LESBIAN NEWS VOL. 44 ∙ NO. 03 ∙ October 2018

MELISSA MCCARTHY OSCAR-WORTHY IN “CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?”

NIK KACY: EQUALITY FASHION WEEK

ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ: GLITTERBOMB

ARIANA GRANDE: SWEETENER 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.astrologervic.com October 2018 CONTENTS

LESBIAN NEWS

COVER STORY MELISSA MCCARTHY Oscar-worthy in Can You Ever Forgive Me? By Joseph F. Nacino

FEATURE

NIK KACY: EQUALITY FASHION WEEK INSIDE LN Queer designer brings to Los Angeles the first ever LGBTQ+ focused fashion week. By Mona Elyafi HOTSPOTS I LOVE OCTOBER

FEMASTROLOGY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ: OCTOBER 2018 GLITTERBOMB Meet the host to bring back the Hollywood glamour and style to television. By Michel Kordoc

A RECIPE FOR LOVE Cooking up a romance By Lucy J. Madison Travel BEST TRAVEL APPS TO DOWNLOAD FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP Apps to make travel safer, easier, and cheaper By Wyxie Carolina

Follow Us Online! LESBIANNEWS.COM LIFESTYLES

MoviesEyeC Let us know MISS IDENTITY ANTAGONIZES what you think. The subject(ion) of “Matangi/Maya/M.I.A.” is not a pop star effigy By John Esther

Notes From Nat ARIANA GRANDE: SWEETENER Her fourth album is yet another amazing brick in her wall of success. By Nat Burns

Book Review THE DADDIES My Lover’s Wounds excerpt By Kimberly Dark

Spirituality CHANGE By Dina Evan, PhD COLUMNS

Words that Make Sense WHY DO WE HAVE TO HATE? “Hating” hurts both the accuser and the target. By Toni Hart

Queerly Questioning VOTE LIKE OUR LIVES DEPEND ON IT Be informed about who to support and who to elect. By Juno Parrenas

Positive Reflections THE WORLD IS FILLED WITH AMBULANCE CHASERS Always seem to be there when the chips are down By Dian Katz, MS

The Essential Queer SOMETHING BAD HAPPENED What it takes for us to love and accept each other By Tami Graham

Dyke Musing SOCIAL WORKER By Sue Moore

MELISSA MCCARTHY Oscar-Worthy in “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” By Joseph F. Nacino

elissa McCarthy has It is this sterling performance that people can agent refused to take her calls and she didn’t been getting noticed see in the film, “Can You Ever Forgive Me.” even have money to have her beloved sick cat in her latest, “Can You Marielle Heller, who helmed the indie-sensation treated at a vet. Ever Forgive Me,” to the “The Diary of a Teenage Girl,” directs the movie. point that some reviews Desperate, she started doing forgeries of think it’s worth awards— letters by famous literary and entertainment and an Academy Award, at the most. LEE ISRAEL: THE ART OF FORGIVENESS personalities like Fanny Brice, Dorothy Parker, AND FORGERY Ernest Hemingway, Noel Coward, and more. (It McCarthy, as a comedian, may be well known is from here that she also gets the title of her Mfor acerbic wit and comedic timing. But what a In this biographical comedy-drama, McCarthy memoir.) lot of people may not know is that in every role plays the real-life biographer Lee Israel (or she’s in, Melissa brings her acting chops to the Leonore Carol Israel), who had once been a Coming up with 400 letters in three years, Israel fore. This, despite the fact that she’s headlined colorful personality in the publishing world in managed to earn a lot of money while also only a few movies (mostly comedy), and the rest the 1990s. stretching her creative muscles. Unfortunately, as part of the supporting cast. the FBI later caught up with her, and she went Having written biographies of screen star on to serve six months under house arrest and This unique combination of acting and comedy Tallulah Bankhead and showbiz reporter Dorothy five years of federal probation. is what helped McCarthy garner two Primetime Kilgallen that were well-received, Israel’s last Emmy Awards and a nomination for Academy book—a biography of Estee Lauder—had been Producer David Yarnell, who was a friend of Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role a miserable failure. Thanks to writer’s block, Israel, was the one who convinced her to write in “Bridesmaids.” everything spiraled downwards such that her her memoir. Ironically, this memoir—which was published by Simon & Schuster in 2008—gained people who were on set felt that McCarthy was in a serious role. After all, she had made a name the literary attention that Israel had longed just breathtaking. for herself in comedies like “Bridesmaids,” “The hoped for. Heat,” and “Spy,” as well as hosting stints for the “[Israel] is such a difficult character, not always comedy TV show “Saturday Night Live.” Thanks Yarnell thought the story could be made into a likable, and the honesty and courage [McCarthy] to the latter, she received an Emmy Award. film, despite Israel not being your usual movie has brought to it is something special,” Nauiokas protagonist. Yarnell convinced Israel, and then noted. However, she also took on a dramatic supporting producers Anne Carey and Amy Nauiokas of role in the film, “St. Vincent,” as a struggling Archer Gray to turn the book into a movie. Yarnell recalled that when he saw McCarthy single mom. In that movie, she showed that she on the set: “She has embodied physically all can be more than just a funny actor. Sadly, Israel didn’t get to see her memoir get of Lee’s nuances, as well as her way of being made into a movie as she died in 2014 from so snarky and wily. She has truly captured her McCarthy said that she was drawn to the myeloma. But Yarnell, Nauiokas, and Carey persona.” character precisely because of role’s inherent continued to champion the story, bringing in dilemma: the challenge to peel the layers off a rising director Heller and actress McCarthy into consciously off-putting surface. Moreover, she the production. MELISSA MCCARTHY: MORE THAN JUST A admitted that she’s nothing like Israel, which SHARP WIT made her try harder to understand Israel. “I believe Melissa has actually channeled the spirit of Lee,” said Nauiokas, adding that a lot of It may be surprising for some to see McCarthy “What I loved most about playing Lee was looking for the redeemable in a person who is perhaps not the easiest person to get along with,” she said.

“Part of what makes Lee so mesmerizing is that she was exactly who she was. Her wit and her bite could come on strong, so it had to be that way,” she explained.

“But I also think it was somewhat of a pose where she acted as if she didn’t care at all about the outside world. So, I was always trying to balance who she really was with how much of her standoffishness was also a defensive maneuver or a bluff,” she explained.

Because of the work McCarthy put into the role, the initial reviews after the movie premiered at this year’s Telluride Film Festival were positive both for the movie and for McCarthy’s acting.

Peter Debruge, writing for Variety Magazine, said: “Dowdy, half-soused, and frowning for nearly the entire running time, McCarthy earns nearly as many laughs playing this curmudgeonly cat lady as she does in her more irrepressible comedic parts.”

“But, of course (and this is why critics love watching cut-ups reveal their more introspective side), it’s the human side of the character that makes this McCarthy’s best performance to date, revealing haunting insights into friendship, loneliness, and creative insecurity. That it does so from a uniquely female perspective is a bonus at this particular moment,” Debrudge noted.

Thanks to this film, Hollywood talk is that not only McCarthy might score another Oscar nomination after “Bridesmaids,” she might actually win this time.

BRINGING A CHARACTER TO LIFE TAKES A VILLAGE

Of course, helping McCarthy to find the right spot in portraying Israel was director Heller in her sophomore work after she made her debut with “The Diary of a Teenage Girl.”

Heller quickly bonded with McCarthy over their mutual fascination with what made Israel tick. She said: “Melissa and I were immediately on the same page about Lee: we were both a little in love with her and we really wanted to pay our due respects.”

“The portrait for both of us came from a place of thinking she was a really intriguing, worthwhile person we see too rarely. We also connected on this idea that part of why Lee almost gets away with her crimes is because nobody’s really looking at her.”

Heller said Israel wasn’t your typical female protagonist: an anti-hero who breaks the long- standing mold of gritty male anti-heroes. She added that this was “a story featuring a woman who is complicated, who is a difficult person, who commits crimes, yet who is also feisty, smart, clever and ambitious, is exciting.”

Also supporting the film were Avenue Q’s Tony Award-winning book writer Jeff Whitty and acclaimed filmmaker Nicole Holofcener, who penned the screenplay. There was also Richard E Grant, who played the gay gadfly, and Israel’s best friend and accomplice, Jack Hock.

There was likewise British actress Dolly Wells, who played Anna, a vintage bookstore owner and aspiring writer who is in awe of Israel but is unsuspecting of the latter’s con. It is through Anna that Israel almost redeems herself.

Heller said of the connection between Anna and Israel: “It’s the most heartbreaking relationship in the story because this woman truly adores Lee and adores her most for her writing.”

“They just can’t quite say or do anything right, but they’re trying, and it’s almost happening, and I found it wrenching but in a lovely kind of way,” Heller added.

Meanwhile, Wells said of McCarthy acting: “It’s such a lovely performance that it makes you sympathetic to Lee, even though she can be so self-absorbed and awkward.”

“The way Melissa brings her to life I felt I could understand her,” she says. “It’s also amazing to me because Melissa could not be more different from Lee—she’s so warm and effusive.”

