The LGBTQ+ locals choice
Volume 23 #10 ™
FabLasVegas.com
bent INN & PUB GAY VEGAS HAS A NEW HOME
A special shoutout to our dedicated advertising team, guided by Director of Sales and Marketing, Peter Ryan.
26
YEARS
In this edition of “Fab Magazine,” we proudly showcase our stellar team, featuring Editor-in-Chief Maria Carlson, Creative Director Luka Acuna, Managing Editor Milded Bard, Art Director Carrie Bacon, and the brilliant writers Chris Azzopardi and Terri Schlichenmeyer. Behind the lens, Georgio Barrios leads our photography team.
Vegas’ #1 travel site for LGBTQ+
GayVegas.com
We’re grateful to both our team and our readers and subscribers for making Fab what it is today! For advertising inquiries, contact us at info@bmgus.com or call 702-907-0605.
Table of Contents Page 6: Bent Inn Opens Page 10: Las Vegas TransPride Week Page 14: Halloween Events Page 16: LGBTQ+ Book Club Page 18: Sufjan Stevens Coming Out Page 20: Interview with Melissa Etheridge Pages 26-27: Community Map Pages 28-31: STD Resources Pages 32-35: Pride Flags Page 36: Community Resources
@GayVegas #GayVegas
Bundle Media Group, Inc.
™
To secure equal rights and protections for LGBTQ Nevadans and their families.
info@EQNV.org www.EqualityNevada.org 4 Fab Vegas
FabLasVegas.com
5
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LGBTQ+ VEGAS NEWS
Photo Credit: Bent Inn ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vegas’ Only Gay-Owned Boutique Hotel and Gastropub Opens on November 22nd Las Vegas is about to get a splash of color, glamour, and a dash of rebellion with the grand opening of Bent Inn, an audacious and creatively twisted boutique hotel and gastropub. Owned and operated by the renowned Escape Resorts, Inc., this 33-room sanctuary is set to open its doors to the world on November 22nd, offering a unique and unforgettable experience. Bent Inn isn’t just a hotel; it’s a celebration of 6 Fab Vegas
A Resort with a Twist
night,” Bent Inn promises to be a haven for the not-sostraight, the boldly individual, and anyone looking to embrace their true self.
Bent Inn, located east of the famed Las Vegas Strip and a stone’s throw away from the iconic Fremont Street Experience, breaks away from convention, embracing a theme that’s as playful as it is welcoming. With the tagline “khakis by day, leather by
Behind this trailblazing venture are Mark Hunter and Greg Kafka, a married couple and seasoned hoteliers. Their vision is to create a space where everyone can be themselves. Although the establishment is “straightfriendly,” its primary focus is
individuality and an oasis for the LGBTQ+ community and their allies.
Facebook.com/FreeZoneLV
7 Fab Vegas
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LGBTQ+ VEGAS NEWS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------on creating a safe, inclusive, and fun environment for the “Bent Community.” This term encompasses a diverse array of individuals, from those with pink hair to those with crew cuts, from those who prefer Jack and Coke to those who enjoy a dirty martini, and everyone in between. It’s a place where all identities are not only accepted but celebrated. A Playground of Possibilities Bent Inn offers a range of room types, each uniquely designed to cater to the diverse tastes of its guests. From king-size bed hotel rooms with high-end mattresses to bunkhouse rooms for solo travelers and hostel-style accommodations, there’s something for everyone. The rooms are adorned with modern amenities, including 65” flat-screen Smart TVs, luxury brand bath products, electronic safes, hairdryers, and Bluetooth-enabled radio/ charger/speakers. The decor
8 Fab Vegas
is a captivating blend of midcentury style and custom pulp fiction artwork, creating an atmosphere that’s both comfortable and eccentric. Guests are also treated to an array of facilities, all included in a $22 resort fee. This fee covers overnight off-street parking, high-speed Wi-Fi, and access to the expansive heated adults-only swimming pool, a poolside food truck, and the oversized outdoor heated spa. For those looking to explore the area, the resort’s location is ideal. It’s just a 10-minute walk to the Downtown Fremont Street Experience, the heart of Las Vegas’s LGBTQ+ community. A Gastropub with a Bent Perspective For dining, Bent Inn offers its own gastropub, seating 50 guests inside and providing seasonal outdoor dining. The menu at the Bent Inn gastropub offers a twist on traditional fare, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner,
along with an expanded shareables menu. A poolside food truck adds to the eclectic dining experience, serving tempting snacks with a flair that’s unmistakably Bent. A Transformation of the Past The history of Bent Inn is as intriguing as its present. Originally built in 1965 as the Moonlight Motel, the property underwent a fascinating transformation. From being a motel to an apartment complex, it has now re-emerged as a boutique hotel with a “mid-century meets industrial architecture style.” Artistic features abound, from wall murals to posters inspired by gay pulp fiction from the ‘50s and ‘60s, giving the property an air of flamboyant mischievousness. The Countdown Begins The grand opening of Bent Inn is just around the corner, scheduled for November 22nd, 2023. To make a reservation or learn more about this extraordinary destination, visit bentinn.com. Bent Inn is more than just a place to stay; it’s a statement, a celebration of individuality, and a welcoming embrace for all who want to revel in the excitement of Las Vegas’s resurgent downtown.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LGBTQ+ VEGAS NEWS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Celebrating Inclusivity and Diversity: The 12th Annual Las Vegas TransPride Week Las Vegas, Nevada is set to come alive with an abundance of colors, performances, and a celebration of diversity as the 12th Annual Las Vegas TransPride Week kicks off from November 17 to 20, 2023. This highly anticipated event has become a beacon of hope, unity, and empowerment for the transgender and genderdiverse community, as well as allies from all walks of life. The TransPride Week is not just a festival; it’s a powerful demonstration of support, awareness, and recognition of the transgender and genderdiverse community’s presence and struggles. This year’s event promises to be more vibrant and inclusive than ever, with a wide range of 10 Fab Vegas
