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February 28- March 12, 2020 voluMe 1 issue 11
Feb 28-Mar 12, 2020 voluMe 1 issue 11
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lGbTQsD.NeWs
eNTerTaINMeNT
on stage Fly at The La Jolla Playhouse C12
COMMUNITY vOICes
Conversations with Nicole C7
Life Beyond Therapy C8
Powerful Black Women Growing up black in San Diego County C15
NIghT LIFe
Big Mike & Friends C9 The C Word … Community Gay for Good! C15
The Bar Social Scene Brunch Smackdown: Saturday vs. Sunday C18 Health & Fitness Work Out Smarter, Not Harder C11
LEATHER pride PRIDE leather LEATHER pride JOhN Serafine Mis San Diego Leather 2019, Pup Rpwdy San Diego Bootblack 2019 and Jody Mitchell Mister San Diego Leather 2019. (Photo courtesy of San Diego Leather Pride)
saN DIegO LeaTher PrIDe 2020 “It’s not about a contest or a tItle, It’s about meetIng a stranger and leavIng wIth a new famIly member.” by Doriam Couto, Mr. san Diego leather 2018
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he year is 1979; the Barbary Coast in Downtown San Diego is nut-to-butt with leatherfolk, drag queens, and members of our LGBTQ+ community attending the very first Mr. Leatherman contest in San Diego. Little did they know the rich history that fundraiser would inspire. It has not
only brought together people whose values span the breadth of the earth, it’s inspired a legacy which has united people for decades under one umbrella: Leather Pride. san Diego leather Pride continues on C2
V
TODOs CaMbIaMOs (we all change)
se el cambIo que quIeres ver en el mundo entrevIsta con el dIrector arTuro MoNTeNeGro Por Cesar a reyes
er nuestras historias reflejadas en la pantalla grande es algo que siempre nos llena de orgullo como latinos. Cada año, El Festival Latino de San Diego presenta historial de toda Latinoamérica pero también año con año da espacio a tener historias de nuestra comunidad LGBTQ representadas en la cartelera Somos que es parte del festival. El Festival toma lugar en Marzo 12 al 22 en los Cines de AMC Fashion Valley 18. El Festival son 11 días celebrando en Cine, Arte y la Cultura Latina. Este año Somos nos presenta aún mas diversidad en la cartelera. Con propuestas como Todos Cambiamos, una película de Pánama que nos presenta la vida de Federico Ponce, un padre de familia y señor de negocios, que se enfrenta con la difícil decisión de querer vivir su verdadera vida como Lizzie y lo que eso significa para su esposa e hijos. Platicamos con su director Arturo Montenegro sobre la importancia de este tipo de películas. (translation on page 10) Todos Cambiamos continues on C10
COMMUNITY Meet this years Bayard Rustin Civil Rights Honorees C4 SPORTS If you can’t be an athlete, be an athletic supporter C5 (Courtesy photo)
LLOYD YOUNg
‘I know thIngs that no self-respectIng person should know!’ by Jon-Paul spickard
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ou might recognize the handsome face from the 2009 film “Oy Vey! My Son Is Gay!!” And you should definitely recognize the angelic voice from the “Jersey Boys” musical and 2014 film adaptation directed by Clint Eastwood, but there is so much more to John Lloyd Young. He is an award-winning actor, singer and artist. He does extensive charity work for many nonprofits including Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA), and the USO. He is a practicing student of Chinese Chan Buddhism and prides himself on the ability to write in Chinese. As a matter of fact, I recently interrupted his usual meditation time to do a Q&A and play the name game and he was happy to humor me. I found him to be kind, smart, political and very witty!
Q&a
JPS: You were born in Sacramento; do you ever get back there? JLY: I was born in Sacramento on Mather Air Force Base, which is now a VA Medical Center and I have been back there on sort of a pilgrimage. I’ve hung out there with a bunch of veterans and “shot the shit” with them outside of, to me, was only a building in a baby picture. My passport says I was born in Sacramento and I live in California now so as far as I’m concerned, I’ve always been a Californian.
John lloyd Young continues on C14
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February 28- March 12, 2020 voluMe 1 issue 11
News
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san Diego leather Pride continued from Page 1
This is the family reunion. And you’re invited. It’s not about a contest or a title, it’s about meeting a stranger and leaving with a new family member. From the parties, to the workshops, the leather invasions and the sexcapades in the back rooms of bars that are now relics of our history – Leather Pride has reached every leather-person in some way or another, and each year, we convene at San Diego Leather Pride Weekend in Balboa Park. The unofficial kickoff of San Diego Leather Pride begins on Saturday, March 7, at The Merrow from 4-7 p.m.,
with The Butch Revue & Daddy’s Bake Sale and Dessert Auction. Continuing on Tuesday, March 10, with Leather Show Tunes at MO’s from 7-9 p.m., and Tiger’s Pictionary at #1 Fifth Avenue on Wednesday, March 11, at 7:30-ish sharp! Join San Diego Bootblack 2019 and Ms. San Diego Leather 2019 on Thursday, March 12, from 7-9 p.m. for EveryBODY, a leather cocktail social at the San Diego Eagle, welcoming and celebrating fem/trans/nonbinary/POCidentified leatherfolk in San Diego’s last standing leather bar. SDLP Weekend officially begins on Friday, March 13, starting with the
Raising of the Leather Pride Flag at 4 p.m. at the Hillcrest flagpole (University and Normal). Following the flag raising, join us for first looks at our Vendor Village and the Contestant Meet & Greet and All Club’s Night & Leather Olympics at the World Beat Cultural Center from 6-10 p.m. Join us at back at the World Beach Cultural Center as the official venue on March 14 for Saturday’s events, beginning with contestant interviews. The Education Hall and Vendor Village open from noon to 6 p.m.; classes include the Women in Leather Caucus with Ms. International Olympus
Leather 2017 Pixie, Barbershop Fetish, Straight Razors & Erotic Shaving with LA Bootblack 2019 Duke Ruff, the People of Color Caucus with Miss Sereana, Giving Your Sole with SD Bootblack 2016 Boy Erik, Omotenashi: The Art of Service with International Ms. Leather 2015 Sarge, and more. Visit fb.com/sandiegoleatherpride/events for more details. Starting at 6:30 p.m., join us for the climax of the San Diego Leather and Bootblack 2020 Contests, where our panel of judges from across the country will elect a new family of titleholders to represent San Diego’s leather community for the next 12 months. After the contest, join us for the (unofficial) victory party and announcement of titleholders at the San Diego Eagle. We’ll reconvene Sunday morning at the World Beat Cultural Center for the Victory Brunch & Keynote, which will also be the last chance to visit our Vendor Village before the weekend draws to a close. San Diego Leather Pride wouldn’t be possible without the attendance and contributions of our community. We humbly invite you to join us in celebration of San Diego’s leather community – a celebration of you! Tickets for San Diego Leather Pride can be purchased at sdleatherpride.simpletix.com; for more information regarding San Diego Leather Pride, find us on Facebook at facebook.com/sandiegoleatherpride
More information about San Diego Leather Pride can be found at facebook.com/sandiegoleatherpride
Photos courtesy San Diego Leather Pride 2019 Photography by smithbeardmedia.com
OPINION
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fresh candidates who inspired hope, advocated for change, and urged us to reach for a better, brighter future. Pete Buttigieg is that candidate in 2020. I’ve seen Pete up close, in California and Iowa, interacting with voters. I’ve come to appreciate that he’s everything the current president isn’t: kind, thoughtful, smart, articulate, relatable, compassionate, and a good listener. He’s a Navy veteran of the Afghan war who understands the value of military intelligence and speaks eloquently about the need for better, comprehensive care for our military personnel when they return home. As Pete likes to remind us: “This is our shot to galvanize an American majority to defeat this president and send Trumpism into the dustbin of history.” I believe Pete Buttigieg is the best candidate to do this.
February 28- March 12, 2020 voluMe 1 issue 11
George Biagi is the deputy director of Legislative Services in the office of the San Diego City Clerk. He was the communications director for former San Diego City Council members Toni Atkins and Christine Kehoe, and a deputy press secretary for former San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders. He was the editor of the San Diego Gay & Lesbian Times from 1991-94.
Editor’s note: Pete Buttigieg will be holding a town hall in Chula Vista on Monday night, March 2, his final town hall the night before Super Tuesday. The event is free and open to the public. You can RSVP at https:// www.mobilize.us/californiaforpete/event/249349/ For security reasons, details on the exact time and location will be released closer to the event by email to all who have registered for the event.
EARTHQUAKE English Ad__LGBTQ San Diego County News__RUN: 02_28_20__ TRIM: 6.1” x 10.96”
WE CAN’T PREDICT THE NEXT EARTHQUAKE
(Photo by shutterstock)
BUT WE CAN PREPARE FOR IT
PeTe bUTTIgIeg a presIdent for all of us by George biagi
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ete Buttigieg is the first major LGBT candidate for run for president of the United States. He has already made history by being the first member of our community to win delegates to a national convention, coming in first in Iowa in delegate allocation. He was recently endorsed by the San Diego Union-Tribune and by California Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins of San Diego — the highestranking member of our state Legislature. This is truly a historic moment for our community. But as many of my friends like to point out, the fact that he’s gay shouldn’t be the only reason to vote for him for president, and I couldn’t agree more. There are a whole host of reasons why Pete is worthy of our vote. Pete Buttigieg is the one candidate for president who is inspiring Americans by proposing bold yet pragmatic policies that will unite us. At a time when our nation seems more divided than ever, it’s refreshing to find a candidate whose campaign is based on inclusion and belonging. Ten months ago, Pete was a virtual unknown, the popular second-term mayor of South Bend, Indiana. Today, he’s one of the Democratic frontrunners, attracting progressives, moderates, independents, and
what Pete likes to call “future former Republicans.” In states that have voted, Pete did well across the board with all age groups; women and men; and rural, urban, and suburban voters. In Iowa, more than one-third of Pete’s precinct captains were Republicans, and his aggressive courting of non-Democrats in rural areas there helped him carry the vast majority of counties which flipped from Obama to Trump in 2016. Pete has shown that he is the one candidate who can truly unite the country in the era that will come after Trump. As mayor of a Rust Belt city, Pete witnessed firsthand the frustrations of people who felt forgotten by Washington. That’s why he wants to build a country that works for all of us by bringing us together around policies that most Americans support: Medicare for all who want it, compassionate immigration reform, equity in our criminal justice and economic systems, common-sense gun reform, and restoring our leadership role in the fight against climate change. Since 1960, the winning path to the White House for Democrats has been with candidates — Kennedy, Carter, Clinton, Obama — who weren’t entrenched Washington insiders. They were young,
The safety of millions of residents is an everyday job for us. It’s why we continually upgrade and test our equipment before Mother Nature ever gets the chance. And why we work with regional partners to coordinate preparedness, response and recovery. You can prepare by creating an emergency plan and practicing important safety tips. Here are just a few examples:
Before an earthquake:
• Prepare an emergency kit. • Move or secure items that are large, heavy or unstable. • Make an emergency preparedness plan with your family.
During an earthquake:
• DROP to your hands and knees. • COVER your head and neck under a sturdy table or desk.
• HOLD ON to your shelter until the shaking stops. After an earthquake:
• Be prepared for aftershocks. • Stay away from downed power lines. • If you smell or hear a gas leak, turn off the gas. Only SDG&E should turn it back on.
For more safety tips, visit sdge.com/safety Follow us on: © 2020 San Diego Gas & Electric Company. Trademarks are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.
