S E P T E M B E R 0 8 2 0 1 7 V O LU M E 0 1 I S S U E 1 3 A M E R I C A S LG B TQ N E W S S O U R C E LO S A N G E L E S B L A D E .

C O M

NEW MISSION AND D.C. PRESENCE FOR TROUBLED TIMES, PAGE 04

Meth crisis in black gay LA Locals react to Trumps DACA action Kevin Sessums is back with new web project

PAGE 06 PAGE 11 PAGE 26

PHOTO COURTESY OF CLAUDIA UNGER; EQUALITY CALIFORNIA
 0 2 S EPTE MB ER 0 8 , 2017 WWW. L O S A N G E L E S B L A D E . C O M

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0 4 S EPTE MB ER 0 8 , 2017
Equality California re-imagined and roiling to work
The statewide LGBT
lobbying organization
has gone national
By KAREN OCAMB
kocamb@losangelesblade.com
September 2017 in Donald Trump-land
is not exactly the kind of post-summer
activism Equality California expected
18 months ago when the 32-year-old
statewide lobbying organization became
the rst major LGBT group to endorse
Hillary Clinton for president. At the time,
Equality California had been so successful
securing so many LGBT equality bills and
electing so many LGBT and pro-equality
candidates, Executive Director Rick Zbur
was growing weary of the same tiresome
question: What is left for EQCA and the
California LGBT rights movement to do?
And then, once again, the old adage
proved true: Elections have consequences.
Despite campaign assurances from
Trump that he would protect LGBTQ
people, with daughter Ivanka winking
from the sidelines that she had daddys
ear and would intervene to squash anti-
LGBT policies, the LGBT movement
has seen a dramatic and sanctioned
outbreak of racism, sexism, anti-Semitism,
homophobia and white supremacy at the
White House. It started on Day One with
the new administration wiping the White
House website of any mention of LGBT
equality. Next was the death of the Oce
of National AIDS Policy and soon after,
the mass resignation of six members of
Trumps AIDS Advisory Council.
Equality California was suddenly tasked
with not only introducing new bills to
continue advancing LGBT equality but
protecting what was already law, especially
those involving transgender students in
places like Fresno and encouraging legally
correct and compassionate teachers at
private Rocklin Academy.
But instead of waiting in the safety of
W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM
Equality California is busy defending LGBT rights advances while trying to introduce new measures
protecting residents rights.
Californias big blue state to see what ill
winds might blow in from D.C., Zbur picked
charging toward the belly of the beast.
On Aug. 8, he announced a new logo, a
rened mission statement and tagline,
and established a national presence in
Washington, D.C., to lobby Californias
massive congressional delegation of 53
House and two Senate seats.
Equality California will shine as a
beacon of LGBTQ civil rights for the rest of
the nation, says Zbur.
Help us create a world that is just,
healthy and fully equal for all LGBTQ
people, he says in a video that explains
the new logo: an E and a C with an
equal sign embedded in the State of
California. Additionally, for all, a press
release notes, acknowledges that LGBTQ
people are a part of every racial, ethnic and
religious community and that improving
the lives of LGBTQ people requires a focus
on social justice for all communities of
which LGBTQ people are a part.
In Trumps America, intersectionality is
not just an academic discussion. Health
disparities, for instance, are even greater
for LGBTQ people who are also people
of color, immigrants or transgender.
Equality Californias new taglineuntil the
work is donereects our organizations
determination to work vigorously on the
signicant priorities that remain to be
accomplished.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CLAUDIA UNGER; EQUALITY CALIFORNIA
And on Sept. 5, two major battles came
to the fore simultaneously: Trump ended
DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood
Arrivals program and EQCA challenged
Trumps directive to reinstitute the
transgender open military service ban.
Zbur is both outraged and heartbroken
over Trumps order to rescind President
Obamas executive order creating DACA.
He believes the move is racist, theres no
other explanation for it.
DREAMers have lived here since they
were children and are American in
every way except for their immigration
status. Many have never traveled to their
country of origin and do not speak its
language, butwithout DACAthey live
in fear of deportation and are extremely
limited in educational and professional
opportunities because of their immigration
status, says Zbur, a father of three who
is half Latino with family roots in New
Mexico. Its appalling to me.
There are real-life consequences
for LGBT undocumented immigrants.
Transgender or HIV-positive immigrants
are especially vulnerable, facing abuse or
lack of essential medical treatments in
detention centers. They face even worse
if deported to countries like Honduras,
where violence against LGBTQ people is
endemic, or Venezuela, which just publicly
announced it has run out of vital drugs to
treat HIV, Zbur says.
CO V E R ST O RY
The Equality California sta in D.C.
is urging members of the California
congressional delegation to quickly pass
the BRIDGE Act and other pending pieces
of legislation to protect these young
Americans and to prevent them from
cruelly being uprooted from their homes,
families, careers and lives. Zbur notes
that EQCAs 800,000 members include
300,000 from outside California who
joined during the Prop 8 battle in 2008 and
have remained active.
On Sept. 5, just as much of America was
focused on Trumps DACA announcement,
Zbur held a news conference in front
of LA City Hall announcing the ling of
a federal lawsuit challenging Trumps
Aug. 25 directive to reinstate the ban
on transgender military service. Some
questioned why EQCA jumped into the
fray since national groupsNCLR/GLAD,
Lambda Legal/OutServe-SLDN and the
ACLUare already seeking an immediate
injunction against implementation of
the disruptive personnel change and
challenging the bans constitutionality.
But the reasoning is clear to Zbur.
California is the state with the largest
LGBTQ community. Were also the state
with most LGBTQ people serving in the
military and obviously, a state in which
are members are really harmed by this
directive. So we decided we wanted to
bring a suit of our [800,000] members
that are aected by this ban. We thought
it was important that there be a case in
California, Zbur told the Los Angeles Blade.
As of May 2016, California has the most
military bases and installations in the country,
32, with the most active duty and reserves
members of the military, 190,160. That number
goes up to more than 360,000 employed by
the Department of Defense in California when
civilian employees are included.
The cases seek to block the order, says
Zbur. The order is one that doesnt give the
military discretion about whether to allow
CONTINUES ON PAGE 12
 In adults with HIV on ART who have diarrhea not caused by an infection
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Get relief. Pure and simple. Ask your doctor about Mytesi.
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Treats diarrhea differently by normalizing the flow of water in the GI tract
Has the same or fewer side effects as placebo in clinical studies
Comes from a tree sustainably harvested in the Amazon Rainforest
What is Mytesi?
Mytesi is a prescription medicine that helps relieve symptoms of diarrhea not caused by
an infection (noninfectious) in adults living with HIV/AIDS on antiretroviral therapy (ART).
Important Safety Information
Mytesi is not approved to treat infectious diarrhea (diarrhea caused by bacteria, a virus,
or a parasite). Before starting you on Mytesi, your healthcare provider will first be sure that you
do not have infectious diarrhea. Otherwise, there is a risk you would not receive the right medicine
and your infection could get worse. In clinical studies, the most common side effects that occurred
more often than with placebo were upper respiratory tract (sinus, nose, and throat) infection
(5.7%), bronchitis (3.9%), cough (3.5%), flatulence (3.1%), and increased bilirubin (3.1%).
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Please see complete Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com.
NP-390-26 RELIEF, PURE AND SIMPLE
IMPORTANT PATIENT INFORMATION
This is only a summary. See complete Prescribing Information at
Mytesi.com or by calling 1-844-722-8256. This does not take the place
of talking with your doctor about your medical condition or treatment.
What Is Mytesi?
Mytesi is a prescription medicine used to improve symptoms of
noninfectious diarrhea (diarrhea not caused by a bacterial, viral, or
parasitic infection) in adults living with HIV/AIDS on ART.
Do Not Take Mytesi if you have diarrhea caused by an infection. Before
you start Mytesi, your doctor and you should make sure your diarrhea is
not caused by an infection (such as bacteria, virus, or parasite).
Possible Side Effects of Mytesi Include:
Upper respiratory tract infection (sinus, nose, and throat infection)
Bronchitis (swelling in the tubes that carry air to and from your lungs)
Cough
Flatulence (gas)
Increased bilirubin (a waste product when red blood cells break down)
For a full list of side effects, please talk to your doctor. Tell your doctor if
you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.
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.
Should I Take Mytesi If I Am:
Pregnant or Planning to Become Pregnant?
Studies in animals show that Mytesi could harm an unborn baby or
affect the ability to become pregnant
There are no studies in pregnant women taking Mytesi
This drug should only be used during pregnancy if clearly needed
A Nursing Mother?
It is not known whether Mytesi is passed through human breast milk
If you are nursing, you should tell your doctor before starting Mytesi
Your doctor will help you to decide whether to stop nursing or to stop
taking Mytesi
Under 18 or Over 65 Years of Age?
Mytesi has not been studied in children under 18 years of age
Mytesi studies did not include many people over the age of 65. So it is
not clear if this age group will respond differently. Talk to your doctor to
find out if Mytesi is right for you
What Should I Know About Taking Mytesi
With Other Medicines?
If you are taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicine, herbal
supplements, or vitamins, tell your doctor before starting Mytesi.
What If I Have More Questions About Mytesi?
For more information, please see the full Prescribing Information at
Mytesi.com or speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
To report side effects or make a product complaint or for additional
information, call 1-844-722-8256.
Rx Only
Manufactured by Patheon, Inc.
for Napo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. San Francisco, CA 94105
Copyright Napo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Mytesi comes from the Croton lechleri tree harvested
in South America.
0 6 S EPTE MB ER 0 8 , 2017
South LA task force aims to ght crystal meth epidemic
Gemmel Moore becomes
face of the crisis in
black gay community
By KAREN OCAMB
kocamb@losangelesblade.com
One potentially life-saving outcome of
the tragic death of Gemmel Moore in July
is the burst of awareness about the silent
crystal meth epidemic in Los Angeles
black gay community. On Sept. 13, black
gay and addiction recovery advocates held
the rst community South Los Angeles
Crystal Meth Task Force, hosted by the
AMAAD Institute, to focus on community
engagement, prevention and addiction
intervention for the LGBTQ community.
Moore, 26, was found dead of what
the LA coroner originally determined was
an accidental fatal overdose of crystal
methamphetamine July 27 in the West
Hollywood apartment of gay Democratic
activist donor Ed Buck. Though
investigators initially found nothing
suspicious about the circumstances of
Moores death, Sheri Jim McDonnell
ordered a follow-up investigation out of
abundance of caution after pleas from
Moores mother LaTisha Nixon and local
activists for a thorough investigation.
On Aug. 31, activist attorney Nana Gyam
announced in a press release that the L.A.
County District Attorneys Oce agreed to
provide a binding written agreement of
immunity to several black men who, she
claims, have come forward to tell stories
similar to the story Moore wrote about in
a journal last year about his sex work and
meth use with Buck. In an email response
for conrmation of DA Jackie Laceys
alleged immunity agreement with Gyam,
DA spokesperson Shiara Davila-Morales
wrote: Regarding your pending query, we
politely decline to comment.
It is not unusual that the DAs oce
would decline to comment in an ongoing
investigation, but it is unusual for an
W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM
attorney to make such an announcement,
which implies some sort of criminal
culpability on the part of her client(s). But
the Aug. 31 press release does not clearly
indicate who she represents, only that she
will work with each victim before they give
their statement to the detective from the
Robbery/Homicide Bureau in charge of re-
examining the case. She does not indicate
what type of immunity has been granted
whether it is blanket immunity covering any
possible outstanding warrants or immunity
limited to any potential crimes related to
prostitution and meth use.
To the Blades knowledge, there is
no information or evidence yet that
the detective is pursuing criminal
charges against Ed Buck for the murder
of Gemmel, as Gyam states in the
press release. Gyam did not respond
to a request for comment. Sheris
Department spokesperson Sgt. Boese told
the Blade there is no update on the case.
If DA Lacey has granted immunity to
several men for their stories about their
experiences with Buck, that is a positive
development for Nixon and her supporters
who pressed for immunity, feeling that
young black gay men have been victimized
by both Buck and a system that has not
listened to them. Additionally, the case
has exposed sexual practices that may be
familiar to gay men but are now front and
center in community discussions about
sex, race and drugs in the gay community.
Determined to not let Moores death be
in vain, on Aug. 22, Jerey King, founder
and executive director of In The Meantime
Mens Group, held an emergency town
hall meeting to pay respects to Moores
life and to shed light on the devastating
impact of Crystal Meth in LAs black gay
community. Our intention was to call for a
State of Emergency and to foster solutions
from within the community.
King says about 100-150 people
attended. After cathartic sharing about
Moore and personal stories about
substance abuse, the attendees shifted
to talking about what they could do. King addictionbut the focus will be on the
reports that there were two additional
overdose deaths related to crystal meth
in the two-week period around Moores
death. What is not known about crystal
meth is the long-term damage done to
the body and brain (see the LARG section
on the In The Meantime Men website)
and how quickly an overdose can lead
to death if the user has other health
issues. From The Addictionblog: [M]
eth users can take a lethal dose and not
realize it right away. But in general, meth
LO CA L N E W S
Curt Thomas, senior pastor of the Renewed
Church of Los Angeles; Lynwood Patterson,
LCSW, Los Angeles LGBT Center; and Kathy
Watt, executive director, Van Ness Recovery
House.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JEFFREY KING
overdose is characterized by physiological
deterioration, eventually leading to a heart
attack or stroke. Further, meth should not
be used by people with heart, thyroid
disorders and diabetes, because these
chronic conditions may lead to sudden
death.Because of rapid onset, death
proceeds suddenly and unexpectedly
after a meth OD. Many fatalities usually
manifest symptoms of coma, shock,
inability to pass and secrete urine, and
muscle twitching. Emergency department
visits due to meth overdose have been up
to 130,000 per year, out of which almost
15% were fatalities.
King says that while everyone is
welcome to attend the South LA Crystal
Meth Task Force meetingsaddiction is
meth epidemic in communities of color.
Though the Task Force will develop
and provide culturally competent experts
and resources for people of color battling
addiction, the group will also be inclusive,
King says. For instance, Kathy Watt, the
white long-term director of the gay Van
Ness Recovery House, was a panelist at
the town hall meeting and has agreed to
be on the Task Force as an expert. Also
CONTINUES ON PAGE 12
LO C A L N E W S W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM SE P T E MBE R 0 8 , 2 0 1 7 0 7

