Guide for choosing a health plan through Covered California—for people living with HIV, hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and those considering PrEP.

Five leading California HIV organizations—Access Support Network, AIDS Project Los Angeles, Los Angeles LGBT Center, Project Inform, and San Francisco AIDS Foundation—have released an updated guide for people living with HIV, hepatitis C (HCV), hepatitis B (HBV), and individuals considering pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) on choosing a health insurance plan through Covered California.

The guide contains two parts. The first part explains important things to consider when choosing a plan and includes information about additional benefits that might be available to help pay for the cost of health insurance. The second part includes an analysis of the availability of HIV, HCV, HBV, and PrEP drugs on each of the 12 plans’ drug formularies.

For individuals living with HIV, HCV, HBV, or considering PrEP, it is important to understand all of the options available before enrolling in a new health insurance plan through Covered California. A recent analysis by Avalere found that some 2015 Covered California plans provided limited coverage for prescription drugs and had high out-of-pocket costs.

Their analysis of 2016 Covered California plans found that coverage and cost-sharing for HIV, HCV, HBV, and PrEP drugs varies significantly among insurers. Thus, it is extremely important for individuals to review each plan’s formulary and associated out-of-pocket costs before selecting a new health insurance plan. In addition, because plans can change at any time, we recommend that individuals speak with a certified enrollment counselor or certified insurance agent who understands their individual health needs before making a final decision.

Among the guide’s recommendations:

People with chronic conditions and routine medication needs, including PrEP, should avoid Bronze and Minimum Coverage plans. Despite their low premiums, these plans have high deductibles and out-of-pocket costs that are likely to make access to medications and other benefits unaffordable.

People with incomes between 138% and 250% of the Federal Poverty Level ($16,243-$29,425 for individuals) should strongly consider Silver plans where they will be eligible for help with out-of-pocket costs. The exception is people living with HIV who qualify for additional help through the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) and the Office of AIDS Health Insurance Premium Payment program (OA-HIPP) with incomes over 200% of the Federal Poverty Level who may have lower out-of-pocket costs by selecting a Platinum plan.

Some Californians living with HIV can get their medications covered and/or additional help paying for their medications through ADAP. They may also be able to have their insurance premiums paid by OA-HIPP. People living with HIV are now eligible for these programs if their modified adjusted gross income does not exceed 500% of the Federal Poverty Level ($58,850 for individuals) based on family size and household income.

For Californians interested in PrEP, there are now multiple financial assistance programs that may be able to help pay for the cost of the medication. These programs are supported by Gilead Sciences, Patient Access Network Foundation, and Patient Advocate Foundation.

For the 2016 plan year, people who enroll in a Covered California health plan will pay no more than $250 per month for a 30-day prescription drug supply for Silver, Gold, and Platinum plans and no more than $500 for a 30-day prescription drug supply for Bronze plans.

All Covered California plans are now required to maintain a dedicated prescription drug customer service line where current and prospective members can call for help and receive an estimate of the out-of-pocket cost for specific drugs.

The release of the guide coincides with the open enrollment period for Covered California which began November 1, 2015, and continues through January 31, 2016.

The guide is available at www.projectinform.org/pdf/CCguide.pdf.

An interview with Kevin Stalter, CEO and Board Director of the Thrive Tribe Foundation—a Los Angeles based not-for-profit with a mission to end HIV through peer-to-peer empowerment, building community, and connecting members to care.

By Paulo Murillo

Meet Kevin Stalter. He was diagnosed as HIV positive at age 19 in 1989 and was given about 10 years to live. Today Stalter thrives as a HIV survivor who is fighting the good fight to end stigma and HIV transmissions. This year, he was appointed commissioner to the LA County Commission on HIV, and currently serves as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Board Director of the Thrive Tribe Foundation—a Los Angeles based not-for-profit with a mission to end HIV through peer-to-peer empowerment, building community, and connecting members to care.

In an interview with THE FIGHT, Stalter discussed the end of HIV transmissions, the difference between being HIV positive and being undetectable, the dialogue surrounding actor Charlie Sheen’s HIV status, and why the Thrive Tribe now welcomes PrEPsters as members.

How old were you when you were first diagnosed?

I was 19. I had no idea. I moved here Labor Day weekend in 1988. I went out on my birthday December 27, and I went home with someone. The situation got out of control. I thought that wasn’t a good thing and I didn’t think about it again. I gave blood at a church drive in July. A year later, I got a letter from the Red Cross. They said there was something wrong with my blood…I cried and all of that. The last thing the nurse said to me was, well you’re young, if you take good care of yourself, eat right, and stay off drugs, you have a good 10 or 11 years ahead of you

How is receiving an HIV+ diagnosis today different from when you were diagnosed?

It’s much different. When I first started working with the Thrive Tribe, I thought, oh these guys today have it easy; they just take one pill. You no longer die from it, but it’s still a devastating diagnosis. There’s the stigma, the isolation, the drug abuse that can happen, and it can be horrible navigating the medical care path. It’s not a deadly disease, but it’s a devastating disease.

What is the most common stigma you face being HIV positive?

Rejection is the biggest stigma. So many people who have HIV have been rejected because of it. Some people get rejected because of size, height or weight, so it’s just another thing, but it goes deeper than that. The word AIDS is very stigmatizing as well. Even today, if you have an AIDS diagnosis – you are always an AIDS diagnosis. I am still an AIDS diagnosis from 1994, even though I haven’t had t-cells of that level in 20 years. It’s a legislative thing that needs to change. It’s outdated.

Are there benefits in the dialogue about HIV after someone like Charlie Sheen comes out as positive?

Yes, there are. A lot of our members were taking offense from how the media was covering it; old stigmas were brought up, but any celebrity of that stature that is out, I applaud. The media hasn’t talked about HIV in a decade, so I think it’s good. I just want more people to come out and say they’re undetectable, if they are undetectable, and not just say they’re positive. Those are two things we need to distinguish. We have our four statuses on the website [undetectable, PrEPared, negative and positive]. If you get everybody that’s already positive on treatment and undetectable, you wouldn’t even need PrEP, research shows.

How do you feel about those who criminalize Sheen for not having disclosed his status early on?

We have to decriminalize the act of having sex, because we have to consider whether that person is undetectable or not. We should be screaming from the rooftops that if you’re positive and undetectable, you’re not going to pass it. I’m very concerned about the conversation people are having about PrEP right now, because they’re leaving out the undetectable, and the treatment as prevention portion of the dialogue.

How did you get involved with the Thrive Tribe?

Julian Goldstein, the founder, decided to step away, so I was the natural choice to take over because I had been managing it day to day. We formed in December 2013. We have 2500 members. Now there’s a financial component no different than The [L.A. LGBT] Center or any [non-profit] group. We were able to partner with APLA for the AIDS Walk, so we got to keep 80 percent of the money that we raised from that. We set a record.

After being an exclusively poz group in the beginning, why do you now include HIV negative guys?

If we’re really going to break down the walls of stigma we need to start with ourselves. If there are people who are willing to be part of the fight with us, then we should welcome them. Bring the poz-friendly boys, or the PrEPsters, as I sometimes call them, on board. There are only 22 percent of us, so that leaves 78 percent of the guys who are negative. In the 90s, the gay community was united 100 percent over what had to be done. We needed medications and we needed to save each other’s lives.

What would you tell your 19-year old self after being diagnosed – knowing what you know now?

Stay strong. Get yourself in care. Hook up with our organization. Learn as much as you can about what programs are available if you don’t have health insurance. Find a doctor you love. Take your medication. And you’re going to be just fine. There is great hope for the future.

To donate or for more information on the Thrive Tribe Foundation, visit thethrivetribe.org.

Stress, depression and the holidays: tips for coping.

BY VICTOR MELAMED

Stress and depression can ruin your holidays and be detrimental to your health. Being realistic, planning ahead and seeking support can help ward off the holiday blues.

Here are a few tips to prevent holiday stress and depression, courtesy of the Mayo Clinic at mayoclinic.org.

When stress is at its peak, it’s hard to stop and regroup. Try to prevent stress and depression in the first place, especially if the holidays have taken an emotional toll on you in the past.

1. Acknowledge your feelings. If someone close to you has recently died or you can’t be with loved ones, realize that it’s normal to feel sadness and grief. It’s OK to take time to cry or express your feelings. You can’t force yourself to be happy just because it’s the holiday season.

2. Reach out. If you feel lonely or isolated, seek out community, religious or other social events. They can offer support and companionship. Volunteering your time to help others also is a good way to lift your spirits and broaden your friendships.

3. Be realistic. The holidays don’t have to be perfect or just like last year. As families change and grow, traditions and rituals often change as well. Choose a few to hold on to, and be open to creating new ones.

4. Set aside differences. Try to accept family members and friends as they are, even if they don’t live up to all of your expectations. Set aside grievances until a more appropriate time for discussion. And be understanding if others get upset or distressed when something goes awry. Chances are they’re feeling the effects of holiday stress and depression, too.

5. Stick to a budget. Before you go gift and food shopping, decide how much money you can afford to spend. Then stick to your budget. Don’t try to buy happiness with an avalanche of gifts.

6. Try these alternatives:

Donate to a charity in someone’s name.

Give homemade gifts.

Start a family gift exchange.

7. Plan ahead. Set aside specific days for shopping, baking, visiting friends and other activities. Plan your menus and then make your shopping list. That’ll help prevent last-minute scrambling to buy forgotten ingredients. And make sure to line up help for party prep and cleanup.

8. Learn to say no. Saying yes when you should say no can leave you feeling resentful and overwhelmed. Friends and colleagues will understand if you can’t participate in every project or activity. If it’s not possible to say no when your boss asks you to work overtime, try to remove something else from your agenda to make up for the lost time.

