COMING SOON!
08 Publisher/Executive Editor David publisher@jaxgay.comVandygriff Editor In Chief Dr. Harvey editor@jaxgay.comCarr Director of Sales Carlos sales@jaxgay.comMartinez Creative Designer Michael Jacksonville,info@jaxgay.comSwartzJaxGayInc501c3NonProfitP.O.Box3734FL32206( 904) 900.8027 Facebook/Twitter:www.JaxGay.comJaxGayMagazine National Advertising Sales Rivendell Media (908) 232-2021 Ext monique@rivendellmedia.com200 How Tobacco Companies Harm The LGBTQ+ Community White House To Boost Monkeypox Vaccination Through Large LGBTQ Events night life content RiverCityPride2022Kick-OffParty, Parade,Festival,Volunteers&Sponsorship GenZCandidateMaxwellFrost: 'Partner'ToLGBTQ+Community 24 16 06 14 Boot Rack: 4751 Lenox Blvd. (904) 384 7090 Hamburger Mary’s: 3333-1 Beach Blvd. (904) 551 www.HamburgerMarys.com/JAX2048 InCahoots: 711 Edison Ave. (904) 353-6316 www.IncahootsNightclub.com Park Place: 931 King St. (904) 389 6616 Tulua Bistro: 8798 3rd St. JAX Beach (904) 372-0915 www.TuluaBistro.com04 www.jagay.com 12 This Handsome ’50s Rock & Roll Superstar’s Bisexuality Was An Open Secret J.K. Rowling's New Book Is About A Creator Doxxed Over Transphobia 28 20 Easy Ways To Fix Your Credit Score 32 World Of Wonder’s Drag-Tastic New Fall Shows Designer Simon Jacquemus Marries Marco Maestri In Fabulous Ceremony 34 Florida Families Seek to Block 'Don't Say Gay' Law 18 An Introduction To LGBTQ+ Cruises 26 Big Discounts Are Coming This Holiday Season
During the last five years as an adjunct professor at a New York City college, I typically ended our last classes of the semester talking about the students’s futures and how they relate to the problems that are confronting our country.
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“It’s been incredible,” he said. “I think we all just feel really, really good with what happened. What it means is that people responded to our platform and our messages. Now we must make sure we win the general election. I don’t think any of us are taking anything for granted. We have a lot of work to do.” Working hard is nothing new for Frost. He has been busy as an activist since he was a teenager. The ACLU recognized his talents early and grabbed him right after he graduated from his high school. Since then, he’s been busy earning his college degree online while diving headfirst into his work as a community Andorganizer.because running for office does not pay a wage, Frost worked as an Uber driver to To LGBTQ+ Community
“Get involved in your communities” was my swan song advice. I recall one young woman raising her hand and asking, “What can I really do?” “When you turn 25, run for Congress,” I said half-jokingly. Because, personally, I am counting on the next generation to save us from mass shootings, climate change, a rollback of equal rights, and antiquated abortion Turnslaws. out, my wish for fresh faces might just be starting to come true.
andNewupstateelectionspecialbellwethersinYork,Frost
I didn’t expect Frost to win, and that’s probably because I’ve turned into a cynical man of a certain age who assumed that one of the more prominent candidates in the race, who included state Sen. Randolph Bracy and former U.S. Reps. Alan Grayson and Corinne Brown, would win over this relatively unknown and young upstart. They were all vying to fill the seat left by Rep. Val Demings, who won the Democratic nomination for a U.S. Senate seat and will try to oust Marco Rubio. Thank God I was wrong about Frost. He topped the field, and because the district is predominantly Democratic, he is likely to become the first of his generation — Gen Z — in FrostCongress.hasalready built up quite a résumé as a community activist. He has worked with the American Civil Liberties Union and the March for Our Lives during his young career. He made some news in June when he and a group of gun control advocates disrupted an event where Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was speaking after the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Frost interrupted DeSantis, demanding action on gun violence. DeSantis sarcastically responded to Frost by saying, “Nobody wants to hear from you.” Well, I have a little message for DeSantis. It appears that many people want to hear what Frost has to say, and I was one of them, so I reached out.
’s efforts in Florida.
Nadler
Frost is the man of the moment and has been all over the news since his surprising and age shattering victory on Tuesday. I spoke to him before he appeared with Joy Reid on MSNBC’s The ReidOut, and I asked him what life has been like for him during the last few crazy days since his victory.
By Tina Bennett 06 www.jaxgay.com
I first became aware of Maxwell Frost last Tuesday, when Politico posted a story about his candidacy in the Democratic primary for Florida’s 10th Congressional District. So, as any political junkie would do, that night as the primary results were coming in, I was furiously checking on New York’s Jerry -
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pay the bills while he campaigned. Frost is not wealthy, he’s not well connected, he doesn’t have his degree (yet), he’s never held public office (not even local), and he’s 25. However, when you speak to him, he comes across as experienced, poised, well spoken, and thoroughly knowledgeable on the issues he’s most ardent about. “If I’m lucky enough to represent the 10th District in Congress, there are so many issues that I will want to work hard to help address,” he said when I asked him about what’s most important to him. “We have to tackle gun violence, which is really what got me into politics after the Pulse and Parkland mass shootings. Something must be done when the leading cause of death for children is guns. That’s unacceptable.