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February 28- March 12, 2020 voluMe 1 issue 11
News
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bayard rustin Civil rights honorees
My life’s mission is to rise every day bent on doing something, no matter how little, to make the world a little bit better than I found it. Being an educator, a teacher, vice principal, and principal for 37 years in San Diego city schools was a wonderful way to go about that as I spent those years advocating for the civil and human rights of children and young people. Reason being: too many of my colleagues weren’t active learners, keeping up with the times, with what’s going on in the world, so they could create exciting, relevant learning environments that would nurture students’ abilities to think critically and care enough about their world to dare make it hospitable for all human beings. So I’ve stood up against a state teachers retirement system that had hundreds of millions of dollars invested in companies doing business in South Africa because the country practiced apartheid — the opposite of my district’s integration programs — and helped the district develop workshops regarding gay rights issues so LGBTQ students would be protected, and worked to lessen the presence of the police and the military on school campuses. I was one of five principals who informed my school district and the city that we would not honor Proposition 187, which demanded that we narc on Latino families, my friends, at our schools. That was something I couldn’t and wouldn’t ever do. I’ve very much appreciated being an educator because every talent or skill you have, every bit of information you know, every life experience you’ve had, can be called on at some time to help someone learn. In that regard, I’ve had a charmed life with hundreds of children gifting me with tight hugs and snappy high-fives for just being myself with them: Out at P.E. with them, my slam dunks and shifty moves and softballs hit beyond the boundaries of the playground dazzling them and bonding me as a badass dude with them. Rapping with them. Running laps with them. Doing the James Brown Funky Chicken and the Jerk with them. Improvising scenes in history with them or writing a simple song or a real silly ditty just to make a boring lesson a little more pretty for them and writing prose and poetry and choreographing dances with them to express our sadness when Medgar and John and Martin and Malcolm and Bobby were taken away from me and them, giving them the lowdown on what was happening back then and what it might mean to them then and beyond then. All that has brought me many honors and given me a say in my community via invitations to share my approach to education in op-eds and on radio and television and clubs and at forums here in San Diego and in other school districts and in other states and at practically every college and university in town — in a spirit of love, because without love, what we teach is extremely limited.
communIty honorees DAMON J. SHEARER
Damon J. Shearer has never considered himself an activist, despite his many accomplishments. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, his journey in civil engagement and activism began as a participant in the Detroit Summer Youth Program. Under the tutelage of the late civil rights leader Grace Lee Boggs, Damon learned that everyone has the power to be an agent for change, even with the smallest of actions. Damon took this lesson with him into adulthood. At Calvin College, he co-founded Unlearn Week, a series of lectures and workshops educating students on anti-racist practices and challenging institutional racism. While living in Japan, he openly advocated for the destigmatization of same-sex marriage and HIV/AIDS status and led a LGBTQIA+ peer support group called the Rainbow Club. Upon moving to San Diego, Damon spent his first few months standing in front of Target, Trader Joe’s and other establishments, educating and advocating for the repeal of Prop 8 with the grassroots organization Canvass for a Cause. His work as a theater teacher and arts educator has been focused on bringing theater to communities of color, incarcerated populations, and youth throughout San Diego County. Like many others, Damon joined the San Diego Black LGBTQ Coalition in search of a connection with other queer black folks. In 2018, Damon was elected president of the coalition and this year, he begins his second term in that office. Under his leadership, the San Diego Black LGBTQ Coalition has flourished into a hub for queer black life in San Diego and a fierce advocate for the black LGBTQIA+ community.
communIty honorees CHRiSTiNA GRiffiN-JONES
Christina Griffin-Jones (she/her/ hers) is a graduate of Howard University and lifelong community organizer. Christina was born and raised in San Diego, Chula Vista, and National City. She has worked alongside notable community, social justice, labor, faith and nonprofit organizations internationally, nationally, regionally and locally and has canvassed, phone banked and fundraised for progressive candidates in every election cycle since 2001. Christina’s mother, Yvonne Griffin, is a small business owner, union member, and labor organizer and her father, Harold Griffin, is a veteran. Christina’s mother taught her how to organize. Christina says her favorite quote by Lila Watson perfectly describes why she will organize for the rest of her life. Lila’s quote goes, “If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time, but if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.” Christina understands, deeply, that if one of us is hurting, being harmed, houseless, or incarcerated, we all are. One of Christina’s hopes for this world is that black trans women are supported, respected, believed and protected and Christina tries to use every platform and conversation to show up against homophobia, transphobia, and anti-blackness and welcomes being held accountable and talked to about how she can show up more authentically and effectively. She enjoys going on hikes and long road trips and training jiu-jitsu with her best friend and husband JJ, and hanging out with their loving puppy, Aki.
communIty ally award VALENiCA PARk NARLCOLM X LibRARY
MarCH 13, 2020 6-8PM
ERNiE MCCRAY
the san dIego lgbt communIty center 3909 centre street, san dIego, ca 92103
lIfetIme achIevement award
News
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sPOrTs
If you can’t be an athlete, be an athletIc supporter by lGbTQ san Diego County News
(Photo by rawpixels.com)
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he San Diego LGBTQ+ community and sports have a lot in common, much more than people might realize. Recently, openly gay professional soccer player Collin Martin signed with San Diego Loyal Soccer Club, an expansion franchise in the USL Championship league. Starting next month, the Loyal will play at Torero Stadium, under a threeyear agreement with the University of San Diego, with its home opener on March 7 against Las Vegas Lights FC. Many San Diego LGBTQ+ adult community members (and their allies) are interested in sports with groups like the San Diego Armada Rugby Football Club, America’s Finest City Softball League, Front Runners & Walkers, Gay Surfers, LezBeHonest Dragon Boat Team, and the San Diego Tennis Federation. SDPride.org/sports has a complete directory of information on these organizations and more. Many of them can also be found recruiting yearly during the San Diego Pride Festival in the Athletes Alley. There are plenty of sporting events coming up as springtime approaches, such as:
OUT AT THE PiTCH: The professional rugby team San Diego Legion takes on Rugby United New York on Sunday, March 8, 3:30 p.m. San Diego Pride will have a tent up with your souvenir gift and game time is at 4 p.m. Tickets are $28 at SDLegion.com
PRiDE NiGHT AT THE GULLS: The San Diego Gulls hockey team takes on the San Jose Barracudas on Friday, March 13, 7 p.m. at the Pechanga Arena, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd. Tickets are $24 at SanDiegoGulls.com
OUT AT THE PARk: The LGBTQ+ community takes over Petco Park as the San Diego Padres take on the Colorado Rockies on Friday, March 27, pre-game tailgate party 4:30-7 p.m., game time is 7:10 p.m. Grab your friends, family and rainbows as we prepare to enjoy an exciting evening of entertainment and baseball when the Padres take on the Rockies at 7:10 p.m. The game will open with the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus, San Diego Women’s Chorus, San Diego Pride and Padres staff performing the national anthem together on the field. Tickets are $25 at padres.com or to purchase 10 or more tickets, contact Logan Washburn at 619-795-5137 or lwashburn@padres.com. When you visit SDPride.org/sports, you can link to many different sporting events that are free as well, and again, if you can’t be an athlete, be an athletic supporter!
February 28- March 12, 2020 voluMe 1 issue 11
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February 28- March 12, 2020 voluMe 1 issue 11
News / OPINION
breakIng ground on the
saN DIegO aIDs MeMOrIaL IN 2020 by lGbTQ san Diego County News
lgbtqsd.news
LGBTQ San Diego County News PO Box 34664 San Diego, CA 92163 858.886.9458 PUBLISHER Terry Sidie ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Nicole Murray Ramirez nicolemrsd1@gmail.com 619-241-5672 CREATIVE DIRECTOR Cesar A. Reyes creativedirector@lgbtqsd.news EDITOR editor@lgbtqsd.news SENIOR STAFF REPORTER M. G. Perez SALES sales@lgbtqsd.news STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Big Mike Phillips Bmsd1957@gmail.com 619-807-7324 COPY EDITOR Dustin Lothspeich
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an Diego is the only major city in North America that does not have an AIDS memorial, but that will finally change as plans are currently underway for an official groundbreaking ceremony to be held later this year in Olive Street Park in the Bankers Hill neighborhood, just a few blocks from Balboa Park. The Executive Committee of the San Diego AIDS Memorial Task Force, whose co-chairs are first lady of San Diego Katherine Stuart-Faulconer and City Commissioner Nicole Murray-Ramirez, who is the founder of the AIDS memorial and has continuously lobbied for more than 30 years for the establishment of a memorial in San Diego, met last week at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral to discuss final plans for the AIDS memorial within Olive Street Park. Mayor Kevin Faulconer established the AIDS Memorial Task Force to come up with a location and design for the memorial and after nearly five years of meetings, site visits, Parks and Recreation processes, and votes, the Olive Street Park location was selected when it was proposed by then-City Councilman Todd Gloria and approved unanimously by the San Diego City Council. “The overwhelming feedback from San Diegans affected by the AIDS crisis was that they wanted a quiet, peaceful place to go and remember the over 8,000 men, women and children we have lost to AIDS,” stated Susan Jester, founder of San Diego AIDS Walk. Some LGBTQ+ San Diegans felt the memorial should be
in Hillcrest by the rainbow flag and crosswalk, while others felt it should be in Balboa Park. Mayor Susan Golding established a different task force, also chaired by Commissioner MurrayRamirez, which attempted to have the memorial built in Balboa Park. Their efforts where met with strong opposition by Balboa Park officials. Many at that time also felt that the top priority for any money raised for HIV/AIDS should go to agencies to help with their needs. The current San Diego AIDS Memorial Task Force announced its goals and three plans more than five years ago at a press conference held at Mama’s Kitchen and since then, has received overwhelming support from San Diegans, though there has been minor organized opposition by proponents of the Hillcrest rainbow flag location. “I believe that San Diegans will approve of and embrace the AIDS memorial in the new Olive Street Park,” stated Murray-Ramirez. He also said, “The San Diego AIDS Memorial is being built with the love and memories we have of the over 8,000 people we have lost. They must never ever be forgotten.” The AIDS memorial will include three beautiful panels, which will feature the history of AIDS in San Diego, the HIV/AIDS organizations that helped so many through such a dark time, and pay tribute to the important part that women and caregivers played during the crisis.
WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA info@lgbtq.news CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Angel Mason Broadus Big Mike Phillips Blake and Gwen Beckom Chris Azzopardi Doriam Couto George Biagi Jon-Paul Spickard Korie Houston Michael Kimmel Neal Putman Tootie DISTRIBUTION LGBTQ San Diego County News is distributed free every other Friday of the month. © 2020. All rights reserved.
OPINION/LETTERS LGBTQ San Diego County News encourages letters to the editor and guest editorials. Please email them directly to editor@lgbtqsd.news and include your name, phone number and address for verification. We reserve the right to edit letters for brevity and accuracy. Letters and guest editorials do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers or staff. SUBMISSION/NEWS TIPS Press releases and story ideas are welcomed. Send press releases, tips, photos or story ideas to editor@lgbtqsd.news. For breaking news and Investigative story ideas, contact the editor by phone or email. Copyright © 2020 LGBTQ San Diego County News Editor’s Note: The opinions written in this publication’s editorial and opinion pages are the author’s own and does not necessarily represent the opinions of the staff and/or publisher of LGBTQ San Diego County News. The newspaper and its staff should be held harmless of liability or damages.
