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inside this issue Issue 682 | Vol. 27, #10 | July 2016

features NEWS 12 4 Your Information 14 News Briefs 16 Datebook 18 New Walgreens specialty pharmacy reaches out to HIV/ AIDS community 22 OITNB actress brings personal experiences to 1,000 Dreams Fund

PREVIEWS

Photo by Jake DeBruyckere.

Photo by Bill Gemmill.

AND REVIEWS 47 At The Box Office 48 Opening Nights

50 Recordings

The Desert In Focus Meet Jake DeBruyckere, the local photographer whose eye for nature’s beauty earned him international exposure.

Pride in the Pines 2016 You’re invited to Flagstaff Pride’s 20th anniversary celebration. Bonus: Read our Q & A with headliner Belinda Carlisle.

52 Between The Covers

COMMUNITY 53 Talking Bodies 54 All Over The Map 56 Money Talks

ON THE COVER Photos by Jake DeBruyckere Photography. Cover design by Jake Rojas.

Photo courtesy of Greater Yavapai County LGBTQ Community Coalition.

JULY 2016

It Takes A Village Greater Yavapai County LGBTQ Coalition provides foundation for dispersed community.

EchoMag.com

Photo by Tiffany Photography.

The Year of the GEEKS Reign XI monarchs embark on a mission of generosity, education, equality, kindness and service.

inside this issue

on echomag.com web exclusives

Out of Iraq New documentary shares the love story – and struggle – of two gay soldiers. echomag.com/out-of-iraq

Checkered Dreams Freddy Niblack, the first openly gay driver in the Indy Car Series, shares his recent victories. echomag.com/checkered-dreams

Courtesy photo.

Signs of the Times NAD’s fourth annual LGBT Deaf Equality Luncheon to focus on same-sex parenting. echomag.com/signs-of-the-times

The Best Party of Our Lives: Stories of Gay Weddings A series of essays, written by Sarah Galvin, that show how same-sex couples prepare for their big day. echomag.com/best-party-of-our-lives

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JULY 2016

notes from the

managing editor By KJ Philp

LGBTQ NEWS, VIEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT

ello, summer! You’re looking hotter than ever!

Lucky for you, especially those of you who call the Valley of the Sun home, you’ve got your hands on our coolest road trip issue ever – and just in time to remedy the summer sizzle. Of course there are a wide variety of seasonal escapes, but we’re focusing on a few Arizona road trips that support our neighboring LGBTQ communities in this issue.

First up, Team Echo is heading to Bisbee Pride this weekend (June 17-19) and we hope to catch as many of you as possible while we’re out and about in Arizona’s mile-high town. Liz Massey has all the details at echomag.com/ mile-high-celebration. The following weekend, we’re setting up shop in Northern Arizona in honor of Flagstaff Pride’s 20th anniversary June 25. Megan Wadding caught up with the Northern Arizona Pride Association to find out what will make this year’s celebration special in “Pride in the Pines” on page 34. But wait, there’s more: Be sure to find out what festival headliner Belinda Carlisle had to say ahead of her northern Arizona show on page 36. There’s still more to celebrate. Did you know the Greater Yavapai County LGBTQ Coalition has been providing new focus and fellowship for the county’s LGBTQ residents and their allies since January? Liz Massey has details on the coalition’s development in “It Takes A Village” on page 38. And be sure to check out the photos from

the community’s second annual LGBTQ Family & Friends Community Picnic May 29, too. We haven’t forgotten about our Tucson readers either. Our Echo cameras went full aloha at Treasures for TIHAN: “Escape to the Islands Beach Party” June 4. See who we spent the lovely luau evening with on page 24. Mahalo, Tucson, we will return very soon! Last, but not least: If you’re looking to head up to Sedona this summer, don’t forget the annual Big Gay Arts Show is taking place July 1-4 at the Sedona Arts Center. For event details, see “Datebook” on page 16. If you’re still not inspired to pack up the car and take a road trip to one of Arizona’s cooler communities or amazing attractions, our cover photographer Jake DeBruyckere is sure to give you the travel bug. While he specializes in desert landscapes, we’re excited to share his photo that recently landed in Apple’s new iPhone ad campaign in “The Desert In Focus” on page 28. And, before you embark on your next summer adventure, find out which techniques and apps Jake uses to achieve the best possible photos – using only his iPhone – to capture his travels. That’s it for the July issue. Team Echo wishes you a happy 4th of July and save travels – wherever it is that you’re off to! KJ Philp is the managing editor of Echo Magazine and can be reached at editor@echomag.com.

Echo is currently seeking Phoenix-based freelance restaurant reviewers. Qualified candidates are invited to send published restaurant and food reviews to editor@echomag.com for consideration. 10

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PUBLISHER: Bill Orovan ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Bill Gemmill EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR: KJ Philp CONTRIBUTORS: Danae Barnes Melissa Myers Cait Brennan David-Elijah Nahmod Tony Contini Tia Norris Anthony Costello Hans Pedersen Tamara Juarez Terri Schlichenmeyer Laura Latzko Richard Schultz Art Martori Michael J. Tucker Greg Marzullo Megan Wadding Liz Massey ART DEPARTMENT SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Jake Rojas PHOTOGRAPHY: Brittany Lea, EDP Photography, LaQuan Photography, nightfuse.com and Tony Contini. ADVERTISING DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING: Ashlee James ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVES: Adrian Bradley Gregg Edelman Randy Robinson NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE: Rivendell Media, 212-242-6863

ECHO READERSHIP: 40,000 SUBSCRIPTIONS: $29/year ACE PUBLISHING, INC.

Member:

Echo Magazine is published by and is a trademark of ACE Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Written permission must be obtained in advance for partial or complete reproduction of including any advertising material contained therein. Opinions expressed in are not necessarily those of the publisher or staff or ACE Publishing, Inc. does not assume responsibility for claims by its advertisers. Publication of the name or photograph of a person or organization in articles, advertising or listings inis not to be construed as an indication of the sexual orientation of such organizations or persons (unless such orientation is specifically stated). Manuscripts or other materials submitted remain the property of ACE Publishing. Free copies limited to one per person.

letters to the editor

Somewhere Over The Rainbow …

t is not easy to say goodbye to a place that many of us loved … I had the best bartenders who did it all for love (because there wasn’t much money). Wherever these folks go, they are a blessing to whatever they do. Please everyone, go to your special place and enjoy it while it’s there, because without your patronage it can’t succeed for long.

This is a special community and I hope someday people will understand why I had to sell. Money only goes so far. Much love to everyone and keep the hate to a minimum cause it only causes bad stress and no one wants that! Even though it’s easier now to be openly gay there is still a need for our beloved gay bars and establishments and I urge you to

spend your hard earned dollars there. Don’t take for granted they will always be there because without your support they will fall by the way side. Sometimes you don’t know what you have until its gone. Always stay humble and kind! – Karen Bovard Owner, Rainbow Cactus Saloon

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU We invite you to submit your letters to the editor at editor@echomag.com, with “Letter To The Editor” in the subject line, or mail to Echo Magazine Attn: Editor, P.O. Box 16630 Phoenix, AZ 85011-6630. Publication of submitted letters is not guaranteed; letters are subject to editing in accordance with Echo’s style and guidelines.

“Get tested with a Queen or get tested with a King. Get tested!” - Eddie Broadway, Mister Arizona USofA MI & Barbra Seville, Miss Gay California America

Brought to you by:

HIV Testing Day Event Free testing food trucks raffle prizes entertainment

Join the IGNITE Crew at Stacy’s as we celebrate National HIV Testing Day! Shake the stigma and update your status with FREE couples or individual HIV Testing! Join us in this exciting event!

5pm - 2am

Sponsored by: 4343 N 7th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85013

IgniteYourStatus.org EchoMag.com

JULY 2016

Photo courtesy of facebook.com/treypearson.

by the numbers

ON THE RECORD

The percent of LGBTQ singles have dated someone they met online, with transgender singles dating the most online (65 percent), according to “LGBTQ in America,” the largest nationally representative study of American singles who identify as LGBTQ. The study, which was released by Match, the world’s largest relationship company, in honor of Pride month went on to reveal insights on coming out, family and marriage, PrEP and online dating. Read the study’s complete results at echomag.com/match-study.

“I have progressed so much in my faith over these last several years. I think I needed to be able to affirm other gay people before I could ever accept it for myself. Likewise, I couldn’t expect others to accept me how I am until I could come to terms with it first … It is like this weight I have been carrying my whole life has been lifted from me, and I have never felt such freedom. ”

television

ICYMI

Photo courtesy of bearnakedchef.com.

There’s a new viral cooking sensation spicing up YouTube and his name is Adrian De Berardinis, better known as The Bear-Naked Chef, and he’s been serving up “nothing butt good food” since his channel went live late last year. “I offer these dishes and instructional videos in its rawest form to you, stripped down, easy to follow, and simply delicious,” he explains in his introduction on bearnakedchef.com. While his recipes always promise “a range of easy-tocook, accessible food from Italy and beyond,” he’s recently traveled to Madrid, Spain, and launched his Travel Edition. The first episode, entitled “Albóndigas En Salsa Española,” (meatballs in Spanish sauce), can be viewed at bit.ly/24AY8fJ.

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– Trey Pearson, founding member of Christian rock band Everyday Sunday, following his coming out as gay in an interview with Ohio’s (614) magazine May 29.

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“The View” co-host Whoopi Goldberg recently announced that she will executive produce “Strut,” a new reality show starring transgender models for Oxygen later this year. The show will center on Slay Model Management, the first agency exclusively focusing on transgender talent, and models who are aspiring to challenge gender and beauty stereotypes. “This show is important right now, because for all of the positive advances the community has made and continues to make, transgender is still a hot-button word that gets people hysterical,” Goldberg said in a recent statement. “People tend to focus on the stereotype instead of the person, and this series will give viewers a unique opportunity to spend time with real people who are struggling with the same challenges we all face as we make our way through the world.” For more information, visit slaymodels.com or oxygen.com. Photo courtesy of facebook.com/slaymodels.

news briefs

Photos by nightfuse.com.

#WeAreOrlando ... Members of Phoenix’s LGBTQ community, allies, members of the media, religious and political leaders, gathered together at the Phoenix Pride LGBT Center on the evening of June 12 for a candlelight vigil honoring the victims of the mass shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Fla. To view the rest of Echo’s photos from the vigil, visit echomag.com/gallery/2016-photos. To watch a live stream of the vigil, visit facebook.com/echomagazine.

Local Organizations, Businesses Partner to Offer Free Testing in Support of National HIV Testing Day Aunt Rita’s Foundation and Arizona Department of Health Services HIV Prevention Program are teaming up with Theranos, Inc., Walgreens and Greater than AIDS to offer free HIV in support of National HIV Testing Day June 27. Testing events are scheduled June 23 and 24 from 3 to 7 p.m. and June 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the following Valley Walgreens stores and Theranos Wellness Center locations: Walgreen locations: • 3434 W. Southern Ave., Phoenix • 1825 W. Bethany Home Road, Phoenix • 4111 N. 24th St., Phoenix • 3402 N Central Ave, Phoenix These four Phoenix locations will have on-site HIV screening specialists and pharmacists who can provide confidential medication counseling to encourage medication adherence, and can also assist with other care needs, such as identifying co-pay assistance options. Theranos locations:

For more information visit hivaz.org.

The 2016 Community Spirit Award recipients are: • BJ Bud Spirit Award: Arizona’s Children Association • Kirk Baxter Spirit Award: IGNITE Your Status • Howard & Patricia Fleischmann Spirit Award: BS West • John Bircumshaw Spirit Award: Jimmy Thomason • Linda Hoffman Spirit Award: Roberta Zrna • Mayor Phil Gordon Spirit Award: Project Jigsaw

For more information on Phoenix Pride, partnership grants, scholarship programs or the Community Spirit Awards, visit phoenixpride.org.

• 10250 North 92nd Street, Suite 210, Scottsdale |

“Getting tested is the first step to finding out if you have HIV,” according to an Aunt Rita’s press release. “If you have HIV, getting medical care and taking medications regularly helps you live a longer, healthier life. It also lowers the chances of passing HIV on to others by as much as 96 percent.”

The Pride Brunch, presented by Wells Fargo, takes place annually to honor and celebrate the contributions of individuals, organizations, businesses, and political leadership from the LGBTQ community and allies.

• Tish Tanner Spirit Award: Trixxie Deluxxe/Marcos Sandoval

• 6301 S. McClintock, Suite 120, Tempe

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While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that all Americans be screened for HIV as a routine part of medical care, many Americans have never been tested or are not being tested as often as recommended. According the Arizona Department of Health Services, in 2014 were more than 16,500 people living with HIV in the state of Arizona – 12,400 of them in Maricopa County, which represents 70 percent of the epidemic.

As part of Phoenix Pride’s first awards brunch, June 11 at the Hilton Scottsdale Resort & Villas, the local nonprofit organization presented its 2016 Community Spirit Awards.