“And we must ensure that we work harder and faster to address the climate crisis, which is especially taking its toll on Florida. We need to create clean energy initiatives and alternatives because the cost of not doing anything or doing something minimal is just too great.” When I mentioned that a new NBC poll showed that voters thought the threat to democracy was the most important issue facing the country, Frost agreed. “Yes, we have got to do everything we can to protect our democracy, and that includes protecting the right to vote. When it’s easier to buy a gun than it is to vote, we have campaign for Frost. While Frost isn’t gay, he is an unswerving supporter of LGBTQ+ rights. “I am more than an ally, I am a partner, because it is the right thing to do to support issues like the Equality Act, marriage equality, and trans rights. And the LGBTQ+ community is so vibrant in our district, which includes the Pulse nightclub,” he Whensaid.asked about Florida’s “don’t say gay” law, Frost was vehement in his response. “It’s horrible. It’s an atrocity, and it’s outrageous that other governors want to pass similar laws in other states. These laws must be overturned. They are dangerous. Honestly, I thought we were over this, but it’s awful how some of these Republicans have taken not steps but leaps backwards. We need to make sure that the freedom of our kids is protected.” Frost said he believes he was successful in the primary because his campaign was positive. “We had an optimistic message about love and stressed that people deserve equality, being free of gun violence, and where everyone belongs in a thriving democracy.” I asked Frost if he had any plans to bring more Gen Zers into the political fold. “I haven’t decided, and if I do something, whatever it is, it would be more of bringing in a new generation of legislators, more workingclass for example, versus just young people,” he said. “New types of politicians. The representatives of this country need to reflect the population, so there should be older legislators, younger ones, Black, brown, gay, straight. Members of Congress should not all be cut from the same mold. “ Does Obama’s career trajectory give you any ideas, I slyly asked Frost? “I see what you’re getting at, and no,” he said with a laugh. “I never had any dreams of being president or even running for office, so this is all new. I think what it goes to show is that being a community organizer is respected work and that you do it with people who share your values.” www.jaxgay.com
“We are expecting tens of thousands of people in New Orleans over this Labor Day weekend. And so being able to prepare for that and to get a head start on the vaccinations, on the testing, on the communications — all extremely important,” Edwards said.
The Texas individual was reported to be Althoughimmunocompromised.severelythecauseofdeath is still being determined, this is believed to be the first case of a monkeypox patient dying in the U.S. during the current Jenniferoutbreak.McQuiston, an outbreak and zoonotic disease specialist for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said her agency has been in contact with both Texas and Harris County, where the death was reported.
announced plans to expand the response to the monkeypox outbreak by vaccinationsprovidingandeducation at large LGBTQ centered events around the country following a recent pilot program carried out in Charlotte, N.C. Daskalakis, deputy director for the White House’s national monkeypox response, stated during a briefing that the administration was aiming to make its response more “intentional and targeted.”
“It’s serious and our hearts certainly go out to this family who have lost a loved one. And while we are doing further investigation to find out what role monkeypox may have played, it’s important to focus that we have mitigation measures in place to prevent monkeypox,” said McQuiston. 08 www.jaxgay.com
“Given the progress we’ve made toward making the tools available to end this outbreak, our vaccine strategy is to meet people where they seek services, care or community especially in communities of color. We know that Prides and other large LGBTQI+ focused events can do just that,” Daskalakis said. Daskalakis said the pilot program that recently took place at Charlotte Pride was a “great success.” Similar programs will be carried out at upcoming events such as Atlanta Black Pride Weekend and Southern Decadence, a nearly weeklong annual LGBTQ state, especially with regard to the upcoming Southern Decadence festival. Edwards shared that the federal government had sent an additional 6,000 doses of vaccines for monkeypox to be administered at the celebration.
The Louisiana gov noted that this year will mark the first time that Southern Decadence has been celebrated since 2019.
The White House also announced it was launching a new “equity intervention pilot program” that will aim to directly reach queer communities of color in smaller scale communities that may face obstacles to obtaining vaccines. This program will “earmark” an additional 10k vials of vaccines to be allocated to smaller equity intervention programs.
McQuiston emphasized that deaths due to monkeypox are extremely rare.
“We know jurisdictions have already centered equity in their work, but we want to provide additional support to foster even greater innovation in vaccine outreach and education of the communities most at risk,” said Daskalakis.
During the briefing, the admin responded to the death of a person in Texas who had tested positive for monkeypox.
20 www.jaxgay.com
He recorded over two dozen Top 40 hits. He appeared on programs from What’s My Line to The Ed Sullivan Show. He’s name dropped in the first line of “Come On, Eileen” AND “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” Yet, when folks list queer music stars, Johnnie Ray’s name is liable not to come up among the Bowies and Mercurys of memory at all. That may be because, like many figures like him in the ’50s, Ray didn’t openly identity as queer. That said, it was specifically his unmasculine manner of performance that seemed to make him the figure that he was, even in the midst of Lavender Scare America. He sang with a melancholy that was heavily inspired by the blues and jazz acts that preceded him, as well as presumably by a natural well of emotion all his own. This feeling shown through in his debut 1951 single, a rendition of the Churchill Kohlman tune “Cry.” It shot to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed at number one for eleven weeks. Even its B side, “The Little White Cloud That Cried,”made its way to number Histwo.emotion was not relegated solely to his song titles; Ray would often break down in tears during his performances in evocative, sometimes raucous displays that drove crowds wild. A writer for Billboard referred to a show of his as “a masterful display of showmanship that evoked mass hysteria resembling a Holy Roller meeting.” A particularly tear-inducing track is his rendition of The Four J’s “(Here Am I) Broken Hearted.” The lyrics tell of the singer’s “old gal” and “old pal” getting together, with the singer losing both connections in the process. In contrast to the easy doo wop of the original, Ray wails out the bridge of “it’s bad enough that I lost her/I had to lose him too” at a fever pitch.
