The Significance of the Repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell

WASHINGTON D.C. – With a stroke of a pen and a thunderous applause from onlookers, President Obama signed the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act” on December 22, 2010, thereby ushering in a new pillar of equality in the LGBTQ Civil Rights movement. Nine months later, on Tuesday, September 20^th, 2011, that repeal was officially complete. After nearly 18 years of enforcement, gays and lesbians from every color of the rainbow were on the verge of having yet another discriminatory wall torpedoed (pun intended), this time behind the work of our progressive president. Reaching this monumental milestone was not easy, however, as President Obama and the Democratically-controlled Congress faced fierce Republican opposition in allowing gays and lesbians the right to serve openly and honestly in the U.S. military. At times it even appeared the GOP would have their way in derailing the repeal, thanks to back-to-back filibusters in the Senate sponsored in large part to Senator John McCain (R-Ariz) who fought tirelessly in maintaining the status quo of DADT. The GOP’s argument was that allowing gays and lesbians the right to serve openly would harm military cohesion and would demoralize the armed forces. With no credible facts or scientific studies backing them up, they based their stance on mere assumption.

Americans, however, were not sold on that argument. A December 2010 Washington Post/ABC News poll found 77% of Americans favored allowing gays and lesbians the right to serve in the armed forces, and that support crossed all political affiliations (Democrats 86%, Republicans 74%, & Independents 74%). “The fact that it took the U.S. so long to repeal this antiquated (law) after so many countries have allowed gays to serve openly for years speaks very poorly for our country,” former Naval Petty Officer Remy B. Martinez told LEA, from his home in New York City. “Nonetheless, it’s a step in the right direction.”

Over 220-years of Discrimination

To better understand the overall magnitude of this repeal let’s look back at the history of the U.S. military’s policy on discharging gay and lesbian service members. The first documented case took place in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania in 1778 during the times of the American Revolutionary War. Lieutenant Gotthold Frederick Enslin of the Continental Army was accused of sodomy by another soldier and discharged by the directive of General George Washington*. Fast-forward 215 years (and thousands upon thousands of discharges) to 1993. President Clinton campaigned on a promise to allow gays and lesbians the right to serve openly but faced with a staunchly opposed Republican-controlled Congress developed a compromise law called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” The law’s original intent was to allow gays the right to serve, just as long as they do not disclose their sexuality to anyone, nor display any homosexual tendencies while serving. In essence the law can be described in this manner: you can defend, and fight for your country and you will be accepted among us… just as long as you lie and hide who you really are. Although DADT was seen as a milestone for the LGBT community at the time, the law resulted in the discharge of nearly 14,000 soldiers in its 18 years of enforcement, including over 50 Arab-linguistic gay and lesbian men and women.

A Militaristic Transition to Equality

Although the LGBTQ community was denied militaristic equality throughout the last 220+ years, the discriminatory ban has finally been vanquished from the ranks of the armed forces. So just how important is this repeal to our gay and lesbian service members? “It’s important to me because there is a stigma connected to being openly gay in the military,” former Navy Corpsman Daniel P. told LEA from San Diego. Would you be comfortable taking a partner to a Military Ball or to a military family event? “Yes I would feel comfortable. The look on their faces might be interesting though,” Daniel continued. Another soldier was not as so enthusiastic. Marine Jesus Gutierrez from Camp Pendleton stated “It’s great and all but am I going to jump on a table and announce to the world that I’m gay? No way! It’s no one’s business. It will be business as usual.”

It may be business as usual for some soldiers, but changes are definitely on the way. It was recently announced that a new LGBTQ military magazine is on its way to publication and will be available, free of charge, to military personnel on bases throughout the country. Also, in states that allow same-sex marriage, military gay nuptials have already begun. In Vermont, Navy Lieutenant Gary Ross married his longtime partner, civilian Dan Swezy, at the stroke of midnight on Monday, September 19^th. “We’ll feel it’s important that as soon as we’re allowed to commit to each other that we do. It’s important not to hide anymore,” Lt. Ross told the Associated Press. Assuming their marriage will not be the last within the armed forces, this will only mount more pressure on the Obama Administration to end the “Defense of Marriage Act” or DOMA, a 1996 law passed by a Republican-controlled Congress that prohibits federal marriage rights for partners or spouses of the same sex.

