LESBIAN NEWS VOL. 44 ∙ NO. 07 ∙ February 2019
THE EVOLUTION OF KODIE SHANE FLUID IN HER MUSIC AND IN HER LIFE
DIANE OLSON CLEXACON GNASH AND PASSES AT 65 2019 YUNG BABY TATE LN Contributors
Anne Laure Pineau At 32, Anne Laure is a Parisian journalist working for national magazines (ELLE, Paris-Match, Liberation) on many subjects, from the far-right and conservative movements in France, to the Angola Prison Rodeo in Louisiana. She has the absolute conviction that her job is political and can enlighten the human complexity. As a feminist, as an anti-racist and as a lesbian, she is working daily to give a space to the untold stories. (Photo: Juliette Robert).
Beth Shipp is the first Executive Director of LPAC, the lesbian Super PAC that builds the political power of lesbian, queer, bisexual and transgender women by electing candidates who champion LGBTQ rights, women’s equality and social justice. She is a political strategist with more than 20 years of experience working for women’s reproductive rights, Democratic candidates and progressive causes. Prior to joining LPAC, Ms. Shipp was the political director for NARAL Pro- Choice and worked on a variety of federal and state campaigns throughout the nation.
Carl Matthes is the current president of UGLA, Uptown Gay and Lesbian Alliance, an organization providing a support system for gay men, lesbians and education for individuals and the community He is a columnist on the Lesbian News, owned and published by his sister, Ella and her wife, Gladi. He was editor of the GLAAD/newsletter, and a GLAAD/LA representative on the Board. ln July, 2008, Carl was legally married to Carl Johnson, his partner of 50 years, by Los Angeles City Councilmember Jose Huizar. It was a unique gay/lesbian double ceremony as Carl’s sister Ella and her partner Gladi were also married by Jose.
Carla Ferrer Russo, PhD is a Professor of Natural Medicine, a Registered Yoga Instructor, and a pioneering Behaviorist & Life Coach in the field of transformation and consciousness for healthy lifestyle living. For over twenty years, Dr. Carla’s work has focused on sharing both her personal and professional experience addressing the whole being, mind, body and spirit; empowering profound personal and professional break-throughs for individuals and organizations throughout the United States and United Kingdom (EU).
Christin and Ashley Kelly-Brown are owners and wife team of LunaBella Makeup and Hair in Santa Barbara, CA. Originally from Oakland, CA. they met there at 17 years of age and have been together for over 12 years. Legally married in California on October 3, 2008, their company has since taken off. They absolutely love not only what they do but also how uniquely they work together.
Dian Katz works a variety of arenas. With a background in Marriage Counseling and a history as a professional performer, she’s LN’s Entertainment Editor and Self Help columnist. Dian’s also authored a book entitled: Love Hurts· A Spiritual Journey to Wholeness. She sometimes works the motivational speaking circuit. Dian’s an award winning drummer with her own rock band. Out of all the many hats she wears, performing and writing are her biggest passions. Dina Evan, PhD is a noted speaker and veteran activist for LGBT Women’s and Human Rights. She is a professional counselor and spiritual coach working with individuals, couples and organizations from coast to coast. She has authored three books, Inspiration Cards, Calendars and Meditation CD’s. She provides tools for creating successful relationships which she believes are the path to consciousness. Dina feels the highest assignment today is simply waking up. (602) 997-1200 • www.drdinaevan.com
Gladi Adams, PhD is a native New Englander who was recruited in Boston by the Los Angeles Unified School District to teach English in L.A. She studied at Boston University, Cal State Northridge, California Western and UCLA. She retired as a secondary school principal after 35 years in the system. She is married to Ella Matthes, publisher, and they have been working on the LN together since 2005.
John Esther For nearly a dozen years, Movie Editor John Esther has been writing for Lesbian News. Over time, he has written more than 100 articles for LN on film, music, theater, ~ and culture. His monthlymovie column, Eye C, is currently the longest consecutiverunning - movie column in LN. John also contributes articles to numerous other publications, plus his own blog. John is currently a Board Member of the Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association (GALECA).
Juno Parreñas, PhD has been a regular monthly columnist at the Lesbian News since 1997, when she was seventeen years old. Since then, she has lived in three continents, five countries, ten cities, and has three degrees: a Bachelor’s from UC Santa Cruz, a Master’s from the University of Amsterdam, and a PhD from Harvard University. When she’s not writing about sexuality, politics, pleasure, culture, desire, and social relations, she works on her research involving orangutans.
Lynda Montgomery was born in Long Beach, a small town in Canada. She loves a parade, so she moved to Long Beach California, a big town, so she didn’t have to be all alone in the Gay Pride parade! She is an activist for animal rights and gay rights, giving priority to gay animals! As a stand-up comic she has survived many dive bars, festivals, and comedy clubs. She is currently trying to get booked onto the “Olivia Cruises” because she heard it’s a great place to meet women!
Mona de Crinis grew up in a world without Xbox or Netflix, when tweeting was something birds did and “Pinterest” was a bad typo. She relied on her fertile imagination for fun quickly discovering that words threaded together could create a vibrant tapestry of expression. This awareness sparked a passion and subsequent career. For more than 20 years, she wrote and edited for regional and niche publications. She has authored over 100 published articles. Mona lives in Palm Springs with partner, Lori, and four furry kids.
Mona Elyafi has been writing celebrity magazine profiles, entertainment news and lifestyle columns for two decades. She currently writes for the Huffing ton Post, and serves as the West Coast correspondent for Diva Magazine (Dubai’s leading Women’s fashion magazine) writing 1!11 pieces on Kim Kardashian, Kimora Lee Simmons and Denise Richards. Born in Beirut, Lebanon, raised in Paris, France, residing in Los Angeles, Elyafi has spent 20 years working in entertainment publicity, heading her own PR Company, ILDK Media. She holds a Master of Arts in journalism from New York University. Morag Hillsinger Reba Birmingham is our LN poet, writing until recently under the Nom de Plume Morag Hillsinger. She is also a practicing lawyer and an author with Regal Crest Publishing. Her debut novel, Floodlight, is now available on Bella Books, Amazon and Kobo. It is the first in a series about the LGBT characters that inhabit the fictional town of Merryville California. It is quirky and fun. The sequel will be released in 2018.
Nat Burns is an award-winning novelist and journalist who lives and writes in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She has authored novels in several genres for four different publishers and has just released her eleventh novel, a lesbian romance called Lights of the Heart. Her shorter works and essays have appeared in more than fifty publications and she’s been writing for LN since 2009. Burns is now writing full time after retiring from her career as editorial systems coordinator for a medical publishing company. www.natburns.com
Nikki McCauley was born in Pittsburgh, PA. She graduated from Robert Morris University and spent ten years with Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, CA. Accomplishments: PilotGodless- 2010- 2012; CD- Spoken Word 2005; Warner Bros. Writer’s Workshop 2003/2004; Poetry Book- Inditing Poetry 1999. Scripts: Law & Order; The Practice; Cold Case; CSI Las Vegas.
Robin Tyler is a pioneer activist in the LGBT community. In the 1970’s, she became the first ‘out’ lesbian or gay comic on television, albums and in concert. In addition to 25 Women’s Music and Comedy Festivals, Robin produced the main stages for 3 OD of the LGBT Marches on Washington. Robin and her wife, Diane Olson, were the first lesbian plaintiffs to file the lawsuit that brought marriage equality to California and were the first to marry in Los Angeles County.
Sally Sheklow came out in 1973 and has been with her “wifey” for 25 years. They live in Eugene, Oregon with their two cats. Sally’s “Living Out” column first appeared in Lesbian News in 1999, and twice won both the Houston Press Club’s Lone Star Award for best magazine column and Best of Eugene’s “Best Writer” award. Sally teaches Queer Studies at Portland State University, performs with the all-lesbian improv troupe WYMPROV!, and makes art out of old buttons.
Shawn Ryan is a lot of things. He’s an Actor/Singer/Writer/Director and Camp Director but fancies himself a Dancer/Poet/Lyrical Savant/Brother/Son/and Terrific Husband. His greatest wish is that someday Barbara Walters will come out of retirement and make him cry on ABC. He lives in a state of adoring bliss with his husband, actor John Ainsworth, and their furry children, Mr. Kitty and Gazpacho the Chihuahua. It seems as though things couldn’t get much better, but day by day, they to do. Follow him on www.shawn-ryan.com
Sherron Mills, N.P. has been a lesbian health care practitioner and activist for many years. In 1980 she co-founded Lyon-Martin Women’s Health Services, the country’s first non-profit clinic to serve the lesbian community. She then went on in 1984 to launch Pacific Reproductive Services to provide sperm bank, fertility and insemination services primarily to Ill lesbians. Knowing that many of her clients would greatly value the opportunity for their children to meet their sperm donors, should they wish to do so, she was an early pioneer in recruiting men who would contractually agree to meet a child at least once after he or she reaches 18. As a result, PRS today has more ‘Willing to be known” sperm donors than any other U.S. sperm bank. Stephanie Papadakis is originally from southern California. Stephanie knew she wanted to live in San Francisco from the age of 10 (but had no clue she liked women). When she’s not working at a lesbian travel company in SF, she spends her time cooking delicious paleo meals, climbing rugged mountains, exercising daily, researching random trivia knowledge, making “dream lists” on Airbnb, and planning day-, weekend- and weeklong dates with her partner, Sara.
