Losangelesblade.com, Volume 05, Issue 27, July 02, 2021

WeHo ‘Pride Walk’ a return to historic LGBTQ activism roots, PAGE 07

J U L Y 02, 2021 • VO L UM E 05 • ISSUE 2 7 • AMERICA’ S LGBT Q NEW S SO U R C E • LO SAN G ELESB LAD E. C O M

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‘AIDS is not just a Hollywood disease — this is the health crisis of this century’ #$%&'()*%+,'-#

!The poor homosexuals — they have declared war upon nature, and now nature is exacting an awful retribution,” former Nixon adviser and conservative journalist Pat Buchanan wrote May 24, 1983 in a New York Post column !AIDS Disease: It’s Nature Striking Back.”

The year before, in 1982, Buchanan — a proud son of the Confederacy and a CNN “Crossfire” commentator — staunchly defended John Demjanjuk, a retired Cleveland autoworker extradited to Israel as “Ivan the Terrible,” the SS Nazi responsible for killing hundreds of thousands of Jews at Treblinka during the Holocaust.

Nonetheless, Buchanan later became an adviser in Ronald Reagan’s White House, which was already filled with Christian evangelicals for whom AIDS was a weapon of mass destruction in their persistent war on “sodomites.”

A few federal representatives such as Sen. Edward Kennedy and California’s Rep. Henry Waxman — with help from gay deputy Tim Westmoreland — tried to intercede in stemming the growing AIDS crisis. In California, Assemblymember Art Agnos was a strong ally and in 1983, Senate President Pro Tempore David A. Roberti, working closely with his 27-year-old gay aide Stan Hadden, passed a bill establishing the California AIDS Advisory Committee. In 1985, the same year LIFE AIDS Lobby was launched, Hadden crafted legislation to encourage a coordinated approach to local AIDS programs and services.

But in those early years of AIDS, scientists were groping for answers. In March 1983, 19 months after the Centers for Disease Control published the first report on the strange new disease, the CDC, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health issued interagency recommendations to prevent the transmission of AIDS through sexual contact, blood transfusions and needle sharing.

Finally in May, Drs. Francois Barre-Sinoussi and Luc Montagnier from the French Pasteur Institute in Paris isolated the retrovirus that causes AIDS, calling it LAV (Lymphadenopathy-associated virus). Soon thereafter, in 1984, Dr. Robert Gallo at the NIH’s National Cancer Institute, also isolated a virus, which he called HTVL-III. An international debate was sparked over credit for the discovery of the cause of AIDS. The issue was exacerbated at an April 1984 news conference held by Health and Human Services Secretary Margaret M. Heckler and Dr. Edward N. Brandt Jr., the assistant secretary of HHS who previously announced that AIDS was “the No. 1 priority.” They declared that Gallo had identified the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, as the cause of AIDS. They also forecast that an HIV vaccine would be created in three years and commercially available within five years. The news conference failed to acknowledge the contributions of Montagnier, who many AIDS doctors favored.

Dr. Michael Gottlieb, author of the first CDC report on June 5, 1981, for instance, talked about Montagnier during his briefings to fellow AIDS Project Los Angeles board members, who included CDC report co-author Dr. Joel Weisman, lesbian feminist Ivy Bottini and Dr. Neil Schram. The APLA Board of Directors was officially convened on Jan. 14, 1983 by co-chairs Weisman and attorney and MECLA co-chair Diane Abbitt.

Gottlieb told the APLA board that he was impressed by the French paper.

But Bottini was concerned. She told Gottlieb, “Michael, unless you know,

with absolute certainty, that AIDS is caused by a virus, you can’t say anything about it publicly because we are going to be further stigmatized. People are going to be afraid of us.”

“And she was right,” Gottlieb told the Los Angeles Blade.

In 1984, with hatred and AIDS deaths mounting, gays were giving up on gay liberation. But some fought on. L.A. Cares put up AIDS prevention billboards featuring “Poltergeist” actress Zelda Rubinstein telling her gay son to remember his rubbers. As explained in “Guerilla Medicine,” LA medical nurse Jim Corti and Sausalito business consultant Marty Delaney drove to Tijuana, Mexico, to buy ribavirin, an over-the-counter cold remedy sold outside the U.S. but not approved by the FDA for AIDS treatment for West Coast buyers clubs. “They haven’t even bothered to test [ it ] here…and the pharmacies here can’t sell it. Why, because it might be dangerous? Hell, dying is dangerous,” Corti said.

Delaney stopped drug running to found Project Inform to get the word out about possible new treatments and put pressure on drug companies and federal bureaucrats, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, who became director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at NIH in 1984.

For some gays, the fight for freedom expanded. Ron Stone, a 37-year-old gay former staffer for Sen. Alan Cranston, was so annoyed by development in his neighborhood, he teamed up with affordable housing guru Larry Gross, director of the Coalition for Economic Survival, to incorporate West Hollywood as its own self-governing city.

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Hollywood elite teamed up to fight AIDS in early days !"# $%&'# ()*# +),-*# ."# /"/0/.1# 2%.1343%"# %5# 67"4760*# 07"3%60# ."8# 9.:0# ;.0078# ."# 3"343.43&7# 4%# 3"2%6;%6.47# 4<7# +')# 0=/.67>?317# @704# A%11:B%%8# ."8# 7172478# .# 9.:> ?.C%634:#234:#2%/"231*#3"21/83"9#9.:#(D>:7.6>%18#E%<"#A731?."#B<%#<.8#6727"41:#;.0078# <30#F.6#7G.?'#HI.:#J.?71%4*K#L6%"43760#;/F130<76#M%F#J6.39#2.1178#4<7#"7B#J34:#%5#@704# A%11:B%%8'# But the first wave of AIDS started crashing hard on cities like West Hollywood. Firstin-the-nation ordinances prohibiting discrimination based on AIDS were passed in L.A., West Hollywood, San Francisco, and Hayward. Heilman drafted the WeHo AIDS non830263?3".43%"#%683"."27*#B<32<#B.0#2<.117"978#4<7#5%11%B3"9#:7.6#B<7"#.#".31#0.1%"# refused service to gay customer Paul Jasperson. Attorney Gloria Allred stuck with and eventually won the case after Jasperson’s death from AIDS. The LA non-discrimination ordinance, drafted by closeted City Council member Joel Wachs, passed 14- . But after Mayor Tom Bradley signed the new law in August, all hell broke loose. “It was overwhelmingly awful,” Wachs told the LA Times. “A lot of it described (AIDS) as a curse rather than a virus. I was 04/""78# F:# 4<7# 3"26783F17# "/?F760# %5# 67.11:# <.475/1#4<3"90#4<.4#2.?7#3"'K “It’s going to get worse. It really is going to get worse,” said longtime gay ally Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco). Indeed, the Associated Press reported on an LA poll showing 4<.4# N+# ;7627"4# %5# (*OP,# ;7%;17# 0/;;%6478# uarantining of AIDS patients in 1985.

Q"4764.3"760# <.8# 46378# 4%# <71;# 6.307# ?%"7:# ."8# .B.67"700# 3"# 4<%07# 7.61:# 8.:0*# 3"21/83"9# Debbie Reynolds, Chita Rivera, Joan Rivers and Rita Moreno. But it wasn’t until Rock Hudson that the world woke up.

A/80%"# B.0# 83.9"%078# %"# E/"7# N*# +),-# B34<# a KS lesion on his neck, three weeks after .447"83"9# .# @<347# A%/07# 04.47# 83""76'# A7# 4/6"78#4%#I%44137F#5%6#<71;'#A/80%"#"%478#4<.4# some Americans were ying to Paris, where the ?%67#2%?;.003%".47#L67"2<#B767#467.43"9#4<7?# with a compound that worked against most retroviruses. Gottlieb offered to help Hudson meet Dr. Domini ue Dormont and get an experimental treatment, HPA-23. Hudson was 9%3"9#4%#4<7#J.""70#L31?#L7043&.1#0%#<7#.96778' “We had no idea if this drug worked. And if it worked, how often did we give it? It was truly a shot in the dark,” Gottlieb told the LA Blade.