Altogether, these people buoy up McCarthy to embody one of her most memorable roles to date. Hopefully, we’ll get to see McCarthy getting an Oscar Award by next year for her efforts. TOP

NIK KACY: EQUALITY FASHION WEEK Queer designer brings to Los Angeles the first ever LGBTQ+ focused fashion week. By Mona Elyafi

ik Kacy, Founder and entertainments best and brightest. Committed to The event will showcase the hottest LA- President of a genderfree the LGBTQ+ community, it hosts and partners based couturiers and emerging designers who luxury brand, Nik Kacy with top organizations including the Elton John will sashay their new wave of trendy designs Footwear, is bringing to Aids Foundation and the 2018 Lezathlon LA and hip collections including Sharpe Suiting, Los Angeles the first ever After-Party. Hologram City, Nik Kacy Footwear, Fem/Haus, LGBTQ+-focused Fashion Lior Boroda, Dapper Boi and Stuzo Clothing. Week, Equality Fashion Week. Kacy is producing a non-traditional event that is breaking all the rules and defying conventional Kacy’s motive behind Equality Fashion Week is Equality Fashion Week is celebrating the Queer standards - particularly when it comes to models’ to create a fashion show that would not only NFashion Community in all its colorful spectrums shapes and sizes. show off designers’ latest creations but also in a 5-day experience of LGBTQ+ artists and provide a platform for the community to become designers including pop-up meet-n-greets & The event is dispelling the myth of “appropriate aware of the designers. fashion displays. body types” as well as gender identity. Models will also include trans and non-binary individuals We caught up with Nik Kacy to get the scoop Kicking off the festivities on Friday, October as well as people of color. about the groundbreaking event. 5—a day before the commencement of LAFW —Equality Fashion Week will officially present With the endeavor to create a morally its exclusive Fashion Show hosted by Carmen accountable fashion week, Kacy is rallying Lesbian News: What is the motivation behind Carrera on the rooftop of the trendy Montrose fashion enthusiasts, designers and industry this first LA queer fashion event? Hotel. reps around the trans issue, partnering with TransLatina Coalition. Nik Kacy: Queer Fashion has been at the The iconic hotel is the home away from home for forefront of innovation and design throughout fashion history. focus all the talent on local people in Southern the rebranding, they also wanted to become California. more inclusive and give back to the LGBTQ Mainstream has been taking our influences community—a community that they have been and creations as its own, often times leaving LN: The fashion industry is already known to surrounded by and supporting. The Montrose many queer designers out of business because be gay-friendly. Why do you think we need an is located in the heart of West Hollywood, so they cannot afford to compete with the big official queer version? naturally, we want the hotel to become the corporations. Many of the queer designers destination for our Queer Fashion event. paving the way are in Los Angeles, and we NK: I disagree that the fashion industry is have yet to have “queer” fashion week like other gay-friendly. As a community, particularly for LN: As a designer yourself, what went into the cities such as London, Oakland, and New York, trans and GNC people, we have been under- process of selecting the designers? to name a few. represented. The fashion industry is still NK: Mostly just kept my priorities to local predominantly focused on separating genders, designers who are queer with priority given to LN: Why do you think LA needs an event like and “Genderneutral” clothing is still limited not only the high quality of their work but also that when 1) there’s already LA Fashion, and 2) to sweatpants, t-shirts or sweatshirts. Being if they are trans, people of color or non-binary. LA is not really considered a fashion Mecca per inclusive and being gay-friendly are very say? different things. Our purpose is to give exposure LN: What makes this fashion event timely and to queer designers who are making strides and relevant? NK: Very often, queer designers are unable to creating a diverse line of designs for all types afford participation in mainstream fashion weeks of people. We want to provide the opportunity NK: The discussion on gender and fashion has like LAFW or NYFA unless they are backed by for our community so that we too can have the become an incredibly relevant topic in the news, big investors. How do we get investors and raise same opportunities as the big brands. from laws barring trans folx from going into their awareness of brands then if we are unable to bathroom matching their genders to celebrities compete with the big guns? Despite not being LN: What made you team up with the Montrose creating fashion lines that are “Gender Neutral.” considered a fashion Mecca, LA is the Mecca Hotel? We are at the tipping point right now on all things for queer innovation and creativity. LA has a gender related. This event is absolutely the king plethora of LGBTQ Folx with creative minds. NK: The Montrose recently renovated their of event that we need to be having – especially Because this is the first of this event, I wanted to location and rebranded themselves. As part of now with our political climate. LN: What do you hope attendees leave with?

NK: Awareness and support for Queer designers, talent, and performers. I want them to see that we are just as valid, important, and amazing as mainstream designers and that we’re all in this together. The message is that we should all support under-represented groups because when we help lift those in need, we create more economic opportunities for everyone.

LN: All in all, what makes this fashion show a MUST ATTEND event?

NK: It will be a unique experience—very different from the official LA Fashion Week. But we are not here to compete with them. We made sure our fashion show takes place before theirs start because we believe in solidarity and community building.

TOP

ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ: GLITTERBOMB Meet the host to bring back the Hollywood glamour and style to television. By Michel Kordoc eet on-air-personality, culture news & trends, and welcomes some of martini in hand, Alexander Rodriguez is a host Alexander Rodriguez, the biggest names in entertainment. unlike any other, brazen, shocking, and always one of the hosts of hilariously unfiltered. LATV’s brand new The groundbreaking talk show is setting a weekly talk show, milestone in LGBTQ Latino programming Alexander is a breath of fresh air in today’s often Glitterbomb—the first being the first-ever talk show with an entirely too politically correct world. national LGBTQ Latinx TV talk show to ever hit gay, Latino, Hollywood-insider cast including the small screen. “Entertainment Weekly” senior editor Patrick His stand out personality, glamour, and spunk Gomez, actor Enrique Sapene and iHeartRadio are poised to make him instantly memorable MGlitterbomb is an explosive, high-paced pop- personality Alexander Rodriguez. on daytime television at home. As a gay Latino culture English-language talk show that features TV and Radio personality, he has continuously heated discussions about the latest in pop Bringing back the Hollywood glamour and style, been breaking barriers. There’s probably not a single person who wouldn’t on-demand films only. I have so many stories mom, who taught me to speak up or someone be inspired by his personal and professional and types of entertainment I want to be involved else will for you. I’m also the normal person journey—he epitomizes the definition of “doing with. From cabaret to crappy web series, I want you see on the street—I’m not a hyper label of it on your own terms” and succeeding at it. to explore it all. anything. I’m the guy you can joke with under any circumstances—even at funerals. We sat down with Rodriguez to talk about LN: What message you hope to convey through Glitterbomb, On The Rocks, and his meteoric your professional crafts? LN: How is the show different from other TV talk entertainment career. AR: I want to bring a little of that old Hollywood shows? style and humor, martini in hand, and bring it to AR: The show is not trying to present us as super today’s modern era where torn jeans are worn glossy, camera perfect LGBT hosts. We are so Lesbian News: How would you describe yourself? at the opera and fart jokes reign supreme. different. We talk openly about the reality of our Alexander Rodriguez: Larger than life, martini- individual lives (my hashtag is #foreversingle), sipping, can’t confine to a box, Hollywood LN: What would you say makes Glitterbomb we don’t share the same opinions, but we really obsessed, Bravo TV junkie, sarcastic, unfiltered, irresistibly hard not watch? love talking about entertainment and having a opinionated, LGBT, party monster, dapper, AR: Glitterbomb is the show you can watch with good time. where classic Hollywood meets pop culture in a anyone. It’s high paced and filled with laughs, loud, vodka filled bang. interviewing celebrities from every genre of LN: Tell us about your iHeart radio show “On entertainment by three hosts who couldn’t be the Rocks.” What do you hope to accomplish LN: What is your goal in pursuing a career in more different. It’s the Latinx LGBT show that with it? Entertainment? literally everyone will enjoy. AR: I want to continue the environment that AR: I want to tell the stories and ask the questions everyone is welcome to On the Rocks. You that everyone else is too afraid to approach. We LN: What makes YOU unique and charismatic never know who you are going to find sitting next are so carefully monitoring ourselves that we are as a TV host? to each other—from Academy Award Winners limiting our creative energy. I love every aspect AR: I happen to be blessed with a quick wit and reality TV stars to drag queens and porn of entertainment—from classic Hollywood and and funny face—that often gets me in trouble. stars. We sit, share a cocktail, and talk about reality TV to blockbuster films and independent I was raised by a VERY opinionated single life and entertainment from everyone’s unique perspective. We don’t ask the typical questions conservative Orange County, raised by a single you are going to find on all the other talk shows. mom who worked three jobs so I could go to private school and keep up on voice and acting LN: What is the most memorable show you had lessons, who was a little chubby, always causing to date? problems at school for talking too much who was AR: Such a tough question. I’ve had the challenged every which way because we were opportunity to meet so many of my idols from not wealthy, we didn’t look like everyone else in classic Hollywood, from Shirley Jones, Tippi OC and because we weren’t afraid to say what Hedren, Lainie Kazan to George Chakiris, we thought. My mom provided me the happiest as well as from my obsession with reality TV household I could imagine which helped shape with Real Housewives and Shahs. I guess my unique sense of humor and ability to find my favorite show was our alcohol tasting the joy in all situations. Today, I don’t fit in any Christmas party with such a diverse cast of box—I’m gay, but don’t have a size 28 waist, actors—Golden Globe Winner Joanna Cassidy I’m Latino but don’t label myself purely by that (Blade Runner, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, culture, I’m a bear in the gay community but Six Feet Under), Walton Goggins (Justified, don’t go to leather parties, I’m a cinephile but Tomb Raider, Vice Principals), Andy Buckley love Bridesmaids as much as I do Schindler’s (The Office, LadyBird), Emmy nominee Mindy List... and I’ll never say no to Happy Hour. Sterling (Austin Powers, iCarly) and child actor Keith Coogan (Adventures in Babysitting, Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead). We got tipsy For more info about Glitterbomb, go to: and chatted about everything under the sun. latv.com/glitterbomb