Ray’s sexuality is well documented in its own way, most concretely through a couple of publicly known arrests he racked up trying to pick up male undercover cops in bars. Between those, his general disposition, and posthumous testimony from several friends in a biography, little doubt exists that he was a friend of Dorothy. It’s barely even euphemistic, as he was actually the Best Man in Judy Garland‘s last wedding. Ray isn’t forgotten by any means; Bob Dylan has cited him as “the first singer whose voice and style I totally fell in love with,” and Tony Bennett has referred to him as the “father of Rock & Roll”. His legacy is cemented in the archives of queer music history or Spotify, whichever you prefer. This Handsome ’50s Rock & Roll Superstar’s Bisexuality Was An Open Secret
By David Vandygriff 12 www.jaxgay.com
SCUM, or Sub-Culture Urban Marketing, a mid ’90s marketing plan from tobacco giant R.J. Reynolds that targeted gay and homeless people in San Francisco. Another insidious tactic was Pride event sponsorships. Especially in the 1990s and early 2000s, money for Pride events was scarce. With few exceptions, corporationswealthyweren
’t yet on board with openly supporting equality, and tobacco companies saw this as an opening, particularly with youth and young adults coming to terms with who they were (indeed, Truth Initiative found that “lesbian, gay and bisexual youth are twice as likely to smoke a cigarette before they are 13 years old”).
With summer coming to a close and the rights of the LGBTQ+ community under attack once again, our community also faces another foe that is less publicized but still extremely dangerous: tobacco companies masquerading as allies in order to addict us to their harmful products and grow their customer base. There’s a well documented history of tobacco companies targeting Black communities with marketing for menthol cigarettes, causing disastrous public health consequences. Lesser known is the insidious targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, which both harms overall health and contributes to health disparities in our Accordingcommunity.to the latest survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a quarter of lesbian, gay, or bisexual adults use at least one form of tobacco, compared to about 19 percent of straight adults (the CDC survey did not report data for transgender adults). These higher rates extend across a range of tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, and e cigarettes. Other research has found that 51 percent of Drug Administration has found that menthol cigarettes are even more addictive and harder to quit, worsening health Asdisparities.thepresident of the Center for Black Equity, I strongly support the FDA’s proposed rules to ban menthol cigarettes and flavored cigarettes and urge the FDA to finalize and implement this lifesaving policy without delay. Tobacco companies have profited for too long off the Black, LGBTQ+, and other communities, and it’s time to stop them. This issue is critical to the Center for Black Equity, which works to promote economic, social, and health equity for Black LGBTQ+ people globally. The high rate of tobacco use in the LGBTQ+ community is no accident. For decades, tobacco companies have targeted our community with advertisements in magazines and gay bars, event sponsorships, and other tactics, including giving money to causes and organizations to make it appear they are an ally to the community. Exploitative ads even went so far as to show same-sex couples with the text “freedom to inhale” during the fight for marriage equality. A particularly offensive example is Project
Many of these companies offered me five and six figure checks to sponsor our events. One lobbyist even offered me a personal check, which would be reimbursed by the tobacco company. That’s how desperate they were to build their bottom line at our expense. We wanted our events to be positive and healthy I knew that if we took tobacco money, we’d be compromised. I always refused the money, but I knew these companies would keep trying, and they did. Everywhere I’ve lived as an out gay man, I’ve seen the same tactics to hook members of our community. In New York City, every queer neighborhood festival or event had booths passing out free cigarettes. In New Orleans,14 www.jaxgaycom
I’d see the same attractive, shirtless young men passing out free samples. In D.C., event sponsorship and free samples were just as rampant. And it worked despite never smoking myself, I came home from clubs reeking of cigarette smoke, because cigarettes were an enduring part of gay Thesenightlife.days, tobacco companies still target LGBTQ+ (especially cigars,forcommunitiesminority)withpromotionsmentholcigarettes,flavoredande -cigarettes. As a Black gay man, I am outraged by how these companies market to us. They take advantage of our vulnerabilities with slick marketing, and it’s killing us. However, we’re making progress. More Pride events are recognizing the harmful impact of tobacco use and rejecting sponsorships from tobacco companies, and the federal government is taking critical action. If the FDA swiftly implements the ban on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigarettes, communitiesLGBTQ+around the country will benefit and that’s something we can all be proud of. Earl Fowlkes Jr. is president and CEO of the Center for Black Equity, which he founded with a coalition to promote a multinational network of Black LGBTQ+ Pride and community organizations.basedHehas nearly 30 years of senior management experience, including stints as executive director of the DC CARE Consortium, Damien Ministries, and organizations that provide services to people living with HIV or AIDS in Washington, D.C. He serves with several boards and organizations that promote Black and LGBTQ+ health.
