“My name is R.J. Smith — or ‘Elder Smith’ now,” says the lead character at the beginning of The Falls, the latest release from Breaking Glass Pictures. “I’m a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints — or you can use the acronym LDS if you wish.”
He goes on to tell us that he’s 20 years old and that in two days, he will be leaving on his mission.
“We are told at a young age that it is our duty as men to serve God through two years of missionary service. Mormons are told, if you serve a mission faithfully and well, you will be a better husband, father, student, and a better worker in your chosen vocation,” he says. So begins this intriguing new romantic drama written and directed by Jon Garcia.
Garcia grew up in Austin, Texas, and moved to Portland, Ore., in 2005 with the intention of becoming, in his words, “a traveling troubadour.” He even released two music CDs before he discovered filmmaking and surrendered to its call.
He went to film school, which led to his first feature, King of Hearts.
But it was while working with a local after-school program serving LGBT youth that, he says, “I was inspired by the people I was meeting and I wanted to write this story about a young man who was coming out to his family and friends in this small town.”
Garcia grew up Catholic, and he concedes that he didn’t know that much about LDS doctrine. Yet, he notes, “I’d always been interested in studying religions and did a lot of research -- I even went to an LDS temple where I met with these two missionaries, and that’s what I think really helped to give it all more authenticity.”
As the plot unfolds, R.J. is sent off on his mission, where he meets his companion in this Mormon rite of passage, Chris (or Elder Merrill), who is so conservative that he crosses out all the off-color language in the copy of The Catcher in the Rye that he’s reading. Right away, the two find one another equally sincere in their convictions and hit it off quite well.
Eventually, though, R.J. notices Chris becoming distracted and easily irritable, which causes him to slack off in their assignments. R.J. urges Chris to open up to him, and together the two ultimately confront the truth: Chris is gay, and he has developed strong feelings for R.J. This, in turn, stirs and strengthens R.J. to at last recognize that long-denied part of himself, as well: He, too, is a homosexual and he has equally strong feelings for Chris.
What follows is not always easy to watch, but anyone who has a familiarity with the Mormon church will see that Garcia has done his research. For instance, in exercising some degree of restraint during the production’s more intimate scenes, he ironically adds a greater credibility to them.
Once the men’s secrets are found out, R.J. realizes that his affections for Chris are not a sin, which leads him to make the bittersweet choice of leaving the spiritual institution that he still loves.
“It was really important to me to that the two still very much wanted to be part of the LDS church — and that they still, of course, believed in God. It’s just that there just wasn’t a place for them,” the director says.
Here Garcia is addressing those often-unrepresented individuals who, despite all that they may have been put through, are at heart non-aggressive toward their devout upbringings. In this way, perhaps more than any other, The Falls stands apart from other recent titles involving similar subject matter.
“My real aim was to educate and enlighten — not accuse,” Garcia says.
In fact, through his involvement with the project, Garcia became acquainted with Affirmation, the national organization of gay and lesbian Mormons. Many of the group’s members, even if they are officially excommunicated for their sexual orientation, still identify to some extent with many of the Mormons’ teachings.
What’s more, a special screening for Affirmation’s Portland chapter was among the first showings for the completed picture.
“It seems like there were a lot of people there who were pretty moved, and it was something they could identify with,” Garcia said.
He noted that quite a few of the organization’s members — those who could have been his harshest critics — have instead been among the movie’s staunchest supporters.
As R.J., Nick Ferrucci paints a plausible portrait of a young Mormon “everyman“— one who is content with his life overall and genuinely eager to serve his church and community doing what he’s been taught, for as long as he can remember, is the right thing.
During the course of his narration, R.J. details how he begins every morning and concludes every night in prayer. “Mormon faith truly is a benefactor of wholesomeness,” he says.
Ferrucci was featured in Garcia’s first movie, and Garcia turned to him for this role, knowing that he needed someone who could create instant empathy. “I had Nick in mind the whole time,” Garcia said. “He has a way of walking into a room and all the energy goes straight to him.”
As Chris, Benjamin Farmer also does a laudable and believable job. “With Ben, I felt he looks like what I think a Mormon young man is,” the filmmaker says with a grin.
Garcia explains his hope for The Falls: “I wanted to tell a story about these two boys and I wanted to raise important questions. This can both teach and inspire.”
One of the most powerful moments in the film is when R.J. is sitting in his bishop’s office, where he confesses bluntly -- without sorrow or apology – “I am a gay man. I’m not the first one who’s gone on a mission. I’m not going to be the last!”
Garcia says, “People fall in love with people, and we’re all the same! I want LDS members to have sympathy and to know that there can be — and is — a place for the LGBT community within their membership. They just have to find a place for them.”
