Echo Magazine - Arizona LGBTQ Lifestyle - December 2018 by OUTvoices Phoenix (former Echo Magazine)

#MyScottsdaleArts Scottsdale Arts is many of the moving pieces that make up the arts and cultural landscape in the City of Scottsdale. Canal Convergence? That’s Scottsdale Arts. Star-studded Broadway performances? That’s Scottsdale Arts. Interactive art in our community? That’s Scottsdale Arts. And we’re so much more. The moment an audience member connects to a performance in a meaningful way is Scottsdale Arts. When a child has access to a life-changing arts education program, it’s Scottsdale Arts. When a visitor can finally see their favorite artist’s work up close, that’s Scottsdale Arts. With your support and patronage, we will continue to create meaningful experiences and lifelong memories. When you support Scottsdale Arts with a donation, a membership, or ticket purchase, you’re supporting our veterans accessibility programs, arts classes throughout Scottsdale, and world-class entertainment in your own backyard.

We want to know, what’s your Scottsdale Arts? Share your Scottsdale Arts story on social media with #MyScottsdaleArts, and if you really want to make your voice heard, visit My.ScottsdaleArts.org to donate or become a member today.

My.ScottsdaleArts.org | 480-499-TKTS (8587) | 7380 E. Second St.

Order your tickets today! ScottsdalePerformingArts.org | 480-499-TKTS (8587) | 7380 E. Second St.

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INSIDE THIS

ISSUE Issue 711 | Vol. 30, #3 | December 2018

NEWS 8

Letter From The Editor

12 News Briefs 14 Datebook

COMMUNITY 44 Without Reservations 46 At the Box Ofﬁce 48 Opening Nights 50 Holiday Gift Guide 52 Talking Bodies 54 Not That You Asked 56 We The People

OUT & ABOUT 16 AIDS Walk 18 Phoenix Fashion Week 38 Lea DeLaria 42-43 Phoenix Rainbows Festival

ON THE COVER Keith Wyatt Jr., Chef and Owner; Whyld Ass Cafe. Photo by Maria Vassett.

Phoenix Dining Gets Whyld Keith Wyatt Jr. Brings His Take on Healthy Fare to the Valley.

WEB EXCLUSIVES

Potent Parenting: Dads Brian Hatﬁeld and his husband Steve Zeidman share the story of their adoption of son Tristan. echomag.com/potentparenting-dads

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A Transitioning Non-Proﬁt Peacework Medical offers health care to vulnerable communities.

TRANScripts Five titles that celebrate the ‘T’ in LGBTQ.

More Than Meets the Eye An interview with transgender ‘transformer’ Janae Kroc.

Potent Parenting: Moms Victoria Morales and Sundown Chavez talk about parenting six kids and having another on the way. echomag.com/potentparenting-moms

Words of Wisdom Photo by Miachelle DePiano Echo’s Ashley Naftule talks to Arizona’s hip historian Marshall Shore about recent storytelling events that offer ﬁrsthand insights from the LGBTQA community. echomag.com/words-ofwisdom-2018

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DECEMBER 2018

LETTER EDITOR FROM THE

By Amy Young

would like to start off by thanking the team at Echo and members of the community for offering me such a warm welcome as I sink into this new role. It’s been quite a month; loaded with plenty of laughter and new challenges to tackle. As the temperatures drop and the year starts to wind down, health is often a December topic of conversation. Our cover story (page 22) explores healthy eating with Keith Wyatt Jr., whose Whyld Ass Café is a very recent addition to the restaurant community in Phoenix. Writer Tom Reardon spent time with Wyatt, learning about why making healthy, plant-based fare is important to him, but getting to know Wyatt, himself. From growing up gay in a tiny town in North Carolina to inking his face with tattoos, we get a broad look at this chef and restaurateur. Building on the foundation of local vegan-food innovators like Damon Brasch of Green Vegetarian, Wyatt is helping build bridges to healthy living.

Our December issue of Echo hits the stands just before November 20, the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, which falls at the end of Transgender Awareness Week. This month’s magazine contains content, including feature stories and interviews, that showcase the transgender community. On page 34, you’ll find Echo’s regular contributor Mikey Rox in conversation with Janae Kroc, the subject of the recently released documentary, Transformer. Kroc came out as transgender in 2015 and has had a fascinating and intense journey that has involved being a U.S. Marine, a competitive bodybuilder, and battling cancer. The story of Peacework Medical is told on page 26. In their medical clinic, the Phoenix nonprofit offers primary and gender transition care to individuals who are ineligible for medical insurance due to documentation status. Mark Schulte provides a look at this facility’s 8

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compassionate approach to health care and highlights the valuable teamwork involved in its daily operations. Just like Janae Kroc, Caitlyn Jenner came out as transgender in 2015, but has been a much more polarizing figure within that community. While many appreciate the bravery of her transition from former Olympic athlete Bruce Jenner to Caitlyn, her conservative politics have been hard for many to swallow. Recently, she denounced her support of Donald Trump and has made a concerted effort to support charities that help the trans community. On page 36, you’ll find Ashley Naftule’s interview with Jenner. The two conversed while she was in Arizona donating funds to a few in-need organizations on behalf of the Caitlyn Jenner Foundation. For those of you doing holiday shopping, Mikey Rox compiled a fun gift guide on page 50 that might help you find that unique treasure for someone special. Another one of December’s feature stories, TRANScripts (page 28) may be another good gift source. In addition to providing interesting information on recent transgender-themed books, you might discover the perfect stocking stuffer. It’s event season and we have been to plenty! Look for photos from the AIDS Walk, the Rainbows Festival, Lea DeLaria at Chandler Center for the Arts, and Fabric’s fashionable anniversary party. Speaking of events, we at Echo would like to thank everyone that stopped by our booth at the Phoenix Rainbows Festival. It was a fun-filled weekend with beautiful weather, great entertainment, and tons of scrumptious food & drink. It was great to see old friends and to make new ones! Amy Young is the managing editor of Echo Magazine. A longtime journalist, her work has appeared numerous publications, regional to international. Please contact her at editor@echomag.com.

LGBTQ NEWS, VIEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT PUBLISHER: Bill Orovan ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Bill Gemmill EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR: Amy Young CONTRIBUTORS: Edward Castro Buddy Early Michelle Talsma Everson Tamara Juarez Steve Kilar Laura Latzko Tuesday Mahrle Kaely Monahan Ashley Naftule

David-Elijah Nahmod Tia Norris Tom Reardon Seth Reines Mikey Rox Terri Schlichenmeyer Nikole Tower Megan Wadding

ART DEPARTMENT PHOTOGRAPHY: nightfuse.com and Maria Vassett. ADVERTISING DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING: Ashlee James ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Gregg Edelman NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE: Rivendell Media, 212-242-6863

ECHO READERSHIP: 50,000 SUBSCRIPTIONS: $29/year ACE PUBLISHING, INC. MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 16630

MEMBER:

Echo Magazine is published by ACE Publishing, Inc. Echo is a registered trademark of ACE Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Written permission must be obtained in advance for partial or complete reproduction of any advertising material contained therein. Opinions expressed therein are not necessarily those of the publisher or staff. ACE Publishing, Inc. does not assume responsibility for claims by its advertisers or advice columnists. Publication of a name, photograph of an individual or organization in articles, advertisements or listings is not to be construed as an indication of the sexual orientation, unless such orientation is specifically stated. Manuscripts or other materials submitted remain the property of ACE Publishing, Inc.

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NEWS BRIEFS

Equality Arizona Issues Press Release Supporting Trans Community: We Won’t Be Erased – EQAZ Will Fight in Arizona for Trans & Gender Non-Conforming People

Gender identity and the right to freely and safely live that gender identity is one of the most fundamental forms of individual freedom and expression that exists in society. Just like sexual orientation, gender identity is a part of who we are, and we have a right to claim both the sexual orientation and gender identity that are true for each of us as individuals. The Trump administration is trying, once again to attack this fundamental right to individual liberty and freedom. A memo leaked to the New York Times on October 21st, 2018 detailed how the administration is trying to narrowly redefine sex and gender in an attempt to rob trans and gender non-conforming people of legal recognition and status. These changes come in direct opposition to decades of judicial decisions defining legal protections in regard to sex and gender, and decades of medical and scientific advances recognizing gender

and sex are much more than genitalia and are not determined by the sex assigned at birth. “Equality Arizona will fight every effort of this administration to restrict the liberty, freedom, and expression of LGBTQ people in Arizona,” said Michael Soto, Executive Director of Equality Arizona. “This awful attempt to re-define sex and gender in ways that contradict the current legal, medical, and scientific understanding is an expression of hate and denial of the right of trans and gender non-conforming people to live with the same expectations of freedom and safety that cisgender people take for granted,” said Soto, “You cannot deny our humanity with the stroke of a pen and if you try, we will fight until we win.” Trans and gender non-conforming people are valuable members of our society, our workplaces, of our schools, our communities, and our families. If you believe this too, we need you to step up,

to voice the ways that you value trans and gender non-conforming people, and most of all we need you to vote on November 6th, 2018. Participation in our civic process is how we create the laws and regulation that shape our society. A truly inclusive society begins with you and your vote. Please join us on November 2nd, 2018 for the We Exist and We Voterally at the Arizona state capitol, from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. We join with a large statewide coalition of organizations and groups that will fight for the dignity and freedom of transgender and gender nonconforming people in Arizona. To trans folks living in Arizona, Equality Arizona understands and believes in the words of the great civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer, “nobody’s free until everybody’s free.” The LGBTQ movement in Arizona is only complete when it includes the trans and gender non-conforming community. It is time for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer community of Arizona to stand unequivocally with the trans and gender non-conforming community. Please know that we value you and see the many ways you contribute to and make our state and society better. If you need support during this time, please reach out to those closest to you or to resources like the Trans Lifeline: 1-877565-8860. Equality Arizona’s mission is to make Arizona a state where LGBTQ persons are valued as full and equal members of society whose sexual orientation, gender identity or expression are viewed with legal and moral neutrality, and sexual and gender diversity are seen as something to celebrate. Source: Equality Arizona.

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news

NOV.

DEC.

Latino Pride Alliance presents the Phoenix Latino Pride Festival, which features two stages for local and national performers and a large dance tent. It’s $10 to attend the event that starts at 11 a.m. at the Corona Ranch and Rodeo Grounds, 7611 S. 29th Ave. in Laveen. lpfaz.com

DEC.

The Greater Phoenix Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce hosts the 10th Annual Festival of Trees. This holiday event features complimentary hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, holiday music, rafﬂ es, and live auctions from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Ballet Arizona Corporate Ofﬁ ces, 2835 E. Washington St. in Phoenix. festivaloftreesphoenix.org

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Tony Award-winner Alan Cumming returns to Scottsdale Center for the Arts to perform his new show, Legal Immigrant, which reﬂ ects on his last 10 years as a U.S. citizen. Tickets for the show are $65$95. Start time is 7 p.m. at 7380 E. Second St. scottsdaleperformingarts.org

DEC.

Retirees Blanche, Bertha, and Mabel are back in the ninth annual version of A Bloody Mary Christmas! These ladies drink, dance, and sing as they ﬁ ght to save their Sun City condo. Tickets are $20 for the bawdy holiday show that starts at 8 p.m. at Space 55 Theatre, 1525 N. 18th Ave. in Phoenix. space55.org

DEC.

DEC. DEC.

Trans Spectrum of Arizona hosts a Holiday Pot Luck. They’ll provide the turkey, ham, lemonade, and water, and you can bring a dish to share. Chow and mingle from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at TSAZ’s ofﬁ ce, 1407 N. Second St. in Phoenix. transspectrum.org

Swing into the holidays with Convergence Ballet’s performance of The Nutcracker Swing! This holiday show features dance performance fueled by the sounds of legends like Duke Ellington and Tchaikovsky. Tickets are $15-$25 and the show takes place at 2 p.m. at Madison Center for the Arts, 5627 N. 16th St. in Phoenix. convergenceballet.org

Phoenix Pride hosts its ﬁ rst annual fundraiser for their new scholarship program. It’s called Pumps for Pride and attendees get to bid on different pairs of creatively customized pumps designed by people around the country. The event happens from 7 to 9 p.m. at Kobalt, 3110 N. Central Ave. #175 in Phoenix (located in Park Central Mall). phoenixpride.org

DEC.

NOV.

Aunt Rita’s Foundation presents the Fifth Annual Phoenix AIDS Candlelight Vigil to honor those who have passed on and to celebrate those who are still ﬁ ghting at 6 p.m. at The Parsons Center for Health and Wellness, 1101 N. Central Ave. in Phoenix. auntritas.org

The Phoenix Women’s Chorus celebrates their 25th Anniversary with a concert event. The inspirational theme includes music, stories, rafﬂ e baskets, and treats. Tickets range from $15-20 and the musical fun starts at 4 p.m. at the All Saints Episcopal Church, 6300 N. Central Ave. in Phoenix. azpwc.org/25th

DEC.

NOV.