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COMMUNITY vOICes
February 28- March 12, 2020 voluMe 1 issue 11
Conversations with Nicole (Graphic by freepik.com)
Nicole Murray ramirez —Nicole Murray Ramirez has been writing a column since 1973. He has been a Latino/gay activist for almost half a century and has advised and served the last seven mayors of San Diego. Named the ‘Honorary Mayor of Hillcrest’ by a city proclamation, he has received many media awards including from the prestigious San Diego Press Club. Reach Nicole at Nicolemrsd1@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @Nmrsd2.
Out of the Closet and in to the voting booth: March 3, 2020
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n the last Presidential Election, if only half of the Latinos, African Americans, and LGBTQ+ who were eligible to vote had exercised that right, we would have a different President in the White House right now. You have all heard that “This is the most important election of our lives!” Well, 2020 IS the most important election you can imagine because it will define the soul of America! We get rid of the antiquated system called the Electoral College. Had this outdated system not been in place, our history books would be telling of a President Al Gore and of our Nations first Woman President, President Hillary Rodham Clinton. When John F. Kennedy was elected as President, it was about passing the torch to a new type of leadership. Now, decades later, it is time to pass the torch to Pete Buttigieg, probably the most intelligent, decent, proud Army Veterans ever to run for the office of President. We all know that Todd Gloria is on his way to make history in San Diego as the first mayor of color, the first who rents, and the first who is gay. Todd will need a strong City Council to
support his plans and Stephen Whitburn is the clear choice and is also the most qualified for the job. Be aware of his opponent Chris Olson! He has been getting money from Trump Republicans, conservative developers, and is a Republican in Democratic clothing! I urge you to vote for Raul Campillo (District 7), Marni Von Wilpert (District 5) and Will Moore (District 3). Nora Vargas and Olga Diaz would certainly help Nathan Fletcher shake things up on the County Board of Supervisors and keep it from being in the hands of conservative Republicans. Stephen Groce is the best choice in the San Diego Unified School Board race and as for Congress; let’s make national history by electing our current Council President Georgette Gomez to the U. S. Congress. She would be the first Latina LGBTQ+ ever elected! We MUST prove that San Diego Congressional seats cannot be bought! YES ON C!!! We need a bigger convention center PERIOD! My top two priorities are GLORIA FOR MAYOR and GOMEZ FOR CONGRESS!!! GET OUT AND VOTE on Tuesday March 3rd!
Mayor and the First Lady Faulconer at home (Courtesy photo)
being alive 30th anniversary gala
- a smash hit
The hundreds of well-dressed people attending the 30th Anniversary Gala had an amazing time with outstanding food and service at the prestigious Feast and Fairway at the Coronado Golf Course on picturesque Coronado Island. There was some of the most unbelievable art being auctioned off. San Diego First Lady, Katherine Faulconer bought one of the art pieces and immediately hung it up in her home. It was a true masterpiece by the renowned artist Tali Lopez. Many VIP guests were in attendance including Mayor Kevin Faulconer, State Assembly Majority Whip Todd Gloria, City Council President Georgette Gomez, congressional candidate Sara Jacobs, Stephen Whitburn, and many others. Emcee Mariam was wonderful and the band rocked! Well, now I have to address the elephant in the room. In my over half a century of attending benefits and galas, drag queen Nomi d’shire (Deven P Brawley) set drag back to the 18th century. She gave the most awful half hour long speech in which she used the worst profanity and the soul content was all about herself. I have heard and been heard plenty! The organizers of the event could not get her off the stage because her “husband” said if they did he would make an even bigger scene. Nomi d’shire you were a hot mess and you owe Being Alive a public apology. Shannon Wagner, Big Mike and Being Alive are the only ones who could have survived this unplanned incident. We all know why we were there and that was to continue our love and support for Being Alive and the thousands of their HIV/AIDS clients.
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COMMUNITY vOICes
February 28- March 12, 2020 voluMe volu 1 issue 11
lgbtqsd.news
Three waYs ThaT sex CaN geT beTTer wITh age
LIFe beYOND TheraPY Michael Kimmel —Michael Kimmel is a licensed psychotherapist who specializes in helping LGBT clients achieve their goals and deal with anxiety, depression, grief, sexually addictive behavior, coming out, relationship challenges and homophobia. Contact him at 619-955-3311 or visit lifebeyondtherapy.com.
The older you are, the better your sex life can be
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here is a myth that the older we are, the worse our sex life will be. Fortunately, this is bullshit. I have seen many clients whose sex lives improved as they moved into their 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond. I know that this isn’t (yet) the norm, but I invite you to open yourself to a different future, one where your sex life just gets better and better, the older you get. “How is this possible?” you may be asking. “If this were true, why are Viagra and Cialis selling like hotcakes?” They’re selling to people who expect their sex lives to worsen, their libido to take a dive and their erections to dwindle. Our minds are very powerful: we get what we expect. Here are three steps to a great sex life, one that actually improves as you age:
oNe: DroP Your olD iNHibiTioNs aND exPeCTaTioNs. \Society tells us that aging sucks. It does this to sell us products to “fight” it. As if that ever works. Buying stuff not to age is futile. Why do we fight it so hard? Because
(Photo by rawpixels.com)
we are brainwashed to do so. The underpinnings of consumer culture depend on people continually buying new things. Why do we keep buying all that stuff? Because we are taught to believe that, as we are, we aren’t good enough.
events@TheCenTer The San Diego LGBT Community Center • 3909 Centre Street • 619-692-2077 • www.thecentersd.org
I will get involved in 2020
Participaré en 2020
March 3rd VOTE 3 de Marzo VOTA Our community can’t afford to sit out this election. Vote on your entire ballot on Election Day – March 3, 2020. Find your polling location: events.thecentersd.org/vote
Nuestra comunidad no puede dejar de participar en esta elección. Llena tu boleta electoral completamente el dia de la elección – 3 de Marzo.Para encontrar tu centro de votación: events.thecentersd.org/vote
April 1st CENSUS
1 de Abril CENSO
We need our community to be counted. For more information about the 2020 Census, visit: CountMe2020.org
SAVe The DATeS
Thursday, April 30 thecentersd.org/dofl
Necesitamos que nuestra comunidad sea contada. Para obtener más información sobre el Censo 2020, visite: CountMe2020.org
Friday, May 22 thecentersd.org/hmdb
This applies to sex, too. If we believe we aren’t good enough sexually, we will spend lots of money, time and energy on trying to look and act “hot” and “sexy.” And, in the process, we abandon who we really are. And guys wonder why they have erectile dysfunction! When you’re striving to be someone you’re not, your penis isn’t going to be happy about it. And all that pressure to be different creates a lot of pressure to “perform” perfectly. And penises don’t like that. So they rebel against all those “shoulds” and don’t do what you want them to. Remember: most sexual dysfunction begins in the mind, not the body. TWo: Take GooD Care oF Your MiND aND boDY. Have you ever noticed how bad sex is when you don’t feel good about yourself? When our minds aren’t happy, neither are our bodies. Taking good care of both is key to a good sex life. Begin to pay attention to what you’re thinking. If it’s negative, start to shift that. There are a million ways to do it. Find something that works for you. Begin to talk to yourself differently. Forgive yourself for not being “perfect” according to the unrealistic standards of porn and social media. If you don’t look like a porn star, you’re normal. If your body isn’t the hottest one at the gym, forgive yourself and focus on making your body happy. Keep your body healthy. Pay more attention to the inside than the outside and you’ll be surprised how the outside improves, often without any effort. People who like themselves
as they are rarely have problems keeping it up. And, if it happens, they can laugh about it rather than shrink away in shame and embarrassment. THree: exPeCT Your sex liFe To beCoMe More saTisFYiNG THe olDer You GeT. We get what we expect, so expect your sex life to improve as you age…and it will. Wisdom plays a key role here: The wiser you are, the more you see how the world works — you become less a victim of who other people tell you to be and more true to the uniqueness of who you really are. WaNT To kNoW More? I am offering a workshop “power, love & presence: the Joys of getting older” on saturday, march 21, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. the workshop is limited to a maximum of 20 men and will address questions such as: • How can your sex life get better with age? • Where is the power in aging? • Are you experiencing more love as you get older (or less)? • What brings you peace? • What have you longed to try but haven’t (yet)? the workshop is hosted by patric stillman and the studio door, located at 3867 fourth ave. (in hillcrest). the fee for the workshop is $35. for more information, go to: .lifebeyondtherapy.com/ workshops/
COMMUNITY vOICes
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February 28- March 12, 2020 voluMe 1 issue 11
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bIg MIKe aND FrIeNDs big Mike Phillips —Big Mike Phillips is an activist, fundraiser, bartender and photographer who has lived in San Diego for 30 years. He has helped create two nonprofits and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity. He has been a photographer for more than 25 years and has recorded our LGBTQ history not only in San Diego but around the country, including three LGBTQ marches on Washington D.C. Contact Big Mike at 619-8077324, or bmsd1957@gmail.com.
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s I get older, I have noticed I’m learning more about the people we share our world with every single day. Understanding what one must think and feel are challenges we do not comprehend for those who fight just to be their honest self. It’s a hard decision one must make without losing the people they love and need the most support from. As a gay man who came out in the mid-1970s, it was a hard time to chance coming out — we could lose our jobs, our homes, family, friends and more. Coming out of any closet is and can be a very scary, hard choice to make in the world with so many judging you with hate and fear of what they do not understand. As times have changed, support and education has increased and helped more and more individuals of every age group and sexual orientation become who they truly are, and it’s a blessing. This week, I want to introduce you to Kathie Moehlig, a strong woman who has been an ally to the LGBTQ+ community, and active in community service in general, since she was very young. By the young age of 12, Kathie started using alcohol and drugs. She became addicted and, in fact, as soon as Kathie got out of high school, she married her first husband who was also her drug dealer. As the years passed, she knew she had to make a change in her life; by the time she was 23 years old, she was clean and sober. Kathie decided to commit herself to helping others in her early years of recovery by running a halfway house where she began to meet not only newly sober individuals, but several young men who were coming out of the closet as gay. It was during these early years where she grew to not only accept these men as gay but began a close, loving friendship with a lot of them. This humbled Kathie, knowing these people were trusting her guidance, love and compassion. AIDS took one of her closest friends in 1995, which broke her heart, like it did to so many of us. Kathie’s love and support for the LGBT+ community has been steadfast all her adult life. This has proved to be very helpful since both of her children have come out as LGBTQ. Her son, Sam, started his gender transition at age 11. There were very few medical professionals in San Diego that were even aware of gender dysphoria and no one who was seeing him was properly diagnosing him. It was very hard because they thought they were going to lose him. Kathie’s daughter, Jacq, came out three years ago; she met a wonderful woman at Rich’s one night and fell in love. Kathie was born in Michigan, just outside of Detroit. With her second husband of 24 years, Sam, she moved a few times to Oregon, then to New Jersey and then to San Diego. They fell in love with our beautiful city next to the ocean, and now call it home. Sam has been the family’s rock; he is very supportive of Kathie’s work and the LGBTQ+ community. He even took a second job when Kathie first started volunteering for the grassroots efforts of what would become the organization known as Trans Family Support Services. Having been involved with nonprofits her entire adult life, she was blessed by the great fortune of having amazing mentors in those early years, which gave her the knowledge to take on this new adventure. It all started when Kathie was helping other families
KaThIe MOehLIg Image for #togetherstrong by Rikke Bahena
Big mike and Kathie Moehlig
that had trans youth with the same issues she had had with advocating for her own son. One day, while Kathie was meeting with a family and their school principal, she realized she held no power in the room. She was simply the family friend, so why would the school listen to her? Kathie knew right then she needed an organization behind her in order to really create systemic changes for other families. This was the birth of Tran Families Support Services, never looking back but moving forward to be that voice and encouragement these families needed. She thought at the time she would devote 20 hours a week to it, but that has proven to never be the case at all. Kathie told me that she has always worked countless hours to be able to ensure service to everyone who needs her help. It never stops. The one thing Kathie and her family rely on is each other — they are a very close and loving family and truly enjoy being with each other. Kathie says that her passion outside of helping others is Disneyland. Since she was a little girl in the second grade and living in the Midwest, Disney was a magical place in her heart. Moving to California has made her entire family annual pass holders for 24 years now. The family tries to make it a point to go at least 10 times a year. Even now, with the kids grown adults, it’s still their favorite family time together. When it involves her children, she knows it is important to be a voice. Besides being the founder and executive director of Trans Family Support Services, she also serves on the board of PFLAG San Diego. PFLAG is a 45-year-old national organization that includes family, friends and allies of the LGBTQ+ community as members. Both organizations’ missions are closely aligned and they work together to help those who need support. I was lucky to meet Kathie and her beautiful family several years ago at an Imperial Court fundraiser. We became very fast friends and over the years, I have been honored to do photography with
Kathie, her family and the organizations she is involved with. She is very kind to always think of me. I asked Kathie what she wanted people to know about her: “I would like people to know that I truly love what I do. I am busier than I think I ever have been in my life, however nothing is draining me. I truly live by: do what you love and everything else falls into place.” Kathie also gave me a quote she wanted to share: “I love what I do and the amazing people I do it with. I wish it wasn’t needed, I wish that the world was such that trans folks didn’t need advocates and allies.” Not only does San Diego benefit from Kathie’s organization but she helps families all over the country. It takes a lot of dedication for anyone to put their heart and soul into improving other people’s lives. Fortunately, Kathie has become an angel to so many people that rely on her help, encouraging and educating those who do not understand the trans community. I am personally learning and understanding the trans world better because of Kathie. She is a treasure to our community and a treasure to me as well. Thank you for loving the world and its people like you do, we are all better because of it. kathie moehlig can be reached at kathie@transfamilysos.org. follow trans family support services on facebook, twitter and Instagram.