It was on Hudson’s second or third trip to R.630#%"#E/1:#(+#B<7"#<7#2%11.;078#3"#4<7#1%FF:# of the Ritz Hotel and was taken to the American Hospital in Paris. Longtime publicist Dale Olson 67;%6478#4<.4#4<7#?%&37#04.6#<.8#3"%;76.F17#13&76# 2."276'#S<677#8.:0#1.476*#!10%"#07"4#.#870;76.47# 471796.?# 4%# 4<7# @<347# A%/07# F7993"9# 5%6# <71;# 4%#974#<3?#46."0576678#4%#R762:#T3134.6:#A%0;34.1# 4<.4# 675/078# 4%# .227;4# <3?# F72./07# <7# B.0"U4# French. Dormont “reports only one hospital in the world can offer necessary treatment to save life of Rock Hudson or at least alleviate his illness,” Olson wrote. Nancy Reagan said no.

But she wanted the press to know that Reagan

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had called Hudson and “wished him well” and the couple was “keeping him in their 4<%/9<40#."8#;6.:760'K# S<7# "7G4# 8.:*# E/1:# (N*# A/80%"U0# L67"2<# ;/F132304# V."%/# J%11.64# .""%/"278# 4<.4# Hudson had AIDS. On July 2 , “AIDS was on the front page of virtually every Sunday morning paper in the United States,” Randy Shilts later wrote in “And the Band Played On.” “There was AIDS before Rock Hudson and AIDS after.”

Hudson was own home on an Air France jetliner and driven to UCLA Medical J7"476'# S<7# 2<.36# %5# I%44137FU0# 87;.64?7"4# 4%18# <3?# 4%# <%18# .# "7B0# 2%"5767"27'# A7# had permission from Hudson to confirm the star had AIDS. But Gottlieb was not anked by rows of doctors as is customary. Instead, he stood alone, with a public relations person. “Of course, I read a statement. But I felt inhibited about responding to uestions,” trying to avoid uestions like “is Rock Hudson gay?”

“There was precious little support from the institution,” Gottlieb told the LA Blade, still annoyed by the missed opportunity. “It B.0#."#7?F.66.00?7"4'#S<7#;6700#30#%/4#4<767*# hundreds of people, ashbulbs popping as they did in those days. And all they got was a brief statement confirming that Rock Hudson had AIDS. There was no further guidance or support. So, it was an embarrassment as far as I’m concerned.”

Gottlieb snuck Elizabeth Taylor to see Hudson through a back freight door. “Elizabeth B.0# 8670078# 4%# 4<7# "3"70*K# I%44137F# 672.1178# to People magazine. “She was a little anxious .F%/4# "%4# <.&3"9# 072/634:'K# M/4# 34# B.0# I%44137F# B<%#C/?;78#<7.63"9#.#1%/8#F."9#3"#4<7#717&.4%6'# “Elizabeth laughed and said ‘It’s just my jewels.’

She had hit the wall of the elevator with a large 83.?%"8*# 4<7# W6/;;# 83.?%"8*K# I%44137F# 0.38'# “She asked me if it was okay to hug and kiss him.

She was worried about his immune system. Not hers.” Afterwards, he said, “Rock was very glad 4%#<.&7#077"#<76'K On July 28, APLA held the world’s first AIDS Walk. More than 4,5 walkers showed up, raising 73, . Mayor Bradley served as chair for the six-plus miles walkathon, which started from the “sky set” of Paramount Studios in A%11:B%%8'# T7."B<317*# %4<76# ?.2<3".43%"0# B767# .5%%4'# LA Times society columnist Mary Louise !.470# 2.1178# <76# 5637"8# ;<31."4<6%;304# @.1130# Annenberg about co-chairing the APLA 1985 Commitment to Life gala on Sept. 19. Annenberg agreed and the two decided to ask former first lady Betty Ford to serve as the other co2<.36'# L%68# .96778# ."8# 0.38# 0<7# B%/18# .447"8# the event to receive the first Commitment to Life Award. Elizabeth Taylor agreed to co-host the event with Burt Reynolds, Sammy Davis Jr., Shirley MacLaine and Burt Lancaster and helped organize the event at the Bonaventure Hotel with her publicist Chen Sam and Gary Pudney, ABC Entertainment vice president.

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<#W47&'+?/$ 4(1??#&*+?/$ %'-&1?#'-4/$ <',)M$ R$ 9,18#)$ 1,,$ 'N$ 7"17X$ '-&$ N&*#+)4$ (*7"$ER5;$1&#$+'($"13*+?$7'$,*3#$*7M$M$M$M$!"#$&#1,$=1%"'$=#+$1&#$+'7$'+$7"#$ screen. They are fighting for their lives and ours at home and in hospitals.”

6-7$ "#$ (14$ "*44#)$ ("#+$ &#1)*+?$ 1$ 4717#=#+7$ N&'=$ :#1?1+$ 1<'-7$ "'($ “The U.S. Public Health Service has made remarkable progress” in efforts 7'$ %'+A-#&$ 7"#$ )*4#14#/$ 1))*+?$ Q7"#&#$ *4$ 47*,,$ =-%"$ 7'$ <#$ )'+#MS$ :#1?1+$ had finally used the word “AIDS” at a news conference three weeks earlier.

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knowledgeable scientist will affirm that AIDS is not an easy disease to %17%"/$ 1+)$ 8#7$ (#$ %'+7*+-#$ 7'$ (*7+#44$ -+N'-+)#)$ 1+)$ -+%'+4%*'+1<,#$ =*47&#17=#+7$'N$9#&4'+4$(*7"$ER5;$1+)$7"'4#$17$&*4CMS Ford accepted her award, saying she had battled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at the airline for charging 25 , to y Hudson home. He told Gottlieb 7"17$F-)4'+$(1+7#)$7'$?*3#$"*=$_HIJ/JJJ$Q7'$)'$(*7"$("17$8'-$(1+7MS$R7$(14$ <14#)$ '+$ 1+$ 1)31+%#$ N&'=$ 1$ <''C$ <8$ ;1&1"$ 513*)4'+M$ ;"#N7$ (14$ 7"*+C*+?$ in terms of the Rock Hudson Memorial Fund for AIDS Research. But since Gottlieb was getting no support from UCLA and was getting major ack, QR$ 7"'-?"7$7"*4$*4$1$7*=#$7'$7&8$1+)$N'&=$1$+17*'+1,$&#4#1&%"$N'-+)17*'+M$D#$ got a bunch of people together at a law office in Century City. We formed a board — Joel Weisman was part of it and a number of other people. And we called it the National AIDS Research Foundation.”