Sweet Baby J’ai is a writer, singer, composer, arranger, educator, and the Artistic Director ofthe Palm Springs Women’s Jazz Festival. A creative force on the music scene for over two ~ decades, she tours the world with her genre-defying work, which both embraces and expands - jazz tradition. She has worked in various capacities, including talent buyer for major music events throughout the country. She also serves as Creative Managing Director for the Educational Theatre Institute.
Toni Hart has had many careers, including her favorite- freelance writing. Early on she was a child actress and after college, became a designer of women’s & children’s fashions. After a pause to have three children, she turned to Mortgage Banking, retiring years later as VP/Administrator of the mortgage Dept. She’s become a hard working volunteer for many venues. To support her wonderful gay daughter, her attention is now zestfully supporting the LGBT cause.
Victoria Bearden has practiced astrology for over 30 years, with clients across the country and abroad. To set up a personal consultation you can call her at 760-634-1028 or visit her website at www.astrologysandiego.com February 2019
CONTENTS
LESBIAN NEWS
COVER STORY THE EVOLUTION OF KODIE SHANE Fluid in her music and in her life By Joseph F. Nacino
FEATURE
CLEXACON 2019 INSIDE LN LGBTQ+ women’s visibility in entertainment By LN Staff HOTSPOTS LOVELY FEBRUARY HOTSPOTS RADICALESBIANS POETRY Excerpt from In Search of Stonewall By Ellen Shumsky TO STEPHANIE
FEMASTROLOGY DIANE OLSON OBITUARY FEBRUARY 2019 Champion of marriage equality passes at 65
THE ROCKHER ™ For queer female couples this Valentine’s Day By Mona Elyafi LIFESTYLES
MoviesEyeC THE WEDDING RING A beautiful peek at romance in Niger Follow Us Online! By LN Staff LESBIANNEWS.COM Notes From Nat GNASH AND YUNG BABY TATE Two new rap artists introduce a gentler, more reflective Let us know sound. what you think. By Nat Burns
Spirituality YOU CAN DO IT! By Dina Evan, PhD
COLUMNS
Words that Make Sense BIRTHDAYS ARE WAKE UP CALLS Another year, another birthday. Time to check up on accomplishments. By Toni Hart Queerly Questioning HOLD ME IN TRANSGRESSIVE LOVE How could I not giggle at the lady’s confusion? By Juno Parrenas
Positive Reflections PURCHASING A DOG Knowing where to purchase a dog is extremely important. By Dian Katz, MS
Dyke Musing ONE SMASHING ROSE By Sue Moore
THE EVOLUTION OF KODIE SHANE Fluid in her music and in her life By Joseph F. Nacino
apper-singer-songwriter and with her previous work, Kodie said: “My music, in group. breakout star Kodie Shane has my opinion, has matured, with more substance, come a long way, and it’s all more feeling, more structure, more everything. I But while her family was always there to good. That’s not to say that feel as though the growth in my music is directly support her, the drive was all hers: “My family’s Kodie’s changed such that related to my evolution as a young adult and I’m involvement in music definitely plays a huge her fans don’t recognize her just getting started!” part in who I am. But mostly I have never anymore. Rather, there’s been an evolution to doubted that I could do it. I always knew I could her music that showcases her new skills and Despite all this talk about maturity, Kodie’s fun bring something special to the stage. I’ve never maturity with the release of her debut album, side still shines through the music as evidenced doubted that!” R“Young HeartThrob.” by the reviews of her album. For example, Pitchfork said “her animated personality shines” That’s right. Thanks to her own determination, Her new album showcases a musical evolution while The Fader stated “The mischievous edge 20-year old Kodie has paid her dues, from writing for Kodie and justifies the praise being heaped that lives in Kodie Shane’s flow effectively her own songs at the age of 12, to releasing on her by both critics and fans with its moments bumps the sensual factor of ‘Sing to Her’ up a songs at 14, regularly performing in Atlanta of pop bliss, hip-hop grit, and future-facing thousand notches, and I can’t get enough!” venues at 15 years old, and being signed up by alternative ambience. It also has support from Epic Records at 16. Trippie Redd and TK Kravitz, with production Of course, it’s no surprise that she’s achieved work from Matty P, Wundagirl, Dallas Austin, this level of breakthrough success. First of all, In 2016, she released her debut EP, “Zero OZ, Reske, Mark Murrille and more. she came from a musically-inclined family with Gravity,” which included the fan-favorite song her sister Brandi belonging to the girl group “Sad” (featuring Lil Yachty) that has generated When asked to compare her current direction Blaque and her father being part of an R&B millions of Spotify streams. In 2017, she went on to create more music with the ten-track “Big Trouble Little Jupiter” mixtape and seven-track “Back from the Future” EP.
She’s also headlined shows around the world while opening for artists like Lil Yachty, Lil Uzi Vert, The Internet, Jhené Aiko, Snakehips, and Billie Eilish. Likewise, she’s done several collaborations with Lil Yachty and Trippie Redd.
Kodie had previously worked with Redd for the “Love & Drugz” track in 2016. In the new album, they have a sequel called “Love & Drugz II.”
“Trippie Redd and I became friends in music so when we work together we really trust one another as far as what’s being created. I’ll lay a melody and he’ll add on then he’ll play some lyrics and I’ll add on or vice versa. It’s a true collaborative effort with us,” she said.
As for her frequent collaborator, Lil Yachty, they first met at one of Lil Yachty’s concerts in Atlanta in 2016. But they reconnected in a studio with Lil Uzi Vert later on, where Kodie impressed Lil Yachty with her music.
That’s when Kodie became part of Lil Yachty’s Sailing Team crew: a group of young rappers, producers, and creatives from Atlanta. As Kodie was the only female member, she’s been described as the First Lady of the Sailing Team.
She was all praises for Lil Yachty: “The best thing about working with Lil Yachty is having someone that I know and love come before me and sort of set an example of what to do and in some cases what not to do to be successful.”
And of course, Kodie has come out. She said: “Being queer, to me, is more than sexual orientation, it’s a way of thinking, a way of life. It spills over in everything I do, including my music. I don’t allow the social structures of the world to inform my way of life nor the way I create music. I’m fluid, my music is fluid.”
Here are a few more questions we threw Kodie that she graciously answered for us:
Lesbian News: At 20-years old, what have you learned since you began working in the music industry?
Kodie Shane: One of the most important things I’ve learned is that your destiny belongs to you and the only person who can get in the way of that is you. You must rely on, believe in, and trust yourself!
LN: You’ve done the rounds already promoting your music. Do you have a favorite tour memory?
KS: I’m actually headed out on my first headline World tour. However, one of my favorite tour memories was while I was opening for Lil Yachty on the Lil Boat show. I believe it was Washington, DC and we had a complete water fight. It was more like a water park on stage, nearly every speaker in the house ended up with water damage, which was one of those examples of what not to do. At the time, we couldn’t have cared less, just a bunch of Gen Z kids going crazy, making a movie!
LN: In one word, how would you describe today’s Kodie?
KS: DEDICATED
LN: What’s one thing in your personal life are you proudest of?
KS: I’m really proud of myself for pursuing a healthy lifestyle, I’ve changed my eating habits to be more mindful of what I consume and I have a love affair developing with working out.
LN: How do you see yourself in 5 years? Is there anything—like fashion, TV, or movies— you want to get into?
KS: In five years, I see myself as a household name. I see my company YHT flourishing, my foundation to help underprivileged LGBTQ youth fully operational. I love fashion and film almost as much as music and performing. So in five years, I will have collaborated with fashion’s biggest names, and earned a couple of hit movies under my belt.
