(Blade photo by Michael Key)
Former congressman seeking a comeback to ‘safeguard democracy,’ PAGE 10
NOVEMBER 17, 2023 • VOLUME 07 • ISSUE 46 • AMERICA’S LGBTQ NEWS SOURCE • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM
CALIFORNIA
New anti-hate mural honoring LA’s Black community unveiled LOS ANGELES – LA vs Hate, Los Angeles County’s robust anti-hate program, partnered with County Supervisor Holly Mitchell to kick off United Against Hate Week, unveiling a powerful new mural celebrating LA County’s Black community. The Saturday, Nov. 11 event took place at the Willowbrook Senior Center and marked the fifth and final mural of LA vs Hate’s Summer of Solidarity, a public art series celebrating the diverse communities of Los Angeles. The mural, titled “It’s All For You,” created by artist Brittney Price, is a testament to the program’s commitment to combating hate and discrimination. Launched in 2019 by the LA County Commission on Human Relations, LA vs Hate is a community-centered initiative designed to encourage all residents of Los Angeles County to unite against and report hate while providing support to victims of hate-motivated acts. The “It’s All For You” mural, created in partnership with Willowbrook Inclusion Network, Brotherhood Crusade, LA Commons, and the office of LA County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, serves as the culmination of LA vs Hate’s Summer of Solidarity. This public art series celebrates the diverse communities of Los Angeles, conveying messages of inclusion, pride, and historical significance for groups experiencing high levels of hate and discrimination. Muralist Brittney Price described “It’s All for You” as a welcoming piece connecting the history and future of Willowbrook’s ecology and community. Historical figures from Willowbrook and LA County’s Black community are depicted within a tableau of natural, musical, spiritual, and architectural elements paying homage to the neighborhood’s rich culture from the past to the present.
The mural, titled “It’s All For You,” was created by artist Brittney Price. (Photo Credit: LA vs Hate/Jade Blairs)
The unveiling event featured LA County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, who expressed her gratitude for the community coming together to honor the history of their neighborhoods and working towards a brighter future. She emphasized the importance of recommitting to ending all forms of hate, stating that the mural serves as a beautiful reminder of the possibilities when communities unite. President of the LA County Commission on Human Relations Ilan Davidson, commended the Commission’s efforts in bringing LA vs Hate to communities through the mural series and United Against Hate Week events. Executive Director of the LA County Commission on Human Relations Robin Toma highlighted the strength gained when community art uplifts and unifies, making communities more resistant to division. Poet Shandela Contreras spoke as did a hate-incident victim who also shared their story. The mural unveiling event marked the beginning of LA County’s fourth annual United
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Against Hate Week, which will continue through November 18. Various events are planned, including webinars, social media events, screenings, art projects, community dialogues, and meditation gatherings. Returning for its fourth annual campaign, LA vs Hate’s United Against Hate Week (UAHW) is part of a California statewide effort for local civic action against hate and discrimination, which continues to threaten school campuses, neighborhoods, towns, and cities. LA vs Hate will participate in several United Against Hate Week actions, including the statewide campaign press conference in Berkeley on November 13, partnering with the California Civil Rights Department, City of Berkeley, and Not In Our Town. On November 13, the City of Santa (Photo Credit: LA vs Hate/Jade Blairs) Monica will collaborate with Right To Be to offer a virtual bystander intervention training for the community. On November 14, at the Museum of Tolerance, The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles and Brotherhood Crusade. The United Against Hate Week will take place from November 12th to November 18th. Communities across LA County are planning a range of activities, including webinars, social media events, screenings, art projects, community dialogues, and meditation gatherings. These initiatives aim to increase engagement across neighborhoods and support efforts to stand up against hate in communities. Charisse Bremond Weaver, President and CEO of Brotherhood Crusade, expressed the organization’s honor in standing alongside LA vs Hate, Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, and partners in unveiling the mural. She emphasized the mural’s illustration of the beauty emerging from diverse voices coming together to spread a message of peace and understanding. Karen Mack, CEO of LA Commons, emphasized the power of experiencing art and culture together, transcending differences and finding common ground. She referred to the murals as powerful touchstones providing beauty, inspiration, and meaning, energizing communities for United Against Hate Week. Reginald Johnson, founder of Willowbrook Inclusion Network, highlighted the added value of arts and culture, specifically visual art in the form of murals, to the community. He called for the replication and scaling of the coalition that worked on the project to enhance historic preservation projects that help communities understand their past, present, and future. As the final mural unveiling of the Summer of Solidarity program, LA vs Hate welcomed back the artists of the other four community murals to discuss their work created for the Jewish, LGBTQ+, Latiné, and Indigenous communities of LA County. The series aims to remind residents of the County’s hate reporting system, where anyone can report an act of hate and receive free and confidential support by calling 2-1-1 or filing a report online at www.LAvsHate.org. LA vs Hate, led by the LA County Commission on Human Relations, operates as a community-centered system supporting all residents and communities targeted for hate acts in Los Angeles County. The program partners with community organizations across all five County districts, forming a diverse coalition committed to preventing and responding to hate. The goals of the LA vs Hate System include addressing the normalization of hate, building understanding about hate acts and reporting mechanisms, and supporting individuals and communities in their healing from the trauma of hate. By tracking and reporting hate incidents, the program ensures appropriate resource allocation and fosters the creation of respectful and resilient communities. Victims of hate are encouraged to report incidents by calling 2-1-1. LA vs Hate employs various strategies in its prevention and response efforts, including art, healing interventions, bystander training, outreach and training for law enforcement, public school resourcing, and a pilot program for small businesses impacted by hate. SIMHA HADDAD
Long Beach
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CALIFORNIA
Celebrating diversity and artistry: The K’ exhibit in Los Angeles Metro LOS ANGELES — The Museum of African American Art in Los Angeles is currently home to a remarkable art exhibit that celebrates diversity, culture, and the power of place. Titled “Here - Arts and Culture Along the K,” this exhibit is a testament to what has been, what is present, and what is possible along the K Line of the Los Angeles Metro. The exhibition opened on October 7, 2023, with a reception that brought together artists, cultural producers, and the community to mark the first anniversary of Metro’s K Line service. It will remain on view through December 30, 2023. “Here” showcases a stunning collection of artworks and cultural expressions resulting from collaborations involving over 150 artists and cultural organizations. These creative minds have responded with bold imagination, infusing the distinct neighborhoods along the K-Line with the vibrancy of art and culture. This massive project, which took approximately 15 years to complete, was made possible by Metro Art, an initiative dedicated to enhancing the customer experience on Los Angeles County’s metro system through visual and performing arts. Metro Art fosters ridership and connects people, sites, and neighborhoods throughout the county, creating a sense of place through site-specific artworks. One remarkable aspect of this pro ect is Metro Art’s commitment to providing opportunities for artists of all backgrounds and levels of experience. As Zipporah Yamamoto, Senior Director of Special Projects Art & Design, pointed out, this opportunity was open to all artists, regardless of their background or experience in public art. Metro Art took on the responsibility of shouldering the liability and cost of fabricating the art, providing technical support, and granting emerging artists the chance to gain valuable experience in the field. The K Line, with stops in neighborhoods like Crenshaw, Leimert Park, Hyde Park, Inglewood, Westchester, and El Segundo, is more than ust a transportation route. It’s an integral part of the identity of native Angelenos. In a large and dispersed city where the mode of transportation is an extension of one’s home, the metro lines become a canvas for celebrating the diverse cultures and stories of the people who call Los Angeles home. Public art is a vital element of the city’s evolving culture, re ecting the spirit of the community, adding meaning to the urban landscape, and providing an intersection between the past, present, and future. It humanizes the built environment and invigorates public spaces, making art freely accessible to all. “Here” showcases the works of artists Alexis Hunley, Carlson Hatton, Dean Erdmann, Eileen Cowin, Erwin Redl, eoff McFetridge, Giovanni Solis, Ingrid Calame, Jaime Scholnick, Jason Williams, Kenturah Davis, Kim Schoenstadt, Mara Lonner, Michael C. Hsiung, Mickalene Thomas, Mobolaji Olambiwonnu, Moses X. Ball, Motherland Music, Rebeca Méndez, Russell Hamilton, Sam Pace, Sherin Guirguis, Shinique Smith, and Wakana Kimura.
One moving feature of this pro ect is Metro Art’s collaboration with filmmaker Mobola i Olambiwonnu. His work, “Community Voices,” is an award-winning short-form documentary series that gives context to the significance of the K Line’s opening by highlighting personal stories from community members over the years. This ongoing series captures the essence of the community and its journey. Olambiwonnu shared his passion for capturing the humanity of the Black experience in America through his work with The Blade. For him, art is a medium to celebrate and re ect upon this rich history and bring communities together. “The focus is always on a character or multiple characters,” said Olambiwonnu, “which allows people to fall in love, and be drawn in by a character that they can identify with via their humanity.”