By Jennifer Davis
Your credit report contains personal information, credit account history, credit inquiries and public records going back 10 years in most cases. You might gain a understandingbetterofyour credit picture and see what lenders see by reviewing your credit report from the three major credit Experianbureaus—Equifax,andTransUnion. You can get a free copy of your credit report online, too. Unfortunately, your report may
Paying off debt can seem overwhelming, but following a debt repayment strategy, like the debt snowball or debt avalanche methods, may help you stay on track. Both To Your
contain errors and even fraudulent
Poor or mediocre credit history can have wide ranging consequences including higher interest rates on credit products and fewer loan options. It can also make it harder to find housing and acquire utilities and may even impact your career opportunities in some Thecases.good news is that you can get help and start improving your credit now. Credit repair experts can assist you today. Start with a free credit evaluation to see where you Ifstand.your credit is less than ideal, there are multiple ways to fix it.
Credit
Here's how: Check Your Credit Report And Credit Score
• Pay off existing debt to lower your debt burden.
Consider these steps to lower your DTI:
• Don't apply for new credit, as any money you charge or borrow can negatively affect your DTI.
Pay Down Debt Paying off outstanding debts is an effective way to lower your credit utilization ratio and improve your credit. Credit utilization ratio is the amount of credit you're using compared to your total available credit, and it makes up 30% of your credit score. Experts recommend keeping your credit utilization ratio below 30%, but the lower, the Additionally,better. some credit scoring models take into account your debt and how many different accounts you have. If you have debt spread across many accounts, paying off some of your accounts may positively affect your credit.
Easy Ways
• Increase your income through a pay raise, overtime, or a new side hustle.
Accordinginformation.to a ReportsConsumerstudy in 2021, 34% of consumers found errors in their credit reports, often relating to personal information. Similarly, another 2021 Consumer Reports study found that 57% of survey respondents who disputed credit report errors were able to get them Carefullyremoved.comb through your credit report looking for incorrect information and unauthorized accounts that could be dragging down your credit score. If you spot errors, you may be able to get them removed for free by disputing the information with the credit bureau and the business that supplied that information to It'sthem.also wise to check your credit score monthly to know where your credit stands. You can often find your credit score for free on your account's online dashboard or through a credit scoring website. Improve The Debt-To-Income Ratio Debt-to-income ratio (DTI) is a snapshot showing how much of your gross monthly income goes towards your monthly bills and other debts. A high DTI can make it challenging to get approved for loans. You can calculate your debt-toincome ratio by dividing the total amount of your debt by the income you earn each month and expressing it as a percentage. So if you earn $5,000 and your monthly debts amount to $2,000, your DTI is 40% Generally,(2,000/5,000=0.4).lenderslookfor a DTI that's 36% or lower.
16 www.jaxgaycom
Fix
The debt snowball method focuses on paying off your smallest debts first before proceeding to more significant ones. You may prefer this method if quick wins will motivate you to continue your efforts towards tackling your larger debts. On the other hand, the debt avalanche method directs your payments to pay off debts with the highest interest rate first. You'll save money in interest charges over time by prioritizing your payments in this manner.
Applying for credit can make sense if it leaves you in a better financial position than before you apply. For example, you may wish to take out a balance transfer credit card with a 0% APR introductory period to avoid interest charges while paying down your debt. Still, it's wise to limit your applications for credit cards, personal loans, and other credit products, as they can negatively impact your credit in the following ways:
Pay Bills On Time
Since everyone's credit history is unique, it's hard to predict how long it will take to fix your credit. If there's negative in formation in your credit report, it could take longer to rebound. However, some of the actions detailed above can have an almost immediate impact, such as lowering your debt-toincome ratio, paying down debt and disputing incorrect information on your credit report. What's important is to stay the course, take consistent action to improve your credit and monitor your progress over time.
strategies have their advantages and disadvantages, so choose the method that works best for you.
Average age of accounts: The length of your credit history makes up 15% of your FICO Score. That includes the age of your oldest open credit account and the average age of all your accounts. When you open up a new account, it may drop the average age and potentially harm your credit score.
Reminders are also helpful to help keep track of due dates. You may be able to set up reminders through your creditors or create alerts on your smartphone or a personal finance app. Be Careful About Applying For New Credit
Hard inquiries: When you apply for credit, lenders typically perform a "hard inquiry" of your credit report to review how well you manage your credit. A hard inquiry can cause a temporary dip in your credit score, typically fewer than five points. According to FICO, these hard inquiries stay on your credit report for two years, but their impact only lasts 12 months. In some instances, like when you check your credit score or a lender considers you for a preapproved offer, the credit check is a "soft inquiry" that has no effect on your credit score.
Paying your bills on time is one of the best moves you can make to improve your credit score. That's because your payment history accounts for a whopping 35% of your credit score, the highest ranking factor. Conversely, even one missed payment can harm your credit score for up to seven Settingyears. up automated payments for as many bills as possible can help to ensure you never miss a due date. You won't be able to automate all of your payments, so have a system for paying bills that require manual involvement. For example, you might aim to pay those bills as soon as your statement posts or bill arrives. Another approach is to set aside regular time to pay your bills on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.