TOP
CLEXACON 2019 LGBTQ+ women’s visibility in entertainment By LN Staff
tanding tall and strong as three-day film festival. Impressively drawing some 4,000+ attendees the largest convention for from over 40 countries last year, ClexaCon is LGBTQ+ women and allies, Bringing their “A” game, Ashley Arnold and on track for another impressive year. ClexaCon continues to affirm Danielle Jablonski—the masterminds behind its unwavering commitment to the hugely popular convention—are not just As we keep witnessing the proliferation of the focus on the power of queer shaking things up this year, they are changing #RepresentationMatters hashtag across social women to create big and lasting change in front the game too. media platforms, the message is clear: we’re in and behind the camera. desperate need of more diverse voices. The duo is decidedly cranking up the volume on SReturning to Las Vegas’ famed Tropicana Hotel ClexaCon’s mission to push forth its enduring This is why the Con continues to provide April 11th through April 15th, 2019, for its third message of diversity, equality, and inclusion educational resources for the community to aid consecutive year, the one-of-a-kind event will of LGBTQ+ women in entertainment at various in the push for better representation. Its goal once again bring together actresses, directors, levels of the industry. is to teach and motivate more LGBTQ+ women producers, writers, comic book illustrators, to participate in creating stories that actually visual artists, academics, journalists and fans Putting an extra laser-focus this April on the reflect America’s evolving cultural landscape. from over 40 countries and all 50 U.S. states to importance of education and academics, celebrate the best of LGBTQ+ TV and film. ClexaCon strives to empower and inspire more LGBTQ representation on television in 2018 hit LGBTQ+ women to get involved in content a record high this year, according to GLAAD’s Fans will have a chance to attend a series of creation while simultaneously embolden allies to annual TV diversity report. Sadly, the same panels on a variety of topics, workshops, charity improve representation for LGBTQ+ characters can’t be said about its Hollywood counterpart. events, parties, a red-carpet soiree as well as a in their creative work. The GLAAD report found that filmmakers and Founders and Producers Ashley Arnold and Danielle Jablonski producers miserably failed to include LGBTQ+ characters in their work.
“While we’ve made considerable strides in moving the needle culturally, there’s still not enough queer women creating content,” say Danielle Jablonski, “we need to counter the roadblocks Hollywood continues to put in front of us and provide more avenues to educate and teach the next generation of LGBTQ+ women about how to tell their stories and get their content out to the world”.
“We all want to see our stories told,” added Ashley Arnold, “the success of shows like Pose, Supergirl, Black Lightning, Adventure Time, Vida and One Day At A Time – all featuring inclusive storylines - denotes a clear audience demand and pressing interest for new and diverse story angles.”
To that end, ClexaCon is proud to be an active community collaborator teaming up with some of the top industry institutions and LGBTQ+ players in Arts & Entertainment.
SAG-AFTRA, YouTube Space L.A., Dash Production, Tello Films, Outfest and UNLV, are all on track with ClexaCon’s mission to act as a catalyst for change and work to advance professional achievement for LGBTQ+ women working in all areas of film, Television, video, digital streaming platforms, and other screen- based media.
Remaining at the forefront of the fight to put queer female stories front and center, ClexaCon will kick-off the 5-day convention on April 11 with a creative new concept: a one-day event with two different Labs respectively filled with panels, workshops, and networking.
The Creators Lab, in partnership with SAG- AFTRA, YouTube Space L.A., DASH Productions and Tello Films, aims to inspire and empower the next generation of LGBTQ+ women, trans and non-binary creators.
The Academic Lab, in association with The University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), will welcome queer academic fans of queer content, Scholars/educators of queer fandom to educate, energize and invigorate the next generation of academics. Also new this year is the exclusive collaboration with Outfest - one of the premier LGBTQ film festivals in the world—that will see the winner of Best Short Film at the ClexaCon 2019 Film Festival receive automatic inclusion in the Outfest Film Festival in 2019.
Once again turning Sin City’s Tropicana Hotel into the ultimate entertainment hub, ClexaCon 2019 will rally under one roof some of the community’s most prominent figures on television.
Fans will have a chance to rub elbows and connect with the likes of Annie Briggs (Carmilla), Briana Venskus (Supergirl, The Walking Dead), Caity Lotz (Legends of Tomorrow), Chantal Thuy (Black Lightning), Crystal Chappell (Venice), Dominique Provost-Chalkley (Wynonna Earp), Dot Marie Jones (Glee), Elise Bauman (Carmilla), Emily Andras (showrunner, Wynonna Earp, Lost Girl), Guinevere Turner (Go Fish, The L Word), Isabella Gomez (One Day at a Time), Jes Macallan (Legends of Tomorrow), Katherine Barrell (Wynonna Earp), Katrina Law (Arrow, Spartacus), Maisie Richardson- Sellers (Legends of Tomorrow), Mandahla Rose (Forever Not Maybe), Nadia Bjorlin (Days of our Lives), Nafessa Williams (Black Lightning), Natasha Negovanlis (Carmilla), and Nicole Pacent (Anyone But Me), to name a few.
Strengthening its philanthropic values, this year’s ClexaCon Cocktails for Change and Fun Run will be benefiting The Visibility Fund – a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting LGBTQ content creators.
“Advocacy is a powerful lever for real impact,” comments Ashley Arnold, “we’re honored to be giving back this year to a community partner like The Visibility Fund that shares our voice and stands for our mission.” ClexaCon might represent different things for everyone, yet the one common thread for all remains its unique ability to bind us all together as one big family and organically impart a sense of solidarity and empowerment. At its core, it stands as an international convention that fundamentally exists to remind LGBTQ+ women, as Commander Lexa would say, that “your fight is not over.”
For More Information go to: www.Clexacon.com TOP
the events, the women had to meet and work RADICALESBIANS together. Weekly meetings of GLF women became Excerpt from In Search of routine. This provided a fine opportunity to work collectively and to get to know one another. At Stonewall the same time, something else was happening. By Ellen Shumsky Some GLF women, together with feminists from the Women’s Liberation Movement, had hat follows is formed a consciousness-raising group. Out of drawn from the these meetings, two major accomplishments newly published materialized: the writing of the lesbian feminist book In Search manifesto, “The Woman Identified Woman”; and of Stonewall, a a plan to confront the issue of lesbianism at the collection of essays National Organization for Women (NOW)’s 2nd commemorating the 25th anniversary of The Congress to Unite Women. Gay & Lesbian Review. The piece by Ellen Shumsky, “The Radicalesbians,” documents the At the Congress, held on May 1, 1970, twenty Wfounding of this lesbian feminist organization women wearing lavender T-shirts stenciled with in 1970. This excerpt describes the historical “lavender menace” liberated the microphone background to this undertaking a year after the from the line-up of planned speakers and Stonewall Riots. The piece goes on to describe initiated a forum on why lesbianism was the how the group came together, its goals and most threatening and most avoided issue in the accomplishments, internal discontents, and Women’s Movement. The entire audience of ultimate dissolution. 400 women related to the topic of lesbianism through their own personal experiences and RADICALESBIANS began during the dreary feelings. This was followed by two days of months of the dying winter of 1970. A nucleus workshops attended by more than 200 women. of Gay Liberation Front women, with a growing The paper “The Woman Identified Woman” was women’s consciousness, began to feel the distributed. Our resolutions became part of the need for an all-women’s GLF dance. They had report of the conference: “Women’s liberation previously been working on and attending GLF is a lesbian plot. We are all lesbian.” Instead of dances, which were overwhelmingly attended purging lesbians from the Women’s Movement, by males. The oppressive atmosphere was a we will proudly own and assert the woman- simulated gay men’s bar—an overcrowded, identified woman in all of us. dimly lit room where most human contact was limited to groping and dry fucking, packed The aftermath of the congress coup is not so well together subway rush-hour style. known. We called for consciousness, raising groups, and fifty interested women met the Earlier attempts by women and some men to call. Four groups were set up, with new women create an ambiance that encouraged group from the NOW Congress and Lavender Menace dancing and space for conversation were lesbians participating in each group. Many nullified by the “pack-’em-in” attitude of the GLF of the women in these groups were straight- men running the dances. There were so many identified women who wanted to confront the men at each event that the women felt lost to issue of lesbianism and perhaps the lesbian in each other. It was intolerable to many, but the themselves. A very large majority turned out women put up with it, hoping it would change. to be active lesbians, latent lesbians, closeted Finally, when it became obvious it was only lesbians, one-beautiful-experience lesbians, growing worse as the weather grew warmer, freaked-out lesbians, spaced-out lesbians. From GLF women decided to have an all-women’s the ranks of the Women’s Liberation Movement dance. they responded.