• Brandon Packer Spirit Award: Dee Jae Galaxy/MK Underwood

• 3731 S. Arizona Ave, Suite 2, Chandler

• 13940 W. Meeker Blvd, Suite 101, Sun City West

Phoenix Pride Honors Annual Award Winners

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news

PRIDE NIGHT

SATURDAY JUNE 18 | 7PM

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Hit The Road ...

datebook

june 17 – 19 The 12th annual Bisbee Pride – a weekend filled with events and performances – will take place at various locations throughout downtown Bisbee. bisbeepride.com june 25 Flagstaff Pride is celebrating 20 years of Pride in the Pines with its annual festival – featuring headliners Belinda Carlisle, Crystal Waters and Brandon Skeie – at Thorpe Park Ball Field, 600 N. Thorpe Road, in Flagstaff. (See story, page 34.) flagstaffpride.org june 26 The Pride Guide Tucson presents the second annual LGBT Wedding & Honeymoon Expo, an all-inclusive event featuring more than 60 vendors, from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa, 3800 W. Starr Pass Blvd., in Tucson.

gayarizona.com/tucson/wedding-expo

Photo by Jake

DeBruyckere.

june 18 & 29

The Phoenix Mercury will tip off against Dallas (LGBT Night Out event) and Connecticut at 7 p.m. at Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson St. in Phoenix. mercury.wnba.com/tickets june 18 & 25; July 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30

july 1 – 4 The Big Gay Art Show, an annual art exhibit featuring the work of LGBTQ and allied artists, photographers, sculptors and mixed media artists, will take place at the Sedona Arts Center, 15 Art Barn Road, in Sedona. biggayartshow.com

june 21 The Creative Co-op invites all playwrights, actors, directors, designers and stage managers interested in participating in OUTLOUD 2017 – the annual LGBTQ New Plays Festival – to an informational session beginning at 7 p.m. at the Phoenix Pride LGBT Center, 801 N. Second Ave., in Phoenix.

phoenixpridelgbtcenter.org /programs/creative june 25 – 26

Canyon Echoes presents “Broadway Our Way” at 7 and 2 p.m. (respectively) at Galvin Playhouse, 51 W. 10th St., in Tempe. phoenixmenschorus.com june 26

You’re invited to Saturday Pool Parties at Hotel 502, featuring a live DJ, cash bar and food trucks on site, all summer long. These events are free, open to everyone and all proceeds benefit the Phoenix Metropolitan Men’s Chorus. 502 W. Camelback Road, in Phoenix. hotel502.com 16

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Miss Gay Arizona America 2016, a direct preliminary to Miss Gay America, will take place at 4 p.m. at Tempe Center For the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway, in Tempe. missgayarizonaamerica.com/mgaa-2016 june 26

In partnership with the City of Scottsdale, the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) presents One Year of Love, a

celebration of the one-year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s ruling on marriage equality with a meaningful discussion and light brunch, at 11 a.m. at SMoCA, 7374 E. Second St., Scottsdale. Free with RSVP: oneyearoflove.app.rsvpify.com june 30 Microsoft will partner with Phoenix Pride and Arizona Pride Guide to host an LGBT Pride Month Networking Event, which will include entertainment, a keynote speaker, education for the LGBT business community and small business owners as well as light appetizers and refreshments, from 5 to 7 p.m. at The Microsoft Store in Scottsdale Fashion Square, 7014 E. Camelback Road (main floor, between the food court and Nordstrom), in Scottsdale.

Register: microsoftstore.com/scottsdale/events july 1, 8, 13, 16 & 19 The Phoenix Mercury will tip off against New York, Indiana, Washington (12:30 p.m.), San Antonio and Chicago at 7 p.m. at Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson St. in Phoenix. mercury.wnba.com/tickets july 6 As part of the 53rd biennial National Association of the Deaf Conference, in Phoenix July 3-5, the LGBT Deaf Equality Luncheon will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Phoenix Convention Center (West Building), 100 N. Third St., in Phoenix. phoenix.nad.org/register july 9 The Greater Phoenix Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce presents the sixth annual BizBowl – a businessoriented bowling event with prizes for costumes, raffles and a silent auction – from 5 to 9 p.m. at AMF Christown Lanes, 1919 W. Bethany Home Road, in Phoenix.

phoenixgaychamber.com july 16 Strike Out Hunger, a bowling fundraiser benefiting the Joshua Tree Feeding Program, will include three games and shoe rental (teams not required) and take place from noon to 3 p.m. at Let It Roll Bowl, 8925 N. 12th St., Phoenix.

universe.com/events/strike-outhunger-tickets-phoenix-53CBQW

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. events

jul

A (Red) Ribbon Cutting

New specialty pharmacy reaches out to HIV/AIDS community By Tamara Juarez

hronic diseases, such as HIV and AIDS, are not easy to monitor. They require a strict adherence to medication and constant supervision by health professionals who can keep track of each patient’s wellbeing. Fortunately for Phoenix residents, receiving medical care for such conditions may have gotten a little easier. Thanks to Walgreens’ new specialty pharmacy, located at Central Avenue and Encanto Boulevard, customers can now access a wider variety of health services with the same convenience the drugstore is known for. The latest addition by the retail chain is certified to treat customers with complex diseases and everyday illnesses, making it the first of its kind to open in Arizona. Due to the rising number of HIV and AIDS infections across the Valley, Walgreens aims to dedicate its initial efforts to serving the HIV community and reaching out to populations at a higher risk of contracting these diseases. Clinic manager David Costlow explained the challenges of managing chronic disease patients, and the benefits of Walgreens’ new pharmacy. “There was a need for this specialty pharmacy that was identified by Walgreens, by our patient population and our providers,” he said. “Trying to manage patients with HIV and AIDS in retail stores can be chaotic and doesn’t allow time for pharmacist to focus on the patient’s needs. We are a low-volume pharmacy, so have more availability and flexibility. A site like this provides a single point of contact where we’re going to customize our services for the patients and their families.” According to the Arizona Department of Health Services’ 2015 annual report, there 18

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are 16,608 people living with HIV or AIDS in Arizona, marking a 23 percent increase over the last five years. Particularly with a chronic disease like HIV or AIDS customers must feel safe and comfortable to interact with a pharmacist, Costlow said. To account for each patient’s medical, financial and personal needs, Walgreens’ specialty pharmacy provides free shipping of all prescriptions, financial assistance by specially certified technicians and complete confidentiality with the aid of a private consultation room. Jennifer Davis, Walgreen’s pharmacy manager, assures patients will receive the best possible care and whatever degree of privacy they request. “Our specialty site is set up to foster confidentiality above all things,” she said. “We have a very small waiting area and a private consultation room with frosted glass, so no one can see inside. It’s the perfect place to sit down with a pharmacist and ask questions about medications or their HIV or transmission. Even if someone isn’t HIV positive, but they want to discuss risk factors or PrEP, we can speak with patients for as long as they need about any condition.” As someone who’s been positive for more than 20 years, Kit Kloeckl, director of programs at HIV-focused nonprofit organization Aunt Rita’s Foundation, knows the significance of feeling secure and accepted by doctors. “It’s very important for some people, especially those who have been recently diagnosed, to have privacy,” he said. “You’re really concerned about having a disease and about who’s going to know. This specialty [pharmacy] is a place where,

as soon as you come in, you know that you’re going to be treated with dignity and respect.” Kloeckl spoke to Davis and Costlow about the LGBTQ community and about the struggles they face with the added stigma associated with HIV and AIDS. Kloeckl, the specialty pharmacy’s first customer, was met with a positive response by staff. “The experience you have here is going to be supportive rather than degrading,” he said, emphasizing the importance of communication, awareness and community outreach to decrease the spread of some chronic diseases. “Unfortunately, many young gay men tend to think that HIV and AIDS are ‘old men’s diseases,’ but infections are most prominent among 13- to 24-year-olds,” Kloeckl said. “There are more and more infections each year. We’re going the wrong direction, and I think it’s very important to have this type of specialty pharmacy in the community.” Aside from HIV and AIDS, Walgreens’ new specialty pharmacy also treats other chronic ailments, such as Hepatitis C, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, transplants and some cancers. “We are not going to turn anyone who walks through our doors seeking medication away,” Costlow said. “We are here to help the whole community however we can.” Community, A Walgreens Pharmacy 2302 N. Central Ave., Ste. 7, Phoenix (northwest corner of Central Avenue and Encanto Boulevard) Pharmacy hours: Mon-Fri: 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sat, Sun: Closed 602–313–2042 Tamara Juarez s a student at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. During her spare time she loves to read, hike and make bad puns.

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OUT & ABOUT 2016 Pride Brunch June 11 at the Hilton Scottsdale Resort & Villas. Photos by nightfuse.com.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

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1,000 Dreams Fund

OITNB actress Farrah Krenek brings personal experiences to new leading role By Megan Wadding

ou may recognize Farrah Krenek (pictured) from her role in the Netflix original series, “Orange is the New Black.”

of the Dreams Fund, she said she knew this would be the “most important role” yet.

Just ahead of the show’s highly anticipated third season, the actress and activist has landed a new leading role: She’s the face of the 1,000 Dreams Fund, a movement to empower young women in the United States through scholarships and advice on what it takes to reach their career goals and dreams.

“It was my absolute obligation to teach these girls that live in a 'digital generation' where true beauty comes from and how important it is to believe in yourself and know that you are worthy,” Krenek said. “Giving them this moral boot camp and helping them with the scholarships gives them two of the most important weapons for survival: Knowledge and self-worth.”

According to Christie Garton, the fund’s founder and creator, millions of girls across the U.S. have dreams about what they want to do with their lives, but they lack the resources to make those dreams a reality. “Our primary mission is to provide deserving young women with scholarships because we believe big expenses should never stand in the way of big dreams,” Garton said. “We kept hearing from young women how difficult it is to find funding … [and] I wanted to do something about it.” “We are an inclusive scholarship program focused on empowering young women everywhere,” said Christie, who added that any young women in high school or college who needs funding for an extracurricular that they believe will help them reach their dream career can apply for funding. “Together, our goal is to seek solutions,” said Christie. “Our 1,000 Dreams name reflects our bold commitment to fund 1,000 real girls. Once we reach it, we will set our next big goal.” According to Krenek, when Garton contacted her about about getting involved, she was immediately intrigued and onboard. “[Garton] spoke to me about ... how she had a vision to help provide funding to make dreams a reality for these girls and educate this generation on more than what it sees with modern technology,” Krenek explained. “[She] wanted me to be their voice and their inspiration ... by sharing my story and teaching them that even with a difficult past, you can create the future that you envision. She wanted me to teach the youth what its like to be beautiful, just by being you.” Once Krenek understood the mission 22

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Krenek, who grew up in New York, recalls being a victim of bullying. “There was no social media of any kind that would create rapid awareness of what I was going through,” she said. “It was just the old-fashioned parent/teacher conferences and notifying the teachers if there was something getting out of hand.” According to Krenek, facing bullying only made her stronger, and she made a choice to utilize her pain for good. “I could have become the most miserable, most resentful person, most angry [person] at what I went through, but I decided to turn my poison into medicine. I wanted to help people. I wanted to become the person I needed when I was younger,” Krenek said. “I wanted to [be] a voice of understanding to anyone that felt they were misunderstood. The most beautiful thing God ever gifted us with is life [is] seeing another person smile and get better and have hope and see that sparkle in their eye, knowing that tomorrow will be a better day.” Krenek explained that, although she admired many actors growing up, there was never really one with whom she felt that she could identify. “Nobody looked like me. If they were gay, they weren't very 'rough or masculine' looking, so it was easy to hide. With me, it was painfully obvious,” Krenek explained.

Photo courtesy of facebook.com/farrahkrenek.

“I'd always search for her on television, [but] never found her. So, I made the decision that I was going to stop looking for her and become her. I said, I don't know where the other girls that are like me are, but one day I'll be the face they were looking for and I'll be their voice.” Today, Krenek takes pride in her goal of being the first person that comes to mind when a casting director is in search of a lesbian leading lady. “I want to be the face on-screen for all the gay women and entire LGBT community and even to those that are not a part of the community, but [who] feel lost, misunderstood, unloved and abandoned,” Krenek said. [I’d like them] to know that there is an actress here that won't just portray a role, but will also be their voice and will understand.” For more information, or to apply, visit 1000dreamsfund.org.

READ THE REST For Echo’s full interviews with Christie Garton and Farrah Krenek, visit echomag.com/1000-dreams-fund.

Megan Wadding is a freelance writer and travel addict with a degree in journalism. Follow her on Twitter at @MeganWadding.

OUT & ABOUT Treasures For TIHAN: "Escape to the Islands Beach Party" June 4 at Tucson Marriott University Park. Photos by KJ Philp.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

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OUT & ABOUT Sexiest Bartender Contest 2016 May 29 at Wyndham Garden Phoenix Midtown. Photos by Marcus Farrell.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

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OUT & ABOUT Splash Bash â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Memorial Day Weekend May 28 at Wyndham Garden Phoenix Midtown. Photos by Marcus Farrell.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

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feature story

The Desert In Focus Local photographer’s eye for nature's beauty earns him international exposure

Jake DeBruyckere.