Is U.S. same-sex marriage recognition far off?

Now that gays and lesbians are allowed to serve openly in the U.S. military, and if you take in to account the American public’s overwhelming support of the repeal and the increasing acceptance of the LGBTQ community, then it may be fair to suggest that marriage equality in the United States may not be too far off. Currently, six states and Washington D.C. allow same-sex marriage, and California’s voter-approved Proposition 8 is facing continuous constitutional court challenges. For now, the extinction of DADT can provide an additional light at the end of the tunnel for the gay and lesbian civil rights movement. A dominating question being placed before politicians and the American public alike is this… if an LGBTQ soldier is allowed to fight in defense of his or her country then shouldn’t they also be entitled to the same marriage rights and privileges that are afforded to their heterosexual counterparts? The answer continues to be politically divisive and perplexingly sluggish. Perhaps the words of President John F. Kennedy can offer the best motivation in our nation’s current, historic, civil rights movement: “This nation was founded by many men of many nations and backgrounds. It was founded on the principle that all men are created equal and that the rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened.” Words that continue to ring true from generation to generation. [LEA]

-Antonio X. Garcia

Sources:

*Benemann, William (2006), Male-Male intimacy in Early America: Beyong Romantic Friendships, Haworth Press

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About the Author:

Antonio X. Garcia was born and raised in San Diego and was brought up in a heavily Roman Catholic home by Mexican parents. Part time college student, part time LGBTQ activist, and full time football fan, he now resides in the city of Los Angeles and serves as Board Member and Social Media Chair for the Latino Equality Alliance.

A Q&A with "Inspired: The Voices Against Prop 8" Director Charlie Gage

LONG BEACH, CA- The passage of Proposition 8 in California on November 4th, 2008 was no doubt devastating to the LGBTQ community because it not only eliminated marriage equality in the state, but also enshrined discrimination into the California Constitution. However, what resulted from this voter-approved amendment was an awaking of epic proportions within the LGBTQ movement. Rallies and marches were planned out throughout the state and various equality organizations began to manifest themselves in the Golden State... including the Latino Equality Alliance.

Inspired: The Voices Against Prop 8 is a film that documents that very movement and showcases individuals who decided to do something about the injustice of Proposition 8. Early this month, LEA was able to chat with Director Charlie Gage as we explored details of Inspired, what went on in the mind of the creators, as well as the surprising and unexpected directions and emotions that took form during the creation of this documentary. All of which led to a very inspiring climax which has undoubtedly changed the lives of the numerous individuals involved. 

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LEA: Thank you for taking part in our Q&A Charlie! Considering much of the documentary took place during the aftermath of the passage of Prop 8, how did the making of this film come about?

CG: Thanks for having me take part! Well, I actually never planned on making a movie, but immediately following the passage of Prop 8 I had a friend visiting from Mexico City and I gave him the option of either hanging out at a bar in Long Beach or taking part in one of the many anti-Prop 8 rallies. Honestly, I didn’t see any point to the rallies at first. The gay protests were planned in gay neighbors, to complain about how devastated we gays were because of it’s passage and I thought to myself, “Really, what’s the point? What kind of impact is this going to have?” Well, my friend chose to check out a rally in Long Beach and so I brought my $60 Samsung camera and I started recording everything. I was a bit blown away at the community’s response, and before I knew it I had footage from about 10 different rallies. At that point I got together with my friend Ian McIntosh and we decided to put a film together. We started bringing interviewees in, and started the meticulous process of cutting and combining the footage together. The whole process took about one and a half years.

