Issuu

MAY 2017 | TH E F I GH T 1

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THECONTENTS

FEATURES 19 WE CANNOT BE SILENT

WEHO CONDEMNS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

20 PALM SPRINGS LEATHER PRIDE FIRST CONTESTANT SELECTED FOR NEW CLASS

24 “THEY WANT TO EXTERMINATE US” GAY HOLOCAUST IN CHECHNYA

26 UPCOMING PRIDES

SOCAL FESTIVALS MAY, JUNE 2017

28 A TEDDY BEAR INSIDE MR. LA LEATHER 2017, JEFF WILCOX

30 A WIN WIN SITUATION

ACTOR, MODEL, BODYBUILDER ARAD WINWIN

34 RADICAL INCLUSION OVERCOMING DISMISSIVENESS

44 S/HE & ME

ALEXANDRA BILLINGS’ THEATRICAL CABARET

48 BROADWAY BARES

THE ANNUAL BURLESQUE SHOW FUNDRAISER 50 TOTALLY FINE DEKKOO.COM’S THIRD ORIGINAL SERIES

DEPARTMENTS 11 16 18 20 38 40 42 46 52 54 56 58

THE TALK MAGIC JOHNSON THE ROSTOW REPORT COURT VICTORY THE CITY MISSING MAN THE DESERT SAMIRA WILEY THE SHARE LOCAL RECOVERY THE JOYSTICK GAMING THE HISTORY ELLEN THE MUSIC GOLDFRAPP THE EPIDEMIC BLOCKING HIV THE EVENT OFF SUNSET THE CALENDAR THINGS TO DO THE FINAL FIGHT LAST WORD

ON THE COVER ARAD WINWIN COVER PHOTO, TOC PHOTO AND FEATURE PHOTO BY DUSTI CUNNINGHAM PHOTO ON THIS PAGE BODY MAKE UP GAGE MUNSTER FISH TAIL COURTESY OF TOM WANG 4 T H E F I GH T | www.thefightmag.com

HEALTH

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THEEDITOR

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Stanford Altamirano MANAGING EDITOR Mark Ariel ART DIRECTOR Nadeen Torio MARKETING CONSULTANTS Tom Pardoe Sean Galuszka Roxie Perkins Jacci Ybarra SOCIAL MEDIA Brenden Shucart Sinan Shihabi WEBMASTER Nadeen Torio ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Sinan Shihabi

>> IN THIS ISSUE <<

The City of West Hollywood adopted a Resolution last month condemning the Russian republic of Chechnya for establishing concentration camps that detain and torture LGBT people for their sexual orientation (“WeHo: We Cannot Be Silent!” Page 19). During recent weeks, news has emerged that the government of Chechnya has begun a brutal crackdown on gay men and has established concentration camps in which LGBT people are being imprisoned, persecuted, tortured, illegally prosecuted— and even killed—due to their real or assumed sexual orientation. According to eyewitness reports and interviews with escaped detainees, a former military base in the town of Argun has been repurposed as a prison camp for suspected gay men. The men who are taken inside are subjected to “electric shock torture and violent interrogation,” in order to extract the names of other gay men. Others have been ransomed to their families (“They Want To Exterminate Us,” page 24) .

“They used to detain people before all the time to blackmail them… Now [the aim] is the extermination of gay men, so that there are none left in the republic,” one of the detainees told the BBC. A Canadian human-rights organization is mobilizing emergency efforts to help get those at risk out of the region. The Toronto-based Rainbow Railroad works to provide legal assistance, visas, transportation and other necessities to LGBT people in jeopardy, and is making Chechnya priority number one. Since its founding in 2006, Rainbow Railroad has helped more than 300 LGBT people reach safety, but the need always outweighs their resources—in 2016 alone the group received 600 requests for assistance. The cost of a single case can run into the thousands, as legal fees, travel expenses, visas and more pile up. You can make a donation to the Rainbow Railroad at rainbowrailroad.ca.

CONTRIBUTORS Joseph Arellano Dusti Cunningham Dr. Steve Ganzell Robert Green Orly Lyonne Victor Melamed Paulo Murillo Ann Rostow Brenden Shucart Aaron Stella Paul V. Vitagliano GET THE FIGHT AT HOME Sent Via First Class Mail 12 Issues: $36 6 Issues: $24 Mail check or money order to: Third Step, LLC 611 S. Catalina St. Suite 307 Los Angeles, CA 90005 PUBLISHER Third Step, LLC DISTRIBUTION Pride In Media The Fight Magazine is published monthly by Third Step, LLC. 611 South Catalina Street, Suite 307 Los Angeles, CA 90005 Telephone (323) 297-4001 Fax (213) 281-9648 Email info@TheFightMag.com THE FIGHT MAGAZINE LEGAL CAVEATS By listing in The Fight Magazine, advertisers acknowledge that they do business in the spirit of cooperation, fairness and service, maintaining a high level of integrity and responsibility. Providers of products or services are fully and solely responsible for providing same as advertised. The Fight Magazine assumes no liability for improper or negligent business practices by advertisers. Advertisers and their agencies assume responsibility and liability for the content of their advertisements in The Fight Magazine.

STANFORD ALTAMIRANO Editor-In-Chief

Publisher assumes no liability for safe-keeping or return of unsolicited art, manuscripts or other materials. The Fight Magazine reserves the right to edit all material for clarity, length and content. All contents © 2017 Third Step LLC. All rights reserved. Content may be reproduced with permission. The Fight Magazine assumes no liability for any claims or representations contained anywhere in this magazine and reserves the right to cancel or refuse advertising at publisher’s discretion. TheFightMag.com For Display Advertising, please call (323) 297-4001

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THELETTERS >> FROM OUR READERS <<

SENSE OF BROTHERHOOD Dear Editor, I agree with Aaron Stella’s views on community (“The Making Of A Community,” THE FIGHT, Issue #75). The problem is that we have all had to fight our own personal demons—self acceptance, coming out to others, navigating our lives within a heteronormative society—that we never really had a moment to think about being part of a larger LGBTQ community. \Yes there were the brave activists—especially with the onset of AIDS—but they were a small group of amazingly courageous people. Not everyone is cut out to be an activist. Only now—thanks to those activists—are we beginning to realize that we need to fill that communal void. On a personal level I guess that means we need to reach out to all of our brothers and sisters—regardless of how they live their lives— to make that connection. Gay media (like THE FIGHT) certainly plays a part in forging a community. But it is up to each of us to take steps to nourish a sense of brotherhood. —-Blake Chinchilla, via the internet

NEW OLD WORLD Dear Editor, Hopefully all those pathetic gay Trump supporters who went on and on about how he is different—not like other Republicans—how he actually mentioned us in speeches (like that is some sort of huge move forward!) will now admit that the man is all hat and no cattle. The latest news in this administration’s attempt to purge its ranks of LGBT people: Trump is planning to replace Eric Fanning, first gay Army Secretary with Mark Green, an antiLGBT lawmaker. Green, a member of the Tennessee State Senate, has sponsored legislation in Tennessee allowing businesses to single out their LGBTQ employees. And he has suggested being transgender is a sickness. It’s the new old world. Time to make our voices heard! —Joseph Green, via the internet

> WRITE TO THE EDITOR

Email: editor@thefightmag.com Fax: (213) 281-9648. Letters may be shortened due to space requirements. 8 T H E F I GH T | www.thefightmag.com

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THETALK >> W H AT T H E Y ’ R E S AY I N G <<

JOE BIDEN

VERY NEW

SHANNON PURSER

PERSON OF CONSCIENCE “I am disgusted and appalled by reports from both the Russian media and non-governmental organizations that authorities in the Russian republic of Chechnya have rounded up, tortured, and even murdered individuals who are believed to be gay. When faced with such crimes of hate and inhumanity, it is the responsibility of every person of conscience to speak out—to oppose this campaign of violence before it continues further.” —Former Vice President Joe Biden calling on the Trump administration to address the abuse of gay men in the Russian republic of Chechnya, in a statement last month.

KEEP GOING

“When this administration rescinded protections for transgender students, my heart broke. When HILLARY I learned about the CLINTON proposed cuts in funding for HIV and AIDS research, I thought about all of our efforts to try and achieve an AIDS-free generation… I know the election hit a lot of us hard. I can tell you this: Even when it feels tempting to pull the covers over your heads, please keep going.”

—Hillary Clinton at New York’s LGBT community center, last month.

