JUNE 16 2017 VOLUME 01 ISSUE 07 A M E R I C A S LGBTQ NEWS SOURCE LOSANGELESBLADE.

COM

PHOTO BY GREGORY ZABILSKY

THOUSANDS TURN OUT FOR RESIST MARCH, LA PRIDE

Full coverage of #Resist March Remembering Pulse LA Dodgers embrace the gay kiss

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THANK YOU!

CONTINUE THE RESISTANCE AT ResistMarch.org

LO C A L N E W S W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM JUNE 16, 2017 05

The peoples parade: Resist! Persist! Stay woke!

A celebration of diversity
and intersectionality and
a show of deance

By KAREN OCAMB
kocamb@losangelesblade.com

Santa Monica Boulevard was bare

Sunday morning but for a few early birds
anticipating something new.
I want to see how many people show
up for the Resist March, said 71-year-old
Fernando Padilla, picking up his two-year-
old long hair Chihuahua, Oliver. Its a very
dierent parade from last year.
I hope people see the solidarity thats
happening in Southern California,
said John Milovich, 57, wearing a faded
American ag T-shirt, claiming a spot
outside West Hollywood City Hall. Hed
driven up from Long Beach with his
long-bearded partner, Robert Martinez,
36, whose T-shirt sported the old Dairy
Queen logo with Hairy Queen instead.
This is America, said Martinez, as if that
explained everything.
The gay Americana tableau was jarred
by three trucks with heavily armed
sheris deputies driving by, receiving a
smattering of applause from the occupied
tables at Hamburger Marys. Hanging ten
on the cusp of consciousness was the Rep. MAXINE WATERS (center) with Black AIDS Institute founder PHILL WILSON (right) and Empire actor JUSSIE SMOLLETT (left).

recognition that this was the one-year LOS ANGELES BLADE PHOTO BY KAREN OCAMB

anniversary of the massacre of mostly gay

Latinos at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando.
West Hollywood had its own scare that
morning, too, after an Indiana man was
arrested with a cache of weapons on his
way to WeHo. Courageous organizers and
participants went on with the LA Pride
Parade anyway, joyfully deant of the pall
of terror hanging in the air.
In fact, while Republican presidential
candidate Donald Trump framed the
deadliest massacre in American history as
the work of a radical Islamic terrorist, many in
the LGBT community considered it a massive
hate crime targeting gays and Latinos
another scorching tragedy that could have
been prevented with gun safety laws and an
acceptance of common humanity.
But out of the ashes, the spirit of
Resistance sprouted, nourished by the
loving blood of the Orlando victims and
the unrelenting murders of transgender
women of color. Tearful, shaken, the LGBT
community was nevertheless unbroken.
The LGBT community would persist, resist
and overcome.
Brian Pendleton could feel it. Inspired
by the massive and peaceful womens
marches that mesmerized the world
the day after Trumps inauguration last
January, Pendleton posted a note on his
Facebook page insisting that the response
to the terror of Trumps vision for America
was to stage a #ResistMarch instead of
the usual party parade. This is not normal,
Pendleton said, and we must not pretend
like it is. He got 30,000 likes in 24 hours.
The #ResistMarch was planned to
coincide with similar marches in other
cities on June 11. Like Christopher Street
West co-founder Rev. Troy Perrys vision
in 1970 for gay people to get o the
sidewalks and into the streets, Pendletons
call to action was to empower ordinary
people to take charge of the change they
want to see.
We will resist being driven back into the
closet by regressive policies, Pendleton
said. The march would also underscore
that we included LGBT undocumented
immigrants at risk of being snatched up
and deported by ICE; the LGBT elderly and
disabled at risk of drastic cuts to Medicaid;
and those with HIV/AIDS, especially young
gay/bi men of color, expected to be hard-
CONTINUES ON PAGE 06
06 JU NE 16, 2017
Resist March delivers powerful display of deance
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 05
hit by the proposed $300 million cuts to
AIDS funding in the federal budget.
Pendleton made sure the speakers
reected and broadened the true
intersectionality of the LGBT movement.
This year the LGBTQ+ community is
lending its iconic rainbow ag to anyone
who feels their rights are at risk and to
everyone who believes that Americas
strength is its diversity, he said. When they
come for one of us, they come for all of us.
Which is why we our diverse intersectional
community must unite as one.
The #ResistMarch represented the twin
ideals of love and positive activism. Its
about love and giving love, being able to
receive love, said drag superstar RuPaul.
Thats our secret weapon. Thats the one
thing they dont have is our love, our music
and our joy.
LA LGBT Center CEO Lorri Jean, just back
from the week-long AIDS LifeCyle ride, led the
crowd in a chant: LGBTQ people are under
attack! What do we do! Act Up! Fight back!
West Hollywood Mayor John Heilman
noted that the city had been a sanctuary,
pro-choice city with anti-LGBT and AIDS
discrimination laws since its inception. Why,
hed been asked, should the LGBT community
resist when Trump had not done anything
drastic to harm the LGBT community?
Because we know there are people
in Washington, D.C. who want to take
away all of those rights from us. And we
will not let them! Heilman said. And we
dont just resist for ourselves, we resist for
those LGBTQ young people in other parts
of the country that are still being sent to
conversion therapy. And we resist on
behalf of the LGBT community who can
still get red because theres no national
anti-discrimination law. And we resist on
behalf of the trans community in Texas
and North Carolina who just want to go to
the bathroom without being arrested. And
we resist in solidarity with the women and
girls of this country who want to succeed
and go to school and go to work without
W W W .LOS ANG E LE S BL A D E . C O M
being groped or raped. And we resist in
solidarity with all of those people who
are going to lose their healthcare if those
crazy people in DC get their way.
LGBT people must resist for immigrants
and LGBT people worldwide, Heilman
said, and we resist on behalf of black and
brown people who are tired of getting
shot and killed!
Heilman said: We resist to tell the world
we will not be silent! We will keep ghting
until there is full equality and human
rights for every person.
Rep. Adam Schi, who gained national
prominence as the ranking Democrat on
the House Intelligence Committee, said
Trump was decient in basic human
decency. Schi was one of the public
ocials who marched in last years Pride
parade, sharing the grief of the Orlando
massacre and the fear of what might
come. For years, we have gathered in
these streets to celebrate our pride, and
this year we are as proud as ever, but we
are also mad as hell, he said.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi
said marching is not enough and called on
the resisters to get engaged in the 2018
elections and to call Congress to pass the
re-introduced Equality Act, which amends
and expands the Civil Rights Act of 1964
to include LGBT Americans. Every step we
take forward to end discrimination in our
country is a patriotic act, said Pelosi.
Rep. Maxine Waters received
thunderous applause as she called for
Trumps impeachment. Impeach 45! she love, protests and dazzling psychedelic
said. Hes not my president. Hes not your
president. He lies. He cheats. Hes a bully.
He disrespects us all. And if he thinks he
can mess with the LGBT community
hed better look at what happened right
here in West Hollywood. But it wont be
easy. Stay woke, she warned.
Unlike past parades where stars and
important people were pampered and
protected, the #ResistMarch was a
peoples parade.
Schi, Pelosi, and Waters melted into the
mass of humanity stepping o sidewalks
LO CA L N E W S
into the streets, waving signs, crossing
generations and cultures where Grand
Marshall Alexei Romano, who in 1967
organized protests against the LAPD after
the raid of the Black Cat bar in Silver Lake was
just as important as nervous courageous 22-
year old speaker Jose Guevara, who told the
crowd in WeHo that he is an undocumented
DREAMer ghting leukemia.
They joined Jacob Gibson, 17, and
Jennifer Grand-Champs, 42, from the
Valley who said she was marching for her
sons equal rights.
Watching the joyous determination
of Maxine Waters alongside Black AIDS
Institute founder Phill Wilson and Empire
star Jussie Smollett at rst reminded me
of an updated version of that famous
post-Stonewall photo of happy gay
liberationists in New York City intent on
claiming their rights.
And then the image inspired a deeper
feelingthe 1967 Summer of Love when
so many people of all ages, colors and
backgrounds called each other brother
and sister and joined together in protesting
the Vietnam War. Death was a constant far
away terror with the government lying to
keep the illusion of winning alive as bodies
of our drafted friends, family and loved ones
came home silently, as if each was an image
of national shame.
Our outrage surfaced gradually, until
more and more strangers became friends,
countering the war, racism, sexism and
America Love it or Leave it hatred with
unity. We really did believe we could
change the world.
Perhaps something old is new again.
The #ResistMarch made many feel like
resistance, persistence and staying woke
could sprout a new counter-Trump-culture
movement and change the world for the
better. At least theres hope.