This first dance was a great success: an Ellen Shumsky is a lesbian feminist activist, environment of women—rapping, drinking, photographer, psychoanalytic teacher, dancing, relating with fluidity and grace—was psychotherapist, supervisor, and writer. a new and beautiful phenomenon. That dance —Used by permission https://glreview.org was followed by several more. Besides enjoying TOP
DIANE OLSON OBITUARY Champion of marriage equality passes at 65
iane Olson, wife of Robin couple, agreed to take their case and represent was Botswana, Africa. Tyler, the first lesbian them pro bono. plaintiffs, through their In 2012 Diane developed lung cancer that attorney Gloria Allred, to file Diane was raised in Beverly Hills, and for 4 metastasized into brain cancer in 2016. After the successful lawsuit that years Robin and Diane went to the Beverly treatment, they continued to participate in LGBT brought marriage equality to Hills courthouse with other activists during politics, and travel the world until the couple’s California, passed away on January 16, 2019, Valentine’s week to demand a marriage license last yearly visit to Cancun in Oct. 2018. as a result of brain cancer. prior to Allred’s filing the suit on February 23, 2004. On June 16,2008, media from all over Diane died peacefully surrounded by her family, DOlson was the granddaughter of Gov. Culbert the world carried their wedding in front of the her sister Debra Deanne Olson, and her nieces, Levy Olson, the first elected Democratic Beverly Hills Courthouse, surrounded by their Chrysta Olson Bilton, and Kaitlyn Diane Olson, Governor of California, who ran on the platform families, friends and attorneys, including her best friend Kathy Refaely, and their Rabbi ‘separation of Church and State.’ The couple Gloria Allred. Denise Eger, who married them in front of the was the first to be allowed to marry in Los courthouse in a Jewish ceremony despite the Angeles County, because they were the first to Canadian born Robin Tyler had been a feedback from some in the movement who file suit in California, challenging the law which national lesbian activist, producer and comic. felt a ‘religious’ ceremony would offend the denied same-sex couples the right to marry. Olson joined Tyler’s 5-star International Tour opposition. Company for lesbians and for 20 years they Robin and Diane decided to take legal action traveled around the world. Whether stepping At the time of her death, Diane and Robin had because Robin was retiring from AFTRA and among seals in the Galapagos, posing with king been married over 25 years, legally married for the union would not extend medical benefits penguins in Antarctica, swimming with a baby 10½. to the couple after retirement as they were not elephant in Thailand, or getting close to the ‘married.’ Attorney Gloria Allred, a friend of the wildlife everywhere, Diane’s favorite place to go TOP Alice Derock is cranking up the volume on her unwavering commitment to focus on women empowerment and push forth her enduring message of solidarity and community building by giving back. With that in mind, a portion of the proceeds generated from the sales of the RockHer from January 15 through February 14 will be donated to the Los Angeles LGBT Center. “It is important for me to have Wet For Her support the lesbian community,” says Alice Derock, “ I am proud to team up with the Los Angeles LGBT Center this year as it celebrates its milestone 50th anniversary. It’s important to live in a world where LGBT people thrive as healthy, equal and complete members of society. This partnership is about giving back to our community and help to shape a future with equal rights!”
As one of the primary novelty sex-toy brands THE ROCKHER ™ for the worldwide lesbian community, Wet For For queer female couples this Valentine’s Day Her not only speaks to the lesbian market with high-end products that are 100 % silicone and By Mona Elyafi phthalate free, but also has successfully come to represent lesbian sexuality in an elegant and or Valentine’s day, Wet For Her The textured bulb of the RockHer can be classy way with tools of love from the land of ™, the innovative lesbian pleasure inserted for g-spot stimulation, leaving the love: France ... ooh la la! product, designers and online flexible vibrating ring positioned against the retailers are proud to present their vulva so both partners can enjoy and share in latest creation, the RockHer ™. the pleasurable sensation. This versatile toy can also be used in reverse where the ring Forget about the boring hand lotion, mushy can be inserted, and the bulb remains on the cards, flowers or yet another scented candle. outside pressing directly on the clitoris. This It’s time to stir things up with a unique and new position is ideal to help create contact between Flesbian sex toy for your special someone. partners when they are less flexible and have some space between them. Created especially and exclusively for female couples, the RockHer is the first ever luxury adult The RockHer is small yet powerful with 10 toy that allows the female clitoris erotic zones vibration modes. Made from 100% high-quality to touch and stimulate together simultaneously, medical grade silicone and phthalate-free, it’s hands-free and activated with remote control. recommended to use a water-based lubricant The unique and clever design offers a completely with the RockHer. The RockHer is conveniently different experience to penetrative products USB rechargeable and comes with wireless in a variety of positions such as scissoring, remote control. Running time for the RockHer missionary, cowgirl and more. is 60 minutes. It is splash proof and suitable for use in the shower, but not for full water For further information on Wet For Her ™, “I was always looking for that perfect product submergence. please visit www.wetforher.com and follow @ that I could use with my partner, that was not WetForHer penetrative. After much research and the lack The RockHer retails at $74.95 USD and is only of finding something suitable, I was inspired to available to purchase here. An instruction video For further press information images or to create the RockHer. We created a truly innovative is available to view via the above links. request an interview with Alice Derock, please scissoring product and I am so excited to now contact Mona Elyafi: be able to offer this to other women that may Get ready to rock her world! Mona@ILDKMedia (323) 363-5333 be looking for something new!”—Alice Derock, Creator of RockHer Leading the way and making a difference for both the LGBTQ+ community and women in general, TOP
MoviesEyeC
THE WEDDING RING A beautiful peek at romance in Niger By LN Staff
he first ever entry to the Foreign generation of empowered women in touch with Director: Rahmatou Keïta Language Oscar® category their hopes and desires. Producers: Maryam Keïta from the Republic of Niger, Rahmatou Keïta’s The Wedding The gorgeous and colorful locations act as a Principal Cast: Magaajyia Silberfeld, Salamatou Ring is a visually stunning beautiful background as Keïta paints a picture Kimba Farinwata, Harouna Amoud, Yazi Dogo, exploration of a traditional Sub- of relationships between men and women in the Ali Nuhu, Mariam Kaba Saharan Muslim society. Sahel by having her lead interact with different Cinematographers: Philippe Radoux-Bazzini women who will share their experience on love, Tiyaa returns home to the Sultanate of marriage and divorce. Editor: Camille Cotte TDamagaran during her winter break. There she Music: Ali Johnny Ma.ga, Philippe Miller awaits an official marriage proposal from man In competition for the FIPRESCI Award. she fell in love with in France, who happens Screenwriter: Rahmatou Keïta to be from an equally prestigious family in a The Wedding Ring was released in 2016 from Primary Company: Sonrhay Empire Productions neighboring region. As she waits, she struggles Niger under its original language title Zin’naariyá! at getting back to her life, overwhelmed by a multitude of feelings and the uncertainty of her future. Tiyaa (Magaajyia Silberfeld, the director’s daughter) perfectly embodies a new TOP
Notes From Nat
GNASH AND YUNG BABY TATE Two new rap artists introduce a gentler, more reflective sound. By Nat Burns
t appears that 2019 might be ushering in There’s a new talented voice emerging that a new type of rap music. Guns, poverty, The original artists such as early Eminem, seems to address these fears and insecurities violence and misogyny have taken a back Notorious B.I.G., Tupac, Lil Wayne, Busta with sterling aptitude. Gnash is called a rap artist, seat and a new, more mellow chant has Rhymes and Nas started the ball rolling with but he is so much more. Born twenty-six years started driving the bus. anger rap, then Snoop Dogg came in with some ago, this performer, DJ and music producer was humorous weed rap. Then we have the crossover born as Garrett Charles Nash in Los Angeles. Rap was born on the streets of New York and artists, such as LL Cool J, who commercialized His parents are in the entertainment industry, so the lyrics focused on turf wars, racism, drive- their rap for TV and movie promotion. it is no surprise that he followed in this direction, by shootings, drugs, rowdy sex and protecting especially when, in 2015, after a bad breakup, Ithose you loved. Today’s softer rap has gone the So, with Gangsta rap morphing into justice- he wrote a song called “I Hate U, I Love U” way of, well, still rowdy sex. but making millions based rap and later conscience rap which has which took off in popularity. It ended up being and flying around the world in big jets in order turned into anti-rap, poking fun at itself using nominated as the best breakup song of the year to spend those millions. Rap used to rail against artists such as Lil Dicky, we are now seeing at the 2017 Radio Disney Music Awards. consumerism, being a true counterculture, but yet one more aspect of rap. It’s more personal, today’s rap has fully embraced shopping as inward facing, less consumerism based and “I Hate U, I Love U”, featuring Olivia O’Brien– a sport, especially as the artists make insane dealing with often painful issues that are part of https://youtu.be/BiQIc7fG9pA amounts of money due to the popularity of their the human condition. albums. This year Gnash released his first studio album, called We, following his earlier, very popular EPs titled Me, U and Us. It’s a fine, pensive album, full of heartbreak and queries about life. Yet, it’s not maudlin at all, whether from the persistent rap beat underlying the songs, Gnash’s upbeat voice or his demeanor in the videos.
Some favorites from We:
“Happy Never After”— https://youtu. be/7owf0BUZzJU
“Dear Insecurity”, featuring Ben Abraham– https://youtu.be/ZieN26Ks8yo
“Imagine If”– https://youtu.be/KZajFdzT--Q
This month, Gnash, joined by Mallrat, Guardin, and Carlie Hanson, begins the nationwide The Broken Hearts Club Tour, using the tagline Where the lonely, make the lonely, feel less lonely.
