Frontiers IN LA :: volume 28 :: issue 21

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INSIDE
VOL. 28, ISSUE 21 · FEBRUARY 10-23, 2010
46
BLAZING HOT
TRAIL OF PORN
BY GARY M. KRAMER
As porn magazines and DVDs are being
phased out, internet sites are where people log on to get off—and anyone with
even a passing knowledge of gay porn
knows the name Bel Ami.
30
BEEFCAKE’S REVENGE
BY KEN KNOX
For some gay men coming of age in the 1950s,
beefcake magazines were the only outlet for
their desires for other men, and photographers like John Palatinus, whose show John
Palatinus: Tomorrow’s Man debuts at the Antebellum Gallery on Feb. 14, were their window to fantasy.
40
THE NAKED TRUTH
BY CHRISTOPHER LISOTTA
The old adage says clothes make the man,
but the new adage may be “no clothes make
the relationship”—Dr. Deborah Laino,
licensed sex therapist and author, is a
proponent of couples taking time out for a
naked day.
42
DIFFERENT STROKES
BY MICHAEL ANTHONY
Kinky or cliché, the open relationship is alive
and happening—and while we’ve all heard
stories about how unlocking one’s boudoir
door has ruined a formerly monogamous LTR,
there are equally as many tales of relationships
saved by the often-taboo tactic.
8
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
INSIDE
VOL. 28, ISSUE 21
FEBRUARY 10-23, 2010
NEWS BOX | 14-19
CONTEXT
20
Pentagon Agrees with ‘Don’t
Ask, Don’t Tell’ Appeal
26
Testimony Wraps in Prop. 8 Trial
NAKED CITY
32
Calendar
34
Social Whirl
36
Theater Reviews
37
Theater Listings
38
Music Reviews
PRODUCT GUIDE | 50-52
NIGHTLIFE | 61-70
WEST HOLLYWOOD | 71-74
DEPARTMENTS
76
The Latin Frontier
78
For Your Health: +/-
80
For Your Health: Recovery
82
For Your Health: Fit
84
Conscious Living
86
Out & About
88
Bridging the Generation Gap
90
Orange Peel
91
Port Authority
92
Desert Breeze
98
Billy Masters
99
Little Miss Know-It-All
100
Sex Ed
101
Classifieds
112
Getting Personal
44
REBEL YELL: SUNDANCE 2010
BY LAWRENCE FERBER
Despite this year’s theme of “Rebel,” there was little rocking of the boat at the Sundance Film Festival—film-wise it was a year of
girl power (and gayer than usual!), with females behind some of the most buzzworthy, strong titles.
CONTRIBUTORS
Cary Harrison currently hosts a call-in show for Public Radio (KPFK 90.7 FM) as well as “Think Green”—
a star-studded syndicated daily environmental news feature, and can be seen frequently as an expert
on TV news channels. He co-conceived and hosted an award-winning entertainment show for multiple
cable stations, “Screen Test”—the forerunner for what later became E!, and pioneered America’s first
national gay Channel (“OutQ”) for Sirius Satellite Radio, anchoring the morning show from Hollywood.
Visit him at goharrison.com.
COVER IMAGE COURTESY OF
belamionline.com
Become a fan on facebook.com/frontiersmagazine
and follow us at twitter.com/frontiersinla
John Guzman is a full-time college student attempting to major in literature. After going to a math and
science high school, he realized his passion lies in writing. In between reading and cramming for his classes, he catches up on sleep. During vacation time, he frequents museums and cupcake shops with his
friends. He is pursuing a career as either a writer if he wants to be happy, or a divorce attorney if he
wants to be wealthy. On his input to Bridging the Generation Gap he says, “This is my first article; naturally I am excited to see my words in print.”
Frontiers in L.A. is published by Frontiers Media, LLC., 5657 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 470, Los Angeles, CA. 90036. Copyright © 2009, Frontiers Media, LLC. The contents of Frontiers in L.A. may not be reproduced in any manner, either in whole or in part,
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10
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
VOLUME 28, ISSUE 21
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12
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
FEBRUARY 23, 2010
13
NEWS BOX
BY PETER DELVECCHIO
AND
KAREN OCAMB
QUOTE / UNQUOTE
“Ninety
million men
watch the
Super
Bowl.”
Obama, Clinton
Speak Against
Uganda Hate Bill
—A spokesperson for gay dating site ManCrunch.com, on why
the company wanted to place the ad CBS refused to run during the Super Bowl, as reported by CTV News.
“[B]iblically, those
‘who practice
homosexuality’
should come
under the
purview of the
law just as much
as those who take
people captive in
order to sell them
into slavery.”
—American Family Assn. radio host Bryan Fischer elaborating
on his view that all gays should be imprisoned for “reparative”
therapy, as reported at joemygod.blogspot.com.
“Did you
have a
difficult
birth?”
—Question put to out investigative reporter Patrick Strudwick,
who infiltrated the U.K.’s network of evangelical therapists seeking to “convert” gays to heterosexuality, by a therapist named
Lynne, as reported in the U.K.’s Independent.
AS OF 10:39 A.M., FEB 1
American Deaths in Iraq
and Afghanistan: 5,353
ICASUALTIES . ORG
American Wounded in Iraq: 31,639
ANTIWAR . COM / CASUALTIES
Iraqi Dead since 2003: 95,158 -103,819
IRAQBODYCOUNT. ORG
Cost of Iraq and Afghanistan Wars:
$955,790,000,000+
COSTOFWAR . COM
National Debt: $12,289,213,825,687.90
BRILLIG . COM / DEBT _ CLOCK
U.S. Trade Deficit: $36,378,000,000+
AMERICANECONOMICALERT. ORG / TICKER _ HOME . ASP
14
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
spoke out against Uganda’s “Kill the Gays” bill at the National
Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., Feb. 4. The event is sponsored by the controversial evangelical Christian group known
as “The Family,” which has ties to the Ugandan officials behind
the bill.
“Every time I travel I raise the plight of girls and women and
make it clear that we expect to see changes,” Clinton said. “And
I recently called President Museveni, whom I have known through
the prayer breakfast, and expressed the strongest concerns about
a law being considered at the parliament of Uganda.”
Obama followed suit. “We may disagree about gay marriage, but surely we can agree that it’s unconscionable to target
gays and lesbians for who they are, whether it’s here in the United States or, as Hillary mentioned, more extreme and odious
laws that are being proposed most recently in Uganda.”
“We applaud President Obama for having the courage to confront those responsible for the heinous anti-gay bill in Uganda,”
said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out, who coordinated an alternative event called American Prayer Hour in 19
cities, including Glendale. “Religion can no longer be used to justify bigotry, intolerance and persecution anywhere on the face
of the earth.”
Some Ugandan politicians were not happy. “Somebody
should tell President Obama that the parliament is doing its legislative duty in the interest of the people of Uganda,” James Nsaba Buturo, Ugandan minister of ethics and integrity, told AFP.
Homosexuality is illegal in Uganda, punishable by life imprisonment in some instances. The proposed bill calls for the death
penalty in cases of “aggravated homosexuality.”
HAWAII HOUSE
TABLES CIVIL UNIONS
Hawaii’s House of Representatives Jan. 29 tabled by voice
vote a civil unions bill that would have granted same-sex couples the state-law rights and responsibilities of marriage, KITV
in Honolulu reports. The state senate had passed the bill the
week before.
KITV sources said proponents of the measure had lost several votes, and prospects for overriding a veto by Republican
Gov. Linda Lingle had dimmed.
Supporters of civil unions heckled the legislators for not
taking a roll call vote, calling them “cowards,” “disgraceful” and
“shameful.”
“None of us here in the state legislature are cowards,” says
House Speaker Calvin Say, D-Palolo. “They were listening to their
constituency at this point in time and the votes were not there.”
“We pledge that this fight is not over and we will continue in our efforts to see true equality in our state,” Equality
Hawaii’s Tambry Young said in a statement.
LAPD CHIEF CHARLIE BECK
COMES TO THE CENTER
On Jan. 27 new LAPD Chief Charlie Beck came to the
L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center’s Village at Ed Gould Plaza to
introduce himself to the LGBT community.
Beck sat on a panel with openly gay L.A. Police Commissioner Rob Saltzman, who led the way on severing the
LAPD’s Explorer Program from the Boy Scouts of America. Also on stage was Center CEO Lorri Jean (pictured
above), who earlier had given Beck a tour of the Center
and explained the importance of LGBT services.
After listening carefully to a complaint from Toni
Scarpa, a transgender woman, who described how an
LAPD officer had disrespected her, Beck apologized and
pledged to look into the matter. Beck and his team also
have a new policy—“raising the bar” in police training
around LGBT people and issues from “tolerance” to
“acceptance.”
FEBRUARY 23, 2010
15
NEWS BOX
WHITE HOUSE TOUTS
PRO-LGBT BUDGET ITEMS
President Barack Obama’s $3.8 trillion
Fiscal Year 2011 federal budget, released
Feb. 1, includes several items “[t]o support
the needs of the LGBT community,” according to a White House release.
The budget calls for an 11 percent
increase in funding for the Justice Dept.’s
Civil Rights Division, which the release says,
“will help the Division handle implementation of a historic new hate crimes law, the
Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate
Crimes Prevention Act.”
The White House supports the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act
of 2009, “which provides the same benefits to same-sex domestic partners of federal employees as those provided to married heterosexual partners of federal employees,” the release states.
“The budget expands access to
HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment,”
“focuses HIV testing among high-risk
groups, including gay and bisexual men,
African-Americans and Hispanics,” and also
provides appropriations for new prevention programs.
The new budget “continues a 5-year, $45
million“ Act Against AIDS ad campaign
launched in April 2009 and “driven by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”
Finally, “[f]or the first time, the Census
Bureau will be releasing counts of same-sex
marriages reported on the [census form’s]
relationship question.”
AT&T RELENTS,
GRANTS GAY
EMPLOYEE FAMILY
MEDICAL LEAVE
POLIS INTRODUCES
BILL TO PROTECT
LGBT YOUTH
BILL WOULD
DISTINGUISH
CIVIL/RELIGIOUS
MARRIAGES
MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS URGE BOY
SCOUTS TO END
DISCRIMINATION
After first refusing, AT&T has agreed to
grant gay Garland, Texas employee Bryan
Dickenson leave to care for his ailing partner,
the Dallas Voice reported Jan. 28. Dickenson’s
partner, Bill Sugg, is recovering from a stroke
he suffered in September.
AT&T, an employer the Human Rights
Campaign gives a generally high rating, initially told Dickenson it does not grant leave
to same-sex partners under the federal Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) where state law
does not require it. (FMLA speaks in terms of
spouses, and the federal Defense of Marriage
Act limits marriage to male/female couples.)
After the Dallas Voice ran an article about the
couple, however, AT&T agreed to adopt a
new policy permitting registered domestic
partners to take “FMLA-equivalent” leave.
“AT&T regrets that there has been confusion over the administration of family leave
with respect to registered domestic partners,”
the company said in a statement.
Out U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, D-Col., introduced a bill into the U.S. House of Representatives Jan. 27 designed to protect LGBT youth
from discrimination at school, the Advocate
reports.
The Student Non-Discrimination Act will
track Title VI and Title IX, which prohibit
school discrimination based on race and gender, respectively. The bill has 60 original cosponsors. Several civil rights groups are also
supporting the measure, including the ACLU,
the Human Rights Campaign, the School
Social Work Assn. of America and the GayStraight Alliance Network.
“Every day innocent students fall victim
to relentless harassment and discrimination
from teachers, staff and fellow students based
on their sexual orientation,” Polis said in a
statement. “Every student has the right to an
education free from harassment and violence.
This bill will protect the individual freedoms
of our students and enshrine the values of
equality and opportunity in our classrooms.”
With the backing of Equality California
and the California Council of Churches
IMPACT, out State Sen. Mark Leno, D-San
Francisco (pictured), introduced a bill in the
California Senate Jan. 27 that would “[protect]
clergy from being forced to perform any civil marriage that is contrary to the tenets of his
or her faith and protects faith institutions’
tax-exempt status,” according to an EQCA
release.
The purpose of the bill, called the Civil
Marriage Religious Freedom Act, is to alleviate public confusion regarding the legal distinction between civil and religious marriage.
It responds to what the measure’s proponents
regard as deliberate attempts by anti-marriage equality forces to mislead Californians
into believing “that clergy who refuse to perform marriages for same-sex couples would
be punished and places of worship would
lose their tax-exempt status,” the release says.
EQCA urges supporters of the bill to email
their representatives.
In a Feb. 1 letter initiated by U.S. Rep. Gary
Ackerman, D-NY, and out Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., 26 members of Congress urged
the Boy Scouts of America to “end its policy
of discrimination and exclusion based solely
on sexual orientation,” according to a Baldwin release.
The letter responds to BSA’s rejection of
a Vermont lesbian couple as parent volunteers for their 10-year-old son’s Cub Scout
pack because “the [couple] would ‘push their
lifestyle on the boys,’” the release says.
“I’ll always be a proud Eagle Scout, but
this discriminatory policy must end,” Ackerman said.
“Scouting is a proud and honorable tradition in this country,” Baldwin said, “but discrimination is not.”
“Bravo to these members of Congress for
calling out [BSA] for its ongoing, heartless
infliction of harm on youth, adult volunteers
and families across our nation,” Lambda Legal
Legal Director Jon Davidson said in an email.
16
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
FEBRUARY 23, 2010
17
NEWS BOX
L.A. SCHOOL FOR LGBT
KIDS OPENS
A new school for LGBT youth has
opened in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles
Times reported Feb. 1. The school has
grades 7-12 and is a joint project of Opportunities for Learning, a charter school operator, and Lifeworks, an L.A. Gay & Lesbian
Center mentoring program.
The school functions on an independent study basis. Students meet with their teacher twice each week, and do 4 to 6
hours of schoolwork each day at home.
“One could really not create enough seats for the kinds of needs that are out
there,” said GLSEN Executive Director Eliza Byard.
COURAGE CAMPAIGN SPONSORS
CONVERSATION BETWEEN SPEAKERS
The Courage Campaign and Liberty Hill are sponsoring A Conversation Between the Speakers with Assembly Speaker Karen Bass and Assembly Speaker-Elect John A. Perez, “to discuss
the state of California and what it means to be a ‘first’—the first African-American Speaker of
the Assembly and the first openly gay Speaker of the Assembly,” according to a Courage Campaign release.
The event will take place Feb. 13 at the California Club in Los Angeles and will be moderated by Courage Campaign Chair Rick Jacobs. General admission is $100. For information, contact Jennifer Gregg at (310) 453-3611, ext. 117, or [email protected].
DRIVE LAUNCHED FOR
SOCIAL SECURITY EQUALITY
The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center and the National Gay & Lesbian Task force announced Feb.
3 “Rock for Equality, a rally and rock-in to call attention to and end the severe economic discrimination that is embedded in Social Security Administration policies and to secure equal
recognition of same-sex relationships,” a release states. Events will take place April 11 in Los
Angeles and April 18 in Washington, D.C.
“The Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law has determined that, on average, the lack
of eligibility for Social Security Survivors Benefits alone has cost the surviving partners of samesex couples $5,700 per year,” the release says.
“Nothing is as heartbreaking as seeing an elderly member of our community being forced
to move out of her long-time home in the midst of her grief because she is not entitled to survivor benefits!” Center CEO Lorri Jean said in an email.
TRANSGENDER WINS SUIT AGAINST IRS
The U.S. Tax Court ruled Feb. 2 that expenses associated with the treatment
of “gender identity disorder,” including surgery and hormone therapy, qualify as
medical expenses under the Internal Revenue Code and are therefore deductible,
according to a release from Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders.
In a decision reviewed by the full bench, the court rejected the IRS’s argument
that the treatments at issue were cosmetic rather than medical, calling this “at best
a superficial characterization of the circumstances that is thoroughly rebutted by
the medical evidence.”
“I’m overjoyed, not only for me, but for other transgender people,” said plaintiff Rhiannon O’Donnabhain.
“In this landmark ruling, the Tax Court affirmed the consensus position of the
medical establishment that transition-related medical care is essential for many transgender people,” Jennifer Levi, Director of GLAD’s Transgender Rights Project said
in the release.
18
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
VID PICKS
The first day of trial in the federal lawsuit in San Francisco challenging Proposition
8 is reenacted, word for word, after the U.S. Supreme Court prohibited video of
the actual proceedings. tinyurl.com/yfm527t
National Lampoon lampoons the refusal by CBS to air an ad from the gay dating
site Mancrunch.com—showing two men making out—during Super Bowl XLIV
Feb. 7. tinyurl.com/yc88nab
Actors Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor kiss while in Paris promoting their gay behindbars romance, I Love You Phillip Morris. The two were made knights in the National Order
of Arts and Letters at the French Ministry of Culture, towleroad.com reports.
QUICK
PIC
FEBRUARY 23, 2010
19
CONTEXT
BY KAREN OCAMB
Pentagon
Agrees with
‘Don’t Ask,
Don’t Tell’
Repeal
AFTER PRESIDENT OBAMA ANNOUNCED in his State of the Union address that he
wanted to work with Congress and military leaders to repeal the anti-gay “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” military policy this year, speculation ran rampant that the ban on gays serving openly would soon be suspended, pending a legislative repeal.
All eyes focused on the Feb. 2 Senate Armed Services hearing chaired by Sen. Carl Levin, who participated in the last hearing in 1993 that led to “Don’t Ask,
Don’t Tell” (DADT).
Seventeen years later, Defense Sec. Robert Gates
and Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen announced
their desire to repeal DADT.
Gates told the committee, “I fully support the president’s decision.”
But in his extraordinary testimony, Mullen, who
said he had served with gays, articulated his personal
opposition to the policy, which he later posted on his
blog on the Pentagon website.
“My personal belief is that allowing homosexuals
to serve openly would be the right thing to do,” Mullen
said. “I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that
we have in place a policy which forces young men and
women to lie about who they are in order to defend
their fellow citizens. For me, it comes down to integrity—theirs as individuals and ours as an institution.”
Retired General Colin Powell, the former Chairman
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who supported congressional passage of DADT in 1993, also issued a statement
saying he supported the new approach.
“In the almost seventeen years since the ‘Don’t
Ask, Don’t Tell’ legislation was passed, attitudes and circumstances have changed,” Powell said. “I fully support the new approach presented to the Senate Armed
Services Committee this week by Secretary of Defense
Gates and Admiral Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff.”
20
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
Profusely opposed to the new plan was Republican
Sen. John McCain who just three years ago on the
MSNBC show Hardball College Tour told an audience
of Iowa State University students, “The day that the leadership of the military comes to me and says, ‘Senator,
we ought to change the policy,’ then I think we ought
to consider seriously changing it.”
But during the Feb. 3 hearing McCain gruffed that
he was “disappointed” in the testimony of Gates and
Mullen. “At this moment of immense hardship for our
armed services, we should not be seeking to overturn
the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy,” he said, describing
DADT as “imperfect but effective.”
On the Rachel Maddow Show, Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach, a fight pilot still on duty but facing discharge after
an 18-year career, said he was “disappointed” in
McCain’s reaction since the Arizona senator’s heroism
during the Vietnam War was the reason he joined the
military.
The initial positive reaction to the hearing was tempered by disappointment that neither Gates nor Mullen
said they would suspend DADT until Congress repealed
the discriminatory law. Critics were also displeased that
the plan called only for new enforcement restrictions
to make DADT “more fair”—excluding “evidence” proffered by third parties and jilted partners—and taking
a year to review how the repeal would work in housing and other areas.
“What do they mean they have to ’study’ for a year
our impact on the military if we are allowed to serve
openly? How offensive is that?” asked David Mixner on
his blog DavidMixner.com. “Really, come on gang, we
are American citizens who don’t have ‘cooties’ and don’t
need to be ’studied’ to see if we will overwhelm our
nation’s military with some mysterious immorality.”
Lt. Dan Choi, an Arabic linguist facing discharge,
was also disappointed. “When you still have people
that are lying about who they are, you haven’t solved
the root of the problem,” Choi told DC Agenda. “‘Don’t
Ask, Don’t Tell’ is the establishment of a closeted policy, and I don’t think that anybody has to be closeted
in our military.”
Rep. Sestak, a retired Vice-Admiral and the highest-ranking military veteran now serving in Congress,
told the blog Open Left that he had a timeline that could
end DADT in two to three months. “Someone used the
phrase to me, the military is always ‘ready.’ We can do
these things,” Sestak said.
And then there’s an op-ed entitled “Ban On Gays
is Senseless Attempt To Stall The Inevitable,” written in
the early 1990s by then-former Arizona Republican
Sen. Barry Goldwater, known as one of the fathers of
the conservative movement.
“It’s no great secret that military studies have proved
again and again that there’s no valid reason for keeping the ban on gays,” Goldwater wrote. “Even Larry
Korb, President Reagan’s man in charge of implementing the Pentagon ban on gays, now admits that it was
a dumb idea. No wonder my friend Dick Cheney, secretary of defense under President Bush, called it ‘a bit
of an old chestnut.’ When the facts lead to one conclusion, I say it’s time to act, not to hide. The country
and the military know that eventually the ban will be
lifted. The only remaining questions are how much
muck we will all be dragged through, and how many
brave Americans like Tom Paniccia and Margarethe
Cammermeyer will have their lives and careers destroyed
in a senseless attempt to stall the inevitable.”