Equality Florida is still raising money to
help the survivors and families of the Orlando
49. If you would like to contribute, go their
#HonorThemWithAction GoFundMeaccount.
https://www.gofundme.com/forthe49
LO C A L N E W S
After Orlando: The resistance continues
Remembering Pulse
and moving forward
By REBEKAH SAGER
A panel of activists held a forum at the
Los Angeles LGBT Center Villages at Ed
Gould Plaza on Tuesday to discuss how
to move forward one year after the Pulse
nightclub massacre in Orlando, and the
fallout and signicance of a President
Trump administration.
Apolonio Morales from the Coalition
for Humane Immigrant Rights, Mariana
Marroquin from the Los Angeles LGBT
Center, Shedrick Davis of Lambda Legal,
and Nikki Levy, an activist and actor, focused
their talk on the mission of intersectionality,
among various communities and strategies
for unifying them.
One of the topics that came up in the
discussion again and again was that despite
the horror of Pulse or the November
election, there have been surprisingly
positive signs of groups aligning.
Pulse shattered the illusion of many of
our perceptions and it brought home that
the brutality and the violence that exists
in other communities can exist in the
gay community in such a shocking way,
Morales said.
With the Evangelical community coming
in to engage with victims and their families
-- which you dont normally see. So, in this
moment, in a terrible tragedy, you also
see these moments of opportunity and
opening up of dialog and conversations,
he added.
Davis said the Pulse nightclub shooting
was a wakeup call for activists.
Pulse set in motion the perception
that violence against our ability to just
be, and the backlash against the rights
that seemed to have been granted by
decisions and progression regulations
that the Obama administration had begun
to implement, Davis said.
Election night reinforced that for me,
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and a lot of people in the community,
and its played out now for the general
LGBT community as well, its not been just
the direct attacks that immigrants and
Muslims have faced. It marked a turning
point. Were back on defense.
Marroquin made the point that although
theres been a new era of resistance,
people should consider some in the
community who dont necessarily have the
strength to ght back.
To say, we have to ght back is
powerful, but for someone who has been
all their lives ghting to be who they are,
it may be a little bit too much to ask, she
says. Lets keep those people in mind.
Davis says that since Trumps election,
Lambda Legal has adopted a strategy of
resistance. Weve come too far to give
these rights away, and we took notes on
the obstruction tactics of our opponents
during the Obama administration, of ling
suit with something they disagreed with
and slowing it down, he said.
Davis adds that Lambda Legal has a
four step approach to ghting Trumps
positions: resist, slow or stop legislation
and regulations that infringe on LGBT
peoples rights, shed light on those laws,
and educate people on their rights.
Almost all of the panelists agreed that
JUNE 16, 2017 07
PHOTO BY ALEX SCHMIDER
the one element needed to overcome
for a safe future for those most at-risk
communities, (immigrants, people of
color, and LGBTQ) is vanquishing the
fear that exists around people with
varying opinions, and the importance of
understanding and talking to one another.
I want to make sure that when I wake up
every morning, I ask myself, Am I excluding
someone? Am I being intentional? Am I
being considerate? Do I have gaps in my
thinking? And how do I close those gaps?
And with all the things happening around
the country, the Womens March, the
protests at LAX after the Muslim travel
ban, the Resist March, I ask have to ask
myself, do I know enough about the other
to recognize their humanity? I think thats
an honest conversation I have to have with
myself, Morales said.
Undeterred by tragedies such as Pulse,
or the senseless deaths of 22 transgender
women in the U.S., or Southern Poverty
Law Centers documented 1,372 hate
crimes between the 2016 U.S. presidential
election and February 2017, Tuesdays
panelists remain hopeful.
We will survive this and we will make it
work and keep providing a safe space for
those who arent empowered enough and
are still living in fear, Marroquin said.
0 8 J U NE 1 6 , 2 0 1 7
LA City Councilmember MARQUEECE HARRIS-DAWSON, JAVONTAE WILSON, JEFFREY KING, TAMAR SIBLEY, GREG WILSON, CHANDI MOORE,
DAVID SOLORIO, MITCH OFARRELL, Black AIDS Institute Founder and CEO PHILL WILSON.
Black Our Pride launches in Leimert Park
It was a classic California day: 76 degrees, blue skies and
palm trees swaying in the wind, a perfect setting for the rst
Black Our Pride celebration in Leimert Park. More than 100
members of the LGBTQ community and allies showed up,
strong and dierent, celebrating as one.
Marqueece Harris-Dawson, who represents South L.A. on
the Los Angeles City Council, was arming in his remarks
from the stage. Now is the time, more than ever, when we as
a people must rally together to resist oppressions and forge a
united front to combat fear and ignorance, he said.
The powerful words spoken by the charismatic Harris-
Dawson resonated with those who gathered in front of the
legendary Vision Theatre amid the open-air space of the
historic Leimert Park Center. Later on his Facebook page,
Harris-Dawson said: Very excited by our inaugural, Our Pride
last night, with a DJ spinning on People St., a panel of LGBTQ
activists at the Vision Theater, and an outdoor screening of
Moonlight!
Vendors representing organizations and agencies from
around L.A. County shared words and resources, smiles and
hugs. Out City Councilmember Mitch OFarrell with his partner
and sta greeted constituents and engaged everyone who
approached.
Renewed Church Pastor Curt Thomas huddled with Rev.
Russell Thornhill, senior pastor of Unity Fellowship of Christ
Church and shared history with Denise Williams of the Village
Health Foundation. JavonTae Wilson, a 23-year-old lead HIV
tester for In The Meantime, laughed and swayed to the old
school music of Marvin Gay in the background while manning
the outreach table and greeting passersby.
Taking the stage for a panel and community discussion were
W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM
PHOTO COURTESY OF IN THE MEANTIME MENS GROUP
Phill Wilson, founder and President of the Black AIDS Institute,
Greg Wilson, Senior Manager of In The Meantime Mens Group,
transgender activist Chandi Moore of Childrens Hospital and
David Solorio of the Wall Las Memorias.
The panelists spoke about the intersectionality of oppression,
stigma, homophobia, racism, and sexism. Young activist Greg
Wilson highlighted the resiliency of oppressed people and how
solutions are rooted in maladies, understanding internalized
oppression and how it manifests within our communities.
Jewel Thais Williams, founder of the Catch One and the
Village Health Foundation, joined the community for the
discussion. Momma Jewel expressed how pleased she was
to be a part of another rst as she has facilitated a lot of
rsts in her long-standing career of activism and community
mobilization.
Its great to see everyone present. This type of convening
is long overdue. I hope to see it grow and ourish so that our
youth will know that it is OK for them to celebrate who they are
within their own community Thais-Williams said.
It is in moments like this that we are called to remember
how far we have come, said In The Meantime Men founder
Jerey King. And yet how much future we dream and desire
to go. We are a family and being stronger together allows
us to realize how important it is to build stronger coalitions,
focusing on our strengths and similarities and celebrating our
common bond while embracing our dierences.
Some of the attendees endured sporadic homophobic
slursfaggots whispered from the lips of some hanging
out on the fringes. The evening culminated in an outdoor
screening of the Oscar-winning lm Moonlight.
JEFFREY KING
LO CA L N E W S
JEFFREY KING, Village Health Foundation
Founder JEWEL THAIS-WILLIAMS
PHOTO COURTESY OF IN THE MEANTIME MENS GROUP
Celebrating activist
history of queer women
History has a selective eye, especially
when presented from the point of view
of outspoken men who believe they
speak for an era. How many women do
you remember from ACT UP? How many
remember the hard frontline work of
such ACT UP/LA and Being Alive activists
as Mary Lucey, who is HIV-positive, and
her wife Nancy MacNeil, who started the
Women Alive newsletter? They not only
endured rough arrests by the LAPD but
also worked on the inside for the late L.A.
City AIDS Coordinator Ferd Eggan.
On June 2, the couple reconnected with
fellow women warriors from the late 80s/
early 90s activist days of ACT UP/LA, Queer
Nation, the Dyke March and Lesbian
Avengers at Lesbians to Watch Out For:
90s Queer LA Activism, a multimedia
month-long History & Art exhibit at the
historic Long Hall in Plummer Park,
West Hollywood and a GRASSROOTS
ORGANIZERS TELL ALL! panel with
Lesbian Avenger founder and author
Anne-christine dAdesky on June 14.
From the AB101 protests to Hollywood
Homophobia actions to organizing for the
93 LGBT March on Washington, 90s lesbian
and queer womens activism in LA reected
the energy of the decade: dyke visibility
marches, public kiss-ins and declarations
of we recruit! says co-organizer and ACT
UP activist Judy Sisneros.
KAREN OCAMB
LO C A L N E W S W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM JUNE 16, 2017 09