Black AIDS Institute honors Laverne Cox

Taraji Henson, Vanessa
Williams, Alfre Woodard
also named Heroes
in the Struggle
By KAREN OCAMB
kocamb@losangelesblade.com

Notable black men take a night out on

Sept. 16 to honor notable black women
who have gone the extra mile in the long
and heroic ght against HIV/AIDS in black
America. These women take their place
in the 16-year old Heroes in the Struggle
Hall of Fame, an important photography
exhibit that travels the world instigating
awareness, discussion and debate about
HIV/AIDS in black America. This year,
transgender star Laverne Cox is among
the six women being honored for their
work and outreach.
The 16th Annual Heroes in the Struggle
Awards Presentation & Reception is also
honoring: Taraji P. Henson, Vanessa Williams,
Alfre Woodard, Gina Belafonte, and Gina
Brown. Out Empire star and Black AIDS
Institute Board Member Jussie Smollett will
serve as chair and host of the event, which
will also honor Novant Health as the 2017
Corporate Hero. R&B singer/songwriter
Ledisi will perform a special tribute.
At the age of 15, I began working with
the Black AIDS Institute and I am proud to
be a member of the board of directors,
Smollett said in a press release. Although it
is not spoken about like it used to, the AIDS
epidemic is not over, especially in black
communities. I am humbled to pay tribute to
these remarkable women in our community.
The event not only celebrates the
contributions of black women, but also lifts
those who have been dramatically impacted.
Black women are the single most
important engine in the survival of Black
people, including with HIV/AIDS, says Phill
Wilson, president and CEO of the Black
AIDS Institute. Fifty-nine percent of women
living with HIV in the United States are
black. Black women account for 60% of the
new HIV infections among women, and are
16 times more likely to be diagnosed with
HIV than white women. This event not only
allows us to acknowledge the invaluable
role black women have played in the AIDS
ght, but it helps raise awareness about the
devastating impact AIDS continues to have
on black women and the opportunities we
have to turn that around if black men and
women work together.
In another twist on this Year of the
Woman, the Heroes in the Struggle gala
comes less than a week after NMACs
national US AIDS Conference https://
www.2017usca.org/ in Washington,
D.C. which will close with a tribute to
the Womens March. The Heroes event
will be held on Sept. 16 at the Darryl
F. Zanuck Theater at 20th Century Fox
Studios in Los Angeles at 6 p.m. For
ticket and other information, go to www.
heroesinthestruggle.org or contact
Wendell Miller at Assistant@BlackAIDS.org
or 213-353-3610, ext. 105.
Laverne Cox was one of the standout
keynote speakers at the US Conference on
AIDS in 2014, one of many appearances
and interviews shes given regarding HIV/
AIDS transgender people are 49 times
more at risk of living with HIV compared
to the general population. The actress,
producer and transgender advocate was
poignant, funny and personal.
We come from a history of resilience in
the face of unspeakable horrors. We come
from a history of lifting each other up when
no one else will do it. That is what weve been
doing in the LGBT community. That is what
weve been doing in the AIDS community for
over 30 years, Cox said, before explaining
the state of emergency in the trans women
of color community with high rates of
murder, unemployment and HIV/AIDS.
But the numbers are inaccurate. Far too
often, trans people dont count. We are left
out of HIV/AIDS studies. We are left out of
the count, she said. They erase us.
HIV/AIDS has been a reality for me my
entire adult life, my entire sexual life, and
growing up in conservative Mobile, Ala., she
thought she was going to hell, she said.
Stigma and shame can kill us, said actress and
trans advocate LAVERNE COX.
PHOTO BY KATHCLICK; COURTESY OF BIGSTOCK
My entire life, I really believed that
because of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, that
I was destined to die. There has always
been this air of inevitabilitythat because
of who I am, eventually, I will test positive
for HIV/AIDS, she said.
But despite the tremendous amount of
shame she experienced, Cox said, she is a
person today who stands here HIV negative.
And I feel weird even saying that because
we live in a world that often assumes that
because I am black and because I am trans,
I must be HIV positive. That stigma has
been so crippling to me as I go out into the
world and look for love and aection.
Shame and stigma kill, Cox said, telling
the story of a trans friend who didnt want
anyone to know she had AIDS. So she
hid it and she didnt go and seek medical
attention. And she passed away because
of stigma and because of shame. And
when I think of that I think there is so
much more work that we have to do to
begin to lift the stigma and shame around
HIV and AIDS. Because stigma and shame
can kill us.
LO C A L N E W S
Californians furious over Trump rescinding DACA
Thousands of LGBT
DREAMers impacted
By KAREN OCAMB
kocamb@losangelesblade.com
LGBT Angelinos tend to pick up on subtle
visual cues and Attorney General Jeerson
Beauregard Sessions III of Alabama looked
a tad too giddy Sept. 5 as he rolled out
President Donald Trumps plan to kill the
Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood
Arrivals program.
DACA impacts roughly 800,000
undocumented young people, or
DREAMers, brought to the U.S. as children
and California is home to 1 in 4 DACA
participants, according to a 2017 analysis
by the nonpartisan Migration Policy
Institute. Los Angeles County has about
180,000 eligible residents.
Most Californians are angry at Trumps
latest ideological move to please his base
of 39 percent far-right conservatives.
State Attorney General Xavier Becerra
told reporters that Trumps move is
unconstitutional and he is prepared
to go in tomorrow, or when it seems
appropriate, to court to make sure we
stand up for those who have stood up for
and helped build this country, and certainly
California, though Politico reports legal
politics may make it a dicult lift.
Silicon Valley is willing to help fund
the pro-DACA eort. Out Apple CEO Tim
Cook tweeted about his 250 employees:
#Dreamers contribute to our companies
and our communities just as much as you
and I. Apple will ght for them to be treated
as equals. Cook was among leaders from
300 companies who appealed to Trump to
keep DACA.
Microsoft President Brad Smith told NPR,
if the government moves to deport the
companys DREAMer employees, its going
to have to go through us to get that person.
The Williams Institute at UCLA School of
Law estimates that there are over 75,000
W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM
President BARACK OBAMA shows the Resolute Desk to a group of DREAMers, following their Oval
Oce meeting in which they talked about how they have beneted from DACA, Feb. 4, 2015.
LGBT DREAMers in America36,000
of whom have participated in DACA.
Los Angeles, in particular, is home to
thousands of LGBT DREAMers, many
leaders in the immigration movement in
both the Latino and Asian communities.
By taking away DACA, like enacting the
Muslim ban, the trans military ban, and
more, Trump has made large swaths of the
American people vulnerable to continued
attacks, said Sasha W., Organizing
Director for the National Queer Asian
Pacic Islander Alliance (NQAPIA), which
delivered 971 postcards from LGBT APIs
and allies asking Trump to preserve DACA.
APIs are believed to be the fastest
growing racial group of new immigrants:
169,000 APIs are eligible for DACA, NQAPIA
reports, noting there are an estimated
267,000 undocumented LGBT immigrants,
a disproportionate share being API.
For the 11 percent of DACA
recipients who identify as LGBT, todays
announcement is even more chilling. In an
announcement that lasted only minutes,
OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE PHOTO BY PETE SOUZA
this administration just turned the lives
of tens of thousands of our community
members upside down, putting their
dreams, their futures, and potentially their
safety at risk, said Kate Kendell, executive
director of the San Francisco-based
National Center for Lesbian Rights.
The Congressional LGBT Equality
Caucus also responded quickly. After
his unfounded smear of transgender
service members, President Trump has
now decided to take aim at children
of immigrants, LGBT Equality Caucus
Executive Director Roddy Flynn said in
a statement. Previously, this president
pledged he would handle Dreamers with
heart. But that promise has proven to
be just as meaningless as his pledge to
protect the LGBT community.
It is a new level of cruelty that the
[Trump] administration has showed,
California State Sen. Ricardo Lara told the
L.A. Times. It is unconscionable to me
that [Trump] continues to discriminate
and pick on some of our most vulnerable.
SE P T E MBE R 0 8 , 2 0 1 7 1 1
Lara, who is vice chair of the California
Legislative Caucus, has a proposal that
would provide DREAMers with college
grants, fee waivers or reimbursements in
exchange for community service.
Eric Bauman, the out chair of the
California Democratic Party, also issued a
statement pledging that the issue will be
critical in the 2018 midterm elections.
Hiding behind his racist attorney
general to make the announcement and
then punting the issue to Congress also
makes this the most cowardly decision
of this petty man, he said. California
Democrats will resist this shameful
decision with every ounce of energy and
resources available to us, and in 2018, we
will elect leaders who respect and value
undocumented Californians who grew
up here, attended our schools, and who
pledge allegiance to our ag.
Trumps Twitter nemesis Rep. Ted Lieu,
an immigrant brought to America at age
three, also reacted vehemently, calling
Trumps decision cowardly.
Deporting hundreds of thousands
of Asians and Latinosnearly half of
whom were brought to the U.S. before
the age of 7is not only cruel, it will hurt
our economy, Lieu said. One report
estimates an economic loss of $460 billion
over the next decade....I call on Speaker
Ryan to work with Democrats to extend
the DACA program through legislation.
Ryan, who previously mildly decried Trumps
move, subsequently said he made the right
decision. Meanwhile, California Senators
Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris have
joined with Republican South Carolina Sen.
Lindsey Graham and others to reintroduce
the BRIDGE Act, which would protect
undocumented youth from deportation.
As if lighting a tiki torch to iname
passions, recently pardoned racist pardoned
former Maricopa County sheri Joe Arpaio
is scheduled to speak at a Fresno County
Republican Party fundraiser in late September.
Californians are asking: whats
happened to the American Dream?
1 2 S EPTE MB ER 0 8 , 2017
Task force aims to ght crystal meth epidemic in LA
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 06
agreeing to serve on the Task Force are
Pastor Curt Thomas, senior pastor of
the Renewed Church of Los Angeles and
Lynwood Patterson, LCSW at the LA LGBT
Center, among others.
Below are community recommendations:
1. Provide trainings and educational
opportunities in the public-school system
starting with grade school, middle school
and high school youth that will educate
them about addiction and recovery. 2.
Develop community based interventions
that include addiction/recovery
education while promoting individual and
collective liberation and self/community-
armation. 3. Develop a community
social marketing campaign with a
global mantra that mirrors, If you see
something say something. Better utilize
EQCA hard at work battling Trumps attacks
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 04
service of transgender people in the military,
despite some of the communications that
have come out by (Defense Sec) Gen. James
Mattis that appear to indicate that there
is some discretion. In fact, the presidents
directive leaves no discretion to the military
and requires that they take action to discharge
members of the military currently serving
and to also enlistment of people that would
want to serve and have taken steps to join the
military. And it prohibits medical care thats
necessary for transgender service members.
So our case raises a number of claims that
the order violates the Constitution of the
United States and is obviously motivated by
animus towards transgender people and on
a variety of Constitutional grounds, seeks to
block the order.
Some see a loophole in the line in the
order that says the old policy should be
W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM
social media to engage and educate the
broader community about addiction and
recovery. 4. Develop and support recovery
panels and forums that engage individuals
in the recovery community while providing
them with a platform to share their stories
outside of the rooms of recovery. 5. Hold
agencies and organizations accountable
for the delivery of client centered services
they are funded to delivery. Insure that
recovery and treatment funding makes
it to the people best suited to facilitate
work in communities of color. 6. Develop
and support panels and community
forms/ educational outlets to educate
the broader community about the
world of survival sex as an issue that
intersects race, homophobia, education,
incarceration and sexual orientation. 7.
Explore current policies surrounding the
issues of substance abuse/ addiction and
reinstated until such time as a sucient
basis exists upon which to conclude that
terminating that policy and practice would
not have the negative eects discussed
above. The Secretary of Defense, after
consulting with the Secretary of Homeland
Security, may advise me at any time, in
writing, that a change to this policy is
warranted. (Emphasis added.) Some LGBT
military watchers think that could come as
a result of recommendations made by an
expert panel Mattis is putting together.
Zbur, an attorney, is not among them.
The directive is very clear and it does not
give the military leadership discretion. It
gives them a certain amount of time into
either February or March to implement it
but there is no discretion in the presidents
order, he says emphatically.
The period that Gen. Mattis has indicated
they will be studying this issue is consistent
with the timing in the presidents order
compile a listing of legal services that
will investigate cases that are addiction
related. 8. Develop a taskforce/ working
group for LGBTQ communities of color
and support increased outreach and
educational opportunities. 9. Work
directly with elected ocials to task
relative to policy development and
reform and the distribution of local
funds to support a LGBTQ Crystal Meth/
Substance abuse Taskforce. Call for a
state of emergency. 10. Compile a data
base of substance abuse resources
that are LGBTQ arming to include the
Cities new 24- hour toll-free number. 11.
Promote, develop, and equipt LGBTQ
specic safe spaces where individuals can
access social support and other services to
include substance abuse counseling and
treatment. 12. Develop a strategy to make
mentorship/ recovery specic sponsorship