By KJ Philp

or most photographers, seeing your work on the pages of National Geographic, a publication that boasts “on-the-ground reporting combined with award-winning photography,” means you’ve made it. That’s not quite the case for local photographer Jake DeBruyckere, whose November 2015 Instagram post landed on the back cover of the magazine's April issue. The photo is, of course, as impressive as the rest of DeBruyckere’s work, with one small exception: it was taken in Northern California and not in the desert, which the Phoenix native feels so inspired by and so passionately about. Regardless, it was just the shot that Apple was in search of for its 2016 "Shot on iPhone 6s" World Gallery. And the rest, as they say, is history. 28

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It all started, as DeBruyckere recalls, when he was 2 years old. He took his grandma’s camera and snapped a photo of his mother – at least that’s what his relatives have told him. He later moved on to taking vacation photos with compact cameras and on his 17th birthday he received his first DSLR camera. “The photos weren’t any good, but it jumpstarted my interest in photography,” he said, adding that he’s been out of the closet nearly as long as he’s been viewing the world through a camera lens. After graduating from Saguaro High School in Scottsdale, DeBruyckere went on to major in sociology at Arizona State University. But it wasn’t until Instagram was catching on within the photography community that he finally got back to capturing the beauty of the desert he calls home.

Putting Arizona on the Map

Fittingly, the third-generation Arizonan’s first post was a pic stitch of his ASU graduation on May 2, 2013. “I started following people I was inspired by [and] from there I learned to create my own style,” he said, adding that he used the platform for inspiration from others and also to find and hone his own style. “Initially, I didn’t think I would be successful if I wasn’t shooting what the ‘cool kids’ were shooting,” he explained. “I realized that’s absolutely ridiculous … living in the desert makes me unique.” To remedy the significant lack of representation of Arizona and the Southwest in his feed at the time, DeBruyckere launched feature story

Photos by Ja ke

#thedesertisbeautifultoo as a way to encourage other photographers to acknowledge – and shoot – the desert landscape. With nearly 5,000 posts, his hashtag has also served as a tool to connect area photographers and create a sense of community. “When I travel and experience new places, [and] get out of my normal everyday routine, is when I’m the most creative,” he said, admitting he’s always "that guy" who’s stopping to take photos no matter where he’s headed. “I want to do a lot more traveling within Arizona.” While he admits the Superstition Mountains are one of his favorite spots in Arizona to shoot photos, the desert enthusiast said the Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon are on his to-do list. “The lighting in the desert is very different from other landscapes,” he said. “It’s almost magical, especially during golden hour when the sun is setting. That’s perfect for me.” feature story

DeBruycker e Photogra phy.

InstaFame

According to instagram.com/press, the social media site has more than 400 million accounts that average more than 80 million photos posted per day. “I don’t know if I post to Instagram to be successful, but it is a way to preserve the moment so I can look back,” DeBruyckere said. “That’s what I love about photography." While DeBruyckere’s photography can be found on a wide variety of social media platforms, he has a specific set of criteria for what he posts to his Instagram as @jaquib: all his posts are photos shot by him on his iPhone 6s. “I shoot the things people don’t think are worthy of shooting … as simple as possible,” he said. “Sometimes [a photo] doesn’t have to have a point … it can be whatever you want it to be.” One look at DeBruyckere's work and his distinct style is apparent: nature mixed with a human element in almost-vintage

lighting. And, despite their popularity, you wont find any selfies or photos of food here. “Arizona has some of the most unique and diverse landscapes,” he said. “[W]e are spoiled by how much we can see just in our state.” Whether it’s desolate landscapes that have almost-human elements to them or everyday objects, DeBruyckere’s goal is to eliminate distractions in his frames so that it’s clear what the focus is. With 22,300 followers, some would say this 25-year-old has found the winning recipe, but he offers a different sentiment. “It’s not about the number of followers you have, it’s about who’s following you,” he said. “It’s people I’ve looked up to and photographers who are making it in the business recognizing that I’m kind of good at this.” EchoMag.com

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Whether it’s your selfie game or envia ble vacation photos yo u’re posting this su mmer, a few pointers from an internationally published local photographer never hurt anyone . So, while we were admiring the work of Jake DeBruyckere, we as ked him for a few pointers. Here they are, in no particular order: • Make the most of your phone’s capa bilities. “Everyone always has their phone on them, that’s all you need ,” DeBruyckere said. “Tap the screen and use the sun slider to ad just [brightness]. Pres s and hold the scre en to lock exposure and focu s. And I always sh oot with HDR on.” • Lighting and comp osition are everyt hing. “The best time of day to shoot is one ho ur after sunrise and one ho ur before sunset,” he said. • Follow the rule of thirds. “Use your phone’s grid for better comp osition,” he said. “Line up th e horizon [with the grid] or position your subje ct at an intersecti on. If you do center your subje ct, have symmetry on the sides.” • Eliminate distra ctions. “It’s OK to slow do wn to compose yo ur photo,” he said. “Take a few at different angle s… change the brightn ess and take anothe r.” • Perspective is ke y. “Everyday things ca n be beautiful,” he said. “Tr y looking at thing s differently and be more aware.”

Three Snaps for These Three Apps From Apple Headquarters to the Big Apple

Last November, while traveling with a group of photographers, DeBruyckere snapped a sunrise shot of his friend, Samuel Martin, perched a top San Francisco’s Mount Davidson, overlooking the coastline. “I knew it was the perfect photo,” he said, “and I had to post it right away.” Within days of the photo being posted, an Apple affiliate scrolled across the photo and contacted DeBruyckere and let him know they were interested in using his photo. Fast forward “a very long three months,” as he put it, and he finds out his photo is popping up around the world in Apple’s 2016 “Shot on iPhone 6s” campaign. Most notably was the back cover of the April 2016 of National Geographic and two places in in New York City, which called for DeBruyckere and his boyfriend to take a trip together to the Big Apple to see the photo larger than life – on both a billboard and in a subway tunnel between Times 30

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Square and Grand Central Station – in person. “It’s so crazy [and] very surreal,” he said. “It still doesn’t feel real.” DeBruyckere said he and the other 41 featured photographers are currently “chasing billboards” to see where in the world their photos will appear next. So far, his photo has been spotted in Australia, Canada, China, India, Italy, Japan, Thailand, and Turkey, which has fueled his ambitions, and provided a solid foundation, for taking his photography further. “To travel the world as a paid photographer would be the ultimate goal,” he said, as long as he returns to Arizona. “Being born and raised here, this is my home. It would be weird to move anywhere else.” For more information on Jake DeBruyckere, visit jakedebruyckere.com or instagram.com/jaquib. KJ Philp is the managing editor of Echo Magazine and can be reached at editor@echomag.com.

While the premise of Apple’s “Shot on iPhone 6s” campaign is that the photos produced by the phone’s camera app don’t require “filters, adjustments or retouching,” it goes on to state, “imagine what you can do with a camera this advanced, along with the powerful editing tools built into your iPhone.” So, we asked local photographer and campaign contributor Jake DeBruyckere to tell us his top three apps for photo editing and here’s what said: 1. Snapseed | Free | “ ... This app brings to your mobile device the power and control of professional photo editing software, previously only available on the desktop …” 2. Enlight | $3.99 | “Enhance, tweak and decorate your photos to perfection with Enlight’s powerful array of tools ... ” 3. VSCO | Free | “ ... Easy-to-use editing tools and a vast range of stylish film-like presets ... help make it a must have for absolutely anyone …” Source: Description/App Editor’s Notes. feature story

DeBruyckere Photography.

Five Tips for Taking Photographs on Yo Better ur Phone

Photography. Photo by Jake DeBruyckere

Pitching Tents

xt road trip Nine places to go gay camping on your ne By Mikey Rox

hen it comes to camping, the options for accommodations are as diverse as the members of the LGBTQ community. Whether you like roughing it in the woods or prefer the luxuries of “glamping,” summer is the perfect time to pack up the car, hit the road and spend some time in the great outdoors. We’ve rounded up the top nine gayowned, and -accepting, campgrounds, resorts and retreats across the country (for both men and women). Here they are, in no particular order: Lizard Landing Campground | Columbia, Ala. Primarily catering to the LGBTQ community, but welcoming of allies, Lizard Landing offers 11.5 secluded acres of primitive tent sites, no-frills sleeping cabins and deluxe cabins featuring in-unit hygiene facilities. Heated saltwater pool (your skin will thank you!), fishing, canoeing and kayaking activities are available for adventurers, plus access to a boat ramp if you bring along your vessel. lizardlanding.com Magnetic Valley Resort | Eureka Springs, Ark. Considering that Carroll County, Ark., is one of the gayest places in the south-central United States – approximately one-third of its population is “family,” according to the New York Times – it’s no surprise that this exclusive, private men’s resort is a popular destination. Catering to gents ages 21 and older, Magnetic Valley facilitates a vibrant social scene that transitions to an intimate atmosphere with such amenities as a heated pool, hot tub, dry sauna, outdoor showers, fire pit and the Carrie Nation Bar. magneticvalleyresort.com Campit Outdoor Resort | Saugatuck, Mich. Spread across 25 private acres at this adultand members-only campground, which accommodates tents and RVs, caters to the LGBTQ community. Located just 10 minutes from Saugatuck – the most popular vacation destination in the Midwest – Campit offers

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an immersive outdoor experience, from sprawling meadows and wooded trails to Lake Michigan beaches. Other amenities include a swimming pool, clothingoptional areas and a gang shower for men. campitresort.com Rancho Cicada Retreat | Plymouth, Calif. Nestled on 44 acres within the Sierra Foothills, this mostly male retreat along the Cosumnes River provides platform camping near the water’s edge, a swimming hole, gorge tubing, sunbathing, volleyball and fishing. When you’re all tuckered out, enjoy a homemade meal before slipping into the bubbling Jacuzzi-style tub. ranchocicadaretreat.com Southern Comfort Campground | Cross City, Fla. If you prefer a more private, membersonly (for ages 18 and older) ambience, check into the clothing-optional and aptly named Southern Comfort Campground in northwest Florida. Pick from your preference of camp arrangement – tent, RV or cabin – before letting loose in the Southern Nights clubhouse, playing horseshoes or volleyball, visiting the beer garden or dressing up for one of the destination’s theme weekends. southerncomfortcampground.net Roy’s Hideaway | Collins, Ga. LGBTQ anglers will delight at the abundance of fishing opportunity at Roy’s Hideaway – a private, members-only campground in rural Georgia – offering six lakes filled with a wide assortment of daily catches. Landlubbers can stay occupied at the pool and spa area, hiking several tree-covered trails that wind through the property, canoeing, kayaking, duck watching or enjoying a snack from the café. royshideaway.com Stag Run Club at Overlook Farm | Mauckport, Ind. Gunning to get dirty? Don your boots and overalls for a weekend of camping among

farm animals, including horses, cows, chickens, ducks and other wildlife with which you’re invited to interact. Tents, log cabins, bunkhouses and suites are available on this private, all-male property where, after you’ve put in an honest day’s work (like gathering your own freshly laid eggs for breakfast), you can bask on the clothing-optional sun deck; dive into the heated pool; engage in games in the lodge; or ride your own stallion if you brought one. stagerunclub.com Twin Ponds Lodge | Albion, Maine It’s a bare-all free-for-all for naturists at Twin Ponds Lodge in Maine, a gated campground and resort for men ages 18 and older. Strip down and hang out – literally – anywhere on the property, from the large heated pool and 14-man hot tub to the recreation hall outfitted with billiards, ping-pong and satellite TV. Day passes are available if you prefer a shorter stint fishing or hiking, releasing toxins in the wood-fired sauna, scrubbing down in the communal shower room or catching rays in open sunning areas. twinpondslodge.com Windover Women’s Resort | Owendale, Mich. Lady-loving ladies can find camaraderie, and perhaps companionship, at Windover – a private, membership-only resort on the Pigeon River of Michigan’s farm country. Open to women ages 18 and older, this tentand RV-friendly ground offers a pool, nature trails, clubhouse and scheduled events with other exciting activities nearby, including golf, boating, and recreational water sports. windoverwomensresort.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. EchoMag.com

JULY 2016

OUT & ABOUT Phoenix Mercury vs. Connecticut Sun May 31 at Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix. Photos by KJ Philp.