activities catering to all ages and interests. Let’s dive into the schedule of events that will make up this exciting week. Day of Royalty - Friday, November 17, 2023 The festivities kick off with the 2023 Las Vegas TransPride Royalty Pageant & Awards. This grand event will take place at The Nunnery, located at 900 E. Karen Ave., Ste. A218, Las Vegas, NV 89109. Doors open at 6:00 PM, and the pageant starts at 7:00 PM. This year, the Las Vegas TransPride organization will crown Mr., Miss, Mx Las Vegas TransPride, along with Lil Mr., Miss, and Lil Mx
Las Vegas TransPride. It’s a night of glitz, glamour, and a celebration of individuality. The best part? It’s free to attend! Just send an email to info@lasvegastranspride. org with your name and the number of guests you’ll be bringing. If you’re interested in competing for one of these prestigious titles, make sure to complete the registration and consent forms, which are available for both those 21 years or older and those aged 16-20. For more information, don’t hesitate to call (702) 906-4608 or email: info@lasvegastranspride.org. Day of Empowerment Saturday, November 18, 2023
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LGBTQ+ VEGAS EVENTS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------the community gathers to remember and honor the lives lost to hate crimes because of their gender identity. The names read during the vigil represent a global pandemic of transphobia, and it’s a powerful reminder of the challenges the community faces. Day of Unity - Monday, November 20, 2023
The empowerment continues with the TransPride Festival, hosted at Las Vegas TransPride, 727 S. 9th St., Ste B & C, Parking Lot, Las Vegas, NV 89101. The festival runs from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM. The festival is your opportunity to connect with merchants and nonprofits that support and offer services to the Gender Diverse community. Enjoy live entertainment throughout the day and savor delectable food and beverages from the food vendors. Raffle drawings will add an extra layer of excitement to the day. The best part is that everyone is welcome to join this celebration of diversity and unity. This event encapsulates the essence of TransPride – coming together as a community to support and uplift each other. 12 Fab Vegas
Renewing Spirituality and Day of Remembrance - Sunday, November 19, 2023 Sunday is a day of reflection and remembrance. The TransFaith Worship Service will be held at Las Vegas TransPride, 727 S. 9th St., Ste B & C, Las Vegas, NV 89101, from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM. This is a safe and affirming place where everyone is welcome, and all gender identities are celebrated. After the worship service, join the community for a meal, and foster connections in a warm and accepting environment. In the evening, Las Vegas TransPride will host the Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM. This solemn event is the heart of TransPride week, where
The TransPride Week concludes on a high note with the Day of Unity. Join in for the “Unity in the Community Bowling” event at Sam’s Town Bowling Center, 5111 Boulder Hwy, Las Vegas, NV 89122, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. This event, in collaboration with Las Vegas Pride, is open to everyone in the LGBTQIA+ community, and it promises to be a fantastic evening of unity, fun, and camaraderie. To register for this event, visit the Unity In The Community Bowling link, and come together to celebrate the strength in unity. The 12th Annual Las Vegas TransPride Week is not just a series of events; it’s a symbol of love, acceptance, and support for the transgender and gender-diverse community. It’s a reminder that diversity is our strength, and unity is our power. Join in the celebration, and be a part of this remarkable week in Las Vegas. Embrace the differences, celebrate the individuality, and support a community that deserves love and recognition.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HALLOWEEN EVENTS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
14 Fab Vegas
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LGBTQIA+ BOOK CLUB
By: Terri Schlichenmeyer
-----------------------------------------------------------------------“Letter to My Transgender Daughter”
If you are someone who loves a child – any child, even a cis child – be prepared to have your heart fall out of your chest. “Letter to My Transgender Daughter” is a nightmare, not because of the book itself but because of what very nearly happened to its author and her family.
by Carolyn Hays c.2023, Blair Publisher $17.95 282 pages The piece of cake you cut into did not have a pastel center. There were no pretty balloons in a box, no colorful confetti, no “Team Pink” or “Team Blue” t-shirts or bracelets. You didn’t have a gender-reveal party for your baby because you didn’t want to know. As in the memoir “Letter to My Transgender Daughter” by Carolyn Hays, you’ll let your child tell you in person. She never expected another baby. After seven years, Carolyn Hays thought she was done with diapers and late-night feedings but the pregnancy test didn’t lie. This was good news. The whole family was excited to welcome another member into the household! The baby was a boy – but as soon as he could talk, he told everyone he was a girl. No problem; Hays’ other children rolled with it; they “saw” their sibling for who she was. Teachers were also nonplussed; they gave the girl a nickname, and extended family members quickly learned to use it. Hays and her husband balked sometimes, though. They hoped it was a “phase.” They gave their daughter “girly” 16 Fab Vegas
things and allowed her to wear girls clothing, but they tried “boy on the outside / girl on the inside” wordage. Their daughter patiently corrected them each time until eventually, they, too, saw the truth. Their youngest child was a girl. They were, at that time, “a big, loud East Coast family, new to the Bible Belt” but they’d found community in the south, and a support group so Hays could parent her trans daughter better. Everything seemed to work out – until the knock on the door. The representative of the Department of Children and Families couldn’t tell Hays who’d made a complaint about them, or when. They could only guess who was offended by their personal family matter, or their total acceptance of their daughter. All they knew, she said, was “We could lose custody. We could lose you.”