FEBRUARY 23, 2010
21
CONTEXT
BY KAREN OCAMB
Testimony
Wraps in
Prop. 8 Trial
Tony Perkins, head of the political Christian lobbying group the Family Research Council
AS TESTIMONY IN THE FEDERAL CHALLENGE to the constitutionality of Prop. 8 ended
in Judge Vaughn Walker’s San Francisco courtroom Jan. 26, the plaintiff’s side, led by famous attorneys
Ted Olson and David Boies, seemed pretty confident.
“We said on the first day of trial we would prove
three things,” Boies said at a news conference later.
“Marriage is a fundamental right; that depriving gays
and lesbians the right to marry hurts them and hurts
their children; and there was no reason, no societal
benefit in not allowing them to get married.”
Evan Wolfon, who founded Freedom to Marry after
working on the first marriage equality case in Hawaii,
thinks Olson and Boies proved their case.
“Without a doubt,” Wolfson said by email. “Our side
powerfully showed that California’s selective stripping
away of the fundamental freedom to marry from a vulnerable minority lacked any legitimate reason, and
harms families while helping no one. Fourteen years and
tens of millions of dollars after our Hawaii case, the
anti-gay opponents had literally nothing new to put forward to defend the discriminatory denial of marriage.”
In fact, if there were a quiet, legal, white-collar
corollary to the Stonewall Riots, the Prop. 8 trial would
be it.
“I just want to get married,” said plaintiff Paul Katami, a fitness expert at Equinox gym in Los Angeles.
“It’s as simple as that. I love someone. I want to get
married. My state is supposed to protect me. It’s not
supposed to discriminate against me.”
Katami wants to marry Jeff Zarrillo. “The word
‘marriage’ has a special meaning,” Zarrillo said on the
witness stand. “If it wasn’t so important, we wouldn’t
be here today.”
Plaintiff Kris Perry wants to marry Sandy Stier, with
whom she is raising four kids.
“I want to marry Sandy. I want to have a stable and
secure relationship with her that then we can include
our children in,” Perry said on the stand. “And I want
the discrimination we are feeling with Proposition 8 to
end and for a more positive, joyful part of our lives to
begin.”
“Certainly nothing about domestic partnership as
an institution—not even an institution, but as a legal
agreement—indicates the love and commitment that
are inherent in marriage, and it doesn’t have anything
to do for us with the nature of our relationship and the
type of enduring relationship we want it to be. It’s just
a legal document,” Stier testified.
Too bad the tears brimming in the eyes of conservative darling Ted Olson couldn’t be entered into evidence.
“This case is about marriage and equality. Plaintiffs
are being denied both the right to marry, and the right
to equality under the law,” Olson said in his opening
statement.
“The Supreme Court of the United States has repeatedly described the right to marriage as ‘one of the vital
personal rights essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness by free men’; a ‘basic civil right’; a component
of the constitutional rights to liberty, privacy, association and intimate choice; an expression of emotional
support and public commitment; the exercise of spiritual unity; and a fulfillment of one’s self,” Olson said.
“In short, in the words of the highest court in the land,
marriage is ‘the most important relation in life,’ and ‘of
fundamental importance for all individuals.’”
But for Charles Cooper, the less famous but highly regarded attorney helping to represent defendantinterveners ProtectMarriage, marriage has an entirely
different meaning. The purpose of marriage, Cooper
said in his opening statement, “the purpose of the
institution of marriage, the central purpose, is to promote procreation and to channel narrowly procreative
sexual activity between men and women into stable
enduring unions … [Marriage] is a pro-child societal institution.”
Harvard Professor Dr. Nancy Cott countered that
argument, however, testifying that, “There has never
been a requirement that a couple produce children in
order to have a valid marriage ... And known sterility
or barrenness in a woman has never been a reason not
to allow a marriage. In fact, it’s a surprise to many people to learn that George Washington, who is often
called the father of our country, was sterile.”
Olson and Boies entered reams of documents and
videos into evidence and put 17 witnesses on the stand,
each of whom contributed a wealth of knowledge to
the evidentiary record, including witnesses who were
supposed to support the ProtectMarriage side.
Hak-Shing William Tam, a Prop. 8 proponent named
on the ballot argument, for instance, was called as a
hostile witness. On a Yes on 8 video aimed at the Asian
community, Tam was identified as representing the
Traditional Values Coalition and he stood by TVC’s longtime claim that gays were 12 times more likely to molest
children, “based on the different literature that I have
read.” His testimony seemed to bolster the Olson/Boies
claim that animus toward gays and lesbians was one
of the motives behind Prop 8.
Boies’ expert cross-examination of the two ProMORE 28
26
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
FROM 26
TESTIMONY WRAPS
IN PROP. 8 TRIAL
tectMarriage witnesses also seemed to contribute to the
plaintiff’s case.
Boies eviscerated the credibility of Kenneth P. Miller,
an associate professor of political science at Claremont
McKenna College, who was supposed to be an expert
witness on gay political power. After a back and forth on
whether gays were underrepresented among elected
statewide officials in California, Miller said he wasn’t sure
how to calculate a concept like underrepresentation. “I
don’t know because it’s difficult to figure up either the
numerator or denominator.” Boies: “Not governor, not lieutenant governor, not attorney general, not senator. Correct, sir?” Miller: “That’s correct.” Boies: “So in that case,
whatever the denominator would be, the numerator would
be zero, correct?”
Boies also got Miller to essentially say that the Defense
of Marriage Act and “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” could be
described as discrimination against gays and lesbians.
And as a coup de grâce, Boies read from a book
Miller co-authored with political science professor Bruce
Cain (who filed an amicus brief opposing Prop. 8) which
counters ProtectMarriage’s heavy reliance on “the people” voting through the initiative process: “We discuss
how ironically direct democracy can actually be less democratic than representative democracy in that it fails to
maximize democratic opportunities for refinement,
informed liberation, consensus building and compromise, and violates democratic norms of openness,
accountability, competence and fairness.”
ProtectMarriage’s second witness, David Blankenhorn,
was so combative, Judge Walker reprimanded his demeanor.
Boies had Blankenhorn, author of The Future of Marriage,
go down a list of “possible positive consequences” of
same-sex marriage and mark the statements with which
he personally agreed.
Among the many positive statements with which
Blankenhorn agreed were: “Gay marriage would extend
a wide range of the natural and practical benefits of marriage to many lesbian and gay couples and their children.” And: “Same-sex marriage would likely contribute
to more stability and to longer-lasting relationships for
committed same-sex couples.”
Chad Griffin, chair of the board of the American Foundation for Equal Rights, which is sponsoring the plaintiffs’
challenge, is thrilled that the trial is “putting those who
attempt to provide justification for discrimination” under
oath for the first time.
“I think they found in a court of law, it’s quite different from on a political campaign where you can say anything and get away with it,” Griffin says. “In a court of
law, you’re under oath and you actually have to tell the
truth—and you have to answer to those truths under oath.
And I think that proved difficult for the defendant-interveners in this case.”
Ironically, Tony Perkins, head of the political Christian
lobbying group the Family Research Council, agrees with
Griffin. In his overview of the trial, Perkins expressed disappointment with the ProtectMarriage defense.
“Christianity—as the wellspring of ‘animus’ against
28
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
Attorneys Ted Olson and David Boies
homosexual activity—is being attacked as full of bigotry,
but empty of factual content. This mode of attack worked
with Colorado’s Amendment 2 in 1994, and was an integral part of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2003 Lawrence v. Texas
decision. Yet 99 percent of the empirical evidence regarding homosexual activity supports the Christian appraisal
of it,” Perkins wrote on his FRC blog.
“Nevertheless, here we are with a distinct possibility
of losing the Prop. 8 trial in California. Why? Largely
because many on the pro-family side of the aisle want to
win only if they can show positive advantages to heterosexual marriage while simultaneously not criticizing homosexuals, their unions, or their actions. [Emphasis Perkins],”
Perkins continued. “The Wall Street Journal quoted Andrew
Pugno, general counsel for ProtectMarriage.com as saying
‘We do not have to show that same-sex marriage would
harm traditional marriage—but just that traditional marriage is a reasonable tool to promote the public’s interest.’ … Arguing that something you support is merely
‘better than’ or ’superior to’ what you’re against is the weakest argument.”
Perkins seems furious that he was not brought on
board as part of the defense team. He claims to have “solid empirical evidence” that “there are real harms associated with homosexuality and homosexual marriage. But
that evidence is being deliberately neglected. Why? ...
Jesus harshly criticized the moral authorities of his day. Those
who want to color the world happy forget that there is a
time for animus and a time for reconciliation. Animus
toward those who seek to corrupt society and seduce children is a good thing.”
Perkins was part of a TheCall event in San Diego put on
by Lou Engel and Jim Garlow to drum up support among
evangelicals and there was significant evidence submitted
by the Olson/Boies team—including a simulcast paid for by
ProtectMarriage that went out to a network of churches—
which included the animus Perkins favors. Some of the
exchange about the simulcast is included in the transcripts
of the trial posted on the American Foundation for Equal Rights
website at equalrightsfoundation.org.
Post-trial amicus briefs were filed by Feb. 3—most
appeared to be supporting the plaintiffs. Both sides have
until Feb. 26 to respond to the amicus briefs—after which
Judge Walker will hold a hearing to handle details and set
a date for closing arguments.
What is imperative to remember is that while the
Olson/Boies side fared extremely well, even in the estimation of Tony Perkins—Judge Walker’s ruling at the District
Court level is not expected to be the last word on the constitutionality of Prop 8.
In the end, Walker’s ruling “won’t matter very much
at all,” Vikram David Amar, Associate Dean for Academic
Affairs and Professor of Law at the University of California, Davis School of Law, wrote in FindLaw.com.
The case is expected to be appealed to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals where “the record that Judge Walker compiles will provide ammunition for the plaintiffs’
viewpoint, but not so much ammunition that Ninth Circuit judges who would otherwise be disinclined to
embrace the plaintiffs’ arguments will be meaningfully
constrained by the evidence from following their original disinclination.”
The facts in the Prop. 8 case, Amar argues, “consist
largely of ‘legislative’ facts—big-picture assessments of
history, political science, sociology, etc. And the assessment
of such facts may be informed by a decider’s own ideological leanings as much as by the credibility of the courtroom witnesses. These legislative facts are the kinds of
facts that higher court judges tend to resolve for themselves, often without even the benefit of a formal adversarial trial.”
The bottom line: the Prop. 8 fight is far from over.
FEBRUARY 23, 2010
29
>> NAKED CITY
beefcake’s
REVENGE
BY KEN KNOX
AFTER BEING ARRESTED FOR TAKING “DIRTY PICTURES”
in the 1950s, 82-year-old beefcake photographer John Palatinus is having
the last laugh with a first-ever exhibit of his “lost” works.
For some gay men coming of age in the 1950s,
beefcake and posing-strap magazines were the only outlet for their desires for other men. Designed to elicit
prurient interest, these publications, like Young Physique,
Demi-Gods and Tomorrow’s Man, gave gay men an opportunity to fantasize about a life that was not yet theirs to
live freely. And photographers like John Palatinus, whose
show John Palatinus: Tomorrow’s Man debuts at the Antebellum Gallery on Feb. 14—were their window into that
life. “John Palatinus was my hero and my savior when I
was sixteen years old,” says Jack Fritscher, former editor
of Drummer magazine. “My lifetime career in gay writing, photography and video was inspired by Palatinus
and Tomorrow’s Man.”
Born to a plumber and his wife in the northern Indiana town of South Bend in 1926, Palatinus spent the first
decade of his life as a farm boy, feeding pigs and bailing hay. After graduating high school, he attended Indiana University before enlisting in the Army and serving
in the Korean War. It was during his stint in the military
that Palatinus purchased his first camera, a Zeiss Icon twin
lens reflex, and began experimenting.
After the war, he returned home, where he got a job
as a window display designer at one of the local department stores and did set design for a local theater group.
In 1957, he began shooting nude portraits of men—
“Just images of beautiful manhood,” he explains—and
enjoyed it so much that he eventually opened his own
studio in New York City and began publishing his work
in the pocket-sized pictorial Tomorrow’s Man. “It was
definitely not pornography,” he notes, “but the U.S.
Postal Department had their own agenda.”
On Jan. 30, 1959, police and postal inspectors raided Palatinus’ Greenwich Village studio along with two
others. Seven men were arrested in what papers referred
to as a “filth raid” of an “international pornography
ring,” and all of their negatives, equipment and photos
were confiscated, effectively putting Palatinus out of
business. He was convicted of conspiracy to distribute
lewd photos through the mail in 1960, but thankfully
avoided jail time. Palatinus was so scarred by the incident, suffering a “psychological and creative meltdown,”
that he gave up photography and took a job as an interior designer in a furniture store. Palatinus eventually
found a way to combine his love of photography, set
design and window design, taking a job as the creative
director at a fashion photography studio in Manhattan
in the mid-‘60s, but all traces of his former career had
30
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
been erased. Or so he thought.
As it turns out, Palatinus’ work had inspired a legion
of fans, among them Alan Harmon, a vintage erotica
fanatic with a particular fondness for the “Golden Age”
that took place between 1945 and 1965. Among his
extensive collection were several of Palatinus’ photos. Harmon posted them on his blog and was pleasantly surprised when Palatinus contacted him to say he was alive
and well and living in Palm Springs. The two men struck
up a friendship, and Harmon was eventually able to help
Palatinus repopulate his collection of images through
the assistance of members of Harmon’s Yahoo email
group devoted to vintage erotica.
After being introduced to Antebellum Gallery owner Rick Castro through mutual friends, John agreed to
feature his work in his very first exhibit ever. “After over
50 years it is immensely gratifying to have my work
seen once again,” the 82-year-old artist says, adding
that, “I feel vindicated that it’s being shown. The judge
at [my] trial said, ‘This photography might be considered art in the future, but by present standards it is
pornography.’ How prophetic! But after 50 years I
don’t feel vindictive. I’m just glad it can be appreciated now.
“It is wonderfully gratifying to find new fans among
the men of today,” Palatinus continues. “I think Alan
and other young men like him like the simplicity and the
rather covert eroticism of these early photographs. Today
we are bombarded with overt sexuality in advertising,
film, TV and other media. We are a bit jaded. These
images take you back to a time when things were more
innocent, more mysterious. We were just trying to present the male figure in all its splendor.”
For Rick Castro, who says he is proud to present
John’s work at Antebellum, the exhibit presents much
more than just dirty pictures. “It’s important, especially
for young people, to view this work and comprehend
that John was a pioneer: His art challenged the status quo
and gave us civil rights that we now take for granted,”
Castro says. “Sex is our history, and in many ways sex is
our legacy. This exhibit confirms our place in history and
our legitimacy as erotic artists.”
John Palatinus: Tomorrow’s Man debuts at the Antebellum Gallery, 1643 N. Las Palmas Ave, Hlywd, on Feb. 14,
with a special opening night gala featuring Palatinus, and
runs through March 20. For more information, visit
antebellum.us.ms.
FEBRUARY 23, 2010
31
THURS., FEB. 11
FRI., FEB. 12
FRI., FEB. 12
UNITARDED
PRESIDENT’S GAY
Cinefamily presents a cornucopia of post-punk junk from
around the globe, including
Reading Festival ‘78, a concert
doc profiling the punk bands
that found themselves on the
same festival bill as Foreigner, classic performances from
the late ‘70s/early ‘80s NYC
club circuit and the French
post-apocalypse 1983 TV
movie Car Cemetery! The Cinefamily, 611 N. Fairfax Ave.,
L.A. cinefamily.org
Unitards Mike Albo, Nora
Burns and David Ilku promise an evening on par with
extra-pure heroin. Their
brand-new show rolls into
town for the next two weekends following a sold-out run
in New York City, taking on
everything from emo boys to
underminers, junkies to Marc
Jacobs. Cavern Club Theater
at Casita del Campo, 1920
Hyperion Ave., Silverlake.
cavernclubtheater.com
Highways Performance Space
presents Abraham Lincoln’s
Big Gay Valentine’s Bash, featuring host Ian MacKinnon
and guests The Nellie Olesons,
Pete Zias, Drew Mason and
others. The fundraiser celebrates V-Day and Abe’s birthday with works about love,
sex and romance. And don’t
forget a nude, lap-dancing
Abraham Lincoln. Highways
Performance Space, 1651
18th St., Santa Monica.
highwaysperformance.org
ALENDA
POST-PUNK JUNK
SAT., FEB. 13
SAT., FEB. 13
ICE ICE BABY
HOT FLASH!
Iconic actress and entertainer Jenifer Lewis has an
unprecedented string of sold
out shows at the L.A. Gay &
Lesbian Center’s Renberg Theatre under her belt. Now the
celebrated diva returns to the
stage with her latest original
one-woman show, Jenifer
Lewis’s Hot Flash!, which continues with Saturday performances on Feb. 13, 20, 27
and March 6. The Renberg
Theatre, 1125 N. McCadden
Pl., L.A. lagaycenter.org
WED., FEB. 17
MEAT AND TWO VEG
For over a decade, Puppetry of
the Penis has been making audiences laugh worldwide with
unclad “puppeteers” who
stretch themselves to the limit performing genital origami. The two performers move
through a series of tricks,
contorting themselves into
shapes such as the “Hamburger” and “Loch Ness
Monster.” The Coast Playhouse, 8325 Santa Monica
Blvd.,
WeHo.
ticketweb.com
MUST DO EVENT
The L.A. Blades Hockey Club annual winter ice
skate party/fundraiser takes place from 10 p.m.12:30 a.m. This year has a special V-Day
theme, so wear something red to help celebrate the holiday weekend. $20 admission
includes ice skates, food, beverages and prizes.
All are welcome. Pickwick Ice Arena, 1001 Riverside Dr., Burbank. bladeshockey.com
SAT., FEB. 20
MEET THE
DANCING KINGS
World-renowned all-male
dance virtuosos are bringing
their power, strength, and
beauty to Los Angeles in
Kings of the Dance at the
Ahmanson Theatre. Meet
some of the stars at our
exclusive Frontiers after-party
on Wed. Feb. 17 after the
performance. Use your dance
tickets for free entrance. Afterparty at Cicada Restaurant 617
S. Olive Street L.A. CA 90014
musiccenter.org
SUN.,
FEB.
14
On Valentine’s Day, find a new love—with fur
and four paws. The East Valley Animal Shelter
in Van Nuys and the Pet Care Foundation host
a huge pet adoption fair, with music, facepainting, card making and—most importantly—hundreds of dogs and cats for you to choose
from, with discounted adoption fees. East Valley Shelter, 14409 Van Owen St., Van Nuys.
(888) 452-7381
SAT., FEB. 20
SPEAK UP
Dr. Earl Ofari Hutchinson and the Los Angeles
Urban Policy Roundtable presents a discussion
featuring internationally acclaimed author Terry Angel Mason. Mason is known for his breakthrough revolutionary book, Love Won't Let Me
Be Silent, a testament for many gays and lesbians struggling with their sexuality. 10 a.m.
Lucy Florence Coffeehouse, 3351 W. 43rd St.,
L.A. terryangelmason.com
| SHOW ME YOURS
Hillcrest Mardi Gras has been a community event for nine years, one of San Diego’s most exciting events showcasing the neighborhood and raising money for neighborhood improvements
and youth scholarships. The event consists of live bands, dancing, DJs, rides, drinks and lots
of beads. This year’s entertainers include Chico’s Angels and our very own Jackie Beat. 6-11
p.m. Tickets are $20 the day of the event, $75 for VIP tickets. hillcrestmardigras.com
32
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
MY FURRY VALENTINE
FEBRUARY 23, 2010
33
>> SOCIAL WHIRL
Frontiers in L.A. & SoCal Social Club’s
VIP Night Out
Joffrey Ballet’s Cinderella After-Party
Jan. 29
Ciudad Restaurant
Photos by BlahaPhotography.com
34
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
FEBRUARY 23, 2010
35
>> THEATER REVIEWS
THE JAMB
ECLECTIC COMPANY THEATRE | Fri.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 7 p.m.
Through Feb. 21 | Tickets $18 | eclecticcompanytheatre.org
J. Stephen Brantley’s new play calls itself
a comedy but it’s dominated by angst-filled
verbal battles that seem too vitriolic to be
funny. We quickly learn that the two combative key characters—longtime gay best
friends—grew up between periods of enlightenment: post-Stonewall and pre-Will & Grace.
Says one to the other: “We weren’t exactly
stuck in the closet, but we hadn’t fully
entered the room yet, either. We were in the
doorjamb of that closet.” Now turning 40,
the platonic pals are facing a crossroads in
their relationship. Will Tuffer (Kerr Seth Lordygan) finally move beyond his hedonistic,
self-destructive lifestyle of drugs, boozing
and chasing college boys? Will self-righteous, healthful-living Roderick (Brad C.
Wilcox) ever give up nagging Tuffer about
his bad habits?
Midlife crisis dramas about gay males are
a rare commodity, so one approaches Brantley’s well-intended work with keen anticipa-
tion. There are laughs and sharp character
observations here and there, but Brantley’s
script leans toward the repetitive—particularly in those aforementioned screaming
matches. Things get bogged down further
with the playwright’s contrived use of fourthwall breaking. We’d do perfectly well without actors onstage shouting orders to the
light booth that it’s time for their soliloquy.