Artist Jaime Scholnick’s vivid 400-foot mural, which consists of 70 panels, was installed in January at the station at Crenshaw and Exposition Boulevards. (Photo Credit: Metro Art)
Artist Shinique Smith’s mosaic mural, “Only Light, Only Love,” at the MLK Jr. Station brings together elements of fashion, pop culture, and calligraphy to visualize the cultural richness of South Los Angeles. (Photo Credit: Metro Art)
Olambiwonnu discussed one of the films in this pro ect that focused on two elderly men walking along the K Line tracks. The film captured these men as they re ected on the history of Los Angeles, particularly the evolution of the city’s transportation system. The film aimed to create a dialogue about the city’s history, transportation, and the unique experiences of the two individuals who had witnessed the changes in the city over the years, including the removal of the old train. In addition to allowing viewers to connect with the personal stories of these two seniors, the film gave insight into the city’s rich history through their perspectives. “My hope is that through accessing the train and accessing other forms of art throughout the K line stations, people will be able to experience the beauty of that community.” Artist Jaime Scholnick’s vivid -foot mural, which consists of 70 panels, was installed in January at the station at Crenshaw and Exposition Boulevards, the first stop along the 8.5 mile line. Her piece, “Layered Histories,” is an intricate collage of porcelain-glaze-on-steel based on “tens of thousands of images” of the surrounding neighborhood where she spent much of her time while in graduate school. Scholnick’s art ourney began in Kindergarten when she
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won an art competition with a drawing of a zoo, an experience that sparked her love for connecting with people through her art. She found the process of working with Metro Art particularly inspiring, as it allowed her to focus solely on creating art, without the burden of managing the technical aspects. Scholnick worked closely with photographer Sally Coates to amass a huge photo archive, which she later narrowed down for the final pro ect. Jaime also worked with foster youth from the RightWay Foundation, giving them disposable cameras and having them take photos around the city. Scholnick incorporated a selection of these photos into “Layered Histories.” Artist Shini ue Smith’s mosaic mural, “Only Light, Only Love,” at the MLK Jr. Station brings together elements of fashion, pop culture, and calligraphy to visualize the cultural richness of South Los Angeles. This artwork pays tribute to the station’s namesake and incorporates empowering words inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speeches and autobiography. “The ow of the city, fashion, the graffiti of my youth, and Japanese calligraphy in uence these gestures, as I extract what I see as the graceful and spiritual qualities in the written word and everyday life,” Smith said. Smith told The Blade that her focus is always on creating a connection between the viewer and the character in her art. She believes in the power of humanity and its accessibility through art. “What draws me to be an artist is the fact that what I do can resonate with a person,” Smith said. “There is an exchange of energy between my work and the viewer.” “Here - Arts and Culture Along the K” is more than an exhibition; it is a celebration of the vibrant and diverse culture of Los Angeles. It honors the past, embraces the present, and envisions a future filled with artistic expressions that re ect the community’s strength and resilience. SIMHA HADDAD
SPORTS
LA Kings partner with Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) LOS AN ELES - The Los Angeles Kings have partnered with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) for a special awareness night where they will host pancreatic cancer survivors at the LA Kings vs. Florida Panthers game on World Pancreatic Cancer Day, November 1 th, at Crypto.com Arena. The Kings and fans will come together to celebrate the lives of pancreatic cancer survivors, promote awareness, and raise critical funds to fight the disease. Food and beverages will be provided, and each survivor attending will be given a gift bag filled with special items. In addition, survivors in the suite will be honored with a special spotlight during intermission. Hockey Fights Cancer, a campaign started by the NHL and NHL Players’ Association, turns 2 this year. To mark the anniversary, NHL.com will be telling stories about Hockey Fights Cancer and those impacted by the disease all season long. Today, NHL.com columnist Dave Stubbs looks at the origins of Hockey Fights Cancer. It was launched modestly Dec. , 1 8, with a three-page news release, under the logos of the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association. “The hockey world unites to fight cancer,” the release was headlined, Hockey Fights Cancer (HFC) born as a oint initiative of the NHL, NHLPA, NHL Officials Association, the League’s then-2 teams and a broadcast and corporate partner. Nearly 2 years later, HFC has grown beyond what anyone in 1 8 likely believed it might, more than 2 million raised in its mission to raise awareness of cancer and support the countless number whose lives have been touched by the disease. “Hockey Fights Cancer has been an incredibly powerful initiative in terms of raising money for research and raising awareness and making people understand the need for education and prevention,” NHL Commissioner ary Bettman said with HFC’s 2 th anniversary approaching next month.
“And as importantly, when somebody is in icted with cancer, knowing that there is a support system, and that the NHL family is there. So it has been an all-encompassing effort which has raised a lot of money at the same time.”
(Courtesy of the National Hockey League)
The Commissioner’s view is shared by Marty Walsh, executive director of the NHLPA, who has seen cancer from up close. The former mayor of Boston was diagnosed at age with Burkitt’s lymphoma, a rare, aggressive kind of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that primarily affects children. “As a cancer survivor, I am honored to oin the Hockey Fights Cancer team, along with the players, the League and the clubs, as we continue to raise funds for research, increase awareness and provide further support to those who are dealing with this terrible disease,” Walsh said. “The hockey community is one that is committed to fighting cancer together.” The life-changing work with the American Cancer Society and Canadian Cancer Society, partners of the NHLPA and NHL in patient services, continues this season with the fifth year of the Stanley Cup Hope Lodge Tour with the Stanley Cup set
to visit five Hope Lodge locations across the U.S. and Canada, as well as the return of the HFC Assist’ program. Youth hockey teams are encouraged to sign up for HFC Assist’ to lend their efforts to the cause and receive resources, including a toolkit with best practices and thought starters for fundraising. To date, hundreds of youth hockey teams have hosted their own Hockey Fights Cancer events with proceeds continuing to support the American Cancer Society and Canadian Cancer Society. Continuing the tradition, all 2 NHL Clubs will host a Hockey Fights Cancer in-game awareness night this season with original storytelling, special ceremonies, and fundraising efforts for local charities. Fans can purchase official Hockey Fights Cancer merchandise online at NHLShop.com and NHLShop.ca and donate to the NHL and NHLPA’s Hockey Fights Cancer initiative powered by the V foundation by visiting HockeyFightsCancer.com. For all Hockey Fights Cancer news, follow NHL and PR NHL and oin the conversation by using the official hashtag HockeyFightsCancer. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) leads the way in accelerating critical progress for pancreatic cancer patients. PanCAN takes bold action by funding life-saving research, providing personalized patient services and creating a community of supporters and volunteers who will stop at nothing to create a world in which all pancreatic cancer patients will thrive. For 18 years in a row, PanCAN has earned a Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator the highest rating an organization can receive. This rating designates PanCAN as an official “ ive with Confidence” charity, indicating strong financial health, ongoing accountability and transparency. For more information visit www.pancan.org. LA BLADE STAFF
Rapinoe exits early as Ali Krieger and team win championship SAN DIEGO — One last time, two soccer icons took to the field in San Diego Saturday night as Seattle’s OL Reign faced New York’s Gotham FC at Snapdragon Stadium. MEGAN RAPINOE speaks to reporters following the championIn what was the abship match Saturday in San Diego. solutely last, concluding (Screenshot/YouTube) and final end to their respective careers in professional soccer, following more than a few “farewell” games, Megan Rapinoe limped off the pitch and Ali Krieger raised the National Women’s Soccer League championship trophy. And Krieger’s teammates raised her up in victory as well. History will record World Cup winner Esther onz lez as scoring the go-ahead goal for New York on a header in firsthalf stoppage time, and that otham beat the Reign 2-1. But what true women’s soccer fans will take away from this clash of the champions is watching the pink-haired legend who won two World Cups, an Olympic gold medal and a bronze inexplicably fall to the ground in the third minute. As Maitane Lopez of otham was dribbling the ball outside