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OUT & ABOUT Phoenix Mercury 2016 Home Opener May 20 at Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix. Photos by Brittany Lea.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

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JULY 2016 33 5/25/16 6:15 PM

Pride in the Pines

You’re invited to Flagstaff Pride’s 20th anniversary celebration By Megan Wadding

or two decades, LGBTQ community members and allies have gathered in Northern Arizona to celebrate Pride, converge with community, engage for equality and vie for visibility. What began as a very small gathering – less than 500 in attendance that first year – has evolved into one of Arizona’s top Pride celebrations.

on that bandwagon roughly eight years ago by creating a new, family-centric focus for the Pride in the Pines festival, which attracts locals, visitors and a lot of straight allies – many of whom bring children – each year. “We want that diversity and we want

everyone to know that they’re welcome, [but] we don’t want children to see anything off-color,” Jim said. Subsequently, Jim said the festival has gained even more sponsors and support since redirecting its focus. “That’s the way Flagstaff is,” Jim said. “[This focus] really reflects what our community is … It’s all about being respectful and having it be a fun event.” According to Jim, the expected attendance for the weekend is roughly the same each year, which Jim said event organizers and community members appreciate. “Most people come from Phoenix, and we get a lot from Albuquerque and Las

This year, Northern Arizona Pride Association (NAPA) presents the 20th anniversary of the Flagstaff’s annual Pride in the Pines festival June 25. As part of national LGBTQ Pride month, Phoenix’s cooler and greener neighbor to the north invites anyone looking for a weekend respite from the summer heat to join in this year’s milestone celebration. “Flagstaff Pride is a festival that is very family friendly and pet friendly,” explained Kathryn Jim, NAPA president. “We have a lot of families that bring their children, so we try to keep it very G-rated and respectable. We have rules set in place.” In recent years, many Pride associations have been making efforts to evolve festivals and parades into more family friendly atmospheres where parents can bring their children if they choose to do so. According to Jim, Flagstaff Pride jumped 34

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Photo by Bill Gemmill.

Mya McKenzie. Photo by Scotty Kirby.

Crystal Waters. Photo courtesy of facebook.com/IamCrystalWaters.

Brandon Skeie. Photo courtesy of facebook.com/officialbrandonskeie Photo by Bill Gemmill.

Vegas,” Jim said. “It usually doesn’t get any larger than 4,000, which we love.” The Stars of the Show

Despite the somewhat small-town feel of Pride in the Pines, NAPA’s proud to reveal this year’s star-studded entertainment line up. Former lead singer of the Go-Go’s and current solo singer, Belinda Carlisle, will headline the festival on the main stage. According to Jim, Flagstaff Pride was very lucky to book Carlisle as she is currently very busy with new music, activism and preparing for a future move to Thailand. (See story, page 36.) Other festival performers include dance artist Crystal Waters (“Gypsy Woman” and “100% Pure Love”) and openly gay pop artist Brandon Skeie (“So Bad”), as well as a few bands from around the region. “I am so stoked to be performing [this year],” Skeie said. “This is the first year I have ever performed at a Pride event and I am performing all new music. [I am] beyond happy to celebrate our individuality and equality with so many amazing people.” Waters, who’s playing several major stops on the 2016 Pride circuit, including Queens, Philadelphia, Milwaukee and Baltimore, will bring her best-known dance hits to the stage. “I’ve been wanting to come back [to Flagstaff] for so long,” Waters said. “I’m so excited, [I] can’t wait to feel [the] energy and have fun.” The festival will be hosted by female impersonator and Miss Gay Arizona 2007 Mya McKenzie. “Mya is the new hostess for 2016 [and] she’ll be on the main stage during the festival,” Jim said. “She is absolutely spectacular, our whole board thinks the world of her [and] she has been nothing but inspirational and professional.” Come Early, Stay Late

For the first time ever, Pride in the Pines will feature a full weekend schedule of feature story

Flagstaff Pride Weekend Events events, making Flagstaff the perfect destination for spending a long weekend. “Because it’s the anniversary, and also because it’s something new, we wanted more community events this year,” Jim said. The Pride weekend officially kicks off with a free Cosmic Bowling (for all ages) from 3 to 6 p.m. June 24 at Starlight Lanes. Later that night, official kick-off parties are being held at both Monsoon Chinese Bistro & Sushi and Collin’s Irish Pub & Grill. The fifth annual Route 66 Classic Volleyball Tournament, hosted by Flagstaff Pride and Desert Volleyball Alliance, will begin at 10 a.m. at Thorpe Park Softball Fields (festival grounds). Festival attendees are invited to watch the grass volleyball tournament before the festival begins at noon. From noon to 9 p.m., the Pride in the Pines festival will feature vendors, booths and entertainment. Once the festival concludes, attendees are invited to the Official After Party, starring Mya McKenzie, China Collins, Maraya Jordan, Kira Daniels and Piper V. M’Shay, at Collins Irish Pub & Grill.

Rainbow Flag Raising Ceremony 6:30-7:30 p.m. June 23 Flagstaff City Hall, 211 W. Aspen Ave. Flagstaff Pride noon- 9 p.m. June 23 Thorpe Park Softball Fields Tickets: $15 online, $20 at the gate flagstaffpride.org Cosmic Bowling at Starlite Lanes Free from 3 to 6 p.m. June 24 3406 E. Route 66 928-526-1138 starlite66lanes.com Fifth annual Route 66 Classic Volleyball Tournament 10 a.m. June 25 Thorpe Park Softball Fields desertvolleyball.com Official After Party 10 p.m.-1 a.m. June 25 Collins Irish Pub & Grill, 2 N. Leroux St. Admission: $10 at the door or $15 for entry into both Monsoon downtown and Collins Irish Pub and Grill collinsirishpub.com

Megan Wadding is a freelance writer and travel addict with a degree in journalism. Follow her on Twitter at @MeganWadding. EchoMag.com

JULY 2016

Belinda Carlisle Former Go-Goâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lead singer to headline Flagstaff Pride By Megan Wadding 36

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he gained worldwide fame as the lead vocalist of one of the mostsuccessful female bands of all time. Her band, The Go-Go’s, sold more than 8 million albums in three years. Her activism has recently landed her in a back in the spotlight. And her solo career, which spans four decades, is showing no signs of slowing down any time soon – and the next stop on her summer tour is Arizona. Yes, Belinda Carlisle is headlining the Flagstaff’s Pride in the Pines festival June 25. Carlisle spoke to Echo Magazine about what fans can expect of the show, her new plan to move to Thailand, her work in animal rights and her new album. Echo: Have you done many gay pride festivals before? What is your tie to the LGBTQ community? Carlisle: I’ve done many gay prides in my career and they are always really fun. I’ve always had a lot of support from the LGBTQ community and I’m grateful. I’m the proud mother of a gay son, and that has, of course, made me more involved in activism. Echo: What can fans expect from your show at Flagstaff Pride? Carlisle: Usually, I just do the hits when I do Pride events, both solo and [The] Go-Go’s. Echo: How does the new music you are working differ from the pop-influenced music you have previously made? Carlisle: My new music is still pop, but it is repetitive mantra. I know the power of mantra; I’ve experienced it in my yoga practice for years. It’s scientific. Chanting certain mantras, especially all mantras in Kundalini yoga, has an effect on the glandular system because when pronounced correctly, it activates the 84 meridian points on the roof of the mouth. It produces a sense of well being and changes one’s perspective; all very positive things. Echo: What can you tell me about your new yoga mantra album? What was the inspiration behind this? Carlisle: If you put my new album on in another room, you would think it’s a pop album, which it is. If you really listen to it, it’s repetitive mantra, in Gurmukhi, which is an ancient Sanskrit. It’s mantras put in pop song format. I’ve wanted to do this for a while, and felt I was ready last year. With teacher training in Kundalini yoga and with the experience of chanting, I felt that this album could bring more people to the practice, which is life changing. Echo: As someone who has enjoyed much success as both a member of a band and as a solo artist, which do you enjoy more? Carlisle: I like both of them. When I’m on my own, I miss the camaraderie of a band. When I’m with the band I miss being on my own. When I can dictate the pace I work at, there is not one I like more than the other.

Echo: You are doing a farewell tour this summer with The Go-Go’s. Are you planning on continuing to record as a solo artist? Carlisle: Yes, I will continue doing projects on my own. Echo: You are a big animal rights supporter and recently co-founded the Animal People Alliance. Can you tell me a little about the goals of the organization? Carlisle: We provide services for street animals in Calcutta – spaying and neutering, emergency surgeries [and] funding chemo. We also go into schools to educate the young people on how to treat animals. Their attitudes towards animals are much different than ours. There is a lot of fear and religious stigmas attached to dogs, especially. At the same time that we

are doing all of this, we are also training vulnerable women and girls to become veterinary nurses in order to service the various NGOs in India. Echo: What inspired your recent decision to plan on moving to Thailand? Carlisle: I love the Far East and I always knew that I would end up living there one day. Now we feel the time is right. We’ve been living in France for 24 years and it’s time for a new adventure. Carlisle will take Flagstaff Pride’s main stage at 8:15 p.m. June 25. For more information, visit flagstaffpride.org.

Megan Wadding is a freelance writer and travel addict with a degree in journalism. Follow her on Twitter at @MeganWadding.

I’ve always had a lot of support from the LGBTQ community and I’m grateful. I’m the proud mother of a gay son, and that has, of course, made me more involved in activism.” Belinda Carlisle

Photos courtesy of Belinda Carlisle.

EchoMag.com

JULY 2016

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It Takes A Village

Watson Lake, Prescott, Ariz.

Greater Yavapai County LGBTQ Coalition provides foundation for dispersed community By Liz Massey

ince its formation in January, the Greater Yavapai County LGBTQ Coalition (GYCC) has been experiencing rapid growth and filling a previously unmet need for connecting a vibrant but widely dispersed rural community, according to organizers. “We are a little overloaded by requests, messages and demands,” said Chris Duarte, who co-chairs the coalition. “People have come out of the woodwork and my phone hasn’t stopped ringing. People are excited.” A Community Without A Center

Duarte and others living in Yavapai County say that the coalition has provided a new focus for queer residents and their allies, an important function in a region with a very different population profile than the Valley of the Sun. Yavapai County has a total of just 222,255 residents, according to 2015 U.S. Census estimates, compared with 4,167,947 persons living in Maricopa County. The largest city in Yavapai County is Prescott, which was the location of the Prescott Pride Center in the early 2000s. When the center closed in 2011, it left a hole, which residents filled with a virtual alternative – a Meetup group, which 38

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eventually grew to include 400 members. Members of the Meetup group used the platform to publicize local LGBTQ activities, including meetings of the local PFLAG chapter and a gay bowling league. Still, without a centralized physical presence, the community struggled to communicate and act in a cohesive way, according to volunteer organizer Bev Bostrom, who had been active in planning picnics, dances and other events with other volunteers after the Prescott Pride Center closed. Such activities helped keep members in touch with each other, but it was hard (even with the Meetup group) to get the word out to all corners of the county. “When the center closed, it was very difficult for a lot of people in our area to have any contact at all,” Bostrom said. Overcoming The Hurdles

According to Duarte, physical distance wasn’t the only roadblock to connecting LGBTQ people in Yavapai County. The demographics of the region and cultural attitudes surrounding LGBTQ issues also created challenges. “Prescott’s motto is ‘Everyone’s Hometown,’” Duarte explained. “It’s traditionally older, with more than 30

percent over the age of 65, and more than 90 percent white. We like to keep confrontation to a minimum … Hostility and hate towards the LGBTQ community is usually hidden, while at the same time, nobody wants to talk about sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.” The strong emphasis on retirement living in Prescott has led to an age gap within the queer community as well, he said. “When I moved here two years ago … I attended a ‘coming out’ event at the local UCC church. There were more than 150 people there, and most were over the age of 65,” Duarte explained. “I found a huge gap between the LGBTQ retired people and the young people that needed support. When it came to people between ages 25 and 65, the community was virtually non-existent.” On a positive note, Duarte said that the formation of GYCC had helped reactivate volunteers who had been involved with the Prescott Pride Center. “Many of the same people who were involved in the Prescott Pride Center are working with all parts of the community, [developing] inclusive health services, youth programs, faith bridge-building, support for aging LGBTQ adults, and much, much more,” he said. feature story

A Rainbow of Possibilities

Currently, GYCC provides a physical meeting space on the third Tuesday of each month at the First Congregational UCC Church in Prescott. Online visitors can connect through the coalition’s Facebook page (facebook.com/lgbtqyavapai) and a monthly newsletter is also available. Additionally, the organization hosts a Google calendar that lists events sponsored by various members of the coalition, including the PFLAG chapter in Prescott, an after-school youth program, a Gay-Straight Alliance, the NAZGEM Transgender Mentors Network, and others. The coalition is currently forming a board of directors, and beginning to assemble a financial sub-committee that will focus on locating sources of funding that can sustain programs and services requested by the LGBTQ community. According to Duarte, his day job – working as the program administrator/ trainer for a LGBTQ health and wellness program at the West Yavapai Guidance Clinic – allows him to network with other queer-friendly organizations in the area and raise awareness of the coalition’s aims, as does his volunteer position as a board member of Equality Arizona. One of the largest concerns of the coalition, however, is reaching LGBTQ residents and allies in small towns and rural areas, who often have the least contact with LGBTQ events and support. The coalition, Duarte explained, was reaching out to communities across

Northern Arizona – including Sedona, Page, Kingman, Bullhead City and others – as well as advocacy organizations in Phoenix and Tucson, in order to provide local residents with opportunities that city-dwellers may take for granted, such as the ability to provide foster care and adopt children as a same-sex couple. Duarte said the coalition planned to leverage technology to reduce the issues posed by the wide distribution of LGBTQ persons across the county. “Starting in June, we are going to be hosting webinar-style meetings for those who cannot make it in person,” he said. Duarte said that another benefit of forming the coalition is that it gives potential allies a place to connect with the LGBTQ community. In Yavapai County, encouraging an ally is often a matter of educating them about the community’s most pressing issues. “Many people are just not very knowledgeable on [LGBTQ issues], and so they can seem prejudiced, but really they merely lack understanding,” he said. “With a healthy and positive introductory conversation, people tend to be very supportive of the mission of the coalition.” The Main Event(s)

After the coalition has become better established, Duarte said he hopes that it can partner with Prescott’s business community and other organizations to host events that might draw LGBTQ persons from around the state, noting Yavapai

County’s mild four-season climate and Prescott’s reputation as a year-round tourist destination as advantages for GYCC in this area. He also mentioned that recent events aimed at locals, including a drag review show and a community picnic, had drawn sold-out crowds. Bostrom shared Duarte’s optimism, and reiterated the importance of having a physical location for Yavapai County’s queer community to gather. “The fact that we now have a place to meet with all individuals involved with LGBTQ interests is incredible,” she said. “It’s extremely important that we are now able to get together to relay information to all parts of the county.”