9. Don’t abandon healthy habits. Don’t let the holidays become a free-for-all. Overindulgence only adds to your stress and guilt.
Try these suggestions:

Have a healthy snack before holiday parties so that you don’t go overboard on sweets, cheese or drinks.

Get plenty of sleep.

Incorporate regular physical activity into each day.

10. Take a breather. Make some time for yourself. Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do. Find something that reduces stress by clearing your mind, slowing your breathing and restoring inner calm.
Some options may include:

Taking a walk at night and stargazing.

Listening to soothing music.

Getting a massage.

Reading a book.

11. Seek professional help if you need it. Despite your best efforts, you may find yourself feeling persistently sad or anxious, plagued by physical complaints, unable to sleep, irritable and hopeless, and unable to face routine chores. If these feelings last for a while, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional.

Hailed as “one of the last important links to a glorious tradition in music,” the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA) has been a notable part of Southern California for over thirty-five years.

BY MARK ARIEL  |  PHOTO BY DUSTI CUNNINGHAM

On a July night in 1979, a small group of men opened the doors to a room at the Plummer Park Community Center in Los Angeles (now West Hollywood) and waited and wondered if anybody would show up. They had posted flyers around the neighborhood announcing the formation of a new gay chorus and this night was to be its first rehearsal. To their great surprise, 99 men appeared and a chorus was born. Within three months of that rehearsal, founding director Harold Kjellberg led the group through its first major event: the March on Washington, D.C. and the first national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) concert at the Washington Memorial.

Hailed by the LA Times as “one of the last important links to a glorious tradition in music,” the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA) has been a notable part of Southern California for over thirty-five years.

Since its humble beginnings, GMCLA has grown in size, gained professional artistic and administrative staff, toured nationally and internationally, released several compact discs, and appeared with numerous stage, film, and television celebrities.

GMCLA has performed for 2 sitting U.S. presidents, The Academy Awards, VH1 Awards, Dance Moms, Parks & Recreation, Access Hollywood & I Am Cait. GMCLA has gone on three international tours to South America, Russia and Eastern Europe and has performed for over 41,000 middle and high school students in Los Angeles.

Advocacy Arts

“GMCLA sees itself as an advocacy arts organization,” Kevin Bolling, GMCLA’s Director of Philanthropy, tells THE FIGHT.

“When the chorus was founded, and for a long time, having a group of out gay men singing on stage was a political and social statement.  Presenting high-quality entertaining concerts and enhancing men’s choral arts are highly important and key to GMCLA’s success.”

“While over time, the audacity of being openly gay in Los Angeles has diminished, but the impact is still felt.  The chorus receives messages regularly that a parent is bringing their newly-out child to one of our concerts because they want to support their child and show them there are lots of other openly gay people.”

Through the height of the AIDS crisis, the Chorus lost over 150 members. Only 12 original members remain. As a result, GMCLA has a deep history of service within the LGBT community, singing at countless memorials, making and commissioning music that helps the community to mourn, to celebrate, to dream, and to prepare for victory. 

Alive Music Project

“There are two programs that are very important to the chorus,” says Bolling – “our youth outreach programs: the Alive Music Project and the it gets better Tour.”

“The Alive Music Project began in 2007 and to date has reached over 43,000 students in Los Angeles area middle and high schools. As arts programs in schools are being cut, GMCLA goes in to schools and provides arts education/appreciation.  If the school has a choral student group, our Artist Director will work with the students, improving their skills and teaching the students a song to sing with the members of GMCLA as part of the school performance.”

Members of GMCLA will meet with the gay-straight alliance, discussing bullying and the importance of being an advocate.

GMCLA also performs for the school.  “This isn’t just a performance though.  GMCLA shares their personal stories with the students and answers questions from the students, opening a dialogue with the students to be able to change stereotypes and  teach acceptance and equality.  The relationship doesn’t end after the performance at the school.  GMCLA invites the students to our guests at upcoming concerts, even providing free transportation to the concert.   Usually, we host a Q&A with the students following the concert as well.  Being able to work with students, using music to be able to have a relationship with them, we know that we are helping transform the future generation to be more inclusive and open to the gifts everyone has to offer.”

It Gets Better Tour 

The it gets better Tour began in 2012 and have traveled across the country to 20 cities and held over 80 workshops in middle/high schools and colleges.

“The 8 member cast of the it gets better Tour goes to each town or city for a week.  During the week, the cast does as many workshops, presentations, community discussions as possible. We go in to schools to talk with students, Gay-Straight Alliances, teachers, and administrators to raise awareness of the bullying and building supportive environments for LGBT youth.  We talk with community leaders and elected officials to help them understand the problems facing today’s youth and helping them develop strategies to support their young people.  Also during the week, we work with a community chorus (many times made up of several different choruses) and they perform a song with the cast.  The week ends with a musical theatre performance for the entire community – and the community chorus sings as part of the performance.”

“It is a powerful week,” says Bolling.  “The cast is able to interact with so many youth people in towns where there may not be many role models. The Tour is having a major impact across the country.”

Deep History Of Service

Today  the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles is comprised of an impressive assemblage of 250+ men – using their diverse backgrounds of triumph and tragedy – combining their stories with the common thread of music to create an unbreakable fraternal bond that brings inspiration to the world.

While public understanding of gay life has evolved much since 1979, there is still fierce resistance to lasting change by opponents to LGBT equality. And the road to today has not always been easy. Through the height of the AIDS crisis, the Chorus lost over 150 members. Only 12 original members remain. As a result, GMCLA has a deep history of service within the LGBT community, singing at countless memorials, making and commissioning music that helps the community to mourn, to celebrate, to dream, and to prepare for victory.

For more about the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles visit www.gmcla.org.

Glee actor Mark Salling (“Puck”) arrested on suspicion of possessing child pornography. 

BY VICTOR MELAMED

Former Glee star Mark Salling was arrested at his Los Angeles home on child pornography charges last month.

Salling is best known for playing Noah “Puck” Puckerman on the Fox TV show Glee from 2009-15. The series has been lauded for its groundbreaking, inclusive storylines which prominently featured LGBT characters.

“It should be said right away [that] Salling has not been convicted of a crime. That, however, did not prevent legions on social media from dissecting the 33-year-old’s career as though it were little more than a fresh corpse just arrived at the morgue,” wrote The Washington Post’s Justin Wm. Moyer last month.

Salling started his career in entertainment as a Christian musician. Growing up evangelical in Dallas, some musical genres were verboten. “Madonna was considered the she-devil,” he said in an interview in 2010.

“So sick of celebrities abusing their position as people who can influence the younger generation,” one Twitter user wrote. “The news about Mark Salling is sickening.” Another: “Disappointed to hear about the allegations against Mark Salling. I hope those who were victimized find closure.”

Crime Watch Daily, which broke the story of his arrest, said police used a battering ram to break down Salling’s door and found hundreds of images. Salling has yet to comment on the arrest.

“Though Salling…  had defenders—‘Michael Jackson was an innocent man, the world’s false accusations ruined him,’ one tweet reminded—the list of celebrities who recover from child porn scandals is not long,” writes Moyer.

Salling started his career in entertainment as a Christian musician who once rocked in the name of the lord, reveals Moyer. Growing up evangelical in Dallas, some musical genres were verboten.

“Madonna was considered the she-devil,” he said in an interview in 2010.

Salling was bold enough for a trip many a rocker has unsuccessfully taken in an attempt to make it big: from the heartland to Los Angeles, and eventually got the part of “Puck” on Glee.

Playing Puck, the show’s bad boy, did not come naturally, writes Moyer.

“There are certain times I channel some of the douchebags I went to high school with,” Salling said in 2010. “I want to soften him up a little bit and make him a bit more accessible. He’s one of a kind.”

Though Salling rocketed to fame—performing Motown at the White House, for example—he did not leave his faith behind, reveals  Moyer. One track released under his own name in 2010, “Higher Power,” tread familiar sacred ground, urging listeners: “You should make your peace with God.”

When “Glee” ratings began to drop in 2013 Salling appeared in fewer episodes as the show wound down. That same year he was also hit with a sexual battery lawsuit from an ex-girlfriend, who alleged he had unprotected sex with her despite her request he use a condom, and was eventually ordered to pay $2.7 million, according to the terms of a settlement agreement he entered into in order to resolve the case.

“You hear about fraudulent lawsuits all the time,” Salling said at the time, reports Moyer. “Until it happens to you, you really don’t grasp what it does, not to just you, but to your family …You just have to stay positive, and I personally have a relationship with Jesus Christ and I count on that myself.”

In the days ahead, states Moyer, Salling—now out on $20,000 bail with a Jan. 22, 2016 court date—may need to rely on that relationship more than ever.

The LGBT media monitoring organization GLAAD (glaad.org) has listed their “Most Intriguing LGBT Characters” of 2015. Here is a partial list of last year’s (mostly) new LGBT characters that stood out from the crowd in television and film.

The Bold and The Beautiful

This spring, the long running daily drama The Bold and The Beautiful introduced a new storyline which included established character Maya Avant (Karla Mosley) disclosing that she is a transgender woman. In a special episode that guest starred trans models Carmen Carrera and Isis King, Maya’s boyfriend Rick Forrester proposed. The two were then married in a television first, with Maya’s friend Nick, a trans character played by a trans actor Scott Turner Schofield, performing the ceremony in front of friends and family.

Black Sails

The Starz’ drama Black Sails focused on the backstory of series lead Captain James Flint (Toby Stephens) in the most recent season, including the reveal that Flint was previously in love with a man. Audiences learned that prior to becoming a pirate, Flint was an officer in the British Navy where he worked alongside the aristocrat Lord Thomas Hamilton. As the two worked on a plan to retake the Bahamas from pirate control, they fell in love.