LEA: The LGBTQ community in California was heavily impacted by the proposition and it triggered an emotional response never before seen in the state. Was it your and Ian's plan to grab that emotion and showcase it in the film?


CG: During the making of the film we kinda dubbed it “the Prop 8 film not necessarily about Prop 8” because as far as the film goes, it shows how various people in the community were propelled into action and how some organizations got their start. The LGBT community had a civil right removed from them and some within the community went from sitting back, sipping on their martinis and letting HRC do all the work, to standing up and taking action. That’s where this film really focuses on… the individuals who stood up and decided to do something about having their marriage right eliminated from them.

LEA: It appears you were inspired by what you were witnessing as well, is that correct?


CG: Oh yes, definitely! For the first 3 weeks after Prop 8 passed, there was a rally going on every other day. People were marching all throughout Los Angeles including in communities of color, and appearing on CNN describing how violated they felt having a civil right eliminated by voters. The people who rose up and decided to take action definitely were and continue to be an inspiration for the LGBT community throughout the nation!

LEA: In the film's promotional material, you make the following statement: “Intimate interviews reveal the ways the movement comes together, and the subtle and not-so subtle ways it can be pulled apart from within.” Can you describe what you meant by this?


CG: When you make a documentary you don’t really know what you have until the end. You don’t have a script or story boards. The interviews you conduct with people pretty much drive you to where you wanna go and the racism issue within the gay community ended up being a huge subplot of the film. Our first interviewee stated there was a rift within the LGBT community between the east LA groups and the west LA groups, and everyone I interviewed pretty much corroborated that information. Looking back now, it’s kinda ridiculous to think that just because we’re gay that means we’re all going to get along. In reality, just because we’re gay doesn’t mean we’re not racist. The passage of Prop 8 forced many different groups from various parts of the LGBT community to come together and work towards a common goal of equality. The day of decision is where this film reaches it’s climax. But really, there is no ending. Marriage equality continues to be fought for in the state today.

LEA: What do you hope to accomplish with this film?


CG: One of the things I kinda realized during our initial screening at the Q-Doc Film Festival in Portland, Oregon was that many people outside of California really had no idea of what had occurred in the state after the passage of Prop 8. Non-Californians had a general idea because of what they heard and saw on their local news, but they had no idea of the immense activism that sprouted because of the proposition. Something I hope we can accomplish in this film is to get the word out there throughout the nation so others can see that the activism and passion that occurred in California can happen everywhere else as well. People have to work together so that there can be in impact in the LGBT Civil Rights movement.

LEA: Prop 8 definitely initiated the wakening of a "sleeping giant" in California. If you could describe one emotion during the making of this film, what would it be and why? 


CG: Well I’m not going to say ‘inspired’ because that’s a bit cheesy (laughs), but one emotion that really stood out was being ‘embarrassed.’ Making the film really opened me up to different elements I did not know existed, like the rift between the various neighborhoods and communities with the LGBT community. Luckily, because of the research and interviews that were conducted I was able to meet all kinds of people from every sector of the LGBT movement in SoCal. I was kind of in my own personal bubble living in Long Beach, and going to the Falcon bar, totally oblivious to what was going on. This film really opened my eyes to our community in ways I hadn’t imagined.

LEA: I believe it may be correct to assume that many people from within the community have that same oblivious stance on issues that pertain to the LGBTQ community. Now, if can you describe an emotion that you felt at the completion of the film, what would it be and why? 


CG: Oh (laughs)! I wish my co-producer Ian was here to describe this with me but I must say, and I hope this doesn’t sound hokey or like I’m tooting my own horn, but there’s still sections throughout the film that get me choked up. There is so much raw emotion that comes across when you are watching the film, and even though I’ve seen it tons of times, it still gets to me. In “Inspired,” we also covered a wedding between Elena Popp and Bridget Gonzalez and that was very emotional as well. The LGBT community had a right civil right eliminated and it was just amazing to see every one say enough is enough and take a stand to win equality back! It's an ongoing struggle, but a struggle that is well worth it.

