Robles’ first post CSI production The Rookie and the Runner, is a ten minute short film about a gay Latino who ends up bargaining for something a little more hazardous than shin splints while running through Elysian Park. The short has screened in more than 20 festivals throughout America and Europe. Last month it played at Hollywood’s Egyptian Theatre in Outfest’s Fusion LGBT People of Color Film Festival.

Adelante caught up with Mr. Robles to discuss why he left the industry to make independent films.

Castel: So why did you return to indie filmmaking?
Robles: You can work your whole life in the business and never work on a top rated show. I was blessed to have that opportunity to play with the “big toys.” It was a good fit because they challenged me, and I expected a lot from myself.
No one knows what we do as editors; our work is the invisible art. I love the craft of editing but I wanted to get into the director’s chair, and the only way for me to do that was to write and direct my own movie.

I also have this political part of me that wants to see more images of Latinos in the media. There are very few people of color on TV. It’s gotten better since when we were growing up, but if we talk about gay people of color— you don’t see us at all. The industry is Hetro-normative to the 50th degree. I think that’s why actors are so closeted. It is that strong, that pervasive! I read somewhere recently that the four major networks still get an “F” rating for diversity. Just before every season hiatus, I thought that if I could work on my own film then I’d go back to editing CSI and not be this frustrated director. Often, during the hiatus, I’d cut short films for my friends but never my own. That’s when I decided I had to make a short film.

Castel: Tell me about The Rookie and the Runner.
Robles: It’s about a really hot guy being chased by two other hot guys in Elysian Park. The runner’s interested in them both, but one of them has bad intentions, and he doesn’t know which one is which.

Castel: Why did you make this film?
Robles: In CSI it’s about the cops always being right. With the Rookie, I flipped that idea around because I think cops going out there and entrapping people in the parks is wrong. I also really just wanted to make a gay action chase movie. But this is a fantasy because you don’t usually get away from the cops. If someone is entrapping you and you’ve put yourself in the position where the runner is in the film, you don’t get away . . . in that way it’s a fantasy, but what resonates as authentic, I hope, are the rituals around cruising and same sex desire.

Castel: Men do like a good sport. . . What’s been the audience’s response?
Robles: Nobody ever talks about the entrapment element in the film . . . they say things like “it’s sweet,” or it “doesn’t apologize for desire.” I’m not interested in making a coming out movie where someone is struggling with their desire. The runner isn’t confused about what he likes, he’s not ashamed of what he’s doing. That’s why there’s an innocence to it . . . it’s about anonymous sex, and how transgressive it is in our society. But at the core it’s a story about two guys making an imitate connection.

Castel: That’s so Sexual Outlaw by John Rechy. What’s your new film?
Robles: It’s a story about a middle-aged, alcoholic artist who had a lot of potential but winds up alienated and frustrated. He draws a figure of a man, and the man in the drawing comes to life and becomes his lover. Think of a gay episode of the Twilight Zone !

I want the audience to think: ‘Is this really happening, or is he going crazy?’ It’s also framed around the universal notion of falling in love. But what is it really like to fall in love? You do go a little crazy when you fall for somebody. There are studies about how the brain works when you fall in love, the initial pull is unreasonable. It’s called infatuation. For the artist, his life is so unfulfilled he prefers fantasy to the real thing.

I’m working with the visual artist Hector Silva. He’s going to do original drawings for us to use in the film. I think it’s going to be a really cool fit.

Castel: What’s the length and budget?
Robles: It’s a short, so less than 15 minutes, otherwise it gets a lot harder to program in festivals. A true budget is hard to peg since many things will be donated to us in terms of time and labor. But, the trick now is to do some quick fundraising. What I have to remember, because I hate asking people for money, is that people really liked the Rookie and there are investors out there willing to give money to see gay people of color on the screen. My film could be about a straight guy falling in love with a woman. But it’s about two Latino men. My work will always be infused with politics, style, and the craft.

By Joseph Castel

We decided we wanted that transcendent experience. Several years later, we only had the time and money to spend two days in Johannesburg and two in Kruger National Park. We decided to take the risk that maybe we wouldn’t even be able to see any of the major animals; for us it was now or never.

When most people think of a safari, they picture massive herds of animals followed by smaller herds of tourist mini-buses on the plains of East Africa. South Africa offers a more intimate and uncrowded opportunity near major cities (which means you can experience the wild and still have the benefits of civilization, like clean water, culture, and political stability). It’s an underappreciated destination.

South Africa calls itself the Rainbow Nation because of its diverse population, with 11 official languages. The post-apartheid constitution of 1998 made it the first country in the world to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation and in 2006 it became the fifth country to legalize same-sex marriage. HIV-AIDS affects 12 percent of the population, the highest in the world, so it is not perceived as a gay disease, although South Africa has a mixed record of dealing with it. The gay community is large and very active (see Resources at the end).

The climate is warm and dry much of the year, with seasons opposite to those in the U.S. The rainy season is November through March, but storms last an hour or two and tours continue in between at discounted prices. We decided to go in early April before the high season’s prices and heat kicked in.

Our first step in preparing was to go to Passport Health in Los Angeles, which is owned by native South African Rayann Aziz for a customized review of our medical history and needs, including malaria tablets and an emergency medical kit.