Los Angeles Dodgers are LGBT Proud

Pride night at
stadium full of kisses

By TROY MASTERS
tmasters@losangelesblade.com

Eric Braverman and Andrew Sync helped

make history this year at the Los Angeles
Dodgers Pride Night, selling upwards of
8,000 tickets a record for any team
and the kiss cam was not at all shy about
it. It was the rst time the ve-year-old
event partnered with LA Pride.
The whole stadium celebrated and
cheered as couples of every gender pairing
were spotlighted by the camera and
responded with the traditional kiss. Social
media exploded with beaming seles in
celebration of the Dodgers LGBT Pride.
The team is committed to LGBT inclusion,
this year featuring the leagues rst print
advertisement in a gay publication with a full
page in the Los Angeles Blades Pride issue.
Dodgers Executive Vice-President &
Chief Marketing Ocer Lon Rosen told Seven gay couples were featured on the famous Kiss Cam and the crowd cheered like it was a grand slam.

Cyd Zeigler of Outsports that his aim is to PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS

create a genuine and reciprocal aection

between the community and the team.
Diversity is part of that intention.
People from across sports have
asked us what has made our LGBT Night
resonate and grow so much over the past
ve years and I think the answer is pretty
simple. We practice what we preach.they
arent just words when we say the Dodgers
organization embraces diversity, inclusion
and equality for ALL, said Rosen.
And the eort is not a one-night stand.
Braverman, who is the teams vice
president for marketing, communications
and broadcasting, told the Los Angeles
Blade that support for the LGBT
community is lasting, that LGBT people
are as important to the organization as any
other community, he said. On Facebook
he wrote, we try to make it all about the
experience...not just the game.
At the end of the day though, the real
reason the attendance grows every year is
because of the fan experience, Rosen told
Outsports. Erik and his team work hard to
program the night in way that entertains
and connects with all fans. As I said, our
fans are diverse in every way possible. The
one thing everyone can agree on is their
love for the Dodgers.
Major League Baseball has implemented
an outreach strategy to the LGBT community.
In 2014, one year after Major League
Baseball issued a policy prohibiting
discrimination against players based on
their sexual orientation, Commissioner
Bud Selig appointed former outelder Billy
Bean, as ambassador for inclusion. Bean,
who played in the major leagues for parts
of six seasons from 1987-89 and 1993-95,
and wrote a book titled Going the Other
Way: Lessons from a Life In and Out of
Major League Baseball, has advocated for
an inclusive MLB.
Bean praised the partnership with
LA Pride, a rst in the nation. The
partnership with LA Pride is a perfect
example of an ambitious, determined
inspired community building something
to make it better and better, he said. Im
really proud of LA Pride for making this
work and getting the word out to the rest
of our community.
Kirk Walker, an out gay Division 1 coach,
established Equality Coaching Alliance, an
anity group for LGBT baseball organizers
at the high school, college and professional
levels. I thought it was important that
there be a place to let others know that
they are not alone.
MLB has even allied with an LGBT non-
prot, Athlete Ally, whose mission is to
educate and activate athletic communities
to eliminate homophobia and transphobia
in sports and to champion LGBT equality.
At LGBT night on June 9, that commitment
to diversity was on full display. The Trans
Chorus opened the night by singing the
National Anthem. Several high-prole
LGBT community members threw the rst
pitch (including actor Matt Bomer and
#ResistMarch founder and entrepreneur
Brian Pendleton). And the jumbotron came
alive with a half-dozen same-sex couple
kisses. And, in a show of diversity, producer
Andrew Sync made sure to highlight a few
straight couples kissing as well.
The team also created a special rainbow
logo, which was on display. The logo was
displayed during the game, printed on
thousands of T-shirts and displayed on
signage throughout the stadium.
Maybe it was luck of Pride or just the
enthusiastic joy of the audience, but the
Dodgers beat the Cincinnati Reds, 7 to 2.
1 0 J U NE 1 6 , 2 0 1 7 W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM
HOMBRE PHOTO BY YOVANI RUGAMAS, PARADE PHOTO BY JENNIFER RIVERS
#ResistMarch posters were irresistable
If you were one of the nearly 100,000 people who attended #ResistMarch on
Sunday, June 11, you surely spotted a few placards and posters in the crowd. They
ranged from serious, to apolitical, to humorous, bizarre and cute. But they all
made a statement.
#ResistMarch was a joyous experience and the signs tell the story.
TROY MASTERS
LA, WeHo mayors celebrate Pride
What a dierence a mere seven months can make. Prior to the 2016 elections last
November, progress on the LGBT equality front was so presumed, inculcated in every
day life, few Angelenos got excited about celebrating LGBT Pride. It was a done deal. That
changed with the campaign of Donald Trump and his shocking ascension to presidential
power. This year, the June 11#ResistMarch supplanted the traditional Christopher Street
West Pride Parade, ironically a return to the roots of post-Stonewall protest.
But, as CSW co-founder Rev. Troy Perry reminded us, Los Angeles decided to have a
parade to celebrate the joy of gay liberation, in conjunction with the ongoing anger over
still being denied rst-class citizenship. So, of course there needed to be some parties
celebrating Pride and who better to kick that o than Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti
and West Hollywood Mayor John Heilman, both held on June 7.
Garcettis LGBT Pride Garden Party was held at the historic Wattles Mansion in
Hollywood. Guests ranged from LAPD brass to LGBT city sta to grassroots artists and
activists from both political parties and voters who declined-to-state their political
preferences.
Heilmans party with CSW was held at the Penthouse at historic Factory on Robertson
Boulevard. The mayor greeted guests decked out in a shimmering jacket. Ah, WeHo.
Guests mingled, gossiped and foot-tapped to Anthony Fedorove singing Calling on You.
A joyful attitude of Pride was plentiful and on parade.
KAREN OCAMB
LO CA L N E W S
Outbreaks of meningitis, mumps reported
On the same day LA Pride was set to kick o, Los Angeles County Public Health issued
a press release reminding men who have sex with men that they may be at increased
risk for invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) and therefore need to be vaccinated. Public
Health reports that there have been 28 outbreak-associated cases of meningococcal
disease since March 2016 in Southern California. Meningococcal disease is a rare, but
serious disease that can lead to swelling in the brain and spinal cord, loss of a limb,
deafness, brain damage or even death.
Of the 28 people diagnosed, the latest was identied one week ago. One person died
earlier this year, though the county has not yet provided statistics on how many of the 28
patients were LGBT.
Meningitis is transmitted casually, through the air in closed quarters such as when
someone sneezes and through saliva such as kissing or sharing drinks, utensils, food,
toothbrushes, joints or cigarettes.
There is also an outbreak of mumps in LA County involving more than 40 patients. [H]
ealth ocials said most of the patients are men who have sex with men, and the majority
of the cases were linked to patients being at large venues such as gyms, bars, theaters and
nightclubs, the LA Daily News reported.
Mumps typically begins with a few days of fever, headache, fatigue, and anorexia
followed by development of salivary gland swelling, pain, and tenderness.
Public Health clinics provide vaccines for all people at higher-risk for Invasive Meningococcal
Disease, regardless of health insurance status. Those who do not have a regular health care
provider or health insurance that covers vaccines can call the LA County Information Line at
2-1-1 for referrals to providers oering vaccines at no-cost or a reduced cost.
The following locations oer free meningococcal vaccinations for all people at higher-
risk (please call to conrm availability):
AHF Wellness Center West Adams 2146 W. Adams Blvd,
Los Angeles 90018, 888-836-5946
AHF Wellness Center Hollywood 1300 N. Vermont Ave, Suite 407,
Los Angeles 90027, 866-339-2525
AHF Wellness Center San Fernando Valley 4940 Van Nuys Blvd, Suite 200,
Sherman Oaks 91403, 866-625-4559
APLA Health Gleicher/Chen Health Center, 3743 S. La Brea Ave,
Los Angeles 90016, 323-329-9900
APLA Health Long Beach Health Center 1043 Elm Ave., Suite 302,
Long Beach, CA 90813, 562-247-7740
Los Angeles LGBT Center 1625 N. Schrader Blvd,
Los Angeles, 90028, 323-993-7500
Central Health Center 241 N. Figueroa Street,
Los Angeles 90012, 213-240-8204
Hollywood/Wilshire Health Center 5205 Melrose Avenue,
Los Angeles 90038, 323-769-7800
North Hollywood Health Center 5300 Tujunga Avenue,
North Hollywood 91601, 818-766-3982
Pomona Health Center 750 S. Park Avenue,
Pomona 91766, 909-868-0235
Antelope Valley Health Center 335-B East Avenue K6,
Lancaster 93535, 661-723-4526
KAREN OCAMB
LO C A L N E W S W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM JUNE 16, 2017 11

The Los Angeles Blade hosted a jubilant Rainbow Carpet on Santa Monica Boulevard.
PHOTOS BY JOHN BOATNER
1 2 J U NE 1 6 , 2 0 1 7 W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM LO CA L N E W S

