The Crown Jewel

Jewel Thais-Williams, founder of the legendary Jewel’s Catch One Disco, on activism, life in sobriety and her holistic care organization. BY PICKLE  |  PHOTO BY DUSTI CUNNINGHAM In the early 70s, a young Jewel Thais-Williams purchased the Diana Club on Pico Read more

Bitch Please

A no holds barred expression of queer identity and a yearning for solace in a world on the brink. BY KIAN KAMATAKI Bitch Please was formed during the last gay gasps of San Francisco’s freak culture before the tech belch Read more

Everybody Hurts

Steven Ganzell, Ph.D. Therapists try to create a space and a relationship that allows you to examine your concerns and understand them. BY DR. STEVE GANZELL Most people don’t go to therapy because they have a serious mental illness. Most people try Read more

Late Bloomer

LA-based queer rapper Big Dipper on body positivity, recovery and his new album. BY MARK ARIEL  |  PHOTO BY RAKEEM CUNNINGHAM Everyday is an uphill battle… I’m a white person making hip hop and rap music. I’m a queer person fighting Read more

The Joy Of Being Queer

To define LGBTQ lives solely by our hardships is to be blind to the joys and advantages of queerness. BY SYD PETERSON I don’t think being gay is a choice. But if it were, I’d choose it.  Messaging about LGBTQ Read more

Queering Your Sex

Back to school with The Pleasure Chest, the only sex industry store to host free weekly sex education workshops. At the Pleasure Chest we often say that your sexiest body part is your mind. It’s even printed on our class flyers Read more

Safe Recovery

7 reasons why choosing an LGBTQ-affirmative program matters. BY MANNY RODRIGUEZ | PHOTO BY AARON JAY YOUNG There is much to consider when choosing a treatment program for substance abuse and addiction, but one of the most important aspects of this process Read more

Treatment Matters

MATTHEW BIANCHI Pride Recovery LA delivers evidence-based addiction treatment to serve the whole queer person. BY MATTHEW BIANCHI | PHOTO BY DUSTI CUNNINGHAM LGBTQ people are outsiders everywhere they go. Sure, “things get better,” but “better” is in comparison to centuries Read more

The Event

VENTURA COUNTY BEACHSIDE PRIDE FESTIVAL Photos By Tom Pardoe DTLA PROUD IN PERSHING SQUARE Photos By Jeremy Lucido THE FIRST ANNUAL VALLEY PRIDE STREET FESTIVAL Photos By Tom Pardoe

The Calendar

WOMEN IN CONCERT. SEE SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 RUSH—TOM OF FINLAND FOUNDATION 9PM–2AM Tom of Finland Foundation, 1421 Laveta Ter, Los Angeles, 90026. Tickets & Info: www.labandofbrothers.com/rush-2018. A play party for men presented by the Los Angeles Band of Read more

The City

SACRAMENTO New Bill Approved Supporting  LGBTQ Seniors California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a new bill into law that will support the inclusion of LGBTQ seniors in state-administered programs and services for the elderly, reports NewNowNext. AB 2719, authored by Read more

The Epidemic

Undetectable—Untransmittable Confidence in the protective power of an undetectable viral load is strengthened by receiving consistent test results, study reports. BY VICTOR MELAMED Having a relationship based on trust, commitment and familiarity helps gay men rely on undetectable viral load Read more

The Music

Master Showman Full of campy, glitzy, queer swagger and some deeply personal lyrics, lead Scissor Jake Shears has just dropped his first official solo album. BY PAUL V. VITAGLIANO For those of you (like myself) who were beyond forlorn when Read more

The Rostow Report by Ann Rostow

58-year-old Kevin Bickerstaff, who reportedly encouraged classmates to beat up a 12-year-old trans girl so she would leave the school, has been suspended from his job as a pilot for Frontier Airlines pending an investigation into his conduct. RUSTY ARTIFACTS Read more

The Share

Keep Coming Back We asked a few local clean and sober individuals why they stay sober and what they do to maintain their continuous recovery.   HAVE CONTROL “I’m sober because I choose to be alive and I choose to Read more

The Transaction

Todd Gloria Support For Trans Foster Kids Groundbreaking state bill approved ensuring hormone access for transgender youth in foster care. BY VICTOR MELAMED California lawmakers have passed a historic bill ensuring that trans youth in foster care can access proper medical Read more