Los Angeles Blade, Volume 06, Issue 49, December 09, 2022

(Blade photo by Michael Key)

Inside Marjorie Taylor Greene’s feud with gay Hill staffer TIM HYSOM

speaks for first time since becoming target of harassment, page 10

DECEMBER 09, 2022 • VOLUME 06 • ISSUE 49 • AMERICA’S LGBTQ NEWS SOURCE • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM

LOCAL

Horvath sworn in as new Third District supervisor

Lindsey P. Horvath was sworn in as Third District Supervisor on Monday at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration.

Former West Hollywood mayor Abbe Land administered the oath of office in the Board chambers among County officials and close family and friends of the new Supervisor.

“It is with great honor and humility that I accept this call to serve as Supervisor for LA County’s Third District, with a clear understanding that more must be done. I would not be here today without the support of my family, my friends, my colleagues, and my allies. Thank you for believing in me, and for believing in this moment,” sai per isor or ath his seat oes not be ong to me it be ongs to the peop e of the hir istrict s the oar s th member an th oman oin them all in writing the next great chapter of history for Los Angeles County.”

Former West Hollywood Mayor ABBE LAND administered the oath of office to Supervisor-elect LINDSEY HORVATH. (Photo by Bryan Chan, Executive Office of the Board of Supervisors)

Horvath previously served as a City Councilmember and the longest consecutively serving Mayor for the City of West Hollywood. She is the youngest woman to ever be elected to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the first millennial and only renter to serve on the historic all-female Board.

For more than 100 years, the Board of Supervisors was run primarily by five men. In November 2020, the residents of Los Angeles County elected Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell to represent the Second District, which marked a significant turning point in the make-up of the Board.

Horvath will oversee the Third District, which includes much of the west side, most of the San Fernando Valley, the one o a e , the anta onica o ntains a the way to the Ventura County line, with the northern border including Chatsworth and Porter Ranch.

FROM STAFF REPORTS

LA LGBT Center worker misgendered in death probe

he bo of ear o a o as as isco ere ast Thursday in Malibu. According to the Los Angeles County heri s epartment, ost i s tation ep ties recei e a call for service in the 33000 block of Mulholland Highway regarding a person down call at approximately 7:30 a.m. When responding deputies arrived, LA County Fire Paramedics were on scene treating the victim. he ictim as prono nce ecease at the scene

DAY RODAS was found dead on Mulholland Highway.

he os nge es o nt heri s omici e n estiga tors initially determined that the deceased was a woman but then in a statement said the descendant was a male adult, with no obvious signs of trauma. The statement added that cause of death was pending and will be determined by the LA County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner at a later time. na o n e post ma e on n a to raise mone for her funeral expenses, her sibling Susie Rodas wrote: “Hi my name is Susie Rodas my older sister Day Rodas has passed away and the death still remains unknown.

Her body was found in Mulholland highway around 7:45 am Thursday. My family and I went to the police station to fi e a report on a missing person in hopes she as on missing since she stopped responding to texts and calls.

“Her boss from work called saying she didn’t show up to work so we knew something was wrong. She also had moved back in with us so when she didn’t arrive home for t o a s e kne there as a prob em nce e fin ished the report I got a call a few hours later from the homicide hotline saying the body they found matched my sister’s.

“They don’t know exactly how she died which has been unsettling for my mother, father, my little brother and I. In hopes she would be found alive she was not.

“She recently started living her life authentically as she came out to friends and family about being a trans woman. She was the most forgiving person who strongly a ocate for rights he ha so m ch o e for family and friends and she saw the good in everyone. Despite some people treating her with disrespect because she fina starte being ho she tr as she ne er is respected anyone- she was too pure and kind to ever treat anyone with disrespect.

“She was 27 but only six months ago, she started living a thentica st for it to be o er too soon fter being afraid for 27 years, she only got to live freely without fear for only six months which breaks our hearts. My father and I are the only ones who work and after this tragedy I ha to ca o a fe eeks of ork since on t ha e the strength to go. So as of right now, we are making less money and my father works at a car wash and during this season where it rains he does not get any hours in.

Any money that is donated will go to the funeral and memorial expenses. Thank you so much.”

In an emailed statement to the Blade Monday, Joe Holen oner, of the os nge es enter sai , e at the os nge es enter are eep sa ene b

02 • DECEMBER 09, 2022 • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM

the tragic loss of Day Rodas, our colleague and friend, and express our deepest condolences to her family and loved ones. Day was a vital member of the Center, working within our Community Health Program, and she orke e ote ring her ten re to keep peop e e cate , informe , an safe “We are so proud of the work that Day did for the Center an o r comm nit hort after oining o r team, a anno nce that she i entifie as a transgen er woman. Her colleagues and family alike have expressed that Day seemed like she was beginning a new chapter— one here she co fina be her a thentic se f o have her life cut short in this moment—and under such troubling circumstances—makes her loss all the more heartbreaking “We cannot honor the life of Day Rodas without naming that violence against transgender people—particularly transgender women of color—is at an all-time high. Her passing comes shortly after Transgender Day of Remembrance, where we mourned at least 38 people in our community who we lost to acts of violence. We are witnessing a rise in anti-trans political rhetoric and cultural phobias that contribute to hate crimes against transgender people, many of which go unsolved.

“In the moments following Day’s passing last week, she was repeatedly misgendered by authorities and the local news media. We categorically condemn such carelessness, and we will do everything in our power to make sure these forces recognize our colleague as she deserves.”

The LASD also said there is no suspect or suspect vehic e information he in estigation is ongoing an c r rently, there is no additional information. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the os nge es o nt heri s epartment s omici e Bureau at 323-890-5500.

BRODY LEVESQUE

LOCAL

bur appoints sta , introduces rst bills

it of a ifornia go ern Out Assemblyman Rick menta agencies re ate Zbur (D-51, West Los Angeto in energ pro ects les) along with the rest of along the California Coast, the incoming freshmen Calre ire e pe ite proce ifornia Assembly lawmakers dures, and specify criteria was sworn in Monday at half for the selection of port past noon, then immediatean transmission a terna ly announced the appointti es re ate to o shore ments of his ke sta an in energ pro ects then intro ce his first t o he criteria i ens re that pieces of legislation. the en ironment an sen ntro cing his ne sta siti e habitats an c t r that he has hire to ser e a reso rces are protecte , the constit ents of ssem community participation bly District 51 in his Capitol and comment is robust, an istrict ces b r that the ma im m n m said in an emailed stateber of obs re ate to o ment to the Blade: sse bly an RICK ZBUR ( - , est os n eles) as s orn in shore in energ pro ects hese e icate p b ic last ee (Photo courtesy bur) are create an remain in ser ants ha e the kno California, and that those e ge an ski s to e i er on obs a ance en ironmenta stice an impro e the i es m promise to pro i e top a it constit ent ser ices an of all Californians. egis ati e proposa s for m istrict oth of m o ces are e are eca es behin in taking the steps necessar to open an rea to ser e on a one, ith high traine protect o r ki s an o r p anet from the gro ing crisis of professiona s ho n erstan the istrict an the apito c imate change, sai b r f e o not e pe ite the ap n his first actions as a egis ator b r intro ce , pro a , constr ction an operation of o shore in ener the a ifornia shore in nerg an obs ct, to fa g pro ects a ong the a ifornia oast, e i not meet o r ci itate an e pe ite o shore in energ pro ects nec c imate change goa s am confi ent that e can b i con essar to combat c imate change hi e at the same time sens s to acce erate o shore in , an at the same time protecting the en ironment an ass ring that tho san s protect o r coast an sensiti e habitats an ass re that of high pa ing obs remain in a ifornia the tho san s of high age obs are create an remain in aims to acce erate the appro a , imp ementation, a ifornia a ifornia has the opport nit to emonstrate an operation of o shore in energ pro ects necessar that bo c imate action is the economic engine that can to meet California’s climate action goals and the transipo er a rob st an socia st econom , he sai tion to a c ean energ econom t i c arif the a thor

