What the Buck?

Gemmel Moore with his mother, Latisha Nixon

Well, what do you know? Detectives have had a change of heart and are now probing the death of a 26-year-old male escort at the home of Ed Buck, a wealthy Democratic donor. Despite the change of plans -- prompted by an outcry from activists, friends and family members who say Buck "got off" by watching young men of color inject drugs -- they are having trouble tracking down other alleged victims, of which they have been told there are many. The Los Angeles County Sheriff initially ruled Gemmel Moore's death an accidental drug overdose after he was found alone in a closed bathroom at Buck's West Hollywood apartment. Buck's lawyer says he had nothing to do with the young man's death -- but I guess you can never underestimate just how demented a gay man's sexual fetish might be. Read HERE.

If I Can't Have Tina ...

Not happy to hear that Yvonne Elliman -- who sang the wonderful "If I Can't Have You" on the blockbuster "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack -- was arrested with her husband for marijuana and methamphetamine en route to Guam to sing at a Catholic school charity event(!). Here's hoping the "Love Pains" put her on the straight and narrow.

One Family's Hell

Read a harrowing story about a family who lives not far from where I grew up in Arizona. One son, below, died in an auto accident and the other died after becoming an opiate/heroin addict -- something his pharmacist father and ER nurse mother didn't even realize was happening. Read HERE.

Is Donald Trump on Coke?

He still thinks Japan owns all of Manhattan and that hairspray is bad for the ozone layer, so I think it's a fair question. Watch HERE.

Prince Died of Painkiller Overdose, Autopsy Finds

So it was exactly as expected, not AIDS. Not sure I want to live in a world where the Santa Monica Observer isn't a reliable source of news!

Snow Days for 'Barb and Rach'

In Weston Ashley's disturbing new 10-episode Web series -- that evokes the result of an unwanted pregnancy of Mr. Bill and Jonathan Caouette's mother in "Tarnation" -- cocaine-loving Barb becomes increasingly dependent on drug-dealing pal Rach, who is going through an identity crisis of her own. Watch HERE.

Gov. Jerry Brown Pardons Robert Downey Jr. for 1996 Drug Conviction

Talk about white privilege. I wonder if he bought him one of those race-car beds for Christmas, too. Total bullshit. Why not pardon a non-violent drug felon who can't get a job because of his record? Read HERE.

Gilead Sciences HIV Drug Wins FDA Approval; Genvoya Has Potential to Advance Long-Term Treatment of HIV

I'm not the most knowledgeable person in the world about HIV treatments, but this sounds pretty huge to me:

The Wall Street Journal reports:

Gilead Sciences said Thursday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the biotech company’s single tablet regimen treatment for HIV-1 infection. Genvoya is the first drug with tenofovir alafenamide, or TAF, to receive FDA approval. Chief Executive John Martin said Genvoya is the first in a portfolio of TAF-based products that has the potential to advance the long-term treatment of HIV.

“While exceptional progress has been made in the field of HIV, there is still a need for new treatment options that may help improve the health of people as they grow older with the disease,” he said.

Dr. David Wohl, lead author of the Genvoya efficacy analysis, said that as the HIV patient population ages there is an increased risk for development of age- and treatment-related diseases, including low bone mineral density and renal impairment as a result of the combination of HIV infection, antiretroviral treatments and the natural aging process.
Genvoya is intended as a complete regimen for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults and children 12 years and older who have no antiretroviral treatment history or to replace a current antiretroviral regimen, according to Gilead.

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No PNP in PTown?

From my pal Kevin Sessums' Facebook:

I hear through the grapevine that Jane Clark's film "Meth Head" has been rejected for the Provincetown International Film Festival this year because some on the committee felt the film was too dark and would make too many people uncomfortable and wouldn't sell enough tickets even though "Meth Head" has been screened at film festivals throughout the country. Whose sensibilities are the committee members attempting to protect? It's not like no one has ever experimented or smoked or snorted or shot meth in this town - including me. Is John Waters still a guiding force for this film festival or has the ghost of Walt Disney displaced him?

 

Report: Gays Love the Drugs

Assuming the new study that says "one in five" gays show signs of "dependency on drugs or alcohol" is true, can it be much of a surprise? Nothing like having parents, lawmakers, school leaders, church leaders and the man running for president on a major political party's ticket telling you you're worthless to make you feel like crap about yourself, and seek an escape. Read HERE.