LEA: Charlie, thank you for taking time to speak to us! We look forward to the exciting California premiere in Long Beach this weekend! 


CG: Thank you!

Note: "Inspired: The Voices Against Prop 8" debuts this Saturday, September 17th, at the Long Beach Qfilms Festival at noon. The next two screenings will take place at the Doc Miami Film Festival in Miami, FL on September 24^th, and UNSPOKEN Human Rights Film Festival in Utica, New York, October 13th-15th. 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Antonio X. Garcia was born and raised in San Diego and was brought up in a heavily Roman Catholic home by Mexican parents. He now resides in the city of Los Angeles where he is pursuing collegiate degrees in Political Science and Creative Writing. In January 2011, he was elected to the position of Board Member with the Latino Equality Alliance, and now serves as Social Media Chair.

My review of "Bordering on Love"



Two minority groups whom are constantly working towards equality and social justice are the LGBTQ and immigrant communities. Both communities face the same struggle for acceptance yet face common adversaries whom don’t believe they deserve the same rights and privileges as everyone else. In the play “Bordering on Love,” the obstacles, relationships, and trials faced between these groups are interwoven brilliantly in comedic and dramatic fashion.

Anthony (TJ O’Connell) is a rather mediocre drag queen, known as Antoinette, who never really found that special niche that would put him over the top until he discovers Marilu (Silvia Tovar), an “illegal” immigrant from Mexico.  Under Marilu’s tutelage, Anthony soon goes from a mere boy in a dress to full-fledged drag royalty. Unfortunately, on the road to drag super stardom, Anthony and Marilu both encounter hurdles, the likes of which many people in the LGBTQ and immigrant communities can relate to. Anthony has an “in-the-closet” boyfriend named George (Jeff Vinall) who is married to a woman and lives his life in total denial of whom he really is. Marilu, on the other hand, has a man (Francisco, played by Rudy Marquez) who is afraid to commit and prefers to maintain the status quo of their relationship rather than take a leap of faith into marriage. Marilu’s personal battles become intensified when the U.S. government gets word of her “illegal” status and begins deportation proceedings against her.

The play culminates with life-altering decisions to be made by Anthony and Marilu. Anthony must decide whether to continue being a part of George’s secret life, or make a stand towards self-respect and true happiness. However, the strong bond between Anthony and Marilu is tested by her potential deportation. Can Anthony do anything to save his friend from being sent away? The final outcome mirrors the very definition of friendship and their lives will never be the same again.

At the conclusion of the play I found myself entangled in the lives of the characters in a way I hadn’t imagined I would be. The acting is superb, especially by actors Silvia Tovar and TJ O’Connell, and the mixture of dramatic effect and comedic relief was done seemingly effortlessly and I credit that to “Bordering on Love” writer Evangeline Ordaz. Being a product of both the Latino and LGBTQ communities, I was able to relate to the struggles faced by Anthony and Marilu and it became all the more apparent how similar the obstacles faced by both communities really are. We all want to be loved, respected, and treated equally. Whether someone is gay or straight the intensity that defines love has no border, racial undertones, or sexual orientation and “Bordering on Love” radiantly proves this point by shattering stereotypes, and exhibiting that we are all colorful characters in this crazy game we call life.

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“Bordering on Love”

WHO: Written by Evangeline Ordaz. Directed by Armando Molina. Actors: TJ O’Connell, Silvia Tovar, Jeff Vinall, Rudy Marquez, Christian Gibbs, Kamil Haque, Anne McCarthy, Kenneth Sears.

WHERE:  Company of Angels Theatre at the Alexandria, 501 S. Spring St, 3^rd floor, LA, CA 90013

WHEN: June 2^nd – July 10^th, 2011

TIX/WEB:  http://companyofangels.org/?p=202



Why the Chargers must MOVE back to L.A

(Part 2 of a 2-blog series)

"If at the end of 2011 there's no support for a (stadium) financing plan from (San Diego) city leaders, obviously at that point we'd have to look at other options... We can't control what goes on in L.A... We're going to be one of the two or three teams that will be part of this story." With that statement in the books, Chargers spokesman Mark Fabiani has effectively sent a collective chill down the spine of Chargers faithful across San Diego County. The alarm has been sounded and a move to L.A. may soon be inevitable.