and the order does not leave discretion
for the military to not implement the ban
and discharge members of the military
or prevent re-enlistment or to allow for
necessary medical care.
Zbur notes that training has already
happened in the entire militaryand it
happened without controversy. Additionally,
commanding ocers have been openly
supportive of their trans troops.
This is disruptive, Zbur says. It is
harmful to military readiness. It is expensive
for the militaryessentially they will be
ripping transgender service members out
of key and important roles and will be in
a position where they will have to identify
people to replace them and train them. So
theres no justication for this order. Theres
no justication in terms of cost or military
readiness. In fact, if anything, all arguments
go in the other direction. This is harmful.
Equality California is simultaneously tackling
LO CA L N E W S
more easily accessible to the general
public. 13. Explore that intersections of
mental health treatment and substance
abuse recovery. 14. Explore and provide
increased educational opportunities to
better understand the multiple pathways
to addiction recovery. 15. Seek ways to
link the LGBTQ taskforce to the broader
recovery community. 16. Engage the
Taskforce in an ongoing think tank
process to develop and much fuller
LGBTQ and broader community based
mobilization eort. Community to include
entertainment industry, local business,
community based CBO, faith based
communities, etc. 17. Initiate a call to
action/ State of Emergency . 18. Identify
already existing task forces and groups to
partner with in coalition. 19. Advocate for
aordable and accessible housing for at
-risk LGBTQ youth.
issues and working on bills within the state,
as well. As the legislative year winds down,
they are focused on four bills in particular:
SB 239, Modernizing Discriminatory HIV
Criminalization Laws (HIV decriminalization);
SB 179, Gender Recognition Act of 2017
(appropriate documents); SB 219 Seniors
Long Term Care Bill of Rights; and SB 421
Tiered System for California Sex Oender
Registry (based on crime, not lifetime).
Anti-LGBT California right-wing groups
join Steve Bannons Brietbart and company
in targeting the senior rights bill, which
essentially calls for cultural competency
when placing seniors, especially trans
seniors, in roommate situations.
And, of course, Equality California is
preparing for the 2018 midterm elections.
If California LGBT politicos cant recoup
Hillary Clinton, at least EQCA can help vote
the GOP disruptors out while achieving full
equality in the state.
NATIONAL NEWS
Trump kills DACA, triggering protests
Obama blasts move
that exposes 800,000
to deportation
By MICHAEL K. LAVERS
The Trump administration this week
announced it would end a program
that has allowed roughly 800,000 young
undocumented immigrants to remain in
the U.S. and obtain work permits.
Attorney General Je Sessions made the
announcement about the Deferred Action
for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program at
the Justice Department.
I am here today to announce that
the program known as DACA that
was eectuated under the Obama
administration is being rescinded,
Sessions told reporters.
Former President Obama in 2012
enacted DACA.
Sessions told reporters the Justice
Department has advised President
Trump and the Department of Homeland
Security that it should begin an orderly,
lawful wind down of DACA that includes
the cancellation of the memo that
authorized this program. He also noted
Acting Homeland Secretary Elaine Duke
has chosen, appropriately, to initiate a
wind down process.
DACA is set to expire on March 5.
The Trump administration will no longer
process new DACA applications. Current
DACA recipients have until Oct. 5 to apply for
a renewal of their status for a two-year period.
To have a lawful system of immigration
that serves the national interest, we
cannot admit everyone who would like
to come here, said Sessions. That is an
open border policy and the American
people have rightly rejected it.
Therefore, the nation must set and
enforce a limit on how many immigrants
we admit each year and that means all can
not be accepted, he added. This does
not mean they are bad people or that our
W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM
Attorney General JEFF SESSIONS announced the plan to end DACA this week.
nation disrespects or demeans them in any
way. It means we are properly enforcing
our laws as Congress has passed them.
Trump in a statement he issued after
Sessions spoke to reporters said he has
provided a window of opportunity for
Congress to nally act.
As president, my highest duty is to
defend the American people and the
constitution of the United States of
America, said Trump. At the same time,
I do not favor punishing children, most of
whom are now adults, for the actions of
their parents. But we must also recognize
that we are [sic] nation of opportunity
because we are a nation of laws.
The Trump administration announced it
would end DACA on the same day it faced
what CASA, a Maryland-based immigration
advocacy group, has described as an
arbitrary deadline that Texas Attorney
General Ken Paxton and nine other state
attorneys general gave the White House to
rescind the program.
Trump last month endorsed a bill that
would, among other things, reduce the
number of people who will be allowed
to legally immigrate to the U.S. each
year. Trump earlier this year signed
executive orders banning citizens of
PHOTO BY GAGE SKIDMORE; COURTESY OF FLICKR
seven-predominantly Muslim countries
from entering the U.S. for 90 days,
spurring the construction of a wall along
the U.S.-Mexico border and paving the
way for cuts in federal funding to so-
called sanctuary cities that protect
undocumented immigrants.
National Center for Transgender
Equality Executive Director Mara Keisling
is among the hundreds of immigrant
rights advocates who were gathered in
front of the White House on Tuesday when
Sessions announced the administration
would end DACA.
Roughly 100 DACA supporters were
standing along H Street, N.W., in front
of Lafayette Park earlier in the day when
Vice President Pences motorcade drove
past. One protester directed an obscene
gesture towards Pence, while another
stood silently as she held a sign.
Appealing to his most xenophobic
base, Trump is risking the lives of 800,000
young people, including more than 75,000
LGBTQ people who deserve to live and
work free of fear, said Gay and Lesbian
Victory Institute CEO Aisha Moodie-Mills in
a statement. Its cruel and cowardly and
ts with a pattern of implementing racist,
xenophobic and anti-LGBTQ policies that
SE P T E MBE R 0 8 , 2 0 1 7 1 3
target core American values and move our
country backward.
D.C. Council member David Grosso
(I-At-Large) described the administrations
decision to end DACA as heartless. U.S.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in a statement
said children who were illegally brought
into this country through no fault of their
own should not be forced to return to a
country they do not know.
Todays decision is a giant setback
for America, because all of our children
should feel safe and accepted in a country
that belongs to them, added Los Angeles
Mayor Eric Garcetti. Deferred Action for
Childhood Arrivals has allowed close to
800,000 ambitious, patriotic young people
to start careers, stay in school, and give
back to our communities without fear of
being torn from the people they love.
House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.)
last week indicated Trump should allow
DACA to remain in place. The Wisconsin
Republican on Tuesday nevertheless said
in a statement that ending this program
fullls a promise that President Trump
made to restore the proper role of the
executive and legislative branches.
But now there is more to do, and
the president has called on Congress
to act, added Ryan. The presidents
announcement does not revoke permits
immediately, and it is important that those
aected have clarity on how this interim
period will be carried out.
In a rare public rebuke of Trump, former
President Obama weighed in on social
media, blasting the move as cruel.
To target these young people is wrong
because they have done nothing
wrong, Obama wrote on Facebook. It
is self-defeating because they want to
start new businesses, sta our labs, serve
in our military, and otherwise contribute
to the country we love. And it is cruel.
In a Wednesday tweet, Trump hinted
that he would revisit the DACA issue if
Congress doesnt legalize it. For updates
on the story, visit washingtonblade.com.
1 4 S EPTE MB ER 0 8 , 2017
Courts asked to block transgender military ban
Equality California among
groups ling lawsuits
By KAREN OCAMB & CHRIS JOHNSON
Equality California announced it led
a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the
Central District of California on Sept.
5, bringing to four the number of legal
groups seeking immediate intervention
from a federal court to block President
Trumps ban on open transgender military
service, enlistment and denial of medically
necessary healthcare.
California is home to the largest
concentration of service members in the
nation, while Equality California represents
more than 500,000 members in the state,
including transgender people directly
aected by the Presidents order. Latham
& Watkins LLP is representing Equality
California as plaintis in Stockman v.
Trump, along with four named and three
unnamed transgender plaintis, who are
harmed by the ban. The three unnamed
plaintis are active duty transgender
service members serving in the United
States Army and Air Force
President Trump has attacked
American heroes who have risen above
discrimination, hostility and lack of
acceptance to serve our country by putting
their lives on the line in its defense, said
Rick Zbur, executive director of Equality
California. His justication for the ban
bears no relation to the truth. Contrary to
what the President states, ejecting loyal
members of the armed forces promotes
chaos and division, not unit cohesion.
In a 51-page legal brief, lawyers from
GLBTQ Advocates & Defenders and
the National Center for Lesbian Rights
seek a preliminary injunction against
enforcement of the ban, which Trump
directed on Aug. 25.
The ban marks transgender service
members as unequal and dispensable,
stigmatizing them in the eyes of their
W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM
PRESIDENT TRUMPs trans military ban is being
challenged in multiple lawsuits.
BLADE FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY
fellow service members and depriving
them of the unique honor and status
associated with uniformed service to
their country, the brief says. Because
the public has no interest in enforcing
an unconstitutional policy and has every
interest in the continued service of
capable and dedicated service members,
both the balance of the equities and the
public interest weigh in favor of granting
an injunction here.
The case, Doe v. Trump, was led Aug.
2 after Trump announced the ban on
Twitter, but before he issued guidance
directing that course by LGBT legal
groups on behalf of ve unnamed plaintis
currently serving in the armed forces. The
lawsuit was assigned to U.S. District Judge
Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, a Clinton appointee.
The complaint was subsequently
amended to included three additional
plaintis to challenge the halted accession
policy. Two are students: Regan Kibby, a
midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy,
wont be able to complete his education
because of the indenite ban on
enlistment and Dylan Kohere is a college
student at the University of New Haven
just beginning ROTC training. The third
unnamed plainti is serves in the Army.
Absent this Courts immediate
intervention, their military careers and
paths will be irreparably harmed, the
brief says. The military requires strong
bonds among unit members to maintain
the trust and morale necessary to
survive the stresses of military discipline,
deployment, and combat. So too, students
in the military academies and ROTC
depend on the bonds they form during
their education and training to build the
foundation of relationships that determine
their future military careers.
These plaintis are experiencing harms
right now because of the prohibition
against enlistment, GLAD spokesperson
Carisa Cunningham said. The amended
complaint adds plaintis who are
experiencing clear, immediate harms
because of the enlistment ban.
The GLAD/NCLR brief argues that the
transgender military ban is unconstitutional
because discrimination on the basis of
transgender status warrants strict scrutiny
a standard of review never explicitly
granted to transgender people by the U.S.
Supreme Court.
Policies that expressly target
transgender people meet all of the
traditional criteria for a
suspect classication that warrants
strict scrutiny, the brief says. The
Supreme Court has recognized that certain
classications are inherently suspect
because they single out discrete groups
that have historically and unjustiably
been oppressed.
The ling also argues the ban warrants
intermediate scrutiny because it amounts
to sex discrimination and cannot satisfy
any level of review.
NATIONAL NEWS
GLAD/NCLR also argue that the ban:
violates plaintis right to due process under
the Fifth Amendment; lacks any rational
basis; burdens plaintis right to autonomy;
and penalizes plaintis for coming out
as transgender after the previous ban on
transgender service was lifted during the
Obama administration in 2016.
By dictating that certain members are
not t to serve based solely on their status
as transgender people, the Commander-in-
Chief of the Armed Forces has signicantly
undermined that cohesion and trust,
which Plaintis may be unable to rebuild
absent an order from this Court enjoining
enforcement of the ban, the brief says.
The brief also seeks to enjoin an existing
accessions ban that was scheduled to
expire in July as part of the militarys plan
for open transgender integration.
The Trump administration has now
put it o indenitely, says Cunningham.
Because of that two of the new plaintis
are experiencing immediate harms to
their education and military careers.
In addition to lawsuits led by EQCA and
GLAD/NCLR, OutServe-SLDN and Lambda
Legal led suit in a federal court in
Washington State and the American Civil
Liberties Union led suit before a federal
court in Maryland.
Additionally, former military and civilian
leaders are speaking out, denouncing the
new transgender military ban. Among
them is former Army Secretary Eric
Fanning, whos served in civilian leadership
positions for each branch of the armed
forces and was the rst openly gay person
conrmed as Army secretary.
Fanning said in a statement that the
working group that evaluated transgender
open service under the Obama
administration before the older ban was
lifted determined the discharge of highly
trained and experienced service members
would leave unexpected vacancies in
operational units and require the expensive
and time-consuming recruitment and
training of replacement personnel.
W WW .L OS A NG EL ESB LADE .CO M SE P T E MBE R 0 8 , 2 0 1 7 1 5