How to Get Away with Murder

The ABC hit How to Get Away with Murder continued to feature dynamic same-sex couples in the show’s second season. In the season two premiere, the show’s lead character Annalise Keating (Viola Davis) was revealed to have had a romantic past with Eve (Famke Janssen), a friend from law school. The disclosure of Annalise’s bisexuality was treated as a non-issue, encouraging viewers to simply accept it as an unremarkable fact. In a groundbreaking story on the series’ spring finale, tech wiz Oliver Hampton (Conrad Ricamora) was diagnosed as HIV-positive and subsequent episodes have included he and his boyfriend Connor (Jack Falahee) discussing the HIV prevention medication PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) and establishing guidelines for their romantic relationship.

The Fosters

ABC Family’s (soon to be Freeform’s) The Fosters is the network’s most LGBT-inclusive series with seven queer characters, including the youngest member of the Adams-Foster clan, Jude (Hayden Byerly), and his boyfriend Connor (Gavin MacIntosh). The two broke new TV ground when they shared a kiss in an episode this spring.

Sense8 

Over the summer Netflix premiered the new sci-fi drama Sense8, co-created by Lana and Andy Wachowski. The series follows eight strangers around the world who suddenly learn that they have a mysterious connection which allows them to access each other’s experiences, skills, and emotions. The pressure is on to find answers as they are being hunted down by a mysterious organization that is determined to silence them. The sensate group includes hacker and blogger Nomi (Jamie Clayton) who happens to be a trans woman, and closeted Mexican telenovela and film star Lito (Miguel Angel Silvestre). Nomi’s girlfriend Amanita (Freema Agyeman) is brought in on the secret and works to help the group find answers, while Lito struggles to hold on to his boyfriend Hernando (Alfonso Herrera). Sense8 is currently filming a second season to premiere on Netflix in 2016.

Grandma

Out actress Lily Tomlin has earned rave reviews for her role as Elle Reid in Grandma, her first leading film role in 27 years. Elle is a lesbian poet coping with the death of her long-term partner. As she suddenly ends a four-month relationship with a younger woman, she receives a visit from her 18 year-old granddaughter Sage who has found out she is pregnant and needs money for an abortion. The two embark on a road trip to come up with the money, including a visit to Elle’s close friend and tattoo artist, Deathy, played by Laverne Cox. Elle is hilariously acerbic and misanthropic, but still feels very real and relatable. Tomlin was nominated for a Golden Globe in Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical for her work as Elle.

Carol

Based on Patricia Highsmith’s novel The Price of Salt (with screen adaptation by out writer Phyllis Nagy), Carol explores lesbian sub-culture of the 1950s through the relationship between Carol (Cate Blanchett) and shop girl Therese (Rooney Mara). Blanchett and Mara capture the emotional clarity of first love, but also the loneliness of not being allowed to be out about their love. With Carol in the middle of a messy separation and custody battle with her affluent husband, and Therese working as a department store clerk with a passion for photography, their apparent differences in class and background present an interesting backdrop against which their love blooms. Carol, which has picked up several awards nominations, is available in theaters now.

Marvel’s Jessica Jones

Marvel’s Jessica Jones premiered late last year to critical acclaim with audiences excited for a female-led superhero series. The series is the second of four created by Marvel and Netflix which will eventually lead to a crossover miniseries. Jessica Jones follows the titular former superhero, who possesses super strength and jumping abilities, as she tries to get her life back in order after being under the mind control of the notorious villain Kilgrave. Jones opens a PI business and is frequently hired by high powered lawyer Jeri Hogarth (Carrie-Anne Moss) to get answers when no one else can. As the season unfolds, viewers get to know Jeri and learn that she is in the middle of a messy divorce from her wife Wendy and in a relationship with her secretary Pam.

Ann Rostow’s highly anticipated, most revered,
insanely popular annual news quiz.

BY ANN ROSTOW

Don’t you hate end of year tests and reviews? Yes, me too, with the salient exception of my own clever version of the genre. I started this annual quiz in order to carve out time for myself over Christmas and New Years, but it turns out the damn thing is far more labor intensive than writing a column. Now, however, tradition has set in and I am committed to the yearly exercise.

I recognize that several of these questions have little or nothing to do with our valiant battle for civil rights. But loyal readers will recognize that much of this GLBT news column has little or nothing to do with our community anyway, so the challenge is a fair one. That said, let’s begin!

1. In Obergefell v Hodges, Justice Kennedy ruled that: a) the Equal Protection Clause requires same-sex couples to be treated the same as heterosexual couples as far as marriage is concerned. b) Same-sex couples have a fundamental right to marry under the Due Process Clause. c) Sexual orientation discrimination must be evaluated using heightened legal scrutiny. d) Laws against same-sex marriage comprise an unconstitutional form of sex discrimination. e) All of the above.

2. Ruth Bader Ginsburg said she fell asleep during the State of the Union speech because: a) she stayed up all the previous night writing an opinion since she had a “hot pen.” b) She was taking medication for tinnitus. c) She drank too much at dinner with Justice Kennedy. d) President Obama employed a “hypnotic cadence.”

3. According to an Eighth Circuit ruling last January, a woman who was constructively fired for pumping breast milk on the job had no case for sex discrimination because: a) Her boss was a lesbian. b) The majority of her colleagues were women. c) Her baby was in child care. d) Men technically have the capacity to lactate.

4. Judgment call. The 2015 hypocrisy award, men’s category, goes to: a) The former conservative Speaker of the House, Denny Hastert of Illinois, who abused a student when he was a wrestling coach at Yorkville High School. b) Matthew Makela, the right wing Michigan pastor and father of two who told the guys on Grindr that he liked to cuddle naked. c) Boyd Holder, of Kingsport, Tennessee, who embezzled $100,000 from his church and was caught having gay sex in a van. d) Todd Courser, the married first term tea party Michigan state representative who fabricated a gay sex scandal in order to divert attention from the affair he was having with an also-married female colleague. e) Randy Boehning, the antigay North Dakota state representative who was caught sending selfie dick pics to other men.

5. True or False. We learned this year that: a) Doctors in the 19th Century recommended cocaine as a cure for lesbianism. b) Marilyn Monroe had seven toes on her left foot. c) Kate Mulgrew of Orange is the New Black came out of the closet. d) A California man filed a ballot initiative that called for gays and lesbians to be put to death. e) The Russian iPhone’s version of Siri refuses to answer questions about anything gay. f) Pope Francis bought a copy of “Poco Ouvo,” a children’s book, written by a lesbian, that tells the story of a little egg who meets different types of people and families. g) Rutherford B. Hayes, our 19th president, was bisexual. h) Archaeologists in the Czech Republic discovered the earliest known grave of a gay man, dating from 2900 to 2500 BC.

6. In which of these localities was marriage equality not legalized in 2015? a) Scotland. b) The Faroe Islands. c) Chihauhau, Mexico. d) Guam. e) The United States. f) Transylvania. g) Pitcairn Islands. h) Ireland.

7. Last year, we learned about a dolphin named Dolly, who reportedly: a) Had a sexual affair with an author in the 1970s. b) Helped a pregnant woman give birth in mid-ocean. c) Fell in love with a female orca named Cindy. d) Saved the lives of two lesbians who were vacationing in Hawaii.

8. Sylvia Driscoll was: a) A Nebraska woman who filed a seven-page hand-written federal lawsuit against “homosexuals,” on behalf of God and His son, Jesus Christ. b) A lesbian from St. Petersburg, Florida, who was arrested after attacking her ex with a dildo during a police-supervised visit to retrieve her property. c) A hotel manager in West Des Moines, who called 911 to report two transgender guests because they were dressed “over the top” and might have been “hookers.” d) A party-goer in Manchester who attacked her gay friends with a broom under the influence of “bubble.”

9. Which of the following companies did not run commercials featuring gay or lesbian characters last year? a) Campbell’s Soup, b) Wells Fargo, c) Tide, d) Doritos, e) Chobani.

10. Aside from the High Court’s marriage ruling, the most significant gay rights development in 2015 was: a) Abandoning the fight for the Employment Nondiscrimination Act in favor of the Equality Act. b) The EEOC’s decision to interpret Title VII to ban sexual orientation bias in the workplace. c) The High Court’s decision to return visitation rights to a lesbian mother in Alabama pending further litigation. d) A New York federal court decision calling for heightened scrutiny of transgender discrimination. e) The national outcry, particularly from business leaders, that greeted an antigay religious freedom proposal in Indiana.

Answers  1. b) Did you pick all of the above? Nope. The decision was fairly narrow.   2. c) (“I wasn’t 100 percent sober,” she admitted).   3. d) !   4. Five-way tie. (A cop out, I know.)   5. a) True, b) False (she had six toes on her left foot), c) False, d) True (the “sodomite suppression act”), e) True, f) False (the author sent him a copy), g) False (to the best of our knowledge). h) True.   6. a) (Scotland welcomed marriage in 2014) and f) (Transylvania? Really?).   7. a) (She did it for love, reportedly.)   8. a) (The case was tossed, but why was it even looked at?)   9. c) (Tide ran a gay ad in Canada last year, and someone recently created a terrific spec ad for the company making fun of Kim Davis.) and d) (Doritos created a limited run of rainbow chips to support the It Gets Better project, but they didn’t run an ad.)  10. b) (A matter of opinion perhaps.)

Jordan Goodwin’s new social media platform helps people make friends with similar interests—a sort of “Grindr for everything else.”