e a so intro ce , the afe an pport i e choo s ct, hich i ass re that teachers an schoo sta are better e ippe to s pport an a st dents. , the afe an pporti e choo s ct, i he p e ip teachers an schoo sta ith the too s an train ing the nee to s pport st ents an make a ifornia schoo s safer an more s pporti e for a st ents, teachers, an schoo sta The bill will specify a timeline for implementation by all a ifornia schoo s of c t ra competenc training for teachers an certificate sta c rrent n er e e op ment b the a ifornia epartment of cation his is the res t of a b get proposa a ance b a it a ifornia an perinten ent of b ic nstr c tion on h rmon an appro e in b the egis a t re an o ernor e som in an is sponsore b a it a ifornia er st ent eser es a safe an s pporti e earning en ironment, sai the ssemb member mpro ing o r schoo s is a ke part of the strateg e nee to re ce the high ropo t rates that ea to a c c e of home essness, po ert an hea th e being ispari ties e perience b the comm nit r teachers an schoo sta ant to s pport their st ents, an this bi i better e ip them to he p an a st ents reach their highest potentia , he a e “These bills are among my top priorities as I honor the tr st that the peop e of ssemb istrict p ace in me to impro e the i es of a a ifornians an tack e o r to gh est cha enges ook for ar to orking ith the comm nit an a stakeho ers as e as m co eag es an o ernor e som on these proposa s an man others in the months ahea , b r note BRODY LEVESQUE

years in prison for un an ho shot a a s do

os nge es o nt perior o rt ge han e o n a sentence of ears in a a ifornia prison to ames o ar ackson, ho ha shot then thirt ear o an ischer, a ga professiona og a ker in o oo on eb , The robbery/dognapping made global headlines after it as re ea e that the t o rench ogs taken ere o ne b scar an ramm a ar inning singer tefani ermanotta, kno n as a aga ischer as a king three of the singer s ogs hen ack son shot him during a struggle and then along with an accomp ice grabbe t o of the ogs in the b ock of ierra onita en e st o nset , taking o in a ate mo e hite issan tima oor se an he a aga connection as a coinci ence, a thorities to ssociate ress he moti e as the a e of the French bulldogs, a breed that can run into the thousan s of o ars, an etecti es o not be ie e the thie es knew the dogs belonged to the musician.

According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s ce, the sentence han e o n as part of a p ea ea

JAMES HOWARD JACKSON (Screenshot ou ube

)

he p ea agreement ho s r ackson acco ntab e for perpetrating a co hearte io ent act an pro i es stice for o r ictim, the o ce sai in a statement o ar ha been charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to commit a robber an assa t ith a semia tomatic firearm n a ictim s impact statement ma e prior to ackson s

04 • DECEMBER 09, 2022 • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM

al er

sentencing, Fischer said: o r honor, thank o for the opport nit to gi e m impact statement here in co rt, an for e er thing o , i che e anisee ep t istrict ttorne an the s o ce, an etecti es an a enforcement ha e one to bring these cases to comp etion t s har to be ie e that it s nearing ears since as taking sia, o i an sta o t for an e ening stro hen in an instant s en fo n m se f fighting ith e er thing ha to protect those dogs from being stolen. But it wasn’t enough: I was beaten, strangled, shot and left to die bleeding out on a sidewalk an gasping for m ife n o i an sta ere gone a so reporte that another accomp ice, aro hite, p ea e no contest on a to a co nt of e con ict in possession of a gun. White, who was in a relationship with McBride at the time, will be sentenced next year. he co p e ha a ege trie to he p hite s son, a in hite, a oi arrest in the aftermath of the shooting a in hite an afa ette ha e ear ier this ear p ea ed no contest to robbery.

BRODY LEVESQUE

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LOSANGELESBLADE.COM • DECEMBER 09, 2022 • 05

LOCAL

VP Harris to swear in Bass as Los Angeles mayor

Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman o g as mho i atten the ma ora ina g ration ceremon of os nge es a or e ect aren ass on n a , ecember , he ice resi ent i ceremonia s ear in ass as the cit s r a or, becoming the first oman an oman of co or to ser e as the cit s chief e ec ti e he ina g ration ceremon is set to begin at a m at it a ass term as ma or o cia begins on ec he ice resi ent, an on separate occasions h s ban o g mho , both ha campaigne together ast fa ith ep ass

ring a et t he ote st ent ra at ar ris to atten ees kno aren ass, arris to the cro e orke ith aren ass hen as in acramento an she as in acramento, sa ho she o tire ess fight for the peop e of this region, the peop e of o r state an the peop e of o r nation aren ass has a ong histor of a a s being on the si e of peop e, fighting for the peop e BRODY LEVESQUE

Rep. KAREN BASS campaigning with Second Gentleman DOUGLAS C. EMHOFF on Nov. 5. (Photo courtesy Bass for Mayor Campaign/Facebook)

Charlie Kirk smears out State Sen. Wiener on Twitter

n a ength tira e on itter es a , far right e trem ist ra io chat sho host har es irk, hi e oose chan ne ing an nfo ars host e ones st e attack, ent after a ifornia tate enator cott iener, istrict im p ing that the eteran a maker en orses an s pports child molestation. irk, , is a co fo n er of rn ing oint , a conservative righting po itica gro p aime at in enc ing college and ni ersit st ents an o ng peop e ronica , irk him se f roppe o t of CHARLIE KIRK speaking on the 2021 Turning Point USA college tour. arper o ege, a (Photo by Gage Skidmore) nior comm nit college near Chicago, itho t ha ing comp ete an egree or certificate irk hosts a ai three ho r ra io ta k sho , ca e he har ie irk ho , on a em e ia hich is kno n for o n ing conser ati e ebsites o nha com, e tate, ot ir, an e ia, as e as itter aggregator itch , ca ing itse f a for profit hristian broa cast corporation e is a so an a i s pporter of impeache former pres i ent ona r mp, consistent refers to himse f as a ep b ican an has asserte that the concept of hite pri i ege is a m th an a racist ie e a so has sprea fa se information an conspirac theories abo t on socia me ia p atforms, s ch as itter, in ecent irk has been attacking the comm nit on the s b ects of trans o th an a so fo o ing the ea of far right ep b ican ep ar orie a or reene, in attacking enator iener irk s attack on the senator commence ith ho san s of pe ophi es in a ifornia are going free after st a fe months in ai , thanks to the state s ra ica re ce pena ties for chi mo estation ne reason so man of these pre ators are going free so ear is a ifornia a maker cott iener hen he ent on to state in the threa hat name an