Indeed, this “letter” in book form goes from mildly confessional to outright terrified, and author Carolyn Hays susses out all your emotions and turns them raw. Hers is an honest story, not only of a trans girl but of parents who walk through the steps of acceptance. Cue the ominous music, though: you know what’s coming but foresight doesn’t diminish the outrage and fear you’ll feel, once you get there – although Hays doesn’t completely let you roll in misery. Readers will be delighted by the precociousness and determination in her daughter’s patient steadfastness, and by Hays’ family memories. Now out in paperback, “Letter to My Transgender Daughter” is an absolute read for parents and for trans adults. Read it – then check the headlines and see if it doesn’t cut your heart to pieces.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LGBTQ+ COMING OUT
By: Sarah Bricker Hunt
-----------------------------------------------------------------------Photo Credit: Sufjan Stevens — precious, impeccable, and absolutely exceptional in every way.”
When Sufjan Stevens Finally Came Out, He Broke Our Heart Where did all that speculation get us? For two decades, curious queer fans of the enigmatic indie singer-songwriter (and Detroit-born and Michiganraised) Sufjan Stevens have pored over his equally enigmatic lyrics for the red herring that would finally put the question to rest. Is he? He must be... right? Many of his songs reference emotionally intimate relationships and moments with men (and women, too). And then there are the probing articles that ponder what’s up with all the curiosity, like the bluntly titled Vice piece “We Can’t Stop Wondering if Sufjan Stevens Sings About God or Being Gay,” which explores the internet fascination with his sexual orientation. At a high level, the speculation is fraught with inappropriateness — it would absolutely not be OK to engage in this kind of intense investigation about the 18 Fab Vegas
LGBTQ+ status of someone in your real life. And yet, there’s a unique earnestness here. The queer community who loves Sufjan simply wants to invite him into the fold, to make sure he knows how loved he is, whoever he is. Frankly, he’s so often singing from the aching, bludgeoned hollow of his broken heart that we just want him to be happy and whole. Given Sufjan’s intimate relationship with sorrow, it’s maybe not surprising that when he did lay the speculation to rest last week, it was in a post honoring his “beloved partner,” who died in April. Next to a photo of said beautiful partner, Evans, he wrote, “This album is dedicated to the light of my life, my beloved partner and best friend Evans Richardson, who passed away in April. He was an absolute gem of a person, full of life, love, laughter, curiosity, integrity, and joy. He was one of those rare and beautiful ones you find only once in a lifetime
“I know relationships can be very difficult sometimes, but it’s always worth it to put in the hard work and care for the ones you love, especially the beautiful ones, who are few and far between,” Sufjan continued. “If you happen to find that kind of love, hold it close, hold it tight, savor it, tend to it, and give it everything you’ve got, especially in times of trouble. Be kind, be strong, be patient, be forgiving, be vigorous, be wise, and be yourself. Live every day as if it is your last, with fullness and grace, with reverence and love, with gratitude and joy. This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Such a Sufjan way to gently shock our senses while publicly coming out as part of the LGBTQ+ community, oh so casually. It’s doubtful we’ll see a dramatic shift in the way he writes his music or lives his life. The theories will continue filling the pages of the Sufjan subreddit, and he’ll keep giving those theories little mind — hopefully, he’ll simply continue pouring himself into music and sharing it with the world. In the meantime, we can now take a fresh look at some of Sufjan’s potentially queer-coded songs without it feeling quite as much like wishful thinking. Some of the tracks below have frequently been cited as part of the “evidence.” Still, like any good
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------songwriting, there’s much left to listener interpretation in his always honest, sometimes autobiographical writing. Sometimes, it really is about God, and maybe sometimes, it’s about a man or woman he has loved romantically or platonically. Sometimes, the protagonist isn’t even him. Perhaps that’s what’s always made Sufjan’s music so widely resonant and why, ultimately, it doesn’t actually matter if he’s been explicitly or implicitly singing about his sexuality for the past two decades. At its center, Sufjan’s body of work is a testimonial to the human experience in all the joyful, sorrowful, redemptive, regretful ways every one of us holds at different moments. “The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out to Get Us” From “Illinois,” 2005 The speculation here focuses on these lyrics: “Touching his back with my hand I kiss him/I see the wasp on the length of my arm.” Is the wasp a metaphor for the “sting of love,” as one listener wrote on lyric-analysis site genius.com? “The wasp,” the listener continues, “is a metaphor for the church’s anti-homosexuality stance. Seeing it refers to his sudden realization that his feelings are, supposedly, morally wrong. The wasp resting on his arm (rather than hovering around them) shows that his fear of his attraction betraying his faith is very much internalized and could sting at any moment. Like swatting a wasp, attempting to push that fear away threatens to make it
worse.” “Futile Devices” From “The Age of Adz,” 2010 Among the more bitterly debated songs when it comes to clues about Sufjan’s sexual orientation, “Futile Devices” could be about a lot of things. Platonic male friendship. Love between man and dog, according to some internet theories. A queer love story between two men. A heterosexual love song where he calls his female partner his brother because... reasons. All we definitively know is that he sings gorgeous lines like these, and they make us feel stuff: “But you are the life I needed all along/I think of you as my brother/Although that sounds dumb/And words are futile devices.” “Drawn to the Blood” From “Carrie and Lowell,” 2015 A devastating track off a devastating album centered on Sufjan’s journey through the grief of losing his frequently estranged mother to cancer, “Drawn to the Blood” is primarily seen as a biblical allegory. One stanza stands out as something more personally reflective: “The strength of his arm/My lover caught me off guard.” In a 2015 interview with Uncut, he confirmed that the abusive relationships described here was his own. “Mystery of Love” From the “Call Me By Your Name” soundtrack, 2017 Sung from the perspective of main character Elio,