All are
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February 28- March 12, 2020 voluMe 1 issue 11
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lgbtqsd.news
TODOs CaMbIaMOs
Todos Cambiamos continued from Page 1
(we all change)
be the change you want for the world
IntervIew wIth fIlm dIrector arTuro MoNTeNeGro by Cesar a reyes
Arturo Montenegro
LGbTQ SD News: Tus trabajos anteriores, son tan diferentes a este, que te motivo a realizar Todos Cambiamos? Arturo Montenegro: Basicamente lo que buscamos con Todos Cambiamos es dar vicibilidad que existe mucha discriminación, no sólo para el colectivo trans, sino para el colectivo LGBT porque inclusive hay temas como matrimonio igualitario que no han pasado a nivel de leyes, entonces era una forma como muy interesante de empezar a hablar sobre tal vez un tema que para este país y muchos en América Latina es aún muy desconocido y de alguna forma algo que tenemos que incluír en las agendas gubernamentales para que haya zero discriminación en el futuro. Como nace la historia? La historia nace porque quería hacer un drama también, había echo todo comedia y me pareció que era un drama que no había sido tratado tanto en America Latina, ver como dentro de una familia una persona que ya avansada en su vida tiene que tomar una desición porque digamos tiene la condición de la disforia de genero en su cuerpo y lo difícil que puede ser si tienes tres hijos, estás casado y vives en una sociedad ultra conservadora muy religiosa. Entonces me motivó mucho esa historia porque hay muchos casos acá de familias de este tipo, entonces dije, bueno, hay que hacer un poco de justicia y me parece un drama muy potente contar esta historia porque por un lado esta la familia de los transexuales, pero por el otro hay una sociedad que no lo comprende y recrimina y juzga y prejuzga también a los demas , entonces me parecía que iba a ser un tema importante como lo ha sido. Crees que esta es una realidad o una esperanza para las personas transgénero en America Latina? En la mayoría de los casos no son como los de la película pero precisamente lo que queriámos hacer, era que hay algunos casos donde la familia ha dicho, sí lo podemos hablar y si te vamos a apoyar y eso me pareció una historia mas linda para contar. Porque se han hecho muchas películas donde se presenta a la persona transexual ya sea hombre o mujer en condiciones de drogas, de trabajo de prostitucion y si bien es cierto que muchos casos son así seria lindo para mi dislumbrar el tema, verlo como algo que era posible para la vida de los transexuales y tratarlo con absoluta normalidad, en el sentido de que ellos pueden transicionar como familia y avanzar y decir bueno, aquí estamos presentándolo una mujer transexual que tiene su trabajo donde en su oficina le permiten
Behind the scenes of Todos Cambiamos (Courtesy photo)
trabajar como lo que es realmente una mujer y que además llegado el momento el amor traspasa el tema del sexo, nosotros nos enamoramos no solamente del sexo de una persona sino nos enamoramos de la esencia basicamente de la persona y todos cambiamos eso. El amor que ellos sienten como familia va más allá de lo que pueden ser las etiquetas de la sociedad y ver que es posible, muchas de las mujeres transexuales a las que les mostramós la película dijeron “ahora se que puedo soñar con tener una vida entre comillas “normal”. Una vida digna como cualquiera otra persona que aspira a tener una vida digna. Sobre el éxito de la película La película acaba de ganar un premio en Holanda de una fundación que trata y lucha por los derechos humanos en el mundo del colectivo para que los derechos sean igualados. Entonces eso va a ser ahora en Marzo en Amsterdam, se llama el Roze Filmdagen Film Festival, es muy interesante que esto esté pasando con la película porque sí hay que mostrar a donde deberíamos de llegar como sociedad no solamente saber que tenemos transexuales en nuestra sociedad sino que estas son personas que no son mounstros, no son personas defectuosas como muchos les califican, son seres humanos y que merecen también ser tratados con absoluto respeto.
sobre los personaJes de la película Quién es federico? Federico inicia como una persona que es muy responsable con su familia, con sus hijos, que está preparada para enfrentar el mundo corporativo pero que al mismo tiempo tiene una asignatura pendiente en su vida, que es el echo de que no ha podido hacer la transicion porque ha sido víctima de una sociedad que le enseño a ser de una forma que tenía que negarse asi mismo para poder dar vida a otros. Tiene ese sufrimiento muy marcado dentro de su ser y luego cuando siente que ya no puede más la única alternativa es el suicidio, es decir matarse o estar ahí por su familia, el dice prefiero no matarme y estar aquí por mi familia, es el gran acto de grandeza que el personaje tiene, que dice: yo voy a luchar por esta familia auque mi familia no lo comprenda en estos momentos, algun día puede ser que lo comprendan y lo lindo es que en la película vez que llegan a hacer las pases y trancisionar todos, los hijos, la esposa y ella. Quién es Lizzie? Lizzie es ese ser que está dentro de Federico desde siempre y que empieza a querer mostrarse con más fuerza, a
ser una mujer sexy, si se quiere gozar de la feminidad de maquillarse, de ser una mujer de éxito en el mundo corporativo también , que pueda soñar con tener una pareja en el futuro y reconstruir su vida, inclusive al final acaban pensando que su misión en la vida ahora es convertirse en abuela. Entonces todo esto no importa que le haiga llegado tarde pero le ha llegado con la suerte de tener hijos que le van a dar nietos y es muy lindo para una persona, independientemente del género, tener un nieto, alguien a quien querer y saber que es parte de tu sangre pero que vas a ser no el abuelo sino la abuela lo que siempre soñaste quitándonos las etiquetas. Lizzie sabe que va a seguir con su lucha, que va a ser para toda la vida, pero que ahora está satisfecha porque lo hace desde la óptica de mujer. Qué tan importante fue crear este personaje ya maduro con vida recorrida? Era muy importante porque es cierto que muchas de las personas piensan que cuando llegan a determinada edad, es decir, pasado los cincuenta, sienten que la vida carece de importancia y nosotros queríamos mostrar un renacer un volver a nacer, aún después de los cincuenta, es decir la vida no se acaba ahora, la vida continúa y hay años muy valiosos que estan ahí, para ser vividos y para ser atesorados, entonces queríamos que también fuera un homenaje a las personas adultas de decir, no importa si su condición es ser transexual o no, es una película que habla ampliamente sobre el tema de ser adulto y tener derecho a la felicidad aún habiendo ya vivido una gran parte de tu vida. Sobre los hijos Era muy importante también que ellos representen ese aire de esperanza porque una generación que ha crecido más libre, que a crecido con más conocimientos también, entonces para ellos es transparente, para ellos sigue siento la persona que quieren, lo ven mas natural. En una escena uno de ellos, le dice: te vez diferente, y Lizzie le pregunta: como diferente? y él le contesta: más guapa, el más guapa es su forma de decir, te quiero como eres.
estas películas sólo una probadita de lo que el festival tiene para presentar en la cartelera somos. para horarios, fechas y boletos visita sdlatinofilm.com
The San Diego Latino Film Festival is right around the corner and as part of the festivals LGBTQ showcase “Somos”, there is a long list of films that you will want to check out. One in particular is the Panamanian film; Todos Cambiamos (We all Change). The film deals with the hard decisions a Trans person has to make after living a life as a husband, father and businessman but needed to be true to himself and live authentically out in the world hoping to have the love and support of his family. We had the chance to sit down and talk with the film’s director Arturo Montenegro and we discussed the importance of films such as Todos Cambiamos, especially in Latin American countries. CAR: Your previous work is so different from this film, what motivated you to create Todos Cambiamos? AM: Basically what we reached for with the film was to give visibility to the fact that discrimination exists not only towards the Trans community but to the entire LGBTQ community. There are topics like marriage equality that have not passed in the legal sector in Latin America. This is our way of helping to start the conversation about a topic like this one that might be unknown in my country and many other countries in Latin America. Hopefully it will help to include these topics in government agendas so we have zero discrimination in a future. CAR: How was the story born? AM: The story was born because I wanted to make a drama. I have been doing a lot of comedies and I felt that this was a dramatic story that had not been told in Latin America, seeing how a family deals when one of its members is older and has to make decisions because they have been living with gender dysphoria and how difficult it can be when you have kids, are married and you live in a very conservative society that has a very strong religious value system. This motivated me because there are families out there like one. It was time to make some justice, and it’s a very strong story to tell because on one side we have the family of a transgender person but on the other side we have a society that does not understand and it criminalizes and judges others. I thought this was an important topic to talk about. CAR: Do you think the film shows a reality or gives hope for transgender people as to how things can be? AM: The majority of the cases are not like the one in the film but this is exactly what we wanted to present. We wanted to show a family that says, “We can talk about this and we are going to support you and love you” and that, to me, made for a wonderful story. There are plenty of films that present Transgender characters with addictions, driven to prostitution and yes, that is the unfortunate reality for some. We wanted to give a light of hope for a different possibility of life; presented as a “normal” thing in the sense that they could transition with the support of their families and also present a Trans women who has a job were she is also welcome to be herself. We wanted to show that love transcends gender. We love not only based on a persons gender but also a persons essence and how they evolve. The love that the family has for each other surpasses labels put on by society. Todos Cambiamos continues on PaGe 17
heaLTh/FITNess
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(Photo by rawpixels.com)
curl, change it up for a hammer curl, which will target the main flexor in your elbow. If your regular overhand grip doesn’t work well for you anymore when you are doing a barbell row, reverse your grip, which will immediately increase your load and trigger new muscles to gain strength. However, you want to make sure to always be smart with your heavy loaded movements like your presses, because doing these without proper form can quickly lead to an injury. When you’re weightlifting, very small changes can produce larger results than you may think. Just make sure that you are still lifting your weights in a proper form, no matter which angle your grip is in. You don’t want to put yourself at risk of injury, but you can try to figure out a healthy way to target muscles that you may not even know are being neglected by changing your grip. Remember, don’t worry if you can’t lift as much weight or do as many reps with an exercise when you change your grip. You are exercising new muscles, so it will take a while to catch up to the muscles that are used to your lifting regime. Don’t try to do too much too quickly, it can easily result in injury, leaving you unable to lift weights at all. Take it slow and make sure that whatever you are doing feels right for your body.