We chose South African Airways because it has the most flights at the best prices and provides much better customer service than the competition. We flew out of Washington, D.C. to O.R. Tambo airport.

Joburg (as locals call it) is the business capital of South Africa, with 3.2 million people. While some areas are potentially risky, the same precautions would apply to visiting large U.S. cities. The first impression is of a Mediterranean town, with its low buildings and red-tiled roofs (with solar panels), as well as low-key billboards. But it has six million trees, making it the world’s largest man-made urban forest. The Gautrain is an easy, inexpensive, and safe way to get around to most areas and taxis are reasonably priced.

We stayed at the Saxon Hotel in the suburb of Sandton (where Nelson Mandela spent a year writing his autobiography, My Long Walk to Freedom, published in 1994 when he became South Africa’s first democratically-elected president). It has been repeatedly ranked one of the best boutique hotels in the world, famous for its secluded location, beautiful grounds, original African contemporary art, and wine cellar.

After sleeping off jet lag when we arrived on a Sunday morning, we still had time to make it to the Origins Centre, an excellent exhibition on early humans at the University of Witwatersrand. Rian Malan, author of the classic text about apartheid, “My Traitor’s Heart,” once said, “There is a possibility that Johannesburg was once the Garden of Eden, that our ancestors would have lived here 150,000 to 200,000 years ago.” That reference was serendipitous, it would turn out.

Origins focuses on how humans spread across the globe after leaving Africa (the cosmic joke on the former racist regime is that the evidence that we share 99.9 percent of the same DNA came from South Africa; the university offers a test for visitors who want to know their ancestral details). Origins also shows what is regarded as the first indication of modern humans: art in the form of a carved rock and a necklace dated at 77,000 years.

The next day we were picked up by guide Chris Green of Cashan Tours for a day in the Cradle of Humankind an hour out of Joburg, 300 caves that include Sterkfontein, the world’s longest archaeological excavation, which has produced a third of the world’s early hominid fossils (human-like creatures, some of them our ancestors). Nearby, the first evidence was found of hominid control of fire as early as 1.8 million years ago.

We started at the Maropeng Centre, whose interactive displays show the progress of evolution after our ancestors diverged from apes back 8 million years. Now we are so rapidly using up resources that we are failing to adapt to the new environment, which is what caused the extinction of our cousins.

On Tuesday morning we took a Federal Air hour-long flight onto the airstrip at Sabi Sabi Game Reserve. It is located in southwest Kruger National Park, the largest wildlife sanctuary in the country, and last year Conde Nast Traveler readers voted it the best safari camp in Africa.

At 4 p.m., Ranger Marcus took a small group of us in an open Land Rover for our first three-hour drive through the savannah of tall grass and occasional trees (take Dramamine or three ginger capsules a half hour in advance, since the roads are rough). While this area gave us the best chance to encounter the Big Five (lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, Cape buffalos), there are visitors who visit for five days and encounter only one. For the first couple of hours we only saw impala antelope.

Then suddenly we came across a leopard and the hair on the back of our necks stood up as it majestically strolled so close we could have touched it, if we wanted to lose a hand (Marcus said that the only time one had attacked was when someone stood up to take pictures; wild animals tolerate vehicles unless surprised). Travelers know that if a picture is worth a thousand words, a direct encounter is worth a thousand pictures and this was one of those moments.

An hour later, as we turned a corner in the darkness just before arriving back at the camp, we nearly ran into a mother white rhino and her baby. Baby started towards us out of curiosity, as the mother snorted a warning and Marcus put the Rover in reverse, warning us not to take flash pictures. This was no zoo.

The next morning we encountered a small group of elephants, which quickly disappeared. We also came across rare and colorful wild dogs playing, as well as zebras, not often seen this time of year. The highlight was when we parked at a watering hole and soon found ourselves surrounded by 200 Cape buffalo, which usually travel in groups of less than 15. They and leopards are the two creatures which cannot be bluffed to back away: if they feel threatened, they will attack. We very, very slowly made our way through the herd to avoid being trapped for hours.

During the evening drive, we saw nothing but impala, so we realized how lucky we had been.

As Henry David Thoreau wrote, “In wildness is the preservation of the world.” We need to unplug periodically to get in touch with nature and the Eden within, otherwise evolution will move on to the next stage without us.

RESOURCES
Gay events, hotels, bars, and other friendly places www.GaySouthAfrica.net
Best book DK Eyewitness Travel South Africa
Tour guide Chris Green www.cashantours.weebly.com
Itineraries for visitors www.southafrica.net
Origins Centre www.origins.org.za
Maropeng www.maropeng.co.za
Passport Health www.passporthealthla.com 323/297-0700 (or outside L.A. www.passporthealthusa.com)
South African Airways www.flysaa.com or www.flysaavacations.com 800-593-1318
Saxon Hotel www.saxon.co.za
Sabi Sabi www.sabisabi.com
Federal Air www.fedair.com for flight to Sabi Sabi

By Scott S. Smith and Sandra Wells

Fotos cortesía de Nacional Records

Alberto: Hablando un poco sobre ti, tu padre vivía en Brasil y luego se mudó a Chile, teniendo esto también como parte de tu pasado, ¿te sientes 100% chileno o quedan en la familia tradiciones brasileñas?
Alex: Él es un chileno que vivió toda su vida en Brasil y se siente parte de ambas culturas. Yo me siento muy chileno, aunque con algunas influencias inusuales -al igual que mucha gente, supongo-. En mi caso conviven, por ejemplo, una ética de trabajo muy alemana con una infancia entera de música popular brasilera. No sé qué cosa extraña sale de eso.
 