LN: What is the one question I haven’t asked you? AR: What makes me... me? I grew up in TOP A RECIPE FOR LOVE Cooking up a romance By Lucy J. Madison

lose your eyes and imagine food takes you back to the memory as if it just and injected a whole lot of romance into our sitting on a balcony high happened. I bet whenever you eat another piece evening. And so, the idea for the book was born. up on the cliffs in Sorrento, of melon wrapped in prosciutto, you’ll remember Italy, overlooking the that moment on the Sorrento balcony. This is why I love food and cooking so much. blue, shimmering Cooking helps us to capture happiness, Tyrrhenian Sea as the When I began writing my third novel, the lesbian strengthen bonds, share an experience, and so sun sets. You’re sipping Prosecco out of a long- culinary romance A Recipe for Love, I began much more. There’s really nothing sexier than stemmed glass, and the waiter just placed a to look through all my old recipes. Some of the watching a beautiful woman enjoy a good meal, platter of Prosciutto di Parma wrapped around index cards were written by my grandmother, at least to me. Csucculent, juicy melon slices. You take a sip of some by my mother, others by me. I began to the crisp prosecco and take a slice of melon, look at recipes I hadn’t tried in years. Once What are you waiting for? Get cooking! tasting immediately the burst of salty prosciutto recipe in particular was a cheese soufflé. I made balancing the sweetness of the melon. You lean my first cheese soufflé nearly twenty years ago across the table and kiss your loved one lightly when I first began dating my wife. She was ABOUT LUCY J. MADISON on the lips tasting melon on her lips. This might on her way to my little apartment in Guilford, Lucy J. Madison is an author, screenwriter, and be the most romantic moment of your life. Connecticut by train from New York City, and I home-cook who may still attend culinary school wanted desperately to impress her, so I made my so she can own a supper club in Provincetown Now, imagine removing the prosecco and the first cheese soufflé. It must’ve worked because one day. She’s at work on her fifth novel prosciutto-wrapped melon from the scene. No we’re still together all these years later. when she’s not in the kitchen. Catch Lucy in sweet melon-tasting kiss. No sipping prosecco. Provincetown for Women’s Week! A Recipe for Just you and your loved one sitting on a balcony Back to present day, I made that soufflé again, as Love: A Lesbian Culinary Romance is available watching the sunset. Could the moment still I began to wrap my mind around the characters for pre-order and will be released October be romantic? Sure, but food enhances the and the story I wanted to tell in A Recipe for 10, 2018. www.LucyJMadison.com Facebook, mood, heightens the romance, helps make it Love. The aroma of the soufflé baking and the Instagram & Twitter @lucyjmadison YouTube memorable. Years later, you might not recall taste of the airy, cheesy goodness brought my Book Trailer: youtu.be/m4jzY_gRtxc a specific moment, but the aroma of a specific wife and I back to that date so many years ago TOP

Travel

BEST TRAVEL APPS TO DOWNLOAD FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP Apps to make travel safer, easier, and cheaper By Wyxie Carolina

mart travelers use smartphone There are many travel apps out there. Here are need to know about any travel destination in the apps to do the less fun part of some of the best ones to download before your world… and knowing is half the battle. traveling—planning. Planning next adventure: a trip should be easy if you Guides by Lonely Planet www.lonelyplanet. have all the necessary tools to CHOOSING A DESTINATION com/guides is an in-depth travel guide app make travel safer, easier, and containing all crucial information you need to cheaper. And with having the right apps on your Knowing where you are going is the first step know about your destination including where to phone, you can enjoy a hassle-free vacation in in getting there. Thanks to technology, it’s now stay, things to see, places to visit, and things to Sjust a few clicks. easy to find out anything and everything you do. TripAdvisor www.tripadvisor.com is a good app to use to read ratings and reviews, view PREPARATION and check subway and train schedules for a photos and videos, and get recommendations number of cities. If you want a navigation tool pertaining to just about anything related to your Consolidate and manage your travel plans using that doesn’t need an internet connection to work, trip. If you need help in figuring out what to do itinerary organizers. Track your flight boarding Maps.me maps.me is the app to download. in a city, download Time Out www.timeout. times, hotel check-ins, and what to bring to have If you’re running after meetings and bookings com and start discovering restaurants, art a little peace of mind while traveling knowing and the last thing you want is to get stuck in galleries, nightclubs, and pretty much anything that everything is conveniently in order. traffic, it’s best to use Waze www.waze.com, a to do in your destination. But if you’re more navigation app that feeds your smartphone with interested in getting insider travel and cultural Apps like Google Trips www.google.com/trips, real-time traffic information, based on reports recommendations, Culture Trip theculturetrip. TripIt www.tripit.com, and TripHobo www. from other Waze users. Would you rather get com is the app for you. Just need inspiration triphobo.com are three of the most popular a car and driver to bring you around? Get taxi for your next travel destination? Find photos of choices for travel planners, and for good service using a ride-hailing app like Uber www. #beautifuldestinations and #wonderfulplaces reasons—supports thousands of different travel uber.com. uploaded by #travelbloggers and #digitalnomads service providers, are easy to use, have sync to Instagram www.instagram.com. and share features, and are free. TripIt has a Pro version for added features. TripHobo allows OTHER USEFUL TRAVEL APPS more intuitive planning base on past trips. FLIGHT AND ACCOMMODATION Google Trips makes travel plans even smoother Speed through lengthy immigration lines using for existing Gmail users since it syncs the app Mobile Passport mobilepassport.us, a U.S. Save time and money by using booking apps directly with your Gmail account. Customs and Border Protection-approved app for flights and accommodations. Search across that lets users with U.S. or Canadian passports various airlines and hotels to find the best Need help with making a list of what to bring? submit their passport control and customs deals and lowest rates. Booking apps are Packpoint www.packpnt.com will make one for declarations through the app. straightforward and easy to use—basically you based on the activities you have planned compare, choose, and book. for your trip. It is also wise to plan and pack If you’re traveling to a country where you don’t for the weather conditions in your destination. speak the language, you need a language app to Google Flights www.google.com/flights may AccuWeather www.accuweather.com is a good help you translate and learn words and phrases be the fastest and easiest app to use for finding weather app with international reach, 15-day, on the go. Google Translate translate.google. best airline deals and lowest flight prices. It 5-day, and same day forecasts. Of course, com provides translations, which are now more can also help you track rates on your selected you also need to prepare for your spendings. conversational thanks to machine learning, dates. Kayak www.kayak.com and Skyscanner Calculate live currencies and foreign exchange between more than 100 different languages. www.skyscanner.com are other trusted booking rates using the free app XE Currency www. apps, and not just for flights, but also for hotels xe.com/currencyconverter. Keep in touch with people back home or chat and car rental discounts and offers. with new friends you meet along the way using messaging apps like Whatsapp www. Booking.com www.booking.com and Hotels. NAVIGATION whatsapp.com and Facebook Messenger www. com hotels.com are two of the world’s most messenger.com. popular hotel booking websites. Search and One of the reasons we travel to new and exotic compare rates of over millions of hotels and places is to explore. Well, preferably without If your trip entails long-haul flights and transfers, accommodations across the world to get the getting lost. Thankfully, technology has made you’ll be thankful to have apps on your phone to best deals, and look through user ratings and it so that you don’t ever have to be. Download keep you from dying of boredom. Netflix www. reviews to figure out which deal is perfect for a navigation app on your phone or tablet and netflix.com and Spotify www.spotify.com are you. easily navigate your next trip. two good companions to pass the time. Don’t worry about WiFi, just be sure to have your If you’re looking to find a more unique and Google Maps www.google.com/maps is widely charger! authentic travel experience, use Airbnb www. regarded as the all-in-one navigation app that airbnb.com to search for local homes, from B&Bs offers directions for travel by car, on public Don’t forget that you’ll need a data connection and houses to condo units and apartments, up transit, on foot, by cab, or on bicycle. You’ll find or WiFi to be able to use most of these travel for rent for a night, a week, or a month. it fairly reliable and easy to use and it allows apps. Find the nearest WiFi using WiFi Map you to search for nearby restaurants, shops, www.wifimap.io. It gives you crowd-sourced Need to make a last minute booking because travel attractions, and more. It also shows how information on where the nearest free hotspot of some delay or something went wrong? Hotel busy a place is in real time. If you prefer to get is located. Tonight www.hoteltonight.com offers last- around using public transportation, Citymapper minute deals on empty rooms from partners citymapper.com is the best app to use to find hotels. out the fastest way to arrive at your destination TOP