2+7#&$ >'77,*#<T4$ N&*#+)$ ?18$ :#9-<,*%1+$ N&*#+)$ 1+)$ ER5;$ 1%7*3*47$ 6&-%#$ 5#%C#&$1+)$!#&&8$6#*&+/$1$N'&=#&$+#(4$9&')-%#&$("'$('&C#)$(*7"$%1+%#&$ researcher Dr. Mathilde Krim in her small AIDS Medical Foundation. AMF, which also included Dr. Joseph Sonnabend and AIDS activist and singer G*%"1#,$.1,,#+/$(14$*+$7"#$&#)/$"13*+?$?*3#+$'-7$='&#$='+#8$7"1+$7"#8$"1)M Q6&-%#$ 5#%C#&$ "#1&4$ 1<'-7$ ("17$ (#T&#$ )'*+?$ `$ 1+)$ (#$ "13#$ _HIJ/JJJM$$ He and Terry are Fire Island friends” and they see the need to go national by =#&?*+?/$>'77,*#<$41*)M$QLN$%'-&4#/$2,*Y1<#7"$!18,'&$1+)$6*,,$G#*4#+"#*=#&$ 1&#$*+3',3#)M$G#*4#+"#*=#&$1,&#1)8$"1)$.'==*7=#+7$7'$0*N#/$("*%"$&1*4#)$ _ZMa$=*,,*'+M$E+)$7"#$2147$.'147$9#'9,#$41($"'($=-%"$='+#8$(14$&1*4#)/$ 7"17$ 7"#$ D#47$ .'147$ "1)$ :'%C$ F-)4'+$ 1+)$ 7"#$ 9',*7*%1,$ )8+1=*%4$ (#&#$ 4"*N7*+?$7'$'N$1,,$9,1%#4/$0'4$E+?#,#4M$G##7*+?4$(#&#$1&&1+?#)$7'$%''&)*+17#$ 1$ =#&?#&$ 'N$ 7"#$ 7('$ 7'$ =1C#$ '+#$ +17*'+1,$ ER5;$ N'-+)17*'+$ %1,,#)$ 7"#$ American Foundation for AIDS Research — amfAR.” F'(#3#&/$>'77,*#<$+'7#)/$Q(#$'+$7"#$D#47$.'147$(#&#$3#&8$=-%"$'+$7"#$ fence about this. Ultimately, David Geffen persuaded me that it was the right thing to do.” Geffen was close with Mathilde Krim and her powerful husband, Arthur Krim, president and board chair of United Artists. Geffen Qraised his voice and said something to the effect of, ‘do you know who she *4bTS$ c#4/$ >'77,*#<$ C+#($ )*)$ <-7$ (14+T7$ *=9&#44#)M$ 23#+7-1,,8/$ >'77,*#<$ ,#N7$ 1=NE:$N'&$9&*317#$9&1%7*%#$1+)$*4$+'($<1%C$17$EB0EM$$ Two other major events happened in 1985: the CDC hosted the First R+7#&+17*'+1,$ .'+N#&#+%#$ '+$ ER5;$ *+$ E7,1+71$ (*7"$ H/JJJ$ &#?*47&1+74M$ E+)$ E=#&*%1$ =#7$ ZPK8#1&K',)$ :81+$ D"*7#/$ 1+$ R+)*1+1$ "#='9"*,*1%$ *+N#%7#)$ 7"&'-?"$1$<,'')$7&1+4N-4*'+$1+)$<1&&#)$N&'=$4%"'',$<#%1-4#$"#$"1)$ER5;M$ R+7#&#47*+?,8/$ B17$ 6-%"1+1+/$ 7"#$ %'+4#&317*3#$ ?&#17$ &*?"7$ "'9#/$ (14$ Reagan’s communications director from Feb. , 1985 to March 1, 1987. Two months after he left, on May 31, 1987, Reagan gave his first major address '+$ER5;M$!"#$+-=<#&$'N$)#17"4$"1)$7'99#)$HI/JJJM

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D.*& 27%<& #?& A*3%& 6#++<E##0& -50& %.*& A*3%& 6#++<E##0& 2.-="*/& #?& 2#==*/4*& 4#==7337#5*0& -& 5$="*/& #?& "$375*33& -4%7;7%7*3& -50& %$/5*0& P#"*/%3#5& :#$+*;-/0& 75%#& -& festival atmosphere, but there was no plan for a march for the first time in more than 5 <*-/3I Q@/70*&A-+B&E-3&75%*50*0&%#&=-B*&3$/*&%.-%&070&5#%&.-))*5>&2RSNT&"*&0-=5*0>O&9-3%*/3& 3-70I 9-/5-& T*7%4.>& -& 8#$%.*/5& 2-+7?#/57-& 9#%#/4<4+*& 2#5%75,*5%& ?#/& GH$-+7%<& +*-0*/& -50& -& social media organizer of Pride Walk, kicked off and led the walk with more than a dozen bikers, leading about 75 walkers with her motorcycle contingent.

QA*&E-5%*0&%#&"*&%.*/*&Q%#&3.#E&#$/&)/70*&#)*5+<&-50&.#5*3%+<&-50&/*4*7;75,&%.*&+#;*& "-4B&?/#=&%.*&)*#)+*&75&%.*&3%/**%&73&%.*&"*3%I&&8**75,&=#/*&#?&%.-%&#;*/&%.*&0*4-0*3&B**)3& me optimistic to continue our fight, our Pride,” said Deitch.

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!"#$%"&'"(&)*+,&-.(/(01(&23/&0#'&.(4$(/'(56& 70'(0'7#03??8&?#2BE(8&305&'"(.(&2(.(&0#&/-((1"(/&-?300(5&305&0#&.3??8&70&35D301(A At one point, Alex Mohajer, an actor, author, artist, and LGBT activist, gave a marching 5(-$'7(/& /"#2(5& $-& 308238& 3'& 2"71"& -#70'& ,(7'1"& 305& 93/'(./& 0(%#'73'(5& :3.1"(./;& 311(//& /-((1"&'"3'&.(:705(5&23?E(./&#<&'"(&"7/'#.8&#<&N.75(&:3.1"(/6&23?E/&305&-3.35(/A And it was even educational — Mohajer and Masters joked at the intersection of La '#&'"(&/'.(('/&27'"&'"(&1#::305(.&#<&)*+,&=(/'& >#??82##5& /$@/'3'7#06& )'A& =7??73:& 9#$?5(.A& !"(& C7(0(%3&305&+30'3&9#0713&'"3'&K2(&/"#$?5&"3D(&3&57(B70&.7%"'&"(.(AM&&K="3'&7/&3&57(B706M& :3.1"&23/&$0B-(.:7''(5&305&$0/301'7#0(5&@8&'"(& asked a young woman. Mohajer explained that in many instances over the years “it’s what C7'8&#<&=(/'&>#??82##56&"#2(D(.6&9#$?5(.&3??#2(5& we had to do to express our rage and get their attention. And we are not at a place yet '"(&@7E(/&305&'"(&:3.1"(./&'#&/?#2?8&03D7%3'(&'"(7.& '"3'&7/&/3<(AM A young lesbian couple expressed astonishment upon learning that Pride marches and way through the traffic along Santa Monica Blvd., walks once included die-ins. “I never heard anything about that. That’s amazing.” (/1#.'(5&@8&/(D(.3?&)*+,&$07'/A “Stonewall was a riot, and 52 years later it’s more important than ever that LGBT !"(&/-7.7'&#<&'"(&1.#25&23/&D(.8&:3''(.&#<&<31'6& people remember our own history of activism and dissent. Our fight is not over, and I’m with lots of socializing and ag waving, responding '#& '"(& "#0E70%& #<& 13.& "#.0/& 305& '"(& 1"((./& 305& proud to march today in honor of those who came before us in the fight for e ual justice,” said Mohajer, who is also a candidate for president of the Stonewall Democratic Club.

3--?3$/(&#<&@8/'305(./&#0&'"(&/75(?70(/A Richard Ayoub, Project Angel Food executive director, said, “When I walk in the Pride 93.8& F#& G#5%(/& 305& H(0(& +#'7?(6& '"(& I::8& parade every year there’s always at least one person in the crowd who is a Project Angel award-winning filmmaking team (and married ISO 12647-7 Digital Control Strip 2009 100 60 100 70 30 100 60 40 100 40 100 3 100 70 30 100 60 10 25 50 75 100 100 40 40 70 40 70 40 40 40 70 40 40 70 40 70 40 40 Food client, and mouths to me ‘Thank you.’ And although this walk was much90smaller it had 1#$-?(J& :3.1"(5& 3'& '"(&100<.#0'& 70 #<& '"(&301.#25& 27'"& 93/'(./6& "#?570%& 3& /7:-?(& .370@#2& @300(.& '"3'& the sane impact— a client expressed his gratitude in a uiet and respectful way. This was .(35& KC#:(& #$'& 305& F#70& L/M& K=(>#& N.75(& =3?EM& '"(&-(.<(1'&238&'#&13-&N.75(&:#0'"AM “Only the Weho LGBT community can come together like this last minute and have the KO=(>#N.75(=3?EAM& +#'7?(& 7/& 3?/#& 3& :(:@(.& #<& /"#270%&305&/$--#.'&'"3'&7'&5756M&*8#$@&355(5A West Hollywood’ Lesbian and Gay Advisory Board.