Greater Yavapai County LGBTQ Community Coalition Monthly Coalition Meetings take place at 5:30 p.m. on the third Tuesdays of the month at First Congregational UCC Church 216 E. Gurley St., in Prescott. facebook.com/lgbtqyavapai yavapailgbtqcoalition@gmail.com Liz Massey has been involved in LGBTQ community-building activities in Kansas City and the Valley of the Sun, and is a former managing editor of Echo Magazine. She can be reached at lizmassey68@gmail.com.

OUT & ABOUT Second Annual LGBTQ Family & Friends Community Picnic May 29 at Watson Lake, Prescott. Photos courtesy of Greater Yavapai County LGBTQ Community Coalition.

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JULY 2016

OUT & ABOUT Mr & Miss West Coast Continental 2016 Pageant June 5 at BS West, Scottsdale. Photos by Skyler of EDP Photography.

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F RE N C H D

It’s about love. It’s about time.

Thurs Art Walk: 6 to 9 pm Mon – Sat: 10 am to 5 pm

7 1 4 8 E . M A I N S T R E E T S C O T T S D A L E A Z 4 8 0 . 9 9 4 . 4 7 1 7 W W W. F R E N C H O N M A I N . C O M EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE

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The Year of the GEEKS

Reign XI monarchs embark on a mission of generosity, education, equality, kindness and service By Laura Latzko

Empress XI Sophia Sinclair

Throughout Sinclair’s 14-year drag career, she’s held such titles as Miss National 42

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Capital Cities, Miss SuperNova USofA at Large and Miss Arizona USofA at Large. Sinclair’s history with the court includes serving as Baroness during Reign VI, Grand Duchess in Reign IX and Princess Royale during Reign X (the latter two were served beside Moser). Echo: How did you first become involved with the court? Sinclair: I started out during Reign VI with Lady Christian … She truly is the only

reason I started being involved with the organization. I thought I would give it a shot. I love raising money and I love performing. Just seeing the difference that it makes in our community has kept me being part of it. Echo: Do expect your background as a performer will help you as empress? Sinclair: I couldn’t imagine coming into this role and not having any experience performing and being out there in the community. I think it’s very beneficial for

Empress XI Sophia Sinclair.

Photos by Tiffany Photography.

s part of The Imperial Sovereign Court of Arizona’s annual Coronation ceremony, the Reign XI monarchs were crowned May 7 at the Phoenix Airport Marriott. Empress X Olivia Gardens and Emperor X Steve Marino stepped down during a “Geeks Gone Glam: A Soiree at the Comic Book Store” themed event and passed their crowns on to Empress XI Sophia Sinclair and Emperor XI SeaJay Moser. During their reign, Moser and Sinclair plan to continue the G.E.E.K.S. theme, which stands for generosity, education, equality, kindness and service. Like the monarchs before them, Empress and Emperor XI will serve as the faces for the local court as they raise money for local charities and scholarships. Each year, the court raises funds for a variety of local organizations, and according to Emperor II Michael Gaffney, Reign X raised a total of $32,568. The court also awards scholarships to Arizona LGBTQ and allied students through the Bryon Wiley Memorial Scholarship Fund. Since 2008, Gaffney said the court has given away 31 scholarships totaling $38,500. The Imperial Sovereign Court of Arizona, which began in 2005, held its first coronation in 2006. Steve LaFata served as the first emperor. The Arizona court has the distinction of having the first elected Native American empress, Miss DeMeanor; first elected Hispanic empress, Regine Rochelle; and first elected female empress, Justice Prevails. This year, Sinclair became the first transgender woman to hold the empress title in the Arizona court. For more information on the Imperial Sovereign Court of Arizona, the Reign XI monarchs or the Byron Wiley Memorial Scholarship, visit imperialcourtaz.org.

Emperor XI SeaJay Moser.

the court to have someone in a leadership position that’s also out in the community. Echo: Do you feel a big responsibility being the first transgender empress? Sinclair: It’s the same with Miss DeMeanor being the first Native American empress. It’s important to show people that we are inclusive. We do want more involvement from different members of our community. Echo: What are some of your goals for your reign? Sinclair: [T]o educate the community about who we are. Even though we have been doing this for 11 years and we’ve raised so much money, there are people in this community who don’t know who the Imperial Court is. I would like to teach them a little bit about the court and also to educate the court itself about where we came from. Echo: Do you feel like the two of you have a different style than other monarchs? Sinclair: We do have our own personal style. We are a little odd. We kind of do funny, out-there numbers. I would say we are quirky, just judging by our coronation theme … Every year, the emperor and empress bring something the court needs. That’s how you have to think about it. I’m now in this leadership position. What can I bring to further grow the court? Echo: How does the title of Empress feature story

compare to other titles you’ve had? Sinclair: People [are] looking to you, you are now the go-to, the one who needs to have all of the answers … The thing is the court is family. We are a big dysfunctional family. [We’re going to fight, we’re going to argue, we’re going to have our good times, we’re going to have our bad times, but we are all here for one purpose. Emperor XI SeaJay Moser

Before getting involved with the court, Moser volunteered with Red Cross and with the Community Center at Luke Air Force Base. Moser’s history with the court includes

serving as a Lord during Reign VIII, Grand Duke during Reign IX and Prince Royale during Reign X. Echo: How did you first become involved with the court? Moser: At first, it was like almost testing the waters. When I learned about the lines, I asked them what they do, what’s the purpose of them. Next thing I knew, I was being invested as a Lord. I was like, “Cool, what do I do?” Echo: What type of performer are you? Moser: I find the most random things to perform. For coronation night, for my candidate number, I found “What’s Going On” sung by He Man and performed it as Prince Adam. [I] can’t take myself seriously while performing because [it’s] supposed to be fun … I enjoy performing now. When I first started, not so much [but] I am getting better. Echo: What are some of your goals for your reign? Moser: I’m not a limelight person. I’m more behind the scenes, working in the shadows, making sure the cogs and wheels all turn. I felt the next step for me to grow is to take one giant leap … [My goal is] to work on my public speaking, get out in the community more, meet people, step outside of other people’s shadows and build the court more. Echo: Do you have new fundraising ideas for this year? Moser: Written word is my forte, and I’ve done research into different grants that 501(c)(3)s can get and how to go about getting them … There [are] many ways to raise money on a corporate scale without forgetting your roots, doing drag shows and raffles. Echo: What went into choosing your lines? Moser: While Sophia and I were building our lines, we wanted to make sure that who we put together would work really well together. If we have two new people at the same position, it makes it a little bit more difficult because they are fresh in the court. It’s easier to pair them with a veteran. Echo: What will Reign XI bring to the court? Moser: The court is doing great. It’s growing, but I think we’ve gotten a little stuffy. Yeah, we are doing shows, but it’s [not] always the same songs but the same genre of songs. Sophia and I are both bat shit crazy.

READ THE REST For Echo’s full interview with Emperor XI SeaJay Moser and Empress XI Sophia Sinclair, visit echomag.com/reign-xi.

Laura Latzko is a Phoenix-area freelance writer, originally from Michigan, who holds a bachelor’s degree in English and communication studies from Hollins University and a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri.

EchoMag.com

JULY 2016

OUT & ABOUT Miss Gay Western States America Regional Pageant May 22 at Club Palazzo, Phoenix. Photos by nightfuse.com.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

JULY 2016

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JULY 2016

without reservtions Grand Opening June 2 at Barrio CafĂŠ Gran Reserva, Phoenix. For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

Photo courtesy of Barrio Cafe Gran Reserva.

JULY 2016

EchoMag.com

dining out

at the box office

By Hans Pedersen

The Neon Demon In theaters June 24 | Not Rated | 110 minutes

Ghostbusters In theaters July 15 | Not yet rated

Director Paul Feig helms this all-female Ghostbusters reboot, explaining these four women were cast because they happen to be the funniest actors around right now. Kate McKinnon plays Jillian Holtzmann, a scientist who specializes in the supernatural, who joins her colleagues Abby (Melissa McCarthy), Erin (Kristen Wiig) and Patty (Leslie Jones) to battle supernatural forces that seem hell-bent on wreaking havoc in Manhattan. Chris Hemsworth plays their secretary, Kevin, and don’t be surprised if you see some cameos by Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts and Sigourney Weaver.

This thriller with a lesbian vibe premiered at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, but it’s the eye-catching poster art of a gorgeous Elle Fanning doused below the neck in purple goo that’s really turning heads. Fanning plays Jesse, an aspiring model who is new to Tinseltown and soon becomes the target of a clique of women that seem to crave this lovely young girl’s attributes. Named for the glitz and artifice of Hollywood and its devilish obsession with youth, one of its stars, Christina Hendricks (“Mad Men”), says it’s about “the dark underbelly of beauty.” Jena Malone and Keanu Reeves co-star.

Margarita With a Straw Now Playing On-Demand/DVD | 100 minutes

The Legend of Tarzan In theaters July 1 | PG-13

Years ago, Tarzan (aka Lord Greystoke) left behind the primates in the jungle to assimilate among humans, under the guidance of his wife, Jane. When he is called upon to return to the Congo as an emissary of Parliament to investigate a mining operation, he’s ensnared in a dangerous trap set by a deceitful Belgian man. Returning to the jungle brings out the beast in Greystoke, and the greedy tyrant must face off with the legendary Tarzan and his menagerie of pals. Hunky Alexander Skarsgård shows off lots of skin as man of the apes. Margot Robbie, as Jane, Christoph Waltz and Samuel L. Jackson co-star. movies

Sensitive and frank, this fresh new indie film by Indian director and writer Shonali Bose is earning rave reviews from critics around the world. Bollywood star Kalki Koechlin plays Laila, a defiant young girl with cerebral palsy who leaves her home in India to study in New York City. There she finds a sexual connection and falls in love with Khanum (Sayani Gupta), a young blind woman from Pakistan. Inspired by a desire to reflect the life of her cousin, who has cerebral palsy, Bose has crafted a movie that’s about loving and accepting oneself, and fans say by virtue of its sheer authenticity, this movie’s a winner.

Hans Pedersen is a freelance writer based in Phoenix. EchoMag.com

JULY 2016

physical humor,” he said. “In rehearsals, we explore the physical elements along with the dialogue and characterization. It’s important the actors learn the script early so we could fully explore the physical elements. We often repeat smaller sections so the actors can increase the rapid-fire delivery of lines naturally. I want the audience to feel the exhilaration and frenetic energy the characters bring to the story.”

opening nights

Ted Frumkin, who plays George, said he enjoys the challenge of the physicality of the show. “George is not only verbose but very frenetic,” he said. “I am a high energy person so it has been interesting to try and bring my own frenetic energy to the role.” Frumkin admits that he’s been a longtime fan of The Three Stooges, Oliver & Hardy and Abbot & Costello. “I was drawn to the role for the physical comedy that I knew was part of playing George,” he said. “… I have been doing pratfalls and slapstick comedy with my friends ever since I was a kid. I am having so much fun using these self-taught skills to play George.” For actress KatiBelle Collins, playing Charlotte was a bucket list role. Photo by Wade Moran.

Moon Over Buffalo

Desert Stages’ farce proves to be perfect summer fare By Richard Schultz

esert Stages Theatre is preparing for its move to a new venue in the Scottsdale Fashion Square, occupying the space that once housed the Harkins movie theaters off the food court this fall. To bid farewell to their old home, Desert Stages presents a nod to a bygone era in theater with Ken Ludwig’s comedy Moon Over Buffalo. This fast-paced farce proves to be the ideal summer fare, as it’s both charming and hilarious. In the madcap comedy tradition of Lend me a Tenor, the hilarious Moon Over Buffalo centers on George and Charlotte Hay, fading stars of the 1950s. At the moment, they’re playing Private Lives and Cyrano De Bergerac in rep in Buffalo, New York, with five actors. On the brink of a disastrous split-up caused by George’s dalliance with a young ingénue, they receive word that they might just have one last shot at stardom: Frank Capra is coming to town to see their matinee, and if likes what he sees, he might cast them in his movie remake of The Scarlet Pimpernel.