the penalty area, Rapinoe ran toward her and suddenly went down. After laying there for a few minutes, Rapinoe refused the stretcher and accepted help from two trainers for the long walk along one end line and then down the sideline to the Reign’s bench. Rapinoe said later she realized too late how long that walk would be, and told reporters it felt like someone kicked her and she felt “a huge pop” in her Achilles. “You don’t always get to have the perfect ending,” said Rapinoe after the match, appearing in good spirits and wearing a walking boot on her right foot. She oked that she’s now ust a normal person facing surgery and rehab. “I’ve had so many perfect endings, even ust thinking back to 2 1 , that was the most perfect whole script you could ever write personally and as a team, ust what it meant. On balance, I don’t think anything that negative about it,” said Rapinoe. Upon her early exit, Krieger ran over and hugged her former teammate from the U.S. Women’s National Team. “It’s devastating to see one of the best players in the world have to step out because of in ury in the first five minutes of the game,” said Krieger, who told reporters she was “gutted” for Rapinoe. “To have such a buildup to this moment, to have her of anyone, that was devastating, because it does change
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the game. You want to play against the best players.” Krieger said she thought Rapinoe hurt her ankle. “I was really upset for her,” she said, and shared part of their conversation. “I said, Just wrap it up and I’ll see you back out here in a couple minutes.’ Then when I saw the sub come on, obviously it was a different story. Immediately you have to switch back on to your team and my ob. You have to kind of shut that out.” Rapinoe announced that she was stepping away from the game for good before this past summer’s Women’s World Cup. At the 2 1 World Cup in France, Rapinoe scored six goals, including a penalty in the final against the Netherlands. When she posed with her arms outstretched in victory pose at that championship game, it was an image that conveyed ust how dominant was Team USA. Krieger was also on that 2 1 team as well as the U.S. World Cup team that won the title in 2 1 . “I don’t think I could dream of a better ending for myself,” Krieger said. “I ust want to ride off into the sunset and en oy this with my family and friends and kids, most importantly, and my teammates. My back hurts, my calves hurt. I love it so much and it’s so much fun. But it’s time. This is the perfect ending for me.” DAWN ENNIS
CALIFORNIA
Oakland City Council signs off on new LGBTQ cultural district
OAKLAND, Calif. - At a joyous news conference outside the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center Tuesday morning, drag queen Vicki Sparkle Titz wowed the crowd by lip-synching and dancing to Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” before the Oakland Gay Men’s Chorus performed “Seasons of Love” from the Broadway smash “Rent.” It was all part of a celebration ahead of the Oakland City Council approving the first L BT cultural district in the city, which it did at its meeting November 7. The Lakeshore LGBTQ Cultural District is anchored by the community center on Lakeshore Avenue, and encompasses parts of the Lakeshore and Grand neighborhoods. Brandon Harami, a gay man who’s director of community resilience for Mayor Sheng Thao and her de facto LGBTQ liaison, said there are about a dozen businesses within the district’s boundaries that are LGBTQ-owned. (None of the business owners spoke at the event.) Elected officials and LGBTQ comAt the City Council munity center staff gathered to announce the formation of the city’s meeting, the resofirst LGBTQ Cultural District at a lution passed 7-0. Tuesday news conference. (Councilmember (Photo Credit: Cynthia Laird) Treva Reid had an excused absence.) District 1 Councilmember Dan Kalb, who attended the kickoff, said he was “very thrilled to be one of the co-sponsors.” (Kalb is running for the open District 7 state Senate seat in the March primary.) In fact, four councilmembers represent parts of all of the district: Kalb; Rebecca Kaplan, a lesbian who represents the entire city; Carroll Fife of District 3, and Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas of District 2. At the kickoff, Kaplan told the Bay Area Reporter that the district is decades in the making. “I am so proud of being part of making this district happen,” Kaplan said in a brief interview. “It’s an acknowledgement of a community presence that’s been here for a long time.” She recounted how years ago the old Oakland Pride organization used to have its festival by Lake Merritt, and the old Sistahs Steppin’ in Pride held their event near the lake as well. Fife, an ally, said she was honored to be at the event. Her council district is centered in West Oakland and parts of
downtown. “It’s the second official cultural district in Oakland,” Fife told the B.A.R., noting the city’s first cultural district is the Black Arts Movement Business District. Fife added that the LGBTQ cultural district is needed to counter the right-wing attacks coming from conservative Republican lawmakers in Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Supreme Court. The conservative super-majority on the court earlier this year ruled that a website designer has free speech rights and does not have to make wedding websites for samesex couples. “It’s all connected,” Fife said. “I have friends in Texas who have to bring their children here for gender-affirming care.” A ban on such care for trans youth in the Lone Star State went into effect earlier this year. ay California Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) last year authored legislation signed by Governor Gavin Newsom that designates the Golden State as a refuge for trans kids and their families, as the B.A.R. previously reported. Emceeing the news conference was Oakland resident Amy Schneider, a trans woman who gained a national following after her championship run on TV game show “Jeopardy!” two years ago. She is the author of her recent memoir, “In the Form of a Question.” “I’m proud to call Oakland my home and I owe this town so much,” she said. Jeff Myers and Joe Hawkins, gay Black men who are co-founders of the community center, praised the formation of the cultural district. For now, the center will serve as the district’s fiscal sponsor, they said. “We have a lot of work to do,” said Hawkins. “This is just the beginning. In my mind, the whole lake is an LGBTQ cultural district. “For people of color, Oakland has always been a refuge,” he added. Thao, an ally who began her public service career by working as an aide for Kaplan, said she was involved with the community center since it opened in 2017. “Our LGBTQ community is seeing constant threats and is not safe everywhere,” Thao said. While plans call for a agpole outside the center with a Progress Pride ag to denote the cultural district, Thao said it’s about more than that. “It’s also about programming, like access to health care” and addressing housing insecurity, she said. Amin Robinson, youth services coordinator at the LGBTQ
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center’s Town Youth Club just a short walk away from the center, said that the cultural district empowers him as a queer Black youth. Karen Anderson, a Black lesbian senior, told the B.A.R. she was excited by the turnout. During her remarks, Anderson said the cultural district’s formation is important for youth and seniors. “We’ve gone through the AIDS crisis, we’ve gone through the mpox crisis, and we’ve gone through the COVID crisis but we’re still here,” she said. “We’ve been isolated from our families and sometimes our friends and we’re still standing. We no longer have to concern ourselves with being out of the closet. There is no closet.” Bas said one goal behind its creation is to make sure the city’s queer community is represented. She pointed out the community center stepped up during COVID to provide vaccinations and assistance for those facing homelessness. Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland) was one of several speakers who pointed out Oakland has one of the highest concentrations of LGBTQ people in the country. “The fight continues,” Bonta said. “Resist homophobia, hate, and discrimination and the extreme conservative legislative efforts across the nation. We’ve allowed that to seep into California counties, particularly around trans youth. We’re for protecting and celebrating the LGBTQ community.” Bonta was referring to actions by several conservative-led school boards that have adopted policies that would forcibly out trans and gender-nonconforming students to their parents without their consent. (Her husband, state Attorney General Rob Bonta, is suing one of the districts and recently won a preliminary injunction halting two main parts of the policy the re uirements that staff out students for identifying as transgender or gender non-conforming, as well as for accessing sex-segregated programs and activities that align with their gender.) Additionally, as the B.A.R. first reported online last week, backers of three anti-trans ballot measures were cleared by the secretary of state’s office to begin gathering signatures in the hopes of placing them on the November 2024 ballot. One of them would require forced outing of trans students. The others would prohibit trans students from participating on sports teams that match their gender identity and prohibit gender-affirming care for minors. The preceding article was previously published by The Bay Area Reporter and is republished by permission. CYNTHIA LAIRD
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ondaire ones ready to fight anti-LGBTQ e tremism
Former congressman seeking a comeback to ‘safeguard democracy’
By CHRISTOPHER KANE “The state of the race here” for New York’s 17th congressional district “is good for those of us who want to safeguard democracy and protect LGBTQ+ rights,” Mondaire Jones told the Washington Blade by phone on Monday. Next year, Jones is looking to reclaim the House seat that he held from 2021 to 2023 before “unusual redistricting events” cost him the Democratic nomination and “lifelong political hack” GOP U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler eked out a victory by ust 1,82 votes. Confident in the state of his campaign looking ahead to the elections, having ust out-raised Lawler along with all of his Democratic opponents, combined, in Q3, Jones is focused on the stakes: “If you believe, as many people do, that with Joe Manchin’s retirement we are likely to lose the Senate,” began Jones, referring to the dimmed chances of Democrats retaining control of the upper chamber following the West Virginia senator’s announcement of plans not to run in 2024.