100 100 60 100 100 70 70 30 30 100 100 60 100 100 70 70 30 30 100 100 60 100 100 70 70 30 30 100 40 100 40 40 100 10 40 40 20 70 70 70 70 40 70 40 40 0000 3.1 2.2 2.2 10.2 7.4 7.4 25 19 19 50 40 40 75 66 66 100 100 100 80 70 70 100 The march continued along Santa Monica Boulevard to Robertson where the crowd *:#0%& '"(& 23?E(./6& 2"71"& 701?$5(5& =(>#& C7'8& C#$017?:(:@(.& +(-7& +"80(6& 2(.(& /(D(.3?& %3'"(.(5&<#.&3&%.#$-&-"#'#A As the first West Hollywood Pride Walk came to a conclusion in a parking lot across from members of the Lesbian and Gay Advisory Board, ro e t Angel ood e uti e the Abbey on Robertson, Masters stepped onto the “Born This Way” mural and kept his LGBT and AIDS non-profit executive directors, Dire tor #$%&'#()'*+,--<9=>?@A4@$/70(//& #20(./& 305& 31'7D7/'/6& @$'& '"(& (D(0'& 23/&T:10"remarks brief. “I have a four-word speech to give: Thank you for everything.” with #./$)-.0.#1* 3%

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confirmation Delaware State Sen. Sarah !"#$%&#'() *%&#') +,--#-,".(#&) !"%&#) McBride, the first openly transgender state month for his first year in office on Friday senator Virginia State Del. Danica Roem, the /%(0).)"#+#1(%,').()(0#)20%(#)3,4$#5)&#(.%6%'7) first openly transgender elected and seated (0#) %'%(%.(%8#$) 0%$) .&-%'%$(".(%,') 0.$) -.&#) (,).)$(.(#)6#7%$6.(4"#< on behalf of the LGBT community and *%&#'5) /0,) $%7'#&) .') #R#+4(%8#) ,"&#") &#+6."%'7)9!"%&#)%$):.+;).()(0#)20%(#)3,4$#<= "#8#"$%'7) !"#$%&#'() L"4-1>$) (".'$7#'&#") 92#>"#) .6$,) -.;%'7) 1",7"#$$5) :4() ?) ;',/) military ban, also pointed out in the audience we still have a long way to go, a lot of work Lt. Col. Bree Fram, a high-ranking openly (,) &,5=) *%&#') $.%&<) 92#) -4$() 1",(#+() (0#) (".'$)$#"8%+#)-#-:#"< gains we’ve made and fend off the cruel and Members of Congress who are openly 4'+,'$+%,'.:6#) .((.+;$) (0.() /#>"#) $##%'7) NP*LS) /#"#) .6$,) %') .((#'&.'+#5) %'+64&%'7) now to ensure the full promise of dignity and Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Rep. Sean #@4.6)1",(#+(%,'<= Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.), Rep. Mark Pocan A,%'%'7) *%&#') ,') $(.7#) B,") (0#) "#+#1(%,') (D-Wis.) and Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), in the East Room was first lady Jill Biden and Rep. Sharice Davids (D-Kansas). A notable Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who absence, however, was Sen. Kyrsten Sinema participated in the event as the first openly (D-Ariz.), the only out bisexual in Congress. gay official to win Senate confirmation for a Ruben Gonzales, executive director of C.:%'#(D6#8#6)",6#< the LGBT Victory Institute, was also in *4((%7%#75) .+;',/6#&7%'7) 0%$) $1,4$#5) .((#'&.'+#) .() (0#) #8#'() .'&) 1,%'(#&) ,4() C0.$(#') *4((%7%#75) /0,) /.$) $#.(#&) %') (0#) it included many LGBT appointees his .4&%#'+#5) $.%&) :#%'7) .:6#) (,) $#"8#) %') (0#) 6789:;8<=!1:;8<!>8?8@7A=8;!67:;8!BC<=D!?A9=!E88F3 organization has supported.

Biden administration as an openly gay man “It’s something to celebrate,” Gonzalez /.$)%-1,"(.'(< said. “It’s great to see a collection of so many 9E,()(0.()6,'7).7,5)/#66)/%(0%')(0#)6%B#(%-#$) appointees, LGBT leaders in a space together to be welcomed and affirmed by this of many people in this room, being outed could be dis ualifying from public service, any .&-%'%$(".(%,'<)?)(0%';)%(>$).)(#$(.-#'()(,)/0.()*%&#')%$)+"#.(%'7<= public service — not just being a Cabinet officer, or a member of the military, but being White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Friday the initiatives President Biden a bookkeeper or an astronomer,” Buttigieg said, making a reference to Frank Kameny’s has undertaken for the LGBT community “do send an important message around the (#"-%'.(%,')B",-)(0#)F<G<)7,8#"'-#'()%')(0#)HIJK$< /,"6&=).$).')#R.-16#),B)M-#"%+.')8.64#$< A heavy focus of the event was the wave of state laws against transgender youth, !$.;%5)"#$1,'&%'7)(,).)@4#$(%,')B",-)(0#)2.$0%'7(,')*6.&#5)-.&#)(0#)+,--#'($),') %'+64&%'7) "#$("%+(%'7) (0#%") .++#$$) (,) (".'$%(%,'D"#6.(#&) 0#.6(0) +."#) .'&) $+0,,6) $1,"($<) the day Biden held a Pride reception at the White House, named the U.S. envoy for Biden called them “nothing but bullying disguised as legislation.”

9L0#$#)."#)$,-#),B)(0#)476%#$(5)4'DM-#"%+.'):%66$)?>8#)#8#")$##'5).'&)?>8#):##').",4'&) %'(#"'.(%,'.6)NP*LS)04-.')"%70($).'&)$%7'#&).)-#.$4"#)&#$%7'.(%'7)(0#)!46$#)'%70(+64:) .$).)'.(%,'.6)-#-,"%.6< .)/0%6#5=)*%&#')$.%&< L0#)*6.&#)0.&).$;#&)0,/)(0,$#)%'%(%.(%8#$)16.+#)%')*%&#'>$)6."7#")&,-#$(%+).'&)B,"#%7') Listing the initiatives his administration has undertaken for the LGBT community, policy agenda and whether they fall short of his campaign promise to sign the E uality Biden recalled he signed an executive order on his first day in office against anti-LGBT &%$+"%-%'.(%,') (0.() 0.8#) 6#&) (,) ','D&%$+"%-%'.(%,') -#.$4"#$) $(#--%'7) B",-) 8."%,4$) M+()%'(,)6./< “Let me start with the first one because I think that’s an important uestion, because B#&#".6).7#'+%#$< /0.()/#)&,)0#"#).'&)(0#)8.64#$)(0.()/#).&8,+.(#)B,")%')(0#)F'%(#&)G(.(#$)&,)$#'&).')

Two other news items on the same day— Biden signing a congressional resolution &#$%7'.(%'7)(0#)!46$#)'%70(+64:).$).)'.(%,'.6)-#-,"%.6).'&)(0#).11,%'(-#'(),B)A#$$%+.) %-1,"(.'()-#$$.7#).",4'&)(0#)/,"6&5).'&)$,-#(%-#$)/#)B,"7#()(0.(5=)!$.;%)$.%&<)9L0#) 1"#$%&#'()/%66),4(6%'#5),B)+,4"$#5)(0#)0%$(,"%+)$(#1$)0%$).&-%'%$(".(%,')0.$)(.;#'5):4()0#) Stern as international envoy for LGBT human rights, also were part of Biden’s remarks. will also renew his calls on the Senate to swiftly pass the E uality Act and provide overdue, Biden also renewed his call to pass the E uality Act, legislation he said in the 2 2 explicit civil rights protections to LGBT people and families across the country.” election would be a priority, but has languished in Congress and is all but dead. !$.;%)%')"#$1,'$#)(,).)B,66,/D41)@4#$(%,')B",-)(0#)*6.&#)$.%&)*%&#')0.&)',)%--#&%.(#) Introducing Biden at the event was Ashton Mota, a 1 -year-old transgender advocate plans to the visit the Pulse site, but “maybe” that would happen.