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Unfortunately for George and Charlotte, everything that could go wrong does go wrong, abetted by a visit from their daughter’s clueless fiancé and hilarious uncertainty about which play they’re actually performing, caused by Charlotte’s deaf old stage-manager mother who hates every bone in George’s body. Director Dan Ashlock saw the show on Broadway with Carol Burnett and Philip Bosco in the leading roles. “I knew that someday I wanted to direct this show,” he said. “Ken Ludwig created eight fantastic characters and put them into a situation just ripe with hilarity and comic twists. I love the elements of comedy that force the actors to be quick both in mind and on their feet.” Ashlock, who is making his directorial debut at Desert Stages, recognizes that farces are fun to stage, but also require hard work and trust among the actors. “This show uses an extravagant and exaggerated plot along with lots of

“From the first time I read the play, I thought this part is written for me,” she said. “I think every actor has those roles that they feel were written for them. These are roles that we connect with on some level and that match our personalities.” The most enjoyable aspect, she adds, has been working with this cast, especially Ted who plays George, her husband. “He is a consummate professional, and a wonderfully talented comic actor,” she said. “From the first time we read together during auditions, there was a chemistry that made it so much fun. He works hard to make things work, sometimes we get to laughing when things don’t go exactly as planned.” Moon Over Buffalo Through July 24 Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre 4720 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale Tickets: $25; 480-483-1664 desertstages.org Richard Schultz is a playwright, actor, director and freelance writer based in Phoenix.

WANTED: Colorful Characters Echo is always looking for LGBT theatre artists to spotlight as part of Opening Nights. If you know of someone, please send a note with a short bio to Richard Schultz at rlschultz41@aol.com. theater

Stray Cat Theatre Takes on Green Day By Richard Schultz

Left to right: David Samson as Tunny, Nicholas Gearing as Johnny and Eric Boudreau as Will. Photo by John Groseclose.

tray Cat Theatre’s artistic director Ron May is ready to launch a new era for the Valley’s edgiest theatre company. In addition to moving to a new home at the Tempe Center for the Arts, he’s taking on the iconic two-time Tony Award-winning hit musical Green Day’s American Idiot June 24-July 16. “It’s a very political show, but it isn’t a political show with an agenda,” May said of the powerful coming-of-age story that chronicles the experiences of a group of kids who have been abandoned by their friends, families, each other and, ultimately, by their country. The plot centers on Johnny, Tunny and Will who struggle to find meaning in a post9/11 world. When the three disgruntled men flee the constraints of their hometown for the thrills of city life, their paths are quickly estranged when Tunny enters the armed forces, Will is called back home to attend to familial responsibilities and Johnny’s attention becomes divided by a seductive love interest and a hazardous new friendship. This energy-fueled rock opera with strong social messages features little dialogue and, instead, relies on the lyrics theater

from Green Day’s groundbreaking album American Idiot, as well as several songs from its follow-up release, 21st Century Breakdown, to execute the story line. For those who are not familiar with Green Day and their music, May cautions that the show is not a jukebox musical. “It’s not Mamma Mia,” he explained. “There’s genuine storytelling. It was written as a rock opera from the get-go. It’s a kind of hyper-theatrical rock concert; it’s loud, but it’s not a 90-minute primal scream.” Conversely, May believes that the silences, the ballads and the quieter moments are raw, but honest. “What makes the show so beautiful is the quiet it finds in the midst of it all,” he said. “The score is really, really breathtaking. You might not equate punk with beautiful, but this will change your mind.” When May first saw the show at Gammage, he absolutely loved it. “I [have] never directed something I’ve seen before, but this was the first time. I thought, ‘Wow, this is enormous and really loud,’” he said. “As soon as it became available for production, I jumped on it. I knew the last show of the season would

be the show that introduces Stray Cat in our new space. It felt like a good marriage.” The characters have often been described as cultural archetypes, a sentiment May agrees with. “You’re dealing with a group of adolescents who are still trying to find themselves … The show is about that ugly period we’ve all been through trying to figure out our place in the world,” he said. “The show is essentially the story of three guys whose archetypes kind of echo our relationships to America or what it means to be an American.” Interestingly, May admits that his casting for this show has an “Aaron Spelling” feel. “I didn’t realize it at the time,” he said, “but we have a really good-looking cast and they can sing their faces off.” Nicholas John Gearing, who plays Johnny, believes that his own life experiences have prepared him for his role. “I have relatively recently gone through a pretty noteworthy break-up,” he said, “with that comes a complex set of emotions that has been [impacting] me on a far more cerebral and spiritual level.” Two of Gearing’s favorite moments in the show include “Letterbomb,” when he says the female cast members “absolutely rip the place to shreds and sing the roof off. They are too amazing for words,” and when he performs “Whatsername” at the end of the show. “It touches a very raw and real place in my heart every single time,” he said. “It has been very therapeutic.” For Eric Boudreau, who plays Will, the challenge lies in finding places where his character is trying to be a better human and how he either succeeds or fails. “I’m finding the moments when he doesn’t have anything to give. Depressed characters can be very one note and can seem to only suffer in their depression,” he said. “There has to be some light to give the audience a little relief from the darkness. So, I’m looking for those points where Will’s humor and sarcasm can come forward.” Additionally, May shared that he made a quick change to one of the relationships in the show to a lesbian relationship because “it just felt honest.” Green Day’s American Idiot June 24-July 16 Stray Cat Theatre Tempe Center for the Arts 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe Tickets: $30-$35; 480-350-2822 straycattheatre.org

Richard Schultz is a playwright, actor, director and freelance writer based in Phoenix. EchoMag.com

JULY 2016

recordings

distressing half-century ago, pop’s original prefab boy band quickly grew beyond its creators’ intentions and seized the reins themselves, leveraging their monster hit success into a wedge to make great music (from music hall to proto-punk to country rock) and examine, and mock, the very nature of pop fame – from their 1968 movie, Head, to their excellent, underappreciated 1997 TV movie, Hey, Hey It’s the Monkees.

By Cait Brennan

Tegan and Sara Love You To Death WB |

Is it a function of your humble correspondent’s advancing years, dear reader, or the duo’s own sparkling gift for reinvention, that makes Tegan and Sara still seem a little like a “new band” — even after a 20-year career and a breakthrough album that came out well over a decade ago? But from the early Ani-influenced folk on This Business Of Art through the anthemic altpop crunch of So Jealous to the shimmering turn towards mainstream pop on 2013’s Heartthrob, they’ve approached each new album like a new debut. Love You To Death sharpens up the radio-friendly pop sound of Heartthrob – and sharpens up the lyrics too, making for a different kind of breakthrough that’s joyous, life-affirming and, in its own way, a bit of a revolution.

anybody point of view. Not this time, as the specifics pack a punch here that powers one of their best songs to date. The contrast between their ear-candy harmonies and their astringent lyrics has long been one of Tegan and Sara’s strengths. Here, as the pop gets shinier, the undercurrent of disquiet has grown even stronger, as on “100x” and “Dying To Know,” well-crafted miniature odes to relationships falling apart and yearnings unfulfilled. But the overall sonic sheen here makes the entire listen a joy.

“That Girl” kicks off with an unsparing self-portrait of a woman trying to find her way to a better version of herself, and from the huge synth swells to the highly engineered rhythm track, it’s clear they’re aiming for Taylor and Sia heights, and they deliver. “Boyfriend,” though, is bigger. Brilliant, catchy, irresistible, this track is also one of the first Tegan and Sara songs to overtly sing about a same-sex relationship. Both of the Quin sisters are lesbians, and they’ve advocated for the LGBTQ community for years, but they’ve always finessed their lyrics towards a more neutral, could-be50

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The Monkees Good Times Rhino |

Yeah, you heard me, the Monkees. Created via auditions for a manic and groundbreaking TV comedy that debuted a

That’s all well and good, but why are these venerable geezers getting a record review in 2016? Because they’ve made a new album that will melt your face off, that’s why. And for some guys who were famous before most of our parents were born, that’s a feat worth appreciating. Their new album, Good Times, brings the band together with contributions from celeb superfans like Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard, Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo, Oasis’ Noel Gallagher, The Jam’s Paul Weller, XTC’s Andy Partridge and Andy Schlesinger of Fountains Of Wayne, alongside a few rare previously-unfinished recordings from their golden era that have been completed for this project. The result is as good as their ‘60s records, if not better. It’s a major late-career accomplishment. The amazing thing here is not just how well this album captures the Monkees’ 1960s sound (or how sharp and ageless the band’s vocals remain), but how well the contemporary artists songwriting contributions mesh with the ‘kees’ classic sound. Gibbard’s “Me & Magdalena” sounds like it was written in 1966, with the band’s harmonies transporting the thing beyond time in one of the most beautiful moments of their career. Schlesinger’s “Our Own World” is a summer anthem that’s as good as it gets, while Cuomo’s “She Makes Me Laugh” is as punchy, and catchy, as anything in Weezer’s catalog. “Birth Of An Accidental Hipster,” co-written by Weller and Gallagher, is hilarious and clever – a definite highlight. The vintage material here all sounds as fresh as the newly recorded stuff, seamlessly mixing 1960s-era vocals and backing tracks with 2016 enhancements. Harry Nilsson’s title track is a thing of joy, with the late singer-songwriter himself on vocals (in a duet with longtime pal Micky Dolenz, with Dolenz’ contributions recorded recently). Beloved Monkee Davy Jones, who passed away in 2012, is represented here on archival vocals with a newly recut version of Neil Diamond’s “Love To Love,” while Monkees hit songwriters Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart contribute the lovely “Gotta Give It Time.” Like the band itself, Good Times is music

an impossible mix of elements that should never work, but transcends into something greater than the sum of its parts. It’s one of the best things you’ll hear this year.

Beth Orton Kidsticks Anti |

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Lately, Beth Orton’s records have moved into the space once occupied by such giants of esoteric British folk as Anne Briggs, Bert Jansch, Nick Drake. So it’s easy to forget that when she started out, she was just as deeply steeped in electronica, collaborating with artists like the Chemical Brothers and William Orton for a “folktronica” sound that few did as well. Those electronic influences return on Kidsticks, a cathartic and bold record that builds on her strength while expanding her sonic palette considerably. “Snow” kicks off the set with Orton’s honey-deep voice and well-honed beats, while the thundering “Petals” brings the rock in wholly unexpected ways. Orton’s obsession with (or celebration of) nature keeps that mystic touch of her recent acoustic records, with a subtle yearning that builds over time, but the adventuresome and eclectic sound of these ten songs (helmed by Fuck Buttons producer Andrew Hung) takes the entire affair to new places that will surprise both her longtime fans and more recent converts. “Corduroy Legs” is perhaps the weirdest and most wonderful moment, a mélange of chaos that somehow conjures bliss.

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“1973” is perhaps the catchiest song here, a romp of a tune that focuses and distills Orton’s aesthetic into its most accessible and fun moment yet. Kidsticks feels like an artist cut loose from expectations, fearlessly playing with a variety of ideas and bringing us the best of the lot. Cait Brennan is a singer/songwriter and freelance writer based in Phoenix. music

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JULY 2016

between the covers

And Then I Danced By Terri Schlichenmeyer

een there, done that. Yep, you’ve had experience and you’re willing to talk about it. Why not? Someone could learn from the things you did. Mistakes can be avoided. Or, at least, as in the new memoir And Then I Danced by Mark Segal, people will be entertained. Not long after his birth in 1951, Segal’s parents were snatched from the middle class and shunted off to “the other side of the tracks” with the loss of their bodega. They became “the only Jewish family in a South Philadelphia housing project,” which set the tone for Segal’s outspokenness.

When he was 13, his beloved Grandmom took him to his first civil rights event. By then, Segal knew that other boys peeped at ads for women’s underwear, but he preferred studying the men’s clothing pages. He knew he was different – but he also knew that he absolutely couldn’t talk about it.