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1 6 S EPTE MB ER 0 8 , 2017
Evangelical Christians celebrate archaic lifestyle
Nashville Statement
arms anti-LGBT positions
By KAREN OCAMB
kocamb@losangelesblade.com
If so many of the religious leaders
who signed the Christian manifesto on
human sexuality werent members of
Donald Trump and Mike Pences inner
religious circle, the list of 14 pro-and-con
statements produced by The Council on
Biblical Manhood and Womanhood last
week would seem like a fake prop in a
remake of Inherit the Wind. The Scopes
Trial is over and until this year at least,
most Americans thought that evolution
and progressive human values won.
The latest armation of anti-LGBT
bigotry, so soon after the orgy of white
supremacy in Charlottesville, is part of the
Southern Baptist Conventions Ethics and
Religious Liberty Commissions annual
conference in Nashville.
The Nashville Statement, however,
signed by 150 conservative Christian
leadersonly 15 of whom are identiably
femaleclaims that they are on a counter-
cultural mission to reclaim what God
intends for humanity.
As Western culture has become
increasingly post-Christian, it has embarked
upon a massive revision of what it means
to be a human being. By and large the spirit
of our age no longer discerns or delights in
the beauty of Gods design for human life,
the Preamble says. It is common to think
that human identity as make and female
is not part of Gods beautiful plan, but is,
rather, an expression of an individuals
autonomous preferences. The pathway
to full and lasting joy through Gods good
design for his creatures is thus replaced
by the path of shortsighted alternatives
that, sooner or later, ruin human life and
dishonor God.
Interestingly, though longing for the
good old days of heterosexual male
W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM
superiority, these evangelicals did not
capitalize him for Godas they once did,
i.e. Him or He. They apparently didnt MissionGathering Christian Church in San
notice they diminished God in their own
righteous but organized rant. They also
fail to register that religion is a choice
while orientation and identity may not be.
No surprise, they want marriage between
one man and one woman and DENY that
adopting a homosexual or transgender
self-conception is consistent with Gods
holy purposes in creation and redemption.
Our true identity, as male and female
persons, is given by God. It is not only
foolish, but hopeless, to try to make
ourselves what God did not create us to
be, the statement reads.
Two of the lead signers are James Dobson,
founder of the Colorado Springs-based Focus
on the Family, and Tony Perkins, president of
the Family Research Council. Dobson and
four other signers are members of Trumps
evangelical advisory board. Perkins joined
evangelical brother Vice President Mike
Pence in pushing the personnel ban on
transgender military service, just as North
Korea issues more dire warnings.
USA Today reported: In a series of
tweets, Pastor Brandan Robertson of
never looked weaker, Jones writes. By
Diego, an LGBT activist who helped organize
a protest at the Ethics and Religious
Liberty Commission conference, called
the statement an aront to Gods creative
design. When your theology breeds death,
your theology is not of God, he tweeted.
Christian author Jen Hatmaker tweeted:
If the fruit of doctrine regularly &
consistently creates shame, self-harm,
suicide, & broken hearts, families, &
churches, we shld listen.
Nashville Mayor Megan Barry was just
annoyed, tweeting that the statement was
poorly named.
While some critics responded to the
statement with snark and others with
disgust or disappointment, Sarah Jones
at the New Republic has a dierent
take altogether. She feels the Nashville
Statement indicates the death rattle of
a conservative Christian Right movement
that won the White House and its pick for
the Supreme Court.
[T]here are complications even in
NATIONAL NEWS
Evangelicals appear emboldened by the
rightward lurch of Donald Trump.
paradise, and in a dierent light the
evangelical political movement has
supporting Trumpwho has been accused
numerous times of sexual assault, regularly
tracs in racism and bigotry, takes evident
pleasure in bullying the weakest among us,
and cant name a book of the Bible without
tripping over his own ignoranceit has
forsaken whatever moral high ground it
claims to possess. Trump himself is deeply
unpopular, and so too are the political
tenets of conservative evangelicalism.
According to Gallup, she continues,
79 percent of Americans overall say
abortion should be legal in at least some
circumstances. Meanwhile, younger
evangelicals continue to drift from their
elders: 47 percent of evangelicals under
age 53 say they support marriage equality.
Gerrymandering wins elections, but it
doesnt win culture wars.
The kicker: The Nashville Statement,
then, sounds like the death rattle of a
movement that has disgraced itself.
The 2018 elections should determine
how many voters agree.
1 8 S EPTE MB ER 0 8 , 2017 W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM QUOTES

Notable quotes
A ROUNDUP OF WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT LGBTQ ISSUES

Jesus sends the message home, unless Americans

repent, unless Houston repents, unless New
Orleans repents, they will all likewise perish,
PHOTO COURTESY OF RIGHT WING WATCH extremist anti-LGBTQ pastor Kevin Swanson said Aug. 31 on his radio show about the embrace of sexual perversion.
Right Wing Watch.

Im incredibly proud of him

PHOTO COURTESY OF RODGERS
Theres a fear of job security.
If you have a differing opinion,
differing sexual orientation,
they can get rid of you.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers to ESPN Magazine about friend
lineman Ryan OCallaghan coming out.

We congratulate and thank the L.A.