To make matters worse, much of the information revealed in these monologues is of
questionable relevance.
The first half of the play dwells on Tuffer
and Roderick’s heated conflicts, while a third
party, cute college twink Brandon (Garrett
Liggett), gets in the middle of the fray. As
we eventually learn, Tuffer was too wasted
to consummate anything with his boy toy,
Brandon, yet what’s really puzzling is why the
seemingly intelligent Brandon would find
this dysfunctional mess of a human being
remotely attractive. The second act takes us
PHOTO: SUSAN LEE
to rustic New Mexico, where Roderick’s exhippie mom (Kenlyn Kanouse) lives, as Roderick makes a desperate pitch to have clean
living rub off on Tuffer.
There’s an interesting play to be written
about the fuzzy line between friendship and
romance in longtime gay bonds, as well as
a rewarding piece about the challenges of
growing old in gay life. Brantley makes an
admirable attempt to make incisive points surrounding these themes, but for the most
part his play comes across as overwrought
and under-inspired.
—Les Spindle
NAKED IN THE TROPICS
MACHA THEATRE | Fri.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 7 p.m. | Through Feb. 21
Tickets $34 | plays411.com/nakedtropics
During the past decade, prolific writer-director-producer-actor Odalys Nanin has offered
several original works of strong interest to the
LGBT community. In her finest works—a lesbian adaptation of Federico Garcia Lorca’s Blood
Wedding (2000) and Garbo’s Cuban Lover
(2001), a biographical drama charting the
secret love life of screen legend Greta Garbo—
Nanin balanced humor and heartbreak to sublime effect, offering profound insights into the
human condition. In her new play, Naked in
the Tropics, Nanin appears to be trying too
hard to please everyone at once, yielding disappointing results.
As in many of her plays, Nanin has created a lesbian love story featuring herself in one
of the lead roles. The primary plot line charts
the passionate-but-volatile coming together
of no-nonsense immigration attorney Alicia
(Nanin) and Isis (Natalie Salins), the Cuban
immigrant who she meets for a blind date. As
in Love Struck, an earlier Nanin rom-com, the
scenes between the lesbian lovers during the
meet-cute and courtship scenes are buoyantly funny. Breezy banter keeps these segments
crisp and amusing; Nanin and Salins display a
flair for this sort of humor.
Unfortunately, the play makes what feels
like a token effort to appeal to the gay-guy
PHOTO: MICHAEL HELMS
36
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
crowd. The Tropics is a fictional gay dance club
in WeHo where narcotics and flashes of nudity are the order of the night. Isis’ 18-year-old
bisexual son Andres (Carlos Moreno, Jr.) is juggling his interests between the girlfriend he has
impregnated (Castille Landon) and the dopepeddling dancer Joe (Daniel Rivera), who catches his fancy. When Joe allows Andres to take
the fall for a drug bust, Andres faces possible
deportation. Alicia comes to Andres’ rescue in
a talky courtroom segment that vacillates in
tone between giddy and serious. Two crossdressing characters played by Carey Embrey
wallow in clichés.
Meanwhile, Nanin also dabbles in the bookmusical form—well, sort of. Characters launch
into Broadway-style showtunes a mere two or
three times, which comes across as jarring
rather than integral. The narrative and the
play’s aims never quite come into focus. The
gay-guy story isn’t particularly interesting or
multi-dimensional. Supporting characters aren’t
well developed. The drug-abuse theme feels
counter-productive in a work that’s primarily
comedic, sometimes to the point of slapstick.
Nanin is a proven multi-talented theater craftsman. One wishes her latest work displayed a
stronger sense of continuity and purpose.
—L.S.
>> THEATER LISTINGS
THE COLOR PURPLE
Based on the classic Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker and the
moving film by Steven Spielberg, this
is the unforgettable and inspiring story of a woman named Celie (reprised
by American Idol Season 3 winner Fantasia), who finds the strength to triumph over adversity, and discover her
unique voice in the world. Through
Feb. 28. Tickets $65-85. Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hlywd.
broadwayla.org
F*CKING MEN
BOBRAUSCHENBERGAMERICA
The Los Angeles premiere of Charles L. Mee’s kaleidoscopic play, a fantastical road trip through the American landscape, written as Robert Rauschenberg, one
of America’s greatest living artists, might conceive it.
Traveling easily through time, the play is a collage of
images and sensations—Rauschenberg’s childhood
home, a human martini, a pizza delivery boy and the
world’s worst collection of chicken jokes. Through Feb.
28. Tickets $20. The Ford, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East,
Hlywd. fordtheatres.org
The sold-out production that was
extended twice returns! Playwright Joe
DePietro’s provocative work observes
the sex lives of modern urban gay America and examines men from all walks of
life, including a soldier, a graduate student, a stock broker, a high school
teacher and a movie star, following
each as the 10 men strive to connect
in some meaningful way. Contains nudity. Through Feb. 14. Tickets $30. Celebration Theatre, 7051B Santa Monica
Blvd., Hlywd. celebrationtheatre.com
ORPHEUS DESCENDING
Tennessee Williams’ rarely produced
classic is set in the American South of
repressed desires featuring guitar-playing drifter Val Xavier (Gale Harold, Queer
as Folk) as he arrives in a small town
looking for work and the opportunity
to renounce his wild ways. Here he
meets Lady Torrance (Denise Crosby,
Star Trek TNG), a woman with a tragic
past who longs for rebirth. Through
Feb. 21. Tickets $25. Theatre/Theater,
5041 W. Pico Blvd., L.A. BrownPaperTickets.com/event/92508
SIX DEGREES OF
FORNICATION
Playwright/director David Wally describes
his show as “a dramedy about love, lust
and temporary insanity.” Monique is
engaged to Ben, but sleeps with Lenore,
her fiance’s sister, and Ben sleeps with
Melanie, a call girl and dominatrix who
is Lenore’s lover. Melanie’s divorced dad,
George, manages to get cozy with
Lenore. How does this all happen? Everybody lies in bed, at least occasionally.
Nudity. Through March 4. Tickets $20.
Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Blvd.,
Sherman Oaks. theatermania.com
SEASCAPES WITH SHARKS
AND DANCERS
On a solitary walk along the misty Cape
Cod coast in the middle of the night,
an aspiring novelist (played by Matthew
Hannon) fishes a naked young woman
out of the surf. So begins Don Nigro’s
offbeat romantic comedy about love
at first sight and what follows. Set
against the social currents of the ‘70s,
the couple is cast into a calamitous
romance propelled by his distant emotionality and her self-destructive nature.
Through March 5. Tickets $20.
Studio/Stage, 520 N. Western Ave., L.A.
sharksanddancer.com
STAGE DOOR
George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber’s
classic Depression-era story follows the
residents of New York’s Footlights Club,
“a club for girls of the stage,” as they
all vie for their place on Broadway’s
glittering stages of 1936. Loves are lost
and won, fortunes made and lives shattered as the residents of the Footlights
club find that the life of the stage is, for
those who can hack it, worth every
penny. Through March 13. Tickets $25.
The Open Fist Theatre, 6209 Santa
Monica Blvd., Hlywd. openfist.org
THROW LIKE A GIRL
Family is relative in this production—17year-old Zandor is tossed between Daniel,
his homophobic father, his understanding but alcoholic mother Caroline and
his uncontrollable obsession to be female.
Ten years later, Caroline has disappeared
and through surgery, Zandor has become
Zana who continues the struggle to cope
with her unbearable father. Through Feb.
28. Tickets $20. Sunset Gardner Stages
3, 1501 N. Gardner St., Hlywd.
plays411.com/throwlikeagirl
FEBRUARY 23, 2010
37
>> MUSIC REVIEWS
THE SEA — Capitol
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Efterklang
Holly Miranda
Massive Attack
Sade
VV Brown
MAGIC CHAIRS
THE MAGICIAN’S
PRIVATE LIBRARY
HELIGOLAND
SOLDIER OF LOVE
TRAVELLING LIKE THE LIGHT
Virgin Records
Epic
Capitol Records
There’s not much that separates a
good Massive Attack CD from a
mediocre one—they’re all slow,
ambient, ponderous, eerie. In some
ways, they’re like Rorschach blots
for trip-hop. I may love Protection
(which I do); you may adore Mezzanine or 100th Window, which I find
less tuneful. Heligoland, by any measure, is as solid and concise a record
that they’ve put their name on. And
the guest vocalists are a stellar bunch,
from TV on the Radio’s Tunde Adebimpe on the spooky opener “Pray
for Rain” to Damon Albarn’s pleading turn on “Saturday Come Slow.”
Songs are kept to a relatively manageable length—mostly around the
five minute mark—and rhythms,
while still mostly of the down-tempo variety, are at least not lugubrious. Both cuts that feature Martina
Topley-Bird lift the band away from
their occasionally ponderous despondency; she performed a similar feat
for Tricky (who got his start years
ago with Massive Attack). In fact,
Topley-Bird’s the human face/muse
of the genre. Elsewhere, the songs
fall back on electro-ambience whisper-not-a-scream techno dystopia.
If you have no Massive Attack in your
collection, you might want to start
here. Otherwise, you’ve heard it all
before and may enjoy hearing it
again.
—D.L.
Oh, Sade, I can always rely on you
for slow-jam grooves that make me
want to sway barefoot on the sand
of a tropical beach at night, maybe
slightly drunk, maybe thinking too
much about what it means to fall—
and stay—in love. I’d wondered what
had happened to you over the last
10 years, but I know you’ve said you
only put out an album when you
feel you have something to say. Listening to the elegant “The Moon
and the Sky” and the funky, slightly irregular military drumbeat of “Soldier of Love,” it’s like 2000 all over
again. You can make anyone feel
warm inside, almost swooning over
your R&B grooves and jazz-lite vocal
arrangements. By the time of the
narcotic “Morning Bird,” though,
you start to lose me a little. I mean,
it’s not like your music is bad; in fact,
it’s always expertly executed. It’s just
that it starts to sound so dreamy and
dirge-y, with only the occasional hiccup of percussion and a few horns
to break the tempo, like on your
Caribbean-inflected “Babyfather”
and the beat-heavy “Bring Me
Home.” I’m certainly not going to
bad mouth you, Sade, but I just can’t
help wondering if what you have to
say ever involves raising your voice.
Let me know.
—M.W.
It seems like every time you turn
around, there’s yet another female
pop vocalist (Amy Winehouse, Adele,
Duffy, Estelle) being imported from
the U.K. and touted as the next “It
Girl.” And in the case of VV Brown,
the hype is again warranted. Having
already conquered her homeland
with a brash mix of girl-group effervescence and post-pop buoyancy,
this diva-in-training seems poised for
a stateside breakthrough to rival that
of her forebears. The disc is a pleasure from start to finish, with Phil
Spector-esque walls of sound married
to Brown’s cheeky, mischievous attitude and loads of spirit and girl-power to spare. Opening track “Quick
Fix” sets the tone with a propulsive
pseudo-doo-wop arrangement that
is revisited throughout the record.
While many of the tracks (like the
marching band-inspired “Game
Over” and the Winehouse-worthy
“Back In Time”) deserve chart status,
it’s the buoyant “Shark in the Water”
that will cement Brown’s place at
the top of the charts. With a killer
hook that makes “Rehab” sound dated, this buzz-tastic pop gem
announces the arrival of a talent
whose rise to the top will likely be
travelling just like the title of the
record implies: at the speed of light.
—Ken Knox
4AD
XL Recording
What is it with Scandinavian bands
and their odd yet beguiling musical
concoctions? From Sigur Ros to the
Knife, they all seem to possess an
otherworldly quality—a way of marrying pop melodies to gorgeously
weird compositions. Efterklang (who
hail from Denmark) are no different.
At 10 years into the game, they are
self-assured musicians whose songs
bounce between any number of genres, from ambient pop to chamber
music, and yet maintain a surprisingly original sound. A track like “Modern Drift” feels like a more cinematic Grizzly Bear, slowly unfolding from
a piano ballad into an orchestral pop
epic. “Raincoats,” meanwhile, seems
to come from a completely different place, abandoning the wistful
qualities for drumbeats, handclaps
and a looping guitar line that gives
it a world music/Peter Gabriel vibe.
Singer Casper Clausen is to thank
for unifying these stylistically diverse
songs with a voice that is at once
grounded yet slightly ethereal. Yes,
this is pop music, but only in the
most cursory sense. With its intricate layering of instruments and
meandering melodies, “Magic
Chairs” is not necessarily “easy,” but
it is a gorgeous listen all the same.
—Mikel Wadewitz
38
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
This singer-songwriter was born in
Michigan and may call Brooklyn her
home, but her music has no fixed
address. One moment she’s the quintessential indie-rock chanteuse—
check out the languorous groove of
“Waves”—and the next second, on
the buoyantly spacey “Joints,” she’s
the second coming of The Cocteau
Twins. She counts TV on the Radio
as an influence—this debut was produced by TVOTR’s Dave Sitek—and
you can hear their roiling momentum in songs such as “No One Just
Is” and the CD-closing lullaby “Sleep
on Fire.” Elsewhere you might detect
snatches of Björk (“Slow Burn Treason”) or the minimalist intimacy of
The xx (“High Tide”), yet she’s not
as slavish as all that. There’s a sweetly delicate underpinning to these ten
songs that wring sensual currents
from the swaths of electro colorings
and artful punctuation of horns. And
no matter how experimental her
music may sound at first, it’s surprisingly memorable. The morass gels
into instantly recognizable melodies,
choruses, and sometimes, even
hooks. And though it’s our job to
give you some idea of what she
sounds like, she’s such an original
voice that we can only give you signposts to help point you along the
way.
—Dan Loughry
The
Naked Truth
BY CHRISTOPHER LISOTTA
A DAY WITHOUT CLOTHES MAY BE JUST THE TRICK FOR COUPLES LOOKING TO RECAPTURE THAT OLD MAGIC.
The old adage says clothes make the man,
but the new adage may just be, “no clothes
make the relationship.” Clothes do many things
for us beyond mere protection from the elements, whether it’s about fashion, self-expression or creating an outward persona different
from our insides. But in some cases what we
wear creates a barrier between our significant
other. Just ask Dr. Deborah Laino, a licensed
sex therapist and author who is a proponent
of couples taking time out for a naked day.
“I’m always kind of interested in what is
going on neurochemically,” Laino said, noting
that many professionals in her field focus on
the environmental elements that impact a sexual relationship. But getting down to the cellular science of attraction and sexuality fascinated her enough to take a look at why it
sometimes feels so good to be naked with a
partner. “With cuddling, there is often a sense
of calm,” she said, which now can be understood as not just a feeling but the result of an
actual chemical reaction. Laino points to oxytocin, a bonding chemical produced by the
pituitary gland. What triggers the production
of oxytocin got Laino very interested. Besides
being created when women breast feed or
either men or women have orgasms, oxycotin
40
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
starts humming with an embrace that lasts as
little as 30 seconds.
“One of the things I see in couples, both
heterosexual and homosexual, is after a certain period of time the touching stops,” she
explained. “The long, passionate kisses in the
beginning tend to become little pecks. We are
not getting that connection. We physically
separate and emotionally disconnect.”
To help counter this gentle yet depressing
slide into a platonic relationship, Laino encourages couples to carve out a time in their schedule where they can spend several hours together totally naked. “Watch television, cook dinner, have a glass of wine together, just do it
naked,” she said. “It doesn’t necessarily have
to lead to sex. It’s more about creating and
recreating intimacy.”
It’s also about creating a level of honesty
between yourself and your partner, she added.
“You’re not hiding behind a mask of clothing
or whatever you’re wearing,” she explained.
“There’s a level of truth to being nude in front
of one another. A huge piece of a good relationship—not only with yourself but with other people—is being able to accept yourself
and accept another person in addition to that.
I think a lot of us fall short in that realm.”
The naked day concept has some wellknown supporters, including pop diva Christina Aguilera. In 2007 Aguilera sat down with
Ellen DeGeneres on the out comedian’s talk
show and admitted she and her husband Jordan Bratman commit to hanging out in the
buff on the Lord’s day. “On Sundays we just
do everything in the house, and we’re just
cozy and laid back,” Aguilera told DeGeneres.
“We don’t need to go anywhere, we’re just
with each other. We do everything naked. We
cook naked.” The next year Aguilera noted
just because she had given birth to the couple’s son, Naked Sundays were still on, pointing out she and Bratman felt it was important
to have “mummy and daddy time.”
The idea of gay male couples hanging out
naked may not seem to be that big of a deal,
considering how many guys truck down the
cliffs to San Diego’s premier nude destination
Black’s Beach or make the clothing-optional
resorts in Palm Springs a regular travel stop.
Heck, most big cities have regular shirtless or
underwear nights at the more risqué gay bars.
But even with the overriding let-it-all-hangout culture, there are plenty of gay men with
body image issues or the emotional scarring
of sexual trauma.
One element Laino sees in gay men in particular is size anxiety when it comes to their
genitals. “I think a lot of gay men put a lot of
pressure on themselves in regard to their penises,” she admitted, noting that as a woman
who has enjoyed gay clubs for years, she’s
seen men navigate the waters of not having
a huge phallus or being porn-star hard at the
command of their partner.
Laino cautions this kind of exercise may
not be for every couple, depending where
they are in their relationship. “Some couples
are last-ditch effort couples,” she explained. “A
couple in therapy has to be at a certain level.
If they are fighting about finances, then we
have a lot of work to do before we reach a point
like this.”
But for a couple emotionally ready to jump
in and make the time commitment to their relationship, a naked day together can be an
extremely rewarding experience.
“There is that concept of porn-style sex,
which is great occasionally but if you’re in a
relationship there has got to be something
deeper,” Laino said. “It’s about taking the time
to learn yourself, learn about your partner and
actually learn how to be connected to that
individual.”
FEBRUARY 23, 2010
41
DIFFERENT STROKES
going inside the open relationship
WHEN LOVE CLOSES A DOOR, IT OFTEN OPENS... A RELATIONSHIP?
BY MICHAEL ANTHONY
Yes, folks, whatever you may think about it—good or bad,
kinky or cliché—many gay (and straight) couples choose to partake in open relationships. And while we’ve all heard stories
about how unlocking one’s boudoir door has ruined a formerly monogamous LTR, there are equally as many tales of relationships saved by the often-taboo tactic.
And it is with this understanding that I go into my interview with long-time friend and colleague, Frank, a 30-something West Hollywood interior designer. You see, I’ve known
for some time that he and his partner have had some sort of
“open arrangement,” but the details have always been elusive
to me. Whether I didn’t want to ask or whether he didn’t feel
comfortable kissing and telling, the particulars always remained
under wraps. But in researching this article, “it” came up—and
he was happy to dish.
“Just be straight with me,” I tell him. “No pun intended.”
And, of course, as is his open nature, he was. While almost
everything with Ken—his “just slightly older,” house-flipping
boyfriend—was near perfect, their three-year partnership had
fallen into a rut: “I was totally happy to accept him for his flaws,
but I couldn’t accept a lifetime of bad sex … Not that it was
bad-bad horrible, but it was too much of the same; and I was
going crazy … I felt stuck.”
So, after about a year of unspoken personal anguish, Frank
finally broke down and gave voice to his feelings to Ken: “I
told him everything, about how I felt stuck and unhappy ... I
thought he’d run or hate me or something, but he basically
felt the same way. Hearing that was painful in a way and yet
kind of a relief too.”
Their sexual frustrations hanging in the air, they contemplated their options. “He mentioned maybe breaking up, but
that about killed me. So not an option … We discussed therapy, but, for a few reasons, it just didn’t feel right … Then at
first we started joking about threeways, and it just got kind of
serious. It turned into, like, a real discussion.”
42
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
Rules were enacted. 1) You can only hook up one-on-one
when I’m out of town, and you must always, always wear a
condom and play safe. 2) Threeways were to become a regular thing, but only after they had both agreed on the third
party. 3) If one began having romantic or emotional feelings
about someone, it was to be discussed immediately. 4) Nothing else (aside from unsafe sex) was off the table; however, it
needed to be agreed upon first.
And thus, an open relationship between Frank and Ken was
born, an agreement that lasts until this day, 2.5 years later.
But can a relationship like this last, much less thrive, longterm? For that, I turned to Dr. Jallen Rix, Ed.D., acclaimed sexologist and author, and he tells me, the answer is a resounding “Yes!”
“Most people in open relationships believe [that] they live
more authentically because they don’t believe people are
monogamous by nature in the first place,” he explains. “Partners are not under the pressure of meeting all of each other’s
sexual needs. Usually there’s a greater sense of freedom to
adjust the relationship to whatever is most needed by the
partners.”
Plainly put, what is an open relationship? He tells me:
“The term ‘open’ is mostly used when a primary romantic
relationship, gay or straight, has some kind of agreed arrangement to not be sexually monogamous.” And it’s not about cheating, he goes on: “I tend not to call a relationship where there
is sex going on behind a partner’s back an “open” one …
That’s just a couple who [has] agreed on monogamy and one
or both is breaking said agreement.”
Although practiced by many gay and straight couples, an
open partnership still remains taboo, and even looked down
upon in many social circles. Why? So explains Dr. Jallen: “We
still suffer under centuries of sexual repression and ignorance;
crazy stuff that plenty of people, religious or otherwise, still pass
on to their decedents in one form or another that only make
us feel shame. Why? Because shame is power, and if any given leader can control a society’s spirituality, finances or sexuality—you’ve got them, quite literally, by the balls.”