The Falls is now available on DVD. For more information or to order, go to www.breakingglasspictures.com. To learn more about Affirmation, including where to find a local chapter, go to www.affirmation.org.
WhistlePig and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Wind Tunnel-Trialed Whiskey Is a Ryed You Don’t Want to Miss
SHOREHAM, VT (September 13, 2023) — WhistlePig Whiskey, the leaders in independent craft whiskey, and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake are waving the checkered flag on a legend-worthy release that’s taking whiskey to G-Force levels. The Limited Edition PiggyBack Legends Series: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is a high Rye Whiskey selected by the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake drivers, with barrels trialed in their wind tunnel to ensure a thrilling taste in every sip.
The third iteration in WhistlePig’s Single Barrel PiggyBack Legends Series, the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is bottled at 96.77 proof, a nod to Valtteri Bottas’ racing number, 77, and the precision of racing. Inspired by Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese F1 driver, this Rye Whiskey is finished with lychee and oolong tea. Herbal and floral notes of the oolong tea complement the herbaceous notes of WhistlePig’s signature PiggyBack 100% Rye, rounded out with a juicy tropical fruit finish and a touch of spice.
Like Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s signature C43 racing vehicles, trial barrels were tested in the team’s wind tunnel in Switzerland before hitting the track. Select barrels then endured varying levels of G-Forces at the WhistlePig farm and distillery for the finishing touch, accelerating the interaction between the whiskey and the wood, staying true to the physical nature of Formula 1.
“Partnering with WhistlePig has been a very exciting experience. Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake is dedicated to being the best on the track, and the crew at WhistlePig is fearless in their pursuit to create the best whiskey out there,” said Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s driver. “We’re really looking forward to fans tasting our custom Rye Whiskey and raising a glass to the rookies, veterans, legends and the exhilarating sport of F1.”
"Joining forces with WhistlePig to release a Single Barrel Rye Whiskey that represents my culture and team has been an honor,” said Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s driver. “Formula 1 brings together fearless, thrill-seeking motorsports professionals, and WhistlePig has a shared passion for boundary-pushing innovation. Together, we’ve selected something alarmingly good for fans to enjoy this season when the cars are not on track.”
The Limited Edition Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel will be available for purchase online starting around September 13 for $49.99 MSRP per 750ml bottle and sold in select stores across the U.S. Consumers can win VIP merchandise by scanning the QR code on the back of each bottle.
"We're taking our third Legends Series release on a ryed like never before,” said Meghan Ireland, WhistlePig Head Blender. "Our experiments with dynamic aging went full throttle during finishing trials at the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake wind tunnel, in turn inspiring new ways to expose barrels to G-forces back at the WhistlePig Farm. The herbal and floral notes of the lychee and tea barrel selected with the team create a new, podium-topping experience for PiggyBack Rye."
Fans and collectors have followed WhistlePig PiggyBack Legends Series, celebrating those who give 100% in the name of greatness, since its launch in March 2022 with Major League Baseball Hall of Famer, David Ortiz (“Big Papi”), followed by Country Music Duo Brothers Osborne in November 2022.
To learn more about WhistlePig Whiskey, visit whistlepigwhiskey.com. You can also check out WhistlePig Whiskey on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About WhistlePig Whiskey
Located off the grid on a 500-acre Vermont farm, WhistlePig Whiskey is crafted by a new generation of whiskey distillers and blenders driven to reinvent and unlock the flavor of Rye whiskey. Through their rebellious pursuit of experimenting and pushing boundaries in the industry, WhistlePig has become the leading independent craft whiskey brand for innovation. WhistlePig is committed to becoming the best whiskey on and for the planet, starting with its locally sourced ingredients and sustainable supply chain and distilling process. For more information, head to whistlepigwhiskey.com.
When I started medical transition at 20 years old, it was very difficult to get the care I needed for hormone replacement therapy because there are very few providers trained in starting hormones for trans people, even though it’s very similar to the hormones that we prescribe to women in menopause or cisgender men with low testosterone.
I hope more providers get trained in LGBTQ+ healthcare, so they can support patients along their individual gender journey, and provide the info needed to make informed decisions about their body. I’ve personally seen my trans patients find hope and experience a better quality of life through hormone replacement therapy.
If you don’t have a primary care physician who specializes in LGBTQ+ care in your community, you may need to educate yourself (and your provider). But, before you seek such therapy, here are five things you should know!
- Monitor closely. At Spectrum Medical Care Center, we screen patients for certain risks before starting anyone on hormones. We frequently monitor patients in the first year to ensure there are no adverse reactions and lab results are within safe ranges. Follow-up care is also important to assess your comfort with the transition as well as the social impact and social support you’re experiencing.