County Board of Supervisors for voting
for this prudent public health resolution
to protect the health and safety of those
people working in the adult lm industry.
BLADE FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY
AIDS Healthcare Foundation President Michael Weinstein said Aug. 22 on permit fees requiring
condom use in porn lms.
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2 0 S EPTE MB ER 0 8 , 2017
Trump has no regard
for people of color
Acts of malice toward
anyone not white, male,
straight or Christian
RICHARD ZALDIVAR is executive director/
founder of The Wall Las Memorias Project. For
more information, visit thewalllasmemorias.org.
It seems like every day that Donald
Trump tries to take a jab at policymaking,
he creates another day of absolute chaos
in the United States.
The decisions that he and his
administration make are usually baseless,
insensitive and incoherent. Blatantly put,
his agenda degrades the true spirit of the
American Dreama spirit fueled by hope
and aspirationin a constant act of self-
promotion to his political base.
As I write this, we yet again have been
taken into a fray by the announcement
of another Trump administration policy.
Under the presidents order, Attorney
General Je Sessions has announced that
the president plans to rescind the Deferred
Action for Childhood Arrivals immigration
policy most commonly referred to as DACA.
Within a matter of minutes, Trump
WWW .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM
and his administration ended all hope
for DACA Dreamers. His action targets
young people of immigrant families and
places them at risk of deportation back to
countries theyve never known. The order
is not only heartless but also detrimental
to the fabric of our countrya country of
immigrants.
This, however, was not the rst slap in
the face to our Latino and other immigrant
communities.
On Aug. 25, Trump pardoned former
Sheri Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County,
thumbing his nose at the rule of law, to
the American people and to the judicial
process of this country. The pardon
spared the former Arizona sheri from
a jail sentence after he was convicted of
criminal contempt and racial proling.
Arpaio illegally harassed, abused and
terrorized millions of Latinos in Arizona for
over 10 years. He has also been accused
of various types of misconduct such as
misuse of power and public funds, failure
to investigate sex crimes, and violations
of election laws. He has been sued by in
federal court several times over civil rights
violations and was ordered by the court in
an injunction barring him from continuing
to violate the rights of Americans.
Presidential pardons are granted
occasionally for those who are convicted
of a felony, who served some time, and
have demonstrated that they have paid
their debt to society for their crime. This
pardon, however, came one month after
the former sheris conviction and with
no apology or regrets from Arpaio for
VIEWPOINT
his actions. Arpaio even called the case a
political witch hunt in a thank you tweet
to Trump the day he was pardoned.
In fact, it was the pardon, not the
conviction, that was political in nature
payback from Trump to Arpaio for
his strong support during the real
estate mogul and reality TV stars 2016
presidential campaign. However, Trumps
bypass of the courts decision has sent
a clear message that he has no regard
for people of color or for the rule of law.
Through his actions, Trump demonstrates
a great disregard of the U.S. Constitution
and the constitutional oce that he holds
and a great ignorance of it.
Some believe that these are all
part of the distractions to the Russian
investigation. It very well could be
but Trumps actions reect the view of
his hardcore supporters who represent
racism and ethnic purication. We have
witnessed that on every level of his brief
presidency.
We can be angry and sad but now, more
than ever, we must take time from each of
our personal lives to dedicate ourselves to
helping out congressional candidates for
the 2018 midterm elections.
It is imperative that we not only work
for their election to oce but must also
participate on every level in choosing the
right candidate for the job. Too often we
elect individuals who seek oce for the
glitter and glamour. Now, more than ever,
we desperately need to elect great public
servants to oce.
We should never settle for less.
VOLUME 01 ISSUE 13
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V I E W PO I NT W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM SE P T E MBE R 0 8 , 2 0 1 7 2 1

Whats stopping us from ending AIDS epidemic?

Biomedical interventions
alone will not get
the job done

Phill Wilson is the President and CEO of the

Black AIDS Institute, the only national HIV/
AIDS think tank in the United States focused
exclusively on Black people. Follow him on
Twitter @iamphillwilson or email him at
phillwilson@blackaids.org.

The late Dr. Maya Angelou said, Do the

best you can until you know better. Then,
when you know better, do better!
The late Dr. MAYA ANGELOU said, Do the best
There have been a number of you can until you know better. Then, when you
remarkable biomedical breakthroughs know better, do better!
in the treatment and prevention of HIV/ PHOTO BY YORK COLLEGE ISLGP

AIDS in the last few years. We have better

surveillance tools, better diagnostic
tools, better treatment tools and better
prevention tools. We have the tools we
need to end the epidemic in America. The
scientic evidence is now clear. Or is it?
Last February, to commemorate
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day,
the Black AIDS Institute released a report
on the state of HIV/AIDS science and
treatment knowledge among non-medical
personnel working in HIV/AIDS in the
United States.
The results of the study are shocking.
The more than 3,600 respondents from
48 states, D.C., and U.S. territories who
participated in the study answered on
average only 63 percent of the questions
correctly. If this were an academic exam,
they would have earned a D. Said another
way, our nations case managers, social
workers, prevention educators, testers
and counselors, public health workers and
advocates, policy makers, contractors,
volunteers and others working to end the
AIDS epidemic are woefully unprepared
to implement the new biomedical tools
touted as the key to ending the AIDS
epidemic in America.
It gets even worse. The average scores
on treatment and clinical knowledge were
only 56% and 46% respectively.
So why is this important? Treatment and
biomedical interventions oer our best
chance of ending the epidemic in the U.S.
Helping people living with HIV reach viral
suppression can reduce transmission of
HIV by 96%, and pre-exposure prophylaxis
can reduce the chances of getting infected
with HIV by over 90%. Both are game
changers with the combined possibility
when used properly of breaking the back
of the AIDS epidemic.
All the biomedical and scientic
breakthroughs in the world arent worth
a damn if people working in the HIV eld national movement to:
dont understand them, believe in them
and know how to use them. We are leaving
our most valuable resource behind. We
have a large infrastructure of passionate,
committed and capable people working
in AIDS service organizations, community
based organizations, clinical settings and
health departments. They are ready to get
the job done. But they cant do it unless
they have the familiarity, knowledge and
skills needed to use these new tools.
I have been living with HIV for over 35
years. Every night I take three pills that
keep me healthy and keep me alive. And
you know what? I look at those pills every
night and theres one thing that I notice:
Not one of them has a way to get into my
body without my assistance. What the pills
do is biomedical. What I do is behavioral.
Ending the AIDS epidemic is going to
require integrating the behavioral and the
biomedical.
Biomedical interventions alone will not
get the job done.
The Black AIDS Institute is calling for a
increase the HIV science and treatment
knowledge of both the HIV/AIDS workforce
and those communities most at risk of HIV
infection;
establish a concise list of core
competencies for people working with HIV;
establish a certication process for
HIV/AIDS workers;
require continuing education for
people working in HIV;
dramatically increase the number of
people living with HIV/AIDS in the HIV/
AIDS workforce.
We need an educated AIDS workforce to
help people like me understand why HIV/
AIDS treatment is important and to help
us stay on treatment when the going gets
rough. Doctors cant really do that in the
15 minutes they have with a patient.
And to exacerbate the problem,
increasingly, people with HIV/AIDS are
going to receive their HIV care from
doctors who arent HIV specialists. People
in the communities most aected are
needed to deliver that kind of message.
Dr. Angelou said, When we know better,
we do better. This report looks at what the
HIV/AIDS workforce needs to know to do
better and makes bold recommendations
on how to address the problem.
For more details on the U.S. HIV/AIDS
Workforce Study, why science literacy
matters and why the HIV workforce is vital
to helping us reach an AIDS-free generation,
please go to www.BlackAIDS.org.
2 2 S EPTE MB ER 0 8 , 2017 W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM VIEWPOINT

Hurricane Harveys forgotten victims: factory-farmed animals

Millions were ignored in
the recovery and died
By NATHAN RUNKLE

The images of Texas residents aected by

Hurricane Harvey are heartbreaking: senior
citizens trapped in ooded nursing homes,
Houstonians picking through the wreckage
of what was once their homes, and rows
of injured and grief-stricken survivors
recovering on makeshift beds. Similarly,
countless news outlets have shared videos
and pictures of Houstonians eeing to safety
with their companion animalscats, dogs,
and even rabbitsin tow. But there are
millions of forgotten victims of Hurricane
Harvey: farmed animals.
According to the USDA, the 54 counties
declared a disaster area due to the recent
storm are home to over 1.2 million cows,
about 27 percent of the states cattle.
Dubbed cattle country, Texas has the A cow and calf stranded during Hurricane
most cows raised to be slaughtered for Harvey.
beef in the United States. PHOTO VIA YOUTUBE

While its too early to know the number

of farmed animals killed during the storm,
numerous videos show stranded cows
seeking higher ground to avoid rushing
oodwaters.
Sadly, this isnt the rst time a natural
disaster has claimed the lives of farmed
animals. In 1999, during Hurricane Floyd in
North Carolina, devastating images of pigs
trapped on factory farm roofs, desperate
to reach dry land, exposed the disturbing
reality of societys most vulnerable creatures:
the animals we raise and slaughter for food.
Treated as mere property and left behind
to die, countless pigs drowned. Two million
chickens, turkeys, and other farmed animals
also died.
In 2016 more than 35,000 cows froze to
death at a Texas dairy during a blizzard.
And just last year, thousands of chickens
and pigs drowned in oods after Hurricane
Matthew hit North Carolina.
Unlike dogs and cats, who by law must be
included in government evacuation plans
during natural disasters, farmed animals
are aorded no legal protection. In fact,
many animals are left to drown in cages, a
reminder of the dangers farmed animals
face when cruelly conned and unable to
escape oods, res, or other disasters. And
even if they are saved, its not for altruistic
reasonsits because theyll eventually be
slaughtered for money.
Its not just natural disasters that
threaten farmed animals; man-made
disasters are equally devastating. For
example, hundreds of thousands of
chickens, turkeys, and pigs burn to death
each year when factory farms catch re,
since these facilities arent required by law
to install re or smoke control systems.
Disturbingly, trade groups representing
the pork, egg, and poultry industries have
fought proposals to require factory farms
to have sprinklers and smoke detectors.
Natural disasters like Hurricane Harvey
and man-made disasters like barn res
are indeed tragic, but for animals raised
in factory farms, everyday life is tragic.
Undercover investigations have revealed
that the vast majority of farmed animals
spend their lives in lthy, unnatural
conditions. Most egg-laying hens and
mother pigs are crammed into cages so
small they can barely move. Chickens,
who make up nearly 90 percent of all
land animals slaughtered for food, are
bred to grow so fast they often collapse
under their own unnatural weight. At the
slaughterhouse, theyre violently shackled
upside down and painfully shocked with
electricity before having their throats slit,
often while fully conscious.
The images of Texans rescuing cats and
dogs in the midst of chaos is proof that
we cherish the animals with whom we
share our homes. But we must expand
our circle of compassion to all animals
including those raised and slaughtered
for food. Farmed animals feel pleasure,
pain, and joy just as we do, and just as
our companion animals do. The only
dierences between a dog and a pig, or a
cat and a chicken, are the arbitrary labels
we place on them.
The good news is that we dont need
to drive or y to Texas to rescue farmed
animals. While we ought to include them
in our government evacuation plans
during natural disasters and prescribe
re-safety standards for factory farms,
we can all start helping farmed animals
today by simply reducing or eliminating
our consumption of meat, eggs, and
dairy. Fortunately, its never been easier
to do just that, especially in Los Angeles
County, which is home to more than 120
vegetarian restaurants and hundreds of
veg-friendly eateries.
Dont like dining out? Visit ChooseVeg.
com for free meal plans, recipes, and one-
on-one support.
While we may despair at the sight
of individual animals harmed during
natural disasters, remember that the
animals harmed in factory farms and
slaughterhouses are also individuals. And
together, we can help end their horric
suering each time we eat.
NATHAN RUNKLE is the founder and president
of Mercy For Animals, an international animal
protection organization dedicated to preventing
cruelty to farmed animals and promoting
compassionate food choices and policies. His
new book, Mercy For Animals, chronicles his
journey from coming out as a gay teen in rural
Ohio to becoming an international animal
protection leader.
 SEPT 1-24, 2017
DONT MISS THESE GREAT
ATTRACTIONS:
THE IGLOO* - Presented by Groupon
Chill out in our arctic village with the Polar Ice Rink*
and Penguin Sled Run* made with real ice and snow!
Shop the Arctic Promenade and dance the night away
with an all-ages dance party featuring DJ Cool and
periodic snow storms.