B",-)N,/#665)O.$$<5).'&).)6#.&#")/%(0)(0#)P#'&#"C,,6)!",Q#+(< “I don’t have anything to preview in terms of travel beyond next week,” Psaki said.

Mota, delivering a personal speech about his transition and his advocacy for “Maybe — we don’t work too far ahead in planning around these parts, but certainly the transgender youth, thanked President Biden for the actions taken by his administration fact that he’s signing this legislation today sends a clear message about his commitment “Mr. President, thank you for having our back,” Mota said. to the LGBT community, and to commemorating what was a tragedy in our nation’s Notables in attendance, and pointed out by Biden, were Assistant Secretary for Health history.”

Rachel Levine, the first openly transgender presidential appointee to obtain U.S. Senate

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!"#$ %&'&$ '()*#+#$ ,-(*.$ -/$ 0-/123$ 1#456/#1$ .-$ "#2*$ ."#$ 427#$ -8$ 2$ 8-*+#*$ "69"$ 74"--5$ 7.(1#/.$:"-$4"255#/9#1$"67$;6*96/62$74"--5$167.*64.<7$=2."*--+$)-5643& Gavin Grimm was a sophomore at Gloucester County High School when he filed a federal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am glad that my years-long fight to have my school see me for who I am is over,” said >*6++$ 6/$ 2/$ D+#*642/$ ,6J65$ U6=#*.6#7$ %/6-/$ )*#77$ *#5#27#&$ AV#6/9$ 8-*4#1$ .-$ (7#$ ."#$ /(*7#<7$ *--+L$2$)*6J2.#$=2."*--+L$2/1$."#$96*5<7$*--+$:27$"(+6562.6/9$8-*$+#L$2/1$"2J6/9$.-$9-$.-$ -(.N-8N."#N:23$=2."*--+7$7#J#*#53$6/.#*8#*#1$:6."$+3$#1(42.6-/&$!*2/7$3-(."$1#7#*J#$.-$(7#$ ."#$=2."*--+$6/$)#24#$:6."-(.$=#6/9$"(+6562.#1$2/1$7.69+2.6W#1$=3$."#6*$-:/$74"--5$=-2*17$ and elected officials.”

Josh Block, a senior staff attorney with the ACLU LGBT and HIV Project, in the press release /-.#1$6.$A67$."#$."6*1$.6+#$6/$*#4#/.$3#2*7$."2.$."#$'()*#+#$,-(*.$"27$255-:#1$2))#257$4-(*.$ 1#4676-/7$6/$7())-*.$-8$.*2/79#/1#*$7.(1#/.7$.-$7.2/1&B A!"67$67$2/$6/4*#16=5#$J64.-*3$8-*$>2J6/$2/1$8-*$.*2/79#/1#*$7.(1#/.7$2*-(/1$."#$4-(/.*3LB$ 7261$V5-4@&$AOur work is not yet done, and the ACLU is continuing to fight against anti-trans 52:7$.2*9#.6/9$.*2/7$3-(."$6/$7.2.#7$2*-(/1$."#$4-(/.*3&B X(+2/$ E69".7$ ,2+)269/$ O*#761#/.$ D5)"-/7-$ ?2J61$ 257-$ )*267#1$ ."#$ '()*#+#$ ,-(*.<7$ 1#4676-/&

ARJ#*3-/#$ "27$ ."#$ *69".$ .-$ "69"NT(256.3L$ )(=564$ #1(42.6-/$ :6."-(.$ ."#$ 8#2*$ -8$ =#6/9$ 1674*6+6/2.#1$ 2926/7.$ 76+)53$ 8-*$ =#6/9$ =*2J#$ #/-(9"$ .-$ 7"-:$()$27$3-($.*(53$2*#LB$7261$ ?2J61&$ A!"67$ 67$ 2$ =2..5#$ >2J6/$ Grimm has been fighting for -J#*$ 8-(*$ 3#2*7$ Y$ :#$ 2*#$ 9*2.#8(5$ ."2.$ "67$ *#7656#/4#L$ 4-(*29#$ 2/1$ 1#.#*+6/2.6-/$ has finally been rewarded.”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reinstated, but efforts to implement a Virginia Department of Education directive to school 167.*64.7$.-$+2@#$."#6*$)-5646#7$+-*#$.*2/7N8*6#/153$"2J#$=##/$+#.$:6."$J-425$-))-76.6-/& The Biden administration on June 1 officially announced that Title I prohibits discrimination against LGBT students. !"#$%&'()*('%+&,-(

State Department ies ride ag or first time “We lead the department’s efforts to ensure that ?#)(.3$'#4*#.2*3$-8$'.2.#$[#/13$'"#*+2/$2/1$,"6#8$ ."#$:-*@8-*4#$-8$."#$%/6.#1$'.2.#7$'.2.#$?#)2*.+#/.$ Diversity and Inclusion Officer Gina Abercrombie4-+#7$ .-$ 5--@$ 56@#$ ."#$ 4-(/.*3$ :"64"$ :#$ 5-J6/953$ [6/7.2/5#3$ :#*#$ 2+-/9$ ."-7#$ :"-$ "#5)#1$ *267#$ ."#$ represent,” she said. “We must finally ensure Progress Pride ag at the State Department last Friday. #T(6.2=5#$42*##*$-(.4-+#7$8-*$255$-8$-(*$#+)5-3##7&B Sherman noted it is the first time “a ag recognizing Jeff Anderson, president of GLIFAA, an association the LGBT I community will y over State Department of LGBT employees of Foreign Service agencies, "#21T(2*.#*7&B$ '"#*+2/$ 257-$ )-6/.#1$ -(.$ ."#$ 7-N -)#/#1$."#$4#*#+-/3& 4255#1$A52J#/1#*$742*#B$1(*6/9$:"64"$():2*17$-8$HLGGG$ “Today we are ying this Progress Pride ag for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he ceremony took place less than five months "#*#$ 2.$ "-+#&$ D7$ +(4"$ 27$ )*-9*#77$ :#$ "2J#$ +21#L$ 28.#*$ O*#761#/.$ V61#/$ 769/#1$ 2$ +#+-*2/1(+$ ."2.$ 27$ :#$ 2*#$ 4#5#=*2.6/9$ .-123L$ :#$ 7.655$ "2J#$ .-$ :-*@$ .-$ committed the U.S. to promoting LGBT rights do to guarantee e uality for LGBT I people in our 2=*-21& :-*@)524#7L$ 6/$ -(*$ 74"--57L$ 2.$ ."#$ ?#)2*.+#/.$ -8$ )=KDE<-#=C?=E>?<-7I-#E>E=-1&023(-$&,!%0->8M-7E9=?-#E>E=-)=K>?EL=8Eo ials help raise the rogress ride ag o er the State Department on V56/@#/$ 6/$ D)*65$ 2//-(/4#1$ ."#$ '.2.#$ ?#)2*.+#/.$ '.2.#L$6/$-(*$9-J#*/+#/.$2/1$6/$-(*$7-46#.3&B /D8=-3O*--G(A>M=-K97E7-F<-,:C9>=A-P*-!>N=?;J will once again allow U.S. diplomatic institutions to y “We raise the Progress ag today as a signal to people the Pride ag. State Department spokesperson Ned everywhere that the United States is firmly committed to doing that work and for fighting for LGBT I people at home and everywhere,” added O*64#$ 2$ 8#:$ :##@7$ 52.#*$ .-51$ ."#$ [27"6/9.-/$ V521#$ ."2.$ 1#4*6+6/256W2.6-/$ -8$ 4-/7#/7(25$ Sherman. “We raise this ag in recognition as well as the countless civil service and foreign same-sex sexual relations is one of the five priorities for the White House in its efforts to service officers, locally employed staff, contractors, even us appointees, past and present, promote LGBT rights abroad. !"#$ ["6.#$ X-(7#$ -/$ Z*6123$ 2//-(/4#1$ 6.$ /2+#1$ ^#77642$ '.#*/L$ #\#4(.6J#$ 16*#4.-*$ -8$ :"-$ "2J#$ :-*@#1$ .-$ 4"2/9#$ ."#$ '.2.#$ ?#)2*.+#/.L$ ."#$ 4-(/.*3$ 2/1$ ."#$ :-*51$ 8-*$ ."#$ OutRight Action International, a global LGBT advocacy group, as the next special U.S. =#..#*&B D=#*4*-+=6#N[6/7.2/5#3L$:"-$'#4*#.2*3$-8$'.2.#$D/.-/3$V56/@#/$2))-6/.#1$27$."#$'.2.#$ envoy for the promotion of LGBT rights abroad. Stern is among those who attended the ag raising ceremony.