TO THE WAYSIDE

“One of the reasons I didn’t tell people is I sort of wanted people to see me as myself… Often in my life when I tell people I’m trans, it’s sort of what they’re interested in. And everything else about me sort of gets pushed to the wayside.” ZEKE SMITH

—Survivor contestant Zeke Smith, after being outed as transgender on the reality show, last month.

“I’ve only just recently come out as bisexual to my family and friends… It’s something I am still processing and trying to understand and I don’t like talking about it too much. I’m very very new to the LGBT community.”

—Stranger Things actress Shannon Purser coming out as bisexual on Twitter last month.

KHASAN BRAILSFORD

TAKE EVERYTHING

“Six guys can never represent everyone… It’s lighthearted, and you can’t take everything too seriously. ... Tune in. Make your own decision before you criticize.” —Khasan Brailsford, a cast member of Logo’s upcoming reality show Fire Island, responding to criticism that the show is bad for gay representation. TREY PEARSON

THE CHURCH “I really wanted the video to be something positive that encourages continual love and openness and acceptance of gay people, especially in the church.” —Out Christian singer Trey Pearson on the inclusive message of his new music video, Silver Horizon, in an interview with The Advocate last month

ABOUT LOVING

“It’s all about you not trying to decide what your daughter or son should be or what you want them to become—it’s all about loving them no matter who they are, what they decide to do.”

—Magic Johnson’s advice to parents of gay children on Ellen last month.

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MAY 2017 | TH E F I GH T 15

THEROSTOWREPORT >> BY ANN ROSTOW <<

VIDEO KILLED THE RADIO STAR

I won’t send us on a sidetrack through the legal analysis this time, but it’s clear that our marriage equality victory might not, after all, be considered the high point of gay rights jurisprudence once future reporters look back on our lengthy trek through the courts. If we are successful, this will be the case that goes down in the history books. If not, we’ll find ourselves in uncharted waters.

here’s a lot of hot legal news this month, but first, I couldn’t help noticing that Bibb County Alabama just passed a LGBT rights ordinance by a 6-3 vote. Have any of you listened to the podcast “S-Town,” meaning Shit Town, that delves into the life of an eccentric gay man who carved out an extraordinary existence in this rural wasteland? Let’s just say that of all the counties in the United States, Bibb County would have been last on my list of those initiating an anti-discrimination law. But having heard the podcast, I should have also realized that our country is more complicated than it seems, particularly in its dark ill-educated pockets. Listen to it. Hook up your phone to play it while you drive around, or turn down the lights, turn off the TV and sit in a corner while it plays. I remember wondering how on Earth previous generations could have been entertained by radio shows, but there’s something serene about a disembodied voice telling you a compelling story.

HUGE GAY RIGHTS COURT VICTORY

nd now for the big news! On April 4, the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit ruled 8-3 that sexual orientation discrimination in the workplace was an impermissible form of sex discrimination. Sex discrimination, in turn, is outlawed in the workplace under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It is outlawed in public education under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. And it is outlawed in housing under the Fair Housing Act. It’s not hard to connect the dots here; if sexual orientation bias is a subset of sex bias, then sexual orientation bias is already banned throughout

THE NEWS IS OUT THERE

S THE JUXTAPOSITION OF TERROR AFAR AND SECURITY AT HOME DOESN’T DIMINISH OUR CONCERNS. IF WE DIDN’T COMPARTMENTALIZE WE’D LAPSE INTO A PARALYTIC DEPRESSION. most of federal law. No need for Congress to pass the Equality Act. No need to fight for our rights in the state legislatures of all those red states. Indeed, many of the anti-gay proposals now loitering in state capitals around the country would be dead on arrival. But of course, we need more than a single appellate court to put a legal stamp on this happy conclusion. At some point over the last half century or so, the federal appellate courts have ruled that sexual orientation bias is not a form of sex discrimination, it is not mentioned in the

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text of federal statutes and it is not grounds for litigation. Case dismissed! Since three-judge panels are bound by circuit precedent, this case law cannot be reversed except by full appellate court rulings like the one we just witnessed or by a decision of the Supreme Court. Although the Seventh Circuit case will not be appealed to the High Court, there are several other Title VII cases which could reach the full bench of other appellate courts, and we can bank on one or more of these cases reaching the Supreme Court in the next year or so.

harp readers may have noticed that sex discrimination is not outlawed in public accommodation by any federal law. And of course discrimination from businesses, specifically all those bakers and florists, is one of the main battlegrounds in the continuing war on gays and lesbians by conservative Christians. As this issue goes to press, we are watching a petition to the High Court from Denver baker Jack Phillips of Masterpiece Cakeshop, who declined service to two gay men and who was nailed under the Colorado anti-discrimination law which covers the gay community. If Neil Gorsuch joins his colleagues on the right to reach four votes to accept review, one of the central issues facing gay Americans will be decided in the next Supreme Court session. I’m hoping he doesn’t. It’s fairly clear that religious freedom does not allow a business to exempt itself from major civil rights law. Samuel Alito said as much in his controversial pro-faith Hobby Lobby decision. If we were to win one of the aforementioned Title VII cases at the Supreme Court, the justices would be hard pressed to subsequently rule in favor of Jack Phillips or anyone in his position. But what if the Court decides a case like Masterpiece Cakeshop before it accepts

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review of an anti-discrimination lawsuit? If they strike a “middle ground,” the reverse could be true. If the justices create a gay exception to the balance between civil rights laws and religious expression, we would be demoted to a status beneath race or sex or national origin or faith. That would bode ill for the next round. How could the Court rule that it’s okay to discriminate against gays in certain circumstances, and turn around and rule that gay bias is a form of sex discrimination? We need to win both questions of law, and it would be far easier to do so with a Title VII victory under our belt. A decision on whether to take the Masterpiece Cakeshop case may have been announced by the time you read this column. Check for it. A “no” would be excellent news. A “yes” would be a little terrifying.

IT’S A MAD, MAD WORLD Guys, I’m not sure that now is a good time for exotic travel. A hundred men have been rounded up, and many killed, in a crackdown on gay men in Chechnya. Fifty or so men were arrested for attending a wedding in Nigeria. Shots were fired during a raid against gay men in northern Iran where 30 or so men were taken into custody during a party. And we won’t even touch the ISIS executions, although I’m guessing few of you were planning to vacation in Syria or Iraq. I’m just saying. We’re parsing Title VII case law while our distant brothers fear for their lives. I’m reminded again of our ability to compartmentalize, particularly as Americans, hemmed in between two vast oceans with only our complacent compatriots for company. With

the exception of freak tragedies, we are safe and sound, worried about who gets to make a speech at Berkeley, who wins the Georgia sixth district, or maybe, if you’re an activist, whether or not married gay widows and widowers in Florida can revise their spouses’ death certificates. (They can, thanks to a court ruling.) The juxtaposition of terror afar and security at home doesn’t diminish our concerns. If we didn’t compartmentalize we’d lapse into a paralytic depression. Instead, we put foreign horrors in a box and carry on about what’s for dinner and whether North Korea will drop a nuclear bomb on Seoul. Um, wait. I’m trying to compartmentalize here. Have you noticed, speaking of compartmentalization, that a boatload of people can drown on a ferry, but if someone kills a puppy somewhere

Americans are devastated? Every now and then my exgirlfriend would be reading the paper and she’d moan: “Oh, that’s terrible.” It was always an animal. And I’m just as bad. While we’re on the subject of animals, I just read an article about how some mice are monogamous, and the male mice of this ilk are loving fathers who make elaborate nests and nuzzle their offspring. I found the whole phenomenon most heartwarming until I read the rest of the article and realized that all these sweet mice were relentlessly bred, killed and dissected by the boffins in charge of this research. I know I know! This is the price we (and the mice) pay for scientific discovery. Still, I’m glad my ex-girlfriend didn’t get ahold of this information. For the record, there is a particular gene for male monogamy and caregiving. Who knew? n

MAY 2017 | TH E F I GH T 17

THECITY NEON TREES >> BY PAULO MURILLO <<

POLICE SEEK LEADS TO MISSING GAY MAN IN SAN DIEGO

The search continues for missing gay man David Issac Bernal-Medina who was last heard from on March 21. San Diego police found Medina’s vehicle, a 2016 GMC Terrain SUV, on I-8 near I-805. According to reports, the car appears to have been involved in an accident, but Medina, 32, was not in the DAVID ISSAC car when it was found. Medina was a Lyft BERNAL-MEDINA driver, but he was not on the app when he was reported missing. His family awaits more information after the his car was impounded by police. Police describe Medina as 6’2”, 160 lbs with brown hair and brown eyes. If you have any information on the whereabouts of David Issac Bernal-Medina, call 610-531-2346.