© 2018 Atlantic Records http://www.gnash.us
Another rap artist following in this same modality is Yung Baby Tate, the young, twenty-one- year-old daughter of Dionne Farris of Arrested Development (the band).
This Atlanta-based singer/songwriter and producer, born Tate Farris, states that she created the rap persona of Yung Baby Tate when just thirteen years old but that she has been performing since she was six. Her debut EP, ROYGBIV, was in 2015 and she has since released a second EP, YBTXMAS and in 2018, the BOYS a n d Summer Love EPs. Recently, she released “That Girl” a single from her upcoming studio album, GIRLS, slated for release later this year.
That Girl”— https://youtu.be/gxIo8ZKjrwQ
Her work, a sort of edgy pop-rap, is certainly intriguing. Here are more examples.
“Orange”— https://youtu.be/GeZMywFZ1Ik
“Beckham”— https://youtu.be/UKBWMKciAWU
“Bob”— https://youtu.be/ZbfFLviVbfU And her newest release, “Back Up”— www. thefader.com/2018/05/22/yung-baby-tate-back- up-video-premiere
I definitely see the mellowing of rap music and I have to say, it’s a case of adapt or die. The entertainment of the 2000s is wider and more varied than ever before. There’s a place for anger and angst but certainly lots more room for change.
© 2018 Yung Baby Tate
Just for fun, here’s a little Lil Dicky. Enjoy.
“$ave Dat Money” featuring Fetty Wap and Rich Homie Quan— https://youtu.be/yvHYWD29ZNY
Always remember, if the links won’t open, copy and paste them into your browser.
‘Til next month—
Nat
TOP Spirituality
YOU CAN DO IT! By Dina Evan, PhD
As you reflect on the first month of this new year, how do you feel about the relationship you have with yourself right now? Have you made any progress towards a specific goal you want to accomplish? If you are struggling, remember, just one step forward a day is all it takes to move closer to becoming the person you want to be. Be patient with yourself and be filled with gratitude. You can do it!
TOP
Words that Make Sense
BIRTHDAYS ARE WAKE UP CALLS Another year, another birthday. Time to check up on accomplishments. By Toni Hart
t’s hard to believe a new year has rolled older woman? She does look familiar. Then I kids, makes me feel that my time isn’t wasted. around already. Where does the time go? dab a bit of makeup here and there and console If they notice that I’m getting old, they’re too Another 360 days have gone by and I’m myself that oh…I don’t look too bad for a lady polite to say anything… “bless ‘em.” not sure I’ve completed all the plans I had of my vintage. If I was a fine wine, I would be for 2018. WOW! Now it’s 2019! I’ll need delicious by now. However, my bones crunch They write me adorable letters about how happy to get a head start on tasks I’ve written and my knees hurt when I walk, but all in all, it’s they are when I come to read to their class. down to be accomplished in this new year. not such a bad journey. At least I can eat all the And…you know what…no one’s happier than I chocolate I want and no one cares (except of am to be there. No matter how old I get, I hope Since my birthday is in January, it’s also time to course the owner of the chocolate). I can work with kids for a long, long time. Keeps Iface another birthday. Oh, don’t get me wrong… me feeling young! I love celebrations and parties and cards and I’ve given up driving because I have numbness good wishes. However, the thought of gaining in my feet and I felt I was driving too slow for Getting old isn’t really too bad, except when another year under my belt is daunting at best. those honkers in the back and didn’t want you have to decide what to make for dinner. My And this is a BIG Birthday for me! The years are anyone taking potshots at me. This doesn’t dear spouse of almost 67 years passed away going by like “gangbusters.” I certainly don’t feel cause too many problems because I have found last year, so food only has to be what I like and “that old,” but the years don’t lie… I am getting great transportation to take me when and where usually for my dinner, a bowl of canned soup will up there. In several groups that I belong to, I am I want to go. suffice. The TV is also a good friend and books the “elder stateswoman.” Luckily, I have older and magazines are often lifesavers to get into friends here and there in other groups I attend. I walk with a walker that’s lightweight and easy and remain interested in. Hopefully, you will live But let’s face it… old is old! to put into my friend’s cars and am so grateful to a long and prosperous life too. So… live each have loving friends who put up with me. I still do day and live life to the fullest. It’s the best way I look in the mirror now and sometimes wonder volunteer work because that makes me happy to enjoy the years as they rush by.
who that is looking back at me. Do I know that and useful and because I’m working with school TOP VISIT SITE Queerly Questioning
HOLD ME IN TRANSGRESSIVE LOVE How could I not giggle at the lady’s confusion? By Juno Parrenas
am sitting in the darkness of the cinema. This film is an homage to the Belle Époque, I am temporarily escaping into the fin de with all its sapphic, gender-inverting New Technically, de Morny is played by Denise siècle finery of the excellent costume Womanhood. One scene involving Colette and Gough, so the answer would be yes. But there’s drama Colette. The details of the time are her love interest, Missy de Morny, is suddenly another question at stake in that audience so accurate. Colette is wearing culottes interrupted by a loud and confused whisper, “Is member’s confusion: What do we call our as part of her cycling outfit. that a woman?” ancestors, the ones born as women, who dared to wear men’s clothes and who won the hearts At the age of thirty-nine, I happen to be the This scene happens well after the characters’ of their female lovers? youngest person in the audience by at least a hot sex scene. How could I not giggle at the Igood twenty years. The audience is mostly baby lady’s confusion? I add it to the list of funny The credits of the film include a transgender boomers taking their elderly mothers to the moments in the film in which I am the only person consultant. In one scene, Colette’s awful movies. I don’t know what these elderly ladies laughing. But that audience member’s question husband speaks about her lover to Colette and thought of the generation that preceded them. in some ways is actually a trick question. she corrects his use of pronouns, saying “he.” This scene is surely a source of identification for throughout are “she” and she is described as anyone familiar with misgendering. But would an “androgyne.” Using feminine pronouns for de such a correction of pronouns have happened? Morny is not about imposing a gender binary on someone who so clearly disrupts them. Indeed, Saying yes would ignore the details of the Kadji Amin finds that Colette’s description of historical record. This is a common thing to Le Chevalière’s “seraphic suffering” is akin to do. Even The LN back in July 2016 in their what people today think of as the “transgender Flashback Friday series describes Missy as a tragic.” As Kadji Amin says, “The transgender “masculine lesbian who later became a proto- tragic names the curse of Colette’s androgyne, transsexual” and includes the claim that Missy who, in a binary gendered social world, is de Morny underwent a hysterectomy. always elsewhere, out of place and out of time, searching for something not yet or no longer But it seems that such a surgical intervention present.” never happened: The scholar Kadji Amin writes in the academic journal L’Espirit Créateur that Any biopic makes a decision about what to an unreliable source made that allegation only highlight and what to ignore. Thankfully, the film once and it was never verified. Instead of trying Colette does not dwell on “seraphic suffering.” It to quench what Amin describes as a “thirst to instead holds us viewers in the delicious escape legitimate contemporary transsexual identity by of transgressive love. That element might have finding transsexuality in history,” Amin closely gotten past my other audience members! reads Colette’s writings.