“Mystery of Love” details the breakdown of Elio’s relationship with Oliver. The track isn’t autobiographical, but the fact that Sufjan was so involved with this seminal queer film, alongside his powerful performance of the song at the 2018 Academy Awards (with partner Evans in the audience), demonstrates some personal importance. It’s trademark Sujfan all the way through, with lyrics like, “Oh, to see without my eyes/The first time that you kissed me/ Boundless by the time I cried/I built your walls around me.” The soundtrack also includes a reprisal of “Futile Devices.” Songs from “Javelin,” 2023 Finally, we have “Javelin,” the newly released album Sufjan has publicly dedicated to his partner Evans. We don’t have an official timeline for this relationship, but the two had known one another for years, dating back to as early as 2018. There are many moments that stand out in the track list that could be referencing this love story, including: “So you are tired of us/So rest your head/Turning back fourteen years/Of what I did and said” on “So You Are Tired.” And on “Running Start,” we have the bittersweet memory of a boundless loving moment: “If I align myself with Pisces in a funny way/Can you, my lovеr, kiss my bracelet, and my shoulder blades?/We’ve always had a running start/I jump between the trampolines/You throw your arms around my heart/As if to say you’re all I need.” FabLasVegas.com
19
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CELEBRITY INTERVIEW
By: Chris Azzopardi
-----------------------------------------------------------------------Photo Credit: Danny Denn
How Melissa Etheridge Is Healing In her new book and on Broadway, the queer icon reflects on the painful loss of her son
MELISSA ETHERIDGE J By Chris Azzopardi Not so quietly, Melissa Etheridge has been grieving. At just 21, Beckett Cypher, the son of Etheridge and her 20 Fab Vegas
former partner Julie Cypher, died from causes related to opioid addiction. Three years after his death in 2020, Etheridge is doing what she’s done since she showed the world what lesbian women can do on stage in the 1980s
— opening the windows to her life through her writing. This time, though, her confessional style is within the pages of a new book, titled “Talking to My Angels.” The title is a reference to the closing song
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------off her 1993 Grammy-winning album “Yes I Am,” which established Etheridge as a rock force to be reckoned with. In the book, which she summarizes in the foreword as “an ode to love,” Etheridge lays a lot on the line, delving into many of the intimate details of her sturdy four-decade music career, her romantic relationships, surviving cancer, losing Beckett and raising four children: Bailey Jean Cypheridge, Miller Steven Etheridge, Johnnie Rose Etheridge and, of course, Beckett. Etheridge called me at the end of September while en route to the Circle in the Square Theater on Broadway, where she was about to launch her “My Window” show, which was co-written by her wife, Linda Wallem-Etheridge, and runs through Nov. 19. In a review by Laura CollinsHughes for The New York Times, Collins-Hughes wrote about Etheridge’s approach to Beckett’s death, writing that “the most starkly powerful part of the show Off Broadway … works less well on Broadway.” “I cannot fault Etheridge for her stiffness in that delicate section at the performance I saw, or for reaching for words — like her blunt assessment, ‘He was difficult’ — to convey her memories,” she added. “But this is where relying on the script’s gentler, more contextual language could assuage what must be a terrible vulnerability.” When I spoke to Etheridge while in previews for the show, she said, “I don’t know my head from my feet,” as
she was entering a car to take her to the theater. Whatever discomposure she was experiencing, on topics such as her initial ambivalence toward being a parent to her opioid research foundation inspired by Beckett, she spoke her truths with the kind of clarity we have come to expect. Before we get into parenting, let’s talk about Broadway. How do you distill your life through music into a Broadway show? We want to get it to two hours. It’s a bit over now. So that’s what we’re doing today is still cutting it down, because man, when I first threw my first idea together, it was like four hours long. I was like, “OK, yeah, that’s not going to fly.” So it’s really choosing the beats that I want to say, and how I want to get from beginning to now, and how to do it. And that’s art. That’s the craft of this. It’s been quite fun and interesting and exhausting. We last connected at the beginning of the pandemic, and if you’re like other creative people I know or have spoken to, then perhaps you needed a project. It sounds like you found that in the show, but also the book. Was the pandemic a reflective time for you? Yeah. My thing was, it just all started happening at once. I had three or four desires that I’ve been trying to do over the last decade, then they all came together at once. I think the pandemic sort of made everybody hungry, so all of a sudden it was the book
and the show, and we have a documentary coming out next year about the women’s prison in Kansas, but that’s later. I can’t talk about that now. In the book, you write a lot about your parents and about now being a parent yourself. How has time shifted your perspective on how you reflect on the way you were raised by your parents? As I grow and change, my memories grow and change. It doesn’t stay the same. You see things differently. I certainly have more of an understanding. I’m older than my father ever lived to be. I can look back and go, “Oh, this is what it’s like to be a parent. This is what it’s like to have lived your life and then have children.” And so, the older I get, the more knowledge I have, and the more understanding I have of my parents and the events that happened in my childhood. How has being a parent yourself helped you better understand your parents? When we’re younger, we tend to blame our parents: “Well, if my mother had loved me more, then I wouldn’t be so sad or depressed.” And at some point in your adulthood, you have to go, “I can either keep looking back and blaming and staying a victim or I can step up and go, ‘Maybe all that happened, but that was the past and I’m not going to have it define me now.’” With my first book, my mother was very mad at me for quite a while. Because when we were growing up, it FabLasVegas.com