ormer congressman MONDAIRE JONES is working to win ack his seat after unusual redistricting e ents’ cost him the Democratic nomination. (Photo courtesy ondaire ones Cam aign)
“And if you believe most of the polling in the presidential race, which has shown Donald Trump well positioned to take back the White House,” he continued, “I am the only person standing in the way of Mike Lawler” and Republican allies “passing a national abortion ban, gutting Social Security and Medicare, rolling back LGBTQ+ rights, raising the price of prescription drugs, and exacerbating the uniquely American problem of mass shootings.” “There are people in Congress and on television who say things like, ‘if Joe Biden doesn’t change his position on Israel, then the young people and people of color are not going to vote for him’ — rather than [talking] about how irrational that is” or highlighting the Biden-Harris administration’s work on behalf of young people, from student loan forgiveness to the child tax credit and the largest climate action ever undertaken via the In ation Reduction Act, Jones said. And if reelected, he noted, Trump has promised to reinstate the Muslim ban imposed during his administration 10
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and would expand it to include barring resettlement of refugees from aza. Another example of the disservice done to voters During a speech on Veterans Day, “Donald Trump ust referred to his political opponents as vermin, which is an invocation of the sinister rhetoric used by people like Adolf Hitler to demonize an entire race of people,” Jones said. “The fact that the New York Times treated like a mere divergence from the speeches Donald Trump typically gives as opposed to the more sinister harbinger of a fascist and an anti-Semite and a racist who has promised to weaponize government against groups of people who he does not like is really a failure of the New York Times to get this moment; to understand this moment in American history.” Jones also bristles at how the media have sometimes characterized certain congressional Republicans as moderates, citing, for instance, the entire conference’s support for their new Speaker, U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson (La.), despite his extreme views. “I am concerned because the media have given a platform to the small handful of House Republicans who even purport to be moderate,” he said. “Their treatment of these people who masquerade as moderates despite voting like extreme MAGA Republicans will give the impression to people that they are not part of the problem in the way that Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene are,” Jones said, referring to the far-right firebrand OP U.S. representatives from Florida and eorgia. These Republican members include Lawler, who “did not have to vote with the extreme MAGA Republicans,” Jones said, but chose not to separate himself from the far-right faction of his caucus “on issue after issue,” which is “because he himself is an extremist.” For instance, he said, Lawler has “trafficked in climate denialism” and “mocked women and our Orthodox communities here in the lower Hudson Valley” while voting “to overturn a gun regulation intended to keep us safe from mass shootings” and for an abortion ban “without exception for rape or incest.” All to defend a seat in Congress in a district where Donald Trump was re ected by 1 points, Jones noted. “People here in the 17th district want to protect a woman’s right to an abortion,” he said. “They want to protect LGBTQ+ rights and ban assault weapons so that kids can stop getting gunned down in schools throughout the country.” Jones continued, “Mike Lawler opposes these things. He also wants to cut Social Security and Medicare and raise the cost of prescription drugs as evidenced by the fact that he has been working to unravel the provisions of the In ation Reduction Act.”
RUNNING ON HIS RECORD “When I was elected in 2 2 , I was elected as the first person of color to ever represent this district and the first member of the LGBTQ+ community to represent this district,” Jones said. In Congress, he was named the most legislatively active DE.CO
freshman legislator by a landslide. “I’ve got a record of actually delivering for this district,” Jones said. “I brought hundreds of millions of dollars for schools, housing, and health care in the lower Hudson Valley. I negotiated passage of the bipartisan infrastructure law. And it was my bill with [U.S. Rep.] Jerry Nadler [D-N.Y.] called the Respect for Marriage Act that has made strides in safeguarding marriage equality for so many LGBTQ+ Americans around the country, even if the Supreme Court were to go back on its precedent.” He added, “I have a track record of being an effective legislator, and people want me back.” “I have great respect for the members of the Equality Caucus and the LGBTQ+ members in both chambers of Congress,” Jones said. “I will say that it is apparent to both me and, I think, to many people who have compared last term with this term, that my voice is missing in a significant way with respect to matters concerning the LGBTQ community.” Among other matters, he said, this would include “of course, the Supreme Court, healthcare, healthcare equity,” – including access to PrEP medication regardless of one’s ability to pay for it – “ and justice.” “Even the conversation around student debt cancellation is one that I described as an issue of LGBTQ justice to the president in the Roosevelt Room in the spring of 2022 when I was conveying to him the importance of canceling student debt by executive order.” Additionally, Jones said, “When I look at what’s happened, when I look at what’s happening abroad, in certain parts of Africa, with respect to the criminalization of queer people, that is something that I would be leading on right now as the nation’s first openly gay Black member of Congress.” “I don’t see anyone leading on that or on the Supreme Court,” said Jones, a lawyer who has worked at the Justice Department, the multinational law firm Davis Polk, and as a clerk for a judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. “It makes me sad,” he said, “but I also know that is the reason why I need to fight like hell to get back in Congress and continue the work that I started last year.” The High Court “is itself something that poses an existential threat to the lives and livelihoods of the LGBTQ+ community,” Jones said. To remedy the problem, Jones supports court expansion – a move he proposed in legislation with Nadler and U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) during the last term. It could be “a critical step to protecting basic freedoms for the LGBTQ+ community not to be discriminated against by business owners, as well as protecting the right of women to exercise their own healthcare rights, whether it is abortion or any other healthcare decision that they want to make.” The Supreme Court has also imperiled American democracy, Jones said, referencing the 2013 decision in Shelby County v. Holder, which “opened the oodgates to the hundreds of racist voter suppression bills that we have seen introduced in dozens of states around the country — and that, in many of those states, have become law.”
NATIONAL
20 more Texas students lose their theatre roles over gender policy SHERMAN, Texas - The student-run production of the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical ‘Oklahoma!’ for Sherman High School has encountered even more controversy after a new Sherman ISD rule allowing theater students to only be cast in roles matching their birth gender has cost about 20 students their parts. Earlier this week, senior Max Hightower, had landed the lead male role in Oklahoma ’ and then promptly lost the role after the school’s principal, in a phone call with Max’s father Phillip Hightower, told him there was a new policy that “actors and actresses could only play a role that was the same gender they were assigned at birth.” Because Max identifies as a transgender male, he could no longer be cast as the male lead. Local CBS affiliate K II 12 News, which first reported the story, noted in their continuing coverage on Thursday, the new Sherman ISD rule allowing theater students to only be cast in roles matching their birth gender has cost about 20 students their part in the high school’s upcoming musical Oklahoma! K II reported that as parents of the affected theatre kids are desperately looking for answers for their children, it came to light that a Sherman ISD Board of Trustees member has a history of protesting local LGBTQ events. Anna Wylie, a member of the tea-party era Texoma Patriots who was elected in 2 1 , protested outside of an off-campus L TB prom hosted by Grayson Pride in May. Some parents also suspect interference by Sherman ISD Board of Trustees President Brad Morgan. Matthew Krov, a Sherman theater parent, told News 12 he
Senior MAX HIGHTOWER has participated in the high school’s Bearcat Theater since he was a freshman. (Photo Credit: Screenshot/KXII CBS 12)
was there and witnessed Wylie in action as she held a sign that read “What are you confused about?”. “There were multiple students from Sherman at this event that she was protesting, and a part of that yelling and sign holding,” Krov said. News 12 contacted Wylie but she declined to comment. Fort Worth Star-Telegram ournalist Bud Kennedy noted in his commentary published on Friday November 1 Sherman ISD officials canceled the high school musical “Oklahoma!” because girls were playing male roles, and maybe mainly because transgender actor Max Hightower was in a starring role as slick salesman Ali Hakim in the 1943 Rodgers and Hammerstein Broadway hit.
Several girls had been cast to play boys. One girl told Sherman TV station KXII/Channel 12 that the reason was simple: “There’s not enough boys for the show.” Sherman officials also apparently decided the beloved musical was more prurient than prairie. In a statement, the district said the play must be recast by gender as called for in the script, and also that “Oklahoma!” is inappropriate for high school drama classes due to mature adult themes, profane language, and sexual content. In its statement on November 6, the Sherman ISD made it clear that the policy was applied to this specific student production: [...] “There is no policy on how students are assigned to roles. As it relates to this particular production, the sex of the role as identified in the script will be used when casting. Because the nature and subject matter of productions vary, the District is not inclined to apply this criteria to all future productions. The District will postpone the performances from December 8-1 , 2 2 , to a later date. The District anticipates the public performances will be scheduled for some time after January 1 , 2 2 . Between now and then, we will be working diligently to produce Oklahoma! as a musical that is appropriate for the high school stage.” News 12 and the Blade have reached out to Sherman ISD for more information on what led up to the decision. The district responded with a promise to release an additional statement in the coming days. BRODY LEVESQUE
Control of Senate at stake, Sen. Manchin will not seek reelection WASHINGTON - Republicans’ prospects of recapturing control of the U.S. Senate were boosted on Thursday with the conservative Democratic U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin’s (W.Va.) announcement that he will not seek reelection. Mindful that his party controls 48 Democratic and three independent votes in the upper chamber, and that Republicans are favored in next year’s Senate map, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) has been privately urging Manchin to run again in 2024. Separately, the West Virginia senator is considering whether to run for president as an independent, sparking concerns that he would peel votes away from President Joe Biden, who is running for reelection. “After months of deliberation and long conversations with my family, I believe in my heart of hearts that I have accomplished what I set out to do for West Virginia,” Manchin announced in a video shared on X. West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice (R) had already disclosed plans to run for Manchin’s seat, with polls showing the conservative governor handily beating the senator in a hypothetical contest.