After learning that there were gay men in New York City, Segal convinced his parents to send him there And Then I Danced by Mark Segal. Open Lens/Akashic following his high school Books, 2015 $16.95. Indeed, when he was in grade school, graduation. Having “no idea he committed his “first political action” where to go” as he settled “Meet publisher Mark Segal.” by refusing to sing a Christian song. in, he began exploring his new city and, About half. That’s what you’ll find in “after a few days the first half of And Then I Danced. Yep, of looking around,” there’s more – a second life, in a way – he came across and it’s every bit as enjoyable to read. the Stonewall bar With gentle humor and the slightest and a man who touch of sardonicism, Segal writes “was creating an further about people he’s known, his organization called newspaper, and a different kind of the Action Group.” activism. That in-the-trenches stuff Organized is great to read, partly because his activation suited narrative is indicative of the times in Segal, and it became which it all happened. Readers also a job of sorts for him. may, like me, be impressed with the He worked on behalf creativity used to help gain LGBTQ of gay pride marches equality. and parades, a gay youth organization, But there’s more: Segal lets readers and a gay alliance. into his personal life: his loves, losses, He became politically and (spoiler alert!) a very happy ending. active. He and “Drama seems to follow me,” he writes, friends interrupted and readers will be glad for it. live broadcasts with It was nice to see this memoir cross what they called my desk. I was getting tired of Big Star “zaps,” which gained Bios and while there’s name-dropping the attention of in this book, it’s not egregious. No, it’s news media. That got kinda fun and worth picking up, so be them on camera, and Financial Planner there with And Then I Danced. You’ll be arrested. glad you done that. Consultant It was a different

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world by the mid‘70s, but there was still much to do. A friend asked why Segal didn’t start a gay newspaper in Philadelphia. And so,

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. books

talking bodies

Alcohol and Fitness: Is it possible to have both this summer? By Tia Norris

ummer is here, which means the season of pool parties, BBQs, bikinis and board shorts is upon us. The number one question I get around this time of year is, “do I REALLY have to give up alcohol if I want to stay fit?” Personally, I don’t drink. But, I realize that everyone has cravings and has things that they want to eat or drink that aren’t on “the program.” The good news is that there are legitimate ways to drink and stay fit, depending on your goal. Keep in mind that although I’m going to discuss complex topics very quickly and generally, you can always look me up (fitprollc.com or facebook.com/fitprollc) for my sources and proof for everything discussed. Here we go: The Good

Do I even need to mention the “good” about alcohol? I think the fact that people just like it so damn much is enough justification for them. But, nonetheless, here are some points on some of the benefits of having drinks in moderation: • Small amounts of alcohol can help reduce stress. • Alcohol has antioxidants, some cardiovascular benefits and a good cholesterol (HDL) benefits. • It has been shown to protect against Alzheimer’s, arthritis, cancer, depression and many other major diseases of our time. • Moderate amounts can improve insulin sensitivity, which is particularly valuable for diabetics. The most common reason that my clients want to drink is just that they like it. They like the taste, or they like the feeling. That’s fine. We just need to be smart about how to work it into our fitness program. health & fitness

The Bad

There are many “bad” things about mixing alcohol and fitness. Of course, all of these effects are exacerbated when drinking in excess. Remember, the more you drink, the worse the effect. Here’s what consuming alcohol does to your body, in a nutshell: • Alcohol takes metabolic precedence. If you have a great workout, and then eat, and then drink while eating, your body must process the alcohol first, and then the muscle repair and food digestion after that. The more you continue to drink, the less likely your body will actually complete muscle repair and full food digestion. This means your recovery will take longer and your food will be stored as fat. • Alcohol inhibits glycogen reuptake. Your muscles use glycogen, or stored carbohydrate, as fuel for workouts. When you exercise, you deplete that glycogen from your muscles. After a workout, your body must replenish those glycogen stores. Alcohol partially inhibits this process, meaning that you either lengthen or negate your recovery from your workout. • Some studies show that alcohol inhibits protein synthesis. Muscles are made of protein. This mechanism is similar to the inhibition of glycogen reuptake, which will also lengthen or negate your recovery time from your workout. • Alcohol inhibits testosterone and HGH. Low levels of testosterone and HGH are notorious for producing a soft, shapeless physique – not to mention the depressed mood and less mental clarity that are possible side effects. It’s important to know exactly what you’re up against when you decide to drink. I’m not telling you to never drink again, but you can be smart about when, how much and what

you choose to drink, in conjunction with your fitness goals. So, here’s the plan: The Plan

Moderation, moderation, moderation. If you are a serious athlete or you are a physiquefocused client, I urge you to limit your drinking as much as possible – basically stay as close to “zero” as possible. However, if you are on a fitness program and are looking for more flexibility this summer, limit yourself to two to three drinks no more than one to two nights per night. Any more than six drinks per week and you’ll start to see adverse effects on strength, performance, physique and more. • What To Eat On drinking days, seriously limit your fat and carbohydrate intake throughout the entire day. Have as much protein as you want. Keep fats around 20 grams for females and 30 grams for males and carbohydrates around 75 grams for females and 100 grams for males. • What To Drink When you do drink, choose lighter colored, more simply mixed (not blended) low-carb drinks. For example, choose light rum over dark spiced rum, go for a cosmopolitan instead of a frozen margarita or opt for a vodka soda with lime, instead of a vodka with cranberry and Sprite. Remember, knowledge is power. Knowing the good and the bad about alcohol is key to making, and sticking to, an informed plan. Cheers! Tia Norris is the president and head trainer at FitPro, LLC, a local fitness company. Find out more at fitprollc.com. EchoMag.com

JULY 2016

ALL OVER THE MAP

Biding Our Time By Liz Massey

ith a couple of spectacularly out-of-character (not to mention highly entertaining) exceptions, I have not been known for most of my life as an impulsive person. Even when it comes to my writing, I’m typically a planner, not a plunger. However, it’s a mistake if someone reads my preference for structure as an attachment to stagnancy. I like for things to progress in a positive manner – and according to my blueprints, if possible. And when things don’t, I get impatient. Many wisdom traditions address impatience by saying that the things that bug you the most are the things that have the most to teach you. If that is the case, I will be a student in the School of Life until the end of my days. I have a long list of issues that get under my skin, starting with personal life stressors such as unrealized career ambitions (where’s that book I’m destined to write?) and the laggardly progress of my health and fitness, to political aggravations such as anti-trans bathroom laws, violently polarizing rhetoric, and the time and money our community has to spend defending ourselves against fear-mongering and scapegoating by right-wing leaders. The quality of patience gets mixed reviews by civil rights activists, including queer equality advocates, and that’s probably as it should be. Martin Luther King Jr. reminded his contemporaries, “We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” Too often, asking an oppressed group to “wait” on freedom means asking them to quit demanding it. But major reform movements do often take quite some time 54

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to play out. More than a century passed between Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 and the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964; 72 years passed between the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention, the first gathering to call for women’s equality with men, and the act that represented the culmination of its aims – universal suffrage for American women through the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which took effect in 1920. The most successful activists seem to take a paradoxical attitude toward patience. They never lose their impatience with inequality, injustice and oppression. But they also make a commitment to stay with their advocacy for as long as change requires, and adopt habits and a life structure that can sustain that commitment. With a long-term commitment to change-making in place, it’s possible to consider the advantages of being patient in a specific situation, some of which include: • The time to think strategically. • Ability to let the proverbial dust settle and see what’s actually happening. • The capacity to escalate a direct action in a thoughtful way. • Allowing oneself or others time to make lifestyle or time commitment changes, in order to be able to give more to the movement. • Providing the opportunity to turn neutral and mildly antagonistic folks into supporters – a switch known as “shifting the spectrum of allies.” The key to utilizing patience, as I’m discovering in my own life, is balance. When I ignore my gut feeling that NOW is the time

to act, I miss watershed moments in which conditions are particularly ripe for change. On the other hand, when my actions seem driven by frustration and desperation, and not my core values, I often find I have created “change,” but not of the sort for which I was looking. Although I find it a little unnerving, there is a parallel between the use of patience in activism and its use in personal selfdevelopment. In both cases, it can neither be a shield for resistance to change, nor a battering ram for inflicting change where the current environment will not support it. Bill Gates, who revolutionized the software industry, once observed, “Most people overestimate what they can do in one year, and underestimate what they can do in ten years.” Slow and steady doesn’t so much win the race as it allows the runner to perform with crazy bursts of speed when needed, such as to pass an opponent or to take the lead in the final stage of the contest. Demanding that we all run at full speed all of the time is a prescription for burnout. Our community functions best when we can cheer each other on with wisdom, knowing when to encourage someone to stay the course (and be patient with an anticipated change) and when to sprint across the finish line and make change happen.

Liz Massey has been involved in LGBTQ community-building activities in Kansas City and the Valley of the Sun, and is a former managing editor of Echo Magazine. She can be reached at lizmassey68@gmail.com. COMMUNITY

Gregory Gene Polzin 1965 - 2016 Gregory Gene Polzin lost his short but courageous battle with pancreatic cancer on May 22, 2016. Greg passed away peacefully in his home, with family and close friends at his side. He was 51. He was a talented, charming man with a magnetic personality and a warm and loving heart who left behind hundreds of friends who loved him deeply. Greg Polzin was born on April 13, 1965 in Walla Walla, Wash., to parents Shirley M. and Donald G. Polzin. Greg was an only child. Given Gregâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s huge heart, his passion for helping others and his commitment to social justice, it is not surprising that Greg transitioned his career to nonprofit fundraising and management in the 1990s. Positions he held include executive director of the Arizona Human Rights Fund, director of development for the Scottsdale Center for The Arts and The Desert AIDS Project and his final position as the Dorothy and Harold J. Meyerman director of development for the Palm Springs Art Museum, a position of which he was particularly proud. Greg faced life lovingly, courageously, and always on his own terms. He was smart, friendly, charming, witty, endless fun and caringly touched hundreds of lives. Greg is survived by his loving mother, Shirley M. Polzin, his partner, B. Kevin McBride, and numerous close friends that he considered to be family. Donations can be made in Gregâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s honor to the Palm Springs Art Museum, 101 Museum Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262.

EchoMag.com

JULY 2016

money talks

When it comes to the distribution of your property, how much are you WILLing to risk? By Melissa Myers and Michael J. Tucker Melissa Myers: Michael, I have had so many questions from readers about wills and trusts. Let’s make that today’s topic. Michael J. Tucker: Well, people in the LGBTQ community would benefit, perhaps more than most people, from having proper documents in place, just in case. Myers: So, what is the point of making a will? Tucker: Wills carry out your wishes and minimize hassle and expense for your survivors. Of course, you can use a will to direct the distribution of certain property that you own when you die. Myers: Doesn’t marriage take care of all that so that people don’t need a will? Tucker: Well, sometimes, but usually not. Especially when there are children from previous relationships. Myers: Having a will avoids probate, right? Tucker: Not so much. Actually, a will is “activated” by court action. A will nominates a personal representative to gather assets, pay taxes and bills, and distribute what’s left to your beneficiaries.

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Myers: Is a personal representative the same thing as an executor? Tucker: Exactly. The probate of the will by the court gives the personal representative the legal power to handle the affairs of the person who died. Myers: So, why are wills more important for LGBTQ folks than for others? Is it because they are less likely to want their estate to go to their blood relatives? Maybe they’d prefer their assets go to a spouse, partner or charity? Tucker: Arizona law provides that relatives will inherit the property of a person who dies without a will. Myers: For folks who have never had children, their spouse is the first relative in the lineup. Tucker: But many people in nontraditional families would not want their property to pass to their next of kin. Arizona law would require that result if there is no will. Big plus: You can use your will to name your choice for a guardian if you have children who are still minors at the time of your death. Myers: Let’s talk about how that works. Tucker: Guardians for minor children are appointed by the court, based on the best interests of the child. But the parents have the right to nominate their choice of guardian in their wills, and courts give a lot of weight to the parents’ nomination. Myers: OK, so there’s a lot that can be accomplished with a will. Now what about a trust? What are some of the differences between a will and a trust? Tucker: A living trust can perform some (but not all) of the tasks of a will, with some additional advantages. Trusts can be handled without probate court approval. Also, trusts are more difficult for disgruntled relatives to challenge. Myers: People appreciate that if all assets are held in trust, there is no court involvement. Your arrangements are completely private. Tucker: That means no probate hassles. Myers: Messing with probate courts can be time-consuming and expensive if you have to hire lawyers to help you out. Tucker: One other aspect of trusts is particularly important in the LGBTQ community: You can specify in your living trust the person whom you choose to handle your financial affairs if you become incapacitated. Myers: For many unmarried folks in our community, the person you might choose as trustee to handle your affairs in the event of disability is not the same person that a

court would appoint as your guardian or conservator. Tucker: In plain English … Myers: That means you may want your partner or a friend to handle matters, and yet the court may appoint your mom! Tucker: Scary! Court process for appointing guardians and conservators over incapacitated persons is always timeconsuming and expensive, and so trusts can be useful to avoid court involvement there. Myers: Another benefit of a trust is that we may want limits on how our beneficiaries use their inheritance from us. Trusts can help by providing for delayed distribution of assets, allowing distributions over time based on need, or conditioning distributions on whether beneficiaries reach educational or financial goals. Tucker: That kind of trust provision can appear in a will as well. Myers: How should people prepare for their appointment with their attorney, accountant or financial planner regarding wills? Tucker: First, it’s helpful to determine your situation and your goals. Think about whom you wish to remember in your will. Is there anyone who might disagree with your will and want to challenge it? Who could depend on you for financial support? Myers: When I sat down with my attorney to prepare my will, I was asked to gather a list of relevant names, addresses and telephone numbers. Tucker: That preparation definitely streamlines the process. Finally, it’s crucial to determine your assets and liabilities. Typical assets include life insurance, real estate, automobiles and retirement plan interests. Typical liabilities include mortgages, auto loans and personal loans. Myers: Finally, be candid with your advisors and attorneys. They can do their best work for you if they know all of the relevant information. Melissa Myers is a certified financial planner with Camelback Retirement Planners, in Phoenix, a registered representative with Commonwealth Financial Network and a registered investment adviser. Michael J. Tucker is an attorney with Michael J. Tucker, P.C., in Phoenix, and is a certified specialist in estate and trust law. For more information, see their ads in this issue. This material has been provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute either tax or legal advice. Investors should consult a tax or legal professional regarding their individual situation. Neither Camelback nor Commonwealth offers tax or legal advice. FINANCE

EchoMag.com

JULY 2016

business cards For a complete listing of all Echo display advertisers, please see our Lambda Directory on page 66.