#ResistMarch delivered on the organizers promise to bring diverse communities together under the Rainbow ag.
PHOTOS BY JON VISCONT
1 4 J U NE 1 6 , 2 0 1 7
Pentagon celebrates Pride with LGBT service members
Military ocial wont
comment on potential
delay of trans accession
By CHRIS JOHNSON
The U.S. military has entered a new
era under the Trump administration as
many wonder if the LGBT progress after
Dont Ask, Dont Tell repeal will remain
in place, but one thing that hasnt changed
is the annual reception at the Pentagon
recognizing Pride.
The event coordinated by DOD Pride,
the Pentagon anity group for LGBT
service members and civilians took
place on Monday as it has each year after
repeal of the militarys gay ban, and now
after the rule change allowing transgender
people to serve in the armed forces.
Obama officials reminisce, talk road ahead
Not the White House
Pride reception
By CHRIS JOHNSON
President Trump may have declined to sign
a Pride proclamation or host a White House
Pride reception, but that didnt stop former
members of the Obama administration from
celebrating the occasion.
Hosted by Obama White House
LGBT liaisons Gautam Raghavan and
Aditi Hardikar, the celebration
dubbed Not the White House Pride
Reception in homage to Samantha Bees
competing event with the White House
Correspondents Dinner took place
Saturday at the Brixton in D.C.
Among the speakers was the rst
openly gay Army secretary Eric Fanning,
who recalled meeting Edie Windsor, the
octogenarian plainti in the lawsuit that
W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM
Rep. MARK TAKANO (D-Calif.) delivered the
keynote address at a Pentagon Pride event.
PHOTO COURTESY OF TAKANO
Representing the Defense Department
at the event was acting Under Secretary
of Defense for Personnel & Readiness
overturned the Defense of Marriage
Act, to remind attendees the Trump
administration is temporary.
I saw Edie literally two days after the
election, Fanning said, and she Im
paraphrasing a little bit points up at me
and says, Get over it. She said, I started
voting in 1947. She goes, We made progress
and we got knocked back a little bit, but we
keep ghting and we will be back.
Also speaking was Valerie Jarrett, senior
adviser to former President Obama who
oversaw LGBT issues for the entire eight
years of the Obama administration, who
said shes feeling a little nostalgic over the
past ve months as you can imagine.
Recalling pro-LGBT moments of the
Obama administration like Dont
Ask, Dont Tell repeal, winning marriage
equality nationwide, and the nal White
House Pride reception Jarrett said the
most important thing now for members
of the LGBT community is to be a citizen.
Anthony Kurta, who said during his remarks
all men and women who serve, including
civilian and military personnel in the
LGBT community are equal contributing
members of the DOD total force.
Diversity is more than race, gender and
ethnicity, Kurta said. It includes, among
other things, diversity of thought, diversity of
ability, diversity of background, diversity of
language, culture and skill. It is very broad.
DOD Pride had invited Defense Secretary
James Mattis to attend the event, but
Kurta represented Pentagons leadership
in place of the secretary. Later in the day,
Mattis was set to testify before Congress on
President Trumps plan tofund the Defense
Department in the upcoming scal year.
Also speaking at the event on the day
she was poised to exit military service
was Maj. Gen. Patricia Rose, a lesbian and
mobilization assistant to the deputy chief
We cannot only focus on our issues,
Jarrett said. We have to be our sisters
keeper. We have to be our brothers keeper.
All of our brothers, all of our sisters, and we
have to sweep up and use our voice and use
our eort, and this balcony is a beautiful
sight. Were going to take the feeling from
this balcony and were going to go out in
the streets of this great District of Columbia,
where we are going to remind everybody
what it means to be an American.
Other speakers includedMara Keisling,
executive director of the National Center
for Transgender Equality; lesbian comedian
Kate Clinton; and Precious Brady-Davis,
activist and organizer. Stephanie Rice,
musician and contestant on NBCs The
Voice, performed afterward. with the progressive movement.
The celebration took place on the same
day as the D.C. Pride Parade and days after
former FBI Director James Comey testied
before Congress that he believed Trump
urged him to discontinue the investigation
NATIONAL NEWS
of sta for logistics, engineering and force
protection at Headquarters U.S. Air Force.
Celebrating Pride month, or any other
diversity month, is really about validating
that theres one inherent trait we all
possess and our nation benets from,
and thats the diversity of our unique
backgrounds and experience, Rose said.
Emphasizing the importance of diversity,
Rose said U.S. history provides ample
evidence undercutting the notion that value
is just some aspect of political correctness.
World War II provides bold insight to
the power of inclusion as opposed to
exclusion, Rose said. While our enemies
were trying to prop up the superiority of
their monolithic cultures, we were utilizing
the vast and distinct skills sets our diverse
military had to oer.
CONTINUES AT LOSANGELESBLADE.COM
into Michael Flynn a move that potentially
constitutes obstruction of justice.
Asked by the Blade during the event if
the Trump administration was what she
expected, Jarrett replied, Frankly, It was
hard to know what to expect.
I think one of the reasons why I wanted
to be here today was to say Pride month
is not just about celebrating the enormous
progress that weve made, but its also about
recognizing we still have a lot of hard work
to go, and its no time to let up, and we have
to be as committed as ever to bending that
arc of the moral universe, Jarrett added.
Jarrett cautioned clearly, we could
lose ground and the only way to ensure
progress is preserved would be solidarity
The only way were not going to lose
ground is if we build a big, inclusive tent
and we help everybody understand why
equality for the LGBTQ community is
equality for us all, Jarrett said.
NATIONAL NEWS
Polis announces bid to become Colorado governor
Could become rst openly
gay person elected to post
By CHRIS JOHNSON
The most senior out member of the U.S.
House on Sunday announcedhis intentto
run forgovernor of Colorado. If successful,
hed be the rst openly gay person elected
governor in the United States.
Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.), whos served
in Congress since the start of the Obama
administration in 2009, formally declared
his bid Monday to become governor and to
succeed retiring Gov. John Hickenlooper.
Im running to be your next governor
because I want to turn bold ideas into
real results for your family, Polis wrote
in an email to supporters. Colorado can
lead the way into the future and, together,
Rep. Maloney introduces data collection bill on anti-LGBT violence
PRIDE Act would authorize
$25 million for CDC
By CHRIS JOHNSON
Amid observances of the anniversary of the
Pulse nightclub shooting, Rep. Sean Patrick
Maloney (D-N.Y.) reintroduced legislation on
Tuesday aimed at improving data collection
on violence and suicide among LGBT people.
The legislation, known as the PRIDE Act
to Combat Violence, was rst introduced
last year in the aftermath of the Orlando
massacre and would authorize $25 million for
the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
to collect information on the LGBT status of
deceased individuals through the National
Violent Death Reporting System.
During a news conference on Capitol
Hill announcing the introduction of the
legislation, Maloney, a gay lawmaker whos a
co-chair of the LGBT Equality Caucus, said the
W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM
Rep. JARED POLIS (D-Colo.) is running
forgovernor of Colorado.
BLADE FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY
we can build an economy that works for
everybody not just those at the top.
Included in the email blast is video
featuring Polis as well as supporters the
owner of Jones Scones, a graduate of the
New America School founded by Polis, a
measure was needed so that we know whos
been made a victim because of their sexual
orientation or gender identity.
This is the season for Pride and
for determination, and part of being
determined is being smart, and being
smart means you need to have the facts
and that data, and thats all were doing
today, Maloney said. Were saying we
want to know nationally the statistics of
violent crimes when its related to sexual
orientation and gender identity.
Under the current system, the National
Violent Death Reporting System collects only
a small amount of information on sexual
orientation and gender identity. The lives lost
in the Orlando attack werent recorded as
anti-LGBT murders in any data collection.
According to Maloneys oce, all data
collection at the National Violent Death
Reporting System is performed on a
voluntary basis and the results are only
released in aggregate to protect the privacy
teacher and a former state senator.
My life has been about taking big ideas
and turning them into results, Polis said.
Im running for governor to preserve what
makes Colorado special. Were working to
make sure our state works for everyone,
not just a few.
Among the goals cited by Polis are
making Colorado completely energy
independent and ensuring the state
entirely runs on renewable energy by 2040
with green energy jobs that he says cant
be outsourced overseas. Polis also pledges
free full-day preschool and kindergarten
for Colorado and an inclusive economy
where workers make more, not just CEOs.
As a member of Congress, Polis took
the lead on legislation seeking to enhance
LGBT rights, such as the Employment Non-
Discrimination Act and the Student Non-
Discrimination Act. Polis is a co-chair of the
of decedents.
Two states Colorado and Nevada
have instituted policy for data collection
on anti-LGBT murders and suicides in their
states, but those are pilot programs.
Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.) said at the news
conference Nevadas system of data collection
on anti-LGBT homicides and suicides was on
systemic fashion and additional funding will
help with that eort at the federal level.
Other states do bits and pieces of it as
they collect data from local entities, but
this funding will allow us to have a more
systematic approach and do it the way that
Nevada does it, Titus said.
Other lawmakers present at the news
conference in support of the PRIDE Act to
Combat Violence were Rep. David Cicilline
(D-R.I.), whos gay and a co-chair of the LGBT
Equality Caucus; Rep. Carolyn Maloney
(D-N.Y.) and Rep. Al Green (D-Texas), who
recently called for the impeachment of
President Trump on the House oor.
JUNE 16, 2017 15
LGBT Equality Caucus and a co-sponsor of
the Equality Act.
If Polis were to succeed in his bid to
become Colorado governor, hed be the
rst openly gay person elected governor
in the United States and the only sitting
openly gay governor.
However, the more general milestone of
an openly LGBT person winning election
as governor has been achieved. Last year,
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, whos bisexual,
won election after being appointed to the
position in 2015 following the resignation
of her predecessor.
Another governor came out as gay after
having been elected and serving in oce.
In 2004, New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey,
came out as gay prior to resigning amid
scandal involving an aair with a male aide.
CONTINUES AT LOSANGELESBLADE.COM
LGBT advocates there in support of the
bill were David Stacy, the Human Rights
Campaigns government aairs director;
Amy Loudermilk, associate director of
government aairs at the Trevor Project;
and Diego Sanchez, director of policy for
PFLAG National.
Loudermilk said the legislation represents
a landmark shift in the way LGBT deaths are
reported and signals to LGBT youths their
lives matter.
Right now, its as if were in the dark
ages of LGBTQ youth suicide prevention
because we dont have a baseline number
of deaths from which to assess the
eectiveness of policy and interventions
and appropriate distribution of resources,
Loudermilk said.
The Matthew Shepard & James Byrd Jr. Hate
Crimes Prevention Act, signed by President
Obama in 2009, in addition instituting federal
penalties for anti-LGBT hate crimes allows for
data collection on those acts.
1 6 J U NE 1 6 , 2 0 1 7 W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM NATIONAL NEWS

AMA denounces anti-trans bathroom bills

Trump tweets never forget The American Medical Association has put its weight behind opposing bills in state