In March, Justice signed a law banning guideline directed, medically supported gender affirming healthcare for minors in the state. President Joe Biden issued a statement about Manchin’s announcement: “For more than forty years - as a state legislator, a Secretary of State, a Governor, and a Senator - Joe Manchin has dedicated himself to serving the people of his beloved West Virginia. During my time as Vice President and now as President, Joe and I have worked together to get things done for hardworking families. “From the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – which is upgrading America’s aging infrastructure, to the PACT Act – which is making sure our veterans get the care they deserve, to the Ination Reduction Act which is strengthening our energy security and lowering prescription drug costs for our seniors, to the most meaningful gun safety legislation in three decades, we’ve made real progress. I was also proud when Joe voted to make history and confirm Ketan i Brown Jackson as the first Black woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court. “Joe, ayle, and the entire Manchin family should feel
U.S. Sen. JOE MANCHIN (D-W.Va.) (Screenshot/X)
proud of the Senator’s service to West Virginia and to our country. I look forward to continuing our work together to get things done for the American people.” CHRISTOPHER KANE
LOSANGELESBLADE.COM • NOVEMBER 17, 2023 • 11
INTERNATIONAL
Po e rancis fires anti-LGBTQ Bisho after his refusal to resign
its LGBTQ members. VATICAN CITY - Bishop Joseph Strickland of Eastern Texas The report, titled “A synodal church in mission,” did not has been “relieved” of his position as head of the Diocese take a stand on LGBTQ issues despite discussion beforeof Tyler, Texas by Pope Francis after Strickland’s refusal to hand that the synod might call on the Church to be more resign in a dispute over the Church’s LGBTQ+ inclusion in welcoming to the L BT community Reuters reported. Catholic practices. The Bishop said publicly that in his opinion it was a “travThe Pope’s decision to fire Strickland was made public esty” that the subject regarding the treatment and care in a statement released on November 11. According to the for its LGBTQ Catholics was Vatican, the decision came even up for discussion. after an apostolic visitation “Regrettably, it may be ordered by the Pope last that some will label as schisJune in the Diocese of Tyler, matics those who disagree which was entrusted to two with the changes being proUS bishops, Bishop Dennis posed,” Strickland said. “InSullivan of Camden, and stead, those who would proBishop Emeritus Gerald Kicapose changes to that which nas of Tucson. cannot be changed seek In the Catholic Church, an to commandeer Christ’s apostolic visitation is a paChurch.” pal representative with a Prior to the Synod of Bishtransient mission to investiops Pope Francis wrote a letgate a special circumstance ter on July 11 saying that he in a diocese or country, and is open to the possibility that to submit a report to the Holy the Catholic Church would See at the conclusion of the Pope FRANCIS celebrates Mass at the Rome War Cemetery allow blessings for same-sex investigation. on November 2, 2023. (Photo Credit: atican Press Office) unions. In the case of Bishop The Vatican’s Dicastery Strickland, who had estabfor the Doctrine of the Faith on Monday released the letter lished himself as a public critic of the pontiff, had claimed that Francis wrote to five cardinals who urged him to reafPope Francis was “undermining the Deposit of Faith” and a firm church teaching on homosexuality. “diabolically disordered clown.” Then the Vatican released a document stating transgenStrickland recently criticized the month long conference der people, under certain circumstances, can be baptized, this past October known as a Synod of Bishops, held in serve as godparents, and serve as witnesses to Catholic the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, regarding the future of the weddings. The document, which was signed by Pope Franworld-wide Roman Catholic Church that ended without a cis and a high-level Vatican cardinal, was released Nov. 8 clear course of action for the church on the issues of oron the website of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine daining women as deacons or the treatment and care for
of the Faith. This too was heavily criticized by Strickland who reportedly said he stood by his decision to call the Pope out saying that he felt “very much at peace in the Lord and the truth that he died for.” Cardinal Daniel Nicholas DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston released a statement after the Pope’s firing of Strickland Saturday: “The Holy Father has removed Bishop Joseph E. Strickland from the pastoral governance of the diocese of Tyler, United States of America, and has appointed Bishop Joe Vásquez of Austin as apostolic administrator of the same diocese, rendering it sede vacante.» DiNardo noted that the prelates who made the visit, Dennis Sullivan, the Bishop of Camden, and Gerald Kicanas, Bishop Emeritus of Tucson, “conducted an exhaustive inquired into all aspects of the governance and leadership of the Diocese of Tyler by its Ordinary, Bishop Joseph Strickland.” “As a result of the Visitation,” the statement continues, “the recommendation was made to the Holy Father that the continuation in office of Bishop Strickland was not feasible. After months of careful consideration by the Dicastery for Bishops and the Holy Father, the decision was reached that the resignation of Bishop Strickland should be requested. Having been presented with that re uest on November , 2 2 , Bishop Strickland declined to resign from office.” Pope Francis then decided to remove the bishop. “Pending more permanent arrangements for the Diocese of Tyler,” Cardinal DiNardo said, “the Holy Father has, at the same time, appointed Bishop Joe Vasquez, Bishop of Austin, as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Tyler.” Cardinal DiNardo concluded his statement, “Let us keep Bishop Strickland, the clergy and faithful of the Diocese of Tyler and Bishop Vasquez in our prayers.” BRODY LEVESQUE
Out in the World: LGBTQ+ news from Indonesia JAKARTA, Indonesia - Roughly a hundred conservative Muslims took to the streets of the Indonesian capital city protesting the upcoming concert by British rock band Coldplay on Nov. 15 at Jakarta’s Gelora Bung Karno stadium. The protestors are angered by the group’s support of the LGBTQ+ community. Coldplay’s lead singer Chris Martin has been known to wear rainbow colors and wave gay pride ags during performances. The Asian leg of Coldplay’s “Music Of The Spheres World Tour” has been a sell out in every major city on the tour. The AP reported that more than 70,000 tickets were scooped up in less than two hours when sales opened in May as Jakarta is one of the band’s top streaming hubs with 1.6 million fans in the city. The Associated Press reported that demonstration was organized by Islamist group the 212 Brotherhood Alumni, whose name refers to the Dec. 2, 2016 mass protests against the polarizing Christian politician Basuki Tjahaja Purnama. The crowd chanted “God is Great” and “We reject Coldplay” as they marched to the heavily guarded British Embassy in Jakarta.
“We are here for the sake of guarding our young generation in this country from efforts that could corrupt youth,” Hery Susanto, a protester from West Java’s city of Bandung told AP journalist Fadlan Syam. “As Indonesian Muslims, we have to reject the Coldplay concert.” Novel Bamukmin, a protest coordinator, gave a speech criticizing the government for allowing the band to hold a concert in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country. He said if the concert was not canceled, thousands of protesters would confront the band on its way from the airport. “Coldplay has long been a strong supporter of LGBT and its lead singer is an atheist,” Bamukmin said, standing on the top of a truck, “We must reject their campaign, their concert here.” Security concerns in this deeply conservative nation have previously caused other Western musical artists who support the LGBTQ community to cancel their scheduled shows. Lady Gaga canceled her sold-out show in Indonesia in 2012 over security concerns after Muslim hard-liners threatened violence if the pop star went ahead with her “Born This Way Ball” concert.
12 • NOVEMBER 17, 2023 • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM
Coldplay, Music of The Spheres World Tour at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, November 7, 2023. ( creenshot ouTu e)
Additional reporting by Human Rights Watch, The Moscow Times, Agence France-Presse, Le Monde, Reuters, OKO.press, The Associated Press, and the BBC. BRODY LEVESQUE
ROB WATSON
is the host of the Hollywood-based radio/podcast show RATED LGBT RADIO.
