Wulfpak’s Aaron Dolson on the cannabis industry, gender identity and bringing the power back to the Radical Faeries. BY BRENDEN SHUCART | PHOTO BY DUSTI CUNNINGHAM BEGINNINGS Aaron Dolson got into cannabis when he met the legendary Dennis Peron at Rainbow Gathering in 1998. “Dennis encouraged me to come out to California to the medical…
The Bay Area Drag Festival is Coming Back to Oakland! From Friday April 26th to Sunday April 28th, over one hundred drag kings, queens, and queer performers from the Bay Area and beyond will come together for the second annual Oaklash Drag Festival. Organized by Beatrix LaHaine and Mama Celeste, Oaklash is a weekend-long festival…
Our community has been affected by the trauma of societal and familiar homophobia. BY COLIN STACK-TROOST, MA, AMFT The first time that I made the connection between trauma the queer experience was in the title of a book: Alan Downs’ The Velvet Rage: Overcoming The Pain Of Growing Up In A Straight Man’s World. Downs…
“If you can bake a fierce pie, if you can do fierce drag, if you can dig a ditch or cut a potato generally into cubes, you can be a Faerie.” BY PHILIP HUANG “I know your type,” my therapist said, pointing her cigarette at me. I had just told her that, despite my feelings about…
There are numerous examples of LGBTQ activists and leaders in the psychedelic movement, such as Dennis Peron, who, beginning with the AIDS crisis in the 1980s, led the fight for the medical use of cannabis. BY GREGORY WELLS, PHD Queer people have long been part of both the modern world of psychedelics as well as…
“Some may call me a narcissist, and I’m inclined to agree with them. But is all of my mirror-gazing truly narcissism if I hate what I see there?” BY ANDY NICASTRO “I wish that confidence was all you could see in my eyes Like those interviews in locker rooms with talented sports guys I wish…
Find out what makes the Santa Ynez Valley the best undiscovered LGBTQ vacation destination. BY SEAN GALUSZKA Before “hand crafted,” “small batch,” and “farm to table” became hipster mantra, the Santa Ynez Valley employed these practices for decades. They continue these traditions unabated, but not boastful. These aren’t selling points here, they’re a time proven,…
Addicted Celebrates Ten Steamy Years With “Heatwave” Swim Collection Founded by Eduardo Suner in 2009, Addicted has dedicated itself to the design, manufacturing and sale of men’s underwear, swimwear & sportswear. The Addicted brand emphasizes comfort, fun and excitement for the male form in its fashions. It is always setting trends and pushing the envelope…
“It may seem counterintuitive, but having children has actually increased our social life by quite a bit.” BY VICTOR MELAMED Brian and Toby Rubin-Sowers, a gay couple with two children, talk to THE FIGHT about their surrogacy journey. How long have you been together? We’ve been together for seven years (since January 2012), and married…
The community mourns the passing of activist Virginia Uribe. In response to the passing of Virginia (Gina) Uribe, Ph.D., 85, who died last month, Los Angeles LGBT Center CEO Lorri L. Jean issued the following statement: “The entire Center community mourns the loss of Dr. Gina Uribe. As an educator, advocate, and activist, she devoted…
The 14th annual tasting event benefiting the Los Angeles LGBT Center is a celebration of delicious food, wine, spirits, craft beers, and more! Following its successful inaugural run at Hollywood Forever last year, the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s 14th annual Simply diVine will return to the fascinating landmark—best known as the final resting place to more…
House passes resolution opposing Trump’s transgender military ban. The House of Representatives passed a resolution last month expressing opposition to the Trump administration’s ban on transgender service members in the military, reports CNN. The resolution “strongly opposes President (Donald) Trump’s discriminatory ban on transgender members of the Armed Forces,” and “rejects the flawed scientific and…
As a Black, queer, trans, half-generation immigrant from Kenya, my American experience has been quite oxymoronic. Safe yet toxic, free yet hunted, expected to be at peace yet danger lurks at seemingly every turn. BY GABRIEL UHURU I just came back home after spending four days in New Orleans celebrating my thirtieth birthday. To be honest,…
RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Shangela will perform at the Circus T-Dance. The largest gay dance party in the world with DJs, live performances, pool parties and more—White Party Palm Springs—is taking place this month April 26-29. This year White Party Palm Springs will be celebrating its 30th anniversary, so expect something bigger than ever before.…
GREG NASCA Originally from Boston, MA where he earned bachelor degrees in Global Studies and Graphic Design, Greg Nasca lives in Los Angeles. While living on the east coast he focused on ceramics and digital media. Since moving to LA, Greg has begun working in mixed media. His work is inspired by human behavior, the…
SUNDAY, APRIL 7 ANITA MAY ROSENSTEIN CAMPUS GRAND OPENING COMMUNITY CELEBRATION 11AM–5PM 1118 N. McCadden Place, Los Angeles, CA 90038. Info: lalgbtcenter.org/opening. JOEY ARIAS & SHERRY VINE IN “GARDEN OF SHE-DEN” 7:30PM–9:30PM Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, 90028. A sexy, over-the-top spectacle featuring original material, reinterpretations of classics, Joey’s infamous Billie…
LOS ANGELES LA LGBT CENTER CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING OF ANITA MAY ROSENSTEIN CAMPUS Two years after breaking ground in Hollywood—and just in time for its 50th anniversary—the Los Angeles LGBT Center celebrates the grand opening of the unprecedented Anita May Rosenstein Campus on Sunday, April 7, from 11am-5pm, to which the public is invited. The…