ONE Community hosts its 10th Anniversary Celebration. Join the organization for a party featuring cocktails and hors d’oeuvres to celebrate their journey and to kick off the holiday season. Festivities are from 5 to 7 p.m. at Black, Starr, & Frost, 3140 E. Camelback Rd. in Phoenix. Please RSVP. onecommunity.co

Flex Spas Phoenix presents the second annual Mr. Flex Competition. The event strives to remove the stigma surrounding sex. It’s time to help crown a new winner! The contest is held at 8 p.m. and it happens poolside at Flex Spas Phoenix, 1517 S. Black Canyon Hwy ﬂexspas.com

DEC.

NOV.

Support the Joshua Tree Feeding Program at the 2018 AIDS Quilt Song Book. The concert features selections from the AIDS Quilt Songbook, a project conceived in 1991 as a parallel to the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt. The concert happens from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Parsons Center for Health and Wellness, 1101 N. Central Ave. in Phoenix. jtfp.org

Aunt Rita’s Foundation and Mercy Care present the annual RED Brunch. This year’s theme is “Celebration of Life” and features powerful stories of people who are thriving while living with HIV, as well as celebrates the lives of those who have passed on. The event features a brunch and signature cocktails. The event starts at 10 a.m. with a silent auction. Ballroom doors open at 11:30 a.m. at the Sheraton Grand Phoenix, 340 N. Third St. auntritas.org

DEC.

Arizona Transgender Day of Remembrance. The annual event that honors the memory of those whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Arizona State Capitol, 1700 W. Washington St. in Phoenix. tdor.info

Who doesn’t love a good holiday cabaret show? At Home for the Holidays, James D. Gish showcases his powerful voice. He’s starred in Phoenix Theatre productions like West Side Story and Godspell, earning his description as a “modern day Bocelli.” Tickets are $41-$76 for the 8 p.m. show at Phoenix Theatre, 1825 N. Central Ave. phoenixtheatre.com

DEC.

DATEBOOK

The Phoenix Metropolitan Men’s Chorus gets festive with Tinsel Town, an annual holiday celebration that takes you from Hollywood to the North Pole. The concert features a variety of seasonal musical favorites and starts at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $15-$25. The show happens at the John Paul Theater at Phoenix College, 1202 W. Thomas Rd. phoenixmenschorus.org

MARK OUR CALENDARS

To have your event considered for Echo’s print and online calendars, submit your event details to echomag.com/community-calendar *All submissions are subject to Echo’s discretion

news

2018 AIDS Walk Arizona Oct 28 at 2nd Ave. & Washington St., Phoenix. Photos by nightfuse.com.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/2018-photos. 16

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Phoenix Fashion Week at Talking Stick Resort

Oct. 18, 2018, Community Night. Photos by Bill Gemmill.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/2018-photos. 18

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Out & About

JIM BRICKMAN Sat. & Sun., December 29 & 30 | 3 & 7 p.m. Mon., December 31 | 7 p.m. $48.50–$68.50 “Jim Brickman has transformed the genre of solo piano music with his original pop-style instrumentals and star-studded vocal collaborations.” —AXS.com

Upcoming Concerts Hawktail Opening Act: Dead Horses December 9 Irish Christmas in America December 16 & 17 A Peter White Christmas Featuring Rick Braun and Euge Groove December 18 The Manhattan Transfer December 21 & 22

Upcoming Event ’Tis the Season: Holidays at MIM December 15 & 16 And many more!

2018 Concert Series sponsored by

MIM.org | 480.478.6000 | 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix, AZ

SPONSORED CONTENT

How to extend the life of your aging AC unit I can’t stress enough that simple annual preventative maintenance is the one thing you can do that will add extra years of life to your AC unit and prevent breakdowns. That is why I created the “Complete Tune Up” years ago providing everything to keep a system in optimal shape for performance and longevity. It is over $680 worth of parts and physical work on your system for just $159.95. If your unit is old and problematic, then you really should take some time to prepare so you don’t have the panic that comes with an unexpected new AC unit purchase. The first rule of thumb is when you are spending more on repairs than maintenance and your unit is 12-15 years old, it is definitely time to start shopping. This at least gives you time to prepare and know what your options are. Here are things you should expect to see to insure you are getting the best information and pricing. Newer units are made with higher efficiency and capacity, however, the BTU output which is the required amount to effectively cool the square footage in your home, has changed. You may not always be best served replacing like for like in tonnage. In order to give the accurate BTU and tonnage requirement, a Heat Load Calc, also referred to as a Manual J Load Calc, should be done. It takes into account the home’s square footage, location and number of windows and doors relative to sun exposure, and ceiling heights along with how much insulation is in your attic. It gives you the most accurate unit size needed. If you buy an AC unit slightly undersized, it will run all the time and there goes the efficiency you wanted from your new unit. If it is oversized, it will short cycle and not run long enough which puts immense wear on the unit. So expect a contractor to spend a good hour or more in your home looking at these things before they provide you an estimate. If they just tell you here is what you have so here is what you need, keep shopping. Next is the issue of pricing. Most units unfortunately have their final meltdown during the summer’s extreme heat. So you are pressed to make some fast decisions in order to bring cool comfort back to your home. Unfortunately, some contractors will take advantage of that weak point and offer higher than normal or even gouged pricing. The average new AC unit replacement should run between $6,000 and $8,000. If you are getting some crazy high estimates, keep shopping. Lastly, when shopping, one factor that determines price is the energy efficiency or SEER Rating. Today’s minimum is a 14 SEER which is probably double what your older unit is putting out. That makes for a nice savings come utility bill time. Units can go up to 20 or 22 SEER but the high cost does not really payoff in long term energy savings. A 16 SEER unit is probably your best value and return on investment. About the author:

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Phoenix Dining Gets Whyld Keith Wyatt Jr. Brings His Take On Healthy Fare to the Valley By Tom Reardon All photos by Maria Vassett

oes Phoenix need a Vegan district?

If you subscribe to the belief system of one Keith Wyatt Jr., it certainly does, and if Wyatt has anything to do with it, it is happening right now along Seventh Street between Camelback and McDowell roads. 22

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“Seventh Street is known for its vegan scene. We want to turn it into a vegan district. No one’s really said it, but it feels like what we want to do. To centralize something like veganism would be nice for people. A lot of times when you go to a restaurant, as a vegan, you have to worry about cross-contamination, so it

would be nice to have a district,” says Wyatt of his vision for a vegan-friendly area of Phoenix. A man of action, Wyatt, 37, has recently opened a Phoenix location of his super tasty vegan restaurant, Whyld Ass, at 4810 North Seventh Street (just south of Camelback in the spot FEATURE STORY

For starters, Wyatt has multiple facial tattoos so to say he is striking to look at is an understatement yet when he opens his mouth, his subtle North Carolina (where he spent the majority of his formative years) accent is soothing, and you will quickly pick up on his passion for putting love into everything he does. Despite the somewhat rough exterior, though, there is a depth of soul and understanding for struggle that permeates the relatively soft-spoken chef/entrepreneur. Wyatt grew up an outsider and the impact of this is apparent. “My parents are bikers. My first tattoo was when I turned 18. When I was 12, we moved from Baltimore to a teeny town in North Carolina. The town we lived in is now 600 people. When I lived there, it was 200. Very Baptist, very judgmental, anti-gay. They showed their appreciation by slashing my tires. When I got there, I thought, ‘I don’t like it here, I don’t like these people, I don’t give a shit what they think of me.’ I pierced my nose at 15 and just went from there,” shares Wyatt with a gleam in his eye. For a guy that has “Fag Life” tattooed across his stomach, there is a combination of defiance and the affirmations of both freedom and life that will be appealing to many as it may be shocking to some. Wyatt understands the importance of making what may be considered a bold statement to show where a person’s head and heart meet. Wyatt is also unconcerned about how others may judge the statements he makes with his body art. A tattoo like “Fag Life,” for example, could be easily misconstrued and in this day, age,

that once housed Shuka Shack, next to Segal’s Oasis). This move follows his last four years of delighting vegans and non-vegans alike at his Flagstaff location with his signature breakfast, lunch, and dinner recipes. The Flagstaff location will remain in operation, so fans of the Northern Arizona staple for FEATURE STORY

plant-based dining have nothing to fear, but Phoenicians who dig a meat and animal product-free diet are in for a major treat. And Wyatt, well, he’s like no one you’ve ever met. EchoMag.com

DECEMBER 2018

and socio-political climate, there are probably people who would not dig Wyatt’s choice of words nor understand where he is coming from with his perspective. “If (members of the LGBTQ community) did say anything, I feel like my generation and today’s generation are completely different. They don’t understand the importance of having a spot to go to where you can flirt with someone without feeling like you’re going to get killed, which was the case for my generation,” says Wyatt. While this may seem like indifference, it could not be farther from the case. Wyatt cares about not only his customers, but people in general, and got into vegan cooking as a way to share his beliefs about choosing a healthy lifestyle that is not preachy, but humble and based in logic. Wyatt is not just passionate about a plant-based diet, but he is also educated in the field. The man is certified in Holistic Nutrition by the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, which is based in Tempe, and no slouch in the kitchen. 24

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Wyatt’s path to where he is today was not always about food, though. “Initially, I went to school for sociology and psychology at the University of North Carolina, with an emphasis on gender studies. I wanted to do activism for human rights, which I’m still pro, of course, but I started doing stuff like tattooing my face, so I needed to find something a bit more suitable where people would take me seriously. Cooking is a place where you can, sort of, hide in the kitchen,” says Wyatt. Years of hard partying in North Carolina, though, caught up with Wyatt and a change of scenery was necessary which led him to Arizona. The first incarnation of Whyld Ass was down south in Bisbee where Wyatt moved after completing his certification course, but Wyatt’s love for the mountains took him to Flagstaff where Whyld Ass has been thriving since 2014. “I didn’t want to be in a big city. At the time, I didn’t appreciate what a big city had to offer. Coming from the mountains of North Carolina, I missed

the mountains. I kept visiting Flagstaff. One January I was up there, and I thought, ‘What the hell am I doing down (in Bisbee),’ so I moved to Flagstaff,” shared Wyatt. And while Wyatt loves Flagstaff, it was another love that brought him around to the idea of living in a big city again. “Two years ago, I met someone and found out he (Chris Regan pictured top right, in the center) lived in Phoenix. We did the long-distance relationship for a little over a year, and I decided to move down here. I did the commute four or five days a week and it was horrible,” says Wyatt. Like Wyatt, Regan shares a love for both running and great food, so the move to Phoenix is not only good for the two of them, but also for diners in Arizona’s capital city. As Whyld Ass in Phoenix celebrates its first official month in business, the opportunity to be part of a growing vegan community is not lost on Wyatt. “Seeing the vegan community booming down here, in the past few years, it has FEATURE STORY

just taken off. Down here, I feel like I’m part of a community, but in Flagstaff, I just feed people,” says Wyatt. As previously alluded to, with several other vegan restaurants on 7th Street already, Whyld Ass brings Wyatt’s unique take on a plant-based menu serving to widen the respective palate, if you will, of what is available to one of the more health and preparation conscious segments of the foodie world. For starters, and please pardon the pun, Whyld Ass will offer a full breakfast menu which many vegan restaurants do not provide. Wyatt is a skilled baker whose rosemary biscuits are heavenly and a staple of his daily routine, as well. For those who dig a more southwestern flavor, his breakfast burritos are amazing. The breakfast burritos feature a robust lentil sausage combined with sunflower seed cheese and a roasted sweet potato hash that is both hearty and delicious. Everything Whyld Ass serves is an original Wyatt creation, and Wyatt strongly believes in making each ingredient, whenever possible, in his own kitchen. While this adds to his prep time each day, it is more than extra time in his kitchen so that his customers, which seem to be loyal to a fault (as witnessed while spending time with Wyatt at his

weekly stand at North Phoenix Baptist Church’s Farmers Market), can sample his wide variety of soup, sandwiches, salads, and entrees. According to Wyatt, he changes up his menu about every six months and will always look to add seasonal fruits and vegetables to his menu whenever possible, but the most important thing is serving healthy food to the community. “I went vegan about eight years ago, and it is probably the best thing I’ve ever done. I wanted to go to school for the nutrition aspect, so I could explain to people why vegan is good for you. Health

issues are on the rise. Our lifespans are lessening, and our weight is on the rise, and it’s all related to our food,” concluded Wyatt. Tom Reardon loves to write about people who are doing something to contribute to our community in a positive way. He also loves his family and family of friends, his pets, music, skateboarding, movies, good (and bad) tv, and working with children to build a better world. Tom’s favorite movie is Jaws, his favorite food is lasagna, and he loves to play music with his friends. He’s a busy guy, but never too busy to listen to what you have to say so tell him a story.

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DECEMBER 2018

A Transitioning Nonprofit: Peacework Medical By Mark Schulte Photos by nightfuse.com they need to exist in the world as the gender with which they identify? That’s the very question that Josef Burwell asked himself. He created his own answer: Peacework Medical. Because of him, Phoenix finally has an organization that can provide medical care to community members who are both undocumented and transgender. Peacework Medical was first introduced to Echo readers last year, as part of Burwell’s Hall of Fame induction. Through that interaction, he shared details of Peacework’s contribution to aid in other countries, including Haiti, Cambodia, Honduras, Guyana, Ghana, and Belize. What each of these countries had in common was being hard-hit by natural disasters and/or poverty. Emergency aid had already arrived and made some progress in the recovery, but there was still a long road ahead.

ews stories about “illegal immigrants” have most likely taken over your Facebook newsfeed lately. They’re the stories of people in one country trying to establish a life in another one. At times, feeling like they don’t belong in either one. What if you were one of these immigrants? But you were not only trying to find the right country but the right gender, too? How does someone who is in the United States without access to medical care get the attention 26

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Burwell, a North Carolina native who has lived in Phoenix since 1996, made sure that those who needed help the most had timely access to it. Much of the initial relief would have been concentrated in the easily accessible areas of those countries. Seeing an underserved audience who needed help, Peacework Medical went to the remote areas where the people weren’t receiving the assistance they needed. To sum it up, Burwell quoted Mother Teresa, “We went to the poorest of the poor.”