LGBT HATE CRIMES ON THE RISE IN L.A. The Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at Cal State San Bernardino reports that the City of Los Angeles saw a 15 percent increase in hate crimes in 2016, with a significant spike in attacks against LGBTQ people. According to data analyzed the number of hate crimes rose from 200 in 2015 to 230 in 2016, making this the highest number of hate crime es seen in Los Angeles since 2008. There was a 25 percent increase in hate crimes against the LGBT community—from 49 to 61. LAPD data reports that hate crimes against transgender persons jumped from 2 in 2015 to 8 in 2016.

APLA HEALTH SUPPORTER DAVID COOLEY HONORED This year, S.T.A.G.E. (Southland Theatre Artists’ Goodwill Event) will honor The Abbey Food + Bar Owner David Cooley with their first-ever Humanitarian Award. Since 2001, Cooley’s West Hollywood hot spot has hosted numerous fundraisers for APLA Health and has helped the organizaDAVID tion raise nearly $2 million, providing lifeCOOLEY saving services to thousands of patients and clients across Los Angeles County. The award ceremony will be part of an evening entitled Idols & Icons, paying tribute to the stars of yesterday and today. The event takes place on Saturday, May 13 at The Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. For more info visit stagela.com. 1 8 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com

ZOE ROBINETTE

MY 12 STEP STORE ALCOHOL-FREE MIXER Recovery gift boutique My 12 Step Store partnered with the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce (WHCC), WeHo’s Institute for Public Strategies and WeHo Safe Project to host an alcohol-free Mix ‘N’ Mingle on the Blvd mixer last month. The event took place in the heart of WeHo, on the front lot of the store, at 8730 Santa Monica Boulevard. It was billed as a non-alcoholic professional mixer to welcome everyone who wants to network and mingle in an alcohol-free environment. It featured a live DJ, food, non-alcoholic drinks and a book signing of “Party Like a Mock Star” by Zoe Robinette.

SHORELINE FRONTRUNNERS PRIDE RUN The Shoreline Frontrunners of Long Beach will hold the 25th Long Beach Pride Run 5K Race/Walk and 10K Race on Sunday, May 21 at 8 am. The event is taking place on the scenic Long Beach Shoreline Bike Path starting at the intersection of Ocean Blvd. and Junipero Avenue. Funds raised by the LB Pride Run support local community service organizations for the LGBT community. Previous beneficiaries include the CARE Program at St. Mary Medical Center, the Center Long Beach, and the AIDS Food Store of Long Beach. For more information, visit shorelinefrontrunners.org.

>> GAY HOLOCAUST IN CHECHNYA <<

WEHO: WE CANNOT BE SILENT!

West Hollywood calls for sanctions in response to human rights violations against gays in Chechnya. BY O RLY LYO N N E

he City of West Hollywood adopted a Resolution last month condemning the Russian republic of Chechnya (Chechen Republic) for establishing concentration camps that detain and torture LGBT people for their sexual orientation. It is believed that the City of West Hollywood is the first municipal government in the nation to condemn the actions of Chechnya with a Council Resolution. The

Resolution calls on the Trump Administration to establish sanctions against Chechnya in response to violations of human rights. During recent weeks, news has emerged that the government of Chechnya has begun a brutal crackdown on gay men and has established concentration camps in which LGBT people are being imprisoned, persecuted, tortured, illegally prosecuted—and even killed—due

to their real or assumed sexual orientation. “LGBT people are victimized in many parts of the world,” said West Hollywood Mayor Pro Tempore John Heilman. “Unfortunately, what is happening in Chechnya is just another example of a government marginalizing and punishing LGBT people. And attacks on LGBT people are typically part of broader violations of human rights.” “We cannot be silent. We must speak out against the systematic violence and torture of LGBT people in Chechnya,” said Councilmember Lindsey P. Horvath. “Everyone who values equality, human dignity, and the ability to love should unite in action—we must do everything we can do to immediately end these atrocities.” (Ed. Note: See “They Want To Exterminate Us” on page 24.)

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THEDESERT >> BY PAULO MURILLO <<

20,000 LESBIANS COME OUT TO PARTY The Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend attracted to around 20,000 lesbians to Palm Springs. The event is known as one of the wildest weekends in the lesbian community, and this past weekend’s debauched event. The festival celebrated their 27th year. The long weekend included pool parties, comedy shows, mixers, and musical performances.

ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK STARS TIE THE KNOT Actress Samira Wiley, known for her role as gay prisoner Poussey in Orange Is The New Black, married her long term girlfriend Lauren Morelli, the writer and producer of the show. The wedding took place in Palm Springs at the same location as the engagement. They married a week after the actress spoke of LGBT+ visibility and what her relationship with Morelli means to fans. Fans witnessed their engagement via an Instagram post almost six months ago. The post showed the two leaning into each other with a close up of a diamond ring. The caption simply read, “yes.” They have been together since 2014.

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CENTER HOSTS PrEP DISCUSSION The Center Palm Springs will host a PrEP: Frequently Asked Questions and Discussion event on Wednesday, May 3, from 5:30—6:30pm. Alex Del Rosario, MD gets upfront answers to the most common questions regarding Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). His answers are backed by clinical data, and the current Centers for Disease Control and Department of Health & Human Services Guidelines. For more information, contact: (760) 416-7790. n

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r. CCBC Leather 2018 John Thomas represents Cathedral City Boys Club—which itself is somewhat of Cathedral City/Palm Springs institution. For years CCBC has been known as the gay men’s getaway no holds bar resort. Recently undergoing a major renovation it continues be the home away from home for men of all kinds to get their kink off and sun on. Their first Mr. CCBC Leather John Thomas is no different. A native of Michigan, John is active in the Palm Springs Leather scene both exercising his kink and numerous turn-ons like group play, armpits, ass play and a hard on for leather daddies as well as supporting the needs of the community striving for a better way of life for all LGBTQ members of the greater Palm Springs area. John is working on his master’s degree in healthcare and also in the process of launching a nonprofit foundation, Starcity to serve as a place where those involved in arts & entertainment can seek mentoring, advice, representation and even new skills set to get them to feeling fulfilled and contributing to their own wellbeing as well as society. It’s no wonder John has a lot going on while in college he successfully competed junior Olympics. John’s looking forward to competing in Mr. Palm Springs Leather 2017 contest on Oct 26-29, 2017 which will be held at the Palm Springs Air Museum. n

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MAY 2017 | TH E F I GH T 23

>> GAY HOLOCAUST IN CHECHNYA <<

and violent interrogation,” in order to extract the names of other gay men. Others have been ransomed to their families. “They used to detain people before all the time to blackmail them… Now [the aim] is the extermination of gay men, so that there are none left in the republic,” one of the detainees told the BBC. A Canadian human-rights organization is mobilizing emergency efforts to help get those at risk out of the region, reports Dan Avery at Logo’s newnownext.com. The Toronto-based Rainbow Railroad works to provide legal assistance, visas, transportation and other necessities to LGBT people in jeopardy, and is making Chechnya priority number one: “Since we first received initial reports of gay concentration camps being established in Chechnya, Rainbow Railroad immediately re-classified Eastern Europe as a priority region,” says executive director Kimahli Powell. “This means we’re expanding our onthe-ground contacts as well as increasing our capacity to identify and assess new or alternative safe routes out of Chechnya.” Rainbow Railroad is working closely with the Russian LGBT Network, a nongovernmental organization that’s been working to raise awareness about the crisis. The network will help identify those who need to be evacuated, and Rainbow Railroad will provide direct travel assistance. It’s also calling on the Canadian government to provide emergency visas. “The situation in Chechnya is part of a global pattern of ongoing state-enabled or state-sanctioned violence against LGBTQ people,” Powell says, citing Indonesia, Bangladesh and The Gambia as three other perpetrators. “This is why the number of people who reach out to us each year is growing.” Since its founding in 2006, Rainbow Railroad has helped more than 300 LGBT people reach safety, but the need always outweighs their resources—in 2016 alone the group received 600 requests for assistance. The cost of a single case can run into the thousands, as legal fees, travel expenses, visas and more pile up.

“THEY WANT TO EXTERMINATE US” Global outcry over horrifying gay holocaust in Chechnya. Here’s how you can help.