BY BRENDEN SHUCART

It can be strangely difficult to make friends in the Digital Age, the vast oceans of the internet have a way of making islands of us despite our constant connection. My fiancé, Jordan Goodwin, has a plan to harness those waters and bend them to the purpose of turning strangers into friends.

His solution to the loneliness problem is Meet (the app), a new social media platform which combines geolocation and group chat to help individuals connect with people in the world around them who share their interests, outlooks, and ideals—a sort of “Grindr for everything else.”

Why don’t you tell the readers a little bit about yourself?

I’m 30-years-old, I grew up just outside of Detroit, and I live in Hollywood with my fiancé—that’s you—and our two great dogs. You and I recently launched an app designed to help people make friends; we call it “Meet (the app).”

“Making friends is hard—especially once you are out of school—and it sucks being lonely! … When I moved to L.A. in my mid-twenties I found new friends were hard to come by.” 

They are pretty great dogs, aren’t they? How did you come to find yourself in the City of Angels?

I originally moved out to L.A. for a programming gig and from there I pretty quickly got recruited by Grindr, where I had the privilege of working for about about three years before leaving to start Meet.

What is Meet (the app)? How does it work?

It’s sort of like Tinder meets Reddit. There are hundreds of groups covering all sorts of communities, interests, and occupations; actors, bookworms, cancer survivors, and so on. You can be a part of as many of these communities as you want, to find neighbors who care about the same stuff you do—and there’s a chat section to join conversations happening nearby.

What problem does Meet solve?

There’s tons of ways to find people for dates and hookups, but there’s really no decent way to find a colleague or friend nearby. That’s what we aim for: to connect people nearby through shared interests.

Why do you feel compelled to help people make friends?

Making friends is hard—especially once you are out of school—and it sucks being lonely! I spent almost my entire life in Michigan and I have an amazing network of friends there. But when I moved to L.A. in my mid-twenties I found new friends were hard to come by.

What did you learn at Grindr that has helped you with Meet?

I learned a lot at Grindr! Meet (the app) isn’t a dating network, but a lot of the principles are the same; I wanted it to be simple, intuitive, and get out of the way so people can connect. I’ve always been really interested in the way we use technology to interact with each other, and I think now that dating apps have made people comfortable with meeting people off the internet they are ready to do so for reasons other than romance.

How is Meet different from other apps designed to connect people?

It’s great to connect with people on Twitter, Tumblr, etc., who you share a lot in common with—but chances are that person is going to live across the country, if not on another continent. Facebook is useful for staying in touch with people who are already an important part of your life, but it isn’t great for meeting new people. At Meet we focus on introducing you to people around you who share your interest.

Who is Meet for?

Well, right now our most robust community is definitely vegans, and it has really taken off in Barcelona. Recently we’ve also seen a lot of activity among PrEP users, dog lovers, and Game of Thrones fans—but there’s really something for everyone. It’s all about connecting you with new friends nearby.

What does the future hold for meet?

We’re really excited to be moving into a new office on Hollywood Boulevard in early January. As we grow, we need help with development and building new communities, so we’re looking for tech and marketing guys, advisors, and investors! Reach out to us: hello@meet-the-app.com.

Meet (the app) is an app to help people make friends with similar interests; it is available for free in the App Store for iOS phones. You can learn more about Meet (the app) at meet.is.

Michael Weinstein’s Anti-PrEP Crusade is a betrayal of AHF’s own mission to provide cutting-edge care.

BY BRENDEN SHUCART

People say nobody is angry about HIV anymore. But that’s untrue. I’m angry.

I’m angry that I spent the first 24 years of my life terrified that I would get HIV, and the subsequent decade equally terrified I’d give it to someone else.

I’m angry that AIDS deprived me of an entire generation of potential mentors, friends and heroes. And I’m angry that I had to learn how to be gay in AOL chatrooms.

I’m angry that every single time someone calls me—in that same breathless, shattered tone—and asks me what they’re supposed to do now that they, or someone they love more than anything in the world, has tested positive for HIV. I’m angry that I’ve answered that call more times in the last five years than I care to remember.

I’m angry that I knew what AIDS was before I knew what sex was. I’m angry that HIV has become my life.

HIV makes me angry. I’m angry all the time.

But few things stoke my anger like the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and its CEO, Michael Weinstein.

Those who have enabled this crusade to stigmatize the most effective HIV prevention tool in existence will come to the end of their days and look back in shame at the lies they helped to propagate.

Campaign To Smear

This month the AHF is rolling out a new ad campaign entitled “PrEP: The Revolution That Didn’t Happen.”

Scheduled to appear in a number of publications that cater to the LGBTQ communities—including the Florida Agenda, Washington DC’s Metro Weekly and Washington Blade the South Florida Gay News, Gay City News in New York City, Dallas Voice, Georgia Voice, as well as Frontiers and the Bay Area Reporter here in California—the purpose of this paid advertisement is to discredit PrEP and stigmatize those who would adopt it—despite the fact that PrEP is almost 100% effective at preventing the spread of HIV.

In fact this “editorial advertisement” (marketing-speak for paid ads designed to blend innocuously into the surrounding magazine) is only the most recent salvo in Weinstein’s long running campaign to smear PrEP, it’s adherents, and advocates by claiming that PrEP is a “failure,” using inaccurate and out-of-date data to make PrEP seem unpopular when the actual number of individuals taking Truvada to prevent contracting HIV is probably closer to 30,000.

“Getting To Zero”

Widespread adoption of a new medical intervention often takes a decade or more, yet in the last year new prescriptions for PrEP have jumped 335 percent.

Wienstein has called PrEP a “party drug” and claims it’s only for people “who have multiple partners and never use condoms,” despite the fact that most people contract HIV from an intimate partner who themselves are unaware of their status; despite the fact that only 46 percent of gay men use a condom every time, and inconsistent condom use is about as effective at preventing the spread of HIV as never using a condom at all.

They call PrEP unproven Even though the City of San Francisco has made PrEP an integral part of its “Getting to Zero” campaign, and as a result new infections in that city have dropped to 300. Can you imagine it? 300 new HIV infections in a city which for my entire life has been a byword for “faggots dying of AIDS.”

Practically A Holocaust

AIDS has claimed the lives of more than 630,000 people in the United States alone. That’s the population of Washington D.C. Another 1.2 million are living with the virus, and more than 60% of them are gay or trans. Another 50,000 are diagnosed every year; 44% of whom will be black, despite African Americans making up 12% of the population. If you are black and gay in America there is a 1 in 3 chance you will contract HIV.

That’s what 34 years of condoms and testing have given us; practically a holocaust of the gay and trans communities, and another on the horizon for the black community.

We have spent the better part of three decades barely holding back the tide, and that was the best we could hope for.

But now we have PrEP, and PrEP has the potential to end the AIDS epidemic. To reject PrEP is to betray AHF’s own mission: “Cutting Edge Medicine and Advocacy Regardless of Ability to Pay.”

Not Against Condoms

PrEP is the very cutting edge of the fight against HIV.

Yet Weinstein and AHF would have us double down on the status quo. Pursuing the same course of action while expecting a different result is the very definition of insanity. They call PrEP “unproven,” but the only alternative they offer is a proven failure.

I’m not against condoms. Proper condom use needs to be a central part of sex education. But if condoms could have brought an end to AIDS by themselves, AIDS would be over by now.

By almost any metric PrEP is a superior HIV prevention tool than condoms; I know we aren’t supposed to say that, but it’s true.

It is almost 100 percent effective when taken every day as directed. It continues to offer considerable protection even if a dose is missed. And it allows for more pleasure and more intimacy than most people tend to experience with condoms.

Fact is, the one way in which condoms beat PrEP is by protecting against a broad spectrum of STIs; but as a method of ending the HIV epidemic condoms have been tested over the last three decades—and they have failed spectacularly.

Spreading Misinformation

In the coming months, young queers all around the country are going to open these papers and think that PrEP can’t protect them from HIV, or that it’s only “a good solution for individuals who have multiple partners and never use condoms,” (you know, sluts who don’t care about themselves or their community).

They aren’t going to take PrEP because the same fucking ad doesn’t tell them that the majority of people who get HIV get it from a partner ignorant of their status.

Because of this ad, people who need PrEP aren’t going to take it. Because of this ad, the HIV epidemic is going stretch out just a little bit longer than it needs to.

It’s a travesty, and Michael Weinstein bears personal responsibility for it. And he does not bare that responsibility alone.

Equally culpable are the members of AHF’s board of supervisors, who sit idly by while Weinstein diverts funds from the AIDS service organization they are stewarding, to spread misinformation likely to lead to new HIV infections, as well as the magazines who deliver that misinformation.

Publishers’ Compromises

I know as well as anyone, the publishing industry is in dire straits, and probably no corner of it has been hit harder than the magazines and news weeklies which serve queer communities all across America. I have seen firsthand the sorts of unenviable compromises publishers and editors are forced to make in order to keep their magazines and papers on the shelves, the Faustian bargains struck to keep the doors open and lights on.

But this time the price is too high.

Those who have enabled this crusade to stigmatize the most effective HIV prevention tool in existence will come to the end of their days and look back in shame at the lies they helped to propagate.

Unacceptable Status Quo 

There is no real debate. In 2015, if you aren’t serious about PrEP, you aren’t serious about ending the HIV epidemic. Period. The status quo is unacceptable and PrEP’s efficacy is unassailable.

If you agree with me, I hope you will join me in contacting the members of AHF’s board of supervisors, and the magazines these anti-PrEP ads are running in and let them know.

Cynthia Davis, MPH, Chair of the Board, tel: 323-563-9309, email: cynthiadavis@cdrewu.edu.