21
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CELEBRITY INTERVIEW
-----------------------------------------------------------------------was, “We don’t air our dirty laundry in front of people.” Fortunately, there are people that have stepped up and go, “Hey, this happened.” And it helps people that are going through it now, and I think that’s the best part. You get to Beckett’s death in the beginning of the book, but you write that you didn’t just want this book to be about his death. Instead, it’s about accepting his death and then finding a way forward despite the pain. Why did that seem like the right approach? [His death] had such a great effect on me. I can walk around and go, “All is love. Choose only love. It’s important to be happy.” But then when life happens, when the contrast comes, when it’s things that seem to take you down to the bone, that’s when I say — no, if I truly believe all is love, and we’re going to choose only love here, I have to see this as a temporary existence that we all have, and we all make choices. Some of us are here for a little while, some of us are here for a long while, and all in between, and no one is responsible for anyone else’s happiness. And you can’t save anyone; you can only inspire them. And the way that I can continue to inspire my friends and my family is to be the best I can be, to show what happiness and joy looks like, even when there is loss, which there always is. We are here to experience loss. Your dedication to Beckett in the beginning of the book 22 Fab Vegas
is so poignant: “For my son Beckett who is with me every day in the nonphysical.” How do you interpret the nonphysical in relation to him? Well, you can look at it a bunch of different ways. We can look at it esoterically, which is, we all really exist in our minds, and we are all just perceiving everything, and we only have the capacity to perceive a certain amount of the energy around us, that which we call the live energy. But if you look at it scientifically, we only perceive 4% of the energy that is in this magnificent energy field. And that’s the scientific way of looking at it. So who are we to say that the 4% is all that there is? There’s nothing in that 96%? No, there’s a whole non-physical energy field that I believe is larger than us and where we come from, and everybody calls it all different sorts of things: God, Spirit, the universe. But I do believe that we came from there, we are all connected to there and we’re all going back there. Do you have a name for it? Do you call it anything? Well, I call it the nonphysical, and the power I call Source. In the book, you acknowledge your initial ambivalence toward being a parent. Do you think that there’s something about being a queer person, specifically a gay woman, that shaped the way that you thought about parenthood? I don’t know if it has to do with that, necessarily. Although growing up in the
’60s and ’70s, if you were gay, it just wasn’t an option. It was part of what parents would be so upset about: “You’re never going to have children,” that sort of thing. I think that was my first kind of thought. And the second was, I didn’t exactly have great love and affection for my mother, and so I was kind of like, “Well, what’s being a mother mean?” It seemed like there was a lot that I wanted to do for myself, and I didn’t know if there was any room to take care of anyone else. But then it’s funny, and that’s the whole other journey in itself — when it happens, or if it happens or if it doesn’t, it doesn’t really matter. There’s no right or wrong to it. It’s just going to be what you’re going to walk in that moment, day to day. And with your music, how has parenthood shaped that aspect of your life? Couldn’t write those naughty love songs anymore. [Laughs.] Not when they were young, right? No. Because I wasn’t planning on children, I could write all those naughty songs and not worry about it, but now my kids are like, “Wow, what’s that?” But I grew up, and just growing up makes a big difference. I don’t know if it’s the kids or anything, but your music changes as you change as a person. What’s important to you, what moves you, what you want to write about, what am I thinking, what am I experiencing? It’s just different than it was when I was 25 or 30.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CELEBRITY INTERVIEW
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Your daughter, Bailey, is queer. What’s it like seeing her grow up now as a queer person compared to your own experiences as a young queer person? I think it’s really different, and for her, growing up with queer parents, she cannot understand any sort of limitations because she didn’t grow up with that. So it makes absolutely no sense to her. She told me when she was an adolescent, “Mom, when you raised me, I actually thought there were at least as many gay people in the world as there were straight people,” because that’s all who she met. So she kind of comes from that equality place as a natural surrounding, but now she works for GLAAD, and she is very, very active and does so 24 Fab Vegas
much because she does have such a sense of equality that she was raised with. I don’t have to tell you that the opioid crisis in America is devastating. And that hit home for you. Can you talk about what Beckett’s death inspired, which was the Etheridge Foundation? The path I’ve been on has been filled with a lot of understanding of plant medicine and psychedelics and how much it’s helped me, and how much I’ve seen in the research, how much it helps others. It especially does help in opioid use disorder as just a way to get through this and off of this. It doesn’t exist in the pharmaceutical world. And it’s as much of just gathering the research and the data to show folks, because there’s such a
Photo misunderstanding ofCredit: it all. FOX So that’s what the Etheridge Foundation does. It raises funds for research and testing. It’s not very easy because there’s a bunch of laws that are in the way. So it’s trying to change hearts and minds about all that.
Has the foundation helped you heal? Oh yeah, hugely, because I wanted to do something. I felt so helpless. And it does make me feel like there’s movement forward on this, and maybe I could help. This can help someone somewhere.