Sorry SD Chargers fans but 2011 is shaping up to be the make-or-break year to keep the Bolts from... well... bolting to another city. And no other city is licking their chops more than Los Angeles, who is keeping a close eye on stadium developments from their neighbors to the south.

OK, OK so in my last blog I made a case as to why the Chargers must remain a San Diego asset and I am sticking to those points. But reality is reality and the fact is that the Chargers have been looking for a new stadium in San Diego since 2002. As it now stands, the Bolts can give notice as early as this upcoming February 2012 of their intentions to move to another city and they will have legal, contractual ground in doing so. So what if the moving trucks do, in fact, begin to pull into Qualcomm Stadium after this season? I am going on record as saying I would much rather the team move to Los Angeles than any other city. And believe me, Las Vegas, and San Antonio are cities which have already expressed interest in acquiring the Super Chargers. But let's ponder this for a second... a move 2 hours north on interstate 5 to L.A., or a 4 hour flight to Texas? Duhhh, it's a no-brainer folks! But if it's concrete reasons you want as to why the team must move to L.A., then it's concrete reasons you will get. Let's begin shall we?

STADIUMS, STADIUMS EVERYWHERE!

While the Chargers and San Diego grapple on finding an economically-feasible stadium solution in the 619, Los Angeles offers two very attractive locales with each site housing a billionaire investor ready to cough up the necessary hundreds of millions of dollars it would take to get a state-of-the-art stadium up and running. One location is in the City of industry which is about a 25-minute drive east (with no traffic of course!) of downtown L.A. and the other site is within walking distance of the Staples Center (see the artistic rendering above). But for the sake of saving time let's focus on the downtown L.A. site. 

Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) has recently announced plans to build a state-of-the-art $750-million stadium adjacent to the Staples Center, and the company has already worked out a naming-rights deal with Farmers Insurance Group. The stadium, Farmers Field, would open it's doors by the 2016 NFL season and has the potential of becoming a regular part of the NFL Super Bowl rotation. This would be HUGE for Los Angeles, which has been without an NFL team since 1994 when the Raiders and Rams moved shop to Oakland and St Louis, respectively. The Bolts want a stadium and their efforts in San Diego are about to run dry. With artists renderings like the pictures above, what team wouldn't be enticed to move to America's 2nd largest media market?

THE CHARGERS/ LOS ANGELES CONNECTION

Even though the Chargers spent just one season in L.A. (their inaugural year of 1960), they have a much more profound connection to the area than meets the eye. The year was 1959 and their owner Barron Hilton, Paris Hilton's grandfather, conducted a "name-the-team" contest in Los Angeles and a man from Hollywood was declared the winner after coming up with the name Chargers. Soon after completing their first season at the Los Angeles Coliseum, the team moved to San Diego in 1961 and the rest, as they say, is history.  

The Chargers-L.A. connection does not end there, however. In a move that was seen as the first major precursor to the team's potential ambition of moving north, the Bolts hired a major Los Angeles marketing firm in January 2009, Wasserman Media Group, to begin marketing the team in LA and Orange Counties. This news, of course, made massive headlines in San Diego and Chargers fans there began to speculate on what the team's true intentions were. But the marketing is no doubt paying off. Every year I see an increasing amount of lightning bolts decorating the backs of various vehicles zooming across LA's numerous freeways, and even CBS 2 Los Angeles has made the Chargers their official home team by broadcasting them over any other team... even over the Raiders. Were (are) the Chargers setting up their relocation efforts by cultivating fan interest in LA? The Bolts, of course, will never give a straight answer on this but if the team does depart San Diego there clearly is no better option than Los Angeles. Raiders fans, though, may pose a potentially embarrassing problem.