wOrK OUT sMarTer, not harder by blake and Gwen beckom
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February 28- March 12, 2020 voluMe 1 issue 11
aking small changes to your lifting routine is important so you are making sure to target all of your muscles, no matter how small they might be. If you don’t change around your exercise schedule, you may end up with performance plateaus, muscle imbalances, slow (if any) gains, and injuries from overworking one part of your body — and there is nothing more frustrating than putting forth significant effort to exercise and never seeing any results. Some people do complete workout makeovers every few months in order to avoid these possible dangers. They either change all of their exercises to new ones or they change up their workout models, like going from high intensity interval training to weightlifting. However, you could also take a much simpler and more effective approach by making smaller changes in your current workout, such as switching up your grip on some exercises. Weightlifting is most commonly done overhand when doing a pullup or a deadlift, and underhand when doing a chin-up or curls. Some other possible grips include alternated (where one hand is overhand and the other is underhand) or a neutral grip, where both palms are facing each other, such as when you are doing a hammer curl. While you may not think it is too important, your grip when weightlifting really matters. In fact, even slight variations in the position of your grip while you’re lifting weights can alter the muscles you’re targeting. For example, when you are doing curls with dumbbells, using a typical underhand grip will work out your biceps, however, if you rotate your hands just a bit in order to have a neutral grip, the strain will shift to a different part of your elbow, and if you rotate your hands 90 degrees to an overhand grip, you’ll target a completely different part of your elbow. So while your grip might seem like a very minor thing when it comes to your weightlifting, it can actually make a huge difference in your results. In order to avoid a plateau or an injury, switch up your grip every once in a while. Especially change your grip for exercises that seem too easy or you haven’t noticed any significant improvement for a month or more. For example, if your chinups are exactly where they were six weeks ago, switch your grip to a pullup, which will relieve the work of your biceps, but force your back muscles to put forth some effort. Or, if you are still lifting the same amount of weight in your biceps
—Fitness Together Mission Hills offers personal training with qualified professionals by regular appointment in private suites. Exercise and nutritional programs are custom designed to fit your needs and abilities. Call 619-794-0014 for more information or to schedule a free fitness diagnostic and private training session. See what others are saying about us on Yelp.
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February 28- March 12, 2020 voluMe 1 issue 11
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Isabelle McCalla, Nehal Joshi and Eric Anderson in La Jolla Playhouse’s production of FLY. (Photo by Kevin Berne)
‘FLY’
aT The La JOLLa PLaYhOUse now playIng through march 29 by M.G. Perez senior reporter
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t’s all about Wendy in the newest version of the story about the boy who wouldn’t grow up now playing at La Jolla Playhouse. “Fly” is based on the book “Peter and Wendy,” written by J.M. Barrie, who created the classic Peter Pan character. The new musical fantasy is directed by Jeffrey Seller. You’ll recognize his work. Seller is the Tony Award-winning producer of Broadway blockbusters that include “Hamilton,” “In the Heights,” “Avenue Q,” and the cultural phenomenon and 1996 Pulitzer Prize-winning musical “Rent.” Although “Fly” had its first incarnation and flight in 2013 at the Dallas Theater Center, it has been revamped and rebirthed for a La Jolla run that could eventually take it to Broadway. Seller has a strong supporter in another Tony Award winner, Christopher Ashley, artistic director at the Playhouse. Ashley is also a big fan of the Barrie book and excited to have one of his childhood favorites reimagined on stage and above it. “For starters, ‘Fly’ reconceives it as Wendy’s story, and reinvents Neverland as a breathing, visceral, living entity thrumming with danger and possibility,” Ashley says. “In doing so, a story about the tension between staying young and growing up adds a narrative dimension of our responsibility to care for those around us.” The dynamic Storm Lever returns to the La Jolla stage as Wendy in this production. Lever is known to audiences here playing
(L-R) Sean Pope, Lincoln Clauss, Storm Lever and Collin Jeffery in La Jolla Playhouse’s production of FLY. (Photo by Kevin Berne)
Duckling Donna/Mimi in the world premiere of “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical,” which continued to Broadway. In “Fly,” Wendy is seduced by the mysteries of Neverland and struggles with her own impending womanhood. That’s the focus of this version of the story that still delivers up-tempo choreography, sword fights and a percussive score highlighted by tribal drumbeats. “Fly” is visually stimulating and appropriate for children looking to create their first-time memories of this classic adventure. “This is a truly extraordinary company – a wonderful mix of Broadway veterans, Playhouse newcomers and local artists, and I can’t wait to watch their collective talents light up the Weiss stage in this enchanting new musical,” Ashley continues. He then points out the first paragraph of the 1911 novel that he says truly tells the story and inspiration of “Fly.” “All children, except one, grow up. They soon know that they will grow up, and the way Wendy knew was this. One day when she was 2 years old, she was playing in a garden, and she plucked another flower and ran with it to her mother. I suppose she must have looked rather delightful, for Mrs. Darling put her hand to her heart and cried, ‘Oh, why can’t you remain like this forever!’ That was all that passed between them on the subject, but henceforth Wendy knew that she must grow up. You always know after you are 2. Two is the beginning of the end.” — by J.M. Barrie. “Peter and Wendy,” chapter one.
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CaLeNDar
lgbtqsd.news
February 28- March 12, 2020 voluMe 1 issue 11
Feb 28 Mar 1 NBC7 & TeleMUNDO 20 PROM DReSS DRIve aT BROkeN YOlk CaFe lOCaTIONS The third annual citywide dress drive for The Princess Project! Beginning Monday, February 17th through Sunday, March 1st you can donate your gently used or new formal and prom dresses at participating Broken Yolk locations in San Diego! Be sure to stop by and see us at the Broken Yolk Westfield Plaza Bonita on Sunday, March 1st from 9 AM – 3 PM for their final day of the dress drive! Drop off your dresses between February 17th and March 1st at Broken Yolk. http://bit. ly/3a5Awd5
Mar 5
NaTalIe DOUGlaS IN THe FIRST TIMe…THe MUSIC OF ROBeRTa FlaCk Natalie Douglas, residency artist at Birdland Jazz Club in NYC, and with SRO shows across the US & beyond, 11-time MAC Award-winning vocalist, returns to her new favorite San Diego perch – Martinis Above Fourth | Table + Stage on Thursday, March 5 with her hit show, The First Time… the Music of Roberta Flack. 8-9:30p.m. tickets and more info ma4sd.com
Mar 7 Mar 3
SUPeR TUeSDaY PRIMaRY eleCTION ReSUlTS WaTCH PaRTY! This is one of the biggies!!! It’s Super Tuesday - 16 states voting in the 2020 Primary Election, including California! Come watch the results as they come in for the Democratic Presidential primary from all around the country! Plus all of the super-important local San Diego and California results too! 5-10p.m. at Uptown Tavern. bit.ly/39abKIQ
FaMIlY aRT DaY - DRaG QUeeN STORYTIMe Bring your family to Lux Art Institute located at 1550 S. El Camino Real in Encinitas for a morning of community, creativity and fun with special guests Drag Queen Storytime! There will be art activities, guided tours of our campus, as well as coffee and treats for the whole family. Be sure to visit our artists in residence: Chiachio and Giannone, and see the progress they have made on new work in their studio. This is a free event and children must be accompanied by an adult 10AM-12PM. vbellocci@ luxartinstitute.org
Mar 8
Mar 14
lGBTQ vICTORY FUND SaN DIeGO BRUNCH 2020 Join Victory Fund President & CEO Annise Parker, elected officials and candidates in San Diego as we celebrate this transformative moment with brunch and bubbles. Your support and attendance ensures us the resources to help LGBTQ candidates win on Election Day. Cuvier Club 7776 Eads Ave SD 11:AM to 2:PM. Tickets at VictoryFund.com
YOUTH aRT SHOW Calling all LGBTQ+ artists who are junior high through high school age! San Diego Pride and Art of Pride are partnering to create a platform to showcase young local LGBTQ artists. If the LGBTQ+ movement is to progress, we must empower our generation and generations to come to envision and realize their own future by providing them the space and tools to live a life of safe and liberated self-determination. 6:PM to 8:PM– Together We Rise San Diego Pride 3620 30th St. SDPride.org
Mar 12
DISNeY kaRaOke aT #1 FIFTH ave! Join us for a night to remember! Disney karaoke is coming to #1 Fifth Avenue on March 12, 2020. 7PM-12AM. Hosted By: Edward Javier Jaime. 7:PM at #1 Fifth Avenue bit.ly/2vbvRHT
Mar 13 2020 SPRING GRaDUaTION - ReCOveRY CeleBRaTION Come join us for this celebration of recovery, honoring those who are celebrating recovery milestones including completion of our residential program and progression through outpatient treatment program.Ceremony in the Friendship Hall at University Christian Church in Hillcrest. Doors open at 5:30 pm and the ceremony will begin at 6 pm. steppingstonesd.org
Mar 14 SHaMROCk SaINT PaTRICk’S DaY BlOCk PaRTY 2020 eveRYONe IS IRISH ON ST. PaDDY’S DaY! Don’t Miss the MOST ROCKIN’ St. Patrick’s Day Celebration in Southern California: ShamROCK 2020! Party with a Purpose! Did you know the GQHF has been producing and benefiting from ShamRock for 26 years? In keeping with the original tradition of the Stingaree, or “Red Light” district of the Gaslamp Quarter, the GQHF produces the biggest, boldest, and most boisterous St. Patrick’s Day celebration this side of Dublin. 2pm to midnight. sandiegoshamrock.com
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Mar 21 2020 SPRING “POWeR, lOve & PReSeNCe: THe JOYS OF GeTTING OlDeR” LGBTQ San Diego County columnist (“Life Beyond Therapy”), workshop facilitator and psychotherapist Michael Kimmel will present a workshop based on his upcoming book: “The Gay Man’s Guide to Aging Well”. If you enjoyed his September 2019 workshop (“The ART of Aging Well”), this workshop has all-new content. This will be an interactive experience: participants will be actively participating and talking with different men throughout. The workshop is limited to a maximum of 20 men. Come join us as we explore these questions with a safe, supportive group of men facilitated by Kensington psychotherapist Michael Kimmel. The workshop is hosted by Patric Stillman and The Studio Door, located at 3867 Fourth Avenue (in Hillcrest). The fee for the workshop is $35. 1:30PM – 3:30PM For more information, contact: Michael at 619-955-3311 (beyondtherapy@cox.net) or Patric at 619-994-2263 (patric@thestudiodoor.com)
Send calendar events to editor@lgbtqsd.news
Q Puzzle FrieND oF elMo aCross 1 peter player on _er_ 5 _cast away_ escape boat 9 XXX, to the greeks 13 cafeteria list 14 160 rods 15 chase game 16 the last part of “semper ubi sub ubi,” in english 18 memo start 19 he won a tony for playing lola in _kinky boots_ 21 williams of _ugly betty_ 24 twin made without hetero sex 25 small stream, to gomer 26 top targets 28 lbJ’s successor 29 dinah on a beach? 31 tv show in which 19-across will appear with elmo 36 david hyde ___ 37 egypt and syr., once 39 rubbed the wrong way? 42 tim of _rocky horror_ fame 44 “I got a name” singer Jim 45 Bette Midler film of 1979 47 gown worn by 19-across to the oscars 50 river kwai locale 51 o’keeffe collection