25 Fab Vegas
South Torrey Pines Dr
Upland Boulevard
Alta Dr
iv e
West Charleston Boulevard
West Charleston Boulevard
Valley Vi ew Boulevard
Buffalo
South Cimarron Road
South Durango Drive
rd
va
ard
South Decatur Boulevard
lev
South Rampa
u Bo
rt B ou le
nd
Charleston Heights
Alta Drive
South Jones Boulevard
ridge
r
la Up
ive
w Boulevard
a Dr
Ramparet Boulevard
A lt
Alta Driv e
FLEX
WEST CHAR
Hills R
oa d
Buffalo Drive
THE PHOENIX
ve Dri
Sout hR anc ho
W es t Flamingo Road
15
West Tropicana Avenu e
CHARLIES
Raphael Rivera Way Roy Horn Way
Dean Martin Dr
West Sunset Road
Sunset Rd
West Sunset
South Fort Apache Road
d West Warm Spring s Roa
South Decatur Boulevard
South Decatur Blvd
S El Capitan Way
Mountain's Edge
Jones Boulevard
Buffalo Drive
South Durango Drive
West Wigwam Avenue
West Pebble Road
26 Fab Vegas
Enterprise
Dean Martin Dr
West Windmill Lane
West Robindale Road
Rainbow Boulevard
South Buffalo Drive
West Robindale Road
South Jones Boulevard
West Warm Springs Road
Warm Spri ngs Road
Rd
215
Raphael Rivera Way Roy Horn Way
Dean Martin Drive
Raphael Rivera Way Roy Horn Way
Raphael Rivera Way Roy Horn Way
Way
South Jones Boulevard
Brent Thurman Way
a el Riv era Way
orn
Dr
Raph
yH
West Sunset Rd
Sunset Road
South Rainbow Boulevard
Ro
rtin
15
West Sunse t Road
Road
Russell Roa
Dean Ma
South Decatur Boulevard
South Buffalo Drive
South Rainbow Boulevard
Tar kanian W Jerry ay
West Hacienda Avenue
West Russell Road
Rue de
Dean Martin Drive
ay Brent Thur man W
e
West Harmon A ve n u
Dr ive
West Tropicana Avenue
Spanish Trail
Spanish Hills
Sinat ra Dr
De Mar an tin Dr
West Flamingo Road
South Decatur Boulevard
West Tropicana Ave
in A ve
Dean Martin Dr
Spring Valley
Flamingo Heights
Tw a
Frank Sinatra Dr
West Flamingo Road
South el Capitan Way
We st
West Twain Avenue
Buffalo Ranch
Bridgeport
Spring Mou
Arville Street
Peace Way
Chinatown
Frank Sinatra
South Durango Drive
West Twain Av enue
South Jones Boulevard
South Cimarron Road
South El Capitan Way
Spring Mountain Road
South Lindell Road
st Twain Avenue
South Torrey Pines Drive
West Desert Inn Road
Polaris Avenue
th Drive
Rainbow Boulevard
Buffalo Drive
as t Dri ve eE ak
Lake Sou
West Pennwood Ave
Edna A venue
Decatur Boulevard
South Fort Apache Road
L
Valley View Boulevard
The Lakes
Frank
West Sahara Avenue
Road
Lake North Drive
Arville Street
South Cimarron
Canyon Gate
West Oakey Boulevard Lindell Road
anch
West W
Av e
Pecos Road
Ro ad
lark
Pe co
s Ve
Av e
East Stewart Avenue
BACKDOOR
th La
ville
EC
Eastern Ave
rd leva Bou
ne
gas
St
Av e
Bo n
s
La St
4th
th C Bou asino leva Cen rd ter
ue
Sou
S Cen outh tral Grand Par kway
Ma in
South Rancho Drive
So uth Martin L King Boulevard
ss
CENTER
rk A ven
Boulevard
Cla
Ga
Marion Dr
515
ndhill Road
Downtown
North Mojave Road
West Ave Bonneville
Eastern Ave
Alta Drive
d
Sou
on e tre
d ise R
Par ad
HE
HAWKS GYM
Sand Rd hill
LAS VEGAS LOUNGE SPOTLIGHT LOUNGE
East Desert Inn Road
Swenson Street
Maryland Parkway
UNLV
EASTERN AVE
Koval Lane
ne
515 East Flamingo Rd
EAST HARMON AVE
e Monte Carlo
East Harm Ave
515
THE EAGLE
East Tropica na Ave
Parad
East Hacienda Avenue
EASTERN AVE
East Hacienda Ave
Ru ss
Russell Road
ell
Ro
ad
North Green Valley Parkway
East Patrick Lane
Sunset Road
Sunset Road
Sunset Road
Sandhill Road
y wa
lley Pa rk
North Green Va
North Pecos Road
North Arroyo Grande Boulevard
Eastern Av enue
Windmill Lane
Green Valley
le Val N o rth e Dr V erd
East Windmill Lane
North Valle Verde Dr
Paradise Road
South Las Vegas Boulevard
East Windmill Lane
East Windmill Lane
W
Va ll e Verde Drive
East Warm Springs Road
East Robindale Road
or th
Road
d
East Warm Springs
East Warm Springs Rd
East Warm Springs Road
South Pecos Rd
East Windmill Parkway North Vall e V er de
Pecos Road
Wigwam Parkway
Pebble Roa
d
Pebble Road
Paseo Verde
oV er
de
P ark
wa y
e Drive
FabLasVegas.com ut h
Green Valley
So
eo Verde Par kwa y
Pa se
Pa se
P as
V alle Verd
oV e rd
Serene Ave nue Serene Avenue
de
eP a
ay rkw
n Gra South A rroyo ar d B oulev
Eastern Avenue
Bermuda Road
Pebble Road
ive
East Pebble Road
Dr
Wigwam Park way
South Maryland Parkway
Warm Springs R d
215
N
Hidden We ll Road
George Cro ckett Road
oa
R et
ns Su
South Las Ve gas Boulevard
MCCARRAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Ru s Rd sell
South Pecos Road
Departing Flights
East Hacienda Avenue
East Hacienda Avenue
oad ise R Russell Road
ad
East Tropican a Avenue
EAST TROPICANA AVE
Mountain Vista Street
Giles St
Swenson Street
EAST TROPICANA AVE
Mandalay Bay Rd
East Flamingo Road
Sandhill Rd
RD
Swenson St
DISE
THE GARAGE
NAPLES DR
on
EAST FLAMINGO RD
PARA
The Loop
rc
ct
Spencer Street
In
MARYS
East Flamingo Road
te
Sandhill Road
od
e cL
Koval Lane
FUN HOG
South Nellis Boulevard
s-M
PARADISE RD
EAST DESERT INN RD
East Twain Ave
FREEZONE GET BOOKED PIRANHA QUADZ
Veg as Valley D rive
o Pec
Sands Ave
EASTERN AVE
Paradise Rd
EG SV LA
my
BADLANDS SALOON ENTOURAGE
d
Sa m
C
“T
VD BL AS
rD riv e nio
Da vis
Ju
e
HAWKS GYM
Convention Center Dr
d
Karen Avenue
Center / Square
R ill
ve
Karen Avenue
Karen Avenue
E
East Sahara Avenue
dh
Dri
East Sahara Avenue
n Sa
nd
East Saint Louis Avenue
EAST SAHARA AVE
McLeod Drive
hla
East St Louis Ave
East Saint Louis Avenue
East St Louis Ave
North Lamb Boulevard
ST RIP ”
t
Hig
East Wyoming Avenue
tS
South Bridge Lane
e
515
em Fr
15
d
EAST CHARLESTON BLVD
South Main St
18b Arts District West Wyoming Ave
untain Roa
EAST CHARLESTON BLVD
South
RLESTON BLVD
27
Information for Teens: Staying Healthy and Preventing STDs If you choose to have sex, know how to protect yourself against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). What are sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)? STDs are diseases that are passed from one person to another through sexual contact. These include chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, human papillomavirus (HPV), syphilis, and HIV. Many of these STDs do not show symptoms for a long time. Even without symptoms, they can still be harmful and passed on during sex.