Melissa Etheridge Cruise
For those who want their vacation to be a music festival, the Melissa Etheridge Cruise fills the bill. Two cruises have already set sail, the first in 2019 aboard the Norwegian Pearl and the second (which Jewel co headlined) in 2021. This year Etheridge unveiled a land-based event, the inaugural Etheridge Island, an all inclusive festival located at the Dreams + Secrets Resorts in Playa Mujeres, Mexico. The aptly named Women’s Beach will be host to the events run by Sixthman, (which produced Etheridge’s cruises as well). Currently, there’s no word yet if Etheridge will hit the seas again in 2023, but the lesbian rocker will continue to find ways to perform in these more intimate settings.
An Introduction
Atlantis Events Founded in 1991 by communityplacecreateCampbell,CEO,PresidentcurrentandRichwholookingtoauniqueforthegayto come together to play,” Atlantis is the largest cruise company in the world to focus exclusively on the LGBTQ+ community. Catering to more than 20,000 guests a year, Atlantis cruises are known for their party culture and offer “a week of fun that’s mostly men and welcoming to women.” The company’s 2023 all inclusive trips on chartered Celebrity ships begin in the Caribbean in January and February. The company also offers gay all day resort take overs of Club Meds in Mexico.
LGBTQ+ Cruises launched in the 1990s to capitalize on the potential of chartering an entire ship for queer passengers. The appeal was leaving behind the discrimination and harassment of the straight world for one where LGBTQ+ ruled the seas as the majority. A boatful of lesbians or gay men (and later mixed queer groups) offered community building opportunities and the ability to really be one's self without concern for who might be Queerwatching.cruises have continued to draw travelers for decades, even as they've changed over time, and different ones were launched to reach different travelers (like when R Family Vacations launched for queer families). Here are some of the top LGBTQ+ cruise companies Queertoday. cruises charter ships like this Celebrity boat chartered by VACAYA.
Olivia Travel With its roots in women’s music and a heart deep in the LGBTQ+ movement, Olivia has changed the world with music and travel. The former record label launched Olivia Travel in 1990. Since then, the company has taken over 350,000 lesbians and LGBTQ+ women on hundreds of vacations around the world. In addition to chartering cruise ships, Olivia also books smaller luxury boats and riverboat cruises as well as land-based adventures and resort take-overs. If most of the trips weren’t already sold out, you could take the Columbia River Adventure cruise this fall, jet off to the Magical India Adventure, then bolt to the Mediterranean to join Olivia’s Greece, Cyprus, and Israel luxury cruise before either enjoying the warmth of the Hard Rock Vallarta resort, or braving the cold with a visit to Antarctica. Before the year ends there’s also a polar bear To LGBTQ+ Cruises
By Drew Hilton www.jaxgay.com
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photography expedition and an African safari. If you want something really special, 2023 features Olivia’s 50th Anniversary celebration, and the company will party with two Caribbean cruises and a Cabo resort.
Founded in 2003 by travel entrepreneurs Kelli Carpenter and Gregg Kaminsky, and featured in HBO’s Emmy nominated documentary All Aboard!, R Family Vacations was created for LGBTQ+ families (“and that includes our kids, who have their own activities”). Having served over 20,000 folks since then, the company’s cruises, resort takeovers, and land based vacations, now include adultsonly packages and a Broadway Cruise. With vacation destinations that range from domestic American such as Alaska or Miami, to the South of France, Ireland, Israel, Egypt, and even Thailand; R Family has dramaticallyexpandedinthepast 20 years. R Family Vacations has helped ensure that LGBTQ+ families are able to enjoy the world and is now carving out space for empty nesters.
Founded by out actor Jonathan Bennett (Mean Girls, The Christmas House) and his husband Jaymes Vaughan (The Amazing Race 21, AdvocateChannel), this travel company offers small group vacations specifically for queer adults (guests 18-21 are required to travel with a companion over 25). The all-inclusive packages cover rooms and meals to drinks and entertainment and most activities. The company takes over resorts or charters small ships and has policies to protect the privacy of guests who aren’t out back home. The next sailings include a December trip along the Rhine River, Christmas themed markets, and a Budapest Pride Cruise. OUTBound also does land based adventures, including an African Safari that ends at the stunning Victoria Falls.
VACAYA VACAYA charters entire ships and takes over resorts for folks across the LGBTQ+ spectrum (and their straight friends and family). The company’s bucket list destinations have included Provincetown, New Orleans, Iceland, Costa Rica, Antarctica, and the Seychelle Islands. Upcoming cruises include trips to Antarctica, the Caribbean, Greece, the Norwegian Fjords, and Venice. In addition to the activities, excursions, and entertainment provided on board. VACAYA also has a reach out program that works with the communities visited, in keeping with their mission to “ensure we’re giving back more to the communities we visit than what’s being taken away.”