Rodney L. Wright, MD, Senior Vice President, tel: 718-904-2767, email: rwright@montefiore.org.

Diana Hoorzuk, Global Vice Chair, tel: 323-860-5200, email: diana.hoorzuk@aidshealth.org.

Steve L. Carlton, Esq., Treasurer, tel: 323-860-5200, email: steve.carlton@aidshealth.org.

Scott Galvin, Secretary, tel: 305-895-9815 or 305-895-9818, email: scott@scott-galvin.com.

Agapito Diaz, tel: 323-860-5200, email: agapito.diaz@aidshealth.org.

William Arroyo, MD, tel: 213-738-6152, email: william.arroyo@aidshealth.org.

Mary Ashley RN, MPH, tel: 323-860-5200, email: mary.ashley@aidshealth.org.

Curley L. Bonds, MD, tel: 310-668-3588, email: curleybonds@cdrewu.edu.

Condessa Curley, MD, tel: 213-840-1368, email: ccurley@ProjectAfricaGlobalInc.org.

Judith Marsh, Fundraiser for political campaigns and not-for-profit organizations, tel: 323-860-5200, email: judith.marsh@aidshealth.org.

Lawrence Peters, MS, Media, sales, and nonprofit consultant/advisor, tel: 323-860-5200, email: lawrence.peters@aidshealth.org.

Elizabeth Mendia, tel: 562-693-2247, email: emendia@wrhap.org.

Anita Ann Williams, RN, tel: 213-840-1368, email: suwanneeneat@yahoo.com.

Brenden Shucart is a frequent contributor to The Fight and former editor of Positive Frontiers. He sits on the board of the HIV & Hep-C advocacy nonprofit, Project Inform.

Despite a number of complaints gay Squirt.org ad campaign will remain at train stations throughout the country.

by Orly Lyonne

Outdoor advertisements for the gay hook-up app Squirt will not be banned in the Netherlands, despite a number of complaints, reports PinkNews.co.uk.

Squirt had put up the large signs and posters at major train stations across Rotterdam, Amsterdam Utrecht and The Hague.

Despite a number of complaints, the Advertising Standards Board (ASB) has ruled in favor of the site – and will allow the campaign to continue, reports PinkNews.co.uk.

One complaint said: “It is highly inappropriate that such a website is being promoted in the public space.”

The second complainant claimed that the ad was designed to entice children into visiting the website, while a third said it was “truly sickening and shocking.”

However, the ASB found that the ads met “the necessary precautions… in the context of good taste and public decency.”

It added that while the models are topless, they are not “shown in a sexually provocative pose” or “suggesting any sexual acts.”

The app’s ads were previously removed from trains in Canada – after the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) claimed they encouraged gay commuters to “break the law.” TTC spokesperson Danny Nicholson said: “The ad was taken down as it promoted sex in public places, which is against the law.”

In this country, reports The Advocate, Squirt billboards in Dallas met with similar opposition.

BDSM Educator & “Pro-Dom” Shae Flanigan is resurrecting the Ms. Los Angeles Leather after a 17-year-hiatus, bringing a renewed sense of unity to the Southland’s Leather community.

BY BRENDEN SHUCART

As far back as she can remember, Shae Flanigan has always been kinky. Where most kids play “tag,” she played ‘kidnapper.’

“I remember trying to tie myself up, just to see if i would be able to get out of it, because I was curious If i could.” She almost broke her wrist once when her mom came home early.

When she was eight, before she had the internet to offer instruction, Shae had imagination—and a roll of duct tape, which she used to make her first corset. “I can’t even express to you how painful that was to try to remove in the shower.”

She grew up in the Pacific North West, a self-described “total tomboy.” According to Shae, all of her friends were boys whom she loved to wrestle and tickle.

In her first high school relationship “we just naturally fell into the roles of dominate and submissive—and that was before I knew anyone else did these things. We felt like the two freaks on the planet.”

Shae self-identifies as “queer,” because though 99.99% of her partners are female, gender-queer, or gender-fluid, in her words, “Every now and then there is someone with amazing energy who slips through that loop. I’m an energy player first and foremost.”

In her first high school relationship “we just naturally fell into the roles of dominate and submissive—and that was before I knew anyone else did these things. We felt like the two freaks on the planet.”

“I was 15 and he was 17. He was wonderful, and he was flamboyant, and he was fantastic. And he frankly made a better girl than a boy, and I helped him with that. He became my ‘sissy maid,’ and that was our relationship.”

Eventually Shae made her way to Los Angels, a city she called home for ten years. “I like to say it took me about that long to dry out.”

She still considers L.A. to be her home, though recently an illness in her family has compelled Shae to return the Pacific North West in order to become a full-time caretaker.

OFTEN THE PROTECTORS

In 2014, Shae was the inaugural recipient of the Ms. Sanctuary Leather title, an honor that she is clearly very proud of—but more for what the title represents and the values that it embodies than as a mark of personal achievement.

“Sanctuary is a very cool title—it’s the first leather/pro-dom hybrid. There has never been another one like it.”

Shae tells me that there has been a long-running stigma against pro-dons (i.e. “professional dominate,” the preferred nomenclature for what is often called a “dominatrix”), that they aren’t really “Leather.”

“But if people look back in their history, they’d know pro-doms were often the protectors of the women’s community. For a long period of time, especially in the ‘70s; pro-doms used to be the ones who kept the play parties safe. For people to find the location of the play party, they had to first play with the pro-dom—prove that they weren’t cops—and only then would they be given the location, after she vetted them.”

It was the pro-dom, sticking her neck out, risking arrest, for the community.

“A lot of people forget that history,” says Shae.

Ms. Sanctuary Leather was also the first L.A.-wide Women’s title since the short-lived original Ms. L.A. Leather went into hiatus in 1999, and as a result Shae felt a calling to be an ambassador for the city’s Women’s Leather community.

“I spent my year introducing myself, because we haven’t had an L.A. title roaming around the country.” Many people Shae encountered didn’t even know L.A. had a women’s community. These experiences inspired her decision to resurrect the Ms. L.A. Leather.

Already an experienced pro-dom and a BDSM educator when she came into her title, Shae was able to use her teaching to help support her journey. “And I just kept going—event, to event, to event. My goal for my year was to go as far as my bank account would take me, and then some.”

Even an inheritance Shae received that year ended being being channeled into her travels.

“Because we didn’t have a Ms. L.A. during my year, I rocked out like I was Ms. L.A. which is what helped me get the idea of exactly what I wanted this contest to be, and why I felt so strongly that we needed to have this title back.”

THE “SASH-SPOUSE”

In Los Angeles there are ten titles which “feed” into the Mr. L.A. Leather contest: Mr. Christopher St. West Leather, Mr. Sister Leather, Mr. Sanctuary Leather, Mr. Regiment, Mr. SoCal Leather, Mr. L.A. Leather Bear, Eagle L.A. Mr. Leather, Mr. Oil Can Harry’s Leather, Mr. Bullet Leather, & Mr. Pistons Leather.

Whoever of them wins Mr. L.A. Leather goes on to compete at International Mr. Leather, while the First Runner-up goes on to compete at American Brotherhood Weekend in Chicago.

Ms. Los Angeles Leather was recently accepted under the auspices of the L.A. Leather Coalition—the organization that owns and supports the Mr. Los Angeles Leather title.

Ms. L.A. Leather will be considered the “sash-spouse” to Mr. L.A. Leather. And it’s feeders will be Ms. Sanctuary & Ms. Bullet. The competition is open to any female-identified person, of any orientation.

Whoever wins Ms. L.A. Leather will have her choice to go on to Women’s International Legacy Weekend, or International Ms. Leather—which is equivalent to International Mister Leather.

THE SOCAL SISTERS

In 2014, Shae reached out to Ms. SoCal Leather and Ms. San Diego Leather and together they established the SoCal Sisters, a parallel to the Los

Angeles Band of Brothers–a fraternal brotherhood of past and current “Mr. Leather” titleholders in the greater L.A. area. “I was tasked with forming it… on stage when they made me Ms. Sanctuary.”

“One of our main goals is to try to keep women from having to reinvent the wheel every single time, because it’s hard. You get a title and it takes about three months to get your feet under you and figure out what you’re doing. And then it takes you a bit longer to figure out what you want to do with your year. And then by the time you are actually comfortable in your boots, your year is coming to an end.”

“We need to help each other and be a good network of support for each other. So anytime someone has a question, they have this sisterhood behind them.”

THE GODDESS MOON

Part of that sisterhood is the Goddess Moon. As the second recipient of the Ms. Sanctuary Leather title she is Shae’s “sash-daughter,” and she credits Shae not only with building up the institutions on the community of Leather Women, but also building bridges between it and the other Leather communities.

“I think the Trans community is carving its own space out, but there is a Heterosexual community, a Men’s space, and a Woman’s space. In my year I have tried to bridge those gaps, blending those communities. She definitely started it.

“There have been several women in our community—from San Diego up to the Bay Area—who have for years been trying to bridge the gap between the Men’s and Women’s communities. And saying ‘we have our space when we need our space.’ Particularly when it comes to playing—sometimes women just want to play with women and men just want to play with men—that’s fine. We all need our individual spaces some times. But when it comes to the bars, when it comes to the conventions and things like that, we need to come together; we need to come together as a community.”

According to Goddess Moon, there is a “certain generation” who believes that men should have their own spaces and not co-mingle, especially at the bars.

She attributes this kind of thinking as a hangover from a time when sex in leather bars was a common occurrence. “They didn’t want women around because they’d cut into their cruising ability. I think it was a perception that women would be a hindrance on their ability to cruise and have sex in the bar. And there are women who don’t want to see a man’s penis—I’m not one of them, I don’t care. You want to suck a dick in a corner? Go suck a dick in a corner. I’m here to socialize and hang out with my brothers and sisters.”