L.A. FANS ARE HUNGRY FOR SOME FOOTBALL

It has been 17 long years since a professional football game was played under the bright lights of America's second largest city (and no, the XFL does NOT count). This translates to an entire generation of youth in Los Angeles that has grown up without an NFL home-team. This, of course, means fans here are ripe for the taking and the Chargers can seize the opportunity of exponentially increasing their fan-base by moving here. There is one obstacle the team would have to deal with... L.A.'s Raider Nation. To the groans of many, Los Angeles is still very much apart of it. And while I have witnessed an ever-increasing amount of Chargers fans at various sports bars, from West Hollywood to Montebello, we Bolts faithful are still outnumbered a million to 1 by the Silver and Black fanatics. How will Raider fans in L.A. respond to an arch-rival team moving in to their territory? Will they cross over or will they continue to stand by a team who abandoned them for the Bay Area? This should be very interesting to watch.

Although this would be a minor hurdle for the team, it should not be a deal-breaker for a potential move to L.A. Los Angelinos want some football and for the most part will embrace any team who decides to break the "Curse of Al Davis" by moving here. If the Chargers are unable to find a stadium solution with San Diego officials then we may be seeing Philip Rivers throw touchdown passes in downtown L.A. before we know it. The time for an NFL team to 'run L.A.' is upon us but will that team be the Bolts? We may have an answer this upcoming February 2012. 



-Antonio X. Garcia

"We Run L.A."- Ya Boy and Dr. Hollywood

"The Infection Monologues" comes to L.A!

Over the last few decades the fight against HIV/AIDS has come a long way. Unfortunately, the stigma towards people living with the virus remains. Too many times our HIV-positive brothers and sisters encounter prejudices from various parts of society solely because of their health status and that can only lead to devastating results towards one’s emotional stability. What we as a community must recognize is that whether we are HIV-negative or HIV-positive, we are all human beings and we all deserve to be treated with equality, respect, and dignity. To achieve this level of understanding, however, we must slam the doors of fear and intolerance shut and embrace a willingness to learn and connect with those whom live with HIV on a daily basis.


Presented by The Wall- Las Memorias and Lambda Literary Foundation, “The Infection Monologues” will attempt to do just that. With a cast of racially diverse characters, the play will exhibit the trials, relationships, and tribulations of HIV-positive gay men from various age groups. Using both humor and seriousness, “The Infection Monologues” will attempt to captivate its audience by placing a human face on what it means to be living an HIV-positive lifestyle in present day 2011. What is it like to be diagnosed with the virus? Can a relationship overcome an obstacle such as this? Does having a Latino or African-American background have any bearing on the hardships of being HIV-positive? After 30 years of HIV/AIDS in America, the highly-anticipated “Infection Monologues” can only help in placing a spotlight on such a hot-button issue within the LGBT community and become a symbol of hope for those who must live with this disease on a daily basis.


-Antonio X. Garcia

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The Infection Monologues

WHO: Written by Eric Rofes and Alex Garner with additions by Brody Brown and Joel Martinez Directed by Alex Garner.

Actors: Alex Garner, Colbert Alembert, Matthew Herrick, Korken Alexander, Marcus Reynaga, and Michael Vaccaro.

WHERE: Showing at the Renberg Theatre Ed Gould Plaza

1125 N. McCadden Place, Hollywood, CA

WHEN: June 4^th and 5^th, Reception @ 6PM, Showtime @ 7PM

TIX/WEB: Tickets are $30. To purchase them, visit: www.lagaycenter.org/boxoffice

Why the Chargers must STAY in San Diego

(Part 1 of a 2-blog series)

San Diego is known for their world-class attractions... Sea World, the Gaslamp Quarter, the San Diego Zoo just to name a few. But "America's Finest City" is in great peril of losing one of it's own regional gems, and that could spell disaster for a city still trying to establish itself as a big-time player in the world of professional sports. That gem is the San Diego Chargers. In an era where cities such as Los Angeles, San Antonio, and Las Vegas have been vying (and struggling in some cases) to woo an elusive National Football League franchise, San Diego is in danger of watching their prized team bolt to another city (perhaps a 2-hour trek north on interstate 5) and that would be chaotic for the county's professional sports fans whom still hunger for a world championship. Below are a few reasons as to why the Chargers must remain a San Diego asset, and why San Diego politicians must find a way to keep those Uhaul trucks away from Qualcomm Stadium... permanently.