R Family Vacations
OUTBound
• Continue to Margaret St., Turn Right • End Location: Riverside Park Festival & Cabaret
The Jax River City Pride Festival & Cabaret includes live entertainment, artists, non profits, a kid zone, and food
• Continue to Post St., Turn Right
• Continue to King St., Turn Left
Thisvendors.year’s the event will be at Riverside Park (Duck Pond) in 5 Points on Sunday, October 2, 2022. Thank you for being a part of the Jax River City Pride Parade! Vendor Registration We appreciate your interest in being a vendor at the Jax River City Pride Festival on Sunday,20 www.jaxgay.com
Kick-Off Party Join us as we kick off Jax River City Pride with special guest International DJ/Producer DrewG at The Glass Factory (601 Myrtle Ave N 32204) on Friday, September 30, 2022, at 7 pm | 21+ Event! Drew’s production work is no stranger to the top of the Billboard club charts, along with Brian Cua having procured official remixes for some of the hottest artists in the world: Lady Gaga, Whitney Houston, Ke$ha, Britney Spears, Deborah Cox & Mary J Blige. River City Pride is excited to We appreciate your interest in participating in the 2022 Jax River City Pride Parade. The Jax River City Pride Parade is a 1.5 mile celebration through the Historic Avondale/Riverside/5 Points community that will take place on Saturday, October 1, 2022. The Jax River City Pride Parade starts at Historic Willow Branch Park, which held the first Jacksonville LGBT Pride Picnic in 1978. The Jax River City Pride Parade passed thousands of supporters along the Pleaseroute.complete the online form below and click the PayPal button to make your payment to sign up. If you are a Non-Profit, please sign up via the Sponsors
at 2 pm. Parade participants will receive an email a week prior to the event with their parade spot number and line-up time before the Parade Date.
Thefo@jaxrcpride.orgpleaseIfwww.JaxRCPride.orgpage.youhaveanyquestions,emailin-paradebeginsontime
The beginning of parade starts on Willow Branch Ave and the ending on Cherry St at the Willow Branch Library. • Start Location: Willow Branch Park on Park St. at Cherry St.
• From Willow Branch Park, Continue Park St.
• Continue to Stockton St., Turn Right • Continue to Park St., Turn Left • Continue to Post St., Turn Left (Stay right of the caution light at Five Points)
If you would like to become a volunteer, please email us at info@jaxrcpride.org Sponsorship Thank you for being interested in Jax River City Pride! Every year, thousands of people enjoy recognizing the diversity of our community at our annual Pride Celebration. The Jax River City Pride Committee is an all volunteer force that relies exclusively on sponsorship with businesses, non profits, and individuals throughout the Northeast Florida market. Without the generous support from our sponsors each year, we would not continue to successfully stage these events and grow them yearly. In addition, there are several levels of Sponsorship available. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at travis.guthrie@jaxrcpride.com www.JaxRCPride.org
• Groups or individuals to work concessions at the ballpark. RCP gets a portion of the sales for this fundraiser.
We need people willing to sell merchandise throughout the year, volunteer, at events where we’re set up, work concession stands at the baseball grounds, and make the Parade and Festival come to fruition. Your time makes this event a success! We need volunteers for a variety of different events throughout the year. Such as:
• Various block party positions (after the parade)
• Helping to coordinate and sell tickets and merchandise at bingo nights, concerts, and other fundraisers we may have.
• People to help distribute flyers to promote the event (s)
Jax River City Pride does not provide tables or chairs; if you use a tent, they must be weighed in case of inclement weather. If you are a Non-Profit, please sign up via the Sponsors page. www.JaxRCPride.org
• Various parade positions
Volunteer Jax River City Pride needs your help! Each year, we strive to put on the best possible event, and the only way to do that is for individuals to come out and contribute their time and skills to making this happen.
• Various festival positions
October 2, 2022. Vendors in the past had access to crowds nearing 10,000. Thank you for being a part of the celebration. Check in and set up begin at 7:00 am. No vehicles will be allowed entry onto the site after 10:00 am. All vehicles must be removed by 10:30 am. The festival will begin promptly at 11:00 am.
J.K. Rowling's New Book Is About ACreator Doxxed Over Transphobia
“I had written the book before certain things happened to me online,” she continued. “I said to my husband, ‘I think everyone is going to see this as a response to what happened to me,’ but it genuinely wasn’t.
The novel paints “Social Justice Warriors” as an evil, coordinated group who are able to plot and pull off a murder of a creator they didn like. Still, despite how similar this is to Rowling’s own story of being accused of transphobia and racism and accusing people of doxxing her, the author insists it's a coincidence.
“I should make it really clear after some of the things that have happened the last year that this is not depicting [that],” she told Graham Norton.
The first draft of the book was finished at the point certain things happened.” This isn’t the first wild “coincidence” like this to happen recently to Rowling. When she released the first Cormoran Strike novel using the pen name Robert Galbraith, some readers noticed that her pen name is the same as Robert Galbraith Heath, a famous anti LGBTQ+ therapist who was one of the leaders of gay conversion therapy. Due to the fact that Rowling has become more and more violently transphobic over the last several years, and the fact that the book involves a male serial killer who disguises himself in women’s clothing, many thought that the name connection was on purpose.
“J.K. Rowling wasn't aware of Robert Galbraith Heath when choosing the pseudonym for her crime novels,” a spokesperson for Rowling told Newsweek about the name, however. “Any assertion that there is a connection is unfounded and untrue.” Rowling’s latest book is getting terrible reviews, with many pointing out this new strange “coincidence.”
By Randy Collins 24 www.jaxgay.com
J.K. Rowling’s latest book may be borrowing a little from her real life. The Harry Potter author is raising eyebrows (yet again) with the plot of her latest novel The Ink Black Heart part of her Cormoran Strike crime series, which is penned under the pseudonym Robert TheGalbraith.newbook features a character named Edie Ledwell, a YouTube creator behind a popular cartoon whose fandom turns on her after the cartoon is criticized for being racist, ableist, and transphobic. Apparently, the transphobic accusations come from a cartoon about a hermaphrodite Afterworm.the call outs, Ledwell is doxxed (her home address being put on the internet) and starts to receive rape and death threats, and is ultimately murdered.