Alberto: Eres parte de una nueva generación chilena, que quiere cambios, lo manifiestas también a través de tu música. Afortunadamente eres un joven talentoso que puedes escribir, componer y hasta dirigir videos de tu música…¿Cómo te describes y cómo describes tu música?
Alex: Creo que la mejor manera que tengo para describirme es escribiendo canciones o videos. Es una forma de canalizar la personalidad propia muy articulada y, sin embargo, apta para interpretaciones y eso me acomoda mucho. Las categorías, por otro lado, no tanto. Mi esfuerzo es por hacer música chilena, latinoamericana, popular, con una producción ojalá innovadora que haga realmente avanzar este tipo de música en oposición a ser derivativa, que sea honesta e idealmente que no sea ajena a temas sociales relevantes.

Alberto: Hablemos de tu disco REBELDES…tengo entendido que no existe fisicamente, ¿lo promueves como descargas digitales? ¿por qué no el disco físico?
Alex: La verdad, sí existe físicamente, pero no en los Estados Unidos. En México y Chile sí está editado. Ahora acaba de salir en Chile en vinilo también.

Alberto: Dentro de tu disco REBELDES está el tema TORMENTA, que cuenta con un video impactante, que se ha descrito como un video pansexual, ya que aparecen parejas en momentos íntimos de manifestación de amor, incluyendo parejas del mismo sexo. Háblanos de cómo surgió el concepto para este video.
Alex: Este video es el primero que no dirijo yo mismo en un buen tiempo. Lo dirigió Álvaro Aponte, un cineasta de Puerto Rico, y él me mencionó que lo había inspirado mi trabajo audiovisual y las temáticas de diversidad y género que yo había mostrado ahí antes (sobre todo en el video de “¿Cómo puedes vivir contigo mismo?”). La canción es bastante romántica y sentimental por lo que toda esta imaginería sensual/sexual me parece un contrapunto bien interesante.

Alberto: La juventud chilena actual está muy involucrada en la lucha por tener educación de calidad y de manera gratuita, tú no eres la excepción en esta lucha. ¿Cuál exactamente es tu postura?
Alex: Mi postura es la misma que la gran mayoría de chilenos, no solamente jóvenes: la educación debe dejar de ser un “bien de consumo” (como la describió nuestro propio presidente) y transformarse en un derecho. El estado debe garantizar que todas las personas tengan acceso a una educación pública gratuita y de calidad, con el fin de -entre otras cosas- disminuir la horrenda desigualdad que tiene nuestra sociedad. Ahora, en cambio, puedes recibir una educación buena solamente si tienes dinero: tenemos colegios y universidades para ricos, y colegios y universidades para pobres. Es, en definitiva, un sistema que perpetúa segregación.
 
Alberto: En tus años de formación, creciste admirando a Michael Jackson. ¿Cambió tu opinión sobre él cuando surgieron las acusaciones de abuso infantil?
Alex: No diría “cambió”, más bien se complejizó. Las acusaciones de abuso infantil (que, para ser honesto, eran muy probables, si bien no fueron probadas) ciertamente influyeron en mi percepción -al igual que todo el mundo- que Michael estaba más loco de lo que pensábamos. También tuvo el mismo efecto verlo colgar a su bebé de un balcón en Berlín o el documental de Martin Bashir. Su música, sin embargo, sigue siendo parte de la mejor música que se hizo en el siglo XX y sería un ejercicio extraño rehusarse a disfrutarla por todo eso, aunque evidentemente lo respetaría si alguien lo hiciera.

Alberto: Tengo entendido que en la actualidad estás concentrándote en escribir los temas para lo que será un disco nuevo, ¿qué puedes adelantarnos sobre este?
Alex: Estoy escribiendo canciones y viendo qué sale. A veces me sorprendo a mi mismo con una intención y un resultado inesperado. Y es bueno respetar eso. Mi idea es grabarlo este año y publicarlo el próximo.

Alberto: Recientemente has tenido presentaciones en los Estados Unidos y en México, ¿cómo te ha recibido la gente en estos países?
Alex: Sí, para mí realmente es súper especial siempre ir a otros países y ver que reaccionan con intensidad a mis canciones. En todos lados el público tiene su particularidad y es muy interesante para mí ver qué relación tienen con lo que escribo, qué cosas disfrutan más en los shows, etc.