BY VICTO R MELA MED

ikki Haley, United States ambassador to the United Nations, has spoken out against the kidnappings, torture, and murders of over 100 gay men reportedly taking place in the Southern Russian Republic of Chechnya at the behest of that semi-independent country’s strongman, Ramzan Kadyrov, and called for an investigation. Reacting to global outcry generated by a series of truly disturbing reports in the Russian language news paper Novaya Gazeta, Haley declared last month: “We continue to be disturbed by reports of kidnapping, torture, and murder of people in Chechnya based on their sexual orientation and those persecuted by association. If true, this violation of human rights cannot be ignored—Chechen authorities must immediately investigate these allegations, hold anyone RAMZAN involved accountable, and take steps to prevent future abuses.” KADYROV Kadyrov and his spokesmen have denied the accusations in the least convincing and most threatening way possible, stating chillingly: “You cannot arrest or repress people who just don’t exist in the republic. If such people existed in Chechnya, law enforcement would not have to worry about them since their own relatives would have sent them to where they could never return.” Meanwhile at least one of the reporters breaking the story, Elena Milashina, has gone into hiding after Chechen religious leaders began making threats against her life. According to eyewitness reports and interviews with escaped detainees, a former military base in the town of Argun has been repurposed as a prison camp for suspected homosexuals, and the men who are taken inside are subjected to “electric shock torture

2 4 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com

You can make a donation to their efforts on the Rainbow Railroad website at rainbowrailroad.ca.

PrEP STUDY DISCOVER is a new clinical study for men who have sex with men and trans women who have sex with men. This study is to evaluate if a once-daily investigational medicine can help reduce the risk of getting HIV infection from sex (“PrEP”, or Pre-exposure Prophylaxis).

TO BE ELIGIBLE: • You must be at least 18 years of age • You must be HIV negative If you are accepted into the DISCOVER Study, you will receive study-related exams, lab tests, and study medicine at no cost. For more information, please contact: Evan Fuller, Study Coordinator (310) 967-3620 or efuller@pacificoaks.com

Or go to www.clinicaltrials.gov and search NCT number 02842086

MAY 2017 | TH E F I GH T 25

>> PRIDE <<

UPCOMING PRIDES

LOS ANGELES PRIDE Saturday, June 10 - Sunday, June 11. West Hollywood Park, 647 N San Vicente Blvd West Hollywood. L.A. Pride has chosen to eschew its usual “go-go boys and Gaiety” parade floats in favor of an old-fashioned protest march for LGBT and minority rights. The #Resist March will begin this year on June 11 at Hollywood and Highland— the site of L.A.’s first official Gay Pride parade—and travel three miles to West Hollywood Park.

LGBT Pride festivals and parades through May and June 2017.

GRANT TURCK

PHOTO BY SUNNY BAK

CELEBRITY GRAND MARSHAL LISA VANDERPUMP

For more info on the march—visit resistmarch. org. For an up to date list of performers at the festival visit lapride.org. ADAM BARTA

VENICE PRIDE LONG BEACH PRIDE CELEBRATION Saturday, May 20—Sunday, May 21, 11am–10pm. Entrances: MAIN GATE (On Shoreline Drive south of Ocean Blvd.) PINE GATE (On Shoreline Drive & Shoreline Village) LINDEN GATE (From the Convention Center parking lot). LB Pride Parade Sunday: 10:30am. Route: Ocean Ave. at Lindero to Alamitos launches with the participants of a mass wedding taking place at 9:30am. The Annual Long Beach Pride Festival features seven large dance areas including a main stage with musical artists. The festival also includes a family fun zone, entertainment stages, food vendors and headliner acts. This year Lisa Vanderpump will be the Celebrity Grand Marshal. Vanderpump has become known around the globe from her two hit BRAVO-TV shows Vanderpump Rules in its 5th season and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, in its 7th season. “Her unique mix of social activism, sparkling glamour and down-to-earth style has appealed to millions of viewers,” state the Long Breach Pride organizers in a press release. For more information log onto www.longbeachpride.com. 2 6 TTH HE E FFIIGH www.thefightmag.com 26 GH TT || www.thefightmag.com

Friday, June 2—Saturday, June 3. Friday, June 2: Venice Pride Sign Lighting & Block Party, 5pm–11pm. Venice Pride After Parties, 9:30pm–2am. Saturday, June 3: Venice Pride & Heal the Bay present “Beach, Please! Big Beach Cleanup,” 8:30am–11am. Venice Pride & APAIT present “Status Is Sexy Pride Extravaganza,” 1pm–5pm. More info: venicepride.org. When word broke in 2016 that L.A.’s Westside gay community would lose its last sanctuary, the Roosterfish, due to rising rents—the future for a gay living west of the 405 looked, well, less gay. Determined to resurrect spirits in the LGBT community Venetian Grant Turck set in motion a plan to organize the first Venice Pride. “Everyone was welcome at the Roosterfish. It was an inclusive space where people could let their hair down and be who they wanted to be. The thought that the LGBT community would no longer have a gathering place in West L.A. was offensive to us.” said Turck who enlisted other Venice locals including Daniel Samakow and George Francisco to support the grassroots effort. They must have done something right because the the 2nd Annual Venice Pride Sign Lighting & Block Party is right around the corner! For more information log onto venicepride.org.

ORANGE COUNTY “AS ONE” LGBT PRIDE Saturday, June 24. Join Orange County LGBT Pride as it celebrates their 9th annual festival. Located on the East End in front of The Yost Theater stretching between 3rd and 4th Street with additional street closures this year; this hip and trendy location coupled with the Orange County LGBT Pride Parade is sure to draw even bigger crowds than ever. The Parade and Vendor areas are free. Kicking-off this year’s “As One” Main Stage will be their Official OC Pride Rainbow Dancers and Host; the one-and-only Dita Vodka. Keeping the love alive well into the night will be their Celebrity Grand Marshals of the PRIDE Parade and Host of the “As One” Main Stage—Billboard Top 20 Dance Artist, Adam Barta, and Logo’s very own Prince Charming—Robert Sepulveda Jr. For more information log onto prideoc.com.

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>> NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION <<

eff Wilcox, the new Mr. LA Leather, talked to THE FIGHT about his recent success and his plans for the International Mr. Leather (IML) contest in Chicago over Memorial Day this month. Genuinely warm and engaging, he shares easily about his personal transformation from a shy, overweight guy who worked hard to become the person he is now. Congratulations! Thank you! I’m actually very excited about it now. Finding out about IML and learning about what happens there, all the activities you get to do. It seems like a great reason to get out of your shell. I’m a completely shy and introverted wall flower. In September of last year, I went through a break up and decided I was not gonna let doubt take over for me. I silenced that critic in my head…I danced at Meat Rack, which was terrifying. If you look at me, you make assumptions but I realized everybody has their own story, their own journey. I may look tough on the outside but I’m a teddy bear inside. Have you been to IML before? I went once in 2011. I wasn’t even aware that there were all these things going on, including the contest. I wandered around the vendor mart and thought “well I’ve done IML.” I’m really looking forward and getting to do all the things that are a part of IML this time. Of course I want to make Los Angeles proud but more importantly I want to do my personal best.

A TEDDY BEAR INSIDE

Mr. LA Leather 2017, Jeff Wilcox, on growing up in a small farm town, diversity and the road to IML. B Y D R. STEVE G A N ZELL | PH O TO BY D U STI CUNNI NGHAM

2 8 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com

Tell us a little bit about your journey from Mr. Eagle LA Leather to Mr. Los Angeles Leather and heading to Chicago to compete in International Mr. Leather. I grew up in a small farm town outside of Sacramento, 3000 people. When I moved to Los Angeles, my father gave me the “big city talk.” “You’re moving to the big city son… be sure to lock your car and don’t walk down allies.” My freshman year I went to Ricks College ( a small Mormon college in Rexburg, Idaho). It was so cold I said “Oh hell no… I’m never doing cold again”, so I transferred to Pepperdine in Malibu. I was a fat kid, who ate his feelings. I had to transform myself. I spent 3 hours in the gym a day. But there is no point in changing the outside appearance if you don’t accept and love your inside self. By

>> JEFF WILCOX <<

silencing my critic I’ve been able to accept myself and become the man I am today.” I had been going to the Eagle for a long time. I was always on the edges. I never thought about being in a title contest. When Charlie and Hunter (Owner and Manager of the Eagle) talked to me about participating, they took me around and introduced me to people. I began to see parts of the community, I hadn’t seen before. And I began to feel more a part of something.