MoviesEyeC

MISS IDENTITY ANTAGONIZES The subject(ion) of “Matangi/Maya/M.I.A.” is not a pop star effigy. By John Esther

ne of the, if not the only, myself)—during Super Bowl XLVI. “Arular.” genuinely outspoken pop stars in the world (not a Born July 18, 1975, Arulpragasam is the daughter When Maya was older, dad “showed up out of brand) is the Sri Lankan- of her mother, Kala, and father Arul Pragasam, the blue in London.” In later years, she would British singer/artist/actor who was a writer and activist working on behalf accept her upbringing, concluding her father’s Matangi/Maya/M.I.A., of the Tamil of Sri Lanka, a minority population absence, her mother’s persistence, and their who is the focus of director Steven Loveridge’s in the country who were in a civil war with the isolation “made us so independent” – going titular documentary. majority Sinhalese from the mid-1980s through so far as to declare how she preferred it to a 2009. privileged, consumerist upbringing. OA docu(wo)mentary many years in the making, this Sundance Jury Award winner spans During that time, Kala and her children fled the At a young age, living on the “racist” Phillips many decades, tracing from Mathangi “Maya” country to London, leaving Arul, now Arular, Bridge Estate in southwest London, Maya Arulpragasam’s tumultuous childhood years in behind. During that time the children were “embraced western identity through music” northern Sri Lanka to her scandal when she estranged from Arular, which pent up a lot of listening to hip-hop music. gave the international sign of ill will during an anger in the young Maya -- although M.I.A., otherwise noxious halftime show (but I repeat Maya’s stage name, did name her first album, Nonetheless, she did not see herself as a musical icon. When she enrolled in Central St Martins College where she aspired to be a documentarian filmmaker because she felt she had so many stories to tell about her homeland and what it meant to become a teenager rarely seeing people look like her.

Here she met Loveridge. They discussed making a film together.

Sometime later, Maya befriended Julie Frischmann of the band Elastica. The two became intimate friends with Maya doing the band’s cover art and video for one of the band’s songs. Unfortunately, egos flared and the two departed with Maya working to create an identity of her own.

Thus M.I.A. came about. A play on words, double entendre, the moniker M.I.A. became a worldwide successful performer, charting in several foreign markets.

However, unlike the saccharine lyrics of most pop stars, M.I.A. addressed serious political issues.

Spurred and inspired by the Liberating Tigers of Tamil Sri Lanka, an all-female militant group Maya could have been a part of had her course taken a common path, M.I.A. interjected a defiant voice against the powers, almost entirely patriarchal powers that be.

Of course, the masters of the market are not comfortable with a woman of color speaking out.

“Why don’t you just shut up and get a hit,” Maya says, paraphrasing the sentiments of those who wished she would just “accept her place.” Except…

Throughout this journey, Loveridge captures the tumultuous and fierce rise of a little girl from an island in South Asia to a (in)famous performer on the international stage.

A unique story about a unique person—how many Americans are even remotely aware of Sri Lanka— “Matangi/Maya/M.I.A.” portrayal of a feminist waging a war of words against patriarchal structures is as relevant today as ever.

TOP

Notes From Nat

ARIANA GRANDE: SWEETENER Her fourth album is yet another amazing brick in her wall of success. By Nat Burns

here is a large vocal range in singing on cruise ships and with popular Florida HzMD11TxWT8 the small body of singer and area orchestras. She also performed “The Star- actress, Ariana Grande, very Spangled Banner” once for a Panthers game. Grande has said that although she enjoys her evident on her latest release, acting career, she loves music even more. Sweetener, just out this month. In 2008, she was cast in the supporting role She began working with vocal coaches and Her early influences, she says, of Charlotte in the musical 13 on Broadway, performed on three Victorious soundtracks. In were Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey and winning a National Youth Theatre Association 2012, she collaborated on a duet with British she seems to blend and channel these two, Award. Then, in 2009, Grande was cast in the singer/songwriter Mika then later combined the especially in her older pop/R&B tracks. Nickelodeon TV show Victorious as a character two genres, starring as Snow White in a musical T named Cat Valentine, a role that she maintained theatre production, A Snow White Christmas, at Grande began honing her voice at a very young for several seasons. She later went on to play the Pasadena Playhouse. age, playing in musicals at a Florida children’s the role of Miriam in the musical Cuba Libre. theater. Her roles included The Wizard of Oz and A Snow White Christmas: Annie. Even at only eight years of age, she was Best of Cat Valentine: https://youtu.be/ https://youtu.be/daGi-lI3wiU Grande also played Amanda Benson in Swindle, a 2013 Nickelodeon film.

Swindle interviews: https://youtu.be/ tDdBDffy3pM

Also, in 2013, Nickelodeon created a Victorious spin-off series and she acted in that until 2014.

Fun scenes from Sam & Cat: https://youtu.be/ lw7sWRPjU3A

That same year, Grande released her first studio album, Yours Truly, containing many of her original songs. It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 albums chart with one hundred thirty-eight thousand copies sold in its first week. Yours Truly also debuted in the top ten in several European countries. By April 2014, the album had sold more than five hundred thousand copies in the US and later became Grande’s first platinum album. The lead single “The Way”, featuring the late rapper Mac Miller, debuted at number ten on the US Billboard Hot 100. The second single, “Baby I”, debuted at number twenty-one on the US Billboard Hot 100, making it her second Top 40 hit.

“Baby I” from Yours Truly: https://youtu.be/ bJuWlMFToNo

Grande released her second studio album My Everything in 2014. It sold one hundred sixty- nine thousand copies in its first week and debuted atop the Billboard 200, becoming her second consecutive number one album in the US.

“Problem” with Iggy Azalea, from My Everything: https://youtu.be/iS1g8G_njx8

Grande released her third studio album Dangerous Woman in 2016. The album and the title track were each nominated for 2017 Grammy Awards. As of June 2018, Dangerous Woman had spent a total of one hundred weeks on the Billboard 200.

“Dangerous Woman”: https://youtu. be/9WbCfHutDSE

The accolades continue. This new fourth studio album, Sweetener, with its upside-down art and mirrored scripts, features a bit less pop and more ballad with a breathier, sleepier tone. It was recorded after a bombing at one of her concerts, so seems sometimes sad and more pensive. In addition, she was recently engaged to comedian Pete Davidson and the album is filled with this new-found love. A few tracks, “Blazed (featuring Pharrell Williams)” and “The Light is Coming (featuring Nicki Minaj)”, will probably be the most popular. “R.E.M.” might appeal to a lot of listeners, as well.

“Blazed” with Pharrell Williams: https://youtu. be/kNRR8htB5Kw

“The Light is Coming” with Nicki Minaj: https:// youtu.be/OQitfe8u7i4

“R.E.M.”: https://youtu.be/kpH2WATcwCc

In spring 2018, Grande released “No Tears Left to Cry” as the lead single from Sweetener, together with a music video for the song. The song debuted at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, where it became Grande’s ninth single to reach the top ten in the US and made Grande the only artist to have debuted the first single from each of her first four albums in the top ten of the Hot 100.

“No Tears Left to Cry”: https://youtu.be/ ffxKSjUwKdU

Grande recently gave four concerts to promote this new album, billed as The Sweetener Sessions, at New York City’s Irving Plaza, The Vic Theatre in Chicago, Ace Theater in Los Angeles, and KOKO in London between August and September.

“God is a Woman” from Sweetener: https:// youtu.be/kHLHSlExFis

And one more gift. Sixteen minutes of historical Grande, a vocal evolution: https://youtu.be/ gyMpkHkmdqc

© 2018 Republic Records www.arianagrande.com

Always remember, if the links won’t open, copy and paste them into your browser.