Now the trans erasure police are coming after theater kids
HOLLYWOOD - A dad’s open letter…. Let’s face it. With transphobic people, it is never “about” what they say it is about. With trans girls participating in sports, they said it was about the inherent physical superiority of male biology to female biology. They said they cared about the “threat” against girls’ sports. They said it was about how creatively ambitious boys were about to take them over. “The women’s issue of our time is the idea that we have biological boys playing in girls sports,” Nikki Haley wailed. “We wonder why a third of our teen girls seriously contemplated suicide last year,” she then brainlessly pondered over an issue that had nothing to do with trans girls effect. It is estimated there are about fifty transgender women in college sports, and less than a hundred in all other public education sports. There are approximately 8 million women in college, and 26 million girls in elementary and high school. Do the math. There is literally no problem even if trans women and girls dominated every sport in which they participated, which they don’t. This is about a concerted effort at erasure. They want trans kids to be invisible, to be not in existence. They are starting with sports, but they are not stopping there. “First they came for the trans athletes, and I did not speak out ” Now they are coming for… wait for it… the trans theater kids. In a Los Angeles Blade story Monday, which has since gone viral, it was reported that a Sherman, Texas high schooler has been removed from a production of Oklahoma for being trans. The statement by the Sherman Independent School District is as nonsensical as it is outrageous. “It was brought to the District’s attention that the current production contained mature adult themes, profane language, and sexual content.” Oklahoma. Rogers and Hammerstein. Rated G everywhere from Australia, to Japan, to the US. Winds howling down the plains, and in full disclosure, “a girl who can’t say no.” It is about as “adult themed” as trans women are a threat to teen girls, which is to say, not at all. Clearly the only issue Sherman Independent cares about is the casting of the young trans man. There is no sane or logical way to rationalize this move. Gender has been completely irrelevant in theater dating to ancient Greece, through the Shakespearean era to modern day. Play a drinking game and take a shot over every actor or actress that has played a part other than ones that match their gender “assigned at birth” and you’ll be drunk before you finish reading this article. Sherman Independent is so blatantly discriminatory that they do not even feign ignorance of this cultural norm. They specifically state that they are only using it as an excuse in this instance. “Because the nature and subject matter of productions vary, the District is not inclined to apply this criteria to all future productions.” Translation: if a cisgender girl wants to play a male part, that is ok. If a
transgender boy wants to play a male part, that is forbidden. Here is my open letter to the administrators of the Sherman Independent School District: Dear Sherman Independent, I write this as the dad of two sons already through high school. I write this as a parent who advocated for his kids for 12 years and fought tooth and nail for them to be able to excel and become educated within the freedom to be the best versions of themselves. I know firsthand that trying to educate a child in a way that is foreign to who they are, is a fruitless, and often unwinnable uphill battle. Speaking as a parent for all parents, I ask this sincerely, please write a new letter to replace the statement you released. This letter can be very simple, and concise. Just write: “Dear parents. We the administration resign. We are not fit to be trusted with your kids. Not the transgender kids, not the cisgender ones either.” As a former theater kid myself, I can tell you that participating in one’s high school theater production can be an absolute gift. It can teach you to put yourself in the shoes of another being who is not you. It can teach you empathy. It can teach you to look at the world through someone else’s eyes. Through that experience to explore character, it can teach you who you are. In high school I played a sailor who dies at sea, I played a villain, and I played Carl Sandburg. I was assigned none of those things at birth. And no one asked to look into my underpants as a condition of my casting. Clearly, learning empathy, or an ability to look at the world through another’s eyes are lessons you yourself never learned. This alone makes you un ualified to teach kids. We need to have kids who care about others, who celebrate differences, and thrive on diversity. You cannot teach what you do not know. You appear to only know how to cave to your own fear. You encounter something new and you seek to erase it. The problem is, too many like you have done that to trans kids, and those kids suffer and end up literally erasing themselves. They are beautiful, and we cannot have you doing that to them. So, please, go. Before you go, you might want to catch a rehearsal of the show you cancelled and hear them say this line, “Resilience is woven deeply into the fabric of Oklahoma. Throw us an obstacle, and we grow stronger.” When you hear it, just know, the same thing can be said of Queer Kids and their allies. We grow stronger. Sincerely, A Dad
V O L U ME 07 I S S U E 46 ADDRESS 8237 Blackburn Avenue Ste. 201, Los Angeles, CA 90048 PHONE 310-230-5266 E-MAIL tmasters@losangelesblade.com INTERNET losangelesblade.com PUBLISHED BY Los Angeles Blade, LLC PUBLISHER TROY MASTERS tmasters@losangelesblade.com, 310-230-5266 x 8080 SALES & ADMINISTRATION SALES EXECUTIVE SHANA WONG SOLARES swong@losangelesblade.com, 808-386-0872 SALES/EVENT MARKETING EXECUTIVE ANDREW BEAVER abeaver@losangelesblade.com, 646-907-4482 NATIONAL ADVERTISING RIVENDELL MEDIA sales@rivendellmedia.com, 212-242-6863 MARKETING DIRECTOR STEPHEN RUTGERS srutgers@washblade.com, 202-747-2077 x 8077 EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTING WRITER KAREN OCAMB karenocamb@losangelesblade.com NATIONAL EDITOR KEVIN NAFF knaff@washblade.com, 202-747-2077 x 8088 EDITOR BRODY LEVESQUE California CONTRIBUTORS
MICHAEL K. LAVERS, TINASHE CHINGARANDE, ERNESTO VALLE, YARIEL VALDÉS GONZALEZ, PARKER PURIFOY, CHRISTOPHER KANE, AUSTIN MENDOZA, JOHN PAUL KING, JOEY DIGUGLIELMO, CHRIS JOHNSON, LOU CHIBBARO JR., REBEKAH SAGER, JON DAVIDSON, SUSAN HORNIK, CHANNING SARGENT, SAMSON AMORE, CHRISTOPHER CAPPIELLO, MICHAEL JORTNER, DAN ALLEN, SEAN SHEALY, SCOTT STIFFLER, RHEA LITRÉ
ADMINISTRATION PHILLIP G. ROCKSTROH prockstroh@washblade.com, 202-747-2077 x 8092 CREATIVE DESIGN/PRODUCTION AZERCREATIVE.COM DISTRIBUTION CHRISTOPHER JACKSON, 562-826-6602 All material in the Los Angeles Blade is protected by federal copyright law and may not be reproduced without the written consent of the Los Angeles Blade. The sexual orientation of advertisers, photographers, writers and cartoonists published herein is neither inferred nor implied. The appearance of names or pictorial representation does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of that person or persons. Although the Los Angeles Blade is supported by many fine advertisers, we cannot accept responsibility for claims made by advertisers. Unsolicited editorial material is accepted by the Los Angeles Blade, but the paper cannot take responsibility for its return. The editors reserve the right to accept, reject or edit any submission. A single copy of the Los Angeles Blade is available from authorized distribution points, to any individual within a 50-mile radius of Los Angeles, CA. Multiple copies are available from the Los Angeles Blade office only. Call for rates. If you are unable to get to a convenient free distribution point, you may receive a 52-week mailed subscription for $195 per year or $5.00 per single issue. Checks or credit card orders can be sent to Phil Rockstroh at prockstroh@washblade.com. Postmaster: Send address changes to the Los Angeles Blade, PO BOX 53352 Washington, DC 20009. The Los Angeles Blade is published weekly, on Friday, by Los Angeles Blade, LLC. Rates for businesses/ institutions are $450 per year. Periodical postage paid at Los Angeles, CA., and additional mailing offices. Editorial positions of the Los Angeles Blade are expressed in editorials and in editors’ notes as determined by the paper’s editors. Other opinions are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Los Angeles Blade or its staff. To submit a letter or commentary: Letters should be fewer than 400 words; commentaries should be fewer than 750 words. Submissions may be edited for content and length, and must include a name, address and phone number for verification. Send submissions by e-mail to tmasters@losangelesblade.com.
2023 GLAAD Media Awards
14 • NOVEMBER 17, 2023 • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM
©2023 LOS ANGELES BLADE, LLC.
DARWIN RODRIGUEZ
is a program manager at the Institute for Public Strategies and oversees the Safer WeHo Coalition in West Hollywood, which meets once a month.