Fashion designer Simon Porte Jacquemus just got married to Marco Maestri in a beautiful ceremony in the south of AsFrance.expected, Jacquemus and Maestri had an absolutely fabulous wedding where they handed out white dresses to all of the guests men and women – to dance in. Among those guests was popstar Dua Lipa, who’s a close friend to TheJacquemus.designer shared a sweet Instagram carousel featuring many pictures and videos of his wedding ceremony with Maestri. “Yesterday I said YES.” Lipa also shared an Instagram carousel JacquemuscelebratingandMaestri’s wedding. One of the pictures shared by the singer featured Jacquemus himself wearing a white dress. Lipa wrote in the post: “Simon + Marco. SUMMER OF LOVE. Celebrating the love of these two special people in my life. The most beautiful day, ceremony, and obviously the mosttt FUN party (they just know how to do it) ~ grateful to experience these moments of pure happiness with youuuu - je t’aime.” Jacquemus and Maestri reportedly started dating in May 2018. Alas, their relationship wasn’t made official to the public until Jacquemus’ fall/winter 20192020 show. Now, the couple has officially tied the knot as of August 28, Congratulations2022.to the newlywed couple! 26 www.jaxgay.com
Jax Gay is thrilled to share an exclusive sneak peek at the months ahead on WOW, a wig-snatching lineup that will have you laughing, learning, and shablam ing all season long. Take a look: There are, of course, returning favorites like Trixie and Katya’s one of a kind UNHhhh, makeup competition series Painted By Raven, and Binge Queens, where you can watch international seasons along with your Drag Race besties. But WOW’s also serving some new shows that are about to be at the top of our watch queues. First, there’s Rock M Sakura and Heidi N Closet’s Muff Busters, reuniting two “soft and supple” queens as they debunk all the ridiculous myths you believed in your childhood. (Look out, Santa Claus, the girls are coming for you!)
Then, our current reigning Queen Of All Queens, the supreme herself, Jinkx Monsoon will deliver Sketchy Queens, a brand-new sketch comedy series featuring celebrity guests maybe even Judy Garland will show up! And that’s just in September alone! As the preview teases, there are series from Jimbo, Pangina Heals, Kerri Colby, Ts Madison, and even more on the way. Check out the clip for yourself above, and then feel free to peruse the full announced lineup below. This fall’s going to be a gag! Muff Busters Rock M Sakura and Heidi N Closet join their hilarious forces in a brand new series, where they’re debunking all the myths your mom told you when you were growing up. 10 Episodes. Premieres September 12. Sketchy Queens Jinkx Monsoon is joined by your favorite queens and celebrities in an original sketch comedy show. 8 Episodes. Premieres September 15. Binge Queens: RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Season 4 Cozy up on the couch with your squirrel friends as they watch the latest episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Season 4. Three pairs of queen besties throw a couch kiki for a weekly watch party you won’t want to miss! 10 Episodes. Premiere date TBA. Bring Back My Girls Presented by House of Love, Bring Back My Girls will feature a series of exclusive panel conversations taped live at DragCon 2022 with the casts of RuPaul’s Drag Race (S12), RuPaul’s Drag Race vs. The World, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK (S1 & S2), RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under, Canada’s Drag Race (S1 & S2) and Drag Race Holland (S1 & S2), hosted by TV personality and LGBTQ activist Ts Madison. 7 Episodes. Premiere date TBA. UNHhhh Season 7, Part 3 RuPaul’s Drag Race season 7 queens Katya Zamolodchikova and Trixie Mattel return in UNHhhh. It’s a show about nothing, and yet it’s about everything. Because it’s their show and not yours. 10 Episodes. Premiere date TBA. Painted with Raven Season 2 Emmy Award-winning makeup artist and RuPaul’s Drag 28 www.jaxgay.com
but how many of them have all of your favorite queens in one Forplace?Drag Race fans, World Of Wonder’s WOW Presents Plus is the one stop destination. They simply have it all and they’re about to have even more this fall. As a wise person once said: “Gagatrondra!”
star—Raven is determined to find the world’s next makeup superstar. In the second season of the exciting ompetition series, seven makeup artists from across the country compete from the comfort of their own homes for a chance to win $25,000. 8 Episodes. Premiere date TBA. Tongue Thai’d with Pangina Heals More details to be announced soon! 8 Episodes. Premiere TBA. Jimbo Presents: It’s My Special Show
More details to be announced soon! 8 Episodes. Premiere date TBA. Kerri Kares More details to be announced soon! 8 Episodes. Premiere date TBA. Why R Humans? Part 2
In the future humans are extinct and robots rule the world. A sentient slot machine, lamp, and jackhammer are members of the robot high council. They have unearthed ancient video chats of human celebrities sharing stories of sex, love, and money. In an effort to understand their creators better, the robots watch these time capsules of humanity and ask themselves: Why R Humans? 4 Episodes. Premiere date TBA. Binge Queens: Canada’s Drag Race Vs. The World Cozy up on the couch with your squirrel friends as they watch the latest episode of Canada’s Drag Race Vs. The World. Three pairs of queen besties throw a couch kiki for a weekly watch party you won’t want to miss! 6 Episodes. Premiere date TBA.
www.jaxgay.com 29
'Don't
“We are asking the court to halt the damage unconstitutionalthislaw is inflicting,” Kell Olson, staff attorney at Lambda Legal, said in a press release. “LGBTQ+ students and families have already been silenced, disciplined, and have censored themselves or their children to protect themselves under this sweeping law, and they should not have to continue under these conditions while the case proceeds.”