JURASSIC PLANET*
Prehistoric creatures have defied extinction, making the
Fair their new home. See (and hear) dozens of dinosaurs
roaming the hillside in search of their next meal.

THE MAGICAL WORLD OF DRAGONS,

WIZARDS & BEASTS
Step inside our castle that takes you to a realm of
fantasy, imagination and experience. Visit dragon
perches and engage in interactive devices filled with pop
culture references. See live animals and engage in the
many activities that are not only fun but educational.

THE FARM
Experience crops and critters at The Farm at Fairplex.
This working farm features 150 California Specialty
Crops and hundreds of barnyard animals. This year we
even have a bug bar, featuring bug tacos.

The GRAMMY Museum Presents

The Taylor Swift Experience
At the LA County Fair*
The Taylor Swift ExperienceTM gives visitors an in-
depth look at the 10-time GRAMMY-winning artist as
a singer, songwriter, musician and producer through
personal photographs and home videos, interactive
experiences, handwritten lyrics of Taylors top-charting
hits and iconic performance outfits.
*Nominal admission fee for ages 6 and older.

Visit LACountyFair.com
2 4 S EPTE MB ER 0 8 , 2017 WWW. L O S A N G E L E S B L A D E . C O M

Looking for a good old-fashioned house

party to meet mature men 35+?
HOS is hosting a private party.
Open bar and food buffet.
If youre interested in M4M
meeting face to face, come to this
Singles Party 2017.
**THIS IS NOT A SEX PARTY **

Sept. 23 7 pm - 1 am
South Plainfield, NJ
Close to all public transportation from NYC/Newark airport.
This is a nationwide invitation.
$30
Contact Tony for more information!
Call or text: (908) 930-9204
Email: tyleeking@aol.com

You must register to be invited to this private event.

** DRUGS ARE NOT ALLOWED **
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 Out gay culinary stars share more than recipes
S E P T E M B E R 0 8 2 0 1 7 V O L U M E 0 1 I S S U E 1 3 A meri c a s L G B T Q N e w s S our c e L O S A N G E L E S B L A D E . C O M 2 5
Celebrity chef, Cat Cora (Iron Chef,
My Kitchen Rules):
There are a handful of out chefs and like
all chefs I am about being inclusive, there is
enough to go around. I am about empowering
others while still keeping my drive to be the
best at my craft. Im always giving 100 percent
to stay at the forefront and be a face to this
community. There is room for us all -- I just say
work hard and never give up!
The kitchen culture still tends to be
very straight-male-centric, although some
places have changed over the years. The
challenge is knowing its okay to bring
your own energy and style while still
demonstrating your style and excellence.
I have broken many glass ceilings and
proud that I have a mutual respect with
my male counterparts. You have to be
fierce in any industry and that is no less
true in the culinary world. I have never let
that dictate who I am as a woman or chef.
And I get to do what I love every day.
Cora recently opened Fatbird in NY
earlier this summer.
James Rosselle, (Food Networks
Last Cake Standing, Food Network
Challenge) who recently did a chef
demo at the LA Times The Taste
The restaurant industry is as
competitive as any industry, if not more!
When I embarked on my pastry journey at
the young age of 22, I prepared myself for
tough journey. My first job out of school
was with the acclaimed Ron Ben Israel in
04. Ron is a great business man and gay.
He is an inspiration. I didnt experience or
encounter much homophobia under his
leadership. While I was at RBI Cakes, I was
Star s in their field are c oo king up a s to rm
By SUSAN HORNICK
Cat Cora
one of five gay employees. At the time, I
was very young, guarded, and maintained
a high sense of professionalism than the
average 20 something.
I never came out (it was understood) to
my colleagues there. The reason was fear,
to be quite honest. I had an unfortunate
experience before moving to New York
from sunny So Cal. So, I made the decision
to keep things professional. Work is work
and friendship is friendship. My personal
life was off limits so to say. I was quite the
professional. I proved myself every day, still
do! I wanted Ron to trust and count on my
abilities and my hand skills. In so many ways,
Ron was our gay Dad! I still call him daddy!
He was good to me and I and thankful for
the experience I had with him. Working with
Ron gave me the strength and confidence to
pursue so much more, and I did!
Do I still feel the same today? No! I like
so many others before me have paved
the rainbow brick road. We put our time
PHOTO BY DAVID G MARKS FOR LA TIMES TASTE
in as chefs. We earn the right to be where
we are. Times have changed. People are
more accepting. Work ethic, talent and your
bedside manner are the qualities that
are sought after as chefs. The kitchen will
always be competitive. In my experience, my
gay colleagues are the best workers in the
kitchen. WE GET THINGS DONE! I dont mind
a competitive environment, I welcome it.
Making a connection with communities
is the biggest challenge. I play and compete
in a dodgeball league in West Hollywood.
It is a gay league that is open to all walks of
life (gay, straight, bi,). We are a family that
supports each other, loves each other and
competes against each other. We need
more of this in our communities.
Chef Robyn Almodovar (Chopped,
Cutthroat Kitchen, Hells Kitchen, Hells
Kitchen All Stars
The industry is very competitive it used
to be a mans world and now female chefs
are starting to rise and kick some major
ass. But I think the competitiveness is in
the industry alone. I really dont feel that
being a lesbian chef has hurt me in anyway,
but that may be because I have always
worked in gay friendly communities and
establishments. Of course, there are just
the stereotypes overall that people make if
your sexual preference is more obvious in
the way you dress or carry yourself.
I think challenges in the food industry
are everywhere, not unique to the LGBT
community. Homosexuals eat the same
food as heterosexuals. So the bigger
challenge is marketing overall in a very
saturated community. Many high end or
new and trendy restaurants have opened
up in the gayborhood of Floridas Wilton
Manors, and so all the establishments are
all working hard to stay on top of their
game and offer something new.
Arnold Myint, Bravos Top Chef
Working with LGBTQ youth quite
often, I feel the greatest obstacle we as
a community face is the confidence to
simply put ourselves out there. I am one
who always does what makes me happy
and search for opportunity. Many dont
have the guidance or resources to do such.
I dont really see much competition
being gay in the kitchen. Like in any
profession, the job has nothing to do with
sexuality. I hang with my kitchen bros
quite well. Gay, yes I am, but Im a whiskey
drinking pan flipping dude too. I throw
down the same way as anyone else and
that respect transcends any other stigma.
n CONTINUES AT LOSANGELESBLADE.COM
2 6 S EPTE MB ER 0 8 , 2017
THE LEGENDARY VANITY FAIR CELEBRITY PROFILER ANSWERS 20 GAY QUESTIONS
By TROY MASTERS
tmasters@losangelesblade.com
I must confess that I once ogled at
Kevin Sessums at a 1990s gay Pride rally
in Manhattans Union Square Park. He
was splayed out on the lawn next to me,
shirtless, muscular and tan on a blanket,
surrounded by ACT UPs elite.
My friend noticed me noticing and
whispered, thats that Kevin Sessums guy.
He has the cover of Vanity Fair this month
with Barbra Streisand. I said, Introduce
me. She did and Kevin said, of course I
know who you are. I thought WTF?
Kevin has tapped so much raw emotion
in interviews with nearly every celebrity
that ever mattered, writing more than 20
W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM
Queery: Kevin Sessums
KEVIN SESSUMS and his beloved Archie.
covers for Vanity Fair, including stories on
Madonna, Cher, Bette Midler, Streisand,
Johnny Depp, Heath Ledger, Tom Hanks,
Charlize Theron, Tom Cruise, Courtney
Love and many more. All of them opened
up to Sessums, sometimes in painful
detail, at the zenith of their careers.
His ability to connect is legendary and
in part its because, as he says, Honey, I
am not only an open wound, Im an open
book. And it is a skill he has rened in a
painful examination of his own life, laying
it all out in two New York Times best-
selling books, Mississippi Sissy and I left
it on the mountain.
It does draw you in.
I was a meth slammer and Im not
talking about the poetry kind - although
2 0 G A Y Q U E ST I O N S F O R: K E V I N S E S S UM S
PHOTO BY TOM ACKERMAN
there was a bit of Rimbaud-like poetry to it
all now that I have some distance from it,
thank God. There was a meth head to my
madness. It was when I had to foster my
dogs that I realized I had hit bottom. I began
to sob when a friend and I drove away and
she reached out to me and said, This is what
surrender feels like, he told me.
Recovery is possible.
Sessums is back and stronger than
ever, rebooting his life, polishing up his
brand and hearkening back to his years at
Vanity Fair while leaping forward into the
evolving world of online publishing.
KevinSessums.com promises to be
perhaps the most modern magazine in a
generation, full of great celebrity-focused
articles and a regular dose of multimedia
Kevin. Hes moving beyond his social
media following, now in excess of 50,000,
for a subscription model ($20 per month),
aiming at the stratosphere. Just as youd
expect of him.
When KevinSessums.com goes live on
Sept. 18 you can subscribe to a magazine
lled with culture, conversation and
current aairs written by Sessums and
many other leading names. The inaugural
issue features Ali MacGraw, Jane Holzer,
David Hockney and Courtney Love. There
will be many other features, and even a
Warhol-era podcast with Sam Shepard
when Sessums was executive editor of
Andy Warhols Interview.
CONTINUES ON PAGE 31
F I LM W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM SE P T E MBE R 0 8 , 2 0 1 7 2 7