photo might ring a be iener is one of the most e ecti e a makers in the entire co ntr e s behin a ifornia s ne a that i protect parents ho ki nap their chi ren an take them to a ifornia to recei e m ti ating s rgeries iener as a so behin a ifornia s a o ering pen a ties for intentiona sprea ing to other peop e, an their a creating a thir nonbinar gen er for go ern ment documents. f there s some horrif ing i ea re ate to mo ern gen er an se i eo og , iener has probab ritten an passe a bi abo t it in a ifornia f e ecte ep b icans care as m ch abo t their oters concerns as cott iener cares abo t freeing pe ophi es an m ti ating chi ren, the ha e on tota ictor ong ago a ifornia has not re ce pena ties for chi mo esta tion. enator iener respon e to irk s attacks on itter har ie irk one of the biggest attention seeking iars aro n is sprea ing ba face ies abo t me hese statements are abso te fa se efamator hese are the ies bigots ha e a a s sprea abo t peop e ies that ea to io ence against o r comm nit n an emai e statement to the a e, iener sai ea ers aro n the co ntr are n er attack b to ic, far right i eo og es an e ecte o cia s hese ta king hea s hose part performe far orse than e pecte in the mi term e ections ha e no mean ingf po ic so tions for the iss es facing o r co ntr n stea , the are foc se on s an ering an emoni ing ga an trans peop e, an sing s as scapegoats pecifica , the re emp o ing the age o s an er that peop e are threats to chi ren, an that is hat reene an irk t eete abo t me har ie irk is a prime e amp e of this t pe of e tremist right ing grifter, an he oine ongress oman ar orie a or reene in t eeting abo t me repackage ersions of cent ries o homophobic ies irk an reene are ea ing the mo ement to s an er ga men an trans peop e as pe ophi es an groomers, an these heino s or s ha e conse ences e it the massacre at b or the eath threat st recei e this morning referencing irk s t eet, peop e e er here are e periencing an ons a ght of io ence an threats

06 • DECEMBER 09, 2022 • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM

eop e ike irk an reene are a stain on o r co ntr , an the sho be he acco ntab e for sprea ing i e, ho mophobic misinformation n his statement iener as referencing ast eek s attack b far right ep b ican ep ar orie a or reene, a ho ca e the senator a comm nist estioning iener s o a t an ser ice to both the tate of a ifornia an the she then ent on to acc se ie ner of being a groomer imp ing that the senator as a pre ator of minors for se a p rposes ass m rotect hi ren s nnocence ct to stop com m nist groomers ike this from sing state go ernment po er to take chi ren a a from their parents to a o a for profit me ica in str to chop o these conf se chi ren s genita s before the are e en o eno gh to ote iener ma e a point of ca ing o t se of the or groomer, as the ab si e reaction an fa o t from right ing so rces regar ing the mass shooting at b in o ora o prings, contin es to ratchet p against the comm nit he or groomer is categorica an anti hate or t s s per homophobic transphobic t p a s into the s an er that peop e are pe ophi es t s no i erent than ca ing someone a fagg t f o ca someone groom er, o re inciting io ence against peop e, iener state in a t eet a it a ifornia, the argest state i e e a rights a ocac gro p reacte to irk s smears e nes a afternoon n a te t message to the a e, a it a ifor nia spokesperson orge e es a inas sai t is isg sting b t not s rprising that a s after a mass shooting f e e b angero s rhetoric from e tremists ike ar orie a or reene, har ie irk posts ies to sprea anti hate he statements ma e are fa se, efamator an ea to io ence against o r comm nit his is another performance to b i p hatre he organi ation ha pre io s t eete at irk efen ing the senator his is a ie t s fa se, o ensi e an angero s the e act t pe of isinformation that has f e e io ent attacks ike the b shooting in o ora o prings hame on o , an shame on e onm sk itter o ner an for a o ing these angero s ies to pro iferate BRODY LEVESQUE

NATIONAL

Supreme Court hears oral arguments in 303 Creative case

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday heard oral arguments in 303 Creative v. Elenis, a case that could carry broad implications for whether and in which circumstances states may enforce certain nondiscrimination rules (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key) against purveyors of goods and services.

The case was brought by website designer Lorie Smith, who sought to include a disclaimer that her company 303 Creative would not develop wedding announcement websites for LGBTQ couples, but discovered that such a notice would violate Colorado’s anti-discrimination laws, which include sexual orientation as a protected class.

Her lawsuit against the state of Colorado, argued by counsel from the anti-LGBTQ group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), reaches the Supreme Court following the ruling against mith from the th irc it o rt of ppea s, hich create a circ it sp it ith ecisions from the th irc it an ri ona Supreme Court. A ruling is expected to come in June.

The fact pattern in 303 Creative closely mirrors the 2018 case Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, where the Supreme Court declined to rule on the broader legal questions because it found the Commission exhibited hostility toward the religious views of the bakery that refused to design a custom wedding cake for a same-sex couple.

The high court has since moved substantially to the right, with a 6-3 conservative supermajority. Colorado is one of 20 states that enforces laws prohibiting businesses from discrimination based on sexual orientation, and a ruling that would allow for broadly construed exemptions to be carved o t for firms base on their irst men ment protections would carry implications well beyond the context of same-sex marriage.

Monday’s oral arguments focused on preexisting and hypothetical cases that were presented by counsel from both parties as well as by the justices, examples whose scope and fact patterns reinforced the breadth of the legal issues at play in reati e Colorado Solicitor General Eric Olson and U.S. Principal Deputy Solicitor General Brian Fletcher pointed to the Supreme Court’s ruling in Rumsfeld v. Forum for Academic and Institutional Rights, 2006, which found that the federal government may withhold funding from universities that, based on their objections to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” refuse to grant military recruiters access to their resources.

ADF CEO, President and General Counsel Kristen Waggoner cited the Supreme Court’s decision in Hurley v. Irish American Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Group of Boston, 1995, which phe the right of pri ate organi ations to e c e participa tion by certain groups without interference by the state, even if that intervention by the government was for the purpose of preventing discrimination.

Much of the discussion during Monday’s oral arguments centered on what kinds of goods and services may be considered public accommodations and which constitute artistic

speech or expression by the business provider. Also at issue were questions such as whether their refusal to accommodate certain events – i.e., same-sex weddings – are tantamount to refusing goods and services to members of a protected class of people under the state’s non-discrimination laws.

ADF is designated an anti-LGBTQ extremist group by the o thern o ert a enter n amic s brief as fi e in s pport of the go ernment b the corporate a firm hite & Case along with a coalition of LGBTQ rights groups and legal advocacy groups: the National LGBTQ Task Force, GLAD, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Lambda Legal, and the Human Rights Campaign.

“Just two weeks after a shooter killed 5 people, injured , an tra mati e so man others at b in o ora o Springs, the United States Supreme Court prepares to hear oral arguments in an anti-LGBTQ public accommodations discrimination case from Colorado,” wrote the National LGBTQ Task Force in a statement addressing Monday’s oral arguments. i eaton, the gro p s po ic irector, high ighte the im portance of public accommodations laws and condemned e orts b the opposition to ega i e iscrimination an segre gation in the marketplace. “The brief’s most important argument lifts up the powerful amicus briefs of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law,” Seaton said. “Those two briefs b enerab e ci i rights organi ations pro i e a etai e his tory of public accommodations discrimination against Black and Brown people in this country.”

CHRISTOPHER KANE

State Sen. Wiener responds to bomb threat

California State Senator Scott Wiener (D), an openly gay lawmaker who represents San Francisco, in an emailed statement to the Blade responded to the bomb threat which had been emailed to the San Francisco Standard, a local news outlet, early Tuesday morning.

“Early this morning, I was informed by the San Francisco Standard and the police that someone had issued a bomb threat against me, isting m specific home a ress an a so threatening to shoot p m apito o ce he emai sai e will fucking kill you’ and called me a pedophile and groomer.