55 annapolis inst. 56 “like ___ lump it” 57 ark architect 58 pounder part 59 not hard to get in bed 60 like lea delaria’s comedy DoWN 1 meat source down under 2 animated dog 3 homophobe pence’s home (abbr.) 4 province of pridevision watchers 5 r&b singer lou 6 train that comes quickly 7 wear at the edges 8 maryland athlete 9 theron of aileen wuornos fame 10 _the african queen_ director John 11 have in mind 12 barneys and others 17 take a chance 20 autumn color 21 remote target 22 pump with them at the gym 23 team in _a league of their own_ 26 fruit with a peel 27 art deco design name 29 foe of peter pan 30 bunch of stallions 32 visitor to uranus, perhaps
33 lent a hand to 34 shared coin 35 seamen 38 reuben bread, usually 39 goes on the fritz 40 Fruit flaw 41 cyrano’s beloved 42 _camelot_’s “___ moi” 43 like a bear 45 smallest nonmonogamous groups 46 _daisy miller_ author James 48 sheriff taylor’s boy 49 _star trek_ automaton 52 doze off 53 not swallow easily 54 Just short
QSyndicate.com
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John lloyd Young continued from Page 1 JPS: besides music and acting, you create visual art — can you tell me about that? JLY: Yep! I was always a museum hound and fan of pop art as well as Arte Povera and the 1960s art movement; and also what I found out later was a Los Angeles movement, which was the Assemblage Movement. I was out in a museum one day and I got an idea, an idea that I hadn’t seen anyone else do, which was to bling out groceries and put them under museum glass and it turned into a whole art career, my stuff, you might be surprised to know, is very popular in Boca! (laughs). After I did that first expression, a friend of mine who recently passed away, a brilliant and amazing woman, actually a radical queer leader I would think — Allee Willis, whose alter ego was “Bubbles the artist” — had a house in Valley Village (near Studio City in Los Angeles) that was like “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse.” It was amazing inside, she called it the Allee Willis Museum of Kitsch and she and I knew each other from when “The Color Purple” first opened on Broadway; she was one of the writers of that adaptation, she wrote the “Friends” theme, she wrote songs for Earth, Wind & Fire, and when I had a body of work ready to go, she gave me my art opening at her house and we did it as a benefit for APLA. It was a great, RuPaul was there, we had all this blinged-out junk-food boxes under museum glass and near each display, we had the actual food you could eat — so next to the Oreos blinged-out display, we had a big bowl of Oreos; it was kitsch to the max! That’s how I first started and then later down the line, I started doing Society Portraits during the Obama years. They were Campbell’s soup cans, all blinged out with a figure of a person on them instead of a soup flavor. Now with the help of a friend, I’m doing Starbucks cups, during the Trump era, that aren’t blinged out. Adam Schiff, Nancy Pelosi, and Michael Feinstein all have one, basically friends and people that I’m acquainted with, I’ve been creating these portraits of them, which is what I’ve been doing lately. But it all started with “Liberace’s Grocery Aisle.” I spent five years mostly doing art, I have an inventory of my artwork so I could do another art showing anytime but I’ve been so busy doing concerts. My artwork isn’t in any galleries right now, but I will randomly post some of my pieces on my website and sell some of it there or through a network of friends. JPS: What is one message you would give to your fans? JLY: That eventually, if they just keep coming to the shows, we’ll get plenty of time to visit whether there’s a meet-and-greet or not, I promise. My shows are very personal, eventually we’ll feel like we’ve hung out and had a few beers together. JPS: What is the most useless talent you have? JLY: (Long pause) Trivia, Broadway trivia. I know things that no self-respecting person should know. For example: I know the creators of “Hair” were writing a show set in space called “Via Galactica,” but its original title was “Up!,” the show was to be at the Uris Theatre on Broadway but the marquee would have read “Up! Uris,” so they had to change the name of the show. I guess that’s not entirely useless because it’s funny. JPS: Are you still practicing Chinese Chan buddhism? JLY: Yes, I am, as a matter fact, my meditation cushion is right here but I’ve been supplanted by my dog who is asleep on it right now. I’m very into it, here in Los Angeles there are something like 300,000 Chinese speakers so not only do I practice the Chan Buddhism but I’ve been learning and speaking Chinese and I can also write Chinese really well, and read a bit of it, too. It’s really good for my OCD. If you look at my artwork and see how intricate it is, it’s probably not too far a stretch to say that I’d be good at Chinese calligraphy and writing it is my favorite part of learning the language. JPS: Practicing buddhism takes a lot of discipline doesn’t it? JLY: The discipline is backwards from what you would think though; the discipline part is letting shit go! The hardest part is to not overthink things, just clear your mind so like it’s calm water, that, for an American person is nearly impossible but when I get close to it, it really is refreshing, like drinking a cold glass of water. It’s a great feeling to unload and we all need to do that. JPS: What would you be doing right now if you weren’t a performer? JLY: I’d still be performing, in a court room or in politics or even a professor. I’d still be up in front of people. In another lifetime, I was probably clergy, only because I like bringing a room together in a spiritual way, which is sort of what singing is like. But I don’t like dogma or preaching to people and I wouldn’t like the celibacy part of being clergy. I think most politicians are actors but the scripts are pretty dull in politics and they’re much more varied in theater and the performing arts.
John Lloy Young performing at Martinis Above Fourth. (Courtesy photo)
John Lloy Young with friend Allee Willis at Youngs Art show to benefit APLA at her Museum of Kitsch May 2010 .In attendance was RuPaul amoung other celebrities. (Photo Courtesy of alleewillis.com)
(Photo by Alex Hoerner)
JPS: How do you think the internet has impacted the music business? JLY: I think it’s totally gutted it! There are people who used to be the kings of the music business who don’t want to go anywhere near it now because they can’t make any money anymore. There are just a tiny handful of people making money and there are people who are trying to fix that because it is bewildering. JPS: What is your favorite song to perform? JLY: It changes, it’s seasonal, songs come in and out. I think the one that’s always soul-fulfilling to sing and always goes over well is “Unchained Melody.” JPS: Which famous musicians do you admire? JLY: [Roy] Orbison, Jim Morrison and The Doors, Frank Sinatra. JPS: What is the most trouble you’ve ever gotten into? JLY: I was very alarmed when I saw what was a real viable Trump candidacy, so I started using the F word a lot on social media even before Robert DeNiro started saying “F--- Trump” and I got a lot of side eye from Michelle Obama and others I was supposed to be representing; I didn’t do what Michelle Obama said, they went low and I didn’t go high. I was really alarmed. I was working with kids and I didn’t want those kids to have a president that acted like that so I was really alarmed and kind of went off a little bit. Flash forward all these years later and former National Security Advisor Susan Rice, as part of the “they go low, we go high” circle recently called Lindsey Graham a piece of shit and told Snoop Dogg to back the f--- off of Gayle King! So I guess they’ve caught up with my language all these years later. JPS: What is the best advice you’ve been given? JLY: Live beneath your means, especially in my business, because you never know what’s going to happen. JPS: if you could change anything about the entertainment industry as a whole, what would it be? JLY: It just changed today with guilty verdicts of Harvey Weinstein. That’s what I would have changed years and years ago. The abuse of artists just because we decide to put ourselves in front of the audience is appalling. JPS: You were appointed by President barack Obama and sworn in to the Committee on the Arts and Humanities in 2013 and then you resigned in 2017, co-signing a letter referencing Trump’s hateful rhetoric; what message were you sending and do you think your message was heard or fell on deaf ears? JLY: Being an artist in the era of Trump is a really good time to develop things because even if you had the biggest success of your career right now, it would be buried under seven Trump headlines. This is the perfect time to work under the radar because he just sucks
all the air out of the room. At the time we all resigned from the committee, that story ran four days straight in the news, which was a big deal considering that hardly happens with anything anymore. We were the first group to resign en masse from him. I am proud to have joined people who were standing up against that rhetoric especially because I was working with kids in schools. I still believe that regardless what is achieved, abusive language has no place in the presidential office. JPS: You’ve performed at Martinis Above fourth a few times now, what brings you back? JLY: The management is great to us, the place is fantastic, we always have a great crowd to play to and I love San Diego. If anybody is willing to get off the internet, turn off their Netflix, and physically come out to see me perform, I consider them a friend. They are supporting an artist performing live and they don’t have to, they can easily stay home, order a pizza and do some binge watching. JPs: Do you want to play the name game? Just say the first thing that comes to your mind. JlY: (laughs) ok, let’s do it! Mariah Carey - christmas Frankie valli - cuban heels Donald Trump - bluster Dolly Parton - tits Tommy Faragher (collaborator & producer) - goatee abraham lincoln - mole Cher - wigs rush limbaugh - cancer ruPaul - fabulous! Nancy Pelosi - balls! Clint eastwood - sneer boNus rouND! “Jersey boys”; broadway or movie? - neutral Preferred cocktail? - hendrix gibson up! You have a Grammy and a Tony, any interest in winning an eGoT? – I’ve learned that I can’t take my tony award to the store and buy groceries with it so although awards are nice and I would never reject one, I’d rather have a full house and a steady career. Nicki Minaj or Cardi b? - nicki minaj relationship status? - taken John lloyd Young and his acoustic style of ‘50s and ‘60s rock n’ roll, r&b and doo wop will be returning to Martinis above Fourth on Thursday, March 19, at 8 p.m., visit ma4sd.com for tickets. you can also take his angelic voice with you by purchasing his debut album “my turn.”
lgbtqsd.news
COMMUNITY vOICes
February 28- March 12, 2020 voluMe 1 issue 11
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grOwINg UP bLaCK IN saN DIegO COUNTY
Is saN DIegO as PrOgressIve as I ThOUghT IT was?
Angel’s Girl Scout Troup from
POwerFUL bLaCK wOMeN
Oceanside, CA circa 1980.
angel Mason broadus —Angel Mason Broadus is an avid civil rights activist, Navy Veteran, and President & Founder of Puzzle Pieces Marketing, an agency focusing on social good and providing services that benefit the San Diego community. She is a member of the Board of Directors for the North County Philanthropy Council, Moonlight Cultural Foundation, and Point Loma Nazarene Marketing Advisory Board.