Alberto: Adelante Magazine es una publicación GLBT, para terminar danos un mensaje para nuestros lectores y dinos cómo podemos seguirte a ti y tu música (website, facebook, twitter, etc.)
Alex: Mi mensaje para los lectores de Adelante es que, si les importa el tema, no descansen en transmitir un mensaje de aceptación de la diversidad. Muchas veces uno vive en comunidades o ambientes más tolerantes, que sí aceptan a todo tipo de personas, pero esto no es absoluto común. En Latinoamérica solamente hay un clima de discriminación muy grande, herencia en gran parte de la iglesia católica, y gente es abusada, golpeada y muerta constantemente. Esto, en mi opinión, es algo por lo que preocuparse activamente y sin descanso. Hasta que se transforme en el pasado.

Me pueden encontrar visitando mi página alexanwandter.com, en facebook sólo buscando “Alex Anwandter”, y en twitter en @alexanwandter.
Muchas gracias a ustedes.

Por: Alberto Orozco

GoGo Dancer
La primera vez que fui a un night club y vi a los go go dancers me entró la curiosidad por saber qué se sentía, luego me ofrecieron hacerlo y fue hasta que comencé con un amigo.

Compañía de Mudanza
Lo de trabajar para una compañía de mudanzas lo veo como un part time porque me dedico más a bailar. Es algo que me distrae, me gusta y es dinero extra.

Lugar para Viajar
De los lugares que he visitado, el lugar que me ha causado mejor impresión es Miami, por el clima, me desestresa.

Con los Amigos
Me gusta reunirme con mis amigos para platicar, salir a caminar, o cualquier cosa.

Pasatiempos
Me gusta escuchar música e ir al gimnasio. No me enfoco en el gimnasio al 100%, nadamás lo uso como pasatiempo porque me gusta. También me gusta ver películas en casa.

Relación
Tengo 5 años en una relación. Vivo con mi pareja. Nos conocimos en San Francisco. Al principio mi pareja no aceptaba que yo bailara, pero con el tiempo entendió que es solo mi trabajo y que eso no significa que no lo respete. Estando abajo del escenario soy la persona del que él se enamoró y lo respeto. Me apoya y me ha ayudado a salir adelante, me entusiama y me valora como ser humano.

Fantasía Sexual
Me gustaría estar en una orgía, estar como con cinco o seis. Se lo he comentado a mi pareja pero nunca he estado en una. Sería increible pero es solo una fantasía.

Facebook: Anthonio pm

A “Catch 22” situation arises and causes you frustration early in the month. Creative thinking could turn things around, however. Don’t be afraid to try the unusual. A Libra friend shows you the positive side. Cynicism slows you down. Financial problems may arise later in the month.

TAURO/TAURUS: Las ausencias hacen sentir triste al corazón, especialmente si estás involucrado con un Escorpión. Una desición que tomaste hace algunos meses te afectará este mes. Un problema que surgirá resultará ser una bendición. Espera retrasos. Leo te causa frustración este mes.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, especially if you’re involved with Scorpio. A decision you made several months ago has an effect on you this month. A problem that arises will be a blessing in disguise. Expect delays. Leo causes you frustration this month.

GÉMINIS/GEMINI: Un Tauro de tu pasado resurge. Sentirás el toro un poco más profundo de lo que recordabas. Un descanso en medio de tus ajetreadas ocupaciones te cambiará el ánimo. No tengas miedo a ceder para relajarte. No es tan malo! Escorpión juega su papel. Acción decisiva es la clave este mes.

A Taurus from your past resurfaces. You’ll find the bull a little deeper than you remember. A mid-month break from your busy schedule brightens your mood. Don’t be afraid to give in to relaxation. It’s really not so bad! Scorpio plays a role. Decisive action is key this month.

CANCER: Un gran mes! Algo por lo que trabajaste muy duro y quisiste for mucho tiempo es finalmente tuyo. No tengas miedo de celebrar a lo grande. Viene más tiempo libre, asi que no te preocupes de utilizarlo. Un fin de semana romántico se aproxima. Tauro está en el esquema. Las finanzas se ven bien.

A great month! Something you worked hard for and wanted for some time is finally yours. Don’t be afraid to celebrate in a big way. More free time is on the way, so don’t be afraid to take advantage. An especially romantic weekend is in store. Taurus plays a role. Finances look good.

LEO: Mantén a tu lado las cosas valiosas, o alguien que amas podría perderse. Esto es especialmente cierto si estás viajando este mes. Trata de sacar lo mejor de una situación desfavorable. Pensar negativo solo hace las cosas peores. Mantenerte enfocado ayuda a mantenerte en paz en un mundo de trabajo muy ocupado.

Keep a tight hold on valuables or something you love could be lost. This is especially true if you’re traveling this month. Try to make the best of a bad situation. Negative thinking makes matters worse. Staying focused helps you keep pace with a busy workload.

VIRGO: Hablar las cosas es el único medio para que los demás entiendan tus frustraciones. Mantener todo oculto no te ayudará. Un coqueteo en el trabajo puede ser la receta para el desastre. Debes saber en lo que te estás metiendo antes de sonreir de esa manera. Leo se ve involucrado. Es un buen momento para entrar en contacto con viejos amigos.

Speaking up is the only way to make others aware of your frustrations. Keeping it all bottled in won’t help one bit. A flirtation at work could be a recipe for disaster. Know what you’re getting into before flashing that smile. Leo is involved. A good time to get in touch with old friends.