Regarding the long-term success of an open relationship,
Rix attributes a positive outcome to just a few simple things:
“It all depends on the ability of the partners to communicate,
negotiate and agree on what brings them together and what
pulls them apart.”
“What’s great is that we live in an era where, for the most
part, we all can design the kind of connections that best meet
our needs,” concludes Rix. “[But] this is adult stuff … Work [with]
someone (e.g. a professional therapist) who specializes in these
matters … Communicate and agree on the dynamics before
you’re in a given situation … [And] decide on a way to ‘check
in.’ Have a way to call a time-out to talk about what’s going
on—a pause button of sorts, not simply a way to whine or cockblock.”
“Different strokes for different folks” celebrates the true diversity that is our unique community; and for many, an open
relationship, as in Frank and Ken’s case, is the key to long-term
success. And perhaps Frank sums it up best: “Today, I’m happy again … and more importantly I’m happy with Ken again.”
Speaker, author and educator, Jallen Rix has
come a long way to be a sex expert, with
his Doctorate of Education in Sexology
from The Institute for Advanced Study of
Human Sexuality in San Francisco. Over the
years, Jallen has become an expert on the
damaging effects of, and recovery from, the ex-gay movement,
with his book Ex-Gay No Way available in May. As a sexologist,
he creates an accepting and safe environment that provides support, humor and insight for a wide variety of people to raise their
awareness for a more positive and healthier sexuality. For more
info on Dr. Rix, visit doctorrix.com.
BY
LAWRENCE
FERBER
PARK CITY, UTAH: Despite this year’s theme
of “Rebel,” there was little rocking of the boat
at the Sundance Film Festival.
The first edition headed by openly gay fest
director John Cooper, a 20-plus-year Sundance
staff vet, 2010 saw only subtle tweaks in programming and structure—for instance, the
inaugural section NEXT, for micro/no-budget
indies, and the international-inclusive Spotlight—and, barring Twilight’s Kristen Stewart,
who starred in two entries, a slight toning
down in the Hollywood celeb factor. Instead,
the year’s biggest shake-ups occurred offscreen: Queer Lounge was gone, Miramax
announced its closure and a thinned-out industry crowd—all casualties of the economy.
Film-wise it was a year of girl power (and
gayer than usual!), with females behind some
of the most buzzworthy, strong titles. Picked
up by Focus Features for, reportedly, somewhere in the region of $5 million, Lisa Cholodenko’s The Kids Are All Right stars Annette
Bening and Julianne Moore as Nic and Jules,
a lesbian couple whose teenage son and
daughter track down their sperm donor father
(Mark Ruffalo).
Quintessentially Sundance with its family-on-
the-edge plot/theme and well-drawn, meticulously acted characters, the fourth feature by
Cholodenko (High Art, Laurel Canyon) is a cinematic watershed in its outstanding, fully developed post-gay representation of an LGBT family unit. Natural and flawed, Bening’s prickly Nic
and Moore’s confused Jules face all the same
challenges and foibles of a “normal” heterosexual couple, and are painted as such. Their
parenting discussions ring true and are frequently riotous. It’s an absolute must-see.
Buzzed about well in advance of the festival, The Runaways, directed by Floria Sigismondi, dramatizes the story of Joan Jett’s legendary all-teenage-girl band (best known for
their hit single, “Cherry Bomb”). Star Kristen
Stewart is a dead-ringer for Jett, while Dakota Fanning—she’s all growed up!—portrays
exploited jailbait vocalist, Cherie Currie.
Slamdance’s The Four-Faced Liar, written by
and starring Marja-Lewis Ryan, charts a rocky
love triangle between a heterosexual couple
and lesbian. Even one of the year’s most highly anticipated gay male titles in Park City,
Sundance opener Howl, was produced by a
female team, Elizabeth Redleaf and Christine
Kunewa Walker.
A stylized, experimental biopic directed by
gay, Oscar-winning documentarians Rob
Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, Howl focuses on
the youthful years of queer Beat poet Allen
Ginsberg—portrayed by James Franco—while
amalgamating a recreation of the landmark
1957 obscenity trial against the titular poem
and a vibrantly animated interpretation.
Reed Cowan and Steven Greenstreet’s 8: The
Mormon Proposition exposes the Mormon
Church’s substantial involvement in California’s successful Proposition 8 campaign, the
extremes it has taken to persecute its gay
members and families and the heartbreaking
casualties.
At the film’s world premiere at Park City’s
Racquet Club, the directors were joined
onstage by narrator Dustin Lance Black and
interview subject/San Francisco Mayor Gavin
Newsom. During the lively Q&A, a practicing Mormon female expressed her support for
same-sex marriage. “There is not one Mormon mind,” she shared, “and I’ve seen
change come to my church.” Newsom
reminded the audience that the narrative of
the same-sex marriage struggle is similar to
that of interracial marriage and, ultimately,
“history bends towards justice.”
Many bemoaned the lack of a fulltime Queer
Lounge space, yet LGBTs converged at the
annual Outfest Queer Brunch for gossip and
networking (to wit: Eating Out 4 & 5 have
been greenlit by Ariztical, and there will be a
sequel to Hollywood Je T’aime, entitled Hollywood Te Amo) as well as a handful of GLAAD
and Queer Lounge-sponsored panels, cocktail
parties and the annual Homos Away From
Home shindig.
The Sundance Awards proved celebratory for writer/director Javier Fuentes-León,
whose Contracorriente (aka Undertow) won
the World Cinema Audience Award for Dramatic Feature. The affecting tale of a deeply
closeted Peruvian who carries on an affair
with the ghost of his recently deceased gay
lover, Contracorriente was picked up by distributor Wolfe Releasing.
Coming up awards-less but worth mention
are director Eyad Zahra’s Taqwacores, set in
the emerging Islamic punk music scene and
featuring a queer Muslim character; and shorts
including Jamie Travis’ colorfully dark The
Armoire; Ira Sachs’ profound Last Address; and
Jonathan Lisecki’s fun Gayby.
Clockwise from top left: The Four Faced Liar, The Runaways, Howl, Taqwacores, 8 Mormon Proposition, The Armoire
44
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
FEBRUARY 23, 2010
45
BY GARY M. KRAMER
46
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
A
nyone with even a passing
knowledge of gay porn
knows the name Bel Ami,
George Duroy’s Central
European-based
operation that features beautiful young guys. But as porn magazines and DVDs are being phased out, internet sites are where people log on to get off—
and as they did in print and video, Bel Ami has
blazed a trail online.
Duroy—a pseudonym taken from the hero of the
Guy de Maupassant novel that gives the company its
name—got into the adult film industry after studying film
at UCLA. He could have “gone Hollywood,” but Duroy
returned to Prague and started photographing Czech
versions of the young “All-American” guys he saw in California. Soon Bel Ami boys graced the covers of and were
featured in such magazines as Freshmen. Duroy broke
into films with porn purveyor Falcon International, and
in 1993, he created his visionary porn company.
The concept became a brand, and the brand has
gone gangbusters. In the heyday of the 1990s, DVD
releases such as the award-winning An American in Prague
(1997), featuring Bel Ami superstar Johan Paulik, was a
company bestseller.
The success of Bel Ami is, in part, based on the quality of its products. The filming and photography of Bel
Ami videos is high-definition and high-end. This is classy
erotica with sexy and playful camaraderie, not crass
amateur stuff shot in a sleazy motel on grainy stock with
cheap lighting and a second-rate camera. The brand has
developed a passionate, worldwide following, and while
the DVD market has shifted to online, Bel Ami continues to outpace its competitors.
Part of the company’s appeal stems from the irresistible guys, many of whom are all modeled on a basic
type—boyish, buff, smooth and fresh-faced. They have
great smiles and other, um, magnificent attributes. The
drool-worthy stars, who have amusing names like Brandon Manilow, have recently started trending away from
twinks to more Abercrombie & Fitch types. The move
has only attracted more fans.
MORE 48
FEBRUARY 23, 2010
47
FROM 47
Duroy is said to establish a “family”—and
a sense of community—with his talent, often
employing them in office work in legal,
accounting or design positions after they end
their careers in front of the camera. Lukas
Ridgeston, who was one of the first Bel Ami
superstars, has continued his association with
the company by directing films and sex scenes
for the website.
On screen, the guys participate mostly in
what could be described as pretty vanilla gay
sex. The hardcore activity consists mainly of
the sucking and f*cking variety; there is no
fisting, scat or water sports in Bel Ami productions. However, there are some bareback sex
scenes available on BelAmiOnline.com. [Frontiers
in L.A. does not condone unsafe sex practices.
Be safe!]
Yet, the actors, especially the swoon-inducing Paul Walker-ish Dolph Lambert—one of
BelAmiOnline’s current top-rated stars—appears
to be having a great time on camera. Sex in
a Bel Ami film is light and fun, not awkward.
There is no shame or negative perception that
jerking off or having sex—even if it’s with three
other people simultaneously—is dirty or bad.
There is one provocative exception. Twins
Elijah and Milo Peters caused an international sensation when theyhad sex with each other. “It was all over the internet,” recalled a
company spokesperson who admitted, “They
are very sexually into each other. They absolutely wanted to do it in front of the cameras. It
was a huge thing for us.”
48
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
It certainly was. The Bel Ami website, which
reportedly gets 1,000,000 unique visitors every
month, was overwhelmed with new subscribers. (10-day subscriptions cost $24.95;
30-days cost $34.95. A three-month subscription is $79.96 and six-months cost $149.70.
Monthly rebilling is charged at $29.95.)
For a membership site that began back in
1997/98, BelAmiOnline has benefited from
developing its unique content and maintaining it for loyal customers. Competitors in the
porn industry were (and even still are) scrambling to get something up, and many were cannibalized by internet upstarts like Sean Cody
and XTube. Duroy’s established company went
online early, and they shrewdly adapted to
the new technology—such as high-definition—
before others did.
As such, BelAmiOnline offers a comprehensive porn-ucopia of photos and films, from
original programming (shorts) and clips to
trailers for feature-length movies as well as
Video On Demand. In addition, there are plenty of extras on the site, including behind-thescenes documentaries, blogs, features, portfolios, film stills and more.
In fact, there are too many men and too
many images and videos to absorb in one sitting. Moreover, the site updates its content seven days a week—perhaps in response to the
website’s traffic doubling in 2009.
But such success is no surprise as Bel Ami
has been giving its hardcore fans what they
want for nearly two decades.
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Shame on You Kit contains a pair of boxers, a disposable razor, shave cream, three condoms, a toothbrush
and toothpaste, pain reliever and a “leave behind”
note so as not to wake your trick. ($29, urbanaid.com)
4.
GUN OIL
Gun Oil is the premium, condom-safe lubricant that keeps
a man’s most important weapon well-oiled. If the military
issued a lube, this is what they’d distribute with the condoms and artillery. The new bullet-shaped bottles offer
leak/spill-proof, lock-in pumps. Prices vary according to
size. Find at Romantix boutiques, with multiple locations
throughout SoCal. 4877 Lankershim Blvd., NoHo; 3147 San
Fernando Rd., L.A. romantixonline.com
50
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
FEBRUARY 23, 2010
51
>> PRODUCTS
5.
6.
SPIN ME
Remember Spin the Bottle? Well, this
game of mischief raises the stakes a bit.
While the game of our youth lacked a
bit of variety, Spin Me adds a few plot
twists. Some are G-rated; some aren’t.
After you spin the bottle, you’ll be
directed to do something to yourself
or your partner. Remember, the bottle knows best. ($25, jimmyjane.com)
BOY BUTTER H20
Boy Butter H20 is a water-based cream lubricant with added
Vitamin E and Shea butter. The end result is a water-based lubricant that feels oil-based, lasting longer and with no need for
constant reapplication. Make your sex feel better and more natural. (Prices vary according to size, boybutter.com)
7.
8.
DIRTY ROTTEN FLOWERS
Has love left you forlorn? Did you get dumped
for the yoga instructor? Let Dirty Rotten Flowers help you say “thank you” when you really want to say “thanks for nothing.” Express
your true emotions with a bouquet of decomposing or decapitated flowers—or purchase
gorgeous live roses for that special someone. ($25-55, dirtyrottenflowers.com)
REAL TOUCH
Real Touch is the world’s first virtual sex device for men, taking adult entertainment to the next level by adding the sense of touch. You’re no longer simply
watching the movies—you’re part of the action. Welcome to the future of adult
entertainment. Real Touch is only PC compatible. ($199.95, realtouch.com)
9.
10.
LIFESTYLES SKYN CONDOM
The next generation of condoms, SKYN was designed to give condom
buyers what they desire most—sensitivity. Committed to providing its
consumers with the best product possible, LifeStyles SKYN is the first
clinically approved polyisoprene (non-latex) condom. SKYN provides
greater sensation and more comfort than other condoms on the market today. ($13.99 for 12-pack, amazon.com)
11.
GET YOUR BODY WORKED
Don’t have a special someone to spend
time with on Valentine’s Day? Make the
week all about you instead, starting with a full body,
deep tissue or Swedish massage. You deserve it! To
find a local CMT, try thatmall.com, a SoCal directory
of all things therapeutic and sensual, or masseurfinder.com,
the web’s best gay massage directory.
52
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
12.
7.
TIGHTIE WHITIE JOCKSTRAP
A leather take on an underwear classic! This gym-style leather jock is made from
soft yet sturdy leather, with the classic styling of a traditional cotton athletic jock.
It’s only one signature item found at The Stockroom—the Web’s first sextoy shop—
whose Silver Lake boutique was named “Best Fetish Store” by Los Angeles magazine. 2809 1/2 W. Sunset Blvd. male.stockroom.com
DRIVING MISS DAISY
What better way to show your loved
one he’s worth it than to arrange for a car
to pick you up and take you on your date. Monaco
Limousine is a West Hollywood-based company offering limos, towncars and Hummers serving WeHo, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles and surrounding areas. You won’t
find more professional drivers. monacolimo.com
13.
FIND A WINNER
The Nuera Network is California’s premier matchmaking service for same-sex relationships. Find the relationship of a lifetime with their
hands-on process, which begins by meeting with one
of their experienced counselors for a private interview.
Have their matching department do all the hard work
so you don’t have to. nueranetwork.com
FEBRUARY 23, 2010
61
>> HEAVY ROTATION
MONDAY
Candis Cayne Music and comedy the
dirty, sexy way. Abbey
Convicted Karaoke Sing, play pool and
watch Monday-night sports. Club Fuel
Metro Mondayz Electro, new wave and
rock, with live performances. Fubar
Monday Mayhem Happy hour, Silver
Lake–style. Eagle L.A.
Musical Mondays Current and old school
CALENDAR: Our top picks for the next 14 days
11
12
THURS., FEB.
FRI., FEB.
musical theater video clips. Eleven
Mustache Mondays Great DJs and performances. No facial hair required. La Cita
TAKE FIVE
Rock Band Mondays Sing your lungs out
and get free shots! East|West
TAKING OVER!
Rocksteady Lounge NorCal ska, reggae,
punk and rockabilly. Akbar
Gays take back the Abbey with
Sanctuary, Tom Whitman’s newest
nightlife venture. Leading the crusade
are great DJs, hot go-gos and the sexy
crowd of WeHo gays that made the
Abbey what it is today. The Abbey, 692
N. Robertson Blvd., WeHo. sbe.com/abbey
The Sassy Show A drag revue with
weekly special guests. Here Lounge
Showgirls An always entertaining drag
revue. Micky’s
Starlette Revue Jewels hosts zany drag
show at 10 p.m., no cover. Hamburger
Mary’s, Long Beach 18+
TUESDAY
Boys Night Out Hot Latin night. Circus
Disco
Dreamgirls Revue The only place to
watch the best drag performers in town.
Rage
Drunk on Stage Comedy and music,
hosted by Bruce Daniels and Erin Foley.
Akbar
Heavy Equipment Drink beer and listen
to classic ’70s rock and ’80s metal. Eagle
L.A.
Karaoke Tuesdays Cheap drinks and a
“no ballads” rule. Fubar
Knightlife Gay it up in a luxurious
straight hangout. Winston’s
Mr. Black L.A. Old Hollywood glamour
with a New York attitude. Bardot
Rimjob The filthiest night in L.A., complete with fetish and bondage shows.
MJ’s
Rumors Dance contest for $300. Josh
Peace spins. Micky’s 18+
62
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
I NEED SOME MORE
18
Fridays at Micky’s just got a little longer.
The WeHo mainstay presents Addiction,
an afterhours party lasting until 4 a.m., featuring two floors of L.A.’s hottest DJs. Sometimes 2 a.m. is just too early to head home.
Micky’s, 8857 Santa Monica Blvd., WeHo.
mickys.com
THURS., FEB.
Take advantage of The Abbey’s new afterwork special, Everything Five. You’ve got
the idea—everything from cocktails, beer
and wine to appetizers and the bar’s famous
martinis and mojitos are only $5. You can’t
beat this special, in place Monday through
Friday, 4-7 p.m. We’ll see you there after
work. The Abbey, 692 N. Robertson Blvd.,
WeHo. sbe.com/abbey
$7.19/POUND
Meat Rack takes over Silver Lake’s The Eagle
L.A. every other weekend, and every time
it’s an event for the record books. The party consistently brings in a packed house
with some of the city’s hottest guys. For cheap
beer, sexy guys and raunchy, hairy go-gos,
make the trip East of Fairfax (yes, it does
exist) and let your chest hair grow out. The
Eagle L.A., eaglela.com
SEVEN YEAR ITCH
Gay L.A.’s professional bad-ass Mario Diaz
celebrates seven years of cheap booze and
cock shots with the B.F.D. Seven Year
Anniversary party. Jackie Beat hosts the
night, along with the list of movers and
shakers comprising the BFD family. It’s
sure to be a raunchy night to remember.
Fubar, 7994 Santa Monica Blvd., WeHo.
fubarla.com
17
WED., FEB.
20
SAT., FEB.
GET DISCOVERED
Eleven Nightclub wants you to make it
big! Local Celebrity Los Angeles—a singing
competition—takes place Sundays at the
bar, starting at 9 p.m. Produced by California Talent and hosted by Ryan Ray of
Wake Up!, admission is only $5 and you
can take advantage of the drink specials
and prize giveaways. Eleven Nightclub,
8811 Santa Monica Blvd., WeHo. eleven.la
21
SUN., FEB.
SUPER-SIZE IT
SAT., FEB. 27
THE MUST DO EVENT:
The gays flood back into Wilshire Boulevard’s El Rey Theatre with XL,
a new monthly club brought to you by DJ Bill Bouvier and Rafael M.
Not since famed Club Makeup has the theatre been a hot spot for
the gays, but this brand-new party aims to restart the tradition. El
Rey Theatre, 5515 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. facebook.com/billbouvier
>> HEAVY ROTATION
CONTINUED
Ten Tequila Tuesdays Ten tequilas, halfpriced all night! East|West
[S H OT S I N T H E D A R K]
3.
1.
1.
Wildness Performances, dancing and
debauchery with Total Freedom.
Silver Platter
WEDNESDAY
Caliente Latin night with cheap Corona
and Tecate. MJ’s
Club Metro A night of hip hop, R&B and
reggaeton for the urban crowd. Ultra
Suede
Club Moscow Hollywood’s hottest night
for indie rock and ’80s punk. Boardner’s
3.
1.
Craft Night Feeling crafty? A different
project every week. Akbar
Fast Times Your favorite ‘80s tunes and
1 . R U PA U L ’ S D R A G R A C E
SEASON 2 PREMIERE
PA RT Y
ELEVEN
1.
PHOTOS: ROLLING BLACKOUTS
$4 pitchers of beer. Eagle L.A.
Fuego The place to come for the best
Latin music and club hits. Rage
Garage Dirty dancers and $5 open bar til
midnight. Here Lounge
Hot Rod The sleaziest party in WeHo, 2for-1 til midnight. Micky’s
Inferno Drink specials and the hottest
hip-hop and club beats. Cobra
1.
1.
1.
Labor Party Take part in the Revolution
with the week’s cheapest drinks. Faultline
Legendary Bingo Games start at 7 and
9. Hamburger Mary’s, WeHo
THURSDAY
Big Fat Dick Trashy music, sexy guys and
the infamous photo competition. Fubar
Club Heat Josh Peace spins hip-hop, reggaeton and Latin dance music. Arena
Club Nur The Middle East and some of
its prettiest fans find their way to WeHo.
MJ’s
Cocktails With the Stars WeHo’s
longest running porn show. Micky’s
The Cover Up Nothing but cover tunes.
Bring your own iPod and help DJ.
Stinkers
Dirty Dirty House Club DJ Tony Powell
earns his night’s name. Akbar
Goddess Night Free for ladies before
midnight, with a surprise show. Cobra
Pan Dulce Boys, booze, food and musica.
Two levels of entertainment. Micky’s
64
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
1.
1.
FEBRUARY 23, 2010
65
>> HEAVY ROTATION
CONTINUED
Smack Come and stand around with
some of the hottest guys in town. O-Bar
Thirsty House music and super cheap
drink specials. Trunks
Tigerheat Where all the cute young boys
go to dance the night away. Avalon
Hollywood 18+
Undy Nite Pants check, specials on
Absolut and quarter pool. Faultline
/////D A N C E C A R D /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
The Black Party—New York’s notorious fetish-oriented circuit party held on the vernal equinox every March—is considered the father of all large circuit events. This year’s
Rites XXXI: The Black Party will be held March 20, 2010, and marks the organization’s
30th consecutive season.