consider before having sex. It’s okay to say “no” if you don’t want to have sex. •
If you do decide to have sex, you and your partner should get tested for STDs beforehand. Make sure that you and your partner use a condom from start to finish every time you have oral, anal, or vaginal sex. Know where to get condoms and how to use them correctly. It is not safe to stop using condoms unless you’ve both been tested for STDs, know your results, and are in a mutually monogamous relationship.
•
Mutual monogamy means that you and your partner both agree to only have sexual contact with each other. This can help protect against STDs, as long as you’ve both been tested and know you’re STD-free.
•
Before you have sex, talk with your partner about how you will prevent STDs and pregnancy. If you think you’re ready to have sex, you need to be ready to protect your body. You should also talk to your partner ahead of time about what you will and will not do sexually. Your partner should always respect your right to say no to anything that doesn’t feel right.
•
Make sure you get the health care you need. Ask a doctor or nurse about STD testing and about vaccines against HPV and hepatitis B.
•
Girls and young women may have extra needs to protect their reproductive health. Talk to your doctor or nurse about regular cervical cancer screening, and chlamydia and gonorrhea testing. You may also want to discuss unintended pregnancy and birth control.
•
Avoid mixing alcohol and/or recreational drugs with sex. If you use alcohol and drugs, you are more likely to take risks, like not using a condom or having sex with someone you normally wouldn’t have sex with.
How are STDs spread? You can get an STD by having vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who has an STD. Anyone who is sexually active can get an STD. You don’t even have to “go all the way” (have anal or vaginal sex) to get an STD. This is because some STDs, like herpes and HPV, are spread by skinto-skin contact. How common are STDs? STDs are common, especially among young people. There are about 20 million new cases of STDs each year in the United States. About half of these infections are in people between the ages of 15 and 24. Young people are at greater risk of getting an STD for several reasons: •
Young women’s bodies are biologically more prone to STDs.
•
Some young people do not get the recommended STD tests.
•
Many young people are hesitant to talk openly and honestly with a doctor or nurse about their sex lives.
•
Not having insurance or transportation can make it more difficult for young people to access STD testing.
•
Some young people have more than one sex partner.
What can I do to protect myself? •
The surest way to protect yourself against STDs is to not have sex. That means not having any vaginal, anal, or oral sex (“abstinence”). There are many things to
28 Fab Vegas
against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
If Iare getsexually an STD, how will Idiseases know? (STDs)? What transmitted STDs are diseases that are passed from one person to another Many STDs don’t cause any symptoms that you through sexual contact. These include chlamydia, gonorrhea, would notice. only way(HPV), to know for sure genital herpes, humanThe papillomavirus syphilis, and HIV. if you haveSTDs an STD to get tested.forYou can get an Many of these do notis show symptoms a long time. Even without they can stillwith be harmful and passed STDsymptoms, from having sex someone whoonhas no during sex. symptoms. Just like you, that person might not
even he or she has an STD. How are know STDs spread?
You can get an STD by having vaginal, anal or oral sex with Where can I get tested? someone who has an STD. Anyone who is sexually active can get an STD.There You don’t have that to “gooffer all theteen-friendly, way” (have anal or vaginal areeven places sex) to get an STD. This is because some STDs, like herpes and HPV, confidential, and free STD tests. This means that are spread by skin-to-skin contact.
no one has to find out you’ve been tested. Visit
How common to arefind STDs? GetTested an STD testing location near
tell partner before youyouhave sex. partner Although • Ifyour you do decide to have sex, and your should get tested for STDs beforehand. Make sure that you and it may be uncomfortable to talk about your your partner usehonest a condom from start to finish every STD, open and conversation can help time you have oral, anal, or vaginal sex. Know where to your partner make informed decisions to get condoms and how to use them correctly. It is not protect his or her health. safe to stop using condoms unless you’ve both been STDs, knowwho your results, and are them? in a mutually If Itested havefor questions, can answer monogamous relationship.
If• you have questions, talk to a parent or other Mutual monogamy means that you and your partner both trusted be afraid be each openother. andThis agreeadult. to only Don’t have sexual contactto with honest with themagainst aboutSTDs, yourasconcerns. If both you’re can help protect long as you’ve been and know evertested confused or you’re need STD-free. advice, they’re the first place to start. After were young once, • Before you have sex, all, talk they with your partner about how too.you will prevent STDs and pregnancy. If you think you’re ready to have sex, you need to be ready to protect your
STDs are common, especially among young people. There are you. about 20 million new cases of STDs each year in the United States. About halfSTDs of thesebe infections are in people between the ages of Can treated? 15 and 24. Young people are at greater risk of getting an STD for Your doctor can prescribe medicine to cure several reasons:
Talking about sexalso with parent or another body. You should talkato your partner ahead of time adult doesn’t need bewill a one-time about what you willto and not do sexually. Your partner conversation. bestyour to leave the forthat should alwaysIt’s respect right to saydoor no to open anything doesn’t feel right. conversations in the future.
• Young women’s bodies are biologically more prone Other STDs, like herpes, can’t be cured, but you to STDs.