In doing so, he realized that people much closer to home were struggling as well. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was picking up undocumented immigrants in Arizona and holding them in cells based on the wrong gender. “They were being held as men,” Burwell explained, “and being assaulted and raped by guards and by inmates.” Even those no longer being detained still were unable to live their truth. They were not only without medical options, but they were also struggling with gender identity issues. They knew who they were on the inside but didn’t have the resources to change their outside. “Some of them aren’t the poorest of the poor,” Burwell explained, again referencing Mother Teresa. “They’re rich in spirit. But they are the most disadvantaged of the disadvantaged.” Burwell understood the struggle. He had joined the Army as a closeted lesbian at a time when “Don’t Ask. Don’t Tell” hadn’t even been implemented, so he suffered constantly in silence, afraid that he would someday be outed against his will. His fears came true a short time later and he was held for months, tortured endlessly in an attempt to get him to name other gay and closeted soldiers. Finally released after refusing to be a snitch, Burwell went to college and became a Physician Assistant. He eventually joined the CIA and – realizing that he wasn’t a lesbian, FEATURE STORY

but instead a man born in the body of a woman – became the first active member of the traditionally conservative and stoic agency to transition. As a medic in the CIA, he had provided care in a variety of countries around the globe. Then, as a founder of Peacework Medical, he did the same, but this time as a civilian volunteer. When he was approached in 2015 by people from Phoenix, including members of Trans Queer Pueblo, he was told that there were at least four to five trans individuals who needed immediate help, but the group said they could easily find more. “It took about six to eight months to wrap up the Haiti relief,” Burwell said. “I managed to find a space here in Phoenix and immediately had nine patients who needed assistance.” Today, Peacework Medical has nearly 200 patients. They’ve helped a number of women gain asylum in the United States because of their status as refugees who will be harmed if they were sent back to their home countries. Now, instead of fearing for their lives and their identity, these women have a local primary care facility that they can trust. Some arrive at the clinic fully transitioned, happy to find a place where they can continue their care. Others had stopped their change because of either not being able to afford the necessary medications or having them taken away while they were in detention. They are now provided a place where they can restart their progress. While a majority are women transitioning to men, there are also clients who are men transitioning to women, as well as gay men and lesbians. What they have in common is their undocumented status and that they would otherwise not have access to any medical care. “That’s what Peacework Medical has always been about,” Burwell

emphasized. “They would most likely not be getting medical care – any medical care – if we weren’t providing it.” Burwell credits the organization’s longevity to its partnership with Trans Queer Pueblo. While not a part of Peacework, the group does find the patients, make the appointments, provide interpretation, assist with follow-ups and keep the complicated process flowing to those who need it most. Burwell admitted that trans rights and immigration rights have both hit a wall thanks to the current administration. “We’re seeing the people Donald Trump wants out of our country and he doesn’t care if they live or die,” he said, pausing before finishing his thoughts about the sad state of our country today, “and, some of our own citizens agree with that.” So, while Peacework’s location has changed, its mission really hasn’t. Whether it’s for disaster victims in a remote part of Haiti, or transgender immigrants right here in Phoenix, Burwell and his team of volunteers continue to care for those who others have unfortunately neglected. Echo thanks Peacework Medical for their time, including Josef Burwell (pictured lower left) and staff (some of whom are also pictured), Lisa Tshuma, PA-C; Elaine Smith, PA-S1; Nicko DeLeon, PA-S1; Benet Press, MD; Jessica Fladen, PA-S2; Daphne Press, RN; Vanessa Ruiz, NMD; Josef Burwell, PA-C; Destinee Davis, PA-S1; Kenya Baker, PA-S1; Aleksandra Grozic; Karina Beas; Mary Grace Devich. Mark Schulte recently moved to Phoenix from Little Rock with his husband, a cat and a southern accent. While he contributes to national and regional gay publications, his 9-to-5 job is writing advertising copy for people of all orientations.

HOW YOU CAN HELP If this story has moved you to help make a difference – and we certainly hope it has – you can make a tax-deductible donation at peaceworkmedical.com to help Peacework pay for labs. Even more importantly, there’s a need for clinical help. “If you’re an MD, DO, PA, ND or NP, we welcome you. You don’t have to speak Spanish; we have translators. You don’t have to know the first thing about transition hormones. We’ll teach you,” Burwell explained. “And a lot of our work is follow-up and primary care. That’s something any clinician can help with.”

HOW YOU CAN GET HELP If you - or someone you know - is undocumented and in need of gender transition care, the fact that a place like Peacework Medical exists may be a revelation to you. The clinic is located in west Phoenix and serves marginalized and vulnerable communities who don’t have access to health insurance. Appointments are taken for the first Sunday of every month, with follow-up care provided as needed during the other times. The most common way people find Peacework is through Trans Queer Pueblo; they can be contacted at facebook.com/transqueerpueblo.

MAKING A REAL DIFFERENCE Peacework Medical has touched the lives of almost 200 patients. While they may not be U.S. citizens, they are human beings in need of care. One of the group’s original – and current – patients, Paloma Dominguez, agreed to share her story with Echo to show the real effect the organization is having. Echo: When and how did you come to the United States? Dominguez: I migrated from my country (more than 20) years ago as an undocumented person, leaving homophobia and transphobia behind. I walked across the desert to get here. Echo: Had you began your transition? FEATURE STORY

Dominguez: At that time, I was trying to get a hold of hormones regularly, but I (often) didn’t have enough money to buy hormones. Echo: How did you first learn about Peacework Medical? Dominguez: I came because I was invited by Trans Queer Pueblo…to go to the clinic to begin hormone replacement therapy.

Echo: If Peacework didn’t exist, where would you be now? Dominguez: I don’t know where I’d be. It’s really hard to find hormone therapy in the United States, especially for someone like me. The only way to get a hold of hormones is through the black market, which is dangerous. I don’t know where I’d be, but I wouldn’t be here.

Echo: What have they done for you?

Echo: What would you say to someone considering getting help from Peacework?

Dominguez: (They’ve) helped me on a personal level, to make sure my physical health was good, and to have hope for my journey transitioning.

Dominguez: To have trust in the clinic. They give a helping hand and treat us well – the LGBTQ undocumented community of color. EchoMag.com

DECEMBER 2018

TRANScripts

Four titles that celebrate the ‘T’ in LGBTQ By Terri Schlichenmeyer

Transgender History: The Roots of Today’s Revolution, Revised Edition by Susan Stryker. Seal Press, 2008, 2017 | $17.99.

Transgender History: The Roots of Today’s Revolution It had to start somewhere. Someone had to make the first step, to pave the way, to stick a fork into the ground and say, “Here, now.” Someone had to be the first so that others could follow, and in the newly updated book Transgender History: The Roots of Today’s Revolution by Susan Stryker, you’ll see where we go next. Opening a history book with a chapter on terms and words might seem odd but, says Stryker, “remarkable changes” over the last decade demand it. Thus, begins this book, with new language for what is an old lifestyle. Indeed, America’s first recorded “intersex” individual was Thomas(ine) Hall, who lived in the 1620s, “sometimes as a man and sometimes as a woman.” Seventy years later, however, the colony of Massachusetts made “cross-dressing” illegal and it spread: by the 1850s, many U.S. cities had ordinances against dressing in clothing normally worn by the opposite sex. And yet, it was hard to stop 28

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people who wanted to dress as or fully transition to another gender. Throughout the 1800s, records show that women dressed as men for battle, cross-dressers braved the frontier, men ran away from their families to be true to their feminine selves, and Native American cultures embraced transgender people. Says Stryker, after anesthesia was invented and surgeries were safer, “individuals began approaching doctors to request surgical alteration of… parts of their bodies.” For a time, then, the movement was relatively quiet – by necessity, as the Nazis proved when they torched Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld’s Institute for Sexual Science in Berlin – until American Christine Jorgensen “burst onto the scene” in late 1952 when she traveled to Copenhagen for trans surgery. Her ensuing fame didn’t signal full acceptance for trans people, but it was a start: Riots in 1959 led to activism in the 1960s, and post-Stonewall groups consolidated to lend support and work through “difficult decades” of the ’70s, ‘80s, and the AIDS crisis. Today, says Stryker, though we live in interesting times of Trump and turmoil, the news Feature Story

is heartening. Millennials and “postBaby Boomers” have expressed more acceptance of “trans-gender as part of the ‘anti-heteronormative’ mix.” Though Transgender History is a revised edition of a book first published a decade ago, it has a fresh feel thanks to that which Stryker has added. The first chapter, somewhat of a dictionary, informs readers on new ways of talking about LGBTQ issues and individuals, while the last chapter of trans history brings readers up to the present, including topics of politics, potties, and celebrity. What makes it unusual is that, though it’s not always chronological, it’s breezy and casually readable. There’s no stuffiness here, and no air of the scholarly: Stryker makes this history accessible for people who want a story and not a textbook. And so, this book is a pleasant surprise. It’s easy to read, not overly wordy, and there are a just-right number of illustrations here for a reader’s enjoyment. For anyone who wants a basic, yet lively, overview of trans life in America, Transgender History is a great start.

The Trans Generation: How Trans Kids (and Their Parents) are Creating a Gender Revolution Boy or girl? That’s a common enough question, if you’re an expectant parent. You might’ve even wondered

it yourself: will you need pink things or blue, and what name will you choose? For generations, it’s been an exciting decision for prospective parents, but Ann Travers asks in The Trans Generation: How Trans Kids (and Their Parents) are Creating a Gender Revolution if it’s a prudent one. Maybe letting the child decide would be a better choice. 56 years ago, when Travers was born, their mother’s doctor unwittingly caused a lifetime of hurt: “It’s a girl,” he said, and Travers spent years trying to “untangle” what it meant. That, they said, is part of what drives this book. The other part is the desire to improve the lives of trans kids through understanding. Getting to that point is harrowing: 95 percent of transgender kids on one study felt unsafe in their schools. Many report that physicians misunderstand kids who are gender-nonconforming. Trans kids attempt suicide and/or self-harm at very high rates and, says Travers, “… many grow up hating their bodies…” Most employ several kinds of coping mechanisms to live their lives. In writing this book, Travers says, they interviewed a wide variety of trans kids from the U.S. and Canada – 19 in all, ages 4 to 20, plus 23 parents. The children mostly came from middleclass families, which allowed them privileges such as better access to medical care and chances to change schools if they needed to do so. Other children Travers interviewed lived in poverty, their stories illustrating how being a trans kid can be socially and medically isolating, and how lack of access to needed resources can affect their well-being.

the singular interview with a 16-yearold who made her own hormone treatments in her high school’s laboratory, they’re a good indication of hope for the future. While you could be forgiven for skipping to those case studies, you’d be missing out. The thicker parts of The Trans Generation are worth reading and reflection and are deeply instructive on pronouns, on gender fluidity, and on being trans in a cisgender-based society. They are also serious and weighty, but that kind of rock-solid information could make this book the right choice.

Straight Expectations: The Story of a Family in Transition Always be prepared. That’s not just a motto to wear on a badge; it could save you money, time, or health. It might get you where you’re going, faster or easier. Being ready for anything can you feel secure and safe, it can help you bounce back against any adversity and, as in the new book Straight Expectations: The Story of a Family in Transition by Peggy Cryden (with Janet E. Goldstein-Ball), it can make you a better parent. Everything in her life, it seemed, had readied her for what was to come.

Parents, of course, can affect that well-being, too, but it takes a “phenomenal amount of care, advocacy, and activism…to push back against cisgendered environments,” schools, sports, binary-only bathrooms, social activities, medical facilities, and politics. It takes a willingness to learn, listen, and lean in. Not just for parents, but for teachers, advocates, and loved ones, The Trans Generation is one heavy-duty book.

The Trans Generation: How Trans Kids (and Their Parents) are Creating a Gender Revolution by Ann Travers. New York University Press, 2018 | $25. Feature Story

Writing with a bit of a scholar’s voice and occasional, advanced, science and law studies, Travers also offers readers plenty of eye-opening chats with trans kids, which turn out to be the most helpful, useful, and even entertaining parts of this book. From the mouths of babes, as they say, those interviews give insights that adults will find to be wise and thoughtful, even monumental. They’re also heartbreaking but considering the kids readers are introduced to, and

Straight Expectations: The Story of a Family in Transition by Peggy Cryden (with Janet E. GoldsteinBall). Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2017 | $17.95.