This year, The Saint At Large, the New York-based organization behind the Black
Party, will debut BPX: The Black Party Expo. The weekend-long series of events will
include the first annual Black Party Expo and Bazaar, a day-long exposition with vendors, adult entertainers, performers, artists and nocturnal celebrities.
Set in Manhattan’s historic Roseland Ballroom, attendees can expect to be
enveloped in a full-on clubbing experience where they’ll be free to drink, ogle and
shop while getting a sneak peek at The Black Party’s famously architectural décor.
For more information, visit blackpartyexpo.com.
Wet Shorts Contest A raunchy contest
for fetish-scene lovers. Eagle L.A.
FRIDAY
BLUF The breeches and leather-uniform
fan club, every second Friday. Eagle L.A.
Boy Bar Club Lucky brings the Hot Bod
Contest and more. Hamburger Mary’s,
Long Beach 18+
Boytrade Hip-hop and drink specials all
night long. Dragonfly
Dance Bitch Billy Francesca tells you
what to do, and you do it. Fubar
Fresh Fridays World-class DJs come to
WeHo for a breath of fresh air. Eleven
Fresh Meat Fridays Step inside for a
raunchy show. $5 drinks. MJ’s
F*cked Up Fridays Go-go studs, rock
DJs, $4 well drinks and Bud bust.
Faultline
Gear Leather, uniforms, rubber and fetish
wear, every third Friday. Eagle L.A.
Game Boi Pop music, hip hop and music
videos. Rage 18+
Popstarz Come for some of the best
dancing in town. The Factory
Rub Out A night for those who love latex,
every fourth Friday. Eagle L.A.
Shits & Giggles Drink, dance and watch
regular performances. Every third Friday.
3100 Club
SATURDAY
Bootie L.A. The best bootleg pop tracks.
First Saturday of every month. Echoplex
Cherry Pop Pop music brings hot guys
out to dance. 2nd Sat. Super Cherry Pop,
3rd Sat. Cherry Boom. Ultra Suede
>> PAGE 70
66
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
>> HOTPLATES
the best big gay bites
ESSEX PUBLIC HOUSE: If you’re kicking off
or winding down your night—the bar is open
daily until 2 a.m.—this is a great place to
hit up for drinks, food or both. Start off with
figs in a blanket, choose from a selection of
their popular pizza or burgers and finish off
with either the Blueberry Bomber or Espresso Biru beer floats; both come with three
heaping scoops of ice cream. Oh, and the
beer cocktails begged to be tried. 6683 Hollywood Blvd., Hlywd. (323) 460-6608, essexhollywood.com
eat.
T HE P ERFECT E VENING F OR Y OUR VALENTINE
BY ERIC ROSEN
FLYING LEAP CAFÉ: It’s hard to believe
that a health-conscious, mostly gay crowd
keeps coming back here for the huge portions, but the food is hearty and fresh, and
the ambiance is the friendliest in Silver Lake
by far. There’s liver and onions with bacon
and mashed potatoes, chicken-fried steak battered with light beer and served with mashed
potatoes and gravy, chicken cordon bleu with
a three-cheese white wine sauce, a few different cuts of steak and, of course, meatloaf.
2538 Hyperion Ave., Silver Lake. (323) 6610618, flyingleapcafe.com
PHILIPPE: You don’t often think of Chinese
restaurants as trendy hotspots, but this is
not your average wok stand. Appetizers include
familiar dishes that have been given the
upscale treatment, like the bright orange
chicken satay skewers dipped in carrot puree
and doused in peanut sauce. Entrees are
meant to be shared among two-three people with names like Nine Seasons Spicy Prawns.
Consider ordering the Peking Duck for which
Philippe is famous, though it takes nearly an
hour to prepare. 8284 Melrose Ave., WeHo.
(323) 951-1100, philippechow.com
ROCKWELL: Tucked behind Vermont with
an entrance off the alley, Rockwell is a multiple-level, open-air courtyard with something
for everyone. The menu presents California
versions of home-cooked classics, including
carne asada and spicy ahi tacos, buttermilk
fried chicken and macaroni and cheese; be
sure to dive into the flatbread with pancetta,
crème fraiche, carmelized onion, fig jam and
gorgonzola. The menu includes both signature cocktails and a decent-sized wine list,
and the waitstaff is made up of adorable
twenty-somethings. 1714 N. Vermont Ave.,
Los Feliz. (323) 669-1550
THE VEGGIE GRILL: The plant-based foodie phenomenon that has taken over Orange
County by storm, has finally arrived in our
very own City of Angels. With the ability to
replicate the juicy, delicate texture of grilled
chicken breast in the Grillin’ Chickin’ sandwich, when paired with fresh avocado, the
crunch of lettuce and the spicy tang of the
vegan mayo, it’s an experience carnivores,
herbivores, health-enthusiasts and everyone
in between will enjoy. 8000 Sunset Blvd.,
WeHo. (323) 822-7575, veggiegrill.com
68
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
YOU’VE GOT THE ROSES, YOU’VE GOT THE CHOCOLATES, YOU’VE GOT YOUR LUCKY
PAIR OF UNDIES; NOW IT’S TIME TO FIGURE OUT YOUR VALENTINE’S DAY PLAN. WE’VE
PUT TOGETHER A SPECIAL EVENING JUST FOR YOU, STARTING WITH CHAMPAGNE AND
ENDING WITH CUPCAKES. ANYTHING THAT COMES IN BETWEEN IS JUST A BONUS.
Champagne Wishes and Caviar Dreams
Nothing sets the romantic tone for an evening like a sparkling,
golden glass of champagne. Start your night out with a bubbly
toast at PETROSSIAN, the caviar boutique and restaurant just
down Robertson from your usual WeHo haunts. Whet your
appetite with a small amuse bouche of their popular Classic Transmontanus caviar, using a traditional mother-of-pearl spoon to place
a delicate scoop of the briny, pearlescent black delicacy onto a
spongy blini. Then garnish it to taste with dill crème fraîche and
hard-boiled egg yolk. Starting at $26, this pre-evening snack is surprisingly affordable, and shows your better half that you’re only
willing to give them the best. It’ll be hard to resist ordering other gourmet specialties from 27-year-old French chef Benjamin Bailly’s menu, like foie gras crème brûlée with fig marmalade, and
creamy borscht drizzled with aged balsamic. A little delayed gratification goes a long way though, especially on Valentine’s Day.
321 N. Robertson Blvd., WeHo. (310) 271-6300, petrossian.com
Do it Comme Ça
Things are better when they’re French: poodles, fries, kissing—so
why not do Valentine’s Day French-style at David Myers’ brasserie
COMME ÇA? They’ll be serving a three-course prix-fixe menu for
the relatively reasonable price of $60 per person, and $30 extra
for wine pairings. Those in the mood for an aphrodisiac can also
order à la carte oysters. Appetizers include beet gazpacho with
mustard seed and a rye crisp, and diver scallop tartare in pistou
with asparagus and lemon. For a main course, there’s pistachiocrusted opah with sweet potato puree and dandelion greens, braised
beef short rib with brown butter carrot purée and egg yolk ravioli with ratatouille, spinach and romesco sauce. Desserts include
caramelized brioche with lemon preserve and lavender ice cream,
and a chocolate Charlotte with traditional crème anglaise and
raspberry-rose ice cream. As a parting treat, guests will receive
fleur de sel caramels. But don’t fill up on sugar at this restaurant,
because your evening’s about to get a little sweeter. 8479 Melrose
Ave., L.A. (323) 782-1178, commecarestaurant.com
Top Your Evening Off With Sprinkles
Chocolates are so overdone. Why not get your special someone a
box of cupcakes from L.A.’s trendiest bakery instead? SPRINKLES’
XOX box comes with a dozen signature red velvet, chocolate marshmallow, vanilla and dark chocolate cupcakes, all topped with XOX
decos and sugar hearts—you know, just in case not enough people already think you’re sickeningly sweet together. Besides, it’s
good to carbo-load a little before the main event of the evening.
9635 Little Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills. (310) 274-8765,
sprinkles.com
FEBRUARY 23, 2010
69
>> HEAVYROTATION
<< PAGE 66
Friction DJs from around the country
[S H OT S I N T H E D A R K]
2.
2.
spin circuit party dance tracks. MJ’s
Furr Trade A night for the larger, hairier
among us. Faultline
Industry A porn-packed night with 10
nearly naked gay porn stars every week.
Eleven
Meat Rack Hot throbbing studs for a
filthier clientele, every other Saturday.
Eagle L.A.
Red Go-gos galore and sugary sweet pop
music. Here Lounge
Red Light Hot go-go dancers, great
3.
3.
2.
music and a randy crowd. Fubar
Rough House Bartenders shake what
they’ve got on the bar. Eleven
Special FX Rotating parties featuring
porn premieres, go-go bears and great
drink specials. Faultline
Star F*kr Local and imported DJ talent,
with hot boys and go-gos. Rage
SUNDAY
Anthem High energy diva anthems and
all-night drink specials. Rage
Ballin’ A night for those looking for thug
love. Fubar
Bears in Space Who knew that bears
love disco? Every second Sunday. Akbar
Classic Beer Bust Bears and otters
drink super cheap draft beer from 2-8
p.m. Faultline
Crisco Disco Black disco, classics, funk
and house. And hot dogs. Roosterfish
Decade Music from the ‘80s, ‘90s and
today. $5 margs and $4 draft beer. Micky’s
Drag Belle Aire hosts a night of drinks,
food and fun. Hamburger Mary’s, WeHo
Full Frontal The closest thing to a ‘70s
dance party—plan your outfit well. Grand
Star Jazz Club
Salvation Go-go dancers, giveaways and
hot dance music. Eleven
Size Great drink specials and some of the
hottest guys in town. Here Lounge
***For our complete Bar & Club
listings, please visit
www.FrontiersPublishing.com
70
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
4.
3.
2 . L E G E N D A RY B I N G O
HAMBURGER MARY’S
PHOTOS: ROLLING BLACKOUTS
3. MOOSEKNUCKLE
FUBAR
PHOTOS: ROLLING BLACKOUTS
4 . V OY E U R
CLUB VOYEUR
PHOTOS: ROLLING BLACKOUTS
4.
4.
City Hall
HOT TOPIC
WHAT’S YOUR
OPINION ON THE
WEST HOLLYWOOD
CITY COUNCIL’S
PLAN TO BAN
SMOKING?
SMOKING BAN DRAWS
PUBLIC FIRE, PRAISE
“It is not government’s responsibility to tell private businesses that their clients cannot participate in a legal, albeit
unhealthy activity on their
property.”
—Ben Coleman
BY PETER DELVECCHIO
Is the West Hollywood City Council’s proposal to ban smoking outdoors at city bars, clubs and restaurants about freedom?
Health? The economy? All of the above, and more, according to
the 14 people (seven pro, seven con) who showed up at the Jan.
25 council meeting to comment on the ban, even though it was
not on the agenda.
“In a city that was built upon diversity and freedom of expression, this nanny-state tactic is a slap in the face to our history,” said
West Hollywood resident Paul Green, non-smoker, “lifelong liberal
Democrat” and hospital executive. “What’s next? Banning cologne?
Eating hamburgers? Showing a muffin-top?”
The ban reflects “the same mentality that prevents gays and lesbians from marriage,” said West Hollywood resident Donald Emblad.
For others, though, the freedom issue cuts the other way. Dean
Schwartz spoke of the right to “experience the fresh air ... without
having to run in terror from what our government has declared to
be a toxic air contaminant.”
As for health, Green asserted that “no scientific evidence exists
that outdoor second-hand smoke ... contributes to health problems
in non-smokers.” Trip Wilmot, owner of East|West Lounge on Santa
Monica Boulevard agreed.
But Steve Gallegos of Glendale, Chair of the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Los Angeles County, came armed with what he called the
Stanford Report, which he said proved “second-hand smoke is more
dangerous than automobile exhaust and other types of pollution.”
Waiters are often cited as the primary health victims of outdoor
smoking, but two of them, Brian Hogan and Jeff Scholtz, urged the
council to reject the ban, fearing loss of income.
Views also clashed on the ban’s likely economic impact. East|West’s
Wilmot and Nick Leonard, owner of GYM Sportsbar, each said they
had spent “tens of thousands of dollars” installing outdoor smoking
patios, according to Wilmot, “predicated on the fact that we would
have customers in our bars.” Citing the bad economy, Wilmot said,
“We’re getting killed out here, and we need the help of the city
council to ... support our businesses, and not bring in ... regulations
that have no bearing on the mass general public.”
Gallegos, however, cited a study he said showed revenues went
up for Beverly Hills restaurants and bars after a ban took effect there,
though he cited no specifics of this study.
Two out-of-town representatives of anti-smoking groups, Esther
Schiller of Smokefree Air for Everyone and Sareena Kanji of FAME Health
Services, and a West Hollywood resident having problems with neighbors who smoke, urged the council to expand the ban to common
and outdoor areas of apartment buildings and condos.
“The council is not discussing that, and we have not considered
it in the past,” Mayor Abbe Land said in an email.
“That would truly upset the entire lifestyle of West Hollywood,
where 85 percent of our residents live in multi-unit buildings,” Councilmember John Duran said in a phone interview with Frontiers in L.A.
“We are a city of renters.”
Councilmember John Heilman suggested in a phone interview
that “some kind of mediation program for where there are conflicts”
between neighbors over smoking might be appropriate.
The public hearing on West Hollywood’s smoking ban is currently scheduled to take place in March or April. Stay tuned to Frontiers in L.A. for continued coverage on the proposed ban.
“Definitely a great idea. The
smokers ruin outdoor seating
for the rest of us.”
—Jeffrey Hutchinson
“How about if the City of West
Hollywood required a 'smoking permit' for restaurants and
bars to allow smoking in their
outdoor areas?”
—David Meagher
WHAT’S YOUR OPINION? LET US KNOW! — FACEBOOK.COM/FRONTIERSMAGAZINE
FEBRUARY 23, 2010
71
bulletin
BY CARY HARRISON
GoHarrison.com
HAPPY AND HEALTHY
The West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has quite a few members who seek us as customers and not consumers. Such a refreshing
change of pace after consumerist gluttony has finally tanked the national ship. Evolve Wellness, a Chamber member, has recently moved into
a new space. They’re looking to celebrate by having an open house
reception in conjunction with their ribbon-cutting ceremony, Wednesday, Feb. 17. Evolve Wellness has a multinational staff of handsome,
hip healers, like progressives John Convey and Ulrik Neumann. They’re
jazzed about our ‘hood and have stated overtly that they’re committed to serving the community, helping the less privileged and continuing to support the Chamber. If you’re still feeling stressed (who’s
not?), you should see how they can help, using a sophisticated approach
to health and wellness with their new facilities and acupuncture services. Founder John Convey modeled Evolve around the old-time family practice, where each physician not only treats the patients and
their families, but acts as a vital force for promoting health within the
community. evolvewellness.com
FRUIT OF THE LOINS
I just returned from a somnambulistic foray with the White
House “Press Corpse” in which I witnessed the continued antigay gasconades coming from the usual coterie of bejowled,
middle-aged politicos in Congress. Is it any surprise that their
next attack would be against the aggregate sperm flow of
West Hollywood? FDA officials still insist all gay men be excluded as sperm donors because, “gay men pose a higher-thanaverage risk of carrying the AIDS virus.” This, according to whiffs
of persisting Bushlogic, means the rest of Earth’s greater-than30 million positive straight men somehow pose a less-thanaverage risk, even while internationally traveling. Yet, government semen from a restroom-savvy Congressman never comes
into question. While a collective jug of Capitol Hill’s Best might
fetch two or three cents a gallon on a good day, these flabby-buttocked anthropoids think females actually yearn for their
milky loinfruit.
72
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
profile
‘Game On’ at
GYM Sportsbar
BY CARY HARRISON
Nobody quite knows what the percentage is of gay men who are
bona fide sports fans. There is always that funny moment when, at
the dinner table, one of us launches into a lengthy disquisition on past
Heisman Trophy winners—with the kind of focused expertise that one
would expect on crackly AM sports radio. This is in no way to leave
out our lesbian sisters, of whom my own twin sister (or “Twister”) has
a true penchant for pigskin and Pimm’s Cup.
A few years ago, when I pioneered the gay channel on Sirius Satellite radio, I wanted to carry a sports segment because it turns out many
of us are closeted sports fans. It makes sense in many ways that we
would love football—not just for the uniforms, but for the conquering of Astroturf real estate that has made so many of us rich—using
the helmets and pads of pens and mortgage loans in real life.
Zoom to the heart of West Hollywood at 8737 Santa Monica Blvd.,
where there’s a full-on sports bar called GYM Sportsbar. Why is this
new bar doing such a bang-up business? Owner Nick Leonard says,
“We recognized L.A. didn’t have a sports bar and we knew there were
a lot of gay guys here who’d be into it.” Likely true since even Chicago, with its Blackhawks, Cubs, Bears and Bulls, doesn’t riot and try to
burn down half the city in love and admiration for the winning or losing team—as we do here.
“We opened our first bar in New York which was one of the first
in the country—then everyone else followed,” adds Leonard. “We also
liked West Hollywood because we thought it important to have an outdoor patio because the weather’s great here!”
He points out that fellowship and camaraderie seem to be the
prime sports fan ingredient. Clearly gayfolk enjoy the competitive
spirit as well. After all, hurling an inflated pig’s bladder across a painted and logoed lawn is scarcely different from flinging the gauntlet across
the stage at the opera. In a city like Los Angeles, where in any 50-mile
direction there is no true town hall, GYM Sportsbar fulfills an age-old
need for team membership and cheering over a cold one with no cover charge, ever, and a comfortable daily 2 a.m. closing time. Mr.
Leonard’s also a fan of sponsoring or hosting our gay sports leagues—
softball, tennis, swimming and dodgeball.
So many of us are glad to see a business like this jump off the high
dive and bring another form of mainstream entertainment into the
mainstream of the Gayborhood. (310) 659-2004, gymsportsbar.com
74
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
FEBRUARY 23, 2010
75
>> THE LATIN FRONTIER
MARÍA
JOSÉ
BY VICTOR BARREIRO
During the early ‘90s, María José
served as lead singer of the famous
Mexican group Kabah. The act quickly became a household name and
went on to rack up a number of accolades. However, as they say, “All good
things must come to an end.” The
group parted ways in 2005. Fortunately, the end of Kabah was the
beginning of Maria Jose’s career as a
solo artist. In 2007, she introduced
her self-titled debut album. Then in
2009, thanks to the success of the first
album, María José released her sophomore album, Amante de lo Ajeno.
Audiences in Los Angeles will see her
live on stage when she performs at
The Factory on Sunday, Feb. 14 for
Club Papi’s 10 year L.A. anniversary.
You’re teaming up with the largest
gay promoters, Club Papi and Granda Entertainment, for a gay tour. Tell
me about it.
It’s a wonderful opportunity for me. I’ve
heard so many wonderful things about the
gay tour from my other friends who have
already participated, like Gloria Trevi. I am
so happy and excited to work with them.
I’ll be in a number of cities!
What can the audience expect to see
in your show?
I’m very devoted to my fans and look forward to performing for those who have
yet to see me live on stage. So, you can
bet that I’ll be singing my heart out. It’s just
me and the audience. One thing I do not
like is when singers feel they are untouchable. There is nothing like having a close
relationship with your audience.
Have you ever been to a gay club?
Of course! If you really want to have fun,
then partying at a gay club is the way to
go. Everyone is so warm and outgoing that
there is no way you will be bored.
Tell us about the new album.
It consists of 11 covers that became hits
thanks to a number of voices from divas
in the ‘80s. The album has been a huge hit
here in Mexico because it reunites the nostalgia of a generation and it sounds so
fresh that the new generations identify
with it as well.
76
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
Are there any artists that you would
like to team up with in the future?
I love to share the stage with anyone who
likes music. It doesn’t matter what genre
they sing. When two completely different
singers get together, great and unexpected things can happen.
Gloria Trevi is such a huge fan of the
gay community. In fact, she did three
gay tours, which were very successful. Have you ever had the chance to
work with her?
Yes, we worked together on the song
“Vive,” which was on Kabah’s final album.
It was quite emotional because she was
still in prison. We went to visit her a few
times while she was still there. The song
was recorded while she was incarcerated.
A few days after her legal situation cleared
and as she was released, ironically, the
album was released. It was great. We
remain close friends.
Speaking of Kabah, you were with
them for 13 years. How was that
experience?
Kabah is my family, my school and my all.
The experience I have on stage is because
of my time with Kabah. We still get along
as a family, so much so that we even get
together once a month for dinner.
INFO
MORE
clubpapi.com
>> FYH: +/-
HIV LIVING
BY MICHAEL WEINSTEIN
President of
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)
MAKING
SAFE
PHOTO: GREG GORMAN
SEXY
Anything that you have to do as a precaution to be safe is almost automatically filed
as being a drag. Seatbelts, helmets, etc. are things you are required to do that you would
rather not. Unfortunately, safer sex has fallen into this category. We all know that wearing a condom is necessary to protect ourselves from HIV and other diseases—but it just
isn’t sexy. Just at the moment of ecstasy and abandon, we have to think about getting
a disease and dealing with the consequences.