on Pulse anniversary legislatures that would bar transgender people from usingthe restroom consistent with
their gender identity.
The organization, which represents physicians and medical residents nationwide,
On the one-year anniversary of armed its position Monday during its annual meeting in Chicago by approving a resolution
the Pulse massacre, President Trump rejecting legislation that would disrupt bathroom access for transgender people.
tweeted on Monday an image of the 49 The resolution, titled Access to Basic Human Services for Transgender Individuals,
individuals killed at the gay nightclub, makes the case that policies that base access to public facilities on biological sex place
urging his followers to never forget undo harm on the physical and social well-being and safety of transgender individuals.
the victims. Under the resolution, the AMA resolves to oppose policies preventing transgender
We will NEVER FORGET the victims individuals from accessing basic human services and public facilities in line with ones
who lost their lives one year ago gender identity, including, but not limited to, the use of restrooms.
today in the horric #PulseNightClub Further, the resolution commits the AMA to advocate for the creation of policies that
shooting, Trump tweeted. promote social equality and safe access to basic human services and public facilities for
Trump also used the hashtag transgender individuals according to ones gender identity.
#OrlandoUnitedDay, which is one Jesse Ehrenfeld, a medical doctor and member of the AMA Board of Trustees, said in a
of the hashtags used by those blog post the resolution seeks to address laws and prejudice against transgender people.
remembering the massacre in Prejudice and discrimination aect transgender individuals in many ways throughout
Orlando, Fla., as well as 49 people their daily lives, often in the form of physical or verbal abuse or bullying, Ehrenfeld said.
killed and 53 wounded on that day. Laws and policies that restrict the use of public facilities based on biological gender can
Trumps tweet is consistent with have immediate and lingering physical consequences, as well as severe mental health
remarks he madeover his presidential repercussions. To protect the public health and to promote social equality and safe access
campaign invoking the mass shooting, to public facilities and services, the American Medical Association is opposed to policies
the deadliest in American history, that prevent transgender individuals from accessing basic human services and public
as evidence of the need to confront President DONALD TRUMP tweeted never facilities in line with their gender identity.
forget on the anniversary of the Pulse
Islamic extremism. During his shooting. According to the AMA, the Gay & Lesbian Medical Association was responsible for
acceptance speech at the Republican BLADE FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY introducing the measure in favor of allowing transgender people access to the bathroom
National Convention, Trump recalled consistent with their gender identity. The 555 delegates who comprise the AMA House
the shooting and said hed protect our of Delegates, the associations policy-making body, deliberated the measure before
LGBTQ citizens from the violence and oppression of the hateful, foreign ideology. approving it.
But the tweet contrasts with anti-LGBT policy initiatives from Trump over the Andthe resolution on access to public facilities wasnt the only pro-trans measure the
course of his administration, such as the revocation of Obama-era guidance AMA approved. The AMA also approved a resolution titled, Medical Spectrum of Gender,
assuring transgender kids access to school bathrooms consistent with their which says gender is currently incompletely understood as a binary selection and seeks
gender identity, as well as anti-LGBT appointments like U.S. Attorney General Je to better education the medical community on the issue amid growing visibility of non-
Sessions and Secretary of Housing & Urban Development Ben Carson. binary people.
As similar violence inspired by violent extremism takes place across the globe, Also approved was a separate resolution committing the AMA to work with the Food & Drug
Trump has promoted the idea of a travel ban temporarily banning refugees Administration to develop a gender-neutral patient categorization model in risk management
and immigration from six Muslim-majority countries. Courts have enjoined the plans for pregnancy to accommodate transgender men who can still have children.
enforcement of the ban on the basis that it violates due process and freedom of Lastly, delegates to the AMA meeting called for future AMA meetings to take place,
religion and litigation challenging the ban has reached the Supreme Court. whenever possible, only in those counties, cities and states that have nondiscriminatory
A White House ocial told the Washington Blade via email the tweet represents policies, according to the blog post.
Trumps opposition to violence and commitment to defeating terrorism. Mary Beth Maxwell, the Human Rights Campaigns senior vice president for programs,
The president has been clear that he condemns all acts of violence against any research and training, hailed the AMA in a statement for approving the resolution in favor
American and what happened in Orlando should never happen again, the ocial of transgender people.
said. He will always ght against all acts of terrorism against any American. The AMA, one of the most respected associations of medical professionals in the world,
In response to a Blade inquiry on the origin of the photo Trump tweeted, the knows better than most the harmful consequences of ill-conceived anti-transgender
White House ocial professed to be unaware, but was looking into that. actions, Maxwell said. Policies that seek to restrict access for transgender people to vital
CHRIS JOHNSON programs and facilities can result in negative physical and mental health outcomes for
those targeted for discrimination and mistreatment.
CHRIS JOHNSON
1 8 J U NE 1 6 , 2 0 1 7
The Summer of
Love begins again
Success of #ResistMarch
changes the game
TROY MASTERS is publisher and editor of the
Los Angeles Blade. Reach him at tmasters@
losangelesblade.com.
In her essay about LAs powerful
#ResistMarch, Karen Ocamb says the
spectacle of 100,000 people gathering as
a community to celebrate their refusal to
budge even an inch on our equality and
civil rights gains, reminds her of the 1967
Summer of Love.
People of all ages, colors and
backgrounds called each other brother
and sister and joined together in
protesting the Vietnam War. Death
was a constant far away terror with the
government lying to keep the illusion of
winning alive as bodies of our drafted
friends, family and loved ones came home
silently, as if each was an image of national
shame, she wrote.
Indeed, the summer of love happened
during an era of massive resistance, an era
in which the American equality movement
was born. Vietnam and the anti-war
movement intersected with the black Civil
Rights Movement, womens rights, the
rights of workers, the rights of the poor
and immigrants. LGBT resistance also
emerged in the nations consciousness for
the rst time, with events like Compton
Cafeteria in San Francisco, Black Cat in Los
Angeles and Stonewall in New York.
But the era also saw its leaders come
under re. Martin Luther King and Robert
Kennedy emerged as powerful leaders
and both were assassinated. Others
were demonized to the point where they
WWW .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM
feared for their lives or were killed. It was
a densely packed era of resistance that
came as a shock for America.
The Summer of Love also saw an
unpopular rst-term president choose not to
run for a second term, giving rise to Richard
Nixons moral majority and setting the stage on intersectionality. The organizers
for years of conservative pushback.
An important dierence between now
and the era of the Summer of Love (at
least on civil rights), is that the dening
struggle then was a dramatic ght for
extending the most basic civil rights for
minorities, ghting injustice and ghting
to advance equality.
Today our struggle, our resistance, is
rooted in protecting the gains we have
made since.
Donald Trump has tried to force upon
our country an agenda that would seem
intent on reversing those gains. He has
empowered some of our worst enemies,
eliminated key paths to equality and
continues to take aim at the very fabric
VIEWPOINT
PHOTO BY JON VISCONT
of the social contract this country has
achieved. Perhaps the best evidence of that
is his administrations sta; each member
of his cabinet is opposed to the missions of
the very department they govern.
#ResistMarch wisely focused its eorts
law and may not be reproduced without the written consent of the Los
recognized that the LGBT community
is not alone in feeling threatened. They
invited every marginalized community to
stand with us under the iconic rainbow
ag. They recognized that the march was
not about Donald Trump. They dened
resistance in many ways.
#ResistMarch expanded our rainbow.
It may have launched a movement to
broaden our coalition and embolden
others to ght with us to protect the gains
we have made in the country.
If they come for one of us, they come
for all of us, was the true theme of
#ResistMarch.
The intersectional summer of love has
begun, brothers and sisters.
VOLUME 01 ISSUE 07
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wherever you are ...

... so are we.

LOSANGELESBLADE.COM
J U N E 1 6 2 0 1 7 V O L U M E 0 1 I S S U E 0 7 A me r i c a s L G B T N e w s S ou r c e L O S A N G E L E S B L A D E . C O M 2 1

David France (How to Survive a Plague) probes the mysterious death of early LGBT activist Masha
P. Johnson.
PHOTO BY AMANDA RUBIN