A close reading of Colette’s writings points out that the answer is no. The character Le Chevalière is based on de Morny and the pronouns used TOP
Queerly Questioning Positive Reflections
PURCHASING A DOG Knowing where to purchase a dog is extremely important. By Dian Katz, MS
ometimes, a valuable lesson I wanted. The pups were anywhere from $2,000 before she sold the pup to another buyer. I even needs to be shared. Although to $5,000. That’s insane!!! I tried pet stores and threw in an extra $50 for her to hold it for me. it was a stressful lesson for still had no luck. So I looked on Craigslist, a My friend and I drove the two hours through me, I’d like to share it with you. free online marketplace to sell things, and little downpours, lightning, and traffic. It was like Mr. It’s in regard to the dangers of did I know about the dangers of purchasing Toad’s Wild Ride, but I was determined to get where to purchase a new dog. dogs here. An ad for a puppy caught my eye. In that puppy. After sharing my story in a private Facebook the ad, there were two gorgeous pups for sale. Chihuahua group, I discovered there are some I was vulnerable, inexperienced, and falling We made it to the meeting spot in front of a who are also clueless about where and how to in love with one of the pups, and so I texted restaurant. I gave the lady my money and she Sbuy. Members encouraged me to pass the story the lady from the ad. Out of the two pups, one, handed over the sweetest, tiniest little thing along so here it goes. in particular, tugged at my heartstrings. The I have ever seen. The puppy was even more location was about a two-hour drive. It was the beautiful in person than she was in the ad. The I wanted a Chihuahua. I had adopted one at age work week and there were really bad rainstorms, lady said the eight-week puppy got her first set seven and was madly in love with her. Sadly, and so I couldn’t just pop over to see the dog. of shots but she had no papers. She said this she passed away to cancer last year. The pain was because she gave the shots herself. Silly of losing her was horrible but that’s another A day passed and I contacted the lady again. me that I believed her. We made it back home column. So I decided to get a puppy. I had never She said one puppy was sold but there was still safely and I loved up that baby doggy like there had a puppy before. one left. I crossed my fingers it was the puppy was no tomorrow. My mother and I named her. I melted over. It WAS! That was it! I hurried up My family and friends were thrilled and thought I hadn’t known exactly where to start. I first and called a friend to see if she would make she was the cutest thing. Two days later, the looked on rescue sites, but most of the dogs the trek with me. My good friend said yes and little doggy had severe vomiting and diarrhea. were young adults or seniors, and then I looked we were up and on our way. I jumped through A pain shot through my heart. I prayed so hard at dog outlets that strictly sold the type of puppy hoops to pull off meeting this woman on time that my new little doggy isn’t sick. Off to the vet, we went. It was painful because I took my weak miracle baby home, but two My gawd! More meds, more feedings every two going to the vet brought back memories of my days later, she loses consciousness. I didn’t hours, more trying to save her life. terminally ill dog I had just put down only a few know what happened. Back to the vet, we went. months earlier. So a little post-traumatic stress The vet said that she was in a hypoglycemic Little miracle baby made it through this disorder set in. A vet tech asked me to hold my pup coma. They revived her and gave her fluids and as well. It has been a long journey to health for while he took a fecal test. So I did and without shots. We spent the day in the hospital again. this pup and hopefully, she will keep fighting. being too gentle, the tech pushed something up BUT pooch was saved again. Vets, hospitals, She has beaten the odds with three near-death this tiny, tiny 1 lb pup’s rear. Puppy screamed bills, and exhaustion—because my damn heart experiences. bloody murder, and so did I! My new dog had skipped a beat over a puppy face in a newspaper. clamped onto my hand, putting her sharp tooth Meanwhile, my own personal doctor said to get Unfortunately, my lesson about backyard right through my finger. She wouldn’t let go and to her office immediately. I was given a Tetanus breeders and where to buy a dog was a painful it was excruciating! shot and 10 days of antibiotics. Ugh!!! What a one. I was pretty hard on myself about making nightmare! this mistake. BUT, many fellow dog lovers told As if my bloody finger wasn’t enough, 20 minutes me to not be so hard on myself. They said if later, my worst fears were realized. SHE HAS Puppy came home but we were advised to feed I hadn’t taken the pup at that time, she would PARVO. They told me there was a 50/50 chance her every two hours, indefinitely. My mother have surely died then. We certainly can’t stop they could save her from this deadly virus. Also, helped out. We took shifts so we both could these terrible breeders and puppy mills who she’s not eight weeks old, but more like five get a little rest in between me working Monday couldn’t care less about animals. All they care weeks, and so the chances weren’t the greatest through Friday. Serious sleep deprivation set about is the money. However, what we can to save her. But I had to make a choice. My in but it was all worth it. Sadly, little puppy do is be very careful when falling for ads in motto has always been, “go big or go home.” continued to have diarrhea, and so back to the free newspapers. We also shouldn’t purchase So I said yes to hospitalizing her. Four days in vet, we went. They drew blood and got feces animals from breeders who have no paperwork the hospital and my little warrior survived. They and sent it off to the lab. Due to a glitch, I didn’t on the pet. That’s a big red flag as well. And said with her size and age, it was truly a miracle. get results back for over a week later. I then finally, when we discover someone doing this to Positive Reflections found out that my poor puppy was also suffering animals, report them immediately. But the story doesn’t end here. from Coccidia. What’s that? Some intestinal problem, which tiny puppies can also die from.
TOP Dyke Musing
ONE SMASHING ROSE By Sue Moore with little guile or subtlety oh rose There are no pastel nuances adorns my desk your crimson me in your lush flame trumpets out you curl my edges you crush ambiguity and greyness unblushing, scarlet-petalled proclamations you make me blush from my pain. over my grey and dusty crinckle satiny inside scarcity. with your amorous
unabashed and blatant
ecstacy.
TOP Dyke Musing HotSpots
LOVELY FEBRUARY HOTSPOTS It’s time for a romantic month. By Dian Katz, MS hisper sweet strawberries!” There will also be great and the Lords Chamber and learn about gay nothings in my ear. entertainment along with dancing and more. Did rights in the UK.” Send me some they just say chocolate dipped strawberries? little heart candies. Forget the romance
This evening is put on by the one and only “Discover the mother of all parliaments from an At the conference, the HRC Foundation is slated Club Skirts with Wet for Her, Lezathlon, and LGBT perspective. The UK has the distinction of to honor Judy and Dennis Shepard. These two Addictedtolove with Cali and Divine. Cruise being the longest running unbroken democracy have been helping the LGBTQ community for along the Newport Bay sipping on “champagne, in the world. You’ll discover the stories of decades after the tragic loss of their son Matthew. fresh hors d’oeuvres and chocolate dipped England’s medieval kings, visit the Commons “With the horrific murder of their son, Matthew,
HotSpots 20 years ago, Judy and Dennis chose to bravely For more info on NAMM or She Rocks, beat that rise up and confront the hate and violence that drum and go to https://www.namm.org plagues our country by establishing a foundation in their son’s name. They have since dedicated REELOUT their lives to working to create a world where no LGBTQ or other marginalized person has Ladies of Canada, you, Ontario gals, need a to live in fear,” says HRC’s Acting Senior Vice Hotspot too!!! How about attending REELOUT, President, Jay Brown. Kingston’s queer film and video festival this month, which started January 31 and runs I salute these two. They have done some through February 14. wonderful advocacy for all of us. There will also be plenty of other information presented at this There will be some fabulous flicks to watch. Put conference. your feet up… well not really because you might kick the lady sitting in front of you. What I’m For more info, confer with your friends and visit trying to say is relax and enjoy a good LGBT http://timetothrive.org film or video. Now how fun is that!!!
SHE ROCKS AWARDS/NAMM SHOW For more info and to have a reeeeel good time… get it? “reel” Ah forget it! Ack! For more I want you to know that I just attended the SHE information, reel over to the computer and visit ROCKS AWARDS for the NAMM SHOW. The https://www.reelout.com NAMM Show or National Association for Music Merchants hosts a music industry convention SYDNEY GAY AND LESBIAN MARDI GRAS show several times a year. It’s not open to the public, but those who get to attend get to see Perhaps you want to party it up the way an all the new musical products, fashion, social Australian women do down under. In this case, media, and more that are coming out this year. head over to the SYDNEY GAY AND LESBIAN It’s pretty exciting for business owners and MARDI GRAS on February 15 to March 3. musicians. During the four-day convention, there are after parties and music jams that a Oh boy, it’s going to be some celebration!!! lot of NAMM attendees go to. One of them is There will be all sorts of dances planned, a fair the SHE ROCKS AWARDS which is based on day, a parade, and so much more. I mean who women in the music industry. Now of course you wouldn’t want to engage in a little Mardi Gras can probably see why moi would love this show. action with those hot, hot, Australian ladies??? I’m a musician in addition to your LN Reporter Are you kidding me! They can talk to me any and LN Entertainment Editor, and of course, a time. I’ll be out back ladies… hahaha... get supporter of women! I love watching all of the it? Out back? I’ll just be hanging out with a women receive their awards and walk down the kangaroo… Oh sure, I bet saying that will get red carpet. Pretty cool event. Both NAMM and me a lot of attention. NOT! Anyway, don’t miss SHE ROCKS do a lot for the music world. out on this Hotspot happening in the area.
“We envision a world in which the joy of making For more info, put your big panties, your party music is a precious element of daily living for hat, and whatever else rocks your boat on and everyone; a world in which every child has a go to http://www.mardigras.org.au deep desire to learn music and a recognized right to be taught; and in which every adult is From conferences to film festivals and Mardi a passionate champion and defender of that Gras celebrations, Hotspots are all around the right,” says NAMM. world, and so is romance. So have yourself a lovely romantic month. And if you’re not into that “The She Rocks Awards pays tribute to women sort of thing, aka romance, just have a great who display leadership and stand out within the time at a local Hotspot ya knuckleheads! music and audio industry. It is a premier event during the NAMM Show, bringing together industry professionals, music icons, artists, fans and the media,” says She Rocks. TOP
Poetry
TO STEPHANIE By Reba Birmingham
I’ve spent time on Ganymede There are others out there On earth I am the middle seat
Happily twirling in your orbit Extant against all odds, in the void The plus one
Your expansive personality drawing Whirling darkly The carrier of beach contraptions
Me to your party Cold and dangerous Content in my
I am your special one A counterweight to our happiness Private universe as
Caught in your magnetic field We dodge them with our love Long as it includes you.
Always hoping for millennia and then A buffer to the misinformed. This secret happiness requires
Trusting the creator will give us a No one’s permission
Next chapter in the stars Like the sun, the moon, and the stars
It simply is.