The most successful marketing is based on aspirations. I recently saw an ad for a
deodorant that said “smell taller.” It sounds silly, but since many men aspire to be six
foot two, they associate this product with being taller. So, the question is: Can we make
using a condom sexy?
There was a time during the late eighties and early nineties when condom use was
the rule among gay men in Los Angeles. Watching gay men drop like flies was scary
and immediate enough to get people to change their behavior. The man who did not
want to use a condom was the outcast. Then came “the cocktail” that turned AIDS into
a manageable disease. Suddenly the immediacy of many friends suffering and dying
ended. It was then that I started hearing the term “barebacking” and I was scared to
death.
Barebacking sounds sexy—unsafe sex does not. Then there was a barebacking cover story of a hot young man standing naked next to a horse on the cover of POZ magazine and stories on how to reduce your risk while barebacking. Soon there would be
condom-less gay porn again and the floodgates opened. The safe sex norm was gone.
So now we have to figure out how to get back to a place where using a condom
is a normal, even sexy part of sex. It is not as hard a job as it sounds. First, we need to
market condoms in a sexy way. We need to associate condom use with the sexiest guys.
We need to minimize the inconvenience of putting on a condom compared to the lifealtering consequences of not using them.
The key piece of all this is talking about safer sex with your partner. Whether you
say to a person you just met that “I don’t bareback,” or talk to a new love interest about
protecting each other, you need to talk. Then make it a part of your enjoyment of sex.
Put the condom on the guy or him on you. Admire him and how he looks while you
are doing it. Be creative. Even with a casual partner you are relating to another human
being who needs protection just as much as you do.
In the end, the momentary pleasure is not worth the lifelong struggle. Man up—
being responsible is the height of sexiness.
INFO
MORE
aidshealth.org
78
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
FEBRUARY 23, 2010
79
>> FYH: RECOVERY
X-METH
BY PETER DELVECCHIO
GET FIT
WHEN YOU
QUIT
I’ve been remembering lately how
great it felt to start eating right and working out again after I quit meth. So I spoke
with Michael Koth, personal trainer with
35 years experience and a doctoral candidate in psychology at Pacifica GraduPeter DelVecchio is a reporter for Fronate Institute with 27 years in the protiers In L.A. magazine and an attorney.
gram, for a professional’s take on the
He is also writing a book about his experole fitness can play in recovery.
riences with meth.
“In sobriety,” Koth says, “we have to
rediscover ourselves in a new way. Take
a different view and look at ourselves. Fitness is imperative for that ... We have to review the house that we’re living in. How do
we treat it?”
At the practical level, fitness has two basic components—nutrition and exercise. As
for nutrition, meth “demolishe[s] the physiology,” and newly sober users are also typically “long-term dehydrated,” Koth says. To create “a stable foundation” for rebuilding
the body, it’s therefore critical to “drink water throughout the course of the day” and
eat smaller, balanced meals, preferably every three to four hours. Try to resist the sugar and junk food cravings that hit you from left field as your body adjusts to the absence
of meth, Koth advises. For basic nutrition information, he recommends visiting the U.S.
Dept. of Agriculture’s website at fnic.nal.usda.gov.
As for exercise, a couple of points. First, Koth advises you get a physician’s OK before
starting. Second, he stresses the need to hit the gym with the right attitude. “We live
in ego while we’re using. It’s about what we look like. When we get sober the question
has to be changed—How am I treating [my body]? The goal must be “sustain[ing] a
wellness.” In other words, it can’t be about looking good enough to bag the hottest
playmates anymore. It’s got to be about respecting your whole self, body and mind,
and rebuilding self-esteem.
Koth recommends at least 20 minutes
of cardio, three times a week. You can run,
bike or even just take a walk. The point is
to get yourself in motion.
As for resistance training, if you have
a gym membership, great! If you can afford
a personal trainer to design a recoveryspecific program, even better. If not, be creative. You can do push-ups, crunches and
such anywhere. Several local parks have fitness circuits. Rent an exercise video. Curl
milk jugs. Again, it isn’t how you do it, it’s
that you do it. For basic exercise info, Koth
advises visiting mayoclinic.com/health/fitness/HQ00171. You can reach Koth at
[email protected].
My bet is the high you’ll get from
Michael
doing right by yourself again will ultimateKoth
ly be better than any you ever got from
Tina.
80
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
>> FYH: FIT
Q&A FOR YOUR HEALTH
FITNESS
WITH AARON SAVVY
ACSM Certified Trainer
GUY
Aaron Savvy prides himself as an elite trainer, training individuals locally to take the
necessary steps in building a healthy new
lifestyle.
GET IT ON—
AND KEEP IT ON
I’m Asian and I have found that it is very
difficult for me to gain and/or maintain muscle mass at the gym. What
would you recommend for someone
like myself? What kind of resources
would you think would be helpful for me to read?
The rule of thumb for taking in protein is one gram of protein per pound of body weight.
If your goal is to weigh 180 pounds, then you would consume and break that up into 180
grams a day. Supplements are going to be important. I would get on a BCAA (branch-chain
amino acid), multi-vitamin, EFA (essential fatty acid), Enzyme, weight gainer in a protein
powder form and even a nitric-oxide. I would see that each of my reps is in the 4-6 rep
range. After three months, I would increase my protein intake to 2 grams of protein per
pound of body weight. Remember also, your nutrition is going to be the most important.
Your body will only build and react to what you put into it. You’re going to need to be
strict with your nutrition! And I just want to say that I train naturally and avoid any usage
of steroids—under certain medical conditions a growth hormone is prescribed by doctors
to those who have low counts of testosterone or who are HIV-positive.
GETTING STARTED
I have a question about fitness. I haven’t really been doing any of it honestly
and I’m really keen to start, because, let’s face it, being 18 you want to bulk
up. I really want to get some definition on my body because right now I’m a
little lackluster. I don’t have much money for buying equipment or gym cards
and I really don’t know where to start. Help!
Let’s make the focus on finding a way for you to get started. I would look into getting a
membership at your local YMCA. The YMCA has a tendency to be low on monthly costs.
If that’s not an option, you can go “old-school style.” You can run outside for cardio, and
performing push-ups in your bedroom costs nothing. For a few bucks you can purchase a
pull-up bar at Target that you can stick inside your bedroom door frame. You’ll be able to
target both your back and your chest. You could target your legs by performing wall
squats. Standing, simply place your back flat up against a wall. As you inhale, you are going
to slide your back down the wall until you reach a sitting position. Return to where you
started by exhaling. Perform four sets of 12-18 reps. I hope a few of these tips will hold
you over until you’re able to get into a gym. Be good to your body and in return your
body will be good to you.
INFO
MORE
Send Aaron your questions at [email protected]
82
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
aaronsavvy.com
FEBRUARY 23, 2010
83
CONSCIOUS
living
84
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
BY SHAMAN DUREK
GROUNDED GUIDANCE:
Sexual Connection
I’M SURE YOU’RE ALL AWARE THAT VALENTINE’S DAY is upon us. It’s a
time for romance—strawberries dipped in chocolate, dinners with loved ones, bubble baths and pink champagne. It’s decadence at its best. Ooh la la … with all this going on, temperatures are sure to rise. Cupid is
not just carrying a bow and arrow anymore—he’s dressed in leather and bears a whip—ready to take you
on a wondrous excursion down pleasure lane.
S
ex, sex, sex. Yes, I said it. Why
is that word so taboo when it’s
something we all love to do?
Except for those who have taken a vow of celibacy, of
course—been there, done that.
Sex is all around us and is a
major focus. The thing is, we have lost a lot
of our inner connectedness to sex and have
confused it with love. We try to fill the empty void inside by becoming predators instead
of truly making a bond with each other.
We’ve all had one nighters—I’ve had
my own quick explosions, as I like to call
them. Just because it’s that type of
encounter, where you may never see the
person again, it doesn’t mean the experience has to be lifeless, cold and selfish.
When I had mine, I made sure I reveled in
mind, body and spirit. I would make it fun
and explorative. I would see myself like an
explorer going on a voyage—the destination, my lover’s body. I would see every
part of the person as sacred and mysterious, and would let them explore me in a
fun way as well.
How is it that some people get together and discard the energy they take in while
in the process of intertwining? There’s no
reason to be vacuous and dead, like a walking corpse or vampire. When someone is on
the prowl with the sheer intention of feeding their desire, what’s left is a big fat mess,
both spiritual and emotional. Think of it as
a black hole sucking the life out of everything. The more you have what I call “flatline sex,” the more the void inside grows.
It just gets bigger and bigger and before you
know it, it swallows you like a beast. You
become stamped a sex addict. You can no
longer feel and you’re alone with a bunch
of names that you checked off your “I Must
Conquer” list. This is no cup of tea. In fact,
it sucks.
There is a better way—it just requires you
to treat sex in a sacred way. It can still be as
hot as you like, it just has to be filled with clear
intent and respect for the soul you’re getting
down with. It’s so easy to live this way, and
it builds strong character and self-respect. It
gets you in touch with your body and spirit
in a more intimate way that opens you up to
feel more intense orgasms. I’ve had such
intense orgasms that I felt like I died and was
reborn all in a matter of minutes. It was like
I reached nirvana—pure spiritual bliss.
We are all living emanations of the
divine. On some level, every encounter we
have is a union with Source. So if you trash
it and kick it out of bed like a dog, it creates imbalance within you on a deep level. It shuts down your heart and empowers your ego. Sex is amazing. I love to get
crazy, nasty and dirty—but with mindful
intention. Whether you’re in a committed
relationship or not, simply find ways to
make it fun. Ask the person what they like.
Play games, explore fantasies, go wild.
However, make sure you keep your mind
and body intact, so you’re both sharing in
a tantric, playful experience. When you do
that, you open the door to higher levels of
joy, ecstasy and elation, and that empowers your spirit. Source wants you to evolve
every time you have sex and take in higher levels in spiritual well-being. Be responsible. Have a good time. Enjoy the month
of love.
ACK?
FEEDB
[email protected]
FEBRUARY 23, 2010
85
P H O T O B Y: B R I A N P U T N A M
BY DANA MILLER
WHEN THE MUSIC CHANGES,
SO DOES THE DANCE!
Always keep in mind the future will soon
be a thing of the past. In this massive
world of Amazon and iTunes, the bricks
and mortar sphere of music stores are
experiencing a fall from grace as quickly as
Tiger Woods. West Hollywood had always
been blessed with great venues to buy some
tunes. Tower Records was once trafficking
songs all over the planet but by 2006, all
the locations had been liquidated including the mothership, that bygone world
famous emporium on the Sunset Strip. It
now sells clothing. The once mighty chain
of 23 Virgin Megastores (ours is now Trader Joe’s on Sunset and Crescent Heights)
have even called it quits. And in these telling
times, the wonderful Amoeba Music has just
announced they will morph into a digital
download store to deliver your music, but
for now, will keep their real estate.
When the live music scene on the Sunset Strip was in puberty, the righteous joint
to hang out, grab your tunes and be seen
was Licorice Pizza. LP apparently got its name
from an Abbott and Costello bit. In some
movie short, unable to sell records, they
took the vinyl, spread a little corn starch and
sauce on 'em and called the discs “licorice
pizzas.” The Strip’s store was on the corner
of San Vicente where Aahs! stands today.
The parking lot was ground zero for hanging out after you had watched The Doors or
Frank Zappa at the Whisky or the Rocky Horror Picture Show or David Bowie at the Roxy.
When the shows were over, different worlds
would spill onto the Strip. For many of us
kids, the loneliness of adolescence just disappeared. What malt shops and drive-ins were
to our parents, record stores and the Strip
was to us. On a four-block stretch of Sun-
86
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
set, this teenager from South Pasadena discovered the most extraordinary axiom of his
life. He belonged with strangers tied together by music. In the parking lot of Licorice
Pizza there was a community of lost but growing souls feeling normal—no, empowered—
if for just an evening. The Zeitgeist encouraged this group of mutts to pour out the
most intimate details of our lives to total
strangers. We were just feet—not miles—away
from musical genius that would define a
generation. The ‘60s and the ‘70s were an
epoch of monumental transformation. And
music, the Sunset Strip, clubs and record
stores created the perfect storm to stir evolution in hundreds of thousands of pilgrims.
I’m elated WeHo’s leaders are actively
pursuing a Sunset Strip Museum as history,
even recent, is too often lost. Next up I hope?
A LGBT museum. Why? Because the beginning of enlightenment and freedom for so
many also took root in our 1.9-square-mile
hamlet. Let’s always take a moment to just
bask in our past. Nobody knows what the
hell is next.
By the time you read this, the Pasadena
Playhouse will be—once again—shuttered.
This stunning theater first opened in 1917
and became California’s State Theatre in 1937.
The current debts will likely force another
bankruptcy. I have so many working actor
friends, extremely talented folk, who just can’t
make a living in theater here, while London’s
West End reported a record take in 2009 of
more than $900 million. Why does Southern California have such a tough time supporting the arts?
What’s the difference between a gay
rodeo and a straight rodeo? In the straight
rodeo they yell, “Ride them suckers!” I love
sports. Always have. Living in Southern California, we are exposed to some of the best
athletes in the world. I grew up going to
Dodger Games, Rams Football, the Lakers
and my beloved USC football contests.
Honestly, from college on, most of my gay
friends have a sport or a team they follow
and love. That’s why I was thrilled when thefirst and only gay sportsbar in our area
opened last fall. Five years ago Rick Schmutzler and Nick Leonard opened GYM Sportsbar at 167 8th Avenue in New York and it
became an instant hit. GYM Sportsbar L.A.
is now open in Boystown. The other day
Rick told me he always played sports in
high school and college and the saloon
idea seemed ripe. GYM L.A. is small compared to NYC, but the vibe and the crowd
is spirited. Rick tells me tennis, football and
golf have all been grand. Super Bowl was
whacked and the Winter Olympics should
be solid for the pub. They have cheap beer
blasts and happy hours and it really does
have an engaged crowd. It’s not the joint
to jam with Gaga or cry in your martini
over some lad who has gone bye bye.
There are plenty of those. No, GYM Sportsbar L.A. is all about camaraderie for us fans.
My first twenty minutes in the place I
heard, “The backfield’s in motion,” “Look
at the size of his putter,” “He found his
tight end” and “It’s not a ball park frank,
but it plumps when I cook it.” THEN we
turned on the TV!
CT ME
CONTA
[email protected]
HOW HAS THE MESSAGE OF SAFE
SEX AFFECTED YOUR LIFE?
In contemplating St. Valentine’s Day and sex, it is sobering to remember that in ancient
India during the time of the Vedas, there were 68 separate words in Sanskrit for “love.” In
ancient Greece there were three. And in contemporary English there is only one such word.
This suggests a certain amorous impoverishment in our culture, at least linguistically.
Also, when it comes to sex, cultural anthropologists categorize societies as either “sex positive” or “sex negative.” I am sure it comes as no surprise that American culture is designated as sex negative, meaning we see the body and sexual instincts as bad or sinful. For the
past 25 years, we as gay men have been living in the Era of Safe Sex. For many, safe sex is the
only type of sexual culture they have ever experienced, which has both pluses—you are sexually responsible at a time of horrendous sexually transmitted diseases and are alive—and minuses—your primal wildman is often kept sexually caged up or on a leash.
My sexual history has gone through four distinct phases during my lifetime, of which safe
sex is only one such period.
First, there was the period until my late twenties (until 1965) when sex was rarely talked
about in public and gay sex was totally mute. Masturbation was rampant while looking at the
underwear section of the Sears Roebuck catalogues and high school yearbooks. It became more
intense and interesting when I got my hands on the numerous early physique magazines put
out by the Athletic Model Guild in the late 1950s and 1960s.
This was followed by a period of wide sexual exploration and wild abandon with men (196580) which ranged from sex within the context of love to wild animal lust. I enjoyed immensely having erotic intimacy and sex in the context of slow, warm, intimate lovemaking with a
man I cared about deeply. At the same time, gay liberation was also about sexual liberation.
I also cherish the nights at 2 a.m. when my wildman prowled exciting dark alleys in Silver
Lake or Griffith Park at dusk, finding some of the most satisfying, powerful and primordial sex
with men I have ever encountered.
With the outbreak of HIV/AIDS and the introduction of safe-sex practices, my sex life
(1980-2000) remained interesting and satisfying, but a certain spontaneous, lustful ignition
was curbed significantly. While I support and encourage safe-sex practices without reservation, I do sense sometimes that young gay men are cut off from their full power due to not
being in touch with the inner sexual wildman—animalistic, savage, instinctive, preverbal, sexually smoldering and with no rules of right behavior.
I call the last decade of my sex life (2000 to the present) a period of involuntary celibacy
in which massage and other forms of non-sexual intimacy are more meaningful to me than
my previous sexual encounters. Companionship and shared experiences with a man become
more meaningful than the wild abandon or cuddly intimacy of sex.
“I do sense sometimes that
young gay men are cut off
from their full power due to
not being in touch with the
inner sexual wildman.”
By Don Kilhefner
88
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
TWO PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT GENERATIONS
SHARING THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE SAME
TOPIC, TRYING TO FIND COMMON GROUND
Once while texting a friend at night, he confessed to me that he felt condoms were “a
major cock block.” While I laughed at the terrible pun, I naturally responded with the politically correct response telling him that he needed to wear condoms because there are many
diseases out there in this crazy world. Perhaps it was my naivety that wants me to believe everyone my age has protected sex, but he reminded me that night of the hard truth—some guys
out there do not have safe sex.
The AIDS scare taught the gay population that unprotected sex was deadly. We lost a lot
of good people and history because of regrettable decisions in cheap motels. Now that we
are much the wiser, people still choose to have unprotected sex. Sure we can get tested all
we want, but some diseases have incubation periods and might not be yet detectable.
We, as men, have the duty to wear a condom. This is what we are taught in Sex Education, but a majority of the time this is all seen through heterosexual lenses. Condoms are to
be worn primarily so that straight men don’t get straight women pregnant. Of course, gay
men do not have to worry about this trifle. I don’t recall if my Sex Ed teacher taught us anything about gay sex and I went to a fairly liberal high school.
The first time I think I saw gay sex was in porn, like any good teenage boy. Even then,
some don’t preach safe sex in their “bareback” videos. It is claimed by those who have had
such sex, that it’s more pleasurable to have sex without a condom but is the pleasure of a
moment worth the chance of a lifetime disease? Sure you might get lucky and only catch crabs,
but it could be worse.
Personally, I have not had any experience with unprotected sex as I would like to live to
be 42, my scary age. To me, having unsafe sex is like playing Russian roulette, but with a more
fun gun. I would not go gentle into that good night knowing that neither person had a condom on them, just in case. I would be wrong to say that the idea never crossed my mind.
The idea, of course, comes in the moment of passion, when logic fades into the background and irrational lust takes over, but I have never let the irrational want take me over.
Perhaps it has been drilled into me to be safe; perhaps it is my rational mindset; who knows,
but I would not consciously have unsafe sex. I cannot say never, as I am human and am bound
to err, but nevertheless, I try my hardest to be cautious. While condoms may be a “major cock
block,” like any good friend, I’m just watching out for our best interest and safety.
“It is claimed by those who
have had [unprotected] sex
that it’s more pleasurable to
have sex without a condom,
but is the pleasure of a
moment worth the chance of a
lifetime disease?”
By John Guzman
ACK
FEEDB
[email protected]
FEBRUARY 23, 2010
89
>> ORANGE PEEL
[ briefs ]
BY JAMES F. MILLS
DON’T CRY
FOR ME,
ANDREW
LLOYD
WEBBER!
From Evita, Jesus Christ
Superstar and Cats to
Phantom of the Opera,
Starlight Express and Joseph
and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Andrew Lloyd Webber has created many of Broadway’s greatest musicals. Celebrate The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber as the Orange County Performing Arts Center brings the show
to Costa Mesa for a one-week run. With a full symphony orchestra onstage and Broadway headliners singing hit after hit, the night
will leave people begging for more. Following a sold-out engagement at the Kennedy Center, The Washington Post raved, “Very
impressive. The hits come crashing at you in an evening dedicated to crescendo and climax.” Shows are Tuesday, Feb. 16 through
Sunday, Feb. 21.
A WHALE OF A TIME
It’s a trip out to sea as MPower OC hosts a whale-watching cruise. “Last time
we did this cruise, we saw whales, we saw seals, we saw dolphins. Plus you
get phenomenal views of the Orange County coast as we cruise out to sea,”
says Anthony Malek, MPower’s outreach coordinator. “Definitely bring a
jacket. And bring binoculars if you like, but last time we got close enough
to see everything with the naked eye.” Whale watching is Sunday, Feb. 28,
departing at 1:30 p.m. from Davey’s Locker in the historic Balboa Pavilion,
400 Main St. in Newport Beach. MPower covers all the costs including
lunch. The whale watching, like all MPower events, is aimed at gay and bisexual men ages 18-29.
MOVIES AND MORE
Just in time for the Oscars, Men Alive, Orange County’s gay men’s chorus,
hosts their first annual “Academy Affair” black-tie soirée celebrating Hollywood and the movies. “We have created a one-of-a kind event including
interactive Hollywood and Broadway-style entertainment,” reports Men Alive
spokesperson Vincent Montero. “We’ll have red carpet interviews, select
performances from Men Alive ‘stars’ and a five-star three-course meal. It’s
an evening not to be missed.” The Academy Affair is Saturday, March 6 starting at 6:30 p.m. at Anaheim’s White House Restaurant, owned by celebrity
restaurateur Bruno Serato. A VIP pre-show reception is also available.