Interestingly, Goddess Moon had never been to a leather bar before receiving her title. “I didn’t know that I was welcome.” But the first time she stepped into Bullet she received a hearty congratulations and express invitation from Michael Lara, the owner.

“He has been amazing to our Women’s Community. In fact, he just held his first Women’s Title. It is the first bar title for a woman in L.A. and he did it knowing he might lose customers, and he didn’t care. He said it was about community.”

THE COMPETITION

The Ms. Los Angeles Leather competition is scheduled take place over Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend, January 15 – 18, 2016.

Friday at 6pm there is a “meet & greet” with the contestants at Rough Trade Gear, 3915 W Sunset Blvd, 90029 which will include raffles, prizes and contestant number draw.

Saturday the contestants are interviewed.

Sunday the competition will be held at the Threshold Society, 11300 Hartland St, North Hollywood, 91605. At 5pm the doors open for cocktails, cigars & bootblacking. The contest begins at 6pm and afterward there will be a play party.

Monday from 3:00pm – 7:00pm, the Victory BBQ is at Bullet Bar, 10522 Burbank Blvd, Los Angeles, 91601.

International Bear Convergence (IBC), the premier winter event for bears & their admirers takes place in Palm Springs next month, February 2-8, 2016. 

BY VICTOR MELAMED

It’s that time again! The International Bear Convergence (IBC) comes to life next month in Palm Springs with DJs, live entertainment and thousands of bears from around the globe. “The last two years were hugely successful and we expect more of the same in 2016 with record-breaking attendance,” says the event’s co-producer Nino Eilets

“The response has been overwhelmingly positive. With many, many repeat attendees and of course lots of first timers who have heard that this is the place to be in February, especially if you are wanting to escape a cold climate & warm up with some hot guys [laughs],” Eilets tells THE FIGHT.

“Our first host hotel, The Hard Rock Hotel sold out a couple of months ago,”  reveals Eilets. “But never fear we have a second host hotel; The Hilton Palm Springs, located across the street from The Hard Rock- they are taking reservations as well. But you might want to reserve soon because this hotel is selling pretty quickly.”

ALL THE ACTION

“Like with previous years,” says Eilets, “we are welcoming bears and admirers from all over the globe, West Coast, East Coast, Mid West, Europe and even Asia. So you see this is truly going to be an International Bear Convergence!

When asked if there will be any changes in the program from last year—Eilets states that “for the past years the format has been quite successful and you know what they say.. ‘If it ain’t broke…’

“We want to make sure that the attendees have the best experience possible. One thing that is different from last year is the Host Hotels. We are at the Hard Rock Hotel & The Hilton Palm Springs—and we couldn’t be more excited. They are both fantastic spots and are right smack dab in the middle of all the action that Palm Springs has to offer; even more so than the hotel from previous years. Another addition will be that we will have 2 concerts during the weekend. On Friday night, directly from Spain DaddyB, the “I Want A Bear” singer will be performing for the first time in the US. On Saturday night we present 90’s Dance Club Diva, Kristine W who I am sure will be bringing the house down.”

THEMED POOL PARTIES

“You don’t want to miss this premier winter event for bears & admirers,” exclaims  Eilets. “The desert oasis that is Palm Springs turns into a winter den at the beautiful Hard Rock Hotel  for thousands of frisky, furry bears, their friends and their fans. The perfect weekend destination and one of the only US cities that boasts an average temperature of 70 degrees in February. During the day kick back like a rock star and enjoy themed pool parties with music provided by world renown DJ’s at the fabulous Hard Rock pool. With multiple bars, cabanas and outdoor lounge areas you’re destined to have a fantastic day. After the sun goes down, evenings will heat up with three high-energy dance parties.”

“Weekend passes are still available at www.ibc-ps.com but only until January 20. After that you can purchase them at registration the weekend of the event while they last. Also please visit our website for a complete list of daily events. We look forward to welcoming everyone to Palm Springs and invite you to have the time of your life.”

For more info visit: www.ibc-ps.com.

Fitness model and entrepreneur Brad Jan on beautiful people, maintaining his physique, plastic surgery and his firm belief that “we should all be multifaceted.”

BY BOBBY TRENDY  |  PHOTOS BY DUSTI CUNNINGHAM

Just because beauty is skin deep—one shouldn’t immediately jump to the conclusion that the stunningly hot, world renowned fitness model and entrepreneur Brad Jan is superficial, vapid, shallow, vacuous or lacking in substance.

One could say, charitably, that this California native is a confident, young, assertive businessman who knows what he wants and where he is going. And what’s wrong with that?

Over the past few years Brad Jan has made quite a splash in fitness markets around the world including Miami, New York, Paris, and Hollywood. His entrepreneurial goals have led him to launch his very own signature fragrance, modestly entitled “Brad Jan.”

In an interview with celebrity interior decorator, fashion designer and television personality Bobby Trendy for THE FIGHT—Jan shares his views, ever so succinctly, in an adorable stream of consciousness kind of way, on beautiful people, modeling, maintaining his physique, plastic surgery and his firm belief that “we should all be multifaceted.”

 “I feel pretty lucky that I can do what I like best in perfect condition.  As doctors and scientist spend years becoming accomplished in their field, so do models as I have for the last 25 years.”

How would you describe your childhood?

I was surrounded by young and beautiful people. I can’t stand ugliness.

Were you ever bullied as a kid?

People were and are exceptionally nice to me… An ex left me with a scar on my face, but I kind of like it more that way. it adds character.

When did you come out to yourself, and to others?

I forgot.

What was the coming out process like for you?

It was the same after as before I came out.

Why did you decide to go into modeling?

I’m never content with just being average, that’s what keeps me motivated.

What do you particularly like—and dislike—about modeling?

Some ugly people are cool. What I hate most is ugly, nasty people.

Are you more like your mother or father?

I’m more like my father. He used to say “you look like me, but not as good.” And this is typically the kind of line I use.

Do you read or watch TV?

I actually don’t have a TV; you don’t need one living in Beverly Hills… and I’m just a model, quite superficial. Models look at fashion and fitness magazines, right?

What’s your diet like?

I eat meat sometimes because my doctor wants me to—I prefer fish. I don’t like animals being butchered, but I don’t like humans to be butchered either, which is apparently popular in the world.

What’s your ethnic background?

I don’t talk about this, but I’m a Santa Barbara native. My father’s side is Greek, mothers side is Italian, from Monaco originally. So basically I’m white, with
a tan.

What are your political views?

I’m into aesthetics. Let Obama do his job. Not really into voting either.

How do you keep such a healthy attitude?

I feel pretty lucky that I can do what I like best in perfect condition. As doctors and scientist spend years becoming accomplished in their field, so do models as I have for the last 25 years.

Are you interested in DNA testing to find out if there’s something remarkable in your genetic makeup?

You can see me clearly as is. No need for DNA testing. It’s like asking a woman to remove her bra. Take what you need and leave the rest.

How do you feel about plastic surgery?

Anything that makes you look or feel better, go for it… if you need it. Hollywood is known for a lifestyle of excess and frivolity with unintended consequences, but I don’t believe in wasting. I wasn’t raised that way.

How often do you workout to maintain your physique?

I’m quite spontaneous, some weeks I workout a few times, others I don’t at all.

If you were not a model—what other profession would you like to have  been in?

I believe we should all be multifaceted and not just designated to one profession, that’s boring. Art comes natural to me, it’s like a heart beat. turning art into a business is interesting too. But thats what other people are for.

What made you decide to launch your signature fragrance, Brad Jan?

It was just like an explosion in my mind. It just came naturally.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I don’t celebrate the past. I’m more into the day and moment and even the future. I don’t know what the future holds, it depends on my mood. I let the future come to me instead of chasing after it.

Tell us something no one knows about you.

Simpletons think I’m insane.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

I have a snow white Labradoodle. His name is Robo. His favorite food is seafood. Just like me.

All-Male revue brings sexy sizzle to Santa Monica Boulevard in new burlesque show.

BY VICTOR MELAMED

Live and direct from the city synonymous with sexy, The WeHo parTy boys all-male revue brings West Hollywood’s unique brand of sexy sizzle to life with an all new burlesque show filled with the smoothest moves and hottest grooves!

The boys are ready to take your breath away with two hours of teasing and pleasing, featuring fully choreographed dance routines, revealing costumes and provocative storylines that leave little to the imagination.

“The WeHo parTy boys represent the best of our fabulous city and the party boys who patronize our local clubs,” explains choreographer Michael Silas, whose mission has been to create the most captivating theatrical-based male revue ever to come out of Santa Monica Boulevard.  “These men were chosen not only for their talent and performance skills, but also for their personalities and magnetic presence.  We can’t take our eyes off of them, and neither will you!”

Although there’s no doubt WeHo parTy boys’ performance style of gay ‘”Dirty Dancing” is definitely “in your face,” one member of the troupe remains a tad shy about showing his.  Each show features a performance from “The Unknown Stripper.”  While his identity (and sexual orientation) remains a mystery, the red-hot moves he displays and the freedom he has to “just be himself” are truly unforgettable.

To keep the energy high and the mood sexy between each set, WeHo’s first-ever duo of twink break-dancers will flip & flop and astound the crowd.

Join them for a special Valentine’s Day performance at Sunday, Feb. 14 at RAGE NIGHTCLUB, 8911 Santa Monica Blvd. in WeHo.  Tickets and info visit:  www.wehopartyboys.com.

Frank Cavallo (L), Mr. L.A. Leather Bear 2016 David Cosio

Mr. L.A. Leather Bear 2015, Sir Frank Cavallo, on building bridges between
the young and old in the leather community.