- Some changes are permanent, some temporary. For transmasculine individuals going on testosterone, they’ll experience these permanent changes: deepened voice, clitoral enlargement (also known as bottom growth), more body, facial hair, and male pattern baldness. Reversible changes include cessation of menses, increased muscle mass and strength, body fat redistribution, and skin oiliness or acne. For those going on estrogen therapy, the most permanent change is breast growth. Feminizing hormone therapy can also cause atrophy (shrinkage) of the genitals and loss of erectile function that may not be reversible. Estrogen will thin body hair, soften the skin, can increase scalp hair, and decrease muscle mass and strength, all of which are reversible.
- You can’t pick and choose results. Unfortunately, you can’t pick and choose the physical changes you want, which may feel challenging. Some of my patients will say, ‘Okay, ‘I’ve seen the permanent changes I want, and I don’t want it to go any further,’ and so at that point, we stop therapy. Low-dose hormone therapy can slow down the rate of changes, allowing for a more gradual physical transition. We counsel patients in advance about the common changes, and it’s up to the individual as to when they’d like to scale back and determine whether some benefits are worth the potential risks.
- Be aware of risks. Like any medical treatment, there are potential risks involved. Some risks with testosterone therapy include increased red blood cell mass, acne, hypertension, sleep apnea, weight gain, and dyslipidemia (increases the chance of clogged arteries). Cardiovascular disease is likely increased with additional risk factors for testosterone and estrogen therapy. Transfeminine patients going on estrogen therapy may experience weight gain, thromboembolic disease (when a blood clot breaks off and blocks another blood vessel), and a high level of triglycerides in the blood.
Descanso Resort, Palm Springs' premier destination for gay men, just received Tripadvisor's highest honor, a Travelers' Choice "Best of the Best" award for 2023. Based on guests' reviews and ratings, fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor's 8 million listings around the world receive the coveted "Best of the Best" designation. Descanso ranked 12th in the top 25 small inns and hotels category in the United States. Quite an accomplishment!
Open less than two years, Descanso Resort offers gay men a relaxing and luxurious boutique hotel experience just minutes away from Palm Springs' buzziest restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping. Descanso has quickly established itself as a top destination for sophisticated gay travelers, earning hundreds of 5-star guest reviews and consistently ranking in Trapadvisor's top positions alongside brother properties Santiago Resort and Twin Palms Resort.
"Our entire team is honored to be named Best of the Best. To be the only gay men's resort recognized in the Top 1% is incredibly humbling," said Kent Taylor, General Manager at Descanso. "We appreciate Tripadvisor and we're grateful to all our guests who gave us such high marks and reviews to help us reach this achievement."
“Ranking among the Best of the Best demonstrates that you have provided exemplary experiences to those who maZer most: your guests,” said John Boris, Chief Growth Officer at Tripadvisor. “With changing expectations, continued labor shortages, and rising costs, this is no easy feat, and I am con6nually impressed with the hospitality industry’s resilience and ability to adapt.”
Santiago Resort was once again honored by Tripadvisor with a 2023 Travelers’ Choice award, placing it among the top 10% of travelers’ top reviewed des6na6ons. Twin Palms will become eligible for ranking in 2024.
Check out all the reviews, and discover more about Descanso Resort on Tripadvisor here. We have an excellent library of resort imagery available to accompany editorial and additional resources on our press page. Please contact Descanso Resort’s General Manager, Kent Taylor, at kent@descansoresort.com for further information.
About Descanso Resort
Inspired by Palm Springs’ history as a des6na6on for Hollywood stars to unwind in privacy, Descanso offers guests a casual yet modern take on the legendary style of that 6me. Created by the same hospitality team that revitalized Palm Springs’ much-loved San6ago Resort and recently launched the all-new Twin Palms Resort, the Descanso property opened in 2022 featuring 15 spacious guest rooms with custom-designed furniture, dreamy King-size beds, and luxe details. Ameni6es include continental breakfast, poolside lunch, welcome snack basket, and lots of special touches. For guests who need to stay connected, the entire property is equipped with blazing-fast Wi-Fi. Mul6-speed bikes are available for exploring the surrounding midcentury neighborhoods and public art installations. Like the Hollywood stars before them, guests at Descanso are encouraged to unwind, relax, and rest in style.
About Tripadvisor
Travelers across the globe use the Tripadvisor site and app to discover where to stay, what to do and where to eat based on guidance from those who have been there before. With more than 1 billion reviews and opinions of nearly 8 million businesses, travelers turn to Tripadvisor to find deals on accommodations, book experiences, reserve tables at delicious restaurants and discover great places nearby.