THE GREAT WALK
IN GREAT PARK
AIDS Walk Orange County is
changing locations and dates this
year. “We’re doing it at the Great
Park in Irvine,” explains AIDS Walk
spokesperson Barbara Lohman. “It’s
a beautiful piece of land that was
part of El Toro Marine base. It’s
near the freeway and more centrally located in the county, so we’re
hoping even more people will
come out and do the walk.” AIDS
Walk OC 2010 will be on Saturday, May 22, a date change that
will avoid conflicting with the Long
Beach Pride Festival as happened
in 2009.
90
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
thedetails
AIDS Walk Orange County
Sat., May 22
aidswalk.org/oc/
Men Alive’s Academy Affair
Sat., March 6, 6:30 p.m.
menalivechorus.org
The Music of Andrew Lloyd
Webber
Tues., Feb. 16 through Sun.,
Feb. 21
ocpac.org
Whale Watching Cruise
Sun., Feb. 28, 1:30 p.m.
mpoweroc.org
>> PORT AUTHORITY
[ briefs ]
BY JAMES F. MILLS
SHE WON’T BE BACK
Feared gossip columnist Louella Hopper is about to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Gossip Association of Busy Bodies, but before she can accept the award, she’s murdered. And you
might be one of the suspects. That’s the premise of Terminate Her,
a dinner theater production that recruits audience members to perform small parts offering vital clues for solving the murder. Outrageous, campy fun, Terminate Her plays at the Reef on the Water restaurant overlooking Long Beach Harbor on Fridays and Saturdays at 7
p.m. through Feb. 27.
THE BIG 3-0
As part of its 30th anniversary, The Center Long Beach is sponsoring a series
of events and parties throughout the year. The first event is a reunion party for past board members, staff and volunteers on March 27. “We are digging through our records and archives to make sure we have a complete
list of those who have contributed to The Center over the years, but we have
lost contact with quite a few of them,” says Board Chairman Ron Sylvester.
“We are asking anyone who may have worked with The Center over the years
to get in touch to make sure we have your contact information.” To contact The Center, email [email protected] or call (562) 434-4455. A large community celebration/beach party is scheduled for summer.
DRAG ROYALTY
The biggest weekend of the year for area drag queens is almost here as
the International Imperial Court of Long Beach puts on its annual coronation ceremony for their new emperor and empress. Billed as a “leather and
lace affair,” the 39th annual coronation celebration is Friday, March 5
through Sunday, March 7 with parties all over the Long Beach area. With
a theme of “Exit to Eden,” the
weekend will have the best female
impersonators in the area offering performances that won’t soon
be forgotten.
thedetails
WELCOME TO THE
DOLLHOUSE
The hottest dance night for lesbians is The Dollhouse on Thursday
nights. “We spin mostly Top 40
and disco tunes,” says DJ Zach
Moos, who also DJs the Lucky Sundays gay dance night in Orange
County. “Lucky Sundays tends to
attract more boys, so we do this
one for the ladies. It’s the same
great music and lots of fun.” Dancing is from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. 18
and older welcome.
Center Long Beach 30th
Anniversary Celebration
centerlb.org
Dollhouse Lesbian
Dance Night
Thursdays starting at 9 p.m.
hamburgermaryslb.com
Imperial Court’s 39th
Coronation Celebration
Fri., March 5-Sun., March 7
longbeachimperialcourt.org
Terminate Her
Fridays-Saturdays through
Feb. 27
actoutmystery.com
FEBRUARY 23, 2010
91
>> DESERT BREEZE
[ briefs ]
BY RUSSELL PONCIK
FRIDAYS ARE GONNA BE HUGE!
Palm Springs’ Dink’s Restuarant and Ultra Lounge—whose name is derived from
the acronym for “Double Income, No Kids”—offers a sleek, modern vibe and a
lively bar to boot. Friday, Feb. 12 marks the official grand opening of Huge Fridays, taking place at the Ultra Lounge every week at 10 p.m. With go-go boys,
special guest appearances by adult film stars, CD giveaways and prizes all night
long and amazing drink specials—$6 Ciroc and Belvedere vodka drinks—you’re
sure to dance under the stars all night long. You’ll find Dink’s at 2080 N. Palm
Canyon Dr. For VIP cabana and bottle service reservations, call (856) 498-5887.
dinksrestaurant.com
SPEND A NIGHT WITH SPENCER
Spencer Day is a singer-songwriter, pianist and all-around vagabond calling Los
Angeles, San Francisco and New York home. He was born in Utah and raised in
Arizona. His music features influences of jazz, cabaret, contemporary pop and folk,
all of which can be attributed to his nomadic journeys across the country. The young
performer is also extremely handsome and he’ll be showcasing his talents at the
McCallum Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 8 p.m. His latest work is called Vagabond,
and is available on Concord Jazz.
CELEBRATE NAKED
Helios Resort offers guests two dates to get down and party—naked. Their latenight event on Saturday, Feb. 13 is being described as a Late Night Mardi Gras
Party and will feature plenty of beads
and other necessities. FYI: Mardi Gras
is Fat Tuesday, Feb. 16. On Saturday,
Feb. 27, guests are encouraged to
wear their shortest shorts or disco
Coachella Valley Music
outfits and get ready to play at the
and Arts Festival
Late Night “Disc-Ho” Party. Snacks
coachella.com
and some beverages are included and
cost is $20 for non-registered guests.
Helios Resort
Parties are from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m.
(877) 435-4677
yourgayresort.com
Visit the Helios Resort website for a
complete list of special events and
McCallum Theatre
pool parties.
thedetails
(760) 340-2787
mccallumtheatre.com
92
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
>> DESERT BREEZE
[ profile ]
BY RUSSELL PONCIK
ULTRA COOL—
AN EXPANDED
MODERNISM WEEK
Fans of cool architecture and design will be walking on sunshine when
the 5th Annual Modernism Week Palm Springs opens on Friday, Feb. 12.
The event is expanded to 10 days this year and will feature more than 40
events—many of which are free to the public. Highlights will include a Vintage Fashion Show and a tribute to renowned modernist architect Albert Frey.
Synonymous in many ways, the city of Palm Springs has always been at
the forefront of mid-century modern design and celebrates the style in many
ways. A quick drive around the city provides a glimpse at design marvels
and visitors can find many shops devoted to everything cool and modern.
The Palm Springs Modernism Show & Sale will be held at the Palm
Springs Convention Center on Feb. 12-14 and will benefit Modernism Week.
A wide range of vintage 20th century furniture, décor and fine arts will be
presented and sold by more than 75 vendors. Show admission is $15 per
person for both Saturday and Sunday.
An opening night party and early buying opportunity for the Show &
Sale will be held on Friday from 6-9 p.m. with preview tickets costing $75.
The evening will feature entertainment and food, a full bar and book-signings by celebrity modernism authors.
Lectures, film presentations and tours will all be offered during the weeklong Modernism Week celebration. A symposium will be held at the Palm
Springs Art Museum and tours of the Albert Frey house will be conducted.
The Walk of Fame Star dedication and ceremony for Frey will be held on Friday, Feb. 12 at 2 p.m. A classic car show is also planned and a number of
local galleries will be participating in events around the city.
Originally created and organized by the Architecture and Design Council of the Palm Springs Art Museum and some local design and architecture
aficionados, Modernism Week is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that promotes public awareness of the desert’s mid-century modern design and architecture through educational and
charitable activities.
A complete schedule of events
for the 2010 show can be found
online.
thedetails
Modernism Week
Feb. 12-21
modernismweek.com
FEBRUARY 23, 2010
97
BY
B I L LY
ERS
MAST
“Ladies and
gentlemen, the
director and star
of The Beaver,
Golden Globe
winner Jodie
Foster.”
—The actress’ upcoming flick got quite a plug
at the Golden Globes. And, you know, she’s
been researching “The Beaver” for decades.
We’re just starting up award season and it could be a bad omen that
Hollywood was engulfed in torrential rain. The Golden Globes were a
soggy affair, with the most prevalent accessory being an umbrella
(ella, ella, hey, hey). However, that
didn’t dampen my spirits—especially since I was sporting my new silver tuxedo and looking quite dapper, if I do say so myself. That opinion was echoed all evening by celebs
and civilians alike who stopped to
comment on my dashing appearance—most notably, the pretty dashing Gilles Marini, who said if I
added some sequins to my lapels, I
could be on Dancing with the Stars!
It may have been the Golden Globes,
but silver was most definitely the
color of the evening—and I’m not
just saying that as a trendsetter and
fashion plate.
At one point in the evening, I
found myself inches away from
Matthew Bomer. As you know,
he’s been featured prominently in
this column over the past few
months—what with speculation
about his sexuality, his ex leaking
pics of them making out and said ex
posing in underwear. All that coverage surely led to the line of questioning in the current issue of Details
where Matt is asked point blank
about the gay rumors. He simply
said, “I don’t care about that at all.
Yes, Billy’s got balls. Big ones. Big
enough to go up to Matthew
Bomer. I’m not saying anything
happened (although it looks like
we’re on a date) but we certainly have more sexual chemistry
than he did with Kristen Bell.
98
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
I’m completely happy and fulfilled in
my personal life.” When pressed, he
refused to comment saying, “I have
a network and a show riding on my
shoulders.” You know what I say?
BRAVO! He’s not denying it, nor is
he dragging female friends along for
photo ops (take that, Kristen). He’s
simply doing his job and keeping
his private life private. That’s all I ask.
Back to our tête-à-tête—I didn't grill
him or put him on the spot. I congratulated him on White Collar being
picked up for a second season,
wished him well and we took a photo together. After all, he is dreamy.
And incredibly sweet and sincere.
So back off bitches ... I’m giving him
a pass (I also made a pass, but that’s
another story).
Now we’re in the temporary lull
that sets in between the Golden
Globes and the Oscars (the SAG
Awards, while fun, don’t really
count—and I’m a member!). So life
in Hollywood goes on as normal—
or whatever passes for that these
days. Plus, all the celebs are doing
what they can to help the people
in Haiti. Some appear to be more
genuine than others. I was particularly touched when I saw photos
of the always enjoyable Kellan Lutz
donating a basket of clothes to relief
Kellan did a good deed and
donated clothes to Haiti.
efforts. Not surprisingly, most of
those clothes were shirts. Well, how
often does he wear ‘em? Not that
I’m complaining. This gesture came
on the heels of a professional disappointment. Lutz was up for the
lead in a remake of Conan the Barbarian. I had a feeling he was in
trouble when I heard sexy Jared
Padelecki was being considered.
How surprised was I (and those hotties) when Jason Momoa landed
the part. For those of you who
don’t know, Jason is a Baywatch and
Stargate: Atlantis alum. I smell a
direct-to-DVD release.
I certainly never get tired of
watching the ever earnest Anderson
Cooper reporting from Haiti. Is it
just me or are his T-shirts getting
tighter? And I don’t think he’s getting any bigger. I think he’s shopping
at Baby Gap! Maybe he’s trying to
save money since his search for a
new home in New York is over. In
September he purchased a former
Greenwich Village firehouse for the
bargain price of $4.3 million. The
sprawling building is under consideration with the National Register of
Historic Places and is still equipped
with a spiral staircase and brass firepole—which I’m sure will come in
handy. If only it came with firemen.
Eh, I’m sure a few firemen will eventually come—especially when the
place is flaming!
Is it just me or are the T-shirts
getting smaller? Certainly
tighter—and blacker.
We hear that former gay porn
star Jay Armstrong is having some
trouble in his real life. Reportedly,
the power bottom is in law school
and one of his professors has threatened him via e-mail, saying he
“needed psychiatric help for working in the adult industry” and that
there were consequences for his vulgar past career. We’re told Armstrong
is filing a harassment suit against the
professor, which should make for
interesting class discussion. Maybe
his professor is just doing this to see
how he handles it—like a mock trial. If so, I say give him an A.
Michael Verdugo had quite a
nice life going. He was a police officer in Hollywood, Florida, and
appeared as a contestant on HGTV’s
Design Star. The police had no problems with him being on HGTV. Alas,
the added publicity meant that people learned of his porn past ... brief
as it may have been. He literally did
a 15-minute bondage scene in Rope
Rituals (which you can watch on BillyMasters.com—it’s HOT), which
shows more than the department
was comfortable with. As a result,
he was fired—allegedly because he
did not disclose his past on his initial application. He also was not invited to the Design Star reunion, which
really sucks. Personally, I think a porn
past is de rigueur for HGTV! Anyhoo, he’s filed a civil suit against the
Hollywood Police Department for
wrongful termination and discrimi-
Sexy Michael Verdugo in Rope
Rituals.
nation. In the meantime, he’s put
his interior designing skills to good
use with Verdugo Design Group.
And he’s got a boyfriend who is a
field training officer for the Pembroke Pines Police. Someone’s doing
something right—especially when
he looks this good!
The lines between reality TV and
porn are being blurred more and
more, and leave it to the fabulous
Chi Chi La Rue to catapult right
over that line. She met Steven
Daigle, the “gay cowboy” from Big
Brother, at the wrap party for the
reality show’s 10th season and they
stayed in touch. Bing, bang, boom,
she’s got him in a movie ... bottoming! Steven Daigle XXXposed is the latest release from C1R.com, and shows
the reality star in a new—and revealing—light. We’ll run some pics on BillyMasters.com, but I say just buy the
DVD.
Speaking of exposure, someone
sent me a nude photo of Jesus Luz.
It’s allegedly an outtake from the W
magazine shoot with Madonna. Is
it real? Is it a fake? Who knows. But
it’s on BillyMasters.com.
When Anderson is prepping to
slide down a fireman’s pole, it's definitely time to end yet another column. Here’s a bit of news to my
Southland readers. As you all know,
Billy’s birthday is on Feb. 13. As luck
would have it, the most talented
person I know is starting a new onewoman show which will benefit one
of the most worthy organizations
that I know. So, come out on Feb.
13 and join Billy at Jenifer Lewis’
new show, Hot Flash, which will take
place at the Renberg Theatre at the
L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center. You
can get more details and buy tickets by going to lagaycenter.org/boxoffice or calling (323) 860-7300. Of
course, you should also be regularly checking out BillyMasters.com—
just because! We didn’t have time
for a question this week, but I still
answer all my mail. So write to me
at [email protected] and I promise to get back to you before Verdugo
hires Armstrong as his lawyer! Until
next time, remember, one man’s filth
is another man’s bible.
ILLUSTRATION BY
GLENHANSON.COM
I TRY TO FOCUS ON
THE POSITIVE!
As you know, my New Year’s resolution was to be a less negative, less judgmental,
happier person. Well, like your best intentions regarding your brand-spanking-new diet
or exercise program, I am already backsliding! I’m sorry, but there are just too many
things in this effed-up world that annoy me. And like a burrito from 7-11, I don’t think
it’s healthy to keep it inside. So, I am going to deal with each of my current pet peeves—
in one concise and compact line. If you are guilty of any of the following crimes against
Judge Jackie, then prepare to be ...
SENTENCED!
I know it’s hard to type with one hand,
let alone get the grammar and spelling correct, but do you know how unsexy and downright painful a “blow jab” sounds?
And speaking of sex, am I the only one
who doesn’t understand gay men who will
take your arm up to the elbow but recoil in
disgust if you try to hold their hand?
And on a similar subject, accidents are one
thing, but I am hereby refusing to do anymore AIDS benefits until you fags stop barebacking!
And speaking of safe sex, a big hug and
a thank you to porn titans (and my pals)
Michael Lucas and Chi Chi LaRue for not
buckling under pressure to discontinue condom use.
After watching the Grammys, I have to
say that the most shocking and revolutionary thing any singer could do right now would
be to dress normally and simply fucking
sing!
And speaking of the Grammys, making
legendary artists like Elton John, Stevie Nicks
and Roberta Flack do weird, forced duets with
the likes of Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift and
Maxwell is like forcing Meryl Streep to guest
star on Three and a Half Men.
Speaking of Three and a Half Men, is
there still a woman alive on Earth who
would date—let alone marry and have kids
with—Charlie Sheen?
I’m sorry, but Lady Gaga is really taking
herself waaaay too seriously!
When RuPaul says, “Lip sync for your
life!” I can’t help but think, “You know, I
honestly think I’d rather die.”
Can someone please tell me when moving one’s lips became a “talent”?
I adore Mad Men star Jon Hamm, but does
he really warrant hosting Saturday Night Live
twice in less than two years?
I refuse to see The Lovely Bones because
director Peter Jackson decided that honoring the book and its author by including the
rape might upset or confuse his teenaged
daughter.
Regarding the Jay Leno/Conan O’Brien
late night brouhaha—who gives a flying
f-ck!?
Pat Robertson says that Haiti’s recent deadly earthquake was a direct result of the
country’s pact with the devil, to which I say,
“Shut the f-ck up, idiot!”
And speaking of crazy white Christian men,
Ted Haggard went back onto Oprah to let
everyone know that after doing crystal meth
and a male prostitute, he is now 100 percent heterosexual!
And speaking of HRH Oprah, anyone
who is still talking and/or texting on a cell
phone while driving after watching that heartbreaking episode is an asshole who deserves
to careen off a cliff!
Okay, one positive thing: I really was
quite hilarious on Logo’s Dragtastic!
FEBRUARY 23, 2010
99
THIS IS YOUR DICK
ON DOPE
From the cocktail hour to the crack house,
the marriage between drugs and sex has been
a long one. But even though one might fall
under chemically induced illusions of (sexual)
grandeur, the reality is that drugs are more
impediment than enhancement.
NOT SO SEX-E
Probably the most deceptive street-drug misnomer is the nickname “love drug” for ecstasy. While users may experience a boost in sensuality, the chemical directly diminishes sexual
pleasure and performance. Erectile problems
and hindering of orgasm are also common
side-effects.
BY JIM LARKINS
SPEED KILLS
The use of amphetamines (speed) can initially fire off a libidinous rocket, but this is unlikely to last. Often, what starts off as an insatiable appetite for sex becomes a decrease
in sensitivity and difficulty in achieving ejaculation. At first this may seem like a
godsend, especially to the premature ejaculator, but when the sexual marathoner’s
love hammer develops raw, chafed skin, the fun is pretty much over.
OPIATE OFFENDERS
Heroin, morphine, codeine and other drugs in the opiate category can at
first seem to be the life of the sex party, but they can have some of the most
devastating consequences. Misuse of such chemicals can lead to permanent problems such as impotence, diminished libido and difficulty attaining orgasm.
POPPER PROBLEMS
Long the sexual opiate of the gay male masses, “poppers” have been taking
erotic encounters to new heights since the mid-1970s. Alkyl Nitrate, the clinical
term for these erotic enhancers, is best known through the medical circuit as an
antidote to cyanide poisoning. Other uses include air fresheners and video head
cleaners. When it was discovered that the drug produced euphoric, warm sensations that could boost sexual pleasure it became all the rage, first among gay
men, then among mainstream society.
The deception when it comes to the drug’s downsides is its seemingly low
risk in comparison to other drugs. Unfortunately, with little or no immediate
problems, individuals continue using the drugs, while a gradual sneak attack on
the nervous system begins. Acute, continual exposure to poppers can result in
neurological damage, while aspirating or swallowing the liquid rather than inhaling the vapors is particularly risky and can even prove fatal.
LOVE IS THE DRUG
In his relentless search for bigger, better sexual thrills, modern man seems to
have gotten lost in the forest despite the trees. In other words, after one trips
through all the chemically induced erotic encounters, a truly desirable sexual
experience might just lay back at the journey’s inception. Having the right partner with the right experience working you over with just the right techniques,
while having a drug-free, clear head, could be the sensual nirvana you’ve been
searching for all along.
100
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
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contact the classifieds department immediately for corrections.
Frontiers assumes no responsibility for error or omission of copy.
The right to reject, edit, cancel
and determine proper placement
of a classified ad is the right of
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Share 1 bdrm apt with nudist
$75-$150 wk Melrose+ Western
323 467-3195 8am-7pm Jerry
A CRIME OF FASHION
A Gay Private Detective tracking a bizarre thief thru WeHo
along w/overdoses of eye candy
Interested in this role? Have
your agent visit/leave contact
info at myspace.com/473665509
[15SC2121]
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
[45SC2121]
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Part time intermittent nude or
clothed work Cleaning Painting
Organizing Computers Cameras
Lighting Models Photo Video
Other 8a-8p 323 467 3195 Jerry
ROOMMATES
Find bliss in sustained hug
w/compassionate,
handsome,
strong man. 310-433-5192
www.TheEcstaticEmbrace.com
[55SC2121] P05021
PSYCHIC
Questions about Relationships
Career Finances Reuniting the
separated. Tarot & Palms read.
One free question by phone.
Nancy Wilson (877) 895-0944
[75SC2021]
[35SC2021]
A NOTICE OF CONCERN Frontiers documents all consumer complaints regarding classified advertisements. Frontiers reserves the right to refuse advertisements from individuals or companies who misrepresent themselves and/or advertising claims. Clients of Frontiers
classified advertisers are advised to be aware of the limited consumer protection available to any classified advertising respondent. Advertisers and clients are asked to conduct their dealings in a moral, humanitarian and mutually respectful manner as befitting our gay/lesbian community—one that is proud, strong and united. All related complaints should be made in writing (no phone calls please!) addressed to the Classifieds Manager and will be kept strictly confidential.