Adopted as a small infant, Peggy Cryden grew up with a father who was a genius but was distant; and a mother with emotional issues and what Cryden indicates was probably mental illness. EchoMag.com

DECEMBER 2018

Gorman, though: well-traveled, adventuresome, and married, Gorman lived in Buffalo, New York, where he was known as a good man. Except he wasn’t. Gorman was anatomically a woman. Surely, that came as a surprise to doctors, jailers, and undertakers who discovered the secrets of Gorman and men like him but here, Skidmore says that the opposite is true of everyday folks: as evidenced by articles in many small-town newspapers, locals often knew the “true sex” of trans men in their midst and didn’t seem to care.

Cryden didn’t completely understand the latter until she was an adult and a working therapist, and it took many decades for her to make peace with her mother’s legacy. Before that, however, as children, Cryden and her brother were often left to their own devices. They woke themselves, prepared themselves for school, learned to swipe lunch money from their father’s pocket change, and they tried not to be embarrassed by their mom’s antics, eccentricities, or meltdowns. Untaught by her mother, Cryden learned resilience and basic skills from her grandmother, her grandmother’s Black housekeeper, and from a neighbor woman who obviously noted a child in need. Though she was generally independent much earlier, Cryden moved out of her parents’ house when she was still in high school. Later, while attending community college, she met the man she would marry, although Cryden indicates that she sometimes felt she couldn’t “bond.” That feeling extended to her firstborn child, a girl she named Julia. She was a little better centered when her second child, a boy, Jay, was born. Finally, Cryden had stability and the family she always dreamed of having: two children, a girl and a boy, and a supportive husband. Theirs seemed to be the perfect, TV-ready, typical family down the block until Julia, who was just a teen, confessed to her mother that he’d come to the understanding that he was really a boy. Shortly after this, fragile Jay, who’d always felt left out, came out to his family. 30

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Though it has steel-strong messages of affirmation, unconditional love, acceptance, and healing, Straight Expectations is a rough read. Author Cryden (with Janet E. GoldsteinBall, who offers pertinent information in her introduction) tells an absorbing story of childhood neglect and how she turned her own experiences into self-lessons on raising her two sons confidently. Readers will clearly see that there’s power in those words but there’s also repetition, often within the same half-page, causing the sentiment to wither like a pinpricked balloon. Add in an overabundance of choppy sentences and you’ve got frustration in the form of a book you very much want to read… but will you? Yes, it’s worth a try. Straight Expectations contains a basically good story plus resources, but it needed love with an editing pen. Yes, you may like it enormously – just be prepared.

True Sex: The Lives of Trans Men at the Turn of the 20th Century Always Be Yourself. Pretty much since grade school, that’s what you’ve been told. Take a breath and you do you. People like you the way you are. You don’t have to try to be someone you’re not. Always be yourself – although, as you‘ll see in True Sex: The Lives of Trans Men at the Turn of the 20th Century by Emily Skidmore, that may’ve caused gossip a century ago. In 1902, women in the United States could not legally vote. Many couldn’t hold property or get credit, and joining the military was likewise forbidden. None of that was a concern to Harry

True Sex: The Lives of Trans Men at the Turn of the 20th Century by Emily Skidmore. New York University Press, 2017 | $27. Feature Story

Many trans men in the late 1800s and early 1900s, says Skidmore, married, perhaps to cement their appearance as “‘good men’ to their communities.” Once discovered, they were often known in the press as “female husbands” because the term “lesbians” hadn’t taken hold yet and, at that time, women were largely believed to be asexual or unable to be passionate. Even so, though titillated, small-town Americans then weren’t quite as naïve as we might think they were. Perhaps because the science of sexology was still in its infancy and words were lacking, many of the men explained their actions as a way to make a living, or because it was more comfortable to dress and live as a man. Some didn’t explain at all, while others said they lived as men to take advantage of men’s rights and continued to do so in order to avoid embarrassment for their new wives. In many cases that Skidmore found, those reasons were no matter to neighbors. But intolerance was never far away. When one considers the attitudes toward LGBT individuals, pre-Stonewall, it’s quite eye-opening to know that tolerance was practiced well before discrimination was. It gives you more respect for your elders - and yet, as you’ll see in True Sex, laissez faire attitudes weren’t widespread. Using the tales of many trans men, as garnered from newspaper accounts of the day, Skidmore shows how smalltown residents around the turn of the last century viewed trans men and, at the same time, women who loved women. Not only are those stories fascinating, but they contain a certain quaintness that belies what’s between the lines: the newspapers had a lot to say, but there was an equal amount that they didn’t say but that readers, Skidmore believes, surely implicitly understood. This book veers off into the scholarly now and then; even so, it’s readable by anyone who’s interested in this history. If that’s you, True Sex is a book you’ll want for yourself.

Histories of the Transgender Child You have to start somewhere. Indeed, few things begin in a vacuum: you need an idea, then experiments and practice to create a masterpiece. Nothing magically just appears. And in the new book Histories of the Transgender Child by Julian Gill-Peterson, you’ll see that that’s true, too, about knowledge and change. The study of endocrinology had a fowl beginning. Feature Story

“Histories of the Transgender Child” by Julian GillPeterson c.2018, University of Minnesota Press $24.95 / higher in Canada 288 pages

In the eighteenth century, scientists, determined to learn more about what made “male” and “female,” removed the testes from birds, observed a certain amount of feminization, and then transplanted the gonads back into the birds. Alas, because they put the organs in the birds’ stomachs, little was learned; even so, it led them to think about kids and the male-female characteristics children possessed. They began to believe that male-female identification was pliable, and that children didn’t fully become either until they reached a certain age. By the twentieth century, better understandings of human anatomy, psychology, and hormones led to new ideas that spurred doctors to take bold steps to help children with genitalia that didn’t fit the norm at birth and didn’t match their sexual identity later. Those kids underwent treatment that seems invasive, almost horrifying, but that gave at least some relief from the feeling of being bodily trapped. These operations were supposed to have been kept quiet, but that was impossible. This, says Gill-Peterson, led to an influx of adults who sought American doctors for “sex change” operations. In the years surrounding World War I, those who were successful in their search told tales of themselves as children, making do with the resources they had, being isolated, yet sometimes enjoying a surprising amount of support from family who let them choose the gender in which they felt comfortable…

In the introduction to this book, the author indicates that the current narrative paints today›s trans children somewhat as pioneers. Nothing can be further from the truth, as you›ll see here, eventually. Maybe. Maybe - because Histories of the Transgender Child is written very much for scholars in concept, medical jargon, and words that will send the most casual reader dictionary-bound. Doctors should grasp this book easily; non-medical professionals, conversely, may be tempted to put it aside. But don’t. Yes, it’s a challenge to read but it does get easier as actual personal anecdotes become more plentiful. These tales also serve to show how society, shame, and social mores affected children and former kids who had few places to turn; it also shows how understanding of trans individuals grew while attitudes at large worsened. Here is the peek that most casual readers want from this book, one that’s more relatable and more social-history-based; these same angles also bring unsettlement as readers see racism creep into this overall tale and Gill-Peterson explains how doctors often saw patients as mere experimental vessels. And so don’t ignore this book. Just be aware that it’s scholarly, so it needs more time to develop appreciation. Give yourself that, and Histories of the Transgender Child could be a book to start. Terri Schlichenmeyer, The Bookworm, lives on a hill in Wisconsin with two dogs and 13,000 books. She’s been reading since age 3 and, to this day, she never goes anywhere without a book. EchoMag.com

DECEMBER 2018

EchoMag.com

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Photos courtesy of Janae Kroc.

More Than Meets the Eye An Interview with Transgender ‘Transformer’ Janae Kroc By Mikey Rox

ou don’t mess with Janae Kroc. One look at her and you can see why.

Born Matthew Raymond Kroczaleski, Janae – the transgender subject of the award-winning documentary Transformer – is a former Marine who made a name for herself (as Matt) as a competitive powerlifter and bodybuilder. In 2009, she set the male world record in the 220-pound weight class with 2,551 pounds. And while she’s not as powerful as she used to be (in the physical sense at least), she can still squash you like a bug. For instance, last year while 18 months into her estrogen therapy, Janae lifted 210 pounds for 10 reps and deadlifted 605 pounds. Recently, she has accelerated her transition from male to female, an evolution a decade-plus in the making, which has come with its own set of challenges.

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Speaking with Janae, she opened up about the discrimination she has faced since coming out, including how the bodybuilding community has both shunned and embraced her. She also discussed raising three well-adjusted, supportive sons (she and their mother divorced as a result of her coming out), the long, costly road to gender-reassignment surgery, and how some burdens weigh more than any barbell she’s ever touched. Echo: Janae – as Matt, you were a world champion powerlifter, badass bodybuilder, and a spokesperson for dietary supplement brand MuscleTech. You revealed in Transformer, which screened at Miami’s OUTshine Film Festival recently, that you lost the latter gig after coming out as transgender. How did that happen? Kroc: MuscleTech actually found out that I was transgender several months

before I was outed publicly. They had been sent some old pictures from my Facebook page, which was private at the time, and called me to ask if it was true. I immediately confirmed that I was in fact transgender and had been very open about it for years. They told me they were having a board meeting concerning this and would let me know their decision in a few days. When they contacted me again they were very clear that the reason they were letting me go was because of me being transgender. They immediately pulled all of my content from their websites and media advertising, cancelled all of my scheduled appearances for the remainder of the year, and informed me they would not be renewing my contract. They stated that while they were very happy with the job I had done for them over the previous eight years and really liked me as a person they felt that it FEATURE STORY

would be very bad PR for them and it would hurt sales, especially overseas in the more conservative cultures. Echo: What’s your take on this, and is there any recourse for what amounts to blatant discrimination? Kroc: While this was clearly discrimination and I would have been protected under Canadian law had I chosen to pursue legal action (MuscleTech is based in Toronto), the job I was hired to do for them was very different than most. They had hired me solely to represent their products and to be one of the faces of their company. That was my job for them and what they were paying me to do. Even though I was shocked, and I felt they made a very poor decision, the way I saw this was that if they didn’t want their company represented by a transgender person then that was their prerogative. I do feel that they missed a huge opportunity to do the right thing and that this will come back to haunt them in the future, but I chose not to pursue legal action against them. Echo: Do you feel like Matt is a separate person from Janae? Kroc: I see Matt as simply a part of who I am. All of the traits I possessed as Matt that allowed me to achieve the things I did are still within me. Matt was simply a limited version of who I am; he was just a portion of who I am today. I will say that there are certainly differences between Matt and Janae, and my reactions to certain situations are markedly different now than they would have been in the past, but I still don’t view him as a separate person. I still lived through all of those experiences and they helped shape me into the person I am today. I see my current self

as the evolution of who I am, and I am still evolving all the time. Echo: You came out to your three boys 13 years ago when they were young, and they’re each very well adjusted to your transition. That, for me, was probably the best part of Transformer – seeing how they interact with and accept you as you are. But have they always been so accepting? Were there any times when they pushed back, and how did you overcome that? Kroc: Everyone is always shocked to hear this, but it is the absolute truth: They have always been 100% supportive and accepting of who I am. Since I told them at such a young age, they had not yet been conditioned by society to view being transgender as a bad thing, so to them it was just another aspect of who I am. And since I never demonstrated any shame or gave them any reason to view it negatively, they have never had any reason to see it as something bad. Echo: You revealed yourself as Janae to your mom for the first time in the documentary, and naturally she was anxious about it. I read on your Instagram, though, that she actually decided on your female name. I’m guessing you asked her to do that. Did that help her along her path to acceptance? Kroc: The truth is my mom didn’t actually pick my name per se, but she did have a hand in helping me to decide on Janae. Janae was the name my mom had picked for me had I been born female. She told me that when I was a child and it always stuck with me. I thought it was a pretty name and unique, so when the time came to decide on a new name, Janae was the obvious choice for me. Echo: You touched briefly on your sexual orientation in the film, expressing that you’re still attracted to women but open to dating a man. Can you explain that? Kroc: Like my gender identity, my sexual orientation is somewhat blurry. I have always been very attracted to women and still am. I have never really found men attractive, but as a woman it does feel very natural to be in the feminine role with a man. I am open to dating whomever I feel a strong connection to, and it really has more to do with who they are as a person than their gender or genitals. Echo: If I may be more personal, has your hormone regimen affected to which gender you’re more or less attracted? Kroc: They did not have any effect on who I am attracted to, although my body and self-perception have changed; the idea of dating men has become a more realistic possibility. As a male I had no interest in men whatsoever but as a woman I am at least open to the idea.

FEATURE STORY

Echo: In the film, you talked about how cost-prohibitive gender reassignment surgery is. Where are you at in the transition process? Kroc: For the average adult trans woman to fully transition, it can often cost up to $100,000, and for trans men, even more. Personally, I have already spent $70,000 to $80,000, and I am still not finished. I am in the process of scheduling my bottom surgery right now and hope to get that done as soon as possible, but realistically it will probably be at least late this year or early next year before I am able to make that happen. Fortunately, more and more insurances in the United States are covering transgender surgeries and I really hope that trend continues. As far as other procedures go, I am definitely going to look more into hair transplant surgery as not having to wear a wig would be huge for me. With my active lifestyle and love for the water, wigs just aren’t practical, and without one on it becomes very difficult for me to present as female with my very short and very thin hair. I am still very interested in breast augmentation surgery, but as long as I remain very muscular it is difficult to achieve a natural look so for now I am holding off on that. Echo: Post-bodybuilding career, what are you goals now? Kroc: As far as my training is concerned I still want to remain muscular and strong but lean and not quite as big as I was previously. I still waffle somewhat about whether or not to drop a significant amount of weight and transition into a more “athletic look” but for now that is on hold. In regard to my overall life, I hope to continue speaking publicly about transgender and gender non-conforming people and the issues we face. I also hope to continue empowering women, especially those that are interested in pursuing strength sports, and do my best to promote equality as an intersectional feminist. Professionally, I hope to achieve enough financial independence to allow me to pursue those goals full time.