Outfest presents diverse, exciting lineup for 2017

Gender parity, tran s ju s ti c e and ra c ial equality

By DAN ALLEN

With its just-announced 2017 schedule,
Outfest presents one of its most diverse
and inclusive slates ever, with nearly 200
films from more than 30 countries, and
several world and regional premieres.
Im really excited about and invested
in this years lineup because of how
socially conscious and relevant these
films are, says Lucy Mukerjee-Brown,
director of programming for Outfest,
one of Americas longest running and
most important LGBTQ film festivals.
The Outfest Los Angeles filmmakers are
politically engaged much more urgently
this year, and as a result their films really
demand attention. Gender parity, trans
justice and racial equality are all themes
that are coming though loud and clear in
these films. And Im so proud to be able
to say that 50 percent of the features are
directed by women. Its about time!
Outfest kicks off this year on Thursday,
ContinueS ON page 30
2 2 J U NE 1 6 , 2 0 1 7
PETER CRUZ is surrounded here by trans activist
Karina Samala (L) and Congressman Ted Lieu.
PHOTO BY MARK S HAHN
By TROY MASTERS
tmasters@losangelesblade.com
When Peter Cruz took the microphone
as the very rst speaker at Resist March,
it was electric. Not just because the crowd
had been waiting months to take to the
streets, but because his upbeat attitude
immediately charged the atmosphere.
Cruz, a rst-generation Filipino-
American, has devoted his life to
community service, rst in Orange County
where he worked in HIV prevention
services and advocacy. After he moved to
Los Angeles he became deeply involved
in community services for the Asian
community and joined the Asian Pacic
AIDS Intervention Team (APAIT).
Peter is now Associate Director at
APAIT. In 2016, Peter and his colleagues
at APAIT established and organized
#NotOurPride, a coalition of LGBTQ
groups and individuals who spoke out
against proposed changes that were
planned for that years LA Pride Festival
by Christopher Street West (CSW).
As a result of #NotOurPrides advocacy, the
proposed changes were rescinded by CSW
and approximately 17,000 LGBTQ individuals
and allies were oered free admission to that
years Friday night festivities.
W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM
How long have you been out and who
was the hardest person to tell?
I have been out since the age of 16 (19
years). My coming out experience was
a dicult one. Coming from a devout
Catholic family, no one in my family that
I told accepted me. They told me to keep
my sexual orientation hidden so that
the family can save face. Eventually, my
mom forced me into reparative therapy,
which was a very traumatic experience.
Though my relationship with my mom is
a lot better today, she was denitely the
hardest person to tell.
Whos your LGBT hero?
My hero would be anyone who doesnt let
societys arbitrary standards dictate how
they live their life, which is why I have
so much love and respect for the trans
community.
Whats Los Angeles best nightspot,
past or present?
The place that my friends and I would
always go to was GAMeBoi. This nightclub
has become an institution in our
community. I have a lot of fond memories
of Friday nights at Rage with my friends,
letting go after a long week of work.
Describe your dream wedding.
My dream wedding would consist of
having my mom and dad present. It
doesnt have to be extravagant. I would
just want both of them there to share that
moment with me and my husband. I think
that will be the moment where I know for
sure that they love me and accept me for
who I am.
What non-LGBT issue are you most
passionate about?
I have become very spiritual in the past
year, and it has become my passion.
Becoming a member of Inspire Spiritual
Community in West Hollywood really
helped me transcend all of the trauma
and limiting beliefs that I held on to for 18
years as a result of reparative therapy.
What historical outcome would you
change?
I was heartbroken when I heard the news
that Donald Trump was elected the 45th
president of the United States. While his
election resulted in a waking up moment
for the LGBTQ and other marginalized
communities that will benet us in the
long run, I was very distraught in the
weeks after the election.
Whats been the most memorable pop
culture moment of your lifetime?
Im a big EDM fan, so going to EDC 2013
was a big moment for me. That was
the rst time that I went to EDC since
it moved to Las Vegas and I was blown
away at how big and extravagant it had
become. Nothing compares to the energy
of 100,000 people dancing and spreading
love.
On what do you insist?
I insist that people be honest and to work
with integrity.
What was your last Facebook post or
Tweet?
I posted about what an honor it was to
kick o the Resist March with Karina
Samala and Congressman Ted Lieu. I also
shared my experience with reparative
therapy and shared the great work that
Rep. Lieu is doing in Congress to get the
practice banned nationwide.
If your life were a book, what would
the title be?
Resilience.
If science discovered a way to change
sexual orientation, what would you
do?
I would remain exactly as I am. I would
not trade being a member of the LGBTQ
community for the world!
What do you believe in beyond the
physical world?
I believe that we are energy. We are not
bodies with a soul, we are souls with
2 0 G A Y Q U E ST I O N S F O R: P E TE R C R UZ
a body. Our souls are eternal. What
happens to our souls after our time in
this physical world is something that I
believe no one has an answer to.
Whats your advice for LGBT
movement leaders?
To not let ego and personal agendas get
in the way of reaching an ideal outcome.
What would you walk across hot coals
for?
To help someone I love.
What LGBT stereotype annoys you
most?
That there is something wrong with us
and that we are sinners for choosing to
live authentically.
Whats your favorite LGBT movie?
Prayers for Bobby. That movie hit very
close to home. I sobbed for hours after
watching that movie. It was a cathartic
moment.
Whats the most overrated social
custom?
Making small talk.
What trophy or prize do you most
covet?
I dont really have one. I always let my
work speak for itself. If Im able to make
an impact, great! If not, then it simply
means I have more work to do.
What do you wish youd known at 18?
That my life was going to turn out just ne
and that I didnt have to worry as much.
Why Los Angeles?
The Resist March was a perfect
representation of our city and
community. The LA LGBTQ community
is unique because of our size, diversity,
and our willingness to leverage our
skills, talents, and life experiences to
help improve the lives of other. This
community has embraced me, mentored
me, and made me the person I am today.
2 4 J U NE 1 6 , 2 0 1 7
It Comes at Night, a fright lm for the Trump era
The greatest horror lms are never just
about scaring us.
The Exorcist or the Babadook may
present us with demons, but they are
really showing us the hidden evil in our
own lives; every slasher ick is really a
morality tale in which the smallest sins are
harshly punished; and even Frankenstein
or Dracula, in all their incarnations, are
more about the twisted pathways of the
human psyche than they are about the
terrors of the supernatural.
Such movies, like fables from the
Brothers Grimm, are cautionary tales
that teach us lessons by tapping into
our deepest fears. Good lmmakers
understand this, and they root the scares
they deliver onscreen into something
deeper than the articial scenarios that
provide them. It Comes At Night, the new
thriller from writer-director Trey Edward
Shults, aspires to follow this example.
A grim parable about human nature
masquerading as an apocalyptic
survival tale, it centers on a small family
(Joel Edgerton, Carmen Ejogo, and
Kelvin Harrison, Jr.) that have boarded
themselves up at an isolated house in the
woods after the outbreak of a terrifying
plague that brings an agonizing death to
anyone who contracts it.
When a surprise intruder turns out to be
seeking water for his own nearby family,
they decide to invite these strangers to
live among them. At rst, the newcomers
(Christopher Abbot, Riley Keogh, and
Grin Robert Faulkner) are a welcome
addition to the household; but after
a mysterious event sows the seeds of
mistrust, the family begins to fear that
inviting these outsiders into their home
may have jeopardized their own survival.
Such a premise has direct connections
to the kind of double-edged dramas
featured on shows like The Twilight
Zone, which often presented a what if undercuts its inevitability by surprising us
W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM
A CONFLICT THAT PARALLELS THE CONCERNS OF OUR TIMES
By JOHN PAUL KING
CHRISTOPHER ABBOTT and JOEL EDGERTON in It Comes at Night.
microcosm in which to explore the hot-
button issues of the day. The parallel is
highly apt to todays world; in the age of
Brexit and Trump, with its resurgence of
nationalism and xenophobia, existential
fear has boiled to the surface of our
communal awareness much in the way it
did during those precarious days of the
Cold War era.
Shults has adapted this time-tested
formula for contemporary audiences; the
conict he presents reects the concerns of
our own time, but he doesnt hammer home
his point. Rather, he invites us to make the
connections for ourselves, and focuses his
eorts instead on frightening us.
He begins his lm with a traumatic
sequence that establishes the horrors of
its disease-borne threat while emotionally
bonding us to the family at its center;
he builds a tense and oppressive
mood throughout, creating a sense of
claustrophobia even in the open forest
outside the house which underscores
the pervading fear that there can be
no real escape; he evokes a feverish
delirium by progressively blending
scenes of nightmare and reality until we
have diculty telling which is which; and
he brings us to a ferocious climax that
many key events are left for the audience
PHOTO COURTESY OF A24
with devastating immediacy.
Apart from its opening and climactic
sequences, however, It Comes At Night
may fall short of expectations for hardcore
fright-seekers. Although he provides plenty
of creepy moments and jump-out-of-
your-seat scares along the way, Shults has
taken a less-is-more approach. He seeks to
disturb, not to terrify, and as a result the lm
plays more like psychodrama than horror.
This, of course, allows us the opportunity
to recognize the allegorical threads of
his story and connect them to the issues,
which is his real agenda to address.
To a point, those connections are pretty
clear. The two families live in a world of fear,
and must decide whether to cooperate or
isolate, to help each other or look out for
their own interests; the choices they make
are clouded by paranoia and mistrust,
and their ultimate survival likely depends
on how well they are able to overcome
those obstacles. You cant come up with
a plainer metaphor for the challenge of
living in a global community than that.
From there, though, things get a little
vague. Following the lead of such recent
horror eorts as Robert Eggers The
Witch, Shults deliberately masks the
specics of his story in such a way that
F I LM
imagine for themselves. This results in an
ambiguity that forces us to draw our own
conclusions about which approach is right
or indeed, whether it ultimately even
matters which one we choose.
While this opaque approach lends itself
well to multiple interpretations, it can
also create the risk of muddy storytelling.
Unfortunately, this is the case with It
Comes At Night. Shults leaves a little
too much to the imagination, resulting in
enough uncertainty about the plot to leave
us more confused than stimulated when
the credits nally roll. Indeed, this lack
of clarity makes the lms ending seem
abrupt, and audiences are likely to go
home with the feeling that they must have
missed something important.
This is particularly disappointing in view
of the movies deeper ambitions. Though
comparison is seldom fair, one cannot
help but be reminded of this years earlier
social-commentary-as-horror oering,
Jordan Peeles brilliant Get Out, a lm
which dazzled largely because of the clear
and concise lines between its sensational
plot and its slyly satirical observations.
The intentions are dierent here, of
course, but Shults has chosen to blur his
lines instead, and the result is a promise
that never feels fullled.
This is not to say that It Comes At Night
is a failure; Shults is a gifted lmmaker, and
he has succeeded well in crafting a moody
and engaging thriller. His cast is excellent,
and the cinematography by Drew Daniels
is a master class in atmosphere. The
pieces are all there, even if the lm as a
whole is unsatisfying.
IT COMES AT NIGHT
Director: Trey Edward Shults
Cinematography: Drew Daniels
Screenplay: Trey Edward Shults
Stars: Joel Edgerton, Christopher Abbott,
Carmen Ejogo
Playing: Pacics The Grove, AMC Dine-In
Sunset, ArcLight Hollywood