FEBRUARY 23, 2010
101
SERVICES ➥ ODDS & ENDS
PC / MAC
Trouble shooting, tutoring, websites, emails, hosting & domains.
Call Jorj 323-490-0594 [85SC2121]
CARPENTER
FOR SALE
Great rates, Great service, 25 yrs
exp., References avail. Donovan
Carpentry
323-668-2989
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
[85SC1725]
Plasma TV install any size inc
connection. 310-210-2467 Kobi
[85SC2121]
COLLECTOR WILL BUY
Your gay porn collection DVDs,
mags, photos, books, 8mm films.
Call Phil 323 230 9606
What do you have? [115SC2121]
FRANK’S BIRDS
Birds $5 + up, Cages $7 + up.
Sat. & Sun. only. 323-656-8190
[115SC2121]
[85SC2121] T02137
ORGANIZATIONS
IMMIGRATION
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
714-724-9986
JUDITH MARTY ESQ
SPECIALIZED IN
GAY, TG, AND HIV
ISSUES WORLDWIDE
www.judithmarty.com
I clean apts, condos, or small
houses, wkly or twice monthly.
Excllnt. service, dependable,
good rate. (310) 339-1235
[85SC1924]
HOME IMPROVEMENT
Additions, remodels, bathrooms,
kitchens, windows, flooring,
painting interior/ext., custom
decks, stucco, block walls, driveways & more. Lic#884762
Bonded/insured Free estimates
310.927.1723 [85SC2121]
GRAFFITI REMOVAL
From Glass & Windows. Acid &
Scratches all removed 323-231
-1669. www.etchbusters.com
[85SC1624]
ROOFING
Roofing & gutters Best price in
town! 100% satisfaction guaranteed We do all roofs. T&U Roofing
Lic#
C39-872976
Bonded
Insured Call for free estimate Ask
for Ed 310 927 1723 [85SC2121]
PC HELP $45
Teach Help Fix Advise; Take pix of
you & upload to net; Good
w/beginners; Emergencies ok;
Let’s talk Chris 323 261-8894
[85SC2121]
SEX, DRUGS
& ALCOHOL
(AND MORE)
[85SC1321]
Water heater install/repair. Toilets,
faucets etc fixtures install Much
more 310-210-2467 [85SC2121]
CRIMINAL DEFENSE
ATTORNEY
Call 24/7 (323) 304-4778
Damian Leone, Esq. [85SC1026]
A DOMESTIC ANGEL..
DAVE 323-460-4071
[85SC1321]
102
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
ICESKATE PARTY
INCOME
TAX
[85SC2322]
MANNY’S CLEANING
DAVE’S PARTY HELP!
Set up + serve. 323-460-4071.
[85SC2121] T01632
323-882-6532
Personal or Business income tax
preparation. Out of state returns
welcome. Clear and reasonable
fee structure. IRS problems?
Under
audit?
Salary/bank
accounts garnished? Unfiled
income tax returns? Tired of the
worry? Will help you answer letters
from IRS and the Franchise Tax
Board. Free consultation.
Call Dean A Wong CPA. [85SC1110]
[85SC2121] T02202
HOUSECLEANING
Rafael 323 810-2755
[85SC2121]
LA Blades Hcky Club annual Ice
Skate Party Sat Feb 13 10pm12:30am @ Pickwick, 1001
Riverside Dr, Burb. $20 admiss
incl. ice skates, food, bev, raffle
prizes. Everyone welcome, all
ages.
www.BladesHockey.com
Looking 4 plyrs, all levels novice
to advanced, games played at LA
rinks [135SC2121]
SCA
Sexual Compulsives Anonymous
is a 12-step recovery program for
people whose lives have been
adversely affected by their sexual
behaviour. SCA Los Angeles
Intergroup. 7985 Santa Monica
Blvd. #109-96 West Hollywood,
CA 90046-5112 (310) 8595585
www.scarecovery.org/cities/losangeles
HDTV AV PC
Installation, troubleshooting 15
years exp David 3235783600
[85SC1901]
[135SC2222]
CONSTRUCTION
Home improvement, repair and
remodeling. Bathroom, Kitchen
Paint Flooring Roofing Plumbing
Electric Decks Doors Windows
Stucco. You name it -we do it.
Lowest price guarantee lic.#
858414. Charlie 323-350-9037
OLDER GAYS
[85SC2121] T02024
Meet new friends at Project
Rainbow! Free every Wed. 122pm In lounge at Plummer Park,
West Hollywood 213-621-3180
w w w. P r o j e c t R a i n b o w L A . o r g
[135SC1423]
[85SC2121]
MONTHLYSOCIALS
TAX TIME
310-382-0584
for gay older men + admirers
Fraternity-LANG guys invited L.A.
Prime Timers 323-733-6412
www.LAPrimeTimers.org [135SC2625]
Personal, Business, Estate/
Trust, Exempt Organization,
Multi-State, Prior-Year, and
other Returns prepared & filed
by experienced CPA/Former IRS
Agent. Serving the Gay Community since 1996 with Pride.
[email protected],
mofradstaxservices.com [85SC1826]
IMMIGRATION
714-724-9986
JUDITH MARTY ESQ
SPECIALIZED IN
GAY, TG, AND HIV
ISSUES WORLDWIDE
www.judithmarty.com
[85SC2322]
[85SC0126] T02056
➥
FEBRUARY 23, 2010
103
FrontiersAdult
TO ADVERTISE CALL 323.930.3220 OR SEE THE ORDER FORM ON PAGE 111
MODELS
MODELS/ESCORTS
ATTENTION
MODELS
AND
MASSEURS
Frontiers prefers all photo shots
above the waist only; any shot
below the waist must be non-suggestive
and
non-explicit.
Examples of unacceptable photos
would include (but are not limited
to) “groping” of the genital area,
or anatomical details of the genital area visible through sheer/tight
fabric. Please do not write on,
cut, or deface photo in any way!
All photos submitted that do not
fit these guidelines will not be
used. Your ad will be printed without a photo or a previous photo
from your Photo File will be used
in its place. Frontiers is not
responsible for Photo Ads that are
submitted incorrectly. If you have
a concern regarding your photo
please call us before you submit
your ad. Thank You for your cooperation. [3BCS0100]
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
MONSTER SIZE 12”
C
U
T
E
6’3” 245 LBS
THE ULTIMATE
HOT SOUTHERN
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See
Website:
www.DanPecman.com [165SC2021]
[165SC2022]
T
W
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[165SC2121] T02167
TRUE10”BLACKDICK
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[165SC0201]
DAN PECMAN
818-988-7327
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GREAT TOP
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[165SC2021]
25y.o., 5'8", 7" Uncut, Cute, Hot,
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More pics: rentboy.com/euroboy3
[165SC2121] T01801
ERIK VEGA
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Call (818) 749-7254 Pics at:
w w w. r e n t b o y. c o m / e r i k v e g a 2
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[165SC2121] T02089
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[165SC1723]
24 Hours
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323-290-4957
[165SC2021] T01628
81/2UNCUTTOP
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9C, Latin, 25, 1/2 white 1/2 PRican,
Lt/med skin tone, Masc., Sexy, Fun.
917-548-4452
[165SC2121]
[165SC2121]
A NOTICE OF CONCERN Frontiers documents all consumer complaints regarding classified advertisements. Frontiers reserves the right to refuse advertisements from individuals or companies who misrepresent themselves and/or advertising claims. Clients of Frontiers
classified advertisers are advised to be aware of the limited consumer protection available to any classified advertising respondent. Advertisers and clients are asked to conduct their dealings in a moral, humanitarian and mutually respectful manner as befitting our gay/lesbian community—one that is proud, strong and united. All related complaints should be made in writing (no phone calls please!) addressed to the Classifieds Manager and will be kept strictly confidential.
104
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
BLOND BOY 24
Gdlkg white 5’11 150lbs Blue
eyes Slim build Bubble butt &
Smooth skin 7.5uc Big loads 4u
Mild to kinky! In/Out-Call or text
Justin 323-592-0909 WeHo
[165SC2121]
10 X 8 COCK
ManLooks. Leo (310) 351-0188
[165SC1622]
MAGNUM XL
37, 5’8 165 lbs Professional
escort Very GDLKG, very masc,
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earth/Friendly Classic good looks.
With big muscular jock legs and
hung huge. It’s 9 inches In/Out
24/7
Alex
310-927-9048
BLOND SEX SLAVE
6’0” 190lb Musc guy ready to
please loves kinky fantasy and
role play-groups welcome
Call me. Eric 323-982—9232
[165SC2121] P05111
[165SC2121] T02150
HORSE 10X8
[165SC2002] P05072
www.rentboy.com/horseman10x8har1
HOT LATIN BOY!
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Call (323) 467-2758 Julio
If you like to get on your knees +
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[165SC2121]
ASIAN MUSCLE
Musc, masc, 6-pack abs, 8in.
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HUNG CHOLO OC.
[165SC2121]
HOT BLONDE
Blue eyes, 5’11”, 145 lbs, 8”
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[165SC2121] T02132
Bi. Musc. uncut Latino. Extra
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fill all your fantasies. Outcalls only.(714) 255-3078 LUIS
Does Size Matter?
If it don’t, why is your
mouth watering?
Couples Welcome
(818) 613-7442
[165SC2121] T01692
[165SC2021]
FEBRUARY 23, 2010
105
MODELS➥ MASSAGES
HANDSOME JACK
6’4” 200lb stud - 310.749.8532
Hot photos jackXXXsanders.com
[165SC2121]
LEATHER MASTER
(818) 781-1278
6’1” 230 Muscleman Pvt dungeon
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18a9”
Website: www.MasterRyker.com
[165SC2021]
MUSCLEWORKS
ORANGE COUNTY CA
Hot fit butch 50’s top with
big one. $80/in. $100/out.
(714) 310-9845 [165OC1808]
Musc/masc Irish athlete, protrained, focuses on yr specific
needs. DT, Swedish, erotic. WeHo
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323 658-8860. Late OK!
[175SC2121] P03733
PALM SPRINGS CA
WHAT U WANT2
BB bottom Ted (760) 324-3831
Fullbody massage+more by handsome all Italian guy 5’11 168
81/2 Versatile/fun 3238745762
[165PS2010]
SAN DIEGO
Beef Buff Vers8” (646)807-9356
[1651021]
CHOCOLATE
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Andre 323-610-5977 [175SC2121]
P04194
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[175SC1321]
EROTIC NUDE
Strong, masculine muscle in
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physical, handsome, hairy Jim
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nurturing
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Mark (323) 468-0923. [175SC1321]
SPA PACKAGES!!!
DAVE 323/460-4071
[175SC2121]
[175SC1321]
ABS BUTT & BEYOND
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leather option 213-580-4704
[175SC2022]
[175SC2121]
TALL MASCULINE
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Jackson 310.749.8532 In & Out.
[175SC2121] P05093
WEST LA BODYWORK
[165SC1111] T02104
MASSAGE /
BODY RUBS
#1 HOT ITALIAN!!
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[175SC2121] P00541
Hot Asian Muscle Stud
8183149699 [175SC1413]
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Kevin 310-963-9522 In/Out call
[175SC2025]
SEXY 8 UNCUT
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[175SC2121]
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
[175SC2121] T02147
Massage by Rex (818) 521-0515
[175SC1924]
BOB PATRICK
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See my video at BobPatrick.com
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LatinOutcall Luis 818-235-3273
[175SC2010]
106
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
NUDE MASSAGE
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(818) 625-8094. [175SC2121] P04871
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[175SC2121] P05159
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$100out Ron 5623359427
[175SC2121]
TEXAS JOCK
New to town! Friendly, Boyish
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Out calls only. (817) 313-0908
[175SC2121] P05149
MASSAGES
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The Ultimate Massage! A strong,
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sensitive Swedish & Deep Tissue
Sports Massage. By a handsome,
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your tension. A private garden-like
room. Table, oils, candles & shower. Studio City. $70 in only. See
you soon. 818-508-2460. Gerry
[175SC2121]
Classy, Fun 6’2 220 Blk muscle
Husky & Older guys preferred
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[175SC2121] P05195
[175SC2122] T02195
MEDITERRANEAN MAN
Professional certified masseur.
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legs ass and chest, very versatile, masculine. Swedish, Deep Tissue, Erotic.
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DINO at your service.
VISA/Master OK Visit us today!
totalsmooth.com
323-6643000 [175SC2121] P05198
LATIN MAN
[175SC2121] T02168
Attractive masculine in-shape
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Call Mosh at 323-309-9736
[175SC2126]
BURBANK MASSEUR
818-216-7014
TREAT YOURSELF
Handsome Hairy Masseur Trained
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[175SC2121] P05186
WARM LOVING HANDS
Gentle sensitive intuitive 2
hands or 4 Hollywood Snuggling
Steve 8am-7pm. (323) 4673868 [175SC2121]
MILK MASSAGE
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milk, release, repeat. 323-3826801 MilkMassage.com [175SC2121]
[175SC2121]
COOL FUN11X6
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(818) 891-1950
[email protected]
[175SC2126]
[175SC2121]
[175SC2025] T02184
www.massageaaa.com
Buena
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[175SC2121] P05196
ITALIAN TOP
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Max 323 692-1062 24/7 [175SC2121]
[175SC2121]
FEBRUARY 23, 2010
107
MASSAGES
[175SC2021] T01863
PERENEAL MASSAGE!!
Dave 323/460-4071. Awesome.
[175SC1725]
818 JOCK
[175SC2121] T02183
[175SC0026] T02203
FULLERTON
MEN’S HEALTH SPA
Will give you a full-body massage
in the nude, by goodlking GM
35y. 5’11” 185# $40in/$60+out
Eric 714 879-5293
24/7
Jacuzzi Dry & Steam Sauna
Shiatsu & Fullbody massage 8a12m In the South Bay 310-7073248 [175SC1303]
[175SC1821]
ALL TYPES WELCOME
Awesome massage by g/l jock
w/great hands, no attitude Randy.
(818) 489-5698 In/Out. [175SC2121]
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BIG TOOL
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[175SC1922]
BLK MASSAGE 4U
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(323) 216-8178 Dave, 24/7.
[175SC2122]
[175SC2121]
NUDE SWIMMER
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[email protected]
WeHo
Johnny [175SC2121] P05193
SENSITIVE NIPS
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www.SensitiveNips.com [175SC2121]
Pamper yourself-Asian Pro-CMT
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Rome [175SC2121] P05201
Let this Greek Italian give you a
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in. (818) 205-5766. [175SC2121]
[175SC2121] T02179
HUNG THICK
Awsome pro massage $65 One hr
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323-665-4530,
323-200-5563
SENSE-ASIAN
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nude.
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[175SC2121] P04931
NATURES PARADISE
[175SC2121]
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best!
Neil
818.501.3288 Sherman Oaks
[175SC1422]
108
FRONTIERS IN L.A.
[175SC1321]
NUDE REDHEAD
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ASIAN, 25, 5’8, 142 lbs
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[175SC1924] P05167
SENSUAL MASSAGE
818-762-5150
[175SC2121]
XXHUNG MASSUER
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www.hugehunguy.com 323 252
3412 [175SC2121] P04962
Black masseur 5F4 130# of lean
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Michael 562 714 4270 MCVisa
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Sean (323) 658-8860. Late OK.
[175SC2121] P05067
BUDDY2BUDDY HE
ATUP COOLDOWN
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massage + more. 60$in
323-874-5762 [175SC2121]
[175SC2121]
Masseurmeister
Big
strong
German hands will do the job.
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MAN MASSAGE
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3 2 3 . 4 5 9 . 5 8 4 3
[email protected]
[175SC2121]
PERSIAN STYL
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[175SC2022]
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LONG BEACH OC
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(213) 435-8310 [175SC2023]
ORANGE COUNTY CA
AWESOME MSG
Cert pro Strong/sensitive touch
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[175SC2121] P05199
[175OC1725]
HIRE A PRO
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[175SC2121]
[175SC2121] T02171
SOUTH OC
DEEP TISSUE MSG
$80 SPECIAL
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regular Rick 323-330-0387 pgr
[175SC2121]
Quality Deep Tissue Relaxing
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FEBRUARY 23, 2010
111
By Dr. Bethany A. Marshall, Ph.D., Psy.D., M.F.T.
TEN THINGS I TELL MY PATIENTS
(Part two of a three-part series)
When you are having a discouraging day—or trying to work
through personal conflicts in order
to become a better person—what
wisdom do you rely upon? Do you
turn to a beloved author? Go to
therapy? Attend a twelve-step
group? Do you try to remember
things your mentors or teachers
told you?
In my clinical practice, I teach
my patients core concepts that they
can rely upon whenever they are
having a bad day. These concepts
provide guidance during difficult
times. They are designed to help
my patients think clearly and to forge
a path forward in their lives.
In part one of this series, I outlined five key concepts that you,
too, can use whenever you are looking for a solution. In the second
installment of this series, I am going
to offer three more tried and true
pieces of wisdom for you to fall
back upon whenever you need.
That which you fear the
most you may be destined to
recreate. What do you fear the
most? Becoming too old to find a
boyfriend? Being criticized or unappreciated? Losing your job? Learning that your friends went to dinner and didn’t invite you? Whether
or not you know it, there are unconscious processes that may cause you
to recreate the things you fear the
most. For instance, if you are afraid
of abandonment, you may pester
your boyfriend about where he’s
going and who he’s with. This, in
turn, may make him feel controlled,
angry and withdrawn—thus con-
firming your worst fear.
If you are afraid of losing your
job, you may engage in transparent power plays that you imagine
will make you irreplaceable (like withholding the password to your work
files). But this could unnerve and
irritate your superiors, who may try
to get rid of you because they fear
that you cannot be trusted. And if
ed situation. Engaging in this process
of self-discovery will help you to
gain greater control over yourself
and your life.
Learn to see the bigger picture. Regardless of your circumstances, there is probably a bigger
picture that you cannot see. For
instance, if you are abusing substances you may be unaware of cur-
therapy for abused men. In this setting, you will learn that there is a
predictable pattern to abuse. And
that those who leave always survive and flourish.
If you are not succeeding in
your career, consult with a professional who is more accomplished
than you. If you are struggling with
a mood disorder, relationship con-
If you feel worried that you will never
have the perfect boyfriend or perfect
financial situation, you could begin to
focus on unrealistic ideals.
this happens, you will have to confront the fact that you unconsciously contributed to your situation.
If you feel worried that you will
never have the perfect boyfriend or
perfect financial situation, you could
begin to focus on unrealistic ideals
(the perfect boyfriend with the perfect body or financial schemes
that go nowhere). But the more
you pursue things that are slightly out of reach, the more you may
ignore all the smaller, day-to-day
steps that must be taken in order
to reach your goals (like going on
dates or advancing your career in
incremental ways). Whenever you
experience your worst fears, try to
think about what you may have
done to contribute to the dread-
rent methodologies that are effective in treating addictions. You may
also be unaware of the deteriorating circumstances of your life and
how you come across to others.
Likewise, if you have close relationships with people who abuse
substances, you may be unable
to observe the subtle ways in
which you are contributing to their
addiction.
If you cannot find a job, you
may be unaware of what you are
doing to discourage others from
hiring you. How do you learn to
see the larger picture? By consulting with those who know more
than you.
For instance, if you are in an
abusive relationship—attend a group
flict or any other type of psychological symptom, seek the help of
a therapist.
Try to maintain a relationship with your family. This may
be difficult, especially if your family has been unsupportive of your
sexual orientation. But unless your
family has been physically, sexually or mentally abusive, there are
very few good reasons to cut yourself off from them. In fact, the
ability to sustain a relationship with
those who raised and nurtured
you is one of the hallmarks of
good mental health.
Why is this so? Because when you
establish a relationship with your family you always have a support network. And you learn that although
your childhood may have been somewhat difficult, it was not uniquely
difficult (childhood is always difficult). You also learn that if your parents were hurtful, it is most likely
the parents of your childhood that
hurt you—not the parents of your
adulthood (they may have grown
up and become better people). And
even if the parents of your adulthood are somewhat toxic or annoying, you can limit your time with
them while finding a way to maintain the integrity of the family. Besides,
if your parents are “all bad,” and
you came from them, what does that
say about you? Finding the good
in them will help you to acknowledge goodness in yourself.
When you cut yourself off from
those who had a significant investment in your life, “cutting off”
becomes your only default for dealing with difficult situations (instead
of problem solving, open communication, clarification of expectations, etc.).
Instead, try to focus on what
they did for you, rather than what
they didn’t do for you. Learn to be
with them, yet separate from them.
Be autonomous and secure, and
teach them how best to respond
to you. Offer them the same courtesies that you would want from a
child to whom you had devoted
yourself.
In part three, I will offer two final
strategies—strategies I teach my
patients every day. Read about these
strategies. Learn from them. Hold
onto them during difficult times.
Use them to improve your life.
Bethany Marshall, M.F.C.C., has offices in Beverly Hills and Pasadena. She can be reached at Bethany Marshall and Associates, Inc. (626) 796-9028 or (310) 843-9943. If you have any questions and/or comments,
please direct them to: Frontiers in L.A., 5657 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 470, Los Angeles, CA 90036, or e-mail them to [email protected].
© 2010 Bethany Marshall. All rights reserved.
112
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