Beach Rats doesnt quite stick to the script

WHITEWASHING ANTI-GAY MURDER OF A BROOKLYN BLACK MAN, HOLLYWOOD STYLE

By JOHN PAUL KING

Eliza Hittmans Beach Rats is
unquestionably a potent piece of lmmaking.
After a glowing debut at Sundance
early this year, it has claimed awards at
numerous lm festivals, including the prize
for Outstanding Screenwriting in a U.S.
Feature at Los Angeles own Outfest. Now
receiving wider release in movie theaters
across the country, it continues to garner
impressive reviews as it cements its status
as the latest darling of indie LGBT cinema.
Its also at the center of a blooming
controversy that threatens to undermine
that status.
A gritty, slice-of life drama, the movie
documents a fateful summer in the life
of Frankie, a closeted South Brooklyn
teen who nds escape from his joyless
life through anonymous online hookups
with older guys he meets online. As the
narrative follows his eorts to mask
his secret by posturing with hooligan
friends and pursuing a romance with a
neighborhood girl, it creates an astute
portrait of internalized homophobia and
the cultural pressure that breeds it.
The critical acclaim is not unwarranted.
Anchored by a breathtaking performance
from the beautiful Harris Dickinson (an
English actor, though you would never
know it from his awless depiction of a
young Brooklyn bro), Hittmans movie is
sexy, haunting, and impressionistic. It ows
through a series of incidents and encounters
with dreamlike detachment; its 16mm
cinematography (by Hlne Louvart) creates
a sense of disjointed aimlessness with hand-
held camerawork, and oppresses our senses
with the frequent use of extreme close-ups.
The overall eect is to keep us as completely
in the moment as the lms protagonist as own determination to be what he thinks
he oats blithely along toward the inevitable
collision of his two worlds.
It doesnt all work as well as Hittman
wants it to. There are stretches when the
movies meandering pace feels like a test
HARRISON ELLIS in Beach Rats.
of patience; its narrative is occasionally
obscured by its impressionistic visual style;
and one has to wonder why, in a lm about
a young man coming to terms with his
homosexuality, so much more screen time
is devoted to his relationship with a would-
be girlfriend than it is to his encounters
with other males (no oense to the lovely
Madeline Weinstein, who gives a luminous
performance as the girl in question).
Ultimately, though, Beach Rats wields
a cumulative power that grows out of
its scattered moments of truth, leaving
us with a clear picture of a young man
disconnected from his sense of self by his
the world expects him to be. Frankies
compartmentalization of his sexual
identity is less about shame than it is about
living up to a role in which he sees himself
cast by his community. Its OK for him to
PHOTO BY CINEREACH, ANIMAL KINGDOM, SECRET ENGINE
have sex with men, as long as he keeps it
separate from his real life. Thanks to Ellis
subtly illuminating performance, its clear
that his most truthful and authentic self
comes to the surface when he is with his
clandestine tricks which makes it all the
more devastating to watch him betray that
self through the actions he takes to hide it.
The lms insightful observations about
such homophobic rationalization made
all the more impressive by the fact that
Beach Rats is written and directed by
a straight woman are well worth the
sometimes slow and rocky journey it takes to
reach them, and would normally be reason
enough to give it a hearty endorsement.
Unfortunately, ethical questions about
the source of its content make such an
endorsement problematic.
Though Hittman has stated in numerous
interviews that her screenplay for Beach
Rats was inuenced solely by her own
memories of growing up in the Brooklyn
neighborhood depicted in the lm, the
circumstances leading up to the storys
climax are suspiciously close to those of a
real-life incident.
In 2006, a black gay man named Michael
Sandy arranged a meeting online with a
teen named John Fox. When he arrived,
he saw four young men instead of only
one and decided to leave; soon afterward,
however, he contacted Fox again and
arranged to meet him alone for sex.
Lured to Plumb Beach, a remote location
o the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn, he was
ambushed by Fox and three of his friends
Anthony Fortunato, Ilya Shurov, and
Gary Timmins who planned to steal the
marijuana he had promised to bring along.
Sandy ed onto the Parkway, pursued by
Fox and Shurov. The latter shoved him into
the path of a moving vehicle, which struck
and killed him. All four teens were later
convicted of manslaughter as a hate crime.
The events which transpire in Hittmans
movie do not play out exactly the same
way; there is no overt depiction of a killing,
although the outcome is deliberately
ambiguous. Nevertheless, the specics
leading up to them along with numerous
other factual parallels that are woven into
the lms entire structure are so similar
to the highly publicized case as to raise the
eyebrows of New Yorkers who remember it.
The climactic scene was even lmed, in
part, at the same location where the real-
life incident took place.
CONTINUES AT LOSANGELESBLADE.COM
BEACH RATS
Director Eliza Hittman
Staring Harris Dickinson, Madeline Weinstein,
Kate Hodge, Neal Hu, Nicole Flyus
Now Playing: ArcLight Cinema
6360 West Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood CA
90028 | (323) 464-1478
Showtimes: 11:00 am | 2:00 pm | 4:50 | 7:10 |
9:15 | 11:25
2 8 S EPTE MB ER 0 8 , 2017
Randy Jones riding high in the saddle again
VILLAGE PEOPLES ICONIC COWBOY RETURNS TO THE CHARTS 40 YEARS LATER
Randy Jones is best known as the cowboy
from the band, Village People. Hes done a
lot of other things in his 50 years in show
business, but his current success has him
back in the saddle in a major way.
Jones is on the Billboard chart for
the rst time as a solo act. His current
singleHard Timesis onBillboards dance
chart, currently holding tough at No. 45.
Hard Times is part of a full-length album,
Still Makin Noise, coming out this fall.
The Los Angeles Blade spoke to Jones by
phone while he was in New York, shooting
two videos for Hard Times, set to debut
on Sept. 13 Jones 65th annual Kings and
Cowboys birthday party.
Jones has lived in the East Village since
1975, now with his husband of the last 34
years. He is the only Village person who
truly lived in the Village.
He doesnt call his Billboard single
a comeback, he calls it just another
milestone. But, he says, it is the rst time
a member of the Village People has ever
charted as a solo artist in 40 years.
He is a classically trained actor and
dancer, and has appeared in more than
40 lms, and performed, he says, in about
41 plays and musicals in New York and
around the world. But the accolades Jones
is getting now are something the cowboy
hasnt experienced since his days on stage
with his crew from Village People.
Currently this is the most success Ive
had as an individual artist. I have the legacy
of the Village People to build upon, and 40
years of experience, and the last 25 years
Ive spent performing as a solo artist. But
I can say that personally this is the most
productive and busiest time of my solo
career. Im the busiest I should be in life.
Other people talk about retirement, and
I think, what am I going to retire from? Ive
been one of these blessed individuals that
my entire life Ive done what Ive been gifted
to do and its been a luxury, Jones says.
W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM
By REBEKAH SAGER
RANDY JONES is the ultimate gay cowboy, riding high in the saddle again.
Jones and Village People in many ways
helped dene the 1970s. He says his was the
last generation to really live in the moment.
We witnessed the Civil Rights Movement,
the womens movement, the gay rights
movement, and the protests of Vietnam. We
were products of the hippie vibe. We were
able to be adults and if we chose the option
of experimenting or choosing to incorporate
in those movements, we had the right to do it.
Thats why the 70s were a completely unique
decade. A decade of liberalism, he says.
Our generation is tough, and we were
the last generation that had the luxury not
PHOTO COURTESY OF JONES
to be burdened by all of the technology
that people have today. When we went
out with friends, we could live in the
moment. We could go out to Studio 54
on a Saturday night and there were no
cameras or cell phones. We didnt even
have answering machines. We were not
bothered with taking a sele. We werent
texting or distracted by wanting to video
it. If you picked something up on Saturday
night at the Studio, a week later you could
go to the clinic and a shot of penicillin
would take care of it. It was a dierent
situation, he adds.
MU SI C
Jones says the Village Peoples inuence on
culture and politics were stealthy. By coming
into peoples homes at least once a week via
television shows such as The Merv Grin
show, the group would use its 3-minute
songs and kitschy act, to subtly change the
perspectives of average Americans.
We are six enthusiastic, handsome, kind
of sexy, charming, talented young men,
singing a pop song that was deceptively
simple, expertly crafted, and irresistible.
Using the sharpest scalpel in the drawer,
wed make a little painless incision
above the heart, pull the ap down, and
through our songs, insert a little bit of
understanding and tolerance. We stitch it
up, nish the song, and we withdraw.
Years later, weeks later or even days
later, and someone encounters a person
they had previously thought was a faggot
or dyke or a black person, they think,
wait a minute, that reminds me of one
of the guys from Village People, and they
were kind of cute, and we like that song.
Then maybe in some of those situations
we eased it for a person to think a little
dierently, tolerantly, more accepting of
others who were dierent. With 30 years
of hindsight, looking back at the legacy of
Village People, we made incremental or
baby steps, and I think social historians are
going to now begin to see that the Village
People wasnt a novelty band, Jones says.
Today, Village People and Jones products
have over 480 million views on YouTube and
have sold over 135 million units (records).
It was looked at as something kind of
funny, but has made such an impact on
popular and social culture that people
are still talking about it today not to
mention that people still enjoy the music.
YMCA is played at bar mitzvahs, birthday
parties, weddings, and Major League
Baseball games. Ive had a wonderful life.
I could never have imagined I could have
had this wonderful a life, Jones says.
CA L E N DA R
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.
SEPT. 8
PaleyFest Fall TV Previews, Fri Sep
08, @ 06:00 PM at The Paley Center for
Media (465 N. Beverly Dr.) Find out whats
in store for your favorite returning or new
shows on TV this fall? Preview screenings:
(Sept. 8); ABCs The Mayor, The Good Doctor
and Ten Days in the Valley Sept. 9; The CWs
Valor and Dynasty (Sept. 9); OWNs Queen
Sugar (Sept. 10); NBCs Law & Order True
Crime: The Menendez Murders and The
Brave (Sept. 11) and more. Meet casts.
Shlomo, Fri Sep 08 @ 08:30 PM at
The Novo by Microsoft (800 W. Olympic
Blvd). Shlohmo knows mood music; his
2015 album, Dark Red, was a haunted
synth of spine-tingling processed guitar.
Accompanied by D33Js percolating drum
machines he represents the more futuristic
end of music today. Not especially gay, but
hey, get out of your head.
Long Beach QFilm Festival, Fri Sep
08 @ 07:00 PM at Art Theatre of Long
Beach (2025 E. Fourth St. Long Beach,
CA 90814). Long Beachs longest-running
lm festival since 1993, the QFilm Festival
annually presents narrative features,
documentaries and short lms that
embody the rich diversity and experiences
of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and
queer (LGBTQ) communities.
SEPT. 9
Jeanne Moreau Double Feature, Sat
Sep 9 @ 07:30 PM at Aero Theatre (1328
Montana Ave. Santa Monica). Existential
lm at its nest. In La Notte, directed by
the perennially jolly Michelangelo Antonioni,
she plays the wife of a famous author who
comes to terms with the materialistic void at
the center of their marriage. In Luis Buuels
Diary of a Chambermaid, she is a Parisian
servant serves fetishists and murderers.
Sunstock Solar Festival, Sat Sep 09 @
02:00 PM at The Reef (1933 S. Broadway
Ave.). Now in its second year, this mini-music
W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM
World Arts, Local Lives explores the roles that art plays in creating meaning and dening purpose for
people across the globe.