“This latest wave of death threats against me relates to my work to end discrimination against LGBTQ people in the criminal justice system and my work to ensure the safety of transgender children and their families. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and MAGA activist Charlie Kirk recently tweeted homophobic lies about me, falsely accusing me of supporting pe ophi es an chi m ti ation “The extreme homophobic and transphobic rhetoric that has escalated on social media and right wing media outlets has real world impacts. It leads to harassment, stalking, threats, and violence against our community. People are dying as a result. Responsible political leaders on the right must call it out and stop tolerating it. i a a s fight for the comm nit an for the comm nit as a ho e an i ne er et these threats stop that work.” so rce ith the confirme the inci ent ccor ing to the tan ar s reporting on the inci ent

a for profit hristian broa cast corpora The email was sent by a person using the tion.” name Zamina Tataro, the email said that He is also an avid supporter of imthey placed bombs at Wiener’s San Franpeached former president Donald Trump, cisco home and threatened to shoot up his consistently refers to himself as a MAGA acramento o ce in min tes, am i Republican and has asserted that the coning to die.” cept of hite pri i ege is a m th an a rac The subject line read “Scott Wiener will ist lie.” He also has spread false information die today,” and the author called him a pean conspirac theories abo t dophile and accused him of grooming chilon socia me ia p atforms, s ch as itter, dren. in 2020.

A week ago on the heels of a TwitRecently Kirk has been attacking the ter attack by Georgia far-right extremist California State Sen. SCOTT WIELGBTQ+ community on the subjects of ep b ican ep ar orie a NER (D) (Photo courtesy Office of Sen iener) trans o th an a so fo o ing the ea of lor Greene, (R-GA), far-right extremist radio far-right Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taychat sho host har es irk, hi e oose lor Greene, (R-GA) in attacking Senator Wiener: channe ing an nfo ars host e ones st e attack, ent af Kirk’s attack on the senator commenced with: “Thousands ter iener imp ing that the eteran a maker en orses an of pedophiles in California are going free after just a few supports child molestation. months in jail, thanks to the state’s radically reduced penalties Kirk, 29, is a co-founder of Turning Point USA, a conservafor child molestation. One reason so many of these predators ti e right ing po itica gro p aime at in encing co ege an are going free so early is California lawmaker Scott Wiener.” university students and young people. Ironically, Kirk himself Wiener responded on Twitter saying: “Not even 24 hours afdropped out of Harper College, a junior community college ter MAGA grifter Charlie Kirk tweeted homophobic lies about near Chicago, without having completed any degree or cerme, I received this threat repeating one of his lies. But that tificate was the point: Riling people up against me & other LGBTQ irk hosts a ai three ho r ra io ta k sho , ca e he people. Words have consequences & Twitter is becoming a har ie irk ho , on a em e ia hich is kno n for o ning cesspool for this crap” conser ati e ebsites o nha com, e tate, ot ir, an BRODY LEVESQUE PJ Media, as well as Twitter aggregator Twitchy, calling itself LOSANGELESBLADE.COM • DECEMBER 09, 2022 • 09

NATIONAL

nside im

ar orie aylor reene s unprecedented feud ith ay ill sta er

som speaks p b ic for first time since he became target of harassment b right

By CHRISTOPHER KANE | ckane@washblade.com After more than 20 years in public service working behind the scenes on Capitol Hill, Tim Hysom never imagined he would be staring down the barrel of an Ethics Committee probe into whether he had brought discredit upon the U.S. House of Representatives.

Equally inconceivable was the barrage of intimidating and hateful messages from strangers that have persisted for months, which included credible threats of violence that prompted the U.S. Capitol Police to monitor Hysom’s home for concern over his and his family’s safety.

A longtime public servant whose career has included high profi e positions in the congressiona o ces of emo cratic eps am chi a if , an o entha a if , an ake chinc oss ass , som a so spent fi e ears at the ongressiona anagement o n ation orking ith e p b ican an emocratic members of the o se an enate an ser e on the boar of the o se hief of ta ssoci ation, first as a ice presi ent for rofessiona e e opment an ater as presi ent of the sta organi ation Now he is still trying to piece his life and career back together after the fa o t from a con ict this s mmer ith ep b ican ep ar orie a or reene of eorgia art of that e ort, som to the ashington a e in an e c si e interview, is to go public after months of silence to tell the stor of ho the firebran congress oman, ho is poise to become a member of Republican leadership in the House ne t ear, a nche an nprece ente attack on him ith the goal, he claims, of forcing him out of Capitol Hill. ongressiona sta are rare the s b ect of comp aints fi e to the o se thics ommittee or are the often otherwise embroiled in controversies and political debates among members that attract public interest and news coverage. he stor of reene s con ict ith som breaks from that precedent, serving as, potentially, a harbinger of what may come when she is seated alongside Republican leadership in the ne t ongress

IT STARTED WITH GREENE’S TRANSPHOBIC SIGN n ebr ar , after ep arie e man h ng a transgen er ag o tsi e her oor in the ong orth o se ce i ing, reene, hose o ce as irect across the ha a , p t p a sign that rea here are gen ers r st he cience hen a series of stickers ere p ace on reene s signs over the course of several weeks earlier this year, she referre the matter to the apito o ice, hich i entifie som in s r ei ance footage as the sta er p acing the stickers on reene s signs sing a point of persona pri i ege, reene took to the o se oor in ne to rai against som then chinc oss s chief of sta hi e a monish ing the stice epartment for ec ining to bring charges against him. reene s bse ent anno nce in that she fi e a complaint with the House Ethics Committee against Hysom.

Those events earned some media attention at the time, mostly from right-wing outlets, but the full story and its fallout have not yet been revealed. Nor has Hysom responded publicly before now, either through his social media or in comments to the press.