New silent opioid epidemic: Secure LGBTQ+ spaces is the answer WEST HOLLYWOOD - In the shadows of the ongoing opioid crisis that continues to grip our nation, a new silent epidemic has emerged that has gone virtually unnoticed. While the opioid epidemic has commanded national headlines and sparked urgent conversations about substance use disorders and treatment, the L BT community continues to remain shrouded in silence left in a battle to combat this crisis alone. Homophobia today contributes to more overdoses than ever before and our divisive politics stand in the way of saving the lives of our L BT neighbors. The tragic reality is that homophobia in our country continues to persist on a regular basis. The stigmatization and discrimination faced by L BT individuals often leads them to adopt unhealthy behaviors to cope many of which predisposes them to a long-term struggle with substance use disorders. In 2 2 , L BT individuals were found to use substances at nearly double the rate of the overall population. Conse uently, L BT individuals often enter treatment with more severe substance use disorders when compared to their heterosexual counterparts. While schools and community organizations have attempted to foster safe spaces to curb this pattern, our challenging and divisive political climate has hindered progress. Over these past few years, nationwide anti-gay policies and legislation have threatened the safety of L BT individuals. In 2 22, Florida overnor Ron DeSantis introduced the controversial “Don’t Say ay” bill. Meanwhile, the University of Houston closed its campus’ only L BT resource center in response to the passing of Senate Bill 1 , which banned diversity, e uity, and inclusion initiatives in higher education institutions. L BT books across the US have been banned from libraries and schools with many believing that the art of drag poses a greater threat to our nation than deadly firearms. With the unprecedented amount of vitriol the L BT community is facing, now is the time to mobilize and unify efforts toward a positive paradigm shift. If our goal is to eliminate this new silent epidemic, we need to coalesce and diversify safe spaces for the L BT community. While creating safe spaces is an arduous feat, history has also shown that unified efforts can achieve remarkable progress. When HIV AIDS was dubbed a silent epidemic during the 8 s, The ACT UP coalition was formed to end misinformation, re-invigorate political action, and shift the public narrative surrounding the deadly disease. Founded by members of the L BT community, they mobilized public awareness campaigns, staged demonstrations and most importantly, gathered members together to discuss the problems in an inclusive manner. ACT UP was instrumental to the change in public perception of HIV AIDS, paving the way for advancements in the social and scientific aspects of the silent epidemic. If we want to tackle this new silent opioid epidemic head-on, we must commit to mobilizing in a manner similar to ACT UP to end L BT overdoses. One of our first steps should be creating more community spaces for L BT people that are affirming and sober. There is an urgent need for more L BT spaces and events that do not have access to drugs and alcohol. Coffee shops, bookstores, and community centers should take initiative to host L BT activities and become cornerstones for inclusive community building. Cuties, a Los Angeles coffee shop that opened in 2 1 , was founded with the inten-
Paramedics from Los Angeles County Fire-Rescue Dept. Squad 8 West Hollywood respond to an overdose. (Photo Credit: County of Los Angeles)
tion of providing a safe space for members of the L BT community that was not focused around alcohol and substance use. They would host a variety of events at the cafe uickly becoming a hotspot for many of its patrons. Unfortunately, the brick and mortar coffee shop closed its doors in 2 2 due to the COVID-1 pandemic. The untimely closing of Cuties has contributed to the dwindling presence of L BT safe and sober spaces in the greater Los Angeles region. It is essential to support local L BT meeting spaces. To be an ally to the L BT community, reaching out to local school districts, chambers of commerce, and business owners to host L BT nights is a first step in the right direction. For people who identify as L BT , the time is now to connect with our fellow L BT neighbors and mobilize movements for safe and sober areas, which will pave the way for healthier, and safer substance use practices. Even if these actions feel out of reach, simply talking to your families and neighbors about L BT acceptance and sharing your own story of acceptance can move us toward a future where sexual identity does not put one at risk for an overdose.
LOSANGELESBLADE.COM • NOVEMBER 17, 2023 • 15
Tyler Childers’ sweet gay love story: 5+ GRAMMY nominations
HOLLYWOOD - Tyler Childers has been at this rodeo before. He is not unaccustomed to receiving ire from the Bud Lite boycotting crowd. He caught hell in September 2020 with his album ong Violent History which revolved around the themes of racism, civil unrest and police brutality. This time, the controversy is around a song on his hit album Rustin’ In The Rain. Rustin’ leads with a hit song titled In our ove. In should be safe from controversy on its face. The lyrics, written by poet laureate Silas House, and are deeply romantic about a love both fought for, and lost, with no regrets. Had the team of Childers and House stopped there, the cheap beer guzzling neanderthal crowd would have been happy. They didn’t. Instead, they created a gorgeously acted, poignant music video about two gay miners in Kentucky. In the video, one of of the lovers is taken down with black lung disease, a common and undiscussed killer. The video was written by, and creatively directed by House. He stated bluntly about the project, “These are human stories, not political stories.”
Openly gay star JAMES SCULLY, appears in a video for Tyler Childers - ‘In Your Love’ (Screenshot/YouTube-Vevo)
The concept was Childers’s idea. He sought to tell the world about his LGBTQ family members’ life experiences. He had been particularly impacted by his gay cousin who ed Kentucky and never came back. Childers was particularly bothered that his cousin had never seen any kind of country music video that spoke to him. Now one does. The video stars openly gay stars Colton Haynes and James Scully. The couple fall in love in the coal mines and move on to become sustenance farmers. Along the way, they encounter violent homophobia, but stand strong and go to parties, host loved ones, and work their land to establish a simple life. Their romance comes to a tragic end when one dies from coal miners’ pneumoconiosis, and his widower stays alone for the rest of his life. “I wasn’t expecting to come here and bawl my eyes out but here we are. So beautiful and so sad all at the same time,” fan Trey Tackett writes on YouTube. Trey was not alone. The video has brought together many people from various walks of life who are reacting to the pure humanity of the story, and to the specifics of Appalachian life, rarely depicted.
16 • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM • NOVEMBER 17, 2023
From scared mothers like Monica Carmon, “I just heard this on the way home from work and immediately searched for it because of the way it touched me. Sitting outside in my car sobbing watching the video. This hits so close to home. My youngest son is openly gay and my greatest fear as a mother is that someone full of hate will harm him. Love is love. Please never forget that,” to another fan who has lived life without the inspiration that Childers has given, “I can’t properly uantify what a difference it would’ve made if people like you stood up for people like me when I was a kid. I’m so grateful younger people now have you. Thank you and the actors, team for a beautiful video,” he says. Others have shared how the fight for love, even when ill-fated, is worth it. K C eno stated, “This hits home. I lost my soulmate of 42 years to leukemia in November of 2019. Thank you so much for going out on a limb to recognize the beauty of love.” The universality of the song even reached those who were not particularly moved by the fight against homophobia, “Dude I don’t care about the two men in love This song is a beautiful testament of finding true love and the inevitability of having to watch it leave you This life whether gay or straight we all face this Beautiful song and video Tyler thank you so much for this song We all need this kind of love in our lives to prove it wasn’t all for nothing ” stated “Dark Fanged Sword”. Some shared how much this dramatic depiction has been lived by them in real life. Arnold Tucker related, “This is a great video, it shows what some of us have had to live daily... the hate and non acceptance. I am now a retired police officer and my Partner was a EMS Paramedic for the Texas County we lived in. My Jim died August 5th, 2000, and it still a hard thing to deal with. The Love we shared was wonderful, and I [will] probably never have that feeling again. Thank You Tyler for showing this side of life that most still hide and deal with.” Another man named Jeffrey found the song timely, as he was in the throws of losing his husband. Just after his husband died, Jeffrey posted, “My husband ust passed and this song is my song to him. I put my phone to his ear so he could hear it. In my darkest time this young man’s music is getting me through it.” No one seems to care much about the haters. Childers was ready for it at the outset. “For all the ugliness that it’s going to bring out, that just can’t be helped. This video is going to make real conversations possible.” As for his fans, they welcome the adversity from the close minded. Their attitude is “Don’t let the concert venue doors slap you in the ass on the way out.” The new Childers’s fans are more than eager to buy up any concert tickets that haters want to leave behind. The GRAMMY awards seem equally unfazed by the “anti-wokers.” They showered Childers with five 2 2 nominations. He is up for Best Country Solo Performance for In Your Love, Best Country Song for In Your Love, Best Country Album for Rustin’ in the Rain, and Best Music Video for In Your Love. House is nominated for one, Best Music Video for In Your Love. The fans agree. Per “mmjsstav”, “Wow. Video had me absolutely in tears. And what a terrific, incredibly well written and composed song. The rammy nominations are so well deserved Hadn’t heard of you before this, but now I”m a huge fan and will be buying your records.” Now, we have to wait until early next year to see if Childers and House win, as many think they should. Fan after fan declare the video not just to be great, but to be the “best video they have ever seen.” It actually does not matter what happens for Childers and House February 4th at the Crypto.com Arena. For all the conversations they have started, the real life stories that they inspired to be told, for lovers motivated, and tears shed . In the most consequential ways, they have already won. ROB WATSON
Jasmine “Star” Mack KC Johnson Unique Banks Zachee Imanitwitaho Maria Jose Rivera Rivera Chashay Henderson Tortuguita Tasiyah Woodland Ashley Burton Koko Da Doll Banko Brown Ashia Davis Chanell Perez Ortiz
Jacob Williamson Camdyn Rider DéVonnie J’Rae Johnson Thomas ‘Tom-Tom’ Robertson YOKO Luis Ángel Díaz Castro Chyna Long Sherlyn Marjorie A’nee Johnson Dominic Dupree, also known as Dominic Palace
Lisa Love London Price
Equality California mourns the lives and remembers the legacy of those transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming lives lost senselessly to violence this year. This list is inclusive of those incidents that were reported and correctly identified by law enforcement. We know violent crimes against the transgender and nonbinary communities are significantly underreported, and misgendering of victims by authorities is rampant.