• Make sure you get the health care you need. Ask a doctor It’s also important to talk honestly with a doctor or nurse about STD testing and about vaccines against or nurse. Ask which STD tests and vaccines HPV and hepatitis B. they recommend for you.
some STDs, like chlamydia and gonorrhea.
can take medicine to help with the symptoms.
• Some young people do not get the recommended If STD youtests. are ever treated for an STD, be sure to
•finish Manyall young peoplemedicine, are hesitanteven to talkifopenly and better of your you feel honestly with a doctor or nurse about their sex before you finish it all. Ask the doctor orlives. nurse
testing and treatment for your partner, •about Not having insurance or transportation can make it more difficult young people to access STD avoid testing.having too. Youfor and your partner should until you’ve both been •sex Some young people have moretreated. than one Otherwise, sex partner you may continue to pass the STD back and forth. It is possible to get an STD again (after
What can I do to protect myself?
• The surest way to protect yourself against STDs is to not you’ve been you have sex with have sex. Thattreated), means notifhaving any vaginal, anal, or someone who has anThere STD. oral sex (“abstinence”). are many things to consider before having sex. It’s okay to say “no” if you don’t want to What happens if I don’t treat an STD? have sex.
Some curable STDs can be dangerous if they aren’t treated. For example, if left untreated, CS287360A chlamydia and gonorrhea can make it difficult— or even impossible—for a woman to get pregnant. You also increase your chances of getting HIV if you have an untreated STD. Some STDs, like HIV, can be fatal if left untreated. What if my partner or I have an incurable STD? Some STDs, like herpes and HIV, aren’t curable, but a doctor can prescribe medicine to treat the symptoms. If you are living with an STD, it’s important to
• Girls and young women may have extra needs to protect
their reproductive health.information? Talk to your doctor or nurse Where can I get more
about regular cervical cancer screening, and chlamydia
CDC and gonorrhea testing. You may also want to discuss
unintended birth control. How You Canpregnancy Preventand Sexually Transmitted • Avoid mixing alcohol and/or recreational drugs with sex. Diseases If you use alcohol and drugs, you are more likely to take www.cdc.gov/std/prevention/
risks, like not using a condom or having sex with someone
Teen youPregnancy normally wouldn’t have sex with. https://www.cdc.gov/ teenpregnancy/teens/ index.htm
CDC-INFO Contact Center 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) Contact wwwn.cdc.gov/dcs/ ContactUs/Form HealthFinder.gov STD Testing: Conversation Starters https://healthfinder.gov/ HealthTopics/ Category/health-conditions-and-diseases/ hiv-and-other-stds/std-testing-conversationstarters American Sexual Health Association Sexual Health and You http://www.iwannaknow.org/ teens/ sexualhealth.html FabLasVegas.com
29
STD (SEXUALLY TRASMITTED DISEASES) INFO SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES INFO, TESTING & RESOURCES WHAT IS A SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE? Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), also referred to as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), are infections that are commonly spread by sexual activity, especially vaginal intercourse, anal sex and oral sex.
WHAT IS HIV? HIV is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system.It is usually spread by anal or vaginal sex or sharing syringes with a person who has HIV. The only way to know you have HIV is to be tested. Everyone aged 13-64 should be tested at least once, and people at high risk should be tested at least once a year. Ask your doctor, or visit gettested.cdc.gov to find a testing site. Without treatment, HIV can make a person very sick or may even cause death. If you have HIV, start treatment as soon as possible to stay healthy and help protect your partners.
Nevada is the fifth highest state in the United States for rates of new HIV diagnoses and is #1 in Syphillis *According to CDC HIV Surveillance Report, 2017 and the CDC Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance Report, 2017 released in 2018
30 Fab Vegas
STD TESTING RESOURCE SOUTHERN NEVADA HEALTH DISTRICT ADDRESS 1: 280 S. Decatur Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89107 HOURS: Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (closed 12 – 1 p.m.) ADDRESS 2: 4201 W. Washington Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89107 HOURS: Monday – Wednesday 9 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. The following services are offered at the Sexual Health Clinic: 1.
Diagnosis and treatment of active or suspected cases of:
•
Chlamydia
•
Gonorrhea
•
Syphilis
•
HIV
•
Trichomonas (females only)
•
Bacterial Vaginosis (females only)
2.
Free condoms and instruction on how to safely use them (both male and female condom)
3.
Follow-up bloodwork
4.
Hepatitis screening, diagnosis and treatment
5.
High-risk behavior counseling
6.
HIV Nursing Case Management
7.
Injection series for syphilis medication
8.
Partner notification
9.
Referrals by private physicians
10. Sexual assault follow-up 11. Test results and couseling Clients seeking treatment at the Sexual Health Clinic should know that the Health District is required to report cases involving assault or abuse to appropriate agencies. HIV Testing: HIV antibody testing is a simple blood test performed by a trained professional. This procedure is strictly confidential. Counseling regarding the meaning of the test and its result take place before the actual testing to ensure you understand HIV infection and the testing procedure. HIV testing procedure: Blood Test – Blood drawn from a vein is tested for HIV antibodies. This test is available at the Sexual Health Clinic (280 S. Decatur Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89107 ), Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please call (702) 759-0702 for more information. If you have questions, contact the clinic by phone at (702) 759-0702 or by email at SexualHealth@snhd.org. FabLasVegas.com
31
PRIDE FLAGS
PRIDE FLAGS
COMMUNITY RESOURCES 36 Fab Vegas
FabLasVegas.com
37
www.afanlv.org Aid for AIDS of Nevada (AFAN) provides support and advocacy for adults and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS in Southern Nevada. AFAN works to reduce HIV infection through prevention and education to eliminate fear, prejudice and the stigma associated with the disease.
BELLA, BELLA, BELLAGIO
FOLLOW THE RAINBOW
™