BY PAULO MURILLO  |  PHOTO BY ROBERT GREEN, MOTORBOOT PHOTOGRAPHY

He may be a big man in his late 50s, but Mr. L.A. Leather Bear 2015, Sir Frank Cavallo, puts young’uns half his age to shame as an active member of the leather community.

In an interview with THE FIGHT, Sir Frank spoke about doing 65 events in 52 weeks, his relentless work as host for several kink related fundraisers, and how he used his title to pave the way and build bridges between the young and old in the leather community.

What was it like winning the Mr. L.A. Leather Bear 2015 title?

I was in a state of shock. I didn’t think I was going to win because of my age and my size. I’ve been very active in the community for over 30 years, so I was known, but I thought a younger person was going to get it.

What prompted you to compete?

I lost my job three years ago. I was a Catholic school principal in the Silverlake area, and I decided it was time to live my life the way I wanted to live—and I wanted to do something for the community. My goal was to merge the younger generation to the older generation and give them a leeway to make it easier. We had it hard because people didn’t want us 30 years ago. People were down on the leather and bear communities and I wanted their journey to be easier than mine was.

“Don’t run for a title because you feel you need to win to be accepted in the community. Run for a title because you want to help the community. Be who you are.”

What do you think a young person’s experience is like now in the leather community versus your own?

I think today we are free to do what we want. We have puppies, we have the neons, we have ponies—you name it, we have a chance to be whatever we want. Back then being a man of my size—I was over 350 at the time. People would look down at me and say you’re fat. You have hair, but you’re fat. We don’t need this group. We don’t want this group. It was hard.

Your Mr. L.A. Leather Bear 2015 title led to competing for L.A. Mr. Leather, what was that like?

It was exciting. It was scary. I would say being a large man and having my knee replaced was hard for me going up and down stairs, but they were accommodating. I got closer to my brothers. It was fun. In a sense I’m glad I did not win, because it gave me the opportunity to do my fundraisers. I think Patrick [Smith] did a great job.

What type of events did you attend as Mr. L.A. Leather Bear 2015?

Well, I did 65 events in 52 weeks. I hosted three events for Wounded Warrior. I did events for the American Cancer Society. I did Project Angel Food. My events were Bears, Boots and Boxers, Bear Bar-b-Q, and Pleasure & Pain. I raised $11,008 in fundraising. My goal was for $10,000 and then when 10 happened I decided to try to do $11,000, so we did that.

What was it like seeing David Cosio win the Mr. L.A. Leather Bear 2016 title last month?

We had three men who all had their own style. I was very happy for David. He’s four months older than I am. His win makes me a dad. I’ll be there to mentor him and get him ready for LAL. I was very lucky, Gabriel [Green—Mr. L.A. Leather Bear 2014] was an excellent dad to me. I didn’t know him very well, but now I hold him very dear to my heart.

Is there anything you want to tell anyone who is thinking of competing next year?

What I would say to anyone—not only a Leather Bear, but any other leather contest—don’t run for a title because you feel you need to win to be accepted in the community. Run for a title because you want to help the community. Be who you are.

Goddess Moon, winner of the Ms. Los Angeles  Leather 2016 Contest, on human sexuality and  representing women and people of color.

BY BRENDEN SHUCART   |   PHOTO BY ROBERT GREEN, MOTORBOOT PHOTOGRAPHY

First of all—congratulations on your victory. You are the inaugural holder of the newly reborn Ms. Los Angeles Leather title—how does it feel?

It feels amazing! I’m still a little bit in shock, but I’m really excited for what this year will bring and the opportunity to represent Los Angeles.

You are the first person in 17 years to hold this title, I’m curious about two things; What does this victory mean for you personally, and what does this title mean for your community?

For me personally, it’s a great opportunity to represent not only the BDSM community of Los Angeles, but also women and people of color. We definitely are making strides toward making our own space and having a voice within the BDSM community—both women and people of color—and I think by having a title-holder who represents this large portion of our community … gives others the ability to dream, to say “yes. This community is for me and represents me.” That’s a wonderful opportunity.

A leather heart is about giving. It’s the absolute ability to give and support and to love  your brothers and sisters without expecting anything in return. 

When you were coming into the BDSM community were there people who looked like you? Who represented you? Did you have leaders and mentors that you recognized?

When I first came into the community there were very few people of color out and about.  Over the years it has grown immensely, to where we are holding our own space. Are there people who feel like they don’t have a space within the L.A. BDSM/Leather community? Yes. And that is what I, and groups like Onyx that was started out here last year, and others, are trying to let people know “There is a space for you. You are welcome within the broader community.”

I have had friends, persons of color who are active within the Leathermen community, who have experienced a lot of racial tension, and a sense of not always feeling entirely welcome. Have you experienced a similar tension within the Women’s community?

I have not felt that. I’ve been very fortunate in who I’ve been able to connect with in both communities. The women that I’ve met, the women that I’ve connected with, the women that I consider family have always been very welcoming. Can there be tension? Yes. I fortunately haven’t felt it. Even the men have been very welcoming for the most part.

And I think with the start of Onyx, those tensions which have been felt are definitely decreasing because we are holding our own space and saying “We’re here,” because like it or not, we are here. So get used to it, we aren’t going anywhere…” [laughs]

Let’s shift gears a little bit. I want to talk about how you came to identify as part of the leather community. First of all, I don’t think I’ve ever explicitly asked you; how do you identify sexually?

[Laughs]… I’m a black-bisexual-Wiccan-dominate-switch. That’s all of my labels wrapped into one.

Where did you grow up? What’s your origin story?

I was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland—in the summer of ‘79—to a very uber-catholic West Indian family. My mom’s side of the family is from Trinidad and Tobago. I am part of the first generation of Trinidadian Americans in my family. My dad is Southern, he was born in North Carolina.

When I was 10 my mom got sick and tired of what was going on in her life and moved she and I to California. First to Fullerton, then to the beautiful city of Irvine. That’s where I live today.

So how did you come to be a part of the leather community?

I took a Human Sexuality course in college. The professor was awesome in that she would have panels come in for whatever topic we were talking about. So if we were talking about porn she had porn stars come in and we’d be able to ask them questions, for the gay community we had PFLAG and members of the campus gay-straight alliance come in and speak, for BDSM she had members of the Leather community come in and talk about how they got their start, and how long they’ve been a part of the community, and what their favorite fetishes were. And they had a show and tell of their favorite toys.

When I took the class one of the gentlemen brought in what looked like a metal tennis racket—actually an electric flyswatter which, in the community, we use for electricity play—and he went around the room asking if anyone wanted to try it. Of course I did, and I said “Oooh! That was fun! Do it again!”

After the class the professor told me that there were some people I should meet. People I aught to talk to. The people she was talking about were an organization called the Orange County Leather Assembly. They did workshops and presentations, and some of the members held private play parties. That’s where I started back in 1999.

I met a wonderful woman, and I was of service to her—a collared submissive—for two and a half years. When I had learned all I could learn from her she gifted me a pair of boots and sent me on my way. She said “I’ve gotten you where I can get you, it’s time to spread your wings and fly.”

So I started with Leather, but later I moved more into the Kink community … but there was this gradual progression back into the Leather scene, realizing that the people i was hanging out with, the events I was supporting, the place I was going—they were all Leather.

About six years ago I was having a conversation with someone and they asked me, “What do you think of the women’s Leather community?” And I said “I guess it’s okay. I don’t know, I’m not really Leather.” And they said “Yes you are. You have a leather heart.”

What is a leather heart?

A leather heart is about giving. It’s the absolute ability to give and support and to love  your brothers and sisters without expecting anything in return. And it took me couple of years to see that that was me. And still sometimes I struggle with this, because I don’t see anything I do for my community as anything of grandeur or greatness.

What do you do?

I talk to the wallflower who is just sitting back and observing, I try to get to know them and make them feel included, because I don’t want anyone to feel like they don’t have a space or don’t belong. I go to bars and I try to talk to everyone there. If someone needs help I try and help them. I’m a service person, I don’t see it as anything to write home to mom about.

I want to talk about your plans for the future. Shae Flanigan—who held the Ms. Sanctuary Leather title before you, and who resurrected the Ms. Los Angeles Leather title—has done so much for your community.  You must feel inspired to do the same.

One of the great things about having Shae as my sash-mommy before stepping into this role, when I won my title I looked at her and said “I’m just letting you know, I’m not doing half of what you did. It’s not possible.” And she said “You do you, don’t worry about trying to be me.” That’s what I did as Ms. Sanctuary and that’s what I will continue to do as Ms. L.A.

One thing I feel very passionate about: I want to become a voice for women in PrEP. I feel that the women’s community as a whole—whether gay or straight—is not really being represented in conversations about PrEP, especially women of color.

AIDS activist Elliot Johnson: “a man of depth and substance.”

BY VICTOR MELAMED

Elliot Johnson, Chief Administrator of the Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center Rand Schrader HIV Clinic (5P-21) for over a decade, passed away last month of lung cancer at the age of 71.

“Elliot Johnson was a man of depth and substance,” says his close friend David Crittendon in an interview with THE FIGHT.

“He was very still, by that I mean composed in space and time. A dark handsome man, proud but not supercilious, firm with a controlling streak, yet modest and empathic.”

“Elliot’s most well known accomplishment was his stewardship of 5P21, The Rand Schrader Clinic at Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center,” reveals Crittendon.