#TransgenderDayofRemembrance
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18 • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM • NOVEMBER 17, 2023
FILM
yad’ stays a oat thanks to stellar erformances An engaging story that provides visibility for strong, authentic queer characters
By JOHN PAUL KING Another key facBiopics are the tor is its adventurous thing this year, it environment and seems. setting, which puts So far, 2023 has us into a world that brought us big-andmost of us will never buzzy movies about a visit and forces us to world-changing scienimagine a feat almost tist (“Oppenheimer”), none of us could hope a pop culture printo achieve. The thrill cess (“Priscilla”), and an unsung hero of JODIE FOSTER trains ANNETTE BENING in yad.’ of the ride is more than enough reason the Civil Rights moveto take the journey, and it’s easy to be sucked ment (“Rustin”), with the much-anticipated into the vicarious experience as we root the “Napoleon” from Ridley Scott, starring Joaquin movie’s eponymous real-life heroine on toPhoenix in the title role, soon to come. All of ward a hoped-for triumph. these have centered on more-or-less wellStill, it’s impossible not to observe a certain known real-world figures. Even Rustin, whose rote uality to the film’s approach. Even for long-obscured historical contributions have those who go into “Nyad” without knowing been amplified since the Obama era, can her story (which, with the exception of those safely be said to have a more famous name with an interest in the world of competitive than the woman whose story (or, at least, part long-distance swimming, is likely to describe of it) is told in “Nyad.” most of us), it seems unthinkable that Diana That film, produced by Net ix and released Nyad won’t accomplish what she sets out to on its platform Nov. 3, relates the saga of do – after all, why would a movie about her marathon swimmer – also author, journalexist had she not done so? Presumably recogist, and motivational speaker – Diana Nyad, nizing the same point, Chin and Vasarhelyi anwho in 1978, at age 28, attempted and failed gle their movie toward the visceral, attemptto become the first person to complete the ing to immerse us in a first-person experience swim from Cuba to Florida. Someone else instead of keeping us hanging on the eventual (equipped with a shark cage) would go on to outcome. This is a story about a personal jourclaim that record, but the movie picks up the ney, about the friendship and teamwork that saga when Nyad (Annette Bening), now 60, make it possible, and not a “will she make it or decides to try the swim again. To make her not?” nail-biter. unlikely dream come true she enlists the aid To that end, “Nyad” benefits most from of her best friend and former coach Bonnie the two stars who anchor it. As Nyad, Bening Stoll (Jodie Foster), who reluctantly agrees to is an indomitable – sometimes imperious – the challenges. spirit, driven to the point of obsession, and Bolstered by confidence, drive, and a determight well come off as something less than mination to complete what she started long likable were it not for the perfectly balanced ago – not to mention a seasoned sea captain counterweight provided by Foster’s breezy, (Rhys Ifans) to guide her course and a team of down-to-earth Stoll. There’s an easy chemexperts brought in to help protect her from istry between them, a symbiotic alignment the dangers of the deep – Nyad embarks on that works to both their benefits. We like a late-life quest to accomplish her seemingly Nyad better because Stoll likes her, and we impossible goal, refusing to give up the effort respect the easy-going Stoll more because despite failure, fate, and the uncontrollable Nyad does. These two film veterans allow us forces of nature itself. to see their characters re ected through each As written by Julia Cox and co-directed by other’s eyes, heightening the emotional conhusband-and-wife team Jimmy Chin and Eliznection we feel toward both and giving the abeth Chai Vasarhelyi (“Free Solo”), “Nyad” fulmovie a loving heart – albeit a platonic one, ly embraces all the conventions of the sportssince “Nyad” refreshingly focuses on a story bio subgenre, from training montages to of female friendship without imposing a perheartbreaking setbacks to adrenalin-pumpfunctory and unnecessary “Hollywood” love ing suspense, and – to its credit – manages to story into the middle of it – with which we all do so without feeling like a cookie-cutter repcan relate even if we can’t relate to the intense etition of formula. Part of this, of course, can physical and psychological pressure of being be attributed to the “edginess” points it earns a long-distance open sea swimmer. by focusing not only on an athletic hero that is not only female, but a 60-something gay female at that. CONTINUES AT LOSANGELESBLADE.COM
AUTOS
Fab gifts for car fans
From stuffed animals to a 2 , By JOE PHILLIPS
For those of us who still love Tonka Toys and Matchbox cars, here are some fun gift-giving ideas for all ages this holiday season.
Ford Bronco Plush Horse
For kids—or adults who just like horsing around—the Ford Bronco polyester stuffed animal ($27) is super soft and comes with a uffy mane, glossy black eyes and a kicky green bandana. Bonus: It’s machine washable.
Kia Hamster Seatbelt Buddy
Kia also has its own stuffed animal: the hamster seatbelt buddy ($13), dressed in a black T-shirt and white Kia logo. Two Velcro aps on the back come together to fit any seatbelt.
BMW Small Fashion Wallet
model car Montblanc Enzo Ferrari Special-Edition Pen
Dedicated to race-car driver and automaker Enzo Ferrari, this Montblanc special-edition pen ($1,000) is made of metal, resin and platinum-plated detailing. The pen cap features the dates of Enzo’s birth and first racing victory, while the clip is inscribed with his famous phrase: “You cannot describe passion, you can only live it.”
Ford Lightning Multi-Tool Keychain
Electric vehicle fans will get a charge out of the Ford Lightning multi-tool keychain ($10), which doubles as bottle opener, scissors, knife, measuring tool and nail file. Made of stainless steel, this keychain is named for the EV version of the Ford F-Series, the best-selling truck in the U.S. for 46 years.
With remote control access, the car can be driven manually by children or controlled by parents. Built-in Bluetooth, FM radio, USB and SD port for music are also here. Oh, and there’s a real horn to help make sure everybody gets out of the way.
Mercedes Game Kit
Planes, trains and automobiles…take this Mercedes game kit ($50) anywhere to jazz up your journey. Includes dominoes, dice and playing cards, all in a sturdy metal box.
Toyota GR Supra ‘Through the Years’ T-Shirt
Celebrating Toyota’s renowned sportster, the GR Supra “Through the Years” T-shirt ($25) has screen-printed silhouettes of this super coupe from 1978 to today. Made of polyester, cotton and rayon, with tear-away label and side seams.
Land Rover Classic Watch
Cadillac Golf Balls
For golfers looking for a Caddy with a capital “C,” these Titlest Pro V1 golf balls ($70) sport the Cadillac logo. Softer, quieter and with better game spin than most of the competition, these golf balls are the most popular on the pro tours.
Nix the purses and over-stuffed billfolds. The BMW small fashion wallet ($70) is only 4.1x2.9 inches and features two card slots, one banknote compartment and the BMW logo tastefully stamped on the outside.
Vintage Subaru License Plate
Ferrari 250 TR 1958 Lucybelle II Model Car
Forget a pricey Rolex, the Land Rover Classic Watch ($207) is all about understated elegance. Features include luminated hands and indices, Land Rover lettering, date aperture, textured Italian leather strap, water-resistant casing, and a rotating outer bezel that can be aligned to a second time zone.
Lexus LX 570 Kiddie Car
The vintage-looking SUB-ARU license plate ($12) is made of recycled aluminum and measures 6x12 inches. Is it just me, or could there be a subtle message here: I am a “Sub… Are You”?
EVs are everywhere, and that includes the battery-powered Lexus LX 570 kiddie car ($695). Built for ages two to seven years old, this ride has a white exterior, chestnut brown interior and working LED lights, doors and seatbelts.
True Ferrari aficionados appreciate how the original 250 TR—named Lucybelle II and driven by American drivers Ed Hugus and Ray Erickson— placed a respectable seventh place at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1958. At 24 inches long, this handcrafted 1:8 scale model ($19,995) has thousands of engineered parts (including a trunk that opens and a removable engine cover) to showcase one of the most coveted Ferraris in the world.
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