For Echo’s complete Hall of Fame interview with Janae Kroc, visit echomag.com/janae-kroc.

Mikey Rox is an award-winning journalist and LGBT lifestyle expert whose work has been published in more than 100 outlets across the world. He splits his time between homes in New York City and the Jersey Shore with his dog Jaxon. Connect with Mikey on Twitter @mikeyrox. EchoMag.com

DECEMBER 2018

Caitlyn Jenner Dumps Trump, Focuses on Foundation By Ashley Naftule

Photo by James White, Courtesy of E! Entertainment Television

“I

guess I’ve always been an optimist.”

Sitting on a couch inside Tempe’s Mulligan’s Manor, Caitlyn Jenner addresses her repudiation of Donald Trump with bemused nonchalance. She’s seated next to the executive director of the Caitlyn Jenner Foundation, Sophia Hutchins, and both women treat the topic of Jenner’s The Washington Post mea culpa editorial with a “That old news?” style exasperation. The Foundation was in town to offer their support and advocacy on behalf of Mulligan’s Manor, a home for at-risk youth in the LGBTQA community. The Caitlyn Jenner Foundation has been an active force for good in the trans community, raising funds for scholarships and supporting smaller community organizations who are doing vital work to support and uplift some of the most vulnerable members of society. But it was hard not to talk about the elephant in the room: Jenner’s recent face turn from the Trump administration. Published on October 25, Jenner’s Washington Post piece attempted to lay out her reasoning for supporting the Trump administration and why she’s now backing away from it. Believing that the Trump administration would be friendly and open to hearing about LGBTQ issues, Jenner thought she could use her celebrity status to help sway them on 36

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issues that impacted the community. But as she concedes in her editorial, it was a hopeless attempt. Fed up with watching Trump demonize the trans community to fire up his base, Jenner washed her hands of it all. Some stains, though, can’t be washed off so easily. And there are a lot of questions that her piece doesn’t answer. If seeing Trump demonize an at-risk community bothered her so much, why didn’t Jenner object to the way Trump built his Presidential campaign around demonizing the Latino community? Where was Jenner’s hand-wringing over Trump appointing anti-Semites and ideological fascists in his administration, or in his choosing the virulently antigay politician Mike Pence as his number two? And how could anyone think that an unrepentant misogynist like Trump would give a shit about the plight of transwomen? When faced with these questions, Jenner and Hutchins repeatedly stated that The Washington Post said everything Jenner wanted to say on these matters and left it at that. The closest thing that came to an unguarded moment was Jenner’s rueful admission to being an optimist. Following up with Jenner and Hutchins over the phone a few days later, the duo explained the foundation’s mission and how they’re trying to separate the

organization’s charitable work from Jenner’s political work. Echo: Tell us about the Caitlyn Jenner Foundation. What’s your current mission, and how are you helping the LGBTQA community? Jenner: Honestly, we’re doing a lot of things. We’re about 18 months old. And we constantly change. At the beginning, I just tried to help organizations in the Los Angeles area. I have a very unique platform in the community. I’ve been blessed with all this privilege, you know, because of my life. For me, it’s how do I use that to help the community? I have celebrity privilege, white privilege, all these things. I have a job. I’m not like a normal trans person who’s out there and I get that. So, when I’m using that platform, how can I use it to make a difference? And one of those things obviously was not just creating exposure, but also raising funds. The LGBT community, the trans community, is by far the most misunderstood and most discriminated against- especially for trans women of color- and also the most underfunded. So, we started a foundation to raise money to help a lot of these organizations. Like I formed an association with MAC Cosmetics to fund a transgender initiative. And between that and FEATURE STORY

what we’ve been able to do with my foundation, we’ve been able to put out there about $2.5 million. So that’s probably been the most rewarding thing. We are trying to see the best way to help the community, to help this next generation coming up. Echo: In your Washington Post column, you talked about your efforts to change people’s minds in the government about the trans and gay communities. Do you feel like your efforts made any headway at all? Do you feel you changed somebody’s mind? Jenner: Well, um, I try to stay out of the political side of this. I did make a statement in The Washington Post a few weeks ago which kind of clarified my thinking on that. And to be honest with you, I want to move forward. Going that direction kind of moves me backwards. I want to move forward with the foundation. The media tends to focus on one thing and that is politics right now. And honestly, I don’t want to. You know, I want to raise money, I want to keep the foundation going. I spend 60%, 70% of my time on foundation work, not politics. And I just want people to know that my heart and soul is in this community and I’m very blessed to be in a position where hopefully I’ll be able to do even more work to help people in the future. Echo: Because of your outreach efforts with the Trump administration, and that there were many folks in the community who condemned and questioned that decision, have you found that it made harder to be involved in the community? Has it been a challenge to regain the community’s trust? Hutchins: No matter how many people on Twitter are saying, “Oh my God, I can’t support that Caitlyn person because

FEATURE STORY

she’s on the conservative side,” they still love taking our checks. They still take our support with open arms. It’s like Caitlyn said, ‘Politics is so not what we’re doing. 70-80% of our time is fundraising: Getting in front of people that can really back us financially... This is how we’re going to change the culture, and it’s not through politics. But the critics - they may have a bit of a platform on social media behind a blocked account or behind some troll fake accounts. But in reality, they love when we send them a check. They never turn down those checks. Echo: You’ve talked about how you want to steer clear of politics. But so many of the things you talk about education, creating opportunities for the disadvantaged, the oppression that gay and trans communities go through every day- that stuff is inherently political. How can you change the culture without touching on politics?

to talk about it publicly because I feel like I can get more work done if I do it quietly. You know, in the future, if we can get through some legislation, hardcore legislation, on equality in this country, amendments to the Civil Rights Act when it comes to equality for the LGBT community, I would get behind that and I would back it up.

Hutchins: As a foundation, we are apolitical. It’s purely philanthropic. We are pro trans, pro LGBT. That’s where our mission takes us. We’ve retained a lobbyist for the National Center for Transgender Equality, which is the premier lobbying group for trans rights on the federal and state level. That lobbyist has been one of the most involved in ensuring that random Trump tweet about banning trans people from the military has no meaning whatsoever in the Department of Defense. From that standpoint, we did get political, but it wasn’t about Republicans or Democrats it was about standing up for trans rights.

Hutchins: But that’s not really foundation-related. Often, I think people relate what we’re doing at the foundation with what Caitlyn does with her celebrity. Obviously, if there’s any pro-trans legislation, we’re going to back it. We’re going to be Tweeting about it. Yes, you’ve seen Caitlyn endorse candidates for Congress. You’ve seen Caitlyn take positions on initiatives. But that’s all Caitlyn doing that. The foundation doesn’t get involved in that.

Jenner: Most of the things I’ve done over the last two and a half years, I’ve done them very quietly. Making under the table phone calls. I do my best to try not

Ashley Naftule is a writer and theater artist from Phoenix. His work has been published in Pitchfork, Vice, Bandcamp, Phoenix New Times, Popula, Longreads, The Outline, SYFY Wire, AZCentral, and Java Magazine. He’s a resident playwright and artistic director at Space55 Theatre. You can find him at @Emperor_norton on Twitter.

EchoMag.com

DECEMBER 2018

Lea DeLaria

Nov. 9 at Chandler Center for the Arts. Photos by nightfuse.com.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/2018-photos. 38

DECEMBER 2018

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Out & About

stephen ray bradford January 3 3, 1960 - October 11, 2018

Stephen Ray Bradford, 58, of Phoenix, born January 03, 1960 in Decatur, IL. passed away Monday October 01, 2018 at his home. Son of Rose Mary Bradford and the late Ted C. Bradford who preceded him in death. Mr. Bradford is survived by his mother Rose Mary Bradford, sister Shelley Rose Bradford, three nieces and nephews: Chardell Stephen Bond, Ciara Rose Bond, Chase Ellis Brown, and his many friends who loved him dearly. Mr. Bradford studied at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and was a Store Manager for Florsheim Shoes, Whitehall Jewelers, Sales Designer at Gauthier Jewelry of Scottsdale, and Store Manager for Lenscrafters, Biltmore Fashion Park. Mr. Bradford was Chair of the LGBTQ Caucus of the Arizona Democratic Party. He will be most remembered for his selfless dedication to LGBTQ causes especially those for homeless youth and transgender persons. His unwavering belief in equality for all persons and his crusade for victims of injustice will be the hallmarks of his legacy. Mr. Bradford was cremated and a Celebration of Life was held on October 7 in Downtown Phoenix. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ray Bradford Memorial Fund. Proceeds from the fund will go to the charities closest to his heart. https://www.gofundme.com/ray-bradford-memorial-fund.

Courtesy of Bryan Marlow

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DECEMBER 2018

Rainbows Festival

Oct. 20 at Heritage Square, Phoenix. Photos by nightfuse.com.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/2018-photos. 42

DECEMBER 2018

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Out & About

Rainbows Festival

Oct. 21 at Heritage Square, Phoenix. Photos by Bill Gemmill.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/2018-photos. Out & About

EchoMag.com

DECEMBER 2018

WITHOUT RESERVATIONS

Taco Chelo Story and photos by Rachel Verbits

acos might not solve life’s problems, but they sure offer a tasty respite from the daily grind. I think about this every week when Tuesday rolls around, you know, the day that has been informally designated as Taco Tuesday. What’s not to love? Tacos are filling, generally inexpensive, and satisfying to the soul. Phoenix offers plenty of spots to grab great tacos, so to get return customers, these shops need to find ways to set themselves apart from the pack. One place doing just that is Taco Chelo. Open since March, they’re serving up homemade, authentic tacos and Mexican

DECEMBER 2018

EchoMag.com

cuisine in a prime spot on Roosevelt Row – in close proximity to bars, music venues, and major-event arenas. It’s already a standout destination in an ever-growing ‘hood. While the taqueria itself is new, the delicious creations coming from the open kitchen come from a familiar face in the Phoenix food scene – restaurant owner and Chef Aaron Chamberlin. With local favorites like St. Francis and our recently visited Tempe Public Market Café under his belt, we didn’t hesitate to taste what Chef Chamberlin was going to be cooking up at Taco Chelo. Foregoing ballpark food, we visited Taco Chelo for our official taco taste

test before heading to a mid-summer Diamondbacks game. The corner taco shop looks somewhat dark on the outside, but that all changed by stepping into its brightly decorated interior. Colorful, distressed wooden beams juxtaposed against bright pieces of authentic art gave us the feeling that we stumbled into a hole-in-the-wall taco shop down south. We instantly knew this place was going to exceed its hype. The eye-catching centerpiece of Taco Chelo is without a doubt the bar. Although it was still early in the afternoon, people were already enjoying happy hour among ornately adorned bottles of mezcal, tequila, and traditional

Dining Out

décor. We headed to the back of the small restaurant to put our order in at the counter before grabbing a seat. The happy hour offered $5 cocktails and $2 off beers; we partook. My dinner date was recommended the house’s signature beer, La Chela De Chelo, which is crisp and light, similar to Dos Equis. I opted for their freshly made sangria, made of red wine, brandy, fresh-squeezed juices, and seasonal fruit. It was tart and refreshing – easy to see this adult beverage becoming a summer favorite. Although we didn’t wait long for our order to arrive at the table, we entertained ourselves by deciphering the Spanish phrases on the chair backs, which provide diners a good laugh when translated properly. As I settled in and soaked up the restaurant’s relaxed vibe, I realized that the bright, authentic décor is more than just something to look at. If you can shell out a pretty penny, you can take it home with you. The artwork is by established Mexican artists and is available for purchase. Taco Chelo’s menu is no frills and no fuss. It’s a fairly small selection to order from, with carefully chosen dishes that make the ordering process easy. Before diving into the star items at Taco Chelo, we explored the menu’s starters, which also serve well as side dishes to their tacos and quesadillas. Their more unique offerings include traditional chicharrones the size of tortilla chips and frijoles a la charra – pinto beans flavored with bacon and stewed to the perfect tenderness. To bring the most we can to our readers and with the menu being as concise as it is, we decided to go all in and try it all (or, almost all, at least). Not only did we order most of the menu, but we didn’t break the bank doing it, which is another thing Taco Chelo is doing right. Refreshingly, every menu item is under seven dollars.