TOP Poetry Femastrology
FEBRUARY 2019 By Astrologer and Psychic, Victoria Bearden
ebruary 2019 starts out with a into a 7-year stint in Taurus starting next month. is a chance to renew our energy, gather our tension building square between The 29th degree of each zodiac sign is called resources, and begin afresh. Think of it as a warrior planet Mars in Aries and the “critical degree,” and is full of urgency and time to tune in to your inner compass to make iron-handed Pluto in Capricorn. expectation. Think about what you would like sure you are “on course” for the weeks to come. Expect a few days of showdowns to free yourself from as we all head for a new Aquarius relates to group activities, friendships, and clashes, as people test their 7-year cycle. Venus-ruled Taurus is related to networking, and social interaction. The Sun and boundaries with their opponents. Channel both love and money, so you are being granted Moon in Aquarius will line up with messenger frustration that arises into problem solving new opportunities in both departments, if you planet Mercury, enhancing and facilitating all activities if possible. are open to change. important forms of communication. If you want F to open up to new relationships, both business Uranus, the planet of change and revolution, is There’s a New Moon on February 4, 2019 and personal, this New Moon has your back! at the last degree of Aries, getting ready to head at 15 degrees Aquarius. Each New Moon The Aquarius planets line up nicely with abundant Jupiter in Sagittarius, suggesting that the right interactions could lead to many win/ win situations. If you are creating affirmations or setting intentions for this Moon, you may want to include to idea of positive associations with helpful people.
The Year of the Earth Pig arrives with Chinese Lunar New Year falling on February 5, 2019. Pig Years are considered prosperous and productive, as well as socially enjoyable. This interfaces nicely with lucky Jupiter in Sagittarius during most of this year. So, make the best of the potential good fortune and put positive energy towards financial matters. And don’t forget to have a good time! Just remember the big picture this year is still greatly influenced by Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn, which demands practicality. Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security. This year will still require lots preparation and effort if you want to move ahead. Capricorn favors a level-headed, logical, and determined approach. Add these principles to the bountiful possibilities of the Year of the Pig and you’ll be in good shape. Earth Pigs born in 1957 will have an important year.
The Sun goes into Water Sign Pisces on February 18, 2019, heightening our sensitivity, intuition, and compassion. It’s dreamy, romantic, and artsy; an enhancement for all creative endeavors. The watery Pisces Sun blends well with other planets in Earth Signs this month. The Pisces time of year is always a favorable for activities related to spirituality, and healing.
There’s a Full Moon at 0 degrees Virgo on February 19, 2019. Full Moons bring the energies of the preceding weeks to a high point, which can give us great insight and perspective. The Sun in Pisces can shed light on our feelings and intuitions. The Virgo Moon can lead us to realizations about our physical health, our work, and our sense of purpose. Both Pisces and Virgo have a direct link to healing and purification, so affirmations and intentions to amplify that flow will be particularly potent. The Pisces/Virgo polarity is also good for bringing our ideals into alignment with our earthly duties and service to others.
Opportunity Days: February 4, 7, 14, 17, 18, 19, and 27 Aries (March 21-April 19) Leo (July 23-August 22) Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Surround yourself with the right people This is a very favorable month for you if This is a fantastic time to forge ahead and and you’ll push through many barriers this you play your cards right. Use the power take advantage of opportunities. Focus month. You don’t have to go it alone! Burdens of attraction. Concentrate on what you want, not your thoughts and ideas towards worthy goals. from Capricorn planets may have frustrated you, what you don’t want! Don’t let things get under Jupiter is bestowing great favor on you this year, but you’ll be able to make some breakthroughs your skin and definitely don’t sweat the small so don’t the waste the good juju! Get moving. now. This is a favorable time for education, stuff. You will be able to get people on board Knock and the door will open. All you need to travel, and spiritual pursuits. It’s also a good with your ideas at this time, so have a good do is pick a path to walk upon. With a little bit of time to make commitments to work and future pitch and they will listen. Love and romance focus, you should be able to accomplish many goals. The key is interfacing with the friends you are looking good. Single Leos might get a lot things that didn’t seem possible before. Your know, and those you are about to meet! Open up of attention, so put your best foot forward. Mantra: Encouraging your heart and share with others and everyone Pleasurable activities, sports, and fun with kids will benefit. Your Mantra: Group Energy will improve your mood and renew your spirit. Capricorn (December 22-January 19) Your Mantra: Positivity Your time, energy, and money are all Taurus (April 20-May 20) connected. Bring balance to these Dare to dream big dreams. Look at what Virgo (August 23-September 22) important areas and you will be able to take you have created in your outer world. Be Get your internal rhythm into sync. Do advantage of this excellent and advantageous honest with yourself. You’ll be able to see what’s things you know will renew your body, period. Activities that enhance your physical working and what’s not. Then, you’ll know what mind, spirit connection. If you need to really strength will be rewarding. Take on a challenge you want to commit at this time. You are right put your nose to the grindstone with work and if you’ve been slacking off on your exercise on the edge of a whole new set of lessons and projects, make sure you counterbalance the regimen. Be open to new ways to manage your opportunities if you are ready for them. Enjoy effort with things that restore your strength. If money and to create more abundance. Venus the fruits of your labors, but don’t let the grass you know you need to attend to health issues entering your sign this month will lend some grow under your feet. This is a favorable time or are overdue for some healing activities, now romance, creativity, and kindness to your world. for career and goal setting. Your Mantra: is the time. You will get more done if you feel Your Mantra: Open to Receive Commitment grounded and nurtured. Benefit comes from past associations. Your Mantra: Rejuvenate Aquarius (January 20-February 18) Gemini (May 21-June 20) Look in the mirror. Do you like what you Expand beyond your current boundaries. Use Libra (September 23-October 22) see? If you aren’t sure, time to change! positive, not pushy energy to get what you This is a positive time for fun and creativity. This is the time of year for your new start. If want and you will win. This is a favorable Romance and recreation should definitely you’ve been wanting to reinvent yourself in some time for any undertakings that relate to self- be on the menu. You will have lots of new ideas way, there couldn’t be a better time. Embrace discovery and learning. It’s a good time to travel, and will gain insight into things you’ve been the future. Shed your old skin and find your new both physically and mentally. Love, partnership, wondering about. Get ready for some sudden attitude. If you feel a bit of a makeover is in and relationship is enhanced. Single Gemini’s new developments regarding relationships order, go for it. Social and business connections could find “the one.” There is an emphasis on and legal matters. Things are in the process will benefit you, so work those connections. legal matters, which could come out favorably of opening up for you. Matters related to your You may want to join a group that represents a for you now. The only downside could have to home, real estate, and your security should fall cause you believe in. Single Aquarians may find do with old obligations you need to put to rest. into place. Your Mantra: Express Yourself a good match! Your Mantra: New Starts Your Mantra: A New Approach Scorpio (October 23-Novemeber 21) Pisces (February 19-March 20) Cancer (June 21-July 21) Make sure there is a natural order to your Follow your inner guidance. Focus on It’s time to clear your desk of old projects. world. Gather energy by bringing harmony your inner world. Pay attention to your Dump, purge, and let go! If you are so into your environment. Perhaps you need a dreams, feelings, and impressions. Spend some motivated, get rid of a few things you are no different vibe in your living space. Consider time alone in nature, or doing things you find longer using. You will be setting the stage for bringing in some new color, light, or healing spiritually uplifting. You may have been feeling renewal in this way. This could even pertain to objects, like crystals in to your realm. Pay a little emotionally drained or tapped out. It’s outworn relationships and commitments. Find attention to any changes in your health, as you time to recharge your batteries. Get some body your strength and take care of loose ends. may need to alter some of your habits. This is a work or healing if you need it. If you can take a There could be a little drama in your career good time to clear out old energy from the past, little time off to unwind, do so. Doing things that and outer world. If so, tackle it with energy and through therapy or spiritual activities. Money feed your soul will give you renewed inspiration diplomacy. Important new connections are just matters will improve. Your Mantra: Restorative about work and your goals. If you feel motivated on the horizon, so keep that in mind if you need to help someone, make sure they deserve it. to walk away from something. Your Mantra: Your Mantra: Inner Knowing Clearing TOP
LESBIAN NEWS Gift Guide
Toys for Women by
Wine by
Narinee Jewelry by
... and more! © Anphotos | Dreamstime.com ORDER NOW
ORDER NOW Click on each product Norinee from for more information
Thai Glamour $59.99 Violet Bow $72.99 Crimson Lady $49.99
Be Spectacular 42.99 Chiang Rai Rose $55.99 Butterfly Dance $39.99