festival powers its two stages entirely on
solar power and benets GRID Alternatives,
an L.A.-based nonprot that brings solar
energy to underserved communities.
The Truth About Swear to Tell the
Truth, Sat Sep 09 @ 2:00 PM at Los
Angeles Central Library, Mark Taper
Auditorium (630 W. Fifth St.). To celebrate
Banned Books Week, LA MADE presents
the rst public screening of this academy
award-nominated documentary on the life
and work of Lenny Bruce in over a decade.
SEPT. 11
Monterey International Pop Festival:
Music, Love and Flowers, 1967, Sun Sep
11 @ 10:30 AM at Grammy Museum (800
W. Olympic Blvd.) featuring co-producer
Lou Adlers personal artifacts, in addition
to items belonging to Joplin, Hendrix,
Shankar, The Grateful Dead and other
concert artists and photographs by Henry
Diltz, Tom Gundelnger ONeal, Elaine
Mayes and Ed Carae.
Straight-Ish Talk with Chaunte
Wayans & More, Sun Sep 11 @ 08:00
PM at Hollywood Improv, (8162 Melrose
Ave). You heard about it here but you like
already knew. Did you know? See Chunte
sashay. Dont miss it.
9/11 Memorial Garden, Sun Sep 11,
@ 05:00 PM at Bevery Hills 911 Memorial
Garden (445 Rexford, Beverly Hills). Beverly
Hills is home to more family members of
9-11 victims than any other city of California.
Join in honor of those lost 16 years ago when
PHOTO COURTESY OF UCLAS FLOWER MUSEUM
the worst terrorist attack of our nations
history toppled the Twin Towers.
SEPT. 12
Stormy Weather, Tue Sep 12 @ 01:00 PM
at LACMA (5905 Wilshire Blvd.) Its a legendary
movie series and a legendary movie, to boot.
Bring a picnic and an umbrella, although the
only rain you are likely to nd is inside LACMA
at the Rain Room.
Gypsy, Tue Sep 12 @ 07:30 PM at
Laemmles Royal Theatre (11523 Santa
Monica Blvd). Yes, that Gypsy, the one you
know and love to sing and dance to. Its a
great way to spend a Sunday evening and
watch what is likely one of your favorite
Broadway productions ever.
Yo-Yo Ma Plays Bach, Tue Sep 12 @
08:00 PM at Hollywood Bowl (2301 N.
Highland Ave.). Theres only a few living
legends of classical music an Yo-Yo Ma tops
the list. His soulful cello and utterly perfect
renditions of Bach will make you cry.
SEPT. 14
Hall & Oates, Tears for Fears, Thu Sep
14 @ 07:30 PM at Staples Center (1111
S. Figueroa St). You know them and you
probably love them and for the next two
nights you will catch them performing all
their greatest hits at Staple Center. Youll
be so glad you made it.
BlakTina Dance Festival, Thu Sep
14 @ 07:30 PM at Bootleg Theater (2200
Beverly Blvd). This is the 5th presentation
of the BlakTina Festival in LA and this year
SE P T E MBE R 0 8 , 2 0 1 7 2 9
dierent regional Black and Latinx voices
are coming together! This exciting festival
will feature 9 choreographers in three
evenings of compelling work!
SEPT. 16
California Vegetarian Food Festival,
Sat Sep 16 @ 10:00am at Raleigh Studios
(5300 Melrose Ave). You wont believe
its vegetarian. Some of the most noted
names in culinary LA are coming together
at Raleigh Studios in WeHO to celebrate
the best of all things tasty and vegetarian.
SEPT. 17
Visions and Values: Jewish Life From
Antiquity to America, Sun Sep 17 @ All
Day at Skirball Cultural Center (2701
N. Sepulveda Blvd). Get in the mood to
celebrate Jewish New York and renew your
understanding of what it is to be Jewish
today and in yesterday. After Charleston,
we have a lot to consider.
SEPT. 18
Intersections: World Arts, Local Lives,
Mon Sep 18 @ All Day at Fowler Museum
at UCLA (Sunset & Westwood blvds. Find
out how simply we are all connected.
Tree of Testimony: L.A. Museum of
the Holocaust, Sep 18 @ 10:00 AM at
Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust
(100 S. The Grove Dr.). Just before the
beginning of New Year, remembering
is critical. Join Holocaust survivors and
hear their stories.
ROSH HASHANAH
LGBT CELEBRATIONS
5778 Rosh Hashanah LGBT services:
Kol Ami, @ various times and dates (1200
N La Brea Ave). Erev Rosh Hashanah Wed,
Sep 20 @ 8:00 PM; Rosh Hashanah Day One
Thu Sep 21@ 10:00 AM; Childrens Service,
Thu Sep 21 @ 10:30 AM. Rosh Hashanah
Day Two Fri Sep 22 @ 10:00 AM.
5778 Rosh Hashanah LGBT services:
Kol Nidre @ various times and dates. Wed
Sep 20 @ 07:15 PM; Erev Rosh Hashanah
at Temple Isaiah (10345 W Pico Blvd). Thu
Sep 21 @ 09:30 AM: Rosh Hashanah, First
Friday, 09:30 AM 01:30 PM: Morning
Services. Please bring your shofar!
3 0 S EPTE MB ER 0 8 , 2017
Kathy shaves her head, Boy George heads to Vegas
Ive lost a lot of friends to drugs. The fact
Im sitting here now is pretty amazing...Im
lucky to be alive. - My pal Belinda Carlisle
talks about her 30-year addiction to drugs.
Belated happy birthday to her (and to Big
Mama Masters).
Someone who usually shocks by
shedding her clothes has actually shed
her hair! Kathy Grin just shaved her
head. No, it isnt some misguided homage
to Sinad OConnor. She did it in solidarity
with her sister who is undergoing
chemotherapy to ght a tumor. Mama
Maggie Tweeted a photo and wrote, My
daughter Kathleen Mary is a wonderful
human being. Well, now we know who is
actually writing Kathys mothers Tweets!
But, thats the least shocking Kathy Grin
story. The funny lady reports that after the
fallout of her photo stunt, a member of
CBSs board of directors sent her an e-mail
instructing her how to smooth things over.
The unnamed person told her to send a letter
(not an e-mail) to the president begging for
forgiveness, admitting she does not deserve
this forgiveness, and to basically grovel. She
was also advised to only leak the letter to FOX
News - so theyd have the scoop. Needless to
say, she didnt take that advice.
The possibility of Glenn Close
immortalizing her portrayal of Norma
Desmond in Andrew Lloyd Webbers
Sunset Boulevard on lm inched closer
to becoming a reality. Paramount Pictures
the studio that holds the rights to the
lm and all subsequent versions thinks
an adaptation with Glenn could work.
They were intrigued back in 1995 when
she rst played the role, but felt she was
too young. Now, over 20 years later and
in light of her success with the revival in
London and New York, the studio thinks
the time is right. They have ambitiously
scheduled production on the lm to
commence in January 2018.
Boy George just signed his rst major
W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM
AND THE REST OF THE REALLY IMPORTANT NEWS OF THE WEEK
By BILLY MASTERS
KATHY GRIFFIN shaved her head in support of her sister with cancer.
record label deal in 30 years! Not only that,
but hes also committed to a multimillion-
dollar Vegas residency. How will the
56-year-old George handle the added work
schedule? Im going to need a body double!
He attributes the new opportunities to
being clean and sober. This couldnt have
happened if I was still using. The record
for BMG will be a collection of covers. This
will quickly be followed by a new Culture
Club album. All the while, he has to craft his
solo Vegas show. I think Ill model myself
mostly on Cher because she changes
outts every 11 minutes. I think that might
be a good starting point.
Legendary designer Bob Mackie is crafting
costumes for a revival of the burlesque
campfest When Pigs Fly, which is slated to
open o-Broadway on Oct. 30. Mackie told
SCREEN CAPTURE VIA YOUTUBE
me about this exciting news when I saw him
last week in Provincetown, but I was sworn
to secrecy. Since the cats now out of the bag,
I can at least conrm it. I believe the last full
show he costumed in NYC was Moon Over
Bualo in 1995. Welcome back, Bob!
The upcoming London production
of Hair is oering a clothing-optional
performance. The audience members will
get the opportunity to strip during the Act
1 nale. Note to self - bring a paper seat
cover to this show!
Elsewhere in London, a play based on
Brokeback Mountain is being adapted for
the stage and has just started a workshop
production. They are calling it the most
tragic gay love story ever told. Apparently
they havent read my diary!
Since Aaron Carters bisexual admission,
G O SSI P
he decided it would be good to put his
talent where his mouth (presumably) has
been. So he booked himself a gig in a gay
bar - Hamburger Marys in Tampa. Tickets
were $10, and far be it from me to point
out that the burgers cost more! He had the
predictable crying, apologizing, scattered
presence that has endeared him to many
a crowd. He also did single out several
guys in the audience. That motherfucker
right there is gorgeous. Youre gorgeous.
Hes kinda cute. It is what it is. I am who
I am. But who are the people he was
looking at? I wanna see photos of them.
Intriguingly enough, days after coming
out as bisexual, Aaron aggressively began
pursuing Chlo Grace Moretz. Thus far, hes
twice asked her out on Twitter. Wake me
when he starts Tweeting the Jonas Brothers.
To continue his journey into the gay
community, Carter showed up at the
Project Angel Food Gala in Los Angeles last
weekend. The organization, which provides
meals to people living with HIV, chose Aaron
to present an award to the groups founder,
Marianne Williamson. Aaron showed up in
a head-to-toe, voluminous white faux fur
coat. When asked about his fashion choice,
he said, Ive always dressed like this. Its just,
Im bringing it back now. Ive always been
kind of out there I guess. He posed on the
red carpet with Adam Lambert, who was
barely noticed.
When Aaron is eclipsing Adam, its
denitely time to end yet another column.
See how I tied that into this whole eclipse
frenzy? No need for clouds in our
coee - weve got Aaron Carter on www.
BillyMasters.com, the site you can view
with the naked eye.
If you have a question for me, send it
along to me at Billy@BillyMasters.com and
I promise to get back to you before Boy
Georges show is designed by Bob Mackie!
So, until next time, remember, one mans
lth is another mans bible.
Q U E E RY
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26
How long have you been out and who
was the hardest person to tell?
45 years. My girlfriend in college since I
came out in high school. Ive always had
trouble with linear narratives.
Whos your LGBT hero?
My hero is Fannie Lou Hamer but not
sure she qualies for this answer so since
she cant serve I will give the answer to
her rst runner-up: Bayard Rustin.
Whats Los Angeles best nightspot,
past or present?
I always thought Ciros would have been
serious fun.
Describe your dream wedding.
Being given a round-trip ticket to some
exotic spot by the two wealthy people
wedding each other and I arrive as a guest.
What non-LGBT issue are you most
passionate about?
This week its DACA but it seems to
W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM
change weekly with the Fascist Regime in
Washington and The Tacky Know-Nothing
Fascist Vulgarian at its helm.
What historical outcome would you
change?
The Tacky Know-Nothing Fascist Vulgarian
being elected president with millions of
fewer votes.
Whats been the most memorable pop
culture moment of your lifetime?
Sidney Poitier winning the Oscar for Best
Actor for his performance in Lilies of the
Field in 1963.
On what do you insist?
Kindness.
What was your last Facebook post or
Tweet?
As of this moment, I just linked to a
prole of Teen Vogues brilliant Editor in
Chief Elaine Welteroth by Jazmine Hughes
in the New York Times.
If your life were a book, what would
the title be?
Mississippi Sissy. :)
If science discovered a way to change
sexual orientation, what would you
do?
Try to meet the cutest straight boys who
had themselves changed into gay ones.
What do you believe in beyond the
physical world?
God. Ganesha. Parvati. Lucifer.
Consciousness. God Again. And God. Im
a theist.
once longed for a Pulitzer or a Tony. But a
Whats your advice for LGBT movement
leaders?
Focus more on coalition politics.
What would you walk across hot coals
for?
Nothing.
Why Los Angeles?
What LGBT stereotype annoys you
most?
Straight-acting.
SE P T E MBE R 0 8 , 2 0 1 7 3 1
Whats your favorite LGBT movie?
I was going to say Cabaret but there is a
brilliant lm I saw at Outfest here in San
Francisco this year: Gods Own Country.
I think its masterful.
Whats the most overrated social
custom?
The halftime show at the Super Bowl -
and the Super Bowl.
What trophy or prize do you most covet?
Since Im launching my new eponymous
online magazine on Sept. 18, a Webby. I
Webby will do.
What do you wish youd known at 18?
That I would someday make it to 61 and
someone would be asking me what I wish
I had known at 18.
Because after whispering, Open your
eyes, it looks you in yours while having sex.
Doesnt need to be kissed. Cums like crazy.
And is really rather lovely about it all.
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