‘Til next month— Nat TOP

Book Review

THE DADDIES My Lover’s Wounds excerpt By Kimberly Dark

he Daddies is a story about What we did in bed was un-negotiated. It was – she has to receive with grace and gratitude. love and grief – how hard it not a kinky play-party scene, not a costume- Many don’t. Many big, bad, leather, butch, biker, is to change even when we party game. We were just living our lives. aggressive, toppy-tops never stop doing long realize we must. The story is enough to be grateful for anything. multi-vocal, reflective about the “You’re a sick twist, you know.” That’s what her social patterns that prompt us ex-girl would say to her about her storytelling. Reciprocity stands to reason: if you learn to take, to re-enact that which we say we don’t want, you will receive. But it isn’t so. Just because you again and again. Gender is always fluid because “Yeah, well I notice you’re right there with me,” take doesn’t mean you get me to give. Doesn’t Daddy and girl are just roles after all. We seek she’d retort. As though the second observation mean you know how to receive. These are each Tand find each other based on bigger things. negated the first. separate parts of an equation so complex whole religious cosmologies of masculine and feminine “But, I don’t even remember being sexually “You can see it on people,” she said to me. And forces were created to explain it. abused,” she’d say, on the rare occasions when she’s right; I can. “Do you see it on me? Maybe she wanted to talk about it. Most times she didn’t it’s just something I don’t remember.” My body knows how to explain it. My body want to talk about it. She didn’t want to hear my teaches that there is a goodness that goes musings about our sex, and she didn’t offer her I don’t say “Daddy” to a lover just for kicks. She beyond reason, beyond necessity. I am a good own – unless to reminisce fondly about how hot has to want it for particular reasons. She has girl – a rarity. I don’t get off on being bratty, it was. to make me precious, know how to take over being naughty. I’m not seeking punishment – completely, and – it took me time to know this had enough of that for a lifetime. Shame is not the main ingredient in my cocktail of desire. A splash perhaps, but not a taste that lingers on the tongue. Even though you don’t feel you deserve them, I will give you amazing gifts and sweet abundance.

You know this in your DNA. You can be bad and I will love you. All the crime, the cruelty, the survival-responses that could’ve been more skilful, I will hold all of it without looking away. A Daddy who wants to fuck his little girl is bad. Let’s face it; what could be worse? And I will give you sweetness anyway.

“No lover,” I tell her, “I don’t see my past on you.” The incest, the shame, and the secrecy -- my lovers are different from me, but they are like each other. Even the ones I don’t call Daddy have things in common with one another. Almost all of them come from poverty and violence. They come from a fear of never having enough. More. They come from a fear of never being good enough to have enough, never being able to sleep in a soft curl with unballed fists. They have only cried in the cave of perfidy, pursued by those who smell weakness like it’s an open wound. My lovers are fighters who either punch or burn, want to turn their bodies big and bad or smooth and fast – more muscle, more fortitude, more discipline, more speed, more winning than anyone thought possible. No, it’s not possible in a fully female body. Who fights like that without a cock?

My lovers don’t stay down for the count. I know how to hold that kind of damage, close those kinds of wounds. The actual healing, of course, will always be up to them.

I want to tell her that’s what I see. I see many things. I see she doesn’t want to hear that.

I am a girl who can play the role she yearns to play against but never fully trusts: mommy. I can be mommy without being woman. How seductive. Women may enjoy mothering and even be good at it, but they have so many responsibilities, so different from the girl-playing-mommy. I know how to answer silent expectations without a lot of language, without a lot of ‘worked all day,’ without a lot of ‘well, why didn’t you’ and ‘why am I always the one who.’ When the little girl is the mommy, she nurtures silently, grateful for the satisfaction she receives in return. All of her whys are about ponies and blue skies and cotton candy. flourish of her hand. “It’s all theatre! I’m NOT your Daddy. I’m not A Daddy. I’m not EVEN a “Can I have cake for dinner?” man!” she exclaimed. “It’s all theatre and I love everything he needs. Aren’t you, princess?” that.” She concluded firmly. “Yes, Daddy.” And I nodded silently, wondering if she would My lovers are men who are women, struggling ever notice that she is always acting. There with bodies that say ‘keep away’ rather than is nothing left to go back to when she leaves ‘come in.’ Receptivity is not natural to them, the theatre each night for sleep. She is the a boarded entry being pried open. “Try it and frightened child I hold at night, in the dark, lose it,” she says, and then wonders why I wait blinking, wordless and waiting to be loved. I outside her gates. I love to wait outside, and love her so consistently, provide such a reliable then be allowed in. softness against which to rest, some of her fear subsides. I know how to let Daddy rest without making her give up her maleness. It’s simple. I need Daddy I didn’t say this: What I see on you is why you to be hard. I know what she craves: always, I chose me. And why you will choose me again. will give her my goodness. I won’t always give When I look to know myself, I look to my lover’s her what she wants, of course not. But then, she wounds. I look to whom I have chosen. Again doesn’t always give me what I want either. But and again. we’re enough. Just enough. Our bodies choose one another, because they know better than the ABOUT KIMBERLY DARK mind’s prevarication. Kimberly Dark is a writer, professor and raconteur, working to reveal the hidden architecture of “Do you see it on me?” she asked. And then she everyday life one clever essay, poem, and story quickly grew tired of the question. She made at a time. She is the author of Love and Errors, this pronouncement instead. “I love it because a poetry book. More information can be found of the drama,” She said with a gentlemanly on www.kimberlydark.com TOP Spirituality

CHANGE By Dina Evan, PhD

Nothing will change out there, in the world, until we change in here, inside each of us.

We need to stop waiting for someone else to fix the world for us.

Instead, we need to step into being the masters we came here to be.

Every conscious decision you make is a world event within and that is why now more than ever it’s time to stop playing small and remember who you are and why you came here.

TOP WOMEN’S WEEK: WOMEN ON A ROLL TRIP TO PROVINCETOWN! “Too much of a good thing can be wonderful!” -- Mae West

oin us for the 21st Women On from Boston and Provincetown in this very special town on the tip of Cape Cod A Roll Trip to Provincetown on • Sunset Dunes Tour & Beach Bonfire October 8-14, 2018. • Welcome Reception upon arrival Prices start at: • Welcome brunch or luncheon at a favorite $1,795* without airfare Early bookings are highly local spot $2,295* with round-trip air from LAX recommended to secure your • Our private Group Gourmet Dinner at spot and ensure your preferred room type is one of the most beautiful and highest rated *Prices based on double occupancy and vary available. Prices vary based on room type. restaurants in town based on room type. Suites and rooms may offer water view or • Farewell Dinner at the Lobster Pot Single occupancy available, please inquire. Jtown view, fireplace and jacuzzi tub. Please (optional) visit www.anchorinnbeachhouse.com for room • Daily Continental Breakfast Reserve your spot: descriptions. Rooms assigned on first come, • Daily Wine & Cheese Hour $500 deposit per person ($300 non-refundable) first served basis. Once we receive your deposit, • Guided Beach Forest Bike Ride (bike Balance will be due on or before August 2, 2018. you will be contacted for room selection. rental not included, weather dependent) • Concierge ticket service and VIP reserved To pay online: Please include your phone # with your deposit seating for the most popular shows in town womenonaroll.com/womens-week-in- or email [email protected] (ticket price not included) provincetown-3 • Free Women On A Roll Party To pay by phone: Call 310-398-1628 • An enormous variety of events: dancing, To pay by check: Mail to P.O. Box 4353, Culver WHAT’S INCLUDED: comedy shows, concerts, art exhibits, movies, City, CA 90231 • Six nights at the Anchor Inn Beach House, bicycling, hiking, football, singles events, Provincetown’s premiere lodging on the water couples events, whale watching, and much To reserve your room now: • Round trip air travel (optional) more. womenonaroll.com/womens-week-in- • Round trip chartered shuttle service to/ • Thousands of women, hundreds of events provincetown-3 TOP Words that Make Sense

WHY DO WE HAVE TO HATE? “Hating” hurts both the accuser and the target. By Toni Hart

rom the beginning of time, people color or language should be the only one in the Apparently not. Do we really want a world where found ways to hate those who world? These questions have been asked for everyone is the same as everyone else? Why do were different. And things haven’t centuries. But there’s never been a satisfactory we feel that our ways are the only “right” ones? changed. Not only did they hate answer. them and try to make their lives Actually, I enjoy learning from others about their miserable, but they looked for Is it the way we were brought up and who are lifestyle, their language, their dress, and their ways to eliminate and annihilate them. Wars, parents felt were acceptable that made the customs, but I don’t feel that I have to adopt their destruction, and demolition are still going on, difference? Did they teach us how to hate and ways and it’s always interesting learning. I don’t only now, the weapons of mass destruction are make the lives of others who were different— feel threatened to learn new ways, but rather a Fmore horrible and powerful than ever. miserable? Or do we read it in the news, see new experience that adds to my education of countries fighting and killing or see our own the world I live in. I especially enjoy learning Why? Is there no way to live peacefully with neighbors making life difficult for those whose new languages so when I meet those of other each other? Apparently not, considering all beliefs, lifestyle and/or way of dress is dissimilar countries, or when I travel, I can converse with the fights going on all over the world. If you to theirs? them in their own language. worship differently, if you speak differently, if your appearance or dress is different, and if It’s hard to know where it begins, but it’s all In schools, they discourage “bullies” and I’m so your choice of partner is different—whether around us. Some are even afraid to disclose glad they do. Differences in lifestyle, language race, religion, sex or lifestyle—sooner or later, their beliefs to others because of being hated or or dress are fodder for bullies to torment those we either try to convert them to “our ways” or try marked. Others can’t stop hawking their ways who are different. And for what? Being different to get rid of them all together. to try to change everyone else’s beliefs. It’s a should be applauded not condemned. We’re sad situation to realize we have all the amazing, not sheep… that’s a bad way to go through life. Why is it that we feel that “our way” is the only scientific, and medical achievements and can’t Let’s be proud of who we are and celebrate our path to happiness? Why is it that our choice of conquer hate. I’m sure you have heard the cry. special talents. As the French always say, “Viva “supreme being” should be the one that everyone Can’t we all just live together? la difference.”