I grew up in Oceanside and Vista and I always felt like I lived in a melting pot. My godparents are Filipino immigrants who I no longer have a relationship with because they’re Trump supporters. My mom’s best friend was Mexican, my dad’s best friend was a cool white dude from La Jolla, my childhood best friend was a white girl from Minnesota, and both of my best friends in high school are bi-racial. I went to high school and hung out with Polynesians, Latinas, Latinos, blacks, whites, Asians, you name the race; I probably had a friend that identified as such. Every year since 2012, in celebration and recognition of Black History Month, I do 28 days of black history on Facebook and Instagram. This year, I decided that I would try to incorporate more of our San Diego black history into those posts. I found some really interesting stories that I didn’t know and was never taught, like the story of La Jolla pioneer Mabel Bell, African American homesteader Nate Harrison, and Julian landowner and entrepreneur America Newton. These are just a few examples, but our contributions have been very significant. While doing my research, I also stumbled across an interesting article from March 10, 1977, in The San Diego Union that caught my attention. The headline read, “Judge Orders School Integration Plan by June 13 in Carlin Case”. Wait, what? Did I read that correctly? 1977? I was so taken aback by the headline and date that I started chasing this story down the Google rabbit hole. As a result of my research, I realized that San Diego’s public schools were so racially segregated in 1977 that a Superior Court judge gave the board just three months to come up with a plan that would lead to full integration. Even worse, the San Diego Unified School District was under court supervision until 1998 to ensure they remained racially integrated. I was in total disbelief. Were it not for the research that I was doing for those social media posts, I probably would never have known how segregated San Diego really was when I was growing up. I guess I was more sheltered as a little black girl than I thought. I honestly never considered that the racial diversity that I experienced growing up in San Diego’s North County, was very different than the experience other kids had in the same county. I’m grateful for those social media posts and the research they require for enlightening me. I joke because I actually spend more time on Facebook and Instagram than I should, but social media can also be the devil and it can cause the destruction of relationships. As I did more reflection, I realized that nothing about the school segregation case in 1977 should’ve surprised me. Through my own social media (primarily Facebook) interactions with some of those same people that I grew up with, and thought were so progressive, I’m realizing that maybe they weren’t so open-minded and inclusive.
oneer
ton Julian Pi
America New
r and n of Angel he ion. oto was take un rts Parker. Ph of 1989 10 year class re be Ro a iss el ss M la Marcellus, gh School’s cla ge Hi a An st s, Vi du a oa en Br ho Bu Angel Mason hool at Ranc from high sc best friend’s
It amazes me that people I’ve known for the last 30-plus years and were still my “friends” on Facebook, are so misguided. They fail to understand that despite what they might have thought about me growing up, I will not overlook their continued support of Trump and his current administration. They don’t get a pass; 30 years of “friendship” does not make them exempt. I will easily select the “Remove from Friends” button and cut them out of my life on Facebook and in real life. I have a zero tolerance policy. Do they expect me to overlook Trump’s racist attacks on Mexican immigrants? Do they expect me to overlook his attacks on our community, especially our transgender brothers and sisters? How do they excuse his mocking of a disabled reporter? Why should I forgive his “shithole countries” comments? The list goes on. You can’t support this administration and say that you love me.
Those two things don’t go together. I now question everything about them. Were those people smiling in my brown face all of those years and exploiting my naivety? I grew up being so grateful that my parents moved us out of Birmingham, Alabama to California when I was 3 years old so I could grow up in a place that was so racially diverse; a place where I thought I was surrounded by people that embraced cultural and racial differences. I knew Birmingham was very segregated. I experienced it first-hand. We went back to visit our family almost every summer and often for Christmas throughout my childhood. Most of my entire family still lives there. My parents were born and raised there during the civil rights movement and they knew what blatant racism felt like. Because of their experiences, my parents wouldn’t let me go (especially at night)
to certain parts of San Diego County (hint, hint, Fallbrook). For obvious reasons, to any black person who grew up in San Diego County in the ’70s and ’80s, Fallbrook was not a place for us. The last few years have left me scratching my head and wondering, were my childhood experience, my city, and my “friends,” truly what I thought they were? I’m wondering and questioning which is worse — the racist in Birmingham and Fallbrook or the one golfing next to my childhood home on the greens of Shadowridge Country Club? I grew up with those people and I thought they were different. Were they like that all along? It’s not about being an angry black woman. I’m not jaded, I’m hurt and I want answers. Were they pretending to be so accepting of diversity, pretending to be inclusive, pretending to be my friend, and just tolerating my existence?
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February 28- March 12, 2020 voluMe volu 1 issue 11
COMMUNITY vOICes
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gaY F Or g O OD !
The C wOrD … COMMUNITY Tootie —Tootie is synonymous with Lips, executive director at the El Cajon Boulevard Business Improvement Association, and chair of the Mid-City Community Parking District, vegan and mahu. Contact Tootie at Nefertootie@gmail.com.
T
hirty people laughing and talking over drinks and delicious food at Uptown Tavern doesn’t seem so remarkable. I’ve enjoyed good times with friends here before. But on this particular afternoon, back in their private room, a group is meeting to mingle and make toys and creature comforts for the Humane Society. The room is filled with friendly, good-looking animal lovers. Sounds good, right? It’s better than that, it’s Gays for Good (G4G)! I walk in, there’s a sign-in table, and an old friend of mine, Marian, who has enjoyed many a celebration at Lips, greets me with a warm hug and welcome. She makes me a name tag and spells my name right. Gay for Good has 16 chapters nationwide and a home base in LA, and San Diego’s G4G chapter opened in July 2010. Current chapter leader Barb Moreno signed up for its first event, a beach cleanup: “I was newly single and looking for a way to meet people and be social. I was seeking an alternative to the bars. I really enjoyed volunteering in the past, so when a friend told me about this new group … I signed up. It was just what I was looking for. Ten years later, it’s going strong. And so many of us have made lifelong friendships.” G4G prides themselves on inclusivity. Even though it’s called “Gay for Good,” members are a reflection of the diversity and volunteerism of San Diego’s LGBTQIA community. Allies are celebrated and join in at events. And kids are also welcome. The group at Uptown Tavern is a cross section of the gay community, some who choose to volunteer once a month (sometimes there’s more opportunities on the monthly calendar), others who coordinate, and lead the G4G group. John tells me, “Barb and I met at the very first Gay for Good San Diego event at Pacific Beach; we were there for the cleanup. We became interested in the mission organization and then after two years of being regular volunteers, we were asked to step up to leadership. She and I have been leaders ever since. Robin and Doug joined us as leaders shortly thereafter and we’ve been running the organization since.” Long-term friendships, community and good causes bring people out like Rich who says, “Shortly after I came out, I was looking to meet people, I didn’t have very many gay friends. I heard about G4G from a friend of mine who was in the LA chapter and said it was a really cool way to make friends while also doing good stuff. I stuck around ‘cause everybody’s super awesome and we’re doing cool stuff.” After hearing of all the “cool stuff” G4G has been into, including a camp/work trip on Catalina, and a horse rescue in East County, I want to get involved. Drag diva Kanani aka Katrina Duall, normally traveling with Royal Caribbean, volunteers when they are in town. Kanani’s most memorable event was Operation Courage Is Beautiful, where G4G volunteers put together care packages for military women. Kanani says, “You never think of what our female service members may need being deployed and so volunteering with this opportunity was a great way to create some bags of personal hygiene as well as makeup and
(Courtesy photo)
Even though it’s called ‘Gay for Good,’ members are a reflection of the diversity and volunteerism of San Diego’s LGbTQiA community. beauty products to send to them. Coming from a military family, my husband is in the Navy, it was a great way to give back.” Barb says, “We rely on the community and our volunteers to help us find events. So many of us have connections throughout the region, it keeps events fresh. No idea is a bad idea. And we have some signature events that we do annually. We are always looking for help in organizing.” Kanani invited Jelicia to her first event today and she is working on a hanging toy for birds. Most volunteers here today were invited by someone else for their first time. A group of three women are busy putting together fleece pouches and hammocks for small mammals. One of them tells me, “Robin told us about this event, a way to volunteer to help the Humane Society and when she said we’d be helping rats…I was like, I am there! I like to keep my money here in the community and Uptown Tavern is letting us do this event.” To be clear, the rats being gifted with the handmade items are being fostered at the Humane Society where they are waiting for good, loving homes. Later that day, as the volunteers leave, everyone thanks them and acknowledges their donation of time and spirit, with wishes of seeing them back next month (which might be a firehouse beautification project with real, live, heroic firemen). Fortunately, there have only been a couple of times G4G didn’t hear back from a group needing their help. The feedback from previous work done has been positive and encouraging. Moreno says, “When we return to volunteer, we often will be pulled aside and told that we’re their favorite because we work so hard. One canyon cleanup was estimated to take four hours and we were done in one.”
Conversation creates a safe space on both sides for dialogue. Robin explains that G4G works for the community on many levels; outreach to the larger San Diego community, socializing within our own community and building friendships, and doing good works. She says, “We’re doing outreach to the larger community, obviously letting people who are not associated with LGBTQ+ on a regular basis, who may not come into contact with us, to get to know us.” Gay for Good strives to get the LGBTQ+ community outside
of the gayborhood to show how much they, and we, all should care about all communities. Not everyone lives in Hillcrest. This opens a door safely to give back through community service. Barb Moreno says, “It’s the heart of our mission.” Join in community service, for friendships and to help others. learn more at gayforgood.org. cool merchandise is available for donations; give to continue the giving.
News / bUsINess & servICes
lgbtqsd.news
February 28- March 12, 2020 voluMe 1 issue 11
Todos Cambiamos continued from Page 10
bUsINess & servICes we get to see that happen, the family becomes united and transitions with her.
Arantxa de Juan (Federico) in a scene from ‘Todos Cambiamos’,(Courtesy photo)
Arantxa de Juan ( Lizzie) in a scene from ‘Todos Cambiamos’,(Courtesy photo)
Many Trans woman who have seen the film tell us that it gives them hope and a dream to have a “normal” life, a dignified life like anyone else. CAR: Let’s talk about the movies success! AM: The movie has just received an award in Holland from a foundation that deals with, and fights for human rights and equality in the world. The awards will be presented in March at the Roze Filmdagen Film Festival in Amsterdam. It is very interesting that this is happening with the film, I feel that we have to show where society should be heading, it’s not only important to know that Transgender people are part of society, but also learning that they are not monsters or defected as many people categorize them. They are human beings that
deserve to be treated with respect and acceptance. CAR: How about the films characters? Who is federico? AM: We get introduced to Federico, a responsible family man with kids who is prepared to face the corporate world but at the same time carries a heavy burden in his life which is not being able to transition because he’s a victim of a society that has taught him to negate who he really is. He is truly suffering and when he can’t take it anymore he decides that the only way out is to end his life but then realizes that there is another option: to stay alive for his family but also to live his truth. He wants to fight for his family (even if they don’t understand him) with the hope that some day they will come to accept him. The beauty of the film is that
CAR: Who is Lizzie? AM: Lizzie is the real person inside Federico, she has always been there and now has the drive to be present and be the entire woman she was meant to be; sexy, feminine, wear makeup, and be a successful business woman in the corporate world. She also dreams of having a future partner and to rebuild her life. At the end we see how she realizes her next mission is to be a grandmother and because of her passed life she has the potential to be one since she has sons. Independent of the gender, having grandkids to love as a grandmother as opposed to a grandfather and taking away the labels of society is something that anyone can dream about. Lizzie realizes that her battles will probably be for a lifetime, but now she is living as the women she was meant to be. CAR: How important was it to make that character older and mature with a long life already lived? AM: It was very important because it’s true that people think once you get to a certain age past 50, life has less importance and we wanted to show a rebirth after 50. We wanted to show that life does not end regardless of what age you transition, it continues and you have many more years ahead that are valuable and worth treasuring. We wanted the film to give homage to the older adults no matter if you are Transgender or not. We wanted to talk about how life can be fulfilling and adults have the right to live a happy life after leaving an old life behind. CAR: How about Lizzie’s kids? AM: This was also very important; to have the kids represent hope because they are a generation that is living more freely and open. They have grown up with more access to knowledge and topics like this one are clearer. For them, she was the same person they’ve always loved and they see it as a natural thing. In a certain scene, one of her sons tells Lizzie: “You look different” to which Lizzie answers, “Different how”? And her son responds with “You look much prettier”. This is her son’s way of saying “I love you how you are”.