ing a maker

act the way you act, or treat people ske for comment, reene share the a o treat peop e the following statement with the reene s esca ation of the matter a e came as a surprise, Hysom told the his has nothing to o ith his se a e he rea it is that cha enge ual preference or orientation, or the her hate speech in the halls of the fact that he’s married to a man, but Congress in a way that triggered her it has everything to do with the fact an ca se her to ha e a me t o n, that he attacke me, a ember of TIM HYSOM in front of he said. “Her response was to send a ongress, an m irst men ment the U.S. Capitol building. like-minded horde of her followers to freedom of speech, my Christian be(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key) harass an threaten me ea e , liefs and values. He also broke the law “Regrettably, there are likely to be other waves of hate and an a i ing m o ce s propert m tip e times, as ca ght itrio , b t on t be intimi ate b her or her hate fi e on camera, and continued to do it. He’s been arrested. Unaco tes fort nate , the epartment of stice roppe the charges, irst, p rs ant to the in estigation b apito o ice, ike but I think they should have pressed charges. It’s outrageous con cte at reene s behest, an a a it in s pport of an that a chief of sta o contin e s ch i ega beha ior, an arrest arrant as iss e ontrar to hat ep reene he sho be no onger emp o e in an o ce in the fe era to the a e, som as ne er arreste or charge ith go ernment a crime som pointe o t that in the first p ace, reene s eci hen, in her min te speech eno ncing som from sion to hang the sign seems to be a clear violation of House the o se oor, reene trie to goa chinc oss into firing r es Hysom, while directing her supporters to bully and harass hi e members are permitte to isp a ags ithin cer him. tain g i e ines o tsi e their o ces in o se o ce b i ings, Almost immediately, a deluge of threats and harassment a po ic p ate in stip ates that rnishings of an started pouring in to Hysom’s personal and professional kin , inc ing b t not imite to f rnit re items inc ing emai an socia me ia inbo es e recei e a threatening sign-in/registration tables, pedestals, easels, carpets, rugs etter at his home a ress an of the messages containe an mats sha es, rapes, an screens art ork, e hibits hatef anti s rs t contin es to this a an posters an trees, o ers an other p ants ma not be Now that the threats have died down, at least for now, p ace in a ha a or e it access Hysom said he is unsure whether his home is still being “If she can violate the standing rules of the House and monitored by the Capitol Police, but the hateful messages hang o ensi e an ab si e materia in the ha s of ongress have slowed, though they have persisted. n er the g ise of free speech, som aske , oesn t the mi the chaos fo o ing reene s speech, o entha onstit tion a so protect m right to free speech reache o t to o er s pport to his former chief of sta an e a e that reene s response as isproportiona in e ten e an o er for som to ret rn to his o ce in the the e treme acing a sticker on a sign that isn t s ppose months before the lawmaker’s planned retirement from to be there in the first p ace is har a high crime or mis e Congress at the end of this year. meanor he congressman sent a statement to the a e on his e reene ha a so h ng a sign that rea , et s go ran on periences working with Hysom: ith the hashtag both s ogans se on the right tan ing p to b ies an rai ing against in stice, hi e as s bstit tes for the phrase, ck oe i en som sai demanding equity and grace in how we treat one another, man o se sta ers ere eep o en e b the isp a are ideals I have always aspired to. And yes, sometimes that of a message so disrespectful of the sitting president of the demands what my dear friend John Lewis called ‘good trouUnited States, and in a public corridor of a House governb e im has a a s fo ght for these same i ea s of stice ment o ce b i ing and equality and he has demonstrated his above-and-beAs a gay man whose religious upbringing taught the imyond dedication to this institution more times than I can portance of love and respect as Christian virtues, Hysom count. as a so o en e hen reene h ng the there are “I have been honored to have him as a member of my gen ers sign to b an ta nt e man sta , st as each of m sta ha e benefite , both persona After requesting a copy of the House’s policy governing and professionally, from working with him. The foundation ecorations in the ha a s of its o ce b i ings, he p t a of m s ccess in ongress has been the e cient an e ec sticker on reene s sign, hich accor ing to som kicke ti e o ce that im b i t for me an kept r nning smooth o a back an forth e change hereb reene o oc thro gh his more than eight ear ten re ith m o ce n casionally respond to the stickers by writing a message on espite his commitment to m o ce, he has a so e icate the poster back to som, once signe heart ost himself to the betterment of not only this institution as a of the stickers containe ib e erses to point o t her h ho e, b t to the e e opment of the professiona sta that pocris , he sai hen som o p t a sticker on one of works here. ep reene s posters, she o take o n the posters to “I can say without hesitation that Congress is a better instireplace them with new ones. t tion for im being a part of it ne sticker som p ace on reene s gen er poster rea , r e iscip es of hrist on t sa the things o sa , CONTINUES ON PAGE 12

10 • DECEMBER 09, 2022 • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM

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NATIONAL

First out gay GOP member of House dies at 80

ormer ep b ican ongressman ames im homas o be, ho represente o thern ri ona in ongress for ears, ie at r a , ec of a stroke at the age of his h sban ector fonso confirme to ri ona me ia o t ets e be ongs to so man peop e, his h sban sai thro gh tears on at r a e ga e his ife for this cit e o e cson, he o e ri ona ri ona s ep b ican o ernor o g ce or ere ags at a state b i ings be o ere to ha f sta nti s n set n a in honor of the former congressman o be as the first open ser ing ga ep b ican in the o se of epresentati es ha ing ser e from to ring his ear ten re he ser e as chair of the bcommittee on oreign perations, port inancing an e ate rograms of the o se ppropriations om mittee n , o be he a press conference an o te him se f after his ote for the efense of arriage ct, this ac cor ing to po itica o rna ist ake apper as o e to the fact that o be as n er the impression he as abo t to be o te b a ga p b ication ressing a gathering of og abin ep b icans an other ga ep b icans in , he sai he i n t ant to be a poster chi for the ga mo ement eing ga as not an is not to a m efining persona, o be sai ring his first speech as an open ga a maker e a so sat on the nationa a isor boar of the og abin ep b icans n ho e er, o be as a signator to an amic s brief in s pport of o ert rning a ifornia s roposition n a pri ate ceremon in after being together for eight ears, o be an fonso ere marrie fonso, a anamanian nati e ho came to the nite

tates on a bright scho arship to p rs e st ies in spe cia e cation ha been a teacher for t o eca es he co p e s n ptia s ere he at a pri ate e ent at the os mos b on assach setts e in ashington

ep JIM KOLBE (R-Ariz.) speaks at a press conference in 2013 for the lin of an a icus brief supportin the overturnin of the Defense of Marriage Act. (Blade le photo by

ichael ey)

o eca es ago, co not ha e imagine s ch an e ent as this o be possib e, o be to the a e in an inter ie in a of eca e ago co not imagine that o fin someone co be so compatib e ith that o ant to spen the rest of m ife ith that per son o, this is a er o o s a for both of s he co p e ha to en re a ear ong separation hen fonso ret rne to anama hi e immigration iss es ere being sorte o t, a tho gh he as grante , esi enc a so knoen as a green car o be a so batt e his frien an fe o ep b ican, r CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

i ona enator ohn c ain ho oppose the repea of the inton era on t sk on t e po ic , hich barre mi itar ser ice b ga an esbian mericans e repeat e co sponsore a bi to scrap the mi itar s on t ask, on t te po ic at o s ith others in his part o er the iss e fter he eft ongress he contin e to be acti e in e p b ican po itics in en orsing former assach setts o ernor itt omne in his race for the presi enc against then inc mbent arack bama n an inter ie ith the ashington a e at the time, o be respon e to the anti ga ang age in the raft ersion of the ep b ican art p atform n a ition to en orsing a e era arriage men ment, the p atform critici e the bama a ministration for ropping efense of in co rt an ges for re efining marriage in fa or of ga co p es o be pre icte the ep b ican p atform i be the ast one to inc e s ch ang age hat be the ast time that i be in the ep b ican ar t p atform, o be sai t on t be there fo r ears from no t s got its ast gasp on t be ie e it be there fo r ears from no ish it eren t there no , b t on t be ie e it i be fo r ears from no he iss e o er the rights of same se co p es to marr en e ith bergefe o ges, , the an mark ci i rights case in hich the preme o rt of the nite tates r e that the f n amenta right to marr is g arantee to same se co p es b both the e rocess a se an the a rotection a se of the o rteenth men ment to the nite tates onstit tion st this eek prior to his eath, the espect for arriage ct passe the enate b a ote of BRODY LEVESQUE