“I WAS A FAT KID, WHO ATE HIS FEELINGS. I HAD TO TRANSFORM MYSELF. I SPENT 3 HOURS IN THE GYM A DAY. BUT THERE IS NO POINT IN CHANGING THE OUTSIDE APPEARANCE IF YOU DON’T ACCEPT AND LOVE YOUR INSIDE SELF. BY SILENCING MY CRITIC I’VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCEPT MYSELF AND BECOME THE MAN I AM TODAY.” How would you sum up your experience, so far, as a leatherman? I was impressed by the diversity of the men that became the 10 contestants for Mr. LA Leather. They became a cohesive group and I really enjoyed that. They reflected the diversity in the leather community in many different ways and brought something that was unique to them. There was a time, I didn’t really think of myself as the traditional leatherman… but I have evolved… I would say that my primary fetish is muscle worship. I even wore a sleeveless shirt made of gold lamé (the somewhat tongue in cheek way of indicating an interest in muscles) to an event at the Faultline. Despite his somewhat self-effacing responses, it is clear that Jeff has found reasons to push past limitations. He is a well-chosen representative of a community that highly appraises power dynamics. He put in the hard work to transform from that shy kid who used to eat his feelings to a man who now not only exemplifies an archetypal leather esthetic but whose heart and spirt will represent the community well. Dr. Steve Ganzell, former president of Christopher Street West (CSW), the organization that produces LA Pride, works in the federal healthcare system, providing member health services and training to other providers.

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>> COVER INTERVIEW <<

A WIN WIN SITUATION

Iranian born Arad Winwin on Trump’s immigration policy, oppressed regimes, personal choice and life changing careers. BY MA RK ARI EL | PHOTO BY DUSTI CUNNI NGHAM

n Iranian gay refugee, adult film actor, model and bodybuilder Arad Winwin, 27, believes in love. “Never lose hope, stay blessed and keep your heart clean,” he advises in an interview with THE FIGHT. “Be kind to yourself and nice to others and also be appreciative of what you have.” Featured in fashion designer’s Andrew Christian coffee-table photography book, Sex = Power = Freedom, and appearing at this month’s Overboard LBC at the Queen Mary during Long Beach Pride, Winwin went through some dark times before ending up on the other side of the tunnel. “Living in Iran was not a happy life… people are just trying to trying to survive day-to-day,” he recently revealed in an interview with Gay Star News. “I think it is important to tell my story because people are unaware of what it is like for most people that have to live in countries like Iran where people are denied every type of freedom, personal choice and chance to advance your life,” said Winwin. “In Iran I was not allowed to wear my hair the way I wanted or shave my face, or wear a t-shirt, and people aren’t even allowed to date or have sex outside of a heterosexual marriage because everything is control by the government… If I would have been identified as gay by the Iranian police or government I would have been killed.” In spite of the above, looking back, reveals Winwin, his childhood memories are mostly pleasurable. “I grew up in a big family with two crazy brothers and spent most of my time doing sports like karate and body building competitions. Overall I had a good childhood. I went to school, had fun with my friends, traveled with my family and enjoyed playing games like Atari,” he tells THE FIGHT. Things changed, however, changed, 3 0 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com

“TELL YOUR READERS THAT THEY SHOULD ALWAYS FOLLOW THEIR DREAMS AND NOT LET ANY OBSTACLES STOP THEM FROM TRYING TO ACHIEVE THEM. IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW BIG YOU ARE— WHAT MATTERS IS HOW HARD OF A HIT YOU CAN TAKE AND GET BACK UP AND KEEP GOING.” when Winwin turned 18 and joined the army (military service is mandatory in Iran). It was during that time when Winwin decided he could never be free if he didn’t make a drastic change. “I decided to leave because I knew I would not be able to have any type of life that would provide me any happiness there,” he told Gay Star News. “Now that I think about,” he tells THE FIGHT, “it kind of blows my mind that I did this alone. I walked for two nights and three days escaping through the mountains to cross the border into Turkey.” Upon arriving in Turkey, Winwin was arrested after authorities revealed he was holding

a forged passport and he was imprisoned for six months. Turkey began the procedures to deport him back to Iran “where I would have been hanged for being a military deserter.” Luckily Winwin was accepted into the United Nations refugee program. “I applied with the help of a lawyer while I was in jail in Turkey so that way I wouldn’t be deported back to Iran. My lawyer Arsham Parsi saved my life by helping me do so.” “I am extremely saddened by Trump’s new policy on immigration,” said Winwin in a recent interview. “I think it is important for Americans to know that people are seeking refugee status in the USA because they love America for the freedom this country provides.” Eventually Winwin made it to Los Angeles and embarked on a life changing career as a go-go boy, an adult film entertainer and model. “I received an email from a porn company… they saw my photos on social media and they wanted me to work for them—so I said yeah because I wanted to try something something new.” “I came out to my family and friends because of the adult entertainment I’m involved in. Some were glad for me, others were upset, but I’m happy with the path I’m on now.” When asked if he has any life lessons he would like to share Winwin says “tell your readers that they should always follow their dreams and not let any obstacles stop them from trying to achieve them. It doesn’t matter how big you are—what matters is how hard of a hit you can take and get back up and keep going.” Catch Arad Winwin at Overboard LBC on Saturday, May 20 at the Queen Mary during Long Beach Pride. for more info visit www.overboardlbc.com.

> > LEO HERRERA, COLUMBINE DEMERS, BRENDEN SCHUCART < <

MAY 2017 | TH E F I GH T 31

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R A D INCLUSI y a g e h t s i s s e n e v i s s i m Dis version of bullying. Cadult A L >> GAY LONELINESS <<

B Y A A R O N S T E LLA

3 4 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com

> > DISMISSIVENESS < <

East

side vs. west side—the rickety tracks of Us vs Them snakes through every city where more than two gays are gathered: in Los Angeles, it’s the Weho Muscle Queens vs the Silver Lake Bears; in San Francisco, the Castro Twinks vs Soma Leather Daddies; in Philadelphia and Nashville, where the gayborhoods occupy a single locale, the clans individuate from bar-to-bar (in Philly, it’s the iCandy Baby Gays vs the Bikestop Grand Bears; and in Nashville, it’s the Tribe Debutantes vs the Canvas Queers). The list goes on. Sound like high school basketball teams, don’t they? Well, that’s because they do. We can act like we’re in high school at times, shoving each other into meaningless lunchroom paradigms without ever questioning our motives. Taking a step back—kind of looks like bullying, doesn’t it? If you’re reading this, you were prob-

ION ably bullied as a teenager. No matter where you are in the world, it’s part of growing up gay.

Fast forward to present day. Bullying has become a budding conversation in our national dialogue, and it’s a dialogue we witness as a distance: we watch cell phone videos of gay kids being assaulted in school; read articles about the trauma and heartbreak; all the while, thinking to ourselves, “how can people be so mean?” Bullying perpetuates bullying; namely, the bullied become the bullies. And when we have enough of the former bullied cohabitating the same social circles, toxics habits can take root unwittingly. The kind of bullying I’m talking about is dismissiveness. Dismissiveness is the gay adult version of bullying, and it’s a huge problem in our community that continues to segregate people to no foreseeable end. Oftentimes, it’s justified as self-defense or boundary-setting, but really, it’s just fear-based responses that devalue the joy of interaction, that which makes us vibrant, happy human beings. But what is dismissiveness, exactly? And what is it not? Who is affected by it? And how do we practice radical inclusion? Let’s get down to business.

ness; that’s setting personal boundaries where consent was ignored. Forgetting someone’s name you’ve met five times and have exchanged 10 words with isn’t dismissiveness; that’s the extent of recall when no emotional connection was formed. Folks get so bent out of shape when people don’t remember their names. Again, that’s not dismissiveness; that’s just how the brain works! Always set personal boundaries and establish consent when it’s ignored. This engages people, Not to mention, engagement is the opposite of dismissiveness.

WHO‘S AFFECTED BY IT? Everyone is affected by it. Everyone perpetuates it. We all dismiss people unwittingly. Usually, dismissiveness crops up between people of noticeably different ages, aesthetics, ethnicities and/or gender expressions/identities. Huddling up with like-bodied/like-minded people is a survival mechanism that kicked in around the time humans came slithering out of the mud. We can work past this habit if we want. In fact, the act of working past this habit is what we call radical inclusion.

WHAT IS IT? Dismissiveness is the contemplation of the damage another person might do to your social image. Fear and contempt are its parents, and its children are indistinct and passive aggressive, making it impossible to call out or reprimand. Accusing anyone of dismissive behavior—in public or on social media—never ends positively; it only drives people apart. This is, however, one example that bears mentioning: that is, sleeping with someone then refusing to acknowledge them outside the bedroom. This happens quite a lot, unfortunately. Everyone has to examine their own inclinations for dismissive behavior. We have to be honest with ourselves. It’s as simple and as complicated as that.