worships? Why is it that our appearance, skin TOP VISIT VISIT SITE WEBSITE

Vendange is the perfect getaway desti- You’ll see what makes Vendange a once The separate Cottage Suite off ers a gen- nation located in the village of Carmel - in a lifetime stay. Their gardens, the grand erous 650 square feet of living space. by - the - Sea. It is the fi rst wine themed pergola, drinking a glass of wine around With a California King bed, 50” high defi - Inn in all of Carmel and Monterey. the fi re pit, or stopping by the lobby for nition fl at screen television, gas fi replace nightly hors d’oeuvres, will make your trip and kitchenette, it’s the perfect place for Each room is named after a local winery. more memorable. a honeymoon or romantic getaway. These partnered wineries design their own rooms in their own creative man- There are 18 rooms in the Inn which is The Inn off ers breakfast daily. Wine ner, providing guests with a memorable owned and operated by the Lee family. Themed Rooms: are Dawn’s Dream, and fun experience. Carmel Beach, has Sleeping areas are appointed with mem- Galante, J. Lohr, Joullian, Manzoni, McIn- exquisite shops, world class restaurants ory foamtop beds, deluxe linens, WiFi, tyre, Otter Cove, Pierce Winery, Tudor, and beautiful beaches. and high-defi nition fl at screen TV. Twisted Roots, Ventana, Cima Colina.

Queerly Questioning

VOTE LIKE OUR LIVES DEPEND ON IT Be informed about who to support and who to elect. By Juno Parrenas

n November 2004, I lived in right to vote in local elections, to do our best Massachusetts, the home state of the to guarantee the protection of LGBT rights and Democratic presidential candidate John equal access to bathrooms. Do I need to state Kerry who sought to make George W. the obvious that bathrooms are for relieving Bush a one-term president like his father. basic needs for human life? We all need access I proudly wore the sticker that election to bathrooms to function! day, showing the world that I voted. I ran into a good friend. He used to work in international This means being informed about who to human rights and continues to be one of the support and who to elect. I say this as a woman Imost well-informed persons I know. I asked him of color and specifically as an Asian American: when he planned to vote that day and he said selecting a minority candidate is not enough. In that didn’t plan to, that voting in Massachusetts San Francisco, Josephine Zhao was a candidate had an insufficient impact. in this year’s election for school board. To the English-language local press, she says she The election went as my friend projected, supports transgender students and supports the and here we are now, still waging the longest construction of single stall and mixed gender foreign war the United States has ever fought multi-stall bathrooms. But to the Chinese- and faced with an administration that is even language local press, she says she does not worse than George W. Bush’s. Even though my support trans students and stands against friend predicted the outcome that night, he was gender-neutral bathrooms. In California’s 39th wrong about voting—elections matter, even in congressional district, the Korean-American the bluest of blue states. They matter especially Candidate Young Kim is also transphobic. When when it comes to local outcomes. Five years she ran for her seat in the California Assembly, after my friend and I had that conversation, too she ran an anti-trans bathroom advertisement many of us falsely assumed that Massachusetts that was bad enough for the OC LGBT Center would always be blue. The Republican Scott to condemn it and demand the end of the ad’s Brown won the special election for a seat in the circulation. She talks about working across the Senate in 2009. aisle, but she will be a close Trump ally.

Right now, we are in the midst of a culture war. After the story broke about Josephine Zhao’s The majority of Americans last year felt that more deceitfulness, she withdrew from the race. laws were needed to protect the civil rights of Young Kim, however, is in a contested race and LGBT people. And yet, it feels that new laws are might win the district that includes Fullerton, being written by legislatures to harm our daily Diamond Bar, and Chino. Her opponent, Gil lives. Think about those ridiculous bathroom Cisneros, worked at Frito-Lay until he won the bills, the ones that explicitly target transfolk lottery. For the sake of SoCal, here’s hoping and try to make it the law of the land to go to luck is still with him! the bathroom consistent with the sex marked on one’s birth certificate. It especially pains me to see young transfolk, who are attending public school and just merely trying to get by in their day-to-day lives, become targets of ignorant hate. High school is hard enough!

It is incumbent on us, those who have the TOP Positive Reflections

THE WORLD IS FILLED WITH AMBULANCE CHASERS Always seem to be there when the chips are down By Dian Katz, MS

hy is it when times In fact, they scout out easy victims and exploit owe, there is also another fee we must pay. are tough, we are the opportunity. They usually come out winning. Normally we don’t want to panic or get into more suddenly barraged Unfortunately, at our expense. trouble, and so we quickly pay. Yet another by calls and emails example is when we lose our house in a fire or from those wanting Haven’t we all noticed that after a loss of some disaster and then letters arrive saying we need to make a buck off sort—whether a person, a house or something of to pay an amount we owed for insurance. There our hard times? If we look at the psychology importance—the phone starts ringing like mad? are so many different scenarios like this, but, of it, it really is an opportune time for those We pick up the phone and suddenly, the person more often than not, these are bills we don’t wanting to take advantage of our situation. They on the other end seems to know our pain or at really owe. Wknow we are feeling low and vulnerable and so least it seems like they do. They are con artists, we may easily fall prey to whatever they are frauds, and they know how to work those who My father passed away recently, and since then, selling and be more willing to shell out money are at their weakest moments. I have been putting out one fire after another. for whatever deal they are hustling and things One example is when my mother received a they are trying to convince us to buy. Think An example is when we receive bills for money zillion bills from this one so-called “ambulance about it. When we are in a dark place, we aren’t we don’t owe. When we are hurting, we are more company.” They were the ambulance drivers always able to rationalize effectively. These so- likely to assume that these bills are accurate. who picked up my father from a rehab facility called “money thieves” are very aware of this. Another example is when we are having a hard and brought him to the ER where he died. They know this because they’ve already ripped time paying our taxes and then we receive a Medicare and a secondary insurer said they off tons of people and made whopping amounts. notice saying that in addition to the taxes we paid the total ambulance bill. So why the heck was my poor mother receiving more bills? get scammed with one bill and pay, another one illegal crooks. Just be very careful and smell Why was this company harassing a grieving comes, and another. It almost seems never- out complete scammers. Check that they are a elderly woman? The bill was already paid for ending. It’s as if one guy tells another guy, “hey, real company and that the bill you received is by insurances, but they told her that they are we have a sucker over here so give him/her a real to avoid being swindled by a fake company. to send her bill to Collections. Is this legit? Or call.” On the other hand, some companies may be out is she being scammed? It’s disturbing when to make a quick buck even through legal means the vulnerable are preyed upon, but even more It’s equally important to help out those in our and you just so happen to be on the list to call. disgusting when it’s the elderly or weak who are families who are elderly with their bills. Sure, They dot all of their I’s but want us to pay for taken advantage of. sometimes they reject our offer to help or even something that really isn’t necessary. It sounds get offended, insisting they can do it themselves. fraudulent, but there are loopholes that these Seniors are the most preyed upon. Scammers However, especially after the death of their people use to cover their backs. feel that seniors are less likely to stand up against spouse or loved one, we must explain to them them. They try to convince the elderly that they how a lot of these charlatans come out of the To sum up, it’s awful when we are experiencing are mistaken. And of course, many older folks closet to try and harass them. Let them know a tragedy or serious life event in our lives. get confused and start believing that it’s their that we truly care and that the reason we would It’s even sadder when people come after us poor memory or absent-mindedness that they like to double check their bills is just so they have to exploit our situation. The best defense we forgot about a bill. They aren’t as apt as the a second pair of eyes. If they understand your have is awareness. And the best thing we can younger ones when it comes to arguing. They intentions, they will surely give you permission do is help our family and friends to understand figure the hell with it and just want the people to take a look at the bills coming in. how something like this can happen. Hopefully, to go away, and so they readily pay whatever is these so-called ambulance chasers won’t come asked of them. These so-called ambulance chasers are very after us. Unfortunately, more than likely, they smooth. They know the game and play it well. If will. Preparation is our weapon. Also, always In short, when the chips are down, we need they didn’t, they wouldn’t make a dime. So this double check all of the bills that come after an to double check the bills we receive and make is why we have to be on top of “our game” as adverse event because these are the moments sure they are accurate. Review records and well. We just need to remember that these types we are most vulnerable to being scammed. May documents to see if everything matches. Make of people are out there and will be swarming at we all live in a world where we help each other the calls to insurance companies, Medicare, us at the first sign of a major crisis. to succeed and go on rather than a world where Positive Reflections Medical, and so on. Because just as soon as we Now I am not saying that all of these people are the less fortunate are taken advantage of. TOP The Essential Queer

