  Seriously...What Am I Doing Here? The Adventures of a Wondering and Wandering Gay Jew Never having been on an adventure, Ken Schneck finds himself stumbling twice into rural Uganda; signing up for a 425-mile bike ride; stirring up drama at a Californian hippie, healing retreat; and somehow standing up straight with a colossal backpack strapped to his shoulders deep in the backwoods of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. This occasionally heartbreaking, often insightful, and reliably witty travelogue has at its core our never-ending search for meaning, our desperate need to grasp that elusive sense of place and community, and how we often fail to succeed (sometimes hilariously so!) but keep right on trying. Paperback: 230 pages Publisher: 1984 Publishing (May 23, 2017) Language: English ISBN-10: 0997813822 ISBN-13: 978-0997813821  TRANS/gressive: How Transgender Activists Took on Gay Rights, Feminism, the Media & Congress...and Won! In the early 1990s, no one talked about transgender people, and no one knew one. We were not on TV or in movies. What formed the visible part of the trans community – overwhelmingly white, urban, and middle class – was also overwhelmingly focused on conferences, surgery or hormones and cisgender acceptance. This was still a determinedly non-political population, often in defensive crouch because it was also constantly under attack by the media, police, local legislatures, feminists and even LGB-but-never-T advocates. We were a group that still thought of ourselves as a collection of separate individuals, not a movement. Without realizing or intending it, the community was reaching critical mass. Even in those pre-Internet, pre-cellphone days, enough trans people were running into one another often enough to begin realizing we could be a force, that we didn’t really need cisgender acceptance. What we needed was our civil rights. This is the inside story of how in just a few years, a handful of trans activists would come together in the face of enormous difficulties and opposition to launch from the very margins of society what would grow into the modern political movement for gender rights. Paperback: 218 pages Publisher: Riverdale Avenue Books Language: English ISBN-10: 1626013683 ISBN-13: 978-1626013681  The Life and Death of ACT UP/LA: Anti-AIDS Activism in Los Angeles from the 1980s to the 2000s
The Life and Death of ACT UP/LA explores the history of the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power, Los Angeles, part of the militant anti-AIDS movement of the 1980s and 1990s. ACT UP/LA battled government, medical, and institutional neglect of the AIDS epidemic, engaging in multi-targeted protest in Los Angeles and nationally. The book shows how appealing the direct action anti-AIDS activism was for people across the United States; as well as arguing the need to understand how the politics of place affect organizing, and how the particular features of the Los Angeles cityscape shaped possibilities for activists. A feminist lens is used, seeing social inequalities as mutually reinforcing and interdependent, to examine the interaction of activists and the outcomes of their actions. Their struggle against AIDS and homophobia, and to have a voice in their healthcare, presaged the progressive, multi-issue, anti-corporate, confrontational organizing of the late twentieth century, and deserves to be part of that history. Paperback: 260 pages Publisher: Cambridge University Press (May 18, 2017) Language: English ISBN-10: 1107514177 ISBN-13: 978-1107514171
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 TheWEED (Wellness Energy Earth Dispensary) announced today its collaboration with L.A. based pop artist and LGBTQ+ advocate, Nina Palomba, to bring an artisanal gallery experience to its customers. Palomba’s installation entitled “Love and Light,” will showcase all-original artwork and be on display from June 4th until July 15th.
TheWEED prides itself on offering customers of diverse backgrounds a shopping experience that blends cannabis with culture. In addition to being a high-end dispensary, theWEED is also an art gallery showcasing the work of international artists and features street art, graffiti and pop art. Some of the artists regularly displayed include Shepard Fairey, Alec Monopoly, SX Doom and King Saladeen. TheWEED’s art collection is part of what draws people from all over California to the shop. “We’re always looking for opportunities to support the arts community and take great pride in the fact that our customers don’t feel rushed to get in and out,” says Stewart Stinson, General Manager and Owner of theWEED. “We’re honored to have Nina’s work at the shop, just in time for one of LA’s most lively weekends!” Renowned for her playful illustrated narratives and uplifting murals, Palomba’s work has taken her across the globe leaving her mark all over the world. As an LGBTQ+ advocate, Palomba devotes her time to supporting the community by painting uplifting murals across the country. She travels teaching workshops to students about being a queer artist in today’s world while spreading positivity through art, encouraging others to “Shine On!” Palomba plans to illustrate notions of whimsical love stories through noir revival in her painted installation. “Overlapping LA Pride, visitors can expect nothing less than artwork that brings a smile to your face, fills your heart with romance and leaves a mark on your day in the best way!” says Palomba. For more information on Nina Palomba, please visit ninapalomba.com and follow her on Instagram @theninapalomba.  Jesse Saint John has been songwriter to the stars for five years now, but only this year did he begin his endeavors as a solo artist. Today, the queer pop artist premiered a one-take music video for his debut single, ‘Move’. This track could easily be on the soundtrack of a teen cult film, so it’s no surprise that some of saint john’s influences for this track were 90s flicks like GO, Doom Generation, Nowhere and Cruel Intentions, so it’s quite fitting that this lyric visualizer was filmed in the same garage as the 1999 crime comedy, GO. Saint John told Out Magazine that he chose to lead with ‘Move’ because “it just felt like a great marriage of intense energy and hooky melody—and [he] knew it’ll be so fun to do live.” Though we are currently only witnessing the dawn of his solo efforts, he has already been widely recognized as a queer musician and consequently was invited to play at this year’s LA Pride Festival alongside musical sensations such as Tove Lo, Kehlani, and Icona Pop on June 9th.  The band, Hella Bella, is unique in their own right. With a drag queen lead singer, Bella Gigante, taking the lead of this ultimate party band, you will not be disappointed when you take in one of their shows.