Department’s first chief diversity and inclusion officer in April, in her remarks noted her !"#$%&'()*('%+&,.:-$ 4"651*#/$ 2*#$ 923&$ D=#*4*-+=6#N[6/7.2/5#3$ 257-$ *#6.#*2.#1$ "#*$ 4-++6.+#/.$ .-$ "#5)$ #/7(*#$."#$'.2.#$?#)2*.+#/.<7$:-*@8-*4#$=#4-+#7$+-*#$16J#*7#&

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War over ‘sincerely held religious beliefs’ far from over On Nov. 4, 2 2 , the tireless fight for LGBT rights once again found itself at the mercy of the Supreme Court when justices heard arguments in !"#$%&'()'*+$,'%-'./+#012#3/+0. Two years earlier, the City of Philadelphia cancelled its contract with Catholic Social Services because the foster agency does not screen or consider same-sex couples for child placement, arguing this practice was in violation of the city’s non-discrimination ordinance.

On June 17, 2 21 — juxtaposed with Pride month celebrations across the country — the stolen Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling upholding the city’s decision, giving a nod to bigotry, rekindling the perpetual fight for LGBT rights and reaffirming that the current court is a willing accomplice in crimes against e uality.

The war being waged against the LGBT community under the guise of “sincerely held religious beliefs” is far from over. For years, state legislatures have passed unjust laws allowing businesses and organizations to discriminate against people simply based on who they love. The federal government is also no stranger to demonizing LGBT Americans, having long upheld policies like “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the transgender service member ban.

I’m privileged to have played a role in working to overturn these policies that subjected LGBT Americans to unfair treatment under the law. Now I’m working to expand the Supreme Court as an extension of that same fight.

LGBT Americans have won and defended their rights against the discriminatory tactics employed by state and federal governments, but not without pain and hardship all along the way. For decades, gender and sexual minorities have marched in the streets, amplifying calls for e uality and fair treatment under the eyes of the law, yearning for the day when their sexual orientation and gender identity can no longer be leveraged against them as tools of discrimination and hate.

The !"#$%& ruling is an early warning of the damage barreling toward e uality, fairness, and justice at the hands of the hyperpartisan Supreme Court.

While others have (rightly) noted that the decision could have been worse, I take little comfort in that fact. The court’s progressive justices being forced to compromise with bigots to avoid an even more disastrous outcome is a sign of how far we have fallen in just the few short years since the court made marriage e uality the law of the land.

Taken together with the court’s previous rulings in Hobby Lobby and Masterpiece Cakeshop, the Fulton ruling sends a clear signal that the court, at a minimum, could wind up killing nondiscrimination protections for LGBT Americans by a thousand cuts, as it may chip away at non-discrimination protections slowly over time rather than in one fell swoop. The trajectory is cause for deep concern.

We’ve arrived at a dark and critical time in the great !"'4'5678'9:;':9:<'4'7=!>?@A7A!B7>CAD,=E

experiment of our democracy. The Supreme Court has been stolen, and the rights of millions of Americans are at stake. As of late, conservatives have spared no opportunity to obstruct Americans’ fundamental rights. The stolen Supreme Court is poised to uphold these egregious attacks, subjecting countless Americans to discrimination.

Ultimately, expanding the Supreme Court is the only way to hold the federal government accountable and prevent them from walking our democracy backwards. Unless something is done to reverse the dangerous course we’re on, the current stolen Supreme Court is destined to continue ruling on the wrong side of e uality. The rights of every single American are under assault.

The Court also finds itself on the wrong side of the will of the American people. Seventy percent of Americans support marriage e uality according to Gallup’s latest 40#"25'0&1'62#+2-5 poll, a number that has trended upwards since the uestion was first asked in 199 . But instead of following the modernization of beliefs on LGBT rights and more, the court has been abused as a means to enshrine minority rule and force primitive beliefs on the American people.

Working at the forefront of both of these issues, court expansion and LGBT rights share a common theme — they were both once considered political fringe issues. But the assault on e uality and our democracy by conservatives thrust these issues into the political spotlight. “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was repealed, freeing thousands of troops from the shackles of fear that revealing their sexual orientation could earn them a dishonorable discharge.

The transgender troop ban was overturned — though the Trump administration temporarily reinstated it in 2 19 to score cheap political points with his base. And 7829:-2##' ()' ;%1:25 secured marriage e uality for every American.

Thanks to that ruling and others that have preserved, protected, and granted e uality to LGBT Americans, advocates have long viewed the Supreme Court as defenders of democracy.

But as of late, the court has demonstrated it is instead a grave threat to decades of progress we’ve realized through generations of hard work. Congress must act swiftly to pass the Judiciary Act of 2 21, the only way to effectively expand the court and restore balance and trust to the apogee of our democracy.

For so many LGBT Americans, e uality means adopting children, getting married, donating blood, and having a job without fearing their sexuality or gender identity would jeopardize their career. These rights and privileges are taken for granted by so many Americans who are not treated as “lesser than” because of the color of their skin or who they love.

When the Supreme Court ruled that marriage e uality was the law of the land, “Love Wins” became a mantra that resonated across the world. But love has no standing in a stolen Supreme Court. And apparently, neither does e uality.

VOLUME

5 I S S U E 27

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!"#$"%&'"($&%)*+ !"#$%&#'("#)*+&,&"#'-./#0&*$&12"#0%!&3# Medical Officer. A former president and chairman of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, he has been caring for people with HIV since the earliest days of the epidemic and is one of the nation’s foremost experts on HIV treatment.

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!"#$%&'(&")*&+,-("&.$#/*&'0&+*("*-0&12-,.*&3,-&45678&.*,.$*&",&$'9*:&;#<*=(*>&<#--'#?*& '(&'$$*?#$&#0@&(,&'(&#@,."'0?&/)'$@-*0&3,-&(#<*=(*>&/,2.$*(:&A#"*(&,3&#0"'=45678&("-**"& 9',$*0/*&#-*&")-,2?)&")*&-,,3B&3#-&)'?)*-&")#0&'0&#0%&1C&("#"*&0,"&3,-<*-$%&D*)'0@&")*& !-,0& E2-"#'0:& 45678& !"#$'#0(& -*.,-"& $'9'0?& '0& 3*#-& ,3& .)%('/#$& #0@& 9*-D#$& #((#2$"& '3& ")*%& look gay or trans in public or if they display open affection toward same-sex partners.

