t secret satanic practices. It’s the exact same kind of sex that most non-queer people have, just with a different distribution of equipment… … Even scarier and sadder to me than the non-queer people who have a problem with gay sex are the queer people who are up in arms about my tweet. I’ve encountered folks like them before and in some ways, I understand their trepidation and their fear. The general idea is that if we don’t “behave” ourselves ― especially if people like Michael (who represent us in a world where queers are all too often invisible, ignored and/or vilified) don’t ― and quietly assimilate into mainstream society, we won’t be able to keep the rights that we have (and gain more). And so, instead of speaking frankly and honestly about sex ― that tireless boogeyman that has mesmerized and terrorized our society for centuries ― we should just shut up, get married, have kids and stop causing trouble. But we can’t do that. Our queer foreparents worked too hard, and too many died, for us to walk away from the dream of sexual liberation for all of us. That means we must not buy into a broken system that is simultaneously obsessed with and panicstricken by all things sex. It means we must not accept the sexual status quo that all-toooften results in fake piety in the streets and discreet sleaze in the sheets. It means we must not pretend that Michael never had or loved gay sex. Let’s not sanitize him just because it would make it easier for some of us to eulogize him or love him or play his music for our children or our grandparents. n Read Noah Michelson’s article in its entirety at: www.huffingtonpost.com/queer-voices.

JANUAR Y 2017 | TH E F I GH T 51

Please call or email me. I’m here to help you with your car buying needs in the coming new year. ―Gianni Valencia

(310) 500-6989 gianniv@culvercitytoyota.com

9077 Washington Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232 424.298.4900 • CulverCityToyota.com

New 2017

129

$

Camry SE Sedan A MONTH

2017 Toyota Camry SE Sedan FWD Auto • MSRP $25,054 • Model #2546 • STK #14333 • VIN #355721 • $129 per month for 36 months, $0 Security • $4,675 due at signing after $500 Toyota lease cash and $1,799 dealer discount • Adjusted/Net Capitalized Cost: $19,695.34 • $129 month + Tax, + Acquisition fee, + DMV License Fee + $80 dealer doc. fees • 12,000 miles/yr $0.15 per mile over 36,000 miles • *Tier 1+ credit through Toyota Financial Services. 9 available at these terms. See dealer for details. Not everyone will quality. Offer valid until 01/31/17

5 2 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com