LIBRA: Antes de buscar en lugares lejanos por algo que necesitas, mira justo enfrente de ti. Puede que no sea tan obvio al principio, pero pronto estará tan claro como el agua. Una muestra de independencia hará maravillas en un romance – especialmente con Escorpión. Una fuente inusual te informará sobre una oportunidad de inversión. Las buenas noticias vienen de tres en tres.

Before searching far for something you need, take a look right in front of you. It may not seem so obvious at first, but it will be crystal clear in time. A show of independence will work wonders in a romance – especially with Scorpio. An unusual source tells you of an investment opportunity. Good news comes in threes.

ESCORPION/SCORPIO: El tiempo que pasas a solas te da la oportunidad de pensar sobre tus problemas. Podrás resolver una situación con la que tenías problemas ya hace tiempo. Si estás en una posición de mando, te darás cuenta que se está muy solo en la cumbre. El cambio es inminente en el romance.

Time spent alone gives you the opportunity to think through problems. You’ll be able to come to terms with a situation that has been troubling you for some time. If you’re in a management position, you may find that it’s lonely at the top. Change is imminent in a romance.

SAGITARIO/SAGITTARIUS: Una oportunidad en tu carrera podría llegar cuando menos lo esperas. Antes de descartar algo, considéralo dos veces. Puede que haya algo que no habías visto la primera vez. Si estás pensando comprar algo importante, asegúrate de buscar bien. No firmes ningún cheque a menos que estés obteniendo un buen trato.

A career opportunity could come your way when you least expect it. Before discounting it at face value, take a deeper look. There may be more than meets the eye. If a major purchase is in the works, be sure to shop around. Don’t write out any check unless you’re getting a good deal.

CAPRICORNIO/CAPRICORN: Ve hacia el pasado para poder resolver un problema del presente. Verás que el tiempo todo lo cura. Escorpión te ofrecerá palabras sabias. Nuevo romance debe ser evitado este mes – especialmente si se trata de un Virgo. Analiza de manera introspectiva para obtener respuestas.

Look back to the past to help fix a problem today. You’ll find that time has a way of repeating itself. Scorpio offers some words of wisdom. New romance should be avoided this month – especially if a Virgo is in the picture. An introspective mood leads you to answers.

ACUARIO/AQUARIUS: Una oferta de un amigo para ayudarte puede que no sea tan inofensiva. Puede que haya motivos que desconoces. Si estás buscando un nuevo trabajo, este puede ser un buen momento. Asegúrate de explorar todas las opciones. Las invitaciones sociales están más abundantes ahora. No temas a pasártela bien.

A friend’s offer of help may not be totally selfless. There could be some motives you’re not totally aware of. If you’re looking for a new job, this could be a lucky time. Be sure to explore all options. Social invitations are more abundant now. Don’t be afraid to have some fun.

PISCIS/PISCES: Te las verás un poco apretado con tus finanzas, especialmente si te has movido o has tenido gastos adicionales recientemente. Cuida tu presupuesto para que te endereses. Una lista de cosas por hacer te ayudará a organizarte en tu trabajo. Actividades sociales tendrán que quedarse esperando para atender obligaciones familiares este mes.

Finances will become an issue –especially if you have moved or taken on additional expenses recently. Careful budgeting will get you through. A “to-do” list helps keep you organized at work. Social activities may have to take a back seat to family obligations this month.

Fashion Institute of Technology
En el Fashion Institute of Technology de New York aprendí que nadie hace nada por ti. La escuela se enfocaba en moda, pero no necesariamente era mi enfoque, entonces aprendí que para hacer algo yo tenía que tomar la iniciativa. Al tomar la iniciativa se me abrieron muchas puertas. He estado enseñando arte en dos museos de arte contemporáneo, en New York y en Los Ángeles. No debes esperar que los museos te encuentren.

Collage
Como persona creativa visual colecciono todo tipo de imágenes. Ahora con cámaras en los teléfonos siempre estoy tomando fotos, creando nuevas imágenes. De niño me atraía la moda, pero nunca vi imágenes que me representaran a mi o a mi abuela que es quién me traía revistas de moda. Al crear un collage podía crear un mundo que me representara, de ahí nace la idea del collage.

Proceso de Creación
Es un proceso muy orgánico, si encuentro un imagen de fotos o si encuentro diferentes imágenes de figuras, comienzo a dibujar en el lienzo como inspiración. Hay mil y una formas de comenzar, pero creo que debe haber inspiración para plasmar una idea. Siempre estoy cortando y pegando papel, luego dibujo la imagen en el lienzo, hago cambios de color, forma, escala…

Collage Vs Arte Abstracto
La verdad no sé como definir mi arte. Cuando estoy haciendo una nueva pintura hay un sentimiento o una emoción que hace que pinte, pero cuando me piden que defina mis obras me es complicado porque es abstracto figurativo.