45678&#@9,/#"*(B&'0/$2@'0?&FG&H$*((#0@-,&I#0B&)#9*&D**0&+,-J'0?&3,-&%*#-(&",&#@@& K2**-&.*,.$*B&@'(#D$*@&.*,.$*B&#0@&+,<*0&",&)#"*&/-'<*&$#+(&")#"&#$-*#@%&/-'<'0#$'L*& 9',$*0/*&#0@&)#"*&(.**/)&#?#'0("&-#/'#$B&*")0'/B&#0@&-*$'?',2(&<'0,-'"'*(:&M#-&-'?)"&?-,2.(& and Italian Catholic bishops have fought the new law tooth and nail, effectively putting '"&,0&),$@&$#("&#2"2<0: 7)*0&,0&F#%&NOB&P2("&#(&<,<*0"2<&3,-&.#((#?*&(**<*@&",&D*&.'/J'0?&2.&#?#'0B&")*& Q#"'/#0&$*9*-#?*@&'"(&("#"2(&#(&#&0#"',0=("#"*&'0&#0&20.-*/*@*0"*@&.,+*-.$#%&",&"-%&",& (",.&")*&)#"*&/-'<*&$#+&'0&'"(&"-#/J(: H-/)D'(),.& G#2$& A'/)#-@& 5#$$#?)*-B& ")*& Q#"'/#0& R(*/-*"#-%& ,3& -*$#"',0(& +'")& ("#"*(BS& @*$'9*-*@&#&@'.$,<#"'/&0,"*&",&")*&!"#$'#0&?,9*-0<*0"&/$#'<'0?&")*&.-,.,(*@&$#+&+,2$@& 9',$#"*&")*&4#"*-#0&7-*#"%&D*"+**0&!"#$%&#0@&")*&Q#"'/#0: A Vatican spokesperson confirmed the move on Tuesday, sparking a fiery debate in !"#$%&#0@&#-,20@&")*&+,-$@:&T2"-#?*@&9,'/*(&#-*&/#$$'0?&3,-&")*&"-*#"%B&+)'/)&@#"*(&D#/J& ",& ")*& NUVW(& M#(/'("& *-#B& ",& D*& #D,$'()*@B& (#%'0?& ")*& A,<#0& E#"),$'/& E)2-/)& '(& 0,"& #& 0#"',0&("#"*&#0@&<2("&0,"&D*&"-*#"*@&+'")&")*&.-'9'$*?*(&,3&,0*: “It’s the first time the church has done something like this,” reported Robert Mickens ,3&")*&E#"),$'/&@#'$%&0*+(.#.*-&4#&E-,'>B&#..*#-'0?&",&+,--%&")#"&")*&Q#"'/#0&)#@&<#@*& a major blunder over concerns it might have to pay fines for hate speech. He says H-/)D'(),.&5#$$#?)*-X(&@*.#-"<*0"&'(&R("'$$&9*-%&20/,<3,-"#D$*&+'")&")*&+),$*&?#%&'((2*S& #3"*-&)#9'0?&#(&-*/*0"$%&#(&VWNY&/#$$*@&$*?#$'L*@&(#<*=(*>&<#--'#?*&'0&!-*$#0@&R#&@*3*#"& 3,-&)2<#0'"%:S 7#$J&#D,2"&)#"*&(.**/):&;'?): 62"&")'(&<#""*-&-'(*(&3#-&#D,9*&5#$$#?)*-X(&@*.#-"<*0"&#0@&.#%&?-#@*:&E)2-/)&'0('@*-(& say he could not have delivered that diplomatic note without Pope Francis’s specific J0,+$*@?*&#0@&*>.-*((&.*-(,0#$&/,0(*0":&7)'(&E)2-/)&*>*-/'(*&,3&0#"',0=("#"*&.,+*-& -'(*(&",&")*&$*9*$&,3&#&?-#9*&<,-#$&#0@&)2<#0&-'?)"(&/,0/*-0: Buffeted by fierce criticism from around the world, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal G'*"-,&G#-,$'0&%*("*-@#%&/$#'<*@&")*&E)2-/)&+#(&0,"&"-%'0?&",&D$,/J&.#((#?*&,3&")*&)#"*& /-'<*&$#+B&<*-*$%&"-%'0?&",&?*"&'"&#<*0@*@&D*/#2(*&0,D,@%&'0&!"#$'#0&?,9*-0<*0"&+#(& .#%'0?&#""*0"',0&",&Q#"'/#0&/,0/*-0(: His statement belies the actual content of the note, which referenced treaty language ",&D$,/J&$#+(B&0,"&",&#<*0@&")*<: 7)*0& G#-,$'0& -*.*#"*@& -'?)"+'0?& /$#'<(& ")#"& ")*& $#+& +,2$@& /-'<'0#$'L*& .*,.$*& +),& "*#/)& ")#"& 3#<'$'*(& (),2$@& D*& $*@& D%& ,..,('"*=(*>& <#--'*@& .#-*0"(:& 7)#"& '(& 3#$(*B& #(& !"!"!#$%&!'()!('(*!"!%+,-./0%0,1%-2034+5

legislators have clarified over and over. The law sets a threshold for prosecution of R'0/'"'0?&)#"-*@&,-&9',$*0/*:S&!"#$'#0&$#+%*-(&#?-**&"),(*&-'?)"+'0?&(/#-*&"#/"'/(&)#9*&0,& basis in fact. That a high Vatican official would repeat false claims is shocking.

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on the sole grounds that it offered specific help to LGBT people. The law passed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marked increase in street violence. In Hungary, Catholic Church bishops have allied with -*.-*(('9*& ("-,0?<#0& Q'J",-& T-D`0& '0& @*)2<#0'L'0?& #0@& /-'<'0#$'L'0?& 45678& .*,.$*& while blaming clerical sex abuse on the “gay movement” instead of on the Hungarian E#"),$'/&.-'*("(&#0@&D'(),.(&+),&(*>2#$$%&#D2(*@&/)'$@-*0: 467897:;<!=8!>6<=7?;>;<@>=A;3B6C

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&!678!9:77;!<=!>7:<7?!7@7:A7?!B6!C06;7:A:<D6;E!;<F Documenting the fight for freedom in Nigeria #$%&'()%*+,-%./)0

!"#$"% &'(% )'*+,-.&.&/0% 12(% .(#3% -% 34-*"% (4-(% (4"% 5',63% -(% 789% +$"*."$":% ;<4"% ="/"&:% '5% (4"% >&:"$/$'2&:?% -(% (4"%(-.,%"&:%'5%@$.:"%*'&(4%.&3("-:%'5%(4"%A"$B%1"/.&&.&/0% because in many ways it is a documentary that exemplifies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in the present tense, providing a searing and timely look at the struggle against rampant LGBT discrimination taking +,-)"% .&% F./"$.-% (':-B0% .&($':2).&/% 23% ('% -% &"C% $'3("$% '5% 4"$'"3% '5% (4"% 4"$"M-&:M&'C% -3% .(% 5',,'C3% (4"% 3('$."3% '5% several bold young non-conformists who are fighting for (4"%5$"":'*%('%,.A"%,.5"%'2(%,'2:D If you don’t feel up to date on current affairs in Nigeria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“The Legend of the Underground” documents the efforts of 3"A"$-,% B'2&/% F./"$.-&3% ('% +234% 1-)6% -/-.&3(% $"+$"33.A"% ,"/.3,-(.'&% -&:% )2,(2$-,,B% "*1"::":% 4'*'+4'1.-% .&% (4".$% country, where an anti-LGBT law known as the Same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by the arresting officers. One of them who goes by the &-*"% ]-*"3% 8$'C&% Q% 34')6":% (4"% )'2&($B% 1B% :"5B.&/% 4.3% )-+('$3% -&:% 3+"-6.&/% '2(% -/-.&3(% (4"% /'A"$&*"&(% C4.,"% still in handcuffs captured on camera, it was a lightning-in-M1'((,"%*'*"&(%(4-(%C"&(%A.$-,D% As the film follows the ongoing saga of the legal case -/-.&3(%]-*"3%-&:%(4"%'(4"$3%-$$"3(":%-&:%-))23":%-(%(4"% +-$(B0% .(% -,3'% 5')23"3% '&% -&'(4"$% *-&0% S.)4-",% J/4':-$'0% who ed his community in Nigeria after having been -((-)6":%5'$%4.3%.:"&(.(BD%F'C%,.A.&/%.&%F"C%^'$6%O.(B%-3%+-$(% '5% -% )4'3"&% 5-*.,B% C.(4% '(4"$% 5$."&:3% 5$'*% (4"% F./"$.-&% :.-3+'$-0% 4"% C'$63% 5$'*% (4"% '(4"$% 3.:"% '5% (4"% /,'1"% ('% -:A')-("% 5'$% (4"% +"'+,"% -&:% )'**2&.(."3% 4"% ,"5(% 1"4.&:0% while settling into a new life as an LGBT rights and HIV +$"A"&(.'&%-:A')-("D