True to its name, the main event at Taco Chelo is indeed, the selection of mouthwatering tacos. The taqueria offers three meat (carnitas, carne asada, and beef barbacoa), one fish, and one veggie taco to enjoy. We tried them all to give you the inside scoop. The meaty tacos were tender and savory. Simply-dressed with onions, cilantro, and guacamole, they needed nothing more than their own natural flavors and to be wrapped in thick, homemade corn tortillas. They may look like regular tacos, but the slow-cooking and deep flavors make them far from ordinary. As I am a self-proclaimed fish-taco connoisseur, Taco Chelo’s seafood taco holds up to some of the best I’ve ever tasted. Hearty pieces of battered and fried white fish were decorated with the traditional cabbage, pickled onion, chile crema, and pico de gallo. Without being particularly unique, this crispy fish taco is in a class of its own. I’ve never related more to the saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.

decide. I’ll leave that up our readers and many more visits in the future. I highly recommend trying all five tacos – how else will you find your favorite?! So, sure, maybe taco can’t solve all of life’s problems, but I’m still convinced that they can solve a few. Although it opened just a few months ago, Taco Chelo is the traditional taqueria that downtown Phoenix has been craving. Whether you’re making a pit stop before a long night out, grabbing a snack in the wee hours of the morning, or just enjoying lunch on the patio, this is a welcome addition to downtown’s burgeoning food scene and will without a doubt be serving taco lovers for a long time to come. Rachel Verbits is a published writer and a selfproclaimed foodie who spends her time exploring all the amazing eats Arizona has to offer.

We were even tickled by how much my dinner date and I loved Taco Chelo’s veggie taco. Both meat lovers, we enjoyed the fresh take on the meatless option, and the lightness that it offered compared to the rest of the heavier, savory tacos. A mixture of seasonal veggies including corn and mushrooms were topped with adobo garlic mojo, tangy arugula and queso fresco. It tasted just like a Mexican-inspired salad wrapped in a homemade corn tortilla. Taco Chelo has its own take on salads, as well. Their signature salad is light and zesty. It’s packed with jicama, orange, avocado crema and pepitas, which merge together to create perfectly crunchy, spicy, and refreshing bites. I don’t know if I can name a favorite Taco Chelo dish, that’s too hard to

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Dining Out

EchoMag.com

DECEMBER 2018

AT THE BOX OFFICE

New Releases By Tuesday Mahrle

Mary Queen of Scots

In theaters December 7 | Not yet rated | 112 minutes | Drama, Biography

This historical drama is based on John Guy’s biography Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart. In this bloody race to the throne, Mary Stuart (Saoirse Ronan), the queen of Scotland and her cousin Queen Elizabeth I (Margot Robbie) go head-to-head in a high stakes game to rule all of England. While they begin as friends fighting against a history of Kings and male influences, those same men around them quickly turn the two against one another. This leads to Mary’s imprisonment and when evidence of an assassination plot surfaces, Mary is ultimately executed.

Anna and the Apocalypse In theaters December 7 | R | 92 minutes | Comedy, Horror

If Shaun of the Dead met La La Land, you’d get Anna and the Apocalypse. A zombie apocalypse has taken over Anna’s quiet town of Little Haven at Christmas, forcing Anna and her friends to fight, slash and sing their way to survival. In the first ever Christmas zombie musical film, the group searches for their loved ones while deciphering who they can truly rely on.

Welcome to Marwen In theaters December 21 | PG-13 | Biography, Drama

Mark Hogancamp was a well-known World War II illustrator until an unprompted attack by Neo-Nazi’s nearly kills him. Suffering from PTSD, anxiety and extreme memory loss, Mark tries to piece his old and new life together by creating a small town of dolls where he is not only safe, but a hero. Many of the men and women of Marwen parallel his real-life friends who helped him recover. As his art installation grows, he finds strength and a therapeutic outlet in his fantasy world.

Mortal Engines In theaters December 14 | Not yet rated | Action, Fantasy

Based on the first of four novels by Philip Reeves, Mortal Engines is based hundreds of years after civilization was destroyed and London has become a dog-eat-dog world with predators around every corner. A feral young woman, Hester Shaw (Hera Hilmar), joins forces with Anna Fang (Jihae), an outlaw with a bounty on her head and Tim Natsworthy, a London outcast, to fight against the evil that killed Shaw’s mother. Tuesday Mahrle is a film critic and host of “Whiskey and Popcorn,” a Phoenix-based movie podcast. 46

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Jodie Weiss stars as Della. Photo by John Groseclose.

Stray Cat Theatre Serves Up A Tasty Treat By Seth Reines

baker refuses to create a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. Sound familiar? That’s how The Cake, Stray Cat Theatre’s current production by This Is Us writer Bekah Brunstetter, begins. The comedy is inspired by the 2012 Supreme Court decision on Masterpiece Cakeshop vs. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. Since then, the “Gay Wedding Cake Wars” have been fueled by 48

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vendors who feel it would compromise their religious beliefs to help celebrate such a union. In most cases, the bakers and spouses-to-be are strangers. But what if they aren’t? What if the baker was the best friend of the bride’s mom? The play’s protagonist Jen lives in New York but has always dreamed of getting married in her small North Carolina

Playwright Bekah Brunstetter. Courtesy of Geffen Playhouse. ENTERTAINMENT

hometown. She heads south with her partner Macy, an African-American New Yorker, to ask Della, a much soughtafter baker and the best friend of Jen’s late mother, to create their wedding cake. Della is, at first, overjoyed at Jen’s request until she realizes there’s not just one bride, but two. This forces her to re-examine some of her deeply-held beliefs, as well as her own marriage. Food, faith, and family loyalty take center stage in a paradigm-shifting comedy. “The Dellas of the world are wonderful, loving people,” playwright Brunstetter states. “I want Jen and Macy to be full human beings, and I want us to root for their love. But there are lots of plays and movies about Jen and Macy. There really aren’t very many about Della.” Brunstetter began writing and workshopping The Cake after reading about cake-based conflicts across the country. While working on the piece, she wondered what would happen if she were ever to bring a female lover home to meet her folks. (Brunstetter is straight and her parents are opposed to gay marriage.)

For The Cake, Brunstetter drew on her own life: her love of The Great British Bake Off (in the play, Della dreams of competing in a mythical American version of the show), her childhood memories of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and the disgraced Food Network star Paula Deen. Like her This Is Us character Kate (played by Chrissy Metz), the once overweight playwright received a letter from her fellow classmates telling her they no longer wanted to play with her. “I will never forget that,” she admits. But adds, as a writer, “You kind of want that awful pain: grist for the mill.” Ron May, artistic director of Stray Cat Theatre observed, “The play is as timely as timely gets. It’s literally ripped from the headlines in terms of the setup. Brunstetter’s writing is incredible. If you’ve ever seen This is Us, you know how funny the show can be. You also know the kind of emotional wallop that show can deliver. This play is no different. Honestly, there is so much conversation about art in the age of Trump, and where it frequently lands is on vicious satire or blatant attacks, which absolutely has its place. This play

has the balls to take a conservative character – Della, the baker – and make her the center of the story and doesn’t patronize, doesn’t judge, doesn’t pander, doesn’t eviscerate. As a result, it makes the conversation so, so much richer. The play asks what can happen if we actually stop digging our heels in long enough to really listen to one another, and the results are profoundly moving. It goes so far above and beyond “preaching to the choir” in how it portrays its characters. It’s a pretty special work.” StageScene-LA agreed, “Bekah Brunstetter has written that rarity among LGBT-themed plays, one that might actually inspire baby steps towards mutual understanding.” Stray Cat Theatre’s tasty The Cake is in its final performances at Tempe Center for the Arts. For tickets, visit straycattheatre.org. M. Seth Reines is an award-winning theater buff who has directed more than 500 productions nationally for stage and television, and formerly served as head of Roosevelt University’s musical theatre program.

Racquel McKenzie as Macy and Megan Holcomb as Jen. Photo by John Groseclose.

ENTERTAINMENT

EchoMag.com

DECEMBER 2018

Happy Holi-gays: Gifts By and For LGBTQ Friends and Family By Mikey Rox

eep it in the “family” this year by giving these gifts from LGBTQrun businesses designed with our queer brothers and sisters in mind.

Furious Goose Pocket Squares

to its just-bottled taste, removing the artificial preservative suspected to cause those nasty wine headaches. Package includes an adjustable aerator, four replacement filters, travel bag, and display base to capture stray drips. Custom handblown glassware also is available and designed to work specifically with the device for a chicer presentation. $80, ullowine.com

Bullies and Biceps Calendar

Fancy silken pocket squares – like the luxurious Selim’s Hammer geometric depicting Ottoman flintstock pistols nestled in an arabesque of roses – doubles as an aristocratic neckerchief with anarchist flair to help elevate your Coachella look from basic bitch to baddest. $54, furiousgoose.co.uk

Smash the Patriarchy Earrings It’s been all-out war on toxic masculinity in 2018 – and there’s no reason to relent now. OHME’s brass (and brash) Smash the Patriarchy earrings put all the men at your holiday dinner table on notice without you having to say a word. $73, wildfang.com

Üllo Wine Purifier Selective Sulfite Capture technology in the Üllo purifier restores your vintage 50

DECEMBER 2018

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hemp “Fancy AF” papers from lesbianowned maker Haus of Kayrn. Stuff a toker’s stocking with the also available “Happy Pride, Bitch” set while you’re at it. $2.99, haus-of-karyn.myshopify.com

I Love My Weiner Amenity Bag

Photographer Mike Ruiz panders to your sensitivities by bringing shirtless models and adorable, adoptable dogs together for his 2019 Bullies and Biceps calendar. The just-safe-enough-for-your-cubicle calendar honors the memory of Ruiz’s beloved pit bull Oliver who passed away earlier this year, and $1 from each copy sold will benefit New York Bully Crew, a rescue op that specializes in rehabbing and re-homing the world’s most misunderstood breed. $25, nybullycrew.org

Haus of Karyn Rolling Papers As the marijuana-legalization train picks up steam, so are fey ways to get fuzzy, like rolling a fatty in slow burning, 100%

You’re so vain, you probably think this bag is about you. Might be – if you’ve got a special doxie in your life or, ya know, just an affinity for what your daddy gave you. $24.95, nakeddecor.com Mikey Rox is an award-winning journalist and LGBT lifestyle expert whose work has been published in more than 100 outlets across the world. He splits his time between homes in New York City and the Jersey Shore with his dog Jaxon. Connect with Mikey on Twitter @mikeyrox.

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DECEMBER 2018

TALKING BODIES

are different depending on a myriad of factors but I would say virtually everyone should aim for a minimum of 20oz fluid, 500mg salt, and 25g carbohydrates per hour in moderate conditions. Those numbers will rise in hotter temperatures and decrease slightly in cooler conditions.

Safety Precautions

Fill Up Your Bag: Running and Hiking Essentials By Tia Norris

s the weather cools down this fall, many of us are beginning to exercise outside again. And whether you’re an ultra-marathoner or a weekend warrior, many of us Phoenicians are hitting the trails to soak in the sun while burning some calories. But, as the old adage goes: fail to plan, plan to fail! I’m here as your resident fitness expert to help you pack that trail running or hiking bag properly, to fuel performance, keep you safe, and be prepared for all scenarios!

First Things First: Get the Right Bag and Belt This is, of course, step one. There’s virtually no scenario imaginable where you should be doing cardio outside (running, hiking, mountain biking, etc.) without at least a small bag or belt packed with the essentials. You won’t see a single seasoned athlete who doesn’t have some kind of small bag. For shorter distances, a belt will do just fine – you need something small to at least hold the basics like your keys, a phone, water, and some food. Don’t worry about the belt being uncomfortable or bouncing. If you get a high-quality belt, I promise that you will barely know that it’s there. For longer distances, a hydration backpack is essential. You’ll need 52

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something that holds more fluids (and preferably one that keeps those fluids cool), more nutrition, and plenty of pockets for extras. I always go with the Nathan brand myself, but Camelbak and other companies make fine products, too. Hit your local running store, or a bigger chain like Dick’s or REI to talk to an expert and find one that works for you. It’s critical to get a specialized bag that will sit comfortably, that won’t move around, and is designed to take a beating on your adventures. It is a worthwhile investment.

Nutrition: Food and Fluid Once you’ve got a solid bag picked out, you’re going to want to load up with nutrition and hydration. At the very least, you’re going to want water, salt, and carbohydrates, particularly if you’re going to be in the sun for more than 45 minutes. I recommend simple salt supplements like BASE, and quick chews or Gu’s like Skratch, Stinger, or Tailwind. Any local running store should have these options available. Also, consider skipping the plain water unless you’re very dialed in on your salt and sugar. Go with an electrolyte supplement (like the brands mentioned above), as they will allow you to go much longer and stronger than plain water alone on those long runs, hikes, and bikes. Now, everyone’s fluid, salt, and sugar intakes

As someone who’s been running the streets and trails of Phoenix for years, I can promise you that you will eventually see some weird and dangerous shit. I don’t go anywhere – even in broad daylight through the streets of Arcadia – without at least mace in my bag. For long trail runs, I also take a basic pocket knife in case things go south. My trail bag is also equipped with a whistle if I get stranded somewhere in a sticky situation. And of course, your phone is a valuable safety tool if you’re in a predicament. Although the odds are that you will not encounter anything dangerous (like predators or snakes or other wildlife), things do happen and you’re going to want to have options if and when they do.