Lo Que Expreso
Yo con la educación que he tenido sobre arte, creo que lo que hago es arte americano, transmite mis experiencias, exploro mi identidad a través del collage, las imágenes que escojo pueden representar secretos, protestas sutiles…al pintar algo estoy diciendo que existo, y puedo incluso expresar mi homosexualidad a través de mi arte. Me gusta que la gente al ver mi arte lo sienta incluso fisicamente.

www.luismartinart.com
martin@luismartinart.com

Dr. Galván: ¿Hasta qué punto participan los hombres gay latinos y las latinas transgénero en el trabajo de ARA?
Dr. Griggs: En nuestro ensayo clínico de vacunas para el VIH, tenemos cerca de 13% latinos.

Dr. Galván: ¿Por qué a los hombres latinos gays y a las mujeres latinas transgénero debería darles importancia la investigación de vacunas para el VIH?
Dr. Griggs: La transmisión del VIH en la comunidad latina sigue aumentando. Así que definitivamente tenemos que hacer más.
Dr. Brown: No vamos a ser capaces de salir de esta enfermedad solamente con tratamientos. Sin una vacuna, no vamos a ser capaces de tener una generación libre del SIDA.

Dr. Galván: ¿Qué avances se han hecho en los últimos 15 años debido a la investigación de vacunas para el VIH?
Dr. Brown: Los primeros dos estudios enfocados en vacunas para el VIH no tuvieron resultados positivos. Afortunadamente, hubo un estudio de una vacuna llamada RV144 que se realizó con una población muy grande. Esa fue la primera que fue capaz de mostrar alguna prevención (contra el VIH). La investigación de esa vacuna ha abierto el camino en términos de qué dirección tenemos que estar tomando.
Dr. Griggs: RV144 mostró alrededor de un 30% de protección contra el VIH en las personas que recibieron la vacuna en comparación a las que recibieron el placebo. Así que, a pesar de que no es un porcentaje muy alto de protección, demuestra que si damos un cierto tipo de vacuna, podrá realmente proteger a algunas personas de adquirir el VIH.

Dr. Galván: ¿Qué deberían de saber los hombres latinos gays y las mujeres latinas transgénero sobre el trabajo que ustedes hacen?
Dr. Griggs: La mayoría de los medicamentos para el VIH se han estudiado principalmente entre hombres blancos. Estamos aquí para cambiar eso. Esperamos que los latinos estén más involucrados en los ensayos clínicos. En algunos estudios, algunos medicamentos son mejores, o no tan buenos, en ciertas poblaciones, pero esto no se sabe hasta que tengamos los estudios actuales y las investigaciones. Así es como se resuelve. Por lo tanto, (la participación en ensayos clínicos) beneficiaría a la comunidad latina.

Para más información, favor de llamar a BIENESTAR (323) 727-7896 o ARA (310) 358-2423.

Latinos and HIV Vaccine Research

AIDS Research Alliance (ARA) is an independent research organization working to advance HIV/AIDS research. ARA is currently conducting research on a vaccine to prevent HIV transmission. Dr. Frank Galván of Bienestar Human Services spoke with Dr. Stephen Brown (Vice President and Medical Director) and Dr. Kevin Griggs (Clinical Research Pharmacist) about the search for an HIV vaccine.

Dr. Galván: To what extent do Latino gay men and transgender Latinas participate in the work of ARA?
Dr. Griggs: In our HIV vaccine clinical trial, we have about 13% Latinos.

Dr. Galván: Why should HIV vaccine research be of importance to Latino gay men and Latina transgender women?
Dr. Griggs: The rates of HIV transmission in the Latino community are continuing to rise. So we definitely need to do more.
Dr. Brown: We are not going to be able to treat our way out of this disease. Without a vaccine, we will not be able to have an AIDS-free generation.

Dr. Galván: What advancements have been made in the last 15 years in HIV vaccine research?
Dr. Brown: The first two major studies looking at HIV vaccines did not have positive results. Fortunately, there was a study of a vaccine called RV144 that was done on a very large population. That was the first one that was able to show some prevention (against HIV). Research on that particular vaccine has opened up the field in terms of what direction we need to be moving towards.
Dr. Griggs: RV144 showed about a 30% protection against HIV in those who received the vaccine versus those who received the placebo. So even though that’s not a very high percent of protection, it does show that if we give a certain type of vaccine, it can actually protect some people from acquiring HIV.

Dr. Galván: What should Latino gay men and Latina transgender women know about the work you do?
Dr. Griggs: Most medications for HIV have been studied largely in White males. We are here to change that. We would hope that Latinos would be more involved in clinical trials. In some studies, some medications are better, or not so good, in certain populations, but you don’t know that until you have the actual studies and the research. That is how you figure it out. So, (participation in clinical trials) would benefit the Latino community.

For more information, please contact BIENESTAR (323) 727-7896 or ARA (310) 358-2423.