al in by those hateful si ns every day nally ot to he poster reene took to the o se or her part, reene acc se som of oor on ne hich mis ea ing targeting her for her gen er an her re acc ses som b name of crimina igio s be iefs mong the messages she con ct ith photos of him taken from share on itter ere s r ei ance footage as h ng o tsi e oon i en s i prosec te peo reene s o ce in ong orth since that p e for hate crimes if the are tr to time t is nc ear hether she bro ght stop trans strippers resse in rag from it to her ne space in the annon o se grooming chi ren at schoo s in p b ic, ce i ing b t the ref se to prosec te ake ch hea of o entha s retirement, im som for hate crimes against som sai he s acti e ob h nting m faith gen er an m istrict s be ep MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE ha e some prospects, b t nothing has iefs (R-Ga.) (Blade photo by ichael ey) materia i e efiniti e et, he sai ts n ake ch i o kno o r a bit scar , b t remain hopef m an im som repeate targete me instit tiona ist an o e the o se e spent more than ha e some of the highest n mber of eath threats in on ears tr ing to b i p the ongress an ep reene has gress, ith appro o cia threats st this ear an one spent e er aking min te of the ast t o ears tr ing to tear man on tria for tr ing to ki me o o or im som kno it o n an of them s som one n terms of the impact of his con ict ith reene, som som ass re the a e he has not sent an o ne sai , obo on m si e of the ais e p ts an cre ence er sen threatening messages to the congress oman part hatsoe er into hat ongress oman reene sa s, so it s from the e change o er the stickers, he sai he has ne er not ike peop e on m si e of the ais e be ie e p tting a stick ha an contact ith reene or her o ce 12 • DECEMBER 09, 2022 • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM

e

er on her poster as a hate crime or that a ib e erse on a sticker someho means that hate omen or hristians n the contrar , simp trie to point o t that hat the con gress oman sa s an oes are not at a hrist ike ti , the ast thing som as ooking for as a p b ic fe ith the congress oman obo that kno s me o consi er me a rabb e ro ser, he sai a king b those hatef signs e er sing e a st fina got to me co n t et it go nans ere n then, there s the matter of the o se thics ommit tee in estigation he committee is sti e iberating on hat to o ne t hese are ncharte aters, som sai ep b icans on the committee are perhaps n ike to cross reene an ote ith emocrats to ismiss the comp aint, hi e emocrats o be n ike to assist reene in her est to f rther p nish som b oting ith ep b icans to mo e for ar an impane an in estigati e s bcommittee ith the members ea ocke , the matter co ie ith the en of the c rrent ongress, tho gh the committee co ote to e ten the case into the pcoming th ongress he o se thics ommittee ec ine to comment

GUI MOHALLEM

is the head of Voto LGBT in Brazil.

Underfunded, undermined, and unabashedly victorious in Brazil o ntr s

magine a gro p of inners here o fin on one hite man he recent e ection in ra i not on bro ght back former resi ent a, b t a so o b e the n mbers of o t representati es in both the nation a an state egis at res t of these e ecte o cia s are omen, are ack an fi e are trans here is only one white man in the group. omen, an ack peop e ha e a a s sho case po itica ea ership in their comm ni ties t the path to occ p a space in ra i ian instit tiona po itics is often io ent an e pensi e n recent ears, man organi e socia mo ements ha e irecte their e orts to set the agen a for p b ic ebate into the intersectiona rea m an s pport comm ni t ea ers n a po ote con cte in ring the o a o ri e para e, the biggest in the or , on percent of ri e participants s r e e tho ght that i entit matters hen choosing a can i ate n , percent be ie e so espite the man obstac es an io ence the face, ra i ian ea ers are gain ing po itica po er, often being the most ot e in i i a s in their states or cities an trans omen ho on big in their cities in a ance to higher positions in o r peop e a omen ere e ecte to congress hree of them ack an t o of them trans, a ma or breakthro gh for po itica participation n ra i , campaigns are p b ic f n e a pa ers mone goes to parties ea ership ho can prett m ch o hate er the ant ith it here are r es ma e to fight the n errepresentation of omen an ack pop ation, b t the are often corr pte b fra art ea ers are often o er rich hite cis men ho fo c s their e orts an financia s pport to o a ies po iticians recei e an a erage of percent of the ega im it for hat parties can pro i e to a sing e can i ate hen inter ie ing of those ho ran in , e came across three trans omen ho i n t ha e eno gh to eat ring their campaigns an sti on their seats r ote is the

po iticians are bringing i ersit to emocrac

cheapest in the e ection market nce e ecte , o cia s often face iscrimina tion from their peers in the chambers, man times from their o n parties n a po e i in e fo n that more than ha f of part members reporte facing iscrimination n those ho eci e to report it fo n that there s no acco ntabi it for phobia insi e the parties.

ot to mention the constant eath threats that es pecia ack an especia trans omen face hen e ecte or r nning for o ce it o nse or enn rio , ho is ack an trans, ha to ee the co ntr in af ter p b ic sec rit forces ref se to o er her protection, hich as her ega right n she kept getting eath threats from a congressman, from his o cia abinet s emai rika i ton an a a abert, the first trans om en e ecte for congress in , ha to con ct campaign acti ities ith arme sec rit an b etproof ests t seems ike the or is ooking for the too s e are e e oping to fight e tremism an phobia nterna

14 • DECEMBER 09, 2022 • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM

tiona organi ations ha e ong s pporte man of those initiati es he partnership an s pport from organi a tions ike the ationa emocratic nstit te an the ictor nstit te ha e been f n amenta to promote a comprehensi e approach to s ch a comp e iss e ote s inno ati e research strategies ha e a po it ica an historica importance e to the ack of officia ata abo t the pop ation in ra i esearch has been f n amenta for s, not on to gi e isibi it to o r iss es an set the agen a for p b ic ebate, b t a so to better strategi e here to a ocate reso rces ince e ha e been in estigating the parties, con ct ing in epth inter ie s ith can i ates an ca c s e e pro ce a ist of o t can i ates in the e ection c c e ith their racia an i entit se f ec are hat ha ne er been one before e e o ere irect s pport thro gh organi ing a series of ebinars, creating o n oa ab e too kits, con cting press re campaigns on parties, obb ing the preme ectora o rt for them to pro ce o cia ata on o r ea ership, creating a ga er ith o er can i ates an their priorities, an o ering confi entia ps cho ogica s pport, especia after s ch a io ent campaign t o be ishonest, tho gh, to c aim an part of s ch asto n ing ictories ach of those can i ates str gg e to r n their n erfinance an n ersta e campaign, an sti create strategies to reach an amp if their a ience bri iant so, e are not the on ones on the task here are other organi ations ho are great e amp es an partners ra i s recent e ection res ts sho s that an intersec tiona approach to the iss e of po itica representation is not on possib e, b t potent can i ates earne o er mi ion otes f those otes, a thir ent to trans omen e en in ent to a ack can i ate ra i ian oters are sho ing s hat kin of emocrac the are i ing to fight for itho t i ersit there is no emoc rac

PETER ROSENSTEIN is a longtime LGBTQ rights and Democratic Party activist.

He writes regularly for the Blade.

aPo s dis ustin e ort to rehabilitate ar orie aylor reene We need to marginalize the haters, not normalize them

Washington Post reporter Paul Schwartzman, who is a good writer, is apparently trying to get us to change our view of the vile Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.). He also asked us to care about what former Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.) is doing now. Last week he claimed Greene is adopting a more measured tone in Congress.

Back in October he wrote, “What does Madison Cawthorn do now?” My thoughts on that were: Who gives a f—k?

Just last week, Greene tweeted about D.C., as reported by Petula Dvorak in the Post, “Washington, DC is a crime ridden hell hole.” “Congress should revoke home rule. Our nation’s Capital is an embarrassment.” Greene also tweeted as recently as this past June calling for the end of Pride month, wildly claiming that straight people will become extinct — and claiming, with the usual dearth of evidence, that the Uvalde gunman was a “cross-dressing loner.” Guess Schwartzman thinks that is a more measured tone. I am not sure why anyone would want to make Greene sound like anything other than the sick person she is. Doing so on the front page of the Post Style section is disgusting.