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generation is fighting back just like those who came before (4"*D% J&3("-:% '5% 3(-/.&/% +$'("3(% *-$)4"30% (4"B% 3(-/"% protest parties instead of publishing zines, they post videos on YouTube or Instagram. It’s different, but breathtakingly (4"%3-*"D%J5%3'*"'&"%4-:%1""&%-1,"%('%(2$&%-%)",,%+4'&"% '&%S-$34-%@D%]'4&3'&%-(%K('&"C-,,0%.(#3%&'(%4-$:%('%.*-/.&"% (4-(%34"%C'2,:%4-A"%)$"-(":%-%A.$-,%*'*"&(%*2)4%,.6"%(4"% '&"%(4-(%+2(%B'2&/%]-*"3%8$'C&%-(%(4"%)"&("$%'5%-%)2,(2$-,% revolution in 2 18. Imagine how differently things might 4-A"%/'&"0%.5%(4-(%4-:%1""&%+'33.1,"%(4"&D That’s why HBO’s new offering, which is also available '&% 789% S-N0% .3% +"$4-+3% VWVX#3% *'3(% .&3+.$.&/% ).&"*-(.)% "N+$"33.'&% '5% @$.:"% 3'% 5-$D% 8B% 34'C.&/% 23% -% +$"3"&(% (4-(% 4-3% 3'% *-&B% ")4'"3% '5% '2$% 'C&% +-3(0% .(% .&3(.,,3% .&% 23% -&% 2&"N+")(":%5"",.&/%'5%4'+"%5'$%(4"%52(2$"D%<4"$"#3%-%5"",.&/% '5%.&"A.(-1.,.(B%-1'2(%(4"3"%&'&M)'&5'$*.3(30%"A'6":%1B%(4"% )"$(-.&(B%(4-(%(4".$%:.33"&(.&/%A'.)"3%-$"%$"-)4.&/%(4"%"-$3% '5% *.,,.'&3% '5% B'2&/% +"'+,"% (4-(% C.,,% 34-+"% (4"% C'$,:% ('% come, but also by the unmistakable parallels we find with '2$%4.3('$BD ^"(%(4.3%(.*",B%:')2*"&(-$B%.3%&'(%4"$"%('%3.*+,B%.&3+.$"% 23%C.(4%(4"%+$'*.3"%'5%-%1"(("$%52(2$"%Q%-5("$%-,,0%(4-(%52(2$"% .3%&'(%4"$"%B"(0%-&:%.&%(4"%*"-&(.*"0%(4"$"%-$"%+"'+,"%,.6"% (4"% '&"3% )-+(2$":% '&% )-*"$-% 4"$"% C4'% -$"% 5-).&/% :.$"% $.363% "A"$B% 3.&/,"% :-BD% ;<4"% ="/"&:% '5% (4"% >&:"$/$'2&:?% importunes us to help them in their fight, to spread the C'$:% -&:% :'% C4-("A"$% C"% )-&% ('% )-3(% -% 3+'(,./4(% '&% (4"% .&_23(.)"3%-&:%-123"3%'5%-2(4'$.(-$.-&.3*%C4"$"A"$%.(%$"-$3% .(3% 2/,B% 4"-:D% <4-(0% '5% )'2$3"0% .3% 3'*"(4.&/% ",3"% (4-(#3% -(% (4"%)'$"%'5%@$.:"`%(4"%C.,,.&/&"33%('%3(-&:%.&%3',.:-$.(B%C.(4% others who, like us, have had to fight for the freedom to be C4'%(4"B%-$"D As we are reminded by Michael in the film, “None of us -$"%5$""%2&(.,%-,,%'5%23%-$"%5$""D?

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!"#"#$"%&'()*+""%),-".)/"'+0)12%302 ‘She was the best citizen in the poetry republic’ !"#$%&'(#)*+,-

!"#$%& '()*%(+& *& ,-*./+& -"%01*#& 23"4+& 5)34"& (")& first poem when she was in the first grade. '()*%(+& 67+& 5(3%"& 53)/& 5*%& #*413#*--8& acclaimed, died on Saturday, June 19 at the MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. from heart disease. Her family and 12-year-old son Daniel survive her.

Thrash, who had a master’s degree in fiction and poetry from American University, taught in underserved high schools and women’s correctional facilities as well as in academic settings.

“I feel passionate about [teaching],” Thrash, whose poetry collection “The Fateful Apple” was nominated for the 2 15 Pen America Open Book Award, told me in 2 14. “Not only am I teaching in that exchange, I’m also learning.”

Though Thrash called D.C. her “adopted home,” her roots were in the Deep South. She spent her childhood summers in Rincon and Sylvania, Ga. '()*%(+& 5(3& 5*%& 32"#& *03$4& (")& %"9$*-148+& sensed, as a child, that she was different.

“I am seven I want to be an angel because I have never been an angel,” she wrote in her poem “Angel.” “I must act like a lady I have never acted like a lady I have demanded to be called Vince.”

Thrash lived fully in her self, Black and ueer, and that intersectionality infused her poetry and relationships, Sarah Browning, former director of Split This Rock, a D.C.-based poetry organization that works for social change, told the Blade.

In addition to being a finalist in the 2 12 Jean Feldman Poetry Prize and the 2 9 Arktoi Books Poetry Prize, Thrash was a co-editor of “Beltway Poetry uarterly” and a co-director of The Word Work’s Joa uin Miller Poetry Series.

She was a Cave Canem fellow. (The Cave Canem Foundation, according to its website, was founded

by Toi Derricotte and Cornelius Eady in 199 “to remedy the under-representation of AfricanAmerican poets in the literary landscape.”)

Thrash was featured at one of Split This Rock’s festivals. “Venus’s poetry is like Venus full of joy and outrage, and love,” Browning said. “Every time I saw her I was delighted by her irty, irreverent spirit.”

On social media postings after her death, Thrash was often described as “fierce” because of her appearance her shaved head, her androgynous way of dressing, Kim Roberts, founding editor of

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“Beltway Poetry uarterly,” emailed the Blade.

“But Venus was actually uite shy,” Roberts said.

Roberts loved the conversations that she and Thrash had about the intersection of gender and race. “I am Jewish and bisexual,” Roberts, editor of the anthology “By Broad Potomac’s Shore: Great Poems from the Early Days of Our Nation’s Capital,” said. “We both noted how different our own lived experiences were, yet we found joy from our long, freewheeling discussions.”

Grace Cavalieri, poet laureate of Maryland, knew Thrash before Thrash was a mother and well published. “I saw her enter the poetry scene working for every D.C. institution to further poetry,” Cavalieri, founder producer of the radio show “The Poet and the Poem,” said. “She was the best citizen in the poetry republic.”

Venus rolled with everybody, remembers poet Hayes Davis, author of “Let Our Eyes Linger.”

“If Venus called herself your friend, she would laugh with you, drink with you, talk shit with you … talk about relationships with you,” Davis said. “We

could talk about parenting, we could talk about ourselves.”

In “The Fateful Apple,” you see a poet who is entirely at home with her body, her loves, her desires, her history her friends, D.C.-area poet Joseph Ross emailed the Blade.

“I especially remember her generous kindness to my husband, who is not a poet,” Ross, author of “Raising King,” said. “At poetry gatherings, she often found us and made him and me feel at home.”

One of Thrash’s most powerful poems is “Uncivil,” a pointed, yet joyous rebuke to any government that dictates who we can love.

“There will be no parchment certificate stamped with any state’s approval confirming we’re married or in love,” Thrash writes in “Uncivil,” “But we will jump over a brand new straw broom, we will light candles pour red wine into the earth where our ancestors sleep.”

Thank you, Venus, for your poetry and your wonderful self. R.I.P.

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