To advertise your business here, call 602-266-0550.

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Local business

Berney Streed, ABR, SRES, CIAS REALTOR® 480-628-6576 Cell 480-355-3500 Bus | 480-563-3995 Fax 8510 E. Shea Blvd. Suite #100. Scottsdale AZ 85260 www.BerneyStreed.com bstreed@cox.net Each Office independently owned and operated.

“Your Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Contractor

1115 W. Portland Street Phoenix, Arizona 85007 randy@mustanghvac.com www.mustangairmechanical.com

Quandt

Landscaping

Randy Mackey, Owner

602.769.2526 ROC CR39.217652-D

Sprinklers Trees Shrubs Lighting Brick Patios & Walkways

602-955-2121

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

E ODUS Eric

HAIR STUDIOS

2449 E. Indian School Road Phoenix, 85016

Steven Price, CPA

Have a tax controversy or an un-manageable tax debt? Take advantage of the IRS’s Fresh Start Program to resolve your Tax Problem. Call me for an assessment. I offer a no obligation 15-minute initial consultation.

602-481-8571

602-576-6255 or 415-955-0595 Email: smpcpa7@cox.net | www.smprice.com

(623) 939-4389 AZ. Lic. #I-2362 B

8602 N. 39th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85051

Local business

EchoMag.com

JULY 2016

out and about LGBT Night Out at the Ballet May 20 at Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix. Photos by Bill Gemmill.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

• Trained Movers in Uniform • Fully Insured & Bonded • Packing & Unpacking Services • “Family” Owned & Operated

(602) 242-2180

2905 W. Indian School Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85017 email: info0167@twomen.com

www.TwoMenPhoenix-WestValley.com Each franchise independently owned and operated

Valdez Refrigeration All your heating and cooling needs Office 602.266.0812 E-mail ZOUCHAVALDEZ@hotmail.com All major credit cards accepted. K39-ROC177793 Res and Comm

Josh Fetchik REALTOR ®

602.245.4228 Office 480.948.5554 Fax 480.214.9207 jfetchik@gmail.com 7077 E. Marilyn Rd, Bldg 4, Ste 130 Scottsdale, AZ 85254

Nello A Rossi MD 2 0 1 E a s t M o n t e r e y Wa y Phoenix AZ 85012 w w w. W i l l o M e d i S p a . c o m (602) 296-4477

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

BOTOX ® Cosmetic JUVÉDERM ® XC JUVÉDERM VOLUMA ® XC SKINMEDICA ® KYBELLA ® LATISSE ® RADIESSE ® (+) NEOVA ® Sermorelin Chemical Peels Testosterone Therapy HCG Therapy Facial Lipoatrophy

Complimentary Consultation 60

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BUNKHOUSE

the gayborhood

S M

$1 drafts & HH prices all day & night

T W T F

7 & 10 p.m.: Free-to-join poker. HH prices for participants.

6, 8 & 10 p.m.: Free-to-join poker. HH prices for participants. Winners get $10 Bunkhouse bar tabs

Greenway Pkwy Thunderbird

9 p.m. Karaoke

Olives vodka, 8 p.m.-close

2-8 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestic bottles, $3 pitchers; 2-4-1 drinks

open-close

2-7 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestics, $3 pitchers; midnight

Thomas

domestics, $3 Absolut & Bacardi 10 p.m.-midnight

W T

2-4-1 ALL DAY; $3 charity shots ALL DAY; live DJ, top 40 & dance

Caipirinhas ALL DAY; live DJ

HH & $1 draft pint, 4-8 p.m.; $1 draft pint & wells, 8 p.m.-midnight;

Tatum 27

143

Broadway Baseline

HH, 4-8 p.m.; $3 charity shots ALL DAY; $2 Kamikaze shots ALL DAY; live DJ, top 40 & dance, 8 p.m.-close

101 17

*MAP IS NOT DRAWN TO SCALE

live DJ, top 40 & dance, 8 p.m.-close

Scottsdale Rd.

Roosevelt

4 Van Buren

HH, 4-8 p.m.; $1 draft pint, $3 charity shots, $4 Mojitos &

202

Karaoke, 9 p.m.-close; HH & $3 charity shots ALL DAY

. Ave

McDowell 14 2

. Ave

STACY’S @ MELROSE $1 Rolling Rock pints & well drinks until 10 p.m.

nd Gra

Noon-7 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestics; HH 7-9 p.m.; $1 well &

S M T

22 23 16 24 3 9 20

Indian School

HH 7-9 p.m.; $1 well & domestics, $1 drafts 10 p.m.-

8 25 21 13 6 26 18

5th

Camelback

2-8 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestic bottles, $3 pitchers; $3 Three

40th St. 44th St.

cocktails & beer 8 p.m.- close

2-8 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestic bottles, $3 pitchers; 2-4-1

32nd St.

Lincoln 24th St.

Glendale 19 Bethany

1/2 off drinks for wearing underwear, $3 Jack Daniels

C Northern 7th St.

7th Ave.

27th Ave.

43rd Ave.

51st Ave.

Super HH 4-7 p.m., $3 pitchers; $3 Long Islands open to close 2-8 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestic bottles, $3 pitchers; 8 p.m.-close,

Shea Blvd

e av

Central

Dunlap

8 p.m.-close: $2.50 Bud family products

CHARLIE’S S M

16th St.

8 p.m.-close: $2.50 Miller family products. 4 & 6 p.m.: Free-to-join poker

Cactus

Underwear night: $1 off all drinks if in skivvies!

Mesa Chandler

HH, 4-8 p.m.; $3 charity shots ALL DAY; $2 Kamikaze shots ALL DAY; live DJ, top 40 & dance, 8 p.m.-close

ANVIL 2424 E. Thomas Road

M, D, L 602-956-2885

KOBALT 3110 N. Central Ave., Ste. 125

MF, E, N 602-264-5307

AQUA NIGHT CLUB 1730 E. McDowell Road

F, N, E, D 602-253-0689

LOS DIABLOS 1028 E. Indian School Road

MF, R, N 602-795-7881

BAR 1 3702 N. 16th St.

M, N, E 602-266-9001

NUTOWNE SALOON 5002 E. Van Buren St.

M, N, L 602-267-9959

BLISS REBAR 901 N. Fourth St.

N, R 602-795-1792

OFF CHUTE TOO 4111 N. Seventh Ave

M, A 602-274-1429

BS WEST 7125 E. Fifth Ave.

MF, D, E 602-200-9154

OZ BAR 1804 W. Bethany Home Road

MF, N 602-242-5114

BUNKHOUSE 4428 N. Seventh Ave.

M, N, L 602-200-9154

PLAZMA 1560 E. Osborn Road

MF, N, E 602-266-0477

CASH INN COUNTRY 2140 E. McDowell Road

F, C, D 602-244-9943

R LOUNGE 4301 N. Seventh Ave.

F, N, E 602-265-3233

CHARLIE’S 727 W. Camelback Road

M, C, E, D 602-265-0224

ROSCOES ON SEVENTH

M, N, G

4531 N. Seventh St.

602-285-0833

CRUISIN’ 7TH

M, E

3702 N. Seventh St.

602-212-9888

ROYAL VILLA INN 4312 N. 12th St.

M, AO 602-266-6883

DICK’S CABARET 3432 E. Illini St.

M, G 602-274-3425

THE CHUTE 1440 E. Indian School Road

M, AO 602-234-1654

FEZ 105 W. Portland St.

R 602-287-8700

STACY’S @ MELROSE 4343 N. Seventh Ave.

MF, D, N 602-264-1700

FLEX SPAS PHOENIX 1517 S. Black Canyon Hwy

M, AO 602-271-9011

THE ROCK 4129 N. Seventh Ave.

M, N, E 602-248-8559

HARLEY’S BISTRO 4221 N. Seventh Ave.

R 602-234-0333

THE TWISTED PEACOCK 3108 E. McDowell Road

MF, N, E 602-267-8707

KARAMBA 1724 E. McDowell Road

D, E 602-254-0231

TICOZ LATIN KITCHEN

5114 N. Seventh St.

602-200-0160

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

N R D C

Neighborhood Bar Full Restaurant Dance Club Country Dancing

L E G AO

Your Neighborhood Community bar... 4428 N 7th Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85013 (602)200-9154

Home of

Leather/Bears Entertainment (Karaoke, Drag) Go-Go Dancers Accommodations/Other EchoMag.com

JULY 2016

out & about Memorial Day Weekend Lesbian Bash May 29 at Paris Scottsdale. Photos by Kacey Anne.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

JULY 2016

EchoMag.com

out & about Dancing With The Bars 2016 Contestant Reveal Party May 25 at Stacyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s @ Melrose, Phoenix. Photos by KJ Philp.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

JULY 2016

EchoMag.com

JULY 2016

lambda directory Please support our advertisers who help keep Echo free. To find out more about advertising in Echo, call 602-266-0550.

ACCOUNTANTS/TAX PREPARATION Robert F. Hockensmith, CPA, PC p. 52 Steve Price, CPA p. 59

BAR & CLUBS Bunkhouse Charlie’s Stacy’s @ Melrose

The Mattress Man p. 61 p. 9 p. 63

COUNSELING SERVICES

ADULT ENTERTAINMENT/ RETAIL The Chute p. 64 Flex Spas Phoenix p. 65

People Empowering People of AZ, Inc. p. 51 DENTISTS

INSURANCE Benefits Arizona Hector Cerda, Allstate

Rainbow Massage Therapy

APARTMENTS @ 51 Luxury Apartments p. 67 East and West Apartments p. 58 Proxy 333 p. 68

EVENTS

Two Men and a Truck

Murray and Peter present The Queens Across America p. 17 Dancing With The Bars p. 23 National HIV Testing Day 2016 p. 11 Phoenix Mercury p. 15 Phoenix Pride p. 25

NETWORKING

JW Advisors Inc.

AUTO SERVICES Community Tire Pros & Auto Repair p. 8

Jeremy Schachter, Pinnacle Capital Mortgage p. 3 MOVERS

GPGLCC

REAL ESTATE

Instagram: @echomagazineaz Linkedin: Echo Magazine 66

JULY 2016

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p. 56

p. 59

REALTORS

p. 58 p. 45 p. 59 p. 59 p. 59 p. 5

Arizona Gay Realtors Alliance p. 3 Berney Streed, Re/Max Excalibur p. 59 Bradley B. Brauer, HomeSmart p. 3 David Oesterle, ReMax p. 3 Fred Delgado Team, Keller

#EchoMagAZ.

twitter.com: @echomagaz

p. 41

CVS Specialty Pharmacy p. 51 Fairmont Pharmacy p. 57

Join the conversation with facebook.com/echomagazine

p. 60

PHARMACIES

GayRealEstate.com

HOME SERVICES Don’s Painting Service Lyons Roofing Quandt Landscaping Rainbow Bug Studio Z Sunset Spas

p. 59

MORTGAGES

Concorde Dental Omer K. Reed D.D.S. p. 45 My Dentist p. 51 Open Wide Dental p. 2

FINANCIAL SERVICES

p. 51 p. 3

MASSAGE

AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING Mustang Air Mechanical p. 59 Valdez Refrigeration p. 60

ATTORNEYS Arentz Law Group, PLLC p. 57 Jackson WhiteAttorneys At Law p. 55 Matthew Lopez Law, PLLC p. 19 Phillips Law Group p. 4 The Law Offices of Lemuel A. Carlos, PLLC p. 32 Michael J. Tucker p. 60 Tyler Allen Law Firm p. 13 Udall Shumway Law Firm p. 45

p. 65

Williams Jan Dahl, HomeSmart Joshua Fetchik, West USA Reality Matthew Hoedt, Realty One Nicholas Yale, Realty Executives Shawn Hertzog, West USA

p. 3 p. 3 p. 60 p. 3 p. 3 p. 3

RELIGIOUS GROUPS Community Church of Hope p. 58 First Congregational UCC p. 58 RESTAURANTS China Chili COR Tapas & Wine Hula’s Modern Tiki Marcellino Ristorante

p. 46 p. 46 p. 46 p. 46

RETAIL Easley’s Fun Shop p. 58 French Designer Jeweler p. 41 Off Chute Too p. 62 RETIREMENT PLANNING Calvin Goetz, Strategy Financial Group p. 3 SALONS Athleticuts Salon Exodus

p. 57 p. 59

TRAVEL INNdulge

p. 65

VETERINARY SERVICES Dynamite Animal Hospital p. 55 East Maryland Animal Hospital p. 58 WELLNESS Avenger Fitness, LCC Banner Health FitPro, LLC TERROS Health-LGBTQ Consortium Willo Medi Spa

p. 58 p. 33 p. 59 p. 57 p. 60

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