Miscellaneous Recommendations I also always have an assortment of random things for random scenarios, including Chapstick, body glide/antichafe (trust me, just pack it), topical analgesic like Tiger’s Balm or Icy Hot, ibuprofen, tissues, cash, and maybe even a backup battery charger for long runs. You probably have a few other items that you might use differently than I do. Just think about what is light, portable, and useful for your adventures. If you don’t know what these things are yet, you’ll know eventually with more time spent. It’s all about preparation, if you want to perform and recover at your best in those outdoor workouts. Make sure you’ve got the right bag, with the right nutrition and hydration, every single time. Don’t skimp on this! Many people want to “just go” and that lack of preparation will have them bonking, and/or feeling in a recovery hole after a long workout. And of course, bring along whatever else you need to stay safe (plan for the worst) and comfortable on those outdoor workouts. Once you’ve got your bag packed, get out there and enjoy that beautiful fall weather that makes Arizona so famous! Tia Norris is the president and head trainer at FitPro, LLC, a local fitness company. Find out more at fitprollc.com. Health & Fitness

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DECEMBER 2018

NOT THAT YOU ASKED

The Reason I Dread the Holidays — It’s Not Why You Think By Buddy Early

s I was contemplating what my column would be about – back-toschool craziness, NFL predictions, new fall movies and television shows I am excited about – it occurred to me that perhaps I need to pay more attention to the passing of the calendar. The year is almost over, for crying out loud. I need to try to be more aware of things before they happen. (Cut to me continuing to forget to wish each of you a happy birthday on Facebook until you’ve posted a “Thank you all for the birthday wishes” message that seems passive-aggressively pointed at me and then it’s just plain awkward.) The truth is this time of year is one that I simultaneously look forward to and dread. As an avid moviegoer the October through December calendar is always jam-packed; but as a person who is paralyzed by the appearance of any college or professional football game on television it is a high-wire act trying to schedule movie time around couch potato time. And as a person with an English degree it is important that I squeeze in time to drive for Lyft, GrubHub, Amazon, Postmates or for some new side gig that any one of you would be welcome to private message me about. This is, of course, to say nothing of the annual War on Christmas/War on Christianity in which I have taken a leadership role. (If you’re wondering, we’ve combined the two wars in order to cut overhead and maximize volunteer efforts.) It crept up on me especially fast this year, as I was still juggling my responsibilities as Corresponding

DECEMBER 2018

EchoMag.com

Secretary for the newly announced War Against the Flag. That’s a position that sounds fun until you realize it is mostly trolling losers on the Internet and making tamales for the retreat because that’s what everyone else wanted even though you said it would be easier to order a bunch of pizzas. On top of all this insanity, the holidays are a time of year that I simply try to get through without any scars. It’s not because of seasonal depression and anxiety. Although my bouts with those troubles have already been documented in the pages of this magazine, many of my less tactful friends and acquaintances are quick to point out that I am a miserable person 12 months out of the year. My curmudgeon-y ways in March are no different in December. At least that’s what I am told. My real dread for this time of year is dealing with all the invites to dinners, parties, dinner parties and party dinners. It’s one thing in the middle of July to politely decline an invitation to a pool party – which is something I totally get invited to all the time, by the way – but worming out of a holiday gathering is not so easy. First of all, there’s the sheer number of events that makes managing excuses terribly problematic. If Person A talks to Person B and they both compare notes with Person C, and they all discover I used the “working overtime” excuse they’d definitely become suspicious since they probably know I’m not exactly a workaholic. As a result, I end up attending at least one event, if for no

other reason than to use that event as an excuse to not attend the next. This brings me to my second point: I am mentally and physically tired. Like, all the time. Making commitments that I must follow through with means being even more tired. Yes – I get tired from sitting in a chair for eight hours. So, if I am considering accepting an invitation for an after-work Wednesday event, I need to make sure I am not doing anything Tuesday or Thursday. Having things to do two nights in a row could have disastrous effects on my biorhythms. Finally, let me tell you about the goodbyes. I loathe the good-bye routine during which every Darren, Kyle, Brenda and Robin requires a parting salutation and even a hug. “We should get together soon,” says the person whose name I can barely remember. By the time I get through the series of good-byes and so-longs, the line at Charlie’s taco stand has doubled in size. That’s why I prefer to employ a tactic most of my friends and family refer to as “pulling a Buddy.” I just disappear. I could tell you the many tips and tricks of perfecting this craft, but I like to keep them close to the vest. None of this means I don’t like to be invited to your party. Everybody likes to be invited, right? Buddy Early grew up in Tempe and has been involved in various communities across the Valley since. He is a former managing editor of both Echo Magazine and Compete Magazine. Community

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EchoMag.com

DECEMBER 2018

WE THE PEOPLE

a Michigan law that allows this discriminatory practice is already winding its way through the federal court system and could come before the Supreme Court. In addition, with Justice Kennedy gone, a majority of justices may now believe that businesses should be able to deny people – like same-sex couples ordering a wedding cake – service because of religious judgments.

What the Kavanaugh Appointment Could Mean For Us By Steve Kilar

few years ago, Jim Obergefell spoke in Arizona, at Shadow Rock United Church of Christ. It was early June 2015, about two weeks before the U.S. Supreme Court would declare – because of a lawsuit bearing his name – the U.S. Constitution protects samesex marriages. Jim’s preceding years had been tragic and trying, and yet he was kindhearted and generous with his time. Jim and his husband, John Arthur, were legally married in 2013, just months before John’s death of ALS. Because they could not marry in Ohio, where they lived, they had to fly on a medically equipped plane to Maryland, where their marriage was legal. They said “I do” in the aircraft as it sat on the tarmac. After John died, Ohio refused to list Jim on the death certificate as John’s surviving spouse. Jim sued and won but Ohio appealed, eventually pushing Jim’s case to the Supreme Court. As Jim spoke in the North Phoenix sanctuary, he was less than a month away from hearing whether the nation’s highest court considered his marriage equal under the law. Yet there he was, standing before a group of strangers who wanted to hear all of the details about his fight for equality. Throughout the whole evening, he was friendly and thoughtful. Jim was in my thoughts during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings a few weeks ago, as Brett Kavanaugh frothed, displayed partisanship, and exhibited what more than 2,400 law professors described in an open letter published by The New York Times as “a lack of judicial temperament that would be disqualifying for any court.” It distresses me that Jim’s arduous

DECEMBER 2018

EchoMag.com

journey, and the equality he won for millions of people, might now be undermined by Kavanaugh, whose performance during the confirmation hearings revealed a person who seems to be, in many ways, Jim’s foil. With Kavanaugh’s appointment, the U.S. Supreme Court now has a more conservative majority. Justice Anthony Kennedy, who Kavanaugh replaced, was conservative but authored major decisions that advanced the rights of LGBTQ people, including Jim’s case. Unless one of the five conservatives now on the court surprises us, there is no longer a champion for queer people in the majority bloc. For people who are not heterosexual and cisgender, that means we can expect to see a significant slowing, or even a reversal, of our progress toward equality. Most Supreme Court justices understand that the public will lose faith in the institution if they make decisions far outside of public opinion or if they reverse recent precedent. For that reason – to maintain their credibility as jurists – it seems unlikely that the new majority will completely undo marriage equality. A more likely scenario is that they will follow the strategy developed to weaken abortion rights: chipping away at the freedom to marry by limiting same-sex couples’ access to marriage-related benefits. For instance, the Supreme Court may decide that child placement organizations, even those that operate with taxpayer funds, can use religious judgments to turn away same-sex couples who want to adopt or foster children. A lawsuit challenging

Moreover, no one should be at risk of losing their job because they marry but it happens too often to people in same-sex relationships. Although some federal appeals courts have determined that current federal law prohibits sexual orientation discrimination in the workplace, the new U.S. Supreme Court majority could decide the opposite. Our highest court declaring that federal law allows employers to fire people in same-sex relationships without repercussion would certainly chip away at the equality of same-sex unions. Transgender and non-binary people face the same risk with respect to employment discrimination. Some federal appeals courts have said that existing federal law protects against gender identity discrimination in employment. The new SCOTUS majority could erase that protection. The rights of people who do not identify as cisgender are among those at the greatest risk. The new court majority may uphold President Trump’s desires to ban transgender people from military service, misgender students in public schools, and undo nondiscrimination protections for transition-related healthcare. We all have a lot more at stake than civil rights related to sexual orientation and gender identity, too. This new, more conservative court majority threatens our voting rights, the rights of immigrants, reproductive rights, and due process for criminal defendants, among other civil liberties. A significant transition within an institution that holds so much power over us is scary. But we cannot be deterred. Even if this Supreme Court majority ends up causing two steps back for LGBTQ rights, we must follow Jim Obergefell’s lead and keep fighting for what we know is right, no matter how bad our present circumstances may be. Steve Kilar, is the communications director at the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona (acluaz. org). If you have questions about your rights that you would like addressed in a future issue, write him at skilar@acluaz.org. COMMUNITY

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LOCAL BUSNESSES LOCAL BUSNESSES

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LOCAL BUSNESSES EchoMag.com

DECEMBER 2018

DRAG CALENDAR NOVEMBER Nov. 16

10:00 p.m.

THE ROCK

Barbra Seville Girlie Show hosted by Barbra Seville

Nov. 18

6:00 p.m.

THE ROCK

Mister & Miss Imperial Pride Pageant An Official Preliminary to Mister & Miss Phoenix Pride Pageant

Nov. 18

9:00 p.m.

THE ROCK

Dahl Haus featuring Dahli & Astrud Aurelia

Nov. 21

9:00 p.m.

KOBALT

2Girls, 1Cup hosted by Celia Putty

Nov. 21

10:00 p.m.

THE ROCK

Thanksgiving Eve with Barbra Seville & Adrienne Alexander

Nov. 21

10:00 p.m.

KARAMBA

Carnival Latino with RuPaul’s Drag Race’s Mayhem Miller, Ariel Versage & Alondra Gaibay

Nov. 22

10:00 p.m.

THE ROCK

Thanksgiving Night with Adriana Galliano

Nov. 23

10:00 p.m.

THE ROCK

Barbra Seville Girlie Show hosted by Barbra Seville

Nov. 25

2:00 p.m.

THE ROCK

Southern Fried Sundays hosted by The Southern Belles

Nov. 25

9:00 p.m.

THE ROCK

Late Nite Snax hosted by Benaddiction

Nov. 28

9:00 p.m.

KOBALT

M.O.D hosted by Doja Stevens

Nov. 29

10:00 p.m

THE ROCK

Coco St. James Show

Nov 29

10:30 p.m.

CLUB VOLT

Face Lift V hosted by Savannah Stevens & Whitney Stevens

Nov. 30

10:00 p.m.

THE ROCK

Lady Christian’s Trailer Trash Revue

Dec. 1

10:30 p.m.

OZ BAR

Sinful Saturdays hosted by Sonja Jae Savage

Dec. 2

9:00 p.m.

THE ROCK

Rubye Moore Show

Dec. 2

9:00 p.m.

BRODIE’S TAVERN

Diamond Divas hosted by Jessica Michaels & Holly Woodland

Dec. 5

9:00 p.m.

KOBALT

The Garden Variety Revue hosted by Olivia Gardens

Dec. 6

9:00 p.m.

STACY’S AT MELROSE

New Kings on the Block Show hosted by Blake Riley

Dec. 6

9:00 p.m.

IBT’S

The PlayHaus hosted by Haus of Kunt

Dec. 6

9:00 p.m.

SKY BAR ON 4TH

Nail Polish by Allona Dee

Dec. 7

10:00 p.m.

THE ROCK

Barbra Seville Girlie Show hosted by Barbra Seville

Dec. 8

2:00 p.m.

IBT’S

IBT’s Winter Street Fair Showcase hosted by Diva

Dec. 8

9:00 p.m.

IBT’S

IBT’s Winter Street Fair featuring Ongina & Tempest DuJour from RuPaul’s Drag Race

DECEMBER

Mark Your Calendars For Echo’s complete event listing, visit echomag.com/communitycalendar.

DECEMBER 2018

EchoMag.com

Bar Guide

EVERY MONDAY 9:00 p.m.

KOBALT

Naughty or Nice Bingo hosted by Olivia Gardens

10:00 p.m.

CHARLIE’S

The Strip Factor hosted by Claudia B & Piper M’Shay

EVERY TUESDAY 9:00 p.m.

STACY’S @ MELROSE

The Queer Agenda featuring Carnita Asada, Dahli, Rubye Moore and Benaddiction

EVERY WEDNESDAY 8:00 p.m.

CHARLIE’S

La Loteria hosted by Susana Martell & Juan

9:00 p.m.

BRODIE’S TAVERN

Naughty Drag Bingo hosted by Jessica Michaels

10:00 p.m.

IBT’S

Viva la Diva hosted by Diva

10:00 p.m.

CHARLIE’S

Diamond en Fuego hosted by Diamond Dallas

10:30 p.m.

KARAMBA

The Karime Lizaldi Show hosted by Karime Lizaldi

EVERY THURSDAY 9:00 p.m.

THE CASH

Truth or Dare Drag Bingo hosted by Freddy Prinze Charming & Felicia Minor

9:30 p.m.

BOYCOTT BAR

Glamourhood: Drag! Live Music! Dance! Comedy!

10:00 p.m.

CHARLIE’S

Pipin’ Hot Thursdays hosted by Piper M’Shay

10:00 p.m.

KARAMBA

Urban Thursdays hosted by Aubrey Ghalichi

EVERY FRIDAY 9:00 p.m.