TRADITION
The Chargers were created in 1960 and in their first year of existence called Los Angeles their home. But it wasn't until the team moved to San Diego in 1961 did the franchise begin to establish a strong foundation amongst football enthusiasts and sports fans alike. During the Chargers presence in San Diego, the team has made 17 playoff appearances, won 14 Western Division championships, 1 Conference championship, and made 1 Super Bowl appearance. The Chargers also take part in various charitable events throughout the year in San Diego County and even award their own athletic scholarships to local San Diego student athletes.

But lets place the statistical history of the Bolts aside. Charger games have become a highly-anticipated yearly tradition among San Diego's football aficionados. Like many Bolt fans, I remember growing up in the South Bay area of San Diego (National City and Bonita to be precise) and hosting carne asadas on Sundays with friends and family alike. The thrill and excitement of watching our team take on a weekly adversary (especially the much-hated Oakland Raiders) became entrenched in the very fabric of my being. Should the team pack it's bags and move then this tradition, which is practiced amongst thousands of San Diego football fans, will be eliminated. Sunday Chargers football gatherings, carne asadas, and bar-b-ques will cease to exist. Depression will be aplenty. That takes me to my next reason...

CHARGER FANS AND THE TAILGATE EXPERIENCE
In December 2009 I had the pleasure of taking one of my nearest and dearest friends (Trollop as I affectionately refer to her) to her first professional football experience. The game was held at San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium and featured the Chargers versus the Cincinnati Bungles... errrr... I mean Bengals. As we entered the parking lot, the look that overcame her face can only be compared to a kid at a candy store. The site of fan camaraderie and beer consumption, along with the smell of steaks and grilled chicken was intoxicating to her and from that moment on she knew she was hooked. She was grabbing her first taste of the Charger tailgating experience, and she loved every second of it.

Yup, Charger fans know how to have a good time, and the immense love they have for their team is always on full display when experiencing a game in Mission Valley. But this devotion was not started over night. It was nourished and strengthened because of over 50 years of Chargers football in San Diego. The community is tied to this team, and one can only assume (hope?) the team is tied to the community. If the team should pack up and move it stands to reason they will not be able to replicate this kind of fan devotion right off the bat. San Diego provides them with generation after generation of Bolt fanatics. 

SAN DIEGO DESERVES THE LOMBARDI TROPHY

It was a crisp afternoon in San Diego. The date was Sunday, January 29th, 1995 which coincidentally was also my birthday. My family and I were huddled around the television as we watched our team participate in the greatest sports spectacle in American culture, the Super Bowl. Behind the fire-power of quarterback Stan Humphries, and the thunderous running game headed by Natrone Means, the Chargers made their first (and so far only) appearance in the NFL's grandest show. Their opponent, however, was more than capable of taking them on and by game's end Hall-of-Fame QB Steve Young and the San Francisco 49ers sliced and diced the Bolts 49-26. It was a shellacking of epic proportions courtesy of the Northern Californians, no doubt about it, but what this game did was establish a hunger never before realized by Chargers faithful. Charger fans got their first taste of the "big show" and the dream of one day hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy in downtown San Diego became all the more coveted.