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February 28- March 12, 2020 voluMe volu 1 issue 11
NIghT LIFe: The bar sOCIaL sCeNe
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brUNCh sMaCKDOwN: saTUrDaY vs. sUNDaY whY saTUrDaY brUNCh Is sUPerIOr TO sUNDaY
Photo by Britt Richards Photography IG: brittrichardsphotos FB: facebook.com/brittrichardsphotos
hOUsTON, we have a PrObLeM Korie houston —Korie has worked within the LGBTQIA+ community since coming out in college in 2014. With five-plus years of experience working with marginalized communities in various positions such as a peer educator at California State University San Marcos’ Gender Equity Center, a writer at the RAGE Monthly Magazine and as a host at Baja Betty’s. He currently works at University of California San Diego providing support to students. His journey as an undergraduate student at CSUSM provided him the skillset and depth he has in his current role.
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assed out in a bush? In desperate need of Gatorade? Or don’t remember how your entire day escaped you? Let’s talk about Sunday Funday. Houston, we have a problem. Why do we build our weekends on the trinity of going out on Friday, getting blitzed on Saturday and continuing the party at bottomless brunch on Sunday? Let’s get this straight (‘cause I’m not): Saturday is a better day for brunch than Sunday. Before you reach for the pitchforks: Don’t shoot the messenger! I’m just speaking the truth. This entire topic might spark some debate amongst friends and I’m beyond here for it. I’ve worked in the service industry for the last five years and what I can say is people truly live for the weekend. It’s a brief reprieve from work for some and the beginning of trouble for others. We’ve all been there, personally victimized by alcohol at one point or another. The question is, why? I, for one, don’t want to be blacked out on my eighth mimosa while singing Whitney at the top of my lungs at the bar. No, just me? I’ve learned a few tips and tricks in my 24 years of life. Go out for brunch on Saturday. I’ve found it to be a much more lowkey day than Sunday. I get it, the desire for the energy and to keep the party going is real. You’ve had a night out at the club and you just want to cure your hangover with booze and grease. But, why not go out Friday, go to brunch Saturday and use Sunday as the day of rest that the Lord intended. I know some of you already find ways to stay on your knees, but that’s not what I’m referring to. It’s a day of recuperation, and you can reset and readjust your body to get back to that Monday-through-Friday grind that many of us must navigate.
(Courtesy photo)
brUNCh TIPs
I believe everyone deserves a break from hectic work weeks and this isn’t directed at service industry regulars who don’t get to enjoy their weekends. Sundays get wild and there’s nothing wrong with that! But, why add to the crowd? Make your own party. You’re already going out with friends anyway. The truth is there’s nothing that happens on Sunday that you can’t do or make happen on Saturday. All of your favorite brunch spots are still open Saturday, usually with the same menus and fun lined up. #SundayFunday is trendy and easy to tag your social media with, but most people drink until they can’t think on Sunday and wake up at 6 a.m. the following day dreading life because a bloody mary bar got them absolutely trashed. And that’s after waiting an hour in line for the pleasure. I love a good brunch, but let’s skip the lines, the attitudes and try to look at that bigger picture. If you’re going to chase the weekend, try to chase Saturday. Every week, there’s a new breakfast spot opening and the lines get longer
and longer. Exciting isn’t it? Paying an arm and a leg for meals involving eggs and bacon that you probably could’ve made at home. I’m still absolutely going to drag everyone I know to brunch fully knowing I could cook this myself but that’s part of the fun of trying new experiences. Working in the service industry, I notice a lot of easy and simple things people could do to make their Sunday brunch experiences better and yet they still navigate these pitfalls. I wouldn’t say I’m a brunch expert, but you won’t catch me passed out in a bush and puking (again), so I’m doing something right. There’s a variety of reasons you may choose to go out on #SundayFunday instead of accepting that Saturday is superior in every way. Why not take a whole day of rest to prepare for the upcoming week? Spend your money and time how you choose but put that time spent drinking into perspective. You can go out on the weekend and allow your body time to rest all in one go. Sound off in the comments: Do you prefer Saturday or Sunday for brunch?
1. Make a reservation. This simple thing is overlooked at any and all restaurants. it’s why i prefer saturday because the likelihood of your large party getting turned away due to being booked on reservations is marginally less than on sunday. 2. stay hydrated. Why ruin your day with a blackout? You can have a good time drinking water and not being dehydrated. Your skin will thank you. 3. You don’t need to keep drinking just because it’s bottomless. i’m sure after two you’ve got your money’s worth. 4. show up early. if you don’t have a reservation, most brunch places open before noon. it’s brunch not lunch. 5. Drinking more won’t cure your hangover. it’s just prolonging it.
YOUr gUIDe TO NIghT LIFe aDveNTUres
Feb 28
RICH’S Black Girl Magic Rich’s San Diego Presents: BLACK GIRL MAGIC ! Featuring Rupaul’s Drag Race Superstar THE VIXEN ! Hosted by Amber St. James and Strawberry Corncakes For Table/Seat Reservations txt 619-394-6071 at 7p.m.
Feb 29
MO’S 2019 San Diego leather Community awards This is to honor our fellow community members, businesses and organizations for the outstanding support they give to everyone in the community. 6 – 10:30p.m. 21+
Mar 2
ClUB SaN DIeGO Movie Night Monday Come to the club for a complimentary movie on our projector with some comfy seating and naked men. Feature movie for the night Thor with the sexy Chris Hemsworth starting at 8p.m. 18+
Mar 6
#1 ON FIFTH Jam Session First Friday Jamz Come join KC Starr and DJ Tavo enjoy 80s, 90s, and 2000s music and a great show with special guests for Barbie Z and Vanity Jones DJ Tavo 8pm-1am Showtime 10p.m. No Cover
Mar 7
THe MeRROW Bear Night It’s going to be another nuts-to-butts night with DJ Jon Williams, the Bear Night GoGos. Coat check available, hot dogs available on the patio! Size Matters Happy Hour (9-10p.m.) 9p.m.-2a.m. $10 cover, 21+
Mar 7
SPaCe love affair Love Affair is back! San Diego’s only FREE queer dance party of House / Garage / Techno / Disco / Jersey / Bounce / and more! This event is for trans, POC, femme, and LGBTQIA+ communities. 9p.m.– 3a.m.
Mar 14
ClUB SaN DIeGO CUMUNION Club San Diego is now your exclusive host to a monthly CumUnion. For gay, straight and bi men over the age of 18 who are looking for a club to relax and enjoy the company of other like men. 8p.m. - 4a.m.
COUrT News
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February 28- March 12, 2020 voluMe 1 issue 11
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2000 MUrDer OF LeraY “MaC” ParKINs;
was JustIce served? by Neal Putnam
O
n Feb. 21, a judge praised two men who testified against the alleged killer of a 71-year-old gay man — before sentencing them to three and two years in prison for their roles in the 2000 incident. San Diego Superior Court Judge Runston Maino reflected about the Aug. 23, 2000 killing of LeRay “Mac” Parkins, who was struck twice in the head with a baseball bat in a North Park alley. “The sad thing is, the man who wielded the bat is not going to prison for that,” said Maino, referring to the release of Edward Brooks, 39, after two juries deadlocked. Brooks was released from jail Jan. 27 by Judge David Gill after he granted the second mistrial. Two juries both deadlocked 9-3, once in favor of conviction, and the second in favor of acquittal. Gill dismissed the murder case against Brooks, saying he didn’t think a third jury would be able to reach a verdict. Lester Roshunn Bell, 39, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and Terrence Maurice Brown, 38, pleaded guilty to robbing Parkins. A murder charge was then dismissed against them. Maino sentenced Brown to two years in prison. Because he has 744 days of jail credits, Brown should be released from jail soon.Bell got three years in prison. Bell also has 744 days of jail credits, so he is likely to be paroled later this year since he has already served two years. Bell and Brown testified that Brooks clubbed Parkins in the head with a baseball bat during a robbery. In 2018, a DNA test on the empty pockets of Parkins came back positive for Brooks’ DNA in three places. He was arrested in North Carolina. Brooks testified he did take the wallet but he claimed Brown killed Parkins, not him. Brown testified he was the getaway driver and he never saw Parkins.
“I was very impressed by their testimony,” said Maino. “It was pretty straight forward. I thought the testimony at trial was so powerful.” “Both Brown and Bell were entirely cooperative,” said Deputy District Attorney Christina Arrollado. Cordell Hill, the victim’s lover of 20 years, asked the prosecutor to read his letter to the judge out loud. “These men are responsible for shattering my life,” wrote Hill. “They gave me a life sentence.” Brown turned to face Hill in the audience and apologized. “I’m ashamed to have ties to it,” added Brown. A month after Parkins was robbed, Hill called police to report his credit card was used several times. Officers interviewed Bell’s ex-girlfriend, who testified at both trials, saying Bell asked her to run a credit card through her line at a clothing store. She recalled Bell, Brown, and a third man purchased clothing on Parkins’ credit card. Bell’s attorney told the judge that Bell agreed to testify “knowing it was the right thing to do.” “You testified against Mr. Brooks at considerable risk to yourself,” said Maino to Bell. “Thank you for your statement.” A restitution hearing was set for March 27 to determine if Bell or Brown will have to re-pay for the money and credit cards taken from Parkins. It’s ironic that Brooks admitted to stealing Parkins’ wallet in his testimony to jurors, but he won’t serve any time for it because the statute of limitations barred prosecutors from charging him with robbery. Parkins was remembered by many people at the Metropolitan Community Church where he sang in the choir. Senior Pastor Dan Koeshall recalled Parkins as “having the most beautiful Irish tenor voice.”
17 Years IN sTaTe PrIsON
for a man who stabbed a passenger on a greyhound bus and later InJured a gay Inmate In JaIl
by Neal Putnam
A
man who stabbed a passenger on a Greyhound bus and later injured a gay inmate in jail was sentenced Feb. 19 to 17 years in state prison. The injuries to both victims seemingly occurred spontaneously by Gilbert Louis Dominguez, 36, who pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon aboard a mass transit vehicle and felony assault of another inmate. “Be cognizant of what sets you off,” said San Diego Superior Court Judge Polly Shamoon to Dominguez, who did not make a statement in court. Dominguez stabbed Martin Hernandez, 27, on July 11, 2018, on a Greyhound bus at 12:30 p.m. while in University City.The bus driver kicked both men off the bus and Hernandez was taken to a hospital for wounds that sliced his neck, both arms, and back. Dominguez did not know the man he stabbed, the prosecutor said. Dominguez injured another prisoner who was gay and had animosity toward gay inmates, according to testimony in his preliminary hearing. Deputy District Attorney Christy Bowles said the inmate had to receive seven
staples in his head to close a wound and had broken teeth. A sheriff’s deputy testified in the April 2019 preliminary hearing that Dominguez said he didn’t like gay inmates. The deputy said Dominguez told him he did nothing wrong after the attack. His attorney, Zaki Zehawi, said his client was on the Greyhound bus to go to Los Angeles so he could enter a treatment program. At a previous hearing, Dominguez’s brother said he had a deeply troubled childhood after their father was murdered in 1990. He said their mother was a heroin addict and “we were doomed from the start.” Others testified Dominguez deserved another chance, with one person saying, “he’s not your average felon.” Dominguez received nine years for the Greyhound bus stabbing, three years for the jail attack, and Shamoon added five years for his previous conviction of carjacking. Bowles asked for a maximum sentence of 21 years and Zehawi asked for a lesser term. An attempted murder charge was dismissed in the bus stabbing.
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February 28- March 12, 2020 voluMe 1 issue 11
OUT & abOUT
beINg aLIve 30Th aNNIversarY (by Tony Storti)
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