2 6 J U NE 1 6 , 2 0 1 7
Billy Masters, post-Pride edition
SPACEY COMING OUT, RESIST MARCH MADNESS AND A MUMPS OUTBREAK
TONY AWARDS: Im coming out...no,
wait...Im going into makeup. Kevin
Spacey sings from Sunset Boulevard
during his Tony Awards opening number.
There were quite a few coming out jokes.
P.S. He didnt.
RESIST MARCH: As cities around the
country are poised to celebrate Gay Pride,
Los Angeles eschewed the traditional
parade to join in the nationwide Resist
March. While I appreciate the sentiment,
why did this march have to start at 8
a.m.? Couldnt I resist just as easily at
noon? Perhaps it was a trac issue, in
which case might I suggest something
more reasonable - like 5 a.m., when Im
just about to doze o. Given that this was
inspired by the Womens March, I suspect
the early starting time was the work of
some industrious lesbians. Im a proud gay
man, but I must draw the line somewhere,
and resisted getting up at such an ungodly
hour.
But I did manage to join the throng as it
petered out. I even sponged down a few of
the hotter Resisters.
PRIDE FESTIVAL: After the Resist March
was the Pride Festival, which yours truly
hosted from 2003-2010, but enough about
me.
This year, the powers that be at LA
Pride did not even return inquiries about
my attending the Festival, let alone being
involved. But I bet they would have gotten
back to me if I brought a famous friend.
Now, this is just between us - I had
broached the idea to a friend that she
might want to make a special appearance
at the Festival. And that friend was Kathy
Grin! Ultimately, it was a bit too soon
and probably would have created a
security issue.
Take note, LA Pride - responding might
be a good thing in the future.
W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM
By BILLY MASTERS
KEVIN SPACEY is not quite out but he is frequently on Hollywood Boulevard.
OUTBREAKS: Hours before the Resist
March, the Los Angeles Department of
Public Health announced that there was an
outbreak of mumps in the gay community.
Are we living in some Dickensian alternate
universe? Since Im ignorant on the subject
of 19th-century plagues, I had to look this
up.
Apparently the virus is transmitted
through saliva. Just when we have PreP
to help ght HIV, we have to worry about
catching mumps from sticking our tongues
down strangers throats.
Adding insult to injury, LAs gay
community got another health alert -
meningitis! Once again, this is transmitted
via saliva. Im going on summer vacation
in the nick of time!
GAY ICONS: Just a stones throw from
where the Resist March started is the
Hollywood Museum in the legendary
Max Factor Building. For the fourth year,
the museum has a special exhibit for Gay
Pride Month. Real to Reel: Portrayals
and Perceptions of LGBTQs in Hollywood
opened last week with a swanky VIP aair.
This exhibit features clothes and
props from numerous gay-centric works,
such as Transparent, RuPauls Drag
Race, Orange is the New Black, and a
number of items from such luminaries
as Judy Garland, Elizabeth Taylor, Barbra
Streisand, Bette Midler and many others.
At the opening, I ran into some of my
favorite people, like the ageless Ruta Lee,
Alison Arngrim, Judy Tenuta and Roslyn
Kind, among others. The exhibit runs
through Sept. 4.
BACK TO TONY AWARDS: This column
went out in the middle of the Tony
Awards. The sight of Andrew Rannells HD-
enhanced basket reminded me how much
my readers enjoy the theater. But another
awards show is coming back from the
dead. The long-dormant GayVNs are back!
These awards were given out as part
of the popular Adult Video News Awards.
Eventually, the GayVNs got their own
show, and what a show it was. They were
the premier gay porn awards, sporting not
only the top (and bottom) names in gay
porn, but also people like Kathy Grin,
Bruce Vilanch, Margaret Cho, and even
moi. The last show took place eight years
ago, but AVN is saying they will return next
G O SSI P
January in Las Vegas.
ASK BILLY: Our Ask Billy question
required a bit of research.
George in Fort Lauderdale writes, Do
you remember Jon Fleming? He appeared
on an episode of Will & Grace as a really
hot shirtless guy in Jacks acting class.
There is a gay porn video circulating and
people say its him. Is it?
Many of my readers will remember
Fleming from Dantes Cove, where he
replaced original cast member Stephen
Amell. He also turned up on CSI: NY,
Medium, and other shows - usually
as corpse No. 2. The porno video was
allegedly lmed on March 5, 2017. The
guy calls himself Luke and claims to be
27 years old - those were 27 hard years!
Fleming, on the other hand, is 36 - and for
that age, he looks OK. Luke says hes 6
feet tall, as is Fleming. With the stats out of
the way, I did more research. Turns out, I
wrote about him in 2011 when he played a
male stripper on Femme Fatales. Its not
a HUGE leap from full-frontal on Cinemax
to gay porn. Except this time, his full-
frontal has been fully ued - and theres
a whole lot more of him to see now on
BillyMasters.com.
When CSI could stand for Cock Scene
Investigation, its denitely time to end
yet another column. Heres a Tony Award
question - was I the only one rooting for
Patti LuPone to win? Sure, she didnt
have a chance opposite Bette Midler, but
how delicious it would have been to see
Patti accept an award from Glenn Close!
Moving along, be sure to check outwww.
BillyMasters.com - the site where no bulge
goes unturned. If you have a question for
me, send it to Billy@BillyMasters.com and
I promise to get back to you before Bette
nishes her acceptance speech. Until next
time, remember, one mans lth is another
mans bible.
2 8 J U NE 1 6 , 2 0 1 7
E-mail calendar items to
tmasters@losangelesblade.com
two weeks prior to your event. Space is
limited so priority is given to LGBT-specic
events or those with LGBT participants.
Recurring events must be
re-submitted each time.
LOS ANGELES CALENDAR
JUNE 16
Trans Pride L.A. Kicko Jun 16, 7 PM -
10 PM @ Villages at Ed Gould Plaza (1125
N. McCadden Pl.). Trans Pride L.A. kicks
o with the Centers ongoing community
forum series Big Queer Convo. This years
speaker is Aydian Dowling.
HOLD THESE TRUTHS, Jun 16 - Jun 25, 8
PM - 10 PM @ The Pasadena Playhouse (9
S El Molino Ave, Pasadena, CA). Hold These
Truths tells the inspirational true story of a civil
rights hero who took his ght all the way to
the Supreme Court. An exceptional evening of
theatrical storytelling, Ryun Yus brilliant solo
performance has captivated audiences and
sold-out shows from coast-to-coast.
WeHos 17th Annual Diversity
Employment Day Career Fair, Jun 16,
11 AM - 3 PM @ Fiesta Hall at Plummer
Park (7377 Plummer Park). The largest
and best diversity and inclusion recruiting
event in the United States! This event is
free and open to the public 18 years of
age and older. Multicultural/Bilingual,
People with Disabilities, Women, LGBT,
Veterans and Mature candidates are
encouraged to attend. Herbalife, City of
West Hollywood, KSWD 100.3 The Sound,
UCLA, KABC-AM Radio/KLOS-FM Radio,
Multnomah County Health Department,
U.S. Customs and Border Protection,
Spanish Broadcasting System, American
Guard Services, US Bank, La Peer and
JUNE 17
Purple Lily Awards, Jun 17, 6 PM - 11
PM @ Los Feliz Estates (1714 Hillhurst Ave).
The 2nd annual Purple Lily Awards
garden party is a celebration of the Latinx
community and LGBTQ pride month.
The event is a Latino Equality Alliance
fundraiser to be held at a private Hollywood
estate in the Los Feliz Hills. Honorees are
Gizella Czene, PFLAG en Espaol, Mario
Ceballos, Que Viva!, HONOR PAC & Kaiser
W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM
Permanente, Al Ballesteros, Adelante
Magazine and JWCH. Drinks, food, and
dance music! $75 per person.
7th Annual Celebrating All Life &
Creation Pow Wow Jun 17, 10 AM - 6 PM
@ Plummer Park (7377 Santa Monica
Blvd). Community change occurs in many
ways, and one way Red Circle Project
is changing the face of HIV/AIDS is by
bringing many minority groups together
by hosting an annual pow wow.
JUNE 18
Into the Hollywood Closet: A book
signing and discussion with author
Boze Hadleigh, Jun 18, 2 PM - 4 PM @ ONE
Archives at USC Libraries (909 W. Adams
Blvd.) Boze Hadleigh is the foremost writer
on lesbian, bisexual, and gay Hollywood.
His 22 books have been translated
into 14 languages and yielded 11 TV
documentaries and three plays. He holds a
masters degree in journalism, speaks ve
languages, has visited over 60 countries,
and has been a winner on Jeopardy!
(donating his winnings to a re-damaged
library). His titles include Hollywood Gays,
The Lavender Screen, Sing Out!, Broadway
Babylon,Celebrity Lies!, Marilyn Forever,
and An Actor Succeeds. The Los Angeles
Times called him a pop culture dynamo.
RSVP: askone@onearchives.org
JUNE 20
Los Angeles Benet for National
Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association,
June 20, 6:30- 9:30 PM @ Village at Ed
Gould Plaza (1125 North McCadden Place).
NLGJA will present E! News reporter Marc
Malkin with the 2017 Lisa Ben Award for
Achievement in Features Coverage. Join
NLGJA for cocktails and conversation in
support of fair and accurate coverage of
LGBTQ issues in the media. Registration is
available online at nlgja.org.
JUNE 21
LA Gay and Lesbian Chamber of
Commerce Networking Luncheon, Jun 21,
11:30 - 1 PM @ Ocean Prime (9595 Wilshire
Blvd). Advertise your business ideas,
skills and entrepreneurial connections
at LAGLCCs famous luncheons. $30 for
members, $40 for non-members.
JUNE 23
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
Jun 23, 7 PM -10 PM @ Hollywood Forever
(6000 Santa Monica Blvd) Join the Los
Angeles LGBT Center for our OUT UNDER
THE STARS lm series, kicking o with a
special screening of What Ever Happened
to Baby Jane? Come early to relax and picnic
with a live DJ, free swag from our sponsors,
and undoubtedly a few surprises.
Outfests UCLA Legacy Project
presents Love, Valour and Compassion,
Jun 23, 7:30 PM - 10:30 PM @ Hammer
Museum (10899 Wilshire Blvd). Outfest
members receive free admission.
JUNE 24
Sing Along Sound of Music, Sun Jun
24, 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM @ The Hollywood
Bowl (2301 N. Highland Ave) Melissa
Peterman hosts all nuns, goat herders
and baronesses: Sing along with Maria
and wave your Edelweiss (from the
complimentary Fun-Pack)! Bark at Rolf!
Snuggle up with Gretel and join in choruses
of My Favorite Things, all along with
thousands of fans who love the Oscar-
winning movie as much as you do!
JUNE 25
Go West!!! West Hollywoods rst
#SundayFunday MiniBall, Jun 25, 3-8
PM @ RAGE Restaurant and Bar (8911
Santa Monica Blvd). Hosted by Evan
Kent Mizrahi, this events showcases the
migration of House/Ballroom Culture
from the East Coast to the West Coast. For
more information, visit www.weho.org/
arts or follow via social media WeHo Arts.
Whitney: Can I Be Me? Outfest
WeHo Screening, Jun 28, 7:30 PM - 9 PM
@ West Hollywood City Council Chambers
(625 N. San Vicente Blvd). WeHo Arts
partners with Outfest and Showtime
Documentary Films to present, Whitney:
Can I Be Me? a powerful lm about Whitney
Houston from acclaimed BAFTA Award
winner Nick Broomeld (Kurt & Courtney).
Using behind the scenes footage, candid
interviews, and performance footage, the
lm explores all sides of Whitney, her life,
CA LE N D A R
and the impact her death had on those
close to her and her fans. Admission is
free. RSVP outfest.org/weho-series
JUNE 29
World Premiere of Jean Cordova:
Butches, Lies and Feminism, Jun 29,
7:30 PM @ West Hollywood City Council
Chambers (625 N. San Vicente Blvd.). Join
One City One Pride for the world premiere
of Jeanne Cordova: Butches, Lies, and
Feminism, a new documentary on the life
and accomplishments of activist & author
Jeanne Cordova, directed by Gregorio
Davila. The director and Jeannes partner,
Lynn Harris Ballen, will participate in a post
screening discussion. Free admission.
JUNE 30
Twisted L.A., Jun 30, til 2 AM @ Eagle
LA (4219 Santa Monica Blvd) Silverlakes
favorite bar brings a bit of London to Los
Angeles. This is the second US tour of the
year, with a full on party aimed for like
minded Bears, and their admirers. Muscle
boys, cubs mix with hot daddies and
music by UK spinner Paul Coals and local
boy Ryan Jones. $6 cover.
PALM SPRINGS CALENDAR
JUNE 16
Sharon Sill: Sass, Sex and Songs:
The Story of My Life, 6 PM Dinner, 8:00
PM 9:00 PM Show, Michael Holmess
Purple Room Supper Club (1900 E Palm
Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA.) Sass, sex
and songs! The story of my lifestarring
Sharon Sills as youve never seen her.
JUNE 17
Art Laboes Summer Love Jam VI,
Jun 17, 7 PM - 8:30 PM @ The Show at
Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa (32250
Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage, CA.) Join
us for the Art Laboe Summer Love Jam
VI!Featuring: Zapp, Midnight Star, MC
Magic andLighter Shade of Brown.
CONTINUES ON PAGE 29
CA L E N DA R W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM JUNE 16, 2017 29