By Michael Bryson 32 www.jaxgay.com
House Bill 1557, titled Parental Rights in Education, “impermissibly chills the exercise of all Plaintiffs’ constitutionally protected speech and expression, based on content and viewpoint, and is overbroad, in violation of the First Amendment,” the motion Itreads.goes on to say the law “is unconstitutionally vague, as it infringes upon Plaintiffs’ constitutionally protected right to free speech and provides inadequate notice of the conduct it purports to prohibit, in violation of the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment” and that it “discriminates against Plaintiff students and parents on the basis of sex in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.” Without the preliminary injunction, “Plaintiffs and other similarly situated students and parents will be subjected to further loss of their constitutional rights,” the filing says. Such losses “far outweigh any marginal burden” on the defendants from delaying the law from taking effect, it continues. The defendants in the suit are the school boards of Orange, Indian River, Duval, and Palm Beach counties. Local school boards are in charge of carrying out the state law.
The plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging Florida’s “don’t say gay” law have requested a preliminary injunction blocking the law’s enforcement while their suit proceeds. They filed a motion to that effect Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. It comes in the case of Cousins v. Orange County School Board, in which students, their families, and an association of LGBTQ+ community centers are represented by Lambda Legal, Southern Legal Counsel, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and private counsel Baker TheMcKenzie.law,which was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in March and took effect in July, restricts classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity. The plaintiffs in the suit, filed in July, say the law violates their free speech, due process, and equal protection rights under the U.S. Constitution.
“Children and families are profoundly impacted each day this unconstitutional law is in effect,” added Bacardi Jackson, interim deputy legal director for the SPLC. “Educators are struggling to meet the needs of their LGBTQ+ and gendercommunitynonconformingandneedrelief from the law’s contradicting provisions against what they know to be just and fair. That is why we are urging the court to immediately implementationhaltin our K-12 schools and classrooms.” This is one of two suits that have been brought against the Florida law. The other one was filed March 31 by the National Center for Lesbian Rights and Block Say Gay' Law
the firm of Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida on behalf of Equality Florida and Family Equality as well as students, parents, and a teacher. The defendants in that suit include DeSantis, the Florida State Board of Education, other state entities and officials, and several local school boards. The plaintiffs in that suit are not seeking a injunction.preliminaryThetrialin the case is scheduled to start in February. The state has asked the court to dismiss the suit, but the court has not ruled on that yet.
Big Discounts Are Coming This Holiday Season
Few of us want summer to end, but there's some good news coming this winter holiday: you'll find more discounts than in previous holiday shopping Executivesseasons. at Best Buy (BBY), Ulta (ULTA), Gap (GPS) and other top chains have said in recent weeks that they are expecting a shopping season packed with discounts. Walmart (WMT) on Tuesday released its annual top toy list and said it was offering more "rollbacks" temporary price reductions on items than in previous years and a wider array of toys for less than $50 and $25. In addition to toys, shoppers will likely find discounts on clothing, televisions, beauty products, sporting goods and other Someitems.chains have stockpiled too much inventory in recent months and will increase promotions to try to sell the glut of goods during the holiday Otherstretch.companies are also ramping up promotions to give incentives to inflation-strained shoppers who might otherwise be priced out of holiday gifts. "We expect it to be more competitive, more promotional this year than it was a year ago," Ulta beauty finance chief Scott Settersten analyststold on an earnings call last week. Best Buy's executives said Tuesday that its own inventory levels are healthy, but competitors carrying excess consumer electronics are discounting them to lure shoppers who are feeling pinched by inflation.
By Farah Naureen
"We're seeing a customer who's more value-oriented, who is definitely moving more towards some of those sale events," CEO Corie Barry said on a call with analysts. Barry expects the holiday shopping rush to start later in the season than a year ago. "You're going to see a holiday that starts to look a little bit more like what we saw pre pandemic," she said. Retailers are not "where they want to be with regards to inventory levels, which will necessitate more discounting," Jonathan Matuszewski, a retail analyst at Jefferies, said in a note to clients Tuesday. He expects a "fiercely promotional Althoughholiday." shoppers love discounts, they're unloved by retailers because they eat into profits. Some chains, such as Kohl's (KSS) and Gap (GPS), are instead packing away their excess inventory and plan to sell it in future seasons. It's unclear whether holiday discounts will be compelling enough to spur inflation-conscious shoppers to buy, however. A host of retailers in recent weeks have said lower-income customers are shifting their purchases away from discretionary goods toward necessities like groceries and household basics. Some higher -income consumers are tightening their spending as "Highwell. income consumers, who generate a disproportionate share of spending, registered large declines in both their current personal finances as well as buying conditions for durables," University of Michigan researchers wrote this month. 34 www.jaxgay.com