I don’t know if these topics are assigned to Schwartzman or if he comes up with them himself, either way the Post should be embarrassed to publish them. Greene said, as reported by CNN, “January 6 was just a riot at the Capitol and if you think about what our Declaration of Independence says, it says to overthrow tyrants.”

On the 2020 presidential election: “I proudly objected on Jan. 6,” Greene said. “I would object again today because I know for a fact there was so much wrong in that election and I believe it was stolen. Do I know how? No, I don’t know how.” Not only is she vile, she is dumb, and based on that I don’t know what it says about the people who vote for her. But the reality is the Post shouldn’t be trying to give her any good press. She is as bad as Trump, Kanye West and all their cohorts.

It makes one wonder if the Post and Schwartzman will soon fin a a to sa something positi e abo t est Part of the problem in our country today is people

trying to make the likes of Taylor Greene in any way acceptable — they are not. The next time Greene again says something outrageous, which of course she will, are Schwartzman and the Post going to apologize for this column? The better choice would have been not to rite it, or p b ish it, in the first p ace ho are the readers the Post thinks will care about this? Which of their readers are clamoring to read such a column?

Again, it’s not only the Post publishing stories like this, but they have made themselves an easy target.

Post columnists Erik Wemple and Dana Milbank have both written about how wrong the Post, and numerous other publications, got the election. How they followed the pack predicting a red wave and how Democrats, and President Biden, were all being set up to lose the Congress. I wrote about this in the Blade. Where are the apologies? Where have they been from any of the media, at least what people perceive as the liberal media — Washington Post, New York Times, Politico, MSNBC — that all got it wrong and not one of them has apologized to their readers or viewers for misleading them. t is getting har er an har er to fin an me ia that isn’t simply driven by ratings or clicks on their website.

The Post has such outrageous headlines on their website for columns appearing in the print edition that you can t e en fin the co mn no n as c ickbait, it has taken over. The Post should remember they aren’t the National Enquirer, but maybe that’s their goal.

We need to marginalize the haters. We cannot normalize them if we want to save our country. That doesn’t mean the Post and other publications shouldn’t report on what they do, but it should be reporting, not trying to make them acceptable, which is what Schwartzman’s column seems to be trying to do for Greene. The headline alone does that as on the front page; it reads “A i erent sha e of reene, an on the secon page of the story continues, “Once a MAGA megaphone, now a more measured voice.”

One must seriously question whom the Post thinks they are talking about.

16 • DECEMBER 09, 2022 • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM

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By TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER ceptance or a tota ack of it t means ork, an this book (Editor’s note: Each week in December, we feature holiday might he p no o r giftee e before gi ing this book gift ideas. Previous installments are available at washingtonnti recent , there rea ha en t been a ot of books blade.com; next week: Local Gift Guide.) abo t bise a it , hich is h o might ant to gi e “Bi: he tree ooks magnificent The Hidden Culture, History, and Science of Bisexualio r ki s i a great ob ecorating the parts o as ty” b ia ha to someone specia here s a ot to kno signe to them o took pict res this ear, beca se the abo t the s b ect, from genetics to ega ities, ce ebrities to rea o t i themse es o o re rea a most for the monogam ho i a s, e cept for those fe trick gifts that o st can t he trans rea er on o r gift ist i ant to o n “Fat, seem to fig re o t Crazy, and Tired: Tales from the Trenches of Transforo abo t books as to rap, happ to get, h not mation” b po caster an athan, ho rites that being ook for these great books fat as har er than being ack ee ess to sa , this book or the person on o r ist ho o es ark, gothic ro is f nn an inspirationa , an o r giftee i o e it air it mance m steries, rap p “Mourning Light” b ichar ith i e ffe ts ei ra s a eeli a b oo kin t s the stor of a man ho can t et go of the g i t i a atino f o r giftee sometimes str gg es, this book he fee s since his o er ie oinci enta , that eath hap is great ackno e gement pene on the e act same a he met another man that he or the rea er ho o es histor , “The Women’s House can t stop thinking abo t of Detention” b gh an co be the perfect gift this he person on o r gift ist ho o es a goo memoir i ear t s the stor of a prison in e ork s reen ich ant to rea “A Place Called Home” b a i mbro t s i age hich, for near ears, as the an ing p ace a ta e of home essness, foster care, coming o t, an ho home ai for tho san s an tho san s of omen, gen sheer etermination p t that a in one man s past er nonconforming peop e, an transgen er men nge a f there s someone on o r gift ist ho ma e a i c t a is as there o as feni hak r his book takes o r ecision this ear, “Families We Keep” b in ec ek an giftee there, too rap it p ith “Manifesting Justice: mma os e mith is a book to caref rap p t s a ook Wrongly Convicted Women Reclaim Their Rights” b at in i i a s ho ha e eci e to stick ith their a ena eet fami ies, tho gh there ma contin e to be a str gg e for ac

18 • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM • DECEMBER 09, 2022

‘Framing Agnes’ unearths historic trans narratives for engaging doc ioneering fig re beat the cis hetero patriarchy at their own game

By JOHN PAUL KING You might assume in 2022 that information about our cultural heroes from the past would be readily available. After all, we carry the entire repository of human knowledge, or at least the potential for accessing it, in the palm of our hands; if someone has made a significant impact in o r histor , e en ithin the histor of a specific comm nit , it stan s to reason that a factual chronicle of their life would exist. hat happens, tho gh, hen an important fig re is part of a comm nit that has been historica isregar e b the mainstream narrati e hen the in ence the e cast across the ears has been b rie eep in anon mit b a etermine e ort to margina i e or even erase the community they represent? hat s the estion e p ore in raming gnes, a ne fi m from transmasc ine ana ian irector hase o nt o r inar an that b en s oc mentar , narrati e, an spec ati e ana sis as it goes on a eep i e into the b rie case fi es of an infamo s gener hea th st hea e b ps chiatrist obert to er at in the s an s he gnes of the tit e refers to the pse on mo s gnes orres, ho as one of o ens of individuals interviewed as part of the research about transgender identity. gnes, portra e in o nt s mo ie b ackar r cker ransparent , has become egendary within the trans community for successfully navigating an institutional system to access the gen er a rming care it o other ise ha e enie her t a time hen s rgery was only granted to intersex individuals, she lied about having taken estrogen to femini e her bo from an ear age, c aiming instea to ha e been born ith ph sio ogica characteristics of both genders; she was given access the procedure, which was performed in , an contin e to participate in the st ears ater, she confesse her r se to to er, ho as then force to retract an rethink the fin ings hich ha forme part of the basis for his in entia ritings aro n transgen er i entit ritings, it sho be sai , that approache the s b ect as a patho og an consi ere it a ps cho ogica condition to be corrected or prevented. t s eas to see h gnes o be a heroic fig re to to a s trans comm nit fter all, she not only beat the cis-hetero patriarchy at their own game, she also managed to sing e han e sabotage the cre ibi it of theories that ere being se to egitimi e anti-trans bias. Though her real identity may be forever hidden to us, her audacity alone is more than enough to elevate her to the status of trans icon.