Fast-forward 16 years and that dream still has not come to fruition. Year in and year out Charger fans have grown accustomed to saying "wait till next season," but the heartache remains. Watching their team get oh so close to a return to the promised land but then lay an egg in the playoffs has been excruciatingly frustrating for  even the most die-hard fanatics. Now after more than 50 years of dreaming and yearning for the Lombardi Trophy, the possibility of San Diego never winning a world football championship is very real. The Chargers have made it known their days in San Diego will be numbered should a stadium deal not be in the works by the end of the 2011 season. And as the 11th hour of Chargers football in San Diego approaches, area politicians have to make a vital decision: should they put an added emphasis on getting a new stadium built thereby keeping the team in San Diego, or will they fumble the team away to some other city desperate for NFL action. The time for action has arrived... Los Angeles awaits. 

-Antonio X. Garcia

My review of "The Golden Gays"

a play by John Patrick Trapper, & directed by Sean Riley

"Miami, Miami... you got style! Blue sky, sunshine, white sand by the mile!" Any true Golden Girls fan can recognize this jingle in a heart beat and being as how I have an 'x' amount of episodes DVR'd at home, I most definitely fall in to this category. Needless to say when I heard of this play about 4 gay men whom are so obsessed with the GG's they move to Miami to live their lives as the golden quartet, it instantly peeked my interest. Will the actors be able to capture and simulate the very characteristics that have come to define Dorothy, Blanche, Rose, and Sophia? Will the play have it's own original and unique feel instead of being a complete GG replica on stage? I sat back, grabbed my glass of wine, and prepared myself to travel down the road and back again on a wild ride through the delusional minds of these four men in drag.

The play, written and produced by John Patrick Trapper, was humorous to say the least, but it's shining moments revolved around the characters of Blanche, Dorothy, and Rose. Guy Windsor's portrayal of the bed-hopping, man-loving, Blanche Devereaux was borderline excellence. Brian Rohan, and Kevin Fabian also won high marks for their hysterical interpretations of the bitchy, smart-ass Dorothy, and the dim-witted Rose. One disappointment, however, was the portrayal of Sophia Petrillo played by Marc Segal. At times the drag Sophia seemed out of place and by play's end the chemistry with the other GG's was totally lacking. Another character I found a bit baffling was the therapist Dr. Greenberg, played by Donna Pieroni. The 4 men seek her assistance in an attempt to understand their obsession with the GG's but it turns out Dr. Greenberg has her own addiction to different TV personas, one being Florence from The Jeffersons. This was a bit too much to take in. Pieroni's character came off underwhelming and overreaching in her relevance to the play. I feel she would have been the most affective in a more limited role.

A final critique (whewww!) I must dish out is in regards to Act II. Act I did an amazing job at setting up the characters, who they are, what they're about, and why they associate so much with the Girls, but Act II was a bit... shall I say... hooo hummm. Act II had the actors going through the motions, reenacting some of the GG's best scenes word for word. But as one theatre audience member put it, "I wish there was more originality in the second act. I have the seasons on DVD at home. If I wanted to see the scenes reenacted this way I could have stayed home, put on a wig, and done it myself." Ouch! But I must agree. Act I showed genuine originality, and even allowed the actors to ad lib from time to time with great success. But because Act II required the characters to replicate the scenes verbatim, it toned down the overall potential of the play.

The saving grace of the play, however, was the interaction between Dorothy, Blanche, and Rose. I found myself LOL every time these three took the stage and that is where I give this play it's highest marks. If you're looking for a humorous way to spend an evening in an intimate, and up-close setting then grab a pal and a confidant and head to the Meta Theatre on Melrose in LA and treat yourself to The Golden Gays. For pure laughs this one is hard to beat!

Toñito's Rating:        B -

-Antonio Xzavier Garcia

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WHAT: "The Golden Gays," written by John Patrick Trapper. Directed by Sean Riley.

WHO: Starring Guy Windsor, Brian Rohan, Kevin Fabian, Marc Segal, Donna Pieroni, and Nick Denning.

WHERE: The Meta Theatre, 7801 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, Calif.

WHEN: Plays for a limited time, evenings, Fri-Sun.

LINK/TIX:  http://www.thegoldengays.com/