WHAT IS IT NOT? Shooing away a handsy drunk or someone who crashed your conversation isn’t dismissive-

HOW DO WE WORK PAST DISMISSIVE BEHAVIOR? Radical inclusion is the state of intentional openness to others despite any preconceptions you have about their character. That said, radical openness is not the absence of dismissive thought; it’s the choice to move past those thoughts, and to give people a chance. Don’t be political with your affections. Give freely of your love. Be gay with intention, not just impulse. The next time you feel the urge to dismiss someone you know nothing about, ask yourself, “What am I afraid of?” The answer is beside the point. But the frequency of the question is what will open your heart. Aaron Stella is a queer-witch living in San Francisco. He thrives off the love of his friends and his community. They are what give him his light. Aaron tries every day to make everyone feel as fantastic as he does.

The next time you feel the urge to dismiss someone you know nothing about, ask yourself, “What am I afraid of?” The answer is beside the point. But the frequency of the question is what will open your heart. TH E F I GH T 35 MAY 2017 | THE

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>> BY PAULO MURILLO <<

RETURNEES IN RECOVERY

We asked a few local clean and sober guys what it was like to get sober again and stand up as returnees in recovery after their last relapse. FERNANDO POLIO

WALK THROUGH SHAME

“

had eleven months before I relapsed. Coming back wasn’t hard for me because I knew I wanted to get sober and I knew where the love was. There was a little bit of shame to introduce myself as a newcomer, but that went away right away. People showed me love and support. I also knew I was not the only one. I just walked through shame. I told people and got honest. I did contrary action. I was only out for one day. I came back because everything I have right now like my job, the relationship with my family, my friends—that all goes away as soon as I start using drugs. I knew I needed to get honest because I wanted help. People shouldn’t be afraid to come back. It’s OK to be new. We are human beings and we make mistakes. That doesn’t mean we’re bad people. We just need to learn and move forward.” — Fernando Polio, sober since March 4, 2017.

“

disappointment. Everyone has been very supportive. I knew I had to come back. When I was out there using, I reached a point where I couldn’t do it anymore. I wasn’t feeling well. The relapse helped me escape my problems, but only for a little bit. I still had those problems after the relapse. They actually came back ten times worse. I would encourage anyone to come back and I’d tell them to not be afraid. Get over your shame. No one is going to judge you. That’s been my experience. No one has judged me at all.” —Mylo Cayou, sober since April 4, 2017.

MARVIN REYES

“

had 18 months before my last relapse. I was out for a year. Coming back was really hard. Admitting that I fucked up and I don’t have this was very humbling. The biggest fear I had was that people were going to think I was a failure. I’m a people-pleaser, so I want everyone to like me. Once I came back, it was very hard to stay. I couldn’t stop using. Eventually I had to go to an in-patient program at the rescue mission in Oxnard. It’s a hardcore Christian rehab, but it’s free. I went there for five-and-a-half months. I had to return. That’s where it all starts. Returning is the first step towards recovery. You can’t build a bridge without the foundation. It was hard admitting that I had relapsed, but I’m grateful I did everything I did, because I’ve never had the sobriety that I have now. It was different before. I needed to go through all that to get here and I like who I am today.” —Marvin Reyes, sober since May 1, 2016.

KEEP COMING BACK

he most time I had sober was about 83 days. I felt embarrassed and guilty as a returnee. I worried about what people thought of me, but the response was welcoming. They would just tell me to keep coming back, to go to meetings and to share. No one expressed any

MYLO CAYOU 3 8 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com

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>> VIDEO GAMES <<

high school stories, kids, and cats. Even if you hate Japanese role playing games, Persona 5 breaks the mold and pushes it into the meat grinder and gives you something you haven’t played before.

LET’S GET NUTS

PERSONA 5: REBEL WITH A CAUSE

Breaks the mold, pushes it into the meat grinder and gives you something you haven’t played before. BY JO SEPH A RELLA N O

emember your high school days? Those long dreary, boring days in class waiting for the clock to strike 3 or 4 to live your life. The angst of people not understanding you, the freedom and right to choose what you do and where you want to be.. but are held captive. As a kid I remember being in this loop and at times it was fun and at other times, it was was just downright fucking awful. Persona 5, however, takes all the best assets of your high school days and injects them with dark forces, rebellious thieves, zany characters, and personal, intimate questions about doing the right thing and making the right decisions that could lead to life or death. The main character starts out as a young teen rebel who’s stands up for injustice but society works against him and is falsely accused for domestic violence. He is then sent to Tokyo to start a new year, under strict probation, by attending a new school filled with the awesome troublemaker Ryu and your beautiful classmate Ann. It isn’t long before you start realizing that your gym teacher is a abusive asshat and an famous artist is enslaving his pupils, that things start to get a little weird..... OH! Did I mention you meet a cat thief?...who is actually a CAT?........Yea..... Deal with it. From there on you foil dirty assholes and expose criminals by using your Persona or (demon) to fight evil forces in another dimension by stealing their heart to expose their crimes. Yes… it is as crazy as it sounds and you are just getting started...

STYLE Everything. I mean everything, from the menus to the music, the art design, the battle system, is all stylish, sleek, beautiful, and just outright badass. Even if you don’t like 4 0 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com

The battle system is oozing with depth and strategy. What separates the turn base battle system usually seen in Japanese RPG’s is the fact that it is fast and animated. You have Persona abilities, items, guard, melee weapons, guns (range weapon) and Orders to instruct your teammates to do certain commands automatically. All of these things have amazing features, cutscenes, and style. It is truly a sight to behold. I have to say the coolest thing is that you can put demons at gun point and interrogate them, persuade them, or rob them....just brilliant. But even when you are not fighting, you have to pay attention to your personas and your daily life. By living your life as a student you create stronger bonds with your friends and allies. Your character can be eating a meal or seeing a movie. They both increase the power and level of your team. But also, you have to go to school and actually study to increase INTELLIGENCE. You have to do courageous stuff to increase your GUTS. You even have to work on your charm when talking to Ladies OR Guys. Atlus spared no creative juice outside this entry into the series and it shows. By the end of the first three hours, I was hooked and wanting more. I kept asking myself, why can’t my life be like this????

LAST CALL Aside from the battle system and artwork, the story is what truly makes it. A game worth playing to the end. The writing, voice acting, and general nuances of the characters are what drive the game home to a safe spot in your heart. The game asks tough questions about finding yourself, standing your ground, and doing the right thing even if it stands against the status quo. I can’t help but feel that it is Harry Potter directed by Quentin Tarantino...it is that good. But also, the friendships of the characters and story keep you coming back. n

MAY 2017 | TH E F I GH T 41

THEHISTORY >> E L L E N D E G E N E R E S <<

as they do now. Now I feel comfortable with myself, and I don’t have to be fearful about something damaging my career if it gets out, because now I’m in control of it—sort of. No one can hurt me now. TIME: What was harder, this or coming out to your family? This. I mean, I don’t understand a fear of coming out to your friends and family. I’ve been really lucky. I have a really great family. I have parents who understand. My mother understands, now even more so. My father is supportive. My dad said the most hilarious thing when I told him what I was going to do on the show. He said, “You’re not going to go all flamboyant, are ya?” I was like, “Yeah, Dad, I’m going to completely change. I’m going to start wearing leather vests. I’m going to get one of those haircuts that they all have.”

ELLEN DEGENERES

Twenty years ago last month Ellen Degeneres came out of the closet on the April 14, 1997 cover of TIME magazine—and the uproar it caused would seem almost inconceivable today. BY BREN D EN SH U CA RT

t’s hard to remember a time before Ellen was the reigning queen of daytime talk shows, a time before she was America’s sweetheart. But in 1997, when the notion of two women or two men getting “gay married” seemed fantastically far-fetched—a practical impossibility—Ellen because the most controversial person in America when she came out in a long interview with TIME‘s Bruce Handy.