Sunlight Trio $42.99 Frozen Feathers $39.99 Sinuous Serpents $57.99 The Company: Novica.com is an online Fair I have a special fascination for marcasite jewelry. Trade marketplace filled with handmade and I think it has its own unique value because the handcrafted artisan products that range from stones allow me to create and design thousands jewelry and apparel to home décor. Every of patterns. It is truly a must for the jewelry Novica product is a Gift That Gives Back. lover, especially when it is designed delicately and neatly, featuring the small black glitter of Since 1999, we have sent over 50 million dollars marcasite all over. It really looks great on one’s to artisans in: the Andes, Bali & Java, Brazil, body. Central American, India, Mexico, Thailand and West Africa. I am learning to combine the two. I have worked with Novica for over four years. Today I am able to take care of my parents and It has changed my life – I can share my designs myself and to provide an income for the artisans around the world. I never dreamed when I began that work with me. to work with Novica that so much opportunity would come to me. To share my work with the The Artisan - Narinee: I am Narinee a jewelry readers of The Lesbian News is a dream come artisan from Chiang Mai, Thailand. I love to see true. a woman wearing my jewelry – especially my earrings. Did you know that in Asia earrings I do not consider myself a businesswoman – I symbolize strength and some people regard am an artist and I am learning to combine the earrings as fetishes that tell of their individual two. Today I am able to take care of my parents personalities and identities? and myself and to provide an income for the artisans that work with me. Rose Masterpol Gallery Rose Masterpol Gallery n her work of the past three years Rose models, and their influence is readily apparent. examples of De Kooning, Picasso, et al, as just Masterpol has been oscillating between Masterpol recapitulates that influence with that – examples of spirit, more important to a drawn line, animated by color as well remarkable intelligence and sensitivity: these her for their attitude than for their manner. She as its own flagellating trail, and a more are genuine, unabashed Abstract Expressionist has learned from them, for instance, to pace painterly stroke that provides given works right down to their Surrealist reliance on herself across a visual field – but the pace she expanses with texture as well as hue. The the impulsive mark and their Cubist articulation maintains is entirely her own. She has learned drawn line assumes a rhythmic animation akin of space. to segue strategically from color to color rather to graffiti writing and on occasion even cartoon than simply dump paint in various areas – but caricature, seeming almost choreographed. The irony is that Masterpol’s more “historic” the colors result from her own perception, and IHere Masterpol, deliberately or not, proposes painting is, if anything, less studied than her her segues embody her own sensibility. With a translation of hip-hop and other urban dance more “contemporary” work. When she responds every lesson learned, Masterpol finds herself into non-objective painting, perhaps even a kind to the bold moves and bright contrasts of more profoundly as a painter. of notation; certainly, she is re-purposing the today’s pop idioms she picks up on their energy of the “street” to painterly effect. stylizations no less than on their power; she Rose Masterpol would seem to be two painters in reflects the fact that, even while they depend one. In fact, she is one painter paying attention That level of energy carries over into Masterpol’s on boundless invention, the popular arts allow to two modes of expression. Both those modes larger, even more ambitious canvases; but in their artists limited freedom. Like any good pop are urgent and convincing, and she responds to these, she puts aside the self-conscious project artist, Masterpol capitalizes on such restraint by both with insight, conviction, and unmistakable of contemporary reflection and allows herself playing off it, letting restricted modality amplify personality. Those two modes would seem to the luxury of pure painting. If the “drawn” her inventiveness. For truly liberated painting, have little to say to each other; but, like someone paintings manifest a vigorous but studied however, she turns to a tradition of liberty that brought up bi-lingually, Masterpol speaks both response to pop culture, the “painted” paintings she can only inherit from fellow painters. In this with poetic fluency and effortless translation, embody Masterpol’s equally fervent but entirely regard, Masterpol proceeds in the wake of her finding – and building – vivid connections spontaneous response to artists who have come influences with voluble confidence, studying and between them. before her. She cites Joan Mitchell, Pollock, “feeling” rather than simply imitating their imagery De Kooning, Kline, Gorky, and Motherwell as or their method. Indeed, she comprehends the Twisted Roots Vineyard
Happy New Year! Well we are officially into the and cannot be done by machine. Ross, who end up killing the old vines. While only 4 acres New Year and that means a fresh new start, with spent his entire life on the vineyard and learned remain of the original vineyard from 1918, we new goals and expectations of what is ahead from his father on how to properly prune our always struggle with wanting to maximize the of us this year. Well the vineyards of Twisted vines, so that just the right amount of grapes number of bottles each year, we always want Roots are no different, we too are eagerly would be produced and the best quality would to protect our family history and want to make awaiting a new start to our growing season. be achieved. sure that the vines are going to be around for Currently the vineyard is pretty bare, so much so the future as well. that one might not see the future as too bright, If we leave too many buds, which means lots given the almost dead look to the vines. This of grapes will be produced, then our wine will So next time you are out and about, and happen time of year, the vines are completely dormant be light and flabby, too few buds and we lose by a vineyard, remember that while it might look and bare, with all the leaves falling off and the tonnage and don’t have enough great wine to like nothing but twigs, there is a lot more going canes all over the place. That being said, this go around. on out there. Someone, somewhere is focused is a very important time of the year, a time that and concerned about how to handle this mess can determine the production and quality of the When it comes to our “1918” Old Vine Zinfandel of twigs. grapes that will ultimately become our 2015 vineyard, the entire situation of pruning changes. vintages. Even though our family has been at As you can see from the picture here, these this for three generations now and almost 100 vines are wild and twisted by their very nature, Cheers, years, it is still the time of year that causes us so pruning becomes very difficult. The key to concern. Pruning is an art of delicate balance; our rich, bold, yet soft flavors in our “1918” Old Josh Ruiz too much will cause small, uneconomical crops; Vine Zinfandel wines, is pruning these vines Co-Owner/Winemaker too little will cause over-cropping and low- so that they don’t over produce and over work quality fruit. Pruning also facilitates cultivation, these old vines. With most of thewood on these disease control and harvesting, when the vines vines being dead and hollow, if we leave the For more info: are trained to a grow in a particular shape. It is same number of buds as the rest of our vines, http://twistedrootsvineyard.orderport.net/wines/ a skill that requires experience and judgment we would end up over working the vines and Current-Releases Susan St. Thomas Gallery
“Stardust Reveries”
An exhibit of celestial abstract art by Susan St. With over 40 years as a professional astrologer, precision painting and loose free flowing washes, Thomas at the Sebastopol Gallery, 150 N Main Susan combines her fascination with the language she integrates avariety of innovative techniques St. Sebastopol, CA 95465. of the stars and her lifelong expression as an to express her imagination. www.sebastopol-gallery.com artist. This collection is inspired by the images 707 829-7200 captured by the Hubble telescope of deep space Reception for the artist plus 14 other gallery – a boundless realm of ever changing form. member artists: October 11, 4-6pm.
Susan uses layered glazes of acrylic to create Free artists talk, “Art and Astrology” at the depth and a dance of light and color, sometimes gallery: October 22, 7pm. mixing media and collage. Capable of both
CONNECT WITH US
Visit our website www.LesbianNews.com
TOP Publisher, Editor in Chief Ella Matthes • LESBIAN NEWS Assistant Publisher Gladi Adams, PhD Board Members • Gladi AdamsPhD, Sherri Davison, Entertainment Editor Carl Matthes, Lee Werbel Dian Katz • LESBIAN NEWS Film Editor P.O. Box 55 John Esther Torrance, CA 90507 • www.LesbianNews.com Music Editor • Nat Burns For Advertising, • (310) 548-9888 Newsbytes [email protected] Gillian Kelly or go online at www.LesbianNews.com • • Travel Editor National Advertising Representative Stephanie Papadakis Rivendell Media • (212) 242-6863 Columnists and Contributors: • Victoria Bearden Editorial Christin Brown Administration Nat Burns LN Editor E-mail: [email protected] Mona de Crinis John Esther Lesbian News (ISSN 0739-1803) is published monthly by Toni Hart LN Publishing, Inc. Contributions of news tips, stories, Morag Hillsinger fiction and photographs are welcome. All submissions Sweet Baby J ‘ai become property of Lesbian News and cannot be returned. Lillian Jensen We reserve the right to refuse any advertising that we Dian Katz, Ashley Kelly deem to be sexually exploitive or offensive. Publication Michele Khordoc of the name or photograph of any person or organization Kelly Lynch in articles or advertising is not to be construed as any Nikki McCauley indication of the sexual orientation of such person or Lynda Montgomery organization. Opinions expressed in Lesbian News are not Kristi Pallino necessarily those of the Publisher or the Editor in Chief. Juno Parrenas, PhD Sally Sheklow Copyright © Lesbian News, 2019. Donna Wade Magazine and/or its contents may not be sold or reproduced Karen Williams in any form whatsoever without the expressed legal consent • of the copyright owner. Circulation and Distribution The Lesbian News logo and “Lesbians on Location” (310) 548-9888 are registered trademarks of Lesbian News.
Jinx Beers Deborah Bergman Founder and Publisher Publisher 1975-1989 1989-1994