By: Dr. Frank Galván, Bienestar

PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT
The Pantages Theatre
May 28 – June 16, 2013
It’s the most OUTRAGEOUSLY FUN Broadway musical: PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT! This spectacular show tells the uplifting story of a trio of friends on a road trip of a lifetime, who hop aboard a battered old bus searching for love and friendship in the middle of the Australian outback and end up finding more than they could ever have dreamed. An international hit with over 500 dazzling, 2011 Tony Award-winning costumes, PRISCILLA features a hit parade of dance-floor favorites including “It’s Raining Men,” “Finally” and “I Will Survive.” The Hollywood Reporter calls PRISCILLA “funny and fabulous! Joyous entertainment with eye-popping visuals and unexpected heart!”
http://www.broadwayla.org/production/show.info.asp?ID=84

The Scottsboro Boys
Ahmanson Theatre
May 21 – June 30
“The Scottsboro Boys,” explores a shocking and pivotal chapter in American history with arresting originality, innovative staging and piercing new songs. The show is based on the infamous “Scottsboro” case in the 1930s, and tells the story of the nine unjustly accused African American men whose lives would eventually spark the Civil Rights Movement.
“The Scottsboro Boys” received 12 Tony Award nominations in 2011, including Best Musical.
Tickets for “The Scottsboro Boys” are available at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org, the CTG box office located at the Ahmanson Theatre.
http://www.centertheatregroup.org/tickets/The-Scottsboro-Boys/

Here is a continuation of the summary of new items I learned:

MORE ON PREMATURE AGING
HIV patients have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease than HIV negatives. So please pay attention to reducing your risks. You can’t change your age or heredity but you can watch your weight, eat healthy foods, stop smoking, exercise, and monitor and treat high cholesterol. Sure, we are great at managing the patient who survives the first hours of a heart attack, but it is better to prevent one. By brother-in-law (HIV negative) just died suddenly at 64 of this, survived by many of his relatives and friends older than him.

Hardening of the arteries is usually seen on scanning as hard plaque (calcium present). HIV+s may have a softer plaque, not seen as well on these tests, but they still block arteries and cause death of heart tissue (heart attack).

DIFFERENT VIRUSES
The HIV in your blood is different than the virus in your genital secretions, and from the one you give to others through sex. The infectious virus population in your genitals has the ability to hide in small membrane bound spheres (episomes). The membrane is from you, human, so it can transfer to the other more easily, hiding from the immune protections in the genital secretions. HIV is very tricky.

AFRICAN PEOPLE
African Americans, 13-24 years old are showing the greatest increase in HIV, mainly in the South (USA). A bad economy causes people to not travel as much outside of their group of friends that they have sex with so the HIV infects more members of the group. They are seeing more deaths recently in this group. These groups are a “pool” since they have a few members moving between groups. Just having 2-3 partners increases the connectedness enough so that the virus moves rapidly through a pool.

20% of men who have sex with men (MSMs) in Malawi have HIV. Big number! I am planning a second trip to Malawi this summer.

Circumcision is working well in Africa to prevent infection and is as good as “TasP” (treatment as prevention) of all who have HIV and CD4s above 350, but much less expensive. New, safer, and quicker methods are being developed for this operation.

HEPATITIS C
In the USA there are 4 million Hepatitis C infected, 1 million with HIV, and 200,000 have both. There are 6 genotypes that respond to therapies differently. So much studying must be done to see which new medications work on which genotypes. There are subtypes, e.g. 1a,1b,1c. Reinfection happens. Some have taken a year of treatment, gone back to unprotected sex or needles and catch it again. 15% of Hep C patients cure themselves. Of the rest about 25% have liver function impairment up to cirrhosis/failure. Treating HIV slows HepC. Some powerful and tolerable medication regimens were presented, very hopeful! If resistance develops, then if you wait 6-12 months, the resistance goes away as the virus population changes. The resistant virus cannot compete well with the wild type (non-resistant). HIV is different; it hides in the body so the resistance doesn’t ever go away.

BIRTH CONTROL
Injectable birth control increases HIV transmission risk a little. A common hormone doubles the amount of HIV in the vaginal secretions in one study but not in another.

CONDOMS, MSMs
A great study showing that condoms work; the more they are used, the more prevention achieved. This was a strong belief based on good principles and not great data before. A very large number of MSMs do not use condoms 100% of the time, even though a survey of condom users feel they get just as much enjoyment out of sex with or without a condom.

Receptive anal intercourse in MSMs has a high probability of transmitting HIV. Switching from top to bottom and back again also increases transmission risk. HIV can be transmitted through large MSM networks very fast, faster than hetero groups.

HOME HIV TESTING
With the availability of tests that can be done in the home, this has increased testing in Africa. The problem is linking them with a clinic and counseling if positive. We probably have the same problem in the USA. This test can help those who won’t go for testing in a clinic. Some partners test each other before sex so they know what the risk is. This is called serosorting (sero=serum or type). Don’t forget there is a window of a few weeks to a few months where you have HIV but the test is negative. This test does not test for other sexually transmitted diseases or provide counseling or link you to a clinic for treatment. There was one study that showed home tests might have increased HIV transmissions among Seattle MSMs.

With the previous mail-in test, there were no reported suicides or violence and 65% of the positives accepted referrals to care.

Keep those questions coming. Be Safe!
Daniel Pearce, D.O., FACOI, AAHIVS
Associate Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine, Loma Linda University
HIV Specialist, Riverside County Public Health Department
Hepatitis C Specialist and Researcher, Southern California Liver Centers, Riverside
HIV Researcher, Desert AIDS Project

References: My notes from the abstracts and presentations from CROI

Dos exámenes de sangre que se le hicieron a la bebé a las 30 horas de su nacimiento confirmaron la presencia de la infección, por lo que se comenzó un tratamiento para el VIH con el objetivo de continuarlo de por vida para evitar complicaciones de SIDA.