PLAZMA

Freaky Fridays hosted by Celia Putty

9:00 p.m.

IBT’S

Flawless Fridays hosted by China Collins

10:00 p.m.

CLUB VOLT

4Some Revue hosted by Luna, Gigi, Joey & Toothpick

10:30 p.m.

CRUISIN’ 7TH

Thank Grande It’s Friday hosted by Espressa Grande

10:30 p.m.

BS WEST

Elements: The most decorated showcast in Scottsdale

11:00 p.m.

LA PUPUSA LOCA

Labios Rojos Show de Imitadores

@whiskeynpopcorn @whiskeyandpopcorn

EVERY SATURDAY 9:00 p.m.

IBT’S

Saturday Night Starletts hosted by Janee Starr

9:00 p.m.

STACY’S @ MELROSE

Keeping up with the McKenzies

9:30 p.m.

AQUA NIGHT CLUB

Susana Martell Siluetas Travesty Show

10:00 p.m.

THE ROCK

The Barbra Seville Show hosted by Barbra Seville

10:00 p.m.

CHARLIE’S

Saturday Night Under the Stars hosted by Claudia B

10:30 p.m.

CRUISIN’ 7TH

Lady & The Tramps hosted by Lady Christian

THE FITNESS PROFESSIONALS

EVERY SUNDAY 7:00 p.m.

CHARLIE’S

Pussy LeHoot & Friends

7:00 p.m.

STACY’S @ MELROSE

Stacy’s Follies featuring special guests

10:30 p.m.

KARAMBA

The Ruby Reynolds Show hosted by Ruby Reynolds

11:00 p.m.

CHARLIE’S

Latin Explosion hosted by “The Latin Dynamite” Adriana Galliano

11:30 p.m.

AQUA NIGHT CLUB

Labios Rojos Show de Imitadores

bar guide

TIA NORRIS JD, CPT PH: 602-502-5629 E: TKN@FITPROLLC.COM WWW.FITPROLLC.COM EchoMag.com

DECEMBER 2018

PHOENIX BARS

Phoenix Bar Guide

20 19

7 7

23 22 55 26 25 19 18

16 11 10

16 15 27

22 21 17

5th

9 8

32nd St. St. 32nd

Bethany Home

24 25 3 21 3 20

e. Av

1 15 2 14

24 23

10 9

13 12 44

18 17

14 13

11 12 *MAP IS NOT *Map is notTO drawn DRAWN SCALEto scale

60 92

DECEMBER FEBRUARY 2018 2018| OCTOBER 2017

||EchoMag.com EchoMag.com EchoMag.com

LOCAL BUSNESSES

ANVIL ANVIL

2424 E. E. Thomas Thomas Road Road 2424

602-334-1462 602-334-1462

M, D, D, L L M,

2 2

AQUA NIGHT AQUA NIGHT CLUB CLUB

1730 E. E. McDowell McDowell Road Road 1730

602-253-0682 602-253-0682

F, N, D, E, F, E, N D

3 3

BAR 11 BAR

3702 N. N. 16th Sixteenth 3702 St. St.

602-266-9001 602-266-9001

M, N, E, N M, E

4 4

eBAR BLISS/R BLISS REBAR

901 N. N. Fourth Fourth St. St. 901

602-795-1792 602-795-1792

MF,N,N,ER M,

5 5

BOYCOTT BAR BOYCOTT BAR

4301 N. N. Seventh Seventh Ave. Ave. 4301

602-515-3667 602-515-3667

MF, D, D, E E MF,

6 6

BS WEST BS WEST

7125 E. E. Fifth Fifth Ave. Ave. 7125

480-945-9028 480-945-9028

MF, D, D, E E MF,

BUNKHOUSE BUNKHOUSE

4428 N. N. Seventh Seventh Ave. Ave. 4428

602-200-9154 602-200-9154

M, N, L, N M, L

8 8

CARAVAN TAP ROOM CHARLIE’S

4835W.N.Camelback Fifteenth Ave. 727 Road

602-592-9386 602-265-0224

MF,C,E,E,ND M,

9 9

CHARLIE’S CLUB VOLT

727 Road 3108W. E.Camelback McDowell Road

602-265-0224 602-244-1465

M, MF,E,D,DE

10 10 10

CLUB VOLT CRUISIN’ 7TH

3108 Road 3702 E. N.McDowell Seventh St.

602-244-1465 602-212-9888

MF, M, ED, E

11 11 11

CRUISIN’ 7TH DICK’S CABARET

3702 Seventh 3432 N. E. Illini St. St.

602-212-9888 602-274-3425

M, M, E, G N

12 2 12 12

DICK’S CABARET FEZ

3432 Illini St. St. 105 W.E.Portland

602-274-3425 602-287-8700

M R

13 13 13

FEZ FLEX SPAS PHOENIX

105 St. Hwy 1517W. S. Portland Black Canyon

602-287-8700 602-271-9011

MF, R M, AO

14 14 14

FLEX SPAS PHOENIX KARAMBA NIGHTCLUB

1517 Canyon Highway 1724S. E.Black McDowell Road

602-271-9011 602-254-0231

M, D, EA

15 15 15

KARAMBA KOBALT NIGHTCLUB

1724 E. McDowell Road 3110 N. Central Ave., Ste. 125

602-254-0231 602-264-5307

D, MF,E E, N

16 16 16

KOBALT LOS DIABLOS

3110 Ave., Ste. 175 1028 N. E. Central Indian School Road

602-264-5307 602-795-7881

MF, MF, E, R, N N

17 17 17

LOS DIABLOSSALOON NU TOWNE

1028 School 5002 E. E. Indian Van Buren St. Road

602-795-7881 602-267-9959

MF, N,LR M, N,

18 18 18

NU OFFTOWNE CHUTE SALOON TOO

5002 E.Seventh Van Buren St. 4115 N. Ave

602-267-9959 602-274-1429

M, M, L, AN

19 19 19

OFF CHUTE TOO OZ BAR

4115 1804N. W.Seventh BethanyAve. Home Road

602-274-1429 602-242-5114

MF, MF, A N

20 20 20

OZ BAR PLAZMA

1804 W.Osborn Bethany Home Road 1560 E. Road

602-242-5114 602-266-0477

MF, MF, N N, E

21 21 21

PLAZMA ROYAL VILLA INN

1560 4312 E. N. Osborn 12th St. Road

602-266-0477 602-266-6883

MF, E, N M, AO

22 22 23

ROYAL VILLA INN STACY’S @ MELROSE

4312 4343N. N.Twelfth SeventhSt. Ave.

602-266-6883 602-264-1700

M, MF,AD, N

23 23 24

STACY’S @ NIGHTCLUB MELROSE & LOUNGE THE CASH

4343 N.McDowell Seventh Ave. 2140 E. Road

602-264-1700 602-244-9943

MF, F, C, D, DN

24 25 24

THE NIGHTCLUB & LOUNGE THE CASH CHUTE

2140 Road 1440 E. E. McDowell Indian School Road

602-244-9943 602-234-1654

F, M,DAO

25 26 25

THE THE CHUTE ROCK

1440 E. Indian School 4129 N. Seventh Ave. Road

602-234-1654 602-248-8559

M, M, A N, E

THE ROCK

4129 N. Seventh Ave.

602-248-8559

MF, E, N

MAP CODES: 27 2601 ON CENTRAL A Adult Retail & Entertainment M Mostly Males F Mostly Females MAP CODES: MF Mixed Male/Female M Mostly Males F Mostly Females MF Mixed Male/Female

LOCAL BUSNESSES

2601 N. Central Ave. N Neighborhood Bar R Full Restaurant D Dance Club C Country Dancing A Adult Retail & Accomodations D Dance Club E Entertainment (Karaoke, Drag)

602-466-2074 MF, E, R L Leather/Bears E Entertainment (Karaoke, Drag) G Go-Go Dancers AO Accommodations/Other L Leather/Bears N Neighborhood Bar R Restaurant

EchoMag.com EchoMag.com FEBRUARY EchoMag.com|| |DECEMBER OCTOBER 2018 2015

61 93

BAR

Fabric Showcases Three Project Runway Designers Nov. 3 at F.A.B.R.I.C., Tempe.

SPECIALS

Photos by Gregg Edelman.

BUNKHOUSE S $1 drafts & HH prices all day & night M 7 p.m. Darts with Acxell T Latin Night with Diego W 9 p.m. Karaoke T Underwear night: $1 off all drinks if in skivvies! GoGo dancers 9 p.m. F 8 p.m.-close: $2.50 Miller family products. 4 & 6 p.m.: Free-to-join poker S 8 p.m.-close: $2.50 Bud family products

CHARLIE’S S Super HH 4-7 p.m., $3 pitchers; $3 Long Islands open-close M 2-8 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestic bottles, $3 pitchers; 8 p.m.-close, 1/2 off drinks for wearing underwear, $3 Jack Daniels T 2-8 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestic bottles, $3 pitchers; 2-4-1 cocktails & beer 8 p.m.close W 2-8 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestic bottles, $3 pitchers; $3 Three Olives vodka, 8 p.m.close T 2-8 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestic bottles, $3 pitchers; 2-4-1 drinks open-close F 2-7 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestics, $3 pitchers; HH 7-9 p.m.; $1 well & domestics, $1 drafts 10 p.m.- midnight S Noon-7 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestics; HH 7-9 p.m.; $1 well & domestics, $3 Absolut & Bacardi 10 p.m.-midnight

STACY’S @ MELROSE S $1.50 Rolling Rock & Wells, open-7 p.m.; Showtime 7 p.m.-10 p.m.; $1 Rolling Rock & Wells; $2.50 Bud Light; $3 Fireball shots 7 p.m.-Close; Happy Hours 10 p.m.-сlose M Happy Hours; $2.50 Rolling Rock ALL DAY T Happy Hours; $5 Martinis & $2.50 Rolling Rock ALL DAY W 2-4-1 all day*; *no shots T Happy Hours 4 p.m.-8 p.m.; $1.50 Rolling Rock & Wells 8 p.m.-midnight F Happy Hours 4 p.m.-8 p.m.; $2.50 Rolling Rock all day; $2.50 Bud Light, $4.50 Pinnacle vodka & Fireball 8 p.m.-close S Happy Hours 4 p.m.-8 p.m.; $2.50 Rolling Rock all day; $2.50 Bud Light, $4.50 Pinnacle vodka & Fireball 8 p.m.-close 62

DECEMBER 2018

EchoMag.com

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/2018-photos Out & About

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EchoMag.com

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EchoMag.com

DECEMBER 2018

ADVERTISER DIRECTORY Please support our advertisers who help keep Echo free

ACCOUNTANTS/ TAX PREPARATION

Phoenix Pride

Scottsdale Center For the Arts

Robert F. Hockensmith, CPA, PC

Steve Price, CPA

Whiskey & Popcorn

2 59

The Chute

Discover Card

JW Advisors Inc.

APARTMENTS East and West Apartments

GALLERIES Exposed Studio & Gallery

ATTORNEYS

Nightfuse

REALTORS Arizona Gay Realtors Alliance

FINANCIAL SERVICES

ADULT ENTERTAINMENT

PHOTOGRAPHY

Berney Streed, Re/Max Excalibur

Bradley B. Brauer, HomeSmart

David Oesterle, ReMax

Fred Delgado Team, Keller Williams

Jan Dahl, HomeSmart

Matthew Hoedt, Realty One

Melinda Murphy, Lifestyle Partners

Forakis Law Firm, PLC

Jackson White-Attorneys At Law

Phillips Law Group

Salvador Phillips-Attorneys At Law

AUTO SERVICES Community Tire Pros & Auto Repair

BARS & CLUBS Bunkhouse

Charlie’s Phoenix

Stacy’s @ Melrose

63, 60, 61

Nicholas Yale, Brokers Hub Realty

Carpet Depot

Shawn Hertzog, West USA

Metro Cleaning

Precision Air

Quandt Landscaping

Tilton Electric

Valdez Refrigeration

Hospice of the Valley

Smirnoff

COUNSELING Stonewall Institute

My Dentist

Open Wide Dental

The Villas at Baker Park

Community Church of Hope

China Chili

Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers

Hula’s Modern Tiki

RETAIL

Beneﬁ ts Arizona

Off Chute Too

Edward Vasquez, Allstate

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RELIGIOUS GROUPS

Amy Powell, Health Markets Insurance 33

RETIREMENT PLANNING Calvin Goetz, Strategy Financial Group

MARKETING

DENTISTS

REAL ESTATE

RESTAURANTS

HOSPICE

INSURANCE

BEVERAGES

HOME SERVICES

SALONS Salon 24

MORTGAGES EDUCATION

WELLNESS

Jeremy Schachter, Fairway Independent

Maricopa County Community College District

ENTERTAINMENT & EVENTS

Mortgage Corp. Kim Chartier, Loan Depot

3 47

PHARMACIES

Adelante Healthcare

Anytime Fitness

FitPro, LLC-Tia Norris

HIV PrEP

Festival of Trees

Latino Pride Festival

CVS Specialty Pharmacy

Terros - Turning the Tide

Musical Instrument Museum

Fairmont Pharmacy

Willo Medi Spa

Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS

To find out more about advertising in Echo, call 602-266-0550 66 66

DECEMBER 2018

EchoMag.com

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