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 28

JUNE 19
June Pride Mixer on Arenas Road,
Jun 19, 5:30 PM 7:30 PM @ Hunters
Palm Springs (302 E. Arenas Road, Palm
Springs, CA) Palm Springs Chamber
invite you to Celebrate our Pride with our
many businesses on Arenas Road. Happy
Hour Specials and Entertainment! Win
prizes when checking in at participating
businesses with a mobile scavenger hunt.

JUNE 20
Palm Springs International Shortfest
2017, Jun 20 - Jun 26, varying times @
Camelot Theatre (2300 East Baristo Rd, Palm
Springs, CA.) The Palm Springs International
ShortFest -- now in its 23rd year -- is the
largest short lm event in North America.
ShortFest has presented more than 100
shorts that have gone on to receive Oscar
nominations and/or awards.

JUNE 22
Thursday Night Village Fest in Palm
Springs, 7 PM - 10 PM @ Downtown
Central Palm Springs (Palm Canyon Drive
between Baristo and Amado, Palm Springs,
CA) Every Thursday evening, Downtown
Palm Springs transforms into a diverse
array of artists, artisans, entertainers,
and purveyors of fresh fruits and veggies,
owers, jewelry, snacks and sweets along
with the great shops, restaurants, clubs, San Diegos JONATHAN KARRANT pays tribute to Ella Fitzgerald.
and entertainment venues located along
PHOTO COURTESY OF KARRANT
World Famous Palm Canyon Drive.

JUNE 23
Party - A Comedy By David Dillion,
Jun. 23 - Jun 24, 8 PM - 10 PM (Fri & Sat, 8
PM 10 PM, Sun 2:00 thru Jul 30) @ Desert
Rose Playhouse (69-620 Highway 111,
Rancho Mirage, CA) The wildly popular
comedy depicts a group of gay men
getting together for their monthly evening
of drinks and games. This production is
recommended for mature audiences due
to nudity and sexual situations.
Perry Ojeda Sings the Music of Comden
& Green, Jun 23 - Jun 25, 7 PM - 9 PM- @
Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre at the
Atrium (69930 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage,
CA.) With musical direction by Shelly Markham
,singer-actor Perry Ojeda performs the music
of Betty Comden and Adolph Green, the
composer and lyricist of such great Broadway
musicals as: Bells are Ringing, Subways are For
Sleeping and On the Town.
JUNE 24
Jonathan Karrant: Celebrating Ellas
100th! 6 PM - 9 PM @ Michael Holmess
Purple Room Supper Club (1900 E Palm
Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA.) Song
stylist Jonathan Karrant returns to pay
tribute to the First Lady of Song, Ella
Fitzgerald Jonathan Karrant is one hip
jazz vocalists, born to sing and swing
with style.
JUNE 25
John McLaughlin: The Tamarind
Prints, Jun 25 - Oct 25, 10 AM - 5 PM @ The
Palm Springs Art Museum (101 Museum
Dr. Palm Springs, CA) John McLaughlin
(1898-1976) is acknowledged as one of
the most important artists of the post-war
period. Working in southern California, by
1948 he had pioneered a distinctive style
of geometric Western abstraction which
a decade later was identied as minimal
art or Minimalism.
JUNE 29
Chill Out Dance, Jun 29, 6:30 PM
8:30 PM @ Hunters Palm Springs (302
E. Arenas Road, Palm Springs, CA)Palm
Springs Swing & Mixbrings in 800+ LGBT
square dancers to Palm Springs for the
week of June 29th to July 4th. The Chill Out
Dance at Hunters will feature local square
dance Caller, Terri Sherrer. Come and
dance or just watch!
3 0 J U NE 1 6 , 2 0 1 7
Outfests 35th year spotlights diversity
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21
July 6 with Gods Own Country, a lm
thats received rave reviews since its debut
at Sundance earlier this year, and one that
many are dubbing the British Brokeback
Mountain. Twenty-ve-year-old Yorkshire
sheep farmer Johnny leads a bleak life
resigned to lonesome toil, until romance
comes along unexpectedly in the form of
migrant Romanian farm worker Gheorghe.
Following Outfest tradition, the opening
screening takes place at DTLAs iconic
Orpheum Theatre, and will be followed
by the outdoor Opening Night Gala party,
always one of the most important events
on LAs LGBTQ summer calendar.
Closing Outfest on July 16 this year will
be Freak Show, based on a young adult
novel by James St. James and starring Alex
Lawther, who appeared as the young Alan
Turing in the Imitation Game, and starred
in 2016 Outfest entry Departure. Its the
tale of amboyant teen Billy, who faces
high school ridicule when he moves to his
fathers conservative town. Directed by
Trudie Styler (a.k.a. Mrs. Sting), it costars
Bette Midler and Laverne Cox.
Appearing as Outfest Centerpieces
this year are Kevyn Aucoin: Beauty
& The Beast In Me, a world premiere
documentary about the famed celebrity
makeup artist who died in 2002 at just 40
years old; Behind the Curtain: Todrick
Hall, a doc (in its West Coast premiere
here) proling the YouTube dance and
performance superstar; Close Knit (also
in its West Coast premiere), the Japanese
story of an 11-year-old girl being raised
by her uncle and his trans girlfriend; and
Strangers, a web dramedy series about
newly single and bisexual Isobel and her
adventures in roommate-nding.
Other premieres at this years Outfest
include the North American debut of the
spooky Icelandic thriller Rift, in which
someone or something is stalking a pair
of young ex-boyfriends; the LA premiere
of After Louie, the May-December love
W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM
Freak Show, directed by Trudie Styler, will premiere at Outfests Closing Night Gala at the Ace Hotel
in Downtown Los Angeles, July 16.
story between older Sam (Alan Cumming)
and younger Braeden (Zachary Booth
of Keep the Lights On); The Revival, a
world premiere that also stars Zachary
Booth, this time as a drifter who strikes
up a romance with a young minister in an
Arkansas town; Fathers, a Thai lm about
a perfect gay couple who face prejudice
after they adopt a son; the rst US showing
of Body Electric, the sensuous debut from
director Marcelo Caetano, that follows
the carefree life of young Elias; Paths, a
German lm that traces the breakup of
a longtime gay couple; and Eastsiders
Season 3: Go West, the world premiere
of the third series of the very popular LA-
based gay web series Eastsiders.
A number of stellar documentaries
are part of Outfests lineup this year.
Chavela, Strong Island, A Womb Of Their
Own, and Queercore: How To Punk A
Revolution are all examples of the activist
spirit that is still the beating heart of this
on the life of the Tales of the City writer; and
half a century due to a gay lovers quarrel;
Beach Rats, a Sundance favorite about a
PHOTO COURTESY OF OUTFEST
festival, says Mukerjee-Brown. Chavela
is a loving homage to hugely popular
Mexican singer Chavela Vargas, who came
out as a lesbian in 2000; Strong Island is
a Sundance Award winner in which trans
director Yance Ford explores the murder
of his 24-year-old brother; A Womb Of
Their Own explores the burgeoning
world of pregnancy by masculine folk; and
Queercore: How To Punk A Revolution
(part of Outfests annual bold and queer
Platinum Section) showcases a generation
of outside-the-box queer artists like John
Waters, Bruce LaBruce, Pansy Division and
Peaches. Other worthy Outfest 2017 docs
include The Death and Life of Marsha
P. Johnson, which traces the legacy of
the New York City-based LGBTQ rights
champion, and probes her mysterious
death in 1992; The Fabulous Allan
Carr, the latest from doc genius Jerey
Schwartz (Vito, Tab Hunter Condential),
showcasing the over-the-top LA life of the
A RT S & E N T E RT A I N ME N T
party-boy producer of Grease; The Untold
Tales of Armistead Maupin, a look back
No Dress Code Required, which follows a
gay couple from Mexicali, Mexico in their
frustrating quest to get married.
A slew of additional buzz-worthy feature
lms will be part of Outfest 2017, including
Hello Again, an adaptation of the same-
named 90s musical that traces ten eeting
New York City romances across the course
of a century, and stars Audra McDonald,
Martha Plimpton and Cheyenne Jackson;
Saturday Church, the tender musical-
esque and vogue-infused coming out
story of a Bronx teen; I Dream in Another
Language, winner of the Audience Award at
this years Sundance Film Fest, the Mexican
tale of linguist on the trail of a nearly extinct
indigenous language, who discovers that its
last two speakers havent communicated in
deeply closeted working class teen along
Brooklyns seaside who hooks up with
older men; The Wound, a groundbreaking
South African drama (and yet another
Sundance darling) revolving around a
tribal manhood initiation ceremony; The
Pass, an intense and often scorching-hot
UK drama featuring Looking hunk Russell
Tovey as a closeted soccer player; Tamara,
the fascinating biography of Venezuelas
rst transgender politician, Tamara Adrin.
Outfests numerous shorts programs
highlight a broad range of emerging talent
this year. Programs include Girls Shorts,
Boys Shorts, Trans Now!, Boys Be
Trippin (obeat gay shorts), Girls Gone
Genre (quirky shorts about queer women),
LOLgbt (LGBTQ comedy shorts), Growing
Up Queer (LGBTQ coming-of-age shorts),
Silver Shorts (LGBTQ elder shorts), Latinx
Ladies (female Latin shorts), and Q&A:
Queer & Asian.
Outfest runs from July 6 to July 16, 2017.
Tickets for screenings and events are on sale
now on Outfests website.
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