“LET ME SHOW YOU SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL.” MODEL: DEVIN GUTIERREZ. PHOTO: KIMBERLEE ACQUARO. SEE #1 10 things happening in LGBTQ California that give me hope. BY SYD PETERSON My fellow LGBTQ Californians, I’ve gotta be honest with you. I’m sad and fearful about what’s happening in our nation politically. I’ve been on edge for a long…

The judges, the tally masters, the DJ and so much more. Coming this October.  BY RANDY CARMENATY, PALM SPRINGS LEATHER PRIDE CHAIRMAN Palm Springs Leather Pride is proud to announce this year’s panel of esteemed judges for the Mr. Palm Springs Leather 2019 contest at the Palm Springs Air Museum on Oct 27, 2018.  The…

For one night only, Dirty Looks reclaimed a queer space that helped define Silverlake. BY VICTOR MELAMED As part of Dirty Looks: On Location 2018 and curated by Bradford Nordeen, 7|07 Cuffs, a collaboration of Jonesy, Chris Cruse and Mr. Drummer ‘79—took place last month at Hyperion Tavern, the space that once was the gay leather…

Garrett Prejean (L), Bryan Batt. “Raceland.” Childhood friends from the bayou develop a deep affection for one another. A film by Scott Bloom, currently in post production. BY MARK ARIEL After working as a freelance editor for the past 25 years on hundreds of feature documentaries, sitcoms, film trailers and reality television episodes, Scott Bloom…

Art Share L.A., a multidisciplinary, non-profit art space downtown offers artists from diverse backgrounds a space to share their vision with the world. BY ROXIE PERKINS Cheyanne Sauter, the Executive Director of Art Share L.A., talks to THE FIGHT about local outreach, queer programming and reflecting the community. Tell us about Art Share and the…

Director Jill Salvino on producing documentaries, queer films and “the female filmmaker question.” BY ROXIE PERKINS Jill Salvino is a writer and director who tells stories of under represented communities with particular interest in sharing authentic LGBTQ stories through the art of documentary filmmaking.  Her first feature documentary, Between The Shades, centers on interviews with…

TOP L-R: RENE HERNANDEZ, RAKEEM CUNNINGHAM. BOTTOM L-R: BAIZE WHITE, JOHN ALEXANDER CAGANDAHAN. Four friends come together to create a weekly podcast “to make sense of the world.” BY MARK ARIEL  |  PHOTO BY RAKEEM CUNNINGHAM A weekly show about four queer friends of color, from The Bay, LA and NYC, coming together to give their…

Actor, musician, adult film performer, therapist, and writer Aram Giragos on bridging the gap between San Francisco and Los Angeles. BY BRENDEN SHUCART  |  PHOTO BY DUSTI CUNNINGHAM Even if you don’t know who he is, you’ve seen his face; smoldering wolf-yellow eyes piercing your soul from party fliers and go-go boxes up and down…

On August 12th, 2018, the first annual Valley Pride Street Festival will take place on Burbank Blvd from Cahuenga Blvd to Strohm Ave in North Hollywood. Celebrating  “diverse and alternative lifestyles,” Bullet bar owner and event creator Michael Lara explains that “there is a need for a Pride Festival in San Fernando Valley. We have  around …

Nothing says “you’re less than” like a business owner saying your life is too sinful to allow you to pay him for something he sells others. BY SYD PETERSON My partner and I stepped up to the hotel’s front desk. From past experience, I already knew what was going to happen. Like most couples, when…

WWLA: Country Western Ball & Dance Workshops, July 27–29 at The Garland. The L.A. Wranglers is a group of performing line dancers who hold a passion for all things country. This award-winning dance troupe, formed over 16 years ago by Rick Dominguez, has maintained a presence in the LGBTQ community, performing at numerous pride, rodeo, and fundraising events. The L.A. Wranglers have recently incorporated into…