How did this band become a reality? Bella Gigante: My goal was to always have a band. Along the road, I began to meet different musicians who wanted to be a part and shared similar visions. Three years later it finally happened”Hella Bella was born. Who are your musical influences?/ Where does the inspiration for your music come from? B: Our musical influences vary from Blonde to Rocky Horror Picture show. We are attracted the most by music that people can connect with. We love to make you dance, laugh and feel. We are inspired the most by the people in the crowd. What do you feel you are offering the music scene that isn’t been seen now? B: There is nothing greater for us than to take the entire crowd with us on our journey. There are many amazing bands out there today what sets us apart is that our lead singer is a giant drag queen with a set of pipes and a band full of wonderful characters. In addition, our band has Sarah Meadows on bass, Linda Strauss on cello, Joe Buffalo on lead guitar and our newest member Clark Libby on drums. I love this band and am very proud of them. What are your upcoming gigs? B: You can check us out at Santa Fe pride on the plaza June 30th. For all other gigs please follow us on Facebook, Hella Bella or Bella Gigante.  By Bunnie Cruse, Chairwoman, Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico
Our queer community is filled with more than just LGBT. We are super diverse. There is no “one way” to be queer. There is no rulebook. Queer people of color and gender variant people’s do not have to fit in the toxic white patriarchal heteronormative structure of society that is pervasive in the QUEER community. PRIDE is a civil rights movement that is not just one weekend a year. It is constant community building. AIDS Education, feeding and sheltering our at-risk LGBT, political activism and so much more! The parade is fun and the club scenes afterward are LIT. But that’s just the celebration! Us queers are celebrating another year of work and another year of surviving in a world that wants to ELIMINATE US! No matter how you celebrate PRIDE please do it responsibly, plan ahead, do not drive drunk and use sexual protection! HAPPY PRIDE! CELEBRATE! ....and that is the FINAL WORD!  View photo gallery from DragCon at
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2206322382711554.1073741848.180313148645831&type=1&l=61b8efec9f Emmy Award winner RuPaul and World of Wonder (“RuPaul’s Drag Race,” “Million Dollar Listing,” “Out Of Iraq”) hosted more than 50,000 attendees during the fourth annual “RuPaul’s DragCon LA” at the Los Angeles Convention Center this past weekend. The massively successful convention, which welcomed the largest ever gathering of the world’s top Drag Queens in one place, has experienced explosive growth since its debut in 2015 - increasing total attendance by 500% in just four years. Created by RuPaul and World of Wonder Productions, RuPaul’s DragCon is a family-friendly event welcoming attendees - of all ages and background - to kiki with all of their favorite drag queens and stars in a creative, friendly and accessible environment. The three day event included extensively curated panels and live runway performances, talent signings, more than 30 Instagrammable moments on the floor, including the actual Werkroom from “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” and over 350 exhibitor booths offering attendees some of the most sickening shopping around. “In this time of chaos and lies, for three days tens of thousands of big-hearted, super-creative, and sensitive souls peacefully gathered to celebrate their truth at RuPaul’s DragCon,” says RuPaul. “Seeing all the young people and families and queens has filled my heart with gratitude and hope. The future is going to be fierce.” "The overwhelming success of this year's DragCon is a testament to the talent and creative vision of the hundreds of drag artists who attended the convention," says World of Wonder co-founder Randy Barbato. "Drag has become a cultural force that is here to stay.” "As we wrap up another DragCon on Mother's Day, it is especially exciting to see all the families that come to share the experience," says World of Wonder co-founder Fenton Bailey. "DragCon is about life, love, laughter and inclusion. It’s about tearing down walls, not building them." The convention featured top talent for performances, meet and greets, panels and more, including: RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Bianca Del Rio, Trixie Mattel, Billy Eichner, Alaska 5000, Jinkx Monsoon, Alyssa Edwards, Aquaria, Asia O’Hara, Blair St. Clair, Dusty Ray Bottoms, Eureka, Kalorie Karbdashian Williams, Kameron Michaels, Mayhem Miller, Miz Cracker, Monét X Change, Bebe Zahara Benet, Raja, Sharon Needles, Violet Chachki, Sasha Velour, Chad Michaels, Ross Mathews, Yeardley Smith (“The Simpsons”), Tokyo Stylez, Hannah Hart, and World of Wonder co-founders & DragCon creators Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey. Tickets for the second annual RuPaul’s DragCon NYC, taking place September 28-30, 2018, go on sale May 14th. Visit http://rupaulsdragcon.com/ |
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