“As the AIDS crisis worsened, the 5P21 clinic, a ten room outpatient wing housed in the Medical Center became inadequate. In 1991, 5P21 moved into its own dedicated three story building handling 3500 AIDS patient visits a month, a case load higher than any other clinic in California. A majority of patients were Hispanic as well as a large African-American population that included women and children, many arriving for first treatment when the disease was already at full blown Stage 3. Elliot Johnson is credited with being a tireless advocate for the ill and dying, lobbying for the best medicines and protocols against indifference and hostility from political interests locally and nationally. Eventually, he and his medical staff prevailed, instituting interventions and treatment models that became templates for the nation and internationally.”

“Elliot lived with pain. He survived cancer over two decades ago. A reckless driver re-injured his damaged leg during his tenure at County-USC. Major heart surgery in 2015, followed by the cancer diagnosis that finally ended his life.”

“At his bedside I was often frustrated at his refusal of a kinder gentler option for his medical situation. He would rather endure pain than be fuzzy and unclear on pain meds! Elliot was not about relief. He was about standing for what he thought was his true path toward wholeness and completion.”

Andre Davids was sentenced to just 12 years of state prison after stabbing, disemboweling, mutilating and stuffing his boyfriend Kurtland Ma in West Hollywood on March 29, 2014.

BY DAVID HAKIMFAR, ATTORNEY AT LAW

Andre Davids (L), Kurtland Ma

Of all of the crimes out there, homicide is perhaps the most serious. It is the only criminal act where the consequences to the guilty person may be equally as severe as his actions to the victim.

But in the case of convicted killer Andre Davids, many are asking why Davids was convicted of the lesser crime of manslaughter instead of murder, and why, after a long, gut-wrenching trial, he was sentenced to just 12 years by a jury of his peers.

THE CRIMINAL ACT

It is undisputed that just before Ma’s killing, Davids ingested prescription drugs and was told by Ma the relationship was over. According to Lt. John Corina of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, it appeared to be “a crime of passion where … one boyfriend wasn’t as faithful to the other. The other one got upset.”

Upset is an understatement. Ma’s body was stabbed about 40 times and was “disemboweled,” with his own organs stuffed into his mouth, along with pills and pill bottles shoved into his body cavity. Davids claimed that he killed Ma in a sudden decision after Ma wanted to end the relationship.

Davids’ attorneys argued that the crime was one of passion, and that the jury should decide on a manslaughter charge instead of murder. They also said his judgment was impaired because he ingested drugs.  For many, it has been very hard to accept that Davids wasn’t convicted of murder.

THE CRIMINAL CHARGES

At trial, the prosecution charged Davids with homicide charges of (1) murder and (2) manslaughter.  Murder in California may be prosecuted in the first degree or second degree. First degree murder is the more serious of the two charges and California law defines second degree murder as all murders that do not qualify as first degree murder.  The common thread of first and second degree murder is that California law requires the prosecution to prove that Davids exhibited express (deliberate) or implied (abandoned and malignant heart) malice.

A killing that would otherwise be murder is reduced to voluntary manslaughter if the defendant killed someone because of a sudden quarrel or in the heat of passion.  California’s voluntary manslaughter jury instructions are exceedingly clear: 570. Voluntary Manslaughter: Heat of Passion—Lesser Included Offense.

A killing that would otherwise be murder is reduced to voluntary manslaughter if the defendant killed someone because of a sudden quarrel or in the heat of passion.

The defendant killed someone because of a sudden quarrel or in the heat of passion if:

The defendant was provoked;

As a result of the provocation, the defendant acted rashly and under the influence of intense emotion that obscured (his/her) reasoning or judgment; and

The provocation would have caused a person of average disposition to act rashly and without due deliberation, that is, from passion rather than from judgment.

AVERAGE DISPOSITION

Heat of passion does not require anger, rage, or any specific emotion. It can be any violent or intense emotion that causes a person to act without due deliberation and reflection.

In order for heat of passion to reduce a murder to voluntary manslaughter, the defendant must have acted under the direct and immediate influence of provocation as I have defined it. While no specific type of provocation is required, slight or remote provocation is not sufficient. Sufficient provocation may occur over a short or long period of time.

It is not enough that the defendant simply was provoked. The defendant is not allowed to set up (his/her) own standard of conduct. You must decide whether the defendant was provoked and whether the provocation was sufficient. In deciding whether the provocation was sufficient, consider whether a person of average disposition would have been provoked and how such a person would react in the same situation knowing the same facts…”

HARD TO ACCEPT

Davids’ attorneys argued that the crime was one of passion, and that the jury should decide on a manslaughter charge instead of murder. They also said his judgment was impaired because he ingested drugs.  For many, it has been very hard to accept that Davids wasn’t convicted of murder.

However, for Los Angeles criminal defense attorney Negin Yamini, the outcome in Davids case was not unpredictable. “Since Davids was on prescription drugs, it may have affected his ability to make logical decisions. The drugs compounded with Ma’s news of his desire to end the relationship could stir up quite a bit of emotion. Therefore, a jury could reasonably see this as unplanned, and as a crime of passion. The jury believed Davids acted in the heat of the moment. It was not a murder, it was manslaughter. Like it or not, I believe the jury got it right with respect to applying the facts to the law.”

THE CRIMINAL SENTENCE

It’s important to understand that prosecutors rarely file voluntary manslaughter as a separate charge from murder. Manslaughter is a charge that commonly comes up in murder cases, where the accused person has admitted to killing the victim, but seeks avoid a murder conviction.  If the accused is convicted of voluntary manslaughter, he or she faces a maximum of 11 years in prison. With murder, by contrast, the person faces a potential life sentence… or sometimes execution.

California Penal Code Section 193(a) provides as follows: “Voluntary manslaughter is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for 3, 6 or 11 years.”

The Court sentenced Davids to the longest possible sentence for the crime he was accused of.

California law could have found Davids guilty of first degree murder if the People proved that Ma was murdered by torture.
California law finds torture if there is (1) premeditation to inflict pain on the victim, (2) a sadistic intention, and (3) the intent for the torture to be the cause death.

ANOTHER MURDER TRIAL?

Understandably many in the community are outraged at what is perceived as an extremely light sentence such an horrific act—and there are those who are calling for another murder trail. This is not possible.

The Founding Fathers of our country inscribed the Double Jeopardy Clause within the Fifth Amendment of the United State Constitution.  This Clause provides that no person shall “be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb.”  Two essential protections of the Double Jeopardy Clause are retrials after certain mistrials, and multiple punishment.

CIVIL ACTION

The estate of Kurtland Ma have the ability to pursue damages for his intentional and/or wrongful death.  Davids’ liability is virtually without doubt and the monetary value for the loss of Ma could go into multiple millions of dollars.

However, without any knowledge of what Andre Davids’ has or doesn’t have, it will be their call in deciding if it will be worth the time, energy, and resources in obtaining a paper judgment that will always remain unpayable by Davids.

Eva Longoria and singer Lara Fabian

Straight stars pose as gay couples to tackle homophobia.

BY VICTOR MELAMED  |  PHOTOS BY OLIVIER CIAPPA

French artist and photographer Olivier Ciappa started his “Imaginary Couples” photo series several years ago to address homophobia at a time when his native France was plagued by anti-gay protests leading up to the inevitable legalization of marriage equality, reports The Advocate.

Academy Award Nominee director Jean-Marc Vallée (Dallas Buyers Club) and Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners

He shot straight celebrities including Eva Longoria and singer Lara Fabian, as well as a number of other actors, athletes and entertainers portraying positive images of same-sex couples.

Olivier Ciappa: “If you couldn’t identify with their love and feel it was real, then I would have failed.”

“The celebrities that I shot are heterosexual, but it was essential to me that you would believe these imaginary couples and families they portray were real,” Ciappa told The Huffington Post.

Florent Manaudou & Frédérick Bousquet, French swimmers

“If you couldn’t identify with their love and feel it was real, then I would have failed. And to show that love is love, no matter who [is involved], the exhibition also features real gay families, straight ones, single parents, disabled, people of different skin colors and origins, different religion, young couples, old ones… All of these pictures, imaginary or real, have the same glamorous and warm monochrome style that makes them look not only appealing but timeless.”

”Imaginary Couples” is tentatively scheduled to hit the United States this summer, possibly in Los Angeles. 

Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly

“The Unauthorized Musical Parody of The Devil Wears Prada” at Rockwell: Table & Stage.

BY ORLY LYNNE

The boss from hell is back as Rockwell Table & Stage presents The Unauthorized Musical Parody of The Devil Wears Prada, running through the end of April. While you’re out getting the boss’s coffee and dry cleaning—get your tickets on sale now at www.rockwell-la.com.

Kelley Jakle and Lana McKissack alternately portray Andy, the fresh-faced assistant who must endure her employer’s wrath in the fast paced world of high fashion. This all-new, live parody production was co-adapted by Ray Wetmore and directed by Tye Blue.

In addition to its seam-splitting hijinks and hilarious musical score, Rockwell pushes things over the top once again. Actors Drew Droege (Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse) and John Flynn (Upright Citizen’s Brigade) alternately play the maniacal role of Miranda Priestly, the devilishly demanding and narcissistic editor-in-chief of fashion bible Runway Magazine.

“Everyone can relate to how crazy it can be to work for the boss from hell,” said Executive Producer and Co-Adapter Kate Pazakis. “Our Unauthorized Musical Parody of The Devil Wears Prada dials the craziness up a notch, leaving you laughing down the catwalk. In fact, Rockwell’s wardrobe department has been working overtime to create amazingly clever wardrobe and costumes for Miranda that will keep you in stitches.”

Tickets are on sale now for Thursday-Saturday night shows and Sunday brunch matinees through late April.

Rockwell: Table & Stage is located in Los Feliz at 1714 N. Vermont Ave, Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.rockwell-la.com.