She was, however, not the only one. The interviews – which were conducted by sociologist aro arfinke , to er s co aborator on the st a so oc ment the i e e periences of man other anon mo s participants, an o nt s fi m positions gnes as on the best-known among what was, in fact, a much wider and more diverse sampling of individuals, all with relatable stories about living a trans life in mid-century America. These include trans women of color as well as trans men, who were far outside the boundaries of hat most mericans ere i ing to accept in an era hen hristine orgensen prett , b on e, an respectab c t re as the on face of transse a it in the p b ic e e n raming gnes, o nt e e ates a han f of these ns ng trans pioneers a ongsi e gnes, co aborating ith se era notab e trans performers besi es r cker, nge ica oss ose , en ichar s rs etcher , a o f a erio, i as o ar , an tephen ra are among the cast to re enact their inter ie s ith arfinke on camera sche ing a straightforward approach in favor of a more artful conceit, these segments are presente not in their c inica setting, b t in the st e of a ike a ace st e inter ie of the era, ith o nt himse f taking on the ro e of arfinke opposite each of his s b ects en further, he intersperses the re-enactments themselves with footage and interviews docmenting the creation of the segments something akin to a making of specia feat re

20 • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM • DECEMBER 09, 2022

CHASE JOYNT and ZACKARY DRUCKER in ‘Framing Agnes.’

built right into the movie itself – and commentary focused on putting these historical snapshots of trans life into the context of what we now understand about transgender identity. hi e it a might so n a tri e art , the fi mmaker maintains a oose, accessib e, e en playful tone to the style – while still respecting the subject matter, and the subjects – that no o bt contrib te to the mo ie s in of both the ience ar an the nnoator ri e at this ear s n ance esti a ather than interr pting the o , this st istic format illuminates the material as we go, giving us a chance to share the insights of the artists as the ork to bring these n ggets of histor to ife, an o ering an opport nit to re ect on ho these ong hi en ta es of eer e istence connect to o r o n in the here and now. et there are times in raming gnes partic ar in its atter ha f hen one can t help but feel frustrated by a sense of distance. We are ultimately given only snippets of these compelling narratives and left only with conjectured facts that can be extrapolated from contextual circumstance or by reading between the lines; the onscreen discussion around them – helped immeasurably by the availability of language around the subject matter that i n t e ist at the time the ere recor e ser es to en ighten, to amp if , an to h mani e, b t e are ne er a o e to get eep eno gh insi e them to rea know the people at their center. hat, of co rse, is the ans er to the estion e pose in the beginning hen the record of our heroes has been suppressed, all we have left are icons. We can surmise, project, interpret, and guess as much as we want, but we can never know much, if anything, about them beyond whatever words they may have left us. In the case of Agnes and her fellow interviewees, those words reveal much about what it was like to be trans in their time, and verify many of our assumptions about it while contradicting others.

They tell us things about their feelings, their relationships, their self-esteem, their survival tactics, and many of the other universal touchstones of experience that can evoke solidarity between generations an era apart; beyond these things, they tell us nothing, an e can on re , ike the artists ho came together to create raming gnes, on o r imaginations.

It helps that each of the performers seems deeply invested in their character – further proof, if any were needed, of the value of lived experience over outsider assumption when it comes to acting in such roles – and that the vintage segments are executed with meticulous skill and attention to detail. And if we are denied, perhaps, the opportunity to fully access the i es of the peop e o nt s mo ie profi es, e are e come into the con ersation about them – indeed, into the whole creative process – by the artists who brought them to us. raming gnes is c rrent in a imite theatrica r n before e pan ing to se ect cities nation i e f it oesn t make it to a screen near o , on t orr it s s ate for a streaming debut early next year.

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BOOKS

Sondheim book makes you feel like you’re having drinks with an icon ‘FINALE’ will be catnip to lovers of musicals

By KATHI WOLFE rea ers into the e ations in “My idea of heaven is not volved in nailing and conductwriting,” the iconic gay coming his interviews with Sondposer and lyricist Stephen heim. “FINALE” is structured Sondheim is reported to have around his quest to discover said. revelations about Sondheim.

“On the other hand,” Sondis search for insights into heim, who died last year at 91, Sondheim’s life and creative was, thankfully, as he reportprocess becomes, fig rati e , edly said, “obviously compula Broadway show. In this vein, sive about it.” the book’s chapter titles range “FINALE: Late Conversafrom “Prelude” to “Audition, tions With Stephen SondJanuary 2016” to “Opening heim,” a new book by New Night, April 2017” to “Closing orker sta riter a Night, March 2019” to “Curis good news for Sondheim’s tain.” m tit es of aficiona os ‘FINALE: Late Conversations he main foc s of “I’m not good. I’m not nice.

With Stephen Sondheim’ is on heim t a is a I’m just right. I’m the witch.

By D.T. Max character in the narrative. c.2022, Harper/HarperCollins You’re the world,” Sondheim $20.99 | 225 pages ometimes this is o p t wrote in “Into the Woods.” ting o e nee to earn Whether you’re a teen in here a ent to schoo , here he gre a production of “Into the Woods,” a Boomp or hat mo ies he en o s e agrees er who came of age with “Company,” an ith on heim abo t ertigo 80-something who fondly remembers “Gypoes it she ight on on heim hen a s or an artist ho i entifies ith n a spills his feelings (from angst to enthrallment in the Park with George,” you know you to disappointment when Sondheim cancouldn’t have hung out in Sondheim’s world. celled appointments) around writing about re ent , profi es of ce ebrities are take Sondheim? o ns or s ck ps a a oi s these pitfa s But though, at times, there’s too much of In “FINALE,” sometimes Sondheim is witty, a , sometimes his presence a s to the entertaining, hospitab e his sta o er a story. wine) and generous (Sondheim tries to help a , ike man ho rea this book, gre a fin a p pp for his fami t other p o ing on heim a s nc e as a p a times, Sondheim talks hatefully about his wright, and he was introduced to Sondheim, mother (who sounds like a cool customer) when his mother brought home a signed reand cops to not reading much, though he cor ing of i e i e after a benefit t o es he atcher in the e beca se of its he s not an e pert on m sica theater dialogue. Sondheim veers away from the ore ie s on heim ith the a miring, b t tho o take on itchcock ertigo, he sa s, unprofessional, gaze of many theatergoers. is o errate is fa e itchcock mo ie as his ser es rea ers e t keeps the con er ha o of o bt sations lively and un-pedantic. n , a makes s fee ike e re Most of the book is a series of one-on-one having drinks with Sondheim. con ersations that a has ith on heim t asn t eas for a to ha e informa , at his home in New York City and his house entertaining, illuminating conversations with in Connecticut. Sondheim’s dogs and husSondheim. ban e om e an er in an o t on here s a a s some rama, metaphor heim ta ks abo t not being ab e to finish a ically, some seduction involved when a rem sica that he s orking on e remem porter attempts to inter ie a ce eb his bers that decades ago, one day, Katharine was even truer with Sondheim, who zealousepb rn, then his neighbor, came b hen ly guarded his privacy. he was playing the piano, composing. “Pipe rofi es are fra ght e orts, a rites, down! she told him. rofi es of the famo s famo s fra ght It’s doubtful that Sondheim, given the time ome riters on t bring the i c ties when he grew up, would have talked about of their work (from getting the interview to being ga ho gh he ne er enie his se coa ing can or an ne re ea s from inter a it ti , ish a ha aske him abo t it view subjects who’ve been burned by social his is a minor ibb e i be media) into their reporting. catnip to lovers of musicals. t in , a oesn t st c e 22 • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM • DECEMBER 09, 2022

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