SOMETHING BAD HAPPENED What it takes for us to love and accept each other By Tami Graham

wasn’t alive when Pearl Harbor officers, and I’ve always been grateful to live in dream that nothing was ever going to happen happened. All I know about it is what I a country with the ideology that there’s some again on our soil? We bombed the hell out learned eighteen years later in grade invisible fence around us that is impenetrable, of Japan, and that’s that. Are we as a country school—duck and cover, crawl under a military buffer if you will, that would always safe forever? Is everyone’s afraid of us? Don’t your desk, and cover your head—that keep us safe. And always keep me safe—that we need any national security preparations they said would save my life if something I would never have to think about anything like anymore? bad happens. We were supposed to stay under 9/11 happening. the desk until we got an “all clear” signal. I wish Hey, I’m from Los Angeles. Well, technically I know what the hell I thought while I was under All those years in elementary school, the alarms from the Pacific North West. But I came to LA Ithere all those years. go off, and oh shit, it’s an air raid drill. We then so young that this is what I am most familiar go under the desk—little flimsy desks that would with. Although right now I am headed back to On 9/11/2001, something bad did happen. not have saved anybody’s life. So why were we the PNW. doing these drills regularly 18 years later after 9/11 is my Pearl Harbor. It’s my D Day on Pearl Harbor? Were they trying to instill fear Anyway, I digress. I lived through two riots living Normandy Beach. It’s the harshest day of living in us—beware that something or someone out in LA—the Watts riots in 1965 and the Rodney in America during my lifetime, and it will always there can kill us? Whatever it was, it certainly King riots in 1992. I was little during the Watts have an effect on me. didn’t prepare me for 9/11. riots but what I do remember is that people with the lights out in their houses, laying on the living I have outstanding military people in my family When under-the-desk drills ended in the mid- room floor, were scared to death in suburbia. including past and present Navy commanding 1970’s, did we, as a country, lull into a false During the Rodney King riots, I was 33 years old, driving a BMW, a single lesbian on top of the world. And then this raw footage came on TV, and I saw my fellow Los Angelinos harming each other in deadly ways I didn’t know was possible. It was scary shit. I thought that was the worst that would be.

And then, nine years later, 9/11 happened. I lived in Chicago at the time. I was at the gas station when it happened. When I got back in my car after fueling up and headed to work, the radio station music had been interrupted by the news. I was shocked at what I was hearing. I immediately called my girlfriend and begged her to turn around and come back home. She worked in the Federal building in downtown Chicago. She did turn around, and I too headed home.

As a nation, we have seen our fair share of domestic terrorism before and after 9/11. Every few months, we watch in horror as another one unfolds—lone wolf, active shooters—that’s what we call them now.

The Essential Queer We watched the TV and the awful scenes that played out on 9/11. We play that tape every year on its anniversary. TV stations across the country play the same awful scenes, and each year I am horrified once again. Perhaps that’s so we don’t forget. So we don’t get lulled into the false dream of national safety again.

Watching that footage is terrifying to me because the flimsy desks didn’t stop anyone from dying on 9/11. There is no drill that would have prepared us for this.

When there are horrific events like this, first responders and others rush in to help. No one stops and asks are you gay? They just help. Why can’t it be like that every day, where we as humans don’t judge and simply help each other?

Why does it take something awful for us to set our differences aside and merely love and accept each other?

I don’t think there are actual answers to these questions. They are just the random musings of my mind that wishes for a gentler planet. Peace!

TOP Dyke Musing

SOCIAL WORKER By Sue Moore

The morning yawns Chaste, Geriatric, Cold Rouses itself stiffly Out of solemn sheets of cloud over Lake Michigan.

Stunned by the bright shock of now We numbly shake off Dream’s grey cocoon Aim ourselves Motorized blank arrows Through the monster Greek pillars Of our Temple of Transportation.

I am a Social Worker I’ve come to confront and nurture darkness Harvest tears Kiss black-lipped anger Bandage grief bruise-colored and swollen.

I am a Social Worker I move soundlessly through glass littered I am a Social Worker streets A long time my hopes and fingers searching for lost pennies of happiness were bitten down at the nail dust buried my heart a black box of dead toys. darkness hidden. But I was healed each night By dreams of fields whose paths wander off into forgetfulness By dreams of an unknown sea enfolding me in its green bandages By dreams of rooms egg warm in sunlight

By dreams of some woman whose name I forgot.

(Dedicated to my car Sophie, who saved me and this poem)

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HotSpots

I LOVE OCTOBER Fall is upon us. Holiday’s around the corner! By Dian Katz, MS

CTOBER! I LOVE this GAY DAYS ANAHEIM California Adventure. How do you find your “you month! It’s my fav month! know” pals? You find them wearing a red T-Shirt. You can smell fall in Ohhh emmm geee! You know what’s happening Even better, you can purchase the Official Gay the air and everyone’s this month? Well, it has something to do with Days Anaheim shirt on their website. So what excited about holidays one of the happiest places on earth. Hmmm, happens on a day at this event? Well, for one, approaching. Well, it’s were you able to guess? ::: tapping foot ::: I’m you get to enjoy the parks with a whole bunch of just great! And you knooow, I will keep you busy waiting ::: ack, alright I will help you ::: It’s Gay fabulous people. In addition to that excitement, with all of the festive Hotspots. You do know, Days Anaheim on October 5 to 7. there are games to play during the day and right? Of course, you do! I never let you down. dances and parties at the host hotels. OSo, let me look into my little fall magic book and That’s right! We are talking some serious play see what’s cranking during this month. with all the other “you know” at Disneyland and Now, what could be more fun than hanging out with Mickey and Minnie and then playing with “Whether it’s getting to see the best performers COMING OUT DAY Goofy over at the hotel on the same day? Your and comics in LBGT culture today or just walking date may be a little goofy but not to down Commercial Street holding hands with the Every year, on October 11, we celebrate Coming worry. I’m sure you can run into the real Goofy woman in your life, basking in the sunlight and Out Day around the world. It doesn’t mean you somewhere in Disneyland. taking in the natural beauty of Provincetown, have to come out, but it’s an encouraging day there is no festival on the planet that celebrates just the same. Once you are out of the closet This event has grown tremendously in size. Each women like Women’s Week,” says Women’s with whatever you’re hiding, you can take a year, more and more people keep on coming, Week. sigh of relief. And of course, the bigger the and now, thousands from our community are number of attendees, the more influence and having a blast. Man, I am so going! I love the Oh man, there are so many amazing things to the greater ability we’ll have to make life easier happiest place on earth! It’s a home away from do during this event like poetry, dance, healing for everyone. home! Yup, that’s me! I live a Mr. Toad’s Wild arts workshops. Here, you can put on your chill ride life! Oh, stop it! I love my life! and inspired face. I like the sound of this! There For those of you who aren’t out yet, come out to is also whale watching and sailing available. someone, to a friend, to a family member or to So what are you waiting for? Head over to And do you know how gorgeous the scenery in anyone. It’s a step closer to your freedom and the computer, say Matterhorn, and visit www. this town is? It’s breathtaking! I’m sure the other empowerment. Think about it. If you want to know gaydaysanaheim.com scenery might take your breath away but I was where coming out activities are in your area or referring to the landscape! Of course, there are just want to learn more about the process, you also fabulous entertainers at Women’s Week can certainly go to the Human Right Campaign WOMEN’S WEEK 2018 every year. They get some of the funniest lesbo Coming Out site at www.hrc.org/explore/topic/ comics on the planet to perform. coming-out Now, ladies, I know some of you look forward to this festival every single year. What is it? So what are you waiting for! Get on it now! For I’m glad you asked! It’s the Provincetown’s more info, do your whale call and go to www. Women’s Week on October 8 to14. womensweekprovincetown.com

HotSpots BREAST CANCER AWARENESS “The St. John’s International Women’s Film HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL Festival (SJIWFF) is one of the longest running There’s also another important cause happening women’s film festivals in the world. Established in Lastly, I need to mention a few super cool this October. It’s the National Breast Cancer 1989 to support and promote women filmmakers, Hotspots happening for Halloween. Foundation’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. the SJIWFF produces several screenings, workshops, and other events throughout the On Halloween night, West Hollywood, California, “1 in 8 women are diagnosed with breast year, culminating in a five-day annual film festival comes alive with its HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL cancer in our lifetime,” says National Breast held in October in St. John’s, Newfoundland WEST HOLLYWOOD on Santa Monica Blvd. Cancer Foundation. This affects our community and Labrador, Canada. These dynamic events So, if you want insane fun, you need to be there tremendously. There are tons of activities and attract over 4,500 participants. Every year, the on this night. The fun starts in the early evening. events going on during Breast Cancer Awareness Festival receives over 400 film submissions, Month that helps raise funds for breast cancer and from those, we present a powerful program Also, the HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL NEW awareness and prevention. of international documentaries, short films, and ORLEANS is October 26 to 28. I’m sure their feature works. Festival week also features the carnival is also off the hook fun! I mean come If there is any chance you can get involved in one [Interactive] Film Industry Forum, consisting of on, New Orleans? Wildness seems to arise of these, please visit www.nationalbreastcancer. panels, workshops, and face-to-face meetings in this area. For more info on their spooky org for more information. for filmmakers, producers, and interactive carnival, wear your costumes and go to https:// creators. The Forum focuses on the business togetherwenola.com/halloween/ of filmmaking while the Festival celebrates ST. JOHN’S INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S FILM international works by women,” says SJIWFF. Well, my friends, it’s time for me to fly out of here FESTIVAL on my broom. Have a spooky fun this month!!! For more information, get reel and visit www. BOO!!! Join Canadian ladies for the St. John’s womensfilmfestival.com/home International Women’s Film Festival on October 17 to 21 in Newfoundland.