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From the interview:

TIME: So, for the record, are you yourself gay? Ellen DeGeneres: Yes. You’re the first person that I’ve—I mean I knew that I was going to—that was one of the things when I decided to have my character on the show come out, I knew I was going to have to come out too. But I didn’t want to talk about it until the show was done. And you know, I watched my friend Melissa [Etheridge] come out, and she became “the lesbian rock star.” I never wanted to be “the lesbian actress.” I never wanted to be the spokesperson for the gay community. Ever. I did it for my own truth. TIME: Why now? I don’t think I could have done this a long time ago, and I don’t think people would have accepted it as readily

TIME: Is being gay something you struggled with? No. I ignored it because I didn’t really know what it was until I was 18 years old. I dated guys. I liked guys. But I knew that I liked girls too. I just didn’t know what to do with that. I thought, “If I were a guy I’d go out with her.” And then I thought, “Well, I don’t want to be a guy, really.” So I went, “Oh, well,” and just went on with my life. My first gay experience was literally someone else’s idea–I was freaked out even by the thought of it. And I thought that was one experience and it was just her, and I started dating guys again, thinking, “Well, I just need to meet the right one.” Never could, really. Shortly thereafter Ellen went on Oprah’s daytime talk show and was denounced by a bunch of nice-looking midwestern mom types, with their overabundance of denim and vaguely moist-looking perms. Oh, the ’90s… n

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MAY 2017 | TH E F I GH T 43

>> ALEXANDRA BILLINGS <<

actress, a great singer ... S/He & Me has it all—drama, song and dance, and terrific direction and performances.” The show also stars Joey Ruggiero, Jeff Paul, Valerie Stanford, and Kayla Kearney playing friends and family members who helped shape Billings’ story. Alexandra Billings has been acting since 1968 and has performed in hundreds of plays and musicals across the U.S. She’s played everyone from Mama Rose in Gypsy to Mrs. Lynde in A Doll’s House, with nearly every role being a first for a transgender actress.

BILLINGS HAS PERFORMED IN HUNDREDS OF PLAYS AND MUSICALS ACROSS THE U.S.—WITH NEARLY EVERY ROLE BEING A FIRST FOR A TRANSGENDER ACTRESS.

S/HE & ME Alexandra Billings’ theatrical cabaret chronicles the unvarnished, complex and often hilariously wacky story of her life, centering on the transition from the young Scott to the show-stopping Alexandra. BY O RLY LYO N N E

he Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center has announced a limited engagement of S/He & Me: A Theatrical Cabaret, written and performed by Alexandra Billings, star of Amazon Prime’s hit show Transparent. Written by Billings and conceived and directed by Joanne Gordon, the show will open on Thursday, May 25, at 8 p.m. and run through June 11 only. S/He & Me chronicles the unvarnished, complex, desperate, and often hilariously wacky story of Billings’ life, centering on the transition from the young Scott to the show-stopping Alexandra. She carries the story forward through story and plenty of songs. According to BroadwayWorld.com, “Billings is nothing short of miraculous, a great

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She has appeared in numerous television series and will star in the upcoming feature film Valley of Bones. She received her MFA from Cal State Long Beach where she is now an associate professor of theatre. Billings’ activism stretches across the continent and has been honored with awards by many organizations. Her life story, From Schoolboy to Showgirl: The Alexandra Billings Story, was shown on PBS and nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Documentary. For a complete biography, visit www.alexandrabillings.com/. S/He & Me is set to open on Thursday, May 25, at 8pm. The regular running schedule will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m. through June 11. There will be a special added matinee performance on Sunday, June 11, at 3 p.m. General admission tickets are $30 and may be purchased online at lalgbtcenter.org/theatre or by phone at 323-860-7300. Net proceeds from all ticket sales will support the full range of free and low-cost programs and services offered by the Los Angeles LGBT Center.

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THEMUSIC >>

GOLDFRAPP

SILVER EYE Goldfrapp’s new album satiates everything we’ve always loved about this fabulous band. B Y PA U L V. V I TA G L I A N O

ll is good in the universe when Goldfrapp blesses us with new music! Throughout their 18year career, this dynamic UK duo (vocalist Alison Goldfrapp and programmer Will Gregory) have tickled our collective consciousness with each passing effort. With this (their 7th album) mainly resembling their most seminal works (Black Cherry and Supernature), you can expect a heady hybrid of breathless sensuality and stomping, electro-glam beats that alchemize their way into your brain—most upon first listen, some with welcomed repeated spins. Opener “Anymore” is one of its sharpest pulsing club moments, with Alison cooing impatiently, “You’re what I want / You’re what I need / Give me your love / Make me a freak” while standout track “Systemagic” stomps its throb and unfurls its dark charms like a long-lost Depeche Mode single. And the churning “Become The One” was inspired by a documentary Alison saw about transgender children. Her “We’ve got life, We’ve got love / Become the one, You know you are” lyrics encourage us to all live our bliss. For the late night mood-feels, click over to the enigmatic, cinematic grandeur of tracks like “Moon In Your Mouth,” “Zodiac Black” and “Faux Suede Drifter.” In my opinion, while Silver Eye doesn’t break the new ground we’ve come to expect from them, it truly and fully satiates everything we’ve always loved about this fabulous band. If you salute eclectic rule-breakers like Kate Bush, Bat For Lashes, Lorde or Bjork, grab this record immediately. n

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The Fight • QtrPg Vrt 3.56” x 4.6” • RUN DATE: May 2017

>> GAY LONELINESS <<

BROADWAY BARES The annual burlesque show fundraiser for HIV/AIDS is back—hotter than ever!

PHOTOS BY ANDREW ECCLES

lass will be in session this summer at the only college campus where clothing is optional and bodacious burlesque is always in the curriculum. This year’s theme for Broadway Bares is Strip U, an unrivaled evening of seductive striptease production numbers with an academic twist. Featuring more than 150 of the hottest male and female dancers in New York City, the 90-minute show features Broadway’s most talented movers and shakers in a highly choreographed, highly produced spectacular. Broadway Bares was created in 1992 as a way to raise awareness and money for those living with HIV/AIDS. The 26 editions of Broadway Bares have raised more than $15.8 million for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

For more info and tickets go to: broadwaycares.org/pre-event/broadway-bares-2017/. 4 8 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com

MAY 2017 | TH E F I GH T 49

PHOTO: ANDREW J. CEPERLEY

>> I’M FINE <<

I’M FINE CAST: (L-R) RICHARD STOKES, ULYSSES MORAZAN, PERRY POWELL, LEE DOUD.

TOTALLY FINE A fresh, honest, and humorous look at gay male relationships and friendship, and the often-blurry line between the two. BY O RLY LYO N N E

ekkoo.com’s third original series premiered last month. Set in West Hollywood, I’m Fine tells the story of Nate, who just broke up with his boyfriend—“but is totally fine!”—and in doing so takes a fresh, honest, and humorous look at gay male relationships and friendship, and the often-blurry line between the two. Dekkoo calls I’m Fine their first take-it-with-you “pocket series.” Season 1 consists of eight short episodes, each around 5 minutes in length. Los Angeles based director Brandon Kirby crafted each in an effort to challenge long-format series and embrace the short attention spans of “contemporary streaming television viewers.” BRANDON KIRBY “My motivation to make I’m Fine was the end of HBO’s Looking, and how there is no series dedicated solely to how we as gay men experience friendships and relationships,” says Kirby. “Beyond what ‘Looking’ was able to achieve, I want to talk about gay male friendship in the

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way Noah Baumbach’s Frances Ha and the Broad City series have explored the fluidity found within female friendship.” Currently the director of home entertainment sales and acquisitions at Strand Releasing, Kirby began his career in L.A. five years ago at The Hollywood Reporter. When he’s not endlessly scrolling through Twitter (@bkkirby!) you’ll find him training on a bike for AIDS/LifeCycle and pulling together events for Outfest LGBT film festival. He’s also the co-creator of another series, The Exorcists, with his writing partner Jessie Katz; the project was a finalist in the 2016 Austin Film Festival digital scripted competition. Watch I’m Fine on Dekkoo at dekkoo.vhx.tv/i-m-fine.

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MAY 2017 | TH E F I GH T 51

THEEPIDEMIC >> HIV RESISTANT CELLS <<

PHOTO BY MADELINE MCCURRY-SCHMIDT.

TSRI SENIOR STAFF SCIENTIST JIA XIE.