La suerte de la bebé pareció empeorar a los 18 meses cuando la persona que la cuidaba dejó de darle el tratamiento para el VIH. Cuando por fin los doctores pudieron ver a la bebé nuevamente, ya llevaba 5 meses sin tratamiento. Los doctores estaban seguros de que a los 23 meses de nacida, las muestras de sangre mostrarían que la infección de VIH estaría fuera de control. Sin embargo, no se detectaron muestras de la infección del virus en su sangre. Casi un año después, la niña ya lleva más de 15 meses sin recibir tratamiento para el VIH y no hay señal del virus del VIH en su sangre. Se cree que este es el segundo caso confirmado en que una persona se cura del VIH.

El caso de esta bebé no nos da una muestra específica de cómo podemos curar a otras personas que padecen de una infección crónica por VIH. Cuando mucho, este caso nos permite ver con un poco más de claridad la diferencia entre un bebé infectado al nacer y un adulto con una infección crónica. Se cree que los medicamentos para el VIH administrados a las 31 horas de haber nacido, evitaron que el virus del VIH infectara ciertas células, llamadas “reservorios” de larga vida, lo cual habría provocado una infección crónica. Sin embargo, el caso de esta bebé sí nos ofrece una “prueba de concepto”; la infección crónica del VIH es el resultado de la infección de ciertas células de larga vida del sistema inmunológico, que puede durar varias décadas.

Este caso pudo haber sido trágico. Después de todo, ningún bebé nacido en los Estados Unidos debería de nacer con VIH ya que el tratamiento que se les da a las mamás infectadas elimina cualquier riesgo de infección con excepción de la transmisión vertical. Pero a pesar de la constante mala suerte de la bebé, la forma en que reaccionó al tratamiento que recibió a tiempo, solamente se puede describir como la mejor de las suertes. Unas horas más o tan solo unos minutos de retraso podrían haber cambiado las cosas y en lugar de la cura, el resultado habría sido una vida de infección crónica.

La buena noticia para la comunidad VIH, es que ahora los científicos están mucho más comprometidos que antes a identificar y a eliminar los “reservorios” latentes del VIH. Si ellos tienen éxito, existe la esperanza de que algún día podamos eliminar la infección del VIH en el cuerpo. Hasta entonces, los médicos y pacientes deberán de seguir con su compromiso de reducir la transmisión del VIH en la comunidad y de atender a los pacientes que viven con esta infección.

Para mayor información sobre servicios médicos para VIH, llame a AltaMed Medical Group, al 1-888-455-5540 o visítenos en nuestra clínica localizada en 5427 Whittier Blvd. Los Ángeles, CA 90022

A Report Of Hiv Cure From Croi 2013

At the 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2013 held this past March in Atlanta GA), the main headline was the cure of HIV observed in a child infected at birth. The child’s mother, who was HIV-infected, did not receive HIV treatment during her pregnancy. When she arrived at the hospital at 35 weeks of pregnancy, it was too late to administer antiretroviral drugs to the mother to protect the child. The child had evidence of infection confirmed on two blood tests, thirty hours after birth, and was subsequently started on HIV treatment, with the goal of maintaining lifelong treatment to prevent the complications of AIDS.

The child’s bad luck appeared to worsen at 18 months of age, when her caretaker stopped her HIV treatments. By the time the doctors were able to bring the child back in, more than 5 months off of treatment had transpired. The doctors expected that the child’s blood tests at 23 months of age would show evidence of severely uncontrolled HIV infection. What they found instead was that there was no measurable virus in the child’s blood. Nearly a year later, the child has now been off of HIV treatment for more than 15 months, still with no signs of HIV virus in the blood. This is believed to be the second confirmed case of HIV cure.

The infant’s case gives us no specific insight into how we can cure others with chronic HIV infection. If anything, the infant’s case illuminates the difference between an infant infected at birth and an adult with chronic infection. Presumably, the HIV medicines started at 31 hours of age prevented the virus in the child from infecting certain cells, termed the long-lived “reservoir”, which would have guaranteed chronic infection. However, the case of the infant does provide us a “proof of concept”; chronic HIV infection is a product of the HIV’s infection of specific long-living cells of the immune system, which can persist for decades.

The infant’s case could very well have been a tragic one. After all, no babies born in the United States should be born with HIV, as the treatment of infected moms all but eliminates the risk of vertical transmission. But despite the baby’s repeated bad luck, her response to early treatment can only be described as the best of luck. A delay of hours or even minutes could very well have been the difference between the child’s cure and a lifetime of chronic infection.

The good news for the rest of the HIV community is that scientists are committed now more than ever before to identifying and eliminating the latent “reservoir” of HIV. If they are successful, there is hope that we can someday eliminate HIV infection from the body. Until then, clinicians and patients must remain committed to reducing the transmission of HIV in the community and treating patients who are living with the infection.

For more information on HIV medical services, please call AltaMed Medical Group at 1-888-455-5540 or visit us in our clinic located at 5427 Whittier Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90022

By Dr. Scott Kim