A Force For Change

Aria Sa’id, co-founder and executive director of the Compton’s Transgender Cultural District: We want to support the beautification of the neighborhood while acknowledging its rich Transgender history.” BY KELLY LOVEMONSTER  |  PHOTO BY DUSTI CUNNINGHAM Occupying six blocks in the Read more

A Promising Treatment

Healing the trauma: MDMA-assisted therapy for Queer PTSD.  BY COLIN STACK-TROOST, MA, AMFT It’s been over 30 years since MDMA, known in the club scene as “molly” or “ecstasy,” received an emergency Schedule I classification from the US government. At Read more

Keeping It Fresh

An interview with Patrick Finger, Executive Director of Folsom Street Events on upcoming changes of magnitude proportions. BY MARK ARIEL Let’s get right to the nitty gritty. Is it true that Folsom will not be producing Magnitude this year? If Read more

Making California Affordable Again

SB-50: Scott Wiener’s plan to build new housing and fight urban sprawl (whether California wants it or not). BY BRENDEN SHUCART There is a housing crisis in California. Decades of underbuilding have left us with a 3.5 million home deficit. Read more

Searching For Intimacy

Is it possible that we’ve become so fixated on our search for sexual liberation that we’ve lost sight of what we’re really seeking? BY LEON FOX Down a flight of stairs and past the reception booth, I—donned in a fabulous Read more

SOS For A City In Crisis

The founder of the Saint Francis Homelessness Challenge, Amy Farah Weiss, on sheltering unhoused SF residents and reintegrating them into the community. BY BRENDEN SHUCART Amy Farah Weiss is the founder of the Saint Francis Homelessness Challenge, and has twice Read more

A More Inclusive Leader

The gay Mayor of Solvang, Ryan Toussaint on preconceived notions, social change movements and being a voice for the future. BY SEAN GALUSZKA Elected Councilman at age of 29 in 2016 then running for Mayor of Solvang in 2018 and Read more

Body Positivity

Elliot Musgrave talks to Steve Ganzell about being the first trans Mr. Los Angeles Leather. BY STEVE GANZELL  |  PHOTO BY DUSTI CUNNINGHAM Sitting in his living room not long after winning the title of Mr. Los Angeles Leather 2019 Read more

California PRIDE

Upcoming LGBTQ Pride Festivals throughout the state. Long BeachMay 18–19www.longbeachpride.com Laguna BeachMay 31–June 2\www.lagunabeachpride.org SonomaMay 31–June 2www.sonomacountypride.org Santa MonicaJune 1www.smpride.com VeniceJune 1–3www.venicepride.org Santa CruzJune 2www.santacruzpride.org Los AngelesJune 8–9www.lapride.org SacramentoJune 8–9www.sacramentopride.org San MateoJune 10www.SanMateoCountyFair.com Los AngelesTrans Pride LAJune 14–15www.lalgbtcenter.org Orange CountyJune 22www.prideoc.com Read more

Celebrating OUR Freedom

An interview with Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia. Pride, trans equality and making sure young people know they are not alone. BY MARK ARIEL This year Long Beach Pride is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Stonewall. As the first openly gay Read more

Go Without Hate

This hate feels as if it’s slowly extinguishing my life force, killing me by a thousand cruel paper cuts of political indecency. BY ANDY NICASTRO “Go without hate, but not without rage. Heal the world,” wrote author, AIDS activist and personal Read more

Love Is Love

City of West Hollywood’s One City One Pride LGBTQ Arts Festival. Each year the City of West Hollywood celebrates pride with its One City One Pride LGBTQ Arts Festival, which runs from between Harvey Milk Day (May 22) through the Read more

More Farm CHIC Getaways

Dorwood Distillery, Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company: palette enhancing experiences. BY SEAN GALUSZKA As promised, more recommendations for visiting Santa Ynez Valley—you know, the land where Dolly Parton and Pink (singer, not chef) chose to live! If you love spirits as Read more

Twink

A journey in self-discovery: the story of Helix Studios model Kyle Ross.  A coming-of-age novel Twink chronicles the tumultuous life of Helix Studios model Kyle Ross. Written by Taylor Saracen, readers meet a teenage Ross:  a skinny, weak, gay adolescent Read more

Pride On The Port

San Pedro’s very first LGBTQ Pride festival takes place on June 15. Organizer Aiden Garcia-Sheffield reveals what it took to make it happen. BY VICTOR MELAMED Aiden Garcia-Sheffield, 34, the organizer of San Pedro’s very first LGBTQ Pride festival, Pride Read more

San Mateo Pride

The San Mateo County Fair has designated Monday, June 10 as Family PRIDE Day. Besides the addition of hopping kangaroos, sweet and savory crepes, and an all-new concert line up at the 2019 San Mateo County Fair, there’s something else Read more

The Art

AARON SMITH Aaron Smith attended Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, where he is now an associate chair. His work has been featured in solo exhibitions in galleries in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York and in group Read more

The Calendar

SUNDAY, MAY 5 LOS ANGELES GAY DAY AT THE ZOO 12PM–5PM Los Angeles Zoo, 5333 Zoo Dr, Los Angeles, 90027. Gay Day at the Zoo takes place on the first Sunday of May, which is also International Family Equality Day.  Read more

The Spread

Ian Utterback & Josue Oliva PHOTO BY DUSTI CUNNINGHAM NAME: Ian Utterback AGE: 27 HOMETOWN: Omaha, NE SELF IDENTIFY AS: Gay CURRENT AND PAST OCCUPATIONS: Used to be a hairstylist and go-go dancer. CHILDHOOD CRUSH: SEAN William Scott RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Read more

The City

LONG BEACH GRAND MARSHALS CHOSEN FOR LONG BEACH PRIDE The Long Beach LGBTQ Pride Festival and Parade, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, will take place May 18 and 19 at Marina Green Park and Rainbow Lagoon along Read more