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Femastrology

OCTOBER 2018 By Astrologer and Psychic, Victoria Bearden

ctober opens up on October 5, 2018 and last until November as it takes 8 years to go through all the signs. Pandora’s box of 17, 2018. This is the big news, as Venus Many of use might have an opportunity to review dark secrets and sexy goes retrograde less frequently than the other and resolve unfinished emotional business that mysteries! Venus, the planets, about every 19 months, and lasts for started back then. Of course, you ex-lovers are planet of love, beauty, about 40 days. Scorpio makes it quite intense, quite likely to come to mind, or come to town. relationships, and dredging up uncomfortable truths about our This does not necessarily mean you need to get money is going retrograde in Scorpio. Picture relationships and values. The skeletons in the back with them. It’s mostly an important “review” Botticelli’s Venus with her hair dyed black and closet are getting restless. The last time Venus to help you move forward with your life. Ovampire fangs. This planetary event will occur was retrograde in Scorpio was October of 2010, Venus Retrograde has its benefits, and its into our Inner Self to recharge our batteries. It’s do not fear the dark side of human nature. Bet pitfalls. If you are ready to delve into your inner the silence right before the new music starts you wish you were a Scorpio! psyche to gain insight into core emotions, this playing. Since Air Sign Libra is linked to all planetary cycle is for you. Collectively, we aspects of relating, this New Moon is perfect for There’s a Full Moon at 01° Taurus on October are given the opportunity to face our darker any and all activities that support cooperation, 24, 2018, at 9:45 am PDT. Full Moons represent emotional experiences, when love turns into networking, and partnering. Venus ruled Libra is the high point of the lunar phase, when the rejection, obsession, revenge, and jealousy. It’s great for creative insight and activities as well. Moon appears fully illuminated from Earth’s great for unusual, edgy creativity. One strange The Sun and Moon in Libra will make a tense perspective. This occurs when Earth is located perk: bad relationships often get worse, and square to Pluto in Capricorn, challenging us to between the Sun and the Moon. Full Moons are then end. This is not the greatest time to get integrate our need for control with our need for known to stimulate both psychic and emotional married or start a new romance, according to compromise. awareness. The Full Moon in Taurus will align traditional astrology. It is a time of testing for with Uranus, the planet of change, opposite other kinds of relationships as well, as people’s The Sun enters Water Sign Scorpio on the Sun and Retrograde Venus in Scorpio. hidden motives can be revealed. People will October 23, 2018. This is the time of year This will be wild, unusual, revealing, and highly tend to be more obsessive, possessive, power- when the veil between the two worlds is said to emotional energy! Hold on to your hats. Some hungry, and secretive. Since Venus is also be thin. Great for seances and ghost hunting. stunning revelations could come up around this associated with money and shared resources, Scorpio is the Sign of the Shaman, a person Full Moon, so pay attention. caution should be exercised with important who acts as intermediary between the natural financial dealings and contracts. Needless to and supernatural realms. The Scorpion can take say, there will be plenty of controversy involving us to the hidden depths of our Shadow side so Opportunity Days: sexual and financial misconduct in the news. we can learn and heal. The Eagle gives us the October 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 20, 21, 25, 28, and 30 courage to fly to the heights to gain perspective. There’s a New Moon at 15° Libra on October And the Phoenix defies death and is reborn. 8, 2018. The New Moon is the phase of the Scorpio stands at the gate to the mysteries of moon when it is in conjunction with the sun and birth, sex, and death. They say Scorpios make invisible from earth. It is also known as “the Dark the best detectives, criminologists, accountants, of the Moon” and represents a time to retreat and counselors because they understand and

Femastrology Aries (March 21-April 19) It’s all about relationships this month. Libra (September 23-October 22) You are gaining perspective about Connect with others. Find ways to bring balance into relationships what your life is really all about. Get in touch with your true identity. that have become tense. Reach out, network, and come out of your shell. Be your authentic self. You know who you are, so don’t be afraid to show Aries can often be rather self-contained, and sometimes others don’t the rest of the world. This is a time of new beginnings for you. The stage know you’re open or interested. Let them know. If you need assistance is being set for a significant new cycle of events. This will be a fortunate from others now is the perfect time to ask. You will have the chance to do period for finances, as long as you are realistic about what’s going on. some serious emotional house-cleaning, so dig in and release unwanted Your October Mantra: Perspective baggage. Your October Mantra: Togetherness Scorpio (October 23-Novemeber 21) Get centered. Take some time Taurus (April 20-May 20) The main event this month has to do with to regroup, recoup, and restore your energy. Your activities have your physical reality. Tune in to health needs and get into balance. come to a quieter place for the moment, or at least they should. Get Refine your daily routine so you have what your body needs. Replenish things in order in your personal world. Don’t just keep pushing outward, depleted resources with good food and supplements. There may be pull in a little bit. Take stock of your emotional needs. Surround yourself increased demands at work, so you’ll want to make sure you have the with beauty and harmony. Indulge some of your whims. Spiritual and energy to perform. You will have insights regarding your purpose and creative activities will have a restorative effect on you. Your October your service to others. There’s a big review session coming up regarding Mantra: Find Your Center relationships, so pay attention. Your October Mantra: Replenish and Restore Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Your social relationships will blossom this month. This is a great time to network and Gemini (May 21-June 20) Libra energy ramps up your creative side collaborate. Friends and colleagues will give needed support. Joining and opens doorways to happy experiences. People will notice you, new groups could be an advantage now. You will get a lot out of group or so put yourself out there if you need a new opportunity. This is a favorable team activities. Your intuitive side will be strong, so follow your hunches vibration for fun, recreation, parties, sports, and other fun stuff. Let your and pay attention to your dreams. This should be an enjoyable and inner child come out to play. Venus retrograde aside, this is a good time productive cycle. Your October Mantra: Connections for dating and relating. If controversy arises in the work area, keep a level head and stand your ground. Your October Mantra: Recreation Capricorn (December 22-January 19) Take a look at your life in a non-critical way. Acknowledge your achievements. Clarify your Cancer (June 21-July 21) The emphasis is on home, family, memories, goals and priorities. Don’t just rest on your laurels, apply yourself in feelings, and the past. This is familiar territory for Cancers anyway, business and career. This is a time of potential achievement, and even as they tend to be the most sentimental sign of the zodiac. Get your recognition. So, you’ll want to do your best. Honor your commitments home environment organized and harmonious before the busy holiday and responsibilities, but be selective about adding any new ones. This season arrives. Carve out some time to connect to family members you is a time for focused attention, not just more hard work. Your October haven’t been in touch with. But most of all, spend some time getting your Mantra: Purpose emotional house in order. You need to feel grounded, safe, and secure. If there are things standing in the way of your inner peace, take steps to Aquarius (January 20-February 18) Expand your horizons. Thinks change this. Your October Mantra: Safe and Sound outside the box. Don’t let your past define your future. Look into new avenues of learning and new experiences. This is also an excellent Leo (July 23-August 22) You have a lot of ideas. See if you can time for travel, both professionally and recreationally. It’s also a good focus on one or two of your brainstorms and bring them into reality. time to pursue your spiritual side by going to a retreat or convocation. Communication is very important now. Say what you need to say. Speak It’s a fortunate time to take calculated risks, so don’t be afraid to roll the your truth. Don’t be afraid to express yourself. People will be surprisingly dice. Your October Mantra: Expansion receptive to your thoughts, so weigh in. And if you need clarity from someone, ask them for it. Focus your energy and don’t become scattered. Pisces (February 19-March 20) This is a time for reflection and You will be tempted to run faster, but you need to know where you are introspection. Give yourself time to get in touch with your feelings. going. Your October Mantra: Clear-headed You are coming to the end of some significant cycles. Finish up old business and tie up loose ends. Let go of that which is no longer serving Virgo (August 23-September 22) This month it’s all about the money. you. Release negative energy that might be hanging around from the Well, not just money. It’s about the things you value. What does past months. You’ll want to get things into order regarding finances, prosperity really mean to you? Are you spending your time on things particularly where others are involved. If you want to start something really love to do? Do you feel good about your work? Are there things new, you might want to wait until next month. Time to get yourself into a you’d like to clear up about your finances? This can be a productive and grounded, solid, peaceful place. Your October Mantra: Release valuable time if you get your priorities straight. Put energy into the things that really matter to you. Strive for balance, stability, and order. Your October Mantra: Prosperity TOP

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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

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