RESISTANT CELLS A new generation of cells is able to block HIV. BY VI CTOR MELAMED

cientists at the Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have found a way to stick HIV-fighting antibodies to immune cells, which may foster a cell population resistant to the virus. The experiments under lab conditions show resistant cells can quickly replace diseased cells under lab conditions, which shows the potential to cure a person with HIV, according to TSRI. “This protection would be long term,” said Jia Xie, senior staff scientist at TSRI and the first author of the study. It was published last month in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The researchers will work with investigators at City of Hope’s Center for Gene Therapy to investigate this new therapy as a potential treatment for HIV. They will evaluate the treatment with safety tests as required by federal regulations. “City of Hope currently has active clinical trials of gene therapy for AIDS using blood stem cell transplantation, and this experience will be applied to the task of bringing this discovery to the clinic,” said John A. Zaia M.D., director of the Center for Gene Therapy, in a statement. “The ultimate goal will be the control of HIV in patients with AIDS without the need for other medications,” said Zaia. A significant new advantage with this treatment is that antibodies hang onto a cell’s surface, blocking HIV from accessing a crucial cell receptor and spreading infection, according to TSRI. n

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THEEVENT >> LA LEATHER PRIDE WEEK | OFF SUNSET STREET PARTY <<

OFF SUNSET

FESTIVAL

2017

he official wrap up of LA Leather Pride Week last month—the Off Sunset Street Party brought all the boys to the yard—in all their beautiful, kinky, fetishy glory! The event featured live music, gourmet food trucks and dozens of hand-picked merchandise, art and novelty vendors.

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>> PHOTOS BY ROBERT GREEN, MOTORBOOT PHOTOGRAPHY <<

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THECALENDAR >> THINGS TO DO << to help us celebrate than our own very fairy godmother, DJ Harvey.

WEDNESDAY MAY 3

OUTFEST—90 MILES West Hollywood Library, 625 N San Vicente Blvd. 7:30pm. Juan Carlos Zaldivar’s 90 Miles (2001) tells the personal tale of the filmmaker’s journey at age 13 from a small town in Cuba to Miami. Zaldivar will be in attendance for a post-screening Q&A.

HOT RODEO PALM SPRINGS A. C. Dysart Equestrian Center, 2101 W Victory Avenue, Banning, CA, 92220. Info: psrodeo.org/hotrodeo. BREAKING BALLS Eagle LA, 4219 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029. 4pm–8pm. Party with the men of ONYX Southwest beer bust.

GIRL POWER! A DRAGALICIOUS SPICE GIRLS TRIBUTE Redline Food & Bar—DTLA, 131 E 6th St., 9pm-12am. More info: RedlineDTLA.com. A full show featuring all the hits and some surprises! Music by Josh Peace. Arrive early because seats will fill up!

THURSDAY, MAY 18

LEGENDARY BINGO Hamburger Mary’s West Hollywood, 8288 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood. 7pm–9pm. Starring Bingo-boy & Drag Queen Bingo Hostess. FRIDAY, MAY 19

CRACKED UP AT THE FAULTLINE Faultline, 4216 Melrose Ave., 9pm-10pm. More info: faultlinebar. com. Stand Up Comedy by and for LGBT & Allies!

RUBBER F*CKER Eagle LA, 4219 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029. 10pm–1am. The hottest party for men into rubber, latex and fetish gear is back! Come dressed in your hottest gear (head to toe) and we will let you into the sexy abyss of kinky men for free! $6 cover otherwise.

THURSDAY, MAY 4

POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE: BEERS & QUEERS Angel City Brewery, 216 Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012. 7:30pm–10pm. More info: angelcitybrewery.com. Join the Outfest Emerging Leaders Council as they host the 3rd Annual Beers & Queers. This year the event will be screening Postcards From The Edge, in honor of Carrie Fisher, who penned the script. Before the screening begins, join them for a very special performance from RuPaul Drag Race star Pandora Boxx. FRIDAY, MAY 5

CINCO DE MAYO LGBT HAPPY HOUR Redline Food & Bar—DTLA, 131 E 6th St, 6pm-9pm. Second annual Cinco De Mayo LGBTQ mixer in downtown Los Angeles hosted by HONOR PAC and Latino Equality Alliance. Free event with a raffle and drinks specials. SATURDAY, MAY 6

DRAG QUEEN WORLD SERIES Glendale Sports Complex, 2200 Fern Ln, Glendale, CA 91208. 1pm–4pm. Tickets available at dragqueenworldseries.com. LA Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence vs. The West Hollywood Cheerleaders in a Charity Ball Game to benefit the Life Group LA and the POZ Life Weekend Seminars. Fun filled, comedy, antic’s, raffles, prizes and food!

SATURDAY, MAY 20

BULLET BAR 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY Bullet Bar, 10522 Burbank Blvd, North Hollywood. 9pm–2am. BC&B PRESENTS: THE BIG ONE Eagle LA, 4219 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles. 9pm–2am First anniversary at the only social event for one of the most popular Instagram pages for bears, cubs, bearded men and fans! And for the first time, exclusive BC&B featured go-go dancers. FRIDAY, MAY 12

RHONDAVOUS RETURNS Union, 4067 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019. 9pm–2am It’s the attack of the 50ft woman & she’s got the world to prove with nothing to lose.

event benefiting the women’s services of the Los Angeles LGBT Center.

TAMMIE BROWN: LIVE AND IN PERSON Hamburger Mary’s, 8288 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA. 8pm–9pm Tammie Brown is backwith her one woman show, Planet Tammie, featuring Michael Catti on guitar. ROAD CODE: BUS TRIP TO SAN DIEGO Eagle LA, 4219 Santa Monica Blvd., 6pm–2am. To purchase tickets, visit eventbrite.com. The first annual Los Angeles Leather Coalition (LALC) full scale family road trip to visit our cousins at Pecs and the San Diego Eagle. Both bars eagerly await with drink specials and fun. Only 50 seats available.

SATURDAY, MAY 13

SUNDAY, MAY 14

AN EVENING WITH WOMEN The Hollywood Palladium, 6215 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028. 6pm. Tickets & Info: www.aneveningwithwomen.org. Get ready to resist, persist, and rock. An unforgettable one night only

BEARS IN SPACE: BRING YOUR MOTHER TO WERK Akbar, 4356 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles. 3pm–2am. Info: www.akbarsilverlake.com. It’s Mother’s Day as well as Summer season opener and who better

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LONG BEACH PRIDE CELEBRATION Shoreline Drive, Long Beach. Through Sunday May 21. More info: ww.longbeachpride.com. The Annual Long Beach Pride Festival over the weekend, with parade on Sunday at 10:30am. Route: Ocean Ave. at Lindero to Alamitos launches with the participants of a mass wedding taking place at 9:30am. OVERBOARD LBC The Queen Mary, 1126 Queens Hwy, Long Beach, CA 90802. 7pm– 2am. Info: www.overboardlbc.com. Long Beach Pride’s Biggest Circuit Party. TUESDAY, MAY 23

VIVA LA CHICAS! Cavern Club Theater inside Casita Del Campo Restaurant,1920 Hyperion Ave, Los Angeles (Silverlake), CA 90027. Runs through May 28. Tickets sold at: www.chicosangels.com. The south of the border hotties, Chico’s Angels in their newest stage venture, a one hour variety show. THURSDAY, MAY 25

S/HE & ME STARRING ALEXANDRA BILLINGS Renberg Theater, 1125 N McCadden Place, Los Angeles, CA 90038. 8pm. A celebration in words and music of the intense relationships and love affairs we all have with our pasts. Starring Alexandra Billings (Transparent), conceived and directed by Joanne Gordon.

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THEFINALFIGHT >>

A WORLD WHERE AIDS NEVER HAPPENED

LEO HERRERA

THE FATHERS PROJECT

Imagine a world where AIDS never happened and our heroes lived. Who would they be? Who would we be? BY BREN D EN SH U CA RT

AIDS

has been the defining feature of gay culture and politics for more than 30 years. It decimated us, changed the course of our history, and robbed us of almost an entire generation of artists, activists, and leaders. It is our shared trauma, the monster lurking under our collective beds. But imagine a world where AIDS never happened and our heroes lived. Who would they be? Who would we be? Those are the questions at the heart of The Fathers Project, a sci-fi “documentary” that can best be described as “Cruising meets Black Mirror meets Beyonce’s Lemonade.” The centerpiece of The Fathers Project is a short film directed & written by artist and film maker Leo Herrera, with the collaboration of queer artists, musicians and performers as well as the GLBT Historical Museum. Herrera and his team just wrapped up shooting in New Orleans—the first of their four planned planned locations—and now they turn to California for phase two. Queer artists and activists from across the country have really thrown their support behind The Fathers Project, and there are an amazing array of gifts from some incredibly talented LGBTQ artists for those who donate. n

You can learn more about The Fathers Project and donate at iftheylived.org. 5 8 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com

THE SCI-FI “DOCUMENTARY” CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS “CRUISING MEETS BLACK MIRROR MEETS BEYONCE’S LEMONADE.”

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